From October 1 to 8, 2016, an evangelistic series was held in Nanjing, with the title “Hope for the Future,” conducted by Elder Mark Finley. During the preparation work, God showed us His providence through the permission granted by the local Three-self and Provincial Religious Bureau, allowing Elder Mark Finley to officially conduct the meetings in public, which means in a church building.
Prior to the series, many Bible studies were conducted to prepare souls. The Bible study leaders did their very best to teach Bible interests about God and His Word. Working committees were also organized. These committees and church boards met with the Chinese Union Mission coordinator on a regular monthly basis to make sure everything was on track. Moreover, three media teams from three provinces with 13 young people together with their six cameras were involved in this effort.
.jpg)
The evangelistic meetings were held twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. At the beginning of the morning meeting, Mrs. Finley shared health talks with the congregation. She gave a series of lectures under the general theme of “God’s Health Assurance Plan,” presenting facts on water, exercise, nutrition, breakfast, and a vegetarian diet.
From the first day of the evangelistic series until the last day of the series, the Nanjing Church was occupied with more than a thousand people. At the end of every meeting, Elder Finley ended with an appeal. From the third day onward, he especially challenged the congregation to make a decision to follow Jesus. At each appeal, more and more decisions were made, and on Friday evening, 79 Bible interests went up to the platform to show their faith for Jesus by accepting baptism the next day, which was the Sabbath day.
God is always full of surprises, and so He was on the Sabbath day of October 8, the last day of the evangelistic series. He surprised the Nanjing Church by adding 218 souls into their big family through baptism. In the past their yearly baptisms have been below sixty.
This is the first time in history that Nanjing Church has had such a mega baptism.
Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 19:22: “Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Praise God for showing us again that nothing is impossible for Him.