Baptize

Multiply • BAPTIZE • Equip • Plant • Revitalize

Nothing relevant will happen until we start doing as Jesus did when He walked this earth.

For years, we have been the church of the message. In our evangelism, we have emphasized telling the world about our faith, but is it possible that we have lost the art of showing the world what our faith looks like? And if we have, can the past be redeemed? Can we reboot the gospel?

In this second book of the Multiply series, pastors write about their experiences with evangelism and baptism. You will hear them share how mingling with people, desiring their good, showing them sympathy, and meeting their needs have produced results for the kingdom.

What does it mean to adopt Christ’s method in winning people to Jesus? Baptize will inspire your ministry in three key areas:

• Reaching

• Reclaiming

• Retaining

People want us to love them, they need hope for the present and the future, and they must know that we care about them. This includes—but is not limited to—their spiritual lives. The transforming gospel needs to be seen, felt, and experienced by the individuals and families you serve.

Prayerfully think about evangelism as you read these amazing stories. Take some time to talk with your congregation about practical ways to reach, reclaim, and retain the people in your community. “Go and make disciples. . . . I am with you always” (Matthew 28:19, 20, NIV).

Contributors:

Richie Halversen

Hector Caban

Roger Hernandez

Roger Walter • Dan and Jacob Serns

John T. Boston II

Lucious Hall

Jesse Wilson

Hiram Rester • Fismed Omar

Alanzo Smith • Arnaldo Cruz

David Klinedinst

Carlton P. Byrd

Melanie Cruz

Claudio and Pam Consuegra • Joanne Cortes • Tony Liriano

José H. Cortes Jr.’s greatest passions are God, his family, and ministry. His experience includes close to 25 years of pastoring and youth and young adult ministries as a conference and union departmental director. He currently serves as associate director of the North American Division Ministerial Association and leads evangelism, church planting, global mission, church growth, and mission to the cities. He holds an MDiv from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University and a BA in theology from Columbia Union College. José and Joanne Cortes, his wife and companion in ministry, have two sons, José III and Joel Benjamin.

Ivan L. Williams Sr. sensed a call from God at the age of thirteen while serving in an evangelistic meeting and singing with a quartet. He had the privilege of planting a new congregation and is passionate about giving people hope in Jesus. He currently serves as the director for the Ministerial Association of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. He is grateful to have his wife, Kathleen, and their two young adult children, Imani and Ivan II, with him on his ministry journey.