AFCOE: BEAR FRUIT
HELPING CHRISTIANS R
aised in a Sabbath-keeping home, I was baptized when I was 12 and even thought I would grow up to be a minister. However, as a teenager, I started hanging out
with the wrong crowd. Soon, God didn’t mean much to me—nor did going to church or anything else connected with being a Christian. When I was 20, I realized I needed Jesus in my life, but it wasn’t until I met my wife that I went to church every Sabbath. In August 2008, everything had
changed for me. I had become a deacon and youth leader, but God had bigger plans. I watched a sermon about the last days and world events, and it woke me up! I realized I was not where I needed to be with God. I hated feeling that way, so I prayed, asking
God to forgive me for wasting my life and to show me what I must do to be saved. That was the start of the transformation. I was still drinking alcohol, so I had to stop and throw it all out.
Afterward, I knew I had to stop listening to rock music, so I threw out all my CDs. Of course, I needed to go through my DVDs too. My wife thought I was going through a midlife crisis, but it felt good, and I praise God I am no longer bound by those things. I also knew I needed more spiritual things in my life, so I started going to prayer meeting. After a few meetings, I was asked
25 Inside Report | 2Q 2012
to lead out. After three weeks, I was asked to be a permanent leader. I was also asked to teach adult Sabbath school and be an elder. I suddenly realized that God had a work for me. My pastor was instrumental in bringing me to the point
where I could attend AFCOE. I was on fire for God and wanted to do nothing else but work for Him. It took a while for everything to fall into place—we have two kids, we couldn’t afford the tuition, and I couldn’t take all that time off from work. In fact, there seemed to be an impossible list of things to overcome. But God took care of that list for me, one item at a time. It was incredible to see Him work for me and through the people around me to make it happen. Finally, in the fall of 2010, I was able to go. It was hard
leaving my family knowing I would not see them for four months, but I needed to go as I felt God had called me there at that specific time.
God’s Work Begins Right Away AFCOE was an awesome experience! I thought I would never
be able to remember all the things we learned. After graduation and back at my home church, I befriended new people who had started attending while I was at AFCOE. One of the new couples agreed to study the Bible with me, and they were soon baptized. They also began attending a small group at my home every week, along with other new seekers.
I was also anxious to train church members in outreach
and started a class a few months later. By God’s grace, seven members are now trained to witness for Christ more effectively with co-workers and going door to door. I taught the same class at a sister church, where 11 people were trained, and many have ongoing Bible studies now. It’s awesome to see the excitement in them as they do the Lord’s work! We also have plans this year for addiction recovery seminars, door-to-door outreach, and whatever else we can do to reach our community. God has allowed me to stay busy preaching and teaching,
often at nearby churches, and I hope to have a website soon that will include podcasts and Bible studies. A pastor has also asked me to help his district by preaching at one of his churches once a month or so. I am excited to be able to share Jesus with so many people and disciple those who are on fire for Him. If it weren’t for AFCOE, I would not be able to do all that I am able to do now. What a difference four months make! The training is intense, and at times it seems overwhelming, but when you are willing to do the work, God will always bless your efforts.
Is God calling you? Jesus is coming soon, so the more laborers in God’s field, the better! See our ad on the next page to learn more about AFCOE and call us if you want to become a better witness for Jesus.
By Nathan Ballard
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