The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Dominican Republic on Sunday night concluded one of its largest evangelistic efforts ever held in the capital city of Santo Domingo. Thousands of people traveling in scores of buses came together at Palacio de los Deportes stadium to hear Evangelist Mark Finley present the message of hope from January 7 to 11.
The five-day evangelistic series themed “New Year New Life” drew more than 14,000 every night and gathered thousands of more participants across the island who watched the online series in local churches, in homes, or listened on their radios.
“There is a glorious tomorrow in our future, the Bible says,” Finley stated. “A world of hope, a world of joy, a world of peace, and health, where there is no sickness, nor death,” he said.
Finley conveyed a message of salvation to the gathering and reminded them to make use of opportunities to be joyous, live fully and prepare for heaven. His wife, Earnestine, joined the evangelistic team in offering basic health concepts.
Finley thanked government officials of the Dominican Republic for the religious and political freedom in the nation.
Cesario Acevedo, president of the Church in the Dominican Republic, said Church leaders and members spent months preparing for the massive campaign. “Our Church wanted to strengthen Dominican families and society with the presentation of the Word of God in a massive way,” Acevedo said.
Acevedo shared that preparation began last April as evangelistic initiatives began in 72 Adventist schools. The campaigns continued with children, teens and adolescents in churches from June to August. The month of December was dedicated to special prayer for the success of the large evangelistic series in Santo Domingo.
“This has been the largest attended mega evangelistic campaign we have had in more than 15 years,” Acevedo said. “The Church is growing fast and just recently, we have been able to reach 90 percent of the country with our FM station,” he added.
The series was reported by news agencies and transmitted live through a network of 20 radio stations as well as online.
“Our members are so committed to reaching those in their communities [that] it is a blessing to watch the Lord work through them,” Acevedo added.
Dozens of new believers were baptized throughout the weekend series, and some 3,000 baptisms are expected to take place on January 17 during a special online ceremony at El Palacio de Los Deportes.
There are nearly 300,000 Adventist Church members in the Dominican Republic. The Church operates 72 primary and secondary schools, a university, a hospital and one radio station.