By Knowing Him (edit, back)
01/20/2010
Welcomed by triple-digit temperatures, more than 2,000 people gathered in Phoenix, Ariz., for the 62nd annual ASI Convention. Themed “By Knowing Him,” the convention programming encouraged attendees to pursue a personal, committed relationship with Jesus Christ.
One of the highlights of every ASI Convention is the Friday evening Youth for Jesus recap. As early as January, YFJ Bible workers arrived in Phoenix to lay the foundation for the summer’s youth-led evangelistic campaign.
When the summer temperatures arrived, so did a team of 48 young people, ready to share Jesus with the city of Phoenix. During the month-long YFJ program, the team of youth gave Bible studies, presented evangelistic meetings and spent many hours in the scorching sun doing door-to-door outreach.
On Friday evening, they shared the wonderful results of their work. Some 109 people were baptized, and the youth who participated discovered a love for their Lord and a new passion for serving others.
The convention children and youth divisions shared the spotlight on Friday night. Developing an enthusiasm for service was a key theme in the children and youth programming this year. Each division shared how that theme was communicated to them during the convention through various programs and activities.
In the spirit of service, the earliteen and youth departments helped build a ramp and porch for the Adventist mission school at the Gila River Indian Reservation. They also helped organize and prepare the facility for the upcoming school year.
Outstanding ASI member testimonies are highlights at every ASI convention, and many were shared this year. The Guthrie family from Northern California, inspired by an earlier experience in door-to-door witnessing, decided to do outreach in a small town near their home—one with no Adventist presence.
“It was just thrilling!” beamed Patti Guthrie, adding that follow-up Bible studies are now being given to those who expressed interest.
Some of the convention’s most exciting moments happened on Sabbath morning. Among them was a special report on the One-Day Church, a joint project between ASI and Maranatha Volunteers International.
Around the world, some 100,000 Adventist congregations are without church buildings. Introduced at the 2008 ASI Convention, the One-Day Church is a prefabricated galvanized steel structure that can be built in one day by a handful of workers.
ASI member Garwin McNeilus shared that, thanks to generous support from last year’s special projects offering, some 2,200 One-Day Church kits had been manufactured to date and sent to congregations in Ecuador, Mozambique, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Swaziland, Chad, and Haiti.
A second dimension of the project, the One-Day School, was also introduced Sabbath morning. The One-Day School is a modified One-Day Church structure that will allow Adventist schools to spring up all around the world.
Each year, ASI is honored to further the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its supporting ministries through the ASI Convention Special Projects Offering. Last year saw a record offering of more than $8 million. Current economic conditions had created some uncertainty, however, as to what could be expected at the 2009 convention.
Despite the uncertainty, 35 projects were prayerfully selected and a target offering of $1,362,000 was designated. In a moving testament of faith, ASI members pledged $2,389,864, exceeding the target and allowing the 2009 projects to move forward as planned.
2009 was also an election year for ASI. During the convention, a new leadership body was elected to serve for the 2009–2011 term. The new officers introduced on Sabbath afternoon included Norman Reitz, president; Donna McNeilus, general vice president; Ramon Chow, secretary-treasurer; Terry Anderson, vice president for evangelism; Steve Dickman, vice president for recruitment; Danny Houghton, vice president for communication; Stan Smith, vice president for finance; and Harold Lance, ASI Missions Inc. president.
The 2009 ASI Convention, with its inspirational testimonies, motivating presentations, and wonderful fellowship, blessed all who attended. It’s thrilling to think what the Lord has in store for next year.
Join us for the 2010 ASI Convention, August 4-7, in Orlando, Florida. The theme will be “Inspired to Finish Strong.” You and your family are sure to be inspired by next year’s resources, testimonies, and presentations!