Gospel Workers
What is a Gospel Worker? A Gospel Worker is one who dedicates his or her life to the ministry of revealing Christ to the world. A Gospel Worker is one who is very sensitive to the voice of the Holy spirit in planning, developing, and implementing cutting edge strategies to win souls to Christ's kingdom. A Gospel Worker is a Bible Worker, a Literature Evangelist, and a Health Evangelist all in one package.
"In proportion to the enthusiasm and perseverance with which the work is carried forward will be the success given. God can work miracles for His people only as they act their part with untiring energy. He calls for men of devotion to His work, men of moral courage, with ardent love for souls, and with a zeal that never flags. Such workers will find no task too arduous, no prospect too hopeless; they will labor on, undaunted, until apparent defeat is turned into glorious victory. Not even prison walls nor the martyr's stake beyond, will cause them to swerve from their purpose of laboring together with God for the upbuilding of His kingdom."
- Prophets and Kings p.263
- Prophets and Kings p.263
When giving a year or more of your life to mission work comes to mind, most people picture going overseas to Asia, Africa, or South America to tell others about Jesus and one of the most difficult mission fields to date is forgotten. Today God is calling Missionaries into a land where millions of people die without Christ every year, a land of hardened hearts and savage indifference, a land of depression and discontent, of drug abuse and suicide, a land of gross immorality, luxury, entertainment, and wanton vice. This mission field is our land, the United States of America, and its people are our people.
We are constantly seeking to expand our ministry with more dedicated Gospel Workers and more locations to spread the Gospel. We have been involved in evangelism from Alaska to California. North America is the ministries country of origin, and we believe we need to be faithful first to that which God has placed before us, which is to encourage the churches of North America to be thriving centers of evangelism. We also believe the Gospel is to be spread everywhere, and will be spread everywhere as a prerequisite to the 2nd coming of Christ, and thus if God calls the ministry to help in other Countries of the World, we look forward to His call.
We are constantly seeking to expand our ministry with more dedicated Gospel Workers and more locations to spread the Gospel. We have been involved in evangelism from Alaska to California. North America is the ministries country of origin, and we believe we need to be faithful first to that which God has placed before us, which is to encourage the churches of North America to be thriving centers of evangelism. We also believe the Gospel is to be spread everywhere, and will be spread everywhere as a prerequisite to the 2nd coming of Christ, and thus if God calls the ministry to help in other Countries of the World, we look forward to His call.
Meet The current Gospel Worker Team
Valoaga and Sheryl Siatunu'u
Brownsville, CA
and
Dobbins, CA
Prior to my conversion to Christ, I became an atheist through life experiences which led me to believe that science had fully explained away the Bible as a myth that was handed down from my parents to me. During a family gathering, my sister shared with my siblings and I her burden for us to return to Jesus and though I believed I already knew the answer to this question about Jesus, I decided I would really research this one more time thoroughly before putting the nail in the coffin once and for all regarding this topic.
In my new found quest for truth, I discovered inconsistencies in science. Not only was it clear to me that there was a God but the Bible stood out so much more clearer than I had ever known when compared with other books that claimed to be from God. I could no longer deny that at least for me there was undeniably a God and that it was the God of the Bible. I can remember immediately thinking about the implications of this truth that I in fact was responsible to this God who was the creator of heaven and earth. During my selfish life of living for self, my family was torn apart and I was constantly drinking and living a life contrary to God’s will. I remember kneeling down and saying my first prayer from the heart to God and asked him to forgive me because as an atheist I lived for myself and to please me, but now I wanted to know this God better. Today by the grace of God, my wife and I have decided to give our life fully and completely to God and for his work. We love to study God’s word and share with others what God has done in our lives.
I was born in Hawaii but grew up in Compton, California and eventually moved to Portland, Oregon where I met my wife, Sheryl. I am a father of four wonderful children. I am currently a Gospel Worker for two churches located in Brownsville and Dobbins, California. I enjoy teaching about end time Bible prophecy and have a longing desire to share the gospel to help prepare a people for the soon return of Jesus.
- Valoaga Siatunu'u
In my new found quest for truth, I discovered inconsistencies in science. Not only was it clear to me that there was a God but the Bible stood out so much more clearer than I had ever known when compared with other books that claimed to be from God. I could no longer deny that at least for me there was undeniably a God and that it was the God of the Bible. I can remember immediately thinking about the implications of this truth that I in fact was responsible to this God who was the creator of heaven and earth. During my selfish life of living for self, my family was torn apart and I was constantly drinking and living a life contrary to God’s will. I remember kneeling down and saying my first prayer from the heart to God and asked him to forgive me because as an atheist I lived for myself and to please me, but now I wanted to know this God better. Today by the grace of God, my wife and I have decided to give our life fully and completely to God and for his work. We love to study God’s word and share with others what God has done in our lives.
I was born in Hawaii but grew up in Compton, California and eventually moved to Portland, Oregon where I met my wife, Sheryl. I am a father of four wonderful children. I am currently a Gospel Worker for two churches located in Brownsville and Dobbins, California. I enjoy teaching about end time Bible prophecy and have a longing desire to share the gospel to help prepare a people for the soon return of Jesus.
- Valoaga Siatunu'u
I was introduced to the Mormon religion at the age of three. I was baptized at eight and was a faithful church goer with my family. At the age of five I was asked to go to a different church with a close friend. At her church they told the story of Jonah and the whale. I was very confused because at my church we didn't learn these stories. Sure I was taught about creation but never really children’s stories you can take away from the Bible. So, I started questioning the teachings. As I got in my preteen and early teen years the questions continued. During those years I experienced some life changing events and gained a very large displaced anger at God. I walked away from religion and Him.
Lets fast forward to giving my life back to God. In my thirties I was at a very low point in my life. I was separated from my husband, had no job, couldn't financially take care of myself or my children. I felt broken and alone. So, I called on the one I had walked away from so many years before. Through a prayer of "God, I don't know how to find you or where to find you so, if you want me come and get me." He answered. On three occasions different religious groups approached me for studies. I found truth in only one of them. The Adventist faith. After attending a evangelistic series in the Portland area I knew God was leading me on a path that would not only change my views and thoughts about religion but would bring me in to a personal relationship with Him. I got baptized immediately after the series ended. I could not wait to start sharing all the new things I was learning.
Today as a Seventh Day Adventist I understand what God wants from us as individuals and as a Bible believing people. A true testimony comes from where we have been and where only God can take us. Through a honest change in our hearts and characters can this be obtained. As for me, I choose to believe and help others to come to know God and His teachings.
It was obvious at an early age that I was interested in cooking. I would read cookbooks and had my own pots and pans to assist my older siblings in the proper way to make the perfect "mud pies". Little did I know that those days of playing as a child would turn into a passion for health and wellness through plant based cooking and natural remedies. As I did more research on health and wellness, I discovered the simplicity of the first diet as described in the Bible. I am excited to continue on in my own personal learning and I love to share the knowledge that The Lord has blessed me with, but I'm more excited about teaching others that true health and wellness only comes from our Lord and Savior as the center of our lives.
- Sheryl Siatunu'u
Lets fast forward to giving my life back to God. In my thirties I was at a very low point in my life. I was separated from my husband, had no job, couldn't financially take care of myself or my children. I felt broken and alone. So, I called on the one I had walked away from so many years before. Through a prayer of "God, I don't know how to find you or where to find you so, if you want me come and get me." He answered. On three occasions different religious groups approached me for studies. I found truth in only one of them. The Adventist faith. After attending a evangelistic series in the Portland area I knew God was leading me on a path that would not only change my views and thoughts about religion but would bring me in to a personal relationship with Him. I got baptized immediately after the series ended. I could not wait to start sharing all the new things I was learning.
Today as a Seventh Day Adventist I understand what God wants from us as individuals and as a Bible believing people. A true testimony comes from where we have been and where only God can take us. Through a honest change in our hearts and characters can this be obtained. As for me, I choose to believe and help others to come to know God and His teachings.
It was obvious at an early age that I was interested in cooking. I would read cookbooks and had my own pots and pans to assist my older siblings in the proper way to make the perfect "mud pies". Little did I know that those days of playing as a child would turn into a passion for health and wellness through plant based cooking and natural remedies. As I did more research on health and wellness, I discovered the simplicity of the first diet as described in the Bible. I am excited to continue on in my own personal learning and I love to share the knowledge that The Lord has blessed me with, but I'm more excited about teaching others that true health and wellness only comes from our Lord and Savior as the center of our lives.
- Sheryl Siatunu'u
Jaco Erasmus
Gridley, CA
My name is Jaco Erasmus I was born and raised in South Africa. I immigrated to the USA in August 2015. I am currently the Bible Worker at the Gridley SDA church in the Northern California Conference. I am married to my wife Shelley Erasmus and we are expecting our first child in May 2017.
I was baptized in the Seventh day Adventist church in May of 2009. I found the truth by personal searching, I came to a point in my life when I was experiencing a lot of depression and pain and wanted to know the answers from God. I starting searching for God’s will for my life with my whole heart. I prayed one night for truth as I was very confused of the teaching of the second coming of Christ. Shortly after that a friend from work shared a dvd series from the SDA church which made since and answered my questions. I was sharing Christ with everyone I would meet I had a passion to share Christ. Once I joined the SDA church my life completely changed for the good. I had a desire to serve God and share the truth.
Once I found the truth about the Sabbath of God I was working as a welding inspector which is difficult working on the Sabbath. I decided not to work on the Sabbath again ever and received an amazing job offer with the company GEA in the biggest project happening in South Africa. The company wanted me to work for them but they wanted me to work on Sabbath which was to me nonnegotiable. After about a few months I received another job opportunity with another company working for half the money working in worse conditions but did not have to work on Sabbath. But from that experience the manager’s son and his wife received the truth. Two years later this company was assigned as part of the quality assurance team for the client on the same project where the other company did not want to accept me as because of the Sabbath. Now I became the client inspector reviewing the work of the same company that rejected me because of Sabbath. This gave me the opportunity to talk to allot of people and plant many seeds. About a year later the manager of the third party inspection authority accepted the truth and he and his wife got baptized.
I married my wife in April 2014, then we moved to the USA in August 2015. I had a passion to share the gospel with others, so I went to the AFCOE program in fall 2015. This opened the door for me to start working as a Bible worker with The Oak is in the Acorn ministry at the Gridley SDA Church. My wife and I moved to Plumas Lake, CA which is 30 minutes away from Gridley, which is where we originally wanted to live. We believe God didn’t open doors for us to find a house in Gridley because recently we have connected with some neighbors in regards to sharing the gospel. If we didn’t move to Plumas lake we would never have met our neighbors, and one neighbor, who is college aged has recently accepted the Sabbath. To see our young neighbor accept the Sabbath is encouraging, because I believe God will raise up an army of young people who will take this message to the world.
Being a Gospel worker sometimes isn’t easy, but it is definitely worth it. The greatest joy is to lead someone to Christ. I am blessed to have the opportunity to serve God.
- Jaco Erasmus
I was baptized in the Seventh day Adventist church in May of 2009. I found the truth by personal searching, I came to a point in my life when I was experiencing a lot of depression and pain and wanted to know the answers from God. I starting searching for God’s will for my life with my whole heart. I prayed one night for truth as I was very confused of the teaching of the second coming of Christ. Shortly after that a friend from work shared a dvd series from the SDA church which made since and answered my questions. I was sharing Christ with everyone I would meet I had a passion to share Christ. Once I joined the SDA church my life completely changed for the good. I had a desire to serve God and share the truth.
Once I found the truth about the Sabbath of God I was working as a welding inspector which is difficult working on the Sabbath. I decided not to work on the Sabbath again ever and received an amazing job offer with the company GEA in the biggest project happening in South Africa. The company wanted me to work for them but they wanted me to work on Sabbath which was to me nonnegotiable. After about a few months I received another job opportunity with another company working for half the money working in worse conditions but did not have to work on Sabbath. But from that experience the manager’s son and his wife received the truth. Two years later this company was assigned as part of the quality assurance team for the client on the same project where the other company did not want to accept me as because of the Sabbath. Now I became the client inspector reviewing the work of the same company that rejected me because of Sabbath. This gave me the opportunity to talk to allot of people and plant many seeds. About a year later the manager of the third party inspection authority accepted the truth and he and his wife got baptized.
I married my wife in April 2014, then we moved to the USA in August 2015. I had a passion to share the gospel with others, so I went to the AFCOE program in fall 2015. This opened the door for me to start working as a Bible worker with The Oak is in the Acorn ministry at the Gridley SDA Church. My wife and I moved to Plumas Lake, CA which is 30 minutes away from Gridley, which is where we originally wanted to live. We believe God didn’t open doors for us to find a house in Gridley because recently we have connected with some neighbors in regards to sharing the gospel. If we didn’t move to Plumas lake we would never have met our neighbors, and one neighbor, who is college aged has recently accepted the Sabbath. To see our young neighbor accept the Sabbath is encouraging, because I believe God will raise up an army of young people who will take this message to the world.
Being a Gospel worker sometimes isn’t easy, but it is definitely worth it. The greatest joy is to lead someone to Christ. I am blessed to have the opportunity to serve God.
- Jaco Erasmus
Bill Givler
Oroville, CA
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
My name is Bill Givler. I’m a Gospel Worker for The Oak is in the Acorn located in Oroville, California, (or wherever I am needed to help). God has called each one of us to do His Work, and He has given you and I an experience and testimony that we can share with others. For we…were not born “of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13. And, God “is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. It was Bible verses like these that changed my life.
As a child and teenager I was involved with the supernatural. I was not raised as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. I felt I didn’t need the Bible since I had contact with God through the spirit world, or so I thought. If my supernatural encounter was good I felt it was from God, but if it was bad and I had been slapped or mistreated during the encounter then I felt it was from the devil. When I was about 19 years old, I was on a spiritual journey where my mind was traveling through space, but this time it was different. I had no control over my body, and could not stop what I was doing, because another power had taken over my body and mind. In my fear I cried out to God to save me. God answered my prayer that night and the next morning I had an overwhelming desire to read the Bible.
In God’s Word I found a Savior, a God of love who had been there for me all the time, just waiting for me to call on Him. I asked God to save me from these supernatural experiences if they were not from Him, and they all stopped. In my search for the truth I found in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” So, yes, I wanted to show my love to God by following His commandments by His grace and power through the Holy Spirit. This led me to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and a people that follow all of the Ten Commandments, and keep holy the Sabbath of the 4th Commandment. In Revelation 22:14, (the last page of the Bible), it says, “Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life!” In John 14:1-3 Christ is preparing a place for us in heaven, and some day He will be coming back to take us home.
This is why I’m a Gospel Worker for The Oak is in the Acorn, so I can share this Hope with others. May the Holy Spirit touch your heart, that you may have a closer walk with God and share His love with others also.
God bless you always.
Your Brother in Christ,
Bill Givler
(If you’d like to hear more of Bill’s testimony check out his book “From Living a Nightmare to Walking with Angels” at our local health food and Christian book store, Eden Healthy, located at 2124 5th avenue, Oroville CA, 95965. Or you can order it online from Amazons website)
My name is Bill Givler. I’m a Gospel Worker for The Oak is in the Acorn located in Oroville, California, (or wherever I am needed to help). God has called each one of us to do His Work, and He has given you and I an experience and testimony that we can share with others. For we…were not born “of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13. And, God “is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. It was Bible verses like these that changed my life.
As a child and teenager I was involved with the supernatural. I was not raised as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. I felt I didn’t need the Bible since I had contact with God through the spirit world, or so I thought. If my supernatural encounter was good I felt it was from God, but if it was bad and I had been slapped or mistreated during the encounter then I felt it was from the devil. When I was about 19 years old, I was on a spiritual journey where my mind was traveling through space, but this time it was different. I had no control over my body, and could not stop what I was doing, because another power had taken over my body and mind. In my fear I cried out to God to save me. God answered my prayer that night and the next morning I had an overwhelming desire to read the Bible.
In God’s Word I found a Savior, a God of love who had been there for me all the time, just waiting for me to call on Him. I asked God to save me from these supernatural experiences if they were not from Him, and they all stopped. In my search for the truth I found in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” So, yes, I wanted to show my love to God by following His commandments by His grace and power through the Holy Spirit. This led me to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and a people that follow all of the Ten Commandments, and keep holy the Sabbath of the 4th Commandment. In Revelation 22:14, (the last page of the Bible), it says, “Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life!” In John 14:1-3 Christ is preparing a place for us in heaven, and some day He will be coming back to take us home.
This is why I’m a Gospel Worker for The Oak is in the Acorn, so I can share this Hope with others. May the Holy Spirit touch your heart, that you may have a closer walk with God and share His love with others also.
God bless you always.
Your Brother in Christ,
Bill Givler
(If you’d like to hear more of Bill’s testimony check out his book “From Living a Nightmare to Walking with Angels” at our local health food and Christian book store, Eden Healthy, located at 2124 5th avenue, Oroville CA, 95965. Or you can order it online from Amazons website)
Doug Clemmerson
Northwest Fort Worth, TX
&
Weatherford, TX
Greetings Dear Brothers And Sisters In Christ,
My name is Doug Clemmerson and I currently work as a gospel worker for the Northwest Fort Worth Seventh-Day Adventist Church as well as the Weatherford Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Texas. I have been doing this gospel work for 4 years now and I am happily married to my wife Isabelle of five years and we have a daughter that is 15 months old and another baby on the way.
I became a Seventh Day Adventist Christian in 2002 and didn’t know it, because I had been reading the book the Great Controversy. The LORD brought me across the path of a Seventh Day Adventist, and he introduced me to his pastor. I officially became a baptized member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in January 2004. In 2011 the local SDA church that I was attending at the time in Guthrie OK had a hired a Gospel Worker from the Oak Is in The Acorn. From that time on I knew that the LORD was calling me to be involved in full time ministry but like many, I was a Jonah, ignoring the calling the LORD had placed upon my life.
Three years had gone by and the LORD was still impressing me to “FORSAKE” all and follow Him. Then my wife and I started praying earnestly that if this is what the LORD really wanted us to do, then we would do so if HE would clear some obstacles out of the way which were hindering us from working full time in His vineyard. Then in January 2014 the LORD removed the obstacles out of the way and we both applied to attend the 2014 fall session of AFCOE for which both of us were accepted. True to our word I left my job working as a machinist with a good paying salary and we sold all of our belongings and packed up and headed to Albuquerque, NM to attend AFCOE.
Once our training with AFCOE completed we got connected with the Oak Is In The Acorn who put us in touch with the Northwest Fort Worth Seventh Day Adventist Church where I have been working full time as a Gospel Worker and recently also started working as a Gospel Worker with the Weatherford Seventh Day Adventist Church. The LORD has truly been blessing the work and ministry that He has called us to do in this part of the United States for the last two years that we’ve been here. We’ve had four Bible study contacts become members of the local church where we are located.
The most amazing testimony I can share is about a family I had been studying with for about a year that discontinued our studies and refused to accept the truth about the Sabbath. Then recently the LORD impressed me to go by and visit with them. As I was visiting with them, they began to share with me how they had been watching 3ABN Latino and that this is all they watch anymore. Then they asked if we could start doing our studies again. During one of our recent studies they asked me since Saturday is the real Bible Sabbath which day should we be going to church on Saturday or Sunday? I asked them what day do you think? And their reply was Saturday.
The main lesson I’ve learned from the situation with this family is to never give up hope or become discouraged if the people we are studying the Bible with choose to stop studying. Also stay in contact with them and continue to show them that you care about them as an individual, because we never know what the outcome maybe.
God bless you my brothers and sisters in Christ
In Christ’s Service and Love,
Doug, Isabelle, and Hannah
My name is Doug Clemmerson and I currently work as a gospel worker for the Northwest Fort Worth Seventh-Day Adventist Church as well as the Weatherford Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Texas. I have been doing this gospel work for 4 years now and I am happily married to my wife Isabelle of five years and we have a daughter that is 15 months old and another baby on the way.
I became a Seventh Day Adventist Christian in 2002 and didn’t know it, because I had been reading the book the Great Controversy. The LORD brought me across the path of a Seventh Day Adventist, and he introduced me to his pastor. I officially became a baptized member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in January 2004. In 2011 the local SDA church that I was attending at the time in Guthrie OK had a hired a Gospel Worker from the Oak Is in The Acorn. From that time on I knew that the LORD was calling me to be involved in full time ministry but like many, I was a Jonah, ignoring the calling the LORD had placed upon my life.
Three years had gone by and the LORD was still impressing me to “FORSAKE” all and follow Him. Then my wife and I started praying earnestly that if this is what the LORD really wanted us to do, then we would do so if HE would clear some obstacles out of the way which were hindering us from working full time in His vineyard. Then in January 2014 the LORD removed the obstacles out of the way and we both applied to attend the 2014 fall session of AFCOE for which both of us were accepted. True to our word I left my job working as a machinist with a good paying salary and we sold all of our belongings and packed up and headed to Albuquerque, NM to attend AFCOE.
Once our training with AFCOE completed we got connected with the Oak Is In The Acorn who put us in touch with the Northwest Fort Worth Seventh Day Adventist Church where I have been working full time as a Gospel Worker and recently also started working as a Gospel Worker with the Weatherford Seventh Day Adventist Church. The LORD has truly been blessing the work and ministry that He has called us to do in this part of the United States for the last two years that we’ve been here. We’ve had four Bible study contacts become members of the local church where we are located.
The most amazing testimony I can share is about a family I had been studying with for about a year that discontinued our studies and refused to accept the truth about the Sabbath. Then recently the LORD impressed me to go by and visit with them. As I was visiting with them, they began to share with me how they had been watching 3ABN Latino and that this is all they watch anymore. Then they asked if we could start doing our studies again. During one of our recent studies they asked me since Saturday is the real Bible Sabbath which day should we be going to church on Saturday or Sunday? I asked them what day do you think? And their reply was Saturday.
The main lesson I’ve learned from the situation with this family is to never give up hope or become discouraged if the people we are studying the Bible with choose to stop studying. Also stay in contact with them and continue to show them that you care about them as an individual, because we never know what the outcome maybe.
God bless you my brothers and sisters in Christ
In Christ’s Service and Love,
Doug, Isabelle, and Hannah
Jerico Batista
College Station, TX
Who are you? The question bellowed from behind the door. “Its me!” I responded. “Who?” Came the question again. “It’s me, Jerico, …!” I said, enthusiastically. “What do you want, and why are you bothering me?” came the irritated voice of a rather large man as he jerked the door open, and I found myself face to face with a giant of a man. Bill*, a professional boxer and fighter, towered above me to a full 6’ 9”, with a bald head, muscles bulging like an elephant, and tattoos covering his arms and neck. The mere sight of this man would bring fear into the heart of anyone, and send chills down the backs of even the bravest, if they were not Hidden in the Cleft of the Rock of Ages. However, the story doesn’t end there, 15 minutes later, this man was in tears, sitting beside me on the step, pouring his heart out. Despite the hardened outward appearance of this man, there was another side. On the inside, this man was hurting, empty, and he was looking for something different. He was looking for a new life.
As I pondered on the turn of events later that afternoon, the reality of the question Bill asked me, “Who are you and why are you here”, struck me on a deeper level. My thoughts raced back to the time in my own conversion experience, when, before I realized the potency of having a life hid in Christ, I was almost in the same boat. I was deliberately walking away from God, and everything that I knew to be right. I felt like a failure, a piece of drift wood on a foaming angry surf. Then, with a sudden turn of events, I realized that God was asking me those very same questions, and I came to the understanding that my very existence on this fragile planet, depended on the fact that I had a Saviour who not only died for my sins, and yes they were many, but also gave me a reason to live. Revelation 17:14 tells me that I am called, and chosen, and challenged to be faithful to Him.
It was the summer of 2012, when during a canvassing program, I realized that God was calling me to a life of ministry and personal evangelism. It was my first day out on the field, ever. And I had completely shattered my canvass at the first two doors. And after a lengthy battle with God, I finally got my courage up to go to the next door. This is when I met Betty*. Betty was an older lady, in her mid-60’s, who was going through a hard time in her life. And when I came to the door, she was at the end of her rope, and just ready to give up on God and life, but God had different plans. As she began to share about her life, I realized exactly how much I still had to learn about God. That is when I realized that I had a duty to share my Jesus with each person that I came in contact with. When I made that decision, it seemed as if a weight just rolled off my back. and since that day, I have been pressing every effort to share the Jesus that I found with each person that I come in contact with. When I think about how my Jesus left his Father’s throne, left the command of the heavenly host, left the comforts of heaven, left everything to come to this dark, sinful, corrupt planet, just to be ridiculed, despised, rejected, wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquity, whipped, spit upon, beaten, treated as the scum of the earth, and eventually crucified on a cruel cross, for me, FOR ME… it changed my life. That’s when I realized that I indeed identified with 1 Cor. 6:9-10, and that’s when I decided to change my filthy rags for a white washed robe, and a golden crown, and live the life according to Gal. 5:22-23. Praise God my life will never be the same and that “He which hath begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ!” and I am a new creature indeed!
Thank you,
Jerico Batista!
As I pondered on the turn of events later that afternoon, the reality of the question Bill asked me, “Who are you and why are you here”, struck me on a deeper level. My thoughts raced back to the time in my own conversion experience, when, before I realized the potency of having a life hid in Christ, I was almost in the same boat. I was deliberately walking away from God, and everything that I knew to be right. I felt like a failure, a piece of drift wood on a foaming angry surf. Then, with a sudden turn of events, I realized that God was asking me those very same questions, and I came to the understanding that my very existence on this fragile planet, depended on the fact that I had a Saviour who not only died for my sins, and yes they were many, but also gave me a reason to live. Revelation 17:14 tells me that I am called, and chosen, and challenged to be faithful to Him.
It was the summer of 2012, when during a canvassing program, I realized that God was calling me to a life of ministry and personal evangelism. It was my first day out on the field, ever. And I had completely shattered my canvass at the first two doors. And after a lengthy battle with God, I finally got my courage up to go to the next door. This is when I met Betty*. Betty was an older lady, in her mid-60’s, who was going through a hard time in her life. And when I came to the door, she was at the end of her rope, and just ready to give up on God and life, but God had different plans. As she began to share about her life, I realized exactly how much I still had to learn about God. That is when I realized that I had a duty to share my Jesus with each person that I came in contact with. When I made that decision, it seemed as if a weight just rolled off my back. and since that day, I have been pressing every effort to share the Jesus that I found with each person that I come in contact with. When I think about how my Jesus left his Father’s throne, left the command of the heavenly host, left the comforts of heaven, left everything to come to this dark, sinful, corrupt planet, just to be ridiculed, despised, rejected, wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquity, whipped, spit upon, beaten, treated as the scum of the earth, and eventually crucified on a cruel cross, for me, FOR ME… it changed my life. That’s when I realized that I indeed identified with 1 Cor. 6:9-10, and that’s when I decided to change my filthy rags for a white washed robe, and a golden crown, and live the life according to Gal. 5:22-23. Praise God my life will never be the same and that “He which hath begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ!” and I am a new creature indeed!
Thank you,
Jerico Batista!
Kristina Machado
College Station, TX
“Why do we study the Bible?”—a friend of mine questioned me. Expecting that he desired a long theological answer, I turned the question back on him. “Why do we study the Bible?” I asked. He told me to turn to Romans 15:4 and read the passage. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” He didn’t have to share more, my mind wandered through the depth and truth of this answer. There are so many people searching for happiness, peace, joy and freedom from pain,misery, disappointment, hurt, death, loneliness, and the list goes on. The Bible is the love letter that traces the veins of a God whose faithfulness and adoration not only satisfies the souls thirst, but totally demolishes every other false temporary joy that the world so “freely” offers. There is power in the Word of God; power that none can daresay deny. To the surface reader it may offer knowledge and information, while some may even glean wisdom from it, but what it offers far more than this is hope. It offers a second chance or a fifth or even a tenth chance for someone who has tried and tried but never has been able to fill that God-shaped void in their heart. And what a difference it can make in the life of such a one that is willing to listen and let God move upon their lives as He moved upon the face of the deep in creation.
A life changed is one of the greatest testimonies in favor of the written and inspired Word of God. That God could take a messed up life such as mine and be willing and able to give beauty for ashes, is an experience that no one can ever rob from you. It enables you to be vulnerable to One who only desires your good; to One who loves you simply because He chose to (Deuteronomy 7:7-8), and nothing you do can change the fact that He has chosen to love you. I have seen this love; this unconditional and unquenchable love of a passionate God who desires to leave all of Heaven so that we might accept Him as our Savior. He is devoted and makes the first advance seeking His lost and wandering sheep. Too often in life, I have found myself to be that sheep. He never forsook me; on the contrary, I left Him. I wandered from Him. Yet on the cross we see a picture of God who was willing to carry my sins, my decisions to stray, and feel that separation (my separation) from the Father.
We hear Him cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34). Though Jesus never wandered, He felt the separation because of my sins—literally because at points in my life I chose to wander. And He took all of my wanderings that through Him I may be found. So He made the first advance. He sought me out. And because of His seeking, I am here today. I have seen pain, death, depression, resentment, envy, bitterness, hurt,loneliness, fear, anxiety, and more without Him. But with Him, I have seen healing, clarity of thought, purpose, value,forgiveness, companionship, contentment, wholeness, peace, joy, life and comfort. And it is this comfort that found me in the great Shepherd that I seek to share with others. It is this love that I cannot hold to myself that I seek to be a conduit for the Holy Spirit’s use. My name is Kristina Machado. I am an elementary teacher and a Bible worker, but even more than this, I am a sheep. I am a sheep that has been found by her Shepherd and is endeavoring to share with other sheep that are lost yet seeking Him, seeking hope, seeking victory, seeking life, the path back to the throne of God.
- Kristina Machado
A life changed is one of the greatest testimonies in favor of the written and inspired Word of God. That God could take a messed up life such as mine and be willing and able to give beauty for ashes, is an experience that no one can ever rob from you. It enables you to be vulnerable to One who only desires your good; to One who loves you simply because He chose to (Deuteronomy 7:7-8), and nothing you do can change the fact that He has chosen to love you. I have seen this love; this unconditional and unquenchable love of a passionate God who desires to leave all of Heaven so that we might accept Him as our Savior. He is devoted and makes the first advance seeking His lost and wandering sheep. Too often in life, I have found myself to be that sheep. He never forsook me; on the contrary, I left Him. I wandered from Him. Yet on the cross we see a picture of God who was willing to carry my sins, my decisions to stray, and feel that separation (my separation) from the Father.
We hear Him cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34). Though Jesus never wandered, He felt the separation because of my sins—literally because at points in my life I chose to wander. And He took all of my wanderings that through Him I may be found. So He made the first advance. He sought me out. And because of His seeking, I am here today. I have seen pain, death, depression, resentment, envy, bitterness, hurt,loneliness, fear, anxiety, and more without Him. But with Him, I have seen healing, clarity of thought, purpose, value,forgiveness, companionship, contentment, wholeness, peace, joy, life and comfort. And it is this comfort that found me in the great Shepherd that I seek to share with others. It is this love that I cannot hold to myself that I seek to be a conduit for the Holy Spirit’s use. My name is Kristina Machado. I am an elementary teacher and a Bible worker, but even more than this, I am a sheep. I am a sheep that has been found by her Shepherd and is endeavoring to share with other sheep that are lost yet seeking Him, seeking hope, seeking victory, seeking life, the path back to the throne of God.
- Kristina Machado
How can I get involved?
Throughout the year multiple church's in North America will contact The Oak looking for a Gospel Worker, and throughout the year multiple Gospel workers will contact our ministry looking for a position at a church. One of the facets of The Oak ministry is being a facilitator for Gospel Workers and churches, and thus part of our mission is to connect Gospel Workers with churches.
A Gospel Worker position isn't a money maker position, it is not for the faint of heart, it is not a savings plan; it is a way of life. A Gospel Worker position is set up so that an individual who wants to do Gospel Work can do full time ministry without any worries of finances.
If you are interested in being a Gospel Worker or if you are a church looking for a Gospel worker please fill out the appropriate online application and one of the members of our ministry will contact you.
A Gospel Worker position isn't a money maker position, it is not for the faint of heart, it is not a savings plan; it is a way of life. A Gospel Worker position is set up so that an individual who wants to do Gospel Work can do full time ministry without any worries of finances.
If you are interested in being a Gospel Worker or if you are a church looking for a Gospel worker please fill out the appropriate online application and one of the members of our ministry will contact you.
Testimonies from Past Gospel Workers
Greetings dear brothers and sisters,
First of all, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Reymond Sapian and I currently work as a gospel worker for the Northwest Fort Worth Seventh-Day Adventist Church as well as the Weatherford Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Texas. I have been doing this gospel work for 4 years now and I am happily married to my wife Memory of six years and we have a son that is turning 2 years old.
The reason why I am in the faith today is because my parents brought me up in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Even though I have always associated myself with the Adventist faith, I was never truly converted until after my teenage years. There have been many events that took place in my life that made me reconsider my faith and walk with God. And as for many Christians that go through this, I decided that if I was going to live like the world, then I must forsake God once and for all and live life as a non-believer. But, if I was to be a Christian Seventh-Day Adventist, then I must dedicate my whole life to the Lord and in doing His service. This made me study the Word and the Spirit of Prophecy because I was not sure of what we had believed. By His grace, however, while attending a camp meeting in Oklahoma held by fellow Seventh-day Adventist believers in the year 2011, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to dedicate my life to Christ once and for all, and I thank the Lord for His mercy and love over me in keeping me from falling astray from the Faith.
As of that day, with the strength of Jesus, I have decided I am not going to allow this world to draw me away from Him. There are still many challenges that we must face as a Christian, but, as long as we stay faithful and true by prayer and studying the Word, and sharing it to others, we can be sure that Christ will not allow us to fall astray from the faith. Have a blessed day brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Reymond Sapian
First of all, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Reymond Sapian and I currently work as a gospel worker for the Northwest Fort Worth Seventh-Day Adventist Church as well as the Weatherford Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Texas. I have been doing this gospel work for 4 years now and I am happily married to my wife Memory of six years and we have a son that is turning 2 years old.
The reason why I am in the faith today is because my parents brought me up in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Even though I have always associated myself with the Adventist faith, I was never truly converted until after my teenage years. There have been many events that took place in my life that made me reconsider my faith and walk with God. And as for many Christians that go through this, I decided that if I was going to live like the world, then I must forsake God once and for all and live life as a non-believer. But, if I was to be a Christian Seventh-Day Adventist, then I must dedicate my whole life to the Lord and in doing His service. This made me study the Word and the Spirit of Prophecy because I was not sure of what we had believed. By His grace, however, while attending a camp meeting in Oklahoma held by fellow Seventh-day Adventist believers in the year 2011, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to dedicate my life to Christ once and for all, and I thank the Lord for His mercy and love over me in keeping me from falling astray from the Faith.
As of that day, with the strength of Jesus, I have decided I am not going to allow this world to draw me away from Him. There are still many challenges that we must face as a Christian, but, as long as we stay faithful and true by prayer and studying the Word, and sharing it to others, we can be sure that Christ will not allow us to fall astray from the faith. Have a blessed day brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Reymond Sapian
Seth - For 30 years I have made my own plans and gone my own way. It did not turn out right. For the last 2 years I have let go and let God. I can’t describe the peace I have because I know what I want to do with the rest of my life. It is no longer a question or concern for me. Ever since I went to AFCOE and we were doing our first Bible studies, I enjoyed living in the “bubble” of Christian life and living around others who were on fire for Christ. I realized that "bubble" was how God made us to be. It was not impossible or out of the ordinary. I realized total commitment is possible. I love working for the Oak and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
Zach- When I was younger I had trouble with feeling that I was worthy or useful at all. I read 1 Peter 2:9 and this verse helped me to see that I had a purpose. I don’t know what I want to do with the rest of my life but I know that I want to show forth the praises of God like the verse said and working for the Oak lets me do this.
John- I want to know Jesus more and nothing reveals Jesus to me more than seeing Him work in the lives of people that he puts in my life and in my path. It shows me the beauty and goodness of Christ and it is the goodness of Christ that makes me fall more in love with Him. I am in the ministry not only to share the truth but also to grow spiritually as well. I am so thankful I am here and how I am growing spiritually. I look at my past life and I can see the difference and just love living in Gods marvelous life. It has been a huge blessing in my life working for the Oak.
James- I was totally in darkness and it is by the mercy of God that I am alive and doing what I am doing right now. I want, by the grace of God, to show others that the truth will truly set them free. I want to share the love of Christ because God desires to save as many souls as we can get. He is not in the business of restricting souls; he is trying to save as many souls as he can.
Brian- Years ago, I grew up in an abusive home and looking back now I can see how God has been protecting me throughout my life. One day I realized that I needed to surrender my life and that same day I realized that to be a follower of Christ, I needed to share Christ. When you work for Christ it gives you so much happiness and joy. I have no desire to do anything else. I have a huge desire to do Christ’s work. The biggest proof of God is when you work for God you get to see what the Bible says actually working in front of your eyes. It is so powerful to watch God working in others' lives right in front of your eyes.
Dale- My intention is to be a pastor and I believe that this experience going into the field will help prepare me for that. It will help me be a pastor and help me reach out to my congregation and help me to be selfless and will help me to go and DO what God's will is for my life.
Raya- This experience is something you cannot get in any other work. It helps you grow. It helps you be a better person. I love how it is focused on the evangelistic work. I joined the Oak doing a canvassing program and it was a dream I had always wanted to do. I love how working at the Oak has helped shape my character and teach me more about God.
Zach- When I was younger I had trouble with feeling that I was worthy or useful at all. I read 1 Peter 2:9 and this verse helped me to see that I had a purpose. I don’t know what I want to do with the rest of my life but I know that I want to show forth the praises of God like the verse said and working for the Oak lets me do this.
John- I want to know Jesus more and nothing reveals Jesus to me more than seeing Him work in the lives of people that he puts in my life and in my path. It shows me the beauty and goodness of Christ and it is the goodness of Christ that makes me fall more in love with Him. I am in the ministry not only to share the truth but also to grow spiritually as well. I am so thankful I am here and how I am growing spiritually. I look at my past life and I can see the difference and just love living in Gods marvelous life. It has been a huge blessing in my life working for the Oak.
James- I was totally in darkness and it is by the mercy of God that I am alive and doing what I am doing right now. I want, by the grace of God, to show others that the truth will truly set them free. I want to share the love of Christ because God desires to save as many souls as we can get. He is not in the business of restricting souls; he is trying to save as many souls as he can.
Brian- Years ago, I grew up in an abusive home and looking back now I can see how God has been protecting me throughout my life. One day I realized that I needed to surrender my life and that same day I realized that to be a follower of Christ, I needed to share Christ. When you work for Christ it gives you so much happiness and joy. I have no desire to do anything else. I have a huge desire to do Christ’s work. The biggest proof of God is when you work for God you get to see what the Bible says actually working in front of your eyes. It is so powerful to watch God working in others' lives right in front of your eyes.
Dale- My intention is to be a pastor and I believe that this experience going into the field will help prepare me for that. It will help me be a pastor and help me reach out to my congregation and help me to be selfless and will help me to go and DO what God's will is for my life.
Raya- This experience is something you cannot get in any other work. It helps you grow. It helps you be a better person. I love how it is focused on the evangelistic work. I joined the Oak doing a canvassing program and it was a dream I had always wanted to do. I love how working at the Oak has helped shape my character and teach me more about God.