Ohio Conference Hispanic Ministries Celebrates ‘Festival of Miracles’

Story by Kasper Haughton Jr. 

Around 3,000 years ago, the prophet Isaiah used metaphors to encourage a nation’s growth by saying to them: “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes” (Isa. 54:2, NIV). The same God who desired to make His kingdom grow then is seeking the expansion of His church today.

This year, the Ohio Conference’s Hispanic Ministries Department has initiated a strategy called “2023 Miracles” with a goal to baptize 1,000 people during 2023. Hispanic Ministries continues to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in and through its Ohio Conference members. Over three consecutive Sabbaths, members gathered across the territory, praising God during the year-end event, “Festivals of Miracles.”

The first of these festivals took place in Wauseon, where more than 400 people worshipped together. The Holy Spirit convicted 13 individuals to surrender their lives to Jesus through baptism.

Pastors dedicated three children to God and recognized leaders for their hard work in bringing people to Jesus, and the event finished with a baptismal ceremony in which 35 people surrendered their hearts to Him.

At the final festival, more than 400 people from the Cleveland area attended. Pastors recognized members for leading people to God’s kingdom, and 35 more people decided to follow Jesus and be baptized.

Ohio Conference’s Hispanic Ministries has experienced considerable growth in the last decade. Recently, leaders have created four new districts, have organized new churches, and now there are 32 congregations when only 10 existed previously.

“May the abundant grace of the Lord keep pouring out over the Hispanic Ministries,” praises Peter Simpson, Hispanic Ministries coordinator.