Hope for Humanity Baltimore evangelistic Series wraps up with baptism service

Story by Evan Knott

The “Revelation Today: Hope for Humanity” evangelistic series concluded on Nov. 1 at Goucher College in Baltimore with a special evening baptism service celebrating 14 new members joining the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The baptisms are part of the year-long Reach Baltimore 2025 evangelistic initiative, with additional baptisms taking place in local churches and more scheduled before year’s end.

After a short concert and homily, attendees made their way to the Goucher College pool, where 14 people were baptized by Chesapeake and Allegheny East conference pastors. The pool area was crowded with church members from the Baltimore area who sang as candidates made their way to the pool.

“It was an unforgettable scene as we gathered around the pool and witnessed the Kingdom of God expand in the city of Baltimore,” said Jerry Lutz, Chesapeake Conference president. “What an exciting, faith-building experience it was to witness the baptisms of the newest members of God’s last day movement!”

Major Evangelistic Collaboration

The series was part of Reach Baltimore 2025, a joint evangelistic initiative of the Chesapeake and Allegheny East conferences, It Is Written, the Columbia Union Conference and the North American Division.

G. Alexander Bryant, president of the North American Division, and John Bradshaw, president of It Is Written, co-preached the 21-part series covering Bible prophecy and Adventist doctrines, including the Sabbath, the Second Coming of Jesus, and the state of the dead.

Leading into the meetings, organizers hosted a free health clinic at Miracle City Church in Baltimore and a biblical archaeology seminar at Goucher College with Michael Hasel, professor of Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology at Southern Adventist University. 

More than a million flyers were mailed throughout the Baltimore area, and the event was promoted heavily on social media. The meetings drew steady in-person attendance, while the online audience reached thousands of viewers across the region and beyond through a partnership between It Is Written and Hope Channel.

The success of the series was made possible through the efforts of dedicated church members, local pastors, and Bible workers from both conferences. Seminary students from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University provided additional support throughout the month as part of their Evangelism Field School requirement for the Master of Divinity program.

David Klinedinst, Chesapeake Conference Evangelism and Church Growth director, reflected on the value of the joint initiative. “It’s about collaboration and learning to work together,” Klinedinst said. “You can have a wider impact than you can make on your own, and there’s momentum gained from it. The kind of diversity that was displayed during the evangelistic series—no one church could’ve done that.”

Kids Program Engages Younger Attendees

In conjunction with the main series, the Children’s Ministries departments from both the Chesapeake and Allegheny East conferences organized a parallel program for children using It Is Written’s “Buried Treasure” curriculum. The nightly program, supported by volunteers from both conferences, provided age-appropriate content that mirrored the themes of the adult meetings. 

Children participated in songs, crafts, and games while learning major Bible teachings in an engaging, Christ-centered way. The curriculum was specifically designed for use during an evangelistic series, making the “Hope for Humanity” message accessible for the whole family.

Looking Ahead to 2026

The broader Reach Baltimore 2025 initiative has seen results across multiple events. Two weekend “Hope for Humanity” Spanish events were recently held with Evangelist Robert Costa, resulting in 60 decisions for Christ. (LINK TO THAT ARTICLE) Baltimore area churches continue to baptize new members as the year-long initiative progresses.

 

Looking ahead, conference leaders are encouraging local churches to conduct follow-up Bible studies with attendees, while Bible workers continue pursuing hundreds of leads  generated from this year’s events. Another evangelistic series will be held at the Greektown Square and Event Center near the Urban Life Center in April 2026. A church plant is expected to be established in the area as part of the ongoing effort to strengthen the Adventist presence in Baltimore.

 

“There will be many more baptisms in the weeks and months ahead,” says Lutz. “The best is yet to come! Praise the Lord!”