When I first read John 21:25, I wondered, “How can the entire earth not hold enough books to list Jesus’ works?” I volunteer as an assistant librarian at my church, and we have over 3,750 books.
Awhile back, my family went to the circus. I purchased tickets that put us right up front. As the show progressed, there was a knife-throwing clown act. Seeking volunteers from the audience, I was chosen to participate in this extravaganza.
This summer, Ohio Conference members gathered for the first in-person English camp meeting since 2019. More than 600 people worshipped and fellowshipped at the Mount Vernon Hill church, as well as under the “big top” tent at Camp Mohaven in Danville—reigniting connections and faith.
When I got the news that I was moving to Ohio, I was so mad at God. It was so unfair that I had to move again. I felt like I was just getting used to living in Tennessee, but now I had to pack everything up. It was so hard for me to let go of all the friends I had met.
When I became a Christian, I felt that this verse was the perfect summary of my salvation experience. Before I understood my redemption in Christ, I was living under a huge burden of trying to be accepted by God. I never felt good enough for Him to accept me as a candidate for heaven. I was lonely and depressed.
I have a reminder on my phone with this verse, and I contemplate and pray it every morning. Being reminded daily that He affectionately cares and closely watches over me helps me grasp that there is nothing that gets past His loving attention.
This year, the Hispanic Ministries Department has experienced many stories of how God has worked in people’s lives across Ohio: An entire family making the decision to give their lives to Jesus; a lady who resisted her friend’s invitation to church finally attends and decides to be baptized; a daughter who takes a trip to see her mother be baptized ends up being touched by the Holy Spirit and gets baptized too; 10 young people get baptized together; a pastor baptizes his own sister; a man who suffers from addiction and sleeps in a cemetery finds new life and hope by giving his life to Jesus.
