After cultivating relationships on campus throughout the year, the Newcastle University Adventist church plant (NSW) ran its first official evangelistic series from October 22 to 30. Run for university students, the initiative was originally planned for August but had to be postponed to October due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
“It was not an ideal timing according to uni students’ schedule, but even though they were busy with assignments and exam preparation, we still had a very good attendance,” said one of the local church plant leaders Na Shen.
According to Ms Shen, attendance varied from 40 on Wednesday night to 100 on Sabbath. “About 30 per cent were not church members,” she added.
Held at Warners Bay Adventist Church, the series, presented by Avondale University head of Seminary Dr Kayle de Waal, was themed Revelation of Hope.
“Dr Kayle’s messages were very relevant as they were unpacking the book of revelation before the audience—something that many Bible students are curious about,” said Warners Bay and Newcastle University churches pastor Joseph Skaf.
The program also featured a Q&A session in the final meeting. “That was one of the highlights because some of them had been having specific questions for a long time, and [their questions] all got answered during the Q&A,” said Ms Shen.
Healthy plant-based meals were provided at the weekend meetings by Food Farmacy—a North New South Wales Conference Health Ministries cafe opening in December in Cardiff.
“The delicious and healthy meals really boosted our mingling and fellowship time after each meeting. We could see the unity, love and the Holy Spirit leading throughout the evangelism,” said Ms Shen.
At the end of the meetings, 12 attendees requested Bible studies, and six expressed their wish to be baptised.
