A week-long literature evangelism summit at the Riverside Convention Centre in Queensland equipped attendees with practical tools and training to share their faith through Adventist literature and Media.
The LEs for Christ Summit, held from August 23 to 30, brought together around 70 literature evangelists (LEs) and applicants, Youth Rush participants and others involved in literature ministry for a week of learning, fellowship and inspiration, with speakers sharing stories of faith and practical insights into community outreach.
The program, themed “Sent”, featured morning devotionals and evening programs as well as training.
This year, the summit also included an outreach component, which involved three days of door-to-door literature evangelism, book parties at church members’ homes and a community hall, and pop-up bookstores in shopping centres.
Over the three days, 54 literature evangelists from Australia and New Zealand participated in the outreach activities, generating $A19,639 in book sales, distributing 2440 pieces of free literature and offering 131 prayers.
South Queensland literature ministry leader Georgia Kenny said it was exciting to hear fresh testimonies from the daily outreach activities.
“In the evening, when we’d share those testimonies, I think that actually prompted a few involved in Youth Rush and Jump Start to give Regular LE a try,” she said.
“I think hearing those testimonies is what prompted a few to consider giving it a go, so we had a few younger ones come out with Regular LEs, and they gave that a go.
“It was a good opportunity for them to also widen their vision of what could happen in this ministry depending on which LE stream they are doing.”
Ms Kenny, who has been a literature evangelist for nine years, attended the summit with about eight others from her team.
“It was nice because I actually had two from my local church as well—one who is now a literature evangelist, and the other one who became a literature evangelist after coming to the summit,” she said.
Guest speakers included General Conference Publishing Ministries director Pastor Mario Martinelli, Australian Union Conference president Pastor Brendan Pratt, Murwillumbah Adventist Church Pastor Blair Lemke, newly appointed Papua New Guinea Union Mission vice president Pastor Simon Gigliotti and Adventist Media CEO Dr Brad Kemp.
Speaking during Tuesday evening’s program, Pastor Martinelli described his experience of the pop-up book display and book party as “amazing”. He also highlighted the importance of recruiting and training more literature evangelists and students.
“One of the focus areas that we have at the General Conference is to improve, recruit and train more, both regular literature evangelists and also students,” Pastor Martinelli said.
“Literature evangelism has a lasting impact because personal contact combined with a book can change lives through the power of the Holy Spirit over and over.”
