45 Baptized in 120 Days of Power Campaign

Story by Heidi Shoemaker

Forty-five people decided to surrender their lives to Jesus in a baptismal ceremony held at the conclusion of what Pastor Pedro Simpson calls a revolutionary campaign named 120 Days of Power.

Pedro Simpson, district pastor and Hispanic Ministries coordinator for the Ohio Conference, and Spanish District of Cleveland leaders led members on a spiritual and missionary journey which included 40 days of prayer, followed by 40 days of witnessing and another 40 days of preaching intended to gain 40 new souls for the kingdom of Heaven.

The entire district committed to spend 120 days under the influence of the Holy Spirit, says Simpson. The first action was prayer, 40 days praying at home and in district churches and groups in the First Cleveland Spanish, Ebenezer Spanish, Monte de Sion, Roca Eterna and Akron Hispanic Mission churches. Leaders asked every member to fast and pray on a specific day to ensure “all 40 days were covered and completely dedicated in seeking the power from on high.”

During the next 40 days, district members contacted their friends, neighbors and relatives, inviting them to small groups and to area churches. They also gave Bible studies and served as witnesses to the sweetest love of Jesus.

Then, ready to enter into the third phase of preaching, small group leaders preached in their territory in preparation for four full and simultaneous campaigns led by four experienced evangelists: Pastors Julio Chazarreta, Andres Downs, Fernando Ramirez and Oneal Howard.

“The mercy of God was exceedingly abundant, more than we could have imagined,” says Simpson. The campaign concluded recently with an event at the First Cleveland Spanish church in Cleveland. More than 300 people, including members and visitors from the district filled the building. "Every church [brought] their candidates to be baptized to enlarge the Adventist family in Ohio and the world Adventist family as well," says Simpson. Thirty-nine people were baptized that afternoon. Six more chose baptism during the 120 day event.

Simpson says he overheard members describe the event as “unbelievable,” and heard a mixture of “music, tears, hosannas and shouts of hallelujah everywhere.”

 “Let us be happy for this celebration, but please know that we haven’t yet met the expectations of God. We still need to do more. We can do more and we have to do more for His kingdom,” said Simpson at the conclusion of the ceremony.