New Jersey’s ‘Caravan’ Nets 220 Baptisms So Far

Story by Visitor Staff

Some 37 people ready for baptism at the Rahway church in New Jersey.

“I’m so happy to let you know that the Caravan of Hope (Caravana de la Esperanza) is going way beyond all expectations!” wrote an excited Ruben Ramos, assistant to the Columbia Union president for Multilingual Ministries, in an email sent this morning. “When the week of evangelism and harvest was planned with the leadership of New Jersey Conference, we set a goal of 100 souls for the whole week.”
 
As of last night, there have been 138 baptisms. And dozens more commit their lives to Christ each night. The Caravan of Hope is a mobile evangelism series featuring Alejandro Bullón, an evangelist from South America. The series began last Friday at the Luso-Brazillian church in Newark and made stops at Spanish churches in Bridgeton, Robbinsville, Edison, Vineland, Rahway, Newark, Jersey City and Elizabeth. Last night, 37 people were baptized at the Elizabeth church. The caravan continues through November 16 where there will be a festival of the laity in Andover and Tranquility. 
 
Staff at the union’s Multilingual Ministries and the conference’s Personal Ministries department worked together to organize the caravan. However, they attribute week’s success to the work of New Jersey Conference members, small groups, whole churches and pastors. Bullón, who has spoken at hundreds of events across the North American Division (NAD), said, “This is one of the best weeks of evangelism that I have led in NAD.”
 
Participants are requesting prayers as they continue with this series.

Update: When the caravan ended on November 16, 2013 some 220 people were baptized, bringing the New Jersey Conference membership to 15,006. 

Jose H. Cortés, president of the New Jersey Conference, speaks with baptismal candidates.