“Imagine a program that changes the lives of hundreds of young people, while reaching people for the Kingdom of God. The Professional & Business Association helps make just such a program possible in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference with their yearly donation to the Magabook ministry. Their
donation helps sponsor vans, leaders, and Bible workers that physically make the program possible. But even more important is the two-part evangelistic emphasis that occurs.One of the objectives is to reach the thousands of people who the students meet and pray with and present Christian literature. Many of these people would be reached in no other way. Second is the evangelistic work that happens in the lives of the young people who participate. It is a life-changing experience for the majority, and for many, it is their introduction to a faith walk with Jesus.
Each year the PBA donation helps sponsor three canvassing industries at Adventist schools and three summer programs in major cities in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference. The scholarships that the participants earn enable many of them to receive an Adventist education where it would otherwise be
Vlasta Hybl, Youth Publishing Assistant
impossible. The donation and the partnership of PBA with the Magabook ministry is a vital part of our
ministry.”
“The fact that I’m able to do canvassing work at all is a miracle. As a naturally shy person, I spend the weekend anxious and distressed over the fact that I’m going to spend my Sunday afternoon going door to door. But when I meet the person behind the door, everything disappears from my mind except how I can love this person and find a way to open their heart for Jesus to enter. It energizes me and clears my mind like nothing else can!
Canvassing opens my eyes to just how real and alive the gospel still is, and what a difference it makes in a life. I met an old lady who had just lost an infant grandson. She invited me inside to see a small memorial to the boy. She told me that the loss had only increased her excitement and hope for the resurrection day when she was certain she would see the child again. Her hope gave me hope to continue on that day. Hope makes a difference!”
Spencer Kim
“I prayed to God to show me why I was working in his place and then I walked to a very isolated car in a parking lot, hoping that somebody was inside. I saw a man who was just staring forward. I began to canvas him. The first thing I always say is, “how are you, how’s your day?”. To which he answered, “Not very good.” He told me that he got in trouble and his wife had kicked him out of the house and now he stays with his mom nearby.
I tried to encourage him by telling him about God’s willingness to forgive if we repent. I also told him that even though we as humans are slow to forgive it is difficult for us to do so because we are sinful in nature, it is not difficult for God.
I continued to show him the books, especially the ones that I thought he needed and he himself was interested in devotionals so I showed him the Jesus set which was the Desire of Ages and Christ’s Object Lessons and he really liked them both. He purchased them. Then, after a little talk, he continued to express his heart to me, and I ultimately offered to pray for him.
So, when I finished praying for him I shared that small teaching from the book that he had just gotten in his hand and I told him to read it for himself and then I left.
From his teary eyes, I could see a look of hope and I realized that God had used me to give him a message. God had answered my prayer and his at the same time.”
Jennifer Germosen
“On my first day of canvassing in the winter program, I met a lady called Tamara who was extremely excited about the books and wanted almost all of them. She was able to get four books but didn’t have enough money to get the rest, so she told me to make sure to call her when I was back in the area so that she could get the rest!
When I went back to that same area I called her, but sadly she said that she still didn’t have enough money for the rest of the books.
On the last day of canvassing, I randomly saw Tamara again and she greeted me with joy. She said she wished she could’ve gotten the other books because her mom had used the other ones for their Wednesday night Bible studies and everyone enjoyed them. This reminded me that the day before, I had received a really big donation! Because of this, I offered to give Tamara the other four books she wanted, since someone else had already “paid” for them.
I know for a fact that meeting her at that exact time was not a coincidence.”
Jennifer Germosen