BY MICHELE STOTZ, It Is Written public relations director

he good news of Jesus Christ swept over Montreal, Canada last July when It Is Written speaker Mark Finley presented his Revelation Offers Hope evangelistic series at Verdun auditorium, a 6,000-seat hockey arena. About 700 baptisms are anticipated.

The series was a dream come true for Quebec Conference president Nahor Muchiutti, who had envisioned a major campaign for some time. Preparations began more than a year ago. Emile Maxi, conference personal ministries director, and It Is Written personnel Tony Moore and Ernestine Finley implemented a lay training strategy which included equipping 200 lay people for Bible study ministry. On the first Saturday evening of It Is Written's "pre-work" visit to Montreal, nearly 800 people attended a rally at the Westmont Adventist Church for a rally. Pastor Finley challenged the believers in Montreal to be used by the Holy Spirit to share tracts, give personal Bible studies, and even hold evangelistic meetings.

Daniel Latchman, youth director for the Quebec Conference, mobilized over 100 youth for active involvement in the city. Adventist-laymen's Services and Industries (ASI) President Denzil McNeilus and his son, Justin, participated in equipping pastors, lay people and youth to conduct DVD evangelism meetings using the New Beginnings series. "At one point, we had 167 simultaneous evangelistic series being held by pastors and lay people!" said Muchiutti.

It Is Written television programs were translated into French and aired on Il Est Écrit, It Is Written's French telecast in Quebec that reaches an audience of 50,000. As part of the outreach efforts, the Il Est Écrit office started a special church service for French-speaking telecast viewers.

The Meetings Begin
The preparations made a dramatic difference in the turnout. Church members rallied their support by bringing friends and family to the meetings. On the first night more than 3,900 attended. For 11 nights, Finley unlocked the mysteries of Revelation for the audience in Verdun Auditorium. Many community visitors non-Adventists enjoyed the messages so much that they also invited friends and family. As a result, the attendance grew with every meeting. Many appreciated the fact that Finley's messages were available in French, thanks to Il Est Écrit Speaker José Elysée, and in Spanish, translated by Está Escrito Coordinator Robert Costa.

Jemma Marshall, a local church member, said of the series, "It was inspiring, spirit-filled, and uplifting--presented by a man of God who spoke with such clarity and simplicity."

A Growing Church
According to the 2003 Adventist Yearbook, the Quebec Conference has 3,852 church members. Church officials were amazed when more than 2,200 persons of other faiths attended Finley's series. Stan Gornicki, a lay member, worked as part of the auditorium security team. "It was wonderful to see all the different people approaching," said Gornicki. "It was almost like a ribbon of saints entering one of the gates of heaven."

The response was so overwhelming that Finley returned to the city one week later to conduct more meetings. In October he visited Quebec again in an effort to reach those who had not yet made a decision for Jesus.

North American Division President Don Schneider recognized the Lord's hand in these meetings. "We have never before been able to make an impact in the Quebec Conference. In the past we've had 80 or so baptisms a year. This year we expect 700 as a result of these efforts!"

Testimonies
Azmir. God reached into the vast melting pot of Montreal to reach people who had never before heard the gospel. Azmir, a Muslim, was persecuted and jailed in his native country. He longed for the freedom to seek truth and express his religious and political views freely.

Through a series of miracles, he was able to immigrate to Canada. Though happy with his new freedom, Azmir sensed something missing in his life. He began a personal search for a deeper relationship with God.

The Spirit led him to It Is Written's Revelation Offers Hope meetings. He accepted the truths of Scripture, and on Sunday night, July 20, Azmir followed Jesus into the waters of baptism.

Tasha. When Tasha's nine-year-old daughter almost drowned in a community swimming pool, Tasha was convinced it was time to get her own life right with God. She made a decision to return to church. But which church? She had Seventh-day Adventist friends and occasionally attended church with them. When she wondered, "Should I attend church on the seventh day?" she heard a voice urging her to begin worshiping each Sabbath.

She wanted to attend the nearest Adventist church, but did not have enough money for bus fare. She and her three children took a step in faith. She offered a bus driver the meager amount she had. With a smile, he said, "Don't worry about it. It will be enough."

Tasha knew God was leading her. She attended church, accepted Jesus, studied God's Word, came to the Revelation Offers Hope series and was baptized.

Patricia. Patricia drove across Montreal to attend Pastor Tony Moore's archeology series this past April. Muchiutti, and Canadian Union President Daniel Jackson, had also planned to attend the same meeting that Sunday night.

There was only one problem. The meeting was actually on Saturday night, not Sunday night. The conference president was somewhat embarrassed. He had confused the nights of the meetings! Thinking fast, Muchiutti suggested they attend another evangelistic meeting across town.

Just as they were preparing to leave for the new location, they met Patricia. She, too, was extremely disappointed because she had hoped to attend Pastor Moore's archeology meetings. Muchiutti was impressed to invite Patricia to the evangelistic series across town, and she eagerly accepted. The conference president drove her to the meetings in his car, with the union president following in a second vehicle. Patricia enjoyed the sermon that evening and thanked the men for inviting her. When Muchuitti invited her to Finley's Revelation Offers Hope series at Verdun Auditorium, she attended every evening. Today Patricia is a baptized Seventh-day Adventist.

The Work Continues in Montreal
Throughout the series, Finley conducted a field school of evangelism for 60 pastors and lay Bible instructors. Mrs. Finley coordinated a team of 12 computer data entry personnel and a comprehensive tracking system that enabled organizers to keep accurate attendance records throughout the series. Thanks to this system, lay people and pastors are now visiting with community friends who attended the series.

Through the work of pastors, lay members and the It Is Written staff, Revelation Offers Hope forever changed the lives of thousands of people in Montreal.

"This once again proves that evangelism does work in North America," said NAD President Don Schneider. "I offer my thanks to all who were involved for putting themselves on the line, and for having the faith to do it!"

It Is Written, It Is Written Canada and Il Est Écrit will continue their efforts to cover all of Canada with the good news of Jesus Christ. Pastor Finley appreciates the support and prayers of those around the world. "In this spiritual ministry, it is only by uplifting Jesus that human lives can be changed," he said. "Please pray daily for the Holy Spirit to convict the hearts of truth-seekers around the world!"

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