Personal Ministries Report

Purpose

The Personal Ministries Department supports and trains church members to reach their local communities with the Gospel. Its primary emphasis is on building caring relationships, addressing spiritual concerns, and engaging in meaningful community outreach.

Mission Statement

To make disciples by reaching the Northeastern Conference territory with the distinctive, Christ-centered Adventist message of hope and wholeness.

Vision Statement

To lead people to a lifelong commitment to Christ that prepares them for dynamic Christian leadership and service.

Report Summary

I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to have served as the Personal Ministries Director of the Northeastern Conference for the past four years. Our primary goal has been to emphasize evangelism as the number one priority across our churches. During this time, my team and I engaged 159 churches where we preached, taught, and trained members in evangelism through seminars and workshops.

Key training topics included: strengthening congregants through small groups, mission and vision development, training Bible workers, witnessing in the 21st century, evangelistic preaching, disciple making, youth involvement, leadership development, retention, preparing churches for evangelism, and creating a culture of evangelism.

When I began serving in 2021, I encouraged personal ministries leaders to connect with their churches and create a culture of evangelism. This initiative led to the establishment of the Personal Ministries Advisory Council, which convenes quarterly to educate, equip, and empower leaders to share Christ’s message of hope. One of the most significant areas of growth has been small groups, which have prepared members to share their faith, build relationships, and provide Bible studies.

Annual themes strengthened our mission: 2022 – 'Get Up and Go'; 2023 – 'Spread the Word: Jesus is Coming Soon'; 2024 – 'Do More in 2024'; and 2025 – 'Come Alive in 25'. We also emphasized cultural awareness in evangelism, recognizing the need for long-lasting cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in diverse communities.

Signature Programs and Events

Our annual Personal Ministries and Federation Convention united leaders, Bible workers, and members, drawing 375–400 attendees each year. Keynote speakers included Pastor Orville Brissett (2021), Dr. Glen Samuels (2022), Dr. Carlton Byrd (2024), and Pastor Javon Whyte (2025).

In 2022, 376 individuals graduated from the School of Evangelism, later serving as Bible workers across 40+ churches. The department also supported the annual Ambassador Banquet, hosted digital evangelism workshops (leading 38 churches to report increased baptisms), and participated in the 2025 Festival of the Laity with 100 NEC representatives among 575 attendees.

We also nurtured youth through the Festival of Young Preachers and encouraged collective prayer during our annual Week of Prayer, which attracted over 400 participants nightly.

Retention of New Members

Retention has been a pressing challenge, with many new members leaving shortly after baptism. To address this, we emphasized small group ministry as a means of nurturing and sustaining new believers.

Gratitude and Recognition

God has richly blessed the Northeastern Conference, and thousands have accepted Christ as Savior. We commend all leaders, pastors, and members for their commitment. Special recognition goes to Dr. Andrew Philbert, Pastor Kevin Mohammed, and Dr. Anthony Usher for their faithful service as associate directors.

Looking Ahead

We propose planting new churches as a measure of evangelistic effectiveness and recommend a four-year strategic plan focused on preparation, planning, cultivation, harvesting, and retention.

Services and Resources

The department has provided resources, training, and consultation for evangelism across NEC. This included responding to requests for literature and Bible studies, conducting seminars, training 143 Bible workers, organizing a mission trip to Ghana, and serving on several committees.

Conclusion

As we anticipate the return of Jesus Christ, we remember His words: 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.' (Matthew 9:37). By following the principle that Each One Reach One, we can lead countless souls to Christ.

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