The Development and Implementation of a Creative Approach in Training Hispanics for Evangelism in the Oregon Conference

Problem The rapid growth of Hispanics in the Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists represents a challenge for evangelistic outreach. This project was to determine how a conference-sponsored lay evangelism school could enhance Hispanic lay participation in evangelism. Method Research was conducted to understand the role of lay people in evangelism, followed by the establishment of a school of evangelism for training Hispanic lay people in the Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Fifty-two lay evangelists graduated from the school. Results The Hispanic lay people who participated in the training program believe that their spiritual lives have been enhanced. They also indicated that they have been impacted positively towards evangelism. In addition, the high degree of efficiency, inspiration, and motivation for outreach demonstrated by the participants suggests that the objective of the program was satisfactorily achieved. Moreover, the students were unanimous in expressing their eagerness to implement the training they have received in their respective communities. Conclusions The Great Commission of Jesus to make disciples makes it necessary for the church to train lay people for evangelism. Establishing a lay evangelism training school is one way through which people of any language or ethnic background can be motivated, trained, and equipped to fulfill Christ’s mandate. In addition, church leaders should take appropriate steps to understand the role of lay people in evangelism. The concept of the priesthood of all believers should be revisited, restudied, and revived. Moreover, the church must be intentional in its commitment to evangelize the world through the agents God has chosen, namely, every believer in Christ. Finally, pastors and evangelists should realize that they have been called to train the believers for the work of the ministry