Michigan

The Holy Spirit uses many people to lead individuals into His church. Jesus said, "One sows and another reaps" (John 4:37). Many sowed in the life of Judy Daniels.

Judy had been a Christian since she was eight years old. She first learned about the seventh-day Sabbath from her husband, Bill, who had converted from Judaism to Christianity. She diligently studied her Bible and did research at the library on the subject, but because she and Bill did not know of any Christians who kept the Sabbath, they attended a Sunday-keeping church.

One day they discovered a religious book in the waiting room of a doctor’s office with a Bible study request card tucked in the back cover. They decided to mail it in. Soon Paul Pellandini, pastor, and Howard Peterson from the Edmore Church paid them a visit and began Bible studies in their home. Judy and Bill greatly enjoyed the studies but weren’t fully convinced on some biblical issues. When Pastor Pellandini moved to another district, the studies ended. But a seed had been planted.

Seven years passed during which Bill died. Then one day a non-Adventist neighbor invited Judy to join a Bible study group in her home conducted by students from Great Lakes Adventist Academy. Gladly she accepted the invitation and continued to grow in her Bible knowledge in the months that followed. When her neighbor moved, Judy asked the students to continue the studies in her home. She began occasionally attending the Edmore Church, located at the other end of the block from the church where she was a member. She felt a warmth and friendliness whenever she attended.

When the Hope for the Homeland evangelistic meetings began in Edmore, conducted by Paul Pellandini, former Edmore Church pastor, Judy was pleasantly surprised to see him again when she arrived on opening night of the meetings. During the series, she began keeping the Sabbath and regularly attending church. Many issues were resolved as a result of the meetings, but she still was not ready to make a full commitment.

Several months later, prophecy lectures with evangelist Ted Struntz began at the high school in neighboring Lakeview. Judy attended regularly. The last of the issues in her mind were resolved, and she made her decision to join the Adventist Church. In a special service on Sabbath evening, May 31, 2003, she and three others united their lives with Jesus and His church in baptism. Her warm smile and cheerful outlook are a great blessing to her new church family.

It took the work of a literature evangelist in placing a book in a doctor’s office, the faithfulness of a pastor and layperson following up on a request card, the friendliness of a neighbor inviting her to a study group, the winsomeness of academy students, the warm acceptance of church members, and the power of public evangelistic meetings to lead Judy home. The Holy Spirit used many people to plant and water the gospel seed in Judy’s life, but "…God gave the increase" (1 Cor. 3:6).

Dave Gotshall, pastor of Edmore and Lakeview (Michigan) churches