Louisville, Ky., was the scene of the ASI International Convention August 1–4, 2007. ASI®—Adventist-laymen's Services and Industries®—marked its 60th anniversary this year. There were more than 500 children and youth in attendance on Sabbath. In the beginning, about 150 were served lunch on Sabbath. This year nearly 2,000 were served in a record 50 minutes. We've grown.
Devotionals, prayer time, stirring messages, testimonies, music—this is the ASI convention. Twenty seminars covering topics from health (Neil Nedley, "Improving Emotional Intelligence") to education (James Standish, "Becoming an ASI Ambassador to National Leaders"), and 18 additional subjects provided excellent learning experiences.
The Member in Action feature is inspirational. Willard Regester, a physician from Grants Pass, Ore., places an ad in the local newspaper to offer Bible studies. One of his contacts, Evelyn, was baptized in February. John and Paula Moriarity, of Pewee Valley, Ky., have 20 non-Adventists who meet in their home every Sunday for a Bible study. Sherene Becca, of Austin, Texas, is a freshman at Baylor University. She wants to minister to fellow students, "to reflect God in all ways and bring glory to His name." Viorel Catarama, of Hinsdale, Ill., went to Tanzania where he helped train 300 people in successful evangelism methods. This is only a small sample of the dozens of stories told.
Complete programs for children and youth, including community outreach, were provided. And the ever-popular exhibit hall had more than 300 exhibits showcasing ministries and witnessing opportunities.
The annual offering has supported hundreds of ventures through the years. The offerings and pledges given this year to support 40 projects were in excess of $1.6 Million. The overflow offering, monies in excess of the $1,269,000 goal, will fund the DVD and Train Them Now initiative, a joint effort of the General Conference and ASI to utilize lay members to train and equip others to conduct evangelistic meetings using the multiple translations of the New Beginnings DVDs.
For the ninth year, ASI's Youth for Jesus program took place prior to the convention. Forty-three youth worked at locations in the Louisville area, leading out in Revelation Speaks. Churches hosting the youth were New Albany and Jeffersonville, Ind., and Pewee Valley, Shelbyville, and the Magazine Street Church in Kentucky. The Frankfort (Ky.) Church hosted students from Ouachita Hills College. There were a total of 149 decisions for baptism. At the time of the convention, 77 had been baptized with more preparing to take the step.
Michael Ryan, a vice president of the General Conference, dialogued with several about missions and the DVD program. Literally thousands of people have been touched by the good news of salvation through these endeavors. He said, "Active, committed lay people telling the gospel story have affected the whole world!" ASI is all about people telling the world—and telling them now!
For more information about ASI and the 2008 convention in Tampa, Fla., visit www.asiministries.org.
Judy Thomsen, communication director, Adventist-laymen's Services and Industries
