Last July, Joe Reeves came from Washington State to begin ministry as a full-time Bible instructor for the Stevens Point and Almond churches in Wisconsin. On the very day Joe arrived, his car was thrown off the interstate, through a fence, and into a tree in a high-speed collision that totaled his car. "I knew from that first day in Wisconsin that Satan hated me being here, and he would do anything to thwart my ministry," says Joe.

Since then, Joe can be found helping people with alcohol recovery at Salvation Army, visiting the homes of church members, knocking on doors, giving Bible studies to people at their workplace during lunch break, telling Bible stories to young children in the homes of unbelieving parents, contacting Adventist media interests, making hospital visits, and visiting jail in-mates.

Joe's ministry extends beyond being a Bible instructor, to being assistant pastor, youth leader, church musician, and evangelist. On Sabbath mornings, Joe is usually at one of the churches preaching and often helps with music and teaches a Bible class. Sunday mornings he shares his exceptional piano talent in community churches.

Joe and I work closely together as a ministry team. Together, we lead mid-week prayer meetings in both Almond and Stevens Point where church members and visitors study the Bible together. Joe also co-teaches a discipling Sabbath school class where we help members dive deep into the scriptures. Joe and I often meet together to pray for the churches and the community as well as for training sessions. We develop ways to help the churches make a greater impact in the community. One Sabbath afternoon per month Joe and I train church members how to successfully witness for Jesus and share their faith. Most other Sabbath afternoons are spent with a church visitation team, visiting friends of the church who are not attending.

At age 20, Joe has a passion to see youth dedicate their lives to God. He recently helped form a youth group in each church where he now spends two evenings per week. Both youth groups have individuals attending from the church and community. On Friday nights, Joe leads a young adult discipling class. The youth and young adult attendance at both churches has increased substantially. Many attending are not Adventists!

Joe had no plans to preach a series of evangelistic meetings in his first year of ministry. God must have planned otherwise. Through a turn of circumstances, the Stevens Point church held an evangelistic event that began April 27. Joe preached ten multi-media presentations of the most amazing prophecies in the Bible. As I write this article, there have been an average of 25 non-Adventist visitors, and one baptism was held after the fourth night.

The churches have felt the power of the Holy Spirit during Joe's Sabbath morning sermons. Many people throughout the community come to church to hear his messages. The church is already experiencing a growing sense of zeal and excitement. Everybody expects God will perform a great work in this community.

David Guerrero is the pastor of the Almond and Stevens Point churches in Wisconsin.