Lake Union Executive Secretary Elden Ramirez presents a report on Pentecost 2025. [Photos by Katie Fellows]
Debbie Michel
December 5, 2024As the North American Division-wide proclamation initiative Pentecost 2025 approaches, leaders across several Lake Union conferences are embracing this endeavor as a time of revival, evangelism and innovative ministry. Reports from five conference leaders delivered during the Nov. 21 Lake Union executive committee meeting reveal a unified focus on growth, outreach and preparation for this historic event.
President Vic Van Schaik outlined ambitious plans for Pentecost 2025, emphasizing collaboration and maximizing available funding. “We currently have 59 [out of 83] churches that have applied for the funds,” he shared. Notably, the conference is partnering with the North American Division Evangelism Institute (NADEI) to host evangelistic meetings in Indianapolis next September, combining efforts with local pastors and students. “Some meetings will be done by students, others by our pastors and evangelists,” Van Schaik explained.
Additionally, the conference has reallocated evangelism funds to replant a church in Greenfield, Indiana, a growing area with untapped potential. “We didn’t want to sell the building but to use it as a ministry site,” he added.
Lake Region Conference President Garth Gabriel celebrated a recent surge in baptisms, with 507 souls added—the second-highest in a decade. As for Pentecost 2025, the conference leads the Division in a near 100 percent signup rate from their 112-church population. With just three churches short of signing up, “we want to live and breathe Pentecost 2025,” he stated.
The conference is also focusing its efforts on ongoing church renovations and increased financial support to struggling congregations. “We’ve helped with roofs, furnaces, and other essentials because many churches simply couldn’t afford these repairs,” Gabriel said.
Conference President John Grys reported progress but acknowledged his conference’s slower participation in Pentecost 2025. Of their 113 churches, he shared “we have 32 of our churches involved, with a few more in the process.” However, the conference is investing heavily in preparation. “We’ve offset $100,000 in insurance premiums for local churches so they can redirect funds toward evangelism,” Grys explained. Additionally, Camp Akita is gearing up for its 25th anniversary, serving as an ongoing center for ministry. “Every year, people find Jesus there,” he said, recounting the baptism of a young camper who was invited by a neighbor and discovered God during her stay.
Conference President Jim Micheff shared three key initiatives. First, the conference partnered with AMEN for medical clinics, providing free services to underserved communities. At the Lansing clinic alone, over 320 individuals were served, thanks to 150 volunteers, including medical professionals and students. Great Lakes Academy brought a bus with 15 students who volunteered to help with registration. They then took that bus to a local shelter and loaded them up with the unserved and uninsured, and bussed them to the clinic where they received medical help.
Second, the conference collaborated with Streams of Light, a self-supporting ministry onnected with the Central California conference, to distribute copies of The Great Controversy. In the Flint area, 26,000 books were delivered, yielding 634 Bible study interests. Streams of Light is now in the process of moving its base of operation from California to Pullman, Michigan.
Finally, Micheff revealed that 115 of the conference’s 185 churches plus four schools are already enrolled in Pentecost 2025, with hopes to reach 150 by year’s end. To support local efforts, the conference is developing editable evangelistic presentations and a dedicated website for advertising and resources. These resources are available for use by the other conferences.
President Titus Naftanaila highlighted the conference’s three-year evangelistic initiative, Reach Wisconsin, which has already yielded 30 lay-led evangelistic series this year. “We are focused on intergenerational discipleship in everything we do,” he said. Wisconsin also partnered with the Peruvian Union University, whose students helped facilitate 31 baptisms in Hispanic churches. “Next year, we plan to bring in 10 more students,” Naftanaila announced.
Other successes included 124 new members through baptisms and professions of faith, significant renovations at Camp Wakonda and Wisconsin Academy, and the establishment of an endowment fund for the future of Wisconsin Academy.
Naftanaila has urged churches to embrace NAD’s funding opportunities. The conference has enrolled nearly 60 of its 86 churches for Pentecost 2025 efforts. The theme for those gatherings, as well as the next camp meeting is, Let It Rain.
Debbie Michel serves as Lake Union Conference Communication director and Herald editor.
