The coronavirus pandemic has changed the nature of work for Bible workers at local churches. It is challenging to knock on doors and meet people in their homes now due to social distancing restrictions and health and safety concerns for both Bible workers and residents. Despite this setback, Ryan Lacson, who was a Bible worker at Pasadena church this summer and is now working as a CROSS Trainer at the Sunland-Tujunga and Living Stones churches, continued to pray he’d find someone to study with who was searching for the truth.
Thelma, a Christian who lived in the Pasadena community, began to feel a negative presence in her home. Determined to rid herself of this negativity, she felt impressed to go to church. The Pasadena church is surrounded by several churches of different denominations; however, Thelma felt guided by the Holy Spirit to stop by this particular church. One Sabbath afternoon, after many had gone home following outdoor worship services, Thelma visited, looking to talk to someone. Lacson saw her first and, later, connected her with Michael Johnson, senior pastor of Pasadena church.
“God led someone to us,” Lacson said. “This was a divine appointment. If we hadn’t been there at that time, we probably wouldn’t have met.”
God was also stirring the heart of Kris, who recently transferred to Pasadena church. He felt convicted to study so that he could learn more about Bible truth and have a deeper relationship with God.
After months of study over the summer with Lacson, both Thelma and Kris made decisions for baptism. Thelma was baptized September 12, and Kris was rebaptized the following week on September 19.
According to Thelma, she feels safe and closer to God after her baptism. Her hope is that she’ll keep building her faith in God and share God with others.
“Being baptized allows me to be closer to our Savior and guides me in the direction of salvation,” Kris said. “It also gives me the opportunity to share my testimony.”
Johnson, an evangelistic pastor who has worked as a Bible worker in the past, knows the importance of this soul-winning work. “It’s critical to have a Bible worker at the church because you need someone who can spearhead giving studies themselves and also train others to do the same,” said Johnson. “Pasadena church is shifting to be a true evangelistic center.”
Though the pandemic has changed the way we reach people, these baptisms were an answer to Lacson’s and Johnson’s prayers of sharing Christ’s message of truth.
