Evangelism
In Romans 10, the Word of God reminds us that "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved", then asks a few questions:
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:13-15
The Central California Conference takes a team approach for evangelism. Led by President Jerry Page, several officers and staff have leadership roles in specific areas:
George Johnson: manages church plants, Bible workers and special outreach projects
Sandra Manro: oversees allocation of funds, application requests,communication with churches and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxbudget reports
Caron Oswald: provides marketing and information materials
The Evangelism Committee, a team of 20 plus members with conference administrators, ethnic directors, pastors and lay members, provides the vision and criteria for outreaches and approves all requests.
Sandra Manro, Administrative Assistant to the Director for Special Evangelism Projects and the Assistant to the President for Church Growth
Sandra had been a homeschooling mom for ten years, but when an accounting job at the Central California Conference opened up in 2002, she felt God’s nudge. She applied, prayed and left it up to God. She got the job, and worked there for three years before moving to her current position with its focus on her personal passion, evangelism.
Sandra’s responsibilities include:
Providing office support for Bible Workers and church plants, organizing quarterly Bible Worker training sessions, and assisting with immigration and payroll for Bible workers.
Assisting all traditional public evangelism campaigns (there were 85 campaigns in 2007!) with office support and resources, and coordinating training rallies for Share Him Homeland Campaigns.
Serving as the Evangelism Committee Secretary, responsible for preparing the Committee’s agenda with President Jerry Page, overseeing the allocation of evangelism funds, application requests, communication with churches, and budget reports.
“It’s a whole potpourri of stuff. It’s a wonderful ministry and very satisfying,” she says. “I love praying with the Pastors and Bible Workers. No matter what is going on, you just stop and pray.”
Sandra’s and her husband Eric, along with their teenage sons, Cameron and Andrew, have an active ministry in their community. Each month the family takes Sabbath school, Church and food to 40 families. With the help of their local church and the Conference office, the Manros have provided food drives, Christmas parties and revival meetings for the community.
Two people have been baptized since the Manros began the outreach in 2004, and others are studying with Eric each week. “We weren’t looking for this ministry,” says Sandra. “It kind of found us. Serving God like this has been an adventure and an awesome blessing.”
Sandra loves all of the Psalms, but Psalm 37:4 is a special favorite. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Karen Hamilton, Bible Worker Field Supervisor
Karen was active with her local Emergency Medical Service, doing massage and studying physical therapy, when a friend asked her for Bible studies in 1997. They studied together and Karen discovered her real passion - Bible work.
"I love seeing people's lives changed," she says. "It's awesome to see them realize that there is a purpose for their lives and that God cares about them."
That initial Bible study sparked her interest, and Karen thereafter attended Mission College, finished her bachelors, and studied at Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism. She then did Bible work for Amazing Facts, the Northern California Conference and with Mark Finley before joining the Central California Conference in January 2008.
As field supervisor, Karen works one-on-one with the conference's 50 plus Bible workers. She spends several days with each Bible worker, giving studies with them, encouraging church member involvement, and evaluating their work. She also does short periods of Bible work with churches that don't have their own Bible Worker.
Karen is an avid outdoorswoman, enjoying four-wheeling, camping and "outside stuff." She also enjoys cooking and shopping. "Living for is a God is a good thing," she says. "I want to help inspire people to live the good life with Jesus."
Her favorite scripture is "Greater love has no man than this, than that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13