In this article I am bundling a physical and a spiritual concept together to highlight the FOOTPRINTS OF HOPE, walking with Jesus virtual series, January 15, 2022.

 The idea of “the perfect storm” first appeared in a book by Sebastian Junger, and then publicized in a movie called The Perfect Storm. The movie, starring George Clooney was based on a storm that occurred in October 1991. James Emery White describes the event this way, “In October of 1991, the elements all came together to create the most powerful storm in recorded history. It struck just off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. It was really three storms in one: a hurricane, energy flowing from the Great Lakes and a frontal system sweeping through New England.” The Rise of The Nones: Understanding and reaching The Religiously Unaffiliated, p. 31.

Conventional wisdom has it that “when multiple dynamics come together to create an overwhelming impact, it is called a ‘perfect storm’.” Ibid, 31. At this very moment multiple spiritual elements could come together to create an overwhelming impact on the South Bahamas Conference. Should that happen, expect the perfect evangelism storm.

The spiritual elements are:

Mobilizing Into Prayer
Recently there has been a flurry of prayer meetings on various social media platforms. In fact, an inspiring forty days of prayer has been followed by scheduled morning and evening united prayers and personal petitions. At this point, the South Bahamas Conference is engaged in the 10 Days of Prayer with Evangelist Mark Finley. In the true tradition of apostolic preparation, it could be said that the believers are now in the upper room (Acts 1:12-14).

Unity in Diversity
The prayer of Jesus in John 17 is for oneness among believers. Oneness has witnessing power in a world divided along the “distinctions of race, culture, learning, nationality, rich and poor, high and low, male and female.” Church Manual (Revised 2015), p.167. The prayer of Jesus must be answered in our field as a witness to broken people around us.

Active Presence of the Holy Spirit
Though many might be tempted to say that the gift and outpouring of the Holy Spirit was a onetime experience, closer inspection of the record shows that God is more willing to give us the Holy Spirit, than parents are willing to give their children good gifts (Luke 11:13; Acts 5:31; Acts 10:44; Acts 2:38-39). Our time of refreshing is now.

Spirit-filled Missionaries
In addition to offline interests and contacts, online technologies have provided new pathways to the unsaved. While the church has been shifted to the virtual space, due to Covid-19, opportunities for missionary endeavors have not waned (Acts 8). Spirit-filled missionaries are taking advantage of the new digital mission field. Health and Happiness lessons are shared online and offline to many a wandering soul.

Spirit-filled Preacher
The FOOTPRINTS OF HOPE, walking with Jesus Series, has a voice. Pastor Glen O. Samuels is the voice of the series. This preacher has ‘a fire in his belly’ and is prepared to be the messenger and the audible voice of God with the Word of God (Acts 2). He is Spirit-filled!

When the spiritual elements of united prayer, unity in diversity, active presence of the Holy Spirit, Spirit-filled missionaries and a Spirit-filled preacher come together, expect a perfect evangelism storm.

--This article was written by Dr. Peter Joseph, Personal Ministries Director of the South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.