Aron Torres had spent nearly three years studying Scripture and visiting churches when he walked into Albuquerque North Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church on Oct. 24. One week later, he was baptized there alongside Barbara Torres, an unrelated church member who chose to renew her commitment to Christ.
Torres’ first visit came on the opening day of “Tesoros de Esperanza” (Treasures of Hope), an eight-day evangelistic series that drew him back each evening and prompted him to ask for more Bible study.
Torres, who lives in the surrounding community, had been visiting churches of different denominations while searching for biblical truth. Feeling compelled to visit the North Valley church, he arrived the morning the series began.
What started as a single visit became a nightly commitment. Torres returned each evening to hear messages presented by Pastor Osvaldo Rigacci, who retired earlier this year after nearly 44 years of denominational service, most recently as Southwestern Union vice president for multicultural ministries.
The series focused on Christ, salvation, repentance, forgiveness, new beginnings, and the hope of eternal life. Eager to continue learning, Torres approached Saúl Flores, pastor of the North Valley church, and asked what else he needed to study.
“When do we begin?” Torres asked after Flores suggested additional Bible studies in preparation for baptism. They could begin the very next day.
With Rigacci’s assistance, Flores began meeting with Torres daily at 5:30 p.m. to study biblical teachings and practical aspects of Christian living. As they explored subjects including the Sabbath, God’s law, prayer, and the hope of the resurrection, Flores was encouraged to discover how much Torres had already learned through his personal study.
“God speaks to His children whom He has already prepared to become part of His people and His kingdom,” Flores told the congregation. “That is a powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit.”
By the closing Sabbath, Oct. 31, Torres was ready to publicly affirm his faith through baptism. That same week, Barbara Torres approached Flores about being rebaptized.
“Pastor, I need to consecrate my life to God,” she told him. “I need to begin again with God.”
For Barbara, the meetings were an opportunity to reaffirm her faith and begin a new chapter in her relationship with Christ. Both were baptized following a closing concert featuring Christian recording artist Junior Kelly Marchena.
For the North Valley church family, the two baptisms offered a reminder of what outreach can mean in individual lives. Aron found the church home and spiritual guidance he had been seeking, and Barbara found the encouragement she needed to renew her commitment to Christ.