Odessa Church Welcomes Eight New Members
On Aug. 24, 2024, the Odessa English Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated a blessed Sabbath as eight new members joined the church through baptism or profession of faith.
Macaydia Campbell, Jose Macias and Johnny Ramos were baptized, while Kyle McCormack, Janeth Musamba, Aiden Anderson and Carmen and Robert Halley were accepted by profession of faith. These new members were warmly welcomed into the church after a week-long evangelistic series led by Herb Orellana. The theme of Orellana’s series was “From Drug Dealer to Evangelist.” Throughout the week, he shared the transformative power of Jesus Christ, weaving in personal stories of how God turned his life around. His testimonies were heart-wrenching and powerful, highlighting God’s ability to save, heal and change lives. Each night, Orellana appealed to listeners to accept Christ as their Savior, inspiring many to make the decision to follow Him.
The Odessa church was filled with excitement for these meetings and the special messages shared, which helped prepare attendees for Christ’s Second Coming. The entire church family united in support of the evangelistic meetings. Each night, elders, church officers and members actively participated, and after each meeting, a fellowship meal provided an opportunity for everyone to connect and share in the community. Families took turns preparing the food, showcasing a beautiful spirit of cooperation and dedication. It was a wonderful sight to see the church come together in its mission to share the three angels’ messages with this generation.
Pastor Abner Razon officiated the baptismal service, welcoming these new members into various ministries, where they have already started serving the Lord. The stories of those baptized were truly moving. Johnny Ramos, a long-time alcoholic, found sobriety when he encountered the love of Jesus and decided to be baptized. Young Macaydia Campbell chose baptism after a year of Bible studies with Razon. Jose Macias, rededicating his life to the Lord, was re-baptized as a renewed commitment to follow Jesus fully. Robert and Carmen Halley, who came from Venezuela and are active in nursing home ministry, also joined the church in Odessa and are ignited with a passion to serve. Janeth Musamba and Aiden Anderson, originally from Tanzania and Jamaica, respectively, decided to dedicate themselves to Christ in their new home in the United States by joining the church through profession of faith. Lastly, Kyle McCormack, who was baptized years ago in the Philippines, reaffirmed his commitment to the Lord by joining the Odessa congregation.
These eight new members are filled with enthusiasm to share this message with others, continuing the mission to bring hope and salvation to the world.
