The Fruits of Evangelism Are Priceless

Many new Christians are on fire for the Lord when they first get to know Him and witness to just about anyone who will listen. Unfortunately, the inspiration soon turns to discouragement as friends and family do not respond to the message. After a while, the new Christians are overwhelmed and frustrated and the witnessing stops. But is giving up the proper response?

Actually, the witnessing should never stop as it glorifies God and the fruits of Evangelism are truly priceless. In 2006. the Kingston Seventh-Day Adventists Church completed its standard annual Evangelical seminar in northeastern Pennsylvania. To be sure, it costs the Kingston Church a great deal of time, effort, and money, and the seminar produced just one baptism, Colleen Mizenko. Colleen is a very precious woman who grew up in the Adventists Church, left, endured more than her share of pain, and came back to the church through the seminar.

Why She Left the Church

It all started with her marriage to her first husband just five months after graduation. Although he was raised Adventist, he introduced her to a life of drugs and drinking and slowly she slipped away from God. When her first son Kenny was born she tried to take him to church but she was overwhelmed with problems. In 1981, her second son David was born. Her marriage was falling apart and she hoped the new baby would save it but that never happened. David's death from SIDS tore the marriage and Colleen's life to shreds. Kenny went to live with his father after the break-up and she slipped into a destructive life. For twenty five years she hated and cursed God and did not want anything to do with Him. She moved from the West Coast all the way to Pennsylvania where she met a good man and married again.

Why She Went to the Seminar

About three years ago, she received a flier in the mail. The flier announced a new seminar called "Signs that Can't Be Ignored." She went as she wanted to know more and she wanted an explanation for the popular interpretation of the rapture. The young preacher, Troy Haagenson, impressed her with the way he answered all of her questions with the Bible as his guide. She took notes and checked what the preacher said with the Bible. Then she started trusting God again. It all seemed right for Colleen, she was where she was supposed to be at that exact moment in time, so she decided to get baptized. On October 29, 2006, just one day before the 25th anniversary of her son's death she stepped down into an icy pond in the mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania and gave her life back to the Lord. Pastor Haagenson lowered her into the water, as her husband and new church family witnessed her greatest triumphant. She thanks the Lord every night for not giving up on her.

She went to a church business meeting a couple years ago and they were discussing how much it cost for that year's seminar. Colleen jokingly told them that she did not realize that she was worth that much as she was the only convert. To the Kingston Church she was well worth it because spending an eternity with Colleen Mizenko is truly priceless.

Conclusion

Every Evangelist and anyone who witnesses for Jesus will eventually get discouraged. But, they need to press on. There will be fruit and the fruit will be priceless.

Source: The Testimony of Colleen Mizenko, April 2009.