FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF EVANGELISM FOR LAYPEOPLE CHANGES LIVES

by Rolando de los Ríos
Florida Institute of Evangelism for Laypeople (FIEL) has completed the first half of its 2015 session with almost 70% of the students passing the requirements. FIEL’s purpose is to prepare laity in the serious work of evangelization. The Institute continues to grow from an initial enrollment of 275 students in 2014 to 616 in 2015.
It is rewarding to see the enthusiasm of FIEL students. Some students travel more than two hours to attend area classes. Florida Conference leaders and ministers teach the classes once a quarter. Online tests covering selected books support classroom presentations about Jesus’ Methods of Evangelism and Hermeneutics. Students also participated in a church campaign as a requirement of practical evangelism.
Adriana Rodriguez is a FIEL student who attends the small Renacer congregation which meets in the library of Winter Park Memorial Hospital (part of the Florida Hospital network). From a pastor’s sermon, she prepared the assigned message including an appeal for baptism. Preaching on this subject was a challenge for Adriana because she was not yet baptized. She organized everything with the corresponding PowerPoint presentation and, when she concluded the message, a baptism appeal appeared on the screen. The message moved Adriana to tears. Her audience thought she was just caught up in the moment.
To the audience’s amazement, Adriana confessed her confusion when assigned the sermon. “I was not ready to preach it. I did not feel ready for baptism. Yesterday, I decided to delete the appeal and conclude without a call for baptism. Yet, tonight, we have just seen on the screen what I thought I had wiped out. I see this as a sign God wants me, and I will not continue to fight against the Lord’s call for baptism. Now, before you, I choose to give myself to Jesus through baptism.”
In reality, Adriana’s memory stick with the presentation was missing. As a computer systems engineer, she resorted to something that was easy for her to do—she searched the internet for her files and retrieved the presentation. She unknowingly retrieved the original presentation that contained the baptism appeal slide. She now praises God for her mistake and believes He is able to act on our behalf even when we are wrong.
Adriana’s twin daughters, Luisa and Valentina, wanted to join her in baptism. They asked Rolando de los Ríos, FIEL Director and Florida Conference Hispanic evangelist, to officiate the baptismal ceremony on January 17. As Adriana and her daughters entered the baptistry, it was a bittersweet moment. Her husband, Jimmy, who had been an Adventist in the past, had not joined them in the baptism decision.
Unknown to his family, Jimmy had spoken before with the pastor about his desire for baptism. So, it was with joy he entered the baptismal waters, embraced his family, and joined them in baptism. Adriana and Jimmy continue as active FIEL students preparing to be evangelists. Their goal is to let everyone they come in contact with know about Jesus.
FIEL students are preparing to preach and serve as Bible teachers at the October 2015 Caravan of Victory Campaign. Each student’s mind is set on winning souls for Christ, so they do not waste time in vain discussions. Those who concern themselves with the things of the Kingdom have no time to lose. Christ is coming soon! Every FIEL student will proclaim that message until they see Him coming in glory.