Adventist Churches That Make a Difference

About the Authors 

As at the time of writing this book May-Ellen Netten Colon served as an assistant director of the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministry Department and director of Adventist Community Services International. She bagged her PhD in religious studies from Andrews University. 

Her husband and co-author, Gasper Francisco Colon, was chair of the religion department at Washington Adventist University. He earned his PhD in religious education from New York University. 

About the Book 

This book was published in 2016 in Nampa, ID by the Pacific Press Publishing Association. What the Colons have done is to tell the untold stories of the missional strides of some Adventist churches and entities. Releasing that story-telling is a powerful tool of encouragement, they have interwoven these soul-warming stories in such a beautiful tact that reading them is irresistible. The stories are interspersed with material that will equip any church to carry out more effectively Jesus’s ministry method of reaching people through socializing, sympathizing, and serving. 

The 128 pages of this book couched in 13 chapters are not just stories, but real stories that cheer and inspire mission minded people and churches to do something extra-ordinary in their communities. Such extra-ordinary things may be the very simple things of life that are often passed by. Also, the powerful biblical principles that are strewn across the stories offer a solid foundation and tool for community service. 

What the Colons show is the irrefutable power and role of community impact in the gospel work. Preaching alone will not do. A caring and impactful church will do much more than what is achieved by only preaching. Most communities do not care how much you say until they understand how much your church cares. Reading this book is a necessary start for any church or church based entity that wishes to change its community. If the principles in this book are applied in your church, soon your own story of mission will inspire others to care more as they preach.

Reviewed by John Okpechi