Streams of Light International (SOLI), in partnership with the Gulf States Conference (GSC), hosted its first annual Bible Conference in May, bringing together Adventists and community members for a Bible-based, mission-focused experience.
“Pastors and church members who came from all over the conference, and even outside the conference, and are getting new inspiration, new ideas, new energy, with the power of the Spirit of God, they’re going to go back to their churches and light a fire,” shared James Hartley, SOLI vice president of operations and one of the conference organizers.
The Bible Conference was held May 15-21 at the former Bass Memorial Academy campus, now operated by SOLI as a hub for comprehensive evangelism training. Replacing the traditional camp meeting format, the event was redesigned to implement both practical training and hands-on outreach.
Participants were highly receptive to the hands-on approach. Juliana Barron and her husband Rick drove from Burleson, Texas, to attend the conference to learn how to make a difference in the community where they live. “We’re very excited about some of the classes, including how to give Bible studies,” she shared.
Guest speakers for plenary sessions and seminars included John Bradshaw, Dr. Norman McNulty, Carlos Munoz, Narlon Edwards, Lee Wellard, Jonathan Cherne, Andre Waller, Daniel Perrin, Ramone Gibbs, and Samson Bush.
One of the defining themes of the messages throughout the conference was on personal preparedness. “I have a burden to share with God’s people that we’re living at the end of time,” shared Dr. McNulty. “We need to understand our true condition and our standing with God, and we need to be serious about receiving the seal of God and sharing the last message with the world around us.”
The first weekend drew 180 attendees. Each morning, from Sabbath through Tuesday, attendees received instruction, then took to the community in the afternoons through health and door-to-door literature evangelism. The results were immediate: 165 locals committed to Bible studies, with 12 in-person studies already completed within the first three days.
Momentum carried into the second week. Approximately 200 people attended, including community members who had first encountered the conference through outreach efforts. By the final Sabbath, attendance had grown to 400. Long-distance travelers made their way from cities including Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta—among them Erica Helm of Houston, who discovered the conference through a Facebook ad and invited a friend from Chicago to join her. “The people have been great, and the training is awesome,” Helm said, having attended classes on Bible prophecy and herbal remedies. The conference was Helm’s first experience with the Adventist church and she was among three attendees who gave stage testimonies about how the conference had impacted them.
As part of the evangelistic training, participants were given an orientation on conducting a health expo, with training facilitated by Uchee Pines Lifestyle Center, which drew participation from attendees of all ages, including the youth. Young people proactively encouraged community members to attend, and one gave a book to a man who later sought out the local pastor. Through that book, the man found the conference online, connected with the pastor at a restaurant, and received a Bible study.
Brian Danese, president of the Gulf States Conference, participated personally in the outreach alongside attendees. “First, we were out visiting, knocking on doors and getting Bible studies,” Danese shared. “And then the next day I was on the team where we’re following up on those studies. This has just been a great time, a spiritual blessing.”
Marsha Oliver, a Tennessee resident, brought her 12-year-old son to the conference, hoping he would catch a vision for outreach. By the end, he expressed interest in door-to-door outreach and asked to sign up for the SOLI Light Squads initiative. “He’s caught some of the vision,” Oliver said, “and we’ve just had a phenomenally blessed time.”
Many praised the conference format for embodying the Spirit of Prophecy’s counsel to combine learning with doing. Among them was Diane Kobler, 70, a lifelong Adventist. “I was raised Adventist, and I’ve never been to a better camp meeting than this one,” she said.
Next year’s Bible Conference will be held March 12-21.
