Pastor Alejandro Bullón, renowned Adventist evangelist, speaks during the church’s end of a multi-city community impact celebration throughout North Colombia. The event gathered thousands at the Metropolitan Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, March 30, 2013.  Images by Alessandro Rueda,

May 11, 2013 – Barranquilla, Colombia…Shirley Rueda/IAD Staff

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North Colombia ended its multi-city community evangelism impact with a celebration gathering event held recently in Barranquilla, Colombia. Thousands of church members and visitors met at the Metropolitan Stadium where they worshiped and shared the week-long impact in communities throughout nine cities leading up to the event.

Dozens of public parks and transportation stations were cleaned up by hundreds of young and old church member volunteers as part of what church leaders coined as the Great Caravan of Hope.

Thousands of church members and visitors from throughout north Colombia gathered early morning to worship together.

“We wanted our church members to get out of their comfort zone in their churches and take to the streets to serve in their communities,” said pastor Edgar Redondo, president of the church in North Colombia. “Our goal was meant to communicate hope through salvation and service and we could see a spirit of joy and happiness in the faces of all those church members involved.”

Pastor Alejandro Bullon, a renown Adventist evangelist, was the keynote speaker. Pastor Bullón spoke on the love of God for humanity and the love that must be prevalent among believers to share with others.

“I dream of a day when Seventh-day Adventists will get to church not to look for friends, but to hug, smile and care for those who visit the church,” Pastor Bullón said.

Thousands of church members brought visitors to the special program, which was broadcast live on the internet.

Maira Navarro was among hundreds of visitors attending the program. “Everything is so beautiful. I’m so happy to be here,” said Navarro.

Ludy Vera was among the volunteers who cleaned up in the city of Santander and traveled to the event in Barranquilla. “For me, being a volunteer in the Great Caravan of Hope means being with Christ,” said Vera. “We must follow the example Jesus gave us to serve in the community.”

Some 250 new believers were baptized during the celebration, adding to the more than 6,150 baptized members since the beginning of the year, church leaders said.

Church leaders are already making plans for another multi-city impact throughout Colombia in the coming months.

“This was just the beginning of a great dream that will continue to grow in our territory,” Pastor Redondo said.

For more on North Colombia’s Great Caravan of Hope, visit www.caravanadelaesperanza.co

Top news

The Foundation of the Mark of the Beast
Students from University in Argentina Serve Communities along the Amazon
Loma Linda University Health’s Cell Therapy Division Receives Accreditation