Welcome to the Family

Semi-annual retreat gives new members a taste of what the church offers.

The “Welcome to the Family” event, held every two years at Nosoca Pines Ranch, celebrates the newest members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Carolina Conference. Gary Moyer, vice president for administration of the Carolina Conference, described it as an exciting opportunity for attendees to enjoy fellowship while learning to integrate into the Adventist Church.

Encouraged by her friend, Lenora Woolery first learned about the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the COVID-19 pandemic. After attending online meetings, she decided to be baptized at her friend’s church. In her search for a church home in Durham, she visited Five Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Church, where she immediately felt at home. “This is my home,” she shared. The diverse church family reminded her of heaven, with people from various cultures and races. Though she had a relationship with God before her baptism in 2021, it was then that she discovered Biblical truths. The welcome committee at Five Oaks made her feel valued, and she was impressed by the leadership’s approach to Biblical teachings. Five Oaks is an active church, with its choir engaging in community service by ministering to the elderly and visiting care homes. Woolery appreciates how the Adventist Church emphasizes member involvement in mission work and fosters a family-like community. “I love the fact that we are a family, and then coming up here makes me realize we are a big family, and I love it,” she said.

Nancy Makori, a member of Umoja Central Church, also shared her testimony of spiritual growth after baptism. She attended an evangelistic series held March 8–28 by Pastor Leslie Louis. His messages of hope, his depth of understanding of God’s Word, and his guidance on how to study the Bible captivated her heart. She learned about Adventist beliefs, the Sabbath, and how to live a Christ-like life. Grateful for the experience, Makori described the “Welcome to the Family” event as a blessing and expressed her hope to bring her family to the next event.

During the retreat, attendees shared testimonies, built relationships, and learned about the various departments within the church. “It was an energetic event that celebrated the fact that evangelism works, as they were the fruits of evangelism,” said Moyer. “When you give to evangelism in the Carolina Conference, it makes a difference.”

—Clarissa Rosario