Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife. Referred to as The Entertainment Capital of the World, it’s famous for mega casino–hotels and associated activities, making it a top tourist destination. The city’s population grew by 85.2% in the 1990’s and continues to grow rapidly—according to a 2013 estimate, the population is 603,488 with a regional population of 2,027,828.
“In the world-renowned health resorts and centers of tourist traffic, crowded with many thousands of seekers after health and pleasure, there should be stationed ministers and canvassers capable of arresting the attention of the multitudes. Let these workers watch their chance for presenting the message for this time.”—Gospel Workers, p. 352.
In 2013, inspired by the above statement, the General Conference invested in what seemed to be an impossible mission—the opening of a church in Las Vegas. Young people walked tirelessly house-to-house in the heat of the day, canvassing for two weeks, medical professionals held health seminars, and evangelists boldly proclaimed the present truth through prophecy seminars. Since the city is mainly known for its nightlife, the locals work at night and sleep in the day. So, very few attended the evening evangelistic meetings. But those who came showed great interest and signed up for personal visits and Bible studies. After four years of visits and Bible studies by pastors traveling there from different areas, by God’s grace, the number of the interested families grew tremendously and invested their hard-earned money to support the missionary work in their city. Their self-denial was rewarded when a missionary and his wife moved to Las Vegas and 19 of our Bible students were baptized in May 2013.
Today, the church in Las Vegas keeps growing and the brethren keep sacrificing, but they want to evangelize and expand even more. They are saving every penny to buy or build their own church, yet they need our worldwide brotherhood to contribute as well. Please show your generous support toward this first Sabbath offering. Thank you!
—Your brethren and sisters from Las Vegas