Wave of Baptisms Transforms Hillcrest Church After Prayer-Led Bible Studies

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — What began as a simple prayer for God to connect them with people "ready for the harvest" has transformed into a remarkable story of church growth and community revival at Bakersfield Hillcrest Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Karen and Bob Stewart had struggled with home Bible studies that "just kind of fizzled" when participants lost interest. Instead of giving up, they chose to pray specifically for divine connections with seekers genuinely hungry for spiritual truth.

The answer came during a Sabbath service when Karen felt impressed to introduce herself to visitors Daniel and Samantha Reeves and their 6-year-old son. The couple expressed interest in church membership, but no one had previously approached them about joining.

"I asked if they'd be interested in Bible study," Karen recalled. "They were."

Divine Timing and Growing Faith

The Reeves family had discovered Adventism through radio station 91.7 FM, particularly learning about Saturday Sabbath observance. After attending Hillcrest Church sporadically, including a break during COVID-19, they returned seeking deeper spiritual connection.

"I thought to myself, 'If somebody would just reach out to us from the church, we would take this more seriously,'" Daniel Reeves said. "Literally the next Sabbath, Karen came up to us. That's God right there."

During Bible studies, the couple shared their three-year struggle with infertility. Karen encouraged Samantha to claim Psalm 37:4: "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Shortly after, they received news about an adoption opportunity. Two months into the adoption process, Samantha became pregnant.

"God gave us more than we asked for," Samantha said. "He gave us two babies in the same year."

The couple was baptized in August 2024.

Ripple Effect of Evangelism

The Reeves family invited friends Wayne and Kimberly Wiggins to learn about Adventism through evangelistic seminars led by Pastor Eddy Perez. Initially surprised by the church's welcoming atmosphere, the Wiggins family has now participated in Bible studies for over a year and is considering baptism.

"I've been having a blast," Wayne said. "I really love the church because I feel the spirit there."

Kimberly added, "They just took us in, and I've never felt more love out of a church than this one."

Expanding Ministry Through Technology

The success has grown beyond the original couples. Karen now leads a Friday night Zoom Bible study with 10 participants, including church members and newcomers. Two additional men, Bill and Kevin, recently requested to join after attending church health events and expressing baptismal interest.

"We're all like a family," Karen explained about the virtual format's success. "It's a small group where everyone knows each other personally. They're always texting about looking forward to Friday night study."

The group uses Amazing Facts Bible study guides and Storacles of Prophecy materials, with participants naturally embracing lifestyle changes and studying Ellen White's writings without pressure.

Community Transformation

Another story involves a woman who attended Pastor Perez's November-December meetings after reaching out through the church's prayer line during personal struggles. Despite facing home foreclosure following a stroke, she found employment at the local Adventist hospital through church connections.

Her expertise in addiction recovery counseling has proven so effective that hospital staff marvel at her success rate with difficult cases.

"I just relate to them on a very personal level," she explained. "Some people don't want to get near them because they may smell or whatever. I'm just like, 'Hi, how are you doing?'"

Now attending church regularly with her boyfriend, she plans to enroll her seventh and fourth-grade children in the Adventist academy.

Visitors now frequently ask how Hillcrest became such a loving congregation.

"We just tell them it's by the grace of God," Karen said. "We all feel like we're a big family. When people come to our church, we tell them they're joining our family."

The church regularly hosts large fellowship meals, with Karen recently welcoming about 30 people to her home for lunch.

Prayer Group Ministry

Karen leads a prayer group where attendees share testimonies and receive prayer support. Recent participants include the newcomers from health ministry events, creating additional opportunities for spiritual mentorship and baptismal preparation.

"It's just such a precious thing to see their faces light up and how much they love coming to church," Karen said. "The Lord is just doing some amazing things."

The Hillcrest revival demonstrates how intentional prayer, personal relationships, and flexible ministry approaches can transform struggling congregations into thriving spiritual communities.

Written by Justin Kim