TRIBUTE TO DR. RUSSELL YOUNGBERG

The following was shared with the family of Dr. Russell Youngberg at a memorial service conducted for him in the Hamburg Seventh-day Adventist Church, Sabbath afternoon:

May 14, 2011

Regrettably, I am away and unable to share this tribute in person.

Dr. Youngberg was one of those unique individuals that combined 3 traits in abundance.
A love of learning.
A love of teaching.
A love of service for God.

His life will not be measured by what we say today, or by what we even know of him. For only in eternity can the results of his dedication to his love of learning, his love of teaching and his love for serving God be known.

Many know that he was a teacher in the Adventist medical school in Mexico. I found out a few years ago, that my brother-in-law, Bill Hamilton had been one of his students, and he very fondly remembers the life and teaching of Dr. Youngberg.

Yet just as a teacher influences the life of his students, what will not be known until the history of eternity is laid open, will be the lifes of countless others throughout the Americas and beyond that have been uplifted and made better because of the influence of this teacher upon the lifes of his students, and those students in turn went forward, bringing health, education, life changes and ultimately, inspiration in the kingdom of heaven.

I always enjoyed talking with Dr. Youngberg and listening to him teach the Sabbath School lesson here in the Hamburg Church. You could tell that he was constantly picking up new ideas, concepts and information. He was a learner. Continually seeking ways to put things together, seeking new ways to present things, seeking new ways to serve mankind. He would read widely and from that study, bring forth items of interest.

His contributions in the Pennsylvania Conference have been many. Foremost would be his leadership along with Dr. Jones in establishing the Reading Rehabilitation Hospital, which for years was a premier rehab hospital in this area. When the Reading Rehabilitation Hospital was sold in the 1990’s and transitioned into a health and wellness ministry, Dr. Youngberg continued to serve on the board of the new organization as an enthusiastic proponent of health education. What was most striking was his Christian spirit and attitude throughout the transition process. After pouring heart, soul and personal resources into the establishing of the Reading Rehabilitation Hospital, and then watching the day come when the ministry transitioned from the hospital to a smaller health education organization, some founders might have become bitter or antagonistic. But Dr. Youngberg continued to champion the new organization and sought ways to help it to thrive. Even now, his example through this process continues to teach us who carry on, of a godly way to handle change with grace and support.

We have recently lost a family member, ministry founder, a teacher, a doctor, a church member, a visionary and a friend.

But we have gained so much having been associated with him. Even though today he is gone, resting until the resurrection of the sleeping saints when Jesus comes, we are the richer. And like Dr. Youngberg, may we who carry on, make the world the better for having lived in it.

 Ray Hartwell, Pennsylvania Conference president

A DOG GOES TO SCHOOL

Blue Mountain Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School has a history of offering a good Adventist Church School environment for children Kindergarten up through grade 8. Ellen Siregar invited me to come and conduct the worship service on Friday, May 6.

I took our dog, a West Highland White Terrier named Nessie along with me to help the students visualize part of the worship service.

The worship service devotional opened with the story of Greyfriar’s Bobby, a small Skye Terrier, which looks somewhat like our Nessie but is a little smaller and a dusky color. John Grey was a policeman in Edinburgh Scotland and was a night patrolman. He got his little Skye Terrier in 1856 and Bobby was a faithful companion. IN 1858 John Grey died and was buried in the Greyfriar’s Church cemetery. Jeanne and I have been to that cemetery in Scotland.

Just outside, a monument has been erected in memory of Bobby.
For the next 14 years the little Skye Terrier named Bobby would go every day and stay at the graveside of his master, John Grey, never leaving except for food and water. This was observed by inhabitants of Edinburgh of high position as well as common people. When Bobby died, he was buried just outside the edge of the same cemetery (since church cemeteries were considered consecrated ground, dogs could not be buried inside them ) as his master John Grey, and today there is a substantial granite marker for this faithful dog’s burial spot.
In Revelation 2:10, God’s word says, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of life.” For 14 years this little Skye Terrier was faithful to the memory of his master and stayed at the last spot he knew his master to be.

What a lesson to you and me, to be faithful to stay at the side of Jesus all through our life, no matter what happens, even if our death should come. Little Bobby had a large gravestone erected over his grave because of his faithfulness. But Jesus promises something even better than receiving world-wide acclaim for our faithfulness. Jesus promises a crown of life.

I am thankful for the dedicated teachers we have here in the Pennsylvania Conference, who day in and day out are directing our children to the soon-coming Savior who has promised a crown of life. Teachers like Frank Stahl, Rachel Wardecke and Ellen Siregar are making a difference that will be seen in eternity.
If you have school aged children, make every effort to have them in an Adventist Church school this coming Fall.

"He is Risen Indeed," is Not Enough

There is a tradition among some Christians today, to greet one another on this day when most of the Christian world celebrates the resurrection of our Savior, with words such as this:
“He is risen!” one Christian will declare to another Christian.
The second Christian will respond, “He is risen indeed!”

I had a good Protestant friend in South Carolina who loved to greet me and Jeanne with this phrase on Resurrection Sunday every year.

But I was convicted to say more than just, “He is risen indeed!” in response.
I used to respond, “He is risen indeed. He ascended to the right hand of the throne of God, is now interceding in the Heavenly Sanctuary for us, and is coming soon in the clouds of Glory!”

She always smiled at me with a look that seemed to say, “You aren’t following ‘the script’ but I can’t fault you for saying that.”

You see, as an Adventist, I rejoice in the resurrection of Christ. “ If Christ be not raised, then our hope is in vain…”God’s word says (1 Corinthians 15). And yet, the resurrection of Christ is only part of the marvelous story. His work and intercession for us in the Sanctuary as our High Priest is assuring. His soon coming, where the Lord Himself will descend, with all the angels, with the trumpet call of God that raises the righteous dead, and we are all caught up to meet the Lord in the air and ever be with Him is the fulfillment of the blessed hope that I look forward to. (1 Thessalonians 4)

Not only do I look back to the surety of Christ’s resurrection, but I look upward to His priestly intercession, and I look forward to His personal appearing for my gathering into the presence of His glory.

I am an Adventist! I can’t just say, “He is risen indeed”—as magnificent as that is. I must declare, “He is risen indeed. And He ascended to the right hand of the throne of God, is now interceding in the Heavenly Sanctuary for us, and is coming soon in the clouds of Glory!”

How about you?

LOOKING DOWN, LOOKING AROUND, LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING UP

There are times when ministries and organizations must adapt or adjust to circumstances or conditions around them. Several Adventist ministries and conferences have needed to reduce staff in the last 2 years. Greater New York is currently reducing 43 employees. ADRA has recently announced a significant reduction of employees. Here in our Conference we have needed to carefully work by faith and at the same time structure within good stewardship. And this has necessitated some reductions in staff during the present times.

So how is your morale?

If that is all we focused on, we could start to look down and start to feel that things are getting pretty bad. And as we look around to other Conferences in the NAD and the recent moves by ADRA, we could again be concerned that God has not been at work. Or that somehow things aren’t going right.

Yet as we look forward, we remember that God’s work is going to be triumphant, and that God has promised exceedingly great and precious promises. These promises have not failed. They have not been withdrawn. God has not been taken off guard by the challenges or adjustments that have come. His work, while having to be structured differently as conditions change in our Conference or on earth, is still being carried forward.

Our current call is to be looking up. No matter what the conditions are, no matter what the challenges are, no matter how things may change from time to time, we are called to lift up our hearts and voices in prayer and petition. As we do that, we will find that,
“…prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?” Steps to Christ page 95.

Those resources have not fallen short. Prayer is our avenue to practice dependence upon God and that is where our dependence is to be placed.

I believe God is at work in a mighty way across Pennsylvania. Yes we have some challenges and adjustments right now, but at the same time, there are countless blessings also taking place right now. As we look around, we see many members seeking a genuine revival in Jesus and seeking Christ’s transformation of life. We see in some churches people walking in off the street, convicted of keeping the Sabbath holy. We are seeing youth and young adults taking up the mission of Jesus and reaching out to those around them—one young lady in the Reading Spanish church has been reaching out to her high school classmates and several of them have been baptized and some of their family members are starting to attend. We see more lay persons willing to become spiritual leaders.

Where are you and I looking during these times? Are we looking down? Are we looking around? Or are we looking forward and looking upward?

God will lead us through these challenging times. He is at work right now. Let us continue to put our faith and trust in His leading.

LAUREL LAKE CHURCH ORDAINS AN ELDER

An Elder ordination service is evidence of a church family that has recognized God’s gift for spiritual leadership within an individual in the church. Elders are the backbone of the work of Christ through His visible church here today. In one Union in Africa, there are over 22,000 members and hundreds of churches. Only one or two years ago, did this field of 22,000 members have a second pastor added. That’s right! Only 2 pastors with 22,000 members and hundreds of churches. How is this possible? By following the Biblical instruction of Paul to ordain elders in every church. Elder’s are to be the spiritual leaders of a local church. Pastors are to be the mission leaders of churches and regions. Jeanne and I had the joy of attending Sabbath School and Church at the Laurel Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sabbath, April 9. While there, I was asked to share the Sabbath morning worship message, which I had entitled, “Men Wanted.” This message is taken from the text in Isaiah 6:8, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I!, Send me.” (NKJV) Also a key part of this message is the Ellen White quote, “The greatest want of the world is the want of men,--men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.”--Education, p. 57. At the end of that sermon message, the Church Elders came forward and we invited Randy Mallory and his wife Cindy to come to the front.

Randy had been elected by the Laurel Lake Church as an Elder, and we had the privilege of laying hands on him and ordaining him to serve as a local Church elder as his wife knelt by his side.

I am thankful for each local church elder in the Pennsylvania Conference who is faithfully serving the Lord and leading the spiritual work in our Churches. And our Church families have much to be grateful for, with the men and women who have answered God’s call and like Isaiah have said when the church needed a spiritual man or woman to lead out in God’s work, “Here am I, send me.”

A DEDICATED LAY PASTOR IN SENECA

Friday early afternoon, Jeanne and I visited with Russ Mullins at the Seneca Church.

Russ was one of the early lay pastor students in Elder Jim Wibberding’s lay pastor class here in the Pennsylvania Conference. Although Russ is semi-retired from being a nuclear plant inspector, he has earnestly dedicated himself to applying himself to let the Lord develop him in ministry and pastoral leadership.

I had the opportunity to review the many materials that Russ has been learning and drawing from to better lead our church in ministry and outreach. He shared with me the ways he has been leading the church family to approach Christian witness and outreach by gaining an understanding of the postmodern way of thinking, and how to share a personal testimony of what Jesus has done in their own life. He has also led the members to understand that postmodern influences are felt even in our small rural towns, where people may not naturally respond initially to a prophecy seminar, but they will respond to friendship evangelism, and then come to grow in the Lord. Right now, the Seneca church has begun to have a few new families with children starting to come to church as a result of taking this approach of meeting people where they are, entering into a friendship and inviting them to experience for themselves what a church family can be like. The Seneca church has also worked on their building and appearance to make it more, “user friendly” by installing a better entrance, making the interior more attractive and enhancing the appearance of the inside front of the church sanctuary.

They have also done something that is so smart, and yet something that many churches take for granted! They have taken great pains to make the bathrooms as attractive and bright and pleasant as possible.

While we members may just accept the appearance of a bathroom, that is one of the first things that visitors notice, and they tend to gauge their opinion of a church by the bathroom appearance—its cleanness, smell and décor.

Russ is one of several dedicated lay pastors here in the Pennsylvania Conference who is committed to the Adventist message and to leading his church to fulfill the gospel commission. We appreciate our dedicated lay pastors here in Pennsylvania.

ERIE PASTOR, CHURCH AND CHURCH SCHOOL

April 7 and 8 Jeanne and I spent time in Erie with Pastor Preston Monterrey and his wife Valerie.

We spent quite some time sharing the joys and progress of the Erie church.

Preston has brought a calm and positive spirit into the 3 churches that he leads—Erie, Lowville and Cory. He also oversees the ministry of Russ Mullins at the Seneca Church.

Preston gave me a demonstration of the SDA radio station that broadcasts from the Erie Church.

The equipment is in two rooms of the Erie Church School. A small closet contains the broadcast equipment, computers and recording equipment.

A nearby room which is a storeroom for school books and other supplies, contains the transmission equipment that takes the program up through the antenna and out over the air waves. The Erie church broadcasts much programming from 3ABN, but the church also records and broadcasts local materials and programming. After visiting with Elder Monterrey, I visited the Adventist School of Erie. Steve Laubach is our teacher there and the school students have a very attractive school room for class.

Recently a very generous donation has been made and the second school room has been outfitted as a learning center with very up-to-date computer stations.

While I was there, I observed how the students had been making Christian bookmarks to give to the church members and friends, using the computer graphics software and then printing them off on one of the two new color laser printers.

The church school students have also provided the church service at each of the 4 churches in the district this Spring. Tomorrow, they will be providing the 4th of their services by leading out the worship service in the Erie Church. The Church School is preparing for next school year already.

Church members have donated for these signs to be placed around town as this is the time of year community people begin to be interested in a Christian school. Also, the School is planning an open house in the next few weeks.

An Early Morning with Blue Mountain Academy students

Friday morning at 7 a.m. found me joining Chaplain Shawnessey Cargile’s 1st period Bible Class. Shawnessey had warmly invited me to participate in one of his classes. I presented an over-view of the investigative judgment and the 2,300 day prophecy.

A wonderful tool is the ShareHim evangelistic messages presented through power point presentations on specially computer software. Many of our churches and committed lay people here in Pennsylvania have used this evangelistic software to share Christ’s messages in our churches and towns. These same computer presentations were used by our PA Youth and Young Adults in preaching last summer in Guatemala and then again back in Pennsylvania. As I shared the message of the prophecy pointing directly to Christ’s anointing, crucifixion and the gospel going to the gentiles, along with the beginning of the judgment hour in 1844, I used this software to not only teach, but also to demonstrate to the BMA students how they could use this for presenting Christ’s messages in an evangelistic setting.

How thankful we can be that our Conference here in Pennsylvania has the blessing of a Christian academy like BMA. Our students at BMA have the privilege of receiving a Christian atmosphere while they are preparing to take their place as adults in this present world. BMA is a school where the day begins with worship, Bible messages are openly taught, prayer is offered often, the name of Jesus can be spoken with respect and adoration instead of only as part of an expression of cursing, and worship and service for Christ are openly incorporated into the weekly life of each student. With all the good that public schools can provide, this is the difference that our Adventist students need, while they are going through their formative years.

"Why" Questions That Reveal Christ's Plan for My Day

Why do we work where we work?
Why do we live where we live?
Why do we shop where we shop?
Why do we play where we play?
Why do we suffer what we suffer?

It is no accident that we work where we work. It is no accident that we live in the place or community that we live. There is a reason and purpose why we shop where we shop -- beyond the fact that it has the best deals, or we like the styles at that location better. Where we play just might have a Divine reason. And the things that we suffer can be more than just random acts of distress, discomfort or disaster.

All these questions are answered in a much different way when we put them in the context of our calling in Christ.

Jesus calls us to come to Him. To accept Him and be with Him. But not only does He call us "to" Him, Jesus also calls us to be "sent" for Him. After coming to Him and receiving the great gift of His salvation and abiding presence, His power and His strenth, then Jesus calls us to be sent by Him out into our world, the world around us, to be a light for Jesus that others can see and become drawn to the Christ dwelling in us.

The reason you work where you work, is that Jesus wants to speak through you to those you work alongside of. You may be the only person to share with them, and Christ has placed you in your work place for that very reason.
The reaon you live where you live, is because you are the person or family that Christ has placed right in that neighborhood to represent Him.
Where you shop is a place where you can have an influence and witness for Jesus. Your fairness, integrity, kindness, and interest in the clerks and store owners can be more signficant than you may realize.
At places of recreation, such as where your children play, or the sports you are involved in, the gym where you work out, the park you go to, give points of intersection in the life of others, points that Jesus has planned so that you will have the opportunity to connect on His behalf.
And in a time or place of suffering, others will see how you handle it, and learn that there is a support level in your life that is not totally determined by your present experience of suffering, but is determined by your connection with Christ.

Why do you suffer the things you suffer?

Last week, I was driving with Will Peterson in my car, on our way to the Alleghany East Conference office which is near Pottstown, when we were "rear-ended" on US 422. I pulled over to the side of the highway and exchanged information with the driver who hit my car. Neither Will or I were hurt or have suffered any injury afterward, but my rear bumber got scratched and nicked, with some pulling away from the clasps that hold it in place.

When I called my State Farm agent later to report the accident, she told me if I wanted to file a claim with State Farm, I had a $500 deductible I would need to pay, but if I would have the other driver's insurance handle it, there should not be a deductible I would have to pay.

So I called the Erie agent and started the process.

There was a collision repair shop I prefered, but in talking to the Erie agent, I was informed that Erie had an "authorized" shop they could deal directly with. Since I knew the shop Erie dealt with did good work, I was willing to go there for the estimate.

Wednesday, when I drove into the parking lot, I recognized one of the body shop repairmen. Previously he had worked in the collision repair body shop for one of the major car dealers that is no longer in business. I didn't know he was working now at this shop. The last I knew, he had been working for a tow truck company.

So while I was waiting for my repair estimate to be written up, I got to visit with him, as he had just finished his time for the day. He had gone through a divorce just a few years ago, received custody of his daughters and his former wife had moved to a state down south. For the last 2-3 years he has not been attending church. Yet as we talked, he shared that he was getting re-married, and he was feeling the conviction to return to church.

Why do we suffer what we suffer? It is no accident, sometimes why we suffer what we suffer.

So we visited in the door of the body shop for 30 minutes or more. I had the chance to invite him and his young adult daughter to Grace Outlet for a church home. His finacee has not really been attending any church, and I had the chance to suggest that Grace Outlet would be the kind of atmosphere where someone who is not used to a church setting, would not feel "closed in" or that they would have to know some certain sequence or religious code. I also invited him to our Wednesday night Men's Group in our neighborhood.

That seemed to be a positive possibility in his mind and he appreciated the invitation.

Why do we suffer what we suffer?

Of all the cars along 422 hurtling down the road, several nearly collided with others, nearly ran others off the road, nearly rear-ended other cars. We had been driving fairly alert and safe, even to the point of slowing down well before the traffice stoppage. But my car was the one rear-ended.

I could have seen this as an aggravation which I didn't need. Delayed from our appointment. Then having to stand by the side of the highway and nearly struck as we exchanged information. Taking extra time to go to the body shop for the estimate, and in a couple of weeks, having the car in the shop for 3 days or more.

What an inconvenience!! Or...was it part of a Divine plan for the mission of Christ?

Of all the cars on the highway Tuesday afternoon, I think I was the only one hit in the rear end. That put me at the body shop, just at the right time on Wednesday afternoon, late in the afternoon, to "happen to bump into" someone who has been away from church, been through a breakdown of their marriage, and who is currently feeling convicted that Christ is calling them back to church. Maybe, just maybe, my little accident was intended to place me at a Divine Appointment -- to be on a mission for Christ.

You are I are called by Christ and sent by Christ. Are you available for mission 24/7? Each day, the events of our day can be part of Christ's mission through us to reach others for Him.

A New Take on John 3:16

Last Sabbath, I attended Church at the Trinity Temple SDA Church in Newark, NJ, as part of the Columbia Union ASI Chapter meeting, at the invitation of Denise Hayden, the Columbia Union ASI President.

While there, I renewed acquaintence with a Seminary professor of mine, Dr. Norman Miles, who is the current pastor of Trinity Temple. Before going out of the platform for the worship service, (which begins at 12 noon) and for which Elder Dan Jackson, President of the North American Division of SDA was the speaker, we met in the Pastor's study/office.

On the wall of the office, among the certificates, hung this little plaque.
"For God so loved the world He didn't send a committee."

While this may bring a smile to our face, especially as we think of the amount of time spent in Committee work, sometimes with a questionable amount of real action as a result, the quiet reflection on the message of this plaque is profitable.

God didn't send a committee. God didn't send all the heavenly host. He didn't send the leaders of the angels. He didn't send the 4 and 20 elders. There was not a heavenly council to decide who the best group of heavenly beings could be that might communicate God's love and rescue planet earth and the human family.

The outstanding and mind-boggling truth is....
God came Himself!

No Committee action. No delegation that was authorized to stand-in for God.

Just as in Revelation 21:4 it says that "God will wipe away every tear..."
And in Thessalonians 4:16 it say, "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout...And the dead in Christ shall rise first..."

The plan and act of Salvation for each human member of the family of Adam, is so totally personal, and so totally all encompassing of God's complete time, attention and self-sacrifice.

It is God Himself, that has totally given all that He is, all that He has, and all that heaven can contain, just for the salvation of you and just me.

When we fully grasp that, when we come to know the totality of our Heavenly Father's commitment and gift to us, uniquely for us, personally for us, then and only then, do we begin to relish the chance to grow and live a transformed, revived and holy life. A life worthy of the calling. A life that reflects back the commitment made for our salvation, by fully giving up self for the Selfless One.

For God so loved the world He didn't send a committee. Hallelujah! He came Himself.
Wow!

UNION MEETINGS INCLUDE NEW BUILDING AT WAU AND POTENTIAL WAU OFFERINGS AT ATLANTIC UNION

Four times per year, as Conference president, I join all the other Conference Presidents of the Columbia Union by meeting with the Columbia Union Officers for regularly scheduled meetings and committees. This particular week also included a meeting of the Columbia Union Board of Education, on Tuesday afternoon.

Then on Wednesday, I met on the campus of Washington Adventist University. Early in the morning I served as a member of the Marketing sub-committee of the WAU Board of Trustees to discuss ways that WAU can continue to make the opportunities for Adventist Christian Higher Education better known throughout our region.

One of the unique opportunities for our Pennsylvania youth and young adults, is that WAU has agreed to offer the same scholarship matching grant to our Pennsylvania young people who participate in our PA ShareHim summer evangelism program of preaching a full series overseas and then a second series within PA. That means WAU is willing to fully match 100% of the $1,500 scholarship from the PA Conference for our young people participating in our summer evangelism program.

Later in the morning, I participated in the Washington Adventist University Board of Trustees meeting. While we were meeting, work was taking place outside our meeting area on the new Music Building. The excavation was preparing the ground for the foundation to go in. It is good to see this new building on the WAU campus taking shape.

WAU is beginning a serious conversation with Atlantic Union College and the Atlantic Union on WAU being the educational institution providing the educational coursework at the Atlantic Union College location. AUC has recently lost is accreditation, and WAU and AUC are diligently exploring the possibility of WAU becoming the college provider for SDA higher education in New England under the title, Washington Adventist University at Atlantic Union College. Technically, this means WAU would establish a branch campus of Washington Adventist University at Atlantic Union College.

You can read more about that on the Columbia Union Visitor or on the Visitor website. WAU would then be THE Seventh-day Adventist institution of Higher Education from New England down the Eastern Seacost through the mid-Atlantic.

POCONO GRACE AND LAY PASTORS LEADING THE WAY IN PENNSYLVANIA

One of our interesting and unique churches in the Pennsylvania Conference is the Pocono Grace Church. It was recently organized as a church about a year ago, but its origins as a church plant go back several years to the Stroudsburg Church as Jose Elvir and a small group of Hispanic laypersons had a dream of being used of God in Church Planting. At first the Hispanic group met as a Spanish Speaking Sabbath School.

However, a mission group began to form and the dream of a church plant took root. This church plant, though, decided to be a fully bi-lingual group and church.

Today, Pocono Grace is fulfilling that mission in East Stroudsburg.

Jeanne and I spent Sabbath, March 5, with this fine church family. My Sabbath morning message covered the gospel commission, the beginning of the Christian Church, the gradual apostasy within the Christian Church, the reformation and the unique calling and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the last day mission before Jesus comes. Working with a wonderful brother who kindly translated my English into Spanish, what would have been a 30 minute sermon ended up taking 60 minutes to share.

Following church, Jeanne and I shared a wonderful fellowship meal. I had the privilege of sitting next to a woman who came as a young person from Belize. She told me that her grandfather had been a lay person, who ended up being a lay pastor and raising up or serving some 13 churches as a lay pastor. I also found out that this sister, who is an X-ray technician in a New York City hospital, and who specializes in mammography, led her next door neighbor to the Adventist faith. This neighbor and her two teenage sons were sitting across the table from us at the meal.

Following the meal, I spent time with the Church Family dialoguing about the role of lay pastors in the Pennsylvania Conference and the prayer we have for church plants and lay pastors – including men, women and young adults – to spread across our Conference as we seek to answer Christ’s gospel commission.

Jose Elvir, his wife (pictured here with me and Jeanne) and the other dedicated men and women, like Jeff Baker (seen in the top photo, speaking up front) and his wife, are committed to letting Jesus lead and serve through them.

Will you join me in praying for revival across the whole state of Pennsylvania. Not just in our churches, but in the hearts and homes of each person in this state. That they will come to see that Jesus is the only answer to the place in their heart and life that cannot be filled by anything else.

Another thing to pray for, is more lay pastors, and more Seventh-day Adventist members who are willing to by faith, put their hand into God's hand, accept His calling and His promise, and start a new "lay-led" work here in Pennsylvania in order to see the work of God multiply and grow. How will we reach the lost for Jesus, without taking the risk of working in new ways and new methods and by each of us becoming the priesthood of all believers as mentioned in Revelation 1?

The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers.--Gospel Workers, p. 352

It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work of soulsaving depends alone upon the ministry. The humble, consecrated believer upon whom the Master of the vineyard places a burden for souls, is to be given encouragement by the men upon whom the Lord has laid larger responsibilities. Those who stand as leaders in the church of God are to realize that the Saviour's commission is given to all who believe in His name. God will send forth into His vineyard many who have not been dedicated to the ministry by the laying on of hands.--The Acts of the Apostles, p. 110

ON HIS KNEE ONCE AGAIN

This last Sabbath (February 12, 2011) was the PA Conference Youth Rally at Blue Mountain Academy. Following the speaker’s time for the church worship service and after nearly everyone had left the room, I observed a young child come to the front where the “Jesus Painter” had left 3 canvasses from the time he spent depicting certain aspects of the life and character of Christ, while relating to the young people lessons from Christ and the experience of Christ’s work in his own life.

As the young child approached the painting with no one around to distract him, or to make him feel self-conscious, he gently drew closer and closer to the face of Christ. Then he slowly reached out and began to tentatively stroke the “hair” and “face” of Christ on the painting. Almost tenderly this child gently stroked and patted the face of Christ.


It made me remember the following quote from Steps to Christ:
“The poorest and humblest were not afraid to approach Him. Even little children were attracted to Him. They loved to climb upon His knees and gaze into the pensive face, benignant with love.” Steps to Christ, p. 11

How Christ, the Savior of the world, the Creator of the universe, the shaper of this earth in 6 days, the hand-crafter of the human family, and the originator of the breath of life, must look forward to the day when the earthly redeemed family can again stand in the presence of the Almighty. And just as this little boy drew close with no fear or concern, so we will once again experience the embrace of our “Abba.”

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

This week the Board of Trustees at La Sierra University has met to receive a report from the Education Department of the North American Division, and then consider the University's position on the theory of evolution and the Biblical record of Divine Creation, as it is to be emphasized and presented in the classroom.

As can be expected, a wide spectrum of reactions to the La Sierra Board's discussion and prayerful decision has been floating across the blogs and websites. A signficant number of comments are concerned about "Academic Freedom" and the ability of professors to teach what they understand to be truth. Also a number of comments are concerned that the "evidence" does not support a "short history of the earth" or a less than 10,000 year history of the human race. Other comments are concerned about Church Leaders seeming to have undue influence on an institution that is not directly under their sphere of responsibility for day-to-day operations (these same commentators fail to acknowledge that as members of the Board of Trustees, Church Leaders do have a responsibility for the philosophy, direction, administration and ultimately the operation of the institution that carries the name of Seventh-day Adventist). While the report from this week's Board of Trustees has not been made public yet, I have given much thought to the stakes involved.

In reading again recently in the powerful book, Great Controversy, I have noticed a principle that for me, aides me greatly in considering the relationship between "Academic Freedom," scientific thought and theology. The following 2 paragraphs help the Christian balance the understanding between Science and the Divine Inspired Word of Scripture.

"To many, scientific research has become a curse. God has permitted a flood of light to be poured upon the world in discoveries in science and art; but even the greatest minds, if not guided by the word of God in their research, become bewildered in their attempts to investigate the relations of science and revelation.
Human knowledge of both material and spiritual things is partial and imperfect; therefore many are unable to harmonize their views of science with Scripture statements. Many accept mere theories and speculations as scientific facts, and they think that God's word is to be tested by the teachings of "science falsely so called." 1 Timothy 6:20. The Creator and His works are beyond their comprehension; and because they cannot explain these by natural laws, Bible history is regarded as unreliable. Those who doubt the reliability of the records of the Old and New Testaments too often go a step further and doubt the existence of God and attribute infinite power to nature. Having let go their anchor, they are left to beat about upon the rocks of infidelity." Great Controversy 522

Now is the time to, "...contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." Jude 3 NKJV

ICE STORM CAUSES DAMAGE TO CONFERENCE OFFICE

Among the casualties of the snow and ice storm that passed through much of Pennsylvania and damaged trees, power lines and buildings across the region February 1, 2011, is the Seventh-day Adventist Pennsylvania Conference Office building, located at 720 Museum Road, Reading, PA.

Officials at the Pennsylvania Conference indicated that a large oak tree, which had been located near the Northeast corner of the building, had fallen across the office building, striking the roof and smashing through several windows sometime before the first employee arrived on Wednesday morning. No one was injured in the damage. The tree appeared sound and was thought to have fallen due to the heavy ice buildup which has caused numerous trees, branches and even power lines to fall to the ground.

Ron Christman, Conference Treasurer and Paul Shobe, Conference utility technician have been assessing the damage and making temporary repairs. There appears to be some damage to portions of the roof, exterior flashing and gutters, and several windows, which will be removed and made weather proof until more permanent replacement windows may be installed.

Adventist Risk Management, the insurance provider for property damage has been contacted, according to Ron Christman, and the goal is to restore the affected areas and return the building to its original condition as soon as possible. The Conference Office is open and conducting business, serving the 101 churches, 14 schools, and ministries of the Pennsylvania Conference.

Floyd Dare, Vice-President and Secretary of the Pennsylvania Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists, which holds title to all Conference properties, stated that reports the falling tree was caused by squirrels attempting to use the natural weather conditions to their advantage in order to gain access into the building and raid the supply of bird seed, to be completely baseless and without foundation. (Now-to be sure- this paragraph is only meant to bring you a smile!)

Pictures of the Conference Office Damage are available for viewing on the Conference website: www.paconference.org


 For more information on this story, contact Floyd Dare (610-374-8331) Assistant to the Communication Director for Emergency Communications.

DISTRICT CHANGES AND THINKING MISSION

On Sabbath, January 15 I visited in the Bucks County Church.

It was my joy to be among the worshippers in the morning church service. The worship service was very engaging and I felt my spirit drawn to the Lord.

Elder Troy Haagenson had a wonderful sermon, encouraging us to consider the events of the world, with special attention drawn to the unsettling and unexplainable conditions in the natural world just in the last week’s news. He then gave an altar appeal for re-commitment to Christ and readiness for His coming and several people came forward.

I also had the joy to slip in to another room in the Bucks County Church where a new church plant is beginning to take shape. Hispanic members in the area around Bucks County are working diligently to raise up another new church to the glory of God.

Under able lay leadership, some of whom have been elders and leaders in Philadelphia Spanish churches, this new mission group began their first completely Hispanic worship service at the 11 o’clock hour.

I am thrilled to see the commitment and the willingness of these fine lay leaders to embrace the formation of a church plant process, with the conviction that God and the Holy Spirit can work through them as lay people and lay leaders in the raising up and the leadership of this new church.

In the afternoon, I met with an open meeting of the Bucks County Church family, as we dialogued regarding the decision by the December 8, 2010 Conference Executive Committee to place the Bucks County Church into a two church district comprising Bucks County and Fairview Village. This is the first time in many years that Bucks County has been a two church district, and many members wanted to voice their concern as to the effect this might have on the ability of a pastor to lead them forward in their mission initiatives for the coming year.

Due to the current economic times in our country and thus that affecting our Conference, we are needing to adjust our workforce in order to best fulfill the mission of the Adventist Church in inviting people to be disciples of Christ and be able to provide the financial support of the spiritual leaders for mission in our Conference. This is necessitating some re –districting, consolidation, and even change in our workforce. Among several churches affected by this need, is Bucks County, Fairview Village and Pottstown. Other church districts across the Conference will be adjusted over the next few months.

Presently in Philadelphia, several, if not most of our Anglo churches are multi-church districts, or will be in the near future. Lansdale and Souderton, Boulevard and Phoenixville, Chestnut Hill and a new church plant intentionally reaching a new part of the city, West Chester, Lancaster and Ephrata, and Bucks County and Fairview Village. Our Hispanic work has a 7 church/church plant district, that very soon we need to re-district into districts comprising 4 and 3 churches. Havertown is now ably led by a lay pastor with mentorship from a senior pastor in the Boulevard church.

As we consider and implement the present changes, some have voiced concern that with the vision to treat Pennsylvania as a Mission Field, we need more pastors, not less. While I would favor that in concept, we must prayerfully ask the question and seek direction from the Holy Spirit as to why the question is being asked, and how pastors are being utilized in local churches.

In the Bible and the especially in the Spirit of Prophecy the call is for every person who takes the name of Christ to be a missionary for Christ. Sometimes the concern is voiced that “We work all day, and we need the Pastor to be the full-time mission worker, since we cannot.” Yet the Spirit of Prophecy reminds us that until the laity rally to the work of ministry and join the pastors, the work will never be finished. In other places, the counsel is continuous that the Lord is eager to work through each of us. And that every member of the church has a role to play in winning souls.

Now is the time that our concept of church, of missions, of pastoral leadership needs to be re-examined and changed to come in alignment with the will of the Lord for these last days.

Now is the time that each member of the family of God, each person who claims to have been saved by grace, each person who takes the name of Seventh-day Adventist must be willing to look at their entire day, as being on the mission of Jesus. Being the mission leader at their work. Being the mission leader in their neighborhood. Being the mission leader at their place of recreation. Being the mission leader at their school. Being the mission leader in their home. And being a mission leader in their church.
That is what God has called us, as servants of Christ, as redeemed members of the heavenly family, as chosen and cherished members of a last day church, to be, to act and to think.

A pastor is to be the mission leader. As one Pennsylvania member said to me recently, “God calls a pastor to provide ‘Pastor-leadership, not Pastor-doing.’ Some churches speak mission but they want the pastor to do it.”

There are two ways we can move forward toward the models and structures that best support the mission calling we have as disciples of Christ and members of a last day church.

1.) We can embrace change, and prayerfully examine our current systems and structures and be willing to search out God’s leading in moving past current practices and traditions, to new ways of serving. These news ways, rather than moving away from the Adventist perspective, will in actual fact need to be a direct coming back to the principles and purposes the Adventist Church was raised up for in the beginning.

2.) Or, we can cling to our current practices and structures, even as the need to reach the present world changes, and we come to face the eventual result that the Lord may be allowing our familiar and comfortable methods to become unsustainable. Only then might we become willing to move to a better model and method for mission.

I would like to have the heart of the first way. While change can be unsettling and not always easy to accept, I would rather rise up and follow the call of the Lord. James and John, Peter and Andrew rose up when Jesus came by and invited them to “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Talk about change! They left their nets, their livelihood, their family, their familiar way of working, and followed Jesus into mission.

Will you join me in praying that the same Jesus who called James, John, Peter and Andrew, and who called you and me, will find us willing to follow Him just as faithfully into whatever new activity and approach He wants to lead us into?

PASTORAL INTERVIEWS

Annual Pastor Interviews and evaluations took place this week and will continue next week. Will Peterson and I drove to Harrisburg on Tuesday. Then I got up at 4 a.m. Wednesday in order to pick up Will in Reading by 5:30 a.m. and we drove together to Everett. On Thursday we left by 6:30 a.m. to drive to Williamsport.

At each location Will and I spent 1.5 hours each with a pastor, sharing a devotional message and prayer, then listening to them discuss their district churches. Then each pastor presented their achievements for 2010. They also shared the last 5 years numbers for membership, tithe and baptisms. Then the pastor would share their personal and professional growth goals for 2011 and the district church’s ministry goals for 2011.

Finally we would close with prayer. Most days Will and I each interviewed 3-4 pastors in each location. It is a joy to hear of the different ministry activities of the various churches. The Lord is really blessing our churches in the Pennsylvania Conference. I will be sharing just a few specifics in the President’s Communique.

Here is Will and I at the Everett church with Pastor Bob Williams and Pastor Lonnie Wibberding.

BMA BOARD AND STAFF WORKING SESSION

Blue Mountain Academy Board and Staff Working Session
January 9, 2011

The Blue Mountain Academy Board and Staff spent Sunday in a working session to prayerfully explore 5 areas of focus and develop Strategic Action plans for each of those.

The Board and Staff were grouped around tables and considered the 5 areas of:
1. Maximize intentional opportunities for student’s spiritual growth and development
2. Ensure that all students are given opportunities to maximize their individual academic potential
3. Enhance BMA’s awareness among constituents and potential student families leading to stable annual enrollment.
4. Leverage sound fiscal management, strong philanthropic support to maintain affordable tuition costs.
5. Teach and reinforce personal and spiritual lifestyle choices that are consistent with the Biblical message and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The entire only worked on 1 Focus area at a time.
Each table presented their top Strategic Action plans for that focus area. Then the entire group ranked the Strategic Action plans in order to narrow down the Strategic Action plans to approximately 5.

There was diligent work and interaction by each table and the entire group.

Our BMA Board and Staff are committed to uplifting and working diligently for the Christian Education of our Seventh-day Adventist young people who have been entrusted to the educational ministry of BMA.