President's Blog

TRIBUTE TO DR. RUSSELL YOUNGBERG

2011-05-18T18:36:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-08T17:39:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-19T10:56:00.001-07:00

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

2011-03-15T19:13:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-10T09:49:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-06T16:12:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-11T18:05:00.001-08:00

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

2011-02-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-30T13:05:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-14T16:18:00.001-08:00

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

2011-01-09T17:50:00.000-08:00

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.

Jesus and Just the "Good Kids"

2011-01-07T14:54:00.000-08:00

JESUS AND JUST THE GOOD KIDS

Recently I shared this as a devotional thought for a strategic working session of the Blue Mountain Academy Board and Staff. While this was directed to an educational setting, the principles could be applied to how we think about a Pathfinder club, church Sabbath school ministries, church youth groups, and even church social activities.

What if Jesus only ministered to the “good” kids?
Or those who showed potential for excelling in academically or socially acceptable ways?

Sometimes, the thought arises that we would have a better school, our mission and work would be easier, our outcomes would be different, if we just took in the “good” students and limited severely the amount of the “other” students.

So, what if Jesus only ministered to the “good” students?
How might the gospels read differently today, if that was the case?

Well, think of the demoniac of the Gadarenes. (Mark 5:1-20) He would remain demon possessed. After all, you don’t want a student who is already into the occult as part of your ministry.
So Jesus would by-pass him.
Oh, and by the way, after Jesus cast out the demon, he sent this man, now clothed and in his right mind, back to his village, and later, when Jesus came back to that region, a whole village accepted Jesus and His message.

What about the woman at the well. (John 4:1-38) Now there is a case to avoid. Don’t take her in with your ministry, Jesus. It is obvious she is promiscuous. 5 husbands and now living in sin with another man. No, we don’t want kids that could be sexually active to mess up our world. So pass on this one.
Oh, and by the way, there was a whole village this woman brought to Jesus.
What about the paralytic lowered through the roof? (Mark 2:1-12) It was his sin, according to Desire of Ages, that cause his health to be ruined. So we better not let Jesus have this man associated with His ministry.

We might have kids today who are experimenting with drugs, smoking and alcohol and harming their health.
How do we treat them?
What would Jesus do?

How redemptive should we be?
Or how exclusive should we be?

Peter lies and tries to kill his enemies right in front of Jesus.

Levi-Matthew is a tax collector, and we all know they cheat and steal. And they are traitors to their country.

Simon is a zealot. That is pretty close to being a terrorist and a threat to homeland security.

James and John have a mother that is conniving and trying to manipulate political advantage. Can’t stand to have students with parents like that!

Jesus mixes with tax collectors, drunkards and prostitutes.

If we could just keep Jesus with the “good” kids, then…then He could just be with the likes of Judas and the Pharisees!

Now that is a sobering thought. Perhaps we need to be with more than “just the good kids.” How else can those who are not always the “perfect” or “good” kids be brought to a place in Christ, that they can become a fully committed disciple of Christ, unless they are included in our sphere of influence, and unless we are intentional about seeking to influence those on the margins for Christ?

Ashamed, Anxious or Assured?

2010-12-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

Here is the Devotional I shared with the Conference Executive Committee recently. It is drawn from the book, The Great Controversy, Chapter 28, “Facing Life’s Record”

For some Adventists, it fills them with embarrassment. They are ashamed.

For other Adventists, it fills them with anxiety, fear and dread leading to near
immobilization.

And for other Adventists, they become filled with joy and trust.

What does these various things to various Adventists?

The Investigative Judgment, and how it has been presented and perceived by different Christians and different ones in the Adventist Church.

I have been leading the Conference staff each Monday morning worship for several months now, through 1 chapter a week in the book, Great Controversy. 2 weeks ago, we reflected on the investigative judgment. This great teaching more fully reveals our Savior Jesus Christ and the beautiful role He is playing in the working out of our Salvation. He finished paying the price on the Cross of Calvary, for sin. Now He is applying the merits of His sacrifice on our behalf, in His great mediatorial role as our Advocate and our High Priest.
There is no doubt in scripture of a final judgment.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of God…
The books were opened, the judgment was set…
Judgment begins with the house of God…
Who will judge the living and the dead…
The dead were judged out of the book…
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14

The Sanctuary service throughout the history of God’s people clearly teaches the role of the cost of sin, an innocent party providing atonement, and the role of applying atonement for those who choose to be under the blood of the Lamb.

So what scares Adventists about the investigative judgment?

“As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate (emphasis supplied) presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God's remembrance. The Lord declared to Moses: "Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book." Exodus 32:33.” GC pg. 483.

Some get scared about names being investigated, some accepted, some rejected.

But, did you notice the words – OUR ADVOCATE?
What is an Advocate? Someone who stands up for, intercedes for, or presents a favorable case on behalf of another. Right in this description is the wonderful news that we have an Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous. Some, when reading of the Investigative judgment here, somehow miss the point that there is an Advocate for those who trust in the plan of salvation, and then they become morose and almost spiritually comatose.

“All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares, by the prophet Isaiah: "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Isaiah 43:25. Said Jesus: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32, 33.” GC pg. 483

Notice that it is the claim of the blood of Jesus that is the reason for anyone’s name to be in the books of heaven. Not our own efforts or merit, or the merit of some perceived saint, but our total response to the love of Jesus and in faith in His blood.

Now, reading on, notice this awesome description of Christ’s intention for us and during His work in the heavenly Sanctuary, what He is pleading for His people who have put their faith in His blood.

“The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through faith in His blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home, and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to "the first dominion." Micah 4:8. Satan in his efforts to deceive and tempt our race had thought to frustrate the divine plan in man's creation; but Christ now asks that this plan be carried into effect as if man had never fallen. He asks for His people not only pardon and justification, full and complete, but a share in His glory and a seat upon His throne.” GC pg. 484

Let me list in brief form the key points Jesus wants for us.
• Restored to their Eden home.
• Crowned as joint heirs with Himself.
• Christ’s original plan for us be carried into effect as if man had never sinned.
• Pardon and justification full and complete.
• A share in His glory.
• A seat upon His throne.

Wow, and I would be satisfied with just a quiet corner somewhere in the earth made new. But imagine, a seat upon His throne! (see also Ephesians 2:4-6, Revelation 3:21)

Since this is a wonderful aspect to the work of Christ, it is going on right now, and it is our joy and a source of courage to us, notice next what Satan is trying to do in these last days.

“Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth.” GC pg. 488

Jesus gave a complete price for sin on the cross. Now he is applying that price for the sinner, just as the lamb in the earthly Sanctuary was sacrificed in the outer court and the blood was carried into the Sanctuary and applied before the veil, and then on the day of atonement carried within the veil and applied before the ark of the covenant. Now Jesus is applying the full price He already paid at the cross, to our eternal salvation. There is no other price that can be paid. No other effort. No other merit than that which Christ has obtained and which He gives.

“The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, "whither the forerunner is for us entered." Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father's throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God.” GC pg 489

In the meantime, Satan loves to taunt Christ. He loves to throw into the arena of the universe the course of those who claim to be a disciple and a child of Jesus, the way some don’t really put all trust, all faith, all willing obedience in their Savior and make Jesus truly number one in their life.

“If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away. Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads in their behalf His wounded hands, His bruised body; and He declares to all who would follow Him: "My grace is sufficient for thee." 2 Corinthians 12:9. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:29, 30. Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome them.” GC pg. 489

Yes, it is a solemn time. We are living in that day. The final day of atonement.
Do we live in dread, fear anxiety and fright? Hardly able to enjoy being a Christian?

Or do we live in joyful anticipation. Fully trusting our Savior? Fully committed each day to be the man or the woman that Christ can totally have, unreservedly? Have we totally sold out to Christ and have as our only motivation, to please Him?

When we have that attitude and choice, we have no need of fear in the judgment. For we know we are loved perfectly, so we have chosen to love Jesus more than anything else in the world. And “Perfect love casts out all fear.”

Our issue to decide each day, during the last days of earth’s history, is: “Do we love Jesus more than anything else?” Because we love Him, are will be hungry and thirsty to reflect His character, His motives, His atmosphere?” His complete sacrifice and our complete, joyful, trusting surrender -- that answers the question of our standing and fitness in the final judgment.

Lewisburg Church becomes the Milton Seventh-day Adventist Church and Moves into their own building.

2010-11-13T15:12:00.000-08:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG
November 13, 2010

Ten years ago, one of the first church plants to be organized into a church in quite some time, was the Lewisburg Church Plant. Elder Mike Cauley and I, along with Will Peterson, participated in a beautiful service of organizing them from a company into a full fledged church in the Pennsylvania Conference.

Since that time in 2000, members of the Lewisburg have worked diligently under the leadership of lay pastor, Kerry Stahl.

Conference evangelist Lynnwood Spangler held meetings in Lewisburg in the National Guard Armory. Several lay lead evangelistic meetings were conducted by various members, including a series of youth evangelistic meetings. Other mission activities were conducted. And the church grew.

Over the years, different possible locations for the church to establish a mission center to work out of were considered. Some were too far away from the target population. Others were not within the price range of the available resources, and still others did not have facilities that were laid out ideally.

Recently, a church in Milton moved on to a different facility and offered their building for sale. This building was in good repair and on a well-known street in Milton. Floyd Dare worked with our congregation and obtained a sale price that was below the asking price and that enables our congregation to save some money for a few basic repairs that were needed.

November 13, 2010 was the first Sabbath our former Lewisburg SDA Church family, and now the Milton SDA Church family could meet in their recently purchased building, and it was the same Sabbath they had scheduled for many months in advance to celebrate their 10 year anniversary.

Students from the Williamsport SDA Church School took part in the program, repeating Psalm 100 and also providing a music number.

I shared the morning worship hour message and then Will Peterson and I joined the church family for lunch. In the afternoon was a dedication service. Due to a prior appointment, I had to leave early from that service, but Will Peterson stayed on with the happy church family.
Here is a picture of the present leaders of the Milton SDA Church, joined by Elder Will Peterson on the left and Pastor Tom Grove on the right.

“Real Leaders”

2010-11-12T15:34:00.001-08:00

President’s Blog
November 12, 2010

“Real Leaders”

Recently an Adventist Conference President shared with me a quote from Heifetz and Laurie, authors of a current book on leadership. I am turning over the quote and its implications in my mind. Here is what it says:

“Followers want comfort, stability and solutions from their leaders. But that’s babysitting. Real leaders ask hard questions and knock people out of their comfort zones. Then they manage the resulting distress.”

Yes, we are creatures of habit. We actually usually prefer the status quo. We don’t want things upset. Often we want things better, without any change required from us.

And yet, when I read in the Bible, whenever God called a man or a woman to a significant work, a ministry, a prophetic office or to deliver His people, it always involved change. It always involved, in some way, calling or knocking people out of their comfort zones. Just think with me of the life of Abraham – called to leave everything familiar and go out, “not knowing where he was going,” the scriptures say. Noah, called to build an ocean-going ship for an event never seen before and never contemplated by anyone else except by the God of heaven who revealed the calling to Noah. Elijah—sent to Ahab to announce there would be no rain, without even knowing that this would last 3 years. David sent to face Goliath with only 5 stones, and a challenge to the entire army of Israel that one with God could be a majority. Esther called to enter the court of the King with the law pronouncing death on anyone who ventured in unbidden. Moses called to lead untrained, unorganized and often unwilling multitudes of former slaves away from the most civilized nation and the most efficient army of that world.

So, I invite you to think about this quote with me. What do you think about real leaders? Feel free to share a comment on this blog.

Oh yes,…Happy Sabbath!

PA CONFERENCE EDUCATOR'S RETREAT AND PSALM 100

2010-11-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

PA EDUCATOR’S RETREAT

October 29-31, seven individuals comprising Pennsylvania Conference educators and their spouses joined me at Laurel Lake Camp for our optional Educator’s Spiritual Retreat.

We focused our time in prayer, reflection, Bible study and fellowship. Some of the key spiritual materials we used for focused study and reflection were: Psalm 100; Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, page 101; Christ’s Object Lessons, page 299-300; and He Has Made Me Glad by Ben Patterson.

As part of the spiritual reflection we did, each of us wrote our own paraphrase of Psalm 100. Here is what I shared with our retreat participants.

“Everybody! Get excited about the goodness of the Lord.
Fill the whole land with boisterous noise for Him.
Do everything you can for Him.
And do it with a glad heart.
In fact, practice being in His presence with music in your heart and songs of joy and praise from your mouth.
Continuously dwell on the fact that God is sovereign and mighty—the only God.
Remember, you and I are made by Him—intentionally, intelligently, and independently from any ability of our own.
We are cherished by Him, valued and cared for as precious family.
So—every chance we get—let us come to Him with thanksgiving and thankful hearts.
In fact let’s go to His house just to tell Him how good He is.
Every time we use His name, remember all His goodness with unending gratitude and honor.
Lord—You are truly the best.
There is no end to Your mercy.
Your words and actions are true and trustworthy to all people of all ages.
There will never be a time when You are not that which is accurate, dependable, faithful and completely righteous.” Psalm 100, Hartwell paraphrase.

Writing a paraphrase is not at all to take the place of the Holy Scriptures (even though Jack Blanco’s paraphrase, called the Clear Word Bible is very popular with a number of Adventists). Writing a paraphrase of a portion of scripture is one way to reflect and ponder the meaning of the Holy Word of God and how God might apply it to you and your life.

As part of our time, we gathered for quiet worship in the LLC Lodge.

One of the popular features of this meeting place, was the opportunity to gather around a warm fire in the fireplace.

Our educators in attendance expressed great appreciation for this time to grow, pray and enjoy God’s presence.

Conference Leadership Staff appointments in Western Pennsylvania

2010-11-03T11:52:00.001-07:00

Sometimes our Church members question if our Conference Staff ever visits our Western Pennsylvania Churches or events.
Listed below are a number of the appointments that our Staff have filled in the Western Pennsylvania area. This is not totally exhaustive, but gives an example of the ministry activites we often join in with our Western PA Churches. A number of churches or local leaders may not realize that the Pastor, the Church or the local ministry leader may invite any of our Conference Leaders to take part in a church service or a training opportunity in a local church and usually that is how the majority of our appointments come about -- through invitation.

Western PA Conference Appointments
Preaching, Meeting with Key Leaders, Leadership Training, and Events for Members

January 2009
January 10 Ray Hartwell -- East Suburban church

February 2009
February 27 Ray Hartwell -- Pittsburgh church
February 27 Ray Hartwell -- New Castle church

March 2009
March 7 Tamyra Horst – Everett church sermon and seminar

April 2009
April 17, 18 Ray Hartwell -- Evangelistic Meetings, New Castle
April 19 Ray Hartwell -- Pittsburgh board meeting
April 19-May 2 Ray Hartwell -- New Castle Evangelistic Series
April 26 Ray Hartwell -- Laurel Lake Camp
Ray Hartwell -- Mt. Jewett
Ray Hartwell -- Derrick City

May 2009

June 2009

July 2009
July 18 Barry Tryon -- Pittsburgh church, sermon
July 18 Barry Tryon -- New Brighton church, sermon

August 2009

September 2009
September 3 Ron Christman -- Town Hall Meeting – Williamsport
September 18-19 Ray Hartwell, Barry Tryon, Ron Christman, Kris Eckenroth, Jeanne
Hartwell, Tamyra Horst, Lilly Tryon – Fall Camp Meeting
September 20 Barry Tryon, Ron Christman -- Town Hall Meeting, Erie
September 20 Barry Tryon, Ron Christman -- Town Hall Meeting, Pittsburgh
September Jeanne Hartwell -- visiting people with Bob and Amy Williams

October 2009
October 17 Ron Christman -- Carnegie church service
October 18-20 Ray Hartwell --- Pastors’ Spiritual Retreat at LLC
October 25-27 Ray Hartwell, Barry Tryon, Kris Eckenroth, Dave Morgan and
Tamyra Horst -- Laurel Lake Camp Conference Leadership Retreat
October 24 Ray Hartwell -- Pittsburgh ShareHim Rally
October 30-31 Tamyra Horst -- fall women’s retreat at Laurel Lake

November 2009
November 14 Barry Tryon -- Mon Valley church, sermon
November 14 Barry Tryon -- Uniontown Hilltop church, sermon
November 14 Barry Tryon -- Washington church, sermon
November 20-22 Ray Hartwell -- Teachers’ Spiritual Retreat at LLC

December 2009

January 2010
Jan-June Jeannette Dare -- Erie Church Community Service Outreach
January Kris Eckenroth – Pathfinder Winter Retreat at Laurel Lake
January 16 Tamyra Horst – Indiana church, sermon
January Dave Morgan – Erie

February 2010

March 2010
March 13 Barry Tryon -- Carnegie Church Plant
March 20 Ron Christman -- Lowville church, sermon
March 20 Ron Christman -- Erie church, sermon
March Will Peterson -- Pioneer End Time Evaluation

April 2010
April 10 Tamyra Horst -- Derrick City church, sermon
April 17 Ray Hartwell -- W PA Church Boards
April 18 Ray Hartwell -- W PA Church Boards
April 24 Ray Hartwell -- W PA Church Boards
April 25 Ray Hartwell -- W PA Church Boards
April Kris Eckenroth -- Laurel Lake Camp

May 2010
May 30 Ray Hartwell, Jeanne Hartwell -- Washington Heights sermon and
Marriage Seminar
May Will Peterson -- Carnegie Adventist Fresh Expressions

June 2010

July 2010
July 10 Ron Christman, Kris Eckenroth -- Derrick City church, service
July 11 Ron Christman, Kris Eckenroth -- Derrick City, townhall
July 11 Ron Christman, Kris Eckenroth – Erie, townhall
July 15 Tamyra Horst -- film at Shamokin Mission Group
July 18 Ron Christman, Kris Eckenroth – Indiana, townhall
July 18 Ron Christman, Kris Eckenroth – Pittsburgh, townhall
July Kris Eckenroth – Greater Pittsburgh Metro Ministries
July Kris Eckenroth – 3 visits to Laurel Lake Camp
July Dave Morgan – Erie

August 2010
August Kris Eckenroth – Laurel Lake Camp

September 2010
September 12-14 Jeanne Hartwell -- Pastors’ Wives Retreat
September 17-19 Ray Hartwell, Jeanne Hartwell, Kris Eckenroth, Will Peterson, Ron
Christman, Tamyra Horst, Nancy Stickney, Floyd Dare, Jeannette
Dare -- Fall Camp Meeting
September 19-21 Ray Hartwell -- Pastors’ Spiritual Retreat

October 2010
October 10, 11 Ray Hartwell, Ron Christman, Kris Eckenroth -- Pathfinder Camporee, LLC
October 16 Ray Hartwell, Ron Christman, Will Peterson – Everett
October 22-24 Tamyra Horst -- fall women’s retreat, Laurel Lake Camp
October 22-23 Ray Hartwell, Will Peterson – ACS Greater Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
Church,Greensburg, East Suburban
October 29-31 Ray Hartwell -- Teachers’ Spiritual Retreat, LLC
October Kris Eckenroth -- Everett

November 2010
November 20 Ray Hartwell—Washington, Mon Valley, Uniontown

December 2010
December Kris Eckenroth, Impact Pittsburgh youth event

CAR POOLING TO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

2010-10-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

This weekend William Peterson and I shared a trip to Western Pennsylvania. Will had an appointment with Lonnie Wibberding, the new director of the Community Ministry and Church Plant in Carnegie, just adjacent to Pittsburgh proper, and I was to speak at the Greensburg Church, at the East Suburban Church and then meet with the East Suburban Church Board Sabbath afternoon.

Lonnie Wibberding is in place in Carnegie and has succeeded Andrew Clark as the director of the project. William Peterson met with Lonnie Friday afternoon to go over the current status and future plans. I worked on some pressing Conference business during that time.

In the evening, William and I drove up to the Pittsburgh Church as Pastor Dennis Austin had told me that a lay-led ShareHim meeting was being conduct. We arrived in time to hear Kathy Shea present the evening ShareHim evangelistic meeting, which was on the time prophecy for the 2,300 day forecast of when Christ would begin His final ministry before His second coming. I am very proud of the effort that Kathy was making in presenting the word of God that evening. Her husband, Jack, was to present the message the next evening.

Sabbath morning William joined Lonnie Wibberding for the worship service in Carnegie and I presented the morning message at Greensburg. Brandon Yorty is the lay pastor there and has been faithfully leading out in this church.

Then I drove over to the East Suburban Church and presented the morning worship message there. 52 were in attendance this last Sabbath, which is evidence of the growing attendance in this church. Donald Lewis, lay pastor, has been diligently working and leading out and has several baptisms this year, with at least another one planned before the end of the year. After Church, I met with the Church Board and shared the vision for the Church Board to make the mission to reach the lost the focus of every activity of the Church. We discussed the possibility of East Suburban hosting a PA Conference Youth Challenge student Literature Evangelist Team and a COOL camp summer day camp team in order to better reach their community. There seemed to be strong interest in the possibility.

Friday night I received word that Eugene “Jeep” Moyer of the Shermansdale church had been stricken with a massive stroke and was in the Hershey Medical Center. On our way home, William and I stopped by the Hershey Medical Center in an effort to visit with Jeep, who has been a literature evangelist in the Pennsylvania Conference and was recently a member of the Conference Executive Committee. The Hershey Medical Center could not find him in their records and kindly connected us with several hospitals in the Harrisburg area. When we could not locate him that way either, we later contacted Rudy Marschner, the Head Elder of the Shermansdale Church and were sadly informed the Jeep had passed away at 1:40 p.m. Sabbath afternoon.

With a pang of sadness, we sorrowed the loss of another faithful member and former worker in the Pennsylvania Conference, and yet we by faith look forward to the soon return of Jesus and the promise that one day Jesus will restore all the sin has snatched away.

EVERETT GRAND OPENING

2010-10-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

EVERETT SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH GRAND OPENING

On Sabbath, October 16, the Everett Church Family celebrated the Grand Opening of their new church facility. This is the 4th Arise and Build Church in the Pennsylvania Conference, and the 3rd Arise and Build church constructed in Western Pennsylvania.

The church has a wide and spacious church sanctuary/auditorium, with plenty of lighting and a wide and very functional platform area. The baptistery is off to the right of the platform.

Elder Ron Christman, Conference Treasurer and Elder William Peterson, Assistant to the President for Mission and the Arise and Build Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Conference accompanied me for the great day. Elder Christman taught the Sabbath School lesson and I shared the worship hour message, entitled, “Why Build a Church?”

The service had many special features, complete with a history of the congregation delivered by Rowena Rick. Jessica Link, a student from Blue Mountain Academy and her mother Christy Link provided one of the special music numbers. The Blue Mountain Academy Brass quintet gave several musical numbers.
The local Church children gave a couple of special music numbers for the worship service, and of course, everyone thought theirs was probably the best part!

Fomrer pastors Don Ehrlich and Vince Dolan were also able to attend and take part in the morning service.

Vince Dolan (on left with Larry Fisher) was the pastor when the land was purchased and the plans drawn up for the new church.

In the afternoon, Jessica Link and Levi Collins shared an overview of the Pennsylvania Conference Youth ShareHim mission trip, showing pictures of the group’s experience in Guatemala from this last July. Both Jessica and Levi are presently conducting a ShareHim meeting in Pennsylvania.

The Men’s Quartet from the Williamsport Church composed of the Fulmer brothers, the son of the former pastor Vince Dolan and Ken Yonkin provided an afternoon concert.

The church is very tastefully decorated throughout. Especially delightful is the large life size mural of Jesus teaching from the fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee that is all across one wall in the Junior Sabbath School room.

This church has an excellent design and floor plan and is a credit to the Adventist faith. It makes a very attractive appearance to the community.

Pastor Bob Snyder and his church family planned a wonderful Grand Opening. What a reaon to praise God for all the miracles in the property purchase, funding and building of this church!

TRASH AND TREASURES

2010-09-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG

Trash and Treasures

September 19-21 the Pennsylvania Pastor’s were provided a time for spiritual reflection, Bible meditation and personal prayer. Those who chose to come together for the optional Spiritual Retreat gathered at Laurel Lake Camp on the Sunday evening following the Fall Camp Meeting.

The philosophy for a quiet, gently guided retreat such as this comes from the statement in Ministry of Healing which says:

We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, "Be still, and know that I am God." This is the effectual preparation for all labor for God. Amidst the hurrying throng, and the strain of life's intense activities, he who is thus refreshed, will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. He will receive a new endowment of both physical and mental strength. His life will breathe out a fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men's hearts.--The Ministry of Healing, p. 58.

A chapter from Psalms was focused on. Reading was provided with a book authored by Ben Patterson, and a personal copy of Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, both of which were given to the participants. Journaling and private prayer time were encouraged and structured into the day. What a treasure to listen to God in His word and in prayer!

Comments from those participating were:

• Thank you for this opportunity to come apart from the busyness of ministry. I greatly appreciate this retreat.
• This time, program, is absolutely essential to a pastor’s spiritual health. I am so glad you are committed to this program.
• It provoked deep thoughtful reflection. I shall plan to return.
• I needed this spiritual retreat in an absolute way. Not that I was getting overburdened or stressed by working, but to recalibrate my spirit to this important things in the spiritual life.

During Monday afternoon’s open time, I walked along the road from the main entrance of Laurel Lake Camp to the road leading to Hemlock Lake. Troy Haagenson accompanied me and together, we picked up all the trash we could find alongside each side of the road. Later Mike Bernard came by with the LLC utility vehicle and we transported the trash bags back to the dumpster behind the LLC Lodge building.

As Christians who believe that Christ created this world and gave us stewardship of it, and that He is coming soon to bring us to a re-created perfect world, it is our privilege to care for and clean up the waste and destructive practices that mar and harm God’s creation.

Life Lessons from a Leader

2010-08-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

The Church leader thought he was defending the essential Adventist faith. After all, he had become a Conference President at a young age when Brinkerhoff and Snook had led a major apostasy from the Adventist faith in Iowa. He vigorously worked with evangelistic fervor and kept the Conference together following their defection. 2 years after being elected Conference President, he was given a ministerial license and 4 months later he was ordained.

During the 1860s and 1870s George I. Butler became one of the foremost Adventist defenders and a supporter of the ministry of Ellen White. From 1872 to 1874 he served as General Conference President while James White was recovering his health. Then he was elected General Conference President again, serving from 1880 to 1888.

While GC President, the first time he was active in raising funds for Battle Creek College (now Andrews University) and the Pacific Press Publishing in Oakland, California. During his second term as GC President he led the Church through the D.M. Canright apostasy.
He also disagreed with Jones and Wagoner on the understanding of Righteousness by faith and the role of the law in Galatians.

“By the time of the famous 1888 General Conference Session Butler called for those who were sympathetic to him to "stand by the old landmarks" or to not give up traditional theological positions. This called forth a strong rebuke from Ellen G. White.”
Following the 1888 General Conference Session, Butler’s health collapsed and with his wife moved to Florida, where he purchased property to raise citrus fruit and recuperate.

In 1901 his wife died and he was elected President of the Florida Conference. The following year, with the encouragement of Ellen White, he was elected President of the Southern Union and the Southern Publishing Association. In 1908 he retired and passed to his rest in 1918, buried in the city cemetery of Bowling Green, Florida.

What his life may teach us, is that we may be energetically and earnestly defending the faith, and still have things to learn. While Butler was calling upon the delegates to the 1888 General Conference Session to “stand by the old landmarks” it was difficult for him to realize that there was still more to learn and more growth spiritually that was needed.

When you have had to defend the Biblical positions of the Adventist faith from the Marion party, Snook and Brinkerhoff, D.M. Canright and others, it is easy to get entrenched and see that any idea different from what you held at the beginning of your ministry must be wrong and you must vigorously resist it.

The concern however, is that God may have additional light and growth for us as a people, as Ellen White has said He does. And when it comes, we may be afraid it is another attempt at apostasy. We may even describe it to our supporters as Satan’s last day deception and announce that the church is being led to its ruin if followed. Every additional spiritual understanding or practice that God may allow to come to our attention before Jesus comes, may not necessarily be a last day deception or apostasy, just because it is not the traditional practice or does not look like we are “standing by the old landmarks.” This does mean, however, that we should, “test all things, hold fast to that which is true.” And it means, as Ellen White has said, that we should carefully consider new light, since, “we have many things to learn and many things to unlearn.”

A second thing his life teaches us, is that even when a leader makes a mistake, and firmly resists the direction God wants to lead His church, that leader is still not beyond usefulness to God when the leader displays a humble and willing spirit for service. What a gracious outcome in Butler’s life, when, under the encouragement of Ellen White, he was asked to serve as the Southern Union President.

Jeanne and I had the privilege, while on our vacation in central Florida to look up the gravesite of George I. Butler. We attended Church in Avon Park, FL, where I grew up, and then drove the 25 miles over to Bowling Green, FL.

After searching the cemetery in this small town, we located his gravesite.

Not far from the cemetery, is the general area where Butlers farm, “Twin Magnolias” was located. And even to this day, citrus is grown in that vicinity.

I am thankful for the life lessons these early leaders in our church teach us. And I chose to be faithful to the Adventist calling, just as they endeavored to be.

MISSION REPORT - 9

2010-07-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

MISSION REPORT 9

Guatemala is a beautiful country. They are rightly proud of the fact that this country is one of the top producers of produce, fruit, sugar cane and food items in all of Central America.

Most of the people here, unless they are lower upper class and above, depend upon wood fires for cooking their entire meals.

While the country is lush with growth and is in no danger of deforestation, you frequently see people colleting or cutting wood and they carrying it, tying it to the back of a bike or motorcycle, or filling a truck bed with it to take home. Most common, they have tied it into a bundle and are carrying it. Any tree or sapling that falls or is cut down, is quickly cut into manageable lengths by someone with a machete and hauled home. Imagine that you needed to cut wood every day just to cook your meal!

Many of them wash their family laundry in open water of rivers or running water alongside the roadway. Often you will see a lady walking along with a large basket or round plastic tub on her head, which may contain cleaned laundry, tortillas, or items purchased from the store and being brought home.

Labor is very plentiful and cheap here. We saw no highway machinery to cut down the weeds and lush growth along the roadway. Instead, there will be a group of men with machetes (no mowers or weed-wackers) cutting the grass and undergrowth from the edge of the pavement, through the ditch and up the bank a little ways. Quite a few other things that we might think of at home would be accomplished with machinery, are done here with manual labor. While we might think this is unfortunate or perhaps even backward, in actual fact, it gives a large population of unskilled labor ways to earn a basic living and provide for their families. It does let me know in a vivid way, why so many people “south of the border” are very eager to get “north of the border.”

While the people here may seem unsophisticated and simple by US standards, they are very devout and eager to serve the Lord. The church members are warm and accepting, generous and genuinely interested in your welfare and those of the others in the church.

Our Adventist pastors here in Guatemala typically have 17-19 churches and church plants. The elder of the church serves in the capacity of a lay pastor, as the district pastor is only at 1 church on any given Sabbath. The members all take up the spiritual work of the church and are very inclusive of all taking part, especially having the teenagers hold integral parts in the church. In my church, young men and women in their teens, lead the music every night, assist with the baptism as a deacon, totally run the PA and computer generated graphics, etc. Although the pastor is only in 1 church per Sabbath, every Sabbath afternoon, all the leaders of the local church (elders, lay pastors) meet with the Pastor for a leadership meeting, to bring reports of the church, the attendance, and what mission projects the church is engaged in. The Pastor then shares leadership principles and mentors his leaders, and also shares a spiritual message (sermon) for them. Because each church and member takes up the work of mission, none of these churches feel deprived or “under-served.” All play a part and all appreciate each other. All expect God to work through them, not just through the Pastor.

When that spirit permeates a church, God can bless and do great things.
It is worthy of your and my contemplation to consider and then act on, "just what God might lead us in our churches to do differently for the sake of mission and for more dependence upon God’s power and His work through all of us, rather than a dependence upon our own 'traditional' way of doing things, or our expectations according to human values."

MISSION REPORT - 8

2010-07-27T11:31:00.001-07:00

MISSION REPORT 8

By the time you read this, our young adults from Pennsylvania have presented the topic of baptism, the millennium, hell fire, why so many denominations, and the remnant church. I am so proud of our Pennsylvania young adults who are taking part. Several have shared with me of their spiritual growth.

A couple are quietly and seriously thinking about being re-baptized, either while we are here, or when they return home. God is at work.
Once the PA Young Adults return home, many of them want to hold a two week meeting just like they did here before returning to college or academy at the end of the summer. Please keep them in your prayers as they endeavor to do that, and if you are in a location where they may be seeking to conduct a 2 week meeting, please give them your full support and invite folks to attend.

One of our young adults was assigned to a church about an hour’s drive from where we are staying. On the first night the church members let her know they weren’t too sure about having a female preacher. Also, they did not have any guests attending, just members. After about 3 messages, the church members started to warm up to her, and now, they are extremely supportive and affirming. Although our PA young adult didn’t have any guests attending her meetings, she kept right on preaching with energy and perseverance. Now into the second week, non-member guests have started to come and attend, and even a former member has come and answered the call for baptism.

We found out this week, that this church family did not know they were having an evangelistic meeting until the day before the meetings started (which is very unusual for the Share Him locations), so it appears that after they got used to the young lady speaker from PA and began to appreciate her giving the messages, they began inviting folks from the community!

MISSION REPORT - 7

2010-07-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

MISSION REPORT 7

At this point in our time in Guatemala, our young adults have preached for a week and a half. Now we are giving appeals from the front every night for people to accept Christ, accept the Sabbath and accept Baptism. We have covered most of the “testing truths” so we are giving an appeal every night until the end.

The Churches hear do not use “Decision cards” like most evangelists in the United States do. At the conclusion of the message, we begin the invitation and we invite people to raise their hands, to stand and to come forward. It is very common for the Guatemalian pastors to spend 20-30 minutes in making an appeal. Also, it is common for the elders and the deaconesses to come alongside of specific guests and quietly and gently urge them to respond to the appeal, come forward, give their heart to Christ and make a decision for baptism. In the United States, our culture would be very distressed at what would seem to us to be major pressure put on us if we were a guest at a meeting. However here, that is not a negative factor. In fact, last night, I gave an 8-10 minute appeal before the baptism of 4 people.

Then the pastor gave an appeal from the baptistery after the baptism, which went for 40 minutes! During that appeal, I left the platform and came down into the pews/benches where a young man was being invited forward by one of the deaconesses, but he was hesitant. I motioned to him, held out my hand. He took it, and then we walked to the front. After that, I saw the spouse of one the deaconesses who is a member, but has some sinful lifestyle issues, and I walked back to where he was sitting and held out my hand, he stood up, took it, and we walked to the front, where I put my hand on his shoulder and on the shoulder of the young man who I had just led up to the front. Then a woman in her mid to late twenties was in the back and an Elder had been speaking with her. The pastor had continued his appeal while about 12-18 people including 3 young adult couples came forward. So during his appeal, as he looked toward this twenty-something woman, he said to me in his halting English, “Pastor Ray, I need your help.” By then I knew what he meant, so I walked to the back of the church, held out my hand to “Brenda” as I later learned her name was, and she came over and we walked to the front.
Maybe in the United States we would not use those actions as to those in our culture, they might seem too intense. But it made me think, “Do I care for souls so much, that I am willing to move out of my comfort zone, and do whatever it takes, to lead someone to give their life to Christ and make a commitment to live completely for Christ in the middle of this ‘Great Controversy’ zone as the final events on planet earth wind down?” Is a person’s salvation worth my moving close to them and reaching out to their heart, without fear that they might reject the invitation – just taking the risk and trusting the Holy Spirit to speak through, over and around me?

What are we doing, how are we praying, for souls in the United States?

2010 Summer Mission Trip Report 6

2010-07-27T06:23:00.001-07:00

MISSION REPORT 6

The rainy season is upon Guatemala. At this time of year it will rain almost every afternoon and on into the evening. Sometimes it even rains in the morning or even most of the day. To the people of Guatemala, they call this the “winter season,” although being from Pennsylvania, I am having trouble considering this as winter. There is a very high humidity at all times, and although the rain can cool the temperatures somewhat, I doubt it never gets below the 70s. During the middle of the day I can drip with perspiration just sitting still!

Yesterday, just this one time of the campaign, the church service for my meetings was held in a 2nd location instead of the church building where all the other meetings are held. This location is on the other side of our town and is actually the house of a lady, with a small front right on the main street. Inside, she has taken what was probably a small store front connected to an open courtyard surrounded by rooms for living space, kitchen bath, bedrooms, opening onto the courtyard, into a makeshift church. This group is a church plant and is ready to be organized as a church right after our campaign time. The chairs were only 5 across and 10 rows deep in this narrow space devoted to the church. I counted 50 people seated and at least another 10 standing, not counting a few others in locations I couldn’t see from the small platform. The Sabbath morning message was on health and tithing.

After a fellowship meal at this “house church” which has the name of La Casa Seventh-day Adventist Church, we drove 2 blocks in the rain, to the location where this group has started construction on a permanent church building. The lady in whose house the church group currently meets, received a lot as a family inheritance, on a street just one block off the main street. She donated her ½ share in this lot and the church group purchased the other ½ share for $20,000 US dollars. The lot is only7 meters wide and about 25 meters deep. The partially constructed church building is 20 feet wide and about 60 feet long. They have been able to construct the walls all the way up, and put on a roof with steel beams and sheet metal/corrugated tin.
What remains to be done to finish the church is to pour the floor, the platform, install the baptistery, windows, doors, electric service and pews. At this point the church only needs about $12,000 US to totally finish and even add Sabbath School rooms for the children, and move in! It will seat 200-300 the pastor estimates. To date, this group has spent about $12,000 US to get to this point and has totally used up every last bit of funds.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Sabbath Schools of the Pennsylvania Conference could take this on as a mission project and help this sister church finish it construction and move in. They see their building as an evangelistic center for reaching more people for Christ, not as a place to land and sit still.

Summer Mission Trip Report 5

2010-07-27T06:22:00.001-07:00

MISSION REPORT 5

At this point, our mission team in Guatemala is nearing the half-way point of the evangelistic series. So far the topics we have presented are:
Daniel 2
Signs of Christ’s Soon Return
The Great Controversy (origin of evil)
The Gospel
2,300 Day Prophecy
Judgment
10 Commandments
Sabbath

Tonight we study about the change of the Sabbath. Tomorrow morning at Church our topic will be a combination one on Health/Tithing. And then tomorrow night will be on baptism.

Our young people who are participating are praying daily and working diligently. Today Christina and Levi have gone out with their pastor to visit some of those who are coming as he prepares them for the baptism. One of the young adults preaching each night from Pennsylvania shared with me that they had never really prayed in public before, and this was a major experience for them to be standing up in front of a church full of people and being the one to offer prayer, much less preach!

Last night on the way back from our church site to the hotel where we are staying (a 45 minute drive each way) as our pastor was driving along, we hit a major pothole in the highway. Frequently he is dodging potholes as we drive back and forth. This time, the pothole was so bad that it immediately deflated the front tire. When he was able to drive the car several hundred feet to pull off the side of the road onto a cross-road, we jumped out of the car and found that both tires on the passenger side had been deflated by the same pothole! Although the tire did not look damaged, both metal tire rims had received a major blow which bent the rims to the point they couldn’t hold an inflated tire. I had carried a flashlight, so I held it while the pastor got the jack out and lifted up the side of the car. However, 2 nights before, another pastor had the same issue somewhere else along the route, and lost 3 tires. So our pastor and another pastor had driven to his rescue and used the spare from each of the 3 cars to help him. This night, my pastor still did not have his spare back, so we had no spare, and even if we did, we had lost 2 tires! So here we were in the pitch black, along a highway in Guatemala, under the stars and along a lot of stretch of heavy growth of trees and vegetation. Our pastor called another pastor to ask for help, and while we were waiting out in the darkness, a 3rd and then a 4th pastor who were driving past, saw us and stopped to offer sympathy and eventually supply 2 spare tires. Since we were only ½ way back, the pastor who came up from our hotel site, took us home and that allowed my host pastor to head back to his house without it getting so late. So we arrived back about 1 hour later than usual (11 p.m.). The biggest thing to keep in mind is that the angels kept us safe, we did not cause an accident, nor were we struck by the big trucks that came around the corner and chugged past us. Also, we were blessed, because the group of pastors here all pitch in and help each other.

Many of our churches are seeing an increase in visitors. Wednesday night, my church had 24 visitors and I was told 27 last night. We did have the pastor from a Sunday-keeping protestant church attend last night. He has had some 3-4 of his members attending earlier.

2010 SUMMER MISSION TRIP REPORT 4

2010-07-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

2010 MISSION REPORT – 4

God has truly answered the prayers that many of us have been praying for several months. Several of our Pennsylvania young people have been sharing in the last couple of days how much they themselves have grown spiritually. One of our young persons said, “I came here to help these people, but I think the purpose for my coming was for my own spiritual growth.” Others have echoed similar thoughts. Tonight, we preached on the 2,300 days and the time of the end and the day of judgment. It was wonderful to watch and participate with our PA young people as they worked through the topic material and discussed with different ones of us adults, just what this sermon meant and how best to present the material.

Each morning we meet for worship and prayer time. This worship and prayer time lasts almost 1 hour and most of that time is spent in the group praying out loud together. Each person ends up praying at least 1 time, and many people pray more than once. What a powerful time this group worship and prayer time has become.

Following that, we spend time sharing our experiences from the night before, what unusual things occurred at someone’s site, or what the local church or group did, what we learned, what we saw, or how we handled something. This is also a time we share questions and coach each other with suggestions and things we found helpful. Day by day, this group is experiencing God at work right before their eyes and right inside of them personally.
Some in the group are already talking and praying about the meetings that they will be conducting in Pennsylvania. If you could be here, you would be thanking the Lord for our Pennsylvania young people, and their participation and growth in the life and mission of Jesus. Hearing these kind of comments is worth all the time, effort and money spent to bring these PA young people into mission for the salvation of souls.

2010 SUMMER MISSION TRIP REPORT 3

2010-07-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

2010 MISSION TRIP – REPORT 3

Sabbath morning we all were picked up at different times and spread out to our various churches. After preaching our first sermon on Friday night, we took off on Sabbath morning to preach on the Signs of Christ’s Return. Most of us stayed all day in the same church. On the way to my church, the pastor asked me to have a seminar in the afternoon for his church leaders, on Christian Leadership. I had told all the students participating in this mission trip that they needed to be ready at all times for being asked to do something at the spur of the moment that they had no idea they would be asked to do. So… guess who got put on the spot. Me! Fortunately, by the blessings of God, I had given a sermon for church officer dedication in the Stroudsburg Church some months ago, with leadership lessons from the life of Moses. I had that on my computer, and Sabbath afternoon, before the 3 p.m. seminar (that I was giving!!!) I was able to adapt that to fit this setting.
During the church service, the pastor said he was going to do a presentation. In the Hispanic culture, a presentation is pretty much like a child dedication in the Anglo churches. So I said, “That’s fine.” So when the pastor stood up to begin the presentation service, and call the family forward, at the time for the baby dedication prayer, the pastor turned to me and said, we want you to have the prayer. So I got to hold the precious little baby and offer the dedication prayer. She was so good during the prayer, and it’s been such a long time since our two children were that size, that I almost didn’t want to hand her back over to the parents.

Saturday evening, our church was very full, with not only members, but also guests and visitors.
The children, small and primary age, at each church are precious. They love to come up to each one of us, with smiles and eager eyes. At my church, on the first night, 3 boys came and sat right next to me on the front bench.

One of the boys is the son of the head elder, and I had encouraged him -- when I saw him on Thursday night when we went to the church to practice our driving times and to practice setting up the computer and projector – to bring a friend on Friday night. If he brought a friend, I promised him a surprise. So when he came in with 2 friends, I gave him a “Lifesaver.” His little friend sat right up next to me, and kept staring up at me the whole time, like I was some kind of alien or sports hero. Hopefully, he could see Jesus shining through me. The head elder has 3 children, one of whom is about 3 years old. She beams me a smile all the time, and she has started her own version of a game of tag with me. When I am not looking, she will sneak up and tap me on the knee or back or arm, scoot away a little and then look up to see if I notice. Even though neither one of us can speak to each other in a language we can understand, we have no difficulty understanding the language of shared joy and humor.

2010 SUMMER MISSION TRIP REPORT 2

2010-07-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

2010 MISSION TRIP – 2ND REPORT

On Friday, each of us finished final preparations for our 1st evangelistic meeting and our preaching. Thursday night, we had all traveled with our Pastor or Elder out to the church site where we would be preaching and practiced setting up our computer and projector equipment. Some of us also practiced the sermon with a translator.

Now Friday was here! On Friday, we especially needed to prepare because not only would we preach Friday night, but then again on Sabbath morning and Saturday night, and Friday would be pretty much our only time to prepare for those two sermons.
Some of us were nervous, some of us didn’t know what to expect, some of us were realizing just what we had gotten into.
Late in the afternoon the local pastors began arriving to transport us to our various churches. The church I was invited to is at least a 45 minute drive from the “hub” city where our hotel is located. One of our young adults, Leilany Rivas rides along to her church since the same pastor is the leader of both church sites (he actually has 17 churches and he meets with the leaders of all those churches every Sabbath afternoon for training and reports, although he is only in 1 church a Sabbath). Our route takes us along part of the Pan-American highway toward the Mexican border some 43 kilometers north.

Most of our churches are very simple with either a concrete or tile floor.

The pews are basic wooden benches with a back board.

The roof may be sheet metal or concrete. One of our group, Justine Link is preaching in a auto garage with speakers mounted so the sound can carry out into the neighborhood. Another of our group, Levi Collins is preaching in a pavilion with half open sides. Five to Seven churches are coming to that one site so there are about 300 people attending there. Most of our churches range in attendance from 60 to 100+.

PA YOUTH MISSION TRIP 2010

2010-07-12T13:34:00.001-07:00

2010 MISSION TRIP – DAY 1

We traveled from BMA to Guatemala, starting at 1 a.m.(Tuesday, July 6, 2010) not ending until about 11:30—12 midnight. Our young people amaze me. Even with the long hours and uncomfortable traveling conditions, packed into a 19 passenger van for 4.5 hours and arriving at our simple motel when we were about to fall over from lack of sleep, still their attitude and spirit was so good. Today (Wednesday) we spent with the pastors and elders from the South Guatemala Mission churches where each of us will conduct meetings.

In the morning, Jeremiah Weeks did training for all of us from Pennsylvania and Guatemala together. Then we ate lunch with the church leaders we would be working with. Most of us do not speak Spanish and most of them speak no to very little English, so it was not easy to carry on a conversation, but we smiled a lot and did the best we could.
This afternoon, Jeremiah Weeks continued with just the Pennsylvania Group giving specific instructions in using the computer sermons, appeals, etc.

This evening when we returned to the hotel, we all got our particular set of computer and projector equipment out, hooked up everything, and learned how to get the software up and running. That involved a lot of adjusting and getting used to where the right computer commands were.
Before supper, the young people hung around outside on the veranda and chatted away about what they had learned, how the equipment worked, what they thought they might do and just relaxed together. During that time, Levi Collins was practicing his recorder and his lilting melodies floated across the courtyard and the gathered group of chattering youth.

Tomorrow we each go with our pastor out to the church location to practice setting up and going through a dry run.
In the meantime, we have been informed by the motel owner that tomorrow around 6:45 a.m. the city will shut off the electricity from about 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. So we will not have electric or water! Such is part of the life of being a missionary!

GC Session Day 10, July 3, 2010

2010-07-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 10
July 3, 2010

At the beginning of the Divine Worship service Elder Ted Wilson invited Elder and Mrs. Jan Paulsen and Elder and Mrs. Robert Folkenberg to be especially recognized by the gathered worshippers. He would have like his parents, Elder and Mrs. Neal Wilson to also be present, but their advanced age prevented them attending. The entire stadium gave warm and enthusiastic support to Elders Paulsen and Folkenberg.

Elder Wilson, president of the General Conference gave an inspiring and stirring Sabbath morning message, challenging the World Church members to be faithful to our calling as Seventh-day Adventists. To be faithful to the word of God, the Spirit of Prophecy and the mission Jesus has raised this church up for. To remember the Great Controversy theme as the center of God's working and timing of the prophetic hour we live in. To continue to press forward in the work of inviting all nations to be seeking with joy, the second coming of Jesus. His theme and message carries a similar focus as our Pennsylvania Conference 2010 Camp Meeting theme, “Called to be Different,” drawing, as we did, from 1 Peter 2:9,10.

Memories of GC

Pathfinders from the South Atlantic and Georgia Cumberland Conferences served as ushers to take up the offering during church on Sabbath morning.

Beautiful music. Pictured below is my former college classmate Dan Pabon and his wife Milca, leading the worship hymn Sabbath morning. Also the General Conference symphony.

The “Bag People” in yellow shirts met the delegates and those entering the Georgia Dome as visitors every day we were here. Each person entering the Georgia Dome facility is subject to having their bags, purses and the official GC delegate nylon carrying cases inspected as a security measure. As you may remember, during the Olympic Games held in Atlanta there was a bomb placed in one of the public areas. So now they are security conscious in our GC facility. They also did not want us to bring food or drink into the facility.
Since there are 2,000+ delegates, and then visitors in addition to that, and since each time a person may come into the Georgia Dome they have to have their bag searched again, these security people may well have to check bags anywhere from a minimum of 6,000 times up to 12,000 times during a weekday. Then on Sabbath, the attendance hits 30-40,000 people. This second Sabbath they are prepared for up to 70,000.

The first couple of days I would tease the security people that they were looking for the M&Ms in my bag. After a few days, I realized what a job and chore it must be to check thousands of bags each day, over and over. So I started buying 1 small bag of peanut M&Ms and putting it on top of my delegate book for the “bag” security people to find. Then I would tell them that the bag of M&Ms was actually for them. Every time the person checking my bag was so delighted and grateful. Last night as I came in, the security lady checking my bag was about to get her M&Ms and the security bag check man next to her said, “Here comes the Candy Man!” So I guess word was getting around! My hope was that those who were hired to check our bags thousands of times each day, would find that we Adventists could try to bring them a little joy and appreciation.

Every day as you would walk the aisles and hallways of the World Congress Center of which the Georgia Dome is a part, you would hear a variety of languages and dialects, in addition to a colorful array of home country dress and costumes. What an opportunity to grasp in a sensory way, the world-wideness of our international Church Family.

The intrigue of selecting a table in the lunch facility each day, where we did not know anyone, but had the privilege of meeting someone unique from some other part of the world.

Jeanne and her parents took the shuttle bus back to the hotel last night, while I walked the half mile and we had a contest to see who would get back to the hotel first (I won!). Their bus got stranded in the mass of traffic and probably sat on the streets over half an hour. The Adventist passengers decided to start singing songs and hymns with a wonderful spirit. The shuttle bus driver (not an Adventist) was pleasantly surprised and I think impressed with the spirit of everyone, as he thought he would end up with 50+ very grumpy passengers at being so inconvenienced.

Pray for God’s work around the world. Pray that God can use you to share Jesus with the World and also be the missionary to the world where you and I live, work, shop, play and serve.

GC Session Day 9, July 2, 2010

2010-07-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 9
July 2, 2010

“A Session characterized by change” is how many would remember the 59th General Conference Session as this session winds down its work.

Key elements of this change would be:
1. New Leadership, with a new GC president, several new vice-presidents, Division and Departmental leaders.
2. The Church Manual revision implements ordaining Deaconesses.
3. An affirmation of Creation statement voted and a process for integrating it into our Fundamental Belief # 6.
4. A vote to definitely define marriage as a monogamous relationship between one heterosexual male and female.
5. GC Leadership indicates a study on the Theology of Ordination will be processed.

Friday saw the delegates finish work on the General Conference Constitution and By-laws. One of the more interesting aspects of what can sometimes seem and pretty dry and tedious, was a discussion and later motion, that up to 30 seats on the General Conference Executive Committee (which handles business of the World-wide Church between General Conference Sessions every 5 years) must be young adult laypersons. The general idea of who young adults are, would be those up to about age 30. This motion received overwhelming support.

The Session Steering Committee brought back a report on a motion that I offered from the floor on Monday. The motion offered and referred to the Steering Committee, was that the incoming General Conference Officers provide a process whereby a Theology of Ordination be studied and then presented to the Annual Council by the year 2013. I went on to observe that the World Church when it meets struggles with various views on the topic of ordination and does not have a key theological position from which to draw up when then trying to decide on applications on ordination. I went on to state that we do not want to have a view on ordination that is a Roman Catholic view, we do not want a culturally limited view, and we do not want a politically influenced view. We want a Theological view. This motion was intended to be entirely gender neutral and not endorse women’s ordination, not oppose women’s ordination, but get us as a World Church into giving a careful study to the topic of ordination from a comprehensive spiritual position.
The Steering Committee reported today, that the General Conference Officers would start a process to address this topic and report back during this 5 year term between General Conference Sessions. Quite a few of the world delegates were very supportive of this way of approaching a topic that has swirled across the World Church without much consensus.

Early this morning, the North American Division local Conference presidents gathered for breakfast to especially honor and show our affirmation and support for Don and Marti Schneider, outgoing North American Division president. Don has served as the North American Division president for the past 10 years. During the many other positions he has served, include time in the Columbia Union as the New Jersey Conference president. He also served as president of the Northern California Conference, the Rocky Mountain Conference and the Lake Union. Many warm and precious stories (along with several humorous ones) were shared by those in attendance. Don and Marti were especially appreciated by many of us leaders in the Columbia Union, as 2 years ago, they led us on a trip to study and grow in understanding of the Protestant Reformation in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. What a powerfully spiritual experience that was to walk in the footsteps of the courageous men and women of faith that put their lives on the line for the sake of following Christ and the Holy Scriptures.
Marti has also been highly influential in the life of the mission of the Pennsylvania Conference as she coordinated the first Equipping University with Bill Peterson, and under Marti’s support, the NAD helped to fund much of the cost of our Church Work’s Presents Equipping University. She was a delight to have with her joyful and eager attitude toward mission and empowering each person in our Pennsylvania Conference churches.

While visiting a few of the exhibits today, Jeanne and I meet Art Randal who for a number of years served as a lay pastor in Seneca, PA., and has been a presenter at our PA Camp Meeting. Art and Beth were with us this year at camp meeting and served as our hosts in the Boy’s Dorm.
We also saw Stephen Bohr at his booth, who provided the evening messages during the week of our PA Camp Meeting this year. We were privileged to be blessed by his ministry.

Tonight, Jeanne, her parents and I were invited as guests of Bill Knott and the Adventist Review and to sit in one of the private stadium sky boxes for the evening worship service. Along with us, were Dr. John McVay, president of Walla Walla University, and his wife Pam, and Esther Knott, staff pastor at the Pioneer Memorial Church at Andrews University. We were almost directly at the back of the stadium and high above the floor and bleachers. What a perspective to view the large attendance spread across the entire Georgia Dome listening to the power message presented. Again, it is thrilling to see our world church delegates on the floor of the stadium, and then the many visitors, some from around the world, and quite a few from local churches, in attendance together for the Friday evening worship.

After the evening meeting, Bill Knott took a few minutes to give us his perspective on some of the dynamics involved with this General Conference.

One GC visitor we met in the exhibit area was this many, who had ridden his bicycle all the way from Brazil to Atlanta, Georgia for this Session. He was 10 months biking all the way up from Brazil.

Walking the half-mile from the Georgia Dome back to my hotel tonight (Jeanne and her parents took the shuttle bus, but I beat them back to the room!) I met Vernon Bramble and his wife who are here for the weekend. Vernon is the head elder of the Bucks County Church.

What a beautiful Sabbath evening to begin the Sabbath hours.

One of the things you are reminded of at a General Conference Session is that with all the problems you can see around you, with the issues in your own local church or Conference, even with the pressures facing God’s work in various countries and regions, there is still a tremendous blessing God pours out on His work and through the Adventist Church family. Over and over we see evidence of God’s leading, of answers to prayer, of mission moving forward, through us as an Adventist Church, working together, even when we express our differences at a General Conference Session. We still come together around the basic Biblical beliefs that God has called this church into existence to proclaim, we come together around the fact that Jesus is our Savior, and around the joy of the second coming.

GC SESSION DAY 8, July 1, 2010

2010-07-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 8
July 1, 2010

Shock and dismay rocked delegates as the Thursday morning business session of the General Conference handled Church Manual revision issues. At the time we dealt with the section dealing with marriage, the proposed revision stated from the front was, “Marriage, thus instituted by God, is a monogamous, heterosexual relationship between one male and one female.” When this revision was put before the body, delegates were stunned and shocked when a delegate from the Netherlands, in the Trans-European Division moved an amendment to recognize loving monogamous relationships, intended to recognize homosexual marriage. Delegates hurried to the microphone to express their convictions. After delegates spoke to the issue of the amendment to recognize homosexual relationships and marriage, the delegates overwhelmingly voted down the amendment. Among delegates was wide-spread dismay that such an amendment would even be offered on the floor of the session.
After that amendment was voted down, delegates returned to the main motion, whereupon an amendment was offered to word the proposed statement as: “Marriage, thus instituted by God, is a monogamous consenting adult, heterosexual relationship between one male and one female.” The desire of this proposed amendment was to speak to the issue of child marriages, or arranged marriages. This amendment passed.
With this amendment made, the original proposed statement then came to the floor for a full vote in the modified state. Much discussion ensued as to the legal definition of “adult” in various countries, and also how in some countries, young adults under the legally defined age of “adult” can marry with the consent of their parents. GC Legal Counsel personnel suggested this motion not be voted, in order that more study could be made as to the legal impact if this exact wording would be used.
For that reason, the motion was voted down.

Then the initial motion, stating, “Marriage, thus instituted by God, is a monogamous, heterosexual relationship between one male and one female,” was moved by the delegates, and this wording was voted by all the delegates in session.

As we walked the halls of the General Conference session, Jeanne and I met Bryce Pascoe and his wife. Bryce is about to retire as the secretary of the North Pacific Union. He started his ministry in the Shadyside Church in Pittsburgh, PA. He went on to pastor the McKeesport/Greensburg district, the Montrose/Tunkhannock//Beaumont district and to serve as Conference Health Director while working at a health center in Philadelphia, PA.

The new General Conference Ministerial Director for the world field is Jerry Paige, former president of the Pennsylvania Conference. His wife, Janet, has been elected as the Shepherdess International Director. Many of us know and love Jerry and Janet and have been blessed by their ministry. We wish them every blessing of God as they lead the World Church Ministerial Department. Jerry replaces Elder Jim Cress who died unexpectedly November 2009.

Another delegate from Pennsylvania to the 59th Session of the General Conference, is Bill Oblity. His wife Mercy, was able to accompany him. They are members of the Indiana, PA Church and Bill serves on the Columbia Union Executive Committee. It is a joy to meet him and chat for a few minutes most days, as we pass each other.

Each morning, the delegates from the Columbia Union meet for 15-20 minutes in one of the Conference rooms of the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel where the NAD has assigned rooms for us to stay. Neville Harcombe and Seth Bardu give us a report of actions, sometimes behind-the-scenes dynamics, and also a preview of upcoming actions to take place during the present day’s business session. Dave Weigley, our Columbia Union President would prefer to be with us to give us these updates, but he has been selected to serve on the General Conference Nominating Committee, and that Committee starts its work fairly early in the morning and continues on through the day.

Another guest at session that I met was Hazel Singleton (on right) and her friend from the Havertown, PA, Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is good to see various members from the Pennsylvania Conference here at GC session.

While visiting the exhibition area before eating lunch, Jeanne and I noticed that one of the popular booths featured a rock climbing wall at the Union College location. Actually, Jeanne wants to come back wearing her jeans and try the rock climbing wall herself!

Another area in the exhibition area includes a HOPE TV set and audience seating area, where HOPE TV broadcasts live material frequently, while the GC Session is not meeting in the main auditorium. As we were standing there, Lonnie Melashanko, former speaker for the Voice of Prophecy was being interviewed “live, on camera.” HOPE TV provides excellent Adventist programming across the world via satellite.

GC Session Day 7, June 30, 2010

2010-06-30T18:54:00.001-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 7
June 30, 2010

Another historic day at the 59th General Conference Session today. For the opening of the morning business session, the Steering Committee and the new General Conference President, Ted NC Wilson, brought to the delegates on the floor the statement and document, “Response to an Affirmation of Creation” which had been voted by Annual Council in 2004. Several of us had been praying that some statement of this kind would come before the World Church and be not only considered, but in fact, voted upon. The basic core of this statement would be found in point 3 of the document. “We reaffirm the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of the historicity of Genesis 1-11: that the seven days of the Creation account were literal 24 hour days forming a week identical in time to what we now experience as a week, and that the Flood was global in nature.”
Basically, the delegates voted to take this in two measures. The first motion was to vote to approve this Affirmation of Creation. The second motion was to request the General Conference Officers to begin the process of incorporating this affirmation of Creation into our current Fundamental Belief # 6. Both motions passed. The reason it is vital to strengthen Fundamental Belief # 6, is as Dr. John Baldwin presented at our Pennsylvania Camp Meeting Pastor’s meeting this year, certain Adventist scholars sought to intentionally frame Belief # 6 in the beginning, in order that a wide range of interpretation could be applied to Belief # 6. Even during this session, the need for strengthening Fundamental Belief # 6 was clearly shown by a written statement, posted June 25, 2010 on the Spectrum blog by the Chairman of the board of Adventist Forums, Charles Scriven, President of Kettering College of Medical Arts. “…the statement on creation in the Twenty-eight Fundamentals document was meant, by the still-living authors, to keep the door open for both literal and metaphorical readings of Genesis…” I am happy to report that both motions received over-whelming support from across the World field.

After the morning session, Jeanne and I spent some time in the Prayer room, praying and reading from Psalms for our own personal worship time. I am glad that the General Conference session has established this prayer room, for in all the meetings, rising early and getting back late to the hotel, trying to catch the shuttle buses back and forth, and with all the hordes of people always around, it is a quiet, welcome oasis for personal worship and quiet prayer.

From 1 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. I attended the Standing Committee on the Church Manual as they considered comments on items that had been referred back to Committee. I have a great respect for the individuals who serve on this Committee and especially Elder Home Trecartin, who is the principal director for the Committees work. There were several items that were enthusiastically discussed in this meeting in order to bring back to the delegates possible re-wording of proposed motions. One of the items that received a lot of time and attention, was the section under Deaconesses. Since the delegates earlier voted that when a church was organized, Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses were to be ordained, the Committee was then attempting to bring a later section of the Manual that more fully deals with Deaconesses into alignment with the voted statement from the section saying Deaconess should be ordained when organizing a new church. Some of those attending this Committee meeting where concerned about whether or not the delegates when they voted for Deaconesses to b e ordained at an earlier GC session meeting a few days ago, really understood what they were voting. Some felt that certain African delegates would not have really voted that if they had fully understood. So the suggestion was to bring back the original section and offer it up for re-consideration. Others said, the original section was voted. Everyone should have understood what they were voting on, when they were voting. If you bring it back for re-consideration, how many other things will you bring back for re-consideration at any time someone says they didn’t fully understand what they were voting for when they voted. Another suggestion/comment was that in the section dealing with the office of Deaconesses, we not put a statement there calling for Deaconesses to be ordained. Just leave the earlier statement, but do not bring this section into alignment. In other words, leave some ambiguity so various parts of the world church could practice ordaining or not ordaining Deaconesses, depending on which page of the Church Manual they were reading from. This was offered with the spirit of trying to be sensitive to those Divisions of the world field where the local culture would not be at all comfortable with ordaining Deaconesses. I suggested that perhaps the Church Manual could at this point include the statement from the Adventist Review where Ellen White calls for ladies to be set aside for the type of work of a Deaconess, with the laying on of hands. The Committee felt like they did not want to “load” the Manual up with Ellen White quotes, although there are already quite a few Ellen White quotes all through the Manual. In fact the sections dealing with Elders and Deacons have Ellen White quotes, while the section dealing with Deaconesses has no Ellen White quotes! In the end, the Standing Committee on the Church Manual decided to bring to the floor a revised statement on ordaining Deaconesses for the section dealing with Deaconesses, that would be in alignment with the earlier vote of a couple of days ago.

At the four o’clock session, Fred Kinsey, North American Division Communications Director introduced Martin Doblmeier, the writer and director of a new documentary about the Seventh-day Adventist Church, entitled, The Adventists. After interviewing Mr. Doblmeier for several minutes, Fred Kinsey shared with the session delegates that The Adventists was the best selling documentary on Amazon.com.

After the afternoon session, I met Mike Cauley, past president of the Pennsylvania Conference in the hallway of building C.

This evening, Dick Spotts and I spent 1 ½ hours discussing ways to seek additional industry potentials for Blue Mountain Academy. I really appreciate Dick’s dedication and willingness to work on behalf of BMA.

As the day ended, it was time to get on the bus and return to my hotel. As the sun set over the Western view of Atlanta and the Georgia Dome where the GC session meets, we take our rest and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to lead our World Church in the work of organizing the Church for service and mission across the world field.

GC Session Day 6, June 29, 2010

2010-06-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 6
June 29, 2010

At each session of our work this GC session, our new General Conference President, Ted Wilson, has urged us to begin our working time with a season of prayer. Mark Finley has led us with either a Bible text or a Spirit of Prophecy quote and then a theme for prayer.
Then all the delegates group by 2s or 3s and lift up the work of the day in prayer. Elder Jay Gallimore, President of the Michigan Conference and I prayed together. Pictured in the lower left corner is Elder George Brown, retired president of the Inter-American Division, who was our Pennsylvania Conference camp meeting speaker a couple of years ago. Elder Brown currently lives in Avon Park, Florida, and is an outstanding adult Sabbath teacher in the church congregation I grew up in.

Today at General Conference Session, much of the time again was dedicated to Church Manual Revisions. At the close of the Session in the morning, Elder Gary Karst shared with the delegates the value of remembering the life and ministry of Elder Jim Cress, General Conference Ministerial Director, who passed away in November 2009 following complications of an undiagnosed illness, thought to have been contracted from international travel for the World Church. Elder Cress also advocated on behalf of the pastors of the Seventh-day Adventist Church all during his tenure in the General Conference. He always said of himself he was “a pastor on loan to the World Church.” Elder Cress had been a speaker for one of our Pastors’ meetings in the Pennsylvania Conference several years ago at Laurel Lake Camp. When he arrived, he jokingly complimented us on the location of our camp by saying, ‘When the time of trouble comes, I know where I am going to come. I will come here to LLC, because nobody will find you out here!”

This morning from 9-12 a.m. Jeanne volunteered to represent the North American Division in the exhibition hall at the NAD Family Life booth. She had a good time meeting people and sharing with them the Family Life resources available from our Division.

Next door was the section featuring the ministry that Dave Gimmell leads. I met with Dave and Dan Day who have recently developed a new discipleship curriculum for the NAD Church family with the tag-line iFollow. I had the opportunity to look through 4 of the books which are already developed and ready to use.

During lunch, Jeanne and I met Dr. and Mrs. Silas Gome. Dr. Gome is from Brazil and has been serving as a mission doctor for about 30 years. Currently he is a general surgeon serving in Rwanda, Africa, and as the hospital administrator/medical director. Previously they served 8 years in Nepal, other posts in Argentina, Brazil and Ethiopia. Mrs. Gome serves as a nurse and has assisted her husband in surgery among other responsibilities.

We had a chance to meet a friend and fellow classmate of ours from college days, Ken Rogers, who is serving as Dean of Students at Walla Walla college.

I have enjoyed meeting children who are attending GC with their parents, usually for the first time the child has come to GC. Sunday night, I gave a little girl from Russia a US dollar bill (see her picture on Sunday’s blog). Her parents later told me with a smile and halting English, “This is her first US dollar!”

Today, just next to a NAD Children’s Ministry booth display, I met a girl next to the gumball machine. I gave her $.25 to get some gum and she smiled up at me and said, could I have another quarter to get some for my brother? So of course I dug into my pocket and found a second quarter.

Every day, it is fascinating to see different delegates or family members in traditional dress from the country they represent.

In the session this afternoon, attention was brought to Voice of Prophecy radio ministry and Faith for Today television ministry by Fred Kinsey and Mike Tucker. VOP is celebrating 80 years of ministry and Faith is celebrating 60 years. The Odyssey Network formerly a co-owner of the Hallmark channel, is paying VOP and Faith to produce a spiritual application for mobile phone devices.

This evening as we were walking back from supper in the CNN center food court, we met Mr. and Mrs. Francis from the Stroudsburg Church. It is a joy to meet different members from Pennsylvania. Earlier we saw Charles and Barbara Rutt. Also I saw Ed and Josephine Varley from a distance.

GC Session Day 5 June 28, 2010

2010-06-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 5
June 28, 2010

A historic step was taken today at the General Conference Session. Delegates were working through the proposed changes to the Church Manual, when a recommendation from a recent General Conference Annual Council was brought in to the floor pertaining to the section in Chapter 5 dealing with organizing a new Church. In that section was a proposal to add to the section dealing with nominations to fill various church offices, such as elders, deacons and deaconesses a new statement in relationship to deaconesses. The section says that elders should be ordained, and then it says: “A similar but shorter service should take place for ordination of deacons and induction for deaconesses.” The proposed addition was to say: “Deaconesses may be ordained in divisions where the process has been approved by its executive committee.” This was presented as the motion.
The basis presented by the General Conference officers to the delegates for this motion, is a quotation from Ellen White in the Review and Herald:
"Women who are willing to consecrate some of their time to the service of the Lord should be appointed to visit the sick, look after the young, and minister to the necessities of the poor. They should be set apart to this work by prayer and laying on of hands. In some cases they will need to counsel with the church officers or the minister; but if they are devoted women, maintaining a vital connection with God, they will be a power for good in the church. This is another means of strengthening and building up the church."--RH, July 9, 1895.{DG 249.2}

After much discussion from the floor, one delegate offered an amendment to motion to read: “A similar but shorter service should take place for ordination of deacons and deaconesses.”
This amendment did not limit ordination of deaconesses to the divisions where it was approved by the division executive committee, but would establish the practice for the entire world field. Again there was much discussion on this amendment. After nearly 2 hours on this one part of the Church Manual, the amendment passed with a significant majority. Thus, the Church Manual now calls for deaconesses across the world church to be ordained in the role, function and service as a deaconess.

Dwight Nelson had an excellent sermon/presentation on the role and ministry of the Pastor at the 11 a.m. hour. If they can be obtained, I would like to get a copy for each of our pastors in the Pennsylvania Conference.

Before the session ended for the lunch hour, the Nominating Committee brought in the names for each of the Division presidents. A surprising name for the North American Division president, was Elder Dan Jackson, president of the Adventist Churches in Canada. Tami Horst, Pennsylvania Conference Communication Director has already sent out a press release and the Columbia Union Visitor News Bulletin will have additional information on Elder Jackson. 3 different names had been discussed as highly likely to be considered. It is interesting to see the leading of God through the nominating process to lead individuals to be considered, even though through the eyes of man, they may not have been the supposed candidate. Sometimes, I think of the prophet Samuel, who was sent by God to anoint one of the sons of Jesse. Some of the older sons looked attractive to the prophet Samuel, but God said about one after the other, this was not the one. Finally, Samuel had to ask if there were any other sons, and Jesse said, there is only the youngest who is out herding sheep. When David came, God said, this is the one. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Another election to a General Conference position involves familiar faces to the Columbia Union. Willie Oliver, NAD Family Life Director was elected GC Family Life Department Director and his wife, Elaine Oliver was elected Associate Director. Elaine is a key member of the Washington Adventist University staff. Willie and Elaine have been to the Pennsylvania Conference just a few years ago and conducted the February Marriage retreat, coordinated by Pennsylvania Conference Family Life Director, Jeanne Hartwell.

A name that is familiar to Pennsylvania is Tom Kapusta who served as Pennsylvania Conference Trust Services officer and Association Secretary. Today Tom was elected to be the General Conference Trust Director. Currently he is serving as a trust officer for Florida Hospital.

GC Session Day 4

2010-06-27T18:55:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 4
June 27, 2010

Most of the today’s session business dealt with revision and new additions to the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual. This work is significant since it is only at a General Conference that the Church Manual can be revised or added to. Also, the World Church members have a great interest in the Church Manual, since across the World Church, each Division, Union, Conference and local church all use and look to the same Church Manual. So even when simple things are being proposed, frequent discussion will come to the microphone from all different Divisions, to be sure we understand how this or that point in the Manual will affect the work in that local area.
Then, finally, the delegates are able to come to a vote in the issue and we proceed to the next suggested revision.

Before lunch, I had some extra time as the business session ended a little early. This gave a good opportunity for me to spend some time in the NAD prayer room, which Ruthie Jacobson has prepared. What a blessing to sit in a quiet corner and spend some significant time in prayer.

Today at lunch, Jeanne and I found ourselves sitting at the lunch table where we had the privilege to meet Pastor Frederick Paul from the southern area of India, near Bangalor. We are likely inviting him to speak in the Philadelphia Boulevard Church, or some other church in Philadelphia on August 7 in the evening. He will have much to share about the Seventh-day Adventist work in India. Also, he will share how Christians are being severally persecuted, injured and even killed by Hindus.

After lunch, Jeanne and I happened to meet Don and Marti Schneider on our way out. Marti and I discussed the possibility of having the next NAD SEEDS Church Planting Conference take place during our Pennsylvania Conference Camp Meeting. It is way too early to know whether that might be a possibility, but it is something we can all pray about and seek God’s leading.

Tonight, the 2 Divisions that gave their mission reports were the East Central Africa Division and the Euo-Asia Division. Both Divisions reported wonderful growth. Across Russia and wonderful amount of growth is taking place.

I also got a chance to visit with some Pennsylvania Conference Church members. One of the members and I had a chance to talk about the Capital Campaign for the BMA Dorm Bathrooms. This member is considering making a gift to the BMA project before the end of the year. Please keep our committed and dedicated members and donors in your prayers.

GC Session Day 3

2010-06-27T05:24:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 3
JUNE 26, 2010

This morning on the way to Sabbath School in the Georgia Dome, we were dropped off from our Shuttle Bus at the exhibition hall. While walking from the exhibition hall over to the Georgia Dome, we passed a display by ASI depicting a “1 Day School.” ASI has provided the materials for a simple steel building that can be put together with a screw driver and pliers in just about 1 day. They have also designed desks and benches constructed out of simple metal for this school. The cost is somewhere around $1,000.00. I think it would be wonderful if some of our church schools for the next school year planned to concentrate on a “Hope for Humanity” project, or a “1 Day School.”

For the GC Church session, several musical numbers were offered by our sister Conference and sister academy, Pine Forge Academy. Their music offerings were outstanding and I was proud of each of the young people who participated.

The crowd packed the Georgia Dome for the Divine service. Delegates, family and guests were seated on the floor while Seventh-day Adventist Church members from across Atlanta, neighboring regions, southern states and across the United States filled the seats, usually filled by rapid football and other sports fans. How wonderful to see so many people dedicated to the worship of the Creator God and soon coming Savior on this Sabbath day, instead of glorifying sports and entertainment.

After the Church service, I stopped for just a minute and visited with a pastor who is the Adventist World Radio speaker in the Masi language. He is from Tanzanika.

On Sabbath, I am amazed at how well the staff has planned to feed the thousands of delegates, family members, and guests in a section of the large exhibition hall. It is an adventure in discovering members of the Adventist Church family from around the world that we have never met before.

On the way into the lunch room, we caught up with Pastor Matthew Bediako, retiring General Conference Secretary and his lovely wife. Pastor Bediako is from the country of Ghana, which is also the home country of Bill Oblity, a delegate to this GC session from the Pennsylvania Conference.

During the afternoon, Jeanne and I visited several of the exhibits of ministries in the exhibition hall. One of those we spent several minutes at was the Ellen White Estate, where we spoke with Dr. Merlin Burt and Dr. Jim Nix for some time. One of the ideas we discussed was the possibility of taking our Pennsylvania Conference pastors and teachers on an Adventist Heritage tour from Pennsylvania to New England, then across New York State to the William Miller farm, then to Michigan to several sites. If God makes it possible, I believe it would be a tremendous learning experience for our staff, well worth the investment.

We visited several of the College and University exhibits, such as Washington Adventist University, Oakwood College, Andrews University, Union College, Montemorelos University and Southern Adventist University. Southern had an attractive display solidly presenting its stand on a literal, Divine Creation.

Tonight, the Southern Africa - Indian Ocean Division and the North American Division reports were shared with all the delegates and guests attending GC session. At the end of the Southern Africa – Indian Ocean Division video report was a quick memory picture and slide that tugged at my heart. It read, “In loving memory of Paul Mawela, April 2010.” Paul “Pappa” Mawela and his wife established the Nhengelo community outreach work for AIDS orphans and organized home health workers in South Africa that we visited on the Hope for Humanity trip that 4 of us from Pennsylvania Conference participated on. When we were in South Africa, they were feeding 700 orphans every day, and would be feeding over 1,000 within a month after we left. They also had 20-40 caregivers going out every week to visit seriously ill and terminally ill people in their homes, often walking up to 10 miles each way to bring this care. This was the first I had heard of his death. Pastor Mawela and his wife retired and moved to that area, since there was no Adventist work, and in their retirement, they prayed and by faith started this work from scratch. He and “Momma” Mawela are an inspiration to all of us of what God can do, with a person that is fully dedicated to God and pray with faith that God will do great things, and do them through us.

General Conference Session Day 2

2010-06-25T18:46:00.001-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 2
June 25, 2010

Friday morning General Conference session began with Pennsylvania Conference Pastor Tara VinCross presenting the devotional message, focusing in the incarnation of Christ as an expression of God proclaiming His grace. Tara was asked by the General Conference Ministerial Department to be the speaker for the Friday morning message, back in the Fall of 2009. I am sure that our workforce in Pennsylvania feels honored that one of our team was asked to speak to the delegates of the entire world church. The Columbia Union Website will have more details and video selections.

Just before noon, the GC Nominating Committee brought the name of Ted N.C. Wilson, son of former GC President Neal Wilson for President of the GC. The delegates approved Elder Wilson’s name and voted him to serve. Elder Wilson’s father, Neal Wilson served in the Egypt mission when my Uncle Raymond Hartwell served in the Middle East Union office, located in Beirut, Lebanon and Neal spent part of his childhood there.

During the noon meal today, Jeanne and I enjoyed a lunch visit with Mike Hamilton and his wife, who are living and serving in Great Britain. Mike is the Trans-European Division Department Director for Personal Ministries, Sabbath School and Publishing (Literature Evangelism). I was intrigued with the scope of his responsibilities, since the Trans-European Division covers such a large geographical territory and a widely divergent ethnic, cultural and religious variety of peoples. The territory stretches from Greenland, just off the coast of North American, to portions of North and Eastern Europe, Poland, the Baltics, to the Middle East, Sudan and Pakistan! His wife is a home health nurse in the British Government Health system, visiting homes to specifically focus on young children, ages 0-5.

In the afternoon, Jeanne and I took a few minutes to walk through a few of the SDA ministry exhibits in the exhibition hall. One of the few we were able to visit included the ADRA exhibit which showcased many of the practical and substantial ways ADRA ministers to the physical needs of peoples around the world. We also visited the Washington Adventist University booth, Oakwood University, and Andrews University. Right next to Andrews University, I went to the Andrews Press book store and purchased the brand new Andrews Study Bible, which has just now come off the press. I highly recommend this study Bible (NKJV) for our ministry team and all of our members. All of the study notes have been prepared by Seventh-day Adventist Bible scholars and are much more reliable and accurate that many current popular study Bibles on the market today.

In the afternoon, the Nominating Committee brought the names of Elder G.T. Ng as GC Secretary and Robert Lemon, current GC Treasurer, to continue to serve as GC Treasurer. Elder Ng speaks both Chinese and English. Elder Bob Lemon is a member of the Pennsylvania Conference and attends the Needmore Church.

Every day, delegates residing in the various hotels in the center of downtown Atlanta board motor coach shuttle buses to ride the 1 mile to the Georgia Dome where the GC session is held. The shuttle buses run continually between specific hotels and the facility. We are making friends with one of the drivers.

We are reminded continually of the world-wide work and mission of the Adventist Church. God has entrusted us with a great message that is needed across this world, for every man, woman, boy and girl, of our soon coming Savior and His call for holy living as a joyful part of being a member of the family of heaven.

2010-06-24T19:54:00.001-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION DAY 1
June 24, 2010

We arrived in Atlanta Wednesday evening. Our hotel room was 31 floors above the city streets of Atlanta and faced West, toward the Georgia Dome, where the GC session meets every day.

In the morning, as we ate breakfast, we meet Dennis Austin and his family. Dennis is serving as a delegate from the Columbia Union Committee and the Pennsylvania Conference.

As you enter the Georgia World Conference Center adjacent to the Georgia Dome where the Atlanta Falcons football team plays, there were a long row of registration booths for the delegates from all across the world to sign in and receive their badges and materials.

The Georgia Dome has seating on the floor for all the delegates from across the world. Each Division of the World Field, sits in a section marked out for the delegates from that Division.
At lunch, Jeanne and I enjoy sitting down at a table with perfect strangers and getting acquainted. Thursday’s lunch, we met the Union President and his wife from the Northern region of the Republic of the Congo. Often you see delegates from foreign countries wearing colorful dress from their home country.

In the afternoon, all the Divisions of the World field went to separate meetings rooms to caucus and nominate delegates to serve on the General Conference Nominating Committee. The North American Division is able to select 24 members of the Nominating Committee and the General Conference another 4, with a total of 28 of the Nominating Committee members. Over 200 individuals serve on the General Conference Session Nominating Committee. Our Columbia Union members met during the NAD Caucus and selected 3 individuals to join the 24 from the NAD. Bill Oblity of the Indiana, Pennsylvania Church is in the top center.

Our official church membership is now over 16,000,000 with about 25,000.000 attending or connected to the Seventh-day Adventist Church when you include children and those not yet baptized.

Adventist Perspective on Women in Ministry

2010-05-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

ADVENTIST PERSPECTIVE ON WOMEN IN MINISTRY
Pennsylvania Conference Pastor’s Meeting conducted May 3, 2010.

Dr. Richard Davidson from Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theology seminary presented.
Also, Elder Preston Monterrey, pastor in Erie, PA
And Elder Jim Wibberding, pastor at Lansdale, PA

Here are some succinct notes of my opening presentation.

What this day was NOT:
• A debate on whether women should be in ministry in the Adventist Church. The World Church has included women in ministry.
• The issue of ordination of women in ministry. That is a decision for the World Church meeting in GC session. The PA Conference fully follows the principles voted and followed by the World Church
• A referendum on whether there will be women in ministry in the PA Conference. The Conference Executive Committee has already made that determination – in full cooperation with the General Conference policy and Adventist Church history.

The approach used at this meeting included:
• Biblical study of God’s original approach
• Hermeneutical approach that gives bearing on the topic
• Continuation of the Biblical study, including the Old Testament, Jesus and Paul’s position
• Over-view, historical, practical and current considerations.
•

I shared a brief over-view of The Adventist History in regards to women in ministry.

Our Adventist Church was born out of mission,
and born for mission.

Communicating the message of the soon return of Jesus in the context of the 3 angel’s messages and the high priestly mediatorial work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary was and is the priority for our Church. Leading people to be disciples of Jesus is the natural outgrowth of this mission and is obedience to the Great Commission given to all Christians.

As the Adventist work went forth, there was no hesitation to accept and encourage any to take up the work, including women.

With the prophetic gift exercised through the ministry of Ellen White, our early leaders spent considerable study and effort demonstrating at the least, 2 premises,
1. The role of spiritual gifts.
2. That God was fully capable of calling a women to the prophetic ministry role, and that the spiritual gift given by God through her as a woman, was to be fully accepted and recognized and it was authoritative.

Foundational principles that guide and lead Adventists in this topic of study:
• The Protestant Biblical belief in the priesthood of all believers.
• Jesus Christ is our only High Priest and as such serves as the true priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
• Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and as such is the one who fulfills headship over every part of His church.
• God calls whom He will to ministry, and the church observes those who claim to have been called by God, and affirms that evidence of the calling has been demonstrated.
• Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit, to whom the Holy Spirit chooses.

Over 20 SDA women were licensed as ministers during the period from the 1870s to the ending of the 19th century -- roughly through the end of Ellen White’s lifetime.

1878 ANNA FULTON MINNESOTA
ELLEN S. LANE MICHIGAN
JULIA OWEN KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE
1879 LIBBIE COLLINS MINNESOTA
HATTIE ENOCH KANSAS
LIBBIE FULTON MINNESOTA
LIZZIE POST MINNESOTA
1880 ANNA JOHNSON MINNESOTA
1881 IDA W. BALLENGER ILLINOIS
HELEN L. MORSE ILLINOIS
1884 RUIE HILL KANSAS
1886 IDA W. HIBBEN ILLINOIS
1887 MRS. S. E. PIERCE VERMONT
1893 FLORA PLUMMER IOWA
1894 MARGARET CARO NEW ZEALAND
1895 MRS. S. A. LINDSAY NEW YORK
1898 SAREPTA IRISH HENRY GEN. CONF.
LULU WIGHTMAN NEW YORK
1899 EDITH BARTLETT BRITISH CONF.
1900 HETTY HASKELL GEN. CONF.
MINA ROBINSON BRITISH CONF.
1901 CARRIE V. HANSEN UTAH
EMMA HAWKINS IOWA
MRS. E. R. WILLIAMS MICHIGAN
1902 MRS. S. N. HASKELL GREATER NY
MINNIE SYPE OKLAHOMA
1904 ALMA BJDIGG FINLAND MISSION
MRS. J. E. BOND ARIZONA
BERTHA E. JORGENSEN SOUTH DAKOTA
1910 PEARL FIELD NEBRASKA
MRS. URA SPRING NEBRASKA

--GENERAL CONFERENCE ARCHIVES AND SDA YEARBOOKS

More were licensed after that, right down to this present day. The above list illustrates that our early Adventist church incorporated women in ministry.

The role of all ministers, during this time period, was essentially the same. Evangelism, teaching, discipling, establishing new converts.
Settled pastors, occupying a church or district in a stationary style, was rare and not encouraged. Thus, the women who served during this time period were fully leading the work as well as the men of the time.

Some have erroneously thought that women in Adventist ministry is a fairly recent occurrence, probably as a result of the influence of the Women’s Liberation Movement of the 1970’s in the United States.
However, that view totally misses our Adventist heritage and history. To include women in ministry in the Adventist Church, including the pastoral ministry, is actually to re-capture our Adventist Heritage!

Our Pennsylvania Adventist Heritage is quite indebted to women in ministry.

Evangelist and Teacher of Ministers:
Jessie Weiss Curtis
1881 to 1972
A newspaper reported concerning Mrs. Curtis:
“Stirred with the desire to give the gospel to the people,
Miss Weiss secured a tent, and with the aid of two men
pitched it on the C. A. Straw farm, and people are
flocking by the hundreds to hear her.”
—Hazleton, Pennsylvania, newspaper article, 1927

At the conclusion of her first evangelistic series, Jessie Weiss presented 80 converts ready for baptism. The Drums, Pennsylvania, Seventh-day Adventist Church was born. In Beaumont, Tunkhannock, and Montrose in northeastern Pennsylvania, Jessie Weiss Curtis was the Holy Spirit's instrument to raise up congregations. She preached in tents, at the same time conducting countless Bible studies. After groups were formed, she raised money for and supervised the building of houses of worship.

Mrs. Curtis officiated at the first quarterly meeting and communion service held in the Tunkhannock Seventh-day Adventist Church on April 10, 1943. After the effort in Drums with its outstanding results, Jessie Weiss was recognized as a member of the evangelistic and ministerial staff of the East Pennsylvania Conference. She conducted many evangelistic series, usually in tents, and founded one church after another in northeastern Pennsylvania.

There is no indication that the people served by Jessie Weiss Curtis thought it was inappropriate to have a woman minister. In fact, as the years went on, they practically reverenced her.

The more we learn, the more it becomes understandable that the East Pennsylvania Conference presidents sent their interns for training to this experienced, effective minister. Elder N. R. Dower, formerly ministerial director of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, recalls that he started his work under evangelist Curtis.

In addition, conference administrators made a practice of sending ministers to work with Mrs. Curtis when they appeared to be drifting away on some point of doctrine or church authority. Sometimes a rehabilitation was effected, and the worker found his footing again as he associated and counseled with this wise and godly woman minister.

So today, we re-visit this topic of the Adventist perspective of women in ministry. For some, it may be a first visit, a discovery of what God is able and eager to do.

Just a couple of Ellen White statements, among many that are available:

“It is the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit of God that prepares workers, both men and women, to become pastors to the flock of God.”
Testimonies for the Church. 9 vols. (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1855-1909, 1948

“There are women who should labor in the gospel ministry.”
Manuscript 43a, 1898.

Not a hand should be bound, not a soul discouraged, not a voice should be hushed; let every individual labor, privately or publicly, to help forward this grand work. Place the burden upon men and women of the church, that they may grow by reason of the exercise, and thus become effective agents in the hand of the Lord for the enlightenment of those who sit in darkness.
“The Duty of the Minister and the People,” Review and Herald, 9 July 1895, 25.

Finally, let us remember God’s prophetic vision for the last days as found in Joel 2:
“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
Joel 2:28, 29

Student Center and Bathroom progress at BMA

2010-05-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

Blue Mountain Academy is putting students first, by re-modeling the current library space, into a multi-faceted student center.

This student center will include space for students to congregate, computer centers where they can plug in their lap-tops or use stationary desk top computers to do school work and access electronic educational resource materials, offices for the BMA learning specialist and campus chaplain, and access to the guidance counselor’s office.

Students are excited about these changes, which were made possible through a generous gift from a matured will.

Right now, the project is on schedule for completion before camp meeting 2010. If God makes it possible, we would love to have this section also air-conditioned. Floyd Dare and the Trust Services Department operate out of this area during camp meeting, so I am sure Floyd would appreciate the A/C, and it might encourage more folks to drop by!

For a number of years, educators and even the evaluation teams have pointed to the value of having a student center for the benefit of our student body. Craig Ziesmer immediately rolled up his sleeves and studied ways to make this happen in the current location after arriving on campus.
I would especially like to affirm Craig Ziesmer,

Diana Engen,
Dave Halbrook

and Chris Kramer for donating many hours of volunteer construction work to bring this student center into existence and save on construction costs.

While at BMA, Tami Horst filmed me making the closing appeal for an upcoming PA Advance Offering, which features the work at BMA and the Capital Campaign for the bathroom renovations.

Work is finishing on the Girl’s Dorm bathroom. Thus far, through offerings, major donations, grants and volunteer work, ½ of the Boy’s dorm bathroom project has been completed and ½ of the girl’s dorm bathroom project is nearing completion.

This year during camp meeting, come and see the progress!

Western Pennsylvania Church Board Dialogues

2010-04-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

April 17 and 18 I had the privilege of meeting with several Church Boards in Western Pennsylvania to dialogue and listen on 2 major topics. 1.) Mission. 2.) Youth and Young Adults. I asked what each church was finding effective in Mission, what the church might like to dream about doing, if God made it possible, and what the Conference might do in support, training and resources for mission. Then I asked what the current status was for Youth and Young Adults in each church, what the church might like to do, if God made it possible in a Youth or Young Adult ministry and what the Conference might do in support, training and resources for mission to Youth and Young Adults.

This weekend, I met with the Boards of:
Pittsburgh and New Brighton

East Suburban and Greensburg
Derrick City, Mt. Jewett and Warren

I also met with the leadership of the Adventist Community Services—Greater Pittsburgh

While at Pittsburgh, I was drawn to a picture on the wall of the Church hallway, depicting various aspects of the Pathfinder law as lived out by the Pathfinders. Pittsburgh Church has a good Adventurer and Pathfinder program.

On April 24,25 I repeated the dialogue with additional Western Pennsylvania Churches, by meeting with Church Board members of:
Erie, Lowville and Seneca

New Castle, Shenango Valley and Meridian Road (Butler)
Washington, Uniontown, Mon Valley
Indian, Johnstown, Distant, Laurel Lake

Quite a few good ideas and dreams for mission came through from listening to these Church Boards. At each location I took extensive notes of what was shared, by typing each comment into my computer. At the same time, I projected up on a screen with a video projector for all the Board members to see, just what notes I was typing.

If you would like a copy of the notes from any of these dialogues, just let me know which ones you would like to see.

Washington Adventist University

2010-04-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Washington Adventist University broke ground, Friday, April 9, 2010 for a new Music Arts instructional building.

This will house the instructional space and practice rooms for the New England Youth Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse Rittenhouse

and the voice and choral groups under,). direction of Dr. James Bingham, Music Department Chair.

Jeanne and I attended the ground breaking and then enjoyed a reception/lunch with Blue Mountain Academy alumni Margaret McFarland and Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Haas.

Following the lunch, I attended the Washington Adventist University Board of Trustees meeting.

Non-functional Jewelry and the Adventist Christian

2010-04-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

Non-functional jewelry and the Adventist Christian
(Something other than a watch, cuff links, wedding band, tie tac/bar, health
bracelet.)

What wearing non-functional jewelry is NOT:

• It is not necessarily a barometer of a person’s commitment or deep
spirituality.
• It is not a moral equivalent to the 10 commandments.
• It is not a test of fellowship or church membership.
• It is not just what women and men wear on their person.
(It can also include expensive cars, a 4 wheel drive truck with a gun rack, a
house larger than necessary, a Rolex instead of a Timex, a “trophy wife” or
husband, or anything thought to make a statement or show a status in life.)
• It is not able to fill the sense of inadequacy—which only Jesus Christ can fill.
• It is not able to make us more attractive – as compared to being a loving and
loveable Christian.
• It is not able to provide us a true source of well-being.
• It is not to keep us from seeing a cherished, loved and sought-for Child of Jesus
Christ.

What not wearing non-functional jewelry IS:

• It is a principal taught in the Holy Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy.
• It is a way for a Christian to express with their own person—that Jesus supplies
all of my personal self-image needs.
• It is a way for a Christian to live by a principle of asking, “Do I really need
this as a steward of God’s goods?”
• It is a way to express that a Christian has priorities that are higher than
fitting in to current cultural expectations.
• It is a way of demonstrating the freedom a Christian has in Christ from secular
influences and orientations that are not necessary.
• It is a reminder to live a simple lifestyle in all things. (Live simply – so
others may simply life.)

Not wearing non-functional jewelry -- It is a principle I am glad to live by!

Stroudsburg Church is on the Move, and so is Easton

2010-04-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

The Stroudsburg Church is on the Move and so is Easton!

The Stroudsburg Church is on the move. They have the highest attendance in the Conference and the second highest tithe. Recently they have remodeled the bathrooms used both by the Church School during the week and by the Church family on Sabbath. For years an overhaul in the bathrooms was needed. The walls and the drains have now been re-done.

Soon, it is contemplated, energy efficient windows will be installed in the school classrooms. The bulletin board just off the foyer of the Church, had a good promotional though for the church school.

I had the privilege of sitting in Jim Yansen’s Sabbath School class. Jim has encouraged his class to work toward several local mission projects. One of those, was to pray for young adults to be invited to the Sabbath School class and attend church. Right now this class has 2 young adults taking baptismal lessons. Jim has also challenged a young adult Caucasian member to specifically invite his friends and other Caucasians, since the Stroudsburg Church family, which used to be mostly Caucasian, is now 80-90 percent made up of those of British West Indian descent.

On this Sabbath, there were 2 young adult Caucasians present in class, one young man had been invited by this initiative, and it was his first Sabbath in attendance!
Although I had only planned to sit in the congregation, I was invited to join the worship leaders and provide the welcome, the call to worship and the benediction.
During the announcement time, I shared with the congregation about our commitment to lead youth and young adults into Share Him evangelism. One family already inquired if their daughter could participate, and one adult lady agreed to pray about coming alone on the Guatemala trip Share Him evangelism trip this summer, as both a speaker and a chaperone for the young ladies.
Pastor James Clark, who is normally present, had committed to attend the youth Sabbath worship service in Easton, which were entirely presented by the youth.
After church, I joined with Thomas Pitts, the head elder and Pastor Bernard Charles, who is the building committee chairman, and reviewed the artist’s conception for a possible new church and activity center.

The steel buildings being considered are estimated to cost near $4.5 million. The building committee chairman, who had led out on building a similar project, shared with me that he believed it could be finished for $3.7 million, utilizing the many craftsman in the church who are involved in the construction business as a living.

Following several conversations with church members after the Stroudsburg Church service, I made my way to the Easton SDA Church.

Here a complete Sabbath Youth Day was being led out by Javier Mendez, the local youth leader. 3 other youth groups from other Conferences had been invited and come for the day. In the morning, the youth provided the entire worship service, including the preaching. I arrived a little before the 3 p.m. afternoon service. The church was full-packed all day!

Kris Eckenroth, PA Conference Youth Director was able to join the youth at Easton in the afternoon also, and he has been working with the Easton church in its youth ministry.

Kris and Javier have also developed a close working relationship with the PA Conference COOL camp summer ministry. Javier leads one of the summer teams which goes to PA Conference Churches or Schools and conducts a summer day camp for at least 1 week. Many, if not most of the kids coming to the summer day camp are non-Adventist and quite a few of those are un-churched. Javier works with our Adventist COOL Camp youth workers, and provides intentional leadership and spiritual development each day for the youth who are leading out, in addition to giving them direction in reaching summer day campers for Christ.

Afterwards I spoke at length with Paul Richards and his wife Kesha.
They both work in sales for Verizon and are in the top 10% of their 1,300 employees for sales. However, they are being pressured to work on Sabbath. We spoke for some time about possible actions they could take. I pointed them to Walter Carson at the Columbia Union and also offered to go to Scranton to meet personally with upper management on their behalf.

Please keep these fine Adventist members in your prayers.

Chambersburg Church in Mission and a Church Plant

2010-03-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG
March 27, 2010

Chambersburg

This Sabbath I had the privilege to join Pastor John Rengifo and the Chambersburg SDA Church. The worship service begins at 9:15 a.m. While there for the service, I was asked to officiate for an ordination service for Brandon Senior as an elder, and Sonny Hoffman and Randy Winkler as deacons.
Then the morning worship message was entitled, “Failure Prepared a Leader,” and drew 8 principles of Christian leadership for church leaders from the life of Moses.

The Chambersburg Church has a SIGNS gift box out front for the townspeople to pick up free copies.

Inside the foyer, I was impressed with the bulletin board and all the attention provided for the active Pathfinder club.

After lunch, I asked to meet with the Church Board and we discussed the role of the Church Board in the mission of Jesus. We looked at various church officer positions and said, if that position is not about reaching the lost, or not active in reaching the lost, it should be re-evaluated as to whether it ought to be continued, funded or promoted.
Three lay members of the Chambersburg church are presenting a Share Him evangelistic meeting in about a week. After the Board meeting, several members and youth went out along the streets of the city to “prayer walk” and intercede with God for reaching folks with the wonderful Adventist message we have.

In the afternoon a Hispanic SDA Church Plant meets in the Chambersburg church facility. Juan Lopez happened to be there for the worship service, and I asked those who attend the Church Plant to come together for a picture.

Missional Church Assessment at Hampden Heights

2010-03-12T17:22:00.000-08:00

President’s Blog
March 12, 2010

Mission Intentional Church Assessment

The Reading Hampden Heights church was the location for a Mission Intentional Church assessment and consultation beginning last Wednesday night through this Sabbath afternoon.

Our assessment team consisted of:
Elder Ray Hartwell, President, Pennsylvania Conference
Elder Bill Peterson, Assistant to the President for Mission, Pennsylvania Conference
Dave Morgan, Vice President of Education, Pennsylvania Conference
Tamyra Horst, Communication Director, Pennsylvania Conference
Elder Mike McCabe, Pastor, Kenhorst Boulevard Adventist Church, Pennsylvania Conference
Dr. Ray Pichette, Vice President of Pastoral Ministries, Potomac Conference

Coming into this assessment process, the local church provided the assessment team with a comprehensive document of the 20 year history of this church.

We conducted personal interviews with over 12 individuals asking about the strengths and weaknesses of the current church life. We also met with the church board and reviewed the data from the self-study the church board had provided. Later, we conducted a focus group interview, consisting of over 20 individuals representing a broad cross-section of the church by age, gender, ethnic and philosophical backgrounds. We also interviewed Pastor Brian Cassell and his wife. Then the assessment team indentified the major strengths and the major concerns affecting this church’s ability to effectively work on the mission and calling of Jesus for a church family. After these were listed, the assessment team provided a comprehensive list of recommendations or prescriptions for the church to implement for becoming intentional in mission going forward.

This report with the prescriptions will be shared tomorrow immediately following the fellowship meal right after church.

The Hampden Heights church will received this report, and then in 2 weeks will have a business meeting to vote whether or not to accept and implement all of the recommendations.

We in the Pennsylvania Conference are blessed by God to have a Conference staff like we do, that are dedicated and willing to coming alongside our churches and spend the time to support and equip our church families for service. Each church we work with has an assessment team that differs from church to church, that draws from the Conference leadership staff and pastors that we have. I am very proud of our staff and all the time they give and diligent work they do.

This is the 3rd Mission Intentional Church assessment process with a Pennsylvania Conference Church. Other churches are preparing to request the Conference assist them with this process. For anyone who would like Ellen White selections that provide the principles behind the MIC approach, feel free to request this of me. Also, I have a power point presentation that addresses many of the questions people have asked about the MIC process here in Pennsylvania, which I would be willing to e-mail to anyone who asks.

Mission Intentional Church helps a church apply a functional system and a structural framework to be the church we are called to be in the last days, that focuses on the calling to reach the lost for Jesus before He comes. It does not take the place of necessary prayer, reflection on God’s word and a deep, heartfelt call for the Holy Spirit. It also does not take the place of repentance and confession of unfaithfulness, which precedes the reception of the Holy Spirit. However, it does follow the counsel of Ellen White that we are to pray for the Holy Spirit, in order that we might plan and executive wisely (AA p. 50), and that “the leaders in God’s cause, as wise generals, are to lay plans for advance moves all along the line.” GW p. 351

Elementary Music Festival

2010-03-06T14:45:00.000-08:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG
March 6, 2010

Elementary Music Festival

It was a joy to attend portions of the Pennsylvania Conference Elementary School Music Festival held at Blue Mountain Academy. Tracy Enoch, the BMA recruiter has been the overall coordinator for the Elementary Music Festival this year. Eric Engen and Hector Flores have participated with many elements of the programming. Each of our BMA Elementary schools are represented.

Before the worship service began, I joined the BMA students for Sabbath School in the gym. Carlos Abreu, a BMA Board Member and student parent led a very engaging lesson study with the Academy student body while the elementary students practiced in the Church.

On Sabbath morning, it was wonderful to see 200-250 students crowding the choir area of the BMA Church as they sang 3 songs for Divine worship.

Craig Ziesmer, principal tells me that already a student from New Jersey, who is here this weekend, has declared his intention to attend BMA next year. One of our elementary school principals was telling me that one of the 8th graders wasn’t sure he wanted to participate and attend the music festival over the weekend. So the principal said, “For anyone who wants to stay home and not attend music festival, the assignment is to write a 2 page report about each of 15 music composers.” She said that the student thought about it and then decided that he wanted to attend music festival and he would like it! As I talked with her, she said he really was having a good time and was glad he came.

After church 2-3 BMA students talked with me and shared about their desire to be accepted as ministry workers at the Laurel Lake Summer Camp program this year.

I am so happy for the multiple ways our Conference works with young people, and the many teachers, camp staff, youth workers and family members who give ministry to our Adventist young people every week.

State College District visit

2010-01-31T10:26:00.000-08:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG
January 30, 2010

Last night I joined the State College, Lewistown, Mifflintown and Pioneer End Time mission group for a district meeting to introduce Pastor Chris Buttery, Jennifer and their family as the new district leader. This district was formerly led by Pastor Lonnie Wibberding, who moved out to the Pacific Northwest to be nearer to family. Chris has been doing an excellent job leading the churches of Montrose, Tunkhannock and Beaumont district.

The State College district received Chris very well and are eagerly looking forward to his transition.

While I was there, I looked up the residence for a couple of young adult brothers who have settled in the State College area after growing up in Hamburg, PA. Although they weren’t home, I left them a note and a copy of the book, Story of Redemption, by Ellen White. I heard later that they found it and had been reading some in the book.

Come Read With Me!

2010-01-29T15:16:00.000-08:00

President’s Blog – What I’ve Been Reading Recently

Currently, there are several books I have been reading from that I’d like to share with you here in this blog. Some I have just finished. One or two are long term reading—I pick them up for awhile, set them down for awhile, and pick them up again.

Right now, I am presenting a few short selections from one chapter per week in the book, Great Controversy by Ellen White to our office staff for Monday morning staff worship. This is a tremendous book with a powerful message for Christians living right now before Jesus’ second coming.

In my personal devotional time, I am reading from A.G. Daniels classic book, Christ Our Righteousness. In this, he details the all-encompassing message of righteousness by faith and presents quotes and selections from Ellen White urging the Adventist Church to make Jesus Christ the central point of every person’s life. She details that it is only in the presentation of righteousness by faith, that the message will go with power in the last days, and it is Satan’s studied effort to keep people from understanding righteousness by faith, for Satan knows that when people accept Christ’s righteousness by faith, Satan’s power over them will be broken. I am praying about the possibility of making this book available at a very affordable price for those attending the 2010 Pennsylvania Camp meeting.

Jeanne and I are reading (well, she is reading and I am driving) Story of Redemption, by Ellen White, each morning that we ride together from our house to the Conference office. This book is a wonderful telling of the Great Controversy/Conflict of the Ages in one shorter, easier to read volume. I am praying about also making this book available at a very affordable price for those attending the 2010 Pennsylvania Camp meeting.

Recently I finished reading John Ortberg’s book, God is Closer Than you Think. This book deals with a creative and yet compelling call to invite Jesus into every day and every part of our life. Several have shared with me what a blessing and also a conviction they have received from this book.

Another book I am currently meandering through is Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink. It describes how our brains are able to process and handle understanding certain things, and even lead us to decisions or conclusions, without our being conscious of a specific thought process. Gladwell is not describing some ethereal, or hypnotized, or out of control experience. He is saying that our brains have been created with the ability to organize and process data on a subconscious level and use that ability when we may not even be aware of it.

Ben Patterson has a volume entitled, Deeping Your Conversation with God. An Excellent book on personal prayer with God. I have shared this with all the Pastors and all the Teachers who came to the Spiritual Retreats this fall, where we followed Ellen White’s counsel to come apart and rest awhile, focusing completely on God’s presence.

A historical non-fiction book I enjoy reading snatches in from time-to-time is American Lion by Jon Meacham. This details the life of Andrew Jackson during the years he was an American President. This is also a book that James Cress,(a voracious reader) GC Ministerial Department Director was reading right around the time of his death last November.

Our Wednesday night neighborhood Men’s Group is reading Being God’s Man…By Standing Firm Under Pressure, by Stephen Arterburn, Kenny Luck and Todd Wendorff. This is a book for small group study and discussion, and focuses on the life of Daniel and his 3 companions as they demonstrated how not to compromise under pressure. They didn’t let misfortune, temptation, manipulation, intimidation or even death shake their faith into compromise. Instead, they faced each new challenging circumstance with courage and trust.

To grow as a Church leader, I have read, and am now re-reading portions of Patrick Lencioni’s book, Silos, Politics and Turf Wars. This book helps leaders work with the organizations departmental directors in discovering and joining together on a thematic goal, that every department can work together on, to reach the mission for the organization. Soon I will read Lencioni’s book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, to continue growing as an effective organizational leader.

The last book I am listing here now is Dwight Nelson’s Creation and Evolution. Rather than being a definitive book on all the scientific theory for or against evolution, Nelson brings a spiritual study from the Scriptures, along with good solid questions for the evolutionary theory to address if it is to be seriously considered acceptable. He also brings an over-view of excellent current scientific thought and discoveries that cast significant doubt on the ability of the evolutionary theory to be the sole authority for origins of life. I enjoy Nelson’s treatment and believe this provides a strong case for Creationism and a Creator – God expressed in this book. Currently this book is available at an excellent price in the Adventist Book Center.

Come read alongside of me! And tell me what you are finding to be interesting reading!! I’d love to hear from you.

Ray

Typical Administrative Committee (ADCOM) work

2010-01-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

President’s Blog
January 20, 2010

Typical Administrative Committee work

Between Conference Executive Committee meetings, there are a number of weekly and monthly activities and issues that need to be addressed. Your Conference Officers are charged with leading out in the every-day and routine items that need decisions to be made and implemented, along with giving the vision and direction for the Mission of Jesus through our Conference. Our Executive Committee has been charged by the Constituency with the governance and broad direction for the Conference, setting or approving policy, approving the Conference funding and Pastor Personnel hiring and placement.
I have listed below, this week’s agenda for ADCOM, as just an example of what might be on a typical ADCOM discussion with some items voted for action. All ADCOM actions are recorded and then the minutes are presented to the Conference Executive Committee for their vote to approve each ADCOM meeting minutes.
If you should have any curiosity or question about this week’s ADCOM agenda, feel free to contact me.

ADCOM
January 20, 2010

1. Prayer

2. Lori Landa
a. Minutes review by ADCOM Officers – new software process to use

3. Columbia Union Haiti relief update
a. Suggested: Offering from Conference reserves.
b. Special appeal to all churches to help rebuild churches, schools,
university, hospital. Make recommendation to Conference Executive Committee

4. French books for Darnel Marius Part Time pastor of Lancaster Haitian Church. Evangelism funds to provide

5. Additional rent assistance request – short term

6. Women in Ministry update

7. Camp Keystone summer use request

8. 3 youth Share Him overseas travel expense budgets for Adult Evangelism Coaches

9. 2010 Conference Budget update

10. Assistant to the President for Mission update

11. LLC report to Executive Committee

12. Mission Intentional Church – York update

13. Marriage, Homosexuality and the Church
a. International Religious Liberty Conference at Andrews University CD recordings available

14. Columbia Union Mission Funding to Conferences. 2010 Allocation update.

15. Arise and Build. Future direction for this activity

16. HVCA update

17. Camp Meeting 2012
a. Concept for future of camp meeting
b. Hispanic camp meeting

18. Discuss annual member age survey in each church

El Camino Church Organization

2010-01-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

President’s Blog
January 16, 2010
El Camino Church Organization

Today Elder Ron Christman, Elder Juan Lopez, his wife Daisy and I had the joy and privilege of celebrating the organization of a new Pennsylvania Conference Church in Easton, PA.

The El Camino SDA Church begin just a few years ago as a mission group. Now they have been organized, and already, some of the members are dreaming and talking about planting another SDA Church in the Easton region. Members shared with me that this is the only Hispanic church of any kind in this part of Easton, where there is a sizable Hispanic population. In just a week or so, the El Camino SDA Church will be having the graduation of the 3rd English as a Second Language (ESL) Class they have provided for community benefit and church outreach.
Elder Ron Christman, who speaks fluent Spanish, presented the summary of the Adventist beliefs. Elder Lopez, who also speaks fluent Spanish, pronounce the Conference blessing, declared the church to be officially organized in the SDA World Church as part of the PA Conference and had the official prayer. Although I only speak fluent English and just a few words of Spanish, I led the organizing serviced and the voting of the charter members.

Answering our appeal for any to take their stand for Jesus Christ and the Biblical beliefs of the Adventist Church, was a man who had been attending but was not a member. He came forward and pledged his desire to prepare for baptism.

At lunch following the worship service, Elder Christman and I were seated at a table with mostly young people. I visited with a young man who attended the Junior High a couple of blocks from the rented Lutheran church our Adventist Church family meets in. Elder Christman visited with his father in Spanish, as his English as not very strong. We learned that both father and son had walked into this church off the street for the 1st time this Sabbath, having never visited this church or been invited by anyone. As I visited with the son in English, he asked me if I knew anyone who could help his father learn to speak English better. So I introduced the father to Mrs. Brown, the lay person who was teaching the ESL classes. Elder Christman learned from the father, that he had several Adventist relatives, and he would be interested in considering becoming a Seventh-day Adventist himself.
God is at work across Pennsylvania! As we pray, seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and make ourselves available anywhere, anytime, with anyone, God can do mighty things for His work.

The Easton El Camino Church plant is the result of a number of layperson deciding to step out in faith and answer God’s call to be a missionary for Jesus. They were also lead and assisted by Pastor Montesinos, District Pastor Gabriel Montalvo, and Pastor Saud Elias who recently conducted and evangelistic reaping series of meetings there. Also Adventist members from Bethlehem Spanish and Lehigh Valley Spanish assisted.

The Witnessing LocationI Never Thought was Ideal

2010-01-14T04:50:00.000-08:00

I’ve never been a fan of air travel evangelism. Maybe like me, you have heard speakers tell of traveling to some location, and while traveling on an airliner, they were seated next to another traveler. Striking up a conversation with them, they had the opportunity to witness and share some aspect of Christianity. At the end of the trip, they got off the plane, rejoicing to have made a difference in someone’s life.

It always struck me that a better approach to witnessing would be to share your faith in your own neighborhood, town or church area of influence instead of on an airliner. Then you could be used by God to do more than have a “hit and run” conversation. You could actually help disciple someone over time. That “ought” to be the way to do personal evangelism.

Besides, the few times I get on an air flight, I usually have a list of projects or reading I need to do and I need the time away from phone calls, office duties and drop-in visitors to give it full attention in a quiet setting. And then, I am not a naturally out-going sanguine personality who just loves to strike up deep meaningful conversations with every stranger I meet. If someone takes the initiative to speak to me or ask questions, I am willing to walk right in to a spiritual conversation.

So I’m about to share that God really does have a sense of humor. On a Wednesday, last October 7, I was flying to a Christian Leadership Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. While on the plane I shared my free newspaper with the man next to me. He eventually started chatting and I just asked him some open-ended questions about himself, his work, his tour of duty in the Air Force, his experience at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, and his family. In course of my listening to his experience, he spoke of his upbringing by Christian parents and the values he was seeking to establish in his own home. At this point I asked if he and his family attended church. He said he did. Then he mentioned the role of pastors of large churches and the wish he had that some of these pastors would better serve the needs of the community instead of just building up a big church and a big salary. Then, I believe the Holy Spirit jumped in and “pushed” me. I shared with him how the Biblical model is that every Christian is a minister. We don’t have to wait to see the mega-church pastor “get it right,” we are personally called by Christ to minister in His name, wherever we are. We are the minister. So we chatted about that for a couple of minutes. Then I shared with him how God could even use him to minister through his business/work. I urged him to get a copy of the book, Show and Then Tell: Presenting the Gospel Through Everyday Encounters. He thought that sounded good. Then after a little reflection and very general comments on the coming of Christ together, he said to me, “You know, I remember reading a book by Hal Lindsey a while ago about the end of time and the coming of Christ. I ought to get it out read it again.” Then I sensed the Holy Spirit jumping in and pushing me again. I just responded directly, “You know, I have read a book that is much more accurate than Hal Lindsey. There are many things Hal Lindsey doesn’t have just right. But there is this book entitled, ‘Great Controversy’ which carefully and scripturally takes all the issues from the time of Christ, through the early church, the medieval times, the reformation, down to our time and to the times just when Jesus comes. I have found it to be so much more accurate on this topic. You need to get this book and read it.” I gave him directions for finding the Great Controversy online through the Adventist Book Center. He expressed a good interest in this book. Before we left the plan, we exchanged business cards with e-mail addresses. Later, I e-mailed him and mentioned visiting with him. I didn’t mention the book, just that I enjoyed visiting with him. He e-mailed right back and said he was definitely getting the Great Controversy..

Incredible and sobering! I had an actual assignment I had to get done on that 2 hour flight to Atlanta. But God had a different assignment. And you know, I liked the substitute assignment much better. Even if it was airline evangelism!!

Then on the way home, guess what happened on that 2 hour flight. I sat next to a gracious man from southern Virginia. Since it was Friday night, in the plane I got out my Bible and Sabbath School Quarterly. After I finished my SS lesson, he commented to me about some spiritual things. Then he asked me about what Jesus meant about the desolation of the holy place spoken of by Daniel the prophet. So I briefly shared from Matthew 24 on the signs of the times. Then, since the Holy Spirit had jumped in and pushed me just 2 days earlier, I knew the Holy Spirit was ready to go this time. So I went on and said, There is a great book entitled, ‘Great Controversy,’ which is the most accurate description of the issues of the last days before Jesus comes. He asked about the author and I gave him my business card with the name of the book and the Adventist Book Center so he could Google it and order it. Again, he showed an interest in this book. If we are willing for God to work through us, He has the capacity to surprise us, and use us in ways we may not find natural. But once God opens the way, and once we are fully willing for Him to work His will in us, then whatever way God chooses, it becomes exciting and natural! Here is a powerful thought that I think encourages each of us.

“There are many who are reading the Scriptures who cannot understand their true import. All over the world men and women are looking wistfully to heaven. Prayers and tears and inquiries go up from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the verge of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in. {AA 109.1}
An angel guided Philip to the one who was seeking for light and who was ready to receive the gospel, and today angels will guide the footsteps of those workers who will allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify their tongues and refine and ennoble their hearts. The angel sent to Philip could himself have done the work for the Ethiopian, but this is not God's way of working. It is His plan that men are to work for their fellow men. {AA 109.2}
In the trust given to the first disciples, believers in every age have shared. Everyone who has received the gospel has been given sacred truth to impart to the world. God's faithful people have always been aggressive missionaries, consecrating their resources to the honor of His name and wisely using their talents in His service.” {AA 109.3}

Leadership Lessons from Chuck Swindoll

2009-12-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

When at the Catalyst Leadership Conference in Atlanta in October, 2009, I had the privilege to listen to Chuck Swindoll. He was presented with a lifetime achievement award at this convention.
Then Chuck gave a presentation from his 50 years in Christian leadership.
Here are some random notes/thoughts that I took, which I will continue to touch base on from time to time. You may find them valuable also.

“When God wants to do an impossible job, He chooses a person and crushes him.” -- Pastor Allen Redpath, Moody Memorial Church.

Leave room in your life for the crushing. Very few people will tell you about it. But it is part of God’s curriculum for a leader.

10 Lessons of Leadership

1. It is lonely to lead. Leadership involves tough decisions.
2. It is dangerous to succeed.
3. It is hardest at home.
4. It is essential to be real. “Be who ye iz, cauz if you ain’t who you iz, you is who you ain’t.” (sic)
5. It is painful to obey. You will be giving up your way for the way of the Cross.
6. Brokenness and failure are necessary. “Everything I have learned is through affliction, not abundance…” -- Malcom Muckeridge
7. My attitude is more important than my actions.
8. Integrity eclipses image. The best things you do are not upfront. They are what you do behind the scenes.
9. God’s way is better than my way. God cannot pour His blessings into hands already full.
10. Christ’s likeness begins and ends in humility.

2 Corinthians 4:5, Not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God… (NASB)
Vs. 7, We have this treasure in earthen vessels.

“We must be willing to leave the familiar methods without disturbing the Biblical message.” -- Principle that was practiced by the First Century Christian church.

Tradition is the living faith of those now dead.
Traditionalism is the dead faith of those now living.

3 Observations

1. With every ministry a special mercy is needed. 2 Corinthians 4:1
2. In every ministry the same things must be renounced and rejected. 2 Cor. 4:2
Shameful -- hiding things
Deceitful -- do things
Corrupting -- Truthful things
3. Through every ministry a unique style is to be pursued. 2. Cor. 4:5-7
a. We do not promote ourselves. It isn’t about me.
b. We declare Christ as Lord. It is all about Him.
c. We see ourselves as bondservants for Jesus sake.
d. We never forget what we are…and who He is.

5 Statements from my 50 years in leadership – worth remembering:

1. Do more with others and less all alone. Accountability.
2. Whenever you do it, emphasize quality, not quantity.
3. Wherever you go, do it the same as if among those who know you best.
4. Whoever may respond, keep a level head.
5. However long you lead, keep on dripping with gratitude and grace.

My Earth Day at Laurel Lake Camp

2009-11-23T14:12:00.000-08:00

November 23, 2009

“Earth Day” for me took place on November 22, 2009. I was out at Laurel Lake Camp and Retreat center conducting a Spiritual Retreat for the PA Conference Educators. We practiced focused Bible study, prayer, journaling and a discipline of silence for 14 hours each day, in order to come apart from the press of the world, and listen for the leading of God through prayer and meditation. (See chapter 38 in Desire of Ages, “Come Rest Awhile”)
During the morning while observing silence, I would walk 2-4 miles. Sunday morning I decided as I walked the road along LLC, that I would take 2 large garbage bags and pick up the trash along the side of the road on LLC’s property.

While doing that, I came to an amazing discovery! Alcohol drinkers have to be the worst litter bugs of all! Through a scientific process, I found there to be more discards from alcohol drinkers than any other type of trash. That was rated by quantity, volume and weight. Even when you factor in the junk tire I found, the beer bottles, cans and six pack carriers took up more space and weight in my bags that all other trash combined.
While helping to clean up the roadside for LLC, I wondered why there are more beer garbage items than even plastic soda bottles.
What if just some of the energy dedicated to greenhouse gasses and global warming also included factoring in the amount of energy and waste that goes into making glass beer bottles and aluminum beer cans that are then thrown out alongside of the highways and polluter our ecology?
It also made me think that as Seventh-day Adventists, we could be among those who are committed to responsible garbage management and reasonable environment issues. As children of God, as wise stewards of God’s world, as those who recognized that “The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof…” we could be intentional about caring for God’s world and using the best wise management of its resources.
One day soon, Jesus will come and take us from this sin-filled world. The fact that we are soon to leave this world, does not mean we can leave off wise and proper environmental actions, just because we are about to leave the world. This world is a training ground for living throughout eternity with the Lord. And in a world re-created by the Savior, we want to bring habits of care and trust. Can God trust us to properly appreciate the beauty and inter-connectedness of His creation, His natural world? Will we treat the earth made new any better than we are currently treating the handiwork of God here in this world?
It was great to pick up LLC’s roadways and “spruce up” our camp.
What will I do at home? What might you do in God’s home that He has entrusted us with?

PA Educator's Spiritual Retreat

2009-11-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG
November 22, 2009

This weekend I spent with a group of our PA Conference Educators at Laurel Lake Camp and Retreat center conducting a Spiritual Retreat. What a great group of people! We are privileged to have them caring for our young people’s Christian Education.

We practiced focused Bible study, prayer, journaling and a discipline of silence for 14 hours each day, in order to come apart from the press of the world, and listen for the leading of God through prayer and meditation. (See chapter 38 in Desire of Ages, “Come Rest Awhile”)

There is something profound about stopping all the routine activities, all the motions and actions, all the sounds and duties. Something freeing about letting go of anxieties, cares and concerns, and just being still in the presence of God. Jesus invited His disciples to do that, and He encourages us to do the same.

While at the retreat, we read the entire Chapter 38 from Desire of Ages, as a group, each person reading a paragraph out loud to the rest of the group, and then meditating and/or commenting on it.

We also focused our attention over the 3 day span on John 15:1-17, going over and over that passage, seeking new insights, or listening carefully to catch each message and meaning.

We had the delight of having Missi with us, who is a young lady from the Church Plant in Carnegie, PA She accompanied Mayda Clark, who is planting with her husband, Andres. Missi is not a Seventh-day Adventist. Her home has not included attending church more than just once in a while. Yet she has a heart for God and a desire to share what she is learning about Jesus. You might think that a teenager would find this kind of retreat boring. But she participated fully and gave some wonderful spiritual insights during our group times with the Bible.

Several teacher spouses attended, and they found the time just as enriching and fulfilling.
I myself, found the blessing of walking quietly in nature, sitting still to pray and reflect, and reading the scriptures followed by journaling the thoughts God brought to mind to be a watering of my soul.

Next year, we are planning another Spiritual Retreat. One for pastors on a Sunday-Tuesday schedule, and another for educators on a Friday-Sunday time.

NAD Meetings -- November 2009

2009-11-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

PRESIDENT’S BLOG
November 11, 2009

Over this past week I attended the North American Division Year End meetings. They began with 2 days of meetings conducting by Adventist Risk Management. We received reports on employee health insurance and property casualty and prevention. During the employee health insurance, it looks like the NAD health insurance is moving to an employee wellness plan, much like the one pioneered by the Pennsylvania Conference.

Over the weekend we met at the General Conference Building and heard reports from the various departments of the NAD, and discussed and voted different policies. From the NAD Ministerial Department, we heard that the growth rate for the NAD is 15% growth rate for this time ending in 2009. The year of pastoral evangelism has greatly assisted that.

We also considered the cost of living issue, and voted to have no cost of living for the 2010-2011 year. This is totally appropriate, considering the tithe increase or rather decrease for most conferences, and the condition of the national economy. Also the employment and financial issues of many of our church members.

One of the thrilling stories to come from the NAD meetings involves HOPE TV. Just recently HOPE TV approached the satellite TV company, DIRECT TV with an application to be added to their TV channel offerings. DIRECT TV already had 250 non-profit agencies requesting to be added to DIRECT TV ahead of our request. The Board of DIRECT TV had Brad Thorpe, Candice Thorpe, Mark Finley and Fred Kinsey visit with them to present our proposal. While they were presenting, one of the top officials came into the meeting, sat down, listened for a while and then said, you are what we want and need on this satellite. So they approved the placement of HOPE TV on one of the largest TV Satellite companies with millions of subscribers. HOPE TV is now on Channel 368 on DIRECT TV. There is a special subscription rate for new subscribers who mention HOPE TV. Our pastors will be receiving this information in January.
I am dropping my subscription to Comcast Cable and have already had DIRECT TV installed so I can get HOPE TV at the house.

I had the opportunity to share lunch and an extended conversation with Bill Knott, editor of the Adventist Review and a long-time personal friend. I am really impressed with the changes and the quality of the Adventist Review.

Church Plant and Community Fair

2009-09-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

President’s Blog, September 8, 2009

Over Labor Day weekend I had a variety of experiences.
Early on Friday morning, the family of Don Gulig, who has been an elder and a head elder in the Fairview Village church for a number of years, called with the news that Don had suffered a stroke and was being transported to a Philadelphia hospital Once he was situated in the Jefferson Hospital in downtown Philadelphia, I joined the family in the afternoon for an anointing service for Don. Their church was in-between pastors, so I sat with them for nearly 1 ½ hours until Don was stabilized in his ICU room, then we shared in a beautiful anointing service.

On Sabbath, I joined the Immanual Place Church Plant in Reading, to officially organize them as a Church in the Pennsylvania Conference. This is a lay-lead church plant that started with Spanish members working alongside of Amocetia Tabinar with her ministry to inner city children in the downtown Reading area. Before long there were enough Hispanic people attending, that they began a Hispanic church plant. Miriam Vargas is the lay leader for Immanuel Place. She has been a Literature Evangelist for many years and has much experience in soul-winning and sharing the Adventist Message. The members are very diligent in continuing to reach out to others in the Reading area. Jeff McAuliffe, our Pennsylvania Conference Church Planter Coordinator was also able to attend.

Sunday, Jeanne and I traveled to Philadelphia to join the Community Day organized by the Adventist Humanitarian Resource Center (AHRC), which is a ministry that is formed across the Pennsylvania and Alleghany East Conferences, and supported by several churches in the Philadelphia area that are from both Conferences. This ministry resulted from the Metro Ministry initiative sponsored by the Columbia Union.

The 2nd annual Community Day was held on the property of the Boulevard SDA Church, as it has an ideal location fronting Roosevelt Boulevard, a major thoroughfare in Philadelphia.

Darrel Stovall (at left with Vernon Bramble) is one of the prime movers behind this event and is the Chair of the AHRC.

Among the ministries featured at the Community Day were:

Lillian Torres’ booth registering Bible Study interests

Gary Davis at the Huntington Valley Christian Academy booth.

Face painting done by prospective Church members of Chestnut Hill Church

Chestnut Hill Church

Blue Mountain Academy

Fun for neighborhood kids.

A Prayer Ministry tent A Prayer Ministry tent led by Herman and Gretchen Valez.

Havertown Church ministry seminar registrations.

Bucks County Bible Study offers
Local Fire Departments
Washington Adventist University
PA Conference Adventist Book Center
Pine Forge Academy
A local Adventist Book store and health food store
Havertown Church Health Seminars
Various food booths
And a number of other ministries and community agencies.

This has been a wonderful way the different churches in Philadelphia from both Conferences have come together to connect with the community.

August 20, 2009

2009-08-24T08:02:00.000-07:00

Gary Moran, Pathfinder Director for the Pennsylvania Conference shared with me that 15 clubs and approximately 300 Pennsylvania Pathfinders were in attendance at the “Courage to Stand” International Camporee in Oshkosh, WI.

Currently there are over 2 million SDA Pathfinders in 170 countries around the world.

Pennsylvania had a number of young people who were directly involved in this year’s camporee. In addition to the pictures of Emily Carlson who was a stage manager, and James and Jonathan Goff who were stage security, which I posted last week, there are others.

John Mall and Matt Masters were part of the music team that lead the music each evening

Will Reichert portrayed different characters in the featured presentation story of Esther most evenings, and also served as one of the guards at the entrance to the amphitheater / program arena.

Conrad Reichert, Jr. also had parts in the Esther story.

Approximately 550 Pathfinders and some adult leaders and staff were baptized on Sabbath afternoon. Another 1,000 – 1,500 indicated a desire for baptism and were referred to their home church and pastor upon their return from Oshkosh. Pennsylvania Pastors Bob Williams, Gabriel Montalvo and Preston Monterrey participated in baptizing PA campers. Pastor Conrad Reichert assisted those campers taking part in the baptism.

Some of our PA educators were also in support of clubs at Oshkosh. I saw Karen Lebo, Steve Laubach and Frank Stahl. Many of the AWHN staff were also assisting. Cheryl Goff, Karen Borton, and Sandy Ringer were there with their club.

Our PA Clubs seemed to have a wonderful time. The Gettysburg club marched in the Friday parade of clubs.

The Washington club worked on the rock and mineral honor while they were there.

On Friday afternoon, from 1 p.m. until about 11:30 p.m. I was a volunteer chaplain. Our specific duties as chaplains were to offer to pray with people, and to drive campers back to their campsite who had some type of medical condition or had been treated by the doctors or nurses at the medical building. Three of us as Conference Presidents were on call for transporting people, and were almost constantly in motion.

I would like to affirm Mark Sorensen, Homer Strong, Pam Scheib and all the members of the PA Pathfinder Executive Council who alongside of Gary Moran provide strong leadership for our Pathfinder clubs. Also each of the local club directors and staff who constantly work with the clubs each week and seek to guide and influence our young people. Some of our clubs have several young people who are from non-SDA Church families, and in this way, our clubs have a part in the mission of the Pennsylvania Conference churches.

Tuesday our Conference Executive Committee elected Ron Christman as our Conference Treasurer.

Ron and his wife Joyce, who is a RN, a hospital Chaplain and a trained bereavement chaplain both grew up in the mission field. You will find more information regarding Ron on the Conference website. Ron brings a wealth of experience and a mission attitude to his role. I believe God has answered our prayers as we have conducted a wide search for the right person to follow Mo Pelley in this vital role.

August 12, 2009

2009-08-14T04:44:00.000-07:00

Today Jeanne, Abby and I arrived in Oshkosh, WI, for the NAD/World Pathfinder Camporee. We attended the evening program, which is featuring the story of Esther with the theme, Courage to Stand. Over 36,000 Pathfinders are in attendance, making this the largest SDA gathering in the world. At tonight’s program, opening prayer was conducted by 4 Pathfinders, one from Columbia Union Conference, one from Pau Pau New Guinea, one from the country of Columbia, and one from the North Pacific Union. At the end of the program and the spiritual message, the stage was filled with the Pathfinders who came forward for prayer, to commit their life to Christ, or to request baptism. I saw just a few friends of PA Conference, and have included their pictures below.
James and Jonathan Goff
Emily Carlson
Elder Don Schneider
Ed and Wendy Eberhart

Tomorrow I will be serving as a volunteer Chaplain on call, and I will see more of our PA Pathfinders and post a few pictures on the next blog.

June 30, 2009

2009-07-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

This week I had the privilege of visiting with the 20 student Literature Evangelists that are earnestly working in the Philadelphia area. The Chestnut Hill Church is their base of operations. By this date, they had knocked on 15,000 doors and were on schedule to reach at least 40,000 doors by the end of the summer. As they go, they are signing people up for bible studies. Lillian Torres, our PA Conference Bible Instructor is training Chestnut Hill Church members to directly follow up with those people who sign up. Pastor Tara VinCross and her husband Caleb are working diligently with these student LE’s and the Church members.

On another note, the Chestnut Hill Church is conducting a pilot evangelism method of connecting with people of the community, using holistic approaches, involving church members in a number of significant ministries, and having an evangelistic meeting that Tara VinCross will preach. In order the coordinate this unique holistic evangelistic approach, Caleb VinCross is being provided a small stipend, with accountability factors that must be reached. The goal of this evangelistic approach, is to have a 75% increase in church attendance at the end of two years.

A Day in the Life

2009-07-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

Although every day has unique schedules, mission and routine items to deal with, I thought you might like to look at my schedule for one day this last week. Not every day is like this, but several are.

First action of the morning is to walk 2 miles with my wife for our Conference Personal Wellness Plan, getting approximately 4,000 steps to start the day.

Sit on our small back patio area for prayer, scripture reading and reflection, surrounded by shrubs, flowering plants, song birds at the feeder and gentle sunlight.

Drive to the Conference office and return a phone call or two in route.

Meet with a Conference employee and the Conference Executive Secretary to share with the employee significant professional growth areas that must show improvement to remain in employment. Affirm the employee of some specific area where they have strengths.

Spend 10 minutes with Executive Secretary, debriefing the above interview and discussing future options.

Spend 15 minutes on phone call with lay pastor in a local church, discussing current and future issues for ministry in their setting.

Spend 1 hour on my monthly phone conference with a professional coach who guides those in leadership positions, including several SDA Conference Presidents. Discuss with the Coach issues in chairing the Blue Mountain Academy Board.

Some items….
Initiate phone calls to a Department Director in another Conference to reference the name of a potential Conference Treasurer for Pennsylvania, since the recent candidate we called declined the call.

Initiate a phone call to a Union Conference Treasurer to reference the name of a potential Conference Treasurer for Pennsylvania.

Print off some e-mail documents needing later attention. Answer the e-mail of a potential pastor candidate for Harrisburg Church. Print off the e-mailed resume of a potential Conference Treasurer candidate.

Meet briefly with Kris Eckenroth, Conference Youth Director to discuss significant mission accomplishments of our current COOL Camp youth mission team.

Lunch, brought from home, eaten in the Conference office basement kitchen with my wife, Jeanne.

Speak with the Departmental Director in another Conference to reference the name of a potential Conference Treasurer for Pennsylvania. Receive an enthusiastic recommendation for a second potential candidate while on this phone call.

Receive a phone call back from a Union Conference Treasurer, with reference comments regarding the two individuals I was calling him to reference. Receive from him a recommendation for a 3rd individual currently serving as a treasurer in another Conference that he knows. Receive from him a 4th name of a widely experienced, bi-lingual individual, who is quietly open to considering a different position. Get transferred to another individual in his department who knows the contact information for this 4th individual.

Speak briefly by phone with the Business Consultant hired by the Pennsylvania Conference to help Laurel Lake Camp reach a solid footing financially, to enable us to continue the ministry at LLC.

Call 6 separate individuals, most of whom are lay people, to request they serve on a short term Ad Hoc Committee established by the Conference Executive Committee, to set up a strategically focused Advisory Committee to provide support for Laurel Lake Camp. Received a positive response from all 6. E-mailed to each one the 6 page draft document for them to review, and also provided a Conference Call phone number and code number so that we may have an Ad Hoc meeting by phone on the evening of July 21.

Speak briefly by phone with a member of the Blue Mountain Academy Personnel Committee regarding a couple of positions needing to be filled at BMA.

Filmed an appeal for the PA Conference Arise and Build promotional DVD with Tami Horst, the Conference Communications Director.

Filmed at a second location a segment for a PA Conference DVD regarding our PA Equipping University and our training and empowering lay people for evangelistic meetings in 2010, along with every church and every Conference in the North American Division.

Received a phone call from the North American Division Director of Stewardship asking me to be the Conference president to serve on the NAD Stewardship Committee, which will meet for a full day in late September. Since I sincerely believe our pastors and churches can benefit from a better selection of basic, easy to use stewardship teaching materials, and since I have initiated several requests to the Columbia Union, the NAD and the Pacific Press for such materials, I believe that this is something I ought to accept.

Meet with 4 of our Conference Office Staff for separate 30 minute each, employee feedback and personal review interviews.

Coach an Office Staff member on leading and directing the work of an assistant who works under the direction of this staff member.

At 5 p.m., just as I must walk out the door and drive to Laurel Lake Camp, I have an unannounced walk-in appointment for an additional 40 minutes with an employee who has learned that their marriage is seriously in jeopardy of falling apart.

Start driving to Laurel Lake Camp at 5:45 p.m. to review summer ministry operations and discuss with our hired Business Consultant the detailed findings and outcomes to date. GPS says we will arrive around 10:20 p.m.
Continue driving west along the PA Turnpike. Return a couple of phone calls while traveling.

Initiate a phone call to the 4th individual as noted above, that a Union Treasurer spoke off.

A few minutes later, receive a phone call from this individual. Speak by phone with them for approximately one hour, including stopping at a Turnpike service center, so I can safely speak further. Person indicates that wife just had a very positive interview for a significant job offer for her, and at this time of life, they may wish to remain where she can find her fulfillment. Continue conversation with some specifics about the financial position of the Conference, and the working relationship between me as Conference President and any potential Treasurer candidate. At end of conversation, treasurer candidate offers to send resume, which I encourage we would like to have.

Resume traveling to Laurel Lake, with GPS now indicating we will arrive around 10:45 p.m.

Arrive Laurel Lake Camp at 10:30 p.m. Visit with my daughter for a few minutes.
Meet with our LLC Business Consultant who has decided to stay over and meet with me. We review progress to date, areas of needed continued improvement, forecast for likely costs as LLC finishes the year, and areas to continue to address in order to help LLC have a positive future. Finish our review of LLC approximately 12:50 a.m.

End of day!

Not every day is quite this full, or goes this late. Yet often, I will have a full day of office activities, and then need to either go to a local church for an evening appointment, or take part in a Conference meeting or committee, either in person or by conference call with a toll-free call in line for participants. Earlier this week, I chaired the AWHN Board meeting from 6:30 – 8 p.m. after a full day at the office.

Next week, I meet one evening with the elders from 3 churches one night; the next night an Ad Hoc committee referenced above, will meet by phone conference; and the 3rd night, I will meet with the elders of a different set of 3 churches.

June 9, 2009

2009-06-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Havertown SDA Church is where I spent this last Sabbath. Pastor Ken Lytle had invited me to preach and then stay by for a presentation on PA as a Mission Field and being a Missional Church.

Also, Pastor Lytle has raised up a potential lay Pastor, Lance Moncrief. I had the privilege of sitting in Lance’s Sabbath Class and I believe his ministry will be an asset in partnering with this Church Family under Pastor Lytle’s leadership.

Of interest was that one of those worshipping this Sabbath was Samuel Dalembert, a Seventh-day Adventist young man who plays professional basketball for the Philadelphia 76’s. Pray for God’s leading in his life and his sphere of influence.

June 2, 2009

2009-06-08T12:45:00.001-07:00

This past Sabbath Jeanne and I were privileged to worship with the Washington Heights SDA Church near Leechburg, PA. Dr. David Anderson is the current Lay Pastor of this church family and is doing an excellent job. Dr. Anderson has a full time dental practice in the Pittsburgh area and is on the teaching faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry.

Washington Heights was one of our ‘Arise and Build’ churches and is a most attractive facility for mission and worship.

Moses Sosigian and his wife Catherine have been major ministry leaders, workers and contributors for this congregation.

In the afternoon Jeanne, as PA Conference Family Life Director, conducted a Marriage Seminar entitled, “When Feathers Fly,” which was well received.

I was glad to see at the worship service, approximately 19 children came forward for the Children’s story.