#HopeForTroubledTime
#AdventistChurch
#MarkFinley Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnLH0Xi1jpo

Here is some inspiring news from the Seventh-day Adventist Church community: In Brazil, more than 9,000 young people participated in the Caleb Mission Project in January. They contributed and volunteered in missionary work including Bible studies, blood donation, food collection, and home renovations, particularly in flood-affected areas. The project aims to mobilize youth across South America to dedicate some of their vacation time to evangelism in places with no Adventist presence. It has become the biggest youth movement in South America. In Poland, the Regional Medical Chamber in Łódź presented Adventist doctor, Tomasz Karauda, an award 'for contributions to health protection' on February 2. Dr. Karauda, with the Kulczyk Foundation, donated over 5 million US dollars to the Doctors for Doctors Foundation. The fund was used at a critical time to purchase personal protective equipment for Polish doctors. The honorary badge is a departmental civilian decoration awarded by the Polish Minister of Health. In the Inter-American Division, Zarith Méndez topped the quinquennial Bible Connect competition on January 30. Answering 99 out of 100 multiple-choice questions correctly, she outclassed the other three participants. Méndez said studying the Bible has changed her life entirely and helped her get involved with public campus ministries at her university. She will represent the IAD as a youth delegate during the Adventist World Church's General Conference Session next year in Indiana, USA. The competition aims to motivate more than 1.5 million young people across Inter-America to study and apply God's Word. Watch more of these news features here at ANN (adventist.news). Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEJKsqNwsIc

In the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14. This day is a celebration of love and reflection. Just before Valentine's Day, we would like to talk about marriage and relationships. How do we show love and affection to our spouses? Or to family and friends? And how is pop culture invading our own relationships and how we relate to each other? In this newest episode of ANN In-Depth, we are joined by Willie and Elaine Oliver for some practical advice on this topic. February 13-20 is Christian Home and Marriage Week. This week embraces two Sabbaths: Christian Marriage Day that emphasizes Christian marriage and Christian Hope Day that emphasizes parenting. You can find resources to promote this special week at https://family.adventist.org/resources/2021sd/ This week we are joined by Willie and Elaine Oliver. The Olivers are the Directors of the Family Ministries Department for the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Elaine Oliver is a licensed clinical professional counselor and a certified family life educator. Willie Oliver is an ordained minister, pastoral counselor, family sociologist, and certified family life educator. The Olivers have conducted marriage conferences, retreats, relationship seminars, and leadership training conferences around the world. Willie and Elaine Oliver have been married for 36 years and are the parents of two adult children. Learn more about the Family Ministries Department Website: www.family.adventist.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdventistFam…​
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdventistFamily​ Learn more about our guests on their social media pages
Elaine Oliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrsEOliver​
Willie Oliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/WE_Oliver SHOW NOTES
3:48 – Christian Home and Marriage Week Resources ___
To follow our official social media accounts, just follow the links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAdventistChurch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adventistchurch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventistchurch/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AdventistOrgChurch Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY0ODqW1uXY

We read in 1 Corinthians verse 13 that love never fails! In this video, Pastor Ted Wilson is joined by Nancy Wilson as they talk about marriage and seeking out God’s love in our lives. In the book of Genesis, chapter 1, we are given an overview of the beautiful Creation account—how God created the Earth, and everything in it, in six literal days—and everything “was good.” But then, midway into chapter 2, which gives us more of the Creation backstory, we read that something was “not good!” Verse 18 tells us: “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” When God brought Eve to Adam, it was love at first sight! God then performed the very first marriage ceremony, blessing the man and woman, uniting them together that the two might become one. God intended marriage to be an unending source of joy and love, of companionship and growth. But sadly, sin entered this world, and rather than being a source of happiness, marriage has too often become a source of sorrow for so many people. Nevertheless, there is hope! This wonderful gift God gave to us in Eden can still be enjoyed today through His blessing. “The presence of Christ alone can make men and women happy,” we read in the wonderful book, The Adventist Home. “All the common waters of life Christ can turn into the wine of heaven. The home then becomes as an Eden of bliss; the family, a beautiful symbol of the family in heaven” (p. 28). This coming Sabbath, February 13, begins the “Christian Home and Marriage Week.” Organized by the Family Ministries department of the General Conference, this special week embraces two Sabbaths—Christian Marriage Day on February 13, and Christian Home Day on February 20. Visit family.adventist.org for resources. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:7,8: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” And in 1 Corinthians 13:4 we read—“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” May the Lord bless and strengthen you as we each, through His power, seek to live out His love in our lives. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csEDg3HkAWA

Probably one of the most extensive accounts of someone’s life in the Bible, the story of David is a brilliant example of the different ways we can be called to put God first. Acts of humility, of bravery, and of recognizing God as his protection would allow David to serve fully as a king throughout his adult life, though anointed from a young age. We can look to David’s life for object lessons in putting God first. #GodFirst
#StewardshipMinistries
#AdventistChurch Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1HALmzNvNA