Dr. Cedric Vine was guest speaker at the Vine Centre in Dunfermline, on the day of Fellowship of the Scottish Mission, 2019.Source: https://adventist.uk/news/article/go/2019-10-02/vine-speaking-in-the-vine/
Kenyan High Court Judge Urges Prayer and Out-of-Court Mediation as GC Sues Nairobi Cosmopolitan Conference
1 October 2019 | A High Court judge overseeing a case in which the General Conference (GC) of the Adventist denomination is suing recently formed Nairobi Cosmopolitan Conference (NCC) is asking both parties to pray and seek mediation on the issue outside court. The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is suing the Nairobi Cosmopolitan Conference […] Source: https://atoday.org/kenyan-high-court-judge-urges-prayer-and-out-of-court-mediation-as-gc-sues-nairobi-cosmopolitan-conference/
Real Learning
Thursday’s section of this week’s Sabbath School lesson asks the question, “In what ways, even today, might we need to unlearn a lot of what we have been taught from the world?”
When Jesus was telling Nicodemus in John 3:1-17 that he needed to be born again, I believe Jesus was including being re-educated. Nicodemus had a lot to unlearn. He had worked hard to get where he was by his own efforts to reach the standards of man which were built upon the traditions of man. This is why Jesus wanted Nicodemus to be born again –that he could be taught the ways of God by God instead of the traditions of men by men . God was well aware of the power of tradition in that day, which is why God ordained that John the Baptist would not be taught in the schools of his day.
In the natural order of things, the son of Zacharias would have been educated for the priesthood. But the training of the rabbinical schools would have unfitted him for his work. God did not send him to the teachers of theology to learn how to interpret the Scriptures. He called him to the desert, that he might learn of nature and nature’s God. –Ellen White, Desire of Ages, Page 101
I am a big believer and supporter of our Seventh-day Adventist Christian schools, kindergarten through seminary. I attended Adventist schools from first grade into college. I have taught Bible classes, presented week of prayers and chapel services, and have been a teacher’s aide and substitute teacher in our schools for about 30 years. I have also given my own money to help pay the tuition for financially struggling families. I share this only so that you will understand I mean our schools no disservice by what I am going to write next.
Image © Sally Weimer from GoodSalt.com
I can go through all my Adventist grade school and high school yearbooks, and in all the yearbooks combined I will find a handful of students who are in the church today. Those of us who are in the church today have something in common other than going to an Adventist school. We had family worship at home. We were taught at home by the most powerful teachers and pastors in our lives – our parents. As much as I love, support and enjoy being a part of the Adventist educational system, I cringe when on education Sabbaths, the preacher credits the school for people like myself remaining in the church. That credit belongs to my parents who showed me Jesus at home and taught me to have family worship as well as my own personal Bible study time even as a child. Now I would not have dedicated so much of my time and money if I did not believe in the importance of Adventist Christian education, but I also am afraid that we give our schools the credit that belongs to parents.
I believe one of the things we need to unlearn as a society is that all education takes place in a formal school. We need to learn the difference between having a diploma or degree and having an education. There are people without diplomas or degrees who are educated, and there are people with diplomas and degrees who are not educated. For example, I was talking to a friend who attended a university in Florida while a future famous pro athlete was attending who will not be named here. My friend told me while the athlete got his degree he was never seen on campus. He was never seen anywhere besides the football stadium.
While I did go to college and can say I am college educated, I did not finish my degree. I have worked with Adventist pastors who ,when we would have a slight difference of theological opinion, would mention their degree as though that gave more merit to their opinion. Some have mentioned their degree, implying it automatically trumped my understanding of the Bible. In other words, having a degree made them automatically right and me automatically wrong. Fortunately these situations have been very few and far between. Much more often, when I have friendly “debates” or minor disagreements with people who have their master’s degree in theology, they never once mention their degree, but reason with me using the Bible and the Bible alone. They understand their degree does not make them automatically right. They reason with me from Scripture as something we both are familiar with, and we are on equal ground, both standing on the Word of God.
Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to man in the place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors, to professors of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves. Then, by controlling the minds of these leaders, he can influence the multitudes according to his will. –Ellen White, The Great Controversy, Page 595
Recently, a pastor friend, who graduated with his Masters of Divinity from Andrews University called me to see if his understanding on a passage in Revelation was correct. Even though he has his master’s in theology and I have no degree at all, I could tell in our conversation that he had great appreciation for my understanding of Scripture, so much so that he was asking me if he was right. While it does not happen every day, it was not the first time or the last. In 2 Corinthians 11:16 Paul admitted he was boasting a little for a purpose. If it sounds like I am boasting that some pastors from Andrews University call me for theological advice, it is only to make this point. You can be educated without having a formal degree. Like Nicodemus had to learn, we have to learn to stand on the Word of God and not our formal degrees.
I want to close by thanking my Adventist grade school and high school teachers who encouraged me as a child to be a Gospel Worker for Jesus and who even now encourage me and even financially support my ministry. There are too many to mention, but they know who they are, as I still communicate with them regularly. While I did not finish college, I will always be indebted to my professors, especially to the late Jan Haluska, who was my composition teacher. I love writing, and the writing skills he taught me have no doubt been the most practical skills that I have used daily throughout my life and ministry.
Amen!
(8)
(8) Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/sG1Dkbw_iFM/
Ontario Conference Campmeeting Celebrates 120 Years
Did you
know that the Ontario Conference traces its origins 120 years back to a
campmeeting held June 15, 1899, in London, Ont.? And at this year’s
campmeeting, held at the International Centre in Mississauga on June 8, 2019,
over 10,000 in-person and online attendees celebrated our conference’s rich
history and continued mission.
Before the midday service, thanks to
a newly released 120th-anniversary video, attendees went on a virtual tour looking
at places that have helped shape us into one of the most diverse conferences in
North America; these sites included London and Toronto (former headquarters),
and Oshawa, our current headquarters. Attendees were inspired to build on the
foundation set by pioneers like Hiram Edson and Joseph Bates in Ontario over a
century ago.
Critical to the day’s success was
the underlying message that even though we’ve come a long way—from a conference
of 500 members to nearly 34,000—we can and must do more to disciple others. In
the adult Sabbath school, for instance, a multicultural panel discussed
DiscipleShift in the home, focusing on biblical conflict management strategies
(e.g., being quick to forgive, seeking Christian counselling as needed).
Later, Fredrick Russell, immediate
past president of Allegheny West Conference, delivered powerful, interactive
messages during both the midday and evening services. At midday, he recounted
the story of the servant whose master forgave him a $100,000 debt, who then was
unmerciful to a fellow servant owing a mere $50. “Oftentimes we are Adventist
but not Christian,” Russell said, warning listeners to live a life congruent with
their stated values.
The very engaging and amiable
Russell refused to stand on the platform, and instead remained on the ground,
closer to the people. The audience was touched as he poured himself out in
ministry, one man exclaiming, “That’s deep!” as Russell spoke. Attendee Jennifer
Alvarado, reflected, “The pastor [emphasized that] we should consider, Do people see Christ in me?
And I think that’s a message we all need to hear.”
This year five pastors and one
teacher took part in the commissioning and ordination service. Bruce Boyd, the
senior pastor of College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church, urged Pastors
Sherry Augustus, Josue Manigat, Sheldon Imperio, Laurentiu Prelipcian, and
David James, as well as Ellen Bannis, teaching principal, to “motivate, inspire
and equip [all] people to be successful in their ministry.” Boyd concluded, “This
is your mission, this is your life, this is your call.”
Later, Russell focused on
Philippians 4:6, 7, encouraging visitors that as disciples of Christ, you don’t
have to toss and turn at night. Come what may, you are in total peace. Aundrea
Belnavis shared that she had been at the evening service primarily because of
her role operating her employer’s (Kingsway College’s) booth most of the day.
“I needed this,” she smiled. Attendee
Judy Rodney added, “Pastor Russell confirmed things that I’ve been going
through in my life [this week], that I need to go forward and reflect Jesus,
and be anxious for nothing.”
Yet again, actors and musicians from
across the conference—including a multi-ethnic choir and recording artists
Tiffany Campbell-Dailey and Norwill Simmons—added a unique touch to the
traditional midday service elements. In dramatic segments, the main characters
(male and female) depicted our natural resistance to God’s call. In the end,
the voice of God (portrayed by James Rooney, Camp Frenda director), assured
them—and the audience—“Come to me, and I’ll do the rest.”
Following the same theme as the
adults, teen speakers—Alvea Hurlington, Luke Charles and David Machuca—shared
the challenges and joys of discipleship, particularly urging young people to
work together to reach others for Christ. For the young adults, Tacyana Nixon,
currently a Master of Divinity student at Andrews University, made
the gospel relevant with biblical and personal examples. “Pastor Tacyana
reminded us that God is a personal God [who] cares about the small issues that
affect our lives. Whether it’s losing our keys or studying for a test, God
cares,” said attendee Tristan Mignott of Ottawa East Church.
In their section, children were also
encouraged to reflect on what it means to be a disciple. For instance, older
children engaged in small group discussions on discipleship led by
facilitators, answering questions such as, “What does discipleship look like to
you? What are some ways that you think will make more disciples?” Other
highlights for children included puppet shows, crafts, and singspiration. For
many children, it was also a time of fellowship. Jayline Thompson, age 7,
stated, “I felt happy and excited to meet my old friends from church.”
Throughout the day, the 2019 Campmeeting
incorporated both contemplative moments and calls to action; for instance, the
youth and adult sections featured prayer walls. Similarly, a needs board in the
adults’ section offered visitors a tangible way to serve at the conference and
local church levels. Then, in the third year of the Compassion Initiative,
youth and young adults were motivated to be the hands and feet of Jesus as they
distributed care packages and ministered to the local community.
Zachary
Padyachy (from Sarnia church), who worked with Compassion, summed up, “My
favourite part [of Campmeeting] was meeting new people and building God-centred
friendships. Seeing young people who are passionate about Christ and ministry
is always an uplifting experience.”
-Christelle Agboka, Ontario Conference
Source: https://adventistmessenger.ca/features/ontario-conference-campmeeting-celebrates-120-years
Australian $1 Coin to Feature Adventist Cereal Brand
1 October 2019 | The Adventist-made breakfast cereal Weet-Bix is getting its own $1 coin in Australia. The cereal, produced by the Adventist denomination’s Sanitarium health food brand, joins a series of other $1 coins that are named after a number of things that the Australia Post and the Royal Australia Mint call an “iconic […] Source: https://atoday.org/australian-1-coin-to-feature-adventist-cereal-brand/
