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Best Practices
July 14, 2010
John MiltonWhen I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask; But patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."
 - John Milton, on his blindness
IN THIS ISSUE
Meeting Dan Jackson
Media: Stained Glass
News & ideas: Religious people are less anxious
Quote: "If everything is under control, you're not going fast enough."
News & ideas: NC6 speakers
Impact Atlanta
Leadership
Dan JacksonRecently, Dave Gemmell had the chance to talk with our new NAD president Dan Jackson.

Dave Gemmell: I believe that the most influential position in the North American Division is the pastor. I was just wondering how you see that role in the North American Division, and if you had any words of encouragement to pastors.
 
Dan Jackson: I was a pastor for 26 years and some of the greatest privileges in my life came to me as a pastor. As I reflect back on my life as a pastor, I had a great time with people. The pastor is the foundation, along with teachers, of what we do in our work. They are the foundation. There's no debating it

You know, I remember the transition from pastor to administrator because about six months after I was elected as a president someone walked up behind me one day and said "You're nothing but a dirty sleazy politician." I couldn't believe it because I had never experienced that as a pastor.

All that we do needs to focus on what happens when the gospel hits the ground. And who is the one who really mediates that on a local level? The pastor. We need to get more assistance to our pastors to enable them to take the training role in the local church. It's my belief that we're running out of resources and that we need to do what God invited us to do through Ellen White, who said the church ought to be a training center. We need to do what we can to formalize that, but we don't do that and won't do that by shooting at pastors saying you're not doing the right job.

Our pastors are really the leaders of the church when it comes to it. We have this organizational pyramid and I've seen it, and so have you, where it's been turned upside down. The real emphasis is on the pastor and it needs to be.

So my encouragement to pastors is that the era of the greatest preaching and teaching in the history of the church is still to happen. And who does that focus on? Our pastors. Pastors need to be the greatest preachers that we've ever seen, the greatest personal workers and the greatest trainers, and we need to do all that we can to facilitate that calling so that by God's grace they can feel fulfilled and be a fulfillment of what God wants for them.
Featured Media
This chapter of the Stained Glass church documentary series features Oakland Grand avenue's homeless ministry as the most unlikely cast of believers tackle this problem head on. Watch as they encounter more problems within themselves than on the streets of Oakland and discover that ministry with the homeless is extremely demanding and complex.

Many young adults are saying "Religion? No thanks. I'd rather be spiritual than religious." But their departure from religion is at the very same time a departure from its rich treasures of community, insight, art, practice, organized action, and hard lessons. Without religion, people find themselves isolated, incoherent, and naïve on their spiritual journey. Ordained Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Samir Selmanovic told of his journey of faith at the 2009 Conference on Innovation. Click here to watch his testimony of a thrilling exploration of a redeeming, dynamic, and radically different way of treasuring one's own religion while discovering God, goodness, and grace in others and in their traditions. Samir is the author of a groundbreaking book entitled It's Really All About God.

Nominations are being accepted for the 2010 NAD Innovative Church of the Year. The North American Division Church Resource Center is looking for a church that has successfully taken advantage of opportunities in a changing society with new ways of doing ministry. A cash prize of $2,000 and an all expense paid trip for three individuals to the National Conference on Innovation will be awarded to the winning congregation. Conference administrators, pastors, and lay leaders are invited to fill out an application that can be downloaded here and return it to Dave Gemmell at dave@vervent.org. The deadline for nominations is August 16.

Reading for Pastors

  • Monte Sahlin points out this article in the New York Times, that praises ADRA. Monte writes that this article "held up ADRA as the NGO that is doing things right and moving most rapidly and effectively to get people into homes. This will be read by many times more people than heard about events in Atlanta."
  • According to a recent study at the University of Toronto, religious people are less anxious than others. Quote: ""Religion offers an interpretative framework to understand the world. It lets you know when to act, how to act, and what to do in specific situation. It provides a kind of blueprint on how to interact with the world."
  • Greg Laurie: We're just no good at evangelism. Quote: "Far too often we don't know how to cross over [to our culture]. Far too many Christians today are unnecessarily offensive, hopelessly lame, and generally inept at communicating,"
  • Ministry in the workplace: more companies are supplying chaplains to minister to their employees.Quote: "Although membership in churches and other religious organizations has been falling for years, 71% of U.S. adults say they have developed their own slate of religious beliefs, rather than accepting the tenets of a particular faith or religious group."
  • Presbyterian Church USA membership is half of what it was at its peak. Quote: "Presbyterians are hardly alone, with historic American Protestant denominations losing millions of members in recent decades.... Some explain the losses in the American church by citing the low birth rates and aging ranks of their largely non-Hispanic white membership. The median age of Presbyterians is 61. Others cite liberal trends in theology, sexuality and politics."
To the Point
Morality turns on whether the pleasure precedes or follows the pain.
 - Samuel Butler

Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so. Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.
 - Henry David Thoreau

The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.
 - Elizabeth Taylor

Any great truth can -- and eventually will -- be expressed as a cliche. A cliche is a sure and certain way to dilute an idea. For instance, my grandmother used to say, 'The black cat is always the last one off the fence.' I have no idea what she meant, but at one time, it was undoubtedly true.
 - Solomon Short

It is by universal misunderstanding that all agree. For if, by ill luck, people understood each other, they would never agree.
 - Charles Baudelaire

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion.
 - C. P. Snow

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough
 - Mario Andretti

Everyone rises to their level of incompetence.
 - Laurence J. Peter

Delusions of grandeur make me feel a lot better about myself.
 - Jane Wagner

One thing you will probably remember well is any time you forgive and forget.
 - Franklin P. Jones

Television is the first truly democratic culture - the first culture available to everybody and entirely governed by what the people want. The most terrifying thing is what people do want.
 - Clive Barnes
News, Ideas & Reminders

  • The first look at 2010's National Conference on Innovation. Speakers will be Alan Hirsch, Neil Cole, and Barbara Bradley Hagerty. Also, a new Innovation of the Year Award, for a broader array of innovations in church life. More information here.
Got a tool, resource, site, article, idea or seminar that you like a lot? Share it with us at BestPractices@ameritech.net.
Upcoming NAD Events


Do you have an event you'd like to invite NAD pastors to? Send details to BestPractices@Ameritech.net.

Family Celebration Sabbath. Jul 17, 2010, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI 49104. Phone for Family Celebration info: 269-471-6186. For more information, email: reled@andrews.edu

GODencounters 2010 SAC & CC. Sep 17, 2010 - Sep 19, 2010, Blue Ridge YMCA Assembly, 84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black Mountain, NC 28711. The South Atlantic and Carolina Conferences are happy to present GE2010 an awesome gathering of young adults aged 18-35 who are genuinely seeking a divine change in their lives. The world is full of makeovers, but the attendees of this event are looking for a transformation only GOD can offer! Come and enjoy a weekend filled with fun, fellowship and worship. Take advantage of the serene surroundings, powerful speakers and incredible group experiences as you encounter GOD. Phone: 404-792-0535 or 843-324-6771. For more information, email: thairston@southatlantic.org; karenthrower@gmail.com

Hispanic Heritage Week. Sep 19, 2010 - Sep 25, 2010, North American Division. `

K.I.D. University. Sep 26, 2010 - Sep 29, 2010, K.I.D. Center, 4829 College Drive E, Collegedale, TN 37315. Details forthcoming. Phone: 423-893-3266. For more information, email: kidcenter@southern.edu

Children's Sabbath. Oct 2, 2010, Division Wide. Visit NAD Children's Ministries website for program ideas. For more information, email: childrensministries@nad.adventist.org

National Conference on Innovation. Oct 3, 2010 - Oct 5, 2010, Embassy Suites Columbus-Dublin, 5100 Upper Metro Place, Dublin, OH 43017. A gathering of Seventh-day Adventist innovators to explore mission and ministry ideas. Includes presentations and group discussions. Featured Speakers: Alan Hirsch, Neil Cole, Barbara Bradley Hagerty, Zdravko Plantak, and Samir Selmanovic. Phone: 740-397-4665 x165. For more information, email: information@ohioadventist.org

Children's Ministries Training. Oct 7, 2010 - Oct 10, 2010, Leoni Meadows Christian Retreat Center, 6100 Leoni Road, Grizzly Flats, CA 95636. North American Division training event. Phone: 301-680-6425. For more information, email: childmin@nad.adventist.org

Arminianism and Adventism. Oct 14, 2010 - Oct 17, 2010, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI . "Celebrating Our Soteriological Heritage." We will discuss the roots of Adventist understanding of salvation as found in 17th century Arminianism and in Wesleyan thought. Top scholars will explore issues relating to a biblical understanding of human nature, free will, God's grace, atonement and predestination. Phone: 269-471-3607. For more information, email: arminiansymposium@gmail.com

Society of Adventist Communicators Convention. Oct 14, 2010 - Oct 16, 2010, Hyatt Regency Rochester, 125 E Main Street, Rochester, NY 14604. A convention where students, beginning communicators, and seasoned professionals will have the opportunity to share ideas as well as participate in fields trips, workshops, networking, and inspirational worships. Keynote speaker is Phil Cooke, PhD from "Christianity Today." More details coming. Phone: 301-680-6057. For more information, email: info@adventistcommunicator.org

Spirit of Prophecy Sabbath. Oct 16, 2010, Division Wide. Special materials provided.

180° Symposium 2010. Oct 18, 2010 - Oct 21, 2010, Andrews University, Chan Shun Hall, Whirlpool Room, 4185 E Campus Circle Drive, Berrien Springs, MI 49104. "Models of Youth and Young Adult Ministries." 8am-5pm. Sponsored, in part, by the Center for Youth Evangelism, this third annual symposium will bring together church and lay leaders passionate about creative ideas to spiritually engage those on public college campuses. Research papers will be presented. Phone: 800-968-8428. For more information, email: director@180symposium.org

Pathfinder Sabbath. Oct 23, 2010, Division Wide. Special materials provided.

Creation Sabbath. Oct 23, 2010, Division Wide via satellite from Andrews University. Celebration of Creation. Join Adventist scholars, leaders and fellow believers for a special Sabbath celebrating our fundamental belief in the recent six-day creation revealed in God's word. This event is sponsored by the General Conference's Faith and Science Council.
Best Practices is a Vervent publication of NAD CHURCH RESOURCE CENTER. Editor: Loren Seibold, Senior Pastor, Worthington Ohio Seventh-day Adventist Church. E-mail: Best Practices. You are free to republish pieces from Best Practices in your own newsletter or blog, with attribution to the Best Practices newsletter and the author of the piece.