July 29, 2012

"...when someone says 'please pray for me,' they are not just saying "let's have lunch sometime." They are issuing an invitation into the depths of their lives and their humanity - and often with some urgency. And worry is not a substitute for prayer. Worry is a starting place, but not a staying place. Worry invites me into prayer. As a staying place, worry can be self-indulgent, paralyzing, draining, and controlling. When I take worry into prayer, it doesn't disappear, but it becomes smaller."
- Sybil MacBeth  Like us on Facebook
IN THIS ISSUE
Evangelism: Evangelism and Service Together
Ministry: The Third Wave of Adventist Pastors
The Record Keeper
Reading: Black women the most religious people in America
Quotes: "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."
Resources: NY13 - First major mission to the cities project
EVANGELISM AND SERVICE GO TOGETHER!

Roger Hernandez by Roger Hernandez, Ministerial Director, Southern Union

Here is a quote we know very well:

"Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me." (Ministry of Healing 143-144)

Here is quote that we don't share as often. (Hint - it follows the previous one!)

"There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit." (Ministry of Healing 143-144)

This quote bundles evangelism and service. Here are some principles to remember:

a. A service lifestyle is part of a divine expectation. It would be helpful to understand that when standing before our maker, instead of asking us to recite the eschatological timeline, God asks "what did you do about my children who needed help?" (Matthew 25:34-36)

b. A service lifestyle takes us out of our comfort zone. It's more than outreach, its reaching out. Even to those who don't look, believe, speak, or act like us. That includes our enemies! (Matthew 5:46-48)

c. A service lifestyle breaks down barriers. It's all about love, and love can indeed conquer all. When we express love, we break down preconceived concepts about the church and God. Most people, when they think about church, associate it more with asking for things than giving you things. Service goes a long way to change that perception.

Remember, there are 37 recorded miracles of Jesus in the New Testament. There is one written sermon of Jesus (Mat. 5-7). Remember the initial quote? "If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen."

Questions to ponder with your church leaders:
1. What are some creative ways your church is reaching the community?
2. If money was no object, what would you do? What project would you start?

Discuss these ideas with Roger on our Best Practices Facebook page.

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THE THIRD WAVE
Greg Brothersby Greg Brothers, pastor, Oregon Conference

Get ready for the third wave of Anglo-American Adventist pastors.

 The first-wave came right after World War II. Before that time, remember, we didn't have many pastors - just traveling evangelists to baptize new members, and departmental directors to care for the old. But when the war ended, Adventists had a lot of money in their pockets . . . and with it, they moved to the suburbs, built new churches, and hired pastors to run them.

A lot of new pastors - so many, it would be 15 years until we needed to hire more.  

The second-wave began in the mid-1960s. Like the first, it came when Adventists had a lot of money; again, we used that money to build new churches in new suburbs that needed new pastors. And once again, this second-wave was followed by a long, slow time in which not many pastors were added.

But this time, the door stayed shut for more than 30 years.

Now the second-wave is getting close to retirement; in the next ten years, says Adventist News Network, roughly half of all AAA pastors will retire. And to replace them, the church will need to hire a lot of pastors: a third-wave. Unlike the first two waves, however:
  • This wave will not be hired in a boom-time.
  • This wave will not be hired when we are building new churches.
  • No, this wave will not add to a growing number of pastors; instead, it will fill the pulpits of pastors who are retiring . . . pastors who are twice the age of their replacements.
So give some thought to this new generation of pastors. Yes, do what you can to pray for them. Mentor them. Smooth away some of the obstacles that might cause them to stumble.Like it or not, after all, a new wave of pastors is coming.

Will they be ready for us?

Discuss this with Greg on our Facebook page.

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TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF THE RECORD KEEPER

You've got to watch the pilot episode of The Record Keeper.  In my opinion this is one of the freshest depictions of Adventist theology in film that I have ever seen. But don't let be bias you. See for yourself, and then tell us what you think. The Record Keeper  is a series of short dramatic films based on Ellen White's book The Great Controversy. The 11 episode series portrays the work of the Angel named Raina who has been tasked by heaven's administration to keep record of the conflict between good and evil as it unfolds. The number of episodes where chosen to coincide with the chapters of the Great Hope, which is the abridged modern language version of the larger book and is being shared by Adventists around the world.

 

The producers would love to hear from the pastors in North America about your level of interest in seeing this series developed. They would particularly welcome comments from them on how you might use a series of 11 films like this that coordinate with the 11 chapters of The Great Hope. Watch the film. Fill out the survey. 

--Dave Gemmell 

READING FOR PASTORS
Can you speak your convictions as a Christian businessperson? Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy is finding out.

On the same topic that concerns Cathy: The Episcopal Church says yes, the Presbyterian Church says no.

Leesburg, VA continues its role as the poster city in the religious displays on public property controversy.

Who are the most religious people in America? Black women, according to this Washington Post study. Quote: "As soon as [Melanie Habwe Dickson] looked at the page, her eyes fell on a quotation from Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, a 1913 book written by Ellen G. White, a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 'For what purpose are you seeking an education? Is it not that you may relieve the suffering of humanity?'"

More (and more and more) on what I think is an overrated trend: using social media for ministry.

It's an important Jewish and Muslim rite, and a central metaphor for Christians. Now Germany has banned circumcision for religious reasons, arguing that it amounts to abuse.

Seminarians and scientists debate evolution and creation amiably and respectfully on this website.
TO THE POINT: PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY
 Trust is slow gained, fast lost, and once lost it is slower regained.
 - Stan Patterson

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
  - William Shakespeare

There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.  
 -
John Adams


I have known a vast quantity of nonsense talked about bad men not looking you in the face. Don't trust that conventional idea. Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it.
  - Charles Dickens

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much.
  - Mother Teresa of Calcutta
IDEAS, EVENTS, RESOURCES, ANNOUNCEMENTS
NAD Prayer Ministries prayer call, Wednesday, August 1.

The NY13 Satellite Evangelism and Prayer Rally
will be held Sept. 21-22 at the North Bronx Seventh-day Adventist Church. This will be aired live on Hope Church Channel and on 3ABN Network.

 All NAD pastors should save June 28-July 1, 2015 for the the largest Pastor's Convention ever to be held by the Division. The NAD Ministerial Department is planning for it to be held in Texas preceding the 2015 GC Session. Conferences are encouraged to schedule camp meeting and other events at other times in 2015 to keep from conflicting with this historic NAD wide Pastor's Convention.

 

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Best Practices for Adventist Ministry is published by NAD Ministerial. Editor:Loren Seibold . Managing Editor:  Dave Gemmell. Copyright 2012 North American Division Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. v(301) 680-6418