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 Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish,
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
- Thomas Moore 
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A STRANGER IN THE CASKET
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 by Loren Seibold Not infrequently I'm called to do funerals for people about whom I know little, or nothing at all. "Grandma always said that if she'd be anything, she'd be a Seventh-day Adventist," the voice on the phone says. Or "He had a great uncle he always liked out in Colorado who used to be a Seventh-day Adventist." I've always felt that the top priority for a pastor is to care for the dying and those left behind after death, no matter the quality of their connections to my church. So I generally agree to do it.
It can be a challenge. The circumstance of their introduction to me have warned me that they probably don't have a lot of spiritual resources. I do what any of you would do: try to make it as personal as possible by probing about the deceased, get them to write a history, and invite them to say something at the funeral - which has brought about some unusual moments, such as someone telling grandma's favorite dirty joke, or a story about .... read the rest here
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| SHARING THE GOOD NEWS IN THE 21ST CENTURY |
On May 21, 2013 at 1:30 pm e.s.t., we invite you to join us for a NAD Ministerial Best Practices Webinar presentation from Sung Kwon, Director of Adventist Community Services for the North American Division and Co-founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Certification Program. He will present, "Shari
ng the Good News in the 21st Century."
Because community outreach is the essence of our mission, Dr. Kwon will address why we have dualistic piety in our approach to community and church. He will focus on the essentials of community connectedness and share examples of church growth addressing these essentials. He also will share a better understanding of serving God and His people in Isaiah 58. Join us as we discuss the real essence of reaching communities around our churches.
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THE CHALLENGE OF 2ND GEN BELIEVERS
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 By Roger Hernandez
The 2nd Generation (sometimes abbreviated 2nd Gen) in immigrant churches has always been of interest to me, and it became especially real when I had teenagers of my own. I believe that, outside of death, one of the worst things that can happen to a parent is to see his or her child decide to leave the faith. Since my kids are 2nd Gen, and I want to see them in heaven, I want to do everything I can to show them Jesus, not the exit sign. 2nd Gen is commonly used for young people of Hispanic descent who are born in this country of immigrant parents, but as I am finding out, it's no different for children of West Indies, Russian, Korean, and African parents. Here are three spiritual challenges to this demographic: - Exiles in their own country. Says Daniel A. Rodriguez in his book A Future for the Latino Church, "We have always been treated as foreigners in our own countryside - exiles who never left home". The 2nd Gen isn't accepted in their ancestors' churches because ... read the rest here
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| MEDIA STRATEGY FOR NAD |
 Adventists have always taken the lead in using media to proclaim our message of hope and wholeness. From the first printing press in James White's living room to the foundational ministries of Voice of Prophecy, Faith For Today, It Is Written, Breath of Life, La Voz and Jesus 101, Adventists have been at the front of the pack in taking advantage of broadcast and print media. Now NAD is presented with fresh opportunities as new medias are becoming established. Listen to NAD president Dan Jackson and Executive Secretary Alex Bryant share some of the most recent developments in the NAD media strategy. Read the story here.
With these transitions the NAD is more eager than ever to leverage media to assist congregations with their their local mission. I invite you as a pastor help the NAD flesh out a vision of how media could help you. Take a few moments and dream up some ideas and share them in the accompanying facebook discussion. Here are some specific questions to respond to:- How can the foundational ministries sharpen their focus to serve your local congregation
- Could the NAD assist in more effectively connecting media interests with local congregation
- Could the NAD assist congregations in creating local content for their local community?
- Should NAD resources be given to creating a national brand and then connecting that brand to local congregations?
- What other ways can you think of where NAD could assist your congregation in mission?
--Dave Gemmell
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| TRANSITIONS AT NAD MINISTERIAL |
Esther Knott, part time NAD Ministerial associate and associate pastor of the Pioneer Memorial SDA Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan has accepted the invitation to serve full time as NAD Ministerial associate director and the new InMinistry Center director and with focus on continuing education through graduate studies and training, and professional growth for pastors. Read More...
 Shawn Boonstra, NAD Ministerial associate and veteran of Seventh-day Adventist media outreach and evangelism, has accepted a call to be the new speaker/director of one of radio's longest-running religious programs, The Voice of Prophecy. Boonstra says, "Working with the NAD Ministerial team has been a phenomenal experience. Read More...
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TO THE POINT: GRIEF
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I will not say, do not weep, for not all tears are an evil. - J.R.R. TolkienOnly people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them. - Leo TolstoyNo one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. - C.S. LewisWhen someone you love dies, and you're not expecting it, you don't lose her all at once; you lose her in pieces over a long time-the way the mail stops coming, and her scent fades from the pillows and even from the clothes in her closet and drawers. Gradually, you accumulate the parts of her that are gone. Just when the day comes- when there's a particular missing part that overwhelms you with the feeling that she's gone, forever-there comes another day, and another specifically missing part. - John IrvingTo weep is to make less the depth of grief. - William ShakespeareThere is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.
- Washington Irving
The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares.
- Henri Nouwen
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MANAGING THE RISKS BETWEEN PULPIT AND PEW
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 Did you miss the last Best Practices Webinar? If so you missed Arthur Blinci's presentation entitled Managing the Risks Between Pulpit and Pew:
In this litigious age, pastors deal with many challenges surrounding people, places, and things. Being aware of relational landmines and legal pitfalls is half the battle as you lead your congregations. Each year the Seventh day Adventist Church spends millions of dollars on employee issues. Arthur Blinci provides pastors with a better understanding of the risks they face on a daily basis and provides them with resources that will assist in their ministry.
The good news is that the webinar was recorded and you can view or download the video or listen to the podcast on the NAD Ministerial Webinar website.
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IDEAS, EVENTS, RESOURCES, ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Tech Webinar, Monday, May 20, 7:00 pm (Pacific Time) - Church Presentation Software: which one should I use?
Corel Presentation, Keynote, Media Shout, PreziPro, ProPresenter, PowerPoint, and more. Join Chip Dizard and Rich DuBose for this FREE Webinar. Sponsored by the Pacific Union Conference. Join us Monday, May 20, 2013, at 7 PM (Pacific Time).
"Cards for Mom and Dad", another Dan Jackson Special on The Adventist Channel and the Hope Channel. Dan Jackson, Elizabeth Talbot, Mike and Gayle Tucker, Carlton Byrd talk about their mothers.
Adventist Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary): A brief history of the Church, with photos of early pioneers, is online at
http://www.adventist.org/150/. Slide shows there can be downloaded for use in church.
The Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) Offering is scheduled for June 8. ACM develops, promotes and supports Adventist chaplaincies and serves as the ecclesiastical endorsing agency for the denomination.
From Allen Martin: "Do you love your traditions more than your children?" Barna Group President, David Kinnaman posed this poignant question to over 600 registrants attending You Lost Me. Live! this Spring, hosted by Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas. The question struck close to home as local congregations are witnessing 59% of their young adults evaporate from church life - the Adventist church not spared. Younger Generation Church has produced free downloadable resources: LIVE Next Steps video and the companion talksheet.
Previous resource links:
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Best Practices for Adventist Ministry is published by NAD Ministerial. Publisher: Ivan Williams; Managing Editor: Dave Gemmell. Copyright 2012 North American Division Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. v(301) 680-6418
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