May 21, 2015
#NADEvangelism   #NADMinisterial   #Compassion

Editorial: Who Can the Church Love? 

by Jose Cortes Jr.

Pastor Jose Cortes Jr

The ministry of Jesus was a ministry of inclusion, not exclusion, and that makes perfect sense. After all, what would be the point of dying for people and then excluding them from experiencing God's love and the opportunity of accepting His grace? Doing that would be inconsistent, not smart, and perhaps a waste of Jesus' time on earth and of His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. It is simple and Jesus knew it, you cannot save people by excluding them. Jesus was crystal clear, if He was going to have a shot at saving humanity, they needed to see His love for them. That's why He came and dwelt amongst us and became one of us.

 

I met an 18 year old, who shocked and saddened me when he unapologetically told me that he had found more evidence for Satan's existence than for God's existence in his church. When I inquired more about it, he told me a sad story, showed me two tattoos on each side of his neck and added, "no one in my church ever acknowledges me or says anything to me, they look at me funny and move on, as if I had a contagious disease, I definitely don't belong there." 

 

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Planting More SEEDS

by Tom Evans

Pastor Tom Evans

It has been 19 years since the first SEEDS Church Planting Conference was held on the campus of Andrews University in June of 1996. SEEDS was initiated in response to an alarming trend in the North American Division. New churches were not being planted and 1995 actually saw a net loss of six churches throughout the NAD. Adventism proudly identifies itself as a movement. This nomenclature is hard to justify when the tide is going in the wrong direction.

 

It is exciting to report that the tide has changed. In 1995, there were 4636 churches in the NAD. In 1997, companies started being included in the statistics with a starting number of 383.  At the end of 2014, the number of churches in the North American Division stood at 5455, with 822 companies, for a total of 6277 churches and companies. Movement is happening again!


What role has SEEDS Conferences played in this turnaround? From its inception, SEEDS has focused on vision casting, with a clear call for church planters to step forward. Literally hundreds of individuals have responded to this appeal over the years. During the first 15 years of SEEDS history, the event was held on the campus of Andrews University. Attendees returned to their local conferences with a desire to make a difference through planting churches. Some conferences developed excellent support systems to fan the flames of church planting within their territory. In other cases, aspiring church planters didn't find the encouragement they were hoping for.  

 

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SEEDS Presenters and Participants in Winnepeg

 

Adam Keating Presents at SEEDS in Winnepeg

 

SURGE - A Video Report

In our February Edition of Best Practices for Adventist Evangelism we featured a podcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell of the First Seventh-day Adventist Church in Huntsville, Alabama and Pastor Kymone Hinds of PELC Power Tools Podcast. During the podcast Pastor Snell explained the decision making process behind having a worship service to reach people on Sunday mornings. 

 

To hear the interview, click on link: http://www.pastorsleadership.org/media/


 

 

To see the SURGE Updated Video Report, click on video below:

 

SURGE CHURCH-MAY 2015
SURGE CHURCH-MAY 2015

 

What is Your Church Doing for Community Dads on Father's Day Weekend?

Dads everywhere need to be reminded, or told for the first time, in practical ways, that God loves them, that He sees them, and cares for them. God does that through us, His followers, and through His church.

 

Father's Day Weekend (June 19-21, 2015) is a special time, in which people across the North American Division territory (United States, Canada, Bermuda, Guam and Micronesia) celebrate and honor Fathers. 

 

It is a time that our church must use to show the Love of God and the Compassion of Jesus to the men who continually do so much to bless humanity. Don't let this weekend go by without doing something big for the fathers in the church, as well as for the dads in the community outside the four walls of the church. Be creative showing them the Love of God and the Compassion of Jesus. This is Evangelism.

 

North America Wants Your Articles, Photos, & Videos

In the months to come we would like to publish, celebrate, pray for, and spread what God is doing through you. North America would love to see your evangelism and outreach stories, photos, and videos.

 

Send us articles, photos, and videos of your Best Practices in Evangelism & Outreach (traditional & innovative): 

 

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Patty Crouch, Volunteer Lay Pastor of the Florida Conference Baptizes
Chris & Tinka Brannon in Perry, Florida


 

Pastors and Church Leaders of the Pacific Union Participated in Adventist West Point in San Diego, CA

 

Application and Guidelines for $120,000 Giveaway - Evangelism Shark Tank at the Called NAD Ministerial Convention - 7 Days Left - Application Deadline - May 28

A huge highlight of the Called Ministerial Convention in Austin is the Evangelism Shark Tank, which will take place at 9:00 PM every night of the Convention. During this late night program, Pastors from across North America, will be able to present their innovative Evangelism and Outreach initiatives for their churches, to a panel. A total of $120,000.00 will be awarded among for the top ideas and initiatives, as chosen by the panel. These funds will go to the churches for implementation of the initiatives presented by their Pastor at the Evangelism Shark Tank. 

For Guidelines and to fill out the application to participate in the Evangelism Shark Tank, please click here

 

REACH Columbia Union Urban Evangelism School

REACH Columbia Union Urban Evangelism School is a 12 month, college accredited program that offers immersive ministry training in the city of Philadelphia. Working incarnationally, in direct cooperation with a vibrant young adult church plant, this is a unique and exciting learning experience that you won't want to miss. For more info or to apply for the 2015-2016 Cohort, please visit: reachcolumbiaunion.org  

 

 

Transformational Evangelism Funds - Up to 50,000.00

Transformational Evangelism Funding is available for innovative, grace-oriented, and incarnational initiatives which take into account the needs of the community and involve ways to address them with the Compassion of Jesus. The funding is for initiatives proposing a sustainable cycle, and a tangible transformation of lives, rather than a one-time evangelism event. Project proposals will need to be submitted through the local Union. Applications will be accepted by NAD as long as funds are available. 

 

For more info on Transformational Evangelism and to access grant application, please click here:  Transformational Evangelism 

 

Florida Conference Volunteer Lay Pastors Ready for a
Season of Service Fueled by Compassion
In This Issue
Deep Thoughts on Evangelism, God's Grace, Compassion & Leadership


Stay connected through Facebook and up to date with what is happening in Evangelism, Outreach, and Church Planting across North America. Like our Pages and share Posts, Videos, & Photos of your Best Practices on Best Practices for Adventist Evangelism and NAD Evangelism.

 

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Let's connect and interact on Twitter. This tool can be helpful to your ministry when sharing Jesus. It will also help to influence your community, and the world. Please tag us @NADEvangelism or @ReachNAmerica when posting your Best Practices photos. Remember to use the following hashtag

#nadevangelism #nadministerial #compassion among others you may have chosen to highlight your local church or ministry

 

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Through Instagram we get to highlight our Evangelism, Outreach, and Church Growth Best Practices through photo and very short videos. Please tag us @NADEvangelism when posting your Best Practices photos. Remember to use the following hashtags #nadevangelism #nadministerial #compassion among others you may have chosen to highlight your local church or ministry. 


Best Practices for Adventist Evangelism is published by NAD Ministerial. 
Editor: Jos� Cort�s Jr.; Managing Editor:  Dave Gemmell

NAD Ministerial | 301-680-6699 | [email protected] | http://www.nadministerial.org
12501 Old Columbia Pike. Silver Spring, MD 20904

2014  North American Division Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. v(301) 680-6418