From the Desk of the President
"Thank you, pastor, for being a first responder." How many times have you heard those words? If ever, you could probably list the times on one hand. I certainly don't want to take away from the importance of the police, fire fighters, EMTs, etc. who serve us as first responders with no concern for their own safety. But there is another group who are almost always overlooked, that are also first responders, and that is pastors. For as a pastor, when there is a crisis in their church family, while others might run from the crisis, it is the pastor who runs to the people that are in need. Whether it's a death, a severe accident, a diagnosis of cancer, a miscarriage, the last breaths of life, the pastor is there. I don't know all of our pastors who serve our people in the Eastern Region, but those who I do know, I know them as people who run to their church family in times of crisis. At this time in our country we face a new challenge in regards to being a first responder. I am confident, while remaining safe, that our pastors are and will continue to respond to the needs of their church families in whatever ways possible. I want to say, "thank you for being a first responder." And those of you reading this that are not pastors, would you call or send a card (no emails or texts, this deserves better) and thank your pastor for being a first responder.
Thank you all for what you are doing for the kingdom of God!
George Karl
ERA President
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ACGC has a list of churches who are streaming their services online. On their home page, scroll down to the bottom.
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Ministry Spotlight - Vernon Green
A revolutionary model of senior care is taking shape at Vernon Homes
In operation since 1920, Vernon Homes is seeking to reinvent itself once again by creating a senior care setting that is a true, welcoming home, enabling elders to live with meaning, independence and purpose.
Plans are underway to transform the existing nursing facility, Vernon Green, into a Green House™ – a model of care pioneered by the progressive, nationally recognized organization The Green House Project. It will be the first Green House in Vermont.
Vernon Homes’ leaders have long envisioned replacing the outdated institutional model of care with this new model that provides elders who can no longer live independently the experience of home – one that is engaging, social, private and built on relationships with caregivers and peers.
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By affiliating with The Green House Project, Vernon Homes has the support of a national organization that provides guidance and resources. Because “real home” is in high demand, Vernon Homes can project reliable high occupancy and fiscal stability, which ensure ongoing improvements and expansion for the next century of award-winning quality.
Sixty elders will live in five neighborhood-style homes, each with its own living and dining area, hearth, kitchen and private bedrooms. Clinical systems will be concealed to maintain the home environment. Gone will be the hierarchical “chain of command” to give more power to nursing assistants who have a direct relationship with residents. Residents will direct their own daily schedules and preferences instead of having to fit into the institutional system.
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This Green House community in New Jersey is similar to what Vernon Homes leaders envision.
“Home” is fundamental to human well-being and purpose. Since 2003, Green House communities around the country have enabled these cherished principles. They have also enabled benefits that range from high levels of satisfaction among employees, residents and residents’ families. What’s more, employee turnover and resident medication and dietary supplement use, chronic pain and pressure ulcers are statistically lower in Green Houses.
Vernon Homes celebrates its 100th birthday in 2020, which gives a 2020-21 ground-breaking special appeal. With lots of preliminary work already done, leaders hope to keep to this timeline, as the Lord grants it.
If you or someone you know is making masks, Vernon Green is looking for donations. Please contact the Regional Office for more info.
Does your church have a ministry to your community you would like us to highlight? Send the info to the office and it may be included in a future newsletter.
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The Eastern Region's Family of Families
We'd like to introduce you to Chase Mendoza who is the Lead Elder of Hope Christian Fellowship in Charlton, MA.
Q. What is one highlight from your time growing up around Seattle, WA?
A. I loved how green it was. The scenery and the Mountains are beautiful.
Q. How did you end up moving to New England from Washington?
A. Keith Wheaton, Pastor of the West Valley AC Church at the time, encouraged me to attend BICS. I moved to Lenox, MA, in 2012, to attend BICS.
Q. What was the impact of BICS on your life?
A. BICS made an incredible impact on my life. It solidified my calling to ministry. BICS was instrumental in shaping my Christian worldview. I reflect on my time before BICS and didn't know how fragmented my worldview was. I developed a family there that is still close today. BICS was a key component in my life development.
Q. How has being a husband and new father changed your life and calling?
A. You don't notice how selfish you are until you marry. Being a husband and a father changed my focus on the joys of serving them. Being a father or husband doesn't change your calling to ministry, but it does change the way it is done.
Q. Describe key components of your philosophy of ministry.
A. A focus on developing a network of house churches, the preaching/teaching ministry at our church is dialogue based, my developmental focus is primarily on developing leaders and equipping them for their service, doing so
allows a greater influence over time.
Q. What are some goals you have for your life and ministry?
A. To raise up my family in the Lord
To get involved in Foster care and eventually adopt children
Train up younger men, investing in leadership development
Be a key resource in the planting of a network of churches
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Pittsfield, Mass. in Adventism
William Miller was born in Pittsfield, Mass. on 15 Feb 1782, the first of sixteen children born to Captain William and Paulina (Phelps) Miller. Only the first three children were born in Pittsfield. Captain Miller was active in the American Revolutionary War and his wife, Paulina was the daughter of a Baptist minister. The family moved to Low Hampton, NY in 1786. His birth here is obviously the reason for the naming of the Advent Christian Church in Pittsfield even though William was no more than four years old when the family left the state.
“The William Miller Memorial Advent Christian Church at 56 Fenn St. will be finished in Dec. 1890 and will be dedicated 1 Jan 1891. The building is 40’ x 60.’ It is thought by some to be “the most expensive, and in many respects, the finest of which we have any knowledge in the Advent body.” J. E. Cross is the pastor. He began his ministry here in April 1888. By 1892 there were more than eighty members. The building is centrally located at the juncture of two fine streets [Fenn and Willis]. Well proportioned, and with two commanding towers at the front, between which, above the gallery, is placed the Miller Memorial window, the church has a pleasing and substantial appearance without. Within it is especially attractive, and its main auditorium is one of which the most fastidious congregation might be proud. The church has quite a debt on it, but has it so placed, that it gives them no cause for anxiety. The pastor, J. E. Cross, lives at 14 Adam St.” So wrote F. L. Piper in The World’s Crisis, 3 Feb 1892, p. 3.
By 1896 the pastor was T.A. or W.A.Tuttle.
Rev. Charles H. Sweet left Sugar Hill, NH Aug. 23 1896 and began ministry in Pittsfield, Aug. 30. He was installed as pastor 22 Oct 1896. From Oct. 1897 funds were being solicited to pay off the debt with Eld. Luther Boutelle writing a major World’s Crisis article. $732.34 was raised at that time. In early winter 1898, Miles Grant presented his lectures “from the chart.” The opening service, “in a driving snow-storm,” was presented before a congregation of about 200.
Toward the end of 1899 there was held a reunion of pastors with Little of Westfield, J. E. Cross and the present pastor, Cornelius T. Pike. Still there in 1902 when his father died in Pittsfield and apparently left Apr/May 1904 with a church split. Pike, preaching a “holiness” doctrine, took forty-two members to worship in a hall. The church was left with about forty-five members and soon re-organized.
Pike was followed by Enoch Phelps, 1904-1906; George L. Young, 1906-1909; and H. E. Young, 1909-1910
Joseph Miett was the pastor in 1911 and remarked on the memorial window: “In the front of the church is a splendid memorial window, containing a likeness of the monument which marks the resting place of [William Miller.] Miett left in 1917 and was followed by L. M. Spaulding, 1917-1920 [the Spauldings went to China as missionaries in 1920] and R. S. Carleton, 1920-1921.
Walter Scott Bezanson began a ministry in Nov. 1921 and in 1924 was able to report that “for the first time in its history the church was free from debt.” $3,296. was paid. Shortly after a re-dedication of the building and evangelistic services were held, by Feb 1924. Bezanson’s pastorate was to end 27 Jul 1924.
By 1926 the building had been sold to the Jewish Temple Anshe Amonim. The Jewish folk dedicated an addition in 1951 and in the mid-1960s “the entire block was razed to build the city’s new post office.”
A residential property was purchased and “fitted up for worship.” It is not presently known if this became the church or if another church building was built or purchased, nor who the pastors may have been. Rev. George H. Stone became pastor about March 1928 and resigned as of 26 Apr 1936 having served as pastor for eight years and a month.
By 1938 a baptismal tank was installed and the church remodeled. The pastor was Rev. Clarence Baker. Merrill Barth, who helped with the work, is the son of Joseph Barth “who built the former AC Church of this city. Rev. Frank M. Fellows began his ministry in Dec., 1940
In 1945 another attempt to save the work was made and Rev. Dwight L. Campbell, with a team of workers came. Campbell was the National AC evangelist.
“Concerning Pittsfield
We came to the city of Pittsfield on Oct. 3. We printed signs, advertised in the paper, wrote news items, preached, prayed, sang and labored, night and day for twenty-five days. I usually rose about six and retired after eleven. We had 26 radio broadcasts in 25 days and 18 public services. Brother W. F. Jamison of Georgia was a grand helper. He made many contacts and did a great service with his fine voice, on the air daily, and in the hall. Miss Lottie Record did calling and put out advertising material. Miss Rubie Richardson was of much assistance at the piano in the public services and over the air.
We found a very small remnant of the former Advent Christian Church, which had owned two fine places of worship in the city, but now is homeless. Our attendance went as high as fifty or sixty local folks plus visiting Adventists, which brought the attendance near the eighty mark at times.
‘Jamie’ had to leave us on Oct. 25 to attend his Conference in Georgia. I carried on the last Saturday with the aid of Miss Richardson, with Percy Lock of Springfield leading the singing, and Stan Carey our local Radio announcer singing. We finished the crusade Sunday Evening, Oct. 28. There is a great need for a sane, spiritual Gospel work in Pittsfield. People of different denominations attended and expressed their deep regret that we were to conclude the services.
I left there with a burden for the faithful few, and a feeling that there is a great need in the Berkshires; a need which should be met. I trust you will hear of further activities in that lovely city.
Evangelist D. L. Campbell”
Messiah’s Advocate
21 Nov 1945, p. 10
This appears to have been the end of our work in Pittsfield.
But the end was not yet! In the fall of 1958 the New England School of Theology opened classes in Lenox, in a property which was purchased that the school might move from its previous location at 1710 Beacon St., Brookline, MA at the other end of the State. Out of that relocation grew the renamed school, Berkshire Christian College and its partner, Hope Church, initially meeting in Chadsey Chapel on the Lenox campus and later moving to its own property at 259 Kemble St., Lenox. Several Bible Study groups meet in Pittsfield. Also the Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies is located at 249 Kemble St. and has been for the past thirty years following the closing of Berkshire Christian College. BICS dormitories are located in Pittsfield. Sheffield Chapel in the southern Berkshires is another outpost of Advent Christendom in Berkshire County.
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In September 1958, the first freshman class to enter Berkshire Christian College in Lenox, Mass. as part of Freshman Orientation, was taken on a bus tour of the area. Our tour guide was Professor Harold Wilson. One of the stops on our tour was the Jewish synagogue at the corner of Fenn and Willis Sts. in Pittsfield. My only real memory is of looking at a stained glass window featuring an anchor. I thought then that the only reason the window had survived was that the anchor did not mean to the Jewish congregation what it meant to Christians. A cross would not have survived.
Duane E. Crabtree
On “Father” Miller’s 238
th
birthday
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Monthly Devotional Thought
Archway Through The Clouds
A diffused glow spreads across the sky, as if someone is shining a light beyond the horizon and just below it. "Diffused," I say, because this glow is neither direct nor clear. Not a typical sunrise,to be sure. Fog, perhaps, or haze. I am not wearing a watch on this early morning walk, but I judge the time to be about 6:45 am.
I try to listen to God on these walks, although my brain often has difficulty staying focused. Thoughts flash in rapid succession, thought holy and profane, significant and worthless. There must be three persons vying for attention, I think - God, Satan and myself. This morning I will try harder to ignore the latter two and hear whatever God might say.
The birds are unusually quiet. The haze must have them spooked. Or perhaps they decide to sleep in, this shrouded early morning. "What a picture of my life," I reflect. "We live in a hazy world, never seeing the future before it arrives." God gives us one day at a time. We trust him constantly for tomorrow.
I turn the corner past tall fences and shrubs that define a series of comfortable homes. Then I see it in the sky - a gigantic arch stretching from horizon to horizon! Imagine a gray rainbow without any colors, and you will picture almost exactly what I see. And as I look, another thought surfaces to my conscious mind. "An archway to the future. God knows what is ahead, although I do not, and he will always be there when I arrive."
Shortly I become aware of chirping birds and soon the haze is gone. The arch has disappeared. The sun is shining as usual. Philosophical reflections subside into the subconscious. A new day has come. I return home confident in the assurance that whatever it might bring, God will be there, too.
Edward Fudge
GRACeMAIL
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1st Quarter Financial Update
Budgeted Income : $20,000.00
Actual Income: $20,376.68
Budgeted Expenses: $28,300.00
Actual Expenses: $23,425.00
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Visit our website to make a donation online
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Previous copies of the monthly newsletter are now on our website.
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Online Prayer Meeting Fridays from 12-1 p.m.
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Your Annual Reports are valuable to the Region!
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Only 40% of churches have reported.
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New Life - 7 out of 10
Nova Scotia - 2 out of 2
Heritage - 7 out of 11
Maine - 8 out of 23
Maranatha - 3 of 21
New York - 1 of 1
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58% of Ordained Ministers, and 45% of Credentialed Pastors have reported.
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Click the link below to visit the Advent Christian Voices blog. Where Advent Christians consider the past, examine the present, and define the future of the Advent Christian Church.
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The Eastern Regional Annual Convention is October 22-24, 2020 at Blessed Hope Church in Waterville, ME.
"The Church in Crisis"
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Posting of Upcoming Events is on hold
due to the corona virus.
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FAMILY WORSHIP DURING THE CORONA VIRUS
Now is a great time to develop a habit of family worship that will continue
after the virus is done.
In Genesis we see that the final act of creation, which actually takes place after God rested is to create the family when God makes a helper for Adam. God the Father brings them together and at some point they begin having children. God had a plan and a purpose in creating the family and the relationships that go along with it.
Likewise, Jesus establishes an organism that he calls the Church, and he sets it up much like a family. In
1 Timothy 3
Paul writes to Timothy and refers to the church as the household of God. This concept of the church as a family is expounded upon in other passages like
Ephesians 5:22-6:9
where Paul writes about the responsibilities of each family member. In Titus Paul talks about the community guidelines of a church family. God’s design is for us to be a family of believers patterned after the family that God initiated.
I believe that God also intends for us to worship as families. Solomon the wisest man who ever lived, tells us, “
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
”
Proverbs 22:6
. All too often people today have left it up to the trained professionals to teach our children in Sunday School, Youth Group and Church. We feel that we need a Pastor to teach us. We even have him pray for every meal the church puts on! The truth is however that God intends for parents to be the primary disciple makers as we train up our children. In
Ephesians 6:4
Paul agrees when he says,
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
He wants the Spiritual leaders in the home to be Pastors over their families, taking care of nourishing their spiritual growth (
1 Tim. 3
).
Many don’t feel qualified, but it is our responsibility to study and grow and then pass on what we are learning from God’s word. Is it any wonder that studies show more than 80% of Christian teenagers who go off to college leave the church? We are believing that the hour or two that they spend in church each week will outweigh all the hours that they are spending on screens, in school, and in the world. Our families need to make a
BIGGER
IMPACT
on a daily basis, and here are a few recommendations from our family time to help you get started.
1. Find a time when you have the whole family gathered around each day. For us, we have found that after supper works most days. Sometimes we don’t meet every day, but even if we get together 4-5 times, I feel that it is a great benefit for our family’s spiritual development. Our
formal
gathering time with other believers is better as well since it is a time of celebration and not our only time of learning.
2. Because of our focus on the Lord, it has improved our
informal
time as well. When two or three of us get together, I will direct our conversation to spiritual things and ask the kids questions about things we have read together, or movies we have watched and how it applies to life. These informal times have provided great opportunity for growth.
3. I may be the “Spiritual Leader”, but that doesn’t mean that I have to do all the talking, reading and praying. I try hard to get everyone to participate. Sometimes that means asking beginner level questions to the younger children about the scripture lesson or allowing the teenagers the opportunity to lead the discussion or prayer time occasionally.
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4. In our gatherings we try to include the following elements.
a. Read a chapter from the Bible
b. Either journal about our insights and application from the text, or just discuss it openly.
c. Ask people to share from the text or what God has done in their day.
d. Sing a song. We have some old hymnals, or we may sing something familiar. The text is more important for us than the music as we want to dwell on Godly principals throughout our day till we meet again.
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e. We have a time of prayer. One idea is to have a white board with prayer requests that you review and pray for as a family. Someone could pray on behalf of the family or you could pray around the table with everyone participating.
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f. Speaking words of blessing. As the Shepherd of your family, I believe that it is important either formally or informally to regularly speak words of affirmation to your children and spouse. It is good to understand their love language, and how best to encourage them with words, touches, time, gifts, or acts of service that will build them up in Christ.
Acts 2:42
says, “
And they devoted themselves to the apostle teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers
.” I believe that this verse does a good job of summarizing what the believers would do as they gathered in the early days of the church. This is a simple church model and I would advocate to all of you family leaders out there that it isn’t so much about what you do, how you do it, or your Biblical training as much as it is about your commitment to regularly meet together around the scriptures, seeking God in prayer, and enjoying the presence of Holy Spirit as you invest in loving your family and growing together in Christ.
I hope that the extra time at home that some people are experiencing will provide you with the opportunity to develop this as a habit in your daily family life. May God bless you as you take on the responsibility of being the spiritual leaders of your family which makes up a small part of the Family of Families, known as the CHURCH!
-Rev. Greg Twitchell - Superintendent
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ERA Board of Directors
Rev. George Karl, President - sumkarl@yahoo.com
Rev. Frank Jewett, Vice President - frankrjewett@gmail.com
Rev. Allen Latimore, Clerk - aclatimore@netzero.net
Mr. Howie Munday, Treasurer - mundayhk77@gmail.com
Rev. Doug Tourgee, Heritage Conf. President - dougin401@aol.com
Mr. Kent Davis, Maine State Conf. Vice President - kdavis@pgagnon.com
Pastor Josh Rice, Maranatha Conf. Secretary - jrice.emmanuel@gmail.com
Rev. Derek Irvine, New Life Conf. President drick1221@gmail.com
Mr. Adam Facteau, New York Conf. President - afacteau@twcny.rr.com
Rev. Ken Perkins, Nova Scotia Conf. President - Ken.perkins@EastLink.ca
Mr. Charlie Merrill, ERA Representative to ACGC - cmerrill7967@gmail.com
Rev. Steve Lawson, ACGC Executive Director - slawson@acgc.us
The Eastern Regional Association Newsletter is published as a ministry of the Eastern Regional Association of the Advent Christian General Conference.
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Eastern Regional Association
32 Four Rod Road, Rochester, NH 03867
Phone: 603-332-1412 / Fax: 603-332-1648
www.aceasternregion.org
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