From the Desk of the Superintendent
Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ and Happy New Year! I pray that you are well, and that Christ is making a difference in your life and in the lives of the people you interact with as well.
It has been about a year since we put out a Regional Newsletter and we felt that it can be a valuable tool for communication, publicity, prayer needs, and providing resources. Over the past year, we have done some significant work as a board. My responsibilities have been streamlined so that my primary focus is on building relationships with churches and providing help to those in need. Which is a good thing as we have had 2 churches go through the process of closing, the selling of property, and we have had 7 openings that I have assisted with at varying levels.
|
|
I was able to use my personal time to take a trip to India with BILD International and assist them with some leadership development projects. What an incredible, life changing experience! I was especially humbled to be able to be part of the work BILD is doing in establishing their second HUB out of 7 in the world. I would like to express my thanks to all those who helped to support me in funding this trip.
I attended the BICS commencement, the Retirement celebration for Wes and Steve, and several Conference meetings. I visited Massena, NY and Bear Point, Nova Scotia (the two most opposite extremes in the Region), as well as a host of other churches and camps over the year.
|
|
The Castle Hill Advent Christian Church decided to close after going without a Pastor for an extended time and having an aging congregation that didn't feel they had much hope for future growth. So, after giving it a good try and bathing the decision in prayer, they decided to discontinue services in the Fall of 2019 and put their assets toward a scholarship program to help those who want to study for ministry. Many people attended the final "celebration" service and many good memories were shared along with good words from area Pastors. We would also like to join with those members in praising God for many years of significant Kingdom ministry.
|
|
The Summer Ministry Team visited 4 churches and 7 camps where a lot of discipling took place and many kids made decisions for Christ. The Convention was both a challenge and a joy to put together this year. I had a great planning committee made up of Steve Brown, Josh Cheney, and Josh Rice. We were blessed to have the Waterville AC Church host the event and show us tons of hospitality in every way imaginable. There were many good comments about our speaker, and our volunteers and the Regional Board did a great job covering for me while I was having an incredible bout of back pain. It took about 5 days for the pain to subside as I took the medications the doctor prescribed and spent a lot of time flat on the floor with ice and heat. I felt terrible missing this important event, but people were very understanding, and I received many notes, cards, and words of encouragement. I am truly blessed to minister among such a loving group of people.
2019 was a great year, and I praise God for all the good work he did through us and in us as I continue to grow in my faith and relationships with others. May you be blessed in the days to come.
Grace,
Greg
|
|
CHURCH STATISTICS
Currently 7 out of 10 adults in America would call themselves “Christian” and more than six out of 10 Americans say they are “deeply spiritual.” Yet, just how deep do these labels go? Barna Group tracks the following 15 metrics related to faith, which speak to the lack of Christian identity, belief and practice.
Post-Christian: To qualify as “post-Christian”, individuals had to meet 60% or more of the following factors (9 or more). “Highly post-Christian” individuals meet 80% or more of the factors (12 or more of these 15 criteria):
• Do not believe in God Yes No
• Identify as atheist or agnostic Yes No
• Disagree that faith is important in their lives Yes No
• Have not prayed to God (in the last week). Yes No
• Have never made a commitment to Jesus Yes No
• Disagree the Bible is accurate Yes No
• Have not donated money to a church (in the last year). Yes No
• Have not attended a Christian Church (in the last year). Yes No
• Agree that Jesus committed Sins Yes No
• Do not feel a responsibility to “(share their faith).” Yes No
• Have not read the Bible (in the last week). Yes No
• Have not volunteered at church (in the past week) Yes No
• Have not attended Sunday School (in the past week) Yes No
• Have not attended religious small group (in the past week) Yes No
• Did not participate in a house church (in the last year) Yes No
Pose these questions to your congregation and/or small group. These will provide a great opportunity for teaching/discussion.
|
|
TOP 10 MOST POST CHRISTIAN CITIES IN AMERICA
1. Springfield-Holyoke, MA
2. Portland, Auburn, ME
3. Providence, RI-New Bedford, MA
4. Burlington, VT
5. Boston, MA-Manchester, NH
6. Albany-Schenectady-Toy – Troy, NY
7. Hartford-New Haven, CT
8. Rochester, NY
9. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-San Luis Obispo, CA
10. Seattle-Tacoma, WA
|
|
Monthly Devotional Thought
Christ in the Psalms part 1
New Testament authors quote the Book of Psalms more than any other Old Testament book except Isaiah (Deuteronomy has third place), echoing at least 101 of its 150 individual Psalms. Small wonder that Jesus taught his disciples about himself from the Psalms (Luke 24:27, 44-45). If we read the Psalms as Jesus' disciples did, with the Savior in our minds, we will see even more fulfillments in Jesus which are not quoted in the New Testament. Read Psalm 23, for example, and notice how Jesus best personifies the truths of each verse.
The imagery of "son of God" comes from Psalm 2:7-9, among other places, and this Psalm reappears from Matthew to Revelation (Matt. 3:17; Acts 13:33; Rev. 19:15). By the Incarnation, Jesus, who originally was greater than angels, became lower than angels to lift his people to the place of honor and glory, which God intended for humankind. This truth is announced by Psalm 8: 4-8, when read in light of Jesus Christ (Heb. 2:5-9).
Psalm 40 describes one purpose of the Incarnation - for Jesus to do God's will in a human body, then to present that perfect obedience to God on behalf of his people (Heb. 10:4-10). Psalm 69:9 mentions Jesus' consuming zeal for God's honor and purposes, and also the suffering for God's sake which Jesus endured and calls on us to endure (John 2:17; Rom. 15:3).
Edward Fudge
GRACeMAIL
|
|
Upcoming Events:
New Life Conference:
February 15th
Maranatha Conference:
April 18
Maine State Conference:
April 24-25
Heritage Conference:
April 25th
Nova Scotia Conference:
May 30th
Triennial August 9-13
Regional Convention
Oct. 22-24
|
Pastors,
It's time to fill out your annual reports!
|
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.
|
|
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
Rev. Doug Tourgee, Heritage Conf. President - riverpointac@verizon.net
Rev. David Davis, Maine State President - revdwdavis@gmail.com
Rev. Nate Hasty, Maranatha Conf. President - pastor.natehasty@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.
|
|
Eastern Regional Association
32 Four Rod Road, Rochester, NH 03867
Phone: 603-332-1412 / Fax: 603-332-1648
www.aceasternregion.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|