June 2021
Newsletter
From the Desk of the Superintendent
Greetings Praise God for his promise of a soon return! The saying, "maybe Today" seems more accurate than ever.

I recently visited the Mayflower in Plymouth, MA, and had a great time learning about the missionary journey of the Pilgrims. I was also able to take my daughter Lauren to Boston for a school field trip where we spent two days traveling the Freedom Trail. We stopped at Bunker Hill, Old Ironsides, the Boston Massacre, the shoe shop where D.L. Moody accepted Christ, Paul Revere's House, Faneuil Hall, T.D. Garden and Boston Common. It was great to visit these significant historical sights, and see the places we have so often read about. Someday the great event of Christ's Return will be more than something we have simply read about. It will be something we actually lived through and it will carry so much more meaning for us.

There are many things going on within the Region. Some camps are meeting and some are not. I have three young adults who are serving as counselors for the whole summer. Darin Twitchell from Rochester, NH; Kristin Latimore from Torrington, CT; and Westley Loignon from Dayton, ME. It is great to be training them for ministry and being in relationship with them.

I have been working with a number of churches to find guest speakers for them and to search for Pastoral help. I have been serving Pittsfield, NH, Ashland, ME, Farmington, NH, and Windham, ME.

The prayer ministry is going well, we have 3 Summer Leadership Development courses meeting and plans for the fall Convention are coming together well.

"Father, cause our manner of life to be worthy of the Gospel standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith, and not frightened in anything by our opponents. Amen."


Grace,

Greg
Campmeetings
Sports and Music Camp

June 27 - July 3

www.sportsandmusiccamp.org
Senior Camp - July 11-16
Intermediate Camp - July 18-23
Junior Camp - 25-30
Family Camp - July 24 - August 1

www.lakesidecamp.org
Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
Camp MACC July 4-9
Teen Camp - July 11-16
Junior Camp - July 18-25

www.maccma.net
Subject to change
Senior Camp - July 11-16
Intermediate Camp - July 18-23
Junior Camp - July 25-30

www.nomacca.com
Junior Camp - July 25-31
Senior Camp - August 1-7
Family Camp - July 31 - August 8

www.washingtoncamp.com
Getting to know Debbie Reed, the new Eastern Region representative to ACGC. Click on the picture to watch a video interview with her.

Thank you, Deb, for your willingness to serve!
Please remember to send in Your Penny Crusade Donations. This month we are praying for the Banjara People.

Only four of every 1,000 people are Christians

Totals through June 8th.
Can you guess which church this is? The first person to email the office (secretary@aceasternregion.org) with the correct answer will receive a small prize. If this is your home church, we ask that you refrain from answering.
The May Church was Faith Evangelical Church in Melrose, MA. Sherri Calhoun from Ashland, ME was the first to guess the correct answer. She remembers visiting the church during a Northern Lights Youth Choir Tour.

Send an outside picture of your church, without the sign/name, to secretary@aceasternregion.org
Monthly Devotional Thought
There I was, standing on the beach, soaking in the beauty of the ocean, hearing the waves coming in, watching the birds dance over the water. I sensed God's presence. It was beautiful. It was peaceful. As I stood there, I felt the waves wash up over my feet then slowly go back out. Soaking all of this in, I lamented a little to the Lord, commenting that this is how I often feel about being in His presence. I am present, in awe of His beauty and peace but I just can't remain there. The feeling fades as quickly as an ocean wave returning to the sea - and with it a little of the ground beneath my feet erodes away and my standing is less secure. "What's up with this Lord?" The Lord gently spoke to me, "Cindy, often the ground you are standing on is faulty and not the bedrock that I provide." I wanted to get defensive, wanting to remind Him how I long to know Him and serve Him, so what's faulty ground? But instead, I quieted myself and waited. The Lord gently speaks, "I know your heart, Cindy. I know how you long for Me. But you are still trying to enter my presence by earning my approval. This is why it's so difficult for you." The Lord has been showing me where my beliefs have been built on the "shifting sand" of religious activities, approval seeking, and being a "good Christian woman." These sands constantly move - requiring more and more work from me to stand. My heart wants more of my Father and His purposes in my life. I yearn for "who He created me to be before I ever came to be," (Ps. 139:16 TPT) but the way I have been going about it is shifting sand - always requiring more from me in order to stand. Where there is shifting sand, the ante is always raised as I try to reach that place I long for. Where does all this striving lead? Physical, spiritual and emotion fatigue, I know because I've experienced it.

Somehow, I don't think I am the only one wrestling with these feelings. Unfortunately, in our busyness we don't take time to be honest with ourselves to be totally open before the Lord. As I sought more of Him, Abba didn't leave me without direction. The Holy Spirit has been my teacher as I go beyond the surface understanding of His Word. I have been so blessed with the teaching of the writer to the Hebrews as he talks about God's rest (Hebrews 3-4). I really began to get excited as I consider more deeply what the writer meant as he encourages us to enter that rest! I encourage you to search it out as well - you will be super blessed! I'll give you a hint though, "rest" is deeper than simply ceasing from work. In fact, Jesus rebuked the religious leaders because they had beliefs of the Sabbath rest that had also been built on those shifting sands. That week at the beach, I cried out for the Lord to bring those waves and let them wash away all those ways in which I try to enter His presence on my own merit. Then I will stand on the solid foundation of His grace and love. Only then can I truly enjoy the Lord's presence and discover the person He created me to be.

How about you? Are you trying to stand in shifting sands? Abba calls you to slow down, remain in His presence and discover who He created you to be. Look to Him, He invites you to His rest! A book that you may find helpful in your journey to that place of rest is, Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton
~Cindy Ludwick
Truth Told Blog

"Sensing a calling from God to share my faith, and recognizing an ability to communicate more widely by being online, I have started this blog." Larry Anderson

Click on Larry's picture to visit his blog site.
PROFILES IN ADVENT CHRISTIAN HISTORY
Excerpts Taken from Albert C. Johnson - AC History

There were many men with the designation of "ELDER" who were part of the early Second Advent movement and played a significant part in the preaching, teaching, and publication ministry. This is the third installment of Profiles in AC History.
Elder Southard

Elder Nathaniel Southard was another able helper in the early cause. He was a native of New Hampshire, was converted in early life and soon became devoted to reform work. In 1830, he located in Boston and became deeply interested in and an active supporter of educational, temperance and anti-slavery efforts. He was connected as editor with a weekly paper called Youth's Cabinet, which greatly aided the education of children, and for a time was acting editor of The Emancipator.
Becoming impressed with the duty to preach the gospel, he consecrated himself to that work, and a little later, hearing the message of The Advent, he examined the subject, and becoming convinced that the teaching was scriptural, he began preaching the same. In 1842, he became assistant editor of The Midnight Cry, which was published in New York City and later was editor in full serving until 1845, when failing health caused him to return to the Hills of New Hampshire, where he engaged in school teaching until his health was so recovered that he could resume preaching.

After this he removed to Providence, Rhode Island, and took the pastoral charge of the second advent church in that city. In 1850, his health failed beyond successful recovery, and two years later he fell asleep in the joyful hope of an early rising in the last day, at the coming of our Lord Jesus. In paying tribute to his memory, Sylvester Bliss said of him, "His intelligence and the judicious arrangement of literary acquirements made his services very valuable. He was ever a frim believer in the advent near, and adorned the doctrine by his life and Christian deportment. We always regarded him as the best adapted to fill the editorial chair of any man entertaining our faith."
Upcoming Events
Maranatha Conference 2021 Year of Bible Interpretation and Exposition continues on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 1-4 p.m. There is no cost for these sessions. Click the link below to register or read more about this event.
Click on Willie's picture to visit his website for upcoming events.
Eastern Regional Online Convention Oct. 22-23
THEME: Jesus in the Old Testament
VERSE: Genesis 22:16-18; John 5:28-29
SPEAKER: Dr. Jim Critchlow
COST: $20
Dr. Jim Critchlow
Assistant Professor of Biblical Languages - Gordon Conwell

Dr. Critchlow came to his current position at Gordon-Cornwell after having worked as an adjunct professor at Gordon-Conwell and Bethel Seminary of the East since 2005. His other academic experience includes working as a teaching fellow at Gordon-Conwell and assisting in the archaeological dig at Robinson's Arch at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Before entering academics, Dr. Critchlow spent 20 years in the U.S. Army in a variety of leadership roles. He was deployed to a number of countries, including Germany, Iraq, Bosnia and Korea, and served his last two years as the Special Operations Command Manager at the Pentagon.

While in the army, he served as a Bible study leader, Sunday School teacher and local representative for the Officer's Christian Fellowship. Since leaving the army, he has been ordained in the Conservative Baptist Association and has served as a pastor/deacon at churches in Montana, New Hampshire and Scotland. Currently, he serves as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at True Memorial Baptist Church, Rochester, NH.

Dr. Critchlow's scholarly interests include the early monarchy of Israel and Judah, prophets and poetry in the 8th to 5th centuries B.C. and the exile of Judah to Babylon. He prefers teaching Greek and Hebrew to students who have struggled with languages in the past.

His personal interests include cycling, racquetball and discipling young believers in Christ.
Previous copies of the monthly newsletter and the 2020 Convention are on our website.

Have a mobile phone? You can now give to the Region through Venmo!
Online Prayer Meeting Fridays from 12-1 p.m.

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. John Jones, Treasurer - pastorjoj@gmail.com
Rev. Doug Tourgee, Heritage Conf. President - dougin401@aol.com
Maine State Conf. Representative -
Rev. Josh Rice, Maranatha Conf. President - jrice@emmanuelacc.net
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
Mrs. Deb Reed, ERA Representative to ACGC - deborahjoreed@yahoo.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