Volume 5 Issue 4 | July 2022

Remember the Sacrifice

From Seeing God in America

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13-14 NIV

Looking out across the rolling wooded acres of Arlington National Cemetery, with its hundreds of thousands of white stones in perfectly ordered rows, brings an assortment of emotions that are impossible to escape. Sadness. Desolation. Pride of country. Anger over so many lost young lives. The stones represent tremendous loss as well as the gift of freedom we are able to enjoy.

Arlington National Cemetery is a United States military cemetery located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. Within its 624 acres, over four hundred thousand active-duty service members, veterans, and their families have been buried. In addition to the military heroes, Arlington is also the final resting place for a select number of presidents, astronauts, senators, and Supreme Court justices. Founded during the dark days of the Civil War, the cemetery now contains the remains of military personnel from every American war — from the Revolution to Iraq and Afghanistan.

But what about those of us who have never been called upon to lay down our lives in battle? Is the whole concept of “sacrifice” something for others and not for us? No! The Lord Jesus Christ calls each of His followers to a life of sacrifice, for His sake. The apostle Paul wrote, Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

Sacrifice isn’t just some dramatic final act of heroism. Sacrifice is also laying down our privileges, benefits, and pleasures for the good of someone else. The book of Hebrews says, Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16 NIV

We may yet be called on to give up our lives on Earth for the sake of another. But in the meantime, Jesus calls us to daily follow Him by giving more attention, care, love, time, and help to others than we give to ourselves.

Lord Jesus, sometimes my sacrifices seem so small, so insignificant, compared with those who have given so very much. But my goal today is to follow You with all my heart, being ready to set aside my own plans and pleasures whenever You call me to.

Gardening at CAA

By Leah Cox, CAA 8th grader, and Thokozani Kulemeka, CAA 8th grader 

Do you know what hydroponics is? If not, it's OK. Most of the students at Columbus Adventist Academy didn’t either before this past school year, when The Ohio State University brought its hydroponics program to our school, which was introduced to us by our own Dr. Melvin Pascall. Hydroponics is growing plants in nutrient-rich water. The water flows from plant to plant through channels under the root.

We used LED lights to grow our plants. We grew plants such as bok choy, arugula, kale, basil, and onions inside our school shed using the hydroponics method. We also grew some of these plants in our school garden using the regular gardening method with soil. A few months after planting the seeds, the middle school students at CAA were able to harvest our plants and bring them home to eat.

This project benefited the entire school because it taught the students how to grow and take care of plants, both using the hydroponics method and the regular gardening method. “I really enjoyed participating in the hydroponics project!” says Kecia Oppong, an 8th grader at CAA. The program will continue next school year.

True Freedom Comes from God

Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate, reflected on the true meaning of Independence Day and asked if Americans are “free indeed” during a Sunday sermon.

Black began his sermon by recalling that on July 4, 1776, America declared freedom from Great Britain and democracy was born. As a result, Americans had the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and freedom of petition.

Yet “in spite of the marvelous freedom we have in this great land, there is still slavery in America because people are enslaved by sin, and the word of God declares if you are addicted to sin you are a slave of sin,” said Black in an In Touch Ministries special Independence Day program.

For the rest of this article, click here.

Columbus Adventist Academy’s

Eighth-Grade Class Trip

1: Sharon Bowen, Christine Catlipp, Emmanuela Francique, Joydeana Harris-Crawford, Greer Harrison 2: Journie Blackford 4: Donald Harper 5: Themba Makapela Jr., Anidra Nious, Cheryl Patterson 7: Terrance Campbell, Gloria Harris, Alexis Stepney, Florence Taylor 8: Leonard Hawley, Tavia Kelley, Shawn Robinson, Deborah Williams 9: Anelise Jenkins 10: Karen Dawson, David Revels 11: Harriett Harmon 13: Donald Cantrell Sr., Robert Whitner, Lauren Wright 14: Josiah Oyortey 16: Leslye Stockling 19: Endia Scott Menefee 20: Alberta Sullivan 21: Welma Sutton 23: Melissa Desir, Jordan Green 25: Alayna Crawford, Mary Lewis 26: Idowu Kilanko, Kimberley Lewis 28: Leola Truesdale 29: Leland Scott III

💖 Happy 20th anniversary to Holly and Leonette Hollingsworth,

Happy 25th anniversary to Sean and Barbara Maycock, and

Happy 45th Anniversary to Donald and Aleta Cantrell! 💖

Did we miss your July birthday or anniversary? Let us know by emailing announce@ephesus-sda.com.