From the Desk of the Superintendent |
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Welcome to the Eastern Regional Newsletter
Where the news is hot – the articles are insightful –
and the pictures are of the people you love!
In this months opening, I use the KJV to bring out a passage in John 4 about the fields being ready for harvest, “Behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together” (John 4:35-36).
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My father was a farmer, and he knew how to watch the weather. You would plant at a certain time, and harvest various vegetables when the temperature reached a certain degree. He had a time for collecting sap, and when there were 2 nights below freezing, he could trim boughs for making wreaths. He knew how to read the seasons by what to look for in the sky, temperature, and calendar. Just as farmers know how to read the seasons, believers should know how to read the spiritual atmosphere in the world.
Just as this passage tells us, it is time for us to spend more of our efforts working in the fields, because they are ready to be harvested. Unfortunately, most believers spend more time with other believers than with un-believers. The signs of the times are clear as we see so much going on in our culture, world events, and the lives of people all around us.
Verse 36 tells us that it takes a team. It requires some to be planters and some to be harvesters. Which are you? I believe that we need to encourage the people in our churches to understand and use their gifts in the sharing of the gospel. We also need individuals to serve as Pastors, Shepherds, and Elders so that we will see more souls entering the Kingdom. “He that reapeth may rejoice together.” What a wonderful gift we receive through the cross, not to mention the gift of grace, forgiveness, and salvation that are made available to all who become believers.
Years ago, evangelists regularly preached a message that called for people to answer the call into vocational ministry. Will you preach in your churches and camps about the need we have for workers in the harvest field? We need Elders, Pastors and Leaders as much today as ever. We need people who will go into the mission field (both near and far) and proclaim the good news of Christ. As we do so, I believe that God will answer, and work on our behalf to bring many to himself.
Your servant,
Greg Twitchell
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At the Regional Convention last October, Lisa contacted us with interest in becoming the bookkeeper. After figuring out how she could do it remotely, she started training with John Jones, Missie, and Ed. She is a great asset to the team and we appreciate her willingness to use her gifts in this way. Click the link below to view the video. |
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Top 5 United Ministry contributors in Eastern Region |
Hope Church Lenox, MA
Riverpoint W. Warwick, RI
Vernon Vernon, VT
Sunshine Deer Isle, ME
Beals Beals, ME
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The Sunrise Christian Church in Big Lake, ME received 3 new members in December. |
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March 6th is being planned as the first Regional Sunday. We hope that each church will take a moment to pray for the ministry of the Region, the Regional Board, and your fellow association of churches in our church family. |
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Graduation
Heath Keniston recently graduated from Antioch School with a Bachelors degree in Ministry. Heath is pastoring CrossRoads Church in West Ossipee, NH.
Congratulations Heath!
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What's happening at your church? Send info and pictures to secretary@aceasternregion.org. |
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Annual Reports Due
We appreciate your participation!
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The annual ministerial report form has been updated. Visit the Regional website to fill out your pastor's report for 2021. |
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Click the link below to fill out the annual church report for 2021.
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Pastors Reports Received
Heritage - 7%
Maine - 17%
Maranatha - 27%
New Life - 50%
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Church Reports Received
Heritage - 0%
Maine - 14%
Maranatha - 6%
New Life - 40%
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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 January Church was Family Bible Church in Loudon, NH. Bob Kilby guessed the correct answer, however, this is Bob's home church.
Send an outside picture of your church, without the sign/name, to secretary@aceasternregion.org
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Monthly Devotional Thought |
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Greetings fellow laborers and partners in the Gospel,
Good to join you online again. I trust you are doing well. In these confusing and turbulent times, what is our priority and purpose in Preaching and in Ministry?
The heart, message, and priority of our Lord Jesus during His presence on earth centered on the Gospel. Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. This was certainly good news – great news to those who were spiritually hungry and thirsty. For three and a half years, He taught his disciples the gospel. He showed them the full extent of the gospel by dying and rising again. Jesus is the Gospel (good news). He is the good news. This is the gospel.
The Apostle Paul reminds us of the gospel. He says,
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
Paul reminds believers of the gospel that he preached. They had received the gospel. They stood for the gospel. They were saved by the gospel. The gospel became Paul’s priority and purpose in ministry. He delivered what he received “as of first importance.” The gospel in a nutshell is…
- Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scripture.
- Christ was buried.
- Christ was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
This is the same message we are to proclaim. This is our priority and purpose in ministry even in these turbulent and confusing times. As we do this faithfully, the Lord is pleased, honored, and glorified. Let’s be faithful to this message – especially to the Gospel.
Pastor Jim Caron ~ Faith Bible Church, Plainville, CT
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Truth Told Blog
RELATIONSHIP IS NOT ENOUGH
Yes, God has called us into relationship with Him and into His family, but much more than that, He has assigned us with family responsibilities.
Click on the picture to visit Larry Anderson's blog site.
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ADVENT CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE HISTORY
Massachusetts
Excerpts from Advent Christian History
By Albert C. Johnson
At the Wilbraham Campmeeting in 1856 decided action was taken in favor of "Gospel Order," the recognition of pastors and deacons, and diligent labor in all right ways to save men and to edify the church of God, which received the hearty endorsement of the entire camp. This friendly discussion and favorable action, coupled with the success of the campmeeting prompted the saying, "A brighter day is dawning in our history."
The year following Bible order was strongly and specifically advocated in the World's Crisis; it was urged that barrenness and weakness had resulted from a lack of order, and that all companies or congregations of believers should call themselves, not "bands," but churches, and should appoint, not "committees," as previously, but elders and deacons. From this time the organization of churches went forward favorably in various parts of the country.
In Boston the Chardon Street Christian Church, of which Eld. J. V. Himes was pastor at the rise of the movement, came into the Adventist ranks ready organized, as the majority accepted the faith; a minority who rejected the same withdrew and the church continued for some years a well formed and efficient force. It is said that in several other places churches came into the ranks in the same way.
In 1857 there was a church in Boston of which Eld. Miles Grant was pastor, and which, through its pastor and a committee of five called a General Conference to commence on Tuesday evening, Feb. 10, in Chapman Hall, and hold over the Lord's Day. At this conference there was preaching by Elds. Edwin Burnham, A. Ross, S. G. Matthewson, H. L. Hastings, J. Couch, and M. Batchelor. This was a season of deep and wide interest, greatly aiding and encouraging this church, and gaining the attendance of many new hearers.
Another like conference was called for March, 1858. These early efforts of this church were quite similar to the present Mid-Winter Conventions which are held by the Publication Society with the church at 160 Warren St., Boston.
An effort toward conference organization was made in Massachusetts, an informal or preliminary conference being held in Haverhill in 1852, when a plan for a conference to be composed of churches represented by delegates, was drawn up and a committee was appointed to visit the churches in the State and vicinity to show them the importance of such an organization and the functions it would exercise. This committee visited the churches, so far as possible, laboring to bring about a greater degree of brotherly affection and to promote a spirit of union and labor, advising the churches to appoint delegates and be represented at the next meeting. The committee prepared an address, which was sent to the churches, stating the object of the committee, giving the preamble of the conference, and urging the importance of its organization as a matter of necessity in order to the
SUCCESS AND STABILITY OF THE CAUSE
For the encouragement of faithful and judicious ministers, and as an aid to union of feeling, oneness of faith, and general harmony of action.
The labors of this committee took effect in Lawrence, Aug. 9, and 10, 1853, when a goodly number of delegates and ministers assembled and the constitution proposed was adopted and the conference was duly permanently organized, electing Eld. J. V. Himes, president; J. Pearson, Jr., secretary and Charles Wood, treasurer. The following churches were represented at this conference: Lawrence, Lowell, Haverhill, Worcester, Holden, North Abington, Newburyport, Salem, Westboro, Boston, also Kingston, N. H., and Providence, R. I. The second annual session of this conference was held with the church at Salem, Mass.
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Meetinghouse Village reminds active and retired AC pastors that they may stay free of charge on Sunday and Monday overnights at our Tower Memorial Suite. Other nights are available at the reduced rate of $25 per night. Availability is dependent on prior bookings and certain Covid-19 protocols. To inquire about a reservation, email info@meetinghousevillage.org.
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The New Life Conference will have its annual meeting on February 25th at the Vernon, VT church. |
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The Maranatha Conference has tentatively scheduled their annual meeting on March 26th at Calvary Bible Church in Meredith, NH. |
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The Heritage Conference annual meeting is April 23rd at Faith Evangelical Church in Melrose, MA. |
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The Maine State Conference annual meeting is scheduled for May 20-21 at the Bangor Advent Christian Church. |
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The Annual Convention is scheduled for October 21-22. More information to come as the details are worked out. |
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Click on Willie's picture to visit his website for upcoming events. |
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Seminary-level teaching brought to your local New England church in partnership with Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
We believe that as leaders and lay people in the local church are equipped (Ephesians 4), churches will thrive. These courses will be offered in area churches in two, two-day intensives starting in Sept. Visit their website to see course offerings and schedules.
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Previous copies of the monthly newsletter are on our website. |
Have a mobile phone? You can now give to the Region through Venmo!
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Online Prayer Meeting Tuesdays from 9-10 AM |
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ERA Board of Directors
Rev. George Karl, President - sumkarl@yahoo.com
Rev. Dwight Dean, Vice President - fsufandsd@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
Rev. Alan Chamberlin, Maine Conf. Vice President - polarpastor@roadrunner.com
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.
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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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