From the Desk of the Superintendent |
|
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is so good to be your brother in the Lord and to be a part of the Advent Christian family. What a wonderful group of people that we belong to who love Jesus and are dedicated to God's word, to proclaiming the soon coming of Christ, and of sharing the Gospel with everyone they can. We have so much to be thankful for and I am especially glad to be serving in this time when there are so many challenges for the church. While many of us would like to have a more Christian community, what greater time to live than this? When the world so desperately needs Christ. When the challenges are greater than ever before in our world. An when the return of the Lord seems especially close.
As we consider all of the fulfillment of scripture in these days. We have much to be in prayer about. . I hope that you will sign up for the prayer chain and could join us in prayer every Friday at 12 and if not, at least receive the prayer need bulletin. Make it available to your church or to yourself, to be praying for one another. One of the big prayer needs we have right now is for our camps. As they wait for governors to make decisions. As to the restrictions that will be in place for the summer. And whether or not our young people will have opportunity to go to camp. And how much staff to hire? And how camps will be able to afford to continue running after not meeting last summer. So please join us in prayer for that.
The convention plans are coming together. And the regional board will be meeting next month where we will try to finalize some of those plans. At this point we will be meeting on October 22nd and 23rd with teaching, celebrating, recognitions, and some wonderful music planned for Friday night and early Saturday morning. With reports interspersed and business taking place on Saturday prior to lunch. We hope that you'll put that on your calendar and plan to be there for that.
We have much to celebrate as it seems many of our churches have gone back to meeting together, that donations have been good for churches, denominational giving, penny crusade, and that needs are being met. I’d like to point out also that donations for the regional leadership development have been coming in. We had a goal of $6000, of which we have received $5,200. And we would like to reach a goal of $800 more towards that where we will utilize Antioch School material, plan retreats, and some scholarships for degree students to train people in Ministry, to see their leaders equipped and for young pastors being taught. Choosing to take either a course here or there or to earn some type of certificate or degree. I'd also like to thank everyone who has filled out their pastoral and church reports. Our numbers are doing well there with just a few left to be filled out, and if you still need to fill out your paperwork, please get that turned in so that we can have 100% participation in the reporting process this year. The Lord has been good and providing us with many pastoral leaders for our churches with just a small number that still need to be filled and we're praying and searching for God's choice in each of those. Finding people who would be just the right fit for those church situations and needs.
Please remember that you are a part of the team. You're not just along for the ride, but you are an Important part of the Body of Christ and each part has a responsibility. We're all called to serve the Lord and not just benefit from the work of the church, but to take part in it. I want to leave you with that challenge and encourage you to be prayer warriors, be evangelists, be servants and disciple makers in your churches. And find out how you can serve the greater body across the Region. Remembering that our Vision is to be a Growing Network of Healthy Churches of Christ that we are a part of here in the Eastern region and beyond. Thank you for your prayers and your participation.
God bless,
Greg
|
|
Getting to know John Jones, the new treasurer for the Eastern Region. Click on his picture to watch a video interview with him.
Thank you, John, for serving in this way!
|
|
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CAMPAIGN |
|
|
|
We are raising money to invest in Leadership Development within the Region. $5,200 has been raised. Our goal is $6,000. This will provide money toward:
~Funding for Leadership Development training in Summer and Fall of 2021
~Scholarships for AC students doing Antioch degree work
~Underwriting attendance for Training Event Costs
|
|
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 April Church was Whitefield Christian Church in Whitefield, NH. Bryce Whiting was the first to guess the correct answer.
Send an outside picture of your church, without the sign/name, to secretary@aceasternregion.org
|
|
Monthly Devotional Thought |
|
I love listening to music, at my house it is on all the time. One day I realized there was a common theme in the Contemporary Christian music of today: shame. Oh, there are many other topics such as victory, love, forgiveness, but somewhere in the midst of these lyrics, shame comes up in one way or another. Why shame? It is because we all inherently understand shame, we have all experienced it personally - and deeply. Our culture right now is all about shaming others. We see people being "cancelled," a manner of shame that intimidates people to agree with changing values or else lose careers, friends, and status. Shame is very powerful for these unfortunate people; many don't have the tools needed to stand against it. We, too, experience shame in our everyday lives, often unintentionally, but it is still brought on by those around us. Even a casual passer-by may attempt to cause shame through a look, a gesture, a honk of the horn. Shame doesn't just come from others though; it is also intrinsic. We all have narratives that we tell ourselves that are shame-based and control us. Shame is a powerful driver, daily influencing every aspect of our lives.
Yet, shame is not of God. Shame seeks to tear down; God seeks to build up and set us free from its message. Think about it, where did we first see shame in the scripture? It is found even before the fall! Genesis 2 says that Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed. Why that word? I mean, why not they were naked and perfect? Or naked and happy? Why naked and unashamed? I think it is a harbinger of something that was yet to come in the story.
Adam and Eve were living in perfect communion with God and experienced happiness, communion, EVERYTHING was good! God put Adam in charge of naming all the animals. I don't believe Adam was ashamed when God belly laughed over some of his choices. Eve stood naked and felt no shame. Completely vulnerable and absolutely okay with it. There was complete acceptance from God and each other. They had no experience with shame until...(enter creepy music here) the serpent. We know that he deceived Eve, but it was deeper than a blatant lie - it was a lie meant to shame her. You see, shame is a feeling word, he caused her to feel she was less than, that she was missing out - she trusted her feelings and acted on the lie. Shame influenced her to sin and gained even greater power in their lives. It was so palpable that they hid from God - the only One who could deliver them from their shame.
Satan uses that very same driver in all our interactions today, and we continue to live under its influence. In taking a "shame inventory" of my own life, I'm amazed at the many ways that I allowed shame to influence me. I wonder what life would be like if shame no longer controlled us. What would evangelism look like today? I have a serious question for you: If you really believed that you are fully known and completely loved by God, how different would your life be today? The simple truth is, the enemy of our souls uses shame to push the lie over what Our Father says - and he is VERY successful with this tool. Now more than ever we need to expose shame for what it is, a lie. As leaders of God's people, we need to teach those in the church about the powerful tool of the enemy and how to stand against it - but to do that we need to apply this to ourselves first. Pay attention to how shame influences your life - then determine to take God at His Word! Take your shame to Him and let Him tell you the truth. We are in for an incredible move of God if we are willing to take Him at His Word. I just cannot wait to see what God will do!
For more on shame listen to Curt Thompson, "Vulnerability Reframed" found on You Tube.
~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.
|
|
Sylvester Bliss
Among the leaders, Sylvester Bliss should also be named. He was a lay member of the Congregational Church of Hartford, Connecticut, who soon became known as a young man of more than ordinary ability and having become awakened to the subject of Christ coming, he investigated it thoroughly. He was fully convinced of the great truths underlying the message which was being preached. He was liberally educated, with fine ability for critical examination of theological questions. He gave special attention to the books, sermons, and papers which contained the writings of the chief opposers and zealously reviewed the works of several of these writers, such as the lectures of Dr. N. Colver, written against the views of Miller, the sermon of Reverend O. E. Dagit, the works of Dr. Weeks, and Dr. Jarvis, and also that of Professor Sandborn who denied the personal advent of Christ.
In writing a few articles for the columns of The Signs of the Times, his gifts and qualifications were so manifest to the managers of the paper, that his services were secured as an assistant editor and he entered on that relation in November 1842, continuing for several years and then became editor of the paper, and also, business agent of the publisher, and sustained this relation until his death in 1863, making an editorial service of 20 years. Meanwhile, the name of the paper was changed to the Advent Herald.
He was not only an able supporter of the premillennial cause, but also a member of the Historical and Genealogical societies of Boston, and for many years an occasional contributor to the columns of the Hartford and Boston papers. Mr. Bliss was considered a devout, conscientious Christian, an able theologian, good logician and, very reliable in his references to authors and history. He was widely loved for his Christian integrity, faithful labors, and brotherly fellowship in the work of the gospel.
|
|
Elder Hale
Another of the chief early leaders was Elder Apollos Hale of the Methodist connection and a very acceptable minister of that body. Having become much interested in the advent teaching, he decided in 1842 to fully engage in preaching the message. He was a scholar, a deep thinker, a careful, critical and able writer, being noted for logic and clearness of point, and these traits also characterized his preaching. Beside his work in New England he assisted Elder J. Lich in the meetings held in Philadelphia, and labored with much blessing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and vicinity, where a work was wrought which was long remembered. He was secretary of the first Advent Camp Meeting held in the States and was connected in an official way with other such meetings, with conferences and other public efforts to extend work. For several years he was associate editor of The Signs of the Times, later called the Advent Herald, and contributed many valuable articles and reviews on the most vital subjects connected with the Advent teaching. It is said that he designed several of the symbolic charts that were used by those who were lecturing on the prophecies. He also wrote a number of pamphlets, and in various ways was an effective worker.
|
|
Maranatha Conference 2021 Year of Bible Interpretation and Exposition continues on June 19th 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. |
|
Unleashing the Power of Prayer Tea - Silver Fountain Inn
WHEN
Saturday, May 22nd, 1-5 pm
WHERE
103 Silver Street
Dover, NH
Scripture tells us, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16 Why, then, do so many believers feel as though their prayers are powerless and ineffective?
Join Debbie Haddix and Sherry Schumann as they examine hindrances that weaken our prayer life.
Special Tea Talk - Ann Kohl on The Healing Power of Herbal Tea
|
|
Eastern Regional Online Convention Oct. 22-23 |
|
Online Clergy Workshop:
Clergy as First Responders to the Military/Veteran Population
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Online via Zoom Videoconferencing
Cost: $20
|
|
This is your last chance to register for the Summer Leadership classes.
Encyclicals with Mike Neigh Mondays 7-8:30
Paradigm Papers with Greg Twitchell Wednesdays 7-8:30
Acts with Mike Neigh Sundays 6:30-8
Contact the Regional Office to register for a class.
|
|
The Way of Christ and His Apostles |
|
John Maxwell has said many times, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” I believe that there is a lot of truth in this, and that we need to take the development of our people seriously. We will never be able to accomplish anything of significance in ministry without increasing the number of leaders we have.
Jeff Reed has said, “The greatest need of the evangelical church world-wide seems to be that of training spiritual leaders. From Burma to Africa, from Romania to the United States, the Church is suffering from a dearth of qualified, mature spiritual leaders.”[1] Reed has traveled to Asia and the world over observing the state of the church. While there have been an incredible response to the gospel in many places, there quite often haven’t been enough trained ministers to help establish all of the new believers who have come into the churches, when there are any. We need to train millions of leaders at various levels of leadership to effectively meet the needs of the numbers of people coming into the church today. If we have to send them all away to a bible school, this will continue to be a need that we cannot meet. It will only be accomplished by training everyone in our local churches at some level to use their gifts in ministry that we will be able to meet the numbers of spiritually hungry people.
In the Lausanne Covenant, Clause 11 a number of significant church leaders came together and professed the following belief about the need for leadership development: “We confess that we have sometimes pursued church growth at the expense of church depth, and divorced evangelism from Christian nurture. We also acknowledge that some of our missions have been too slow to equip and encourage national leaders to assume their rightful responsibilities . . . In every nation and culture there should be an effective training program for pastors and laymen in doctrine, discipleship, evangelism, nurture and service. Such training programs should not rely on any stereotyped methodology but should be developed by creative local initiatives according to biblical standards.”[2] I agree with this premise. These men felt that we should be developing all leaders in the context of “local initiatives” including “national leaders” who we have felt the need to control for hundreds of years.
APPRENTICESHIP
In 2 Tim. 2:2 we see the well-known Paul Timothy Apprenticeship model described, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” After spending some 15 years learning from Paul, Timothy is passing on all that he has learned to those he has been training. However, this isn’t simply a classroom education. He is passing on the things that he has said. I imagine that this is to them directly as well as in preaching, teaching, and rebuking, admonishing, and encouraging others in the body as well. However, I believe that this also includes all that they have seen him do in ministry as he mentions, “the presence of many witnesses”. These “witnesses” would be following what they saw of Timothy’s ministry model. What they saw him do. All of this would be part of his apprenticeship of them, teaching them in such a way that they would be prepared to continue his ministry even after he is all through. I believe that this would incorporate three specific areas of training:
1. Character (heart) – They need to love the things God loves and hate the things that break God’s heart. Are they Godly in character day in and day out? This is crucial, as we see from the list of qualifications for Elders and Deacons in Timothy and Titus.
2. Ministry (hands) – These men need to be trained in how to do ministry, not just in how to sit through board meetings as many of our “leaders” do today. Can they preach and teach? Do they lead their families well? Do they utilize their gifts within the body and practice the one another’s of scripture? All of these will be important in the training process and the evaluation process to know if they are ready to step up and lead in ministry.
3. Academic (head) – I may minimize this, but it is only because we make so much of it today to the exclusion of the other two areas of preparation. It is still crucial that we have people in leadership who are knowledgeable. Do they understand the gospel, and the didache? Can they explain the scriptures to others and show them where Messiah is promised and serves as the fulfillment of God’s Covenant with man. I don’t believe that our leaders need to go away to Bible school or seminary for this level of understanding, but we need to go beyond the fill in the blank Sunday School answers that so many of our churches consider Biblical education. If this can be done adequately in the First century with no library, New Testament, or classrooms (sometimes not even literate) then this can be accomplished in our churches today if we will make the effort.
MINISTRY EXPERIENCE
I believe that it is important for everyone who is training for ministry to be involved in ministry at the same time. I like to see the following areas of development in our training:
1. Help them establish a family and get grounded in being the spiritual leader of their home.
2. Help them establish a role at work or a business where they can exercise their faith and have time for ministry.
3. Help them to understand their gifts and motivated abilities so they will know where they best fit within the life and ministry of the church family. Study the one another’s of scripture and begin exercising these.
4. Set up a Ministry practicum that has set goals, ministry parameters, oversight, beginning and ending time, and a way to evaluate what has been learned.
5. Set up a longer experience based on all that has been learned where they can begin to find their role within the body.
GRASSROOTS – Notes on the First Principles as a Leadership Development Tool
There are a number of good helps in the “Teaching the First Principles” resource. They help you to understand why the resource is set up the way it is and the logic behind the layout of the material. This is certainly not like what people are used to in your standard Sunday School courses. No fill in the blanks here, or a teacher spoon feeding you. You are taught to think for yourself and you are expected to put the work in and come prepared to interact each week. This creates thinking Christians who will remember these lessons for a lifetime instead of for a day. The goal of this material is “life long learning”. This material is foundational for everyone, but is especially useful to the grass roots level learners. Anyone at this level can grasp this material and pass it on even in an illiterate or uneducated surrounding.
· Catechetical Instruction (systematic)
· Intentional
· Systemic vs. Fragmented
· Create thinking Christians
· Uniform foundational teaching for every believer
o Kerygma
o Didache
· Biblical Theology vs. Systematic Theology
· Discussion vs. lecture based
· Bloom’s Taxonomy – Reed also utilized Blooms’s six levels of educational outcomes:
1. Recall – Recognizing facts, concepts, rules.
2. Comprehension – Understanding, capacity to express ideas in own words
3. Application – doing something with what is learned, using facts to solve new problems.
4. Analysis – Breaking down information, understanding how the parts relate to the whole.
5. Synthesis putting things together so that they fit, integrating components into a new whole/Paradigm.
6. Evaluation – Validating, evaluating the use of knowledge, judging or comparing ideas, procedures, and products.[3]
Lifelong learning
The focus is not on making bricks, but a house. Paul not only scattered seed, but tended plants to help them grow to maturity in a greenhouse. The role of care should fall to the whole body where everyone exercises the “one another’s” of scripture instead of making it someone’s job to care for us. Leadership development needs to be one of the highest priorities of the church both now and in the days to come, and it needs to come from more than just the pastor!
CONCLUSION
There is a wealth of information in the Course material! I learned so much and would like to implement everything all at once, but this is like drinking out of the proverbial “fire hydrant”. I tried to take all that I have learned and draw from all of my notes to put together these plans. Some have already been enacted and some are in process. I am entirely committed to CBTE and I am looking forward to seeing our churches develop a plan for how they can begin developing leaders. I believe that the way forward is to develop HUB’s whereby we work with networks of local churches and a strong central church that can lead the way with their knowledge of the paradigm and their human and physical resources. The majority of our churches have Pastors in their 60’s and congregations of about 40 people. It is incredibly difficult for many of these Pastors to adopt a new paradigm and they aren’t willing to put in the work to become knowledgeable enough to train others. With small congregations it is difficult to find enough people who are willing to put the work in to do the study. However, with several of these churches working together, there would be a few from each church that could come together to make a dynamic training experience. It is difficult to have so many Pastors retiring all at once, but at the same time, I believe that God has me strategically placed at this time to make a significant impact on those younger pastors coming into the denomination and a chance to restructure some things so that the concept of HUBS may have opportunity to get a fresh start.
We may be on the cusp of something great that allows us to have a fresh, un-fractured start. Or we may decide that this is a bridge too far to cross and end up closing more churches. Either way, I believe that God has a plan, and it is found in His word, if we are willing to accept it. I also believe that he is in control and that His will is going to be accomplished.
I would highly recommend having everyone in your church engage in the training process at their appropriate level. We have embraced this conceptually in our Region and have created a recognition system for those who complete various stages of development by their church, Conference, or Region along with these resources for training, I would recommend a Mentored Ministry experience as well. I believe that this will go a long way in equipping our churches to be better positioned for making disciples and multiplying churches.
[1] Reed, Jeff. “Church Based Leadership Training: A Proposal” (1988). BILD International. Ames, Iowa. pp. 97
[2] Chao, Jonathan, “Education and Leadership” from The New Face of Evangelicalism: An International Symposium on the Lausanne Covenant. Intervarsity Press. Downers Grove. pp. 192
[3] Reed, Jeff. Teaching the First Principles, (2003). Learncorp Resources. pp. 35
|
|
Pastor and Church Reports. Let's try to be at 100% for the next newsletter. |
Pastor Reports Received:
Heritage: 80%
Maine: 79%
Maranatha: 42%
New Life: 76%
New York: 100%
Nova Scotia: 100%
|
Church reports received:
Heritage: 73%
Maine: 43%
Maranatha: 28%
New Life: 60%
New York: 100%
Nova Scotia: 100%
|
Have a mobile phone? You can now give to the Region through Venmo!
|
|
Online Prayer Meeting Fridays from 12-1 p.m. |
Previous copies of the monthly newsletter and the 2020 Convention are on our website.
|
|
STATISTICS ACCORDING TO LIFEWAY RESEARCH
These statistics are prior to Covid
|
|
55% of churchgoers have not shared the gospel in the past 6 months |
|
79% of Pastors believe that their church will grow in the next 5 years.
Over the past two years, 6 in 10 churches are plateaued or declining.
69% of Americans say religious leaders act unethically at least some of the time.
Only 47% of people say they actually want their pastors' influence in their lives.
65% of Protestant churchgoers say they can walk with God without other believers.
39% say spiritual matters come up as a normal part of their daily conversations with other Christians.
32% of Christians read the Bible daily
|
|
|
"Every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus."
|
|
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
Rev. Russell Giasson, Maine State Conf. Representative - rgiasson@nb.sympatico.ca
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
