Eastern Regional Association February 2024 Newsletter

ACGC Council Meeting Highlights

As the Eastern Region Representative to ACGC, I attended the Executive Council meetings in Charlotte from February 8-10. The following are highlights from the meetings.

·        This was Justin Nash’s first meeting in his new position as Executive Director.

·        Daniel Karl did the morning devotional and shared church planting. He is involved with Redemption Community Church in Clayton, NC where he and his family will be planting a church this year. 

·        Adrian Dixon, Coordinator of Church Planting, followed with his report and informed us of three couples that will be attending an evaluation with Converge in April. ACGC is working with this organization that does church planting, and this evaluation determines if they have the qualifications for this work. 

·        Justin gave his report, and it was accepted.

·        Director of Communications – I wanted to share the heavy responsibility this department carries with all the printing and mailings. The Advent calendars sold nearly 800 sets; and the Easter devotional sold out 500 copies in a matter of days. Meredith Broadway is new in this position and plans to evaluate this department, and try to streamline in areas where she can. She’s open to any suggestions from pastors and leaders to what publications you may need for your churches. She also mentions that Donna Martin, who has been in the mail room for 20 years, will be retiring at the end of March. 

·        Finance Director Dawn Rutan reported that Penny Crusade was over budget, and United Ministries was under budget.

·        Director of World Missions, Jeff Walsh, shared that this is his 12^th year with ACGC. He reported the challenging time right now in India, as our main contact there retired at the end of the year. It will take some time to establish the banking situation in India. There is someone in this position temporarily; Jeff also shared the importance of financial support to many groups there. ACGC has been doing missionary work in India for over 100 years. Jeff shared the ongoing work in Tanzania with the Hadzabe tribe. Katherine Rybicki participated in an Explorer Mission to Japan, and she shared her experience with us. April 19-21 another explorer mission trip will be going to Ensenada, Mexico. 

·        The five superintendents’ gave their reports for each region, voted to accept.

·        Jim Lee gave the devotional on the second morning and he shared mentoring within the church. He mentored a young man who is now the senior pastor and Jim is now the associate pastor.

·        Shad Russell gave the devotional on the last morning. His message reminded us to rest in the Lord, we’re all here for a purpose.  

·        I’m thankful for President John Gallagher, as we spent much time in prayer throughout the two and a half days.  The last morning his prayer for us was to ask the Spirit of God to do a fresh work in us and our churches. 



Deb Reed

At Alton Bay Christian Conference Center

Sponsored by the Eastern Regional Association and the

Maranatha Advent Christian Conference



Speakers: Chris Date of Rethinking Hell

Justin Nash, Executive Director for ACGC

Pastor Spotlight

Pastor Mike Alix



Pastor Mike Alix grew up in Meriden, Connecticut. He attended Advent Christian Churches his whole life, with the exception of some Babylonian years while attending Nyack College. However, he did try and serve a bit with the Norwalk Advent Christian Church and their youth ministry once or twice a month for about a year. He graduated high school in 2001 and attended the famous Berkshire Institute of Christian Studies (BICS) the following Fall. Upon completion of his year at BICS, Mike enrolled at Nyack College. He graduated with a BS degree in Youth Ministry in 2005. Feeling unprepared for full-time pastoral ministry of any kind, he enrolled at Gordon-Conwell Theological Ministry with the Berkshire Center for Advent Christian Studies. He squeaked by as a slow reader and learner and by God’s great mercies graduated with his MDiv in the Spring of 2008. From here he moved to Maine and began serving in a youth ministry capacity at Blessed Hope Advent Christian Church in Waterville, Maine. On October 9, 2010 Mike was Ordained with Maine State Conference. On October 10, 2010 he was installed as Senior Pastor at Blessed Hope AC Church. On December 18, 2010 he was married to his beautiful and gracious helpmate and wife, Erica. Erica and Mike reside in Waterville, Maine with their three sons, Joseph (11), Gideon (9), and Asher (6). 

This winter (2023-2024) has been one of the most mild winters I have experienced so far in my time as someone who lives in Maine. I cannot rightly call myself a “Mainer” since I was not born here. It can be a touchy subject up in these parts. But often when things are very cold and very snowy, some people rejoice and others question why they live here or still live here. Why would anyone live in a place that makes their face hurt (often the follow up response is gators, snakes, hurricanes, and tornados)? Many times we can ask that same question of where God has us, especially in seasons (many of us they feel like decades rather than season, but I digress) of difficulty. I know I have asked this question a high number of times the past few years. There are many opportunities out there to go to a place that may be warmer or with easier soil or just different. I mean maybe that’s all we need is a change of pace. But I don’t often see in scripture that God gives “change of pace” as a good reason to go. What God calls us to do trust Him and His promises wherever we are.

BICS Ministry Team Schedule:

March 2-3 - Cornerstone Church, Manchester, MD

April 14 - Hope Church, Lenox, MA

April 27-29 - Dunntown AC Church, State Road AC Church, Sunshine AC Church

Bible Lands Tour - March 13-26

Experience Day - April 14-15

BICS Commencement - May 11, 10 AM at Hope Church, Lenox, MA

BICS Open Golf Fundraiser - June 1

Pastor Josh Cheney

Josh(ua) Cheney is the pastor of the Dunntown AC Church in Wade, Maine. He began serving there full-time after serving as an interim and lay pastor there and at State Road AC Church. He has specific interests in church health and discipleship, and also currently serves as the Maine State Conference treasurer. He and his wife Alex(andrea) have four children, but that number may jump without warning courtesy of the foster care system.

Wednesday, if you were unaware, is what has traditionally been observed as Ash Wednesday - the first day of the season of Lent on the church calendar, and the beginning of the preparation for Easter.

We come from a tradition that doesn't observe much of the ebb and flow of the church calendar, but there is an important reminder that is given as part of the Ash Wednesday liturgy.

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

We lose perspective so quickly - we are so consumed with the running and the going and the doing and the endless lists and the constant pressure for more that we forget the infinitesimal frailty that is Man.

Assistant Administrator Sabrina Krafchuk accepts the Vermont Governor’s Council’s Excellence Award at the VT Worksite Wellness Conference.

Update on Permanent Superintendent

At the October 2023 ERA Board meeting, the presidents of our conferences were tasked with the responsibility of formulating a job description for our next permanent Superintendent. As a result of several zoom meetings they prepared an initial proposal which was presented to the full board that met on February 12. This initial report, which was accepted by the board, included a proposal to hire a permanent superintendent for a total of approximately 120 hours per month with his primary responsibility being that of an encouraging and nurturing ministry to our pastors. Administrative responsibilities would be handled by the administrative secretary and the board. The board's next meeting will be May 6 at which time it is anticipated that we will receive a full job description proposal from the presidents. Once the job description is adopted a search committee will be appointed to search for a permanent superintendent.  Please keep this process in your prayers.

George Karl

ERA In Need of New Bookkeeper

After serving in the capacity of ERA Bookkeper for the last couple of years, Lisa Godard has informed us that she needs to step down from the position. Lisa has brought a great commitment to the position and has brought us up to date in many areas of our regional finances, but she has indicated that it is time for her to resign. As you read about our need, if there is someone that you know who could possibly take on this paid position, please contact me. The bookkeeper is responsible for recording all receipts and expenditures for the region, including payroll.  A working understanding of Quickbooks would be very important. Thank you for your prayers and thoughtful help. 

George Karl

413-822-9502 Sumkarl@yahoo.com 

Scholarship Opportunities

DuBois Scholarship - Sponsored by the Maine State Conference, amount awarded depends on number of applicants and funds available; This scholarship is given in loving memory of Rev. Wendell DuBois, Tammy DuBois and Virgene Hughes. It is designed to assist those seeking a call to vocational ministry in achieving their academic goals. The application needs to be postmarked by August 31 to be considered. The scholarship monies will be disbursed during the 2nd semester of the academic year.

Berkshire Christian College Scholarship Fund - Scholarship amount varies depending on the program of study. The purpose and description of the scholarship is:

• Seminary education in partnership with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary at four campuses - two in Mass., one in Fla., one in NC. (www.gordonconwell.edu) Advent Christian students receive up to a 50% tuition reduction. (Additional scholarship assistance may also be available.)
• Theological formation through the Ministry Training Institute (MTI). Students enrolled in MTI are eligible for scholarships through Berkshire Christian.

Castle Hill Scholarship Fund - The Castle Hill Advent Christian Church closed its doors in December of 2019 due to declining numbers and the difficulty of finding pastoral leadership. Through a generous donation, a Ministry Scholarship will be established in their name. It is their desire that this ministry scholarship be established to help fund individuals who are seeking vocational ministry training either from a ministry training program within the Advent Christian constituency, or if a person chooses to seek to prepare for vocational ministry outside of the Advent Christian constituency, the Christian institution must be accredited.

Applicants are required to fill out the application and have all of the required information turned in to the Superintendent’s Office by September 15th in order to be considered by the Eastern Regional Board of Directors. The Board will present scholarships to qualified applicants by dividing $2000 dollars among them per year. If only one applicant applies, the cap for an individual scholarship is $1000 dollars made out to the school of their choosing.

Eastern Regional Association

P.O. Box 214 Winchester, NH 03470

Phone: 603-332-1412