EVANGELISM in Western New York Three Cities ❖ More Than 300 Baptisms
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NOVEMBER 2014 EVANGELISM in Western New York Three Cities ❖ More Than 300 Baptisms New Administrators Voted at Bermuda Conference Session insideNOVEMBER2014 7 4 8 11 3 President’s Perspective Contents 7 Adventist Education 10 Atlantic Union 4 More Than 300 Baptized in Western New York 12 Greater New York Evangelistic Meetings 14 Bermuda Evangelistic campaigns were held in July and August in the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse in Western New York. 15 New York 16 Northern New England 7 New York Conference Hosts Outdoor School 18 Northeastern The New York Conference has been operating a dynamic outdoor school program for many years now. 19 Southern New England 21 Bulletin Board 8 New Administrators Voted at Bermuda Conference Session 21 Obituaries The Bermuda Conference held its first regular quadrennial constituency session on Sunday, September 28, at Hamilton church. 22 Classified Ads Cover: The cover photo of 11 Adventist Single Adults Convention Held in Connecticut skyscrapers next to the river in Single adults from around the Atlantic Union Conference had a chance to meet Rochester, New York, is from and get to know one another at the ASAM convention. iStockphoto.com. November 2014, Vol. 113, No. 11. The Atlantic Union GLEANER is published monthly by the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®, 400 Main Street, South Lancaster, MA 01561. Printed by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Standard postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Annual sub- scription price, $10.00. NEW OR RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mail new or renewal subscriptions to Atlantic Union GLEANER, P.O. Box 1189, South Lancaster, MA 01561. Adventist® and Seventh-day Adventist® are registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. 2 Atlantic Union GLEANER, November 2014 Visit the Atlantic Union Web site P resident One of the Biggest Sins uring this Thanksgiving text is talking about Paul’s experi- season, it is appropriate to ence when the ship on which he highlight an anonymous was being taken to Rome was about ’ D s quote that goes like this: “If you can’t to run aground and be broken into P find anything for which to be thank- pieces. The ship’s crew hadn’t eaten ful, then make up your mind that for a period of time and Paul urged ers there is something wrong with you.” them to eat, but before they ate, Paul Ingratitude is considered one of the offered a prayer of thanks to God in P biggest sins, not because it's bigger, front of everyone. ective really, but because it's so fundamen- Do you give thanks in the presence tally basic to the sinfulness of our of other people? Do you hesitate to human nature. It goes to the core of give thanks for your meal in public “If you can’t our selfishness and pride. places, including a restaurant? Henry Ward Beecher is quoted as While you need not make a big find anything saying: “Pride slays thanksgiving, deal out of praying in public, it is a but a humble mind is the soil out big deal to God any time you give of which thanks naturally grow. A thanks to Him. We must be thank- for which to be proud man is seldom a grateful man, ful, whether people notice us or not, for he never thinks he gets as much because God will notice us whenever thankful, then as he deserves.” and wherever we are thankful to Everyone has reason to give thanks Him. And God blesses those who are and say thanks. We should never be humble and thankful. make up your hesitant to say thanks to God many Finally, in the midst of a world times a day. God never gets bored that is always asking for things, mind that there with our thankfulness and praises. we must possess a spirit of giving In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) thanks. Philippians 4:6 (NIV) says, we’re told: “Give thanks in all cir- “Do not be anxious about anything, is something cumstances; for this is God’s will for but in every situation, by prayer and you in Christ Jesus.” petition, with thanksgiving, present wrong with you.” It was Cicero, the first-century your requests to God.” Roman philosopher who said: “A There is nothing wrong with ask- thankful heart is not only the great- ing, but there is something defi- est virtue, but the parent of all the nitely wrong with not giving thanks. other virtues.” Allow thankfulness to slay the sin of In Acts 27:35 (NIV), the Scripture ingratitude. says: “After he said this, he (Paul) Donald G. King is president of the Atlantic took some bread and gave thanks Union Conference and chairman of the to God in front of them all.” This Atlantic Union College Board of Trustees. at www.atlantic-union.org Atlantic Union GLEANER, November 2014 3 More Than 300 Baptized in Western New York Evangelistic Meetings vangelistic campaigns were blessed with 107 baptisms. The evan- simultaneously baptized until all the held in July and August in the gelistic fires were still burning as addi- candidates engaged in this spiritual Ecities of Buffalo, Rochester, tional baptisms were held on Sabbath, rite of new birth. Buffalo will never and Syracuse in Western New York. August 9. In all, 112 people were bap- be the same again. Please, remember Following on the heels of the NY13 tized as a result of this campaign. these individuals in prayer as they evangelistic initiative that focused Carlton Byrd, Breath of life begin their new walk with God. on New York City, the Northeastern Ministries speaker/director, was the Conference administrators launched speaker for this campaign. “What 77 Baptized at Rochester an area-wide initiative in 2014 to a powerful experience it was to see Evangelistic Campaign strengthen the work in Western New singles, families, persons of all racial From July 12 through August 2 mem- York. More than 300 people have backgrounds, [people with disabili- bers and guests at the Wilson Magnet joined churches in Western New York ties], and young and old alike attend High School in Rochester, New York, as a result of the meetings. and listen nightly as the Word of God were treated to a spiritual experience was preached for three weeks; and presented by Calvin. L. Watkins, 112 Baptized During Breath of then to witness them going down in South Atlantic Conference Evangelism Life Evangelistic Campaign the watery grave of baptism was spiri- Ministries director. Watkins led old The Breath of Life Summer Evangelistic tually exhilarating,” Byrd said. and young, Adventists and non- Campaign in Buffalo ended on Tears of joy and victory were clearly Adventists, on an informative and Sabbath, August 2, and the Lord visible as seven candidates were Bible-based nightly revival. Carlton Byrd, Breath of life Ministries speaker/director, Pastors baptize several candidates simultaneously following the Breath of Life Summer Evangelistic meetings in Buffalo. speaks at the Breath of Life Summer Evangelistic Campaign in Buffalo, New York. 4 Atlantic Union GLEANER, November 2014 Visit the Atlantic Union Web site COVER STORY They were led in worship through music by Lolo Harris, Jason McDonald, the Western New York Praise Team, as well as Angela Hill and a host of other local musicians. Watkins preached the whole truth and nothing but the truth. His nightly saying was, “If the Bible says it, I will always declare it, and let the chips fall where they may.” The nightly program was held from 7:00-8:00 p.m., with Monday and Thursday nights off. The crowd grew each night. Watkins covered such topics as “Remember the Sabbath,” “What a Mighty Good Man,” and “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” Whether the listeners were Bible scholars or Pastors baptize several candidates simultaneously following the evangelistic meetings in Rochester. average members of the community, these messages were right on time 96 Added to the Church in second was a major evangelistic effort, for Rochester. Syracuse, New York which resulted in 96 people being The meetings led to 77 people This year two major events hap- added to the church—78 through bap- being baptized, and those who pened at the Mount Carmel church in tism and 18 by profession of faith. attended were treated to a life- Syracuse. The first was in February, Stanley Dixon, the church’s pas- changing experience. when the church moved into a new tor, said that at first, he wondered if facility in another section of town. The it was too soon to run a meeting. He had recently assumed leadership of the congregation and the church had just purchased a new building. “We had to navigate some difficult waters to attempt to achieve some unity through a stormy process,” Dixon said. “Though Northeastern Conference president Daniel Honoré’s vision for Western New York included a major campaign for Syracuse, I sensed that the church may have needed some time for healing. But by summer, I was surprised to see how eager a core group of local Bible workers were to gladly enter the community and can- vas the people with surveys to deter- mine what their major needs were.” Ranking highest on a list of con- cerns were family issues, such as family disintegration, youth and teen Church members conduct a health fair in the mall in Rochester. delinquency, and absentee fathers. at www.atlantic-union.org Atlantic Union GLEANER, November 2014 5 COVER STORY Relationships were built, Bible studies God knew best what the were solicited, and the teams’ enthusi- church needed.