Southern Tidings for 1978
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MARCH, 1978 SOUTHERN T:1 10MCGO CAL OF THE SOLIT.F RN UWE,. COW FP( ryCi OF SEVr nAy ADVENTISTS New England Youth Ensemble B Musiie Heritage Singers USA King's Heralds AMIlimmi.--._ OF Mcutek 22-25 aneeteliwa, Nod, Cantuta, TWO H. M. S. Richards, founder and speaker Ann Kiemel, author of "I Love the Word Impossi- C. D. Brooks, general field secretary, General emeritus, The Voice of Prophecy. ble," and "I'm Out to Change My World." Conference, and speaker, Breath of Life. PUBLIC MEETINGS WEDNESDAY Nearly 4,000 delegates from academy age to 35 will be coming from the 7:20-9 p.m. Atlantic, Columbia, and Southern Unions. They will attend workshops, engage speaker—K. J. Mittleider in witnessing activities, and participate in the meetings. Groups will provide audio-visual special—"This Is Greens- boro" music. Food service and lodging have been arranged for delegates and their THURSDAY sponsors. Church members and the public are invited to attend each meeting. It 9-10:05 a.m. will be necessary, however, for them to arrange their own accommodations. All speaker—E. S. Reile public meetings will be held in the Greensboro Coliseum. 7:20-9:20 p.m. speaker—Dr. Richard Neil features—Shenandoah Valley Academy Shenandoah Valley Academy Olympians gymnastic team; North Philadelphia Inca Drum and Bugle Corps FRIDAY 9-10:05 a.m. speaker—C. E. Bradford 7:20-9 p.m. speaker—H. M. S. Richards music—King's Heralds; New England Youth Ensemble SATURDAY 8:45-10:40 a.m. lesson study—Dr. Frank Knittel feature—Mission Pageant music—Heritage Singers USA 10:50 a.m.-12:15 p.m. speaker—C. D. Brooks music—King's Heralds; New England Youth Ensemble 1-2:15 p.m. film—"Yes, I Remember Ellen White" (two 30-min. showings) 2:30-4:30 p.m. speaker—Neal C. Wilson dramatic play—"We Have This Hope" music—New England Youth Ensemble; His Way Singers 7:20-9:15 p.m. speakers—Ann Kiemel; John Hancock music—Heritage Singers USA Betters Dehtatit/UttifiKA, Volume 72 SOUTHERN TIDINGS Number 3 THREE Published monthly. Second-class postage paid at Collegedale, Tennessee 37315. Subscription rate—three dollars per year. POSTAAIASTER, send form 3579 to SOUTHERN TIDINGS, Box 849, Decatur, GA 30031. SOUTH ATLANTIC Centurions for 1977: President R. L. Woodfork (left); F. W. Parker, Atlanta- Berean; Albert Teele, Kinston, North Carolina, now at Atlanta-Boulevard; James Best, Orlando, now conference evangelist; David Jones, Winston- Salem; Joseph Follette, Columbus, Georgia; R. B. Hairston, secretary. Not pictured, Robert Connor, Charlotte. Quinquagenarians for 1977: Woodfork (left); E. J. Lewis, Ward Sumpter, Dennis Ross, David Rand, I. L. Harrell, James Edgecombe, Fred Nealy, 0. J. McKinney, Ralph Franklin, Cleveland Mair, Ted Ellerbe; Hairston. The annual banquet featured deli- cious dining, as Tom McNealy (left rear), Atlanta-Maranatha pastor, George Jenkins (left), Maranatha local elder, and Edward Dorsey, Ft. Lauderdale pastor, can testify. t the annual South Atlantic Conference Workers' Meeting, held at the Atlanta Stadium Hotel January 9-11, to report on and thank God for the activities of the past year, it was learned that the con- certed efforts of spirit-filled evangelists and dedicated laymen resulted in the baptism of 1,985 precious souls. Although this total falls 15 short of the goal of 2,000 set at the beginning of 1977, the South Atlantic family is grateful for the way God has led and for the results. Asheville local elder James Stewart This is an increase of 370 over 1976, presents a gift to a visitor at his and the largest in the history of the open-air meeting in Greer, South Carolina. conference. Six centurions and 11 quin- quagenarians were responsible for 1,556 baptisms. The centurions were: F. W. Parker, a double cen- turion, with 240; Albert Teele, an intern, as well as a second-year cen- turion, with 147; Robert Connor, with 139; D. M. Jones, 121; J. 0. Stewart's open-air meeting attracted many people from the Best, now the conference evan- homes in the neighborhood with splendid results. gelist, 120; and J. L. Follette, 106. The quinquagenarians (those bap- Conference Ministerial Secretary Joe Hinson didn't sit in the tizing 50 or more) were: Ward office during 1977. Among other things, he was instrumental Sumpter, 88; E. J. Lewis, 74; I. L. in raising up a church in the previously dark city of Americus, Harrell, 64; J. A. Edgecombe, 62; 0. Georgia. FOUR Dr. W. E. Coopwood based much of this three-day Family Semi- nar discourses on the experience of Ruth and Naomi, as well as present-day life experiences. Audience participation made his presentations more interesting and meaningful. Southern Union Lay Activities Director W. L. Mazat (left), South Atlantic President R. L. Woodfork (center), and Joseph Hinson, conference lay activities leader, honor the two reigning Ingathering queens. Mrs. Rosa Holmes (left) of Savannah raised $8,350.25. Mrs. Daisy Jackson of Char- lotte raised $6,502. by S. E. Gooden J. McKinney, 61; David Rand, 61; traditional workers' banquet. His Ralph Franklin, 57; Cleveland Mair, message focused on the book of 55; Ted Ellerbe, 52; F. R. Nealy, 50; Esther, and emphasized the theme: and Dennis Ross, 50. "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a Evangelistic meetings were con- President Woodfork makes a presentation to Dr. Lowery time as this?" after the banquet address. ducted in tents, churches, and halls. James Stewart, a layman from Asheville, North Carolina, was de- The celebrated guests at the head table are: Mrs. Doris Schmidt (left), H. H. Schmidt, Southern termined that the gospel would be Union president, Mrs. Evelyn Lowery, and Dr. J. E. Lowery, president of the Southern Christian preached in Greer, South Carolina. Leadership Conference. He employed the out-of-doors as his "cathedral" in an open-air meet- ing, and God blessed. All equip- ment was left in care of the ele- ments and neighbors, and nothing was disturbed; not a chair was ta- ken. The hearts of the South Atlantic Conference workers were inspired by messages brought by William Scales of the General Conference; H. H. Schmidt, our union presi- dent; and Dr. W. E. Coopwood, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Meharry Medical Col- lege, who conducted an informa- tive Family Seminar. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was the featured speaker at the FIVE Into by Michael D. Hanson et every worker in the Master's vineyard, study, plan, devise methods, to reach the people where they are. We must do something out of the common course of things. We must arrest the attention. We must be deadly in earnest. We are on the very verge of times of trouble and perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of." —Evangelism, p. 122, 123, 1893 February 5, 1978, may prove to be an historic date in the Carolina Conference. On that day local church el- Younger and older elders alike listen intently as the growth and prog- ders and their pastors joined with members of the con- ress worksheet is explained. ference administration and staff in accepting a challenge that will strengthen soul-winning work throughout the Carolinas. From the east, the west, north, and south they came; ministers with cars filled with local church elders con- verged on Nosoca Pines Ranch to listen to plans for growth and progress prepared by the conference ad- ministration. The assembly of over 200 church leaders soon discov- ered that they had been brought together for more than consent. Expecting to receive a copy of the conference's operational objectives for the next three years, the as- sembly was surprised to receive instead a growth and progress worksheet for 1978, 1979, and 1980 filled with an outline of challenges and 16 nearly blank pages! M. D. Gordon, conference president, reminded the men that the grand object of Christ's atonement is the salva- tion of souls; "and it depends on us," he said, "to lay hold of the promises God has given and to become laborers together with Him. We believe that your true worth in ideas and suggestions has not yet been re- Members study worksheet while President Gordon explains it. vealed. Please take advantage of this opportunity to help us as we formulate conference plans for the next three years." Pastors David Prest, Dr. Joseph Battistone, and Fletcher local church With this introduction, the president introduced the elder Howard Pendleton review the worksheet outlines. camp meeting theme for 1978, which will be the theme, as well, of the rest of the year, "Into My World." The focus was upon every individual's circle of influence. Gordon then explained the purpose of the 20-page growth and progress worksheet that had been handed to them. The pastors and elders were asked to take the forms to their church boards, and to present them as a challenge for some really creative planning. Leaders of each church department would be asked to meet with their committees to lay definite plans for the next two and three years. The local church board would then review and coordinate the plans. Finally the pastors would then return the finished worksheets to Gordon at one of three area ministerial meetings scheduled for the latter part of March. Just exactly what is in those worksheets? On page three of the document the churches are asked to con- sider three areas of planning: SIX CAROLINA World He Who Fails to Plan, Plans to Fail 1. Church ministry to its members. What definite plans guide to help him better serve the needs of the church, are you making to contribute to the spiritual growth and to coordinate the ideas and suggestions coming of the members? from the churches with his own general objectives 2.