January 2011 EvangElism Beyond the Church Walls Quoi de Neuf? Adventist Education Youth Talk ¿Qué Está Pasando? January To faithfully chronicle the work and progress of the church in the Atlantic Union territory and 2011 inform, instruct, and inspire our church members. ission tateMent M S Editorial 3 Adventist Education 7 inside Youth Talk 8 DQuoie PdeART Neuf? MENTS 24 eatureS ¿Qué Está Pasando? 25 F Positions of Our Faith 26 Photos: Rohann Wellington 4 Evangelism Beyond the Church Walls Bermuda 9 Greater New York 10 over tory Atlantic Union College 12 C S : NENew York WS 14 7 Stop Trying! Northeastern 18 Northern New England 20 Southern New England 22 16 Personnel Change at It is Written Bulletin Board 28 16 Pollard Assumes Presidency of Oakwood Classifieds 29 University INFORMATION 17 Neal C. Wilson, Retired Adventist Church March 2011 January 14 President, Dies at 90 April 2011 February 11 May 2011 March 11 DTheEA GleanerDL deadlineINE scheduleS is available online at www.atlantic-union.org/gleaner4.html. Adventist® and Seventh-day Adventist® are registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.® In this issue we include highlights of the Atlantic Union one-day, power- packed evangelism homecoming rallies in Syracuse and Brooklyn New York. January 2011, Vol. 110, No. 1. The Atlantic Union Gleaner is published Other features include: Adventist Education, Positions of Our Faith, and monthly by the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists,® Youth Talk. The cover photo is by iStockphoto. 400 Main Street, South Lancaster, MA 01561. Printed by Review and n thiS ssue Herald® Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Standard postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Annual i i … subscription price, $9.00. NEW OR RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mail new or renewal subscriptions to Atlantic Union Gleaner, P.O. Box 1189, South Lancaster, MA 01561. 2 Atlantic Union Gleaner, January 2011 Visit the Atlantic Union Web site E d i t o r i a l Sparrows and swallows ver the past several years we have nurture, . not to be verbally bashed and given a great deal of emphasis to driven away. At the altar of the house of Othe primacy of evangelism. This we God, Christians come to find peace, fulfilled must never cease to do, since it’s the life- needs, love, and closeness to God. blood of the church’s mission. Therefore, we But unlike the sparrow, it is not every thank God for the many precious persons bird that does this. The eagle is too ambi- brought into the fold—the church—through tious. The vulture is too foul. The cormorant the work of the Holy Spirit. too greedy. The hawk too war-like. The Nevertheless, in keeping with the con- ostrich too wild. And the owl too fond of cept of the “outward and upward look” (see darkness. But the sparrow and the swal- “As the house November 2011 editorial), I would like to low—they are little and loving. suggest the following: That during this As the house of God is a nest for sparrows, first year of a new decade—2011—we give so it must also be for our children. The of God is a nest ourselves also to the nurture of the faithful sanctuary of God is a nursery for our young. (young and old), and especially those who There, they will be safe and free like the have recently joined the church. swallow, the “bird of liberty.” for sparrows, so “Let every opportunity be taken to nurture our children it must also be and keep them safe for time and eternity. If they are joyful for our children. and happy in worship, they are more likely to return to the nest as swallows do.” The sanctuary of The psalmist David, in Psalm 84:3, envied Let me take this opportunity to appeal for the birds that lived around the house of the greater and more detailed attention given God is a nursery Lord: “Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, to children’s ministries in our churches. Let and the swallow a nest for herself, where every opportunity be taken to nurture our she may lay her young, even thine altars, O children and keep them safe for time and for our young.” LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.” eternity. If they are joyful and happy in their Sparrows were considered in Bible times holy worship to God, they are more likely to as worthless (five for two farthings), needy return to the nest on a regular basis as the creatures, requiring food and a place to swallows do. live. Because they were so numerous, they My wife, Lois, and I wish each of you a were driven away. But in the house of God very blessed and spiritually fulfilling New (the altar), they found safety, rest, delight, Year as you labor for the Master in 2011, to society, nearness, and were not forgotten by help provide a nurturing environment for all God (Luke 12:6). people in the house of the Lord. This must also be true for every believer who comes to the house of God for refuge Donald G. King is president of the Atlantic and fellowship. Christians come to church Union Conference and chairman of the Atlantic Union College Board of Trustees. as they would a hospital for healing and at www.atlantic-union.org Atlantic Union Gleaner, January 2011 3 C o V e r s t O r y EvangElism Beyond the Church Walls Pastors who were presented with the Pastoral Evangelism Appreciation Awards stand with some of the the union and conference administrators. From left are Carlyle Simmons (Union), Trevor Baker (NEC), Louis Métellus (Union), G. Earl Knight (GNYC), Donnieval Walker (GNYC), Jean Jude Lors (NEC), Abel Rosario (GNYC), Ramon Cabrera (NEC), Donald King (Union), Leon Thomassian (Union), Dionisio Olivo (Union). Not pictured are Jean M. Charles (GNYC) and Abraham J. Jules (NEC). ast year, 2010, was a year of repeat similar words of thanks at the celebration for the Atlantic conclusion of the two additional ral- lUnion Conference and its six lies held on October 2 in Syracuse, conferences. Of particular note were New York, and November 13 in the three one-day evangelism home- Brooklyn, New York. coming rally celebrations that took A renewed emphasis on evange- place. Donald King, Atlantic Union lism in the Atlantic Union began Conference president, shared the fol- back in 2006 when the Tell the lowing thoughts at the conclusion of World . Tell Atlantic Union initia- the first rally held on May 1 in South tive was launched. The initiative Lancaster, Massachusetts: Photos: Rohann Wellington “I want to express profound Atlantic Union Conference administrators Donald King thanks to God and to our and Leon Thomassian with Lay Evangelism Star Award pastors, teachers, lay evan- recipient Josh Schmieder, right. gelists, church members, literature evangelists, min- isterial leaders, and union and conference administra- tors for their part in help- ing to achieve this mile- stone in the history of our union territory.” The major milestone to which he was referring was the 5,250 Some of the representatives from the Atlantic Union and New York Conferences accessions by baptism or who participated in the Evangelism Homecoming Rally in Syracuse, New York, include, standing from left, Jerrell Gilkeson, Angel Rodriguez, Florencio Ron Halvorsen, Sr., was the speaker at the Homecoming profession of faith achieved Zabalata, Stan Rouse, Donald King, Leon Thomassian, Oswald Euell, Louis Evangelism Rally in Syracuse, New York. during 2009. King would Métellus, and, kneeling front, Dan Whitlow and Philip Wesley. 4 Atlantic Union Gleaner, January 2011 Visit the Atlantic Union Web site C o v e r s t O r y Photos: Rohann Wellington Lay Evangelism Star Award recipient, Valerie White-Wittick with administrators, from left, Carlyle Simmons, Donald King, Louis Métellus, Leon Thomassian, and Oswald Euell. Photos: Rohann Wellington Youth representatives who participated in the Evangelism Homecoming Rally in Brooklyn, New York, are, from left, José Cortés (GNYC), Bill Wood (Union), and Philip Wesley(NEC). focused on several areas, including To acknowledge their hard work in baptisms, identifying and equipping evangelism, emphasis was placed on members according to spiritual gifts, a time of reporting, celebrating, and engaging the youth and educational sharing stories of the way the lord system in supportive roles and leader- has blessed. ship, blending prayer ministries with A report of the May rally was evangelism, and nurturing church included in the June 2010 issue members. The leaders of all six con- of the Gleaner. The Rally held in ferences have been doing their part Syracuse, New York, was combined Wesley Philip involving members in many evange- with the culmination of the New Glen Samuels, was the worship service speaker for the listic events in their respective fields. York Conference’s Revelation of Hope Evangelism Homecoming Rally in Brooklyn, New York. Members who were presented with the Lay Evangelism Appreciation Awards stand with some of the union and conference administrators. From left are Louis Métellus (Union), Trevor Baker (NEC), Dionisio Olivo (Union), Omar Gonzalez (NEC), Oniz Martinez (GNYC), Salnave Gillies (NEC), Marie Joseph (GNYC), Marc Coombs (NEC), Kojo Twumasi (GNYC), Donald King (Union), Leon Thomassian (Union), and G. Earl Knight (GNYC). C o v e r s t O r y Photos: Rohann Wellington The Christian Education Vignette was presented by, back row The African Heritage Choir was one of several choirs that performed for the rally in Brooklyn, New York. from left, Astrid Thomassian (Union), Beth Cady Burghardt (NYC), Kathe Burghardt (NYC), and Jerrell Gilkeson (Union).