November 1994 0 I Co !--1 Co a_ 0- <C Cx- LL-1 at al 0E < Ll .J * zCozui • en a: *r CL * 0 rj -..i ▪CO * W C4 _LI • Lu * 0 a La _I I CC 0,1 * 0.a7 Page Christian Virtues rage 8 by John W. Fowler "growing excitement" is one of the best ways to Madison Campus describe Madison Campus planning session Seventh-day Adventist with Gerald A assistant pastor church. There are many reasons (left); Jim Davidson, for this excitement, but one is its pastor; and Mike unusual growth for the last thir- McKenzie, lay pas- teen and one-half years which has tor. almost doubled its membership (see graph). And now with adison Campus— the new pastor, Jim Davidson, an unprecedented surge of growth is taking place. ship makes possible the attractive This includes not only reclaiming programs, the beautiful and func- missing members, but new mem- tional church facility, and the variety bers as well. One can hardly find of small groups within the church. a seat on any given Sabbath, and However, a challenge for the pas- for the first time in months, giving tor alone is to develop and nur- is steadily increasing. ture the leadership gifts of the Also, a million dollar remodel- people that will enable them to ing project has already started that function in the diverse way required involves three phases: (1) doubling by a growing church. the size of the parking lot; (2) adding Dan Johnson leads the outstand- a new foyer, choir room, and sanc- ing group of elders who carry many tuary renovation; and (3) develop- of the heavy responsibilities and ment of a family life center that ensure the health and growth of will involve additional rooms for the church. Virtually every area of fellowship, Pathfinders, and adult responsibility is staffed with com- classes. A fine spirit prevails and petent and committed leaders. One excitement is in the air. What are only has to visit the church one the reasons for this unusually time to discover the important role blessed congregation? the lay leadership play in the growth of the campus. Strong Lay Leadership Competent Pastoral Lay leadership is a crucial and Leadership key reason for what is happening. Jim Davidson, senior pastor Madison Cam- Committed and competent leader- pus. Excellent church growth demands excellent pastoral leadership. Madison Campus pastors have been strong, well educated, and effec- tive leaders. While the campus has always had outstanding pastors, Madison Campus SDA Church Davidson is one of the most gifted and capable leaders the church Membership Growth has had. He is an excellent pulpit man with the humor, depth, and the dynamics needed to commu- nicate effectively with large or small 1,200 audiences; however, he is much more than that. lie is an excellent 1,000 administrator and leader, fully capable of helping the church 800 achieve its goal of building a com- 600 munity of faith. Multifaceted Programs 400 Campus church growth has greatly benefited from a many-faceted 200 program that wins the committed and consistent involvement of a 0 substantial number of members. Those programs included special activities such as womens' minis- tries, young adult activities, youth programs, pathfindering, commu- nity services, church sponsored musical group activities that in- cludes a Sabbath afternoon coun- Volume 88 SOUTHERN TIDINGS CUSPS 507-000) Number 11 2 ■ Southern Tidings Published monthly by the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Second-class postage paid at Decatur, Ga., and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send changes of address November, 1994 to SOUTHERN TIDINGS, P.0 Boy RAP Dncntiir GA 10011 try gospel music program. The church also has developed a special program for the elders of the church that includes both train- ing and fellowship. This involves an undershepherd program of visi- tation of the members. The Sab- bath school has grown to become Madison Campus church choir. Growing Excitement a major focus of the church with out good programming, inspira- shabbily clothed and barefooted, varied and innovative programs that tional preaching, meaningful mu- they are made to feel at home. appeal to a wide range of mem- sic, and a warm liturgy. However, A Sense of Mission bers and visitors. with capable well-trained lay people Every Sabbath, guests are invited and coaching from the pastor, this Madison Campus has a clear to homes of members for dinner can become a most meaningful sense of mission. Many churches and fellowship. An ongoing Bible part of the life of the church. see themselves as teaching cen- study program, which again includes Congregational singing is another ters that seek to influence people both nurture and outreach activi- area of vital importance. With a for an hour or so each week. ties, is an integral part of the life strong music leader, the congre- However, Campus sees its church of the campus. gation can learn to sing jubilantly as a biblical functioning commu- This many-faceted program ori- together and communicate the vital nity with a full-orbed approach to entation facilitates the involvement spiritual energy so necessary to a bringing people to Christ, assimi- of large numbers of members in growing church. Campus church lating them into the body of Christ, activities of the church. Member- excels in these areas which con- disciplining them, helping them find ship involvement figures reveal that tributes to its steady growth. their spiritual gifts, and sensitiz- Madison Campus consistently has ing them to the needs of the larger 40 percent of its members involved Open and Accepting community. They see their church in its various programs. Congregation as existing for a fourfold purpose: When the elders were asked if exaltation of Christ, evangelization Small Group Activities they would characterize Madison of sinners, edification of its mem- It does not matter what particu- Campus as an open, accepting, and bers, and caring for the needy. lar structure the small groups take, loving congregation they answered What about public evangelism? as long as there are small groups. with an unequivocal, Yes! Even The elders responded, "Certainly, In fact, it is better if they are di- though they hold high standards public evangelism must be and is versified. They can be called house of faith and behavior, they know a vital part of our work. We want church, cottage meetings, mission how to love and care for those to win souls, but our larger focus groups, home Bible fellowships, who take longer to accept the high is to create a community of faith community services, or womens' doctrinal and behavioral standards that helps people live now as well ministries. The important thing is of Adventism. The congregation is as in the hereafter." God's bless- that through the small groups sensitive to the needs of others. ing on Campus appears to vali- nurturing, assimilation of new According to the elders, even if date their approach. members, training for witnessing, someone comes to the church spiritual growth, and fellowship will Cover: Photo by Vern Biloff, director of take place. education for Kentucky-Tennessee Confer- The multifaceted programs or Madison Campus typical small group. ence. groups of the church are what contribute so significantly to growth. A typical Adventist congregation has what church growth experts call a single cell fellowship. That is essentially one grouping of people involved in the various activities of the church with other people not involved at all, but on the Madison Campus the social and spiritual life of the members re- volves around the many and var- ied church activities. Dynamic Worship Services The dynamic worship services at Madison Campus compliments the other activities that make it an unusual church. You cannot have a dynamic worship service with- November, 1994 Baptismal candidates from the Mobile evangelistic crusade. heaven's sentiments when lie said, "there is more joy in heaven for Faithful Prayers one who repents than 99 that need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). What made 30 souls make such radical changes for Jesus in such a short time? What caused so many Answered to be baptized, even though nearly 70 percent of them had absolutely by Ron Clouzet to take up spiritual guardian roles no Seventh-day Adventist back- with possible new believers. How- ground or contacts up to this point? ever, it seemed that so many mak- What makes an evangelistic cru- veryone at the church has ing decisions had nearly insur- sade reap 63 percent of its regular been really wonderful to mountable problems. attenders when the typical num- us," wrote Tonnia, the Ron Halverson and Ron Clouzet, bers hover in the 25-35 percen- E young mother of three, a evangelist and coordinator of the tile? week after her baptism. And then, evangelistic field school, conducted To me the answer is simple. There as if reflecting on God's kindness no less than a dozen anointings was never a letdown in faithful to her, she concluded, "A loving, during the last couple weeks. Many visitation of the interests, and there happy family was one thing that I intercessory prayers were offered was an unusual spirit of interces- have always wanted, but it was the by the ministerial students and oth- sion and prayer by many of the one thing that I was never able to ers. And the Lord blessed! ministerial students experiencing have. This is just another prayer Twenty-eight people were to be their first soul winning adventures. the Lord has answered for me. He baptized the last day of the meet- "Prayer and effort," said Ellen has given me the family that 1 have ings.