April, 2020 Carolina's 10,000 P5

1. CASTING OUR CAROLINA CARES ON CHRIST: A Prayer for God’s Intervention to Calm the Storm

May God be with us till we meet again. The COVID-19 Pandemic has completely disrupted our lives. Church gatherings and church school classrooms have to adopt a new normal through the use of technological venues to remain connected and functional. Zoom meetings, Livestream broadcasts, You Tube, Texting, Mobile calls and E-mail Communications have become our technological crutches to keep us connected. Families are torn apart… isolated. The future is unknown. Everything seems to be on hold. We know how you feel because we are all impacted from the Coronavirus pandemic.

As your leadership team for God’s church in this part of His vineyard, we want you to know that we are thinking of our church families and praying for ALL of you every day. We are calling on all our consecrated Carolina prayer partners to help us encourage Sabbaths of Fasting and Prayer beginning at sunset on Friday and ending at sunset on Sabbath. We invite every member of our church to join us in this time of earnest fasting and prayer every Sabbath until the restrictions for our gathering as churches are lifted from the Carolinas. Till we can come together as God’s people to worship Him as a family in Christ in the beauty of His holiness, may God in His gracious mercy soon lift the burden of this “Coronavirus Plague” from our midst.

Then when this storm is over, let’s rejoice as His people in a Thanksgiving Sabbath of Feasting and Prayer, giving praise to the One who alone can deliver us from our distress (Psalm 107:6).

Recently I received this prayer from a member of our Executive Committee. I share it with you so that we can mingle our praises and our petitions during this pandemic that has engulfed each of our lives.

A PRAYER FOR OUR PANDEMIC

Heavenly Father, May we who are merely inconvenienced,

Remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors,

Remember those who are most vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury of working from home,

Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or paying their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for children when their schools close,

Remember those who have no options.

May we who have to cancel our trips,

Remember those who have no safe place to go.

May we who are losing our margin of money in the tumult of the economic market,

Remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home,

Remember those who have no home.

O God, as fear grips our country, may we choose love.

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other help us to discover ways in which we can be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.

For it is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN.

2. PRAY FOR OUR SUPPORT STAFF AT MOUNT PISGAH ACADEMY

“These schools were intended to serve as a barrier against the wide-spreading corruption, to provide for the mental and spiritual welfare of the youth, and to promote the prosperity of the nation by furnishing it with men [and women] qualified to act in the fear of God as leaders and counselors.” -- Education, Page 46

This month, we invite you to continue uplifting our secondary academy of the Carolina Conference – Mount Pisgah Academy. For the past two months we’ve upheld the administrative staff of the academy and the non-administrative faculty at our academy. There are many others making up the support staff that keep the wheels of our school in operation, providing an environment of loving care and nurture impacting the lives of our youth in their commitment and service for Christ both here and in preparation for His coming kingdom. Let’s lift them up before the Lord especially during this difficult time when our campus is silent without our students.

3. PRAYING FOR OUR PASTORS & THEIR CHURCH DISTRICTS

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these words of encouragement were penned for our churches: “Ask of me, and I will answer your requests. The promise is made on condition that the united prayers of the church are offered, and in answer to these prayers there may be expected a power greater than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and for one another.” [9MR, 303]

Praying for our pastors is very important. They are serving God and the attacks of the enemy are relentless. They must be covered in our prayers on a daily basis.

Our prayers should be personalized by saying the title of pastor along with their name since they hold a position of sacred trust for God’s remnant church.

Why not pray specifically for our pastors by name using these seven needs and scriptural promises:

1. For Protection from Satan — Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

2. For Protection from Our Own Sinful Hearts — But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)

3. For Deep Spiritual Encouragement — For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. (Romans 1:11-12)

4. For Wisdom — If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

5. For Doctrinal Faithfulness — By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you (2 Timothy 1:14).

6. For A Healthy Body — But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27).

7. For A Strong Marriage & Family — Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church (1 Timothy 3:2-6)

PASTOR CHURCH(ES); COMPANIES & GROUPS

1. Ryan Hodgins .............................................................................................................Associate Youth Pastor

Charlotte Sharon SDA Church

Charlotte Ghana SDA Group

2. Charles Hong ........................................................................................................................Part Time Pastor

Fayetteville Korean SDA Mission Group

3. Tom Hughes ..........................................................................................................................................Pastor

Myrtle Beach SDA Church

4. John Huskins .............................................................................................................................Interim Pastor

Pickens SDA Church

Greenville South SDA Church

5. Sung Jang .............................................................................................................................................Pastor

Columbia Korean SDA Church

6. Courtney Jimenez ...................................................................................Children & Youth Ministries Director

Foster SDA Church

7. Cornelius Kamei ...................................................................................................................................Pastor

Hilton Head SDA Church

Beaufort SDA Church

4. PRAYING FOR OUR DEPARTMENTAL MINISTRIES

Last year starting with our April, 2019 issue of P5, we began highlighting a department of the conference each month – not so much as to give a full length report of all that they have been or are accomplishing, but rather to simply uplift all our leaders and their faithful service in our prayers.

This month, I invite you to prayerfully uplift our Carolina Conference Adventist Community Services Disaster Response under the leadership of Elder Phil Rosburg & his assistant director, Steve Stillwell.

Adventist Community Services (ACS) is involved in the four phases of disaster response: Preparation, Mitigation, Response and Recovery to ensure volunteers are matched efficiently with needs in a community. The Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists' ACS Disaster Response Ministry assists individuals, families and communities affected by natural and man-made disasters and unforeseen tragedies. ACSDR also engages with local, State and National government partners, such as Emergency Management Teams and FEMA.

5. SATURATED WITH THE WORD – Fundamental Belief # 9 – Life, Death & Resurrection of Christ

As a President’s Prayer Partner, we again invite you to truly be a people of the Word. As Seventh-day Adventists, we embrace 28 Fundamental truths that are based on the Bible alone. This is the second cycle in our emphasis on these vital beliefs that are centered in Christ as our Savior and as our Lord.

Let’s continue to place His Word prayerfully in our hearts each day of this month.

I carry a set of these passages with me in my car and repeat them aloud as I drive from place to place. My goal is to prayerfully say one verse at least five times a day for a week, thus embracing the promise of God’s Word – “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:11 Repeat these passages over and over till they become a part of your very being. Of course, you can always choose to do more. Prayerfully consider how you can saturate your soul and make His Word a part of your heart every day.

FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF # 9: Life, Death & Resurrection of Christ

In Christ’s life of perfect obedience to God’s will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator. This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God’s law and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin and provides for our forgiveness. The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The bodily resurrection of Christ proclaims God’s triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee in heaven and on earth will bow.

A. Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) – “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

B. Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.”

C. I Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV) – “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

D. Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV) – “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the mane which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven, and of those on earth and of those under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

6. REMEMBERING AND KEEPING IN FOCUS OUR 2020 VISION

VISION II: WELCOME TRAVELING PILGRIMS

PRAY AND COMMIT to place attractive and updated signage of welcome greetings by the Seventh-day Adventist Church at every nterstate entry point into North and South Carolina with our conference website information.

We currently have 9 Interstate entry points on East-West bound Interstates 40 & 26 as well as North-South Bound Interstates 77, 85, & 95 in North Carolina.

In South Carolina we currently have 7 Interstate entry points on East-West bound Interstates 20, 26 as well as North-South Bound Interstates 77, 85, and 95.

Utilizing pictures of members from multigenerational and multiethnic backgrounds representing the beautiful blend of diversity in our church families, we have designed signage that could serve as a fresh and invitational welcome to the states of North Carolina as well as South Carolina. Our desire is to share a visual picture of a joyful church in its mission and outreach to make faithful disciples of Jesus.

Remember that little children’s song – This little light of mine; I’m going to let it shine; all around the neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine. Hide it under a bush – Oh no, I’m going to let it shine; Let it shine till Jesus comes, I’m going to let it shine. There are many who have never heard the word Seventh-day Adventists and many who have misperceptions of who we are. It is high time for us to tell the world unashamedly who we are and to truly be grateful for how God has guided and blessed this church to be the final torch of truth that is warm and inviting to every travelling pilgrim through our states of North and South Carolina.