June 2024 Carolina's 10,000 P5
Embracing Carolina with the Compassionate Call of Christ
The 10,000 President’s Prayer Partners is a fast-growing group of Carolina Conference constituents who take matters such as these to their knees. We invite you to join us and make this monthly list a matter of prayer. Together we seek the Lord for His answers and provisions to every need we bring before Him.
By God’s grace and the moving of the Spirit of the Living God, in both 2022 and 2023 over 1000 hearts were reached for Christ in His vineyard of the Carolinas. We rejoice that 2023 had the highest record of baptisms and professions of faith in the history of the Carolinas with 1,093 precious lives that chose to follow Jesus.
As we prepare to close this year and enter the year 2025, I invite you to join me in fervently praying that every single pastor and church district in Carolina will host at least one evangelistic effort to realize God’s leading in doubling that number to 2000 that will be added to the churches of North & South Carolina. I invite you to join me in praying earnestly that not a single church in Carolina will report “0” as their record of lives reached for Jesus by the time we come to our 2026 Camp Meeting. We cannot accomplish this without praying passionately for the Holy Spirit so we can know God more personally, love Him more deeply, and trust Him more closely. As we prepare to embrace the Pentecost 2025 initiative of the North American Division, I pray that you will embrace the desire to walk by growing spiritually and being prepared to receive the latter rain of the Spirit of the Living God. In Carolina, we have specifically entitled this prayer-bathed initiative as “Let it Rain!”
Jesus told his disciples to pray until they received the Holy Spirit. Only when the Holy Spirit came upon them did they receive the power that He promised them in His very last recorded words before He was lifted up into the clouds to return home to God the Father: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Think of what power will flow in our lives, what power will flow in our churches, when God becomes the center of our prayers – when we pray until the Holy Spirit fills us, leads us, controls us, and speaks through us.
It is vital that we walk daily with the Holy Spirit, which prepares God’s people to receive the latter rain of the Spirit that will empower and embolden us to witness Heaven’s invitation before the final crisis and the soon appearing of our God and Savior – Jesus Christ. Sadly, many in our churches feel they just must wait for the Latter Rain before they can experience a victorious walk with Christ. Such a view will end in disaster for anyone who holds that view.
Listen to what God’s messenger to His remnant church penned as these words of caution and counsel for each of us:
“I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of ‘refreshing’ and the ‘latter rain’ to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore, they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the site of a holy God.” - Ellen G. White, Early Writings, Page 71.
So, what can we do to prepare for the outpouring of the latter rain?
Two things that stand out from God’s Word:
Acts 3:19 reminds us of the importance of repentance in gaining the victory over temptations and sins that plague our lives: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
Zechariah 10:1 says, “Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain.” It may not be the season, but God still wants you to ask Him for the rain. Abstain from the attitude that whatever will be will be. No, come in alignment with God’s word for you from this moment by asking Him. Prayer positions us to receive what He already wants to give us.
Follow the counsel of Paul in I Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing. Prayer connects us with God in the most intimate way. But as my good friend Pavel Goia stated in His book that he co-authored with Kelly Mowrer entitled Spirit and Power – “prayer is not an event. It is a process.” When we start praying, God starts working. There are many times in our lives that we aren’t aware of what God is doing. So often we’ve been tempted to think that God’s too busy and so He doesn’t really have time for my prayers. But God is always there and always at work on our behalf – whether we may finally experience His answer this side of Heaven or realize the outcome only when we reach our Heavenly home.
As our time on this earth draws to a close, I believe that the Spirit of God will again be manifested powerfully in a similar way. The time is now — emboldened to share the good news, we are commissioned to be ambassadors of hope, compassion, and truth. This is not a time for complacency but a divine summons to actively participate in God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Join me in heartfelt prayer that each faithful disciple of Jesus in Carolina will with renewed zeal embrace the mission, proclaim the distinctive truths entrusted to us, and embody the love of Christ in a world hungering for hope and wholeness.
In his recent book entitled “Why Pray?” Pastor Mike Tucker recommends that praying with scripture is a powerful way to approach a gracious God who loves and cares so deeply for our needs. In one of the most recent chapters that I read in this book, he suggests praying by using a Psalm each day. Since there are 150 psalms in the Bible, each of those 150 psalms can take us through a prayer journey twice a year!
What a beautiful reminder that Peter, under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has shared with us in I Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV): “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” [Bold supplied for emphasis.]
Here are some special needs that we would like to place before our Carolina Family:
Churches in Need of Pastors:
Kernersville Seventh-day Adventist Church – We have been praying that the immigration application for our prospective pastor (Pastor Giancarlo DeMiranda) will come through by the end of this month so a clear decision can be made as to whether he will remain where he is currently serving or be able to transition to North Carolina. He’s an amazingly gifted pastor, and we’re praying for God’s direction in opening this door for his service at Kernersville or directing us to another pastor of His leading for this vital role.
Mount Pisgah Academy Church – We have gone through several prospective considerations but still have not been able to finalize on a prospective pastor who could bridge the entities of our senior community, the academy staff and students, and our elementary staff and students at APCS (Asheville-Pisgah Christian School).
Jacksonville, Kinston & Washington SDA Churches – Elder Moyer and I met with the Jacksonville and Kinston Churches last week, and Elder Bentley will be meeting with the Washington Church next week as we are in the process of a pastoral placement recommendation for this district.
Greensboro Korean SDA Church – Elder Moyer and I will be meeting with this congregation this week to explore possibilities to help this church meet their needs.
Fayetteville Korean SDA Mission Group – Although this is a small group, we are praying for God’s guidance in how we meet the pastoral needs of this church family.
Schools in Need of Teachers:
Please note: A church may be able to survive for a while without a pastor, but a school cannot effectively function without a teacher. In fact, in one situation that we are facing, a school faces closure unless the Lord intervenes and provides us with such a person of His leading. Here are the three remaining positions that we are asking for your earnest prayers:
Cornerstone Adventist School – Need of a Head Teacher for Grades 1-8 in a one-teacher school.
ACA (Adventist Christian Academy) Raleigh – Need of a High School Science or Language Arts Teacher.
Five Oaks/Durham SDA School – Need of a Lower Grades Teacher for Grades 1-4.
With each issue of our President’s Prayer Partners (P5), we continue to focus specifically on one of our goals and share some of the developments that are helping us in our journey toward accomplishing that goal.
During this month of our June P5 issue, I would like to highlight some of the developments taking place at Mount Pisgah Academy that are helping us toward that goal with an ongoing quest of measurable initiatives to reach and maintain a consistent, sustainable enrollment of 125-150 students.
There is a new atmosphere and energy on campus, and our students are happy to be here. We are excited to see them blossom into the young people God has called them to be. What’s highlighted in this June issue of P5 is just a sampling of an amazing buzz of activity and vibrant life that is permeating our campus at MPA with a fresh atmosphere of forward momentum.
Principal Dewald Coetzer says: “I am excited about the future of MPA, and I believe that God has a purpose for our school. As we continue to seek His will, He will continue to bless our campus and students.”
Mount Pisgah Academy has had more baptisms this year than in the previous five years. God is working on this campus through the staff and students to do the work He has called us to. May we always stay focused on the mission of Adventist Education in preparing our students for His service and kingdom.
Here’s what Madeline Ashlock (Class of 2025) had to say about their most recent Share Him mission Trip to Peru:
The mission trip of ‘23-’24 was definitely a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. If you had been there first hand, you could infer that the devil was working hard to ruin God’s divine work. Did this stop us? No! We kept preaching and, no matter what, we made sure our message got across. By the end of our week of preaching, there were numerous baptisms! My fellow peers and staff had a wonderful time preaching the gospel, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures, learning new languages, exploring new environments, and trying delicious new foods! We had the privilege of touring a bit of Cuzco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Vinicunca (the rainbow mountain). I was awestruck by it all. There are no words to describe the amazing beauty of God’s creations.
One of the students who went on the mission trip exclaimed her favorite part of the mission trip: “My church was so welcoming and friendly! After I would preach, they would invite me to sit together and have a warm drink and bread. I might not have been able to understand them, but I could see the love they had for everyone!”
From March 22nd to 24th, our campus at MPA was throbbing with excitement as 85 potential students and their families visited for Academy Days. This event showcased the vibrant spirit of our community and the outstanding talents of our students. Attendees were treated to spectacular performances by our choir, symphony, and Acrosports team, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed their exceptional skills. Visitors also participated in team-building activities, met new friends, and learned about our class offerings. Staying in the dorm and eating in our cafeteria provided valuable experience as well, allowing potential students to experience campus life.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of over $70,000 in scholarships to visitors who showcased their talents during Academy Days. These scholarships serve as a testament to our commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders and innovators.
The impact of Academy Days at MPA was profound, with a surge in applications from prospective students eager to join our community. It reaffirms their belief in the transformative power of education and their dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment.
As the faculty and staff reflect on the success of Academy Days, they are filled with optimism for the future and the contributions that their students will make to society. It was truly a celebration of talent, promise, and the boundless opportunities that await within our institution.
01 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 | 02 Protection from Our Sinful Heart 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 | 03 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 | |
04 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 | 05 Doctrinal Faithfulness By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 2 Timothy 1:14 | 06 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 | 07 A Strong Marriage & Family 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 |
Beginning with our April 2019 issue of P5, we started highlighting a department of the conference each month. Our aim is not to provide a comprehensive report of all their accomplishments but to uplift our leaders and their faithful service in their respective ministries through our prayers. In September 2021, we began the second full cycle of highlighting all the ministry departments of the Carolina Conference.
Last month we completed highlighting the Church Ministries Branch of the Carolina Conference and now we will turn our focus to the Children to Young Adult ministry branch which is divided into the following departmental subdivisions of service:
-Children’s Ministries -Education
-Young Adult & Public Campus Ministries
-Youth Ministries
In our May issue of P5, we invited you to lift up our Education Department in your prayers.
During this June issue, we ask you to uplift in prayer our Young Adult and Campus Ministries Department under the dedicated leadership of our Director, Cris Cazarine Dutra, and our gifted secretary to this department, Vanessa Arana.
The Carolina Conference has made a commitment to young adult and campus ministries. The goal of our department is to provide an inviting, non-threatening environment where young people can meet other Adventists, talk, relax, share experiences, and be fed both physically and spiritually. We want the opportunity to show that we care.
As a President’s Prayer Partner, we invite
you once again to be truly a people of the
Word. As Seventh-day Adventists, we adhere to
28 Fundamental Beliefs that are based solely on
the Bible. We began our third cycle of focusing on
these vital beliefs, which are centered in Christ as
both our Savior and Lord, in December of 2021.
Let’s continue to thoughtfully place His Word
in our hearts every day this month. I personally
carry a set of these passages in my car and recite
them aloud as I drive from one place to another.
My aim is to say one verse prayerfully at least
five times a day for a week, thus internalizing the
promise of God’s Word: “Thy word have I hid in
mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
(Psalm 119:11)
I encourage you to repeat these passages until
they become a part of your very being. Of course,
you’re always free to do more. Please consider, in
a prayerful manner, how you can saturate your
soul with His Word and make it a part of your
heart every day.
Be part of God’s praying church across North America by uplifting these leaders of our church who guide God’s work in these territories of God’s vineyard:
