November 2021 Carolina's 10,000 P5
1. A HEART OF THANKSGIVING
I love Fall more than any other season of the year. The cool crisp air replacing the heat and humidity of the summer days; the brilliant and resplendent hues of autumn leaves with their yellow, red, and orange
highlighted by the radiant beams of sunlight; and along comes Thanksgiving, a nostalgic reminder that God has indeed “shed His
grace on Thee.” The firewood is cut. The plump pumpkins bring
smiles to our faces. Our hearts are overflowing. This is a season of reflection – a time to gain a new perspective – especially after all that we’ve been through in 2020 and 2021. Quietly and without fanfare, God graciously has moved upon our lives taking us from summer to autumn.
Since Fall is my favorite season of the year, Thanksgiving, hands down, is my most cherished holiday of the year. Although my birthday happens to fall (No pun intended!) on October 31, Halloween is certainly my most despised holiday of the year because I believe it is intentionally and deceptively designed as “innocent” fun as a tribute to the devil himself. Obviously, you now clearly know where I stand regarding that holiday!
Thanksgiving, however, moves us from both the orange and black or the red and green commercialism to a time of quiet reflection upon the past and an annual reminder that God has, again and again, been ever so faithful. The solid and simple things of life are brought into a clear focus, so much so that everything else fades into insignificance, Thanksgiving brings a way into my life by blocking and freeing out the giant of selfishness and ushering in a sincere spirit of gratitude, love, and genuine joy. This is a holiday that turns our heads upward. It prompts my heart to humility. It draws my genuine gratefulness to God for His mercy, His
abundance and His protective care. May this year’s Thanksgiving, as no other holiday, move the depth of our souls to count our blessings to the point of running out of time before exhausting the list.
I recently heard of a young girl named Leisa who began to write things she was grateful for with a permanent marker on a large pumpkin. “Sunshine” was the first item. Soon visitors were adding to her list. Some entries were whimsical: “doodling,” for instance. Others were practical: “a warm house”; “a working car.” Still others were poignant, like the name of a departed loved one. A chain of gratitude began to wind its way around the pumpkin.
Psalm 104 offers a litany of praise to God for things we easily overlook. “[God] makes springs pour water into the ravines,” sang the poet (v. 10). “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate” (v. 14). Even the night is seen as good and fitting. “You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl” (v. 20). But then, “The sun rises . . . . People go out to their work, to their labor until evening” (vv. 22–23). For all these things, the psalmist concluded, “I will sing praise to my God as long as I live” (v. 33).
Our world is still reeling from over five million Covid-19 related deaths worldwide including over 750,000 just in the United States. As I write this today, the husband of my wife’s cousin was just disconnected from his respirator and life support adding to a very personal loss in our family. Although much of the world may not know how to deal with death, even the smallest offering of praise to our Creator can become a shining contrast of hope as we reflect on the myriad of things for which we can be thankful with a grateful heart.
2. REMEMBERING OUR CHURCH SCHOOLS
As we continue to uplift our Carolina Church schools, let’s pray specifically for:
1. God’s protective care over our teachers, parents, and students during this pandemic period that has impacted all of our lives during the past two years.
2. Let’s pray for wisdom and happiness in the lives of each of our principals, head teachers and teachers as they mentor and prepare our student for a life of service on this earth, but most importantly for their citizenship in Heaven.
3. Let’s pray for our school boards and church boards as they manage the operation of each of our church schools as centers consecrated for the salvation and education of our children and youth.
3. PRAISES AND PRAYERS FOR A SPECIAL NEED IN OUR CONFERENCE
Wake Forest Seventh-day Adventist Church Building Project
Our Mills River SDA School has been so important to the community that they have grown in student attendance over the last few years! They desperately need space to accommodate full-time students. They also provide a home school enrichment day once a week for homeschooled students to have classes in an environment with their peers. Enrichment classes include choir, art, guitar, physical education, Spanish and educational field trips. Many families need the option of Christian education for their children. Due to the ever-increasing numbers that they have been blessed with, it is their hope and plan to start construction on a new school building this year while minimizing the debt load for their school. They keep their tuition as low as possible only to maintain the school; therefore, their school does not yet have the necessary funds for a new building while maintaining a debt-free status. We know that through faith, God will provide the needs of our church school in Mills River.
Unfortunately, our school at Mills River has been forced to turn students away because they don't have room and currently have a waiting list. They are in desperate need of more space, especially since they are offering face to face learning during these uncertain times, when virtual learning is becoming a new normal.
As we celebrate this season of Thanksgiving and usher in the Christmas season of giving, may I invite you to consider our church school at Mills River as they prayerfully pursue their dream to expand the ministry of their church school with this much-needed new facility?
4. 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:
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)
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)
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)
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)
For Doctrinal Faithfulness — "By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." (2 Timothy 1:14)
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)
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. Elias Sandoval-Mantilla .........................................................................................................Pastor
Raeford Spanish SDA Church
Fayetteville Spanish SDA Church
St. Paul’s Spanish SDA Church
Lumberton Spanish SDA Company
Bladenboro Spanish SDA Company
Shannon Spanish SDA Group
Red Springs Spanish SDA Group
2. Moises Sauza .................................................................................................................................Pastor
Hickory Spanish SDA Church
Lincolnton Spanish SDA Company
Valdese Spanish SDA Company
Hamptonville Spanish SDA Company
Statesville Spanish SDA Group
Lenoir Spanish Mission Group
Kings Mountain Spanish Mission Group
3. Laurentiu Serban .......................................................................................................................Pastor
High Point SDA Church
Eden SDA Company
4. Tim Sheridan ................................................................................................................................Pastor
Marion SDA Church
Rutherfordton SDA Church
5. Jimmy Shwe ...................................................................................................................................Pastor
Chapel Hill – Karen SDA Church
Columbia Karen SDA Group
New Bern Karen SDA Mission Group
Greensboro Karen SDA Mission Group
6. Silvertone Stare .......................................................................................................................Pastor
Union SDA Church
Woodruff SDA Church
7. Ric Swaningson ..........................................................................Pastor & President of AWA
Wilson First SDA Church
5. PRAYING FOR OUR DEPARTMENTAL MINISTRIES
Beginning 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.
During the month of September. 2021, we began the second full cycle of remembering all the ministry departments of the Carolina Conference. With this month’s issue, we wish to uplift the ministry of the Administrative services of the Carolina Conference
The Ministries of the Carolina Conference are basically structured under 6 organizational department functions. They include:
1. The Adventist Christian Book Center
2. Camp Meeting
3. Administration
4. Outreach
5. Church Ministries
6. Children & Young Adults
The Administrative Branch of the Carolina Conference is divided into the following branches of service:
The four executive officers are the President, Vice President for Administration/Executive Secretary, Vice President for Finance/Treasurer, and Undertreasurer.
These individuals have made it their mission to serve the conference in any way that they can, while taking into consideration the needs and desires of churches and individuals across the Carolinas.
Alongside their executive counterparts, departmental directors and associates not only lead out in a variety of church ministries, they also serve as a link between local congregations and the conference office.
The Vice-President for Administration/Secretariat Office serves as the guardian of the corporate and ecclesiastical records of the Conference and oversees issues involving conference personnel. In addition, they provide direction and leadership to those maintaining the official records of membership for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North and South Carolina. They also lend support and aid to the Conference president in service of the constituency of the Carolina Conference.
We invite you to pray for God’s courage, wisdom and peace for our team of officers and their secretaries who serve as leaders in the Administrative branch of the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists:
6. SATURATED WITH THE WORD – Fundamental Belief #28 – The New Earth
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 # 28 – The New Earth On the new earth, in which righteousness dwells, God will provide an eternal home for the redeemed and a perfect environment for everlasting life, love, joy, and learning in His presence. For here God Himself will dwell with His people, and suffering and death will have passed away. The great controversy will be ended, and sin will be no more. All things, animate and inanimate, will declare that God is love; and He shall reign forever. Amen.
A. Isaiah 65:17 (NKJV) — “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.”
B. Isaiah 66:22-23 (NKJV) — “ ‘For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that form one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the Lord.”
C. II Peter 3:13 (NKJV) — “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
D. Revelation 22:1-5 (NKJV) — “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”
7. REMEMBERING AND UPLIFTING GOD’S ANOINTED LEADERS FOR THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN CONTINUOUS PRAYER
Be part of God’s praying church across North America by uplifting these leaders also in the Pacific Union of Seventh-day Adventists and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada who guide God’s work in these territories of God’s vineyard:
