September 2022 Carolina's 10,000 P5
1. THANKING GOD FOR YOUR SACRED TRUST
It has not been quite a month yet since delegates from around the Carolina Conference along with representation from the Southern Union Conference, the North American Division and the General Conference World Headquarters came together at Nosoca Pines Ranch to transact the business of the church for the next quinquennial period of 2022 – 2026.
The 43rd Constituency Session of the Carolina Conference re-elected our four officers, all our departmental directors and associates, all the members of the Executive
Committee and one new member who was
added to our Constitution and By-Laws Committee. As we closed that Friday to usher in the hours of the Sabbath, I bowed my head in a moment of tearful reflection as I looked to Dr. Ron Smith and said, “I’ve got my entire team. Praise God, I haven’t lost any of them.” Although exhausted from all the preparation and the process of a session, I just thanked God for our Carolina family who have placed such a profound sense of sacred faith in each of us whom He has called and entrusted with the task of leading in the missional focus of His church in this vineyard for the next five years. Thank you for your trust. By God’s grace, it is our desire and commitment to be faithful to that trust.
Now we need your earnest prayers. We are certainly not invincible. Our desire is to always remain as humble and faithful servant leaders for the Lord. As we guide and lead His church, we are fully aware of both the joys and heartaches in a world that is saturated with the sadness of sin. However, when God’s people uplift His leaders in prayer, we will be witnesses of His amazing blessings. Just last week, I read this beautiful passage of assurance penned by God’s messenger to His remnant church:
“The Lord declares that He will be honored by those who draw
nigh to Him, who faithfully do His service. ‘Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he
trusteth in Thee.’ Isaiah 26:3. The arm of Omnipotence is out-
stretched to lead us onward and still onward. Go forward the Lord
says; I will send you help. It is for my name’s glory that you ask,
and you shall receive. I will be honored before those who are
watching for your failure. They shall see my word triumph
gloriously. ‘All things, whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing,
ye shall receive.’ Matthew 21:22”
Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 173-174
2. PRAYING ABOUT DECISIONS FOR CHRIST MADE DURING OUR 2022 SUMMER CAMP AT NOSOCA PRINES RANCH:
At the end of every summer camp season, Rick Faber, our Camp Manager and Summer Camp Director at Nosoca Pines Ranch sends all our pastors decision cards affiliated with their respective churches that reflect a commitment or recommitment to Christ. Summer camp is all about the joy of living a life in connection with Jesus as Savior and Lord
in every camper’s experience.
I well know the power of camp ministry because I served at a youth camp for five years in a variety of roles and had the wonderful opportunity of interacting with and leading young people to Jesus in an environment of fun-filled activity. It was my involvement with camp ministry as a young adult that guided me to dedicate my life’s ministry to serving Christ and His church.
I have received the entire list and plan to use my morning moments with God to pray over a set of these decision cards till I complete saying and praying over each name. Each decision comes with an opportunity for a camper to express their commitment by indicating that (1) They love Jesus and desire to give their life to Him; (2) They want to commit their life to Jesus for the first time; (3) To express if they’ve already been baptized OR (4) If they’d like to study the Bible with a pastor at home to prepare for baptism. (5) It also gives them an opportunity to express a special prayer request that is on their heart.
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:
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
Pastor North Charleston Spanish SDA Church Summerville Spanish SDA Church Hanahan Spanish SDA Church Goose Creek Spanish SDA Company Johns Island Spanish SDA Company | |
Pastor Greenville NC Spanish SDA Church Mount Olive Spanish SDA Church Albertson Spanish SDA Company Dudley Spanish SDA Company | |
Pastor Fayetteville SDA Church Carthage Sandhills SDA Company Fayetteville Korean SDA Mission Group | |
Associate Youth Pastor Arden SDA Church | |
Pastor Mount Pisgah Academy SDA Church | |
Pastor Greenville SC Spanish SDA Church Spartanburg Spanish SDA Church Boiling Springs Spanish SDA Company | |
Pastor Lincolnton SDA Church Shelby SDA Church |
4. 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.
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
We have been focusing our prayers for the Administrative Branch of our conference. The Administrative Branch of the Carolina Conference is divided into the following branches of service:
In our last month’s Issue of August, we focused on praying specifically for our Religious Liberty Department.
This month we invite you to uplift one of the most important ministries that impacts every church in the Carolina Conference. The mission of the Ministerial Department is to help our ministers be all they can be in their soul-winning and discipling responsibilities.
They aspire to achieve this mission by employing resources such as training, encouragement, retreats, education, pastoral family care, and prayer; they seek to serve as the pastor’s pastor and advocate. They currently serve the 83 full-time ministers, 27 lay led churches, 28 lay led companies and 32 lay led mission groups throughout the Carolinas.
Elder Haskell Williams serves as the Ministerial Director for our conference. He chairs the Ministerial Council and focuses most of his ministerial care with the pastors & churches in western North Carolina.
Elder Darryl Bentley joined us just this year as our newest Associate Ministerial Director. He is also a valued member of our Ministerial Council and focuses most of his ministerial care with the pastors & churches of central and eastern North Carolina.
Elder Glen Altermatt is our Evangelism Director for the Ministerial department oversees the disbursement and follow through for our evangelism fund along with a leadership in evangelism training and oversight of our soul-winning and kingdom growth initiatives. He is an Associate Director serving on our Ministerial Council and provides primary care with the pastors and churches in South Carolina.
Elder Ricardo Palacios serves as our Hispanic Ministries Director for the Ministerial Department overseeing a ministry impacting approximately 25% of the constituent members of the Carolina Conference. He serves as the Church Planting and Church Revitalization Director overseeing the progress of our established groups, companies and churches while guiding in the establishment of new church plants across North and South Carolina. He is also an Associate Director serving on our Ministerial Council and provides primary care to the Hispanic pastors and churches across both North and South Carolina.
Lorraine Gonzalez is our talented and dedicated secretary for this department who handles a host of responsibilities to ensure the effective function of the various programs and communication for our churches and pastors.
Join me as we uplift this amazingly gifted and valuable team to God’s work in the Carolinas.
6. SATURATED WITH THE WORD – Fundamental Belief #9 — The Life, Death, and 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: The Life, Death, and 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. PRAY FOR THE MINISTRY OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST EDUCATION
A few weeks ago all of our schools, academies and colleges began a brand new school year. In the midst of the challenges that have plagued all our lives, let’s bring our praise to God for His protective hand over the lives of our students, their teachers, and each of our church schools. Far beyond God’s care over the impact of the pandemic of the past two years is God’s tender care for the children, youth and young adults who are being surrounded in an environment of Christ-centered education and nurture in preparation for a life of service for God and in eager anticipation of the joys of dwelling with Jesus for all eternity.
Beginning with this issue, I invite you to join me in praising God for each of our Universities, Academies and Schools that serve the Southern Union Conference and the Carolina Conference. Then in subsequent issues, we will focus our prayers for the church schools in our conference territory.
We begin with our Universities in the Southern Union Conference:
We continue with our Senior Boarding Academies within the Carolina Conference:
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:
