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THE COMMUNICATOR (West Edmonton Seventh Day Adventist Church News) June 2008
From the Desk of the Pastor:
It is with a sense of pride that I welcome and introduce you to this the first issue of our 2008 Newsletter. Our Church has been copiously blessed with tremendously gifted and talented individuals, who are sacrificing time and energy in making sure that you are informed and that God’s name is glorified. There is a lot of information that will be coming to you through these issues. Please share your comments with us and give a contribution to the publication of this needed paper. As our Church continues to grow, may our great God continue to bless us with talents and gifts that we will use to bring men and women to a saving knowledge of Him. And we will be careful to give Him the praise and the glory for all that He has done and is doing for us. Let me be the first to say thanks to all the contributors. May the blessings of the Lord continue to rest on you. Terrence Horrell, Pastor CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
The children’s ministry is off and going for another wonderful year. There are approximately 50 active children, ranging in ages 3 to 12 years old, attending each week. They start each worship session with prayer. You can hear the sounds of the “angel choir” as the children sing captivating and worshipful songs. The children have been led through lessons that deal with heroes like Daniel and are now into an exciting program where they encounter Jesus’ love and discover what the Bible says about sibling rivalry and jealousy. This is an active group of young people who bring such meaning to our church as well as to the wonderful volunteers who work with them weekly. We thank our Children’s Ministry team, Colleen Ellis, Carolyn French, Shauna, Sherine and Shatha Spence, Ashlei Forest, Patricia Vernon, Janae Beckford, Joseph Muswizu, Stephanie and Audrey French for all of their hard work in organizing and supervising this growing program week after week. Jesus set the example: we’re here to serve others. It was His mission on earth, and it’s what He expects from us. It is a blessing that these individuals have found a way to serve and they serve out of love. Galatians 5:13 says “...serve one another in love.” With God’s blessings may this program continue to grow as children are lead to an understanding and love for Jesus. Sandy Boyce PATHFINDERS/ADVENTURERS INDUCTION SERVICE On Sabbath, February 16, 2008, under the direction of Maya Ellis, Colleen Ellis and Yngreed Pierre-Antoine, young inductees pledged to serve, by the grace of God, to be pure, kind and true, to be a servant of God and a friend to man. These young people supported by their parents, lit candles and promised to do their part in caring for their bodies, being obedient and being reverent in the church. It was touching to see the solemnity with which these children approached all that they did. In a world where there is so much crime and disrespect, it is wonderful to see that these children have parents and guardians who want to encourage their children to be productive members of our church community as well as the world community at large. The Pathfinder / Adventurer Club usually meet every other Sunday and the children work on obtaining badges in different categories such as health and safety, crafts, nature and camping. Club members are exposed to many different wholesome experiences one being the upcoming Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 2009. The children are excited about making this trek as they will meet approximately 30,000 fellow club members from over 100 countries. Let us continue to support and pray for the leaders and the children as they strive to make this world and the lives of those around them better. Sandy Boyce PRAYER, PRAISE, POWER February 23 – March 1, 2008 The West Edmonton Seventh-day Adventist Church commenced its Week of Prayer on February 23, 2008, with a moving Divine Service of praise and testimonies orchestrated by Youth Pastor, Dexter Smith. There was not a dry eye in the congregation as individuals gave thanks and shared how God is working in their lives. The evening service consisted of a musical program with a special Black History Month feature on pioneer Adventists. The speaker for the week was Assistant Pastor, Marvin Clarke, of the Toronto Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. What a man of God! Pastor Clarke broke the word down night after night to the waiting congregation. His message titles included “A Date with Death”, “Sinking But Not Sunk”, “Is Anybody Home”, “Just One Gave Thanks”, and “How ‘Bout You Watch Your Walls Fall Down”. The climax message entitled “It’s Time to Be Tested” was delivered on Sabbath. This dynamic preacher prefaced his statements with “the Bible says….” Both young and old commented that Pastor Clarke brought out points that they have never noticed before, in texts that they had read over and over. When Pastor Clarke felt like people were not “feeling him”, he approached the issue from another angle to hit the point home. And that he did. We got it. What a spirit filled week of revival, where this young man used by the Holy Spirit, reminded the congregation about the time that we are living in and provided new insights into the B-I-B-L-E, Basic Information Before Leaving Earth. May God continue to lead in the life of His servant and use him to bring others to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Sharon Long (Brown)PERSONAL MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT In an effort to revive ‘mission’, the West Edmonton Seventh-day Adventist Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, decided that each department of the church should become mission focused. We were informed of a conference taking place in Orlando called The Festival of the Laity, sponsored by the evangelistic arm of the church. We decided to take advantage of this opportunity to learn how better we could serve. There were exciting new ways presented to conduct outreach. For instance, making Sabbath School a tool for soul winning by creating an atmosphere of friendliness that will attract visitors to want to be involved and ultimately become a part of the church, as they are immersed in the various areas of studies. One area of ministry that was especially impressive to us, as we looked at ourselves in terms of being a ministry, was the Soul Winning Action Team (SWAT) ministry. This ministry is truly friendship evangelism in its purest form. This is how it works: a visitor comes to our church on Sabbath morning, the greeter takes the name, address and phone number of this person and hands him or her a welcome package. A postcard is sent out no later than Sunday, thanking that person for coming and we also offer the services of the church with the intent to make a visit no later than the Thursday of that same week, depending on the individual’s response to the follow-up call. We avoid applying any pressure because we want our guest to feel free to make a well thought out decision. We are prepared to follow-up on requests made by our guest and we stay in touch by making a friendly phone call to ask how things are going, or by giving Bible studies - however, never forgetting that our goal is to introduce the Saviour to this person. We truly believe this is a method that can be used in our church or any church for that matter. This format is based on the principle laid out by Jesus himself. Friendship evangelism is Jesus’ method. Referring to the Master, Sister White wrote “The Savior identified with men as one who desires their good. He ministered to their need, then bid them follow me.” Should we be any different in our approach? Should not the Master’s example, that has been tested and proven, be our method of ministering to the lost? William Vernon
PERSPECTIVE OF A NEW ELDER I am happy to be home. I believe that God has led me back to Edmonton because He has a special purpose for me. I have been blessed to serve the church in many different aspects. So when I was asked to serve as an elder, I had to accept. When God calls you to do something you must do it. But once you answer a call, you also accept responsibility. Being a new elder has been a blessing thus far. You may think that it would be challenging being the only female elder, but truthfully that has not been an issue for me. The other elders and pastors have accepted me and treat me with a great deal of respect. What has been challenging is not being the sole female, but being an individual who has been a church member since childhood. Unfortunately, at times members see me as the little Lesa they’ve known since Cradle Roll and not a spiritual leader. I am often approached with concerns and suggestions and they feel they should be addressed because they’ve known me all my life. And how can you say no to people who have helped mold you into the person you are today? And how do you tell people who are like parents to you, what to do and what not to do? One thing I know for sure is that God would not call me to ministry if He didn’t equip me. So despite the challenges, I know that God will use me to the best of my ability. Lesa Marshall
BRAIN EXERCISE: Are You Doing Yours? The human brain is the most complex and mysterious organ found in the body. It is in our brains where knowledge is stored, dreams are imagined, and emotions are expressed. Although the brain may seem powerful, it is fragile. If it is not challenged its power will be weakened. According to an article written by Rob Waters, “about 5.2 million people in the U.S. already have Alzheimer’s – a progressive and fatal disease that destroys brain cells.” The best way to prevent Alzheimer’s is to give the brain mental exercise. We all know the text that says that we need to respect our bodies because they do not belong to us; our bodies are temples. Of course one should not abuse the body, but we should not neglect it either. It is essential to keep the body in shape and that includes exercising the brain. For those who attended Patricia Vernon’s AY on memorization, an excellent challenge for the brain is memorizing Bible texts. Find the time during the week to learn a few verses from the word of God. Not only will this help strengthen the mind but also the soul. God gave us our brains in order for us to minister to the world. With a broken mind or a misused one, we are not a benefit to ourselves or to God. As Pastor Dexter Smith asked in one of his recent sermons, “what are you good for?” One could add to the question, “What are you good for, without a strong mind?” Ashley E. Boyce
FOUR WORDS A young boy wrote a letter to Mother Teresa. He asked her how he could make a difference with his life, like she had with hers. For months, he didn’t hear anything from her. Then one day he received a letter from Calcutta, India. He expectantly opened it up and read four words that changed his life. “Find your own Calcutta.” HEALTH CORNER Onion and Garlic May Lower the Risk of Cancer Do you enjoy the flavor of onions and garlic in your meals? If you do, you may be in luck. New research from southern Europe indicates that these foods may be protective for several cancers. Large case controlled studies compared people eating the most onions and garlic with those eating little if any. Here is what they found. Those eating the most onion-family foods had:
As you can see, those people eating the most onions and garlic had significantly less cancer. The good part is that it’s fun to eat these foods. Other studies in the United States, France, and China have also found protective effects for these vegetables against cancer. While more research needs to be done, the data is quite convincing and the treatment is quite pleasant. So eat up and enjoy your favorite onion and garlic dishes. You may be practicing preventive medicine and it never tasted so good! Dr. Don Hall, President of LifeLong Health FAMILY LIFE
Do you ever wonder whether anybody still values the traditional family unit in this day and age? Current social, economic and technological changes are making it difficult for traditional families to grow. Expectations, lifestyle and value systems are also changing. Adventists believe the family is one of the most important foundational units of society and want to support it. What Makes Healthy Families? Some time ago, 13 of the world's leading family researchers met in Washington, DC, USA, to focus on what they had learnt from their research into healthy families. According to Family Therapy News (July-August 1990), the researchers agreed that there were nine characteristics or strengths of happy, healthy families: 1.Adaptability These families are able to adapt to predictable life-cycle changes as well as to stressful events. They deal with life's inevitable crises by taking a stressful situation and focusing on positive solutions. 2.Commitment Successful families have a high degree of commitment to each other. They promote each other's happiness and welfare. They invest time and energy in one another and make "family" their number one priority. They develop similar interests and common goals that give the family something to work toward and achieve together. 3.Communication These families spend time talking with one another. They are good listeners. They use clear, open, honest patterns of communication and clear up any misunderstandings. 4.Individuality They have the ability to encourage a sense of belonging and connectedness while at the same time fostering individual development. 5.Appreciation Appreciation is clearly and regularly expressed by family members as they delight in making each other feel affirmed and valued. 6.Spiritual Health Healthy families have a high degree of religious orientation and practice. They promote love, caring and compassion. While not all belong to an organised church, they share religious faith and have similar values and standards. 7.Social Connectedness These families are involved in and connected to the wider community of extended families, friends, and neighbours. They aren't isolated, but participate in community activities that provide resources to assist them as they adapt and cope with stress and change. 8.Clear Roles Family members are flexible in their roles and share responsibilities by doing whatever is necessary to meet each other's needs. Gender issues aren't a problem in these families. 9.Shared Time Together In all areas of their lives, healthy families structure their schedules to spend time together. They work, play and worship together, have a sense of humour and experience fun together. They enjoy both quality and quantity time. Written by Bryan Craig, Director of Family Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific Division Belonging to a family can have its ups and downs. It can be hard for parents to raise children and for children, to abide by parents rules. Nevertheless, a family is a unit of support to all of its members. Noah and Elise Joseph are proof that with God’s love, and by assisting each other, they are able to maintain a healthy family unit. This couple migrated from Dominica to Canada in 1966 and have been married for 44 years. Although coming from diverse religious backgrounds, they raised their four children in a prayer filled and God fearing home. Today, Elise and Noah Joseph boast a family totaling 25(including 15 grand children)! Bro. and Sis. Joseph were always involved in the lives of their children. They attended parent/teacher conferences, sporting activities, and musical events. They encouraged their children to attend university and today they are all contributing members of their community. It was asked of this couple what keeps their family connected, they replied, that they spent lots of quality time together doing outdoor activities like soccer, netball, track and field, and picnics. Most importantly they prayed together. As the saying goes “the family that prays together, stays together.” The influence that these two individuals have had on their children is now reaching their extended family – grandchildren and in-laws. It is their hope and desire to see their children in heaven. Veronica Hanson
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