April 2022 Carolina's 10,000 P5
1. PRAY FOR OUR THREE QUINQUENNIAL GOAL INITIATIVES FOR THE CAROLINA CONFERENCE DURING THE YEARS OF 2022-2026
In a little over four months, elected delegates from the churches of the Carolina Conference along with delegates-at-large will gather at Nosoca Pines Ranch for the 43rd Constituency Session of the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Inc. The purpose of this gathering is to re-elect or elect the Administrative Officers, the Departmental Directors and Associate Directors; and the Executive Committee of the Carolina Conference who will lead and guide God’s work in this part of His vineyard for the next five years (2022-2026). The theme of this session is simply “Loving God…Serving Others.”
In a few more weeks, every member of the Carolina Conference will be receiving a special edition of the Carolina Action highlighting God’s blessing on His work during the past term between 2016 and 2021. The actual quinquennial period was supposed to end in 2020. However due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Executive Committee extended our term of service for an additional year.
As we prepare for the new quinquennial term (2022-2026), the officers, in collaboration with pastors and other leaders will be presenting a three-fold focus for the new quinquennial term. On the next pages of this issue, I want to highlight those three goal initiatives to each of our President’s Prayer Partners as we uplift them before the Lord for His divine direction and blessing.
2. PRAYING SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR GOAL INITIATIVE FOR MOUNT PISGAH ACADEMY
Pray for our focus on reaching measurable initiatives to enhance the ministry of Mount Pisgah Academy to reach and maintain a consistent, sustainable enrollment of 125-150 students.
Mount Pisgah Academy is our secondary boarding high school owned and operated by the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It exists to love, educate and disciple students for God’s service.
In 2021 the leadership team of the Carolina Conference asked 5 by 5 – a research team based in Nashville, Tennessee – to conduct a market research to guide us with key, ongoing decisions for Mount Pisgah Academy (MPA). Specifically, the Carolina Conference desires to expand the impact of MPA to its constituent members of North and South Carolina evidenced by an increase in student enrollment at the school. The current enrollment is well below the optimal enrollment of approximately 150 students.
Based on the in-depth study of 5 by 5 and their strategic recommendations, the Carolina Conference has partnered with the services of The School Growth Network to provide an ongoing review and follow-up with the recommendations of 5 by 5. An annual report by The School Growth Network will provide the administration of MPA and the Carolina Conference an oversight of the progress being made in the development of specific areas of recommended research initiatives as expressed in nine desired goals.
The primary purpose in focusing on these strategic goals during this quinquennial period of 2022-2026 is to help MPA identify and address the components of an admissions and growth strategy. We pray for God’s direction and blessing as we move forward in faith to continue honoring the foundational theme of our campus – Jesus Lives at MPA; He Lives Within Our Hearts.
3. CONTINUE PRAYING FOR APRIL’S EVANGELISTIC EVENTS
Jesus said – “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14 NKJV
“Evangelism, the very heart of Christianity, is the theme of primary importance to those called to herald God's last warning to a doomed world. We are in time's closing hours and the Advent message, proclaimed to make ready a people prepared for our Lord's return, must swell to a loud cry reaching the uttermost parts of the earth.”
Ellen G. White, Evangelism, Page 5
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. Brandon Ford .................................................................................................................................Pastor
Banner Elk SDA Church
Boone New Life SDA Church
2. Glen Garver ....................................................................................................................................Pastor
Greensboro SDA Church
Greensboro Montagnard SDA Group
3. David Graham .............................................................................................................................Pastor
Asheville North SDA Church
Franklin SDA Church
4. Robert Grant, Jr. .......................................................................................................................Pastor
Tryon SDA Church
5. Eric Hagan ....................................................................................................................................Pastor
Clemson SDA Church
North Anderson SDA Church
6. Thorn Hean ................................................................................................................................Pastor
Gastonia SDA Church
Charlotte Hmong SDA Group
Cambodian Sharon SDA Group
Cambodian Lexington SDA Group
7. Ralph Henderson .................................................................................................................Pastor
Kernersville 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.
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:
Last month we focused on praying specifically for our Information Services & Audi Visual Services Department.
This month we want to focus our prayers on another vital ministry of the conference – The Insurance Services Department of the Carolina Conference.
We have been so blessed with the gifted and dedicated services Marlene Morgan who has served as our Risk Control Manager. Marlene just retired as our Associate Treasurer last month after 30 years of service to the Carolina Conference. Norma Sandoval is taking her place as our newest assistant treasurer who will oversee the management of risk control as an extension of her responsibilities.
Also serving as our Insurance Specialist is Angela Prieto while Chad Grundy oversees the properties and titles of all our conference entities.
The Insurance Team of the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists provides various services to our organizations. One of their responsibilities is to assist Carolina Conference institutions with issues relating to risk management and insurance procedures. The web site they manage contains a variety of resources that apply to insurance applications for special circumstances, insurance claim forms, and risk control forms.
They also have safety officer resources available for organizations that are wanting to be proactive in identifying potential safety concerns.
If you have any questions or need help with anything related to insurance or risk management, please contact them. They look forward to helping you and thank you for making our Carolina Conference institutions a safe place to worship and learn. Here’s our Insurance Services Team:
6. SATURATED WITH THE WORD – Fundamental Belief #5 – God the Holy Spirit
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 # 5: God the Holy Spirit God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He is as much a person as are the Father and the Son. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ’s life with power. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth
A. Psalm 51: 10-11 (NKJV) — “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”
B. Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV) — “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
C. John 14: 16-18 (NKJV) — “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
D. 2 Peter 1:21 (NKJV) — “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
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:
