December 2025 Carolina's 10,000 P5

Leslie D. Louis
6 days ago
10 min read

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.

Pentecost 2025 marked the launch of a bold North American Division initiative to conduct at least 3,000 proclamation events across our vast territory. How grateful I am that by the end of this year more than 5,000 proclamation events will have taken place! Praise God! Yet we must recognize that this initiative can only succeed through prayer and the intervention of the Holy Spirit.

Here in Carolina, we added our own prayer plea to this movement—“Let it Rain!” And we can certainly praise the Lord that, among all eight conferences in the Southern Union, our Carolina pastors and churches have helped us achieve the highest percentage of proclamation events across our territory. Praise the Lord!

In our November issue of P5, as we continued seeking the Latter Rain power of the Holy Spirit, we reflected on how receiving the Spirit (Acts 2:38; John 14–16) connects us with Paul’s instruction to “put on the whole armor of God” during the Great Controversy:

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

These two ideas—the Spirit and the armor—are deeply connected. Both describe how God equips believers to live victoriously in spiritual battle. As we pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we are also asking Him to clothe us with the full armor of God. The Holy Spirit supplies that armor, empowers it, and teaches us how to use it.

Beginning with this December P5, we will explore each part of that armor and how vital it is to receiving the Latter Rain power we so desperately need as we long to reach every heart for our heavenly home.

Our P5 Prayer Focus for the Coming Months

December 2025 – Belt of Truth

January 2026 – Breastplate of Righteousness

February 2026 – Shoes of Peace

March 2026 – Shield of Faith

April 2026 – Helmet of Salvation

May 2026 – Sword of the Spirit

The Belt of Truth

In Ephesians 6, Paul describes the belt of truth as the first piece of the armor of God. This is not accidental—truth is foundational. Here are three ways the belt of truth connects to experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit:

A. Truth anchors our identity as Seventh-day Adventist Christians.

The Holy Spirit works through who we are in Christ, not through what guilt, fear, or culture says about us. When we “put on” truth, we remind ourselves of these beautiful realities:I am forgiven. I am loved. I am God’s chosen son or daughter. I am not condemned.Truth removes shame and opens our hearts to God’s presence.

B. Truth stabilizes us in the Great Controversy.

A Roman soldier’s belt held everything together—supporting the armor and securing the sword. Likewise, spiritual truth steadies our thoughts under pressure, keeps our emotions from slipping into confusion, and strengthens our faith and hope. With truth securing our spiritual “armor,” we are not tossed about by fear, temptation, or deception. This stability gives the Holy Spirit room to move powerfully in our lives.

C. Truth produces holiness—the desire of God’s heart for each of us.

The Spirit’s power is not only about miracles; it is about transformation.

Truth exposes sin and leads us to repentance.

Truth reveals our wounds and offers healing.

Truth uncovers the idols we have allowed into our lives and helps us surrender them.

Where truth clears space, the Holy Spirit fills it. More simply put: The Spirit of the Living God fills the space that truth prepares.

The influence of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) educators is often described as a ministry, not just a profession. Their impact extends beyond academics to shaping lives spiritually, morally, and socially.

Here are some blessings of their influence of our children and youth:

Spiritual development
Character development
Mission influence4.
Academic excellence with an eternal purpose
Lifelong impact
Blessings to the educators themselves.

Each month, I invite you to praise God for one of these blessings. Last month, we thanked God for the blessing of Character Development—a sacred work Christ has entrusted to our teachers as they shape the hearts and minds of the children and youth under their care.

This month, let us praise Him for the Missional Influence of Adventist education:

Seventh-day Adventist educators serve as missionaries in their classrooms. By sharing the gospel daily, they touch not only students but also families and communities.
Their impact extends far beyond the school walls. Students carry lessons of faith into their homes, friendships, and future careers.
Many of our schools actively engage in mission projects—locally in their communities, across the United States, and even internationally as God opens doors to the ends of the earth.
This year, 17 of our 20 church schools participated in proclamation events as part of the Pentecost 2025 initiative, heralding the everlasting gospel. Praise God for this strong missional focus!

Ellen G. White—one of the co-founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church—wrote extensively about education. She reminds us that Adventist education is not merely academic; it is inherently missional, designed to prepare people who reflect Christ’s character and serve the world with purpose.

As we continue with this December issue of P5, I invite you to pray for these precious men and women who serve as ministers of education—representing Jesus to the children and youth of our churches and communities—as we close the first half of the 2025–2026 school year.

With each issue of our President’s Prayer Partners (P5), we continue to highlight one of our quinquennial goals and share updates on the progress God is enabling across our conference.

Last month, we prayed over our ongoing initiatives toward fulfilling our first quinquennial goal—developing measurable goals for discipleship.

During this month of December, we return our focus to the second quinquennial goal ofintentionally engaging, empowering, and enabling our young adults in the mission of the church.

Young Adult Ministries: Building Momentum, Strengthening Leaders, and Growing Community

The Young Adult and Campus Ministries Department continues to witness God’s movement across the Carolinas in steady and encouraging ways. Young adults are stepping into leadership, churches are investing more deeply in discipleship, and new opportunities for connection are emerging throughout our conference.

Young Adult LIFE Tour in Raleigh: A Weekend of Growth and Vision

This fall, the Carolinas had the privilege of hosting the Young Adult LIFE Tour at the Raleigh ARC Recreation Center. This Southern Union event brought together young adult leaders, pastors, and church members for two days of worship, training, and community.The purpose of the LIFE Tour is simple: to strengthen local church ministry with young adults. Built around four core priorities—

1. Leadership Impact

2. Intergenerational Relationships

3. Faith Development

4. Everyday Compassion

—each session offered practical tools that leaders could take home and immediately apply.President Leslie Louis shared that the gathering reflected a deep desire for connection and unity. The spirit throughout the weekend revealed a sincere commitment to helping young adults grow in their walk with Christ and find purpose in the life of the church.

Leaders also gained renewed clarity about the importance of engaging young adults in ways that resonate with today’s culture. Tracy Wood, NAD Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director, encouraged attendees to keep moving forward—creating spaces where young adults feel seen, valued, and equipped to serve.

Beyond the training, the event provided young adult leaders with meaningful opportunities to build relationships, share experiences, and discover new ways to support one another. Many left with fresh ideas, renewed passion, and a strengthened sense of calling.

A Movement That Continues to GrowAlthough the Raleigh gathering was one of the final stops of the LIFE Tour this year, the movement is far from over. A new chapter begins with the first-ever NAD Young Adult LIFE Experience (YALX), scheduled for January 23–25, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. Young adults, leaders, and mentors from across the Division will come together for a weekend of worship, training, and community.

We invite every young adult and every leader committed to discipling the next generation to join us for this historic event.

Supporting Young Adults Across the Carolinas

From campus ministries to digital outreach, from local church involvement to leadership training, young adults across our conference are discovering spaces where their faith can grow and their gifts can be used for God’s glory. The Holy Spirit is working in quiet conversations, new friendships, small groups, online connections, and local churches that are walking intentionally with this generation.

Thank you for praying, supporting, and investing in this vital ministry. As we look ahead to the coming year, we remain committed to building a church where every young adult can find belonging, purpose, and a deeper relationship with Christ.

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

We are on our third cycle of remembering these departmental leaders and their ministries. Our purpose is not intended to report all that these departments have been or are accomplishing, but rather to simply uplift all our leadership team and their faithful service in the respective ministries that they oversee in our prayers.

We continue our focus on the Outreach Ministries of the Carolina Conference. They include the following departmental branches:

• ASI

• Carolina Evangelism

• Church Planting

• Community Services

• Disaster Response

• Health Ministries

• Missions

• Publishing

• Prison Ministries

• Adult Sabbath School

Last month, we highlighted our Prison Ministries Department, led faithfully by volunteers Jim Whetmore and Larry Barker.

This month, we invite you to uplift in prayer the final ministry within our Outreach Branch—our Adult Sabbath School Department, guided by Pastor Cesar Perozo and supported by the dedicated service of Mrs. Chana Gentry, who has faithfully served as department secretary.

Special Note: Mrs. Gentry is currently transitioning into her new role as our Children’s Ministries Director. A new secretary will be appointed to the Adult Sabbath School Department by our Administrative Committee (ADCOM) following the completion of the interview process and HR recommendations.The Adult Sabbath School Department provides essential support for local church Sabbath School ministries and offers training for superintendents and teachers throughout the Carolina Conference. This department focuses on four key areas:

Global Missions
Evangelism
Fellowship
Bible Study

Its current emphasis is:

“Growing the Local Church Through Sabbath School Ministries.”

Let us remember in both prayer and support the vital role of our Adult Sabbath Schools. As we noted in the November issue of P5, Adult Sabbath School plays a significant part in fulfilling the first of our quinquennial goals—developing faithful disciples of all who commit themselves to God’s remnant church as we prepare for the imminent and glorious return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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.

2 Chronicles 20:20 (NKJV) – “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe in His prophets, and you shall prosper.”
Amos 3:7(NKJV) – “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Joel 2: 28 (NKJV) – “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.”
2 Peter 1: 19-21(KJV) -“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

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: