February 2021 Carolina's 10,000 P5
1. PAUSE TO PRAISE
Remember that simple melody – “God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me! He answers prayer, He answers prayer, He answers prayer, He’s so good to me!”
Praising God from Raleigh, NC
Praising God from Five Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Church in Durham, NC
Even with the challenges of the pandemic, God is far greater than the enemy of mankind. He can save to the uttermost! Praising God with Pastor Will Oosthuizen for these precious souls that were baptized last month (January 30).
Praising God from Charlotte Korean Seventh-day Adventist Church, NC
Jay Y Yon shares this wonderful note: “The Lord has blessed our church abundantly past few years. I would like to share with you that our tithe has doubled in 5 years. Praise the Lord! Last year’s tithe was $142,190.70 compared to $70,565.76 in 2016, and we expect it will stay around $150K.”
Praising God from the Carolina Conference!
In a year of turbulence with political upheaval and pandemic uncertainty, God has certainly watched over His church. Just about one year ago, projections of a possible drop in tithe by up to 15% (affecting the operation of God’s ministry in the Carolinas by a loss of almost $3 million), never happened. The faithfulness of God’s people resulted in an actual increase of 0.5% rather than that decrease helping His church in the Carolinas navigate through this challenging time.
Even better news is that for the third time in the history of the Carolinas, we exceeded our goal of $1million for evangelism. It happened in 2014, in 2019, and again in 2020! With special gratitude to a benefactor who bequeathed a trust designated for evangelism and a gracious donor that provided us with a sizable sum for evangelism, it pushed us over the million-dollar mark — even without having the benefit of our largest evangelism funding event at our annual camp meeting. We praise Him for these resources that can be utilized for evangelistic endeavors to reach every heart for Heaven through the amazing power of the Holy Spirit.
2. PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH SCHOOLS
As we began this school year last August, our teachers, our churches, and our school boards worked tirelessly together to safeguard the reopening of our schools and minimizing the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus by ensuring that our schools follow federal guidelines of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), state and local guidelines, and the directives of the Emergency Response Team of the Carolina Conference. As a result, we can thank the Lord that none of our teachers or students in our Carolina church schools have lost their lives or have been affected in any significant manner by this dangerous viral epidemic that has tragically impacted over 400,000 lives in the United States alone.
We need to never forget in uplifting our church schools, our teachers and the precious lives of our children and youth that have been entrusted to us. They are our sacred treasure to be educated and nurtured to become a blessing on earth and a saved soul for all eternity.
Beginning with this issue of the President’s Prayer Partners, we will highlight our church schools and the teachers of the Carolina Conference during the months of February, March, April and May.
Please uplift these schools in your prayers this month:
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
1. Evan Bujeker ............................................................................................................................................Pastor
Albemarle SDA Church
Pittsboro SDA Church
Carthage SDA Group of the Sandhills*
2. Jhonny Castro ...........................................................................................................................................Pastor
Raleigh Spanish SDA Church
Fuquay Varina Spanish SDA Company
Wilson Spanish SDA Company
3. Tim Cove .......................................................................................................................................................Pastor
Mocksville SDA Church
Statesville SDA Church
4. Jeff Crain .......................................................................................................................................................Pastor
Raleigh SDA Church
5. Donovan Davis .........................................................................................................................................Pastor
Spartanburg SDA Church
Gaffney First SDA Group*
6. Scottie Deal .......................................................................................................................Part-time Pastor
Concord SDA Church
Salisbury SDA Church
Kannapolis Harvest Mission SDA Mission Group*
7. Jeffrey Donaldson ..................................................................................................................................Pastor
Aitken SDA Church
North Augusta SDA Church*
Blythewood SDA Church*
Batesburg-Leesville Three Angels SDA*
*Serves as an Overseeing Pastor who supports the work of a Volunteer Lay Leader (VLL) or
A Volunteer Lay Pastor (VLP)
4. PRAYING FOR OUR DEPARTMENTAL MINISTRIES
Last year, starting 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 doing or are accomplishing, but rather to simply uplift in our prayers all our leaders and their faithful service. The ministries of the Carolina Conference are basically structured under 6 organizational departmental functions. They include:
1. The Adventist Christian Book Center
2. Camp Meeting
3. Administration
4. Outreach
5. Church Ministries
6. Children & Young Adults
Over the past few months, we have focused our prayers with the departmental functions of
Administration and Outreach. We continue our focus on the next department that is designated as a vital part of the Church Ministries in the Carolina Conference:
During the month of January, I invite you to
prayerfully uplift our
Prayer Ministries Department
under the leadership of Beth Grissom and
her secretary, Courtnie Hodgins
In Matthew 21:13 Jesus says, "My house shall be called a house of prayer." The goal of Prayer Ministries is to equip, train and encourage God's people in the Carolina Conference to have HOPE — Houses Of Prayer Everywhere. There is power in united corporate prayer! Prayer Ministries seeks to empower God’s people to pray more fervently according to the Word of God. Whether this takes place in a church sanctuary, on a neighbor’s front porch, or in solitude, miracles will surely follow. When we work, we work. But when we pray, God works!
5. SATURATED WITH THE WORD – Fundamental Belief # 19 — The Law of God
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 # 19: The Law of God The great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purposes concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in every age. These precepts are the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard in God’s judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Savior. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, and its fruit is obedience to the Commandments. This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow human beings. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives, and therefore strengthens Christian witness.
A. Deuteronomy 28:1 (NKJV) — “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord will set you high above all the nations of the earth.”
B. Psalm 19: 7-10 (NKJV) — “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and he honeycomb.”
C. John 15:9-11 (NKJV) — “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
D. 1 John 5: 2-3 (NKJV) — “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
6. PRAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE QUINQUENNIAL GOALS FOR 2022-2026
Last October, my fellow officer colleagues and I met at my home to spend some time in prayer and planning for God’s work that He has called us to lead in the Carolinas. Due to the circumstances of the pandemic, the Executive Committee voted to extend our present quinquennial period that began in 2016 to continue through the end of 2021. So, rather than this being a 5-year term, it will end up being a 6-year term. The seven 2020 visionary goals that were launched in 2016 by a vote of recommendation by the Executive Committee and a vote of affirmation by the constituency session will continue to make their impact for God’s work across the Carolinas.
As we make plans for the 2022 – 2026 Quinquennial Term, what are the areas of emphasis that we would like to develop and recommend to our Executive Committee and the next constituency session of the Carolina Conference in August of 2022?
We collectively chose to reduce and minimize that number to 3 visionary goals. However, we also want to maximize our focus, our energies, and earnest prayers for God’s blessings to see the advancement of these goals for God’s work in the Carolinas.
These three goals are still in the process of being developed and fine-tuned. It’s my desire to keep you posted in how these goals are being developed and implemented.
What are they? Simply put, they include the following initiatives…
To develop measurable goals for discipleship
To create more young adult engagement with the church
To implement a strategic plan for Mount Pisgah Academy to reach an enrollment of 125-150 students
How are we coming along with fine-tuning our plans to develop and implement these goals?
Discipleship - we hope to use a number of tools – primarily the Discipleship Handbook
of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that places very specific emphasis on eight spiritual habits that are
essential to being a faithful, Adventist disciple of Jesus. They include:
Encouraging Personal Prayer
Encouraging Personal Study of the Bible
Encouraging morning & Evening Family Worship
Encouraging Weekly Sabbath School Attendance
Encouraging Weekly Church Attendance
Encouraging Weekly Prayer Meetings or Mid-Week Small group Bible Study Attendance
Encouraging Personal Witnessing
Encouraging Regular Involvement in Local Church Ministry
Young Adults - defined as those between the ages of 18 and 35 – we desire to formulate a plan for young adult engagement with the church. Four Young Adult Sundown Sabbath Summits have been scheduled in 2021 on Friday evenings from 6-8pm. These summits will begin with a very informal pizza and salad supper sponsored by the conference. After worship, a devotional, and time of prayer, our intentional focus is to enter into a dialogue of listening and understanding how young adults may become an active voice in the mission and message of their church. The dates and locations of the Young Adult Summits (YAS) are listed below:
We are in the preliminary process of utilizing the North American Division (NAD) & Southern Union’s
endorsement of The School Growth Network to facilitate ongoing training, developmental resources, and
support to enable sustainable excellence at Mount Pisgah Academy (MPA). Paralleled with that we are also in a dialogue with the marketing research expertise of 5by5 – A Change Agency to explore every possible means in continuing a path of excellence for MPA. Our desired goal of reaching and maintaining an enrollment of no less than 125 students and up to a desired goal of 150 students at our academy will involve an intentional focus on preserving the quality of our educational ministry at MPA as well as in realizing a quantitative model for school growth on our beautiful campus.
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:
