June 2026 Carolina's 10,000 P5

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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.

Pray for the Holy Spirit’s Clothing of

Colossians 3

With the recent rains, we have witnessed a refreshing revitalization of the vegetation and once-parched lawns across the Carolinas

That remains my earnest prayer for each of us: that we will continually seek the Lord, never ceasing to pray for and prepare our hearts to receive the abundant showers of God’s blessing through the outpouring of the latter rain of His Holy Spirit in each of our lives and collectively in our churches.

As we believe, pray, and eagerly expect His promised blessing, our gracious Savior will prepare our hearts and empower us to share the everlasting gospel throughout the Carolinas. Then, by His Spirit, hearts will be

reached in our communities and metropolitan centers for Christ in ways we have never experienced before. For the past several months we have prayed for each of the fruits of the Spirit that the Apostle Paul emphasized in Galatians 5:22-23 and each part of the armor of God referenced in Ephesians 6:10-18. Now for the next few months, let’s consider how Paul asks us to clothe ourselves with a specific new dress code that will reflect the Holy Spirit’s leading in our witness for Christ as described in Colossians 3:12-14.

I especially like the clear wording of this passage from the New Living Translation—which happens to be one of my favorite devotional versions of Scripture. Here’s how that passage is written for us:

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

In Colossians 3:12-14, Paul calls God’s people to clothe themselves with:

Tenderhearted mercy
Kindness
Humility
Gentleness
Patience
Forgiveness
Above all, love

These seven qualities are not produced merely by human effort or determination. They are the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in the life of the believer.

When the Holy Spirit fills our hearts, He changes our attitudes, softens our dispositions, and enables us to reflect to others the character of Jesus. The Spirit empowers us to show mercy when others are hurting, kindness when others are difficult, humility when pride seeks to take control, and patience when circumstances test our faith. He also gives us the grace to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.

In many ways, Colossians 3:12-14 describes what a Spirit-filled life looks like and closely mirrors the fruit of the Spirit that Paul beautifully portrays in his letter to the Galatians.

So, how can we pray for and put on the clothing of TENDERHEARTED MERCY?

We are most merciful when we never forget how merciful God has been to us.

The person who recognizes that he has been forgiven, restored, and loved by grace will be more inclined to extend grace to others. The Holy Spirit continually reminds us that we stand before God not because of our goodness, but because of Christ’s righteousness. As Jesus taught: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

The Holy Spirit changes the way we look at people.

Instead of seeing an irritating church member or someone we intentionally avoid in our workplace, we see a soul for whom Christ died. Instead of focusing on someone’s failure, we recognize their struggles and burdens. Instead of asking, “What is wrong with them?” we begin asking, “What pain might they be carrying?”

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus was “moved with compassion” before He acted. The Spirit cultivates that same compassion within us.

Tenderhearted Mercy responds rather than reacts.

Human nature has a natural tendency to react with criticism, impatience, or retaliation.The Holy Spirit leads us to respond with gentleness and understanding. When someone disappoints us, mercy pauses before speaking. When someone falls, mercy seeks restoration rather than condemnation. When someone is hurting, mercy listens before offering advice.

Tenderhearted Mercy acts on behalf of others.

Biblical mercy is never passive.

The Holy Spirit prompts us to:

Visit the lonely.
Encourage the discouraged.
Help the struggling.
Feed the hungry.
Comfort the grieving.
Support those facing hardship.

Mercy puts hands and feet on the love of Christ.

To clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy means that every morning we ask the Holy Spirit to dress us with the compassion of Christ. Before we put on our jacket, our dress, or our shoes, we must put on a heart that feels the burdens of others.

Tenderhearted mercy is Christ’s compassion flowing through us. It is the evidence that the Holy Spirit has not merely touched our emotions but has transformed our character. When people encounter us, they should experience something of the kindness, patience, and mercy of Jesus Himself.

We are delighted to welcome Elder John Newlove as the newest addition to our Carolina Conference family as an Associate Youth Director for our Summer Camp Ministries at Nosoca Pines Ranch.

Beginning next week, hundreds of campers, ages 7 through 16, will be a part of our largest summer ministry to children and youth across the Carolinas. Elder Newlove and his camp staff team are excited to have our children and youth be part of an epic summer packed with adventure, fun, and moments they’ll never forget. Whether our campers are into sports, crafts, swimming, hiking, or horsing around (pun intended!), or just chilling with friends, there is something for everyone at Nosoca Pines Ranch. The staff is dedicated to making sure our children and youth have the best time ever in a safe and welcoming environment.

Our summer camp program isn’t just about the activities—it’s about making friends who feel like family, discovering what each young person is capable of, and connecting on a deeper level with Jesus. This summer provides a wonderful opportunity for our campers to try new things, create memories that will last a lifetime, and grow in ways they never expected.

The camp staff is looking forward to sharing all the amazing experiences awaiting those who will participate in each of these major camping experiences this summer:

With each issue of our President’s Prayer Partners (P5), we intentionally focus on one of our goals, sharing how the Lord is leading and the progress being made along the way.

This month we return to remembering our first quinquennial goal in our continuing journey to develop measurable goals in discipleship.

This past Sabbath, June 6, some of my fellow officer colleagues and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit with a large number of both youth and young adults at the West Charlotte Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church for the second of four engagements scheduled annually and simply labeled “Let’s Talk.”

One of the questions that was asked of us was how we can focus on discipling newly baptized members of the church without them simply disappearing after all the attention they received on the day of their baptism or when joining the church by profession of faith.

I shared with them my hope and vision of improving upon an initiative that I introduced at our quinquennial constituency session in the summer of 2022. It highlighted the need for every church to develop and equip members to serve as NCs—Nurturing Companions—to befriend and help new believers become part

of the Adventist family of God, especially within their local churches.

Our hopeful pursuit of this initiative is for pastors and church leaders to identify and coach NCs to regularly (at least once a week) call a new believer, pray with them, visit them, participate in an activity together, go out for a meal, snack, or light refreshment, occasionally gift them with something simple such as a book or candle, and simply be a consistent, caring, and befriending presence in that new believer’s life.

Elder Steve Vail began his new role as our Director for Evangelism, Discipleship, and Personal Ministries in January of this year. Here are some of his thoughts on how we can continue our quest to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission to “go and make disciples” in all the churches across North and South Carolina:

Jesus and Discipleship: “Follow Me All the Way”

There was a man named Matthew sitting at a tax booth. Most people did not love him. Many avoided him. Some despised him. He was known as a tax collector—a man associated with greed, compromise, and Rome.

But Jesus saw more than Matthew’s past. Jesus saw a disciple.

The Bible says, “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him” (Matthew 9:9). That is discipleship.

Jesus did not first say, “Clean yourself up.” He did not say, “Prove you are worthy.” He simply said, “Follow Me.” But that invitation was not cheap. Matthew had to get up. He had to leave the table. He had to walk away from the life that had defined him.

Discipleship is love, but it is also surrender. Jesus loves us too much to leave us where He finds us. He calls gently, but He calls firmly. He forgives our past, but He also claims our future.

To follow Jesus is to let Him become first—not just in our songs, not just in our sermons, and not just on Sabbath morning, but in our choices, our time, our habits, our relationships, and our mission.

And notice what Matthew did next: he invited others to meet Jesus. A true disciple does not simply receive grace; a true disciple shares grace.

Today, Jesus is still passing by. He still sees people others overlook. He still calls ordinary, broken, busy, imperfect people.

And His words are still the same: “Follow Me.”

Will you rise from whatever has been holding you back and follow Him all the way?

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.

Our fifth branch of our organizational ministry function highlights seven departments of Church Ministries:

• Family Ministries

• Hispanic Ministries

• Men’s Ministries

• Planned Giving/Trust Services

• Prayer Ministries

• Singles Ministries

• Women’s Ministries

In the month of May, we uplifted our Prayer Ministries Department in our prayers.

During this month of June, we invite our President’s Prayer Partners to pray for our Singles Ministries Department under the dedicated leadership of Pastor Eli Rojas, Jr., and with the wonderful support of Lorraine Gonzalez, secretary to this department.

The Singles Ministries Department is devoted to providing support to individuals who are single in the Carolina Conference. Their mission is to help establish and strengthen confident and secure relationships with God while also fostering personal growth. They also assist individuals in finding a place to serve in the ministry of Christ by utilizing their personal talents and gifts, thereby helping prepare them to be beacons of light in their homes, communities, and churches.

A thriving Singles Ministry within the Seventh-day Adventist community of the Carolina Conference is strengthened through prayer. When we pray for singles, we invite God to provide wisdom, encouragement, purpose, and spiritual growth in every season of life. Prayer helps create a caring community where individuals feel valued, supported, and connected to Christ and to one another.

As we lift up the needs, challenges, and opportunities of singles before the Lord, we trust Him to guide their paths, deepen their faith, and use their gifts for the advancement of His kingdom. Prayer not only blesses those who are single but also strengthens our entire church family.

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.

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: