October 2025 Carolina's 10,000 P5

Leslie D. Louis
Oct 7
9 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.

Pray the Gifts of the Holy Spirit – The Gift of Self-Control

Pentecost 2025 is the launching of a bold plan of the North American Division to experience 3,000 proclamation events across the expanse of this great division of God’s remnant church. It is a plan that will only be successful through prayer and the intervention of the Holy Spirit. In Carolina, we have added a prayer-plea tagline to the Lord – “Let it Rain!”

What began with our July (2024) issue of P5 and will continue through 2025, we invite our President’s Prayer Partners to continue coming together in an earnest and heartfelt appeal for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit as we near the soon return of our Savior.

Galatians 5: 22-23 provides us with a listing of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Beginning with our February issue of P5, we launched our prayerful focus on asking our Heavenly Father to bless us with each of the specific gifts of the Holy Spirit as we continue praying for the outpouring of the latter rain across the Carolinas as we experience Pentecost 2025. In our last eight issues we focused on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness.

In this, our October issue, let’s pray for the Ninth fruit of the Spirit in Galatians which is SELF-CONTROL.

Listed as the final Fruit of the Spirit, self-control has a significant role of importance in Christian maturity. In Scripture, self-control (Greek: egkrateia) means having mastery over one’s desires, impulses, and appetites. It is not about exercising our willpower alone, but the Spirit empowering us to bring our lives under God’s rule. Self-control is choosing God’s way over the tug of the flesh (Galatians 5:16–17). In 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 Paul compares the Christian life to an athlete who disciplines himself for the prize. In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul shares how God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.

Self-Control matters because it protects us from sin and regret by keeping harmful desires in check. It strengthens our witness so others can see Christ’s power in our calmness and restraint. It helps us grow by our discipline in prayer, study, service, and relationships that require Spirit-led control. Self-control is a quality that helps build character by enabling other fruits of the Spirit such as patience, gentleness, and faithfulness to flourish.

As God’s special messenger to His remnant church, Ellen White often emphasized

that true self-control is not mere human effort, but the result of surrender to Christ.

In the Ministry of Healing on page 129 she stated that “The greatest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control.”

Although there are a number of examples in Scripture of self-control and restraint, one that really stands out in my mind is that of David. Although he had been anointed to be God’s chosen, future king of Israel, he had the chance to kill King Saul, who was hunting him as a fugitive. His men urged him to strike, but David restrained himself: “I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” David chose restraint over revenge.

So how does self-control exemplify itself in our lives today? Athletes train intensely, disciplining their bodies, diets, and sleep. They say “no” to distractions to pursue a prize that fades. Imagine someone cutting you off in traffic. The natural response is anger or harsh words. But when the Spirit gives self-control, you remain calm, avoiding a fight or road rage. When I study my Bible in the morning, I purposely choose to put my phone away to avoid the distraction of notifications. It’s small acts of self-control that builds our character each day.

Self-control is the Spirit’s power in us to say “yes” to God and “no” to self. It is the wall of protection around the soul, the discipline that keeps the other fruits alive, and the evidence that Christ reigns in the heart. Let’s join together as we pray for the fruit of self-control in each of our lives.

The influence of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) educators is often described as a ministry, not just a 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
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. This month, let’s thank God for the blessing of Spiritual Development taking place in our church schools.

Christ-centered teaching: SDA educators help students see God in every subject — history, science, art, math.

Modeling Christian character: Teachers become living examples of patience, faith, integrity, and self-control.

With each issue of our President’s Prayer Partners (P5), we continue to focus specifically on one of our goals and share some of the developments that are helping us in our journey toward accomplishing that goal.

Last month we returned to reporting on the progress being made toward our second goal – that of intentionally engaging, empowering, and enabling our young adults in the mission of the church.

During this month of October, I invite you to pray for our continuing initiatives toward the fulfillment of our third goal to enhance the ministry of Mount Pisgah Academy. Here’s an update from Dewald Coetzer, our principal of Mount Pisgah Academy:

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Mount Pisgah Academy is committed to advancing its esteemed legacy of providing a Christ-centered education while implementing intentional strategies to enhance ministry, enrich student life, and sustain an annual enrollment of 125–150 students. This forward-looking vision is anchored in measurable initiatives and a steadfast commitment to our mission: nurturing a relationship with God, pursuing academic

excellence, and emphasizing service to others.

At the heart of our ministry lies a strong focus on cultivating personal relationships with God. Programs like Week of Prayer create sacred opportunities for students to encounter Christ in profound ways, enriching their faith journeys and instilling eternal values. This commitment to spiritual growth is integral to everything we undertake.

To complement this spiritual development, we are investing in strategic facility upgrades that significantly enhance student experience.

The renovation of the tennis courts is underway, transforming them into a space that promotes physical activity and recreation. Additionally, improvements to the parking lot around the Administration Building and the redesign of the library entrance soon to be a modern student and study center—will streamline campus function and enhance student life. Continued progress on the Master Plan is evident in the ongoing planning and development, which includes the renovation of the gymnasium, set to be completed by summer 2026, marking a pivotal step towards realizing our long term goals.

In the academic realm, we are elevating standards with the appointment of Bethany

Johnson as the Vice Principal of Academics. Her leadership is driving increased rigor, innovation, and accountability in the classroom, ensuring that every student is encouraged to excel and be well-prepared for life after graduation.

Our extracurricular programming is also experiencing meaningful expansion under the theme “Bigger than me” (John 3:30). The addition of cross-country to our varsity athletics program, now competing in the Blue Ridge Athletic Conference, provides students with opportunities to develop teamwork, discipline, and resilience while representing Mount Pisgah.

Each of these initiatives—spiritual, academic, physical, and structural interconnects to foster a comprehensive environment where students can flourish. They also reinforce confidence among parents, alumni, and community stakeholders, assuring them that Mount Pisgah Academy is firmly committed to excellence across all facets of its mission.

With prayerful dedication, measurable progress, and collaborative effort, Mount Pisgah Academy is enhancing not only its facilities and programs but also its overall mission to cultivate Christ-centered leaders and secure a sustainable future for generations of students to come.

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

At one time our Missions department was coordinated as a department of the Carolina Conference. However, today it is handled by initiatives of our local Churches. So, this month we wish to highlight our Publishing Department under the phenomenal leadership of Lance Morrison and his associate, Tad Stauffer along with the faithful and dedicated secretarial support of Lisa Moyer. We also thank God for the consecrated and courageous team of literature evangelists and Magabook teams who serve as God’s boots-on-the-ground to distribute thousands and

thousands of magazines, booklets and books filled with precious truths for these times based on sacred truths founded in the Word of God.

The Publishing Department is responsible for the literature ministry of the Carolina Conference. Their goal is to place as many truth-filled books, papers, and tracts as possible in the homes of the people of the Carolinas. Thanks to the support of our members, this type of evangelistic work is thriving in our conference.

By this ministry our Publishing Department provides the following services:

An annual 10 week Magabook student evangelistic campaign.
An elementary school Magabook fundraiser.
A GLOW tract website (personalized for Carolina Conference) to order online (www.glowcarolina.org).
A new website through Georgia-Cumberland Conference Home Health Education Services (GCCHHES) where anyone can purchase Adventist literature and books (www.familyhomechristianbooks.com).

Let’s continue to lift especially this department as the focus of our prayer initiative through the month of October.

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.

Matthew 26:26-28(KJV) “Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take eat; this is my body.’ And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying ‘Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’”
John 6:51 (KJV) “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
1 Corinthians 10:24-26 (KJV) “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, ‘Take, eat this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.’ After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, ‘This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.’”
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come into him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

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: