Dear Colleagues:

 

We trust you had a blessed Thanksgiving with your l o ved ones.  Thanksgiving is truly a very special holiday here in the United States and Canada (celebrated on different dates but with the same spirit in mind).

Now the Christmas season is in full swing, the stores are nicely decorated and fully stocked with clothes, toys, electronics, and so many other things, inviting us to buy them and share them with our loved one.  Christmas carols sound through the air, and even some of the programing on TV seems to be a little nicer this time of year.  but with the same spirit in mind).

For some of you, snow already blankets your neighborhood, while for others the palm trees wave their constant salute.  Wherever you may be, we pray you will have a blessed Christmas season and a happy and prosperous new year.  We look forward to what God has in store for you and for us in 2016 as we try to fulfill His call and mission for us all.  May He continue to be your daily Companion, Father and Friend, and may He pour out His richest blessings on you and your loved ones each and every day of 2016.

 

Yours because of Him,

 

Claudio and Pamela

To Stand in Defense of Truth

This year was Maryland Men of Faith retreat 10 ^th year anniversary. It had a powerful impact in the men that attended the event. The theme was based on a relevant thought for today's man: "To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few-this will be our test." TC v. 5, p. 136. 

A good word at the right time.

Over 160 men attended and were blessed by the presentations made by Dwayne Lemon. It was a challenge to stand as champions of faith. Other presentations were made by: Dr. Philip Collins "The Protein Myth;" Geoff Crowley "Mentoring Young Men;" Volodymyr Grinchenko "Never Satisfied, Marria ge Lessons;" Dan Jensen "The Power of Prayer;" Dewa yne Lemon "Young Champions;" Eli Rojas "End Time Warriors;" and Tyler Trahan "Freedom from Addiction."  The mission offering colle cted this year is to help a missionary in Japan buy a vehicle that will be used  for outreach. $2,360.0 0 was collected for this project.  Save the date for next year's MMOF. We are planning for October 1, 2016. It's an experience that will inspire and challenge you. Visit our  website MMOF.org f or sermons and more information. 

 

Eli Rojas, DMin

Ministerial and Family Ministry Director

Chesapeake Conference

Men's Ministry Initiative   2015-2016

Southern California Conference Men's Ministry, initiated a [free] job training program in the field of Heating and Air- Conditioning for members and communities, male and female. The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) t raining has a six-month period followed by an EPA Certification exam at the conclusion of the training. Additional job placement programs are provided at A WorkSource program for all graduates in preparedness for the job market.

Many success stories have been told by individuals who pursued the training. Remember us in prayers.

Elder Charles Dolcey,

Men's Ministry President

Southern California Conference    

Camp Meeting Two for One

For quite a few years now I've been doing something I've called "Family Worship" at our Camp Meeting.  It is a time for all ages to meet together and worship God together.  We had noticed that everyone was going their separate ways and families were rarely together at Camp Meeting.  At first I thought it would mostly be families that attended, but have found that most everyone on campus comes.  The program is an hour long and meets from 9:30 to 10:30 Monday through Friday.

 

Every year I pick out a theme and then divide it into 5 sections or subthemes of the main topic for the week.  Some of the themes we've had are: (read more)

The two longest segments of each day's programs are:

The rest of the program is divided into very short portions so it moves along quickly with no breaks between each part. Although the program seems casual, warm and "camp-y" behind the scenes the entire program is scripted down to the minute so everything is designed to flow into whatever is coming next.  I do a lot of work making up the programs each year and try to design them so that anyone from the different learning styles can relate to something that hits their target learning style.  There are lots of visual things and interaction throughout the program.  Sometimes people are drafted from the congregation to be part of what is happening up front.  The programs include skits, monologues, art, puppets, music, etc.  My plan is for people to always be wondering what is coming next. Here are two examples of segments from the programs over the years:

We also have a daily feature.  It is 4-5 minutes long and is the only thing in the program that doesn't go along with the theme.  I choose something that I think would be helpful for people like health or how to witness, etc.

I really work to have things that are visual.  One year the week was about fish stories from the Bible and I had a huge helium fish that we flew over everyone to choose who got the give-aways that day. (Expect the unexpected sometimes-on Thursday a kid jumped up and hit the fish so hard it disconnected and floated to the ceiling like a dead fish in a fish tank!  We worked it into the program and went on.... J )  I like to wear something each year that goes along with the theme too.  When we did Families Relying On God I bought a huge pair of Kermit the frog slippers and wore those during the program and around campus for awhile after the program (good advertising for Family Worship).  The year we had "The BEE-Attitudes I found a bee costume and wore it, complete with antennas.  When we had the year about "God's Big Ideas" and how He doesn't see us in a box I made myself a big dress out of a box and painted it and wore it.  People always wonder what I'll be wearing.  I'm already working on my "storm" costume for this year!

 

Every day when I do announcements I have 3-4 books that I give away.  I like to choose things that will help families or bring people closer to God.  There is a part in the program where the kids all get something too, that goes along with that day's theme-Oriental Trading has great little prizes.  I put the prizes into a lunch bag and leave it at the end of the pews by the center aisle.  When I say it's time the adult passes those down the row to the kids in his/her aisle.

 

I make up a bulletin for the adults and one for the kids.  The kids' one has things for the kids to do that go along with the theme for that day.  I also have hand-out on a table in the back of the chapel that are family-strengthening-articles about parenting, marriage, etc.  I also put out hot-line numbers in case people need them.

 

One of the things that has happened that has been a great by-product is that you can address some issues that people need to hear, but they aren't offended-because it's for the kids.

 

Family Worship is a lot of work and takes quite a bit of time.  I usually have about 40 people involved in helping with it each year by the time all is said and done.  But it has been something that has been well accepted and has brought families together.  Sometimes I give a 3-4 time slot for families to pray together about a specific topic in the program and I see the tears flow.  (For those that don't have biological families with them we ask them to join with others and become a "family of God" for that part of the program.  More young families attend Camp Meeting than would have otherwise attended.

 

I am grateful that God is using my little part to make a difference.

Jeanne Hartwell

Family Ministries Director

Pennsylvania Conference

February 13-20 - Christian Home & Marriage Week

February 13 - Christian Marriage Sabbath

February 20 - Christian Parenting Sabbath

May 21 - Single Adult Sabbath

September 3 - Men's Day of Prayer

September 11-17 - Family Togetherness Week

September 17 - Family Togetherness Sabbath