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E-Newsletter of the Ohio Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists |
October
2010
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It's a pleasure to introduce to you our first iss ue
of Faithpoints, sponsored by the Ohio Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists. It's our desire that we can here share our
common faith, and encourage one another in well-doing and
evangelizing the world. If you have a local outreach event you'd
like us to announce here, please tell us about it!
We have a special favor to ask of you. If you've received this
e-newsletter, forward it to someone else. Pastors, we request that
you forward it to your entire email list. Subscribe by filling in
the box below. You may also send someone a copy by clicking on
this link
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 Why
I Want Jesus to Return Soon
By Raj Attiken
I travel to my home country of Sri Lanka about every other year to
visit my mother and family. I always look forward to the visit,
both because Sri Lanka is a stunningly beautiful tropical island,
and because it is where I grew up and where many people I love
still live.
Each time I visit Sri Lanka and India I am struck by how millions
there are forced to live. A shack covered in cardboard from packing
boxes might be a home for an entire family. You walk around people
sleeping on the street. Men and women work grueling, backbreaking
labor for a few rupees a day. In part of my homeland, rival groups
have spent decades at war, and the marks of that still remain in
military presence and ethnic tension. Sometimes the poverty is set
against the backdrop of incredible wealth: a family lives under a
tarp on a sidewalk in the shadow of a mansion.
No matter how often you've seen it, even if you've grown up with
it, you never get used to it. Suffering is suffering, whether those
who suffer are Hindus, Buddhists, Moslems or Christian, whether
brown or yellow, black or white.
The problem of human suffering is a perplexing one. Our faith
offers us some answers. One is that we can have a part in
relieving human suffering. We can be involved. We can make a
difference.
Another answer is that suffering is for the "present time," as Paul
called it (Romans 8:18), and won't last forever. When Jesus comes -
and not until then - all suffering will be fully eradicated. Jesus
promises a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no
hunger, pain or suffering. No war, either, and no terrorist bombs.
No malaria, no cancer, no HIV/AIDS. Never again will a baby be born
into a family living under a tarp. When Jesus makes all things new,
there won't even be the tiniest pocket of pain left anywhere in the
universe.
I want Jesus to come so that I can meet and worship the One who
saved me from sin and gave me eternal life. I want Jesus to come so
that I won't be separated any longer from loved ones by land,
ocean, or death. I want Jesus to come so that no infant, no child,
no man or woman will have to suffer pain, hunger, or disease any
more. I want Jesus to come so that peace and harmony can be
restored to this universe. I want Jesus to come!
The hope of His coming is one of the reasons I'm a Seventh-day
Adventist Christian, and why I want others to know our message of
hope. We Adventists don't have our roots in this world. Our home
is in heaven, where Jesus has already prepared a place for
us!
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Ohio
Conference Begins Ministry to Secular
Campuses
Did you know that 65 to 75% of Adventist students study at secular
or other non-Adventist schools? That may pose a real challenge to
those who want to hold on to their faith. The Ohio Conference has
launched a pilot ministry to reach out to secular campuses,
starting with three: Ohio University in Athens, The Ohio State
University in Columbus, and Wright State University in
Dayton.
 Darrin and Christine Thurber have taken the
campus ministry position in Athens. They come here from California.
Darrin is a musician and ministerial student, and Christine (known
to all her friends as Beamy) is a social worker. They've created an
active student group, and are already reaching students on the
campus.
Gina
and David Helbley are working at The
Ohio State University. They have just returned from mission work in
Kazakhstan. Gina is a ministerial graduate from Walla Walla
College, and David is an engineer. Together they're setting up a
campus Christian center near our state's largest campus.
 Sabrina Araiza joins the Kettering team to
begin a ministry on the Wright State University campus. Sabrina
comes from Arizona, but is well known in Ohio from her years
working at Camp Mohaven. Sabrina will be assisted by Kettering team
members Brittany Culpepper, Logan Stout, and Associate Pastor Elliot Smith.
What can you do to help?
1. Pray for these young people as they work on campus!
2. Visit their blog, where you can learn more
about what they're doing, and send them notes of
encouragement.
3. If you know college or university students in any of these
areas, give us their contact information! Send name, phone number,
and (if possible) address to faithpoints@gmail.com.
4. Can you support this ministry financially? A few churches have
already done so, but we need more. If we could get each church in
the conference to take the salary of one team for one month, we'd
could do this easily! Individually, check out our PayPal contributions
page.
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 New
Conference Secretary-Treasurer
Doug Falle (pronounced FAWL-ay) is our new conference treasurer,
replacing Andy Sutton. He also picks up the role of conference
secretary held previously by Hubert Cisneros. Doug comes to us from
the New York Conference. He's worked in conferences across the
division, including Dakota, California, Manitoba-Saskatchewan and
Oklahoma. Doug's wife, Ursula, is a registered nurse, who works at
a nursing home. The Falles have 4 children, and 3 grandchildren.
Doug is cheerful, helpful, and always ready with a story. Doug also
enjoys preaching, so do call upon him should you need a speaker in
your church! Doug says, "Thanks so much for receiving us so
graciously here. I just want to be of service to the people in
Ohio. Don't hesitate to call or email me with questions." Doug can
be reached at the conference office 740-397-4665, or email him.
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MVA
Update
We're pleased to let you know that thanks to vigorous
recruitment by our principal, Rob Stevenson and his staff, Mount
Vernon Academy has rebounded to 129 students! They've kicked off a
great school year. Will you remember to pray for MVA?
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Thank
you, Ohio Conference Faithful!
Church
giving depends on people having jobs, so it's no surprise that in a
down economy, church giving may also be affected, and especially in
a manufacturing state like Ohio. That's why it is a pleasure to see
that our Ohio people continue to give faithfully. Even in this much
reduced economy, our tithe is only about 2% behind last year's!
Thanks so much for your faithfulness. And don't forget your local
church budget in your giving!
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Inspiration
"All
true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ.
And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts
and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His
will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own
impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest
delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our
privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual
obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ,
through communion with God, sin will become hateful to
us."
- The Desire of Ages, p.
668
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| Upcoming
Events |
- All-Power
Week-end with Life Coach and Evangelist Leo Schreven at the
Portsmouth SDA church, October 29-31, followed by Jim Gilley of
3ABN November 5-7. Contact Cindy Ferguson for more
information.
- Ohio Ministry University, March 19-20, 2011, in Columbus. More
details later!
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"The
Heavens Declare"
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Sunset over Sandusky Bay, taken by Loren Seibold. Share with us your favorite photo of the Ohio
sky!
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Sales at your Ohio Conference
ABC!
- Book of the Month: The Wise Men by Trudy J. Morgan-Cole. (The
2nd book in the "That First Christmas" series.) Save $3.00 off the
cover price! $8.99
- November is Chapel Music Month. Save 15% off nearly all Chapel
Record CD's.
- November Food Specials: All Loma Linda & Worthington
canned food: buy 3 cases and get the 4th case (equal or lesser
value) for free! Through 12/31/2010
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Specials
for November, 2010
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