This Newsletter is produced by the Communication department of the London Seventh-day Adventist Church

Date Facilitators Event/Theme Time

2 Clara Baptiste True Godliness 11 am

6 Aroldo Anniehs From boys to men. Praying for the next generation. 7 pm

13 Kirmane Allen Praying for generations 7 pm

16 Miranda Myers “Let’s do the Wave” based on 1 King 6:9-13 & Psalms 87:1-8 11 am

16 Miranda Myers It takes Whole Church to raise a child for God 2 pm

16 TEENS “What I am passionate about…” 7 pm

20 Clara Baptiste Praying the Scriptures 7 pm

23 Children preach! “What would I learn if I would follow an Apostle” 11 am

27 Alex Golovenko Biblical Discipleship 7 pm

30 Internet Broadcast Downlink from Mississauga Celebration 11 am

Schedule of events and speakers for JUNE 2012 London Seventh-day Adventist Church 805 Shelborne Street,

June 2012 Volume 8 Issue 6

June 1-3 Conference “Men after God’s Own Heart”

If you had been following the developments on this topic since the beginning of the year (some are collecting the Newsletters J) you noticed that every month a few more entities of our church in North America actively voice their support for the cause of equality in ordination for ministry to men and women.

At the recent Women Clergy Conference at Andrews University, taking place April 23-26, the North American Division President Jack-son stated that he sees the role of the Division to educate it’s con-stituencies (Conferences and Un-ions) on this matter and to find more pathways for women in leadership.

May 1 the Southern California Conference VOTED to support or-dination of women to the Gospel Ministry in the Southern California Conference, and, to encourage the Pacific Union to take the necessary steps to implement this action.

May 9 the Pacific Union Exec met to deal with a motion tables since March on the issue of women ordination and agreed to call a special constituency meeting for August 19 to approve the ordi-nation of ministers without regard to gender and amend constitu-tional bylaws.

May 10 the Atlantic Union Exec voted to support empower-ing and celebrating women in min-istry.

May 16 the North Pacific Un-ion Exec voted to prepare recom-mendations on how to fully inte-grate committed and called Ad-ventist women into all levels of church leadership in its territory, and to present it for action on No-vember 14 meeting. (This is the home-turf of Doug Batchelor who speaks against women in church leadership).

May 17 the Columbia Union voted to call a special constituency meeting on July 29 for the purpose of authorizing ordination to the gospel ministry without regard to gender.

Some Unions are choosing to wait. Southern Union Exec earlier this year on March 30 did not dis-cuss it, but voted “following the

scriptural mandate of the priesthood

of all believers, intentionally

chooses to continue its long-held

commitment to supporting, encour-

aging, empowering, and celebrating

the involvement of women in minis-

try. However, we will do so only in

harmony with the Seventh-day Ad-

ventist World Church as expressed

by actions taken during the General

Conference in business session.” No initiative—just waiting.

Three other Unions of churches did not participate in the ongoing debate—Lake Union, Canadian Conferences, Southwestern. Makes one wonder “do we think our voice matters?”

On May 22 General Conference president Ted Wilson met with presidents of nine North American Unions in California to discuss this matter, as some will have constitu-ency meetings later on this year.

At a recent Women Clergy Con-

ference April 23-26 in Michigan

pastor Dwight nelson titled his mes-

sage “What the Bible Really Says

about Women Spiritual Leaders”

He gave two reasons why he believes god has called women to share in the ordained ministry of the Gospel: first, because Holy Spirit supports it, and secondly, because the Holy Scripture does not prohibit it. Earlier in January he preached on validity of women’s ordination at the Pio-neer Memorial Church. In the ser-mon he asks a question “If Jesus would be in the middle of the Gen-eral Conference meeting on this

issue, where would he stand in re-gards to women in ministry?”

He reminds that ordination is not extending a call, or placing, implant-ing a gift. Ordination is simply a rec-ognition of what is already there.

Reflect on this: we believe in the priesthood of all believers, which means the Holy Spirit decides who would receive what gift, and the Holy Spirit is not gender specific. The Gift of Nurture is the pastoral gift and women are blessed with such even more than men.

Pastor Nelson affirmed again the Biblical precept that elders are all pastors. Pastoring is a gift which all elders are blessed with, and are ex-pected to use.

Nelson challenged a literal read-ing of the passage most used by those demanding male-only ordina-tion option—1 Timothy 3;1-7—”bishop to be a husband of one wife.” The dynamic meaning means spousal faithfulness, marital fidelity and not gender indicative. If one takes a lit-eral reading, then the rest of require-ments must be applied—there should be no single pastors, no di-vorced pastors, no remarried minis-ters, no childless pastors, and if chil-dren had left the faith, one cannot remain an ordained pastor. Biblical consistency demands either literal or principle meaning reading through whole passage!

He dealt with other objections such as: “woman must submit,” “woman must be silent,” “woman must not teach or to have authority” in light of Genesis 3, which does not mean all women toward all men, but a relational dynamics between hus-band and wife.

I strongly recommend you take your time and watch the whole ser-mon on-line

http://vimeo.com/42352133 The reformation continues, and

balanced faith requires all three—explanation, motivation, and libera-tion to be in place. Take your stand!

May 4-5, 2012, a summit of

church members and pastors in To-

ronto was addressing the issue of de-

clining Sabbath School attendance in

Ontario. The summit was the result

of elder Theodore Sargeant’s deter-

mination to discover the cause why,

in his words, “Sabbath School atten-

dance is falling like a rock.”

Among many caused identified by

the focus groups were:

Predictability, routine.

Not taking members’ learning styles into consideration. Poorly equipped teachers. Beginning time being too early, especially for families with young children for members do not live close to church and travel. Lack of relevance to lives of peo-ple, not meeting the needs. Lack of support from pastors and other leaders (arriving late, not present, do not promote nor speak about its value)

Here in London on May 19 our

church held our own “summit” to

emphasize the importance of the

Sabbath School. The session was

held at the school around round ta-

bles, with no “rush’ to finish by

10:45. That day the “sermonizing”

was dismissed, and the classes

lasted till 12:30! Instead of 5 min

time limit per topic - we took time.

Patricia Ferreira-

Lopez, a teacher by

profession, led the ses-

sion with a reflection

on what makes a good

teacher. She wished all

to grow with William

Ward’s quote

“The mediocre teacher tells.

The good teacher explains.

The superior teacher demonstrates.

The great teacher inspires.”

Four principles were shared for

good teaching:

Prepared—taking into consid-

eration all: backgrounds of students,

environment, the information, learn-

ing styles, the subject.

Plant seeds—provoke thoughts

by creating disballance

Plug into enthusiasm

be Present—in the moment.

She also reminded the audience

that the Sabbath School groups are

Small Groups that ought to be

holistic in caring not only for the

Head, but for the Heart, employing

Hands to serve.

Cameron Munro

and Lo Richards

spoke about impor-

tance of sharing infor-

mation, explaining,

making vision clear

for people to know

what is going on at

any time for ownership and partici-

pation. Only then a mutual help

could be anticipated.

Importance of planning together

was highlighted by Max Mantiri,

emphasizing that the

success of any group

effort depends on the

quality of the spiritual

life of individuals in that

group. Reflect on this—

it’s not only strategy and

activities, but the sincer-

ity and integrity of people that allow

presence of God’s blessing.

Mike Keim presented impor-

tance of working in teams,

where relationships and hon-

esty are norm.

Edwin Onyango introduced the

topic of the Spiritual gifts, and

we did not just talk about it—

the group spend 40 minutes

doing the spiritual gifts inventory,

interacting with other members for

confirmation of individual manifest

and latent gifts. We truly want

every part of Christ’s Body to do its

share, to be active and involved.

Pastor Golovenko concluded the

day with teaching on corporate unity

manifested in Small Groups. Paul’s

first letter to Corinthians 12:4-6 pre-

sents a Trinitarian partnership in

equipping people of God:

charismata gifts of the Spirit,

diakonia services of the Lord Jesus,

energomata activities from God.

This last aspect is understudied

as people are not aware of what en-

ergies God has given us for doing

His work—power, justice, intimacy,

identity, sustenance. If

used for God and com-

munity—these become

blessings and produce

quality. But used self-

ishly they turn into

deadly sins of pride,

lust, anger.

A test on “communal energies”

and personal vulnerabilities was

made available for participants to

take home and reflect on what may

prevent us from building communi-

ties through small

groups, and what

strength we have to

offer to our commu-

nity.

Many expressed a

desire to do such

rallies at least once

per quarter, to give more time for

Sabbath School experience.

The effectiveness of any tool is

in our willingness to use it!

Country Population Adventists Prayer needs & challenges faced by people

1 New Zealand 4,303,457 11,761 Two islands nation, a high quotient of sending missionaries, while internally becoming secular

2 Nicaragua 5,822,265 102,307 Largest Central American country, poverty among Black Carib English speaking East-coast 3 Niger 15,891,482 181 98% are Muslim, 76% never heard of Christ, extreme poverty, people eat grass to survive 4 Norway 4,952,000 4,568 Lutheran Kingdom, formerly strong missionary, to day is secularized, integration of immigrants 5 Oman 2,905,114 38 88% muslim, Christians are expatriate workers and nomads, proselitizing is forbidden, , 6

Pakistan 176,940,000 13,740

Recovery from the devastation caused by monsoon floods in 2010, 7 Panjabi population is 56%, Muslim tribes where Islamism is negatively affecting human rights 8 Christian believers are less than 3%, Adventist hospital in Karachi, safe churches & schools 9 Urdu speaking tribes & Hindus are most open to hear about Jesus, being oppressed as minority

10 border areas with Afghanistan have been filled with refugee camps for the past 3 decades 11 Baluch and Brahui tribal groups are unreached by the Gospel. Pray for mission to be established 12 Pathan clan which controls drugs and weapons trade by Afghanistan borders, pray for change

13 Capital city Karachi with 15 million population, where kidnappings are epidemic, 1 million addicts

14 Pakistanis who have emigrated all over the world to come to know Christ and share with families

15 Palestine 4,409,392 NONE! West Bank of Jordan & Gaza strip, 88% are Muslim, end of conflict with Israeli settles 16 Peru 29,496,120 487,935 Home of the Inka empire, people today are exploited by foreign companies for oil,& minerals 17 Panama 3,508,475 86,944 Connecting North & South America, economy is based on traffic, causing diversity & secularism , 18 Papua New Guinea 6,888,387 249,973 Eastern half of the 2nd largest island in the world, lack of awareness increase AIDS scourge

19 Paraguay 6,459,727 12,578 Loosing 80% of population in a war (1860s) it is land of immigrant communities & churches 20

Poland 38,038,094 90% Catholic nominals, Jehova Witnesses outnumber evangelicals 2:1, Adventist church growth

5,748 21 Diaspora in emigration to be passionate about Christ, for church growth amidst secularism

22

Philippines 93,616,853 620,896

Luzon island, economic and political centre, justice is needed in government structures 23 Mindanao island, conflict with marginalized Islamist fractions claiming 4 provinces in the south 24 7 colleges and Universities, 22 academies are operated by Adventist church, pray for witness

25 Diversity of Evangelical Christianity splitting from Catholicism also breeds heretical sects

26 Filipino missionaries working in Asia & Middle East, poor in Manila with population of 12 million

27 Portugal 10,732,357 9,332 Denominational divide is deep, hindering church witness, to predominantly nominal Catholicism

28 Puerto Rico 3,998,010 36,620 45% live below poverty, substance abuse, corruption, crime highest in the Christian Americas 29 Qatar 1,508,322 111 Christianity entered in 1985, Adventism started within last decade, pray for more mission

30 Romania 21,190,154 67,393 Roman descendants settled in Eastern Europe, church planting since collapse of Communism

As the renovation began at our church, the Prayer

Map is folded away, but we continue praying for the

world. This Newsletter is a reminder and prompter for

specific countries to intercede for.

Since last October we had prayed for 152 countries.

This month we will pray for 17 more countries with 6%

of world population.

We invite you to read more about countries you pray

for. Take time and befriend someone at your workplace, or

school from countries you are praying for. This is the in-

tent of our One Year Challenge—to be changed and to be-

come agents of Change in this world.

We pray for the “ends of the earth” as we anticipate the

end of Cosmic battle between good and evil. Your Prayer

interferes with the disorder of this world!