The Jews of Adventism: Growing in number, ancient and modern sabbatarian faiths connect.

"Every Sabbath a growing number of Seventh-day Adventist congregations are taking on a distinctive appearance: men wearing skullcaps and prayer shawls, alongside women, recite prayers in the Hebrew language of their forebears. In many places the Torah, a parchment scroll of the first five books of the Bible—authored by Moses—is read from the platform. A Jewish flavor permeates the proceedings, even the potluck suppers.

And while the congregations are thoroughly Adventist—using the same Sabbath school quarterly (edited by Clifford Goldstein, a Jewish Adventist) and holding the same doctrines as other congregations around the globe—there’s something different here. Worshipping one God and His Son, the Messiah, dozens of Jewish Adventist congregations are demonstrating the connection between the Sabbathkeepers of ancient Israel and many of God’s followers today.

From the bustling metropolis of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the American Jewish neighborhoods of Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City, to Israel’s teeming streets and beyond—Seventh-day Adventists are reaching and receiving Jewish believers in both Jesus and the three angels’ messages. Richard Elofer, a longtime worker in the field of Jewish Adventist outreach who heads the church’s World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center, based in France, estimates there are between 4,000 and 5,000 Jewish Adventists active in the church today.

That may not seem like many, but it’s far more than have ever been recorded before, Elofer said. The difference, which he has seen during 23 years of working to reach Jews, is a ministry approach that understands the Jewish mind-set and adapts the Adventist message to be understood by those who may be unfamiliar with any Christian beliefs.

“The change I have seen is tremendous,” Elofer told Adventist World. “In the 1990s we had no Jewish Adventist congregations in the world; today we have about 40 of them, 25 just in the United States..."

Click here to read more in the original Adventist World article.

State of the Church

State of the Church - Ted Wilson from GCComm on Vimeo.

IN UNPRECEDENTED STATE OF THE CHURCH ADDRESS, WILSON TAKES MESSAGE TO VIEWERS

November 14, 2013 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Author: ANN staff

Seventh-day Adventist Church President Ted N. C. Wilson today released a State of the Church address in which he updated the denomination on its mission and membership growth and highlighted concerns, including lack of involvement and disunity.

The most prominent annual speech of the Adventist Church president has traditionally been delivered as the Sabbath sermon during Annual Council, a nearly week-long meeting of the denomination’s Executive Committee. But Wilson took his message directly to video viewers in what is believed to be the first such address for an Adventist Church president.

Wilson said “revival” should be the church’s top priority, quoting Adventist Church co-founder Ellen G. White, who once wrote, “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs.”

He also reviewed several initiatives that have been launched since he became president in 2010, including the 777 prayer initiative, which reminds members to pray for revival at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.; The Great Controversy Project, which has distributed more than 140 million copies of White’s book “The Great Controversy”; and the recent launch of a worldwide comprehensive health ministry.

“God is doing so much in this church that at times it just overwhelms me,” he said.

Wilson went on to explain what he said were four “spiritual maladies” affecting some people in the Adventist Church:

•    A loss of Seventh-day Adventist identity among some pastors and members.
•    A “growing tide of worldliness” in many Adventist Churches.
•    The “danger of disunity.”
•    Spiritual apathy and lack of involvement.

“Too many of our pastors and members either have failed to recognize, or have forgotten, the divine prophetic calling God has given us as a church,” Wilson said.

Regarding “worldliness” entering the church, Wilson said, “Standards that were once cherished by Seventh-day Adventists in the areas of diet and dress, recreation and amusement, and Sabbath-keeping, are fast becoming things of the past.”

Wilson lamented that the church’s historic commitment to healthful living wasn’t adhered to by many members. “When the Adventist health message, which so many honest-hearted people in the world are embracing, is made of none effect, or considered to be legalism or fanaticism, rather than a glorious gift from a loving Creator, something is tragically wrong.”

Regarding church unity, he again quoted White, who said “Unity is the strength of the church.”

Wilson said God has given the Adventist Church a “divinely inspired organization and “mutual agreements called church policies” that help hold the church together “as a worldwide family.”

He later added, “I pray that every one of us will lay aside our personal opinions for the good of the body of Christ, and that we will, together, march forward to the kingdom of God.

Regarding spiritual apathy, Wilson said church members would not grow spiritually without active involvement in church life and service activities. “We have to examine our lives to make sure that God is working in us in a vital way—and I speak to myself, as well.

“Brothers and sisters, I appeal to you, as I appeal to my own heart, to make a full, complete, total consecration to Christ,” Wilson said, before ending his address with a prayer asking God to bless Adventist Church members and others seeking the “truths of the Bible.”

Click HERE to watch Wilson’s 41-minute video address.

Click HERE to read a transcript of Wilson’s address.

Source: Adventist News Network

Barbados And The Barbados SDA Sec. School Congratulate Mayor-Elect Adrian Mapp

Adrian Mapp - Mayor-Elect of Plainfield, NJ

USC's main feeder school in Barbados, Barbados SDA Secondary School, which is celebrating 60 years this year, is also now celebrating and congratulating one of its alums - Adrian Mapp - who was elected last week as the Mayor of Plainfield, NJ, a Metro-New York area community of 50,000.

Map shows location of Plainfield, NJ

"Plainfield Mayor-elect Adrian O. Mapp was honored Saturday evening as the nation's first Barbadian-American Mayor.

The recognition came as part of the Barbadian-American Charitable Organization of New Jersey's annual dinner dance at L'Affaire.

Hundreds of Barbadian-Americans and their friends gathered to dine and dance as well as celebrate the 47th anniversary of Barbadian Independence and honor several of its members, including our Mayor-elect and his wife Amelia.

Master of Ceremonies Miguel Edghill detailed some of the charitable activities of the organization, which include scholarship support and disaster assistance.

The Rev'd Canon Leroy Lyons, recently retired rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Plainfield, gave the invocation."  ...Source: http://ptoday.blogspot.com/2013/11/mapp-honored-as-first-barbadian.html

91-Yr Old Bajan USCian To Disengage From The Public Lecture Series Which Bears His Name

On the occasion of the 11th Annual Public Lecture of the George and Esther Simmons Book Collection held on Monday, October 28, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad, under the patronage of His Excellency Gerard Latulippe, High Commissioner for Canada to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. George Simmons announced that next year's 12th lecture would be his last as he feels it is the final one he is mentally and physically able to plan.

This year's lecture was delivered by Professor John Hare, Professor of Philosophical Theology at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Using the philosophical work of Immanuel Kant as his springboard, Professor Hare reasoned that Providence, Grace and Justification show that morality depends on religion.

Click here to read more.

Click here for photostream.

Click here to read a profile of Dr. George Simmons which appeared in the local (Barbados) media last year.

Annual Week Of Prayer Goes Social

"The Annual Week of Prayer, November 2-9, will be forging a new path this year. It will be available on Facebook, and people will be able to read and pray together through a virtual Week of Prayer as hosted by the NAD Ministerial Department. You will be able to share your feedback on the reading as well as your prayer requests. Starting on November 2, just go to the NAD Facebook page to find the reading for the day, along with discussion the questions. 
     A special, September 26 edition of Adventist Review, pp. 14-15, carries all eight readings for the Week of Spiritual Emphasis under the title, "And They Followed Him."  MORE (October Adventist World/NAD Edition, pp. 14, 15)"
Even though this is a NAD (North American Division of SDA) project and we here in Barbados are in the IAD (Inter-American Division of SDA), there are no SDA divisional boundaries on Facebook so anyone with a Facebook account can participate. USC Barbados will be echoing the NAD page during the week of prayer.

Click here to download PDF with readings for the week.

Bajan USCian Officiates 75th Annual Conference Of The Barbados Labour Party

Jan Hartley officiating BLP Annual Conference
 (click images to enlarge)

In the full spirit of our school motto - “Beyond Excellence” - Bajan USCians are always proud to serve their country when duty calls - even in the political arena.  This past weekend saw fellow alum Jan Hartley officiating at the 75th Annual Conference of the oldest political party in Barbados - the Barbados Labour Party.  Jan is also very supportive of the local (Barbados) alumni chapter of her alma mater - the University of the Southern Caribbean.

New Men's Dorm At USC Named For Bajan USCian

Timothy S. Greaves Hall on the campus of the University of the Southern Caribbean, Maracas Valley, Trinidad (click images to enlarge)

"“While we cannot fully control our legacy and how we are remembered, we are more likely to achieve the desired results if we seek them, than if we move through life without direction or purpose.”

The late Dr. Timothy Greaves sought to leave behind a legacy that would be remembered for years to come from living a life filled with purpose and by making significant contributions to his alma mater, the University of the Southern Caribbean. Today, the memory of his indomitable spirit will forever be enshrined in the halls of his dear “old USC” as of October 20th, the New Men’s Residence Hall was officially opened and named in his honor.  The opening of the New Men’s Residence Hall was part of the Alumni Reunion Weekend 2013 celebrations.

  

Nearly ten years ago, a University Technical Committee was formed to oversee the construction of new male and female residence halls. Although the project has been ongoing for quite some time and many obstacles have been encountered along the way, the spirits of those directly involved have not been dampened as faith and trust in an all-powerful God reigns supreme.

The Residence hall construction project became a reality to students, staff, alumni and others who have been around the University for years, when the buildings on the hill began to emerge in 2012. One year later after the preliminary work began, the University is happy to announce the completion of the Timothy S. Greaves Hall - the new and contemporary men’s residence hall.  The men, who currently reside at Cedar Hall, will move into the new hall in January 2014. Work on the female hall and overall project completion is carded for 2015.

This dream has become a reality and is just the first of many dreams that will be realized at USC in the coming months and years.

Dr. Greaves is an inspirational role model for the USC community and beyond and has left behind him a legacy of service and teaching that we want to be remembered. Despite severe physical disabilities, he achieved career accomplishments that might seem nearly impossible to many people. His scholarship, professional competence and character were of the highest caliber. Dr. Greaves was a man of enormous courage and unfailing good humor despite his physical limitations.

Follow us as we continue our journey to making more dreams become a reality and continue is moving USC “Beyond Excellence!”"   ____ USC Alumni Association

Dr. Timothy S. Greaves came from the most prominent (both within and without Adventist circles in Barbados) Greaves family of St. Lucy, Barbados.  His father, Pastor Eric Greaves, served as the President of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in the 1960s when its territory still stretched from the US Virgin Islands in the north to St. Lucia and Barbados in the south.  One of his uncles, Wrensford Greaves, was a well known lay evangelist throughout the north of the island and was one of the founders of the Mile-&-A-Quarter SDA Church, and Lay Leader of the Speightstown SDA Church for many years.  Tim's sister, Norma Greaves, served on the faculty and staff of USC for over 40 years, and continues to serve the church today as Librarian of the Barbados SDA Secondary School.  His brother, Dr. Donn Greaves, serves at the church-run Cave Memorial Clinic and Nursing Home in Brittons Hill.  His first cousin, Sir Philip Greaves, once served as Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados.

Earlier this year, Tim was also posthumously honoured by his medical school alumni at Loma Linda University.

Click here for event photostream.

This May Shock Some:

"LANDMARK SURVEY REVEALS IN-DEPTH BELIEFS, PERCEPTIONS OF ADVENTIST MEMBERS

David Trim, director of the Office of Archives, Statistics and Research presents the findings of the most in-depth research the denomination has conducted on its members. He delivered the findings to Annual Council delegates on Tuesday, October 15 [2013].

The most extensive research ever conducted on the attitudes, beliefs, experiences and spiritual practices of Seventh-day Adventists reinforced some long-held assumptions about worshippers’ positive affirmation of the denomination, yet revealed an emerging trend toward secularization that is worrisome for some church leaders.

Among the most significant findings, based on tens of thousands of surveys from around the world:

•    Sabbath School teachers were ranked higher than pastors and elders when church members were asked to state who was friendlier, warmer, more caring and had a positive effect on their spiritual lives.
•    About three-fourths of Adventists strongly embrace the prophetic ministry of church co-founder Ellen G. White.
•    Only about one in three families conduct daily worship.
•    Almost half of college students and recent college graduates said they would accept practicing homosexuals as church members in good and regular standing.
•    About 9 in 10 people who left the Adventist church were never contacted by their pastor after they stopped attending.

The findings, released this week to delegates at the 2013 General Conference Annual Council at church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, were commissioned by the Office of Archives, Statistics and Research two and a half years ago.

The research was based on five separate projects. It consisted of 41,000 interviews or questionnaires around the world; involved 4,260 pastors; nearly 26,000 church members; 1,200 college students and recent graduates; and 900 former Adventists. Research teams from Adventist universities on several contents were involved in the unprecedented effort.

“In terms of both the breadth and depth,” said David Trim, director of the church’s research office, “this is the best snapshot we’ve ever had of the worldwide church.”

Before presenting the findings to hundreds of church administrators, Trim warned the audience to not be quick to judge. “Data is what it is,” Trim said. “What it means, is something else.”

The findings debunked longheld assumptions about the denomination’s gender makeup: The church is 57 percent female, and 43 percent male – quite a ways off from the belief that 65 percent of worshipers were female and 35 percent were male.

The findings also showed a church that is young – 54 percent of the members worldwide are between the ages of 16 and 40 – which has two disadvantages, according to Trim. For one, young members may be called too quickly into denominational administrative leadership positions without the proper experience. In addition, older leaders may need training to learn how to understand and work effectively with the younger generation.

Only 10 percent of church members globally are older than 60, and the largest proportion of aging congregants are in North America, Europe and Japan. In contrast, Trim said, “Our church in Latin America and Africa in particular is an extremely youthful church.”

The findings contained several bright spots, Trim said, including a statistic that shows that 53 percent of respondents stated that the Sabbath School adult Bible study guide helped “very much” to develop their religious life.

The study guide, perhaps not surprisingly, is least popular with worshipers is in North America, parts of Europe, and in and around Australia. “As someone who is both from Australia and Europe, and married to an American,” Trim said jokingly, “I will accept the blame for all those things. We are very cynical people in America, Australia and Europe.”

Another “success story,” Trim said, was that 92 percent of Adventists have an overwhelming conviction that the Seventh-day Sabbath is the true Sabbath, and only 3 percent disagree (that particular survey’s margin of error was 3 percent, which could perhaps mean zero disagreement).

The findings also pointed to several areas deemed problematic, such as people leaving the church unnoticed, and the seeping influence of secular values, Trim said.

Interestingly, the vast majority of inactive and former members are not rejecting the message and mission of the church.

“They are moving with the strong dynamics of contemporary society away from established forms of religious activity,” Trim said. “The fabric of most Adventist local churches is not sufficient to stem this tide.” He then told the delegates, “Brothers and sisters, I think this is a real challenge to us.”

While only 9 percent of Adventists were contacted by their pastor after they stopped attending church, a larger number of former members said they had been visited by elders or other church members. However, the findings show that 4 out of 10 Adventists slipped out of the church without ever being contacted by anyone.

The fact that members lapse unnoticed is a “tragedy,” Trim said.

From 2000 to 2012, more than 13.6 million people joined the church, mostly through baptism. But during the same time, 5.9 million Adventists were lost (and that doesn’t include those who died). That’s a loss rate of nearly 43.4 per 100 new converts. “That is too high,” Trim said.

Approximately 90 percent of respondents strongly agreed that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is God’s true last-day church with a message to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Christ. When asked if they expect the world to end within the next 20 years, just 22 percent of respondents strongly agreed, and 45 percent strongly disagreed, Trim said. “It’s not that people don’t believe that Jesus is coming, but there does seem to be some kind of skepticism about him coming soon.”

The research concluded that secularization is no longer limited to America, Europe and Australia. “It’s a globalized society,” Trim said. “People are watching the same television programs, reading the same apps and websites on their phones and computers, and secularization is a problem.”

Following the presentation, Vice President Benjamin Schoun acknowledged that challenges indeed lie ahead.

“We have much to learn and we probably need to incorporate these results into our strategic planning,” he stated, “because it is a very sobering picture in some cases, even though we have our strengths as well.”"

Source: http://news.adventist.org/all-news/news/go/2013-10-17/landmark-survey-reveals-in-depth-beliefs-perceptions-of-adventist-members/

3000 A Day

"God will soon do great things for us if we lie humble and believing at His feet….  More than one thousand will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first convictions to the reading of our publications."  — E.G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, p181. (*Words spoken to our workers in Europe in 1885 when the outlook for the publishing work was dark.  —A. L. White)

I believe that "publishing work" now includes what we share on the Internet.  What have you published today?

        "O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling, 

to tell to all the world that God is light, 

that he who made all nations is not willing 

one soul should perish, lost in shades of night. 

  Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;

tidings of Jesus, redemption and release."

GC Tour

Seventh-day Adventist World Church Headquarters // Adventist.org from The Adventist Church (Official) on Vimeo.