december 2006 sdbs and - amazon s3 · december 2006 sdbs and a legacy of love • towner’s still...
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December 2006
andSDBsSDBs
A legacy of loveA legacy of love
• Towner’s still in tune• Discovering your (musical) sense of purpose• Directing music— without a single lesson
• Towner’s still in tune• Discovering your (musical) sense of purpose• Directing music— without a single lesson
The seventh dayGod commanded that the seventh day (Saturday) be kept holy. Jesus agreed by keeping it as a day of worship. We observe the seventh
day of the week (Saturday) as God’s Holy Day as an act of loving obedience—not as a means of salvation. Salvation is the free gift of God throughJesus our Lord. It is the joy of the Sabbath that makes SDBs just a little bit different.
For more information, write: The Seventh Day Baptist Center, 3120 Kennedy Road, PO Box 1678, Janesville, WI 53547-1678. Phone (608)752-5055; FAX (608) 752-7711; E-mail: [email protected] and the SDB Web site: www.seventhdaybaptist.org
Who are Seventh Day Baptists?If you’ve never read The Sabbath Recorder before, you might be wondering who Seventh Day Baptists are.
Like other Baptists, we believe in:• salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.• the Bible as the inspired word of God. The Bible is
our authority for our faith and daily conduct.• baptism of believers, by immersion, witnessing to our
acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord.
• freedom of thought under the guidance of theHoly Spirit.
• the congregational form of church government.Every church member has the right to participatein the decision-making process of the church.
Students: Are you a highschool senior or in college, andwilling to serve with next year’sSummer Christian Service Corps?
Churches: Do you wish to host an SCSC team forservice and outreach?
Applications for team members and church proj-ects are on the SDB Conference website at seventh-daybaptist.org. Please print the applications fromthe website and send all completed forms (for bothmembers and projects) to: SCSC Committee, c/o
Milton SDB Church, 720 E.Madison Ave., Milton WI
53563.All team member applications must be postmark-
ed by January 10, 2007, and all church projectapplications must be postmarked by January 31,2007. There will be NO exceptions.
If you have any questions, please contact theMilton Seventh Day Baptist Church at the aboveaddress, or e-mail the SCSC Committee [email protected].
The “SDB Exec”web log
(known internally as ‘SDBlog’)features posts from
our agency executives.Check it out at
seventhdaybaptist.org.
❋ ❋ ❋
SDB Grapevine—200 Members and Growing!
How would you like to get “cuttingedge” ministry news as it is developing? If you
would like to receive the monthly E-Newsletterfrom the Center offices, please send your e-mail
to [email protected]. You will become an“insider” on SDB news happening today!
—Executive Director Rob Appel
SDBlog
See our websitefor the new
3 December 2006
December 2006Volume 228, No. 12Whole No. 6,923
A Seventh Day Baptist publication
The Sabbath Recorder (ISSN 0036-214X)(USPS 474460) is published monthly (com-bined July & August) by the SDB GeneralConference’s Tract and CommunicationCouncil, 3120 Kennedy Road, PO Box 1678,Janesville, WI 53547-1678. This publication isdistributed at no cost to members and friendsof Seventh Day Baptist churches and is madepossible by donations from its readers. Periodi-cals postage paid at Janesville, WI, and addi-tional offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes toThe Sabbath Recorder, 3120 Kennedy Road,PO Box 1678, Janesville, WI 53547-1678
This is the 162nd year of publication forThe Sabbath Recorder. First issuepublished, June 13, 1844. Member of theAssociated Church Press. The SabbathRecorder does not necessarily endorsesigned articles.
Establ. 1844
Kevin ButlerEditor
Leanne Lippincott-WuertheleAssistant Editor
= Editor’s Circle members
Contributing EditorsRob Appel, Susan Bond, Ruth Burdick, An-drew J. Camenga, Gordon Lawton, G. KirkLooper, Micayla Neher, Don A. Sanford,Morgan Shepard.
WRITERS: Please type manuscripts double spaced.Only manuscripts that include a stamped, addressedenvelope can be returned. Unsolicited manuscriptsare welcomed; however, they will be considered ona space available basis. No remuneration is given forany article that appears in this publication. Paidadvertising is not accepted.
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EC
Towner’s still in tune ................................................. 4by J. Paul Green
Prolific hymnwriter always a favorite withmen’s quartets and male choruses.
Discovering your (musical)sense of purpose ........................................................ 6by Lannette Calhoun
You may need to encourage others—and yourself—to share musical talents at church.
Directing music—without a single lesson! ............................................. 8by Ben Calhoun
Young people use music to communicate. Here’s howwe can all influence that language.
Early SDB hymnwriters ............................................. 9by Oscar Burdick
Hymn usage in the 1600s was not without controversy.
Chaplain Johnson back in Afghanistan ..................... 10by Jerry Johnson
Ministry opportunities continue to arise.
Features
Women’s Society 13A new song
Pearls from the Past 14Treasures froman old pulpit Bible
Financial Faith 15Year-end suggestions
Christian Education 16Stewards arenot owners
Focus 17Schools inSierra Leone
The Beacon 18Gifts
Departments
Reflections 19Oh, for a simple orange
President’s Page 20That baby was Divine
Vision 2020 21I have a dream
Local news 22Bradenton, FL 22Shiloh, NJ 22
Family flux 24-25New members, Births, Marriages 24Obituaries 25
Kevin’s Korner 27Music to my ears
4 The SR
Towner’s still in tuneR
FeatureSRby J. Paul Green
Seventh Day Baptists have alwaysbeen a singing people.
For generations, our men haveexpressed their faith and love ofsinging through male quartets andchoruses. The publication of Town-er’s Male Choir in 1894 coincidedwith the rising student evangelisticmovement. Along with the Bible,Towner’s became its handbook.
In the summer of 1900 (one ofthe peak years), the SDB MissionarySociety sent out five quartets. Theirtheme songs were “Keep Rank”and “Glorious Things of Thee AreSpoken.”
The following year, the Mission-ary Society had nine quartets on thefield, including seven men’s quartetsand two ladies’ quartets. Most of thesingers were students at either Alfred(N.Y.) University, Milton (Wis.) Col-lege, or Salem (W.Va.) College. Somewere also seminary students.
Daniel B. Towner was associatedwith evangelist Dwight L. Moody,serving as music director at hiscrusades for over 40 years. He wasalso head of the School of Music atMoody Bible Institute in Chicago.Towner wrote the music for over2,000 hymns and Gospel songs,including “Trust and Obey,” “Any-where with Jesus,” “Saved by Grace,”“At Calvary,” and “Grace Greaterthan All Our Sin.”
He also composed or edited overhalf of the numbers in the Townersongbook. Its full title is, Towner’sMale Choir, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 (Com-bined).
Towner’s music is typical of malequartet and chorus music, with themelody usually in the second tenorpart. The high tenor and low bassvoices get the melody occasionally;the baritone, hardly ever. The bari-tone part is crucial, however, because
it fills out the harmony and is oftenthe most difficult of all the parts.
The use of Towner’s book wasnever limited to summer evangelistteams. Over the years, many of ourSDB churches have had men’s quar-tets and male choruses.
The late Pastor Loyal F. Hurleywas not alone in knowing from mem-ory the titles, page numbers, keys,all the words, and all four parts ofthe more popular numbers.
After a stroke rendered PastorGeorge B. Shaw unable to speak,it was obvious to a visiting quartetthat he remembered all the songs.He moved his lips in perfect timewith the music as the quartet sang.
By the last third of the 20th cen-tury, Towner’s little book was outof print. Anyone who had a copytreated it like gold!
In 1996, the Seventh DayBaptist Historical Society securedpermission from the original pub-
lisher, Fleming H. Revell, to publ-ish a new edition. That book can bepurchased for $5 by contacting theSDB Center at PO Box 1678, Janes-ville, WI 53547-1678. The book isspiral-bound and has slightly largerprint that’s helpful to old eyes.
Today, men’s choruses “keep thebeat going on” in Salem and Milton,and perhaps in other SDB churches.
Nowadays, quartets and chorus-es use music from a great varietyof sources. Never before has therebeen such a wonderful array of mus-ic available to anyone who wants toget a group together to sing! Still,Towner’s is a favorite, and the onemost used by our men.
After more than a century since itspublication, some of the songs in thebook seem dated and quaint. Yet oth-ers are timeless and eternal as theydeal with many aspects of Christianfaith and life; songs such as “ThatBeautiful Land,” “Secret Prayer,”
The Historical Society secured permission to reprint a new (and slightlylarger) edition of the Towner’s book.
—Page sponsored in memory of Mary Jo Spencer
5 December 2006
This Men’s Chorus at a recent General Conference used the newly-printedTowner quartet books.
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and “Wonderful Peace.” They stillring in the ears and hearts of manyof our people.
Every year at General Conference,between 20 and 50 men take part inthe Men’s Chorus. The director is freeto choose any music, but he’d betterbe aware that most of the men arecounting on singing songs fromTowner’s. How the rafters ring andthe floor rumbles! Thanks be toGod!!
Retired SDB pastor Paul Greencontinues to direct musical groupsat Conference and at his homechurch in Milton, Wis.
Daniel B. Towner1850–1919
Towner (not SDB)wrote the music for
over 2,000 hymns andGospel songs.
6 The SR
Discovering your(musical) sense of purpose
RFeatureSR
by Lannette Calhoun, Milton, Wis.
“This Is My Story, This Is MySong”—but you may not like theway it sounds!
What would I like to see musi-cally in church? People able to em-brace the various tastes and giftsof each other.
I’ve been a church musician forover 35 years. As a result, I’ve beenpart of many conversations regard-ing the appropriateness of certainmusic during worship. It’s alwaysimportant to know why you feelthe way you do about something,so let me ask a few questions:
• Where did your musical prefer-ence come from?
• What do you listen to on a dailybasis and why?
• Are you close-minded aboutsomeone else’s musical choices?
I challenge you to really thinkabout your mindset and find some-one to dialogue with about it. Then,be on the lookout for new ways touse music in your church.
What beginning piano studentscould play easy hymn duets withtheir teacher? What middle schooltrumpet player needs a chance
to perform his solo/ensemblepiece prior to a competition? Isyour choir the only special-musicprovider? Do you ever sing hymnsa cappella?
What dancer or visual artistneeds a place to display their gifts?Who “hams it up” at the local com-munity theater and could headup your church’s drama team?
For just a minute, think outsidethe “box” you’ve put yourself in con-cerning music, and read Ephesians4:11-12. Replace “saint” with musi-cian/artist/creative person, andwhat comes to mind? Hopefully,some really cool stuff!!
Original piano music by LannetteCalhoun.
$15.00 each, or 2 for $25.00 (postpaid)Order by e-mail: [email protected] send check to:
Lannette Calhoun219 E. Madison Ave.Milton, WI 53563
“STILL” One-hour CD
A portion of each sale will go to theSDB Denominational Budget.
Encourageeveryone in
your church bodyto utilize their
talents, nomatter what
they are.
When our youngest offspringsaid that he wanted to play thedrums, I found a good teacherand bought earplugs.
Aaron Copland’s father want-ed him to become a lawyer becausehe thought no one could possiblymake a living composing music.Play your favorite Copland CDand see what we would be miss-ing if he had listened to his dad!
Are you still afraid to remove thetop of your “box”? Maybe it’s youwho needs to begin lessons on thatinstrument you’ve always wantedto play. I’ve never met anyone whowished they wouldn’t have takenpiano lessons; only those whowish they had.
Encourage everyone in yourchurch body to utilize their talents,no matter what they are. The “profes-sionals” shouldn’t be the only oneswith a baton in their hands, or seat-ed at the piano.
What’s the worst thing thatcould happen if you begin to thinkdifferently? You stay where you are.
At best, you’re going to givea sense of purpose to people whomight go elsewhere to find it ifyou don’t give it to them. Youmight even have to go as far asto say, “I see a gift in you. Wouldyou be willing to share it?”
This is all about a comfort level.What’s yours?
Are you stuck in a “music rut”?Are you stubborn when it comesto accepting new things? Are youone of those people who needs tochange and be willing to use thegift you’ve been given? Are youhiding it?
Don’t be discouraged. Stay focus-ed and celebrate the little things oflife—one beautiful note at a time. SR
7 December 2006
Is time running out?“Where your treasure is, there your heart will also
be” (Luke 12:34).
The end of a year is a great time for giving.When you make a year-end gift to help the Seventh
Day Baptist Conference, you aren’t just giving money.You are perpetuating your own values.
You’re saying, “I see what you’re doing for people andchurches, and I want to make certain you keep on doingit. Your values are my values.”
The end of the calendar year marks the time whenmany people think about making gifts to the work ofSeventh Day Baptists here in North America.
If you itemize on your income tax returns, you’re ableto deduct those contributions. Then, after calculatingyour deductions and the resulting tax savings, you maydiscover that you can make an even larger gift than youthought possible.
Year-end giving…•helps you to truly celebrate the joy of the Christmas
season.•helps you promote a fuller expression of your Chris-
tian faith.•provides you with a year-end tax deduction if you
itemize your tax return.•allows you to deduct year-end gifts of cash, stocks,
real estate, life insurance policies, cash values of paid-uppolicies.
•provides you with certain tax benefits related to gainsor losses on your securities.
•lets you give back to God the firstfruits of the abun-dant bounty He has given you.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithfulservant! You have been faithful with a few things; I willput you in charge of many things. Come and share yourmaster’s happiness!’ ” (Matthew 25:21, NIV).
Seventh Day Baptist CenterPO Box 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
Denominat iona l Date l ineDenominat iona l Date l ineDenominat iona l Date l ineDenominat iona l Date l ineDenominat iona l Date l ine
December3 Hebron, Pa.—Andrew Camenga
10 (To January 8th, 2007)
African Trip to Tanzania, Uganda, Liberia,
and Sierra Leone—Kirk Looper
January, 20075-8 Installation for Pastor Michael Spearl, Brad-
enton, Fla., Seventh Day Baptist Church—
Gordon Lawton
7-10 North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF)
Meetings, Atlanta, Ga.—Rob Appel
21 Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Educa-
tion Committee Meeting, Alfred Station, N.Y.—
Camenga
21 Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society Board
of Managers Fourth Quarter Meeting, Westerly,
R.I.—Looper
27-28 Seventh Day Baptist Memorial Fund Quarterly
Meeting, Washington, D.C./Maryland—Morgan
Shepard, Appel
27-28 Council on Ministry (COM) Annual Meeting,
SDB Center, Janesville, Wis.—Lawton
8 The SR
Directing music—without a single lesson!by Ben Calhoun
RFeatureSR
From King David on his harp toEric Clapton on his, each generationhas produced minstrels who createsoundtracks to their movements,rebellion, and revival. Music influ-ences culture, which influences art-ists, which influences music thatinfluences culture, which…
However ordered, this circle ofinfluence helps to pinpoint everygeneration. It’s focused on the youth,but why do they hold that banner?And, more importantly, where willthey wave it?
Perhaps an illustration will best,well… illustrate this. (This story isstrictly fictional, and no associationto any real “parties” is suggested.Well…)
At 13, a boy longed to beat hisolder (more handsome) brotherin something—anything. Coachesand teachers would often comparethe two, negating the youngerboy’s individuality.
Wise to this injustice, their par-ents sought a remedy. Yearning
something his older (less hairy)brother never touched, the boychose the drums.
Recognizing an opportunity tohelp their youngest child succeed,Mom and Dad (I mean, “the par-ents”) promptly purchased a drumset. Their boy quickly found hisniche, and they endured rock n’ roll-like noise from their basement, ga-rage, and church at all times of theday and night. The music wasn’t softand pretty; it was loud and raucous,with Mountain Dew-like energy.
With earplugs handy, the par-ents stoked the coals of their child’spassion in a healthy and productive
way. The boy helped form a fewbands and, in turn, encounteredsuch life-changing qualities as in-dependence, self-confidence, andindividuality. He’s now the favor-ite drummer of his older (moreclean-shaven) brother.
That young boy’s life was direct-ed by a family that supported hisdesire, no matter how much theirears hurt.
What are your desires? Whatare your dreams?
Are you like a good night’s restfor the dreamers, or are you morelike a nightmare? Do you disregardideas and preferences if they don’talign with yours? Do you stifle cre-ativity with your lack thereof? Areyou willing to risk a little “ringingin the ears” now to hear the melo-dies of tomorrow?
No matter if you’re a youth ora youth-maker, you have the choiceto influence the next generation.
Music is often the language thatyoung people use to communicateand to lead. It’s like the “tongue”of their culture. It will move withor without you. The question is:Where will you direct it?
Ben Calhoun is Director of ChurchDevelopment at Judson College inElgin, Ill.
No matter if you’re a youth ora youth-maker, you have the
choice to influence thenext generation.
Ben Calhoun (second from left) in his “Stained Glass” musical outreach days.Ben’s brother Josh (left), played the drums. SR
9 December 2006
Early SDB hymnwritersby Oscar Burdick, researcher of SDB origins
RFeatureSR
Some of our early English SeventhDay Baptist pastors wrote hymns.
The first authors who come tomind are Joseph Stennett (1663-1713) and his grandson, SamuelStennett (1727-1795). However, asSeventh Day Baptists were form-ing in the Commonwealth period(1649-60), two earlier SDB pastorswrote a few hymns.
In the second known version ofhis 1657 book, The Seventh-Day Sab-bath Sought Out, Thomas Tillam hastwo hymns inserted between pages112 and 113:
An Hymn Celebratingthe Lords Sabbath
To magnifie thy Law great Lord, Isa. 41.21And make it honourable,The Saints this day with one accord Act. 2Approach thy Holy Table. [etc.]
An Hymn In Honour ofthe Out-powring of the Spiriton the Day of Pentecost, Act. 2Most sweet coelestial harmony, Exo. 19God’s Law, Christ’s spirit giv’n [etc.]1
Tillam also printed a number ofhymns in his 1660 The Temple ofLively Stones.
Those hymns were publishedwhile he was the founding pas-tor of the SDB church at Colches-ter, Essex. Previous to this, he hadbeen the Baptist pastor at Hexham,Northumberland, where he was inconflict with the Baptist church atNewcastle. The church report that“he did sing in publique at Hex-ham, David’s Psalms…,” to whichhe replied, “ ’Twas a mercy wehad that liberty.”2
Tillam’s friend, ChristopherPooley, an SDB pastor at Norwich,
Norfolk, concluded his 1660 book,Unvvarranted Principles, with ahymn.
(In 1667, Tillam and Pooley weredisowned for taking on “circumcisionand the Legal Ceremonies.” Amongthe seven Sabbatarians who dis-owned them were Pastors EdwardStennet—father of Joseph Stennett—and John Belcher Sr.)3
In the 1690s, many Dissenterpastors were in a controversy abouthymn singing. This included the SDBpastor Joseph Stennett (Pinner’s HallSDB Church, London, 1690-1713)and his friend John Piggott, whowere for hymn singing.
Stennett published Hymns in Com-memoration… for the Holy Supperin 1697, containing 37 hymns. Thiswas expanded over several editionsand printings to 50 hymns in 1709.
These have gradually disappearedfrom most hymnbooks. One was used
in the previous edition of the Chris-tian Church Hymnal, ChristianWorship. (Disciples of Christ havethe Lord’s Supper every Sunday.)It included “Lord, at Thy TableWe Behold.”4
Stennett published Hymns Com-pos’d for the Celebration of the HolyOrdinance of Baptism in 1712, fol-lowed by a second edition in 1722(posthumous). Beside most everyline of his hymns is a Bible reference.Three Sabbath poems are in Volume4 of his Works. One of these is:
Another six-days-work is done;Another Sabbath is begun…
In some Seventh Day Baptistcircles, this is still in use as a hymn,but with only a few of the original14 stanzas.
Samuel Stennett, D.D., wasprimarily pastor of the Little WildStreet Baptist Church in London.However, for over 20 years, hepreached Sabbath mornings at hisgrandfather’s church, then locatedat Cripplegate, London.
Stennett wrote a number ofhymns,5 two of which are still insome hymnbooks: “Majestic Sweet-ness Sits Enthroned,” and “On Jor-dan’s Stormy Banks I Stand.”
1(London, 1757), copy at Regent’s
Park College, Oxford.2Tillam, A Christian Account of Some
Speciall Passages or Providence… [1656
or 1657], 17. Only known copy is at the
American Baptist Historical Society.3A Faithful Testimony Against the
Teachers of Circumcision and the Legal
Ceremonies. This was an appendix to
Stennet’s The Royal Law, 2d ed.4Christian Worship, (St. Louis: Chris-
tian Board of Publication, 1941), #464.5His Works, 3 (London, 1824),
531-55.
Rev. Joseph Stennett1663-1713
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10 The SR
RUpdateSR
Chaplain Johnson back in Afghanistanby Jerry Johnson
“Hello” again to my SDB friends.I was able to see many of you at Con-ference in August during my R&R.It truly was a wonderful break! Whilehome, I took each of our four boys ona special outing, and wife Carrie andI had a getaway to a bed and break-fast near Lowville [N.Y.].
Since returning to Afghanistan,life has not slowed down. Soon afterarriving, our brigade was notifiedthat one of our teams to the northhad two soldiers killed by a massivesuicide bombing near the U.S. Em-bassy in Kabul. I was “drafted” to goup there for six days of ministry andto conduct a memorial ceremonyon September 14.
I also did a “9/11 RemembranceService” at the very moment of the5th anniversary of that terrorist at-tack. More than 150 soldiers, sailors,marines, airmen, and civilian work-ers gathered as I did a retrospectiveand led them in prayer for the fallen,as well as for our nation.
My regular travels have continued,with trips averaging two days a weekwhen I am based out of Salerno. Ispent 17 days in Jalalabad, Asadabad,Nanagalam, and the Korengal Valley,all to the north. All told, I have beenaway from my “home” about 60 per-cent of the time since returning toAfghanistan.
One of my biggest thrills was bap-
tizing a soldier at the Korengal Out-post. These infantrymen are the trueheroes. While soldiers at the largerbases live in comparative comfort,these men have no running water,
Bible study and traditional servicesfocusing on spiritual disciplines.While many soldiers are tired andclaim they do not have time for chur-ch, everywhere I go there is a solidgroup that is hungry for God’s Word.
As we head toward the end ofour deployment, we monitor soldierswho are at high risk for destructivebehaviors once they get home. I willalso be working on five marriage andfamily events scheduled for April andMay. There will be unique challeng-es once we return to the U.S.
On a more exciting note, I ampreparing a continuity file for myreplacement, who should arrive bythe first of February—if everythinggoes as planned.
I thank the Lord for giving mesafety on my many travels through-out Afghanistan.
More than anything, I am thank-ful that I have a wife and four boyswho have stayed strong and enduredseveral major challenges during myabsence. Many other soldiers sharethe same feelings.
We appreciate all the prayersand support from back home. In thedays ahead, please pray for us as webegin preparations for another de-ployment—either back to Afghani-stan or to Iraq.
The next time I write, I will behome!
A number of used ammo cans form-ed the base for a creative bapistryin Afghanistan.
Sergeant Robby Myers testified ofhis growing faith. (Chaplain John-son, right.)
A smiling Sergeant Myers came outof the water, “raised in the newnessof life.”
showers, toilets, or heat for theirtents. They continue to do so muchwith so little.
In early October, I accompaniedmy unit’s Civil Affairs Team to a sup-ply drop for a girls’ school in Khowst,less than 15 minutes from Salerno.We handed out more than 1,400 lbs.of items donated by the Blue StarMothers of Dayton, Ohio.
Prior to my last trip, I was able topresent five wounded soldiers with“Quilts of Valor,” sent by women inthe States. They wanted to honorthose who have made major sacrific-es for this mission. There are moreopportunities to touch lives herethan I could ever put down on paper!
At Salerno, I have been able topreach, as well as continue a weekly SR
I am thankfulthat I have a wife andfour boys who have
stayed strong duringmy absence.
11 December 2006
As it has for the past 40 years,the Seventh Day Baptist World Fed-eration is sponsoring the annualWeek of Prayer. Booklets for theweek of January 7-13, 2007, havebeen mailed to each World Federa-tion Conference (and to each churchin the USA and Canada).
We hope you will receive inspi-ration and spiritual food from the
here. Please consider prayerfullyyour contribution to this worthycause. If you would like to sponsor aparticular delegate, please contact:
SDB World FederationLuan Ellis, Treasurer614 Pleasant Valley Rd.Alfred Station, NY 14803 USA
The SDB World Federation consists of:General Secretary Calvin Babcock
President Joe Samuels, USA/Canada
AfricaJames Siwani
AsiaAl B. Paypa
CaribbeanEwart Caesar
EuropeJan Lek
North AmericaAndy Samuels
South AmericaLuciano deMoura
South PacificGabe Bejjani(interim)
Seventh Day BaptistWorld Federation’s
Week of Prayer
“How GodEmpowers
His Church”
(Contributions may be sent to the same address.)The World Federation strives to increase commu-
nication among Seventh Day Baptist groups through-out the world, and to provide fellowship and supportthrough periodic meetings of representatives. Prayersare requested for the 2008 meeting and for smoothprocedures for the delegates to enter the UnitedStates. With world conditions as they are, we arehopeful that no one will be denied a visa to visit us.
Thank you for your contributions and prayersfor this worldwide organization of Seventh DayBaptist believers.
writings of Pastor Andrew Samuels. He has entitledhis series of meditations, “How God EmpowersHis Church.”
The next General Session of the World Federa-tion will be held in August of 2008 in the UnitedStates. Now is the time to begin preparing for thatmeeting and for the travel of our World Federationdelegates to the meetings in Wisconsin.
Would your church be willing to sponsor theexpenses of one of those delegates? As the delegatesplan their travel to the United States, they may beable to visit their sponsoring church while they are
Vice Presidents:
2007Week of Prayer
Please join SDBs worldwidein prayer during the week
of January 7-13.
SR
12 The SR
Accusations, starvation—but they keep workingfor God (Kirk Looper) ........................................... Jan.
A journey worth taking(Bernie Wethington) ..........................................March
A memorial cane (Don A. Sanford) .................. July-Aug.An ambassador in a foreign land
(Nicholas Kersten) ................................................ Sept.A thrill ride I’d rather not repeat
(Rollie Davis) ........................................................ AprilBracelets and balloons in Boulder booth
(Lynne Severance) .................................................Nov.Change Thanksgiving Day??
(Donald Graffius) ..................................................Nov.‘Christian MySpace’ promises safety, but others
not so sure (Hannah Elliott) ................................ JuneClearing the debris (Josh Snyder) ............................ JuneConference Highlights 2006 ..................................... Sept.Directing music—without a single lesson!
(Ben Calhoun) ........................................................ Dec.Discovering your (musical) sense of purpose
(Lannette Calhoun) ............................................... Dec.Do you own the holiday—or does it own you?
(Christian Mattison) .............................................Nov.Early SDB hymnwriters (Oscar Burdick) .................. Dec.Elmo FitzRandolph: A son’s personal chronicles
(John FitzRandolph) ..............................................Oct.Exploring the Sabbath (Linda Greene) ............. Jan.-Feb.“Extreme Makeover” (of the heart)
(Mayola Warner) ......................................... July-Aug.Evangelistic outreach in the Great Northwest
(Ron Elston) ........................................................... Jan.Faith vs. Regret (Micayla Neher) ............................. JuneFasting must be done ‘unto God’
(Emily Kandel) ..................................................... Sept.Finding hidden meanings
(Micayla Neher) ................................................... JuneGrandview sponsored by Seattle
(Ron Elston) ........................................................... Jan.His flock moves to Afghanistan
(Jerry Johnson) .................................................... April
Feature Index for 2006(Department Index on page 23)
History… in perspective (Linda Harris) .................. Sept.In defense of religious liberty: The history of
the BJC (Nick Kersten) .......................................... Feb.Join us at the Rez Connection!
(Kirk Looper) ......................................................... Jan.Kersten goes to Washington
(Kevin Butler) ................................................ July-Aug.Life, death, and a bean field
(John Ryschon) ................................................... MarchMy enforced six-month Sabbatical
(Melvin F. Stephan) ................................................Feb.My time in Zambia (Rod Henry) ................................Feb.New ministry with old-time values
(Ron Elston) ............................................................Jan.New training in New Auburn (Ron Elston) ................ Jan.Pierson pastor at Bonanza Creek
(Ron Elston) ............................................................Jan.Random decisions? (Mark Green) ........................... AprilSabbath: Celebrating salvation with delight
(Herbert Saunders) ............................................... MaySDB Pastors: An Endangered Species?
(Andrew Samuels) .................................................. Oct.Serving in a hostile environment—no matter
where you are (Morgan Shepard) ........................ AprilThanksgiving Art Contest results ............................... Nov.Thanksgiving thoughts (Nick Kersten) ...................... Nov.The fight for freedom
(Michael Graves) .................................................. AprilThe price of freedom (Paul Davis) ........................... AprilThe rests in life (Diann Greene) ........................ July-Aug.The soul set free (Paul Manuel) ................... March, April,
June, July-Aug.,Oct.Time to draw closer (Robert Van Horn) ................... MayTowner’s still in tune (J. Paul Green) ........................ Dec.2006 Robe recipient ................................................... Nov.Update from Salerno (Jerry Johnson) ...................... MayUtilizing our gifts for the Lord
(Ron Elston) ............................................................Jan.What is Poieo? (Jessica Ryall) ................................... May‘Yunz’ are invited! (Terry Durst) ....................... July-Aug.
Local news and events
Afghanistan ............... May, Oct., Dec.Alfred Station, NY ............. May, JuneBerlin, NY .................. Jan., July-Aug.Bradenton, FL ............................ Dec.Chatawa, MS....................... July-Aug.Ft. Lauderdale, FL ............. Feb., Nov.
Hebron, PA .............................. MarchIraq .............................................. Feb.Miami, FL ........................... July-Aug.New Auburn, WI ........................ Nov.Nigeria ......................................... Feb.North Loup, NE .................. July-Aug.Pacific Pines Camp .................. March
Paint Rock, AL ................... Jan., Nov.Pataskala, OH .......................... MarchPlainfield, NJ ............................... Oct.Portland, OR............................ MarchShiloh, NJ .......................... May, JuneStonefort, IL .............................. Sept.Yearly Meeting ........................... Dec.
13 December 2006
A new song
Women’s Society page by Susan Bondwww.sdbwboard.org
I keep learning new things aboutmy mother. Recently, I learned thatshe likes surprises, and always has.
It’s the same with me.When I was a youngster, I’d get
hand-me-down clothes. It didn’tbother me that some of my “new”outfits were pre-used clothing,boxed up and lovingly presentedto the preacher’s family. The out-fits were new to me, and I worethem with a smile.
It’s the same with the HolySpirit.
The Holy Spirit has been aroundsince the beginning of time, but Hewas “new” to me when I was a younghousewife and mother in my early20s. The difference was, He didn’tcome in a box. Instead, He tookme out of a box.
In August of 1971, SDB pastorand evangelist Mynor Soper askedme if I would share my Christiantestimony the following year atGeneral Conference. Trusting thatGod would give me something tosay, I replied, “Yes.”
Soon afterwards, my husband’swork moved us away from oursmall church family—a congrega-tion that really needed us—toa larger church that already hadYouth Group leaders. I becamedepressed and soon questionedmy faith. Aren’t Christians sup-posed to be joyful? I thought.
I was reading the Bible everyday, as well as books by Christianauthors. Without knowing it, mytheme verse became, “If you seekme with your whole heart, youwill find me” (Jeremiah 29:13,my paraphrase).
I felt caged by guilt.One Sabbath morning, when
our cat ruined my new stockings
by putting a run in them, I toss-ed him across the kitchen floor.I immediately felt guilty.
My husband was my only closefriend. I wouldn’t confide in oth-ers when I was having a rough day,because I wanted to be a good ex-ample of a Christian. I still thoughtChristians weren’t supposed tohave problems.
During this time, another themeverse for me could have been Ro-mans 7:24. Utterly frustrated, Paulfinally asked, “Who will deliver mefrom the body of this death?”
I could identify with Paul allthrough these verses—until I reach-ed verse 25: “Thank God throughJesus Christ my Lord.” I did notknow or feel that victory.
One evening, I was reading PatBoone’s book, A New Song. He hadwritten about the Holy Spirit’s effecton everyone in his family, exceptdaughter Debbie. She felt estranged.
When I got to the part aboutDebbie asking for the Holy Spirit,I set the book down and prayed,“God, will You please give me YourHoly Spirit?” Then, rememberingan elder’s advice to thank God whenyou ask Him for something, I add-ed, “Thank You.”
There was no lightning strike,and God didn’t speak to me inan audible voice; in fact, nothingemotional happened.
I got off my knees and walk-ed into my bedroom. What hap-pens the next time I have a sinfulthought? I wondered.
I figured it must have beenGod Who gave me the proper re-sponse to that query: “Devil, leaveme alone. I have God’s Holy Spirit.He promised.” Immediately, I re-called Luke 11:13—
“If you then, though you are evil,know how to give good gifts to yourchildren, how much more will yourFather in heaven give the Holy Spiritto those who ask him!” (NIV).
The next morning, I sensed a deepknowing that God loves me just theway I am. I was free—out of my self-made box. I didn’t have to try so hardto be a good example; I could simplybe me.
Suddenly, it didn’t matter wheth-er anybody else loved me, becauseI knew God did. Something else wasalso noticeably new: When I readthe Bible and sang hymns, the wordscame alive. It felt as if I was holdingJesus’ hand.
Some of the lessons I’ve learnedsince then have been hard-caught,but God has been faithful and lovingthrough all of my struggles.
Like my mother, I like surprises—especially ones that God pulls off!When we delight ourselves in Him,He grants us our heart’s desires(Psalm 37:4).
I once asked some students toname a person they’d like to meet,either from the past or present. Myown answer was “Debbie Boone.”
Three years ago—through anamazing, well-orchestrated seriesof events that had to be God’s do-ing—I did meet Debbie. I had theopportunity to tell her my story,and I even had my picture takenwith her. We shed tears of thanks-giving for the One who gave bothof us a new song.
Note: If you would like to shareyour testimony or song—or borrowmy copy of A New Song—call meat: (304) 884-8897.
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Page sponsored by the Bradenton SDB Branch Church of Daytona Beach, FL—
14 The SR
Pearls from the Past by Don A. Sanford, historian emeritus
Treasures froman old pulpit Bible
The old pulpit Bible from theRock River Seventh Day BaptistChurch rests in the archives ofthe Seventh Day Baptist Histor-ical Society. That church wasfounded in Wisconsin in 1856and later joined in forming theMilton Junction (Wis.) SDBChurch in 1875.
Not excessively large, the Biblemeasures 9 x 12 x 3 inches. It con-tains both the Old and New Testa-ments, along with the Apocryphafrom the King James translationof 1611.
The title page quoting Revelation22:18 caught my attention: “If anyman shall add unto these things,God shall add unto him the plaguesthat are written in this book.”
Yet I have never seen anotherBible with such a mass of additionalmaterial and helps! It has indexes,concordances, and considerable mis-cellaneous material to aid in studyand interpretation.
In addition to its 862 pages oftext (572 covering the Old Testament,116 for the Apocrypha, and 173 forthe New Testament), this old pulpitBible contains:
1) An opening section briefly stat-ing the contents of each chapterin both the Old and New Testa-ments.
2) Eight pages of an “Index of theMost Remarkable Passages”in the Bible.
3) A page describing Judea, Pales-tine, and the Holy Land.
4) A Table of Kindred and Affinity,
“Wherein whosoever arerelated, are forbidden in Scrip-ture and our laws to marry to-gether.” This section describes30 instances where a man maynot marry a specific relative,with a like number of examplesfor women.[As I read this, I realized that Ihad violated this edict. Follow-ing my mother’s death, I per-formed the ceremony unitingmy dad and my mother’s sister.One of these old edicts says thata man cannot marry his wife’ssister. There’s no mention of“same-sex” marriages.]
5) A table of distances, surfaces,weights, and coins.
6) An Alphabetic Table of theProper Names in the Old andNew Testaments, with themeaning or significance ofthe words in their originallanguages (22 columns).
7) A Concordance of the Old andNew Testaments (44 pages of220 columns).
8) The Psalms of David in meter.This Bible lists each of the 150Psalms in both rhyme and com-mon meter (8.6.8.6.), so thatthey can be sung to the tunesof such familiar hymns as:•O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing;•O God Our Help in Ages Past;•Jesus the Very Thought of Thee;•In Christ There Is No East or West.
Thus the familiar 23rd Psalmcould be sung in this poetic expres-sion:The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not
want—he makes me down to lieIn pastures green, he leadeth me—
the quiet waters by;My soul he doth restore again—
and me to walk doth makeWithin the paths of righteousness—
ev’n for his own name sake.Yea, though I walk in death’s dark
vale yet will I fear no ill;For thou art with me, and thy
rod—and staff me comfort still.My table thou hast furnished—
in presence of my foes:My head thou dost with oil anoint—
and my cup overflows.Goodness and mercy all my life—
shall surely follow me;And in God’s house forevermore—
my dwelling place shall be.
Similarly, Psalm 121 might besung in the same metric pattern:I to the hills will lift my eyes—
from whence doth come my aid.My safety cometh from the Lord—
who heaven and earth hath made.Thy foot he’ll not let slide nor will—
He slumber that thee keeps;Behold he that keepest Israel—
He slumbers not nor sleeps;The Lord thee keeps, the Lord
thy shade—on thy right handdoth stay:
The moon by night thee shall notsmite—nor yet the sun by day.
The Lord shall keep thy soul; heshall—Preserve thee from all ill.
Henceforth thy going out and in—God keep forever will.
Even the 119th Psalm—with all ofits 22 stanzas of eight verses, follow-ing the Hebrew alphabet from Alephto Taw—is similarly set in metricalpattern. It could be sung in praise toGod and His Holy Word, but prob-ably not in a typical Sabbath morn-ing chorus rendition, followed bya lengthy prayer and sermon. SR
15December 2006
FinancesSR
Year-end suggestionsby Morgan Shepard
Financial
FAITH
The following can help you makewise financial decisions, enablingyou to end 2006 on a high note whilepreparing for the years to come.
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,and to God what is God’s” (Matthew22:21, NIV). In other words, taxesand tithes.
While many of us don’t thinkabout taxes until April 15, the deci-sions we make in December willaffect our 2006 taxes.
Tithes, of course, are tax deduct-ible. But that’s not why we shouldgive to our church. God has gra-ciously provided for us during thispast year, so we should be morethan willing to give back a tenth—especially since everything we haveis His in the first place. (See Leviti-cus 27:30, NIV.)
Start your giving with your localchurch. Then, if you want to do more,consider the following:
529 College Savings Plans•You can contribute up to $12,000
($24,000 for married couples) an-nually without gift-tax consequences.Under a special election, you caninvest up to $60,000 ($120,000 formarried couples) at one time by ac-celerating five years’ worth of invest-ments.
•Anyone can contribute to a529 Plan! Earnings and withdraw-
als are not subject to federal taxeswhen used for higher education.Some states even allow state taxdeductions on contributions! Thisis a good opportunity for grandpar-ents, aunts, uncles, siblings, andfriends to contribute to a child’seducation.
•In 2003, the SDB MemorialFund established 529 Plans forthe children of qualifying SDBpastors. Check to see if your pas-tor is participating in this plan,or any 529 College Savings Plan.Does your pastor have a newchild? They can start a 529 Plantoday! An education is a gift thatkeeps giving.
•Need more information onplanning for college? Check outwww.savingforcollege.com ortalk with your financial advisor.
SDB Boards and AgenciesThe chart below shows the
current giving status for all ofour Boards and Agencies as ofOctober ’06 (most current infoavailable). As you can see, every-one can use your help. All haveimportant ministries that affectevery Seventh Day Baptist’s com-mission to spread God’s mes-sage throughout the world.
Let’s be thankful for all Godhas provided in 2006. Malachi3:10 reminds us, “ ‘Bring thewhole tithe into the storehouse,that there may be food in myhouse. Test me in this,’ says theLORD Almighty, ‘and see if I willnot throw open the floodgatesof heaven and pour out so muchblessing that you will not haveroom enough for it’ ” (NIV).
Total Agency Giving (Designated & Undesignated)
Agency 2006Goal
Giving to Date(Jan.-Oct.)
% ofGoal
BCE
BOF
COM
CSA
EAF
GS
HS
MS
TCC
WS
PROP
Sub Total
60,844.00
13,200.00
73,744.00
5,000.00
5,137.00
215,769.00
71,000.00
60,875.00
34,300.00
$539,869.00
38,887.60
11,000.00
47,119.04
2,588.53
3,144.77
143,358.68
450.00
50,485.47
48,162.57
23,907.86
4,153.00
$373,257.52
63.91%
93.33%
63.90%
51.77%
61.22%
66.44%
71.11%
79.12%
69.70%
69.14%
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––
– –
16 The SR
Stewards are not owners
by Andrew J. Camenga
EducatingChristians.org
Stewardship is not about fundrais-ing. Do you find that hard to believe?
I’ve watched churches in finan-cial crises bring the topic of Steward-ship to the fore of their educationand preaching ministries. I’ve heardabout Christian groups that run“Stewardship Campaigns” as littlemore than high-pressure, drenched-in-guilt pledge drives. So, my experi-ence with the word is at odds withthe idea that stewardship is notabout fundraising.
Experience notwithstanding, thestatement that “stewardship is notfundraising” remains true. And itnever was supposed to be aboutfundraising!
Fundraising is all about gettingyou to give your money to my cause.
When I strive to raise money, mypurpose in interacting with you is toend up with something I did not havebefore. In other words, I want to useyou for what you can do for me.
The temptation to use others forwhat they have is always presentin fundraising. In Christian circles,we’ll sometimes notice the tempta-tion but avoid the sin that flows fromit. At other times, we won’t notice thetemptation, and we will baptize ourlanguage to disguise what we are do-ing. It is here where the words “tithe”and “stewardship” actually seduce,allowing Christians to mean, “Giveyour money to my cause” withoutthe phrase ever crossing their lips,pens, or printers.
When this happens, talk of stew-ardship becomes little more thananother technique for separatingpeople from their money. But thisis not what stewardship is all about.
People talk about stewardshipin terms of time, treasure, andtalent. Some people build onthis idea and shape stewardshipseminars around establishingand maintaining the good habitsthat are necessary to managetime, save money, strengthenfriendships, and do good inmany other ways.
These are exciting things tolearn, and they provide us withinformation and encouragementto do a better job of controllinglife and reducing waste. Yet,even here, a problem exists.
This approach to stewardshipencourages us to use our resourcesin better ways, but stewardshipisn’t about using our resources in
Stewards are not owners;they have only that which is entrusted
to them. All things being equal, they willgive an account of their stewardship
whenever the owner requests it.
good ways. Stewardship is actuallyabout being a steward.
The first thing we need to remem-ber about stewards is that they takecare of others’ “stuff.” Stewards arenot owners; they have only thatwhich is entrusted to them. All thingsbeing equal, they will give an accountof their stewardship whenever theowner requests it.
Stewardship is not a call to give upyour money—or your time and talent.For Christians, the call to steward-ship is a call to live life as a steward,relinquishing false claims of owner-ship and seeing all resources as be-longing to another.
Have you done this? Or are youstill living as an owner? SR
17December 2006
FOCUSon Missions
Schools inSierra Leone by Kirk Looper
A number of years ago, we weresurprised when Mr. Kwabena Opokue-mailed us about a newly-organizedSDB Conference in Sierra Leone,West Africa.
They started out with three chur-ches and several interested groups.It was wonderful news, and wewere glad to get acquainted withthe leaders—as well as you canover the Internet.
It wasn’t long before we receivedword of the increased activities ofthe churches, especially regardingeducation. Each church agreed tobuild a school, but the large project(and cost) quickly got out of hand.They requested help from the Sev-enth Day Baptist Conference of USAand Canada, which responded bysending funds to assist in construc-tion, equipment, and supplies.
Our Sierra Leone brethren con-tinue to have difficulties, includingthe inability to pay teachers’ salaries.Many teachers agreed to work with-
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half of whom are orphans becauseof the rebel war. Unfortunately, com-petition comes from other mission-ary schools in the vicinity—includingthe S.L.C. primary school, assistedby the Anglican Diocese; and theRoman Catholic and Islamic primaryschools. The failure of an SDB schoolwould be a great disappointment.
As part of their overall effort,the SDB Mission in Sierra Leonehas established churches with50 or more members. Each needshymnals, Bibles, study materials,and Helping Hand SabbathSchool books.
The president of the SDB Con-ference in Sierra Leone—PastorFrancis E. Mattia—recently con-ducted a seminar, inviting manyIslamic scholars. At the end of themeetings, over 15 Muslims con-verted to Christianity and becamemembers of the Seventh Day Bap-tist Church.
These types of gatherings couldtake place more often if equipmentand resources were more readilyavailable. Funds are needed for food,water, and the published materialsthat accompany the seminars.
We pray that you will be ledto help those who are working inthe churches and school in SierraLeone. Teachers are paid $50 amonth, which doesn’t go far withthe high cost of living and the re-quirement that they dress appro-priately in the classroom.
We also pray that the churcheswill be able to pay their teachers sothat the school can continue.
out pay until adequate funds wereraised, but apparently the churcheswere unable to raise enough moneyto cover the back pay.
Many of the children attend schoolwithout paying anything, and the restcome from families with very limitedresources. As a result, the schoolsreceive little income and desperate-ly need money to pay their teachersand staff.
The school presently has a regis-tered enrollment of 241 students,
Since many of the children inthe SDB school are orphans, weneed to remember that they needmore than just an education. Theyalso require food, clothing, shelter,and medical assistance.
Some of the teachers live in neigh-boring villages five miles from theschool, having to walk to their classesduring the rainy season with no pro-tective rainwear. Thus, they wouldbe grateful for help in purchasingbicycles, as well as a raise in salary.
Some of the school students and staff in Sierra Leone.
We need to remember that the orphansneed more than just an education. They
also require food, clothing, shelter,and medical assistance.
18 The SR
Gifts
December 2006
the BEACON
Mother: “Children, how about looking at this newChristmas catalog that just came?”
Danette: “Oh, goody! I bet it has a lot of pretty thingsin it!”
Sharon: “Yes, and I can show mother what I want.”David: “Turn to the bicycles first, Mother.”Mother: “You know, children, that if we think only
of ourselves at this season of the year, OldMan Selfishness can take over in our livesand make us very unhappy people as wellas disagreeable to others. Now, do youwant to be like that?”
Danette: “I don’t want to be like that, Mother.”Mother: “I know that all of you want to be unselfish
and follow the example of Jesus.”Sharon: “Mother, where is Jesus now?”Danette: “He isn’t a baby now, is He, Mother?”Mother: “No, He became a grown man and went back
to heaven from where He came. You remem-ber the story in the Bible about how wickedmen killed Him, don’t you?”
Sharon: “I remember that story, Mother.”Danette: “So do I.”David: “Me, too. There are lots of pretty things in
this catalog for a baby.”Sharon “Don’t you think it would have been nice to
have taken Baby Jesus a present when Hewas on earth, Mother?”
Mother: “Yes, it would have been wonderful, all right.But, do you know something? We can stillgive a gift to Jesus here in December 1976.”
All thechildren: “We can?”Mother: “Yes, we can honor Him with gifts any time
we choose. In fact, there is something in the
by Juanita Ogden(From the Children’s Page, December 1976 SR)
Bible that is most interesting about that verything. Will you bring me my Bible, Sharon?”
Sharon: “Of course, Mother. Here you are.”Mother: “Let’s see. Here it is… Matt. 25:40. Verily
I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have doneit unto one of the least of these my brethren,ye have done it unto me. Do you understandthis Scripture? That when we do somethingfor others we are really giving a gift toJesus?”
David: “Do you mean that if I give some of mytoys to a little boy who doesn’t have any,that Jesus would like it just as much as ifI handed it to Him?”
Mother: “That’s right, and I’m happy to know youunderstand it, son.”
Sharon: “When we took some food over to theBrown’s last night, was that the same asgiving Jesus a meal?”
Mother: “Yes. I’m proud of all of you! And you knowwhy, I’m sure.”
All thechildren: “Yes, yes, Mother… we know what it
means.”Mother: “I’m happy—and I know Jesus must be,
too! Here’s something you may never havethought about before. You see, children,it’s possible to honor Jesus all year long.None of us should wait until Christmas tocelebrate the Christmas season. Let’s re-member that every day someone may needour help and friendship. What a wonder-ful world if we treated each other with thesame love and friendly concern all throughthe year as we do at Christmas!” SR
(A Christmas playlet from another generation)
19December 2006
“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face.”—1 Cor. 13:12
by Leanne Lippincott-Wuerthele
Oh, for a simple orange
Reflections
The older I get, the span betweenNew Year’s and the following Christ-mas is getting shorter and shorter.Well, I’ve discovered that the spanis getting shorter!
When I was a youngster (abouta million years ago), December 1stmarked the beginning of celebrat-ing Christ’s birth.
Today, many people have theirYuletide lights up and lit in earlyNovember, and most stores put outtheir holiday merchandise and deco-rations as early as September. (I havedifficulty getting into the Christmasspirit when I see a pumpkin restingnext to a crèche, with the infant Je-sus hidden under a witch’s broom.)
I enjoy everything about Christ-mas—the candlelight Christmas Eveservice at my church; the beautifulChristmas songs on the radio; carol-ing on the doorsteps of shut-ins; eat-ing no-calorie Christmas cookies andcandy; watching my grandchildrenalmost burst with anticipation; deco-rating every square inch of our housewith candles; trying to avoid burningdown our house; trying not to incin-erate Christmas dinner.
I love hearing the elderly remi-nisce about their childhood Christ-mases. They tell of riding in sleighsto their grandparents’ homes, chop-ping down evergreens and decoratingthem with strings of popcorn, andreceiving homemade rag dolls orwooden toys carved by loving hands.
Many “senior saints” get a specialtwinkle in their eyes when they talk
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about one of their favorite Christ-mas gifts as children: An orangethey could call their very own.
For years, the offspring of LetaStebbins (my late husband’s grand-mother) thought that she loved toeat orange peel. Only years later didthey realize that “Mother” chewedthe peels so that she could have ahint of citrus without biting into oneof her children’s precious oranges.
Most days, I enjoy living in ourmodern society. But a part of melongs for those simpler (and oftenharder!) times. Times when therewere no televisions, video games,computers, cell phones, and battery-operated books that read themselves.
As I age, I’m becoming more andmore aware of the simple but truejoys of the Christmas season.
Number one, of course, is thejoy and privilege of celebrating ourSavior’s birth. (Yes, I know that Jesusreally wasn’t born on December 25th,and I realize that the Magi’s camelsdidn’t plow through snowbanks ontheir long journey to Bethlehem.)
I’ve come to realize that the realjoy of Christmas doesn’t lie in shop-ping and gift-giving—although that’sfun. (At least, for women.) It alsodoesn’t rest in stuffing ourselveswith stuffing until weexplode, or fall-ing asleep
in front of the TV after dinner.Real joy comes from spending
time with loved ones during the holi-days. This includes friends, immedi-ate family members, close or distantrelatives, even co-workers and fellowchurch members.
Christmas is all about acknow-ledging, accepting, and celebratingChrist’s birth, and then giving, andloving, and sharing. This sharingincludes the material as well asthe spiritual.
When you bake those pumpkinpies this December, make a few extrato give to neighbors.
When you buy that restaurant giftcard, purchase an extra one and giveit to the widow down the block. Thenoffer to join her at the restaurant.
Invite that lonely widower atchurch to share in your sumptuousholiday dinner. And be sure to sendsome leftovers home with him. (Yourfamily will be more than grateful.)
When greeting strangers, say“Merry Christmas” like you reallymean it, from the heart.
The ways we can show God’smercy and love—and be His handsand feet on earth—is endless. Andwe need to show that love beforeand after Christmas, as well asduring the holiday.
May your Christmas celebra- tion this year overflow with
blessings. Merry Christmas!
20 The SR
That baby was Divine The President’s Pageby Ruth Burdick
SDB General Conference July 29 – August 4, 2007George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon
As we come to the wondroustime of spiritual celebration ofJesus’ first coming, let us worshiphim in spirit and in truth.
How awesome it is that ourHoly God became a man to enableus to identify with him, see oursinful nature, and receive his sal-vation through the shedding ofhis blood! “Jesus Christ is Divine.”This is our third daily theme forConference 2007.
In Luke 1:30-35, the angel Gab-riel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid,Mary, you have found favor with
God. You will be withchild and give birth toa son, and you are to givehim the name Jesus. Hewill be great and will becalled the Son of the MostHigh. The Lord God willgive him the throne of hisfather David, and he willreign over the house ofJacob forever; his king-dom will never end. …TheHoly Spirit will come up-on you, and the power ofthe Most High will over-shadow you. So the holyone to be born will becalled the Son of God.”
In certain church-es in America today,Jesus is said to bea “good teacher” or“a man whose examplewe should follow.” But
• God’s Word is Truth• God is Sovereign• Christ is Divine• The Holy Spirit Indwells• The Lost are Really Lost• Worship God in Spirit
and Truth
Daily Themesfor Conference 2007
In Exodus 3:14, God said toMoses, “I AM WHO I AM.” In John 8:58,Jesus himself said, “I tell youthe truth, before Abraham wasborn, I am!”
In John 1:1-2, 17-18, John testifiedabout Jesus saying, “In the beginn-ing was the Word, and the Word waswith God, and the Word was God. Hewas with God in the beginning… thelaw was given through Moses; graceand truth came through Jesus Christ.No one has ever seen God, but Godthe One and Only, who is at the Fath-er’s side, has made him known.”
We must not let the influenceof the world dictate our testimonyabout Jesus. Let us proclaim himas divine and eternal.
Let us enjoy the season that cel-ebrates his birth. Let us claim himas Savior!
nothing is said about his divinity.In some churches, Mary seems
more elevated than her son. Thisgives false testimony about Jesusand disregards his power and au-thority. It is to see him as some-thing other than our Savior—theOnly Savior of the world.
Because Christ is divine, he isthe only one who can intervene andsave us from our sins through theshedding of his blood. This is an es-sential truth that needs to be taughtand preached. Salvation can onlycome from the Lord God Almighty.
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—Page sponsored in honor of Bud and Luella Williams’ 65th wedding anniversary, and their 65 years of faithful membership in the North Loup, NE, Church
21December 2006
by Executive DirectorRob AppelI have a dream
On August 28, 1963, Dr. Mar-tin Luther King Jr. gave a speechin which he proclaimed, “I havea dream.” That talk gave birth toa vision that changed a peopleand a nation.
Dr. King’s famous speech is adramatic example of how a compel-ling vision for the future can gener-ate power. A clear vision is essentialif an organization is to be effectivein their united tasks.
So, what is a vision and how doSeventh Day Baptists get one?
One definition of vision is “a men-tal image.” A vision is a statement ofwhat we want to become. It shouldprompt SDBs to form an alliance andhelp us feel united, excited, and partof a grander cause. A vision shouldstretch our Conference’s capabili-ties, giving shape and direction toour future ministries.
A vision is a guiding image ofsuccess that contributes to the totalcause. The wording should conjureup a similar picture for each Confer-ence member, describing the finishedwork—the ultimate goal—that we canaccomplish together.
A vision should require Confer-ence members to stretch their col-lective expectations, aspirations,and performance.
How a vision is usedA vision is an important guide
to implementing new ministries
and a measuring stick for futurecollective work. Any new ministrywould need to follow the guide-lines of the Conference’s vision.
“Why does our organizationexist?” Our mission statementanswers that question:
The Seventh Day Baptist Gen-eral Conference unites, encour-ages, and equips local SeventhDay Baptist churches in their en-deavors to fulfill the Great Com-mission (Matthew 28:16-20).
However, a vision is moreencompassing than this. It alsoanswers the question, “What willsuccess look like five years, 10 yearsfrom now?” It is this unified imageof a goal that really motivates usto pursue this work together.
Creating a visionOur vision statement should
be realistic, credible, well articu-lated, and easy to understand. Italso must be appropriate to ourMission Statement, ambitious inits goals, and fluid—always readyto be changed if necessary.
Our vision for SDBs shouldunite our Conference’s energies,and guide our current and fu-ture actions. In short, our visionshould challenge and inspire usto achieve our mission.
Creating a vision begins with—and relies heavily on—intuition
and dreaming. This process includ-es brainstorming to decide what wewant to accomplish in the future andthen gathering information on howto achieve it together. We list anddiscuss the goals that we share inpursuing our common vision.
I have a dreamIf I can be so bold as to alter Dr.
King’ speech…Even though we face difficulties
today and tomorrow, I still havea dream; one deeply rooted in Sev-enth Day Baptist values.
I have a dream that one day thisConference will rise up.
I have a dream that one day everyvalley shall be exalted, and every hilland mountain shall be made low;the rough places will be made plain,and the crooked places will be madestraight; “and the glory of the Lordshall be revealed and all flesh shallsee it together.”
This is our hope, and this is thefaith of the Seventh Day Baptistpeople.
With this faith, we will be able tohew out of the mountain of despair astone of hope. With this faith, we willbe able to work together, pray togeth-er, and struggle together—knowingthat we will be doing God’s work!
I have a dream today!
See my “Grapevine” news insidethe front cover.
SR
22 The SR
End of an era—Yearly Meeting disbands
NewsSRby Donna S. Bond
“If we walk in the light… wehave fellowship with one another”(1 John 1:7).
Yearly Meeting, often consider-ed the forerunner to our GeneralConference, met in Shiloh, N.J.,on October 20-21, 2006, for its254th session.
While the youth gathered for anovernight stay at Jersey Oaks Camp,Phil Bond and Pastor Mel Stephanled the Friday evening congregationin worship and Bible study.
Dennis Coleman, a relativelynew member of the Shiloh church,delivered the Sabbath morningmessage, “Fellowship of Believers.”Following Sabbath School and aroast beef dinner, Yvonne Stephanshared her story-telling talent asDorcas, the woman raised fromthe dead.
Jan Bond spearheaded a fun andexciting Music Olympics, with hymntitles suggesting various stunts andcontests.
We closed the session with afellowship circle, singing “We AreOne in the Bond of Love.” The an-nual business meeting followedan evening meal of pizza.
While the above-listed activitieswere well executed, the businessmeeting was what was newsworthy.
Prior to the meeting, a vote wastaken in each of the eight member
churches in New Jersey, easternNew York, eastern Pennsylvania,and Maryland. A report of their in-dividual actions resulted in YearlyMeeting being disbanded, with re-maining treasury funds to be turn-ed over to Eastern Association.
This certainly was not the firsttime that the dissolution of YearlyMeeting had been discussed. In hisbook, Choosing People: A Historyof Seventh Day Baptists, Don San-ford refers to similar discussionsamong New England SDB churchesas early as 1762 (see page 146).
Today, some viewed YearlyMeeting as “just one more thingto do.” Yet, we feel sad when achance to fellowship with like-believers no longer exists.
It’s possible that the need forthis gathering has run its course.Only time will tell whether we’lltruly miss it.
Perhaps we can take the energythat we usually put into hostingand traveling for Yearly Meeting,and channel it into other programsthat benefit “the least of these, Mybrethren.”
While the decision to disband was made by the churches, these delegates were at theOctober 21 business meeting to make the decision official. (Delegates were fromShiloh unless specified otherwise.) Front row: Nancy Davis, Yvonne Stephan, PaulGreene (Berlin), Geri Greene (Berlin), Joanna Bond (Marlboro), Jan Bond, SharonCampbell, Sandy Layton, and Valerie Probasco with Liam. Back row: RichardBidwell, Allen Davis, Mel Stephan, Don Chroniger, Chris Bond (Marlboro), PhilBond, Ron Campbell, Charlotte Chroniger, and Owen Probasco.
On November 1, 2006, MichaelSpearl began his pastorate at theBradenton, Fla., Seventh Day Bap-tist Church. He became an SDBwhile attending the Bradenton chur-ch, so it is fitting that he begin hispastoral career here.
In the intervening years, Michaelwas an active member of the Daytona
to his new job. He is also nurtur-ing a budding ministry in his wife’shometown in the Philippines.
The Bradenton church will holdMichael’s installation service dur-ing the morning worship service onJanuary 6, 2007. As on any Sabbath,but particularly on this special occa-sion, we invite you to join us.
Bradenton welcomes new pastor by Kim Merchant
Beach, Fla., SDB Church. Mostrecently, he served as a licentiate,deacon, and the church’s president.In his licentiate role, he helped fillthe Bradenton pulpit after the re-tirement of Rev. S. Kenneth Davis.
Currently completing his first se-mester of seminary, Michael bringsboundless energy and enthusiasm SR
SR
23December 2006
Department Index for 2006(Feature and Local news Index on page 12)
Columns
Moistening dry clay ..................................................... Jan.The making of ministers .............................................Feb.Serving an extended territory ................................. MarchThe Sabbath in Scotland ........................................... AprilCamps: Extension of pastors and laity ...................... MayThe Sabbath Recorder: A frontier newspaper .......... June
1806: The revival year ........................................ July-Aug.Seventh Day Baptists’
musical heritage .................................................... Sept.New York to Wisconsin—1841 .................................... Oct.That old family pew .................................................... Nov.Treasures from an old pulpit Bible ............................ Dec.
CALLED in phases ...................................................... Jan.A MOST popular seminar ...........................................Feb.Nominate a teacher ................................................. MarchDiaconate workshop.................................................. AprilPre-Con forms ............................................................ MayHow to find your way to Youth Pre-Con .................... JuneA simpler system for Conference kids ............... July-Aug.Scripture Memory Verses ......................................... Sept.2006 Scripture Memory participants ......................... Oct.2006 Sabbath School Teacher of the Year ................. Nov.Stewards are not owners ............................................ Dec.
Pearls from the Past
Christian Education
Meetings challenges in Indonesia ............................... Jan.Barriers in Burundi .....................................................Feb.Work in Kenya continues ........................................ MarchTraining in the Philippines ....................................... AprilLadies gather in Zambia............................................. MayWhich way are we going? ........................................... JuneNew ministry in Stone Mountain ...................... July-Aug.Union of SDBs in Mozambique................................. Sept.Snapshots from overseas ............................................ Oct.Bible College update from Malawi ............................. Nov.Schools in Sierra Leone .............................................. Dec.
Focus (Missions)
Women’s Page Reflections
Pray for our leaders ..................................................... Jan.Giving Life to words ....................................................Feb.Confrontation .......................................................... MarchTemptation: A lonely place ....................................... AprilThe open window ....................................................... MayThe last thing I need................................................... JuneNova Scotia, here we come! ............................... July-Aug.Reflections from Jamaica ......................................... Sept.An inspiring red hat affair ........................................... Oct.My most prized possession ........................................ Nov.A new song ................................................................. Dec.
Have we gone too far? ................................................. Jan.Breaking the missionary mold ....................................Feb.A gem of an example ............................................... MarchOn hallowed ground .................................................. AprilLo and behold—old and betrothed ............................ MayCaring for widows ...................................................... JuneName—and attitude—adjustments .................... July-Aug.A steady, faithful Christian ....................................... Sept.Nice try, ‘Old Salt’ ....................................................... Oct.A unique Thanksgiving meal ..................................... Nov.Oh, for a simple orange .............................................. Dec.
Kevin’s Korner
It’s not always what you know .................................... Jan.Meeting important people ..........................................Feb.Crossing paths on The Path to Glory ...................... MarchSo many options, so little time.................................. AprilFor the love of the game ............................................. MayThat “vision thing” ..................................................... June
A million frames ................................................. July-Aug.Conference homecoming .......................................... Sept.Eight planets, seven days ............................................ Oct.Chicago once more ..................................................... Nov.Music to my ears ........................................................ Dec.
24 The SR
Marriages
Current Giving 2006Annual Giving Budget$539,869
BirthsNew members
Alle-Kiski ValleyFreeport, PA(Branch of Salemville)Raymond A.P. Mialki, pastorJoined after baptism
Gina L. Deyo
Remembrance SDBFort Worth, TX(Branch of Houston)Richard “Bill” Burks, pastorJoined after testimony
Bill BurksCynthia BurksNina CreelJim ManlyJenifer OsbornHolly PontierJon Walker
Martin.—A son, Alexander Win-ston Martin, was born to Robinand Gary Martin Jr. of Salem,WV, on November 28, 2005.
Penfold.— A daughter, TrinityNicolette Penfold, was bornto Adam and Marie (Martin)Penfold of Salem, WV, onJune 12, 2006.
Hibbard.— A daughter, AnnalíaNoelle Hibbard, was born toJustin and Karlene (Neher)Hibbard of Millersville, MD,on September 12, 2006.
Crouch.—A son, Joseph KendelCrouch, was born to Rick andGrace (Camenga) Crouch ofPalatka, FL, on November13, 2006.
Meathrell - Talerico.—CharlesRichard Meathrell and JessicaM. Talerico were united in mar-riage on January 14, 2006, atthe First United Methodist Chur-ch in Clarksburg, WV, with Rev.D. Scott Smith officiating.
Calise - Joly.—Matthew FrancisCalise and Tiffany Monique Jolywere united in marriage on Au-gust 12, 2006, at Shrine Mont inOrkney Springs, VA. Rev. EllisBowerfield officiated, assistedby Rev. Dr. Dale D. Thorngate.
Solomon - Davis.—Nicholas Solo-mon and Lydia Jean Davis wereunited in marriage on September9, 2006, in the Salem (WV) Sev-enth Day Baptist Church, withRev. D. Scott Smith officiating.
Through October of’06, PROP has received
$4,153 in donations.This is down significantly
from last year. Let’sremember, honor, and serve
those who faithfullyserved us for so
many years.
25December 2006
Accepted Calls:
•Christian King
to Low Country, SC
•Justin Camenga
to Ashaway, RI
•Matt Berg
to Middletown, CT
•Kory Geske (interim)
at Battle Creek, MI
•Haywood Floyd
at Muskegon branch of
Grand Rapids, MI
•Dale Smalley
at Appleton branch of
Portage, WI
•Kevin Palmiter (outreach)
at Little Genesee, NY
•David Taylor
to Mitchellville, MD
•Ron Elston
at Doniphan, MO
•Mike Spearl
at Brandenton branch of
Daytona Beach, FL
Resignations:
•Glenn Robin
from Adams Center, NY
•David Thorngate
from Boulder, CO
•Harold King
from Battle Creek, MI
•Don Shackleford
from Lost Creek, WV
Millar.—Arthur B. Millar, 85, ofBattle Creek, Mich., died on Au-gust 20, 2006.He was born on June 1, 1921, in
Hughenden, Alberta, Canada, theson of William D. and Eva N. (Bur-kinshaw) Millar. He graduated fromMilton (Wis.) College and was amember of the Battle Creek Sev-enth Day Baptist Church.
Arthur was a musician and re-paired musical instruments. He alsoenjoyed photography, amateur radio,and was an avid Michigan State Uni-versity supporter.
From November 1942 to October1945, he served in the U.S. Army dur-ing World War II. He was dischargedas a sergeant with the 20th DepotRepair Squadron.
Arthur is survived by his wife of12 years, Maria Hering Millar, whomhe married on November 5, 1994. Heis also survived by other family mem-bers and friends.
Funeral services were held on Au-gust 24, 2006, at the Battle CreekSDB Church, with Revs. Harold Kingand Kory Geske officiating. Inter-
ment was in the Battle Creek Memo-rial Park.
Vergeer.—John Teunis Vergeer,78, of Pittsboro, N.C., died on Octo-ber 19, 2006. From 1986 to 1998,he served as Financial Managerof the Seventh Day Baptist Memo-rial Fund, headquartered in Janes-ville, Wis.
John was born on July 5, 1928,in Grand Rapids, Mich., the sonof Teunis V. and Frauline JansmaVergeer. He was a graduate of HopeCollege in Holland, Mich., andworked as vice president of Conti-nental Bank in Chicago, Ill. He alsoserved in the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his belovedwife, Melicent Huneycutt-Vergeerof Pittsboro; one son, Vytas V. Ver-geer, of Washington, D.C.; onebrother, Fred, of Thompson, Ga.;two grandchildren; and a specialniece, Sara Bartelli, of California.
A memorial service for John washeld at the University PresbyterianChurch in Chapel Hill, N.C., with Dr.Robert E. Dunham officiating.
PastoralChanges
in thepast year
Obituaries
We’ve all been told that weshould have devotions or “quiettime” every day. If we don’t, we’remade to feel guilty. Many of us feelGod is angry or disappointed withus if we haven’t “performed” inthe right way.
Linda Harris is writing a bookabout spending time with God,getting rid of the guilt, and find-ing intimacy with the One Wholoves us. She is looking for yourexperiences with spending timewith God.
Please consider the followingquestions and e-mail your responsesto [email protected]. Or mail
Help write a new book!them to 2617 Montebello Dr. W.,Colorado Springs, CO 80918.
All who respond will receive a freee-book in pdf format when the bookis completed. Thank you for yourparticipation.
1) What is the greatest challengeyou’ve had in spending timewith God?
2) How have you dealt with thatchallenge?
3) What difference have you seenin your life as a result of spend-ing time with God?
4) What difference do you noticewhen you don’t spend time withHim?
5) Are there any tools or tech-niques that help you in yourtime with God?
6) How do you deal with distrac-tions?
7) Is there a personal experienceyou would like to share withreaders of the book? SR
26 The SR
The SDB Women’s Society is accepting nomina-tions for the Robe of Achievement for 2007. Pleaseconsider a woman in your church who meets thefollowing criteria for nomination:
• Was/is active as a volunteer in some phaseof denominational effort
• Has shown evidence of special service withher family and/or community
• Must be a committed Christian
• Must be an active member of a local SeventhDay Baptist church
A complete résumé must be submitted con-taining a life history, including her achievementsand activities. Without a résumé in hand, the com-mittee cannot make a competent choice amongmany nominees. If an individual has been nomi-
Robe of Achievement2007 Nominations
nated before, and you still want that person con-sidered, please resubmit the name as well as theupdated résumé.
Send nominations to:
Laura Hambleton, ChairSDB Robe Nominations1568 Megan Bay Circle
Holly Hill, FL 32117
or apply on-line at: www.sdbwboard.org
Deadline:March 31, 2007
For further information, contact or callLaura Hambleton: (386) 677-8594
PROP (the Pastors RetirementOffering Project) continues
to support ourretired pastors and
denominational workers.
Won’t you give to those whogave so much
for Seventh Day Baptistsover the years?
Send your donation to:PROP
Seventh Day Baptist Center
PO Box 1678
Janesville WI 53547-1678
PROP still goingPROP still going
Pastors Retirement Offering ProjectContributions are needed for continuing support of SDB retired
pastors and denominational workers, and surviving spouses of pastors.
Please donate to PROP!
PASTORS:
Leroy C. Bass
Leland E. Davis
Melvin G. Nida
Don A. Sanford
Edgar E. Wheeler
OTHER RETIREES:
Ethel D. Dickinson Clarke
Jean D. McAllister
Margaret S. Bond
Ida Babcock
Esther Lewis
C. Rex Burdick
David C. Pearson
Donald E. Richards
Victor W. Skaggs
Ralph L. Hays Sr.
David S. Clarke
Give to those who gave so much.
ORNER
K E V I N ’ SK E V I N ’ SORNER
December 2006 27
Music to my ears
EditorialSR
Have you ever had one of those “what if”conversations?
I remember one that went like this:“If you were forced to slowly lose your fivesenses, which one would you want to giveup last?”
Most of the others in the group said,“Sight.”
Not me. I would hold on to my hearing.By God’s grace, I’ve been able to marvel
at many natural and manmade wonders allaround North America and in other coun-tries. The visual treats have been fantastic,and those images are fixed in my brain.
But I still get a thrill when I listen to a book on tape,or catch a stimulating radio broadcast or ballgame.Those messages ringing in my ears and the accompany-ing “picture” they conjure up would rival anything dis-played in National Geographic.
Then there’s the music.Lord know (and Janet knows) how I’ve tried to keep
up with the trendy gadgets in order to have my favoritetunes on hand.
Take away my hearing? I would miss so much.
My love for music began early while taking pianolessons from my grandmother, a retired music and artteacher. As far as performing went, let’s just say I devel-oped an appreciation, but would never headline a sell-out (or any other) concert.
I think that most of the talent went to my oldersister. She still teaches music full-time to school kids,sings and performs when she’s able, and directs anarea adult chorale.
In our house, we let the kids carry on the musicallegacy. They have mastered several instruments andcan certainly outsing their “old man” any day. (That’sour Crystal on the far right in the photo on page 8.“Stained Glass” was a dream come true for her.)
If it weren’t for SDBs, I wonder if I’d be witness-ing this musical inheritance.
Good musicians bring out the talent in others.The high quality of music at the local church (andConference) level has undoubtedly inspired ourkids to work on their craft.
I can’t tell you how many times wholerestaurants have come to a hush whenour General Council sings the Doxologybefore the meal. We’re usually askedthe name of our “choir.”
Speaking of choirs, what aboutour Conference singers? The obviousthrill of the director pours out as heor she has the opportunity to leadstrong and talented singers—in all four parts—praising theLord in song.
And let’s not forget the wholeConference congregation gettingwrapped up in singing“WonderfulGrace ofJesus.” Whatjoy divine.
May we al-ways embrace,celebrate, and ex-tend our musical heritage.
One of my editorial privileges is the opportunity to say “THANKS” to all of our readers and supporters.My family and staff want to extend our grateful appreciation for the kind greetings and notes of en-
couragement that come our way this time of year. We love to hear from you!It’s my prayer that the SR will continue to inspire, inform, and challenge you in the days ahead. As
our presence on the Web grows, the doors are open to reach the world. Thank you for your prayer andfinancial support.
Thank You!!
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