A Year in Review

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From the Communications Department……...3

A Word from Our Pastor………………………4,5

Ministry Spotlight………………………………6,7

Health Nugget…………………………………..8

A Year in Review: Pictures……………………9-15

Inside

Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church

Newsletter: December 2012

Ephesus Seventh-day

Adventist Church

7709 Wilson Boulevard

Columbia, SC 29203

803-786-2800

www.ephesussda.org

Pastor John Pooler, III

Service Times:

Sabbath Morning Praise and Worship: 8am

Sabbath School: 9:15 am

Divine Worship Service: 11:00 am

AYS: One hour before sunset

Wednesday Night Prayer and Bible Connection: 7pm

Contact Information

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From the Communications Department

Dear Ephesus Church Family,

The Ephesus Communications Team has the goal of ensuring that every member or visiting friend knows the events and happenings of the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist church. Through methods of technology, we strive to show the city of Colum-bia that we are a church on the move and about God’s business. It is our goal in the years to come that we excel and reach as many as we can to spread the word of God.

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A W

ord from We’ve enjoyed being the pastoral family for this multigener-

ational, multicultural church family. We take great pride in ex-pressing that we are the pastoral family of this dynamic church ministry wherever we travel. This year we have seen the miracu-lous hand of God bring souls to Christ, ground nonmembers in fel-

lowship, experienced out the box in-reach and outreach, and seen a defined increase in our giving as it results to our Tithing. As pastoral family, this year has brought many rap-id changes; a beautiful baby girl, new church, new city, change of job for my wife; just a lot of new. All I can say is, “Thank You Lord for allowing us to make this smooth transi-tion and thank you as a church family for making it easy on us to go through these vast chang-es.” It’s amazing what people go through and no one has any idea. I was especially happy to see in the Southern Tidings Magazine for the month of Oct. on Pg 4., that they focused on the Pastoral Family. The title was “Pastors are People too”. I encour-age you to check it out and continue to pray for one another as we push higher.

I’ve been carefully studying the book of Acts, getting ready for our transition into a new year and a new phase in our Ephesian Ministry. Our sermonic theme is “Body Builders 2012”; and as I read the book of Acts I feel compelled to keep the same foundation but lead a bit higher for 2013 to “Kingdom Builders”.

When you read the book of Acts, we see what should happen in the church, when the church is operating in the way that Christ desired. The problem was the Jewish agenda of the restoration of Israel to the power that it used to be. It’s a dangerous thing in the Kingdom when you get caught up on going back to what it used to be. Jesus said to them your concern is about the wrong power. You should be look-ing for the power to become what you’ve never been. You’re worrying about Israel’s power but I want to give YOU the power. They were so caught up on the power of institutionalization that they were about to miss the fact that the power would no longer be in the structure of the sanctuary on Earth, but in the bodi-ly temple. Power is in YOU. When the power of God is active, glory moments don’t have to be orchestrated or manipulated! We’ve been given a unique and awesome charge to recognize that we are called to the city of Columbia and to minister to its needs and empower the people to KNOW Jesus Christ (practical/and Spiritual). There is significant power that God has in store for us, when we push forward in a prayerfully active manner. The power is not in titles…don’t aspire for that. Recognize that you don’t receive power when you become a leader in ministry,… The power is in the prayerfully active people of God. When the people of God walk in unity and power great things can happen. When the people exercise spiritual power and walk in the anointing of the Holy Spirit and get our minds off of our destructive jealous agendas, miracles can occur. When the Holy Spirit falls there is an undeniable energy and vibrancy not only in our gather-ings, but we think differently, we start to see for the first time Phil. 4:13, we go to our jobs with different agendas to shine for Jesus in spite of, our home life is significantly different.

O ur

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My hope is that we would dig deeper and give all we have to the cause of Christ. He is so soon to come! If our agendas are trumping Gods plans for our lives he always has a way of bringing down the walls of Jericho and architecturally setting back our plans to build our own educational Towers of Babel. The first two chapters of the book of Acts becomes the evidence of what can happen when Ephesus operates in the power of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts tells us that THEY WERE IN PLACE AND ON ONE ACCORD. There is unity and community here at Ephesus

but when we self loath and don’t support any one but ourselves we fail. Ephesus in power is a place to belong; a place where people are for you and not against you. God needs this place to be a worship filled experience to belong and be active. Jesus needs this to be a place of commu-nity where you can be at ease and know that the people around you are for you. That only starts when you break the ice and introduce yourself to someone you don’t know. Call someone and pray for them, send someone a text to encourage them in the struggle. Ephesus, the power of God is among you, but don’t leave Him at the front door. Invite Him in. Invite people here, and let them know they have the capacity to experience God with-out qualifications. The book of Acts implies that the tower of Babel’s curse can come to an end with expressions of heartfelt concern for one another. You don’t have to know different lan-guages in order to care for people. The power to touch hurting, disconnected people has the po-tential to transcend language, socio economic conditions, cultural, and perspective differences. YOU individually have the Power to change this city. All heard the gospel in their own lan-guage…on the level that they could understand it. They did not have to take a language class to be qualified to hear it…and they were hearing it from men who were uneducated…and all of them were being blessed by the power of God and it was all couched in the power of personal fellowship, in other words spiritually highlighted time to kick it with each other. If the power of God is among us then the person who has never owned or read a bible, doesn’t know a bible verse and lived their life destitute and without God will have the capacity to walk into a sacred gathering, encounter you in the street and feel the power of God and experience HIM with no qualifications. Let people see the Kingdom of God and HIS power within you. Luke 17:21

Pastor P.

Pastor John and Natasha Pooler

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This year, our church has been busy for the Lord!

We have highlighted only a few of the numerous ministries at Ephesus for

their service to the church and to the community.

Ministry Spotlight

The goal of the Family Life Ministry is to

draw families together as they draw closer to

Christ. The Family Life Ministry also wants

to draw the church family together. This de-

partment has hosted several events for the

church to bring Ephesus together, including

birthday socials, the annual Church Apprecia-

tion Banquet, and the annual Church Picnic.

Family Life Ministry

The focus of the Singles Ministry is to

encourage singles to live a pure and

holy life as they walk with God. The

ministry provides several avenues in

which singles can participate and fel-

lowship, including rap sessions, out-

reach opportunities and social events.

You can also check out their website at

KeeptheCookie.org

Singles Ministry

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Ministry Spotlight

Pathfinders &

Adventurers Club

Striving the youth to work hard for the Lord, the

Pathfinder and Adventurer Club have been in-

volved in many events this year, including attend-

ing a camporee in Florida, visiting sick and shut-

in church members, and traveling to Charleston,

SC and Juneau, Alaska. The Pathfinders and Ad-

venturers also got the opportunity to visit

Washington, D.C.

Adventist Youth Society The youth have been very active at Ephesus this year! The Adventist Youth Society

(AYS) has hosted a countless number of activities in which the youth, as well as eve-

ryone else, can take part.

Project H.O.M.E.

This year, from September 2nd-9th, the AY decided to be a blessing to someone

within the church. Creating Project H.O.M.E. (Helping Others More Everyday),

the AY council chose one church member, Bertha Isaac, and renovated her

home. The whole Ephesus family was involved in this outreach as they worked

hard for seven days on the outside and inside of Sister Isaac’s home. On the

day of the reveal, her house was blessed by Pastor Pooler, and there was plenty

of support from the church. Overall, Project H.O.M.E. was a blessing for Sister

Isaac as well as those who were involved.

BE

FO

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AF

TE

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FACT Prayer is associated with positive health behaviors in children. Researchers at the

University of Texas surveyed 271 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade children in three central Texas school districts and found that

children who prayed frequently reported significantly higher levels of positive health behaviors than children who never

prayed. Prayer was also positively related to social connectedness and sense of humor.

HOPE While parents often pray for their children, we can also make a difference in our children’s health by praying with

them and teaching them to talk to God frequently throughout the day. Having a self-identity rooted in God’s love helps them

to value their health and the behaviors that contribute to health.

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FACT More Americans are praying about their health. Scientists analyzed data on 30,080 adults ages 18 and older who took

part in the National Health Interview Survey in 2002 and on 22,306 adults who participated in 2007. Forty-nine percent of

adults said in 2007 that they had prayed about their health during the previous year, up from 43 percent in 2002. In 1999, only

14 percent of survey participants said they had prayed about their health.

HOPE If more people are showing a strong interest in spirituality for improving and restoring health, then faith communities

can play an important role in helping them integrate faith in everyday health and in introducing people to the Master Restorer.

Does your church have a vibrant health ministry?

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FACT Prayer, Bible study and other spiritual activities benefit your physical health. A review of medical research found that

religious beliefs and activities have been associated with better immune function; lower death rates from cancer; less heart

disease or better cardiac outcomes; lower blood pressure; lower cholesterol; and better health behaviors (e.g. less cigarette

smoking, more exercise, better sleep). In addition, 39 of 52 studies found that religious persons live significantly longer. The

effect for regular religious attendance on longevity approximates that of not smoking cigarettes (especially in women), adding

an additional 7 years to the lifespan (14 years for blacks).

HOPE One of the best strategies for improving your physical health in 2012 may be in spending more time fostering your

spiritual health!

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FACT Personal time with God may slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease. A longitudinal study at the Behavioral Neurolo-

gy Clinic at Bayside (Canada) assessed 70 patients aged 49 to 94 for quality of life, spirituality and religiosity. Researchers

found that higher levels of private religious activities and of spirituality predicted slower cognitive decline in patients with

Alzheimer’s disease, after controlling for age, gender, education, and cognitive level at baseline.

HOPE Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease? Include regular meditation, prayer, and scripture

reading in your treatment regimen as a coping strategy—and to enhance brain function and slow down cognitive decline.

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“... I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose

life, so that you and your children may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19, NIV

Spend more TIME alone with GOD in PRAYER and BIBLE STUDY

From the North American Division Health Ministries

http://www.nadhealthministries.org/site/1/newsletter/2012/HU_Jan2012Eng.pdf

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A Year in Review:

Pictures JC

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Just

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Pathfinder/Adventurer DC Fun Trip

Sin

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Su

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A Year in Review:

Pictures

Singles Ministry Softball and Fish Fry Social

Fam

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Lif

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Healt

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Family Life Church Picnic

A Year in Review:

Pictures

VBS:

Sky: Everything is Possible with God

Ep

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A Year in Review:

Pictures

Project H.O.M.E

Before After

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A Year in Review:

Pictures

Ephesus Outreach in Summer Valley

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A Year in Review:

Pictures

Baptisms

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A Year in Review:

Pictures

At Ephesus

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Save the Date!Save the Date!Save the Date! Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church

102102102ndndnd

March 16th, 2013

Church Anniversary

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