May Newsletter 2012

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

Date Facilitators Event/Theme Time

2 Alex Golovenko Church of Small Groups—Philadelphia 7 pm

16 Alex Golovenko Bible Study as discipline for Growth 7 pm

19 Alex Golovenko Sabbath School Day—Corporate Witness 9:30 am

23 Clara Baptiste Growing in Prayer 7 pm

30 Gord Rayner “Guys” in the Bible 7 pm

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

May 2012 Volume 8 Issue 5

Canadian Union of Seventh-day Adventists

President Mark Johnson

May 26, 2012 speaking at 11 am & 2:30 pm @ Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, 450 Millbank Drive, London

Adventist Church & it’s Mission to the Community

On April 23, the Northern German

Union, which is a part of the Euro-

Africa Division, voted 160/47 to

"ordain female pastors equally to their

male colleagues.

An observation must be made that

back in 1881 a General Conference

resolution stated: "RESOLVED, That

females possessing the necessary quali-

fications to fill that position, may, with

perfect propriety, be set apart by ordi-

nation to the work of the Christian min-

istry." (Reported in Review and Herald,

Dec. 20, 1881.) And Ellen G. White

carried a license with word “ordained”

on it.

It seems that the Northern Germany,

together with numerous entities of our

church are bring Adventist Administra-

tion p to date with the 1880s! The his-

torical research would show that it was

during the Depression era that women

were sent home from the workforce,

and the church followed the trend,

making professional ministry men’s

world.

Dialogue with other parts of the

world reveals an interesting phenom-

ena of how language define thinking.

In Latin based languages words

“Ordained” and “Commissioned” are

used to differentiate between men’s

and women’s credentials, even though

both go through the same process of

church recognition by laying on of

hands. In Russian and other Slavic lan-

guages the title simply means “having

hands laid upon” - рукоположение, as

described in Acts 6:6, 2 Timothy 1:6;

Hebrews 6:2. The Latin terms in ques-

tion are vestiges of Roman Catholic

practice of positional authority. Bibli-

cal practice is based on laying on of

hands by believers representing recog-

nition of calling by the corporate

Church. In this simple sense—both,

men and women, have had hands laid

upon them and are equally called!

While the decision to amend Union

Constitution in Germany is in contra-

diction to global regulation, it should

be noted that it was emphasized more

than once that this is not to be consid-

ered as an act of disloyalty towards the

world church, but as an act of con-

science toward the gospel, albeit with a

flavor of civil disobedience.

A week prior, on April 17, the for-

mer GC president Jan Paulsen opened

the Spring meetings of church leader-

ship with a devotional on culture,

unity, the Holy Spirit and the responsi-

bilities of leadership. He made a con-

fession that he did not let the Holy

Spirit to accomplish all that was possi-

ble during his 11 years at a helm of Ad-

ventist Church. He wished he would

have led the church to where we would

not be having now the acrimonious ex-

changes regarding the role of women in

our church. He shared that he feels the

Spirit is ready to lead us to where we,

for various reasons, are reluctant to go.

He emphasized again that we do not

hold sacerdotal Roma Catholic view of

ordination and current re-examination

of this element will show a new way.

Paulsen challenged to continue con-

versation and not to walk away from

each other in disagreement. Unity does

not mean uniformity, and our decisions

must be weighed in light of mission.

What is good for mission not only in

Africa, Asia and Latin America, but

also in Europe and North America.

Everything we do must find meaning in

the Mission!

http://news.adventist.org/en/archive/videos/2012/04/17/jan-paulsen-spring-meeting-devotional-april-17-2012

Is the Adventist Church missing $12 billion?

That’s the question

posed by Claude

Ritchi, statistician

studying the Global

Tithing Index, com-

paring “per capita”

income in different

countries and looking at our membership rolls.

If our membership records are accurate and each mem-

ber returned a faithful tithe the annual collection for mis-

sion would be 14 billion, not 2, as reported annually.

Increasing faithfulness is noted among members in

Brazil, which in 2010 was responsible for about half of the

gains in world tithe.

Since 2010 national churches were encouraged to con-

duct an audit of membership rolls, to reveal a more accu-

rate gauge of members’ financial support. As a result

Togo, country in Africa, jumped to number 7 on the rank-

ing, up from the 38 spot last year. This jump is due to the

courageous decision on the part of leadership to drop all

missing members. In 2010, Togo reported 5,343 mem-

bers, a 52 percent drop from 11,028 the previous year.

Unfortunately about one-third of countries surveyed

contribute less than 10 percent of total tithe potential. This

shows that in those countries, church rolls are vastly in-

flated.

Makes you wonder how our local giving is comparing

with what it could/should be! Teens and parents are wish-

ing to go on a Mission Trip, which is a great idea. But the

one objection comes up—where is the money? How

should we fundraise? Church school, upcoming renova-

tion, a much needed Kindergarten and a Day Care facility.

All is possible, if our commitment would be 100%

See the full report here: http://www.aiias.edu/gti/reports.html

Country Population Adventists Prayer needs & challenges faced by people

1

Mexico 110,645,154 616,521

largest Spanish speaking country in the world with 60% population in poverty, without hope

2 10% of population are unreached Amerindian tribes Mixteco, Nahuatl, Zapoteco, ethnic religions 3 Spiritual warfare against demonic powers and wealth of drug trafficking cartels and gungs 4 Christian heritage needs revival from nominalism and formality, opening of Catholic strongholds 5 Order amidst corrupt politicians, police and military, integtrity in service, law enforcement 6 Adventist church Educational institutions, Montemorelos University, clinics and hospitals

7 Mauritania 3,365,675 7 Slavery still exists, pray for social justice in white-Moor-Arabic domination oppressing Africans

8 Monaco 32,904 NONE! Second smallest state in the world on the South coast of France with entertainment industry

9 Mongolia 2,701,117 1399 86% of people are still unreached with the Gospel, shamanist superstitions, young church

10 Montenegro 625,516 765 new country since 2006, independent from Yugoslavia, Orthodox dominance challenges growth

11 Montserrat 5,962 665 2003 volcanic eruption nearly destroyed inhabitable area, reducing population, need recovery

12 Mozambique 23,405,670 275,639 Former Portuguese colony, Marxist rule persecuted all Christian groups, freedom to continue

13 Morocco 32,777,808 14

Divided Islamic fractions between Islamists and moderates, pray for peace, for non-violence

14 Development of indigenous Moroccan Christian churches is needed, freedom to witness

15 Netherlands 16,653,346 4,843 83% urban, half of churches been either destroyed or converted to mosques, Christianity is low 16 Dutch Antilles 200,726 8,489 Biblical literacy is needed, 4% are Adventists, commitment to the mission is needed. 17 Namibia 2,212,037 17,507 Driest African land south of the equator, independent since 1990, 15% population has AIDS 18 Nauru 10,254 20 Spiritual reawakening takes place with shrinking economy, Adventism is new among Evangelicals

19 Myanmar 50,495,672 26,797

Pray for the end of systematic violence against Karen, Chin, Shan, Mon and Wa minorities 20 Formerly known as Burma, country struggles with ethnic divisions, hindering church growth 21 New Caledonia 253,743 672 400 km long island, where animism is under veneer of Christianity, former French penal colony

22 Nepal 29,852,682 6,846

Peace for this former Kingdom in Tibet, 8 out of 10 highest world peaks, since 2008 a republic 23 Christianity entered in 1952. 80% are Hinduists, 10% Buddhists, Christian mission needs growth 24

Nigeria 158,258,917

Abuja—capital city where Islam & Christianity are equally represented, pray for freedom

266,705

25 Northern Nigeria is Muslim, Hausa tribe espouses Islam, Shari’a law, fractions among muslims

26 Mission to the ethnic religious tribes practicing animism, especially rural groups - 45 unreached

27 Peace is needed in the oil-rich south where armed militia causes disturbances and rades 28 Wealth generated by oil-industry to be distributed justly for elimination of poverty and classes

29 Rapid growth of evangelicals permitted heretical unbalanced teachings, confusion in the Church

30 AIDS crisis where 8% of population are infected, ministry of compassion is needed

31 Pray for schools of leadership, seminaries, to mentor new generation of leaders of integrity

Since last October we had prayed for 2/3 of the

world population, 136 countries. We continue praying

and growing in knowledge of the vast mission field—the

whole world yet to be reached for Christ.

This month we will pray for only 16 countries with

6% of world population, including two large countries

Mexico and Nigeria with significant Adventist presence.

We invite you to read more about countries you pray

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

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

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

come agents of Change in this world.

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

end of Cosmic battle between good and evil. Your Prayer

interferes with the disorder of this world!