| | | | | E-Newsletter of the Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists | April 2011
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| | | | | | | | | | | The Body of Christ: His Church By Marwood Hallett I've spent a lot of time with churches through my life. I've had some of the loveliest and happiest experiences of my life in churches. Of course, not every moment with churches and church people are peaceful and happy. There have been a few times when I've wondered, "What's so special about churches?"
That's why it's so important to remember that even though God knew that churches would not always be perfect places, he bestowed upon churches the highest, most exalted title he could: "Now you are the body of Christ," wrote Paul to one of his churches (1 Corinthians 12:27). And, "...we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones" (Ephesians 5:30).
This isn't just a simple metaphor. This is exactly how Jesus thinks of us. We are His body. We're not outside of him, external to him, a collection of parts that he loves. He describes us as in the closest, most intimate relationship to Himself that can possibly be imagined. We are (in a sense) Him!
That means that the church, at its best, is Christlike. Warns Paul, "There should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it" (1 Corinthians 12:225-26).
A body whose parts fight one another isn't healthy. Sometimes it seems like the body of Christ is riddled with leprosy! When the church doesn't behave in a Christlike way, that must pain Jesus, too. But he doesn't withdraw his love, his guidance, or his care. "Enfeebled and defective as it may appear," wrote Ellen White, "the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His supreme regard. It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts (God's Amazing Grace, p.338).
I'm profoundly grateful for those who show Christ's love in his church. Recently I received a note from one of our church family here in Ohio. "In my devotional this morning, your name came to mind and I felt impressed to pray for you," she wrote. As I looked at the date of the letter, I realized that it was the very day I'd gone to preside at what I anticipated would be a difficult, stressful church board meeting. To my surprise, it had turned out to be a pleasant meeting.
The prayers of the body of Christ make all the difference!
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| A Special Tea and Program for Ohio Conference Women The Ohio Conferen ce Women's Ministries leaders are planning a tea for Ohio women, Thursday, June 16, 2011, 12:00 noon - 2:30 pm at the Mount Vernon Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church. Delicious food, inspiring devotional, gifts & door prizesSpace is limited! Get reservatioins by Thursday, June 9. Order online at www.ohioadventist.org or call Ruth Ann Van Nostrand at 740.397.4665, ext 111. |
Hans Diehl of the CHIPS Program Comes to Ohio
On May 21, CHIPS program founder Dr.  Hans Diehl, one of the world's leading heart-health physicians and lecturers, comes to Ohio. The program will be at the Worthington Seventh-day Adventist Church. - 9:00am or 11:15am - Worship service entitled - "Mad, Sad, Glad, the Gospel of Second Chances"
- 10:00am - Sabbath School Q & A with Dr. Diehl.
- 12:30pm - A heart-healthy fellowship luncheon prepared by our CHIP hostesses
- 2:00 to 3:00pm - An afternoon seminar presented by Dr. Diehl.
For more information, call 614-885-7812 |
| | | Adventist Christian Fellowship Report
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Inspiration
"All who work for God should have the Martha and the Mary attributes blended - a willingness to minister and a sincere love of the truth. Self and selfishness must be put out of sight. God calls for earnest women workers, workers who are prudent, warmhearted, tender, and true to principle. He calls for persevering women who will take their minds from self . . . and will center them on Christ, speaking words of truth, praying with the persons to whom they can obtain access, laboring for the conversion of souls." -Testimony Treasures, vol. 2, 405. "There certainly should be a larger number of women engaged in the work of ministering to suffering humanity. . . . When believing women shall feel the burden of souls, . . . they will be working as Christ worked. They will consider no sacrifice too great to make to win souls to Christ." -Evangelism 465. "There are many . . . offices connected with the cause of God which our sisters are better qualified to fill than our brethren, and in which they might do efficient service." -Welfare Ministry 147. "We may do a noble work for God if we will. Woman does not know her power for God. . . . There is a higher purpose for woman, a grander destiny. She should develop and cultivate her powers, for God can employ them in the great work of saving souls from eternal ruin." -Testimonies Vol. 4, 642 and Evangelism 465.
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| | | Upcoming Events | DR HANS DIEHL, and the CHIP PROGRAM, at the Worthington SDA church, Sabbath, May 21, 2011. Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet and speak with one of the worlds leading heart-health physicians and lecturers. For more information call 614-885-7812. TEA FOR OHIO CONFERENCE WOMEN, Thursday, June 16, 2011, 12:00 noon - 2:30 pm at the Mount Vernon Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church, 535 Wooster Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. Space is limited! (Please only reserve tickets if you will definitely attend the tea.) Ticket reservations required by Thursday, June 9. Cost $5.00/each, payable at the event. Order online at www.ohioadventist.org or call Ruth Ann Van Nostrand at 740.397.4665, ext 111. (Unfortunately, we can't provide childcare, so event is for adults and teen women only.) BIKER CAMP MEETING, June 2-5, Mount Vernon Academy. A specialty camp meeting that will focus on four target audiences: - Church members (who may or may not be bikers themselves) who wish to develop a ministry to bikers in their communities;
- Adventist bikers who wish to enjoy a specialized camp meeting with features for bikers;
- Christian bikers from across the State of Ohio
- Non-Christian bikers from across the State
INTERGENERATIONAL CAMP MEETING, June 12-18, Mount Vernon Academy - A stimulating and inspiring camp meeting experience for persons of all ages.
- The programming will include unique intergenerational worship experiences along with age-specific programs, seminars, workshops, and other features.
- For RV and tent sites contact Tina Stevenson, tstevenson@mvacademy.org.
ACTS 2011, October 22, Roberts Center in the Holiday Inn, Wilmington, Ohio. An Ohio Conference sponsored national Sabbath gathering of Adventists. - The event will focus on the message of the biblical book of Acts and Ellen White's Acts of the Apostles (which was published in 1911 - a century ago).
- Featured speakers will include Elder Ted Wilson, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director, Global Mission Study Centers, General Conference of SDA, and Pastor Rebekah Liu from China.
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