| | | | | E-Newsletter of the Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists | May 2011
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| | | | | | | | | | | Honoring our Past, Celebrating our Present, Shaping our Future: Celebrating 150 Years of the Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists by Raj Attiken Adventists in Ohio will come together this year to celebrate two significant events. One is the organization of the Ohio Conference 150 years ago; the other is the publishing of an important book 100 years ago. - According to published records, at least five business meetings were held in Ohio between 1859 and 1863 that led to the organization of the Ohio Conference. The most substantive of these seems to have been the meeting held on October 26 and 27, 1861 in Green Springs, near Sandusky, Ohio. The Review & Herald of November 12, 1861 reported on the series of resolutions that were adopted by the attendees that, in essence, constituted the organization of the Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. (You can look at the original Review & Herald pages here.)
- The book, The Acts of the Apostles by Ellen White, was published in 1911. The book is a commentary on the biblical book of Acts about the birth-story of the Christian Church, and of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in opening doors, breaking down walls, transforming lives, and leading the young first century church in its missionary expansion.
In recognition of both of these occurrences we will hold a major convocation on Sabbath, October 22, 2011. We anticipate that Adventists from all across Ohio and from outside our State will come together for this day of worship, study, and fellowship.  The morning program will give us a rare opportunity to hear a pastor from China report on the acts of God in leading the church in China. Pastor Rebekah Liu, who will shortly receive her Ph.D., in New Testament Theology, is one of four pastors caring for 400 churches in the Sichuan Province of Southwest China.
 Elder Ted Wilson, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, will present the sermon during the worship gathering. This will be his first formal visit to Ohio since being elected in 2010 to lead the world church.
What principles guided the first-century Christians in their ministry and missionary living, and how applicable are those principles to us in today's Western society? This, and related questions, will be addressed by Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director of the Global Mission Study Centers of the General Conference. Among the many musical treats will be the musical concert featuring the 55-member Kettering Praise Orchestra conducted by Donald Huff. Included in the day's program will be a very special all-day gathering for youth and a Children's Church in the morning. A free lunch is being made available for those who pre-register. On-line registrations will be received after July 1 at www.ohioadventist.org. The ACTS 2011 convocation will be held at the Roberts Center at the Holiday Inn, Wilmington, which is conveniently located on I-71, with easy access from all parts of the State. I am thrilled that we are able to hold this one-of-a-kind event, and I invite you to make every effort to be there. Organize car-pools or charter a bus for members of your congregation. You will experience this - and long remember it - as a very special "high Sabbath." |
| The people who keep the wheels turning Nancy Barnett
 Do you ever wonder who those people are in the Ohio Conference office who do the behind-the-scenes work?
One of them is Nancy Barnett, Associate Treasurer for the Ohio Conference. Nancy is a pastor's wife (of Elder Mike Barnett, pastor of Grove City, Reynoldsburg and Lancaster). She and Mike live in the Columbus area.
Nancy grew up in Walla Walla, Washington, the youngest of five children. Her father was a lumberyard owner. She attended Walla Walla Valley Academy and Walla Walla University. She and Mike have one daughter, Marie, who's now a student at Walla Walla University.
Nancy is a hard worker, precise and thorough. She's much appreciated by all the Ohio Conference employees because her main job each month is preparing and sending out paychecks! In her rare moments of spare time, she cooks, bakes and grows flowers. She's also co-director (with Heidi Shoemaker) of Women's Ministries for the Ohio Conference. |
| | | Adventist Christian Fellowship Report
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The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to "the principalities and powers in heavenly places," the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.
Christ did not tell His disciples that their work would be easy. He showed them the vast confederacy of evil arrayed against them. They would have to fight "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12. But they would not be left to fight alone. He assured them that He would be with them; and that if they would go forth in faith, they should move under the shield of Omnipotence. He bade them be brave and strong; for One mightier than angels would be in their ranks--the General of the armies of heaven. He made full provision for the prosecution of their work and took upon Himself the responsibility of its success. So long as they obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him, they could not fail. Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe and be assured that My presence will be with you even there. Labor in faith and confidence; for the time will never come when I will forsake you. I will be with you always, helping you to perform your duty, guiding, comforting, sanctifying, sustaining you, giving you success in speaking words that shall draw the attention of others to heaven.
Acts of the Apostles, by Ellen G. White, pp. 9, 29
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| | | Upcoming Events | 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.
OHIO CONFERENCE WOMEN'S RETREAT, September 16-18, Deer Creek Lodge and Conference Center, Sterling, Ohio. 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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