Crossing the Jordan - United in Prayer

It is good to be back, to be home, after 3 weeks long journey to the Division Ministerial session and the General Conference.  Having attended and watched all meetings and proceedings, it was interesting to read the minutes in the Adventist Review, to revisit details I had missed.  I am looking forward to share with you a report from the 60^th General Conference tonight at 7 pm and answer the questions you may have.

The question on my mind for the past few days has been: How do I implement the vision and goals set by our leaders in my local ministry?  The top priority set by elder Ted Wilson, the re-elected President, in his interview with press right after the vote was “getting every church member involved in evangelism and witnessing.”  Yes and Amen!  What would it take for each one of you, my brothers and sisters to get involved in evangelism and witnessing?  How can I better teach and equip you for total involvement?  I always emphasized that the goal of Personal Ministry is simple – every person being a minister, every person doing a ministry.  We had talked about total involvement at church Board, at Business meetings, you have read on our weekly bulletins our motto – “every believer a minister.”  What would it take for you to get involved?

This past Thursday, July 16 2015, Ellen White Estate released online all previously unpublished manuscripts, letters, and scans of documents that they had in vaults, in commemoration of 100^th anniversary of her rest.  (I invite you to check the website http://ellenwhite.org/http://ellenwhite.org/ and subscribe!)

I don’t think any of our pioneers ever imagined that the church and believers would still be “on this side of the Jordan,” still waiting for Jesus’ Return, still having work to do before leaving this planet behind.  We cannot “check out” and must occupy till Jesus comes.  I think of Winston Churchill’s words “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."   When Ellen White breathed her last, Friday at 3:40 pm, her last words spoken a few days before her death were a biblical quote. In a faint whisper she said, "I know in whom I have believed." (2 Timothy 1:12)

The church had prayed 100 days together, and on Sunday, July 12 the 100-days of prayer initiative launched a new world-wide initiative “United in Prayer.”  We cannot stop, we cannot retreat, in the words of our President Wilson – we must “cross the Jordan.”  And prayer is needed to grow spiritually, to stay in relationship with God.  

“Just as long as the church is satisfied with small things, it is disqualified to receive the great things of God” (Home Missionary, November 1, 1893 par. 25). However, in another place we are told, “[God] is well pleased when they [us! our church] make the very highest demands upon Him, that they may glorify His name. They may expect large things if they have faith in His promises” (DA. 668).