President's Post
January 2020
Visiting Family
Well, the Holidays have come and gone since my last president’s post. They are always a special time of the year for sure. Teresa and I went to Trisha’s for Christmas and had a wonderful time. My son-in-law loves to golf, so we played together and really had fun.
But to be honest with you, my work is never far from my thoughts and certainly always a part of my prayers. There are always things that come up that I cannot imagine or ever plan for. Our conference with 13,000+ members is in our prayers as they go through a lot of things. Also, our pastors, teachers, and their families we always pray for one another. Their jobs are critical to our advancement.
One of our pastors and his wife went through a tragic experience losing their unborn child. Our hearts and prayers go out to them since this terrible thing happened. We pray only God can touch and heal that kind of loss. I’m so thankful for Cary Fry being able to visit and minister to them during this loss.
Pastor Kulakov
Dan Jarrard
Pastor Dan Jarrard stepped down after two years as our pastor in the University Parkway Church in Pensacola. We are grateful and appreciative of pastor Dan’s heart and experience that he brought to our pastoral staff. He is now our 2020 conference revivalist and is sharing all throughout our conference. Please, if you have an opportunity to hear pastor Dan, take advantage of that you will be blessed.
Robert Meneses
Preaching near the Coast
To Be Like Jesus
I was told this month that a young person came back to church only to be told he wasn’t welcomed due to struggling with a bad habit. If an individual is not welcomed in church when he is struggling, where should he go? Think this through with me. How can we become so self-absorbed and superior to everyone else that we can tell who and who can’t come to church? I thought the church was a “House of Prayer for all people?”
One of our directors went to one of our churches where he was preaching on our need of Jesus, and several young people were in the congregation. Following the sermon, he was approached by a member with; “When will you stop bringing milk and bring us meat in your sermons?” It’s this attitude of superiority that chases people out of our churches. When will it stop?
I have hesitated to share this, but I’ve promised to be transparent in my president’s posts. At one of the church meetings this month, I brought up change, I admit it was a drastic change. But instead of talking with respect to one another, a member called me “Stupid.” Do you know what’s sad? I wasn’t even surprised or shocked, and it appeared to me the others that were there weren’t either. The disrespect shown towards each other in this church is commonplace. After I left the meeting, I was praying and thinking, and my mind brought up this verse,
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” - Romans 12:9-10
I want to get better!
Until next month,
Dave
Sabbath School Training
Originally from Camden, New Jersey, LaVerne A. Barnett presently resides in Huntsville, Alabama and is a member of the State Line Adventist Church in Ardmore, AL. She is an active member of her church and has been used by God for over twenty years to share the Word of God as a Sabbath School Teacher, Bible Worker, and Presenter/Speaker. In addition to her active church involvement, she is a general practice attorney and has been an adjunct professor teaching and training on legal issues in the workplace, compliance, business, and human resources.
Training will also be available for children's Sabbath School teachers in both English and Spanish. More information coming soon.
Learn more and register online at www.gscsda.org/sstraining
Friday, Jan 31, 2020, 05:30 PM
Camp Alamisco, Camp Alamisco Road, Dadeville, AL, USA
Digital Evangelism - Olive Branch
The world church now has a cohesive plan to market our church to the world in an appealing way, and you have a role to play in its success.
Pastor Shane Hochstetler, Communication Director for the Gulf States Conference, holds a BA in Art and Graphic Design with over ten years of experience in design and marketing. His passion is to present the real character of God appealingly, utilizing the most effective marketing and communication tools.
Shane will present several short presentations on a variety of subjects, offering additional resources for further development.
Learn more at gscsda.org/digitalolivebranch
Saturday, Feb 29, 2020, 09:00 AM
Seventh Day Adventist Church, College Road, Olive Branch, MS, USA
Bass Memorial Academy Alumni Weekend
Friday, Mar 27, 2020, 06:00 PM
Bass Memorial Academy, U.S. 11, Lumberton, MS, USA
Office of the President
Email: admin@gscsda.org
Website: gscsda.org
Location: 10633 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL, USA
Phone: 3342727493
Facebook: facebook.com/gulfstatesconference
Twitter: @gscsda