Carolina EvangelismSunday Night ‘s offering $ 2,141.57

AnnouncementsAll announcement requests for the main

meetings must be made by 10 a.m. daily at the administration offi ce or main auditorium info booth. Boat Rides, etc.

NEW THIS YEAR -- Boat tours will be leaving the dock at lower Harrell Center at 6 p.m. and the cost is $2 per person. If you want to play mini golf or shuffl e board, equipment will be available daily at the equipment building by the mini golf course. Booth Displays

There are display booths set up on the second fl oor of the Terrace Hotel. You’ll find exhibits of different ministries and organizations for all ages—some have giveaways! Stop by and have a look around.Camp Meeting Choir

Consider lending your voice to the Camp Meeting Choir. Rehearsals will be from 2 p.m.-3:15 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. in the Stone Chapel and from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on Friday on the Stuart Auditorium stage. The choir will perform the music they’ve learned on Sabbath during the second service and on Sabbath evening. All are invited to participate!Camp Meeting Online

Keep up with happenings at Camp Meeting by becoming a fan or follower of the Carolina Conference on Facebook.com/carolinaconference or Twitter (@CarolinaConf)! We will also be posting daily news and photos on our website at www.carolinasda.org.Camp Meeting Radio Station

Tune in to our Camp Meeting radio station at 94.1 FM for inspirational music, announcements, and seminars. CD and DVD Recordings

Recordings of all seminars and meetings in the main auditorium will be available after each meeting. They can be purchased Mon.-Fri. in the ACBC satellite store in lower Harrell Center.Celestial Praise

The Celestial Praise Chorale will present a concert in the Stone Chapel on Sabbath afternoon at 5 p.m.Fun Run

Begin training now for the 5K and one-mile FUN RUN, which takes place Friday

at 8 a.m. at the Open Air Gym. The 5K will follow. There will be awards for the winners in different age categories.Headsets for Hearing Impaired

A limited number of headsets are available at the information booth in Stuart Auditorium. First-come, fi rst-served.Literature Evangelism

There will be meetings held Mon.-Fri., 9:15-10:30 a.m., and Mon., 2-3:15 p.m. in Stuart Auditorium. The Tues.-Fri., 2-3:15 p.m. meetings will be in the Evangelism Center. Come learn more about full-time literature evangelism employment opportunities.Live Streaming

Tell your friends and family they can watch a live stream of this week’s camp meeting on our Carolina Conference website, www.carolinasda.org. The meetings in the main auditorium will be broadcast each day starting around 7:50 a.m. Check your brochure for times.Mobile Phones

Please be sure your mobile phone is turned off or on vibrate before entering any of the meetings or seminars. Parking

There is to be NO PARKING ON THE GRASS AT ANY TIME. Do not park along the road blocking cottages and road access. Prayer Retreat at The Cove

Kevin Wilfley, pastor of the Spokane Linwood Seventh-day Adventist church, will speak at the “Abide in Me” Prayer Summit from August 3-5 at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. Attendees will have the opportunity to fellowship together with singing, praise, prayer, and a seminar by Ruthie Jacobsen. Because this is such a great venue for such a great event, the Adult Ministries Sabbath School summer workshop is taking the opportunity to be included in the “Abide in Me” Prayer Summit in place of the workshop at Nosoca Pines Ranch this summer. To register, contact Debbie Rapp at drapp@carolinasda.com or 704-596-3200. Sandwiches and Snacks

In addition to the snack bar, the ACBC is selling sandwiches and snacks Mon.-Fri. in the ACBC satellite store in lower Harrell Center.SAU Alumni Luncheon

Alumni and f r iends of Southern Adventist University are invited to attend

a complimentary lunch meeting at noon on Friday, June 1, in the big tent by the lake next to the main auditorium. Come enjoy good food and fellowship, and learn about what’s happening at Southern! Feel free to bring your family. To RSVP or for more information, contact Alumni Relations online at southern.edu/alumni, by emailing alumni@southern.edu, or by calling 423.236.2830. Singles Ministry

Singles are invited to get together Mon. – Fri. at 7:00 a.m., at the pool for a morning devotion and a walk around the lake (weather permitting). Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 6 p.m. there will be a seminar and supper at Harrell Center.

More events will be posted throughout the week. If you have questions, call 919-279-5510 or 336-575-0318Trust Services/Notary

Trust Services and Planned Giving is located in Harrell Center, Room 202. The offi ce is open Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4 p.m. Standard estate plans (including wills, powers of attorney and living wills) are FREE to members of the Carolina Conference. Notaries will be available FREE during offi ce hours (bring a valid driver’s license). If you are signing documents, please bring two qualifi ed witnesses with you. (No one named in a will or employed by an entity named in a will should serve as a witness for a Will.Women’s Ministry Luncheon

All Women’s Ministries leaders and assistants are invited to attend a luncheon in the Terrace Hotel, 3rd Floor, on May 31 (Thurs) at 11:30 a.m. Please come and share, and get some ideas for your local ministry. Young Adults with Children

Childcare will be provided for those attending the Young Adult evening meetings, 7:30-9 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.2013 Lake Junaluska Lodging

Please go to the Welcome Center to make reservations for next year. The hours are Mon.- Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Submitting AnnouncementsAny announcements you wish to post here

must be submitted at the Terrace Hotel, room 211 no later than 10 a.m. daily to be published the following day.

the bulletin board

Opening Night

continued on page 2

MONDAYMAY 28, 2012today

AT CAMP MEETING

CO U N T D O W N is the theme of

Camp Meeting 2012, and it exploded into our con-sciousness at the main auditorium in last night’s fi rst evening meeting.

After a welcome to Camp Meeting by our new conference pres-ident, Leslie Louis, and a dynamic musi-cal concert by South-ern Sounds from the Triad area, and the Christian bluegrass group, Midnight Cry, President Louis in-troduced the speaker, Mark Finley.

Pastor Finley has devoted his life to evangelism. For 13 years he was the speaker/director of the weekly television show “It Is Written,” and is currently a speaker for the television series “Experience Hope,” a weekly broadcast of the Hope Channel.

His sermon came from the book of Revelation, which he said uniquely describes the people God raises up for end times. Divine prescriptions for spiritual fatigue and leth-

argy are found in John’s seven letters written on Isle of Patmos.

Seventh-day Adven-tists have always seen the historical f low of the messages of God’s church from the fi rst cen-

tury to our time, but the message of the Bible is always new and fresh. So Pastor Finley gave the audience a look at this passage from a different perspective. He began in Revelation 2:1, 2, with Je-sus standing among the seven golden lampstands representing His church. Christ is shown here as

being in the midst of His church. “That’s where Christ is, and that’s where I want to be, not in some offshoot,” Pastor Finley said. “The church is His. It is in His hands.”

The fi rst of the seven churches he spoke about is Ephesus. The people of this church had labored for Christ to the point of exhaustion. They were burned-out. Je-sus gave them His commendation, say-ing they were a dili-gent church, doctrin-ally pure, and hated heresy.

But Jesus a lso told them, “I have this against you. You have lost your first love. You have sub-stituted duty for devo-

tion. Your prayer life has slipped and your Bible study has become dry and stale. You have lost the essence of Christian-ity.”

Applying this to our personal lives, Pastor Finley asked, “What do you do when you hold several offi ces and you’re

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OurOur New LeaderNew LeaderHe’s only been in the Carolinas for a little over four months,

but he’s already doing a great job! The Lord truly blessed us when he sent Leslie Louis, former Executive Secretary of the Gulf States Conference, to be our new Conference President. He and his wife Carole, who is directing Shepherdess Ministries, have two grown children and one beautiful granddaughter.

With a personable, Christ-centered and hands-on style, Leslie has already made it known that he attributes his leadership abilities to only One Source, and he relies on the Lord daily to help him make

the right decisions to lead this Conference. “I am truly humbled and honored by the sacred trust

you have placed on me as I assume this mantle of servant-leadership for God’s remnant church in the Carolinas,” Leslie says. “Carole and I sincerely solicit your continued prayers as we make this transition and I begin my new role.”

If you see him on campus, please give him a warm Carolina welcome to his new home!

by: Becky Carpenter

burned out, you are trying to stop heresy, and your devotional life is slipping?”

Christ’s prescription for this spiri-tual fatigue is to remember, repent and return.

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the fi rst works; or else I will c o m e u n t o thee quickly, and wi l l re-move thy can-dlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

Repent that good things have crowded out the best. Remember what it was like to have a close devo-tional life of prayer and Bible study. Enjoy the warmth of knowing Jesus. Meditate on the cross of Christ and His love for you.

The second church of Revelation was Smyrna, still a doctrinally-pure church, but a persecuted church.

For those of us going through trials—fi nancial, family, or work—Christ’s prescription is for you. He said, “Don’t fear what you will suffer. Be faithful until death and you will receive the crown of life.”

Jesus knows that we will have tribulation. But don’t fear when you know that you are going to suffer. In Isaiah 41:10, God says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God.”

The church at Smyrna was not abandoned, and you won’t be, either. His message to Smyrna is to hang on to God in your time of trial, and let Him work great things.

Christ spoke to Pergamum, the third church, saying, “I have things against you.” They had accepted the doctrine of Balaam, a spirit of

compromise, and tolerated the Nicolaitans, who believed that grace did away with God’s law. They lived “where Satan's seat is.“ There is no worse place to live.

But today when you are faithful, even though this is a sin-perverted world, God wil l work miracles on your behalf. He says that when you stand firm, “I will give you hidden manna.”

T h e f o u r t h church, Thyratira, was a corrupt church. When we compromise with sin, it will lead to corruption and spiri-tual disaster. This church allowed the spirit of Jezebel and spiritual immo-rality. This takes place when Jesus, our true Lover, is left for another, and we become saturated with earthly thoughts. Being a friend of the world is being an enemy of God.

But Jesus promised something wonderful to the rest or the people who were not compromising and corrupt. There were still Daniels and Esthers among them. Today, God is calling Seventh-day Adventists to be a light to the world. He wants us to

be different - not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by His grace.

The fi fth church of Revelations was Sardis. “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” What do you do when your spiritual life dies? How can you be alive again? Jesus said to be watchful and strengthen the things that remain. If you are dead spiritually, you may not be able to read the Bible for an hour, but do what you can. Start where you are and don’t worry about what you lack.

The lesson from Philadelphia, the sixth church, is that whatever chal-lenge you face, look for the door God is opening for you. He is the God of the open door.

The message to the last church, Laodicea, is the most encouraging. Why? Look at who addresses it - Jesus, the Creator. We have serious problems, but He offers riches for all our poverty. Christ stands and knocks at the door of our hearts. He wants to come into our lives and be with us.

We pray that God will bless each of you during this camp meeting, as we meditate on the words of the apostle John, who said, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

by: Tom Mills

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Opening Night continued from page 1

A GreatA Great BeginningBeginningThe earliest morning activity at Camp Meeting each day is also one

of the most important. And you are invited! Join Casey Coelho of the Elizabeth City church or Rick and Cindy Mercer, prayer coordinators for the Oklahoma Conference, for special times of prayer.

In Monday’s morning session, Casey presented the four steps of the ACTS prayer: Adoration and Praise, Confession, Thankfulness, and Surrender.

If you or someone you know has a need to be brought before the Lord in prayer, please join Casey Coelho at 7:30 am or Rick and Cindy Mercer at 1:15 pm at the Stone Chapel.

by: Tom MIlls

The Adventist Christian Book Center (ACBC) has worked

hard this year to continue the tradition of offering great specials people have come to expect, while also improving its service to you at Lake Junaluska.

Every day of camp meeting the ACBC offers a different discount. Tomorrow’s special is for music and video – 10 percent off all regular priced CDs and DVDs. This is your opportunity to stock up on these items!

There are a few differences in the ACBC this year. One big improvement is that the snack

bar is now accepting credit cards! You’ll also notice that the store is arranged differently in order to get better fl ow through the aisles.

Stan Shireman, the new man-ager of the ACBC, encourages employees to focus on customer service.

“We’re here to serve and an-swer questions,” Stan said. “We want you to fi nd the right gift for friends and neighbors to teach them more about Christ.”

Doug Church, vice president for ministries and sales at Pacifi c Press (and former manager of the Carolina ACBC), is here to help

this week. He describes the snack bar as one of the best values in the area, especially with the veg-etarian options.

One table is set up with books authored by camp meeting speak-ers. Two of the authors, Richard O’Ffi ll and Ranko Stefonavic, will be in the ACBC to meet and sign books. The dates and times when they are available will be announced later this week in the TODAY.

Details on daily discounts and other information about the ACBC are available on page 14 of the camp meeting brochure.

by: Sarah Crowder

YOURYOUR ACBCACBCnourishing food for body and soul . . .

OurOur New LeaderNew LeaderHe’s only been in the Carolinas for a little over four months,

but he’s already doing a great job! The Lord truly blessed us when he sent Leslie Louis, former Executive Secretary of the Gulf States Conference, to be our new Conference President. He and his wife Carole, who is directing Shepherdess Ministries, have two grown children and one beautiful granddaughter.

With a personable, Christ-centered and hands-on style, Leslie has already made it known that he attributes his leadership abilities to only One Source, and he relies on the Lord daily to help him make

the right decisions to lead this Conference. “I am truly humbled and honored by the sacred trust

you have placed on me as I assume this mantle of servant-leadership for God’s remnant church in the Carolinas,” Leslie says. “Carole and I sincerely solicit your continued prayers as we make this transition and I begin my new role.”

If you see him on campus, please give him a warm Carolina welcome to his new home!

by: Becky Carpenter

burned out, you are trying to stop heresy, and your devotional life is slipping?”

Christ’s prescription for this spiri-tual fatigue is to remember, repent and return.

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the fi rst works; or else I will c o m e u n t o thee quickly, and wi l l re-move thy can-dlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

Repent that good things have crowded out the best. Remember what it was like to have a close devo-tional life of prayer and Bible study. Enjoy the warmth of knowing Jesus. Meditate on the cross of Christ and His love for you.

The second church of Revelation was Smyrna, still a doctrinally-pure church, but a persecuted church.

For those of us going through trials—fi nancial, family, or work—Christ’s prescription is for you. He said, “Don’t fear what you will suffer. Be faithful until death and you will receive the crown of life.”

Jesus knows that we will have tribulation. But don’t fear when you know that you are going to suffer. In Isaiah 41:10, God says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God.”

The church at Smyrna was not abandoned, and you won’t be, either. His message to Smyrna is to hang on to God in your time of trial, and let Him work great things.

Christ spoke to Pergamum, the third church, saying, “I have things against you.” They had accepted the doctrine of Balaam, a spirit of

compromise, and tolerated the Nicolaitans, who believed that grace did away with God’s law. They lived “where Satan's seat is.“ There is no worse place to live.

But today when you are faithful, even though this is a sin-perverted world, God wil l work miracles on your behalf. He says that when you stand firm, “I will give you hidden manna.”

T h e f o u r t h church, Thyratira, was a corrupt church. When we compromise with sin, it will lead to corruption and spiri-tual disaster. This church allowed the spirit of Jezebel and spiritual immo-rality. This takes place when Jesus, our true Lover, is left for another, and we become saturated with earthly thoughts. Being a friend of the world is being an enemy of God.

But Jesus promised something wonderful to the rest or the people who were not compromising and corrupt. There were still Daniels and Esthers among them. Today, God is calling Seventh-day Adventists to be a light to the world. He wants us to

be different - not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by His grace.

The fi fth church of Revelations was Sardis. “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” What do you do when your spiritual life dies? How can you be alive again? Jesus said to be watchful and strengthen the things that remain. If you are dead spiritually, you may not be able to read the Bible for an hour, but do what you can. Start where you are and don’t worry about what you lack.

The lesson from Philadelphia, the sixth church, is that whatever chal-lenge you face, look for the door God is opening for you. He is the God of the open door.

The message to the last church, Laodicea, is the most encouraging. Why? Look at who addresses it - Jesus, the Creator. We have serious problems, but He offers riches for all our poverty. Christ stands and knocks at the door of our hearts. He wants to come into our lives and be with us.

We pray that God will bless each of you during this camp meeting, as we meditate on the words of the apostle John, who said, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

by: Tom Mills

r m

o l

o

-

yeiwwyssgm

Opening Night continued from page 1

A GreatA Great BeginningBeginningThe earliest morning activity at Camp Meeting each day is also one

of the most important. And you are invited! Join Casey Coelho of the Elizabeth City church or Rick and Cindy Mercer, prayer coordinators for the Oklahoma Conference, for special times of prayer.

In Monday’s morning session, Casey presented the four steps of the ACTS prayer: Adoration and Praise, Confession, Thankfulness, and Surrender.

If you or someone you know has a need to be brought before the Lord in prayer, please join Casey Coelho at 7:30 am or Rick and Cindy Mercer at 1:15 pm at the Stone Chapel.

by: Tom MIlls

The Adventist Christian Book Center (ACBC) has worked

hard this year to continue the tradition of offering great specials people have come to expect, while also improving its service to you at Lake Junaluska.

Every day of camp meeting the ACBC offers a different discount. Tomorrow’s special is for music and video – 10 percent off all regular priced CDs and DVDs. This is your opportunity to stock up on these items!

There are a few differences in the ACBC this year. One big improvement is that the snack

bar is now accepting credit cards! You’ll also notice that the store is arranged differently in order to get better fl ow through the aisles.

Stan Shireman, the new man-ager of the ACBC, encourages employees to focus on customer service.

“We’re here to serve and an-swer questions,” Stan said. “We want you to fi nd the right gift for friends and neighbors to teach them more about Christ.”

Doug Church, vice president for ministries and sales at Pacifi c Press (and former manager of the Carolina ACBC), is here to help

this week. He describes the snack bar as one of the best values in the area, especially with the veg-etarian options.

One table is set up with books authored by camp meeting speak-ers. Two of the authors, Richard O’Ffi ll and Ranko Stefonavic, will be in the ACBC to meet and sign books. The dates and times when they are available will be announced later this week in the TODAY.

Details on daily discounts and other information about the ACBC are available on page 14 of the camp meeting brochure.

by: Sarah Crowder

YOURYOUR ACBCACBCnourishing food for body and soul . . .

Carolina EvangelismSunday Night ‘s offering $ 2,141.57

AnnouncementsAll announcement requests for the main

meetings must be made by 10 a.m. daily at the administration offi ce or main auditorium info booth. Boat Rides, etc.

NEW THIS YEAR -- Boat tours will be leaving the dock at lower Harrell Center at 6 p.m. and the cost is $2 per person. If you want to play mini golf or shuffl e board, equipment will be available daily at the equipment building by the mini golf course. Booth Displays

There are display booths set up on the second fl oor of the Terrace Hotel. You’ll find exhibits of different ministries and organizations for all ages—some have giveaways! Stop by and have a look around.Camp Meeting Choir

Consider lending your voice to the Camp Meeting Choir. Rehearsals will be from 2 p.m.-3:15 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. in the Stone Chapel and from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on Friday on the Stuart Auditorium stage. The choir will perform the music they’ve learned on Sabbath during the second service and on Sabbath evening. All are invited to participate!Camp Meeting Online

Keep up with happenings at Camp Meeting by becoming a fan or follower of the Carolina Conference on Facebook.com/carolinaconference or Twitter (@CarolinaConf)! We will also be posting daily news and photos on our website at www.carolinasda.org.Camp Meeting Radio Station

Tune in to our Camp Meeting radio station at 94.1 FM for inspirational music, announcements, and seminars. CD and DVD Recordings

Recordings of all seminars and meetings in the main auditorium will be available after each meeting. They can be purchased Mon.-Fri. in the ACBC satellite store in lower Harrell Center.Celestial Praise

The Celestial Praise Chorale will present a concert in the Stone Chapel on Sabbath afternoon at 5 p.m.Fun Run

Begin training now for the 5K and one-mile FUN RUN, which takes place Friday

at 8 a.m. at the Open Air Gym. The 5K will follow. There will be awards for the winners in different age categories.Headsets for Hearing Impaired

A limited number of headsets are available at the information booth in Stuart Auditorium. First-come, fi rst-served.Literature Evangelism

There will be meetings held Mon.-Fri., 9:15-10:30 a.m., and Mon., 2-3:15 p.m. in Stuart Auditorium. The Tues.-Fri., 2-3:15 p.m. meetings will be in the Evangelism Center. Come learn more about full-time literature evangelism employment opportunities.Live Streaming

Tell your friends and family they can watch a live stream of this week’s camp meeting on our Carolina Conference website, www.carolinasda.org. The meetings in the main auditorium will be broadcast each day starting around 7:50 a.m. Check your brochure for times.Mobile Phones

Please be sure your mobile phone is turned off or on vibrate before entering any of the meetings or seminars. Parking

There is to be NO PARKING ON THE GRASS AT ANY TIME. Do not park along the road blocking cottages and road access. Prayer Retreat at The Cove

Kevin Wilfley, pastor of the Spokane Linwood Seventh-day Adventist church, will speak at the “Abide in Me” Prayer Summit from August 3-5 at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. Attendees will have the opportunity to fellowship together with singing, praise, prayer, and a seminar by Ruthie Jacobsen. Because this is such a great venue for such a great event, the Adult Ministries Sabbath School summer workshop is taking the opportunity to be included in the “Abide in Me” Prayer Summit in place of the workshop at Nosoca Pines Ranch this summer. To register, contact Debbie Rapp at drapp@carolinasda.com or 704-596-3200. Sandwiches and Snacks

In addition to the snack bar, the ACBC is selling sandwiches and snacks Mon.-Fri. in the ACBC satellite store in lower Harrell Center.SAU Alumni Luncheon

Alumni and f r iends of Southern Adventist University are invited to attend

a complimentary lunch meeting at noon on Friday, June 1, in the big tent by the lake next to the main auditorium. Come enjoy good food and fellowship, and learn about what’s happening at Southern! Feel free to bring your family. To RSVP or for more information, contact Alumni Relations online at southern.edu/alumni, by emailing alumni@southern.edu, or by calling 423.236.2830. Singles Ministry

Singles are invited to get together Mon. – Fri. at 7:00 a.m., at the pool for a morning devotion and a walk around the lake (weather permitting). Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 6 p.m. there will be a seminar and supper at Harrell Center.

More events will be posted throughout the week. If you have questions, call 919-279-5510 or 336-575-0318Trust Services/Notary

Trust Services and Planned Giving is located in Harrell Center, Room 202. The offi ce is open Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4 p.m. Standard estate plans (including wills, powers of attorney and living wills) are FREE to members of the Carolina Conference. Notaries will be available FREE during offi ce hours (bring a valid driver’s license). If you are signing documents, please bring two qualifi ed witnesses with you. (No one named in a will or employed by an entity named in a will should serve as a witness for a Will.Women’s Ministry Luncheon

All Women’s Ministries leaders and assistants are invited to attend a luncheon in the Terrace Hotel, 3rd Floor, on May 31 (Thurs) at 11:30 a.m. Please come and share, and get some ideas for your local ministry. Young Adults with Children

Childcare will be provided for those attending the Young Adult evening meetings, 7:30-9 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.2013 Lake Junaluska Lodging

Please go to the Welcome Center to make reservations for next year. The hours are Mon.- Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Submitting AnnouncementsAny announcements you wish to post here

must be submitted at the Terrace Hotel, room 211 no later than 10 a.m. daily to be published the following day.

the bulletin board

Opening Night

continued on page 2

MONDAYMAY 28, 2012today

AT CAMP MEETING

CO U N T D O W N is the theme of

Camp Meeting 2012, and it exploded into our con-sciousness at the main auditorium in last night’s fi rst evening meeting.

After a welcome to Camp Meeting by our new conference pres-ident, Leslie Louis, and a dynamic musi-cal concert by South-ern Sounds from the Triad area, and the Christian bluegrass group, Midnight Cry, President Louis in-troduced the speaker, Mark Finley.

Pastor Finley has devoted his life to evangelism. For 13 years he was the speaker/director of the weekly television show “It Is Written,” and is currently a speaker for the television series “Experience Hope,” a weekly broadcast of the Hope Channel.

His sermon came from the book of Revelation, which he said uniquely describes the people God raises up for end times. Divine prescriptions for spiritual fatigue and leth-

argy are found in John’s seven letters written on Isle of Patmos.

Seventh-day Adven-tists have always seen the historical f low of the messages of God’s church from the fi rst cen-

tury to our time, but the message of the Bible is always new and fresh. So Pastor Finley gave the audience a look at this passage from a different perspective. He began in Revelation 2:1, 2, with Je-sus standing among the seven golden lampstands representing His church. Christ is shown here as

being in the midst of His church. “That’s where Christ is, and that’s where I want to be, not in some offshoot,” Pastor Finley said. “The church is His. It is in His hands.”

The fi rst of the seven churches he spoke about is Ephesus. The people of this church had labored for Christ to the point of exhaustion. They were burned-out. Je-sus gave them His commendation, say-ing they were a dili-gent church, doctrin-ally pure, and hated heresy.

But Jesus a lso told them, “I have this against you. You have lost your first love. You have sub-stituted duty for devo-

tion. Your prayer life has slipped and your Bible study has become dry and stale. You have lost the essence of Christian-ity.”

Applying this to our personal lives, Pastor Finley asked, “What do you do when you hold several offi ces and you’re

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--ees

-

s o3 e f

n”

caTcfowsc

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tt

s