VOLUME 5 ISSUE 2 SUMMER 2018 FLAME
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INSPIRE
SUMMER 2018
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
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INSPIRE
SUMMER 2018
Featured Artist
Artist: Joyce Wilkens
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 5
Living Faith
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In Memoriam
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Find out what Jesus really meant by declaring Himself the light of the world in Living Faith.
We say goodbye to one of the FLAME’s regular contributors, Alfredo Vergel, who passed away in March 2018.
New distractions divide our attention each day, but Jesus is trying to cut through the noise.
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Kids
Discipleship
Perspective
Calendar
Discover a blueprint for growing younger churches in Discipleship.
Mourning the loss of one son and facing his own cancer diagnosis, Alfredo shares his final thoughts on how our helpfulness may not come off the way it’s intended.
Save the date for these exciting events, training sessions, camporees, and much more.
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Education
Insight
Advent Movement
Juan Rodriguez did whatever he could to send his children to Adventist schools. Now, he helps others have the same opportunity.
Dive deeper into Jesus’s role as light of the world with this look at His actions throughout the Bible.
Stay informed with the latest updates among Texas Conference staff and pastoral transitions.
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Feature
Family
Drug trafficking, shootouts, mafia connections. For Harold Helm, these were everyday life. Read how his time in prison led to a renewed relationship with the God who protected him through it all.
Practical tips for living your best life for your marriage, your kids, and yourself.
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LIVING FAITH
SUMMER 2018
The Light of Life By Tom Grove Having light with the flick of a switch is something we tend to take for granted. But, in reality, the technology is fairly recent. It was only in 1879 that Thomas Edison had a breakthrough in creating a longburning incandescent light, something we now seemingly cannot live without. In truth, light is integral to our lives. And it is this basic element of life to which Jesus refers during the Feast of Tabernacles. In John 8:12, He declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” During the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a ceremony where four immense candlesticks were lit to illuminate the temple and, some say, the entire city of Jerusalem. It was done to remind people of the pillar of fire that led their forefathers through the wilderness. And it was the day after this ceremony that Jesus stood up and said, “I am the light of the world.” It is not the first time Jesus made a declaration about light. As Creator, it was He who commanded there be light in the beginning of the world. Just as this light was created to cast out darkness, Jesus came to give the light of life. There is a restaurant in Los Angeles called Opaque. While it may look ordinary on the outside, upon entering it’s apparent this isn’t your typical restaurant. Diners are told to take off all smart watches, as well as turn off cell phones. They order before entering the dining room because it’s pitch black. There isn’t any light anywhere. People pay more than $100 per person to eat in total darkness! Simple things such as eating and drinking become difficult. So difficult, in fact, that most diners forgo the utensils and eat with their hands. What struck me the most as I watched the news about this restaurant was that this is exactly what the world is trying to do. They are trying to feel their way through life and make things up as they go along just to survive, but they are doing it in the midst of darkness. And Jesus is saying to them, “I am the light of the world. You don’t have to keep groping and trying to find your own way through. I am the one who can get rid of the darkness because I am the light of the world. I can show you how to live a fulfilling life because I am the light the world. I am the one who can show you the plan for your life and guide you to live out that plan because I am the light of the world.”
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DISCIPLESHIP SUMMER 2018
Growing a Younger Generation Church | Part 1 By Samantha Angeles Peralta You may have heard it said, “The church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners.” Dr. Allan Martin, teaching pastor of Younger Generation (YG) Church, would extend the word picture beyond the cliché. “Beyond a hospital for sinners, we see YG Church as a teaching hospital for younger generations,” said Martin. “It’s a place where young adults are expressing their excitement to deepen the devotion of those around them to Jesus. They’re not doing it by themselves; we have inter-generational relationships of people working together. We really see this as a living laboratory of leadership.”
Beginnings
YG Church, the young adult ministry of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas, began in 2004 as a third church service under the leadership of then-senior pastor Mike Tucker. His desire, according to Martin, was for young adults to direct, produce, and participate in worship that would be meaningful for them. “This was revolutionary at the time,” said Martin. “YG Church was an anomaly across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and probably across the nation. It was a contemporary worship service with dynamic, relevant preaching and contemporary worship music for young people.” In 2010, YG Church invited Martin to transition from his teaching position at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary to pastor the YG community. Martin, who has a rich ministry background, including planting and pastoring a church in Celebration, Florida, recognized God’s leading and moved to Texas to lead YG Church. “When I came in, one of the things we wanted to do was integrate this great worship service with the entire church, not just be a church within a church,” he said. “We moved from being a really cool and flashy youth and young adult service to a more robust discipleship and mission-minded ministry embedded in the heart of Arlington Seventhday Adventist Church.”
YG Today
Now, more than seven years later, YG Church’s weekly service averages 300-400 attendees and up to 600 online viewers each week. Under Martin’s leadership, YG Church has developed into a vibrant ministry that “transcends age and program boundaries, making authentic efforts to foster the Great Commission in new generations,” according to its mission description sheet. “It’s not unheard of in our church culture to have a 13-year-old running the sound board,” said Martin. “That 13-year-old is being mentored by a young adult, who is being supervised by our media director. There are even kids younger than that, seven- or eight-yearsold, behind cameras training to do broadcasts.”
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#EveryMemberAMentor
This mentorship is intrinsic to the YG community, and has been an important part of integrating YG Church into the larger Arlington Adventist Church family. Martin has intentionally nurtured intergenerational mentorship through his #EveryMemberAMentor initiative. “We believe that every church member can benefit a member who is younger than them by pouring a little bit of God’s grace, God’s goodness, and their experience of Jesus into that person,” he said. “If you’re a high school student, there are always junior high students who think you’re the coolest thing.” Or, you could be a 70-year-old couple that can pour into those younger 50-year-olds. No matter what age you are, there’s always a generation coming behind that you can mentor.” Along with reaching next generations with the gospel, YG church’s mission is to “deepen our devotion to Jesus Christ by pursuing intimacy with God, experiencing community with each other, and inspiring those around us with the hope of grace. These three values— intimacy, community, and grace—are embodied by the ministries of YG Church.” Look for the second part of this series in the FLAME’s fall issue!
POINTING TO CHRIST THROUGH CURRENT METHODS The current ministry is a ministry by young adults. We believe that if we want to witness to a new generation we need to meet them where they are and witness using mediums they enjoy. Join us @ thecurrentministry.com
WHAT WE DO
A live-daily devotional on Instagram hosted by Tyler Morrison. Start your day with positivity, puns, and Jesus!
Podcast host Mollie Dupper finds stories from the present that point out where God is moving all around us.
The Current Ministry Team will travel to your location and host an impactful conference featuring professional music and inspirational talks
IF YOU’D LIKE TO HELP THIS MINISTRY GROW HEAD TO: WWW.PATREON.COM/THECURRENTMINISTRY
EDUCATION
SUMMER 2018
A Father’s Sacrifice
By Jonathan Daniel
Juan Rodriguez never received a Seventh-day Adventist education. In fact, he didn’t even grow up in the Adventist church. After becoming a Christian and moving to the United States in his teenage years, his perspective began to change when he met and married his Adventist wife, Esmeralda. That’s why, when their daughter, Abigail, reached school age, the Rodriguez family felt strongly that their children should receive an Adventist education. Despite not having the proper documentation to work in high-paying jobs, Juan and his wife committed to sending their daughter to the local Adventist school. “Yes, it has a price,” he admits, “but God is in control and He provides. When you put things in His hands, He doesn’t let you do it alone. Circumstances tried to break me, but God always built me back up.” The local church was able to help with tuition by giving $50 a month, but this is a small drop in a large bucket when it comes to tuition costs. When they needed extra money to pay tuition, he and his daughter worked evenings. After they came home from work or school, they would go to the market, buy boxes of prickly pear cactus pads, and prepare them to be cooked; but, the process is not a short one. To clean the spines off the cactus pad they would run a knife over the pad, cutting away anything that could poke the inside of anyone’s mouth. They would have to clear away the spines and cut the edges of the pad off before washing it, dicing it, and bagging it up to sell to local Mexican food vendors. “You have to work hard for your kids,” says Juan. “All the money we made went towards Abigail’s tuition.” Juan has also seen miracles happen when hard work could not pay the bills. “My daughter and I could no longer pay for Adventist college,” says Juan, “so we decided she couldn’t go.” When they called the college to inform the school that she would not be returning, they were told that her bill had been paid by an anonymous donor. They still don’t know who made it possible for Abigail to continue studying at Southwestern Adventist University.
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EDUCATION
SUMMER 2018
“I believe that Adventist education gives a spectacular advantage,” adds Juan. “I see the difference in the way my kids act, the way they talk, and to me that’s fascinating.” The Rodriguez family sees Adventist education as an investment that will stay with their children for the rest of their lives. They have passed this passion on to their children. “My daughter was incredibly proud; her education was a big accomplishment because of what we all had to sacrifice for it,” says Juan. Rodriguez now works in construction and makes enough money to not only send his three children to Adventist schools, but also regularly make donations for others to be able to attend. “God gave us something special,” says Juan. “He saw the hard work we did for our kids, and I believe He has provided because of it.” Time and hard work have strengthened Juan’s commitment to Adventist education. He admits that, although it wasn’t always easy, he would do it all again in order to give his children this chance. His advice for other parents who want to send their children through Christian education, but may not be able to afford it, is simple: “Don’t get tired, don’t go backwards, don’t stop sacrificing. Do what you need to do and don’t give up on the Adventist way.”
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Change of a Lifetime By Makala James
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FEATURE
Sitting in a prison cell, Harold Helm felt too dirty and too sinful for God’s love. Still, God had a plan to use him in amazing ways. At threeyears-old, Helm’s sisters pushed him into a room. “You’re the only one who can save mom,” they said, as their father stood over her with a loaded gun. Needless to say, his parents struggled through a terrible divorce. If Helm tried to live with his mother, his father threatened to kill her. So, he stayed behind to be raised in the dangerous and illicit world of drug trafficking. By day, Helm was a model student who achieved the highest standards. He earned a place in the National Honors Society, was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and participated in the All-City Academic Decathlon for three years. By night, however, Helm followed in his father’s footsteps to run an illegal stolen car ring and sold marijuana. Violence filled Helm’s childhood. At age 17, his father’s right-hand man killed three people and was sentenced to death by lethal injection for it. Later that year, Helm killed a man in self-defense. Three weeks after the altercation, he developed Crohn’s disease from the dirty knife used by the attacker. Yet, even in the midst of drugs and violence, Helm felt a call from God. “I knew I was going to play a role in sharing God’s message, I just didn’t know how,” said Helm. “I went to the University of Texas trying to get my life in order, but soon got involved with drugs, alcohol, and a promiscuous lifestyle.” The school put Helm on scholastic probation and he dropped out, returning home to make his own way in the world. Outwardly, Helm made good choices. He started a professional boxing business, organized a Golden Gloves program to get kids off the street, even gave to his local church. Inwardly, selfish ambition and a desire for money ruled his life. When Helm created a way to play poker tournaments legally in Texas, government officials and corporations began to attack at every turn. Expensive legal battles and police raids on his poker business drained Helm’s resources, so he turned back to drugs in order to make money. Still, he attempted to show some semblance of Christianity. “There were times when my crew went in and robbed other drug dealers, then we donated the money to churches,” said Helm. “We justified it in the name of the Lord.” Helm dealt with the Mexican mafia, the Russian mafia, the Aryan Brotherhood, and more. He moved so many drugs through the country that, in 2004, his competitors put a $50,000 price on his head in a move to capture his territory. Drive-by shootings became a common occurrence, and someone once clipped the brake lines on his car. “I had been in so many shootouts by my early 30s that I can’t even keep count of them,” said Helm. “I went through so much, but God had a plan for me that I didn’t even realize back then – that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, a promise found in Romans.” Following a police raid on his home in 2005, Helm served a twoyear stint in prison for drug manufacturing before being offered parole and getting back on the streets. A second raid shortly after gave him another 20 years and, although he had been to prison before, the sentence couldn’t have been more grave for him.
SUMMER 2018
“I was not worthy of a second chance, or a third chance, but every person matters to God.”
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FEATURE
SUMMER 2018
Making Life Changes This was a new low in Helm’s life and he knew it’d never be the same again. He lost six family members during an 18-month period, while Crohn’s disease took a drastic toll on his health. “It was at this point that I asked God to show me His truth,” said Helm. “I asked Him to come into my life to teach me and lead me.” In prison, Helm began to discover important biblical truths and He studied the Bible relentlessly. When a magazine ad for a Seventh-day Adventist prison ministry caught Helm’s attention, he requested more information. A copy of The Great Controversy by Adventist author Ellen White and an accompanying Bible study soon arrived by mail. After studying, Helm now felt eager to share God’s love. He reached out to family to tell them the good news, and even reunited with his mother for the first time in 37 years. “I was not worthy of a second chance, or a third chance, but every person matters to God,” said Helm. “Anyone can surrender completely to God.” When Helm was granted an early parole in December 2011, he had nothing more than the clothes on his back, a prepaid cell phone, and $50 in cash. He pulled a mattress off the side of a dumpster for his first post-prison bed. Still, he trusted that God was leading this new life.
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FEATURE
SUMMER 2018
He found and joined a Bible study at the West Houston Seventh-day Adventist Church and soon chose to be baptized. Helm even adopted a whole foods, plant-based diet and saw his Crohn’s disease healed. He couldn’t keep quiet about God’s miracles. “I promised the Lord that I would serve Him every day of my life,” said Helm. “Now I have been privileged to speak at dozens of churches, private venues, and in front of a huge crowds.” Helm started a prison ministry called Making Life Changes. They work with over 1,800 inmates, providing Bible studies and other books and literature. They also help inmates find a job after being released, stay connected with a Bible-based church in their area, and are working to start a housing program. Helm is an active member of the West Houston Church he was baptized in, and considers himself living proof that God still does miracles. “There’s a story for every person incarcerated, every homeless person, every believer lost or confused,” said Helm. “It’s a story of hope, love, and redemption. Our light is not meant to be hidden, but to be shined. I am making life changes and so can you - but only if you let God in!” To find out more about Helm’s ministry, visit MakingLifeChanges.org.
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Small Steps You can take some small steps today to ensure your loved ones and favorite areas of ministry are well cared for after you are gone. You can:
• Name beneficiaries for your retirement plan assets and life insurance. • Designate Pay on Death or Transfer on Death beneficiaries for your investments, checking or savings accounts.
• Review and update your real estate titles to include your beneficiaries.
Multiple Beneficiaries Keep in mind that there are many ways you can pass on your assets outside of a will. You can take care of your family and the ministries most important to you by designating multiple beneficiaries. If you want to help further the work of the church, please consider making the Texas Conference a beneficiary in an amount or percentage of your choosing. A gift like this won’t affect your lifestyle and it will make a tremendous impact.
A Few Moments You already have an estate. It only takes a few moments to make it work for you. Call or e-mail us to learn how you can make a big difference starting today.
Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists • Department of Trust Services P.O. Box 800 • Alvarado, TX 76009 • Phone: 817-790-2255 • Fax: 817-783-2698 Email: trust@txsda.org • www.TexasGiving.org
IN MEMORIAM
SUMMER 2018
In Memory of Alfredo Vergel By Jason Busch
If you’ve read the FLAME any time in the last 5 years, you’ve seen Alfredo Vergel’s byline. In fact, Alfredo was one of our most prolific contributors. His work on the History section produced some incredibly insightful and thoroughly researched topics pertaining to the early stages of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas. And so, it’s with a heavy heart that we acknowledge his passing in late March. He leaves a legacy of service to his industry. It’s interesting, I only interacted with Alfredo in person a handful of times but, as the need for magazine content almost never rests, we communicated frequently via email. Alfredo was the type of person who would consistently churn out quality material, even if he only had a hint of a lead. I’d simply give him an idea of what to work on, like, “I think we want to feature something related to the Austin area,” only to find his finished work more detailed than I could imagine. There were several times I didn’t even give that much, and simply asked him to write on a topic that interested him (as long as it still related to early Adventism in Texas). For a magazine editor, someone with that kind of professional personality is a dream come true. While I often mused at his long title (Public Services and Electronic Resources Librarian, as well as Ellen White Research Center Director at Southwestern Adventist University), I knew that he was made for the role.
I didn’t know Alfredo as well as his on-campus colleagues, his family, or friends. But what I did know of him showed a kind, intelligent, detail-oriented man who went above and beyond to fulfill his responsibilities. He volunteered his time to this magazine, and it was all the better for it. The last time we talked, it was to tell me that his health was deteriorating and he’d be unable to write for us again. As you turn the page, you’ll see Alfredo’s last article. Although I’d encourage you to read the first part of it, featured in the spring issue, try to read through the eyes of a husband and father dealing with his own cancer diagnosis in the wake of his son’s untimely death. They are the words of a man simultaneously grieving a child and fighting for his own life. While a departure from the historical accounts he was known for, I think that readers will find value in his perspective. Upon reading his obituary in the Cleburne Times Review, I noticed some of his final thoughts: “Peacefully I see the Sabbath of my existence approach. I lay my achievements and failures, my dreams and tribulations at the feet of Jesus. I soak in the light of His promises and only hope that God’s great love is evidenced in my life.” For someone who spent so much time looking at the past, he kept a clear vision of a future in which Jesus returns to wipe away the grime of this world and restore it, and those called by Him, to their original, perfect design.
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PERSPECTIVE SUMMER 2018
In Spite of It All | Part 2 By Alfredo Vergel If you read part one of this story in the previous issue of the FLAME, you saw how we dealt with my son’s leukemia and eventual death. Almost a year after Gianmarco’s diagnosis, I found myself at an emergency room with severe abdominal pain. Despite never having suffered from constipation before, I was told that was what I had. After several failed colonoscopies and an exploratory surgery, I finally received the same heart-wrenching diagnosis my son was given – I, too, had cancer. With my cancer in a stage where chemotherapy came highly recommended, a rainstorm of advice from well-intentioned relatives, friends, and strangers poured in. They were frequently the same dubious announcements that had been shared with me before, some of which I had already spent time refuting. For instance, there was one forwarded to me from the prestigious medical journal The Lancet supposedly supporting a lemon-based therapy as 10,000 times more effective than chemotherapy. The notion that something could be 10,000 times generally more effective than chemotherapy when prescribed by healthcare professionals is as intrepid as it is ludicrous. Any number from one to 100 could have sounded plausible to some extent, but 10,000 (and exactly 10,000) is dubious at best. While I am a firm believer in the benefits of a diet that includes abundant fruits and vegetables, I question the effectiveness of curing cancer through food and supplements alone. For example, science has established that we need vitamins and other nutrients for their antioxidant effect; but, it has also proven that, at high rates, the resulting destruction of free radicals acts against rather than in favor of disease prevention. This kind of narrative often comes with an attached conspiracy theory about financial interests behind the obfuscation of supposed cancer cures. One alternative medicine practitioner I visited even told me about a plot involving the American Medical Association and its suppression of a traditional Native American herbal tea allegedly proven successful against cancer.
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According to the American Cancer Society, the latest five-year survival rate goes from 11 percent to 92 percent depending on the type and stage of colon cancer. Statistically, there is a chance to survive without chemotherapy, and it actually is not prescribed for the least advanced stages of the disease. However, in cases where the survival rate is modest or low, it makes sense to bet on a significant increase of the survival rate through surgery and chemotherapy. These statistics seem to indicate that there are cases in which survival is possible without any other treatment, perhaps even in the face of an advanced stage cancer. By the same token, there are cases that, because of the nature and stage of the disease, are terminal regardless of treatment. It would be a daring bet to assume one is a part of the first group when a significant number of cases would benefit from treatment. On the other hand, it is also reasonable to say that it would be unethical to scare patients into submitting to a specific treatment, whether it be surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or other cancer treatments. In my experience, there seems to be a chorus of denial for the terminal nature of a certain number of cases in the presence of any treatment. When that is the case, the result is a critical environment that questions the good judgment of the patient for either not submitting to a mainstream treatment or for not experiencing a positive outcome with an alternative treatment. The gist of that kind of idea is that the patient did or did not do something that caused their demise. I especially resent the finger-pointing that assumes the patient did something specific to cause the disease, such as from the alternative health practitioner who told my wife and I that cancer was often caused by meat consumption. Even though our son never ate any during the nine years of his life? Even though I lived a healthful lifestyle and still developed it? I know from experience that prevention has its limits. After considering my options, I decided to submit to chemotherapy without looking back.
My motto has long been: “I’m alive today, and I shall make the most of it.” My own faith tradition promotes a healthy lifestyle without billing it as a cure to the unavoidable aging process, and I believe the only full cure for the maladies of this world will be access to the tree of life. I know that such a lifestyle can slow down some cancers, maybe even stop it in exceptional cases; but, I just can’t imagine that it can defeat it entirely. Still, I believe in miracles and in the healing qualities of trusting God. Some studies even support that assertion. All the same, not even that ensures restoration. However, I think we would be wrong to interpret that result of a lack of trust in God. As I view it, trust in God goes beyond the certainty of his power and is instead based on a conviction of His unconditional love despite the challenges that life brings us. Rather, believe as Job did when he replied, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”
PERSPECTIVE
SPRING 2018
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INSIGHT
SUMMER 2018
The Life-Giving Light By Jorge Rico, PhD
In his Gospel, John presents Jesus as divine, eternal, and the Creator of heavens and the earth (John 1:1-3 cf. Gen. 1:1). The above three qualities were furthered supported by the title John attributed to the Lord: the light of the world (John 1:4-5). The employment of this important creation metaphor (Gen. 1:3-4) depicts the Savior’s ministry in the fourth Gospel. Not only did Jesus make the light in the beginning, but He also brings light to people’s lives. The following story attests to this view.
The Light is Tested
One morning, the Savior returned to the temple. When the people saw Him, they gathered around to listen to His teaching (John 8:2). Unfortunately, Jesus’s instruction was interrupted by a group of scribes and Pharisees who had decided to challenge His words and identity. They brought a woman who had been caught in the very act of adultery and said to Him, “Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?” (John 8:5). While they accused the woman, the other party involved was exonerated (John 8:3-5 cf. Lev. 20:10-16). Their intention was to tempt and undermine Jesus’s ministry (John 8:6). Jesus had previously accused them of breaking the law of Moses (John 7:19-23). Now, they were challenging the Savior’s divine identity and authority. Furthermore, Jesus’s reply would give them an opportunity to accuse Him of being a law breaker. 1. If she is pardoned, He would be accused of breaking Moses’s law. 2. If she is condemned, He would be accused of breaking Roman law. The Lord knew their intention and their hearts (John 2:24-25). Thus, He stooped down and wrote on the ground (John 8:6). Through this act, Jesus gave the religious leaders evidence of His divine identity. On Mount Sinai, YHWH had written His law on stone. Now, the same Lord wrote on the ground to disclose the people’s lawlessness. As the Jewish leaders insisted on receiving a response, Jesus raised Himself up and told them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (John 8:7). Immediately, the attention of those leaders was directed to the writing on the ground. Professing to
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observe the law, their lawlessness was revealed. After that, no one had enough morals to stone the woman to death and Jesus showed that He was not a law breaker.
The Light Forgives
The Pharisees and scribes left the scene without realizing the miracle that Jesus had just done as only God is able to read the minds of people (John 8:9). In their hatred, they could not perceive Jesus’s Messianic character. When all the accusers had departed, Jesus proceeded to restore the woman. He assured her that she was forgiven with the following words: Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more (John 8:11). Those words filled the heart of this pariah with hope and desire to start a new life. His words brought light to her darkened heart and granted her the opportunity to experience how the sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings (Mal. 4:2). After transforming this woman’s life, Jesus said to the rest of the crowd, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Following Him will permit the believer to experience the same creative power that separated the light from darkness in the beginning (Gen. 1:3).
The Light Invites
Jesus’s act exemplified the work that God’s people are called to do today. They are called to be the light of the world (Matt. 5:14-16) and to restore erring individuals with a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1-2). Believers must allow the Lord’s light to shine in their lives through both a living and spoken testimony (1 Pet. 2:9). “Christian love is slow to censure, quick to discern penitence, ready to forgive, to encourage, to set the wanderer in the path of holiness, and to stay his feet therein.” Would you love to be a light in the path of an erring soul?
FAMILY
SUMMER 2018
A Life Well Lived By Ruber and Ketty Leal On his deathbed, Leonardo da Vinci said, “I have offended God and mankind, because my work didn’t reach the quality it should have.” Perhaps none of us will ever accomplish as much as da Vinci did, nor be as well-known. Nevertheless, we always have the opportunity to improve the quality of the life we live and the quality of life we give to our families. At the end of our lives, we want to look back and remember good times with friends, colleagues, significant others, and even our pets. Memories from years past will make us both laugh and cry. But there will be a group of people who are sure to stand out: our family. Family is everything and, for most people, the happiest memories come from a place called home. Take a moment to review a few practical ways to experience lasting joy with your family. Manage your time • Each day has just 24 hours, so be realistic about what you can accomplish in that time. • Sleep is vital to your sanity, disposition, and happiness, so make sure you get enough each night. • Set aside at least 15 minutes a day to do something you enjoy, such as gardening, painting, or reading. Take time with your spouse • Wake up earlier so that you and your spouse can have a few minutes to review the day before the kids wake up. • Set aside a specific time each week when you and your spouse do something together: a walk, a meal, or even just doing the shopping. And stick to it! It’s the quality of time more than the length of time that matters. • Find someone you trust to look after your children and go on a date at least once a month. Keep it within your budget and make sure it’s just the two of you. • Make a list of things you admire about your spouse, and share it with him or her. Give time to your kids • Read to your children, together or individually. Make a “date” with each child at least once a month and be open to where they want to go or what they want to do. • Support your children’s hobbies or sports by watching, cheering from the sidelines, volunteering, and driving them to and from events. • Spend time with your kids on their homework. Even on a busy day, sitting with your child will encourage him or her and keep them focused. • Make shared memories like holidays as a family, cooking and baking, cleaning, doing a craft, or simply coloring. Spend time with God • Make God the center of your home for a true atmosphere of peace by practicing daily family worship, personal time in prayer and Bible study, and weekly participation in worship with other believers. • Show God’s love to others in need through frequent community service.
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CL UB M I NI S TRI ES
E M P O W E R T R A I N I NG BRYAN, TX | JULY 2 1 - 2 2, 2018
UDOLCY ZUKOWSKI
South America Club Ministries Director
ARMANDO MIRANDA JR.
North America Club Ministries Director
JACEIL PAGÁN Pathfinder Wiki Page Coordinator
PAULO TENORIO
Texas Conference Youth Director/Host
VELMA MORGAN Ontario Conference Adventurer Coordinator
ELTON DeMORAES
Texas Conference Executive Secretary
ALEXIS RIVERA
Texas Conference Children’s Ministries Director
NESTOR OSMAN
Youth Evangelism Congress Director
ADDITIONAL PRESENTERS BO GENDKE
Texas Conference Adventurer Director
BRENDA LOCKHART
Texas Conference Master Guide Associate Director
MANUEL HENRIQUEZ
MARILYN BOISMIER
LILY HERNANDEZ
GENE CLAPP
ABIGAIL MIRELLES
PHYLLIP BAKER
Texas Conference Pathfinder Director
NAD Pathfinder Bible Experience Coordinator
Texas Conference Pathfinder Director
Texas Conference Pathfinder Bible Experience Coordinator
Texas Conference Master Guide Director
NAD Risk Management
ANDREW HERNANDEZ Texas Conference Master Guide Director
SUJATA CHRISTIE
Texas Conference Houston Adventurer Coordinator
BRAZOS COUNTY EXPO COMPLEX 5827 LEONARD ROAD | BRYAN, TX 77807
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(817) 790-2255 EXT. 2201 | TXYOUTH.COM | YOUTH@TXSDA.ORG
KIDS
SUMMER 2018
The Ultimate Gift By Jason Busch
I still remember the day as if it were yesterday – the crisp morning air, delicious smells coming from the kitchen, and the vivid, almost life-like colors pouring out of the TV. It was a cool, Florida Christmas and I had just opened the one thing every kid that year was hoping to get: A brand-new PlayStation 2, otherwise known as the gift to end all gifts (or so I thought at the time). I’d had other game systems, of course. The Super Nintendo began my love of video games and the Nintendo 64 did a great job of strengthening that love. But the PlayStation 2 was the console to have in the early 2000s. I even remember starting Madden 2001 that same Christmas day and marveling at how realistic it looked, although the graphics in games today make those look pathetic by comparison. Amazingly, the PlayStation 2 still reigns as the best-selling console of all time with over 150 million sold. Some guy named Dan even changed his name to Mr. PlayStation 2 at one point! It lived up to the hype, but imagine what it was like the year it came out. Unreal. My interest in the PlayStation 2 would wane over the years with the Nintendo GameCube and Xbox coming out shortly after, as well as the next generation of consoles (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii) stealing my attention away entirely. But, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the original PlayStation 2. It was, at the time, the light of my limited, adolescent world. In John 8:12, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
In the context of this story, Jesus is saying that greater wisdom and understanding of spiritual matters are found in Him. It’s like having a flashlight while walking in darkness. While that’s true, I’d suggest another interpretation: that Jesus is the only one who completely satisfies our needs. That may sound strange if your parents are the ones cooking your meals and buying your clothes, but the older I get the more I see it. Even though the paycheck I receive goes toward paying for both fun things (video games) and not fun things (bills), I believe that God is the one who provides it all; the one from whom everything is taken care of. Like the Bible says in Philippians, “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” And so, while newer lights in my life like traveling, playing board games with friends, and visiting theme parks have replaced others like the PlayStation 2, I remember that are all temporary. In Jesus, all our real needs are satisfied. I could constantly jump from one thing to the next trying to find that satisfaction, but the choice seems clear to me. The things here on earth, whether fun or not, start to lose interest the closer we get to the true light of the world.
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EVENTS
June 2 | Amazing Facts/.fishNet App Training at Richardson Seventh-day Adventist Church. 2 | Elders’ Encounter Training at San Antonio Scenic Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church.
17-24 | Summer Camp | Junior Week at Lake Whitney Ranch.
21-22 | Empower Club Ministries Training at Brazos Center in Bryan, TX.
23 | Elders’ Encounter Training at Houston Central Seventh-day Adventist Church.
23-27 | Valley Area Day Camp (ages 1317) at Valley Grande Academy Campus.
24 | Dallas Area Adventist Community Services Outreach at Garland Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church.
2 | Sabbath School Training at Houston Spring Branch Seventh-day Adventist Church.
24-July 1 | Summer Camp | Tween Week at Lake Whitney Ranch.
3 | Adventist Community Services Outreach at Laredo Spanish North Seventhday Adventist Church.
30 | Central Texas Area Elders’ Encounter Training at Pflugerville Spanish First Seventh-day Adventist Church.
9 | Dallas/Fort Worth Area Elders’ Encounter Training at Arlington Alpha Int’l Seventh-day Adventist Church.
July
10 | East Texas Area Elders’ Encounter Training at Tyler Seventh-day Adventist Church.
1-8 | Summer Camp | Teen Week at Lake Whitney Ranch. 8 | Houston Area Clerks’ Training - Visit texasadventist.org for location.
10-17 | Summer Camp | Cub Week at Lake Whitney Ranch.
8-15 | Summer Camp | Young Adult Week at Lake Whitney Ranch.
16 | East Texas Area Estate Planning Seminar at Palestine Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church.
16-20 | Valley Area Day Camp (ages 7-12) at Valley Grande Academy Campus.
16 | Dallas/Fort Worth Area Church Planting Rally - Visit texasadventist.org for location.
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18-21 | Arkansas/Louisiana/Texas Camp Meeting at Jefferson Seventh-day Adventist Church.
28 | Dallas Area Adventist Community Services Outreach at Irving Spanish Emanuel Seventh-day Adventist Church. 29 | Central Texas Area Clerks’ Training Visit texasadventist.org for location.
August 4 | Church Leadership Summit at San Antonio Scenic Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church. 4 | Sabbath School Training at Austin Spanish First Seventh-day Adventist Church. 5 | Clerks’ Training at Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Alvarado, TX. 5 | Church Treasurers’ Training (Houston/Coastal Bend Area) - Visit texasadventist.org for location. 6-9 | North American Division National Teachers’ Convention at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, IL.
August (continued) 10-12 | Southwestern Union Conference Women’s Retreat at Embassy Suites Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. 11 | Adventist Community Services Training at Houston Spanish Spring Branch Seventh-day Adventist Church. 18 | Dallas/Fort Worth Area Church Leadership Summit at Arlington Seventhday Adventist Church. 19 | Central Texas Area Church Treasurers’ Training - Visit texasadventist.org for location. 24-25 | Glad Reaper Youth Evangelism Training at San Antonio Highland Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church. 25 | Church Leadership Summit at Austin Spanish First Seventh-day Adventist Church. 25 | Sabbath School Training at San Antonio Scenic Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church. 25-26 | Emotional/Spiritual Care and Disaster Response Seminar at Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Alvarado, TX. 26 | East Texas Area Clerks’ Training Visit texasadventist.org for location.
ADVENT MOVEMENT Employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church often change leadership positions and areas of responsibility. This section is to help you keep up with who's where in Texas. Bo Gendke
Print Shop Director Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Mary Ellen Winegardner
Associate Pastor Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church
Andre Goncalves
Senior Pastor Dallas First Seventh-day Adventist Church
FLAME A publication of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas. EDITORIAL
Publisher: Carlos Craig Editor: Jason Busch Managing Editor: Tamara Terry Assistant Spanish Editor: Ismael Castillo Layout & Design: Zack Posthumus | zackpostdesign.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church Southwestern Adventist University Feature and Education images by Aaron Thomas Photography | aarontphoto.com Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists PO Box 800, Alvarado, TX 76009 Contact us at 817.790.2255 or visit TexasAdventist.org
Ed Petreaca
Interim Associate Pastor Denison-Sherman, Gainesville, and Greenville Seventh-day Adventist Churches
Roger Wazoua
Pastor Irving and Las Colinas Seventh-day Adventist Churches
Bill Dudgeon III
Pastor College Station Seventh-day Adventist Church
ADMINISTRATION
President: Carlos Craig Executive Secretary: Elton DeMoraes Treasurer: Randall B. Terry
PRINTING AND MAILING
Pressman: Miguel Gomez Designers: Madelein Terreros, Sora E. Yañez Print Shop Assistant: Doug Denny Administrative Assistant: Jannet Diaz
Luccas Rodor
Pastor Beaumont and Warren Seventh-day Adventist Churches
Hafiz Ally
Associate Pastor San Antonio Scenic Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church
Jose Omar Rodriguez
The FLAME is a publication of inspiration and education of the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It is sent free of charge to all members of the Texas Conference. If you have questions or comments, please email flame@txsda.org.
Pastor Jefferson Central, Longview, and Longview Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Churches
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