THE FLAME | Fall 2019 by THE FLAME | Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

THE FLAME TEXAS CONFERENCE

IGNITING A PASSION FOR LIVING AND SERVING IN TEXAS

FALL 2019 texasadventist.org FLAME | 3 1 VOL. |6THEISSUE

Eliangel Fermin

Alan Baron

SA Spanish Durango

Kemunto Ayonga

Wenseslao Gรณmez

CONTENTS

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ARISE, SHINE | Carlos J. Craig

YOU ARE CHOSEN | Tamara Michalenko Terry

TEXAS-SIZED SCARF | Lindsey Gendke

TEACHING THE WORLD | Robert Boismier

CAR WASH CONNECTION | Divya Joseph

GLIMPSE OF HOPE | Rebecca Swinyar Patten

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL | Alexis Rivera

LEGACY GIVING | Uzziel Maldonado

SUMMER CAMP FUN | Deborah Gendke & Paulo Tenorio

YOUTH RUSH | Joshua Reyna

A NEW COURSE | A. Allan Martin

OYSTERS AND THE IRRITATING SAND | Kenn L. Dixon

CONFERENCE NEWS & CALENDAR

The cover photo features Sophia Vohwinkel being baptized by Paulo Tenorio, Texas Conference Youth & Young Adult director, at the International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on October 16, 2019. Photo by Stephanie Vohwinkel.

Pixabay.com | Larisa Koshkina

ARISE, SHINE By Carlos J. Craig

ome of my favorite words found in Scripture are those of Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” In these words of the prophet Isaiah, we hear the divine summons that comes to the church today to awake, to arise, to shake herself free of the dust and din that has tainted her. To remove the cords of strife, contention and division and to finally shine forth, not in any faulty splendor that might proceed from her but fully clothed in the glory of Christ that radiates from her as a result of her intrinsic relationship with her groom, Christ. Written some 2,700 years ago, these words that prophesied of the impending Messianic deliverance find their secondary applications as words of encouragement to the church today. A church who anxiously awaits redemption from a returning Messiah who will save His people from a world of doom and destruction. If we read the message that surrounds this verse, we hear the prophet describing the world he sees as engulfed in a funeral pall of darkness. As the sharp light of the Gospel of divine promise penetrates that darkness, those

who are called by God arise to shine in their own spheres of influence, thus becoming agents of transformation. The age-old story repeats itself. Zion stands in the light while Egypt cowers in darkness. The light which shines is the glory of the Lord. His church, touched by the light, becomes light herself. There is remarkable correspondence that takes place between an illuminating God and His illuminated people. Notice how in the passage, the phrase “Thy Light” is employed twice. It is the Creator’s light alone that is capable of penetrating evil’s darkness. My dear fellow believers of the Texas Conference of Seventhday Adventists, I believe with all my heart that the time has come for each one of us to position ourselves in such a place that the Light from heaven may shine through us and illuminate this territory for God’s honor and glory. Evil surrounds us on every side; we hear the tragic stories every day. Today, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you,” Isaiah 60:1. _________________ Carlos J. Craig has been president of the Texas Conference since 2011.

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Bo Gendke

YOU ARE CHOSEN By Tamara Michalenko Terry

hosen—It may only be six letters, but it is a powerful word. It was also the theme for the International Pathfinder Camporee (IPC) at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 12 to 17, 2019.

With more than 55,000 people representing more than 100 countries, IPC gives Pathfinders a little taste of heaven and shows them they are part of an Adventist family that stretches all over the world.

Held every five years, IPC is coordinated by the Center for Youth Evangelism (CYE) in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Its mission for the camporee is “to celebrate the importance and spiritual influence of Pathfinder ministry,” camporee.org.

With that many people in one location, CYE leaders had to plan many honors and activities both on and off site. The greatest spiritual highlights, though, were the baptisms and the Master Guide investiture ceremony.

Barna studies indicated “that nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before reaching the age of 13,” barna.com. The Pathfinder program provides a wonderful opportunity for young people ages 10 and up to create and develop that spiritual relationship.

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This year, every Pathfinder registered to be baptized at the 2019 Chosen IPC received a Pathfinder Bible from the North American Division of Seventhday Adventists (NAD) and General Conference of Seventhday Adventists Stewardship Ministries departments to affirm each Pathfinder’s decision to follow Jesus and help develop their relationship with Him.

We rejoiced as 58 Texas Pathfinders were pre-registered for baptism and more than 20 Master Guides were invested.

Conference ACS director, stated. “It was nice to see so many Pathfinders, including Texas ones, filling buckets.”

“That number is greater, though.” Paulo Tenorio, Texas Conference Youth & Young Adult director, shared. “Many Pathfinders chose to be baptized during the week, some chose to be baptized at their home church and some Master Guides were invested with their clubs, so we don’t have the total numbers, but we are so proud of those who chose to follow Jesus and lead others to Him.”

CYE leaders calculated there were 57 community projects with 30,000 hours donated during IPC. That included 4,000 pounds of food collected, medical services offered and 4,000 Guide magazines distributed. Pathfinders certainly left a positive impact on the Oshkosh community.

Texas Pathfinders were well represented this year. Tenorio shared that 4,723 Pathfinders were registered with the Texas Conference. That included 284 people from other countries that Texas Pathfinder clubs graciously hosted. In addition to those Texas-sized numbers, there were several world-record opportunities available at IPC. One was on Sabbath, August 17, following the worship service. Wearing blue ponchos, 13,309 attendees gathered with the goal of creating the world’s largest human cross. They were an impressive-looking group.

The Adventist Community Services (ACS) station filled a record number of buckets with cleaning supplies to assist communities following a natural disaster. “Within four days, attendees filled 5,000 buckets,” Marshall Gonzales, Texas

_________________ Tamara Michalenko Terry is associate communication director for the Texas Conference. She had the privilege of attending the 2009, 2014 and 2019 IPCs (themes listed in final paragraph above) and was invested as a Master Guide in 2009 by current NAD Campus Ministries coordinator and long-time Pathfinder Director Bill Wood.

One IPC tradition is the parade. Southwestern Union Conference Pathfinders marched on Friday, August 16. The parade was live streamed on the Texas Conference Facebook page @texasadventist.

The camporee programs and baptisms are available at hopetv.org/camporee. DVDs can be purchased from AdventSource at adventsource.org.

Throughout the camporee, Pathfinders could join prayer warriors in various prayer tents on site. It was touching to see Pathfinders praying in the prayer tents.

t Jorge Nolasco, left, with Juan Robledo, associate

The NAD photographers took almost 4,000 photos during ICP. Find those photos at flickr.com/nadadventist.

pastor of the Garland Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Garland, Texas, was one of 1,311 people baptized during the 2019 Chosen International Pathfinder Camporee.

If you haven’t already done so, please give your Pathfinder club or a neighbor club an opportunity to share their experiences from IPC during a church or vespers service. There are so many incredible, lifechanging stories to hear. Plan now to help Pathfinders attend the 2024 Believe the Promise IPC scheduled for August 12 to 17, 2024, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. You could join them, as well, as there are volunteer opportunities for people of all ages, including at the prayer tent.

Areli Alvarez

Another projected record is the world’s largest Pathfinder scarf and slide. You can read more about that incredible endeavor by Texas Pathfinders on pages 6 and 7 of this issue.

Let us have the Courage to Stand (2009) and be Forever Faithful (2014) in sharing with young people that they were Chosen (2019) by God.

“NEARLY HALF OF ALL AMERICANS WHO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR DO SO BEFORE REACHING THE AGE OF 13”

barna.com/research/evangelism-is-most-effective-among-kids

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decided that Texas Conference Pathfinders would create the world’s largest Master Guide scarf (or “neckerchief,” as GWR refers to it). Marilyn Boismier, the Texas Conference Pathfinder Coordinator and an avid sewer, designer and lover of math, did the initial research to figure out how much fabric and funding would be needed for the scarf.

Gene Clapp

At the same time, Clapp contacted his brother, Lloyd Clapp, a retired Pathfinder director from the Arkansas/Louisiana Conference, to ask whether he would fabricate the slide (or “woggle,” as GWR refers to it).

TEXAS-SIZED

SCARF By Lindsey Gendke

hen International Pathfinder Camporee leaders decided to break some Guinness World Records (GWR) this summer, Gene Clapp, a Texas Conference pastor and special events coordinator for the 2019 Chosen International Pathfinder Camporee, knew Texas Conference Pathfinders would want to be involved. After a bit of discussion, it was

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“You’ve got to be kidding,” Lloyd Clapp thought when he received the call. “But the more we talked about it, the more feasible it became.” “A lot of prayer” went into his creative process. Lloyd Clapp said he would “wake up in the middle of the night thinking about how to make it big enough and strong enough, but the Lord always directed.” The finished shield measured about 10 feet tall and weighed about 500 pounds. To meet the GWR criteria for the scarf, it had to be made out of the same material the actual scarf is made of, which is a polycotton blend. Boismier found a wholesaler in California with the needed fabric at 90 yards per bolt, so she purchased 22 bolts. The next challenge was figuring out the ribbon. “On a normal scarf, the ribbon is a half-inch wide, but this had to be 66 inches wide. The widest grosgrain ribbon we found was three inches, so volunteers had to sew it side by side,” Boismier said.

Before beginning the physical labor of the project, Albarrán consulted Carlos Busso, an electrical engineer and college professor. He and Pablo Lopez, a civil engineeer, devised a formula and facilitated a stress test to discover how much the actual scarf would weigh and how much weight it could hold, in case the scarf got rained on. “We also had to be sure it wouldn’t break apart during the scarf raising with the cranes,” Albarrán explained. “The stress test was designed to let us know how many seams we needed between the rolls of fabric.” Once the stress test was complete, it was time to make the design a reality. For several weeks, groups of volunteers showed up daily to sew and pin fabric in an “assembly line” fashion.

Carolina Albarrán

“Volunteers divided the scarf into thirds,” Boismier said. “One person did the initial seam, and then it would go to another station to get ironed. People stood on both sides helping move

Carolina Albarrán

Once Boismier figured out the logistics, she contacted Ruben Albarrán, Dallas East Texas North area Pathfinder coordinator, who enlisted around 250 North Texas Pathfinders and families to physically sew the scarf and ribbon, mostly at the Richardson Seventh-day Church Family Life Center in Richardson, Texas.

fabric, pinning where needed, to continue the process.” The scarf’s edge was cut by hand at Celebration Park in Allen, Texas, a place large enough to spread out the enormous scarf, and then the binding was added. “It was a bright and hot day,” Albarrán shared. “We had to run a line more than 150 feet on each side and mark it with chalk. It took a few tries before we cut it. This was one of the riskiest processes during the making of the scarf. There was almost zero tolerance for mistakes at this stage in the process.” Once completed, the triangular scarf measured over 300 feet from tip to tip and 150 feet from the center to the back tip and weighed approximately 800 pounds. “God performed incredible miracles, sending the right people and equipment when we needed it to complete this enormous project,” Albarrán added. “We are so thankful for all the volunteers that showed up every day, including Sundays, to work on this project. Special thanks goes to Nancy Villarreal, (top photo, left) currently

attending the Richardson church, who was the head seamstress and Ana Roblero, Pathfinder director from the McKinney Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church, who coordinated the meals for the volunteers for the final two weekends of work.” The finished scarf and slide were revealed at the 2019 Chosen International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They were lifted 115 feet in the air by two 90-ton cranes and displayed during the master guide investiture program on Sabbath, August 17. The blue, green and yellow Master Guide logo proudly signified the faith, teamwork and prayer that went into this massive project. It will be a few months before we learn whether the scarf is considered world-record size, but it is obviously Texas sized, and the creators and volunteers should be proud of their accomplishments. _________________ Lindsey Gendke is a freelance writer, teacher and graduate student from Keene, Texas.

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Renee Cooper

TEACHING THE

WORLD

Pathfinders working on completing the Waterfalls honors, above, creating a paracord, below, and making art using meltable plastic Perler beeds, bottom right.

By Robert Boismier

his year at the Chosen International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Texas Conference sponsored nine honors and activities. From plastic bricks and safety wristbands to giant scarves and space travel, kids and adults alike found something to interest them. The honors were taught by volunteers from each of the eight Texas Conference Pathfinder areas.

Abby Elizondo

Houston Bay South area Pathfinder leaders took visitors to Earth’s orbit and beyond with the Space Exploration honor, providing a small museum filled with artifacts from the history of human space travel. The Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, graciously loaned many of the objects in the museum, including a 1/25 model of a space shuttle, displays of space food and an Apollo-era space suit worn by the Master Guides teaching the honor. More than 680 people earned the honor.

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The Waterfalls honor presented by Central Texas South area Pathfinder leaders featured presentations, fountains, games, puzzles, videos and a magic wallet showing the six different types of waterfalls. Renee Cooper and Ramel Oviatt from the San Antonio, Texas, area taught the honor. “The Pathfinders were very interested in all of our activities,” said Cooper. Knowing the fascination with LEGO® bricks, Marilyn Boismier, Texas Conference Pathfinder coordinator, arranged for volunteers to teach the LEGO® Design honor. Guests were able to learn about LEGO® terminology, building scales and how to use LEGO® bricks to witness to others. More than 750 visitors attempted to earn the LEGO® Design honor, which included telling a Bible story using the plastic bricks. “People of all ages from all over

the world made all sorts of incredible and creative models,” said Sarah Boismier, one of the organizers of the honor. “It was wonderful to see how LEGO® bricks were able to transcend language and culture.” Pathfinder leaders from the Central Texas North area taught the Seeds honor. Participants were able to learn about the different seeds used for food, oil, spices and how to identify different types of seeds. To complete the honor, Pathfinder have to collect thirty different kinds of seeds and label them accordingly. Volunteers from the Keene/Fort Worth area taught visitors about paper quilling, the art of creating designs using small, rolled strips of paper. Pathfinders visiting this station were able to learn how to make designs quilling tight circles, loose circles, teardrops, shaped teardrops and more. The Paper Quilling honor was also taught by Texas Pathfinder leaders at the 2014 Forever Faithful International Pathfinder Camporee also held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In addition to honors, Texas volunteers offered activities. Valley/Coastal Bend area

Pathfinder leaders taught guests how to weave a paracord survival wristband for Pathfinders who work to be ready for any emergency. These bands serve various purposes. Some can be made with 10 feet of 500-pound paracord that can be used to hang a hammock; others can be used as a fire-starter while others can include a compass or emergency whistle. Houston Bay North area Pathfinder leaders sponsored the Extreme Hoop Hop Showdown, where participants jumped into hoops spread on the ground, played rock-paper-scissors and were sprayed with water guns. It provided a nice place to relax and cool off. The Dallas/East Texas South (DETS) area Pathfinder leaders helped visitors make art using meltable plastic Perler beads. “We were very surprised to see Pathfinders, both young and old, lining up to sit and concentrate for almost an hour placing tiny beads on pegs to create a craft,” said Kemunto Ayonga. Ayonga and her husband, James, who is the DETS area coordinator, ran the event. “Everyone was anxious to see what their creation would look like once it was ironed,” Ayonga added.

The most visible creation is projected to be the world’s largest Master Guide scarf and slide (featured on pages 6 and 7). “North Texas Pathfinders worked hard to complete the scarf, volunteering more than 2,000 hours,” said Ruben Albarrán, Dallas/East Texas North area Pathfinder coordinator. Thousands of Pathfinders visited the honors and activities offered by the Texas Conference. “The activities and honors at Oshkosh are a way to broaden Pathfinders’ experiences and help them to use their time productively while they are there,” Boismier shared. “Our hope is that the Pathfinders will leave Oshkosh with a new appreciation for the things they’ve learned and the friends they’ve made.”

_________________ Robert Boismier helped teach the LEGO® Design honor at the 2019

International Pathfinder Camporee. He grew up in Houston, Texas, and has worked with Texas Pathfinders for many years, including the 2014 International Pathfinder Camporee. He currently resides in Billerica, Massachusetts, with his wife, Sarah.

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CAR WASH

iStock photo.com.

| deepblue4you

CONNECTION By Divya Joseph

an one car wash change your life? For 17-yearold Victor Oliveira, going to a benefit car wash by the Forest Hill Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church, now known as Fort Worth Spanish East Hadley Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Fort Worth, Texas, was a moment he’ll never forget. Oliveira had grown up around violence and uncertainty, and the acceptance he received at the church gave him something lasting. “The love and the

treatment the church members gave me was incredible,” he said. “I felt like I had a new family.” Oliveira was born in Brazil and saw his parents separate at an early age. He moved to the United States with his mother and younger sister after his parents’ separation but grew up seeing his mother abused by her boyfriend, a self-medicated alcoholic. One day, when he was 12 years old, he witnessed another violent dispute between his mom and her boyfriend. “There was shattered glass everywhere, and my mom was just sitting there crying,” he said. “That’s the first time I heard a very different voice coming out of my

mom. I later learned she had become possessed by spirits.” For years after that experience, Oliveira and his sister leaned on the spirits for guidance. They claimed to be spirits of light sent from God. “They knew so much about my life,” he said. “They would tell me about girls I liked. They would tell me to avoid parties that I later found out bad things had happened at. I really trusted them.” He thought he couldn’t ask for more out of life until he accepted an invitation from a friend to stop by a church car wash. He was planning to just get his car washed and then leave, but the church members invited him to join them for a meal. “I ended up staying for a lot longer than I originally thought,” he said. “They never tried to proselytize me, just offered food and a listening ear. At that time, I was in need of attention, compassion and love, so to see them treat me like family when I was lonely greatly impacted me. They were a family I didn’t think I’d ever have.” Soon, he started attending the church’s small group Bible studies regularly. There, he opened up to his church friends about the spirits in his mother.

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“I really thought the spirits were from God,” he said. “So I was really excited to tell my friends about them.”

Oliveira made the decision to never talk to those spirits again, and he started to educate his mother and sister about their damaging impact. “I remember my mother getting angry and asking, ‘What are you trying to say? That I am the devil?’” he said. Despite his mother’s disapproval, Oliveira continued to attend church. During the church’s revival week, he was moved to be baptized. “I always felt like I was a good person,” he said. “I fought for the weak, studied hard, but I felt like it was not enough; I felt I needed to commit to the Lord. So I decided to commit!” On the day of his baptism*, his reluctant and disapproving mother decided to join him at church. “She sat in the last row and did not want to have any part of it,” he said. “When it was my turn to be baptized, they asked if anyone from my family was there. She raised her hand and came to the front, crying.”

Pexels.com | Kaboompics

The church members and pastor reached out to Oliveira and showed him passages in the Bible that revealed these spirits were not from God. “When I first heard it, I was a little confused,” recalled Oliveira. “I have always believed in God and in Jesus, but I was confused because I thought the spirits that were possessing my mom were from God. But the more I read I began to realize that God doesn’t possess people; demons possess people.”

Although Oliveira’s mother was moved, she still had a strong relationship with the spirits. Later that week, she came into his room and started screaming, “What do you want with us? Why do you keep inviting your mother to church? If we can’t have her, you can’t have her, either.” Oliveira started praying loudly and told them to leave the house in the name of Jesus. That had a profound effect, and the spirits immediately left. That was an impactful moment for him, his sister and mother. “One day I believe God will show me exactly what happened inside that room,” Oliveira said. “Then I will know whether it was one angel or multiple angels who helped us. My faith is stronger because of what I’ve experienced. I know there’s a war raging beyond what we can see.” Today, Oliveira’s mother and sister have been baptized in a Seventh-day Adventist church

and they continue to develop their faith. He shares his story to show the redeeming power of God. Oliveira says that when he looks back at his life, he believes that car wash is his transformational moment. “Every person you encounter throughout the day could be sent from God for you to have a chance to talk with, like the church members did for me during that car wash,” he said. “In order for us to reach other people, we only need to show them the love of Jesus and then let the Holy Spirit do the rest of the work.”

_________________ Freelance writer Divya Joseph works for a nonprofit organization in California that serves young women around the world. *Oliveira didn’t realize it at the time, but his future wife, Anahi, was baptized the same day. They started dating shortly afterward and were married five years later. He is so appreciative of her strong support and faith in God. As they celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary this year, they are excited to welcome their first child in January 2020.

“IN ORDER FOR US TO REACH OTHER PEOPLE, WE ONLY NEED TO SHOW THEM THE LOVE OF JESUS” texasadventist.org

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Pixabay.com | lchigo121212

Baptisms

GLIMPSE OF HOPE

2017 152 2018

By Rebecca Swinyar Neff

n any given Sabbath, thirty to sixty people meet for church in southern Texas. While this may not seem extraordinary, the people meeting for this church service are inmates at two local facilities in Edinburg, Texas. Their church service is brought to them by a group of volunteers from the McAllen Spanish Valley Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in McAllen, Texas. Church member David Chong currently leads the group that started about 10 years ago. Since that time, many inmates and prison personnel have been touched by the Gospel through Bible studies. Some people have asked whether the prisoners are required to attend chapel services. They are not. The people are there because they want to be there. They want

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to know what God is about. They are looking for something to heal the wounds they have experienced in their lives. They are looking for salvation. According to Alfonso Chong, David’s son, Sabbath visitation is not enough for these individuals. They want more information. “The attendees are hungry to hear the Word of God,” Chong said. As a result, the group is beginning a Friday afternoon workshop. “Because of the relationship we’ve built with the correctional officers and chaplains, they are allowing us to expand our services.” The church volunteers also provide children’s programming for the children who come to visit their family members. Providing inmates an opportunity

to come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior can make a huge difference in the recidivism rate, or the number of individuals who return to jail or prison. The Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics shared a study where they tracked released inmates over a nine-year period. They found that five out of six prisoners were arrested within nine years of their release. It begs the question, could this rate be dropped if these inmates had an opportunity to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ? It’s easy for some people to have a negative bias against those who are incarcerated, but these individuals need to know that Jesus Christ loves them and is able to redeem their lives. The inmates appreciate the church’s efforts and are sharing their stories through poems that help impact the lives of the volunteers as well as other inmates. One inmate is interested in helping with the prison Bible studies when he is released from prison, as he sees the benefit of this hope-filled message. Even though he lost everything when he went to prison, he is willing to have God use him. He wants to share his story with others in hopes of having a positive impact on them.

The McAllen Spanish Valley Central family stands ready to welcome any of these people into their church once they are released. “To us, that would be true victory,” Ponciano added. If your church has a prison ministries team, consider becoming a part of it. Chong regrets he didn’t start sooner. “I had to apologize to my dad because I didn’t understand his passion for these inmates. I do now.” Chong stresses the fact that Seventh-day Adventist churches need to be ready to welcome

“I was in prison and you came to Me”

someone who may come to church dressed differently and with tattoos. “We need to get rid of bias and prejudice and realize that we are all struggling in this world to change our character,” Chong said. “We need to practice what we preach. The key is to share love, seeing them as people.” The Bible shows us in the book of Matthew an example of what we can do to further the work in an incredibly dark and depressing environment, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me,’” Matthew 25:35, 36.

_________________ Rebecca Swinyar Neff is a human resources professional working for a nonprofit organization serving veterans. Her husband, Tim, is active with prison ministries in the San Diego, California, area.

_____

Matthew 25:36

pexels.com

“Prison ministries has reformed evangelism as we know it,” Christian Ponciano, McAllen Spanish Valley Central church pastor, stated. “Not only is it life changing for the inmates but for the church members, as well. The church members are staying in touch with some of these individuals. Seeing the prisoners continue to follow the Word after they get out and seeing the church members continue to minister to them exemplifies Jesus trying to reach ‘the least of these.’”

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| Pexels

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL By Alexis Rivera

e had an exciting Vacation Bible School (VBS) season here in Texas. The North American Division Vacation Bible School program was Jamii Kingdom, an African theme designed to show children that they are part of God’s great big family. If you attended a church during a Vacation Bible School day, you might see the halls decorated with colorful vines and friendlylooking animals. You would probably witness children singing songs, making crafts, playing games, hearing stories and going to prayer stations. These decorations and activities that coordinate with the theme each have a purpose. The VBS program is intentional about teaching Biblical themes in a way that children will understand.

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Because of this, VBS is a fantastic tool for evangelism. More than a quarter of the children who attend VBS programs are not church members. VBS provides an open invitation to the community to show that the church is a warm place where their children will always be welcomed and where they can learn more about the Bible. If you would like to know how to organize a VBS program, please contact Texas Conference children’s ministries at txchildmin.org or call 817.790.2255 x2214.

_________________ Alexis Rivera is the children’s ministries director for the Texas Conference. She is passionate about empowering children’s ministries leaders for service.

LEGACY GIVING By Uzziel Maldonado

hile contemplating whether God was calling me to be a trust officer for Texas Conference Planned Giving & Trust Services, He brought to mind the people He used through the years to support and encourage me— people focused on giving rather than getting, on serving rather than being served. I first met Bob and Mary Ann Hadley when I attended Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) in Keene, Texas, where Bob was campus nurse and Mary Ann was director at the Ellen G. White Research Center. They enjoyed working with young people and sought to spiritually nurture them. More than simply handing out scholarships, they committed to investing time, money, instruction, encouragement and direction. They were immersed in the experience of sharing what they had, whether it was their home for student vespers

and social events, their money through an endowment and scholarships to help students continue their education or their trust, providing opportunities and delegating responsibilities. The Hadleys would never hesitate if taking action meant a student could benefit. As I look back on how involved they were on campus, I can’t help but think that their constant prayer must have been similar to World War II Bronze Star Medal recipient Desmond Doss’s, “Lord, let me help one more.” As I considered God’s current calling, I realized that God answered my needs through the actions, decisions and generosity of others. I considered all the scholarships received and understood that the names on the buildings, such as Hadley Hall at SWAU, reflect only a small part of the lasting legacy of those who had so generously funded them.

We all benefit in one way or another from the legacy of those who came before us. Christianity is not just “taught” but “caught,” which is to say, Christianity is not just faith but also works. Not just beliefs mastered but a lifestyle modeled. It is said that “it takes a village to raise a child.” The Hadleys, and many like them, have helped raise this villager. Now, it’s my turn to do the same. Start leaving your legacy today. _________________ Uzziel Maldonado accepted the call and is now the Planned Giving & Trust Services trust officer for the Houston/ East Texas area. View Mary Ann Hadley’s legacy story at texasadventist.org/plannedgiving

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Alan Baron

By Paulo Tenorio & Deborah Gendke

“

For a parent, it’s so hard to let your kids be away from you,

especially for a week, but when they come back from Lake

Whitney Ranch inspired to serve God, you know that you’re doing

the right thing. The staff is truly inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Janet Frias

t was a beautiful ending to our summer camp week at Lake Whitney Ranch in Clifton, Texas. Teens were getting baptized and receiving advice from parents and friends. When a tall young man, Kyle Ogamba, came up, his mom started sharing from her heart. Then his dad took his turn. He looked at his son, started sharing how proud he was and then stated, “Son, today you are wanting to give your life to Jesus . . . It’s time for me to give my life to Jesus, too. Thank you for your example! I will get ready.” Tears began to roll down Kyle’s face. You could tell he had been waiting to hear those words. After Kyle’s baptism, I spoke with the father. “I almost made an altar call just for you,” I told him. “But, I trust you will follow the commitment you made today and prepare.” He looked at me and said he would. A few weeks later, at the International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, I connected with Kyle’s parents.

Alan Baron

“Pastor, would you baptize me and my youngest son,” Mr. Ogamba asked. (top, left)

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Hallelujah! These are moments we live for as youth pastors. Afterward, Mrs. Ogamba told my wife, “I’m bringing the whole village (church family) to summer camp next year.”

Paulo Tenorio

Alan Baron

“

SUMMER CAMP FUN

Kaylee’s Story When Kaylee, above, a junior camper, expressed her desire to be baptized during summer camp at Lake Whitney Ranch, I phoned her mom. During the call, she shared with me that Kaylee wanted to be baptized by her grandpa, who was a pastor in Brazil who worked with the youth

and a pioneer for Pathfinders there. Unfortunately, he passed away before having that opportunity. Wanting Kaylee to have a connection to her grandpa, I asked her mom whether Paulo Tenorio could wear his Pathfinder scarf during the baptism. Kaylee’s mom agreed. It was a powerful moment as a mom watched her daughter being baptized. Alan Baron

Deborah Gendke

_________________

“

Paulo Tenorio is the Youth & Young Adult director for the Texas Conference. Deborah Gendke is an administrative assistant for the Texas Conference Youth & Young Adult department. View the summer camp video at texasadventist.org/lakewhitneyranch.

“

Working at Lake Whitney Ranch means a pathway to help create new soul savers for Christ. It

means becoming the mentor that child/teen needs in their life to shape them up a bit. It

means an opportunity to make a difference in

someone’s life by showing them love and caring

Alan Baron

for them just as Jesus does for us.

Rene Castellón

| THE FLAME | 17

Lizelle Jeanine

texasadventist.org

By Joshua Reyna

he annual summer Youth Rush program sponsored by the Texas Conference provides college students an opportunity to knock on doors in various cities throughout Texas and offer religious books for a donation. The majority of the proceeds for the books helps pay for their college tuition to Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, or the University of Montemorelos in Mexico. “We visit those schools every year looking for students interested in canvassing. By the grace of God, I can say that every student wanting to attend those colleges this year was accepted and currently has the funds to register,” Antonio Correa,

Lorethmy’s Story

Ivan Navarrete

One evening while canvassing, I started talking about Peace Above the Storm, also known as Steps to Christ. The man I was speaking with stopped me and said, “I’ve seen this book. I’ve read this book!” I asked him if he had been canvassed by one of us before, and he said, “No, I was in another parking lot and saw this book on the ground. It really caught my attention, so I went and picked it up. I opened the book, read the

18 | THE FLAME |

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publishing director and student literature coordinator, said. This past summer 42 students and leaders canvassed in Corpus Christi, Mansfield, Richardson and Tyler, Texas. They experienced a summer of miracles and shared more than 26,000 books, mainly Steps to Christ, with the residents in those communities. In addition to the summer programs, there are programs for Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring breaks. You will find more information at txsdaliteraturemin.com. The following are just two of the many life-changing stories from this past summer.

titles of the chapters and saw that I needed all the things that this book talked about. “I was in a deep depression. My wife, whom I was married to for forty years, had just passed away, and I was at a loss to know what to do, so I took the book home. Once I started reading the book, it really got to me. I couldn’t put it down, so I read the whole book in one sitting, and it changed my life.” I was surprised when the man told me that he read the whole book in one sitting. I saw how

thirsty he was for Jesus. I told the man, “Thank you for reading the book,” but he told me, “No, thank you for doing this ministry and helping the community. I’m so glad I now know where the book came from.” After listening to his words, I felt impressed to leave him with the book The Great Controversy. He thanked me and told me that he would read it.

Lorethmy Guillen is a nursing student at Southwestern Adventist University.

Aaron’s Story After starting my presentation with this young lady, she showed an interest in the books I was talking about. She said, “So you are going off into streets, talking about God and offering Christian literature to others?” I explained that I was doing this for my summer break. She said, “Wow, this is amazing! I have been praying for the past

As I came to the end of my presentation, she picked two books that she was interested in. She decided to pay with her credit card, so I gave her my phone to place the credit card transaction. When she was done, I looked, and she had given me $100. I thanked her and we prayed, but the story doesn’t end there. She kept asking me questions about what I was doing and how she could get involved. She is studying at The University of Texas at Arlington and wanted to join our program. I gave her the leader’s contact information. Before I left, I also gave her the address to our church and invited her to church with us on Sabbath. By the time Sabbath came around, I had almost forgotten about inviting her to church, and to my surprise she came.

Josue Muñoz

This was a very special moment for me because I got to see a fruit of the work that we do. Maybe even now this man is reading the book I gave him and learning more about the God we serve and His love for us.

two years for God to show me how exactly I can be involved in His work. I am amazed that we met here and that we are having this conversation. This is an answer to my prayer.”

The young lady continued coming to church and asked to join us for one of our future Youth Rush campaigns. Later, I found out she wants to continue Bible studies and is interested in being baptized. I praise God that He arranged this divine appointment. Aaron Sotelo is a mathematics student at Southwestern Adventist University.

_________________ After church, she joined us for potluck. After potluck, she joined Joshua Reyna is associate director for the Texas Conference Publishing us for a Bible study. She asked department and helps coordinate the to study about the seventh-day student literature program. Sabbath, so we studied about the Sabbath and about growing in Christ. t Texas Conference President Carlos Craig, center, shared a devotional with the Mansfield, Texas, Youth Rush team.

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Eliangel Fermin

texasadventist.org

A NEW COURSE By A. Allan Martin

about sex, drinking and other high-risk behaviors as well as about allegiance with a local church or on-campus ministry.”

With this new chapter comes all kinds of new friends, choices and opportunities. It is said that the decisions made in those first few weeks of the collegiate experience could very well set the trajectory of a young adult’s college career. Kara Powell, author of books “Sticky Faith”

What can you do those first few days and weeks to connect with God?

We have to trust our young adults forging a new course. As parents, church family or friends, we would do well to help our graduating seniors launch into the adventure of college by sparking conversation with questions Powell suggests:

What church or on-campus ministry will you join? What type of qualities are you looking for in your new friends? What will you do when someone invites you to a party?

“RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION IS VITAL” and “Growing Young,” spoke of her team’s interviews with students, “We were struck by how students repeatedly pointed to the importance of their first two weeks in college. During these crucial first fourteen days, students make key decisions

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Where will you go for help when you struggle academically, physically, emotionally, practically or relationally?

Engaging respectful conversation with our students is vital in determining their

Taylor Tucker

or many young adults, all the fanfare of being the “graduating class of 2019” seems so long ago. The celebrations, optimistic commencement addresses and confetti are like a distant memory, packed up in their parents’ attics. New challenges are on the near horizon and, for many graduating seniors, the first year of college is set to begin.

direction for the collegiate journey. Maybe the greatest graduation gift we can give a young person is letting them know we are willing to come alongside them in support of their college experience. In this crucial stage of their early adult lives, we can offer students our listening ears, our wisdom from experience and our careful prayers. Asking questions, listening and supporting their thinking through their start of college can help our students chart a new course with excitement and purpose. Discover more about encouraging, supporting and providing resources for the next generation at GrowingYoungAdventists.com. _________________ A. Allan Martin is the teaching pastor for Younger Generation Church, a young adult ministry of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Arlington, Texas. He also assists with the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists Growing Young Adventists initiative.

OYSTERS AND THE

IRRITATING SAND By Kenn L. Dixon

Pixabay.com | Elias Sch.

eading one morning during my devotion time, I came across a story of an oyster and the piece of sand that ultimately produced a pearl. This delicate process in God’s creation of taking a tiny speck of sand with no value and turning it into something priceless is always miraculous and fascinating. As the oyster goes about its day, trying to avoid being eaten, it must guard against whatever comes its way because any mistake can be fatal. From time to time, however, a small object will make its way past the mantle of its shell. It is quickly covered up, and the oyster’s irritation creates the most precious pearl. Our little friend, the oyster, can teach us a valuable lesson about the irritations and problems of life. The irritation that has entered the shell was not

discarded; it was not pushed far away. The oyster did not complain because it had a foreign body that passed into its shell. No, it simply covered it, and a pearl was created. The real pearl is, therefore, a victory over life’s irritations. Life would not be worth living if our lives were free from irritations, trials and hardships. From this very act of covering our irritations with the blood of Jesus, we can turn every irritation that gets into our lives into an opportunity for a pearlculture.

and complete, lacking nothing,” James 1:2-4. As time continues to fade away, evil forces will fling more irritations our way. Instead of allowing them to break us, why not turn them into a crown of pearls? _________________ Kenn L. Dixon is the new vice president for Communications and Public Relations for the Texas Conference. He looks forward to sharing Texas family stories as he visits around the conference.

James, the brother of Jesus Christ, put it this way, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect

texasadventist.org

| THE FLAME | 21

CONFERENCE NEWS CALENDAR Texas Conference Constituency and Executive Committee Vote Four Vice President Titles

uring the Texas Conference Quadrennial Constituency Session on May 19, 2019, in Bryan, Texas, the title of vice president for education was voted, without a nomination, along with a vice president for Hispanic ministries title (which includes Spanish evangelism) for newly re-elected Hispanic Ministries Director Osvaldo Rigacci. On July 25, 2019, the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Executive Committee voted two additional conference vice president titles. They included a vice president for ministerial (that includes pastoral development), Nathan L. Krause, and a vice president for communication and public relations, Kenn Dixon. “The additional vice presidents help round our administrative committee to represent the pastors, teachers and Spanish work as well as assist with strategic communication for the conference,” Carlos J. Craig, Texas Conference president, stated. Kisha Norris, recently elected vice president for education, began her position August 1, 2019. She was voted July 10, 2019, by the Texas Conference Executive Committee during a specially called meeting to fill the vacant position. Formerly at Southwestern Adventist University, she replaced John Hopps, who retired after working almost 50 years in Adventist education. Osvaldo Rigacci has been with the Texas Conference since 1988 as a pastor. He became the Hispanic Ministries director in 2011. Since then, the Spanish work has increased from 20,927 members with 109 churches to 28,111 members with 141 churches. Nathan L. Krause, recently elected ministerial director and now vice president for ministerial and pastoral development, has been a pastor for more than 25 years. He was previously pastor of the Fort Worth First Seventh-day Adventist Church. He replaces Rodney Mills, who is now the vice president for administration for the Upper Columbia Conference in Spokane, Washington. Kenn L. Dixon began his position as vice president for communication and public relations on September 1, 2019, replacing Jason Busch, who took a position as a physician liaison at Texas Health Huguley Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. “We look forward to what God has in store as we minister together to finish His work here in Texas and beyond,” Craig added.

_________________ Tamara Michalenko Terry is the associate communication director for the Texas Conference, a position she has held since June 2017.

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Unless otherwise noted, please call 817.790.2255 for more information about conference events. The extensions are listed with each calendar event.

texasadventist.org/events Find the latest conference news and event information on the Texas Conference website: texasadventist.org

November 2019 cont’d

December 2019 cont’d

December 30 | CHAT Online Training | 5:45 to 7:00 pm Parent-Leader Partnerships: Building the Family Connection x2214 | txchildmin@txsda.org | texasadventist.org/children

October 28 | CHAT Online Training | 5:45 to 7:00 pm Teaching Styles: Supporting Children’s Unique Ways of Learning x2214 | txchildmin@txsda.org | texasadventist.org/children

November 25 | CHAT Online Training | 5:45 to 7:00 pm Discipleship: A Lifetime of Sharing Grace & Love x2214 | txchildmin@txsda.org | texasadventist.org/children

Pixabay.com | Biljana Jovanovic

October 2019 cont’d

from your Texas Conference family

TEXAS CONFERENCE

THE FLAME is a quarterly publication produced by the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Please direct questions or comments to flame@txsda.org or by mail to PO Box 800, Alvarado, TX 76009.

December 7 | Adventurer Bible Adventure Various locations around the conference x2126 | bgendke@txsda.org | texasadventurers.org

Editor: Kenn L. Dixon

Layout & Design: Tamara Michalenko Terry

Managing Editor: Tamara Michalenko Terry Proofreader: Janelle Sundin

Photo Editing: JVL Expressions Printing & Mailing: Pacific Press Publishing Association | Nampa, Idaho

ADMINISTRATION President: Carlos J. Craig Executive Secretary: David Montoya Treasurer: Randall B. Terry Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

texasadventist.org

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FAMILY FESTIVAL COMING TO YOUR AREA 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM FREE BREAKFAST FROM 8:30-9:30 AM

DATES & LOCATIONS OCTOBER 13 Mesquite Seventh-day Adventist Church 422 S. Ebrite St | Mesquite, TX

OCTOBER 20 Tyler Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church 11125 Spur 248 | Tyler, TX

NOVEMBER 3 Houston Central Seventh-day Adventist Church 9425 W Sam Houston Pkwy N | Houston, TX

NOVEMBER 17 Killeen Adventist Junior Academy 3412 Lake Rd | Killeen, TX

NOVEMBER 24 Edinburg Seventh-day Adventist Church 602 W Wisconsin Rd | Edinburg, TX

817.790.2255 X2143 FamilyMinistries@txsda.org texasadventist.org/familyministries

FEATURING

Interactive Family Workshops (All Ages) Games & Activities | Free Resources 24 | THE FLAME |

Fall 2019

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

to reserve your family fun package Visit foreverONEfamily.org for more information.