Nov 26, 2018
By John J. Pethtel
Director of Church Development &Pastoral Services
GEORGIA AND FLORIDA SDBS GATHER FOR ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
SDBs from Georgia and Florida gathered together in Plantation, FL, from November 9 to 11, 2018, for their annual association meetings held at the Sawgrass Inn and Conference Center. The theme chosen by Association President Pastor Norman Fearon was “True to Conviction, Faithful to God.”
The celebration started on Friday evening as there was a powerful time of worship, testimony, and prayer focused on youth attenders led by Marc Downes and Pastor Garfield Miller.
On Sabbath, Association President Pastor Norman Fearon shared with the approximately 200 people present how God had inspired his theme to be “True to Conviction, Faithful to God” by using Daniel 1:1-20 as the point of exhortation for his message.
Later in the day, Conference President Jane Mackintosh shared about her 2019 Conference theme, “People Get Ready.” John Pethtel presented a lesson titled, “Cognitive Dissonance: Do Your Convictions Match Your Commitments?” Executive Director Rob Appel gave thanks to the Association for many years of support to him and the General Conference and shared about how the search process is progressing for a new Executive Director. At the end of his presentation, he opened the floor to questions and at the end of his Q&A time, officials from the Association presented Rob with a gift of appreciation.
After a short break, we heard testimonies of God’s goodness to those who needed hope and healing. This was followed by a powerful time of prayer for any who needed healing. Pastor Andy Samuels gave a presentation on the work of the SDB World Federation and Pastor Garfield Miller shared about his mission trip with Pastor David Johnson to Sierra Leone which had just finished.
The evening continued the celebration with some fun and a concert. On Sunday, the Association completed its business followed by an invitation from the Association President for 2019, Grace Crouch, to “Let the Worshippers Arise.”
God is doing many things in the South Atlantic corner of our country. Please keep His work through our churches there in prayer.
CHURCH PLANTING
Seventy-five church planting catalysts from cooperating networks and denominations in Canada gathered together to worship, network, pray, and partner at the 2018 Church Planting Canada Intersession in Kananaskis, AB. This biennial gathering is meant to facilitate the conversation of culture, research, ideas, and encouragement around the empty table of church planting in Canada. The facilitator for our meetings, John Caplin, helped to guide our times and focus our thinking over the course of two days.
The next Church Planting Canada gathering is the national congress which will be held in Montreal in October 2019. If you are interested in church planting in Canada, please contact the Director of Church Development.
THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!
Words cannot express all the gratitude that our General Conference has for our volunteers. From those who serve positions at our General Conference sessions, to those who serve on councils and committees throughout the year, to those who voluntarily give of their time and money, to those who sacrifice to make our local churches stronger—THANK YOU! The Director Team and General Council appreciate you and your contributions to SDBs by actively advancing God’s Kingdom through your work.
PASTOR SEARCH
The following SDB churches or groups have called new pastoral leadership:
Adams Center SDB Church (Adams Center, NY)
David Murphy, Pastor
The following SDB churches or groups are looking for pastoral leadership. Please keep them in prayer as they search for their churches’ more preferable future.
Middle Island SDB Church (New Milton, WV)
First SDB Church of Hebron (Coudersport, PA)
Covenant SDB Fellowship (Hungry Horse, MT)
There are other potential vacancies in the near future.
If you are interested in one of these vacancies, if you are called to pastoral ministry, or if you know someone who might be interested in pastoral ministry, please contact the Director of Pastoral Services by email at jpethtel@seventhdaybaptist.org.
