May 28, 2019
By John J. Pethtel
Director
Pastors Conference 2019
Fifty-nine pastors and spouses came together April 26-28, 2019, for our annual Pastors Conference in Milton, WI. The theme was “MOBILIZE” and we got a chance to hear stories of mobilizing from around our Conference as well as from our special guests from Q Place. There was a great time of fellowship and fun had by everyone there. Special thanks to the Milton SDB Church, Pastor Nate Crandall, Marian van Dalen-Anderson, Paul Anderson, Frank Green, Janet Butler, Barb Green, Linda Lyke, Melissa Lade, Shanny Snyder, and Joel Osborn.
Our next Pastors Conference in 2020 will be held in Colorado. We are asking that every SDB pastor make plans to be at this next meeting. Start planning now. If you have any obstacles keeping you from making those plans, please talk to the Director of Pastoral Services.
ORDINATIONS
On March 23, 2019, many pastors and friends from around the greater NYC area (and the country) came to attend the formal installation of Pastor Egbert Downes as the pastor of the SDB Church of Christ in Plainfield, NJ. There were many special moments of music and ministry shared as well as powerful charges to both the Plainfield church and Pastor Downes. Many of the Samuels family (Pastor Joe Samuels was the previous pastor) were able to attend this installation and transition of ministry. A feast followed in celebration of everything that God has done. Congratulations Rev. Downes!
On February 16, 2019, Pastors John Pethtel, Robert Van Horn, and JR Shick traveled to San Sebastian, PR, to celebrate with Agape Ministry Iglesia Bautista del Septimo Dia in recognizing a prior ordination of Pastora Judith Houts. The celebration included testimonies, poems, songs, and scripture that were inspired by the ministry that Pastora Judith has done in planting this church in Puerto Rico. Congratulations Rev. Houts!
Steven Hinton, Assistant Pastor of Freedom Community Church in New Auburn, WI, was examined for fitness to gospel ministry before an Ordination Council that convened on March 30, 2019. After reviewing his testimony and asking questions to test his fitness for ministry, the Ordination Council recommended that Pastor Steve has beliefs that were in accord with the SDB Statement of Belief and that he be ordained. The ordination service was held on May 4, 2019. Congratulations Rev. Hinton!
Johnmark Camenga, Pastor of the Lost Creek SDB Church in Lost Creek, WV, was examined for fitness to gospel ministry before an Ordination Council that convened on April 6, 2019. After reviewing his testimony and asking questions to test his fitness for ministry, the Ordination Council recommended that Pastor Johnmark has beliefs that are in accord with the SDB Statement of Belief and that he be ordained. The ordination service was held on May 4, 2019.
Congratulations Rev. Camenga!
PASTOR SEARCH
The following SDB churches or groups have called new pastoral leadership:
First SDB Church of Hebron (Coudersport, PA)
Steven Hinton, Pastor
The following SDB churches or groups are looking for pastoral leadership. Please keep them in prayer as they search for their next leaders.
Shepherd’s Fold SDB Church (Johnson City, TN) Assistant
Bay Area SDB Church (Pinole, CA)
Covenant SDB Fellowship (Hungry Horse, MT)
Pataskala SDB Church (Pataskala, OH)
Miami SDB Church (Miami, FL)
Remembrance SDB Church (Ft. Worth, TX)
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 or call 608-752-5055 ext. 1009.
Wanted: Dynamic Pastor
For a Culturally Diverse Church
With Pastor Andrew Samuels called to a new ministry with the SDB Missionary Society, the Miami SDB Church is seeking a pastor who will mentor and encourage the congregation spiritually, dynamically preach and teach the Word, shepherd a geographically and culturally
diverse group throughout South Florida, and help us fulfill the vision that God has for the church.
We covet your prayers as we ask God to reveal to us the Pastor that He already has in mind for our church.
Please send any suggestions, resumes, and questions to the Miami SDB Pastor Search Team at
MiamiSDB.PastorSearch@yahoo.com.
Team 21
Prayer Initiative 2Q19
Team 21 is part of the ADVANCE initiative to promote, support, and fund church planting among SDBs. We are seeking out people who will donate $21 each month towards church planting, pray at least 21 minutes each week (3 minutes per day average) and for 21 days straight each quarter, and commit to sharing their SDB expression of faith with at least 21 people each year (less than 2 people per month). All Team 21 members will receive a gift from the Church Planting Task Force for their contributions. If you are unable to meet all Team 21 commitments, we would still covet you joining in our prayer initiatives as individuals and as a church. To join Team 21, please visit: seventhdaybaptist.org/churchplanting/team-21.
2019 Team 21 Prayer Guide is based on Matthew 9:35-38
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and
villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
For the next 21 days (June 2-22, 2019), we are asking that you pray for:
“SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD”—Praying for those who have yet to believe the gospel.
Whom do you know who hasn’t responded to the gospel?
How many people in your city still have yet to believe the gospel?
