Lifelong Learning- Summer 2009 Study Tours

Here are a couple of outstanding summer 2009 study tours. Check with your local conference to see if continuing education funds are available.

1. “The Footsteps of St. Paul and the Seven Churches of Revelation” Led by Dr. Carl P. Cosaert & Dr. Zdravko Stefanovic of Walla Walla University   June 24 – July 14, 2009, Credit option is available.  Click here for website details.
2. “2009 Great Controversy Tours” (March 22-April 2 Or July 5-15) with Dr. Gerard Damsteegt of the Seminary, Andrews University. See the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation come alive. Visit Rome and the Reformation sites in the Waldensian Valleys, Switzerland, and Germany. The tour gives you a new vision of how to inspire members with God’s guidance in prophetic history and prepare them for Jesus’ coming. A most exciting experience! Graduate credit or CEUs are available. Call or fax 269-471-5172 or email laurel@andrews.edu. Yours in the Blessed Hope, Dr. P. Gerard Damsteegt, Church History Department, Theological Seminary, Andrews University

Why Not Try This? …Encourage Your Lay Leaders to Take A Free Seminary Class

On any given Sabbath there are more lay preachers than paid preachers in Seventh-day Adventist pulpits, even in the North American Division. What can we do to encourage and develop strong, clear, Christ-centered, Bible-based preaching by our lay members?

There are many things that can be done. I’d like to suggest one that is often overlooked.

H.K.W.H.T.A.- Baraka Muganda, General Conference Youth Leader

“Adventist youth are not against hearing the Word of God. They are against boring preachers-dead preachers preaching dead sermons.”

                         — Baraka Muganda, General Conference Youth Leader. Some think youth, even Adventist youth, have no interest in the Bible because of post-modernism, secularism, humanism and materialism. But Baraka Muganda say he finds youth in all parts of the globe, wherever his travels take him, interested in the word of God when it is presented in a clear way by a speaker who clearly has a living connection with Jesus. He Knows What He’s Talking About (H.K.W.H.T.A.).

Why Not Try This?- Top Articles

If you missed them you might want to read them now. Here are the top five most viewed articles in the “Why Not Try This?” category during the past year. Please add your additional comments at the end of any of these posts–

1. Why Not Try This? …Preach a Sermon on the Second Coming of Jesus
2. Why Not Try This? …Clarify To Yourself And Your Members The Real Meaning Of Bible Baptism
3. Why Not Try This? …Outline Your 2007 Calendar Soon
4. Why Not Try This? …Ask God for a Bold Vision for 2008
5. Why Not Try This? …Add a “Local & Global Mission” time to Your Sabbath Morning Service

Top Articles on Soul Winning, Global Missions & Church Planting

If you missed them you might want to read them now. Here are the top seven most viewed stories in the Soul Winning, Global Missions and Church Planting categories during the past year. Please add your additional comments at the end of any of these posts–

1. Lots of Mission stories and resources at http://www.adventistmission.org/
2. Tools for Public Evangelism- Sermons & Graphics, Handbills, Money
3. “God So Loved” Website & Resources
4. 3rd Quarter Sabbath School Lessons great study preparation for evangelistic series!
5. Who should be allowed to preach in Adventist pulpits?
6. 40,000 Prayer Warriors for Souls Needed
7. Changed Lives: I Left the Seventh-day Adventist Church to Find Jesus

What Works For Me- Top Stories

If you missed them you might want to read them now. Here are the top five most viewed stories in the “What Works For Me” category during the past year. Please add your additional comments at the end of any of these posts–

1. WHAT WORKS FOR ME… In Helping people with sexual addictions, pornography, etc.
2. What Works For Me in… Saving Money on my Taxes
3. What Works For Me in… Finding Sources of Sermon Illustrations
4. What Works For Me in… Keeping My Personal Time With God Meaningful
5. What Works For Me in… Outreach at Halloween, Thanksgiving and/or Christmas

H.K.W.H.T.A.- Top Stories

If you missed them you might want to read them now. Here are the top five most viewed stories in the “He Knows What He’s Talking About (H.K.W.H.T.A.)” category during the past year. Please add your additional comments at the end of any of these posts–

1. H.K.W.H.T.A. – Morris Venden, Retired Pastor, Teacher & Author
2. H.K.W.H.T.A.- Dr. E. E. Cleveland, Retired Evangelist, Teacher & Author
3. H.K.W.H.T.A.- Doug Batchelor, Director/Speaker for Amazing Facts Ministry
4. H.K.W.H.T.A.- Clarence Schilt, Author & Pastor, Rockwood Seventh-day Adventist Church District
5. H.K.W.H.T.A. – Bill McClendon, Pastor of South Tulsa Adventist Fellowship

Lifelong Learning- Top Stories

If you missed them you might want to read them now. Here are the top five most viewed stories in the “Lifelong Learning” category during the past year. Please add your additional comments at the end of any of these posts–

1. Lifelong Learning- 12 Reasons Why Studying Bible Prophecy is Extremely Important
2. Lifelong Learning- Early December Evangelism Councils
3. Lifelong Learning- Boonstra Message Notes
4. Lifelong Learning- Addiction Recovery Resources
5. Lifelong Learning- Liberty Blog: Gay Marriage & Religious Liberty

Why Not Try This? …Share Advice With A New Pastor to A New District

One of the mixed blessings of being a Seventh-day Adventist pastor is moving to a new district every four to seven years.[1] It’s often difficult to leave behind church family, friends and familiar surroundings. But it is a great time to also leave behind the mistakes of the previous district and take with you the lessons learned as you enjoy a start fresh in a new place.

 Here is advice I would give a newer pastor taking up responsibilities in a new district.

 

Dear -

Welcome to the next few years of your life!

Your new district will, of course, present both blessings and challenges. Since you have nicknamed me “Dan Landers” because I’m always giving advice, here is some unsolicited counsel that is worth every dollar you have paid for it! I leave it up to you to sort the “Duh, How dumb does he think I am” from the “Wow, I wish I would have known that years ago.”

As a brand new pastor in your brand new district you have the opportunity to plant the right kinds of seeds at the first that will give you a wonderful harvest during your ministry and long after you leave.

Top 10 Seeds to Plant in your First 100 Days[2]

Lifelong Learning- Jesus vs. Doctrine

Jesus vs. Doctrine: What Do We Pay More Attention To? Excellent Adventist Review article by former WA Conf pastor Shane Anderston at

http://www.adventistreview.org/issue.php?issue=2008-1514&page=8

Jesus, doctrine-it’s not either-or; it’s both-and.

What Works For Me in… Sabbath Morning Soul Winning

When a visitor goes to the effort of coming to an Adventist church on a Sabbath morning we have a God-given responsibility to help them prepare for the return of Jesus.

Veteran pastor and It Is Written Spanish Associate Director Robert Costa has pastored Spanish and English churches and has seen exponential growth in both through several simple Sabbath morning soul winning activities. Feel free to share your comments below.

Media & Adventist Benefits- Americans Losing Faith in Organized Religion

From “Survey: Americans switching faiths, dropping out” CNN .com February 25, 2008

• Story Highlights
• Survey: U.S. about to lose its status as a majority Protestant nation
• Non-denominational churches are gaining members
• 25 percent of adults leave faith of their upbringing
• Survey found a dropping confidence in organized religion

Lifelong Learning- Seminary Extension Classes & Ministry Satellite Seminar

2008 Ministry Professional Growth Seminar

April 22, 2008, 1:00–4:30 pm EDT, the Ministry Professional Growth Seminar, aka PREACH, will be live from Walla Walla University, WA. Register here to host the annual seminar and to receive materials to hand out at your host site. The theme this year is “The Passionate Preacher.” Speakers are Lloyd John Ogilvie, James Earl Massey, Jo Ann Davidson, and Laurence Turner.   

Andrews Seminary Extension Classes Spring 2008 Class Schedule at North Pacific Union Conference Office (available tuition free for any Adventist approved by their Conference Ministerial Director)–

• Apr 13-17,2008- Readings in The Old Testament – Pentateuch, by Gudmundur Olafsson, PhD
• Apr 20-24, 2008- Holistic Small Groups & Discipleship, by Donald C. James, DMin

Why Not Try This? …Reread and Share the Stories in Daniel

Daniel has always been one of my favorite Bible characters and books. My parents named me after him, and from an early age I loved to hear the stories. By eighth grade I was deep into studying the prophecies of the book as well.

As Seventh-day Adventist leaders we recognize that Daniel is a book especially for the last days (Daniel 12:4). The outline and time prophecies in the book of Daniel show us that we are living in the last days, and the stories in the book of Daniel show us how to live in the last days.

Lessons from the stories in Daniel can provide personal inspiration for church leaders. They can be shared during visits, small groups and sermons to help people be courageous for Jesus in the time before His second coming. Here are twenty seed thoughts from the stories in the book of Daniel.

Lifelong Learning- Boonstra Message Notes

Shawn Boonstra, Director and Speaker for It Is Written Ministries, has a unique gift of making Bible prophecy simple and practical. He has shared his message handouts/notes on the internet for those who could benefit from them. Follow this link–
http://www.unlockthesigns.com/host/resources/downloads.html