ONE CONNECTION: Christ s Method in Practice MARCH 2019

Transcription

1 MARCH 2019 ONE CONNECTION: Christ s Method in Practice 8 Atlantic Union Schools: Back to Their Roots 10 North Bronx Church Reclaims Community from Violence 16 Five Leaders Receive Awards at Adventist Ministries Convention

2 insidemarch One Connection: Christ s Method in Practice It all started with a prayer. In 2015, Sergio Quevedo prayed for God to send him someone to disciple. 8 Atlantic Union Schools: Back to Their Roots Before sin entered the world, the first work God gave Adam and Eve was gardening. We shouldn t overlook the significance of this work, then and now North Bronx Church Reclaims Community from Violence It was an act of violence that shook the neighborhood. A young father of two was shot and killed at 5:43 a.m. on the morning of January Five Leaders Receive Awards at Adventist Ministries Convention Leaders from all levels of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America attended the North American Division s Adventist Ministries Convention. 3 From the Treasurer 8 Adventist Education 9 Bermuda 10 Greater New York 11 New York 12 Northern New England 14 Northeastern 15 Southern New England 16 Atlantic Union 21 Bulletin Board 21 Obituaries 22 Classified Ads Cover: The image used in the cover design is from istock.com/ginosphotos. March 2019, Vol. 118, No. 3. The Atlantic Union Gleaner is published monthly by the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 400 Main Street, Lancaster, MA Printed by L. Brown and Sons Printing, Inc., 14 Jefferson Street, Barre, VT Standard postage paid at Montpelier, VT Annual subscription price, $ NEW OR RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mail new or renewal subscriptions to Atlantic Union Gleaner, P.O. Box 1189, South Lancaster, MA Adventist and Seventh-day Adventist are registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

3 FROM THE TREASURER The Way He Did It! The 21st century church is struggling to find a perfect or fitting method to share Jesus with the world. Social and technological changes are moving at a speed with which religions have not been able to keep up. The advancement in communication, although it has benefited the church in many ways, is still by far the one thing with which this generation of churches is desiring to be on board. Social media has reshaped the way people interact with one another. The ability to be in touch with thousands of your friends in a single application is almost unbeatable by any other social gathering, whether it s a club, church, school, or sports team. The competition is stiff, and it seems as though no organization can ever survive and stay relevant unless social media is one of its core strategies. What can today s church do to stay relevant? What social group should we be reaching out to? Where do we go to do mission? Let s begin by weighing in on what Jesus did. There are at least three fundamental principles involved in the way He reached people. First, Jesus loved people. His love was not conditional upon the circumstances or social class. By loving people, He was able to reach everyone, rich or poor, low or high, educated or uneducated, religious or secular. Jesus mission was to give love to a dying world. His heart of compassion was filled with the desire to have everyone drink from the fountain of His marvelous gift. Second, Jesus met people s needs. He helped the blind to see again, healed the sick, answered challenging questions from the philosophers, reassured people with hope, and provided comfort and care to the brokenhearted. His ministry brought followers from all over the region. People would stand in long lines awaiting healing, set their tents in the surrounding neighborhood to stay in the caravan, sit on stones for the distribution of fish and bread, and they climbed mountains to listen to the spoken Word. Whatever they were, people s needs were met, that s what mattered. As people found His ministry relevant, they responded, they followed, and they made it sustainable. Third, Jesus taught people in practical ways. His way of presenting the truth was so plain that everyone could understand: children, foreigners, women, people with disabilities, politicians, professionals, and the list goes on. As a storyteller, He made the same old story from the Bible sound brand new. We are faced with the irreversible challenge of a very secular society, a system that man has designed to live further away from God. As a church, we must continue to find creative ways to reach out to people. We must be genuine and love intentionally, not just liking people, but loving them. The church will maintain a positive image in the community if it reaches people at the point of their need. The need to reinvent the way evangelism is presented is urgent and needs all hands on deck. Let us not be witnesses in name only, but by loving, caring, and sharing acts. Elias F. Zabala, Sr., is the Atlantic Union Conference treasurer and stewardship director. The church will maintain a positive image in the community if it reaches people at the point of their need. at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

4 COVER FEATURE ONE CONNECTION: Christ s Method in Practice By Debra Banks Cuadro Participants listen to the speaker at the One Connection Lowell gathering in Café UTEC. It all started with a prayer. In 2015, Sergio Quevedo prayed for God to send him someone to disciple. A new pastor to a three-church district in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area, Quevedo was busy, but still felt a longing in his heart to plant churches. In answer to his prayer, the Lord sent him Kevin Farley, and for the next several months, the two worked sideby-side serving the community, giving Bible studies, attending other small groups and social gatherings, and just hanging out. From there, the Lord opened other connections through Quevedo and Farley, and within a few months, a group of about 10 people were actively trying to live like Jesus in every way, says Quevedo. Almost four years later, what started through simple, intentional methods to make disciples for Christ, developed into a community of believers called One Connection Church. By September 2016, the original group, now meeting in Haverhill, numbered about 50 people. They met regularly and consisted mostly of people not previously connected to the Adventist Church, or even Christianity, as well as some former Adventists. They belonged, even before they believed and they all felt part of the family of God, Quevedo says. John Amoah, Southern New England Conference ministerial director, says this method is not new to the Adventist Church. One great aspect of One Connection is that visitors and friends are readily welcome to participate, share, and fellowship without any pressure to believe first. Historically, as a pathway to Adventism, we as a church have used [this] model of leading people to believing, becoming, and behaving before belonging. Of that core group, more than 20 of them lived in and around Boston. Eighteen people were chosen and commissioned to leave the core group and plant another church in their local community. Four months later, 4 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

5 COVER FEATURE in January 2017, One Connection Boston began meeting regularly. Following the same premise, the group prayerfully sent away some more members who formed One Connection Lowell a year later. Today, One Connection s Boston and Lowell groups are moving toward company status in the Southern New England Conference. In May 2019, One Connection Haverhill, which is already a company, will officially become a conference church. The newest church plant, One Connection Woburn, is slated to officially begin in spring We hope and pray that as people participate and feel a part of the ministry and outreach of One Connection, the Holy Spirit will lead them to a deepened relationship with the Lord and His saving grace, Amoah says. GO and Make Disciples The term discipleship has been defined as responding to Jesus call to leave all, deny yourself, and follow Him (Mark 1:18, 20; Matthew 19:23-30; Luke 9:23-25), dedicating yourself to serve others in Jesus name also making them disciples (Mark 10:35-45; Matthew 28:16-20). Discipleship is about pouring into someone else s life and investing in them, Quevedo says. He adds that it takes time, patience, and dedication, and it involves spending and sharing time with those whom you are discipling. Sacrifice is another concept that is associated with discipleship. While still pastoring three traditional churches in the Boston area, Quevedo depends heavily on his partners in the journey all of whom have assisted in various ways. My wife, Raquel, has been essential to the whole process, and you cannot do this work without the family being sold on it, too, Quevedo says. He also leans on fellow SNEC pastors Endri Misho, Kevin Robert, and Cesar Perozo, newly-elected Southern New England Conference executive Pastors Sergio Quevedo, left, and Endri Misho, right, baptize Luis Alicea at One Connection Haverhill, while lay leader Kevin Farley, center back, looks on. secretary; as well as lay leaders Kevin Farley, Ryan and Wanda Caisse, Jonathan and Jennylee Perez, and Clara Regalado faithful workers who also double as church planters and have been instrumental in working in these communities from the beginning. This is not a solo deal, Quevedo adds. It is about mobilizing and empowering people to do better than you would. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus says go, and we, as a church, keep saying come, Quevedo says. [Most churches] are more concerned with filling seats, while Jesus is concerned with people getting out of their seats in order to meet the challenge outside the church walls. Even if it means losing a portion of the group, One Connection does not seek to form large congregations; but instead, seeks to be a church of planters and missionaries constantly forming new, smaller groups. A layled movement, between church planters from the group are assigned coaches who work closely with them to complete four modules, filled with presentations and hands-on activities, before leaving the established plant to focus on a new group. The entire process takes about 10 months, One Connection members work within their sphere of influence, all places where ministry can happen naturally and genuinely as they get to know the people they encounter each day. at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

6 COVER FEATURE The group from One Connection Haverhill join others from the community to package meals for people in need. with the coaches maintaining communication with the planter(s) in their care, prompting and encouraging them along the way. Church planting is just a great tool for making disciples for Jesus! When planting a church, you have to get everyone to work, Quevedo exclaims. The people who were sitting idly at the church now have work to do [because] either they are being sent to a new church plant, or someone in their church was sent [to a new plant], and now they need to step up to fill the [vacated] position. It s a win-win! Proximity is the other word Quevedo uses to explain One Connection s embodiment of Paul s exhortation to Be imitators of me, as Christ s Method Alone The following passages are excerpts from The Ministry of Healing, pages , written by Ellen G. White and published in 1905 by Pacific Press Publishing Association. Christ s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, Follow Me.... There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen (p. 143). In almost every community there are large numbers who do not listen to the preaching of God s Word or attend any religious service. If they are reached by the gospel, it must be carried to their homes. Often the relief of their physical needs is the only avenue by which they can be approached (p. 144). Christ commits to His followers an individual work a work that cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the sick and the poor, the giving of the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to committees or organized charities. Individual responsibility, individual effort, personal sacrifice, is the requirement of the gospel (p. 147). Every church should be a training school for Christian workers. Its members should be taught how to give Bible readings, how to conduct and teach Sabbath-school classes, how best to help the poor and to care for the sick, how to work for the unconverted (p. 149). We should feel it our special duty to work for those living in our neighborhood. Study how you can best help those who take no interest in religious things. As you visit your friends and neighbors, show an interest in their spiritual as well as in their temporal welfare. Speak to them of Christ as a sin-pardoning Savior.... This is just as essential as to save the benighted souls in foreign countries. While some feel the burden for souls afar off, let the many who are at home feel the burden of precious souls who are around them, and work just as diligently for their salvation (p. 152). Speak as He would speak, act as He would act. Constantly reveal the sweetness of His character. Reveal that wealth of love which underlies all His teachings and all His dealings with men. The humblest workers, in cooperation with Christ, may touch chords whose vibrations shall ring to the ends of the earth and make melody throughout eternal ages (p. 159). 6 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

7 COVER FEATURE I am of Christ 1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV. Following Christ s method (see sidebar on page 6), One Connection members seek to imitate Christ by finding opportunities to mingle with others, show sympathy and compassion for the needs of those with whom they come in contact, minister to their needs, win their confidence, and invite them to follow Christ. One Connection members work within their sphere of influence their neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, local businesses all places where ministry can happen naturally and genuinely as they get to know the people they encounter each day. As friendships are formed, members are encouraged to eat with three different people each week and seek for ways to bless them by meeting their needs, lending an ear or a shoulder, or by simply being present. Doing this encourages church plant members to open their homes and mingle with their neighbors, coworkers, or others in their community. From the beginning, we understood that if we were to imitate King Jesus, we needed to eat with people on a regular basis, serve those in need, befriend them, and share life with them. And at the right moment, as the Holy Spirit leads, we are to present Jesus as the answer for the hope that lives within us (1 Peter 3:15). It is important to go, but it is equally important to become one with the people we are going to creating proximity as we go on mission together, Quevedo says. Mission and outreach activities also include working with local organizations already serving their communities. Working together while serving others is one element that has drawn many to One Connection who may otherwise harbor skepticism toward organized religion. It also has revitalized the church experience for those who attended regularly but felt something was lacking. I really like how [One Connection] The congregation worships at One Connection church in Haverhill, Massachusetts. is so Jesus-centered, says Kassandra Jean-Michel who attends the Haverhill company and has worked with the Lowell group. Here, it is not about religion but about Jesus love changing you. It s about Christ and how He lived. We practice how Jesus lived, and with OC you have to be active. We even meet during the week at DNA [discipleship/nourishment/ accountability] to share how we have reached people for Jesus and set goals for the next week. No one is really pushed, but there is an accountability here that I feel because I m focused on Jesus more I want to get out there and connect with people. Quevedo says, When you are dedicated to developing people for God s mission, helping them to become imitators of Jesus, all of a sudden you have a group of disciples going on mission together with God. That s a church! Debra Banks Cuadro is the Atlantic Union Conference assistant communication director. One Connection does not seek to form large congregations; but instead, seeks to be a church of planters and missionaries constantly forming new, smaller groups. at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

8 [A Journey to Excellence] Atlantic Union Schools: Back to Their Roots By Trevor Schlisner Bermuda Institute Whispering Pines school Estabrook school the Lord God took the man, Aand put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it Genesis 2:15, KJV. What a marvelous portion of Scripture! Before sin entered the world, the first work God gave Adam and Eve was gardening. We shouldn t overlook the significance of this work, then and now. Through this beneficial labor, God would open to Adam and Eve the beauty of His creation and character. We are told that through this work and interaction with the Creator, their capacity to know, to enjoy, and to love would continually increase Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 51. This is Seventh-day Adventist education at the core, and it perfectly aligns with the goal of recreating the image of God in our children. Adventist education saw major reforms sweep across the world from the 1890s to the 1920s. They purchased large tracts of land and formed schools with the object of agriculture in mind. Some of these schools were Avondale (Australia), Solusi (Africa), and Oakwood and Madison College (North America). Not only were these programs to provide industry, but they would prepare our young people for the mission field and, potentially, a career. It would also be a vital part of the curriculum or what Ellen G. White would call the A, B, and C of education given in our schools Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p It is not by chance, then, that many of our schools in the Atlantic Union are seeing a resurgence of offering practical training in the area of agriculture. Many administrators, teachers, pastors, and church members have been instrumental in bringing our Atlantic Union schools back to our Eden roots. Whispering Pines, a junior academy in Old Westbury, New York, is reaping the benefits of having a large school garden. The vision has been a team effort, with the school board chair, principal, and pastor leading the way. Each student in the school has the opportunity to learn not only theory, but best of all, practice. The vegetables planted, cultivated, and harvested are consumed by the students and also sold to support the program. They are devising plans to add an orchard with a variety of fruits. Estabrook school, in Plainfield, New Hampshire, is also taking a 21st-century approach to gardening. Their science lab is set up to start seedlings, using both the hydroponic method and aquaponics method. They also recently built a cold/solar-frame miniature greenhouse so they can continue to grow hardy crops during the winter months. Many schools and constituents desire to get back to our roots but are discouraged because of a lack of adequate growing space. Where there is a will, there is a way! Bermuda Institute has seen their gardening class expand each year, and it is so popular with the students that it is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. With the island only being 21 square miles, land is at a premium. With no adequate space on campus, the administration and teachers have an agreement with the Bermuda National Trust. The students were allowed to clear a wooded area and now have eight plots to use! The produce is both sold and used for their lunch program. The benefits of each of these programs exceed the harvest they reap. Each of these schools has found that offering an agriculture class develops the whole child. It promotes health, appeals to all learning styles, and best of all, it reveals the loveliness of our Creator, God. Please consider helping a Seventh-day Adventist school get back to its roots! Trevor Schlisner is the Northern New England Conference superintendent of schools. 8 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

9 BERMUDA CONFERENCE Bermuda Conference Communication Director Retires Randolph Wilson, D Bermuda Conference communication director and pastor of the St. David s church, officially retired from the Bermuda Conference on January 1. Wilson joined the Bermuda Conference in January 1979 and has had a fulfilling career in gospel ministry. During his 40 years, he worked briefly as a Bible worker, an associate pastor, and also as the pastor of the Somerset, Midland Heights, and Pembroke churches. During his time in communication, Wilson assisted with Your Story Hour, a radio program for children by Uncle Dan and Aunt Sue; Adventist in Focus, a radio program that shined the spotlight on Adventism in Bermuda; and was also responsible for submitting monthly articles to the Gleaner. Wilson has also held the positions of Sabbath School director and Adventist Youth director. Wilson said that his interest in ministry began with circumstances that occurred even before he was born. My dad promised the Lord, almost like Samuel s mom, Lord, if you give me a son, I will return him to you. So I grew with that intent. Eventually, it became my desire as well, and the ministry became meaningful to me. Wilson enjoys seeing members he baptized 20 or 30 years ago remain faithful to God. He is amazed when reminded by them of sermons he preached that affected their lives and helped strengthen their relationship with God. I have seen couples that I counseled more than 30 years ago, still together, still worshiping God. That, for me, is most satisfying. I value being able to interact with the members, to share, to talk, and to chat. Sharing the Word of God has been a joy. Wilson enjoys seeing members he baptized 20 or 30 years ago remain faithful to God. As the intent of ministry is to be able to develop individuals in Christian faith and belief, I would love to have been more fruitful in soul-winning, Randolph said. The goal of every pastor, in my opinion, is to have multiple baptisms and to be able to look back and say, this church was built and developed during my ministry. I did not have as successful a career in that. In soul winning, I did not lead hundreds or thousands, but I endeavored, by God s grace, to do my best. Under God s guidance, souls were baptized. D. Randolph Wilson, Bermuda Conference communication director and pastor, officially retired from the Bermuda Conference on January 1, Alvin Goulbourne Since entering ministry four decades ago, Wilson has witnessed many changes in the church, but perhaps the most significant change is the employment of female pastors. In his opinion, the church needs to continue to grow and develop in this area. I believe the Lord says to us, that in the end-times our services/ministry will be done by our sons and daughters. The Bible says our sons and daughters will prophesy (Joel 2:28). If this is not the last days, then maybe it is not the time for females in ministry, but if it is the last days, and we believe it to be, we can no longer overlook the scriptures that say women have a part to play in ministry. Women can do, and are doing, a wonderful job in ministry. As men, we need to step back from the prominent position of saying women should not do so. We need to step aside so that the work of the Lord can go forward. Wilson says that if he could go back in time, he would still choose to be a pastor. He says, I have enjoyed doing ministry. I have endeavored, throughout my time, to have a peaceful church, and to make God known to congregations. I have enjoyed the [past] 40 years. Wilson joked that he is going to try on retirement. I do not have any big thing planned. I want to concentrate on my health. He has suffered several heart attacks, but is determined to use his retirement years to work on bettering his health. With the help of my wife, I have begun to eat healthier, eating vegetables, which I never enjoyed, and eliminating sweets and oils. I want to do a bit of traveling, work half the year and travel the other half. He says he will continue to be involved in ministry; although, to what extent is uncertain. The Bermuda Conference thanks D. Randolph Wilson for his years of dedicated service, and wishes him improved health and happiness as he enters the retirement chapter of his life. Joi Tyrrell, communication director, Bermuda Conference at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

10 GREATER NEW YORK CONFERENCE North Bronx Church Reclaims Community from Violence It was an act of violence that shook the neighborhood. A young father of two was shot and killed at 5:43 a.m. on the morning of January 9. The shooting took place on 219th Street in Bronx, New York, only one street over from the North Bronx church. A terrified and tear-filled church member, Shanique Taylor, came to prayer meeting that night after having witnessed, from her bedroom window, the body lying in the street. The church began to rally. Primrose Dawkins, a North Bronx church prayer warrior, immediately started a ministry to the fiancée of the victim, while Taylor prayed with her neighbors. On the following Sabbath, Dedrick Blue, North Bronx church senior pastor; Clavour Tucker, the associate pastor; and Melbourne Gregory, the Bible instructor, called on the church to organize a march against gun violence on the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. We cannot allow the drug dealers, the gang members, [or] the terrorists to claim our neighborhood, Blue said. We must, by faith and through prayer, reclaim this neighborhood and the people in it for the kingdom of God. The temperature on the morning of January 21 was only nine degrees with a wind chill factor of minus 15 degrees. Yet, 52 members, including Hyacinth Dixon, who is more than 80 years old, came bundled up for the prayer march. The members stood around the still-evident blood stain to sing and pray for the community. Philbert Georges, North Bronx church deacon, offered what he describes North Bronx church members respond to the act of violence in their neighborhood by going to the scene to pray for God to tear down the strongholds of violence in their community. as a Jericho Prayer to tear down the strongholds of violence that have plagued the community. This is only the beginning of what God wants to do through us, Blue said. We will reclaim this neighborhood for God, house by house and block by block. In addition to formalizing the Jericho Prayer ministry, Blue intends to organize what he calls The North Bronx Social Justice Coalition to address the underlying causes of violence in the community. Communication department, North Bronx church Blood Drive Connects Church with Community According to the Bible, life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). For this reason, and to connect with the community, the Riverhead church and the Hamptons Spanish church, both in Riverhead, New York, collaborated with the Red Cross and organized a day for blood donations last fall. The Red Cross bus parked in front of the Riverhead church, and the members joined the community and donated blood. Roberto Barzola and Silvia Barzola (brother and sister) donate blood during the blood drive. Donación de Sangre Conecta a la Iglesia con la Comunidad Según la Biblia en la sangre esta la vida (Levítico 17:11). Por tal motivo para cooperar con la comunidad, la iglesia de Riverhead y la iglesia Hispana de los Hamptons, ambas en Riverhead, Nueva York, colaboraron con la Cruz Roja y organizaron un día de donación de sangre el sábado 24 de noviembre del Un autobus de la Cruz Roja se estacionó en frente a la iglesia de Riverhead y los miembros se unieron a la comunidad en la donación de sangre. Daniel Duffis, pastor, Riverhead church 10 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

11 NEW YORK CONFERENCE Six Youth Baptized at Macedonia Church Macedonia church members rejoiced with the local Pathfinder and Adventurer clubs as they led the Sabbath service on January 12. Claudio Gomez, New York Conference executive secretary, was the guest speaker for that Sabbath. However, the highlight of the day was seeing how the Holy Spirit touched the hearts of several young people as some of them were baptized at the end of the service. It was a surprise to many, including Gomez, who said, I preached that day, and then the plan was to baptize one member of the club. When I was about to finish, I was moved to make an appeal and five more were baptized. Six total. Based on a 2017 study conducted by the Barna Group, the city of The Pathfinders and Adventurers lead out in the worship service at Macedonia church. Schenectady, New York, is considered one of the most secular in the country (bit. ly/2rngffz). This, however, hasn t stopped Macedonia s youth from engaging in spiritual commitments and community service activities. Hence, this is why, on Pathfinder and Adventurer Day, Gomez s appeal was relevant to those who attended the service. Under the theme Soldiers of the Cross, Pathfinder and Adventurer Day was a blessing to the church in general. Many participating indicated that they enjoyed the singing, testimonies, and special presentations from the youth, as well as Gomez s sermon titled Help in the Battle. Reynolds Rodriguez, communication director, New York Conference Pastors Learn How to Apply Teaching Methods in Their Ministry On February 7, representatives from the Atlantic Union Conference Office of Education conducted specialized training with New York Conference pastors to help them improve their teaching skills. Jerrell Gilkeson, Atlantic Union Conference education director, and Marlene Alvarez, associate director, were the facilitators. The seminars were held in the Cady Center at the New York Conference office in Syracuse, New York. I m inviting Jerrell and Marlene to join us for at least one or two more sessions later this year, said Miguel Crespo, New York Conference president. We have been learning about the need to teach more effectively as pastors, but this is not all they can teach us. Gilkeson and Alvarez presented the pastors with tools that will help them introduce the gospel to the younger generation in a more effective way. They also shared ways to engage the local churches in relevant teaching that contextualizes the principles of God s Word for millennials. New York Conference pastors learn how to more effectively introduce the gospel to the younger generation. Reynolds Rodriguez, communication director, New York Conference at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

12 NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE Art Clinic at Pine Tree Academy Almost Famous Almost everyone who cares about music in Adventist schools in the Atlantic Union knows about Music Clinic at Pine Tree Academy. Teachers, parents, and students (including many homeschoolers) come to the clinic by the hundreds from all over the eastern U.S. and eastern Canada. It s huge and, in its own way, it is famous. However, Music Clinic is only one of two clinics Pine Tree Academy holds each year. The other clinic Art Clinic is being increasingly discovered and for now is only almost famous. Art Clinic nurtures creative spirits. Students get to choose from an array of intense classes water color, portraiture, architectural drawing, woodcarving (including 3-D), pastels, videography, acting (including a chance for a student playwright s work to be produced), set design, cake decorating, place-setting design, and more. Each class is taught by advanced artists. About 140 students currently attend the intensive clinic, and they come mostly from all over Northern New England Conference. As with Music Clinic, Art Clinic is a three-day affair, beginning on a Thursday and ending Saturday night. Worship service on Sabbath featured an original play appropriate for a worship setting (with a custom set and backdrops rapidly prepared by budding set designers), and the clinic also features a review and judging of works. But perhaps the most valuable thing for student artists is to see their peers at work creating and to learn and be inspired by each other. God created. He created us in His image, giving us not just the ability, but the drive to create. Art Clinic celebrates and hones this God-given ability. With a mission that important, being merely almost famous is just fine with the leaders at Pine Tree Academy. Scott Christiansen, communication director, Northern New England Conference 12 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

13 NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE Rochester Church Partners with Project Linus to Blanket Community in Love The Rochester church in New Hampshire recently held a Project Linus No-sew Blanket and Pizza Party, where they made 14 fleece blankets for the local chapter of Project Linus, whose mission is to provide homemade blankets to youth in need. The gathering was a community outreach event to help at-risk youth in the Rochester community and help the church family collaborate as a team. Project Linus motto is providing security through blankets. In Matthew 25:36 it says, I needed clothes and you clothed me. The idea to make blankets came about when the church learned that the local Project Linus chapter had a shortage of blankets. The church stepped up to fill that need. According to Chris Sawyer, the church s communication secretary, The fun that our church had making these blankets was priceless. You could see the joy in their eyes when all those who participated finished their works of art! It was a pleasure to be part of such an amazing event. Communication staff, Rochester church Robert Sailer, Rochester church pastor, and his wife, Debra, hold up one of the blankets the church made for Project Linus. Ellsworth Church Continues Migrant-Worker Ministry The members of the Ellsworth church in Maine understand that migrant workers have a hard life. Migrant workers live on the road or in very basic housing camps (or in tents), following seasonal work as they can find it. Living this way, they have almost no chance of fellowship in a spiritual community or access to pastoral care. It might not seem obvious, but Down-East Maine has a fair number of migrant workers, at least in certain seasons. These workers are a part of the ministry area of the Ellsworth church. Migrant workers travel to the area to rake blueberries, make evergreen wreaths, and pick apples, with each type of job lasting a few weeks. For several years now, the Ellsworth church has made Josias Baez-Roman, Ellsworth church pastor, far right, meets with migrant workers. a significant effort to reach out to migrant workers. The church seeks them out, going to their camps to offer them fellowship and spiritual care. For members, it has been amazing to see the Holy Spirit work in their hearts. Many of the migrant workers with whom church members connected decid- ed to fellowship with the church, and many of those chose to join the church or rejoin the church. There are a surprising number of former Adventists among the migrant workers who come to Maine. Because migrant workers often follow a pattern of work and return to the same place and same work year after year, the church has had the opportunity to provide spiritual care and fellowship to many of them for several years in a row. It has been a rich blessing to the members to see the church fill up year after year with joyful migrant workers! Not all migrant workers are able to join in Sabbath services, so the church performs outreach and goes to them they conduct a service at the migrant camps! The church considers it a joy and a Bible-based duty to go into the lesser-traveled areas of Down-East Maine and find people to fill His house. Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled Luke 14:23, NKJV. Josias Baez-Roman, pastor, Ellsworth church at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

14 NORTHEASTERN CONFERENCE Medical Missionaries Make an Impact on Staten Island Northeastern Conference (NEC) Staten Island Health Ministries leaders and Medical Missionary coordinators Edwin and Heather McBride have been praying that God would help them to make a positive impact on the island. Since assuming the role of Health Ministries leaders at the New Brighton Community church in Staten Island, New York, the Lord has blessed them to bring various programs to the community. Edwin McBride s dream was to have an NEC Medical Missionaries group in Staten Island. God fulfilled this dream when 25 medical missionaries graduated from the intense training program, and S.I.M.M. (Staten Island Medical Missionaries) was formed. Since S.I.M.M came into existence, they have partnered with the New York Stewardship Department Hosts Rally The Northeastern Conference (NEC) Stewardship Department hosted its annual Queens and Long Island area Stewardship Rally, January 19, 23, and 25, at the Mount Sinai church in Queens Village, New York. The speakers for this program were pastors Nicardo Delahaye, Bridgeport Tabernacle church; Neville Lendor, Amazing Grace and Voice of Hope churches; and Abdele George, Breath of Life Fellowship and Norwalk churches. They each spoke on the stewardship relationship that we should have with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The program included a skit by the Agape church and musical selections from the Agape (Queens), Heritage Nigerian (Queens), Central Islip (Long Island), Lebanon (Queens), and Ebenezer (Queens) churches, as well as Alana Barker from Community Worship Center (Queens), and Kamaala Emmanuel and a combined praise team (Brooklyn). The McBrides, Edwin, left, and Heather, right, visit with council member Debi Rose, center, to discuss improving the health of the community.. City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and sponsored a Mental Health First Aid class, teaching individuals how to identify One of the themes for the Stewardship department is I can give without loving, but I cannot love without giving. I will let my love determine my giving. The concept for the rally was conceived and led by Ferron Francis, NEC Stewardship director. The purpose of the rally is to inspire and encourage members various mental illnesses and where to send people for help. More than 40 church and community members graduated from the course. Not knowing when there will be a disaster, S.I.M.M also partnered with the NEC Adventist Community Services department and sponsored disaster preparedness training, where church and community members learned what to do when disaster strikes. Most recently, the McBrides had the opportunity to meet with Staten Island council member Debi Rose to discuss improving the health of the community utilizing lifestyle-change programs. Staten Island Medical Missionaries, Northeastern Conference Pastors Abdele George, Neville Lendor, and Nicardo Delahaye spoke on the stewardship relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit at the Northeastern Conference-sponsored Stewardship Rally, a concept conceived and led by the stewardship director, Ferron Francis, right. to reconsider their purpose and dedication to giving all back to God in their time, talents, and treasure, but most of all, to put their hearts before their money, Francis said. JeNean Lendor, assistant to the president for communication, Northeastern Conference 14 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

15 SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE Greater Boston Academy Students Following in Jesus Steps Greater Boston Academy art students had the opportunity to learn Jesus craft the art of woodworking. Kevin Robert, pastor of the Merrimack Valley church in Dracut, Massachusetts, and Jim Philippou, a Merrimack Valley church member, volunteered their time to visit the school in the fall and teach academy students what Jesus early life in carpentry might have looked like. They taught the students shop techniques, safety, and how to build benches including how to assemble, sand, and eventually stain their art. The students Greater Boston Academy students display their artwork. learned that Jesus was a carpenter and always did His best with whatever He made. The art students had the opportunity to use pyrography, a wood-burning art technique, to add designs to individualize their piece. Commenting on the art project, sophomore Esmeralda Hodges said, This project was fun. The only hard thing about [it] was deciding what to burn onto the wood. Overall, I had a lot of fun, and I learned to be very careful not to get burned or mess up [the] design. Sophomore Justin Ezekwelu said, I learned that art takes time and the product of that time will always be good. Tanya Robert, art teacher, Greater Boston Academy A Dramatic Easter Presentation Brought to you by The College Church of Seventh-day Adventists SATURDAY, APRIL A.M. & 7 P.M. The College Church 337 Main Street Lancaster, MA Free Admission Find Contact us: forthegloryofthecrosscc@gmail.com at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

16 ATLANTIC UNION CONFERENCE Five Leaders Receive Awards at Adventist Ministries Convention More than 600 leaders from all levels of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America attended the North American Division s (NAD) Adventist Ministries Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, January The theme for the biennial convention was Stronger United: Many Voices, One Vision. The convention focused on the following eight core values of REACH North America: Alignment Within the Church connecting effectively within our diverse church family; Community Outreach and Evangelism connecting with our communities sharing hope and wholeness; Digital Ministries the gateway to transformation evangelism; Education for Discipleship every youth and adult learning, growing, and becoming more like Christ; Freedom of Conscience focus on protecting the rights and freedoms of society s most vulnerable and overlooked; Healthy Leadership and Management God s stewards insisting on personal and church-wide excellence; Revival and Transformation connecting with God through public and personal worship; and Stewardship inspire God s people to fund the message of hope and wholeness. More than 50 exhibitors were present at the convention, including ministries and services of the NAD, as well as independent ministries networking to share information about their area of focus. In addition, attendees participated in daily devotionals, special music, Ted Talk-style presentations, and breakout sessions. At the Lifetime Achievement Awards Banquet, as well as during the advisories for the various ministries, department leaders were recognized for their outstanding work and ministry achievement. Five leaders from the Atlantic Union Conference were among the 40 individuals presented with awards. Eloise Symonds Lifetime Achievement Award Eloise Symonds, Bermuda Conference Personal Ministries director and a Bible instructor for 31 years, has had a passion since early childhood for introducing men, women, boys, and girls to Jesus Christ through friendship evangelism and Bible studies, including training and equipping them with the tools for witnessing. Ron Vincent Lifetime Achievement Award Ron Vincent, New York Conference Prison Ministries director, has been working in prison ministries for more than 15 years. He is the vice chairman of the Atlantic Union Prison Ministry committee. Vincent serves on two committees at the NAD Prison Ministries and Adult Ministries. He is also a lay pastor, as well as an active evangelist serving Ron Vincent in two churches. Cornice Williams Lifetime Achievement Award Cornice Williams is an educator by profession and an active member of the Northeastern Conference Western New York Personal Ministries Department. She supports Charlotte L.V. Thoms, North American Division Disabilities Ministries Ministry Special Project coordinator and Atlantic Union Conference Disabilities Ministries director, presents Cornice Williams with the Lifetime Achievement Award. NAD/Dan Weber NAD/Dan Weber J. Alfred Johnson, North American Division Adult Ministries director, presents Eloise Symonds with the Lifetime Achievement Award. the Disabilities Ministries department through national and regional events by working the booth, collaborating disabilities ministries with prison ministries and personal ministries, and advocates for the elderly through nursing-home visitation. She is a member of the building committee, that steered the construction of the first church in Rochester, New York, designed to bring hope and wholeness of spirit for people with disabilities. 16 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

17 ATLANTIC UNION CONFERENCE NAD/Dan Weber Patrecia C.P. Langley Lifetime Achievement Award Patrecia C.P. Langley, Northeastern Conference Prayer Ministries director, has been engaged in ministry for more than 49 years. She continues to make a global imprint for loving Jesus and leading thousands into a saving knowledge of who He is. She has served in the Northeastern Conference as Bible instructor, evangelism instructor, church elder, chaplain, and pastor. Langley has planted and assisted in planting dozens of churches in the conference and beyond. She is the founding director of The Global Prayer Hotline a 24-hour prayer line offering original programming and intercessory prayer 24/7 ( James Black, North American Division Prayer Ministries director, presents Patrecia C.P. Langley with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Glorimar Teixeira Excellence in Ministry Award Glorimar Teixeira serves as the director for youth ministries training in the Southern New England Conference, a job she has held since For several years, she also served on the Master Guide focus group where she was an integral part of the development of new programs and initiatives in Master Guide ministry. She has a strong Glorimar Teixeira commitment to the ministry and to making sure every detail is covered. The Atlantic Union Conference administrators and staff congratulate these five individuals for a job well done in representing themselves, as well as their respective ministries, churches, conferences, and the Atlantic Union in their work for the Lord. Gleaner editor (the biographical information on the award recipients is from the Lifetime Achievement Awards Banquet booklet) Is Your Light Shining? Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 Send us stories of lives changed around the Atlantic Union because of church-member involvement in the community. If you believe you have a story which falls into that category, us at gleaner@atlanticunion.org. at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

18 NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE Children s Ministries and Health Ministries presents NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE Music Clinic 2019 April 4-6 Facilitator Training Weekend Engage your church in an amazing childrenʼs health evangelism campaign When: March 31, 2019 Where: Pine Tree Academy, Freeport, Maine Presenter: Charmaine Vierra Registration: Final Piano Registration - February 1, 2019 Final Registration for all others - March 1, 2019 Hosted by Pine Tree Academy, Freeport, Maine All Welcome to Weekend Concerts FMI & to register please visit us at NEW DATE! ANNOUNCING Union Springs Academy's ALUMNI WEEKEND October 4-6, 2019 Honor Classes & Groups: Academy Days Union Springs Academy WHO: Any Student in Grades 7-11 WHEN: Sunday, April 7th - Starts 1 PM to Monday, April 8th - Ends 2 PM REGISTER ONLINE TODAY AT Experience Academy Dorm Life Attend Classes and Meet Teachers Food and Rooms Provided Soccer and Basketball Scholarship Tryouts Art, Music, and Robotics Scholarships Connect With Us: Union Springs Academy 40 Spring St. Union Springs, NY VIP's - All Classes ALL FORMER FACULTY Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class Year Class For more information on the 2019 Alumni Weekend visit our website at unionspringsacademy.org and follow the Union Springs Academy Facebook Page. Union Springs Academy P.O. Box 524, Union Springs, NY Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

19 Save The Date! AUC Alumni Weekend The College Church 337 Main Street South Lancaster, MA April 12-14, 2019 Guest Speaker Dr. Timothy Golden Professor of Philosophy Walla Walla University Legally blind? Available now! Discover Bible Study Guides Large Print Braille Provide services like this and more. For more info g at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

20 New England Adventist Book Center 2019 Spring Bookmobile/Delivery Schedule The Adventist Book Center will be visiting a church or school near you! Locate the stop closest to you and call in your delivery order by the deadline shown! Sunday, Mar. 3 Orders due by Feb. 25 Delivery Only 10:30 11:30 a.m. Laurel Oaks School, Hamden, CT 1:00 2:00 p.m. Omega Church, New Haven, CT 3:30 4:30 p.m. Waterbury Spanish Church, Waterbury, CT 5:30 6:00 p.m. Hope Church, Bloomfield, CT Sunday, Mar. 10 Orders due by Mar. 4 Delivery Only 9:30 10:00 a.m. Bennington Church, Bennington, VT 11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Rutland Church, Rutland, VT 3:00 3:30 p.m. Morrisville Church, Morrisville, VT 4:30 5:00 p.m. St. Johnsbury Church, St. Johnsbury, VT 6:00 6:30 p.m. South Newbury Church, South Newbury, VT Friday Sunday, Mar SNEC Spanish Women s Retreat, Waltham, MA Thursday, Apr. 11 Orders due by Apr. 8 Delivery Only 4:30 5:00 p.m. Saratoga Springs Church, Saratoga Springs, NY 6:00 6:30 p.m. Greater Albany Church, Cohoes, NY Saturday, Apr. 13 Orders due by Apr. 8 Full Set up and Delivery After Sunset Westvale Church, Syracuse, NY Sunday, Apr. 14 Orders due by Apr. 8 Delivery Only 9:30 10:00 a.m. Fulton Church, Fulton, NY 11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Watertown Church, Watertown, NY 1:00 1:30 p.m. Natural Bridge Church, Natural Bridge, NY 3:00 3:30 p.m. Canton Church, Canton, NY 5:30 6:00 p.m. High Banks Church, Saranac, NY Sunday, Mar. 31 Orders due by Mar. 25 Delivery Only 1:30 2:00 p.m. Lincoln Church, Lincoln, ME 3:30 4:00 p.m. Oakfield Church, Oakfield, ME 5:30 6:00 p.m. Presque Isle Church, Presque Isle, ME Sunday, Apr. 28 Orders due by Apr. 22 Delivery Only 10:30 11:30 a.m. Laurel Oaks School, Hamden, CT 1:00 2:00 p.m. Omega Church, New Haven, CT 3:30 4:30 p.m. Waterbury Spanish Church, Waterbury, CT 5:30 6:00 p.m. Hope Church, Bloomfield, CT Monday, Apr. 1 Orders due by Mar. 25 Delivery Only 11:00 11:30 a.m. Calais Church, Calais, ME Friday, May 3 Orders due by Apr. 29 Delivery Only 11:00 11:30 a.m. Olean Church, Olean, NY 1:30 2:00 p.m. Curriers Church, Arcade, NY Thursday Sunday, Apr. 4 - Apr. 7 Pine Tree Academy Music Clinic & Open House, Freeport, ME 9:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Apr. 4 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Friday, Apr. 5 After the Concert Saturday, Apr. 6 9:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 7 Sunday, Apr. 7 Southern New England ABC Spring Open House 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 34 Sawyer St., Lancaster, MA 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 11 Gerry St., Stoneham, MA Saturday, May 4 Go to Grow! Orders due by Apr. 29 Full Set up and Delivery After Sunset Buffalo Suburban Church, Lancaster, NY Sunday, May 5 Orders due by Apr. 29 Delivery Only 9:00 9:30 a.m. Erie Church, Erie, PA 11:00 11:30 a.m. Jamestown Church, Jamestown, NY 12:30-1:00 p.m. Brocton Church, Brocton, NY 2:00 2:30 p.m. Perrysburg Church, Perrysburg, NY 4:30 5:00 p.m. Batavia Church, Batavia, NY Call to place your order! 20 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

21 BulletinBoard Sunset Table Daylight Saving Time April Bangor, ME 7:08 7:17 7:26 7:34 Portland, ME 7:13 7:21 7:30 7:38 Boston, MA 7:15 7:23 7:31 7:39 South Lancaster, MA 7:18 7:25 7:33 7:41 Pittsfield, MA 7:24 7:32 7:40 7:48 Hartford, CT 7:21 7:29 7:36 7:44 Providence, RI 7:16 7:24 7:31 7:39 New York, NY 7:25 7:33 7:40 7:47 Albany, NY 7:24 7:32 7:40 7:48 Utica, NY 7:32 7:40 7:49 7:57 Syracuse, NY 7:36 7:44 7:52 8:00 Rochester, NY 7:42 7:50 7:58 8:06 Buffalo, NY 7:47 7:55 8:03 8:11 Keene, NH 7:20 7:28 7:37 7:45 Manchester, NH 7:17 7:25 7:33 7:41 Portsmouth, NH 7:14 7:23 7:31 7:39 Brattleboro, VT 7:21 7:30 7:38 7:46 Burlington, VT 7:26 7:34 7:43 7:52 Rutland, VT 7:24 7:32 7:40 7:49 Hamilton, Bda 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:55 GEBHARD, Ronald Paul 46; b. Jan. 8, 1972, in Jamestown, N.Y.; d. Oct. 9, 2018, in Randolph, N.Y. He attended Union Springs Academy. He was most recently employed by Trinity Bio-Tech in Jamestown and had worked on the family farm in Conewango, N.Y. He is survived by his parents, Paul and Patricia Gebhard; a sister, Penny Adams; a brother, Robert Gebhard; one niece and three nephews, Kendra Adams, Kenneth Adams, Robert Gebhard, Jr., and Ryan Gebhard, all of Randolph, N.Y. POLAND, Gina M. 54; b. May 9, 1964, in Stoneham, Mass.; d. Jan. 18, 2019, in Oxford, Maine. She was a member of the Woodstock church in Bryant Pond, Maine. She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Poland; a daughter, Natasha (Kevin) Hodson; a son, Alex (Gretchen) Poland; her mother, Joan Cannuli; her siblings, Pam, Tia, Cris, and Jason; a half-brother, Anthony; and four grandchildren, Thad, Ethan, Gracie, and Abner. OBITUARY SUBMISSION Obituaries are posted free of charge for members of the Atlantic Union. To submit an obituary, visit org/obituaries and complete the obituary form online, then the completed form to gleaner@ atlanticunion.org. ANNOUNCEMENT ATLANTIC UNION Compassion Sabbaths: Every second Sabbath of the month is designated Compassion Sabbath in the Atlantic Union: Mar. 9, Apr. 13, May 11, June 15, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9, and Dec. 14. Find more information at auyouth.com. NORTHEASTERN The Northeastern Conference Global Prayer Line is open 24 hours a day for prayer and study. The telephone number for the prayer line is (641) , access code: # or (712) , access code: #. For more information, visit the website at NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND Join the Northern New England Conference Morning Prayer Line from 6:00-7:00 a.m., call (605) (toll charges apply), access code #. For more information, visit the website at www. nnecprayerministries.com. OBITUARIES ACHILLES, Gay J. 83; b. Dec. 26, 1935, in Milwaukee, Wis.; d. Jan. 20, 2019, in Marlborough, Mass. She was a member of the Hudson church in Hudson, Mass., where she served in various capacities including secretary, deaconess, and song service leader. She is survived by two sons, David Achilles of Rutland, Mass., and Thomas Achilles of Clinton, Mass.; two daughters, Susan Pacitti of West Springfield, Mass., and Diane Finne of Worcester, Mass.; two brothers, Richard Bader of Wisconsin, and Timothy Bader of Arizona; a sister, Karen Kosinski of Delaware; nine grandchildren, Shane, Tyler, Melia, Alison, Jessica, Joshua, Yoann, Carly, and Nicole; and two great-grandchildren. CHENEY, Thelma Longard 96; b. June 26, 1922, in Tantallon, Nova Scotia; d. Nov. 7, 2018, in Houston, Texas. She attended Atlantic Union College, where she met her husband, Reginial Cheney, whose pastoral ministry took them throughout northern New England to churches in Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire; as well as Pennsylvania and Canada. Wherever they ministered, she taught vegetarian cooking classes, children s Sabbath School, Vacation Bible School, and Adventurers and Pathfinders. She is survived by a son, Gerald Cheney of Santa Fe, N.M.; a daughter, Carol Joy Cork of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren, Andrew Cork and Amiee-Joy Hearn. Get Ready for SUMMER FUN IN At Vacation Bible School kids can explore Jamii Kingdom, an African savanna, while making friends and learning how they are all part of God s big family. Christ-centered activities will introduce kids to the plan of salvation and how they can share the Good News with others. Learn more at at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

22 ADVERTISEMENTS CLASSIFIEDS All advertisements should be sent, together with payment, to your local conference office for approval by the communication director. For advertisements originating within the Atlantic Union the rate is $35 for each insertion of 40 words or less, and 50 cents for each additional word. For all other advertisements the rate is $40 for each insertion of 40 words or less and 50 cents for each word over the 40. There is an 80-word maximum. Check or money order should be made payable to Atlantic Union Gleaner or Atlantic Union Conference. The Atlantic Union Gleaner reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. The rejection of any advertisement should not be construed to constitute disapproval of the product or service involved. Classified and display ads appearing in the Atlantic Union Gleaner are printed without endorsement or recommendation of the Atlantic Union Conference. The Atlantic Union Gleaner makes every reasonable effort to screen all advertisements, but in no case can the periodical assume responsibility for advertisements appearing in its columns or for typographical or categorical errors. EMPLOYMENT SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY seeks dean for the School of Education and Psychology (SEP) and responsible for planning, organization, staffing, direction and evaluation of the academic disciplines of the SEP. The SEP Dean is also responsible for continuous development of the SEP s strategic plan. An earned doctorate in the field of education or psychology is required. Full job description: www. southern.edu/jobs. SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY seeks full-time teaching faculty for the School of Music. This position will provide curricular oversight to and teach lower- and upper-division courses in area of primary expertise either music history or music theory. Master s degree in musicology, music history, or music theory required; doctorate preferred. Full job description: SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY School of Nursing seeks full-time faculty to join a mission-focused team. Teaching responsibilities are primarily at the undergraduate level. An earned doctorate is preferred. Requisite qualities include successful teaching experience, interest in research, flexibility, and commitment to Adventist nursing education. Send curriculum vitae or inquiries to search committee chair, Christy Showalter at cshowalter@southern. edu, SAU School of Nursing, P.O. Box 370; Collegedale, TN Full job description: SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY seeks full-time faculty member for the Chemistry Department with expertise in organic chemistry, effective June 1, Teaching responsibilities may be expected to include organic chemistry and chemistry lectures and labs. A master s or doctoral degree (Ph.D. is strongly preferred) in organic chemistry (or closely related field) is required, with demonstrated knowledge of and experience in applying best practices for teaching chemistry at the undergraduate level, and a commitment to teaching from a biblical foundation. Full job description: SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY seeks a Director of Institutional Research and Planning. The director coordinates a comprehensive, university-wide program of data evaluation and analytics to support the evaluation of success in achieving the institutional mission, vision, values, and goals. A master s degree is required, doctorate preferred. Applicants must evidence strong research, analytical, technical, and evaluation skills; possess a solid grasp of issues and trends in higher education; and demonstrate competencies in oral and written communication and interpersonal relations. For a full description: LAURELBROOK ACADEMY Looking for a new ministry? Available positions: electrician, grounds, auto mechanics, auto body teacher, cooks, teachers, CNAs, CNA instructor, nurses, and more. Visit positions, or call (423) THE GENERAL CONFERENCE (GC) of SDA s Office of General Counsel is seeking a law student for an 8-10 week paid summer clerkship. The position is not a full-time, hire-track position and is best suited for 1Ls. Duties include legal research and other projects, emphasis is on religious liberty and First Amendment work. Must be an Adventist church member. Interview and/or relocation expenses will be applicant s responsibility. Send résumé, writing sample, and transcript to Karnik Doukmetzian at karnikd@ gc.adventist.org. TRAVEL ISRAEL TOUR with Pastor Jim Gilley and friends Nov , 2019; $ Includes airfare, daily breakfast and dinner buffets, all tips, taxes. From New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. Other departure cities available. Call Maranatha Tours at (602) EGYPT BIBLE TOUR Dec , 2019 with Dr. Carl Cosaert of Walla Walla University. Discover the land of the Pyramids, the Pharaohs, Moses, and the Exodus, including a Nile cruise and more. Wonderful weather, meals and accommodations for only $2,425 plus airfare. For more information, contact Sharon Searson at Sharons@ uccsda.org. REAL ESTATE/HOUSING ENJOY WORRY-FREE RETIREMENT at Fletcher Park Inn on the Fletcher Academy campus near Hendersonville, N.C. Spacious apartments available NOW. Ask about our limited rental units and villa homes. Enjoy a complimentary lunch at our vegetarian buffet when you tour. Call Lisa at (800) or (828) , or visit SERVICES THE CLERGY MOVE CENTER at Stevens Worldwide Van Lines is the way to move from one state to another! With special pricing for all Adventist families, and recommended by the General Conference for over 15 years, quality is inherent. Contact a move counselor for an estimate: (800) , sda@stevensworldwide.com, www. stevensworldwide.com/sda. DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, DEPRESSION, or just poor health? Come to Wildwood Lifestyle Center where we will help you reverse your disease naturally. Call us today, (800) , or visit wildwoodhealth. com to apply online. LAURELBROOK ACADEMY Learning Through Doing. Training missionaries using Madison model. Academics, vocational training, mission trips. Boarding high school located on a 2,000 acre property in Dayton, Tenn. Most affordable academy. Call (423) , or visit UCHEE PINES INSTITUTE SAVE THE DATE: Uchee Pines Institute s 50th Anniversary, June 23-29, Speakers include Mark Finley and John Bradshaw. Ucheepines.org or (877) UCHEEPINES. TEACH SERVICES: Helping AUTHORS make their book a reality. Call (800) for your free manuscript evaluation. We publish all book formats and provide worldwide distribution. View NEW BOOKS at www. TEACHServices.com, or ask your local ABC. Used Adventist books at MOVE with an award-winning agency. Apex Moving & Storage partners with the General Conference to provide quality moves for you. Call us for all your relocation needs. Contact Marcy Danté at (800) or visit us at 22 Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 2019 Visit the Atlantic Union Website

23 NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY The Seventh-day Adventist Church, in all of its church schools, admits students of any race to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at its schools, and makes no discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnic background, country of origin, or gender in the administration of education policies, applications for admission, scholarship or loan programs, and extracurricular programs. Greater New York Bronx-Manhattan 1440 Plimpton Ave., Bronx, NY Brooklyn 1260 Ocean Ave., Brooklyn, NY Greater New York Academy th St., Woodside, NY Jackson Heights Woodside Ave., Woodside, NY Middletown 70 Highland Ave., Middletown, NY Oakview Preparatory 29 Chestnut St., Yonkers, NY Poughkeepsie 71 Mitchell Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY South Bay Junior Academy 150 Fire Island Ave., Babylon, NY Whispering Pines 211 Jericho Turnpike, Old Westbury, NY New York Conference Bay Knoll 2639 E. Ridge Rd., Rochester, NY Buffalo Suburban 5580 Genesee St., Lancaster, NY Frontenac 963 Spring St., Union Springs, NY Kingsbury 3991 State Rt. 4, Hudson Falls, NY Parkview Jr. Academy 412 S. Avery Ave., Syracuse, NY Union Springs Academy 40 Spring St., Union Springs, NY Northeastern Conference Berea 2 Mc Lellan St., Dorchester, MA Bethel 457 Grand Ave., Brooklyn, NY Bethesda Jr. Academy 76 Parkway Ave., Amityville, NY Brockton Area Academy 243 Court St., Brockton, MA Fairfield County 827 Trumbull Ave., Bridgeport, CT Flatbush 5810 Snyder Ave., Brooklyn, NY Hanson Place 38 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, NY Hartford Area 474 Woodland St., Hartford, CT Hebron Bilingual 920 Park Place, Brooklyn, NY Jamaica rd St., Jamaica, NY Linden th St., Laurelton, NY Northeastern Academy 532 West 215th St., New York, NY R. T. Hudson 1122 Forest Ave., Bronx, NY South Brooklyn Academy 418 East 45th St., Brooklyn, NY Springfield Jr. Academy 797 State St., Springfield, MA Westchester Area 456 Webster Ave., New Rochelle, NY Northern New England Conference Brownell Mountain 5330 St. George Rd., Williston, VT Caledonia Christian 54 Southard St., St. Johnsbury, VT Capital Christian 310 Sheep Davis Rd., Concord, NH Estabrook 1050 Rt 12A, Plainfield, NH Florence M. Lombard 46 Cleveland St., Saco, MA Forestdale School 27 Perkins Valley Rd., Bryant Pond, ME Forrest Ward Memorial 404 Houghton Ln., Bennington, VT North Star Christian 42 Orion Way, Hermon, ME Pine Tree Academy 67 Pownal Rd., Freeport, ME Pioneer Jr. Academy 13 Mt. Gilboa Rd., Westmoreland, NH Riverview Memorial 201 Mercer Rd., Norridgewock, ME Webb River 58 Pine St., Dixfield, ME Southern New England Conference Amesbury 285 Main Ave. Rt. 107A, South Hampton, NH Bayberry 2736 Falmouth Rd., Osterville, MA Berkshire Hills 900 Cheshire Rd., Rt 8, Lanesborough, MA Cedar Brook 24 Ralsie Rd., Rehoboth, MA Greater Boston Academy 108 Pond St., Stoneham, MA Laurel Oaks 14 West Shepard Ave., Hamden, CT South Lancaster Academy 198 George Hill Rd., Lancaster, MA South Shore 250 Washington St., Braintree, MA Wachusett Hills Christian 100 Colony Rd., Westminister, MA Warren 1570 Southbridge Rd., W. Brookfield, MA Worcester 2 Airport Dr., Worcester, MA The Official Publication for the Constituents of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Northeast United States and Bermuda Established January 1, 1902 Atlantic Union Conference 400 Main Street, South Lancaster, MA Phone (978) , Fax (978) Website: Atlantic Union Gleaner Staff gleaner@atlanticunion.org Editor Ednor A. P. Davison Circulation/Back Pages/Proofreader... Debra Banks Cuadro Copy Editor (off-site)... Pat Humphrey Layout & Design (off-site)...haziel Olivera Contributors Bermuda...Joi Tyrrell, gardensidetoo@northrock.bm Greater New York... Donnieval Walker, dwalker@gnyc.org New York...Reynolds Rodríguez, reynoldsrodriguez@gmail.com Northeastern...JeNean Lendor, jlendor@northeastern.org Northern New England Scott Christiansen, schristiansen@nnec.org Southern New England...David Dennis, skypilot@sneconline.org Atlantic Union Conference Departments President... G. Earl Knight Vice President, Haitian...Jose Joseph Vice President, Hispanic... Dionisio Olivo Secretary...Pierre Omeler Treasurer...Elias Zabala, Sr. Undertreasurer...Trevor S. Forbes Treasurer, Assistant... Judine Walker Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries/Medical Cadet Corps... Dionisio Olivo Adventist Community Services...Jose Joseph Adventist Youth Ministries...David McKenzie Children s Ministries... Jerrell Gilkeson Children s Ministries, Associate...Marlene Alvarez Children s Ministries, Assistant...Lileth Coke Communication... Ednor A.P. Davison Communication, Assistant... Debra Banks Cuadro Disabilities Ministries...Charlotte L.V. Thoms Education... Jerrell Gilkeson Education, Associate...Marlene Alvarez Education, Assistant...Lileth Coke Family Ministries... Dionisio Olivo Health Ministries...Jose Joseph Human Relations...Pierre Omeler Information Technology...David Hunte Ministerial/Evangelism... G. Earl Knight Ministerial, Assistant...Jose Joseph Ministerial, Assistant... Dionisio Olivo Ministerial Spouses Association...Yvonne Knight Native Ministries Coordinator...Elias Zabala, Sr. Personal Ministries...Trevor S. Forbes Plant Maintenance... David Keith Prayer Ministries...Yvonne Knight Prison Ministries...Trevor S. Forbes Public Affairs/Religious Liberty...Charles Eusey Public Affairs/Religious Liberty, Associate... John Ashmeade Publishing... G. Earl Knight Revolving Fund...Violet Bidwell Sabbath School... Dionisio Olivo Stewardship/Inner City/Loss Control Elias Zabala, Sr. Stewardship, Assistant... Judine Walker Trust Services/Planned Giving...Trevor S. Forbes Trust Services, Assistant... Judine Walker Women s Ministries...Yvonne Knight Local Conferences and Institutions Bermuda: Kenneth Manders, President; W. DeJaun Tull, Secretary; W. Aaron M. Spencer, Treasurer. Office Address: P.O. Box HM 1170, Hamilton, HM EX Bermuda. (441) Website: Greater New York: Henry Beras, President; Alanzo Smith, Secretary; Ysaías Javier, Treasurer. Office Address: 7 Shelter Rock Rd., Manhasset, NY (516) Website: New York: Miguel Crespo, President; Claudio Gomez, Secretary; Priscilla English, Treasurer. Office Address: 4930 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY (315) Website: Northeastern: Daniel Honoré, President; Oswald Euell, Secretary; Robert Chandler, Treasurer. Office Address: Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, NY (718) Website: Northern New England: Robert (Bob) Cundiff, President; Theodore (Ted) Huskins, Secretary; Daniel Battin, Treasurer. Office Address: 479 Main St., Westbrook, ME (207) Website: Southern New England: David Dennis, President; Cesar Perozo, Secretary; Thomas (Tom) Murray, Treasurer. Office Address: 34 Sawyer St., South Lancaster, MA (978) Website: Atlantic Union College: 338 Main Street, South Lancaster, MA 01561; (978) Website: Member, Associated Church Press Indexed in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index at Atlantic Union Gleaner, March

24 ATLANTIC UNION GLEANER ATLANTIC UNION CONFERENCE P.O. BOX 1189 SOUTH LANCASTER, MA Montpelier, VT JESUS SAYS, Let the children come to Me. Mark 10:14, NKJV ATLANTIC UNION EDUCATION CONTACT INFORMATION: Atlantic Union: ext Bermuda: ext. 30 Greater New York: ext. 157 New York: ext. 22 Northeastern: ext Northern New England: ext. 213 Southern New England: ext. 609 Find Jesus at the following locations. Seventh-day Adventist Early Childhood Education Centers in the Atlantic Union Conference BERMUDA Bermuda Institute Seasons Learning GREATER NEW YORK Bronx-Manhattan School Brooklyn School Jackson Heights School Middletown Christian School Oakview Preparatory School Poughkeepsie School South Bay Academy Whispering Pines School NEW YORK Spring Street Community Care NORTHEASTERN Berea Academy Bethel School Bethesda School Brockton Area Academy Flatbush Early Childhood Center Hanson Place School Hartford Area Preschool Hebron Bilingual School Jamaica School Lebanon Early Childhood Learning Center Linden Day Care Center R.T. Hudson School Springfield Junior Academy Westchester Area School NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND Kellogg Christian Learning Center Little Treasures Pine Tree Academy Riverview Memorial School SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND Cedar Brook School Greater Boston Academy Laurel Oaks School Shining Stars for Jesus at SLA Atlantic Union Conference Office of Education 400 Main Street, Lancaster MA Find a school: find.adventisteducation.org