November 27, 2007
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” Psalms 23:4
I held his hand as we sang together “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.” Together we read and quoted uplifting Bible verses, and together we shared stories of hope and promise. I made the visit to encourage a spiritual giant within a frail body. Pastor Fitzroy Edwards is dying. He is losing the battle with cancer, but winning the battle of life. He is traveling through a deep valley - but he certainly isn’t alone.
One of the most amazing testimonies to the power of God and the influence of the church is to witness the journey of God’s children as they “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”.
A few years ago, I volunteered to help a fellow clergyman cover his chaplaincy duties at a local funeral home. I would be contacted if they needed the services of a pastor for a family that had no “religious connection”. My first call was to have the funeral service for a women in her eighties.
The funeral home had done a wonderful job preparing her body. The funeral chapel was attractive; appropriate music was playing for the service; an informative eulogy card was ready to distribute and the chairs were lined up neatly. But the funeral director and I were the only ones in attendance.
The director was surprised that I would continue with Biblical readings and prayer . . . and I was surprised and saddened that, apparently, this women had walked through the valley . . . alone.
In the last few weeks, I have sung and had conversations with two pastors that are walking through this very same valley. . . but not alone! They claim the promises that their Friend is by their side. Along with their loved ones and church family, they sing with assurance, “This world is not my home” and “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King”. I praise God for those who can “Walk through the valley in peace”!
Thank you Pastor Fitzroy and family for being a wonderful witness for the power of God’s promises.
Changing A Life
“I want to thank you for being such a positive influence in my life”. I was certainly humbled as a twenty year old young man began a conversation with those words. Several years ago, I had been a Conference Youth Director when he was just a kid. He proceeded to give me some wonderful and yet embarrassing affirmation. For a moment, I wondered what great thing I had done to deserve this accolade.
Could it possibly be that. . .
- I had had an outstanding Week of Prayer or. . .
- He had been on one of the life-changing mission trips I had organized or…
- Could it have been a great sermon that I had delivered?
I assured him of the reality that, if he had ever seen anything good in me, it was a gift from God. Then, I asked him what it was that he remembered about my ministry.
His answer was both humbling and revealing - the golden image of the importance of my organization or preaching skills was soon demolished with this revealing reply: “What changed my life? . . . You knew my name”.
In a world crammed with informational bombardment, countless programs, and communication overload, some still recognize that it might be “all in a name”. For example, look what has happened to me in the last few days:
• The grocery store cashier returned my debit card and said “Thank-you, Mr. Pifher”.
• The rental car agent opened our conversation with “Mr. Pifher, let me help choose your car.”
• My familiar online web sites now greet me with a “Welcome Gordon”
• Last night the hotel clerk had a personalized handwritten card for “Gordon” and a nice welcome from “Murray” the sales manager.
• The church I attended last week gave every guest and church member a name tag. I was on a first name basis with everyone immediately. I felt part of the family. They knew my name.
Do You Know Their Name?
Here are some suggestions that I have seen some churches practicing:
• Greeters and elders meet after each service in order to acquaint themselves with each visitor’s name
• Name tags are given for both visitors and members
• Bulletin inserts with “the member of the week” feature (with permission)
• Church member birthday, anniversary cards
• Personal notes and phone messages
• Members’ and visitors’ picture bulletin board
• Sabbath school class where you are called by name each week.
GOD Knows YOUR Name
“He calls his own sheep by name” John 10:2 - 4
Good Council From Apostle Paul
Members and visitors will go to a place where people know their name. The apostle Paul gives good counsel. “I want to see you face to face, but until then, be sure you “greet the friends by name” 3 John 1:14
Once a year I attend the year end meeting at the North American Division. This is a wonderful Adventist partnership event!
• 300 people from all over the United States and Canada gather together to hear reports on how the larger Adventist family is doing
• One year Membership Growth Figures for 2006
• North American Division 2% growth
• Church In Canada 3.40% growth
• BC Conference 0.80% growth
• After 7 days of meetings excited about our BC connection with our larger Adventist family
Net Evangelism and Worship Plans
• Net Evangelism still reaches tens of 1000s.
• 2008 NET speaker - Mark Finley
• 2010 NET speaker - Lonnie Melashenko (Also a speaker for BC Camp Meeting)
• December 23, Adventists will again have a Christmas special shown on the Hallmark Channel
• Last year’s special Christmas event was enjoyed so much NBC is going to show it on many of its affiliates for this Christmas as well. See upcoming BC Alive for more details.
• Hosted on December 28, 1000s of members taking the bread and wine at the same time. Another first for churches that want to participate in a large church family communion service
BC Conference Highlighted at the NAD Meetings
• Miracle of VOAR Radio stations as the first Christian Radio in BC
• Delegates at the session felt impressed to take an offering to help set up Radio Towers across Canada
• Definitely a major milestone for BC evangelism
• The next 13th Sabbath offering will help provide more funding for radio stations in Canada
Adventist Review and Adventist World
• 2 million copies of Adventist World sent out each month
• Available in 7 languages
• Oldest continuous published Christian magazine
• Will undergo major changes in the first quarter of 2008
• 38,000 newly baptized members received a free copy of the weekly Adventist World last year
Adventists are Leaders in Media Outreach
• 1929 HMS Richards, 2nd longest running religious radio broadcast (Lutheran hour is the 1st)
• 1956 It Is Written is the first religious television broadcast in colour
• VOAR, oldest and now the largest Christian radio network in Canada
2007 new Web-based Television BIGGYTV has asked the Adventist channel to be the first spiritual religious digital broadcast on the planet
• 7000 secular affiliate and Adventists are the only religious affiliate at this time
• Founder of BIGGYTV says he asked Adventists, because they have the best variety and quality of religious material in the World
Do your own experiment? Go to www.bcadventist.ca and click on the new Adventist channel launcher
Your church is on the cutting edge of evangelistic outreach.