Adventist church work 1

All church task messages

Highlight of my year
One of the best things I have seen a preacher do is involve the whole congregation in an interactive Bible study. Part of this was to ask the members to look at the Bible characters they were assigned and respond as they think this character would. This sermon was the highlight to my year. Ken Duke
Entered Kenn Duke duke@agn.net.au July 30, 1999

College student program
What are the best things or ways to run a program for college students? What can you suggest about campus ministry? Please, help me. Edgar Claude A. Nadal ednadal@yahoo.com
Entered Edgar Claude A. Nadal ednadal@yahoo.com July 30, 1999

Removing members
Hi, I am the church clerk for a small church in PA. I have been unable to have communication with any of the members, pertaining to removing any of the members which haven't been to church in over 16 years. This was my home church until 1966, when I moved away. I haven't seen some of the members on the books for 30 years. Since I have returned in 1983, they have added a few more than when I left. But the board members keep refusing to remove any members that have moved away or just don't abide by the guidelines which were established by the church. What I'm I to do about this situation? Also I have SS Super. job too, I don't have any help of any kind, when I have to play the piano. Nobody wants to help, they just want to jibberjab. What can I do for this too? You can contact me through e-mail. Thanks June Keiser rglass@epix.net
Entered Marion R. Keiser Jr rglass@epix.net July 30, 1999

Everyone involved
Sabbath school will be more interesting if at some point all the members take part instead of just sitting and listening to opening remarks, special songs etc. Why not let every one become involved some of the time by participating in an invigorous special song, Men could sing one verse, ladies sing another, and youth sing the other. Instead of reading mission stories all the time, let someone from the congregation get a chance to share a witnessing experience. Instead of using seasoned singers all the time, just ask a family to sing. Then you will have a variety of activities at different times instead of the monotonous lullably you hear each sabbath. Youths and children should be allowed to participate all the time, instead of waiting for youth emphasis days or 13th Sabbath Programs. I hope that God will bless you, and you will like these suggestions -- Liz, Sabbbath School Superintendent Perth Avenue SDA Church
Entered Liz liz@arianox.com July 30, 1999

ADRA identification.
Perhaps ADRA workers could be identified by wearing T-shirts, a cap or some other form of ID, so that people do in fact know that Adventists are 'on the job'. At the scene of any disaster, one can easily identify the Salvation Army members, the Red Cross workers and more recently DOCS workers (they now wear caps). I guess the busy, un-identified volunteers allocating emergency accommodation, were ADRA workers. A higher profile would bring about more support for this worthwhile organisation. Just think about how the Salvos are known anywhere where there is a disaster. Any suggestions please? Lexie Lord. Australia. lclord@one.net.au
Entered Lexie Lord lclord@one.net.au April 30, 1999

Not a dating service?
It is important to remember when leading out in an Adventist Singles Ministries program that the primary purpose is not a dating service. We are there to provide support, encouragement, activities, friendship, etc for the singles in the Adventist church. To the gentleman that wants more newly seperated men on singles committees I want to say that if you are only seperated you have no business being on a singles committee. You must remember that until you have completed your divorce you are still married, you are not single. As far as them "running the singles club..." that would not be appropriate especially if their main desire is for remarriage. Once again remember the purpose of the Ministry. Christy Herring swuasm@worldnet.att.net Singles Leader Editor's note: This may vary from country to country. Under God's divorce laws in the Old Testament there was no distinction between separation and divorce. Australian divorce law requires a 12-month separation before divorce, which would mean someone from a country with no 12-month rule could be involved 12 months sooner than someone from Australia. Some would think that the different laws in different countries should not make a difference to the involvement and support that the church provides for its members. In fact, in Australia the Singles Ministry is defined as catering to separated people.
Entered April 27, 1999

Wanting young people to attend
We are having no problems running our Prayer meeting. I'm after some more ideas on what others are doing. Need more young people to attend! From Your Friend Ken Duke duke@agn.net.au Editor's note: Nambour Church in Queensland Australia has solved the problem by having a special prayer meeting geared to youth. It runs on Friday nights.
Entered Ken Duke duke@agn.net.au April 26, 1999

Pastor as a coordinator
I am one of those pastors who considers myself a coordinator not a do-it-all-yourself pastor. It is true that some congregations here at least in the USA figure that the pastor is going to do everything but they can be shocked into reality! [grin] I train and get people started in outreach or whatever the case might be. At present we are delivering videos to people who have requested them. We are using Ken Cox's videos and then in six months Ken will be at our church for a weekend reaping. One of my elders really had fears about helping in this kind of action so yesterday afternoon I took him with me and we delivered 2 videos. Luckily we had very good contacts with the 2 families and now the elder wants to share the experience with the congregation this next Sabbath. Right now we are servicing 20 families and we expect to have 100 families receiving videos within the near future. Our key to success IMHO is the skills of our Head Elder. He has assigned the elders to the various depts. of the church. We are asking the Dept heads to meet at least one a quarter -- actually they are meeting monthly -- The Elder is there to act as an observer and counsel. We have a form that the elder fills out to report what was accomplished and time frame for accomplishing the items discussed. The form is then given to the pastor and head elder. We have a suggestive agenda for the dept leader because many of them never get their committees, assistants, or whatever, together. Our church has a mission and a vision statement and everything we do we must ask the ? Are we fitting into the mission and the vision of our church by what we are doing, if not why not!? Paul Gates paulgates@worldnet.att.net
Entered April 26, 1999

Odd board meetings
I pastor a church of 130 and a year ago we voted to have board meetings on the odd numbered months and the Elders meet on the even numbered months. Paul Gates
Entered April 26, 1999

Same old routine
Cynpat1@aol.com wrote: I was baptized about seven years ago and I have noticed that our order of service is the same in all the churches I have attended, whether it be regular Sabbath day or a special Sabbath day. Is it a conference rule? Or is it that we fear trying something different? Lately I hardly sit in church unless I am there to do someting special. It is the same old routine Sabbath after Sabbath after Sabbath. How can we make it better? Patrick
Editor's note: There is no rule about order of service. Nor should there be because it's not in the Bible. It is a priority of older people that things be always done the same way. It is a priority of younger people to have variety. If we want to keep the younger people in the church, the older people (who control the church) must give up some things they want. They will have to allow more variety in their church services -- otherwise they may be responsible for young people missing out on eternal life. At Coolum Beach Church (which sponsors this website) there is a different order of service every week.
Entered April 20, 1999

Lake Union treasurers' software
Lester Merklin of lmerklin@erols.com wrote answering Lexie Lord:

Many conferences are using the Church Accounting software produced by the Lake Union Conference. PA conf and SNEC are two I have been involved in. If the conference is licensed to use it, it only costs about $25 for the manual!
Entered April 10, 1999

Acceptable music
Percussion was part of acceptable worship in Scripture. Psalm 81:2 says, "Start the music, strike the drum, play the melodious harp and lyre." The word here translated "drum" is the Hebrew word "toph." The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary says, "The toph was a hand drum, made of a wooden hoop and very probably two skins. It was beaten by the hands, and must have made a kind of tom-tom sound." There is no percussion in the music in most SDA Church services. I suggest this disenfranchises most right-brain church members (and 49% of Australians are right-brained. It's probably a similar ratio in your country). While the left brain listens to melody, the right brain listens to beat. So 49% of Australians cannot find music that appeals to them in SDA Church services. (I estimate that only 20%-25% of adult Australian Adventists are right-brained. Which indicates that our left-brained singing and worship keep most right-brainers out of the church.) By itself, I feel the theatre organ is not particularly suitable for worship. Its notes are softened to eliminate percussion. This means that right-brained people (49% of us Aussies) are turned off by the main musical instrument in SDA Churches. The theatre organ is now almost unused outside of a religious context. So there is nothing in our culture to make a secular person predisposed to enjoying the theatre organ. (My wife recently said to me, "I don't like organ music." I immediately realised I didn't like it either. I had merely tolerated it for my 35 years in the SDA Church.) Yet in the divine service in the parts of the world I have been to, most SDA Churches allow only theatre organ music.
Entered Phil Ward April 1, 1999

Secular tunes on Sabbath?
Some of the Bible's psalms were sung to secular tunes. This could set a precedent for us to use secular tunes for our church music. Note the introductions to the 10 Psalms said to be sung to secular tunes:

Psalm 9: "To the tune of ‘The Death of a Son.'"
Psalm 22: "To the tune of ‘The Doe of the Morning.'"
Psalms 45 and 69: "To the tune of ‘Lilies.'"
Psalm 56: "To the tune of ‘A Dove on Distant Oaks.'"
Psalms 57, 58 and 75: "To the tune of ‘Do not Destroy.'"
Psalm 60 and 80: "To the tune of ‘The Lily of the Coventants.'"

Does this give us guidance for what tunes we should sing for our Sabbath songs? Is it all right to sing spiritual words to the tunes of current secular music?
Entered Phil Ward April 1, 1999

Sabbath school story
I have a story that could be used as an illustration in Sabbath school or church. I was woken up this morning by a bird crashing into my bedroom window. Apparently the bird saw its own relection in the window and thought a rival was invading its territory. It flew against the window with great force -- which wouldn't have left it feeling too good! In fact, we've had birds kill themselves by flying into a window. Why am I telling you this? Because it reminds me of critical people. They fly into other people with great force. But the person they are most damaging is often themselves. They are removing the image of the non-critical God from their beings. And they run the risk of being condemned in the judgement (Matthew 7:1).
Entered Phil Ward April 1, 1999

Umbrellas for rain
Rain on Sabbath morning doesn't make church members feel good as they scramble from their cars to the church door. However, when I was a deacon, I found a way to turn this problem into a positive. I borrowed several large umbrellas from early arrivals. Then as each car arrived, I went to the car to escort the people to the church. It made them feel so good that it completely reversed any negative attitudes caused by the bad weather.
Entered Phil Ward April 1, 1999

Penance in the pews
I cannot find anything in the Bible to suggest church seating should be uncomfortable hard-wood pews. To me it seems wooden pews are neither Biblical nor cultural. However, we keep equipping churches with wooden pews as if there was a Biblical command to use such seating. Wooden pews are expensive to make as well as being uncomfortable and not part of our secular culture. To me it seems foolish for churches to use the uncomfortable chair designs of a century ago. Here in Australia, Albury SDA Church purchased old pews from the Catholics. When they later needed more pews, they manufactured new ones to be identical. What were the Catholic pews? They had been the Catholic Church's penance pews! Albury Adventists were suffering penance every Sabbath when they sat on those pews. If we want our church seating to be cultural, it should be like that used in movie theatres. That seating is deliberately designed to be comfortable enough for people to pay attention for 1½ hours or more.
Entered Phil Ward April 1, 1999

Sitting in a circle
In Bible times, worshippers often sat in a circle or semi-circle. This was the case in a Galilee synagogue where Jesus told a man, "Get up and stand in the middle (of the room)" (Mark 3:3). And at a meeting apparently in a private home those listening to Jesus were "sitting in a circle" (Mark 3:34). When people in a meeting sit in a circle, there can be more interaction between them. (There is no record in Scripture of congregations sitting in rows of parallel seats.) In normal NT worship, the preacher usually delivered his address sitting down. Jesus said, "I sat daily with you teaching in the Temple" (Matthew 26:55). Even the famous Sermon on the Mount was delivered sitting down (Matthew 5:1). However, you can't sit to preach if there is a pulpit. The altar came into Christianity in the Constantine era, and became a raised pulpit in Luther's day. So, historically, the pulpit was not part of early Christian church services. Having the preacher seated probably made two differences to the meeting. Firstly, it was far easier to have a succession of speakers. One person might speak for a few minutes on one theme, then someone else would speak on another theme (1 Corinthians 14:26-29). Secondly, an audience is unlikely to interrupt a person standing to speak. But when a person is seated, other seated people are likely to cut in. So having the speaker seated would lead to interaction during the sermon. If someone didn't understand they could say, "What do you mean by that?" Or they could say, "I like that idea." (However, no SDA Churches I have seen are designed for preachers to sit while delivering messages.) The local church I attend meets in a local school assembly hall. We sit in a circle and the preacher is usually seat. There is no pulpit. The result is that we have a large amount of interaction between the preacher and the congregation. And we have a large amount of interaction at other times also. In my opinion, sitting in a circle with the preacher also seated seems a far superior way to hold a church service. Is it radical or Biblical [grin]?
Entered April 1, 1999

Reaction to sitting in a circle
The above comment about sitting in a circle for church services drew the reaction, "if you have a congregation of 250 people there's going to have to be a BIG room and there will be mostly wasted space." In many situations this may be right. However, if you have larger numbers, you can have several circles. Then the "wasted space" in the middle would be not much different to the amount of "wasted space" between the pulpit and the front row of parallel pews. I have read of large churches which have their seating in a horse-shoe shape, which seems to be a good solution for them.
Entered April 1, 1999

More reaction to sitting in circle
The message about sitting in a circle for church services drew the reaction, " What's wrong with sitting in rows?" The problem is that when church members are sitting in rows, they cannot see the faces of any other church members. This discourages church members from speaking during the service. And if a church members does speak, others cannot see that member's face, which reduces the level of communication taking place. We have found at Coolum Beqach Church that when we sit in a circle we have far more interaction between us.
Entered April 1, 1999

Reverence my sanctuary
A church I once attended had a Bible verse in large letters across the front of the church. It read, "Reverence my Sanctuary." The implication of placing the text there was that we had to reverence the building in which the church was held. Maybe we do, maybe we don't. I genuinely haven't made up my mind on this matter. Maybe my confusion is because the local church I attend now meets in a government school hall -- and I can't see any reason to reverence that hall [smile]. Using this verse in this way also has the problem that the Old Testament sanctuary is not the equivalent of the modern church. The OT sanctuary was very small, about half the size of a tennis court. It was not a place where God's people met for Sabbath worship. It wasn't big enough for that. The other problem I see here is: What is reverence. Around here, most people seem to regard it as "silence." I can't see that. There would have been anything but silence in the OT Sanctuary -- with cattle lowing and sheep baa-ing before they were killed. So what indeed is reverence? Further, was reverence something people did only when they were in the OT Sanctuary? If so, it wasn't much reverence required. If there were a million Israelites, and each went to the Sanctuary once a year, that is 2700 people a day passing through that tennis-court size area. That's 230 people an hour, or one person every 15 seconds. I suspect then, whatever reverence is, it was not so much the attitude people had while they were in the Sanctuary -- because in most years most people didn't actually go into the Sanctuary. I have a feeling that reverence for the Sanctuary was an attitude they were to have for the whole time between their occasional visits to the Sanctuary. Perhaps it meant that they were not to criticise the Sanctuary or its services. This seems to be a fairly negative email. But maybe you can turn it into a positive by telling me some positive things. What was this reverence people were supposed to have for the ancient Sanctuary? Was this reverence various actions people took, or an attitude of mind? Is the reverence they had for the rarely-visited Sanctuary an attitude we should have for God's Heavenly Sanctuary? Or is it an attitude we should have for the buildings in which we worship (including my local government school)?
Entered Phil Ward April 1, 1999

Shouting in church
Ellen White talks favorably about shouting in church. "I saw [that] singing to the glory of God often drove [out] the enemy, and shouting would beat him back and give us the victory" (Letter 8, 1850). I have never shouted in church, nor have I been tempted to. However, this must make us rethink the correctness of the quiet church services we normally hold.
Entered April 1, 1999

Women preachers
Many Adventists are concerned about women preachers because they feel Paul talks against women preaching in church. The verse that says "women should be silent in the churches" is 1 Corinthians 14:34. The next verse suggests what Paul is actually talking about. It says, "If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church." Look at this verse carefully. The solution women talking in church is to ask their husbands at home. So the problem is probably that they were asking their husbands something in the meetings. Why would this be? In the Roman world, males started school when they were six years old. Females did not go to school at all. So there was a vast difference between the education levels of the two sexes. Thus, in Christian meetings, if men were speaking, what they were saying would often be over the heads of women. You can easily imagine women who didn't understand asking their husbands what the speaker was meaning. These were small group meetings in private homes. It would be very distracting for 2-3 women to be asking for explanations from their husbands while someone else is trying to speak. It could make the meeting so disorderly people would be ashamed to bring their non-Christian friends. In fact, as Paul says in this same verse, "It is shameful for a woman to speak in church." If verse 34 is saying women should not speak at all in church, then you have to find an explanation of verse 35's instruction to ask husbands at home. If verse 34 is merely saying women cannot lead out, verse 35 makes no sense in the context. Interestingly, old habits die hard. When we both lived in Newcastle, I once had to film a TV news story in a Greek Church. I was astounded by the noise level of women talking in the church. To someone used to the comparative silence of an Adventist Chruch, it was bedlam. Of course, Corinth, the city where Paul was sending this message, is in Greece. It made me think that Paul's efforts to make the women quiet in church had not been successful because they were still doing it almost 2000 years later.
Entered Phil Ward April 1, 1999

Worship is wonderful
We were finding our worship services filled with too much sameness. Too much of a spectator event. So... we have established five worship teams. We've done away with the order of service and have given the teams freedom to let God show us what Worship looks like each week. The response has been exciting. We're a small church of 120 members, but each week we have anywhere from 35-50 people directly involved with the worship service. By the time we go thru the cycle of the five teams every one in the church gets to do something. Sermons are very short and to the point we have many stories skits testimonies and lots of wonderful music.Worship is wonderful!!!!
Entered Aaron Case adcase@southern.edu March 31, 1999

More involvement
Regarding encouraging more involvement by students in the Church:

advocate for them to be respected and participatory, that is, include them in opportunities to be on the platform (to pray, to read, to sing, to praise, to tell stories for the younger children, to share their testimonies)
if your Church has the opportunity to have a Prayer Conference you will find that the young ppl involved in this will be very inspiring and that the kids will want to start their own Bible studies
in our Church community I encouraged a puppet troupe to become a ministry by buying a couple of scripts from the local Christian bookstore and just personally encouraging the individual members. They got together, made fabulous puppets (much nicer and unique than the ones you can buy for atrocious high prices), and even designed and constructed a deluxe puppet theatre. They have presented the message in several churches. Now, a next group of adolescents is looking forward to having their turn in puppet ministry. They are a giant hit with the small children.
we have junior deacons/greeters in our church. Girls are also deacons sometimes (picking up the offering, for example). We also have a schoolgirl in charge of assigning the children's story, and lots of kids involved in music ministry, including a praise band
teens in our church help with lower-level Sabbath School classes. They are very diligent, loving and responsive to the smaller children who love them.
opportunities for outreach are spectacular ways to involve children in the life of the Church. We did a prayer walk where we prayed for people we met along the way, and went into a 'historical house' and prayed with the attendants there while learning a little about our local history. I was the only adult on this 'walk' and it was a bit trying, but the feedback later was quite amazing and wonderful. Prayer and praise must be seen as something alive and powerful, not ritualistic and formulaic. Testimonials to the power of prayer in one's life is particularly exciting with young people-- they don't hark back to the same 20-year-old testimonies that some of us more mature Christians rely on!

Entered evonzirk@the.link.ca March 31, 1999

Church software
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who uses a specific software package for church treasury work. I have just accepted this position and am open for suggestions. No. I don't have any great ideas about the job yet, but I'd surely be glad to receive any tips or advise others can give me. I've just 'won' this job too, so need all the help I can get. I look forward to your responses. Lexie Lord Casino NSW
Entered Lexie Lord lexie_lord@bigpond.com March 31, 1999

What do jobs do?
Scott Burke sburke@battlecreek.net I would like to have a description of the various offices and their responsibilities for an Adventist Singles Group, i.e. President, Vice President, Secretary, Pastor, Sargent at Arms, etc. Thanks, Kathy kmr64@hotmail.com
Entered March 31, 1999

Please email me
Please e-mail me with suggestions for Adventist Junior programs. Thanks and God Bless. Sylvia Barton , Spokane, Washington, USA bartonv@worldnet.att.net
Entered March 31, 1999

Disposing of communion bread
My sister has recently become a deaconess. She wants to know how to properly dispose of the communion bread and wine. Some say bury it , some say burn it. Can you tell us the proper way and where in the scriptures to find this information. Thank you. Paula
Webmaster's comment: The Bible says nothing about disposing of unused communion bread and wine, therefore there are no rules. The communion bread is not holy. The idea that it is holy and must be treated in some special way may be found in other branches of Christianity, but it is not our belief.
Entered PAULA ROBINSON PAULDY2@worldnet.att.net March 31, 1999

Make good use of talent
It's really important that a Pastor make good use of the talented individuals in the church. There will be areas which are the pastor's strengths - these are areas where the pastor can effectively serve, and also mentor others for service. There are also weaknesses, and rather than attempting to cover weaknesses, let the pastor find church members who are willing, and who have the talent. As a pastor learns to do less, and lead more, his task of shepherding is accomplished more effectively. Don't feel threatened by those who are more competent. We are all a part of the Body, and none of us is every part.
Entered David Jeffrey djeffrey@trinidad.net March 31, 1999

Any suggestions
Diana Clark kizzy@lex.infi.net Any suggestions for turning out fantastic monthly newsletters?? Send suggestions to Diana L.(Brown)Clark Richmond SDA Church (KY) kizzy@lex.infi.net
Entered March 31, 1999

Pictures not words
Two ideas I've found helpful for church bulletins:

1 - Some people pay more attention to pictures than words, so I've begun adding a small picture (an icon) to each bulletin announcement. A little online research helps me find something appropriate for the various GC offering calls, and a scanner is helpful also.

2 - Whenever I find an especially good thought that might be used as a bulletin "filler" I add it to a word processor file of quotes. Then when space is available, I can quickly look through my collection and paste in an appropriate thought of the right length to fill the space.

God gives us each our various talents, and even if that talent is only typing, God can use it for His glory. I would love to hear from others who type a weekly church bulletin! Linda Finster finster@pldi.net
Entered Linda Finster finster@pldi.net March 31, 1999

Access for database
Re: Church Clerk I have used "Access" to create and compile a database of members, their spouses, children, occupation, birthdates etc, as well as keeping records of date and place of Baptism and who baptised that person. I also include comments about people (for the clerk's use only), relating to who requests visitation, who their preferred visitor is and other relevant information. Unnecessary details one might say! Not really, just remember that if we do not have required data concerning our churches, membership etc, we can't expect to get funding from the Conference and other sources. Nor can we keep up with the "Great Adventist Movement", where people always seem to be on the move. Lexie Lord. Casino.
Entered Lexie Lord lexie_lord@bigpond.com March 31, 1999

Tracing missing members is worthwhile
Re: Church Clerk Tracing "missing members" is well worth while. As a direct result of conducting a search of Electoral Rolls, phone listings etc, we have had 2 families return to church last week and another is coming along today. I make it a practice to write to folk who are not attending, to encourage them and let them know that we are thinking about them. I also enclose that week's church Bulletin, along with any other topics of interest and the "Conference News". This outreach is proving beneficial, as I've only been doing the clerk's work for a few months, yet we have these people coming back to church as a direct result of showing them WE CARE. Lexie Lord. Casino NSW
Entered March 31, 1999

On the public record
One tip for finding missing members is to check local public records. I have found that we sometimes "loose" a members address when they go thru a marital seperation/divorce. I have found several members by going to the county courthouse and looking for their name in the divorce or marriage records. The current address is often listed in the files which are public record. Denise. My Personal Web Page is at: http://pages.prodigy.com/GFVM89A
Entered DENISE A MERRITT DENISESPROEDMERRITT@prodigy.net March 31, 1999

Help for 2-6 year olds
I am the CradleRoll/Kindergarten teacher for our small class of 3 regularly attending students. This is my first year doing it and I have received such a blessing I am considering doing it again next year! Could anyone suggest some books on teaching the age group 2 to 6 year olds? Or some activities? The lesson book is wonderful, but sometimes is a bit too complicated for my particular group. Since this is my first year, I am not skilled with bringing things down to their level. Any suggestions? Robert Lauzon rlauzon@livingonline.com
Entered Robert Lauzon rlauzon@livingonline.com March 31, 1999

Deciding own birthday offering
I teach a class of forty-three in a room that just fits. We've been asked to take a larger room, but the class would have none of it. We are an extended family for each other. I teach the lessson but from much more the standpoint of today's experiences in our persoanal lives. I have three or four pages of questions and my own answers to them. It cheers me to think on the way home how many different people took part in the discussions. Usually 1/3 to 1/2 or more. We have a feature we enjoy and have had or seven or eight years. We call it happy $$. It is an exercise in expressing appreciation vs raising money. It was featured on the satellite broadcast of our camp meeting last year. I got calls from all over the U.S., mostly people who know me, of course. For years Birthday and Thank Offerings went over to the edge of the world and dropped off, never to be heard from again. From quarter to quarter the class considers and decides what we will do with $350 to $500.
Entered William A. ILES (iveryales@aol.com) March 29, 1999

Tracing missing members
I have used the Electoral Rolls and "White Pages on CD" for tracing "missing members" and have followed these up with letters, which have resulted in a number of transfers. But ... I would appreciate hearing any ideas that others may have, so that I may do the work of Church Clerk and Communications Secretary more efficiently. Lexie Lord lexie_lord@bigpond.com.au
Entered by Lexie Lord, lexie_lord@bigpond.com, Dec 11, 1998

Making kids more involved
I am looking for ideas on how to help students in grades 1-8 become more involved in their church. How can grade school students become involved in overseas missions?
Entered by K K Pires, kkpires@primeline.com, Dec 11, 1998

Sabbath school class first
We were having a problem with members not coming to the Pre Sabbath school worship until we exchanged the class times. Now the first thing we do upon arriving is go to class and study God's word. To keep an interest you must meet the needs of members and visitors. We have a "Truthseekers" class that reaches new members and visitors. A "Prophecy" class to teach the signs of the times. A "Senior" Class that is more traditional and contemporary, and youth classes. We have more members attending because of this simple change. Remember, find a need and fill it. Have something for everyone or you risk losing them. The time after class we call our "New Vision" time which leads into our worship service. During this time we have mission stories (far and near), sharing time, answers to prayers, involve the school and youth in programs, etc... . This has been a tremendous blessing and we are reaching more people because they come for class first. I do not know how it would work for you but I know God has blessed us greatly. Until He comes, ~Joel
Entered from by ToB1NJC@aol.com Nov 30, 1998

Sabbath school in Brazil
Here in Brazil, where I live and learned about Jesus' Promises, Sabbath School is one of the more organized services. We have no more than 8 people per class, of which 2 of us are coordinators (missionary and teacher). On friday, we call our class members to find out if their daily study is complete, so the church has 80% of its attendance studying for 7 days. Once a month our class goes out to lunch together, and establishes a firm friendship between all of us. Small groups are the solution for all problems in church services, including Sabbath School. Why don't you try to split your large classes in 2 or 3 smaller ones? Make sure you have coordinators who are really interested in their class members' salvation, people who study hard the Word of God, and also love teaching what they learn. Our church (SDAC of Cidade Dutra - Sao Paulo - Brazil) is growing 20% a year. We now have 314 members and have founded 5 new groups in our district in the last 5 years, all of them started as Sabbath School satelite units, and now our district has more than 750 souls who have accepted Jesus in Baptism, and are preparing many others for His return in the clouds. Please, look at human beings as they are. All of us need friends, and Sabbath School is the best vehicle for friendship programs (if you are in small groups). Also try to have the sermon before Sabbath School, it makes really wonderfull results if your problem is late arrival of members. Nobody want to miss the sermon, so they arrive on time. And once inside the church, the following the Sabbath School program has better attendance. Darcio Alcarde, alcarde@amcham.com.br
Entered from email by Darcio Alcarde, alcarde@amcham.com.br, Nov 25, 1998

The best types of questions
When I take a senior Sabbath school class, I usually just have a list of 20 questions. (Most of the time the class gets so involved answering them, I only get to ask 10 of them.) But don't ask questions starting with the word "do." They can be answered with just "yes" or "no," and the brief answer doesn't get a discussion. However, questions starting with "how," "when," "where," "why," "who," or "what" usually require a longer answer. Asking for a person's opinion is also good -- because they can't be wrong. That's their opinion, even if the opinion is wrong. Trick: If you do ask a question which gets a "yes" or "no" answer, just ask "Why?" Then the person gets to explain why they answered the way they did.
Entered by Phil Ward, Nov 17, 1998

Teacher, be quiet
The best trick I know for running a senior Sabbath school class is to be quiet. If you the teacher are quiet, other people will speak to fill the silence. If you as the teacher ask a question, do not answer it yourself. Be prepared to have 30 seconds silence rather than answer your own question.
Entered by Phil Ward, Nov 17, 1998

Emphasise personal experience
In a message below, Andrea requested help chosing a theme for Sabbath school. My theme would be personal experience. Adventist pioneer Ellen White says we should have regular time for testimonies on Sabbath. I would have them as part of my "personal experience" theme. Each week, ask people what their answers to prayer have been in the last week. Ask how God has blessed them. Give the program to the congregation. Let them share their experiences. Andrea, your church has 800 members. Sharing the experience of those 800 people each week would be an electrifying experience.
Entered by Phil Ward, Nov 20, 1998

I need a theme
I was nominated to be the Sabbath School Superintendent for my church of over 800 members for the next two years...I am looking for a theme for the coming years...Any suggestions? Thank You ever so much, Andrea.
Entered by Andrea of Andinevis@aol.com Nov 20, 1998

Different Sabbath School classes
When I became superintendent of a small Sabbath school, a lot of people were worried. They thought I would push my ideas on them. But I took the opposite view. I allowed them to all have their own views. We had only enough people for three different classes. So I gave each class its own theme. One was a lecture class (taken by a man who later became the first SDA judge in Australia). Another was a discussion class. The third was a "variety" class, where the program was different each week. This way we provided everything that different people wanted. And when we announced the classes, we could describe them in ways that were meaningful for visitors -- so they could go to a class which best suited them. The result was a very successful Sabbath school, which was quite a surprise to those worried about me being given the position.
Entered by Phil Ward, Nov 20, 1998

Plan well ahead
Plan well ahead of time what your activity will be for a Pathfinder meeting. If it is necessary to separate for progressive classes, make it short. Kids get easily bored. Invite a resource person to give a lecture-demo on his/her specialty, like for example astronomy. Plan it on a starry and clear night. A camp-in would make it more exciting as much more stars and planets could be observed.
Entered by Danny Cuizon, danny102@gte.net, Nov 13, 1998

Have lots of resources
Provide lots of resource materials on any subject matter to be discussed. This is to ensure that those working towards an honor knows the subject matter thoroughly.
Entered by Danny Cuizon, danny102@gte.net, Nov 13, 1998

Plan area Pathfinder day
Plan a Pathfinder Day just for your area. This will be a day where the skills that the pathfinders have learned will be tested in a sort of competition between units. Events like tent pitching, knot tying, archery, rope bridge making, starting a fire without a match, orienteering and other practical events. In my experience as Director, this is the most anticipated event of the year besides camporee.
Entered by Danny Cuizon, danny102@gte.net, Nov 13, 1998

Help for elders
For those who have the position of head elder in their church, I would like to know what they are doing in that position. Would like to have some suggestions. Thanks.
Entered by A.E Luttrell lutt@planetc.com -- Nov 10, 1998

Put men on committee
When selecting officers for an Adventist singles club, some clubs make the mistake of not selecting men who have recently separated. "Give them another year before we put them on the committee," is the thought. But men seem to remarry more quickly than women. So by next year's election the man is not available. So not putting newly-separated men on a singles club committee can lead to an unbalanced committee -- of nearly all women plus a few long-term single men. From observation, these men who remarry more quickly seem to be ones who often have the best ideas to run a singles club. Putting them on the committee will often revitalise a club that has gone flat.
Entered by Phil Ward:
October 10, 1998

There's seniors, and seniors
There are seniors and then seniors. Most times age has an effect on their response but not always. I'm 63, a good communicator and have a zing for life and learning as much as ever. I have a good friend 70 yrs that can play most... under the table at hand ball an maybe better if played every week but......... I personally feel if our membership just meets us and possibly find out our lives and experience has many parallels. I would love to be a consultant to so many younger who struggle so... with the simple things of life or work, whether they take any advise or not... at least they have other options to consider or think about. Just to have an interest an be a friend ....so many seniors would or could be more of help if only asked as a friend and let them maybe be a part of your lives..... when ever.
Entered by Noodel, epn@tyler.net, Nov 13, 1998

Twilighters Club
My name is Sandra Gentry, and I belong to Immanuel Temple SDA Church in Durham, North Carolina. I have a suggestion for a senior program. In my church we have a program called the Twilighters Club. In this club, each member of the church that considers themselves seniors (not all do!) lets the club leader know that they are interested in being members of the club. The club leader then solicits younger members of the church to adopt the seniors for the duration of their lives. These seniors become part of the younger member's family, and the younger member's become part of the senior's family. I can say that this is truly a wonderful program. My family and I have had the opportunity to adopt three seniors in our family over the last 15 years. We have lost two seniors due to their passing. But the relationships brought a lot to our lives. All the club requires is that you remember them on important occasions (birthdays, Christmas, etc), and give them a call and check on them during the week. Sometimes this is the only contact some of them may have. I don't know if other churches have this program, so I thought I would pass it along.
Entered by Sandra Gentry, sweetsim@gte.net, Nov 13, 1998

More we can do for them
I want to get involved with the senior citizens in our church--right now the program is dead. I have talked to my friends and they tell me that the have dinners for the seniors, but I think there is more that we can do for them and more they can work with to for the community. I'm open to suggestions. Thank you, Debbie Dick-Takoma Park,MD debbiedick@email.msn.com
Entered by Debbie Dick-Takoma Park,MD, Nov 13, 1998

World-wide story network
I've been asked to be the Religious Liberty director for our church this coming year. For as long as I can remember, this has been an "almost nothing" job primarily designed to supply a coordinator to promote the Liberty magazine campaign once a year. I feel burdened to really make this area more informative and important within our church. Our Lord is coming soon and we are getting messages from everywhere to shout this fact at us but many seem to have a deaf ear. I want to be part of a worldwide network gathering pertinant stories, info, situations etc. that can be used to wake up our people and cause them to think and to act. Feel free to make this area the place to gather those stories. Enter your religious liberty stories in the frame below -- Webmaster.
Entered by BolesB1K2@aol.com Nov 14, 1998