Reach - February, 2009

Reach

Why should Adventism Exist?

In recent decades the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s understanding of Bible prophecy has come under constant attack. People have risen from within and without the church claiming that we need to let go of our prophetic heritage and get with the times.

I have been wrong about many things during my life. In fact,

sometimes I have got it so wrong that it is embarrassing. Making mistakes is part of being human, but it has some important implications for all of us, especially in the church.

Number one, I need to know if I am wrong! Paul says in the last days people will perish because ‘they refused to love the truth and so be saved’ (2 Thess 2:10). If I am following something false I want to know!

Number two, I need to know if I am right! You can be in the right place for all the wrong reasons. Many people attend the Adventist church, ‘because they always have’. Folks, that is great, but in the end it will not be enough. I need

my feet planted firmly on the rock that is Jesus. I need to know Him personally through His word, not the words of others.

Did Jesus establish the Seventh-day Adventist church? Is this thing we call ‘Adventist’ His idea?

I would urge every member to get a copy of George Knight’s latest books, Apocalyptic Vision and the Neutering of Adventism and Lest We Forget to find answers to these important questions.

Pastor Justin Lawman, Evangelism Director, North New South Wales Conference

The Apocalyptic Vision and the Neutering of Adventism ($21.95) and Lest We Forget ($26.95) are both available from the Adventist Book Centre.

House Churches Reloaded

The Christian church emerged as a house church movement. Acts chapter two indicates that the church met together in the houses of individual members, ‘devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Complimenting their fellowship in the ‘house churches’ they regularly met in the temple, the local synagogues and the public squares preaching the Good News primarily as a means of evangelism. It would seem the ‘in house – worship’ experience that we would equate with Sabbath Services happened in the homes of members and the large gatherings or public events were more for evangelistic purposes.

So it remained for the next couple of centuries before the introduction of church buildings (cathedrals) and resident clergy. Essentially the church existed as a network of house churches each committed to growth and multiplication. This model was also adopted by the pioneers of Adventism and contributed to the rapid expansion of the church right across the globe. Adventism began and continues to be a living, dynamic organism, adaptable, diverse and yet unified in its mission to the various cultures in which it moves.

Newcastle Church Plant... Update

One of the key strategies in planting the new church is establishing a network of house churches right across the city of Newcastle each committed to growing through evangelism and reproducing new house churches. Absolutely vital to the long term health of those house churches is the provision of a monthly support network called ‘ConXcell’. ConXcell is a ministry of ‘My_House’ Ministry Centre and is held on the last Monday evening of each month at the Conference Office Chapel starting 7.00pm sharp. It is a workshop experience open for house church leaders and interested participants or anyone interested in starting a house church. ConXcell is not just for the New Church members but welcomes people from all our churches to take advantage of the encouragement and support offered.

You may be saying “Yeah, been there, done that. It didn’t work for me”. House churches can and do work if functioning right. ConXcell is committed to:

• making your house church so exciting people won’t want to miss it.

• inspiring leaders to explore the five ‘W’s’ of a healthy house church.

• providing tools, training, resources, ideas and vision to empower your house church for effective ministry in your neighborhood.

Get plugged into what God has already begun in Newcastle and share in His joy as people give their lives to Jesus.

Please register your interest in linking with the ConXcell Ministry Team by contacting Pastor Mike Robinson:

Mobile: 0414 798 695

Phone: 02 4943 9534

Email: mlrobi1@bigpond.com

Amazing Discoveries

Amazing Discoveries is coming to three churches in the North New South Wales Conference in 2009.

Does life have a purpose? Or are we here as a result of some cosmic accident? These are some of the compelling questions that will be answered at an Amazing Discoveries evangelistic series being held across three locations in the North New South Wales Conference this year.

The Amazing Discoveries series looks at recent discoveries in archaeology and the predictions of the ancient Hebrew prophets that will cause the most sceptical person to question what is happening in the world.

Pastor Justin Lawman, who will be presenting the Amazing Discoveries series, will share irrefutable evidence that we are not alone in the universe, that the world is speeding to the most exciting events in history.

The three churches that will be hosting this series are listed below along with the dates.

Avondale Memorial Church, 13-29 March

Maitland Church, 7-21 May

Lismore Church, 22 May - 6 June

Pastor Justin Lawman, Evangelism Director, North New South Wales Conference

Johnny Wong