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bright-yellow shirt with Matthew 20:28 written on the back: “Jesus came not to be served, but to serve others.” Volunteers tackled a wide range of projects in the nearby communities of Fortuna and Eureka. Many campers worked together to pick up 1,540 pounds of trash along the Eel River (a local television newscast reported on their work). “My favorite part of the day was walking the riverbed with my dad, and finding a muffler that we joked was a piece of NASA equipment that fell from the sky,” said 13-year-old Tim Mason, from the Lodi English Oaks church. “It made me feel good that I knew I was helping clean the world.” A number of volunteers worked at Miranda’s Rescue for Large and Small Animals, where they walked dogs, built goat pens, painted, weeded, and performed other tasks. “The owner was so overwhelmed by the number of volunteers that he had to stop several times—as he was giving us assignments—to tell us how blessed he felt to have so many there,” said Carol Anne Cruise, a member of the Redwood Valley company. The organization’s owners, Shannon Miranda and Dean Paris, later wrote a thank-you message: “You were the best large volunteer group we have had in the past 10 years! . . . Your kindness will never be forgotten!” A number of other volunteers worked at Fortuna’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, making quilts for a women’s shelter and sewing pillowcases for a children’s hospital, among other tasks. The congregation’s public affairs specialist, Sylvia Jutila, helped connect Adventists with volunteer opportunities around Fortuna. “What a fantastic gift to our city,” said Jutila. “All of the places where they served could not get over the wonder-
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NAD NEWS
Jim King (center), pastor of Florida Living Church, Apopka, receives a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the congregation from Frank Barton, Florida Conference Prison Ministries director, and his wife, Maxine, for more than 20 years of correcting Prison Ministry Bible lessons.
ful aid and assistance they provided.” Campers also worked at several food banks, a library, a thrift store, a community center, and another church. “We received so much positive feedback—both from the volunteers and the people they helped—that we plan to make this an annual event,” said Woodson. —Julie Lorenz, Northern California Conference
Church Recognized for More Than 20 Years of Prison Ministries ■■ Correcting Bible studies for prison inmates throughout the state is a more-than-20-year-old ministry of Florida Living church, Apopka. In gratitude for these years of quiet, behind-the-scenes service, Frank Barton, director of prison ministries for the Florida Conference, presented a plaque of appreciation to the church during Sabbath worship on August 1. Barton, whose wife, Maxine, works alongside him, explains the reason volunteers are needed to cor-
Adventist World - nad | October 2015
rect Bible studies: “We receive so many studies to correct that we can’t keep up and do everything else the work requires.” For instance, the Bartons were on the road for Florida prison ministry two weeks out of every month since January 2014. “No one in this organized ministry is paid,” says Barton whose prison ministries work spans 26 years. “Our pay is the blessing from the Lord.” “Bible studies can be corrected by a group or an individual,” says Barton. “Encouraging notes to the inmates written by the volunteers on the returned lesson sheets can make a big difference. We never tell the student that something is wrong with their answers; instead, we write, ‘Have you considered this?’ ” Lesson-correctors don’t have to be theologians, just willing servants. The churches involved with the prison ministry Bible studies are responsible for returning the lessons to inmates. Provided answer sheets aid in the correction of the lessons. Thus, it’s an easy ministry with which to connect. —Betty Kossick, Florida Conference