Grace Notes March 2025 Online Edition

FEBRUARY 2025

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“She” Is the Church

by Max Hammonds

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hroughout the Bible, God’s people – whether the earliest forefathers, the children of Israel, or the church of the New Testament – are referred to as a woman. Some descriptions of a woman – such as Ezekiel 16 or Proverbs 5 – when applied to the church are not very appealing.

Unfortunately, the guiding philosophy of some Christian churches has succumbed and descended to the level of the evils described in these passages. In fact, the Sea Beast and the Scarlet Woman described in Revelation 12 and 17 is the Apostate Church at her worst as she persecutes and attempts to destroy God’s Remnant Church.

But for now let’s look at the Church as God gave Solomon the wisdom to describe it in Proverbs 31:10-31 – the wife of Christ and the mother of all the faithful.

1.

Trustworthy – (v. 11) As a mother, the Church embodies and displays to her own children and to the world the major characteristics of a follower of Jesus – justice, mercy, humility (Micah 6:8). As a mother, the Church is a steward of these values.

According to Paul (1 Corinthians 4:2), above all, a steward must be trustworthy.

2.

Goodness – (v. 12) The attitude and the intent of the Church toward her own and toward the stranger is always to do good and not evil.

3.

Provider – (v. 13-15) As a mother, the Church provides “food” and “clothing” for her own and for the stranger and the needy. Yes, physically these things are important and necessary. But spiritually, the “food” of wisdom from the Word and the “clothing” of the robe of Christ’s righteousness are even more necessary.

4.

Opportunistic – (v. 16-19, 24) The Church is constantly seeking to improve her financial and social position. From this loftier height – her “light on the hill,” she can shine her light the brighter and can more effectively pursue her mission.

5.

Generous – (v. 20) The Church has much to share with others less fortunate. Yes, in physical goods, but the Church has much more valuable spiritual items to share with those who are not fortunate enough to have heard them – up to now. Frequently and purposefully, the two – physical and spiritual – intersect.

6.

Protective – (v. 21-23) The Church hovers over her own, nurturing, comforting, guiding, training them, and healing them when they get hurt – or hurt themselves. The Church is also protective of the reputation of her Husband, nurturing and healing those who misunderstand His character – or countermanding those who purposefully intend to do it harm.

7.

Strong and Dignified – (v. 25) The Church does not bend under the weight of current fads that place charm and/or popular appeal above morals, modesty, and Christian maturity.

8.

Wisdom – (v. 26-27) The Church sits at the feet of her “Husband,” Jesus Christ, and learns from His Word, eagerly seeking to ingest and assimilate every last bit of wisdom. Then she seeks opportunities to share with those in need of such wisdom, gently, lovingly, judiciously.

Her children rise up and bless her; Her Husband also, and He praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised (Proverbs 31:28-30).

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:25-27).

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints (Revelation 19:7, 8).

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2). _______________________________________________ Continued from page 3…

During this time she has initiated and implemented small group Bible studies, the 40-Day Sugar Fast, the holiday tea party and cookie exchange, local women’s retreats, prayer groups, baby and wedding showers, and secret sister program.

One of her main objectives is to mentor and empower ladies of all ages. Although not feeling capable, eventually she heard God clearly that this was a role He wanted her to fill, and He has blessed her on the journey. She credits the amazing Godfearing women of Arden, who love each other and love serving the community, for helping make all her initiatives a success.

Elle’s mind is full of more creative ways to minister. If you have a heart for the women of our church, please let her know you’d like to be involved.

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Women in Ministry

by Sara and Arizona McCord

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he women of the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church are the force behind many of our critical ministries. Two of our largest ministries, Bags of Love and Street Ministry, are led by Kathy Herbert and Pen Braister-Sturgis. They have shown their dedication to God and our community by pouring their hearts and countless hours into these amazing outreaches. Mary Beth Hagan is another lady who has been the glue holding Flag Camp together for about 20 years. We appreciate these ladies for doing good in the name of Jesus!

This article highlights several other women who are vital to the pulse of our church but haven’t yet shared the spotlight on their hard work and dedication.

Donna Strang has ministered to children for over 55 years.

Beginning in her early teens, she stepped forward willingly to fill a need at her home church. Donna currently works as the assistant in the Kindergarten Sabbath School class, after taking a hiatus of 12 years to care for her husband. She quickly moved back into ministering to our little ones because she feels the many varied programs we offer children are part of what makes our church attractive to young families.

Her prayerful intent each week is to present herself as a loving and understanding witness of her wonderful Savior.

If you have enjoyed Sabbath morning church service while wrapped in a cozy blanket shielding you from a draft in the sanctuary, thank Shawn Betchley for her ingenuity and initiative. She has provided comfort for our congregation in this way for four years. Shawn also has served – on and off – as our Bell Choir director for 10 years. Not only do the bells bring a unique beauty to our worship services, but the ministry also serves to help children and adults in our congregation grow, learn and improve their musical skills. This group has even taken their talent into the community to ring for the Salvation Army during Christmas season. Shawn says music is a huge part of her life because it blesses her greatly to serve in this

way. She hopes to expand the beginner’s program in the future.

If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at bells, let Shawn know.

We have been blessed by Ann Marie Bates’ angelic voice.

Now she serves as Chair of our Music Committee, coordinating special music finders. Ann Marie has been involved in the musical aspect of worship since she joined the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in 1990. She feels music reaches the heart in ways beyond language, and that belief drives her passion for this ministry. She also enjoys using her organizational skills, honing her networking ability to get things done.

Throughout the years Ann Marie has seen that participating in church services through music helps children grow in confidence and leadership, positively impacting our community as children expand their reach in the world. If you, or anyone you know, has musical talent, please let Ann Marie know.

Jennifer Zinke works with Ann Marie to bring uplifting music to our worship experiences, coordinating the song leaders and piano/keyboard players. Jennifer loves to use her gift of organization to prepare spreadsheets, ensuring all aspects of the service have a common thread and flow Picture by Pen Braister-Sturgis smoothly. During the past twelve years, she has seen church members (in the sanctuary or online) have a more meaningful worship experience when the service is seamless. Because of Jennifer’s work, our church is well represented to guests and visitors when the message – music, prayer, and sermon – have a shared theme, leading us all into a deeper relationship with God. The youngest of our highlighted, mission-driven woman is Isabel Ruiz who accepted the position of CoDirector of Literature Evangelism in July 2024. She felt convicted to follow the call to action that Ellen White writes in the book The Great Controversy, a vision to share truth-filled literature “like the leaves of autumn”.

This stirring in Isabel’s heart, seeing the spiritual needs of our surrounding community, drove her to take action and launch “The Great Controversy Outreach Project” with her husband in October 2024. Their goal to share God’s message of hope and truth through literature ensures every family has the opportunity to learn about the Three Angles Messages. Not only is this ministry reaching the unchurched, it stirs our congregation awake with a renewed sense of unity and purpose.

An article about Women’s Ministry is incomplete without mentioning Women’s Ministry leader Elle Fritz, serving for four years.

Continued on page 2…

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Three Amazing Adventist Women

By Chris Small Sine Renlev: Denmark’s First Female Adventist Preacher Born in 1850, Sine Renlev at age 28 heard Danish-American Adventist, John Gottlieb Matteson, returning on to his homeland, Denmark. Matteson spoke about the Sabbath and the return of Jesus. Renlev was deeply moved and was baptized within the next year (1879), along with her mother Mette and older sister Anne.

Afterward, both sisters began doing mission work, Anne as a colporteur and Sine giving Bible studies. For the next 17 years, Sine Renlev was at the forefront of the fledgling Adventist mission work in Denmark.

Soon, Renlev began holding meetings herself, not only speaking about the Bible, but also singing and playing her guitar, which attracted all ages. She was licensed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a Bible instructor in 1886.

Following her meeting with Ellen White – in Europe speaking at a camp meeting in Copenhagen, Renlev continued preaching throughout Denmark, sometimes working with other Adventist missionaries; sometimes alone. In 1888, Denmark had only 10 Adventist churches and 244 members. However, as the work continued, 14 would accept the message in one town, 20 in another, as the faith spread and new churches were organized.

In the winter of 1890, Sine Renlev held church planting meetings on the moors of Jutland.

Interest was so high that the local press reported on her work: “It caused quite a stir when a number of Baptists joined the Seventhday Adventist Church.” Renlev herself reported: “On October 11, I came to Ikast, and I have . . . held 40 Bible readings for public congregations, and they have been well attended. Sometimes there were more than 200 in the audience. They have been very attentive, and the Word of God and the Spirit have made deep impressions on them. . . . It has often been hard on me, as the interest has been great and I have been alone, but the Lord has strengthened and sustained me at this time, and all the honor is due to him.”

Renlev was twice invited to work in Norway where she spread the Gospel to the best of her ability. In Denmark in 1893, Renlev held a series of meetings in Jerslev, but to significant opposition: some individuals tried to chase her out of town, throwing stones through

the windows of her boarding house. Nevertheless, Renlev persisted for two months. Seven people were baptized, forming the nucleus for a new Adventist church.

Her work continued through the 1890s, and in July 1897, Sine Renlev married Niels Kristian Andersen. Unfortunately for their marriage and the faith she loved, Renlev (now known as Jensine Andersen) contracted tuberculosis, making it impossible for her to speak. In 1899, Renlev—Denmark’s first female Adventist preacher—died at age 49. Her ministry spanned less than two decades, but her influence and legacy are still felt 125 years later.

Rosetta Douglass Sprague: African American Adventist Activist In 1838, the soon-to-be famous Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery and married Anna Murray, a free black woman. They found refuge in New Bedford/Fairhaven, Massachusetts (where Joseph and Prudence Bates, founding members of local anti-slavery societies, lived). The first of their five children, Rosetta was born June 24, 1839.

Wanting an education for Rosetta, her parents sent her to Albany, New York, where she lived with and was tutored in reading, writing, and sewing by the Quaker abolitionist sisters Abigail and Lydia Mott. On returning home (now Rochester, New York), Rosetta and her siblings were tutored by a Quaker governess, Phebe Thayer.

In 1848, Rosetta entered Seward Seminary, a prestigious girls’ school. Frederick and Anna Douglass were dismayed to find that Rosetta, the only African American student, was segregated and taught by herself in a separate room. The father began speaking out for desegregation of Rochester schools. Eventually Rosetta attended Oberlin College’s preparatory school, then took teacher training at Salem Normal School.

In 1847, Frederick Douglass started an abolitionist newspaper called the “North Star.” Its motto was: “Right is of no Sex – Truth is of no Color – God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren.” At age 11, Rosetta began folding and mailing those papers, becoming an assistant to her father, sometimes taking dictation for his lectures and editorials. The family home was also a haven for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. “As she learned the administrative tasks behind abolitionist and women’s rights causes,” observed researcher Ann O’Leary, “Rosetta developed a strong sense of racial justice and gender equality.”

Her father had hoped Rosetta, after her schooling, would return and be a partner in his work. Though she remained close to him and advised him, Rosetta had other aspirations. She worked as a teacher for a year and a half, then married Nathan Sprague, who—like her father—had escaped slavery and been employed for a time by the Douglass family in Rochester. Rosetta and Nathan had seven children between 1865 and 1877.

Rosetta Douglass Sprague moved to Washington, D.C., with her husband and children around 1876/77. Thirteen years later, she began to explore the Seventh-day Adventist faith through the encouragement of an old school friend from Oberlin College, Isabelle Howard and her physician/civil servant husband James Howard, members of the First Seventh-day Adventist church in Washington, D.C. (organized in 1889). Rosetta may have been hesitant when she heard Adventists in Kentucky were segregated but was reassured that the D.C. congregation was thoroughly interracial from its very beginning. (In fact, James Howard related this incident in one of his letters to General Conference President

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Olsen, concerned about any possible un-Christian racial discrimination within the young denomination.)

Though first joining an Episcopalian church in D.C., sometime within the 1890s Rosetta joined the Howard’s Seventh-day Adventist congregation, where she became an active and prominent member. She wrote: “. . .Doubts as to the authority for substituting Sunday for the seventh day, set apart in Scripture as a day of rest, arose in my mind, and led to my uniting with the Adventists.”

During this decade, Rosetta Douglass Sprague, now in her 50s, increased her public advocacy for social reform. She was the opening speaker in July 1896 for the organizing conference of the National Association of Colored Women, becoming a founding member along with 75-year-old Harriet Tubman and other attendees.

In May 1900, Rosetta gave her most famous speech (later published as a pamphlet) at a conference of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union: “Anna Murray Douglass—My Mother As I Recall Her,” a tribute to Anna Douglass’ non-public acts, loyalty, and courage which made possible the very public achievements of Frederick Douglass. Rosetta also wrote “What Role is the Educated Negro Woman to Play in the Uplifting of Her Race?” in which she suggested “to those who are disposed to criticize . . . , allow the Negro two hundred and fifty years of unselfish contact to offset the two hundred and fifty years of Caucasian selfishness, and be as assiduous in his regeneration as you were in his degradation—then judge him.”

Adventist historian Douglas Morgan wrote: “Rosetta Douglass Sprague, daughter and assistant to the most influential African American leader of the 19th century, wife, mother, orator, author, activist, and Seventh-day Adventist, died at age 67 in Washington on November 25, 1906. She was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York.” Though she has been sleeping in Christ for 118 years, her work lives on, calling for Adventists today to be inclusive and unselfish, as welcoming to every person regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or background as Jesus and the Bible authors called us to be.

Mimi Scharffenberg: Missionary to Korea Mimi Scharffenberg was born November 7, 1883, in Missouri, oldest of eight siblings. Although confirmed in the Lutheran Church at age 14, Mimi and her mother – having moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, attended a series of Bible lectures and were baptized after three months into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Within the next two years, Mimi Scharffenberg attended Battle Creek College, then returned home to Milwaukee where she worked as a colporteur and Bible instructor. She was engaged to be

married, but her fiancé did not share her faith and they broke off the engagement.

Nearly 23 years old (in 1906), she had a compelling dream, strangely reminiscent of Apostle Paul’s vision of the Macedonian calling (Acts 16:9). In the dream, Scharffenberg saw many strangelooking women beckoning her and calling her to come to them.

Only a few days later, Scharffenberg received an invitation from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists to serve as a missionary in Korea. Recalling her dream, she prayed fervently and answered she would go, setting sail for Korea on December 5.

When Mimi Scharffenberg arrived in Sunan, Korea, she boarded with other missionaries, the Smith family. In time, she bought a compound with two houses. One was converted into a dormitory for a boys’ school she helped organize. Scharffenberg also started a worker’s training course for Korean believers, then oversaw the opening of a girls’ school in Chinnampo, some distance away.

In September 1909, Scharffenberg sold her Sunan compound to the mission, moving to Seoul. She served as Superintendent of Sabbath Schools and, learning the Korean language, was involved in publishing work. She translated Adventist Bible readings books, a work on Daniel & the Revelation, and books by Ellen White. In 1909-1918, she was the editor of two different Adventist journals, including the Korean version of “Signs of the Times.” Her knowledge of Korean also made Scharffenberg a natural interpreter for General Conference workers and other visiting missionaries.

Wanting to train and educate women in Korea, she organized women’s Bible institutes in the local language. As in her dream of beckoning women, she was accepted, appreciated, and came to be known as Lady So. On becoming ill, in 1918, Scharffenberg returned to the United States for medical attention.

Her sister Theodora later wrote that though sick on her journey, Scharffenberg met a woman interested in the Bible.

Scharffenberg studied the Scriptures with her on the ship. Eventually, she accepted the Adventist faith and became a Bible instructor herself. Once home, Scharffenberg did not get better, but died on December 19, 1919.

In the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, Chigemezi Nnadozie Wogu gives this tribute: “In spite of her tragic and early death, Mimi Scharffenberg left a formidable legacy . . . [as] the first single woman missionary to Korea. Her life and 12 years of missionary efforts became an example for other Adventist women . . . play[ing] a key role in establishing Adventism in its earliest years in Korea. Her translation and editorial work helped spread the Adventist message in the Korean language and reached Koreans in their own context. . . . focus[ing] on the training of Korean women.”

Scharffenberg’s “missionary courage and zeal” and her willingness to “follow a dream,” can still be a source of inspiration for faithful Christians today.

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ADRA Responds to USAID Funding Pause

By Max Hammonds SILVER SPRING, MD (February 7, 2025) – Seventh-day Adventists have a long tradition of using both personal and church resources to support those whose lives are threatened by hunger, poverty, sickness, disasters, and civil unrest. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was established in 1984 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church . . . to secure funds from governments worldwide for humanitarian work, including through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) . . . to carry out this mission.

Decades of Global Impact with USAID Support For over four decades, ADRA offices worldwide have been blessed to receive hundreds of millions of dollars from various governments and USAID, allowing the agency to deliver life-saving aid to children, women, families, and communities in need across every continent. This support has been vital in advancing ADRA’s mission: to serve humanity with compassion, justice, and love so that all may live as God intended.

Example: In 2024, ADRA partnered with the non-profit organization ANERA to launch the Gaza Emergency Food Project.

This effort provided over 28,500 hot meals through community kitchens in North Gaza, distributed essential hygiene kits to help prevent disease, and delivered more than 7,300 food parcels containing vital staples like cooking oil, potatoes, and local seasoning spices.

Example: The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) mobilized emergency operations in Spain after torrential rains devastated entire municipalities, mainly in the region of Valencia, on October 29, 2024. “Our response capacity has been very fast because we have volunteers in the affected area,” explains Olga Calonge, ADRA country director for Spain. “Within 24 hours of the emergency, as soon as the magnitude of the crisis was seen, our emergency response team and volunteers joined forces with municipalities to clear streets and support recovery efforts. ADRA has established critical distribution hubs to rapidly ensure that relief reaches affected areas.”

U.S. Government’s Unprecedented Action to Pause USAID Funding On January 20, 2025, the United States Government took the unprecedented action of pausing for 90 days nearly all the programs

it funds through nonprofit organizations, like ADRA. Some of these USAID funds, which support global program implementation, are allocated to US-based ADRA International, while others are directly disbursed to ADRA network offices in Africa, the Middle East, and South America.

USAID Review Process and Potential Impact on ADRA Programs USAID has stated that during the pause and review phase, each program it funds will be evaluated to determine if it aligns with the goals of the current U.S. government administration. On February 3, 2025, the U.S. government announced its intention to shutdown USAID and merge its operations into the U.S. State Department. USAID-funded programs are temporarily suspended until the assessment process is completed and decisions regarding future funding are made.

ADRA’s Proactive Response to Ensure Continuity In response, ADRA is proactively seeking alternative funding to continue its suspended life-saving programs. The organization is also working to utilize other available resources to keep critical initiatives operational during this review period . . . to support these essential projects.

Ongoing Dialogue with the U.S. State Department ADRA International is making every effort to stay in communication with the U.S. State Department to secure waivers and facilitate the review of current USAID-funded ADRA programs.

Although hop[ing] for a positive outcome, ADRA . . . remains committed to helping people in need [while] . . . preparing for any challenges that may arise in case of less desirable results.

ADRA’s Commitment to Service Amid Change Rooted in its well-crafted humanitarian programs and its unique role within the broader Seventh-day Adventist community, ADRA remains steadfast in its commitment to serve with integrity and grace. By remaining apolitical, ADRA is confident in its ongoing relationship with the U.S. and other governments that provide essential assistance through nonprofit organizations. While recent changes have come swiftly, we know that the nature and scope of government-funded aid programs are constantly evolving. ADRA, guided by faith and resilience, has always been ready to adapt, trusting in God’s wisdom and direction to continue fulfilling His mission to serve those in need.

Grateful for Unwavering Support ADRA is profoundly grateful for the unwavering support of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, donors, partners, volunteers, and communities. Guided by justice, compassion, and love, ADRA remains dedicated to delivering life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable today and in the future.

About ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church serving in 118 countries. Its work empowers communities and changes lives around the globe by providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. ADRA’s purpose is to serve humanity so all may live as God intended.

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Xerxes and Esther: Part XV E

setare had chosen wisely to reveal the Hamana’s plot to our emperor, Khshayarsha, king of all Persia, in this intimate banquet setting. Had she blurted it in open court instead, O Reader, it would have set off a firestorm of speculation and publicly called the king’s judgment into question. Having just escaped death when Khshayarsha held out his scepter, Esetare would have immediately put her life back in jeopardy by forcing the king to save face in open court. Without the planning we had done and the wisdom bestowed during her three days of prayer and fasting, Esetare could easily have become another Vashti, never to be heard from again.

When Esetare now pointed to the Hamana, denouncing his selfish and underhanded solution to his “Jew problem,” the plot to annihilate an entire people group within the Persian Achaemenid empire, it was just the king, queen, and the Hamana himself present, with a minimum of eunuchs, guards, and servants hovering about the periphery of the banquet room.

Khshayarsha could decide how he really felt, without other pressures or factors forcing his hand.

Esetare pointed: “Your majesty, my attacker and enemy is this man, one who has betrayed your trust, who turns your gifts of authority to his own lethal ends, who will kill me along with all my people. It is none other than this evil Hamana!”

I watched the emperor’s face. He looked from Esetare to the Hamana, and must have seen guilt etched upon his features, for I saw recognition dawn across his eyes, which first grew wide, then narrowed in realization and fury. The king was no fool; he simply had not put all the pieces together until this moment.

With the wit of one who has played the great game of power for years, Khshayarsha grasped how the Hamana had duped him and unwittingly made him an accessory to his own queen’s murder. Rage and restraint fought in the king’s face. Without a word, he stood and strode out of the room, through the portico, and into the garden. I assumed he wanted a moment to exert

self-control, regain his composure, and think of how he might reverse this error.

With Khshayarsha momentarily gone, I looked back at the Hamana. His face was a tragic mask. He too was reacting to this startling, frightening disclosure. Ever more clearly, he was realizing the grave error he had made. Dismayed, he approached the queen.

Esetare dropped her pointing arm to the couch where she reclined at the end of the banquet. Her face was pale as she sipped from her cup, clearly trying to steady herself for whatever would come next. Harbona (one of the king’s most trusted eunuchs, who was attending him that night as I was attending Esetare) and I both stepped closer to her as the Hamana drew near. What were his intentions? Suddenly the man flung himself down at the end of the queen’s couch, prostrate on the foot end of the furniture. He had seen Khshayarsha’s rage and came to the quick conclusion that he must plead for his life with his accuser, the queen, else he was a dead man.

“Your majesty,” the Hamana began to stammer, “I had no idea that you were one of these people, else I would never. . . .”

But his halting, half-sobbed words were silenced as the king came back into the room. He saw where the Hamana had thrown himself down, and with curled lip said: “Will he dare assault the queen with me in the house?”

Perhaps from Khshayarsha’s viewpoint, it looked as if the Hamana were trying to attack the queen in her own dining room, possibly for revenge at her revelation. Or maybe the king was referring to the entire plot to kill the Jews and Esetare herself, thus far all successfully carried out by the Hamana within the walls of Khshayarsha’s own palace. Either way, it was clear that the trust Khshayarsha had placed in him was now stripped away, that the noble’s time had come.

The king’s word had the force and finality of a decree. Harbona and I acted instinctively, both reaching out to observe the custom: we covered the face of the condemned man. Intuitively, Harbona spoke up in the quiet manner of one accustomed to being fed information from throughout Shushen and giving discreet advice to the emperor, “I have been made aware that the Hamana has prepared a very tall “tree” at his very own house upon which to hang his enemy Marduka, the same one who has just been honored today for his good words which warned the king.”

“A display pole, you say?” replied Khshayarsha, his voice hard.

“It will not be for the man whom the king delights to honor.

Impale this treacherous Hamana on it instead!”

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Flooding and Respiratory Illness T

he recent events of Hurricane Helene and its aftermath have reminded the health care community once again about wetness and respiratory disease. The torrents of rain and the overflowing streams and rivers were a startling reminder of the destructive power of water at high speed. The drownings and injuries as people seek to escape are obvious enough. But the insidious nature of wetness and breathing difficulties isn’t obvious until it suddenly springs to life.

Children from multiple schools that could not hold classes volunteered to help clean up destroyed buildings, clean out mud, and remove soaked dry wall in flooded structures.

Within a week to ten days, a great outbreak of respiratory problems in these children and other young adults (usually healthy and able to tolerate strenuous situations) inundated the local hospitals. Pulmonary doctors were occupied fully in treating these patients, some of whom were hospitalized with life-threatening conditions.

Likewise, the people whose homes and businesses were destroyed have been living in temporary housing – tents, yurts, camping trailers and mobile homes – positioned on the land that was flooded.

These also have experienced a high incidence of persistent respiratory problems, some requiring hospitalization.

What happened?

Flood water contains whatever the surging waters encountered on its journey through places it was never intended to touch. As a result, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, biotoxins, sewage, and water-borne pathogens mixed with the dirt, rocks and silt of the flood waters. They swirled through the buildings and over the normally dry ground, leaving a muddy residue of all these harmful materials on the floors, walls and ceilings of the buildings and coating the streets, sidewalks, and normally dry ground.

When these dried sediments are disturbed by normal walking, driven vehicles, or the scraping of the crusted residue out of structures, all these contaminants become microscopic airborne dust. This dust, when inhaled into the small airways of the lung, causes allergic and asthmatic reactions to the irritants and pneumonic infections by sewage bacteria that are highly infectious, difficult to treat, and can

spread throughout the body with catastrophic results.

The second pulmonary hazard of flooded buildings is the mold that grows quickly in porous materials like dry wall, plaster, and bricks and mortar. These spores of mold are in high concentration outdoors and are stirred up during the clean-up activities following the flood. But the highest concentrations of spores are indoors where air-clearing ventilation is more difficult.

The mold reproduces by spore production, microscopic particles which when inhaled in high concentration, cause asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, eye irritation, and cough. In addition, the spores grow mold in these airway passages and is again difficult to treat.

What can be done to prevent or lessen the exposure to these air-borne respiratory contaminants and infectious particles? Several steps are helpful both before a heavy rain or flood and after their occurrence.

Before the downpour/flood: – Repair roofs, clean gutters, and seal around skylights, windows, vent pipes, and chimneys – the most vulnerable entry points of water.

– Empty septic tanks and install backflow valves on sewer lines to prevent sewage backup.

– seal cracks in outer walls and build barriers around basement windows to prevent water from entering.

– Install a sump pump in the basement to drain water leaked into a basement.

After the downpour/flood: – minimize contact with flood water and avoid staying in regions or buildings affected by flood waters until all is dry and safe.

– Dispose of flood water and sediment. Use N95 masks, gloves, and boots when dealing with these contaminated materials.

– Remove affected porous materials, rugs, other permeable materials and dispose of them in sealed bags. Wear a mask when doing so because removal of these materials throws highly contaminated particles into the air.

– Dry out damp buildings by opening doors and windows, using exhaust fans, and using dehumidifiers in damp basements.

– clean and disinfect anything that has been in contact with the flood waters.

These warnings and recommendations should be put in place wherever possible, even weeks and months after the event to prevent ongoing exposure to toxic materials, serious sewage bacteria, and molds and spores.

Much of the material for this article comes from Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing, “Respiratory Health Harms often Follow Flooding,” Azimi, P and Allen, J, posted Nov. 9, 2022.

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China Explodes

by Tom Arany

Movement, “Statement of Faith.”)

Since that time the church has experienced a literal explosion in growth. Reports from the mid-1900's suggests the number of SDA churches at only a few hundred in all of China, and many of those, simple home “churches.” The experience of the church in the Szechwan Province, an interior province just north of the Himalayan Mountains, provides an example of how SDA work might have advanced in continental China as a whole.

The history of Adventism in Szechwan began in 1914 when American and Chinese missionaries arrived in Chongqing.

Adventist missionaries in Szechwan were organized under the Szechwan Mission, which later split into East Szechwan, West Szechwan, and Tibetan Missions. Missionary activity in China generated controversy among many native Chinese and faced opposition from popular riots and later the Communist movement in China. In the mid-1930’s in Szechwan, numerous mission properties were destroyed and native church leaders killed by communists. Foreign missionary activity ceased after the communist take-over of China in 1949.

The 1952 SDA Yearbook acknowledged that political circumstances made it impossible to accurately report any mission activities in China. Under government oppression in the 1950's, Adventist congregations and other Protestant Churches across China severed their ties with overseas denominations and their congregations merged into the Three-Self Patriotic Church.

Since 1980, their services have been provided by the China Christian Council.

On May 22, 2010, Rebekah Liu was ordained pastor for the church in her home province of Szechwan which was started by her mother in 1988.

According to a Spectrum report, more than 10,000 Christians adhered to the Adventist tradition in Szechwan at that time, with five ordained pastors, four of whom were women. Rebekah attended the first Women in Pastoral Ministry Conference in Papua New Guinea in 2013, where she shared her life story, telling how she struggled to go from a communist and evolutionist background to a full-time SDA pastor in Chengdu. As of 2023, twenty-seven Adventist churches are active in the province.

The leadership of the women in this family is evidently not unique – either in Chengdu or Szechwan Province, or in the country of China as a whole. Apparently, when men were imprisoned for their adherence to the gospel, women of the family took over. This demonstrates that God is no respecter of persons. When a person, regardless of gender, commits their life to the gospel ministry, there is no end to the results. Female leadership has become commonplace in the Chinese Christian community, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church is no exception.

Growth of the SDA church in China is proof of effectiveness.

According to the SDA Department of Statistics, the SDA church has grown from a very fledgling position with 817 Chinese churches in 2019, to 3,808 churches and just under a half million members in the last three or four years.

THAT'S AN EXPLOSION! Page 9 | www.ArdenAdventist.org

Sylvester’s Leash

by Pen Braister-Sturgis

H

ave you ever done something you thought was a great idea? Your family said not to do it, but you did it anyway? This story involved Molly, our dog, and Sylvester, our cat.

One Sunday morning I got Molly’s leash out to go on a walk.

“You’re taking Molly for a walk?” asked Brittany, our daughter. “She’ll like that.”

“No, I’m taking Sylvester for a walk. I’m going to train him to be a cat who goes on walks using the leash,” I told Brittany.

“You know Sylvester’s a cat, right?” Brittany asked. “Cats don’t go on walks.”

“Well, this older Floridian lady on Facebook trained her cat to go on a walk using a leash. I thought, ‘What a cool idea!’ I’ll train Sylvester to do the same thing.”

Immediately, Brittany called our son Andy. “Andy, Mommy’s taking Sylvester for a walk using Molly’s leash!”

“She’s what?” Andy responded.

“Why is she doing that?! Cats don’t go on walks with people.” Andy rushed into our kitchen and I had to explain the whole story to him.

“You know, not everything you see on Facebook is true,” Andy told me.

“This is really a dumb idea. You shouldn’t do this. What if the neighbors see you? They’ll think you’re crazy.”

Despite this discouragement, I got little Sylvester ready for his first walk. He was a tiny cat then so it was very easy to get Molly’s leash around his neck. As we began, I was disappointed our next-door neighbor, Don, wasn’t outside to see me with Sylvester. But we kept walking, slowly, to not freak little Sylvester out.

We walked on the road passed Mindy’s home. She’s the neighbor with the young daughter, whom I knew would be outside and who loves animals. The minute the little girl saw us, she smiled, waved. I knew she was excited to see Sylvester walking with me.

Walking toward Mindy and her young daughter to let her pet Sylvester, I felt a strong pull. Before I knew it, Sylvester broke the leash and ran so fast I couldn’t see the direction he went.

Immediately I ran back toward our home, yelling, “Sylvester got away! Sylvester ran away!!”

Andy saw me first. “You sound surprised. I knew this was a bad idea. No one walks their cats. This is why old people shouldn’t do Facebook. They believe everything.”

“What a mess,” Brittany agreed. “Poor Sylvester. You probably traumatized him for life. What direction did he run?

This is a big neighborhood. He could be anywhere.”

“Please help me look for him,” I pleaded with my kids. “He’s just a little guy. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I hope nothing bad happens to him.”

For the remainder of the day, Brittany, Andy, and my husband Jerry looked for Sylvester. I stayed at home, praying all day to Jesus to bring our little kitten back to our family. I was so sad! Even poor Molly, our beloved dog, didn’t know what was happening, but she stayed by my side, bringing me comfort.

I prayed for Sylvester to return and trust me again. I knew God had given this cat to Jerry. He had found Sylvester lying by his tire on Thanksgiving Day where we fed homeless people. Although he never wanted a cat, Andy and I persuaded him to keep Sylvester, since it was his tire the poor kitten sat next to. Jerry didn’t look as upset as I was over this ‘walkingyour-cat disaster,’ yet he felt bad for me. He knew Andy and I loved Sylvester and wanted him back.

As evening approached, about 6 hours after the human-cat walk, Jerry heard sounds by our fence behind our home.

Sylvester was stuck in the fence by his “dog” collar, and Jerry rushed out to free him.

I was so relieved Sylvester was alive! I immediately wanted to pet him and explain how sorry I was about the entire experience.

“I wouldn’t touch him, if I were you,” Andy said.

“You’re probably the last person he wants to see.”

I looked at Sylvester; he glared back! I imagined his thinking, “Don’t get near me, lady. Because of you, I’m down to 8 lives!”

I learned three things from this experience. 1) Listen to your family when they tell you to NOT do something. Your family is smarter than FB. 2) Don’t mess with God’s creatures and His creation. Cats walk alone; dogs walk with people. 3) Love, food, and patience fixes a lot of things. Even cats respond to them, given enough time.

Sylvester and I are friends again. He learned to trust me and I never made him do something dogs do. My job is to feed and pet him; his job is to stay a cat. I thank Jesus for making cats and dogs – and for answering our prayers when we make dumb mistakes.

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Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church Is a Safe Place to Grow.

Our family focus this month features LeRoy and Judy Otter. They are in the process of transferring their memership to the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church.

LeRoy was born and raised in southern Africa where his parents were Seventh-day Adventist missionaries. His father was an Administrative Pastor/Educator and his mother was a self-taught nurse/educator. He had one sister and one brother who are both deceased.

Judy was born and raised in Owosso, Michigan and also raised as a Seventh-day Adventist.

She has two brothers and one sister.

LeRoy attended Southwestern Union College from 1970-1972. He received his B.S. Degree in Social Work (Summa Cum Laude) from Loma Linda University and then went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in 1976. He has certifications/licenses in five different areas in Social Work and Chaplaincy.

Judy attended Adelphian Academy for two years and Ozark Academy for two years. She attended and graduated from Southwestern Union College in Keene, Texas in 1973 with a B.A. in Education and Business.

LeRoy worked from 1976 until 2003 for the Advent Health/Shawnee Mission Medical Center in the Social Work Department. He provided clinical social work services with rotations on psychiatry and on all the medical/surgical/OB/GYN and substance abuse units and served in many other capacities in Social Work. He also served as a Chaplain for Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Trinity Nursing and Rehab Center. He was a Field Practicum Instructor for several graduate social work students and has received several outstanding service awards while working at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center. LeRoy is now retired.

Judy worked as an Administrative Secretary for forty years at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Kansas and worked for the chaplain, nursing and administration areas. She retired in 2017.

LeRoy and Judy have been married for fifty-one years. They met while in college, started dating, and the rest is history! They lived in Kansas for 48 years, living in the same home for 37 of those years.

Their hobbies include camping, especially in the fall and winter seasons. Recently they visited thirteen state parks in South Carolina. She enjoys flower gardening and reading, and she volunteered in Kansas for a food pantry. He also enjoys reading, auto repair, hiking and boating. They have traveled in the U.S. and Canada, traveling in the same car for thirty-six years, putting 348,000 traveling miles on it. The car is a Toyota Camry.

The Otters first visited Fletcher, North Carolina in 2018 when they went to camp meeting at Lake Junaluska. More recently they came for their grandnephew and grandniece’s academy graduations (both are at Southern Adventist University now). In June 2024, a villa became available at Fletcher Park Inn. They took another tour, really liked one particular unit, and agreed to lease it.

They started to downsize their home in Kansas, putting their house on the market. They feel it was truly providential and in God’s plan for them to move. The first person looking at it bought their house that sold in one day. They moved into their new villa on October 30, 2024.

Arden church members David and Cynthia Dobias invited them to visit Arden. They have really enjoyed the church services and have been attending the Sabbath School class led by DeWayne Butcher. They enjoy Pastor Eric’s sermons, the friendliness of Arden church members, and that Arden includes all age groups during their services. They have been helping out with the Grace Notes mailing group and look forward to learning about being involved with other ministries.

We are so happy to welcome LeRoy and Judy Otter to the Arden church family!

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Our Purpose is, by God’s Grace, to reflect His character in our community, to demonstrate a quality of life that will attract all to be reconciled to Jesus Christ, and to encourage people to become His loving, maturing disciples.

Grace Notes Editorial Staff: Max Hammonds ...............................................Editor Chris Small.................................................Columnist Jean Davey..................................................Columnist Max Hammonds ..................Reporter & Columnist Pen Braister-Sturgis ..................................... Reporter Sara McCord ................................................. Reporter Dan Reynolds ............................................... Reporter Arizona McCord ............... Reporter & Proofreader Chris Small ..................................... Special Graphics Jim & Carolyn Sullenberger ................Proofreaders Nolan Darnell ........................ Mailing Management Shirley Wallstrom ...................Circulation Manager Whitney Barron .................................Layout Design Comments, suggestions and praises are always welcome. Please email or contact the church office.

Services each Saturday morning: Sabbath School Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service, 10:45 a.m.

Location: 35 Airport Road, Arden, NC 28704 Located on Highway 280, (Airport Road), 1.5 miles east of I-26 exit 40, and a quarter mile west of Highway 25.

Church Office: Office Manager: Whitney Barron Telephone: (828) 684-6700 Email: office@ardenadventist.org Website: www.ardenadventist.com Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs.,10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Arden Adventist Pastoral Staff: Senior Pastor: Eric Bates, D. Min. Email: ebates@carolinasda.org Associate/Youth Pastor: Rich Maskelony, M .Div. Email: rmaskelony@carolinasda.org Grace Notes is published monthly by the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church. Subscription is free by calling or emailing the office. †Do you have questions about what Adventists believe? Would you like to become a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Would you like to study the Bible? You are invited to attend a Pastor’s Bible Study Class. Please call for location and time. All are always welcome. † Disclaimer—The contents of Grace Notes, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained in this magazine of the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider, who is knowledgeable and experienced in the use of specific medical or Lifestyle Medicine interventions, or about questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice, or delay in seeking it, because of information published in this magazine. Neither Grace Notes nor the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church recommend or endorse any specific tests, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in published articles.

Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.

If you have a medical emergency, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately.

Arden Adventist

GRACE N TES A Magazine for Sharing God’s Love In Our Community

Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church 35 Airport Road Arden, North Carolina 28704 (828) 684-6700 If you no longer wish to receive Grace Notes, or if your address has changed, please contact us.

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Grace Goes On February 7, 2025 If you’ve ever been forgiven; if you’ve been held when you were wrong, or bitter, or confused—you know the grace that never can repay the giver.

So, we surrender to the goodness God implants in human hearts. “We know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love” (Rom 5:5). We come to understand God’s grace when we are loved extravagantly, without apparent cause, and with no expectation of response. We vow with everything within that we will love as we’ve been loved—without return; without reward; just for the Lord.

This “common grace” is strikingly uncommon, but always welcome, always valued, and indelibly remembered. “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

The grace that reached to you – now reaches from you to the loveless, the careless, and the thoughtless. Grace never was for you alone. Keep giving grace. And it will stay with you.

Bill Knott – Grace Notes

Recipe of the Month Healthy Eggplant Parmesan INGREDIENTS � 2 lbs. eggplant � 2 C bread crumbs, panko � 2 Tbsp peanut oil � 4 cloves garlic � ¼ C olive oil � 1 quart pasta sauce � Salt to taste � 10 oz. mozzarella cheese � 3 Tbsp fresh basil Servings per recipe: 6 Prep time: 35 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes DIRECTIONS -Peel and slice eggplant into ½ inch thick slices. Salt and let sweat for 1 hour. Heat oil in sauce pan and add minced garlic over medium heat. Add sauce and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

-Rinse eggplant and dry with a clean towel. Toss breadcrumbs with a little oil then press them into the eggplant and roast in the oven turning once during baking time. (25-30 minutes). Once baked thoroughly on both sides, spread a thin layer of sauce onto a 9x13 baking dish. Layer - eggplant, sauce, basil and top with mozzarella until all the ingredients are used.

-Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes.

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SyllableS from the PSalmS Fill in the answers to the clues by using all the syllables in the Syllable Box below. The number of syllables to use in each answer is in parentheses. The number of letters in each answer is the dashes. Each syllable will be used only once. All words are from Psalm 78 in the NASB. ֍ SYLLABLES ֍ AD AP BEL BERED BLE CA COM CON DENCE DI E ES FI GENT GRASS GRA HER HOP I I IN LAS LI LI LISHED LY MEM MO MORE NATE NI NY OUS PA PAS PER POIN QUI RA RE RE RIES SA SIO SY TAB TANCE TED TES TI TING TY VEN VER VER 1: Intensely sympathetic

(4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2: Resisting authority

(4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

3: Long-legged insect

(3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

4: Story with lesson

(3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

5: Carved

(2) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

6: Without end

(4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

7: Set up

(3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

8: Brought to mind

(3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

9: Conscientiously

(4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

10: Fig tree

(3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

11: Received at death

(4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

12: Opponents

(4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

13: Sworn statement

(4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

14: Designated

(3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

15: Trust

(3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

16: Wickedness

(4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

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