Ephesus by Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church

EPHESUS Preview Issue [January/February 2014]

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2 01 4 4 Faith that Works 10 Great Camp Meeting 13 Baby Dedication

In This Issue Faith that Works……………………………..4 Family Life Consecration Service………..6 Teen Leadership Training………………….7 Healthy Cooking with Friends…………….8 Hit the Mark in Sabbath School…………..9 The Great Camp Meeting………………..10 Victor Bartley’s Installation……………….12 Baby Dedication: Serenity Williams…….13 Business Spotlight: Vincent Bartley……………………………..14

New Year New Theme Pastor Pooler talks about “Faith that Works” This year’s theme is inextricably aligned with the Kingdom of God. That’s our mission! We can’t set aside the Biblical mission of the Body, and we certainly can't overlook the Kingdom of God as we push toward His faith agenda. When it comes to “Faith that Works,” we must know that our Biblical beliefs really do come in harmony with right living.

“Always rem because you standing with role doesn't you're in rig with G

Simply put, if we submit to the Word of God and begin to incorporate them as a baseline and not an alternative, we will truly see a faith that works, in our health, worship, family, finances, relationships, which will produce an advent spirit. This kind of dynamic living will yield a practical, viable, and coherent consistent, thriving existence that pleases God, but is sure to offend the world. Let’s be clear about one thing. God called us to be blessed! 4

But in order to inherit the Kingdom blessings we must attain it by faith living. Our SDA faith really does work! When we step away from trying to get the approval of man and stop being asphyxiated on people-pleasing, God will begin to abide with us. When we take off the mask and stop pretending, we in turn will experience a Holy Ghost paradigm shift.

Goals for the Year

1 Keep Jesus Christ first

and lift Him up while adding 30 new souls to our glorious fellowship through outreach, Churchpond.com, and evangelism (we need you to invite people to the best church in A godly determination will South Carolina). Every minisengulf us to desire that our life try of our church has been pleases God to the point that challenged with at least one He must acknowledge it from heavoutreach day, twenty-two outen and put us in situations that reach days in all. Boast about make us better and more aligned where you worship, it’ll do with the living will of God. wonders! Always remember, just because you're in right standing with the church role doesn't mean that you're in right standing with God. That’s where the Beatitudes come in.

member, just u're in right h the church t mean that ght standing God.”

In the Beatitudes, Jesus Christ makes it clear that He wants more than correct posture in the pews. His desire is right living when it's dark.

As the Spirit has spoken to me for what to teach and preach this year, I believe we are in line for a supernatural move of God. It won’t be a bed of roses to make this shift from night creeping to day living but it is a must. Starting this year with the Beatitudes is like sandpaper and the saw to the wood. I hope you will fast and pray throughout this year as we exalt Christ Jesus!

2 Add a new church sign,

which costs about $30,000. We need enticing visibility to draw visitors and let the community know we want them and we’re active.

3 Keep our spiritual

stewardship goals healthy, by the grace of God, and growing, lifting the spirit of faithful giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

4 Make sure we are wellfeed spiritually.

5 Challenge us to excellent physical health.

Family Life Department holds consecration service, challenges church members to fight for families

Ephesus church members gather together to have special prayer for church families during the Family Life consecration service. Photo by Tiffiney Miles

On Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, the Family Life department, led by Sam and Rachel Paschal, hosted a family consecration service at Ephesus.

For 2014, the Family Life department challenges the church to 1) create a prayer list in the beginning of the year, then take a look at it the end of the year to see how God answered those prayers, 2) find a member in the church who does not have family at Ephesus and adopt that person for the year and 3) come together as a church family, not to fight one another, but to fight for one another.

The goal of the consecration service was to have church members dedicate themselves to fight for their families, no matter what. The consecration service included songs from the praise and worship team, a poem spoken by Esther Munoz and devotional thoughts by Pastor Ewart Carter and Elder Spencer Wade. Elder Wade also led the church in a family dedication prayer, encouraging the church to not give up on their families.

Pastor Ewart Carter gives a devotional thought about family and discipline during the Family Life consecration service at Ephesus. Photo by Tiffiney Miles

Pathfinders Pathfinders and counselors attend leadership training On Jan. 24-26, 2014, Pathfinders, as well as Pathfinder and Adventurer counselors, attended Phase 1 of the Teen Leadership Training (TLT) in Orangeburg, S.C. About 270 Pathfinders and counselors attended, including six Pathfinders and 14 counselors from Ephesus. The goal of TLT is to train Pathfinders who are interested in leadership positions to become competent leaders within their churches and communities through

service while growing a closer relationship with God. Phase 1 of TLT, called Primary Leadership, taught Pathfinders several principles necessary for teaching a Pathfinder class, such as teaching basic drilling and marching, using discipline in the classroom and learning how to follow and give orders. The training also helped Pathfinder and Adventurer counselors to become

Adventurer counselors attend the annual Teen Leadership Training in Orangeburg, S.C. (l-r): Bettiann Bernard, Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Zisa Barnes, Doris Maxwell, Teisha Hunter, Deryl Keith, Janice Keith, Tammy Cleveland, Shambra Maxwell and Kathy Whorms. Photo by Felicia Paxton

better leaders in their classrooms. Phase 2 of TLT will be April 4-5 at Fort Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Weston Lake campground in Columbia, S.C., where the Pathfinders will apply what they learned during Phase 1 of their training.

Health Ministries Evangelizing through cooking classes Health and Women’s ministries department have teamed up to host “Healthy Cooking with Friends,” a cooking class that held bi-monthly at Ephesus. The goal of the classes is to reach people in the community by teaching them how to cook healthy and delicious meals. For each class, Ephesus members are challenged to bring a friend who is not a member of the church. The first class was held on Jan. 21 at Ephesus. Twenty-four people attended the class; the majority of the attendees were not members from Ephesus. Gwen Preston and Nina Nelson led the first class, which was about creating healthy soups and salads. The class was also interactive as attendees were able to help with making these dishes. The class was so successful that the next one, which is on Mar. 18, is already full. The hope for the ministry departments is to create healthier bodies to further the work of the Gospel.

Healthy Cooking with Soup

Lentil/Kidney Bean Soup By Nina Nelson

Gwen Preston (l) makes a kale salad while Jonnifer Cooper (center) and C’iana Cooper (r) assistant during the “Healthy Cooking with Friends” class on Jan. 21 at Ephesus. Photo by DaRon Barfiled.

Prep time: 10-15 min.

Cooking time: 40 min.

ingredients

directions

6-8 cups of water

Soak kidney beans overnight or do 5 minute quick soak (boil or 5 minutes and set aside for 3 hours); once soaked pour off water. In a pot add 3 cups of water bring to boil. Add kidney beans cook for 5 minutes. Add 3 cups of hot water, bring to boil and add lentils -add salt, garlic, onion , cayenne, all spice, turmeric and cook for about 15 minutes. When beans are beginning to tender add white potatoes first cook for about 2 minutes then add sweet potatoes*, cook for another 6-8 minutes. Add carrots and corn cook for another 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Add bell peppers simmer on low for 2-3 minutes

½ cup lentils 1/4 cup large light red kidney beans ½ cup sweet potatoes- cut in about inch squares ½ cup white potatoes-cut in about 1 inch squares 1/4 cup baby carrots (use whole or cut in half, reduce coking time if cut in half) ¼ cup yellow bell peppers –cut in inch slices ¼ cup red bell peppers-cut in inch slices 1/4 cup frozen corn- optional ¼ cup plum tomatoes- diced (optional) 1 tbsp. salt ( add another ½ tsp if you add corn and/or tomatoes or as needed per your taste) 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ¼ tsp Ground all spice ½ tsp Turmeric/curry ¼ cup onion finely cut/diced

Photo by DaRon Barfield

1 tbsp. of garlic crushed/pressed/finely cut

*cut white potatoes in smaller chunks than sweet potatoes if you want to add them at the same time, since white potatoes will cook before the sweet potatoes

Sabbath School Coach talks about “hitting the mark” when it comes to Sabbath School Curtis Hall, Sabbath School coach came to Ephesus on Feb. 22 to bring the spark back to Sabbath School. In the morning, Hall fled an interactive group Sabbath School in which he facilitated the discussion about discipling the rich and famous. In the afternoon, Hall held a workshop for Sabbath School teachers and superintendents that emphasized the importance of creating an engaging Sabbath School experience for everyone. The number one principle that Hall challenged the teachers is to make their Sabbath School classes so impactful that when people leave, they will feel inspired

Curtis Hall discusses the reasons why Sabbath School is important during his “Hit the Mark” Sabbath School workshop on Feb. 22 at Ephesus. Photo by Tiffiney Miles

and encouraged about their faith in God.

He also discussed creating a positive environment during Sabbath School by removing judgmental and degrading comments about church members who come late or do not bring their Sabbath School quarterlies. Hall also made the workshop interactive by having Sabbath School teachers do group activities to get them thinking about how to make their classes more engaging. The lesson learned from the workshop is that Sabbath School can be fun and exciting while drawing others to God.

To learn more about Curtis hall and his Sabbath School ministry, visit his website by clicking the picture below.

DaRon Barfield (l) looks on as Elder Spender Wade (r) writes down ideas during one group activity at the “Hit the Mark” Sabbath School Workshop on Feb. 22 at Ephesus. Photo by Tiffiney Miles

The Great

Camp Meeting For Black History Month, the AYS department put on a musical production called “The Great Camp Meeting” on Feb. 22 at Ephesus. The play was written and directed by Natasha Jones, leader of the AYS department. The purpose of the production was to give a glimpse of the life of slaves in the 1800s when they had to meet in secret due to the Black Codes

which forbade them not to. The participants were mostly composed of members of the Ephesus Mass Choir, but other church members were also involved. The participants sang several negro spirituals such as “No More Auction Block” and “Ah Been Buked and Ah Been Scorned.” Between each song was a brief 10

message, poem or skit that showcased the struggles of being a slave. For “The Great Camp Meeting,” Natasha wanted us to remember “how far we have come as a people and how far we have yet to go.”

Above left: AYS leader Natasha Jones conducts the actors/choir members during the production, “The Great Camp Meeting” on Feb. 22 Above right: Near the end of “The Great Camp Meeting,” Alfreda Vanderpuije hugs embraces another “slave” as they leave each other. Center right: Anne Jones (holding stick) and Felicia Paxton (r) sing a negro spiritual during “The Great Camp Meeting” on Feb. 22. Bottom right: Play participants line up against the wall in the finale scene of “The Great Camp Meeting” on Feb. 22. Photos by Tiffiney Miles

Victor Bartley’s Installation

South Atlantic Conference President William L. Winston (r) , and church elders pray over Pastor Victor Bartley (l) during the pastor’s installation service in Laurinburg, N.C. on Jan. 25. Photo by Phil McNeil, Jr.

Victor Bartley is now the pastor of two churches in North Carolina, Macedonia New Life Center Seventh-day Adventist church in Lumberton and Mt. Olive Seventhday Adventist Church in Laurinburg. An installation service for Pastor Bartley was held on Jan. 25 in Laurinburg. He was accompanied by his family, friends and fiancé during the service.

South Atlantic Conference President William L. Winston prayed over Pastor Bartley, and elders were also there to pray with him. Both Laurinburg and Lumberton churches are excited to see how God will Pastor Bartley as he leads their churches. Pastor Victor Bartley preaches his first sermon at Mt. Olive Seventh-day Adventist Church in Laurinburg, N.C. on Jan. 25. Photo by Phil McNeil, Jr.

Baby Dedication of

Serenity Williams Seventh-month old Serenity Moriah Williams, daughter of Chris Williams and Samantha Solomons, was dedicated to the Lord at Ephesus on Feb. 22 by Pastor John Pooler. Chris and Samantha were surrounded by several family members, friends and church members as Pastor Pooler spoke about the responsibilities and challenges that will come with raising Serenity in a godly environment. He also prayed over Serenity and her family. Even though the dedication lasted for a few minutes, both Chris and Samantha were greatly overwhelmed by it. “We felt like pastor did an amazing job,” Chris said. Pastor Pooler’s words inspired Chris to get in line of what God wants for him as a father. The baby dedication also inspired Samantha, getting her to think about how to raise Serenity in the Lord. “Where does my foundation stand for my daughter?” Samantha said. “What am I doing right now for training my child the right way?” Chris and Samantha are extremely blessed to have Serenity in their lives, and are hopeful that, with the Lord’s help, they will be the best parents they can be.

Top photo: Samantha Solomons (l) and Chris Williams (holding Serenity) stand before Pastor John Pooler during the baby dedication on Feb. 22. Photo by Shantel McGill Bottom photo: Pastor John Pooler is holding 7-month-old Serenity Williams while praying for her and family during the baby dedication at Ephesus on Feb. 22. Photo by Shantel McGill

Business Spotlight: VK Bartley Bookkeeping and Tax Services It’s that time again: tax season. If you are clueless as to what you need to do about filing your taxes, Vincent Bartley, owner of VK Bartley Bookkeeping and Tax Services, gives some helpful tips about filing during the tax season.

Why is it important to file taxes? The law says we must. The revenue from the taxes are used by the government to provide for the citizens. What are the most important documents people need when filing their taxes? The most important documents needed are your W-2 form, 1099-R form, any medical

expenses, taxes paid on personal property and any contributions to your church or charitable organizations. What’s the biggest mistake people make filing their taxes? The biggest mistake people make is they don’t plan in advance and rush to get it done. Another mistake is that some people don’t keep documents that could maximize their refund.

What other information people tend to forget or neglect? People fail to report all their income, such as itemized deductions. People also forget to report their social security benefits. When should a person start preparing to file their taxes? One should start preparing every for their tax return in July, which is called a mid-year check.

Come Worship With Us!

Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church 7709 Wilson Boulevard Columbia, SC 29203 803.786.2800 Pastor John Pooler, III Service Times Sabbath Morning Praise and Worship Sabbath School Divine Worship Service AYS Wednesday Night Prayer and Bible Connection

8:00am 9:15am 11:00am One hour before sunset 7:00pm

Every department, Every ministry, Every member, has a story for Christ. Share it with us.