Fall 2023

A quarterly journal of Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

CRAFTING NEW INSIGHTS

FOCUS ON FLORIDA

UPCOMING EVENTS

GOD at Work

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT UNDER CONSTRUCTION

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

The largest unfinished church in the world, under construction for more than 141 years, is located in Barcelona, Spain. Architects began work on the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, most commonly known as La Sagrada Familia, in March 1882. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the structure is a magnificent landmark comprised of several tall towers and will likely be the tallest church in the world. That is, when it is finally completed.

Several incidents contributed to the more than a century delay, including the accidental death of Gaudí, the Spanish Civil War, permits, funding, and even the COVID-19 pandemic. However, even while Gaudí was alive, people remarked that construction was taking too long. Gaudí was often asked why he obsessed over the smallest detail. Much of his day was spent developing 3D models and envisioning exactly how the basilica would look. He knew the project would not be completed in his lifetime and left detailed instructions and models for the next generation. He gave up all his other projects and left his home to move into the building site. When asked why perfection was prioritized over speed, he famously responded, “My client [God] is not in a hurry.” He knew he was not building for man, but for God.

In 2 Chronicles 16:9, we learn that the Lord searches the whole earth for those fully committed to Him. In the King James Version, the word for fully committed is “perfect.” Perfection does not mean to God what it means for us. He knows that we will never be blameless, He only wants our hearts to be fully committed to Him.

Ellen G. White wrote, “We are to grow daily in spiritual loveliness. We shall fail often in our efforts to copy the divine pattern. We shall often have to bow down to weep at the feet of Jesus, because of our shortcomings and mistakes; but we are not to be discouraged; we are to pray more fervently, believe more fully, and try again with more steadfastness to grow into the likeness of our Lord. As we distrust our own power, we shall trust the power of our Redeemer, and render praise to God, who is the health of our countenance, and our God....” (EGW. Selected Messages, p. 336)

We may always be a work in progress, and we may always be under construction, but God, the greatest Architect, is at work in our lives.

I pray this edition of Florida Focus edifies you. In these pages, you will read testimonies from those who have seen God at work, whether in a classroom, on the streets of our communities, or during times of hopelessness. May these stories remind you of our Lord’s unending goodness and how He can work in you and through you.

May the Lord bless you always,

Allan Machado, D.Min. Florida Conference President

CRAFTING NEW INSIGHTS

STUDENTS DISCOVER CREATIVE WAYS TO STUDY THE HEAVENLY

JERUSALEM

by Jacqueline Amich

One of the most rewarding moments as a teacher is to see students discover new dimensions and go beyond the classroom’s learning objective. It’s even more rewarding when teachers discover from students, and we realize something that would typically never cross our minds. The topic of New Jerusalem always transcends our imagination to the future and inspires us to wait with expectations for the promises mentioned in the Bible.

Betty Nugent, the Project Based Learning (PBL) Coordinator for Innovation for Florida Conference, invited me to join her team and the journey of learning something new to help students. I am always eager for new opportunities and embarked on this journey. PBL is not just a project. According to PBLworks.org, it is a “teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate

and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem or challenge.” I asked God for new ideas and methods to help my students understand, and I was guided by the Holy Spirit to emerge “The New Jerusalem” and “Proportions” topics in a PBL.

Our amazing God, an architect above all architects, gave details of the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:16 says it is “laid as a square, each side 1,400 miles, its length and width, and height are equal.” Students were instructed to make a proportional model no larger than the size of their desks using verses in Revelation 21 as their guides. They used a wide range of materials like plastic, cardboard, and LEGO bricks. After finishing their physical models, they all used the Minecraft Educational App to create the

New Jerusalem. Of course, it had to be proportional. I had never used Minecraft before but considered it interesting because the students were excited and interested. Together, we learned the application of this software to the topic of New Jerusalem.

In their research, the students learned the size of the city in comparison to Earth, the precious jewels in the foundation, why the walls were clear, the tribes of Israel, the names of the twelve apostles, and much more.

All students were engaged in the investigation. I truly enjoyed seeing the depth of understanding, the colorful models, and how students used Minecraft’s capability to create angels, rivers, and the throne of God. It was so hard to stop the students from working at home. Every day, I had to remind them this was an inschool project, not homework.

The students and I were awed as we developed a better understanding of the descriptions in Revelation by creating designs of New Jerusalem. We were also blessed with a better understanding of the future events we will experience. The students’ research helped them appreciate that they could be the inhabitants of the Holy City and experience the resurrection.

The students also read Ellen G. White’s description of the experience in the Great Controversy. “Christ and his throne who is far above the city upon a foundation of burnished gold,” the “final coronation of the Son of God,” and a final judgment of the “stubborn, unrepentant” earthly habitants. The new heaven

and new Earth will appear, and New Jerusalem will remain in a “peaceable habitation, in quiet resting places, no violence,” restoring the original plan for humankind.

This was truly an inspiring and uplifting topic that my students and I will always treasure. Let us all prepare to be part of the beauty of the Holy Heavenly Jerusalem.

“THINGS WHICH THE EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND THE EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9

Jacqueline Amich is the Middle School Coordinator for Mathematics at Greater Miami Adventist Academy.

Our innovation center is about to open it’s doors in January 2024! More than a building, here is where young minds will ignite, and our kids will discover their God-given potential. Your donation, big or small, will unlock a world of possibilities.

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One Student, One Phone Call, & One Life Changed

by Gabriel Chiquillo

The Florida Youth Summit program shares the good news of Christ with communities throughout Florida while allowing university and academy-age students to earn funds for their tuition. We are so proud of our canvassers who are making a difference, one book and one person at a time.

Anyone who has attended university knows how challenging it is to secure funding at the beginning of the semester. As many university students have experienced across the world, this can be a chaotic experience.

Before I could arrive at school last semester, the university required a sizable sum of money, which neither my parents nor I had. My entire summer had been spent canvassing. I was frustrated because it seemed like no matter how hard I had worked for the Lord during the summer, it was not enough. I felt rejected and considered leaving the school.

Amid the confusion and trying to decide what to do, I received a phone call. I was hesitant to respond because it was an unknown number. I answered and heard, “I know you need help, and I will help you.” I first assumed it was a joke because it was a random caller, and I didn’t have the number saved. Naturally, I had to ask him who he was. He responded, “I met you in Miami. You presented me with some materials that saved my life, and now I want to help you.”

I required two thousand dollars to be financially secure. I took a leap of faith and told him exactly how much I needed when

he asked. He didn’t object or say it was excessive; instead, he requested my bank account details and sent me the exact amount I specified. As a result, I was able to get my finances in order and return to school.

We frequently fail to recognize the work we do when canvassing. We must be conscious that what we do can change, and even save, lives. We tell everyone we meet how much Jesus loves them, every day for our entire summer and some of us during our winter break. With everyone we speak to each day, we open up completely. My experience is only one of many testimonials of how our actions are effective and change lives.

Scan to WATCH a video of another canvasser's journey.

Gabriel Chiquillo is 19 years old and studying Graphic Design at Oakwood University.

SCAN TO WATCH THIS EPISODE EPISODE 1

Focus on Florida is a new video report from Florida Conference President Pr. Allan Machado. Episodes are released on YouTube and social media platforms every two months. Below is the first episode’s transcript; you can scan the QR code to view it and other episodes.

Dear

Florida Conference family, The Lord has been working and blessing Florida Conference abundantly. Here are just a few of the blessings we have seen in the last couple of months.

Leadership Training

In August, 15 Florida Conference pastors from both English and Spanish churches completed Transformational Leadership Training. Across three intensive training sessions, pastors learned to use coaching skills in a pastoral context and had the opportunity to practice their skills hands-on. The next trainings are scheduled for March, May, and June 2024.

Church Celebrations

We praise the Lord that our churches are thriving, engaged, and have so much to celebrate!

• Sunrise Church in South Florida celebrated its 25th Anniversary. They are a beautiful and lively congregation.

• Brazilian Temple of West Palm Beach held an inauguration after the purchase and remodel of a new building.

• Vero Beach Spanish church also celebrated with great joy the construction and inauguration of their new church building.

• We welcomed Restoration Seventh-day Adventist Church in Orlando as the newest addition to our sisterhood of churches.

2023 Haitian Convention

In September, Florida Conference members in the Haitian community were inspired and renewed in their commitment to build the Kingdom of God at the 2023 Haitian Convention held at the Florida Conference office.

Evangelism Efforts & Celebrating 70,000 Members

After this summer’s evangelism training sessions through the Florida Conference Lay Institute for Evangelism, or FCLIFE, participants were encouraged to share the Gospel with their neighbors and invite them to Declare, an evangelism series

across the Tampa region. Hundreds of attendees at Tampa First, Brandon, Port Charlotte, and Palm Harbor heard the Word of God, and more than 25 precious souls were baptized.

By God’s grace, through our evangelism efforts, the Florida Conference reached the milestone of 70,000 members. Seventy thousand precious souls that have come to know Jesus.

Ministry Events & Outreach

This fall, Florida Conference Health Ministries and Camp Kulaqua partnered to produce a health and fitness weekend, starting with Fit Together, a retreat for all ages and fitness levels. The speakers and seminar presenters addressed all levels of health: spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. The weekend wrapped up with the annual Camp Kulaqua 5K Fundrace, a run/walk around our beautiful camp, or virtually from anywhere in the world. All entries and donations benefited worthy camper scholarships for kids in need, the wildlife sanctuary, and horses on-site at Camp Kulaqua.

The task of Building the Kingdom of God does not stop at the state lines of Florida or even the borders of our country. We are also called to reach outward.

• Florida Conference partnered with Chair the Love to sponsor and distribute more than 200 wheelchairs in the

Dominican Republic. Volunteers experienced the joy of giving back and saw firsthand how the gift of mobility changes lives.

• Thirty-five of our pastors, leaders, and volunteers headed to Jamaica in September to preach God’s word and minister to children across 14 churches from West Jamaica Conference. We praise God for more than 30 baptisms as a result of this mission trip. We thanked the West Jamaica Conference for their hospitality and expressed our appreciation with a donation for conference development and separate donations to each host church.

We praise God because our young people are actively seeking meaningful relationships with Jesus. Our High School Bible Retreat brought together hundreds of students from Jacksonville to Miami at Camp Kulaqua, and the weekend culminated in eleven baptisms. Nine students and two adults were baptized at Camp Kulaqua’s spring.

We are grateful for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon Florida Conference, and we are committed to continuing to spread the Gospel and build the Kingdom of God in our communities and around the world.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Miracle Man

by Marisol Gracia

On Thursday, November 2, at 7:30 am, Vicente Chávez Sosa, a member of the Arcadia Seventh-day Adventist Church, climbed up to the roof of his home to remove some pavers and a tarp. Unfortunately, he lost his footing and fell onto the concrete floor, landing on his head.

With a fractured skull, internal bleeding, and a brain hemorrhage, he was airlifted to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where doctors performed emergency surgery.

Micaela, Vicente’s wife, remained anxiously in the waiting room. After surgery, the doctors told her, “We’ve done everything we could do. The rest is up to God. All we can tell you is to pray.” Vicente was not breathing on his own; he was intubated and sedated.

Micaela began to cry, but she also began to pray. She activated prayer chains through her phone, reaching out to her loved ones and fellow church members. She decided to fast in prayer and surrendered her husband to the Lord.

I drove to the hospital to be by her side and witnessed the frequent CT scans to monitor Vicente’s brain bleeds, I saw how he lay in the hospital bed, not moving or responding. I also saw our God at work, and witnessed events that have left our entire congregation in awe.

The day after the accident, Vicente began opening his eyes, just a little bit. By the afternoon, he could follow movement instructions from the nurses, moving his legs and toes. Soon after, the nurse informed her colleague of Vicente’s progress, which led him to exclaim, “Impossible!” It can’t be.”

The nurse also asked Micaela to encourage Vicente to breathe on his own, without the aid of the ventilator. Little by little, Vicente began breathing on his own. When doctors went in to check the monitor, they stared at it for four minutes and finally said, “The

machine is only at the 0.5 level. He indeed is doing it on his own.” To God be the glory, Vicente was breathing and extubated just 32 hours after the accident.

That Sabbath, Almibar Cruz, principal of Port Charlotte Adventist School, and Luis Gracia, pastor of the Arcadia church, visited Vicente in the hospital. He recognized them, was able to speak a little, and even shook the pastor’s hand.

By Sunday, Vicente’s brain inflammation had gone down tremendously. He was transferred out of Critical Care and into Recovery Trauma. He was able to walk to the bathroom, remembered his visitors, knew his name and place of birth, and was slowly eating on his own.

After only four full days in the hospital, Vicente was discharged and headed home with care instructions and follow-up appointments. Since his discharge, the Lord has continued to bless and heal him. Praise the Lord; his brain function and memory are normal. His headaches and back pain have dramatically improved, the staples have been removed from his scalp, and he has resumed normal day-to-day activities, including attending church.

During a follow-up visit, his surgeon called him “The Miracle Man” with tears in his eyes. He couldn’t believe Vicente survived such a traumatic accident, much less how he walked out of the hospital in four days with full use of his body and mind. Vicente Sosa Chávez is a walking miracle and living proof that our loving God continues to do the impossible for His children.

Marisol Gracia is the wife of pastor Luis Gracia, and they minister together in Arcadia and Wauchula, FL. She leads various children and youth ministries in their district.

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