Fall 2021

Fall | 2021

A quarterly journal of Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Compassion in Action

ARMS OF THE GOSPEL

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MINISTERING TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

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BEYOND BARS

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Mathew 9: 35-38 You have probably heard it said that “Others will not care how much we know until they know how much we care.” This is a famous quote from pastor and author Charles R. Swindoll. What you may not have heard is the text that follows, “If I just do my thing and you do yours, we stand in danger of losing each other and ourselves.... we are fully ourselves only in relation to each other. I do not find you by chance; I find you by an active life of reaching out.” (Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations and Quotes; pg. 105).

It is a profound concept, that we are most ourselves when we actively reach out to others. When we consider who God created us to be, and the example He set for us during Jesus’ time on earth, we truly understand compassion.

When we talk about compassion we often confuse it with feelings like empathy, pity, or even love. I would argue that they are all different. Compassion is defined as a “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” Compassion, to be genuine, must be followed by action. Compassion is what Jesus felt for us.

Compassion is God’s heart.

Several times in the New Testament, we read that Jesus was “moved with compassion.” In fact, Charles Spurgeon even suggested that, “If you would sum up the whole character of Christ in reference to ourselves, it might be gathered into this one sentence, He was moved with compassion.” When Jesus observed misery and despair, when He saw His people lost, He taught, healed, performed miracles. He comforted those who cried; He fed those who were hungry.

Even in His final hours, while suffering great pain, Jesus was moved with compassion. He was compassionate toward the crowds when He asked His Father to forgive them. He was compassionate to the robber when He assured him that he would be saved. He showed compassion for His mother when He made certain someone would take care of her.

He displayed the ultimate example of compassion when He died on the cross, for us, not wanting us to perish but to have everlasting life with Him. In a world like ours today, with so much hurt, pain, inequality, and death, God is calling His people to be compassionate.

God is calling you to be compassionate. To reach out to others with love in action. If the meaning of compassion is to look at others with love, and then do something about it, then we must be like Jesus and allow ourselves to be moved with compassion.

I pray you are blessed by this Fall issue of Florida Focus. You will read about how the Lord is working through the Disaster Relief and Prison Ministries departments, the important and fulfilling work of ministering to people with disabilities, and many other moving stories and testimonies. I also hope you enjoy our new recurring feature, “What the Bible Says,” which will dive deep into the Scriptures and explore biblical wisdoms regarding each Florida Focus theme.

Today, may the Lord show us how to truly love as He does, with a compassion that moves us to do wonderful things in His name.

May the Lord bless you always,

Allan Machado, D.Min Florida Conference President

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FLORIDA FOCUS is published quarterly by Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® and mailed free of charge to constituent members with nonprofit standard postage paid in Orlando, Florida.

Table of CONTENTS 4

ARMS OF THE GOSPEL

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UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE

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DISABILITIES MINISTRY OPENS THE WAY FOR ALL PEOPLE

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MINISTERING TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

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WITHOUT SELF, THERE IS NO COMPASSION

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WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT COMPASSION

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BEYOND BARS

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SALT REACHES OUT TO THE HOMEBOUND

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LITTLE READERS COMPASSION THAT CHANGES A LIFE ABC BOOKS ABC FOODS ABC DELIVERY SCHEDULE JESÚS, NUESTRO EJEMPLO

Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® 351 S. State Road 434, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714-3824 (407) 644-5000 • www.floridaconference.com • floridafocus@floridaconference.com President: Allan Machado floridaconference Executive Secretary: Tim Goff floridaconf Treasurer: Elisa Rahming florida.conference Editor: Raquel Levy Editorial Staff: Gladys Neigel / Public Relations Department

ARMS OF THE GOSPEL

Adventist Community Services and Disaster Relief Extend Compassion in Times of Need

by Pr. Ryan Amos

In the early morning of June 24, 2021, a catastrophic event rarely seen in the United States occurred in Miami, Florida. At 1:25 a.m., the Champlain Towers South condo in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida, collapsed. At the time, no one knew the significance of this event. It very quickly became one of the costliest non-natural disasters in the history of the state of Florida.

In a few hours, teams from all over the state were on their way to the site, including Adventist Community Services (ACS) teams from both Florida and Southeastern conferences. As with any disaster, ACS was called in to serve the need for donation management. In a very short amount of time, people from the area and people from all over the nation sent goods and supplies, not only for the victims but also for the rescue workers who would spend the next month and a half living and working on the scene.

In the following weeks, teams from Florida and Southeastern conferences worked together with the State of Florida and FEMA to help meet the ongoing needs of survivors and rescue workers. ACS team members helped by resupplying fire crews, delivering goods, and sorting and preparing kits for families.

ACS was also actively involved in ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of survivors and their families. Under the new spiritual and emotional care program established by Adventist Community Services and facilitated by Pastor Derrick Lea of the North American Division, pastors and members from all over 4

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southeast Florida came together to meet the needs of survivors, families, and those waiting to hear about their missing loved ones. While the Red Cross typically handles spiritual care, due to the extended nature of this disaster, ACS was asked to partner with the American Red Cross in helping to meet the need. This disaster was unlike anything our local team had seen before.

Along with survivors and their families, much time was spent praying and ministering to the rescue workers. When the disaster first occurred, many were optimistic that survivors would be found amongst the debris. However, as time passed and the chances of survivors being found decreased, this realization began to take a mental and emotional toll on the rescue workers, in addition to the physical toll of the work. Seventh-day Adventist pastors were on site, along with police chaplains, to listen and pray with many of the first responders. Pastors came in on rotating shifts to ensure that our first responders always had someone they could reach out to in their time of need.

At the same time, members from both conferences established a warehouse at the Bethany Seventh-day Adventist Church and a point of distribution site at the Tabernacle Seventh-day Adventist Church to meet the ongoing needs of the survivors. Families were able to come in private and receive desperately-needed goods.

ACS team members established a retail-style store and families were able to shop for whatever was needed.

One Sabbath, a team from Florida Conference was able to talk with one of the survivors. He shared with us the story of being in bed and hearing the rest of the building collapse, waking up to find that his entire life had changed, and praising God that his wife was with their grandchildren that day. Thanks to the generous donations from members of the Florida Conference to the disaster relief fund, we were able to work with this family to help them get reestablished after losing their home of more than 30 years.

Aid for Haiti, Florida’s Food Insecurity, and How You Can Help In the months since the Miami disaster, we have seen a major earthquake hit Haiti. As many know, Florida Conference is very diverse and has many members from Haiti or who have a proud Haitian heritage. After the initial reports began to roll in, Pastor Conrad Duncan, along with the Florida Conference Administrative Committee, put a plan in place to help raise funds for Haiti. While areas of the country have sustained significant damage, many are still able to function. The goal is to raise money and give those funds to the Adventist Church in Haiti to purchase the most needed goods. This way, most of the funds would not be used for shipping but can provide aid to those in need. Funds can be donated through any of our local churches by placing them in a tithe envelope and marking them Haiti Earthquake 2021.

As Bible-believing Christians, we know that we will see more and more disasters in the last days. Over the past three years, we have seen and provided aid during five significant disasters, such as hurricanes and a building collapse. Our goal is to encourage and train more members to provide aid in a time of need. In certain places of the United States and the world, the matter is not if there will be a disaster but rather when. Adventist Community Services and Disaster Relief serve as arms of the Gospel, reaching people in their time of need.

A new program will be launched soon as a way to continue this goal of reaching people when they need it most. A Meal for the Hungry program will allow people to support each other at some of the worst times in their lives. According to Feeding America, 1 in 8 people in Florida face food insecurity on a regular basis. This equates to over 2.5 million people who do not have enough food to eat. In Florida, 1 in 6 children will go hungry this month. In a disaster, these numbers escalate very quickly. Our goal is to not only be a resource to our community in a disaster but in an ongoing and intentional way. It is our prayer that those in the Florida Conference would partner with us by becoming trained members of the ACS family, giving not only their resources but also their time and effort. Our goal is that every church has a community services team that will meet the community’s needs every day and turn into a disaster response team when the need occurs.

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UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE Homosassa Seventh-day Adventist Church

Certified as a Dementia-Friendly Congregation

by Bob Halstead The Homosassa Seventh-day Adventist Church recently hosted a community outreach program titled “The ABC of Dementia.”

Recognizing the aging population of the community surrounding the church coupled with an aging membership, the leadership decided to try to get some answers about dementia. They were looking for answers to questions regarding the myths and the truth about dementia, the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s, the types of treatments, and many more questions.

Recognizing they would need professional help, William Earnhardt contacted Debbie Selsavage, President of Coping with Dementia.

The organization is dedicated to training and education of compassionate care for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Debbie Selsavage, president & William Earnhardt

With this background, more than 35 members and friends gathered on a recent Sabbath morning to hear about dementia and how to cope with it. Listening to the professionals, the attendees learned how to be more caring individuals when dealing with people in various stages of the disease. At the end of the session, the participants felt they had a much clearer understanding of the disease and how to be more caring individuals in different circumstances. One member even said the session helped her recognize the early signs of dementia in a loved one and learned how to move forward.

During the discussion period, two words were continually expressed: understanding and patience, understanding the signs of the disease, and patience in dealing with those who exhibit those signs. Everyone agreed that to be a more caring individual will require a significant change in how we act with those who have been struck by this terrible disease, but recognizing the symptoms and acting accordingly can make life much more enjoyable for everyone.

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The consensus of the participants was the workshop was well worth it and needed to be repeated to the broader community. At the end of the session, Selsavage presented the members with a certificate designating the Homosassa Seventh-day Adventist Church as a certified dementia-friendly congregation.

Disabilities Ministry Opens the Way for All People

by Tim Goff, Executive Secretary/COO

Not only was Jesus self-aware, He was also room aware, conversation aware, village aware, and nation aware. Jesus knew very well who He was, the called, one-and-only Son of the Living God. Jesus understood Himself, His need of the Father, His vulnerabilities. He understood He was human like us. He was acutely sensitive to what was happening around Him in the conversations, dispositions, and attitudes of those nearby. Reflections at the last supper are humbling examples of several blind spots of His closest followers.

Additionally, Jesus was keenly attuned to needs in the villages He visited, the sicknesses present, tensions among homes, and even the work of the enemy.

He was well aware of Roman oppression and the crushing nature of an authoritydriven government.

Emerging in the middle of these realities, Jesus makes His calling and purpose clear. He announces who He is and what He is about, saying, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners,” and “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus’ mission was not centered on selfactualization. Rather, He was centered in bringing goodness, freedom for the poor, the release of those captivated by sin and its fruit, healing for the broken, and announcing the glorious revelation of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus was deeply devoted to those who needed Him and longed for God’s goodness.

His unforgettable and profound message defining the Kingdom of God uncovers His determination with an implied invitation to “taste and see,” and “whoever is thirsty, let him come and drink of the water of life.”

The Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5:3–12 and Luke 6:20–23, crystalize the values of His kingdom and have been softening and opening hearts for two thousand years!

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Equally compelling is Jesus’ message in His parable to go and invite all classes to the celebration of God and His Kingdom come.

“Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said unto the servant,

Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled,” Luke 14:21-23.

Jesus was not just speaking figuratively about people with disabilities being welcome to the great banquet. He was passionate about opening the way for all people, especially those bruised and broken by the enemy’s mission to mar and crush God’s love and goodness out of His creation. May our churches and our homes be as inviting.

A portion of this Florida Focus is devoted to those who are all too often unnoticed, people with disabilities. We encourage you to learn more and consider starting a Disabilities Ministry in your church.

For more information on the Florida Conference Disabilities Ministry, contact Betsy Peña at the Office of the Executive Secretary: betsy.pena@floridaconference. com; 407-644-5000, ext. 2301.

Did you know that:

1. One billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability, and disability prevalence is higher in developing countries. One-fifth of the estimated global total, or between 110 million and 190 million people, experience significant disabilities.

2. People with disabilities are more likely to experience adverse socioeconomic outcomes such as less education, poorer health outcomes, lower levels of employment, and higher poverty rates.

3. An estimated 2.67 million Floridians indicate that they have a disability — 13.4 percent of all Floridians.

January 18, 2019 https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/ disabilityandhealth/impacts/pdfs/Florida_Disability.pdf Disability Inclusion Overview - World Bank Group https://www.worldbank.org › topic › disability

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Ministering to People with Disabilities

by Dr. Daniel M. Forbes, EdD, LMHC, NCC, CFLE

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Reverently she entered the sanctuary with her child in tow, her hands filled with her Bible and a bag with items for her child, such as a change of clothes, snacks, and a favorite toy to help calm him should he become fretful during the service. Making her way to an empty seat, she was anxious to find a place to sit and relax among God’s people and enjoy the service, even if only for a while before she would have to leave and once again face the realities of life awaiting her outside the church’s doors.

As a single mom, it seemed like the church was becoming one of the few places she hoped to find rest from her stressful week. She had recently sensed the need to attend church with her family and had been searching for a spiritual home she could call her own.

Perhaps this might be the one she had been hoping to find. The service began with a hymn that was upbeat and inspiring. It was just what she needed to hear.

At the end of the song, one of the saints in the church made her way to where the young mother was sitting.

The church member smiled encouragingly toward her child, who seemed to enjoy the singing just as much as his mom, waving his arms to the rhythm of the music and making sounds as if joining in and singing along with the congregation.

As the member made her way to that single mom, she sat down beside her and whispered, “How old is your son?” The young mother smiled and said, “Oh, my son Joey is twelve years old.” Then the member smiled and said to her, “We have a mother’s room in the back of the church. Perhaps you’ll feel more comfortable there with him. Your handicapped child seems to be making some of the other members here feel a little uncomfortable with his odd behaviors and loud noises.”

The mother, along with her disabled son, quietly got up.

Gathering their belongings from the pew where they had been sitting, along with their first impressions of the church, they left, never to return again.

What a needless tragedy, the loss of an opportunity to witness to and be uniquely blessed by those of the disabled community with a blessing only they can bring.

How do you and your church minister to people with disabilities? What impressions do they leave with after having visited your congregation? How truly accepted are they? How included do families with disabled loved ones feel who happen to be members of your church already? A historical study of the subject reveals that life for disabled individuals and their families has not always been an easy path.

In my years of ministry, I have had the honor to become acquainted with and minister to many in the disabled community, their families, and caregivers. I have been

able to minister to individuals with disabilities that are both seen and unseen, congenital and medical (i.e., Autism, cerebral palsy, paralysis, seizure disorder, cognitively challenged, Down syndrome, blind, deaf, non-verbal, depression, bipolar, personality disorder, mobility challenged, and others). Some have been members of the congregations I have served. Some I have had the privilege of helping to become members through baptism or professions of faith. And because of those experiences, I have found countless blessings and opportunities for spiritual growth that await individuals and congregations who are willing to make an intentional missional effort to reach out with acceptance, Christian love, and service to those with disabilities. In return, they receive all that the disabled community, by God’s grace, can uniquely offer and teach us.

I have also learned that we are all similar in that we are all challenged by the disability of sin and in need of healing by the Great Physician. We all have a soul to be saved and a Heaven-ordained purpose to fulfill.

Sometimes we have to adapt our methodology to meet the needs of disabled individuals and our biblical objective in a meaningful way, but it can be done.

This point was illustrated in one church where I served.

We had a special Sabbath service where six motorcycle organizations were represented to help us raise funds for a local group home. When I told the leaders of this particular home what we were planning, they gratefully offered to have their dance troupe of ladies from the home come and perform. With trepidations, I agreed.

On the day of the program, when it was time for them to perform, the director and eight middle-aged ladies with Down Syndrome made their way to the front of the church, all dressed in matching costumes, each looking like a princess.

The congregation sat spellbound as we watched our disabled guests express their witness for the Lord, exhibiting angelic innocence and an unconditional love for each other. On their faces were expressions of focus and determination to move in unison and follow directions. When they were finished, they showered each other with encouraging and heartfelt hugs and smiles along with school girl giggles as they experienced the joy of having an opportunity to share their gifts among God’s people.

When they sat down, I dare say there was not a dry eye in the sanctuary. What a perfect testimony and example of how we should all be toward each other when we, too, give service for God. I encourage you to look for opportunities to interact with people with disabilities who live among us. I am sure you will find that with their God-given gifts, they are more than capable of inspiring you in ways you never thought possible.

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Without Self, There Is No Compassion

by Dr. Efrain Duany, DMin, LMFT

Self-compassion is the birthplace for experiencing compassion toward others.

When we talk about compassion, the first thing that comes to mind is the ability to feel empathy for others. However, recent research argues that compassion involves more than just empathy. Compassion could help us feel what others are feeling, and it could be the force that compels us to help others and relieve their suffering.[1]

experiencing compassion toward others. We could pretend to be compassionate and understanding, but our hearts will know the truth. We cannot give what we do not have. Self-compassion is the key to beginning your journey through your vulnerabilities, insecurities, and suffering. As researcher and author Brené Brown says, this is the place where we give birth to the emotions and experiences we crave in life. It is the birthplace of compassion, love, and empathy. Self-compassion opens your heart to understand the cry of those who suffer and need compassion.[2]

The Bible emphatically addresses the issue of compassion. We have a compassionate God (Isaiah 30:18), a compassionate Savior (Hebrews 4:15), and a command to be compassionate toward others. Colossians 3:12 states, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” The same requirement is expressed in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.”

What is self-compassion? Self-compassion is applying the golden rule to yourself. To treat yourself in the way you should treat others. To embrace your vulnerability as a human, and begin to love, protect, and care for yourself. To stop our self-criticism and replace it with patience and gratitude.

Sadly, we are becoming a nation of narcissists. People think more about themselves than about others. Why is it so hard to be compassionate towards others? It is hard because we cannot give what we don’t experience. For example, to be compassionate, you need to experience the vulnerability of another person. When you practice compassion, you are entering into the vulnerability, brokenness, or suffering of others.

Self-kindness is showing kindness and understanding to ourselves when we fail or when we are hurt (Matthew 22:39).

In fact, empathy occurs when you vicariously experience someone else’s feelings, perceptions, and vulnerability. How could you enter into a place that you have not experienced before? It is like trying to walk through a path that you have not walked before.

You feel lost and confused. The same thing happens with feeling compassion toward others. Before we extend compassion to others, we need to experience self-compassion.

Christian mindfulness, or grounding, is when we focus our attention on the present without getting distracted by negative thoughts (Philippians 4:6-9). Praying, solitude, reading the Bible, and other relaxation techniques will help us become more selfaware and surrender to God all our pain and suffering because He cares for us.

In this article, I propose that without self-compassion, there is no compassion for others. Self-compassion is the birthplace for 10

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How do you practice self-compassion? Dr. Kristin Neff talks about three constructs: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.[3]

Common humanity is when we stop seeing ourselves as isolated or separate beings and embrace the common humanity we all experience in life, accepting and forgiving our flaws and imperfections (Acts 17:25).

[1] Lim D, DeSteno D. Suffering and compassion: The links among adverse life experiences, empathy, compassion, and prosocial behavior. Emotion.

[2] Brown, B. (2012). The power of vulnerability: Teachings on authenticity, connection, & courage.

[3] Neff, K. D., & Dahm, K. A. (2017). Self-compassion: What it is, what it does, and how it relates to mindfulness. In B. A. Gaudiano, Mindfulness: Nonclinical applications of mindfulness: Adaptations for school, work, sports, health, and general well-being (pp. 495–517). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

ABOUT COMPASSION

by Pr. Doug Hardt

Frank* was a new academy student who had severe learning disabilities. He spoke differently from the other kids. His eyes were crossed and his hair unkempt. He came from an impoverished home. He meant well, but no matter how he tried, he just didn’t fit in with his peer group in high school.

I was six years old when I met Frank at the Seventh-day Adventist boarding academy where my parents taught. I remember watching an intramural game with my father when I heard some academy students make fun of Frank. I was sure he had seen and heard them, and I was angry at them for picking on Frank. I wondered how he felt to see his peers cross their eyes and mimic his voice and gestures. There was something in my six-year-old heart that hurt for Frank. This is the first time I remember having an acute feeling of compassion. To this day, I still remember how tears came to my eyes when I saw the brand new coat my father purchased for Frank as winter was approaching. I knew Frank’s family probably could not afford a new coat. I was proud that even though our finances were tight, my father felt the same feeling of compassion that I did and was willing to do something about it.

The Bible talks a lot about compassion, a topic incredibly pertinent to our world today. Much scholarly work has been done in the last couple of decades about the importance of empathy and compassion in the workplace and how they are vital to the success of any organization. The world is catching on to what an important ability it is for any productive person to understand and share another person’s feelings. However, even though empathy — the ability to understand and share the feelings of others — is essential, compassion takes it a step further; you also have a desire to help them.

Compassion is exactly what the Bible encourages us to have. The apostle Paul exhorts believers to be “kind and compassionate to

one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,” Ephesians 4:32. Again Paul states, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,” Colossians 3:12.

Apostle Peter also entreats the church to “be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble,” I Peter 3:8. And this wasn’t just a New Testament value, it was one of the attitudes that God reprimanded the Israelites in the Old Testament for not having. “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another,’” Zechariah 7:9.

It is clear that in both the Old and New Testaments, God expects his people to exhibit this trait. Why? Because that is one of God’s characteristics. The Psalmist says, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him,” Psalm 103:13. “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion,” Psalm 116:5. This is only one of a sampling of texts where God’s prophets describe Him — a God who is not only compassionate but is full of compassion.

What a privilege it is for us that God gives us the ability to be like Him in this key characteristic. He promises the church, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh,” Ezekiel 36:26.

Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:12-13 that there would come a time before His second coming when the hearts of many would grow cold, that they wouldn’t want God’s gift of a compassionate heart. How important is it then for us, God’s people, to ask Him for this heart transplant where He gives us this ability to understand, sympathize with, and desire to help people around us? I pray we will have compassion so the “Franks” of the world will be comforted and be able to see the character of God. *(name changed) FLORIDA FOCUS | FALL 2021

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BEYOND BARS

Florida Prison Ministries Aims to Reach Every Inmate

by Admelyz Bueno

Paul tells us in Hebrews 13:3 to remember those in prison as if we were their fellow prisoners, and that instruction has been heeded by Florida Prison Ministries (FPM) for the past 32 years.

Founded by Frank and Maxine Barton along with Malcolm Gordon and Hazel Gordon, FPM continues to be a vehicle that the Holy Spirit uses to reach the hearts of inmates around the state of Florida and beyond.

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Florida Prison Ministries has a Spiritual Pen-Pal Program, a monthly printed newsletter for inmates, and a program called Love a Mother’s Baby (LAMB) for the children of inmates. FPM is also currently working on a new project titled Daddy Cares, focused on reaching 1,000 inmates per month in ten months. For this program, FPM purchased 10,000 Bible lessons to share with these inmates so they can minister to those around them in the

prison and their families outside of prison. Around Florida, various churches do weekly or monthly visitations and Bible studies with the inmates. Once an inmate is released, FPM can provide halfway house options to those individuals.

The Spiritual Pen-Pal Program continues to grow each year. In 2020, FPM had 300 inmates request someone to write to them.

Often, the demand for Pen Pals is high because many of the inmates feel alone and do not have much communication with family members or friends. The FPM spiritual pen pals write encouraging letters to the inmates, and the inmates are often vulnerable and share their entire lives with their pen pal. They are open to hearing about the love of Christ from these pen pals that write to them frequently.

The Regeneration Fellowship Newsletter is created monthly by Laura Leach. The inmates frequently write FPM, expressing thankfulness for these monthly newsletters. Each newsletter has an interactive format that allows inmates to respond with poems, songs, drawings, and other creative material to be included in the newsletters. They also send in questions about the Bible, prayer requests, and inquiries about Bible studies. The monthly newsletters include quotes, Bible verses, studies on the life of Christ, studies on prophecy, Christian cartoons, Bible trivia, and relevant information that changes each month.

As of 2020, FPM has held 30 training programs helping roughly 1,000 people discover and analyze their skills and calling to be effective in their ministry. Over the last couple of years, FPM volunteers have given 2,329 Bible studies, worked with 2,429 inmates, driven 8,591 miles to these visitations, put in 715 hours, and distributed 1,848 pieces of literature.

FPM works with several churches around the Florida Conference and other conferences to visit inmates and provide Bible studies at the various prisons. To manage the visitations around the state, area coordinators work with volunteers at each church involved in Prison Ministries. Cheryl Rilea is a Prison Ministries coordinator in the Ocala area, and she arranges for a church to visit one prison every week. Marion Correctional Institution receives visitors every Sabbath evening from 6:00–8:00 p.m., and the inmates look forward to these visits. The visit usually starts with prayer, and then the men have an opportunity to share about their week, their struggles, what they are grateful for, and what’s on their hearts.

Song service follows, and the church groups usually bring a guitar and song booklets. Rilea shares that “the inmates sing with their soul, with passion and harmony; it is uplifting.” Bible studies are based on the Sabbath school quarterly so that the inmates can study the same topics given at church. As a result of these studies, a few gentlemen have requested The Great Controversy and Desire of Ages, and a church member brings the books to them or places them in the library to read and share. Unfortunately, there was a lockdown for some time due to the pandemic, and the inmates could not receive their much-anticipated visitations.

Yet, when the group returned to visit in November of 2020, they

were happily surprised to learn that Damien, an inmate that had become SDA, had continued Bible studies with his fellow inmates!

The Tomoka Correctional Institution also receives Bible study visits from members of the Deltona SDA, New Smyrna SDA, and the DeBary-Orange City SDA churches. Throughout their time at this facility, the inmates have completed several Bible study guides, including Voice of Prophecy lessons and Amazing Facts courses.

Before the pandemic began, a group of 40 inmates were studying through the book of Daniel and were looking forward to completing the book of Revelation. Unfortunately, the church member leading these studies passed away due to a heart attack, and the group suffered the loss of other volunteers as well. Sylvia Woodcock shares that “we are continuing their work.” There was a lot of interest in these studies, and the church members have taken it upon themselves to continue the work that Christ commanded.

One gentleman from their group wants to be baptized, and he is currently studying the fundamental beliefs as he prepares for baptism. Woodcock loves to remind the inmates that soon Jesus will come for each of us and “those gates will open, and you will walk out free.”

Florida Prison Ministries provides halfway homes through Shelter from the Storm, a transitional housing program that provides safe, stable housing for inmates that have been released. Shelter from the Storm halfway house was founded and is led by Jeffery Cobb in Gainesville, Florida, and has expanded to two transitional housing facilities for men and one for women. These halfway homes offer Bible studies, a 12-step recovery program, counseling, job development, vocational training, and necessary life skills — all within a Christ-centered environment. The individuals staying at these homes follow a schedule that includes a daily morning devotion, weekly Bible studies, and Sabbath worship. Individuals that have stayed at the halfway homes often express thankfulness and say, “I do not know what I would have done if it had not been for the shelter.” The individuals keep in touch even after they leave the shelter; the ladies at the Women’s facility affectionately call Lois Jones “Momma Lois.”

Lurlet Gordon is leading out a Christmas Behind Bars outreach for the Osceola County Jail. Gordon shares that for the past five years her team has organized 3,000 care packages for inmates. Due to the pandemic, Osceola County asked her for 1,000 care packages filled with candy canes, socks, and envelopes. The group will pack these at the Kissimmee SDA Church on December 4.

The goal of FPM is to reach every inmate, their families, and friends to give them the opportunity to know Jesus Christ and be saved. The Lord is coming soon, and we have to be united as one, with one mission, to finish the work.

For more information, please visit floridaprisonministries.org. To volunteer for Christmas Behind Bars at the Osceola County Jail, contact Lurlet Gordon at tinziela@gmail.com.

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Part of the SALT Outreach Team

HERE

HERE

Shower Trailer Fundraiser

Permanent Supportive Tiny Homes

SALT Outreach is a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a registered 501©3 with the state of Florida.

Reaches Out to the Homebound

by Eric Camarillo, president/CEO of SALT Outreach Inc. SALT, an acronym for Service and Love Together, is a nonprofit organization that provides outreach services to the unsheltered in the heart of downtown Orlando. These services not only meet their basic needs but are also a means to developing and deepening relationships with our friends experiencing homelessness.

Outreach, Case Management, and Evangelism SALT provides showers through a mobile shower trailer, laundry through a mobile laundry trailer, storage services through a box truck retrofitted with lockers, clothing and hygiene products through a clothing trailer, haircuts, food, PPE, mail services, transportation, and case management services. SALT operates on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and serves approximately 600 people weekly. This is our outreach services department, and for most people experiencing homelessness, we provide an oasis with wrap-around services to help end their homelessness. Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, we have served 2,861 unduplicated persons with over 75,000 units of service.

Once a relationship is created, our case management team takes things a few steps forward. Our case management team is operated by a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a 14

FLORIDA FOCUS | FALL 2021

master’s level social worker (MSW) who also supervise a bachelor’s level social worker (BSW) and up to six social work interns from local universities. Our case management team assesses the need of the unsheltered, develops a plan, makes referrals, holds them accountable to their plans, and fills any service gaps in the community. We have found that they can help about 25% of people they meet transition to shelter or housing, and for about 75%, they can help take the next step toward ending their homelessness.

Besides the outreach services department and case management department, SALT also has an evangelism department. An outreach pastor prepares church services once or twice a month and gives group Bible studies once a week. He also provides one-on-one Bible studies, visitations to build relationships for our unsheltered friends that transition into housing, and last but not least, focuses on developing genuine relationships with those that we serve.

How God Works Through SALT We have seen God work in miraculous ways to help our friends experiencing homelessness. One client who regularly came to us for laundry services once inquired about housing. After being

Patrick Woods with the shower trailer.

Ribbon Cutting for Laundry Trailer. From left to right: Shaquita Starker (former employee); SALT president Eric Camarillo; Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; City Commissioner Regina Hill; Roben Dunnings (SimplyHealth Care Plans Rep), and City Commissioner Robert Stuart.

referred to our case management team, they were placed into housing just four hours later. An older gentleman experiencing homelessness came to our shower trailers and asked for help applying for a job and building a resume. After sitting with our case management team, who helped him apply and develop his resume, he came in two days later in a work uniform. He had found a job as a carpenter and was now getting paid $17 an hour.

We met a woman who became homeless from a drug addiction.

After receiving outreach services and building a relationship with us for six months, she decided to overcome her addiction. She sat with our case management team and our outreach pastor, and agreed to be placed in a weeklong detox facility. She was then transferred to a sober house which has found her a job and ended her homelessness. Since the start of the pandemic, we have had a hand in helping approximately 500 people transition to a shelter and about 200 people transition to a home.

Patrick’s Story I want to share in detail a story that is very close to our hearts.

His name is Patrick Woods. Patrick came to us at the beginning of 2019 for a shower. After every shower, we have always made it a practice to sanitize and clean each bathroom in our trailer. Patrick was so grateful for the shower that he decided to volunteer with us, and he helped clean and sanitize the bathrooms from then on. We grew close to Patrick, enjoying long conversations, hanging out with him outside of outreach, and even celebrating his birthday with him.

When 2020 came around, we started to hire staff to address the growing need among the unsheltered. Due to the uncertainty around the coronavirus, most of the places that served the unsheltered closed. With God’s help, we were able to continue operating and scale operations after a grant from the City of Orlando. It was only natural that one of the individuals we hired was Patrick. So, in March 2020, Patrick became an employee with us. At the same time, through a partnership with Hilton where they donated $100,000 worth of room stays for our staff,

Mayor of Orlando Buddy Dyer declared every April 15 SALT (Service And Love Together) day in the City of Orlando. From Left to Right: Admelyz Bueno and Palmetta Maxis.

we were able to end his homelessness as well. We also started to save up funds to move him into his own place.

When June came around, we noticed Patrick was losing weight, and he was starting to limp. He insisted on continuing to work and did not want to get checked out. By the beginning of July, the pain had become so unbearable that he decided to go to the hospital. This is where Patrick learned that he had stage four lung cancer. It had metastasized and spread to his hip, causing him to limp. Patrick refused to stay at the hospital due to the COVID-19 restrictions because he wanted to say goodbye to his friends before he passed. He only had a few weeks left.

The money we were saving for his place was used toward a hotel in downtown Orlando. His last request was to be baptized, so in the bathtub of that hotel room, Patrick was baptized. We went back to the hospital a week later, then to hospice, where he passed away. We are excited to see him again in Heaven, but it was a tough loss for all of us here on earth.

God has continued to bless us, and as He does, we dream even bigger to expand services to help even more people in need. We are currently fundraising for a second shower trailer to extend services to Sanford and beyond. We are also fundraising to build permanent supportive housing units for the unsheltered, and we just launched a program where we partner with churches in duplicating SALT in their city. You can scan the QR codes on adjacent page for more information on these projects. If you are interested in expanding SALT in your city with your church, reach out to eric@saltoutreach.org.

Some of our biggest supporters have always been individuals within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. If you would like to donate or become a monthly donor to partner with us in taking this organization to every city in the United States that needs these services, please do! Even a small gift of $25 a month can make a big difference in someone’s life. You can text “Pass The SALT” to 44321 to receive a link where you can donate to SALT Outreach. To stay up to date, you can visit www.saltoutreach.org.

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BLOOMING WITH

COMPASSION Jesus showed compassion…and so can I! Here’s how: Talk with your friends or parents and figure out all the ways you can show compassion at school, church, with your neighbors or friends!

Here are some ideas, but try to think of some of your own: Call someone from church or school and see how they are doing Help with extra chores Donate toys to a charity Make cookies or another treat for a neighbor Make cards for my teachers and tell them how much I appreciate them

God is Compassion Read Psalm 86:15 and fill in the Bible verse, all about God’s compassion.

But you, ________, are a _________ and ________ God, ______ to anger, abounding in _______ and __________.

Psalm 86:15 (New International Version) Answers: Lord; compassionate; gracious; slow; love; faithfulness.

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Write your ideas on each petal!

What sets compassion apart from sympathy, or similar emotions, is action. When Jesus felt compassion for others, he acted. Look up these verses and find the action word or words.

Matthew 14:13-14. What did Jesus DO? ________________________________________ Mark 6:34. What did Jesus DO? __________________________________________ Luke 7:13. What did Jesus DO? __________________________________________ Matthew 15: 32-38. What did Jesus DO? __________________________________________ Matthew 20:34. What did Jesus DO? __________________________________________ Answers: healed the sick; taught them many things; comforted/said “don’t cry”; fed them; healed the blind/reached out to them.

I am more compassionate to others when I can be compassionate with myself.

Have you heard about the golden rule? It says to “treat others the way you want to be treated.” Well, being compassionate with YOU is like the golden rule. To treat yourself the way you should treat others.

With kindness, understanding, and gratitude, especially when you are not feeling great.

HEALTHY

SELF-TALK This

Not That

Whoops, I made a mistake.

I can try again.

I’m so dumb.

I like me. Jesus loves me.

No one likes me.

I did something bad, but I can do something to fix it. I can pray, ask forgiveness, and do better next time.

I’m a bad person.

This is really hard, but I’m going to keep trying.

I give up. I’ll never be able to do this.

I haven’t figured it out-yet.

I never get anything right.

I am enough. And worthy, too.

I am a child of the King.

I’m not enough.

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Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:12-14

Compassion That Changes a Life

by Alexander E. Schlussler

Compassion is care and kindness, especially the inclination to think about the needs and the good of others. It is a state of mind and emotion that drives us to loving actions shown towards others.

Compassion motivates us to help another person for no other reason than it is the right thing to do. We should never think that a person does not deserve our compassion. We all struggle through life. We all do and say the wrong things. Each one of us will face or have already faced times when we felt neglected and alone. This is when we need unsolicited love and compassion to make it through.

The Bible says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ,” Galatians 6:2. The law of Christ that Paul is referring to is, “love one another.”

Isn’t that what we are called to do? If we say we follow Jesus and call Him our Lord, then we must not be motivated by our wants, but rather with love do what is right in the eyes of the Lord by serving the needs of another. “We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do and also in the light of what they suffer.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer We cannot deny that we are living in unprecedented times. We are constantly bombarded by polarizing matters which have only served to separate us. Even in our congregations, we argue over issues that divide us instead of coming together and having compassion for one another.

“Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” -Ian Maclaren Compassion revolves around two simple things, our purpose and the resulting action. The aim is to open our hearts to others, which motivates what we do about it. Compassion must move us to more than just feeling grief for someone. It should inspire us to act.

Sympathy is a feeling, but genuine compassion requires action.

Sympathy stands and says, I’m sorry.

Compassion moves and says, I’m here with you.

Sympathy stands and says, I would like to help.

Compassion moves and says, I am here to help.

Sympathy thinks, I wish I could carry your burden.

Compassion moves, Cast your burden on me.

-Author Unknown

Twenty years ago, while on a bike ride, I was surprised by what sounded like an explosion and metal crunching. A car had run the red light and hit the vehicle traveling through the intersection.

The vehicle that had been hit flipped over and skidded to a stop. I jumped off my bike and ran to the car, which had ended up on its roof. A young woman was hanging upside-down in her seat; the seat belt was jammed and would not open. I heard someone say they called the police, yet no one else had come over to help. The woman started to cry out, “Help me, I don’t want to die.” While it did not seem that she was in that type of danger, she was clearly frightened. I laid down on the street, and through the broken passenger window, I took her hand. I told her,” I’ve got you,” and that I would wait with her until the police arrived. A few minutes later, both the police and fire rescue were on the scene. They asked me to move away, and as I released her hand, she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “Thank you so much.” I went back to my bike and continued my ride. It struck me that the instant I looked into the woman’s eyes, I was filled with compassion. I felt her fear, and without thinking, I took her hand. Although she was still dangling in her seat, when I told her, “I’ve got you,” the fear left her eyes.

Someone once said,” It’s not what you say but how you say it.” But we can also add that it is not what you say but what you do! Speak with kindness, speak with patience. Speak in a tone that says I am here for you, and I care; however, the actions which follow your words will last a lifetime. We can feel sympathy for someone’s situation and do nothing about it. Yet, when we are troubled to compassion and action ensues, the love of Christ shines through their circumstance’s and their life can be forever changed.

Our daily interaction with others gives us many opportunities to show compassion. John Bunyan, author of “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” is said to have expressed, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”

“We cannot always do great things on this earth. We can only do small things with great love.” -Mother Teresa

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Jesús,

Nuestro Ejemplo Por el Pr. Alejandro Morgado

Jesús siempre será nuestro ejemplo máximo a seguir. Como creyentes nunca debemos olvidar que Cristo mismo nos dijo, “Porque ejemplo os he dado, para que como yo os he hecho, vosotros también hagáis” (Juan 13:15, RV60). Si en algo debiéramos basar nuestro crecimiento como cristianos y como iglesias debería ser en imitar a Jesús con el mismo espíritu de compasión que Él demostró en su ministerio.

La vida de Jesús estuvo marcada por el alto espíritu de compasión por todos aquellos que le rodeaban. Sobre este particular, el Diccionario Teológico Beacon menciona lo siguiente, “La compasión que Jesús sintió por ellos no era un mero fenómeno psicológico superficial compadeciéndose de alguien. Cuando Él se compadecía era porque los miraba con amor auténtico.” Dios nos llama a ti y a mí a ponernos en función de los que nos rodean y mostrarles el amor que Él nos brinda. El cielo desea que podamos

vivir mostrando el verdadero espíritu de compasión con todos aquellos que nos rodean en cada momento de nuestro diario vivir.

Aunque muchos son los versículos bíblicos que presentan el tema de la compasión durante el ministerio de Jesús, en Mateo 9:36 (RV60) se destaca un pasaje muy poderoso, “Y al ver las multitudes, tuvo compasión de ellas; porque estaban desamparadas y dispersas como ovejas que no tienen pastor.”

Con esto en mente debiéramos preguntarnos, las multitudes que nos rodean que están desamparadas y dispersas, ¿estarán necesitando de parte de nosotros la misma atención que recibieron en los tiempos de Jesús? Propongámonos, por la gracia de Dios, vivir motivados por esa verdadera compasión que el Maestro sintió por los que le rodeaban.

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