Winter 2022

quarterly journal of Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

“But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.” Galatians 1:15

I am privileged to travel throughout the beautiful state of Florida and meet new people every week. When the opportunity allows, I love to take time to hear what is on their hearts and share mine as well. Often in our conversations, the topic of calling comes up. Many people want to find the purpose for which they were created. In fact, from the moment we are born, we seem to have an innate need to seek meaning and fulfillment. Yet, we often look in the wrong places. Consider the following illustration:

A heavily booked commercial flight out of Denver was canceled, and a single agent was rebooking a long line of inconvenienced travelers. Suddenly, an angry passenger pushed his way to the front and slapped his ticket on the counter. He insisted, “I have to be on this flight, and it has to be first class!” “I’m sorry, sir,” the agent replied. “I’ll be happy to help you, but I have to take care of these folks first.” The passenger was unimpressed. “Do you have any idea who I am?” he demanded in a voice loud enough for the passengers behind him to hear. Without hesitating, the agent smiled and picked up her public microphone. “May I have your attention, please?” she broadcast throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at the gate who does not know who he is. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to the gate.” As the man retreated, the people in the terminal burst into applause.

While humorous, and may remind some of us of our holiday travel, it raises a fair question. Do we know who we are? Do we know who we are as Adventists? Do we know who we are as children of God? It seems to me that there are passengers who don’t know who they are. It seems to me that there are passengers who don’t know what to believe. There are some passengers who don’t know why we became the people of God.

Yet, the Bible tells us clearly that, by the grace of God, we are called by Him. He calls us to be His ambassadors, sent to a broken world with broken hearts in need of healing, hope, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God.

Some of you may have found a calling in a job—to preach, teach, heal, or use your spiritual gifts to bless others—and that is wonderful. But we should not lose sight of our greatest calling, to love and follow Him (John 3:16) and glorify Him in everything we do (1 Corinthians 10:31).

I pray this issue of Florida Focus reminds you that you are called by God. In these pages, you will read how the Lord called Florida Conference to provide mobility for those in need; how He called our educators to watch over His most precious flock, our children; and many other moving testimonies. I was also privileged to sit down with my colleagues, Tim Goff and Elisa Rahming, to discuss what it means to be called by God.

Above all, my prayer is that you never forget that you are uniquely called, and uniquely loved, by our wonderful Savior. May God bless you always,

Allan Machado, D.Min. Florida Conference President

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.

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

Florida Conference Administration Travels to “Chair the Love” in Peru

by Glen Mather

From the time that Frank Sinatra first crooned, “Come fly with me, let’s float down to Peru,” it has captured the imagination of those who love to travel and explore. Some never imagined they’d find themselves in “llama-land,” sharing an experience they’d never forget with great friends.

The Florida Conference Administrative Committee sets aside a week each year to plan the upcoming new year of ministry. The

committee uses this time to reconnect and rededicate themselves to the mission of supporting Florida’s churches, schools, and members. Thanks to a mission trip that Allan Machado, president; Tim Goff, executive secretary; and Les McCoy, Health Ministries director, attended in 2021, the idea surfaced that they could combine their annual planning meeting with a mission project. Little did they know that the trip would wind up in Peru.

Chair the Love (CTL), a wheelchair ministry formed in Central Florida, prepared a memorable mission trip. Together with CTL representatives and volunteers in Peru, the travelers would be responsible for delivering a container load of 280 wheelchairs. The chairs were ordered from the factory according to specifications from the CTL organizers in Peru. During that time, volunteers scoured the Lima, Peru area, locating those in need of wheelchairs and scheduling several distributions.

In the middle of October, twenty-five travelers left Orlando for Peru for this unique mission. The following day, after a two-hour bus ride, the group piled out onto a dusty soccer field in a small town in the district of Ancón. Patiently waiting for them were nearly one hundred families under blue tarps, sitting on plastic chairs. The recipients and their families had been anxiously waiting for this moment; some had been waiting for up to ten years. This was the day they were to be given the gift of mobility.

The conference volunteers rapidly set to work, together with their new friends from the rotary clubs in Peru, assembling the wheelchairs and organizing them by size. One by one, the recipients’ names were called, and as they were lovingly placed into their new rugged red chairs, tears were shed, and hugs were freely dispensed.

After a successful distribution, participants enjoyed a brief program, starting with prayer and the national anthems of Peru and the United States. After several hours, all the chairs were distributed, but no one wanted to leave. The volunteers hung to the recipients’ stories, such as Pedro’s, who, at twelve years old, had never had a wheelchair. Pedro had to be carried during the few occasions he ever left home. With his new chair, he could

now attend school, be with friends, and become a full part of his community. Another recipient, Señor Dominguez, lost his leg to untreated diabetes and had been waiting for a chair for three years. He could now attend his doctor’s appointments and receive needed treatment without aid from his family.

“Chair the Love is one of the most transformational things you want to be a part of,” said Frank Runnels, VP for Education. I’ve been a missionary, I’ve been a part of going to different countries to tell people about Christ, but to also be able to help them with a need in this way is just incredible.”

The next day, volunteers handed out 140 chairs to recipients in the district of Pachacamac. More hugs were given, more tears were shed, and similar stories of newfound freedom were shared. The ability to instantly change the lives of the recipients and their caregivers with a chair was remarkable.

The group couldn’t help but recall how Jesus ministered—first to people’s physical needs, then to their deeper spiritual hunger.

The remainder of the trip was filled with spectacular scenery, rugged hikes, and moving worship. Despite all the beauty they experienced, the faces of the grateful recipients and families stayed with the volunteers most closely. Indeed, sharing the love of God, restoring mobility, and sharing the hope of a heaven where wheelchairs will be banned forever was far greater than the group could have ever imagined! As Allan Machado expressed, “Healing and purpose come from serving.”

Interested in going on your own trip and restoring mobility? For more information, visit www.chairthelove.org.

CELEBRATING 33 YEARS OF PRISON MINISTRY LEADERSHIP IN FLORIDA CONFERENCE

FRANK & MAXINE BARTON

by Janeth Montenegro

Thirty-three years ago, God spoke to Frank and Maxine Barton and urged them to begin a ministry for men and women behind bars. Little did they know that this God-inspired idea would take them throughout Florida and into several state prisons throughout the Southern Union.

This ministry has touched and changed thousands of individuals who are currently or were previously incarcerated along with their families. Several have even turned over their lives to God and gone on to serve local churches in various ministries, even leadership. The Bartons have served as two of the most effective prison ministry leaders the Seventh-day Adventist church has ever seen.

At their official retirement banquet in May 2022, hosted by Florida Conference Administration, it was announced that the Bartons did not just develop and train leaders to continue prison ministry,

but they also produced a curriculum for the Lamb Program— ministering to children and families of inmates—that is edited and published by the North American Division, and will be used as a resource for Prison Ministries in all of the NAD.

Frank and Maxine were moved to tears as Prison Ministries directors from the North American Division, Southern Union, and Florida Conference, along with a crowd of conference staff and community representatives, came together to appreciate them.

Cleveland Houser, Prison Ministry Consultant for NAD, and David Long, Prison Ministries director for Southern Union, were among the invited guests. They both spoke eloquently of the Bartons’ leadership and shared tributes on behalf of their respective administrations.

The Latin word for “calling” is “vocatio,” the origin of the word “vocation.” For many, a vocation pertains to an ideal, plan, or goal. For others, it relates to an occupation, job, or profession. For most, “vocation” is what you dedicate your life to. The common point of all these conceptions is to consider the “calling” as the feeling that one is capable and suitable for a certain career or occupation.

I want to present five premises about calling that can make a positive difference in your life. The purpose of these statements is to help you discover your “calling.” Many studies give evidence that people who know their calling in life report the highest degree of satisfaction in life.

1. God is the one who calls.

The concept of calling presupposes the existence of an entity that “calls,” external to the one who is called. The Bible is clear in stating that God is the one who calls us (1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:24). We don’t choose to be called. We can choose a profession or lifestyle, but it is God who decides what He calls us to do.

2. God has equipped you for what he has called you to do.

You are a special human being; there is no one like you. In fact, God chose the exact time and place where you would be born to make it easier for you to find your eternal destiny (Acts 17: 26, 27). The fact that God wants to fulfill a plan with you (Psalms 138:8) indicates that He had that plan at the time of your creation (Isaiah 43:7). That simple truth leads to the great discovery that, in you, God has placed everything you need to fulfill His purpose. God didn’t create without wings whom He designed to fly.

3. Your calling positively impacts other people.

A career can lead you to success. Success usually has to do with things that are acquired or projects that are achieved. But God’s plan is centered on people. “None of us lives for himself” (Romans 14:7). The meaning of your life is in the impact you leave on others’ lives (Philippians 2:3).

Knowing Your Calling

by Efrain Duany, D.Min., LMFT

4. Your calling contains the fullness of your life.

When Jesus was at the end of His life, He said to His Father, “having accomplished the work that you gave me to do,” John 1: 4. Those are the words of someone who knows God has sent him (John 17:3), who knows His mission, and who aligned His life with the fulfillment of His divine plan (Hebrews 10:9).

Human beings tend to seek happiness, but happiness is elusive, here one moment and slipping out of our lives the next. The great men and women of God were not always happy in the ordinary sense of the word, but they all lived and died with a great sense of self-realization.

That satisfaction is what the Bible calls having the full joy of God in our soul (John 3:19; 16:24; 17:13). The happiest place on earth is where God wants you to be. You will feel the greatest joy in your life by doing what God has commanded you to do. The meaning of your life is found in fulfilling the purpose for which God has created you.

5. God wants to reveal your calling to you.

The Bible is clear, not only stating that God has a purpose for you, but also emphasizing the great truth that He wants to reveal your life purpose to you personally. He wants us to be filled with the knowledge of His will (Ephesians 1:9; Colossians 1:9); He wants to change our minds better to understand His plan (Romans 12:1, 2).

What can you do to know God’s plan for your life? God says: “Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known,” Jeremiah 33:3. If you ask Him with faith and intentionality, “your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left,” Isaiah 30:21.

You can close your ear to the voice of God, reject His impressions on your heart, and decide not to fulfill His purpose, but God will not change His plans with you, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable,” Romans 11: 29.

ABOUT OUR HIGHEST CALLING

by Sonia A. Perez

I frequently heard a similar comment in seminary, “Tell me about when you knew you were called.” The assumption is that, for most of us, there is a moment when we hear, feel, or are recognized for our calling.

My moment occurred at Southern Adventist University when a professor asked me what job I would do for free. I responded, “a youth pastor.” He asked, “So what are you doing here, Sonia?” My background was prelaw, and I was one class short of getting my master’s in counseling. The question startled me and redirected my priorities with a sense of urgency. I dropped everything and headed to seminary with no sponsorship or plan.

However, a calling to a role, job, or profession is a secondary calling. All of us are called into some sort of work for God, ordained to us from Eden when Adam and Eve were tasked to take care of this earth. We also have a primary calling.

“The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found where this was written: ‘The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.’ He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at Him intently. Then He began to speak to them. ‘The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!’ Luke 4:17-21 (NLT).

Jesus came to bring salvation; He showed the ultimate kindness by giving up His life for ours. Jesus was confident in His calling and made clear why He left heaven to live among us. Leaders have been called throughout history to fulfill the primary calling to proclaim the good news as written in Isaiah’s scroll. Some of these leaders succeeded in their position, or secondary calling, but struggled in their primary calling.

Moses grew up in a palace with advantages and training, but from birth was called to set his people free from the Egyptian rulers who had raised Moses as their own. At first, Moses acted on his primary calling to release captives from their oppressors but broke God’s law by committing murder. Moses fled to the wilderness, where God reaffirmed his calling by speaking to him in a burning bush. (Exodus chapters 2-4.)

Samuel was placed in a temple by his sacrificial mother. She kept a promise to the priest, who assured her that God would answer her prayer for a child. Samuel was an amazing leader who became the last

judge and the first prophet. He answered God’s call as a child but made the same mistake as his mentor Eli and appointed his sons as judges. They perverted justice, taking bribes for their judgments, just as Eli’s sons abused their priestly roles. Eli, Samuel, and later David all had sons who were given privileges but lacked discipline and turned against God, abusing their positions of authority and ignoring their primary calling. (1 Samuel chapters 2-8; 2 Samuel 3:3, chapters 13-19.)

Judas is named a disciple, but we never see Jesus asking him to leave his past behind and follow Him. Somehow Judas had entered Jesus’s inner circle, those who Jesus taught to represent His mission and follow His example to fulfill the primary calling found in Isaiah and Luke. Judas continually abused that trust. When Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, Judas judged her claiming to care about the poor. But Jesus spoke up for her and said she was anointing Him for His burial and that her act would be remembered.

Judas did not have a calling but fulfilled prophecy by betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Like Eli’s and Samuel’s sons, Judas placed himself in positions of influence that he abused, failing in both his secondary and primary calling.

If you, like me, often feel uncomfortable when asked about being called, remember that where you work is your secondary calling. We are called to remain faithful to God’s primary calling over our lives, regardless of scrutiny or discouragement. This goes beyond sharing the gospel to living the gospel.

Like Moses, we are called to set the captives free and humble ourselves, asking for help when we need it. Like Eli, we must seek discernment, listen, and encourage those in need.

We must learn from the mistakes of Eli, Samuel, and David. We must hold accountable those in positions of authority who spiritually abuse others and manipulate narratives to hide their scruples. We should not give absolute power to anyone, regardless of their title. Let us not make the mistake of prioritizing someone’s secondary calling over our primary calling from God.

Like Jesus, our highest calling is to show kindness, sit at the table with our betrayers, and forgive those who wrong us. We must be the voice for the voiceless, stand up for those who are spiritually abused, open the eyes of those blinded by the lies they’ve been told, and set free those who feel trapped by their sin. When we can finally do this, we will fulfill our greatest commission as children of God who have inhabited this earth from the beginning of creation.

How would you answer the question, “What is Jesus calling you to do?”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Why Me?

by Phil Bond, Development and Planned Giving Director

It was a wonderful Sabbath afternoon in Camp Kulaqua. I was running and clowning around with my 13-year-old son when, suddenly, we both fell. Our combined weight jammed the femur bone in my left leg up and into the socket bone. This freak accident crushed my socket bone, and I had to undergo surgery to repair it.

I asked, “Why me?” I’m sure many of you have experienced things that made you think, “Lord, why me?” The Bible is also full of examples of those who questioned the Lord.

In Exodus 3, we learn of the Lord’s call to Moses to liberate the Israelites from the Egyptians. God appears to Moses in a burning bush, and when Moses approaches, God tells him that He will use Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go. What is Moses’ response? “Who am I that should go unto Pharaoh …? (Exodus 3:11)

In Judges 6:11, we find Gideon hiding while threshing wheat in the wine press. When the Lord told him he would save Israel from the Midianites, Gideon asked for a sign as proof. In verse 15, he asks, “How shall I save Israel? My family is poor and I am the least in my father’s house.” Even after he was given the first sign, he asked for another sign. And then a third one. Despite the fear and doubt, Gideon routed the Midianites and became a judge of Israel. The Lord told Jonah to warn the inhabitants of Nineveh. In response, he didn’t just say, “Why me?” he said, “I’m out of here,” and booked a ticket on the first ship going the other direction.

Sometimes we are chosen to face trials and tribulations, and sometimes to do great works for God. We may never know why on this side of heaven, but Romans 8:28 assures us that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

I began to feel God calling me to work for Him when I decided to have daily morning devotionals. Though I fought His calling at first, I purposefully prayed that God would show me what He wanted me to do. I prayed this every day for months. The Lord opened the door for me to serve Him as planned giving director, first for Adventist Frontier Missions and now at Florida Conference.

In my work, I find meaning and purpose. I am uplifted every time someone tells me the difference my and my team’s ministry has made in their lives. Helping people establish their estate plans brings relief, reduces stress, and gives them confidence that their loved ones will be sustained and supported.

Perhaps the Lord is not calling you to lead a group of people through the desert for 40 years, fight battles like Gideon, or even change careers, but maybe He is. I encourage you to accept a 40day challenge in which you pray daily for the Lord to show you how He could use you in His work. After you pray, be still for a bit to give the Lord opportunity to speak back to you.

John 3:16 assures us that God loves us so much that we can be confident He will lead us.

EL GRAN LLAMADOR

por Pr. Homero Salazar

No es difícil notar que Dios en la Biblia es “El Gran Llamador”. Si hay algo que realmente identifica su gran amor por nosotros, es que él nunca nos deja de llamar. Así como lo hizo en Edén cuando Adán y Eva cayeron en pecado y dice la Biblia “Más Jehová llamó al hombre, y le dijo: ¿dónde estás tú? (Genesis 3:9), así también llamó a Noe, a Abraham, a Isaac, a Jacob, a su pueblo, el Israel literal y también a su Israel espiritual.

Dios llama porque ama y nos quiere bendecir con su salvación. Sin embargo, no siempre los seres humanos responden a su llamado y lo más triste es que su propio pueblo también puede endurecer su corazón. Una muestra de esto la podemos ver en las palabras escritas por el profeta Oseas: “Cuando Israel era muchacho, yo lo amé, y de Egipto llamé a mi hijo. Pero, cuanto más yo los llamaba, tanto más se alejaban de mí, a los baales sacrificaban y a los ídolos ofrecían sahumerios. Con cuerdas humanas los atraje, con cuerdas de amor, y fui para ellos como los que alzan el yugo de sobre su cerviz, y puse delante de ellos la comida” (Oseas 11:1,3-4).

Estos versos que nos muestran el amor de nuestro Gran Llamador, siempre me han conmovido. Las “cuerdas humanas” o las “cuerdas de amor” mencionadas, son solo metáforas del maravilloso plan de salvación en Cristo Jesús, tal como él mismo lo dijera cuando estuvo aquí en nuestra arena: “Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna. Porque no envió Dios a su Hijo al mundo para condenar al mundo, sino para que el mundo sea salvo por él” (Juan 3:16,17).

Sobre esta base quiero compartirles los dos llamados específicos que Dios le hace a todo ser humano: El llamado salvífico y el llamado evangelizador.

El llamado salvífico

Es el llamado que Dios nos hace para reconocer nuestra iniquidad, perdonar nuestra transgresión, cubrir nuestro pecado, aceptar su salvación y así poder vivir con integridad en esta vida, con la esperanza de una vida eterna. Tal como lo dice el Salmista “Bienaventurado aquel cuya transgresión ha sido perdonada, y cubierto su pecado. Bienaventurado el hombre a quién Jehová no culpa de iniquidad. Y en cuyo espíritu no hay engaño” (Salmo 32:1,2).

En este llamado está implícita la comprensión y aceptación de lo que Cristo hizo por nosotros en la cruz del calvario siendo el Espíritu Santo quién, a través de la Palabra, impacta nuestra mente con la verdad y nos convence de pecado, de justicia y de juicio. Es por el Espíritu que reconocemos que Cristo es el Señor y el Salvador. Por eso Cristo describe la misión del Espíritu de esta manera: “Y cuando el venga, convencerá al mundo de pecado, de justicia y de juicio” (Juan 16:8). “Pero cuando venga el Espíritu de verdad, él os guiará a toda verdad, porque no hablará por su propia cuenta sino que hablará todo lo que oyere, y os hará saber las cosas que habrán de venir” (Juan 16:13).

El llamado evangelizador

Pero hay otro llamado que Jesús nos hace una vez que hemos aceptado el llamado salvífico y es al que yo llamo el “llamado evangelizador”. Que no es otra cosa que asumir, por la llenura de su Espíritu, nuestro discipulado, nuestro

compromiso cristiano. Es el llamado de Dios para unirnos como instrumentos en las manos del Espíritu y cumplir misión. La misión de esparcir y sembrar la semilla de la salvación en un mundo que perece en la oscuridad.

Es el llamado a ser colaboradores con Dios, misioneros voluntarios, discípulos saludables que cumplen misión por el impulso del amor. Que entienden que el primer responsable de la evangelización al mundo es el Espíritu Santo y por lo tanto están libres de toda arrogancia: “Pero cuando venga el Consolador a quién yo os enviaré del Padre, el Espíritu de verdad, el cual procede del Padre, el dará testimonio acerca de mi” (Juan 15:26).

Discípulos auténticos dispuestos a evangelizar. Que saben que la única manera de ser instrumentos de bendición para el mundo es por medio del bautismo diario del Espíritu que los convierte en verdaderos testigos: “Y vosotros daréis testimonio también, porque habéis estado conmigo desde el principio” (Juan 15:27).

Discípulos que responden con un sí, al llamado urgente de Dios para esta hora final de la historia de este mundo: “Levántate, resplandece, porque ha venido tu luz, y la gloria de Jehová ha nacido sobre ti. Porque he aquí que tinieblas cubrirán la tierra, y oscuridad las naciones, más sobre ti será vista su gloria. Y andarán las naciones a tu luz, y los reyes al resplandor de tu nacimiento” (Isaías 60:1-3).

Bienaventurado es aquel que considera y acepta el llamado salvífico y evangelizador que le hace Jehová, “El Gran Llamador.”

Answering the Call

Florida Conference Officers Discuss Calling, Purpose, and Faith

On a rainy afternoon in September, part of our Florida Focus team sat down with the Florida Conference officers—Allan Machado, president; Elisa Rahming, treasurer; and Tim Goff, executive secretary—to talk about what it means to be called by God. As the rain outside poured, we discussed Biblical examples of calling, their own life experiences, and how to listen for and discern God's plan for our lives.

Later, on October 9, 2022, delegates from throughout the conference affirmed the Lord's call upon each of their lives by electing them to continue serving in their current roles. See page 15.

To watch the full interview that accompanies this feature, scan the QR code above or visit floridaconference.com/called

by Raquel Levy Gonzalez

What first comes to mind when thinking about calling?

ER: The first thing that came to my mind was the literal call I received from Florida Conference when I started serving here 15 years ago and how God made it clear to me more than any other path before. It was a journey; I woke up one morning wondering, "What's my purpose? Why am I here on earth? What has God called me to?" And through that process of Bible study, prayer, and trying to determine the next steps, God led me to Florida Conference.

TG: For me, calling takes on many different levels of experience. Shortly after getting married, my wife suggested we consider literature ministry. I was happy in the construction work I was doing, but I quit my job, and we went to work together selling Christian literature. I wasn't sure how that would work, raising a family and so forth, but along the way, a pastor visited me. Right outside my front door, he said, "Tim, you should be in ministry. What are you doing here?" I was shocked by it. When I think about calling, it was a literal influence in my life that said, "You need to look at this seriously."

AM: There are many ways you can look at calling. Number one, we're called by God to follow Jesus. Jesus calls us to be His disciples. In terms of dedicating your life to serving the church, I can share what I share with pastors and seminary students. You should not go to bed questioning whether the Lord has called you to ministry. In my case, if there's one thing I know—whether I've had a good or bad day— it's that God called me to serve Jesus and His church. It is wonderful because there's no doubt in your heart. You know you were called to do this; you wake up knowing you have a purpose. You're going somewhere, and the journey will not be easy, but the Lord is with you. The Lord who called you also promised to be with you every step of the way.

another at home. Throughout that whole experience, I was able to see God come through for me. It was one of those faith-building moments where I felt Him calling me into a trusting relationship with Him. That is another important aspect of calling because He longs to have that one-on-one daily love relationship with us.

AM: I ran away from God's calling for years; I didn't want to be a pastor. I remember thinking about it when I was 14, and then I ran from it. I went into a different path, opticianry, and spent many years ignoring God's voice. I was always engaged in church, but ran away from dedicating my life as a minister. One day, I started losing sleep. I couldn't sleep for three or four days, and I struggled. I heard God's voice telling me, "You're not going to get away from me again; you're going to have to make a decision." I remember kneeling next to my bed at three or four in the morning, saying, "Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me, but let me sleep." I stood up, went to bed, and I slept after that. I went to seminary at Andrews University and made a pact with God. I told Him I would prepare for His call, but if He wanted me to dedicate my life to ministry, He would have to literally call me. Almost 20 years ago, I was at the optical when a call came in asking for Pastor Allan. It was the conference, and that was the beginning of this beautiful journey. Every day I wake up knowing my life has a purpose: to serve Jesus and proclaim to the world that He gave His life for us and that He's coming again.

TG: In one regard, God calls all people. The call to pastoral ministry, for example, is only one of the many, many spiritual gifts that God has given. God calls all people to different responsibilities and opportunities. I've been reading Desire of Ages and the calling of the disciples spoke to me. Jesus called Peter and Matthew during their greatest successes. Peter had the best catch of fish that Galilee had probably ever seen, and at that very time, Jesus said, "follow me." Matthew was collecting and benefiting from his work, and Jesus called him to sacrifice everything. There can also be a call to walk away from things. In my own life, there were three times when I had to walk away from what I thought was success. It doesn't necessarily mean that you will sacrifice everything, but you certainly will say that God is first.

God calls all people to different responsibilities and opportunities.

What Biblical examples of calling come to mind?

TG: I'm reminded of an experience I had when I was about 11. Our home life at the time was quite challenging, but my mother and I went to our church in Pennsylvania to do what was called ingathering. I stepped out of the little fellowship area into the sanctuary. The lights were out, and I had an overwhelming sense of God's presence. Now looking back on it, the disappointing part is that I had no idea what to do with that experience. And it would be a long journey before I understood. I believe God was speaking to me at that time, the first time I truly sensed the holiness of God. When the more defined calls happened, I looked back immediately to that moment.

ER: I'll pivot to another moment in my life when I felt God calling me into a loving relationship with Him. In my college years, I had an experience where He allowed me to see that I could trust Him. I had to work through some classes and try to take one course in the evening and

ER: The first one that came to my mind is Esther. Esther was called to be queen and deliverer of the Jews, by God's grace. She fulfilled her calling, and it wasn't easy. There's a lesson for us there. It was a difficult decision for her; she thought she might lose her life in the process, but God came through for her. She accepted and responded to the call to be the deliverer of her people. Ultimately, however God calls us, wherever God calls us, he wants us to accept his call.

AM: I would say, Saul, who became Paul. On many occasions, as he was writing letters to the churches, he articulated that he did not deserve the calling of God in his life. I believe it is only by the grace of God that we are called to do the work that Jesus did, to serve his church. To be affirmed and recognized by faithful believers, to work for

The Lord who called you also promised to be with you every step of the way.

Can you think of a time or situation when you felt that God was calling you? How did you know that it was from God?

the Kingdom of God, every time I think about it, I conclude that I don't deserve it. Paul said God chose him before he was born (Galatians 1:15). I want to believe that is also my experience. In a mystery we will never explain, the Lord chose every one of us for a specific purpose. When we work together, we then become the body of Christ.

TG: If I only read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, I get the sense that Jesus walked up to the first disciples, having never met them, said, "follow me," and they did. When I read the gospel of John, I understand that Jesus met and traveled with them for months. Peter had a lot of struggles, but He saw Jesus do amazing things. One day he realized Jesus was calling him personally and would provide for him. Jesus gave them time to get to know Him, to walk with Him. The beautiful part of this is that they journeyed together for a season. It's reasonable that people have the opportunity to take sufficient time to get to know Jesus before getting baptized or giving their heart to Him. The calling takes time, but Jesus is waiting; He is ready. He does life with people before He says, "follow me."

What advice would you give to someone watching or reading this who is wholeheartedly seeking their calling but isn't quite there yet?

AM: Many young people come to me and ask, "How do I know the Lord is calling me?" and I answer the same every time. If the Lord is calling you, you won't have doubts. I struggled with my decision, but I didn't doubt that He was calling me. I just didn't want to answer. I want you to know the Lord is calling you. When the Lord calls, the Holy Spirit will make it clear in your mind and heart that He has a plan for you. If you don't know what the Lord is calling you for, it might be because you're entangled in many things that prevent the voice of God from being heard. If you open your heart, walk by faith, and allow the Lord to speak to you in prayer with an attitude of surrender, you will hear God's call, designed specifically for you. Once you answer Him, you will live with

purpose. You will go to sleep knowing that you are in perfect connection with God's will.

ER: I'll emphasize a piece of that in regard to prayer, fasting, and spending time with God. You can train yourself to hear the voice of God in your life, allowing Him to speak to you through the Holy Spirit, by spending meaningful time with Him and His word. When reading His word, let it speak to you directly as you go through the journey of listening and understanding God's call on your life. God's calling is specifically designed for us because He created us and knows what is best for us. He wants us to get to our calling more than we do, so He will walk with us through that journey. If you're spending five minutes in devotional time, double it. If you're spending ten, double it. Spend that meaningful time in prayer and listening, allowing Him to speak through His word.

God's calling is specifically designed for us. He created us and knows what is best for us.

TG: In the calling of God, you may encounter negativity from others. The enemy is at work too, but don't be afraid of that. Jesus overcame the world. I also want to share that Jesus walked among a large crowd of people and chose 12 to be His disciples. I say that because calling sometimes happens in stages. Calling might begin with a conversation or, as Elisa said, around the word of God on your knees. It might be a call to tune up your spiritual life or take care of personal business. Later, that call might come back and ask for a major commitment to a ministry. The time may even come for you to be an apostle, to "go into the world." Calling happens in many ways, but it's a beautiful thing to know that we never walk alone; we take this journey with God.

Officers Elected to Continue Serving Florida Conference at 72nd Constituency Session

On Sunday, October 9, 2022, the delegation of constituents from throughout Florida Conference overwhelmingly elected its three current officers to continue serving. C. Allan Machado will continue serving as President/CEO of Florida Conference, Timothy A. Goff as Executive Secretary/COO, and Elisa T.M. Rahming as Treasurer/CFO.

“Let us not forget that those who persevere to the end will receive the crown of righteousness,” said Allan Machado in his President’s Report. “Therefore, press on. Never give up. God has never failed us, and He will never fail us.”

Press On, the theme for this constituency meeting, was touched upon frequently, including when mentioning Hurricane Ian relief efforts currently ongoing in southwest Florida, the COVID-19 pandemic, and challenges such as social unrest, political instability, and economic hardship.

“Yet, we know with all our hearts and souls that not one of the good promises the Lord our God gave us has failed,” said Machado.

The 692 delegates present listened attentively to good news from Tim Goff: growth in membership, baptisms, and church organizations.

“Since the last Constituency session, the Lord has blessed us with beautiful growth; 24 companies were formed, 15 of our companies became churches,” said Goff. Statistical reports show that Florida Conference membership grew from 63,628 in 2017 to almost 68,000 in 2022. “Despite a pandemic, Florida Conference keeps growing.” Tim Goff also officially welcomed the churches organized during this last constituency period, and their delegates, at the start of the meeting.

Praises to the Lord were heard throughout the Forest Lake Academy gymnasium as Elisa Rahming reported on God’s many blessings in the financial arena. Rahming conveyed a 71% increase in cash and investments, 24% in total assets, and 23% in net assets.

“Let’s once again be reminded of the faithfulness of God over the past six years, your faithfulness— along with that of your fellow church members— in giving and returning to God a faithful tithe: 23% increase from 2016 to 2021.

Amazing,” said Rahming. “More resources mean more dollars for evangelism, missionaries in the field, our pastors and educators, and other workers who provide the necessary services so that mission can continue to be accomplished.”

In addition, the delegates appointed a new Executive Committee comprised of 13 lay persons and eight employees. Employees also include those within the AdventHealth system. Also appointed were members of the Florida Conference Association, the Association Board of Trustees, and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee elected during Regional Meetings.

The Constitution and Bylaws Committee, led by Eric Allen, also brought to the floor several recommendations. After some discussion, all motions presented were carried. These include:

• To move the Florida Conference and Association to a Quinquennial (five-year) schedule.

• Including language in the Constitution and Bylaws allowing for electronic (virtual) meetings of the Executive Committee, Regular Constituency Meetings, and Regional Meetings, when deemed necessary.

• Providing for the appointment of the Conference Executive Secretary to be the ex-officio chairperson (by virtue of their position) of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

After being unable to meet for two years due to the pandemic, the 72nd Constituency Session was a celebration of God’s faithfulness, allowing us to Press On. Drum Corps and Color Guard from Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church led a processional to begin the meeting. Jim Davidson, Executive Secretary of the Southern Union Conference, gave the devotional. Other special guests from the Union included Ron C. Smith, President, who brought the Nominating Committee report to the floor, David Freedman, Treasurer, and Dave Colburn, Undertreasurer.

A sentiment of looking to the future was shared unanimously by Machado, Goff, and Rahming. With God’s hand steering the ship, the Florida Conference now looks toward the next quinquennium with faith and resilience, always pressing on.

Thank You

To our teachers, principals, all school faculty and staff for answering God’s call on your life to instruct, nurture, and minister to the precious souls of children, giving it your all, on good days and bad days, through hills and valleys, making a difference in the lives of many. Thank you.

Nieves F. Jenkins

Principal & Instructor, Osceola Adventist Christian School

I looked forward to the long and tedious bus ride from Cedar Brook Seventh-day Adventist school in Massachusetts to my neighborhood in Rhode Island. The trip home was a daily highlight in my young life for many reasons, but mostly because it became my first classroom-on-wheels. The bus ride provided the venue for tutoring friends who needed homework help. I had a solid conviction to help struggling classmates improve their grades; sometimes, I had to persuade them that studying was far more advantageous than just talking on the bus. To seal the deal, when they passed an assignment or a test, it was celebration time in that rickety yellow bus, Old Betsy. I did not realize it then, but I had rolled upon God's calling for my life.

Later, I bartered homework help for skating lessons. As a child from Cuba, I needed to learn the mesmerizing New England winter sports, one way or another. The school's most talented athlete was one of my "students." My passion for teaching struggling learners continued through my teenage years. It led me to my first real summer job, a government summer camp program for the growing migrant community in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. I assisted in teaching English, physical education, music, and art.

Upon graduating with an Exceptional Education Teaching degree, the Lord opened the portal which would make all the difference in my world and confirmed my calling. I was hired to teach alongside an experienced teaching principal in one of our schools in South Florida. Due to unforeseen situations, the teaching principal had to resign from her position and relocate. I fell into her principal teaching role. However, at the time, it did not feel like a fall. It felt like a challenge given by my all-knowing Heavenly Father. When God gives us a challenge, He provides the details. The pastor of the local church happened to have a

background in education. Therefore, I had a mentor. His wife was an exceptional teacher who came on board to help me with the lower grades part-time. Materials were sorted, the school was painted, and the Ditto Machine worked. With an army of angels from the local church and my family, I found my stride in what seemed an impossible quest. When school started, I knew that when God calls, He puts the pieces into place.

The path etched by a loving Savior, the guidance of fellow believers, and the love of a supportive family endorsed the answer for my calling, “Yes, and thank you!” Thank you to my Jesus; what started from a passionate desire to assist struggling learners grew into the opportunity to serve as principal, assistant principal, and teacher for 36 rewarding years. All these years were and are proudly served in the Florida Conference.

My recent years have been dedicated to teaching grades five and six, and serving in administration. Enriching my math program to include all learners has kept me challenged. In the area of language arts, I have enjoyed connecting the pathway literacy program to other areas of the curriculum, especially social studies and science. My students enjoy experiencing books through drama, projects, and classroom museums shared with other classes, parents, and board members. When God calls, He gives us challenges, tremendous responsibilities, and enjoyment. The opportunity to plan a school-wide trip to Washington, DC, was one of those enjoyable and memorable moments. After all, it is not every day that Barry Black speaks to your school on the steps of the Capitol Building.

The calling came softly, and the answer materialized in a lifetime of moments and trials. These were met with the guidance of caring and knowledgeable conference associates, dedicated and talented teachers, a supportive church, and a loving family. Praise God for the call. Praise God for the answer. Praise God for the privilege of teaching.

Michael R. Berglund

Principal, Walker Memorial Academy

God's calling for my life has been anything but a linear journey. My road to principalship has taken me through denials, redirection, and downright confusion. But in the end, it has become clear that everything that happened to me professionally was part of His plan. I still find myself resisting God's calling to be a principal, but He steadily encourages me and continues to give me strength as I conduct His mission.

God began calling me to be a principal at the end of my second year of teaching in a public school district near Ann Arbor, Michigan. It all started on a Friday afternoon late in the school year. I had an appointment with the Assistant Superintendent to explain that I had accepted a new position and would be moving to a different district in Wisconsin. She reluctantly accepted my resignation and then said that she was hoping I was coming to see her about joining a school leadership program designed to develop young principals. I remember chuckling and telling her that while I appreciated the vote of confidence, I had determined that school leadership was not in my future. I had no intention of being a principal. In retrospect, I now recognize God was planting a seed and calling me to school leadership.

While teaching at Wausau, Wisconsin public schools, I enrolled in a master's program for school administration. I was still fighting the call to be a school principal, but I needed the extra graduate credits to advance my career practically and financially. At that time, the principal at Wausau West High School approached me about being the chair of

the high school Social Science Department. This position led me to oversee eighteen teachers and 2,600 full-time students enrolled in various courses. Upon accepting this part-time teaching and administrative role, I quickly realized that I enjoyed this new responsibility. Unbeknownst to me, God was methodically working out his plan for me to become a school administrator.

After completing my master's degree in school administration, I truly accepted God's plan and answered the call to serve as a principal in the Guam Micronesia Mission. Working as a principal at the Adventist mission school on the island of Saipan for five years was a life-changing event.

I knew God had been preparing me for a leadership role in school administration. He used every occurrence in my career to prepare me for this specific moment and time. I had resisted, pushed back, and fought Him the whole way, but in the end, He led me to where He needed me. I remember thinking, "If I do not go to Saipan, I may end up like Jonah." The paths were opened, and the way had been cleared; God was working out his plan for me to join the ranks of school leadership.

My experience now ranges from mission schools in Saipan to international schools in Taiwan and public schools in St. Paul, Minnesota. These experiences have equipped me for my current service as the proud principal of Walker Memorial Academy in Avon Park. I feel blessed to be in my current role and thankful to God for His continued leading and preparation, which has allowed me to serve Him.

Michael Wint Principal, Beryl Wisdom Adventist School

My true vocation seemed out of sight in a flurry of activities. Yet, I had no idea I was already pursuing a path that would lead to it. It was quite funny what this calling did; it tiptoed behind me and surprised me.

Long before this surprise, I decided that waiting for clarity on a call would not cut it for me, so I sought to create my own. Good things needed time and adequate attention, so I gave my self-made calling my all. Despite my occasional frustrations, I enjoyed my "calling" and committed to my game plan.

My friends thought I was doing well. I thought I had found my reason for living. Then came a hard stop. I received a passionate request from my wife to move to Florida. Some unknown hand was opening and closing doors when I could only find a teaching job, why I failed to resist encouragement to apply for a job as a principal, and I was overwhelmed by an unforgettably stunning circumstance to confirm this calling.

I could not understand why I was yielding to my wife's plea to move to Florida and, worse, to return to the classroom after I swore to myself never to go back to that setting. I was not at my best at the job interview, yet I was offered the job.

I started my job as a teacher, and each day felt like my last on earth. The kids missed their cool young teacher, and they "rioted." Daily. I was written several letters about my out-of-control classroom. My crucible was unbearable. I determined in my heart to go back to my prior "calling." On the first Sabbath of my second month of the academic year, just before the congregational prayer, I told my wife that I wanted to head to Atlanta in the coming week and go back to what I was used to doing. She stared at me with intentional silence. We knelt to pray and, while on my knees with my eyes closed, I was jolted by an

inexplicable phenomenon that grabbed my entire being. The unfamiliar calling was in full gear.

After an amazing second year in the classroom, the then-principal revealed she was leaving and left wide open a vacancy. After extensive fishing for her replacement, I heard expectations were falling headfirst and hard. The last hope administration had was to open the application to local teachers. Two teachers applied, one with many years of teaching experience and vice principalship experience as a flagship.

The other teacher reluctantly decided to apply after a blast of constant encouragement. That second teacher was me. During the interview, everything that could go wrong went wrong. My microphone did not work for the first ten minutes, and I felt defeated going up against much experience. Then came a disbelieving phone call, to offer the job to me. Something was sneaking up on me, and it was my calling.

A specific instance occurred before the calling to be principal. The previous inexplicable phenomenon in church during prayer left me with wonderment and fifteen continuous minutes of tears. While my eyes were closed during the prayer, I planned my trip back to Atlanta in my mind. With my eyes still closed, I saw a clear visual of my students smiling and reaching out to me, and a powerful yet distinct voice cried out to me, "These are your lambs." I wept. My wife feared something was horribly wrong with me. I managed to explain through the tears that I was planning to leave the kids and head back to Atlanta, and a voice that I likened to God's said that my students are my lambs. I was planning to turn my back on God's calling in my life, and He had to intervene.

I am fully dedicated and committed to the protection and well-being of my lambs. I did not go in search of this calling; it came to me knocking when I was busy creating my own, and I almost walked away. Now, I found my calling!

JAnuary 15

11:00 AM 11:30 AM Kendall SDA Church

12:15 PM 12:45 PM Miami Temple SDA Church

1:30 PM 2:00 PM Miami Springs SDA Church

2:50 PM 3:20 PM Maranatha SDA Church

4:15 PM 4:45 PM Sunrise SDA Church

6:30 PM 7:00 PM Midport SDA Church

JAnuary 22

9:30 AM 10:00 AM Daytona Beach SDA Church

10:30 AM 11:00 AM New Smyrna Beach SDA Church 12:00 PM 12:30 PM Titusville SDA Church

1:00 PM 1:30 PM Cocoa SDA Church

2:15 PM 2:45 PM Palm Bay SDA Church

3:45 PM 4:15 PM Fort Pierce SDA Church

JAnuary 29

8:30 AM 9:00 AM East Pasco SDA Church

10:00 AM 10:30 AM Brandon SDA Church

11:30 AM 12:00 PM West Coast Christian Academy

1:15 PM 1:45 PM Sarasota SDA Church

2:45 PM 3:15 PM Port Charlotte SDA Church

4:45 PM 5:15 PM Avon Park SDA Church

february 5

8:30 AM 9:00 AM Homosassa SDA Church

9:45 AM 10:15 AM Spring Hill SDA Church 11:00 AM 11:30 AM New Port Richey SDA Church

12:30 PM 1:00 PM Clearwater SDA Church

1:45 PM 2:15 PM St. Petersburg SDA Church

4:15 PM 4:45 PM Winter Haven SDA Church

february 12

8:30 AM 9:00AM Lady Lake SDA Church 10:00 AM 10:30 AM Marion Oaks SDA Church 11:15 AM 11:45 AM Ocala SDA Church

2:10 PM 2:40 PM Madison SDA Church 3:45 PM 4:15 PM Tallahassee SDA Church

february 19

10:00 AM 10:45 AM Lauderhill SDA Church

11:00 AM 11:30 AM Ambassador SDA Church

12:00 PM 12:30 PM Margate SDA Church

1:00 PM 1:30 PM Pompano Beach SDA Church

2:30 PM 3:00 PM West Palm Bch 1st SDA Church

4:00 PM 4:30 PM Port Saint Lucie SDA Church

february 26

11:00 AM 11:30 AM Naples SDA Church

12:45 PM 1:15 PM Lehigh Acres SDA Church

1:50 PM 2:20 PM Ft. Myers SDA Church

3:00 PM 3:30 PM Cape Coral SDA Church

5:30 PM 6:00 PM Avon Park SDA Church

Food Specials and Book Sales are available statewide! Take advantage of discounted prices and get everything you need delivered to your area!

- To order, call: (407) 644-4255 or email floridaABC@floridaconference.com. Please order by Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.

- Our delivery van will deliver your order to a church near you on Sundays.

- Get everything you need without having to pay shipping or drive far.

Not a complete list of events. Though rare, dates are subject to change. Visit floridaconference.com for more information on coming events.

Men’s Ministries 30th Anniversary Convention

March 10-12

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

Show Your Colors – Pathfinders

March 12-18, 2023

Camp Meeting

April 21-23

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

Campestre – Spanish Camp Meeting

April 28-30

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

Red Zone

May 26-28

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

Summer Camp

Week 1: June 4-11

Week 2: June 11-17

Week 3: June 17-25

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

Free College Retreat

July 7-9

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

AGAPE – Conference for Leaders and Families

In English and Spanish

July 15

Forest Lake Academy

Single Parent’s Retreat

August 4-6

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

Family Camp

September 1-3

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

Fit Together Health & Fitness Retreat

September 29- October 1

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

High School Student Bible Retreat

October 5-8

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

Spanish - Men’s Ministries 30th Anniversary Convention

October 27-29

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

Hope for Hurting Hearts

October 26-29 - English November 3-5, 2023 - Spanish Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

REAL Discipleship & Evangelism Convention – Spanish December 1-3

Camp Kulaqua – High Springs, FL

IMPACT Evangelism

Impact West Palm Beach – March 25-April 15 Spanish Impacto South West – April 1-8

Impact Broward – October 13-November 12

Impact North District — November 5-13 Revelation Seminars

Okeechobee Church — May 6-27

North Miami Beach Church — August 26-September 30

Free Financially Savvy Retirement Webinars

Retirement Money Blunders and How to Fix Them — January 31

Income Protection Strategies — February 28

Setting Up Retirement Income Streams for your Retirement — April 25 Managing and Lowering your Tax Bills at Retirement— August 29 To register, email planned.giving@floridaconference.com or call 407-644-5000 ext. 2246 or 2241