FLAME | Spring 2016

Spring 2016

Igniting a Passion for Living and Serving in Texas

Finding

Balance Page 10

Beyond

Cooking

in College Station

Page 15

What are

The Fruits A Publication of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas

of your labor? Page 18

Adventist

Roots Page 20

The

Journey

Inward

{Editor's Note} There is newness in spring that evokes excitement and anticipation. With the commencement of the new year, it feels as if we have hit a reset button. One more chance to do life better. Another opportunity to make a difference. Spend more time with family, travel, rest and dream.

We echo those sentiments and endeavor to produce FLAME issues in 2016 that are thought-provoking, spiritually sound, and transformative. With this in mind, we have set out to explore love this year, particularly as it relates to ourselves and others. Summer, Fall and Winter issues are themed Love Your Family, Love Your Friends and Love Your Neighbors, respectively.

The theme for this issue is Love Yourself. We often labor to provide for our families, be good spouses, and be good church members to the point that we neglect to nurture our own bodies, minds, and spirits. How often do we chastise ourselves for not spending more time with God? Many long for just a few moments of quiet amidst the chaos to simply hear our own thoughts. “Me time” is such a coveted commodity that we’ve coined a term to express a moment so crucial to our well-being.

The Bible is clear that our love should be dedicated first and foremost to God. Matthew 22 explains that this encompasses all of our heart, soul and mind. The second step is found in the familiar words of verse 39, “love your neighbor as yourself.” Ephesians 5:28 reads, “Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies… no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church.” I’m going to go out on a limb and conclude that our second love is not toward others, but to ourselves.

Think about it. When we are well-nurtured, rested and inspired, loving others is almost effortless. But when we are stressed, tired and discouraged, showing love to others, even those closest to us, can be challenging. As you flip through this issue I encourage you to explore the way you love yourself. Allow God’s love to permeate your life as you find the joy in being you, the perfectly flawed incredible person that God has created. Spend time with that person and take care of them; it’s whom God ordained you love next after Him. Thanks to all who make the FLAME possible each issue. We pray it blesses you and your family. On behalf of the Texas Conference Administration and FLAME staff, happy reading!

{Contributors}

Brisa Ramirez is a recent communication graduate of Southwestern Adventist University.

On page 15, she shares how the College Station Seventh-day Adventist Church is using healthy eating to engage their community.

2 | FLAME Spring 2016

Kristina Pascual Lockhart Editor

Jason Busch is the Associate Communication Director for the Texas Conference of Seventhday Adventists and FLAME Associate Editor.

In Living Faith, he offers advice on cultivating your own spiritual life.

Melody Argueta is a Social Work Supervisor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Texas Health Huguley Hospital. On page 9, she gives ideas for identifying unrest and strengthening your mental fitness.

Buster Swoopes Jr. is the Pastor of the Crowley Seventh-day Adventist Church. In Perspectives, on page 4, he offers a lesson in listening for God’s voice and finding Him in the silence.

Ingo Sorke is a Professor of Religion at Southwestern Adventist University. On page 20, he gives insight into the biblical fruits of the Spirit and illustrates how we can begin to develop them within ourselves.

In Every Issue 2 From the Editor 4 Leadership Moment 4 Perspectives 9 Partners 17 Word of Mouth 17 Stewardship 22 Calendar 23 Advent Movement

{contents}

Spring 2016 5 Living Faith

15 BRIDGES

Three ways to cultivate your spiritual life.

See how one church is reaching their community through healthy eating.

page 7

7 Ministries Why does the Texas Conference own 18-wheelers and semi-trailers?

Learn more about the Transportation Department’s ministry.

16 Recipe Loaded with veggies, this savory vegan fried rice dish is sure to delight!

18 Insight Discovering the significance of the Fruit of the Spirit in today’s world.

8 Education

20 History

A glimpse at the leadership and programs of Adventist Education in the Lone Star State.

10 Fitness Taking a moment to identify unrest and anxiety in your life, and making a plan to find balance.

12 Feature Dr. Thomas Garcia’s love of reading motivated him to get a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, such that he could no longer deny the power of God’s love.

A brief look at Seventh-day Adventist roots in Texas and their expansion across the state.

21 Kidz Korner What can you learn from taking a hike in the middle of the night? One Pathfinder shares his experience.

page 12

14 Family Matters Check out five practical ways to love and revitalize your mind, body and soul!

Aaron Thomas Photography

FLAME | 3 Spring 2016

Leadership Moment

Carlos Craig president

Elton Demoraes secretary

Edwin Romero treasurer

What is your favorite way to enrich your time with God? my favorite moments with God are spent sitting and meditating. I open my heart to listen to God’s voice in whatever form He deems best. This often happens when I sit alone in the little gazebo in our yard. I’ve heard Him in the birds in the trees and the howl of the wind as it picks up and dies down. My spirituality is often like that and the Lord has also spoken to me through the message of the wind. Sometimes, silence has engulfed that gazebo. Perhaps that is when I have felt the presence of the Lord more than any other time. His voice is calm, steady, directive, and the message is always uplifting and strengthening!

My favorite way to enrich my time with God is to read from my Classic Comparative Parallel Bible. I can read four popular versions (NIV, KJV, NASB, Amplified) of the Bible side-byside. Reading a new translation or comparing different ones help stimulate new insights into Scripture. If you’ve used and marked one particular Bible for many years, reading a different Bible may enable you to see the Word with new vision. Spending time with God should not ever just “fit in” to your day’s routine. We must schedule and then jealously guard that time. The more we honor that appointment, the greater our desire to protect it, and the greater our enrichment.

one of the most important ways for me to enrich my time with God is in prayer. It is special and sacred. Prayer is a powerful weapon.

It strengthens my relationship with God. It allows me to worship and praise my Lord. Prayer also allows me to genuinely pour out my heart to the One who created it. Moreover, prayer grants me the opportunity to present my requests to God. I have a special place at home where, in complete solitude with no distractions, I am able to commune with Him. Prayer is precious to me.

I’m so thankful for the privilege to communicate with God through prayer, wherever or whenever.

question may not be, does God speak, but rather do I listen? I grasped the concept that I needed some silence in my life.

Silence is awkward. It can be perplexing.

Silence requires time and discipline. I knew that in order to hear God speak I needed to tune out the noise and listen for His still small voice.

The following Monday morning, I did something I had never done before. As is my daily practice, I read the Bible and I took out time to pray, but then I kept silent to hear God speak. I waited and waited only to hear nothing. I was disappointed because I didn’t hear Him speak, but the solemnity that came with the silence was golden.

At this time I was also a serving as a chaplain at a nursing home. When I got to the facility that morning I went about my normal day greeting the residents and staff. Then I heard it! The still small voice was leading me to speak to a particular staff member. I was reluctant as, in the past, this person had told

me she wanted nothing to do with God. But the prompt was overwhelming. I felt the urge to knock on her door and ask her if everything was okay, three separate times.

With a smile every time, she said she was doing great. Then, on my final inquiry, she broke down and started to cry. She proceeded to tell me that she had told God the night before that if He didn’t send someone to talk to her, she was going to commit suicide. We were able to get her the help she needed, and I had a new perspective on His voice.

When I say “His voice” it was not something audible, but it was strong. I was connected to God and opened to listening; not just that morning in the silence, but the entire day.

Does God still speak? Yes He does! God speaks, and He yearns for His children to listen. I now practice listening daily so when God does speak I am available to hear.

Perspectives

God Speaks

By Buster Swoopes Jr. “Does God still speak?” That is the question I asked myself after preaching a sermon on 1 Kings 19 a few years ago. For Elijah, God was not in the strong wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but was heard in a still small voice. We live in a world with so much noise. I realized the

4 | FLAME Spring 2016

Buster Swoopes Jr. is the pastor of the Crowley Seventhday Adventist Church in the Fort Worth area.

Living Faith

Seek to

Know Thyself

By Jason Busch

There are many people who often go above and beyond to constantly search for new ways to reach out to their friends or communities. Church leaders regularly point to the Great Commission in Matthew 28 as the rallying cry for Christians everywhere. Most would agree. Volunteering at food banks, giving Bible studies, buying Christmas gifts for the underprivileged—the list could go on! Serving others is an important part of Christ-centered living.

But it’s even more important to take time to develop and strengthen your personal relationship with God. Even Jesus needed time alone to reconnect with His Father. That could manifest in different ways for everyone, but consider the following examples as you cultivate your own spiritual life.

Set Spiritual Goals: Some become stuck in a proverbial rut, completing the same mundane routine every day, increasingly unhappy at work or home, and feel like just another cog in the system. But don’t let present circumstances dictate your future. Begin by deciding where you want your spiritual life to be and then taking steps toward that. If you want to lead a small group, then get active in what your church offers and ask other leaders to mentor you. If your goal is to go on an international mission trip, then speak with your pastor or organizations like Quiet Hour Ministries and Maranatha Volunteers International.

Maybe you want to read the entire Bible; well, there’s an app for that!

Find an accountability partner to help track your progress, and watch as your goals become reality.

Embrace the Silence: Solitude is a word that frightens people around the world. It’s often negatively attributed to isolation or loneliness.

Solitary confinement is considered one of the worst punishments in most prisons. And I’m sure the majority of extroverts would gladly bungee jump into an active volcano with a friend than spend more than a few days home alone. Humans were built for connection, but that includes personal time to reconnect with ourselves and with God. The Bible says in Luke 5:16 that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Try this exercise at home: find a quiet place and pray for ten consecutive minutes. It might be difficult at first, but it will get easier over time. You might even begin to crave the peace and spiritual rejuvenation that solitude can bring.

Find Your Center: Statistics show that 15-20 million Americans suffer from some kind of depressive disorder each year. Although research from Wayne State University shows that personal faith can help ease depression, there is no evidence showing that rates vary between those who attend church and those who do not. Depression is an equal opportunity offender. Jesus promises rest for the weary and burdened, but mental illness isn’t a sin and it’s all right to seek treatment. Websites like 7Cups.com allow you to chat anonymously and confidentially with trained volunteers for free. If you need to meet with a licensed counselor, then The American Association of Christian Counselors can help find one in your area. Consider purchasing The Five Minute Journal or, for a free option, write down three things you’re grateful for each day.

The battle doesn’t have to be fought alone; there is help available if you need it.

There are myriad ways to enhance your personal spiritual life. The important thing is to find what works for you. Spend time with God, laugh with Him, cry with Him, and allow Him to show you how to strengthen that relationship. Sharing the love of Jesus with others is essential, but don’t neglect your friendship with Him in the process.

Take time to change yourself, then you can start changing the world.

Jason Busch is the FLAME Associate Editor as well as Associate Communication Director for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

FLAME | 5 Spring 2016

SUMMER CAMP

2016 s

Cub Week Junior Week Tween Week Teen Week Family Camp

July 3-10 July 10-17 July 17-24 July 24-31 July 31-Aug 7

Different place

same great EXPERIENCE!

Shady Lakes Ranch in Cleburne | 3701 County Road 316 C. Cleburne, TX 76031 & Young Adults

For more information and registration: YoungTexasAdventist.org or call 817.790.2255 ext. 2201

making ministers for the master

Discover Planned Giving Planned giving is a way to integrate your financial planning goals. The right planned gift may provide you with tax and income benefits while helping the ministries within the Texas Conference. Here are some of the most common planned gifts you can make:

Save the Date

and leave a nice gift to the church. If you own appreciated assets such as stock or real estate, we can help you sell those assets tax free.

Bequest Your Will may include a gift of a specific asset, a dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to the church.

life estate You can make a tax deductible gift of your home and remain living in it for your lifetime.

There are additional real estate sale strategies that can provide you with cash, a charitable deduction and even income.

CharitaBle Gift annuities and CharitaBle remainder trusts These plans can provide you with lifetime income, a charitable income tax deduction

There are many ways you may benefit from planned giving.

Contact us or visit our website today so we may assist you in discovering the right plan for you.

Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Department of Trust Services P.O. Box 800 • Alvarado, TX 76009 Phone: 817-790-2255 • Toll Free: 800-847-2792 • Fax: 817-783-2698 Email:trust@txsda.org • www.TexasConferenceLegacy.org

September 16-18, 2016

Early bird raTE $198

TexaS conference marriage reTreaT

dEadlinE

La TorreTTa Lake reSorT & Spa www.Beforeverone.org

per couple June 30

(lodging noT inClUdEd)

Ministries

TRANSPORTATION department C

ome rain or come shine, and even come snow sometimes, the Transportation Department is on the road. Thousands of miles are driven coast to coast by the four drivers who move equipment and personnel for the Texas Conference and other organizations. While rarely seen around the office during the summer time, their high season, their cheerful disposition and willingness to help is evident throughout the year. FLAME caught up with director, Dennis Habenicht, to find out a bit more about this unique ministry in Texas. Discover why they proudly proclaim, “We move with care, everywhere!”

FLAME: What is the Texas Conference Transportation Department?

DENNIS: The primary function of the Transportation Department is moving employees such as pastors, teachers, and administrators for our Conference. The department has been in existence since the mid 1950s and over the years we have created relationships with several other Adventist organizations, including the Texico Conference, Kansas-Nebraska Conference, Southern Adventist University, Southwestern Adventist University, and many more.

FLAME: What equipment or trucks are used?

DENNIS: Our fleet consists of three 18-wheelers and five semi-trailers that range 45 to 51 feet in length. We also have one Ford F-450 pickup truck and two smaller enclosed trailers.

In 2015 we hauled nearly 1 million pounds of freight across 167,000 miles coast to coast.

FLAME: What does the Department move?

DENNIS: We mainly move household goods.

The Transportation Department also works with the Communication Department to haul sound and lighting equipment and supplies for any Conference event that requires materials on a large scale. In 2015, we helped transport equipment and supplies on two occasions to San Antonio for the mega health clinic, Your Best Pathway to Health, which served

over 6,000 people; and then again to Portland, Oregon, where the event was held in the summer. Some of the most bizarre moves have included a 2,000-pound cast iron pig, large fossilized dinosaur bones and an airplane!

FLAME: Other than moving services, how else does this Department serve Texas?

DENNIS: The Transportation Department is responsible for both purchasing and maintaining the vehicles operated by the Conference office. The Transportation Department is also responsible for the titling of vehicles owned and operated by the Texas Conference Association, this includes local church vehicles and trailers. In addition, we work closely with the church leaders who request our assistance with purchasing any type of vehicle or trailer.

FLAME: How did you become involved in this field?

DENNIS: My parents, Doug and Janet Habenicht, worked in the Transportation Department more than 35 years ago. My grandfather, Johnny Thompson, was also a driver for the Texas Conference. I grew up on the Conference trucks and always enjoyed being in the big rigs as my family moved people from coast to coast. As an adult, I drove for Little Debbie and the McKee Foods Corporation for over eight years before coming to the Conference to serve as department director.

FLAME: How has this impacted your life?

DENNIS: Working here has given me the opportunity to grow spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Being able to assist our employees through an emotional time such as relocating has taught me a lot about myself, and I’ve found that a little patience, a kind word, and a lot of prayer, can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

FLAME: How does the Transportation Department conduct ministry?

DENNIS: We believe that you can hire anyone to move your goods. We must bring something special with us that other companies might not have. For us, that is a prayerful spirit, trust in our Lord, and care for our brethren.

We start each move by praying together as clients and laborers, asking God for peace during relocation, and thanksgiving to God for the abilities He has given us. We try to reach out to those around us both on a move and on the road. Our trucks always give us an opportunity to tell others about Jesus and who we are. We often get questions like “Who are you guys? Who do you work for?” These openings give us a brief minute to share with others what we are all about. I’m lucky to have a staff that echoes those sentiments as well.

Our team is made up of three drivers, David Lambeth, Daniel Jaramillo and Bob Read, and our administrative assistant who helps with our scheduling and operation is Cheryl Allgood.

FLAME | 7 Spring 2016

Education

Daily Eternal Lessons Rewards

By Andrew Austin

Education has been one of the cornerstones of the Seventhday Adventist church since its establishment. From the beginning of the movement it was important to instruct children not only in Biblical matters, but also to develop their skills in math, science and history.

Developing critical thought allowed children to grow into more mature and productive members of society. Today, the Education Department of the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists works to see this ideal realized through its 28 various schools around the state.

What makes an Adventist education so invaluable is not only the chance for a child to learn about Christ on a daily basis, but because it also allows them to mature intellectually. Exemplary students coming out of the Adventist education system are recognized as outstanding scholars and move on to do amazing things, all while keeping Jesus as a core part of the scholastic experience. Graduates of Burton Adventist Academy and Chisholm Trail Academy have been named National Merit Scholars, one achieving an outstanding SAT score of 2020.

Often it can become too easy to dismiss Christ-centered education as inferior to the typical public institutions, but this is quickly becoming a fallacy. Students at Adventist schools are receiving an education rich in rhetoric, history, science, math as well as providing a foundation of strong theology. Currently a major goal of the Office of Education of the Texas Conference is to provide more support for instruction and achievement in math, due to it being such an important skill in the modern world, as well as giving more resources to the teachers and students in order to make this a reality.

Providing for what a school needs in order to excel while not being publicly funded is often costly, and sadly many children do not have the opportunity to attend Adventist schools due to tuition fees. Running a private educational institution can become very expensive, but new programs are being put in place to support parents who previously might not have been able to afford it otherwise.

In 2015, the Texas Conference launched the initiative, Educate for Eternity. Through this program, 200 new students have received tuition assistance allowing them to have an Adventist education for the first time. With the support of members across the state, the funds from this program are used in tandem with the schools and parents of students in order to pay their yearly fees. The Conference and local church donations make up one third of tuition, another third paid by the school, with the last third coming from the families themselves. While not making education free, Educate for Eternity will greatly relieve the burden placed upon the shoulders of mothers and fathers who wish for their children to have a Christian education but may not have been able to afford it otherwise.

The Superintendent of Schools and his three associates work to develop programs such as Educate for Eternity and endeavor to serve

8 | FLAME Spring 2016

and support educators, students and families in Texas. John Hopps, Superintendent of Schools, has made education a part of his life for 45 and-a-half years. He has also served as a teacher, principal and associate superintendent. Hopps enjoys interacting with students and seeing them compete alongside graduates from the best universities from around the country.

Carol Bradley has been an Adventist educator for 38 years, teaching in Colorado, Alaska and Texas. Bradley enjoys supporting teachers in smaller school environments due to her background, and she believes that Adventist education is vital to seeing all join at the feet of Jesus, the Master Teacher, in the world to come.

Raul Aguilar enjoys watching students lead out in weeks of prayer, singing, playing and praying with their peers. With over 35 years educating as a teacher, band director and music education director in Texas, Puerto Rico and Mexico, Aguilar sees Adventist education as an evangelism tool for the second-generation Adventist family.

Over 37 years, Ellen Thomas has directed two early childhood education institutions and owned and operated her on childcare center, in addition to her teaching career. Thomas points out the leadership opportunities that children have as well as an environment where they are able to develop their relationship with Jesus along with other believers, promoting lifelong friendships.

The Office of Education of the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is always looking for ways to improve the academic institutions in its sphere of influence. To find an Adventist school near you, contact 817-790-2255 ext. 2135 or email education@txsda.org.

Andrew Austin is a senior Communications major at Southwestern Adventist University and a Communication Intern at the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Partners

Texas

Adventist Book Center

Serving your family, church and school

When you hear the letters A-B-C what do you think of? In Texas, A-B-C means the Texas Adventist Book Center. After many years of operating under the Pacific Press Publishing Association, it has again become a ministry of the Texas Conference. The Texas Adventist Book Center is located in Keene near Southwestern Adventist University.

The Texas ABC serves as the primary source of distribution for Adventist books, music, sharing literature, Bibles, and vegetarian food for churches, schools, institutions and general membership in the Southwestern Union Conference.

Orders can be placed any of three ways: • Calling toll-free from anywhere in the U.S. at 800-333-1844

• Online at AdventistBookCenter.com.

• Visiting the store at 201 South Old Betsy Road. The store is open Sunday through Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm and until 4 pm on Fridays.

Services provided by the Texas Adventist Book Center include: • Maintaining an ample inventory with a variety of books and other reading material in both English and Spanish.

• Mail order service to all customers and special orders for items not stocked locally.

• Supporting a significant display of books and foods at annual local and Conference-sponsored Camp Meetings and events such as prayer conferences, marriage and women’s retreats, and club ministries camporees.

• Participating in large outreach and sharing programs sponsored by the Texas Conference and local churches.

• Coordinating the billing and distribution of Sabbath School and other church materials for Texas Conference churches, allowing them up to 60 days to make payment without finance charges.

• Assisting Conference schools in ordering textbooks and other supplies while allowing them up to 60 days to make payment without finance charges.

• Providing local church delivery program called DIRECT2YOU, (D2U) where preordered food, books and other materials are delivered on a predetermined schedule and route throughout Texas for a nominal delivery charge. Details are available each month in the Southwestern Union Record magazine and in email promotion. Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/KeeneABC. We’d love to see you! Stop by the store and meet Mickey Johnson, Store Manager, and Donald Upson, Jr., Business Manager. They are joined by several bilingual staff members who are there to serve you! Remember the ABC is A Better Choice for all your local church, school and institutional needs.

2016 D2U Routes • Austin/San Antonio/Valley

February 8-11

• Austin/San Antonio/Valley

• Houston

February 22-24

• Houston December 12-14

• East Texas/Louisiana

March 7-10

• West Texas/Southern New Mexico

March 21-24

• Arkansas/East Texas

April 18-21

• Austin/San Antonio/Valley

May 16-19

Please remember D2U program is delivery only. If you do not place an order it will not be on the van.

Please call 800.333.1844 to place your order

• Houston May 30-June 1 • East Texas/Louisiana

June 13-16

• West Texas/Southern New Mexico

June 27-30

• Austin/San Antonio/Valley

Aug 22-25

• Houston September 5-7 • East Texas/Louisiana

September 19-22

• West Texas/Southern New Mexico

October 3-6

• Arkansas/East Texas

October 31-November 3

November 28-December 1

Your choice ONLY $5.00 for UPS shipping* or delivery with D2U Place a book order of $50.00 or more and we will send your order via UPS for ONLY $5.00*

Place your order for any of our D2U routes and get Books, Canned and Frozen Food delivered directly to an area church for ONLY $5.00

Place a Canned Food order of $100.00 or more and we will send your order via UPS for ONLY $5.00*

* $5.00 Shipping Offer good February 15 to May 15, 2016

ADVENTIST BOOK CENTER | 201 S OLD BETSY RD | KEENE, TX 76059 | 817.558.0100 | 800.333.1844 | D2U.ABC@TXSDA.ORG

FLAME | 9 Spring 2016

Fitness

Finding

By Melody Argueta

BALANCE Building a Better

you

10 | FLAME Spring 2016

We live in a global society with the world at our fingertips. Generations past would consider us blessed and they would have reason to, for we live our lives more heightened than the ones who walked before us.

Our five senses of taste, smell, touch, sound and sight have no reason for boredom since they are constantly stimulated by the life around us. Foreign food, social media, high-definition television, instant downloadable music, scented candles, airplane travel and continuous sports coverage are only a few of the mundane factors that allow us to engage in our world. However, could it be that we are possibly overstimulating our lives? Is the overstimulation leading to an unrest we cannot resolve?

Is this unrest paving the way for uncontrolled stress, which later leads to unwanted diagnosis such as anxiety and depression? The truth of the matter is that our overly busy and stimulated world is not observing that our health is being threatened and we are experiencing a mental health decline. Mental health is an important, often disregarded, issue of our lives and it impacts every single one of us.

Stress is the threat of an unwanted situation and we have all experienced it in some form. Positive stress, such as a wedding or a new job, impact our lives in the same way that negative stress can, such as family conflict or trauma. A woman that prides herself in multi-tasking the household, work, family and social demands, often loses sight that the overstimulation of her life is causing her mental health to decline. A man who works 50-70 hours a week may consider this a positive factor in his life if it fulfills his needs. However, he may not be conscious of the wear and unrest building up, leading to the escalation of anxiety or depression.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it affects 40 million adults in the US age 18 and older, or 18 percent of the population. Depression is also a common mental disorder that affects 10 percent of the population. The World Health Organization has reported that an estimated 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression world-wide.

It is important to understand that anxiety and depression are actually common and treatable conditions that shouldn’t be stigmatized. Just like diabetes, anxiety and depression require treatment, not shaming. So what is the solution? First of all, be aware of the symptoms and their duration. In regard to anxiety and depression, please seek treatment if you have any of the following symptoms lasting for 3-6 months: Symptoms of Anxiety » Excessive worry » Sleep problems » Irrational Fears » Muscle Tension » Chronic Indigestion » Perfectionism Symptoms of Depression » Feelings of hopelessness » Fatigue » Weight loss or weight gain » Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood » Loss of interest in activities » Insomnia or oversleeping » Thoughts of death or suicide

Fitness In either circumstance we encourage you to find treatment. Start by speaking to someone about your condition and consult your primary care physician. Often, medication and counseling by a licensed professional are needed. Pastoral counseling, support groups and mentors are also effective.

These are some easy, practical, and powerful tips that you can begin to implement in your life right away to help manage some of the unrest. Spend some time applying these methods to strengthen your mental and emotional fitness.

Overstimulation, unrest and stress are not issues in themselves, but can become threats if not addressed and left untreated. The purpose is not to get rid of stress or anxiety completely, because it can be a good thing and often moves us to perform and resolve unwanted situations. Rather, the idea is to become aware of the intensity of its conditions and seek to address it appropriately. For further information on anxiety and depression, visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America website at www.adaa.org.

Exercise. If possible, it’s preferable you do this outside. A brisk walk, group fitness class or even an obstacle course at a park will do the trick.

Diet. You want to focus on a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Some of these foods include chia seeds, roasted soybeans, walnuts and spinach. A quick web search will provide you with a list of foods and the importance of these fatty acids.

Socialization. Even if you don’t want to, try to keep up your interaction with others. This can be done at church in a small group, or by joining a book club or meeting friends for dinner occasionally.

Rest. Adequate rest is highly important. Put your smart devices away and try to get to bed a few minutes early. Take naps during the weekend and try not to cram all of your chores and errands into your days off from work.

Prayer and Meditation. Find a quiet place in your home or neighborhood where you can spend time connecting with the Lord. Be still and let Him share His peace with you.

Melody Argueta is a Social Work Supervisor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Texas Health Huguley Hospital in Fort Worth. She has a clinical license in counseling and is enrolled in the chaplaincy program at Dallas Baptist University.

Save the Date Women’s Ministries Retreat SEPT. 23-25, 2016 LA TORRETTA RESORT, MONTGOMERY

Being Light

Retiro de Damas

SEPT. 9-11, 2016 Embassy Suites, San Marcos

in a Dark World

Feature

Discovering a Greater

Purpose Dr. Thomas Garcia loves to read.

One day he read a familiar name in the local newspaper: Doug Batchelor. “Isn’t that man a Seventh-day Adventist?” he thought. The paper advertised for an upcoming Bible Seminar in the Rio Grande Valley. Many years before, Garcia had attended an Adventist church in the past for the sake of his blind brother. Now, for some reason, this seminar caught his attention. He was determined to attend and little did he know, it would lead him to study the Bible in a deeper and more meaningful way than ever before.

“I thought the seminar would only last two or three days,” said Garcia. “But it was a month long.

I attended every night.” After it ended, Garcia grew eager to learn more about the Bible. The pastor at the Weslaco Seventh-day Adventist Church at the time, Gerry Christman, invited him to attend a prayer meeting. Yet, even this would not satisfy all the questions and excitement Garcia felt towards God and the Bible. That’s when Garcia delved into the Word.

“I decided to start from the beginning and go to the end,” said Garcia. “Once I got started I couldn’t stop.” He poured over each text scrupulously, comparing chapters to the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary. In just two months, Garcia read the entire Bible and commentary. In such little time, Garcia had gained so much information. The power of God’s love overwhelmed him, and he knew something had to be done about it.

“I wondered about being baptized,” said Garcia.

“I wondered if I was ready, I felt like the Lord was telling me that I needed to be baptized.”

Garcia struggled to decide. After all, this information was still so new to him. It was so powerful, though, that he could not ignore it. One day, Pastor Christman approached him. “What if I baptize you?” he asked, unsolicited.

This simple question brought Garcia to a conclusion. He would be baptized. He could no longer ignore God’s voice. “I was kind of dumbstruck,” said Garcia. “I couldn’t think much on the drive home.”

The baptism was scheduled for October 22, 2005.

As the exciting commitment began to sink in, a sudden realization came upon Garcia. Many important events in his life, involving both him and his wife,

12 | FLAME Spring 2016

took place on a date with the number 22.

He met his wife, Regina (or Muñeca, as friends called her) on February 22, and five years later married her on November 22. Years later, she was laid to rest on May 22. “I looked at all those dates and felt like it was from God,” said Garcia.

“The 22nd is also important in the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” said Garcia. “October 22, 1844.

To me it was a sign. I knew I had to be baptized.”

October 22, 1844 marks the date of the “Great Disappointment” when a group of Millerite believers, including many who would become Seventh-day Adventist pioneers, expected the return of Jesus Christ. It is considered a pivotal event in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In the Bible, the relationship between Christ and the Church is compared to that of a marriage. This theme became exemplified to Garcia. He suddenly felt God’s guidance through every step of his life, even before his acceptance of Christ.

Excitement began to fill Garcia as he remembered so many instances when God led in his life. “God has been guiding me ever since I was born,” he said.

He thought back to teachers who saw something in him and gave extra assignments, treating Garcia well throughout school. In medical school, teachers opened up and helped Garcia learn. When he needed money to continue, people unexpectedly donated to keep him in school.

“You would be surprised at the amount of money that made a difference between me quitting medical school and going on,” said Garcia. “It was less than 400 dollars. In the back of my mind, I always felt that ‘God is taking care of me.’ Why? I don’t know.”

Garcia especially felt God’s presence throughout his wife’s illness, two years prior. “She was the best person I have ever known in my life,” said Garcia. “I tried to learn as much as I could about God’s purpose for me during her illness. I have been at the church ever since.”

As Garcia continues to read and study the Bible, he still finds new meaning and deeper understanding. The more he reads, the more opportunities began to appear for him to share knowledge. A friend asked Garcia to help at church during Sabbath

Aaron Thomas Photography

By Makala James

P

Feature

School. For a while, they took turns every other week, but soon the friend needed to take a break. Garcia began to lead weekly.

Sometime later, he was asked to be a deacon. Eventually, Garcia took another responsibility as an elder in the church. He feels that these things are all from God’s leadership.

“If it’s coming from God, then I can’t reject it,” said Garcia. “I am using this information to help people get a deeper understanding of the Bible, and it is helping me as well. All I wanted to do was to be a member, but God had other plans for me.” Throughout this process, Garcia also worked in his own medical practice. It kept

him busy, but he felt the Lord leading him to a new change.

“I just retired in September from being a physician,” said Garcia. “I enjoyed it. I had a lot of faithful patients and I appreciated them trusting me with their health issues, but I came to the conclusion that that phase in my life was closing. So now I am open to new surprises from God.” Although Garcia does not have any official plans yet, he knows that God will put him exactly where he will be most beneficial to the church.

“One door is closed and another will open,” said Garcia. “I feel like I am walking on air. I just feel open.”

“Garcia is not just about speaking, but he lives what he says,” says Pastor Masilamony. “He loves people. He’s always there to help.”

From reading the Bible, Garcia found greater purpose in his life. Now, he serves God humbly and will continue to do so wherever God calls. “I am just waiting to see how wonderfully God’s going to guide me through this next chapter of my life.”

Makala James is a writer and also a Marketing Assistant at Lake Granbury Medical Center.

FLAME | 13 Spring 2016

Family Matters

Always A New You

By Ruber and Ketty Leal According to the American Psychological Association, 22-30% of people living in the United States may be suffering loss of enjoyment, emotional detachment, increased irritability, impaired concentration, insomnia, poor performance, and increased illness due to high levels of stress. In a society where fast-paced is the norm and packing our schedules to the brim is standard, we begin to accumulate tension and forget what it actually feels like to relax and enjoy life. Invariably, occupational burnout and fatigue come soon after.

On the other hand, when one realizes the need to take time to be reinvigorated, it becomes possible to get back on the right track. God knew from the beginning that stopping was going to be difficult for most humans; therefore, He made it a commandment to stop once per week to experience personal renewal. Perhaps the best approach to renewing your mind, body and soul is not just learning how to stop the spin, but also learning how to incorporate the things that keep you balanced, invigorated and healthy throughout the rest of the week.

Here are five practical ways to love and revitalize your mind, body and soul:

1

Be Inspired: Choose a time when you are alert and energized to meditate and express the goodness of God in your life. Maintain that as you navigate through your daily activities.

“we begin to accumulate tension and forget what it actually feels like to relax and enjoy life”

2

Connect with Your Body:

Spend at least 30 minutes each day doing an activity that benefits you physically, such as deep breathing exercises. Pair this activity with some light stretching and walking.

3

Find the Humor: The ancient

verse in Psalms says, “Our mouth was filled with laughter.” Laughter is called the best medicine for a reason.

Laughing quickens the pulse, stimulates circulation, activates muscles, increases oxygen intake and helps you relax. If you’ve forgotten how to laugh, try to be around people who still know how.

Laughter is contagious!

4

Do Something You Love : Most people

5

Practice Random Acts of Kindness:

have something they really enjoy. If you are not doing enough of what you enjoy, make time in your day or weekend to just do it. If you are doing too much of what you enjoy and it’s distracting you from the rest of life’s duties, pause it for a while and find something else to help keep you balanced.

Studies show that performing acts of kindness for others, especially those who cannot repay you, creates an emotional warmth, which releases a hormone known as oxytocin. Oxytocin causes the release of a chemical called nitric oxide, which dilates the blood vessels.

This reduces blood pressure and protects the heart from anxiety.

Ruber and Ketty Leal are the Texas Conference Family Ministries Directors. Ruber also pastors the Garland Faith Community Church. Find them on Facebook and online at BeForeverOne.org.

14 | FLAME Spring 2016

Bridges

Making Healthy Choices

By Brisa Ramirez

The College Station Seventh-day Adventist Church has realized there is a real ministry opportunity in communicating through health to both its church members and the community. The Health Ministries of the church have even been invited to give a lecture at Texas A&M University for the past five years for a food science class. Because of the university atmosphere in the surrounding area, there is emphasis in healthy living.

But the shadow of traditional Texas cuisine always looms large. Two women from the church consider the atmosphere in the community ripe for change.

Yvette Ramos and Kristen Lembcke both attend the College Station Seventh-day Adventist Church. They had both been involved in Health Ministries before, and about three years ago they started organizing some cooking classes at the church. The cooking classes kicked off with a healthy living party that a large number of church and community members attended.

When it became clear that there was a real interest in healthy living, the cooking classes were formed. With a plant-based diet in mind, Ramos and Lembcke started gathering recipes they wanted to share with others.

“I wanted people to realize that healthy eating could be affordable, as well as tasty,” said Lembcke. “We try to present creative recipes that are both delicious and healthy, and sometimes they really surprise people.” From chocolate pudding made out of avocados (and some other ingredients, of course) to peanut butter cups that are completely vegan, the cooking classes have included a variety of recipes that the attendees are able to taste for themselves.

“We try to inform those that come to the classes about how they can improve their eating habits and the benefits of doing so,” said Lembcke. One topic that has been discussed in the classes is how important it is to have a variety of colors in a meal. When this topic was discussed, the recipes and dishes presented all followed this principle.

Currently, the church is hosting two cooking classes a year. The classes are promoted to church members who pass along fliers to their friends and co-workers. Previously, about 20 to 30 people have attended these classes each time.

“One of the biggest blessings for me was hearing one of the attendees say how he had really enjoyed the classes and appreciated

learning about how to eat more healthfully,” Lembcke said. She is a strong believer in healthful living and enjoys sharing ideas with the people around her.

This ministry has been a way for church members to learn, as well.

Mary Ann Taylor is a member at the College Station Seventh-day Adventist Church and has attended the cooking classes in the past.

She has enjoyed the way the cooking classes are set up. “They’re done professionally,” she said. “They talk to us about the nutrition facts and how to eat healthy.” She enjoys that Ramos and Lembcke not only demonstrate how to cook certain recipes, but also explain why each dish is a healthy option.

Overall, healthier living is something that both church and community members are invested in. There is hope to grow the ministry in any way possible in the near future, and the leaders already have a few ideas up their sleeves.

Brisa Ramirez is a writer and recent Communication graduate of Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, TX.

FLAME | 15 Spring 2016

VEGAN FRIED RICE

T

his easy, 10-ingredient vegan fried rice is loaded with vegetables, crispy baked tofu, and tons of flavor! A healthy, satisfying plant-based side dish for four or entrĂŠe for two.

Ingredients RICE & Veggies 1 cup extra firm tofu 1 cup long or short grain brown rice, rinsed thoroughly 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup green onion, chopped 1/2 cup peas 1/2 cup carrots, finely diced SAUCE 3 Tbsp soy sauce, plus more for veggies and to taste 1 Tbsp peanut butter 2-3 Tbsp organic brown sugar 1 clove garlic, minced 1-2 tsp chili garlic sauce Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with non-stick spray.

2. Wrap tofu in a clean, absorbent towel and set something heavy on top to press out the liquid.

3. Once the oven is preheated, dice tofu into 1/4-inch cubes and arrange on baking sheet. Bake for 26-30 minutes.

4. While the tofu bakes prepare your rice by bringing 12 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Once boiling, add rinsed rice and stir. Boil on high uncovered for 30 minutes, then strain for 10 seconds. Remove pot from heat and return rice to pot. Cover with a lid and let steam for 10 minutes.

5. While rice and tofu are cooking, prepare sauce by adding all ingredients to a mixing bowl. Whisk to combine. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more soy for saltiness, peanut butter for creaminess, brown sugar for sweetness, or chili garlic sauce for spice.

6. Once the tofu is done baking, add directly to the sauce and marinate for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

7. Heat a large metal or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, use a spoon to scoop the tofu into the pan while leaving most of the sauce behind. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown on all sides.

Lower heat if browning too quickly. Remove from pan and set aside.

8. Add garlic, green onion, peas and carrots to the still hot pan. SautĂŠ for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, and season with 1 Tbsp soy sauce.

9. Add cooked rice, tofu, and remaining sauce and stir. Cook over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.

10. Serve immediately with extra chili garlic sauce.

Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, though best when fresh.

MinimalistBaker.com

Word of Mouth

Faith+Football = Classic Movie Combination Reviewed by Makala James

Reviews for books, movies, gadgets and apps that help enhance ministry and spiritual growth.

Woodlawn is a movie worth watching on a rainy day, or showing in a worship group.

Although a bit long, good character and plot development make the movie worthwhile.

Plus, it helps to have a set of experienced actors and two inspired directors, the Erwin Brothers, setting Woodlawn up for success.

The balance of story to sermon is well done, the retro set is enjoyable, and it has a heartfelt message, combining issues of race, faith, and football.

Woodlawn tells the true story of Tony Nathan, a high school running back in racially torn Birmingham, Alabama. In the early 1970s, coaches began to recruit African American players for football teams. Tony Nathan was a quiet student. He didn’t want attention, but legendary coach Bear Bryant heavily recruited Nathan for the Woodlawn High School team. Many people did not want him, or any African American, to play for the school. Yet Nathan used his athleticism and faith to help overcome racism in Alabama. Woodlawn is a

family friendly movie, however, it does contain some intense scenes and violence that may not be suitable for younger children.

Directors Andrew and Jon Erwin had a personal drive in making Woodlawn a success because Hank Erwin, their father, is one of the important characters. Played by Sean Astin, Erwin’s character is the appointed “sports minister” at Woodlawn High School. Jon Voight is another big name on set. He lives up to the role of Bear Bryant, portraying Bryant’s iconic characteristics with ease.

Surrounded by experienced actors, Caleb Castille, playing Tony Nathan, is completely new to acting. He was originally hired as a stunt double, but the directors cast Castille as Nathan when the original actor turned down the part. Castille’s acting ability was put to the test and he delivered. He plays Nathan with a lot of heart, making the character relatable, and believable.

There is a formula that every faith-based film seems to follow. Good guy faces big

problem, prayer fixes big problem, the end.

It’s an important message, but people can get tired of watching it hashed out repeatedly.

That’s why faith films have become predictable and occasionally receive negative reviews.

Add bad acting to the mix, and there is no hope! In Woodlawn, this is not the case.

Woodlawn-themed books and resources

by Pastors Dave Stone and Dr. Tony Evans are also available, as are study guides for small groups at WoodlawnStore.com.

See the trailer and find more information at WoodlawnMovie.com.

Makala James is a writer and also a Marketing Assistant at Lake Granbury Medical Center.

Stewardship

the

Roll with Punches

By Minner Labrador Jr. It was the night of the most anticipated heavyweight boxing bout in history between former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and boxing legend Evander Holyfield. Before he entered the boxing ring I noticed that along the side of Holyfield’s robe was a reference to Philippians 4:13. Once in the ring, Evander Holyfield knelt and prayed. The verse asserts, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” As a preacher, I was always gripped by this verse. Does Philippians 4:13 mean that through Christ I could defeat Mike Tyson? What does the “in all things” mean?

The church in Philippi was suffering from persecution and there was a tremendous

amount of discord. It seemed that everything was going wrong. It was a time that Paul could have easily have fallen into emotional breakdown and discouragement.

Now we begin to understand the setting and crisis of the author and the church of Philippi. It is in this context that Paul writes Philippians 4. Before we read verse 13 let’s review a few verses prior. Verses 6 and 8 read, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God… Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Have you heard the saying, “when it rains, it pours?” Paul could have been thinking about everything that was going wrong. He could have allowed his thoughts to acknowledge the challenges and obstacles and he could have murmured or complained. But Paul didn’t! Instead, he challenged the church in Philippi to be thankful and to think just, pure, lovely thoughts with virtue and praise.

Lets examine verses 11-12. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Paul learned to be content in a difficult setting under dire circumstances. Even in need, he says he learned to be content. How can I be content when things go so wrong?

We need the miracle of verse 13. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Evander Holyfield could have proudly claimed Philippians 4:13 whether he won or lost. In whatever state or whatever condition, whatever result or in any circumstance, we can be content as good stewards. Being content is a knockout punch!

Minner Labrador is Vice President for Ministries, as well as Ministerial, Men’s Ministries, Sabbath School and Stewardship Director for the Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

FLAME | 17 Spring 2016

Insight

The of Your Labor Fruit

By Ingo Sorke

Galatians 5:22-23 reads, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” The fruit of the Spirit used to remind me of childrens’ things like Vacation Bible School props, cute posters, little fruit candies, and cartoon characters Billy the banana, Sandra strawberry, and Tom the tomato. Tomato is a fruit, you know?

And isn’t fruit just a side dish that you have, well, on the side? A snack in between. A piece of fruit, anybody? Ever ordered fruit as a main dish? Fruit salad at the most. Let me propose five facts on fruit.

1

Fruit is either fresh or rotten.

Spiritually speaking, it’s either fruit or flesh. After taking a more serious, in-depth look at Paul’s collage of fruit in Galatians, I was stunned. Right before the well-known “fruit of the Spirit” list, the apostle lines up works of the flesh that will actually keep one out of the kingdom of God! Consider this contrast:

flesh | Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” fruit | Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Life is, indeed, either lived as fruit or flesh.

2

Fruit must be washed.

After describing the early church with full disclosure, the ugly gamut of human sinfulness, Paul introduces the beauty of the Gospel in one gripping phrase, “And such were some of you.” In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 he reminds us, “You were washed in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” After all, Titus 3:5 says, “according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of the Holy Spirit.”

18 | FLAME Spring 2016

Have you been picked and washed? Jesus informed Peter directly in John 13:8, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

3

Some fruit must be peeled.

While roots thrive underground, fruit cannot remain private.

One example from the life of Jesus in Mark 2:5 illustrates this with refreshing transparency. “When Jesus saw their faith,” the verse begins. He saw their faith! Sometimes faith is not a matter of the heart but a ministry of your hands. Sometimes faith means sweat on your forehead and dirt underneath your fingernails! It means moving 2x4s and breaking through sheet rock. The end result is that a paralyzed rotten fruit ends up in the presence of Jesus and when you end up in the presence of Jesus He turns you from wilted garbage to a mouth-watering fruit salad. Sure enough, Mark 2:12 affirms, “all were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this.’”

Fresh fruit gets noticed. Fresh fruit excites! One rotten apple, made fresh by Jesus, can draw the whole basket to God. Adventist author and pioneer, Ellen White, describes this phenomenon in Review and Herald magazine. She says that in Jesus’ absence, “the influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul. We do not see Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as in another. It works in and through every one who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.”

Notice that love is listed first and foremost. Are you revealing fruit?

Is your fruit visible? Do you genuinely love people? Does it show? Is your love more evident than your religion.?

In Christ’s Object Lessons, Ellen White reassures, “As you receive the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of unselfish love and labor for others, you will grow and bring forth fruit. The graces of the Spirit will ripen in your character. Your faith will increase, your convictions deepen, your love be made perfect. More and more you will reflect the likeness of Christ in all that is pure, noble, and lovely.” Do you have fruit? Are you fruit-ful?

4

Fruit must be harvested.

Fruit means that there must have been a harvest. At some point God will esteem you ripe for the picking! No self-glorification

Insight

here – it’s His principles, His promises, His process, and so it is His product – from start to finish! After all, it’s called the fruit of the Spirit.

It’s not your fruit, it’s His. He is the author and finisher of our faith.

5

Fruit must be kept fresh, or it spoils.

When it comes to fruit, there is no “once fresh, always fresh.”

Fruit that is ripe before the harvest will only remain fresh if it remains attached to the branch.

In which list in Galatians would you like to be found, the fleshpots of Egypt or the fruit basket of the Spirit? Take a look at this incredibly encouraging description of the ripening Christian found in Ellen White’s book Steps to Christ.

“The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in His followers. It was His delight to do the will of God. Love to God, zeal for His

glory, was the controlling power in our Savior’s life. Love beautified and ennobled all His actions. Love is of God. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. It is found only in the heart where Jesus reigns. ‘We love, because He first loved us.’ 1 John 4:19. In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, subdues enmity, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around.”

How is the fruit of your labor?

Dr. Ingo Sorke is a Professor of Religion at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas. He holds a doctorate degree in New Testament studies. The Scripture in this article has been taken from the New Kings James Version of the Bible.

FLAME | 19 Spring 2016

History

Lone Adventist Star Heritage

By Joe Ray

In 1874, the Seventh-day Adventist Church was well established with headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan. Texas was a mission field. In 1874, Albert Rusk and his wife Julia, left Nebraska and moved to Ellis County in Texas. Soon after that his brothers John and Elbridge Rusk moved to Texas to bring the Adventist message to the Lone Star State.

Evangelistic meetings were conducted in Dallas, and as a result a company of believers was organized. For a time, believers met in different homes in the Dallas-Grand Prairie area. Elder D. M. Canright arrived in May of 1876. He held evangelistic meetings and organized a church of 18 members in Dallas.

The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists sent R. M. Kilgore to Texas and, after conducting evangelistic meetings, churches were organized in Cleburne, Peoria, and Terrell. A young minister, A. G. Daniels, who later became General Conference President, was his tent master. In 1878, Seventh-day Adventist pioneers James and Ellen White spent several months in Texas. A camp meeting was held in Plano, and the Texas Conference was organized with R. M. Kilgore as the first Conference President.

Elder Kilgore asked John Rusk to ride horseback around sixty miles with him to find the highest spot in Johnson County to organize a new company of believers. In 1893, the Conference purchased 800 acres of land in Johnson County so they could start a training school, which is now Southwestern Adventist University. For a time, members attended Sabbath school at Elm Grove, a country school house, or in a dugout located east of the present University campus. On January 6, 1894, a church was organized with 60 members. The United State postal department named the new settlement Keene. Plots of land were sold to Adventists who moved to Keene to be near the new school.

Jeff Wilson began a ministry for the German-speaking people in Texas. New churches were started in South and North Texas, and a large German church was organized in Valley View. Meanwhile, A. W. Jenson ministered to the Swedish and Danish speaking people and many accepted the Adventist message. The oldest Adventist church building still standing is at Clifton. Although a congregation no longer meets there regularly, yearly services are held each October and a historical marker was recently placed there by the state of Texas.

In 1895, W. N. Hyatt began a Sabbath school in Fort Worth and in 1896, John Lawrence McGee, a self-supporting nurse, began to work in San Antonio. Around the same time, the Adventist message was proclaimed in Houston, while J. N. Summerville ministered in East Texas resulting in the organization of the Marietta Seventh-day Adventist Church and day school.

Between 1909 and 1913, W. F. Mayer worked as a literature evangelist among the Spanish-speaking population in the Rio Grande Valley while several Adventist doctors such as Drs. De Witt, Reed, and

20 | FLAME Spring 2016

Westphal began their practice and greatly advanced the work of the church in the area.

In 1913, the Progressive Club of Jefferson approached the Texas Conference President requesting the establishment of a Seventh-day Adventist colony and school in that area. President W. A. McClutchen made arrangements for the purchase of an 1,800-acre tract of land so that a church and school could be built and parcels of land could be sold to Adventist settlers.

One of the early Adventist believers in Dallas was Mrs. Huguley whose son became a dentist. When he died in the 1970s, it was discovered in his will that he left a large sum of money so the Adventists could build a hospital in honor of his faithful mother. As a result, we have Texas Health Huguley, which recently received an A-rating among the hospitals in the Fort Worth area.

Beginning in the 1950s, Conference presidents such as N. R. Dower, Ben Leach, and Cyril Miller placed much emphasis on evangelism and membership began to grow exponentially. Today, the Texas Conference has over 54,000 members, 293 churches and 30 schools and is one of the largest Conferences in North America.

Information for this article was compiled from the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary set and The 19th Century Odyssey of John and Judith by G. Tom Carter.

Joe Ray is a Trust Services Field Representative and Texas Adventist Retirees Coordinator for the Texas Conference. He is a retired pastor with over 60 years in ministry and has served as a pastor in the Arkansas-Louisiana, Chesapeake, Wisconsin, and Texas Conferences, as well as an Associate Publishing Secretary, ASI Director, and Health Ministries Director.

Kidz Korner

o to d tuff red. me s is so u get bo on e r e H do n yo whe you can need u e Som n, but yo p from e w h l o rs. your ion and for othe iss t perm an adul

1

Explore with a Flashlight Scavenger Hunt Ask you parents to help

you find a list of outdoor items in the dark. You can wear glow sticks and use flashlights to find nature objects and hidden items!

2

Solve a Blindfolded Maze With a friend, use

teamwork to guide each other through a maze! One person is blindfolded, and the other will give instructions on where to turn and how many steps to take. Use household objects to create the walls of the maze.

3 4 5

Go Star Gazing

Take a blanket out into nature with your mom and dad and see how many stars you can count! Look for constellations and planets in the night sky. If you have a telescope, you can see even more!

By: Saul Asiel Flores, Night Hiker and Pathfinder

When I lived in Denver, Colorado I went on a 4-day camporee with our church’s Pathfinder club to Glacier View Ranch. The days were full of activities like outdoor worship on Sabbath and an afternoon hike after church. But the one event that most Pathfinders waited anxiously for was the “night hike.”

It was midnight and finally time to go. We got to the starting point while the leader told us that it would be a ten-mile hike. The night was dark and cold. We hiked about two miles while the temperature kept dropping and the wind blew in my face. I felt as if my ears, nose and cheeks were about to freeze. Our hike leader stopped and yelled. “Okay everyone, now is the time to turn off your flashlights and put them away!” So we did as we were instructed and the darkness flooded us.

It was so dark that I put my hand in front of my face and still couldn’t see it. We had to rely on our hearing and smelling to get around. It was a thrilling moment because I could hear everything happening around me. The wind blowing through the trees, the sticks breaking when I stepped on them, I could even hear the person behind me and in front of me breathing. We hiked the rest of the way without any flashlights and had to trust each other to finish the hike. It seemed like forever, but we finally we got to our destination: the top of a rocky hill.

We were all relieved that we were able to complete the night hike without anyone getting hurt. Our guide told us to make a semi-circle with him in the middle and he said to us, “So what did you learn from this adventure?” One person said that they learned how to use senses other than their sight. Another said that they learned that they needed to trust in others to get through it.

Then, our guide told us something that I will never forget. He said, “This what our spiritual life is like. We can’t see God, but we can feel him with us like we felt the wind. Sometimes life is hard and you have to get others to help you continue on the correct path. But if we can learn to help each other, we can all get to our destination. Our goal is getting to heaven and spending eternity with God.”

Play “Hide and Seek” in the Dark Turn out the

lights to make a regular game of “hide and seek” even more exciting! Just try not to laugh if your friends bump into furniture!

Play Blindfolded Pictionary Try drawing

pictures for friends and family to guess, but the artist must wear a blindfold! See if the other team members can guess what you’re drawing in less than a minute.

Do you have a story?

Share it with us! Send us your story and we may use it in the “Kidz Korner” of the next FLAME issue!

Email stories, 400 words or less, to FLAME@txsda.org

Have you ever noticed an animal’s eyes glowing in the dark? Animals, such as cats, dogs, raccoons, and owls, have a special reflective service in each eye called tapetum lucidum.

It helps them see in the dark. It also reflects off of flashlights, making the animal’s eyes appear to glow!

Fun Facts The Appalachian Trail is one of the longest hiking trails in the world. During 1990, Bill Irwin, with his Seeing Eye dog Orient, became the first and only blind person to hike the Appalachian Trail. He did it without any map, GPS, or compass.

Your ears are more sensitive when you close your eyes for bed! People rely heavily on hearing in the dark. In fact, hearing actually improves when a person can’t see. Close your eyes and really listen, and you will notice many interesting sounds! If you are afraid of the dark, remember that scary noises are actually just regular background sounds that stand out due to super night time hearing!

Calendar

Events February

27 | Fort Worth & Keene

Area Evangelism Training at Burleson Seventh-day Adventist Church.

27 |

Dallas Area Evangelism Training at Richardson Seventhday Adventist Church.

March

5 | Valley Area Evangelism

Training at McAllen Valley Central Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church.

6 | Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Vacation Bible School Training at the Burleson Seventh-day Adventist Church.

17-20 |

Music Festival at Southwestern Adventist University and Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas.

17-20 | ASI Southwest Chapter Retreat at La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa in Montgomery, TX.

26 |

Estate Planning Seminar at Texas City Seventh-day Adventist Church.

School Training at the Laurel Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church.

9-22 | MOREhope

Evangelism for local churches in the Dallas area.

11-19 |

MOREcompassion Mission Trip at Richardson Seventh-day Adventist Church.

22 | FLAME Spring 2016

1-2 |

Southwestern Union Constituency Session at Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Graduation Weekend

14 | Estate Planning Seminar at Brownsville Seventh-day Adventist Church.

21 | Elders’ Gathering for the

East Texas Area.

july

3-10 |

Summer Camp: Cub Week at Shady Lakes Ranch in Cleburne, TX.

10-17| Summer Camp:

Junior Week at Shady Lakes Ranch in Cleburne, TX.

17-24 |

Summer Camp: Tween Week at Shady Lakes Ranch in Cleburne, TX.

24-31 |

Summer Camp: Teen Week at Shady Lakes Ranch in Cleburne, TX.

31-Aug 7 | Summer

Camp: Family Camp Week at Shady Lakes Ranch in Cleburne, TX.

Valley Area.

June

Want more info?

4|

Elders’ Gathering for the Houston Area.

12 | Estate Planning Seminar

Evangelism Training at Scenic Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church.

May

| Southwestern 3 | San Antonio Vacation Bible 6-8 Adventist University

Retreat at Prothro Center at Lake Texoma.

12 | San Antonio Area

at San Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church. Intro to Disaster Preparedness on Saturday, Donations Operations on Sunday.

April

11-13 | BYOB Young Adult

at San Antonio Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church.

30-May 1 | ACS Training 26 | Elders’ Gathering for the

23 |

MOREhope Soul Winning Festival

22-24 | SENT School of

Evangelism at Houston Central Seventh-day Adventist Church.

30 |

Estate Planning Seminar at Harlingen Seventh-day Adventist Church.

11 | Elders’ Gathering for the

Austin and San Antonio Areas.

Registration, information and more events on the Texas Conference website

17-19 | Youth Fest

at Southwestern Adventist University.

25 | Elders’ Gathering for the Dallas-Fort Worth Area.

at TexasAdventist.org.

Advent Movement

FLAME A publication of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas.

Editorial Publisher..............................................Carlos Craig Editor.......................................Kristina P. Lockhart Associate Editor.................................... Jason Busch Assistant Spanish Editor.................Osvaldo Rigacci Layout Design....... Madelein Terreros, Sora E. Yañez Translation Coordination.........Kristina P. Lockhart Translators......... Mariangela Busby, Jorge Ordoñez, Silverman Terreros, Jackie Martinez, Angelo España

ADVENT Employees of the Adventist Church often change leadership positions and areas of responsibility. This section is to help you keep up with who’s where in Texas.

contributing Editors Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church Southwestern Union Conference

movement

Texas Conference Family Ministries Feature images by Aaron Thomas Photography

Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists P.O. Box 800, Alvarado, TX 76009 Phone: (817) 790-2255 www.TexasAdventist.org

Jan Molina:

Boris Reyes:

Pastor Corpus Christi and Alice Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Churches

Pastor Victoria and Beeville Seventh-day Adventist Churches

Administration President...............................................Carlos Craig Executive Secretary.........................Elton DeMoraes Treasurer...........................................Edwin Romero

Allison Handal:

Jerrod Songy:

Associate Pastor Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church

Senior Pastor Joshua Crossroads Fellowship Seventh-day Adventist Church

PRINTING & MAILING Director...........................................Mario Ledezma Pressman .......................................... Miguel Gomez Designers..................................... Madelein Terreros

Carlos Pasillas:

Sora E. Yañez

Youth Pastor Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church

Print Shop Assistant............................Doug Denny Administrative Assistant...................Erica Manzano

The FLAME is a publication of inspiration and education of the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It is sent free of charge to all members of the Texas Conference on a quarterly basis.

It is our prayer that you will find the stories in these pages inspiring and empowering so that together we can share the flame of Christ’s love with those around us, both in Texas and beyond.

BIBLE WORKER

CLASSIFIEDS

If you have questions or comments, please email: FLAME@txsda.org

FLAME | 23 Spring 2016

TXCSDA FLAME P.O. Box 800 Alvarado, TX 76009

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Ft. Worth, TX Permit No. 3310

Join a team of family life specialists as they make this event an unforgettable experience for you and your spouse

Meyerson a night at the

Sunday, March 20

Saturday night @ 7:30PM couple’s date night & dinner will be on your own!

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center 2301 Flora St. Dallas, TX

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE swau.edu/musicfestival (817) 202-6631 Benefiting student scholarships

Join us as the orchestra transports us to Sevilla with Franz Waxman’s Carmen Fantasie.

Travel with the Symphonic Band as they take us to the Scottish Highlands of Visit our website for weekend details and registration!

Elliot del Borgo’s Gaelic Rhapsody. www.BeForeverOne.org For questions call (817) 790-2255 EXT. 2108 Ascend to the heavens as the Festival Choir performs Trinity te deum and Stars by award-winning $ 199 Early (per couple) Latvian composer ĒriksBird Ešenvalds. + Lodging ( 109 per night + tax) This is no ordinary• night - this is A Night at the Meyerson! includes three meals per person, seminar materials, and a special gift $

• deadline july 15 extended to september 15 ┃ children not allowed

Meyerson ad.indd 1

2/8/16 4:21 PM