FLAME | Fall 2017

Vol. 4 Issue 3 FALL 2017

HOW DO YOU FIND REST IN GOD? Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

My energy is replenished through spiritual fellowship with my close friends.

God is the one who gave me amazing relationships and conversations with these people, and they constantly remind me of His love.

Katie Morrison

For me, finding rest in the Lord is a piece that’s difficult to find other places. Most often, it’s easiest for me to connect when I’m walking the dog or having solitude outside. It’s about re-engineering my time. Whenever I feel like I’m starting to worry about something or I begin to think about work, family troubles, etc., it’s important for me to stop and immediately turn those things over to God. Converting that time from stressful to prayerful is an important part of the rest process for me.

John Bower

I find rest in the Lord when I ask Him to be a part of everything in my life. When I go to work, Starbucks, get on an airplane, go Christmas shopping, or when I’m choosing clothes for the day. I’m rested most when I know He’s not just a part of my life, but that He’s my whole life.

Mollie Dupper

ZACK POST DESIGN

CONTENT FALL 2017

5

Stewardship

12

Discipleship

20

In the second part of this series on practical money management, we look at the incredible benefits of a Roth IRA.

By looking back at Paul’s shift to following Christ, we can turn criticism into collaboration.

Even in the midst of pain, we can be sure that God is working everything together for our good.

6

14

Kids

22

Living Faith

Feature

Calendar

Why Adventist? Join us as we explore a few of the things that make this a global movement.

When Lori was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer and given six to nine months to live, she decided to see what God had to say about it. Three years later, she’s thriving.

Save the date for these exciting events, training sessions, camporees, and much more.

8

16

23

Profiles

Insight

Advent Movement

If you ever attended summer camp, then you probably still remember the first time you went.

Read as Devin shares why this ministry was, is, and will remain so important to its visitors.

God searches for you with a tenacity like no other.

Do we search for Him the same way?

Stay informed with the latest updates among Texas Conference staff and pastoral transitions.

10

17

Wellness

History

Sleep is the body’s way of naturally recharging itself. But do you know how many health benefits are tied to sleep? Find out in Wellness.

Desmond Doss may be the most famous Adventist to serve in our nation’s military, but many others have answered the call.

11

18

Recipe

Education

Throw away the old pancake mix and try out this modern twist on a classic breakfast staple.

Discover how the history and mission behind North Dallas Adventist Academy has led the school to an exciting new chapter.

EDITOR

Editor’s Note If you’ve spent any time reading the FLAME, then you know it’s a Seventh-day Adventist publication. Its mission and content reflect that. But as we’ve discussed why God and belief are important in the Spring issue, and how Jesus’s death ultimately separates Christianity from other major religions, we continue to focus that topic into the why of Seventh-day Adventism. What makes this particular denomination unique amongst hundreds or even thousands of others?

In this issue, you’ll read individual experiences with Adventism and why these people came to believe the way they did.

You’ll read about the significance of our summer camp program and how it changes the lives of so many, about our history and how Adventists have served our country, and about Lori – a woman who decided a cancer diagnosis wouldn’t stop her from thanking God. What inspires faith like that? Find out in our Feature on page 14.

For regular readers, there’s more of what you’ve come to know in the FLAME like a fun

twist on traditional pancakes, the importance of sleep for overall health, and why a Roth IRA is one of the best retirement vehicles available – even if you’re young.

If you’re at all familiar with the Adventist church, then you know how big it is on rest.

One of its core tenets even focuses on resting during Sabbath from Friday night to Saturday night. Although we love taking that weekly break, God wants more for us than just a physical refresh. One of my favorite Bible verses is Matthew 11:28, in which Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

There’s something so satisfying about being able to hand over all the cares and concerns this world has to offer. Not working is great, Saturday afternoon naps are great, but the real importance of rest is what Jesus calls it to be – a complete surrender of your burdens.

My hope is that you take those words to heart today and every day.

Jason Busch | Editor STEWARDSHIP

Make Your Money Work: Roth IRA Social Security may not provide you with enough financial support for you to live on during your retirement years. In fact, there’s always chatter that Social Security may not even be around by the time many of us retire!

Therefore, it is important for you to start saving money as soon as possible, and one of the best ways to do this is through a Roth IRA. The maximum annual contribution you can make towards a Roth IRA is $5,500, but if you are 50 years old or older, then you can contribute up to $6,500. Direct contributions to the Roth IRA are not taxdeductible, but the interest earned in the account grows tax-free. Many different types of investments are suitable for a Roth IRA like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, certificates of deposit, ETFs, and precious metals. You will have to check with your Roth IRA provider to see which investments are eligible for your account.

There are income limits for opening a Roth IRA account. You can make the maximum contribution to a Roth IRA account if your Modified Adjusted Gross Income is below $118,000. If you are married and file a joint tax return, then your combined MAGI must be below $186,000. If you are married but file separate tax returns, then your individual MAGI must be below $10,000. If you make more than $133,000 as an individual or more than $196,000 as a married couple, then you are not eligible to open a Roth IRA. In today’s economy, many workers are working past the traditional retirement age of 65. Normally, with most retirement plans, you must stop making contributions and start making withdrawals by age 70 ½. With the Roth IRA, you can make contributions for as long as you like, and you are not required to make any withdrawals.

The biggest benefit of having a Roth IRA, however, is its flexibility. You can withdraw the amount of the contributions you have made into the account with no penalty at any age. If you want to withdraw more than the contributions you have made into the account without a penalty, then you must be 59 ½ years old or older and have the account open for at least five years. If you are a first-time home buyer in need of a down payment or you have higher education expenses, then you can withdraw more money than the contributions you have made without a penalty. These are just a few of the reasons why a Roth IRA is one of the best additions to any portfolio.

FLAME

5

LIVING FAITH

Why Adventist?

By Tom Grove | Executive Pastor at Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church I firmly believe that the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are the most relevant doctrines in the world. Our focus on the primacy of Jesus shows that all of our teachings are Christ-centric in their emphasis.

Our practice of the Sabbath and taking a full 24-hour period of rest has been recognized as a practice that brings physical, emotional, and spiritual respite, and has been adopted by others outside of our denomination.

Our understanding of the spiritual battle between Christ and Satan has explained to many the true character of God; not as an arbitrary tyrant, but as an ever-loving God who literally died to have an eternal relationship with His creation.

Our understanding that we honor God by what we eat, drink, experience, and how we treat others leads to a happy, healthy, and longer life. Others have written popular books, preached far-reaching sermons, and given seminars on these aspects of this message of health, which we have been stewards of for more than 150 years.

Our focus on the imminent return of Jesus that will put an end to the suffering and death

6

FLAME

has been the catalyst for our fervent teaching, leading to millions of people around the world to accept Jesus as their Saviour.

Why Adventist? Because it is the most relevant and fulfilling expression of our relationship with Jesus Christ that exists.

However, this drives us not to rest on our laurels or stay cloistered in our churches, but to make a difference in this world. How do we do that? I will give you three examples from my experience in Arlington that can be applied by Adventist communities across Texas and beyond.

1.) Relevant, Christ-centered Worship Our world is looking for answers and will not settle for something that doesn’t make a difference in how they live their lives.

Every week, Jesus is lifted up in our church through the Bible-based teaching, our praise and worship, as well as our giving. We also recognize that the difficult questions of life must be answered in a way that is easy to understand, is biblically sound, and applicable to the lives of our members when they leave us on Saturday. We continually see lives changed as a result.

2.) Seventh-day Adventist Education We are tremendously fortunate to be the constituent church of Burton Adventist Academy. Day-in and day-out, my children,

as well as the children of hundreds of families, are shown how to be life-long disciples of the Saviour. While we may not all have children who can attend Adventist schools or a church with a school close by, we can still support Seventh-day Adventist education by adopting a student or a school to pray for and support.

By doing this, you positively impact others.

3.) Community Service Seventh-day Adventists have a rich history of helping our communities in both times of disasters and simply assisting those who need a helping hand. Our Revive Community Care offers a food pantry that serves almost 100 people twice per month, offers vision and dental clinics, and is involved with disaster relief in our city. While it doesn’t’ have to be on this scale, you and your church can be the hands and feet of Jesus in your community.

Why Adventist? Because we are believers who are looking to spend eternity in a world made new, while sharing a little bit of Heaven here on earth.

THE SOCIETY OF ADVENTIST COMMUNICATORS INVITES YOU TO THE 2017 CONVENTION

Building Bridges PORTLAND, OREGON OCT. 19-21

Adventist professional communicators and communication college students are invited to learn through specialized workshops, network with peers, and celebrate communication excellence.

FOR DETAILS, VISIT ADVENTISTCOMMUNICATOR.ORG

FLAME

7

PROFILES

SUMMER CAMP

By Devin Anavitarte | Teacher at Burton Adventist Academy

I will never forget the summer of my 18th year of life. I remember graduating from Chisholm Trail Academy in Keene, Texas, loading up my car, and zooming away to Camp Yorktown Bay (CYB) in Arkansas. I had no idea what to expect. I had always considered myself an “indoor-boy,” and honestly wasn’t looking forward to 24 hours of sunshine, bugs, sleeping in a cabin with people I had just met, and braving the unknown. Yet, they called me to be program’s director, so off I went – although I still wasn’t exactly sure what this meant. Little did I know I would meet someone special there; and His name is Jesus.

Looking back 12 years later, I can say that I absolutely made the right decision. That first summer as the program’s director led to over a decade of work in summer camp ministry.

From Camp Yorktown Bay to Nameless Valley Ranch to Lake Whitney Ranch, summer camp became an integral part of my life.

There is something unique about what summer camp can do to you physically, mentally, and socially. Never have I encountered such a “pressure-cooking” environment. It takes you from your natural habitat and sticks you well outside of your comfort level. It stretches you. It makes you grow. You find out what kind of person you are there. Sometimes it’s not the best look, and other times it allows you to see exactly what you’re made of. But, the most beautiful thing working at summer camp does for you is it perpetuates your need for Jesus.

Never in my life have I found myself in tougher situations and challenges than in my 11 summers working at camp. I have seen

8

FLAME

God working methodically in the hearts of the hundreds upon hundreds of campers. I have seen him change personalities, move metaphorical mountains, and shine light upon the tiniest, darkest crevices. I have seen him change the hearts of leaders I’ve worked with, of ornery staff members, disgruntled parents, and even myself.

The beauty of summer camp is that from the day camp begins to the day it ends, a little community of believers exists somewhere out in nature – one that will never be replicated.

The family of prayerful, dedicated young adults who work there collaborate in order to establish an incredibly safe place where kids of all ages are allowed be themselves, to struggle, to grieve their lives and rejoice in their victories, and to celebrate the love of Jesus. I’ve seen it there. I’ve felt it there.

Eleven times I have witnessed something different. Eleven times I have witnessed something special.

The most precious moments have been found late at night, after the programs are finished and I’m moving from cabin to cabin.

The lights have been turned out and the kids are supposed to be asleep, but this is the time when the Holy Spirit is hardest at work. It’s these moments that, as a young adult counselor, you are not prepared for.

It’s in these moments that the kids share their pain, hurt, and desire for something better.

What do you say to the kid who reveals he lost both parents last year when he was only 9-years-old? What do you say to the kid who found out his parents were divorcing right before he showed up to camp? Or to the kid

who is terribly addicted to substances or pornography, what words of freedom can you provide to him? To the kid who feels invisible, lonely, and isolated, how can you show him he matters? Every kid has something. And here is the greatest opportunity to show them that Jesus cares.

You see, it’s more than the words you provide to them. Words can only do so much.

When you don’t have the words to say, God provides them. When you don’t have the strength to show love to that one kid who seems so capable of getting under your skin, God’s love permeates your unwilling spirit.

When you know your sliver of love for the kid who feels unlovable just isn’t enough, God showers his everlasting devotion upon them.

Then, he pursues them relentlessly. It’s a beautiful thing when God becomes summer camp director. They leave experiencing something they long for – those close encounters with the God who loves them.

After stepping away from summer camp ministry and moving into my fifth year of teaching, I look back fondly at my time at camp. I still dream about it. I can still smell that old Nameless Valley Ranch cafeteria, I can feel the breeze from the Rim, and I can still hear those voices singing praise to the Creator of it all. And those campers I encountered? I think I’ll see them again in Heaven. To me, Heaven will just be a big summer camp in the sky, so you better sign up soon. I know I have.

PROFILES

FLAME

9

WELLNESS

REST FOR THE WEARY

Many people believe that sleep is a luxury.

However, sleep is just as important for one’s health as eating right and exercising. People today are now sleeping less than they were in the past, and their health is suffering as a result of that. On the other hand, there are many health benefits that you can reap from getting the proper amount of rest.

Healthy Body Weight

Some people struggle with their weight because they are sleep-deprived. People who are sleep-deprived often have imbalances in the hormones that control appetite and satiety, which are ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin stimulates appetite while leptin suppresses it.

You have more ghrelin in your body when you are sleep-deprived.

One study showed that one’s chances of becoming obese increase with every hour of sleep that is lost. People who get the proper amount of sleep also tend to eat fewer calories. That is why they are more likely to maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, getting the proper amount of rest helps keep ghrelin and leptin in balance.

Reduced Risk

There was a study done where men slept four to six hours for six nights in a row. These men started to show symptoms of prediabetes.

However, the condition resolved itself after

10

FLAME

they received the proper amount of rest.

Sleep affects the way that your body regulates insulin. When you are sleep-deprived, your body has a harder time regulating insulin.

This leads to higher-than-normal blood sugar.

Improved Immune System

Your body relies on your immune system in order to stay healthy. It helps fight off the viruses and bacteria that try to invade your body. If you are chronically sleep-deprived, then your immune system function will be impaired. One study conducted showed that people who get less than seven hours of sleep are three times more likely to suffer from a cold. Quality sleep helps improve immune system function.

Better Mood

Most people are in a better mood after they get a good night’s rest. Sleep deprivation may not only ruin your mood, but it can also increase the risk of depression. In fact, it is estimated that 90 percent of people who suffer from depression do not sleep well.

Reduced Inflammation

Inflammation is a type of cellular injury. It is a natural response to an infection or injury.

However, when inflammation becomes chronic, it can increase the risk of illnesses.

Sleep deprivation can trigger inflammation.

One study showed that people who had Crohn’s disease were twice as likely to have a relapse if they are sleep-deprived.

Crohn’s disease is a condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. When you sleep, your body repairs the damaged tissues and muscles.

When schedules get busy, it’s natural for us to cut into our sleep time in order to accommodate. But as you can see, proper rest should be for more than just for the weary.

RECIPE

CORNMEAL PANCAKES With Fall fast approaching, these cornmeal pancakes with fresh cranberry compote are the perfect addition to any breakfast. And with just a 20-minute preparation/cook time, they’re sure to be a crowd pleaser. Pair them with a good book on a lazy Sunday for maximum enjoyment!

INGREDIENTS PANCAKES 2/3 cup fine yellow cornmeal 1/3 cup oat flour (or whole wheat pastry flour if not gluten-free) 1 Tbsp organic cane sugar (sub stevia or maple syrup to taste) 1 Tbsp baking powder Pinch sea salt 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 2 Tbsp melted vegan butter (or sub avocado or grapeseed oil) COMPOTE 8 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries 1/4 cup orange juice (or 1/4 cup water + 1 Tbsp orange zest) 3 Tbsp maple syrup, plus more for serving For this recipe and more, visit minimalistbaker.com.

FLAME

11

DISCIPLESHIP

TURN CRITICISM INTO COLLABORATION

By Gabriel Perea | Teaching Pastor at Advent Project Church The Scenic Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church is in the early stages of building a new facility. We are fortunate to have an individual in our church who is not only a member of our church, but also has a Master’s Degree and relevant experience in running non-profit organizations. Our local church elders and I had a conversation with her to discuss a variety of different plans for how to do a capital campaign and program design.

Her presentation was thought out and gave us some great insight as to how best work with the members of our church to build this new facility for God. The concluding slide was a professional auditing of our church ministries and the expression of our mission, while her criticism of our church ministries and mission was direct, poignant, sobering, and apropos. There were points in that slide that were truly difficult to hear, and one is almost reluctant to accept these as true or correct.

“It felt like a punch to the stomach” as one of those present in the meeting expressed.

It is easier and more likely to be defensive or dismissive in scenarios when someone shares their criticisms (whether planned or

12

FLAME

unplanned). We may even resort to doing a smear-campaign of such individuals. Yet, when faced with situations such is this, Jesus led differently.

Throughout the Gospels, specifically Acts, we see how Jesus was often able to redirect a person’s energy from attack to support and from criticism to collaboration. A prime example of this is Jesus’s relationship with Saul of Tarsus. We first hear of Saul in Acts 7 after the stoning of Stephen. Saul was the person whom other critics gathered around to present their case, after which he then utilized others’ support as fuel to persecute and kill Christ’s followers. Saul was deliberately attacking Jesus, His people, His disciples, and His cause. However, in Acts 9, in an intentional and divine ‘ninja’ move, we read of a dramatic shift in Saul’s approach to Jesus.

In a flash of light from Heaven, he was able to see Jesus in a way he hadn’t before. Jesus took Saul’s criticisms and attacks on new Christians and turned him into a collaborator in solidarity with people like Peter, James, John, Ananias, and Stephen, as well as other disciples. As a methodology, this is what

Jesus does. This is the significance of the expression, “I will make you fishers of men.”

Leaders often shy away from or are afraid of criticism. We have a built-in mechanism to defend ourselves, or to try to convince others of our logic and the method to our ministry. We reject, ignore, and often hate criticism. Yet, criticism can be the seasoning by which a local church ministry can truly be perfected. We have the choice to either dismiss the criticism and the person doing it, or we could utilize and turn that criticism into collaboration. Needless to say, I am always grateful for the people God sends my way to help with His work!

She humbly and intentionally gave all she had...

God is moved by a gift given in faith. Jesus noticed what most would call the tiny gift of the widow giving her mites, and He was moved. Not because of the size of her gift, but because of her faith.

“And without faith, it is impossible to please God.” – Hebrews 11:6 Your life is a statement about your values, the things that matter to you, and your faith. A life dedicated to God will be evidenced in gifts to Him – gifts of time spent with Him and in service for Him, praise given up to Him and, yes, monetary gifts.

And just as giving gifts to those you love brings you joy, giving gifts to the God that you love does as well. You’ll want to continue giving and blessing through your gift of the things that you spent your life accumulating – money, property, and other assets – when you no longer have use for them.

If you would like help in creating a plan that will continue to bless the family and the God that you love, contact us.

We’d love to spend some time together and answer your questions.

“A heart of faith and love is dearer to God than the most costly gift. The poor widow gave her living to do the little that she did. She deprived herself…in order to give those two mites to the cause she loved. And she did it in faith…It was this unselfish spirit and childlike faith that won the Saviour’s commendation.” – The Desire of Ages, p. 615

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

GOD OF MIRACLES

By Makala James | FLAME Staff Writer

AARON THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

14

FLAME

FEATURE Lori Mathews first became sick in April 2014. Doctors were perplexed and resorted to extreme methods to heal her, but her symptoms never caused them to suspect cancer. Sickness prevailed through endless testing and treating. Four months later, it became evident what was making her sick: pancreatic cancer. Lori knew the survival rates, but prayed continuously through it all.

“God and I walked the floor that week,” said Lori. “I was so scared about what would happen. What would I be like when I woke up? How long would I live? I prayed, ‘let Your will be done.’”

An aggressive surgery called the Whipple procedure promised positive results, but with possibilities for many negative side effects.

The surgeon, however, exuded confidence.

Still, Lori felt uncertain and scared as she agreed to the surgery.

When Lori awoke after her procedure, she was amazed at her surroundings. The room was full of family! Lori’s husband, children, grandchildren, sisters, mother, and even family from Amarillo greeted Lori.

“Everyone was there,” said Lori. “I was overwhelmed with the love that I received.”

The procedure wasn’t successful, but that week marked a turning point for Lori. Living with Stage IV pancreatic cancer strengthened her relationship with God, and prayer became a way of life.

As chemotherapy began, prayers began to focus on strength and healing. The first six months of chemotherapy were extremely painful as Lori became sick and lost weight.

Food lost all taste and made her nauseated.

Most days she only ate one baked potato, nibbling on it throughout the day. Doctors only gave Lori seven months to live, but Lori remained positive, trusting God.

Lori never attended chemotherapy alone.

An entourage accompanied Lori to every fivehour treatment, helping keep her spirits high.

Friends from church shared funny stories about grandchildren. Lori’s primary care physician, also a Seventh-day Adventist and friend from church, brought cookies to every treatment, and Lori’s daughter delivered lunch. They brought sunshine into the chemotherapy office and people took notice.

“One morning, while driving to oncology, I heard a voice tell me to pray while I was there,” said Lori. “It just popped into my head.”

From that moment, prayers became a group effort. Lori prayed with and for nurses, fellow cancer patients, family, friends, and anyone who would listen. She prayed before the nurses administered medicine. She prayed for strangers in the hall to hear.

“It wasn’t just about me,” said Lori. “It was about all of us fighting these battles. I know there are other battles besides cancer, and I wanted to make sure everyone was included.”

Lori and her husband, Dennis, became friends with another man at chemotherapy who was diagnosed with colon cancer. On his last visit to chemotherapy, he approached Lori and asked for prayer.

“I held his hands and we prayed together,” said Lori. “He lost his battle. He was very bad off. My last connection with him was holding his hands, telling him that I cared about him and that God cared about him.”

Fellow cancer patients began to ask Lori for prayer, and she became a beacon of light to all she met.

Meanwhile, family and friends took care of Lori through the most difficult times of her

sickness. Chemotherapy didn’t seem to be working. After one of her treatments, Lori woke in the middle of the night feverish and throwing up.

Tired of chemotherapy-induced illness and weary of the hospital, her doctor agreed to give Lori a six-week trial period without any treatment. She wanted to fully rely on God. “I turned those six weeks totally over to God,” said Lori. “I just trust that God is going to take care of me. I have faith that He is.”

When Lori returned to the oncology office, a CT scan revealed that the tumor had actually decreased in size. In addition, Lori gained 39 pounds, finally returning to a healthy weight.

“This is the most wonderful Lord that we serve and He does work miracles,” said Lori.

“I know God’s in control. I’ve known this all along. I’m not going to live any less or more than He desires.”

Three years have passed since her initial diagnosis. Lori continues to live without chemotherapy, fully trusting in God’s purpose for her life. Cancer is still a part of that life, but Lori uses her condition as a way to comfort suffering people rather than dwell in sadness.

“People are so important,” said Lori. “It’s so much fun to be in love with people, to care about people. I can’t say anything negative about the last three years. I’m not sad to be sick; I don’t focus on that aspect of it. I just let this God of miracles work through me.”

FLAME

15

INSIGHT

The Truth That Seeks Us

By Michael D. Musante

There are many reasons why one chooses a church or religion. It could be for social interaction, security, enjoying the service, or listening to a sermon for encouragement and spiritual insight, but this is not why I am Seventh-day Adventist.

What inspired me was watching a church comprised of small groups relentlessly pursuing truth from within the Bible, and using the Bible to gain interpretation of the Scripture instead of someone else’s opinion. From church members on the pew to the pastor behind the pulpit, I witnessed a sincere sense of not blindly believing but rather seeking and understanding God’s Word.

I discovered that the foundation of God’s promises was the source from which many of these people drew their strength.

The Seventh-day Adventist church possesses and proclaims a message pertinent for today’s generation. By searching through the entirety of the Bible, or Tota Scriptura, the church infuses its worship and fellowship with what Jesus taught during His time on earth, where He quoted from the Old Testament. Jesus lived in harmony with the Old Testament in an attempt to correct the flawed human understanding that was in practice.

These corrections spurred the New Testament into existence, preparing the world for His return.

Many well-intentioned Christians fall short in establishing a meaningful relationship with God in the belief that over half of the scriptures are no

16

FLAME

longer relevant to us today, and that these writings are just aged scribblings. When Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” what was He referring to? The answer is the clear divide between the sacrificial law and the commandments of God. Since the foundation of the world, Jesus was dedicated to be the Lamb of God by sacrificing Himself for humanity. The first set of laws is a plea for the forgiveness of sins through a sacrifice of blood, and the latter set of laws were established to reveal sin in our daily living. The Adventist church magnifies all the commandments of God and incorporates them as a part of its core.

I have found that after breaking down all the studies, prophecies, reasoning, and a hundred other factors that involve the personal life of a Christian, only one question will remain. God has been seeking us diligently and continuously to form a relationship with us, but do we seek Him in the same fashion? In other words, are we seeking to know and understand who God is and what He desires by searching and studying the Holy Bible? I am a Seventh-day Adventist because I am seeking the same Truth that is seeking after me.

HISTORY

Texas Adventists in Wartime, Part 1

By Alfredo Vergel | Public Services and Electronic Resources Librarian at Southwestern Adventist University Nearly a year after the world premiere of the biographical war drama Hacksaw Ridge, it’s safe to say that general knowledge about Adventists and noncombatancy has increased significantly. United States Army Corporal Desmond Doss’s remarkable story of determination, courage, and self-sacrifice is the most prominent among many other Adventists in military service.

From its beginnings, the church adopted a stance against violence that encouraged noncombatancy while respecting the individual conscience of its members. Faced with the possibility of a draft at the outbreak of the American Civil War, early Adventists adopted a middle ground between pacifist and volunteer combatant extremes in their ranks, consequently obtaining government recognition of their noncombatant position.

Since the church had yet to reach beyond the northern states of the Union, no Adventist

had to contend with a Confederate draft.

On the other hand, former members of both Confederate and the Union forces would eventually become Seventh-day Adventists.

One to do so was Texas Adventist pioneer John E. Rust, who landed in a Confederate prison hospital after being wounded in action.

Rust witnessed several fights firsthand including the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862, one of the most important naval battles of the war, and bloody encounters at the onset of Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign, before finally falling prisoner in Cold Harbor.

As with Adventist forerunner William Miller during the War of 1812, Rust’s belief system was rocked to its core by his experience in armed conflict.

Drawn to Bible study and, through correspondence with wife Judith and brother Elbridge who had become Seventh-day Adventists, Rust eventually converted upon his return home. He was one of the first Adventists to settle in Texas in the mid1870s. Their work sparked enough interest among Adventist leaders that they sent Robert M. Kilgore, another Civil War veteran, to solidify and organize the church in the state.

Kilgore enlisted at 22 as a private and was honorably discharged twice before reaching the rank of captain. According to Colonel

William B. Bell, “he was a young man of high Christian character when he enlisted, and he maintained that character during the entire war.” Kilgore soon carried that integrity and his military discipline onto the mission field.

After eight years of his labor in the state, the number of Adventist church members swelled to close to a thousand.

One of Kilgore’s converts, James W. Gage, was also a Civil War veteran who had settled in Peoria, one of the oldest settlements in western Hill Country, in the early 1870s and joined the church near the end of that decade. Gage served a short time in the Confederacy’s 13th Mississippi Infantry Regiment before being captured. Left with eight children after the death of his wife, he died 35 years later as a reputable citizen of Peoria.

The first draft Texas Adventists actually had to face was the one implemented by the Selective Service Act of 1917. By that time, the church in the state had grown considerably and counted many young men subject to enlistment among its ranks. Supporting them before and during enlistment would require a line of ministry theretofore undeveloped.

Look for the final part of this story in the Winter issue of the FLAME!

FLAME

17

EDUCATION

18

FLAME

EDUCATION

FROM VISION TO REALITY, PART 1 A Story of Faith and Success in North Texas

For over 40 years, the North Dallas area struggled to develop a sustainable solution for Adventist high school education. This two-part story tells how faith and leadership led to the establishment of a landmark K-12 academy and a new model for educational success in North America.

The North Dallas Adventist Academy (NDAA) will begin the 2017-2018 school year in a 160,000 square foot, $9.5 million facility named Canyon Creek in Richardson.

In addition to being the academy’s new home, Canyon Creek will serve as a center for ministry and outreach and signals the next phase in the nine-year upward trajectory of NDAA. The school knows where it’s going, but perhaps equally inspiring is how it began.

North Dallas Adventist Academy opened as the Richardson Adventist School in 1984, welcoming just eight students into a oneclassroom school. In the intervening years, numerous attempts to open a high school in the rapidly growing North Dallas area were unsuccessful. Committees were formed, architectural plans prepared, demographic studies conducted, and numerous properties evaluated, yet somehow the dream never materialized.

As support for faith-based schools steadily declined across the country, the mid2000s saw the Richardson Adventist school growing slowly, though not without struggle.

Routinely, families pulled their children out by seventh or eighth grade to enroll them in the public system or other non-Adventist, faith-based schools.

Things began to change when the right combination of innovative leadership, passion, and generosity came together. With the discovery of an easily renovated and wellsituated property, the creation of the North Dallas Adventist Academy (NDAA) was born.

“The school was our largest ministry and greatest financial investment, but it wasn’t

being consciously positioned for the kind of success of which it was clearly capable.

We had a responsibility to help the school fulfill its God-given potential, but this kind of thinking is often challenging for church boards,” said Paul Hunt. “It required us to think about more than just the families we knew personally, and plan for those who could be impacted across the metroplex for decades to come.”

A critical turning point in this story came with the realization that approximately 70 percent of students came from surrounding area churches, along with a small number of international applicants. Only 30 percent of the school’s population was from the Richardson church. Yet, the burden of providing a program of education across a large area with multiple churches was carried, largely, by one church.

Creating an approach that would encourage participation from local area churches was the key challenge and remains a crucial issue for the future of Adventist education across North America. Traditional ideas about support from many local churches are rarely effective, largely because the focus is on distributing debt or spreading the cost of running the school to surrounding churches.

This is no longer appealing for most churches and the days when members were eager to support local schools without question are gone. Families won’t enroll their children simply because the school is Adventist; rather, people want higher levels of transparency and accountability for the quality of education being delivered.

A decision had to be made. As Hunt remembers, “We could either cut back to fewer grades and manage the school as a smaller ministry, within the church facility or develop it into a separate entity and create a system of support that local pastors and church leaders could get behind.” The school

chose the latter, and the impact was dramatic.

Participation grew from three supportive churches giving limited financial support to 14 churches contributing directly to the academy in support of families from their congregations.

The Texas Conference, corporate headquarters for the Seventh-day Adventist Church within the state, had long recognized the need for a high school in the North Dallas area and decided to support the project with an initial pledge to get the project underway, which was quickly matched by an anonymous donor. With an extra $300,000 set aside by local churches for a new facility and additional pledges totaling $1.3 million, the fire was ignited. A steady flow of contributions and the overwhelming support of the Richardson Church meant that, in a few short months, North Dallas Adventist Academy had gone from a vision of educational excellence to a reality. The doors opened for its first day of school on August 12, 2008.

Since that time, God has continued to guide the leadership of NDAA. Success is rarely easy or immediate, and the NDAA story is the result of persistence and a deep dependence on God’s leading. Look for the rest of this story in the next issue, which will share some cutting edge plans for the new ministry at Canyon Creek. The planned opening of North Dallas Adventist Academy in August 2017 will mark a new chapter in the school’s history. Look for the next part of this story in the Winter issue of the FLAME. Contributions from Susan K. Rinker, Dr. Paul Hunt, and Orton Varona.

FLAME

19

KIDS

WORTH THE WAIT

By Jerome Masilamony | Bible Teacher at Dallas Christian Academy

When I was about 12-years-old, my parents told me that my brother and I were going to get braces. My brother and I had really crooked teeth, and we definitely needed them, but neither of us had any idea just what we were getting into. The first day that we had our braces on, we spent the whole drive back from the orthodontist to the house crying in pain; we didn’t know that having braces would hurt so much! Our parents didn’t really know what to say; they hadn’t known just how bad it would be either, but we couldn’t even eat solid food without pain shooting through our teeth and mouths. Eventually the pain went away, but I had my braces on for four years!

As I’m sure you can imagine, there were many other times that I would go in to have my braces adjusted at the clinic, and I would leave dealing with the same pain as that first time.

I had a lot of struggles with my braces.

For example, they made eating way more of a challenge than ever before. I ended up having to avoid some foods entirely, like corn on the cob and whole apples, since I didn’t want to accidentally break the braces off of my teeth, or something crazy like that. I also struggled with eating anything that might get caught in the braces, like salad and spinach. Another

20

FLAME

example would be sports. Any time there was a chance that I might get hit in the face, I had to be extremely careful. I learned the hard way that getting hit in the face became much more painful when your lips got smashed back into your braces by a basketball, and I did my best to not repeat that experience!

However, the worst struggle by far was something that I kept a secret from pretty much everyone. I basically thought I was the ugliest kid in my entire school. I was never, and I mean never, happy with the way I looked. I wasn’t happy with what I saw when I looked in the mirror. It didn’t matter how well I was dressed, or how good I was feeling; all I had to do was see myself smiling and I would instantly get self-conscious and feel bad about how I looked.

Four years later, I finally got my braces off.

I remember when I first saw my reflection in the mirror, I could barely recognize myself. I looked like a completely different person – in a good way! After all the time and the pain, everything had worked out for the best, and it had all been worth it. Looking back on those years reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses, Romans 8:28. It says, “And we know that all things work together for good

to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” That means that even when things get hard, or bad things happen, we can be sure of one thing – at the end of the day, because we love God, He will always work things out for our good. He loves us so much that He can bring good out of even the worst situations in our lives.

Upcoming Youth Events Master Guide Camporee at Lake Whitney Ranch September 29 - October 1 Adventurer Family Camp at Lake Whitney Ranch October 20 - 22 Register today at YoungTexasAdventist.org

EVENTS

September

October

9 | East Texas Area ACS Meeting at Jefferson Academy Church.

12-15 | Freshmen Bible Camp at Riverbend Retreat Center in Glen Rose.

9 | Dallas-Fort Worth Area Church Leadership Summit at Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church.

10 | ACS Disaster Response Training at Jefferson Academy Church.

10 | East Texas Area Church Treasurer Training at Tyler Seventh-day Adventist Church.

15-17 | English and Spanish Women’s Retreat at the Hilton Americas in Houston.

24 | Valley Area Church Treasurer Training at South Texas Christian Academy.

29-Oct 1 | Master Guide Camporee at Lake Whitney Ranch.

1 | Houston Area Clerks Training at Houston Central Seventh-day Adventist Church.

November

3-5 | English Men’s Summit at Camp Hoblitzelle in Midlothian.

11 | Valley Area Soul-Winning Festival at the McAllen Convention Center

Find registration, information, and more 13-15 | Spanish Men’s Retreat at Camp events at TexasAdventist.org.

Hoblitzelle in Midlothian.

20-22 | Adventurer Family Camp at Lake Whitney Ranch.

29 | Central Texas Area Clerks Training at San Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church.

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

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

EDITORIAL

Publisher: Carlos Craig Editor: Jason Busch Managing Editor: Tamara Terry Spanish Editor: Osvaldo Rigacci Layout & Design: Zack Posthumus | zackpostdesign.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Richard White

Undertreasurer Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Jason Busch

Communication Director Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Tamara Terry

Associate Communication Director Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Ismael Castillo

Associate Hispanic Ministries Director Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

David Craig

Associate Youth Director Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Alexis Rivera

Children’s Ministries Director Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Howard Ebbin

Pastor Houston Northwest Seventh-day Adventist Church

Leighton Holley

Pastor Mineral Wells and Graham Seventh-day Adventist Churches

Mark Dubon

Pastor Stephenville, Eastland, and Hico Seventh-day Adventist Churches

Godwin Sang

Associate Pastor Richardson Seventh-day Adventist Church

Oddie Olazaran

Associate Pastor Conroe Seventh-day Adventist Church

Community Services Directors Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Marlon Wallace

David Runnels

Oshaine Wynter

Bill Lindeman

Pastor Brownsville and San Benito Seventh-day Adventist Churches Associate Pastor Houston West Seventh-day Adventist Church

Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists PO Box 800, Alvarado, TX 76009 Contact us at 817.790.2255 or visit TexasAdventist.org

ADMINISTRATION

President: Carlos Craig Executive Secretary: Elton DeMoraes Treasurer: Randall B. Terry

PRINTING AND MAILING

Director: Mario Ledezma Pressman: Miguel Gomez Designers: Madelein Terreros, Sora E. YaĂąez Print Shop Assistant: Doug Denny Administrative Assistant: Jannet Diaz

Carlos Rodriguez

Pastor Highland Hills and Wilson County Seventhday Adventist Churches

Marshall and Julie Gonzales

Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church Advent Project Church Southwestern Adventist University Feature and Profile images by Aaron Thomas Photography | aarontphoto.com

Pastor Philadelphia and Atascosa Seventh-day Adventist Churches Pastor San Antonio Laurel Heights and Yancey Seventh-day Adventist Churches

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. If you have any questions or comments, please email flame@txsda.org.

TXCSDA FLAME PO Box 800 Alvarado, TX 76009

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

APRIL 27-29, 2018 ~ SAVE THE DATE ~

TEXAS CONFERENCE & SOUTHWESTERN UNION ︱ OMNI CORPUS CHRISTI HOTEL

MARRIAGE RETREAT

www.BeForeverONE.org SPEAKERS: BUFORD & CARMEN GRIFFITH English Sessions JORGE & NIBIA MAYER Spanish Sessions

EARLY BIRD

REGISTRATION RATE $199 PER COUPLE (Includes: Welcome bag,

Sabbath lunch, beach photo shoot and more)

SAVE $50

When registered by November 30th

LODGING PER NIGHT $139+TAX (Includes buffet breakfast)

INFORMATION & REGISTRATION (817) 790-2255 Ext. 2108 Ext. 2106 for Spanish

www.BeForeverONE.org