FLAME | Spring 2017

Vol. 4 Issue 1 SPRING 2017

the heavens proclaim the glory of god. the skies display his craftsmanship. psalm 19:1

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CONTENT SPRING 2017

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Stewardship

Recipe

History

Losing a loved one is tough. That’s why good stewardship means cherishing the time you have now.

This delicious, banana-filled concoction is the perfect treat for some of Texas’s warmest days.

All aboard! Go back in time to when the country’s rail system carried the message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to every corner of Texas.

Living Faith

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Feature

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It’s often the large things, like the night sky’s stars and galaxies, that point to God’s care for the smaller things in our lives.

After a near-death experience, Ralph and Misty Buckingham faced the choice to forgive a man that nearly tore their family apart.

Have you ever stared a wolf in the face and lived to tell about it? Jessica has! Read how it changed her perspective in profound ways.

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Kids

Education

Family Matters

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The recent flooding in Houston was the catalyst for this local community to come together like never before.

What is family worship? Read why this experience is so invaluable for your family’s spiritual and emotional health.

What has the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America been up to? Find out in our newest section, News.

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News

Profiles

Insight

Calendar

Joe Ray has been in ministry for longer than most people have been alive. Learn why it’s so important to him, and the reason he keeps going.

Pastor Jorge Rico uncovers the book of Revelation’s importance in our daily lives, and why it’s vital to understand its events.

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

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Wellness

Perspectives

Advent Movement

Science is beginning to confirm that belief in a higher power and the feelings that typically accompany it may lead to greater health.

Travel with Herman Aguilar as he shares why his college adventure fueled his spiritual growth like he never imagined.

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

EDITOR

Editor’s Note Happy New Year! People are typically fascinated by that word, new. We’re always searching for new clothes, new cars, new phones, and new everything that I wonder if we ever take a moment to consider why. Don’t get me wrong, having new things is often quite nice. But the point is that the beginning of a new year marks an opportunity for us to shed our prior year selves and focus on the new. Let’s take this moment to turn our attention away from the new things like the latest gadgets and savor new experiences, forge new relationships, and start new hobbies or positive habits.

For such an old book, the Bible also emphasizes newness. For instance, 2 Corinthians says that “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Revelation adds in God’s own words, “Look, I am making everything new!” So we know that Jesus values new, too.

Because this new year offers us a chance for a new perspective, I want us to consider the why of things. Why do some choose to be-

lieve in God at all? Why is Christianity different than any other religion? Why Seventh-day Adventism instead of “fill in the blank?”

Why? is what I want you to focus on as you read the FLAME throughout the year. Sure, it’s important to know what you believe. But it’s equally important to know why you believe it. That being said, our first issue focuses on the question of Why God? Why is belief an integral part of so many people’s lives? Even 12-step programs add belief in a higher power, so there must be something more to this than meets the eye. Over the course of this magazine, we’ll look at things like the health benefits that faith offers and why some turn to God for answers.

For the FLAME, the new year brings a new look, and I hope you enjoy some of the updated content we’ve included. My prayer for your year is one of hope, courage, and peace. Soak in the newness of life and make 2017 your best year yet.

Jason Busch | Editor STEWARDSHIP

A Time for Everything

By Vikki Ives

Have you ever lost a loved one? Despite what some may tell you, the process never gets easy. My mother’s recent passing left me without a parent for the first time, but it taught me some valuable lessons about true stewardship and the time we spend with one another.

During my mom’s recent hospital stay my brother, two sisters, and I met with the hospital chaplain. After sharing some stories, he asked which one of us was mom’s favorite.

Naturally, we had a good laugh when each of our hands went up. Mom never gave any indication that she favored one of us more than the other, but the chaplain’s question did make me reflect on the time I was able to spend with her over my life.

After she moved closer to me several years ago, Mom and I, literally hand-in-hand, have shopped, traveled, eaten out, attended church, and just hung out together – and we

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talked three to four times or more every day.

We said “I love you” countless times, and we definitely formed an unbreakable bond. Even as I watched her body become frail and weary, I was amazed at her perseverance and admired her true strength.

That isn’t to say we weren’t sometimes frustrated with each other. That element always exists in close relationships. But, when you really, truly love someone and cherish the time you spend with them, then the occasional irritation will pass. The important part is staying present in every moment, and recognizing that the time we share is a gift unlike any other.

Mom would often ask me, “What would I do without you?” Now I find myself asking that same question. God always knew what we both needed. He blessed me with the greatest honor of taking care of her these last

few years. In the days ahead, I’ll draw on His promise that I will hold her hand once again.

LIVING FAITH

Fingerprints of God

By Tom Grove | Executive Pastor at the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church Psalm 8 tells us, “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers, what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” Everywhere we look in this immense universe we see the fingerprints of God. As you look at the breathtaking beauty of the universe and revel in the awe-inspiring landscape of stars, galaxies, and nebulae, you begin to see a calculated work from the Creator of the universe. While the best scientists and astronomers try to explain its mysteries, David has already revealed the answer. He describes the heavens as a silent, eloquent declaration of God’s greatness. Yet, if they are full of such wonder, how much more must their Creator be? Not a word is spoken, but

the evidence of His majesty is transmitted continually everywhere to everyone. “If you want to know God,” David said, “look no further than the skies above.”

However, seeing God as Creator and Sustainer of the universe helps us to know who we are, as well. The more we get to know God, the more we recognize who we are as finite human beings created and saved by an infinite God. It means that, even though I can look up and drink in the vastness of that which He created, He still cares about me, a single person floating on a small, pale blue dot.

It means He cares about the big things going on in my life – the cancer that has come back, the money that doesn’t seem to pay all the bills, or the marriages that have hit rough patches. Yes, He cares about the big things in my life. But He also cares about the small things. He cares about the frustration I feel when an unkind word is said to me. He cares about the joy I experience when I hear my child pray for the first time. Even though

this supreme being keeps the galaxies, solar systems, and planets in their celestial orbits, He still cares. And you know what? He cared so much that He took those hands, the same hands that hung the stars in place, and allowed them to be nailed to a rough, wooden cross in order for us to know and to see His love.

So, the next time you wake up early and the sun is just peeking over the horizon, take a moment to be reminded that the God who created that sunrise is with you. The next time the kids are tucked into bed and the house is quiet, step outside and be reminded of the God to which the heavens declare, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” In the silence of those fleeting moments, experience what it means to know God, our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and soon-to-return King.

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Find us online at ABCkeene.org for specials on food, books, delivery information, and much more.

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You Need Only Be Still

EDUCATION

By Jeff Hahn | Principal at The Oaks Adventist Christian School

In Exodus, we read about how God was going to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the approaching Egyptians. Moses said to them, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.”

These were comforting words to hear, but quite difficult to follow. We know how the story ends. God opens the sea for the Israelites to pass through and closes the sea on top of the Egyptians.

On a cloudy Sunday in mid-April, the rains fell in Houston. So much rain came down that Cypress Creek, about a hundred feet from The Oaks Adventist Christian School, quickly overflowed its banks. By Tuesday morning, the water had covered the campus up to the top step leading into the gym. The main school building had taken in 2-4 feet of water and the Tiny Tigers daycare center received close to 18 inches of water. The faculty, staff, and constituents of the school were faced with their own Red Sea experience. Without flood insurance, how were they going to recover from this and rebuild?

Fortunately for all of us, God remains powerful in adversity. God orchestrated the selfless generosity of church members, pastors, teachers, parents, students, and a multitude of people off-site who pulled together to raise funds, clean items and floors, remove water damaged items, and set up temporary walls and classrooms in the gym. In two work sessions, there were well over 100 people who visited the campus to lend a helping hand in the recovery. If we were to place a dollar value on the work accomplished in those two days, the amount would be in excess of $150,000. With the Texas Conference’s generous financial support, a contractor was hired and the school building and daycare were repaired and reopened.

There is nothing like witnessing the power of God in action. Like Moses and the children of Israel, you have to commit your cares to God and be still. He fights for you and takes care of your needs. The faculty, staff, and families of The Oaks Adventist Christian School are grateful to all of those people who donated money, supplies, and their time to the reconstruction. God used you to part the waters so we could pass on dry land.

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MEASURE OF A MAN

By Makala James | FLAME Staff Writer

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AARON THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

PROFILES

“I’ve tried to look upon my role as a shepherd in all I do,” said Joe. “Being kind to people and encouraging them.”

Joe Ray has lived the shepherd’s life. With a passion for church growth, Joe baptized over a thousand people throughout the years. He’s kept that philosophy at the forefront of his career ever since graduating with his theology degree in 1952. He continues to serve where he’s needed, even 15 years after retirement.

“Early in my ministry I came across a picture of a lamb, lost out in the snow,” said Joe. “In the painting, there was a shepherd dog out with this lamb, howling for the shepherd to come. So, every time I answered the phone, prepared a sermon, or wrote a letter, I could look at that picture and see that my main role should be that of a shepherd.”

At the age of 16, Joe Ray felt a calling to work in ministry. So, he packed his bags and moved from San Antonio to Keene, Texas. It was the start of Joe’s senior year in academy, and the academy and college were combined at the time. Joe would later study theology at Southwestern Junior College.

Meanwhile, a young musician named LaVonne also attended Southwestern. While there, Joe and LaVonne formed a good friendship. Eventually, the time came for Joe to move to Union College, in Nebraska, where students of Southwestern Junior College often completed education. But Joe couldn’t leave without LaVonne.

“We married after I finished at Southwestern,” said Joe. “LaVonne worked as a music teacher, teaching piano lessons. She played the piano and sang, which was a real help in my pastoral work.”

The young couple made a good team, and Joe didn’t have long to wait for a job calling.

“You know, the committee calls you,” laughed Joe. Joe became ordained in the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference. He later worked in Maryland and Wisconsin until, finally, “the

committee” called Joe back home to Texas.

There, he served as pastor of the Fort Worth First Church for six years. Major evangelistic meetings, with speakers like Joe Crews and Ron Halverson, revitalized church growth.

“The Lord blessed with baptisms,” said Joe. “During that time, we started two new churches in the area: one in Everman and one in north Fort Worth. Seeing baptisms, people giving their hearts to the Lord and joining the church, is one of the best parts of ministry.”

Joe also worked at churches in Wichita Falls and in Cleburne. Throughout his entire time in ministry, Joe helped train 21 future pastors. For the first two or three months of a student’s training, Joe would take the young person with him every day.

“I enjoyed working with these young people,” said Joe. “I told them, ‘you will see me do some things right, but also see me make some blunders, and you can learn most from the latter.’”

He also served as pastor over three academies, baptizing many young students throughout his career. One of Joe’s favorite quotes comes from early Adventist pioneer and author, Ellen G. White, in her book Testimonies for the Church. It reads, “If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one.”

In all his work, it’s clear that Joe strives to fulfill that role to the best of his ability. He began in the Texas Conference office as an Area Coordinator, reaching out to spread the Gospel and grow churches. The Conference was much smaller at the time, and Joe held several positions. He worked as the Associate Ministerial Secretary, Communication Director, ASI Secretary, and was in charge

of Health and Temperance. Later, he also worked in Trust Services, helping people with wills and philanthropy.

“It’s been a real privilege watching the Conference grow,” said Joe. “When I started in the ministry, Texas had about 6,000 members. We now have around 57,000 members.

I think Texas is probably the third largest Conference in North America. It’s a privilege to have been just a small part of this growth.”

Working in the Trust Services Department, Joe spent most of his time helping people write wills. Now, at the age of 87, Joe is transitioning into the role of visitation pastor at the Cleburne First Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“I’ve tried to look upon my role as a shepherd in all I do,” said Joe. “Being kind to people and encouraging them.”

Through his life and over 65 years of ministry, Joe Ray has blessed many people.

He truly strives to be a shepherd for God in all that he does.

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WELLNESS

BENEFITS OF BELIEF The FLAME has spent a lot of time talking about some of the latest fitness tips and exercise routines, and I guarantee there will be more of it! But I wanted us to take a step back and look at what really makes us tick. What gives us the kind of health we need to enjoy the exercise we have included in the past? In a word: wellness. Complete, total body wellness that encompasses mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health – that’s the kind of philosophy we strive to encourage. Let’s take a look at what makes us well and how God is such an integral part of that journey.

Numerous studies show a positive correlation between religious belief and good health. In fact, science is beginning to show that people who have reported spirituality typically test better against depression, high-stress environments, and develop a stronger sense of community than people without. In addition, a report by the Christian Medical Fellowship shows that spiritual patients tend to recover more quickly, cope with illness better, and live an average of 14 years longer due to improved mental health and temperate behavior.

The community aspect of religion lends itself to greater feelings of happiness and inclusivity. As counterintuitive as it may seem to some, those who describe themselves as very happy volunteer an average of 5.8 hours per month while those who consider themselves unhappy volunteer .6 hours. These findings come from a book entitled The Paradox of Generosity whose groundbreaking research suggests that

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Numerous studies show a positive correlation between religious belief and good health. time spent volunteering, giving money to charity, or even donating blood has a profound effect on the health of those who participate in these activities.

Not all the news is good, however, depending on your view of God. Faith can have negative repercussions on health if God is viewed as a being who punishes rather than blesses and abandons rather than loves. Additionally, believing is no magic pill in itself. We know people of all creeds get sick, lose jobs, or go through hard times. But, belief offers a chance at relationship, connection, and community with something bigger than yourself. It gives us the opportunity to dwell in the presence of an all-powerful, all-loving God who values us so much that He sacrificed His Son for our benefit. Even if the positive health effects didn’t exist, wouldn’t that lone fact still make it all worth it?

RECIPE

BA NA N A S P LIT S M O OTHI E When the weather begins to warm and spring starts to show its face, that means smoothie season is nearly upon us! While summer brings out the best in lighter, fruitier smoothies, I prefer something a little heartier; something to remind me of the winter months we’re leaving behind. That’s why this banana split smoothie packed with almond butter and a smooth, chocolate finish is the perfect spring snack. But this isn’t your mom’s banana smoothie. This concoction takes the old fashioned banana split everyone knows and loves, and turns it into a nutritious, on-the-go treat that still hits all the right taste buds.

INGREDIENTS

- 2 medium-large bananas, ripe, peeled, sliced and frozen - 2 Tbsp cacao powder (or cocoa powder) - 1 Tbsp salted almond butter (if unsalted, add pinch sea salt) - 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (more depending on preferred thickness) - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract - optional: 2 pitted dates (for extra sweetness)

TOPPINGS

- 1 ripe banana, peeled and sliced lengthwise and inserted into glass (for banana split effect) - Coconut whipped cream - Ripe cherries - 1 Tbsp shredded unsweetened coconut - 1 Tbsp cacao nibs For more, visit minimalistbaker.com.

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FEATURE

THE POWER OF CHOICE

By Misty Buckingham

I met Ralph in December 1996 on a blind date and we immediately hit it off. He was friendly, funny, and came across as a deeply spiritual man – everything you could want in a husband. Hearing he was a law enforcement officer, however, left me apprehensive.

The men and women called to this job do it knowing they may never come home on any given day. I liked Ralph, so I was concerned for his safety. Nevertheless, we kept dating and married in November 1998. The lifestyle of an officer’s wife may be different than the norm as disturbances always take precedence over our pre-planned events; in fact, many nights you might be eating alone. But,

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Ralph truly loves his job and I know worrying doesn’t keep him any safer. That doesn’t mean that I don’t worry often, because I do!

It doesn’t mean I haven’t paced through our house while looking out the window and wondering if another officer is coming to notify me of the unimaginable. It simply means that I’ve learned to trust in something, or rather Someone, who casts out all fear.

Eleven years ago, when our first born was only six-weeks-old, Ralph was sent on a call where a man was holding his wife hostage in their home. The suspect had been drinking and was extremely depressed. Ralph set up directly in front of the home, while fire and

EMS, other officers, and the SWAT team were positioned closer. Ralph directed his spotlight at the home and began calling for the man to lay down his weapons and surrender.

While he was sitting in the driver’s seat of his vehicle, Ralph was reminded of something he had read earlier in the week about the patrol car being a target at all times. As soon as he got out to use his door as a shield, a gunshot rang through the patrol car windshield and the bullet slammed into the headrest where he had just been seated. A SWAT team member took that opportunity to knock the suspect to the ground and end the conflict.

FEATURE Months later, when the case went to trial, we were called to court to testify. I held our newborn daughter as I watched the man’s face. I kept thinking how he had tried to take my husband, protector, and father of our new baby girl away from us. My mind swirled through all the what-if scenarios when my turn to testify came. Then the inevitable question was asked: “How do you feel about the suspect?” With my stomach roiling, I looked directly at him and said I was sad for him and his cowardly act that evening. I told him that the men and women in law enforcement vow to protect society, yes, even him, and that his extremely selfish act would not go unforgotten. I told him many things in that courtroom, but it was the last thing I mentioned that stuck with me through the years. I said I’d pray for him. I didn’t pray for him right at that moment, or even in the days following. But eventually, I did pray for that man. I prayed in spite of his sister confronting me to vouch for his good character. I prayed even after he started serving his prison sentence. And I prayed despite never knowing what happened to him in the years since that day.

There are times I relive those moments

and think, “God died for that man just as he died for me and my family. God loves him as much as He loves anyone else.” In the aftermath of the hostage situation and trial, I did not feel like I was able to pray for him. It was in those moments that I realized that prayer, and the forgiveness that followed, was just as much for me as it was for him.

Believing in God isn’t simply a bargain I make with Him in return for things like Ralph’s safety. I choose to believe because of the realization that God’s perfect love is so all-encompassing that He can and does love all of us the same. Regardless of the past, present, or future, God loves us, and that love drives out all the fear I may face.

Is this the only call Ralph has been on that has frightened me? Absolutely not. The threats become more prevalent each day.

Officers everywhere are spit on, threatened, hit, and shot at, yet they continue to do their job through it all. What keeps me going is the knowledge that my husband is prayed for by so many. Even when days get really difficult and the streets seem worse than ever before, I continue to believe that God is my refuge, my strength, and my help in times of trouble.

AARON THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

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FAMILY MATTERS

The Best of Every Day

By Ruber and Ketty Leal | Texas Conference Family Ministries Directors Charles Spurgeon is one of modern history’s most influential Christians. He pastored the largest church in the world in his day, he presided over 66 ministry organizations (including a college and an orphanage), he wrote more than 200 books, read five books a week, personally penned five hundred letters each week, and still made time for family worship every evening at 6:00 pm.

After his death, his wife Susannah wrote about the impact of family worship on her and the lives of their twin boys, both of whom became pastors. “After the meal was over, an adjournment was made to the study for family worship and it was at these seasons that my beloved’s prayers were remarkable for their tender childlikeness,” she said. “He would

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come as near to God as a little child to a loving father, and we were often moved to tears as he talked thus face to face with his Lord.”

Every Christian family needs to make family worship the best and most important time of the day. Why is it so important? Family worship brings glory to God, brings the whole family into the presence of God, produces joy in the home, and helps change the world one family at a time.

In a society where immorality and evil seem to be more rampant by the day, many parents are choosing to prioritize family worship. Steve Demme, in his book The Christian Home and Family Worship, suggests several questions every family may want to discuss as they look into strengthening or reigniting this important time. Once you have answered the questions above, remember the three keys to make family worship the best it can be: keep it short, keep it simple, and keep it consistent.

1. When is the best time in the day to meet for worship?

2. Where is the best place to gather: the living room, kitchen, or dining room?

3. Who will lead the worship? (Try to coach older kids and teens so each of them lead in worship one day per week.)

4. What book of the Bible do we want to start for our reading?

5. How many Bible verses will each family member read and discuss?

6. What Bible translation are we going to use?

7. What will we do for music, if anything?

8. Do we want to memorize some psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs?

9. How will we manage the toddlers, if applicable?

10. How will prayer be a central part of our worship experience?

INSIGHT

WHY GOD? PART I

By Jorge Rico

As in the Presence of God God’s Word reveals that there is a special need for this time of the end.

For some, God is unreal and simply a man-made theory. For others, God is a being who lives somewhere in the universe, but who is out of touch with His creatures. Who is God for you? Why do we need to consider God in our lives? In Revelation, the apostle John recorded a vision about Christ. That vision presents a couple of clear concepts: First, Christ and God are real. And second, God is continually involved in people’s lives and completely in control of all human affairs. But before we attempt to understand those views, it is important to notice why God chose to reveal them in this book.

Importance of Revelation In the introduction to the book, God revealed to John three elements that are crucial in determining the importance of studying Revelation.

First, God stated that the book’s content is a revelation about Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:1). This view means that Revelation is a Christ-centered book. Therefore, it is imperative that churches and Christians pay attention to its message. The message of Revelation comes directly from God through Jesus. This idea is reiterated at the end of the book (Rev. 22:16).

Second, God has a special blessing reserved for those who read, hear, and keep all the things written in it. Many believers and Christian thinkers conclude that Revelation is a book only for Jews because its symbols, names, expressions, etc., are given in Old Testament terminology. However, the very prologue proves that view incorrect (Rev. 1:3). Though the content of other books in the Bible will also bless their readers, God wants us to pay a particular attention to Revelation because its message pertains to this time of the end. This special blessing is also repeated at the end of the book (Rev. 22:6-7).

Third, God gave this introductory vision in the context of the second coming of Jesus (Rev. 1:7). At His advent, many eyes will see Him and many will mourn over Him. This context is also reiterated at the end of the book (Rev. 22:7, 12, 20).

The provision of these three elements and their repetition are meaningful because they help us understand why God should be a central person in our lives.

The Vision of John In his first chapter, John stated that “he was taken in the spirit in the Lord’s day and he heard a voice behind him, like the sound of a trumpet.” The sound he heard was the voice of Jesus, because He introduced Himself as being the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last (Rev. 1:11). Then, John turned around to see who was talking to him, and he saw Jesus walking in the midst of seven candlesticks and having seven stars in His right hand (Rev. 1:12-13, 16). Why was Jesus shown this way to John? What is the meaning of those candlesticks and stars?

According to Jesus Himself, the seven candlesticks represent the seven churches and the seven stars are the seven angels (Rev. 1:20).

Thus, the Lord gave John a vision about the place of the church in God’s plan, the roles of angels in His plan, and the ministry of Jesus on behalf of His people.

Look for Part II of Why God? in the summer edition of the FLAME.

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Take a Turn in the Right Direction Enrich Your Philanthropic Journey Would you like to get involved and support the church in exciting ways? You may be surprised to discover that there are many options available with gift planning.

Let us help you make a turn in the right direction with a plan that’s customized for you and your goals, so that giving to the ministries you care about becomes possible through your estate planning.

Visit our website to begin learning about the many different ways you can create a custom gift plan. Ready to talk now? Give us a call.

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

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WORD OF MOUTH

WEBSITES MADE EASY

By Chris Jones | Pastor of the Woodlands Seventh-day Adventist Church

calendars, online registrations, member directories, member-only pages, contact forms, and much more. The learning curve is also somewhat low, making it fairly simple to get up and running quickly.

The Woodlands Seventh-day Adventist Church was looking for a way to enhance its website, since we believe it’s a means to put a face to the name for the surrounding community. Having a modern, up-to-date website with current information is essential in today’s world. And, like it or not, many people pass judgment regarding your church based on the website before they have met a single person.

Naturally, we wanted to create a positive first impression. We also wanted to be able to arrange the website to fit our specific needs and not be stuck with a one-size-fits-all approach.

The challenge many churches like ours face, however, is that we’re limited on both time and skill to build a custom website from the ground up.

Enter WordPress, a content management system designed to be flexible enough for anyone from churches to businesses, and even individuals, to use. WordPress is incredibly easy to manage, yet is able to handle almost any need that your church or school might have. There are a variety of plugins such as

Even better is that the cost factor is minimal, since the WordPress platform itself is free! You can choose to either host the site on your own server or choose a hosting service

like HostGator or 1&1. With a multitude of free templates and plugins available, you could create a great website for next to nothing and be able to scale up or down as your church needs. The Woodlands purchased a template specific to churches for $79 to use as our base, but professional coding can be done for relatively cheap if you want to invest more. There are also plenty of tutorials available for free on the Internet if you’d like to tackle the project yourself. Because of the range of features, in addition to the low cost, we chose to use the WordPress platform and created something that we feel connects with our community.

Web design can be daunting, but WordPress makes it so that even a novice can build a high-quality website. If you are looking to create a modern site for your church or ministry and can’t find anything in that one-sizefits-all section, check out WordPress. Find us online at WoodlandsAdventist.org.

PERSPECTIVES

JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME

By Herman Aguilar | FLAME Staff Writer

Growth. Such a simple word, yet so much meaning behind it. From the first time I stepped onto a community college campus in Houston, to my final semester in an Adventist university, I have been able to see how much I’ve grown - not only as a student, but as a person, brother, son, and friend. Like every student, I’ve had to encounter challenges and

persevere through obstacles ranging from financial needs to adapting to a new university and its policies. Although going to college has presented me with these tests (no pun intended), it has also granted me the opportunity to experience some of my life’s best moments.

One of the many aspects of college that I have cherished most is the fact that I’ve been able to develop a much stronger relationship with God, and Southwestern Adventist University has had a lot to do with that. From selling books across the state to having the privilege of preaching in our student-led week of prayer, Southwestern has provided a ton of opportunity for me to strengthen my spiritual life.

People ask me all the time if I would do this whole “college thing” again. Without any hesitation, I would say yes! For my family and me, going to college is an honor and a privi-

lege that I can’t take for granted. In May, I will be the first person in my family to graduate from college. That, in itself, has been motivation for me to finish my college journey and graduate. Although attending college is not easy by any measure, it’s a path that I would gladly walk all over again if I could.

College has taught me so many valuable lessons, from being responsible, to caring for people, and seeing how the power of God manifests in our daily lives. All of these experiences and lessons are just too good to pass up. It has been a roller coaster ride with numerous ups and downs. For every down, however, there’s an up that comes right after.

As I prepare to enter the world of full-time adulthood, I’m thankful for the growth that this journey of a lifetime has given.

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HISTORY

Engine of Change

By Alfredo Vergel | Public Services Librarian & Ellen White Research Center Director at Southwestern Adventist University

With more than 10,000 rail miles, Texas ranks first in rail network size in the United States. That’s a place it has occupied since 1911, a year when railroads held a lot of promise for a burgeoning Adventist church in the state. By then, Adventists had come to rely on the rail system to advance their work wherever the crisscrossing rail network reached.

Most, if not all, pioneers of Adventism in Texas arrived in the state by rail, but the system was only a quarter the size of what it would become by the turn of the century. In the early 1870s, Texas was finally connected to the nationwide network, and it is no coincidence that the following decade witnessed a significant Adventist immigration surge to the Lone Star State.

The railways brought more families encouraged by good reports of living conditions and evangelism in Texas. In the mid-1870s, Dudley Marvin Canright, a member of the church’s General Conference Executive Committee, organized the first church in the state, and on the train out of Texas wrote to General Conference President James White suggesting he would find the state to be a great place to spend the winter.

Following Canright’s advice and inspired by good reports of the church’s progress in Texas from Pastor Robert M. Kilgore, James and his wife Ellen rode into Dallas on the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad (M. K. & T.) on Nov. 6, 1878, and were present at the first Adventist camp meeting in the state, as well as the organization of the Texas Conference later that month.

As the rail network grew rapidly in the 1880s, it became essential transportation for church business. Thus, literature evangelists canvassed the towns alongside the railways and received deliveries at designated rail stations. Camp meetings were often held near a rail station with discounted fares negotiated for attending church members. The M.

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systems. In 1911 an intercity line opened between nearby Cleburne and Fort Worth, thus increasing the convenience of rail travel from Keene. The national railway system peaked in 1916, but it was not until 1932 that it would do so in Texas.

Unfortunately, the line going through Keene, with its fondly remembered engine Old Betsy, became financially untenable. As early as 1918, there were rumors it would shut down. It reportedly ran until 1922 when, as with many rail lines of the day, it probably lost too much market share to automobiles running on expanded and improved local roads. The line going through Keene itself became a highway in the late 1920s, with the stretch running through Keene adopting the name of the beloved locomotive, Old Betsy Road.

In 1935, Roy L. Benton, former president of the Texas Conference and then president of the Southwestern Union Conference, joined a slowly rising chorus of both hopeful and nostalgic voices celebrating the railroad and pressing for its continued relevance. Yet, the railroad would never be as widely used again. Still, the church kept up with the times, continuing to harness newer transportation and telecommunication technologies to take its message to “all nations, and tribes, and people, and tongues.”

K. & T., also known as the Katy, even advertised schedules and fare sales in the Southwestern Union Record, the official paper of the church in Texas and other neighboring states.

Railway use in the work of the church in Texas peaked in December 1902, when the Dallas, Cleburne, and Southwestern Railroad stretch between Cleburne and Egan opened a station midway at Keene, where the Adventists had established both state and regional headquarters. With a telegraph running alongside the railroad, Keene was finally connected to the rail and telecommunication

NEWS

HACKSAW RIDGE NOMINATED FOR SIX ACADEMY AWARDS Hacksaw Ridge, the film depicting the life and heroic efforts of Seventh-day Adventist Army combat medic Desmond Doss during World War II, received six Oscar nominations. The Academy Award announcement listed its nominations: • Best Picture • Best Director, Mel Gibson • Best Actor in a Leading Role, Andrew Garfield • Best Film Editing • Best Sound Editing • Best Sound Mixing While not a film produced by Adventists, “Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge is an inspirational story of a Christian’s unwavering faith in God,” John Bradshaw, Speaker/Director for It Is Written, said.

Hacksaw Ridge was also nominated for three Golden Globe awards. The film received two Critic’s Choice awards, and five Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts awards.

ADVENTIST DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES HISTORY Is Genesis History? is a documentary featuring Art Chadwick of Southwestern Adventist University. Using evidence being uncovered at the dinosaur dig he leads in Wyoming, Chadwick illustrates consistency between nature observed today and history recorded in Genesis. Is Genesis History? features many other experts and was screened in hundreds of theaters on February 23, 2017. For more information, visit IsGenesisHistory.com.

GORGEOUS2GOD Today’s youth are bombarded with thousands of messages every day, and they spend an average of nine hours a day on social media. The Seventh-day Adventist Church cannot ignore this reality; not only must we have a voice on social media platforms, our voice must be clearer and more relevant than all of the others they are hearing.

Together with the North American Division Education and Youth departments, NAD Women’s Ministries has developed an online blog to facilitate conversation about real-life issues and to give our young women a place to ask tough questions anonymously. The Gorgeous2God blog serves to inspire and uplift teen girls while providing a Christian perspective on how to navigate the unique challenges they face. Visit Gorgeous2God.org for more information.

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KIDS

WHEAT & COYOTES

By Jessica Perea

Have you ever found yourself in a risky situation, not knowing how to get out of it?

When your life’s in danger and there is no one around to help, what do you do? Well, let me tell you about such a time from my own childhood.

I grew up on a small farm out in the country. We had horses, goats, cats, dogs, and even a cow! There was a massive backyard full of trees, hiding places, forts built by my siblings and me, and the constant presence of wildlife. Everyday there was something to explore, investigate, and discover.

Toward the edge of our property, my dad had decided to try growing wheat, and he sure was successful! The wheat field was a thing of beauty and I loved to play in it. It was like a secret place where I could go, forget everything else, and just be in nature. My father had warned me not to play near the edge of the woods close to sundown, because that’s when the coyotes came out to hunt.

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Well, late one Sunday afternoon, my older sibling and cousin decided to explore the back of the property, and I was quick to follow, assuring them I was old, brave, strong, and smart enough to take care of myself. After all, in my opinion, I knew the animals and the property better than they did. How rude of them to not want me to come, and I was certain they had waited until sundown just so I couldn’t go! I decided I would sneakily follow them at a distance, hide in the wheat field, and spy on them. Then, I would arrive back in time to help my mom cook supper and tell everyone what I had done so that they’d see I was old enough now.

While tailing the two, my focus wavered, and by the time I reached the wheat field I was bored of following them, so I just decided to do my own thing. After a while my stomach began to grumble and I realized how late it was. But when I stood up to head back to the house, my eyes met something else. In front of me stood the leader of the coyote pack. I

froze, afraid to move or even break our staring contest. Feelings of fear mixed with guilt from disobeying swirled inside of me. I’m not sure how much time went by with us staring at one another, but the moment of silence passed and he started growling. Suddenly, just as he jumped and I turned to run away, I heard the crackle of my father’s gun. I ran full speed with arms outstretched, anxious to reach the safety of my father’s loving arms.

Sometimes, we think we can take care of ourselves and don’t need to listen to advice from our parents. We might even think that we know best, and question following God’s instructions to us. But thankfully, God is always looking out even when we aren’t. What a comfort to know that when we find ourselves in a bad situation, we can quickly return to our Heavenly Father’s loving arms.

Lake Whitney Ranch

SUMMER CAMP 2017 Staff Camp Cub Week Junior Week Tween Week Teen Week *Family Week

June 4-11 June 11-18 June 18-25 June 25-July 2 July 2-9 July 9-16

(*minimum of 50 participants in order to hold event)

Lake Whitney Ranch Day Camp in the Valley July 16-30 • Mon-Fri • 8:30am - 5:30pm.

Please visit us at YoungTexasAdventist.org for more information

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EVENTS March 4 | East Texas Area Evangelism Training at Tyler Seventh-day Adventist Church.

4 | Estate Planning Seminar at Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church.

4-5 | ACS Donations Operations and Disaster Response Training at the San Antonio Fil-Am Seventh-day Adventist Church.

29 | Estate Planning Seminar at Brazosport Seventh-day Adventist Church.

30 | Texas Conference Mid-term Constituency at Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church.

May 5-7 | Southwestern Adventist University Graduation Weekend in Keene, TX.

11 | San Antonio Area Evangelism Training at Scenic Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church.

6 | Valley Area Elders’ Training at McAllen Spanish Valley Central Seventh-day Adventist Church.

April

21-22 | ACS Warehouse Management and Forklift Safety Certification in Keene, TX.

1-2 | ACS Donations Operations and Disaster Response Training in Keene, TX. 6-9 | Southwestern Adventist University Alumni Weekend in Keene, TX. 13-16 | Pathfinder Camporee at Lake Whitney Ranch.

22 | Soul-Winning Festival at World Harvest Seventh-day Adventist Church in Houston, TX. 23-27 | Outdoor School at Camp Hoblitzelle in Midlothian, TX.

June 3 | Central Texas Area Elders’ Training at San Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church.

4 | East Texas Area Elders’ Training at Tyler Seventh-day Adventist Church.

11-18 | Cub Camp at Lake Whitney Ranch.

16-17 | Engage Conference Youth Fest at Southwestern Adventist University.

18-25 | Junior Camp at Lake Whitney Ranch.

24 | Houston Area Elders’ Training at Houston West Seventh-day Adventist Church.

25-July 2 | Tween Camp at Lake Whitney Ranch.

July 2-9 | Teen Camp at Lake Whitney Ranch.

8 | Dallas-Fort Worth Area Elders’ Training at Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church.

9-16 | Family Camp at Lake Whitney Ranch.

Registration, information, and more events on the Texas Conference website at TexasAdventist.org.

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 Assistant Editor: Herman Aguilar Assistant Spanish Editor: Osvaldo Rigacci Translators: Silverman Terreros, Mariangela Busby, Jorge OrdoĂąez, Jackie Martinez Layout & Design: Zack Posthumus | zackpostdesign.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church The Oaks Adventist Christian School Southwestern Adventist University Feature and Profile images by Aaron Thomas Photography | aarontphoto.com Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists PO Box 800, Alvarado, TX 76009 Contact us at 817.790.2255 or visit TexasAdventist.org

Stephen Gamallo

Associate Pastor Richardson Seventh-day Adventist Church

Roberto Coronado

Pastor Infinite Life Seventh-day Adventist Church

Keith Lim

Associate Pastor Killeen Seventh-day Adventist Church

Jerrod Songy

Field Representative Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

John Tatum

Senior Accountant Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Betsabe Cuevas

Assistant Treasurer Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

ADMINISTRATION

President: Carlos Craig Executive Secretary: Elton DeMoraes

PRINTING AND MAILING

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

Ruben Caro

Pastor Waller Seventh-day Adventist Church

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, 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

SOUTHWESTERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY

AND RESEARCH CENTER

Visit our new museum! Free! swau.edu/dinosaurs Scales Hall, bottom floor 113 W Magnolia St, Keene, Texas

Dig dinosaur bones for class credit!

Join Southwestern Adventist University professors and scientists from around the world at the Dinosaur Research Project dig in Eastern Wyoming!

You can also visit our new Dinosaur Science Museum on our campus to interact with 20,000+ bones excavated from our dig.

The dig runs every June. Everyone is welcome, including families and church groups. Length of stay can vary. For more information, visit swau.edu/dinosaurs.

Experience the Spirit of Southwestern!

University Experience March 23–26, April 20–23

Alumni Homecoming April 6–9 alumni@swau.edu

Dates subject to change; check our website to stay up to date.

Graduation May 5-7

swau.edu enroll@swau.edu 800-433-2240