Wednesday, November 28, 2007

The Power of One: You Can Make a Difference

by Rob Appel
The Power of One: You Can Make a Difference

Since it is close to the end of the year 2007, I can’t help but think back to what we have been able to accomplish together as an association of churches and as an alliance of people. God has kept SDB ministries going throughout the year and blessed us with so much to look forward to!

Four new churches were added to the Conference.
Supported health missions to Guyana
New SDB Association located in the Northwest
Billboard Ministry campaign approved by Conference action and in the works
The World Federation meetings in the USA in the summer of 2008!
Unified SDB Budget is close to being reached for the first time in years!
We have shown that we do have an AIM – an Alliance in Ministry

Do you realize that we don't need to be in the same country, the same state, the same city, or even in the same room, to be helping each other? One of the areas that I see us working on going forward is to be more focused on our children’s ministries. If we are to reach the very young we need to be more intentional about our ministries…ministries to get children into our churches and programs and excitement to keep them there as adults. There are so many distractions today and we need to encourage them to be focused on God and His mission for them and the “least of these” in this world.

Blessings at this time of year are what we often think about and we are thankful for what God has given us. We think how we can help those who are truly in need. We think about good will toward man and what the Christ child meant to us. We think of the gift that He brought to each of us through His love and sacrifice. And we also think about the gifts that we will give our loved ones.

A gift that you have given to the ministries of the SDB General Conference has not gone un-noticed. With your gifts we have been able to stay focused on the ministries that are already in place, The Helping Hand, The Sabbath Recorder, Seminary Students, our History and Heritage, International Mission support, and the leadership training of our college aged adults through SCSC.

Involvement now can make a difference not only this year, but next year as well. We are developing new ministries such as; Children’s Ministry and Internet Ministry Resources, for those that are isolated by distance but worshipping with the whole SDB congregation. We also currently have 10 ministerial students who appreciate your support.

Making a gift today will not only contribute to the year-end budget, but it will help spring-board us into the year 2008 in a way that will encourage and inspire the development of new ministries that we need to nurture and grow. We are so close to meeting the unified budget for the first time in many years, thanks to you!

If you are able, please give to the SDB Conference when you are deciding on a year-end gift.

God Bless You All!

Rob Appel (On behalf of your SDB General Council)

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving Prayer

by Kevin Butler

As part of the Circle of Prayer with the American Bible Society, I receive periodic e-mails from them. Here's this year's Thanksgiving Day Prayer:

With our hearts filled
With gratitude and joy,
We thank You, O Lord.
For bestowing us with
Cherished friends and family,
For our health and prosperity,
For the majestic beauty
Found in nature,
For Your mercy and forgiveness,
And, above all, for bringing
Your Word of salvation into our lives.
For these things
We are truly thankful.

Amen.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

A new baby Shepard!

by Kevin Butler
The Shepards--Morgan, Kate, and big brother Ben--welcomed Samuel Rodger into the world early this morning, November 20. Samuel was born at a Birthing Center in Madison, Wis. The Shepards live in Janesville.

Morgan serves SDBs as Financial Director of the Memorial Fund and as Treasurer of the Conference.

We praise God for all of His blessings to us-- and today especially for this new addition to our SDB family.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

2008 General Conference Registration Goes On-Line!

by Morgan Shepard
Through the diligent efforts of our Webmaster the 2008 General Conference Host Committee will be offering on-line registration for the first time!


You will be able to register and pay on-line through a few easy steps. We will also continue to offer the traditional paper registration through the SDB Conference Website and Sabbath Recorder.


Beginning in January 2008 we will start posting information on General Conference, Carthage College and the greater Kenosha, WI area. Keep checking!

Monday, November 05, 2007

Tract Council went well

by Kevin Butler
Thank you for praying for us this past weekend. The annual meeting of the Tract and Communication Council went very well. Everyone made it safely, the weather was fine (much better than the cold and flurries expected tonight and tomorrow), and much was accomplished. We're also very glad that Dusty Mack wasn't traveling out here on Friday as originally scheduled; Anna had a baby girl that morning. Praise the Lord!

More updates from the meeting forthcoming.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

2008 Pastor's Salary Suggested Guidelines posted

by Gordon P. Lawton
The Committee on Support and Retirement has posted the 2008 suggested Salary Guidelines for SDB Pastors. Just click on the above posting title to view the two-page description and worksheet in the PDF format. They can also be found at http://www.sdbministry.org/. Click on the "Salary Guidelines" button on the right to open the two pages.

These suggestions propose a salary increase of just over 2% from the suggestions for 2007.

TCC to meet this weekend

by Kevin Butler
The American Sabbath Tract and Communication Council (TCC) will hold its annual meeting November 3-4 in Wisconsin. We will meet at the Milton SDB Church on Sabbath night, then at the SDB Center in Janesville on Sunday.

Please be in prayer as we discuss the work of the Tract Council. Pray for those traveling from out-of-state, and for elected member Dusty Mackintosh who remains at home since wife Anna is close to delivering their second child.

The four standing committees of the TCC define our work: Sabbath Recorder, Electronic Media, Publications, and Sabbath Promotion. May the Lord bless us with fresh insights and ideas, and may He receive all the glory in our work for the local churches (and the Great Commission). Thanks!