Editorials

The book of Acts recounts the church’s ability to function together, as well as the struggles and successes encountered when a church body attempts to fulfill the Great Commission. While their involvement took some prodding from the Holy Spirit, they became active agents for the mission of heaven.

Story by Angeline David/Originally published in the March 2018 Adventist Journey magazine.

En la Biblia, el Antiguo Testamento habla acerca del pueblo de Israel. Allí encontramos las experiencias de una nación insignificante (Deut. 7:7), pero escogida por Dios para ser un pueblo especial (Deut. 7:6). Dios ordenó encuentros especiales para su pueblo; por esto los israelitas se reunían por lo menos tres veces al año para adorar y compartir las bendiciones de Dios.

In the Bible, the Old Testament speaks about the people of Israel. In it we find the experiences of an insignificant nation (Deut. 7:7), but chosen by God to be a special people (Deut. 7:6). God prescribed special encounters for His people; this is why the Israelites gathered at least three times a year to worship and share God’s blessings. Today, the New Jersey Conference also has a special time of year when brothers, sisters and friends come to worship together as one big family.

For Seventh-day Adventists, adherence to God’s Word is also a core fundamental belief: “The Holy Scriptures are the supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation of God’s will."

The apostle Paul says in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation” (KJV). The word “salvation” in this text comes from the Greek word “sozo,” which also means “healing” or “made whole.” Only the good news of Jesus can bring everlasting wholeness and healing!

If we don’t share Jesus with our friends and neighbors now, when will we? God can really use us to lead people to Himself.

All you have to do is look at the list of disciples Jesus picked to know He had a mess on His hands. If we look at our church today, we might think Jesus still has a mess on His hands. Notwithstanding, God knows what He is doing.

At age 84, just after my mother learned that I was expecting her first grandchild, my mother, who'd never been ill or hospitalized in her vegetarian life, turned up with pancreatic cancer.