Laurelbrook Academy SDA Church

The church service in the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on January 13, 2018 began with the congregation led by Eric (junior) singing “God Will Take Care of You”, accompanied by Jara (sophomore) on the piano and Jeremy Westcott on the organ. 

Rodney Herra then welcomed everyone and made a few announcements.  He reminded everyone of the Ten Days of Prayer.  The church services will go on as usual. Adults will be meeting for prayer above the cafeteria from 12:30 to 1:30.

Eric then led the congregation in finishing “God Will Take Care of You”. Jara (sophomore) played an introit. The congregation had a silent invocation.  The congregation then sang “O, When Shall I See Jesus”. Rodney Herra then had the Morning Prayer; the congregation sang “Hear Our Prayer”. 

Mark (sophomore) then called for the offering.  Eric (junior) and Hiram (junior) then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the local church budget.  The congregation sang the doxology, and Mark prayed for the offering.  

Scott Sterling then told the children a story about a boy who had been told to clean his room on a magnificent day. He decided to try out his new magnifying glass outside despite his mom’s command. After a while, he remembered that a magnifying glass could be used to start a fire. So he decided to try in an area between the apartment where he lived and the hospital where his father worked.  In seconds, the fire took off. He jumped up and ran home. His mother saw everyone running towards the fire.  The boy was uneasy because he had done something really foolish. His father assured him that Jesus would forgive him if the boy asked forgiveness. He then told his father that he had started that fire, and his father reassured him. 1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.” 

Mark then read Psalm 127:1-5 “1 ¶ « A Song of degrees for Solomon. » Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain. 2 [It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep. 3 Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward. 4 As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the youth. 5 Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

Benny (9th grader) then played his guitar for special music. Rich Sutton discussed the recent Mexico Missions trip and had the closing prayer. 

Personnel Other Than Students:

Jeremy Westcott – one of the academy classroom teachers
Rich Sutton – Laurelbrook president / principal
Rodney Herra - works with the auto body shop and the farm and maintenance programs / local church treasurer
Scott Sterling – one of the Laurelbrook IT personnel / one of the academy classroom teachers

Sarah (senior) ran the P.A. system for the program.

Following are some notes on the Mexico Missions presentation:

1. This was Mexico Missions’ 30th year to go to Mexico.
2. Psalm 127:1-5 “1 ¶ « A Song of degrees for Solomon. » Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain. 2 [It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep. 3 Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward. 4 As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the youth. 5 Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
3. The first people in a battle back then would be people shooting arrows.
4. The group originally agreed to build 4 churches.
5. Seven people helped with interpreting or preaching – Citlali (senior), Abrill (sophomore), Samantha (sophomore), Scott Sterling, Moises (sophomore), Eric (junior), and Hiram (junior).
6. Wednesday is Rich’s altar call night. Moises wanted to interpret for Rich that night. Moises gave his heart to the Lord during one of calls that night.
7. A girl from Quichta Hills started with Mexico Missions at age 13 and has been helping build churches for six years.
8. Scott Sterling talked about a church of 15 members where he preached.  One family who came was really interested; the father said he would help next year.
9. Sarah (senior) did some welding on the ground.
10. One young man came up to Rich years ago and wanted to help.  He has helped Rich for 15 years and is good with tools.
11. The group put up four churches and put on five roofs. Each roof costs about $2500. Rich had taken money for three churches; some money came from passing the hat around. The rest of the money came from a family who had heard about the projects. 
12. The group had to fix about three to four tires this year.
13. The border crossing consumed five hours. 
14. The group set up camp in a school.  In addition to building or finishing churches, the effort included supplying glasses and working on teeth.
15. The group also brought cases of The Great Controversy and other books and handed them out.
16. An ex-Adventist lady lived across the street from one of the new churches.  She said that she knew that she was going back to church when she saw the new church building going up nearby.
17. The group took bucket showers.
18. A Mexican driver picked up the containers of roofing components and distributes them to the various church sites – for free.
19. One lady asked Rich if the only thing you could take to heaven was your character.  When Rich agreed, she said that that was the problem – and was baptized.
20. One older Mexican lady has planted 38 churches. She says that she plants the churches, and Rich builds the buildings.
21. One existing church was originally a small wooden structure that was blown over.  So the congregation got a new, more substantial building.
22. Sarah and Citlali (seniors) were afraid of being on the roof, but one of the last churches roofed was finished due to their labors.  They did a very nice job of roofing and did so in a timely manner so that the group could be back to home base before any of the other groups.