The church service in the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on June 8, 2019 began with Rodney Herra welcoming everyone, including David and Kristi Armstrong from Napal, Bob and Michelle Gustafson from Wildwood, David Graham, and Danny and Judy Graham, and made announcements. Dr. David Graham, father of two alumni who are pastors (David and Danny), died this last week. [He lived on Dayton Mountain not far from Laurelbrook.] His funeral will be at 1:00 this Sunday at Vanderwall Funeral Home.
Jacqueline Miller played an introit on the piano. Scott Sterling had the invocation. The congregation sang “Be Still, My Soul”, accompanied by two flutes and a violin as well as the piano. Rodney Herra had the main prayer.
Asher (junior) called for the offering, which will go to the local church budget. Daryll and John Ellis collected the church offerings. Asher then prayed for the offering.
Sandie Roberts told the children a story about helping others. Yzzynne (sophomore) and her sister Essence then sang a vocal duet for special music, accompanied by Yzzynne on the guitar. Asher then read 2 Kings 2:15 “And when the sons of the prophets which [were] to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.”
Scott Sterling then spoke on the topic “School of the Prophets.” Rich Sutton assisted him in discussing this topic. Scott Sterling then asked those who wanted to commit themselves to this type of education to come forward for prayer. The congregation sang “Christian, Seek Not Repose”. Scott Sterling had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Daryll Ellis – works for the stone company near Laurelbrook / Laurelbrook graduate / Laurelbrook deacon
Jacqueline Miller – semi-retired nurse living on the Laurelbrook campus
John Ellis – retired mechanic who worked for Laurelbrook and then the nearby stone company / local church deacon
Rich Sutton – former Laurelbrook president
Rodney Herra – local head church elder / operates an auto repair business on State Highway 30
Scott Sterling – Laurelbrook IT / assistant boys’ dean
Following are some notes from the sermon:
- God planned that the home was to be the educational center for Israel, but Israel adopted the ways of the heathen, shattering the divine plan.
- Samuel started the schools of the prophets to fix this evil. Laurelbrook is this type of school.
- Staff members in this type of school must have a spiritual dimension to their teaching.
- Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
- Where is God calling you?
- 1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
- We are training students to do these things.
- Sacred history, sacred music, sacred poetry, and the Law of God were the subjects taught in the schools of the prophets.
- Jesus started life as a carpenter and worked for 12 years as a carpenter. A 3.5 year ministry followed.
- Laurelbrook students are following in Jesus’ footsteps when they engage in the vocational program.
- Mission trips allow students to take part in VBS programs (children), church building, health fairs, and evangelistic meetings. These activities often lead to the discovery of a student’s lifework.
- Laurelbrook teaches students caring for the elderly, doing housekeeping, agriculture, starting home Bible studies.
- These Madison model schools giving preparation for this work are not very common.
- Graduating students may be called to be teachers in a school like Laurelbrook.
- Lives we touch here when working for God you may meet in heaven.
- In heaven, we will keep acquiring life skills and keep witnessing in heaven.
- The schools of the prophets were in existence at the time of Christ, but the teachers in these schools were the worst persecutors of Christ.