Laurelbrook Academy SDA Church

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Richie Perez Speaks About Being Ready for Christ's Coming

The Baccalaureate Service during Laurelbrook’s 2018 Graduation Weekend began with a piano prelude by Jeremy Westcott, one of Laurelbrook Academy’s Bible and English teachers. Richie Perez, the incoming boys’ dean and campus chaplain, had the invocation.

Rich Sutton, Laurelbrook’s president, welcomed everyone.  The congregation then sang “Power in the Blood”. Achim Tonhauser then had the Morning Prayer. With Richie Perez’s help as a translator, Dora Maria Mazariegos, Citlali Huerta’s mother, read Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Susan Hunt, Sarah Carpenter’s mother, called for the offering, which was collected by members of the Class of 2019 - Hiram, Eric, Oliver, and Thanos.

Samantha (2018 sophomore) played her violin, Benny Bradford (2018 freshman) his trumpet, and Ginny Arce, wife of music director Pedro Arce, her flute during the offering collection.

Dyaine Falkenhagen and Samantha (2018 sophomore) sang “Grace” for special music.  Richard (Richie) Perez gave the Baccalaureate Address titled “What Time Is It?”

At the end of the address, he asked the congregation to raise both hands, close their eyes, and imagine Jesus coming and welcoming those who have worked for Him. He then called the graduating seniors and their parents to the platform. The parents put their hands on the seniors’ shoulders. He asked the parents if they would commit to help the seniors through the next step.  Then he asked the staff to put their hands on the shoulders of the parents.  He then called for a commitment to the Lord.

The congregation sang “We Know Not the Hour”.  Rich Sutton had the benediction, and the congregation was ushered out while Jeremy Westcott played a postlude.

Following are some notes from Richie Perez’s address:

1. So often people gradually adjust their lifestyle to the normal way of living. Eventually they don’t see wrong as wrong and forget Jesus and God.
2. Sometimes we believe happiness consists of getting the stuff we won’t.
3. In Ephesus, there was a god people worshipped called Diana.
4. Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
5. Members were compromising with the world to get more things so God sent them this message.
6. God would give them spiritual life if they would wake up.
7. Are you reading the Bible?  Praying?
8. If you are not sharing the blessings received from God, you are asleep. What time is it?
9. Joseph rejected the idea of sleeping with his master’s wife because he wanted to stay true to God. It was time to be pure.
10. Daniel felt it was time to stay with principle.
11. Joseph was alone – but decided to stay with the Lord’s way.
12. It is time to tell the truth to the world.  Ellen White says it is time to uphold the truth.
13. The Apostle Paul felt it was time - 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
14. It is time to preach the truth, and people are ready for the church. But members want to pursue dreams of worldly wealth and property.
15. How many of you are getting ready for Christ’s Second Coming?
16. How do you know if you are doing this?  Check what you do with your time and your money.
17. Do great things for the Lord – and expect great things from the Lord.
18. The Lord is calling you to be closer to Him, to let the Holy Spirit to direct your life.