The Sabbath services on April 21, 2018 began with a Sabbath School song service led by Abril (sophomore), accompanied by Samantha (sophomore) on the piano. The opening song was “Give of Your Best to the Master”.
Eric (junior) welcomed everyone, and Rich Sutton had prayer and read the scripture reading – 1 Peter 4:10-11 “10 As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
Josia (senior) and Jara (sophomore) then collected the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which goes to support Laurelbrook mission trips.
Jeff Wilson had the theme talk on Adventist World Radio. Rich Sutton had the closing prayer and explained the classes. Jeff Wilson led the lesson study in the main sanctuary, Ricardo Reid the class in the nursing home, Rich Sutton in the CNA House, and Dorka Ellis “behind the glass” in the rear of the church sanctuary.
Following are a few notes from Jeff Wilson’s talk:
- Power of attorney for health issues is very important as well as a will.
- A will is the crowning act of stewardship.
- If you prepare a will, you live 13 years longer if you include God’s Work in the will.
- Adventist World Radio penetrates the 26 countries of the Arab League, China, and North Korea with the gospel.
- Ellen White in Life Sketches says that the message would go like streams of light clear around the world if James White began a small printed paper.
- Radio waves penetrates even walls.
- In 1906, a chemistry professor opened his Bible, adjusted a machine, and read Luke 2:1 over the air waves. Before that, people used Morse code to send messages to and from ships. Suddenly, these people were startled to hear a human voice (that chemistry professor). Then he played “O Holy Night” on his violin over radio.
- In 1971, the Adventist church launched Adventist World Radio to take the gospel to hard-to-reach places, mostly non-Christian countries.
- In the 10-40 windows lives most of the world’s population with very little access to Christianity because the countries there prohibit the gospel.
- In the 10-40 window, thousands of Christians are martyred each week, news that the media fails to report.
- This is the reason for Adventist World Radio. Property was bought in Italy and Guam.
- On Guam, five transmitters are working. These came from South Africa for 20% of the list price. These football-sized transmitters have survived extremely high winds.
- Most of the transmitters are focused on broadcasting the message to China.
- In Italy, the property was sold due to permit problems. Instead time was leased on a number of stations in a number of countries. The Internet is also used.
- 125,000 people write AWR letters. Listeners are also counted when certain links are clicked on the Internet.
- The most downloaded language is Mandurian Chinese, the second most downloaded language is Arabic.
- Ellen White was given the insight that the message would go clear around the world – it is happening right now.
- Jeff Wilson’s parents were converted due to a Voice of Prophecy series of meetings in Phoenix, Arizona years before Jeff Wilson was born.
- 50% of the world gets the news from short wave radio. Adventist engineers choose times near BBC News. BBC News gives all the news, bad and good.
- AWR distributes small radios powered by solar power panels on the back and a handle on the back.
Personel Other Than Students:
Dorka Ellis – wife of Daryll Ellis, who works for nearby Majestic Stone Company / local church deacon
Jeff Wilson – retired church worker who works with wills for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference members / in retirement, he worked with Adventist World Radio for a time
Ricardo Reid – works in the Laurelbrook Nursing Home / head local church elder
Rich Sutton – Laurelbrook president