On Sabbath, November 9, 2019, Laurelbrook’s Sabbath services began with a song service led by Freddy (sophomore) and Mark (senior), accompanied on the piano by Daniel (sophomore). The opening song was “Faith Is the Victory”.
Jafet (sophomore) welcomed everyone. Daryen (senior) read a mission story from Rwanda about a woman who learned how to put God first from an Adventist preacher. Her boss tried to proposition her, but she refused. He was going to fire her, but he got fired first.
Freddy had prayer and read the scripture reading – James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
Mark (senior) had the theme talk on faith, and Michael (senior) had the closing prayer. The congregation divided into three Sabbath School classes, a class in the main church sanctuary taught by Rodney Herra, a student class “behind the glass” taught by Sorina Voicu, and a student class in the nearby boys’ dorm lobby taught by Gerrie Vermaack.
Some notes on the theme talk:
- Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
- Prayer and trust help make faith work.
- If we pray a sincere prayer of faith, we come in contact with God.
- Faith without works is dead. We do this by prayer and trusting God.
- Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
- Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”
- Hebrews 11:23 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw [he was] a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.”
- Hebrews 11:30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.”
- Hebrews 11:33-34 “33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”
- Hebrews 11:35 “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:”
- Hebrews 11:40 “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
- Matthew 6:30 “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?”
- Matthew 8:26 “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”
- Luke 12:28 “If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?”
- Faith is often compared to the tiny mustard seed.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Gerrie Vermaak – works in the Laurelbrook farm
Rodney Herra – head local church elder / owns an auto body shop on nearby Highway 30
Sorina Voicu – academy registrar