Midtown Herald

Church Newsletter of the Midtown Seventh-day Adventist Church

PASTOR'S COMMENTS

A Vietnamese Christian pastor imprisoned for his faith has said, "We have learned that suffering is not the worst thing in the world - disobedience to God is the worst."

Ranavalona I, the queen of Madagascar, hated the Christians in her kingdom. Her complaints against them were many: they despised her idols, they were always praying, they always went to church, and their women were chaste. She sent officers to gather all those suspected of being Christians to bring them to trial. Sixteen hundred believers, when the charges were read, announced confidently, "Guilty". They would not deny the charges, for to do so would be to deny Christ. The Queen offered them a second chance to deny Christ and bow to her idols, but each refused. They were thrown into dark, dank dungeons, and many were executed. The Queen was angered more, because for each Christian she had killed, twenty more rose up.

Later, the Queen ordered that fifteen Christians be executed. They were to be thrown over a cliff into a rocky ravine 150 feet below. The Queen's idols were taken to the top of the cliff, and each Christian was lowered slightly over the edge, tied with ropes.

"Will you worship your Christ or the Queen's gods?" the soldiers asked each Christian hanging over the precipice. Each Christian answered simply, "Christ." The ropes were cut, and they plunged to the rocks. Some sang as they fell to their deaths.

In most countries, defendants are presumed innocent until they are proven guilty. The underlying principle is that there must be a substantial amount of evidence to convict a person of a crime. Expressing one's faith in Christ is often a government offense in many countries where the roles of the justice system are reversed. Believers are guilty until proven otherwise. One would have to reject Christ in order to be declared innocent in one of those courtrooms. However, in heaven's courtroom, the guilty verdict is actually a victory. Extreme guilt means providing so much evidence that there is no way to be acquitted of the charge! The familiar paradox is worth repeating: If you were on trial today for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Food For Thought!

Please consider the following difference between saying "Amen" to make a point and "clapping" to make a point during the sacred worship hour.

Amen: Be it firm, be it established. Expresses solemn ratification of an expression of faith.
Clapping: To applaud a performance on the stage. To make a noise by a collision. A loud percussive noise, applause. Stars the performer, not God. What do you suppose our Lord and Savior would be pleased with? 

Pastor Fry

PROPHETIC COUNSEL

"Satan is marshaling his host, and are we individually prepared for the fearful conflict that is just before us? Are we preparing ourselves and our households to understand the position of our adversaries and their modes of warfare? Are our children forming habits of decision, that they may be firm and unyielding in every matter of principle and duty? I pray that we all may understand the signs of the times, and that we may so prepare ourselves and our children that in the time of conflict God may be our refuge and defense." (GC 555)

"We shall find that we must let loose of all hands except the hand of Jesus Christ. Friends will prove treacherous, and will betray us. Relatives, deceived by the enemy, will think they do God service in opposing us and putting forth the utmost efforts to bring us into hard places, hoping we will deny our faith. But we may trust our hand in the hand of Christ amid darkness and peril." (MS 21, 1889)

CHURCH NEWS

The church has voted Doug Leonhardt as our new Personal Ministries Secretary.

Great News

Once again, Midtown, which grew over 4 percent in April, had the 2nd highest percentage of growth of all 136 churches and companies in the Carolina Conference. Only the Asheville Spanish Company, at 7.5 percent, exceeded our growth.  Unfortunately, most churches and companies had a zero or negative growth factor, so the conference actually lost 4 members during April.

Business Meeting

At our recent Business Meeting the church voted to keep looking for a place to rent or buy, and to continue raising funds for a church property.

Pastor Gary Moyer's "Conqueror's Seminar"

Who is our conqueror and Savior? Jesus Christ, of course. And that was the bottom line of this seminar--Christ as the foundation of victory over habits which we need to change.

In order to change undesirable habits we first need to change our minds, our way of thinking. Our minds must be renewed or transformed by applying the B.C. Advantage principle. This principle can be found in Deut. 28:1 5-48, 66. The "B.C." in the B.C. Advantage stands for "blessings" (benefits) and "cursings" (consequences). It is a biblical based tool for positive change. We are to change our flawed thinking of linking good thoughts to bad actions and vice-versa.

Next we claim the power-packed promises which Jesus Christ has supplied abundantly in His Bible such as, Eph. 5:18, Rom. 6:1 1, Phil. 4:13, Phil. 2:5, etc. to help us think positively in order to transform our thinking from corrupted patterns. As we allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to be obedient instead of disobedient to biblical principles, we will begin to see the wisdom in the following statement.

"The only security for any soul is right thinking. 'As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he' (Proverbs 23:7). The power of self-restraint strengthens by exercise. That which at first seems difficult, by constant repetition grows easy, until right thoughts and actions become habitual." (MCP Vol.2, p. 666)

Member Directory

A great big thank-you to Gregory for the very well done Church Membership Directory.

New Member

We are blest to have Helen Koon as our newest member. Please give her a warm welcome to our church family.

SENSIBLE LIVING

When the idea of a health ministry was impressed upon my mind many years ago, it was God's gentle nudge. And He didn't stop nudging me for about a year. The name Sensible Living didn't exist ... just the idea of some sort of health ministry. I kept feeling His nudge, but took no action. Then one morning in my devotions, I heard that still small voice say, "Susan, if you don't get moving with this, I will give it to another." Well, that got my attention! If you don't know me, then you now know that I love a challenge ... and I don't give up easily.

I said back to the Lord, "Well, if this is what you want me to do, then could you give me a name for it?" and, almost instantaneously, the name Sensible Living popped into my head. I knew that He was serious about it.

For the past four years, I have been praying for direction for Sensible Living. I have had this urgency that God wants Sensible Living to be specific ... focused. I have prayed, but no answer. Or ... maybe I had the answer and just didn't hear it because I have been so busy with other things? We do get distracted with life. The verse in 3 John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I wish above all things, that thou mayest prosper and be in health" has been resonating in my mind for the past 6 months and now I know why.

Pastor Fry asked me to write an article for the newsletter about Sensible Living's mission. I had to stop and think about it And that's when it all became very clear: The purpose of Sensible Living is to help others develop a True Christian Character through healthy living and healthy relationships. To "prosper" means to be successful, to grow. I believe that God wants us to be successful in all aspects of our life, but most importantly with people, with our relationships, in order that we might lead others to Christ. And, He wants us to be "in health", healthy ... so that we feel good and that He can communicate with us ... without interference. He has a lot He wants to tell us.

Maybe one of Sensible Living's next programs should be ... "How to Stop Being So Busy and Listen to God." 

Susan Balcerzak, President

CHURCH BOARD ACTIVITY

Voted to ask the Church in Business to pursue looking into purchasing the Shop Road church property.
Voted that Doug Leonhardt be asked to be our Personal Ministries Secretary.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

There is much to praise the Lord for in the area of community service this month. A draft of a three year plan has been developed and will be submitted to the church board in its June 2nd meeting. A suggestion for our mission statement is as follows: To establish recognition of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Columbia area by developing and maintaining a vital community services outreach that provides caring, Christ-centered service to those in need. We are hopeful to include other SDA churches in the area in this endeavor under thee leadership of the Midtown church.

The church helped its first individual by providing toiletries and literature. Please pray for Patsy that she would not only find help for her physical needs but will find help and hope by receiving the greatest gift, that of her Creator and Restorer, Jesus.

Each member of the church can play a role in this vital outreach by donating non-perishable food items, used clothing in good condition and household items that may be useful to others. Ultimately we want to start a thrift shop that will fund specific programs in the community to help those in need. The local Adventist churches work through LICS, which is a good organization, but Adventists get little or no recognition for the services we provide. Please pray that the Lord will use our church in a mighty way as a light to those in financial, physical and spiritual need. 

Helen Koon

BUILDING FUND

The most beautiful building of antiquity was the temple of God built by King Solomon. Its exterior was covered with precious, pure white marble stones.  Interestingly enough, the gold was on the inside of the temple. The Bible says that this is a good pattern for living temples as well. "Your beauty should reside, not in outward adornment -- the braiding of the hair, or jewelry, or dress -- but in the inmost centre of your being, with its imperishable ornament, a gentle, quiet spirit, which is of high value in the sight of God." 1 Peter 3:3,4 NEB. Like Solomon's temple of old, our gold should be on the inside! Now is the time to make a call as Moses did during the Exodus when he asked the Israelites to donate the gold and jewelry they received from the Egyptians as wages, for the building of the tabernacle. We know that many people who have accepted the Three Angel's Messages and taken off their jewelry, have stored it away as a keepsake. Perhaps now would be a good time to take it out of storage or even off our bodies, and donate it to the Building Fund. Old gold, necklaces, rings, earrings, diamonds, old coin collections, anything of value that we can turn into building blocks for a representative church building
would be appreciated. 

Pastor Fry

Our Building Fund continues to grow. It now stands at $85,000.00.

An Anonymous donor has offered a $10,000.00 matching grant to our church if we can raise another $10,000.00 from sources outside Midtown Church. We already have over $5,000.00 towards our part.  With God's help we can do it. Keep praying and working and we soon will have our own building.

Charlie Davis, Chairman

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS

Members who will be celebrating their birthdays soon: 

June 6-David Biehl 
June 10-Bob Garner 
June 13-Eugene Bolden
June 27-Elwillie Taylor

MIDWEEK AT MIDTOWN

Please notice!!! The new time of our Prayer Meeting is now 7:00 PM instead of 6:00 PM. We hope this makes it easier for those who are having trouble getting there at the earlier time. Attendance at our Midweek at Midtown Prayer and Bible Study hour continues to remain high. If you haven't yet stopped in. it's never too late. We welcome all members and visitors to join our group and participate in the Bible Study. Our study is on How to Prepare For Christ's Second Coming. The emphasis is on the spiritual aspect At this time we are starting chapter nine, which is about The Greater Time of Trouble. 

We also pray for our church, and other requests, as well as the needs recorded on our Prayer Request cards from our Worship Service. Stop by any Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. here at the Capital Senior Center. 

Bob Sitko

FELLOWSHIP LUNCHES

On the second Sabbath of each month, we have a Full Lunch, and on the fourth Sabbath of each month, we have a Light Lunch consisting of salads, soups, sandwiches and deserts. Please come and enjoy the fellowship of eating together and getting to know others better.

BITS OF WISDOM

Did you know when you feel nice inside, you also look nicer? Learn to be pleasant and cheerful and develop a good sense of humor. Smile a lot.  Encourage your husband/wife and your children often and always speak softly and kindly. To follow this makes everybody around you happier and you will be happier yourself.

"Do not try to humble others, but humble yourselves before God, and deal gently with one another." (2SM 328) 

Mary Ann Fry

HEALTH BITES

Three Strikes And You Are Out!

Here's an eye-opener for sleepy readers: Simple sugars and refined carbohydrates (white flour, noodles, processed, devitalized foods, etc.) require little metabolism and enter the bloodstream rapidly. This is the "lift" phase! But oh, the crash that follows! STRIKE ONE!

The pancreas, the organ that regulates how much insulin is released into the blood, is "caught off guard" by the sudden surge of sugar. Sensing that it has more work to do than it really does, it releases too much insulin. (Insulin processes starches and sugars to keep blood sugar at an even level.) STRIKE TWO!

The result in all this chemical "warfare" is a dramatic drop in blood sugar (usually within the hour), and a resulting feeling of lethargy, mental confusion, weakness, and false feelings of "hunger!" STRIKE THREE!

Sugar causes weight gain, not merely because of its caloric content, but because it actually alters the metabolism as well! What does this mean? Simply this: If two groups of people are fed the exact same number of calories, but one group takes its calories in sugar and refined products, while the other group consumes the calories in the form of whole grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables, the sugar group will gain weight, while the other will not.

(From studies published by the U.S. Dept Of Health.)

Sugar, like cocaine, is a plant extract reduced to a chemical state of purity ... In the bloodstream, sugar produces a brief high followed by a bottomed out low. Sugar and cocaine both serve no purpose other than to produce a pleasant sensation and yes, sugar can be addictive. 

(Innovation May 1987)

TIP OF THE MONTH

Try something new with your asparagus. Roast with shiitake or cremini mushrooms, shave raw spears into a green salad, or saute bite-sized bits with slivered almonds and toss with brown rice.

VESPERS

Friday Night Video Vespers

Each Friday, at 7 PM, you can watch an inspirational sermon from one of our church's great speakers, such as Dwight Nelson, Steve Wohlberg, C.D. Brooks, or others. The program lasts about an hour, and is a great way to start the Sabbath. Check our website, MidtownChurch.net, or call the Church at 803-834-9115, to find the location. These video programs are held in various members' homes in the downtown Columbia area, so check to see who is currently hosting them.  

Bob Sitko

Church Location

Midtown Church meets at the Capital Senior Center on Park Circle, behind Maxcy Gregg Park, Sabbath (Saturday) Morning at 10 AM for Sabbath School and 11:15 AM for the Worship Hour. Please come and join us for fellowship and worship.

All photos by     ©2001-2012, Columbia Midtown SDA Church, 701 Gervais St. #150-301, Columbia SC 29201