Midtown Herald

Church Newsletter of the Midtown Seventh-day Adventist Church

EDITOR'S COMMENTS

Coming Economic Crisis

What historically made America a powerful nation was due to the Industrial Revolution and capitalism. Even through economic ups and downs, we could always pull through those cycles because we were the world's #1 producing nation. In producing what the world wanted, it brought wealth to us as a nation.

What has happened now? We have outsourced a lot of our manufacturing to other countries. Almost daily you hear of more layoffs, or of companies downsizing. And what has this done to America? We have become the world's largest consumer. We have gone from producing to consuming. Our nation suffers from decadency. It does not take an economics major to understand that when you produce very little, and then consume a great deal, it will only be a matter of time and you will go broke. I do believe there are some serious events soon to come upon this country. We have long talked about it, but now that we see inevitable, looming proof, it seems as if many are apathetic to the situation. We still await the proverbial straw that will break the camel's back.

The skyrocketing price of fossil fuel has a trickle-down effect. Higher prices at the pump soon raises prices of everything from clothing to food. Prices are rising rapidly, and inflation is hitting many people hard. Many truckers have simply shut down their trucks, stating that it is not possible to truck goods at a continued loss due to high fuel prices. The national debt is at $9.5 trillion. That means each US citizen shares in it about $31,000. One can't help but think that some of this is manipulated, yet some of it is just things running out of control.

We know that there will come a time that "no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." It is a Biblical fact that last day events center around money, and buying and selling. Are we closer than we realize? I think so! What can we do? We need to "dwell" in the "secret place of the most High," abiding "under the shadow of the Almighty." (Ps. 91: 1) This is done by a full surrender of our lives and priorities to Christ. We need recommitment. Christ is sending us warning after warning of what might soon come to this Earth. May we all be ready, today, knowing "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

My friends, the gathering storm is on the horizon, as the distant lightning flashes and thunder mutters. In this storm, God's people are called upon to be a different people utterly separate from all demonic power around them, prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. God calls for a special people. The separation is between the godly and the ungodly (Ps. 1), between worldly influences in the church and the true disciple (Jn. 15, 16), between those who surrender completely and those who would like to enter in but never make the surrender (Lk. 13), between those who say and those who do (Mt. 7:21), between those who rely on their own doing and know not the Lord and those who are known by the Lord (Mt. 7:22).

Sabbath Sermon Series

In September we will be starting a new sermon series, which will be on discipleship, teaching us how to be better disciples for Jesus.

Excitement at Carolina Conference

I am happy to report that the Conference Brethren seem excited as to the forward progress the Midtown Company is making. They are looking forward to organizing us into a full fledged church in a few months.

Pastor Fry

EVANGELISM NEWS

Sabbath Conference

August 16 was a busy Sabbath. Not only were we blessed to have a Sabbath Conference that evening from 6:30 to 8:30, at the South Carolina History and Archives Center, but we also had Pastor Kevin Morgan speak to us at our 11:00 worship service. Pastor Morgan is a featured speaker on WBAJ, and formerly pastored churches in North Carolina. Elizabeth Baynard graciously invited Pastor Morgan to her home that afternoon for lunch, and then he quickly traveled to the History and Archives auditorium to participate in the panel discussion and lecture later that evening.

Bob Sitko

CHURCH NEWS

Flowers

Don't you just love the flowers that intermittently appear at our worship services? These are donated ,by brother William "Burt" Barber, a member of the West Columbia church, who frequently attends our services. Brother Barber encourages each of the ladies present at the services to take home a flower or two to remind them of our Lord during the week. What a beautiful thought! Thanks, brother Barber, for your kindness and generosity.

Attendance

In August, we had an average attendance of 30 at our Worship Services, the same average as for the entire year. Our highest attendance this year was 97 on March 8, when we had Dr. Phil Collins as a guest speaker at the Convention Center, and our lowest attendance was 16 on February 16. Our average attendance in 2007 was 25, and in 2006 it was 23, so we're making really good progress in increasing our membership and attendance figures.

Kids' Sabbath School

Do you have friends or family members who may have been thinking of visiting our church, but were reluctant to do so because we had no Children's Sabbath School? Well, you can let them know that we now have Children's Sabbath School every Sabbath, in the room right next to where the adult Sabbath School is held. Sabbath Schools, for both adults and children, start each Sabbath at 10:00. Elizabeth Baynard is our Sabbath School leader and frequently teaches the adult class, while Penny Beihl, with help from Karen Covington and Mary Gene Davis, teaches the children's class. Be sure to let all your friends and family members know that they can now bring their children to church every Sabbath and be assured of the best instruction and care from our well-qualified and loving Sabbath School teachers. 

Church Phone Number

As of August 1, our church has its own phone number: 803-8349115. This phone will be answered by volunteers to give information about our location and services to any potential visitors and others who might see our ads on the Internet or in the newspapers. We currently run two ads a week in the State, one in the weekend Lifestyle section, and another in the Neighbors section. 

Church Signs

You may have not noticed them yet, but you will. Our church directional signs are undergoing modifications to make them more useful. We recently acquired two directional signs to place at curbside on Pickens and Blossom Streets, to make it easier for visitors to find us. The signs had metal rods to place in the ground, but the ground in that area was so hard, the metal posts could not be used. Pastor Fry then made wooden bases for the signs so that they could be placed near the curb on the street. Who knew Pastor Fry was such an experienced carpenter? The wording on the signs is undergoing a change, too, to make the letters bolder and darker so that they can easily be read from the street. Thanks, Pastor Fry, for designing and constructing these sign bases.

ASI

David Beihl attended the Adventist Service Industries convention in Tampa on August 7 to 10. David took along a booth that he designed, showing our needs for a church building. ASI allows churches and groups to demonstrate their needs, and hopefully, come back with some funding to help them achieve their goals. Our membership is fast approaching the 40 mark, and as soon as we reach that number, we're going to request that our status be changed from a Company to a full-fledged Church. Being a Church will open doors to additional funding and enable us to find a permanent home. David is our Building Fund chairman until he returns to school later this month, and has done an outstanding job of communicating our needs and goals to the Conference.  

Bob Sitko

CHURCH BOARD ACTIVITY

At the last Church Board meeting, approval was given for acquisition of a church telephone; approval was given to modify our directional signs to make them easier to see; discussion continued on several available properties which the church is looking to acquire; Pastor Fry discussed his communication with the Conference regarding our efforts to become a church; approval was given to several transfer requests into our company from other churches; a representative for the Lay Advisory meeting at the end of October is being sought; and Elizabeth Baynard asked for continued prayer for the Sabbath Conference on August 16. The next regular Board meeting is on September 2, so if you have any items to be considered by the Board, contact Gary Beihl, Pastor Fry, Mary Grace McPherson, Elizabeth Baynard, Doug Leonhardt, or Bob Sitko.  

Bob Sitko

A NOTE FROM OUR TREASURER

Tithe Envelopes

When you deposit your tithes and offerings into the collection basket each Sabbath, you should place them into a tithe envelope. This assures that your money will go toward the account or ministry that you want it to go to, and ensures that you'll receive a receipt in the proper amount for tax purposes. Be sure to put your name and address on the envelope in the space provided, as well as the date and the amounts you want allocated to each account, and the total amount enclosed. If you place a loose offering in the collection basket, the entire amount of your offering will go to the designated recipient. Twice a month, that means that our local church budget will get your offering, but on those Sabbaths where the designated recipient is some other fund, such as ADRA, or Adventist Radio and TV, or Mount Pisgah Academy, then they will receive the entire loose offerings collected that day. So, to avoid confusion and to make sure that your funds are properly allocated, please use a tithe envelope. 

Our monthly budget is $4,117.50. Thank the Lord we have been meeting our budget. 

Our Building Fund stands at $43,059.69. Not yet enough to purchase a church home, so keep praying. 

Mary Grace McPherson

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS

• Pat Stephen on August 19 

• Debbie Beihl on September 18 

• Gary Beihl on September 23 

• Thomas Beihl on September 28 

• James Middleton on September 29 

MIDWEEK AT MIDTOWN

Join us whenever possible in our Wednesday evening Prayer and Bible Study hour, each Wednesday from 6 to 7 at the Capital Senior Center. We continue to attract large groups of not only members but visitors and friends as well, all realizing how near we are to the end of time, and who want to be prepared for the Last Days. We're studying from Ellen White's book, Last Day Events. We start our meeting promptly at 6:00 with a hymn or two, then follow this with a prayer and praise session, then review our lesson for the week, finishing promptly at 7:00. Pastor Fry has prepared excellent study guides for each lesson, which he distributes to all attendees for the next week. On August 13, we were blessed to have Ms. Pat Arrabito speak to us during our Midweek Service. She spoke about the laws that have tried to change the Sabbath from the seventh day to Sunday, the first day. 

Bob Sitko

FELLOWSHIP LUNCHES

Come join us for good food and fellowship every second and fourth. Sabbath after the Worship Hour. 

LITERATURE EVANGELISM

A big thanks to Eugene Bolden for his enthusiasm in witnessing on the downtown Columbia streets with literature. 

BITS OF WISDOM

• "Our souls are to be surrounded by the atmosphere of heaven."  CPTS 257. 
  
  

• And what is the atmosphere of heaven? 
  "The melody of praise is the atmosphere of heaven."  Ed.161. 
  
  

• "Did you know that kindness is love in action? And that miracles always begin as difficulties?" 
  
  

• "Only truth produces genuine Christlikeness."

Mary Ann Fry

HEALTH BITES

Cancer has a Tougher Time Hitting a Moving Targer

Exercise is highly underrated as a strong cancer fighting strategy. NY State University studied former female college athletes and found they had lower rates of breast and reproductive organ cancers than did women who had not been athletic. Repeated studies found risks of colon cancer to be twice as great in sedentary people as opposed to those in physically active occupations. Stress reduction, improved bowel regularity, improved immune system functioning and reduction of obesity account for exercise's protective effects. Brisk walking for 30 minutes daily will give cancer a run for its money. 

Karen Covington

BELATED CONGRATULATIONS

What does the date 08/08/08 bring to mind? If you're like most people, you think of the 2008 Olympics opening day. But here at Midtown, we think of the 25th wedding anniversary of Gary and Penny Beihl. The Beihls spent their anniversary week in Costa Rica and fell in love with the local people, with whom they had lots of opportunity to practice their Spanish and attend Sabbath worship services. 

Congratulations on your anniversary, Gary and Penny, and we look forward to your 50th on 08/08/33!

Bob Sitko

TIP OF THE MONTH

For a quick, guaranteed-to-please dip, puree in a food processor: a 15 oz. can (drained and rinsed) Great Northern, navy, or other white beans, 2 Tbs. Extra virgin olive oil, 1 clove garlic, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. You can also try different seasonings. Why not try adding a spoonful of dry onion soup mix? 

WHY SHOULD WE ATTEND CHURCH?

David declared that he was glad to "go into the house of the" LORD" for worship (Ps. 122:1). Today, many Christians are glad to go into their church buildings to worship Christ, but a growing number arE not. In fact, unprecedented numbers have become dropouts from church attendance. 

Their reasons for quitting vary. But in light of David's joy in coming before the Lord, it might help to consider reasons for maintaining church attendance: 

• Because we need help to reflect on the past week and see it as just a small part of the journey of life. 

• Because we will benefit from being taught and led in worship by others, rather than feeding on a constant diet of our own choosing. 

• Because we need regular reminders of our standing in Christ, help in acknowledging and confessing our sins, and teaching about God's truths. 

• Because we need to hear how believers in the past struggled, grew, and lived out their faith. 

• Because we need to experience artistic and creative expressions of the faith such as music, ritual, prayers, architecture, or doctrines. 

• Because we will benefit from silence before the Lord once in a while. 

• Because we need help to face the issues of life and faith as presented through the sermons. 

• Because we need to hear about the experiences of other contemporary believers.  

• Because we need an alternative to the constant messages of a culture that ignores God. 

• Because we need a conscious break from work: and self-interests in order to concentrate on the Lord. 

• Because we need to hear reminders of God's love. 

• Because we need help in praying and understanding the importance of worshipping an awesome God.

• Because we need to belong to a community of faith that includes others who are trying to live out the gospel.  

Pastor Fry

WORLD NEWS

• July 16, 2008 - Croatia's Parliament has passed a Sunday closing law in response to a long campaign by the Catholic Church for such legislation. 
  
  

• (IsraelNN.com) - MK Zevulun Orlev (NRP) has announced the findings of a poll showing 56% support amongst Israelis for his proposed legislation [A Civil Law] making Sunday a day of rest and allowing some public transportation and entertainment on the Sabbath. 
  
  

• Author of Harry Potter books, J. K Rowling, answering the objections of Christian reviewers to her writings, disclosed her secret objective in writing them:
  
  "I think it's absolute rubbish to protest children's books on the grounds that they are luring children to Satan," Rowling told a London Times reporter in a July 17 interview. ''People should be praising them for that! These books guide children to an understanding that the weak, idiotic Son of God is a living hoax who will be humiliated when the rain of fire comes, ... while we, his [Satan's] faithful servants, laugh and cavort in victory." 
  
  Editor's remarks-I would hate to be in her shoes when Jesus returns. 
  
  

• There are 50 lobbyists for every member of Congress. A full $3 million is spent on each lobbyist yearly. What is that money spent for? Certainly not just salaries. Washington, DC is considered the bribery capital of the Nation. 
  
  

• A summary of public awareness of Adventists in the major metropolitan areas of the Northeast was compiled by Paul Richardson of the Center for Creative Ministry. Here were his finding about us: 
  
  Never heard of the Adventist Church: 66% 
  Have heard of it, but know nothing about it 20%
  Know something inaccurate: 9% 
  Know one true fact: 5%. 
  
  

• Some 2.2 million people (one in every 136 U.S. residents) are doing time in prison, according to FBI statistics. Add to that another 4 million more on probation, parole, or awaiting trial in local jails. This past year, prison populations grew 4.7%, the largest annual growth spurt in nearly ten years. 
  
  Since the late 1970's the population in U.S. prisons has nearly quadrupled. No other nation relative to its size and population density, has as many in prison. By 2011 the number of women prisoners will have grown by 16%, and the increase among men by 12%. 

VIDEO VESPERS ARE BACK!

Friday night Video Vespers have started back up. Each Friday, at 6 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 prograrn 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

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     ©2001-2008, Columbia Midtown SDA Church, 701 Gervais St. #150-301, Columbia SC 29201