Month: November 2019

MESSAGE.

MINISTRY.

Revelation Today. The prophecy seminar is at the finishing line. Last night a precious girl named Grace, touched our hearts with two special songs. Tonight pastor Douglas will talk about the deep spiritual meaning of baptism. I invite the whole church to pray for our visitors. Let the Spirit of God touch their hearts and lead them to the most important decision of their life.

We have a large number of individuals who are interested in studying the Bible further after the seminar. This is where I need your help. If you’ve ever prayed about giving Bible studies this is your day. Please, contact me right away by phone, text, or email. I’ll introduce you to a Bible student who needs your help. This task will not be possible without your participation. If you are interested and willing to help I invite you to stay tomorrow for a few minutes after the Fellowship Meal. We’ll meet in the sanctuary at 2 pm. If you cannot stay for the 2 pm meeting, contact me tonight or tomorrow after church and I’ll help you get involved. Thank you in advance!

The Seminar video recordings are available on the church YouTube channel. Here is a direct link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7JBKBbM_ulSpseE11zWdw  You can also access the archive by visiting the church website www.ooltewahchurch.org and clicking on the Communications tab in the top menu. That same link can be found on the church Facebook page.

Christmas caroling. On December 7 from 6-8 pm, singers and musicians from our church will visit home-bound members and other friends who need a smile, a song, and a hug. There is no Singspiration that night, so we would love to have the faithful attendees from that monthly event join us for this seasonal opportunity. We will be meeting at the church at 6 pm and loading into multiple 12-passenger vans to spread out and cover as much ground as possible in a 90-minute window before returning to church. If you’re interested in singing or playing an instrument with the group—or if you have the name of someone we should visit—please contact Community Services coordinator Lucas Patterson so we can plan accordingly: (423) 582-1678, lucaspatterson@southern.edu.

Many hugs to those who have already contributed to the Ooltewah Community Services account in support of the Feed My Starving Children program. So far we have already raised a little over $3,000. $5,000 more is needed to reach our goal by the end of December. As we are preparing meals to celebrate Thanksgiving let us remember about those children who will be blessed by your contribution.

Baby shower. There were over 50 guests for the Baby Shower for Barbara Angelin and Spencer Ekleberry. The Social Committee (Avril Williams, Dina Cole and Konika Wright) did a great job decorating and arranging the reception at the Mulberry Park Clubhouse.
Proud soon-to-be Grandmother Mary Wagoner-Angelin and Aunt Rachel Angelin hosted along with Margo Haughee and Connie Reynolds.

Last Sunday Katherine Bremner played for the residents of Greenbriar Assisted Living center. Thank you, Bremner family, for your active ministry to our community.

PRAYERS. This week we had several of our members taken to hospitals. Donna Jamieson fell on Sabbath night while coming to the seminar. She had surgery and she’s now recovering at home. Prayers for Donna, please.

Maria Easter was diagnosed with leukemia. Yesterday she was transported to Vanderbuilt hospital in Nashville, TN. Prayer for Maria.

Bettie Chastain fell at home last night and was admitted to Memorial hospital. It looks like she may not need surgery on her hip, but instead will be moved to Syskin for physical therapy. I invite you to pray for Bettie.

Light of Hope Ministry. We are exactly two weeks away from the opening night of the evangelistic meetings in Siberia. The pastor of the local church in Krasnoyarsk sent me a photo of the banner they were allowed to post on the church fence. Praise God for that! I am inviting you to pray for those people who will see the banner and come to the meetings.

See you tomorrow,

Peter

MESSAGE.

“… and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 5:2

“The more closely we resemble our Saviour in character, the greater will be our love toward those for whom He died. Christians who manifest a spirit of unselfish love for one another are bearing a testimony for Christ which unbelievers can neither gainsay nor resist. It is impossible to estimate the power of such an example. Nothing will so successfully defeat the devices of Satan and his emissaries, nothing will so build up the Redeemer’s kingdom, as will the love of Christ manifested by the members of the church.” —Testimonies for the Church 5:167, 168 (1882).

MINISTRY.

The “Revelation Today” Seminar has united our church in study and service. It is truly a blessing to see consistent support from our various church ministries. A special Thank You to our table leaders! I am very encouraged to see that seminar participants continue to attend the meetings. Good relationships are growing at each table. Last night Edwin Reynolds surprised us all with a beautiful piece of music which he played on a carpenter’s saw. Please, continue to pray for pastor Douglas as he presents the Word of God in a very clear way. The seminar continues this Sabbath and Sunday night, and will end next weekend. Please, keep in mind there will be no nightly meetings next Sabbath and Sunday.

It was an early Thankful Thanksgiving for Season of Change. Here is what Lupina Haney shared with me: “Delicious meal of salad, corn, green bean casserole, stuffing, dinner roast, cranberry sauce and magic pumpkin bars for dessert. We had a very talented group of 5th and 6th graders from OAKS sharing their Veterans’ Day Program with us. There were over 70 widows in attendance with 5 kitchen angels helping. God has truly blessed the widows Ministry.”

OAKS did an awesome job on Sunday at LifeCare Assisted Living Center in Ooltewah. Thank you, students and teachers!

PRAYERS. Our sincere condolences to Mike Haughee, whose brother died of a heart attack this week. Please remember Mike and his family in your prayers.

MISSION. We are just three weeks away from our international evangelism project. The Light of Hope evangelistic meetings will start in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on December 7. I invite you to pray for the pastor and the church in that Siberian city. Here is a link to the lates Light of Hope Newsletter with more details on the upcoming trip November 2019 

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

For the last few days we had two of our daughters visit us with our grand babies. We had tons of fun! 🙂

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MESSAGE.

Revelation 19 describes the day of celebration when Christ will reunite with His followers. That day is called the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” All those joining the celebration are collectively called “His wife.” What other term could describe a more intimate and personal relationship between the Savior and the saved? That scene is not just a grand event in the history of salvation, it is actually “a feast” filled with joy and celebration. Can I be sure that there is a place for me at the “marriage supper?” Tomorrow morning we will find an answer together during our worship services at 8:55 and 11:25 am.

MINISTRY.

The opening weekend of the “Revelation Today” Bible seminar at our church was a “total disaster.” People flooded the Fellowship hall. There was no possible way to provide everyone with a seat at the round tables. I applaud the efforts of our deacons, greeters and registration team at controlling the situation. Thank you, Steve Darmody, for the inspiring music program that night. The second and the third night attendance was more manageable. Last night, (Thursday) we had a stable group of visitors. The table leaders are absolutely wonderful! They faithfully come every night, engage their groups in active discussions, and help them find answers to many questions. I am absolutely impressed with the participation of our church members in these evangelistic meetings. Thank you, church! Please, continue to pray for Pastor Douglas Na’a as he shares the Gospel and his wife who sings almost every night after pastor Na’a makes an appeal.

The Singles ministry is participating, with several local churches, in meeting the needs of Chattanooga’s homeless.  Here is a report/appeal from Cynthia Weitzel, Ministry Leader. “The second Sabbath of every month we go down and distribute personal hygiene supplies, food items, some specific clothing, religious literature and food etc. In partnership with Chattanooga first church, we are purchasing and packing 100 backpacks for Christmas with blankets, pillows, hats, gloves and other helpful items. We already have the backpacks, blankets and pillows. We still need hats and gloves (new) and the toiletries etc.

For those of you wanting to help in this ministry, there are several ways to do so:

1. Pray – For the homeless, those of us serving that we will use God’s means in God’s way, and that the ministry grow according to His will. 2. Come and help us on the second Sabbath of each month at 3:00pm 2. Donate funds to “Singles” ministry (written in as such on your tithe envelope.  4. Donate items listed below. (All new items please)

Hats (for backpacks), Gloves (for backpacks), Chemical hand/foot warmers , Umbrellas, Lip balm, Feminine products, Toothpaste, Tooth brushes, Hand wipes, Simple hair bands, Small sewing kits, Socks, Underwear, Flashlights Etc.”

For more information, feel free to contact Cynthia Weitzel at 903-278-6384.

Next March our church will join hands with two other churches in the area to provide food packets for hungry children in the poor countries of the world. The name of this effort is “FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN.” Many of us cannot even comprehend the number of children suffering from hunger every day around the globe. We can make a difference in some kid’s life. The goal is to raise $8,000. After the money is raised we’ll pack dry food which will be shipped to the regions with acute hunger problems. All donations for this project should be marked as COMMUNITY SERVICES. Your Sabbath School class, small group, or other ministry within our church can set their own fundraising goal to work toward and measure. For example, $500 would be a great goal for a small group or class with 10 people.

If you run into a problem, please email or call Lucas Patterson, Community Services Director.

Here is a short video with some helpful information about this ministry:

A note from our Stewardship Director: “As did Abraham, they are to pay tithe of all they possess and all they receive. A faithful tithe is the Lord’s portion. To withhold it is to rob God. Every man should freely and willingly and gladly bring tithes and offerings into the storehouse of the Lord, because in so doing there is a blessing. There is no safety in withholding from God His own portion.” —Manuscript 159, 1899.

PRAYERS.

Barbara Kraner has been taken to Memorial hospital. Prayers for Barbara, please.

Opal Vega is very weak, her every breath is a struggle. Please, remember Opal in your prayers.

Our hearts go out to Pastor David Bissel whose sister passed away this week. Praying for you and your family, David.

The Light of Hope Ministry has responded to an invitation from Siberia. On December 7, 2019, I will take my vacation days and start a series of evangelistic meetings in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Due to legislative restrictions on religious activities the church cannot use regular promotional methods. However, pastors and church members are not giving up. With lots of prayers they are actively preparing for the meetings to start in just four weeks. I invite you to pray for our overseas evangelism. Here is a short youtube video from Krasnoyarsk:

Just as a Thank You note, I am sharing a photo I received from Mariupol, where the Light of Hope Ministry held meetings two years ago. We continue to support the local church as well as supply drinking water to the local orphanage. The Light of Hope ministry supplies four tons of drinking water monthly for the cooking and drinking needs of over 100 children in this facility.

See you tonight at 7 pm at the Revelation Today Bible seminar.

Peter

MESSAGE.

“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life” (John 6:54). Life eternal begins when we accept Christ into our being. Without Christ not only do we lose eternal life, but our earthly walk turns into a miserable existence. Christ offers Himself when He says, “Take, eat it; this is My body …”  In other words He is saying, “Here I am. I have life, power, purpose for you.” Now it is up to us to act on it. The mere mental acknowledgment of it will not do us good. Its only when we internalize Christ, “eat and drink Him,” His Spirit revives and transforms every cell of our being. Allow the Spirit of God to bring Christ into our minds and souls. Let His Word become our daily bread. Let our prayers create a continuous relationship between our heart and the heart of God.

I invite you to join the Communion Worship service tomorrow morning at Ooltewah Seventh Day Adventist Church.

MINISTRY.

Today is the opening night of the Revelation Today Bible seminar. Our church came together last Wednesday night to pray about every part of the program. I was very pleased with the number of people who got actively engaged in this evangelistic effort. Southern Adventist University students have shown great support. In a few hours we’ll open the doors of our church for the seminar participants.

The last few months Donna Caswell has served as the prayer coordinator. She did a wonderful job building a prayerful spirit and structure in our congregation. Thank you, Donna! For the month of November Rita Rodgers and her sister Barbara will carry on the torch of the prayer ministry. This is a crucial time in our ministry. Please contact Rita or Barbara and talk to them about your participation in the prayer group during the evangelistic meetings.

PRAYERS.

Today I am asking for a special prayer for Opal Vega. She is very weak and has difficulty breathing.

Happy Sabbath!

Peter