Out of the blue I received an email saying “We would like to give you some money, when can we meet?”  This doesn’t happen often!

The e-mailer was Councillor Mike Reid who represents North Totton on the New Forest District Council. He had been told about us by the Chairperson of our local Community Association who
praised our commitment to our work for and with the local community.

Most times when money is handed over it is tightly ring-fenced.
However, on this occasion the Councillor said, “We value what you do for this community, use it for whatever you want.” So a cheque for £250 [approximately US$458.00] was presented to ‘The Watering Hole’ on Saturday, 8 May at the Calmore Community Centre.

We have benefited from the generosity and support of several superstores.  Comet and Curry’s
gave significant discounts enabling us to buy computers, cameras, printers etc. for community
projects. Recently the food store, Waitrose presented us with a cheque for £200 to help with
‘Frontline’ - our debt advice service. It’s not just money we are receiving from community sources.
At our Easter Egg hunt the Divisional Police Inspector gave permission for one of his Constables to be available to deter any troublemakers who were out to spoil a great community event. This
policeman’s wife later commented that, “Since getting involved with ‘The Watering Hole’ our family is happier than we have ever been.”

Every time we receive comments, money or help it encourages us to keep bringing the kingdom of God into lives now, as well as sharing with them the Good news of the Kingdom to come.

Rosemary Lethbridge receiving the cheque for £250

Ron E. M. Clouzet, D.Min., is ministerial secretary and director of the North American Division Evangelism Institute (NADEI). He is also professor of Christian ministry and practical theology in Andrews University Theological Seminary.

Terri Saelee

Refugee Ministries Coordinator

North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists

terri.saelee@nad.adventist.org

www.refugeeministries.org

608-443-6575

The Annual Flow Report on Refugees and Asylees is now available.

Note the following highlights:

· More refugees are arriving from Iraq than from any other country.  Burma (with refugees primarily from the Karen ethnic group) is a close second, and Bhutan is not far behind.(Fig. 3)

· Figure 5 shows Refugee Arrivals by State of Residence with California and Texas in the lead.

· An overwhelming majority of Asylees are coming from China.  (See Fig. 6.)

· Figure 10 shows Affirmative Asylees by State of Residence with California, New York, and Florida at the top of the list.

May God help us to fulfill His purpose in bringing these precious souls—many from countries closed to missionaries—to our shores.  (See quote below.)

“God in His providence has brought men to our very doors and thrust them, as it were, into our arms, that they might learn the truth, and be qualified to do a work we could not do in getting the light before men of other tongues.” (Evangelism, p. 570)

“Success in any line demands a definite aim. He who would achieve true success in life must keep steadily in view the aim worthy of his endeavor. Such an aim is set before the youth of today. The heaven-appointed purpose of giving the gospel to the world in this generation is the noblest that can appeal to any human being. It opens a field of effort to everyone whose heart Christ has touched.”  (Education, p. 262)

How’s your worship experience?

The Clergy Letter Project Announces
The Fifth Annual Evolution Weekend
12-14 February 2010
850 Congregations Worldwide Will Discuss the Compatibility of Religion and Science

Contact:  Dr. Michael Zimmerman, Founder and Executive Director
Clergy Letter Project
317.964.3188
mz@butler.edu <mz@butler.edu>

Web address:  www.evolutionweekend.org <http://www.evolutionweekend.org/ <http://www.evolutionweekend.org/> >

Churches, temples and mosques from across the United States and around the world are joining together to celebrate Evolution Weekend, Feb. 12-14, a period designed to recognize that religion and science, two fields of critical importance to humans, should be seen as complementary rather than confrontational. Participation includes such activities as sermons, lectures, discussions and classes.

The fifth annual Evolution Weekend event is particularly timely this year since we are entering the third century since the birth of Charles Darwin and the 151th anniversary of the publication of his book, On the Origin of Species.

Twelve countries on five continents as well as all 50 states will be represented. A list of participants can be found at www.evolutionweekend.org <http://www.evolutionweekend.org/ <http://www.evolutionweekend.org/> > . More than 870 scientists on six continents, representing 29 countries, have signed on as consultants.

Michael Zimmerman, founder of Evolution Weekend and Professor of Biology at Butler University in Indianapolis, praised the participants.

“Religious leaders around the world are coming together to elevate the quality of the discussion about this important topic.  They are demonstrating to their congregations that people can accept all that modern science has learned while retaining their faith,” said Zimmerman.  “They are also demonstrating that those who are promoting their narrow religious views as the norm, are not speaking for most of the world’s religious community. Evolution Weekend shows that the disagreement is actually not between religious leaders and scientists, but rather between those who believe that their particular religious views should be incorporated into the science curriculum and clergy who recognize and respect the diversity of different faith traditions.”

Evolution Weekend is sponsored by The Clergy Letter Project (www.theclergyletterproject.org <http://www.theclergyletterproject.org <http://www.theclergyletterproject.org> > ), which Zimmerman started in 2004.   The Christian Clergy Letter has been signed by more than 12,400 Christian clergypersons in the United States who agree that “religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts.”  Companion Letters by Rabbis (with more than 460 signatures) and Unitarian Universalists (with more than 220 signatures) have recently begun circulating as well.

The letters urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge.  They ask “that science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth.”

“With clergy members and scientists banding together to proclaim that their two fields have much to teach us about the world and the people in it, with the two groups demonstrating that they can work collaboratively, there is now hope that we can put the divisiveness that has been the hallmark of this struggle behind us,” said Zimmerman. “We can look to a future in which it is no longer controversial to teach our children the best science has to offer. We can create a future in which experts in different fields respect one another and the ideas each has to offer.”

Maranatha!
Faith Johnson Crumbly
Editor, LEAD Magazine
301-393-4094
fcrumbly@rhpa.org

• First, as the old proverb confesses, “The best laid plans of mice and men have often gone astray.” Unforseen difficulties arise. Plans change. Leaders get stressed.
• Some churches have not had VBS for a number of years. These programs offer hope and direction for  starting again, starting where you are, and starting now.

1. The central theme for Vacation Bible School at the Cloverdale church in Boise, Idaho, led children to investigate “My Community.”
The information and activities revolved around how children can serve and witness for Jesus within their home, school, church, country—and their community. The children enjoyed (A) singing songs, (B) reciting memory verses, (C) hearing interesting Bible lessons and stories, (D) assembling unique crafts, (E) indulging in tasty treats, and (F) unveiling amazing discoveries in nature.
The attendance was consistent throughout the week: 35 children.
Watching a child’s eyes and face light up because they learned something new about Jesus is a heartwarming feeling that cannot be described.
And that was the purpose of this year’s Vacation Bible School at Cloverdale.

Story by Gerry Eslink, a Vacation Bible School volunteer for Cloverdale church.

In-a-minute Resources
• Sabbath School lesson materials.
• Guide magazine nature facts.
• Children’s devotional nature stories:

2. In the long, hot, lazy days of summer, Vacation Bible School provides children with a fun, faith-based environment to learn about Jesus and build friendships.
Wilma Bing, Washington Conference family ministries director, says that local church volunteers have two purposes to fulfill with “Vacation Bible School programs:
1. To reach out to children and their parents.
2. To brings the entire church together for a common evangelistic goal.”
Through the years, Vacation Bible School has emerged as an effective way to bring Adventist and community children together for child-friendly evangelism.
“When I first got involved with VBS about 12 years ago, the majority of the kids were Adventist with only a handful of kids from the neighborhood,” says Linda Burman, VBS director fot the church in Auburn City, Washington. “Initially we found the process of integrating the neighborhood kids into our programs very difficult, as they were basically outnumbered. However, in the last couple years, the majority of kids attending VBS are from the surrounding neighborhood.”
Children in Kirkland (Wash.), Bellevue (Wash.), and Auburn City explored facing fears at Crocodile Dock, while children at Shelton Valley’s (Wash.) summer daycare camp discovered Bible royalty in Castles and Crowns. Graham (Wash.) children explored creation, while children at Auburn Academy Church visited “Rome” and the underground church in the church’s “Journey to Bethlehem” facility.
The Crocodile Dock theme, about not being afraid, was particularly relevant for a young boy with leukemia who attended the Bellevue VBS. The staff and children prayed for him to not be afraid of his treatment. When he came back, he said because of God, he hadn’t been afraid.
“VBS benefits our church,” says Dixie Robinson, Bellevue VBS leader, “because such a large percentage of people work together as a team to put on this evangelistic effort, which has a great impact on our community.”

Story by Heidi Martell, Washington Conference associate communication director

In-a-minute Resources
• Your local Sabbath School and Children’s Ministries directors.
• Candy DeVore, Children’s Ministries director, Review and Herald Publishing Association

Cindy Chamberlin, Gleaner managing editor, shared Vacation Bible School reports for 2009.

With the same patience God has to save his children, a French search and rescue team endured and rescued a Haitian girl from the rubble fifteen days after the deadly earthquake.  “French rescuers pulled a teenage girl — very dehydrated, with a broken left leg and moments from death — from the rubble of a home near the destroyed St. Gerard University on Wednesday, a stunning recovery 15 days after an earthquake devastated the city.  French Ambassador Didier le Bret praised the persistence of the French rescue team, which has kept looking for survivors for days after the Haitian government officially called off the search.”  (Bull, Gregory and Fox, Ben. “Stunning Recovery: Haitian Girl Pulled from Debris.” www.news.yahoo.com. January 27, 2010.  Accessed January 28, 2010.)

Just as the Christian walk often requires patience before we are able to see the fruit of our labor, campaigners waited years before they received their dream.  “After a 17-year battle these tireless campaigners have proved persistence pays off.  In 1992, after continually struggling to get across Longridge Road, in Ribbleton, Preston, community campaigners decided they needed a pelican crossing.  After nearly two decades they have finally got their way.  Rose Caine, 65, who led the campaign as part of the Longridge Road Tenants’ Association, said: “We want to say to people never give up on something. It has made a tremendous difference being able to cross.”  (Robinson, Ben. “Tireless Campaign Wins Group Pelican Crossing.” www.lep.co.uk January 27, 2010.  Accessed January 28, 2010.)

Jesus promises to give his people peace in a way that the world could never give even as world leaders must admit that their desires for peace were too ambitious.  “President Barack Obama says his administration overestimated its ability to persuade the Israelis and Palestinians to resume meaningful peace talks.  Obama says both parties have been unwilling to make the bold gestures needed to move the process forward. If the U.S. had anticipated that earlier, Obama says he might not have raised his expectations so high.  Obama says the U.S. will continue to work toward a two-state solution in which Israel is secure and the Palestinians have sovereignty. His remarks came in an interview with Time Magazine published Thursday.”  (Associated Press. “Obama: Expectations for Middle East Peace too High.” http://news.yahoo.com.  January 21, 2010.  Accessed January 21, 2010.)

Even in times of calamity, Haitian people of faith are able to find peace as they place their hope in God.  “Carmella Delerme of Miami, Florida, said her mother clung to her Bible for days, reading psalms over and over again, as they waited for word on the whereabouts and condition of Delerme’s sister and other relatives.  When her sister, who was in Haiti on a missionary trip with their Seventh-day Adventist Church, called late Thursday, Delerme said, ‘I went straight to church and prayed and prayed and prayed. We continue to pray for those who are lost and still in need.’  On the streets of Port-au-Prince, with many of their churches crumbled, people have gathered to worship and sing Catholic and Protestant hymns.”  (Ravitz, Jessica. “Haitians Everywhere United by Faith.” www.cnn.com. January 18, 2010.  Accessed January 21, 2010.

The heart of God rejoices over the deliverance of his lost children, that he has gone through great lengths to save, in the same way one British couple rejoices over their twin sons that they spent tens of thousands to have.  “Twins Ben and Walker are the pride and joy of a couple who spent £100,000 on fertility treatments in 25 years of trying for a child.  Mum Monique Ward said yesterday of her two-week-old baby boys: ‘When I held them for the first time my eyes filled with tears.  We’ve wanted this for so long it seemed unreal everything had finally come true. They’re our little miracles - both are perfectly healthy and neither of us can believe they are really here.’” (Chaytor, Rod.  “Twins joy for couple who spent £100k in 25-year bid for a baby.”  www.mirror.co.uk. January 14, 2010.  Accessed January 14, 2010.)

Jesus warned believers that there would be tribulation in the world, and the devastation in Haiti is proof of that; yet, there is also comfort and joy in stories of hope.  “Orphanages filled with scores of Haiti’s most vulnerable citizens — its parentless children —survived without losing a single child. A missionary lying trapped for 10 hours in the collapsed rubble that was once her mission was reunited with her husband, who drove hours to dig her out and take her to safety. A college student managed to send her worried parents a two-word text message that meant everything: ‘I’m OK.’” (Celizic, Mike.  “Amid Haiti Horror, Stories of Survival and Hope.” www.msnbc.com. January 14, 2010. Accessed January 14, 2010.