Longing for That Day

As I read Jesus’ words in John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled” (NKJV), I cannot stop thinking about my 2-year-old granddaughter, Catalina, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. How can I accept Jesus’ words when we—humankind—become so overwhelmed by problems that are many times beyond our control?

Perhaps, you may be facing an illness in your family, the loss of a job, a family conflict, or a child in a problematic spiritual or moral situation. Maybe at work you have a case beyond your control that keeps you up at night. The question is, “How can I accept Jesus’ words, ‘Let not your heart be troubled,’ when my heart feels so broken?”

Through His Son, God has a message of encouragement for my family and me, and perhaps for you if you are currently facing a challenging situation too. First, Jesus said that in this world we would have afflictions and tribulations; suffering and adversities would not only affect non-believers, but Christians too.

Moreover, Jesus said, “Believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1, NKJV). The focus must not be on the problem but in the solution. Do not lose faith in God amid your afflictions. In John 16:33, Jesus states, “But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (NKJV). And the author of Psalm 23:4 wisely writes, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (NKJV).

Lastly, according to John 14:1–3, we must remember that this world is not our home. Jesus has prepared a home in heaven for you, for our beloved Catalina, and for all of those awaiting His return, for “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4, NKJV).

Now, more than ever, I long for that day.

Conference Sponsors TLT Retreat

Jorge Aguero President

More than 30 Teen Leadership Training (TLT) candidates and staff recently attended the iTell TLT retreat. Carl Rodriguez, conference Youth Ministries director, states, “iTell offers different workshops on how to reach others for Christ. This year, three components were offered to the teens and staff who attended: how to start a summer camp at a local church; establishing small groups; and how to do follow-ups.”

Attendees share they left the meeting rejuvenated, equipped and excited for ministry in their local churches.

Teachers-In-Service Learn Through Fellowship

Principals, staff and teachers from five schools in North, Central and South New Jersey recently gathered in Piscataway for Teachers-in-Service 2023. “Under the theme, ‘Be a Light,’ we’re launching a set of core values,” says Elisa Maragoto, superintendent of schools for the New Jersey Conference and principal of Lake Nelson Adventist Academy in Piscataway.

The vision is to reflect God’s light in every classroom through five core values: Spiritual Leadership, Relational Leadership, Grounded Accountability, Self-Leadership, and Outdoor Leadership.

Children’s Ministries Convention Ministers to Families

Sixty Children’s Ministries local church directors and staff from 22 churches attended the Children’s Ministries Convention earlier this year. Pamela Daly and Ana Maria Benzaquen from the North American Division Children’s Ministries Department presented the Ministering to Families track in English and Spanish.

The certification track ended on Saturday night with a graduation where many received a certificate and pin. On Sunday, the attendees participated in the Vacation Bible eXperience (VBX) live expo where they were equipped to conduct a week of VBX at their local churches.

Attendee Aurelle Mirasol shares, “The Children’s Ministries Convention was such a blessing. It taught parents and leaders the precious value of our children. We learned that we truly must invest and commit our time toward them, and that we have the responsibility of living by example, teaching our children to have a relationship with Jesus and treating others with true compassion.”

She continues, “We learned that we are to accept them as they are in order to help them belong to a loving community, guide their faith to believe in Jesus and help them become all that Christ has created them to be, teaching them to #sayyestojesus.”

Officers Re-Elected at 43rd Constituency Meeting

In early June, the Ohio Conference held its 43rd regular constituency meeting at the Worthington church. More than 300 delegates from across the territory received reports from conference leadership, voted in executive committee members, and re-elected Bob Cundiff as president, Oswaldo Magaña as executive secretary, and Roy M. Simpson as treasurer for the next quinquennium.

The delegates also received seven new congregations into the sisterhood of churches: Dublin Hispanic, West Columbus Hispanic, Massillon Connections, Willard Hispanic, Dayton African, La Gran Esperanza Hispanic in Columbus, and Advent Hope International in Worthington.

In his president’s report, Cundiff revealed that the total tithe from 2018 to 2022 was $68,286,279, an increase of 34.4 percent compared to the previous quinquennium. The report showed leadership’s prudent financial measures, including balancing the budget, controlled expenses—including at Camp Mohaven—and decreased administrative expenses.

In addition, the leadership implemented the school budget review process, resumed annual treasury training and increased the number of church audits. During the period under review, the conference’s operating net assets increased by 240 percent.

On evangelism, Cundiff reported how the conference surpassed its goal through the 2023 Initiative, a conference-wide drive to baptize 2,023 new members between 2021 and 2023, in comparison to the conference’s yearly historical baptisms of around 300 to 400. On May 27, 2023, the Ohio Conference exceeded its target when it held a mass baptism of 82 people at Delaware Beach Park, marking 2,088 baptisms and surpassing the goal of 2023 decisions by 65.

“We purchased portable baptistries for a campaign [proceeding the baptism] that ended up traveling all over the conference to tents, hotels, schools and rented halls where people were giving their lives to Christ,” Cundiff added. Four more people were also baptized on Sunday, making it the first time in history that the Ohio Conference constituency had baptisms.

Cundiff shared that the schools’ enrollment in the conference increased from 850 to 1,000 between 2018 and 2023. “This is the first time in five constituency cycles that the Ohio Conference has not had to close a school,” he pointed out.

In his acceptance speech, Cundiff said, “Thank you so much for the invitation to serve. [This] is a humbling, humbling thing to come to a meeting like this and be at this place of vulnerability and evaluation, and … being invited to serve is precious. We love you all and love this great territory of Ohio.”

By a show of hands, delegates vote to approve the members who were baptized at the constituency meeting.