The past two Sabbaths I have enjoyed meeting in two different town hall meetings. The first Sabbath Bonnie and I were in the Charleston, SC Church where I was speaking. It was wonderful to see a nearly full church and to be part of their vibrant service. The church and school are both growing and have a number of exciting plans for the future. Let me share with you one story that was shared with us during the fellowship dinner that really warmed our hearts. A teenage young lady, a member of the church, invited two of her friends, who were brother and sister, to attend church with her. Neither of them had ever been in an SDA church before nor were any of their family SDA's. But after asking their parents they agreed to attend. They enjoyed their first church service and began to attend regularly, although their parents never attended with them. Just two weeks prior to our being there this brother and sister, 7th and 9th graders, were baptized together and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. And their parents were there to witness it! All because a young lady witnessed for Jesus and invited them to church. What a thrilling story it was!



That afternoon we made our way to the Columbia First Church where the town hall meeting was conducted. We were so appreciative of the large attendance and such a wonderful spirit. The time ended all too quickly.



On Monday the Executive Committee of the Conference met. One of the actions taken was to elect Ken Ford as director of the Health and Temperance and Stewardship departments. He will carry these responsibilities as well as continuing as director of Trust Services and Planned Giving. Ken has a real passion to see our health message presented and understood. He believes that stewardship of our physical health is integral to the overall understanding of stewardship. He is planning an aggressive schedule of promoting the health message as part of overall Christian stewardship and serving as a resource to our local churches. We welcome him to these added responsibilities.



Last Sabbath I spoke for the worship service in the Kernersville church. Again, a wonderful experience to worship with God's people. There are so many wonderful things happening there. Just last month during the Christmas season the Kernersville church provided the community with a "Walk through Bethlehem" at the church. Over 1,000 people attended and were blessed. In March John Earnhardt will be conducting an evangelistic series in their beautiful new family life center. God is greatly blessing their ministry.



That afternoon the second town hall meeting was conducted for the Triad area in the Kernersville church. Again there was a good attendance and a wonderful spirit as the officers of the conference gave a report on the state of the conference as well as reports on each of the departments of the conference.

This Sabbath I will be speaking in the Greenville, SC church. Bonnie and I greatly look forward to being with the folks there. Following this we will be going to Spartanburg, SC for another town hall meeting for the upstate region of South Carolina.

As the hours of the Sabbath draw near my prayer is that each of our churches will feel the presence of God and each of you will be greatly blessed as you worship Him. We have so much to be thankful for as followers of Jesus! May God richly bless you.

Your friend,
Jim