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President's Corner
Prosper and Be in Health
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).
In this passage, John’s prayer for Gaius was a strong and earnest desire for health and prosperity. John valued health and prosperity as well as salvation.
In such a short book, why spend time with this subject? There were issues that needed to be resolved. Why worry about Gaius’ health? John shows a personal interest in the life of Gaius, and God has a personal interest in the lives of His followers.
Studying the health literature today, one could easily conclude that all you need to be healthy is a certain type of exercise or nutrition. Just eat right and stay fit, that is the formula for optimum health. Wholesome health or comprehensive health includes both the soul and the spirit.
We could possibly achieve the “pinnacle of nutritional and physical development and still not be wholly healthy.”
Ted Hamilton from the Adventist Health Systems in Florida continues, “Being wholly healthy requires us to contemplate and establish healthy priorities, to pursue balance in the activities of daily living, and to give intentional consideration to the care of body and mind, soul and spirit.”
John’s desire for good health for Gaius, and for us, is to function well physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Let us give the best of our body, mind and spirit to be used for His service.
Ted Hamilton, “Wholly Healthy, It’s a whole lot more than tofu and triathlons,” (Lincoln, Nebraska: Advent Source, 2012), vii and viii.
Lee-Roy Chacon,
President
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Conferences Receive Funds for Evangelism
Larry Moore, president of the Southwestern Union Conference presented a check for $85,000 to each conference president in its territory. These funds represent the Union operating gain for 2016 and are earmarked for evangelism activities throughout the Union.
We want to thank the Southwestern Union Conference for its generosity and continued emphasis on ministry and evangelism.
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Santa Fe Spanish District Brings People to Jesus
A total of 13 people were baptized at the conclusion of reaping meetings in the Santa Fe (NM) Spanish district.
The Santa Fe Spanish district (Airport and Marcy Park Churches) prepared a week-long series of reaping meetings called “Una Esperanza Para Santa Fe” (Hope for Santa Fe) with guest speaker Pastor Ernest Castillo, North American Division Vice-President for Multilingual Ministries.
Throughout the week, Pastor Castillo shared enthusiastic spiritual messages that engaged and encouraged our guests to attend without missing a night. On Wednesday night, Pastor Castillo made an altar call to pray for those who needed physical and spiritual healing. Then Thursday, he made another appeal where ten people decided to follow Jesus though baptism. Three more made their decision for baptism on Friday. We praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit’s leading!
Pastor Ernest Castillo, North American Division Vice-President for Multilingual Ministries
The music throughout the series was wonderful and inspiring. The local churches joined to form a praise team, which led beautiful songs to prepare the hearts of our guests every night. There were mini concerts by the Heraldos de Esperanza (Heralds of Hope) during the first part of the week. Then Adventist singer, Kelly Marchena, blessed us with his melodious voice.
Pastor Castillo gave a special gift to individuals who attended every night. Many visitors shared that they had been greatly blessed to learn about the Bible and that they didn’t want the meetings to end.
A great celebration took place on Sabbath, both at the church and in heaven, for the 13 people who took their stand for Jesus through baptism. Pastor Leonard Cummings made another appeal that afternoon and seven more people stood up indicating their desire to prepare for baptism. Praise the Lord for those precious decisions!
(below) Pastor Leonard Cummings conducts baptisms at the Santa Fe Marcy Park and Airport Spanish Churches at the conclusion of the meetings.
This week was not only one of hope, but of spiritual revival. It was a delight to those who participated. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalms 37:4).
By Edith Cummings
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"Apocalypse of Hope" Seminar in Odessa, TX
Richie Halversen conducts "Apocalypse of Hope" in Odessa, TX.
On February 4, thirteen new members were added to the Odessa English Seventh-day Adventist Church by baptism and profession of faith.
Through the joint efforts of the Texico Conference and the Odessa Church, a two week Daniel and Revelation seminar from January 21 to February 4, was successfully conducted for the city of Odessa, TX to reach souls for Christ. Pastor Richie Halversen, an ordained minister of the gospel from Mississippi, was the dynamic speaker for this evangelistic event.
It was a day of rejoicing when thirteen new members were added to the Odessa Church.
"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." May this precept resonate in our hearts so we will take a strong stand in the finishing of this work our Lord has commissioned us to accomplish.
By Dodie Pelopero
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Total Member Involvement Spreads Across Eastern Europe
 The Motoci Seventh-day Adventist Church near Craiova was one of over two thousand locations for the Total Member Involvement evangelistic meetings across Romania.
Five people from the Texico Conference were part of the evangelistic team in Craiova, Romania.
On February 7th, I was on my way to Romania where I would be one of over 2,000 speakers joining together to conduct evangelistic meetings throughout the country in conjunction with the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist “Total Member Involvement” (TMI) initiative. Last year TMI meetings were held throughout Rwanda, Africa with unprecedented success, but would it work in secularized Eastern Europe?
My destination was the city of Craiova, in the southwestern portion of the country. I would be preaching in the church of Motoci, a small community north of the city. This congregation is made up of about 50 friendly members.
The Motoci Seventh-day Adventist Church has a membership of 50 people.
The members and I were pleasantly surprised when 35 visitors attended the first night and attendance grew to over 45 as the series continued. This was quite a full house for this small church. As every chair was filled and more people were coming in the door, I invited people to come and sit on the side of platform. From that point forward, this became the children’s section, where they sat quietly to my left while I was preaching.
One group of visitors stood out in my mind. I found out that they were gypsies who were seeking the truth from God’s Word. Night after night they came and responded to the appeals to follow Christ. I had the opportunity to visit this group in one of their homes and we sat around their table enjoying the homemade treats and spiritual conversation for two and a half hours. The man of the house finally declared, with tears streaming down both cheeks, “I have to know the truth of the Bible.” This man and his wife both made the decision to prepare for baptism at the conclusion of our meetings.
Enjoying a time of food and Bible discussion with some of the visitors who were attending the evangelistic meetings.
Not only did our group hold evangelistic meetings, but we had many opportunities to share our faith with the hotel staff where we were staying. Many occasions arose to talk one on one with different employees.
To show our appreciation to the 25 staff members for their great care, we took up a collection of funds for “Steps to Christ” books in Romanian, which we each signed and also inserted 100 lei (which is about $25) before wrapping it. The day before we left, arrangements had been made to gather as many of the staff together so we could say thank you and give them their gifts. Several of the staff members became emotional and comments were heard from them like “No other group has ever treated us the way your team has!” “We wish you could stay.” Before checking out of the hotel, we saw several staff members reading their books.
Staff from the Hotel Royal in Craiova were honored by the evangelistic team for their wonderful care.
Were our evangelistic endeavors successful? I believe they were and only in heaven will we know how great the effect was. On June 3, 2017, Romania is planning a country-wide baptism for all those who are ready to make this commitment. Please remember these people in your prayers as they accept Christ and make their decisions to live for Him.
By Sue Hinkle,
Texico Communication Director and Assistant to the President
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Sue Hinkle Transitions to Adventist World Radio
Dear Texico Family and Friends,
When we work for the Lord we never know where He will take us or what new adventure He may have for us just around the corner. Such has been the case with me.
I want to let you know that God has recently called me to a different area of His harvest field. I have accepted a position at Adventist World Radio in Silver Spring, MD, which will become effective on April 9th. My last day of work in Texico will be on Thursday, April 6th.
I couldn't leave without telling you how much I have enjoyed meeting and working with many of you over my 12 1/2 years in this conference. It has been a great privilege to serve as the Communication Director and Assistant to the president.
May God bless and keep each one of you! Let us not grow weary in doing good, but press forward with God's help to finish the work He has given us to do.
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and THEN THE END WILL COME." (Matthew 24:14).
Sue Hinkle
Communication Director and Assistant to the President
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Texico Master Guide Winter Camp Out
Master Guides and Master Guide candidates join in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico to be trained in winter camping survival techniques.
For over twenty-five years, Pastor Derral Reeve, the Director for Club Ministries in the Texico Conference, has been taking students, youth, and Master Guides into snow covered areas to be trained in survival techniques. On January 13-15, a dozen Master Guides and Master Guide candidates joined him in the Jemez Mountains of Northern New Mexico for the weekend.
Participants were from Amarillo and Lubbock, TX and Rio Rancho, NM. Several of the attendees had taken part in this activity before, but for about half, it was the first time.
The event has a two-part purpose. One is to learn the mechanics of how to build a shelter and survive in the snow. Several ways were presented as to prepare a shelter. These included making an igloo, snow trench and plastic bag construction. The second is spiritual renewal and preparation for the time of trouble. For this, several discussions and presentations were held around the campfire.
The Master Guides learned several ways to make a shelter in the snow.
After arriving on Friday, each person built the shelter they would stay in during the weekend. Most prepared shelters made from filling plastic kitchen bags full of snow and piling them up to build walls. Next, the top was crisscrossed with poles of dead trees and covered with a tarp. Finally, the top was covered with snow and the bottom filled with pine needles for additional insulation. Mike Thomas, from Rio Rancho, had come earlier in the week and piled snow up in a mound. He hollowed the mound out in an igloo shape for his shelter.
Each individual was given demonstrations and instruction on fire starting without matches. Then everyone had the opportunity to make fire with at least three of these techniques. Some of the methods took quite a bit longer in the cold than when they had practiced them in the warm summer.
During the evening and morning devotional times, participants were asked to share parts of their own spiritual journey. On Friday evening, each person told about how they had accepted Jesus and the circumstances around their baptism. Sabbath evening was a time of rejoicing as each person shared a specific experience when they knew Jesus had been with them and led in a specific way. Sabbath morning, Pastor Reeve presented a message about the time of trouble and how the trouble would not be so much physical, like having to survive the elements, but more mental with the anguish of our steadfastness in Jesus and the uncertainty of those days.
A highlight of the weekend was getting about 12 inches of snow on Saturday night, and it was still falling on Sunday morning. God covered the whole area in a magnificent Winter Wonderland.
By Derral Reeve
Texico Conference Club Ministries Director
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First Book Published in the Texico Heritage Series
The first book in the Texico Conference Heritage Series is now available.
Pastor Joseph (Joe) Reynolds, author
The Texico Conference has published its first book in the upcoming "Texico Conference Heritage Series" which will be a historical account of Seventh-day Adventist history in the West Texas and New Mexico territory. Pastor Joe Reynolds, a descendant of New Mexican homesteaders, has written Seventh-day Adventists in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas 1881-1909. It is not story, but a compilation of news about Adventists that Reynolds found in archived secular and church papers of that time.
Pastor Lee-Roy Chacon's first book on the early Adventist work in West Texas is currently underway, as well as, two more volumes from Pastor Reynolds. This will be a great collection of historical value for our church.
For a sneek peek into this first volume and how to order your own copy, continue reading the promo below by Carol Schoun.
Religious Liberty Issues in New Mexico’s Early History
There were several happenings that affected the life of early Adventists settling in New Mexico Territory and the church’s evangelism: railroads; land grants and homesteading; and the national tuberculosis epidemic. Also, by 1890, most states had Sunday laws – restrictions on what people could do on that day. It is the latter that is highlighted here.
In 1889, the first evangelistic series was held in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Two of the evening presentations dealt with the separation of church and state, with a special emphasis on the National Sunday Law, which Congress had tried to pass the winter before. The attendance to these meetings was large.
In late 1904, Governor Otero recommended that the Sunday law of New Mexico be enforced. Chief Justice Mills wrote to the sheriff of Colfax County, instructing him to do so.
Knowing of this, Brother Emery K. Cassell of Raton, wrote a letter to the Colorado Conference (which New Mexico Territory was under) advising them of his determination to defy the law and work in his blacksmith shop on Sunday, as a witness to the truth of religious liberty. He did so and was arrested. Cassell appeared in court on March 31, 1905. When asked why he had worked on Sundays, Cassell replied, “I am a Seventh-day Adventist, I work six days a week and keep Saturday as my Sabbath, therefore, I feel I am entitled to work on Sunday.”
When asked if he knew that the Sunday law was a law of the territory, Brother Cassell said, “Yes, I did.”
Again, the judge asked, “Then why did you work on Sunday?”
Brother Cassell replied, “New Mexico law conflicts with the law of God, which requires the seventh day to be kept.”
The judge did not accept Brother Cassell’s arguments and sentenced him to fifteen days in prison plus $28.00, the cost of the court, which he could work off by spending another twenty-eight days in jail, for a total of forty-three days.
Elder H.M.J. Richards (father of H.M.S. Richards, Sr.), a Colorado Conference minister living in Loveland, Colorado, traveled to Raton in early April to see if he could be of help to Brother Cassell. He went into action by writing: (1) a letter to President Theodore Roosevelt; (2) an open letter to the citizens of New Mexico; (3) and another letter to the Attorney General of the United States. Copies of these letters are in Reynold’s book.
In a short time, Elder Richards created so much pressure on all who had put Cassell in jail that the people of Raton became stirred up. After several townspeople paid his court costs, he was freed from jail.
The Colorado Conference also requested that Elder Richards write a tract on this religious liberty situation. It has been reprinted in Reynold’s book.
So, we have a history of religious liberty being challenged in New Mexico Territory and an early example of the importance of the Church’s professional intervention to secure it for a church member.
Copies of Reynolds book can be purchased ($10.00) from the Texico Conference, P.O. Box 1366, Corrales, NM 87048 | Phone: 505-244-1611 | Email: texico@texico.org | Attention: Nancy Monge
By Sue Hinkle and Carol Schoun
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Treasure Trove
"Stewardship Isn't Just About Tithes and Offerings"
Years and years ago, as many of us sang that beloved Cradle Roll song, “The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock”, I doubt that we came close to grasping the powerful stewardship focus found in this catchy little ditty.
Of the many gifts, that our God faithfully bestows upon us, wisdom (James 1:9) is certainly one that is most vital to spiritual growth as well as helping all of us to navigate around the pitfalls of this sin-infested world! As is true with each of His gifts, we can choose to either be good stewards of wisdom or bad stewards. We can ignore or misapply this priceless gift just as surely as we can “turn a deaf ear” to the truths of our health message, or shun the rich blessings of the Sabbath.
But lest you think that such a decision is made with impunity, don’t forget to sing the rest of the song! For whatever reason----perhaps he thought he knew better or he simply resented wise words coming for any outside source----the foolish man decided to “build his house upon the sand.”
All of this is yet another great reminder of the holistic nature of stewardship (I’ll say it again, “It isn’t just about tithes and offerings!”). More than that, it is a huge reminder that stewardship----in all things----isn’t just a heavy-handed burden demanded by a capricious and arbitrary God (“Do it because I said so!”). It is, instead, a love-wrapped blessing from an all-wise, all-kind Creator! Don’t believe me? Go check out the “foolish man’s” house! You’ll find it down on the beach-----all over the beach!
By Jeff Metherell,
Texico Association Secretary, Planned Giving and Stewardship Director
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GLOW Testimony: "The Truth About Her Husband"
GLOW is a fun, easy and creative method for all, both young and old, to share the gospel through small pocket size pamphlets.
When Sandra* was young, she grew up thinking that when people died they rested in the grave. As she got older, however, she slowly adopted the popular view that when you die you go straight to heaven, until she had completely forgotten what she had believed when she was younger.
In 2015, her husband tragically died on her birthday. A few weeks after his death, she smelled the familiar smell of his aftershave one day and felt that he was there with her.
This thought remained with her until recently, when she found a GLOW tract entitled Can Dead People Talk? This tract caused her to question what she had taken as fact about her husband’s whereabouts upon death.
Instead of believing her feelings regarding the state of her late husband, she has decided to believe the clear, biblical truth regarding death found within the GLOW tract. She rebukes the Devil and realizes the tricks he is willing to play on sensitive souls in order to have them deceived.
This GLOW tract has led her to seek more Biblical truths, and she has currently signed up for Bible studies in her area!
She can truly say, as did Augustine, “Where I found truth, there found I my God, who is the truth itself!”
Keep GLOWing!
Maranatha!
*Not her real name.
Story copied with permission from "Midwest GLOW" Weekly Newsletter, February 17, 2017.
Sign up to receive GLOW e-updates: glownews.org
If you are interested in becoming involved with the GLOW ministry or purchasing GLOW tracts, please contact Derrick Williamson, Texico Literature Ministry Director, at dwilliamson@texico.org or 505-244-1611.
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