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President's Corner
Texico New Believers
The Texico New Believers' Retreat will be help at the Conference office on September 23-24.
We praise the Lord for individuals that have taken a stand for the Lord and Biblical truth. Throughout the years, the Texico Conference has been very active in evangelism that have resulted in thousands of baptisms. As a result, our Conference continues to grow.
As these "new babes" begin their Christian walk, they need to be welcomed into the family of God with our love, support and acceptance.
These newly baptized individuals have made the best and most important decision of their life. Now, they must lay a good foundation for their faith as they continue to walk with God. Whether you are a newborn Christian or a long time Adventist, to have a solid foundation for your faith, there are four important keys which are indispensable to the Christian life: daily Bible study, prayer, attending church and sharing your faith.
Reading the Bible on a daily basis helps to solidify our understanding of God and establish a relationship with Him. The Bible is considered the “user’s manual” of the Christian. Everything we need to know about God and living a life that pleases Him is found in these sacred pages. In our busy schedules, we need to set aside time to read and study His word. It is amazing how Bible study transforms our life.
Prayer is the key that unlocks heaven’s door; it is having a personal conversation with God. The Bible instructs us to pray without ceasing. Let's open our hearts to our Creator as we would to a close friend. We must take time each day to exalt God, making our requests known to Him, confessing our sins and asking Him for guidance.
One of the essential building blocks of spiritual growth is fellowship with other believers. The church, the body of Christ, will thrive when its members are spiritually active and well fed.
We not only need to be well fed spiritually, but also, it's essential that we share our faith with others. One of the greatest blessings of the Christian life is to lead someone to Jesus Christ. Your life will be renewed spiritually as you see an individual that you studied with being baptized.
Because we need to build a good foundation, the Texico Conference is hosting a New Believers' Retreat on September 23 and 24, 2016 at the Texico Conference office in Corrales, New Mexico.
Our main speaker will be Buford Griffith, Executive Secretary of the Southwestern Union Conference. It will be a joy to listen to his wife, Carmen, as she blesses us with her musical talent in praise to God. On Sabbath afternoon, Dr. David Merling will have a New Member Orientation class. Representatives from the Texico Conference will have presentations as well.
If you have been recently baptized within the last four years, please register at www.texico.org or by calling Sue at 505-244-1611. Hurry, space is limited!
P.S. If you have friends or family members that may be interested in attending this important weekend retreat, please encourage them to come.
Lee-Roy Chacon,
President
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Alamogordo Celebrates Being Debt Free
Alamogordo Church celebrates mortgage burning.
The Alamogordo Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated a prayed for, and long awaited day on July 9, as they gathered for their mortgage burning and are now enjoying being debt free!
Local church members, former pastors and Texico Conference officers were in attendance to participate in this momentous occasion. Local church leaders Annette Dunlap-Badjar, Jesse Cone, Stephanie Bedford and Gary Siebel also participated in the morning service. Retired pastor, Earl Robertson, began the celebratory Sabbath with the lesson study. Welcome and announcements were shared by current pastor, Chuck Workman, and previous pastor, Bill Kasper, told an engaging children's story. Mary Albright, Texico Associate Treasurer, called for the morning offering and her husband, Terry Roybal, blessed the congregation with an original "Love-song" for the special music. Texico Conference President, Lee-Roy Chacon, shared an inspirational sermon followed by Texico Secretary/Treasurer, Philip Robertson, who called officers and pastors to the platform for prayer and to light the fire they had all been waiting for!
Following the service, the celebration continued in the fellowship hall for a meal, where the "chefs" from the Alamogordo and Ruidoso Downs Churches outdid themselves in serving a scrumptious fellowship meal.
All in all, the members and invited guests reported a memorable, happy Sabbath celebration. To God be the glory; great things He has done!
By Chuck Workman
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Big Spring Hosts All-African Convocation
A district wide All-African Convocation held at the Big Spring (TX) Church.
On June 25, 2016, the All-African Convocation was held at the Big Spring Church. It was a district wide convocation of Pastor Abner Razon’s churches: Big Spring, Midland and Odessa.
The Sabbath School program and song services were handled by the Big Spring African members. The lesson study was facilitated by Philip Mainda, elder of the Midland Church. Pastor Lee-Roy Chacon, president of the Texico Conference, was the guest speaker for the worship service. Everyone was blessed with his message “Resolve To Commit Yourself.” It was a joyous Sabbath listening to the people and the children singing songs majestically. Guest singers included the Odessa Children’s Choir, who sang their songs energetically.
Texico Conference president, Lee-Roy Chacon, was the guest speaker for the worship service.
The Odessa Children's Choir performed, singing their songs with enthusiasm.
After the morning service, everyone had a chance to interact with each other during fellowship lunch. Special African food was served and sampled by those in attendance.
During the afternoon program, a presentation was given of the following African countries: Burundi, Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia and Nigeria. Each representative gave a short history about the Adventist work in their country. They also explained the symbols of the national flag and what they represent. The Odessa English Church choir rendered special music as well. The Texico Conference Centennial Celebration video was shown tracing the history of Seventh-day Adventism in New Mexico and West Texas. To close out the afternoon program, a devotional was given by Pastor Phil Robertson, secretary-treasurer of the Texico Conference. He challenged the members to be faithful to the Lord, and to witness for God wherever or whatever country they are from.
The whole Sabbath was truly a blessed day! No matter what race or color we are, we are all one in God’s sight. It was nice to see the different cultures united in serving God!
The Bible says in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Pastor Phil Robertson, Texico Executive Secretary/Treasurer, challenged the members to continue to be faithful to the Lord and be a witness for Him.
Submitted by: Rochelle Hayley,
Big Spring SDA Church
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Miracles in India
The Texico Conference/Rio Rancho Church Maranatha mission team in Mynso, Meghalaya, India in front of the church they helped construct.
Even though the building was not completed, church members from around the district sat in the rain to worship at the new church.
As our team of 21 people prepared for the Texico/Rio Rancho Maranatha mission trip to northeast India, we were excited, but also knew it might be a challenge to build a church during their rainy season. Prayers ascended for the project, including petitions for the Lord to help us be able to construct even though the rains were coming daily in that region.
When we arrived at the campus of Northeast Adventist College, near Jowai, in the state of Meghalaya, it was sprinkling. This would be our home for the next ten days while we constructed a church, held an evangelistic meeting and vacation Bible school in the little village of Mynso, approximately one hour away.
The first day at the construction site the sunshine gave way to light rain in the afternoon, but we were able to finish our day’s work. Unbeknownst to us, God was about to show us that He is in charge of our project and the weather.
During the evenings and all night long the rains would pour, but as we arrived in Mynso to work, it was not raining. I thought, what a blessing! This went on day after day, not once being delayed by rain. Near the end of the construction project, I was talking with the Maranatha building coordinator, and I mentioned to him how wonderful it was that every evening and night it was raining, but during the day it wasn’t. He said to me, “I don’t think you understand. It IS raining during the day in the areas all around us, just not in the village of Mynso. This is truly a miracle, because this just doesn’t happen. And to top it off, it is raining here at night, which is a real blessing, because the bricks and mortar need to be watered at night to cure properly and we haven’t had to come and water them.” This amazing occurrence in nature did not go unnoticed by the people of the village.
What a mighty God we serve! This is only one of the miracles that has taken place for the Mynso congregation, who have been meeting in homes, praying and sacrificing for a church building for over 50 years.
Several of the local church members shared how much they appreciated us building a church for them. One lady took my hand in both of hers and with tears in her eyes said, “I can never repay you! Thank you! I will see you in heaven!” As we embraced and looked at each other (now both through teary eyes), a great bond of Christian love was exchanged.
Sue Hinkle (left) with a local church member who came to show her gratitude for their new church building by saying, "I can never repay you!"
To be a part of a miracle is amazing! Our team’s lives were deeply touched as we worked, played and talked with the people of the village. The meeting hall overflowed with visitors for both the nightly evangelistic campaign and vacation Bible school programs. By the generosity of many, Bibles for adults and children were purchased and distributed, as well as, hymnals to supply the new church building. Other donations were given to help furnish the inside of the new building with pews, sound system, etc. In addition, clothing and other items were purchased and distributed to children in need, and money was given to support children in nearby Adventist schools.
Children's vacation Bible school
Who received the greater blessing, our team or the locals at Mynso? I don’t know, but our rewards were so great, that I can’t begin to share them all. One young team member said to me, “This trip has been a pivotal point in my life. I don’t know what would have happened to me if I hadn't come.” A young man on the team said he’s not sure what happened to him, but he can’t stop talking about God. Since returning home, he has been sharing with many people about what God is doing in his life. The stories are many and the impressions made are deep.
Evangelistic meetings were held in a local school building with standing room only and an overflow crowd outside the building.
We praise God for His abundant blessings and also for the 18 people who made decisions for baptism (eight were baptized the last Sabbath) in the village of Mynso.
By Sue Hinkle,
Texico Communication Director
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Treasure Trove
"The Widow's Mite"
Come with us to the time of Jesus, as we listen in on a conversation between two people in synagogue.
Do you see her? She’s right there------next to that marble pillar! I’m always amazed when I see “the widow” in the synagogue. She looks so out of place doesn’t she?
I know, right! It’s so ironic really------she obviously doesn’t want to be noticed, but, at the same time, she sticks out like a “sore thumb!” I mean, look at her! Where does she buy her clothes! (indicating his own clothes) Oh, do you like it? Yeah, isn’t it great?! I bought it over at Niemen Marcus-------the store on the Via De La Rosa!
I know, I love their selection of shawls! They’re ridiculously priced, but way worth it in my not-so-humble opinion (laughing). (whispering conspiratorially) I’ll let you in on a little secret-------I normally wait until they find their way to the “sales table.” I don’t tell anyone that because I want everyone to think I pay full-price! But when I saw this one, I just couldn’t wait and decided to pay the regular retail price-------and what a price!
(pointing to the widow) What is she doing? She’s making her way to the offering box. Don’t tell me she’s going to make an offering! What could she possibly have to give?
I’ve heard that, since her husband died, she barely has enough money to buy food (probably explains her attire)!
Yes, she is going to drop something in the box. Let’s listen! (silence . . . then incredulous) I didn’t hear anything! When I drop an offering into the box, it just about shatters eardrums!
Maybe she was just pretending to make an offering!
(pointing in another direction) Look, that crazy Galilean, Jesus, is about to say something.
Shhhh! I want to hear what He has to say about this! Should be good!
“Jesus called his disciples to him now and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
This story should remind us again that God greatly values our “heart offering” and actually despises a heartless offering--------no matter how large it is or how much noise it makes as it falls into the offering plate!
By Jeff Metherell,
Texico Association Secretary, Planned Giving and Stewardship Director
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GLOW Testimony: "Suicidal Executive Gets GLOW"
GLOW is a fun, easy and creative method for all, both young and old, to share the gospel through small pocket size pamphlets.
An Asian business executive in Los Angeles area just called GLOW. This man has had stress that is so intense that he is now dealing with extreme anxiety. He has recently gotten to the point of considering ending his life.
Recently, while traveling to work on the train, he was given a Steps to Health tract by a GLOWing church member. He read it, and called GLOW today (6-27-16). By the end of the conversation he had been prayed for at length twice and had signed up for Bible studies.
Pray for this man as we move to quickly connect him with the church as early as today!
Story copied with permission from "GLOW - Giving Light to Our World" Weekly Newsletter, July 1, 2016.
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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