The Cutting Edge - November 29, 2019

Current news from across the KS-NE Conference

View this email in your browser

The Cutting Edge

November 29, 2019

Here's what's happening across our Conference, at least what I've heard about. Feel free to share this with anyone!

“Last Sabbath’s worship service at Piedmont Park was a special one because we were blessed to witness a re-baptism and a profession of faith,” shares Vanessa Schaecher. “When a person decides to dedicate or rededicate their life to Jesus that is a very special moment! We were happy to join with the Angels’ celebration as Sindy and Sarah did just that.”

"This past Sabbath Virgil Covel had the privilege of baptizing his youngest daughter, Melita," says Cheryl Barker. "She attended all of the evangelistic meetings Brian McMahon did in Topeka and she came home one night and told her dad she had given her heart to Jesus and wanted to be baptized. What a blessing as a parent to hear your child has committed their life to God and even more special when you have the privilege of baptizing your child!" says Cheryl.

"Lincoln's Capitol View Church hosted another annual Thanksgiving concert last Sabbath," says Teresa Thompson. "Several musical selections from various musicians in our Lincoln churches offered an afternoon of praise and celebration to help us close the Sabbath and begin to think about the joy of the upcoming season. We are so thankful

for Lisette Parks, who once again coordinated the event, which featured the Piedmont Park church choir, a family trio, a trombone soloist, two harmonica players, and several other solo numbers with guitar and piano. Afterwards, we enjoyed some fellowship time with cookies in the comfortable Fireside Room," says Teresa.

"The College View Academy campus ministries outreach team has adopted three families in the Lincoln community and the students will be delivering boxes filled with yummy food for Thanksgiving dinner," says Missy Sorter. "Their boxes have been prayed over and our hope is that these families will see the love of Jesus through our gift boxes full of food!" says Missy.

"Forty-four people came to the Hays Chapel for our 2nd annual Thanksgiving dinner," says Pastor Mitch Elrod. "There were 17 people from the community that heard about it through our food bank ministry. We are excited about what God is up to in Hays," says Pastor Mitch.

"I was very grateful this last Monday to teach a Freshman Bible class at Midland Adventist Academy," says Pastor Doug Elsey (New Haven). "I was teaching them about the millennium."

We'd like as many Kansas-Nebraska Adventists as possible to complete a 10-question survey (5 minutes) to help us better serve the field through evangelism, church programs, and strategic planning. Please click here to complete the survey. Everything is anonymous and confidential. Your input matters. Thank you!!

Thank you, Pastor Trey Sharp (Great Bend / Hutchinson / McPherson) for a wonderful idea as we enter the Christmas season.

"Last Sabbath the members of our Norfolk church continued sending out Steps to Christ to inmates in the State prisons," says Mary Potmesil. "So far we have mailed out approximately 250 books. We have received some responses from inmates thanking us for the book and expressing their love for Jesus. One of these responses came from an inmate who is on death row! Please pray for our

Prison Ministry. We want to keep busy sharing the Gospel with our community members as well as those who are caught up in our prison system," says Mary.

"Last Sabbath we were blessed to ordain local elder Daniel Lawrence at the Hutchinson Church before the sermon by Pastor Trey and the Communion Service," says Jan Sexson. "Daniel is a very knowledgeable Sabbath School teacher as well as a wonderful speaker and singer."

"Our Thanksgiving Sabbath at Wichita Cornerstone was well attended by both members and visitors," says Pastor Ezra Okioma. "A delicious vegetarian meal was prepared and shared by all. We also enjoyed a special music that was presented. At the end of the worship service one young adult gave her life to be baptized," says Pastor Ezra.

"The Omaha Memorial Adventurers and Pathfinders packed Thanksgiving baskets again last Sabbath," says Pastor Delmar Austin. "Every year our Pathfinder Club helps provide Thanksgiving meals for needy families in Omaha."

"Last Sunday the Women's Ministries of Great Bend Hispanic had their activity and several women from the community attended," says Pastor Willy Vazquez.

"We had fun times prior to our Thanksgiving break at our Great Bend school," says Sherry Larson.."We enjoyed pizza and bowling with Stewart. Thank you Stewart for treating the students. We also enjoyed a special meal with our family and friends on Tuesday. The students help set up for the meal, served our drinks, and sang 'He's Ever Over Me.' It was a fun time for us all," says Sherry.

"The deadline for applications to join our Conference mission trip to Holbrook Indian School is fast approaching," says Pastor Tim Floyd. "We are anticipating this trip to cost participants $1,000 each. For more information please ask your Pastor, or click here," says Pastor Tim.

"This past Sabbath our Fredonia Church concluded a two week evangelistic series entitled 'What Does the Bible Say About...?'" says Pastor Francois Erasmus. "We had, on the average, six visitors attend each one of the 13 meetings. In the end, three visitors attended all 13 meetings, and two attended 12 meetings. One of our visitors, Linda

Blevins, who had already been attending church the last few months, made a commitment to join our congregation by Profession of Faith. The commitment of our members--providing a meal to go along with each meeting--their hard work and dedication to the Lord is what made the meetings a blessing," says Pastor Francois.

"This past Sabbath our Enterprise church hosted another free community lunch!" says Lisa Jahn. "This time we had almost 40 visitors! It was a great day full of good food and meeting new people!" says Lisa.

"I made it home from visiting our Union College student missionaries in Micronesia," says Pastor Rich Carlson (chaplain). "They are all doing really well teaching at our Adventist schools on the islands. I preached last Sabbath on Pohnpei," says Pastor Rich.

"Our Hays Maranatha Christian School had a special day this past week," says Pastor Mitch Elrod. "After lunch, the students and parents and teacher along with Bev and I, went into Hays to welcome a 135 year old locomotive as it entered the old depot area. It was very cold and awesome experience for all!" says Pastor Mitch.

“Last Sunday afternoon found a group of Piedmont Park members volunteering for the Center for People in Need’s Giving Thanksgiving event,” shares Vanessa Schaecher. “Piedmont Park’s Community Connections Ministry Chair, Hugh Davis, reports that he is ‘grateful for those that were able to spend a few hours out of this beautiful day to worship Christ through service in our community. Some helped bag groceries, others recycled boxes the food came in, while some sorted boxes and boxes of potatoes and apples and bagged them for distribution to families.’ The tradition of volunteering at Giving Thanksgiving is one that Piedmont Park members have participated in for over 5 years. What a joy and blessing!”

"George Stone School participates annually in the Operation Christmas Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry," says Jenienne Kriegelstein. "Many thanks to the caring families who helped by stuffing 24 boxes! Lower grades made Pilgrims representing their family cultures. The students always look forward to Thanksgiving Jingo. We enjoyed our delicious Thanksgiving dinner tradition. Thank you, Mrs. Simpson!" says Jenienne.

“Thanks to Piedmont Park’s Community Connections Ministry we were able to partner with CenterPointe’s Coats for Hope collection drive,” shares Vanessa Schaecher. “For several weeks members brought new/gently used winter gear for a collection for

CenterPointe. On Sabbath, CenterPointe’s director of donor engagement joined us during announcement time to collect our donations and share a little about their work specializing in co-occurring mental health and addiction treatment for low income and homeless adults in Lincoln. Piedmont Park was thrilled to donate over 30 coats and two full boxes of gloves, scarves, hats and boots to help these individuals through the cold months to come.”

"The 2020 Broken Arrow Ranch Summer Ministry Program staff applications are up and active!" says Tim Floyd (Youth/Young Adult Director). "If you're 16 or older and looking for a great summer job that helps prepare you for a life of service to Christ, then join our summer family! Click here for staff applications. The staff recruitment video can be found here.

The offering this Sabbath is for the special Mid-America Union project in Guam-Micronesia. We are partnering with the Adventist school on the island of Chuuk. "The Guam-Micronesia Mission (GMM), affiliated with the North American Division, serves the people of the western Pacific Ocean." Read more...

Here's what some of us from the office are up to....

No one accepted preaching appointments for this Sabbath as everyone is enjoying time with family on this holiday weekend.

**If you know something that you think would be of interest to other Kansas-Nebraska Adventists, please let me know. I am trying to keep everyone on the "cutting edge" by sending this out each Friday.

Have a wonderful Sabbath!