THE VIEW
May 2024
Longview Heights Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Mission: Reflecting C.H.R.I.S.T.
Minister Alex Horton, Pastor
FATHER'S DAY | JUNE 16, 2024
DAD
God took the strength of a mountain & the majesty of a tree.
The warmth of a summer sun, the calm of a quiet sea.
The generous soul of nature & the comforting arm of night.
The wisdom of the ages and the power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring & the faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity & the depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it … ‘DAD!’
Author: Unknown
God's Masterpiece is Mother by Herbert Farnham
“God took the fragrance of a flower…
The majesty of a tree…
The gentleness of morning dew…
The calm of a quiet sea…
The beauty of the twilight hour…
The soul of a starry night…
The laughter of a rippling brook…
The grace of a bird in flight…
Then God fashioned from these things
A creation like no other,
And when his masterpiece was through
He called it simply – Mother.”
Hear The Pennies Dropping?
Author: Claude Jones
“Hear the pennies dropping? Listen as they fall. Everyone for Jesus, He will get them all. Dropping, dropping, dropping, dropping, hear the pennies fall. Everyone for Jesus, He will get them all”. Those are the words that I learned in the Sabbath School kindergarten class when I was a young boy. We would sing that as we gave our pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. There were many types of offerings in those days. There was Sabbath School offering, 13th Sabbath Offerings, which went to missions. There was Investment Offering, Birthday Thank Offering, Ingathering Offering, and the Building Fund. Of course, you had the tithes and offerings, which were collected during the morning worship service. What happened to all of those free-will offerings? Who collected them, kept the records and made sure the church expenses were handled correctly? Down through the years, dedicated teams in the treasury department worked tirelessly, managing the church's finances with diligence and care.
One of the most noted treasurers was Sis. Lillie Guy, who served at the helm for over forty years. She led a small team of volunteers who shared her passion for stewardship and financial responsibility. Together, they ensured that every penny entrusted to the church was used wisely and for the greater good of the congregation and to share the gospel. Sis. Guy was incredibly gifted by God with an amazing aptitude for numbers, despite not being a licensed accountant. She used an adding machine to tally the numbers, but often didn’t need it because of her incredible ability to calculate the numbers in her head. Equipped with a pencil and a ledger book, the financial records were completed by hand with astonishing precision. Her team of Elizabeth Sherman, Katherine Currie, Velma Anderson, Leola Davis, Elaine Turner, Robert Buckingham and others, worked tirelessly to make certain every donation was handled with integrity. Sis. Guy ensured the financial books were balanced and reports were prepared for the church board, timely and without error.
In the Seventh Day Adventist Church, all money given does not stay at the local church. Because of the global mission of spreading the gospel, each church contributes funds to help to fulfill the commission. Money is sent from the local church to the regional conference and eventually to the General Conference, where the resources are distributed throughout the world. This system often presented some challenges. Sometimes, after the obligated funds were sent to the conference, limited funds were left to operate the local church. This problem was sometimes amplified when a pastor, under pressure from the conference president, would ask Sis. Guy for funds to reach a conference goal (e.g. Ingathering). Sis. Guy’s response was, “Pastor, we don’t have much money, so if you want to reach the goal, you need to pray first and secondly, you’ll have to ask the people to raise it. The church can’t give you the money for a conference goal. We have to keep the lights on here.” That would be the end of the discussion! Sis. Guy was a dedicated treasurer with a heart of gold who made sure that the donations were processed on time and the bills were paid promptly.
Sis. Elizabeth Sherman later on was asked to serve as the Head Treasurer. She had been a part of the treasury team for years so her knowledge and skill was valued. Under her leadership the treasury department worked tirelessly, managing the church's finances with exceptional skillfulness. Sis. Sherman’s tenure was not long before she suddenly passed away.
The torch was then passed on to Elaine Turner, who like Sis. Sherman, had been a part of the treasury team for a number of years. She and her team continued to run the department with accuracy and integrity. One of the challenging aspects of managing the Treasury Department was dealing with other financial issues that came as ministries expanded. There were repair contracts, church school mortgage, utilities, insurance on three church owned properties and church vans (including repairs), property taxes, church school subsidies, church employees’ salaries, and a host of other fiscal issues. In addition, the membership had grown and the various church ministries needed to be funded. A Budget Ways and Means Committee was formed to help deal with these “good problems”. Working with the Treasury Department, this committee would tackle some of the difficult issues and make recommendations to the Church Board, which would then bring the reports to be voted by the congregation. Bro. Thelbert Martin was selected to lead this group along with the Head Treasurer, Head Deacon, Pastor and another member from the congregation. Despite the demanding nature of their work, the treasury team and the budget committee never wavered in their commitment. They understood the importance of transparency and accountability, and they strived to maintain the trust of the church members who generously contributed to the ministry's work. Because of health concerns, Bro. Martin resigned and the leadership of the Budget Committee was passed on to Bro. Robert Buckingham. Under his leadership, the Committee worked to supply various departments with monthly funds to operate their ministries. This was the first time this process was implemented. Prior to this, when a department needed money, the department leader would have to go to the treasurer and plead. Now, because of being included in the budget, the various ministries could plan and operate more efficiently.
Succeeding Bro. Buckingham was Dr. Charlie Folsom Sr. The Budget Ways and Means Committee was renamed to the Finance Committee. He and his team continued to work with Elaine Turner and the Treasury Department to help the church maintain financial stability. Whenever there was an urgent matter like a roof repair or some other emergency, the finance committee and treasury team sprang into action, coordinating with contractors, negotiating costs, and sometimes tapping into emergency funds to cover the expenses. Sacrificial Giving was also introduced to the congregation around this time. The members were periodically asked to give to this special offering, above the regular tithes and offering. These contributions were used to cover pending needs, and to make sure that the church didn’t operate in a deficit.
After serving a long tenure, of 30 years, as Head Treasurer, the responsibility was passed from Elaine Turner to Shannon Brown, who presently holds the position. Like Elaine, Shannon had worked in the Treasury Department for years so the transition was smooth. Edith Cleveland and Elaine Turner presently serve as assistants. Ricky Johnson, Joseph Morris, Jackie Morris and Mya Townsell also work in the department.
The Covid-19 pandemic, brought challenges and changes. Many of the offerings are now given online in various ways but the team still manages to track and record every donation. At Longview, when the team is working, the first thing they do before they start is have prayer. They realize that it’s all God’s money and they endeavor to handle it carefully. Afterwards, a whirlwind of activity starts. You will find tithe envelops being opened, and the contents carefully counted and recorded, dollar bills and coins being separated and counted. The Sabbath School offering is counted and recorded. Entries are made into the computer along with a considerable array of other things before the funds are deposited in the bank.
Occasionally, when the tally is off, everything will be recounted again and again until the problem is found. They have been known to literally stay for hours until they were satisfied that everything was correct. Regardless of the adversities, the team continues to persevere.
Their efforts haven't gone unnoticed. The church leadership and members alike appreciate the dedication of the treasury department.
As the church embarks on a major renovation project, the treasury department will play a necessary role in helping the church accomplish that goal. The treasury department's hard work and dedication has resulted in the church succeeding financially, allowing it to expand its ministries, support Christian education, and bless those in need. The team has remained steadfast in their commitment to stewardship, knowing that their work is not just about numbers, but about enabling the church to fulfill its mission and make a positive impact in the world. Keep dropping those pennies. They are in good hands with the Longview Treasury Department.
Mother's Day
"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.”
“Of all the gifts that life has to offer, a loving mother is the greatest of them all.”
“Mothers are smiles and hugs and caring, but most of all, they're love.”
Greetings ladies, Mother's Day is fast approaching and we want to celebrate our amazing mothers. The colors for the day are pastels. Please feel free to adorn your hats.
The overall theme for Children’s Church this year is “Fruits of the Spirit”
Below are the dates/themes for each Month this year:
January 13th | Joy
February 10th | Love
March 9th | Faithfulness/ Resurrection
April 13th | Peace
May 11th | Gentleness/Mother’s Day
June | No Children’s Church Skip due to Camp Meeting
July 13th | Patience
August 10th | Self-Control/Back to School September 14th = Kindness
October 26th | “Fall 4 Jesus” Trunk Show November 9th = Goodness/Wrap-Up
December | No Children’s Church due to Children’s Day
Potatoes, the Almost Perfect Food
Rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein, the potato is an almost perfect food. When consumed raw, white potatoes have high concentrations of protease inhibitors, compounds known to block carcinogens. The chemicals in potatoes protect against viruses even better than soybean inhibitors. The skin of the potato is particularly rich in chlorogenic acid that prevents cell mutations, the precursor to cancer. The skins have antioxidant activity which gives them the ability to neutralize free radicals that damage cells.
Take note that the consumption of potatoes could be detrimental to diabetics, as they raise insulin and blood sugar levels quickly.
A baked potato, eaten with the skin, has about 220 calories, is high in vitamins B and C, iron, potassium, a small amount of protein, and fiber. When you add fat to the potato, it reduces the nutritional qualities. Unfortunately, much of America’s potatoes are eaten fried, dehydrated, or frozen. French fries and hash browns are soaked in fat. Mashed potatoes and scalloped potatoes are made with butter and milk, or cream. Baked potatoes are often served with butter and sour cream. Potato salad is mostly fat, because of the mayonnaise content.
Eat the potato skin to get the greatest amount of nutrients from your potato. Do not eat the skin if it is green, it may make you ill if eaten in large quantities. So peel away the green area and any sprouts. To keep potatoes fresh, buy them in small quantities. When exposed to light or partially, green potatoes produce solanine, a toxic chemical, this is the reason they turn green. If you see green or partially green potatoes, they have been exposed to some light. Be sure to keep potatoes in a cool dark place, but not in the refrigerator. Also, don’t store potatoes near apples as doing so may alter their taste.
Raw potato juice is an excellent source of potassium and good for all heart disorders. Cut out the very center and juice the well-scrubbed skins with about one inch of potato. When boiling potatoes, drink the broth that is left over. Most of the potassium content is lost in the water.
The 4th Annual Vegan Festival is Coming Soon!
The LVH Health Ministry will have a booth at this year's Vegan Festival to be held Sunday, June 16 at 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, located at Fourth Bluff in Downtown Memphis. Come out and join the festivities! Admission is FREE!
Submitted by Thomas Yates
Many have had the “great” experience of driving in your car when, suddenly, behind you blue and red light flash, and then the sound of a siren fills your ears.
You pull over, an officer approaches and, after a few minutes, you are the proud owner of a ticket for a traffic violation, which, of course, you have to pay or else face even worse consequences.
Now, what does this have to do with why Seventh-day Adventists have been strong promoters of religious freedom and the separation of church and state?
The answer stems from a fundamental difference between how church and state work.
The state—symbolized here by the officer giving you a ticket—works with, well, to put it bluntly, force. Yes, force, as in the power to fine you, or the power to put you in jail. It’s the nature of a state, any state, to employ force in order to keep the peace, safety and stability of a nation. In most places, people obey the laws of the land because the state has the power to punish them if they don’t.
Contrast that principle with faith, biblical faith. Jesus said that the first and most important commandment was to love “God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Yes, the essence of true biblical faith stems from love, not force—and love, to be love, has to be freely given or else it’s not really love.
Thus, a radical difference exists between church and state. Most people don’t obey traffic laws or tax laws or other laws of the land out of love, do they? No, they obey it because the government uses power to compel that obedience. In contrast, God doesn’t force us to obey Him. No, instead He wants us to follow Him and obey Him freely, out of a heart of love. As the Bible says, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3).
Here, then, is the bottom-line difference: government uses force, but God uses love. The principle behind religious freedom, or separation of church and state, is to try, as much as possible, to keep these two realms separate, or else you wind up with the government using force to compel things that should be done only out of love.
There are, as we all know, terrible stories of what has happened when a state compels religious observance. Those who practices differed from what the state wanted to enforce would often face terrible persecution simply because they wanted to be faithful to their understanding of what God asked them to do.
This is something that Seventh-day Adventists are sensitive to, because our practice of keeping the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday), as opposed to the more commonly kept first day of the week (Sunday), has at times put us in conflict with governments that enforce Sunday closing laws. Thus, from the earliest times of our existence, we have placed a great emphasis on religious freedom, not just for ourselves, but also for everyone. After all, if God doesn’t force us to obey Him, what makes the state think it should?
Jesus said: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s,” (Matthew 22:21). Sure, Caesar had the right to issue tickets for traffic violations. That’s his job. But when it comes to matters of faith, how you worship, what day you worship on, how you pray, and many other things that involve religious belief and practice, the safest course is for the government to stay as far away as possible.
Some things belong to force, some only to love, and we need the wisdom to know the difference between the two.
Birthdays | Anniversaries | Graduations | Special Events
The View would like to include all birthdays, anniversaries and special events in the church newsletter. Please send photos, videos and information to theview685@gmail.com.
Please continue to pray for our members who are resting and recovering.
SABBATH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Claude Jones, Jr.
Sabbath School Advisors
Brenda Cowan | Alicia Steele
Sabbath School Program Director
Micheal Cleveland
Sabbath Morning | 11:30 a.m. In-Person
Sabbath School Overtime 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Knowledge & Interaction: The Value of Sabbath School
By Christina Norris | Southern Tidings Magazine
When James White wrote the first Sabbath School lesson in 1852, the concept was not new. Sunday School, with the original intent to provide education to illiterate children who worked Monday-Saturday, began almost 100 years earlier, according to Christianity Today. However, as the Adventist Church was in its forming stages, the first Sabbath School lessons placed an emphasis on the need for personal Bible study.
Today, Sabbath School still holds significant importance, serving as a platform for education, spiritual growth, and community bonding.
Bible Study and Knowledge
Leading up to Sabbath, members worldwide study their weekly Sabbath School lesson in preparation for Sabbath discussions. Terri Taylor, Sabbath School general superintendent for Berean Church in Atlanta, Georgia, emphasized the essential link between Bible study and Sabbath School.
“If I had to sum up Sabbath School, it’s Bible study,” said Taylor.
According to Darryl Howard, M.Div., South Atlantic Sabbath School ministries director, Sabbath School serves as a foundational element in the Church.
“Sabbath School is a very important part [of the Church] because it links the Church together in study,” emphasized Howard.
Echoing this sentiment, Sabbath School coach Curtis Hall highlights its role in fostering a stronger church community through personal Bible study and discussions.
“I believe Sabbath School is an opportunity because Sabbath School done right is our chance to investigate the Bible, to understand its principles, and to have discussions about how it’s applicable in our lives,” said Hall.
Both Howard and Hall assert that Sabbath School is equally as important as the divine church service.
Interaction and Relationships
One of the primary differences between Sabbath School and divine church service is the interactive element of Sabbath School. Whereas the church service is often enjoyed from an observer viewpoint, Sabbath School allows active participation.
Hall believes there are three “I’s” in Sabbath School: information, inspiration, and interaction. Without interaction, Hall says Sabbath School can become boring.
“You must have interaction today if you want to grow Sabbath School,” said Hall. “…Interaction is vital.”
This interaction is not only confined to discussing the Sabbath School lesson, but also includes personal matters. Howard suggests that Sabbath School, in addition to Bible study, is also about building relationships and a stronger church bond.
“Sabbath School is the one framework and one time element on a weekly basis that members can interact and find out how one another’s doing,” explained Howard.
For Esther Green, M.Div, it was this combination of interaction and relationships through Sabbath School that kept her in the Church.
Upon moving to Atlanta in 2004, she attended a church where Hall led a Sabbath School class. Engaging discussions and Hall’s insightful questions captivated Green, contrasting sharply with her struggle to stay awake during the divine service. Week after week Green experienced the same cycle, enjoying Sabbath School and then falling asleep during the church service. She was frustrated and resolved to stop going to church altogether, planning to listen to sermons on CDs. However, Green felt a calling to continue attending Sabbath School. Over time, she found a church she resonated with, eventually becoming a Sabbath School teacher herself.
However, challenges arose when Green started seminary at Andrews University. Viewing Sabbath School as an extension of her academic workload, she gradually attended less frequently. The onset of the pandemic in 2020 further disrupted in-person church gatherings, prompting Green to reconnect with Hall. She asked him to do something for all the people who still longed for Sabbath School. In response, Hall initiated “Hit the Mark” Sabbath School, an online Sabbath School class with panelists.
About three months into “Hit the Mark,” Hall asked Green to participate as a panelist. She agreed and has often appeared as a panelist since.
“I credit Sabbath School for rescuing me,” said Green. “Hall rescued me by asking me to participate.”
Today, Green has her own training program for Sabbath School teachers, hoping more teachers can do what Hall did in her life: interact and engage with Sabbath School participants.
Training
Sabbath School training plays a crucial role in equipping individuals with the necessary skills to effectively lead Sabbath School. Unfortunately, many individuals lack formal training in this area, often leading to missed opportunities for enriching Sabbath School experiences.
Howard said training Sabbath School leaders is critical because it helps them become facilitators, which fosters more interaction.
“A facilitator allows the class to grow and to express themselves. And so, we’re trying to get churches to shift from the teacher mode to the facilitator mode,” said Howard.
The South Atlantic Conference offers training for Sabbath School superintendents and teachers by going into an area and inviting 15-20 churches to attend a Sabbath afternoon resource and strategies session.
The Gulf States Conference also sees the importance of Sabbath School training and annually holds a training in February. These meetings help adult Sabbath School teachers, superintendents, and personal ministries leaders create more immersive and mind-stimulating environments.
“Sabbath School is a most important ministry as we have the vital task of teaching individuals how to study the Bible,” said Martin Fancher, Gulf States Conference executive secretary.
Challenges
Despite the personal testimonies and acknowledged importance of individual study and connection, many Sabbath School leaders have observed an underappreciation of Sabbath School on all Church levels, from members to Church leaders.
“Sabbath School is not valued as it should be in our Church,” said Hall.
These observations are reinforced by statistics within the Southern Union. Recent data suggests an overall decline in Sabbath School, according to David Long, Southern Union Sabbath School director.
Innovation
To address Sabbath School’s challenges, churches are implementing innovative strategies. Howard and Taylor advocate for renaming Sabbath School classes as a tactic to boost attendance. For instance, the Berean Church rebranded a class to attract a broader audience, especially those unfamiliar with Sabbath School.
“We decided on [renaming the class] “Atlanta Berean Good News Bible Study” … because we’d like to emphasize Bible study,” said Taylor.
Since the pandemic, many churches have added online Sabbath School classes. Long said that while physical attendance is down, online Sabbath School attendance has greatly impacted some churches.
“Some of the Sabbath Schools I have talked to doubled, and some have even tripled in attendance because of their online presence,” said Long.
Some churches have seen a need for Sabbath School classes which provide an alternative study approach to the Adult Sabbath School lesson offered by the Church. About a decade ago, the “Grace and Truth” class was initiated by Terry Shaw, AdventHealth president/CEO; Loran Hauck, a member of the Leadership Institute team at AdventHealth; and Ted Hamilton, former chief mission integration officer at AdventHealth.
This Sabbath School class follows a book-by-book study method, with open discussion encouraged. Their studies focus on knowing God, lifting up Jesus Christ, and practicing love guided by the Holy Spirit.
“We also poll the class from time to time on what they would like to study; what do they have questions on; how to best use the time together to learn, grow, and expand our understanding of the Scripture,” said Hamilton.
This approach to Sabbath School consistently draws 50-70 attendees each week since its inception. The group has fostered a sense of community not only through Bible study and discussion, but by meeting outside of Sabbath morning class time. The group gathers socially, either rotating through one another’s homes or meeting elsewhere in small groups. At least once a year, the whole class will choose one Sabbath to worship and study together outside at the park.
Sabbath School Classes
Primary | Ages 5-10 | Mary Tate | Alice Conley | Tammy Sims
Juniors | Tanya Elliott
Teen & Youth | Joseph Morris
Young Adults | 18+| Brian Johnson | Lanita Johnson
Adult Teachers | Herbert Brown, Jr. | Florine Jones | Gwen Simon | Sandra Johnson | Charlean Seay | Roger Turner | Claude Jones, Jr. | Brenda Cowan
Click Below to Study God's Word
Longview Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church
Email: theview685@gmail.com
Website: https://longviewheightstn.adventistchurch.org/
Location: 685 East Mallory Avenue, Memphis, TN, USA
Phone: 901-774-5431