MBA Church Newsletter
April 09, 2003

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Monterey Bay Academy Church Newsletter - April 09, 2003
A Weekly Communication for the Church Family & Friends
http://www.mbachurch.org
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Contents
1. Pastor Update
2. Students to Speak This Weekend
3. Olive Grove Student Ministry Needs
4. Friday Sundown Time and Sabbath Offering
5. Church Budget Update
6. Ministry Idea & Training Opportunity
7. Prayer Walking, Part 2

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1. Pastor Update

Namaste!

Another discipline the great sages of all religions have stressed, in the pursuit of pure faith, is the discipline of non-judgment.

Towards oneself, and towards others.

This means that we intentionally practice the art of accepting things as they are. Not as they should be. We can wish for them to be different in the future. But for the present moment we accept all of what life is and brings, without judgment.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

This means that we accept not only the truth about the "treasure" [of God], but also the truth about the "jars of clay" [that we are].

To a world that has been crumbled up like a piece of paper in the tyranny of judgment (both self and other), Jesus came to unfold the paper in non-judgment and liberation.

The perfect example is the woman caught in adultery. A woman who was trapped in the web of guilt and sin. Jesus in a single moment liberated her to finally experience freedom from sin. But ironically, it came in the form of non-judgment.

John 8:10-11 "Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," she said.

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

The path to freedom never (I said, "never") comes through judgment and condemnation. It comes through non-judgment and acceptance.

Jesus' rather plain counsels on this agree with other great sages. Here's just two out of many:

John 3:17 "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

Love,
Samuel

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2. Students to Speak This Weekend

This will be another exciting weekend for me. I have two young people who came up to me at different times asking if they could share their faith in the form of a message. So, Senior Kacie C. will be speaking this Friday evening for vespers, and Junior Jeff T. will be preaching on Sabbath morning. Please pray for them and encourage them after their speeches.

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3. Olive Grove Student Ministry Needs

We are in need of some quilts and/or pillows that we can spread on the floor to sit on, lean on. God has been blessing our time of prayer and silence with the students. We are running out of floor/quilt space. So, if you have some quilts and/or pillows you would like to donate please call me at (831) 768-1175.

(Thank you Betty Baerg for those pillows and quilts. They were great. Students said, "Wow, we have something soft to lean on.")

But we need more. So, keep 'em coming if you have. We are also in need of some candles. Preferably with a soft aroma. Thanks, Sam

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4. Friday Sundown Time and Sabbath Offering

Sundown this Friday will be at 7:38 p.m., and this Sabbath's offering will be for Christian Record Services (CRS).

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5. Church Budget Update

Offerings to Date & Goals

Church Budget Monthly Goal $ 4,004 To Date $ 825.00
Computer & Projector Goal $10,000 To Date $ 7,055.96

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6. Ministry Idea & Training Opportunity

From time to time we will share a variety of ministry ideas. Here is one from the April issue of NAD's Monday FAX:

NEW SECULAR CAMPUS MINISTRY - SEEDS 2003, May 7-10 at Andrews University, will feature a new 9-seminar track, "Planting aStudent-Based Ministry on a Secular Campus. The purpose is two-fold: 1) to nurture Adventist young people and draw them closer to God and thechurch, and 2) to help them learn to reach out, minister to, and win their peers and professors for God. Dick Stenbakken, director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, will facilitate.

Topics will include: the vision for public campus ministries, current ministries, coaching student-based organizations, designing the ministry, witnessing to peers and professors, peer counseling, small group (cell) ministry, the Andrews University certificate program, and networking time.

Contact: 800-255-7568, 269-471-6706, or www.nadei.org and follow the links to SEEDS 2003. A worthwhile discount available until April 28.

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7. Prayer Walking, Part 2

Part 2 of the Prayer Walking pamphlet includes "Becoming a Prayer Mobilizer."

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© 2003 Monterey Bay Academy Seventh-day Adventist Church. All rights reserved.