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CONTENTS
Steven Poenitz
Indiana Conference President
1
Spiritual Empowerment
3
Empowering Young
Adult Leaders
5 The Highest of All Gifts
6 Evangelism
7 The Priesthood of All
Believers
9 Indiana Academy
11 Hispanic News
12 News
Dear Indiana Brothers and Sisters,
CONFERENCE CONNECTION
Volume 26, Number 3
3rd Quarter 2015
A quarterly publication of the
Indiana Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists® for its constituents.
P.O. Box 5000
Westfield, IN 46074
www.indysda.org
Editor in Chief: Steven Poenitz
Managing Editor: Colleen Kelly
Layout/Design: April Silva
Printer: Color Press
Spiritual
Empowerment
This past summer I’ve encountered three distinct episodes of spiritual empowerment1. At Timber Ridge
Camp (TRC) on a Thursday night I encountered a spiritual passion to lead young people to Jesus by our youth
staff. The campers responded to the spiritual appeal at the campfire program. While mingling with one staff
member, he told me that’s why he came to TRC because of the spiritual appeal he found at our camp. Four
hundred young people gave their hearts to Jesus this past summer with eight baptisms so far! Thanks, Pastor
Charlie & Trish Thompson and youth camp staff for empowering our young people!
My second encounter with spiritual empowerment came from
a report that nearly 100 Timber Ridge campers from the West
Indy neighborhood church plant (WIN) were sponsored to camp
this summer. On Sabbath, August 8, four of those WIN boys
were baptized! Thanks to Pastor Nelson & April Silva and the
Brownsburg Church for empowering our youth and sponsoring
them to a full week of evangelism and outreach at camp! These
are life-changing experiences for eternity.
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On Sabbath August 1, we witnessed a stirring passion
for mission as nearly 200 Maga-book students2 revealed
spiritual empowerment for mission. At our Indiana
Academy campus the Maga-book teams from Indiana and
Michigan celebrated the conclusion to their summer doorto-door work by a weekend iShare Rally highlighting God’s
providences.
How was that passion demonstrated? Through rousing song services, testimonies reported, and victories
recounted from door-to-door literature sales and Bible study enrollments across Indiana—Evansville,
Columbus, Crown Point, Lafayette, etc.
Many rally attendees exclaimed, “That was an inspiring Sabbath!” As our Lake Union President Don Livesay
appealed to those students for future full-time service as pastors, teachers, and treasury workers, 50-plus young
people responded to the call. Moments later the remaining young people chose to commit their lives to Jesus
for life-long ministry in their anticipated professions.
iShare Sabbath demonstrated how the baton of
leadership can be handed to our young people. They
are being empowered as able leaders of God’s cause.
“With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly
trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a
crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be
carried to the whole world” (Ed 271)! Thanks, Pastor
Matt & Amanda Hasty, for coordinating the summer
Maga-book ministry with the students in Indiana!
Yes, they uplifted Jesus in outreach to campers and
door-to-door ministry;
Yes, our youth experienced spiritual empowerment
for ministry;
Yes, many will attend Adventist Christian institutions
this coming school year;
Yes, like our Seventh-day Adventist® forbearers,
young people were mentored in the prime of their life
for ministry;
And yes, many responded to the call to become church
Back in May our pastors met at Timber Ridge Camp leaders as pastors and teachers—thus carrying on
to chart the future course for the Indiana Conference. the legacy of the Three Angels’ Messages.
The pastors now recommend that the laity of Indiana
consider these Big Five+ as initiatives to be presented
Should we not each summer prior to the General
in Fall Focus Groups around the state:
Conference 2020 Session in Indianapolis support and
recruit more youth as we plan our outreach efforts?!
1. Promote Outreach/Evangelism
How about your summer? Did you empower young
2. Empower the laity
people in mission? Maybe distributing GLOW tracts
together, conducting Bible studies with our youth,
3. Foster Adventist Christian education
taking a young person with you on a hospital visit,
4. Mentor Youth/Young Adults as spiritual leaders
sponsoring a young person from your church for
Adventist Christian education, or preparing a young
5. Support our Teachers and Pastors
person to conduct an evangelistic meeting on March
+ Prepare for GC 2020 Session in Indianapolis
28, 2016 (our churches will be holding meetings with
the other Lake Union churches)—you and the Holy
Question? Did the episodes cited above about the Spirit fill in the blanks!
camp staff, the West Indy Church Plant, and the 20
Maga-book students fit the recommended Big Five+ Yours for empowering our young people as church
and community leaders,
Vision?
Bro. Steve
1Spiritual empowerment is the process whereby people (especially our youth) are given the ability, authority, and agency to make
decisions and to experience the Holy Spirit’s work in their own lives and the lives of other people.
2Maga-book students are summer literature evangelists who seek donations for Seventh-day Adventist® message books. They go
door-to-door finding thirsty souls for eternal matters.
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Written by
Charlie Thompson
Youth/Pathfinder Director
Indiana Conference
Photos by
Colleen Kelly
Indiana Conference
Many people think of Timber Ridge Camp (TRC) as a place where
campers spend a week experiencing new activities, meeting new
friends and learning more about Jesus. This is all true. However, TRC
has another mission as well; the mission to train young adult leaders.
Through the years, hundreds of young people have worked at camp
as counselors, lifeguards, wranglers in the horse barn and many other
areas. Their experience has led them to make life decisions and has
enhanced their leadership potential.
Empowering
Young Adult
Leaders
As an example, after a week of orientation and training, counselors are
put in charge of 8-12 campers. They are responsible for making sure
the campers are on time for meals and all the daily activities. They are
responsible for discipline and personal needs of these campers. They
also become aware that they are Christian role models for each child in
their cabin. It is amazing each year to watch counselors embrace this
role and grow into youth leaders.
There are also opportunities at camp for young adults to learn
management skills. TRC is divided into areas with a young adult
“ADMIN” staff in charge. As an “A-STAFF,” they are responsible to take
care of the needs of those working under them as well as keeping each
area running safely and smoothly. Many of our TRC staff members who
have attained this level of leadership at camp move on to become
successful pastors, teachers, doctors as well as other leadership areas.
Many have commented that they learned much about leadership
while working at camp.
Arlene Giron, Girl’s Director, and Richard Davisson, Boy’s Director
(pictured right), will be using skills learned at TRC as they move
forward in their lives. Arlene is now an Assistant Girls Dean at Bass
Memorial Academy in Lumberton, Mississippi. Richard is a teacher
at the Village Elementary School in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Both
of these Christian young adult leaders acknowledge that they will be
using skills in their new positions that they learned at TRC. “Camp has
groomed me for my new job,” Arlene said. “I learned how to discipline
with a fair, kind and just manner.”
__________
TRC is more than just
a summer camp. It’s a
place where Christian
leaders are developed!
3 CONNECTION
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Arlene Giron, Joe Rivera, and Rabel Ortiz at the
activity headquarters table down by the lake.
Camp instructors taught teens many
skills during the week.
Camper Kaylyn Hession has been attending
Timber Ridge for 11 years. She is also a
canvasser with the Maga-book ministry.
Lorrain Alicea
Adrienne Samos
Erica Bradfield
Nature Center at Timber Ridge Camp
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The Highest
of All Gifts!
New Holy Spirit
Curriculum for
Indiana Schools
Indiana Adventist schools will be blessed with a new Bible studies
curriculum this year. The Lake Union Conference Mission-Driven
School Committee with authors Amanda Hasty, teacher at Cicero
Adventist Elementary School, Heidi Bullock, Heidi Hunt and Kristen
Landfare developed this resource with a passion to make the Gift of
the Holy Spirit more understandable and meaningful to children.
“We desire our students to experience the power of the Holy Spirit
working in them and through them each day,” said Hasty. This
resource is a compilation of interactive lesson plans on the Holy Spirit,
designed to be used as worship thoughts throughout the school year.
The lessons are divided into four different themes: The Trinity, Who
the Holy Spirit Is and What He Does, How to Receive Him, and The
Fruits of the Spirit. Because
the Holy Spirit cannot be
seen, children are given real
world objects to compare:
The Holy Spirit is like a Dove,
the Wind, like Glasses, and a
Comforting White Blanket.
Students will understand that
even though you cannot see
the Holy Spirit, He is there.
“We desire our students
to experience the power of
the Holy Spirit working
in them and through them
each day.”
“We pray that in each classroom the work of the Holy Spirit will
be evident in the lives of students and teachers alike, and that the
presence of Jesus may be deeply felt,” Amanda said.
Amanda Hasty
There are three sets of materials, one for K-4, one for 5-8, and another
for 9-12.
__________
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EVANGELISM
more.” Eloise Wineland, another Hammond church
member, agreed. One of the visitors asked Pastor
DeLong why he was teaching them about Bible
Prophecy symbols. Pastor DeLong answered, “In
Apocalyptic Prophecy, God often speaks with symbols
and
shrouds
Bible truth from One of the visitors asked
the proud at Pastor DeLong why he was
while
Pastors Stephen DeLong and Allen Shepherd teamed heart,
people
with
an teaching them about Bible
up to hold a 10-day evangelism series on “The Last
Days, an Intelligent Look into Bible Prophecy” in August. open heart who Prophecy symbols.
Seven graduate students from Andrews University want to learn
assisted with the meetings, helping with videotaping will be led by God’s Word through the Holy Spirit as
the talks and event support. The meetings were they discover Prophetic truth.” Luke 8:10, Luke 10:21.
held at the Clarion Inn in Merrillville, Ind., and served DVD’s of this series are available at:
the Hammond and Crown Point area. More than [email protected].
forty visitors as well as area church members came
to learn about end times. David Kaemerer, a long- More evangelism meetings like this will be held
time attendee of Hammond Seventh-day Adventist® around the state this fall. Plan to attend and take a
Church, said, “I am fascinated and just want to learn friend or neighbor.
Revelations of Prophecy
Series Held in Merrillville
__________
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The Priesthood of All Believers
The Seventh-day Adventist Church® is greatly indebted to the Protestant movement which took place in
Europe during the 1500’s. One of the main reformers, Martin Luther, restored the New Testament teaching
that every believer in Christ is a priest and has equal access to God. The Bible teaches we do not need a
human mediator to represent us, for we can approach the throne of God directly through the one mediator
Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). He intercedes for us in the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 8:1-5, 4:15-16). By faith
in Christ’s shed blood, we can find the forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9).
As liberating as the truth of the priesthood of all believers is, we have not yet seen the full implications of this
teaching in the Church. The Protestant Reformation has gone only so far. There still remains in the minds of
many members a distinction between clergy and laity. The clergy are considered to be the main players- they
are the capable ones, the trained ones, the “called” ones. The laity see themselves in an inferior role which
leads them to often sit on the sidelines and watch the “professionals” do ministry.
This distinction has created serious problems for the church down through the years. Primarily, God’s work
has been stifled because only a few are doing ministry. Much more could be done if God’s people would
sense their calling and use the gifts and talents they have been given through the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, it
has created many “Monday morning quarterbacks”. The spectator becomes the professional critic. “Why was
this done?” “What kind of committee decided this anyway?” “Why did she say that?” “Why did he do that?”
Spectator Christianity ultimately becomes a critical, sterile Christianity.
When we look at the early years of the Adventist church, we see that the church was mainly
a lay movement. During this time, the church saw tremendous growth. Why?
Members were actively serving in ministry. There were no settled pastors in
North America until the early 1900’s.
__________
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The time has come where ministry needs to be done
differently in God’s remnant church. Due to the strain
on finances, we are being driven back to our Protestant
roots where everyone is a minister. God intends that
all His followers should care for and nurture others.
All are to be visiting, praying, and giving Bible studies.
Such roles are not just limited to the pastor. In fact,
many in the church can do these ministries more
effectively because there is only so much that the
pastor can do.
In light of this New Testament teaching, what are we willing to put on the altar for Jesus Christ? What are we
willing to give up for the cause of the gospel? Every believer is a priest. Everyone has a ministry to perform.
What a privilege! What an honor! Having such a royal status, let us grab hold of the role God has given us to
further His work.
”But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own
special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:4-5)
by Pastor Vic Van Schaik
Cicero SDA Church
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Indiana Academy
Students Return to
Campus
The excitement
was contagious
as students
began piling onto the IA campus on August 18.
Registration for the 2015-16 year was underway!
Although every student was required to preregister, there were still some stations to visit and
a few long lines to endure! But that was okay,
because everywhere students were smiling,
laughing, and having fun reuniting with friends
and meeting new ones. “As I came back to the
campus, it was good to see everyone, especially
my classmates and realizing that we are
now seniors,” said Marialexxa Holman, IA
senior.
A few hours later the rain was really
coming down as the students were
headed to handshake, a long-time Indiana Academy
SA event where everyone gets to put faces with names.
The gym was full of planned events that enabled the
returning students to “break the ice” with those that were
new. “When I walked into the gym, I was amazed at how
many new students there were and the opportunities
there were to make new friends,” said Taylor Uphus, IA
sophomore. After joint worship, a tired bunch headed to
the dorms or home to rest up for the first week ahead.
We are grateful and feel very blessed to have 120
wonderful young people to teach, mentor, and point to
Jesus. There are 34 freshman, 38 sophomores, 22 juniors,
and 26 seniors. We covet your prayers as the staff and
We are grateful and feel very blessed
to have 120 wonderful young people to
teach, mentor, and point to Jesus.
__________
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students daily seek God’s direction in
our lives and on our campus. We know
that when the Holy Spirit is present,
lives are changed; and the atmosphere
is catching. We are almost at capacity,
but if you know a young person who
desires to receive the benefits of
Adventist Christian Education, please
call Kathy Griffin at 317.694.3260. We
will do whatever we can to make it
happen for them.
by Kathy Griffin
Marketing and Development Director
Calendar of Events:
September Home-leave
September 16 - 20
Project 58
October 6
Alumni Weekend
October 9 & 10
Fall Festival
October 11
Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 14
Home-leave
October 14
Junior History Trip
October 14 - 22
PMC Church Service/Dunes
October 24
Senior Dedication
November 7
Thanksgiving Break
November 20 - 29
Journey to Bethlehem
December 5 & 6
Night of Hope
December 12
Christmas Break
December 16 - Jan 3
www.iasda.org
Indiana Academy Facebook Page
www.iaalumni.org
__________
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HISPANIC NEWS
Voluntarios participantes en la Feria de
Salud llevada a cabo el 16 de Agosto en la
Iglesia Central.
Estudiantes UCTLAI
Steven Poenitz
Laicos Ganadores de Almas
Listos High School
Rescatistas CERT
Templo Iglesia Lawrence
Saila
Pastores Tass / Castillo
Retiro Club de Guias Mayores
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NEWS
Indiana Conference Develops Big Five+
Strategic Plan for 2015-2020
Here are the five strategic goals the Indiana Conference
will be focusing on for the next five years. Our mission
is to reach Indiana and the world with distinctive, Christcentered three angel’s messages which lead people
to become fully devoted disciples of Jesus. A more
complete document is available from the Conference
office. As we implement plans to reach these goals, think
how you and your local church members and students
can participate. You’ll be invited to participate in fall
focus groups on these Big Five+ initiatives at regional
meetings.
1. Promote Outreach/Evangelism
2. Empower the laity
3. Foster Adventist Christian education
4. Mentor Youth/Young Adults as spiritual leaders
5. Support our Teachers and Pastors
+ Prepare for GC 2020 Session in Indianapolis
TRANSITIONS
Here are some transitions that have occurred over the
summer. These moves have been made to empower
lay leadership, faithfully steward our resources, and
distribute district responsibilities with our pastors.
Women’s Ministries Retreat
Women’s Ministry weekend
will be held October 16-18
at the Embassy Suites North
Hotel in Indianapolis. Pastor
Elizabeth Talbot’s theme for
the weekend is It’s All About
Jesus. Sign up now for this
opportunity for spiritual growth and renewal.
You will find the registration information on the
conference website under “Women’s Ministries”.
Just click on Registration and Brochure under
Upcoming Events!
•
Pastor Art and Patty Dmytriyev will be serving the
Lafayette and Frankfort churches.
•
Pastor Dave and Marie Tenold have just arrived to
serve our Carmel congregation.
•
Pastor Ernie and Karen Peckham are now working with the newly-formed district of Knox/Plymouth/Rochester/
Warsaw.
•
Pastor Don and Luann Greulich have taken Wolcottville church in addition to their assignments of Angola and
Elkhart.
•
Pastor Matt and Amanda Hasty will continue to work with the Maga-book ministry, but also serve the Kokomo
church.
•
Pastor Blake and Gina Hall continue serving the Logansport/Monticello district in their retirement.
•
Pastor Lee Whitman, Anderson church, will partner with Richard Byrd, first elder of the New Castle church.
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Pastors & Elders
Workshops Held
in September
John and Millie
Youngberg
conducted two
workshops in
September for
pastors and elders
at South Bend, Ind. SDA Church
and at the Columbus, Ind. SDA
Church. The focus was Youngberg’s
new book, Jesus - Who is He? Their
curriculum featured tools for Bible
studies, evangelism, and outreach to
one’s neighbors.
NEWS
Indianapolis Junior Academy Acquires New Van
The Indianapolis Junior Academy school board and
members of Glendale Seventh-day Adventist® Church and
area Hispanic SDA churches have teamed up to fund the
acquisition of a new school van for student transportation
this year. Principal Norris Ncube takes pride in this
accomplishment providing this new service for students.
Hector Velasquez, a member of the Central Hispanic church
in Indianapolis, has been hired as the van driver. His two
children attend IJA. The school will also use this new asset
for field trips and other school events.
Grow Indiana
What is ACS
Disaster
Response?
The Grow Indiana Evangelism capital
campaign that started at Camp Meeting
in June has now reached $72,000 toward
the $100,000 goal. More pledges are
coming in that show laity support for
spreading the Gospel to people in
Indiana.
Adventist
Community
Services
volunteers provide disaster response
services through the ACS Disaster Response Ministry to assist individuals, families and communities
affected by natural disasters and unforeseen tragedies.
Richard Norris, pastor at Evansville First Church, doubles his ministry as the Disaster Coordinator for the
Indiana Conference. At Camp Meeting last June, Norris distributed yellow Disaster Response Buckets to
all Indiana churches and provided a list of items needed to fill the buckets for disaster preparedness. He
also has created a page on the Indiana Conference website for disaster response.
After leaving the military Norris was employed by DOD Civil Service. He worked In Japan as the Fleet
Industrial Supply Centers, Transportation Manager. Many of his responsibilities included fleet support,
logistics and disaster preparedness.
__________
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School Year Off to a Good Start!
The 2015-2016 school year is underway! We currently have 120 students
registered at Indiana Academy. Some of our elementary schools have
gained a significant number of new students due to new Pre-K student
enrollments, especially at Indianapolis Junior Academy and Cross Street
Christian School.
On Monday, August 10, all Indiana teachers completed in-service training
before schools opened on August 17. Part of the training included
recertification for CPR and First Aid. We have several new teachers joining
the Indiana team this year; Chrissy Nedrow at Aboite Christian School
(Fort Wayne, 1-4); David Solis at Cross Street Christian School (Anderson,
6-8); Debbie Gottke at Carmel Seventh-day Adventist School (Carmel,
1-8); Jennifer Semillano at Door Prairie
Adventist School (La Porte, 1-8); and Tirza
Rideout at Indianapolis Junior Academy
(Indianapolis, 1-3); Eunice Barney and
Yesenia Ortega at Indianapolis Junior
Academy (new Pre-K). Herb Wrate from
Terre Haute, Ind., has stepped in as our
Interim Superintendent of Education,
and Rabel Ortiz, from Puerto Rico, has
been hired to serve as Administrative
Assistant for Education as well as the
membership clerk for the conference.
She replaces Amy Litzenberger who
moved to Florida for a new position.
Herb Wrate
Interim Superintendent
of Education
We welcome all of our new staff and
students coming to class for quality
Adventist Christian education. May
the Lord bless our teachers, students,
parents, schools and churches who are
investing huge support for this ongoing
ministry of evangelism/outreach to our
young people.
Mizo Group Becomes a Company
The Mizo Mission Group served by Pastor
Chawngthu reached the milestone of
“company” status in May. They now
have 150 members in attendance at the
Southside location where they worship.
In addition, Pastor Lalmuansanga
Chawngthu was ordained to the gospel
ministry on July 25.
News by Colleen Kelly
Education Marketing Director
Indiana Conference
__________
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Indiana Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists®
P.O. Box 5000
Westfield, IN 46074
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
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Financial Report
YTD Gross
2015
2014
% Inc
Tithe Income
$4,887,081
$4,473,764
9.0%
Indiana Advance $82,382
$81,300
1.3%
INDIANA ADVANCE: Each dollar received as Indiana
Advance is used in Indiana and is distributed as follows:
Elementary Education: 35%
Evangelism: 20%
Indiana Academy: 10%
Church/School Building Subsidy: 6.7%
Youth Camp: 15%
Church Ministries: 13.3%
Our Offices are located at:
Indiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®
15205 Westfield Boulevard
Carmel, IN 46032
For more information contact the
Indiana Conference at 317.844.6201
www.indysda.org
85408_Indiana_Conference_Newsletter.indd 16
OCTOBER
2-4
9-10
16-18
16-17
Brown County Mountain BIKE Blowout
IA Alumni Weekend
Annual Women’s Retreat
SEEDS Fort Wayne
NOVEMBER
6-8
Pathfinder Leadership Weekend (TRC)
13-15 Pathfinder Coordinators Retreat (TRC)
Do You Need a Will?
Many people, especially young
individuals and those who feel
that their estate is too small,
believe that a will represents
an unnecessary expense.
The reality is that you need
a plan for the future, and
the preparation of a will need
not be expensive. A properly
written will allows you to name
an executor, to appoint guardians of
your minor children, and to make gifts to
loved ones and charities, as you desire. Without a will, the state
will determine how your assets are distributed and who will be
named guardian of your children. Please contact the Indiana
Conference Planned Giving & Trust Services office for more
information about planning for your family’s future.
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