Fireworks Display

Spiritual Immigrants

by Michael Collins

Last week my wife and I visited New York City for the very first time, and had a wonderful experience. However, growing up in West Virginia, North Carolina and most recently Kentucky, did not prepare us for anything we witnessed while in the Big Apple. I was amazed at the sights, fragrances, and sounds of the most famous city in the world. The enormity of the Empire State Building, the magical effects of Times Square, the history of Broadway, and every type of food known to man were things I generally was not accustomed to in my everyday life.

But the most memorable thing during the whole trip was experienced during the ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty. As we were moving closer to Lady Liberty, I thought of the famous poem by Emma Lazarus, which is graven on a tablet within the statue's pedestal. The ending says: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" These words and the mere sight of what Emma described as the New Colossus, brought tears to my eyes.

While thinking of these words, and gazing at the massive statute that stands on the shores of what so many immigrants knew as the New World, I couldn't help but think of Jesus. Can you hear Jesus saying those very same words as He stands between this world and the next holding the torch high enough for the lost to find their way safely? I immediately thought of the day when I made my own voyage as a spiritual immigrant, of being led by the light of His torch and giving my heart and soul to Him. The day I pledged my allegiance to the Lamb of God. John 8:12 says, "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Then I thought of the many lighthouses that pointed a safe passage to Lady Liberty from around the world, and was reminded of something else Christ said in Matthew 5:14-16: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." After looking at these Scriptures in this light, I'd like to ask you if you are a spiritual immigrant who needs the light of Christ? As a lighthouse pointing a safe passage to Lady Liberty, I would like to point you to Christ, and give you a similar invitation, "Give Him your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to Christ, He lifts His lamp beside the golden door!"

Freedom in Christ

by Sybil Vazquez

It is truly the little things that make the SDB Church of Daytona Beach special to us. From the beginning, we felt that you loved us and believed the best about us. You were kind. You took an interest in our family. We didn't have to keep a list of rules or perform to be valuable to you and feel accepted. We were blessed by your philosophy that all members are ministers rather than an audience. We feel encouraged to find our gifts and place of service. Even the little children are used to bless us as they trot up for the Children’s Message. It also demonstrates love when you provide the children with refreshments during the coffee fellowship time, as well as is hot water for tea or cocoa for those who don’t drink coffee.

I have heard at church and at conference that one of the goals of our denomination is to find out what people’s needs are and for us to try to meet those needs as we serve the Lord. That is what you did for our family and we noticed. The little things, added up together, are huge blessings and have made us feel that we belong and are loved, in the same way that I felt loved as a child when I visited my grandmother’s house and knew that I was special to her because she displayed my picture in a special place.

I was so touched the first time we partook of the Lord's Table with you that I cried through the service. The simple service was both incredibly beautiful and moving as we witnessed the reverent way the older people were honored in serving. That morning was the first time we had ever witnessed women participating in a communion service. During the meal, I noticed that the windows were unobstructed so that the bright blue heavens were revealed with puffy wisps of clouds, a palm tree, a bird. I felt free because my eyes were free. It is a small thing to have the freedom to look out at the shy while worshipping, but to me those small-uncovered windows became a symbol of the freedom we have in Christ. It was liberating to me and I think of that day every Sabbath when I see clear windows.

If an open window touched my soul, imagine our reaction to the following statement of belief: "The Seventh Day Baptists consider liberty of thought under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to be essential to Christian belief and practice. Therefore, we encourage the unhindered study and open discussion of scripture. We uphold the individual’s freedom of conscience in seeking to determine and obey the will of God." That says it all! In this statement and in the practices of our new church home, we have found respect, freedom, grace, healing, purpose, love, and safety. In the past, we have only heard these things preached. In our experience worshipping with you, these things have become reality. The Lord has used you to comfort and heal us. We thank the Lord for leading us to Daytona Beach and the SDB Church. We look forward to growing and serving together with you.

-reprinted from the Daytona Beach Sentinel

We Love To Pray

There is one thing we can do at Sunshine Mountain. We can pray. In fact we love to pray. Could I be so bold to say could we pray for you? Our e-mail address is sunshinemountain200@yahoo.com.

For your free copy of the 90-page book "The Antichrist" published in Middleton, Idaho, mail your request to our address or e-mail us. To reserve your free copy you must request it.

Our new place of worship is taking shape, a building that has been reworked with a new roof and ceiling tile. It has a new central air unit. We have regular church pews, and to top it off we have installed green and gold windows. It looks great.

The 97 Ford van is paid off. The appeal for a hard surface road on the property of Sunshine Mountain was priced at $28,000. We now have $15,000 designated for it. The appeal for $3000 to repair the white h6use is now in the bank. The work has begun. Praise the Lord.

We have been here for 25 years. Why Mississippi? It seemed like it was the thing to do. In answer to prayers. God opens the door and closes the door. We wanted to open a home for handicapped persons, and we waited to work with a local church. So with the closing of the Metairie church, it changed its name to Sunshine Mountain.

But why the Sabbath? We go to church on Saturday, the Sabbath, because we are Christians. We go to church on Saturday because we make an attempt to follow the Bible example and pattern set forth in the Bible. We worship on Saturday, the Sabbath, because Jesus said in Mark 2:27 the Sabbath was made for man.

The ministry goes on at Sunshine Mountain. There are changes and things remain the same. The grounds are always neat and well-groomed. The sign at the gate says welcome. We have Sabbath school at 10:00 AM each Sabbath (Saturday) with worship at 11:00 AM. With mid-week Bible study at 6:30 PM each Wednesday. We take the handicapped (child-like) on an outing each Wednesday morning which includes a story hour at the public library. Our staff includes: Ted, Jack, Ralph, Charles, Helen, JoAnri, and Cathy.

We are late in putting the swimming pool into service, but it is in the works. If you are looking for a place to lend support, dollars or physical labor, the swimming pool needs your help. Thank you one and all for the support that comes from the USA as a whole from churches and individuals. There are 22 people who call Sunshine Mountain home.

It is said when something is in the mind of God, it is so. When we say Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world, it was so. (Revelation 13:8) Of all the sacrifices in the Old Testament point to Jesus Christ slain. Can we say the church existed in the mind of God from the foundation of the world? When we read about the tabernacle in the Old Testament as a dwelling place of God and turn to the New Testament and see that our bodies are the Temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you. (I Cor. 3:16)

Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world (Col. 3:9-11) and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Has the church existed from the foundation of the world? See Gen. 14:18-19. Melchizedek was Christ in the Old Testament. See Heb. 7:3 and Acts 7:38.

-reprinted from the Sunshine Mountain Newsletter

The Randolph Center for Public Service

and U. S. Senator Jennings Randolph

The Randolph Center for Public Service, located on the Salem International University campus, is a testament to the extraordinary efforts Senator Jennings Randolph (1902-1998) made on behalf of the State of West Virginia and the nation in general. The Victorian house, Senator Randolph's birthplace and childhood home, was relocated from downtown Salem to campus in the 1980s to commemorate the Senator's long history with the institution. The Center is now the location for the vast memorabilia collections from the Senator's public service career and serves as an educational resource and meeting area for groups from around the nation.

Within the Randolph Center for Public Service is a vast collection of memorabilia from his U.S. House of Representatives and Senate careers. Senator Randolph represented West Virginia in the House from 1933-47 and in the Senate from 1958-84. His career spanned the terms of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy E. Carter and Ronald W. Reagan. He was the last surviving member of the first New Deal Congress.

Senator Randolph was known for humanitarian legislation such as the Randolph-Shepherd Act, a disabilities act, and a Constitutional Amendment that gave 18 year olds the right to vote. In addition to his extraordinary public service career, Senator Randolph also served as a journalist, the Director of Athletics for Davis & Elkins College and as Assistant to the President of Capital Airlines. Tours are possible by calling 1-304-782-5389.

The Senator's association with Salem International University, formerly Salem College, began in the late 1800s, when his grandfather Jesse Randolph assisted in the founding of the institution. Senator Randolph, his father, Edward, and his son, Jay, are all graduates of Salem and have served on its Board of Trustees. Senator Randolph himself served on the Board more than 60 years. Fondly referred to as the Jennings Randolph House, the stately Victorian birthplace and childhood home of West Virginia's late U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph, was built in 1900 for Senator Randolph's parents, Ernest and Idell Randolph.

In 1985, the home was purchased by Salem International University (formerly Salem College) and moved two blocks to the campus, where it became The Jennings Randolph Center for Public Service. The Center serves as a reminder of an outstanding political career that substantially contributed to improving the quality of life for the people and the State of West Virginia. Each room pays special tribute to one of former Senator Randolph's many accomplishments, with walls and bookcases displaying testimonies to his work to improve roadways, airports and railways; to assist the physically challenged; to establish the 18-year old voting age; and to promote the conversion of coal to liquid fuel. U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph passed away May 8, 1998 in St. Louis, MO. A private family memorial was conducted and the Senator was interred at the Salem Seventh Day Baptist Church cemetery, in a family plot beside his wife, Mary.

The Jennings Randolph Center is open by appointment only. For information or reservations call 304-782-5351. You may also take a virtual tour of this building.

Abraham's Worship And Obedience

by Jan Ross

"And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you" Genesis 22:5

Worship . . . the first time this word is used in the Old Testament . . . is translated from the Hebrew word, "Shachah" which means, "bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship." We see instances of this type of worship throughout the Bible. But in this instance, "worship" may have meant just a bit more . . . perhaps "worship" was a form of obedience. Abraham longed for a son for many, many years, and once having received the promise from God, believed in the truth of God's promises even though the manifestation took many, long years.

God desires our worship . . . our bowing down in homage to Him . . . doing reverence, falling down before Him . . . but, He also wants our sacrifice, our obedience! Abraham knew . . . the record of his faith still testifies today of His intimacy in worship! Does your worship of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords include "obedience"? Examine yourself today . . . be sure your "worship" includes submissive obedience . . . obedience to God's leading in your life . . . obedience to the Word of the Lord!

Father, I long to have the faith of Abraham, to have the courage of Abraham, and to worship You through my obedience as Abraham did . . . I long to please you as Abraham did! Father, help me to remember to be intimately involved in worshipping You ever moment I can . . . through praise, through worship AND through obedience. As a child longs to please his parents, so I long to please You, O Lord! You are so worthy of all my praise and worship, there is none like You! Amen!

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