Darkness to Light May 4, 2010
Posted by agadsby in : Uncategorized , add a commentI recently went completed training on child safety by an organization known as Darkness to Light. Darkness to Light’s mission is to empower people to prevent childhood sexual abuse. Their programs “raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse by educating adults about the steps they can take to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to the reality of child sexual abuse. ”
The training was straight foward, practical, and effective in forcing me to consider how not only myself but also the ministies I am involved in can be structured to help prevent childhood sexaul abuse. One thing that each of our churches can do right now is to evalute any and all instances where there may be one child/one adult situations. If we elimate one child/one adult situations, we have taken a huge step in preventing abuse. Take time, evaluate your programs and take action.
More to information will follow on this imporant topic.
National Children’s Alliance: www.nca.-online.org 1-800-239-9950
January is Sanctity of Life Month and Nation Marriage Week December 6, 2009
Posted by agadsby in : Uncategorized , add a comment SFD Special Announcement
National Marriage Week
Dear Pastor and Marriage/Family Leaders:
Please take a moment to save the following date and time on your calendar and REGISTER NOW for: National Marriage Week Informational Webinar.
Join Chuck Colson and nationally-known pastors on Wednesday, January 13, 2010
REGISTER TODAY at www.marriagewebinar.com <http://HeadHeartHand.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f60b366853fa6bb81073f2dd3&id=c130ffd244&e=0c0faf5cd2>
9 AM Pacific - 10 AM Mountain - 11 AM Central - 12 Noon Eastern
New research reports that the percentage of married adults in the United States has dropped from 78 percent in 1970 to 57 percent in 2008, according to the recently released report, “The Marriage Index,” co-published by the Institute for American Values and the National Center on African American Marriages and Parenting (NCAAMP). Even more concerning, 40 percent of all American children today are born out-of-wedlock and 71 percent of African American children are born without married parents.
Research also shows that single mothers have only one-third the financial assets as married mothers.* Children not brought up by both a mother and father have lower graduation rates, higher incidence of incarceration, and lower performance in school.** For the sake of women and children, the church must get involved to strengthen, enrich, and repair marriage.
There is no question that more needs to be done within our congregations to create a more thriving marriage culture and assist marriages and families to remain happily intact. The church can play a truly unique role as a “school” for marriage and National Marriage Week USA (February 7 to 14) offers a relevant new way for the church to reach out beyond its own doors into the needs of its community. (www.nationalmarriageweekUSA.org <http://HeadHeartHand.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f60b366853fa6bb81073f2dd3&id=ff491a147b&e=0c0faf5cd2> )
January is Sanctity of Life Month and the Public Morals and Social Concerns Committee would like to encourage everyone to spend time discussing this very important issue. All of life is valuable from the unborn child to the senior citizen no longer able to take care of themselves. Be sure to let us know some of the ways that your church has brought this issue to light.
Also, here are some resources that you may find helpful.
South Carolina Citizens for Life (www.sclife.org)
http://www.heartlink.org/beavoice/index.cfm
http://www.care-net.org/custom/sohlshome.php
Techology Show discussion on bio-ethics December 6, 2009
Posted by agadsby in : Uncategorized , add a commentThe Techology Show will be hosting a discussion on the topic of bio-ethics with Paige Cunningham this Wednesday, December 9th at 9 am.
Paige Comstock Cunningham is Executive Director of The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity. She is also a Fellow at the Wilberforce Forum’s Council for Biotechnology Policy, a Fellow at the Institute for Biotechnology and the Human Future, and a Trustee of Taylor University. Cunningham is an adjunct professor of law at Trinity Law School and Trinity Graduate School. She was an adjunct instructor at Wheaton College for eight years.
She graduated from Taylor University (summa cum laude), and earned her J.D. from Northwestern University Law School, and an M.A. in Bioethics from Trinity International University.
Cunningham lectures and has published numerous articles, editorials and book chapters in the areas of law, bioethics and public policy, and has testified before congressional committees at the state and national level, and has appeared frequently on radio and television.
An article in Christianity Today list some of the books that Ms. Cunningham recommends: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/november/18.68.html
Protecting Ourselves Online November 8, 2009
Posted by agadsby in : Uncategorized , add a commentLet us face it, the internet is great technology that allows us to get information out quickly and discover new ideas with the click of the mouse. The internet was just beginning to catch on when I was in middle school. I remember a time when you could do a search on a particular subject and the search engine would actually return reliable information regarding the topic. “The information super highway” was going to revolutionize the world, remember at one point in time they said all this technology would eventually do away with paper (they missed that one). A commercial on Channel 1, TV had a young girl standing on a winding road, looking into the camera she would declare in a British accent: “there will be a road (internet), and it will go all places.”
This road has gone all places. Places that we obviously should not go and yet with a click of the mouse we can enter places we would never dare go if people could see. Worse, these places can appear on the screen without any warning inviting whoever is there to enter. What are you doing to protect yourself from the evil that can invade the home through the internet? This past year I was privileged to attend a seminar on internet safety by Oconee County Law Enforcement, and I learned that each County in the Upstate has a unit (typically one person) assigned to investigating and enforcing internet crimes, particularly child predators. I have spoken with the officer in Oconee and should a church wish to host a seminar on protecting the home he has agreed to come. If this is something that interest you, please let me know and I will get you the contact information. For those of us in other counties, I am sure a simple phone call can bring a seminar to your church. Here is a small sample of what else I learned at the seminar:
1. Did you know that overwhelming majority of youth have more than one Facebook or MySpace account (one to show their parents, one to show their friends, and one for their girlfriend or boy friend)
2. Did you know that chat rooms end up being about soliciting sex at some point in time, at least 99.9% of them do!
Public morals begin in the heart and in the home! We have posted on the “church and internet safety tab” some websites that may be helpful to you. We would also like to see what software you have found helpful, such as internet filters, parental controls, DNS filtering and so on, so that we can share this with others.
We will be continuing to acquire more materials and resources so check back often.
Grace and Peace,
Aaron Gadsby
H1N1 Flu September 27, 2009
Posted by agadsby in : Uncategorized , add a commentI would venture to guess that each of us has had some concern regarding the flu this season. Disease always reminds us that we are in the hands of God. What is the Christian response when epidemics present themselves? Early Christians took a stand beside those who were sick. When others fled, Christians moved in and care for the sick and dying. They were able make a difference because they correctly believed that their homes were of another Kingdom, the Kingdom of God and that as strangers here they could go when others fled. Are we not called to the same type of selfless devotion and love today.
Time will tell us whether or not this H1N1 flu becomes a devasting epidemic or just another media frenzy. What we do know is that the Wesleyan Church can be prepared to stand along side those who are sick, those who need compassion, and those who need to know that God loves them should this become an epidemic . What can our church’s do? Have you thought about possibly placing hand sanitizing stations around the church to help prevent the spread of disease? What about offering your facilities in case of a medical emergency? We have provided a sample letter, on the corresponding tab, that you may wish to send to the medical authorities in your area, simply letting them know that should they need your help, you will provide it.
Also, the PMSC Committee will be updating the H1N1 tab, as information becomes available. If your church is doing something or knows of a way to help, pass it on and together we can make a difference.
Grace and Peace,
The Public Morals and Social Concerns Committee
Golden Grove Wesleyan Church gets Involved in Social Concerns in Pickens County July 12, 2009
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Vickie Sexton is the Wesleyan Woman Director at Golden Grove Wesleyan Church. Throughout this past year, the Wesleyan Woman have sponsored projects to help fund and supply Hope Women’s Center In Easley SC. Golden Grove has raised funds through “Baby Bottle” drives (encouraged church attendees to fill baby bottles with change), and they also incorporated the Center in their Mission’s Budget. The church has also had drives where they collected diapers, baby cloths, and numerous other baby products. There involvement is born of the conviction that the church cannot take a strong stance against abortion if it is not willing to fund and be active in local pregnancy centers. We hope that you are involved in similar agencies in your county.
Elaine Lesley is a retired schoolteacher who has recently become a Guardian ad Litem in Pickens County. The state and county work cooperatively with the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA) to provide court-appointed volunteers for abused and neglected children who would otherwise not have the support they need. (For information about CASA go to http://www.nationalcasa.org/about_us/index.html ) This is a great way to get involved in the life of a child who simply needs a legal guardian within the court system. To find out how you can get involved in the Guardian Litem Program in South Carolina call 1-800-277-0113 or you can find them on the web at http://scgal.org/.
Greenville First Helping Those In Need July 8, 2009
Posted by agadsby in : Uncategorized , add a commentSometimes the very best ideas don’t come from the clergy or staff of the local church but are born in the hearts of the laity. Lester and Alice Moon have long used their culinary skills to provide a variety of dining settings for the congregation of Greenville First Wesleyan Church. For years they had taken responsibility for a weekly fellowship meal before the midweek service. Always they have sought to serve Christ through serving others.
Recently, however, our church has been undergoing the ReFocusing Process. That process is devoted to turning the church’s eyes outward toward the unreached community surrounding the local meeting place. As a result, several changes have occurred at what is affectionately referred to as, “G1.” We now have an active Awana program nine months out of the year. We have a community sports night and an intentional reach into new homes and families in our neighborhood.
Alice and Lester thought, too, about all of the families living on fixed incomes in the area. And about how, along toward the end of the month, that one source of funds tends to dry up and things get tight. Thus, the monthly Free Soup Supper was born. Held on the last Wednesday of the month, this meal is intended to assist our neighbors who might be having a difficult time making the grocery funds stretch. And it provides a wonderful opportunity for the church family to “hang out” and fellowship with our neighbors, too. It’s one piece of the puzzle God is putting together here to communicate His love and compassion to the people he already knows . .. and desperately wants His Church to know, too.
Trinity Wesleyan Church July 7, 2009
Posted by agadsby in : Uncategorized , add a commentMoral and Social Concerns Activity
At Trinity Wesleyan Church
May 2008- April 2009
Sanctity of Life
Observed “Sanctity of Life” Sunday (sermon)
Participated in “Stand Up for Life Rally and March” in Columbia, on Jan. 11. 12 people went in the church bus and carried signs, one of which was a large one saying “Wesleyans For Life” and was held up by one who stood on the Capitol steps.
Entire church participated in a shower of baby items for a Crisis Pregnancy Center
Marriage and Family
Marriage Retreat < a weekend at Joy Mountain Retreat Center with 8 couples, headed by pastor and his wife, with Les and Leslie Parrott materials Palmetto Family Council supported by church budget
Benevolence
Support of Clemson/Central Community Care by church budget and a church
representative. Gift of entire offerings during revival services to a needy Wesleyan church.
Thanksgiving “pounding” of foods and supplies for needy families. Supply of food items for a “soup kitchen” to be given for weekend needs when sou kitchen does not serve
Citizenship
Weekly items of information on moral and social issues in church bulletin
Voter registration materials and information about voting available in the church narthex two months before registration deadline.
Martha Evatt
Parental Rights May 21, 2009
Posted by agadsby in : Uncategorized , add a commentInformation has been passed our way regarding the issue of parental rights legislation from Ms. Jan Payne.Here is a brief summary of what was shared:
“I wanted to send an email to let you know about an initiative to empower parents to make decisions for their children. The alternative very well could be to put this in the hands of an international committee. A nurse and a former homeschooling mom that we know from the community spoke to some members of our home school group about this in November or December. For lack of time, I will just mention that there is more information about the amendment at parentalrights.org. If you could find a few minutes to look at the website, I would appreciate it. Particularly interesting are the Real Life Stories which you will find listed if you click on the “Learn” button. From what I gather, the possibility of an initiative to pass the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child could be imminent.Tandy Collier, who is working with the S.C. Home Educators Assoc.to publicize and present to legislators the Parental Rights Amendment, tells us that the amendment will go public in just a few days, if everything happens on schedule. (February 2009)” ~Jan Payne
More information can be gathered on this topic at: http://www.parentalrights.org/
Caroline’s Promise March 5, 2009
Posted by agadsby in : Uncategorized , add a commentJames 1:27 says “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
In an age of instant communication, how many of us know that there are now more than 143 million orphans across the globe?! It’s time we do something! For the Body of Christ it’s not simply a suggestion to get involved…..it’s a command.
My heart breaks over the need of orphans and because of this I have agreed to head up and direct a ministry here in South Carolina called Caroline’s Promise. Caroline’s Promise is a Christian non-profit ministry founded by David and Lisa Holbrook who adopted their daughter, Caroline, from Guatemala in 2003. From this experience they began to learn of the needs of orphans around the world. The Holbrooks were burdened by what they learned and so, while they were waiting for their daughter to come home, they formed Caroline’s Promise in North Carolina.
Caroline’s Promise exists to reclaim hope for orphans by
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Meeting the physical and spiritual needs of children throughout the world with the hope of those children accepting Christ as their Savior.
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Providing guidance & assistance to Christian couples living in North Carolina and South Carolina during the adoption process by offering education, resources, financial assistance & prayer support.
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Educating the community about adoption and the needs of orphans.
There are plenty of opportunities for volunteers, prayer intercessors, and financial giving in this ministry. I invite you to join me in taking part in this grassroots movement and consider getting involved in the 1st Annual Seeds of Hope Banquet to be held April 14, 2009 at The University Dining Commons on the campus of Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC. For more information go to www.carolinespromise.net or contact marthamariesmith@carolinespromise.net
~Martha Marie Smith
