My husband and I are nearing the time when we will be “vintage” Adventists. We have witnessed many conflicts and changes within the church over the years.
At times we have experienced deep sadness, anger, hurt, indignation, resentment, and disillusionment. During the time that was probably the peak of our disillusionment, two things happened that helped to change our hearts and set our course in a better direction. I share them here with a desire to help others who are also struggling with how to relate to the Seventh-day Adventist Church at a time of unprecedented confusion and division.
The first thing that happened was the initiation of annual physician/dentist retreats in our conference, spear-headed by our conference president. He brought in true-blue SDA scholars and ministers from church leadership realms who restored our confidence that there were indeed men of that caliber still in church leadership. We were encouraged.
The second event was the publishing in 1992 of a booklet by Ty Gibson and James Rafferty called Trials and Triumph of the Remnant Church. We found it to be both encouraging and very personally challenging. In the next several years, I read it through many times when I was again becoming critical and disheartened. Because of the benefit we received from this booklet, we have shared many copies over the years with persons who were struggling as we were.
Written at the height of the tithing controversy (you older readers may remember those times), its content is tied to that issue, so perhaps seen as not so relevant to today’s challenges. However, its general theme focuses on how God’s people should relate to His church when it is in trouble. Its approach is birthed from the examples we have in the Bible of those who faced trials in their time due to the unfaithfulness of God’s people.
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I recently tried to order more copies to share and found it to be out of print. I have received permission to type it up and continue to share it if I don’t make any alterations. Here it is for your encouragement and edification. (If you find any remaining typos, please let me know. We’ve been over it with a fine-tooth comb, but I know it’s possible to miss things.) Be blessed and encouraged!
Bio: B’Jay and her husband live in Indiana on 26 beautiful acres of creek-side property (a few days of the year the acreage is “lakeside” property…). They have two grown sons and two beautiful grandchildren. B’Jay enjoys music, cooking, birdwatching, Bible memory, crunching numbers (think bookkeeping), mowing, handyman activities, and learning new skills needed to tend the “park” we live in.
