I hit the road for Berrien Springs on Friday (that means I drove north, for you Loma Linda pro-LGBTQ pseudo-adventists). It was a nice trip!
After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, I arrived at the Methodist Church in Berrien Springs at 7:50 AM Sabbath morning. Always be a bit early, as my German Baptist Grandpa would say.
The ice crunching under my feet as I walked towards the church building was an arctic reminder of the frozen spirit that has taken over the Michigan conference leadership. The church was half full and filling up fast.
Methodist History
After a warm welcome, Conrad interviewed the Methodist pastor about history of Methodism. I have a lot of respect for John Wesley, and I think he would have approved of this meeting. John Wesley understood that personal liberty was a cornerstone of the gospel, and he was driven out of the out of Anglican Church for sticking to his convictions. This Methodist church left (disaffiliated from) the UMC (United Methodist Church) over the issue of LGBTQ+ in 2023. Since their buildings were owned by the UMC General Conference the Berrien Springs congregation had to raise $127k to get the deed of their building from the UMC. They refer to it as the ransom. They had to sell the parsonage to raise the money.
Gerhard Erbes
Gerhard Erbes was the first speaker. A former pastor in Michigan, Gerhard has started an apologetics ministry. We will have more on this new ministry at a later time.
Conscience, Courage, and Cost of Silence
Friends, this was most a impelling presentation. He addressed the question “What happens when we stay silent in the face of a trial?” Some high points:
Your conscience is never inactive — it either demonstrates courage or retreats into silence.
Gerhard grew up in Sweden and is Austrian by birth. Sweden played a pivotal role in the Reformation (the 30 years war).
1726 Sweden wanted to save the religious organization. They outlawed private worship in homes, and fined people for organizing worship meetings in their homes. First offense was 40k (a year’s wages), second offense was 120k, third was jail, and fourth offense was a two year banishment. All for worshiping God in your home. It is a vivid reminder what happens when truth, conscience and institutions collide. What would you do?
What is the cost? Lots of money if you host or attend a home church.
Safety is silence. What is the cost of safety? This was profound: The cost of silence is great than cost of conscience. Timidity wounds your spirit, and pushes the cost of courage onto others.
In Sweden, the farmers and common people stood up in 1841. Unexpected. Their conscience was awakened. Many young people, from age 5 to 18 were convicted to share the gospel. These children under conviction faced a choice, what should we do? 1841-1843
The authorities told Swedes, “Do not listen to the preaching of these young people calling for repentance.” It was written about in newspapers. The biggest audience of these young people was 3000. They said “I can do nothing else” but speak the truth. They called on people to destroy their alcohol stills. Many did. The authorities declared it a sickness. They prescribed medication to treat this conviction to preach the gospel and warned that it was contagious. Sound familiar?
Response of authorities was “we don’t want this.” Preaching sickness. Age 5-19. Who paid the cost in this situation? The children paid the price. Many people were silent.
When we are silent, someone else pays the cost. Silence protects comfort. It doesn’t protect conscience. Silence is not neutral. Amen. Silence in the midst of evil leads to evil within you. The price is loss of integrity, and faith.
When conscience is awakened, someone pays the cost. Sweden lost the opportunity to continue the national revival. They lost a once-in-a-century opportunity.
Summary
Silence always has a cost. “Cost of silence.” If you keep silent God will act and you will be judged. Silence has a double cost—it wounds/deadens your conscience and hurts others. Certain structures can train people’s conscience to be silent. This is eternally dangerous. Silence never removes the cost, it only relocates it. Truth delayed in the name of ‘stability’ results in greater damage.
Courage takes God, and silence is in your own strength.
Keep your conscience awake. Reject silence. Be courageous. Religious liberty lives only where conscience meets courage. This was a 5 star presentation.
Ron Kelly
It is the tendency of all people and governments to lose their way. People in power often abuse their power. Ron talked about Greenland, and President Trump’s desre to acquire it.
America was set up (founded) to promote liberty as long as possible. We are not immune from the culture. George Washington said "Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.” We are at that point.
Controlling the conscience is one of the most deeply rooted Papal errors. We are to carry out the principles of Protestantism. Popery is all around us. The spirit of Popery will infect us unless our eye is single with God.
Crocodile wearing tiara of bishop. 1800’s cartoon.
Tidbits
People who follow emotion cannot change their mind, because their mind is not involved or activated.
America was created to restrict the abuse of power.
Society is sliding towards Gomorrah.
Ron talked about the What is a Woman documentary by Matt Walsh. It has over 100 million views. Our founders said “We hold these truths to be self evident.” One wonders if in our modern age they are still self evident (such as the biological certainties of male and female).
Egw referred to Declaration of Independence as that grand old document.
Right makes right. Not might.
Rome was pure (relatively) at one time. They slid downhill, until the national collapsed. We on a similar trajectory. "Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.
Beast power is in full development. Don’t force ourselves on Greenland.
Having a collection of beliefs does not make you full of truth.
Do you have an honest innocent spirit? If you lose the spirit of truth you will be lost.
Protestantism died when the church growth movement treated people like customers. Grow the church in the name of relevance and wound them in their soul.
Keeping your head down to avoid conflict leads to the damnation of your soul.
What happened in the village church was a stress test for the shapping of Adventism. Theological imperialism is imperialism indeed. Institutions behave instutionally. When you stop dialogue and embrace power you invite Popery. Friction is a function of life. When well managed it helps shape you.
In 2022, we could not have a discussion about an important issue. We now know why, alliances with geopolitical entities (United Nations). This led to theological imperialism.
Conrad Vine
11:30 AM
Conrad started An2p in April 2025.
For a decade, one of the highlights of the year was the Village Church Religious Liberty weekend. The conference wanted to shut it down, because they could not control it. They messed up the Village Church intentionally. The flock is always scattered when the shepherd is struck (Matthew 26:31).
On March 14, 1978, the KGB invaded a home. An 83 year old man was incarcerated—Vladimir Shelkov. The star witness against him was an Adventist who turned on him. Shelkov died in 1980 in a Siberian prison camp.
Vladimir Shelkov was a pastor who refused to bear arms in the Soviet Union. He became the leader of True and Free Adventists. Who were they, and why were they hated by Soviet Union and the official church SDA? They were comprised of ethnic Germans and Russians. In 1886 L.R. Conradi arrived in Russia and was arrested. He spent 40 days in prison. Scattered by persecution of czars, an Adventist movement grew by house churches. SDA was part of reformation, that was attractive to Russians in the Orthodox Church. A priest turned his back to congregation and spoke in unknown language, and Adventists spoke to you of the Bible in your own language. People liked this. They read the Bible every day, and spoke to God daily. Church members stood up for each other. Even Grandmas stood up for members to the KGB. Adventism spread through persecution in Russia. They persecuted them as dissidents; during Covid the whole world was focused on dissidents (unvaxxed and unmasked).
Conrad thanked the GC lawyers for persecuting him—said he knows they are watching. They helped spread his message, and he is grateful.
Free church in Russia refused to register with authorities, or join the military. They went underground. Despite persecution the true and free church thrived. They were imprisoned and hounded. Breschnev unleashed persecution on Adventists. Don’t forget the primary lesson, persecution builds the church.
Neal Wilson in 1979 said they would recognize only the official SDA church. He wanted nothing to do with true and free Adventists. In the late 1980’s, the GC disavowed Ronald Reagan’s characterization of the soviet Union as an ‘Evil empire’ and praised Russian religious liberty.
In 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. Marxism took hit. But the Marxist Ideology is still alive in universities. The True and Free church is largely non-existent today. Look back on history — few of us have had to make choices like that. “There but for the grace of God go us.”
Jesus said all would desert him. Shepherd struck and people scattered. History doesn’t directly repeat, but it still rhymes. There is a divide in Adventism today. There is the Official SDA, organization and there is a True and Free SDA movement. The divide is huge. The official organization loves money and assets. True Adventism doesn’t care about that. The Official church subjected itself to the United Nations in 1985. True Adventism has desire to be yoked to the UN. The Official organization believes it can control conscience of members (as seen during Covid). They make statements that mirror the UN.
True SDa is not interested in United Nations. They are interested in sharing the message of Jesus coming back, not the garbage that the UN comes out with. UN philosophy contradicts scripture and SOP. People in the Official organization celebrate the murder of Charlie Kirk (CRT Regional Conferences?), they celebrate abortions. True Adventists uphold life.
While we meet here today, Loma Linda is celebrating an LGBTQ Mama Bear sabbath. We are openly celebrating things that break Gods Law. Loma Linda is part of the Official church. True Adventism rejects critical theory and the LGBTQ agenda, and Marxism.
In the Official organization, no one can question leaders. “Do you presume to teach us?” (John 9:34-39).
True Adventism gives the straight testimony. They believe the Holy Spirit speaks to and through people, regardless of their status. The Official church believes tithe belongs to them alone. True Adventism believes tithe belongs to God. We have progressive (liberal/leftist) Adventistm on one side, and faithful Adventism on the other. Be faithful. Repentance is needed. True Adventism will be free of the United Nations, and serve only the Lord
In 1987 Neal Wilson warned about politics. Good statement. Quoted Jacques Ellul. This still applies today. Shun zealot politics to safeguard your soul. It’s ok to be an observer.
What To Do
Bow down before God. Choose Him today and every day. Stand up. Live out your faith. Know what you believe, and why. Speak out. With one voice. Don’t follow the fallen dictates of the United Nations. Speak up. Let your witness be heard. Jesus is coming again.
Our conscience is captive to the word of God.
Lunch . . . mmmmm
Stay tuned for part 2
****
“And let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but encouraging one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).