USA – North Carolina
Easter Sunday dawned grey and threatening at Fellowship Church (Taylorsville, N.C.), but “the show went on.” A parking lot service was set up for the special day, improving upon the weekly livestream services that have been going on since the COVID-19 pandemic and state law closed churches to “normal” congregations. Thirty-two cars pretty much filled the parking lot where folks had a view of the church entrance – about 80 people in attendance. The neighborhood rang with the strains of “Christ Arose,” “He Lives” and other Easter songs to guitar accompaniment, with a sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 by Pastor Dave Ross. Car horns blared during the greeting time as well as in appreciation for the rendition of “Christ Alone” by the White/Hewitt trio. Rain began just as the sermon ended with a song and the benediction. What a blessed Resurrection Sunday!
(Click photos to enlarge)
USA – South Carolina
(Submitted by Heather Graff)
Grace AC Church in Walterboro, S.C. had a great turnout for our Sunrise Service in conjunction with the mandatory stay at home order issued by our government. We had 104 in attendance in their respected vehicles and about the same or more viewed it online. The service started at 7 a.m. and everyone was asked to bring their own version of communion.
It was amazing how we went from a beautiful morning celebrating the resurrection to the next waking up to a tornado. This past Monday morning around 7 a.m., our town was in a state of chaos. A fast moving tornado hit the low-country of South Carolina. We are thankful that no damage was caused to the church and many of our members only experienced power outages and tree limbs down, but no severe damage. However, our downtown was greatly affected and our local small airport got the brunt of it.
What a beautiful reminder that Easter is not just one day, but daily. Though we entered a time of fear, we can still celebrate that our Lord and Savior is still there. He is the victor over death and the things of this world. What a reminder that Monday morning.
May we continue to celebrate all year long.
HE IS RISEN!!! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!
Philippines – Agape House
“We thank God that we were able to hold VBS training on March 12 – 13, before our city was declared on lockdown (community quarantine). Our theme during the training was “Galactic Surveyor.” The staff has been trained for the VBS, yet we do not know whether we can push through our VBS for the Sunday School Extension (SSE) areas and to the Salumayag mountain (outreach to the Tigwahanan People Group) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to be praying for the safety of everyone including our staff and the families and children of our SSE areas.”
India - YJM’s Ministry Partner, Pastor B. Balu Nayak
Pastor B. Balu Nayak, the leader of Balunayak Banjara Tribal Ministries at Mahabubabad, Baluthanda and Salarthanda in Telangana State, wrote last week:
“On Wednesday, April 8, I distributed vegetables for poor people in Kuravi Village in Mahabubabad District of Telangana state.”
Pastor Balu Nayak is working with the people of the Kuravi Village to share the Word of God to them through the sharing of the Bread of Life giving provided by our WHFMS, Advent Christian churches and individuals.
Myanmar
Pastor David is one of the four leaders of our Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar. His ministry, Fellowship Bible Church, also includes his Bible college and the care of orphans. Pastor David has bought land (five acres) to be used for the orphanage, the Bible school and church. Below are some photos of the construction progress of Pastor David’s orphanage (click to enlarge):
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Easter Service affected by COVID-19
Pastor Bertin Mwanya shares:
“On Easter Sunday, most if not all of Advent Christian local churches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo celebrated the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in the family setting, limiting the number of the attendees to cope with sanitation instructions to stop the contamination and the spread of the coronavirus.
“Conference President Bertin Mwanya, along with his wife Genevieve Mwanya, hosted their Easter Sunday school in their home from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Coming together was Bertin, Genevieve, kids, one neighbor and a few children participating in the Bread for Life Project from the community.
“Service began with Genevieve Mwanya opening with prayer, Miss Feliste led in various songs, one of the children prayed for the offering and Brother Simon read the announcement prior to the closing prayer. Pastor Bertin focused on the resurrection of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in remembrance for Easter in his sermon. As Advent Christians, we do have a ‘blessed hope’ to believe in the resurrection and the rapture of the church at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
