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This page features resources and articles for pastors and church leaders throughout the Pacific Union Conference.

The Value of Social Media - I am often disheartened when I see Christians getting into heated discussions with people on blogs or social media. Sometimes they get angry because someone used an offensive word. Sometimes they get into arguments about scriptural doctrines.

ChurchApplied - Church Support Services publishes a monthly and quarterly newsletter called ChurchApplied for members and church workers within the Pacific Union Conference and beyond.

The Roku Connection - If you have high-speed internet, you can access HOPE TV, Loma Linda Broadcasting and 3-ABN without a satellite dish.

Let's Go Back! - "I'm going back to that church!" These are words every pastor and church leadership committee long to hear! Unfortunately, the opposite phrase, "I'm not going back to that church," may be expressed more often.

Bar Stools and Pews - Does it bother you that on any given weekend there are probably more people sitting on bar stools than in church pews? This ought to send a message to pastors and parishioners alike that something meaningful is happening in local saloons and taverns!

Does Your Church "Do" Evangelism? - Adventism and Evangelism are two words that belong together! The Seventh-day Adventist church would not be where it is today were it not for the strong emphasis it has placed on...

The Intentional Church - A few months ago I visited a small church, about 20 attending. Since my last visit there one year before, two or three new people from the community were regularly participating. “How did this come about?” I asked the church leaders. “God sent them,” was the reply. “God picked them out and sent them.”

Setting the Captives Free - We asked Karen Nicola about her efforts to help people who have been victimized by abuse--a plague that is happening all over the world, including the United States.

How to Witness Without Embarrassing God - I gave up on witnessing. It's not that I wasn't grateful for the salvation I have through Jesus. I was grateful and really wanted to tell others about His love and how He changed my life.

More Than Words - Jesus said we are to be the "salt of the earth," meaning we are suppose to add flavor and nourishment to those we mingle with and touch.

How To Destroy Corporate Worship - Corporate worship should be one of the most meaningful events offered by a local church.

Beauty Defined - God is no stranger to beauty. He defined it at creation and continues to define it in a world that continually tries to come up with its own definitions.

Does Anyone Still Do Sabbath School? - Does anybody still do Sabbath school? The short answer is yes, but that doesn't mean all is well with what was once one of the strongest evangelism venues in the Adventist church.

Tearing Off the Roof - The main point of ministry is to connect people with Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19-20 outlines this as the gospel commission, and it is what every Seventh-day Adventist church should be doing.

Wifi in Church? - Imagine a church giving access to its Wifi signal during their Sabbath morning services? Why would they want to do that? Wouldn’t this be like encouraging people to surf the net and update their Facebook pages during church?

What Can I Do? - If you've ever been tempted to think that your circumstances prevent you from doing anything for others, think again. You need to talk with Richard Bell. I recently interviewed Bell about a life-changing accident...

Newspaper Prayers - The Grass Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church sponsors a unique prayer ministry through one of its Sabbath School classes, led by Bud Roberts.

Everyone Wants My Body - Everybody wants my body. Some, so they can fill me with beer. Others, so they can adjust my appearance to match their definition of “beautiful.” Still others harangue and wheedle about how I must reduce my cholesterol, increase my carbs, reduce my carbs, drink flax seed tea, or purchase new running shoes from only their company.

The Anatomy of a Boring Church - Although we shouldn't use the entertainment factor to determine what to include or delete from our spiritual diet, I'm not aware of any biblical text that says church has to be boring!

Innovate or Die - Ministry is a moving target. It was never meant to be a package of concepts that could be nailed down and frozen in time. Ministry is a means to an end — it is not the end. The message of who God is and what He is...

Filling Empty Pews - In any given community there are dozens, (in some communities potentially hundreds) of former Adventists who have left the Seventh-day Adventist church for various reasons. From time to time we as a church...

Prayer Walking - Evangelism is a subject that is more and more on the hearts of God’s children. How do we reach the lost and confused? How do we give hope and encouragement to those who have none?

Who Cares? - In today’s world, many don’t care about issues or concerns that do not impact their immediate circle of family or friends. It’s easy to say, “let someone else worry about that, I’ve got enough problems to keep me busy for months.”

Reconnect Now - This page features practical ministry ideas and resources for pastors and church leaders involved in local church ministry

Highly Effective Reconnecting Churches - This page features practical ministry ideas and resources for pastors and church leaders involved in local church ministry

Refugee Assistance - A series of circumstances has inspired members of the Paradise Valley church to broaden their Community Services outreach to refugees in San Diego County.

A Night for Losers - We all know what it’s like to lose something or someone we treasure. When it happens to us we’re tempted to think that we’re being unfairly singled out or taken advantage of.

If You Don't Use Your Gifts, Who Will? - Sometimes I've felt that to be a pastor is to restrict myself to "spiritual" activities, to be less real and less expressive of the full personhood in which God made me.

Redefining Evangelism - Evangelism is a partnership with God that we enter into for the purpose of telling others, with our lives and our mouths, that the best is yet to come.

Worship: Fuel for Mission - There is that old saying that talks about not putting the “…cart before the horse.” I understand that idiom to mean that before we go running off doing something we had better make sure we have other things in order first.

Church Ministries Fair - A great way to foster involvement in local church ministries is to host a Ministries Fair. Recently, the Lodi English Oaks Church conducted one that enjoyed a positive response.

What We Can Learn From Coke - Coca-Cola sells 1.5 billion servings of their product EVERY DAY. And they deliver it to some of the most remote locations on the planet. If they can do it, why can't we share the HOPE of salvation with everyone within the Pacific Union Conference?

A Labor of Love - What motivates a father and son to secure an abandoned chassis of a 1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, then dedicate 4 years of their lives (some 15,000 hours) to restoring it to its original glory?

Health Assurance - It takes a special person to be able to see some of the complex health needs in a given community and then marshal the resources and people to do something about it. Dr. Linda Tigner-Weekes has demonstrated these qualities in the Pacoima area.

Getting On Radio - Families by Design is a radio program in central Florida that is hosted by Dr. Daniel Forbes and Dr. Oliver Edwards. Dr. Forbes also serves as senior pastor of the South Orlando and Emmanuel Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Orlando.

Drive-by Sharing - "Mommy, we need to get another decal so we can tell others about Jesus," 5-year-old Daniel reminded his mom, Lyudmyla, from the Granite Bay church.

Sharing Your Pastor - Churches provide relational support and spiritual nurture to the people who live in their communities. But there are times when a church may be asked to minister in ways it never anticipated--as with the Colton/Fontana church district in Southeastern California Conference.

What Is Evangelism? - Currently, the Pacific Union Conference is putting special emphasis on evangelism, as are each of the other Union Conferences in North America. Our church has witnessed dramatic growth in various parts of the world, and we rejoice with each positive report.

Fiddletown Faith - While finding gold was not their motive for coming to Fiddletown, Steve and Cyndee Holm have struck it with their community Bible study group.

God Isn't Fair...and it's a good thing! - Discover how God's grace is changing people's lives. Read stories of faith, healing and triumph.

The Magic of Sleep - Sometimes a journey is unbearably long! "daddy, how much longer?" They you fall asleep and the next moment the sound of laughing voices and a blast of cold air announces you've arrived. You're there!

How to Grow Your Own Ministry - Do you feel the tug to embark on a new mission for God? Our fulfillment in life is directly related to our willingness to venture out and respond to the promptings and ideas God sends our way.

ChurchApplied: In Motion - The name ChurchApplied is meant to convey that what we talk and sing about in our churches needs to be "applied" in our every day lives.

Welcome Home - This idea works best for spec homes, or homes being built for people who live outside of the immediate area.

New Year's Resolutions and Exercise - Come January, millions of people resolve to lose weight to improve their appearance, fit into their clothes, or just feel better about themselves.

Turn Your Newsletter Into a Ministry - You may not think of your church newsletter as having ministry potential, but it does! Learn what the Chico Adventist Church is doing with theirs.

Jump Start Your Prayer Ministry - The aim of any prayer ministry is to get more people, praying more. Not just for more answers to prayer but so more people will see the incredible transforming power of God flowing through them so their relationship with God will grow.

Dynamic Web Content - Just about anybody can throw a website together. The challenge is to make it into a site that people want to visit---often. Finding quality content that can be featured on your site is a challenge.

An Open Door - Recently, while speaking with Mike Jones about his new book, "Help, Lord, I Blew It Again," an interesting story emerged that relates to an encounter he had with some Mormon Missionaries.

Supper Clubs - Supper Clubs, or Vegetarian Taste Fairs, are a great way to acquaint your community with the benefits of eating healthfully.

Teen Community Service Projects - You are not too young to be used by God. Sometimes adults give teens the idea that they need to grow up before their efforts or ideas count. That's bogus!

Making Friends With Tomatos - Don't underestimate the value of being a good neighbor. Here's how one church is using tomatos to create goodwill.

Simple Church: Home Church Ministry - Have you ever wondered what it would be like to plant a new church—in your neighborhood? Not only has Milton Adams given a lot of thought to this, he is actually doing it near Orlando, Florida.

Preaching Grace - Preaching is a lot like convincing Minnesota Viking's fans that Brett Favre is a great quarterback. We pray long, study hard, and then weave God’s message together with creative syntax and memorable illustrations.

Evangelism Today - While the form and shape of the delivery method for evangelism may change, the core message is still the same one found in Revelation 14.6-12, a message that clearly enunciates God’s will...

Hidden Qualities of Great Leaders - Models and theories on leadership are as numerous as they are varied in their approaches.

Kingdom Growth - I remember when I first became a grandfather, and how that truth added a whole new dimension to my life. I was drawn to the children's books in Borders. I purchased a new box of crayons, and was on the prowl...

Promoting Life with Healthy Food - While at The Garden I met several people whose lives have been dramatically changed in the short time that The Garden has been open.

The Stained Glass Story - When the NAD Church Resource Center (Vervent) first committed to examine the life of the local congregation over an extended period of time, it was a rare opportunity.

Kids In Discipleship - Kids in Discipleship (K.I.D.) is a ministry that equips congregations, parents, and mentors to implement the model of discipleship described in Deuteronomy.

New Satellite, New Opportunities - Loma Linda Broadcasting Network has moved to a new satellite, and has also moved on to some great new outreach opportunities!

Worship Planning Groups - Some churches select a worship planning group to broaden the responsibility and content of their Sabbath morning worship experience.

Telephone Visitation - Why not use periodic, brief telephone visits to stay connected with your members? Once or twice a year, call every member and let them know you care.

On the House - Charlie McKelvey and a group of church members and community friends from Sonora, CA., have been providing hot meals (one Sunday each month) for the residents of Tuolumne City for over five years.

Drive-thru Prayers - Being apart of the Sabbath Keepers Motorcycle Ministry has taught us a lot, including the knowledge we that prayer works! When talk about a "Drive Through Prayer" ministry came up...

Bringing the Fire - Using bowling-pin-shaped juggling clubs that you might see at a circus, my college roommate and I started juggling together in our free time. Before long we could rhythmically pass the clubs horizontally between us while at the same time tossing in random stunts.

Coming Up Short - Healthy churches do not fixate on money! They need it to function and survive, but money concerns do not rise above the mission and overall purpose of the church.

When "Someone" is You - I have come to believe that one's passion could be...

Rescuing the Offertory - As some of us have worked for more intentionality in our worship services, it has been logical to examine each and every element of the service and to ask if it contributes to what we are attempting to accomplish.

Auburn Reaches Out - Auburn Seventh-day Adventist Community Services (Auburn, California) is committed to serving the people in their immediate community who have urgent needs.

Called to Serve - Ricardo Graham, President of the Pacific Union Conference, shares how he was led by God into a life of pastoral and administrative ministry.

Celebrate Recovery - Yolanda Hernandez, a member of the Thousand Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Church, has initiated a ministry to assist those who struggle with addictions (of every kind).

Ministry to the Disabled - Those with disabilities are often forgotten or ignored by the church family.

Music as Worship - Empowered by the Spirit, music opens the heart so one may be convicted by the words of truth. Through the beauty of song the heart can be drawn into full surrender, to consecration, and to commitment...

Something to Tell - People love stories! We love to hear about when our parents were young, about when we were born, about when this country was discovered, and about life in ancient times.

Let Us Worship - What is the most appropriate form of worship music? Organ or band? Praise team or choir? Hymns or contemporary worship songs? When it comes to worship, there are many issues about which people argue.

Adventist Rodders Club - June 2007 will mark the 10th anniversary for the Adventist Rodders Club (ARC), since it was 10 years ago when a handful of couples decided to form it.

Nursing Home Ministry - Sad, but true! Nursing homes can be very lonely and depressing. This is one reason many people are hesitant to visit family members and friends who have the misfortune of being in one.

Networking - You’ve likely heard of “speed dating” where a group of singles come together and spend about 60-90 seconds on mini dates with each person...

Bus Stop Evangelism - Yolanda Burgos and her family woke up early and got ready to go to their church. It was "the day of the Lord." Time passed by and the serivce was about to start.

The Church and the Internet - In history, technological advancements have always been catalysts for social change.

What Is Your Church About? - Ask this question of most Seventh-day Adventists and they'll say, "we're about winning people to Christ."

31 Ways to Change Your World - Check out these ideas for youth or young adults ministries. Older members can also become involved in some of these. Remember, you're as young as you choose to be.

Web Evangelism Takes Center Stage - For the last 10 years or so the Adventist church has experimented with using the Internet for evangelism purposes.

Youth Ministry Planning - Some leaders are exceptionally good at "winging it" though youth programs and events. That's ok if it works well for you and can be maintained over the long haul.

Helping the Down and Out - Years ago, I pastored a church near a popular beach resort along the east coast of Florida where we had a lot of requests for help.

Helping the Homeless - This working policy has been used by one church to respond to requests for assistance. It will probably not meet your needs without some alterations.

Ideas for New Youth Leaders - Working with people in any ministry capacity should be highly relational. This is especially true when working with youth. An effective ministry needs a good balance...

Heaven's Depot - Ever wonder why Home Depot is such a hot stock option? It's pretty easy to figure out.

Having a Church Website - Hundreds of church websites are useless because their leaders have not embraced them as viable forms of ministry.

Jesus Matters - Ultimately, the only thing that matters is Jesus! Seeing and knowing Him, following, obeying, sharing, and praising Him matter more than anything else!

Should You Be Blogging? - By now you've certainly heard about blogs and blogging, and may have even created one yourself.

Ministry of Encouragement - Have you ever felt that your Christian witness was nonexistent? Perhaps you stay at home all day, or you work in a job where you have limited exposure to other people.

Media Tools - Because media plays such a large role in contemporary culture, church programming can be enhanced when technology is tastefully used to add impact.

The Ideal Adventist Church - After decades of churches trying to understand how to grow healthy churches, the book, Natural Church Development, by Christian A. Schwarz, has revolutionized conventional thinking.

El Monte Church Dedicates Press - According to Nguyen, the Vietnamese press will be a literature resource for the 10 Vietnamese Adventist congregations currently worshiping in North America.

Dynamic Websites - The next wave of web technologies has come to fruition in dynamic web communities created by news organizations, entertainment entities, libraries, information companies, and church-based ministries.

Agape Light Tattoo Removal - For the last 8 years the Burbank Seventh-day Adventist Church has been involved in a program that directly impacts the lives of its participants--the removal of tattoos and the stigma that comes with them.

The Vegetarian Advantage - Selling the advantages of a vegetarian diet have never been so easy. Scientific research continues to support the benefits of reducing the intake of animal products.

netAdventist Websites - The Internet is today's gold standard for communication in the United States. Nearly everyone uses it to communicate and seek information.

To Praise or Not to Praise: Part I - An evangelical pastor once quipped, "If I were to change my theology, I'd lose 10 percent of my members. If I changed the music style in my church, I'd lose 50 percent."

To Praise or Not to Praise: Part II - Part 1 of this series looked at the historical battle over music, century by century as each new style was brought into the church. Today the debate rages on about church music.

Kingdom Coming - We've heard it said, and have read in the "Great Controversy," that religious intolerance will come to the United States in the end-time. Here's a book that details how it may happen.

Broken Down for Breakthrough - It was a frigid, snowy Saturday morning eight years ago when we pulled up for the first time in front of my new church. The entire metropolitan area had just been hit with its worst snowstorm in decades.

Wanted: Focused Leaders - Ivan L. Williams, Sr. Leaders who are focused have the ability to view their goals and purposes with a single eye. These are the kind of leaders that every organization wants and needs.

University of Hope - I'll never forget the awful feeling that came over me when I first heard my friend Phil had Lukemia. I had known Phil for a couple of years.

Unique Websites - Here are some unique websites from around the Pacific Union Conference.

Is God Political? - Political parties are made up of individuals who share common values and goals. The unique heritage of the United States is based upon its ability to allow for a wide spectrum of opinions and beliefs to coexist.

The Wisdom of Tenderness - Brennan Manning believes that all changes in the quality of life must grow out of a change in our vision of reality. Calling into question the prevailing vision of God as a remote overlord.

Finding Power In Prayer - Early morning's not primetime for everyone, but according to Jeremy Kwon, pastor of the Mountain View Korean Church, there's evidence that important spiritual battles are won at the break of day.

Out of the Safe Mode - Everyone knows how to play hide and seek. If you aren't "it," your job is to hide, then sneak your way back to home base without being tagged.

Multisite Worship - Ten years ago I remember visiting a church in southern California that was packed out in the main sanctuary. The only option was to sit in a side room and watch the service on a large TV monitor.

Ministry In the Midst of Tragedy - On September 27, 2006 a gunman took six high school girls hostage, sexually assaulting them and killing one of them.

Building God's Church Today - Life in the twenty-first century moves at a very fast pace. New technologies have a short life - as soon as they hit store shelves they are practically obsolete.

The Graying of Adventism - The median age for the Seventh-day Adventist community in North America, including the un-baptized children in church families, is 58. The median age for the general public is 36 in the U.S. and...

Who Are Your Neighbors? - When making plans to share Christ with your community, you need to understand who you're trying to reach. The web is a great place to find demographic studies.

The Business of Ministry - After finishing seminary training, you can imagine my disappointment when no one offered me a church to pastor. So began my 25 year break from pastoral ministry.

Ministering to the Singles - A few years ago I was visiting with a friend who had recently gone through a divorce. Her husband, a former pastor, decided he didn't want to be married to her anymore.

Evangelism That Counts - For some, evangelism means only one thing--adding people to the church and bringing them into God's Kingdom, even if they aren't interested.

Ideas for a Finished Work Now - Some 2,000 years ago, Jesus commissioned His disciples to "Go and make disciples of all nations."

360degree Leadership - Preaching to Transform Congregations, by Michael J. Quicke. Many in ministry see preaching and church leadership as separate responsibilities.

Holy, Holy, Holy - Worship is often explained in terms of adoration, reverence, respect, devotion, adulation and veneration. These are relational words, used particularly as we relate to our God.

International Children's Care - The beginning came at the end of a deadly, earth-shattering event. In 1976 an earthquake measuring 7.5 and lasting 45 seconds, literally ripped open Guatemala City, Guatemala.

XRtainmentZone Promotes Wellness - Video games have lured millions of children into a mind-numbing world of action-packed adventure. Unfortunately, all the action is for the eyes and fingers -- not the body.

Joyful Noise - Too many Christians assume that the music they like is the music God likes. By forbidding the music they don't like, they alienate the young.

Be Careful What You See - Here's something to incorporate into a health presentation. "If you see it, you'll eat it," according to health researcher, Brian Wansink.

Health Tips and Resources - Whether it's for your own health, or you're looking for resources to help with a health presentation, this page features tips and resources that you can use.

His Voice Men's Chorus - His Voice men's chorus is a musical ministry devoted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Director Mike Naluai leads twenty-three men, pianists Joyce Leal and Sonia Dias.

Effective Reconnecting Churches - These elements can help your church become a positive attraction to those who are drifting away or who wish to re-establish ties with Adventism.

The Fad That's Here to Stay - What if the postmodern impact on our culture changes things so dramatically that our evangelism field never looks the same again? Are we prepared? Or are we clinging to what makes us...

Campus Hill Serves Acts of Kindness - Simple Acts of Kindness (SAKE) is designed to show God's love in practical ways.

Army of One - Every time I saw a commercial for the US Army, I'd wonder what the ad was really saying. Then, like a ton of bricks, it hit me. Army of One means that you've resolved in yourself that you will...

Delusional Leaders - Throughout my life I have heard of numerous incidents where charismatic leaders have made such claims. For me, the question that always begs to be answered is...

Devotional Reading Calendar - Here's a great way to grow in your walk with Christ while reading books like, "Love Makes a Way," "Keys to Happiness" and "Desire of Ages."

Teach Your Children Well - When her children were small, Donna Richards used every-day objects to help her children grasp the idea that God was calling them to a life of service.

Need Content for Your Website? - If you manage a website you know how difficult it is to keep it fresh and content rich. Now you can choose from a menu of content that is specifically written for ministry-related websites.

Video Soapbox - SpiritFlash provides members, ministry organizations and churches with a free place to broadcast their news and information about the ministries they are involved in.

Peace On Earth? - This morning I thought about what the angels said at Christ's birth, "To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God; And on earth, peace among all people who...

Dying to Live - How do you take an old theme that is laced with time worn clich's and platitudes and bring fresh thought and vitality to it? Clarence and Dianna Schilt have done just that in their seminar that focuses on the theme of surrender and dying to self.

The Bible In 90 Days - As a pastor I've always wanted to read through the entire Bible and even started a few times using one of those a year-long reading plans. I found that I wasn't very good at sticking to the plan. I've read large portions of scripture but never verse-by-verse straight through.

Converting Cassette to CD - Recently this question came to us by email: Do you have any resources for economically transferring audio cassettes to CDs?

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