Thursday, July 2

OK, let me catch you up a bit on some of my local meanderings in northern Virginia and southern Maryland on my way to be with our daughter and then the blessed day when Ingrid arrives tomorrow!!! Last Tuesday I rode up from our son's home in Fishersville to Vienna, VA where I was the pastor for about four and a half years from '87-'91 when I moved into the office as Ministerial Director. Vienna is a lovely church and, in fact, is my favorite sanctuary from past churches. The current pastor is Gary Genser, who came from Northern California where he pastored in Fortuna.  Vienna is what could be termed as a "commuter church" in that there are dozens and dozens of churches within driving distance and the majority of the local congregation does not live directly in Vienna. It is only 16 miles to the White House from there. Gary reports that they have become one of four churches alligned with WGTS, the Christian radio station on the campus of Washington Adventist University. This station has the second largest Christian radio audience in the nation.  Twice each year they will have "radio days" where the radio station personalities will lead out in the worship service and will promote this special day to the listening audience. This fall they will follow that with young adult events coordinated by Steve Case and evangelism done for and by young adults that will be relational focused and interactive with studies and small groups. It was a lot of fun to be there with Gary and see the church doing well.

On Wednesday I went up to Fulton, MD, which is just past the General Conference Headquarters where I stopped and had lunch with a dear friend, Don Freesland, and his wife, Shelly. I did get a few stares walking into the GC in my biker clothes and I'm not sure they believed me when I gave them my card, but they'll get over it.

I met with David Newman, former editor of Ministry Magazine, who is the Sr. Pastor at the New Hope Church and has been there for the past seven years.  In that time they have doubled their membership and attendance. In fact their membership and attendance are the same! When someone is baptized or transfers in they must attend a 3 hour "Entrance To New Hope" seminar that is provided every other month.  In this program they are introduced to the philosophy of the church explaining that their focus is on the gospel and not on the lifestyle growth of the members. They clearly explain that they are Christians first and Seventh-day Adventists second.  Their target on Sabbath mornings is the unchurched and 12% of their attendance is made up of these. 55% of attendees are not members of New Hope. The median age of the church is 26, whereas the median age for Adventists in North America is 55. I had a wonderful and challenging visit with David.  I love their "Ask Me Desk" which is hosted by a member throughout the worship time.  There are four full time pastors now and two full time Administrative Assistants, Prithy David and Lynn Ekelof. 

The last picture is of Ingrid's cousin Bruno Heidik and his wife Tuulikki who live nearby and I was able to have lunch with them.  The mileage total now stands at 6,200 and won't increase too much before I head west on Monday morning.  Ingrid arrives tomorrow morning and we will DRIVE down to our son's home and come back up to Julie's area Sunday afternoon.

God has been so good to me this journey and I am excited about the things I have learned and seen. Stay tuned.  There's lots more to come.