Category: Features

Aunty, my bride can’t wear the white virginity veil

14 June 2021  | Dear Aunt Sevvy, In my region in Africa the custom is that a woman who is marrying must wear a veil to show that she is a virgin. It isn’t unknown for elders to initiate a physical investigation to discover if the woman is qualified to wear the veil! The woman […]

AT1–June 11, 2021

 God loves to connect with humans. As far as God is concerned, no one has sinned so much that they cannot be reached. Oh, we humans love to judge a person as “having gone too far” and then feel justified at putting up barriers to enjoying friendship and fellowship with them. But not God; […]

Sharing Scripture–June 6-12, 2021

This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion […]

Why should our congregation pay tithe if it has no pastor?

8 June 2021  | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Recently my wife and I began attending a small Adventist congregation near us. Officially it has been downgraded from a church to a company: all members have their membership at a larger church in the region, or in the conference church. (Companies can’t officially hold members.) Our pastor […]

AT1–June 4, 2021

 We believe that God still speaks to humanity in our time. But often God’s voice is soft, not strong. Are we preparing ourselves to hear the whispers from Heaven? Are we talking with our children about listening for the voice of God? That’s what we’re going to hear about today. We’re so delighted you’ve […]

Sharing Scripture–May 30-June 5, 2021

This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion […]

Aunty, there’s a possible sexual predator in our church!

1 June 2021  | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Recently the adult son of one of our congregation’s leading families was arrested for propositioning a minor for sex. The family bailed him out of jail pending a trial, but they all insist that he did nothing wrong. It was the girl’s fault, they say—this teenager “seduced” him. But […]

AT1–May 28, 2021

 We often underestimate the benefit of an affirming and accepting conversation. Pointing out a person’s strengths, or assuring them that an adverse personality trait is not as large to the rest of us as it is in their minds, can be life-changing. Jesus was the master at such conversations. That’s what we’re going to […]

Sharing Scripture–May 23-29, 2021

This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion […]

Aunty, what’s the deal with disfellowshipping people?

24 May 2021  | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Recently a motion was brought before the church to remove the membership of a gay man because he was, according to some, an adulterer. I voted against it, but it still passed by a strong margin. This man, who had been attending regularly, has said that he no […]

AT1–May 21, 2021

 What we focus on expands. If we’re fearful and fretting, we become paralyzed. If consumerism is our thing, we never have enough. If we’re angry at the world, we find more things that tick us off. Jesus says, focus on me and let my influence expand in your life. We’re so delighted you’ve found […]

Sharing Scripture — May 16-22, 2021

This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion […]

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