Preserving Our Hope in Christ
In about a month’s time, the Atlantic Union will convene its quinquennial session. The theme we have chosen is “Preserving Our Hope in Christ.” The notion of hope is not foreign to Adventists. From the very inception of this church (it all began right here in the Atlantic Union territory), hope has been a defining conviction of the early Adventist pioneers. We’ve always had it. And preserve it, we must. Not only for ourselves, but for future generations.
The apostle declares that “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”—Roman 15:4, NIV. If we would preserve our hope in Christ in the 21st century, we must endure and find encouragement in the Scriptures as the Word of God. This must be our anchor in these last days as it was for the Old Testament patriarchs, the New Testament believers, and the early Adventist pioneers.
Today our hope is being eroded by the proliferation of naysayers, false doctrine, and outright worldliness, as predicted in Scripture: “First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming?’”—2 Peter 3:3, 4, NRSV.
One day a little boy struggled to bring a large family Bible to his father as the family gathered for worship. A guest of the family who was staying at the home couldn’t help but observe the little boy’s dilemma and remarked: “Ah! my boy, you carry your Bible now; but the time is coming when you will find that the Bible must carry you.”
As we come to the end of this term of service in the Atlantic Union, I want to thank God for His rich blessings during the last five years, four of which I had the honor of serving as your president. What a delight it has been to see God’s guiding hand over His church, including the amazing and miraculous turnaround of Atlantic Union College in the midst of daunting circumstances (see report inserted between pages 16 and 17 in this Gleaner issue).
I am very thankful for the capable and godly leadership of my administrative colleagues, departmental directors, associates, assistants, and the entire office support staff—including my faithful secretary, Premila Wilmott. They’re the best. I’ve valued them dearly. I also want to thank the members of the Atlantic Union Conference Executive Committee and Association Board, the K-12 Education Board, as well as the Atlantic Union College Board of Trustees for their tireless efforts to meet the grave concerns of leadership and governance during this period.
Were it not for the unflagging support of our local conference presidents and officers, and the Atlantic Union College president and officers, much that has been accomplished during this time would never be. On behalf of the Atlantic Union team, thank you elders Trevor Baker, Jeffrey Brown, Dionisio Olivo, Mike Ortel, Stan Rouse, Frank Tochterman, and George Babcock. Your administrative, educational, and gospel-spreading leadership is so appreciated.
Finally, I want to thank each constituent member for your unwavering faithfulness and financial generosity to this church, both at home and abroad. May your tribe increase!
As Lois and I have traveled around the Atlantic Union, we’ve been blessed by your graciousness and genuine Christian warmth. May God’s grace and mercy continue to flourish in us as we await the soon coming of our precious Lord.
May hope continue to burn within our hearts.
Donald
G. King is president of the Atlantic Union
Conference and chairman of the Atlantic
Union College Board of Trustees.
Atlantic Union GLEANER
May 2006
