Dear Church Family,

I believe God cares about the small things in our lives. Sometimes He gives me no other choice, 

That’s unusual.

I left work on a busy Thursday afternoon, anxious to get home and begin cooking for the weekend. A few miles down the road, I just missed a green light. At the bottom of a hill, mine was the first car in a long line of vehicles waiting to turn left at a major intersection. Then it happened.

Three warning lights flashed briefly on my car’s dashboard, then faded as my car coughed to a dead stop. I first thought about all those anxious commuters snaking up the hill behind me. What was going to happen when the light turned green? Maybe if I let the guy behind me know what was going on, he could figure out how to get around my stalled vehicle, signaling others to do the same. Quickly I exited the car, staying as close to the vehicle as I could as traffic whizzed by in the other lane.

“My car just died,” I told the guy in the black SUV. “You’re going to have to try to get around me.”

A magnanimous (generous) guy that he appeared to be, nodded, grunted, and got about his business of navigating around the obstacle as soon as the light changed. 

Seated in my car in the middle of the mayhem, I endured the honking, swearing, and general disgust as vehicles sped to the right and left of me, driving in the wrong lane and pushing others out of the way as best they could.

Grateful for my cell phone, I quickly made two calls: one to my husband and the other to a local tow truck company, whose best estimate was a two-hour wait. Eric arrived within 15 minutes, pulling his pickup into an abandoned gas station slightly up the hill behind me. Running across the road, he grabbed my hand and briefcase,

and we fled through a break in the traffic to the safety of the other side. We were at a loss about handling the cause of all the commotion in the middle of the road.

“If I could somehow push it backward, up the hill,” Eric said, “I could try to get it turned into the driveway here.” Then he prayed, “Lord, please send someone to help me.”

At that precise moment, a battered car swerved into the abandoned gas station, and a young man jumped out. “Need help?”

I stood rooted to the spot, convinced that he had been placed on earth for this purpose. Eric extended his hand. “You are a gift of grace sir,” he said. “I just prayed that God would send someone to help us.”

The young man pointed toward heaven, acknowledging his own belief, and the three of us then hatched a quick plan and put it into action. I ran down to the corner and stopped traffic. The young man got in front of the car and began pushing it up the hill. Eric got beside the open driver’s side window, alternately pushing and steering.

Slowly, gradually, the tires rolled, and the car eased its way in a gentle backward arc toward the gas station. Drivers on all sides gave us the necessary berth, staying put or backing up to provide us with the headway we needed to accomplish the task.

Finally, out of harm’s way, we all breathed a sigh of relief. Again, Eric expressed his gratitude. “You’ve been an answer to prayer.” The young man smiled broadly, embraced him, jumped into his battered car, and veered back into the moving traffic.

Safely ensconced in the pickup beside my stalled vehicle, we waited for the tow truck while splitting a can of Pringles that rolled out from under the seat. The night sky began to darken, and the God of all things, great and small, revealed His beauty with a magnificent view of the sunset and stars. You can trust in God! 

In the news:

1. The message this Sabbath will be presented to us by Pastor Nate Nelson. The Title of his sermon is “An Effective Witness.” Scripture Reading is Mark 1:2-3. May God add a special blessing to the reading and hearing of His word, amen! 

2. AYA – Join us this Sabbath night at 7:30 p.m. for an inspiring mission presentation from an Adventist Frontier Mission (AFM) couple serving in Southeast Asia. Share with us in the challenges and triumphs that the gospel outreach is encountering in this closed country.

3. Mid-Week Prayer Meeting is cancelled next weekJuly 20th for VBS. We will resume July 27th on Zoom at 7 PM. 

4. Pastor Jeremy is still on vacation from the 3rd through the 19th. His family is biking C&O Canal Trail / Great Allegheny Passage which begins in Pittsburgh & ends in Washington D.C. Let’s keep them in our prayers for a blessed trip and a safe journey home. I heard, while it was pouring down rain, they had to sleep under an outdoor pavilion. Each of the boys had a picnic table to themselves and Tina slept on one side of a picnic table while Jeremy slept underneath. What an ADVNETURE!! Can’t wait to hear more! 

5. Pastor Jeremy’s last day worshipping with us is August 13th instead of August 6th. 

6. JASPER CANYON VBS – July 18-22, 6:00-8:00 p.m. We are excited to invite you to our Jasper Canyon Vacation Bible School (VBS) program. Join us as we explore important treasures Jesus has given each child and discover how uniquely special, they really are! Be watching for our registration forms in the church foyer. If you would like one delivered to you, please reach out. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. on July 18or you can pre-register after worship service this Sabbath. If you have any questions, please contact Emie Lopez (909) 571-1560.

7. Remember our church camp out is July 29-31. Make reservations now if you haven’t done so already.  

8. ADVENTURER TEACHERS NEEDED (Adults Only)– Wait, I get it. You are “not a teacher.” But you are someone who wants to serve God. “Well, how do I do that?” you may ask. Well, here’s your opportunity to get involved by teaching our young children about Jesus. Katrina Robinson is willing to provide the curriculum, craft supplies, training, and schedule. All she needs is generous, eager souls ready to serve God. If you are interested and want to minister to our children, don’t hesitate to contact Katrina Robinson at 423-747-2007. She needs three or more teachers so we can offer as many of the following classes as possible: Little Lamb (Pre-K), Eager Beaver (K), Busy Bee (1st grade), Sunbeam (2nd grade), Builder (3rd grade), and Helping Hand (4th grade). This year, we want to offer STAFF KIDS a 50% discount on club dues!

9. SOCIAL COMMITTEE EVENT: “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” is scheduled for Saturday,August 6, 2022 (Sabbath lunch). Sign out sheets will be in the foyer for you to participate either as a host or a guest for this event.  This is a fun event since you don’t know who is coming to your home or whose home you will be going to. We would love for everyone to participate.  If you have any questions, please contact Katie Wilson or Kezia Finley.

10. FELLOWSHIP LUNCH – Please bring a dish and join us for this special church wide farewell luncheon to honor Pastor Jeremy and his family on August 13, 2022.

11. FAREWELL OPEN HOUSE for Pastor Jeremy and family on Sunday, August 14 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Greeneville SDA Church in the fellowship hall. 

Shew!! That’s a lot of news! Blessings to you as you prepare for the coming Sabbath!

In His Service,

Pastor Nate