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Spirit of service celebrated
13 March 2008
Kristin Thiele
Public relations assistant
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated service this past weekend (March 7-8) by ordaining a student, praying for others and challenging the remainder to join a ministry.
Ordained elders and ministers filled the stage as they laid hands on the church's newest elder, Wes Dose, a third-year Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching student who leads the Young Adult Networks Bible study. Senior minister Dr Bruce Manners referred to the role of elder as being "set aside." Looking at all the people on the stage, Bruce said, "[These are] other people who have been set aside. You are not alone." Associate minister Mark Craig offered the ordination prayer, saying, "May Wes see [God] in his ministry."
First-year theology students, who serve the church in leadership roles as part of their training, also received prayer. Bruce asked specifically for wisdom and prayed the students would be empowered and enriched when they leave Avondale.
Chaplain Dr Wayne French spoke during the worship service of the relationship between Christianity and the community. He proposed communities change for the better when Christians have Christ in their lives and live as temples of the Holy Spirit. He used a famous quote by Augustine to illustrate the power of working with Christ. "Without God, we cannot," he said. "Without us, God will not." Wayne concluded his sermon with this: "The choice is yours. What is your response?"
Fifty people responded to the challenge by joining at least one of the church's ministries.
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