North American Division President G. Alexander Bryant has a plan to turn our local churches into “community” centers by expanding their mission beyond traditional religious activities. He wants to change the roles of our churches to address the social, cultural, recreational, and leisure needs of the community. According to a news report published by the North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists, President Bryant met with union and conference officials, as well as local political leaders, to launch a new mission that they see as the future of Adventism. The NAD news report made the following statements during the inauguration of the Patmos Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida:
• “For the past three years, Patmos Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church members in Apopka, Florida, have taken steps of faith and sacrifice on a journey to construct a sanctuary — a tabernacle — a ‘worship hub.’ In March, the congregation crossed the finish line and celebrated with a two-day grand-opening festival.” [1]
• “The 107,000-square-foot activity center has basketball courts, a kid’s gymnasium, volleyball courts, batting cages, martial arts facilities, space for COVID testing, a restaurant, and an outdoor video screen used to stream services to the parking lot.” [1]
• “The hub, a multi-purpose space, is also useful for wedding receptions, banquets, conferences, training sessions, and other events. ‘Apopka has very few venues for organizations to hold gatherings,’ says (Senior Pastor) Doggette. ‘The hub could make a major contribution to the social and cultural life of the city.’ [1]
• ‘The Well serves hundreds of youth and adults who participate in activities such as gymnastics, martial arts, basketball, baseball training, tutoring, and workplace screening. As a result, there’s a mission field right inside the church’s doors; the ‘worship hub’ provides a spiritual complement to the physical activities the Well offers.” [1]
Southeastern Conference President Michael Owusu (center) and conference treasurer Emmanuel Charles (left) presented Pastor Doggette (right) with a check to support the building effort.
Church leaders at every level are thrilled about this new church community center. During the inauguration, the president of the North American Division praised the congregation by saying:
“You know what the emphasis is in the world church? It’s to have a place like this place. It’s to turn our worship centers into community places that will serve the needs of the people that Jesus Christ died for. We have another word, we call them centers of influence, but it’s about how do we take our places of worship and turn them from places that just gather two hours a week to a place that serves a community seven days a week. And I would like to thank Pastor Doggette for your leadership and your vision in leading this congregation in that regard. But the Seventh-day Adventist Church is moving in that direction.” [2]
Southern Union Conference president Ron Smith also shared his approval and “praised senior pastor James R. Doggette, Sr., for his visionary leadership.” [3] Michael K. Owusu, Southeastern Conference president, also “congratulated the members and praised them for the sacrificial giving that made the renovation possible.” [3]
Political leaders attended the ribbon-cutting ceremonies including, (right to left) Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson, Florida State Senator Geraldine Thompson, Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore, and Apopka Commissioner Alexander Smith.
Political leaders were also present and gave the new Adventist church community center high praise for this endeavor. In attendance were Apopka mayor Bryan Nelson, Florida State Senator Geraldine Thompson, Orange County commissioner Christine Moore, and Apopka commissioner Alexander Smith. Notice how one of the politicians anticipated government involvement in this new partnership:
“Florida State Senator Geraldine F. Thompson, who represents Apopka, sees Patmos’ community services expanding. ‘I’m interested in seeing the community thrive, and churches can add to what the government does to meet the needs of the people. This church has already proven itself with recreational and food programs. Services can be expanded into education and many other areas. I’m looking forward to a wonderful partnership’.” [3]
The glowing rings used in the new Adventist church community center are very popular in ecumenical and Catholic circles. North American Division President G. Alexander Bryant and Southeastern Conference President Michael Owusu (red circle) are sitting under the glowing rings.
Government partnerships, community services, sports, recreational training, and martial arts? The division, union, and conference all support this plan, which calls for a total restructuring of the church’s calling. The historic faith and mission that we hold very dear are being abandoned. A complete reorientation is taking place, and this is the plan for all of Adventism. The goal is to change the blueprint and modify the Adventist movement. Sports, recreation, martial arts, and community services have trumped the preaching of the Third Angel’s Message, what Ellen White called the “highest, greatest work.” Adventism entered this same crisis during the Kellogg apostasy. That was the Alpha; we are today witnessing the Omega.
“The Lord designs that the proclamation of the third angel’s message shall be the highest, greatest work carried on in our world at this time … Dr. Kellogg, you have not in all things been following the Lord’s plan. The medical missionary work should be as the right arm of the body of truth, but this work has been made to absorb so much that to all intents and purposes it has become the body. God did not design that this work should eclipse the work of the third angel’s message. This message is the gospel message for these last days, and in no case is it to be overshadowed by other interests, and made to appear an unessential consideration” (9 MR, p. 82).
“God has not called His people to ignore present truth for these last days, and take up a work that so absorbs workers and means that the Lord is not represented as He would otherwise be” (Ibid., p. 84).
“The truths contained in the Revelation are to be taught, and we are all to learn the lessons of the fearful import of the things to transpire in these last days of this earth’s history. You have lost sight of these things. Other things introduced by you have not come in under the instruction of God” (Ibid., p. 86).
“There are many places where the means should have been appropriated to make aggressive warfare … Every stroke should tell for God and His holy Sabbath. That is to stand out in all our work distinctly and pronounced, to be a witness that the seventh day is the sign, the seal of God. The Sabbath is to be exalted and made prominent more than is done now” (Ibid., p. 88).
The glowing rings represent the union of all the churches in the Babylonian family. [4]
“The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to ‘the principalities and powers in heavenly places,’ the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 9).
The church is supposed to be the “agency” of God, not a government agency. When we become an agency that pushes social services, we end up abandoning our mission, just like all the other churches. Adventist church leaders in North America are encouraging what all the other churches are already doing. This is not new. Rome has been doing this for centuries.
In the Laudato Si’ Temples, inspired by Pope Francis climate encyclical, the suspended ring of light symbolizes the light of Mother Earth. [5]
The gospel of Christ is the power of God (Romans 1:16)! This is what brings about the complete transformation of a person. This is what every culture and society needs, regardless of their race, background, social status, or income level.
“Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” 1 Corinthians 9:16.
“Our people need to be silent upon questions which have no relation to the third angel’s message” (Selected Message, Vol. 2, p. 336).
A Call to Fast and Pray
I received the following email from Warren Hick, a Seventh-day Adventist who lives in Australia:
Dear Andy, My heart is aching at this moment for our unfaithfulness to God as a people. We are admonished to be in the world but not of it. And here in your report, it is very obvious that there is an intention to emulate apostate Protestantism. I am deeply concerned that right now there are several issues that could blow Adventism wide open, causing a shaking of the magnitude we could never have imagined. At what point in time will the patience of God be exhausted, and we will unwillingly see a repeat of Battle Creek history, where God, by His actions, will declare enough is enough?
Again, I will ask the question, Have we as a church been infiltrated and now controlled by Jesuits? Right now, the evidence and actions say YES! I pose a new question: How many concerned Adventists are willing to join me on Sunday, June 3, 2023 in a day of prayer and fasting, pleading with God to intervene and lay bare the reasons for our apparent apostasy? It appears to me that sin cannot be openly practiced as it is unless dedicated people choose not to oppose it. Dear God, please have mercy on us, and forgive our unwillingness to speak out against evil, and call sin by its right name.
Kind Regards,
Warren
whi99146@bigpond.net.au
Sources
[1] https://www.nadadventist.org/news/patmos-chapel-grand-opening-opening-doors-community-engagement
[2] https://youtu.be/TemYPAuc1PQ
[3] https://www.nadadventist.org/news/patmos-chapel-grand-opening-opening-doors-community-engagement
[5] http://adventmessenger.org/luadato-si-temples-the-world-is-being-led-to-spiritualism/
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They have lost the vision. So sad.
I lived in Apopka, Florida in the mid 1980’s. I have been to the Apopka church. This is such a travesty. I am in shock as to what has happened to the church and to its people. Where did they go off the rails??? There are so many of our churches that will be passed over when judgement day arrives for them. I am at a loss for words to describe how I feel right now!!!
The SDA church has been hijacked by satan himself through the Jesuits and the RCC.
Apopka, FL? That’s hitting too close to home for me living in Florida. All the churches in Central to South Florida cities are becoming more and more apostate. Forest Lake Church had a “trunk-or-treat “ in their parking lot for Halloween! Where is the Florida Conference President in all this? The Conference remains silent or goes along with whatever the churches do. We had a couple in my church bring their 2 dogs to church because they were “training” them to be service dogs. Since when did the church become a dog training facility? And our pastor welcomed that with open arms. Lord help us!
Dear Brother, my name is Danley Rodriguez, I am Pastor of the Free Seventh Day Adventists church, I belong to the International Association of Free Seventh Day Adventists, if you don’t feel comfortable, you can join us to proclamación the three ángel message, we are growing fast, God has blessed this movement, we keep in the path of the thrue adventism pioneer, if you are interested please text me to 954 560 1363
Dear brother my name is Danley Rodriguez, I am Pastor of the Free Seventh Day Adventists Church, we belong to the International Association of Free Seventh Day Adventists, if you want to be part of this movement, please contact me to my phone number 954 560 1363, we keep in the path of the adventism pioneer, we preach the three angels message
Initiatives taken by some Adventist leaders are incompatible with our mission.
Because of them, the people of God are in great danger.
Pray to God to raise up more watchmen and watchwomen
May the Lord continue to bless your work
GEsu Alex Bryant agenda has been one of rebellion since he was executive Secetary under Dan Jackson. He was the one pushing WO throughout NAD division. Bryant was then President Jacskon front person on rebellion. For Rebellion is the sin of witchcraft.
Someone said that the church has been hijacked by satan. No! The church has been willingly handed over to satan. Our leaders lack the intestinal fortitude to step up to the plate and call sin by its right name. Thank God there are still a few people who will still speak out. Unfortunately, those who are speaking out are being banned from speaking in our pulpits. Where there are faithful pastors we must do all we can to support them. My wife and I joined the Church in 1968 and I became the pastor of my first church in January of 1972. From the time I preached my first sermon until now, I have always done my best to stand for the Truth as it is in Jesus. I refuse to bow the knee to kingly power. My first responsibility is to my Heavenly Father and my love for my Church has remained steady all these years. My trust has been shaken, but my faith remains strong. We must all stand for right though the heavens fall. Stay focused friends! Jesus is soon to rescue us.
Thank you Warren for your words and encouragement for prayer and fasting.
Enough hashing over the disappointing activities of our beloved church.
Century’s ago the prophets warned, pleaded, encouraged God’s people to hold fast to the God of Heaven. But they did not heed the warnings, they did not have their focus where it belonged and subsequently the entire structure of their culture was decimated and they became captives to an evil empire, Jerusalem destroyed,
the Kellog era. History repeats itself and now we stand on the last plain of decision for our future, our last opportunity to develop a personal, passionate and relying relationship with our Lord and Savior in this world.
There are no second chances for anyone.
Yes, let us fast and pray for ourselves and for those around us that do not have the privileged blessing of hearing this precious Truth
Ask God….” Lord, what would you have me to do?”
This series is sickening, but what is to be expected from a corporate church that has doubled and tripled down in apostasy? The only… and I mean THE ONLY result is that she will become united to Babylon. This is what is happening world-wide in Seventh-day Adventism as is so clearly evidenced by Brother Andy Roman’s reports. I do not say that the membership is all corrupted, but make no mistake, as you continue in unity under the banner of Babylon, or even a sister of Babylon, you will eventually cease to sigh and cry and will become a Babylonian citizen.
These detestable actions which are shrouded under a cloak of supposed religious good intentions are the result of following after a false god. It simply isn’t possible to come into the condition of the modern SDA corporate church if she were worshiping and seeking to serve and fear the true God of scripture.
1 Cor. 8:6 – But to us there is but one God, the FATHER, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Tim. 1:2, 2:5 – Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith; Grace, mercy , and peace from God our FATHER and Jesus Christ our Lord… For there is ONE GOD, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Eph 4:6 – ONE GOD and FATHER of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
These aren’t churches, they are social clubs.
I never expected to live long enough to see the virtual degradation of God in my lifetime. Seemingly without consequences or discipline. Honor and glory appear to be aimed at Satan, who calls us and evil angels to follow the dictates of their own will.
How can it be? How can reverence and meekness before God be absent. So many are clamoring after, and seeking a charismatic experience, instead of humility and surrender before King Jesus.
Oh for a revival and reformation that would bring us to our knees in meek and humble unity, faithfully walking together.
I notice it’s all about change, but it doesn’t seem to be REFORM to take us back closer to the FORM. There was a pastor from Germany recently that made the headlines, I remember he said he wanted to change the church from within, degrading change. Haven’t heard anything about the action if any taken against him and his conference that were all for this change. All I see are exchangers, they’re swapping the potter’s for the miry/mire clay and are money changers focused on the filthy lucre.
Wow! I cannot imagine that things will come to this so fast, despite the many voices of present truth preachers in my beloved church especially since the pandemic! No wonder the question in Luke 18:8 – Shall the son of man find faith in the world when he returns? A very fearful condition! Yes, infiltration is real.