A New Year, A New Urgency!

As I thought about our newsletter for this month, Haiti weighs heavy on my mind.

As Adventists, we have family members in every nation. Our world view is global, not just centered on our lives and immediate surroundings. There are Haitians in my Auburn, Georgia church. My secretary, Beverly Perry, has a Haitian son-in-law. Haiti is not far away from the Southern Union. We will spend eternity with some people killed in this tragedy. They are family. Haiti’s population is similar to that of the Gulf States Conference, but our church there has more members than the entire Southern Union—335,000! Our church will be greatly affected by this tragedy.

It is time again to ask myself, “Why am I here?” and “What am I doing for eternity?” The people we talk to today may not be here tomorrow. Our work is so serious, and sometimes I forget that. But the Haitian tragedy brought it to my mind again. Time is short. Faithfulness is required. “How is it that ye do not discern this time?” Luke 12:56.

The year 2010 brings a new urgency to our work. “The work to which we are called does not require wealth or social position or great ability. It requires a kindly, self-sacrificing spirit and a steadfast purpose. A lamp, however small, if kept steadily burning, may be the means of lighting many other lamps. Our sphere of influence may seem narrow, our ability small, our opportunities few, our acquirements limited; yet wonderful possibilities are ours….” AH 32.5.

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1.

As we begin this new year we are reminded that this earth is not our home. The earthquake in Haiti and other suffering world-wide reminds us that it is time to be about the Lord’s work with a renewed sense of urgency. 2010 is the year to think bigger and to be more faithful in all we do.

Press the battle! Jesus is coming!

Bill Beckworth
Publishing Director
Southern Union, NAD