Superintendent's Focus

Ingathering: Just saying the word brings up fond childhood memories. I can remember going from house to house during the Christmas season collecting funds for Adventist Community Services. My sister and I would knock on the door and say, “I’m just a little missionary trying to do my part. I'm not knocking at your door but really at your heart. So if you love King Jesus and want to do your part, then please drop a dollar in my can and I will thank you and depart.”

As we grew older we transitioned from pleading for funds to singing with the carolers. After several hours of braving the freezing Michigan winter weather we were always ready to return to the warm church. It was always interesting to hear the reports of the total funds raised by each group. My favorite part of the whole evening was of course the food. Veggie sloppy joes, popcorn, homemade Christmas cookies, and steamy hot chocoloate lovingly served by the elderly deaconesses.

In Biblical times the Feast of Ingathering (also known as the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths) had harvest roots much like our modern Thanksgiving. In addition to its harvest roots, the holiday also held spiritual importance with regard to its abandonment of materialism to focus on nationhood, spirituality, and hospitality.

Thank you for your ministiry of Ingathering. Teachers are missionaries trying to do their part "In gathering" young people for the kingdom. All school year long you take every opportunity to knock on students' hearts and introduce them to the love of King Jesus. So from the bottomof my heart I thank you and depart.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Matthew Pacer

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:18

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