Path of righteousness

Sabbath School: 9:15am -10:45am
Divine Worship: Sat 10:50-12:30pm
Prayer & Praise: Wednesday 7-8pm
AYS: Saturday 6-7pm

Located at
740 NE 21 Street
Gainesville, Fl 32641
Pastor's Study 352-375-7904
or hallway (352) 375-7440

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Path of righteousness

Youth Explosion Weekend at Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church in northeast Gainesville featured a word from a powerful preacher visiting from Michigan and an awesome performance by a drum corps visiting from a church in Tallahassee.
The youths of the church were in charge of a service held Saturday at the church, 740 NE 21st St., to honor the church's Pathfinders Club, a scout-like group for boys and girls ages 10-18 that is open to church members and non-church members who promise to abide by the Pathfinder Pledge and Law, said Sheena Larry, a former member of the club who now serves as a counselor for the club. Larry said those interested in joining the club must pay a $15 application fee and $5 monthly dues.

Pastor Abdele George of Berrien Springs, Mich. was the guest speaker, and he delivered a message aimed at the youth, encouraging them to realize that their station in life will change as God sees fit for it to change. He delivered his message at the end of the service, which featured a lively drum performance by the drum corps from Maranatha Seventh Day Adventist Church in Tallahassee, led by director Larry Harris.

Cathy Scrivens, the director of the Pathfinders at Bethel, spoke to the packed church for a few minutes during the service.

"We started out with six Pathfinders, and now we have 17," said Scrivens.

She said the club is very active, and has participated in physical fitness and marching activities while also spending time in the community at the St. Francis House homeless shelter volunteering to help feed the hungry and needy.

"We want to add more activities to keep our children active and to get more kids from the community involved in the church," Scrivens said, adding that the club needs kitchen tents, drums for the drum corps being formed and monetary donations to help out.

The members of the Pathfinders are: Malachi Bryan, 12; Atarah Cooper, 12; Caris Cooper, 15; Rashjon George, 13; Christian Harris, 13; Jimmy Harris, 15; Abasi Harvey, 16; Afi McNeal, 13; Antoinette McNeal, 13; Ayana Reid, 14; Dwain Reid, 13; Candace Rhodes, 12; Devonja Roberts, 15; Wubit Roberts, 13; Caleb Tisin, 11; and Jonathan Welcome, 15.

When it came time for George to speak, he began his sermon titled "A Change of Address" by singing "I Give Myself Away." He asked parishioners if God had done anything for them during the previous week.

"I'm just rejoicing because I'm alive," George said. He said he had already been blessed during the service and with his fellowship with Pastor Kevin K. Bryan, the pastor at Bethel, and he said he was extremely happy to see the Pathfinders Club members and other young people in the church.

"They could be out there in the world doing anything they want to, but they are here in the house of the Lord," George said.

He preached from 2 Samuel 9:1-7, and he said the text illustrates how it is not good to hold malice in your heart from past situations, while at the same time illustrating that because of a covenant that was made more than 2,000 years ago, God can change lives whenever he gets ready.

In the text, David inquires about whether there are any surviving relatives of Jonathan, the son of King Saul whom David succeeded.

He learning that Jonathan had a lame son named Mephibosheth still living in a town called Lodebar. George described Lodebar was a place that most people would not desire to live.

He said though it was customary for kings to kill all of the relatives of the king who preceded them, he said David wanted to show kindness to Mephibosheth because of a promise he had made with Jonathan, the father of Mephibosheth. He said David restored Mephibosheth.

"God does the same," George said. "He will restore you."

George ended his sermon by saying God has the power to change situations.

"You better put your hands together and know that God can bring you out of your Lodebar and change your address," he said.

The service came to an end with Bryan praying for parishioners.

"God is on a mission to rescue you," Bryan said after he prayed.

Sabbath school begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, followed by morning worship at 11 a.m. Midday prayer meeting is at noon on Wednesday, and midweek prayer meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The phone number is 352-375-7904 or 352-375-7440.

Story was published by the Gainesville.com
By CLEVELAND TINKER
Special to the Guardian
Published: Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 3:07 p.m.
Click here to read article on their website.