The annual church business meeting for the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Pataskala was held on the afternoon of January 7, 2017. It was a time of giving thanks for the many ways we have seen God at work and are privileged to be apart of His ministry through our church.
Some of the highlights during the last quarter of 2016 were Pastor & Lana Van Horn’s trip to visit our branch church in Puerto Rico, a church work bee, Wednesday night Bible Studies watching Creation evidence videos, active weekly Sabbath School and Worship services, distribution of Family Fund (for emergency financial assistance to church members) by the Deacons, and seeing many answered prayers.
The new church officers were elected as follows: President/Mark Pest, Vice President/Darwin Van Horn, Clerk/Susie Fox, Treasurer/Chip Thorngate, Sabbath School Superintendent/Jamie Patterson, Assistant SS Supt/Kym Goodson, Trustees/Jamie Patterson and Chip Thorngate-for a 3 year term, along with previously elected Trustees, Lana Van Horn, Mark Pest, Becky Van Horn, & Dean Fox, Association Executive Council Reps/Marge Patrick and Kym Goodson, Corporate Agent/Jamie Patterson, and Missionary Key Worker/Marge Patrick. The Deaconate remains in place with the following elected previously for 5 year terms of service: Kym Goodson (exp Jan 2018), Lana Van Horn (exp Jan 2020), Chistopher & Veronica Van Horn (exp Jan 2021).
The church spending and financial report from the Treasurer was reviewed. A new 2017 budget prepared by the Treasurer and Financial Committee was also reviewed and approved.
The “Building Up the Temple” mission offering recipients for 2017 were confirmed & decided as follows: 1Q (Jan-Mar) for Farmer’s Market Ministry, 2Q (Apr-Jun) for Goats through the SDB Missionary Society, 3Q (Jul-Sept) for Christmas Outreach, specifics to be decided later, and 4Q (Oct-Dec) for the Puerto Rico Church.
We talked about the Appalachian Association meetings which will be hosted by our church June 23-25, 2017. Moderator Mark Pest reported the theme will be “Sabbath. It’s Not Just Another Day,” focusing on the weekly celebration of God’s Creation. A representative of the Answers in Genesis will provide two presentations at 10AM – Dinosaurs and Dragons in the Bible and 2PM – Genesis, is it necessary? These presentations are listed on the Answers In Genesis dot org events website. The hotel information for the information packets are prepared and ready & information packets are planned to be sent out by the end of January.
Some other key dates coming up are: Church Board Meeting (Feb 4, 2017), Family Night (Feb 11, 2017), Quarterly Business Meeting (Apr 1, 2017), Eggstravaganza (Egg Hunt) (Apr 15, 2017), SDB Pastor’s Conference (Apr 25-27, 2017), Family Night (Apr 29, 2017) and Seventh Day Baptist General Conference in Azusa, CA (Jul 23-29, 2017).
Pataskala Seventh Day Baptist 