Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

July 14, 2020

Dear Florida Conference family,

Warmest greetings to each of you.  As we move closer to the month of August, many of you are planning and preparing for a new school year. We recognize that this may lead to feelings of uncertainty and trepidation. We know our school leaders are working diligently on a plan to try to ensure that you are able to find peace, even as so much remains uncertain during this planning process.  We pray that all find that peace.

For the past 18 weeks, we have had the privilege of being welcomed into your homes during our Open Church Vespers service. It has been a joy to find a way to worship together through this platform, and we are thankful for all who participated. If you have missed any of our previous vespers services, they can all be found archived at openchurch.env-floridaconference-fcoldweb.kinsta.cloud. Although this past Sabbath was the last regularly-scheduled service for the time being, we look forward to connecting with you in other similar ways in the near future.

We are excited to announce an upcoming FUNDrace supporting Camp Kulaqua. Camp Kulaqua is a place filled with memories for many of us, and the current situation has had a major effect on the camp through the cancellation of several events during the spring and summer. Camp Kulaqua needs financial support for its operations, which include the care and feeding of the zoo and other animals. We invite you to join us virtually for a 5k race or a 25-mile bike ride to support our wonderful camp until we can congregate there again. For more information or to sign up, visit www.camprace.com.

As we continue to navigate the social unrest and injustice that is affecting not just our church, but our country as a whole, we encourage you to listen to a message from our now-former North American Division President, Daniel Jackson: https://www.nadadventist.org/news/nad-president-addresses-racial-tensions-us. His message is one of clarity, apology, and hopefulness. This is a time of uncertainty where change is needed.  We believe without a doubt that we are a church with a mission and, in order to see that mission through, we need to come together in one accord.

As we close, remember that during these challenging times, God is nearer than you think and richly present in all your moments. There are times you may feel alone, but He desires for you to seek Him and He will reveal Himself in ways you cannot fathom. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

May God bless you always,

Florida Conference Administration