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Dave, Virginia and The CIA (In NZ)Dave makes it to The Advent Christian Conference of America Triennial Session05 July 2005 -- Garry Schache and I (Dave) were
privileged to attend the Triennial Session of the Advent Christian General
Conference of America on behalf of the Conditional Immortality Association
(hence the CIA), ACCONZ and Advent Christian Missions New Zealand. This was my
third Triennial Session and Garry’s first. The Conference was held at the
Founders Inn, Virginia Beach, Virginia (The headquarters of another more famous
CIA are of course, in Our first stop (other than airports) was in Maine to stay a few days with the Carle family. It seems only yesterday the Carle’s were in New Zealand labouring alongside us, yet the Carle’s children, Ryan and Emily, are both married, Peter is a young man now. Russell and Noelle are grandparents! Russell now pastors the Portsmouth Advent Christian Church. Garry (Worship leading) and I (Preaching) took the service there Sunday morning, June 19. It was a blessing to us both. Tim (Russell’s son in law) was moved by the service (and others also). We were encouraged to hear him say so. In the evening we did a Mission presentation on our work. Folk from surrounding AC Churches attended this evening. We made a number of new friends.
Our second overnight stay was in a New Jersey motel. We met up with Michael Day, an Advent Christian with no AC Church nearby. He felt called to begin one so now a church meets in his home. What an encouragement to talk and pray over our church planting efforts! The Advent A day and a half
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Virginia).
After
a few days with the Carle's we began our journey of around 600 miles to
Virginia. Russell, Garry and I, with our luggage, crammed into a VW Beetle.
Staying over night with Russell’s brother Barry and his wife Jeannie in
Connecticut, we set out early for New York. We experienced Central Park, the
Empire State Building and “Ground Zero” as well as a New York Traffic jamb.
Christian
General Conference began for us on the evening of Thursday, June 23, with the
Women's Home & Foreign Mission Society banquet to which - along with Grant
Aldridge (ACMissioNZ Missionary to the Philippines) and other international
delegates - Garry and I were invited. On Friday we had opportunity to attend a
seminar entitled "Growing a Healthy Church". Another inspiring seminar
was on “Natural Church Development.“ Meeting with AC conference leaders from
India, Philippines, Kenya, Malawi, and Africa, with missionaries Earl &
Martha Wright, and Jeff & Penny Vann, as well as hundreds of leaders from AC
churches and ministries from all over the USA was inspiring in itself.
Mentoring
Session followed the Con
ference
for overseas guests. During this session we heard teaching on a number of topics
important to the AC work around the world. The day before we left Michael and
Pam Gardner (Pastoring Hilltop Advent Christian Church) took us on a tour of
America's largest Naval base nearby. Michael is an Army Chaplain (LTC), but he
didn’t have to pull rank to get us on the tour. On July 03 we began our
journey home. It took until July 05 to make it back to Auckland!