PreachFest # 2: A Recap

The PreachFest in Mt. Vernon last week was a true blessing! 

Each of us focused on different aspects of the theme "Unlimited Faith, Courage, Possibilities" and I can say I was blessed by the two messages I heard! Here is a quick recap:

Ms. Kimlann Effs spoke about Hannah from the bible, and her unrelenting faith in God as an example for all of us. Her story is taken from 1 Samuel chapter 1 where she is introduced as a barren wife of a man named Elkanah. He also has another wife, who taunts Hannah for being barren and one day, while Hannah is at the temple, agonizes with the LORD about her struggles. The High Priest (Eli) hears her prayer and promises The LORD will answer. In a few months, she gets pregnant and bears her first born Samuel whom she gives to The LORD in full service. 

The start of chapter 2 is Hannah's song. She rejoices for God's mercies and love, and sings praises unto Him for how He has blessed her. Ms. Epps also spoke about her father's illness and soon-after death, but still trusting in God and having faith and courage in Him even during that difficult time.

Yours truly was the second speaker and I spoke about the reason why many of us cannot claim this theme; it is because of the sin of unbelief. I spoke about the children of unbelief; the children of Israel; and three points that showed the reasons why they missed out on the promise land, and how these same reasons can be our downfall as well.

1. Unbelief in God's provisions

2. Unbelief in God's providence

3. Unbelief in God's prophets

*I got my message recorded, so will be posting in a few weeks (God willing).

Mr. Steven Lewis was the final speaker. He spoke about trying to come to grips with this theme, and understanding before we could have unlimited anything, we must first allow God to:

1. Pour out our "limited", empty us, and let God pour IN His "Unlimited". He also added.

2. Weed out anything that is unlike Him.

3. Stay connected to Him (John 15:5).

He also mentioned that our experience with 'unlimited faith, courage and possibilities' is in direct relation to our connection with Christ; so the more connected we are to Him, the more unlimited our gifts from Him will be.

There are many powerful take-home messages from these presentations, and I was blessed to be a part of it. May we all seek Him and learn how to truly live daily with unlimited faith, courage and a world of possibilities.

PreachFest # 2: Unlimited Faith, Courage, Possibilities

It's that time again. The Rock-West Federation will be having it's last PreachFest for 2015 and I was asked to share another message on our theme for the year, "Unlimited Faith, Courage & Possibilities".

The date:  December 12, 2015
The time:  4:30PM
The place: Mt. Vernon Seventh-day Adventist Church

The flyer is attached below; please keep us in prayer and stay tuned for a blog about the program. 

PreachFest 2015 - Report!

Praise The LORD!

Thank God for a blessed and amazing evening last night! The PreachFest went well! I was told all the messages were recorded at the church (praise God!), but my fiancé was also able to record my presentation (will be posted soon!). God gets all the glory, and I just thank HIM for all three messages last night. They were poignant, biblical and powerful:

- Ms. Kimlann Effs spoke about Hannah (from 1 Samuel 1) and her strong faith in God's promises. Ms. Effs also spoke about the death of her father, and how God has kept her strong during that time.

- Ms. Hadassah Belott spoke about Bartimaeus and how his faith healed him and how our faith can be strong and lead to courage and possibilities.

- And I spoke about the Unyielding centurion, The Unpopular prophet Micaiah and the Unflinching Fisherman Peter, and how they emulated faith, courage and possibilities respectively.

I am not sure when the video will air on First White Plains' media page, but you can go to http://www.firstwhiteplains.org/OnDemand.html in a few days.

If you are interested in downloading/printing my notes from the presentation, please go to my Bible Studies tab and click on 'Sermonette: Unlimited Faith, Courage, Possibilities'. 

May God richly bless us all.
 

PreachFest - Unlimited Faith, Courage & Possibilities

I was approached....

I was asked to be one of the speakers at my church community's 2015 Young Adult PreachFest! It will be taking place at the First Seventh-day Adventist Church of White Plains on Saturday evening (4/11/2015) at 5:30pm. I cannot recall ever attending a preachfest before, but I know what it entails. It's a convocation with multiple speakers but who all speak on the same topic. The messages are shorter and more concise (than a regular sermon), and the speakers usually present right after each other.
 

This is a very solemn proposal and I do not take it likely (nor should it be taken likely). The beautiful thing about sharing a message from The LORD is that you never have to do it alone; The LORD Himself will give you the strength and the words to speak (if you ask Him!). Yes, I am giving Christ the figurative pen and paper to do all the work; I will just be His mouthpiece.

The theme for the evening is "Unlimited Faith, Courage and Possibilities". With such a powerful title, many different thoughts and biblical images come to mind, but I don't want to spoil the surprise ;-) you will just have to head over to the church to hear what will be shared.

Please pray for the speakers and for those who will be in attendance to hear God's messages. I am excited, but very pensive. Please pray that we all may be hearers of God's word, and doers also.