The Indiana Conference has many reasons to count its blessings for all the Lord has done in this field over the last five years. It was a season of thanksgiving, sadness, and change.
For nearly two years of this quinquennium, Clay Farewell was conference president. Near the end of 2002, Clay retired after 35 years of service and leadership for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Farwells moved to Tennessee. In December 2004, Clay came out of retirement to serve as assistant to the president in the George-Cumberland Conference. He was tragically killed in a plane crash on his first assignment in that position. Clay was dearly loved as a friend and leader in Indiana. His tragic death caused each of us to long for the coming of Jesus all that much more.
A Season for Involvement and Growth
It was exciting to see our membership's involvement increase in nearly every aspect of church life. Our people are leading evangelistic series, presenting very impactful health/temperance programs, giving leadership to mission trips and other global outreach projects, and carrying out varied ministries in churches and communities throughout the conference.
With the Lord’s blessing, the Indiana Conference grew very strongly during this quinquennium. During these five years, we realized 1,235 baptisms and professions of faith. In addition, ten new companies and congregations were planted in our territory. As a result of this growth, membership now stands on the threshold of 7,000 members; we ended 2005 with 6,972 members.
Many new congregations formed as a result of the very enthusiastic ministry of our Spanish-speaking constituents. Under the leadership of Orlando Vasquez, Indiana Conference Hispanic ministries coordinator, and our team of Spanish-speaking pastors and lay leaders, the growth of our Hispanic work was phenomenal.
A Season for Compassion
Not only are Indiana Conference members hard working, they are full of compassion as well. When Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf coast, members responded to a conference-wide offering appeal with donations exceeding $63,000. In addition, a very dedicated group of lay persons, under the leadership of Jose Vazquez, Indiana Conference community services and disaster relief director, dispatched two semis loaded with relief supplies and three semis with water and diapers to the devastated area. Several Indiana teams were organized to go help with the relief effort as well; one group, largely comprised of Indiana Academy students, gave up their Thanksgiving break to serve others.
Our community services and disaster response team also made a profound impact on our state as they responded to numerous floods and tornadoes that devastated Indiana communities and individuals. Most recently our team responded to the tornado that ripped through the Evansville area. In this one response, a total of 87 volunteers put in a combined 1,671 hours of service and helped 743 people recover from the tornado's devastation.
A Season for Youth
Our youth were also busy in this quinquennium. Under the leadership of Charlie Thompson, Indiana Conference youth director, and Dean Whitlow, Indiana Conference Pathfinder and Adventurer director, our youth programming is stronger than ever. Senior youth events and Pathfinder functions are at record levels of participation. In addition, during the past five years attendance has nearly doubled at our summer camp program at Timber Ridge Camp; this past summer attendance topped 500 campers for the first time in the camp’s history.
We have young people who not only benefit from the conference's youth programs, but who are also involved in ministry themselves. A number of Indiana young people traveled to places like Africa, India, and Brazil to preach in evangelistic series there. We’ve had young people in our conference hold evangelistic crusades right here at home, too. Many others are involved in small group Bible studies and various other outreach projects. It is exciting to see God use our young people to finish the work.
A Season for Health and Healing
During this quinquennium emphasis was given to the development of special ministries, including our health and temperance program, community service and disaster relief, and family ministries. Gary Case, former Indiana Conference health and temperance director, and Clinton Meharry, current director, gave wonderful leadership to the conference's health and temperance program with many new initiatives taking place all around the conference. Under Clinton's leadership Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP) took hold in many areas and made great inroads into communities.
Ron Kelly, and his wife, Collene, Indiana Conference family ministries directors, brought many new opportunities for family ministries to Indiana. Through the resource library they created, as well as programs they offered, families and individuals were enriched.
For many years, Marjorie Driscol, former Indiana Conference women's ministries coordinator, and her team, worked hard to build our women's ministries program in Indiana. The women's ministries convocations and retreats are well-organized and a blessing to many. The Single Mom's Retreat at Timber Ridge Camp, a cooperative effort of the women's ministries, youth, and family ministries departments, has been an extremely appreciated and well-attended event during this quinquennium.
A Season for Learning
Christian education continues to beat in the hearts of our constituents. Currently, we have a teaching ministry at 13 elementary schools and junior academies as well as Indiana Academy. As this quinquennium came to a close and we began the next, Indiana Academy enjoys one of its best school years anyone can remember. There is a wonderful spirit on campus among students and faculty, with a real focus on strong academics as well as the students' spiritual life. We have much to be grateful for in the dedicated leadership and staff at all our schools.
A Season for Faithfulness
Financially, as a conference, we have much to praise the Lord for as well. During this quinquennium, our conference faced some very serious deficit budgets. However, through the faithfulness of our people and the prayers of many, the conference is poised to achieve a balanced budget in 2006. Despite difficult economic times, our tithe increased 14.73 percent over the last five years, a real testament to the faithfulness of our people.
We thank our Lord for His bountiful blessings in our territory. It is our hope and desire to continue to serve Him with all our hearts as together we look forward to His soon coming.
Gary Thurber is the Indiana Conference president.
