It has been my privilege to serve as Lake Region Conference president for the past six months. In God’s providence, He allowed me to inherit this responsibility at a time when regional conferences were celebrating their 60th anniversary. What an honor! It also should be noted that Lake Region Conference was the first regional conference established.
Our heavenly Father has been very good to this conference, and especially during this quinquennium. During the past five years, Lake Region Conference experienced many challenges, much pain, and its share of heartache. But the Lord saw us through all our trials and tribulations, and continues to bring about healing. So this report is a "Praise God" report!
Stunning events took place on the world field since our last Lake Union Session in 2001, events which indicate our Lord's coming is nearer than when we first believed. The shattering and tragic events of 9/11, and the subsequent passage of the “Patriot Act,” and other laws that greatly constrict personal liberty, are prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the unbelievable devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and the loss of millions of jobs, are just some of the powerful reminders this earth is waxing old like a loose garment and Jesus is soon to come. As our Lake Region Conference family witnesses these events, we are building our hopes on things eternal by seeking to save those who are lost. Consequently, through aggressive evangelism, our membership has grown to more than 28,000 and we plan to surpass the 30,000 membership mark by this time next year. Praise God!
In a great many ways, the Lake Region Conference is a microcosm of the World Church. On any given Sabbath, services are conducted in a number of languages, including English, Spanish, French, Korean, and Chinese. The growth among our non-English-speaking churches has been tremendous. This work is continuing to grow under the leadership of our vice president for multi-lingual ministries, Eddie Allen. He has already communicated to our Hispanic churches his vision for doubling the membership in the next five years through a plan called, “Everyone Reach One.” Praise God!
No conference or institution enjoys being laden with debt. The Lake Region Conference can say "Praise God" because through our Strategic Financial Plan, spearheaded by Theodore Brown, treasurer, and approved by the four areas of our conference, we have paid all our bills in full! This doesn’t mean we don’t have financial challenges. On the contrary, over the next five years we will have to seriously tighten our belts to stay in the black. And what more can I say about the faithfulness of our members? They have supported this conference with their means through good times and bad. Did I mention we had more than an 11 percent tithe increase in 2005? Praise God! This accomplishment deserves another "Praise God!"
One of our biggest challenges, at least since I’ve taken office, was to place pastoral leadership in all our churches. There were seven English-speaking church districts without ministers. Today, each of these districts has been assigned designated conference leadership. May I say "Praise God!" Our next goal is to do the same for our Hispanic churches. Already, we have formulated plans to achieve that objective.
Christian education remains a great challenge in the Lake Region Conference, as it is in every conference. I take my hat off to all our parents, teachers, principals, and school boards for everything they have done to ensure our boys and girls are taught of the Lord. It is our intention to see that every parent/guardian who desires to have his/her child receive a Christian education in a Seventh-day Adventist school, will have their dream fulfilled. For that I say, "Praise God!"
This report would not be complete without giving special thanks to George Bryant, Lake Region Conference executive secretary. He served as acting president during a time of severe turbulence, but worked very closely with the executive committee to keep this conference stable. Praise God!
In closing, we know the future holds greater challenges for the Lake Region Conference, but we have the assurance that He who is with us is greater than he who is against us. We review the past five years with thanksgiving to God for His mercy and grace, and look forward to tomorrow with great anticipation, knowing He will never leave us or forsake us. Once more we say, "Praise God!"
Jerome Davis is the Lake Region Conference president.
