Indiana—Several Indiana Adventist churches and schools used the occasion of the Ten Commandments Day initiative (May 7) as a "silver platter" to reach out to explain God's wonderful gift of the Law—the whole Law— written on our hearts through the grace of Christ so we may experience an inner transformation of character.
Members of the Terre Haute, Lewis, and Greencastle churches passed out copies of Ten Commandments Twice Removed, to those living around each of the churches. Ernie Peckham, pastor of the three churches, said they all included Bible study cards and invitations to attend services in the respective churches. Altogether, they gave out 1,500 books! Two of the churches distributed their books during prayer meeting time in the two weeks leading up to Ten Commandments Day. Many reported they were blessed by the opportunity to place truth-filled books into the hands of their neighbors and friends! Peckham presented a special commemoration sermon on May 6 that highlighted the Ten Commandments and the need to once again focus on keeping God's Law.
According to Dean Whitlow, Spencer Church pastor, about 15 members distributed 1,000 Ten Commandments booklets after lunch on Sabbath. All were amazed at how quickly the work was accomplished!
The Bedford and Bloomington churches distributed 500 Ten Commandments Twice Removed. Inside each book, a label was attached with the church's name, address, and an invitation to visit the church. A beautiful bookmark with the Ten Commandments on it was also handed out with each book. Fernando Ortiz, pastor, says the purpose of his churches' involvement was to plant some seeds in the community and to create an awareness of God's exceptional code of freedom!
Twenty-seven members of the Cicero Church met together for prayer on Sabbath afternoon, May 6, and then went door to door in their town handing out booklets on the Ten Commandments and making friends for Jesus! Paul Yeoman, Cicero Church associate pastor, found several people eager to talk about spiritual subjects as he visited at their doors. Justin Thurber, a Cicero Church young person, observed that people were either very open to receiving the book or they were very against it. He said there doesn't seem to be much middle ground these days. Aaron Clark, Cicero Church personal ministries leader, reported that 800 booklets were distributed that Sabbath afternoon.
Brian Yensho, pastor of the Greenwood and Indianapolis Southside churches, said they ordered 500 of Mark Finley's pamphlet on the Ten Commandments and are in the process of giving them to co-workers, friends, and neighbors.
Under the leadership of their pastor, Allen Shepherd, the Northwest and the Hammond Church members distributed 400 announcements to the homes in their area with an invitation to an upcoming evangelistic service.
Besides passing out booklets on the Ten Commandments to their neighbors and friends, Evansville Adventist Elementary School students, under the guidance of their teacher Diane Kobor, presented a special program called, "Commandment Keepers." For the program, they drew from true stories: The Unlikeliest Hero, (about World War II conscientious objector, Desmond Doss, who would not kill because of his belief in the sixth commandment, and who also honored the fourth commandment by keeping holy the seventh-day Sabbath in the face of intolerance); A Thousand Shall Fall, (about Franz Hasel, an Adventist in the Nazi army who always kept the Sabbath and never used a gun against the enemy); and The Hiding Place, (about the devoted ten Boom family who dedicated their lives in service to their fellow man in Nazi-occupied Holland). The students acted out how God's people kept the commandments even during the difficulty of war.
Now is definitely a time of golden opportunity for every Seventh-day Adventist to reach out to their friends and neighbors with the good news of God's Law. Let us praise the Lord for giving us this opening on a "silver platter" to share with those around us!
Judith Yeoman, Indiana Conference correspondent
