| The Board - The Brain for Service
At NMSDA, the heart of service is our people. But each month, a segment of those people meet together to act as the “brain” of service, too.
On the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm, The NMSDA Apostles/Elders Board convenes to pray, evaluate, and plan for the continuing outreach of our church family. The Board is comprised of appointed ministry directors and representatives from envisioning, support, and evaluating teams of the church.
Each ministry director leads a function team of ministries: mingling actitities, evangelism, spiritual growth, worship strategies, children and youth programming, individual and family church life, and church operations. Each team meets monthly to discuss goals, needs, and strategies to accomplish their ministries. The minsitriy directorsreport to the Board.
Our highest order of business is ensuring the ever-increasing effectiveness of our church in helping other people to know Jesus and be ready for His soon appearing. And while we have to occasionally deal with run-of-the-mill type issues (someone’s got to make sure that light bill gets paid!), we are always eager to get back to our real business: Making fully devoted followers of Christ who help others biblically withstand the Final Deception.
With the exception of Executive Sessions, our Board Meetings are open for you to attend. Come by and see the Lord at work!
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Fiscal Responsibility - Tithes and Offerings
The gospel plan for the support of the work of God in preaching the everlasting gospel is by the tithes and offerings of His people. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has followed this plan from its earliest days.
The biblical basis for the returning of tithes and giving of offerings will be found in the following references: Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 23:23; 1 Cor. 9:9-14; 2 Cor. 9:6-15. Observe also the following from the Spirit of Prophecy:
"The system of tithes and offerings was intended to impress the minds of men with a great truth - that God is the source of every blessing to His creatures, and that to Him man's gratitude is due for the good gifts of His providence." - Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 525.
"Tithes and offerings for God are an acknowledgment of His claim on us by creation, and they are also an acknowledgment of His claim by redemption. Because all our power is derived from Christ, these offerings are to flow from us to God. They are to keep ever before us the claim of redemption, the greatest of all claims, and the one that involves every other. The realization of the sacrifice made in our behalf is ever to be fresh in our minds and is ever to exert an influence on our thoughts and plans. Christ is to be indeed as one crucified among us." - Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 479.
"The tithe is sacred, reserved by God for Himself. It is to be brought into His treasury to be used to sustain the gospel laborers in their work." - Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 249.
[The above is found in The Church Manual, p. 151]
Members are encouraged to give offerings: 4% to local church budget, 1-2% to the local conference (comprised of MD, DC, and VA), and 2-3% to the denominational world budget. Beyond this there are several health, education, and evangelical ministries to respond to periodically throughout the year.
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