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Greetings Advent HOPE,
I would like to thank each of you for your involvement in Advent HOPE and Forest Lake Church at large. Last weekend many of you attended the first Florida Youth Initiative.
As an Advent HOPE sponsored event we would like to thank those who helped make this event a success, which resulted in more than 40 people signing up for Bible studies in our community.
Events & History
The purpose of this e-mail is for the leadership of Advent HOPE to clarify any questions or concerns about the beliefs that are held by the Advent HOPE Sabbath School and lay led service.
Over the last few months Advent HOPE leadership has become aware that some who attend Advent HOPE do not believe the Trinity doctrine (see below) held by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Advent HOPE.
At first as young leaders we did not know exactly how to handle the situation, and did not act immediately. This lack of action has caused confusion among sister churches and believers in the area as we have recently received word that churches and people in the area think that Advent HOPE also does not believe in the Trinity doctrine.
Statement of Clarification
The leadership of Advent HOPE would like to debunk these reports and confirm that we believe in the Trinity doctrine and all of the 28 Fundamental beliefs held by the world wide Seventh-day Adventist Church.
With counsel from the leadership at Forest Lake Church and from the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual we have spoken with the involved parties and dealt with the situation in an appropriate manner.
All are welcome to Advent HOPE each Sabbath, our social activities, and evangelistic efforts. However, in order to keep the focus on our mission, “Helping Others Prepare for Eternity” we must operate in a manner that is consistent with the world wide church and operate in a way that does not disrupt or distract us from our mission.
Going forward this means that we will need to act more quickly, be more perceptive, and establish policies that will keep our focus and mission.
Prayer & Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read this e-mail and your prayers for Advent HOPE. We apologize if our initial lack of response, has caused any hurt or confusion for those involved, and ask that each of you pray for our leadership, as we all continue to work and grow in the Lord.
When Advent HOPE first started our foundation was built on prayer and study. We were humbly reminded of that fact while dealing with this current situation, that Advent HOPE would do well to remember our roots. As a result we would like to start meeting again for a seasons of prayer in a candle light setting.
We encourage all to come and will be communicating the date of our first prayer service shortly.
In His Service,
Ronald Odiyar
Director of Advent HOPE
2. Trinity: (http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html)
There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 14:7.)