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Family Ministries Feature

PRESS RELEASE          June 28, 2010          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Husband-Wife Duo Chosen to Lead Family Ministries for Seventh-day Adventist Church

Willie Oliver, PhD, was elected on June 28, 2010, to serve as family ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist world church at the 59th General Conference Session held in Atlanta, Ga. His wife, Elaine, was elected as the associated director for the department.

Dr. Oliver believes building a “strong marriage provides a strong foundation for a healthy family where disciples can grow and people can better witness and share the gospel of Jesus.”

The Olivers are founders and directors of Journey Toward Intimacy marriage retreats, From This Day Forward marriage conferences, and authors of From This Day Forward column in Message magazine. Their "keeping it real" presentation style keeps them in high demand nationally and internationally. They have conducted marriage conferences, retreats, and relationship workshops across the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, as well as in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe and South America.

An ordained minister, Dr. Oliver served as director of family ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. He holds a PhD in Family Sociology, and masters’ degrees in Pastoral Counseling and Family Sociology. Elaine holds a graduate degree in Higher Education with concentrations in student development and counseling. Most recently, she was associate vice president for Enrollment Management at Washington Adventist University and served with Willie in ministry conducting marriage conferences, retreats, and relationship seminars. The Olivers have been married for 25 years and are the parents of university students, Jessica and Julian.

About the General Conference Session
The 59th General Conference Session is a business meeting of the global Seventh-day Adventist Church from June 24 – July 3, 2010 in Atlanta. Occurring every five years, General Conference Session gathers representatives from the church around the world to elect leadership and determine the focus of mission. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainline protestant denomination with over 16.3 million members in 206 nations around the world. The Church’s headquarters is in Silver Spring, Md.

If you are interested in this story, please call George Johnson Jr., at (240) 338-2219.

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Marriage Conference - Woodcliff Lake, NJ

    Woodcliff, NJ—On April 17, 2010, 124 couples from New Jersey and Connecticut participated in From This Day Forward’s - De Hoy En Adelante - a one-day celebration of marriage commitment in Spanish open to the general public and held at the Hilton Hotel in town.

    Sponsored by Family Ministries of the North American Division, the Columbia Union Conference and the New Jersey Conference, this is the first of two such events taking place in North America in 2010. The next marriage conference (in English) is being hosted in Stamford, Connecticut on May 15.

    The event consisted of presentations made by Enrique and Viviana Calandra from Orlando, Florida; Jorge and Nibia Mayer from Atlanta, Georgia; and Alfredo and Juanita Ruiz from Berrien Springs, Michigan.

    During a day that lasted from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, couples learned skills on communication, problem solving, and forgiveness. They also learned how to intentionally schedule times for just having fun and developing spiritual intimacy in marriage. Willie Oliver, Director of Family Ministries for the North American Division served as moderator of the days’ activities, and hosted a Q and A segment in the early afternoon with the help of the other presenters.

    At the end of the conference, couples renewed their marriage commitment and received a specially designed certificate to commemorate the occasion. 23 individuals who attended the conference requested Bible studies and are currently being followed-up.

    Jorge Aguero, Director of Family Ministries for the New Jersey Conference, expressed the gratitude of the New Jersey Conference and its Family Ministries Department for the outstanding marriage strengthening effort made on behalf of their married constituency.

    For more information on marriage and family resources and events, login to www.adventistfamilyministries.com.

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Journey Toward Intimacy Offers Couples An Opportunity for Growth

    On January 22-23, Willie and Elaine Oliver from NAD Family Ministries came to Andrews University to present Journey Toward Intimacy to an audience of 50 couples at Garber Auditorium in Chan Shun Hall. The Olivers led discussions on renewal, commitment, problem solving, friendship, forgiveness, and intimacy.
   Sponsored by the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary’s Religious Education Program, and Seminary Support in Ministry, the event was opened to the greater community of Berrien Springs, Michigan, creating a rich blend of seminary couples and couples from the surrounding area.
   “We were gratified by the level of interest among the participating couples,” shared the Olivers. “Whether married almost 30 years or just over 30 days, these seminarians were serious about growing in their respective marriages.”
   The well-researched presentations and exercises led to meaningful discussion and new discoveries for the attendees, as well as challenged preconceived notions and ideas.
   “I really enjoyed the couple exercises,” noted Nelida Aguero, 25, from New Jersey. “They really made me think about aspects in my relationship with my husband that still needs growth.”
   “I was impressed by how many important topics and interactive sessions the Olivers could fit into one weekend! I had a fun time with my wife at every meeting, and we got to talk about things that we have been needing to discuss but hadn’t found the time or motivation to do so,” lauded seminarian David Hamstra. “My wife and I have made several improvements to our marriage as a result of what we experienced, and I consider the Journey Toward Intimacy time well spent.
   Many of the attendees were especially impressed by the expertise and new ideas that Willie and Elaine Oliver presented.
   Newlyweds Nate and Rachel Skaife of Berrien Springs, Michigan commented, “we really appreciated what they said about how important it is for us to take vacations to get away and reconnect with each other. This is something that we are going to plan to do.”
   What seemed to resonate with all the attendees was the obvious passion the Olivers had for the importance of an active seeking of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit within the marital relationship. “There are many wonderful and practical take-aways from their seminar” observed Yvonna Applewhite, 40, from Berrien Springs, Michigan. “If I had to pick a favorite or two, it would be consistent Biblical references and the encouraging assurance that it only takes one to change the equation, for ‘with God all things are possible’ (Matt. 19:26, KJV).”
   Journey Toward Intimacy is one of several community-wide events hosted by the Religious Education Department at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary on the campus of Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Coming this summer is Family Celebration Sabbath, July 16-17, 2010, an affirmation of family life and values. For more information on Journey Toward Intimacy, Family Celebration Sabbath, and/or the variety of academic offerings through the Religious Education Department, call 269-471-6186 or visit http://www.growingdisciples.info.

by J. B. McMillen

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Accepting a Challenge

     Last January, at the North America Division’s Ministries Convention held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Ron Clouzet (NAD Ministerial Association Secretary) challenged pastors and ministry directors to set a goal for souls in 2009. Clouzet handed out pieces of paper asking participants to make a personal pledge about the number of people they would lead to Jesus this year.
     Alanzo Smith, Director of Family Ministries for the Greater New York Conference, took his paper, prayed over it, and wrote 100 souls in North America. While baptizing hundreds of people around the world each year as a family evangelist, Smith found this task more daunting in North America.
     During the meetings held in 2009, Dr. Smith, an ordained minister and licensed marriage and family therapist, preached sermons on relationship themes, challenging his audiences to develop stronger families and to give their lives to Jesus. The results were awesome, the stories refreshing. A 10-year-old girl brought her mother to Smith, asked him to prepare her for baptism with positive results. Another person decided to close her business on Sabbaths in order to be baptized. A third person found a wet flyer on the street and attended the meetings because of the information she read there.
   Through God’s power and grace, Smith held four evangelistic meetings (South Hampton, Bermuda; two in Brooklyn, New York; and in Rockville, Maryland) for a total of 10 weeks resulting in 124 baptisms.
   NAD Family Ministries sees its primary work as making disciples for the kingdom of God. Alanzo Smith’s example is one we hope to see replicated throughout North America in the days, months, and years to come.

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Marriage Conference - Riverside, CA

Riverside, CA—On November 14, 2009, close to 100 couples from the Southern California region and beyond participated in From This Day Forward, a one-day celebration of marriage commitment opened to the general public and held at the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa in Riverside, California.
   Sponsored by Family Ministries of the North American Division, the Pacific Union Conference, and the Southeastern California Conference, this was the last of four marriage conferences taking place across North America in 2009.
   The event consisted of presentations made by Allan and Deirdre Martin from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, Brenda and Mike Auderhar from the Upper Columbia Conference, and by Elaine and Willie Oliver from NAD Family Ministries.
   During a day that lasted from 9:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, couples learned skills on communication, problem solving, forgiveness and commitment. They also learned how to be intentional about scheduling times for just having fun and developing spiritual and physical intimacy in marriage.
   One participant shared: “This is our second time to do this with you guys. It saved our marriage the first time, jump started it, and here we are again only to celebrate and recommit ourselves to each other.”
The event concluded with the renewal of wedding vows and the challenge to have the kind of marriage that gives honor and glory to God by being a strong witness to the Truth. Twelve of the participants requested Bible studies and are being followed-up.
   The next From This Day Forward marriage conference takes place on May 15, 2010, in Stamford, Connecticut. For additional information download the 2010 brochure on the home page.

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Journey Toward Intimacy Marriage Retreat - Bermuda

Restoration Ministries, under the leadership of Pastor Damon Hendrickson, invited Dr. Willie and Elaine Oliver, Family Ministries Directors of the North American Division, to present their Journey Toward Intimacy Marriage Retreat in the Bermuda Conference. Twenty-four couples, including Dr. Jeffrey and Pattiejean Brown, President and Family Ministries Director of the Bermuda Conference, were present to hear the Olivers deliver riveting presentations such as “Becoming Intimate Allies”, “Nurturing Fun, Friendship, Sensuality and Sexuality”, and “Forgiveness and the Restoration of Intimacy.” Willowbank Christian Retreat Center was selected as the venue and provided a wonderful setting for couples to examine their marriage covenant and renew their marriage vows.

Marriage Conference - Minneapolis, MN

Sixty-four couples gathered at the Sofitel Hotel, in Bloomington, Minnesota, for the North-American Division One Day Celebration of Marriage Commitment program, From This Day Forward, co-sponsored by the Mid-America Union Conference and the Minnesota Conference. NAD Family Ministries Director, Willie Oliver, and his Wife Elaine Oliver, marriage and family consultant for NAD were the presenters alongside Claudio Consuegra, VP for Administration, and his wife Pamela, Education Director, of the Minnesota Conference where they are also the Family Ministries Directors. The group included a couple married for only two months and another married for fifty-four years; a great diversity of ages, ethnic, and professional backgrounds.

The sixty-four couples came from the three conferences represented in the area – Minnesota, Central States, and Lake Region Conferences; and from surrounding states and as far as New Jersey. One participant expressed: “Exciting and comprehensively enriching for the two of us.” Another person said: “It was a way to enrich our marriage and draw closer to God and His plan for my life.”

The day also featured inspirational music by recording artist Denise Barclay from Columbia, Maryland. The Olivers and Consuegras spoke about oneness and intimacy, communication and problem resolution, sexual oneness, and forgiveness as foundational elements to build and strengthen the oneness and intimacy in marriage God intends for husbands and wives. The group enjoyed the couple activities and lunch together, and at the end they stood, held hands, and renewed their commitment to each other and to their marriage. Seven among the participants requested Bible studies and are being followed-up.

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Family Celebration Sabbath 2009

Berrien Springs, Mich.─ This year’s Family Celebration Sabbath weekend was held, July 17-18, at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University. Prominent author and speaker on the topics of sexual addiction and pornography, Mark Laaser, of Faithful and True Ministries was the weekend’s presenter.

Through worship, inspiration, and Scripture-based guidance, the weekend was designed to offer encouragement and help to hurting families and advice for those who minister to them. The weekend also included inspirational praise and worship led by Terrance Taylor, previous youth and associate pastor of Emerald City SDA Church, Seattle, Wash.

Events began on Friday when AdventSource hosted a resource reception in the Seminary Commons, followed by worship in the chapel. Sabbath morning, Laaser preached in the Seminary Chapel and organized a workshop for the afternoon programming. He addressed the issues of human sexuality, sexual addictions, pornography and their effects on the family, challenging all to realize that “Without vision, people perish” and “Spiritual discipline works!” Laaser also stressed the importance of positive vision and pure thoughts, encouraging families to “Take every thought captive” and “Share the vision God has given ... He’ll make it happen.”


L-R Dr. Willie Oliver, Dr. Mark Laaser, Karen and Dr. Ron Flowers, and Dr. Peter Swanson

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