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Pastoral Letter
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Dear Church Family,
It is a curious thing to me that two individuals can see the
same thing in entirely different ways. It could be
information, situations, problems or possibilities we are
seeing. Still, based on so many factors like our upbringing,
personalities, past trauma and levels of spiritual maturity,
it can almost be like we are looking at entirely different
things. John C. Maxwell describes vision as "utterly
indispensable" for leaders because it guides them, paints
the targets, sparks and fuels the fire within, and draws
them forward. And it is also the fire–lighter for others who
follow these leaders" (The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a
Leader.) In these editorials, I have been highlighting what
I believe is our collective leadership role as the Church
God established for these times. In this sense, vision is a
key aspect for all of us.
All questions are worth considering to inform us in the
choices we need to make and the directions we need to take.
Sometimes our vision needs correcting. We can't take for
granted that we see things the way they really are. Saul,
before his conversion, was travelling zealously along the
Damascus Road in the totally wrong direction (Acts 9),
believing persecution of Christians was the will of God.
It's incredible how a person can feel so right and yet be so
wrong.
When he first crashed to the ground, stricken with temporary
blindness, reflective of just how spiritually blind he was,
he hadn't anticipated that this great reckoning with God was
coming his way. Neither did he totally understand what was
happening to him when it came. This moment of education
unfolded bit by bit, and he had to be taken in and cared for
by the likes of those whom he had been persecuting. A very
humbling experience, but what a great asset he became when
God finally opened his eyes, and his perception began to be
informed much more closely by the infallible wisdom of
God.
So, as leaders, let's examine our vision. If you had to
define your vision for your personal relationships, what
would that be? How about your vision for your interactions
with people in the community? Or with coworkers at your
workplace? What is your vision for your own ministry, your
church department or local church, and how would you define
the vision of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at large? If
you already know this, then don't forget it! We can remind
ourselves! It will help motivate and refocus us during any
difficult times that lie ahead, helping us get back on the
right track. This means humbly following God's leading, as
Paul did, leading to a vision so vital for the good of the
Christian church.
The Bible is the only book considered Holy, and the figures
in its stories are often held in high esteem by us, but they
usually end up misunderstanding things and messing up. This
is fully recorded for all of us to see. We are no different.
How is our understanding of crucial matters? Is our
knowledge of a situation the absolute truth? Is our sense of
faith the absolute truth? Is our understanding of ourselves
or other people the absolute truth? We, as finite human
beings, can never rely totally upon our own experience
because the privilege of possessing the quality of
omniscience belongs only to the Almighty God. However, we
have the reassuring promise of guidance regarding His will:
Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
I hope this will encourage us all as we seek wisdom as we
embark on nominating local church leadership teams and
formulating plans for 2026.
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Dr. Kirk Thomas
South England Conference President
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ADRA-UK: Hurricane Melissa Appeal
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Sandra Golding
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ADRA-UK has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to assist
communities across Jamaica and neighbouring countries that
have been devastated by Hurricane Melissa. We are reaching
out to request your kind support as we mobilise vital aid
for those who are suffering and in greatest need.
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Stay Informed with SEC WhatsApp
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SEC Communications
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Get the latest updates, market insights, and regulatory news
delivered straight to your phone. Follow the SEC WhatsApp
Channel for real-time notifications and never miss important
financial information.
SEC WhatsApp Channel: Your direct line to SEC updates
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60 SEC News
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Don Roberts
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connectED25: From Screens to Streets: Faith in Action
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SECmedia
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Evangelism Across SEC
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Pastor Kwadwo Kwarteng-Ampofo
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Evangelism 101: Episode 18
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Pastor Kwadwo Kwarteng-Ampofo
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Reflecting Hope Evangelistic Campaign
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Pastor Bogdan Dumitru
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The event took place in Burnt Oak, from 1–8 November, under
the title “The Great Escape”, with Pastor Lucian Cristescu
as the main speaker. All five Romanian churches in London
were actively involved in this united effort. Each evening,
one of the churches prepared a special programme of music
and praise, creating a beautiful and uplifting atmosphere.
Attendance averaged 150–200 people per night, with up to 70
non-Adventist guests and an average of 30 visitors attending
each evening.
The final Sabbath was a true celebration. In the morning, we
held a joint Divine Service marking the close of the
campaign, attended by over 300 members from all the Romanian
churches. The guests who had participated throughout the
week were also invited, and many joyfully joined us for
worship and fellowship, followed by a shared lunch. In the
evening, during the final presentation of the series, 15
people decided to give their lives to Jesus and begin Bible
studies in preparation for baptism. The evangelistic effort
will continue this coming Sabbath with the baptism of five
individuals.
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Plumstead Church Pastor Appreciation Day
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Ndumie Mafu
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Pastor Appreciation Day at Plumstead was a truly blessed and
memorable occasion, held on
Sabbath, November 8, 2025. Although the official
conference calendar marks this celebration for October, our
church family deliberately chose to celebrate later, giving
time to plan a memorable, heartfelt day dedicated to our
beloved Pastor Wentworth Sewell and his family. The
atmosphere was filled with joy, unity, and genuine
appreciation as every department and individual came
together to honour our pastor’s leadership and ministry.
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Remembrance Sunday at West Green WW1 Memorial Cenotaph
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Maxine Donovan
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The Tottenham community gathered at the West Green WW1
Memorial Cenotaph on Sunday, 10th November for a moving
Remembrance Sunday service, honouring those who lost their
lives in the First and Second World Wars. The event was
attended by the Deputy Mayor of Haringey, Councillor
Michelle Simmons-Safo, Councillor Barbara Blake, local
clergy, the Haringey Sea Cadets, Wood Green SDA and
Tottenham Lighthouse pathfinders under the leadership of
Marsha and Tanesha James, Carolyn, representatives from
Forks & Green Restaurant, and families of war veterans and
victims from both World Wars.
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Know Your Numbers
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Edith Samambwa
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Blood Pressure Awareness Campaign (Monthly
Webinar)
Date: Tuesday 18 November 2025, 7pm
(GMT)
Address: Zoom ID 519 848 6156
High blood pressure is a silent killer. It can lead to heart
disease, strokes, kidney disease and dementia. Early
detection saves lives. Join us on
Tuesday 18 November 2025 at 7pm to learn
about the connection of blood pressure to your overall
health. We will also share about your risk for high blood
pressure and learn lifestyle keys for prevention.
Contact Information: Edith Samambwa,
esamambwa@secadventist.org.uk
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Rejuvenation Conference
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Anastasia Ross
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Widows, Widowers and Families Day of Fellowship
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Pastor Rio Espulgar
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We warmly invite you to a special Day of Fellowship
dedicated to widows, widowers, and their families with the
uplifting theme: Anchor in Hope.
Venue: Jews' Free School, The Mall, Harrow HA3 9TE
Time: 6th December, 2025 @ 10:00 AM Livestream: via
SEC Media
We are privileged to welcome two inspiring guest speakers:
Dr. Augustus Lawrence and
Sister Thembie Mapingire will minister words of
healing, resilience, and God's abiding presence.
We look forward to worshipping together and finding strength
in our shared Anchor in Hope.
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Literature Evangelist Training Weekend
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Lois Campbell-Ross
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Limited-Time 25% November Savings at Hay’s Wood
Retreat
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Dorcia
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For one week only, we’re offering an exclusive
25% off stays at Hay’s Wood Retreat. This
limited-time seasonal saving is available for breaks taken
between Friday, 28 Nov and Thursday, 4 Dec 2025.
Whether you’re looking for a peaceful escape or time away
with loved ones, this is an excellent chance to enjoy our
woodland surroundings at an exceptional rate.
Offer details:
• 25% off any lodge type
• Valid for stays 28 Nov – 4 Dec 2025
• Minimum 2-night stay
• Direct bookings only
• Use code: 25friday
Availability is limited, so we recommend securing your
preferred dates early.
Please see our website for full terms and conditions.
To book your stay, please get in touch with us and enter the
code at checkout.
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