September 17, 2019—Itú, Brazil
As the session is slowly coming to an end, we look back and can truly say that the Lord has led us thus far. Brother Mario Alvarado took the morning worship on the topic “Personal Influence Is Power.” He spoke on the parable of the talents which illustrates why some are saved while others are condemned. The Bible tells us that the servant who put the money to good use was saved, but the servant who hid the money was condemned.
“Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. . . . Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:27, 30.
God gives us talents, but it depends on how much we put them to use. These talents can be used for our salvation and the salvation of others, or for our condemnation and perhaps the condemnation of others as well. If our talents are used for the glory of God, then they lead to salvation. If the talents are used for the glory of man, then it will lead to condemnation.
Personal influence is a talent. If we have power and authority, people trust us. We will have influence at home with our spouse, children, and other members of the family. Often we are surprised that our children have no faith. Sometimes it can show that we have not used our talents wisely. Our influence may not have reflected that we have walked with God day by day. Perhaps they have seen that we lived a double life. Our influence can be compared with water, like a river that brings life-giving power to those who live nearby. May God bless us to be a blessing to those living "nearby" us.
Brother P. Lausevic opened the session and spoke of Abraham and the promise that God gave him. “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:13.
"The entire world was given to Abraham," explained Brother Lausevic. It was not so much this world that Abraham and his descendants were to inherit. Abraham did not possess any land on this earth. When he desired a burial place he had to pay for it. Abraham was looking for something else—someplace other than this world. “He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:10.
If we desire to be children of Abraham and share in his inheritance, we need to have the spirit of Abraham. The beliefs and principles that led Abraham and motivated him to look for that city, need to be our beliefs and principles also. We need to have the same spirit our forefathers had so we may be one.
The business of the session started with the reading of the minutes from the previous day by Brother Tudoroiu, the General Conference Secretary. After these were accepted by the delegates, the following committees presented their reports:
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee presented the following name for the office of Legal and Public Relations Department:
- Brother Walter Lukic. The delegates unanimously voted for Brother Walter Lukic to be the Legal and Public Relations Director for the next five-year term.
The Nominating Committee also presented the following names for the General Conference Youth Department Director:
- Marcelo Araujo
- Dorin Burca
- Adrian Finaru
- Julian Utupanu
After a vote was taken, Brother Adrian Finaru was elected to be the General Conference Youth Department Director for the next five-year term.
The following Committees were elected by the delegates:
General Conference Executive Committee:
- Eli Tenorio, President
- Rolly Dumaguit, 1st Vice President
- Petru Mangul, 2nd Vice President
- Liviu Tudoroiu, Secretary
- Rudolfo Gessner, Treasurer
- Peter Lausevic, Committee Member
- Davi P. Silva, Committee Member
General Conference Ministerial Committee:
- Eli Tenorio, President
- Rolly Dumaguit, 1st Vice President
- Petru Mangul, 2nd Vice President
- Liviu Tudoroiu, Secretary
- Peter Lausevic, Committee Member
- Davi P. Silva, Committee Member
- Daniel Guzman, Committee Member
General Conference Doctrinal Committee:
- Eli Tenorio, President
- Rolly Dumaguit, 1st Vice President
- Liviu Tudoroiu, Secretary
- Peter Lausevic, Committee Member
- Romulo Borge, Committee Member
Doctrinal Committee Recommendations
The Temporary Doctrinal Committee presented the following recommendations and they were passed:
#7. TITHE FROM NON-MEMBERS:
WHEREAS there are souls who have not understood all the Bible doctrines or are not yet prepared to accept all they have learned, and are still working in legal occupations that are inconsistent with our principles, yet are willing to return the tithe to the church, it was
RESOLVED, that taking in consideration that the process of conversion and sanctification is progressive, the church cannot deny the interested souls the privilege of returning the tithe and offerings; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that while accepting tithes of interested souls, the church must instruct, and encourage them to find an occupation consistent with the Bible principles, and thus prepare themselves for baptism.
#4. COMMUNION BREAD AND CELIAC DISEASE:
WHEREAS the Temporary Doctrinal Committee received a question regarding the Communion bread and its effect on celiac disease, it was
RESOLVED, that in reality the type of grain is immaterial as long as it is considered bread and has no leavening agent in it, as Christ is completely "unleavened" from sin and any of its attributes (1 Corinthians 5:7, 8; 1 Peter 2:21, 22). Since the leavening agent is required to be absent as a perfect symbol of Jesus, and since leaven specifically works upon the gluten in order to make the bread rise and make it light, and since a seed type manna was equally a perfect bread symbol of Jesus (John 6:31-35; PP 297; Ev 284), and specifically used in the New Testament to represent Jesus, it is quite natural to draw a conclusion that another grain that has no gluten may also be used and still perfectly maintain its representation of Jesus as the bread of life for this world.
After a long day of work, the session adjourned for the day with the prayer of Brother P. Lausevic.