The MannaVOLUME 33, ISSUE 4

APRIL 2020

NEWSLETTER OF THE MCDONALD ROAD SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

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We have had people ask how our East Lake Courts ministry started. Here’s how it all began. Our daughter Melissa worked for the city of Chattanooga who was involved in getting a small library into each area recreation center in Chattanooga at that time. Through this project, we met Jessica Lawrence. Jessica has lived in the East Lake Courts for over 30 years. She is a lady with a heart for children. She has had an after-school tutoring program and a summer camp for children at the East Lake Recreation Center for a number of years. She at times has even used her Social Security for food for the kids. TVA got a computer lab going for her and John Creel a retired news photographer runs the lab. In the summer they keep the kids up to par for the coming school year. The last several years Jessica has asked us to do a VBS for about 25 kids who attend the summer school.

Occasionally we would get a pickup truck load of day-old bread and take it to the Community Kitchen. In 2011 when the tornadoes struck, McDonald Road church member Warren Oliver had a friend that gave him day-old bread to distribute to the tornado victims. As people started to get back on their feet they didn’t need the bread. Warren heard of our occasional trip to the Community Kitchen and said don’t buy bread anymore,

stop by my house and get what’s not needed anymore. So we did.

It was just before Thanksgiving 2011 when we stopped at the Community Kitchen with a load of bread and were told they couldn’t

How the East Lake Ministry Began

Local resident Robert enjoying his hand knit winter hat made by Pauline Beaulieu.

David and Mary Anne Turner are Sabbath School leaders at McDonald Road Church with a passion for outreach. Here, Mary Anne shares how their ministry in the East Lake Courts area of Chattanooga, Tenn., began.

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receive it because around the holidays people drop off a lot food. We looked at each other wondering what we were going to do with a pickup truck load of bread. We decided to go over to East Lake Courts to see if Jessica knew of people who could use the bread. When we drove in, Sheila was barbecuing on an oil drum grill. We asked her if she could use some bread. She said yes, and in her big outside voice announced, “free bread” and people began to come out. We made several stops throughout the Courts and the bread was taken.

As we continued to come back each week the people said they didn’t know we were out there, so we began taking phone numbers to call and let them know we were there. I now make 70 calls each week.

We were giving out literature and Bibles and wanted to have an SDA church to introduce them to. So we decided to make an appointment to meet with Pastor Mills at the New Life SDA church at the corner of East Main and Willow, about a mile from the Courts, to talk about partnering together with them so we could send interests there. He introduced us to Gustinia Stewart one of their Bible workers and she started going with us to pray with people and pass out literature.

A while later, Jack and Janice Parker started going with us too. They are affiliated with the Samaritan Center and were given boxes of food to take down. We helped New Life get reconnected with the Food Bank. The Food Bank in turn got New Life connected with several grocery stores to get nearly out of date food. They go out several times a week to collect the food in the church van. They make up food boxes every other Tuesday and distribute about 74 of them from the church. They also give out clothing. While the people are waiting, they have them come in to the room next to the distribution room and sing and have a devotional with them. They have gotten Bible studies started doing this. They have a church sign out front that they can change the message on and let the public know when boxes are available. They have had no lack of participants.

The Salvation Army across from the Courts has been good to us to let us use their facilities for free. Our DOC Share Him group has held several health fairs and

Dr. Nick Van Zyl and wife Lereesea working on a patient at the monthly Dental Clinic.

Afghan knitted together with squares created by ladies in the Wednesday Night Out knitting group led by Arlene Lewis.

Baby blanket crocheted by Cathy Still, David and Mary Anne Turner’s daughter.

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East Lake continued from page 2

cooking schools there. At one of the health fairs, Dr. Nick VanZyl noticed that almost all that he did an oral check on needed a tooth pulled. He bought a portable unit and holds a free dental clinic the fourth Sabbath of the month. The first 15 people are seen. They are so grateful! Some work two jobs, but have no benefits and cannot afford to have a tooth pulled that is infected or broken. This last clinic one lady had ten teeth pulled. Our granddaughter Mary worked in the Biology department at UTC last year. A veteran called in to see if UTC had a dental school and students that did free work. She told him no, but that her grandparents were involved with a free dental clinic at the Salvation Army in East Lake. She told him about our dental clinic that was coming up that weekend, and he showed up. He said what an angel she was to get him all the info. He was so grateful to get rid of the awful pain. Dr. VanZyl has many satisfied customers. He and his wife have a

reputation for being kind and gentle and the word has spread around the community and beyond.

Our daughter Cathy, our friend Pauline Beaulieu, our truck driver friend who uses his wait time to knit, and all of the folks at McDonald Road who make all of the lovely homemade items, they are very much appreciated. The recipients feel special knowing someone took the time to hand make this for them. We gave some scarves out at the dental clinic and some of the folks that were very nervous put them around them like a comfort blanket.

We appreciate all of you who are involved with us in this outreach—who give us Bibles and literature to be used; who have taken time to make the scarves, mittens and hats; who save plastic grocery bags to use; who donate for expenses; and to our church secretary Eva who makes attractive posters to announce date and time for the Dental Clinic. And we especially appreciate all of you who pray for us. Thank you all!

- Mary Anne Turner

We are planning an interactive Family Zoom Sabbath School with time for prayer and sharing for McDonald Road Church at 10:00 am this Sabbath, April 4. We’re aiming to make this an interactive worship time for the whole family. Hope to see you there!

If you would like the link for this meeting, please email Pastor Geoff at gstarr@mrcsda.org.

Family Zoom Sabbath School

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA SOPHIA ON UNSPLASH

Here are a few free resources available for kids...• A Place to do Something:

https://aplacetodosomething.com/bible-stories/• Our Little Friend & Primary Treasure:

Primarytreasure.com• Guide:

Guidemagazine.org• Your Story Hour (free ‘Story of the Week’ every day):

https://www.yourstoryhour.org/

Just for Kids...

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It seems like Pathfinder Sabbath on February 29 was ages ago, doesn’t it? Let’s take a look back at this uplifting Sabbath service brought to us by the McDonald Road Hawks Pathfinder Club.

“We have had positive responses from multiple church members about the services,” shares Andrew Myaing, McDonald Road Pathfinder Director. “In fact, one couple approached me after one of the services and shared that it was the best Pathfinder Sabbath service they have attended. They further shared ‘and that’s saying something because we’ve been around a long time and have seen many Pathfinder Sabbath services.’ They enjoyed everything about the service. They were especially impressed by the speakers, their message and the delivery.”

Young people were involved throughout the service. “We tried to get as many young people involved,” says Myaing. “I think there was only one other adult staff member who was up front besides me. The rest of the service was conducted by our young people. Our young people are gifted and talented and all glory is given

to God! In preparation for this Sabbath service, I had so many to choose from for involvement. Everything from greeters, deacon/deaconesses, song service/praise team, children’s story, offering call, special music, sermonettes, color guards. They were all willing to serve in various capacities. I am proud of these Pathfinders, and I wanted our church members to be proud of them too.”

“I am so thankful for the MRC family and how they have supported our club in various ways in years past,” says Myaing. “I hope we can continue to offer a welcoming atmosphere to our young people through the church and the Pathfinder club, producing future church leaders. We can work together for a finished work.”

Pathfinder clubs are for youth in grades 5-12, and are designed to “lead members into a growing, redemptive relationship with God, build its members into responsible, mature individuals, and involve its members in active, selfless service.” (North American Division Pathfinder Staff Manual)

Looking Back at Pathfinder Sabbath

PHOTOS BY SHAWN LEMON - FIND MORE PHOTOS AT MCDONALDROAD.ORG AND ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE @MCDONALDROADSDA!

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New Sabbath School QuarterlyA new Sabbath School quarter begins in April! You can find the quarterly

lessons online at the Adult Bible Study Guide website: https://absg.adventist.org/. Hard copies are also available at the church office.

The topic this quarter is “How to Interpret Scripture.” The Adult Bible Study Guide website notes:

“As Seventh-day Adventists, we are not unique among Protestants in claiming “the Bible and the Bible alone” as the foundation of our faith, even though many who make that claim believe in things like Sunday as the New Testament replacement for the seventh-day Sabbath; the immortality of the soul; eternal torment in hell for the lost; and even a secret rapture.

“In other words, just having the Bible, and claiming to believe it, is one thing, as important as that is. But, as the proliferation of false doctrines (all supposedly derived from Scripture) reveals, we need to know how to interpret the Bible correctly as well.”

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AnnouncementsMCDONALD ROAD CHURCH REMAINS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Watch our live stream of Sabbath School and Church on Sabbath mornings at 10:00 am at mcdonaldroad.org.

Condolences: Dorothy Moon, 89, of McDonald, died on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at her home. Survivors and arrangements will be announced later by the Cleveland chapel of Companion Funeral & Cremation Service.

Join 100 Days of Prayer beginning March 27. Let’s come together as a church to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, revival for mission, and yes, prayers for the COVID-19 pandemic. More info here: https://www.revivalandreformation.org/100days

Four ways to get and share church news: 1) Have The Manna delivered to your email inbox each month and get important church updates! Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/giOdJn. 2) Read The Manna on our website.3) “Like” us on Facebook @McDonaldRoadSDA. 4) Submit news to news@mrcsda.org.

Manna Submissions: We would love to share how God is working in your life! Email news, information, testimonies, and photos to news@mrcsda.org to have it featured in The Manna and on the McDonald Road Church Facebook page.

Volunteers Needed for VBS 2020All aboard! Rocky Railway VBS is chugging through

our church July 13-17, 2020. On this faith-filled adventure, kids discover that trusting in Jesus pulls them through life’s ups and downs.

Learn more, sign up to be a volunteer, and share information with friends, visit the link below or scan this QR code on your phone. https://vbspro.events/p/events/mrc

GIVE ONLINERemember you can still give online at mcdonaldroad.org by clicking the “Give Online” link in the menu.

McDonald Road Seventh-day Adventist Church5440 McDonald RoadMcDonald, TN 37353

Return Service Requested

McDonald Road Seventh-day Adventist ChurchHead of the Church Jesus Christ Senior Pastor Fred R. Fuller Family Life Pastor Paul Smith Youth Pastor Geoff Starr Church Secretary Eva Burchard

Weekly Programs and Worship Services:1st Service Saturday at 8:50 a.m.Sabbath School Saturday at 10:00 a.m.2nd Service Saturday at 11:25 a.m.Prayer Meeting Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Church Office: Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.Phone: (423) 396-3462 • Web: McDonaldRoad.org

Please send address changes to: McDonald Road Seventh-day Adventist Church 5440 McDonald Road, McDonald, TN 37353

The MannaThe Manna is the official newsletter of the McDonald Road Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is published monthly and can be found online or mailed to you upon request. Submit items by emailing them to news@mrcsda.org. Submissions by phone are not accepted. Editor: Becky Brooks