July 2023 FRESH Start

J U L Y 2 0 2 3 , I S S U E 6
FRESH Start
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE PORT CHARLOTTE SDA CHURCH
Photo credit: Emmanuel St. Cloud
“The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning..." Lam. 3:22,23 NET
VALUING YOUTH
We are fortunate to have young people in
our church. If we do not embrace their
presence, and what they have to offer, they
may be amongst the 64% of young adults
who leave the church.
This newsletter is to raise awareness of
ministries leading young hearts to God,
and also about young hearts leading in
ministry. Let's keep our young people
in our prayers.
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SABBATH SCHOOL
LESSONS
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ZOOM PRAYER AT
6:30
1
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18
THE YEAR FOR YOUTH
BY BEN SHURTLIFF, SENIOR PASTOR
If you were to describe the residents of
Charlotte County, what would you say?
Likely something that refers to us
having a significant retirement
community. As of July 2022, according to
the U.S.Census Bureau, 40.6% of people
in Charlotte County are over the age of
65; much higher than the national
average of 17.3%. We not only have a
much larger than average retirement
population, but people over 65 are also
the fastest growing segment of the
population in Charlotte County. Our
local church demographics are not
appreciably different than the local
county percent.
The breakdown is very close to the
same. I absolutely love our retired
population and don’t know what I would
do without them! However, we know
that for our church to grow and thrive,
we want and need young people.
This coming year is shaping up to be a
unique one for our church. We are
partnering with a team of youth
evangelists, we are featuring our youth
ministry, and focusing our efforts and
our attention with our youth in mind. Let
me highlight for you some of the ways
we are doing this.

dedication to leading our
youth! I am excited to see how
the first Sabbath of the month
will feature our talented young
people this coming year.
First, I am eager to share
with you that our board
has decided to team up
with GoThere4 this coming
year. This partnership will
include a revival series,
evangelism workshops,
service Sabbath’s, weeks of
prayer, and a reaping
series this time next year.
GoThere4 is led by a team
of young adults who are on
fire for Jesus and love to
share the gospel. Tanner
Maasdorp, the president
and lead speaker of
GoThere4, is a recent
graduate of Andrews
University’s undergraduate
theological program and
and will be spending a lot
of time in Charlotte County
and our church. He is
joined by an awesome
team of young people who
are based out of
Bradenton, and they will
be working for our friends
and neighbors starting in
July.
Second, in discussion with
our youth leaders and our
board we have voted to
make the first Sabbath of
every month a youth-led
and youth-oriented
worship service. From
greeters at the front door
to the offering call, you will
be blessed by our young
people leading our
Sabbath services. Our
young people are eager to
be an integral part of the
worship of our Lord and
service to the church
family. I am grateful for
Dima and Emily
Poperechnyy and their
Third, as of July 8th we will be
joined by Pastor Gavin Forbes
who recently graduated from
Union College. I look forward to
him preaching the first Sabbath
of each month and am eager to
see him connect with and bless
the youth of our church and
school. Pastor Gavin has a
heart for God and His people.
We will be blessed by his
ministry. Be sure to give him a
warm welcome July 8th for his
first Sabbath with us!
I believe God will fulfill what He
promised for His people at the
end of time in Joel 2:28 NKJV:
“And it shall come to pass
afterward that I will pour out My
Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall
see visions.” God is interested in
empowering every generation
with His Spirit to make His will
known. I fully expect God to
draw both young and old
together as the gospel goes
forward and we draw nearer to
Jesus’ soon return.
Whatever your age, God wants
you and has a plan to use you
for His glory and the blessing of
Charlotte County this coming
year!

Rodney Brydson-Ocean
Head of Technology
Tanner Maasdorp
President/Speaker
Kani Washington
Vice President/Speaker

Pathfinder &
Adventurer
Investiture
BY LAURA DANCEK
Youth
in
Training
Photo Credits: Emmanuel St. Cloud
Many were blessed on Sabbath morning,
May 13, to see the platform filled with
children from one side to the other for the
Pathfinder and Adventurer Clubs Investiture
ceremony.
Marching into the sanctuary to the beat of a
snare drum, more than fifty young people
took the stage. They were appareled with
the familiar uniform scarves and sashes
decorated with honor badges. Some were
Adventurers, some Pathfinders, CITs
(Counselors in Training) and their leaders.
The congregation joined them in singing the
National Anthem while they saluted the flag.
The recitation of the clubs' pledges and laws
were completed before the large group
broke into more songs.
Adventurers, led by David Molina, advanced
from one level to the next, from Little Lambs
all the way up to Sunbeams, receiving a pin
on their sash. Special trophies were given
for perfect attendance.

A slideshow highlighted the many activities
the Adventurers participated in this year.
Thanks to the Molinas and staff, this could
very well be the most active Adventurer
Club that the Port Charlotte SDA Church has
ever had! That is just what we need to draw
more young families to our church!
When you outgrow the Adventurer Club you
are fortunate to find that our church also
has a very strong Pathfinder Club, under the
leadership of Lucie Poincy. The Pathfinders
advanced from Friends all the way up to the
Guide level.
If you would like to watch the Investiture
ceremony click here.
Words to
live by:
The Pathfinder Law
Keep the morning watch.
Do my honest part.
Care for my body.
Keep a level eye.
Be courteous and obedient.
Walk softly in the sanctuary.
Keep a song in my heart.
Go on God’s errands.
The Adventurer
Law
Be obedient
Be pure
Be true
Be kind
Be respectful
Be attentive
Be helpful
Be cheerful
Be thoughtful
Be reverent

Thank you to
our leaders

YOUTH
VESPERS
Youth
in
Leadership
BY LAURA DANCEK
Photo credits: Laura Dancek
If you did not attend the vesper program on May 20 you missed wonderful
music, hearty laughter, plenty of inspiration, delicious food and delightful
fellowship. That's quite a few modifiers, yet still not enough to describe the
blessings from that evening. Led by Dima and Emily Poperechnyy, the Youth
Sabbath School Class creatively planned and executed a variety program type of
vespers. They had skits, jokes, games, readings, solos, duets, and group singing.
The youth class is also known by its cooler name "The Vault." The title given by
Joe and Debbie Francis, who designed and built the cafe-like environment, then
led the class until last summer, when they passed the baton to Dima. He has
taken the class to a new level by finding ways for them to use their talents to
participate in church.
Unfortunately, the program is not available on our YouTube channel, but the
following photos will give you a peek into the evening's events.

At the close of vespers, Pastor Ben handed the above portraits to Viktor, Emily and
Dima Poperechnyy. These portraits, done by previous church member Floyd
Greenleaf, were of Ellen and James White and J.N. Andrews - pioneers of the SDA
church. Pastor Ben reminded the young people there, as well as everyone
listening, that these forefathers of our church were the same age as, or younger
than, the young people holding their pictures. He challenged us to support the
youth as they grow in and work for the Lord.
We live in a time where 64% of our young adults leave church. Look, again, at the
photo of our youth on the previous page. Which of those young people are you
willing to lose?
"Now the Lord would have us do far more than has been done that the active, restive
energies of the children and youth may be employed in good work. Thus not only will
the youth be led to use their entrusted talents in the cause of God, but their example
and influence will be constantly working for the benefit and uplifting of other youth."
Ellen G. White, Letters and Manuscripts, 27A, 1892
64%
of young adults
leave the church
YOUTH MISSION TRIP
Plans are under way for a
2024 mission trip, and funds
are being raised. Come support
them on July 9 by having your
cars washed and participating in
the garage sale.

DRAMA

MUSIC

GAMES

STRAWBERRY
SHORTCAKE

Thank You Pine Tree Academy!
Photo credits: Barbara Chase
Angels appeared in the form of students from
Pine Tree Academy during the last week of May.
They gave us much-needed help all over our
campus. We are delighted to have the debrisfilled
mulch off of the playground, and moved to
safer places in our landscape, and to have fresh
mulch on the playground.
Youth
in
Service

Welcome
Home
Youth
in
Classes
Since September, when
Hurricane Ian damaged our
Sabbath School classes, they
have been held at the school
during renovation. The wait
was over on May 20 when all
the classrooms were back
open. Children and adult
classes, as well as the Spanish
congregation, were back home.

FOCUS ON
Offering
Our church has been blessed with people
of vision, creativity, and commitment.
People who give their time, talents and
skills and people who give their money do
so to further God's work in Charlotte
County.
To make you more aware of the ministries
these people lead, we will be featuring
them twice a month during the offering call.
To hear more about this change for
offerings, click on the arrow and watch
Pastor Ben's message.

U P C O M I N G
E V E N T S
Welcome
Pastor Gavin
July 8
Gavin Forbes will officially be installed
as our new associate pastor. You'll be
able to meet him at the fellowship
dinner following his sermon.
Business
Meeting
Sunday, July 9 at 10:00
The next church business meeting
will be "sweet!" Come enjoy decaf
and donuts while we discuss and vote
on important matters of our church.

U P C O M I N G
E V E N T S
Garage Sale
Sunday, July 9
9 am - 1 pm
The youth Sabbath School class will
have a garage sale to raise funds for
next year’s proposed mission trip.
Gently used items will be greatly
appreciated. Donations can be
brought to the Vault during the break
between Sabbath School and church
service, if you are not able to bring it
to the sale July 9th.
Car Wash
Sunday, July 9
9 am - 1 pm
While attending the church business
meeting or shopping for items in our
yard sale you can also have your cars
washed!
The youth Sabbath School will be on
hand to make your vehicle all shiny
and clean to raise funds for their
proposed mission trip next year.
Please come out and support them.

U P C O M I N G
E V E N T S
Communion
July 15
We will have communion service on
July 15. Please note, in the future,
communion services will be held on
the second Sabbath of each new
quarter.
Vacation Bible
School
July 17-21 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Get ready for a STELLAR VBS! The
"out of this world" program will be
held at the church in the evenings.
Open to children from K-5th grade.
Contact Donna Judy or Crystal Salyer.
You may also register online at
FunVBS@gmail.com.
Don’t Miss Out!

U P C O M I N G
E V E N T S
Good Shepherd
Revival
July 26-28
7:30 PM
July 29
11:00 AM
Attend all four meetings to deepen
your understanding of the character
of God as portrayed in Jesus, our
Good Shepherd.
Brought to us by GoThere4.

J U L Y 2 0 2 3
I S S U E 6
941-629-1333
2036 Loveland Blvd.
Pt. Charlotte, FL 33952
www.pcsda.net
Children's Story
An important part of our worship
service is the story that
engages our little ones. We'd like to
thank all who have played
a part in enhancing Sabbath mornings
with your stories.
Youth
in
Worship
Sermon Schedule
July 1
Pastor Ben
July 8
Pastor Gavin
July 15
Pastor Ben
Communion
July 22
Pastor Ben
July 29
Pastor Ben
FRESH Start Editor:
Laura Dancek
pcsdacommunication@gmail.com