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 Rodney Herra Talks About How Jesus Can Help Us Services at the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on May 30, 2009 began with a Sabbath School song service led by Brenda Herra, accompanied by Debbie Hess. The opening song was “Marvelous Grace”. Lois Davis then welcomed everyone, had prayer, and read 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
For the mission report, Ruth B. Zollinger talked about her work in India.
 1. The old pagan culture of Babylon is still alive and well in India. The world view of the Hindu is much different than the American view. It takes years or a generation to change the way of thinking of new Christian converts. There are several Laurelbrook representatives working in India for Living Springs Missions. 2. Indians are very spiritual people; there are religious shrines everywhere. Elderly ladies keep these shrines clean and neat and put the food for the gods at these shrines. Every village has its own personal god. Proper Indian worship does not take place under trees or in houses. This is a challenge, for new converts must have a house of worship to go to.
3. Living Springs Missions work with children, for children are open. It runs two types of work – orphanages and seminaries. Graduates are sent long term into a community to help and nurture the converts in that community. Currently, Ruth B. teaches health principles to seminary students. It takes about six months to cover these principles.
4. Most of the teachers in our Adventist schools in India are not even Christians, a fact that influences the young students greatly. This part of our work is really a money-making enterprise for our GC division in India. After 10th grade, every student has to know English because there are too many local languages.
5. In India, family is important because no one will hire you unless you have a trade to make your living. Many a poor family chips in to educate one child; when he/she graduates, he/she supports the rest of the family. Both seminary and orphanage students are trained in a basic trade, a necessity if they don’t want to be dependent on Hindu relatives. But there aren’t enough qualified skilled trades people to teach these students. Also pray for our work because Chinese Maoists are threatening our work, and even our own church members want the property and buildings.
6. In India, a woman has to buy a husband, and he rules over her.
 Lois Davis mentioned that Laurelbrook is training students to have these skills so they can teach these skills to others. Leeann (senior) and Micah (senior) collected the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which helps students and staff members go on mission trips. Lois Davis closed the Sabbath School program with prayer. The congregation broke up into several Sabbath School classes to study heaven; the students studied a lesson from the Young Disciples organization. When services resumed at 11:00, Rodney Herra had the invocation or opening prayer. Robert Zollinger welcomed everyone and made the necessary announcements. We need to pray for Fred Douville because he has had an operation and to pray for some alumni with health problems. Cristina Lujan, who attended Laurelbrook two years ago, will be baptized in the lake this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Everyone then sang “Does Jesus Care?” Robert Zollinger had the Morning Prayer and called for the offering, which was for Spring Mission Appeal; and Roger Westfall and Bubba Herra collected the offering. The congregation sang the doxology, and Clifton Brandt prayed for the offering. For the scripture reading, Clifton Brandt read 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Sherry Person played a selection from Bach on her guitar for special music. Constance Nelson used a number of people to illustrate what heaven is like for the children. Rodney Herra preached on the care Jesus has for us, the congregation sang “Under His Wings”, and Clifton Brandt had closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
 Brenda Herra – one of the chefs in the Laurelbrook Nursing Home kitchen
Bubba Herra – Laurelbrook graduate
Clifton Brandt – Laurelbrook maintenance man specializing in water, boiler, and sewer systems, local church elder
Constance Nelson – one of the teachers at Laurelbrook Elementary School
Debbie Hess – head of Laurelbrook’s music department, pianist and organist for this Sabbath’s services
Rodney Herra – former Laurelbrook staff member presently working at nearby Majestic Stone Company, local church elder
Roger Westfall – Laurelbrook’s vice-president for personnel, head of housekeeping at Laurelbrook Nursing Home
Ruth B. Zollinger – former Laurelbrook staff member working as a health educator in India with Living Springs Missions
Sherry Person – one of the teachers at Laurelbrook Elementary School
Following are notes on the sermon:
1. A boy lived with his grandmother; he was clumsy, slow, and afraid of people. He grinned when he felt uncomfortable. He even grinned at his mother’s funeral when he was nervous about the fact that people were talking that his mother had killed herself because of the boy.
2. He went away to academy and was given a farm job. When he went to worship, he sat in a certain row, but no one sat near him. Some students laughed at him because he was 17 and in the 9th grade. When his roommate balked at the barn smell, the dean gave him a room of his own.
3. A senior helped him move, and the boy thanked him. This room had a door that couldn’t be locked so one night some of the students wrapped wires around his toes and plugged them in. When the boy was shocked, he grinned.
4. Then the Fall Week of Prayer came, and the senior thought about helping the boy but didn’t because a student had laughed at him when he was helping the boy.
5. Jimmy had had his girlfriend break up with him, and his life got bad. He finally went to his favorite place on campus to kill himself. But a little dog came to greet him. He realized he had a purpose in life.
6. Luke 2 – another boy was born to a very poor family. At age 12, he was found with the church leaders, asking them questions and listening to their replies.
7. Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p. 73 says that Jesus grew up with the same temptations and trials that we have. But He was cheerful and kept His eye single to the glory of God.
8. Carl (first boy) became a special friend of the senior and spent a lot of time with him. Carl’s loneliness disappeared.
9. As time went on, there was an Open House. The senior lined up Carl with a girl on other side of campus. But Carl and his girl never showed up. When the dean checked Carl’s room, he found that Carl’s room was vandalized by the senior who had befriended him.
10. They found a note with Carl’s goodbye. They finally found Carl’s body after dredging a pond.
11. Does Jesus care?
12. John 10:1-15 “1 ¶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
13. Sheep are helpless creatures. Jesus, as our Shepherd, has gone before us to take care of the devil’s snares because He loves us.
14. Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p.74 says that all creatures and people were happier for Jesus’ presence.
15. We will be happier if we let Jesus take care of our struggles and needs.
16. Carl could have had a great school experience if someone had cared for him.
17. Spend time with Jesus, and you will find that Jesus cares for us in all our experiences.
18. 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
19. Take this to heart this school year.
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