Crescent City SDA Church

May 30, 2025

Dear Crescent City SDA Church Family and Guests,

 

When our son was just learning to talk, he began to try and sing with us as we had family worship. One of the songs we taught our children was, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. However, instead he sang, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning bad, no turning bad.”

 

For many years, I have mused about those words, but I never knew some of the history of the song until just last week. 

 

Nearly 200 years ago a revival took place in Wales  England. As a result, many missionaries were called to foreign mission fields around the world. One of these missionary families chose to serve in North India, a place that could best be described as savage.

 

These tribes were famously known as head hunters, who, as a sign of greatness in their tribe, would take the heads of their enemies and hang them on their walls. It was into this Savage tribe that this missionary family came—a man, his wife, and their two sons. Obviously, they were not welcomed by these tribes, but still, they knew they were called by God, and so they continued to share their faith. 

 

This family’s love for Jesus was so contagious that finally they were able to reach out to one family who accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Fearful that others might also become Christians, the tribal chief captured this missionary family and brought them before the tribe and said, “Renounce Jesus Christ as your Savior or we are going to kill your children.”

 

The man looked down at his sons whom he loved, but he knew that he couldn’t renounce Jesus Christ. When he replied to the chief with the words of this famous song, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back,” the archers pulled back their arrows and shot his two sons.

 

As the sons lay dying on the ground, the tribal chief said, “I’m going to give you another chance to renounce Christ, or I’m going to kill your wife.  The man looked down at his sons and he looked over at his wife whom he loved so much, but he knew what the scriptures said, and that he needed to acknowledge God and Jesus before men.  So, he responded with the second line of this famous song, “Though none go with me, still I will follow, no turning back, no turning back!”  And the archers killed his wife.

 

“Renounce Christ, or this time I will kill you!,” yelled the chief.  Realizing that he had nothing left in this world, he looked up at Heaven, and said the last lines to this song, “The cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back!” Once again, the archers released their arrows and killed the man.

 

But with the deaths, a miracle took place. Now, with this man, his wife, and his two sons dead, the chief stood before this dead family speechless. He couldn't believe what his eyes had just seen, and he realized that through the faith of this man that their God must be real. This Jesus, who this man was willing to die for must be real. 

 

Right there, on the spot, the reports tell us that this chief accepted Christ as his Savior and throughout the following weeks and months, the rest of the tribes began to accept Christ as their Savior.  All because one man and his family were willing to stand up and say, I have decided to follow Jesus!

 

_____________________________

 

Our Sabbath School and the Worship services are live and viewable via Zoom. Two Adult Sabbath School classes are presented each week. One of them is viewable via Zoom. The Junior/Earliteen Sabbath School class meets in the Pathfinder Room. Cradle Roll and Kindergarten classes are available for younger children. If you are unsure where the rooms or classes are being held, please don’t hesitate to ask one of the greeters for directions. The Worship service is in the Sanctuary and via Zoom. The Zoom Meeting ID# and Password are listed below.

Zoom access for Crescent City SDA Church meetings:

Meeting ID #: 993 5770 413

Password: 4642738

You can join by going to Zoom.us, click on join a meeting, and then enter the Meeting ID # and password; or by dialing 1 669 900 9128, entering the meeting ID# and password as prompted; or accessing through the Zoom app.

May 30 – June 5, 2025

Friday 30^th Sunset 8:44 PM

Sabbath 31^st

Worship Leader, Worship Leader, Courtney Bliss;  Church worship, Dwight Winslow

Sunset 8:45 PM

Tuesday: Bible Study Genesis 6:00 PM

Wednesday: Community Services 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Prayer Group 5:00 – 6:00 PM

VOP Discovery Lessons 6:00 PM 

June 7, 2025 – Worship Leader, Wilmer Hechanova;  Church worship, Aimee Bolender           Remember our Church Fellowship Luncheon this day!

June 14, 2025 – Worship Leader, Bob Phang;  Church worship, Eddie Heinrich

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Our next Church Business Meeting will be at 5:45 PM June 2, via Zoom.

Our next Church Board Meeting will be at 6:00 PM June 2, via Zoom.

School Presentation Fair June 5

Last day of school June 12

Fellowship Luncheons are usually on the first Sabbath of the month, but because of special Sabbath events, please note the weekly updates for any changes.

Tithes and offerings are being collected during the 11:00 AM Worship service each Sabbath. Other options include the locked offering box on the rear wall of the Sanctuary, the link to Adventist Giving on our church website:

https://crescentcityca.adventistchurch.org

or you can download the Adventist Giving app. Tithes and offerings may also be mailed to Crescent City SDA Church, P.O. Box 1905, Crescent City, CA 95531. Please designate where the funds are to be deposited: tithe, church budget, Little Red School House (School), special projects, etc.

Thank you for taking the time to be part of our church family, in person or via media. Please reply to this email (or ccadventistchurch@gmail.com) if you have specific prayer requests. The Prayer Ministry team is active and cares about your needs—let us know!

______________________________

 

 

 

“Sometimes the day seems long, 

Our trials hard to bear.

We’re tempted to complain,

To murmur and despair.

But Christ will soon appear

To catch His bride away!

All tears forever over

In God’s eternal day!”

 

 “Therefore we do not lose heart  . . . .

We look not at the things which are seen, 

but at the things which are not seen;

for the things which are seen are temporal, 

but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18

 

“It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.”

 

Stand up for Jesus, and never turn back,

 

Verlyn