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President:
Rev. Dr. Dale Thorngate
88 Terrace Ave.
Salem WV 26426
U.S.A.
Phone:
+1 304 782 1727
E-mail:
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Dear Friends,
I was honored at the August 2008 Session of the World Federation to be elected President for the next five years. I look forward to working with the new General Secretary, Jan Lek of the Netherlands, and the regional vice presidents around the world. It will be a joy to plan for the program of the next sessions scheduled to be held in Cebu City in The Philippines in 2013.
I am also pleased to have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of our past President, Rev. Joe Samuels. He has been involved with the World Federation since its beginning at the CoWoCo meetings in Salem, West Virginia in 1964 when he was a delegate of the Jamaica Conference. Our reflection on those origins as we honored him in July reminded us that this organization is nearly 45 years old and that all those serving in its leadership positions do so on a voluntary basis while also serving as pastors or officers in their respective national conferences.
My own involvement with the Federation began as an observer at the 1978 sessions. Rev. Alton L. Wheeler was completing his long term as the first General Secretary of the Federation and Dr. K. Duane Hurley’s term was beginning. Both served in that role at the same time they served as executive for the USA & Canada Conference. The two offices were tied together for many years. Thus, my 22 years a General Secretary for the Federation, from 1981 to 2003, also began when I accepted the position as Executive Secretary for the USA & Canada Conference but continued when I returned to pastoral ministry in the Salem, West Virginia SDB Church where I continue to serve as pastor.
The Federation sessions, prior to 1992, had always been hosted in the USA, in proximity to and connected to the USA & Canada Conference sessions. In 1992 the first sessions to be held outside the US were hosted in New Zealand. Things went so well for that session that the next session was hosted in Jamaica in 1997 and then in Brazil in 2003. At the Brazil Session, delegates accepted the invitation of the USA & Canada conference to host the 2008 sessions. We have just experienced again the excitement and encouragement of meeting to share and to plan for ways to support each other in our Christian work. Moving our meetings so that more members can be involved strengthens our resolve to be equal partners in God’s work.
Now, as we plan to meet in Asia five years from now, we are all much aware of the fear and turmoil in our world. Economic crisis and negative predictions could discourage us. Jesus, as recorded in Matthew’s gospel, told his disciples, “Do not worry.” Then came the challenge: “Seek first his [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” It seems to me a necessary message for our time. May God bless us as we seek Him and minister to expand God’s kingdom around the world.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Dr. Dale D. Thorngate, President
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