Milton Keynes Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated its Communication Day on Sabbath, May 4, 2024, themed "Plug in," focusing on deepening spiritual connections and enhancing church communication. The event featured Dr Sorin Petrof, the South England Conference (SEC) Communication and Media Director, as the guest speaker. The day also highlighted the essential role of the local church communication and media team in boosting engagement with the community and ensuring that all members, both onsite and online, are kept informed about church activities and spiritual messages.
To highlight the focus of Communication Day, the church platform was artistically decorated with a backdrop of newspapers. During the Sabbath School, Petrof held a training session on the SEC Communication and Media Guide – a resource produced by his department to improve local church outreach and engagement through effective communication.
He also took the opportunity to commend Milton Keynes Communication and Media leader Mike Ncube and Vivian Igenewari, alonsidse the rest of the team Zanette Roberts, Wadzanai Muruza, Amma Dompreh, Pamnigey Igenewari, and Kaia Sherriff for their dedication. The session emphasised the importance of intentional spiritual engagement through clear and compassionate communication as a cornerstone of successful ministry and community building.
In his sermon titled "Touching the Divine," Petrof drew a parallel between the biblical account of the woman who touched Jesus' garment to be healed, and the modern believer’s need for direct spiritual engagement, blending theological insights with practical guidance.
He challenged the congregation to consider their own spiritual connectivity, asking, "Why are we here? To press around Jesus or to connect with Him in a meaningful way?" He proposed viewing the brain as a "radio receiver," capable of tuning into divine transmissions, suggesting that spiritual experiences originate from an external, divine source.
Petrof stressed the importance of intentional and direct spiritual connections, akin to the woman's efforts to overcome barriers and reach out to touch the divine. He encouraged the congregation to actively seek personal encounters with God, bypassing passive rituals for a dynamic faith that actively engages with divine power.
"Plugging in is not just about being in the vicinity of Jesus; it’s about actively reaching out to connect with Him, just as the woman reached out to touch His garment," Petrof stated, underlining the sermon’s core message of active faith and personal initiative. Concluding, he invited the congregation to reach out in faith to actively 'plug in' to Jesus and experience the "meaningful and intentional connection that brings us to life."
