It's possible says Don Gladden

When Sabbath School began at 9:30 a.m. in Coquille, Oregon, only four or five members would be present. That was prior to November 2000.

In November 2000 a church member had an idea that he presented to the church board: Show 30 minutes of an educational video or DVD, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Immediately after the first announcement in the church bulletin, 21 people were in the pews at 9:00 a.m. Attendance has continued drawing 24-27 people each week, including non-Adventists who stay for Sabbath School and the morning church service.

One member explained the phenomenon, “People are learning at 9:00 a.m. things that they don’t have the time, format, or resources for otherwise.”

Here is a short list of some of the providers and resources we have used since November 2005:

• Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN), television—1-800-752-3226. The Focus on the Family video Norman is available through 3ABN.

• LLT Productions—P.O. Box 205, Angwin, CA 94508; Web site: www.lltproductions.org; e-mail address: llt@fcs.net. Phone: 707-962-2786l; Fax: 707-965-2796. Order toll-free (United States only): 1-800-558-4478. We have used the The Seventh Day series narrated by Hal Holbrook.

• Adventist Book Center—The Conscientious Objector (Desmond Doss).

• Native New Day—3556 Liberty Ave., Springdale, AZ 727621; 800-522-4234. Videos by Monte Church, director of work in North America, an excellent series targeting North American Indians, but great for everyone.

• Amazing Fact—Post Office Box 1058, Roseville, CA; 95678-8058; 1-800-538-7275

• Amazing Discoveries—Post Office Box 4480, Blaine, WA 98231-4480; 1-866-572-9457. Series on creationism, by Dr. Walter Veith. Series on music as it relates to the Christian and the Bible, by Brian Neumann.

• LMN Publications—1-800-245-1844. LMN Publishing has the most economical videos produced at their facility, including a very interesting series with Nicu Butoi (now pastor of the Romanian SDA church in Loma Linda). His film Busted for Bibles was our first film.

• Adventist Frontier Missions—Post Office Box 346, Berrien Springs, MI 49103-0346.

• Adventist Development and Relief (ADRA)—1-800-424-ADRA; 1-800-931-2372.

• Gospel Outreach—Post Office Box 8, Walla Walla, WA 99324; 509-525-2951.

• Office of Global Missions—12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD, 20904-6600; 301-680-6000 or 6628.

• Exploration Videos—1-800-964-0439. Exodus Revisited, a video showing actual underwater scenes of the coral-encrusted debris of Pharaoh’s chariots in the Gulf of Aqaba.

When the idea was first presented for a vote, Mike McSherry expressed his belief that people would not come to church at 9:00 a.m. After all, they couldn’t get them there at 9:30. Now he operates the controls in the sound booth and is one of the most enthusiastic proponents of this pre-Sabbath School program.

Don Gladden is pastor for the Coquille, Oregon,church.