Resignation Pt. 2

May 29,2011

Dear Colleagues in Ministry:

Life and ministry sometimes brings us great pain and sorrow. This is one of those times.  Dr. Samuel Pipim who has been used by the Lord to pioneer Secular Campus Ministry has given the Michigan Conference Executive Committee (MCEC) his resignation. It has been accepted and voted. Please see his resignation letter and subsequent message attached to this email.

Here is the time line.

Monday, May 23, 2011 – I received a call from Dr. Pipim Monday afternoon telling me that he was resigning from Michigan Conference and the ministry. This was the first time I had heard of this situation.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 – This was the regular May meeting for the MCEC. Before the meeting I received Dr. Pipim’s written resignation.  The resignation was accepted and voted at the end of our meeting.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011 – I, along with the Conference Secretary, was traveling and occupied for the day with the Camp Au Sable Administration Committee.

Thursday, May 26, 2011 – The officers called a meeting of key CAMPUS leaders to discuss the process of releasing the information. We were concerned about making sure those closest to Dr. Pipim would be able to process and adjust to the information before it was released publicly. In addition, there were some complications due to travel. We agreed to release the information no later than midday EDT on Sunday, May 29, 2011. We hoped by then to have his close friends and students contacted and encouraged. Please read the releases. They speak for themselves.

Sunday, May 29, 2011 – In the morning I was at Great Lakes Adventist Academy graduation.  We finished pulling the material together and prepared it for release by mid-afternoon.

We are in a Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. The war, both visible and invisible, is intense and severe.  We must, in the words of Jesus, “watch and pray”.  Nevertheless, when God’s law is broken there is still a Mercy Seat – the Throne of Grace for which we are grateful. It is not the throne of indulgence but it is a Throne of Grace for every believing sinner.

It was there that David, Peter and Paul found grace. His grace is not a mere trickle or a narrow tiny river but rather deep and wide – like the ocean it cannot be measured. When a brother or sister falls, they need His grace. They also need our prayers, our hands, and our love. Though their failure fills us with grief and sorrow we will not weaken our faith with doubt, but strengthen it with the promises of His Word.

For the mighty Lord we serve is not weak or powerless when His children face even the most sophisticated temptations of the enemy. But He is mighty in battle. He can save, restore, transform and cleanse. Our weakness in Him can become strong. Yet, in his love for us He would spare us the bitterness of falling and the consequences of yielding to temptation. That is why we are assured that He is not only able to forgive and heal but also “is able to keep us from falling.” It is because of His power to both forgive our sins and heal our sinfulness that He can assure us that He is “able to present us faultless before the Throne of God.” What grace, what wisdom, what compassion, what power!  What a Savior!

Let us remember that the work of the gospel message is never built around one person no matter how much light and influence they have exhibited for truth.  Our message is built on the Rock Christ Jesus. He is the message. He is the Way, the Truth and the Light. He is the essence of all we hope for and is the Author of both law and grace.  Our Messiah, Jesus Christ, is our real leader. He is not a symbol or a figurehead. He is the real leader in every way. His teachings are life. He is our life. So, in spite of disappointment, let us not take our eyes off of Him. Let us not be afraid. But in face of failure let us recommit ourselves to watch and pray. Now is the time to press onward and upward. “Nothing can be done against the truth except for the truth.” “We have nothing to fear as long as we do not forget how the Lord has led us in the past.” Let us be strong and of good courage for He who leads us is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Yours in Christ:
Elder Jay Gallimore
President
Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventist