God’s revelation of Himself came through a series of covenants between Himself and different persons and groups of people through the ages. When Jesus came and died, a New Covenant was inaugurated which included a new law and a new priesthood.
Join us as we walk through the role of the covenants and their accompanying laws, and how they apply to us as followers of Jesus Christ. Because of the increasing emphasis on Sabbath and Sabbath keeping within Christianity, we will focus on the question: Does the Sabbath in any form continue into the New Covenant age that we are living in currently? Does it involve a New Covenant Sabbath? If so, is there a specific day involved? What does it mean when we “rest in Christ”? How does the rest in Hebrews relate to the Sabbath? Why do Christians usually go to church on Sunday? These questions and more will be addressed.
We are looking forward to seeing you in person at the twentieth annual Southern California Former Adventist Fellowship Conference, “Sabbath In Christ”. Dale Ratzlaff’s book Sabbath In Christ will be gifted to each conference attendee.
Our venue is intimate. You will not be lost in a crowd and there will be many opportunities to fellowship and grow new friendships. Because of our limited size, there is only room for 100 attendees.
SPEAKERS
Schedule
Friday, February 14, 2025
REGISTRATION | 8:30–9:30 AM
SESSION 1 | 9:30 AM
Worship Singing
Faith Story
“SABBATH IN CREATION” | GARY INRIG
The beginning of everything is the creation story, and many sabbatarians look to this story as their foundational evidence of a physical, time-based Sabbath rest. Gary will teach the biblical evidence of what really occurred on the “seventh day” of creation.
SESSION 2 | 11:00 AM BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Sessions on current issues and a Q&A
JIM BABER, CAREL STEVENSON, NIKKI STEVENSON, COLLEEN TINKER, RICHARD TINKER
LUNCH (Provided)
SESSION 3 | 1:00 PM
Worship Singing
Faith Story
“SABBATH IN THE LAW” | KASPARS OZOLINS
The Sabbath has its foundation in law. Who gave the law and who received it? More importantly, what was the function and purpose of the Sabbath in the old covenant? Kaspars will answer these and also touch on the new covenant Sabbath rest. Is it the Lord’s Day?
SESSION 4 | 2:30 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Sessions on current issues and a Q&A
(Register to receive Zoom link)
JIM BABER, CAREL STEVENSON, NIKKI STEVENSON, COLLEEN TINKER, RICHARD TINKER
SESSION 5 | 4:00 PM
“SABBATH IN ADVENTISM” | MARTIN CAREY
The Sabbath and Adventism are permanently joined. Martin will show how Adventism chose to keep Saturday as the Sabbath and will survey early Adventist writers who reveal details of that story, including Canright, Bates, and the Adventist prophet, Ellen G. White. Does Adventism’s sabbatarianism fit the Galatian heresy?
DINNER (Provided)
SESSION 6 | 6:30 PM
Worship Singing
“Title Coming” | PAUL CARDEN
“Adventism in Evangelical Centers” | KASPARS OZOLINS
Q & A: Kaspars, Jim, Martin, Colleen, Nikki, Richard
Saturday, February 15, 2025
REGISTRATION | 8:30–9:30 AM
SESSION 7 | 9:30 AM
Worship Singing
Faith Story
“Sabbath and The New Priesthood” | JIM BABER
Jim will show how the Bible teaches that Christians are under a new priesthood, not the old covenant priesthood of the law. How does this biblical teaching impact Sabbath keeping? Jim will also contrast Adventist teaching with the Bible concerning the priesthood.
SESSION 8 | 11:00 AM
“Sabbath in CHRIST” | COLLEEN TINKER
Colleen will discuss what Sabbath in Christ is for the believer. She will show how the “natures” (nature of man, sin, death, God, and Jesus) reveal the true Sabbath rest—one that cannot be understood in an Adventist worldview.
LUNCH (Provided)
SESSION 9 | 1:00 PM
Worship Singing
Faith Story
“Sabbath in Other Christian Traditions” | KASPARS OZOLINS
Kaspars will do a survey of current Christian doctrines and teachings on the Sabbath, and give a historical review on the sources of these traditions beginning with the apostles and the early church fathers, and moving through Constantine, Catholicism, the Reformation, and the modern teaching of Sabbath keeping as a spiritual discipline.
SESSION 10 | 2:30 PM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Sessions on current issues and a Q&A
JIM BABER, CAREL STEVENSON, NIKKI STEVENSON, COLLEEN TINKER, RICHARD TINKER
SESSION 11 | 4:00 PM
Former Adventist Podcast—Live! | NIKKI AND COLLEEN
“Sabbath Questions Answered”
DINNER (Provided)
SESSION 12 | 6:00 PM
Worship Singing
Your Testimonies: RICHARD TINKER
Closing Song: “In Christ Alone” KASPARS/ROY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2025
CHURCH | 9:30 AM
Worship Singing
Sermon | GARY INRIG
BREAK | 11:00 AM –12:00 PM
FELLOWSHIP LUNCH | 12:00–4:00 PM
Hosted at local home (map will be provided)
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