Jesus declares that He is the vine, we are the branches, and God is the gardener. The book of Proverbs compares the fruit of the righteous to a tree of life. And Revelation depicts the tree of life growing beside a river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit—its leaves for the healing of the nations. In the lush, citrus-scented landscape of the Sunshine State, these metaphors from nature are particularly apt. The Bible promises that people who work together, connected to Christ and nurtured by God, will produce fruit. This is just what the more than 57,000* members of the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists seek to do. And this is why the Florida Conference exists—to help individual members and congregations accomplish more than they could achieve on their own.
We have prepared this information to provide a better understanding of what this means, and explain some of the privileges we share. Whether you're a newcomer to the Seventh-day Adventist Church or a longtime member who recently moved to Florida, we're pleased that your path has brought you here. We welcome you into our family, and invite you to share in our blessings. Note: Scripture throughout this new member resource is quoted from various translations including the New International Version, the New Revised Standard Version, the New American Standard Bible, and the New King James Version. * The Seventh-day Adventist Church is global, with more than 15 million members worldwide. |
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Introduction Worship and Fellowship Beyond Your Local Church |
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
—John 15:5
