It was a warm evening in May of 1995 when a group of 30 of us, along with our pastor, met in the basement of an elder's home. This was a very important meeting, to decide a major issue. Do we leave our church association or not? And if so, what do we do?

Of course there was no doubt that all of us at that meeting had had enough of the changing of doctrines that left us with a crisis of conscience. We had to take action and do something.

When the question was asked if we should leave the church that essentially left us, all hands went up with a resounding "yes!" Why? Because we remembered our roots. We went back to the trunk of the tree, to where all of us had started, grounded in God's Word. Why? Because God said in Numbers 15:40: "Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God" (New International Version throughout).

Many decisions were made that night. The one thing that stood out in my mind that evening was humility. We had nothing as a group of people to start out with: No meeting place, no podium, no sound system...

All we had was each other and the determination to make it work and meet in a place were we could worship God in spirit and truth. We were willing to bring our own chairs to sit in just so we could meet together.

Why did we feel this way? Because Psalm 78:35 says, "They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer." Psalm 103:18 adds that God is "with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts." The desire to do this was much greater than the desire to remain in a church that had abolished God's laws.

United's First Pentecost

Pentecost was our first service with United. It was an emotional time for us. We were very sad that we had to leave friends and family members behind, but we were also happy that we could join others who remembered their roots, which were based on God's laws. The next Sabbath we met in a small conference room in a hotel. The first song we sang together was, "Oh, How Love I Thy Law!" How many times had I sung that song before, but it seemed as if I were singing it for the first time and with great emotion.

I remember how people came out of the woodwork to serve with humility. Whatever needed to be done was done. People surprised me with their talents, which I never knew they had! Feast sites were put together in a matter of a few weeks, and some of the people involved had no previous experience.

Overwhelming Feast

The first Feast with United was overwhelming! At Jekyll Island, every sermon was met with applause. We were hearing sermons that were no longer allowed in our former association—sermons about the world tomorrow and its great meaning. The first Good News, published with the truth of God, was handed out at the few Feast sites that we had. We were on our way to restoring the truth of God! It was a joy to run into people at the Feast that you knew and to share the excitement of remembering our roots and remaining true to God's truth.

Mighty Blessings

It has now been 10 years since that first Pentecost service with United. God has blessed us mightily. We have a beautiful home office building, more than 40 international Feast sites, 11 U.S. Feast sites, Ambassador Bible Center, 31 booklets, World News and Prophecy, United News, Vertical Thought youth magazine, six official Web sites, a Bible Study Course, eight United Youth Camps, 217 congregations throughout the United States, more than 150 congregations, Bible studies and audio and video groups in 45 international countries, ministers to serve all of those churches and more.

We have come a long way from 1995. God was truly compassionate to us and has given us much. In Psalm 111:4 it says, "He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate." He truly has been compassionate to us as a people and a church.

As God has given us all these blessings, can we forget and lose that excitement that we had in the beginning? Can we begin to become unthankful, demanding complainers?

We must not lose sight of our beginnings. We must remember the humility that we had in 1995. In Psalm 143:5 David says, "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done." We must go back from time to time and reflect on all that God has done for us with gratitude and thanksgiving, not only as a church, but as individuals.

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering (Hebrews 10:32). Did we stand our ground in 1995? You bet! But it was God who helped us and blessed us. Hebrews 11 is a chapter about faith and about remembering all that God did for our fathers before us.

Be Careful Not to Forget

We must remember and be grateful for all the good that God has done for us. In Deuteronomy 8:11-14 Moses warned the children of Israel: "Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

Like the ancient Israelites, we all have stories to tell of our coming out of "Egypt," of how God delivered us and blessed us mightily. It is good to look back and remember lest we become haughty, proud, boasters, demanding and unthankful. Let us all remember and give God thanks for all that He has done for us! UN