2019 Spring Issue

• • • OFFICE FOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE MINISTRY IN NORTH AMERICA • • •

SPRING 2019 https://adventistregionalministries.org

USM OFFICERS 2018-2019 — 2019-2020

OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT POLLARD SHARES PERSPECTIVES STUDENT LEADERS HEAR GOD’S CALL • WE HONOR GREAT LEADERS

PUBLISHER’S COMMENTARY

Dana C. Edmond

But Oakwood is special; not perfect, but special.

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Don’t Forget // “NO ONE SINGS LIKE OAKWOOD. NO ONE PRAYS LIKE OAKWOOD. NO ONE PREACHES LIKE OAKWOOD.”

still remember the first time I visited Oakwood. I was a senior at what was then Mount Vernon Academy, a now-closed boarding academy in central Ohio. My father had arranged to come down from Cleveland—where we lived at the time—to take me and a couple of my classmates to Oakwood College Days.

I had never been that far South before and the prospect of going on a trip that far away, and, going to Oakwood, a place that I had often heard about but had never seen, held an almost magical appeal.

I still remember that visit and the visit back to Oakwood a month later to pick up my sister after her graduation (College Days occurred in the spring back in the day). My graduation from academy and my sister’s graduation from Oakwood occurred the same weekend; my mother went to my sister’s graduation and my father attended mine.

After my graduation, my father pointed his station wagon (that was before the days of minivans and SUVs) south toward Huntsville to pick up my mother and sister. I had just gotten what was then called a “permit license” a few months earlier. That allowed you to drive as long as there was a licensed driver in the front seat with you. My father allowed me to share some of the driving duties with him. Other than the excitement of driving, the next most exciting thing was a second trip to Oakwood. To me, it was a special place.

Of course, truth be told, my genuine feelings that Oakwood was special did not immediately cause me to enroll. Despite my parents’ entreaties, the year after my graduation, I spent the only year that I ever spent in public school as a freshman at Cleveland State University.

But I still remember the words of my best friend—a fellow by the name of Mark Ammons—who was doing what I should have been doing: attending Oakwood. He said, “No one sings like Oakwood. No one prays like Oakwood. No one preaches like Oakwood.” He was right. It is a special place.

That is not to say anything negative about any other Adventist educational entity.

They are all God’s schools. I know that not everyone believes that anymore, but I do.

After being involved for many years as a board member of church-operated schools on the church school, academy and university level and seeing how much time, energy and especially, money, that it takes to operate Seventh-day Adventist schools, I see absolutely no reason at all to operate schools if they are not God’s schools designed to prepare His children for this life and the life to come. No other school system—no matter how well-equipped, staffed, etc.—is designed to prepare students for this life and the next (except for Seventh-day Adventist home schools).

But Oakwood is special; not perfect, but special. And I would suspect that sometimes our familiarity with Oakwood (as our familiarity with anything) can cause us to lose that sense of specialness. That can happen with anything.

I have been privileged for these past 30 years to hold various church departmental and administrative positions that require a good deal of travel (I know that there are those who feel as though people like me spend a lot of the church’s money traveling for the sake of traveling. For me, at least, one of the benefits of my job is the travel, but it comes at a price. I left home Friday afternoon and I won’t get back until Wednesday night. I’ll be home two days and I’ll leave again—all without my wife. I did not get married 40 years ago to be by myself as much as I have been these past 30 years!).

I still remember the first major trip I took as a conference official; it was to California. I was so

// excited. Thirty years and many trips later (I am writing this from another plane to California), I am not so excited. Familiarity can easily make some things not so special anymore.

It is possible that after all of the time spent on the hallowed grounds of Oakwood that those grounds can lose their “hallowed-ness.” Certainly it is possible that in dealing with the imperfect people connected with Oakwood—people who may not always respond to us in the way that we think they should or as quickly as we think they should—it can be easy to forget how special Oakwood is (and it is even easier to forget that we are imperfect, too).

But Oakwood is special. It is the premier black Seventh-day Adventist institution in the world. The church that shares its campus and its name, Oakwood University Church, just remitted the largest amount of tithe last year ($3.3 million) in the history of any Regional Conference Church (an amount larger than several Conferences in the North American Division).

Oakwood is a financially strong entity and nationally recognized school with an internationally recognized choir and a $50 million annual budget and tens of millions more in assets.

But that is not really what makes Oakwood special. Part of what makes it special is that when Oakwood was much smaller and less powerful and less well-known, it accepted a bunch of young people over the years, some of whom could not have gone to a lot of other places. And through the sacrifices of parents who gave all they had, to see that their children would have more than they had; through committed, caring faculty members and through the grace of God, Oakwood produced confident, capable, strong black professionals.

A nd here is another reason why Oakwood is special: A lot of us would not have the spouses that we have, the children that we have, the lifelong friends that we have, and most importantly, the salvation that through grace we shall have, if God had not led us to Oakwood. For a large number of us, coming to Oakwood helped us come to God. Oakwood is special.

Whether Oakwood continues to be what this next (and perhaps last) generation needs it to be—the same special place that it was for previous generations—isn’t up to previous generations. It’s up to us.

I wrote a letter to the Regional Conference leadership (whose leaders, incidentally, were largely birthed by Oakwood) after the death of Elder Fred Crowe. Elder Crowe was the first Regional Conference Treasurer and was the Treasurer when I was hired in South Central (I hasten to add those two events occurred 40 years apart!).

THE BIGGEST THREAT TO US COMES FROM US. IT’S OUR APATHY. OUR ATTITUDES. OUR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OUR OWN HISTORY.

I said that I would hate to see Elder Crowe and the other iconic black Adventist leaders of my youth (such as Elder Dudley, Elder Ward and Elder Cleveland) in the kingdom and have to tell them that the institutions that they built by the grace of God in some pretty difficult times was lost in relatively good times; that though they started Regional Conferences with a little over 200 churches and $511,000 in tithe, we could not maintain Regional Conferences (even though today we have more than 1,200 churches and nearly $200 million in tithe).

When I first was given the privilege of serving as a conference administrator, I used to sit in meetings and hear the veteran black administrators warn that the agenda of our white leaders was to end black institutions. And perhaps at one time it was.

But the years have passed and now God has mercifully allowed me to become a veteran church administrator. Today, I recognize that the greatest threat to black institutions is not “them”—it’s us.

It’s our apathy. Our attitudes. Our lack of knowledge about our own history. Some of us have the tendency to feel that the way to solve whatever problems we have in our institutions is to leave them and go to institutions of the majority culture. The biggest threat to us comes from us.

Our biggest threat is forgetting who we are, forgetting how very far the Lord has brought us and forgetting that Oakwood has played a major role in helping us—individually and collectively— to get where we are.

Oakwood still is a special place. We cannot ever forget that. t Dana C. Edmond, Director Office for Regional Conference Ministry

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c ont ent s Published by the Office for Regional Conference Ministry in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists 7000 Adventist Boulevard Huntsville, Alabama 35896 Telephone (256) 830-5002 https://adventistregionalministries.org PUBLISHER DANA C. EDMOND EDITOR KYNA HINSON ASSOCIATE EDITOR BRYANT TAYLOR ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER HOWARD I. BULLARD COPY EDITOR CLARISE J. NIXON CONSULTANTS PHYLLIS WARE LEE, ELAINE ALLSTON, SHAYLA-RENÉ LITTLE EDITORIAL For all correspondence and letters to the editors, write: OFFICE FOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE MINISTRY 7000 Adventist Boulevard Huntsville, Alabama 35896 or fax to (256) 830-5078 We reserve the right to publish and edit your submissions and letters.

REGIONAL CONFERENCE OFFICES ALLEGHENY EAST CONFERENCE HENRY J. FORDHAM III, PRESIDENT LaTasha Hewitt, Communications Director P.O. Box 266 Pine Forge, PA 19548 (610) 326-4610. www.myalleghenyeast.org ALLEGHENY WEST CONFERENCE WILLIAM COX, PRESIDENT Bryant L. Smith, Communications Director 1080 Kingsmill Pkwy. Columbus, OH 43229 (614) 252-5271. www.awconf.org CENTRAL STATES CONFERENCE ROGER BERNARD, PRESIDENT Brittany Winkfield, Communications Director 3301 Parallel Parkway Kansas City, KS 66104 (913) 371-1071. www.central-states.org LAKE REGION CONFERENCE R. CLIFFORD JONES, PRESIDENT Paul Young, Communications Director 8517 South State Street Chicago, IL 60619 (773) 846-2661. www.lakeregionsda.org NORTHEASTERN CONFERENCE DANIEL LAMARTINE HONORÉ, PRESIDENT JeNean A. Lendor, Communications Director 115-50 Merrick Blvd.

Jamaica, NY 11434 (718) 291-8006. www.northeastern.org SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WILLIAM L. WINSTON, PRESIDENT Carl McRoy Communications Director 3978 Memorial Drive Decatur, GA 30032 (404) 792-0535. www.southatlantic.org SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE BENJAMIN JONES, PRESIDENT Roger Wade, Communications Director 715 Youngs Lane Nashville, TN 37207 (615) 226-6500. www.scc-adventist.org SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE GREGORY O. MACK, PRESIDENT Christopher C. Thompson, Communications Director 1701 Robie Avenue Mt. Dora, FL 32757 (352) 735-3142. www.secsda.org SOUTHWEST REGION CONFERENCE CALVIN WATKINS, PRESIDENT Taryan Ramsarran, Communications Director 2215 Lanark Avenue Dallas, TX 75203 (214) 943-4491. www.southwestregion. adventistchurchconnect.org 2018 REGIONAL DIRECTORS/ COORDINATORS ROSTER Virgil Childs, Director Regional Ministries Pacific Union Conference 2686 Townsgate Road Westlake Village, CA 91361 (805) 413-7100. www.puconline.org Cell: 909-225-6438 Kingsley Palmer, Vice President African American Dept. Arizona Conference Cell: 775-338-0858 | genx58@gmail.com Frederick Anderson, Coordinator African American Ministries | Central California Conference (831) 262-3838 | famar@sbcglobal.net O’Neil Madden, Coordinator African American Dept. | Nevada-Utah Conference Cell 702-875-5979 | pastoromadden@aol.com Byron Dulan, Vice President North Pacific Union Conference 5709 N. 20th Street Ridgefield, WA 98642 (360) 857-7000. www.npuc.org Dr. George King, V.P. Black Ministries Southeastern California Conference (909) 202-0147 | kinggm@seccsda.org Royal Harrison, Director G.L.A.R. | Southern California Conference |(503) REGIONAL VOICE | SPRING 2019 819-1498 | hroyal2@yahoo.com

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4PUBLISHER’S COMMENTARY

14 NAD NEWS

8A PRESIDENT ON LEADERSHIP

15 REGIONAL NEWS

Don’t Forget Many of us are familiar with Oakwood University. Our Publisher reminds us not to allow the familiarity we may share to lessen our regard for those hallowed grounds.

By Dana C. Edmond

Oakwood University President Leslie Pollard shares insights. “Anyone working in higher education knows that ours is a work in continual progress. Many of the goals that I wanted, and that we as an institution have set, have been achieved, but they are still works in progress.”

Interview Conducted by Kenn Dixon

13 NEWS FLASH

Three young musicians arranged their way to 2019 Grammy awards. Two of them, Mark Kibble and Justin Wilson, are Seventh-day Adventists and Oakwood University graduates.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY TEYMI TOWNSEND

In Transition – Dr. Dedrick Blue, former Dean of the Oakwood University School of Religion, leaves solid achievements and anticipates meeting more challenges in 21st century ministry.

Reported by Dr. Ramona Hyman

Northeastern Conference Elder Robert Chandler is named Treasurer of Northeastern Conference.

Reported by Jill Edmond

16, 17, 32 & 34 IN MEMORIAM

The lives we honor in these pages cover a wide range of service. Elder Roscoe J. Howard and Elder Ralph Hairston offered full terms as Adventist church administrators. Mr. Duran Bryan and Mr. Chavar Lewis, both young husbands and fathers, poured multiple lifetimes of contributions into the North Jamaica Conference before their tragic deaths. Mr. Allen Foster shared his beautiful gifts as a musician and composer, pointing us all to eternity.

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16 18 PELC HONOREES

There are pastors, educators and administrators among this group, who have served with distinction.

Text by JeNean Lendor and Photography by Neville Lendor

20 PELC REPORT

PELC REPORT The central message of the 2018 conference: To make men and women W.H.O.L.E. Read the first-hand accounts in this full report.

Text and Photography by LaTasha Hewitt

24 NATIONAL NEWS

Kia Motors of America offers a range of incentives to all college scholars within one semester before and up to one year after graduation. The corporation also partners with the United Negro College Fund to offer other scholarships.

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Officers in the United Student Movement

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and the students they represent made sure brothers and sisters at their sister school, Alabama A&M University, were cared for after a residence hall fire.

and Morehouse College, were ready for action and service.

Coverage Coordinator James Lamb

30 REGIONAL INTERN REPORT

40 OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY NEWS

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44 The Approach of David,

Many Regional Conferences are offering professional internships for 2019. Here’s the master list.

Compiled by Chavvah J. Lister

REGIONAL NEWS

Central States Conference

This Denver health ministry takes screenings where the people are—in barbershops and beauty salons.

By Byron Conner, M.D., and Alfredia Conner, R.N. Coverage Coordinator Brittany Winkfield

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South Atlantic Conference When the U.S. Government was shut down for the longest period in history, the Berean SDA Church Community Services Center and partners Kaiser Permanente

“Any Word from The LORD?” The Third Annual Reaves-Warren Lectureship on Preaching to Convene.

Coverage Coordinator Dr. Mervyn Warren

Part 1— The Absurdity of Christianity Are you really a Christian? Three scholars offer some challenges directly from Jesus.

By Clarise J. Nixon, Paul Nixon and John Nixon II

48 HOPE SERIES

Tragic Death Brings Advent of Regional Conferences Mrs. Lucy Byard made the ultimate sacrifice. As only He could, God turned what was extremely bad to great good.

By Dana C. Edmond

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A PRESIDENT ON LEADERSHIP Interview of Dr. Leslie N. Pollard

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ince 2011, his vision for revenue diversification and industry recovery, online education, graduate programs, campus wellness, community engagement, research scholarship, and the assessment of campus spirituality have significantly advanced the sustainability and the marketability of Oakwood University. Dr. Pollard is quick to point out that he has been blessed with an outstanding executive team who help drive the vision. With the construction of the 11,000 square foot Peters Media Center in 2015, $20 million of new construction and renovation completed across the campus, the anticipated building of an in-community Community Action Center, the Oakwood Farms Food-to-Table Eatery, and the Health and Wellness Center, we sat down to discuss leadership with the President of our Oakwood University.

Dr. Pollard, what is your overall reflection on leadership and its effectiveness?

First, I make a small but important distinction between leadership and management.

I believe that there is no organizational progress without visionary leadership because visionaries have the unique ability to read the present and to transport an organization into its desired future. Managers, on the other hand, spend important and needful energy and time creating a quality present. I’m not of the leadership school that believes that leadership is superior to management. In fact, I believe that they’re complementary necessities for organizational progress. When I did my MBA in leadership and organizational management, I concluded that the saying “managers do things right, leaders do the right things” is fairly accurate.

Second, on the effectiveness side of your question, effectiveness goes to the metrics of organizational accomplishments. Effectiveness is both a process and an outcome.

That’s why in modern leadership, metrics and measurement are important discussion points. As some like to say in leadership circles, “what gets measured gets done.” My colleagues at Oakwood know that I keep before us our ongoing need for data that does not control, but informs, our leadership decision-making. The more systematic and regular the acquisition of “decisionable” data, the more able we are to set more precise leadership targets for the University.

tt I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO ORGANIZATIONAL PROGRESS WITHOUT VISIONARY LEADERSHIP BECAUSE VISIONARIES HAVE THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO READ THE PRESENT AND TO TRANSPORT AN ORGANIZATION INTO ITS DESIRED FUTURE.

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As president of a Historically Black University, with the unique designation as being SDA as well, what are some of the biggest challenges with today’s climate of higher education?

I can immediately think of at least four of the challenges that HBCUs face in the current climate of higher education: 1) Tuition dependence—Many private HBCUs struggle because they are almost exclusively tuition driven. This is a very old and dated business model.

It can keep you in business, but always on extremely tight margins. However, the 21st-century demands a different business model in private, faithbased education. That’s why one of my earliest initiatives was to move toward a business model for the sustainability of Oakwood University. I was impressed immediately that, as an institution, Oakwood needed to pursue

DR. LESLIE POLLARD serves as the 11th President of Oakwood University, and is a visionary leader across the Regional work of North America, in the North American Division and in the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. In observing the initiatives launched under his administration, we invited him to talk about leadership.

During a time when many Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) have faltered academically and financially, Oakwood University has prospered in each of the last seven years. Since 2011, Oakwood University has ended each school year with a positive bottom line to its budget ranging from $1.5 million to $5.7 million.

The University endowment has doubled from $9 million to $18 million, performing in the 95th percentile of endowments under $50 million.

revenue diversification, which can help us keep our tuition costs in the reach of our constituencies. We could not rely almost exclusively on tuition and expect to innovate. This commitment explains why we have created business opportunities for our institution in the Huntsville community and beyond.

2) Increased competition from the online institutions—Another area of challenge in the modern climate of higher education is the online learning movement. The emergence of online institutions has sent shockwaves through higher education in the last 25 years. Many students in online programs are choosing convenience over the traditional brickand-mortar experience. That’s why we launched Oakwood Online University in the summer of 2014. I have been very clear about my vision for Oakwood taking its position in the online space. Having traveled to many countries, I would say that in the last five years, the most frequent question I have been asked by national and international audiences is, “Does Oakwood offer online degrees?”

In 2014, we began by offering classes.

And now I’m pleased that in 2018, we have been approved by our accreditation agency (SACSCOC) to offer grad-

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uate programs online. In 2019, we are adding, in addition to courses, complete online programs such as a Master’s degree in Business Administration, and the Master’s degree in Nutrition and Wellness for roll out in August of 2019.

3) Data competency— A third area of challenge in higher education that faces HBCUs and other faith-based institutions in our size category is the issue of data competency. Many HBCUs struggle with the consistent and detailed production of decisionable data. Everything from data warehousing, to administrative dashboarding, to the data needed to make daily decisions, data competency pushes modern institutions to their limits because of the cost of keeping up technologically. Many institutions have actually moved to outsourcing their technology management in the interest of maximizing efficiency and increasing their information readiness.

4) Accreditation readiness— One of the challenges that many of our HBCUs face is the maintenance of their accreditation status. This status is vital to doing business in the 21st-century. Anything that threatens accreditation represents a grave danger to HBCUs. Without accreditation, degrees conferred by the institution will not be transferable. Without accreditation, institutions cannot qualify for federal financial aid such as Title III and Title IV. What many don’t know is that without accreditation, Oakwood University would cease to be a member institution of the United Negro College Fund or a recognized HBCU. This is why at Oakwood we spend so much time working on and managing accreditation issues. I am grateful to be able to tell you that Oakwood University is fully accredited by SACSCOC, as well as the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA), and has succeeded in its numerous program accreditations for Social Work, Nursing, Education, and others.

What goals have you met (as president), and what are some goals that you may have failed to reach?

That’s an interesting question because anyone working in higher education knows that ours is a work in continual progress. Many of the goals that I wanted, and that we as an institution have set, have been achieved, but they are still works in

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WHAT MANY DON’T KNOW IS THAT WITHOUT ACCREDITATION, OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY WOULD CEASE TO BE A MEMBER INSTITUTION OF THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND OR A RECOGNIZED HBCU.

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progress. I really believed in 2011 it was important for the university to be able to tell its own story through the use of media. In 2011, we launched a campaign to create a media center. Thanks to the generosity of the Peters family, as well as other donors, we built the Leroy and Lois Peters Media Center. You should know that the Media Center has produced a dramatic increase in Oakwood storytelling in the modern age—online, on the monitors on campus, in graduation services, and during alumni weekend.

Another goal was 21st century industry recovery. When we launched the farm, we knew that the organic foods movement had forever changed the way families feel about food. Oakwood Farms’ food niche is Alabama produce that is locally grown and chemical free. While the creation of the farm has been overwhelmingly received, it is still a goal in progress. I am committed and determined that Oakwood University will be a fiscally sound institution, because our constituents deserve that. You look at the financial performance of Oakwood University across the last seven years—it is nothing short of miraculous. But it remains a work in progress. I can cite numerous examples, but I should refer readers to the website to review the President’s Report of 2018

at http://alturl.com/vfdvw.

As for the second part of your question, none of the initiatives have failed, but I think that we have failed sometimes to account for the time it takes to develop initiatives into mature programs in the academic environment. I came out of university healthcare administration in my previous role. In healthcare, things move more quickly because of the nature of the healthcare business. While the marketplace of liberal arts education requires urgency, the campus culture requires diligence and multiple reviews. I think I have sometimes not accounted for the time it takes to get initiatives to market. Sometimes, I have felt impatient with the delays. However, I have learned that my Oakwood colleagues in leadership also see the urgency of positioning Oakwood for the greatest possible effectiveness in the delivery of its mission. And in those moments, the campus colleagues have been wonderfully supportive because they realize that all leaders have strengths and weaknesses. I am grateful for the grace they have shown toward mine (LOL).

What is Oakwood University doing, or can be doing, to make students, faculty, and staff more successful?

I really like this question because I can

look back across my years here and see initiatives intended to make each of our core groups more successful.

Take, for example, our students. In 2011, we launched our LifeCore research initiative on student spiritual commitments, and we have expanded the research in 2013, 2015, and 2017. We have also trained 50 LifeCore student researchers to facilitate and make presentations during chapel. In 2016, we received the largest planning grant in the history of Oakwood University, the Career Pathways Gainful Employment for Minorities (CP-GEM). CP-GEM is entirely focused on student success— everything from matriculation, to student support, to retention, to advising, and to student placement beyond the University.

Regarding our staff, in 2014 we launched Oakwood Leadership Academy, and in 2016 we launched Oakwood Frontline Academy, intended to equip staff with the skills that would make them successful in their service. We also launched in 2017 the Presidents Staff Recognition awards that take place during the year.

Regarding faculty, faculty development has gone to new levels with the addition of a Vice-President for Faculty Development. Out of that function, we created the Faculty Development Summer Institute, our Lunch and Learn sessions, the annual Faculty Research Symposium, the Faculty Development Grant Program, and a number of other initiatives intended to benefit faculty. Much of this information is contained in the online President’s Report at http:// alturl.com/vfdvw.

What are some of the rules we (Oakwood University) should be breaking to be better?

Wow, that’s a great question. One of the rules we should be breaking is the rule of the concrete past—the belief that the practices of the past are the only pathway to the future. One of Oakwood’s seven Oakwood values is innovation. It says that we will break with the precedent of the past. This gets to be challenging

tt ONE OF THE VISIONS I HAVE FOR OAKWOOD IS THAT IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY NONDEPENDENT ON TUITION.

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to me and to the rest of our employees when we have to stop and ask ourselves if a time-cherished practice remains effective. Sometimes the shelf-life of a past practice has expired. So, the question becomes how we honor it, celebrate it, put a bow on it, and then move into a new future, which is what leaders should be about anyway. Remember, the domain of leadership is always the future—what we can do now that will ensure a better future.

What do we (Oakwood University) need to do today to pull the future toward us and reach the future before our competitors?

My, where did you get these tough questions from (LOL)? In order to pull the future toward us, we must be bold and courageous enough to commemorate the past without becoming entombed in it.

On one of our trips abroad, Prudence and I visited Egypt. While there, we toured the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the famous Hall of Mummies.

While there, we saw the most splendid sarcophagi ever created—mummies in golden caskets. I left there thinking, “But Tutankhamen’s golden casket is still a casket.”

One of the visions I have for Oakwood is that it would be completely non-dependent on tuition. Now this may happen in my lifetime, and it may not. But in order to make that future present, we are putting in place the structures and operations that will “bring it to pass.” And frankly, given our Seventh-day Adventist beliefs about the end time, how could we not want to create an institution that has returned to the blueprint of self-reliance? We anticipate a day when “we will be able to neither buy or sell.” So, to answer your question, leaders must see the future, strategize now, and build the bridges now that will transport us into that future.

This is what we’re doing at Oakwood.

Dr. Pollard, you have been frequently quoted as saying, “We will launch plans that are destined to fail, except God intervene.”

What does this statement mean to you?

It means to me that there is no leadership without taking chances. It means that we must embrace risk as a part of faith-based leadership. It means that at Oakwood we will stretch ourselves, knowing that a big God can pull off a big plan. As a freshman here at Oakwood, I learned in Elder C.T. Richards’ class a quote from Ellen G. White—“Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children.” Among other things, this means to me that if God is small enough to be managed, He is not big enough to be worshiped! While we must embrace risk as a part of faith-based leadership, we must trust God for the results. I personally have never had a leadership vision that I saw all the way clearly. When I dreamed of industry recovery, I could not see the way clearly, but I knew God had a clear way. And so, this year in 2019 as we are

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tt OUR $1.5 MILLION COMMUNITY ACTION CLINIC THAT’S COMING ON BOARD IN 2019 WILL GIVE OUR STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

Sodexo, they want to know where did we get these insights from regarding the eight laws of preventive health? “How did you all come to the STANDOUT acronym?” they asked. And on occasion when the setting is right, I have said to my secular friends who are working in the area of health, it was revealed to us.

I believe that Oakwood‘s strength in the future will be not because of the ingenuity, or even the capacity, of each leadership. It will be because Oakwood University has stayed true to the revelation that founded it.

breaking ground for the $2.5 million dollar “Oakwood Farm-to-Table Eatery,” we are trusting God and knowing that His providence is blessing our institution.

How, after 123 years, is Oakwood University still alive and promoting wellness to the world?

Oakwood is alive because there is a providential Presence in our history that has overshadowed this institution for 123 years. Our commitment to the lifestyle and teachings of our church have been nationally recognized. Recently with the launch of our Healthy Campus 2020 wellness initiative, we completed all 23 objectives of the Partnership for a Healthier America, shared by Mrs. Michelle Obama at the time. Our campus health and wellness program has been nationally awarded and recognized as one of the premier campus wellness initiatives in the country. I chuckle because it’s completely based upon the eight principles articulated by Mrs. Ellen G. White in the book Ministry of Healing. However, when we are standing on stage in Washington, DC, with companies like Mercedes Benz and

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What are some of the greatest and innovative things happening at Oakwood now and in the future?

Well, I’ve mentioned some of them already, but innovations like Healthy Campus 2020—a remarkable operationalization of the health message in the campus environment. Our $1.5 million dollar community action clinic that’s coming on board in 2019 which will give our students the opportunity to serve the underserved community of Huntsville, Alabama. Our planning for the Health and Wellness Center, the full development of online education, the Consortium of African Adventist Universities and Partners, and a list of other things are in the President’s Report. We are excited about the new hire of the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion, Isaac Ibarra, who represents the international reach of Oakwood, especially into our Latino communities. Our most recent trip to Cuba and the partnership with the Seminario Adventista in Cuba are all innovations.

The most recent gathering of 100 Latino pastors on Oakwood’s campus as guests at a University luncheon was one of the most exciting innovations as they learned about the value of an Oakwood education and what it can do to positively impact the Latino community. The way we are growing Grants and Contracts revenue is innovative. These and many more are outlined in the Presidents’ Report for those who want more information.

tt Aside from the educational motive, how does your vision/mission for Oakwood University change lives; how does this make the world a better place?

At the core of our mission, we educate students for generous service to God and humanity. Every time we send a student out into the world, we are impacting the world for kingdom purposes. When you look at the placement of our graduates and the work of our alumni, we know that the world is being changed because of their work. We have notable examples like Barry Black in the US Senate, or many of our performing artists who are working in the world of performance, while upholding the values of our faith and the institution. There are notable examples, whose name recognition is international. However, we should never forget those who work in spaces by serving communities while little known to national media but are impact players in their roles.

This is why Oakwood is such a dynamic force in our society. I wish sometimes our people could hear the tributes regarding Oakwood that I hear during the White House initiative on HBCUs, or in the halls of the Alabama legislature, or while in the US Senate, or in the city of Huntsville, or while in airports when TSA sees my Oakwood bag. We have an institution that has been blessed immeasurably. And I’m thankful to the thousands of alumni and graduates, of faculty and staff, and our students, who every day support Oakwood in their prayers, service, and in their giving. Oakwood is a blessed place.

And we will not rest until the world has been engulfed by the Oakwood embrace. t _________________________________ Kenn Dixon serves as the Integrated Marketing and Public Relations Director for Oakwood University.

NEWS

FLASH

t

2019 BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS “Spiderman Theme” — Mark Kibble, Randy Waldman and Justin Wilson, arrangers

GRAMMY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY ED KEANE ASSOCIATES

Musicians Mark Kibble, Randy Waldman and Justin Wilson, arrangers of the “Spiderman Theme,” took home the 2019 Grammy award for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals. Kibble and Wilson are both Oakwood graduates. As a member of the legendary acapella group Take Six, Kibble is not a newcomer to the Grammys. He is now the recipient of eight awards.

REGIONAL VOICE | SPRING 2019 |

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IN TRANSITION

DEDRICK BLUE

CONTINUES PASTORAL LEADERSHIP FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SDA CHURCH

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dirt farmer, a trash collector from rural Virginia” is how Dr. Dedrick Blue describes his grandfather. But he also says this man is why he is a Seventh-day Adventist minister. “My grandfather was the son of a slave.” Born in a little Virginia county called Goochland, “my granddaddy learned how to write his name—but that’s all. He never learned to read.”

Yet, this uneducated man inspired Blue’s autobiographical Christian narrative and his pastoral trajectory.

“My grandfather encountered an Adventist minister by the name of Herman Murphy who later became president of South Central Conference of Oakwood University Sevent h- day dvent ist s.

School of Religion APastor MurDean departs to phy told my expand ministry. g r a n d f at h e r about a school that educated the sons and daughters of formerly enslaved Blacks. He sent my mother to Oakwood.”

“He picked up trash and rags off the street to pay her tuition. My grandfather invested in my mother. He gave her the gift of a Christian education by sending her to Oakwood. As a result, my mother became a church school teacher.”

Dr. Dedrick Blue, the son of Ruth Blue, is anchored by his mother and grandfather. The Bible text that carries him is Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” “If you give God a chance to start the work, God will finish the work . . .We have to give God permission . . . Ultimately, God brings us in completion and fusion in Him.” Blue has indeed given God “permission.”

He continues to follow the call he heard God place on his life when he was in the second

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grade, although he traveled a thorny route to accept his calling from “acclaimed atheist (at twelve), then an agnostic, and a drug dealer, to a Black Muslim.” He changed his name from “Dedrick Blue to Dedrick X.” This son of a church school teacher finally gave his life to the Lord when he almost died after a drug overdose while a student at Boston University. In a state of “semi consciousness, his mother’s words came back to him: ‘Son you can always call on Jesus.’”

He “crawled out of the hospital.” On the street, he gave his life back to the Lord. Anchored in the Lord, he gave his heart to his wife of 36 years, Dr. Elfreda Victoria HinesBlue, who is professor of graduate Special Education at Hofstra University. They are the parents of three adult children and one grandchild.

He enjoys being a positive example; a man who affirms the value and importance of family.

Since the time he gave God permission to lead his life, he traced that leading to his entrance into Oakwood. There he found a nurturing environment with loving professors including Dr. Oliver Davis, his English professor. After graduating from Oakwood College, Blue continued his education, earning the Master of Divinity and the Doctor of Ministry degrees from Andrews University. He also has a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Hofstra University and holds several certifications, including Team Diversity. Blue is also the founder of the North Bronx Coalition for Social Justice, a ministry that is reclaiming people to rebuild communities. “The earthly kingdom must meet the needs of people in a relevant way,” he says. “We must be responsive to the needs around us.” He is on a mission for the Lord.

An untiring Christian servant-leader, Blue has served the Seventh-day Adventist church in the areas of pastoral ministry and educational and church leadership for more than 35 years. One of his leadership roles allowed Dr. Blue to mentor and prepare young people for ministry in the 21st century. As the Dean of the Oakwood University School of Reli-

gion, Dr. Blue developed the following graduate programs: Media Ministry (MA), Urban Ministry (MA), Latin American Ministry Concentration, and Clinical Pastoral Education.

Because of his grandfather’s wisdom and commitment to his daughter’s education, Dr. Dedrick Blue is a Christian pastor-leader who abides by a “clear moral compass” that drives him to step outside of what he calls the “cloister of Christian exclusivity.”

Understanding that “. . . we live in a world of global deconstructive change,” Blue is committed to reconstructing a “standard for good” in order to deliver God’s message, to “build the Kingdom of God.” t _________________________ Dr. Ramona L. Hyman is the Chair and Professor of English of the Department of English and Foreign Languages at Oakwood University. She speaks on the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 and is the author of the collection of poetry I Am Black America and In de’ Sanctuary of A South. Her essay on Ellen G. White is included in Jonathan Thompson’s The Enduring Legacy of Ellen G. White and Social Justice.

REGIONAL NEWS

ROBERT CHANDLER NAMED TREASURER FOR NORTHEASTERN CONFERENCE “…And Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.” 1 Kings 19:19

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he story of Elijah casting his mantle upon Elisha has been taught many times over the years with the emphasis often focusing on Elijah turning things over to Elisha. An important part of the narrative that is sometimes overlooked (at least from this writer’s perspective) is the preparation that Elisha had under the mentorship of Elijah prior to receiving the mantle.

Thinking about this classic Bible story provides the impetus for this biography of Elder Robert Chandler. Indeed, a mantle has been placed around his shoulders to continue leading Northeastern Conference forward. And like Elisha, he comes with preparation and mentorship.

Born in Trinidad, West Indies, he later moved to New York at age 11 where he attended and graduated from Greater New York Academy. He then graduated from Oakwood College receiving his BA in Business with a concentration in Accounting.

Elder Chandler spent the beginning of his years in the business world as a consultant doing private work and working for major businesses. However, in 2008 the market down-sized, which greatly affected the economy. “God removed everything from me and made me available to work for the church,” Elder Chandler states. He says it has been a positive experience ever since.

He began his church work in 2008 as a Senior Accountant in the New Jersey Conference and later advanced to the position of Associate Treasurer. From there, Elder

Chandler accepted a position as Associate Treasurer at South Central under Sonja Crayton, who he credits for preparing him to become Treasurer of Northeastern Conference.

Other mentors Elder Chandler spoke of who impacted his life were Seth Bardu, former Regional Conference and Union Treasurer, who mentored him in learning treasury procedures throughout the organization; and Leonel Pottinger, New Jersey Conference Ministerial Director, who gave guidance and mentorship in lay evangelism, teaching and preaching while he was in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

In Dallas, Texas, 22 years ago, Elder Chandler met and then married the former Rosemary Goldsborough. They have seven children (five adult children and two younger children), nine grand-children and two great-grands. Mrs. Chandler ho-

meschools their two younger children.

Re-locating to the northeast, Elder Chandler anticipates returning to a favorite hobby—photography.

When asked what he saw as his biggest challenge in his new position, Elder Chandler responded, “Recognizing that God has given me a big assignment and that requires a big character. I am in a position to take the mantle and be a fearless leader.” His foundation to help him in this new assignment is one of his favorite texts: “Jesus responded, I assure you that if you have faith and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree. You will even say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the lake.’ And it will happen. If you have faith, you will receive whatever you pray for.” Matthew 21:21, 22.

Like Elijah, Elisha received the mantle of God because he was prepared, mentored and willing to be used. He demonstrated the character needed to receive the mantle. Our prayers are with you, Elder Chandler, as you take on this mantle and carry forth the work in the Northeastern Conference. t ________________________ Mrs. Jill Robinson Edmond has worked as a church school teacher and college professor. She is married to Elder Dana C. Edmond, Director of the Office for Regional Conference Ministry (ORCM) and publisher of Regional Voice Magazine. Mrs. Edmond first completed this profile as a report for the ORCM Website. Elder and Mrs. Edmond have two adult children and four grandchildren.

REGIONAL VOICE | SPRING 2019 |

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IN MEMORIAM

ELDER ROSCOE J. HOWARD Former NAD Executive Secretary Passes to His Rest

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oscoe J. Howard, former North American Division (NAD) executive secretary, passed away in Apopka, Florida, on Jan. 21, 2019, after a struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Howard was working as vice president for Missions for Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth) when, in 2014, he was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function.

He was 64.

“Roscoe was shaped in a unique way by the hand of God to become the man and the instrument God would use in many varied and diverse ways,” said G. Alexander Bryant, NAD executive secretary. “Roscoe had a special blend of spirituality, intellect, articulation, humor, and laughter that was carefully woven into every assignment he undertook. God used education to shape and mold him to be the multi-faceted and diverse leader that he would become.”

Howard’s educational shaping started in elementary school in a humble community in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He then attended Auburn Academy in Washington, followed by Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, and then on to Oakwood College (now Oakwood University) in Huntsville, Alabama, for a short stint.

He earned a masters of divinity from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and a doctorate of ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

Howard began his ministry as the pastor of a two-church district in Oak Harbor, Washington. An African-American pastoring two Caucasian congregations was almost unheard of 40 years ago.

Then the Lord took Howard to pastor the largest African-American congregation

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in the Pacific Northwest, Emerald City Seventh-day Adventist Church, located in Seattle, Washington.

Though drastically different, Howard excelled in both of these diverse assignments, leading members into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and growing the congregations at the same time.

The North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) called him to the union to serve as the Youth director and vice president of Regional Affairs. As Howard served on various committees around the division and spoke on issues in an articulate, intellectual, and well thought-out manner, it didn’t take long for the recognition of his gifts to spill out beyond the borders of the NPUC. His next shaping came through the ministerial assignments that carried him from the west coast, across the country, to the east coast.

The Mid-America Union called Howard to serve as the executive secretary of its territory. As he continued to grow and demonstrate his administrative prowess, the NAD asked him to serve as the executive secretary for the division. Having served in this capacity for several years, the Mid-America Union Executive Committee took a surprising step and asked Howard to return to its field to serve as the president. Howard said yes.

Howard served as president of Mid-America Union for a relatively short period of time when he was asked by Adventist Health System, located in Orlando, Florida, to serve as vice president for Spiritual Wellness. He accepted that call late in December 2010, and served with distinction, dignity, and creativity until struck with ALS. Howard took on this disease as he did all of

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his assignments: with courage, faithfulness, and an unshakable trust in God. “Throughout Roscoe’s ministry and assignments, he never lost sight of what was important—and that was his family,” said Bryant. “He was always able to keep them as the top priority no matter what the assignment, and they were able to stay a tight knit unit throughout his ministry, his life, and until his death.”

Howard is survived by his wife, Osceola, and children, Heather and Seth. A memorial service was held on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, at the Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church in Apopka, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Oakwood University Alumni Association Greater Orlando Chapter at 3653 Rochelle Lane, Apopka, Florida 32712. t ____________________________________________ NAD Office of Communication, with G. Alexander Bryant

IN MEMORIAM

ELDER RALPH B. HAIRSTON, SR. A Life of Service

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alph B. Hairston was born on December 17, 1923, in Atlanta, Georgia, to the late Forest and Fannie Hairston. His mother died when he was two years old and his father raised seven children. He received his early education from Howard High School in Atlanta where he met Katherine. He would often walk her home from school as they became good friends. He also attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Los Angeles.

He was drafted into the United States Army in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1945. He served during World War II in battles and campaigns in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe where he survived several life-threatening attacks from the enemy. After surviving the attack in Central Europe, he made a promise and commitment to God. Sargent Ralph Hairston was a demolition expert. He received three bronze stars, an American Theater Ribbon and a World War II Victory Medal. It was during this time that he met his life-long friend Corporal Joe Hinson. The Great War ended, and the prayers of his family brought him safely home.

After his honorable discharge, he moved to Atlanta, where he stayed for five years.

He then moved to California to live with his cousin Jester Joseph Hairston (American composer and actor). During this time, God reminded him of his promise, and he fulfilled his commitment to God. He joined the Seventh-day Adventist church in August 1946, in Los Angeles, along with a friend from his youth, Leonard G. Newton. This is also where he met family friends E. C. Ward and Calvin Rock. As a result of his conversion, Hairston felt that God was leading him to attend Oakwood College.

Ralph entered Oakwood College in 1948 and graduated in 1951 with a B.A. degree in Theology. In 1949, while a student at Oak-

t wood, he married the love of his life, the former Katherine L. Latimore of Atlanta. Their union was blessed with five children, Ralph Jr., Anthony, Angelia, Teresa and Derrick. All five children also matriculated at Oakwood College. They are the proud grandparents of nine, and great-grandparents of fifteen.

After graduation from Oakwood College, Hairston was employed by the South Atlantic Conference. He pastored numerous churches in Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. He would travel to more than one church each Sabbath in order to minister to his congregations.

Elder Hairston conducted 30 evangelistic meetings across the conference, with more than 1,500 souls accepting Christ because of his preaching. After a few years of pastoring, he was motivated to attend Andrews University in 1970— with his wife and five children. Despite the challenge of attending school and taking care of his family, he graduated from Andrews with a Master of Divinity degree. With the pastoral experience he gained and good leadership qualities, he was elected Executive Secretary of South Atlantic Conference in 1972.

He served in this capacity until 1980, when he was elected President of the conference. On April 25, 1982, he was re-elected president and served until 1988. He served as president for more than seven years.

During his administration, South Atlantic Conference gained almost 10,000 new members; pastors baptized more than 1,000 souls every year for seven years; a total of 19 new church buildings were built or purchased; the conference acquired five HUD senior housing facilities—all still serving seniors today; the Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy was opened, and the River Oaks Campground

was purchased and developed in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Thirty pastors and interns were employed during the Hairston administration.

South Atlantic became the second largest conference in the Southern Union, the largest Regional Conference in the Southern Union, and under his leadership, became the second largest conference, black or white, in the nation out of 60 conferences.

Elder Hairston credited much of his success to his wife Katherine. At the time of his death in Atlanta, January 28, 2019, they had been married for 70 years. He will be remembered most by his family as a deeply spiritual man who loved God with all his heart and one who proclaimed that love until his last breath. t _________________________________________

Regional Voice Magazine expresses special thanks to the Hairston Family for this tribute.

REGIONAL VOICE | SPRING 2019 |

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PELC HONOREES

MEET THE 2018 PELC LIFETIME AWARD HONOREES TEX T BY JENEAN LENDOR P H OTO G R A P H Y BY N E V I L L E L EN D O R

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uring the annual Pastoral Evangelism Leadership Council (PELC) each December at Oakwood University, a special night is reserved to honor the outstanding achievements of church leaders and pastors who have exemplified Seventh-day Adventist leadership and commitment at its best. This year was no different as the award ceremony took place on Sunday, December 2, 2018. The honorees are

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selected by their respective conference presidents. This year the honorees included: Elder Lawrance Martin, Allegheny East Conference; Pastor Willis Reed, Northeastern Conference; Dr. Ella Simmons, General Conference; Pastor Melvin Preston, South Atlantic Conference; and Dr. Walter Douglas, Lake Region Conference.

Each honoree was allowed to give an acceptance speech and they all humbly thanked their families, conference col-

leagues and the PELC committee for the distinguished award. However, the words of Ella Simmons reached beyond the walls of the Oakwood University Church that night. Dr. Simmons eloquently recited excerpts from “I know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou, and “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes. Her sentiments not only spoke of her experience as a female leader in the Seventh-day Adventist church, but evoked poignant emo-

tions related to the current sentiment by some leaders regarding women in ministry today.

These special awards are not given just for the sake of having another program in the schedule. The service is a time when everyone from every level in church leadership, student to pastor to conference administrator, can see and take time to appreciate living Seventh-day Adventist Regional Conference history. It is our history—unique and distinct. But most of all it is ours.

We salute all of the honorees and celebrate their achievements in leadership. t __________________________________________________________________________ Joint coverage provided by Neville and JeNean Lendor. JeNean Lendor is Assistant to the President for Communications, Northeastern Conference.

REGIONAL VOICE | SPRING 2019 |

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PELC 2018 REPORT

PELC 2018: THAT YE MIGHT BE MADE WHOLE

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BY LATASH A HEW IT T

hat does it mean to be W.H.O.L.E? That’s the question 2018’s Pastoral Evangelism and Leadership Conference (PELC) sought to answer this year. It was suggested as a place where Worship, Home, Outreach, Leadership and Evangelism collide into a balanced pastoral ministry.

Worship was the theme of the preamble to PELC, introduced by a two-day celebration of hymns called “The Gathering of Worshippers.” The program, held at the Oakwood University Church, included a concert, a Sabbath message by Chaplain Barry Black, and a plenary by James Abbington and guests. On Saturday night, the Celebration of Hymns concluded with the Aeolian’s annual concert, led by Jason Ferdinand and featuring Cedric Dent of Take 6. The celebration of hymns is scheduled to continue in 2019.

On the opening evening, PELC honored those who have shown exemplary Leadership in their various fields of Adventist service at the annual awards ceremony.

Honorees included Lawrance Martin, Ella Simmons, Willis Reed, Melvin Preston and Walter Douglass.

One of the goals of PELC is to inspire its attendees toward Outreach. That’s just one of the objectives PELC accomplishes. Keith Woodard, pastor of the Ephesus Church in Columbia, South Carolina, says, “At this point in ministry, I’m looking for things that fill the holes where I’m lacking in ministry; at the same time, I do en-

Darnisha Thomas, Chesapeake Conference, New Hope, Fulton, Maryland (Attended for the first time as a pastor) “It was such a blessing to connect with friends and professors. It was also great to be reminded that we have to practice holistic leadership and learn how to live a balanced lifestyle.”

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Eddie Allen, Vice President for Multilingual and Stewardship Lake Region Conference “I enjoy going to both the Hispanic and general sessions for the preaching and Comradery. It’s wonderful to learn about what’s going on in the Hispanic and regional work.”

Ange Kouadio, Chaplain in Columbia, South Carolina (first-time attendee) “I saw a sermon clip from PELC on YouTube that was inspirational and relevant, so I asked a friend about it and he shared the information with me. I was so glad to be here; it felt like being home at last. I loved the authenticity of the content and was encouraged by the networking.”

REGIONAL VOICE | SPRING 2019 |

21

joy the fellowship, networking on a larger scale, and connecting with those who can help me grow.”

One feature of PELC 2018 was a lunch-n-learn with pioneers in Evangelism, Calvin Rock and Charles Bradford. Held in Oakwood University’s cafeteria, they shared highlights from their latest books and fielded questions from attendees, ranging from their early history to the current state of the church.

PELC attendees also benefited from offerings focused on Home with seminars like “Improving Pastoral Care for the Pastor,” “Wonder Woman: The Myth of the Magical Minister,” and “Maintaining Mental Health in Ministry.” There was also a couples’ plenary, as well as daily sessions for ministerial spouses.

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oncurrent to the general PELC session, other groups met in various places around the grounds. The Hispanic Track was also in full swing in the Bradford Cleveland Brooks Center, boasting its highest attendance to date. The relatively new chaplains track was also heavily attended, and the Bible Instructors gathered Monday and Tuesday for training. In addition, other subsidiary groups such as Black Adventist Youth Directors Association (BAYDA), regional educators and regional communicators found time to caucus.

Instead of lining the corridors of the OU Church, most vendors moved to the church’s newly built Family Life Center, with the hope of creating more space for interaction. With close to 40 vendors, they have become a staple in the PELC experiences. “Exhibiting at PELC provides an opportunity for vendors to provide resources to pastors and other workers, but also allows a chance to network and share products, and build relationships,” explains Robert Edwards, vendor coordinator.

One noticeable addition to the PELC stage was the inclusion of women in ministry. This was an intentional effort due to the current church climate. “We are always intentional about involving and celebrating women in ministry, and we thought that it would be good to send a strong signal that we support our sisters in ministry, especially pastoral ministry,” shared Jesse Wilson, PELC Director. To continue with this initiative, the PELC committee has invited Dr. Sandra Roberts, the President of the Southeastern Conference, to join the 2019 speaker line-up.

Also, in 2019, PELC will celebrate its 40th anniversary with an emphasis on evangelism.

“We’ll be taking a look back at how God has blessed us, as well as looking ahead toward best practices and research for effective evangelism today,” shared Wilson. t _________________________________________________________________________ LaTasha Hewitt is Communication Director for the Allegheny East Conference.

Terry John, pastor at the University Church in southern Caribbean.

“I was inspired by the craft of preaching at such a high level. I was inspired that we need to have a warning message. It is urgent and sobering. We need not to compromise the message for the style.”

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Clarence Wright, Ministerial Director for Southeastern Conference “I enjoy the presentations. I find them to be both educational and encouraging. One that stood out for me was ‘Pastoring the Emotionally Healthy Church,’ but mostly I enjoy the preaching.”

REGIONAL VOICE | SPRING 2019 |

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SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

Calling All

Scholars!

Need scholarship funds? Check out the websites of your local Kia Motors America dealers, or walk in to get more information.

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D

o you know someone who has graduated from college, just within the last year, or who will graduate within the next six months? Do they also need to purchase a car? According to Michael Bramlett of Bramlett Kia in Decatur, Alabama, here’s another benefit they may enjoy.

Kia Motors America dealers offer incentive scholarships of $400.00 to purchasers with degrees from four-year colleges or universities within 12 months, or transcripts from four-year colleges or universities within six months of their graduation dates. Of course, they must meet the Kia Motors America criteria to purchase a vehicle. With the degree or transcript, they can receive the scholarship UNCF Partners with Kia Motors America The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has partnered with Kia Motors America to provide need-based scholarship opportunities. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, must be a Junior or Senior enrolled full-time at a UNCF member institution, and have completed a FAFSA and

demonstrate an unmet financial need as verified by your college/university.

Applicants must also be majoring in one of the following disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Biomedical Science, Engineering, or Sustainability/Environmental science.

Students should submit an online application for the program, complete with one letter of recommendation, a one-page personal statement of your career interest, and a current college transcript.

Preference will be given to students who are permanent residents of California.

The award amount for this scholarship amount is up to $3,000, and the deadline is usually in January. t _______________________________________________ For more details and/or to apply for this scholarship, visit:https://scholarships.uncf.org/Program/Details/cb966b5e-c48a-47ad-890b-df1bcdd4252f

_______________________________________________

Special thanks to Michael Bramlett of Bramlett Kia, Decatur, Alabama, and UNCF.

FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS Did you know that Southern’s scholarships can benefit freshmen for up to FOUR YEARS when students maintain a 3.0 GPA? Freshman Academic Scholarship

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For complete details about Southern’s scholarships and other financial aid, call 1.800.SOUTHERN or visit southern.edu/scholarships.

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OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY NEWS

UNITED STUDENT MOVEMENT ASSISTS ALABAMA A&M STUDENTS tt t

Dr. Carlton Byrd, far left, and President Leslie Pollard, far right, join the student leaders.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMMITT SLOCUMB

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hen word reached Oakwood University students that their sister institution and HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in the Huntsville area, Alabama A&M University, had a dormitory fire that displaced students, they sprang into action. Under the leadership of the United Student Movement (USM), their student government body, they planned a skating event, collected proceeds and goods to donate, then made a formal presentation.

During worship services on Sabbath, February 23, 2019, USM President Justin Thornton and Executive Vice President Phillip Leslie, explained their activities. “We have to take care of each other,” began President Thornton. “I was proud when our team came to us, wanting to make sure everyone [affected by the fire] was okay. We wanted to show them that we really appreciate them, and we wanted to take care of them. We worked all week to make sure [we would complete this project].”

USM Vice President Phillip Leslie continued, “We gathered a lot of different items, [including] toiletries and monetary gifts. The USM office has been packed with things! We contin-

Alabama A&M University President of the Student Government Association Aayana Ingram, offers gracious words of acceptance and thanks.

ue to ask for your prayers and support—and it’s not too late to add to this initiative.”

The officers then displayed a storage bin filled with pillows, bed linens, school supplies and toiletries, a sample of collected items. They then welcomed their counterpart, Executive President of the Student Government Association at Alabama A&M University, Aayana Ingram, to the rostrum. She responded, “Happy Sabbath! On behalf of the University President Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr., the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students,” we “thank Oakwood for being so amazing, and just giving to Alabama A&M University.”

“Even though the fire was small, a lot of students did get displaced, and it could have been worse! We just really thank God for His mercy and His grace on us.”

Oakwood University Church Senior Pastor Carlton Byrd closed out this segment by thanking the students and giving the congregation this reminder: “This is what it’s all about.

Our motto has said it for years—we ‘Enter to Learn and Depart to Serve.’” t

USM officers display sample of gifts to Alabama A&M SGA President Aayana Ingram.

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REGIONAL NEWS

t

CONFERENCE SUMMER INTERNS REPORT t

REGIONAL CONFERENCE

SUMMER 2019 INTERNS Compiled By CHAVVAH J. LISTER Regional Conference Summer 2019 Interns? Number of Interns

Placement of Interns

Allegheny East

Yes, likely

To Be Announced

Communications & Business

Allegheny West

Yes

2

Treasury Department

Central States

No 2019 Summer Interns

--

--

Lake Region

No 2019 Summer Interns

--

--

Northeastern

No information available at the time of press

South Atlantic

No 2019 Summer Interns

--

--

South Central

Yes

2 Summer Auditors

Treasury Department

Southeastern

No information available at the time of press

Southwest Region

No 2019 Summer Interns

--

--

Office for Regional Conference Ministry

Yes

2

1 Pastoral and 1 Business

Regional Conference Yes 2 Pre-Law Retirement Plan

Chavvah J. Lister is a freelance writer and reporter who has frequently contributed to Regional Voice Magazine.

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t

hough the grief seemed immeasurable, the blessed hope of the resurrection warmed the hearts of family members and friends, blending smiles with tears as they paid their last respects to Chavar Lewis and Duran Bryan, two outstanding 31-yearold Seventh-day Adventist youth leaders who drowned at the beach in Falmouth, Jamaica, on December 30, 2018. They were best friends for many years and later became brothers-in-law when Chavar married Duran’s only sister, Tricia. Both met their untimely deaths while attending a social activity for a fellow Pathfinder.

Reflections Their joint service lasted more than eight hours, but it never wearied the attendees who numbered more than 4,000, and who were inspired and comforted by the many tributes and reflections, soulful musical renditions and a hope-filled homily delivered by Pastor Everette Brown, President of the Jamaica Union.

Of Chavar Lewis it was said, “Though God seemed to have distilled his three score years and ten to a mere 31 years, he fulfilled his full potential leaving nothing undone.” Chavar served his church in almost every department: Pathfinder director and Master Guide, drum corps leader, sign language group leader, Men’s Ministries leader, head deacon, communication director, social leader, chorister and member of several acapella groups, to name a few. He was a dedicated husband of 10 years and father to two boys, ages 7 and three weeks.

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Duran Bryan’s attention to the well-being of others was a running theme through tributes given on his life. Often sacrificing his own comfort, he would attend to the need of friends and strangers alike. Like Chavar, he served his church in various departments including music, youth and Pathfinders. His wife and 5-month-old son were supported by close friends and family members.

Farewell As they lived, so they departed, with fanfare befitting the service-centered lives they led. Both caskets were draped in Master Guide flags with their berets and sashes appropriately placed. For the duration of the ceremony, Master Guides stood as honor guards by each casket and then led the marching procession to the somber rhythm of the drum corp.

God’s sustaining grace and strength was palpable as Pastor Mobrey Lewis, father of Chavar, performed the last rites of committal for the bodies of both young men, who once were inseparable in life and now, also in death.

The resurrection of the righteous at the Second Coming of Christ is the blessed hope that sustains all who mourn their passing, in anticipation of the grand reunion on that day. t ___________________________________________________________________ Special thanks to Oakwood University Professor Dwyane Cheddar, cousin of Chavar Lewis, for compiling this report, and to Pastor Danhugh and Mrs. Patrice Gordon (Bahamas), uncle and aunt of Chavar Lewis, for their collaboration to complete this report.

NORTH JAMAICA CONFERENCE

YOUTH LEADERS LOSE LIVES

By Pastor Jermaine Johnson The North Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (NJC) has been plunged into mourning following the loss of two of its stalwart youth leaders, both from the St. Ann’s Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Official reports are that on Sunday, December 30, 2018, one of the youths from the St. Ann’s Bay congregation celebrated her birthday. During the activities, which took place in the vicinity of Silver Sands/ Duncans Bay Beach, in Duncans, Trelawny, three of the participants were in the water during the late afternoon. It is reported that they got into difficulties when they were unknowingly carried away by the waves. One managed to escape, whereas the other two went missing.

Duran Bryan was later recovered from the water and was subsequently pronounced dead at the Falmouth Hospital. The third person, Chavar Lewis, son of Pastor Mobrey Lewis, NJC Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director, was found the following evening by the JDF Coast Guard.

Let's keep the families and church in prayers. t ______________________________________________________ Pastor Jermaine Johnson of the North Jamaica Conference prepared this news report.

Special thanks to Oakwood University Professor Dwyane Cheddar, cousin of Chavar Lewis, and Pastor Danhugh and Mrs. Patrice Gordon (Bahamas), uncle and aunt of Chavar Lewis, for their collaboration to complete this report.

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IN MEMORIAM

Allen W. Foster The Minister of Music

By VICTORIA L. JOINER

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here were you when you first heard the beautiful strains of “I Lay My Sins on Jesus”? Was it an appeal song sung at the end of a powerful sermon?

Or was it during a solemn moment at a Holy Communion service? Was your heart moved as the music transformed the lyrics and soared—I long to be with Jesus, amid the heav’nly throng, to sing with saints His praises, to learn the angels’ song? Were you ministered to when you felt the longing for Heaven?

A minister is one who is able to take words ordained by God and present them in sometimes new and wonderful ways. To minister is to give of one’s self to others in their time of need. A minister is there to lead. A minister directs, fosters, and trains. A minister serves. Allen W. Foster, Sr., embodied music ministry and the impact of his ministry is incalculable.

Prodigy Even as a young child in Camden, New Jersey, it was clear he was touched by God. A prodigy of only seven years old, he began his formal musical training and mastered the pipe organ by the age of 13! He was soon playing for the services of Ebenezer S. D. A. Church in Philadelphia and soon became the choral director and organist at the Pinn Memorial Baptist Church. He became renowned throughout the area for his amazing skill and was soon a sought-after musician who touched many hearts throughout his 50 years of ministry.

Civil Servant Because ministry in music was and is erroneously deemed somewhat of a parttime occupation, it was essential that the talented musician also receive training in additional fields of employment. Foster matriculated at Temple University and earned a master’s degree in social work. He became employed as a civil servant in Camden County, Pennsylvania, as a social worker, and his 30-year career led him to social work administration for the School District of Philadelphia. As a social worker, Foster ministered to the youth and families of Philadelphia by protecting and guiding the most vulnerable, helping them to cope with the struggles of mental illness, poverty, abuse, and addiction. His keen intelligence and kind, caring spirit changed lives.

Committed Husband and Father Musical ministry can be solitary and intense, but God brought together what

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ALLEN W. FOSTER,SR., EMBODIED MUSIC MINISTRY AND THE IMPACT OF HIS MINISTRY IS INCALCULABLE.

WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY LIVES WERE IMPACTED

BY THE MINISTRY OF ALLEN FOSTER UNTIL WE GET TO HEAVEN.

would become one of the greatest musical partnerships in the Christian church when Allen Foster married the beautiful Gwendolyn Winston. A gifted musician and vocalist in her own right, Gwendolyn Winston Foster directed numerous choirs and ministered with her husband to produce beautiful recordings. They elevated the music of the Ebenezer church to legendary status. Their union also produced beautiful children in the form of Joya, Allen, Jr., and Angela. The Foster family was led by a man of strength, wisdom, quick wit, and precious humor. His wife, children, and grandchildren will miss him terribly.

To Foster Was Allen Foster’s name prophetic? The definition of foster literally means “to promote the development of something.” Allen Foster promoted the development of amazing music ministry. His ministry included fostering beautiful music at several sessions of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, as well as playing at numerous events around the world. His ministry fostered musical evangelism in the Caribbean, Russia, Asia, and throughout Europe. He labored extensively as a member of The Hymnal Committee to construct and produce the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal in service to his global denomination. He also fostered musical education with the youth of the church and beyond. We will never know how many lives were impacted by the ministry of Allen Foster until we get to Heaven.

Ellen G. White counseled the church in the Review and Herald that “Song is one of the most effective means of impressing spiritual truth upon the heart. Often by the words of sacred song, the springs of penitence and faith have been unsealed.” How many lives have been—and will be—touched by the truth of the glorious strains of “I Lay My Sins on Jesus”? How many hearts “long to be with Jesus” because of the beautiful hymn that will remain the legacy of a great minister of God? We can only imagine the sweet reunion and the majestic songs that will be played and sung around the Sea of Glass “amidst the Heav’nly throng” with our Minister of Music—Allen W. Foster, Sr. t _____________________________________________________________________ Victoria L. Joiner, Ed.D., is a professor, veteran broadcaster, writer, historian, speaker, musician, mother, and author of the book, 30 Days of Sabbath Praise. Her broadcast tribute honoring Mr. Foster that originally aired on WJOU-FM can be found at: www.victoriajoiner.com Special thanks to the Allen Foster Family for providing photography.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIUS MASALAR

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• CENTRAL STATES • REGIONAL NEWS

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n the Denver metropolitan area, an inner-city health ministry is using barbershops and beauty salons to perform blood pressure and hypertension screening, health education, and referrals for those without health insurance. For the past six years, this health outreach has impacted many lives of those in the area.

Podiatrist Dr. Bill Releford began a similar program in the Los Angeles area in 2007 to screen African American men for diabetes and high blood pressure. Releford observed patients losing limbs due to uncontrolled circulatory disease. Because of this, Releford started a community health outreach that has since spread nationwide.

After hearing Releford’s story, my wife (who is a nurse) and I started screening for hypertension and diabetes at the local barbershop.

This simple beginning led to a collaboration with the Colorado Black Health Collaborative and an expanded outreach. We now have a group of 15 barbershops and salons and do four-hour screening sessions almost every Sabbath morning or afternoon.

Our all-volunteer group of about 70 comes from various churches, universities and the local community. As a result, we have screened 7,768 individuals for hypertension; 1,092 for diabetes; and have logged 5,428 volunteer hours since 2012.

DENVER BARBERSHOPS AND BEAUTY SALONS OFFER INNER-CITY HEALTH SCREENINGS

By Byron Conner, M.D., and Alfredia Conner, R.N.

Byron Conner, M.D., and Alfredia Conner, R.N., are the Health Ministries Directors for Central States Conference.

This program is surprisingly low cost. You do not need to wait to apply for a grant (or special funding) to start a similar project. Simply start with one barbershop or salon and expand from there. Here are the key things you need to be able to start in your city: • A committee of volunteers to organize and set goals.

• Blood pressure cuffs, folding tables and glucometers.

• Medical personnel to supervise and do skilled training.

• Donated brochures for health education, if possible.

• A local safety net clinic to refer those who are without health insurance.

• A monthly schedule for outreach and log sheets to record ages and readings. t ___________________________________________________________________________ Brittany Winkfield, Communications Director for the Central States Conference, coordinated this coverage.

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• SOUTH ATLANTIC • REGIONAL NEWS

Staff members and volunteers greet members of the community.

Community Services workers prepare to distribute food from a storage area.

Those needing services or rides are welcome in the center.

The Kaiser Permanente health system is one of the community partners with the Berean church. They come once a month in their green truck to do health screenings (BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.).

U.S. Government Workers Find Help Through Shutdown at Atlanta Berean SDA Community Services Outreach Center t

The staff and more than 70 volunteers serve an average of 425 to 450 households weekly, impacting more than 5,000 household members.

During the Federal Government Worker Shutdown, they assisted more than two dozen Federal workers during that difficult time.

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Staff member in gloves gives information on screening services.

The Berean SDA Church Community Services Outreach Center truck stands ready to offer food, goods and service distribution when needed.

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he 2018-2019 U. S. Government shutdown initiated by President Donald Trump lasted a historic five full weeks, starting December 22, 2018, a mere three days before Christmas, and ending January 25, 2019. Experts estimate the action cost America $6 billion—more than the cost of what caused Mr. Trump to take action in the first place—a border wall between the United States and Mexico to hinder illegal crossings. His failure to rally unilateral support from members of Congress led him to choose the shutdown.

The monies lost were literal—from the wallets and bank accounts of government workers across the nation and throughout countless systems, to government contractors who may never recoup their losses. Promises for reimbursement are not generally stipulated in their contracts. Regardless of their positions, more than 800,000 workers were thrown off their budgets and balances and left to fend for themselves. Some may never recover.

In stark contrast to Mr. Trump’s actions, the Atlanta Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church Community Services Center has been a

Director mainstay in offering food, Allyson Dozier clothing, household and Assistant Director personal items, and services Herbert Smith, to populations in need, for Departmental Supervisors: years. So, in the wake of the Registration shutdown, the Community Barbara Watson, Services staff and volunteers Distribution – were ready. Though their efDebbie Barnes fective, efficient distribution Ed Crumbly brought local and nationCarol Ellis, al coverage from the ABC Clothes Closet – television network, they Renee Thompson, were compassionate enough Chaplain – to make sure the identities Elder Irene Bowden of those who came for help were protected. They were also careful to emphasize the work, the help, the needs that must be met, and not themselves.

The staff and more than 70 volunteers serve an average of 425 to 450 households weekly, impacting more than 5,000 household members. During the Federal Government Worker Shutdown, they assisted more than two dozen Federal workers during that difficult time.

The Berean SDA Church Community Services Center also provides other resource information to help meet their clients’ needs. They have formed a partnership with the Kaiser Permanente health system, as pictured. Additional community partners are those at the Morehouse School of Medicine, in the MPH and MS programs, who also play a huge essential role in volunteer support to the center’s weekly operations.

Other agencies offer placement services for those seeking employment, including those recently released from incarceration as well. May this work continue to bless and benefit the community. t ______________________________________________________________ Elder James Lamb, of South Atlantic Conference has worked in pastoral care, as an education administrator and as the conference Communications Director. He coordinated this coverage. Special thanks to The Berean SDA Church Community Services Center Director Allyson Dozier for data details and statistics.

Center Operations Tuesdays: Community Prayer Meeting Food Distribution--with other relevant vendor services.* Wednesdays: Community Prayer Meeting Food Distribution--with other relevant services* * Other Relevant Services include access to-• Clothes Closet • Read More Books Room • Vendor Services • Health Insurance • Job Training/Job Placement • Food Stamp Assistance • Free Health Screenings

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LECTURE SERIES

“ANY

WORD FROM THE LORD?” R E AV E S - W A R R E N

King Zedekiah to the prophet Jeremiah: “Is there any word from the LORD?” (Jeremiah 37:17).

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON BURDEN

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hen people shift gears at the end of their workdays, some unwind by strolling through the mall; some swing by the supermarket; some stop to get children at preschool or after music lessons or sports. Some find other venues to refresh, restore, or reset for what lies ahead. However, no such optional variety is available for us when we enter the sanctuary for worship in the Protestant tradition, because the centrality of the Bible drives our collective hungry souls to ask the one self-same inquiry of King Zedekiah to the prophet Jeremiah: “Is there any word from the LORD?” (Jeremiah 37:17). The word of the preacher is not sought, but the word of the preacher’s God. When does the

Calvin E. Moseley

t THE WORD OF THE PREACHER IS NOT SOUGHT, BUT THE WORD OF THE PREACHER’S GOD. word of God happen? How do words from the mouth of the preacher become the message from God? The third annual Reaves–Warren Lectureship on Preaching will continue addressing these and other pertinent principals of pulpit proclamation on Friday, April 19, 2019, at 9:00a.m. in the Moseley Complex Chapel during the

Oakwood University Alumni Weekend.

John S. Nixon, Sr., D. Min., will speak on the subject: “In Search of Christ in Doctrinal Preaching.”

Interactional feedback and discussion follow immediately.

Endowed by the families of Benjamin F. Reaves and Mervyn A. Warren for the School of Religion at Oakwood University (Agniel Samson, Interim Dean), this lectureship is inspired by the lasting influence of two predecessors: Calvin E. Moseley, M.A., the first African American teacher of preaching at Oakwood beginning in 1934; and his immediate successor, Clarence T. Richards, M.A., in 1951.

Mervyn Warren, Ph.D., D. Min., followed Richards in 1968. Then Benjamin Reaves, D. Min., took the homiletic ba-

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LECTURE SERIES ton in 1978 when Warren moved to extended administrative tenure at Oakwood. Interestingly, Moseley taught Richards preaching, and Richards was instructor of the same course that included Reaves and Warren as classmates. Over the years that followed, others providing instruction for homiletics and preaching included: Finbar Benjamin, James Doggette, Wesley Knight, Leslie Pollard, Russell Seay, Debleaire Snell, and Jesse Wilson.

For the inaugural convening of this annual preaching lectureship during Alumni Weekend in 2017, R. Clifford Jones, President, Lake Region Conference and Professor of Preaching at the SDA Seminary at Andrews University, presented the topic: “Contemporary Trends in Preaching: Interpretations and Implications for Adventism.”

Benjamin F. Reaves

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The gathering in 2018, heard and interacted to a team-presenters format by Warren and Reaves themselves, respectively, on: “Authentic Preaching: The Call for Content” and “Authentic Preaching: The Place for Process.”

F

ocusing on sermon “content” stressed the primacy of Scripture being foundational to the sermon and crucial to the “what” of preaching, while “process” offered alternative approaches for packaging the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A special highlight for 2018 tendered a framed certificate of recognition to Oakwood alumnus Henry Wright for his church nurturing and soul-winning pulpit proclamation. He recently retired from 53-plus years of fulltime church ministry, confer-

ence administration, and 23-plus years of adjunct teaching of homiletics and preaching at Washington Adventist University. Is there any word from the Lord? There is, and the Preaching Lectureship is here to continue learning, affirming, and confirming that word! Consider this your invitation to attend during this Oakwood University Alumni Weekend, April 19, 2019, Friday, 9:00 a.m., at the Moseley Complex. t _________________________________________ Benjamin F. Reaves, former President, Oakwood College, also served as a professor in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University.

Mervyn A. Warren is the Retired Dean of Religion who also served as Provost and Interim President of Oakwood University.

Mervyn A. Warren

FOCUSING ON SERMON “CONTENT” STRESSED THE PRIMACY OF SCRIPTURE BEING FOUNDATIONAL TO THE SERMON AND CRUCIAL TO THE “WHAT” OF PREACHING, WHILE “PROCESS” OFFERED ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES FOR PACKAGING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

John S. Nixon, Sr.

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SCHOLARLY FEATURE

It is true. The Seventh-day Adventist church has traditionally followed the patterns of American racism without much push back. t 44

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY DREAMSTIME

THE APPROACH OF DAVID PART 1

I

The Absurdity of Christianity

n October of 2018, the GC Executive Committee voted a compliance document intended to address instances of non-compliance with SDA church policies and procedures. The document outlines a process for recognizing, reporting, and addressing churches, conferences, and unions that do not comply with existing SDA church policies in their operations. This document was released shortly after the SDA church voted to uphold its existing policy to disallow women to be candidates for church ordination. Some unions (such as Pacific Union and Columbia Union) have ordained women in spite of the church policy; this is one practice that the compliance document would reprimand.

Perhaps the greatest issue with the compliance document is the assumption the document makes that unity in the church means following the church’s rules. “Unity and trust are strengthened as church members and organizational leaders commit to being led by the Spirit to regard and honor the constituted decisions made by fellow church members and leaders.”1 The compliance document seems to equate unity with uniformity.

Ty Gibson, in his book An Endless Falling in Love: What Eternal Life Means to You Now, says, “We all simultaneously see different aspects while looking at the same objects…

Truly there is no such thing as sameness, but only unity.”2 Here, Gibson makes a clear distinction between unity and sameness or uniformity. God’s unlimited, loving creativity is too grand for sameness to exist. Diversity is one of the ways the Lord communicates love, and He illustrated it throughout creation. If we are reflections of Christ, our varied ways of expressing our appreciation for Him are fundamental to our existence. Unity is most powerful when we sincerely and uniquely illustrate the character of Christ while accepting one another. Indeed, expressing the character of Christ through unity requires a lack of sameness in expression. This is impossible to accomplish when people are interested in anything other than pleasing God. The compliance document is focused on uniformity in church policy, rather than unity in the person of Christ.

Uniformity is an issue that resonates with blacks in particular because uniformity is often dismissive of anyone who is the other, including people of color. Both in the world and in the church blacks face ideas, language, policies, and behavior

B Y C L A RI S E J . N I X O N , PAUL N I X O N , AN D JO H N N I X O N II

All texts are taken from the New International Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.

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t This is the absurdity of

that seem to be created to marAs a result of the SDA church’s Christianity. We can’t do what failure to push back against ginalize them. For example, on October 13, 2018, General ConAmerican racism, black SDAs we want, even when we have a ference President Ted Wilson have been victims of racism both right to and when we think preached a sermon at the Geninside and outside the church for eral Conference Annual Coundecades. However, race relations it’s justified. cil in Battle Creek, Michigan in is not a white issue; it’s a sin issue, which he made some comments and sin touches all of us. Race rethat offended many black SDAs. lations in the SDA church suffer The impression was that Wilson diminished elements of worship because both black and white SDAs have prejudicial views; there that are important to the black experience, as if those things are is anger, fear, and resentment on both sides. But racism is a reunbiblical. Some of the offensive comments were quoted on Twital issue, regardless of who started it and who has done the most ter using #GCAC18: “There may be those in your local church damage. or elsewhere who introduce worldly music and unbiblical worship In Darkness Before Dawn, Ellen G. White states: styles into our churches or spiritual meetings. However, there are When there is no special effort made to resist his power, when inmany in the church who are resisting these attempts as did our pidifference prevails in the church and the world, Satan is not cononeers in times gone by.”3 In addition to his comment about worcerned; for he is in no danger of losing those whom he is leadship style, Wilson said, “There may be those who overemphaing captive at his will. But when the attention is called to eternal things, and souls are inquiring, “What must I do to be saved?” he size social issues while downplaying or neglecting biblical truth is on the ground, seeking to match his power against the power of and its relevance for today’s society. Yes, there are appropriate soChrist and to counteract the influence of the Holy Spirit.6 cial issues we need to address, but always within the context of 4 In Job 1,7 we see the devil presenting evidence of the wickedness God’s last-day warning.” Though he met with Regional Conferof humanity to God. The Bible describes Satan as an investigator,8 ence leadership to discuss the true intent of his words, the damage was done. The situation illustrates that he didn’t know there was and he searches for evidence of sin in our lives to present to God. something wrong with what he was saying in the first place. And His goal has always been to separate us from our God. The longer therein lies the problem. we wait to address race relations, the more evidence we give the In the world, blackness is portrayed as un-American; in the devil to use against us. In other words, when we allow racial rifts church, blackness is portrayed as un-Christian. This is the conto dictate our present and future, the devil is happy about it. If we text in which black Adventists live; blacks face this situation evare to be a community of Christian believers, all members of the SDA church must face the issue that plagues the group and take ery day. “The Approach of David” is divided into 2 parts, both of prayerful, urgent steps toward resolution. which seek to answer the question Now what? within this unique context.

These articles are not about the organizational structure of the The Absurdity of Christianity SDA church, regional conferences or state conferences. They are The Bible charges blacks to raise the issue of racism with their about how black SDA members should respond to racism in Adwhite brothers, even though blacks didn’t start it. The Biblical model for resolving problems is for the offended to bring comventism. The series discusses how to acknowledge the past, forgive while holding accountable, and reconcile to form a more uniplaints to the offender in Jesus’ name. Matthew 18:15 states “If fied, more Christlike SDA family that can do the final work this your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just beworld needs. tween the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” The Bible is clear: when we see that they have done wrong, Darkness Before Dawn we are to begin the process of restoration. The fact that whites The SDA church has traditionally followed the patterns of have wronged blacks does not permit blacks to separate themAmerican racism without much push back. This was the case in selves from whites (#unpopularopinion). In fact, as followers of the Jim Crow era with laws of segregation. One well-known exChrist, it is the responsibility of black SDAs to be intentional about uniting with those who have caused them harm. ample involves a woman named Lucy Byard whom hospital perIn teaching His followers to pray, Jesus states, “For if you forsonnel at Washington Sanitarium and Hospital (later Washington Adventist University) sent to another hospital for treatment give other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Faafter discovering the light skinned woman was in fact black.5 Now ther will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their that racism is less overt, the examples are more nuanced than they sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”9 Oswald Chambers were in 1943 when Mrs. Byard was turned away. It’s no longer calls this the “go” of reconciliation: even though blacks have evJim Crow, now it’s “white flight.” When the white population of ery right to harbor resentment, that response does not resemble a white SDA K-12 school seems to be losing its majority status, the character or heart of Christ. “It is not a matter of your rights. the white students tend to leave. This often results in the school The true mark of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and closing. obey the Lord Jesus.”10 This is the absurdity of Christianity: we

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t As Christians, we must use the Bible as a roadmap, not only for emotional healing, but also for reconciliation between white and black Seventh-day Adventists. cause we claim to be one church under Christ, who is the great uniter of all things. The problem is great, but our Lord is greater.

Part 2 of this article will outline some Biblical solutions that can help the SDA church truly seek reconciliation between races. t _________________________________________________

can’t do what we want, even when we have a right to and when we think it’s justified.

If we as SDAs are going to be who we say we are, we have to follow the example of Jesus Christ. The man who forgave everyone. The man who healed everyone. Matthew 9:35 says, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness” (emphasis added). Jesus forgave His killers as they were plotting against Him because Christlike forgiveness doesn’t even need a request. To forgive like Christ is to forgive before a request, or in spite of the absence of a request; and Christlike forgiveness leads the perpetrator of evil to the humility necessary to make the request.

This is the standard to which we are called as Christians, and it is important to understand. The physical presence of Jesus generated division simply because light and darkness cannot exist in the same place, and “men loved darkness rather than light.”11 Jesus’ actions, however, healed all fractures. With Jesus around, your heart is stripped of all pretense, and your true desires are revealed.

If we really want Jesus and what He stands for, we merely have to come to His presence and open our mouths in request, and He sends healing ahead of us.12 As Christians, we must use the Bible as a roadmap, not only for emotional healing, but also for reconciliation between white and black SDAs. Generally speaking, both groups are settled in a comfortable position as it relates to race relations in the church: “separate but equal” works to appease all of us. Blacks are comfortable holding on to their right to be angry. Whites are comfortable ignoring the issue altogether. And both are wrong be-

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DREAMSTIME

Clarise J. Nixon is a Cultural Intelligence certified Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Southern Adventist University and serves as Copy Editor for Regional Voice Magazine.

Paul D. Nixon is founder and CEO of Virtual VP, an education consulting company that provides customized support services for schools, administrators, and teachers. He lives with his wife, Taina, in Huntsville, Alabama.

John S. Nixon II, D.Min, is lead pastor of the Takoma Park SDA Church in Takoma Park, Maryland, where he lives with his wife, April, and two children, John III and Julia. _______________________________________________ REFERENCES 1. https://news.adventist.org/fileadmin/news.adventist.org/files/news/ documents/113G_Regard_for_and_Practice_of_General_Conference_ Session_and_General_Conference_Executive_Committee_Actions.pdf 2. Gibson, Ty. An Endless Falling in Love: What Eternal Life Means to You Now. Pacific Press, 2003, pg. 194.

3. https://conversation.spectrummagazine.org/t/regional-conference -leadership-meets-with-ted-wilson-concerning-his-annual-council-remarks/17545 4. ibid 5. https://www.adventistreview.org/2009-1505-32 6. White, Ellen Gould. Darkness Before Dawn. Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1997, pp. 5.1-5.3.

7. “‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ Satan replied. ‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.’” Job 1:9-11 8. “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, ‘From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.’” Job 1:7 9. Matthew 6:14-15 10. Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. “The ‘Go’ of Reconciliation.” September 26.

11. John 3:19 12. John 4:46-54

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HOPE SERIES

TRAGIC DEATH

BRINGS ADVENT OF REGIONAL CONFERENCES AND MAJOR CHURCH GROWTH IN NORTH AMERICA

LUCY BYARD 1877-1943

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he tragic event—the death of Lucy Byard— served as the catalyst for a very good thing: The origin of Regional Conferences. Make no mistake about it, the advent of Regional Conferences has been a good thing for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Consider these facts: 1. When Regional Conferences began, there were approximately 18,000 African-American Seventh-day Adventists in the United States, in 233 churches, with an annual total of $511,000.00 in tithe. As of the end of last year, there were 320,000 members in Regional Conferences, in more than 1,200 churches, with an annual total of $183 million in tithe.

2. That means that the work in Regional Conferences has grown, since their inception, 1,500 percent. That is four times the

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rate of growth of the rest of the North American Division.

3. If all of the Regional Conferences were part of a Union Conference, that mythical “Regional Conference Union” would be the largest Union Conference in membership and tithe in the North American Division.

4. If the Regional Conferences were a world Division of the General Conference, they would form the fourth largest Division (out of what would then be 14 world Divisions.

There are presently 13. The mythical “Regional Conference Division” would make the fourteenth.) in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

While there are those who look at Regional Conferences as an unfortunate product of a bygone era, I would posit (to use a word that some of my more erudite ministerial colleagues favor) that these figures demonstrate that God took a bad thing (Lucy Byard being

THE WORK IN REGIONAL CONFERENCES HAS GROWN, SINCE THEIR INCEPTION, 1,500 PERCENT. THAT IS FOUR TIMES THE RATE OF GROWTH OF THE REST OF THE NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION.

denied admittance to a Seventh-day Adventist hospital by other Seventh-day Adventists for the sole reason that she was black) and used it to perform a good thing.

Which, I suppose, is the first lesson that we learn from this story: God specializes in taking bad things and turning them into something good.

You may be experiencing some challenges in your life right now. Know this: God has already provided a way for that bad thing to turn into something good. In fact, at this very moment, He may be working and changing and re-arranging the circumstances of that bad thing and turning it into one of the best things in your life.

Years ago, when I was Youth Director in the South Central Conference, I met a young lady in one of our churches. She was in high school. She had everything going for her. Very smart, attractive, gifted, involved in her church, from a good family—a seemingly limitless future.

But one day, she came to her parents with those two words that every parent of a teenage girl dreads and fears to hear: “I’m pregnant.” The mother in particular was absolutely devastated. I suppose the father was as well, but it was the mother that came to me absolutely broken. What would become of her gifted child?

I spoke with her and then sent her to my wife so that they could talk mother-to-mother. I do not know what my wife told her, but the Lord seemed to use her to help that poor mother.

But here is what I do know: That young lady had her baby.

And even though it must have been difficult, with the help of her family, she finished high school. She went on to college, finished that and became a very successful professional. Meanwhile, that mother learned what pretty much every grandparent learns: Even if they do not come the way you planned for them to come, grandchildren are one of the greatest gifts that God can ever give.

In fact, grandchildren are a parent’s reward for everything their children put them through while the parents were raising them.

That grandchild quickly healed that mother’s broken heart.

She became the most doting grandmother ever; in fact, she was downright pitiful—even worse than my wife with our grandchildren! Max Lucado said in one of his books, “In the hands of God, intended evil becomes eventual good.” That is what God does; in fact, it is a big part of what makes Him God. The second lesson from the story of Lucy Byard is this: It is important to know and learn from your history. One of the things that we learn from history is that if you do not learn from history, you are prone to repeat the mistakes from your history.

Someone once said that one of the things that we learn from history is that unfortunately, we do not learn from history.

One of the lessons that African-American Seventh-day Adventists seem to struggle with is that if you do not know your history, if you do not tell your own story, someone else will tell your story, only they will tell it from their perspective. Too often, the narrative concerning Regional Conferences is that they constitute something of which our church ought to be ashamed. “Why do we have to have separate conferences?” Here is the short answer, and it’s one of several that can be given: Because in this country,

it is the best way to reach people of color.

And that is exactly what has happened.

In fact, when the North American Division does its demographic breakdown of the church, it would not be a surprise if African-Americans—who were the second largest demographical group in the church the last time this particular study was done— are the largest group now. Why do we need to apologize or feel badly about the success that the Lord has given Regional Conferences?

Lastly, a final lesson from the story of Lucy Byard is that, not only do we need to know our history and learn from our history, but most important of all: We need to remember that God is in control of everything that has happened, is happening and will ever be happening.

However slowly God seems to be working, He is working.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” In other words, often, it seems that it takes right a long time to overtake wrong. But eventually, it will—if not always on this earth, in the next.

Sometimes, we forget that part of God being God is that He gets to decide how quickly to “bend the arc of the moral universe.” He gets to decide (can I say this?) how quickly, or even whether, He will intervene on the issue of whether women should be ordained. As the person who is very humbly proud of hiring the first female Pastor in the history of the South Central Conference, of assigning the first female to Pastor a church in the history of the Southern Union and the person who hired the first female Conference Officer in the history of the South Central Conference, I personally think that women should be ordained.

But I have to trust God’s leading in when they will be.

Let’s be honest: Trusting God and waiting on God can be very difficult. If having faith were easy, then it wouldn’t be faith. By definition, faith is difficult because it requires that we believe— and keep on believing—in something that we cannot currently see.

But if I am not prepared to trust God—if I am not willing to believe that He knows what He is doing even if it seems as though His church does not seem (to me) to know what it is doing—then that may say more about me than it says about anyone else. I cannot only trust God when He does what I want. I have to trust Him even when He doesn’t.

Because the story of Lucy Byard reminds us that God knows exactly what He is doing. t __________________________________________________

KNOW YOUR HISTORY. LEARN FROM YOUR HISTORY.

In late 2018, Elder Dana Edmond discussed on the ORCM website the tragic death of Lucy Byard, which served as the catalyst for a very good thing: The origin of Regional Conferences. He states he is indebted to Edward Woods III, Religious Liberty and PARL Director for the Lake Region Conference, for making him aware of the recent 75th anniversary of her passing. Elder Edmond is ORCM Director and Publisher of Regional Voice Magazine.

REGIONAL VOICE | FALL 2018 |

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OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY UNITED STUDENT MOVEMENT LEADERS 2018-2019 AND NEWLY ELECTED FOR 2019-2020

PHOTOGRAPHY OF USM OFFICERS BY TEYMI TOWNSEND

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|

REGIONAL VOICE

| SPRING 2019

2018-2019 Officers: President: Justin Thornton Executive Vice President: Phillip Leslie II Parliamentarian: Maiyisha Keita Academic Vice President: Alaysia Bookal Financial Vice President: Alexia Griggs Religious Vice President: Timothy Harris Social Vice President: Avery Bethea Athletic Vice President: Jeslyn Henley

2019-2020 Officers:Â President: Alexia Griggs Executive Vice President: Jessica Robinson Parliamentarian: Joy Mvundura Academic Vice President: Corliss Wilson Financial Vice President: MacKenzie Maddox Religious Vice President: Josalynn Clark Social Vice President: Austun Reid Athletic Vice President: Richard James Jr. REGIONAL VOICE | SPRING 2019 |

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