NorthPoint - June, 2014

Baptisms a highlight of ARISE 2014 graduation weekend

The second ARISE Australia class graduated on the afternoon of Sabbath, 10 May with a convocation ceremony held at the Kingscliff Seventh-day Adventist Church. Family and friends of the 32 students attended, plus many of last year’s graduates returned in a touching display of support.

To make the day even more special, 12 people committed their lives to Jesus by baptism or profession of faith, including four ARISE students and several community contacts made by the students both this year and last year. The Sabbath worship service was completely dedicated to hearing each of their testimonies.

Terry Short shared with the congregation that he has had a traumatic life and described how just a couple of months ago, he looked up at the sky and said, “I just want someone to love me.”

Three days later, two women (ARISE students) came to the door.

“They were standing there offering me a path to peace — Steps to Christ — and hearing a testimony from one of the ladies, I decided to snatch the book out of her hand — she nearly came with it,” he joked. “From there it has been a rollercoaster of joy, love and understanding, and knowing about God — He already knew me,” Terry said.

Laurene Edwards described herself as “your everyday single mother trying to make her way in the world, who’s been a lost soul for many years, until some beautiful people showed her a light.”

Laurene had been into the “new age” for many years and was confused spiritually. Early last year, she asked God to show her the truth and, a few weeks later, her mother handed her a flier for the health talks being held at Tweed Heads South, which were run during the inaugural ARISE Australia program. Laurene attended and then stayed for the prophecy seminar. Her car broke down during the program and she was stunned when a couple of the students turned up on her doorstep offering to drive her each night! Soon she was going to Kingscliff Church each Sabbath.

“It felt like I’d found what I’d been searching for for many years. I just felt like I’d come home,” Laurene said.

It was a similar story for 82-year-old Marj Taylor, who immediately felt like part of the family when she started coming to church after attending a prophecy seminar two years ago. She had the congregation in stitches, referring to her age when asked about why she wants to be baptised.

“I just want to get baptised because from the teachings I’ve learnt, you need to be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and if I don’t make a move now, I might be too late!”

(Continued on page 3)

In

Page 2: From the President: Prayer power Pages 4 and 5: Big Camp 2014 photo feature Pages 6 to 9: Life sketches of those ordained at Big Camp 2014 Page 14: Feature: Why Australia?

OUR COnFEREnCE From the President: Prayer power

The longer I live, the more convicted I am that the church will grow in proportion to its connection to God. We are constantly looking for new methods and techniques — I’ve pushed the wheelbarrow of numerous ones myself — but what we truly need is a deep spiritual revival.

This, of course, will start in my life and your life, because we are the church.

It’s a big fallacy for us to think that the church is some organisation or institution. It is simply the body of believers — individuals who have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is as we individually get the power of God in our lives that power will come into the entire church.

A study of the Book of Acts will reveal that this is the secret to the early church’s power. Before they could go and fulfill this Great Commission that Christ had given the church (see Matthew 28:16-20), He demanded that they first wait until they received the power they needed to do mission (Acts 1:4).

The term “wait” doesn’t mean to sit around idly, but as we see in Acts 1:14, waiting meant depending on God through prayer and petition. God’s dynamic answer to this 10-day prayer meeting changed the history of the world.

When the Day of Pentecost was over, with 3000 new believers in the church, the very first thing that we find the disciples doing in Acts 3:1 is going to the temple to pray. In fact, prayer became a lifestyle for the church in the Book of Acts, and it only grew in direct relation to the prayers of the believers and their dependence on God (see Acts chapters 4, 6 and 9).

We cannot change history, but each of us can have a part in an exciting future. I am convinced that the great events the Bible has foretold about how history will come to its climactic end are about to come upon us. This is the time for us to seek God as never before, and learn to depend on His power and live while we have relative ease. Everything else we do will amount to nothing without God’s powerful presence.

— Pastor Justin Lawman

Around The Traps, a weekly e-newsletter from Pastor Justin Lawman, is available.

It features a devotional and news from around the conference. To subscribe, send an email to <northpoint@ adventist.org.au> with “E-newsletter subscription” in the subject line.

Happy campers and seven ordinations at Big Camp 2014

The north new South Wales (nnSW) Conference’s Big Camp was held from 18 to 26 April, 2014 at the Stuarts Point Adventist Convention Centre. It was the second time the conference’s Big Camp was held at this time of year, and numbers grew from the inaugural Easter camp, with approximately 2200 people staying on-site. This year’s theme was One In Christ, and Pastor Justin Lawman, President of the north new South Wales Conference, says, “Our aim with Big Camp is to equip the church with disciples for Jesus, and the presentations and workshops that happened at this year’s camp worked toward that aim.”

The family-friendly camp was enjoyed by those who attended, and the weather was fantastic for the duration — apart from a brief downpour on the final Friday afternoon. Guest speakers included Pastor Pavel Goia, Pastor Jean-noel Adeline and Dr Arlene Taylor (Big Tent), Pastor David Asscherick and Pastor Eddie Hypolite (Connections Tent), Pastor Iki Tolu Taimi (18+ Tent) and nimrod Maua (High School Tent). Audio files from a selection of the presentations and sermons given at Big Camp are being made available at <http://nnsw.adventist.org.au/big-camp-2014>.

The first Sabbath at camp this year was a huge blessing for seven of our ministers, along with their families, as they were ordained in front of a packed Big Tent. Michael Chapman (Associate Youth Ministries Director for the nnSW Conference), Adam Cinzio (Glen Innes/Inverell), Horace Evans (Bellbrook/South Kempsey), Rick Hergenhan (Youth Ministries Director for the nnSW Conference), Peter Howard (Murwillumbah/Ocean Shores), Graham Stewart (Gloucester/Wingham) and Peter Watts (Lakeside/Conference Evangelist) were ordained, and their families were welcomed into ministry. Their life sketches can be found on pages 6 to 9.

As Big Camp was held over the Easter/AnZAC Day holiday period, campers had the opportunity to take part in an AnZAC Day Dawn Service. It was well-attended, with around 250 to 300 people there. The service was also attended by the local President of the Stuarts Point RSL sub-branch, and included people who are currently serving in the armed forces.

Pastor Paul Geelan, General Secretary of the nnSW Conference, says, “There were also tributes paid by those who were at camp to relatives who have served our country — there were some amazing stories that came out of that. Pastor David Bertelsen took the service, and the wreath was laid by grandchildren of Diggers who served in WWII.”

— Adele Nash

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Photos on pages

and

are courtesy of Ann Stafford and Annalise Lindsay (cover banner photo of surfers at Grassy Head Beach is courtesy of Annalise Lindsay; ordination photos on pages 6 to 9 are courtesy of Ann Stafford).

OUR COnFEREnCE

Baptisms a highlight of ARISE 2014 graduation weekend

James Rafferty credits the support of the Kingscliff Church with making ARISE Australia such a success, noting the quality and consistency of the meals (prepared by Anna Marshall), and the skills of David north, who filled the role of Administrator again. Church members helped in whatever way they were able, whether it be giving Anna a hand in the kitchen, inviting students home for Sabbath lunch or lending them a pushbike to get around.

James also believes the temperate climate and availability of suitable holiday accommodation for the students are a huge bonus. “Absolutely. In fact I think that the program here has actually just edged out the US one with David Asscherick living here and Matt Parra also. This program here is grounded, founded and growing, and healthy. Australia has got to keep going — it’s vital,” James says.

(Continued from page 1)

When Pastor David Asscherick said he was looking forward to baptising her, Marj replied, “As long as you don’t drown me!” Fortunately Marj survived her baptism — supported in the water by Ashley Smith and Daniel Christie, who have been a big part of her spiritual journey.

Each individual story shared that day reaffirmed how programs like ARISE can bring people to Jesus. During the graduation, north new South Wales Conference General Secretary Pastor Paul Geelan spoke about the early church and how it originally had an evangelistic focus. He mentioned Ellen White’s writings about “training schools” and how that evangelism vision has been handed down over the years.

Addressing the students, Pastor Geelan said, “Praise God that you are following God’s direction. There is a clear connection from the throne room of God to what happens here in the Kingscliff Church and the ARISE program. A faithful word of prophecy has been followed through those generations to what you’re doing now, and praise God for it.”

Conference President Pastor Justin Lawman says this year’s program went better than they could have dreamed. “We’re seeing young people and old people just getting involved in ministry and confident to do that, knowing that God’s going to bless their efforts,” he says. “I think we live in really serious times in the earth’s history and this young generation of people is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I can really see that God is doing something special.”

ARISE Lightbearers Co-Director James Rafferty agrees. “This year has been even better. The increase in the attendance of students, and just the extra personality in the classroom with the students — connecting with them and the connectivity that I saw they had with each other — was just amazing. I had a hard time thinking that it could get better from last year, but it did and it’s just been super,” he says.

The concept of ARISE is to teach people how to share the good news of Jesus Christ in their own sphere or personal situation. Pastor Asscherick says most graduates go back to their vocations and home churches.

“Some have gone into fulltime ministry, but by and large, the vast majority just go and do whatever they were going to do anyway, but they do so as disciples, as missionminded people, seeing that whatever it is they’re doing is primarily a point of access to people, to communicate the Gospel to them,” he says.

More than 600 students have now graduated from ARISE both in the US and here in Australia. The three-month program is completely Bible-based. Students study God’s word intensely, memorising close to 100 texts. They also deliver a sermon and gain hands-on evangelical training through door knocking, delivering Bible studies and running seminars for the community. Many of the students discover Jesus themselves.

Carly Fletcher is one such person. She was raised in a loving Christian home and says she knew God, but not as a person and a friend. ARISE changed that for Carly — she was one of the 12 baptised. “Coming to ARISE has just opened up a whole new picture of who God is, and I can truly say that I’ve met God in a real sense and His love is changing my heart,” she told the congregation.

Pastor Lawman says the conference wants to continue hosting ARISE each year, but is looking for ways to expose more people to it. “It’s gotten stronger and stronger and what we’re thinking about now is how to expand this, how to get it to influence other areas. I think really it’s the start of a movement,” he says.

He confirmed that ARISE Australia has been locked-in for 2015, although the location is yet to be confirmed. The next US program begins in August.

The ARISE graduation ceremony and the testimonies delivered on 10 May can be viewed on the Kingscliff Church website: <http://kingscliff.adventist.org.au>.

— Summer Lockley

Photos courtesy of Nathan Marshall

OUR COnFEREnCE

Pastor Graham Stewart

Pastor Adam Cinzio

Pastor Graham Stewart has always claimed the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “I know the plans I have for you, says The Lord....”

He says, “‘Why should we listen to you — you have never even read the Bible through?’ was the remark from my best friends as we stood six stories high, at the place where our friend had fallen to his death only the week before. As we faced our own mortality on the building site we were working on at Bayswater Power Station, I had been impressed to share my new-found insight into the Bible, which my girlfriend Christine, who was studying nursing at Avondale College, had been sharing with me.

“It was true I had never read the Bible, or read any book through for that matter. Suffering from dyslexia, the remark cut deep. I decided, with God’s help, to take the challenge and commenced reading the Bible at Genesis. I prayed to the Lord, ‘Lord, You know I have never read any book through. I can’t do this, but I know You can. Please help me!’

“I had no idea that this prayer would change my entire life.

“As a licenced plumber in new Zealand, I was required to do further training to be licenced in Australia, including a Certificate in Business Principles. As I started reading the Bible, an amazing thing happened. My mind became open, not only to Bible knowledge, but my reading and understanding in other areas advanced. I had struggled through school and had never received any academic achievements, but after a year of reading the Bible (I was not yet half way through) and TAFE study, I was amazed to top the state in Business Principles. It still took me another year to finish reading the Bible to the end.

“As a Gold Licensed Plumber, having already started my own business, I thought I had my future pretty much set, but God had other plans!

“The year I married Christine and was baptised, I heard a team of literature evangelists speak and was inspired to do this front-line service for God. It took me months to memorise the canvas before I could start, but I persevered, as I knew I had been called by God to work for Him. After working for a year in Mt Druitt, Sydney, I hired a hall with some friends and showed Kenneth Cox videos on the wall. We had more than 200 people attend. Within 12 months, from these contacts, we started the Mt Druitt Church.

“God steadily led me on to being a Bible worker, then a field minister for The Bible Society, where I was able to preach in the churches of many different denominations, to ministry in our church. Working fulltime as a pastor, it has taken me eight years, with my dyslexia (which I still struggle with), to finally complete my Associate Degree in Theology at the end of this year. But praise God, I’ve been ordained!”

— Pastor Graham Stewart/northPoint

Pastor Adam Cinzio preached his first sermonette at Springwood Church in 1982. After high school, he studied electrical engineering, a career which eventually spanned 13 years. In the latter years of that career, he sensed a growing lack of satisfaction with his engineering work. He was an active elder in the Darwin Church from 1990 to 1996.

As he moved to Cooranbong, where he worked for Sanitarium, he started to think about what he was doing for the cause of God, and whether he could be more effective in fulltime pastoral ministry. He sensed a clear question from God — “What are you doing here?” At first, he stilled his conscience by answering that he was where God had led him to be, and that he would move in a different direction when God made that clear. However, the question still disturbed him as he saw the signs that Jesus was returning very soon.

In 2003, he decided to do a short course at the Mission College of Evangelism in Portland, Oregon. He reasoned that it was time to do some very practical evangelism training. It was at Mission College that he met his future brother-in-law, who invited him to visit the family in Austria. It was there that he met Sonja, and a friendship grew.

Upon returning to Australia, God had already opened two opportunities to serve in a volunteer capacity. Pastor Cinzio chose to serve as a Bible Worker in the South Queensland Conference at Logan Reserve in 2005 and 2006, following his passions for preaching, Bible studies, radio and satellite TV.

Pastor Cinzio and Sonja married in 2006, and moved to the north new South Wales Conference, serving in the norther Rivers area in 2007. In 2008, Pastor Cinzio followed God’s providential leading to study fulltime at Avondale College. During one semester break, they went to the Philippines and preached a series in the Panacan Church, Palawan. They served at Woy Woy Church in 2010 and 2011, and were involved in the All Power Seminars and Prophetic Code seminars.

God answered their prayers for a child when Caleb was born in 2010. In 2012, they accepted a call to serve at the Inverell and Glen Innes Churches.

Influential in his journey into pastoral ministry were Pastors Gary Hodgkin (Springwood), Adrian Ebens (Logan Reserve), the late Owen D’Costa (Woy Woy), and John Lang (former north new South Wales Conference President). Pastor Cinzio says, “God is much more patient than I ever imagined. He gently asked me what I was doing, and it was in answering this question that I decided to volunteer as Isaiah did — ‘Here am I, send me’ (Isaiah 6:8). God did send me into a new vocation. I have sometimes baulked at new opportunities or challenges, but with God’s strength, I have promised to accept every new opportunity to serve with optimistic faith.”

Pastor Cinzio is still fascinated with technical things, but now has a renewed focus on using every means to share the Gospel. He reflects, “As an engineer, I could always find a solution. As a pastor, I have had to concede that I seldom have the perfect answer — but I know the One who never errs. nothing is impossible with God.”

— Pastor Adam Cinzio/northPoint

OUR COnFEREnCE

Pastor Rick Hergenhan

Pastor Rick Hergenhan says, “Proverbs 3:5 says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’

“It felt like a great burden had been lifted from my shoulders as I finished praying. The prayer was very simple, but I meant it — ‘God, whatever you want me to do with my life, I will do it.’

“Within two weeks, my life had made a complete turn around. I quit my farming job, which was the only thing I had ever seriously imagined I would do for work, and took up a volunteer position in Tasmania for a year. The position involved running a mobile adventure apparatus and being involved in youth ministry throughout the state.

“The year progressed well on a number of fronts. I really enjoyed the work, and I met a girl whose name was Libby and I was completely charmed by her. Because I enjoyed the work so much and it was sponsored by ADRA, I thought it would be great to do this sort of thing as a paid job. I looked into going to study International Development at Avondale College. When Libby said she was going to Avondale to study, that was all the encouragement I needed. I set off for college, and when I arrived, I found out I had actually enrolled in a BA course and needed to choose another major.

Pastor Michael Chapman

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation. — Psalm 68:5

Pastor Michael Chapman says, “This is the verse that set my life on a whole new trajectory. Growing up fatherless and confused about my place in the world, it wasn’t until I learned that God wanted to fill that void and take the place of the father I never knew that I began to feel whole.

“Ministry was never a part of the plan. I was always certain I was going to be a famous musician. Until I experienced the power and presence of the living God, every ounce of my effort and energy was put toward establishing a career in music. Yet, over the course of a few years, God kept drawing me to His work and I couldn’t shake this growing interest in Gospel ministry.

“This all culminated one evening when sitting on the floor of a recording studio after just having recorded some tracks, I distinctly heard the voice of God tell me, ‘This is not what I have planned for you.’

“Convinced and convicted that God had called me to His service, He used godly men and woman in the Port Macquarie Church to make opportunities available to me. Pastor Justin Lawman baptised me and immediately began to encourage the leadership potential he saw in me. After that, a series of doors, leading me to be educated and work in ministry, kept opening to me in ways that seemed so miraculous I knew I had to walk through them.

“While studying at Avondale College I met Bethany, my wife, who is also a minister. So even for that reason alone, my time at Avondale was awesome.

“I read the options available and in about 30 seconds flat, decided I would do a religious major as well. This meant half my classes were with Theology students, and by the end of the course, I was enjoying and being challenged by the Theology subjects as much as by the International Development ones.

“Following a series of events, Libby — who by this stage was my wife — and I ended up back in Tasmania, and I was unemployed. A little disappointed, I remembered my prayer that I would do whatever God wanted me to do. As I was listening to where God was leading, doors began to open and others began to close.

“I started getting more and more involved in my local church in a variety of ways. The farming — as hard as I pursued it — wasn’t really working out, and after a couple of years it became very clear God wanted me working fulltime in ministry. When I could deny God’s leading no longer, I returned to Avondale and completed a Graduate Diploma in Theology and Ministry.

“Through this whole time, God was leading on the work, accommodation and finances fronts. It was very clear to Libby and myself that this is where He wanted us to be.

“On completing the Graduate Diploma, I took up a position at Wallsend Church as an intern with Pastor John Denne for two years. During this time, I was also involved in pastoring the Raymond Terrace Church for a year and started as a chaplain at newcastle University. After this, I moved to the position of Associate Director of Youth Ministries for the north new South Wales Conference, and very recently became the Youth Ministries Director.

“It is a privilege to serve God and get paid for it, and I look forward to seeing where God leads in the future.”

— Pastor Rick Hergenhan/northPoint

“So far I have ministered in the churches of the Kempsey district, the Toronto Church and have recently taken on the role as Associate Youth Director, which I am greatly excited about.

“May God’s power enable me to strengthen His Church and may it be as it was when Jesus charged His first disciples — a community of disciple making disciples.

“A big thank you goes to Pastor Justin Lawman, President of the north new South Wales Conference, and Pastor Murray Chapman, former ATSIM Director for the conference and pastor in the Kempsey region. They have both shared their wisdom with me and continually built me up in ministry.”

— Pastor Michael Chapman/northPoint

OUR COnFEREnCE

Pastor Peter Howard

Pastor Peter Howard says, “The concepts of God, sin and the plan of salvation were very foreign to me until enticed, through the wooing of the Holy Spirit, to focus my attention upon a very sweet young lady. Her passionate love and the faith of her family for God, Jesus and Church were the catalyst of my conversion. Incidentally, this young lady’s fellow workers nicknamed her ‘Sunset’ because in the deep south of new Zealand, a privilege was granted for her to finish work early on Friday evening because of her devotion to God’s Sabbath. My love relationship with God and Maicel (Sunset) blossomed, firstly with my baptism in 1969 and our marriage in 1970.

“Interestingly, the archenemy of God must have had an insight into the journey God was about to lead me on because while gradually coming to my senses from a life under the influence of alcohol and gambling, and searching for a better life, two attempts were made on my life through alcohol-fuelled car incidents. But the most savage attack was when I had given notice that I was terminating my employment to move to the South Island — that and explosion at work caused me to receive very severe burns to the upper torso, head and face. Fortunately, the Miracle Worker was already proactive in my life.

“From the instant of my baptism, the Spirit of God instilled within me an intense passion to search out precious ones for His Kingdom, and with this has come some amazing privileges. These have encompassed time as a Literature Evangelist in South new Zealand and South Australia; four years of mission service in the Solomon Islands and also four years as farm manager at Longburn Adventist College. However, the greater portion of time was spent as a very proactive layman and, while engaged in private employment, I conducted many prophecy seminars. none of this was ever plain sailing.

“Since my conversion, on at least five occasions I have passed through experiences where I have been closer to death than life, with the last of these being the most debilitating experience I have ever passed through. In the year 2000, my being and body was being consumed by some mysterious illness, which completely baffled the best of medical specialists.

“For the next three-and-a-half years, I was unable to work and at times unable to drive. With my body wracked in pain, I would often hear those fateful words that death was imminent — even as close as six weeks. Out of sheer frustration when able, I offered to volunteer as chaplain at the Bethesda Rest Home and Hospital, and after engaging in this activity for six months, I was invited to the new Zealand Pacific Union Conference’s Pastors Summit at Longburn College. One evening the guest presenter Pastor Derek Morris shared about anointing and offered it to anyone in need the next morning — and so they say the rest is HIS-story. Five months later, I was called by Pastor Jerry Matthews to enter into fulltime pastoral ministry. Interestingly, I always had a passion while at school to be a veterinarian and to some degree God has granted me that wish — He called me to minister to His sheep.

“We have been blessed with three awesome children — Mathew, Leah and Emma. We are also proud grandparents of Mahala, Keenan and Charlotte. Praise be and glory to God in the Highest.”

— Pastor Peter Howard/northPoint

Pastor Horace Evans

Pastor Horace Evans says, “It is hard to describe in just a few short sentences what my life had become. I had a mother-inlaw who was seriously ill. I had started a mobile accounting service that only just managed to keep us afloat. My son Jyal had developed severe epilepsy and was having seizures every 15 to 20 minutes. We had consulted the specialist and nothing seemed to be working. The toll of trying to support my family emotionally and financially began to take its toll on me, and I became extremely depressed and began to cut myself off. I felt like a failure. I couldn’t support my family, I couldn’t do anything about my son, I was not in control of my life. There seemed no end in sight. I had finally got to the stage where I had nothing left to give. I was drained emotionally, spiritually and physically. I only had one place to turn.

“I finally realised that I needed a God solution, and so I asked my dad, Pastor Laurie Evans, and Sandra’s uncle Pastor George Quinlin, along with the local pastor, John Beck, to come and anoint Jyal. In the weeks leading up to the anointing, I so desperately wanted my son to be healed that I did not want anything in my own life to block God’s ability to work on him and on my family. So I did a lot of soul searching and I quickly realised that I needed a more intimate relationship with Him. When it came time to anoint Jyal, while I prayed for his healing, my main request was that no matter what happened, God would help me cope and rely on Him. It was at that moment that my burden was lifted. It was at that moment that my relationship with God transformed from a head knowledge to a heart response, and I knew what it meant to fully surrender to Him.

“We moved from Brisbane to Lismore to be closer to Sandra’s family and God answered our prayers by finding me employment with the local dairy factory in Casino, and God started working on me again. I felt this overwhelming sense that I was not fulfilling God’s plan for me. But I didn’t know what that plan was. I thought maybe He wanted me to do ministry, but I knew I couldn’t afford to go to Avondale with four kids, so I explored the possibility of going to Mamarapha. I was offered a job with a housing corporation in north Queensland and was assured that I would be given time off to attend Mamarapha. It felt like God was working things out. Then at Big Camp just before I was about to ring up and accept the job, Pastor John Lang approached me and asked if I was interested in starting up a ministry amongst the Aboriginal communities around Lismore as a part-time Bible worker. Sandra and I both quickly realised that God was calling us to ministry and we accepted the call.

“Unfortunately, my contract with the local dairy factory was due to run out in April and with four kids to support, I tried desperately to get some part-time work to complement the three days that I would be doing in ministry. It seemed no matter what I tried, I was unable to find part-time employment. We took it to God in prayer and on the day that my contract ran out with Richmond Dairies, I got a call from John asking if I was prepared to become a fulltime Bible worker.

“Praise God Jyal has been free from epilepsy since February 2005, and I wake up happy and content every morning knowing that I am doing what God wants me to do. We are all called by God and we can’t be truly happy until we fulfil His plan for us. The trick is to know what He expects of you and then to do it.”

— Pastor Horace Evans/northPoint

OUR COnFEREnCE Pastor Peter Watts

Pastor Peter Watts says, “I was born and raised in a secular home in Birmingham, England, for the first 26 years of my life. Though I had a happy childhood, I didn’t believe in God and had no understanding of the meaning of life or what I was meant to be. If God existed, He wasn’t interested in me, I thought. A workmate tried to share the Bible with me, but to no avail. Then one day I had an encounter with God when I saw a rainbow over the middle of the road on my way to work. Somehow, I knew God had put it there for me that day.

“I began studying the Bible with my former workmate and I was astonished at what I discovered. We began studying in a small group with others before attending the small church at Worcester. I came to Australia as a backpacker for a year, where I got baptised and met my wife Maree.

“I feel privileged to know God and the hope we have in the message of His Word. God has blessed me with a beautiful wife Maree and a wonderful son Daniel, who are both a great support to me. He has blessed me in so many other ways through experiences and opportunities in ministry. I feel compelled to share the Good news with others and I have a passion for evangelism, both personal and public. I thank God for all that He has done for me. Today I see God as my Heavenly Father, the Great Creator and the Good Shepherd. I pray that I will continue to serve Him all the days of my life, to the glory of God.”

— Pastor Peter Watts/northPoint

Central Coast Adventist School (CCAS) Principal Dean Bennetts has been appointed as the new CEO for the north new South Wales Adventist Education Company. Dean says of his appointment, “I am a dairy farmer by birth, an art teacher by training, a principal by career and now a CEO by surprise!”

After graduating from Avondale College in 1989, Dean worked at Lilydale Adventist Academy for eight years — “Three as a teacher and assistant boys’ dean, and then five as deputy principal,” he says. “I have spent the past 17 years at CCAS. I leave CCAS not because I have had enough or feel that we have achieved our God-led goals in their entirety. I leave because I do believe in the possibility and opportunity of our Adventist school system. This change allows me to honour my family by finding a new phase of my work life that allows us to stay in our home, our local church, with our friendship group, with my kids’ school, etc.”

Dean says of his family, “I have two kids and one wife, and that is enough of both for me to try and keep up with. My kids are my joy and my wife is my best friend.”

When it comes to his vision for the Education Company, he says, “A professional and personal alignment is hard to ignore. I’m excited to work with the current leadership team of the church and to work in partnership with the Education Company’s team. I seek for us to take on board the idea of collective capability, not just inside ‘school land,’ but also in ‘church land.’”

Dean notes, “Together in partnership, the collective is far more capable and can be far more effective than in isolation. I say that because for me the ‘Three Ms’ matter.”

These “Three Ms” are Mission, Money and Manpower, which Dean describes thusly:

Mission — “Heaven does not have a ‘no Vacancy’ sign up and education should be working in partnership with all church entities to spread the Good news.”

Money — “Education is a business, but it is God’s business and we need to be thoroughly professional, but equally intentionally prayerful as to how we act as His stewards.”

Manpower — “People are our greatest resource, and we need to ensure that policy and process, system and procedures underwrite this attitude at all levels.”

Dean adds, “I am excited about what is possible. I am humbled to be given this opportunity and I honour the conference leadership for considering approaching education in a different way to how we have done it for the past 100 years. Let the adventure begin!”

— Adele Nash/Dean Bennetts

Dean Bennetts appointed as first Education Company CEO

OUR COnFEREnCE Building our sister conference relationship with Fiji Mission

The north new South Wales (nnSW) Conference has boosted its commitment to its sister conference partnership with the Fiji Mission by establishing a team to work toward assisting the mission with resources and finances. There is also a focus on encouraging church members to take part in this by making donations to assist the Fiji Mission in key areas.

“The Fiji Mission is our conference’s sister mission, and it has been our desire to make the relationship stronger and more meaningful so it’s not just tokenism,” says Pastor Justin Lawman, President of the nnSW Conference. “A number of guys from the Fiji Mission came to Big Camp this year, and we met to discuss what we could do together while there” (pictured, right).

At the May meeting of the Conference Executive Committee, Pastor Murray Chapman was approved to chair a committee that will work to connect the Fiji Mission with resources that will best assist them. “There are a number of professionals and educators who have a passion to help the mission who are on the committee too,” says Pastor Lawman. “We want to ensure we listen to the needs of the Fiji Mission, then align them with the people and resources that will help them most.”

Pastor Chapman likewise emphasises the importance of alignment, while also noting the importance of transparency. “One of the issues we talked about with the Executive Committee is the idea of financial transparency,” he says. “We want to ensure we have structures in place so any money donated by church members gets to the project it’s intended for.”

There has been a strong connection between the nnSW Conference and the Fiji Mission for a number of years, particularly with schools who have established relationships there. These include Tweed Valley Adventist College (TVAC), whose Year 12s take an annual trip to navasau School, and Kempsey Adventist School (KAS), whose students

have gone to Suva Adventist College for the past “five or six years,” according to Pastor Chapman.

The committee includes KAS Principal Rohan Deanshaw, and Phil Hawkins, who is the business manager for TVAC, KAS and Blue Hills College. “He has strong connections to the Fiji Mission too,” says Pastor Chapman. The committee has been replicated in Fiji, and will work to identify and oversee projects. Work is also being undertaken to support the Fiji Mission in establishing natural Church Development.

“I have a growing conviction that the best way we can help is by sharing the knowledge and expertise of people in our team here. The wisdom and expertise that our people have will be of enormous value,” says Pastor Chapman. As an example of where the nnSW Conference could provide assistance to the Fiji Mission, Pastor Chapman notes that Suva Adventist College has some “particular challenges,” with significant structural issues with some of their buildings.

For more information, please contact Pastor Murray Chapman via <wmurraychapman@ gmail.com>.

— Adele Nash

Soil-turning ceremony for new Wauchope Church property

On a pleasant Sunday afternoon last December, members of Wauchope Church gathered together on a semi-rural block of land. The outlook was lovely — grassy open spaces, sloping land and a beautiful dam complete with water lilies.

It was a day that church members had been awaiting for quite a while. The time had come to commence the building of their new church — time to dedicate the land to God and turn over the first spade of soil.

The ceremony was also attended by some members from Port Macquarie and Telegraph Point Churches, as well as the builders and the north new South Wales Conference President, Pastor Justin Lawman.

The land has been generously donated by church member June Moe, who lives next door and it is her scenic outlook that the church members will be sharing. June also participated in the soil-turning ceremony.

The new building has been in the planning stages for a couple of years and the building committee have spent many countless hours working on its development.

They are convinced that God has been leading them and have many stories to tell of the blessings God has bestowed upon the project.

The new church is on King Creek Road and when completed will include the church, kitchen and assorted Sabbath school rooms all under one roof. That will be a pleasant change from the old church with its leaky roof and the dash-in-the-rain to Sabbath school classrooms!

The old church, although much loved, had simply been outgrown. It was sold in early 2013 and worship services have since been held in the local Senior Citizen’s Hall.

The building of the new church is progressing well and it’s hopeful that the church members can take possession of it by the end of 2014.

— Maureen Bradley

Wallsend celebrates 110 years in their community

OUR CHURCHES

[Fund]Raising hope for nepal

In late 2013, friends and former members of Wallsend Adventist Church shared a weekend of celebration and remembrance to mark 110 years in their community.

Running over Friday and Saturday, guests enjoyed reminiscing with old and new friends. Many shared public testimonies of how the church community had impacted, or continues to impact, their lives. Attendees both young and old shared moving testimonies of the importance of their church family, including remembering those who have passed away over the years.

Pastor Laurie McMurtry (a former minister at Wallsend Adventist Church) shared a powerful Sabbath sermon that reflected on the incredible guidance of God throughout the history of Wallsend Adventist Church, and challenged the church family to continue following his lead into the future.

During the celebrations, the church also thanked God for the recent completion of their new facility and a plaque was presented to builder George norris to place in the facility.

— Nathan Hawkins

In 2011, a Coffs Coast Sabbath school class made the decision to give hope to two nepali children through the Asian Aid sponsorship program. “It was our way of creating a continuous, sustainable outreach to children in need,” said Keith Ratliff, a member of the Coffs Coast Sabbath school class. “We figured that for less than a cup of coffee each, collectively we would be able to sponsor two children.”

Believing that it is the small things that make a difference, the special “sponsorship” box is passed around the 15 to 20 members of the Sabbath school class each week, with people eagerly giving a few dollars each to help their sponsor children in nepal.

And when the Asian Aid mail arrives — having travelled thousands of kilometres across oceans and countries — the class love sharing the much-anticipated letters and photographs with each other.

“We love children. We recognise the importance of Christian educational support. And we recognise that God has blessed us and wish to pass that on,” says Keith.

Last year, the class also decided to fund two uterine prolapse surgeries for women in nepal through Asian Aid.

“It has been extremely satisfying to recognise the difference we can make to those who find life more challenging than us,” says Keith.

Asian Aid wishes to thank the Coffs Coast Sabbath school class — and the many other churches and Sabbath school classes in north new South Wales — for supporting and helping children who need continued love and care.

Rama Basnet, the director of the school in nepal where the Coffs Coastsponsored children attend, also thanks Asian Aid sponsors for their continued: “Love, goodwill, and passion to help the needy from a far away country.”

— Genevieve Milenkov (a year 10 student from Avondale School writes during her recent work experience at Asian Aid) and Sonja Larsen

You can also sponsor a child or donate to a project through Asian Aid Australia by: Choosing a Country — Choosing a Child or Project in that Country — Donating and/or Sponsoring. Visit <www.asianaid.org.au/ mygift>, or call (02) 6586 4250 to make a tax-deductible donation by 30 June 2014, and you will reduce your tax at the same time.

OUR CHURCHES

Kudos for kindness: Manifest award not for creativity in art, but life

Sacred concert held at Lakeside

In March, Lakeside Church hosted a sacred concert. The church was full and all enjoyed the talents of the performers, as well as the spiritual impact of the items. The concert began with items from the newly-formed choir for the children of the church.

An Avondale alumnus who has represented Australia at five Olympics was the recipient of the Manifest Creative Arts Festival’s most prestigious award this year.

Graeme Frauenfelder received the Gabe Reynaud Award during a ceremony also named in honour of the pioneering Seventh-day Adventist filmmaker. The award recognises excellence in faithful creativity.

“Graeme’s the most creative person I know,” says friend Dr Wayne French, chaplain on Avondale College of Higher Education’s Lake Macquarie campus. The two have known each other for more than 20 years. “But he’s not an artist, as such. Creativity is not about art; it’s about looking at something in a different way. And that’s what Graeme does over and over again.”

Graeme is a casual academic at the University of Western Sydney, a storyteller and a trainer who “opens hearts, inspires kindness and awakens creativity.”

But he is best known as a clown, particularly at community-building festivals coordinated by Christians during the past five summer Olympics. He regularly travels the world — a camp for those displaced by the Sichuan earthquake in China, cross-cultural community-building and enrichment festivals in Johannesburg, South Africa, and creativity training in villages in Zambia — to enrich the lives of others.

Graeme says yes to almost every opportunity, “even if I have little or no idea about what to do. I just figure it out, and I end up discovering more about myself and my abilities than I dreamed I ever would.”

Graeme’s philosophical approach and sophisticated intentionality to the practice of creativity is impressive, says Manifest co-convenor Joanna Darby, an Avondale alumna and artist who is a previous recipient of the Gabe Reynaud Award. “But what’s more impressive: he’s persisted without privilege, often without funding or institutional support, and he’s consistent, pouring creativity into his personal relationships and daily interactions with people.”

— Brenton Stacey

Find out more about the Manifest Creative Arts Festival at <www.artsmanifest.info>.

The group has been organised by Kylie Stacey and ngareta Rorich, and is ably led by Diane Grieve. Following this, item several of the younger members played the piano. The Lakeside Vocal Ensemble performed several brackets of songs, which were very well received. This group, led by Clive McMahon, is an excellent addition to church programs. There were also items by others which included solos, duets and a recitation. During the evening, a freewill offering was lifted to raise funds for much-needed sound equipment. A total of more than $700 was raised. The concert was organised by Alexis Deves, who was also responsible for the organisation of the church’s Christmas concert.

— Pam Hill

Bray Park’s successful health series

Bray Park Adventist Church was blessed by Dr John G Clark from America, who came to take the nature’s Remedies Health Training Program over two weekends in March.

Dr Clark and his family travel across America sharing knowledge on the causes of many common lifestyle diseases from which many people suffer. They offer practical tips on how to take advantage of the Lord’s health-giving remedies to prevent, and even reverse, these debilitating conditions. Some of the 13 subjects were diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and high blood pressure.

The program was advertised in the local paper, and also through flyers and letterboxing. Over the two weekends, more than 120 people attended the meetings, with 40 nonAdventists coming along to learn how to change their lifestyle to better living and health.

A survey was handed out for people to fill in information about what they would like to see in follow-up programs, and it had a great response. The local community wanted cooking demonstrations, Bible studies, Bible prophecy presentations and depression recovery programs. God has really blessed this program, and we all pray that the Holy Spirit will work on the lives of those who came to change their lifestyles.

— Lois Chilton

Graeme Frauenfelder accepting the Gabe Reynaud Award at the Manifest Creative Arts Festival, which was held from Thursday, 20 March to Sunday, 23 March this year.

World Day of Prayer

This year, Lakeside Church had the privilege of hosting the local World Day of Prayer. This is a yearly event, which is shared around all the churches in the Morisset area, but is also a world-wide event. This year the theme was Egypt, and the program was written by churches in Egypt.

People from many of the churches in the area participated in the prepared readings. A highlight was a group of Year 6 students from Avondale Primary, who dressed in Egyptian costumes, marched in waving banners and flags, and took part in the readings. This was organized by Dr Andy Matthes and Deb Cooper, Principal of Avondale Primary. The church was tastefully decorated in an Egyptian theme, with special thanks to Jan and Claire Bernoth for the beautifully-painted backdrops on the theme. Thanks also to Jenny Howard for the organisation of the morning. Lakeside members found it a real privilege to sit and share with Christians from other denominations over a meal, which was primarily provided by the Lakeside women.

— Pam Hill

OUR CHURCHES

Quilts for refuge clients

Dora Creek Craft Group members are keen to put their talents to good use. Having received donations of various types and sizes of coloured cloth, they set about making quilts to give to clients of the Southlakes Women’s Refuge.

As there are often children being accommodated with their mothers, the group made adult- and child-sized articles to donate to the refuge’s clients.

3ABn produces local children’s show

program airs every Sunday at 7:00pm and Wednesday at 9:00am (AEST). Already some very interesting guests have given their testimonies or spoken of the work God has given them to do.

Guests have included Julian Archer, Dennis Perry, Drs John Ashton and David Pennington and Pastors Justin Lawman, Geoff Youlden, Len Barnard and Peter Watts. As 3ABn continues to produce this program, they would like to hear from those who have a special ministry or testimony of how God has brought them through difficult times — and especially from those where God has used 3ABn to bring them to Jesus. 3ABn would also like to hear from potential musical artists who would like to bless viewers with their music.

3ABn Australia has produced a new children’s television program called “A Day With The King.”

The series of 13 episodes debuted on 3ABn International Channel in May. Each episode includes a story time with Dr John Hammond, filmed on location at “Sunnyside,” and music with Pastor Rick Ferret.

The series been developed to teach children about the Sabbath and to lead them on a Bible study through the book of Genesis. A special children’s daily devotional, with a separate booklet that matches each weekly episode, will be available for download every week at <www.adaywiththeking.com>. There is a special mascot for this series. Be sure to check him out and find out what he is on his own page on the site called “Teddy’s Corner.”

The target audience is six- to 12-year-olds, but the 3ABn team is sure all ages will enjoy these productions and be blessed by them. It is their aim to teach children so they can be strong in their faith in God, the Bible and the Adventist Church.

You can view the programs every Friday at 3:30pm and it is repeated each Sabbath morning at 7:30am (both Australian Eastern Standard Time). Have the children watch while you get ready for church! Be sure to have your children and grandchildren watch these special programs — produced with them in mind.

Also, don’t forget to watch 3ABn Australia’s interview program “3ABn now.” This

The 3ABn team invites you to watch and enjoy seeing local programming on 3ABn now that they are using the new Australian Production Centre in Morisset. All music used on these programs was recorded at the Morisset studios.

— Rosemary Malkiewycz

If you would like to join others from Australia on the 3ABN Bible Enrichment Tour of Israel in November, please contact 3ABN Australia on (020 4973 3456 or <3abnaustralia@3abn.org> for a brochure or more information. This is a tour of a lifetime at a very good price. They’d love to have you join them!

Three members of the craft group recently presented the quilts to Vivian Killick, Director of the Southlakes Women’s Refuge.

— Pastor George Drinkall

From left to right: Dora Creek Church’s Women’s Ministries leader Dorothy Bowd, Adele Were, Southlakes Women’s Refuge Director Vivian Killick and Ann Prichard with a selection of quilts made by the Dora Creek Craft Group.

FEATURES

Why Australia?

After much discussion and prayer with the elders and associate pastors, David has also presented a vision for the growth of the church, a vision that the church has supported with a resounding vote of confidence.

One of the most sought-after speakers in the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church has put his international commitments on hold to pastor a church on the north coast of new South Wales. After spending the past seven years travelling the globe winning souls for the Lord in big cities and the far reaches of the earth, Pastor David Asscherick has moved his attention — and family — to the small coastal community of Kingscliff. The American evangelist says there are two primary reasons for making such a dramatic change.

“The first is that our family needs some settling down,” he says. “Our kids are just coming into their teen years and so the need for them to have some significant stability over the next five to seven years was really obvious to us. The second reason is that my ministry relationships — because they have been a weekend here, a week there, a month somewhere else — have been largely based upon breadth and not depth, and I have been craving depth; seeing people baptised, mentored and discipled and being involved in ministry. You get to see glimpses of that when you’re travelling, but not the whole picture and I’m just longing for that. I just love people. I just want to see people go from A to B, B to C, C to D and right through,” David says. His wife Violeta agrees. She’s thrilled to be given the opportunity to be a part of a church community as a pastor’s wife.“It’s time to settle. We haven’t had a ‘real’ home for a long time. We’ve had a place to come back to, but we haven’t been able to be there to enjoy it much, so I’m looking forward to having that for my boys,” Violeta says. “While it was a tough decision, I’m super excited to see what the Lord is going to do for us, and I’m looking forward to getting to know people better and deeper.”

Pastor Asscherick makes no secret of the fact that his favourite country in the world is new Zealand, so why come to Kingscliff across the “ditch” in Australia?

“You know, it’s funny, the short version is that they asked us! We’d already been here three years in a row for Bible Boot Camp and ARISE. We could already see providence opening the door, we knew a lot of the people, we knew the culture of the church, the culture of the conference, so we just felt really good about it,” he says.

In an unusual turn of events, former Kingscliff minister Pastor Marcus Mundall played a key role in the appointment of Pastor Asscherick to the job. Their families went on a bird-watching holiday together in April last year, and Marcus felt moved to suggest the idea to David. “I was just really impressed that we needed someone like David Asscherick in this part of the world,” Marcus says. “What pastor wouldn’t be thrilled to have a great evangelist like him take over their church?”

They committed the idea to prayer and, over the coming months, God took care of the rest, paving the way for the Asschericks to relocate to Australia and for the Mundalls to move south to Kempsey, where Marcus is enjoying ministering to a smaller church and community.

While David has been somewhat consumed by the three-month ARISE discipleship program that has just wrapped up at Kingscliff, he has jumped into his new role “boots and all,” not shying away from the more delicate or difficult issues within the church.

The coastline surrounding Kingscliff is the fastest-growing area of Australia, with thousands of people making the “seachange” each year. The conference is planning a church plant in nearby Tweed Heads, and David too sees a lot of ministry opportunities here. “Totally. That’s one of the things that’s so exciting — I feel like the potential here both in the church and the community is just fantastic. Kingscliff Church has so much going for it and yet I feel like the ceiling for the church is much higher than is currently being attained. I just think we need to be more directional, with a betterdefined process for evangelism, for discipleship,” he says. “I wouldn’t want to be misunderstood on this, but I think that the church is coasting a little bit on its talent and that’s making it kind of easy. However, if we really put our nose to the grindstone so-to-speak, and said, ‘Man I want to really do something big for Jesus, I really want to make an impact for the Kingdom of Heaven,’ then I think the sky is the limit for a church like this.”

Overall, the church has responded optimistically to its new pastor, according to leading elder David north. “I think Kingscliff is ready,” he says. “I think for the most part we’re really motivated with evangelism. We’ve had some positive experiences with the things that we’ve tried and overall we’re wanting to grow that, and be more intentional about what we do.”

However, some church members are apprehensive about having a “celebrity” pastor. Visits to the church’s website and Facebook page have increased dramatically, with regular inquiries about when Pastor Asscherick is preaching. Sabbath attendance numbers have spiked also. Some members of other churches have made it clear that they intend to sell their house and move to Kingscliff because Pastor Asscherick is now the minister!

David says there is a risk of Kingscliff becoming the “celebrity church” or “weekend church” for many people. “This is God’s church and everyone is welcome,” he says. “However, if you’re going to come here, then we invite you to please get involved and help us to reach the community.”

Pastor Asscherick has significantly reduced his international commitments to focus on his new role, and will only travel for a couple of months of the year, primarily to record programs and to preach in televised settings, plus fulfil his commitment to the annual ARISE program in the US.

Pastor Asscherick and Violeta have wasted no time working to create the stability they desire for their family. They are looking for a home near the church and have enrolled sons Landon and Jabel into Tweed Valley Adventist College, where they are both thriving.

Being very active, the family is also enjoying the beach lifestyle that the area offers. “My whole life I’ve wanted to be a good surfer,” Pastor Asscherick says. “I’ve been pretty good at other board sports, but surfing has eluded me because I’ve never been able to do it regularly. I’ve told some friends recently that I’m either going to become a good surfer or die trying, so I hope it’s the former and not the latter!”

— Summer Lockley

Photos courtesy of Nathan Marshall

FEATURES

The Killing Fields: Once seen, never forgotten

spectre of the Killing Fields. The visit to S21 and the Killing Fields was a sobering reminder to the group of the sacred nature of their visit.

It will take forever for Cambodia to recover, and to do their bit, the group of 20 students and 17 adults moved on to the little village of Chom Trou and spent six days visiting local schools to teach about hygiene practices and helped to build two houses in the village. They spent a night sleeping in the local houses, having first purchased basic essentials, which they left behind as gifts on departure. A week without airconditioning and living under the most basic conditions is hard work, but the gratitude of the Cambodians just cannot be expressed in words.

The dictator Pol Pot has the unenviable distinction of exterminating nearly a third of his own people. From 1975, between one and three million Cambodians died during the three years, eight months and 20 days of his unbelievably despotic rule. The sheer brutality of the Khmer Regime, surely under the generalship of Satan himself, used the most sadistic methods imaginable to destroy their own people in order to stamp out any form of religion and resistance.

To complete the destruction, the country was forced to reset their calendar to zero and even the wearing of glasses was sufficient for anyone to be accused of being an intellectual, thus occasioning a one-way trip to the Killing Fields. An estimated three million Cambodian would be annihilated by bullet, axe, shovel blow to the back of the head, plastic bag suffocation, unspeakable torture or by starvation — the autogenocidal victims of Pol Pot’s ruthless bid to “purify” Cambodia

I sat in my comfortable seat at the Avondale Memorial Church on Sabbath, 15 February, and listened soberly as students from our own conference testified to their life-changing visit to Cambodia a few weeks before. The presence of the Killing Fields still pervades this beautiful country, where the entire generation that would have driven the country forward has been wiped out. Even babies were slaughtered in their hundreds of thousands in order that they might not extract revenge on behalf of their parents. The needs of this beautiful, but impoverished country cannot be understood in the context of our secure life in Australia.

Thus, the trip began with a socially obligatory visit to the execution and torture centre, formerly a school but now known as S21 because the country is still haunted by the

The two houses the group worked on included one for a single mother trying to keep her family together. The gift of a home and food supplies is making all the difference in the life of this young mother. They also took the time to visit schools and teach children about personal hygiene and treat them for head lice. Furthermore, much of the money they had spent a year fundraising was contributed to a school being built in the village so all the local children have the chance of an education.

Just pause and think about these students who are our leaders-in-training. They could well have pooled their money for a resort-style holiday or some other indulgence. Instead, they raised money for a school. Australian money goes a long way in Cambodia. The reports that they gave in our church clearly indicated that they were greatly moved by what they had seen and experienced. They returned older in experience and wisdom. We really should be very proud of them.

— As told by Helen Lindsay to Dr John Hammond

Picture Rolls: Do You Remember?

They were there long before the iCloud, the internet, Facebook, emails and all of the other methods of communication that we take for granted as part of everyday life.

In fact, how did we exist without them? But many people still do, and that is exactly why Picture Rolls are still a medium that reaches people. This is particularly true in parts of our division’s Island territories, where literacy is still at very low levels in some places. As the old proverb says, “One picture is worth a thousand words.”

We at the Signs Publishing Company and Adventist Media network wish to meet that need by developing and printing two types of Picture Rolls to fill this void, and to give a tool to our members that will reach hearts and change lives with the life-saving message of the Gospel.

One focus will be Bible stories that can be used in Children’s Ministries and Sabbath school. These can also be used by others in telling the Gospel message through these stories to those who have never heard them.

The second focus will be to produce an evangelistic resource that deals with Bible prophecies and great Bible truths. These can be used for evangelism in areas where it is impossible to rely on electronic media. These will become a saleable item once they are produced, but there is considerable costs in setting up the artwork and text to get them ready for printing.

If you would like to partner with us in this outreach project or if you have questions, please contact Pastor Kevin Geelan, Sales Manager, Signs Publishing Company, via <kevin. geelan@signspublishing. com.au>, or by phoning (03) 5965 6300 or 0409 955 517.

— Pastor Kevin Geelan