Adventist World NAD may 2011

4HE )NTERNATIONAL 0APER FOR 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS

-AY

!

(AND /UT AND A(AND

5P

&REEDOM TO #HOOSE

!

(OUSE OF 'OD AND A (OUSE OF ,OSS

% ND TIME 3YMBOLS OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT

-AY # ( 5 2 # ( 7 / 2 + 3

7ORLD 6IEW 7ORLD 2EPORT # / 6 % 2 3 4 / 2 9

! (AND /UT AND A (AND 5P

"Y !DUGNAW 7ORKU 'OD S PROVIDENCE PUT HIM IN PLACES HE COULDN T HAVE IMAGINED

.EWS 6IEWS /NE $AY #HURCH .!$ .EWS .!$ 5PDATE .!$ 0ERSPECTIVE

7ORLD 6ISTA

&REEDOM TO #HOOSE

$ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,

2OUGH %DGES

"Y 'ERALD ! +LINGBEIL (E KNOWS HOW TO POLISH (IS TREASURES ! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 , ) & %

7 / 2 , $ ( % ! , 4 (

(YPERTENSION "Y !LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES AND 0ETER . ,ANDLESS

! (OUSE OF 'OD AND A (OUSE OF ,OSS

"Y +IM 0APAIOANNOU 3PIRITUAL LESSONS FROM A CHURCH AND A CASINO " ) " , % 1 5 % 3 4 ) / . 3

. ! $ & % !4 5 2 %

7HEN 9OU #ARE %NOUGH "Y 3UNG + +WON

&REE TO #HOOSE "Y !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODRยคGUEZ

!DVENTIST #OMMUNITY 3ERVICES TAKES *ESUS MINISTRY AND MAKES IT REAL ! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 3 % 2 6 ) # %

"UILDING #HURCHES AND #HILDREN

"Y ,AURIE &ALVO 4AKING THE GOSPEL WHERE THE TERRITORY IS VAST AND THE CHALLENGES ARE DAUNTING

" ) " , % 3 4 5 $ 9

%ND TIME 3YMBOLS OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT "Y -ARK ! &INLEY

& 5 . $ ! - % . 4 ! , " % , ) % & 3

h/H (OW ) ,OVE 9OUR ,AW v

"Y ! 2AHEL 3CHAFER 3OME CHAFE AT 'OD S LAW /THERS KNOW BETTER $ ) 3 # / 6 % 2 ) . ' 4 ( % 3 0 ) 2 ) 4 / & 0 2 / 0 ( % # 9

!DAPTING THE 7RITINGS OF %LLEN 7HITE

"Y 7ILLIAM &AGAL 4IMES SITUATIONS AND LANGUAGES CHANGEย BUT NOT PRINCIPLES 4HE !DVENTIST 7ORLDยง )33.

ONE OF THE !DVENTIST 2EVIEWยง FAMILY OF PUBLICATIONS IS PRINTED MONTHLY BY THE 2EVIEW AND (ERALDยง 0UBLISHING !SSOCIATION #OPYRIGHT ร 3END ADDRESS CHANGES TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD 7EST /AK 2IDGE $RIVE

(AGERSTOWN -$ &OR INFORMATION ABOUT ADVERTISING CONTACT 'ENIA "LUMENBERG GBLUMENBERG RHPA ORG 02).4%$ ). 4(% 5 3 ! 6OL .O -AY

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

7 / 2 , $ % 8 # ( ! . ' %

4HE 0EOPLE S 0LACE ,ETTERS 4HE 0LACE OF 0RAYER .!$ ,ETTERS %XCHANGE OF )DEAS

7/2,$ 6)%7 7HEN WE SURVEY THE THINGS THAT COULD DIVIDE US LAN GUAGES CULTURES NATIONAL HISTORIES EVEN THE CYCLE OF THE HE DAFFODILS ARE EXQUISITELY YELLOW IN MY BACKYARD JUST NOW AND ) AM SEASONS IT IS A WONDER FROM A HUMAN POINT OF VIEW THAT TEMPTED TO RHAPSODIZE ABOUT THE JOYS OF BURSTING BUDS AND THIS REMNANT CHURCH EXISTS AT ALL -ANY OTHER FAITHS HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED WHAT OUR !DVENTISM CALLS US TO THEY CEL SURGING SAP "UT HALF A WORLD AWAY THOSE WHO SHARE MY EBRATE INSTEAD ALL THAT IS LOCAL UNIQUE PARTICULAR OR ETHNIC !DVENTIST FAITH ARE GATHERING FUEL FOR THE COMING WINTER

"UT THE ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE OF THIS MOVEMENT HAS NEVER HARVESTING CROPS AND lNDING WARMER CLOTHING BEEN NOR EVER WILL BE THE COMMONALITY OF OUR LIFE EXPERI ) SPEAK AND WRITE IN %NGLISH A HYBRID LANGUAGE OWING ENCES ! WORLD CIRCLING FAITH WILL lND ITS SOLE AND SATISFYING MUCH TO &RENCH 'ERMAN ,ATIN AND A DOZEN OTHER CENTER IN THE ,ORD WHO IS NOT KNOWN IN JUST ONE LANGUAGE

TONGUES "UT MILLIONS WHO READ THESE WORDS WILL GATHER WHAT MEANING IS CONVEYED IN AT LEAST LANGUAGES ) NEITHER IN ONE CULTURE OR IN ONE NATIONAL IDENTITY h(E HIMSELF IS BEFORE ALL THINGS v THE APOSTLE 0AUL WROTE READ NOR UNDERSTAND )N (EAVEN S PLAN THEIR FAITH IS NOT CENTURIES AGO hAND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER (E IS DEPENDENT ON THE ECCENTRICITIES OF MY MOTHER TONGUE THE HEAD OF THE BODY THE CHURCH HE IS THE BEGINNING THE ) DRIVE A CAR TO CHURCH EACH 3ABBATH AND VOICE COM lRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD SO THAT HE MIGHT COME TO HAVE lRST PLAINTS ABOUT THE RISING COSTS OF GASOLINE "UT FOR MILLIONS PLACE IN EVERYTHINGv #OL

.236

OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN #HRIST THE MILES BETWEEN 7HEN YOU PRAY INVITE 'OD S BLESSING ON FELLOW BELIEVERS THEIR HOMES AND THEIR PLACES OF WORSHIP ARE MEASURED ONE AROUND THIS GLOBE WHO DO NOT LOOK LIKE YOU SPEAK LIKE YOU

STEP AT A TIME ACROSS SAVANNAHS THROUGH JUNGLES DOWN EAT WHAT YOU EAT OR SING AS YOU SING )NTERCEDE FOR THEIR FAITH CROWDED URBAN STREETS 4HE FUEL THEY NEED IS FOUND IN THE FULNESS TO THE ,ORD WHO IS THE GREAT /NE WE HAVE IN COMMON FELLOWSHIP MEAL THEY SHARE AFTER THE WORSHIP SERVICE

"ILL +NOTT ) HAIL FROM PEOPLES WITH LONG ROOTS IN %NGLAND )TALY

AND !MERICA "UT FOR MILLIONS OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS IT IS DIFlCULT TO THINK OF THESE NATIONS WITHOUT ALSO REMEM

"IBLE TEXTS CREDITED TO .236 ARE FROM THE .EW 2EVISED 3TANDARD 6ERSION OF THE "IBLE COPYRIGHT BERING THE FOLLIES AND THE CONmICTS THAT HAVE MARRED THEIR Ú BY THE $IVISION OF #HRISTIAN %DUCATION OF THE .ATIONAL #OUNCIL OF #HURCHES OF #HRIST IN OWN HOMELAND S PEACE AND JOY THE 5 3 ! 5SED BY PERMISSION

7HO (OLDS 5S 4OGETHER

4

7/2,$ 2%0/24 N *UST TWO YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS FOLLOWING A DEVASTATING lRE AT THE "RITISH 5NION #ONFERENCE "5# OFlCES IN 7ATFORD %NGLAND 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE PRESIDENT 0ASTOR 4ED . # 7ILSON WAS ABLE TO STAND OUTSIDE THE DOORS OF THE REBUILT OFlCE AND CUT THE RIBBON TO THE APPLAUSE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED GUESTS WHO HAD GATHERED FROM AS FAR AWAY AS 3COTLAND AND )RELAND FOR THE OCCASION 7ILSON REmECTED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SPIES EXPLORING THE 0ROMISED ,AND THE NEGATIVISM OF BALANCED

BY THE POSITIVE NATURE OF #ALEB AND *OSHUA )T WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO BE

DISCOURAGED BY THE BURNT OUT SHELL OF A BUILDING BUT USING THE hGLASS HALF FULLv PRINCIPLE HE EXHORTED THE CON GREGATION WHICH INCLUDED THOSE WHO WORK IN THE OFlCE TO LOOK TO THE POSI TIVE AS THEY USE THE RESOURCES OF THE OFlCE TO SHARE THE !DVENTIST MESSAGE MORE FULLY IN THE "RITISH )SLES !RCHITECTS BUILDERS AND PLANNERS ALL HAD THEIR PART OF THE STORY TO TELL

BUT !LAN "URTENSHAW 7ATFORD TOWN COUNCILOR SUMMED IT UP IN COMMENT ING THAT THE NEW BUILDING HAD BLENDED THE BEST OF THE OLD WITH A NEW MODERN STYLE THAT AS "5# TREASURER 6ICTOR

6 ) # 4 / 2 ( 5 , " % 2 4 " 5 #

7ILSON /PENS 2EBUILT "RITISH !DVENTIST (EADQUARTERS

2)""/. #544).' 0ASTOR 4ED . # 7ILSON THIRD FROM LEFT PREPARES TO CUT RIBBON AT OPENING OF REBUILT "RITISH 5NION #ONFERENCE OFlCE IN 7ATFORD %NGLAND

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

0ILMOOR STATED DEMONSTRATED hTHE ROUNDEDNESS OF THE !DVENTIST FAITH

DREW ONE S EYES UP TOWARD HEAVEN AND OPENED UP THE VISTA OF THE @%DEN THAT IS THE 3TANBOROUGH 0ARK ESTATE v h)T WAS A PERFECT DAY v REmECTED !UDREY "ALDERSTONE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE 7ATFORD COMMUNITY 3HE WAS NOT REFERRING TO THE WEATHER WHICH AT TIMES WAS WET AND OVERCAST BUT TO THE EXHORTATION FROM 7ILSON THE UPLIFTING MUSIC OF THE !DVENTIST 6OCAL %NSEM BLE THE HISTORY OF THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IN THE "RITISH )SLES AND THE REDEDICATION OF THE "5# OFlCE "5# PRESIDENT $ON -C&ARLANE STATED HIS DELIGHT THAT THE REBUILDING PROCESS HAD PRODUCED AN OFlCE lT TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF A TWENTY lRST CEN TURY CHURCH h4HE CHALLENGE FOR US WHO WORK IN THE OFlCE IS NOW TO MAKE IT NOT MERELY A PLEASANT WORKPLACE v HE SAID hBUT A PLACE WHERE 'OD IS IMPACTING THE LIVES OF CHURCH LEADERS

AND WHERE WE ALLOW THE (OLY 3PIRIT TO TAKE PLANS AND IDEAS AND MAKE THEM INTO LIVING EXPERIENCES FOR 'OD S GLORY v ˆREPORTED BY 6ICTOR (ULBERT "RITISH 5NION #ONFERENCE COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR

6 ) # 4 / 2 * ( 5 , " % 2 4 " 2 ) 4 ) 3 ( 5 . ) / . # / . & % 2 % . # %

7/2,$ 2%0/24

!DVENTIST #HANNEL $RAWS 7IDE RANGING !UDIENCE IN -IDDLE %AST N ! 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST TELEVISION CHANNEL BASED IN "EIRUT ,EBANON

IS DRAWING EXTRAORDINARY ATTENTION 3HORTLY AFTER ITS LAUNCH THE !L 7AAD -EDIA #ENTER S !UDIENCE 2ELATIONS $EPARTMENT WITNESSED A SURGE IN THE NUMBER OF RECEIVED E MAILS AND VISITS TO THE !L 7AAD 0ROMISE #HANNEL 7EB SITE WWW AL WAAD TV !S VIEWERS BEGAN WATCHING THE BROADCAST OF !L 7AAD THEY GOT EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW #HRISTIAN CHANNEL 3O EXCITED THAT MANY OF THEM STARTED PROMOTING !L 7AAD #HANNEL ON THEIR OWN 7EB SITES

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

!, 7!!$ 4%!- %MPLOYEES OF THE NEW !L 7AAD 0ROMISE #HANNEL TELEVISION NETWORK STATION IN "EIRUT ,EBANON ARE INTRODUCED AT AN OPENING CEREMONY

h4O MY UTTER SURPRISE ) FOUND SO MANY OTHER 7EB SITES THAT HAVE WATCHED !L 7AAD ON 46 AND ARE PRO MOTING IT ON THEIR OWN 7EB SITES 4HEY VE PUT PICTURES OF THE BROADCAST

MADE LINKS TO OUR 7EB SITE POSTED THE FREQUENCY OF HOW TO lND !L 7AAD AND WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THIS CHANNEL v SAID 4AWlK -EGALLY AUDIO RELATIONS MANAGER AT THE !L 7AAD -EDIA #ENTER 4HE 7EB SITES THAT ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO WATCH !L 7AAD ARE NON !DVENTIST SOME OF THEM ARE #OPTIC /RTHODOX BUT MOST ARE HOSTED BY -USLIMS h) WAS AMAZED THAT THE LAUNCH OF !L 7AAD HAS MADE SUCH AN IMPACT HERE IN THE -IDDLE %AST !L 7AAD IS BEING SHARED BY WORD OF MOUTH BY VARIOUS 7EB SITES

BY CHURCH MEMBERS

BY E MAIL AND MORE v SAID -EGALLY ˆREPORTED BY !MIR 'HALI TED.%73 !DVENTUS 7EB 3ITE "RINGS !DVENTIST "OOKS TO 7IDE !UDIENCE N &INDING SCHOLARLY AND OTHER 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST BOOKS PARTICULARLY IN 3PANISH IS EASIER FOR INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS THANKS TO WWW !DVENTUS COM A NEW 7EB SITE DEVOTED TO THE SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH TITLES

h%DITORIAL !DVENTUS REPRESENTS AN INTERUNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP CREATED TO PROMOTE DISTRIBUTE AND PUBLISH ACA DEMIC BOOKS MAGAZINES AND RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS FRAMED IN ;THE= BIBLICAL #HRISTIAN WORLDVIEW FOR THE BENElT OF EDUCATORS LIBRARIES STU DENTS PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER READ ERS v THE SITE INDICATES IN A STATEMENT h/UR GOAL IS TO STIMULATE THE MIND AND

!DVENTUS 7EB 3ITE

! . 3 % , / , ) 6 % 2 ! . .

NURTURE THE SPIRIT OF AN INTERNA TIONAL CLIENTELE WITH READINGS AND VIDEOS IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES 4HE ELECTRONIC CATALOG ORGANIZED INTO CATEGORIES MAKES IT EASY TO BUY QUALITY PRODUCTS AT AFFORDABLE !BOVE &!-),9 42)"54% 3HIRLEY 7ILSON !NDERSON LEFT A PROFES PRICES v SOR AT 7ALLA 7ALLA 5NIVERSITY AND 0ASTOR 4ED . # 7ILSON RIGHT

4HE VENTURE IS THE BRAINCHILD PRESIDENT OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS

OF (UMBERTO - 2ASI A RETIRED SPEAK AT A *ANUARY

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THEIR FATHER

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION FOR THE 'EN FORMER '# PRESIDENT .EAL # 7ILSON WHO PASSED AWAY $ECEMBER ,EFT ERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENT !DVENTIST 2EVIEW #OVER ISTS (E SAID ANOTHER GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS hTO CREATE A CONSORTIUM OF !DVENTIST UNIVERSITIES IN ,ATIN !MERICA IN ORDER TO OBTAIN FUNDS WITH WHICH TO PUBLISH #HANNEL ONE OF THE (OPE #HANNEL . # 7ILSON .EAL 7ILSON S SON AND TEXTBOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS NEEDED IN NETWORKS CARRIED THE SERVICE WHICH CURRENT 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE PRESIDENT OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS v COULD ALSO BE VIEWED ON THE )NTERNET .OTING THE STRONG FAITH HE AND HIS ˆ!DVENTIST 7ORLD STAFF h4HIS IS NOT A TIME WHEN WE GIVE FATHER SHARED IN THE BIBLICAL TEACHING DEATH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REIGN OVER ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF THE RIGH US v DECLARED #HARLES % "RADFORD WHO TEOUS AT THE SECOND COMING OF *ESUS

.EAL 7ILSONnh-ENTOR v h-AN OF FOLLOWED 7ILSON AS A PRESIDENT OF THE 7ILSON SAID CONlDENTLY h) WILL SEE MY 6ISION v AND h$ADDYvn2EMEMBERED .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION h.EAL 7IL FATHER AGAIN v AT 7ORLD (EADQUARTERS 3ERVICE SON HAS CONQUERED ALL THROUGH HIS "Y -ARK ! +ELLNER .EWS %DITOR ,ORD AND 3AVIOR *ESUS #HRIST v !DVENTIST 7ORLD 2ADIO (OLDS N .EAL #LAYTON 7ILSON AN YEAR 4HROUGHOUT THE TWO AND A HALF !SIA 0ACIlC !DVISORY PRESIDENT OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE HOUR EVENT SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER NOTED N &IFTEEN COUNTRIES IN THE !SIA '# OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS

7ILSON S DEDICATION TO THE MISSION OF 0ACIlC REGION WERE REPRESENTED AT THE WAS REMEMBERED AT A *ANUARY

THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH ONE QUINQUENNIAL ADVISORY OF THE !DVENTIST

MEMORIAL SERVICE AS ONE WHOSE THAT DOMINATED HIS DECADES OF SERVICE 7ORLD 2ADIO !72 &EBRUARY AND hMAGNIlCENT OBSESSIONv WAS hTHE TO THE MOVEMENT !S A CHILD OF MIS

ON THE ISLAND OF "ATAM )NDONESIA BLESSED HOPE OF *ESUS RETURN FOR (IS SIONARIES A MISSIONARY HIMSELF AND AS 4HE !SIA 0ACIlC REGION COMPRISES CHILDREN v A CONFERENCE UNION CONFERENCE DIVI THREE WORLD DIVISIONS OF THE 3EVENTH SION AND WORLD CHURCH LEADER 7ILSON S DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 3OUTHERN !SIA 7ILSON WHO SERVED AS '# PRESI FOCUS ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE THREE 0ACIlC $IVISION 33$ WITH HEAD DENT FROM TO AND WAS ANGELS MESSAGESnTHE TEXTS IN 2EVELA INSTRUMENTAL IN THE EXPANSION OF QUARTERS IN THE 0HILIPPINES .ORTHERN TION THAT PRESAGE *ESUS RETURNnWAS !DVENTIST 7ORLD 2ADIO THE !DVENTIST !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION .3$ 3OUTH PARAMOUNT $EVELOPMENT AND 2ELIEF !GENCY +OREA AND 3OUTHERN !SIA $IVISION (E hSTOOD AS A TOWER OF RIGHTEOUS 35$ )NDIA !$2!

AND OF THE CHURCH IN THE FOR !TTENDEES AT THIS TWO DAY EVENT WERE MER 3OVIET 5NION DIED $ECEMBER NESS IN A DESERT OF DESPAIR AND HE

AT THE AGE OF FOLLOWING A LONG BROUGHT HOPE TO OUR HEARTS v SAID # $ COMMUNICATION DIRECTORS !72 STUDIO DIRECTORS AND PROGRAM PRODUCERS 0RE ILLNESS (IS WIFE %LINOR SURVIVES AS DO "ROOKS WHOM 7ILSON CALLED TO BE A UNION CONFERENCE EVANGELIST "ROOKS SENTERS AT THE ADVISORY INCLUDED $OWELL TWO SISTERS A BROTHER A SON A DAUGH SAID 7ILSON WAS LOVED IN THE !FRICAN #HOW !72 WORLD PRESIDENT 'REG TER FOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND FOUR !MERICAN COMMUNITY FOR HIS STAND 3COTT !72 VICE PRESIDENT +ENT 3HARPE

GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AGAINST RACISM AND FOR RECONCILIATION !72 VICE PRESIDENT FOR lNANCE #LAUDE ! TOTAL OF !DVENTIST LEADERS OR WITHIN THE !DVENTIST MOVEMENT 2ICHLI DIRECTOR FOR MARKETING AND ASSO 7ILSON FAMILY MEMBERS PAID TRIBUTE h/UR PARENTS WERE WONDERFUL PAR CIATE PUBLISHER OF !DVENTIST 2EVIEW AND TO .EAL 7ILSON IN FRONT OF A LIVE CON ENTS AND WE WERE BLESSED TO GROW UP !DVENTIST 7ORLD MAGAZINES AND TWO GREGATION OF MORE THAN AT THE IN A #HRISTIAN HOME v SAID 0ASTOR 4ED !72 BOARD MEMBERS $YANE 0ERGERSON WORLD HEADQUARTERS (OPE #HURCH -AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

7/2,$ 2%0/24 #ONTINUED FROM PAGE AND $ON -ARTIN *ONATHAN 7AGIRAN !72 !SIA 0ACIlC DIRECTOR AND !NNISTON -ATHEWS

!72 PROGRAM DIRECTOR COORDINATED THE EVENT AND MADE PRESENTATIONS !72 USES SHORTWAVE RADIO AS ITS MEDIUM AND ENGAGES OTHER MEDIA

SUCH AS THE )NTERNET PODCASTS I4UNES

AND SOCIAL NETWORKS SUCH AS &ACEBOOK AND 4WITTER 'REG 3COTT EMPHASIZED THE IMPOR TANCE OF ADHERENCE TO COPYRIGHT LAWS /N THIS TOPIC $ON -ARTIN EMPHASIZED THAT hBROADCAST PRODUCERS MUST BE EXTRA CAREFUL BY USING COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS ONLY WITH PROPER PERMISSION AND CREDITS v )NFORMATION ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS WAS GIVEN BY +ENT 3HARPE TO ESTABLISH NEW PROJECTS FOR THE ADVANCE MENT OF THE !72 MINISTRY 7AGIRAN GAVE AN EXTENSIVE REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF !72 IN THE !SIA 0ACIlC REGION AND OUTLINED HIS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE $URING THE SESSION IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT )NDONESIA WAS RATED SECOND TO THE 5NITED 3TATES IN THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS SUCH AS &ACEBOOK

WHICH CAN BE ENGAGED INTO DISTRIBUTING !72 PROGRAMS THAT ARE EASILY ACCES SIBLE THROUGH MOBILE PHONES ˆREPORTED BY 3AMUEL 3IMORANGKIR

3OUTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION

!72 3%-).!2 $ELEGATES FROM COUNTRIES ATTENDED AN !DVENTIST 7ORLD 2ADIO SEMINAR IN )NDONESIA 3 3 $ 0 ( / 4 /

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

0

ROPELLED BY THE FOCUS ON IMPROVING EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN )NTER !MERICA PRESIDENTS AND VICE PRESIDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS PRESIDENTS OF THEIR GOVERNING BOARDS MET FOR A SPECIAL SUMMIT TO REVIEW GOV ERNING FUNCTIONS MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES FOR UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE UNIVERSITIES IN THE TERRITORY -ORE THAN EDUCATION LEADERS MET TO RENEW THEIR COM MITMENT TO #HRISTIAN EDUCATION AS THEY GATHERED ON THE

)N

)NTER !MERICA

!DMINISTRATORS &OCUS

3PECIAL SUMMIT REVIEWS FUNCTIONS

"Y ,IBNA 3TEVENS

CAMPUS OF THE #ENTRAL !MERICAN !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY IN !LAJUELA #OSTA 2ICA -ARCH AND

h4HIS MEETING WAS THE lRST STEP TO ESTABLISHING GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AS IDENTIlED BY THE ADMINISTRATORS OF OUR INSTITUTIONS v SAID 'AMALIEL &LOREZ EDUCATION DIRECTOR FOR THE CHURCH IN )NTER !MERICA 5NIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS WERE ABLE TO SEE CLEARLY THE ROLE AND DUTY OF EACH GOVERNING BOARD OR ENTITY AND THE FUNC TIONS AS MANAGERS OF SUCH INSTITUTIONS EXPLAINED &LOREZ WHO WAS JOINED BY A TEAM OF SPEAKERS FROM THE )NTER !MERICAN $IVISION )!$ HEADQUARTERS OFlCE AS WELL AS THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS h4HE BOARDS SHOULD KNOW THAT THEIR ROLE IS TO GOVERN AND NOT TO MANAGE CLOSELY v ADDED &LOREZ h)N THE SAME WAY

ADMINISTRATORS WERE REMINDED THAT THEIR FUNCTION IS TO EXER CISE THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES WITHOUT TOUCHING THE AREAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNING BOARDS TO ACT v %ACH OF THE !DVENTIST INSTITUTIONS IN THE )!$ IS GOVERNED

BY THE BOARD OR GOVERNING BODY OF ITS RESPECTIVE UNION CON FERENCE 4HE ONLY EXCEPTION IS -ONTEMORELOS 5NIVERSITY IN NORTHERN -EXICO WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE DIVISION 5NIVERSITY LEADERS ALSO ESTABLISHED PARAMETERS FOR EVALU

* / . !4 ( ! . ! 2 ' 5 - % $ / ) ! $

!$-).)342!4/23 -%%4 5NIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS FROM THROUGHOUT )NTER !MERICA MET DURING A SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION 4HE SUMMIT TOOK PLACE AT #ENTRAL !MERICAN !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY IN !LAJUELA #OSTA 2ICA -ARCH AND

ON )MPROVING %DUCATIONAL )NSTITUTIONS

AND PROCEDURES FOR UNIVERSITIES

ASSISTANT COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR )NTER !MERICA $IVISION REPORTING FROM !LAJUELA #OSTA 2ICA

ATING INSTITUTIONS BY IDENTIFYING THE MOST EFlCIENT ADMIN ISTRATIVE PRACTICES AT WORK IN THEIR INSTITUTIONS )T WAS ALL PART OF A PROCESS TO IMPROVE !DVENTIST EDU CATION FOR THE NEARLY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE !DVENTIST UNIVERSITIES AND ONE JUNIOR COLLEGE IN )NTER !MERICA SAID &LOREZ OF THE MEETING )MPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTIONS WAS NOT ONLY A FOCUS OF THE SUMMIT BUT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERS TO RECOMMIT TO SHAPE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GROW SPIRITUALLY SO THEY CAN FULlLL THE PLAN 'OD HAS FOR THEM h9OU ARE NOT CALLED TO QUESTION THE PHILOSOPHY OF !DVENTIST #HRISTIAN EDUCATION v SAID &LOREZ hBUT TO GUAR ANTEE THAT THE INSTITUTION YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO MANAGE CAN CONTINUE FULlLLING ITS MISSION /UR INSTITUTIONS SHOULD SAFEGUARD AGAINST ANY NEGATIVE INmUENCE THAT CAN UNDER MINE STUDENTS BELIEFS OR DISTRACT THEM FROM BEING SAVED v )T S ABOUT PROVIDING AN EDUCATION THAT SHAPES THE KIND OF PROFESSIONALS SUITABLE TO PERFORM IN THEIR lELD OF KNOWLEDGE EXPLAINED &LOREZ h!RE OUR UNIVERSITIES CENTERS OF EDUCATION FOR THIS WORLD AND FOR ETERNITY !RE WE HELP ING OUR STUDENTS CULTIVATE A CLOSER COMMUNION WITH 'OD 4HESE ARE THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE PART OF A

THOROUGH EVALUATION OF OUR INSTITUTIONS v HE ADDED ,EADERS VOTED ON A STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT hTO PRO MOTE REFORM AND SPIRITUAL REVIVAL IN ALL OUR UNIVERSITIES

PLACING IN lRST PLACE THE SACRED 3CRIPTURES THE PERFECT NORM OF TRUTH AS A SOURCE OF ALL KNOWLEDGE AND PRAYER AS AN INSTRUMENT OF SPIRITUAL STRENGTHENING v AMONG OTHER DECLARATIONS 3PIRITUAL STRENGTHENING IS WHAT UNIVERSITY LEADERS FOCUSED ON AS THEY LED THEIR INSTITUTIONS ON A SPECIAL DAYS OF SPIRITUAL REVIVAL ACTIVITIES ACROSS THEIR CAMPUSES IN !PRIL 4HE SUMMIT CONCLUDED WITH A CEREMONY HONORING UNIVERSITY LEADERS FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE IN !DVENTIST #HRISTIAN EDUCATION 3PEAKERS WHO LED DURING THE SPECIAL SUMMIT INCLUDED ,OWELL #OOPER GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT OF THE !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH AND FROM THE )NTER !MERICAN $IVISION )SRAEL ,EITO PRESIDENT %LIE (ENRY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY &ILIBERTO 6ERDUZCO TREASURER -YRNA #OSTA VICE PRESI DENT 'AMALIEL &LOREZ EDUCATION DIRECTOR %FRAIN 6ELAS QUEZ ACADEMIC DEAN OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND %KEL #OLLINS VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS AT -ONTE MORELOS 5NIVERSITY -AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

7 / 2 , $ 6 ) 3 4!

&REEDOM#HOOSE TO

*ESUS DIED TO DEFEND OUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE

/

NE OF THE MOST FOUNDATIONAL OF OUR DISTINCTIVE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST BELIEFS BASED DIRECTLY ON 3CRIPTURE IS THE BELIEF IN FREEDOM OF CHOICE &REEDOM OF CHOICE IS REALLY THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE GREAT CONTROVERSY BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL )T REACHES FAR BACK TO BEFORE THE BEGIN NING OF TIME 'OD S SYSTEM OF GOVERN MENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN BASED ON (IS CHARACTER AFTER ALL h'OD IS LOVEv *OHN !NY OBEDIENCE THAT STEMS FROM FORCE OR FEAR IS CONTRARY TO 'OD S PRINCIPLES 4HE DEVIL ATTACKED THE FOUN DATION OF 'OD S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

BY CLAIMING THAT NO ONE WORSHIPS 'OD OUT OF LOVE ONLY OUT OF FEAR 3O 'OD PUT THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL IN THE 'ARDEN OF %DEN PROVID ING HUMAN BEINGS FREEDOM OF CHOICEˆ THE CHOICE TO OBEY (IM OR NOT !FTER OUR lRST PARENTS WERE ENTICED INTO CHOOSING 3ATAN S RULERSHIP THEY IN EFFECT LOST THEIR POWER OF CHOICE 4HERE WAS NO WAY BACK TO THE PERFECT STATE OF LOVING OBEDIENCE TO 'OD 4HE INITIATIVE HAD TO COME FROM OUTSIDE 'OD HAD A SOLUTION "EFORE THE CREATION OF THE EARTH 'OD THE &ATHER 'OD THE 3ON AND

4ED . # 7ILSON IS PRESIDENT OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

'OD THE (OLY 3PIRIT HAD FORMULATED THE PLAN OF SALVATION IN WHICH *ESUS WOULD TAKE OUR PLACE 3O #HRIST CAME TO THIS EARTH AND LIVED A LIFE OF LOVING OBEDI ENCE TO (IS &ATHER REFUTING 3ATAN S CLAIM THAT 'OD S LAW OF LOVE COULD NOT BE OBEYED (E THEN DIED FOR US AND PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS THAT WE MAY ONCE AGAIN HAVE THE POWER OF CHOICE #HRIST S WORK FOR OUR SALVATION DID NOT END WITH (IS DEATH ON THE CROSS (E IS INTERCEDING FOR US NOW IN THE -OST (OLY 0LACE IN THE HEAVENLY SANC TUARY 4HE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT BEGUN IN $AN REVOLVES LARGELY AROUND CHOICES AS THE RECORDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL S CHOICE FOR OR AGAINST 'OD IS BEING MADE PUBLIC 4HE (EART -UST "E IN )T

4HIS IS WHY 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS VIGOROUSLY PROMOTE THE PROTECTION OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS OF ANY PERSON 7E WANT TO PROTECT THE RIGHT OF EVERY PER SON TO MAKE A DECISION FOR 'OD /F COURSE WE DO NOT WANT TO PROTECT INAPPROPRIATE THINGS THAT ARE COM PLETELY AGAINST 'OD S LAW BUT WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE CHOICE OF BELIEVING IN A LOVING AND POWERFUL 'OD WHO HAS PROVIDED SALVATION FOR EACH OF US 7HILE WE WISH EVERYONE WOULD KNOW AND LOVE THE 'OD OF 3CRIPTURE WE DON T FORCE THIS ON ANY ONE &ORCING SOMEONE TO DO EVEN RIGHT THINGS GOES AGAINST 'OD S WILL AND

"Y 4ED . # 7ILSON

PLAYS INTO 3ATAN S LIE ABOUT 'OD 'OD MUST BE OBEYED OUT OF LOVE 4HIS IS THE ESSENCE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY )N MOST PLACES PEOPLE GENERALLY THINK THAT FREEDOM TO WORSHIP IS A GOOD THING -OST WOULD SAY THAT THEY BELIEVE IN RELIGIOUS LIBERTY 7HEN VISIT ING VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN WHICH FREE DOM OF CONSCIENCE IS ALLOWED ) THANK GOVERNMENT OFlCIALS FOR THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PROVIDED TO THEIR CITIZENS

INDICATING THAT THIS PRINCIPLE IS THE FOUNDATION OF A STRONG SOCIETY AND NATION "UT THE APPLICATION OF THIS PRINCIPLE IS OFTEN VERY DIFFERENT )N SOME PLACES WHERE NO RELIGIOUS EMPHASIS WAS ALLOWED IN THE PAST THE POLITICAL SCENE HAS CHANGED ONLY TO BE REPLACED BY A DOMINANT RELIGION THAT MAY BE HOSTILE TO OTHER RELIGIONS )T APPEARS THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT RELI GIOUS LIBERTY FOR THEMSELVES BUT NOT FOR OTHERS 4HIS SELECTIVE APPLICATION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS SOMETHING THAT 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS MUST GUARD AGAINST AND NEVER BE GUILTY OF EVEN AS WE GROW NUMERICALLY AND IN INmUENCE !S WE LOOK BACK IN HISTORY WE CAN SEE THAT WHENEVER RELIGION AND POLITICS ARE CLOSELY UNITED THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE /FTEN WHEN PREDOMINANT RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL AND POLITICAL LEVERAGE THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR DIMINISHING PERSONAL FREEDOMS FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE IN THE MAJORITY 4HIS IS WHY IT S IMPOR

' ! " 2 ) % , , ! & ! " " 2 )

TANT THAT 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS WORLDWIDE CONSTANTLY TAKE THE INITIA TIVE TO FAMILIARIZE LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS CIVIC LEADERS OTHER RELI GIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESS LEADERS WITH THE BELIEFS WE HAVE AND THE NEED FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY 4HIS MUST GO FURTHER THAN JUST A LIST OF BELIEFS AND MUST INCLUDE OUR APPROACH TO LIFE AS ADVOCATES OF FREE DOM OF CONSCIENCE 7HEN PEOPLE GET A BETTER PICTURE OF WHO 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS ARE GOVERNMENTS OTHER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF ACTIVITY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS ARE NOT SOME STRANGE DISSONANT GROUP

BUT ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE WELFARE OF HUMANITY AT HEART AND THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING UP SOCIETY AND THE NATION )N THIS WAY OUR PLEA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WILL BE FAR BETTER UNDERSTOOD AND RECEIVED +NOWING 7HO 7E !RE

4HE 0UBLIC !FFAIRS AND 2ELIGIOUS ,IBERTY $EPARTMENT 0!2, OF THE

'ENERAL #ONFERENCE PRODUCES EXCEL LENT MATERIALS AND WORKS DILIGENTLY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE OF RELI GIOUS FREEDOM WORLDWIDE BY INmUENC ING THOUGHT LEADERS (OWEVER THIS IS NOT ENOUGH 7E NEED EVERY 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST TO UNDERSTAND BECOME INVOLVED IN AND PROMOTE THE ISSUE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND FREEDOM OF CON SCIENCE 7E ALL HAVE TO COMMUNICATE OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT LIFE IS AN ALL ENCOMPASSING GIFT CREATED BY 'OD

INVOLVING THE PHYSICAL MENTAL SOCIAL

AND SPIRITUAL FACETS OF OUR LIVES /F ALL PEOPLE ON THIS EARTH 3EV ENTH DAY !DVENTISTS SHOULD BE THE FRIENDLIEST AND MOST PROACTIVE IN DEM ONSTRATING WHO WE ARE WHAT WE ARE

WHAT WE STAND FOR AND HOW WE CAN HELP BUILD POSITIVE SOCIETIES 7HEREVER WE ARE WE MUST LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE WHILE NOT GIV ING UP OUR DISTINCTIVE BELIEFS IN ANY WAY 7HILE WE DON T BELIEVE IN ECU MENISM WE MUST LOOK FOR OPPORTUNI TIES TO WORK WITH PEOPLE IN HELPING THEM MAKE GOOD CHOICES !S WE MAKE

FRIENDS WE WILL BE ASKED TO EXPLAIN OUR DISTINCTIVE BELIEFS AND LIFESTYLE CHOICES 4HIS WILL PROVIDE US WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLAIN OURSELVES

AND HELP PEOPLE TO KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHY WE ARE SUCH ADVOCATES OF RELI GIOUS LIBERTY 7E WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR FAITH PERSONALLY AND TO SHARE #HRIS TIAN LITERATURE

INCLUDING THE WON DERFUL BOOK 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY

WHICH ITS AUTHOR

%LLEN 7HITE INDI CATED SHE WISHED TO HAVE MORE WIDELY CIRCULATED THAN ANY OF HER OTHER BOOKS 4HIS PARTICULAR BOOK DRAMATICALLY SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS LIB ERTY AND THE NEED TO MAKE RIGHT CHOICES IN FOLLOWING 'OD 7HY NOT REREAD THIS BOOK THIS YEAR IN PREPARA TION FOR A WONDERFUL WORLDWIDE DISTRI BUTION PROGRAM IN AND %VEN IN PLACES WHERE RELIGIOUS FREE DOM IS PRACTICED THERE IS ALWAYS THE THREAT OF LOSING WHAT IS NOT VALUED AND APPRECIATED 4HIS IS WHY CONSTANT VIGI LANCE IS THE PRICE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 2ELIGIOUS LIBERTY IS NOT JUST PECULIAR TO 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTSˆIT IS SOME THING THAT 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS ARE UNIQUELY QUALIlED TO CHAMPION FOR THE WORLD AT LARGE 3HOWING 7HO 7E !RE

! FRIEND OF MINE HAD A SIGN THAT STATED h0REACH THE 'OSPEL !LWAYSˆ 7HEN .ECESSARY 5SE 7ORDS v "EING A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST GOES SO MUCH FURTHER THAN JUST A SET OF BELIEFS OR A CHOSEN LIFESTYLE 5LTIMATELY IT IS ABOUT

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

7 / 2 , $ 6 ) 3 4!

OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH 'OD AND OUR TREATMENT OF OTHERS )T IS ABOUT THE CHOICES WE MAKE THAT ULTI MATELY PLACE US COMPLETELY IN 'OD S HANDS AS WE ALLOW (IM TO WORK IN US THROUGH THE (OLY 3PIRIT 7E MUST CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SAVED

BY GRACE AND ARE COMPLETELY DEPEN DENT AND INDEBTED TO A LOVING AND POWERFUL 'OD WHO NOT ONLY CREATED US BUT REDEEMED US 7HEN THIS HAPPENS

OUR LIVES WILL NOT TAKE ON A MECHANIS TIC LEGALISTIC APPROACH TO OUR FAITH 2ATHER OUR LIVES WILL TAKE ON A DYNAMIC THAT IS 3PIRIT lLLED BECAUSE OF OUR GRATEFULNESS AND COMPLETE SUR RENDER TO 'OD 4HERE S A SAYING h4HERE IS MORE RELIGION IN A LOAF OF BREAD THAN ONE MIGHT THINK v 7HEN WE SHARE A LOAF OF BREAD WITH A NEIGHBOR OR HELP SOME ONE WITH SOME BASIC NEEDS SOMEONE IN PRISON SOMEONE WHO IS HAVING TROUBLE IN THEIR OWN HOME OR MAR RIAGEˆWHEREVER IT MIGHT BE WHEN WE ARE ACTUALLY HELPING PEOPLE THAT IS WHERE WE ARE POWERFULLY TELLING THE WORLD WHO 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS ARE #HAMPIONING &REEDOM

%VEN WHILE WE CHAMPION RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WE KNOW FROM PROPHECY THAT AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE A NUMBER OF FACTORS WILL COME TOGETHER THAT WILL BEGIN TO CURTAIL FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE ALL OVER THE WORLD (OWEVER WE SHOULD STILL BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE

BECAUSE WE KNOW THE END OF THE STORY 4HE "IBLE ASSURES US OF THE PROPHETIC DESTINY FOR 'OD S PEOPLE 7HEN ) READ BOOKS LIKE 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY ) KNOW THAT 'OD S CHURCH WILL GO THROUGH TO THE END AND THAT 'OD HAS (IS HAND OVER (IS CHURCH !S WE GUARD AND CHAMPION THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LET US USE THE FREEDOM TO POINT PEOPLE TO THE /RIGINATOR OF CHOICE A LOVING AND WONDERFUL 'OD

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

!

/NE $AY #HURCH )

N A SMALL COMMUNITY JUST OUTSIDE #HOLUTECA (ONDURAS A /NE $AY #HURCH MADE OF BARE STEEL POSTS

STEEL BEAMS AND STEEL ROOFING STANDS ATOP A SIMPLE CONCRETE mOOR 4HE CONGREGATION IS TOO POOR TO ADD WALLS BUT THAT DIDN T STOP THEM FROM USING THE CHURCH AS THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN S MINISTRY OVER THE #HRISTMAS HOLIDAYS LAST YEAR -ARANATHA S #HRISTMAS &AMILY 0ROJECT TEAM WAS THERE TO HELP BUILD A NEW STUDENT SCHOOL $ESPITE THE BUILDING ACTIVITIES GOING ON AROUND THEM A GROUP OF 6ACATION "IBLE 3CHOOL SPECIALISTS SPENT MOST OF EACH DAY HOLDING A #HRISTMAS 6"3 ADVENTURE SERIES FOR CHILDREN FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY 3EVENTY lVE CHILDREN WALKED TO THE /NE $AY #HURCH ON THE lRST AFTERNOON 4HEY MUST HAVE SPREAD THE hGOOD NEWS v AS ATTENDANCE QUICKLY GREW TO MORE THAN CHILDREN IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED ,OCAL FAMILIES JOINED WITH VOLUNTEERS FROM #ANADA !USTRALIA .EW :EALAND AND THE 5NITED 3TATES TO PRESENT hLIVEv "IBLE STORIES TEACH BASIC HEALTH PRACTICES AND HELP THE CHILDREN BUILD A PRAYER CHAIN TO WIND THROUGH THE STEEL BEAMS OF THE CHURCH /N THE LAST AFTERNOON THE CHURCH WAS PACKED WITH CHILDREN WHO SANG SO LOUDLY THAT THE WHOLE TOWN CAME TO LISTEN 4HE CHILDREN CUT OUT PAPER ANGELS

GAVE THEM BRIGHT CROWNS AND SANG ABOUT HEAVEN WITH AN EAGERNESS THAT BROUGHT TEARS TO EVERYONE S EYES 4HE TEAM HAD PREPARED GIFTS FOR ONLY CHILDREN BUT MORE THAN CHILDREN SHOWED UP FOR THE LAST MEETING 4HE TEENAGE VOLUNTEERS ASKED WHAT THEY SHOULD DO AND ONE OF THE ADULT VOLUNTEERS SAID h2EMEMBER HOW *ESUS BLESSED THE lSH AND BREAD ,ET S ASK (IM TO BLESS THE GIFT BAGS v 7HEN ALL BAGS HAD BEEN DISTRIBUTED TWO ADDITIONAL SACKS lLLED WITH MORE GIFT BAGS SUDDENLY APPEAREDˆSOME MARKED hBOY v AND OTHERS MARKED hGIRL v !LL CHILDREN RECEIVED GIFT BAGS THAT DAY WITH A HANDFUL LEFT OVER !ND THE PRAYER CHAIN 4HE COMPLETED CHAIN TRAILED NEARLY TWO TIMES AROUND THE CHURCH EACH LINK CONTAINING A SPECIAL PRAYER h'OD HELP MY MAMA GET WELL v h4HANK 9OU FOR BRINGING NEW FRIENDS TO MY TOWN v h*ESUS PLEASE TAKE ME HOME SOONˆLIKE TODAY v 4HE /NE $AY #HURCH PROGRAM IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH !DVENTIST LAYMEN S 3ERVICES AND )NDUSTRIES !3) AND -ARANATHA 6OLUNTEERS )NTERNATIONAL 4HE /NE $AY #HURCH INITIATIVE WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED AND DEVELOPED BY -INNESOTA BUSINESSMAN AND !3) MEMBER 'ARWIN -C.EILUS 4HESE STORIES COME TO YOU EACH MONTH FROM -ARANATHA S hSTORYTELLER v $ICK $UERKSEN

.!$ .%73

#AN 7E "E

!DVENTIST AND

%XCELLENT 4OO

!N INTERVIEW WITH 0AUL "RANTLEY

GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT

4

HE .ORTH !MERICAN PUBLIC HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH QUALITY %ACH COMPUTER GADGET TRIES TO OUTDO THE OTHER "USINESSES RELENTLESSLY PUR SUE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION #OLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SEEK HIGH ACCREDITATION RATINGS (OSPITALS TOUT THEIR EFFECTIVE NESS RANKINGS %NTERTAINERS CRAVE HIGH AUDIENCE RATINGS %VEN GOVERNMENTS HAVE DISCOVERED THAT RUNNING A hTIGHT SHIPv MAKES FOR GOOD POLITICS "UT WHAT ABOUT THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH )S IT AS CONCERNED ABOUT QUAL ITY AS THE SECULAR WORLD 3HOULD IT BE 0AUL 3 "RANTLEY JOINED THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION TEAM IN *ANUARY AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGIC PLAN NING AND ASSESSMENT 'EORGE *OHN SON *R .!$ COMMUNICATION DIREC TOR RECENTLY SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT EXCELLENCE AND THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH

%-0(!3)3 /. %8#%,,%.#% 'EORGE *OHNSON *R LEFT AND 0AUL "RANTLEY DISCUSS THE 2%!#( .ORTH !MERICA INITIATIVE AND HOW PLANNING AND ASSESS MENT HELP THE CHURCH REACH ITS OUTREACH GOALS ' % / 2 ' % " 2 ) , ,

7HY SHOULD THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH BE CONCERNED ABOUT QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE

"ECAUSE 'OD IS CONCERNED WITH QUAL ITY AND EXCELLENCE 0SALM TELLS US THAT WE SERVE AN EXCELLENT 'OD !ND

'ENESIS SHARES WITH US THAT EVERY THING (E DOES IS VERY GOOD 7E RE (IS AMBASSADORS #AN WE REPRESENT (IM WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN lRST CLASS ) THINK NOT

$OES WHAT YOU RE SAYING BORDER ON SELF PROMOTION AND BRAGGING

.OTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH )N THE 3ERMON ON THE -OUNT

#HRIST SAID h,ET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

.!$ .%73 BEFORE OTHERS SO THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GIVE GLORY TO YOUR &ATHER IN HEAVENv -ATT

.236 )T S NOT ABOUT US IT S ALL ABOUT 'OD ) HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THE 3EV ENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH CAN BEˆ AND SHOULD BEˆTHE BEST RUN ORGANI ZATION IN THE WORLD #AN YOU IMAGINE THE GLORY THIS WOULD GIVE THE ,ORD

AND 3ABBATH (ERALD /CT

!LTHOUGH OUR CHURCH CAN BE PROUD OF ITS PROGRESS ON MANY FRONTS AT NO POINT CAN WE FEEL SMUG ABOUT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

7HAT ARE EXAMPLES OF hOPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCELLENCEv THAT IN YOUR OPINION

WOULD HELP THE CHURCH ADVANCE MOST IN ITS PURSUIT OF QUALITY

) CAN THINK OF THREE AREAS THOUGH THERE ARE MANY OTHERS !LIGNMENT AND FOCUS #HURCH )S THE WORLD S STANDARD OF QUALITY ORGANIZATIONS AT EVERY LEVEL NEED A SOMETHING THAT THE CHURCH SHOULD UNIlED VISION 4HE MILITARY HAS AN PURSUE OVERARCHING hWAR STRATEGYv THAT GIVES 2ESEARCH ON THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONSˆPUBLIC CORPORATE OR PURPOSE AND SUPPORT TO ITS PERSONNEL PRIVATEˆREVEALS THAT THE BEST ORGANI IN THE lELD 4HE CHURCH IN .ORTH "UT THE !DVENTIST #HURCH HAS DONE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS !REN T WE ZATIONS MODEL HUMILITY STEWARDSHIP !MERICA IS ALSO IN A WARˆTHE GREAT ALREADY CONSIDERED EXCELLENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY AS A PART CONTROVERSY 7E NEED A SIMILAR STRAT OF THEIR CULTURE )SN T IT IRONIC THAT ALL EGY TO ENCOURAGE EVERY PART OF THE 4O SOME EXTENT -ORE THAN CHURCH TO WORK IN THE UNITY OF 0ENTE OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS HAVE A STRONG RESEARCH STUDIES ON !DVENTISM AND COST ! SET OF STRATEGIC AIMS ENTITLED HEALTH HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN SCIENTIlC BIBLICAL BASE 2%!#( .ORTH !MERICA WAS ADOPTED LITERATURE 7E EXCEL IN OTHER AREAS

BY THE CHURCH AS A GUIDING FRAMEWORK SUCH AS EDUCATION !DVENTISTS AS (OW DID YOU HAPPEN TO BECOME INTER TO HELP UNIFY ALL COMPONENTS OF OUR INDIVIDUALS HAVE MADE AMAZING CON ESTED IN THIS TOPIC 7HERE HAVE YOU ORGANIZATION INCLUDING THAT MOST WORKED IN THE PAST TRIBUTIONS TO LIFE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR 4HE CHALLENGE HOWEVER IS TO !S A lFTH GENERATION !DVENTIST ) HAVE IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF ALL THE LOCAL CHURCH MAKE EXCELLENCE A SYSTEMATIC HALL A LOVE FOR THIS CHURCH THAT KNOWS NO ,EADER GROWTH ASSESSMENT AND MARK OF EVERYTHING WE DO AS A BOUNDS ) BELIEVE WE HAVE THE WORLD S NURTURE !CCORDING TO AUTHOR *OHN CHURCH !N AUTOMOBILE COMPANY ISN T MOST COMPLETE MESSAGE OF HOPE AND JUDGED BY HOW WELL SOME OF ITS CARS WHOLENESS 7E RE 'OD S GOLD MINE ON -AXWELL hNO ORGANIZATION ADVANCES HIGHER THAN THE CALIBER OF ITS LEADERS v RUN )TS REPUTATION AS A WHOLE IS EARTH "UT THE DElNING QUESTION IS DETERMINED BY THE ENTIRE GROUP %VEN h(OW WELL DO OUR ACTIONS MATCH OUR 'REAT ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOP LEADERS THROUGH A METHODICAL PROCESS OF ONE SERIOUS DEFECT COULD TARNISH ITS IDEALS v ASSESSMENT COACHING AND NURTURE !

CORPORATE IMAGE &OR MY DOCTORAL THESIS LONG AGO ) ROBUST PERFORMANCE RECORD HELPS 7HETHER A PERSON ATTENDS CHURCH IDENTIlED FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH IN #ALGARY #HATTANOOGA #OLUMBUS

EXCELLENCE IN SCHOOLING A SEARCH THAT EACH CHURCH LEADER GROW IN CURRENT AND FUTURE POSITIONS 4HIS IS A GROWTH OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE .!$ THAT FRAMED MY LONG CAREER IN !DVENTIST PERSON SHOULD BE IMPRESSED WITH OUR EDUCATION ) VE ALSO WORKED IN QUALITY AREA FOR THE CHURCH WITH IMMENSE POTENTIAL EXCELLENCE $EUTERONOMY TELLS !DVENTIST HEALTH CARE -ORE RECENTLY

3TEWARDSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY US THAT EVERY CHURCH SHOULD MODEL AS 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE ASSESSMENT THOSE VIRTUES THAT WOULD MAKE 'OD S DIRECTOR ) HAD THE JOY OF WORKING WITH 4HE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST !UDITING 3ERVICE OFFERS SUPERB lNANCIAL OVER PEOPLE THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL NUMEROUS CHURCH LEADERS ACROSS SIGHT ,ESS ROBUST IS OVERSIGHT OF THE 4HE ,ORD HAS SET A HIGH STANDARD THE GLOBE NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF EXCELLENCE %LLEN 7HITE WROTE h'OD 7HAT ) lND SO EXCITING ABOUT DESIRES THAT (IS WORK SHALL BE DONE WORKING IN THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVI OFFERED BY THE CHURCH $O THEY IN FACT WITH SYSTEM AND EXACTNESS IN ORDER SION IS ITS LEADERSHIP TEAM HEADED BY ADD VALUE )N -ATTHEW WE SEE THE CONCEPT OF STEWARDSHIP )N THAT (E MAY PLACE UPON IT THE SEAL OF PRESIDENT $AN *ACKSON )T S A SETTING GREAT ORGANIZATIONS EACH OFlCE

(IS APPROVALv 4HE !DVENT 2EVIEW IN WHICH ) M lNDING UNPARALLELED INTEGRITY SUPPORT FUN AND WILLING NESS TO TRY NEW AND GREAT THINGS FOR 'OD ) CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GET TO WORK EACH DAY

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

DEPARTMENT OR ENTITY SEEKS TO DOCU MENT ITS EFFECTIVENESS !GAIN THIS IS AN AREA OF NEEDED IMPROVEMENT WITH GREAT POSSIBILITIES

!LTHOUGH THE .!$ CANNOT DO THE PLANNING FOR OTHER ENTITIES OF THE CHURCH SUCH AS LOCAL CHURCHES CON FERENCES UNION CONFERENCES INSTITU TIONS IT DOES PROVIDE A VERY GENERAL !NY OTHER AREAS THAT COME TO MIND FRAMEWORK TO ENCOURAGE COMPAT THAT WOULD HELP THE CHURCH IN ITS IBILITY ACROSS ALL .!$ ENTITIES AND REACH FOR EXCELLENCE WITH OUR PARENT BODY THE 'ENERAL 9ES 0LANNING IS AN AREA THAT MAKES ALL #ONFERENCE 7ITHOUT THESE FRAME THE OTHER AREAS HAPPEN #HRIST S PAR WORKS VARIOUS PLANS COMING IN ABLE RECOUNTED A MAN WHO BUILT A THROUGHOUT ALL PARTS OF THE CHURCH TOWER WITHOUT hCOUNTING THE COSTv WOULD BE A MISMATCH OF SCRAMBLED AND THE RESULTING EMBARRASSMENT LANGUAGE AND PURPOSES SOME WORK FROM BUILDING WITHOUT THE NECESSARY ING AT CROSS PURPOSES WITH OTHERS RESOURCES AND SUPPORT STRUCTURES TO 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE AT THE COMPLETE THE JOB ,UKE 4O !TLANTA SESSION ADOPTED 2%!#( FAIL TO PLAN AS THE SAYING GOES IS TO ELEMENTS AS THE LANGUAGE OF THE WORLD PLAN TO FAIL CHURCH 4HE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVI 4HE CHURCH HAS TO PLAN BOTH LONG SION PROCEEDED TO CUSTOMIZE THE RANGE LOOKING AHEAD THREE TO lVE CHURCH S 2%!#( LANGUAGE FOR OUR YEARS STRATEGIC AS WELL AS SHORT TERRITORY 7E FORMED A STRATEGIC TEM RANGE ANNUAL OPERATIONS ) DON T PLATE CONSISTING OF lVE ELEMENTS BELIEVE THAT EITHER STRATEGIC OR OPERA 2EACH 5P 2EACH !CROSS 2EACH /UT

TIONAL PLANNING IS SOMETHING THAT 2EACH )N AND 2EACH &ORWARD SEE LIST SHOULD BE DONE ONLY BY A PRIVILEGED AT END OF ARTICLE 4HEY PROVIDE A FEW IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS 'OD HAS COMMON UNIFYING LANGUAGE AND PUR A STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR POSE 4HEY ARE hTEMPLATESv IN THE EVERY #HRISTIAN THAT HELPS FULlLL THE SENSE THAT ANY ORGANIZATION LOCAL MISSION OF THEIR LIVES CHURCH INCLUDED IS ENCOURAGED TO 4HERE ARE THREE THINGS EVERY TAKE THE ELEMENTS AND CUSTOMIZE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION CHURCH THEM TO ITS TERRITORY 4HEY PROVIDE MEMBER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HOW THE NECESSARY STRUCTURE WITHOUT PRESCRIB CHURCH PLANS ING SPECIlC METHODS )N THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION &INALLY WE AT THE .ORTH !MERI WE BELIEVE IN COLLABORATIVE RATHER THAN CAN $IVISION ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE TOP DOWN PLANNING 7E FEEL IT IS NOT GUIDANCE WITH ANY ENTITY UNION CON OUR ROLE TO DO THE PLANNING FOR FERENCE CONFERENCE INSTITUTION OR CHURCHES CONFERENCES UNION CONFER CHURCH THAT WISHES TO WORK WITHIN ENCES AND INSTITUTIONS 2ATHER WE CAN CHURCH STRUCTURE TO CONSTRUCT A SYS PLAN ONLY FOR THOSE FUNCTIONS HERE TEM OF PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT 7E WITHIN THE .!$ FOR WHICH WE ARE WANT THAT PERCENTAGE TO APPROACH DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE )N THE PROCESS WE PERCENT WANT TO BE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE !NY lNAL WORDS PLAN FOR AND CARRY OUT IN THE .!$ -Y PRAYER IS THE SAME AS THAT OF ACTUALLY ADDS VALUE 4HAT S OUR ASSESS #HRIST S IN *OHN THAT WE hMAY BE MENT ROLE 0LANNING AND ASSESSMENT ONEv IN PURPOSE !N ORGANIZATION WORK TOGETHER WITH DIVIDED PURPOSES IS LIKE TAKING A

TRIP WITHOUT A CLEAR DESTINATION POINT %XCELLENT ORGANIZATIONS UNIFY AROUND A COMPELLING MISSION /UR MISSION IS EXPRESSED IN -ATTHEW

.ORTH !MERICA AND OUR ENTIRE GLOBE IS TO BE WARNED AND WON FOR (IM 4HE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH HAS MANY BIBLICAL IMPERA TIVES TITHING THE 3ABBATH 3ECOND !DVENT STATE OF THE DEAD 7HAT ABOUT EXCELLENCE ) PERSONALLY FEEL THAT EXCELLENCE IS AN OBLIGATION NOT AN OPTION "UT WE WILL ATTAIN IT ONLY AS WE ALIGN OURSELVES WITH 'OD AND WORK IN UNITY WITH EACH OTHER %LLEN 7HITE SAID IT BEST h4HE SECRET OF OUR SUCCESS IN THE WORK OF 'OD WILL BE FOUND IN THE HARMONIOUS WORKING OF OUR PEOPLEv #HRISTIAN 3ERVICE P 2%!#( .ORTH !MERICA IS AN EXCITING JOURNEY TOWARD EXCELLENCE AND MISSION FULlLLMENT )T S A JOURNEY WE ALL MAY TAKE TOGETHER

"IBLE TEXTS CREDITED TO .236 ARE FROM THE .EW 2EVISED 3TAN

DARD 6ERSION OF THE "IBLE COPYRIGHT Ú BY THE $IVISION OF #HRISTIAN %DUCATION OF THE .ATIONAL #OUNCIL OF THE #HURCHES OF #HRIST IN THE 5 3 ! 5SED BY PERMISSION

REACH .ORTH !MERICA 2EACH 5P 2EVIVAL AND 4RANSFORMATION 2EACH !CROSS 5NITY IN $IVERSITY 2EACH /UT %VANGELISM #OMMUNITY $ISCIPLESHIP 2EACH )N 'ROWING $ISCIPLES !DVENTIST %DUCATION 2EACH &ORWARD ! &OCUS ON ,EADERSHIP

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

. ! $ 5 0 $ !4 %

/

N 3EPTEMBER

0ROPH ECIES $ECODED .%4 WILL LAUNCH LIVE FROM .ASHVILLE

4ENNESSEE !CROSS THE 5NITED 3TATES

#ANADA AND "ERMUDA CHURCHES AND OTHER SITES WILL BECOME CENTERS FOR SOUL WINNING AS 2ON #LOUZET DYNAMICALLY AND CLEARLY PRESENTS THE GREAT TRUTHS OF 3CRIPTURE (IS VISION ALONG WITH THAT OF THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION .!$ AND EVENT PLANNERS IS THAT BY THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROPHECY SERIES

3UCCESSFULLY (OSTING

NET /

! SIMPLE PRESCRIPTION FOR MAXIMUM RESULTS "Y %RROL . -C,EAN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION %VANGELISM )NSTITUTE .!$%)

THOUSANDS WILL BE BAPTIZED ACROSS THE TERRITORIES OF THE .!$ IN HUNDREDS OF CHURCHES AND SITES #ONGREGATIONS THAT INTEND TO MAKE THIS VISION A REALITY MUST BEGIN TODAY TO PLAN AND PREPARE IN ORDER TO REAP A RICH HARVEST OF SOULS FOR 'OD S ETERNAL KINGDOM ! STATEMENT FROM THE REVIVAL AND REFORMATION DOCUMENT INTRODUCED AT THE !NNUAL #OUNCIL OF THE 3EV ENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH HAS CAUSED ME TO REmECT AND RECOMMIT MYSELF TO THE 'REAT #OMMISSION THAT #HRIST GAVE TO THE CHURCH )T SAID THAT !D VENTISTS HAVE A UNIQUE AND UNFULlLLED CHALLENGE 4O QUOTE EXACTLY h4HE CHURCH S GROWTH RATE IS SIMPLY NOT KEEPING PACE WITH THE WORLD S BUR GEONING POPULATION !N HONEST EVALU ATION OF OUR CURRENT EVANGELISTIC IMPACT ON THE WORLD LEADS TO THE CON CLUSION THAT UNLESS THERE IS A DRAMATIC CHANGE WE WILL NOT COMPLETE (EAVEN S ASSIGNMENT IN THIS GENERATION v

9OUR INVOLVEMENT IN EXECUTING THE .%4 CAMPAIGN IN YOUR COM MUNITY WILL HELP THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND FULlLL THIS SPECIAL PRIVILEGE OF INVITING ALL PEOPLES TO ACCEPT *ESUS #HRIST AS 3AVIOR AND ,ORD %VANGELISM IS NOT JUST A REAPING EVENT )T S AN ORGANIC PROCESS OF INVOLVEMENT CULTIVATION PLANTING

HARVESTING AND MULTIPLYING /NE DIC TIONARY DElNITION FOR hPROCESSv IS hA SERIES OF ACTIONS OR FUNCTIONS BRINGING ABOUT A RESULT v )T IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EACH FUNCTION IN THE PROCESS IS CONNECTED TO ALL THE OTHER FUNCTIONS

AND ALL MUST BE PERFORMED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED RESULTS 3UCCESSFULLY HOSTING THE .%4 EVENT IN YOUR CHURCH WILL INVOLVE A NUMBER OF SIMPLE BUT NECESSARY STEPS OR ACTIONS 4HE PURPOSE FOR THESE STEPS IS CENTERED IN THE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH THE PLANNING OF S EVANGELISM INITIATIVE WAS

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

DONE 4HE ENTIRE YEAR HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS A PROCESS NOT JUST AN EVENT )T MUST THEREFORE BE EXECUTED AS A PROCESS IF YOUR CONGREGATION IS TO EXPERIENCE THE REWARDS AND BENElTS OF SEEING SOULS WON TO #HRIST THROUGH THE INVESTMENT OF THE CHURCH S TIME AND RESOURCES 3IMPLE 3TEPS

2EGISTER AT HTTP HOST PROPHECIES DECODED COM "ECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE 0ROPHE CIES $ECODED MANUAL 0LAN AND EXECUTE AS GUIDED BY THE .%4 CALENDAR $OWNLOAD RESOURCES FROM HTTP HOST PROPHECIESDECODED COM 5TILIZE THE TRAINING $6$ FOR ASSIS TANCE IN MOTIVATING TRAINING AND PREPARING THE CHURCH /RDER SUPPLIES 0REPARE FOR THE PRE .%4 MINI HOME CHURCH SEMINARS 0REPARE THE CHURCH FOR THE /CTOBER

0ROPHECIES $ECODED SERIES %XECUTE THE PLAN FOR THE NIGHTLY PRESENTATIONS %XECUTE THE PLAN FOR RETENTION AND DISCIPLESHIP OF NEW BELIEVERS 4HESE STEPS ARE GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFULLY HOSTING .%4 AND FOR MAXIMIZING THE REAPING POTENTIAL OF THE SERIES 4HESE STEPS CAN BE INDI VIDUALIZED FOR YOUR SETTING #ONGREGA TIONS THAT HAVE NOT TRADITIONALLY APPROACHED EVANGELISM AS A PROCESS AND DON T THEREFORE HAVE A LIFESTYLE OF EVANGELISM WILL BENElT IN MORE WAYS THAN JUST THE .%4 CAMPAIGN SERIES 4HEY WILL EXPERIENCE AND REALIZE THE BENElTS OF A MORE WHOLISTIC APPROACH TO EVANGELISM 4HE FULL YEAR OF EVENTS SEMINARS

TRAINING AND PREWORK HAS BEEN CARE FULLY DESIGNED TO MAKE IT A PARTICIPA

TORY PROCESS NOT A SPECTATOR EXPERI ENCE )T IS SUPPORTED NOT ONLY BY THE DESIGN PROCESS BUT BY THE MANY RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO ASSIST CONGREGATIONS IN GETTING THEIR LEADERS AND MEMBERS INVOLVED 4HE MORE YOUR CONGREGATION UTILIZES THE PREPARED RESOURCES AND ENCOURAGES MEMBERS AND LEADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROCESS THE GREATER THE HARVEST OF SOULS WILL BE 9OUR CON GREGATION WILL GAIN NEW ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBERS THROUGH BAPTISMS WHICH WILL IN TURN REVITALIZE YOUR CONGREGATION 4HE HOST 7EB SITE FOR 0ROPHECIES $ECODED #AN THE 0AST 2EVEAL 9OUR &UTURE CONTAINS AN IMPORTANT LINK TO RESOURCES FOR THE COMPLETE EVANGELISM PROCESS 4HE RESOURCES ARE BEING INTRO DUCED AND UPDATED WITH RELEVANT MATERIALS CRUCIAL TO SUCCESSFULLY HOST

ING THE SERIES 4HEY INCLUDE HELPFUL SCHEDULING AND TRAINING RESOURCES YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND UTILIZE 4HEY ARE THERE FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT $ECIDE TODAY TO JOIN 2ON #LOUZET AND THE .!$%) TEAM TO REACH .ORTH !MERICA WITH THE GOOD NEWS 2EGISTRA TION IS STILL OPEN AT HTTP HOST PROPHECIESDECODED COM 9OU MAY ALREADY BE PLANNING TO HOST THE CREATION VERSUS EVOLUTION DEBATE TO BEGIN -AY

AS WELL AS THE ARCHAEOLOGY SEMINAR BE GINNING 3EPTEMBER 4HESE MINI HOME CHURCH SERIES ARE DESIGNED AS EFFECTIVE CULTIVATING AND PLANTING ACTIVITIES TO PRE PARE FOR THE 0ROPHECIES $ECODED SERIES !DOPT THESE STEPS FOR YOUR SET TING 4HEY WILL DRAMATICALLY INCREASE YOUR CONGREGATION S ABILITY TO SUCCESS FULLY HOST .%4 AND SEE GROWTH IN THE KINGDOM OF 'OD

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

.!$ 0%230%#4)6%

'ENUINE

#OMMUNITY

HIMSELF NOTHING TAKING THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS !ND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO DEATH EVEN DEATH ON A CROSSv 0HIL

o *ESUS WHO CREATED THE WORLDS

CAME FAR OUT OF (IS COMFORT ZONE IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF 'OD S LOVE AND COMPASSION TO A WORLD IN ANYTHING EXCEPT PERHAPS ROBBERY

MUGGING EVEN MURDER ) SLEPT WITH ONE NEED 7HEN (IS DISCIPLES ASKED IF (E WOULD SHOW THEM THE &ATHER (IS EYE OPEN AS IT WERE THAT lRST NIGHT RESPONSE WAS CLEAR h!NYONE WHO HAS 3EVERAL DAYS LATER THE TWO LEFT OUR SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE &ATHERv *OHN HOME AS FRIENDS 4HEY WERE LOVELY PEOPLE WHO EVENTUALLY GAVE US A PAINT *ESUS PORTRAYED THE &ATHER WITH CLARITY ING OF *ESUS HEALING A BLIND MAN

7HEN VIEWED FROM ANY PERSPEC WHICH WE CHERISH TO THIS DAY 7HILE TIVE THE FOUNDATION OF ALL 'OD S ACTIVI THEY WEREN T ANGELS OUR LIVES WERE TIES IN OUR UNIVERSE IS BUILT UPON THE ENRICHED BY THE EXPERIENCE PRINCIPLE OF SELF SACRIlCING LOVE 'OD 7HAT WE TODAY CALL h#OMMUNITY COULD HAVE REMAINED ALOOF TO THE 3ERVICESv EMERGED OUT OF THE BIBLICAL NEEDS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY (E DID STORY OF $ORCAS !CTS 4HE STORY OF THIS EARLY #HRISTIAN WOMAN IS NOT (E COULD HAVE ADVANCED THE CURE FOR THE DISEASE OF SIN THROUGH ANY A GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL MEDIUM OF (IS CHOICE (OWEVER (E COMMITTED TO SERVING PEOPLE IN THE CHOSE TO COME (IMSELF LARGER COMMUNITY BY GOING BEYOND /UR RESPONSE TO 'OD S GRACE HAS THE PARAMETERS SET BY HER PEERS 4HOUGH SHE CARED FOR THE NEEDS OF HER MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS (OWEVER WE CANNOT CHOOSE TO ACCEPT 'OD S GRACE FELLOW BELIEVERS SHE MOVED BEYOND WITHOUT IN TURN BEING GRACIOUS "Y THAT 3HE WAS A WOMAN WITH A REPUTA TION OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION 3HE ACCEPTING THE GIFT OF 'OD S 3ON WE MOVE INTO THE ARENA OF 'OD S GRACE HAD MOVED BEYOND THE RESTRAINTS OF PAROCHIALISM 4ODAY WE WOULD SAY THAT AND THEREFORE ARE MOVED TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS IN NEED SHE HAD THE hBIG PICTURE v 4HERE MAY BE NO BETTER DElNITION OF GENUINE COMMUNITY SERVICE THAN THIS SERVING

&OR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT !DVENTIST #OMMUNITY 3ERVICES IN THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION SEE h7HEN 9OU #ARE %NOUGH v THE PEOPLE ALL AROUND YOU WITHOUT P o REGARD TO THE NORMAL BOUNDARIES WE 4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE .EW )NTERNA TIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT Ú

)NTERNATIONAL "IBLE PLACE ALONGSIDE SELF COMFORT 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS )NTERESTINGLY THAT S JUST AS 'OD WOULD HAVE IT 4HAT S WHAT 'OD IS LIKE 4HIS PRINCIPLE COMES INTO FOCUS AS WE VIEW THE PICTURE OF 'OD FOUND IN THE 3CRIPTURES 7HEN 0AUL FOR $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON IS PRESI INSTANCE REVIEWED *ESUS LIFE (E PRO DENT OF THE .ORTH !MERICAN CLAIMED THAT EVEN THOUGH *ESUS WAS $IVISION OF THE 3EVENTH DAY 'OD IN (IS VERY ESSENCE (E hMADE !DVENTIST #HURCH

3ERVICE

"Y $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON

7

HEN WE ARE DRAWN INTO THE REALM OF (IS GRACE 'OD INVITES US TO EXTEND (IS GRACE TO OTHERS !ND WHEN 'OD PLACES THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD IN OUR HEARTS IT IS VITAL THAT WE RESPOND &AILURE TO ACT UPON 3PIRIT DIRECTED IMPULSES TO HELP OTHERS IN NEED ROBS US OF POTENTIAL BLESSINGS AND OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE GRACIOUSLY 4HIS WAS NEVER IMPRESSED UPON ME SO FORCEFULLY AS IT WAS ONE &RIDAY EVENING MANY YEARS AGO JUST MOMENTS BEFORE SUNSET -Y WIFE S CAR PULLED UP IN FRONT OF OUR HOME !S $ONNA GOT OUT OF THE CAR TWO INDIVIDUALS GOT OUT WITH HER ) HAD NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE AND ) WONDERED WHAT WAS GOING ON /NCE INSIDE $ONNA INFORMED ME THAT THE TWO VISITORS WERE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH US AS THEY NEEDED A PLACE TO STAY ) MUMBLED MY MUTED PROTESTS

BUT THEY WERE THERE IN FRONT OF ME

AND THEY NEEDED A PLACE TO STAY /UR THREE CHILDREN THOUGHT IT WAS WONDER FUL AND $ONNA INSISTED $ONNA HAD FOUND THESE TWO STRANGERS WALKING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD JUST AS IT HAD BEGUN TO RAIN (ER HEART WENT OUT TO THEM 3HE FELT THAT THEY COULD BE ANGELS IN DISGUISE AND THAT BY HELPING THEM SHE WOULD BE DOING 'OD S WILL ) WAS SELlSHLY SHOCKED AT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE INTRUDERS OVERALL AND BY MY WIFE S STRANGE PLUNGE INTO COMMUNITY SER VICE ) FELT DUBIOUS ABOUT THE WHOLE VENTURE THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

4HE

0,% % 3 0 7(%2% ). 4(% 7/2,$ )3 4()3

0 , ! # %

15/4% /& 4(% -/.4(

h7HEN THE ,ORD IS IN CONTROL PEOPLE REJOICE BUT WHEN 3ATAN BEARS RULE PEOPLE MOURN 3O LET US GIVE 'OD A CHANCE WITH OUR LIVES v ˆ:VIKOMBORERO :IHANZU DURING A 3ABBATH SCHOOL CLASS IN EARLY

AT THE #HITUNGWIZA &EDERATION 9OUTH #AMP IN #HIPINGE

:IMBABWE 3 5 " - ) 4 4 % $ " 9 * 5 . % # / / - " 3

SHOULDERS OF WILLING VOLUNTEERS THAT THE GREATEST PROGRESS IN HU MAN HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE v ) STILL BELIEVE THIS TO BE TRUE ˆ#HET $AMRON .ORTH #AROLINA

5NITED 3TATES

-Y YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGH TER AND ) WERE WATCHING A WILD LIFE 46 SHOW TOGETHER 7E WERE BOTH UPSET TO SEE A LION CHASING AFTER A SMALL IMPALA ANTELOPE ) REMARKED TO HER THAT IN HEAVEN THERE WOULD BE NO KILLING AND THAT THE LIONS WOULD EAT GRASS h9ES 'RANNY v SHE REPLIED

hAND THE DOGGIES WILL GET PEL

* / . !4 ( ! . " 9 $ % . $9 +

!$6%.4)34 ,)&% &OR MANY YEARS ) WAS A HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN FOR THE &LORIDA (OSPITAL 3YSTEM !T SOME OF THE FACILITIES ) SERVED AS DIRECTOR FOR VOLUNTEER CHAPLAINS AND FOR THE VOLUNTEER AUXILIANS 3OME HOSPITALS HAD AS MANY AS VOLUNTEERS SERVING THE MANY NEEDS OF THE PATIENTS AND ASSIST ING THE REGULAR EMPLOYEES 4HE HOSPITAL COULDN T DO WITHOUT OUR FAITHFUL VOLUN TEERS 3O ONE DAY IN ) FELT INSPIRED TO SIT DOWN AND WRITE THESE WORDS IN GRATITUDE h6IVA VOLUNTEERS )T IS ON THE

LETS v 7HAT A LOVELY RESPONSE FROM A CHILD WHO THINKS CRE ATIVELY ABOUT HEAVEN ˆ7ILHELMINA $UNBAR (EIDELBERG

'AUTENG 3OUTH !FRICA

!. 3 7 %2 )N %NGLAND AT THE 3TANBOROUGH 0ARK 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH CHURCH ELDER .EILSON 2OBERTS INSPECTS THE HOT WATER THAT WILL BE USED TO MAKE HOT DRINKS AND INSTANT SOUP TO HELP FEED ,ONDON S HOMELESS POPULATION #HURCH VOLUNTEERS TAKE HOT WATER COLD DRINKS SUFlCIENT FOOD TO FEED PEOPLE CLOTHING TOILETRIES BLANKETS AND SLEEPING BAGS TO THE STREETS

7 / 2 , $ ( % ! , 4 (

(YPERTENSION

"Y !LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES AND 0ETER . ,ANDLESS

) HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND MY DOCTOR HAS PLACED ME ON MEDICATION -Y BLOOD PRESSURE SEEMS TO BE IMPROVING AND BETTER CONTROLLED /NE OF MY NEIGHBORS HAD LUNCH WITH ME RECENTLY AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY DIET 3URELY ) CAN EAT WHATEVER ) WANT TO IF ) AM ON MEDICATIONS AND THE BLOOD PRESSURE IS IMPROVED

9

OUR NEIGHBOR IS WELL INFORMED MEDICATIONS ALONE ARE NOT THE ONLY ASPECT OF HIGH BLOOD PRES SURE TREATMENT )T S VERY IMPORTANT TO APPLY LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT INCLUDE A HEALTHFUL DIET MAINTAINING IDEAL BODY WEIGHT REGULAR EXERCISE AND NO TOBACCO OR ALCOHOL (IGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM !PPROXIMATELY BILLION PEO PLE WORLDWIDE HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRES SURE AND THIS NUMBER IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE TO ALMOST BILLION BY THE YEAR 4HIS SHOWS A RELENTLESS PRO GRESSION OF THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION (IGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS RESPONSIBLE WORLDWIDE FOR MILLION DEATHS FROM HEART AND VASCULAR DISEASE EVERY YEAR "LOOD PRESSURE IS PRODUCED BY THE INTERACTION OF THE HEART PUMPING BLOOD THROUGH THE BLOOD VESSELS AND THE VARIOUS PHASES OF THIS PROCESS AS WELL AS BY THE WONDERFULLY CREATED ARTERIES AND VEINS 4HERE ARE TWO NUM BERS THAT ARE USED TO RECORD BLOOD PRESSURE AN UPPER NUMBER OR SYSTOLIC READING AND A LOWER NUMBER OR DIA STOLIC READING 4HE SYSTOLIC PRESSURE IS PRODUCED BY THE PUMPING ACTION OF THE HEART VENTRICULAR CONTRACTION

WHICH PUSHES BLOOD INTO ALL THE BLOOD VESSELS OF THE BODY 4HIS IS A REmECTION OF THE WORK THE HEART DOES TO SUSTAIN LIFE 4HE DIASTOLIC PRESSURE REmECTS THE DROP IN PRESSURE WHEN THE HEART RELAXES DURING DIASTOLE REST PHASE AND lLLS AGAIN WITH BLOOD IN BETWEEN EACH HEARTBEAT 4HIS PRESSURE IS DEPENDENT ON THE MUSCLE STRUCTURE ESPECIALLY OF THE SMALLER ARTERIES ARTERIOLES OR RESIS TANCE VESSELS WHICH ASSIST IN THE

MAINTENANCE OF BLOOD mOW )T S IMPORTANT TO REVIEW AND KNOW THE NUMBERS THAT DElNE NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE AND WHEN INTERVENTION IS NEEDED FOR RISING BLOOD PRESSURE READ INGS 4HERE ARE FOUR CATEGORIES OF NUMBERS .ORMALˆUNDER 0REHYPERTENSIONˆSYSTOLIC

OR DIASTOLIC 3TAGE HYPERTENSIONˆSYSTOLIC

OR DIASTOLIC 3TAGE HYPERTENSIONˆSYSTOLIC OR HIGHER OR DIASTOLIC OR HIGHER )T S IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR NUM BERS BECAUSE EACH CATEGORY HAS RECOM MENDATIONS FOR STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN REGARDING TREATMENT STARTING WITH LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR PREHYPERTEN SION AND MEDICATIONS AS NEEDED (IGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS KNOWN AS THE hSILENT KILLERv BECAUSE OFTEN THERE ARE NO SYMPTOMS 4HEREFORE IT S VITAL TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

DIETARY PATTERNS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE PLACE EMPHASIS ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND LOW FAT DAIRY )N ADDITION THEY INCLUDE WHOLE GRAINS NUTS AND UNSATURATED VEGETABLE OILS 4HE BEST RESULTS ARE OBTAINED WHEN THE SALT INTAKE IS LIMITED AS WELL GRAMS OR MILIGRAMS PER DAY )N THE CLASSIC STUDIES DIETARY APPROACHES TO STOP HYPERTENSION $!3( INCLUDED POULTRY AND lSH ALTHOUGH THESE CAN SAFELY BE ELIMINATED 3WEETS AND SUGAR CONTAINING BEVERAGES ARE DISCOURAGED 0ATIENTS FOLLOWING THE $!3( AND OTHER SIMILAR DIETS HAVE BETTER CONTROL OF BLOOD PRESSURE AND WHERE MEDICA TIONS ARE NEEDEDˆAS THEY OFTEN AREˆ THEY ARE MORE EFFECTIVE AND DOSES MAY EVEN BE LOWERED 4HE TAKE HOME MESSAGE IS THAT MEDICATION ALONE IS NOT ADEQUATE TREATMENT FOR HYPERTENSION WITHOUT LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS AND DIETARY MEASURES ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE OVERALL APPROACH

$IET AND (YPERTENSION

9OUR QUESTION ABOUT DIET IS PERTI NENT AND IMPORTANT !S NOTED EARLIER

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS BECOMING MORE COMMON )N POPULATIONS OF MOST INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASES DRAMATICALLY WITH AGE 3OME GROUPS HOWEVER

INCLUDING STRICT VEGETARIANS WHOSE DIET CONSISTS MAINLY OF VEGETABLE PRODUCTS AND HAVE A LOW SALT SODIUM INTAKE

SHOW NO INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE WITH AGING 4HE ASSOCIATION OF IMPROVED OUT COMES OF HYPERTENSION AND DIET HAVE NOW BEEN EXTENSIVELY STUDIED 4HE

2EFERENCE .EW %NGLAND *OURNAL OF -EDICINE *UNE

PP

!LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES - " #H "

&2#0# &2#3# &!#/' IS DIRECTOR OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT 0ETER . ,ANDLESS - " " #H

- -ED & # 0 3! & ! # # IS )#0!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

$ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,

4

HEY LOOKED UNATTRACTIVE

ROUGH AND UGLYˆNOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT !N EMPLOYEE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PLANT WE WERE VISITING SCOOPED THEM UP INTO A HUGE DRUM 4HEN HE ADDED SAND SAWDUST AND WATER AND CLOSED THE DRUM HERMETI CALLY (E PRESSED A BUTTON AND THE DANCE OF THE BARREL BEGAN )T SHOOK IT TWISTED IT TURNED AND ROTATED 4HE NOISE WAS DEAFENING YET INTRIGUING $OZENS OF BARRELS MOVED AND SHOOK IN

4UMBLED 'EMSTONES AND THE #HURCH

3EEING THE TRANSFORMATION OF AN UGLY ROCK INTO A POLISHED GEMSTONE REMINDED ME VISUALLY OF THE CHURCH .OT A BUILDING NOT AN ORGANIZATION BUT A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WITH DIFFERENT ETHNIC AND RACIAL BACKGROUNDS 4HERE ARE ROUGH EDGES ON EVERYONE AND THEY ALL lND THEMSELVES TUMBLED TOGETHERˆIN CHURCH 'ROWING UP IN THE "LACK &OREST OF 'ERMANY WHICH WAS BLESSED WITH

0OLISHING THE 2OUGH %DGES

$OES YOUR BROTHER OR YOUR SISTER

SITTING NEXT TO YOU IN CHURCH IRRITATE YOU AT TIMES $O YOU lND YOURSELF SIGHING WHEN YOU SEE A CERTAIN NAME IN THE BULLETIN hNOT HIM AGAIN v $OES THE THEOLOGICAL HOBBYHORSE OF SOMEBODY IN CHURCH CAUSE YOU TO TAKE A DEEEEEP BREATH ) M SURE MOST OF US HAVE FELT THESE EMOTIONS EVEN THOUGH WE ARE GLAD TO BE PART OF 'OD S END TIME CHURCH AND FEEL COMMITTED TO THE MISSION OF THE 3EVENTH DAY

2OUGH "Y 'ERALD ! +LINGBEIL

%DGES

'OD S SURPRISING TOOLS

THE PLANT AND AS WE LOOKED ON FROM A HIGH VANTAGE POINT NOTHING GAVE AWAY THE PRECIOUS CONTENT OF THESE DRUMS 9ES THE ROCKS LOOKED UNATTRACTIVE

ROUGH AND UGLY WHEN THEY ENTERED THE DRUMS BUT AS WE SAW ANOTHER DRUM BEING OPENED AFTER WEEKS OF CONSTANT MOTION THE TRANSFORMATION WAS ASTOUNDING #OVERED BY DUST AND MUD

THE MOST AMAZING SEMIPRECIOUS STONES APPEARED 4IGEREYE ROSE QUARTZ AME THYST AGATE JASPER AND DOZENS MORE

THEIR ROUGH EDGES GONE ROUNDED AND SHINY WERE CAREFULLY SORTED ACCORDING TO SIZE AND QUALITY 0INKS DARK BLUES

WHITES REDS GREENS SUDDENLY SEEMED TO LIGHTEN THE ROOM

LARGE SNOWFALLS AS A TEENAGER ) LOVED CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AND JOINED A CLUB %VERYONE IN THE CLUB CHERISHED CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AND WAS WILLING TO TRAIN HARD IN ORDER TO RUN GOOD RACES #HURCH HOWEVER IS NOT LIKE A CLUB 2ATHERˆAND 3CRIPTURE USES THIS METAPHOR %PH

ˆIT IS LIKE A FAMILY *UST IMAGINE CROSS COUNTRY SKIERS WHO DO NOT LIKE THE TRAINER OR SOME OF THEIR CORUNNERS 4HEY COULD JUST QUIT THE CLUB AND lND ANOTHER CLUB MORE TO THEIR LIKING )N A FAMILY AS WELL AS IN CHURCH WE DO NOT HAVE THIS OPTION 7E ARE PART OF SOME THING BIGGER THAT IS NOT BUILT AROUND OUR LIKES AND DISLIKES

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

' % 2 ! , $ + , ) . ' " % ) , $ ) ' ) 4! , ,9 - / $ ) & ) % $

!DVENTIST #HURCH #ONmICT MINOR AND MAJOR IRRITATIONS HOWEVER SEEM TO BE PART OF FAMILIES AND CHURCHES ALL OVER THE WORLD 7E ARE NOT NATU RALLY 'OD DIRECTED BUT SELF CEN TERED AND HUMAN 4HE .EW 4ESTAMENT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF STORIES THAT REmECT CONmICT IN THE EARLY CHURCH )N SOME CASES THESE TENSIONS MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF CONmICTING PERSONALITIES OR THE FEELING OF HAVING BEEN LET DOWN BY SOMEBODY SEE !CTS REGARDING *OHN -ARK !T OTHER TIMES CONmICT RESULTED FROM THEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES !CTS SUGGESTS THAT THE lRST *ERUSA LEM COUNCIL INCLUDED LOTS OF NOISY AND CONTRARY DISCUSSION AND ARGUMENTS 4HERE IS HOWEVER ONE STORY THAT HIGH LIGHTS A BIT OF THE POLISHING PROCESS THAT IS PART OF BEING CHURCH 2EMEMBER 0ETER IN !NTIOCH AND HIS CONFRONTATION WITH 0AUL 3CRIPTURE PROVIDES ONLY A BRIEF GLIMPSE INTO THIS UNHAPPY EPISODE OF CONmICT IN 'ALA TIANS )TS INCLUSION IN THE SACRED RECORD REMINDS US THAT NOBODY IS INFALLIBLE NOT 0ETER NOT 0AUL NOT YOU OR ME %LLEN 7HITE S COMMENTS ON THIS STORY HIGHLIGHT A COMMON THREAD IN CHURCH CONmICTS WHERE LEAD ERSHIP POSITIONS AT ALL LEVELS MAY LEAD TO INmATED EGOS AND WARPED PERSPEC TIVES h4HE HISTORY OF THIS ;0ETER S= DEPARTURE FROM RIGHT PRINCIPLES STANDS AS A SOLEMN WARNING TO MEN IN POSI TIONS OF TRUST IN THE CAUSE OF 'OD THAT THEY MAY NOT FAIL IN INTEGRITY BUT lRMLY ADHERE TO PRINCIPLE v 7HEN 0ETER CHANGES HIS PRACTICE OF EATING WITH 'ENTILE BELIEVERS BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE OF BROTHERS FROM *ERU

SALEM 0AUL CANNOT KEEP QUIET AND hOPPOSESv SEE VERSE .)6 0ETER 4HE 'REEK TERM USED HERE IS STRONG *AMES EMPLOYS THE SAME TERM EXHORTING #HRISTIANS TO hRESIST THE DEVIL v (OW DID 0ETER TAKE IT 'ALATIANS DOES NOT TELL THE FULL STORY 0AUL USES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN EXALT THE GOSPEL THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION BY GRACE ) IMAGINE THAT 0ETER UNDER STOOD AND REPENTED (E WAS READY TO ACCEPT CRITIQUE (E WAS PART OF THE BIG hDRUMv CALLED CHURCH CONTAINING hSEMIPRECIOUS STONESv WITH HARD AND ROUGH EDGES 'OD S 0OLISHING 7ORK

REQUIRES ATTENTION PUBLIC SIN ALSO REQUIRES PUBLIC REBUKE AND RESOLUTION 0AUL CONFRONTED 0ETER hBEFORE THEM ALLv 'AL AS THIS CONCERNED A THEOLOGICALLY SIGNIlCANT ISSUE THAT PER TAINED TO THE ENTIRE CHURCH )N LINE WITH THE DRUM ILLUSTRA TION IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT BEHIND THE ROUGH EDGES THE HARD COR NERS THE OFTEN UPSETTING MANNERISMS

AND THE MANY OTHER MINOR AND MAJOR IRRITANTS LIES SOMETHING PRECIOUS A BROTHER OR SISTER MADE IN THE IMAGE OF 'OD AND REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF *ESUS SOMEONE WHO FAR EXCEEDS THE BEAUTY AND VALUE OF A SEMIPRECIOUS STONE &EARLESS 0AUL WHO SELDOM MINCED WORDS WHEN HE SAW THE NEED FOR DECISIVE ACTION REMINDS US OF AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IN 0HILIPPIANS h,ET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH SELlSH AMBITION OR CONCEIT BUT IN LOWLINESS OF MIND LET EACH ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN HIMSELF v 4HAT S GOOD ADVICE FOR THE EVER MOVING AND EVER GRINDING CHURCH hDRUM v

!S ) VE PONDERED 'OD S WORK OF POLISHING ROUGH EDGES IN MY LIFE AND IN (IS CHURCH ) HAVE GLEANED A NUM BER OF LESSONS FROM 3CRIPTURE THAT MAY ALSO BE HELPFUL TO !DVENTISTS IN THE TWENTY lRST CENTURY (UMILITY IS A KEY INGREDIENT FOR THE CHURCH hDRUM v *ESUS (IMSELF INVITES US TO LEARN FROM (IM WHO IS GENTLE AND hLOWLY IN HEARTv -ATT 0ETER HIMSELF CALLS US TO hBE 4HE -INERAL 7ORLD OWNED BY 4OPSTONES IN 3IMONSTOWN

SUBMISSIVE TO ONE ANOTHER AND BE CLOSE TO #APETOWN 3OUTH !FRICA IS DElNITELY WORTH A VISIT 3TOP

BY ONLINE AT WWW SCRATCHPATCH CO ZA INDEX HTML AND WWW CLOTHED WITH HUMILITYv 0ETER TOPSTONES CO ZA INDEX HTML AND READ ABOUT THE AMAZING PROCESS (UMILITY IS LIKE A HEALING SALVE WHEN OF TUMBLED GEMSTONES 4HE 'REEK TERM IN !CTS THAT THE .+*6 TRANSLATES AS SHARP EDGES CAUSE INJURY AND IS AN hDISPUTEv CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED AS hCONTROVERSY DEBATE

DISCUSSION v EXCELLENT WAY TO COMMUNICATE EVEN %LLEN ' 7HITE 4HE !CTS OF THE !POSTLES P DIRECT CRITICISM 4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT Ú

2ECOGNITION OF ERROR AND REPEN )NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS TANCE DOES NOT COME EASILY BUT NEEDS /THER VERSIONS TRANSLATE HERE hHUMBLEv .)6 .!3" .236 TO BE PART OF OUR CHURCH LIFE 7HEN THE 3CRIPTURE QUOTATIONS MARKED .!3" ARE FROM THE .EW !MERICAN CRITICISM IS BROUGHT FORWARD IN HUMIL 3TANDARD "IBLE COPYRIGHT Ú

BY 4HE ,OCKMAN &OUNDATION 5SED BY PERMISSION "IBLE TEXTS CREDITED TO .236 ARE FROM THE .EW ITY AND ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURAL PRIN 2EVISED 3TANDARD 6ERSION OF THE "IBLE COPYRIGHT Ú BY THE CIPLES IT IS TIME TO SAY h) WAS WRONG $IVISION OF #HRISTIAN %DUCATION OF THE .ATIONAL #OUNCIL OF THE #HURCHES OF #HRIST IN THE 5 3 ! 5SED BY PERMISSION PLEASE FORGIVE ME v 4ENSION BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS MAY HURT AT TIMES

BUT SHOULD ULTIMATELY BRING US CLOSER TOGETHER !CCORDING TO *ESUS GUIDELINES IN -ATTHEW CONmICT AND SIN 'ERALD ! +LINGBEIL IS IN CHURCH REQUIRE A MULTISTEP SOLUTION AN ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF THE APPROACH !PPROACHING A BROTHER !DVENTIST 7ORLD MAGAZINE DIRECTLY WILL OFTEN GIVE BETTER RESULTS AND LIVES WITH HIS WIFE

THAN A PUBLIC SHOWDOWN 4HERE IS

#HANTAL AND THEIR THREE DAUGHTERS IN 3ILVER HOWEVER ANOTHER PRINCIPLE THAT 3PRING -ARYLAND 5 3 !

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 , ) & %

!

.

OT LONG AGO MY WORK RESPONSIBILITIES TOOK ME TO (ONG +ONG FOR THREE WEEKS ) M A THEOLOGY PRO FESSOR AND ) WAS INVITED TO TEACH A CLASS ON THE FOUR 'OSPELS TO A GROUP OF #HINESE PASTORS 4WO EXPERIENCES FROM THAT VISIT BROUGHT INTO SHARP FOCUS DEEPER REALITIES OF THE GREAT BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL TAKING PLACE AROUND US ! (OUSE OF 'OD

/N MY LAST 3ABBATH IN (ONG +ONG ) WAS INVITED TO PREACH IN THE &ILIPINO !DVENTIST CHURCH (ONG +ONG IS AFmUENT SO ) ANTICIPATED AN ATTRACTIVE CHURCH BUILDING WITH ADEQUATE FUNCTIONAL FACILITIES 4HE REALITY WAS QUITE DIFFER ENT 4HE STREET WE ENTERED WAS AN UNASSUMING APARTMENT BLOCK ON WHICH THE MEETING HALLˆHARDLY BIGGER THAN MY LIVING ROOMˆWAS LOCATED !BOUT PEOPLE MOSTLY WOMEN SAT CLOSELY TOGETHER 3ABBATH SCHOOL HAD JUST BEGUN !S ) TOOK MY SEAT ) WAS WELCOMED WITH WARM SMILES AND HANDSHAKES 4HE LESSON STUDY WAS ABLY LED BY A LAY LEADER 4HE CONGREGANTS HAD STUDIED WELL AND THE DISCUS SION WAS LIVELY AND PERSONAL ) NOTICED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD TEARS IN THEIR EYES ,IFE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR THEM -ANY HAD LEFT FAMILIES BEHIND IN VILLAGES IN ORDER TO lND WORKˆWHICH WAS OFTEN GRUELINGˆSO THEY COULD EARN MONEY TO SEND BACK HOME !S ) LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM AT THESE DEAR PEOPLE ) WAS NEARLY MOVED TO TEARS MYSELF !FTER THE SERVICE WE HAD LUNCH TOGETHER 4HE MEAL WAS SIMPLE BUT TASTY ) WAS THEN FREE TO RETURN TO MY GUEST ROOM TO REST BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE ASKED ME TO STAY FOR THE AFTERNOON PROGRAM 4HOUGH A REST SOUNDED INVITING ) DECIDED TO STAY 4HE TIME WAS P M AND SOON THE AFTERNOON PROGRAM WOULD BEGIN 3UDDENLY ) REALIZED THAT AS THE GUEST SPEAKER ) MIGHT BE ASKED TO PREACH AGAIN )N MY MIND ) BEGAN TO REFORMULATE ONE OF MY RECENT SERMONSˆAND ) WAS JUST IN TIME !T THE PROGRAM STARTED WITH PRAYER AND A SONG THE LEADER THEN ANNOUNCED THAT THE TIME WOULD BE GIVEN TO ME ) PREACHED FROM -ATTHEW S 'OSPEL ABOUT THE LOVE OF 'OD AND ) AGAIN SAW PEOPLE IN TEARS 7E THEN HAD A "IBLE STUDY ON THE LIFE OF #HRIST 4HE PROGRAM IS PROBABLY OVER NOW ) THOUGHT BUT ONCE MORE THE PROGRAM LEADER ANNOUNCED THAT THE TIME WOULD BE GIVEN OVER TO ME ) WAS COMPLETELY UNPREPARED ) OFFERED A SILENT PRAYER AND SAID THAT WE WOULD HAVE A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION 4HIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A SERMON ON PROPH ECY 7E THEN SANG PRAYED AND CLOSED THE MEETING )T WAS NOW EVENING AND ONE OF THE MEMBERS TRAVELED WITH ME TO MY GUEST ROOM MORE THAN AN HOUR AWAY

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

(OUSE "Y +IM 0APAIOANNOU

GOD OF

AND A

(OUSE OF

OSS , 7HAT A CONTRAST

h7ILL YOU BE GOING HOME v ) ASKED WHEN WE REACHED OUR DESTINATION h.O v HE ANSWERED h) WILL GO BACK TO THE CHURCH v 3UDDENLY ) REALIZED THAT TO THESE PEOPLE CHURCH IS NOT SOMETHING THEY DO OUT OF HABIT ONCE A WEEK #HURCH IS A HAVEN FOR THEM 4HEY LIVE DIFlCULT LIVES OFTEN IN CHALLENG ING CIRCUMSTANCES #HURCH IS THEIR HOMEˆTHE PLACE WHERE THEY ARE ACCEPTED AND LOVED WHERE THEY FEEL PART OF THE LARGE BEAUTIFUL FAMILY OF 'OD 4HEY COME TIRED SOMETIMES BROKEN BUT LEAVE SPIRITUALLY RENEWED WITH FRESH COURAGE TO FACE ANOTHER WEEK ) LOOKED BACK ON MY DAY ) HAD PREACHED THREE SERMONS )N A SENSE ) FELT TIRED YET ) ALSO FELT REFRESHEDˆSPIRITUALLY REFRESHED AND INVIGORATED ) HAD FELT THE PRESENCE OF 'OD IN THE LOVE THE KINDNESS AND THE DEEP SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE OF THOSE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN #HRIST WHOM ) HAD MET FOR THE lRST TIME 4HIS CHURCH VISIT TRULY HAD BEEN A HOUSE OF 'OD EXPERIENCE ! (OUSE OF ,OSS

4HE NEXT MORNING A LOCAL PASTOR TOOK ME TO VISIT -ACAU KNOWN FOR BEAUTIFUL 0ORTUGUESE COLONIAL ARCHITEC TURE AND ITS MANY CASINOS 7HEN WE lRST ARRIVED HAWKERS INUNDATED US WITH LEAmETS AND VOUCHERS FOR THE CASINOS 7E THEN NOTICED A ROW OF BUSES OFFERING FREE RIDES INTO THE CITY ! FREE RIDE SOUNDED GOOD SO WE HOPPED ON A BUS AND A FEW MINUTES LATER WERE DROPPED OFF IN FRONT OF A CASINO 7E DECIDED TO GO IN JUST TO SEE WHAT IT WAS LIKE AND TO lND A PLACE TO EAT -Y PASTOR FRIEND AND ) HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TWO VOUCHERS WORTH A TOTAL OF 53 3OON AFTER WE ENTERED THE PLACE A WOMAN APPROACHED AND SAID THAT WE HAD BEEN RAN DOMLY CHOSEN TO RECEIVE A GIFT 3HE GAVE US TWO ENVELOPES )NSIDE WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF 53 IN ADDITIONAL VOUCH ERS "ETWEEN THE TWO OF US WE NOW HAD VOUCHERS WORTH 4HEY OBVIOUSLY WANTED US TO STAY AND GAMBLE )NSTEAD WE USED THE VOUCHERS TO PURCHASE A VEGETARIAN MEAL IN THE CASINO S *APANESE RESTAURANT 7E ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE CHEF AND SHARED THE GOSPEL MESSAGE WITH HIM "ACK IN THE HOTEL LOBBY EVERYTHING SHONE IN OPULENCEˆ THE mOOR THE DECORATIONS THE WALLS THE SHEER ABUNDANCE OF SPACE ! GROUP OF SINGERS WANDERED THE CORRIDORS SERENAD ING THE GUESTS WITH !SIAN ,ATINO MUSIC 7E NOTICED A LARGE GOLDEN CALF SURROUNDED WITH GIFTS AND BRILLIANT LIGHT -Y MIND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE GOLDEN CALF OF %XODUS 4HIS CALF WAS NOT DISPLAYED IN MEMORY OF %XODUS THE #HI NESE .EW 9EAR WAS FAST APPROACHING AND IT WAS TO BE THE

9EAR OF THE /X 9ET THE PARALLEL WITH %XODUS WAS TOO STRONG TO DISCOUNT 4HE PEOPLE GAMBLING AT THE CASINO SEEMED TO BE ENJOY ING THEMSELVES !LCOHOL AND SOFT DRINKS ARE OFFERED FREE "UT DESPITE SOME LAUGHTER AND EXCITEMENT MY PASTOR FRIEND AND ) NOTICED SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS APPARENTLY EXPERIENCING DEEP AND PAINFUL lNANCIAL LOSSES 3OME IT SEEMED HAD JUST WASTED AWAY ALL THEIR SAVINGS $ESPONDENCY IS NEVER FAR AWAY IN A CASINO NOR IS THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE ) THOUGHT TO MYSELF AS ) NOTED THE METAL DETECTORS BY THE DOORS 7HAT A #ONTRAST

)T WAS THEN THAT THE IRONY HIT ME !LL THESE TRAPPINGSˆ THE VOUCHERS THE FREE MEALS AND DRINKS THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC THE DECADENCEˆARE BUT A HOOK TO GRAB PROSPECTIVE VICTIMS 4HE ENTIRE SETUP WAS NOT TO ENTERTAIN BUT TO SEPA RATE PEOPLE FROM THEIR MONEY *UST THE DAY BEFORE ON 3AB BATH IN THE HUMBLE ENVIRONMENT OF A SMALL HALL IN AN UNASSUMING APARTMENT BUILDING ) SENSED THE PRESENCE OF 'OD 0EOPLE WENT INTO THAT BUILDING WOUNDED BUT LEFT HEALED )N THE OPULENCE AND MAGNIlCENCE OF THE CASINO

HOWEVER MANY PEOPLE GO IN WHOLE BUT LEAVE WOUNDED AND DESPONDENT 7HAT A GLARING CONTRAST BETWEEN THE WAYS IN WHICH 'OD AND 3ATAN WORK 'ODˆEVER LOVING EVER TRUEˆWILL WORK IN ANY ENVIRONMENT WHETHER IT IS HUMBLE OR RICH TO HEAL

BLESS AND OFFER A PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING "Y CONTRAST 3ATAN IS THE ULTIMATE LOSER (AVING NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE TO OFFER HE FOCUSES ON GRATIFYING THE SENSES AND THEN DESTROYS PEACE AND WHOLENESS (E LEADS HIS UNSUSPECT ING VICTIMS TO RUIN (IS HOUSES ARE BUT PLACES OF LOSS AND PAIN !ND THEY ABOUND 4HANK 'OD FOR THE OPPOSITE REALITY FOR PLACES OF WOR SHIP SUCH AS THE &ILIPINO !DVENTIST CHURCH IN (ONG +ONG AND THE THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD FOR THOSE DEAR MEMBERS WHO LOVE THE ,ORD AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM !S LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE AND PLACES OF WORSHIP SUCH AS THESE THERE IS HOPE FOR THIS WORLD -AY EVERY !DVENTIST CHURCH BE A HOUSE OF 'OD IN WHICH WOUNDED PEOPLE CAN BECOME WHOLE

+IM 0APAIOANNOU IS A .EW 4ESTAMENT PROFES SOR AT THE !DVENTIST )NTERNATIONAL )NSTITUTE OF !DVANCED 3TUDIES !))!3 IN THE 0HILIPPINES

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

. ! $ & % !4 5 2 %

9OU

7HEN

ARE #%NOUGH

(OW ARE !DVENTISTS KNOWN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

"Y 3UNG + +WON

4

HE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS COMMUNITY OUTREACH -ISSION IS NOT PRIMARILY AN ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH

BUT AN ATTRIBUTE OF 'OD 'OD IS A MISSIONARY 'OD -ISSION IS THEREBY A MOVEMENT FROM 'OD TO THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH IS AN INSTRUMENT OF THAT MISSION 4HERE IS CHURCH BECAUSE THERE IS MISSION NOT VICE VERSA 7HEN THE lRST DISCIPLES WERE BAP TIZED BY THE (OLY 3PIRIT THESE MEN AND WOMEN BECAME CHANGE MAKERS

PEOPLE WHO TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN !CTS 4HEIR MISSION WAS CLEAR h9OUR KINGDOM COME 9OUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS HEAVENv -ATT 4HIS SHOULD BE THE VISION OF 'OD S PEOPLE TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD FOR THE KINGDOM OF 'OD ON EARTH NOW TODAY 4HAT S WHY WE WERE CHOSEN BY 'OD TO PREACH THE EVERLASTING GOOD NEWS

THE THREE ANGELS MESSAGES WHICH PRO CLAIM THAT 'OD IS THE #REATOR 'OD IS

7(%. $)3!34%2 342)+%3 !#3 $ISASTER 2ESPONSE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS PROVIDE EMERGENCY FOOD CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS IN THE AFTERMATH OF SUCH NATURAL DISASTERS AS mOODS EARTHQUAKES

AND TORNADOES

3UNG + +WON IS DIRECTOR OF !DVENTIST #OMMUNITY 3ERVICES FOR THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

. ! $ & % !4 5 2 %

THE 2EDEEMER AND 'OD IS THE *UDGE 2EV 4HIS IS WHY WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO BE EVANGELISTS TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS COMMITTED DISCIPLES TO DEMONSTRATE THE LOVE OF 'OD -ATT 7E ARE REPAIR ERS AND RESTORERS )SA TO RECON CILE BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS TO 'OD AND TRANSFORM THE WORLD FOR 'OD FOR (IS KINGDOM VALUES AND PRINCIPLES 4HIS IS WHY WE MUST FOCUS ON COMPASSION AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION !DVENTIST #OMMUNITY 3ERVICES !#3 HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR HUMANITARIAN RELIEF AN INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY TO FULlLL THE MISSION OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH WHICH IS TO SERVE COMMUNITIES IN #HRIST S NAME !#3 AIMS TO DEVELOP CONTINUING LEADERSHIP EDUCATION BUILD COLLABORATIVE PARTNER SHIPS AND EXPAND THE SCOPE OF COM MUNITY SERVICES !#3 HOSTS A FAMILY OF MINISTRIES SUCH AS DISASTER RESPONSE

CRISIS CARE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL CARE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT URBAN MINISTRY ELDER CARE MINISTRIES 9OUTH %MPOWERED TO 3ERVE 9%3 AND TUTOR ING MENTORING PROGRAMS )N ADDITION TO THE ABOVE SERVICES

!#3 HAS INITIATED TWO INNOVATIVE PRO GRAMS TO EQUIP AND DEVELOP PASTORS AND LAY LEADERS TO SERVE AND TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES THE .ONPROlT ,EADERSHIP #ERTIlCATION 0ROGRAM .,#0 AND THE !DVENTIST 5RBAN #ONGRESS !5# 2ICHARD 3TEARNS THE PRESIDENT OF 7ORLD 6ISION SUGGESTS THIS PARAPHRASE OF #HRIST S WORDS IN -ATTHEW h&OR ) WAS HUNGRY WHILE YOU HAD ALL YOU NEEDED ) WAS THIRSTY BUT YOU DRANK BOTTLED WATER ) WAS A STRANGER AND YOU WANTED ME DEPORTED ) NEEDED CLOTHES

BUT YOU NEEDED MORE CLOTHES ) WAS SICK

AND YOU POINTED OUT THE BEHAVIORS THAT LED TO MY SICKNESS ) WAS IN PRISON AND YOU SAID ) WAS GETTING WHAT ) DESERVED v 7E MUST EARN THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING THE GOOD NEWS THROUGH ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH

MINISTRIES 4HE FOLLOWING DESCRIP TIONS PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF !#3 MINISTRIES !#3 #RISIS #ARE -INISTRY

9EARS AGO THE (ALLMARK COMPANY PROMOTED ITS GREETING CARDS WITH THE SLOGAN h7HEN YOU CARE ENOUGH TO SEND THE VERY BEST x v 4HAT CATCH PHRASE EPITOMIZES TRAINED !#3 CRISIS INTERVENERS LIKE *ESUS THEY CARE ENOUGH TO RESPOND TO THE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF HURTING PEOPLE 4HE !#3 CRISIS CARE MINISTRY EQUIPS QUALIlED PERSONS WITH KNOWL EDGE AND SKILLS TO SUPPORT OTHERS IN THE AFTERMATH OF CRISIS AND DISASTER 4HOSE WHO FOLLOW A PRESCRIBED TRAINING PRO GRAM AND MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS

CAN ACHIEVE !#3 RECOGNITION AS A CRI SIS CARE RESPONDER !DVENTIST #HAP LAINCY -INISTRIES OFFERS AN ENDORSE MENT AS A COMMUNITY CHAPLAIN FOR DISASTER RESPONSE 4HE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO LAYPERSONS PASTORS AND OTHER PRO FESSIONALS 4OGETHER THEY FORM THE !DVENTIST #RISIS #ARE .ETWORK !LL TRAINING COURSES ARE TAUGHT BY

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

7E MUST EARN THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING THE GOOD NEWS THOUGH ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH MINISTRIES

"5),$).' "%44%2 #/--5.)4)%3 9OUTH WHO VOLUNTEER FOR 9%3 9OUTH %MPOWERED TO 3ERVE TAKE ON COMMU NITY PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE LIFE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS -/,$).' -).$3 4UTORS AND MENTORS TEACH VALUES AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL SKILLS TO KIDS WHO ARE SOMETIMES AT RISK IN THE COMMUNI TIES WHERE THEY LIVE

APPROVED INSTRUCTORS OF CURRICULA FROM THE )NTERNATIONAL #RITICAL )NCIDENT 3TRESS &OUNDATION )#)3& AND THE .ATIONAL #HILD 4RAUMATIC 3TRESS .ET WORK AND THE 5NIVERSITY OF .EBRASKA )#)3& TRAINING INCLUDES CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS FROM THE 5NIVERSITY OF -ARYLAND #OURSES COVER A RANGE FROM BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL lRST AID THROUGH MORE ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL GROUP AND PASTORAL SPIRITUAL CRISIS INTERVENTION -OST IMPORTANT THE !#3 #RISIS #ARE .ETWORK EQUIPS PEOPLE TO FOLLOW *ESUS MODEL OF MINISTRY AS DESCRIBED BY %LLEN 7HITE IN 4HE -INISTRY OF (EALING P IN BEFRIENDING SYMPATHIZING

MEETING FELT NEEDS BUILDING TRUST AND SHARING 'OD S LOVE WITH A WORLD IN NEED !DVENTIST #OMMUNITY 3ERVICES $ISASTER 2ESPONSE

!DVENTIST #OMMUNITY 3ERVICES $ISASTER 2ESPONSE !#3 $2 IS THE HUMANITARIAN ARM OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH THAT ACTIVELY RESPONDS TO DISASTERS IN "ERMUDA

#ANADA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES !LL OUR CHURCHES CAN USE TRAINED DISASTER

RESPONSE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO ASSIST THEIR NEIGHBORS FOLLOWING A DISASTER !#3 $2 IS RECOGNIZED AS THE LEADER IN DONATIONS MANAGEMENT THAT INCLUDES PROCESSING GOODS THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLECTION CENTERS MULTI AGENCY WAREHOUSES EMERGENCY DISTRI BUTION CENTERS AND MOBILE DISTRIBU TION UNITS 4HIS SYSTEM PROVIDES AN EFlCIENT METHOD OF DELIVERING NEEDED GOODS TO DISASTER SURVIVORS AND RESPONDERS !#3 $2 IS SOMETIMES CALLED UPON TO PREPARE FOOD OR CLEAN UP YARDS AND HOMES !#3 $2 SHOWS 'OD S LOVE IN A PRACTICAL WAY TO THOSE DEVASTATED BY DISASTER 4HIS MINISTRY TRULY FOLLOWS THE EXAMPLE OF *ESUS WHO MET THE NEEDS OF HURTING PEOPLE !S %LLEN 7HITE WROTE h#HRIST S METHOD ALONE WILL GIVE TRUE SUCCESS IN REACHING THE PEOPLE 4HE 3AVIOR MINGLED WITH MEN AS ONE WHO DESIRED THEIR GOOD (E SHOWED (IS SYMPATHY FOR THEM MINISTERED TO THEIR NEEDS AND WON THEIR CONlDENCE 4HEN (E BADE THEM @&OLLOW -E v 4HE -IN ISTRY OF (EALING P

!DVENTIST %LDER #ARE -INISTRY

4HE AVERAGE AGE OF THE WORLD S POPULATION AS WELL AS THE CHURCH S IS CHANGING !CCORDING TO THE 5NITED .ATIONS 0OPULATION $IVISION IN THERE WERE ABOUT MILLION PEOPLE AGED OR OLDER IN THE WORLD 4HAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO TRIPLE BY 4HE AVERAGE AGE OF !DVENTIST CON GREGATIONS IS INCREASING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD "ECAUSE OF THIS GROWING NEED %LDER #ARE -INISTRIES WAS ORGA NIZED BY A STEERING COMMITTEE CONSIST ING OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFER ENCE AND THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVI SION .!$ .!$ !DVENTIST #OM MUNITY 3ERVICES WAS ASKED TO DEVELOP THIS MINISTRY THAT COORDINATES EDUCA TION AND SERVICES RELATED TO AGING

HEALTH lNANCE AND SOCIAL ISSUES FOR SENIORS AS WELL AS THEIR CAREGIVERS IN THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY IN COL LABORATION WITH COMMUNITY BASED ELDER CARE PROGRAMS 7HAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO HELP SENIORS IN OUR CONGREGATIONS AND ALSO TO REACH OUT TO OUR SENIOR NEIGHBORS

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

. ! $ & % !4 5 2 %

3%26).' !3 4(% 3!6)/2 3%26%$ 3ERVICE BRINGS VOLUNTEERS CLOSE TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN THEIR COMMUNI TIES AND ALLOWS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF 'OD S LOVE AND GRACE

7ITH THE GOAL OF AN ELDER CARE MINISTRY IN EVERY CONGREGATION IN THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION AN EDUCA TIONAL CURRICULUM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS IMPORTANT AREA %XAMPLES OF MINISTRIES FOR AND BY SENIORS INCLUDE BENElTS CHECKUP

COMMUNITY EDUCATION COURSES CARE GIVER SUPPORT GROUPS SENIOR HEALTH FAIRS HOMEMAKER SERVICES HOME REPAIR MAINTENANCE SERVICES COMPAN ION SERVICES TELEPHONE REASSURANCE

ADOPT A GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

RESPITE CARE SERVICES WORSHIP PRAYER SERVICES 9%3 9OUTH %MPOWERED TO 3ERVE

9OUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE VITAL TO THE CHURCH S MISSION OF HELPING THOSE IN NEED AND BUILDING STRONGER COM MUNITIES 4HEIR FRIENDSHIP WITH *ESUS #HRIST IS STRENGTHENED AS THEY SERVE (IM IN THE PERSON OF THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED /UR YOUNG PEOPLE S COMMITMENT IS EVIDENT IN NORTHERN 4EXAS WHERE THE 2EVIVE 3TREET -INIS TRY STARTED AND LED BY YOUNG ADULTS

FEEDS THE HOMELESS IN THE PARK MEET ING THE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF THOSE THEY SERVE )N !RIZONA JUNIOR AND SENIOR YOUTH TAKE PART IN THEIR OWN EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER PROJECTS ON THE LOCAL .AVAJO RESERVATION )N NORTHERN !LABAMA AT THE -ADISON -ISSION CHURCH JUNIOR AND SENIOR YOUTH ARE PROVIDED OPPOR TUNITIES TO LEARN HOW TO AVOID DRUGS

GANGS AND OTHER VICES THAT TEAR DOWN THEIR COMMUNITY 4HEY TAKE TIME EACH MONTH TO ENGAGE IN A DIFFERENT OUT REACH PROJECT MOST RECENTLY WINTER IZING THE HOMES OF THE ELDERLY )N ,INCOLN .EBRASKA 5NION #OL LEGE TURNS CLASSES INTO OUTREACH FOR ONE DAY EVERY FALL AS PART OF 0ROJECT )MPACT )N RECENT YEARS THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO CONTINUE THESE OUT REACH MINISTRIES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR KEEPS ON GROWING 9%3 HOPES YOUNG PEOPLE WILL SAY

h9ES ) WANT TO SERVE OTHERS 9ES ) WANT TO SHOW *ESUS LOVE TO THE WORLD v 4O lND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS MINISTRY AND ANY OF THE PROJECTS MENTIONED GO TO WWW !DVENTIST9%3 ORG

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

!#3 /6- 4UTORING AND -ENTORING

2ESEARCH SHOWS THAT A KNOWLEDGE ABLE AND ENGAGING TEACHER IS THE SINGLE GREATEST ADVANTAGE A STUDENT CAN HAVE TO RAISE THEIR ACADEMIC POTENTIAL 1 4HAT IS TRULY POWERFUL 7HILE YOU MAY NOT BE A TEACHER BY TRAINING OR PROFESSION YOU TOO CAN HAVE THAT SAME INmUENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD OR YOUTH TODAY 4HE !LLIANCE FOR 9OUTH SPONSORED BY !DVENTIST #OMMUNITY 3ERVICES AND THE /FlCE OF 6OLUNTEER -INISTRIES /6- PROVIDES A GREAT AVENUE TO SERVE CHILDREN THROUGH ITS TUTORING AND MENTORING PROGRAM !#3 /6- TUTORING AND MENTORING IS AN EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM THAT IMPACTS THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN WHICH VOLUNTEER TUTORS SUPPLY THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION THAT A DISADVAN TAGED CHILD NEEDS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC ADEQUACY !#3 /6- TUTORING AND MENTOR ING MOBILIZES CHARITABLE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE NATION TO

MEET THE NEEDS OF !MERICA S CHILDREN AND YOUTH /F PARTICULAR INTEREST ARE CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES LIVING IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH VIOLENCE

ALCOHOL DRUGS AND CROWDED SCHOOLS MAKE IT DIFlCULT FOR THEM TO LEARN !#3 /6- OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR LOCAL CHURCH VOLUNTEERS WHO SEEK TO INITIATE AND ORGANIZE A COMMUNITY BASED TUTORING AND OR MENTORING MINISTRY FROM THE GROUND UP 7E NEED YOU TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY BUILDING LASTING FRIEND SHIPS THROUGH TUTORING AND MENTORING IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU LIVE

STUDY OR WORK #OMMUNITY $EVELOPMENT

*ESUS ANNOUNCED THE WHOLISTIC NATURE OF (IS PUBLIC MINISTRY WITH THESE WORDS h4HE 3PIRIT OF THE ,ORD IS

ON ME BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR (E HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM FREEDOM FOR THE PRISONERS AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT FOR THE BLIND TO RELEASE THE OPPRESSED TO PROCLAIM THE YEAR OF THE ,ORD S FAVORv ,UKE

.)6 4HE PURPOSE OF WHOLISTIC MINISTRY IS BALANCED OUTREACH THAT INVOLVES A PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL AS WELL AS A DEMONSTRATION OF 'OD S LOVE AND CON CERN FOR EVERY SOUL )T IS SEEING AND MINISTERING TO THE WHOLE PERSON !S 2ONALD 3IDER INDICATES IN HIS BOOK #HURCHES 4HAT -AKE A $IFFER ENCE THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF WHOLISTIC MINISTRIES WE SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN 2ELIEF )NVOLVING DIRECTLY SUPPLY ING FOOD CLOTHING OR HOUSING TO THOSE IN URGENT NEED )NDIVIDUAL $EVELOPMENT 4RANSFOR MATIONAL MINISTRIES THAT EMPOWER A

PERSON TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL

INTELLECTUAL RELATIONAL OR SOCIAL STATUS #OMMUNITY $EVELOPMENT 2ENEWS THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A HEALTHY COM MUNITY SUCH AS HOUSING JOBS HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION 3TRUCTURE #HANGE 4RANSFORMING UNFAIR POLITICAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMEN TAL OR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND SYSTEMS 4HE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS hOUT REACHv BECAUSE 'OD CAME FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH THEREFORE WE HAVE TO REACH OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES PROACTIVELY %ACH CHURCH SHOULD PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE OF THE ABOVE FOUR TYPES OF WHOLIS TIC MINISTRIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE

" "ERRY h2ECRUITING AND 2ETAINING @(IGHLY 1UALIlED 4EACHERS FOR (ARD TO 3TAFF 3CHOOLS v .ATIONAL !SSOCIATION OF 3ECONDARY 3CHOOL 0RINCIPALS "ULLETIN

4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT Ú

)NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29

!

!DUGNAW 7ORKU MADE THE FOLLOWING PRESENTATION ABRIDGED HERE TO THE GRADUATES OF 3OUTHWESTERN !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY IN +EENE 4EXAS 5NITED 3TATES ON $ECEMBER

ˆ%DITORS

7

HAT A DIFFERENCE EDUCATION MAKESˆESPECIALLY #HRISTIAN EDUCATION -OST COLLEGE GRADUATES BEGIN THEIR EDUCATION IN lRST GRADE WHEN THEY ARE OR YEARS OLD 4HEY COMPLETE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT ABOUT OR AND HIGH SCHOOL BY AGE "Y ABOUT AGE OR THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE -Y OWN EXPERIENCE DURING THOSE EARLY FORMA TIVE YEARS HOWEVER WAS MUCH DIFFERENT #HILDHOOD IN %THIOPIA

!T AGE ) BECAME A SHEPHERD ) ROAMED THE VAST MEAD OWS AND ROLLING HILLS OF RURAL NORTHWEST %THIOPIA TOGETHER WITH GOATS SHEEP COWS AND A FEW DONKEYS 4HIS WAS MY DAILY CHORE FROM DAWN TO DUSK UNTIL ) WAS YEARS OLD ) THEN HANDED OVER THE SHEPHERDING ASSIGNMENT TO MY

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

(AND /UT AND A(AND

5P "Y !DUGNAW 7ORKU

!DVENTIST EDUCATION MADE THE DIFFERENCE

YOUNGER BROTHER AND MOVED ON TO THE FAMILY FARM 4HERE ) LEARNED TO PLOW THE lELD WITH A PAIR OF OXEN AND TO PLANT

WEED AND HARVEST ) DISCOVERED THE DIGNITY OF WORK VERY EARLY IN LIFE AND ASSUMED PROGRESSIVELY GREATER RESPONSIBILI TIES WITH EACH PASSING YEAR -Y FAMILY AND ) WERE SUBSISTENCE FARMERS 7E GREW EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO LIVE ON 4HE WORK WAS BACKBREAK ING AND WE LITERALLY LIVED BY THE SWEAT OF OUR BROWS 4HIS WAS NOT A MATTER OF CHOICE BUT RATHER OF SURVIVAL -Y CAREER AS A COUNTRY FARMER LASTED UNTIL ) WAS YEARS OLD ! ,IFE CHANGING %VENT

!T AGE ) HAD A DEVASTATING ACCIDENT THAT LEFT ME BLIND AND DISlGURED IN MY LEFT EYE 4HE BEST MEDICINE MEN AND WOMEN OF MY VILLAGE TRIED TO HELP ME WITH TRADITIONAL REM EDIES BUT NOTHING WORKED 3O MY FAMILY DECIDED TO SEND ME TO A MODERN HOSPITAL ) WALKED WITH A GROUP OF MER CHANTS TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL A JOURNEY THAT TOOK TWO DAYS 4HAT HOSPITAL HAPPENED TO BE A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST MIS SION HOSPITAL IN THE MIDDLE OF hNOWHERE v -Y FAMILY AND ) WERE NOT !DVENTISTS BUT MANY OF MY MOTHER S RELATIVES WERE ) THEREFORE KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT FAITH 7HEN ) ARRIVED AT THE MISSION COMPOUND ) FOUND THREE THINGS A CHURCH A SCHOOL AND A HOSPITAL 4HE PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF BUILDING A CHURCH A SCHOOL AND A HEALTH CENTER HAVE LONG BEEN CHARACTERISTIC OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVEN TISTS WORLDWIDE 4HAT IS HOW THE !DVENTIST #HURCH BEGAN ITS WORK IN THE S AND SˆIT BUILT A CHURCH A SANITARIUM

AND A COLLEGE IN "ATTLE #REEK -ICHIGAN 5NITED 3TATES 4HIS PRACTICE IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE !DVENTIST PHILOSOPHY OF ACHIEVING A HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL POWERS )T WASN T UNUSUAL THEREFORE

THAT ) FOUND THESE THREE FACILITIES IN THAT MISSION COMPOUND IN NORTHWEST %THIOPIA SOME YEARS AGO 7HILE ) WAS THERE SEEKING TREATMENT ) CLOSELY OBSERVED THE STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL ) WATCHED WHAT THEY WERE DOING

HOW THEY DRESSED AND HOW THEY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES ) SENSED IMMEDIATELY THAT THEY HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT ) DIDN T HAVE ) KNEW INSTINCTIVELY THAT EDUCATION IS INHER ENTLY USEFUL ) NOTICED AND YEAR OLDS READING AND WRITING !ND THERE ) WAS AT YEARS OF AGE UNABLE TO EVEN SIGN MY NAME ) WAS AN ILLITERATE PEASANT AND ) KNEW IT 4HE DESIRE TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAME OVERWHELMING AND ) DECIDED TO lND A WAY TO ATTEND "UT ) HAD TWO BIG PROB LEMS ) DIDN T HAVE PERMISSION FROM MY PARENTS AND ) DIDN T HAVE ANY MONEY AT ALL ) HAD ONLY THE CLOTHES ON MY BACK )N MY RURAL CULTURE PARENTAL PERMISSION IS VERY IMPORTANT 0ARENTS IN RURAL %THIOPIA WIELD CONSIDERABLE POWER AND INmUENCE OVER THEIR CHILDREN 4HEY CHOOSE THEIR CHILDREN S CAREERS THEIR SPOUSES THEIR RELIGION AND THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE "UT EVEN THOUGH THE IDEA OF GOING AGAINST MY PARENTS WISHES WEIGHED HEAVILY ON ME MY INTENSE DESIRE TO ATTEND SCHOOL WAS GREATER 'OD !NSWERS A 9OUNG -AN S 0RAYER

4HE LACK OF PARENTAL PERMISSION AND MONEY SEEMED TO BE INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEMS AND IN THOSE DAYS ) DIDN T KNOW HOW TO PRAY FORMALLY "UT ) DO REMEMBER OFFERING A VERY SHORT PRAYER AGAIN AND AGAIN h'OD PLEASE HELP ME v h$EAR 'OD PLEASE HELP ME v 4HE ,ORD HEARD THAT SIMPLE

!DUGNAW 7ORKU IS HEAD LIBRARIAN AT 0ACIlC 5NION #OLLEGE IN !NGWIN #ALIFORNIA 5NITED 3TATES

3 / 5 4 ( 7 % 34 % 2 . ! $6 % .4 ) 34 5 . ) 6 % 2 3 ) 4 9 # / 5 24 % 39 / & 0!# ) & ) # 5 . ) / . # / , , %' %

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29

PRAYER AND ANSWERED IT MIRACULOUSLY !T AGE ) BECAME A PROUD lRST GRADER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR ) WAS EXCEEDINGLY HAPPY AND GRATEFUL AND ) STILL CONSIDER THAT DAY TO BE THE TIME OF MY SECOND BIRTH ) WAS WHEN ) CAME TO KNOW AN EVER LOVING AND EVER FORGIVING PERSONAL 'OD AND JOINED THE 3EVENTH DAY !D VENTIST #HURCH THROUGH BAPTISM ) LEARNED IN MY "IBLE CLASSES AND IN 3ABBATH SCHOOL AND CHURCH THAT THIS PERSONAL 'OD HAS VERY HIGH STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS BUT (E NEVER CASTS OUT A REPENTANT SINNER FROM (IS PRESENCE (E FORGIVES AND SAYS h'O AND SIN NO MORE v BUT (E NEVER SAYS h'O AWAY v .EVER 4HAT DISCOVERY HAS GIVEN MY LIFE DIRECTION MEANING PURPOSE PEACE AND STABILITY

) HAVE CLIMBED "UT ) HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN THE DEPTHS FROM WHICH ) HAVE COME 4HIS DICHOTOMY MAKES MY GRATITUDE TO 'OD AND TO GODLY PEOPLE EVEN DEEPER AND GREATER 4HANKS TO THOSE GENEROUS MISSIONARIES ) ATTENDED AN !DVENTIST BOARDING ACADEMY FOR ALL FOUR YEARS AND GRADUATED lRST IN MY CLASS AND AS CLASS PRESIDENT AT AGE !FTER HIGH SCHOOL ) ENROLLED AT !VONDALE #OLLEGE IN !USTRALIA ) GRADUATED FROM THERE AT AGE AND THEN WENT TO !NDREWS 5NIVERSITY IN "ERRIEN 3PRINGS -ICHIGAN 5NITED 3TATES FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL 3O ) M A PRODUCT OF !DVENTIST EDUCATION THROUGH AND THROUGH !ND NOT ONLY AM ) GRATEFUL FOR IT ) M ALSO PROUD OF IT )T MAY APPEAR THAT ) WAS LATE FOR EVERYTHING BUT ) GOT IT ALL DONE EVENTUALLY ) WAS MARRIED AT AND BECAME A FATHER AT 7ELL WHAT CAN ) SAY #ALL ME A LATE BLOOMER

(ELP &ROM -ISSIONARIES

!T AGE ) GRADUATED FROM THE EIGHTH GRADEˆlRST IN MY CLASS AND IN THE STATE AFTER TAKING THE NATIONAL EXAMINA TION 4HAT WASN T TOO BAD FOR A PEASANT BOY 4HAT SAME YEAR ) MET A WONDERFUL !MERICAN MISSIONARY FAMILY FROM SOUTHERN #ALIFORNIA IN THAT MISSION COMPOUND AND THEY TOOK ME INTO THEIR HOME AS ONE OF THEIR OWN $R (ARVEY (EIDINGER WAS THE MEDICAL DOCTOR IN THE HOSPITAL (IS SIS TER IN LAW #AROLYN 3TUYVESANT WAS A NURSE %LIZABETH (EI DINGER $R (EIDINGER S WIFE WAS OUR hMAMAv AT HOME 4HIS MISSIONARY FAMILY LEFT THE COMFORTS AND CONVE NIENCES OF SOUTHERN #ALIFORNIA AND TRAVELED TO THAT REMOTE MISSION OUTPOST IN NORTHWEST %THIOPIA WHERE THERE WERE FEW MODERN AMENITIES ) AM SO THANKFUL THAT THEY DID

BECAUSE THEY CHANGED MY LIFE 4HEY lNANCED MY EDUCATION

AS WELL AS THAT OF MY SIBLINGS ALL THE WAY THROUGH COLLEGE !ND WHAT A DIFFERENCE EDUCATION IN GENERALˆAND #HRISTIAN EDUCATION IN PARTICULARˆHAS MADE IN OUR LIVES ,IKE MOST PEOPLE ) MEASURE MY SUCCESS IN LIFE BY THE HEIGHTS TO WHICH

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

4HE "ENElTS OF !DVENTIST %DUCATION

4HE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH COMMITS ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF lNANCIAL HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES TO EDUCATE ITS YOUTH )T PROVIDES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AN OPPOR TUNITY TO lND A PERSONAL 'OD IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVI RONMENT WHERE THEY CAN ASK ABOUT AND EXPLORE THE FUNDA MENTAL ISSUES OF LIFE 4HE PURPOSE OF #HRISTIAN EDUCATION IS TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE DISCOVER A LOVING FORGIVING PERSONAL 'OD AND TO DEVELOP AN UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN (IM )T S ALSO TO HELP OUR YOUTH DEVELOP THEIR 'OD GIVEN TALENTS IN A DIS TINCTLY !DVENTIST #HRISTIAN WAY AND THEN SERVE 'OD AND HUMANITY )N HER BOOK %DUCATION %LLEN ' 7HITE CLEARLY STATES THE MISSION OF !DVENTIST SCHOOLS 3HE WRITES h4RUE EDUCATION MEANS MORE THAN THE PURSUAL OF A CERTAIN COURSE OF STUDY )T MEANS MORE THAN A PREPARATION FOR THE LIFE THAT NOW IS )T HAS TO DO WITH THE WHOLE BEING AND WITH THE WHOLE PERIOD OF EXISTENCE POSSIBLE TO MAN )T IS THE HARMONIOUS DEVELOP

3TUDIES OF RETAIL BUSINESS FRAUD IN THE 5NITED 3TATES REVEAL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOSSES EVERY YEAR THROUGH THEFT !ND PERCENT OF THOSE THEFTS ARE COMMITTED BY EMPLOY EES -ORE THAN PERCENT OF NEW BUSINESSES FAIL BECAUSE OF EMPLOYEE DISHONESTY 4RAGICALLY THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS !LL 'OD S #HILDREN

!DVENTIST SCHOOLS TEACH THAT WE ARE ALL 'OD S CHILDREN )F WE ACCEPT 'OD AS OUR &ATHER WE CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE 9OU ARE MY BROTHER AND MY SISTER AND ) AM YOUR BROTHER NO MATTER WHO WE ARE OR WHERE WE COME FROM 7E DON T ALWAYS LIVE UP TO THIS LOFTY IDEAL BUT IT IS OUR IDEAL 4HAT S WHY MISSIONARIES CROSS THE OCEAN AND HELP PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD ) M A LIVING EXAMPLE OF SUCH BROTHERLY AND SISTERLY LOVE -ANY SCIENTISTS AS WELL AS THE "IBLE TELL US THAT THERE IS MENT OF THE PHYSICAL THE MENTAL AND THE SPIRITUAL POWERS )T ONLY ONE HUMAN RACE NOT MANY 7E !DVENTISTS TAKE THAT A PREPARES THE STUDENT FOR THE JOY OF SERVICE IN THIS WORLD AND STEP FURTHER AND ASSERT THAT WE ARE ALL 'OD S CHILDREN AND THEREFORE BROTHERS AND SISTERS !ND AS SUCH WE ARE OUR FOR THE HIGHER JOY OF WIDER SERVICE IN THE WORLD TO COME v *UST PAGES LATER SHE ADDS h)T IS THE WORK OF TRUE EDUCATION x BROTHERS AND OUR SISTERS KEEPER 'OD WILL ALWAYS ASK US

TO TRAIN THE YOUTH TO BE THINKERS AND NOT MERE REmECTORS OF h7HERE IS YOUR BROTHER 7HERE IS YOUR SISTER v 7HATEVER OTHER MEN S THOUGHT v 3UMMARIZED IN THESE STATEMENTS ARE WE DO TO THE hLEASTv OF (IS CHILDREN (E WILL CONSIDER AS WELL ROUNDED THOUGHTS AND REmECTIONS ON EDUCATION LOVE TO DONE TO (IM ) HAVE TRANSLATED CHILDREN S SONGS FROM %NGLISH INTO 'OD AND OUR FELLOW HUMANS AND SERVICE TO BOTH 4HIS IS THE %THIOPIAN AND ) HAVE THREE FAVORITES 4HEY ARE h*ESUS ,OVES REASON !DVENTIST SCHOOLS EXIST AND WHY THE CHURCH EXPENDS -E v h*ESUS ,OVES THE ,ITTLE #HILDREN v AND h4HIS ,ITTLE ,IGHT A GREAT DEAL OF RESOURCES TO RUN THEM OF -INE v 4HESE PERSONAL AND INCLUSIVE SONGS ARE NOT JUST 5NCOMPROMISING )NTEGRITY FOR CHILDREN THEIR MESSAGE IS FOR ALL TIME AND FOR PEOPLE OF !GAIN IN THE BOOK %DUCATION %LLEN 7HITE DESCRIBES ALL AGES AND RACES 4HAT IS WHAT WE TEACH IN OUR SCHOOLS ANOTHER VITAL OBJECTIVE OF !DVENTIST SCHOOLS h4HE GREATEST WANT OF THE WORLD IS THE WANT OF ;MEN AND WOMEN= x WHO ,EARNING .EVER %NDS ,EARNING DOES NOT END AT GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE OR WILL NOT BE BOUGHT OR SOLD ;MEN AND WOMEN= WHO IN THEIR EVEN FROM GRADUATE SCHOOL )T S A LIFELONG PROCESS !S INMOST SOULS ARE TRUE AND HONEST x ;MEN AND WOMEN= !DVENTIST #HRISTIANS WE BELIEVE THAT THIS LIFE IS A REHEARSAL WHOSE CONSCIENCE IS AS TRUE TO DUTY AS THE NEEDLE TO THE FOR THE LIFE TO COME AND COMMON TO BOTH IS LEARNING POLE ;MEN AND WOMEN= WHO WILL STAND FOR THE RIGHT 4HROUGHOUT THIS LIFEˆAND ETERNITYˆWE LEARN ABOUT 'OD

THOUGH THE HEAVENS FALL "UT SUCH A CHARACTER IS NOT THE (IS VAST AND COMPLEX UNIVERSE AND OURSELVES ,IFELONG RESULT OF ACCIDENTx ! NOBLE CHARACTER IS THE RESULT OF SELF LEARNERS BELIEVE THAT GAINING NEW KNOWLEDGE AND ACQUIRING DISCIPLINE x ;AND= THE SURRENDER OF SELF FOR THE SERVICE OF NEW SKILLS ARE INHERENTLY WORTHWHILE "ESIDES THIS HAS PRAC LOVE TO 'OD AND ;HUMANITY= v TICAL VALUE 3TUDIES INDICATE THAT WORKERS BETWEEN THE AGES $O YOU HAVE UNCOMPROMISING PERSONAL INTEGRITY )F YOU DO MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE IT ON YOUR R£SUM£ 0OTENTIAL OF AND WILL CHANGE JOBS AN AVERAGE OF TIMES 3O NEVER STOP LEARNING ,IFELONG LEARNERS WILL BE WELL EMPLOYERS AND GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSION COMMITTEES WILL TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY AND WILL IN ALL LIKELIHOOD DECIDE IN YOUR SERVED IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD FAVOR 4HE WORLD DESPERATELY NEEDS MEN AND WOMEN WITH UNCOMPROMISING PERSONAL INTEGRITY 4HE CURRENT ECONOMIC %LLEN ' 7HITE %DUCATION P )BID P CRISIS IN THE 5NITED 3TATES THAT HAS LEFT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE )BID P JOBLESS AND HOMELESS WAS CAUSED BY WELL EDUCATED MEN AND HTTP EZINEARTICLES COM %MPLOYEE 4HEFT (IGHER IN THE 5NITED 3TATES ID WWW LPINNOVATIONS COM PAGE INCIDENT?RESOLUTION UTM?CAMPAIGN %MPLOYEE 4HEFT )NCIDENTS 00# UTM?SOURCE ADWORDS GCLID #,RFRPRWKAC#&9ND !OD:#X-BG WOMEN WHO HOLD DEGREES FROM PRESTIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL WWW QUICKBACKGROUNDCHECKS COM BLOG TAG EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECKS INSTITUTIONS BUT HAVE LITTLE INTEGRITY HTTP CAREERPLANNING ABOUT COM B HOW OFTEN DO PEOPLE CHANGE CAREERS HTM

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 3 % 2 6 ) # %

4

HE %URO !SIA $IVISION IS GEO GRAPHICALLY THE LARGEST 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST TERRITORY IN THE WORLD )T STRETCHES ACROSS NEARLY HALF THE GLOBE FROM EASTERN %UROPE TO THE 0ACIlC /CEAN AND FROM ABOVE THE !RCTIC #IRCLE TO CENTRAL !SIA )F YOU WERE TO TRAVEL THE WIDTH OF THIS DIVI SION YOU D HAVE TO ADJUST YOUR WATCH FOR DIFFERENT TIME ZONES %URO !SIA CONSISTS OF COUNTRIES

INCLUDING THE PREDOMINANTLY #HRISTIAN NATIONS OF !RMENIA "ELARUS 'EORGIA

-OLDOVA 2USSIA AND 5KRAINE AND THE PREDOMINANTLY -USLIM NATIONS OF !ZER BAIJAN +AZAKHSTAN +YRGYZSTAN 4AJIKI STAN 4URKMENISTAN AND 5ZBEKISTAN %ACH OF THESE COUNTRIES IS HIGHLY DIVERSE WITH ITS OWN MIX OF ETHNIC GROUPS RELIGIONS AND LANGUAGES "UT THEY SHARE A COMMON PAST THEY WERE ALL ONCE PART OF THE FORMER 3OVIET 5NION 4HE RISE OF #OMMUNISM IN LED TO A LOSS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THIS REGION "Y MANY 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CHURCHES HAD BEEN CONlS CATED OR CLOSED !DVENTIST PUBLICATIONS WERE BANNED AND RELIGIOUS MEETINGS IN PRIVATE HOMES WERE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN (UNDREDS OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENT ISTS WERE ARRESTED IMPRISONED OR SENT TO LABOR CAMPS FOR SHARING THEIR FAITH 3OME EVEN LOST THEIR LIVES "Y NO CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP SERVICES EXISTED ANYWHERE IN 2USSIA 9ET CHURCH MEMBERS REMAINED FAITHFUL TO 'OD 7HEN #OMMUNISM FELL IN

3OVIET CITIZENS EXPERIENCED MANY NEW FREEDOMS 4HOUSANDS WERE HUNGRY FOR 'OD AND THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH GREW RAPIDLY "UT THIS SURGE IN RELIGIOUS INTEREST SOON WANED AS PEO PLE BEGAN TO ADOPT THE SECULAR LIFESTYLE OF THE 7EST 4ODAY THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO GROW BUT PROGRESS IS SLOW /F THE MILLION PEOPLE IN THE %URO !SIA $IVI SION FEWER THAN ARE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS "ECAUSE RELIGION WAS LARGELY FOR BIDDEN DURING 3OVIET TIMES MANY

/LESIA

-ARGEURITA

B U I L D I N G AND

#HILDREN

"Y ,AURIE &ALVO

7HERE THE TERRITORY IS VAST AND THE CHALLENGE IS DAUNTING

#HRISTIAN BELIEVERS ARE NOMINAL FOL LOWERS OF THEIR FAITHS &EW READ THE "IBLE !THEISM AND AGNOSTICISM ARE STRONG 0OLITICAL CHAOS INmATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT HAVE LEFT MILLIONS DIS ILLUSIONED AND INDIFFERENT TO RELIGION 9ET MANY SEARCH FOR SOMETHING SPIRI TUAL THAT WON T LET THEM DOWN !DVENTISTS IN THE %URO !SIA $IVI SION ARE REACHING OUT TO THESE SEEKERS WITH SOMETHING SPECIAL 4HROUGH EVANGELISM AND ONE ON ONE OUTREACH THEY ARE TOUCHING HEARTS FOR *ESUS

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

3IBERIA

#OVERED WITH VIRGIN FORESTS AND WAVING GRASSLANDS 3IBERIA IS THE VAST EMPTY PART OF 2USSIA TO THE EAST OF THE 5RAL -OUNTAINS ,IFE CAN BE HARSH THERE WITH BITTERLY COLD WINTERS "UT !DVENTIST CHURCHES ARE DRAWING PEOPLE INTO THE WARMTH OF 'OD S LOVE +RASNOYARSK IS A CITY OF ABOUT MILLION PEOPLE WITH ONLY lVE !DVENT IST CONGREGATIONS /NE OF THESE MEETS IN A SIMPLE HOUSE CHURCH /LESIA WAS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO

!LEXANDE

R

SHARE *ESUS WITH HER FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND FELT IMPRESSED TO START A SMALL GROUP "IBLE STUDY 3HE INVITED -ARGEURITA WHO HAS BEEN ATTENDING NOW FOR A YEAR AND A HALF h4HIS IS MY FAMILY v SAYS -ARGEU RITA h4HEY ARE THE CLOSEST PEOPLE TO MEx ;"ECAUSE OF THEM= ) KNOW *ESUS LOVES ME AND IS ALWAYS WITH ME v 4ODAY -ARGEURITA IS A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST AND IS SHARING HER FAITH WITH OTHERS %VANGELISTIC MEETINGS AND SMALL GROUPS SUCH AS THE ONE /LESIA HELPED START ARE WINNING HEARTS TO *ESUS "UT AS MEMBERSHIP GROWS THERE ARE NO PERMANENT CHURCH HOMES FOR NEW MEMBERS TO JOIN 'UILLERMO "IAGGI PRESIDENT OF THE %URO !SIA $IVISION UNDERSCORES THE LACK OF CHURCH BUILDINGS h/UR GREATEST CHALLENGE IS TO HAVE MORE CHAPELS HERE IN THIS GREAT DIVISION TERRITORY SO THAT CHURCH MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS CAN WORSHIP THE TRUE 'OD AND BE PREPARED FOR HEAVEN v 4HE BELIEVERS IN +RASNOYARSK HAVE PURCHASED LAND AND HAVE LAID PLANS TO BUILD A CHURCH !NOTHER AREA IN 3IBERIA WHERE SMALL GROUPS AND EVANGELISM ARE HELP ING TO GROW THE CHURCH IS 4OMSK A UNI VERSITY CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT

"UT ONLY ONE HOUSE CHURCH

HIDDEN AWAY ON A BACK STREET REPRESENTS THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH THERE 3OME !DVENTISTS LIVE AND WORSHIP IN 4OMSK 7HILE THE LITTLE HOUSE CHURCH SEATS ONLY ABOUT PEOPLE MANY MORE OFTEN SQUEEZE IN 4HERE SIMPLY

ISN T ANY ROOM FOR NEW MEMBERS !LEXANDER IS NOW A LOCAL ELDER AT THE HOUSE CHURCH IN 4OMSK "UT A FEW YEARS AGO HE PLANNED TO STIR UP TROUBLE FOR THE CONGREGATION IN 4OMSK #ONVINCED IT WAS A SECT HE WENT TO THE CHURCH DETERMINED TO hRESCUEv A RELATIVE "UT THINGS DIDN T TURN OUT AS HE PLANNED h) CAME AS AN ENEMY TO THIS PLACE ) CAME TO CREATE A WAR BETWEEN ME AND THE CHURCH v SAYS !LEXANDER h"UT ) DECIDED ) HAD TO FOLLOW THIS LIFESTYLE

BECAUSE 'OD SHOWED ME THROUGH THOSE BROTHERS AND SISTERS (IS LOVE (IS SMILES ) WAS JUST AMAZED BY THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ) DEVELOPED v 4HE !DVENTISTS IN 4OMSK HAVE PUR CHASED LAND AND ARE WORKING TOWARD BUILDING A NEW CHURCH LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE TWO CONGREGATIONS h7E REALLY NEED A NEW NICE BUILDING FOR WORSHIP THAT WILL BECOME A WITNESS IN THIS CITY SO OTHERS CAN JOIN WITH US v SAID !LEXANDER !ZERBAIJAN

4HE 2EPUBLIC OF !ZERBAIJAN LIES ALONG THE #ASPIAN 3EA SOUTH OF 2USSIA 3OME MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY BUT FEWER THAN PERCENT ARE #HRISTIANS AND ONLY ABOUT ARE !DVENTISTS 4HE !DVENTISTS WORSHIP IN SMALL GROUPS AND A FEW SCATTERED CHURCHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY 3HARING ONE S FAITH IN !ZERBAIJAN IS DIFlCULT 2ELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS RESTRICTED AND THOSE WHO BELONG TO MINORITY RELIGIONS OR CHANGE THEIR FAITH ARE OFTEN PERSECUTED )N ONE CITY ABOUT !DVENTIST BELIEVERS HAVE PURCHASED A BUILDING THEY HOPE TO TURN INTO A CENTER TO HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY #UR RENTLY THEY OPERATE THE 'OOD .EWS #AF£ AND HOLD TRAINING SEMINARS FOR MEMBERS &UTURE PLANS INCLUDE AN %NGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL AND A SMALL CLINIC WHERE THEY CAN PRESENT THE HEALTH MESSAGE 4HEY HOPE SOON TO HAVE A SECOND !DVENTIST CONGREGA TION MEETING IN THEIR CITY

3OMETHING FOR #HILDREN

4HE COUNTRIES OF !RMENIA !ZER BAIJAN AND 'EORGIA MAKE UP ONE REGION OF THE !DVENTIST #HURCH CALLED THE 4RANS #AUCASUS 5NION -ISSION -ORE THAN MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN THESE THREE COUNTRIES BUT ONLY

OF THEM ARE !DVENTISTS %NTIRE VILLAGES HAVE NO !DVENTIST BELIEVERS 4HE CHILDREN IN THESE COUNTRIES DON T HAVE ACCESS TO 3ABBATH SCHOOL MATERIALS IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE h)T IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE NEW GENERATIONS ARE FORMING RIGHT NOW v SAYS 3ERGO .AMORADZE PASTOR OF THE !DVENTIST CHURCH IN 4BILISI 'EORGIA h) BELONG TO THE GENERATION THAT IN THE 3OVIET 5NION HAD NOTHING RELIGIOUS TO READ )F ) HAD MAYBE ) WOULD VE BEEN CON VERTED EARLIER 4HIS NEW GENERATION HAS TO HAVE THESE MATERIALS ABOUT THE "IBLE AND *ESUS AS MANY MATERIALS AS POSSIBLE v 4HE CHURCH IN %URO !SIA FACES MANY CHALLENGES TO MISSION "UT ONE ON ONE SHARING AND EVANGELISM ARE WINNING HEARTS TO *ESUS 4HOUSANDS ARE COMING TO (IM AND ARE EAGER TO SHARE THEIR FAITH "UT THEY NEED CHURCH HOMES IN WHICH TO WORSHIP AND 3AB BATH SCHOOL MATERIALS SUITED TO THEIR LANGUAGES AND COMPREHENSION LEVELS 7E CAN HELP PROVIDE THESE RESOURCES SO THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE CAN KNOW OF *ESUS LOVE 9OUR PRAYERS AND GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE 4HIRTEENTH 3ABBATH /FFERING CAN MAKE AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE IN THE %URO !SIA $IVISION 0LEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY &OR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHAL LENGES OF REACHING OTHERS FOR #HRIST VISIT WWW !DVENTIST-ISSION ORG

,AURIE &ALVO IS COMMU NICATIONS PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE /FlCE OF !DVENTIST -ISSION

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

& 5 . $ ! - % . 4 ! , " % , ) % & 3

.5-"%2

, /H OVE

-

ANY #HRISTIANS TODAY THINK OF THE LAW ONLY IN TERMS OF JUDGMENT AND THE PUNISH MENT THAT RESULTS FROM DISOBEDIENCE 5NFORTUNATELY WE HAVE FORGOTTEN TO LOVE THE LAW !S THE LONGEST PSALM IN THE "IBLE

0SALM IS NOT ABOUT 'OD S LOVE OR EVEN (IS HOLINESS BUT IS DEDICATED TO DELIGHTING IN 'OD S LAW 4HIS REJOICING REmECTS THE RESULT OF MEDITATION ON THE INTRODUCTION TO THE 4EN #OMMAND MENTS h) AM THE ,ORD YOUR 'OD WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF THE LAND OF %GYPT

OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGEv %X 4HOUGH OFTEN SKIPPED OVER THIS INTRODUCTORY VERSE SETS THE TONE FOR THIS MOST WELL KNOWN SET OF 'OD S LAWS 4HE PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS NOT OBEDIENCE TO A STRICT TYRANT OR THE APPEASEMENT OF A CAPRICIOUS DEITY )NSTEAD 'OD (IMSELF GIVES THE MAIN REASON FOR KEEPING (IS LAW PERSONAL GRATITUDE FOR (IS REDEMPTION 4HE BOOK OF $EUTERONOMY EXPANDS AND EXPOUNDS UPON THE 4EN #OMMANDMENTS IN SERMON FORM 4HE WORD h$EUTERONOMYv MEANS hSECOND LAW v BUT IN (EBREW THE BOOK IS ACTU ALLY REFERRED TO AS hINSTRUCTIONv OR 4ORAH %VERY SEVEN YEARS THE PEOPLE OF )SRAEL READ THE ENTIRE BOOK TOGETHER $EUT %VEN MORE IMPOR TANT $EUTERONOMY INSTRUCTS EACH KING AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF EXAM PLE FOR THE PEOPLE TO WRITE OUT FOR HIMSELF AN ENTIRE COPY OF THE LAW AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS REIGN 4HIS PAS SAGE SHOWCASES FOUR OF THE MAIN REA SONS FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF 'OD S LAW

! 2AHEL 3CHAFER IS A 0H $ STUDENT IN BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES AT 7HEATON #OLLEGE 3HE AND HER HUSBAND +IRK LOVE TO BACKPACK CLIMB MOUNTAINS AND LEAD CHURCH YOUTH GROUPS

,

(OW )

/BEDIENCE IS A RESPONSE OF GRATI TUDE FOR DELIVERANCEˆh7HEN YOU COME TO THE LAND WHICH THE ,ORD YOUR 'OD IS GIVING YOU x YOU SHALL SURELY HAVE A KING OVER YOU WHOM THE ,ORD YOUR 'OD CHOOSESx 7HEN ;THE KING= SITS ON THE THRONE OF HIS KING DOM THAT HE SHALL WRITE FOR HIMSELF A COPY OF THIS LAW IN A BOOKv $EUT 4HE PROVISION BY 'OD CON TINUES TO FORM THE FOUNDATION FOR OBE DIENCE THE LAND AND THE KINGDOM ITSELF COME ONLY THROUGH THE WORK OF 'OD 4HE LAW REPRESENTS A COVENANT BETWEEN 'OD AND (IS PEOPLE )NDEED

THE ENTIRE BOOK OF $EUTERONOMY IS STRUCTURED LIKE MANY POLITICAL TREATIES OF THAT TIME BEGINNING BY RECOUNTING ALL THE FAVORS THE 3UZERAIN 'OD HAS WROUGHT FOR THE VASSALS )SRAEL IN DELIVERING THEM FROM %GYPT AND THEN LAYING OUT THE STIPULATIONS OF THE COVENANT AS A RESPONSE OF GRATITUDE )N THE .EW 4ESTAMENT AS WELL *ESUS REMINDS (IS DISCIPLES THAT OBEDIENCE TO 'OD S LAW IS CLOSELY TIED TO LOVE FOR (IM (E URGES h)F YOU LOVE -E KEEP -Y COMMANDMENTSv *OHN

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

"Y ! 2AHEL 3CHAFER

4HROUGH MEDITATION ON 'OD S 7ORD 'OD ENABLES US TO OBEYˆ h!ND ;THE COPY OF THE LAW THAT HE WROTE= SHALL BE WITH HIM AND HE SHALL READ IT ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE THAT HE MAY LEARN TO FEAR THE ,ORD HIS 'OD AND BE CAREFUL TO OBSERVE ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAWv $EUT -EDITATION ON 'OD S INSTRUCTIONS COMES BEFORE OBEDIENCE 4HROUGH TIME SPENT IN 'OD S 7ORD 'OD ENABLES THE KING TO KEEP THE LAW &ROM THE BEGINNING 'OD S PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THOSE WHO KEEP (IS COM MANDMENTS WHILE IN A HEART RELATION SHIP WITH (IM 'OD (IMSELF PROMISES TO CIRCUMCISE THEIR HEARTS SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW (IS STATUTES $EUT 4HUS THE 4EN #OM MANDMENTS CAN BE READ AS PROM ISES E G h;) PROMISE = YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE -Ev *ESUS REIT ERATES THIS PRINCIPLE IN THE .EW 4ESTA MENT BY CALLING (IMSELF THE VINE AND (IS FOLLOWERS THE BRANCHES WHO WILL BEAR FRUIT ONLY AS THEY ABIDE IN (IM

AND (E MOLDS THEM INTO (IS IMAGE *OHN

4HE LAW PROVIDES PROTECTIONˆ h4HAT HIS HEART MAY NOT BE LIFTED ABOVE HIS BRETHREN THAT HE MAY NOT TURN ASIDE FROM THE COMMANDMENT TO THE RIGHT HAND OR TO THE LEFTv $EUT 4HE LAW ALSO FUNCTIONS TO REVEAL THE SINFULNESS OF SIN 7ITHOUT THE LAW

PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW WHEN THEY HAD

WERE KNOWN BEFORE 3INAI E G 'EN

!LTHOUGH 0AUL REJOICES THAT HE IS FREE IN #HRIST FROM BONDAGE TO THE LAW HE EQUATES THIS FREEDOM IN #HRIST WITH SLAVERY TO 'OD 2OM 4HE BONDAGE 0AUL REFERS TO IS THE BONDAGE OF SIN THAT PREVENTS US FROM KEEPING THE LAW BUT

AW

,

9OUR

FALLEN OFF THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH OF CONFORMITY TO THE IMAGE OF 'OD !ND YET UNLIKE THE REQUIREMENTS OF OTHER DEITIES 'OD S LAW IS NOT CONFUS ING OR ARBITRARY $EUT 7RIT TEN IN THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS THE LAW PROTECTS LIFE AND DIGNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND PROPERTY 4HUS THE LAW IS NOT SO MUCH A BARRIER THAT KEEPS US FROM ENJOYING THE WORLD AND ITS PLEASURES

BUT A FENCE THAT PROTECTS US FROM THE WORLD AND ITS DANGERS )NDEED 'OD S LAW IS EVERLASTING AND UNCHANGING 4HE 4EN #OMMANDMENTS

OF AW ,GOD

WHICH IS BROKEN BY ACCEPTING THE PER FECT OBEDIENCE OF #HRIST IN OUR BEHALF 2OM *OHN THE REVELATOR REITER ATES THAT THOSE WHO FOLLOW 'OD AT THE END OF TIME WILL KEEP (IS COMMAND MENTS 2EV 'OD S REPUTATION IS AT STAKEˆ h!ND THAT HE MAY PROLONG HIS DAYS IN HIS KINGDOM HE AND HIS CHIL DREN IN THE MIDST OF )SRAELv $EUT 5LTIMATELY KEEPING THE LAW IS ABOUT EXONERATING 'OD S NAME AND CHARACTER THAT HAVE BEEN DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD BY THE SINS OF (IS

PEOPLE 4HE SURROUNDING NATIONS VAL UED DEITIES BASED ON THEIR PERCEPTION OF THE GOD S ABILITY TO PROTECT AND BLESS THEIR PEOPLE AND LAND 4HUS FOR THE SAKE OF (IS NAME THAT (IS PEOPLE HAD PROFANED BEFORE THE WORLD 'OD PROMISES TO GIVE NEW HEARTS TO (IS PEOPLE AND TO CAUSE THEM TO WALK IN (IS WAYS %ZE )N THE SAME WAY OUR PERSPECTIVE ON 'OD S LAW SHOULD ENCOMPASS THE COSMIC SIGNIl CANCE OF OUR OBEDIENCE 7HEN WE OBEY 'OD S LAW WHICH IS A REmECTION OF (IS CHARACTER WE ARE A WITNESS TO THE UNIVERSE THAT OUR 'OD IS FAITHFUL

JUST AND TRUE -ATT 2OM (EB *OHN

#HRISTIANS OUGHT NOT TO BE FOCUSING ON THE DIFlCULTIES OF OBEDIENCE TO 'OD S LAW BUT EAGERLY LOOKING FOR EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO SHOW OUR GRATI TUDE TO OUR 3AVIOR 7E HAVE NO HOPE OF KEEPING THE LAW ON OUR OWN BUT WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE ,AMB AND ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF #HRIST BY THE (OLY 3PIRIT 4HE LAW PROTECTS US FROM SLAVERY TO SIN AND EVEN PROVIDES MANY OPPOR TUNITIES TO WITNESS AND BRING HONOR TO 'OD S NAME 2ATHER THAN VIEWING THE LAW AS A BURDENSOME REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION WE CAN JOYFULLY SHARE HOW 'OD HAS DELIVERED US FROM SIN AND THAT IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO SERVE (IM h/H HOW ) LOVE YOUR LAW )T IS MY MED ITATION ALL THE DAYv 0S

4HE GREAT PRINCIPLES OF 'OD S LAW ARE EMBODIED IN THE 4EN #OMMANDMENTS AND EXEMPLIlED IN THE LIFE OF #HRIST 4HEY EXPRESS 'OD S LOVE WILL AND PURPOSES CONCERNING HUMAN CONDUCT AND RELATIONSHIPS AND ARE BINDING UPON ALL PEOPLE IN EVERY AGE 4HESE PRECEPTS ARE THE BASIS OF 'OD S COVENANT WITH (IS PEOPLE AND THE STANDARD IN 'OD S JUDGMENT 4HROUGH THE AGENCY OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT THEY POINT OUT SIN AND AWAKEN A SENSE OF NEED FOR A 3AVIOUR 3ALVATION IS ALL OF GRACE AND NOT OF WORKS BUT ITS FRUITAGE IS OBEDIENCE TO THE #OMMANDMENTS 4HIS OBEDIENCE DEVELOPS #HRISTIAN CHARACTER AND RESULTS IN A SENSE OF WELL BEING )T IS AN EVIDENCE OF OUR LOVE FOR THE ,ORD AND OUR CONCERN FOR OUR FELLOW MEN 4HE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF #HRIST TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND THEREFORE STRENGTHENS #HRISTIAN WITNESS %X 0S -ATT $EUT -ATT (EB *OHN %PH *OHN 2OM 0S

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

$ ) 3 # / 6 % 2 ) . ' 4 ( % 3 0 ) 2 ) 4 / & 0 2 / 0 ( % # 9

)

N *AMES %DSON 7HITE CONTACTED HIS MOTHER %LLEN ' 7HITE ABOUT A SPECIAL NEED )N !MERICA S $EEP 3OUTH WERE MANY FREED SLAVES AND THEIR DESCENDANTS LIVING IN POVERTY AND IGNORANCE !T GREAT PERIL %DSON JOURNEYED SOUTH TO BRING !MERICAN "LACKS NOT JUST SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION AND HOPE BUT ALSO THE BEGINNINGS OF AN EDUCATION (E PRODUCED A BOOK TO USE IN TEACHING READING AND THEN SEARCHED FOR RELI GIOUS MATERIAL TO PRACTICE THEIR NEWFOUND SKILL (IS MOTHER S BOOKS HAD WONDERFUL SPIRITUAL MESSAGES BUT THEY WERE NOT EASY READING SO %DSON ASKED HER FOR PERMISSION TO ADAPT HER WRITINGS FOR SUCH A USE 3HE WROTE h%DSON YOU ARE AT LIBERTY TO SELECT FROM MY WRITINGS THE MATTER THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE PROPOSED SIMPLE TRACTS AND

TEN -ESSIAH AND "LESSINGS PARAPHRASES OF 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES AND 4HOUGHTS &ROM THE -OUNT OF "LESSING 4HESE HAVE DRAWN A WIDE AND APPRECIATIVE READERSHIP BUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY APPROACH TO THE ISSUE 2ECENT !DAPTATIONS

)N ATTEMPTING TO INTRODUCE NEW READERS TO %LLEN 7HITE S INSPIRED INSIGHTS OVER THE PAST DECADE THE 7HITE %STATE HAS PRODUCED A NUMBER OF ADAPTATIONS OF HER BOOKS AT THE REQUEST OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF THE CHURCH !S THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOOK %DUCATION APPROACHED

THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION $EPARTMENT OF %DUCATION ASKED THE 7HITE %STATE TO ISSUE A NEW EDITION UPDATING THE

!DAPTING THE 7RITINGS OF "Y 7ILLIAM &AGAL

BOOKLETS FOR THE 3OUTHERN lELDx 9OU MAY BE ABLE YOUR SELF TO SIMPLIFY IN A WAY THAT WILL SUIT YOU BETTERv 4HE 0UB LISHING -INISTRY P )N RESPONSE THE FOLLOWING YEAR %DSON BROUGHT OUT #HRIST /UR 3AVIOUR UNDER %LLEN 7HITE S NAME IN WHICH HE SIMPLIlED SOME OF HER MATERIALS ON THE LIFE OF #HRIST IN ORDER TO REACH A READERSHIP INCLUDING CHIL DREN THAT COULD NOT EASILY HAVE READ 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES 4ODAY WE ALSO SEE A SPECIAL NEED 4HOUGH MANY PEOPLE READ THE STANDARD WRITINGS OF %LLEN ' 7HITE COMFORTABLY IN THEIR ORIGINAL %NGLISH EXPRESSIONS OTHERS STUMBLE OVER SOME OF THE WORDS AND WRESTLE WITH LENGTHY SENTENCES OR COMPLEX NINETEENTH CENTURY LITERARY EXPRESSIONS 4HE PERCENTAGE OF !DVENTISTS PARTICULARLY YOUNG !DVENTISTS IN .ORTH !MERICA WHO READ %LLEN 7HITE S WRITINGS REGULARLY HAS BEEN DECLINING FOR DECADES PARTLY BECAUSE SOME BELIEVE OF THE DIFlCULTY SOME PEOPLE HAVE IN READING THESE WRITINGS -ODERN 0ARAPHRASES

/NE RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN TO PARAPHRASE %LLEN 7HITE S WRITINGS TO CONVEY HER CONCEPTS WITHOUT NEC ESSARILY FOLLOWING HER WORDING 4HE 7HITE %STATE HAS PRO DUCED ! #ALL TO 3TAND !PART A PARAPHRASED NEW COMPILATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS AND *ERRY 4HOMAS HAS WRIT

7ILLIAM &AGAL IS AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE %LLEN ' 7HITE %STATE AT THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 5 3 !

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

%LLEN

LANGUAGE TO SOME EXTENT 4HE RESULT WAS 4RUE %DUCATION

PUBLISHED IN )TS COVER NOTES THAT IT IS AN ADAPTATION OF %DUCATION BY %LLEN ' 7HITE 3IMILARLY AT THE REQUEST OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT IN THE 7HITE %STATE BROUGHT OUT AN ADAPTATION CALLED 4HE -INISTRY OF (EALTH AND (EALING FOR THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF 4HE -INISTRY OF (EALING 4HESE TWO TITLES REVEAL THEIR CONNECTION TO THE ORIGINAL WORKS BUT LIKE ALL ADAPTATION TITLES THEY DIFFER FROM THE ORIGINAL TO MAKE A CLEAR DISTINCTION 4HEY FOLLOW A PREC EDENT SET NEARLY YEARS AGO WITH THE PUBLICATION OF 3TEPS TO *ESUS AN ADAPTATION OF 3TEPS TO #HRIST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THOSE WITH LIMITED %NGLISH SKILLS !DAPTATIONS !RE .OT 0ARAPHRASES

4HESE BOOKS ARE NOT PARAPHRASES &OR THE MOST PART THEY FOLLOW THE ORIGINAL WORK SENTENCE BY SENTENCE AND USE MUCH OF %LLEN ' 7HITE S ORIGINAL WORDING THOUGH SOMETIMES WITH A DIFFERENT WORD ORDER 4HEY WILL SOUND FAMILIAR TO THOSE WHO KNOW THE ORIGINAL BOOKS BUT THEY MAY READ MORE SMOOTHLY TO SOME "IBLE TEXTS ARE QUOTED FROM THE .EW +ING *AMES 6ERSION .EW #ONmICT 3ERIES FOR 4EENS

4HE 7HITE %STATE IS ALSO DEVELOPING AN ADAPTATION OF THE lVE VOLUME #ONmICT OF THE !GES 3ERIESˆ%LLEN 7HITE S PRE SENTATION OF THE GREAT CONTROVERSY THEME 4HOSE BOOKS ARE ARGUABLY HER GREATEST LITERARY AND THEOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH !BOUT lVE YEARS AGO THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE 3ABBATH 3CHOOL $EPARTMENT LEADERS APPROACHED THE 7HITE %STATE WITH A REQUEST TO UPDATE THE

/,$ !.$ .%7 !N EARLY ADAPTATION OF 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES ALONG WITH THE NEW ADAPTATION ESPECIALLY FOR TEENS (ERO TELLS *ESUS STORY FROM 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES AND 5NLIKELY ,EADERS PARALLELS 4HE !CTS OF THE !POSTLES 4HE lNAL VOLUME BASED ON 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY IS IN PREPARATION "ENElTS OF !DAPTATIONS

4HE 7HITE %STATE TRUSTEES HOPE THAT THESE lVE VOLUMES WILL INTRODUCE MORE TEENS TO THE EYE OPENING CONCEPTS AND INSIGHTS FOUND IN %LLEN 7HITE S WRITINGS AND THAT THIS WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO READ %LLEN 7HITE IN THE ORIGINAL 5SING MUCH OF %LLEN 7HITE S OWN VOCABULARY AND THE .EW +ING *AMES 6ERSION THESE VOLUMES PROVIDE A KIND OF hSTEP UPv TOWARD THE ORIGINAL WRITINGS MAKING THE TRANSITION TO THOSE ORIGINALS A BIT EASIER !N ADDITIONAL BENElT IS THAT THESE BOOKS ARE PROVING ATTRACTIVE TO MORE THAN TEENS !DULTS OF VARIOUS READING ABILI

7HITE )S THERE A NEED VOCABULARY OF THE #ONmICT 3ERIES 4HEY WERE DEVELOPING A NEW CURRICULUM FOR THE TEEN 3ABBATH SCHOOL LESSONS AND THEY WANTED TO INCLUDE SUGGESTED READINGS FROM %LLEN 7HITE S BOOKS h#AN YOU GIVE US SOMETHING THAT IS EASIER TO READ v THEY ASKED h7E HEAR FROM YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING %LLEN 7HITE S ORIGINAL VOCABULARY AND STRUGGLE WITH THE SENTENCE STRUCTURE v 4HE 7HITE %STATE TRUSTEES DECIDED TO PREPARE EDITIONS OF THESE VOLUMES ADAPTED FOR TEENS 4HE STARTING POINT FOR THE NEWLY PROPOSED SET WAS THE CONDENSED #ONmICT 3ERIES PRODUCED IN THE EARLY S WHICH HAD REDUCED EACH CHAPTER BY ABOUT PERCENT 3O THE ADAPTED VOLUMES ARE SMALLER THAN %LLEN 7HITE S ORIGINAL BOOKS MAKING THEM MORE INVITING TO YOUNG READERS &OUR OF THE lVE VOLUMES ARE ALREADY IN PRINT AVAILABLE AT WWW ADVENTISTBOOKCENTER COM 4HE "EGINNING OF THE %ND

WHICH CORRESPONDS TO 0ATRIARCHS AND 0ROPHETS 2OYALTY AND 2UIN REPRESENTING 0ROPHETS AND +INGS (UMBLE

TIES HAVE RESPONDED WELL TO THEM &URTHER THERE IS INTEREST IN THEM FROM COUNTRIES IN WHICH %NGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE AND AN EASIER VERSION WOULD BE WELCOME )N VARIOUS PLACES CHURCH LEADERS WOULD LIKE TO TRANSLATE THESE ADAPTATIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD BUY THESE SHORTER VOLUMES MORE ECO NOMICALLY AND THE LANGUAGE IS SIMPLER AND MORE DIRECT !DAPTATIONS &ILLING A .EED

!DAPTATIONS WILL NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF THE ORIGINAL FULL VOLUMES 4HE RICHNESS AND POWER OF %LLEN 7HITE S WRITINGS COMES THROUGH BEST IN HER ORIGINAL WRITINGS AND THE CHURCH HAS NO INTENTION OF REPLACING THOSE WITH OTHER EDI TIONS "UT ADAPTATIONS ARE lLLING A NEED THAT WILL SUPPLE MENT AND DRAW ATTENTION TO THE ORIGINAL WORKS 4HEY REMIND US THAT IN THESE WRITINGS THERE IS GREAT VALUE THAT WE SHOULD NOT MISS 4HEY WILL HELP A NEW GENERATION COME TO KNOW AND APPRECIATE THESE WRITINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY GREATLY BLESSED MILLIONS

THE ISION )N 9OUR /WN ,ANGUAGE #ATCH 6 4HE %LLEN ' 7HITE %STATE HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW INTERACTIVE USER FRIENDLY 7EB SITE EGWWRITINGS ORG FEATURING THE WRITINGS OF %LLEN 7HITE IN THE ORIGINAL %NGLISH MODERN %NGLISH ADAPTATIONS 'ERMAN &RENCH 3PANISH )TALIAN 0ORTUGUESE 2USSIAN

#HINESE AND 2OMANIAN -ATERIAL IS AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS INCLUDING E BOOKS AUDIOBOOKS 0$& lLES AND MORE $EVICES SUPPORTED BY THE SITE INCLUDE THE !MAZON +INDLE I0AD AND "ARNES

AND .OBLE .OOK 4HE SITE ALSO OFFERS A FREE DOWNLOADABLE APP FOR THE I0HONE AND I0AD 3OCIAL MEDIA OPTIONS SUCH AS &ACEBOOK AND 4WITTER ARE AVAILABLE FOR SHARING 4O OBTAIN HARD COPY TRANSLATIONS IN LANGUAGES NOT YET SUPPORTED BY THE NEW SITE VISIT HTTP PUBLISHING GC ADVENTIST ORG PUBL?HOUSES HTML FOR A FULL LISTING OF THE PUBLISHING HOUSES OPERATED WORLDWIDE BY THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

")",% 15%34)/.3

1 5 % 3 4 ) / . (AS SIN TOTALLY CORRUPTED US

SPEAK ABOUT FREEDOM OF THE WILL "UT IF THAT S TRULY THE CASE

7HAT ABOUT OUR FREE WILL !RE WE NOT ABLE TO CHOOSE IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS 9ET THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF JUDGMENT AND BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL RETRIBUTION ASSUMES THAT WE HAVE FREE WILL 7E CAN ARGUE THAT SIN DID NOT OBLITERATE THE IMAGE OF 'OD IN US AND THAT THEREFORE WE DO HAVE FREE WILL 2OM CANNOT ANSWER YOUR THREE QUESTIONS IN THIS SHORT COL )F IT S PART OF 'OD S IMAGE AND OF OUR HUMANNESS

UMN )N FACT THE TOPICS OF THE EFFECT OF SIN ON US AND THE NATURE OF FREE WILL HAVE BEEN STUDIED AND DISCUSSED THEN WE STILL HAVE IT "UT THIS HAS TO BE PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD 7E HAVE FREE WILL IN A DAMAGED OR CORRUPTED CONDITION FOR CENTURIES WITH NO UNANIMITY OF THINKING ) WILL SHARE 4HE QUESTION IS (OW DAMAGED IS IT SOME THOUGHTS TO STIMULATE YOUR THINKING ,ET ME BEGIN ,ET ME MAKE A SUGGES WITH A PARADOX 4HE "IBLE TION 3IN REDIRECTED THE FUNC ASSUMES THAT WE HAVE FREE WILL TION OF THE FREE WILL FROM BUT TEACHES THAT WE ARE EN SELmESS DECISIONS THAT WOULD SLAVED BY SIN (OLD ON TO THAT BENElT OTHERS TO SELF PRESER PARADOX AND THINK ABOUT IT VATION 4HE SITUATION IS SUCH %NSLAVED BY 3IN 4HE THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN FALL OF !DAM AND %VE INTO "Y DO ABOUT IT &REE WILL IS STILL SIN RADICALLY ALTERED HUMAN !NGEL -ANUEL UNDER THE POWER OF SIN NATURE 4HE VERY RATIONAL AND 2ODR¤GUEZ 'OD 7ITH 5S )F FREE VOLITIONAL CENTER OF THE HU WILL IS A TOOL TO ACTUALIZE MY MAN BEING THE HEART WAS SELlSHNESS MY CORRUPTION

CORRUPTED h4HE HEART IS DE THEN IT S NOT FREE AT ALL AND CEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS AND THEREFORE THE QUESTION OF BEYOND CURE 7HO CAN UN OUR ACCOUNTABILITY HAS NOT DERSTAND IT v *ER .)6

BEEN RESOLVED (OW DO WE 4HE DAMAGE IS IRREPARABLE GET OUT OF THIS DILEMMA HUMANS ARE NOT ONLY INCA h4HANKS BE TO 'OD PABLE OF UNDERSTANDING THEM THROUGH *ESUS #HRIST OUR SELVES THEY ALSO DECEIVE ,ORD v 2OM .)6 THEMSELVES .O DIMENSION OF !FTER THE &ALL THE 3ON OF 'OD DID NOT ABANDON US 2EV HUMAN NATURE IS UNTOUCHED BY SIN THEREFORE NO ONE IS &ROM THAT MOMENT 'OD HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE RIGHTEOUS 2OM OR BY NATURE SEEKS 'OD 0S

%PH 3IN IS A HUMAN CONDITION )SAIAH WROTE h!LL OF HUMAN HEART CALLING EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO TRUE FREEDOM FROM US HAVE BECOME LIKE ONE WHO IS UNCLEAN ;THIS IS OUR NATURAL THE POWER OF SIN 4HROUGH THE WORK OF THE 3PIRIT 'OD HAS BEEN CREATING IN HUMAN HEARTS THE DESIRE AND WILLINGNESS TO CONDITION= AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS ARE LIKE lLTHY RAGS CHOOSE THE GOOD 4HIS DIVINE COMMON GRACE ENGULFS THE ;OUR ACTIONS=v .)6 EVEN THE BEST OF THEM ARE CON PLANET TAKES THE INITIATIVE TOUCHES EVERY INDIVIDUAL *OHN TAMINATED BY OUR SINFUL CONDITION 4HERE IS A NATURAL

AND AWAKENS FREE WILL ENABLING HUMANS TO CHOOSE ENMITY IN THE HUMAN HEART AGAINST 'OD THAT INCAPACITATES #HRIST OR TO PERSIST IN THEIR ENSLAVEMENT TO SIN WHICH IS US FROM SEEKING AND DOING GOOD OR SUBMITTING TO (IS WILL 2OM 7E ARE CONTROLLED BY THE SELlSH SINFUL DESIRES OF THEIR NATURAL CONDITION 4HIS SILENT WORK OF THE 3PIRIT MAKES US RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR DECISIONS OUR FALLEN NATURE VERSES 4HE SITUATION IS DESPERATE 4HERE IS TRUE FREEDOM ONLY IN #HRIST BECAUSE THERE S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO CHANGE IT *ER (UMANS EXIST UNDER THE LORDSHIP OF SIN RULED BY A DESPOT AND UNABLE TO DO WHAT PERHAPS THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO

4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT Ú

)NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS 2OM CF &REE WILL #ONDITION OF THE &REE 7ILL ,ET ME GIVE YOU A WORKING DElNITION OF FREE WILL DON T TAKE IT TO THE BANK &REE WILL IS THE POWER TO CHOOSE INDEPENDENT OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL FORCES OR CONDITIONS THAT WHICH WE CANNOT CONTROL !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODRÓGUEZ IS DIRECTOR OF THE "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH )NSTITUTE OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE )F IT S TRUE THAT WE ARE ENSLAVED BY SIN THEN IT S DIFlCULT TO

)

&REE TO

#HOOSE

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

" ) " , % 3 4 5 $ 9

END TIME SYMBOLS OF THE

(OLY 3PIRIT

"Y -ARK ! &INLEY

4HE (OLY 3PIRIT IS A MYSTERY TO MANY #HRISTIANS 4HEY ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHO (E IS AND ABOUT HOW (E WORKS IN OUR LIVES "UT THE "IBLE IS EXTREMELY CLEAR ON THE IDENTITY OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT 4HE (OLY 3PIRIT IS THE DIVINE ETERNAL THIRD PERSON OF THE 'ODHEAD (E IS JUST AS MUCH PART OF THE HEAVENLY TRIO AS THE &ATHER AND THE 3ON SEE -ATT %PH #OR )N THIS LESSON WE WILL DISCOVER THREE SYMBOLS OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT THAT ARE USED THROUGHOUT THE "IBLE

7HAT SYMBOL OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT DID *ESUS SHARE WITH (IS DISCIPLES h@)F ANYONE THIRSTS LET HIM COME TO -E AND DRINK (E WHO BELIEVES IN -E AS THE 3CRIPTURE HAS SAID OUT OF HIS HEART WILL mOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER "UT THIS (E SPOKE CONCERNING THE 3PIRIT WHOM THOSE BELIEVING IN (IM WOULD RECEIVEv *OHN 4HE MINISTRY OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS SYMBOLIZED AS RIVERS OF

7HY DID *ESUS CHOOSE WATER AS A SYMBOL OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT 7HAT SPIRITUAL LESSONS CAN WE lND IN THIS SYMBOL h&OR ) WILL POUR WATER ON HIM WHO IS THIRSTY AND mOODS ON THE DRY GROUND ) WILL POUR -Y 3PIRIT ON YOUR DESCENDANTS AND -Y BLESSING ON YOUR OFFSPRINGv )SA h4HEN ) WILL SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER ON YOU AND YOU SHALL BE CLEAN ) WILL CLEANSE YOU FROM ALL YOUR lLTHINESS AND FROM ALL YOUR IDOLSv %ZE 7ATER SATISlES OUR

AND CLEANSES US FROM OUR

.OTHING SATISlES A THIRSTY INDIVIDUAL LIKE WATER 7ATER QUENCHES THAT INNER RAGING THIRST !S THE (OLY 3PIRIT ENTERS OUR LIVES REVEALING *ESUS LOVE AND TRUTH (E SATISlES OUR DEEPEST LONGINGS AND QUIETS OUR RESTLESS ANXIETIES 4HE (OLY 3PIRIT QUENCHES OUR THIRST FOR THE ETERNAL 7ATER ALSO CLEANSES 7HEN THE (OLY 3PIRIT lLLS OUR LIFE (E BEGINS A PROCESS OF CLEANSING US FROM OUR REBELLIOUS ATTITUDES (ABITS THAT DElLE OUR LIVES ARE CLEANSED THROUGH THE POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT 7ATER ALSO BRINGS GROWTH 7HEN THE SHOWERS OF 'OD S 3PIRIT FALL UPON US WE ARE lLLED WITH SPIRITUAL LIFE AND GROW DAILY IN *ESUS GRACE SEE 0S

7HAT SYMBOL OF THE MIGHTY WORKING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT DID *ESUS USE IN (IS NIGHT VISIT WITH .ICODEMUS h4HE WIND BLOWS WHERE IT WISHES AND YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF IT BUT CANNOT TELL WHERE IT COMES FROM AND WHERE IT GOES 3O IS EVERYONE WHO IS BORN OF THE 3PIRITv *OHN 4HE MINISTRY OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS LIKE THE

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

7IND IS POWERFUL )N THIS PASSAGE IT REPRESENTS THE LIFE CHANGING POWER OF 'OD THROUGH THE (OLY 3PIRIT THAT IS BEYOND OUR lNITE COMPREHENSION (IS DIVINE WORKING IS MIRACULOUS )N %ZEKIEL S VISION OF THE hVALLEY OF DRY BONESv %ZE WHEN THE (OLY 3PIRIT BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO DEAD BONES THEY CAME TO LIFE 4HROUGH THE (OLY 3PIRIT WE BECOME ALIVE TO SPIRITUAL LIFE IN #HRIST

/IL IS USED THROUGHOUT THE "IBLE AS A SYMBOL OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT 7HAT ASPECT OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT S WORK DOES IT REPRESENT h!ND YOU SHALL ANOINT !ARON AND HIS SONS AND SANCTIFY THEM THAT THEY MAY MINISTER TO -E AS PRIESTS !ND YOU SHALL SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN OF )SRAEL SAYING @4HIS SHALL BE HOLY ANOINTING OIL TO -E THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS v %X

h(OW 'OD ANOINTED *ESUS OF .AZARETH WITH THE (OLY 3PIRIT AND WITH POWER WHO WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD AND HEALING ALL WHO WERE OPPRESSED BY THE DEVILv !CTS /IL WAS USED TO

!ARON AND HIS SONS FOR SERVICE IN THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY

'OD THE &ATHER ANOINTED *ESUS WITH THE (OLY 3PIRIT EMPOWERING (IM TO DO

AND

THOSE OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL

/IL REPRESENTS THE SANCTIFYING POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IN OUR LIVES )T SETS US APART AS CONSECRATED SERVANTS OF #HRIST *UST AS OIL WAS USED TO CONSECRATE THE PRIESTS AND THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY FOR 'OD S SERVICE THE (OLY 3PIRIT SANCTIlES US TO WITNESS FOR OUR ,ORD

7HAT WAS THE GREAT LACK OF THE FOOLISH VIRGINS IN *ESUS PARABLE OF THE VIRGINS 7HAT SIGNIlCANCE DOES THIS HAVE FOR 'OD S END TIME CHURCH h!ND THE FOOLISH ;VIRGINS= SAID TO THE WISE ;VIRGINS= @'IVE US SOME OF YOUR OIL FOR OUR LAMPS ARE GOING OUT "UT THE WISE ANSWERED SAYING @.O LEST THERE SHOULD NOT BE ENOUGH FOR US AND YOU BUT GO RATHER TO THOSE WHO SELL AND BUY FOR YOURSELVES v -ATT

4HE FOOLISH VIRGINS WERE UNPREPARED FOR THE "RIDEGROOM S DELAY AND RAN OUT OF

(OW DID *ESUS IDENTIFY THE SPIRITUAL PROBLEM OF THESE FOOLISH VIRGINS h"UT HE ANSWERED AND SAID @!SSUREDLY ) SAY TO YOU ) DO NOT KNOW YOU 7ATCH THEREFORE FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR IN WHICH THE 3ON OF -AN IS COMINGv -ATT

4HE FOOLISH VIRGINS DIDN T KNOW THE

OF THEIR ,ORD S RETURN

AND THEY WERE

WHEN IT HAPPENED

4HE OIL OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT SETS APART IT CONSECRATES IT SANCTIlES IT HEALS 4HE FOOLISH VIRGINS ACCEPTED A SUPERlCIAL RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 4HEY DIDN T HAVE AN ABIDING INTIMATE EXPERIENCE WITH *ESUS 4HAT S WHY *ESUS SAID h) DO NOT KNOW YOU v 4HESE SYMBOLS OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT SPEAK TO OUR HEARTS TODAY 4HE SYMBOL OF WATER CALLS US TO AN INNER CLEANSING OF ANYTHING THAT MAY CLOG THE CHANNELS OF THE MIND TO KEEP US FROM KNOWING *ESUS INTIMATELY 4HE SYMBOLISM OF WIND INVITES US TO OPEN OUR MINDS TO THE BREATH OF 'OD TO RECEIVE NEW LIFE !ND THE SYMBOLISM OF OIL APPEALS TO US TO LIVE LIVES OF CONSECRATED INTIMATE COMMUNION WITH 'OD

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

,%44%23 -OTIVATOR

) VE BEEN AN !DVENTIST FOR ALMOST lVE YEARS NOW AND READING CHURCH PAPERS LIKE !DVENTIST 7ORLD HAS NEVER CEASED TO STRENGTHEN MY FAITH IN 'OD AND (IS 7ORD -Y MOM

BROTHER AND ) ARE THE ONLY !DVENTISTS IN OUR FAMILY IN A CITY WHERE THE 3EV ENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IS STILL GROWING )T HAS ALWAYS BEEN ENCOURAG ING FOR ME TO READ ABOUT OTHERS WHO HAVE FOUND THE SAME FAITH ) HAVE AND HOW THEY CHERISH IT ABOVE ALL ELSE h4HE ,ITTLE $IAMOND v BY #HANTAL +LINGBEIL $ECEMBER WAS SUCH AN INSPIRATION TO ME AS A YOUNG PERSON TO CONTINUE ASPIRING TO GREATER HEIGHTS FOR 'OD S GLORY AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF (IS KINGDOM ) LOVE READING ABOUT THE LIVES OF THE PIONEERS AS IT GIVES ME HOPE FOR MY OWN TRIALS AND CHALLENGES ME TO BE ALL FOR 'OD THAT ) CAN BE ) THANK THE STAFF AND WRITERS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE 9OU ARE 'OD S VOICE AND LOVE LETTER TO MANY PEOPLE -AY 'OD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU 2OCHELLE 3TANDER .ELSPRUIT 3OUTH !FRICA #ALL FOR 0RAYER

) AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE PUBLICATION OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD )N THESE LAST DAYS WHEN PEOPLE ARE RUNNING TO AND FRO FOR SOME CONSOLATION AND HOPE WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR FAITH IN 'OD

THIS MAGAZINE WITH LIVING STORIES OF HOW 'OD IS STILL IN CONTROL IS A BLESSING 4HE $ECEMBER ISSUE ENCOUR AGED AND INSPIRED ME 4HE ARTICLE BY

#HARLOTTE )SHKANIAN ENTITLED h/NE -AN AND (IS 'ODv TOUCHED MY HEART 4HE PREACHER 'OLDEN ,APANI IS DOING A GREAT JOB FOR 'OD IN -ALAWI (E REMINDS ME OF THE APOSTLE 0AUL WITH HIS PASSION DEDICATION AND DETERMI NATION TO SPREAD THE GOODNESS OF SAL VATION THROUGH THE POWER OF *ESUS #HRIST 4HERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE 'OD WE SERVE IS A MIRACLE PERFORMING 'OD ) URGE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD TO PRAY FOR "ROTHER ,APANI AND OTHERS WHO ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES TO SERVE 'OD ,ET S BE ON lRE FOR SAVING SOULS FOR HEALING THE WOUNDS OF THE BROKENHEARTED AND FOR LEADING LOST ONES TO *ESUS ,ITTON 0ROSAD -OWALIE $HAKA "ANGLADESH 0OWER 5NLIMITED

) ENJOY EVERY ARTICLE IN !DVENTIST 7ORLD BUT THERE ARE UNIQUE FEATURE ARTICLES THAT SERVE AS A BRIDGE TO lLL THE GAP OF OUR EMPTINESS h4HE @)NVISIBLE 0IANO v BY 7ILHELMINA $UNBAR $ECEMBER STRENGTHENED MY

FAITH IN THE POWER OF THE !LMIGHTY 7HEN PEOPLE PRAY 'OD RESPONDS TO THEIR NEED FROM (IS ABUNDANT SOURCE OF WEALTH !S LONG AS WE STOP LIMITING THE POWER OF 'OD WE CAN BE THANKFUL THAT (E IS ALWAYS THERE TO LISTEN TO OUR CRIES IN TIMES OF NEED -ORE POWER TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD ,ARRY 2 6ALOROZO 4AGUIG #ITY -ETRO -ANILA

0HILIPPINES )MPACT !TLANTA

) LOVE !DVENTIST 7ORLD 4HE ARTICLE h#OMMUNITY 3ERVICE 7ITH A 4WIST v BY +IMBERLY ,USTE -ARAN 3EPTEMBER

REALLY IMPRESSED ME ) THANK 'OD FOR THE MINISTRY THAT UNITES THE !DVENTIST WORLD *EAN -ARIE 3ADIO #OSENDAI #AMEROON

)N THESE LAST DAYS WHEN PEOPLE ARE RUNNING TO AND FRO FOR SOME CONSOLATION AND HOPE WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR FAITH IN 'OD THIS MAGAZINE WITH LIVING STORIES OF HOW 'OD IS STILL IN CONTROL IS A BLESSING

ˆ , ITTON 0ROSAD -OWALIE $HAKA "ANGLADESH

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

,%44%23 !PPRECIATION !ROUND THE 7ORLD

) AM AN !DVENTIST YEARS OLD AND AN AVID READER OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD ) AM DELIGHTED TO KNOW ABOUT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD AND PROUD OF THE MISSIONARY WORK 4HE ,ORD BE WITH ALL OF (IS CHILDREN AND GUIDE US %LOM 4AGBEDE ,OM£ 4OGO ) AM A REGULAR READER OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD )T IS VERY INTERESTING TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR CHURCH IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD 2EBECA 2UIZ ,AGUARDIA :ARAGOZA 3PAIN 'REETINGS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF !DVEN TIST 7ORLD WHICH ) FOUND AND READ IN 3PANISH ON THE )NTERNET 4HE ARTICLES AND TESTIMONIES FROM MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ARE AN ENCOURAGE MENT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE PATH OUR ,ORD *ESUS #HRIST HAS GIVEN US THROUGH BEING PART OF THE REMNANT

) HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH SINCE MY EARLY CHILDHOOD IN THE CITY OF 'UADALAJARA -EXICO ) ASKED THE ,ORD WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE BY THE CHURCH AND ) AGREE WE HAVE A SPECIAL JOB IN THIS WORK OF REFORM AND REVIVAL OF THE CHURCH ) FEEL AN URGENT NEED WITHIN THE CHURCH TO PREPARE FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD ) WELCOME THE INITIATIVE OF THE CHURCH FOR REVIVAL AND REFORMATION %NRIQUE -ARTIN DEL #AMPO 4EPIC .AYARIT -EXICO

4HANK YOU FOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD )T ASSISTS WHENEVER ) FEEL DISCOURAGED *UST THINK HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BENElTING FROM YOUR EFFORTS ) AM ONE OF YOUR REGULAR READERS AND ) WILL BE READING AND WAIT ING FOR THE NEXT ISSUE TILL *ESUS COMES 4HE MAGAZINES ARE OF COMFORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT SINCE ) AM IN A MAXI MUM SECURITY PRISON "OXTEN 4 +UDZIWE -ALAWI

'REETINGS FROM 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH MEMBERS IN 5GANDA 4HANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK YOU ARE DOING !DVENTIST 7ORLD IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE 'OD BLESS THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PAPERS )T GIVES ME LOTS OF KNOWLEDGE MAGAZINE 0RAY THAT ONE DAY ) WILL AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH 4HE ARTICLES COME AND VISIT YOU IN -ARYLAND HAVE CHANGED THE LIVES OF MANY TO %VA .AMUGERE BELIEVE IN THE ,ORD *ESUS !S IT IS ISSUED 5GANDA MONTHLY IT NEVER STOPS RENEWING OUR SPIRITUAL MINDS 7HENEVER ) READ THE PAPER ) AM INSPIRED TO WORK MORE FOR ,ETTERS 0OLICY 0LEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO THE CHURCH IN SOUL WINNING LETTERS ADVENTISTWORLD ORG ,ETTERS MUST BE CLEARLY WRITTEN AND TO THE POINT WORD MAXIMUM "E SURE TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF .AW -OO +APAW THE ARTICLE THE DATE OF PUBLICATION AND PAGE NUMBER WITH YOUR 4AUNGNGU -YANMAR LETTER !LSO INCLUDE YOUR NAME THE TOWN CITY STATE AND COUNTRY FROM WHICH YOU ARE WRITING ,ETTERS WILL BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY .OT ALL LETTERS SUBMITTED WILL BE PUBLISHED

4 ( % 0 , ! # % / & 0 2 !9 % 2 0LEASE PRAY FOR REVIVAL IN OUR PROVINCE AMONG OUR 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST YOUTH 4HE NUMBER IN OUR YOUTH FEL LOWSHIP IS DECREASING -AY 'OD BLESS AND LET OUR CHURCH GROW STRONGER 0RAY FOR THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL IN #HINA AND THAT 'OD S PURPOSES WILL BE FUL lLLED IN #HINA AND BEYOND *IN #HINA

7E HAVE BEEN ASKED TO MAKE THE *EWISH (ERITAGE 3CRIPTURE 3TUDY LESSONS AVAIL ABLE TO PRISONERS 7E EXPECTED A FEW REQUESTS A MONTH )N $ECEMBER AND *ANUARY ALONE WE RECEIVED CLOSE TO REQUESTS FOR "IBLE STUDIES 7E APPRECI ATE YOUR PRAYERS FOR THIS NEW FUNCTION OF OUR MINISTRY *EWISH (ERITAGE *EFF 5NITED 3TATES

0LEASE PRAY THAT THE LAND ISSUE AFFECT ING OUR CHURCH WILL BE SETTLED 7E ARE ON THE BRINK OF LOSING OUR CHURCH 7E DO NOT HAVE FUNDS TO PAY THE LEGAL EXPENSES !NN 0HILIPPINES

*UST OVER A WEEK AGO ) WAS DIAGNOSED WITH GLAUCOMA ) AM REQUESTING YOUR PRAYERS 0LEASE PRAY THAT THE ,ORD WILL PERFORM A MIRACLE WITH MY VISION 4HANKS FOR hSTANDING IN THE GAPv ON BEHALF OF ME AND OTHERS .AOMI 6IRGIN )SLANDS

!DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

) AM A :IMBABWEAN LIVING IN 3OUTH !FRICA &OR THE PAST YEAR ) VE BEEN WAITING ON A TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT 0LEASE PRAY THAT 'OD WILL MAKE A WAY FOR ME TO GET THIS DOCUMENT 3HARON 3OUTH !FRICA +INDLY PRAY FOR THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN -YANMAR 'IN -YANMAR 4HE 0LACE OF 0RAYER SEND TO PRAYER ADVENTISTWORLD ORG 3END US YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISE THANKS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER +EEP YOUR ENTRIES SHORT AND CONCISE WORDS MAXIMUM )TEMS SENT TO THIS CATEGORY WILL BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY %VEN THOUGH WE WILL PRAY FOR EACH ENTRY DURING OUR WEEKLY STAFF MEETINGS NOT ALL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE PRINTED 0LEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND YOUR COUNTRY S NAME WITH YOUR ENTRY 9OU MAY ALSO FAX REQUESTS TO OR MAIL THEM TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD

/LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE 3ILVER 3PRING -$ 5 3 !

.!$ ,%44%23 3TANDING "Y

! .EW (IGH

)T SEEMS TO ME THE MAIN EMPHASIS OF h7OMEN IN THE 7INGSv $EBRA "RILL

-ARCH IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COMPETENT AND EDUCATED WOMEN ARE WORKING IN THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HE FACT THAT THEY ARE IN MOST CASES UNPAID AND THAT NOT ONE OF THEM HAS A TRULY LEADING POSITION

SUCH AS CONFERENCE PRESIDENT WAS CLEARLY UNDERLINED 4HE NOTION THAT PASTORS ;IN CONFERENCE POSITIONS= hHAVE PROVEN THEIR CAPABILITIESv SO THERE IS NO ROOM FOR WOMEN AT THE TOP IS RATHER PITIFUL ) HAVE BEEN A CHURCH MEMBER FOR OVER YEARS AND HAVE SUFFERED THE LEADERSHIP OF UNSKILLED PASTORS AND CONFERENCE LEADERS ) AM ASKING THAT NOT ONLY HIGHLY SKILLED AND EDUCATED WOMEN BE NOMI NATED TO LEADING POSITIONS BUT THAT THEY WILL ALSO BE PLACED IN THOSE POSI TIONS 2EGINA 2IPPEL 3T 0AUL -INNESOTA

) VE ALWAYS ENJOYED THE 2EVIEW BUT IT SEEMS THE LAST FEW ISSUES HAVE BEEN OFF THE CHARTS IN QUALITY AND INSPIRATION !ND THE $ECEMBER !DVENTIST 7ORLD WAS THE MOST SUPERB SINGLE ISSUE ) VE EVER READ %XAMPLES 4ED . # 7ILSON S h6IRTUAL 2EALITYv PRESENTED OUR 3AVIOR RIGHT HERE IN THE RIGHT WAY AT THE RIGHT TIME h&ROM 2USSIA 7ITH ,OVE v BY $MITRI )SAKOVSKY SHOWS THE POWER OF THE THREE ANGELS MESSAGES ON #ONlDENCE IN A ,IVING 3AVIOR HONEST SEARCHING HEARTS AND IS A REAL 4HANK YOU FOR 4ED 7ILSON S ARTICLE STORY OF COURAGE AND CONVICTION h6IRTUAL 2EALITYv IN THE $ECEMBER +EEP UP THE GOOD WORK !DVENTIST 7ORLD )T IS REFRESHING TO *OHN "RIDGES HAVE "IBLE TRUTHS REINFORCED #HRIST IS "ATON 2OUGE ,OUISIANA THE SACRIlCIAL LAMB WHO DIED FOR US TO PAY OUR DEBT OF SIN )T WAS BY (IS DEATH 4HANKS !NYWAY THAT (E PROVIDED SALVATION FROM SIN

AND NOT ONLY OURS BUT THE SALVATION OF ) HAVE NO CLUE WHY ) VE BEEN RECEIVING !DVENTIST 7ORLD FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER LIVED ON THIS EARTH (E IS SERVING AS OUR HIGH PRIEST (OWEVER DON T STOP SENDING IT )T IS MEDIATING WITH THE &ATHER ON BEHALF OF MY FAVORITE MAGAZINE $ALE (UTTON ALL WHO HAVE SINNED 6IA E MAIL 4HE ARTICLE IS REASSURING TO ME BECAUSE ) HAVE NOTED PEOPLE EVEN ) ,IKE )T "E 2EADY LEADERS IN SOME !DVENTIST CHURCHES

h/UR -OST 5RGENT .EED v BY .ORMAN WHO DENY THAT #HRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ) HAVE BEEN RECEIVING !DVENTIST 7ORLD 2 'ULLEY *ANUARY IS A REAL EYE AND THAT (E IS INTERCEDING FOR US WITH MONTHLY FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND ENJOY THE MAGAZINE VERY MUCH &OR OPENER ) LIKE THE WAY HE REFERS TO THE THE &ATHER 7HILE SUCH FALSE TEACHINGS SOME REASON ) HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVING LATTER RAIN AS hTHE OTHER SECOND ADVENT v ARE OF CONCERN THEY ARE NOT SURPRIS IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS 0LEASE RETURN ME )T IS A SOBERING AND REASSURING THOUGHT ING *ESUS (IMSELF STATED THAT MANY TO YOUR MAILING LIST THAT hIF WE ARE READY FOR THE SECOND FALSE PROPHETS WOULD APPEAR AND LEAD *ULIAN 4 #OGGIN COMING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT WE WILL BE MANY ASTRAY -ATT .ELLYSFORD 6IRGINIA READY FOR THE SECOND COMING OF #HRISTv )F WE ACCEPT THAT #HRIST DIED FOR AND THAT hTHE LATTER RAIN DOESN T COME OUR SINS AND THAT (E IS INTERCEDING FOR ) AM YEARS OLD AND ENJOY GOING TO TO PREPARE US 4HE LATTER RAIN COMES TO US (E WILL COVER US WITH (IS RIGH CHURCH AND SINGING WITH MY FAMILY ) SEAL US v TEOUSNESS SO THAT WE MAY APPEAR ENJOY READING EACH ISSUE OF !DVENTIST 4HANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER BEFORE THE &ATHER AS RIGHTEOUS "UT IF 7ORLD .ATALIE $ODD WE DENY WHAT *ESUS DID FOR US AND "ONNI ,OVELL #ENTERVILLE /HIO WHAT (E IS DOING FOR US NOW THEN WE (ORATIO !RKANSAS ARE ALSO DENYING THE &ATHER AND JEOP ARDIZING OUR ETERNAL LIFE 4HANK YOU FOR PRINTING THE REALITY OF THE 3CRIPTURES 'ERALD 7ADE 9REKA #ALIFORNIA

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

h"EHOLD ) COME QUICKLYxv

%8#(!.'% /& )$%!3

/UR MISSION IS TO UPLIFT *ESUS #HRIST UNITING 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS EVERYWHERE IN BELIEFS

MISSION LIFE AND HOPE

"EYOND (UMAN

0UBLISHER

#OMPREHENSION 4HIS MONTH A READER SHARES HOW 'OD TRIUMPHED OVER DISASTER

)

T WAS !PRIL ) HAD JUST COME BACK FROM AN ANNUAL !DVENTIST , ! 7 2 % . # % $ / - ) . ' / REVIVAL MEETING IN THE &ALAM AREA ) ARRIVED BACK TO THE CAMPUS OF 5PPER -YANMAR !DVENTIST 3EMINARY WHERE ) SERVE AS PRINCIPAL !S USUAL WE HAD DINNER AT THAT EVENING 5NEXPECTEDLY

THE RAIN STARTED WITH A WILD WIND 7E RAN HERE AND THERE CLOSING WINDOWS AND DOORS 4HE STORM WAS SO STRONG THAT WE WEREN T ABLE TO lNISH EATING 7HILE WE WERE BUSY DRYING mOORS 4HANG 3AWM 4UNG DEAN OF BOYS CAME BACK FROM VISITING MEMBERS 4UNG SAID THAT WE WOULD BE VERY BUSY TOMORROW h7HAT HAPPENED v ) ASKED HIM 4UNG EXPLAINED THAT THE MAIN BUILDING ON CAM PUS USED FOR CLASSROOMS AND A LIBRARY NO LONGER HAD A ROOF 7E CHECKED OUT THE BUILDING 3URE ENOUGH NO ROOFย EVERYTHING INSIDE WAS EXPOSED 7E QUICKLY WORKED TO LAY LIBRARY BOOKS IN ONE PLACE BLANKETED WITH A RAINPROOF COVER !FTER THIS ) GATHERED VOLUNTEERS IN ONE PLACE AND PRAYED TO 'OD

SAYING h,ORD WE ARE SAD FOR THIS DEVASTATION BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE GLAD BECAUSE 9OU WILL TURN THIS CURSE INTO A BLESSING v )N FACT WORDS COULD NOT EXPRESS HOW SAD WE WERE 4HE RAINSTORM HAD DESTROYED NOT ONLY THE BUILDING BUT ALSO OUR PLAN TO BUY AN INEXPENSIVE LOCALLY MADE *EEPย A DECISION THE SCHOOL BOARD HAD MADE ON !PRIL

) REPORTED NEWS OF THE DEVASTATION TO THE 5PPER -YANMAR -ISSION AND THE -YANMAR 5NION -ISSION -95- 3UAK +HAW .GIN -95- EDUCATION DIREC TOR INDICATED THAT WE SHOULD CONTACT THE DIVISION TO lLE AN INSURANCE CLAIM ) WAS SENT AN INSURANCE CLAIM FORM IMMEDIATELY WHICH WE RETURNED RIGHT AWAY (OWEVER THE PROCESSING OF THE CLAIM TOOK MONTHS 4HE REBUILDING BEGAN ON !PRIL 7E HAD TO lNISH IT BEFORE -AY

BECAUSE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT WAS TO BEGIN ON -AY 7E NOW HAD NO BUDGET FOR THE *EEP BUT THE REBUILDING WAS STILL UNDER WAY 'OD BLESSED US AS DONATIONS CAME IN FROM ALUMNI AND CHURCH MEMBERS 4HE RECONSTRUCTION CONTINUED AND WAS COMPLETED WITH THE ADDITIONAL INCOME FROM THE SCHOOL YEAR &INALLY THE INSURANCE MONEY CAME IN ON /CTOBER )T RECOVERED THE BUDGET FOR THE *EEPย AND MORE 4HE SCHOOL HAD PLANNED TO BUY A *EEP BUT 'OD CHANGED THE WAY AND ENABLED US TO BUY A LIGHT TRUCK THAT CAN BE USED IN MULTIPLE WAYS FOR (IS MINISTRY "EYOND MY HUMAN COMPREHENSION 'OD DID INDEED TURN DEVASTATION INTO BLESSING ย +AP ,IAN 4HANG -YANMAR

&ALAM IS A SMALL TOWN IN THE NORTHERN #HIN STATE OF -YANMAR !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD \ -AY

4HE !DVENTIST 7ORLD AN INTERNATIONAL PERIODICAL OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE

.ORTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTSยง

IS THE PUBLISHER %XECUTIVE 0UBLISHER "ILL +NOTT !SSOCIATE 0UBLISHER #LAUDE 2ICHLI )NTERNATIONAL 0UBLISHING -ANAGER #HUN 0YUNG $UK 0UBLISHING "OARD 4ED . # 7ILSON CHAIR "ENJAMIN $ 3CHOUN VICE CHAIR "ILL +NOTT SECRETARY ,ISA "EARDSLEY $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON 2OBERT ,EMON 'EOFFREY -BWANA ' 4 .G $AISY /RION *UAN 0RESTOL -ICHAEL 2YAN %LLA 3IMMONS -ARK 4HOMAS +ARNIK $OUKMETZIAN LEGAL ADVISOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD #OORDINATING #OMMITTEE ,EE *AIRYONG CHAIR #HUN 0YUNG $UK !KERI 3UZUKI +ENNETH /SBORN 'UIMO 3UNG (AN 3UK (EE %DITOR IN #HIEF "ILL +NOTT %DITORS BASED IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 'ERALD ! +LINGBEIL ASSOCIATE EDITOR

3ANDRA "LACKMER 3TEPHEN #HAVEZ -ARK ! +ELLNER

+IMBERLY ,USTE -ARAN 'INA 7AHLEN %DITORS BASED IN 3EOUL +OREA #HUN 0YUNG $UK #HUN *UNG +WON #HOE *EONG +WAN /NLINE %DITOR #ARLOS -EDLEY 4ECHNICAL #OORDINATOR -ERLE 0OIRIER %DITOR AT LARGE -ARK ! &INLEY 3ENIOR !DVISOR % %DWARD :INKE %XECUTIVE !SSISTANT TO THE %DITOR 2ACHEL * #HILD %DITORIAL !SSISTANTS -ARVENE 4HORPE "APTISTE !LFREDO 'ARCIA -ARENKO 2EADER 3ERVICES -ERLE 0OIRIER !RT $IRECTION AND $ESIGN *EFF $EVER &ATIMA !MEEN #ONSULTANTS 4ED . # 7ILSON 2OBERT % ,EMON ' 4 .G

'UILLERMO % "IAGGI ,OWELL # #OOPER $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON

'EOFFREY -BWANA !RMANDO -IRANDA 0ARDON + -WANSA

-ICHAEL , 2YAN "LASIOUS - 2UGURI "ENJAMIN $ 3CHOUN

%LLA 3 3IMMONS !LBERTO # 'ULFAN *R %RTON +ย HLER

*AIRYONG ,EE )SRAEL ,EITO *OHN 2ATHINARAJ 0AUL 3 2ATSARA

"ARRY /LIVER "RUNO 6ERTALLIER 'ILBERT 7ARI "ERTIL ! 7IKLANDER 4O 7RITERS 7E WELCOME UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS !DDRESS ALL EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE

3ILVER 3PRING -$ 5 3 ! %DITORIAL OFlCE FAX NUMBER

% MAIL )NTERNET WORLDEDITOR GC ADVENTIST ORG 7EB SITE WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG

5NLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED ALL "IBLE REFERENCES ARE TAKEN FROM THE .EW +ING *AMES 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT ร

BY 4HOMAS .ELSON )NC 5SED BY PERMISSION !LL RIGHTS RESERVED 4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE

.EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT ร

)NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS

!DVENTIST 7ORLD IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AND PRINTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN +OREA "RAZIL )NDONESIA !USTRALIA 'ERMANY

!USTRIA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES

6OL .O

-AY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD NAD

# ' ( # D

!& $ $$ %

( $% # # ' #$% (