Aw september 2014 nad

The International Paper for Seventh-day Adventists

Se p te m b e r 201 4

God Answers Prayer The Question of Marijuana

19

28

Witnessing in the

Czech Republic

40

Safe at

Home

North American Division | n a d

S e p te m b e r 201 4 The International Paper for Seventh-day Adventists

Se p te mb e r 2 01 4

C O V E R

24

The Question of Marijuana

28

Witnessing in the

Czech Republic

40

God Answers Prayer

Safe at

Home

8 Persistent Prayer W O R L D

L I F E

By Petr Činčala

What can Christians offer an atheistic country?

3 0 Centennial of Ellen White’s D I S C O V E R I N G T H E S P I R I T O F P R O P H E C Y

By Ted N. C. Wilson

What to tell God when He already knows everything

20

Prophetic Legacy

V I S T A

28 Witnessing in the Czech Republic A D V E N T I S T

Stories of people who made prayer a priority

God Answers Prayer 19

S T O R Y

By Alberto R. Timm

In the nearly 100 years since her death the church is still guided by her words.

32 It Makes a Difference

D E V O T I O N A L

AppleTalk

By Sylvia Renz

There’s an “app” for nearly everything.

N A D

F E AT U R E

By Phyllis Washington

Reaching children while they are young is the best time to reach them.

22 My All in Response to God’s All

When what we receive is much greater than what we give

Christian compassion in a country known for human trafficking

F U N D A M E N T A L

B E L I E F S

By Penny Brink

40 Safe at Home

A D V E N T I S T

S E R V I C E

By Gry Haugen

D E PA RT M E N T S 3 W O

R L D

R E P O R T

3 News Briefs 6 News Feature 10 GLOW Stories 11 NAD News 14 NAD Update 17 NAD Perspective 18 NAD Letters

19 W O R L D H E A L T The Question of Marijuana 42 B

H

43 B I B L E S T U D Y When Hope Fades 44

I D E A

E X C H A N G E

I B L E Q U E S T I O N S A N S W E R E D

Spirit-filled

www.adventistworld.org Available in 11 languages online

C o v e r

P h o t o

o f

h a n d s

b y

A l a n

E n o

The Adventist World® (ISSN 1557-5519), one of the Adventist Review® family of publications, is printed monthly by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Copyright © 2014. Send address changes to Adventist World, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. For information about advertising, contact Glen Gohlke, 301-393-3054 (ggohlke@rhpa.org). PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 10, No. 9, September 2014.

2

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

Realigned by Prayer

A

WORLD REPORT

ANN

Raafat Kamal Elected President of Trans-European Division

TED

friend and I recently spent more than a year praying for an outcome that initially seemed so logical I hardly thought it worth asking God to make it happen.

My friend needed a job; a job was opening up. He was the ideal candidate; he should obviously get the offer. All I needed when we began to pray was for God to confirm the wisdom of our judgment—and, of course, arrange the details.

But when the job did not materialize; when slowdowns and frustrations attended the process; when my colleague found it necessary to seek other employment to support his family, the nature of my praying changed. As we wrestled month by month with what began to look increasingly impossible, the certainties with which I started vanished into weariness.

Our conversations—and our praying— increasingly focused on the importance of learning to wait upon the Lord, surrendering our sense of what should happen to the possibility that what we wanted might not be His will. A dozen times we asked hard questions of our motives: were we praying only so we could claim success as men in prayer—a confirmation that we deserved God’s goodness?

Over time, our praying changed. We learned that we are owed nothing by Omnipotence, and have no claim on anything except as Jesus offers it. What once seemed logically inevitable became an outcome that we knew deep in our bones only Christ could bring about.

And when, at last, an offer came and the job was secured, we found a gratitude we wouldn’t have known if we had never waited.

With the psalmist we murmured in deep thankfulness, “This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Ps. 118:23).

Though we had prayed for change in others, we were the ones most changed by months of praying. God gave us what we truly needed—hearts more aligned with Him and with His will.

As you read this month’s special cover feature about answered prayer, invite the Lord to also work in you the change and growth that praying always causes.

Left: NEW DIVISION LEADER: Raafat Kamal, pictured with his wife, Heidi Kamal Kendel, says a spiritual decline accompanied by growing materialism in Europe present a challenge for Adventists. Right: OUTGOING CHIEF: Bertil Wiklander, pictured in 2010, says he is retiring for personal reasons and he reached the decision with his wife, right.

■■ Raafat Kamal, the new president of the church’s Trans-European Division, acknowledged that Seventh-day Adventists face an enormous challenge in twenty-first-century Europe, but said he believed new ways would be found to share the message of Jesus’ second coming.

Kamal was elected on July 10 by the General Conference’s Executive Committee, the top governing body of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to replace Bertil Wiklander as president of the 22-nation region that includes Britain, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and a swath of countries stretching from Finland to Cyprus.

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a unique prophetic message for the people of Europe at the end of time,” said Kamal, referring to the three angels’ messages in Revelation 14.

“I am excited about the opportunities that we have within our reach, and humbled by the fact that God is using us to accomplish His mission,” he said in an interview. “The question before us is how God will transform our minority church from being a fortress influenced by secular society into a force to transform local communities.”

Kamal, who has served as the division’s field secretary and Wiklander’s assistant for the past seven years, said a spiritual decline accompanied by growing materialism presented a challenge for the Adventist Church.

“Europe, possibly for the first time in 1,000 years, is now a mission field,” he said.

Continued on next page

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

3

WORLD REPORT Adventists account for only about 0.04 percent of the 203 million people living in the division’s territory, or one in every 2,415 people, he said.

World church president Ted N. C. Wilson said new methods were needed to sensitize people to religion and to find approaches that reach their hearts.“We will be praying that the new president will help to increase the focus on these very important eternal objectives that are very precious to the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” he said in an interview.

Wiklander, who turns 68 in September, said he was retiring for personal reasons and had reached the decision with his wife.

“I have had the privilege and joy of serving the church as division president for 19 years, which is a long time considering the amount of travel required,” he said. “In my Swedish culture one retires at 65 years of age, and I have passed that.” He said he looks forward to spending more time with family, serving the church through biblical scholarship, and seeking God through music, art, and poetry.

Raafat (pronounced: Rah-afat) Kamal, 50, was born in Lebanon and holds two undergraduate degrees, in business and theology, as well as four master’s degrees, in systematic theology; educational administration and curriculum; Islamic philosophy and theology; and business administration. He married Heidi Kamal Kendel, a native of Norway and registered nurse, in 1987, and together they have two daughters.

Asked what inspires him, Kamal pointed to Lamentations 3:22, 23, which reads: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

“I’m inspired to know and experi-

4

ence God’s faithfulness, love, mercies, and compassions new every morning,” he said.

— Andrew McChesney, news editor, Adventist World

Russia: Nine Teens in Hot Water for Skipping Sabbath Exam ■■ Adventist leaders in Russia appealed to the Russian government to intervene after nine Adventist teenagers were barred from advancing to the tenth grade for refusing to take a final exam on the Sabbath.

School officials, who had flatly rejected requests for flexibility, appeared to back down after the appeal on behalf of the students. All were ninth graders in the southern city of Belgorod who had missed the state exam in mathematics on Sabbath, May 31.

Federal education authorities, who had scheduled the exam for that day, had anticipated that some students might not be able to attend for religious reasons. So they ordered public schools across the country to offer the exam to those students on June 16 or June 19.

Adventist students in other parts of Russia took the exam on June 16, four Adventist leaders with the EuroAsia Division said in a letter to the Russian government.

But education officials in the Belgorod region, which includes the city of Belgorod and is located along the border with Ukraine, refused to administer the exam on an alternative day.

“We believe that this situation is unacceptable and call on the leadership of the Russian Federation as well as public and religious associations to take all legal measures to eliminate these violations in the Belgorod

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

region,” the letter said.

The letter also said local school principals and education officials had “crudely and offensively” pressured Adventist parents to tell their children to reject their religious beliefs and take the exam.

“Even in Soviet times, during the persecution of all religious organizations, officials did not deprive the children of religious families the opportunity to receive a secondary education,” it said.

The appeal appeared to have worked. Belgorod officials later agreed to let the nine students take the math exam shortly before the start of the school year on September 1.

— Andrew McChesney, news editor, Adventist World

Philippines: White Estate Branch Office Opens ■■ A branch office of the Ellen G. White Estate has opened at the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) in the Philippines, the second such facility to be established outside the U.S. The branch office contains copies of Ellen White documents and other historical materials from the main office at the world church’s General Conference headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, and it will provide AIIAS seminary students as well as local Adventists and non-Adventists alike with increased opportunities to study the church’s heritage, Adventist officials said.

“What we are doing is acknowledging what you already know—that international students come to AIIAS to prepare to work for the Lord’s cause,” James Nix, director of the Ellen G. White Estate in Maryland, said at an inaugura-

THE UNVEILING: James Nix, left, director of the Ellen G. White Estate, and AIIAS President Stephen Guptill unveiling the plaque at the new branch office.

B r u c e

A I I AS

Colombia: Parade Points to Sabbath

A l f a n o

/

EUDN e w s

■■ Here’s a novel way to share the Sabbath: create a city parade with seven floats, each representing a day of Creation week.

That’s what Adventist church members did in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, just across the border from Venezuela, to showcase the Sabbath, a Creation expo, and the launch of an evangelistic campaign.

Dubbed “Creation Caravan,” the seven colorfully decorated floats on trucks rolled through the main streets Continued on next page

L u c a

■■ Italian workers with ADRA, the relief agency of the Adventist Church, have distributed several hundred personal hygiene kits and staged a gospel music concert for a group of African immigrants fished out of the Mediterranean Sea by the Italian Navy.

The Italian naval ship Etna docked in the Sicilian port of Palermo in midJune after picking up 767 immigrants in various operations across the Mediterranean, including a group from a shipwreck off the coast of Libya that killed 10 and left 15 others seriously burned.

On the next Sabbath ADRA workers visited a community center sheltering

/

280 immigrants from Ghana, Gambia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Guinea.

“This allowed us to see firsthand what the real and immediate needs are and what we can do to help make them feel welcomed and loved,” said Luca Alfano, project leader of ADRA in Italy.

The following Monday ADRA volunteers handed out about 300 personal hygiene kits containing essential items such as soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and towels to the immigrants.

That evening the Palermo Ghanaian Adventist gospel choir performed a musical program at the center. “We tried to convey warmth and solidarity

tion ceremony on Sabbath, June 28.

The Ellen G. White Estate was created by the last will and testament of church cofounder Ellen White and has a mandate to act as her agent in the custody of her writings and the handling of her property.

Reuel Almocera, director of the new branch office, said the branch office as part of its new role would also reach out to Adventists by establishing mini-research centers, developing portable exhibits, and providing fun activities such as trivia games for church programs.

— Gay Deles, writing from Cavite, Philippines

Italy: ADRA Assists With Immigrant Crisis

S u m e n d a p

with these people who were visibly lost, disoriented, and insecure,” Alfano said.

ADRA was working with the community center to provide other assistance, including lessons in the Italian language, workshops, and various recreational and cultural activities.

— Adventist World staff

TEMPORARY HOME: The sleeping quarters that ADRA workers saw when they visited a community center sheltering 280 immigrants in Palermo, Italy.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

5

WORLD REPORT of Cúcuta for the two-hour event on a Sabbath last summer. Many participants, both on the floats and on accompanying motorcycles, wore T-shirts with the message “Sabbath Is My Day.” Volunteers handed out hundreds of flyers.

“Traffic would go at the rhythm of our caravan activity, and we could see people’s surprised looks,” said church member Eliana Pedrozo. “They began to ask us questions.”

Onlookers were invited to meet the next day at the town’s main pier, Plaza de Banderas, for a Creation expo and later at the Libertad Adventist School for the evangelistic series.

“Everyone who came by the pier was invited to participate in ExpoCreation,” said Raul Torra, communication director for the Northeast Colombia Conference. “Many of them were so impressed when they heard the story of Creation highlighting the Sabbath as the day of hope.”

— IAD and Adventist World staff

By Andrew McChesney, news editor, Adventist World

Adventist Church Launches

Breathe-Free 2,

a New Stop-Smoking Program Program creator Daniel Handysides says the key to helping smokers quit is personal relationships.

N o r t h e a s t

C o l o m b i a

C o n f e r e n c e

I

CREATION CARAVAN: Adventists showcasing the sixth day of creation during a parade in Cucuta, Colombia.

6

magine a designated smoking area outside your Adventist church.

The man seated in your pew quietly slips out of the building during the Sabbath sermon. A few minutes later he returns, the strong scent of smoke clinging to his dark suit.

You smile at him and continue listening to the sermon.

No big deal.

This scenario is part of the vision of Breathe-Free 2, a brand-new stopsmoking program that the Seventhday Adventist Church’s Health Ministries department launched this summer. The program is pinning its hopes for success on a combination of scientific research, an open-source Web site, and the personal relationships that participants develop as they take the course “We’re very excited to have an updated smoking cessation program,” said Peter Landless, Health Ministries director. “We are aware that initially there will be minor adjustments, but we are working to achieve these as soon as possible.”

The cost-free program has roots in Breathe-Free, developed by the

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

Adventist Church more than two decades ago, and the earlier Five-Day Plan to Stop Smoking, first introduced in 1959.

But it uses a completely new approach because attitudes toward smoking have changed drastically in recent years, said Daniel Handysides, who spent several years developing Breathe-Free 2 and tested it in the United Arab Emirates. Unlike in past decades, today’s smokers don’t need to be convinced that tobacco is bad for them, and they cannot be scared or lectured into quitting, he said.

“You cannot find a smoker in the world that does not know that cigarettes cause cancer,” said Handysides, assistant professor of health at Loma Linda University. “So our old model of lecture and fear doesn’t work.”

That meant new methods needed to be found to assist smokers, and Breathe-Free 2 is putting a special focus on personal relationships. While the program has a do-it-yourself version, it encourages smokers to join a local group where they can receive emotional support and, crucially, make new friends.

ANN

The church that Handysides attends at Loma Linda University does not have a designated smoking area. Indeed, the entire campus is smoke-free.

Handysides said he understands that some churches might balk at the idea of smoking areas, and his proposal, in a sense, is metaphorical. “I’m talking more about an attitude shift in which we allow smokers to come into church facilities without judgment,” he said.

Breathe-Free 2 got its start when Loma Linda University asked Handysides to conduct Breathe-Free classes at military high schools in Abu Dhabi, one of the United Arab Emirates. The university approached Handysides after getting a request for the classes from a nongovernmental organization, the International Commission for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency.

Handysides wrote to the General Conference, the headquarters of the Adventist world church in Silver Spring, Maryland, for information about obtaining the course material.

He learned that the General Conference was the sole publisher, and it printed the coursework on demand.

In short, the program was “antiquated,” Handysides said.

So with the blessing of the General Conference, he and his wife, Sandra, a

O l i v e r

/

“If you smoke and your friends smoke, it means you have to give up your whole circle of friends,” Handysides said in an interview. “That’s a huge loss.”

There may be many circumstances that prompt a struggling smoker to light up, but the presence of other smokers, especially close friends, is a nearly irresistible temptation. No one wants to lose friends, of course, so Breathe-Free 2 invites smokers to bring along their friends to quit and to make new friendships. New friends could include the local program facilitator and other members of the Breathe-Free 2 group.

Many people who quit only succeed after seven to 10 attempts, and that’s why it is important to create a place they can smoke outside church, Handysides said.

“It is my goal that every one of our churches will reach the point where they have smoking sections outside the church,” he said. “People should be able to feel comfortable coming to a Seventh-day Adventist Church as a smoker.

“We’re not wanting them to be a smoker,” he said. “But we should accept them right where they’re at, and be ready to work with them so that they can change and have a healthier lifestyle.”

A n s e l

PROGRAM LAUNCH: Daniel Handysides presenting Breathe-Free 2 at the Global Conference on Health and Lifestyle in Geneva, Switzerland, on July 8, 2014.

family nurse practitioner, led a revamp of the program into BreatheFree 2 and tested the results for 18 months in Abu Dhabi.

Handysides said the success rate for Breathe-Free 2 is expected to be slightly higher than the 40 percent averaged by its two predecessors. No stop-smoking initiative has a rate topping 50 percent, he said.

Breathe-Free 2 targets only smokers who have a strong desire to quit because they have the best chance of success, Handysides said.

“We want people already in the action phase,” he said.

Part of the advantage of the new program is that all materials are available online at breathefree2.com. In addition, anybody can download, translate, and upload them back to the site for other people to use.

The program initially was released only in English, but a Spanish translation was scheduled for release this year. Tentative discussions have started on translations in Russian, Polish, and Finnish.

Among the materials on the Breathe-Free 2 Web site is a world map showing the locations and contact details of the first 34 program facilitators and videos aimed at fostering group discussion and developing new friendships. The videos are only in English, but their scripts are available for download, allowing non-English groups to act them out or use them in other ways, Handysides said.

The first phase of the program takes eight days to complete and is followed up with a series of meetings over the next days, weeks, and months.

“What’s important is establishing solid relationships that will go back and forth over the time that it takes to quit,” Handysides said. n

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

7

W O R L D

V I S T A

I

t is no doubt the most famous prayer ever uttered—“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .” (Matt. 6:9, KJV). Known as “The Lord’s Prayer,” this passage of Scripture records the simple yet profound prayer that Jesus taught His disciples during His Sermon on the Mount.

“When you pray,” Jesus warned them, “[don’t] be like the hypocrites . . . . But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matt. 6:5, 6).

Some of the other prayers of Jesus include Him praising God for a revelation given to babes (Matt. 11:25, 26), the prayer to raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41, 42), a prayer for the Father’s glory (John 12:28), prayers for the church (John 17:1-26), deliverance (Matt. 6:9-13), for forgiveness of others (Luke 23:34), and in submission (verse 46).

People of Prayer

In addition to the beautiful prayers of Jesus, we have 74 prayers of other individuals recorded for us in the Bible. These prayers span the range of human emotions—while Habakkuk prayed for deliverance (Hab. 3:1-19), Christ’s disciples pleaded for boldness (Acts 4:24-31). Hagar prayed for consolation (Gen. 21:14-20), while Jehoshaphat pleaded for victory (2 Chron. 18:31). Cornelius prayed for enlightenment (Acts 10:1-33), and Daniel prayed for knowledge (Dan. 2:17-23). Both Peter and Elijah prayed (successfully) for the raising of the dead (Acts 9:40; 1 Kings 17:17-22).

8

Adventist World | September 2014

By Ted N. C. Wilson

Persistent

Prayer

Never Give Up P h o t o

b y

J o e l

J o s e p h

Have you discovered the joy and privilege of prayer?

Hannah earnestly prayed for a child (1 Sam. 1:10-17), and Rebekah prayed for understanding (Gen. 25:22, 23).

Joshua pleaded for help and mercy (Joshua 7:6-9), and a leper prayed for healing (Matt. 8:2, 3).

Healing, guidance, justice, mercy, blessings, wisdom—these are just some of the things that believers down the ages have experienced by reaching out to God through prayer.

Discovering the Joy and Privilege of Prayer

Have you discovered the joy and privilege of prayer? “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend,” we are told in a familiar passage from Ellen White’s devotional classic, Steps to Christ. “Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.”1

We need to pray for so many things, including our humility to recognize God as the leader of our lives and of this Advent movement. This movement was established to announce God’s great love for this world and His people as shown in the plan of salvation.

We need to pray for the latter rain of the Holy Spirit and the preparation of God’s church for the final loud cry.

Prayers are needed for our mission outreach, and for the proclamation of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 and the fourth angel’s message of Revelation 18.

We should also remember to pray for revival and reformation in our own lives, as well as in the life of the church. We can support the Mission to the Cities initiatives around the world and comprehensive health ministry through our prayers. Integrated media and communication evangelism outreach, our publishing ministries, increased stewardship promotion and faithfulness around the world, pastoral and evangelistic meetings worldwide, and the youth One Year in Mission program are other church outreach ministries that will be blessed and encouraged through your prayers.

And the upcoming Annual Council this October and the 2015 General Conference session to be held next summer—all of these events and activities need to be bathed in prayer in order to achieve what God intends.

Do My Prayers Really Matter?

You might wonder if your prayers can really make a difference in the life of the church, or in your own personal life. In James 5:15, 16 we are reminded

that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16, NIV). And Jesus Himself says, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:14, NIV). He assures us that our Father in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask him (Matt. 7:11).

We are told that “the prayer of faith is the great strength of the Christian and will assuredly prevail against Satan. This is why he insinuates that we have no need of prayer. The name of Jesus, our Advocate, he detests; and when we earnestly come to Him for help, Satan’s host is alarmed. It serves his purpose well if we neglect the exercise of prayer, for then his lying wonders are more readily received.”2 Last June, here at the General Conference, we met together for one hour every day for an entire work week for a special focus on prayer. We prayed earnestly for God to control each of us and this Advent movement. It was a tremendously encouraging time. We will have a similar prayer initiative at the world church headquarters from January 5-8, 2015. Please pray with us.

God has promised great blessings when His people pray.

Praying for the Holy Spirit

If you have not already done so, I invite you to join us in prayer. For the past three years Seventh-day Adventists around the world have been part of a global prayer chain—praying each day at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We pray for the Holy Spirit’s presence in our families, leaders, churches, and communities. We are told that “A chain of earnest, praying believers should encircle the world . . . to pray for the Holy Spirit.”3 If you would like September 2014 | Adventist World

9

W O R L D

V I S T A

Stories more information about the “7-7-7” Global Prayer Chain, or more information and resources about prayer, visit: www.revivalandreformation.org/ prayer.

One day, while encouraging His disciples to be persistent in prayer, Jesus told the story of one woman who refused to give up. “ ‘In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, “Give me legal protection from my opponent.” For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, “Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.” ’ And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?’ ” (Luke 18:2-8, NASB).4 Prayer is exercising faith, believing that God does hear us when we talk to Him, and will answer in the time and way that He knows is best. n 1 Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1956), p. 93.

2 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), vol. 1, p. 296.

3 Ellen G. White, in Review and Herald, Jan. 3, 1907.

4 Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Ted N.C. Wilson is president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

10

Adventist World | September 2014

GLOW: Giving Light to Our World Giving Light to Our World—GLOW—is an outreach initiative that originated in California, United States, but is now branching out to other world divisions.

It’s based on the concept of church members distributing GLOW tracts—free of charge—at every opportunity. The tracts are currently being printed in 45 languages.

Here is a short story that depicts lives touched by GLOW in the Czech Republic:

One day Eric Dunn, who lives in the small town of Protivin, Czech Republic, was out walking with his young son. After arriving at a nearby park, Eric noticed two young men sitting in a gazebo. They were pulling cigarettes out of their pockets, getting ready to smoke.

“My son wanted to go to the play area on the other side of the gazebo, so we had to walk by them,” Eric explained, “even though I didn’t really want to.”

Once in the play area, Eric suggested to his son that they give the two men some GLOW tracts. They first prayed, and then Eric and his son—each one carrying a tract—approached the young men and asked if they could give them the flyers. They responded, “Sure,” so Eric and his son handed them the tracts.

“Are the flyers religious?” one of the men asked. Eric explained that they were. “Do you believe in God?” the man continued.

That sparked a conversation that resulted in Eric making two new friends.

They have since participated together in activities such as rock climbing, and engaged in additional spiritual conversations.

“My son’s persistence brought some light to these two young men,” Eric says. “I’ve learned that many times the people we least feel inclined to evangelize are the most open to the gospel.”

Stories are compiled by Pacific Union Conference, United States, GLOW director Nelson Ernst and International GLOW coordinator Kamil Metz. To learn more about GLOW, go to sdaglow.org. To watch video GLOW testimonies, go to vimeo.com/user13970741.

NAD NEWS

BUSINESS SCHOOL GRAD: Brian Wright, a 2004 graduate of the Tom and Vi Zapara School of Business at La Sierra University, has been named assistant general manager of the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association.

L a

Si e r r a

U n i v e r s i t y

B

La Sierra Alum

Pistons

Lands Assistant GM Spot

rian Wright, a 2004 graduate of La Sierra University, has been named assistant general manager of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Detroit Pistons.

Detroit Pistons head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy made the announcement July 7, 2014, in a Pistons release.

Wright arrives in Detroit following eight seasons with the Orlando Magic.

He oversaw player development and served as director of college scouting last season, which included executing preparations for the NBA draft.

Wright started with the Magic in 2006 as a summer intern. He was hired as scouting coordinator before the 20062007 season.

“Brian understands our vision and what we are trying to accomplish as a front office staff. He has a sharp basketball mind and will be an asset for our organization,” Van Gundy said in the release. Van Gundy served as the Magic’s coach from 2007 to 2012.

“I’m just excited about it,” said Wright in an interview with La Sierra University. “I get a chance to work with Stan again, and this organization has such a rich history.”

Wright will work under newly hired General Manager Jeff Bower and Van Gundy. Wright graduated from La Sierra University’s Tom and Vi Zapara School of Business in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was also a student athlete and played on the university’s Golden Eagles basketball team. Wright attended graduate school at the University of Central Florida, earning an M.B.A. and master’s degree in sports business management from the DeVos Sports Business Management Program.

Continued on next page

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

11

NAD NEWS

12

Pastors Podcast to Multiple Audiences

C a l i f o r n i a

C o n f e r e n c e

■■ About a dozen Los Angeles-area pastors who preach in languages other than English have begun podcasting in their own languages. The group, under the direction of the Southern California Conference (SCC) Communication Department, is affiliated with Adventist World Radio (AWR).

“Adventist World Radio has provided two training sessions for the podcast groups in the Southern California Conference,” said Daryl Gunagadoo, AWR global distribution manager, who served as the instructor for both sessions. A grant from the Pacific Union Conference has covered project costs.

Cecil Ma, a member of the Cantonese Adventist Fellowship, is the producer-editor of the Cantonese podcast, which features weekly presentations by health and Bible-story teams. According to team members, they share information in a conversational tone.

“We tried scripting,” Lui said, “but it sounded boring, so we just talk from notes, and it is working very well.”

The teams meet periodically on Sabbath afternoons and tape five or six segments each.

“Before I went on a recent European vacation,” Ma said, “I completed the editing for three programs and then posted them while I was away.”

The program had nearly 700 subscribers before local promotion began, and it now airs on Adventist radio stations in Guam and Saipan, in addition to being listed on the AWR Web site.

Podcasts and other resources posted online can be heard globally, but more than 200 languages are spoken in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

“We are delighted that the podcasts extend the reach of local SCC churches to a global audience,” said Betty Cooney, SCC communication director and project manager. “However, the primary goal for SCC podcasts is to reach the local language communities targeted by each church.”

S o u t h e r n

The Zapara School of Business honored Wright during Alumni Weekend in April with a Rising Star award for his career accomplishments. The university’s three schools and its college hand out awards each year to alumni who have excelled in their chosen fields.

In his remarks during the awards banquet on April 25, Wright stated that La Sierra allowed him to pursue his passions in athletics and academics. He added that La Sierra’s professors meet students where they are and propel them toward where they want to go. “I’m a big believer in pursuing your passion,” he said.

Wright played basketball at Takoma Academy in Silver Spring, Maryland, and was recruited during a tournament to attend La Sierra University and play for the Golden Eagles.

Wright loved playing ball, but quickly realized that if he wanted to continue in the sport he had to become a coach or other administrator, he said. “Basketball has always been my passion,” said Wright. “Working in the NBA has always been a dream.”

At La Sierra he acquired necessary life skills through faculty who take the time to listen to students and direct them toward their goals, Wright said.

“Johnny Thomas [business school dean] is great. He’s hands-on with the students and pushes you to think outside the box.”

“I am excited to see one of our students excel in the basketball world,” said Thomas. “He wanted to do this all of his life. His success gives hope to students who don’t go to high profile schools that they too can be successful.

The status of a college doesn’t guarantee success. You need to pursue your passion and work hard until you succeed.”

—Darla Martin Tucker, La Sierra University

PODCAST PARTNERS: Cecil Ma (left), producer-editor, prepares to record a podcast about health for the Cantonese Fellowship podcast, featuring Peter Young, a dentist; Rosana Yung, a pharmacist; and Maria Poon, a public health nurse

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

C a l e b

Ri s t o n

Above: AND THEY’RE OFF: A 5K fun run on the Walla Walla University campus was one way students at the university raised money for the Christalis Orphanage. Inset: HOMELESS NO MORE: Nearly 30 children like this one will benefit from the efforts of the Associated Student Association of Walla Walla University.

W a l l a

Being able to do this special outreach has been challenging for those in the podcast group. Some in the group had to invest in better computers, while others were engaged in major church projects, temporarily placing podcasting on hold.

A major challenge for the pastors has been finding technicians to assist in recording and editing. But with diligent searching and praying, some have overcome this hurdle.

“I have someone to help whom I recently baptized,” Denilson Reis, pastor of the L.A. Portuguese church, happily announced.

Despite the difficulties, the pastors have not taken their eyes off the mission.

“Approximately 166,000 Cambodian people live in the Greater Los Angeles area,” said James Dok, assistant pastor of the Temple City church and native of Cambodia. “I am excited

W a l l a

U n i v e r s i t y

about podcasting to share the good news with them.”

—Daryl Gungadoo, AWR; and Betty Cooney, Southern California Conference

Student Body Organization Raises $40,000 for Uganda Orphanage ■■ Walla Walla University (WWU) students have raised $40,000 during the first part of a two-year project to raise funds for an orphanage in Uganda.

The Christalis Orphanage supports nearly 30 children, providing them with food, shelter, education, and a family environment. The orphanage also has an assistance program that provides community children with school supplies, shoes, primary health care, and an education.

WWU students saw a need, as the

orphanage is currently renting living quarters made for a much smaller number. The girls sleep inside, the boys outside, and some children sleep in the kitchen.

Located in Kasese, the orphanage already owns two and a half acres for a potential home, but they have yet to obtain the financial means to build one. With the help of WWU students and other supporters, they hope to build a home to support 40 children.

The orphanage project, To Build a Home, was launched in September 2013 by the Associated Students of Walla Walla University (ASWWU).

On May 11, 2014, the ASWWU organized a Color Run 5K race on the university campus to continue raising funds for the African orphanage.

To this point, the fund-raising team has raised approximately $40,000, and, with an established donor network, Christalis has pledged to match any amount raised by WWU. The ultimate goal is for WWU students to raise $100,000. The funds will be used not only for the new orphanage but also for supporting costs, such as volunteers and future operating expenses.

Students have organized many campus fund-raisers, including concerts, sporting events, food sales, and other events to raise money for the project.

A unique aspect of the project is the commitment to support sustainability projects so this home will be successful for years to come. For example, WWU is establishing student missionary positions at the orphanage.

For more information, visit aswwu. wallawalla.edu.

—University Relations, Walla Walla University

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

13

14

Li f e T a l k

T

he Bible defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). From its beginning LifeTalk Radio (LTR) has been a miracle of faith!

It all started with a conviction and the burning desire in Adventist pioneers to utilize the medium of radio to help connect people with Christ.

From its humble beginnings in the mid-1990s LTR went on the air with one flagship station, KSOH, located in Yakima, Washington. God continued to strengthen His radio work as the years went by. He helped LTR to uplink its programming to satellite.

About this same time LTR became part of the North American Division.

In 2001 God blessed this ministry with 12 affiliate stations. Today LTR continues to grow by providing Christ-centered programming to more than 100 station affiliates across the country and internationally.

Revelation 12:11, speaking of God’s last-day people, says: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” LTR has received some wonderful testimonies that demonstrate God’s blessing of this ministry:

R a d i o

N A D U P D AT E

COAST TO COAST: With headquarters in Tennessee, and affiliates throughout much of North America, LifeTalk Radio casts a wide web.

Miracle of

By John Geli, LifeTalk Radio Network

Faith

How God is using radio waves (and the Internet) to spread the gospel What Our Listeners Say

The station manager in Dickinson, North Dakota, shared that LTR has been useful in helping to prepare more than 30 people for baptism into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The Alaska Conference president told of the excellent success they have had in reaching distant villages in his territory with LTR. The president of the Tillamook,

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

Oregon, station calls LTR a “successful evangelistic outreach ministry.”

Individuals are coming to the Seventh-day Adventist church in the Savannah, Tennessee, listening area and want to be baptized, reports the LTR general manager at the station there.

A man who has been listening to the LTR programs in the Park Rapids, Minnesota, area has decided to join

the Adventist Church.

From Canton, Illinois, the radio station manager reports that because of LTR, which helps place the Seventhday Adventist Church in a positive light, more community friendships are being formed.

The president of the station in the Cayman Islands is excited with the exceptional response his station is receiving to LTR’s programming. They are receiving an average of 2,000 listener contacts each month.

We’ve had some very encouraging listener comments, such as from one person from Boardman, Oregon, who says, “LifeTalk has changed my life.

Thank you!”

Another, from Yakima, Washington, writes, “Our family was led to attend

and join the Seventh-day Adventist Church by listening to LifeTalk Radio.

It is perhaps the most important evangelism tool this church has.”

Our Vision

We hope that by God’s grace LTR will be able to reach large cities of North America with the three angels’ messages in relevant, practical, and powerful ways. Our challenge is to find the means to make this possible.

Consider partnering in this radio ministry outreach.

LifeTalk Radio provides Christcentered programming 24 hours a day to more than 100 affiliate stations across North America and internationally. You can listen 24 hours a day by live streaming from LifeTalk.net,

LifeTalk Apps for iPhone and Android smartphones, and via our satellite feed on Channel 1004 on Galaxy 19 using a Glorystar receiver. Soon we will be on Roku, which will give us the potential to reach millions of listeners.

If you are interested in affiliating your local radio station with LTR, call 1-800-775-4673. If you don’t have a station, LTR can provide information about how to take advantage of future radio station application windows that the Federal Communications Commission opens up to the public in the U.S. LifeTalk Radio, a miracle of faith, is here to help connect people with Christ.

To learn more about LTR, visit www.lifetalk.net. n

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

15

NAD PERSPECTIVE

By Dan Jackson

Pondering

Imponderables

M

any years ago I was driving alone with my oldest daughter. She looked at me with all the solemnity that the inquiring mind of a 6-year-old can generate and asked, “Daddy, if angels cut themselves, will the sky turn red?”

Deciding it was wiser to respond “No,” I moved on. Moments later, as I thought more carefully, I caught the significance of the moment. She was attempting to understand her world.

Her childish question was but a reflection of the human desire to ponder life’s imponderables.

Some years later I was visiting in some church members’ home as their son explained that his college research project included an attempt to understand how to communicate with a computer in such a way that the computer would verbally respond to his commands. Since I don’t fully comprehend principles behind the conduction of electricity, his musings went well over my head. I was, however, awed by the idea that he would stretch his mental energies in order to grasp something that no one, to that point, had ever grasped. I thought his project unrealistic. Today we speak to computers, and, more often than not, they respond and tell us what we want to hear.

We often reach out for answers that we cannot fathom. Whether a

little girl or a brilliant college student, we stretch beyond the known to comprehend the unknown. Why do things happen as they do? Where does ingenuity come from? Where did we come from? We wrestle with ideas and search for answers.

The Bible makes two strong assertions about where we come from and where our abilities find their source.

1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).

In other words, God is the source of everything!

2. “So God created man in His own image. . . . God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’ ” (verses 27, 28). In other words, God gave humanity authority and ingenuity to govern creation and proactively share in creation itself!

So when I begin to ponder the imponderables, my mind defaults precisely to the God who has always been there, here, and everywhere. For instance, I believe it was His creative genius that generated the design of the intricate and microscopic bacterial flagellum, a motor so small and so nimble that it provides various bacteria with the ability to move forward,

backward, and sideways, and with the ability to stop. When examined under a microscope, it appears to be a highly synchronized miniature motor. That God is the Creator of things so small still inspires wonder.

And He is also the one who generated the massive cosmological systems we can see but not fully comprehend.

Think about it: 360 billion planets in our solar system, and as many as 200 million galaxies. And we tend to take for granted that our earth, in its huge elliptical orbit around the sun, moves about 587 million miles per year, traveling about 67,000 miles per hour, and closes its yearly voyage without the loss of a second every 1,000 years.

He is the God of immenseness.

I find it difficult to understand how these two designs could have just happened, or even how they accidentally developed over millions of years by random processes. I have chosen to believe in an intelligent design and in the Intelligent Designer who did it all in six, literal, consecutive days. He is the one who had the ability and skill to create both the little things and the massive systems that make our earth tick.

It is true that I do not have all of the answers to the scientific riddles that confront us. But one day I will!

You and I will walk and talk with the Great Designer, and with Him we will ponder those things. Gently He will remind us: “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Rev. 22:13). n

Dan Jackson is president

of the North American Division, which comprises Bermuda, Canada, Guam, Micronesia, and the United States.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

17

NAD Letters Reminder: We Are a World Church

My thanks to the Adventist World/ Adventist Review staff for the hours it takes to prepare these magazines.

Adventist World reminds us that we are a world church—the June 2014 issue is a fine example. It is informative with Ted N. C. Wilson’s “How Your Church Works” and Nathan Brown’s “Global Youth Day Gains Momentum.” It’s heart-stirring with Bill Knott’s “Tides and Skies,” Erna and John Siregar’s “A Faithful Servant,” Benjamin Baker’s “In the Ghetto,” and Dan Weber’s “Alone and Scared.” And it is soul-searching with Atuanya Cheatham DuBreuil’s “Snake Worship—in Church?” and Chantal J. Klingbeil’s “Backpack Essentials.”

Every issue has worthwhile food for the mind, heart, and soul.

Natalie Dodd Centerville, Ohio “Free” Book

The advertisement for the book The Called . . . the Chosen (June 2014) should have caused a big stir all across the country among our Adventist members. The book is free—we, the recipients, only have to pay for postage!

At the time I called the phone number given in the ad I was told I was the only one who had called to take advantage of this beautiful offer.

Did I hear right? I could have cried!

I’m praying for this matter.

Velma Beavon Dayton, Montana

18

Puzzled

I appreciate receiving Adventist World and applaud the idea of a publication that embraces as much of the Adventist world membership as possible.

However, not intending to be critical, I have to say that the illustration for Mark Finley’s Bible study “How Faith Grows” left me puzzled. How does that nondescript green figure represent a growing, intelligent human faith?

Mary E. Ehlers Dayton, Ohio The Diary

I was deeply moved by William Robinson’s powerful cover story “The Diary” (May 2014). The entries in the diary of that young missionary to Jamaica, Lillie Grace Robinson Perrin, captured her extraordinary level of commitment, love, and sacrifice. It was striking to discover that Lillie and her husband, Charles, were very young, 19 and 20 years old, respectively. Although her husband died shortly after the wedding ceremony in Jamaica, this young woman continued her missionary work through the pain of her loss.

What a testament to Christian dedication and commitment!

We owe much to workers such as Charles and Lillie Perrin, who took the gospel to my native Jamaica, and should be inspired by their example to take the gospel commission to our

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

communities—near or far—so that we can hasten the return of our soon-coming King.

G eraldine TomlinsonMitchell Goldsboro, North Carolina Just a few lines to let you know that I receive and appreciate getting this magazine each month, and reading the nice stories from around the world—including the ones from Honduras, which is where my wife and I are from originally.

I enjoyed reading the cover story “The Diary,” about Lillie Grace Robinson Perrin, who traveled from Nebraska to Jamaica to join her fiancé and get married. Charles, her husband, died only nine days afterward—and Lillie died less than four years later— but we have the blessed hope that they will be part of the first resurrection.

Mitchell O. Tatum Garland, Texas

What a testament to Christian dedication and commitment!

— Geraldine Tomlinson-Mitchell, Goldsboro, North Carolina

W O R L D

The

H E A L T H

Question of

Marijuana

By Peter N. Landless and Allan R. Handysides My teenage son has been watching and reading the news. There have been many reports regarding legalization of marijuana in numerous parts of the world, and even reports stating health benefits. Are there dangers related to its use?

Y

ou have asked a most important question! Legalization of marijuana is in the news worldwide. There’s pressure for legal use for recreational purposes, and also recommendations by some for use for certain medical conditions. Currently marijuana is one of the most commonly used illegal drugs in the world. In the United States about 12 percent of people 12 years of age or older have reported using it in the past year. Rates of use are particularly high in young people.* Regular use of marijuana by teenagers and adolescents is especially concerning because young people are particularly vulnerable to its dangerous side effects and consequences of use.

So what are the dangers? n Long-term use can lead to addiction.

Some studies show that approximately 9 percent of those who experiment with marijuana will become addicted. This is a similar percentage to those who become alcoholics after experimenting with alcohol. This number rises dramatically the younger the age of debut, and if there is any family history of alcoholism. This is a particularly significant problem in adolescence as the brain actively develops during this stage of life. n Marijuana use negatively affects nerve-connection development within the brain. These effects continue into adulthood and can become permanent. n Like tobacco, marijuana has been shown to be a gateway drug, meaning that those who use it are at higher P h o t o

c o u r t e s y

o f

U . S .

Fi s h

a n d

risk for use of other and even more dangerous recreational drugs. n It has been associated with an increased risk of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. n Marijuana impairs thinking and reasoning functions of the brain.

Youth who are regular users underperform at school. n It impairs driving ability and is related to increased vehicle accidents, including fatal events. The risk of accidents increases significantly with the use of marijuana and alcohol at the same time. n It leads to lung damage with long-term problems such as chronic bronchitis. There’s a possible association with lung cancer, but the risk isn’t as significant as with smoking tobacco. n Marijuana use has been associated with blood vessel diseases, causing heart attacks and strokes. How this occurs, however, is not yet fully understood.

There’s much current research in trying to harness positive health benefits that may derive from the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in certain conditions such as cancer, HIV and AIDS, nausea, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. As well as attempting to ascertain and prove benefits, much research is also being directed toward avoiding the negative effects of the substance, especially with the method of delivery. There’s no doubt that smoking marijuana is detrimental to the lungs and vascular system, in

Wi l d l i f e

addition to the negative effects on the brain. As more studies become available and as delivery systems improve (for example, the development of tablets, sprays, injections), we will become better informed as to whether there are meaningful methods of application with which benefits exceed the dangers in given disease situations.

In summary, marijuana is a dangerous drug that should be avoided. It’s addictive and significantly affects the mind, psyche, personality, and body.

The only avenue through which the Holy Spirit connects with us is our mind, and we must keep it clear and unclouded. The push for legalization of marijuana doesn’t indicate safety of use. We need only look at the severe harm caused by tobacco and alcohol, both of which are legalized poisons.

We do well to remember that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that true temperance encourages us to use wisely those things that are healthy and to avoid all things harmful. n * Some information in this article was based on “Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use,” New England Journal of Medicine 370, no. 23 (June 5, 2014): 2219-2227.

Peter N. Landless, a board-certified nuclear

cardiologist, is director of the General Conference Health Ministries Department.

Allan R. Handysides, a board-certified gynecologist, is a former director of the General Conference Health Ministries Department.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

19

D E V O T I O N A L

AppleTalk The iPhone as a confessional?

By Sylvia Renz

I

n early February 2011 a news item made headlines: Confessions by iPhone.

The Catholic Church in the United States had approved a confession application for smartphones. For only $2 (US$1.99, to be exact) an application called “Confession” leads believers step by step through the confession of their sins, even adjusting automatically to age, gender, and marital status. A user first needs to check off which of the Ten Commandments he or she has broken. Specific confessions can be texted, as stated on the manufacturer’s Web site. In response the program makes suggestions as to which prayers can be used for restitution. Sinners not so well versed in Scripture can even download Bible texts, together with the corresponding prayers.

According to the developer’s Web page (www.littleiapps. com), the application was developed by a Catholic priest and has been the first iPhone app to receive an imprimatur (that is, the official approval by the Catholic Church), which was given by Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. The app should help Catholic Christians lose their fear of confessions, said Patrick Leinen, cofounder of Little iApps. But anyone who thinks that a priest is no longer needed to forgive sins is wrong.

“This app is an aid intended to help a person prepare for

20

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

the sacrament of confession. It is not intended to function as a replacement for confession!”

Confession Time

Aha! So there is no “drive-by confession,” the confession in the subway or doctor’s waiting room. And whoever does not have a smartphone has to continue, as before, to rack their brains to remember all the sins they have committed, until they are confessing them at their next church visit.

The cost of forgiveness required by the priest is probably more than $2—measured in time, toil, and self-denial. A huge effort for the ego te absolvo.* Ostensibly we Adventists have it easier: We do not need a confession app, not even a priest who prescribes 20 special prayers and then absolves us from our guilt. We have this promise in the Word of God: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This confession can be done anytime and anywhere. We do not need a smartphone or other modern technology, nor do we need a confessional or a priest. Our prayers are carried directly to God’s throne in the Most Holy Place by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 6:19). This probably happens faster than the speed of light.

God’s grace is free,

but not cheap.

And yet for many of God’s children it is easier to ask for forgiveness than to accept forgiveness by faith. We often say: “I cannot forgive myself.” Perhaps it is hard for us to believe in forgiveness, because we don’t feel it. The burden of guilt weighs heavily on our shoulders and sits like a ton of bricks on our chest so that we can no longer breathe or walk upright. But our feelings of guilt do not tell the truth.

They contradict the fact that God has indeed forgiven, even though we have no human being to audibly express this forgiveness, nor have we paid any money, made a pilgrimage, or knelt for hours on a hard floor—as a tangible “receipt” of His forgiveness.

Overcoming Doubt

Now it’s our job to dismiss the self-accusations and allegations, which Satan, the merciless accuser, whispers into our ears: “You’ve done it again! You’ll never learn! No, this time God cannot forgive you. You will never overcome.

You’re a failure.”

If we believe the veracity of what Paul wrote in the letter to the Romans, we can ward off Satan’s fiery arrows.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom. 8:31-34).

And if that does not help yet, then perhaps we should remember Jesus’ conversation with Peter. “How often must I forgive my brother?” asked Peter, and he thought that seven times would be more than enough (see Matt. 18:21).

Jesus, however, multiplied the seven with 70—not giving us permission to be unforgiving after the 491st time, but showing us that we should always be willing to forgive others. If Jesus requires this of sinful people, how much more would this apply to our heavenly Father, who is love personified?

In those agonizing moments that guilt and shame seem

to suffocate me, I tell myself that I should not treat myself worse than I would treat my best friend. Would I forgive her? Of course! Even if she made the same mistake again and again and regretted it? Oh, yes! So why should I be so merciless toward myself, even torture myself because I’m not quite as “good” as I would like to be?

The Power of Grace

At this point someone might get the idea that we could blissfully carry on sinning, because God’s mercy is never-ending, and He will always forgive when we ask for forgiveness.

However, anyone who asks for forgiveness in the form of a formula—like inserting a coin into a vending machine and out pops the desired product—has not yet understood what guilt is. Guilt causes damage, pain, worry, and grief. It not only hurts my fellow human beings—it hurts me. Even worse, God’s name is trampled underfoot when His children bring shame upon Him. And yet He is still willing to forgive. He has paid the price for our debt. God’s grace is free, but not cheap. Quite the opposite: the loving heart of God paid the greatest conceivable price and made the ultimate sacrifice. He surrendered His Son to His enemies (Rom. 5:8-10). This is how much He values us! Not just humanity as a whole, but each individual—because Jesus would have died for a single person, including you and me.

Unfortunately this is often head knowledge—we know it all. Does it reach into our hearts? When it does, we can lift our heads again and take a deep breath: We are saved; we are free! n * Ego te absolvo means “I absolve you,” and is spoken by a Catholic priest following a confession.

Sylvia Renz works for the German Voice of Prophecy in Alsbach-Hähnlein, Germany. She is an accomplished author and has published numerous books for children and adults.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

21

F U N D A M E N T A L

B E L I E F S

S

tewardship.

Is there really a fundamental belief called stewardship? Do we know what it means to be a good steward? Besides tithe and offerings, is there anything further we need to consider? Indeed there is.

In fact, stewardship is arguably the most fundamental doctrine we have as Bible-believing Christians. It speaks to our origins, our destiny, and our purpose. There isn’t a single aspect of our lives, or any department of the church, that isn’t touched by it. Is stewardship the center of the gospel? No, Jesus is; but Jesus is also our ultimate example—in everything, including stewardship. Essentially, if I want to be a good steward, I need to follow Jesus more closely— stewardship really is discipleship!

What makes Jesus our ultimate steward example? Is He not the owner, rather than the steward?

He is the Creator Divine. It is true that He made, everything and that everything belongs to Him. Not just the earth (which we are to take care of ) not just our lives and the time we have on this earth, not just our material blessings, and not just the talents entrusted to us, but even the intangibles come from Him—our intelligence, the very inflections of our natures, our joie de vivre!

Close Links

A testament to this close connection that exists between us and our Creator is found in the initial paragraphs of the book Education, penned more than a decade ago by Ellen White: “The world has had its great teachers, men of giant intellect and extensive research, men whose utterances have stimulated thought and opened to view vast fields of knowledge; and these men have been honored as guides and benefactors of their race; but there is One who stands higher than they. We can trace the line of the world’s teachers as far back as human records extend; but the Light was before them. As the moon and the stars of our solar system shine by the reflected light of the sun, so, as far as their teaching is true, do the world’s great thinkers reflect the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. Every gleam of thought, every flash of the intellect, is from the Light of the world.”* In our humanity we are confined by the limits of language to describe eternal concepts. We have used the word “steward” to describe a creature’s responsibility to its Creator—concerning life and its ensuing gifts. And we have done well, as a steward is someone who manages the inter-

22

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

By Penny Brink

NUMBER 21

My All

in Response to

All

God’s

Discovering the stewardship lifestyle

All our giving can never match

what He has done for us. ests of the owner on the owner’s behalf. This describes our relationship to God on many levels, especially with regard to His blessings, and how we are to bless others accordingly. That’s where we take our cues. Stewardship really is a relationship!

Stewardship We are God’s stewards, entrusted by Him with time and opportunities, abilities and possessions, and

The Ultimate Steward

the blessings of the earth and its resources. We

How is it, though, that Jesus is our ultimate example as a steward? How does being the Creator and Owner of all things make Jesus the “ultimate steward”?

We don’t mind being obedient and faithfully returning a tithe, or being generous of spirit when we give our freewill offerings to support the mission of the church, or those in need. We don’t even mind dedicating our lives, time, and talents to Christ in mission work or ministry.

Jesus, on the other hand, takes things one step further. He is not the steward who acknowledges that what He has is not His own—no, Jesus is the owner who gives up everything for the steward (Phil. 2:5-11).

Christ’s condescension, His humiliation, His sacrifice, is not something we can ever match, no matter how good a steward we might become—not even if we give our very lives. It is simply not within our power to give the way He gave. All our giving can never match what He has done for us. It is a matchless gift, and we would be at an eternal loss without it (Rom. 5:6-8).

are responsible to Him for their proper use. We

Our Response

In a moment of clarity we recognize that every aspect of our existence is a gift of grace from our generous Creator, Lord, and Savior. Along with the 24 elders in the heavenly throne room we throw down our sadly selfimportant crowns and cry out: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created” (Rev. 4:11). Stewardship really is worship!

When we recognize God’s immense gift of grace, we are sobered, and all we have left is gratitude. With thankful hearts we find acceptance of our circumstances, peace over our concerns, tolerance to those around us, and a desire to be more like Jesus, to live out His character, and to resemble His image.

I don’t know if there is anything about our modern-day way of living that is “like Jesus.” Jesus had time for children, solutions for the suffering, and compassion for outcasts

acknowledge God’s ownership by faithful service to Him and our fellow men, and by returning tithes and giving offerings for the proclamation of His gospel and the support and growth of His church. Stewardship is a privilege given to us by God for nurture in love and the victory over selfishness and covetousness. The steward rejoices in the blessings that come to others as a result of his faithfulness. (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15; 1 Chron. 29:14; Haggai 1:3-11; Mal. 3:8-12; 1 Cor. 9:9-14; Matt. 23:23; 2 Cor. 8:1-15; Rom. 15:26, 27.)

(Luke 4:18, 19). He lived simply, and drew strength from His Father. When it was time to give, He gave everything, and in doing so He gave us hope (Matt. 26:39; John 3:16).

Is that what our lives are like? Possibly, but probably not quite. We can all do better. We can all improve on the way we live and give. Not to save ourselves, but in worship of our Savior, in service to others, and in support of God’s work on earth. Stewardship really is a lifestyle! n For more information on stewardship visit www.adventist stewardship.com. * Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1903), pp. 13, 14.

Penny Brink is an assistant director for the Stewardship Ministries Department of the General Conference, and lives with her husband, Andre, in Silver Spring, Maryland. To learn more about Christlike living, join the world stewardship online conference, September 19-21, 2014, on www.adventiststewardship.com.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

23

God Answers Prayer Stories of people who made prayer a priority tiative (formerly Operation Global Rain), started in 2010, encourages church members around the world to pray for 10 days every January. The following 2014 experiences were shared with us by the General Conference Ministerial

Adventist World Radio (AWR) invited their staff and affiliate stations around the world to join the 10-day prayer initiative, not knowing what would happen (because of the varied religious-freedom conditions under which most of their studios work). Pastor Getteh, a member of the panel, made an appeal on Radio Advent FM on Friday night during The Berean Hour Bible study program and invited the listeners to go to any Seventhday Adventist church the next morning to worship as we ended the Ten Days of Prayer. At the same time he and the panel agreed that each church should make an altar call during the divine worship, then those who had been studying the Bible through The Berean Hour could respond. At the Lord’s doing, 85 people requested to be baptized in this one church to end the Ten Days of Prayer!

—Fred Ted, Monrovia, Liberia

Association.—Editors.

The

By Mark A. Finley

Reality of Unanswered Prayers

I

recently woke up on Sabbath morning with intense back pain. I looked at my wife and half-jokingly said, “If I can make it to the pulpit, I think I can hang on tight enough to preach.”

We prayed together that God would somehow provide the help I needed to make it through my three preaching appointments that day at camp meeting. Providentially a friend shared that there was a professional sports trainer on campus who would be willing to treat me. After three days of treatments I felt much better. Looking back on that experience, my wife and I are convinced that it was a direct answer

24

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

to prayer. God set up a chain of circumstances for me to get the specific help I needed from a qualified professional.

What if God had not answered my prayers in such a dramatic way? What if I had to suffer through the back pain, as I’ve sometimes had to do? Would I have trusted Him any less? Would that mean that some unconfessed sin in my life was blocking His ability to answer my requests?

Could it indicate that my faith was too meager to receive His special blessing? Not necessarily.

This leads to some deeper questions. How should I relate to unanswered prayer? What is the real purpose of prayer?

F r e d T e d

The Ten Days of Prayer ini-

C OV E R S T O RY S a lvat o r e

During Ten Day s of Prayer 2013 ,I offered two requ ests: (1) for my daughter to be redeemed from the bondage of drug addiction; and (2) for my husban d to come to th e Lord. During Te n Days of Pray er 2014 I was prai sing God for m y daughter’s abili ty to say that sh e is eight months “c lean” from met hamphetamines , no longer hom eless, and worki ng full-time. M y husband was re baptized and ac tually attended Te n Days of Pray er with me this ye ar. All praise to God, our Father, thro ugh Jesus Chris t!

— Nina Herman , Modesto, California, Uni ted States

God has moved in a mighty way in our church. We have seen former members returning and new people from the community coming to church. People got jobs, there has been an increase in prayer in our Sabbath services, and members have drawn closer to each other and to God. — Gloria, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

B o g n a n d i

Our Ten Days of Prayer was so spirit-filled. On the night of the eighth day one of our neighbors had demonic possession. An elder and I were invited to pray for the woman. We went there, and the demon manifested himself, but the power of God was so mighty on us that God Himself prevailed. The testimony from the woman the following morning was that she didn’t just see two of us enter her house. Instead she saw the multitude of angels that accompanied us.

—Pastor Francis Aja, Stockholm, Sweden

Prayer, st Ten Days of During this pa place, to ed, healings ok s miracles happen er ay pr unanswered many longtime as w ho . A woman w were answered colayer event by a invited to the pr —she er nc ed of lung ca league was heal d it was an p, r a checku fo ce an Fr to t wen believe doctor there. I confirmed by a xt year’s ne s is afford to m n ca ch ur ch no ayer.

Ten Days of Pr upe rown, Guadelo —Buhire Elie B

The purpose of prayer is to come into contact with the Almighty. Prayer is fellowship with God. It is placing ourselves in the atmosphere of His grace where His Spirit can speak to our hearts. The function of prayer is not to get what we want from God—it is to enter into fellowship with Him. Through prayer we experience His presence, discover His will, and learn to trust Him more.

Ellen White clarifies the issue this way: “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.”1 Prayer lifts us into the glory of His presence. There are times when apparently unanswered prayers lead us to a deeper trust experience in God. Unanswered prayers may lead us to persistence in prayer, deeper faith, and stronger reliance upon Jesus. It is faith inspiring to trust God so much that you persist when He appears to be silent.

I thank God fo r the privilege and opportunit y to be a part of Ten Days of Pr ayer. We held th e event with fast ing and concluded the last night with an anointing serv ice. People wer e anointed, and already there ar e testimonies of deliverance from oppression and depression.

— Pastor O.E. O bebe, Lagos, Nigeria

My Christian experience is not dependent on immediate answers to my prayers. It is the result of an ongoing relationship with God. He answers my prayers enough to let me know He personally cares for me, but not so much that I become spiritually arrogant. Looking back over my life, I see those mountain peaks of spiritual experience, those places where He acted dramatically, and I also recognize those times where my prayers seemed to go unanswered. I rejoice that “in the future life the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings.”2 I’m thankful that my seemingly unanswered prayers are answered in the way heaven deems best. I praise Him that He heals aching backs, but I also praise Him for teaching me to trust Him when my back still aches.

Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1956), p. 93.

Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1905), p. 174.

1 2

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

25

R u s s e l l

At the time we had our Ten Days of Prayer we also held a health evangelism course. This was a blessing for the island of Curaçao!

People from all over the island attended and it was said—by non-Adventists—to have been the best free health service ever given on the island.

At my church, Cher-Asile Seventh-day Adventist Church, I witnessed a miraculous life transformation: a talented member became a dedicated, godly leader in music ministry. . . . We are still praying to receive funds to build a new church and for the people whose names were submitted to the prayer box to give their lives to Jesus.

—Valerie Lashley, Willemstad, Curaçao

W o r u b a

C OV E R S T O RY

rch asked for the outpourDuring the 10 Days of Prayer our chu ram was really special ing of the Holy Spirit. The Sabbath prog ning for prayer and divine because we scheduled time in the mor to earnestly seek the outworship. The congregation was invited part in the global fastpouring of the Holy Spirit. We also took the Lord will do great things ing. I believe, in this generation, that today, tomorrow, and always. a Rica —Pastor Sergio Molina, San José, Cost

United PrayerWorks!

By Jerry Page, General Conference Ministerial secretary

Years ago my wife, Janet, and I had our lives changed dramatically through united prayer. In one conference where I was working, God’s people committed to pray for us and other leaders each morning at 6:15. Two years later we had personally experienced spiritual revival, and changed hearts and miracles in so many around us as we had never seen!

These changes were the results of people uniting in prayer on our behalf.

Five years later we transferred to a new conference that had many problems.

Having learned the power of united prayer, Janet and I invited prayer partners to join us in praying for God’s answers.

Jesus sent precious people to join us on the journey. After uniting in prayer over these problems, we again witnessed His

26

Spirit at work: relationships were healed, churches and schools revived, youth and young adults became on fire for Jesus, a culture of evangelism began, the funds to support it were given, and the barriers were broken down as churches partnered for multiethnic outreaches.

United prayer works! Jesus asks us to pray together and promises miraculous results when we do.

Jesus said: “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19). The early church members prayed and praised God together. They humbled themselves and confessed their sins together. When they were in one accord, the Holy Spirit came in power, and Pentecost happened!

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

I am a studen t in Sydney, A ustralia, but was in m y church in K o robosea, Papua New G uinea, for th e T of Prayer. On en Days the last day w e had testimonials , and what jo y! The church is revi ved for missi on. We praise God fo r His faithfu ln ess.

— Russell W oruba, Port M oresby, Papua New G uinea

Amen! One of the five people I prayed for (who is an alcoholic) recently requested a Bible. I believe the Spirit is working.

—Moses Kebaso, Nairobi, Kenya

Ellen White spoke of how essential united prayer is: “The promise is made on condition that the united prayers of the church are offered, and in answer to these prayers there may be expected a power greater than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and for one another.”* Please join us for the worldwide Ten Days of Prayer on January 7-17, 2015, and the daily 777 united prayer opportunities. For more information, including videos and other resources, visit www.unitedprayerworks. com, www.tendaysofprayer.org, and www. revivalandreformation.org. * Ellen G. White letter 32, 1903, in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases (Silver Spring, Md.: Ellen G. White Estate, 1990), vol. 9, p. 303.

Hope Channel will again partner with the Ten Days of Prayer on their program Let's Pray. You can watch it on DirecTV 368 and streaming online at hopetv.org.

A few years ago the Lord commissioned us, a few families living in an unreached area, to start a group in order to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ among a mainly nonChristian population. This was not understood by many members of our church and created some hostility toward our new task. Thank God, two members of our former church living in our area joined us for the Ten Days of Prayer, and we all were richly blessed.

— Richard Buchli, Murten, Ueberstorf, Switzerland

At our division offices we started the Ten Days of Prayer on January 8.

The different ways of presentations, songs of praise, adoration, worship, confession, repentance, thanksgiving, and intercession by the different group leaders were all innovative, thus leading us all to a closer walk with God through the Holy Spirit and preparing us for the outpouring of the latter rain. On the ninth day tearful confessions of sins, hugging, embracing, and asking for and receiving forgiveness prevailed in the group.

There was not a dry eye in the congregation. All of us were carried back to the upper-room experience of the early disciples while waiting for the promised power of the Holy Spirit. . . . We believe 2014 will be an even more fruitful year for the growing of God’s kingdom of grace in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division territory.

—Alberto Gulfan, Jr., Silang, Cavite, Philippines

For us, a small ch urch plant, it was both necessary and bl essed to come to gether to pray. We just star ted a process of developing visions and st rategies for our gr oup, and for that reas on the Ten Days of Prayer was much needed . It has set our th oughts in motion towar d a common goal .

—Anton Torstens son, Arvika, Swed en

Attendance [to ou r prayer event] w as overwhelming! physical manifesta There were tions of evil spirits fleeing body templ to the Holy Spirit. es rededicated Testimonies were born to the effect answers to prayer of instant s. Most remarkabl e was the children’ tion—even babies s participaremained awake th roughout the prog a wonderful expe ram. It is such rience; we hold Te n Days of Prayer —Emmanuel Am two times a year. ey Azameti, Dunkw a Central, Ghana

Church members praying with passersby in the prayer tent set up at a health fair

Creative Ways to

Pray for 10 Days

The purpose for scheduling the Ten Days of Prayer in January is to encourage members to start the new year with God and saturate every aspect of their lives in prayer. Some people, however, cannot or choose not to meet during the designated days in January.

They choose an alternate 10 days that work for them, and still participate in the blessing.

The Central Brazil Union Conference held their Ten Days of Prayer February 13-22, 2014. Here are some creative ways they chose to involve members and nonmembers alike: In Juquitiba, São Paulo, Brazil, members set up a prayer tent in a public area and handed out free copies of The

Great Hope. They offered to pray with people passing by, and even offered home visitations for those interested.

Members at other prayer tents offered free materials and free hugs. One group even set up their prayer tent at a health fair.

The Mangueiras, Tatuí, São Paulo, church, along with other churches, opened their doors for an hour at 5:00 a.m. for meditation and prayer. Then at 6:00 they conducted a prayer meeting.

In some churches prayer requests were made and placed inside balloons.

The balloons were inflated and exchanged between the members to pray for each other’s requests.

Some churches decorated a prayer

room where members could come and go at will.

On the last day of the Ten Days of Prayer some churches held a spiritual retreat or an evangelistic tea party.

On February 22 the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South São Paulo launched a 30-day intercessory prayer program, where members were encouraged to pray for 30 days for three people who were not part of the congregation. During that time pastors and leaders trained members on visitation, winning people to Christ, how to give Bible studies, and how to help new members remain in the church, thus empowering them in ministry.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

27

Witnessing

GOSPEL CHOIR: The church-run gospel choir, organized in 2007, has performed almost 100 times in both church and secular settings.

in the Czech Re Not “business as usual”

By Petr ČinČala

H

ow can you win people for Christ in a predominantly atheistic country where a lack of trust toward Christians prevails? It’s undoubtedly a challenge.

In the Czech Republic, however, amid the skepticism toward Christianity, I’ve also discovered a great spiritual hunger in the hearts of the people. They’re searching for meaning in their lives, for examples of positive values, and for “heroes.”

God placed a strong desire in my heart to share the gospel message with the Czech people, and that well-known statement of Ellen White came repeatedly to mind: “The Savior mingled with [men and women] as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’ ”* The message is clear, but not easy to put into action.

Prior to 1989, religion-related outreach was not allowed in

28

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

the Czech Republic under the previous regime, and it continues to be a tremendous challenge because believers are so few in number and experience virtually no growth rate.

But after much prayer, a team of four of us chose to trust in God and step out in faith.

In the Beginning

We started out by organizing various community activities and programs, mingling with people, and networking with other nonprofit organizations. Meeting the practical needs of the people was a priority. Eventually we decided it was time to evangelize and offered Bible studies and spiritually based presentations. But no one came. People expressed appreciation for our friendship and help, but they didn’t want us to “talk God into them.” Jesus’ method of ministry doesn’t work, we thought. We didn’t realize that we were actually laying the groundwork for future mission.

Although discouraged, we didn’t give up. We continued P h o t o

C o u r t e s y

o f t h e

a u t h o r

A D V E N T I S T

to work the best we could in the community. Then one night in 2009 I asked God what more we should do to help the people to turn to Jesus. He said, “Pray more.” So we contacted as many church members as possible, even some overseas, and asked them to pray for us. The Lord answered those prayers, and the following year we had our first baptism—a woman who was a member of our gospel choir!

And the baptisms have continued, increasing in number every year since.

Reflecting on the Process

Looking back, we reflected on the process and the way the Lord had led us to reach people for Him successfully.

public We had begun by creating a civic association, a nongovernmental organization (NGO), through which we established community groups and activities such as family center events, adult English classes, youth and health clubs, and a gospel choir. Before we could even begin to share the gospel, the community residents had to become accustomed to a pastor, someone who cared about them and prayed for them. These were the beginning phases of our ministry.

In later phases those who belonged to our community groups began cherishing the relationships they had developed and became more open to learning about God and experiencing spiritual healing—as long as it came about in a natural, culturally relevant manner. They may not have been receptive to evangelistic campaigns, but they looked forward to Christian concerts, festivals, choir rehearsals, art sessions, watching Christian movies, and listening to Christian stories.

It was amazing to see the transformation throughout the years of so-called atheists. The gospel choir had a particularly significant impact. One young woman named Kathy attended our English class and also was among the first gospel singers. Today she works as a court judge and continues to be actively involved in the choir as a conduc-

L I F E

tor. As resistant as she was to “church,” she now expresses gratitude for the spiritual leadership we have provided.

“Being part of this group has shaped my life,” Kathy says.

Another person who joined the choir several years ago still claims to be an atheist, but she recently thanked us for the spirituality and loving warmth she has experienced.

“Atheist or not, I would be totally ignorant if I did not feel your spiritual leadership . . . [and I now] desire to be a better person,” she says. There are dozens of similar stories.

National Marriage Week

In 2007, during the initial phase of our ministry, we organized a National Marriage Week campaign in the Czech Republic to promote healthy marriages and highlight the importance of developing good relational skills.

We launched it via a media press conference and involved local politicians and celebrities in Prague as well as other community centers, clubs, and churches.

Since then National Marriage Week has been promoted annually throughout the country and has grown in popularity. This successful campaign helped to strengthen our ministry and expanded our outreach to other nearby cities.

We gained credibility and the confidence of local authorities and other influential people. All our community programs began to grow, eventually resulting in hearts won to Jesus and His church.

Success Comes by Patience

Jesus’ method truly does bring success, but it often requires much prayer, Bible study, time, and patience. Even though reaching hearts for Jesus in challenging regions may be a long-term process, it’s certainly worth it. By His grace souls are won for His kingdom.

May the Lord send forth even more laborers to His fields of service. n * Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1905), p. 143.

Petr Cˇ incˇ ala, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of world mission and director of the Institute of Church Ministry at Andrews University in Michigan, United States.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

29

D I S C O V E R I N G

T H E

S P I R I T

O F

P R O P H E C Y

By Alberto R. Timm

Centennial of

Ellen White’s

Prophetic Legacy Celebrating the message sent through the prophet

E

llen G. White (1827-1915) is undoubtedly the most influential Seventh-day Adventist to have ever lived.

Her prophetic guidance informed the formation and later development of the church. After her death on July 16, 1915, White’s writings continued to “provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.”1 Today she is one of the most translated female writers in the entire history of literature, and “the most translated American author of either gender.”2 The centennial of her death is approaching, and many people are asking what the church is planning to do in 2015 in regard to her prophetic legacy. This article highlights a few endeavors at the global, regional, and local levels. All such efforts are aimed at strengthening our confidence in and commitment to God’s prophetic guidance in these last days of human history.

The focus of next year’s activities is not so much about Ellen White herself as on the blessings that her writings have brought to our church corporately—and to us individually—for more than 100 years. We want to emphasize more the messages than the messenger.

30

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

Globally Speaking

Many significant publications, releases, and projects are being planned and developed for the benefit of the worldwide church. Already published are the 1,465-page The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia (2013)3 and the 986-page Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts With Annotations, Volume 1: 1845-1859 (2014).4 Publications by Ellen White are now available online in more than 50 languages (egwwritings. org).

The main Ellen G. White Estate Web site (ellenwhite. org) hosts the document “The Ellen G. White Estate Announces Plans for 2015 Centennial Commemoration of Ellen White’s Life and Ministry.”5 This document mentions, for example, the plan to publish online, in 2015, all of White’s letters and manuscripts, as well as some of the most significant correspondence she received from other church members and leaders.

At the 2015 General Conference session in San Antonio, Texas, a special centennial commemoration program will take place on July 10, the last Friday evening of that assembly. Also, a major academic symposium, “The Gift of P o r t r a i t

c o u r t e s y

o f t h e

E l l e n

G .

W h i t e

E s tat e

Prophecy in Scripture and History,” will occur at Andrews University on October 15-18, 2015, with representatives from different parts of the world.

Regional Plans

Our church is an international denomination with a presence in more than 200 countries of the world, each with its own needs and challenges. Sensitive to the condition of their own territories, several of the church’s organizational divisions, unions, and local conferences/missions are developing specific plans for 2015 to promote Ellen White’s writings more effectively within their local fields.

For a low price, some divisions are planning to distribute either the 10-volume “Connecting With Jesus” set (see www.connectingwithjesus.org) or a new set of White’s books. Several fields are working with their respective pub-

tional structure. But for them to become truly effective they should make a positive impact on our local churches, our families, and our own lives. The crucial question is: What could be done at the local level to make 2015 a real blessing for all of us?

There are many things that our local churches can do.

For example, the preaching calendar could include some sermons and perhaps even a Week of Prayer on the nature and purpose of the gift of prophecy. Youth programs could feature some dramatizations of specific aspects of White’s life and ministry. If the church has an active Ellen G. White mini-center, it could promote seminars on the Spirit of Prophecy, followed by roundtable discussions.

Creative ideas can also be implemented within the home circle. I once met an Adventist couple who, after giving many toys and other presents to their children, decided to build a personal Ellen White library for each family member. At evening family worships they read and discussed together the content of a specific book, everyone with his or her own copy that could be marked. This may be a good model to follow in 2015!

Regardless of what will take place at our local churches and homes, we should develop a personal plan for 2015 that includes reading and studying of the Bible and the writings of Ellen White. Some may even decide to combine them into a single reading plan.

Whatever the plan might be, we feel it’s important to set apart a daily devotional time. As somebody once said: “Not to have time for God means to live a time-wasted life.”

And as we approach 2015 we should avoid the extremes of venerating Ellen White or simply ignoring her. We should always remember that her writings are not an end in themselves, but rather a valuable resource to bring us closer to Christ and His Word. n

White’s writings are not an end in themselves, but rather a valuable resource to bring us closer to Christ and the Scriptures. lishing houses to translate and publish specific Ellen White titles not yet available in their own languages. In various places of the world, audio versions of her books are being made accessible for illiterate populations.

Many Adventist universities and colleges around the globe are planning special events for 2015. Those events may include academic symposiums, Weeks of Prayer, roundtable discussions, student contests, dramatizations, etc. Held in academic settings, such events are aimed to engage as many faculty members and students as possible. The main purpose is to strengthen the Adventist identity of a new generation.

A few divisions decided to promote the establishment of Ellen G. White mini-centers at local Adventist schools and churches in their territory.6 Even with most of Ellen White’s writings now available online, the minicenters can still provide an excellent opportunity for people to come together to study the Bible, to study the writings of Ellen G. White, and to research local Adventist history. As a result, those places become actual centers of Adventist culture.

Closer to Home

Several supportive strategies and plans for 2015 are being developed at various levels of the church’s organiza-

1 Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 18th ed. (Silver Spring, Md.: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 2010), p. 162.

2 Arthur L. White, “Ellen G. White®: A Brief Biography,” in www.whiteestate.org/about/egwbio. asp#who.

3 The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 2013).

4 The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts With Annotations, Volume 1: 1845-1859 (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 2014).

5 See http://whiteestate.org/estate/2015plans.asp.

6 More details about the Ellen G. White Mini-Center Project are available at www.whiteestate.org.

Alberto R. Timm is an associate director of the Ellen G. White Estate.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

31

N A D F E AT U R E

By Phyllis Washington

It Makes a

Difference Engaging the culture of our children

I

t doesn’t seem that long ago that I was moving little figures along sandy roads that ran between mountains and rivers in my Sabbath school classroom sandbox.

Each Sabbath I looked forward to this activity and the carefully and prayerfully crafted Bible story my teacher presented for us to illustrate.

The little puppet figures we used evolved from cardboard to wood, and they served us nicely until a wellmeaning church member deemed it “dreaded,” and banned it from the classroom when carpet was installed. The whole setup was replaced with colorful felts: a much neater, less gritty, and more carpet-friendly visual.

These are great memories, but that was more than 60 years ago, and things have changed.

What is different in the twenty-first-century children’s ministry environment? Believe it or not, there are actually quite a few differences.

Above and Left: LEARNING AND DOING: At a Kids’ Fest in the Texico Conference, kids learn how to participate in all aspects of public evangelism, including praying and preaching.

P h o t o s

C o u r t e s y

o f

NAD

C h i l d r e n ’ s

Mi n i s t r i e s

KID TO KID: Junior age kids in Glasgow, Nova Scotia, share with others at a Children's Health Expo.

Technology and Children’s Ministry

Technology is no longer for the mature; it is written to entice our youngest child. Who hasn’t seen a 2-year-old fascinated by the screen of an iPad or a 4-year-old navigate a smartphone? Where once children were told, “Don’t touch,” now we are handing them expensive devices to learn how to use them ourselves.

Missing in Action

The days of family worship and regular church attendance being a staple in the home are over. This is in part because those of the millennial generation are considerably less likely to attend church. If their children attend, they are often being dropped off or attending with a grandparent. Statistics from the Pew Research Center indicate that one in four members of the millennial generation (so-called because they were born after 1980 and began to come of age about the year 2000) are unaffiliated with any particular faith. Unfortunately, we are also experiencing this lack of participation in our Seventh-day Adventist congregations.

Trying to understand what is happening, I have listened to numerous discussions and read just as many blogs written by young adults. The prevailing sentiment seems to be that the church: is not interested in relating to them because it does not communicate through the social network; is inwardly focused on those already attending and has little interest in being involved with the community; is nothing more than a big business; does not always reflect the diversity of the population; does not meet their needs for community.

For those young adults who are church members, life today requires a dual income for many of these families, so there is little time to discipline their children, and they leave that to others.

Options, Not Necessities

Our church programming has experienced a change from intentional support to passive acknowledgement.

Sports and social activities sometimes take precedent over Sabbath school attendance. Many Pathfinder leaders are frustrated and burned out because they have to provide transportation as well as programming in order for the children to attend scheduled meetings.

This may be because our families are so busy. But whatever the reason, we are not engaging the culture of our church members to include intentional group participation or worship.

Truth Versus Culture

Leaders and teachers try to respond to this general lack of interest by providing programs that have more glitz. This makes for more extravagant programs—entertaining kids, but often sacrificing the simplicity of the gospel. This is in part because it is the easiest thing to do: more programing requires less personal investment, especially when those programs come with everything preprepared and prepackaged—a necessity since some instructors have neither the time nor inclination to do any preparation for the classroom.

I’m not in any way suggesting that we eliminate such things as technology, puppets, drama, or crafts that teach to September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

33

N A D F E AT U R E The

To

AT SA LV ION

Children’s Sabbath is a day set aside by churches all around the world. The theme is “The Road to Salvation,” and materials are available to guide and assist in planning for Children’s Sabbath.

illustrate a lesson. However, to create programs and activities that utilize these art forms at the expense of the biblical message is not good. Many leaders have become so dependent on the extras for programming that they have neglected to teach the fundamental truths that we believe as a denomination.

Add to this the use of programs by other denominations (even the so-called nondenominational programs), and our children are being bombarded by beliefs that are at best watered down and at worst stand in opposition to our beliefs.

Sabbath school, children’s church, and clubs such as Pathfinders and Adventurers are training grounds for our children to take their place as church leaders and faithful members. We should not resort to entertainment gimmicks to try to keep attendance, nor should we neglect to use the creativity that God has gifted each volunteer with by depending on prepackaged material.

It’s All About Relationships

The true definition of children’s ministries is nurturing children to have a relationship with Christ. The only way to provide this nurturing is for each of us to have a genuine relationship with Him—and with them. Programs aren’t relational—people are.

Many authors have cited that the way to help children hate church is for their parents and church leaders to be hypocritical—living one way in public and another in private. We can foster excellent ministry to children by having intergenerational mentoring within our church communities that is transparent and based on biblical truth.

This does not take a fancy curriculum. It takes parents and adults who are fully grounded in the Word of God and who are willing to model and share these truths with the children. Our young parents today long for this kind

of transparency within our denomination, and their children do too.

For those of us on the forefront of children’s ministries, our job description is clear. We have to be intentional in our own relationship with Christ and our church so that our engagement and investment is clear. Then we have to pass that on to the little ones in our care, appealing to their innate desire to create, contribute, and live in a better world. This must include giving them the tools they need to share this truth we call the Adventist message. If we want to truly engage the culture of our children and their parents, we have to show a true message from the heart, not a program from a box.

Children Sharing the Gospel

Within the church we have children who are embracing the simple gospel as they learn to read, write, and do arithmetic. Many have attended Go Fish for Kids conventions, Children’s Health Expos, and Children’s Prayer Summits, where they learned to share the gospel in simple ways.

They know the Bible stories. They know that a loving God hears and answers their prayers. They know that having a relationship with Jesus will make a difference in their lives, and they know that God has a plan for each one of them if they quietly seek to know it, listening to Him as He speaks to their hearts. Even with the training these conventions provide, children still need adults to intentionally provide opportunities such as Children’s Sabbath and scheduled outreach activities to sharpen the skills they have learned.

Technology and glitzy programming is a tool that may help, but it is no replacement for the depth, beauty, and enriching walk a relationship with God will provide. Only through modeling a connection with our living God can we help our children recognize God’s voice.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

35

36

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

N A D F E AT U R E

STARTING YOUNG: Jared (left) attended a Go Fish Convention at age 5 and used the lessons he learned in his tackle box to preach his first sermon at 8. His friend, Kaleb, for whom he had been praying, was baptized.

God answered his prayer.

Go Fish for Kids

principles in an informative and innovative way based on two concepts: discovery and application.

Our children are becoming experts on the eight natural laws of health and sharing this information with children in their community at expo stations: nutrition, air, sunshine, exercise, rest, temperance, water, and trust.

What better way for them to learn the health message than by sharing it?

Our culture commonly and wrongly assists children in believing that “entertainers” are synonymous with success.

Unfortunately, we are guilty of something similar in the church. Those who are gifted musically are often in the spotlight, and other gifts go unnoticed.

Go Fish for Kids conventions help a child discover their spiritual gifts. They are then given intensive training to develop a personal ministry to effectively use their gift, and the convention provides opportunities to immediately put those gifts into practice. The areas of ministry is limited only by the available teachers within a congregation, but can be expanded as churches come together to provide the training for their children.

Many children who were shy about sharing the gospel in the past acquire presentation skills to do this through the many innovative ways presented in the workshops.

Ministry areas include, but are not limited to, preaching, teaching, hospitality, caregiver, praise and worship, prayer, storytelling, and drama.

The summit draws children into a prayer life with God that is full of adventure, truth, and power.

This multisensory event helps children explore different aspects of prayer, such as: why prayer works, praise, confession, thanksgiving, hearing God’s voice, forgiveness, intercession, fasting, seeking God, perseverance, and much more.

The aim is for our children to be prayer-saturated.

When children are taught to pray and they are prayed for, they are world changers.

Children’s Health Expo

Children’s Sabbath

The rising incidence of obesity among children in developed countries is causing increased concern among health professionals. They regard the higher number of obese children as a sign of deteriorating overall health among the younger generation. In response to this concern, the Children’s Health Expo was developed as a way to attractively and constructively present different health

For the past 10 years the North American Division has celebrated this special day on the first Sabbath in October.

This year the date for Children’s Sabbath is October 4, 2014. However, if this date is unavailable, we encourage churches to have a Children’s Sabbath whenever possible.

This day provides a great “excuse” to invite neighbors, friends, and inactive members to bring their children.

Children’s Prayer Summit

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

37

N A D F E AT U R E

The more planning and promotion of this special day, the more impact it will have on congregations and their communities. This is the day the pastor gives permission to the children of the congregation to provide the church service. It is the day they share the gospel from their point of view, and most important, it may be the day a teacher, a church leader, and yes, even a preacher may be introduced to their calling for the very first time.

This is a joyful day for children’s ministry staff as they guide children to demonstrate how deep and strong their love of God is. Congregations and visitors have been blessed by children on this special day. If your church has not celebrated this Sabbath in the past, why not do it this year?

Necessary Prayer

Many parents and leaders will tell you that the one way our entire church of North American can help with ministry to our children is by persistent prayer. You can pray for many things, but there are at least six that are most important, and we encourage you do so also with these specific requests:

1. That Jesus will call children to Himself, and that no one will hinder them from coming (Matt. 19:13-15) 2. That they will respond in faith to Jesus’ faithful, persistent call (2 Peter 3:9) 3. That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments (Matt. 22:37-39) 4. That their thoughts will be pure (Phil. 4:8) 5. That their hearts will be stirred to give their time and resources generously to the Lord’s work (Ex. 35:29) 6. That when the time is right, as they are moved by the Spirit, they will go and tell others (Matt. 28:18-20) For information about Children’s Sabbath and training programs for kids, go to www.kidsministryideas.org. n

Phyllis Washington is director of children’s ministries for the North American Division.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

39

A D V E N T I S T

S E R V I C E

L

iv Olsen, 82, has a passion for children, especially children at risk. When Olsen, from Moss, Norway, was 78 years old, she traveled from Norway to Chiang Rai, Thailand, to visit the newly constructed Keep Girls Safe shelter, which she helped finance through ADRA Norway in cooperation with ADRA Thailand.

“I haven’t really grasped everything that has happened yet,” Liv said at the time. “Imagine, being able to be a part of this work. It feels unreal, like a dream!

The greatest thing about this journey is being able to meet the children and to see with my own eyes this wonderful building. In this home children are surrounded by care, and they can feel safe.

They get a bed to sleep in and healthful, good food. The people working here are wonderful, qualified persons.”

The Tragedy of Trafficking

Thailand ranks among the highest in terms of countries where human trafficking takes place. An estimated 40 percent of girls and young women who are engaged in prostitution worldwide come from northern Thailand. It also has high levels of poverty.

Often parents are told about employment opportunities in Bangkok, or one of the country’s other large cities, and are presented with an amount almost equal to a year’s salary.

Although their children are promised good jobs as waiters, actors, or musicians, they often end up being forced into prostitution.

Over many years Liv Olsen has saved money to be able to give poor

FUN AND GAMES: A girls’ singing group visiting from Norway plays with some of the girls in the shelter.

40

Adventist World - nad

Safe at

By Gry Haugen

Home Stepping up to stop human trafficking

An estimated 40 percent of girls and young women who are engaged in prostitution worldwide come from northern Thailand.

EXCITED TO VISIT: Liv Olsen visits the Keep Girls Safe Shelter.

Lofoten Islands, at the time far from schools and shopping. She knows a lot about working hard to survive.

The girls at the Keep Girls Safe shelter are all from extremely poor families, most of them from different villages in the hills and jungles of Northern Thailand. The shelter is able to accommodate up to 40 girls, most of whom have come from difficult backgrounds caused by sickness, death, drugs, abuse, and lack of care and education. These and other factors may lead to human trafficking, which is prevalent in this area of Southeast Asia. Reports say that girls as young as 8 years old are forced into prostitution, but others are exported to developed countries in Asia, North America, and Europe, where they are forced to do menial tasks with little or no pay, work long hours, and receive no benefits or medical care.

Making a Difference

SAFE AND SECURE: Children who benefit from the Keep Girls Safe Shelter can look forward to a future that won’t be marred by the prospect of human trafficking.

girls in northern Thailand a home. To be able to do that she has, for example, ridden a bike instead of taking the bus to get around town. “But the Lord has blessed me,” Liv says. “Probably because of all the bicycling, I’m the only one in my family without a heart condition.” Olsen grew up in Norway’s P h o t o s

C OURTESY

OF

H e i d i

A n e t t

In collaboration with ADRA Norway and ADRA Thailand, Liv Olsen has contributed to great changes in the lives of the girls. The girls in the Keep Girls Safe shelter have a safe home. From the shelter they go to school every day, and they help out with daily tasks of cooking, watering the garden, doing laundry, and other tasks similar to the activities they would do in the villages where they come from. Older girls receive vocational training, and are helped to find suitable jobs.

The Keep Girls Safe program consists of three components: The home

O l d e b r å t e n / ADRA

N o r w ay

for vulnerable girls; educational support for girls who remain in their villages; and value-based awareness campaigns and training for parents and adolescents that seeks to warn them about the dangers of human trafficking and exploitation.

In addition ADRA provides support for rural development projects in several villages in cooperation with local government and village leaders.

ADRA contributes to systems for clean, safe, drinking water; health maintenance; education; and improved agriculture methods. The longer children stay in school, the more remote is the chance that they will leave home.

Traveling all the way to Chiang Rai, Thailand is not something one does without careful consideration. From Norway it is a long, tough journey that includes a time zone difference of six hours. It also means different foods and cultures. “But it’s worth it,” says Liv. “There are so many who say that it is no use, that it does not help with these ‘tiny drops in the ocean.’ ” But have a look at these girls! It certainly works for them, focusing on one life at a time. n

Gry Haugen lives near Oslo and works for ADRA Norway in communications, public relations, and marketing. She loves singing and is music coordinator for the Norway Union Conference.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

41

B I B L E

Q U E S T I O N S

What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

A N S W E R E D

Spirit-filled

I will limit my comments to the use of the phrase “filled with the Holy Spirit,” which is only used in the Gospel of Luke and in Acts. The Greek verb is pimplēmi (“fill up, make full”), but we also find the adjective plērēs (“full”) associated with the Spirit. The verb is used in a literal way (Luke 5:7; 1:23), but we will concentrate on the metaphorical usage of the verb.

1. Filled With Emotions: Humans are emotional creatures, and their emotions can overtake them. After listening to Jesus, people in Nazareth were furious (“filled with wrath” [thumos, Luke 4:28]), and tried to kill Him. Jesus healed a man during the Sabbath, and Jewish leaders were furious (“filled with rage” [anoia, Luke 6:11]) and began to plan what to do to Him. They also saw the work of the disciples and were filled with jealousy (“indignation” [zēlos]) accompanied by hostility (Acts 5:17) and arrested them. In Ephesus a riot broke out, and the whole city was in uproar (“filled with confusion” [Acts 19:29]).

At other times people were filled with good emotions.

Jesus healed a paralytic and everyone was awed (“all amazed” or reverential fear [phobos, Luke 5:26]). Peter healed a crippled beggar and people were filled with fear (“wonder” [thamboia]) and astonishment (“amazement” [ekstasis, Acts 3:10]).

These examples suggest that when humans are filled with an emotion it controls them and leads them to particular actions. The stimulus comes from outside and changes their inner state and outward behavior. With the exception of the riot in Ephesus, the different emotions were provoked by the proclamation of the message of Jesus and His disciples. The gospel seeks to fill the inner life with that which is good, but if rejected it is filled with hostility and self-destructive emotions. Reactions of awe and amazement keep the door open for being filled with the Spirit.

2. Filled With the Spirit: Zacharias was told that his son, John the Baptist, “will also be filled with the Holy Spirit” from the womb of his mother (Luke 1:15)— expressing ideas of election, guidance, and service. Eliza-

42

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

beth saw Mary and, filled with the Spirit (verse 41), recognized that Mary was bearing the Messiah. Zacharias and Paul prophesied when they were filled with the Spirit (verse 67; Acts 13:9). At Pentecost the disciples were empowered to speak in different tongues (Acts 2:4); and from that moment on, filled with the Spirit, they boldly spoke about Jesus (Acts 4:8, 31; 9:17-22). The church was a spiritual space within which the Spirit was active, filling it with His presence.

3. Significance of the Infilling of the Spirit: First, humans are emotional beings in whom Satan is ready to fill with evil emotions (Acts 5:3; 13:8-10) that rule over them and lead them into wickedness and to oppose the work of the Lord. Through their actions their characters and dispositions are revealed. Second, the Lord wants to fill our inner beings with the presence and power of the Spirit, who comes as gift to those who know Christ their Savior. Third, the indwelling of the Spirit transforms us, makes us good persons, and strengthens our faith (Acts 11:24). With Him we obtain divine wisdom and spiritual discernment that allow us to recognize God’s activity (Acts 6:3). Fourth, the presence of the Spirit in our lives is visible through transformed lives of service to God and others. Fifth, the Holy Spirit empowers Christ’s followers to witness, to do something for the Lord. Not all are prophets, because the infilling of the Spirit is according to His will for each one. Sixth, being filled with the Spirit does not necessarily entail miracles. This element is present, but it is subservient to the mission of the church. Paul’s being filled with the Spirit was not accompanied by a supernatural manifestation. He was empowered to preach (Acts 9:17-22). Healing and signs added some effectiveness to what was the most important manifestation of being filled with the Spirit: being guided by the Spirit and fulfilling the mission of the church (Acts 4:29-31). n

Angel Manuel Rodríguez is now retired after a career as a pastor, professor, and theologian.

B I B L E

S T U D Y

When

Hope

Fades

By Mark A. Finley

H

ave you ever been through an experience in life when your hope for a positive outcome has faded?

Have circumstances at times seemed grim? Has the outlook for the future appeared dark? You are not alone.

Millions of people have faced similar circumstances. Some of them have eventually been crushed by these unfortunate life experiences. But others have not only survived—they have thrived. They have discovered how to be hopeful in life’s toughest times. In this month’s Bible lesson we will discover the source of strength as an anchor in any storm you might face.

But beyond this we will discover that there is hope to not only get through the storm, but there is incredible hope beyond the storm.

1 Read Romans 15:13. How does the apostle Paul describe God? And what word is used to describe the hope available to us through the Holy Spirit?

An all-knowing, all-powerful God is the source of our hope. When our hope fades, God is full of hope. Looking to Him rather than the difficulties we face, we can “abound” with hope. The apostle Paul mentions hope 41 times in his letters. Hope is desire accompanied by anticipation. It has to do with our inner longings for something better than we are experiencing, with the confident expectation that God will bring about that desire.

2

How does hope impact our attitudes? Read Psalms 16:9; 31:24; and 71:5, 6, and list the effects of hope on our outlook.

3 When facing discouraging circumstances, what question did Job ask about hope? How do David’s words in Psalms answer Job’s question? Compare Job 17:15 with Psalm 39:7 and Psalm 130:7.

P h o t o

b y

G e r d

A lt m a n n

4 What counsel did the apostle Paul give regarding discovering hope in God’s Word? Read Romans 15:4.

As we read the stories of Bible characters, we discover that they faced many of the same challenges we face today. They experienced health challenges, family problems, economic difficulties, misunderstandings, and a host of other difficulties that also trouble us. These men and women of God were not plastic saints in ivory towers immune from this world’s heartaches. Through it all they learned to trust God. Their hearts soared in hope, and ours can too.

5

What attributes of the hope that finds its source in God does the apostle Paul outline in Romans 5:2, 5?

As he faced his own challenges, how did Paul describe Jesus to his young colleague Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:1?

Although Paul experienced shipwrecks, beatings, stonings, death threats, and imprisonment, He could still write to Timothy of Jesus, his hope. For Paul, and all the apostles, focusing on Jesus, not on their trials, gave them a supernatural strength that buoyed their spirits, encouraged their hearts, and provided them with hope. This hope was not some superficial, emotional experience. It was the result of a bedrock faith in Jesus Christ.

6 What does the Bible point to as our ultimate, eternal hope? Read the following texts. Each of them provides a unique insight on Christians’ ultimate hope: 1 Corinthians 15:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; and Hebrews 7:19.

We Christians are filled with hope. Christ living within our hearts is well able to handle anything we must face in life. His strength is ours. His healing grace is ours. Salvation in Christ is ours. And beyond this life we look forward to the “blessed hope,” when these “mortal bodies” will be “clothed with immortality” and we will live in a land of hope forever. n September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

43

IDEA EXCHANGE It was great to read how the church is working in so many countries, thus hastening the return of Jesus.

—Donald E. Casebolt, College Place, Washington, United States E l l e n G .

W h i t e E s tat e

Letters Dear Friend . . .

I’m writing in response to Roland Karlman’s article “Dear Friend . . .”

(July 2014), which introduces the newly published Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts With Annotations, Volume 1 (1845-1859). My reaction?

This is good news! I am so happy that this scientifically critical edition has been published! I wonder: Why after 100 years?

I have a great desire for truth—and I pray for the publisher of the E.G.White Letters and Manuscripts With Annotations, Volume 1 (1845-1859).

Dark P. Green Stuttgart, Germany, Europe

Prayerw

Breast Cancer

Reverence Needed

The World Health article “Breast Cancer Diagnosis” (June 2014) was an excellent summary of the risk factors for breast cancer. Recent evidence, out in June 2014, makes a strong case for red meat being another important risk factor. This should interest Adventists who advocate a meat-free diet. I quote from an authoritative source (The New England Journal of Medicine’s Journal Watch, June 11, 2014): “High red meat consumption in early adulthood is associated with increased risk for breast cancer, according to longerterm follow-up from the Nurses Health Study II, published in the British Medical Journal [BMJ 2014;348:g3437].”

The authors conclude: “Consistent with the American Cancer Society guidelines, replacement of unprocessed and processed red meat with legumes and poultry during early adulthood may help to decrease the risk of breast cancer.”

Peter Tung Hamilton, Victoria, Australia

Barry Gowland’s June 2014 letter “Immanence!” struck a chord with me. I want, and need, to worship in an environment of Christ-centered calm where, in some sort of liturgy, I can state my faith and sing praises, and be assured of salvation through a glorious Lord.

I have grown increasingly aware of the “pop concert with a veneer of religiosity” type of worship that seems to be pervading Seventh-day Adventism.

I have also seen it as resembling a political rally, or an hour of superficial entertainment where a host of performers appear, where little children are given the awesome responsibility of representing the congregation in the main prayer to the Most High Creator God; where preachers shout and stamp about. It saddens me deeply.

Mary Trim New South Wales, Australia Especially Inspiring

Although I always enjoy Adventist World, I found the April 2014 edition especially inspiring. It was filled with

PRAISE

I am divorcing my wife, who has been unfaithful. We have been married for 26 years, and I’ve suffered greatly from this situation. Thank you for praying for my children and me.

Mario, Guadeloupe

44

A friend from church asked me to make this request for him. He is concerned about his neighbor and adult son, who are satanists. Please pray for protection.

Samuel, Germany

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

I am a first-year student pursuing a degree in electrical engineering. Join me in praying for good placement for my colleagues and me in the industry; we will be apprenticing from August to December. Also pray for the spiritual, financial, and physical challenges I am meeting daily.

Neves, Malawi

The number of species of bees in the world. But only seven species make honey.

Source: The Rotarian

educating, informative, and thrilling material. It was great to read how the church is working in so many countries, thus hastening the return of Jesus.

Donald E. Casebolt C ollege Place, Washington, United States Thank You

Greetings in the name of our Lord and friend, Jesus Christ! Thank you for the great work you do through Adventist World.

Gift Dorcus Uganda

Revived by His Word A Journey of Discovery Together Through the Bible God speaks to us through His Word. Join with other believers in more than 180 countries who are reading a chapter of the Bible each day. To download the daily Bible Reading Guide, visit RevivedbyHisWord.org, or sign up to receive the daily Bible chapter by e-mail.

To join this initiative, start here: OCTOBER 1, 2014 • Micah 5

Put Down the

Remote

Watching more than two hours of television a day has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease by 125 percent.

Letters Policy: Please send to: letters@adventistworld.org.

Letters must be clearly written, 100-word maximum. Include the name of the article and the date of publication with your letter.

Also include your name, the town/city, state, and country from which you are writing. Letters will be edited for space and clarity. Not all letters submitted will be published.

Source: Men’s Health

I ask for your intercessory prayers for God to heal me, for His glory and honor.

Adriana, Mexico I married an Adventist, but he has left the church. During our first year of marriage things were fine. Friends eas-

ily influence him, and the marriage fell apart slowly over eight years. Now he is angry and tense. I suspect that he is seeing another woman. We are not on speaking terms—I am afraid for my life. Please pray for him to change.

Virgie, Philippines

The Place of Prayer: Send prayer requests and praise (thanks for answered prayer) to prayer@adventistworld.org. Keep entries short and concise, 50-words or less. Items will be edited for space and clarity. Not all submissions will be printed. Please include your name and your country’s name. You may also fax requests to: 1-301-680-6638; or mail them to Adventist World, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A.

September 2014 | Adventist World - nad

45

IDEA EXCHANGE “Behold, I come quickly…”

Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ, uniting Seventh-day Adventists everywhere in beliefs, mission, life, and hope.

106Years Ago O

n September 25, 1908, Riley Russell (above, back row, center) and his wife arrived in Sunan, Korea (now North Korea). People who were sick, hearing about his arrival, were waiting for him at the railroad station. He treated his first patients on the porch of the mission house.

Russell received a nursing diploma from Battle Creek Sanitarium in 1902, and a medical degree from George Washington University in 1908. In 1909 he established a medical clinic in Sunan in a 103-year-old thatchroofed building that measured two by seven meters (eight feet by 24 feet) and cost only US$20.

In 1913 a Washington, D.C., newspaper carried a story with the headline: “Twenty Thousand Patients Treated in a Twenty Dollar Building.” That same year a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering made it possible to build a brick dispensary measuring seven by 11 meters (24 feet by 36 feet).

During World War II the denomination lost control of the clinic.

Where in the

Is This? orld W ANSWER: Duncans, Trelawny, Jamaica. Students from DayStar Adventist Academy in Utah, United States, led by the Radical Rescue Team, flew to Jamaica to teach Pathfinders, police, and firefighters how to rescue people during flooding situations. This was part of a two-week disaster response training session that also included a mock earthquake scenario.

M u r ic e

46

Mi l l e r

Adventist World - nad | September 2014

Publisher The Adventist World, an international periodical of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The General Conference, Northern Asia-Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists®, is the publisher.

Executive Publisher and Editor in Chief Bill Knott Associate Publisher Claude Richli International Publishing Manager Chun, Pyung Duk Publishing Board Ted N. C. Wilson, chair; Benjamin D. Schoun, vice chair; Bill Knott, secretary; Lisa Beardsley-Hardy; Daniel R. Jackson; Robert Lemon; Geoffrey Mbwana; G. T. Ng; Daisy Orion; Juan Prestol; Michael Ryan; Ella Simmons; Mark Thomas; Karnik Doukmetzian, legal advisor Adventist World Coordinating Committee Jairyong Lee, chair; Akeri Suzuki, Kenneth Osborn, Guimo Sung, Pyung Duk Chun, Suk Hee Han Editors based in Silver Spring, Maryland Lael Caesar, Gerald A. Klingbeil (associate editors), Sandra Blackmer, Stephen Chavez, Wilona Karimabadi, Kimberly Luste Maran, Andrew McChesney Editors based in Seoul, Korea Pyung Duk Chun, Jae Man Park, Hyo Jun Kim Online Editor Carlos Medley Operations Manager Merle Poirier Editors-at-large Mark A. Finley, John M. Fowler Senior Advisor E. Edward Zinke Financial Manager Rachel J. Child Editorial Assistant Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste Management Board Jairyong Lee, chair; Bill Knott, secretary; P. D. Chun, Karnik Doukmetzian, Suk Hee Han, Kenneth Osborn, Juan Prestol, Claude Richli, Akeri Suzuki, Ex-officio: Robert Lemon, G. T. Ng, Ted N. C. Wilson Art Direction and Design Jeff Dever, Brett Meliti Consultants Ted N. C. Wilson, Robert E. Lemon, G. T. Ng, Guillermo E. Biaggi, Lowell C. Cooper, Daniel R. Jackson, Geoffrey Mbwana, Armando Miranda, Pardon K. Mwansa, Michael L. Ryan, Blasious M. Ruguri, Benjamin D. Schoun, Ella S. Simmons, Alberto C. Gulfan, Jr., Erton Köhler, Jairyong Lee, Israel Leito, John Rathinaraj, Paul S. Ratsara, Barry Oliver, Bruno Vertallier, Gilbert Wari, Bertil A. Wiklander To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. Address all editorial correspondence to 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600, U.S.A. Editorial office fax number: (301) 680-6638 E-mail: worldeditor@gc.adventist.org Web site: www.adventistworld.org Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011

by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Adventist World is published monthly and printed simultaneously in Korea, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, Austria, and the United States.

Vol. 10, No. 9

We’re pressing on The Review and Herald has been printing the Adventist Review since the beginning. Now those printing operations are moving to Nampa, Idaho.

How will that affect our readers? The good news is: it won’t.

You will continue receiving the Adventist Review in your mailbox regularly with the same authoritative news you have relied on and the inspirational articles that have shaped your Christian experience. Visit our Web site and subscribe now for as little as $12.95 for our online version or $24.95 for print.

w w w. a d ve n t i s t re v i e w. o rg Like us on Facebook

REVIEW AND HERALD速

Nonprofit Organization

PUbLISHING ASSOCIATION

U.S. Postage

55 WEST OAK RIDGE DRIVE

PAID

HAGERSTOWN, MD 21740

Hagerstown, MD Permit No. 261

B E G I N S

O C T O B E R

ARE YOU READY

FOR THE COMING CRISIS? Join Pastor Doug Batchelor for the Landmarks

of Prophecy live event, as he delves into the Word of God to offer clear and inspiring insight into not only the big prophetic events that lay just ahead, but also practical tools on how you can thrive in the here and now!

FREE ONLINE RESOURCES AND TOOLS!

Watch live!

Broadcast begins Oct. 31 live from the Marriott Pyramid Hotel in Albuquerque, NM

LANDMARKSOFPROPHECY.COM

3 1

Use the Landmarks of Prophecy Series to Reach Your Community!

You can play a key role by turning your church, home, or office into one of our satellite locations in three easy steps: 1. Invite your friends and neighbors to your location with FREE materials 2. Download and print FREE seminar resources 3. Stream Landmarks of Prophecy live FREE on air or online!