Embracing the Power of Adventist Education: A Pathway to Excellence and Faith
As summer draws to a close and the whispers of autumn soon fill the air, families across the country are preparing for a new school year. For those considering their options, the decision of where to educate their children can be one of the most significant they make. Amidst the myriad of choices available, Adventist education stands out not just as a viable option, but as a transformative journey blending academic excellence with deep-rooted faith. This is precisely why we as a church invest a third of our budget to support Captain Gilmer Christian School and why Pastor Rich and I spend so much time invested in its mission.
Seventh-day Adventist Christian schools are renowned for their commitment to academic excellence. Beyond mere knowledgeacquisition,ourschoolinstitutionsstrivetocultivate critical thinking, creativity, and leadership skills within a nurturing environment. Smaller class sizes allow for personalized attention, enabling educators to tailor their teaching methods to individual student needs. This personalized approach not only enhances academic performance, but also fosters a sense of belonging and encourages students to excel.
Moreover, our schools boast dedicated faculty members who are not only qualified educators, but also mentors and role models. Their passion for teaching is fueled by a desire to inspire and empower students, guiding them not only in their academic pursuits, but also in character development and spiritual growth. They spend as much time talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and their students’ place in the Kingdom of God as they do teaching the “Three R’s.” This holistic approach to education ensures that students are equipped for success in the classroom and for life beyond its walls.
From daily prayers and chapel services to Bible classes, class worships led by local pastors, and service projects, our schools offer a rich tapestry of opportunities for spiritual growth. These experiences help students develop a strong moral compass, empathy for others, and a sense of responsibility to their community. The values instilled during their formative years become the foundation upon which they build their lives, influencing their decisions, relationships, and contributions to society.
One of the defining features of Adventist education is its emphasis on community and supportive relationships. Families choosing our schools often find themselves welcomed into a close-knit community where they form enduring friendships and connections. The sense of belonging extends beyond the students to include parents, teachers, and staff who share a common commitment to the well-being and success of every child.
This supportive environment fosters collaboration and teamwork,preparingstudentstonavigatethecomplexitiesofan interconnected world with empathy and understanding. Whether participating in extracurricular activities, volunteering for community service projects, or engaging in meaningful discussions, students learn the importance of contributing positively to their community and uplifting those around them.
Beyond the classroom, Seventh-day Adventist elementary schools and academies are dedicated to preparing students for a purposeful future, grounded in faith and service. They emphasize the development of life skills such as resilience, perseverance, and ethical decision-making, equipping students to face challenges with confidence and integrity. Alumni of these schools often go on to make significant contributions in various fields, guided by their Christian values and a commitment to making a difference in the world.
As families prepare for the upcoming school year, the decision to choose Adventist education offers a pathway to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and a supportive community. It is an investment in the holistic development of each child, nurturing their mind, body, and spirit in an environment that values faith, character, and lifelong learning.
Central to the mission of Adventist education is the integration of faith and learning. Our schools provide a nurturing environment where faith is not just a subject, but a way of life. Students are encouraged to explore and deepen their spiritual beliefs, guided by Christian principles that underpin every aspect of the curriculum.
For those embarking on this journey, the benefits are manifold: a rigorous academic curriculum, a nurturing environment that fosters spiritual growth, supportive relationships that span generations, and preparation for a purposeful future. Private Christian education not only equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed but also empowers them to lead lives of purpose, integrity, and faith.
As the new school year beckons, let us embrace the power of Adventist education with excitement and anticipation, knowing that we are investing in the future leaders, thinkers, and compassionate individuals who will shape our world for the better.
StateFair
by Jean Davey
Mark your calendars!The North Carolina Mountain State Fair will be held September 6-15 at the WNC Agricultural Center on Airport Road and once again, there will be a booth representing the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church. It’s always an exciting time to have the opportunity to share the hope we have in Jesus with others.
This ministry is led by Arden SDA Church member, Linda Duncan. When Linda, her daughter Stella, and Linda’s grandchildren visited the fair they noticed thatat that time, other churches were represented in the exhibit hall, but there was no Adventist presence.So, in 2014, Linda contacted the organizers to see if there was an available booth.There was oneboothleftandLindasaid, “I’ll take it!”By God’s divine appointment, it was a center space on the front row – anyone entering the Davis Event Center from other areas of the fair would have to pass as they came in.She immediately filled out the application, paid the necessary fee, and former Arden pastor Jeff Wait helped secure the required insurance policy. This was the beginning of a 10-year evangelistic effort.
The second year, the fair told her they had another booth next to the one we already had and asked if she wanted it, as well. She said yes!Doubling the space was truly Holy Spiritordained.In fact, Linda said this was a “God Team” effort inspired by the Holy Spirit to be able to have such a large fair booth representing Seventh-day Adventistm each year.
The goals of this ministry are to be a friendly face of the Seventh-day Adventist church; familiarize people with our church name and logo; share that Adventists are Bible-believing Christians; and witness that our hope is in Jesus as a soon-coming Savior.
Linda wanted to get as many other churches in the area involved as possible in this big endeavor.She sent a letter to seventeen SDA churches within a thirty-mile radius of the fairgrounds informing them of this joint effort and inviting them to partner with the project through financial donations and volunteering.The Arden Church supports and facilitates this community effort by providing accounting and
storage.Each year the announcement of the Mountain State Fair is in the bulletin of each of these churches.The success of the booth is possible thanks to all the church volunteers and donations that generously support this evangelistic opportunity.
Many fair attendees and vendors have asked about the large picture which forms the backdrop of the booth. The 5 ft.x8ft.beautifulpainting“BlessedHope”isbyartistNathan Greene.It is very eye catching and many have commented that it “takes their breath away.”One gentleman stopped and just stared, saying he had dreamed about the second coming of Jesus. When he saw this painting, it was exactly as in his dream.Many want to have their pictures taken in front of it. Ittrulydrawspeopletothebooth,providingtheopportunity to talk about Jesus to others, which is a gift in itself.Last year, the beautiful booth won the “2023 North Carolina Mountain State Fair Best Non-Commercial Display” award!
Volunteersenjoygreetingfolksandofferingfreematerials. In addition toBibles in English and Spanish, other materialsgiven away include The Great Controversy, Steps to Christ, Bible Answers, Hacksaw Ridge, and many Amazing Facts and Vibrant Life magazines. Glow tracts, bookmarks listing area SDA churches, materials from It Is Written, DVDs, tracts about a plethora of health and Bible subjects, and Bible study invitational cards are also available – all given for free. Local churches also share upcoming visitorfriendly events through fliers. All of these materials can be carried in a provided bag with the SDA logo on it. A signature draw to the booth are the free twisty balloon creations, coloring pages, kid magazines, and inspirational stickers given to kids!There is a daily drawing with interest cards to see what people are interested in (Bible studies, prayer requests, etc.). Church members always follow up with these interests, being a springboard for many Bible studies. Other Christian denominations working at the fair are excited to receive many of the materials, especially on Bible prophesy. One non-SDApastor said he uses them in his sermons!
In past years, fair attendance has topped 175,000-195,000 people.Thousands pass by this Seventh-day Adventist booth during the ten days of attendance.These people, walking past the SDA booth, see genuine smiling faces ready to welcome them, see the “Blessed Hope” banner, find fun things for kids to do, and receive many resources, sparking an interest in the Bible and the gospel truth. Last year, over fifty volunteers from nine different churches helped setup, break-down, and serve at the booth.This is a very large endeavor to undertake, but it is so exciting. So, if you are interested in being part of this ministry, please contact Linda Duncan at 828-606-3088. See you at the fair!
HistoricalSketchof AdventistEducation
by Dan Reynolds
Asteadyraindrizzleddownonthemuddystreetsof a Midwest town as a few horse drawn carriages, menintrenchcoatsandtophats,andwomenwhose long skirts were held up so as not to get muddy dashed throughthestreets.Therainclatteredagainstthewindowpanesofasmallone-roomschoolhouseaddingbackground noiseas12childreneagerlylistenedtotheinstructionof their teacher, Goodloe Harper Bell.
Theyearwas1872,andtheSeventh-dayAdventist(SDA) Churchwasinitsinfancywithjustunder5,000members. Among the ranks of the early pupils of this school were Edson and Willie White, along with the future Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, founder of the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Thisone-roomschoollocatedonthefirstflooroftheold Review and Herald building in Battle Creek, Michigan, was established as the very first Seventh-day Adventist school. Mr. Bell lived on the second floor of this same school building.
Two years later, this school would be renamed Battle CreekCollegeandbecauseoftremendousgrowthwould latermovetoBerrienSpringsandeventuallyberenamed AndrewsUniversity,theflagshipuniversityoftheSeventh-day Adventist school system. Andrews University currently haseightschoolsorcolleges,offering130undergraduate majorsand70graduate majors.AndrewsUniversityhasover3,300 undergraduate and graduatestudentswith morethan250professors.
GoodloeHarperBell, serving as the first teacher at this inaugural school, was a distinguished individual.Hestartedteachingatage19inasmallcountry school.Hewentontowriteandpublishawholecurriculum forfutureAdventistschoolstomodel.Healsodeveloped the first ESL program (English as a second language) for someinternationalpupilsattendingtheschool.“Themethods of teaching were so unique,” remembered his friend J.O.Corliss,“withouttheusualcommitmenttomemory ofdrybookrules,andthewordwassoonheraldedabout that Professor Bell was the very best kind of teacher.” (J. O.Corliss,“EarlyExperiences—No.8,DivineProvidences,”
ARH, March 6, 1919, pg. 10)
Ellen White was an ardent supporter of Bell and the missionoftheAdventistChurchinitsendeavorstoeducate membersandnon-membersalike.For27yearsBelltaught hundredsofstudents,manyofwhomwentontobecome pastors,teachers,doctors,andleaderswithinthechurch. His illustrious career suddenly ended in a horse carriage accidentin1899anditissaidthathisfuneralwasthesecondlargesteverheldintheDimeTabernacleinBattleCreek, second only to James White’s funeral.
Bell’sdedicationtoAdventisteducationinspiredmany otherstocarrythetorchfurtherbybeginningnewschools and teaching children and young people the principles ofpracticalstudywithabiblicalworldview.AnAdventist educatornamedSidneyBrownsberger,thefirstpresident ofBattleCreekCollege,movedtonorthernCaliforniato begin the second ever Adventist school in 1882.
Thiswasthe12thinstitutionofhighereducationfounded inCalifornia.TheynamedthisschoolHealdsburgAcademy, later to be renamed Pacific Union College in 1909. Thisschoolison1,800beautifulacresnestledinthescenic Napa Valley region. Currently, nearly 1,000 students are enrolled at PUC.
Oneyearlaterin1883,theAdventistchurch’sfirstnursing school opened at Battle Creek Sanitarium, founded by Dr.JohnHarveyKellogg,aformerpupilofGoodloeHarper Bell.The“San,”asitwasaffectionatelyreferredto,wasan amazing place for nursing students to learn the principles of anatomyandphysiology,dietetics, hydrotherapy, patient care and physicaltraining.TheSangrew from106guestsin1866toover 7,000 in 1906.
Twofoundersofthisflagship nursing school in Battle Creek were Dr. Kate Lindsay and Dr. Ann Stewart. Dr. Lindsay was the head of her medical school classattheUniversityofMichigan andmatriculatedinthesecondclassthatacceptedfemale students. She went on to serve for 20 years at the Battle Creek Sanitarium nursing school.
In 1893, the first Seventh-day Adventist college outside of the United States was founded. Various missionaries bandedtogethertohelpstartanewcollegecalledClaremont UnionCollegeinSouthAfrica.AfteralongtenureatBattle CreekCollege,Dr.Lindsayalsohelpedtostartthenursing schoolatClaremont.ThiscollegeisnowknownasHelderbergCollegeofHigherEducation,locatedoutsideofCape Town, South Africa.
The snowballing of many beginnings of Adventist educationalinstitutionscontinued.In1895thefirstpre-medical schooloperatedbythechurchopenedatBattleCreekSanitarium.ThisschoolwasfoundedbyDr.JohnHarveyKellogg. Further south in the same year, Edson White built andoperatedariverboatschoolontheMississippiRiver. This school, aboard the steamboat named the Morning Page 4 | www.ArdenAdventist.org
Star,wasthefirstschooloperatedbytheSDAchurchfor African Americans.
In1896anotherschoolforAfricanAmericansopened inHuntsville,Alabama,calledOakwoodIndustrialSchool, later to be renamed Oakwood University. This school startedwithhumblebeginningsbut now has a sprawling campus with over1,800studentsandmanyprominent alumni.
Forthenextdecade,thechurch’s school and university growth exploded,openingcampusesallover the world. Not including dozens ofprimaryschools’opening,schools that eventually became tertiary institutionsopenedinZimbabwe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Argentina,China,SouthKorea,Germany,Fiji,andafew more in the United States including what is today Loma Linda University and Washington Adventist University.
1904, at the encouragement of Ellen White, E.A. Sutherland and Percy T. Magan opened the pioneering self-supporting institution of the church called Madison CollegenearNashville,TN.Thismodelspearheadednumerous developmentsofprimaryandsecondaryschoolsthatwere self-supporting, including our nearby Captain Gilmer ChristianSchoolandFletcherAcademy.Self-supporting institutions are financially independent from the official church structure but serve similarly to church-operated institutionsinfurtheringthemissionofthechurch.These schoolsformedontheprinciplesofworkandstudy,these schools seek to train students in the practical as well as the scholastic aspects of life.
Thegrowthcontinuedasschoolsanduniversitieswere establishedinthefar-flungcornersoftheglobe,establishing campuses that were used not only for education of their young people but also for training sites for local pastors, camp meetings, music events, medical conferences, and variousotherevents.Localhealthfoodstoresandrestaurants wereattractedtothesurroundingareasofthesecampuses, offering employment for students to help pay their way through school. The vibrant environmentoftheseschoolsfostered communities where the creativity of students and teachers thrived. They becamethehub,asitwere,ofintellectual and theological discussions as well as formingacommunityoflike-minded individualsonamissionofsharingthe gospel with the world.
Today, the worldwide Seventh-day AdventistChurchhasthelargestProtestant educational system, operating a total of9,882schoolsanduniversities.Almost 7,000 elementary schools enroll over 1.4millionstudents.Significantnumbers oftheinternationalelementaryschools areteachingESL,aprogramoriginally
pioneeredbyGoodloeBell.Manystudentsareunchurched, andthereisatremendousevangelisticimpactofstudents taking biblical principles learned at school and sharing them with their parents. There are also 2,811 secondary schools (high schools and academies) with over 600,000 students. Among the highest levels of schooling the church hastooffer,118universitiesand colleges currently enroll over 150,000students,withmostof these institutions offering widelyvaryinggraduatestudies. Thereare117,000dedicated teachers and professors employedbytheSDAchurch. Withoutthetirelessworkofthese individuals, these institutions certainlywouldceasetoexistasweknowthem.Theytake time to pray with and for their students, challenge them tonewheightswithinacademia,andmodelaChrist-like character.Lessonplanning,grading,andmaintainingcontrol ofaclassroomcanbeexhaustinganddifficult.Theirservice to Adventist education is inspiring to all. Many students havegiventheirheartstoJesusduetotheirteacher’sinfluence in their lives.
Thehumblebeginningsin1872attheBattleCreekoneroomschoolhousewithjust12pupilshasledtoexplosive growth.OurAdventisteducationalsystem(notincluding alltheself-supportinginstitutionstudents)nowincludes well over 2 million students in total.
As the 2024-2025 school year rapidly approaches, our youngpeoplewillbefacinganewschoolyear.Somewill beattendingnewschools,movingupagradeintheirold school, adjusting to a new learning environment, or beginning“adultlife”aftergraduatinglastyear.Somewill begoingtoAdventistchurchschools,somewillbeattending public schools or other private schools, while others will behomeschooled.Asacommunity-basedglobalchurch, we seek to utilize education to empower young people and deepen their walk with God.
28 Fundamentals: “God, the Holy Spirit”
“
Happy Birthday, Mark!” Pawpaw (Albert Groot, grandfather and proud supporter) spoke so loudly several customers turned to look. Mark frowned with his eyes, belying the smile of pleasure on his face.
Pawpawwaslaughing.“It’snoteverydaythatayoungman turns fifteen and graduates from the 8th grade all in the same week.” Pawpaw wrinkled his brow, trying to look serious. “But . . . I promised your mother: no ice cream for lunch!”
“I understand.” Mark picked up his veggie Reuben sandwich,thenpausedinmidair.“There’ssomethingIwanted to ask,” he said, lowering his hands. “Jesus promised the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. But my friend said that the Holy Spirit isn’t in the Old Testament.”
Surprised by the sudden question, Pawpaw lay down his soup spoon. “Hmmm. Common misconception. But, where do we begin?” he thought out loud. “Let’s begin with Acts 5:3, 4.”
“But that’s in the New Testament.” Mark objected.
“I know. But we need some basic information about the Spirit.” Pawpaw stopped. “The Holy Spirit never talks about Himself, you know. So, we must go where the description is given.”
Mark broke into a grin. “And you have your Bible with you, right?”
what is His superpower? Each member of the Godhead has a particular function by which He is recognized as part of the creative power of the Godhead. What is it that the Holy Spirit contributes? Do you know?” Pawpaw continued eating.
Mark shook his head. “I’ve never heard this before, Pawpaw.”
“Well, this time we can look in the Old Testament and the New. Let’s try Job 33:4, then 2 Corinthians 3:6 and John 6:63. Look at these verses and tell me what you find.”
Mark quickly scanned the verses. “It says the Holy Spirit gives life.” Mark looked up. “What does that mean, Pawpaw?”
“Where in the Old Testament was something given life, Mark?”
“The creation of Adam in Genesis 2:7. It says that the LORD God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. So?”
“ThatHebrewwordforbreathisthesameasthewordused in Job 33:4. The Spirit gives the breath of life — to Adam, to Job, and to all of us. That happens a lot in the Old Testament —giving life.” Pawpaw paused for another spoonful of soup.
“But that’s not the only thing He does, Mark. After giving life,theSpirit’snextworkJesusdescribedinJohn16:8.Doyou remember that one?”
“Another memory verse, Pawpaw. In short, it says that the Spirit convicts of sin. He convinces us that we need a Savior.” Mark picked up his sandwich.
“Did that happen in the Old Testament? Can you think of anyspecificsituationsinwhichpeoplewereconvictedofsin?”
“Sure. Cain, King Saul, King David, King Ahab. Lots of people. Work of the Holy Spirit, huh?” Mark quickly retrieved his veggie Reuben to take a bite.
“Ineverleavehomewithoutmysword,”Pawpawchuckled. “AndyouhavetheBibleonyourphone,right?”Marknodded. “So, look at Acts 5:3, 4 and tell me what you learn about the Holy Spirit.”
Mark looked longingly at his sandwich, then picked up his phone and found the passage. “First, the Holy Spirit is a person. Ananias lied to Him.”
“Lied to Whom?”
“Verse 3 says Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit.”
“And to Whom did he lie in verse 4?”
“To God.” Marks eyes lighted up. “Oh, I get it! The Holy Spirit is God.”
“First thing to know about the Holy Spirit, Mark.” Pawpaw wasemphatic.“HeisalsoGodandHeisHisownperson.Now,
“WhatelsedoestheSpiritdointhe OldTestament,Mark?Canyoulookat Ezekiel 36:26, 27?”
Mark reluctantly set down his sandwich and picked up his phone. “I know verse 26 about giving us a new heart of flesh. But verse 27?” Mark found the verse and froze. “This is about obedience, Pawpaw.
“When we have developed a new heart and are in love with Jesus,” Pawpaw took another spoonful. “We will want to obey. According to your scripture, Who helps us to develop this new loving, obedient character?”
Marknoddedhisheadinunderstanding.“TheHolySpirit.”
“Anyone in the Old Testament come to mind who needed the help of the Holy Spirit to develop in this way?”
“Forstarters,Abraham,Isaac,andJacob—andmanymore. Wow! The Holy Spirit really was hard at work in the Old Testament, wasn’t He?” Mark sat staring at his phone, shaking his head in amazement.
“Indeed, He was. Now, Mark, if you don’t want your sandwich, I . . .” Pawpaw extended his hand.
“Pawpaw!” Mark exclaimed, quickly dragging his plate out of reach.
HeardintheBahamas
“I’msurprisedPeterletyoucome.Hewaitedsolong tocatchyou,Ithoughthewouldneverletyougo,” Alice said, adding a third layer of sunscreen.
“Actually, it was his idea.” Rose Marie looked up from thenovelthathadkeptherengrossedforthelasttwodays. “HesaidtheguysinhisAnnapolisgraduationclassdoit everytwoyears.Maybeitwasmyturnthisyear.Besides, he’s out sailing with our boys on the Chesapeake for the week.”
“Canyoubelievewehaven’tbeentogetherlikethissince . . .” Patricia lowered her sun reflector and sat up. “Since when, exactly?”
“SincetwoyearsafterwegraduatedfromPennStatein 2009.” Beverly raised the edge of her large, floppy woven strawhat.“Fifteenyearsago,alifetime for me.”
“When did you lose Gordon?” RoseMarieturnedandcaughtthe pain in Beverly’s eyes.
“EightyearsagothisDecember —lungcancer.”Beverlyhesitated; the brim of the hat slowly descended.
“Well, we never had this much sunatolePennState.”Patricialay back on the chaise, adjusting her sunreflector.“Isthatwhyyouquit smoking?”
“No,actually.”Thestrawhatsat up.Beverlypushedthebroadbrim upandheldittherewithbothhands, herelbowsonthearmsofthebeach chair. “No. I quit when the physiologyprofessor...What’shisname?Wehadthatphysiology class together.” She looked in Pat’s direction.
flow to the skin. That and the aging from the sun plays havoc with the collagen.”
“Aren’tyouafraidthesunwilldothesametoyou,Miss Nurse?”Aliceglancedinthedirectionofthesunreflector.
“Actually,I’mnotworriedaboutskincancer.Ionlyget this much sun about what? . . . every 15 years. Where I liveinBoston,inthesummeryoumustbeoutsideabout 4-5 hours to even begin to show signs of sun exposure.” Patricialaughed.“So,wedon’tgetmuchvitaminDmade inourskin.Downhere,”shewavedattheBahamianbeach, “it takes only 10-15 minutes for the skin to make all the vitaminDyouneedfortheday.WhereIlive,thisgetsto beaproblem,especiallyinthewinter.Wealltakevitamin D supplements.”
“I’ll bet you get a lot of sun in San Diego, Alice.” Rose Marie suddenly paused, her finger marking her place in the book. “Is that why you put on so much sunscreen? That’s the third time today and it’s hardly past noon.”
“We do get a lot of sun, actually, in San Diego.” Alice twisted the cap onto the now greasy tube in her hand. “Andasaresult,I’vehadskincanceronthetopofmyleft ear and on the bridge of my nose.” She rubbed a spot on hernosethatnooneelsecouldsee.“Moh’ssurgeryiswhat they call it, I think. Slowly slicing into the top layers of the skin until they get all the cancer out.” Beverly cringed and lowered the widebrimofherhat.“That’s whyI’mwearingthisneck flaponmyhat.”Sheflounced thelargeflaphangingfrom the rear edge of her hat brim.
“Bechtold.Dr.Bechtold,”saidthefaceofthenursehovering over the sun reflector.
“Yeah.HetoldmeheknewIwasasmoker,becausemy face was already showing aging wrinkles and skin lines. Iquitsmokingrightthen.Gordondidn’t.”Beverlypaused. “That’s when I quit sunbathing with the rest of you girls. Smoking was already taking its toll on me. I didn’t need the sun to destroy more of my . . . what’s that stuff that supports your skin, Pat?”
“Collagen. Collagen fibers support the skin. Holds it tight.Makesyoulookyounger.Smokingdecreasesblood
“Peterhasahatlikethat,” RoseMariesaid.“Hewears it all the time when he’s sailing.”Shelaughed.“The boyshavecreatedtheirown FrenchForeignLegionlook byputtingalargebandana onthebackoftheirheads, thenpullingtheircapson tightly. Serves the same purpose; no red necks when they come home.”
“And I wear long sleeves and gloves when I’m out in thegarden,evenonhotdays,”Aliceadded.“Actually,two opportunities with skin cancer were enough for me.”
“Ilovethenovel,Alice.Youwriteverywell.”RoseMarie sat back and resumed her reading.
Beverly suddenly raised the monstrously large, floppy edge of her hat. “Has anyone noticed how often we say ‘actually?’Wheredidwepickthatup?”Everyonelaughed.
Nehemiah’sWall: OneBrickataTime
by Jonathan and Veronica Nicholaides
On our return, we assisted in an evangelism event in our home district of Ratanakiri; a rich time, filled with seminars, health screenings, kid's programs, etc. On Sabbath, as the highlight of Ratanakiri's evangelism effort, several people were baptized. Two of these people's stories especially caught our attention.
One person was from the Tampuan tribe. Her earlobes sagged with huge empty holes, stretched by circular disks that she had worn for years. This middle-aged woman had been the village witchdoctor. People went to her with various problems, and she "helped" them with her witchcraft. On this beautiful Sabbath she publicly renounced her previous life, sharing her regret that she had spent so many years serving Satan and dedicating herself to serving Jesus from then on.
On Friday evening a teenager from the Tampuan tribe came to stay at the church so he would be there to be baptized on Sabbath morning. But when he arrived, he wasn't feeling well. Upon investigation, his friends found that he had a fever of 103.8 degrees F. They tried to lower his fever by putting his feet in cool water, but his fever actually kept going up and he almost passed out. They told him that they needed to take him to the hospital because his fever was too high, but at this point he balked. "I'm not going to the hospital. If I go to the hospital, they'll keep me there for at least a day, and I won't be able to be baptized tomorrow. I must be baptized tomorrow, so I'm not going!"
With his decision firmly made, he got up and walked to the building where he would sleep. By the time he got there, his fever had started to recede, and he was able to rest peacefully. He woke up in the morning with no fever, still determined to die to his old life and be buried in the waters of baptism.
Praise God with us for the work that He has done in the lives of these precious people!
The Nicholaides family has been serving since 2013 in Cambodia as part of Adventist Frontier Missions, an independent ministry that supports the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. AFM Missionarties must raise their own funding before going to their mission station to raise up indigenous churches among unreached people groups.
To give to the Nicholaides or any of the more than 50 AFM minssionaries visit:
afmonline.org or write to:
AFM
107 E. Ferry St. Berrien Springs, MI 49103
AFM is a member of ASI
ParentsofEstranged AdultKidsI
by Ann Marie Bates
Therewerethirtyorsoofusinthesmallgroupcounseling room.Aftermyhusband,Eric,andIfoundourseats, I watched others trickle in as tentatively as we had entered. Most sat in pairs, but not all. We waited quietly for thepresentationtobegin,whilethespeakermadewarmsmall talk to dispel the stillness and put us at ease. The people in theroomrepresenteddiversesegmentsofsociety,butweall shared a painful commonality: we are parents of estranged adult children.
Fe Avis, founder of Parents of Estranged Adult Kids (PEAK), was our speaker that evening. Under the direction ofpsychotherapistandLicensedMarriageandFamilyTherapist (LMFT) Keli Rugenstein, PEAK serves to help parents heal from the trauma of estrangement. “Trauma” may seem an overlydramaticdescriptor,butAvisassertsthatparentalestrangementsharesallthesymptomsofPostTraumaticStress Disorder,includingnightmares,flashbacks,insomnia,compromisedcognitionandmemory,rumination,depressionand anxiety,guilt,gastro-intestinalmaladies,headaches,skeletal issues, skin disorders, arrhythmias, and negative relational and spiritual effects.
While society has systems for processing loss through death, no such systems exist for estrangement. The grief of lossiscompoundedbyfeelingsofrejectionandlackofclosure. Parents know their kids are still out there, somewhere, and theycan’thelpbutwonderhowthey’refaring.Estrangedparentsalsofaceuncertaintyabouttheirownfuture;according to PEAK’s home page, one in five older adults is an “elder orphan,” having “no one to turn to in a time of need.”¹ In addition, the stigma associated with estrangement further isolatesparents,whooftendon’tdisclosewhattheyaredealing with.
WhenEricandIexperiencedthelossofourchildren,we didn’t know where to look for help. We didn’t even have a word to describe our situation. It felt like our children had divorced us. As we searched, we discovered several support groupsonsocialmediaforestrangedparentsandgrandparents (somehelpfulandsomecounterproductive),aswellasafew booksonthesubject.Untilrecentyears,informationandsupport for estranged parents was simply unavailable, leaving parentswithmorequestionsthananswersandcompounding their sense of isolation.
Sociologist and gerontologist Karl Pillemer, of Cornell University,andauthorofFaultLines:FracturedFamiliesand HowtoMendThem,noticedtheprevalenceoffamilyestrangement and responded by creating the Cornell Reconciliation Project. The groundbreaking project, which conducted the first ever national survey on estrangement, found that 27% ofpeopleintheUSareestrangedfromafamilymember,and 10%ofparent/adultchildrelationshipsintheUSareestranged (defined as having no contact at all). He describes it as an “almostepidemic-levelproblem”andhighlightsthecollateral andmulti-generationallossesofconnection,history,andresources resulting from these estrangements.²
Oneofthemostcommonoftheselossesisthegrandparent/grandchildrelationship.Thebenefitsgrandparentsprovide for grandchildren are well documented: a sense of identity andafamilylegacy,knowledgeandskillspassedon,positive influence and broader perspective that come with age, and emotionalsupportthatdiffersinrolefromthatoftheparents. Childrenwhogrowupwithclosegrandparentaltiesalsoexhibit morepositiveoutcomesintermsofwellbeingandlifechoices. Therewardsofgrandparentinggobothways,too,withgrandparentswhoareactivelyinvolvedintheirgrandchildren’slives living longer and having reduced risk of depression, among otherbenefits.AccordingtoDr.JoshuaColeman,psychologist andauthorofRulesofEstrangement,“Thousandsofgrandparentstodayhavebeencutofffromcontactwiththeirgrandchildren.Whilethissometimesresultsfromthegrandparent's highlyproblematicbehavior toward the grandchild, my clinical experience…reveals that grandchildren are often a casualty of the conflict betweenparentsandgrandparents.”³Chancesare,youknow peoplewhohave,likeus,lost adultchildrenandgrandchildrentoestrangement.Maybeyouaredealingwiththisdevastating loss yourself. I hope to encourage you that you are notalone.Ihope,asyourecognizeyourownsituationinthe things I have shared above, you will be able to let go of the burden of shame. Even so, I know questions remain: Will I heal from this? What can I do? Is reconciliation possible? How can I help my friend or family member who is going throughthis?Inournextissue,wewillexploreanswersand strategiestothesequestions.Fornow,letmeencourageyou that your story is not over. For as Gabriel so aptly said (recordedinLuke1:37),“nothingwillbeimpossiblewithGod.”
¹ https://www.parentsofestrangedadultkids.com ²https://www.cornell.edu/video/fractured-families-karlpillemer
³https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-rules-ofestrangement/202403/the-lonely-fractured-lives-ofestranged-grandparents?eml
Our family focus this month features Martha Eissler. Martha joined the Arden SeventhdayAdventistChurchinApril.
Martha was born in Mexico. Her parents immigrated to the Rio Grande area of Southern Texas when she was nine years old. She and her parents moved to Healdsburg, California on graduation from high school.
When she was five years old, her mother passed away during childbirth. Martha has three sisters. After remarriage, her father and stepmom had eight children. So Martha has eleven siblings in all.
She and her family worked in the fields picking fruit in California when she was young. She then worked as a nurse’s aide at a nursing home owned by an Adventist family. This family “took them under their wing” and encouraged Martha and her family to get an education and introduced them to the Adventist message. They encouraged Martha to become a nurse. She attended and graduated from Pacific Union College in 1970, working as a nurse until retirement in 2013.
Martha became a Seventh-day Adventist at a young age and was baptized at St. Helena SDA church in Northern California. Later, she joined the Healdsburg SDA Church in Healdsburg, California.
Martha was married for seven years to her first husband, and they had a daughter, Claudia. Later, Martha became a single Mom and is grateful to have her daughter in her life.
She and Claudia lived in New Jersey but moved to Denver, Colorado where her daughter attended Campion SDA Academy. Later Martha attended an Adventist church in Colorado where she met her second husband, Keith. They had been friends for three years when Keith surprised her by proposing marriage, and she accepted! They were married for seventeen years when he passed away in 2004.
Martha moved to Thousand Oaks, California, living there for ten years, being very active in the Thousand Oaks SDA church and community. However, she wanted to find a place where she could “retire.” She had friends who lived at Fletcher Park Inn in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She came to visit, really liked it, and put her name on the list. A year later she received the call for an opening. Her house sold at the perfect time, and she was able to make the move to Western North Carolina.
Martha’s hobbies include gardening, reading, crafts, sewing, crocheting, and making her own greeting cards. Martha also loves to travel. She and her husband enjoyed hiking and camping, visiting Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii, and forty other states. She went on two cruises to the Caribbean and one River cruise in Europe. She went with a women’s group to tour Scandinavian countries five years ago. As a member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, she traveled to Canada and Finland for their international meetings.
After moving to N. Carolina, Martha visited many SDA churches in the area. Upon visiting Arden, she felt it was a good fit. She was welcomed so warmly, she decided to join. She visited several Sabbath School classes, and decided to join the Women’s Class. She has been involved with Bags of Love, has gone to Ladies Night Out, and enjoys the potlucks too.
We are so happy to have Martha Eissler as part of the Arden church family!
ArdenSeventh-dayAdventistChurch IsaSafePlacetoGrow.
Our Purpose is, by God’s Grace, to reflect His character in our community, to demonstrate a quality of life that will attract all to be reconciled to Jesus Christ, and to encourage people to become His loving, maturing disciples.
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Services each Saturday morning: Sabbath School Bible Study, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service, 10:45 a.m.
Location: 35 Airport Road, Arden, NC 28704 Located on Highway 280, (Airport Road), 1.5 miles east of I-26 exit 40, and a quarter mile west of Highway 25.
Church Office:
Office Manager: Whitney Barron Telephone: (828) 684-6700
Email: office@ardenadventist.org
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Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs.,10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Arden Adventist Pastoral Staff: Senior Pastor: Eric Bates, D. Min. Email: ebates@carolinasda.org
Associate/Youth Pastor: Rich Maskelony, M .Div. Email: rmaskelony@carolinasda.org
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