AW English - September 2007.pdf

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

3 E P TE M B E R

4HEY #AME FOR A

2OCK

#ONCERT 4HEN SOMETHING HAPPENED

! (EALTHY #HURCH

# HRIST S 3ECOND #OMING

7 ALKING IN THE ,IGHT

3 E P TE M B E R # ( 5 2 # ( 7 / 2 + 3

%DITOR S 0EN 7ORLD 2EPORT .EWS 6IEWS

7ORLD 6ISTA

! (EALTHY #HURCH 0ART # / 6 % 2 3 4 / 2 9 % 2 . % 3 4 ) . % & ) . , %9

4HEY #AME FOR A 2OCK #ONCERT "Y -ARK ! &INLEY 7HAT GOOD COULD COME FROM AN !DVENTIST EVANGELIST SHARING THE SAME STAGE WITH A ROCK BAND

7INDOW

)NTO .IGERIA ( % ! , 4 (

"ABY #IRCUMCISION

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

$ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,

.EW 7INE IN /LD 7INESKINS "Y !LEJANDRO -EDINA #HANGE IS INEVITABLE "UT HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT TO KEEP AND WHAT TO DISCARD

" ) " , % 1 5 % 3 4 ) / . 3

)MAGES OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT "Y !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ

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

2EACHING /UT 7ITH 6OICE AND (AND

!S TOLD BY 3ANGZELA 4LAU 4HIS MUSIC MINISTRY LEAVES MORE THAN MEMORIES & 5 . $ ! - % . 4 ! , " % , ) % & 3

" ) " , % 3 4 5 $ 9

*ESUS /UR #OMPASSIONATE (IGH 0RIEST "Y -ARK ! &INLEY

4HE 3ECOND #OMING OF #HRIST "Y !LEXIS ! 'ORING +EEPING FAITHˆAND ANTICIPATIONˆALIVE 3 0 ) 2 ) 4 / & 0 2 / 0 ( % # 9

7ALKING IN THE ,IGHT "Y %LLEN ' 7HITE 7HY WHAT WE DO IS AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT WE BELIEVE

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

,ETTERS 4HE 0LACE OF 0RAYER %XCHANGE OF )DEAS

4HE 0EOPLE S 0LACE

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

,ASTING )MPRESSIONS "Y 2OBERT ' 7EARNER 4HEY WERE A GROUP OF !DVENTISTS TOURING #HINA 3HE WAS THEIR TOUR GUIDE

0UBLISHED BY THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS AND PRINTED AT ,ANE 0RESS "URLINGTON 6ERMONT FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION BY THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN !FRICA

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

#OVER !3 4(%9 7%2% )N /CTOBER

A ROCK CONCERT CAME TO TOWN 4HREE YOUNG COMMUNIST WOMEN %NIKO FROM LEFT !NIKØ

AND (ELGA ATTENDED 1UITE BY ACCIDENT

THEY STAYED FOR -ARK &INLEY S EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS WERE BAPTIZED AND THEY VE NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE # / 6 % 2 ( 5 . ' ! 2 ) ! . 0 ! 2 , ) ! - % . 4 " 9 ( ! . . ! ( ' , %' ( / 2 .

&ROM THE

%DITOR S 0EN .O #HAIRS .EEDED

)

N A LONG AGO HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS CLASS WE WONDERED ALOUD ABOUT HOW THE WORLD MIGHT BE CHANGED IF SAY

BILLION PEOPLE AVERAGING KG POUNDS EACH IN A CONCENTRATED REGION OF THE WORLD ALL JUMPED DOWN OFF TWO FOOT CHAIRS AT PRECISELY THE SAME MOMENT 7OULD A SEISMIC WAVE BE SET IN MOTION THAT RATTLED NEARBY BUILDINGS OR DISTURBED FAR OFF RICE PADDIES /R WOULD THE GREAT SHOCK ABSORBER OF THE %ARTH SIMPLY RECEIVE AND DISSIPATE THIS BLOW AS IT HAS SO MANY OTHERS )T WAS A DELIGHTFUL ACADEMIC DISTRACTION ESPECIALLY AT A DREARY A M CLASS BUT ) FEAR IT TAUGHT MANY OF US THE WRONG LESSON 7E CAME AWAY BELIEVING THAT ONLY MASS

CONCENTRATED ACTION BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AT ONE MOMENT HAD A CHANCE OF CHANGING THE WORLD )N FACT JUST THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE 4HE BIBLICAL COUNTERPOINT TO ALL SUCH NOTIONS IS CLEAR h.OTHING RESTRAINS THE ,ORD FROM SAVING BY MANY OR BY FEWv 3AM 'OD IS NOT BEHOLDEN TO THE MASS OR

EVEN TO THE MAJORITY (EAVEN DOESN T STAND AND WAIT UNTIL PERCENT OF ANY GROUP INCLUDING THE CHURCH IS READY TO MOVE 'OD TOUCHES INDIVIDUAL LIVES YOUR LIFE AND MY LIFE AND (E SAYS h'O CARRY THE GOOD NEWS "E -Y MAN

BE -Y WOMAN IN YOUR HOME IN YOUR COMMUNITY AT YOUR SCHOOL 3HARE -Y TRUTH HEAL THE HURTING PREPARE PEOPLE FOR -Y COMING EVEN IF IT SEEMS YOU ARE ALONE &OR IN TRUTH YOU ARE NEVER ALONE @) AM WITH YOU ALWAYS EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE ;-ATT = v "Y 'OD S GRACE MORE THAN MILLION !DVENTISTS AROUND THIS GLOBE ARE CHANGING THE WORLD TODAY NOT BY WAITING FOR SOME WELL TIMED MOMENT WHEN THEY CAN MAKE A CONCENTRATED IMPACT BUT BY DOING THE WORK OF *ESUS THAT LIES CLOSEST TO THEM 4HE LESSONS THEY TEACH THE FOOD THEY SHARE THE WELLS THEY DIG THE ,IVING 7ATER THEY GIVE TO THE THIRSTY ARE HAVING AN INCALCULABLE EFFECT FOR THE ,ORD S KINGDOM 4HE SEISMIC WAVES THAT GROW FROM INDIVIDUAL ACTS OF COURAGE AND COMPASSION ARE RATTLING THE STRUCTURES OF THE WORLD AND RIPPLING MORE THAN RICE PADDIES 4HIS DAY FELLOW WORLD CHANGER h7HATEVER YOUR HAND lNDS TO DO DO IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHTv %CCL

"ILL +NOTT

7/2,$ 2%0/24

N !SSURING A COMMITMENT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM #ARLOS #£SAR

THE PRESIDENT OF THE 0ROVINCIAL 'OVERNMENT OF !ZORES AFlRMED HIS SUPPORT FOR EQUALITY OF ALL FAITHS IN A MEETING WITH 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH PRESIDENT *AN 0AULSEN *UNE 4HOUGH THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IS NOT LARGE IN THESE MOSTLY #ATHOLIC

0ORTUGUESE ISLANDS #£SAR SAID THE CHURCH IS hHIGHLY RESPECTEDv BY THE COMMUNITY 0AULSEN SAID $ESPITE THE SMALL CHURCH MEMBER SHIP OF PEOPLE IN THE ISLANDS OFF THE COAST OF 0ORTUGAL 0AULSEN THANKED

MEMBERS IN THE !ZORES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR CHURCH h4HERE AREN T MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE !ZORES THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE AND WHERE 'OD WANTS YOU TO BE (IS WITNESS v 0AULSEN SAID TO A GATHERING OF PEOPLE 4WO DAYS LATER HE ADDRESSED A CROWD OF IN A RURAL AREA OF 0ORTUGAL NEAR THE CAPITAL ,ISBON

JOINED BY 5LRICH &RIKART PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH S %URO !FRICA REGION h)T DOESN T MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE PEOPLE OR

BECAUSE EACH OF US IS ONLY ONE v 0AULSEN SAID h7E ARE SINGLE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER

% 5 2 / ! & 2 ) # ! $ ) 6 ) 3 ) / . ! . .

!:/2%3 0AULSEN !SSURED ON 2ELIGIOUS &REEDOM $URING 0ORTUGAL 6ISIT

7%,#/-% 4/ 4(% !:/2%3 !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH PRESIDENT *AN 0AULSEN LEFT IS GREETED BY #ARLOS #ÏSAR PRESIDENT OF THE 0ROVINCIAL 'OVERNMENT OF !ZORES

ON *UNE

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

7/2,$ 2%0/24 FOUNDED MORE THAN YEARS AGO IN 0APANUI 4HEY MANUFACTURE AND SUPPLY A RANGE OF BREAKFAST CEREALS SPREADS

AND OTHER HEALTH FOOD PRODUCTS TO MANY HOMES ˆ3ANITARIUM 3OUTH 0ACIlC $IVISION !7 3TAFF

3 / 5 4 ( % 2 . ! & 2 ) # ! ) . $ ) ! . / # % ! . $ ) 6 ) 3 ) / . 6 ) ! ! . .

34 (%,%.! 2EGIONAL 9OUTH ,EADER 6ISITS N 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH LEADERS ON THE ISLAND OF 3T (ELENAˆ LOCATED MIDWAY BETWEEN 3OUTH !MERICA AND !FRICA IN THE 3OUTH .%7 :%!,!.$ 0HILIPPINES 0RESIDENT !TLANTIC /CEANˆSAY A RECENT VISIT 6ISITS !DVENTIST (EALTH &OOD #OMPANY BY THE 9OUTH -INISTRIES DIRECTOR FOR N .EW :EALAND AND THE 0HILIPPINES THE CHURCH S 3OUTHERN !FRICA )NDIAN ENHANCED THEIR TRADE RELATIONSHIP /CEAN REGION IS A lRST FOR THE SMALL

RECENTLY WITH A -EMORANDUM OF ISOLATED ISLAND OF SOME PEOPLE 5NDERSTANDING SIGNED BETWEEN 9OUTH LEADER %UGENE &RANSCH LEADING .EW :EALAND HEALTH FOOD BOARDED THE ONLY MEANS OF TRAVEL TO COMPANY 3ANITARIUM AND THE 2EPUBLIC 3T (ELENA LAST MONTHˆTHE 2 - 3 OF THE 0HILIPPINES THROUGH THE .EW 3T (ELENAˆTO MAKE THE FOUR DAY :EALAND $EPARTMENT OF !GRICULTURE JOURNEY TO THE RUGGED VOLCANIC ISLAND 4HIS COINCIDED WITH A LUNCHTIME MADE FAMOUS DURING .APOLEON VISIT TO 3ANITARIUM S !UCKLAND "ONAPARTE S EXILE &RANSCH

MANUFACTURING SITE BY 0RESIDENT DURING HIS VISIT INDUCTED SEVEN LEADERS 'LORIA -ACAPAGAL !RROYO INTO THE LOCAL 0ATHlNDER CLUB 4HE MEMORANDUM PAVES THE WAY *OHN # -OYCE 0ATHlNDER DIRECTOR FOR FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EXPORT OF THE 3T (ELENA #LUB SAYS THE EVENT MARKED 3ANITARIUM PRODUCTS TO THE 0HILIPPINES ANOTHER MILESTONE THE CLUB ESTABLISHED AND THE RECIPROCAL IMPORT OF RAW ON THE ISLAND IN HAS NEVER BEFORE MATERIALS FOR THE 0HILIPPINES 4HIS ALSO INDUCTED LEADERS CALLED -ASTER 'UIDES ALLOWS FOR EXPLORING WAYS 3ANITARIUM -OYCE SAYS IT S CRUCIAL FOR !DVENTIST CAN PLAY A PART IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THOSE IN AND WELL BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF THE 0HILIPPINES THROUGH THE PROVISION OF NUTRITION EDUCATION h7E ARE VERY HONORED AND EXCITED TO DISCUSS PARTNERING WITH THE 2EPUBLIC OF THE 0HILIPPINES 4HIS OPPORTUNITY HAS COME FROM AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF 3ANITARIUM S GENUINE COMMITMENT TO .%7 ,%!$%23 %UGENE &RANSCH

IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF RIGHT JOINS 0ATHlNDER LEADERSHIP OUR COMMUNITIES v SAID 0IERRE VAN ON THE ISLAND OF 3T (ELENA

(EERDEN GENERAL MANAGER OF 3ANITARIUM INCLUDING THE CLUB DIRECTOR

3ANITARIUM OWNED BY THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IS ONE OF .EW *OHN # -OYCE SECOND FROM LEFT :EALAND S MOST TRUSTED COMPANIES

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

3 ! . ) 4! 2 ) 5 -

OBLIGATION TO BE ALIVE FOR 'OD AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY v (E ADDED h)T IS WONDERFUL WHEN YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THAT EVEN IF IT S JUST YOU AND ONE OR TWO OTHER PEOPLE STANDING NEXT TO YOU THAT YOU ARE LOVED BY 'OD

AND THAT 'OD SAYS TO YOU @$O YOUR BEST TO SHARE THIS WITH PEOPLE YOU MEET v 4HE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IS GROWING IN 0ORTUGAL WITH CHURCHES AND ABOUT MEMBERS ˆ!NSEL /LIVER !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK !7 3TAFF

02%3)$%.4)!, 6)3)4 0RESIDENT 'LORIA -ACAPAGAL !RROYO OF THE 2EPUBLIC OF THE 0HILIPPINES EXAMINES PRODUCTS FROM !DVENTIST OWNED 3ANITARIUM HEALTH FOODS IN !UCKLAND .EW :EALAND DURING A RECENT VISIT REMOTE LOCATIONS TO GET A SENSE OF THE GLOBAL CHURCH &RANSCH S VISIT -OYCE SAYS SENT A MESSAGE OF hWE HEAR YOU AND VALUE YOUv FROM CHURCH OFlCIALS TO THE 0ATHlNDERS ON THE ISLAND 4HOUGH SMALL THE !DVENTIST PRESENCE ON 3T (ELENA IS GROWING

-OYCE SAYS /F THE NEARLY !DVENTISTS IN THE ISLAND S CHURCH MEMBERSHIP RECORDS ABOUT HALF LIVE ON THE ISLAND YEAR ROUND AND ATTEND ITS ONE !DVENTIST CHURCH #HURCH LEADERS ON THE ISLAND REPORT 3T (ELENAN !DVENTISTS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY

CONDUCTING QUARTERLY PRAYER BREAKFASTS

SPONSORING GOSPEL MUSIC CONCERTS

AND MAINTAINING A RADIO PRESENCE ˆ%LIZABETH ,ECHLEITNER !.. !7 3TAFF 4!)7!. !DVENTIST 9OUTH ,EADERS (OPE )NTERNATIONAL #ONFERENCE 'ROWS #HURCH N 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH LEADERS PLAN A MAJOR YOUTH CONFERENCE FOR $ECEMBER IN 4AIWAN

HOPING THE EVENT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR

!DVENTIST #HURCH IN 4AIWAN 4HE COUNTRY S !DVENTIST 9OUTH DIRECTOR .OAH ,AI SAID THE CHURCH THERE IS SMALL BUT MEMBERS WILL BE STRENGTHENED WITH THE COMING SUPPORT h) THINK THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE FOR ;PEOPLE= IN 4AIWAN TO KNOW WE ARE A HAPPY FAMILY AND PEOPLE AROUND US WILL GET TO KNOW OUR BELIEFS v ,AI SAID h7E RE NOT JUST GOING TO PREACH TO THEM WE WANT THE YOUTH TO COME AND DO SOMETHING IN 4AIWAN v -UGANDA SAID 4HE DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE 7ORLD #ONFERENCE ON 9OUTH AND #OMMUNITY 3ERVICES IS .OVEMBER 4HE CONFERENCE RUNS FROM $ECEMBER

TO *ANUARY )NFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT WWW WCYCS ORG MAIN MAIN ASP ˆ!DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK

4! ! 3 ( ) 2 / 7 % ! . .

FUTURE CHURCH GROWTH THERE !BOUT !DVENTIST HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH WILL MEET FOR A WEEK OF SERVICE PROJECTS BEFORE GATHERING IN THE CAPITAL 4AIPEI SAID "ARAKA -UGANDA

9OUTH -INISTRIES DIRECTOR FOR THE !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH h/UR CHURCH IS NOT WELL KNOWN IN 4AIWAN AND WE HAVE A SMALL MEMBERSHIP THERE v -UGANDA SAID OF WHY ORGANIZERS CHOSE THE LOCATION 4HERE ARE ABOUT !DVENTISTS IN 4AIWAN WORSHIPPING IN CHURCHES 4HE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN 4AIWAN BECAME SELF SUPPORTING IN h7E RE EXCITED AND OUR CHURCH MEMBERS ARE QUITE ASTONISHED THAT THE WORLD CHURCH IS FOCUSING ON OUR LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD v SAID *OHN 7 !SH ))) PRESIDENT OF THE

()'( (/0%3 !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH YOUTH LEADER "ARAKA -UGANDA HOPES THE 7ORLD #ONFERENCE ON 9OUTH AND #OMMUNITY 3ERVICES DUE FOR 4AIWAN AT THE END OF WILL SPUR !DVENTIST #HURCH GROWTH THERE

. % 7 3 # / - - % . 4! 2 9

'REAT $ISCONNECTION 4HE

"Y THE END OF THERE WILL BE BILLION ACTIVE MOBILE PHONES IN THE WORLDˆENOUGH TO CONNECT FULLY HALF OF THE WORLD S POPULATION !CCORDING TO A SURVEY BY THE 5+ BASED 4HE -OBILE 7ORLD AN AVERAGE OF NEW CUSTOMERS AROUND THE WORLD ARE SIGNING UP EVERY MINUTE 7E VE NEVER BEEN SO CONNECTED AND THERE ARE MANY BENElTS TO BE GAINED "UT RESEARCHERS IN !USTRALIAˆWHERE AN ESTIMATED PERCENT OF PEOPLE OWN A MOBILE PHONEˆCAUTION THAT hMOBILE PHONE ADDICTION COULD BE THE NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER OF THE ST CENTURY v

#LINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND FAMILY THERAPIST !NDREW &ULLER SUGGESTS THAT FOR SOME YOUNG PEOPLE BEING WITHOUT THEIR MOBILE PHONES hWOULD ALMOST BE AN AMPUTATION v !ND HE SEES VARIOUS PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS FOR REGULAR PHONE USERS ALTERED SLEEP PATTERNS

CHANGING DREAM HABITS AND INCREASED RISK OF DEPRESSION )RONICALLY

HE ALSO OBSERVES CHANGING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH REDUCED FACE TO FACE CONTACT RESULTING IN LESS MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS

"9 .!4(!. "2/7.

EDITOR OF THE 3OUTH 0ACIFIC EDITION OF 3IGNS OF THE 4IMES AND THE 3OUTH 0ACIFIC $IVISION 2ECORD

3HARI 7ALSH FROM THE 1UEENSLAND 5NIVERSITY OF 4ECHNOLOGY EXPLAINS THAT TIME SPENT ON THE PHONE WAS NOT NECESSARILY AN INDICATOR OF RISK )NSTEAD THE DISORDER CAN BE NOTICED WHEN PHONE USERS BECOME DISTRESSED WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE TO USE THEIR PHONES h4HE DIFlCULTY IS THAT IF PEOPLE ARE ADDICTED TO THE PHONE OR TO BEING CONNECTED AND THEY CAN T TURN IT OFF THEY RE NOT ABLE TO GIVE THEMSELVES THE QUIET TIME WE ALL NEED v SHE SAYS 0ERHAPS IT S A VERY CONTEMPORARY REASON WHY 3ABBATH IS SUCH A GOOD THING 7HILE MORE AND MORE OF US OWN MOBILE PHONES WE NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT THEYˆOR ANY OF THE OTHER GADGETS WE MIGHT COLLECTˆDON T OWN US AND SHOULD NOT CONTROL OUR LIVES 4HERE MAY BE REASONS WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE DURING 3ABBATH HOURS BUT 3ABBATH SEEMS LIKE A GREAT REASON TO TURN OFF OUR PHONES

3AM 7ALLIS h-OBILES (AVE !USSIES (OOKED v !USTRALIAN "ROADCASTING #ORP .EWS HTTP TINYURL COM Y C *ULY ACCESSED ONLINE *ULY

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

7/2,$ 2%0/24

!DVENTISTS 5SE

9OU4UBE )NTERNET 6IDEOS

"Y !LEXIS ! 'ORING

!DVENTIST 7ORLD

TO 3HARE -ESSAGE

-USIC 3ERMONSˆ%VEN 2USSELL #ROWE AT !VONDALEˆ3HOW 5P /NLINE

3

TANDING ON THE EDGE OF POPULAR TECHNOLOGY THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IS USING 9OU4UBE THE SAME ONLINE VIDEO SHARING 7EB SITE MUSICIANS AND POLITICIANS USE TO PROMOTE THEIR PLATFORMS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF *ESUS #HRIST 9OU4UBE WHICH DESCRIBES ITSELF IN NEWS RELEASES AS hDELIVER;ING= MORE THAN MILLION VIDEO VIEWS EVERY DAY

WITH NEW VIDEOS UPLOADED DAILYv AND AS hTHE LEADING DESTINATION ON THE )NTERNET FOR VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT v WAS STARTED IN &EBRUARY BY THREE FORMER 0AY0AL EMPLOYEES AND HAS TAKEN THE WORLD BY STORM %IGHTEEN MONTHS AFTER ITS FOUNDING )NTERNET GIANT 'OOGLE ACQUIRED THE SERVICE FOR 53 BILLION IN STOCK ONE OF THE LARGEST DEALS OF ITS KIND )NTERNET USERS CAN VISIT WWW YOUTUBE COM TO UPLOAD

VIEW AND SHARE VIDEOS MADE BY BOTH DIRECTORS AND AMATEURS 0EOPLE OF ALL AGES AND LIFE EXPERIENCES SHOOT HOMEMADE VIDEOS AND ONCE REGISTERED WITH 9OU4UBE ONLINE CAN POST THEIR WORK FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE !S OF *UNE WHEN SOMEONE TYPES THE WORD h!DVENTISTv INTO THE 9OU4UBE S SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS OF

VIDEOS ARE LISTED !MONG THOSE VIDEOS ONE WOULD lND CONGRATULATIONS FROM 5 3 0RESIDENT 'EORGE 7 "USH

AND 5 3 3ENATOR (ILLARY 2ODHAM #LINTON $ . 9 FOR THE !DVENTIST #HURCH S STANCE ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY MUSIC VIDEOS FROM #HRISTIAN ARTISTS AND AMATEURSˆRANGING FROM

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

"RAZILIAN CHURCH MUSICIANS IN CONCERT TO -ARK 3CHULTZ PERFORMING IN !MERICA A #.. FEATURE ABOUT THE LONGEVITY OF !DVENTISTS IN ,OMA ,INDA #ALIFORNIA EVEN A DECADES OLD PROMOTIONAL lLM FOR !VONDALE #OLLEGE S THEOLOGY PROGRAM

STARRING A THEN UNKNOWN ACTOR NAMED 2USSELL #ROWE )T WAS IN FACT BELIEVED TO BE #ROWE S lRST PAID lLM ROLE 7HEN ASKED WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT 9OU4UBE !DVENTIST PASTOR AND .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION #HURCH 2ESOURCES #ENTER ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR $AVE 'EMMELL REPLIED h)T S BASICALLY THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF VIDEO v !CCORDING TO 'EMMELL VIDEO HAS BEEN SO EXPENSIVE OVER THE YEARS THAT ONLY VERY POWERFUL ORGANIZATIONS CAN PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE VIDEO h9OU4UBE CUTS THROUGH ALL THAT SO PEOPLE WITH THEIR OWN VIDEO CAMERAS CAN UPLOAD VIDEOS ON THE )NTERNET AND MAKE THEIR VIDEOS ACCESSIBLE TO THE WORLD v HE SAID h)T CHANGES THE ENTIRE CULTURE OF VIDEO v !CCORDING TO MEDIA RESEARCH lRM .IELSEN .ET2ANKINGS

9OU4UBE RACKED UP MILLION PAGE VIEWS IN -AY IN THE 5NITED 3TATES ALONE WITH USERS SPENDING MILLION MINUTES OR HOURS THAT MONTH VIEWING VIDEOS ONLINE THERE #LEARLY THIS IS A NEW hMEDIUMv THAT IS ATTRACTING A SUBSTANTIAL AUDIENCE %LLACOYA .ETWORKS

)NC A COMPANY THAT HELPS TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS OPTIMIZE BROADBAND )NTERNET SERVICES SAID IN -AY

! , % 8 ) 3 ! ' / 2 ) . '

ON 9OU4UBE THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF LESS SUITABLE ITEMS THOUGH THE SERVICE IS ITSELF MORALLY NEUTRAL GOOD AND BAD CAN COME FROM IT (E BELIEVES HOWEVER THAT 9OU4UBE IS AN OVERALL POSITIVE EXPERIENCE AND THAT !DVENTISTS NEED TO PLACE GOOD MATERIALS ON IT h7E NEED TO BE PROACTIVE IN PRODUCING GOOD MATERIAL IN ALL MEDIAS v #OSTA SAID h2ADIO )NTERNET 9OU4UBE AND 'OOGLEˆTHOSE ARE THE TOOLS THAT REACH THE PEOPLE AND WE ARE ABOUT REACHING THE PEOPLE v 4HOMAS $OOLEY KNOWS HOW TO REACH PEOPLE (E WORKS AS A PRODUCTION COORDINATOR FOR 32" PRODUCTIONS IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND AND BELIEVES 9OU4UBE SHOULD BE USED TO ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL AS A WITNESSING TOOL ! 7 3 4! & & h4HE CHURCH NEEDS TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES OUT THERE TO EXPAND THEIR MINISTRIES v $OOLEY ,EFT 3/-%4().' 4/ @#2/7% !"/54 )N THIS IMAGE SAID h;)T WOULD BE IDEAL= IF SOMEBODY WHO S HOMEBOUND CAPTURED FROM A COMPUTER DISPLAY A VERY YOUNG 2USSELL OR SEARCHING FOR A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE CAN GO ON 9OU4UBE #ROWEˆIN WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE HIS l RST PAID ROLEˆ AND SEE CHURCH SERVICE v IS SEEN PORTRAYING A POTENTIAL THEOLOGY STUDENT AT #URRENTLY 9OU4UBE IS USED TO FURTHER MINISTRIES GIVE !DVENTIST OWNED !VONDALE #OLLEGE IN !USTRALIA 4HE PUBLIC EXPOSURE OF A FAMILY S h+ODAK MOMENTSv WITH HOME DECADES OLD l LM RARELY SEEN OUTSIDE THE 3OUTH VIDEOS PROMOTE POLITICAL PLATFORMS AND GIVE A GLOBAL STAGE TO PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR MUSICIANS 0ACIl C IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE 9OU4UBE )NTERNET h4HERE S SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO GET CHURCH MESSAGES SERVICE 4OP 6)$%/ %80%24 !DVENTIST PASTOR 7ILLIAMS OUT THAN A PASTOR GOING UP ;TO A PODIUM= AND HOPING #OSTA *R ASSOCIATE WORLD CHURCH COMMUNICATION SOMEONE S GOING TO WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR FOR THAT DAY S DIRECTOR HAS POSTED MANY !DVENTIST MUSIC VIDEOS ON SERMON v SAID $OOLEY WHO SHARED INFORMATION ABOUT 9OU4UBE AND SUPPORTS THE USE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY HIS HOME CHURCH #OMMUNITY 0RAISE #ENTER #0# AN !DVENTIST CONGREGATION IN !LEXANDRIA 6IRGINIA AND THEIR THAT h9OU4UBE ALONE COMPRISES NEARLY ;PERCENT= OF ALL VENTURE INTO MAKING THEIR SERMONS INTO PODCASTS AVAILABLE ;.ORTH !MERICAN= TRAFl C ON THE )NTERNET v VIA !PPLE )NC S I4UNES MUSIC SERVICE 4HOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS NEW CULTURAL PHENOMENON 'EMMELL SHARES $OOLEY S OUTLOOK h4HE FUTURE IS NOW v MIGHT WONDER FROM WHERE IT EMERGED WHO STARTED IT AND HE SAID h4ECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO PERMEATE WHAT USERS CAN GAIN FROM 9OU4UBE 4HE SERVICE BEGAN IN SOCIETY AND FOR THOSE OF US IN THE l ELD OF MEDIA WE NEED TO AS AN hUNDERGROUNDv VENTURE CREATED AFTER ITS FOUNDERS UNDERSTAND NEW MEDIA AND UTILIZE IT TO THE FULLEST v EXPERIENCED CONm ICT AND FRUSTRATION WHILE TRYING TO SHARE #OSTA WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE CHURCH USING 9OU4UBE VIDEOS ONLINE &AST FORWARD TWO YEARS LATER 9OU4UBE IS SO AND OTHER COMMUNICATION MEDIA TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WELL KNOWN THAT EVEN THE 5NITED 3TATES PRESIDENTIAL OUTSIDE ITS OWN WALLS CANDIDATES ARE USING IT TO PROMOTE THEIR PLATFORMS h7E NEED ;TO REACH= BIG CITIES v HE SAID h7E NEED TO 0OLITICIANS AREN T THE ONLY ONES WHO SEE WORTH IN THIS DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO REACH PEOPLE WITH THIS MESSAGE

VIDEO SHARING 7EB SITE AS THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST WORLD ESPECIALLY IN HARD TO REACH PLACES SUCH AS THE HEADQUARTERS ALSO RECOGNIZE ITS VALUE WINDOW ;AND= IN #HINA v 7ILLIAMS #OSTA *R ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE WORLD !CCORDING TO #OSTA THE ,ORD IS GIVING THE CHURCH TOOLS CHURCH S COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT WHO IS SEEN ON MANY TO DO THAT NOW WITH ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY (E BELIEVES OF THE "RAZILIAN !DVENTIST 9OU4UBE MUSIC VIDEOS ACCREDITS A WE NEED TO BE MORE THAN SIMPLY ACTIVE IN BROADCASTING THE SPECIl C HUMAN TRAIT TO 9OU4UBE S SUCCESS h0EOPLE HAVE ;A= GOOD NEWS CURIOSITY TO SEARCH AND l ND v HE SAID h&OR THIS REASON IT S h7E NEED TO GO AHEAD BY FAITH AND TRUST THAT THE ,ORD BECOMING VERY POPULAR ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE v WILL OPEN THE GATES v #OSTA SAID hSO THAT WE CAN GO FULl LL #OSTA NOTES THAT WHILE THERE S A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION THE MISSION v

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

7 / 2 , $ 6 ) 3 4!

7HAT DOES A SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY LOCAL CHURCH LOOK LIKE )N LAST MONTH S ISSUE OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD 0ASTOR *AN 0AULSEN IDENTIlED THREE hTESTSv OF A HEALTHY CONGREGATION OUR PERSONAL SPIRITUAL HEALTH OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER BELIEVERS AND HOW OUR CONGREGATION RELATES TO THE WORLD BEYOND ITS OWN DOORS )N THIS THE SECOND OF A THREE PART SERIES 0ASTOR 0AULSEN TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DYNAMICS OF COMMUNITY + 5 2 4 & !4 4 ) #

!

(EALTHY #HURCH "Y *AN 0AULSEN

PART

! PERSON CLOSE TO ME A YOUNG MAN STILL lNDING HIS FEET IN THE WORLD

CAME TO CHURCH ONE 3ABBATH MORNING WEARING CLOTHES THAT WERE SOMEWHAT OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR THAT PARTICULAR CONGREGATION (E WAS CLEAN AND QUITE PRESENTABLE BUT NOT AS FORMALLY DRESSED AS OTHERS (E WAS MET AT THE DOOR BY ONE OF THE ELDERS WHO LOOKED HIM UP AND DOWN AND SAID h7HY DON T YOU GO HOME AND CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES v 4HE YOUNG MAN DID GO HOME !ND IN THE YEARS SINCE HE HAS NOT RETURNED TO CHURCH (OW IS IT THAT THE BODY OF #HRIST SOMETIMES FAILS TO DEMONSTRATE THE MOST BASIC ASPECTS OF #HRIST S EXAMPLE 4HE APOSTLE 0AUL DESCRIBES IN TWO WELL KNOWN PASSAGES THE BY

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

PRODUCTS OF AUTHENTIC #HRISTIANITY 4HE FRUIT OF THE 3PIRIT HE SAYS IS LOVE JOY PEACE PATIENCE KINDNESS

GOODNESS FAITHFULNESS GENTLENESS

AND SELF CONTROL 'AL

7RITING TO THE CHURCH IN #ORINTH

HE DESCRIBES TRUE LOVE AS THAT WHICH hDOES NOT ENVY IT DOES NOT BOAST IT IS NOT PROUD )T IS NOT RUDE IT IS NOT SELF SEEKING IT IS NOT EASILY ANGERED

IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGSv #OR

7HAT IS STRIKING IN THESE PASSAGES IS THAT THEY lND THEIR MEANING ONLY WITHIN RELATIONSHIPSˆWITHIN

COMMUNITY 7HEN DO ) EXERCISE PATIENCE 7HEN THE LIMITS OF MY TOLERANCE ARE TESTED BY THOSE AROUND ME WHO EXPRESS THEMSELVES DIFFERENTLY OR WHO BEHAVE IN WAYS ) DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND 7HEN DO ) EXERCISE SELF CONTROL 7HEN ) SWALLOW WORDS OF CRITICISM WHEN ) REFUSE TO SAY h) TOLD YOU SOv IN THE FACE OF SOMEONE ELSE S MISTAKE 7HEN DO ) SHOW KINDNESS 7HEN ) SPEAK A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT WHEN ) LOOK BEYOND DIFFERENCES OF CULTURE OR BACKGROUND AND EMBRACE A BROTHER OR SISTER IN #HRIST

(OW DO WE NURTURE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS !ND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU x LOVING ! FORMER TEACHER OF MINE A THEOLOGIAN ONCE ENGAGED IN A LONG DEBATE WITH A COLLEAGUEˆAN INDIVIDUAL WELL KNOWN FOR HIS HARD LINE VIEWS "ACK AND FORTH THEY WENT FOR MANY HOURS UNTIL FINALLY MY PROFESSOR SAID IN EXASPERATION h/+

YOU ARE RIGHT "UT DO YOU NEED TO BE SO HOSTILE ABOUT IT v 4RUTH AND HOSTILITY NEED NOT GO HAND IN HAND !ND TRUTH COUPLED WITH A SENSE OF SUPERIORITY A STRIDENT MANNER OR AN ATTITUDE OF EXCLUSIVITY DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE MUCH TO THE HEALTH OF A FAITH COMMUNITY 7E SHOULD KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD TAKE JOY IN IT SAFEGUARD IT AND KNOW HOW TO ARTICULATE IT ATTRACTIVELY "UT IF OUR SPIRITUAL WALK DOES NOT MAKE US MORE GRACIOUS IF IT DOES NOT MAKE US MORE ANXIOUS FOR THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS IF IT DOES NOT BETTER FIT US TO BE MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF #HRIST THEN SOMETHING IS WRONG 7E CAN BE EXACTING IN OUR DEVOTIONS UNERRING IN OUR RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES AND YET FAIL IN THE hWEIGHTIERv MATTERS OF OUR FAITH -ATT ,ET US BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON T BECOME SO BUSY CULTIVATING AN INWARD LOOKING SPIRITUALITY THAT WE NEGLECT TO CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS &OR SPIRITUALITY WITHOUT RELATIONSHIPS HAS NO LIFE NO COMPASSION NO WARMTH

AND NO ATTRACTION 3EPARATING THE GNATS AND THE CAMELS /FTEN YOUNG PEOPLE WILL ASK ME

h#AN ) LISTEN TO THIS GO HERE DO THIS

OR BELIEVE THAT AND STILL BE A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST v !ND ) REMIND THEM

h4HE CHURCH IS NOT A COMMUNITY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM ACCOMMODATION TO THE POINT THAT IT

LOSES ITS IDENTITY 7E HAVE VALUES AND BELIEFS THAT BOND US TOGETHER THAT SPELL OUT OUR ESSENTIAL SAMENESS AND TELL US WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER !ND IF WE lND OURSELVES IN SIGNIlCANT DISAGREEMENT WITH A SIGNIlCANT NUMBER OF THESE VALUES THEN IT IS UNLIKELY THAT WE WILL lND COMMUNITY WITHIN THE !DVENTIST #HURCH v "UT THE GREATEST THREATS TO THE HEALTH OF A CONGREGATION ARE USUALLY NOT THEOLOGICAL DISPUTES

OR DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT BASIC VALUES 4HE REAL CHALLENGES ARE MORE MUNDANE 4HEY ARE DIFFERENCES OF TASTE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING THINGS DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS EVEN DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY WE ARTICULATE THE SAME VALUES !CCEPTING DIFFERENCESˆ DIFFERENCES THAT DO NOT COMPROMISE OUR ESSENTIAL IDENTITYˆIS FUNDAMENTAL TO BUILDING A STRONG

EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS #AN ) VOTE FOR YOU TO BECOME HEAD ELDER EVEN THOUGH YOUR BACKGROUND AND APPROACH ARE DIFFERENT FROM MINE EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE YOUNG ) HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY h) WILL TRUST YOU !ND IN THIS ASSIGNMENT ) WILL HELP YOU GROW ) WILL NOT TORPEDO YOU WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE ) WILL FORGIVE AND SUPPORT YOU v ! BUILDER OR A DESTROYER %LLEN 7HITE KNEW THAT THE UNDERLYING ATTITUDE WITH WHICH WE APPROACH OTHERS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO THE HEALTH AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS )N A LETTER TO CHURCH MEMBERS IN 6ICTORIA !USTRALIA SHE WROTE h4HERE IS NO HOPE FOR THE SUCCESS OF ANY RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION WHERE CRITICISM IS CHERISHED AS A lNE ART AND CALLED SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT -EN MIGHT FAR BETTER BE BLIND TO OTHERS FAULTS THAN TO BE INSPIRED BY THAT KEEN DETECTIVE SPIRIT THAT WILL WATCH FOR DEFECTS IN THOSE

WHOM THE ,ORD LOVES AND THROUGH WHOM (E WORKS v

$O ) LOOK AT OTHERS TO FIND FAULT OR TO FIND COMMON GROUND !M ) CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH MY OWN COMFORT AND NEEDS OR FOR THE COMFORT OF OTHERS )S MY DEFAULT ATTITUDE ONE OF NEGATIVITY OR OF UNDERSTANDING 4HROUGH MY WORDS AND ACTIONS DO ) BUILD UP AND STRENGTHEN 'OD S FAMILY OR DO ) TEAR DOWN AND DESTROY )T IS MORE THAN A SET OF THEORETICAL CONCEPTS THAT WILL DRAW PEOPLE INTO THE CHURCH AND KEEP THEM THERE 4HESE ARE IMPORTANT 7E MUST KNOW AND UNDERSTAND TRUTH "UT IT IS THE DYNAMICS OF COMMUNITYˆTHE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ) FORM WITH OTHERS WHICH MAKE ME FEEL LOVED AND WANTEDˆTHAT WILL KEEP ME ANCHORED WITHIN 'OD S FAMILY )F ) FEEL REJECTED BY PEOPLE

OR IF ) AM MADE TO FEEL THAT 'OD HAS REJECTED ME THEN ) AM GONE "UT WHEN 'OD S SPIRIT IS AT WORK IN THE LIVES AND RELATIONSHIPS OF CHURCH MEMBERS THERE WILL BE AN IRREPRESSIBLE WARMTH AND ATTRACTIVENESS !ND IT IS CONGREGATIONS SUCH AS THESE

CONGREGATIONS THAT TAKE SERIOUSLY THE CALL TO #HRISTIAN COMMUNITY THAT WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVELY EQUIPPED FOR MISSION .EXT MONTH 0ASTOR 0AULSEN EXPLORES HOW HEALTHY CHURCHES RELATE TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY ARE CALLED TO SERVE

4HE 5PWARD ,OOK P

*AN 0AULSEN IS PRESIDENT OF THE WORLDWIDE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

7).$/7

)NTO

.IGERIA 4RAVELING FROM THE MODERN OVERCROWDED STREETS OF ,AGOS ON THE !TLANTIC COAST TO THE HOT HUMID JUNGLE VILLAGES OF EASTERN .IGERIA MAY SEEM LIKE TRAVELING THROUGH TIME ,AGOS IS .IGERIA S COMMERCIAL CENTER THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN !FRICA )TS TOWERING HIGH RISES ARE A SHARP CONTRAST TO THE EASTERN VILLAGES WHERE TRADITIONAL BELIEFS AND WAYS OF LIFE ARE STILL BEING PRACTICED ,OCATED ALONG !FRICA S WEST CENTRAL COAST .IGERIA IS !FRICA S MOST POPULATED NATION )T IS HOME TO MORE THAN PEOPLE GROUPS HUNDREDS OF LANGUAGES A VARIETY OF HISTORIES AND LARGE GROUPS FROM SEVERAL MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS .IGERIA IS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO HAVE THE LARGEST )SLAMIC POPULATION IN !FRICA .IGERIA OFl CIALLY GAINED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM THE 5NITED +INGDOM IN AND IT IS STILL A MEMBER OF THE "RITISH #OMMONWEALTH OF .ATIONS %STABLISHED AS A FEDERALIST REPUBLIC MUCH LIKE THE 5NITED 3TATES .IGERIA HAS STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN A DEMOCRACY )N AFTER YEARS OF MILITARY RULE .IGERIA ONCE AGAIN REGAINED CIVILIAN RULE

AND A NEW CONSTITUTION WAS ADOPTED !T THE END OF -AY

5MARU -USA 9AR !DUA BECAME THE l RST CIVILIAN TO SUCCEED A DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT MARKING THE LONGEST PERIOD OF CIVILIAN RULE IN THE NATION S HISTORY %VEN THOUGH .IGERIA HAS THE WORLD S TENTH LARGEST PETROLEUM RESERVES POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND WEAK INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE KEPT THE NATION FROM CAPITALIZING ON THIS NATURAL RESOURCE 4HIS IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THIS INDUSTRY PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN .IGERIA S ONGOING l NANCIAL STABILITY AS PETROLEUM ALONE ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN PERCENT OF .IGERIA S ECONOMY AND NEARLY PERCENT OF ITS FOREIGN EXPORT INCOME 9EARS OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS TENSIONS

AND ACCUSATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT PLAGUE THIS NATION 4HE REGIONALIZATION OF .IGERIA S -USLIM AND #HRISTIAN POPULATION UNDERSCORES ITS DIVERSITY 4HE NORTH AND SOUTHWEST ARE PREDOMINANTLY 3UNNI -USLIM THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ARE MOSTLY #HRISTIAN AND THE EASTERN VILLAGES ARE MOSTLY ANIMIST !NIMIST ROOTS RUN DEEP IN .IGERIA !LTHOUGH ONLY PERCENT OF TODAY S POPULATION IS ANIMIST THE MILLION ADHERENTS REPRESENT A REGION THAT IS CONSIDERED THE HOME OF VOODOO 4HE ANCESTORS OF THE MILLION MEMBER 9ORUBA

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

.)'%2)! #APITAL

!BUJA

,ANGUAGES

%NGLISH OFl CIAL (AUSA 9ORUBA

)GOBO AND &ULANI

2ELIGION

-USLIM #HRISTIAN INDIGENOUS BELIEFS

0OPULATION

MILLION

!DVENTIST MEMBERSHIP

!DVENTIST TO POPULATION RATIO

ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUP BROUGHT VOODOO TO THE #ARIBBEAN WHEN THEY WERE TAKEN TO THE NEW WORLD AS SLAVES 4HE !DVENTIST #HURCH IS WELL ESTABLISHED IN .IGERIA WITH A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL AND MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS "ABCOCK 5NIVERSITY ONE OF THE OLDEST !DVENTIST HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN !FRICA MAKES A POWERFUL IMPACT ON ITS COMMUNITY -ORE THAN HALF OF ITS MEMBER STUDENT BODY IS NOT !DVENTIST "UT THERE ARE STILL GREAT CHALLENGES TO MISSION ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST WHERE THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO !DVENTIST SCHOOLS 4HIS QUARTER S 4HIRTEENTH 3ABBATH /FFERING WILL HELP BUILD THREE EVANGELISTIC CENTERS IN .IGERIA A WORSHIP CENTER FOR STUDENTS AT "ABCOCK 5NIVERSITY AND A SECONDARY SCHOOL IN EASTERN .IGERIA 4O LEARN MORE ABOUT !DVENTIST MISSION WORK IN .IGERIA WATCH h4HE 2OAD 7ELL 4RAVELEDv ON THIS QUARTER S !DVENTIST -ISSION $6$ OR VISIT WWW !DVENTIST-ISSION ORG TO DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE MISSION QUARTERLIES #OMPILED BY (ANS /LSEN /Fl CE OF !DVENTIST -ISSION

7 / 2 , $ ( % ! , 4 (

) HAD AN ULTRASOUND AND MY NOT YET BORN BABY IS A BOY -Y HUSBAND AND ) ARE DISCUSSING CIRCUMCISION 7HAT DO YOU ADVISE IRCUMCISION OF A BOY IS NOT THE SAME OPERATION AS FEMALE CIRCUMCISION OR AS WHAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS hFEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION v 4HIS IS WHERE UNQUALIlED PERSONS USING UNSTERILIZED KNIVES

GLASS AND THE LIKE MAY ACTUALLY REMOVE THE LABIA MINORA AND CLITORIS IN A HORRENDOUS PROCEDURE .EVERTHELESS

MALE CIRCUMCISION IS NOT WITHOUT ITS OWN RISKS 4HESE INCLUDE BLEEDING AND INFECTION AND SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN CHANGES IN PAIN TOLERANCE AMONG THOSE CIRCUMCISED COMPARED TO THOSE UNCIRCUMCISED 0HIMOSIS

WHICH IS A NARROWED OR TIGHT FORESKIN

MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS IN OLDER BOYS

BUT IS RELATIVELY RARE AND NOT SUFlCIENT REASON TO CIRCUMCISE ALL MALES 4HE !MERICAN 0EDIATRIC 3OCIETY DOES NOT RECOMMEND CIRCUMCISION BUT RECENTLY STUDIES IN +ENYA AND 5GANDA HAVE SHOWN THAT AS IN 3OUTH !FRICA THERE IS ABOUT A PERCENT REDUCTION IN THE TRANSMISSION OF ()6 IN THOSE CIRCUMCISED #LEARLY BECAUSE IT IS A DIFlCULT MATTER TO GET PEOPLE TO ALTER hAT RISKv BEHAVIOR PATTERNS

AND IN A PLACE SUCH AS !FRICA WHERE RISK IS SO HIGH IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE TO RECOMMEND CIRCUMCISION !S FOR YOU AND YOUR NEW BABY YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION AS YOU CAREFULLY WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS

#

-Y DAUGHTER LIVES IN "RAZIL AND SHE TELLS ME IT IS FASHIONABLE TO HAVE CESAREAN SECTION RATHER THAN NATURAL CHILDBIRTH 7HAT DO YOU SAY E ARE MEN SO WE COULD GET INTO DEEP TROUBLE ON THIS ONE 4HOSE

7

3 4! 3 ) ! , " % 2 4 $ ) ' ) 4! , ,9 - / $ ) & ) % $

ABY " #IRCUMCISION "Y !LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES AND 0ETER . ,ANDLESS hFUNNYv LETTERS BEHIND OUR NAMES ARE #ANADIAN AND 3OUTH !FRICAN QUALIlCATIONS AND THE ONES BEHIND (ANDYSIDES &2#3# AND &!#/' MEAN &ELLOW OF THE 2OYAL #OLLEGE OF 3URGEONS OF #ANADA AND &ELLOW OF THE !MERICAN #OLLEGE OF /BSTETRICIANS AND 'YNECOLOGISTS .EVERTHELESS WE HEREBY GIVE NOTICE THAT WE WILL NOT ENTER INTO A LENGTHY CORRESPONDENCE ON THIS ISSUE #HILDBIRTH IS PAINFUL (OW DO WE KNOW 7ELL MY WIFE ;-RS (ANDYSIDES= HAS THE PAIN TOLERANCE OF A HORSE BUT SHE SAYS IT HURTS AND ) BELIEVE HER 3O IT S NATURAL THAT IF A PROCEDURE COULD BE DONE UNDER ANESTHESIA WITH LESSER PAIN ALBEIT DRAWN OUT OVER A LONGER PERIOD

SOME MAY CHOOSE IT 4HERE $ID WE EVER RILE UP SOME OF OUR READERS "UT TO BE MORE SERIOUS SOME OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CESAREAN SECTION # SECTION ARE DECLINING WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS IN ANESTHESIA AND CONSEQUENTLY OLDER ARGUMENTS AGAINST # SECTION ARE OFTEN LESS VALID THOUGH MANY ARE STILL TRUE -OST COMPLICATIONS ARE MATERNAL AND

CONSEQUENTLY BETTER TOLERATED AND LESS LIKELY TO LEAD TO LITIGATION THAN IS DAMAGE TO A BABY 4HIS MEANS DIFlCULT FORCEPS BREECH DELIVERIES OR ANY OTHER THREAT TO THE BABY WHATSOEVER IN LABOR IS TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY AND A # SECTION IS OFTEN SELECTED 4HOUGH NORMAL DELIVERY IS BEAUTIFUL AND A hFANTASTICv EXPERIENCE FOR MOST MANY MOTHERS HAVE TOLD ME ;!LLAN= THISˆ) VE DELIVERED LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF BABIES IT CAN HAVE COMPLICATIONS 4HE STRETCHING AND TEARS THAT ON OCCASION OCCUR MAY LEAD TO PROBLEMS

!N EXAMPLE WAS SHOWN IN A RECENT /REGON STUDY OF WOMEN /NLY PERCENT UNFORTUNATELY COMPLETED THE SURVEY BUT PERCENT OF THOSE RESPONDING REPORTED FECAL INCONTINENCE IN THE TO MONTHS POST DELIVERY !FTER ADJUSTING FOR THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN A WOMAN HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO THE STUDY FOUND OBESITY DURATION OF PUSHING

LACERATIONS AND SMOKING HABITS WERE ALL RELATED TO THE PARTICULAR PROBLEM -ANY WOMEN DO NOT TALK ABOUT SUCH DIFlCULTIES SO THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM IS PROBABLY UNDERESTIMATED &ECAL INCONTINENCE IS NOT LIKELY A LONG STANDING PROBLEM FOR THE MAJORITY

BUT SUCH FACTORS MAY INmUENCE CHOICES ABOUT CESAREAN SECTION 7HEN ) !LLAN WAS IN "RAZIL ) DISCUSSED WITH SOME OF THE DOCTORS THERE THE HIGH # SECTION RATES IN THAT COUNTRY WHICH ARE AT LEAST DOUBLE THOSE IN THE 5NITED 3TATES 4HEY FELT THE OUTCOMES JUSTIlED THE RATES 7HAT MORE DO WE SAY 7E HAVE SAID ENOUGH TO GET US INTO DEEP TROUBLE ALREADY FROM FOLK ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS DEBATE

!LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES - "

#H " &2#0# &2#3# &!#/'

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

- -ED & # 0 3! & ! # #

IS )#0! EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF (EALTH -INISTRIES

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

$ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,

.EW

7INE IN /LD

7INESKINS 4HE NEED FOR INNOVATION IN THE CHURCH "Y !LEJANDRO -EDINA

2

ECENTLY A -EXICAN MARKETING ORGANIZATION GAVE A PRIZE TO THE #HIPOTLE 0IZZA COMPANY FOR AN IMPRESSIVE INNOVATION IN ITS PRODUCTS 7HAT THE COMPANY DID WAS TO ADD CHIPOTLE A -EXICAN CHILI SAUCE TO THE TRADITIONAL )TALIAN SAUCE 4HE RESULT PROVED A BIG SUCCESS AMONG THE -EXICAN PEOPLE 4ODAY INNOVATION IS AN IMPORTANT GOAL FOR ALL KINDS OF COMPANIES 3PECIALISTS IN BUSINESS SAY THAT ENTITIES THAT DO NOT INNOVATE HAVE A HIGH RISK OF FADING AWAY 4HE COMMERCIAL SECTOR PLACES A HIGH VALUE ON THOSE COMPANIES THAT INCLUDE SOME KIND OF INNOVATION IN THEIR PRODUCTS IN THEIR IMAGE OR IN OTHER ASPECTS OF THEIR BUSINESS ! CHURCH TOO MUST LEARN THE ART OF INNOVATION IN ITS WORK METHODS 4HE GOSPEL MUST BE PREACHED IN NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO A CHANGING SOCIETY 0EOPLE ARE WAITING FOR THE #HRISTIAN MESSAGE BUT SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT RESPOND IF WE KEEP PRESENTING IT IN THE SAME OLD WAY 0ERHAPS IF WE PUT THE SAME MESSAGE IN A DIFFERENT DRESS PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE IT WITH OPEN ARMS

!LEJANDRO -EDINA IS EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE -EXICAN 0UBLISHING (OUSE IN -EXICO #ITY

-EXICO

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

7HAT *ESUS 3AID

/NE DAY *OHN S DISCIPLES CAME AND ASKED *ESUS h(OW IS IT THAT WE AND THE 0HARISEES FAST BUT YOUR DISCIPLES DO NOT FAST v -ATT .)6 *OHN S DISCIPLES WERE NOT BAD PEOPLE BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE 0HARISEES SOWED DOUBTS IN THEIR MINDS ABOUT *ESUS 4HUS THEY APPROACHED THE ,ORD IN A SUSPICIOUS ATTITUDE NOT PARTICULARLY LOOKING FOR TRUTH

BUT TRYING TO CONFOUND (IM WITH THEIR QUESTIONS )T S SAD WHEN RELIGIOUS DUTIES INSTEAD OF LEADING US TO CONFIRM ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE LEAD RATHER TO DEBATES AND CONFLICTS (ERE *OHN S DISCIPLES FOLLOWING THE PRACTICES OF THEIR ANCIENT PREDECESSORS MISINTERPRETED RELIGION BY COMING TO USE THE TRADITION OF FASTING AS A WAY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE OF SIN AND SECURE A FAVORABLE ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYERS &ASTING FOR THEM HAD BECOME A PROCESS OF JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS )T HAD BECOME A WAY OF CALMING A SEVERE 'OD AS THEY CONCEIVED (IM BY SACRIFICE 0ROUD &AITH

h7E FULl LL THE NORM AND YOU DO NOT v 4HIS IS THE POSITION OF MANY #HRISTIANS WITH A MISCONCEPTION OF RELIGIOUS LIFE 4HEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO CONDUCT THEIR EXTERNAL SPIRITUAL PRACTICES IN AN OSTENTATIOUS WAY

GLORIFYING THEMSELVES AS IT WERE NOT ONLY BEFORE MEN

BUT IN 'OD S PRESENCE AS WELL SEE 2OM h"UT HOW IS IT ;*ESUS = THAT WE AND THE 0HARISEES FAST

BUT YOUR DISCIPLES DO NOT FAST v $ !6 ) $ 0 / 5 . $ 3 $ ) ' ) 4! , ,9 - / $ ) & ) % $

4HE ,ORD HAD AN ANSWER h#AN THE FRIENDS OF THE BRIDEGROOM MOURN AS LONG AS THE BRIDEGROOM IS WITH THEM "UT THE DAYS WILL COME WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM AND THEN THEY WILL FAST .O ONE PUTS A PIECE OF UNSHRUNK CLOTH ON AN OLD GARMENT FOR THE PATCH PULLS AWAY FROM THE GARMENT AND THE TEAR IS MADE WORSE .OR DO THEY PUT NEW WINE INTO OLD WINESKINS

OR ELSE THE WINESKINS BREAK THE WINE IS SPILLED AND THE WINESKINS ARE RUINED "UT THEY PUT NEW WINE INTO NEW WINESKINS AND BOTH ARE PRESERVEDv -ATT (IS ANSWER WAS CONCISE ,EGALISTIC ATTITUDES ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH DIVINE GRACE LIKE UNSHRUNK CLOTH IN AN OLD GARMENT OR NEW WINE IN OLD WINESKINS 4HE ,ORD SAYS THAT SALVATION COMES BY FAITH NOT THROUGH HUMAN RITES OR PRACTICES &ORMALISMS AND LEGALISMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO CREATE CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN BELIEVERS 4HE CONCEPT OF SALVATION BY WORKS NULLIl ES THE GOSPEL MESSAGE )T S LIKE POURING NEW WINE INTO OLD WINESKINS 4HERE IS NO COMPATIBILITY !DAPTING THE 'OSPEL TO -ODERN 3OCIETY

4HE GOSPEL NEEDS TO BE ADAPTED TO MEET THE CURRENT NEEDS OF A CHANGING WORLD 4HE MESSAGE THE NEW WINE IS NOT THE PROBLEM 2ATHER IT S THE OLD hWINESKINSv WE CONTINUE TO USE 7HAT ARE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR 4AKE THE MATTER OF THE HOME AS AN EXAMPLE -ARRIAGE PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING MORE SERIOUS AND MORE PREVALENT EVERY DAY !RE WE SPEAKING TO THAT ISSUE 4HEN THERE S THE PROFESSIONAL SECTOR $O WE MAKE SUCH PEOPLE FEEL EXCLUDED FROM THE BIBLICAL MESSAGEˆWHEN WE GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE GOSPEL IS ONLY FOR THE UNSUCCESSFUL ONLY FOR THOSE WHOSE LIVES HAVE FAILED !ND WHAT ABOUT THE YOUTH (OW WELL ARE WE ADDRESSING THEIR NEEDS )N ADAPTING THE GOSPEL TO THE NEEDS OF MODERN SOCIETY

WE MUST NOT REDUCE IT TO LOCAL CUSTOMS OR TRADITIONAL PRACTICES 4HAT KIND OF ATTITUDE ACTUALLY CLOSES THE DOOR OF

&ORMALISMS AND LEGALISMS HAVE A TENDENCY TO CREATE CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN BELIEVERS

HEAVEN TO MANY "UT WE SHOULD NOT KILL THE CREATIVITY OF CHURCH MEMBERS ESPECIALLY THAT OF THE YOUTH 7E NEED TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR FAITH IN DIFFERENT WAYS 7E SHOULD ENCOURAGE NEW WINESKINS FOR NEW WINE )N PREACHING THE GOSPEL WE NEED TO INCORPORATE ELEMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THE DAILY LIFE OF THE PEOPLEˆ SCIENCE FOR EXAMPLE OR TECHNOLOGY OR THE ARTS 4HE POINT IS NOT TO INSIST THAT THE hOLD WINESKINSv ARE THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW 'OD AND PREACH (IS 7ORD )N PRACTICING INNOVATION WE DO NOT FORGET GOOD ORDER ) M NOT ADVOCATING INVENTIVENESS FOR ITS OWN SAKE 7E CANNOT SACRIl CE THE SACRED ELEMENTS OF #HRISTIANITY FOR VULGAR PRACTICES 7HAT WE WANT IS SIMPLY TO ENRICH THE EXPRESSION OF OUR FAITH FOR A SOPHISTICATED MODERN SOCIETY 7HEN THE l RST MISSIONARIES CAME TO -EXICO SPECIl CALLY TO #HIAPAS ABOUT YEARS AGO THEY INSTRUCTED THE BELIEVERS THAT PREACHERS MUST WEAR WHITE SHIRTS IN THE PULPIT AND UNTIL TODAY THERE ARE SOME RURAL CONGREGATIONS THAT INSIST ON FOLLOWING THAT hCOMMANDMENT v 4HEY HAVE A LITTLE CLOSET IN THE PASTOR S OFl CE WITH WHITE SHIRTS OF ALL SIZES 3O WHEN A PREACHER APPEARS NOT WEARING A WHITE SHIRT THEY OPEN THE CLOSET AND GIVE THEM ONE 3TAGNATION -EANS $EATH

,AST -AY ) PREACHED IN A (ISPANIC !DVENTIST CHURCH IN $ALLAS 4EXAS 4HE CONGREGATION RENTS FROM A -ETHODIST CHURCH 4HE !DVENTISTS USE THE BUILDING ON 7EDNESDAYS AND 3ABBATHS AND A GROUP OF 0ENTECOSTAL !FRO !MERICANS USES IT ON 3UNDAYS AND &RIDAYS 3O WHAT HAPPENED TO THE -ETHODIST PEOPLE THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY 4HE ANSWER IS THAT ONLY TWO OF THEM TWO ELDERLY MEN HAVE SURVIVED 4HE REST ARE GONE !ND WHEN YOU GO TO THE CHURCH YOU CAN SEE THAT EVERYTHING IS OLD THE PULPIT THE WINDOWS THE PASTOR S OFl CEˆEVERYTHING )T S LIKE TRAVELING BACK TO THE PAST 7HAT HAPPENED THERE ) DON T QUITE KNOW "UT ) SUSPECT THAT INNOVATION WAS LACKING ) SUSPECT THEY DID NOT EXPLORE DIFFERENT WAYS TO RETAIN THEIR PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH 4HE INCOMPATIBILITY OF THE CHURCH WITH MODERN LIFE l NISHED THEM OFF "UT NOW YOU CAN SEE THERE A GROWING

INNOVATIVE (ISPANIC !DVENTIST CONGREGATION PREACHING THE GOSPEL WITH POWER 7E SHOULD NOT FEAR INNOVATION )F WE KNOW THE FUNDAMENTALS OF #HRISTIAN BELIEFS WHY STAY ANCHORED TO OLD PRACTICES WITHOUT ANY MEANING FOR US "UT WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT IT S NOT CHANGE IN ITSELF BUT CHANGE TO PROVIDE BELIEVERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRESH SPIRITUAL EXPRESSION )N *ESUS MINISTRY ) SEE INNOVATION TO MEET THE RELIGIOUS REALITY OF (IS TIME (E WAS A FRIEND OF WOMENˆTHAT WAS NEW !ND (E WAS A FRIEND OF THE POOR 4HE BIBLICAL MESSAGE WAS THE SAME BUT (IS WAY OF TRANSMITTING AND TEACHING IT WAS DIFFERENT !ND (E IS OUR MODEL

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

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

2EACHING /UT 7ITH

OICE 6AND

!

LTHOUGH 3ANGZELA 4LUA AND THE OTHER YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN INVOLVED WITH 2EACHOUT -INISTRY SHARE *ESUS MESSAGE OF LOVE AND HOPE THROUGH MUSIC IN -IZORAM AND ITS BORDERING STATES THEY DON T STOP THERE 4HEY ALSO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE ,ORD S DIRECTIVE TO CARE FOR THE HELPLESS THE HOPELESS

AND THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THEIR NORTHEAST )NDIA SOCIETY h4HOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN -IZORAM ARE ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AND MUST BE LIBERATED FROM 3ATAN S CAPTIVITY v SAYS 4LUA DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION h2EACHOUT -INISTRY VISITS MANY REHABILITATION FACILITIES TO MINISTER TO THE PEOPLE THERE TO PRAY WITH THEM AND TO LET THEM KNOW THAT *ESUS STILL LOVES THEM IN SPITE OF THEIR SINS AND SHORTCOMINGS )T IS IMPOSSIBLE TO JUST NOT DO ANYTHING WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE SO MUCH IN NEED OF HELP v !S TOLD BY -IZORAM IS ONE OF SEVEN NORTHEAST )NDIA STATES 3ANGZELA 4LAU AND IS mANKED BY -YANMAR ON THE EAST AND SOUTH AND "ANGLADESH ON THE WEST )TS APPROXIMATELY SQUARE KILOMETERS MORE THAN SQUARE MILES OF TERRITORY IS HOME TO ALMOST PEOPLE MOST OF WHOM EARN THEIR APPOINTED AS ONE OF THE HOSPITAL S EIGHT ADVISERS 4HIS MEANS LIVELIHOOD FROM AGRICULTURE )T BOASTS THE SECOND HIGHEST ) M INVOLVED WITH DECISIONS ABOUT INTERNAL PROBLEMS AND LITERACY RATE OF THE )NDIA STATES lNANCIAL AND LEGAL MATTERS ) ALSO HELP ORGANIZE PROGRAMS v

A (

(ELPING THE $ESTITUTE

! 3AVING -IRACLE

&OUNDED IN BY 4LAU AND SEVEN OTHER YOUNG ADULTS THE 2EACHOUT -INISTRY ENSEMBLE PERFORMS CONCERTS IN CHURCHES

RENTED HALLS AND OUTDOOR PAVILIONS IN THIS REGION OF )NDIA /FTEN THEY CONDUCT CONCERTS TO SOLICIT FUNDS FOR THOSE IN NEED h7E ORGANIZED TWO SUCCESSFUL CONCERTS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE 4.4 4HUTAK .UNPUITU 4EAM #ALVARY (OSPITAL HERE IN !IZAWL THE CAPITAL OF -IZORAM v 4LUA NOTES h4HIS IS AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT 2EACHOUT -INISTRY IS ESPECIALLY COMMITTED TO HELPING AND SUPPORTING 4HE HOSPITAL HOUSES ABOUT PHYSICALLY DISABLED AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE APPROXIMATELY DRUG ADDICTS AND MORE THAN ORPHANS WHO RELY ENTIRELY ON DONATIONS AND GIFTS FROM CHURCHES AND INDIVIDUALS FOR FOOD AND CLOTHING v 4HE ORPHANS ARE BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL NOT ONLY FROM -IZORAM BUT ALSO FROM SEVERAL NEIGHBORING STATES SUCH AS -ANIPUR !SSAM AND 4RIPURA 3OME COME FROM AS FAR AS -YANMAR h4HERE ARE MANY ORPHANED CHILDREN IN )NDIA v 4LAU NOTES h7E ENTERTAIN THEM RAISE FUNDS FOR THEM AND ) VE BEEN

4RAVELING ABOUT THE COUNTRY TO HOLD THEIR MUSICAL PERFORMANCES WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED GLAMOROUS /NCE

THE GROUP ACCOMPANIED A PASTOR ON AN ARDUOUS HOUR JOURNEY IN AN OLD BEAT UP VAN THAT HAD NOT BEEN USED IN YEARS )T WAS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO THEM 4LAU SAYS HOWEVER THAT THE ,ORD PROVIDED THEM WITH SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE REMOTE DUSTY HILLS AND ROUGH TERRAIN OF THE OUTLYING VILLAGES WHERE VEHICLES RARELY PASS (E ALSO BELIEVES THE ,ORD WORKED A MIRACLE FOR THEM DURING THAT TRIP h7HILE TRAVELING BACK HOME FROM THE EDGE OF THE -YANMAR BORDER IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT v 4LAU EXPLAINS

hTHE VEHICLE S HEADLIGHTS GAVE OUT 7E WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND THE MOON WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND v 4LAU SAYS THE GROUP BECAME FEARFUL AND PRAYED TO THE ,ORD TO HELP THEM OUT OF THIS DIFlCULT AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION h-IRACULOUSLY THE SKY CLEARED UP AND THE MOON LIGHTED UP THE ROAD v HE SAYS h7E MADE OUR WAY BACK HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS v ! &AITH BASED -INISTRY

3ANGZELA 4LAU IS FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF 2EACHOUT -INISTRY

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

$ESPITE THEIR LACK OF RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION AND NO REGULAR INCOME FROM THEIR MUSIC MINISTRY 4LAU CREDITS 'OD FOR UNFAILINGLY PROVIDING THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE )N *ANUARY HE SAYS THEY WERE CALLED TO MINISTER IN THE STATE OF !RUNACHAL 0RADESH h)NITIALLY THERE WAS SOME HESITATION IN GRANTING THE PERMIT TO USE THE TOWN HALL FOR OUR PERFORMANCE v 4LAU EXPLAINS hBUT

( / 3 0 ) 4! , ! . $ 3 % 2 6 ) # % 0 ( / 4 / 3 # / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & 4 . 4 # ! ,6! 2 9 ( / 3 0 ) 4! ,

ND

9OUNG ADULTS IN )NDIA PREACH THE GOSPEL THROUGH MUSIC AND A MINISTRY OF SERVICE

AFTER THE PERMIT WAS GRANTED THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE AND MANY OTHER HIGH RANKING OFl CERS ATTENDED AND APPEARED DEEPLY MOVED BY OUR SONGS AND MESSAGES ON HEALTH v 4HEY WERE INVITED TO RETURN AND PERFORM AGAIN THE FOLLOWING YEAR 2EACHOUT -INISTRY VISITED THE NORTHEASTERN 5NITED 3TATES FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR

PERFORMING IN NUMEROUS -IZO AND OTHER !DVENTIST CHURCHES IN THE 7ASHINGTON $ # AREA 4HEY ALSO SANG FOR A MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE AT THE !DVENTIST #HURCH S WORLD HEADQUARTERS IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND h7E ARE DELIGHTED WITH THE WORK OF 2EACHOUT -INISTRY IN -IZORAM AND OTHER STATES OF NORTHEAST )NDIA v SAYS 3OUTHERN !SIA $IVISION PRESIDENT 2ON 7ATTS h)T IS SO GOOD TO SEE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ON l RE FOR 'OD SHARING THEIR FAITH THROUGH SONG AND TESTIMONIES 4HEY HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO YOUTH IN OTHER PARTS OF )NDIA TO USE THEIR TALENTS TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF #HRIST S SOON RETURN v 4HE !DVANTAGE OF 9OUTH

4LAU SEES HIS YOUTH AS AN ADVANTAGE IN THE MINISTRY

PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCES INVOLVED WITH TRAVEL AND SERVICE IN MORE REMOTE REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY (E SAYS HE S GRATEFUL THE ,ORD IS USING HIM AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF 2EACHOUT -INISTRY WHILE THEY ARE STILL YOUNG h3OMETIMES IT IS DIFl CULT TO GO OUT BUT WHEN WE DARE TO ANSWER THE CALL OF 'OD WE NEVER REGRET IT v 4LAU SAYS h7E ALWAYS COME HOME l LLED WITH LOTS OF JOY AND HAPPINESS h3OMETIMES SOME OF OUR MEMBERS MUST GO BY FAITH TO PERFORMANCES BECAUSE OF CHALLENGES WITH CONm ICTING WORK OR SCHOOL SCHEDULES v HE ADDS h"UT THEY NEVER SAY THEY REGRET IT OR THEY VE NEVER SUFFERED ANY LOSS BECAUSE OF IT h7E PRAISE 'OD FOR BLESSING THIS MINISTRY v

# / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & 2 % ! # ( / 5 4 - ) . ) 3 4 2 9

#LOCKWISE &ROM "OTTOM 2%!#(/54 -).)3429 4HIS GROUP OF YOUNG ADULTS NOT ONLY TRAVELS THROUGHOUT NORTHEASTERN )NDIA TO SHARE THE GOSPEL OF #HRIST IN MU SIC THEY ALSO RAISE MONEY FOR AND PERSONALLY MINISTER TO ORPHANS THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED AND THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS IN THAT REGION #URRENTLY

MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED WITH 2EACHOUT -INISTRY BUT THAT NUMBER VARIES AS SOME LEAVE AND OTHERS JOIN 3EVEN TEEN ENSEMBLE PARTICIPANTS ARE SHOWN HERE (/30)4!, $/2-)4/29 4HE 4.4 #ALVARY (OSPITAL IN !IZAWL THE CAPITAL OF -IZORAM HOUSES DRUG ADDICTS DISABLED PEOPLE AND ORPHANS 2EACHOUT -INISTRY HOLDS MUSICAL CONCERTS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE HOSPITAL 3HOWN HERE IS THE MEN S DORMITORY OF THAT FACILITY 7/23()00).' '/$ /RPHANS ATTEND CHURCH SERVICES AT THE 4.4 #AL VARY (OSPITAL A #HRISTIAN FACILITY

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29

9%!23 ,!4%2 7HEN &INLEY RETURNED WITH HIS WIFE

%RNESTINE TO "UDAPEST FOR ANOTHER EVANGELISTIC SERIES IN

-RS &INLEY LEFT GOT TO MEET THESE THREE WOMEN FOR THE l RST TIME %NIKO SECOND FROM LEFT AND !NIKØ NEXT TO HER ARE NOW PASTORS WIVES AND (ELGA IS A CHURCH PLANTING "IBLE WORKER

) WENT BACK TO MY TEMPORARY RESIDENCE THAT NIGHT FEELING DISCOURAGED -Y WIFE WAS NOT WITH ME AND ) WAS COMPLETELY ALONE 3LEEP EVADED ME AS TEARS AND FEELINGS OF DISAPPOINTMENT DOMINATED MY NIGHT

!

T TIMES IN OUR LIVES ALL OF US ASK OURSELVES THE QUESTION )S WHAT ) M DOING REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE 9OU MAY BE A SECRETARY IN AN OFl CE TYPING LETTERS OR ANSWERING PHONE CALLS FOR YOUR BOSS /R MAYBE YOU RE SITTING ON A MUNDANE COMMITTEE IT S ALMOST LUNCH AND YOU RE BURNT OUT AS YOU CONTINUE TO SIFT THROUGH SEEMINGLY MEANINGLESS DETAILS )T S TIMES LIKE THESE WHEN WE INEVITABLY QUESTION WHETHER OUR LIVES ARE HAVING ANY POSITIVE IMPACT -OST OF US AS !DVENTIST #HRISTIANS ASK THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE DEEP WITHIN OUR HEARTS WE WANT TO KNOW THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS HAVING A POSITIVE EFFECT ON SOMEONE

SOMEWHERE (OWEVER THERE IS ONE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THAT QUESTION )T IS OUR HUMAN NATURE TO FOCUS ON THE IMMEDIATE

2OCK #ONC 4HREE 'IRLS AND A "Y -ARK ! &INLEY

!

#ONFUSED 0REACHER -ARK ! &INLEY IS A VICE PRESIDENT OF

'OD WORKS IN UNEXPECTED WAYS

THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

( ! . . ! ( ' % ' ( / 2 .

CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS BUT 'OD LOOKS AT THINGS THROUGH THE EYES OF ETERNITY /NLY WHEN WE WALK THE GOLDEN STREETS OF HEAVEN WILL WE TRULY KNOW THE REAL IMPACT OF THE hMEANINGLESSv THINGS WE HAVE DONE 7E CAN T POSSIBLY HAVE ANY IDEA HOW IMPORTANT A CHEERFUL VOICE ON THE PHONE OR A SMILE TO A RANDOM PERSON ON THE STREET CAN BE IN 'OD S MASTER PLAN

DIFlCULT BECAUSE OF THE OPPOSITION FROM #OMMUNIST GOVERNMENTS !ND WAS PARTICULARLY TUMULTUOUS BECAUSE #OMMUNISM WAS NEAR ITS END )N FACT DURING OUR TIME IN "UDAPEST THERE WERE MORE THAN PEOPLE PROTESTING IN THE STREETS ) ARRIVED WITH MY TRANSLATOR ,AZLO (ANGYÕS ABOUT P M AT THE AUDITORIUM WHERE OUR MEETINGS WERE TO BE HELD LATER IN THE DAY 4HE PLAN WAS TO HAVE TWO SESSIONS ) 3AW 4ROUBLE WITH ONE STARTING AT lVE O CLOCK FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER AT ) D LIKE TO ILLUSTRATE THAT CONCEPT WITH AN EXPERIENCE ) HAD SEVEN 7E WERE EXPECTING TO HAVE ABOUT PEOPLE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THAT WAS AT lRST VERY DISAPPOINTING AT EACH MEETING (OWEVER AS SOON AS WE WALKED IN ) KNEW 4HROUGHOUT THE YEARS THOUGH ) VE SEEN HOW 'OD HAS USED THAT SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG THIS PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE TO GLORIFY (IS NAME !S ) ENTERED THE MAIN AUDITORIUM ) SAW THE CHANDELIERS )T WAS AND ) WAS SERVING AS THE MINISTERIAL SHAKING AND HEARD THE LOUD PULSATING BEAT OF ROCK MUSIC SECRETARY AT THE 4RANS %UROPEAN REGION OF THE !DVENTIST ) COULDN T HEAR MYSELF THINK MUCH LESS TALK WITH ,AZLO

#HURCH $URING THAT YEAR ) HAD BEEN ASKED TO CONDUCT AS WE TRIED TO DIALOGUE ABOUT WHAT TO DO ) DISCOVERED AN EVANGELISTIC MEETING IN "UDAPEST (UNGARY (OLDING THAT A ROCK BAND NAMED THE "IKINIS HAD DOUBLE BOOKED EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS IN %ASTERN %UROPE WAS EXTREMELY THE FACILITY AND HAD PLANNED A CONCERT THAT WAS TO START

ERT

"ELOW 02/5$ 0!34 /NE CAN SEE MONU MENTS OF VICTORY AND TRIUMPH OF THE OLD (UN GARIAN !USTRIAN %MPIRE THROUGHOUT "UDAPEST

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAPITAL CITIES IN THE WORLD 2IGHT (5.'29 &/2 4(% 7/2$ 4HOU SANDS ATTENDED THE /CTOBER EVANGELISTIC SERIES EAGER TO HEAR THE MESSAGE PREACHED

AT THAT SAME EVENINGˆONLY HALF AN HOUR AFTER OUR EVANGELISTIC MEETING WAS SCHEDULED TO END %VEN WORSE

THEY WERE PRACTICING AT THE VERY TIME WE NEEDED TO SET UP FOR OUR MEETING ) WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS WAS THE l RST TIME IN YEARS THAT THE !DVENTIST CHURCH WAS ABLE TO HOLD AN EVANGELISTIC MEETING IN "UDAPEST 4HE !DVENTIST MEMBERSHIP IN (UNGARY IS SMALL AND THESE MEETINGS WERE DESPERATELY NEEDED !ND SO ) ASKED ,AZLO TO TALK TO THE BAND LEADER TO TRY AND l GURE OUT WHAT WE MIGHT DO ) COULD SEE THE ANXIETY IN HIS FACE AS HE RETURNED h-ARK v HE SAID hWE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM v 4HE BAND LEADER HAD NO INTENTION OF LEAVING BEFORE l VE O CLOCK BECAUSE THAT WAS THE TIME STIPULATED FOR US TO USE THE BUILDING IN OUR CONTRACT ) DIDN T KNOW WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO 7E NEEDED TO SET UP PROJECTORS SCREENS AND OTHERWISE PREPARE THE AUDITORIUM FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ) DECIDED ) WAS GOING TO GO OVER AND TALK TO THE BAND LEADER MYSELF THROUGH THE TRANSLATOR %VEN AS ) BEGAN TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO HIM HE RUDELY STATED THAT THIS WAS HIS AUDITORIUM UNTIL AND THERE WAS NOTHING ) COULD DO ABOUT IT ,AZLO AND ) NEGOTIATED WITH HIM INTENSELY 7E EXPLAINED IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO SET UP THE AUDITORIUM IN JUST A FEW MINUTES 7E NEEDED AT LEAST AN HOUR &INALLY THE (OLY 3PIRIT IMPRESSED ME WITH THIS

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

!MID THE CONFUSION OF THE OVERm OW CROWD ) GOT CONFUSED WHILE PREACHING ON $ANIEL ) HAVE PREACHED ON THAT TOPIC HUNDREDS OF TIMES BUT THIS TIME ) FELT ) JUST WASN T CONNECTING WITH MY AUDIENCE

THOUGHT 4ELL HIM IF HE IS NOT OUT BY WE COULD NOT GUARANTEE HIS CONCERT WOULD BEGIN ON TIME &IRMLY BUT KINDLY WE EXPLAINED TO THE BAND LEADER THAT UNLESS HE GAVE US ONE HOUR TO SET UP OUR EQUIPMENT OUR MEETING WOULD MOST LIKELY START LATE AND WE WOULD NOT CUT IT SHORT FOR A ROCK CONCERT (E GOT THE POINT 2ELUCTANTLY

HE AGREED TO LEAVE THE HALL BY -Y 7ORST 3ERMONˆ) &ELT 4ERRIBLE

(UNDREDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO THE lRST MEETING AND ) FELT 'OD MOVE MIGHTILY !FTER THE PEOPLE LEFT THE lRST MEETING THE AUDITORIUM WAS mOODED WITH SCORES OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE STREET

WHO THOUGHT THE ROCK CONCERT WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN !S ) LOOKED OUT OVER THE CROWD ) SAW PEOPLE EVERYWHEREˆ BEHIND THE SCREEN AND lVE DEEP ON THE BALCONY ) THOUGHT ) WAS THE SPEAKER AT A YOUTH RALLY ) BEGAN TO PREACH BUT MANY OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE NOT RECEPTIVE 4HEY CAUSED A LOUD RUCKUS !MID THE CONFUSION OF THE OVERmOW CROWD ) GOT CONFUSED WHILE PREACHING ON $ANIEL ) HAVE PREACHED ON THAT TOPIC HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF TIMES BUT THIS TIME ) FELT ) WASN T CONNECTING AT ALL WITH MY AUDIENCE !T TIMES ) STUMBLED OVER MY EXPLANATIONS OF THE RISE AND FALL OF KINGDOMS AND THE DATES )N MY MIND IT WAS ONE OF THE POOREST SERMONS ) HAD EVER PREACHED ) WENT BACK TO MY TEMPORARY RESIDENCE THAT NIGHT FEELING DISCOURAGED -Y WIFE WAS NOT WITH ME AND ) WAS COMPLETELY ALONE 3LEEP EVADED ME AS TEARS AND FEELINGS OF DISAPPOINTMENT DOMINATED MY NIGHT !S ) WEPT ) CRIED OUT TO 'OD h,ORD YOU GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT AN EVANGELISTIC MEETING IN A PLACE THAT HADN T HAD ONE IN YEARS AND MANY PEOPLE CAME !ND ) DID SO POORLY v -Y MIND WAS IN A STATE OF CONFUSION )T WAS A VERY DIFlCULT NIGHT FOR ME 3TILL THE MEETINGS HAD TO GO ON 4HE NEXT NIGHT THE AUDITORIUM WAS PACKED ONCE AGAIN ) DON T KNOW WHY ALL THE PEOPLE CAME BACK BUT THEY DID )N THE FRONT ROW ) SAW THREE YOUNG WOMEN AND FELT IMPRESSED TO GO DOWN AND TALK TO THEM ) INTRODUCED MYSELF AND FOUND OUT THEIR NAMES WERE !NIK˜ %NIKO AND (ELGA %NIKO WAS AN ECONOMICS STUDENT AT +ARL -ARX 5NIVERSITY !NIK˜ AND (ELGA WERE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ) SOON FOUND OUT THEY HAD BEEN BROUGHT UP AS ATHEISTS 4HEY HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE "IBLE

*ESUS AND THE HEREAFTER 4HEY SEEMED OPEN BUT WITH NO BACKGROUND IN #HRISTIANITY THEY HAD VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF SPIRITUAL THINGS ) INQUIRED HOW THEY CAME TO THE MEETING 4HEY EXPLAINED THEY WERE FRIENDS WITH THE LEADERS IN THE ROCK BAND AND THAT THEY CAME TO THE MEETING THE PREVIOUS NIGHT % 8 # % 0 4 & / 2 0 ( / 4 / ' 2 ! 0 ( / & ( 5 . ' ! 2 ) ! . 0! 2 , ) ! - % . 4

! , , 0 ( / 4 / 3 3 5 0 0 , ) % $ " 9 % 2 . % 3 4 ) . % & ) . , % 9

WHILE WAITING FOR THE CONCERT TO START 4HEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT THEY WERE STANDING lVE DEEP IN THE BALCONY AND COULD NOT SEE THE SCREEN BUT WERE DEEPLY TOUCHED BY SOMETHING THAT ) SAID 3O THEY DECIDED TO COME BACK THAT EVENING !ND THEY KEPT COMINGˆEVERY NIGHT 4HE #HANGE

$URING THE MEETINGS ) BEGAN TO STUDY THE "IBLE WITH THEM A FEW TIMES A WEEK !T THE END OF THE MEETINGS THEY EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO BE BAPTIZED 3INCE THEY WERE SO NEW THE "UDAPEST CHURCH WAS A LITTLE HESITANT "UT IN THE END THE CHURCH BOARD AGREED THAT THE (OLY 3PIRIT WAS LEADING THEM TO BAPTISM %IGHTEEN YEARS LATER EARLY ) RETURNED TO "UDAPEST AND WAS VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT HAD BECOME OF THESE THREE YOUNG WOMEN 4HEIR LIVES TODAY ARE TRULY A LIVING TESTIMONY !NIK˜ AND %NIKO ARE BOTH WIVES TO 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST PASTORS WHILE (ELGA IS A "IBLE INSTRUCTOR

CURRENTLY CONDUCTING DIFFERENT "IBLE STUDIES AND IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF PLANTING A NEW CHURCH (ERE ARE THREE YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE GONE FROM AN ATHEISTIC BACKGROUND TO BEING POWERFUL VESSELS FOR 'OD S WORK !ND IT CAN ALL BE TRACED BACK TO THAT NIGHT OF THE ROCK CONCERT 7HEN /UR 7ORK 3EEMS -EANINGLESS

7HILE MY WIFE AND ) TALKED WITH THEM ) PRAISED 'OD AS ) REHEARSED THE STORY IN MY MIND -Y MEMORY mASHED BACK TO THAT SLEEPLESS NIGHT AS ) LAY ON MY BED CRYING BEFORE THE ,ORD COMPLAINING THAT MY SERMON HAD BEEN WORTHLESS

THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE POOREST SERMONS ) HAD EVER PREACHED !LTHOUGH ) FELT DISAPPOINTED THE (OLY 3PIRIT HAD BEEN WORKING POWERFULLY ON THESE THREE YOUNG GIRLSˆNOW THREE WOMEN OF EXTRAORDINARY FAITH /N THE DAYS WHEN IT SEEMS AS THOUGH OUR WORK IS MEANINGLESS REMEMBER THAT EVEN WHEN WE DEEM OUR ACTIONS AS FAILURES 'OD NEVER STOPS WORKING 4HE (OLY 3PIRIT TAKES SIMPLE THINGS THAT WE DO AND USES THEM FOR THE GLORY OF (IS KINGDOM 2OMANS PUTS IT THIS WAY h9ET IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US v 7E SERVE A GREAT BIG 'OD WHO WORKS IN WAYS THAT WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND /UR 'OD TAKES THE PHONE CALLS WE ANSWER THE LETTERS WE WRITE AND THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AND TURNS THESE SIMPLE TASKS INTO MEDIUMS TO ENHANCE (IS KINGDOM (E TAKES WHATEVER WE HAVEˆTHE lVE LOAVES AND TWO lSHES THE hBAD SERMONSvˆAND MULTIPLIES THEM INTO MUCH GREATER THINGS THAN WE COULD EVER HAVE IMAGINED ,ET S WAIT PATIENTLY AND SEE THE ETERNAL INmUENCE OF OUR hFAILURESv AND hMUNDANE TASKSv WHEN 'OD SETS THEM IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

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

.5-"%2

T H E S E C O N D C "Y !LEXIS ! 'ORING

OF

h,IFT UP THE TRUMPET v h2EJOICE AND SING v h*ESUS IS COMING AGAIN v ) GREW UP SINGING THESE LYRICS WITH A CONGREGATION OF BELIEVERS BELTING OUT THESE CLASSIC MELODIES WITH PASSION 7HEN ) WAS YOUNGER ) DIDN T THINK MUCH ABOUT WHAT ) WAS SINGING "UT RECENTLY ) VE BEGUN TO PONDER THE SIGNIlCANCE OF THE WORDS BEHIND THOSE TUNES 4HE SOON RETURN OF OUR ,ORD AND 3AVIOR *ESUS #HRIST IS A HOPE TO NOT ONLY SING ABOUT )T S A HOPE TO LIVE FOR ) lND IT AMUSING WHEN IN AN EFFORT TO CONSOLE DISTRAUGHT SOULS PEOPLE SAY h2ELAX )T S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD v 3UCH ADVICE MAKES ME WONDER WHAT THEY LL SAY WHEN THE END OF THE WORLD ACTUALLY DOES OCCURˆ BECAUSE IT WILL 7E LIVE IN A CULTURE WHERE MOVIES ENCOURAGE EVERY FANTASY HUMANS HAVE -ANY OF THEM FOCUS ON ONE UNIVERSAL FASCINATIONˆTHE END OF THE WORLD -OVIES CONVEY ALL SORTS OF END OF THE WORLD STORY LINES WITH PLOTS RANGING FROM NATURAL DISASTERS WIPING OUT HUMANITY TO ALIEN INVADERS TAKING OVER THE WORLD TO GIANT METEORITES ON A FATAL COLLISION COURSE WITH EARTH )T WAS RUMORED IN THAT THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT WAS FAST APPROACHING WITH THE TURN OF THE CENTURY 0EOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT COMPUTERS

!LEXIS ! 'ORING IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF #OLUMBIA 5NION #OLLEGE IN 4AKOMA 0ARK -ARYLAND 53! 3HE HOLDS A DEGREE IN PRINT JOURNALISM

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

#HRIS CRASHING AND BUSINESSES MALFUNCTIONING LEAVING PEOPLE WITH NO ELECTRICITY ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR SOCIAL STRUCTURES ) REMEMBER WATCHING PEOPLE ON TELEVISION TALK SHOWS PROUDLY BOASTING ABOUT HOW THEY D BOUGHT A YEAR S WORTH OF SURVIVAL SUPPLIES INCLUDING POWER GENERATORS AS INSURANCE AGAINST THE CRISIS THEY THOUGHT WAS COMING &ORTUNATELY WE WERE SPARED FROM HAVING TO FACE SUCH WORLDWIDE MISFORTUNE #OMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY IN GENERAL CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AFTER MIDNIGHT ON $ECEMBER ˆAND INTO THE NEW CENTURY (OWEVER THERE WILL INDEED COME A TIME WHEN LIFE AS WE KNOW IT WILL CEASE TO BE AND THOSE WHO STAND STRONG IN FAITH WILL WITNESS THE lNAL EVENTS OF EARTH S HISTORY !RE WE READY FOR THE TRUE END OF THE WORLD -ORE TO THE POINT ARE WE READY FOR THE END OF THE WORLD AS THE MOVIES FANTASIZE ABOUT IT OR ARE WE READY FOR WHAT "IBLE PROPHECY SAYS WILL HAPPEN 4HERE S A DIFFERENCE 4HE "IBLE S 3TORY ,INE

4HE "IBLE TELLS US NOT TO BE AFRAID TO BELIEVE IN 'OD AS WE BELIEVE IN *ESUS 3AID *ESUS h,ET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED YOU BELIEVE IN 'OD BELIEVE ALSO IN -E )N -Y &ATHER S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS IF IT WERE NOT SO

) WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU ) GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU !ND IF ) GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU ) WILL COME AGAIN AND RECEIVE YOU TO -YSELF THAT WHERE ) AM THERE YOU MAY BE ALSOv *OHN 4HE END TIMES WILL BE lLLED WITH TRIBULATIONˆTRIBULATION MORE THAN WE VE EVER SEEN (OWEVER (E GAVE US A HOPE TO LIVE FOR WHEN (E REVEALED THAT THE SECOND COMING OF *ESUS #HRIST WILL TERMINATE SIN AND GIVE US AN ETERNITY TO LIVE WITH (IM 4HE ISSUE BEFORE US IS 7HICH STORY LINE WILL WE ACCEPT

OMING

T

! HOPE TO LIVE FOR

!ND WHAT WILL WE DO ABOUT IT 7ILL WE BANK ON WHAT (OLLYWOOD SO VIVIDLY AND ARTFULLY PORTRAYS OR WILL WE TRUST IN 'OD S (OLY 7ORD )F WE TRUST IN 'OD S PROMISES WE LL NOT BE LED ASTRAY 7HAT S 9OUR 2ESPONSE

(OW DO WE APPROACH THE lNAL CHAPTERS OF EARTH S HISTORY 4HE 2EVELATION OF *ESUS #HRIST DESCRIBES THOSE WHO AWAIT *ESUS RETURN WITH THESE WORDS h(ERE ARE THOSE WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF 'OD AND THE FAITH OF *ESUSv 2EV 4HE LAST GENERATION DOESN T WAIT WITH FEAR APPREHENSION OR UNCERTAINTY BUT WITH HOPE FAITH LOVE AND ACTION 4O TRUST 'OD S PROMISES AND STAND FIRM IN FAITH IS TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF #HRIST S SOON RETURN 7E CAN WITNESS FOR 'OD IN HUNDREDS OF SMALL PRACTICAL WAYS

RIGHT WHERE WE LIVE 7ITNESSING DOESN T MEAN BEING ODD OR EXTREME )T SIMPLY MEANS STANDING ON PRINCIPLE AND DOING WHAT S RIGHT IN 'OD S SIGHT ALWAYS BEING READY BY WORD OR ACTION TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF A 'OD WHO LOVES US AND WILL SOON RETURN TO TAKE US TO BE WITH (IM ,IVING LIVES OF READINESS MEANS MORE THAN BEING READY PERSONALLY FOR THE ,ORD S RETURN IT MEANS BEING READY TO SHARE WITH ANYONE THE HOPE WE HAVE 7E NEVER KNOW WHETHER SOMEONE IS DYING TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE FIRST TIME OR WHICH PERSON NEEDS TO RETURN TO #HRIST 0EOPLE SOMETIMES BECOME DISILLUSIONED WITH THEIR FAITH AND THEY HAVE TO BE REMINDED THAT *ESUS OFFERS A QUALITY OF LIFE NOW THAT IS JUST A PRELUDE TO OUR LIFE TO COME 7ITNESSING DOESN T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE DONE WITH WORDS 3OMETIMES IT CAN BE DONE WITH A SMILE A QUICK NOTE SHARING A MAGAZINE ARTICLE OR A BOOK OR THROUGH MUSIC AND THE ARTS !LL THAT MATTERS IS THAT IT COMES FROM OUR HEARTS SO OTHERS MAY SEE *ESUS IN US h"EHOLD ) STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK v SAYS *ESUS h)F ANYONE HEARS -Y VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR ) WILL COME IN TO HIM AND DINE WITH HIM AND HE WITH -Ev 2EV (E WANTS TO LIVE IN US !NSWERING *ESUS KNOCK HAS ETERNAL BENEFITS AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT (IM

GROW AS #HRISTIANS MATURE AS WITNESSES AND REST ASSURED THAT WE LL BE READY WHEN (E COMES AGAIN *ESUS KNOCKS AT OUR HEARTS DOOR TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE NOW 7ILL WE ANSWER *ESUS SAID h4HE THIEF DOES NOT COME EXCEPT TO STEAL AND TO KILL AND TO DESTROY ) HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND THAT THEY MAY HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLYv *OHN

3ECOND #OMING OF

4HE SECOND COMING OF #HRIST IS THE BLESSED HOPE OF THE CHURCH

THE GRAND CLIMAX OF THE GOSPEL 4HE 3AVIOUR S COMING WILL BE LITERAL

PERSONAL VISIBLE AND WORLDWIDE 7HEN (E RETURNS THE RIGHTEOUS DEAD WILL BE RESURRECTED AND TOGETHER WITH THE RIGHTEOUS LIVING WILL BE GLORIlED AND TAKEN TO HEAVEN BUT THE UNRIGHTEOUS WILL DIE 4HE ALMOST COMPLETE FULlLLMENT OF MOST LINES OF PROPHECY TOGETHER WITH THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WORLD INDICATES THAT #HRIST S COMING IS IMMINENT 4HE TIME OF THAT EVENT HAS NOT BEEN REVEALED AND WE ARE THEREFORE EXHORTED TO BE READY AT ALL TIMES 4ITUS (EB *OHN !CTS -ATT 2EV -ATT 4HESS #OR 4HESS 2EV -ATT -ARK ,UKE 4IM 4HESS

#HRIST

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

3 0 ) 2 ) 4 / & 0 2 / 0 ( % # 9

h7ALK WHILE YE HAVE THE LIGHT LEST DARKNESS COME UPON YOU v 4HERE IS A WORK FOR EACH OF US TO DO

AN INDIVIDUAL WORK WHICH ONE CANNOT DO FOR ANOTHER ! SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY RESTS UPON US AS #HRISTIANS TO LET OUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE THE WORLD THAT OTHERS SEEING OUR GOOD WORKS MAY GLORIFY OUR &ATHER IN (EAVEN 7E CANNOT EXERT A RIGHT INmUENCE UPON OTHERS UNLESS WE WALK IN THE LIGHT OURSELVES )F WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PARDONING GRACE OF 'OD WE SHOULD FEEL IT A DUTY AS OPPORTUNITY SHALL PRESENT TO SPEAK IN COUNSEL AND AFFECTIONATE ENTREATY TO THOSE WHO ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING ETERNAL LIFE ! LIFE SPENT IN ACTIVE WORK FOR 'OD IS A BLESSED ONE -ULTITUDES WHO ARE WASTING THEIR TIME IN TRImES

IN IDLE REGRETS AND IN UNPROlTABLE MURMURINGS MIGHT HAVE ALTOGETHER A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE IF THEY WOULD APPRECIATE THE LIGHT 'OD HAS GIVEN THEM AND LET IT SHINE UPON OTHERS AND MANY MAKE LIFE MISERABLE BY THEIR OWN SELlSHNESS AND LOVE OF EASE "Y A DILIGENT ACTIVITY THEIR LIVES MIGHT BECOME AS BRIGHT RAYS OF SUNSHINE TO GUIDE THOSE WHO ARE IN THE DARK ROAD TO DEATH INTO THE PATHWAY TO (EAVEN )F THEY TAKE THIS COURSE THEIR OWN HEARTS WILL BE lLLED WITH PEACE AND JOY IN *ESUS #HRIST )T IS FOR OUR PROlT IN THIS LIFE AND FOR OUR ETERNAL INTEREST

THAT WE MANIFEST EARNESTNESS AND ZEAL IN THE WORK OF 'OD -ANY SAY h)F ) KNEW *ESUS WOULD COME IN lVE YEARS ) WOULD MAKE IT MY lRST BUSINESS TO WIN SOULS TO #HRIST FOR THIS WOULD BE THE ALL IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION v !ND THESE VERY PERSONS MAY NOT LIVE TWO YEARS OR EVEN ONE 7E SHOULD lRST SEEK 'OD AND (IS HOLINESS )N (IS WISE PROVIDENCE WE ARE INCAPABLE OF LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE WHICH OFTEN CAUSES US DISQUIETUDE AND UNHAPPINESS "UT ONE OF THE GREATEST EVIDENCES WE HAVE OF THE LOVING KINDNESS OF 'OD IS (IS

CONCEALMENT OF THE EVENTS OF THE MORROW /UR IGNORANCE OF TOMORROW MAKES US MORE VIGILANT AND EARNEST TODAY 7E CANNOT SEE WHAT IS BEFORE US /UR BEST LAID PLANS SOMETIMES SEEM TO BE UNWISE AND FAULTY 7E THINK h)F WE ONLY KNEW THE FUTURE v BUT 'OD WOULD HAVE (IS CHILDREN TRUST IN HIM

AND BE READY TO GO WHERE (E SHALL LEAD THEM 7E KNOW NOT THE PRECISE TIME WHEN OUR ,ORD SHALL BE REVEALED IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN BUT (E HAS TOLD US THAT OUR ONLY SAFETY IS IN A CONSTANT READINESS ˆA POSITION OF WATCHING AND WAITING 7HETHER WE HAVE ONE YEAR BEFORE US OR lVE OR TEN WE ARE TO BE FAITHFUL TO OUR TRUST TODAY 7E ARE TO PERFORM EACH DAY S DUTIES AS FAITHFULLY AS THOUGH THAT DAY WERE TO BE OUR LAST 7E ARE NOT DOING THE WILL OF 'OD IF WE WAIT IN IDLENESS 4O EVERY MAN (E HAS GIVEN HIS WORK AND (E EXPECTS

EACH ONE TO DO HIS PART WITH lDELITY 7E ARE TO SOW BESIDE ALL WATERS

AND TO WORK CONTINUOUSLY FOR *ESUS

HOPING FOR THE SALVATION TO BE GIVEN US AND QUIETLY WAITING FOR OUR REWARD 3INNERS ARE TO BE WARNED SINNERS ARE TO BE WON TO #HRIST 4HERE ARE MANY MEN OF EXCELLENT ABILITYˆMEN AMBITIOUS IN WORLDLY PURSUITSˆFOR WHOSE SALVATION NO ONE BELIEVING IN PRESENT TRUTH IS MAKING ANY EFFORTS BECAUSE THEY FEAR A REPULSE "UT THE SKILL AND ENERGY WHICH MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL IN WORLDLY PURSUITS

WILL IF CONSECRATED MAKE THEM USEFUL IN THE SERVICE OF #HRIST 7E CANNOT TELL THE AMBITIOUS MAN THAT HE MUST CEASE TO BE AMBITIOUS IF HE WOULD BECOME A #HRISTIAN 'OD PLACES BEFORE HIM THE HIGHEST OBJECTS OF AMBITION ˆA SPOTLESS WHITE ROBE A CROWN STUDDED WITH JEWELS A SCEPTER A THRONE OF GLORY

7ALKING

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

IG ,

IN THE

! CALL FOR ACTIVE HOLINESS WHILE WE WAIT

AND HONOR THAT IS AS ENDURING AS THE THRONE OF *EHOVAH !LL THE ELEMENTS OF CHARACTER WHICH HELP TO MAKE HIM SUCCESSFUL AND HONORED IN THE WORLD ˆTHE IRREPRESSIBLE DESIRE FOR SOME GREATER GOOD THE INDOMITABLE WILL THE STRENUOUS EXERTION THE UNTIRING PERSEVERANCE ˆARE NOT TO BE CRUSHED OUT 4HESE ARE TO REMAIN AND THROUGH THE GRACE OF 'OD RECEIVED INTO THE HEART TO BE TURNED INTO ANOTHER CHANNEL 4HESE VALUABLE TRAITS OF CHARACTER MAY BE EXERCISED ON OBJECTS AS MUCH HIGHER AND NOBLE THAN WORLDLY PURSUITS AS THE HEAVENS ARE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH *ESUS PRESENTS A WHITE ROBE

A CROWN OF GLORY RICHER THAN ANY THAT EVER DECKED THE BROW OF A MONARCH

AND TITLES ABOVE THOSE OF HONORED PRINCES 4HE RECOMPENSE FOR A LIFE DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF #HRIST EXCEEDS ANYTHING THAT THE HUMAN IMAGINATION CAN GRASP #HRIST DOES NOT CALL UPON MEN TO LAY ASIDE THEIR ZEAL THEIR DESIRES FOR EXCELLENCE AND ELEVATION BUT (E WOULD HAVE THEM SEEK NOT FOR PERISHABLE TREASURE OR mEETING HONOR

BUT FOR THAT WHICH IS ENDURING 'OD HAS NO USE FOR LISTLESS SOULS

HT

-INISTERS SOMETIMES TELL THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO BUT BELIEVE THAT *ESUS HAS DONE IT ALL AND THEIR OWN WORKS ARE NOTHING "UT THE WORD OF 'OD PLAINLY STATES THAT IN THE *UDGMENT THE SCALES WILL BE BALANCED ACCURATELY AND THE DECISIONS WILL BE BASED ON THE EVIDENCE ADDUCED /NE MAN BECOMES RULER OF TEN CITIES

ANOTHER OF lVE ANOTHER OF TWO EACH MAN RECEIVING EXACTLY IN PROPORTION TO THE IMPROVEMENT HE HAS MADE ON THE TALENTS ENTRUSTED TO HIS KEEPING /UR EFFORTS IN WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN OUR OWN BEHALF AND FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS WILL HAVE A DECIDED INmUENCE ON OUR RECOMPENSE 'OD IS WELL PLEASED IF THOSE STRIVING FOR ETERNAL LIFE AIM HIGH 4HERE WILL BE STRONG TEMPTATIONS TO INDULGE THE NATURAL TRAITS OF CHARACTER BY BECOMING WORLDLY WISE SCHEMING

AND SELlSHLY AMBITIOUS GATHERING WEALTH TO THE NEGLECT OF THE SALVATION WHICH IS OF SO MUCH HIGHER VALUE "UT EVERY TEMPTATION RESISTED IS A PRICELESS VICTORY GAINED IN SUBDUING SELF IT BENDS THE POWERS TO THE SERVICE OF *ESUS AND INCREASES FAITH HOPE

"Y %LLEN ' 7HITE

PATIENCE AND FORBEARANCEx 7E HAVE ONLY A LITTLE WHILE TO URGE THE WARFARE THEN #HRIST WILL COME AND THIS SCENE OF REBELLION WILL CLOSE 4HEN OUR LAST EFFORTS WILL HAVE BEEN MADE TO WORK WITH #HRIST AND ADVANCE (IS KINGDOM 3OME WHO HAVE STOOD IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE BATTLE

ZEALOUSLY RESISTING INCOMING EVIL

FALL AT THE POST OF DUTY OTHERS GAZE SORROWFULLY AT THE FALLEN HEROES BUT HAVE NO TIME TO CEASE WORK 4HEY MUST CLOSE UP THE RANKS SEIZE THE BANNER FROM THE HAND PALSIED BY DEATH AND WITH RENEWED ENERGY VINDICATE THE TRUTH AND THE HONOR OF #HRIST !S NEVER BEFORE RESISTANCE MUST BE MADE AGAINST SIN ˆAGAINST THE POWERS OF DARKNESS 4HE TIME DEMANDS ENERGETIC AND DETERMINED ACTIVITY ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE PRESENT TRUTH 4HEY SHOULD TEACH THE TRUTH BY BOTH PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE )F THE TIME SEEMS LONG TO WAIT FOR OUR $ELIVERER TO COME IF BOWED BY AFmICTION AND WORN WITH TOIL WE FEEL IMPATIENT FOR OUR COMMISSION TO CLOSE AND TO RECEIVE AN HONORABLE RELEASE FROM THE WARFARE LET US REMEMBERˆAND LET THE REMEMBRANCE CHECK EVERY MURMURˆTHAT 'OD LEAVES US ON EARTH TO ENCOUNTER STORMS AND CONmICTS TO PERFECT #HRISTIAN CHARACTER TO BECOME BETTER ACQUAINTED WITH 'OD OUR &ATHER AND #HRIST OUR ELDER "ROTHER AND TO DO WORK FOR THE -ASTER IN WINNING MANY SOULS TO #HRIST THAT WITH GLAD HEART WE MAY HEAR THE WORDS h7ELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY ,ORD v 4HIS ARTICLE lRST APPEARED IN THE /CTOBER

EDITION OF THE !DVENT 2EVIEW AND 3ABBATH (ERALD NOW THE !DVENTIST 2EVIEW WWW ADVENTISTREVIEW ORG ONE OF THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY PUBLISHED RELIGIOUS JOURNALS IN THE WORLD 3EVENTH DAY !DVEN TISTS BELIEVE THAT %LLEN ' 7HITE EXERCISED THE BIBLICAL GIFT OF PROPHECY DURING MORE THAN YEARS OF PUBLIC MINISTRY

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 3 % 2 6 ) # % ! 2 9 , 3 3 $ ) 8 / .

"Y 2OBERT ' 7EARNER

,ASTING ! TRIP TO #HINA GAVE AN !DVENTIST TOUR GROUP OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE #HRIST

4

HE GROUP HAD JUST CLEARED CUSTOMS AND A YOUNG WOMAN GREETED THEM WITH THE WORDS

h7ELCOME TO #HINA v ! TOUR GROUP OF !MERICAN !DVENTISTS HAD JUST ARRIVED IN 3HANGHAI #HINA THE LAST DAY OF -AY ,IU *UN THE SMILING YOUNG OFl CIAL GUIDE INTRODUCED HERSELF AND TOOK THEM TO THEIR HOTEL )NFORMED OF THEIR DESIRE TO ATTEND CHURCH THE NEXT DAY SHE SAID THAT A BUS WOULD TAKE THEM TO THE LARGE -U %N CHURCH !FTER SEATING THE GROUP IN 3ABBATH SCHOOL SHE SLIPPED AWAY TO DO SOME SHOPPING &LUENT IN %NGLISH THE YEAR OLD GUIDE HAD LED MANY TOUR GROUPS DURING THE FOUR YEARS SHE HAD WORKED FOR THE #HINA 2AINBOW 4RAVEL 3ERVICE "UT THIS WAS HER l RST !DVENTIST GROUP AND LITTLE DID SHE KNOW HOW THROUGH THEM HER LIFE WOULD BE FOREVER CHANGED

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

/PEN TO THE 3PIRIT

!SKED IF SHE HAD ANY CONCEPT OF A SUPREME BEING AT THE TIME OF HER l RST CONTACT WITH THESE PEOPLE *UN STATED m ATLY h.O v 4HEN SHE ADDED h7ELL

YES ) BELIEVED THAT A GOD EXISTED BUT ) DIDN T KNOW WHO HE WAS ) WAS TAUGHT THAT RELIGION WAS NOT IMPORTANT v &OR DAYS *UN GUIDED THE GROUP TO THE SCENIC WONDERS OF HER COUNTRY 4HEY CLIMBED THE 'REAT 7ALL INSPECTED THE &ORBIDDEN #ITY OF "EIJING TOURED THE 3UMMER 0ALACE

WALKED IN 4IANANMEN 3QUARE TOOK A BOAT RIDE DOWN THE ,I 2IVER VISITED THE FAMOUS SILK FACTORY IN 3UZHOU AND MANY OTHER SITES 4HE GROUP SPENT ITS SECOND 3ABBATH AT THE ANCIENT WALLED CITY OF 8I AN MEETING IN A FORMER "APTIST CHURCH 4HE CONGREGATION l LLED THE SANCTUARY WHILE MANY OTHERS SAT ON

BENCHES IN THE PATIO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS RAINING 4HIS TIME *UN STAYED TO LISTEN TO THE ROBED CHOIR AND HEARD HER l RST !DVENTIST SERMON DELIVERED

BY A YOUNG LAY MEMBER ABOUT HER AGE 4HE TOUR WENT BY QUICKLY AND BEFORE *UN LEFT THE !DVENTIST GROUP IN 'UANGZHOU #ANTON THEY ALMOST SEEMED LIKE FAMILY !S THEY PARTED WITH TEARS *UN CONl DED TO THEM HER DESIRE TO EARN A DEGREE IN BUSINESS IN THE 5NITED 3TATES 4HE NEXT YEAR 0ASTORS #ARL #URRIE AND *OHN (ANSON WERE INVITED TO JOIN -ISSION 3POTLIGHT TO l LM A PROGRAM ABOUT #HINA !GAIN *UN MET WITH THEM AND EXPRESSED HER DESIRE TO ATTEND COLLEGE IN THE 5NITED 3TATES )N 0ASTORS #URRIE AND (ANSON ORGANIZED ANOTHER #HINA TOUR *UN WAS AGAIN ASSIGNED TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH "EIJING !S SHE SHOWED THE GROUP THE

,EFT 4%. 9%!23 ,!4%2 0ASTOR *OHN (ANSON BAPTIZES ,IU *UN AT THE 0ACIl C 5NION #OLLEGE #HURCH IN !NGWIN

#ALIFORNIA MORE THAN YEARS AFTER SHE LED A TOUR FOR A GROUP OF !DVEN TIST TOURISTS IN #HINA "ELOW 4/52 ,%!$%2 ,IU *UN TOUR LEADER FOR AN !DVENTIST GROUP l LMING A SEGMENT FOR -ISSION 3POTLIGHT LEARNED ABOUT 'OD FROM THOSE ON THE TOUR

* / ( . ( ! . 3 / .

SITES OF THE CITY (ANSON AGREED TO VISIT THE !MERICAN %MBASSY WITH *UN TO ASSIST HER AS HER SPONSOR AS SHE APPLIED FOR HER STUDENT VISA 4HEY MET AT THE !MERICAN %MBASSY AT ON &RIDAY MORNING !LREADY PEOPLE WERE LINED UP TO APPLY FOR VISAS "Y THE TIME THEY ARRIVED AT THE FRONT GATE OF THE COMPOUND MORE THAN PEOPLE LINED THE STREETS !FTER WAITING EIGHT HOURS IN THE HOT SUN *UN APPEARED BEFORE HER INTERVIEWER 4HE INTERVIEW LASTED LESS THAN TWO MINUTES AND HER VISA WAS DENIED *UN WAS DEVASTATED 0ASTOR (ANSON THEN BEGAN hGOING UP THE LADDERv UNTIL HE REACHED THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY AT THE !MERICAN %MBASSY TO APPEAL THE INTERVIEWER S DECISION 7HILE THE APPEAL WAS IN PROGRESS

THE ENTIRE !DVENTIST TOUR GROUP

AND THEY WERE PLEASED 4HEY COULD TELL A CHANGE FOR GOOD WAS TAKING PLACE IN MY LIFE AND THEY WERE GRATEFUL v !FTER A SUCCESSFUL YEAR AT 3!5

*UN TRANSFERRED TO #ALIFORNIA S 0ACIl C 5NION #OLLEGE 05# IN THE .APA 6ALLEY %VENTUALLY HER HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET A VISA AND HE JOINED HER IN #ALIFORNIA )N TIME THE COUPLE WELCOMED A DAUGHTER WHOM THEY NAMED 9ANG 9ANG 4HE FORMER TOUR GUIDE TOOK THEIR LITTLE DAUGHTER TO HER KINDERGARTEN 3ABBATH SCHOOL WEEK BY WEEK 9ANG 9ANG BEGAN TO LEARN ABOUT *ESUS &RIEND OF CHILDREN AND HER MOTHER AND FATHER ALSO BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT ,EAVING (OME THE LOVE OF THE 3AVIOR ,IFE FOR *UN BEGAN )N *ULY *UN LEFT "EIJING AND TO TAKE ON NEW MEANING -EMBERS MADE HER WAY TO !MERICA 4OUR LEADER OF THE PASTORAL STAFF OF THE COLLEGE (ANSON MET HER AT 3AN &RANCISCO AND CHURCH ANSWERED THE MORE DIFl CULT ESCORTED HER TO HIS HOME IN (AHIRA

THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS WHILE THOSE WITH 'EORGIA 4HERE SHE MET HIS WIFE AND WHOM SHE WORKED AT THE COLLEGE STORE ATTENDED HER l RST !MERICAN !DVENTIST DEMONSTRATED #HRISTIAN LOVE AND MADE CHURCH SERVICE 3HE LISTENED TO (ANSON A GREAT IMPACT UPON HER LIFE PREACH A SERMON ENTITLED h%VERLASTING h/VER THE YEARS THE MANY FRIENDS ,OVE v !T THE CONCLUSION HE BAPTIZED A ) MADE AMONG STUDENTS AND FACULTY YOUNG PERSON WHICH PROVIDED *UN HER GAVE ME CONSTANT SUPPORT v SHE SAYS

l RST OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE A BAPTISM hAND ) FOUND MYSELF MORE AND MORE

BY IMMERSION %VEN THOUGH SHE DIDN T INTERESTED IN RELIGION v UNDERSTAND ALL ITS SIGNIl CANCE (ANSON !FTER EARNING A DEGREE IN BUSINESS TOLD HER h/NE OF THESE DAYS ) WANT THE IN *UN WAS EMPLOYED AS AN PRIVILEGE OF BAPTIZING YOU *UN v ACCOUNTANT AT THE COLLEGE STORE !FTER 3OUTHERN !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY STUDYING THE DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH

3!5 IN #OLLEGEDALE 4ENNESSEE

SHE ASKED 0ASTOR (ANSON FORMER ACCEPTED *UN AS A BUSINESS MAJOR TOUR LEADER TO BAPTIZE HER 3HE WAS 4HELMA #USHMAN 7EARNER A RETIRED BAPTIZED IN -AY TEACHER FROM 3!5 OFFERED HER ROOM )T TOOK ALMOST A DECADE FROM HER AND BOARD 4HEIR BONDING MADE A l RST CONTACT WITH THAT !DVENTIST TOUR GREAT IMPACT ON *UN S LIFE GROUP IN 3HANGHAI TO BECOME PART h) HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ADVENTUROUS v OF 'OD S FAMILY 3EVERAL HUNDRED OF SAYS *UN h3O WHEN ) LIVED WITH -OM *UN S FRIENDS AND CHURCH FAMILY OF #USHMAN ) TRIED TO RESPECT HER THE 05# CHURCH STOOD AS SHE WAS BELIEFS EVEN THOUGH AT THE TIME THEY BAPTIZED AND WELCOMED HER INTO THE DID NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME ) ATTENDED FAMILY OF 'OD RELIGIOUS CLASSES AND WENT TO CHURCH

BUT ) REALLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE "IBLE PRINCIPLES ) OBSERVED THAT THE !DVENTIST PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS KIND 2OBERT ' 7EARNER A AND LOVING 7HEN ) WENT TO VISIT RETIRED PASTOR WRITES THE (ANSONS AND THE #URRIES THEY FROM #OLLEGEDALE

HAD SUCH A LOVING WAY ABOUT THEM ) 4ENNESSEE 53!

SHARED THIS WITH MY PARENTS IN #HINA

PRAYED THAT 'OD S WILL BE DONE 'OD INTERVENED ON *UN S BEHALF THE INTERVIEWER S DENIAL WAS OVERTURNED

AND THE COVETED VISA WAS GRANTED 4HE GROUP HAD LEFT "EIJING AND WAS ON THE BOAT CRUISE DOWN THE 9ANGTZE 2IVER WHEN WORD REACHED THEM THAT *UN HAD HER VISA IN HAND /N THIS TOUR *UN INTRODUCED HER #HINESE FAMILY TO THE GROUP *UN S HUSBAND PARENTS AND SISTER MET THE !DVENTISTS AT A RESTAURANT THE 3ATURDAY NIGHT BEFORE THEY LEFT "EIJING !LL WELL EDUCATED *UN S FAMILY EXPRESSED THEIR APPRECIATION FOR WHAT HAD BEEN DONE FOR HER

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

")",% 15%34)/.3 RAIN 'OD DESCRIBED THE FUTURE RESTORATION OF (IS PEOPLE USING THE LANGUAGE OF RAIN TO ILLUSTRATE THE WORK OF THE 3PIRIT RAINv AND hLATTER RAIN v AND THEIR RELATION TO THE h&OR ) WILL POUR WATER ON THE THIRSTY LAND AND STREAMS ON OUTPOURING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT THE DRY GROUND ) WILL POUR OUT MY 3PIRIT ON YOUR OFFSPRING

AND MY BLESSING ON YOUR DESCENDANTSv )SA .)6 CF !NSWERING YOUR QUESTION REQUIRES AN UNDERSTANDING OF %ZE )SA )N *OEL AFTER ANNOUNCING THE THE CLIMATE OF THE LAND OF )SRAEL AND THE SIGNIlCANCE OF RAIN COMING OF THE EARLY AND LATTER RAINS 'OD ADDED h) WILL POUR OUT MY 3PIRIT ON ALL PEOPLE 9OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL IN THE "IBLE 2AIN PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN )SRAELITE AGRARIAN PROPHESY YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS YOUR YOUNG SOCIETY #ISTERNS FOUND BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN )SRAEL INDICATE MEN WILL SEE VISIONSv *OEL

.)6 THE VALUE OF WATER AND THE NEED TO PRESERVE IT FOR THE DRY 3ECOND THE IMAGE OF THE EARLY AND LATTER RAINS COULD SEASON WHICH SPANNED CLOSE TO HALF OF THE YEAR 2AINY 3EASON )N )SRAEL MOST OF THE RAIN USUALLY FELL FROM BE APPLIED TO AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT POWERFUL WORKS OF THE $ECEMBER TO &EBRUARY 4HE lRST RAIN OF THE RAINY SEASONˆ 3PIRIT WITHIN THE CHURCH ONE RELATED TO THE EXPERIENCE OF 0ENTECOST AND THE OTHER THE hEARLY RAINvˆUSUALLY TO EVENTS SHORTLY BEFORE CAME MID /CTOBER THROUGH THE RETURN OF #HRIST 4HE EARLY .OVEMBER 4HIS RAIN ESCHATOLOGICAL WORK OF SOFTENED THE GROUND AND THE 3PIRIT ANNOUNCED BY FACILITATED THE GERMINATION *OEL WAS PARTIALLY FULlLLED OF SEEDS AND THE GROWTH OF DURING THE OUTPOURING OF CROPS 4HE LATTER RAIN CAME THE 3PIRIT AT 0ENTECOST !CTS BEFORE THE HARVEST FROM EARLY 4HIS COULD BE CALLED -ARCH TO !PRIL 4HIS RAIN THE hEARLY RAIN v "UT THAT CONTRIBUTED TO MATURATION SAME PROPHECY REFERRED TO OF THE CROP 4HEREFORE RAIN hTHE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY WAS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT OF THE ,ORD v SUGGESTING THAT TO )SRAELITE LIFE AND WAS A FULLER MANIFESTATION OF THE CONSIDERED A GIFT FROM 'OD 3PIRIT WAS TO BE EXPECTED $EUT *ER -ATT CF !CTS

4HE LACK OF RAIN WAS "Y 4HIS FUTURE WORK OF THE OFTEN SEEN AS AN EXPRESSION !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ 3PIRIT WOULD ACCOMPANY OF DIVINE DISFAVOR A RESULT OF AND EMPOWER THE THE SINS AND REBELLIOUSNESS PROCLAMATION OF THE LAST OF THE PEOPLE E G *ER MESSAGE OF JUDGMENT AND SALVATION TO THE HUMAN RACE )DEAS !SSOCIATED 7ITH 2AIN 2AIN WAS ASSOCIATED )T IS TO THIS EVENT THAT 2EVELATION POINTS !N ANGEL

WITH THE POWER OF 'OD OVER NATURE +INGS )SA

REPRESENTING 'OD %ZE DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN AND WITH (IS BLESSINGS 0S AND FAVORS TOWARD WITH GREAT AUTHORITY ILLUMINATING THE EARTH WITH HIS GLORY

HUMANITY (OSEA )TS CONNECTION WITH SUBSISTENCE AND ADDING POWER TO THE WORLDWIDE PROCLAMATION OF THE MADE IT A CONCRETE EXPRESSION OF 'OD S CONCERN FOR THE LIFE MESSAGE OF THE THREE ANGELS OF 2EVELATION 3UCH A OF THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE FERTILITY OF THE LAND $EUT

MANIFESTATION OF THE 3PIRIT COULD BE CALLED THE hLATTER RAIN v ,EV 4HAT SAME CONNECTION BETWEEN LIFE AND RAIN "EFORE THE RETURN OF #HRIST EVIL POWERS WILL PERFORM GREAT ALLOWED FOR ITS USE AS A SYMBOL OF WISDOM 0ROV WONDERS AND MIRACLES 2EV 4IM BUT 'OD AND GODLY TEACHINGS $EUT 3INCE RAIN BENElTED ALL

WILL ALSO EXPRESS (IS SUPERIOR POWER THROUGH THE WORK OF IT IS METAPHORICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE JUST KING WHO IS A THE 3PIRIT AMONG (IS PEOPLE BLESSING TO ALL AND NURTURES LIFE INSTEAD OF THREATENING IT 3O THE PHRASES hEARLY RAINv AND hLATTER RAINv ARE 3AM ! NEGATIVE SIDE TO RAIN SPECIlCALLY TORRENTIAL AGRICULTURAL IMAGES lGURATIVELY APPLIED TO THE WORK OF THE RAIN IS THAT IT DAMAGES lELDS AND HOUSES AND IT BECAME A (OLY 3PIRIT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE #HRISTIAN CHURCH AND SYMBOL OF CHAOS AND DESTRUCTION E G 'EN )SA SHORTLY BEFORE 'OD S END TIME HARVEST 2EV /UTPOURING OF THE 3PIRIT AND 2AIN )N THE "IBLE RAIN BECAME A SYMBOL FOR THE DIVINE OUTPOURING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT BOTH RAIN AND THE (OLY 3PIRIT WERE SENT BY 'OD AS A DEMONSTRATION OF (IS CONCERN FOR LIFE !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODRÓGUEZ IS DIRECTOR OF THE "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH 7E lND lRST AN ESCHATOLOGICAL USAGE OF THE IMAGE OF )NSTITUTE OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE 1 5 % 3 4 ) / . 0LEASE EXPLAIN THE PHRASES hEARLY

)MAGES OF THE

(OLY

3PIRIT

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

*ESUS

" ) " , % 3 4 5 $ 9

/UR #OMPASSIONATE (IGH 0RIEST

"Y 4HE PURPOSE OF THE /LD 4ESTAMENT SANCTUARY SYSTEM WAS TO REVEAL 'OD S PLAN OF SAVING THE -ARK ! HUMAN RACE 4HE PSALMIST $AVID DECLARES h9OUR WAY / 'OD IS IN THE SANCTUARY WHO IS SO &INLEY GREAT A 'OD AS OUR 'OD v 0S 'OD S WAY OF REDEEMING US FROM SIN IS FOUND IN THE SYMBOLS AND SACRIlCES OF THE TABERNACLE SERVICES RECORDED IN %XODUS AND ,EVITICUS !S WE STUDY THE SIGNIlCANCE OF THE PRIESTS OF )SRAEL IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION WE WILL ENTER INTO A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR *ESUS AMAZING LOVE AS OUR COMPASSIONATE (IGH 0RIEST

7HAT TWO ELEMENTS WERE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR 'OD TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR OUR SINS 2EAD THE PASSAGES BELOW AND WRITE YOUR ANSWER ON THE LINES PROVIDED A h&OR THE LIFE OF THE mESH IS IN THE BLOOD AND ) HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU UPON THE ALTAR TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR YOUR SOULS FOR IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKES ATONEMENT FOR THE SOULv ,EV 7ITHOUT THE

THERE IS NO ATONEMENT

B h&OR ON THAT DAY THE PRIEST SHALL MAKE ATONEMENT FOR YOU TO CLEANSE YOU THAT YOU MAY BE CLEAN FROM ALL YOUR SINS BEFORE THE ,ORDv ,EV 7ITHOUT THE

THERE IS NO ATONEMENT

4HE %NGLISH WORD ATONEMENT AT ONE MENT MEANS BEING RECONCILED WITH 'OD 3IN SEPARATES US FROM 'OD )N THE PLAN OF SALVATION 'OD RESTORES THAT WHICH WAS LOST BY SIN 4O ACCOMPLISH THE ATONEMENT WE NEED A DYING SACRIlCE AND A LIVING PRIEST

(OW DOES THE "OOK OF (EBREWS DESCRIBE THE SHED BLOOD OF #HRIST IN THE NEW COVENANT #IRCLE THAT WORD IN THE TEXT BELOW h4O *ESUS THE -EDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT AND TO THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING THAT SPEAKS BETTER THINGS THAN THAT OF !BELv (EB

7HEN THE SACRIlCE WAS SLAIN IN THE SANCTUARY COURTYARD BY THE SINNER THE PRIEST TOOK THE BLOOD AND SPRINKLED IT BEFORE THE VEIL OF THE HOLY PLACE OF THE SANCTUARY h4HE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATHv 2OM h3IN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAWv *OHN +*6 4HE BLOOD SPRINKLED IN THE SANCTUARY SYMBOLIZES *ESUS BLOOD SHED TO ATONE FOR OUR DISOBEDIENCE OF 'OD S LAW

7HAT WERE THE QUALIlCATIONS FOR A PRIEST 7RITE YOUR ANSWER IN THE SPACES BELOW h&OR EVERY HIGH PRIEST TAKEN FROM AMONG MEN IS APPOINTED FOR MEN IN THINGS PERTAINING TO 'OD THAT HE MAY OFFER BOTH GIFTS AND SACRIlCES FOR SINSv (EB h!ND NO MAN TAKES THIS HONOR TO HIMSELF BUT HE WHO IS CALLED BY 'OD JUST AS !ARON WASv (EB A 4HE (IGH 0RIEST MUST BE TAKEN

B 4HE (IGH 0RIEST MUST HAVE

AND

TO OFFER

C 4HE (IGH 0RIEST MUST BE

BY 'OD

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

7HY WERE THESE QUALIlCATIONS NECESSARY 7RITE YOUR ANSWER IN THE SPACES BELOW h(E CAN HAVE COMPASSION ON THOSE WHO ARE IGNORANT AND GOING ASTRAY SINCE HE HIMSELF IS ALSO SUBJECT TO WEAKNESSv (EB *ESUS CAN HAVE

ON US BECAUSE

7HAT DOES THE WORD hCOMPASSIONv MEAN 7RITE YOUR ANSWER ON THE LINE BELOW *ESUS QUALIlES AS OUR (IGH 0RIEST ON ALL ACCOUNTS (E BECAME HUMAN AND FACED 3ATAN S TEMPTATIONS AS ALL HUMAN BEINGS MUST (E UNDERSTANDS OUR WEAKNESSES (E KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE TEMPTED (E DEFEATED 3ATAN ON EVERY COUNT AND OFFERED (IS LIFE AS A SACRIlCE FOR OUR SINS

(OW CLOSELY DOES *ESUS IDENTIFY WITH US 7RITE THE ANSWER ON THE LINES BELOW h4HEREFORE IN ALL THINGS (E HAD TO BE MADE LIKE (IS BRETHREN THAT (E MIGHT BE A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL (IGH 0RIEST IN THINGS PERTAINING TO 'OD TO MAKE PROPITIATION FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLEv (EB h&OR WE DO NOT HAVE A (IGH 0RIEST WHO CANNOT SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED AS WE ARE YET WITHOUT SINv (EB *ESUS WAS MADE

US IN ORDER TO BE

AS WE ARE TEMPTED /UR MERCIFUL AND COMPASSIONATE (IGH 0RIEST UNDERSTANDS US (E HAS MADE FULL PROVISION FOR OUR SALVATION

7HAT GRACIOUS INVITATION DOES *ESUS GIVE US 7RITE THE ANSWER IN YOUR OWN WORDS ON THE LINE BELOW h,ET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY AND lND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEEDv (EB *ESUS INVITES US TO

TO (IS THRONE OF GRACE

7HAT ASSURANCE DOES *ESUS OFFER WHEN WE COME TO (IM #IRCLE THE PHRASES IN THE TEXT THAT TELL YOU WHAT 'OD WILL DO FOR YOU h4HEREFORE (E IS ALSO ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST THOSE WHO COME TO 'OD THROUGH (IM SINCE (E ALWAYS LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEMv (EB

*ESUS OFFERS EACH OF US THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION (E IS OUR (IGH 0RIEST 7E CAN COME TO 'OD THROUGH FAITH IN COMPLETE ASSURANCE THAT *ESUS OUR -EDIATOR PARDONS OUR SINS AND GIVES US THE GRACE TO LIVE A NEW LIFE

.EXT MONTH S "IBLE STUDY

h3HADOWS OF #HRIST S 3ACRIlCE v WILL EXPLAIN WHAT IS MEANT BY THE

hCLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY v

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

,%44%23 4HE 2ETURN 6ISIT

) HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED READING OUR !DVENTIST 7ORLD MAGAZINE SINCE ITS lRST ARRIVAL IN OUR CHURCH AND ) M ALWAYS EXCITED FOR THE COMING ISSUES ) AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO #ARINA 'ONCALVES ARTICLE h4HE 2ETURN 6ISITv *UNE "EING ASSIGNED MOSTLY IN THE lELD ) ALWAYS ENCOUNTER POOR HOMELESS PEOPLE AND BEGGARS ASKING FOR A PENNY OR FOOD !ND ) SHARE THE SAME REACTION AS 'ONCALVES IN HER lRST ENCOUNTER WITH A BEGGAR IN HER STORY -OST OF IF NOT ALL THE TIME ) IGNORE THEM AND TURN MY BACK AWAY FROM THEM AS IF ) DID NOT NOTICE THEM

THINKING THEY ARE BEING TRAFlCKED OR ARE MEMBERS OF AN ORGANIZED NETWORK OF A BEGGING SYNDICATE .ORMALLY THE QUESTION THAT LINGERS IN MY MIND IS h$O THEY REALLY DESERVE TO RECEIVE SOMETHING FROM ME v !S ) lNISHED READING HER ARTICLE

) VE GOTTEN A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO TREAT THESE INDIVIDUALS /UR THINKING IN REGARD TO THEM MUST NOT BE LIMITED ONLY BY WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WITH WHAT WE GIVE BUT BY HOW THEY WILL BE BLESSED IF WE GIVE 'OD KNOWS SMOKERS WILL STILL SMOKE

DRUNKARDS WILL STILL DRINK AND SINNERS WILL STILL SIN YET (E STILL BLESSES THEIR LIVES UNSPARINGLY KNOWING THEY MAY ONLY WASTE THEM (E EVEN KNOWS THAT ONLY A HANDFUL WILL ACCEPT (IS 3ON

YET (E GAVE (IM ANYWAY 7E DON T DESERVE SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE YET 'OD GAVE IT TO US ABUNDANTLY 7E RECEIVED SPECIAL FAVOR FROM 'OD THAT WE DON T DESERVE BUT THE POOR AND THE NEEDY DESERVE SIMPLE THINGS THAT WE CAN GIVE (OWEVER NOT ALL PEOPLE BEGGING ARE BEGGARS AND NOT ALL PEOPLE ASKING SOMETHING FROM US ARE POOR h!S

SORROWFUL YET ALWAYS REJOICING AS POOR YET MAKING MANY RICH AS HAVING NOTHING AND YET POSSESSING ALL THINGSv #OR /N THE CONTRARY BEGGARS MAY COME TO US ONCE IN A WHILEˆSHOULD WE MISS SHARING 3OME EVEN SAY THAT THE WAY WE RE TREATING THOSE UNFORTUNATE AND NEEDY ONES IS THE PRACTICAL MEASURE OF TRUE #HRISTIANITY 7HEN WE GIVE IT S NOT ONLY THE RECIPIENT THAT IS BLESSED 7E ARE ALSO BLESSED WITH A SPECIAL JOY THAT COMES TO US WHEN WE GIVE UNCONDITIONALLY 4HE POINT IS THAT LOVE IS STILL THE BASIS OF ALL OUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS 7AYNE & &OFUE -ANILA 0HILIPPINES

7ELFARE AND 7ITNESSING

) VERY MUCH ENJOYED ONE OF THE ARTICLES OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD !UGUST

TITLED h7OMEN AND 7ITNESSING v ) AM OF THE POSITION THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN OUTREACH ACTIVITIES 7OMEN S WELFARE WORK IS VERY ESSENTIAL IN OUR CHURCHES IN ORDER TO RETAIN AND PRESERVE THE SOULS OF MEMBERS THROUGH IN REACH ACTIVITIES

ACCOMPLISHED WITH 'OD S BLESSINGS )F WE PREOCCUPY OUR MINDS WITH THIS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CHURCH WE AS hWOMENv WOULDN T NEED TO GO TO THE ALTAR FOR ANY SACRIlCE ON THE 3ABBATH DAY OR ANY OTHER DAY FOR THAT MATTER 7ITNESSING SHOULD BE OUR MAJOR TASK TO HASTEN THE SECOND COMING OF 'REAT )SSUE !RTICLES OUR ,ORD *ESUS #HRIST ) JUST HAD MY NINETIETH BIRTHDAY BUT ,ET US CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF OUR ) M NOT TOO OLD TO ENJOY !DVENTIST FOCUS ON MISSION h7OMEN FOR #HRISTv 7ORLD ) WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE STAFF ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE FOR WELFARE AND ON THE LATEST ISSUE *UNE ) WAS WITNESSING ALL AROUND THE WORLD THRILLED WITH ITS CONTENT )T SEEMS YOU ;)N ADDITION TO THE COMMENTS ON hKNOCKED YOURSELVES OUT v %VERY ARTICLE THE ABOVE MENTIONED ARTICLE= ) ALSO WAS GREAT 4HANK YOU AND KEEP IT UP WANT TO SHARE HOW ) APPRECIATE 'OD IN %MILY -INICK THE WAY (E HAS BEEN USING THE !DVENTIST #ALIFORNIA 5NITED 3TATES 7ORLD PUBLICATIONS TO REACH SOULS IN AND OUTSIDE THE CHURCH -ANY OF MY 4HE 3ETTING 3UN NON !DVENTIST NEIGHBORS WANT THE ) WAS THE ONLY !DVENTIST IN OUR FAMILY PUBLICATION WHENEVER IT COMES AROUND WHEN ) WAS STILL SINGLE ) AM NOW AN 4HE &EBRUARY !DVENTIST 7ORLD ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE )GLESIA #RISTO ARTICLE h"EHOLD THE ,AMB v BY -ARTIN #HURCH AND MY HUSBAND IS ALSO A -ATO GAVE ME SOME INSIGHT 4EARS CAME DEVOTED 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST ) INTO MY EYES AS ) IMAGINED HOW -ARTIN WAS BAPTIZED !PRIL ) BELIEVE ,UTHER STANDING ALONE BEFORE THE RULERS THIS IS THE RIGHT PATH FOR ME TO REACH OF 'ERMANY BOLDLY DECLARED h-Y EVERLASTING LIFE CONSCIENCE IS CAPTIVE TO THE 7ORD OF 'OD v ) WAS TOUCHED AFTER READING THE ) ALSO IMAGINE HOW IT WOULD BE IF MESSAGE h4HE 3ETTING 3UN v BY "ILL MANY OF US WHO STAND IN OUR CHURCH +NOTT FROM THE %DITOR S 0EN IN THE MEETINGS TODAY DECLARING THE TRUE &EBRUARY !DVENTIST 7ORLD WORDS OF 'OD WOULD BE VOICELESS IN 'EMMA / %NARIO THE PRESENCE OF RULERS 'ENERAL 3ANTOS #ITY 0HILIPPINES !DAM WAS UNABLE TO STAND IN THE

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

,%44%23 PRESENCE OF 'OD BECAUSE (E ALLOWED THE WOMAN TO LURE HIM INTO SIN DISOBEDIENT TO THE 7ORD OF 'OD 'OD CALLED !DAM h7HERE ARE YOU v 4HE CURSES FOLLOWED TO THE SERPENT THE WOMAN AND !DAM %ACH OF THEM TRANSFERRED THE CURSE OF SIN ;ONTO FUTURE GENERATIONS= UNTIL TODAY .OW HERE WE ARE !RE WE TO SING THE POPULAR !DVENTIST CHORUS h) WILL WEAR A CROWN IN MY &ATHER S HOUSE THERE IS JOY JOY JOYv 7E HAVE THE CROSS IN OUR HANDS TODAYˆLET US NOT PLEASE HUMANKIND BUT STRIVE TO PLEASE 'OD 'AL

4HE CROWN OF BLESSINGS AWAITS US AS WE STRIVE TO WIN THE RACE -ARANATHA ,ET (IM COME -RS " /GUNJIMI /GUN .IGERIA

&OR !CCURACY S 3AKE

) M WRITING IN REGARD TO THE *ANUARY ARTICLE h$IVINE 'RACE /UT OF (UMAN $ISGRACE v BY &ERDINAND / 2EGALADO ) HAVE HAD THE MAGAZINE OUT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITH THE PLAN TO WRITE TO YOUˆ) NEEDED TO GATHER MY THOUGHTS lRST -Y FRUSTRATION IS THE TWIST CONNOTATION 2EGALADO AN !DVENTIST PROFESSOR DECIDED TO ADD TO THE "IBLE STORY OF *UDAH AND 4AMAR )T ACTUALLY ILLUSTRATES MY CONCERN FOR THOSE TEACHING "IBLE SCHOLARS AT ALL OUR SCHOOLS 7HY DO OUR TEACHERS MAKE THE "IBLE SAY WHAT THEY INTERPRET AND THEN TEACH IT AS TRUTH 4HE STORY OF *UDAH AND 4AMAR IS PORTRAYED IN 'ENESIS WITH AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT CONNOTATION THAN HOW 2EGALADO PORTRAYS IT IN THE ARTICLE

&OR EXAMPLE IN 'ENESIS *UDAH HAD NO INTENTION OF GIVING 3HELAH AS 4AMAR S THIRD HUSBAND EVEN WHEN HE SENT HER HOME TO HER PARENTS 4HE ARTICLE STATES THAT *UDAH S DECISION WAS TO GIVE 3HELAH IN MARRIAGE WHEN HE DID COME OF AGE AND ALSO STATES hREFUSED TO GIVE HIM TO 4AMAR v 4HE "IBLE LISTS NO INTERACTION BETWEEN 4AMAR AND *UDAH FOR WHICH HE COULD HAVE REFUSED 4HERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER AREAS IN THE ARTICLE IN WHICH 2EGALADO ADJUSTS THE "IBLE ACCOUNT FOR CONVENIENCE ESPECIALLY SEE WHAT IS WRITTEN IN REGARD TO VERSES AND IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT !DVENTIST 7ORLD WOULD PRINT SOMETHING NOT COMPLETELY ACCURATE IN ITS BIBLICAL ACCOUNT #ASANDRA 3URPRISE 7ASHINGTON 5NITED 3TATES

4 ( % 0 , ! # % / & 0 2 !9 % 2 0LEASE PRAY FOR MY FAMILY WHICH IS IN A STATE OF COLLAPSE SPIRITUALLY AND MATERIALLY ) AM UNDERGOING DIFlCULT MOMENTS WITHIN THE FAMILY INCLUDING lNANCIAL PROBLEMS *ASON +ENYA ) AM YEARS OLD AND A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR IN 'ENERAL 3ANTOS #ITY 0HILIPPINES 0LEASE PRAY FOR MY INTERVIEW AT THE 5NITED 3TATES EMBASSYˆTHAT THE ,ORD WILL TOUCH THE HEART OF THE CONSUL AND ) WILL RECEIVE APPROVAL OF MY NONIMMIGRANT VISA SO THAT ) CAN ATTEND AN EDUCATION CONVENTION IN -ICHIGAN ,ITO 0HILIPPINES ) HAVE SEVERAL REQUESTS FOR PRAYER &IRST PRAY FOR MY FAMILY AND ME FOR lNANCIAL BLESSINGS 2IGHT NOW ) AM UNEMPLOYED AND HAVE HAD A HARD TIME lNDING A JOB SINCE ) GRADUATED WITH MY MASTER S DEGREE ) AM LOOKING FOR A JOB WITHIN MY MAJOR AND ) WOULD

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ 3EPTEMBER

ALSO LIKE TO PURSUE A 0H $ )N ADDITION

PLEASE PRAY THAT 'OD WILL BLESS ME WITH A GODLY HUSBAND FOR LIFE WHO IS WITHIN THE CHURCH ,AST PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DON T KNOW *ESUS !NDREA 5NITED 3TATES 7OULD YOU PLEASE HELP PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IN -ALAWI +EEP UP THE GOOD JOB AS WE AWAIT THE SOON COMING OF THE ,ORD *ESUS #HRIST %LLIOT -ALAWI ) WAS NOT AN !DVENTIST HAVING BEEN BROUGHT UP IN A 0ENTECOSTAL CHURCH ) CAME ACROSS THE !DVENTIST 7ORLD MAGAZINE AND FROM THE TIME ) STARTED READING IT MY LIFE HAS CHANGED ) NEED YOUR PRAYERS SO THAT MY FAITH WILL GROW STRONG AND ) WILL GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOMˆAND SO THAT 'OD WILL GUIDE MY FAMILY AND ME ) HAVE JOINED THE !DVENTIST #HURCH DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM MY PARENTS ) KNOW ) WILL

OVERPOWER THEIR OPPOSITION THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS %RTON +ENYA

) AM MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN ) REALLY NEED A JOB FOR SUSTAINING MY FAMILY IN REGARD TO THEIR DAILY NEEDS AND lNANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOL THAT COMES FROM ME 0LEASE PRAY FOR ME *ASON 0HILIPPINES ) AM WRITING ABOUT SOME JOB INTERVIEWS ) WILL BE ATTENDING 4HEY ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE BUT WITH 'OD NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE 0LEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER #HALI :AMBIA

4HE 0LACE OF 0RAYER SEND TO PRAYER ADVENTISTWORLD ORG 3END US YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISE THANKS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER +EEP YOUR ENTRIES SHORT AND CONCISE WORDS MAXIMUM )TEMS SENT TO THIS CATEGORY WILL BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY %VEN THOUGH WE WILL PRAY FOR EACH ENTRY DURING OUR WEEKLY STAFF MEETINGS NOT ALL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE PRINTED 0LEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND YOUR COUNTRY S NAME WITH YOUR ENTRY 9OU MAY ALSO FAX REQUESTS TO OR MAIL THEM TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD

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

h"EHOLD ) COME QUICKLYxv

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

/UR MISSION IS TO UPLIFT *ESUS #HRIST UNITING 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS EVERYWHERE IN BELIEFS MISSION LIFE AND HOPE 0UBLISHER 4HE !DVENTIST 7ORLD AN INTERNATIONAL PERIODICAL OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IS HOUSED IN THE +OREAN !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE IS THE PUBLISHER %XECUTIVE 0UBLISHER "ILL +NOTT

! GROUP OF !DVENTIST WOMEN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

)NTERNATIONAL 0UBLISHING -ANAGER #HUN 0YUNG $UK

0EANUT "UTTER -INISTRY (ELPS

#OMMUNITY

&IVE YEARS AGO THE WOMEN S MINISTRIES ORGANIZATION OF -ANGAGOY #ENTRAL 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CHURCH IN "ISLIG #ITY 0HILIPPINES WANTED TO FINANCIALLY HELP THE CHURCH ESPECIALLY IN EVANGELISM 4HE ORGANIZATION S LEADERSHIP CAME UP WITH AN IDEA THE PRODUCTION OF PEANUT BUTTER $ESPITE A POOR ECONOMY AND NUMEROUS COMPETITORS IN THE LOCAL AREA THE BUSINESS BOOMED AND CONTINUES TO DO SO 'OD S BLESSINGS m OWED UNENDINGLY ,ATER ON THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZED IT AS AN OFl CIAL BUSINESS BEARING THE NAME h7OMEN S $ELICIOUS 0EANUT "UTTER v 0ERSONAL COMMITMENT AND UNITY AMONG THE MEMBERS GREW RIGHT ALONG WITH THE PEANUT BUTTER PRODUCTION )NITIALLY THE ORGANIZA TION DESIRED TO INCREASE ATTENDANCE AT SEMINARS AND TRAINING l NANCIAL COSTS HAD PREVENTED MANY CHURCH MEMBERS FROM ATTENDING "UT NOWˆAND BEGINNING FROM THE DAY THE BUSINESS MINISTRY STARTEDˆTHE WOMEN S MINISTRIES ORGANIZATION NOT ONLY HELPED RAISE ATTENDANCE BUT ALSO ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING N 3UPPORTED ONE CANCER PATIENT FOR ONE YEAR

N &INANCIALLY AIDED THE ONGOING RENOVATION OF

THE CHURCH N !SSISTED IN THE JAIL MINISTRY PROGRAM

N 3UPPORTED PUBLIC EVANGELISM N #ONDUCTED "IBLE STUDIES N ' AVE MORTUARY AID OF 0 53 FOR EVERY WOMAN MEMBER AND DEPENDENTS N )NCREASED ATTENDANCE AT SEMINARS

CONVENTIONS AND CONGRESSES AT .ORTHEAST 4OP 2IGHT ! SMALL MACHINE -INDANAO -ISSION AND -OUNTAIN 6IEW #OLLEGE PROCESSES PEANUTS l NELY INTO )T IS THE HOPE OF THESE WOMEN THAT THIS BUTTER !BOVE 7OMEN PACK INITIATIVE WILL ENCOURAGE AND INSPIRE WOMEN PEANUT BUTTERS IN CONTAINERS FROM OTHER CHURCHES TO STEP FORWARD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THEIR 7OMEN S -INISTRIES ORGANIZATIONS ˆ ( ELEN 2 3ANTILLAN -ANGAGOY 7OMEN S -INISTRIES DIRECTOR

"ISLIG #ITY 0HILIPPINES ARTICLE FROM THE *ULY -OSAIC NEWSLETTER OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE $EPARTMENT OF 7OMEN S -INISTRIES

0UBLISHING "OARD *AN 0AULSEN CHAIR 4ED . # 7ILSON VICE CHAIR "ILL +NOTT SECRETARY !RMANDO -IRANDA 0ARDON + -WANSA *UAN 0RESTOL #HARLES # 3ANDEFUR $ON # 3CHNEIDER (EATHER $AWN 3MALL 2OBERT 3 3MITH 2OBERT % +YTE

LEGAL ADVISOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD #OORDINATING #OMMITTEE ,EE *AIRYONG CHAIR !KERI 3UZUKI $ONALD 5PSON 'UIMO 3UNG 'LENN -ITCHELL #HUN 0YUNG $UK %DITOR IN #HIEF "ILL +NOTT %DITORS BASED IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 2OY !DAMS ASSOCIATE EDITOR 3ANDRA "LACKMER

3TEPHEN #HAVEZ -ARK ! +ELLNER +IMBERLY ,USTE -ARAN %DITORS BASED IN 3EOUL +OREA #HUN *UNG +WON #HOE *EONG +WAN /NLINE %DITOR #ARLOS -EDLEY 4ECHNICAL #OORDINATOR -ERLE 0OIRIER %XECUTIVE !SSISTANT TO THE %DITOR 2ACHEL * #HILD %DITORIAL !SSISTANTS -ARVENE 4HORPE "APTISTE !LFREDO 'ARCIA -ARENKO 2EADER 3ERVICES -ERLE 0OIRIER !RT $IRECTION AND $ESIGN *EFF $EVER &ATIMA !MEEN "ILL 4YMESON #ONSULTANTS *AN 0AULSEN -ATTHEW "EDIAKO 2OBERT % ,EMON

,OWELL # #OOPER -ARK ! &INLEY %UGENE +ING 9I (SU

'ERRY $ +ARST !RMANDO -IRANDA 0ARDON + -WANSA

-ICHAEL , 2YAN %LLA 3 3IMMONS 4ED . # 7ILSON

,UKA 4 $ANIEL ,AURIE * %VANS !LBERTO # 'ULFAN *R

%RTON +ÚHLER *AIRYONG ,EE )SRAEL ,EITO 'EOFFREY ' -BWANA 0AUL 3 2ATSARA $ON # 3CHNEIDER !RTUR ! 3TELE 5LRICH 7 &RIKART $ 2ONALD 7ATTS "ERTIL ! 7IKLANDER 4O 7RITERS 7E WELCOME UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS !DDRESS ALL EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE

3ILVER 3PRING -$ 5 3 ! %DITORIAL OFl CE FAX NUMBER %MAIL )NTERNET WORLDEDITOR GC ADVENTIST ORG 7EB SITE WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG 5NLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED ALL "IBLE REFERENCES ARE TAKEN FROM THE .EW +ING *AMES 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT ¥

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

.EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT ¥

)NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS !DVENTIST 7ORLD IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AND PRINTED SIMUL TANEOUSLY IN +OREA !USTRALIA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES 6OL .O

3EPTEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

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

4HE

0%

0,% 3

!$6 % . 4 ) 3 4 ,) & % 7HEN ) WAS AN ELEMENTARY STUDENT MY BROTHER AND ) HAD TO TRAVEL TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY BY SCHOOL BUS $URING THE RIDE ) LOVED TO SOCIALIZE SO ) SPENT MOST OF THAT TIME TALK ING AND LAUGHING WITH MY FRIENDS /NE DAY THE NOISE LEVELS BOTHERED THE BUS DRIVER AND HE TOLD US THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MORE TALK ING ON THE BUS 4HE PENALTY FOR DISOBEYING THE LAW WAS BEING SENT OFF THE BUS -Y PARENTS SUPPORTED THE BUS DRIVER AND ADDED THAT IF WE GOT SENT OFF THE BUS AT ANY TIME WE WOULD HAVE TO WALK TO SCHOOL -Y BROTHER DIDN T MIND BECAUSE HE WAS QUIET AND SAID VERY LITTLE (OWEVER ) DIDN T KNOW HOW ) COULD LAST AN HOUR AND A HALF WITHOUT TALKING /NE DAY

MY BROTHER ACCIDENTALLY TALKED AND WAS SENT OFF THE BUS 3O TRUE TO MY PARENTS WORD MY BROTHER HAD TO GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING BEFORE DAYLIGHT AND WALK ALL THE WAY TO SCHOOL WHILE ) RODE THE BUS 4HE MOST AMAZING PART TO THIS STORY IS THAT MY BROTHER DIDN T WALK ALONE -Y DAD DROVE HIS CAR BESIDE MY BROTHER )T WAS A LONG DARK ROAD TO SCHOOL AND OUR DAD WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY BROTHER ARRIVED SAFELY

EVEN IF THAT MEANT BEING LATE FOR WORK -Y DAD S ACTIONS TOWARD MY BROTHER REMIND ME OF 'OD S GREAT LOVE FOR US h!S A FATHER HAS COMPASSION ON HIS CHILDREN SO THE ,ORD HAS COMPASSION ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIMv 0S .)6 ˆ$EBBIE -ANISCALCO 6IA E MAIL

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

0 , ! # %

*53 4 4(% &!# 43 ,ONDON %NGLAND IS ALIVE WITH !DVENTIST CHURCHES AND CHURCH PLANTS 'REATER ,ON DON HAS A POPULATION OF JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN MILLION CENSUS 4HERE ARE !DVENTIST CHURCHES OR GROUPS WITH A TOTAL !DVENTIST MEMBERSHIP OF IN THE ,ONDON AREA ˆ6ICTOR (ULBERT 3TANBOROUGH 0ARK 7ATFORD %NGLAND

15/4% /& 4(% -/. 4( h4HE KISS OF FORGIVENESS IS GREATER THAN THE FALTERING CONFESSION OF REPENTANCE 4HE FOOTSTEPS OF CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE ARE SLOW AND FALTERING BUT THE FOOTSTEPS OF FOR GIVENESS AND MERCY ARE SWIFT AND CERTAIN v ˆ0ASTOR 2EX &ROST $ALTON 'EORGIA 53! 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH QUOTING #HARLES ( 3PURGEON ADAPTED FROM 4HE 4REASURY OF THE .EW 4ESTAMENT IN A SERMON ON -ARCH &ROST IS COMMENTING ON THE INTERACTION OF FATHER AND RETURNING SON IN THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

FROM THE ,ONDON WIDE $AY OF &ELLOWSHIP IN THE 7EMBLEY !RENA ,ONDON %NGLAND ON 3EPTEMBER

! . 3 7 %2 #OMMUNICATION DIRECTOR FOR THE "RITISH 5NION #ONFERENCE 6ICTOR (ULBERT CAPTURES A MOMENT OF PRAISE AND CELEBRATION