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!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
/N THE COVER ! 42)!, /& &!)4( $ANIEL ,ISULO BELIEVES MIRACULOUS INTERVENTION SAVED HIM FROM BEING FORCED TO LEAVE SCHOOL AFTER HE RE FUSED TO ATTEND CLASSES ON 3ABBATH
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NE TASK THAT FALLS TO EVERY NEW BELIEVER IS LEARNING THE VOCABULARY OF FAITH %ACH COMMUNITY OF #HRISTIANS USES SPECIAL WORDS TO HIGHLIGHT IDEAS AND EVEN INSTITUTIONS IT CONSIDERS IMPORTANT EVEN VITAL )F YOU HAVE EVER PUZZLED OVER THE MEANING OF hJUSTIlCATIONv OR WONDERED WHAT THE hPEN OF INSPIRATIONv MIGHT BE YOU ARE IN GOOD COMPANY 4ENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW !DVENTISTS EACH YEAR LEARN THE LANGUAGE OF THIS FAITH BY LISTENING TO THE REST OF US GATHERING UP THE SHADES OF MEANING WORKING OUT SOME SAMPLE DElNITIONS "UT SOME IDEAS ARE NEVER FULLY GRASPED UNTIL THEY ARE LIVED 7E COME TO KNOW SOME VITAL BIBLICAL TRUTHS BY SEEING THEM ENACTED IN THE LIVES OF #HRISTIANS WHO SHOW US BY THEIR DEEDS WHAT WORDS ALONE COULD NEVER CONVEY 3AY THE WORD hGRACEv IN A 3ABBATH SCHOOL CLASS AND A DOZEN VOICES WILL CHORUS BACK TO YOU A CLASSIC DElNITION hUNMERITED FAVOR v "UT SAY hGRACEv IN MY EAR AND ) WILL TELL YOU OF A PIVOTAL BIBLICAL IDEA THAT CAME TO LIFE WHEN A BROTHER IN THE FAITH EXPRESSED TO ME A KINDNESS ) HAD DONE NOTHING TO DESERVE ) WAS AT lRST PUZZLED BY IT TROUBLED BY A LOVE ) HAD NOT EARNED 3LOWLY ) CONCLUDED THROUGH HIS LIVING
DElNITION THAT THIS WAS WHAT THE 7ORD WAS ALSO DESCRIBING (IS KINDNESS TOWARD ME RESEMBLEDˆFAINTLY INDISTINCTLY TO BE SUREˆWHAT 'OD HAS DONE FOR ME IN #HRIST ) NOW REJOICE EVEN MORE IN BOTH 'OD S GRACE AND HIS )T IS NO LESSER WAY TO LEARN THE TRUTH WHEN WE LEARN IT THROUGH THE ACTIONS OF FELLOW #HRISTIANS 4HIS IS IN FACT HOW 'OD INTENDED IT 4HE 3PIRIT NEVER PLANNED THAT WE SHOULD LEARN OF GRACE OF MERCY OR OF FORGIVENESS THROUGH THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARIES 4HOSE WHOM *ESUS CALLS hBLESSEDv IN THE 3ERMON ON THE -OUNT ARE CALLED THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHOM SOME #HRISTIAN ONCE FORGAVE TO WHOM SOME BELIEVER SHOWED MERCY 4HEY HAVE BECOME PEACEMAKERS BECAUSE A BELIEVER ONCE MADE PEACE WITH THEM !S THE 7ORD OF 'OD ONCE WAS MADE mESH AND DWELLED AMONG US TO SHOW US WHAT THE &ATHER IS LIKE *OHN SO THE IDEAS OF THE WRITTEN 7ORD MUST TAKE ON mESH BEFORE THEY TRULY COME TO LIFE WITHIN US 4HIS MONTH BECOME A LIVING DElNITION OF THE TRUTHS YOU CARRY IN YOUR HEART ) CAN ASSURE YOU THAT SOMEONE WILL BE WATCHING LEARNING AND LISTENING
ˆ "ILL +NOTT
7/2,$ 2%0/24 N #RIMINALS BROKE WINDOWS SCRAWLED THREATS ON WALLS AND DESTROYED PRIVATE PROPERTY AT lVE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CHURCHES IN 3ERBIA IN .OVEMBER PROMPTING CHURCH LEADERS IN THE REGION TO APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR HELP 4HE LATEST ACTS OF VIOLENCE CAME AFTER A YEAR OF ESCALATING CRIMES AGAINST !DVENTISTS IN 3ERBIA ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT RELEASED BY CHURCH LEADERS IN THE 3OUTH %AST %UROPEAN REGION h7E ACQUAINTED THE x AUTHORITIES WITH THESE HAPPENINGS AND BECAUSE
INCIDENTS LIKE THESE ARE HAPPENING REPEATEDLY WE DECIDED THAT THE MEASURES TAKEN ARE NOT EFlCIENT NOR ARE THEY PROVIDING PROTECTION AND SAFETY TO THE CHURCH MEMBERS AND ASSETS v PRESIDENT FOR THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN 3OUTH %AST %UROPE -IODRAG :IVANOVIC SAID IN THE APPEAL :IVANOVIC SAID THE 3ERBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOT TAKEN STEPS TO PROTECT THE !DVENTIST #HURCH AGAINST CRIME AND VIOLENCE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS NOT TRIED TO CAPTURE AND PUNISH THE PERPETRATORS h3ERBIA HAS BEEN THROUGH DIFlCULT
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3ERBIAN !DVENTISTS 3EEK )NTERNATIONAL !ID
3#2!7,%$ 4(2%!43 4HREATS WERE WRITTEN IN GRAFlTI ON THE 3IVAC !DVENTIST #HURCH IN 3EPTEMBER !UTHORITIES HAVE DONE LITTLE TO DISSUADE VANDALS CHURCH LEADERS SAY
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
7/2,$ 2%0/24 TIMES FOR YEARS 3OME EXTREMISTS BELIEVE THEY NEED A SCAPEGOAT WHICH THEY lND IN RELIGIOUS MINORITIES v SAID *OHN 'RAZ DIRECTOR OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST S $EPARTMENT OF 0UBLIC !FFAIRS AND 2ELIGIOUS ,IBERTY h7E ARE EXPECTING THE GOVERNMENT OF 3ERBIA TO RESPOND TO THESE AGGRESSIONS ;AND TO= DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD THAT IT STANDS FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM v #OPIES OF THE APPEAL WERE SENT TO THE 3ERBIAN GOVERNMENT THE /RGANIZATION FOR 3ECURITY AND #OOPERATION IN %UROPE THE #OUNCIL OF %UROPE THE EMBASSIES FOR THE 5NITED 3TATES 'ERMANY AND !USTRALIA THE #ENTER FOR $EVELOPMENT OF #IVIL 3OCIETY AND THE !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH HEADQUARTERS 6ANDALISM BEGAN IN *ANUARY WHEN CHURCHES IN THE TOWNS OF 3IVAC +ULA AND +RAGUJEVAC WERE SPRAYED WITH GRAFlTI THREATS THE APPEAL SAID )N /CTOBER THE WINDOWS OF THE !DVENTIST CHURCH IN +RAGUJEVAC WERE SHATTERED FOLLOWED BY BREAKING AND ENTERING AT LOCAL CHURCH HEADQUARTERS IN "ELGRADE IN .OVEMBER 4HE "ELGRADE VANDALS WERE CAUGHT ON SECURITY CAMERA AS THEY DAMAGED CARS IN THE PARKING LOT .O ARRESTS HAD BEEN MADE AT THE TIME OF THE APPEAL ˆ2EPORTED BY -EGAN "RAUNER !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK
3âO 0AULO 0ASSES 2ELIGIOUS &REEDOM #HARTER N 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH LEADERS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PROPONENTS IN "RAZIL SAY THE .OVEMBER PASSAGE OF THE "RAZILIAN #HARTER OF 2ELIGIOUS ,IBERTY HELPS GALVANIZE FREEDOMS OF BELIEF ALREADY ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNTRY S CONSTITUTION AND THE 5NIVERSAL $ECLARATION OF (UMAN 2IGHTS -EANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE LEGAL DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN 3áO 0AULO THE DOCUMENT WAS INTRODUCED .OVEMBER BY THE "RAZILIAN !SSOCIATION OF 2ELIGIOUS &REEDOM AND #ITIZENSHIP !",)2# ˆA PARTNER OF THE )NTERNATIONAL 2ELIGIOUS ,IBERTY !SSOCIATION )2,! 3áO 0AULO WITH NEARLY MILLION INHABITANTS IS "RAZIL S LARGEST AND ONE OF ITS MOST INmUENTIAL CITIES SAID *OHN 'RAZ )2,! SECRETARY GENERAL 'RAZ SAID RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PROPONENTS EXPECT OTHER CITIES TO FOLLOW IN ACCEPTING THE CHARTER h"RAZILIANS ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN FREEDOM v 'RAZ WHO ATTENDED THE LAUNCH OF THE CHARTER TOLD THOSE GATHERED 7ITH THAT PRIVILEGE HE ADDED COMES A RESPON SIBILITY TO KEEP ISSUES OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AT THE FOREFRONT INTERNATIONALLY h)F A NATION FORGETS ITS FREEDOMS IT CAN EASILY LOSE THEM v HE SAID
2%,)')/53 &2%%$/- #(!24%2 !LDIR 3ORIANO IS INTERVIEWED BY THE !DVENTIST #HURCH S MEDIA CENTER IN #ENTRAL "RAZIL 3ORIANO WHO DRAFTED THE "RAZILIAN #HARTER OF 2ELIGIOUS ,IBERTY PASSED IN .OVEMBER IN 3âO 0AULO SAID SUCH EFFORTS ARE A VITAL MEANS OF BOLSTERING FREEDOMS OF BELIEF IN THE COUNTRY 0! 5 ,/ ( % . 2 ) 1 5 % $ % - ! 5 ¬ ! . .
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
!LDIR 3ORIANO A LAWYER SPECIALIZING IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WHO IN BEGAN DRAFTING THE CHARTER SAID BECAUSE SOME FORMERLY FREE COUNTRIES ARE NOW TIGHTENING RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES NATIONS THAT MAINTAIN STRONG PROTECTIONS OF BELIEF MUST BE WARY OF SLACKENING THEIR SUPPORT 4HE 2ELIGIOUS &REEDOM 7ORLD 2EPORT A RANKING THAT RECOGNIZES THE WIDE FREEDOMS ENJOYED BY ALL RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE LARGELY 2OMAN #ATHOLIC COUNTRY LISTS "RAZIL UNDER #ATEGORY 4HE NATION IS CURRENTLY HOME TO NEARLY MILLION 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS ˆ!DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK #HURCH 'ETS .EW "UILDING )DENTITY IN 5KRAINE N ! NEW 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CHURCH IN 5KRAINE S CAPITAL CITY HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN JUST A NEW PLACE TO WORSHIP !FTER DECADES OF STRUGGLING WITH LIMITED RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS !DVEN TISTS SAY THE OPENING OF THE 0ODOL !DVENTIST #HURCH IN +IEV MARKS THEIR PLACE IN THE MOSTLY /RTHODOX COUNTRY &OR YEARS GOVERNMENT OFlCIALS WOULDN T ALLOW !DVENTISTS TO BUILD A PERMANENT STRUCTURE WITHIN CITY LIMITS CHURCH LEADERS SAID "UT A PROPOSED CHURCH THAT BLENDED INTO THE AREA WITH SIMILAR ARCHITECTURE AS OTHER CHURCHES WAS lNALLY PERMITTED IN h) WAS HUGELY IMPRESSED WITH THE CHURCH BOTH THE BUILDING AND THE SPIRIT OF THE CELEBRATION v 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE PRESIDENT *AN 0AULSEN SAID FOLLOWING HIS VISIT 7HILE IN THE EASTERN %UROPEAN COUNTRY 0AULSEN MET WITH THE NATION S VICE PRIME MINISTER )VAN 6 6ASIUNYK AND 9URIY "OGUTSKYI OF THE PRESIDENT S OFlCE 'OVERNMENT OFlCIALS AND THE PRIME MINISTER ARE AWARE OF !DVENTISTS WORK IN THE AREA 0AULSEN SAID !N !DVENTIST COLLEGE HAS SEEN STRONG ENROLLMENT GROWTH IN THE
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PAST lVE YEARS NOW WITH ABOUT STUDENTS 0AULSEN SAID HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE 0ODOL CONGREGATION h) PARTICULARLY NOTED HOW MANY CHILDREN YOUTH AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ATTENDED THIS CHURCH v HE SAID CITING A MARKED DIFFERENCE FROM OTHER CONGREGATIONS AROUND THE WORLD HE S VISITED 4HE CHURCH IN THE HEART OF THE GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS DISTRICT IS ONE OF ONLY THREE BUILDINGS OWNED BY THE CHURCH IN THE AREA ,IKE OTHER !DVENTIST CONGREGATIONS CURRENTLY RENTING WORSHIP FACILITIES THE 0ODOL CONGREGATION HAD TO RENT A BUILDING FOR YEARS 4HERE ARE NOW !DVENTIST CHURCHES IN +IEV 4HERE ARE ABOUT !DVENTISTS IN 5KRAINE A NATION OF ROUGHLY MILLION PEOPLE ˆ!NSEL /LIVER !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY 9URIY +UZMENKO
4HE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN RECENT EXECUTIVE SESSIONS HAS ELECTED THREE NEW DIVISION PRESIDENTS *OHN 2ATHINARAJ FOR THE 3OUTHERN !SIA $IVISION 35$ "RUNO 6ERTALLIER FOR THE %URO !FRICA $IVISION %5$ AND 'ILBERT 7ARI FOR THE 7EST #ENTRAL !FRICA $IVISION 7!$ 4HE FOLLOWING ARE SHORT PROlLES OF THESE NEWLY ELECTED CHURCH LEADERS *OHN 2ATHINARAJˆ35$
%LECTED AS 3OUTHERN !SIA $IVISION S PRESIDENT DURING THE CHURCH S !NNUAL #OUNCIL MEETING ON /CTOBER IN -ANILA *OHN 2ATHINARAJ IS COMING TO THIS POSITION WITH A WEALTH OF LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN THAT REGION 3INCE 2ATHINARAJ HAS SERVED AS SECRETARY OF THE DIVISION HEADQUARTERED IN (OSUR NEAR "ANGALORE AND PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT FOR ITS MORE THAN MILLION MEMBERS IN SOME CHURCHES IN )NDIA .EPAL "HUTAN AND -ALDIVES &ROM TO 2ATHINARAJ .%7,9 %,%#4%$ 35$ SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE +ARNATAKA 02%3)$%.4 *OHN 3ECTION AND JUST A YEAR LATER WAS ELECTED 2ATHINARAJ PRESIDENT OF WHAT WAS THEN THE 3OUTH )NDIA 5NION -EMBERSHIP GREW UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP EVENTUALLY EXCEEDING MEMBERS IN MORE THAN CHURCHES "Y THIS GROWTH RESULTED IN THE 3OUTH )NDIA 5NION DIVIDING INTO THREE SEPARATE UNIONSˆINCLUDING THE 3OUTHEAST )NDIA 5NION OF WHICH 2ATHINARAJ SERVED AS PRESIDENT UNTIL !T THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION THAT YEAR IN 3T ,OUIS -ISSOURI 5NITED 3TATES HE WAS ELECTED SECRETARY OF 35$ "ORN IN +ANYAKUMARI AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF )NDIA 2ATHINARAJ HAS GAINED ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS FROM SEVERAL YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE !FTER EARNING A BACHELOR S DEGREE IN RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY IN HE WAS APPOINTED BY THE 3OUTH 4AMIL 3ECTION AS NOT ONLY PASTOR OF A LOCAL #ONTINUED NEXT PAGE
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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.%7 #(52#( 4HE 0ODOL !DVEN TIST CONGREGATION IN 5KRAINE WAS PERMITTED TO BUILD A PERMANENT CHURCH WITHIN CITY LIMITS AFTER SHOW ING CITY OFlCIALS PLANS FOR A CHURCH THAT WOULD APPEAR SIMILAR TO OTHER HOUSES OF WORSHIP IN THE REGION
7/2,$ 2%0/24 CHURCH CONGREGATION BUT ALSO PRINCIPAL OF A SMALL BOARDING "RUNO 6ERTALLIERˆ%5$ %URO !FRICA $IVISION MINISTERIAL DIRECTOR "RUNO SCHOOL $URING THE SEVEN YEARS HE WAS THERE 2ATHINARAJ 6ERTALLIER IS THE REGION S NEW PRESIDENT SUCCEEDING ESTABLISHED ANOTHER TWO NEW CHURCHES AND AN ADDITIONAL DAY SCHOOL &ROM THEN UNTIL HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE 5LRICH 7 &RIKART WHO ANNOUNCED LAST !UGUST THAT HE WOULD BE RETIRING AT THE END OF +ARNATAKA 3ECTION IN 2ATHINARAJ SERVED IN VARIOUS 6ERTALLIER SPEAKS FOUR LANGUAGESˆ&RENCH EDUCATION AND CHURCH ADMINISTRATION ROLES $URING THIS %NGLISH 'ERMAN AND 3PANISHˆAND IN EARNED A TIME HE COMPLETED A MASTER S DEGREE IN HISTORY DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEGREE IN PRACTICAL THEOLOGY FROM 2ATHINARAJ ENVISIONS THAT THE CHURCH IN HIS REGION lVE !NDREWS 5NIVERSITY IN "ERRIEN 3PRINGS -ICHIGAN YEARS FROM NOW hWILL BE A MUCH STRONGER COMMUNITY 7E ARE EXPECTING MORE PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED LAYPEOPLE AND 5NITED 3TATES (E HAS SERVED AS A PASTOR IN &RANCE YOUTH DIRECTOR FOR THE )NDIAN /CEAN 5NION IN -ADAGASCAR TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE THE LEAD v HE TOLD !DVENTIST A TEACHER OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY AT 3ALÞVE !DVENTIST 7ORLD 5NIVERSITY IN &RANCE AND PRESIDENT OF THE 3OUTH &RANCE h-Y PRIMARY VISION OF THE CHURCH IS TO SEE IT FULlLL ITS MISSION OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL IN ALL PARTS OF THE 3OUTHERN #ONFERENCE (E WAS %5$ S -INISTERIAL !SSOCIATION !SIA $IVISION x AND GROW ECONOMICALLY STRONG v HE ADDED SECRETARY FROM UNTIL HIS RECENT ELECTION TO DIVISION PRESIDENT 'ORDON #HRISTO ELECTED TO SUCCEED 2ATHINARAJ AS h-Y VISION AND DREAM ARE TO SEE THE CHURCH GROW DIVISION SECRETARY DESCRIBES 2ATHINARAJ AS HAVING A SPIRITUALLY THAT THE CHURCH MAY BE KNOWN NOT ONLY AS A hCOMPASSIONATE HEARTv AND hALWAYS TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE v h(E HAS YEARS OF LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AS PRESIDENT OF GROWING CHURCH BUT ABOVE ALL A PRAYING CHURCH MISSIONS UNIONS AND SCHOOLS v #HRISTO SAYS h%VERYWHERE HE LEFT BEHIND PEOPLE WHO RESPECT HIM v 2ATHINARAJ S WIFE &LORA A 3PICER #OLLEGE GRADUATE AND A TEACHER BY PROFESSION COORDINATES THE WORK OF THE !DVENTIST #HILD )NDIA PROGRAM AT THE DIVISION OFlCE !DVENTIST #HILD )NDIA S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN OF !DVENTIST FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING lNANCIALLY TO HAVE A #HRISTIAN EDUCATION *OHN AND &LORA 2ATHINARAJ HAVE TWO MARRIED CHILDREN AND ONE GRANDCHILD 2ATHINARAJ SUCCEEDS 2ON 7ATTS WHO RESIGNED AS PRESIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF FAMILY HEALTH ISSUES 7ATTS SERVED 35$ AS PRESIDENT FROM UNTIL HIS RESIGNATION THIS YEAR (IS WIFE .%7,9 %,%#4%$ %5$ 02%3)$%.4 &ROM RIGHT #HRISTIANE AND "RUNO 6ERTALLIER $OROTHY WAS AN ASSOCIATE SECRETARY OF ACCEPT CONGRATULATIONS FROM +ARI AND *AN 0AULSEN *AN 0AULSEN IS PRESIDENT THE DIVISION ˆ7RITTEN WITH REPORTING OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS ASSISTANCE BY 35$ EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 'ORDON #HRISTO AND !.. # / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & % 5 $
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
WITH COMPASSION FOR THE PEOPLE v AS A DEPARTMENTAL DIRECTOR 6ERTALLIER TOLD !DVENTIST 7ORLD h4HE FOR THE .ORTH #AMEROON CHURCH HAS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT OUR -ISSION AND AS A TEACHER KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING FROM THE "ORN IN IN NORTH "IBLE CAN ALSO BE A LIVING WITNESS IN THE #AMEROON AND ORDAINED MIDST OF OUR COMMUNITIES 4HEREFORE ) TO THE MINISTRY IN PRAY THAT OUR MEMBERS MAY REACH THAT 7ARI HAS A BACHELOR S LEVEL OF LOVING THEIR FELLOW MEN IN THE DEGREE IN THEOLOGY FROM SAME WAY *ESUS DID v THE !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY (E ADDS h4HE ;END TIME= CRISIS OF #ENTRAL !FRICA IN DEMANDS THAT THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST 2WANDA AND A MASTER S IN #HURCH x MATCHES THE EXPECTATIONS OF THEOLOGY FROM .EWBOLD MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN NEED OF HOPE v #OLLEGE IN %NGLAND (E IS 6ERTALLIER BELIEVES THAT HIS EXPERIENCE CURRENTLY WORKING TOWARD SERVING 'OD ON THREE CONTINENTS WILL A DOCTORATE DEGREE IN HELP HIM hTO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE THEOLOGY .%7,9 %,%#4%$ 7!$ 02%3)$%.4 'ILBERT 7ARI TO BE OPEN TO THE PEOPLE AND ACCEPT 7ARI TOLD !DVENTIST THEM AS THEY ARE WITH THE POSSIBILITY TO 7ORLD IN A PHONE GROW TOGETHER IN THE LIGHT BROUGHT BY THE (OLY 3PIRIT v BUT CONVERSATION THAT ONE OF HIS MAIN GOALS AS PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGES HIS NEED OF 'OD S STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE IN IS TO PREPARE YOUNG ADULTS FOR FUTURE SERVICE IN THE LEADING THE DIVISION !DVENTIST #HURCH h7E NEED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE h) PRAY THE ,ORD WILL ENLARGE MY CAPACITY TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN REGARD TO THEIR TRAINING AND NURTURING COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE IN ORDER TO AVOID POLARIZATION v BECAUSE THEY WILL BE TAKING UP THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HE SAYS CHURCH VERY SHORTLY v HE SAID h)F WE DON T HAVE A SYSTEM 6ERTALLIER CREDITS HIS GRANDCHILDREN FOR hKEEPING ;HIM= IN PLACE WHEREBY THEY WILL BE PROPERLY NURTURED AND ALERT v AND ENJOYS SKIING AND HIKING IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH PROPERLY TRAINED FROM THE LOCAL CHURCH UP TO THE HIS WIFE AND FAMILY HIGHER ORGANIZATIONS THEY WILL TAKE UP LEADERSHIP 6ERTALLIER S WIFE #HRISTIANE IS THE DIVISION S 7OMEN S ;UNPREPARED= v -INISTRIES DIRECTOR 4HE COUPLE HAS THREE ADULT DAUGHTERS 7HENEVER HIS HEAVY SCHEDULE ALLOWS 7ARI RELAXES BY AND FOUR GRANDCHILDREN PURSUING HIS HOBBY OF DRAWING AS WELL AS READING AND SIGHTSEEING 'ILBERT 7ARIˆ7!$ 4HE 7!$ 7EB SITE DESCRIBES 7ARI AS A MAN OF 7EST #ENTRAL !FRICA $IVISION 7!$ CHURCH LEADERS EXPERIENCE IN SPITE OF HIS YOUTH WHO hWILL HAVE TO MEET ON .OVEMBER ELECTED DIVISION SECRETARY 'ILBERT 7ARI THE CHALLENGES OF THIS VAST MISSIONARY FIELD v )T ADDS THAT AS PRESIDENT OF THAT REGION 7ARI SUCCEEDS ,UKA $ANIEL HE IS hDISCREET HARD WORKING AND METICULOUS v WHO HAS RETIRED $ANIEL WAS PRESIDENT OF 7!$ FROM 7ARI IS MARRIED TO *OS£PHINE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION FOR THE DIVISION 4HE COUPLE HAS THREE CHILDREN 7ARI HAS BEEN SERVING AS 7!$ SECRETARY SINCE ˆ7ITH REPORTING ASSISTANCE BY 6ERNA &RANCIS 7!$ 0REVIOUS TO THAT HE WAS COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR FOR THE #ENTRAL !FRICAN 5NION AND PRESIDENT OF THE #ENTRAL 3OUTH #AMEROON -ISSION (E HAS ALSO SERVED
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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HERE ARE FEW EMOTIONS AS UNSETTLING AS UNCERTAINTYˆTHE DREAD OF THE UNKNOWN THE FEAR OF WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING 4HE lNANCIAL CRISIS THAT HAS ENGULFED GLOBAL MARKETS IN RECENT MONTHS IS GENERATING JUST THIS TYPE OF ANXIETY (UMANITY SEEMS TO STAND AT A CROSSROADS AND THE WAY FORWARD IS UNCLEAR 7E WAKE UP EACH MORNING TO EVER MORE GRIM REALITIES !ND AT NIGHT WORRY KEEPS US FROM OUR REST 7ILL WE KEEP OUR JOB OUR HOUSE OUR RETIREMENT FUND 7HAT DO THESE DIRE HEADLINES MEAN FOR OUR CHILDREN OUR PARENTS OUR OWN PLANS AND DREAMS 4HE CHURCH AS A WORLDWIDE ORGANIZATION WITH A MASSIVE GLOBAL MISSION PROGRAM IS FACED WITH THE SAME lNANCIAL REALITIES THAT CONFRONT GOVERNMENTS INDUSTRIES AND
*AN 0AULSEN IS PRESI DENT OF THE WORLDWIDE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
INDIVIDUALS 7E ARE NOT IMMUNE !ND REALIZING THIS MANY CHURCH MEMBERS ARE ASKING (OW DOES THIS lNANCIAL UNCERTAINTY AFFECT THE CHURCH S WORK AROUND THE WORLD !S 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE PRESIDENT MY lRST RESPONSIBILITY AND CARE IS FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE CHURCH 4HE CHALLENGES WE FACE ARE REAL ) FULLY RECOGNIZE THIS "UT AT THE SAME TIME ) HAVE SOME BASIC CONVICTIONS THAT CARRY ME THROUGH THE DAY AND NIGHT THAT GIVE ME A SENSE OF PEACE AND ASSURANCE WHICH OVERCOME ANY ANXIETIES FOR THE FUTURE
4HE CHURCH IS 'OD S PEOPLE !ND ULTIMATELY WHAT HAPPENS TO 'OD S PEOPLE IS VERY MUCH IN (IS HANDS %VENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES COME THAT MAY WELL IMPACT THE CHURCH !S HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST THE CHURCH MAY lND HERSELF DRIVEN INTO THE WILDERNESS OF PERSECUTION "UT THE SURVIVAL OF THE CHURCH AS 'OD S PEOPLE IS NOT AT STAKE IT IS NOT FOR ANY PERSON TO EITHER DESTROY OR SAVE THE CHURCH !ND SO ) lND PEACE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS 3OMEONE WHOSE GREATNESS IS
BEYOND MEASURE AND THE CHURCH IS (IS 4HE NATURE OF MY TRUST IN (IM IS DIFlCULT TO DESCRIBE IF ) WERE TO TRY IT MAY SEEM SIMPLISTIC "UT IT IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND IT IS REAL
!S A MINISTER EVEN AS THE ELECTED WORLD LEADER OF THE CHURCH ) AM ONLY A SERVANT ) AM NEITHER THE OWNER NOR THE ,ORD OF THE CHURCH 4HEREFORE THE WAY ) SEE MY ROLE AND THE WAY ) RELATE TO MY RESPONSIBILITIES IS AS A SERVANT WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN A SPECIAL TRUST !ND ) MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO CONFUSE THAT ROLE WITH ANY SENSE OF OWNERSHIP !S A SERVANT CARING FOR A TRUST WHAT DOES THE /WNER ASK AND EXPECT OF ME (E EXPECTS ME TO BE FAITHFUL AND TO DO MY VERY BEST 4HAT S ALL 4HE ,ORD DOES NOT ASK FOR MORE !ND IF ) HAVE DONE THE BEST ) CAN AND KEPT MY HEART PURE ) lND PEACE AND CAN SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT ) AM NOT A PROPHET ) DON T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN ) WAKE UP "UT THAT IS NOT MINE TO WORRY ABOUT IT S IN 'OD S HANDS
) HAVE A VERY STRONG SENSE OF 'OD S FAITHFULNESS TO (IS PEOPLE )T S A
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4HESE TWO COMPLEMENTARY ASSURANCESˆ'OD S FAITHFULNESS AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF (IS PEOPLEˆGIVE ME A WONDERFUL SENSE OF PEACE FAITHFULNESS THAT HAS BEEN TESTED AND PROVED TIME AND AGAIN 4HROUGHOUT THE YEARS IT S UNMISTAKABLE IN (IS NEVER FAILING LOVE AND CARE FOR (IS CHURCH ) DRAW INCREDIBLE STRENGTH FROM THE CERTAINTY THAT WE hHAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FOR THE FUTURE EXCEPT AS WE SHALL FORGET THE WAY THE ,ORD HAS LED US v
!T THE SAME TIME ) HAVE A STRONG ASSURANCE THAT 'OD S PEOPLE ARE FAITHFUL TO (IM 4HIS ALSO IS A BOND THAT HAS BEEN TESTED IN BOTH DIFlCULT TIMES AND GOOD TIMES 4HE FAITHFULNESS OF 'OD S PEOPLE DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE SIZE OF THEIR PAYCHECK OR THE AMOUNT OF SAVINGS THEY HAVE IN THE BANKˆIN FACT lNANCIAL PROSPERITY CAN SOMETIMES PLAY TRICKS WITH OUR MINDS AND LEAD US INTO TERRITORY NOT OCCUPIED BY 'OD /FTEN THE MOST STRIKING AND VISIBLE DEMONSTRATIONS OF FAITHFULNESS TO 'OD TAKE PLACE IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP AND POVERTY
!ND SO THESE TWO COMPLEMENTARY ASSURANCESˆ'OD S FAITHFULNESS AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF (IS PEOPLEˆGIVE ME A WONDERFUL SENSE OF PEACE
%VEN AS WE REST IN THE CERTAINTY OF 'OD S LEADING WE MUST STILL FACE PRACTICAL REALITIES "UDGETS HAVE TO BE SET ADMINISTRATIVE hYESv OR hNOv DECISIONS MADE 7HEN TIMES ARE DIFlCULT AND UNCERTAIN AS THEY ARE TODAY THERE IS NO CHOICE BUT TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS AND BE WILLING TO SACRIlCE !ND WE START WITH OURSELVES AT THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE 7E WILL NOT COMPROMISE OUR MISSION BUT WE ARE REDUCING OUR USE OF RESOURCES lNDING ALTERNATIVE LESS COSTLY WAYS OF FULlLLING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES HOLDING OFF FOR A LATER DAY THAT WHICH WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO TOMORROW 7E MUST MOVE FORWARD PRUDENTLY AND CAUTIOUSLY AND WE MUST DO THIS IN WAYS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO OUR CHURCH MEMBERS
) COME BACK TO ONE MORE FUNDAMENTAL SPIRITUAL VALUE THAT GIVES ME A RESTFUL NIGHT ) NEED TO END EACH DAY WITH A STRONG SENSE OF 'OD S FORGIVENESS !S ) TALK TO 'OD PERSONAL AND CORPORATE SHORTCOMINGS BECOME PART OF YESTERDAY SOME ) MAY WISH TO UNDO BUT CANNOT ) CAN ONLY BRING THESE THINGS TO (IM AND ASK FOR (IS HEALING -Y EXPERIENCE TIME AND AGAIN IS THAT (E DOES JUST THAT !ND THIS GIVES ME PEACE 4HE CHURCH AND ITS CARES BELONG TO THE ,ORD (E HAS hSET HIS SEAL OF OWNERSHIP ON US AND PUT HIS 3PIRIT IN OUR HEARTS AS A DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING WHAT IS TO COMEv #OR .)6 -Y TASK AND YOUR TASK IS TO BE FAITHFUL !ND NO MATTER WHAT COMES TOMORROW (IS PURPOSE WILL PREVAIL
,IFE 3KETCHES OF %LLEN ' 7HITE P
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'IBRALTAR
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NOWN TO MANY SIMPLY AS h4HE 2OCK v 'IBRALTAR IS A "RITISH TERRITORY ON 3PAIN S SOUTHERN COAST 3PAIN CEDED THIS NARROW SQUARE KILOMETER SQUARE MILE PENINSULA TO THE 5NITED +INGDOM AS PART OF THE 4REATY OF 5TRECHT "ECAUSE OF 'IBRALTAR S STRATEGIC MILITARY IMPORTANCE AT THE MOUTH OF THE -EDITERRANEAN 3EA "RITAIN BUILT A MILITARY GARRISON THERE )N THE "RITISH GOVERNMENT TURNED THE GARRISON INTO A FORMAL COLONY "RITAIN USED 'IBRALTAR AS A WAY TO CONTROL TRAFlC IN AND OUT OF THE -EDITERRANEAN $URING 7ORLD 7AR )) !LLIED FORCES LAUNCHED ATTACKS AGAINST !XIS FORCES IN .ORTH !FRICA FROM 'IBRALTAR $URING THE EARLY S THE 5NITED +INGDOM CONSIDERED GRANTING 'IBRALTAR INDEPENDENCE BUT 3PAIN CLAIMED IT WOULD THEN HAVE SOVEREIGNTY 'IBRALTARIANS VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY IN A REFERENDUM TO REMAIN PART OF THE 5NITED +INGDOM )N THE LATE S THE 5NITED +INGDOM HELD TALKS WITH 3PAIN ABOUT SHARING SOVEREIGNTY OF 'IBRALTAR 'IBRALTARIANS HELD ANOTHER REFERENDUM AND AGAIN VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO REMAIN EXCLUSIVELY "RITISH SUBJECTS 3INCE THEN 'IBRALTAR THE 5NITED +INGDOM AND 3PAIN HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WHEREBY 3PAIN AGREED TO REMOVE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS THE 5NITED +INGDOM AGREED TO COMPENSATE 3PANIARDS WHO WERE EMPLOYED IN 'IBRALTAR BEFORE THE BORDER CLOSED IN AND 'IBRALTAR AGREED TO ALLOW 3PAIN TO OPEN A CULTURAL CENTER THAT COULD mY THE 3PANISH mAG 4ODAY 'IBRALTAR CONSISTS OF A TOWN OF SOME PEOPLE WHO LIVE AT THE FOOT OF THE TOWERING METER
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
FOOT 2OCK OF 'IBRALTAR "ECAUSE OF THE DENSITY OF THE TERRITORY MOST PEOPLE LIVE IN APARTMENTS AND WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN DOCKYARDS OR THE TOURIST INDUSTRY 4RADE AGREEMENTS WITH 3PAIN ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE ALL FOOD MUST BE IMPORTED AS THERE IS NO FARMLAND !DVENTISTS ON 'IBRALTAR
'IBRALTAR HAS NO ORGANIZED 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CHURCHES 4HE lRST RECORDED !DVENTISTS IN 'IBRALTAR WERE ' & *ONES AND HIS WIFE WHO HAD SERVED AS PIONEER MISSIONARIES IN THE 3OUTH 0ACIlC AND WHO MOVED TO THE TERRITORY IN AND LIVED THERE FOR A WHILE /VER THE YEARS SMALL GROUPS OF !DVENTISTS HAVE SPORADICALLY LIVED IN 'IBRALTAR )N SOME ORGANIZED WORK BEGAN WITH SEVEN CHURCH MEMBERS LIVING IN THE AREA (OWEVER THE MEMBERSHIP DWINDLED AND IN ONLY THREE MEMBERS WERE LEFT 4HAT YEAR 'LOBAL -ISSIONˆTHE !DVENTIST #HURCH S FRONTLINE MISSION ARMˆSTARTED A lVE YEAR PROJECT IN CONJUNCTION WITH TWO NEARBY 3PANISH CHURCHES TO ESTABLISH A CHURCH ! SMALL GROUP OF TO PEOPLE NOW MEETS EACH 3ABBATH AFTERNOON FOR
WORSHIP AND "IBLE STUDY !N !DVENTIST PHYSICIAN HOLDS SEMINARS ON FAMILY LIFE AND HEALTHFUL LIVING 'IBRALTAR IS ONE OF THE MANY COUNTRIES THAT MAKE UP THE %URO !FRICA $IVISION OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HE DIVISION IS CURRENTLY HOSTING h&OLLOW THE "IBLE v AN INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY THE !DVENTIST #HURCH AROUND THE WORLD TO STIMULATE A DEEPER INTEREST IN READING THE "IBLE )T FEATURES A MULTILANGUAGE "IBLE TRAVELING TO COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD 4HE JOURNEY BEGAN LAST /CTOBER IN THE 0HILIPPINES AND WILL CIRCLE THE GLOBE UNTIL *ULY WHEN THE "IBLE WILL BE FEATURED AT THE OPENING MEETING OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE 3ESSION IN !TLANTA 4O LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH S MISSION WORK VISIT WWW !DVENTIST-ISSION ORG
')"2!,4!2 #APITAL
'IBRALTAR
-AJOR LANGUAGES
%NGLISH 3PANISH )TALIAN 0ORTUGUESE
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2OMAN #ATHOLIC !NGLICAN OTHER #HRISTIAN -USLIM *EWISH (INDU OTHER
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!DVENTIST MEMBERSHIP
!DVENTIST TO POPULATION RATIO
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4REATING
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-Y HUSBAND HAS MACULAR DEGENERATION (E IS DEPRESSED THOUGH HE HAS IT ONLY IN ONE EYE AND HE DOESN T HAVE IT SEVERELY (IS DOCTOR HAS GIVEN HIM SOME VITAMINS AND ) WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT SO THAT ) CAN BE APPROPRIATE IN MY RESPONSE TO HIM
4
HE MACULA IS THE PORTION OF THE RETINA THAT HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF LIGHT RECEPTORS WITHIN THE RETINA AND IT IS THE SPOT WE FOCUS LIGHT ON WHEN LOOKING DIRECTLY AT SOMETHING 7HEN THE MACULA DEGENERATES WE LOSE THIS ABILITY TO SEE VERY CLEARLY ANDˆTHOUGH NOT TOTALLY BLINDˆWE CAN BECOME SEVERELY COMPROMISED IN OUR VISION ! FEW LAYERS OF CELLS MAKE UP THE MACULA AND THESE LAYERS HAVE A DIVERSITY OF FUNCTION /WING TO A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS SOME OF THESE LAYERS MAY BECOME DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS CALLED MACULAR DEGENERATION 7HEN THE DOCTOR EXAMINES THE INSIDE OF THE EYE THEY MAY lND PALE YELLOW SPOTS CALLED DRUSEN .EARLY EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF HAS A FEW DRUSEN %XCESS OF THESE LESIONS IS ASSOCIATED WITH MACULAR DEGENERATION )N AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION INmAMMATION PLAYS A ROLE AS DOES THE GROWTH OF NEW BLOOD VESSELS 4HESE PROCESSES INVOLVE THE INmAMMATORY COMPLEMENT SYSTEM 4HE CONDITION IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS EARLY MACULAR DEGENERATION OR -$ INTERMEDIATE -$ OR ADVANCED -$ 4HE ADVANCED -$ WILL HAVE ATROPHY AND DRUSEN EXTENDING TO THE CENTER OF THE MACULA AS WELL AS NEW VESSELS GROWING THERE /NLY SOME TO PERCENT OF
MACULAR DEGENERATION IS IN THE SERIOUS CATEGORY 4HOSE IN THIS GROUP CAN HAVE RAPID LOSS OF VISION BUT THE PROCESS IS MUCH SLOWER IN THE OTHER GROUPS #OMPLETE BLINDNESS IS NOT USUAL BUT IF ONE EYE IS SEVERE THE OTHER EYE HAS ABOUT A PERCENT CHANCE OF DETERIORATING OVER lVE YEARS 4HERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SINGLE CAUSE FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION BUT SEVERAL RISK FACTORS HAVE BEEN IDENTIlED !BOUT PERCENT OF PEOPLE OF ADVANCED AGE DEVELOP THE ADVANCED FORM OF MACULAR DEGENERATION THOUGH ABOUT PERCENT WILL HAVE THE MILDER FORMS "ECAUSE THE POPULATION IS AGING IT IS ESTIMATED THAT IN .ORTH !MERICA THERE WILL BE A PERCENT INCREASE IN MACULAR DEGENERATION BY 3MOKERS AND THOSE EXPOSED TO SECONDHAND SMOKE ARE AT INCREASED RISK BUT OBESITY HYPERTENSION AND A HIGH VEGETABLE FAT INTAKE ARE OTHER RISK FACTORS ,OW DIETARY CONSUMPTION OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND ZINC MAY BE ADDITIONAL FACTORS 4HIS HAS LED TO A FORMULATION OF VITAMIN # MG VITAMIN % )5 BETA CAROTENE MG ZINC OXIDE MG AND CUPRIC OXIDE MG WHICH WAS SHOWN TO REDUCE THE RATE OF PROGRESS OF MACULAR DEGENERATION BY PERCENT MORE THAN A PLACEBO 0OTENTIAL PROBLEMS EXIST HOWEVER WITH BETA
CAROTENE SUPPLEMENTATION ONE STUDY SHOWED A PERCENT INCREASE IN LUNG CANCER IN SMOKERS AND VITAMIN % SUPPLEMENTATION MAY CAUSE INCREASED HEART FAILURE IN SOME 4HE TYPICALLY RECOMMENDED !DVENTIST DIET OF REDUCED FAT AND SALT INTAKE AND INCREASED FRUITS GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES WHOLE GRAINS AND NUTS GOES A LONG WAY TO REDUCING THE RISKS OF MACULAR DEGENERATION 3EVERAL VERY INNOVATIVE THERAPIES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER EVALUATION AND SHOW PROMISE IN HELPING RESTORE VISION FOR PERSONS AFFECTED WITH -$ 7E HOPE YOUR HUSBAND WILL BE HELPED BY SOME OF THESE ADVANCES +EEP OPTIMISTIC 6ISIT AN UP TO DATE SPECIALIST REGULARLY !ND DO NOT DESPAIRˆNEWER THERAPIES ARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
!LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES - " #H " &2#0# &2#3# &!#/' IS DIRECTOR OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT 0ETER . ,ANDLESS - " " #H - -ED & # 0 3! & ! # # IS )#0! EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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(APPIEST 0EOPLE ON !ND ALL BECAUSE OF 'OD S MATCHLESS LOVE
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EOPLE ARE CONVERTED AND THEY BECOME EXHILARATED 4HEIR LIVES EXPAND WITH A NEW AND LASTING JOY ,IKE THE RETURNING PRODIGAL THEY BEGIN TO BE MERRY #AMPBELL -ORGAN BROUGHT SMILES TO FACES BY RENDERING THE CLASSIC PHRASE OF (ABAKKUK THIS WAY h) WILL JUMP FOR JOY IN THE ,ORD ) WILL SPIN ROUND WITH DELIGHT IN THE 'OD OF MY SALVATION v #ONVERSION IS INDEED AN INVIGORA TING AND EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE ! POET EXPRESSED IT LIKE THIS h(EAVEN ABOVE IS A SOFTER BLUE
%ARTH AROUND IS A SWEETER GREEN
3OMETHING LIVES IN EVERY HUE
,EO 6AN $OLSON IS A FORMER ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF !DVENTIST 2EVIEW AND FORMER EDITOR OF THE !DULT "IBLE 3TUDY 'UIDE (E IS NOW RETIRED AND LIVES IN -C$ONALD 4EN NESSEE 5NITED 3TATES
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
#HRISTLESS EYES HAVE NEVER SEEN "IRDS WITH GLADDER SONGS O ERmOW
&LOWERS WITH RICHER BEAUTIES SHINE
7HILE ) KNOW AS NOW ) KNOW
) AM (IS AND (E IS MINE v 4HE ONLY WAY TO lLL LIFE TO THE BRIM IS TO lLL IT WITH (IM "UT SOMETIMES THE SPARKLE SEEMS TO EVAPORATE OUT OF OUR #HRISTIAN EXPERIENCE !T TIMES WE SEEM TO FORGET THE WORDS OF JOY FOUND IN 0SALM h9OU WILL SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE IN 9OUR PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY AT 9OUR RIGHT HAND ARE PLEASURES FOREVERMORE v ! GLOOMY COUNTENANCE IS A CONTRADICTION OF OUR #HRISTIAN EXPERIENCE %LLEN ' 7HITE WROTE h)N #HRIST IS THE TENDERNESS OF THE SHEPHERD THE AFFECTION OF THE PARENT AND THE MATCHLESS GRACE OF THE COMPASSIONATE 3AVIOUR (IS BLESSINGS (E PRESENTS IN THE MOST ALLURING TERMS (E IS NOT CONTENT MERELY TO ANNOUNCE THESE BLESSINGS (E PRESENTS THEM IN THE MOST ATTRACTIVE WAY TO EXCITE A DESIRE
"Y ,EO 6AN $OLSON
TO POSSESS THEM 3O (IS SERVANTS ARE TO PRESENT THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF THE UNSPEAKABLE 'IFT 4HE WONDERFUL LOVE OF #HRIST WILL MELT AND SUBDUE HEARTS WHEN THE MERE REITERATION OF DOCTRINES WOULD ACCOMPLISH NOTHINGv 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES P 4WO )LLUSTRATIONS
/NE ILLUSTRATION COMES FROM THE /LD 4ESTAMENT THE OTHER FROM THE .EW &ROM THE /LD 4ESTAMENT 7E ALL KNOW WHO WROTE THE 4WENTY THIRD 0SALM )T WAS $AVID )T WOULD BE HARD TO lND ANYONE WHO HAD MORE TROUBLE AND SORROW THAN HE !ND EVEN THOUGH MANY OF HIS PROBLEMS WERE SELF INmICTED THAT ONLY MADE THEM EVEN HARDER TO BEAR "UT EVERYTHING WE SEE IN THE 4WENTY THIRD 0SALM INDICATES THAT $AVID NOTWITHSTANDING ALL HIS TROUBLES FOUND LIFE lLLED TO THE BRIM WITH 'OD THE 'OOD 3HEPHERD 4HE LAST PART OF THE lFTH VERSE SAYS h-Y CUP RUNS OVER v $AVID S BLESSINGS
)F WE LET (IM DO WHAT (E WANTS (E LL lLL OUR CUPS SO FULL THAT THEY LL RUN OVER AND BE A BLESSING TO THOSE ABOUT US
AND HAPPINESS IN THE ,ORD DIDN T STOP AT THE BRIM (IS CUP WAS SO lLLED THAT IT RAN OVER 7HEN YOU RE DRINKING SOMETHING YOU ENJOY AND PASS YOUR CUP BACK TO ASK YOUR HOST TO RElLL IT DO THEY USUALLY lLL IT TO THE BRIM 0ROBABLY NOT !ND WHY NOT "ECAUSE PEOPLE lLLING CUPS STOP A LITTLE BELOW THE BRIM FOR FEAR THE CONTENTS WILL SPILL OVER "UT 'OD DOESN T CARE AT ALL IF THE BLESSINGS AND HAPPINESS (E GIVES US SPILL OVER )N FACT (E WANTS THEM TO )T IS ONE THING TO GENEROUSLY AND CAREFULLY lLL OUR CUPS OF LIFE TO THE BRIM "UT 'OD HAS MUCH MORE IN MIND FOR US SO (E DOESN T STOP AT THE BRIM )F WE LET (IM DO WHAT (E WANTS (E LL lLL OUR CUPS SO FULL THAT THEY LL RUN OVER AND BE A BLESSING TO THOSE ABOUT US 4HOSE ABOUT US WILL RECEIVE THE OVERmOW &ROM THE .EW 4ESTAMENT 4HE .EW 4ESTAMENT TELLS WHAT IT MEANT FOR *ESUS TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR US #OMMENTING ON WHAT WE lND THERE %LLEN 7HITE WROTE h4HE SPOTLESS 0 ( / 4 / 3 " 9 - !4 4 ( % 7 ( % 2 : % ,
3ON OF 'OD HUNG UPON THE CROSS (IS mESH LACERATED WITH STRIPES THOSE HANDS SO OFTEN REACHED OUT IN BLESSING NAILED TO THE WOODEN BARS THOSE FEET SO TIRELESS ON MINISTRIES OF LOVE SPIKED TO THE TREE THAT ROYAL HEAD PIERCED BY THE CROWN OF THORNS THOSE QUIVERING LIPS SHAPED TO THE CRY OF WOE !ND ALL THAT (E ENDUREDˆTHE BLOOD DROPS THAT mOWED FROM (IS HEAD (IS HANDS (IS FEET THE AGONY THAT RACKED (IS FRAME AND THE UNUTTERABLE ANGUISH THAT lLLED (IS SOUL AT THE HIDING OF (IS &ATHER S FACEˆSPEAKS TO EACH CHILD OF HUMANITY DECLARING )T IS FOR THEE THAT THE 3ON OF 'OD CONSENTS TO BEAR THIS BURDEN OF GUILT FOR THEE (E SPOILS THE DOMAIN OF DEATH AND OPENS THE GATES OF 0ARADISE (E WHO STILLED THE ANGRY WAVES AND WALKED THE FOAM CAPPED BILLOWS WHO MADE DEVILS TREMBLE AND DISEASE mEE WHO OPENED BLIND EYES AND CALLED FORTH THE DEAD TO LIFEˆOFFERS (IMSELF UPON THE CROSS AS A SACRIlCE AND THIS FROM LOVE TO THEEv 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES P
7HAT WONDERFUL LOVE *ESUS HAS FOR US (E GAVE (IS ALL THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THE FULLNESS OF JOY IN (IM (E GAVE ALL AND THEN WAS RESURRECTED 4HE DISCIPLES JOY WHEN THEY SAW *ESUS AGAIN IS BEYOND OUR COMPREHENSION 4HEY COULD HAPPILY REPORT AS *OHN DID h!ND THIS IS THE TESTIMONY THAT 'OD HAS GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE AND THIS LIFE IS IN (IS 3ON (E WHO HAS THE 3ON HAS LIFE HE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE 3ON OF 'OD DOES NOT HAVE LIFEv *OHN *OHN SUFFERED MUCH FOR #HRIST BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERED (E HAD ETERNAL LIFE 7HAT TREMENDOUS JOY AND HAPPINESS HE RECEIVED THROUGH IT ALL 4O HAVE ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH *ESUS LOVE AND CARE 7E HAVE THAT ETERNAL LIFE NOW IN (IM ,ET S NOT FORGET IT AS WE SOMETIMES SEEM TO )T S OUR PRIVILEGE TO BE THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH 7E NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT JOY AND HAPPINESS TO ALL ABOUT US 4HEN WE WILL TESTIFY TO ALL THAT WE WILL hDWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE ,ORD FOREVERv 0S &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 , ) & %
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HE YEAR WAS 4EN YEAR OLD "ABUR "! BOORRR WATCHED CURIOUSLY AS THE STRANGE LOOKING COUPLE GOT OFF THE TRAIN AND WALKED DOWN THE VILLAGE STREET WITH THEIR SUITCASES 4HEY RENTED A ROOM IN THE HOME OF "ABUR S UNCLE AND QUIETLY MOVED IN WITH WHAT LITTLE THEY HAD &OR DAYS THE RELIGIOUS BUT NON #HRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN THIS #OMMUNIST COUNTRY BUZZED WITH TALK %VERYONE WANTED TO KNOW WHO THEY WERE AND WHY THEY HAD COME 7ERE THEY TEACHERS /R SPIES SENT BY THE GOVERNMENT .O ONE SEEMED TO KNOW 4HEN LITTLE BY LITTLE PIECES OF THE STORY BEGAN TO COME OUT AND WERE QUICKLY SHARED WITH EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE 4HE MAN WAS A FAMOUS VIOLIN MAKER THEY LEARNED WITH RECOGNITION AND AWARDS FOR HIS MUSICAL SKILL FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD "UT HE WAS ALSO SOMETHING CALLED AN !DVENTIST /NE OF THE VILLAGE MEN SAID AN !DVENTIST WAS SOME SORT OF hBELIEVER v AND HE SNORTED IN DISGUST AS HE SPAT OUT THE WORDS /THERS SAID THE MAN HAD BEEN SELLING #HRISTIAN BOOKS IN THE BIG CITY AND HAD GOTTEN INTO TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE 4HE AUTHORITIES HAD BANISHED HIM FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS )N SPITE OF RIDICULE THE HUSBAND AND WIFE SMILED AT EVERYONE CALLED OUT CHEERY GREETINGS LEARNED THE PEOPLE S NAMES AND BEGAN TO HELP PEOPLE AROUND TOWN 4HE MAN COULDN T MAKE VIOLINS HERE BUT HE USED HIS TALENT OF WORKING WITH WOOD TO HELP CRAFT BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE )T WASN T LONG BEFORE THE COUPLE BECAME A LOVED AND RESPECTED PART OF VILLAGE LIFE
(OMER 4RECARTIN HEADS !DVENTIST 6OLUNTEERS AS AN ASSOCIATE SECRETARY OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
"Y (OMER 4RECARTIN
4URNING
(EARTS 7HEN THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS WERE UP THE ENTIRE TOWN TURNED OUT TO SAY GOODBYE 4HE COUPLE WAS SHOWERED WITH GIFTS AND HUGS 4EARS mOWED FREELY FROM MANY INDIVIDUALS AS HUSBAND AND WIFE BOARDED THE TRAIN AND WAVED GOODBYE ONE LAST TIME 4HE !RMY #ALLS
4EN YEARS WENT BY "ABUR RECEIVED NOTICE TO REPORT TO THE CITY FOR HIS MILITARY SERVICE *UST BEFORE LEAVING HE MARRIED HIS CHILDHOOD PLAYMATE .ADIRE .! DI REH 4HE MILITARY ASSIGNED "ABUR TO SERVE AS ACCOUNTANT AND SECRETARY TO THE CAPTAIN )N THAT POSITION HE HAD LOTS OF FREE TIME 3O ONE 3ATURDAY "ABUR DECIDED TO LOOK UP THE COUPLE THAT HAD MOVED INTO TOWN AND LIVED IN HIS UNCLE S HOUSE THOSE YEARS EARLIER 7HEN HE FOUND THEM THEY WELCOMED HIM INTO THEIR SIMPLE HOME "ABUR TOLD THEM THAT THE VILLAGERS STILL TALKED OF THEM AS PEOPLE OF FAITH WHO ATTENDED SOMETHING LIKE A SYNAGOGUE h!ND ) WANT TO GO WITH YOU v "ABUR lNISHED 4HE MAN CHUCKLED AND SAID h7ELL WE DON T GO TO A SYNAGOGUE BUT WE DO GO TO CHURCH ON 3ATURDAY THE 3ABBATH 9OU ARE WELCOME TO COME WITH US v "ABUR BEGAN TO ATTEND CHURCH
FAIRLY REGULARLY 4HE MEMBERS WERE FRIENDLY AND WHAT THEY SAID BEGAN TO MAKE SENSE TO HIM /NE NIGHT WHILE PRAYING HE FELT THE POWER OF 'OD COME OVER HIM AND HE WEPT AS HE REALIZED FOR THE lRST TIME THAT *ESUS HAD DIED FOR HIM AND THAT HIS SINS WERE FORGIVEN "ABUR WROTE A LETTER TO HIS YOUNG WIFE TO EXPLAIN HIS NEW BELIEFS 7ITHIN DAYS .ADIRE SENT BACK AN ANGRY SOUNDING REPLY h,IES v SHE SNAPPED h)T S ALL A BUNCH OF LIES v 3ENTENCED TO $IE
.OW WHENEVER "ABUR WAS HOME .ADIRE NOTICED THAT INSTEAD OF PARTYING WITH FRIENDS HE WOULD STAY HOME AND READ PLAY WITH THEIR BABY GIRL CARE FOR THEIR PARENTS AND ATTENTIVELY DO LITTLE THINGS FOR HER AROUND THE HOUSE (E HAD NEVER BEEN LIKE THAT BEFORE "ABUR SOON TOLD HIS FAMILY THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE BAPTIZED INTO THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH AND THE NEWS SPREAD LIKE WILDlRE )T DIDN T HELP THAT HE WAS INSISTING ON lNDING A JOB WITH NO 3ABBATH WORK h9OU SILLY MAN v .ADIRE SAID h(OW DO YOU EXPECT TO SUPPORT A FAMILY WITH THESE STRANGE IDEAS v 4WICE "ABUR TOOK .ADIRE AND THEIR
- !4 4 ( % 7 ( % 2 : % ,
DAUGHTER TO THE !DVENTIST CHURCH IN THE CITY .ADIRE DIDN T UNDERSTAND MUCH OF WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT SHE LIKED THE PEOPLE "ACK HOME HOWEVER THE PROBLEMS WERE MULTIPLYING 0EOPLE AT HER WORK WERE GOSSIPING ABOUT HER AND "ABUR 0ROBLEMS WITH THEIR PARENTS WERE INCREASING BECAUSE THEY WOULDN T HELP IN THE lELDS ON 3ABBATH &INALLY IN A lT OF ANGER .ADIRE S FATHER TOOK HER AND THE CHILD BACK TO HIS HOUSE AND ISSUED A PUBLIC STATEMENT h-Y SENTENCE IS "ABUR HAS TO DIE v 3OMEHOW "ABUR AND .ADIRE GOT MESSAGES BACK AND FORTH 4HEY QUIETLY PACKED WHAT FEW THINGS THEY COULD CARRY SLIPPED OUT OF THE HOUSES AND "ABUR .ADIRE AND THEIR DAUGHTER MET AT THE BUS STOP 4HEY CLIMBED INTO A MINIBUS AND LET THE TEARS STREAM DOWN THEIR FACES AS THE VAN SPED AWAY FROM THEIR BELOVED HOMES AND FAMILIES
LEANED CLOSE TO "ABUR SQUEEZED HIS HAND AND WHISPERED h) WILL FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER THIS EXPERIENCE TAKES US v 4HE 0ROBLEMS #ONTINUE
4WO YEARS WENT BY .ADIRE AND "ABUR CONTINUED TO STUDY WITH THE PASTOR IN THE CITY &INALLY THEY WERE BAPTIZED )N SPITE OF THE ANGER OF HIS UNCLE AND WARNINGS THAT HE MIGHT EVEN KILL HIM "ABUR DETERMINED TO RETURN TO HIS VILLAGE FOR A VISIT .ERVOUSLY HE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR OF HIS UNCLE S HOME (IS AUNT OPENED THE DOOR AND HISSING AT HIM THROUGH CLENCHED TEETH SHE SAID h"ABUR ,EAVE QUICKLY 5NCLE ISN T HERE BUT IF HE COMES BACK AND lNDS YOU SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN v "ABUR HOWEVER SAT DOWN TO WAIT FOR HIM HIS HEART POURING OUT PLEAS FOR HELP TO 'OD 3OON THE DOOR mEW OPEN AND 5NCLE FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER MAN STOMPED IN ! $REAM h9OU HAVE BROUGHT SHAME ON YOUR !S THE KILOMETERS TICKED BY .ADIRE FAMILY AND ON THE VILLAGE v THE OTHER REmECTED ON A DREAM SHE HAD HAD THE MAN SPAT AT "ABUR NIGHT BEFORE )N IT SHE DISTINCTLY SAW A 3OFTLY "ABUR SAID h5NCLE ) WANT TO FACE SHE HAD SEEN IN SOME OF "ABUR S BOOKSˆTHE FACE OF *ESUS (E SMILED AT TELL YOU WHO ) AM AND WHAT ) AM NOT HER AND SAID h$ON T WORRY OR FEAR v 7HEN ) AM GOING TO THE SAME CHURCH WHERE THAT MAN WE LOVED IS GOINGˆTHE ONE SHE WOKE FROM HER DREAM SHE PRAYED WHO WAS BANISHED TO OUR TOWN AND TO *ESUS FOR THE lRST TIME IN HER LIFE LIVED IN YOUR HOUSE v .OW TEARS STILL ON HER CHEEKS SHE
5NCLE GRUNTED BUT REFUSED TO LOOK AT HIM OR SAY ANYTHING h7ELL v THE OTHER MAN SAID HAUGHTILY hWHAT IS THAT BOOK YOU ARE CARRYING v 3WALLOWING NERVOUSLY "ABUR HELD UP HIS "IBLE AND ANSWERED h)T IS THE 4ORAH THE 0SALMS AND THE .JEAL v 4HE MAN S EYES NARROWED SUSPICIOUSLY h#AN YOU READ SOMETHING FROM IT v "ABUR BEGAN TO READ FROM THE 4ORAH ABOUT !BRAHAM h( MMM v 4HE MAN SEEMED INTERESTED h2EAD FROM ANOTHER PLACE v 'AINING COURAGE "ABUR READ FROM SEVERAL MORE PLACES !FTER SOME TIME THE MAN CLEARED HIS THROAT THOUGHTFULLY AND TURNED TO "ABUR S UNCLE h) DON T SEE ANY DIFlCULT PROBLEM WITH THIS YOUNG MAN v HE SAID h9OU HAVE BEEN EXAGGERATING THE PROBLEMS v 5NCLE STILL WOULDN T LOOK AT "ABUR OR SAY ANYTHING BUT THE ANGER WAS GONE FROM HIS EYES (E LET "ABUR LEAVE WITHOUT MAKING ANY FURTHER THREATS 4URNING (EARTS
"ABUR AND .ADIRE STAYED AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE FOR A FEW YEARS 7HEN THEY RETURNED THEY TRIED TO BE LIKE THE FAMILY WHO HAD COME YEARS BEFORE 4HEY WENT AROUND HELPING PEOPLE AND BEING FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE !T lRST THE PEOPLE WERE RESERVED AND COOL TOWARD THEM "UT LITTLE BY LITTLE THEY BEGAN TO WARM UP .OW YEARS LATER "ABUR IS AN ORDAINED MINISTER (E AND .ADIRE ARE MISSIONARIES WORKING IN A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY !ND WHENEVER THEY GO HOME FOR A VISIT THEY ARE WEL COMED WITH OPEN ARMS ) PRAY THAT SOON EVERY CITY VILLAGE AND SUBURB ON EARTH WILL HAVE FAMILIES LIVING AMONG THEM WHO CAN QUIETLY SHOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TRUE BELIEVER IN *ESUS
!LL NAMES IN THIS STORY HAVE BEEN CHANGED &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29
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ANIEL ,ISULO BURIED HIS HEAD IN HIS PILLOW HIS SHOULDERS HEAVING AS SOBS ROCKED HIS BODY -OMENTS EARLIER HE HAD STOOD BEFORE HIS DEAN AT 0EOPLE S &RIENDSHIP 5NIVERSITY IN -OSCOW TO ASK FOR THE 3ABBATH OFF 7ITH THE OTHER NEW FOREIGN STUDENTS $ANIEL HAD ENROLLED FOR INTENSIVE 2USSIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES lVE HOURS A DAY SIX DAYS A WEEK /NE OF THE DAYS HOWEVER WAS 3ATURDAY 4HE DEAN 'ALINA !NDREEVNA HAD REFUSED TO LISTEN TO $ANIEL WHEN HE CAME TO HER OFlCE h)F YOU DON T STUDY ON 3ABBATH YOU CAN PACK YOUR BAGS AND GO HOME v SHE HAD SNAPPED AT HIM !T LEAST THAT WAS WHAT IT HAD SOUNDED LIKE TO $ANIEL WHO BARELY SPOKE 2USSIAN AFTER ARRIVING A FEW DAYS EARLIER FROM ,USAKA :AMBIA $ANIEL WAS AMONG FOUR :AMBIANS WHO WON FULL MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE 2USSIAN GOVERNMENT "UT WITH THE 3ATURDAY CLASS REQUIREMENT $ANIEL NOW FACED THE PROSPECT OF RETURNING HOME IN DISGRACE h) WAS SO FRIGHTENED ) DIDN T KNOW WHAT TO DO ) DIDN T KNOW ANYONE HERE v $ANIEL SAID $ANIEL IS ONE OF MANY 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST STUDENTS WHO FACE THE DILEMMA OF WHETHER TO PUT THEIR STUDIES OR 'OD S 3ABBATH lRST %IGHTEEN YEARS AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE 3OVIET 5NION 3ABBATHKEEPING REMAINS A SERIOUS ISSUE IN 2USSIAN SCHOOLS PARTICULARLY IN HIGHER EDUCATION WHERE CLASSES AND EXAMS ARE SOMETIMES SCHEDULED ON 3ATURDAYS h4HIS PROBLEM IS EVERYWHERE v SAYS !LINA $ANILOVA AN YEAR OLD VIOLINIST WHO ALMOST HAD TO QUIT A PRESTIGIOUS -OSCOW CONSERVATORY WHEN HER GROUP WAS ASSIGNED 3ATURDAY CLASSES )N 2USSIA lRST YEAR STUDENTS ARE PLACED IN GROUPS THAT STUDY TOGETHER UNTIL GRADUATION !FTER FERVENT PRAYER !LINA WON THE DEAN S PERMISSION TO SWITCH TO A GROUP THAT DIDN T MEET ON 3ABBATH )F !LINA HAD NOT CHANGED GROUPS SHE WOULD HAVE HAD TO CHANGE SCHOOLS
(IGH 3TAKES
4HE STAKES ARE HIGHER FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS ON SCHOLARSHIPS THAN FOR 2USSIAN STUDENTS SUCH AS !LINA !BOUT FOREIGN STUDENTS STUDY IN 2USSIA EVERY YEAR ACCORDING TO THE 2USSIAN %DUCATION AND 3CIENCE -INISTRY
!NDREW -C#HESNEY IS A JOURNALIST WHO HAS LIVED AND WORKED IN -OSCOW FOR THE PAST YEARS
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
"Y !NDREW -C#HESNEY
) #HOOSE
3AB THE
&OR UNIVERSITY THE CHOICE
,EFT 30)2)45!, 3500/24 &ROM RIGHT 5NIVERSITY STUDENTS $ANIEL ,ISULO .AKENA +ATUNDU AND #ASSY %LIEZER POSE IN THE LOBBY OF THE -OSCOW )NTERNATIONAL 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH !LL THREE !DVENTIST STUDENTS CHOSE TO KEEP THE 3ABBATH HOLY RATHER THAN COMPROMISE THEIR BELIEFS &AR RIGHT ! &/2-)$!",% $%!. $ANIEL STANDS OUTSIDE THE OFlCE OF UNIVERSITY DEAN 'ALINA !NDREEVNA WHO TOLD HIM THAT IF HE WOULDN T STUDY ON 3ABBATH HE SHOULD PACK HIS BAGS AND GO HOME 4HE SIGN READS h$EAN S /FlCE v
"ELOW 2%,!8).' 7)4( &2)%.$3 $ANIEL ,ISULO FRONT CENTER AND 9EMURAI "IKWA FRONT RIGHT !DVENTIST MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM :IMBABWE TALK WITH MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM *ORDAN OUTSIDE THE MAIN MEDICAL DEPARTMENT BUILDING AT 0EOPLE S &RIENDSHIP 5NIVERSITY IN -OSCOW
BATH
STUDENTS IS 2USSIA MIGHT MEAN EXPULSION
! , , 0 ( / 4 / 3 " 9 ! . $ 2 % 7 - C # ( % 3 . % 9
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
MOSTLY FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN !FRICA !SIA AND 3OUTH !MERICA &OR THEM A REFUSAL TO ATTEND CLASSES CAN MEAN BEING SENT BACK HOME h)F YOU CONSIDER THE HUMAN POINT OF VIEW IT S A GREAT RISKˆTHEY CAN KICK YOU OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY IMMEDIATELY v SAYS #ASSY %LIEZER A PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENT FROM (AITI h!T MY UNIVERSITY IF YOU MISS CLASSES FOUR TIMES IN ONE SEMESTER YOU CAN BE KICKED OUT v 7HEN #ASSY lRST ARRIVED IN -OSCOW IN MANY STUDENTS WARNED HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN *ESUS AND HIS STUDIES h) REPLIED THAT ) HAD ALREADY CHOSEN 'OD YEARS BEFORE v #ASSY SAID h) JUST ASK 'OD TO GIVE ME THE POWER UNTIL THEY KICK ME OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY )F A WINDOW CLOSES FOR ME 'OD WILL OPEN ANOTHER ONE v 'OD HOWEVER ALSO KEEPS THE WINDOW OPEN FOR THOSE WHO OBEY (IM .AKENA +ATUNDU A CHEMICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT FROM :AMBIA APPEALED TO THE DEAN WHEN HE WAS RECENTLY ASSIGNED THREE LABS ON 3ATURDAYS 7HEN HE WAS BLUNTLY TURNED DOWN HE PRAYERFULLY WROTE A LETTER EXPLAINING THAT HE WAS A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HRISTIAN WHO COULD NOT STUDY ON 3ATURDAYS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IT WAS THE ,ORD S 3ABBATH DAY h9OU SHOULD KEEP THE 3ABBATH FOR #HRIST v .AKENA SAID h"UT YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT YOU TELL THE AUTHORITIES WHY YOU ARE TAKING THE STEP SO IT IS CLEAR TO THEM v .AKENA GAVE THE LETTER TO HIS 2USSIAN PASTOR TO TRANSLATE AND THEN HANDED IT TO ANOTHER DEAN )N A SURPRISE DECISION THE DEAN AGREED TO LET .AKENA TAKE THE THREE LABS WITH A GROUP THAT DIDN T MEET ON 3ATURDAYS 4HE DEAN SIGNED AND STAMPED HIS AUTHORIZATION ON .AKENA S LETTER h3UCH EXPERIENCES MAKE YOU GROW IN #HRIST 9OU SEE HOW 'OD TAKES YOU THROUGH TO THE END v SAYS .AKENA 4OP TO BOTTOM $!2).' 4/ "% ! $!.)%, $ANIEL ,ISULO A MEDICAL STUDENT FROM :AMBIA WHO STOOD lRM FOR HIS FAITH POSES AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE MEDICAL SCHOOL AT 0EOPLE S &RIENDSHIP 5NIVERSITY IN -OSCOW 34%!$&!34 &!)4( $ANIEL ,ISULO WHO BE LIEVES MIRACULOUS INTERVENTION SAVED HIM FROM BEING FORCED TO LEAVE SCHOOL AFTER HE REFUSED TO ATTEND CLASSES ON 3ABBATH STANDS OUTSIDE THE -OSCOW )NTERNATIONAL 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
"ACK TO $ANIEL
$ANIEL HOWEVER KNEW NOTHING OF THE OTHER STUDENTS EXPERIENCES AND HE PRAYED WITH BITTER TEARS FOR GUIDANCE IN HIS DORMITORY ROOM !T THE END OF HIS lRST WEEK OF STUDIES $ANIEL RETURNED TO 'ALINA !NDREEVNA S OFlCE (E SPOKE IN %NGLISH AND THE DEAN A THICK SET WOMAN WITH SHORT WHITE HAIR AND A SEVERE FACE REPLIED IN 2USSIAN MOTIONING WITH HER HANDS TO HELP HIM UNDERSTAND 3HE LAUGHED HARSHLY AS $ANIEL STAMMERED OUT HIS REQUEST AGAIN AND ORDERED HIM OUT OF HER OFlCE ,ATER &RIDAY AFTERNOON $ANIEL APPROACHED THE DEAN AGAIN AND GOT THE SAME REPLY 4HE lRST WEEK IN SCHOOL WAS CHALLENGING FOR ALL THE STUDENTS AND THE :AMBIANS SOUGHT ONE ANOTHER OUT /NE OF THEM LEARNED THAT $ANIEL WAS AN !DVENTIST AND
INTRODUCED HIM TO 3AJIN 4ITO AN !DVENTIST MEDICAL STUDENT FROM )NDIA WHO HAD STUDIED IN -OSCOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS 3AJIN INVITED $ANIEL TO A &RIDAY SUNDOWN WORSHIP IN A DORM ROOM $ANIEL WENT TO THE SERVICE AND THE STUDENTS PRAYED WITH HIM AND TRIED TO ENCOURAGE HIM /N 3ATURDAY MORNING $ANIEL APPROACHED THE DEAN FOR A FOURTH TIME 'ALINA !NDREEVNA UNLEASHED A TORRENT OF MENACING SOUNDING WORDS THAT $ANIEL COULDN T COM PREHEND "UT HE DID UNDERSTAND ONE THING h.OT MAKING A DECISION IS MAKING A DECISION v THE DEAN SAID h'O HOME v &RIGHTENED AND CONFUSED $ANIEL WENT TO HIS DORMITORY AND WEPT h) ALMOST LOST MY FAITH IN 'OD v HE SAYS 4HAT AFTERNOON 3AJIN AND .AKENA STOPPED BY HIS ROOM AFTER CHURCH h9OU KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT IN YOUR HEART $ON T LET ANYONE CHANGE YOU v 3AJIN TOLD HIM h$ON T BE AFRAID TO DO THE RIGHT THING v .AKENA ADDED h9OU CAN LOSE YOUR SCHOLARSHIP BUT DON T LOSE YOUR FAITH YOUR CHANCE TO GO TO HEAVEN v -IRACULOUS )NTERVENTION
$ANIEL PRAYED ALL WEEKEND AND ON -ONDAY HE SHOWED UP FOR CLASS AS USUAL (IS TEACHER DIDN T SAY A WORD ABOUT HIS ABSENCE 4HE WEEK PASSED QUICKLY AND $ANIEL BEGAN TO WONDER WHETHER HE WOULD BE ABLE TO SKIP CLASSES EVERY 3ATURDAY WITHOUT GETTING INTO TROUBLE "UT WHEN HE SAT DOWN IN CLASS ON &RIDAY 'ALINA !NDREEVNA MARCHED INTO THE ROOM h:AMBIA v SHE BARKED AT $ANIEL MOTIONING FOR HIM TO FOLLOW HER 'ALINA !NDREEVNA TOOK $ANIEL TO AN AUDITORIUM AND MADE HIM UNDERSTAND THROUGH HAND SIGNALS THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE A SPELLING TEST $ANIEL FELT THE BLOOD DRAIN FROM HIS FACE (E HAD LEARNED THE #YRILLIC ALPHABET ONLY THE WEEK BEFORE 'ALINA !NDREEVNA ANNOUNCED THE lRST WORD hPREPODAVATIL v OR hTEACHER v 4REMBLING $ANIEL SILENTLY PRAYED h)F IT IS 9OUR WILL THAT ) NOT STUDY ON 3ABBATH PLEASE HELP ME v (E THEN ASKED THE DEAN TO REPEAT THE WORD h0REPODAVATIL v SHE SAID $ANIEL SLOWLY SPELLED OUT THE LETTERS 4O HIS SURPRISE HE SPELLED THE WORD CORRECTLY 4HE DEAN GAVE A SECOND WORD !LSO CORRECT !FTER FOUR MORE WORDS 'ALINA !NDREEVNA BRUSQUELY SWITCHED ON A KEYBOARD 3TUDENTS ARE TAUGHT PRONUNCIATION BY SINGING 2USSIAN WORDS TO MUSIC AND THE DEAN GAVE $ANIEL A LIST OF WORDS 4EARS WELLED UP IN $ANIEL S EYES AND RAN DOWN HIS CHEEKS (E KNEW ONLY 'OD COULD HELP HIM
h$ON T BE AFRAID TO DO THE RIGHT THING x9OU CAN LOSE YOUR SCHOLARSHIP BUT DON T LOSE YOUR FAITH YOUR CHANCE TO GO TO HEAVEN v 4HE DEAN BEGAN TO PLAY AND $ANIEL HESITANTLY SANG THE lRST WORD 4HE DEAN SAID NOTHING $ANIEL TACKLED THE SECOND THEN THE THIRD AND THE FOURTH ! LOOK OF BEWILDERMENT SLOWLY SPREAD ACROSS THE DEAN S FACE "Y THE TIME HE REACHED THE HUNDREDTH WORD SHE WAS BEAMING $ANIEL HAD PRONOUNCED EVERY SINGLE WORD CORRECTLY h9OU ARE AMAZING v SHE EXCLAIMED IN %NGLISH h) DON T KNOW WHAT TO SAY 9OU ARE GOOD 'O AND BELIEVE IN YOUR 'OD v 0RAISE TO 'OD
&ROM THAT DAY THE DEAN BEGAN GREETING $ANIEL WITH A WIDE SMILE 7HEN IT CAME TIME FOR $ANIEL S GROUP TO ELECT THE CLASS MONITORˆTHE STUDENT WHO WOULD REPRESENT THE GROUP TO THE DEANˆSHE INTERVENED AND APPOINTED $ANIEL !T THE START OF THE SECOND SEMESTER THE DEAN NAMED $ANIEL TO THE POSITION AGAIN h) REALIZE IT WAS 'OD v SAYS $ANIEL WHO AFTER A YEAR OF PREPARATORY CLASSES IS NOW lNISHING HIS lRST YEAR AS A MEDICAL STUDENT h4HIS EXPERIENCE WAS THE lRST TIME ) SAW THAT 'OD IS REALLY THERE .O MATTER WHAT ) M GOING THROUGH 'OD IS THERE TO ASSIST ME v h"LESSED IS THE MAN x WHO KEEPS THE 3ABBATH WITHOUT DESECRATING ITv )SA .)6 &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
& 5 . $ ! - % . 4 ! , " % , ) % & 3
3
EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS HAVE FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS AND THE SEVENTEENTH ENTITLED h3PIRITUAL 'IFTS AND -INISTRIES v IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE 4HE APOSTLE 0AUL OFFERS A BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL RATIONALE FOR SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN SEVERAL PLACES MOST PROMINENTLY IN #ORINTHIANS AND %PHESIANS .OW ALLOW YOUR MIND TO PLAY OUT THE FOLLOWING THREE IMAGINARY DIALOG VIGNETTES 6IGNETTE $ARKNESS h) WAS HERE lRST AND ) AM OLDER v ,IGHT h3O WHAT 9OU ARE NO MORE IMPORTANT THAN ) v !S YOU REVISIT THE #REATION STORY OF 'ENESIS YOU WILL NOTE THAT THERE WAS NO DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN DARKNESS AND LIGHT NO NEGATIVE TENSION BETWEEN THEM %ACH FUNCTIONED ACCORDING TO 'OD S PURPOSE FOR THEM 4ITLE DESIGNATES FUNCTION NOT IMPORTANCE 6IGNETTE 3ERAPHIM h) HAVE SIX WINGS ) AM AN ELITE ANGEL 'OD LOVES ME MOREˆAFTER ALL (E CREATED ME WITH SIX WINGS v #HERUBIM h'OD LOVES ME MORE THAN THOSE ANGELS WITH TWO WINGS ) MAY NOT HAVE SIX WINGS BUT FOUR WINGS MAKE ME MORE VALUABLE THAN THE ANGELS WITH JUST TWO WINGS ) AM PRETTY SPECIAL TO 'OD TOO v ! STUDY OF ANGELS IN THE /LD 4ESTAMENT )SA %ZE WILL REVEAL THAT SERAPHIM AND CHERUBIM OF COURSE DID NOT ARGUE &EELINGS OF SUPERIORITY ANGER RESENTMENT AND INFERIORITY DID NOT EXIST BETWEEN THEM %ACH FUNCTIONED WITHIN 'OD S PURPOSES FOR THEIR CREATION AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH 'OD S SAVING PLAN FOR HUMANITY 6IGNETTE "RAIN h) AM ON STRIKE TODAY 4HE HEART DID NOT GIVE ME ANY CREDIT IN THE TELEVISION PROGRAM YESTERDAY ON THE (EALTH #HANNEL v %YES h) SIMPLY REFUSE TO USE THE GIFT OF SIGHT TO GUIDE THE BODY IN ITS MOVEMENT 4HE MOUTH GAVE ME NO CREDIT IN THAT ARTICLE IN THE -EDICAL !SSOCIATION JOURNAL v &EET h) AM NOT GOING TO HELP YOU STAND OR WALK BECAUSE THE REST OF THE BODY IGNORED MY PLEA FOR RELIEF v 4HESE VIGNETTES CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF 0AUL S ILLUSTRATION OF THE HUMAN BODY IN #ORINTHIANS
)VAN , 7ARDEN IS AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE %LLEN ' 7HITE %STATE AT THE 'ENERAL #ONFER ENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 5NITED 3TATES
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
!
.5-"%2
0OWER 4RANSFORM TO
4HAT S WHAT 'OD S PEOPLE CAN
.O /NE 3UPERIOR OR )NFERIOR
! WAR DOES NOT RAGE AMONG THE BODY PARTS .O MALICIOUSNESS OR ANIMOSITY IS PRESENT %VERY ORGAN IS VITAL TO THE ENTIRE MAKEUP OF THE BODY 3IMILARLY GIFTS ARE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY IN DOING 'OD S MISSION )N 'OD S PLAN EACH GIFT FUNCTIONS FOR THE JOY AND HAPPINESS OF HUMANKIND +INGDOM BUILDING IS PEOPLE BUILDING 4HE KINGDOM OF 'OD IS BUILT BY BUILDING UP PEOPLE 0EOPLE HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE OF MOST IMPORTANCE TO *ESUS "EFORE RETURNING TO HEAVEN *ESUS SAID h'O INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATUREv -ARK "UT BEFORE GOING THE DISCIPLES NEEDED TO HAVE A STRONGER INTEGRATION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE OF WORD AND DEED OF FACT AND FAITH 4HEY NEEDED TO WAIT 7AIT FOR WHAT 4HEIR INTENSIVE COURSE HAD AN EXTENDED CURRICULUM BEYOND THE DEATH OF *ESUS ,UKE TELLS US IN !CTS THAT THEY WERE TO hWAITv FOR THE REALITY OF THE &ATHER S PROMISE h"UT YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER v *ESUS SAID hWHEN THE (OLY 3PIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU v 4HEY NEEDED SPECIAL EMPOWERMENT FROM THE (OLY 3PIRIT !ND ONCE THEY WERE EQUIPPED WITH THE 3PIRIT THEY WERE ABLE TO PREACH TEACH AND MODEL KINGDOM VALUES THROUGHOUT *ERUSALEM -OVING BEYOND THAT THEY hGOSSIPEDv THE GOSPEL ALSO IN 3AMARIA AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH !CTS 4HE PRINCIPLES OF THE KINGDOM WERE CARRIED TO #AESAR S PALACE TO THE JAILS TO EVERY LAYER OF THEIR SOCIETY AND TO EVERY LANGUAGE GROUP OF THEIR TIME !ND KINGDOM BUILDERSˆFROM THE TIME OF *ESUS TO THE THIRD CENTURYˆPREACHED ON STREET CORNERS IN DESERTS BY RIVERS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ANYWHERE ELSE THEY HAD OPPORTUNITY
4O EQUIP THESE KINGDOM BUILDERS 'OD GAVE SPECIAL GIFTS SEE #OR AND %PH )N THIS CONNECTION TWO FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS UNDERGIRD SUCCESSFUL CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY !ND WITHOUT AN UNDERSTANDING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE TWO CONCEPTS THE GIFTS CANNOT FULLY FUNCTION 7ITHOUT THEM THE CONGREGATION BECOMES PART OF THE WALKING DEAD "REATH AND A PULSE MAY BE EVIDENT BUT THERE D BE NO VIGOR NO VITALITY NO ENERGY 4HE TWO CONCEPTS ARE UNITY AND LOVE 7ITHOUT THEM BOTH CLERGY AND CONGREGANTS DETERIORATE INTO A PETTY
3OCIETY
"Y )VAN , 7ARDEN
BE GIFTED BY THE 3PIRIT SUSPICIOUS STAGNATED AND DECAYING ORGANISMˆHALF LIVING AND HALF DEAD FOR THESE CONCEPTS AFFECT BEHAVIOR 7ITH A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF THESE CONCEPTS OR PRINCIPLES HOWEVERˆAND WITH THEIR EAGER IMPLEMENTATIONˆWE WILL SEE RESULTS THAT TRANSCEND THOSE SEEN BY THE EARLY DISCIPLES 7HEN (OLY 3PIRIT lLLED OUR LIVES BECOME 'OD S AGENTS ON EARTH FOR BUILDING THE KINGDOM 4HE GIFTS ARE GIVEN TO PEOPLE NOT TO BUILDINGS OR INSTITUTIONS 0EOPLE MAKE UP THE CHURCH NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND )N THE .EW 4ESTAMENT THE CHURCH EKKLESIA REFERS TO THE PEOPLE NOT A BUILDING OR STRUCTURE )T REFERS TO THE GATHERING OF PEOPLE
4HE WORD EKKLESIA APPEARS MORE THAN TIMES AND EACH TIME IT REFERS TO A GATHERING OF PEOPLE 4HIS HELPS US UNDERSTAND THAT 'OD VALUES HUMANKIND (IS 3ON DIED TO SAVE US 7HAT A GIFT AND WHAT A SACRIlCE )T IS PEOPLE TO WHOM THE GIFTS ARE GIVEN )N THE *ERUSALEM UPPER ROOM THE DISCIPLES hDID NOT WAIT IN IDLENESS v 4HEY h;PUT= AWAY ALL DIFFERENCES ALL DESIRE FOR THE SUPREMACY THEY CAME CLOSE TOGETHER IN #HRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP v 7HEN THEY DISAGREED THEY AGREED TO DISAGREE AGREEABLY 5NITY DOES NOT ELIMINATE VARYING POINTS OF VIEW )NSTEAD IT ENABLES THE PROCESS TO REACH AGREEMENT BY CONSENSUS 5SING THIS METHOD CHURCHES BECOME MORE SPIRITUALLY ALIVE MORE ALERT MORE ENERGETIC )N THE *ERUSALEM UPPER ROOM LOVE WAS EXPERIENCED !ND hLOVE HAS POWER TO GIVE IN A MOMENT WHAT TOIL CAN SCARCELY REACH IN AN AGE vˆ'OETHE %LLEN 7HITE SAID IT WELL h)F WE WOULD HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE 'OD AND BE KIND AND COURTEOUS AND TENDERHEARTED AND PITIFUL THERE WOULD BE ONE HUNDRED CONVERSIONS TO THE TRUTH WHERE NOW THERE IS ONLY ONE v )MAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF CHURCHES TODAY HAD A *ERUSALEM UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE )T WOULD CHANGE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND MINISTRIES #ORRECTLY UNDERSTOOD AND GLADLY IMPLEMENTED THE PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND MINISTRIES WITH THE LOVE AND UNITY THAT THEY WILL BRING TO THE CHURCH WOULD TRANSFORM SOCIETY AS NOTHING ELSE ) BELIEVE IN SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND MINISTRIES ) HAVE SEEN THEIR FRUITS
%LLEN ' 7HITE 4HE !CTS OF THE !POSTLES P )BID P 4ESTIMONIES FOR THE #HURCH VOL P
3PIRITUAL 'IFTS AND
-INISTRIES
'OD BESTOWS UPON ALL MEMBERS OF (IS CHURCH IN EVERY AGE SPIRITUAL GIFTS WHICH EACH MEMBER IS TO EMPLOY IN LOVING MINISTRY FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF THE CHURCH AND OF HUMANITY 'IVEN BY THE AGENCY OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT WHO APPORTIONS TO EACH MEMBER AS (E WILLS THE GIFTS PROVIDE ALL ABILITIES AND MINISTRIES NEEDED BY THE CHURCH TO FULlLL ITS DIVINELY ORDAINED
FUNCTIONS !CCORDING TO THE 3CRIPTURES THESE GIFTS INCLUDE SUCH MINISTRIES AS FAITH HEALING PROPHECY PROCLAMATION TEACHING ADMINISTRATION RECONCILIATION COMPASSION AND SELF SACRIlCING SERVICE AND CHARITY FOR THE HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF PEOPLE 3OME MEMBERS ARE CALLED OF 'OD AND ENDOWED BY THE 3PIRIT FOR FUNCTIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE CHURCH IN PASTORAL
EVANGELISTIC APOSTOLIC AND TEACHING MINISTRIES PARTICULARLY NEEDED TO EQUIP THE MEMBERS FOR SERVICE TO BUILD UP THE CHURCH TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND TO FOSTER UNITY OF THE FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE OF 'OD 7HEN MEMBERS EMPLOY THESE SPIRITUAL GIFTS AS FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF 'OD S VARIED GRACE THE CHURCH IS PROTECTED FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE INmUENCE OF FALSE DOCTRINE GROWS WITH A GROWTH THAT IS FROM 'OD AND IS BUILT UP IN FAITH AND LOVE 2OM #OR %PH !CTS 4IM 0ETER
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
3 0 % # ) ! , & % !4 5 2 %
H O P E FOR !
MULTIYEAR AND MULTICITY EVANGELISM PROGRAM IN THE 3OUTHERN !FRICA )NDIAN /CEAN $IVISION 3)$ PRESENTED h*OHANNESBURG FOR *ESUSv FROM !UGUST TO 3EPTEMBER WITH EVANGELIST AND 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE VICE PRESIDENT -ARK &INLEY AS THE PRIMARY SPEAKER !DVENTIST 7ORLD EDITOR "ILL +NOTT RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH &INLEY AND 3)$ PRESIDENT 0AUL 2ATSARA TO LEARN ABOUT THIS REMARKABLE EVENT
"IG #ITIES JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
+./44 -ARK YOU VE BEEN IN MANY CHALLENGING PLACES AS AN EVANGELISTˆ -OSCOW ,ONDON -ANILA ,OS !NGELES 7HAT WERE THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES YOU AND YOUR TEAM ENCOUNTERED IN *OHANNESBURG &).,%9 *OHANNESBURG IS AN
AMAZING CITY AND IT S A COMPLEX CITY )T S A CITY OF THE VERY RICH AND THE VERY POOR )T S A CITY OF THE EDUCATED AND THE UNEDUCATED )T HAS MULTIPLE ETHNIC GROUPS AND IT HAS THE HISTORIC CHALLENGE OF A DIVISION BETWEEN PEOPLES /NE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE IN *OHANNESBURG IS THE COMPLEXITY OF GETTING AROUND 9OU HAVE TO PLAN DIFFERENTLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DIFlCULTY OF MOVING PEOPLE AROUND 3ECOND THERE S A BIG CHALLENGE WITH CRIME PARTICULARLY IN THE EVENINGS AND IT S OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE SOCIETY "RINGING PEOPLE OUT IN THE EVENINGS WAS A MAJOR CHALLENGE 4HIRD THE WORLD WELL KNOWS THE RECENT HISTORY OF 3OUTH !FRICA AS IT HAS WORKED TO ERASE DECADES OF SEGREGATION AND APARTHEID 4HAT HISTORIC DIVISION BETWEEN PEOPLE TENDS TO SEPARATE PERSONS AND ISOLATE THEM RATHER THAN BRING THEM TOGETHER FOR A COMMON PURPOSE
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
0 ( / 4 / 3 # / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & - ! 2 + & ) . , % 9
0AUL TELL ME ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT LED UP TO THIS 7HAT HAPPENED IN THE 3OUTHERN !FRICA )NDIAN /CEAN $IVISION TO PREPARE PEOPLE FOR THIS EVENT $ID PEOPLE DISCOVER ANYTHING IN WORKING TOGETHER TO PLAN FOR THIS CAMPAIGN 2!43!2! !N EVENT LIKE THIS IS THE
TIME TO APPLY WHAT WE BELIEVE 7E BELIEVE THAT EVANGELISM IS NOT AN EVENT IT S A PROCESS 3O WE TOOK TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS BIG EVENT IN PRAYER 7E PUT PEOPLE TO PRAYING WITH EACH OTHER 7E BEFRIENDED PEOPLE WE MET IN SMALL GROUP TRAININGS AND lNALLY WE INVOLVED THEM IN BIGGER TRAINING EVENTS -ONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT -ARK CAME TO MEET WITH US AND WE HAD A GREAT GATHERING OF WORKERS AND SUPPORTERS WHO WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CAMPAIGN 4HIS WAS GROUNDBREAKING FOR OUR REGION IT S NEVER HAPPENED QUITE THAT WAY BEFOREˆPRAYER SMALL GROUPS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND LARGE SCALE RALLIES TO MOTIVATE !DVENTIST MEMBERS
STUDIED ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER AND GROWTH IN THE LOCAL CONGREGATION HOW TO ORGANIZE SMALL GROUPS HOW TO DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH HOW TO REACH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE RELIGIOUSLY INCLINED 7E STUDIED ABOUT THE NATURE OF PUBLIC EVANGELISM 4HOSE MEETINGS WOULD BE WITH PASTORS AND WORKERS DURING THE WEEK AND THEN WE WOULD CLIMAX WITH A LARGE MEETING ON 3ABBATH 4HE lRST PUBLIC RALLY FOR MEMBERS BROUGHT OUT NEARLY !DVENTISTS THE SECOND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN AND 7E ALSO LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR DOWNLINKING THE MEETINGS VIA SATELLITE TO MORE THAN CITIES IN 3OUTH !FRICA AND WE MADE PLANS FOR A ONE WEEK DELAYED BROADCAST ON (OPE 46 ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE CONTINENT
UNIVERSITY TO REACH YOUNGER PEOPLE AND EMERGING THOUGHT LEADERS IN 3OUTH !FRICAN SOCIETY AS WELL 3O THERE WERE TWO MEETINGS lVE NIGHTS EVERY WEEKˆONE UNDER A BIG BEAUTIFUL TENT IN 3OWETO AND THE OTHER IN THE UNIVERSITY AMPHITHEATER 7HAT WAS IT LIKE MOVING BETWEEN TWO VERY DIFFERENT AUDIENCES EVERY NIGHT &).,%9 4HE AUDIENCE AT 3OWETO
WAS LIVELY EVEN EXUBERANT )T WAS AN ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS EXPERIENCE GOING INTO THAT TOWNSHIP EVERY NIGHT AND BEING SO WARMLY WELCOMED 0EOPLE CAME IN OFF THE STREETS 7E HAD A FEEDING PROGRAM BEFORE THE MEETINGS BEGAN EVERY NIGHT SO THAT CHILDREN WHO HAD NOTHING TO EAT SO ADULTS WHO WERE HUNGRY COULD COME AND 2!43!2! !DVENTISTS AROUND THE BE FED "IBLE STUDY LESSONS WERE BEING WORLD HAVE BEEN USED TO HEARING DISTRIBUTED EVERY NIGHT AND MANY WONDERFUL STORIES ABOUT EVANGELISM WERE COMING TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PART ON THE CONTINENT OF !FRICA DURING THE OF THE PROGRAM -USICAL PROGRAMS LED LAST YEARS "UT THE CHALLENGE IN AN OFF EACH NIGHT FOR AT LEAST MINUTES INCREASINGLY SECULAR 3OUTH !FRICA IS BEFORE THE PROGRAM 7E ALSO PITCHED A SECOND TENT WHERE WE HAD A HEALTH VERY DIFFERENT AND WE VE LEARNED TO (OW MANY !DVENTISTS WOULD YOU MEDICAL SYMPOSIUM EVERY NIGHT MEASURE IN DIFFERENT WAYS 3OWETO ESTIMATE WERE PART OF THE WIDER TEAM AND *OHANNESBURG TOGETHER HAVE MORE 4HERE WAS A LOT TAKING PLACE EACH NIGHT SUPPORTING *OHANNESBURG FOR *ESUS BEFORE ) STOOD UP TO PREACH 7E WERE THAN MILLION PEOPLE IN THEM BUT THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT !DVENTISTS GEARED UP TO MEET 3OWETO S NEEDS 7E ASKED OURSELVES h(OW CAN WE REACH 2!43!2! (UNDREDS ) D SAY MAYBE IN THE REGION 9OU COULD ALMOST SAY OUT AND FEED PEOPLE (OW CAN WE EVEN MORE THAN A THOUSAND 7E HAD THAT THIS IS AN UNENTERED TERRITORY HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE "IBLE NEARLY !DVENTIST -ISSION PIONEERS 4HE RATIO OF !DVENTISTS TO THE GENERAL (OW CAN WE MEET THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS AS WELL WHO WERE VERY MUCH INVOLVED POPULATION IS VERY LOW THEIR FAMILY LIFE NEEDS AND OF COURSE IN TRAINING AND WILL NOW BE HEAVILY THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS v (UNDREDS CAME COMMITTED TO FOLLOW UP ) VE HEARD THAT YOU PLANNED SEVERAL LARGE SCALE SITES FOR EVANGELISM (OW AND FOUND #HRIST AT THESE MEETINGS &).,%9 ) WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE DID THAT WORK BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING MINISTERED TO TWO PRIMARY CONFERENCES IN THE 4HE 3PIRIT OF 'OD WAS TOUCHING THEIR *OHANNESBURG AREA 4RANSVAAL AND &).,%9 ) ACTUALLY PREACHED IN TWO SITES HEARTS AND IT WAS A THRILLING MEETING 4RANS /RANGE WORKING TOGETHER TO EACH DAY ) PREACHED AT 3OWETO WHICH SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN 4RANSVAAL IS THE SOUTHWESTERN TOWNSHIP AREA ) M GUESSING THAT THE MEETINGS AT THE #ONFERENCE OPENED THE DOORS OF ITS AN AREA TRADITIONALLY FOR BLACK 3OUTH UNIVERSITY WERE QUITE DIFFERENT YOUTH CAMP AND INVITED ALL PASTORS TO !FRICANS AND ) ALSO PREACHED AT 7ITS COME TO A MAJOR TRAINING EVENT 7E ;7ITWATERSRAND= 5NIVERSITY A VERY &).,%9 7HEN YOU COME ONTO THE HAD PASTORS "IBLE WORKERS PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMIC INSTITUTION IN GROUNDS AT 7ITS 5NIVERSITY YOU MEET AND OTHERS MEET AT THE CAMP 7E THE CITY 7E SPECIlCALLY TARGETED THAT SECURITY lRST THERE ARE GUARDS AT
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
3 0 % # ) ! , & % !4 5 2 %
ELECTRONIC GATES WHO LET YOU IN 3O WE BUSSED OUR SUPPORT PEOPLE IN THERE 7E HAD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS COMING AND SOME FACULTY ATTENDING AND IT WAS A MORE SUBDUED AUDIENCE AS ) PREACHED EACH NIGHT TO BE SURE "UT THEY WERE THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE AS WELL AND WE WATCHED AS THE 3PIRIT OF 'OD TOUCHED THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES 4HE PLATFORM CHAIR OF OUR 7ITS 5NIVERSITY MEETINGS HAD SPECIAL REASONS FOR BEING DELIGHTED WITH THE CAMPUS MEETINGS (E AND HIS WIFE YEARS AGO BECAME !DVENTISTS OUT OF A NON #HRISTIAN BACKGROUND (IS WIFE S RELATIVES WERE ALSO MEMBERS OF HIS PREVIOUS RELIGION (E AND HIS WIFE BEGAN TO PRAY FOR HER FAMILY MEMBERS %VERY NIGHT HE D LEAVE THE PLATFORM TO SIT WITH HIS WIFE AND HER SISTERS A FEW ROWS BACK ) WOULD SEE THESE LOVELY NON #HRISTIANS SITTING THERE AND AS ) PREACHED ) NOTICED THE TEARS IN THEIR EYES ) NOTICED THE SPIRIT OF 'OD TOUCHING THEIR HEARTS 4HE NIGHT BEFORE OUR lNAL BAPTISM THE ELDER CAME TO ME BEAMING FROM EAR TO EAR AND HUGGED ME h-ARK v HE SAID hMY WIFE S SISTERS CALLED AND THEY HAVE SAID THEY ARE GOING TO BE BAPTIZED v !ND ON 3ABBATH AT THE LARGE BAPTISM THAT FAMILY WAS UNITED
0 ( / 4 / 3 # / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & - ! 2 + & ) . , % 9
GOODWILL IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIESˆ SOMETHING THAT S NOT EASY TO GET HERE 4HE IMAGE OF THE CHURCH THE WAY IT S PERCEIVED IN THE SOCIETY HAS CHANGED &).,%9 4HE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THESE
)NITIAL REPORTS TELL US THAT MORE THAN PERSONS WERE BAPTIZED AS A RESULT OF *OHANNESBURG FOR *ESUS AND THE PROJECTIONS ARE THAT MANY MORE WILL FOLLOW 0AUL WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT OF THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE ON THE CHURCH IN 3OUTH !FRICA
EFFORTS WILL KEEP GOING ON FOR MANY MONTHS (UNDREDS OF !DVENTISTS INVITED PEOPLE INTO THEIR HOMES TO WATCH THE MEETINGS ON TELEVISION IN SMALL GROUPS 4HAT IMPACT IS YET TO BE FELT 7E TAPED THESE MEETINGS AND $6$S ARE BEING PRODUCED BY THE THOUSANDS AND GIVEN OUT PERSON TO PERSON )N A SENSE THE MEETINGS HAVEN T ENDED YET AND WON T FOR MANY MONTHS AS THEY CONTINUE TO DO THEIR WORK IN HOMES AND SMALL GROUPS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY
2!43!2! 7E WON T EVER BE THE SAME
2!43!2! -ARK IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT
AGAIN 4HIS CAMPAIGN HAS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND ON !DVENTIST MEMBERS AS WELL !DVENTISTS FELT THE POWER OF 'OD IN A MIGHTY WAY AND DISCOVERED THE JOY OF REACHING OUT 9OU CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT WITH PASTORS WITH CHURCH ELDERS AND WITH MEMBERS 7E BUILT TREMENDOUS
THE IMPACT WILL ONLY GROW 4HE DAY AFTER THE MEETINGS ENDED IN 3OWETO AND 7ITS 5NIVERSITY WE BROUGHT THE NEWLY BAPTIZED MEMBERS TOGETHER FOR TRAINING AND SUPPORT 4HIS IS A PROCESS NOT JUST AN EVENT AND WE KNOW THAT AS THEY LEARN HOW TO SHARE THEIR FAITH HUNDREDSˆMAYBE EVEN THOUSANDSˆOF
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
OTHERS WILL DECIDE TO FOLLOW *ESUS 7HAT WE VE SEEN THUS FAR IS JUST THE lRST FRUIT -ANY MANY MORE WILL FOLLOW 7HAT SHOULD THE WORLD CHURCH LEARN FROM WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN *OHANNESBURG &).,%9 /NE OF THE KEYS TO THE SUCCESS
OF *OHANNESBURG FOR *ESUS WAS THE INTEGRATED UNITY OF THE DIVISION THE UNION THE CONFERENCE CHURCH MEMBERS AND PASTORS ) THINK THERE S A LESSON FOR THE WORLD CHURCH 7HEN WE FOCUS ON MISSION TOGETHER THE (OLY 3PIRIT DOES FAR MORE THAN IF WE WORK INDIVIDUALLY AND ALONE 2!43!2! ) BELIEVE THAT THOROUGH
PREPARATION YIELDS RESULTS )F EVANGELISM IS A PROCESS THEN WE GO ON TO WORK ON RETENTION SUPPORT NURTURE AND TRAINING OF NEW MEMBERS 7ITH THIS WAY OF SEEING EVANGELISM WE SHOULDN T BE AFRAID THAT NEW MEMBERS WILL DISAPPEAR IN A FEW MONTHS )N MANY WAYS THE ACTIVITY LEVEL ACTUALLY INCREASES WHEN THE EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN ITSELF COMES TO AN END
3 0 ) 2 ) 4 / & 0 2 / 0 ( % # 9
,ET 4HIS
- ND "E IN
9OU
0UTTING /UR (ANDS IN (IS
7E ARE ALL SINNERS AND SHOULD SEEK FOR TRUE ELEVATION OF CHARACTER THROUGH #HRIST 7E ARE NOT TO EXALT OURSELVES AND THEN EXPECT THE SINNER TO CLIMB TO US 'OD CALLS UPON US TO DO AS THE WORLD S 2EDEEMER DIDx (E WAS RICH BUT FOR OUR SAKE (E BECAME POOR x 7ITH (IS LONG HUMAN ARM (E ENCIRCLED THE RACE WHILE WITH (IS DIVINE ARM (E GRASPED THE THRONE OF THE )NlNITE BRINGING TO FALLEN MAN DIVINE POWER TO COOPERATE WITH (IS HUMAN EFFORT !S WE SEEK TO FOLLOW #HRIST S EXAMPLE WE SHALL STAND ON A HIGH LEVEL IMBUED WITH KEEN SYMPATHY AN ABUNDANT LOVE AND
#ULTIVATING A HIGH REGARD FOR OTHERS DEVELOPS THE MIND OF #HRIST IN US "Y %LLEN ' 7HITE
)
N TAKING HUMANITY #HRIST UNITED (IMSELF TO THE HUMAN RACE BY INSEPARABLE CORDS "Y (IS LIFE OF SELF DENYING MINISTRY x (E BOUND (IMSELF TO THE HEART OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE HUMAN FAMILY h)N ALL THINGS IT BEHOVED HIM TO BE MADE LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN THAT HE MIGHT BE A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST IN THINGS PERTAINING TO 'OD TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLEx v 4OUCHED WITH THE FEELING OF THEIR INlRMITIES #HRIST WEPT WITH THOSE THAT WEPT AND WITH THOSE WHO REJOICED (E COULD REJOICE 3UCH A CHARACTER AS (IS CANNOT BE WITHOUT ITS INmUENCE UPON THE CHARACTERS OF (IS FOLLOWERSx 7E ARE TO LEARN A LESSON FROM THE GOODNESS AND MERCY AND SELF SACRIlCING LIFE OF THE &ATHERx 7E ARE TO LEARN HOW TO RULE BY LOVE AND KINDNESSx 7HEN AN ERRING PERSON BECOMES CONSCIOUS OF HIS WRONG DO NOT DEAL WITH HIM IN A MANNER THAT WILL TAKE AWAY ALL HIS SELF RESPECT $O NOT SEEK TO TEAR TO PIECES BUT TO BIND UP AND HEAL 9OU MAY SEE THE ERRORS OF A BROTHERx "UT NEVER PURSUE A COURSE THAT WILL GIVE HIM THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU REGARD YOURSELF AS HIS SUPERIORx 3UCH A COURSE IS ALTOGETHER OUT OF HARMONY WITH TRUE RElNEMENT TRUE NOBILITY OF CHARACTERx 4HE ACTION WILL ALWAYS TESTIFY TO THE TEXTURE OF THE CHARACTER 4HE COUNSEL OF ONE WHO HAS A KEEN SENSE OF RIGHT WILL ALWAYS BE VALUABLE (E WILL WORK AS #HRIST WORKED SEEKING TO LIFT UP FROM THE DEPTHS OF WOE AND WRETCHEDNESS THE UNHAPPY BEINGS WHO WILL SURELY PERISH UNLESS A LOVING SYMPATHIZING HAND IS EXTENDED TO THEM
TENDER COMPASSION 7E SHALL STAND WHERE THE BRIGHT BEAMS OF THE 3UN OF 2IGHTEOUSNESS CAN SHINE UPON US AND THIS WILL lLL US WITH THE SYMPATHY AND TENDERNESS AND PITY OF #HRIST FOR THE HELPLESS $IVINE POWER WILL BE GIVEN US TO COMBINE WITH OUR HUMAN CAPABILITIES 7EARING THE 2OBE OF #HRIST S 2IGHTEOUSNESS
x 4HE MIND OF #HRIST IS TO BE THE MIND OF EVERY CHILD OF 'ODx (OW TENDERLY (E ENTERED INTO THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS (E DESIRES TO AWAKEN IN EVERY HEART AN ANXIOUS LONGING TO SEEK AND SAVE THAT WHICH IS LOST (IS SERVANTS ARE NOT TO DISPLAY THEIR OWN SUPERIORITY 4HEY ARE TO MAKE NO SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR OWN QUALIlCATIONS FOR BY THIS ACT THEY TESTIFY THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ENDOWMENTS THEY THINK THEY POSSESS )F THEIR EYES WERE lXED ON *ESUS IF THEY WERE CONTEMPLATING (IS PURITY AND EXCELLENCE THEY COULD NOT REGARD THEMSELVES AS HOLYx 4HEY WOULD SEE THEMSELVES LOST AND HOPELESS CLAD IN GARMENTS OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE EVERY OTHER SINNER )F WE ARE SAVED IT WILL NOT BE BECAUSE OF OUR SUPERIOR INTELLECT OR OUR RElNEMENT BUT BECAUSE OF THE GRACE OF 'OD 7E HAVE NO GARMENT OF OUR OWN THAT WILL GIVE US A POSITION OF HONOR AT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE ,AMB #HRIST S ROBE ALONE THE GARMENT WOVEN IN THE LOOM OF HEAVEN WILL GIVE TO THE GUESTS A WORTHINESS TO SIT DOWN AT THE MARRIAGE FEAST %ACH MUST ACCEPT THIS ROBE AND IT IS OFFERED TO THE LOWLIEST WHO WILL BELIEVE IN #HRIST AS HIS PERSONAL 3AVIOUR
3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS BELIEVE %LLEN ' 7HITE EXERCISED THE BIBLI CAL GIFT OF PROPHECY DURING MORE THAN YEARS OF PUBLIC MINISTRY 4HIS ARTICLE IS EXCERPTED FROM ONE THAT lRST APPEARED IN 4HE !DVENT 2EVIEW AND 3ABBATH (ERALD NOW THE !DVENTIST 2EVIEW .OVEMBER
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
")",% 15%34)/.3 1 5 % 3 4 ) / . )S THERE ANY BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR
OF THE WORSHIPPER TO 'OD IN COMMUNION WITH (IM 3PREADING OUT THE HANDS )N THIS CASE THE VERB IS THE INCREASINGLY COMMON PRACTICE OF RAISING AND PāRASH hTO SPREAD OUTv EXPRESSING THE IDEA THAT THE HANDS WAVING HANDS DURING CONGREGATIONAL SINGING WERE SPREAD OUT IN FRONT OF THE PERSON NOT NECESSARILY LIFTED UP !T TIMES IT APPEARS THAT THE WORSHIPPER SPREAD HIS QUESTION MAY NOT APPEAR IMPORTANT BUT IT REVEALS HANDS TOWARD THE 4EMPLE THE HEAVENS +INGS THAT WE ARE VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN A WORSHIP THAT IS 0S OR THE ,ORD %X 3PREADING OUT THE BIBLICALLY BASED AND DOES NOT VIOLATE BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION HANDS WAS PARTICULARLY DONE DURING PRAYERS OF SUPPLICATION )T ALSO IMPLIES THAT WAVING HANDS WHILE SINGING IS CREATING +INGS )SA %X ,AM OR WHEN THERE SOME TENSIONS ) WILL DEAL WITH THE USE OF THE HANDS DURING WAS A DEEP NEED FOR THE PRESENCE OF 'OD 0S 0SALM ACTS OF ADORATION )T WILL BECOME CLEAR THAT IN THE "IBLE THE READS h) CALL TO YOU / ,ORD EVERY DAY ) SPREAD OUT RITUAL USE OF HANDS TOOK PLACE MAINLY DURING PRAYER MY HANDS TO YOU v 4HE NEED OF THE PSALMIST WAS SO INTENSE .ONVERBAL ACTS "ODY THAT HE BEGS THE ,ORD FOR GESTURES PLAY AN IMPORTANT HELP !LTHOUGH IN DEEP ROLE IN THE EXPRESSION OF NEED THE WORSHIPPER GOES IDEAS AND EMOTIONS 3TUDIES TO THE ,ORD AND EXTENDS ON THE ROLE OF NONVERBAL THE HANDS TO (IM FOR HELP ACTS OF WORSHIP IN THE "IBLE 4HIS MORE INTENSE GESTURE HELP US UNDERSTAND THEIR WAS AN EXPRESSION OF THE SIGNIlCANCE A LITTLE BETTER INDIVIDUAL S DEPENDENCE )N THE "IBLE WE HAVE ONLY ON 'OD 0S AND THE LANGUAGE OF POSTURES DEVOTION OF THE HEART TO THE GESTURES MOVEMENTS AND "Y ,ORD *OB FACIAL EXPRESSIONS !NCIENT !NGEL -ANUEL 3O WHAT !S FAR .EAR %ASTERN ART ILLUSTRATES 2ODR¤GUEZ AS ) CAN ASCERTAIN THERE MANY OF THE GESTURES 4HE IS NO WAVING OF HANDS HAND GESTURES WE lND DURING WORSHIP IN THE MENTIONED IN THE "IBLE WERE "IBLE 4HE LIFTING OF HANDS ALSO COMMON IN THE SETTING WAS COMMON CF 4IM OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER IN THE 4HE "IBLE DOES NOT ANCIENT .EAR %AST PRESCRIBE HAND GESTURES FOR ,IFTING UP HANDS 4HE WORSHIP BUT IT DESCRIBES EXPRESSIONS hTO LIFT UP THE ACCEPTED COMMON PRACTICES HANDS ;YāD¦M=v OR hTO LIFT UP THE PALMS ;KAPPAYIM=v !NCIENT #HRISTIAN ART INDICATES THAT #HRISTIANS USED TO PRAY ARE PRACTICALLY SYNONYMOUS 4HEY ARE USED IN DIFFERENT WITH ARMS AND HANDS STRETCHED OUT TO THE SIDES DEPICTING CONTEXTS AND EXPRESS DIFFERENT MEANINGS IN SOME CASES WITH THEIR BODIES THE CRUCIlXION 4ODAY WE TYPICALLY PUT h4O LIFT UP THE HANDSv IS A GESTURE THAT EXPRESSES ADORATION OUR HANDS TOGETHER EITHER IN BACK OR IN FRONT OF OUR BODIES IN THE CONTEXT OF WORSHIP 4HOSE WHO MINISTERED IN OR SIMPLY LET THEM HANG TO THE SIDE /CCASIONALLY WE MAY THE 4EMPLE WERE EXHORTED TO hLIFT UP YOUR HANDS IN THE PUT OUR PALMS TOGETHER AND INTERLOCK OUR lNGERS A SANCTUARY AND PRAISE THE ,ORDv 0S .)6 4HE PRACTICE COMMON AMONG ANCIENT 2OMANS AND 3UMERIANS GESTURE INDICATED THAT THE OBJECT OF PRAISES WAS THE ,ORD !T OTHER TIMES THE PALMS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER WITH THE AND THAT THE WHOLE PERSON WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACT )T WAS lNGERS POINTING UPWARD COMMON IN "UDDHIST AND ALSO USED TO PRESENT TO THE ,ORD A PRAYER OF SUPPLICATION (INDU RELIGIOSITY 4HE INTRODUCTION OF NOVELTIES IN OUR 0S AS IF THE PRAYER WERE PLACED IN THE PALM OF THE CHURCHES INmUENCED BY CHARISMATIC SYSTEMS OF WORSHIP HAND AND LIFTED UP TO THE ,ORD ASKING (IM TO ACCEPT IT 0S CAN DISRUPT A WORSHIP THAT SHOULD BE CENTERED IN OUR )N OTHER CASES THE GESTURE APPEARS TO EXPRESS THE #REATOR AND 2EDEEMER AND IN (IS 7ORD )T MAY BE BETTER TO WILLINGNESS OF THE PERSON TO RECEIVE FROM THE ,ORD WHAT FOLLOW THE COMMON PRACTICE OF THE CONGREGATION WHERE WE WAS REQUESTED 0S ,AM "UT THE LIFTING UP OF COLLECTIVELY WORSHIP THE ,ORD THE HANDS SEEMS TO EXPRESS SOMETHING DEEPER SOMETHING RELATED TO THE HUMAN HEART h,ET US LIFT UP OUR HEARTS AND OUR HANDS TO 'OD IN HEAVENv ,AM .)6 4HE LIFTING !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODRÓGUEZ IS DIRECTOR OF THE "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH OF THE HANDS CORRESPONDED TO THE LIFTING OF THE INNER BEING
4
2AISED (ANDS IN
7ORSHIP
)NSTITUTE OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
" ) " , % 3 4 5 $ 9
GOD S "Y -ARK ! &INLEY
'UIDANCE
(AVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW WE CAN BE CERTAIN OF 'OD S GUIDANCE IN THE DECISIONS WE MAKE 7HAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF RECEIVING GUIDANCE FROM 'OD (OW CAN WE BE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING (IS WILL AND NOT OUR OWN )N TODAY S LESSON WE WILL EXPLORE FOUR BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES IN RECEIVING GUIDANCE FROM 'OD 7E WILL DISCOVER AN ALL KNOWING 'OD WHO LONGS TO GUIDE (IS CHILDREN IN THEIR DECISIONS AND HOW WE CAN BE OPEN TO UNDERSTAND (IS WILL AND LET (IM LEAD IN OUR LIVES
7HAT THREE THINGS DOES 'OD PROMISE TO DO FOR US 2EAD THE TEXT BELOW AND WRITE YOUR ANSWER ON THE LINES PROVIDED h) WILL INSTRUCT YOU AND TEACH YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO ) WILL GUIDE YOU WITH -Y EYEv 0S 'OD PROMISES TO A
YOU
B
YOU
C
YOU
(OW CONSTANT IS 'OD S GUIDANCE 7RITE YOUR ANSWER IN THE FOLLOWING BLANK h&OR THIS IS 'OD OUR 'OD FOREVER AND EVER (E WILL BE OUR GUIDE EVEN TO DEATHv 0S 'OD PROMISES TO GUIDE US EACH DAY OF OUR LIVES EVEN TO
02).#)0,% ˆ02!9%2
7HAT INVITATION DID 'OD GIVE US TO RECEIVE (IS GUIDANCE h)F ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM LET HIM ASK OF 'OD WHO GIVES TO ALL LIBERALLY AND WITHOUT REPROACH AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIMv *AMES 'OD INVITES US TO ASK FOR WHAT
AND (E WILL GIVE IT HOW
4HERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN WE PRAY REGARDING A DECISION AND WONDER WHETHER OR NOT WE ACTUALLY ARE RECEIVING AN ANSWER FROM 'OD OR SIMPLY FOLLOWING OUR OWN DESIRES 'OD S ANSWERS GENERALLY COME IN THE FORM OF GROWING CONVICTIONS NOT IMPULSIVE ACTIONS ! DIVINE IMPRESSION IS A GROWING CONSTANT AWARENESS THAT 'OD WANTS US TO DO SOMETHING NOT USUALLY SOME SPLIT SECOND IMPRESSION THAT MAY BE HERE TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
02).#)0,% ˆ#/5.3%,
(OW DOES 'OD BALANCE OUR CONVICTIONS TO HELP US AVOID WRONG DECISIONS h7HERE THERE IS NO COUNSEL THE PEOPLE FALL BUT IN THE MULTITUDE OF COUNSELORS THERE IS SAFETYv 0ROV h7ITHOUT COUNSEL PLANS GO AWRY BUT IN THE MULTITUDE OF COUNSELORS THEY ARE ESTABLISHEDv 0ROV 'OD PROVIDES US WITH
TO HELP US MAKE GOOD DECISIONS
)F WE ARE WISE WE WILL SEEK OUT GODLY COUNSELORS IN THE SIGNIlCANT DECISIONS WE MAKE
02).#)0,% ˆ02/6)$%.#%
!S WE SEEK 'OD FOR GUIDANCE IN PRAYER AND ARE OPEN TO GODLY COUNSEL WHAT SPECIlC INSTRUCTION DOES 'OD GIVE FOR KNOWING (IS WILL h-Y SON GIVE ME YOUR HEART AND LET YOUR EYES OBSERVE MY WAYSv 0ROV h#OME AND SEE THE WORKS OF 'OD (E IS AWESOME IN (IS DOING TOWARD THE SONS OF MENv 0S 'OD INVITES US TO
(IS WAYS AND
(IS WORKS
7HEN WE SEEK (IS WILL 'OD S PROVIDENCE WILL OPERATE IN OUR LIVES !S WE LOOK FOR DOORS (E OPENS AND OBSERVE (IS WAYS WE WILL DISCOVER (IS WILL
02).#)0,% ˆ4(% 7/2$
7HAT ILLUSTRATION DID THE PSALMIST USE TO DESCRIBE 'OD S 7ORD AS A SOURCE OF 'OD S GUIDANCE h9OUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT TO MY PATHv 0S 4HE PRINCIPLES OF 'OD S 7ORD ARE LIKE A
AND A
'OD S WILL NEVER LEADS US TO WHERE 'OD S 7ORD IS NOT GUIDING US )F WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT LEAD US CONTRARY TO 'OD S 7ORD WE CAN BE CERTAIN THEY ARE OUR OWN DECISIONS AND NOT (IS /NE OVERRIDING PRINCIPLE IN DISCERNING 'OD S WILL IS THE WILLINGNESS TO DO WHATEVER IT LEADS US TO DO 0S -ATT (EB !NOTHER WAY WE CAN BE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING 'OD S WILL AND NOT OUR OWN IS IF WE ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP THE VERY THINGS WE LONG FOR THE MOST IN ORDER TO PUT 'OD S WILL lRST /NLY AS WE SURRENDER OUR DECISIONS AND THEIR OUTCOMES TO (IM WILL WE BE CERTAIN OF (IS GUIDANCE 'OD LONGS TO GUIDE US !S WE FOLLOW THESE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF GUIDANCE WE WILL MAKE GOOD DECISIONS TO THE GLORY OF (IS NAME AND OUR LIVES WILL BE BLESSED
7HAT DOES THE "IBLE SAY ABOUT OVERCOMING ADDICTIONS 7E WILL ADDRESS THAT TOPIC IN NEXT MONTH S "IBLE STUDY
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
,%44%23 3PREADING THE 'OSPEL
) READ THE *ULY ISSUE WITH THE COVER STORY h! $ANIEL IN -OSCOW v AND ) AM HAPPY ABOUT THE WAY THE GOSPEL IS BEING SPREAD TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD ) DON T RECEIVE THE MAGAZINE EVERY MONTHˆ) WANT TO BE A RECIPIENT OF YOUR !DVENTIST 7ORLD MAGAZINE % MMANUEL $UAH 7ORCESTER -ASSACHUSETTS 5NITED 3TATES
)T IS GOOD TO
PRACTICE LOVE IN THE CHURCH SO THAT THE WORLD WILL LEARN SOMETHING FROM US ˆ - AQHAWE ,UNGA -KOBA 'WERU :IMBABWE
$EAD 0REACHERS
4HE 0OWER OF ,OVE
) AM WRITING IN REGARD TO THE DIRE h1UOTE OF THE -ONTHv IN 4HE 0EOPLE S 0LACE OF THE !PRIL !DVENTIST 7ORLD REGARDING hDEAD PREACHERS PREACHING DEAD SERMONS v 7HETHER AT A LITERAL SYMBOLIC OR CONTEXTUAL LEVEL "ARAKA -UGANDA OWES MANY A PREACHER AN EXPLANATION "Y WHAT AUTHORITY OR MANDATE DID HE BREATHE OUT SUCH AN UTTERANCE 7AZALABANA -AATE -ISAKI 5GANDA
) JUST READ THE ARTICLE h4HE 0OWER OF ,OVEv BY %LLEN ' 7HITE FROM THE .OVEMBER !DVENTIST 7ORLD AND WAS DEEPLY TOUCHED BY IT )T IS WONDERFUL TO KNOW HOW LOVE WORKS AND THE FRUITS IT PRODUCES .OW MY CONCERN IS FOR THE CHURCH !LTHOUGH LOVE IS PREACHED ABOUT ALMOST EVERY DAY ) STILL CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE IN THE CHURCHES ) AM FAMILIAR WITH DO NOT SHOW LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER ) WISH SOMETHING COULD BE DONE SO PEOPLE WILL START TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER )T IS GOOD TO PRACTICE LOVE IN THE CHURCH SO THAT THE WORLD WILL LEARN SOMETHING FROM US -AQHAWE ,UNGA -KOBA 'WERU :IMBABWE
!N %NCOUNTER 7ITH 'OD
) AM A REGULAR READER OF YOUR PUBLICATION BUT THE MAIN REASON FOR MY LETTER IS THAT ) WAS GREATLY MOVED WHEN ) READ HOW $ENNIS 9OSHIOKA HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH 'OD SEE h4HE 'OSPEL !CCORDING TO 0ETER v !PRIL !DVENTIST 7ORLD (E INSPIRED ME (IS TESTIMONY STRENGTHENED MY FAITH IN 'OD AND RICHLY BLESSED MY LIFE ) AM A YOUNG PASTOR SERVING 'OD ;THROUGH WORK WITH= "IBLE 0ROOF -INISTRIES IN +AMPALA 5GANDA 3TEPHEN +AKAIRE +AMPALA 5GANDA
"LESSED AND 5PLIFTED
) AM WRITING TO GIVE MY SINCERE GRATITUDE IN REGARD TO THE GOOD JOB YOU ARE DOING WITH !DVENTIST 7ORLD 9OUR MAGAZINE HAS UPLIFTED MY SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL WELL BEING -AY THE GOOD ,ORD BLESS THE ENTIRE CREW BEHIND THE PUBLISHING OF THIS GREAT MAGAZINE 4OTONGA -ARANGARIRE :IMBABWE 4HANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD ) M REALLY BLESSED BY THE MAGAZINE +EEP UP THE GOOD WORK OF SPREADING THE LOVELY MESSAGE OF 'OD !RNOLD .YAMANDE :IMBABWE
,ETTERS 0OLICY 0LEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO LETTERS ADVENTISTWORLD ORG ,ETTERS MUST BE CLEARLY WRITTEN AND TO THE POINT WORD MAXIMUM "E SURE TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE ARTICLE THE DATE OF PUBLICATION AND PAGE NUMBER WITH YOUR LETTER !LSO INCLUDE YOUR NAME THE TOWN CITY STATE AND COUNTRY FROM WHICH YOU ARE WRITING ,ETTERS WILL BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY .OT ALL LETTERS SUBMITTED WILL BE PUBLISHED
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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4EACH 5S ! READER SHARES SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR
(EAVENLY &ATHER HERE ) STAND BEFORE 9OUR FACE WITH AN IMPURE HEARTˆAND HEAVY LADEN ) LOOK LIKE A PELICAN IN A DESERT ) DO NOT KNOW 9OUR PATH OF PEACE
AND MY DEEDS TELL 9OU ABOUT MY INCREDULITY AND MY GUILT $O NOT CAST ME AWAY FROM 9OUR FACE
OR DEAL WITH ME ACCORDING TO MY SINS 'RANT ME REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS / ,ORD HEAR MY CRIES AND HEAL MY PAIN
MOLD ME TO THE KIND OF PERSON 9OU WOULD LIKE ME TO BE x 4EACH US 9OUR LAW AND COMMANDMENTS
SO THAT WE CAN BE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WHO OFFEND THE WRETCHED AND THE NEEDY 4HEY TWIST 9OUR 7ORD AND GRIEVE 9OUR 3PIRIT
IGNORING THE WAY THAT LEADS TO (OLY 3OURCES 4EACH US 9OUR LOVE
SO WE MAY BRING HOPE AND COMFORT TO THE POOR AND WEAKEST ONES 4EACH US HOW TO CONSIDER
WHEN NOT BEING CONSIDERED TEACH US HOW TO GIVE
AND RECEIVE NOTHING IN RETURN 4EACH US HOW TO DISCERN GOOD AND EVIL
IN A WORLD FULL OF HATRED AND TRICKERY AND TO PREACH 9OUR 7ORD AND 3ECOND #OMING IN THE MIDST OF PERSECUTIONS 4HROUGH 9OUR (OLY 3PIRIT TEACH US ALL THAT
6 ) 6 % + # ( 5 ' (
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
/ ,ORD TEACH US 9OUR WAYSˆ 9OUR WAYS AND ALL THE WONDERS OF 9OUR ,AW
AND WE WILL BE THERE LISTENING
QUIET AND STILL
UNTIL 9OU COME AND TAKE US HOME ˆ"Y &ELICIEN %KOUME MEMBER OF THE #ROYDON 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN ,ONDON %NGLAND
4 ( % 0 , ! # % / & 0 2 !9 % 2
) STRAYED AWAY FROM 'OD AND HAVE BEEN USED BY 3ATAN FOR MANY YEARS ) WANT NOW A TOTAL CHANGE AND HEALING IN MY LIFE SO THAT ) MAY BECOME READY TO MEET OUR ,ORD $ENG 3UDAN
-Y MOTHER IS IN A COMA IN %NGLAND 0LEASE PRAY THAT SHE GETS HEALING FROM 'OD #AROL 5NITED 3TATES
0RAY FOR SOLDIERS BOTH !DVENTIST AND NON !DVENTIST TO GET STRENGTH TO DO 'OD S WILL WHILE ON THEIR DAILY ENDEAVORS !LSO PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY SO WE CONTINUE DOING (IS WORK ACCORDING TO (IS WILL *OVEN +ENYA
) AM ON THE POINT OF REMARRYING BUT THIS MAN IS NOT OF THE SAME FAITH AS ME 0RAY THAT 'OD SHOWS ME WHAT IS BEST FOR MY CHILDREN AND ME 4HANK YOU -ARIE -ARTINIQUE
4HROUGH 'OD S MERCIES (E ANSWERED OUR PRAYER REQUEST OF MORE THAN A YEAR AGO 4HANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRAYING FOR US 0LEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US EVEN THOUGH WE WON IN THE COURT OF APPEALS WE STILL NEED MONEY TO PROCESS PAPERWORK AND WE NEED FOR THINGS TO TRANSPIRE PEACEFULLY AND QUICKLY SO WE MAY AUGMENT OUR POOR LIFE 4HANK YOU .AOMI 0HILIPPINES
h"EHOLD ) COME QUICKLYxv
/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 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE .ORTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS§ IS THE PUBLISHER %XECUTIVE 0UBLISHER "ILL +NOTT !SSOCIATE 0UBLISHER #LAUDE 2ICHLI )NTERNATIONAL 0UBLISHING -ANAGER #HUN 0YUNG $UK 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 !LBERTO # 'ULFAN *R %RTON +šHLER *AIRYONG ,EE )SRAEL ,EITO 'EOFFREY ' -BWANA *OHN 2ATHINARAJ 0AUL 3 2ATSARA "ARRY /LIVER $ON # 3CHNEIDER !RTUR ! 3TELE "RUNO 6ERTALLIER 'ILBERT 7ARI "ERTIL ! 7IKLANDER 4O 7RITERS 7E WELCOME UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS !DDRESS ALL EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE 3ILVER 3PRING -$ 5 3 ! %DITORIAL OFlCE FAX NUMBER
) RECENTLY MOVED TO 0ARIS AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS -Y SPIRITUAL LIFE IS NOT GOODˆ) AM ANGRY AT 'OD AND HAVE INSULTED (IM 0LEASE HELP BY PRAYING FOR ME &ABIEN &RANCE
% MAIL )NTERNET WORLDEDITOR GC ADVENTIST ORG 7EB SITE WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG
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 ED ITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY %VEN THOUGH WE WILL PRAY FOR EACH ENTRY DURING OUR WEEKLY STAFF MEETINGS NOT ALL SUBMIS SIONS 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 !
!DVENTIST 7ORLD IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AND PRINTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN +OREA "RAZIL )NDONESIA !USTRALIA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES
5NLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED ALL "IBLE REFERENCES ARE TAKEN FROM THE .EW +ING *AMES 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT Ú BY 4HOMAS .ELSON )NC 5SED BY PERMISSION !LL RIGHTS RESERVED 4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT Ú )NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS
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&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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0LEASE SEND YOUR SUBMISSIONS TO 4HE 0EOPLE S 0LACE !DVENTIST 7ORLD /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE 3ILVER 3PRING -$ 5NITED 3TATES FAX E MAIL MARANK GC ADVENTIST ORG 0LEASE INCLUDE PHONE NUMBER 3UBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACKNOWLEDGED OR RETURNED ! $6 %. 4) 3 4 ,) &% /NE DAY WHEN MY TWIN GRANDDAUGHTERS WERE ABOUT THEY WERE VISITING ME 7E WERE HAVING LUNCH AT OUR OLD PICNIC TABLE ON THE DECK /NE TWIN .ATASHA HAD JUST SUFFERED THE INDIGNITY OF HAVING A SLIVER REMOVED FROM HER POSTERIOR 7HILE EATING WE WERE TALKING OF HOW WONDERFUL THINGS WILL BE IN HEAVEN ) TOLD THEM THAT THE STREETS WILL BE PAVED WITH GOLD .ATASHA SPOKE UP AND SAID SHE D LIKE HER BENCH TO BE MADE OF GOLD TOO 7HEN ) ASKED WHY SHE SAID h3O ) WON T GET ANY MORE SLIVERS v ˆ*OYCE 3CHNELL 3ANDY /REGON 5NITED 3TATES
! .37 %2 )N THE 0HILIPPINES TWO !DVENTIST WOMEN POSE NEXT TO A DURIAN TREE $URIAN IS CONSIDERED BY !SIANS THE hKING OF ALL TROPICAL FRUIT v /NE FRUIT CAN WEIGH UP TO POUNDS 4HE DURIAN IS HIGH IN PROTEINS MINERALS AND FATS AND IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE FRUITS
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- % % 4 9 /5 2 . % ) ' ( " / 2 ) AM !SHLEY #HIZA -WENDA ) AM AN !DVEN TIST YOUTH AND ) WORSHIP AT ,USAKA #ENTRAL 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN :AMBIA -Y FRIEND +A LINDA AND ) ARE INVOLVED IN MISSIONARY WORK 4HIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE BAPTISM AT #HILONGOLO CHURCH AN AREA WHERE WE CONDUCTED A TWO WEEK EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN ! 3 ( ,
- 7 % . $ ! ! ):
ˆ#HIDI^%ZEAMA 5CHENNA DURING UNIVERSITY EXAMS WHILE FASTING AND PRAYING IN THE #HAPEL OF !DVENTIST 3TUDENTS &ELLOWSHIP 5MUDIKE .IGERIA
3(!2 % 7) 4( 53 7E ARE LOOKING FOR BRIEF SUBMISSIONS IN THESE CATEGORIES !$6%.4)34 15/4%3 PROFOUND OR SPONTANEOUS !$6%.4)34 ,)&% SHORT ANECDOTES ESPECIALLY FROM THE WORLD OF ADULTS 7(%2% ). 4(% 7/2,$ HIGH QUALITY PHOTOS OF MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
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