4HE )NTERNATIONAL 0APER FOR 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS
$ E C E M B E R
O )S .OT
%NOUGH !DVENTIST 7ORLD ! DVENTIST ORLD 2ADIO IS JJUST GETTING SSTARTED 2ADIO IS JUST GETTING STARTED
30%#)!, &%!452%
THE (ELPLESS (ELPING
3EE PAGE
$ EC E MB E R # ( 5 2 # ( 7 / 2 + 3
7ORLD 6IEW 7ORLD 2EPORT .EWS 6IEWS
7ORLD 6ISTA & IVE 4HINGS 7E #AN T !FFORD TO )GNORE
7INDOW )NTO #OSTA 2ICA # / 6 % 2 3 4 / 2 9
)S .OT %NOUGH !DVENTIST 7ORLD EDITOR "ILL +NOTT INTERVIEWS "EN 3CHOUN PRESIDENT OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD 2ADIO ABOUT A MINISTRY THAT CANNOT BE CONTAINED BY WALLS OR BORDERS
" ) " , % 1 5 % 3 4 ) / . 3
4O %AT OR .OT TO %AT "Y !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ
3 0 % # ) ! , & % !4 5 2 %
(ELPING THE (ELPLESS "Y 3ANDRA "LACKMER 0ROlLING THE GENEROSITY OF FELLOW BELIEVERS $ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,
7HAT (AVE 7E $ONE "Y 4HURMAN # 0ETTY *R (ONORING THE /NE WHO TOOK OUR SINS AND GAVE US (IS LIFE
" ) " , % 3 4 5 $ 9
2EVELATION S 3EAL OF 'OD "Y -ARK ! &INLEY
& 5 . $ ! - % . 4 ! , " % , ) % & 3
0ERFECTION "Y 2OBERT * 2OSS 3HOULD IT BE VIEWED AS A TAUNT OR A CHALLENGE 3 0 ) 2 ) 4 / & 0 2 / 0 ( % # 9
#REATIVITY 4ACT AND &AITHFULNESS
"Y %LLEN ' 7HITE /NE APPROACH WILL NEVER REACH EVERYONE ! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 3 % 2 6 ) # %
! 4EAM %FFORT %ACH MONTH A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WITH A HUGE SUPPORT STAFF PRESENTS THE MAGAZINE YOU HOLD IN YOUR HANDS
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
7 / 2 , $ % 8 # ( ! . ' %
,ETTERS 4HE 0LACE OF 0RAYER %XCHANGE OF )DEAS
4HE 0EOPLE S 0LACE
7/2,$ 6)%7 /PENHEARTED ,ISTENING h"ELIEVE NOTHING OF WHAT YOU HEAR AND ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE v HE CAUTIONARY FOLK WISDOM POWERFULLY REMINDS US OF JUST HOW MUCH DECEPTION THERE IS IN OUR WORLD 7E LISTEN TO THE DAILY NEWS ASSUMING WE ARE BEING TOLD hTHE FACTS v ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE FACTS HAVE SOMETIMES BEEN REARRANGED TO PROMOTE A POLITICAL AGENDA 7E HOLD OUR HEARTS IN CHECK NOT CERTAIN WE SHOULD BELIEVE EVEN PROMISING REPORTS FOR FEAR THAT WE MIGHT AGAIN BE DISAPPOINTED 7E LEARN TO DISCOUNT MANY THINGS AS GOSSIP UNWORTHY OF OUR TIME AND TRUST 7E DO NOT WANT TO BE NAÆVE "UT THEN WE HEAR THE 3CRIPTURES CALLING US TO A KIND OF TRUST WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY OF FAITH THAT AT lRST SEEMS HARD TO DO h,ET THE ELDERS WHO RULE WELL BE COUNTED WORTHY OF DOUBLE HONOR ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LABOR IN THE WORD AND DOCTRINEv 4IM 4HE hDOUBLE HONORv 0AUL INVITES US TO BESTOW ON THOSE WHO MINISTER THE 7ORD TO US BEGINS WITH PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THEM AS THEY WORK WITHIN THEIR 'OD APPOINTED ROLE OF OPENING THE 3CRIPTURES 4HEY MAY KNOW LITTLE OR NOTHING ABOUT THE TASKS
4
ON WHICH WE SPEND OUR LIVESˆFARMING MANUFACTURING lSHING OR EDITINGˆAND ON THOSE TOPICS THEY HAVE NO SPECIAL AUTHORITY "UT OUR FAITH REMINDS US THAT IF THEY ARE OPENING 'OD S 7ORD WITH INTEGRITY AND HUMBLE HEARTS THEIR WORDS TO USˆFROM THE PULPIT IN THE CLASSROOM IN THE "IBLE STUDYˆMAY BE TRUSTED LIKE FEW OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION IN OUR WORLD 3O ) LISTEN TO MY PASTOR S SERMON IN A MANNER DIFFERENT FROM HOW ) LISTEN TO THE NEWS OR A POLITICAL LEADER OR EVEN TO A SCHOLAR ) PRAY EACH 3ABBATH FOR THE GRACE TO SET ASIDE THE DISTRUST ) HAVE LEARNED IN A DECEPTIVE WORLD AND INSTEAD TO LISTEN WITH A KIND OF OPENHEARTEDNESS THAT WILL ALLOW HIS WORDS ABOUT THE 7ORD TO SETTLE DEEPLY IN MY LIFE WHERE THEY MAY CALL ME TO REPENTANCE AND RENEWAL 4HE DOUBLE HONOR ) SHOULD SHOW IS KNOWN IN LISTENING CLOSELY EXPECTANTLY FOR WHAT 'OD MAY SAY TO ME THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF A DEDICATED SERVANT 0RAY FOR THE ONES WHO HANDLE 'OD S 7ORD ON YOUR BEHALFˆFOR THEIR SURRENDER TO THE TRUTH THEY PREACH AND FOR THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN BRINGING IT HOME TO YOU
ˆ "ILL +NOTT
!DVENTISTS !DD -ILLION .EW -EMBERS !GAIN )NCREASE MARKS SIXTH YEAR OF SEVEN lGURE CHURCH GROWTH
N -ORE THAN MILLION PEOPLE JOINED THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH DURING THE YEAR ENDING *UNE MARKING THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF MILLION MEMBER GAINS CHURCH OFlCIALS SAID #HURCH LEADERS SAID AN AVERAGE OF PEOPLE JOINED THE CHURCH DAILY BRINGING THE WORLD MEMBERSHIP TOTAL TO BAPTIZED BELIEVERS #HURCH LEADERS INITIALLY PROJECTED A WORLD CHURCH MEMBERSHIP OF MILLION BY (OWEVER PARTIALLY
BECAUSE OF CORRECTED MEMBERSHIP REPORTS FROM SEVERAL CHURCH REGIONS THE MEMBERSHIP TOTAL STAYED AROUND MILLION WORLD CHURCH SECRETARY -ATTHEW "EDIAKO SAID "EDIAKO SAID A RECENTLY COMPLETED AUDIT IN THE 3OUTH !MERICAN $IVISION RESULTED IN A DECREASE OF MORE THAN MEMBERS $URING HIS REPORT "EDIAKO ENCOURAGED THE TWO OR THREE DIVISIONS THAT HAVE YET TO DO AUDITS TO hGATHER COURAGE AND DO IT v h) KNOW SOMETHING GOOD WILL COME OUT WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THE MEMBERSHIP ;TOTAL= ON YOUR RECORD IS ACCURATE v HE SAID "ERT (ALOVIAK DIRECTOR FOR THE
2 ! * - 5 . $ $ ! " 2 / 7 3 + ) ! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 . % 7 3 . % 4 7 / 2 +
7/2,$ 2%0/24
#/5.4).' -%-"%23 !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH SECRETARY -ATTHEW "EDIAKO FRONT AND "ERT (ALOVIAK DIRECTOR OF THE CHURCH S /FlCE OF !RCHIVES AND 3TATISTICS GIVE A REPORT ON CHURCH MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS FOR THROUGH DURING THE CHURCH S AN NUAL YEAR END BUSINESS MEETING /CTOBER
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
7/2,$ 2%0/24 CHURCH S /FlCE OF !RCHIVES AND 3TATISTICS SAID AN AUDIT IS SOMETIMES FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF QUICK GROWTH (ALOVIAK CITED MEMBERSHIP GROWTH IN THE 3OUTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION WHICH INCREASED MORE THAN PERCENT DURING THE PAST FOUR QUARTERS 4HAT REGION UNDERWENT MEMBERSHIP AUDITS FROM TO AND HAS SINCE INCREASED ITS MEMBERSHIP MORE THAN AT ANY TIME DURING ITS HISTORY (ALOVIAK SAID 7HILE 3OUTH !MERICA REPORTED SIGNIlCANT LOSSES ON ACCOUNT OF MEM BERSHIP AUDITS THE REGION ALSO RECORDED TOTAL ACCESSIONS OF MORE THAN REPORTED "OLIVAR !LANA SECRETARY FOR THE CHURCH IN 3OUTH !MERICA "EDIAKO AND (ALOVIAK PRESENTED THEIR lNDINGS DURING A REPORT TO THE WORLD CHURCH S !NNUAL #OUNCIL BUSINESS SESSION IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 5NITED 3TATES ON /CTOBER #HURCH GROWTH PATTERNS INDICATE MOST CHURCH GROWTH TOOK PLACE IN NON 7ESTERN SOCIETIES !BOUT PERCENT OF CHURCH GROWTH OCCURRED IN lVE OF THE CHURCH S WORLD REGIONSˆ 3OUTH !MERICA )NTER !MERICA %AST #ENTRAL !FRICA 3OUTHERN !FRICA )NDIAN /CEAN AND 3OUTHERN !SIA ˆ2EPORTED BY -EGAN "RAUNER !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK
#/5.4).' #!3( !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH TREASURER 2OBERT % ,EMON DELIVERS THE CHURCH S lNANCIAL REPORT TO DELEGATES GATHERED AT CHURCH HEADQUARTERS FOR ANNUAL AUTUMN BUSINESS MEETINGS ON /CTOBER 2 ! * - 5 . $ $ ! " 2 / 7 3 + ) ! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 . % 7 3 . % 4 7 / 2 +
TREASURER 2OBERT % ,EMON TOLD !NNUAL #OUNCIL DELEGATES ON /CTOBER -ISSION OFFERINGS HAVE HELD STEADY SINCE DROPPING EARLY IN THE YEAR BUT TITHE RETURNS FROM .ORTH !MERICAˆ WHICH ACCOUNT FOR PERCENT OF THE WORLD CHURCH S BUDGETˆCONTINUE TO DECREASE REmECTING RISING UNEMPLOYMENT lGURES "ECAUSE CHURCH lNANCIAL OFlCERS ARE UNCERTAIN WHEN TITHES AND OFFERING RATES MIGHT RISE IN 5NITED 3TATES DOLLAR TERMS THE BUDGET DELEGATES APPROVED FOR DOES NOT FACTOR IN ASSUMED INCREASES IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS #ONSERVATIVE )NVESTING (ELPS AS IS TYPICALLY THE CASE ,EMON TOLD !DVENTISTS 7EATHER $OWNTURN DELEGATES )T REmECTS A 53 MILLION 4REASURER 3AYS N 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH DECREASE IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS WHEN COMPARED TO THE BUDGET HE SAID lNANCIAL LEADERS WILL CONTINUE WHAT #HURCH OFlCERS ALSO VOTED TO THEY CALL A CAUTIOUS AND CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO MANAGING CHURCH FUNDS IN USE MILLION FROM THE CHURCH S WORKING CAPITAL TO BALANCE THE THE WAKE OF THE GLOBAL RECESSION 7HILE A MARKET RECOVERY BEGINNING APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET 4ITHE TO THE WORLD CHURCH S IN -ARCH AND SOME ECONOMIC INDICATORS SUGGEST THE lNANCIAL SYSTEM HEADQUARTERS FOR WHEN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR DROPPED IS lNALLY TRENDING UPWARD THE CHURCH PERCENT OR MILLION FOR .ORTH SHOULD NOT BASE ITS BUDGET ON THE !MERICA AND PERCENT OR ASSUMPTION THAT THE PATTERN WILL CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED WORLD CHURCH MILLION FOR THE CHURCH S OTHER
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
WORLD REGIONS AS OF !UGUST AND *ULY RESPECTIVELY ,EMON REPORTED 4ITHES AND OFFERING RATES ARE ACTUALLY UP IN MOST OF THE CHURCH S OTHER REGIONS IN LOCAL CURRENCIES BUT WHEN CONVERTED TO A STRONGER 5NITED 3TATES DOLLAR THEY SHOW A DECREASE HE ADDED 3IMILARLY MISSION OFFERINGS FOR .ORTH !MERICA ARE DOWN BY PERCENT OR WITH OTHER CHURCH REGIONS REmECTING A MILLION OR PERCENT DECREASE -UCH OF THE /CTOBER lNANCIAL REPORT FOCUSED ON HOW THE CHURCH S INVESTMENTSˆBOTH IN EQUITY MARKETS AND IN LESS VOLATILE lXED INCOME HOLDINGSˆFARED DURING THE RECENT GLOBAL DOWNTURN -OST OF THE WORLD CHURCH HEADQUARTERS INVESTMENTS SUSTAINED THE GLOBAL lNANCIAL DOWNTURN hFAIRLY WELL v ,EMON SAID &OR THE PERIOD OF *ANUARY THROUGH !UGUST OF CHURCH HEADQUARTERS EARNED A NET RETURN OF MILLION ON ITS APPROXIMATELY MILLION IN INVESTMENTS (AD ALL THE CHURCH HEADQUARTERS OWNED FUNDS BEEN PLACED IN A SAVINGS ACCOUNT EARNING THE TYPICAL INTEREST
THE WORLD CHURCH HEADQUARTERS THAT WILL HOUSE A STUDIO AND OFlCE AND STORAGE SPACE FOR THE CHURCH S OFlCIAL TELEVISION NETWORK (OPE #HANNEL /F THE MILLION BUDGETED FOR THE PROJECT MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT TO COMPLETE PERCENT OF THE PROJECT ,EADERS SAID THEY EXPECT PRODUCTION IN THE NEW BUILDING TO BEGIN IN *ANUARY !LSO ON /CTOBER DELEGATES REVIEWED CHURCH APPROPRIATIONS AGREEING TO DISTRIBUTE MORE FUNDS DURING THE NEXT lVE YEARS TO UNENTERED AREAS AND CHURCH INSTITUTIONS THAT SUPPORT OUTREACH $ELEGATES ALSO ADDED TO THE BUDGET SEVERAL INCREASES IN APPROPRIATIONS FOR VARIOUS CHURCH ENTITIES AND INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD $ELEGATES AGREED TO USE TO HELP lNANCE 'LOBAL -ISSION EMPLOYEES SALARIES 4HEY ALSO VOTED TO APPROVE A ONE TIME APPROPRIATION OF TO AID THE !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY OF !FRICA IN MEETING REQUIREMENTS FOR ITS CHARTER
2ESPONDING TO THE REPORT DELEGATES SEEMED TO ECHO ,EMON AND OTHER CHURCH lNANCIAL OFlCERS ATTITUDE OF CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ˆ2EPORTED BY %LIZABETH ,ECHLEITNER !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK 3ESSION 4HEME 3ONG /FFERING .EW 3TUDY "IBLE !RE 0RESENTED N #HURCH UNITY AND COMMITMENT TO OUTREACH WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN DECISIONS ON A THEME SONG AND OFFERING FOR S 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH LEADERS SAID -EETING AT CHURCH HEADQUARTERS FOR ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETINGS DELEGATES MOVED TO ACCEPT A NEW THEME SONG FOR NEXT SUMMER S 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION 4ITLED h0ROCLAIM (IS 'RACEv AND COMPOSED BY "RUCE !SHTON THE SONG DOVETAILS WITH THE SESSION THEME h0ROCLAIMING 'OD S 'RACE v h-USIC IS AN INSTRUMENT OF UNITY v SAID 7ILLIAMS #OSTA *R A MEMBER OF THE MUSIC COMMITTEE AND AN ASSOCIATE
2 ! * - 5 . $ $ ! " 2 / 7 3 + ) ! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 . % 7 3 . % 4 7 / 2 +
RATE OF ONE HALF OF A PERCENT DURING THE SAME PERIOD RATHER THAN INVESTED IN THE MARKET hWE WOULD BE AT THE SAME PLACE AS WE ARE NOW v ,EMON SAID "Y TRANSFERRING MORE OF ITS INVESTMENTS TO lXED INCOME HOLDINGS THE CHURCH REDUCED ITS EXPOSURE TO DRASTIC MARKET mUCTUATIONS SAID ASSOCIATE TREASURER 2OY % 2YAN %VEN IF IT MEANS EARNING LESS INTEREST THE CHURCH S IMMEDIATE GOAL IS TO PROTECT ITS CAPITAL HE SAID 7HILE CURRENT MARKET INDICATORS ARE ENCOURAGING THE CHURCH SHOULD STILL EXERCISE CAUTION IN BUDGETING AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS ,EMON SAID )F INTEREST RATESˆCURRENTLY AT HISTORIC LOWSˆINCREASE THE CHURCH SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE SHORT TERM NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE VALUE OF ITS lXED INCOME INVESTMENTS HE EXPLAINED $ESPITE THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION THE WORLD CHURCH S HEADQUARTERS IS OPERATING AT MILLION BELOW ITS MILLION BUDGET DUE TO CONTINUED CUTBACKS INCLUDING WAGE AND HIRING FREEZES AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ,EMON SAID 3UCH hJUDICIALv USE OF FUNDS POSITIONS THE CHURCH TO MAINTAIN ITS APPROPRIATIONS TO WORLD REGIONS AND AVOID LAYOFFS EVEN AMID A hTURBULENTv ECONOMY HE SAID $URING THE lNANCIAL REPORT DELEGATES ALSO HEARD AN UPDATE ON THE SO CALLED hEXTRAORDINARY TITHE v A ONE TIME DONATION OF ABOUT MILLION TO THE !DVENTIST #HURCH TWO YEARS AGO )NVESTMENT ACTIVITY DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS ADDED ALMOST MILLION TO THE PRINCIPAL lNANCIAL OFlCERS SAID /F THE ALMOST MILLION ALLOCATED LESS THAN HALF IS DISTRIBUTED SAID CHURCH UNDERTREASURER *UAN 0RESTOL STRESSING THAT THE CHURCH IS APPLYING THE FUNDS hCAUTIOUSLY v ,EADERS SAID MILLION IS RESERVED FOR FUTURE ALLOCATIONS 7ORLD CHURCH ASSOCIATE TREASURER 'EORGE %GWAKHE UPDATED DELEGATES ON PROGRESS MADE ON A NEW EXTENSION TO
#/5.4).' ./4%3 !NNUAL #OUNCIL DELEGATES WERE AMONG THE lRST TO HEAR THE THEME SONG CHOSEN FOR NEXT SUMMER S 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
7/2,$ 2%0/24 #ONTINUED FROM PAGE
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION FOR THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS h)T S A WAY TO HAVE EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE PRAISING 'OD v $ELEGATES ALSO VOTED ON AN OFFERING FOR NEXT YEAR S SESSION 4O BE COLLECTED IN !DVENTIST CHURCHES WORLDWIDE ON *ANUARY AND -AY THE OFFERING WILL FUND EDUCATION MEDIA AND LITERATURE OUTREACH IN A REGION HISTORICALLY KNOWN AS THE 3ILK 2OAD "ECAUSE TRADITIONAL EVANGELISM IS DIFlCULT IN THE REGIONˆWHICH INCLUDES #HINA #ENTRAL !SIA AND THE -IDDLE %ASTˆTHE OFFERING WILL HELP SUPPORT 'LOBAL -ISSION PIONEERS FAMILY AND HEALTH MINISTRIES AND HUMANITARIAN OUTREACH $ECISIONS ABOUT THE SESSION WERE AMONG A VARIETY OF AGENDA ITEMS VOTED DURING !NNUAL #OUNCIL $ELEGATES ALSO ACCEPTED REWORDING OF THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH TO BETTER FOCUS ON THE DISCIPLESHIP OF MEMBERS 4HEY ADDED THE PHRASE hMAKE DISCI PLES OF ALL PEOPLEv AND INSTRUCTION ON hDISCIPLING v OR hAFlRMING THE CONTIN UED SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL MEMBERS v TO THE STATEMENT !LSO ON THE DOCKET WAS A PRESENTATION ON THE FORTHCOMING !NDREWS 3TUDY "IBLE WHICH DELEGATES MOVED TO ACCEPT 0UBLISHED AT !NDREWS 5NIVERSITY 0RESS THE "IBLE IS DESIGNED TO hENRICH THE SERIOUS THOUGHTFUL STUDYv OF 3CRIPTURE SAID .IELS %RIK !NDREASEN PRESIDENT OF !DVENTIST OWNED !NDREWS 5NIVERSITY !N INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST "IBLE SCHOLARS WORKED TO MAKE THE STUDY "IBLE hACADEMICALLY CREDIBLE THEOLOGICALLY SOUND AND PRAC TICALLY USEFUL v !NDREASEN TOLD DELEGATES %XPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR THE !NDREWS 3TUDY "IBLE WILL INCLUDE A REFERENCE SYSTEM LINKING MANY OF THE "IBLE S THEMES SUCH AS 3ABBATH OBSERVANCE AND THE 3ECOND #OMING
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
/NE $AY #HURCH 0RODUCTION
-EET $EMAND 2ISES TO
2EQUESTS FOR MORE "Y %LIZABETH ,ECHLEITNER !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK
0 ( / 4 / 3 " 9 $ ) # + $ 5 % 2 + 3 % . - ! 2 ! . !4 ( ! 6 / , 5 . 4 % % 2 3 ) . 4 % 2 . !4 ) / . ! ,
4
HE PRODUCTION OF CHURCH ASSEMBLY KITS IS ACCELERATING TO HELP CHURCH INFRASTRUCTURE MATCH MEMBERSHIP IN REGIONS WITH SOARING CHURCH GROWTH A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST BUSINESSMAN TOLD !NNUAL #OUNCIL DELEGATES DURING THEIR /CTOBER MEETING IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 5NITED 3TATES 4HE /NE $AY #HURCH INITIATIVE IS ONE OF THE TOOLS -ARANATHA AIMS TO TACKLE THE MORE THAN PENDING REQUESTS FOR PERMANENT CHURCH STRUCTURES AROUND THE WORLD SAID 'ARWIN -C.EILUS WHO HELPED DEVELOP THE CONCEPT ! JOINT VENTURE OF !DVENTIST ,AYMEN S 3ERVICES AND )NDUSTRIES AND -ARANATHA 6OLUNTEERS )NTERNATIONAL SUPPORTING MINISTRIES OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH THE /NE $AY #HURCH PROJECT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANUFACTURING SOME CHURCH KITS AND SHIPPING WELL
OVER TO LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE SINCE ITS LAUNCH LAST YEAR SAID -ARANATHA PRESIDENT $ON .OBLE "UT WITH NEW !DVENTIST CONGREGATIONS FORMED EACH YEAR ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH S /FlCE OF !DVENTIST -ISSION -C.EILUS AND HIS PRODUCTION TEAM ARE STEPPING UP OUTPUT 4HE RECENT PURCHASE OF A STEEL BENDING MACHINE ALLOWS THE TEAM TO COMPLETE MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES AS MANY CHURCH KITS PER DAY THAN PREVIOUSLY POSSIBLE 4HE FORM ROLLERˆACQUIRED AT A FRACTION OF ITS WORTH AT ˆCAN BEND PIECES OF STEEL AT FEET PER MINUTE TO FORM BEAMS FOR THE STRUCTURES !S THE NAME SUGGESTS CHURCH KITSˆWHICH lT IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCKˆCAN BE CONSTRUCTED IN LESS THAN A DAY 4HE BASIC BUILDING IS EASILY ADJUSTED TO SUIT A VARIETY OF CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND THE GALVANIZED
THAN STRUCTURES ARE PENDING
,EFT !33%-",9 2%15)2%$ !N INTERIOR VIEW OF A CONTAINER HOLDING COMPONENTS FOR A /NE $AY #HURCH 4HIS CONTAINER ARRIVED AT A SITE NEAR ,IVINGSTONE :AMBIA )N !UGUST NEW 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS WERE BAPTIZED IN A SINGLE DAY THERE !BOVE #/-).' 4/'%4(%2 ! WORKER ASSEMBLES PART OF A /NE $AY #HURCH NEAR ,IVINGSTONE :AMBIA
STEEL FRAME WITHSTANDS TERMITES RUST HEAT AND #LASS HURRICANES CHURCH LEADERS SAID AT THE PROJECT S LAUNCH /NE $AY #HURCH KITS HAVE BEEN ADAPTED FOR USE AS SCHOOLS DORMITORIES AND HOUSING FOR FACULTY AND STAFF -C.EILUS SAID IN SOME CASES PROVIDING AN ENTIRE CAMPUS #ITING THE CHURCH S MEMBERSHIP GAINS OF MILLION THIS YEAR HE SAID SUCH VERSATILITY WOULD BE VITAL IN SUPPORTING EDUCATION FOR NEW MEMBERS CHILDREN h"UILDING THESE CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS IS AN ENDOWMENT FOR THE FUTURE v HE TOLD DELEGATES h7HEN ) LOOK AT ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS ) DON T SEE BRICKS AND MORTAR AND ) DON T SEE STEELˆ) SEE PEOPLE v 2EmECTING ON THE PROJECT S IMPACT 0AUL 3 2ATSARA PRESI DENT OF THE CHURCH S 3OUTHERN !FRICA )NDIAN /CEAN REGION CALLED IT A hGODSENDv FOR NEW MEMBERSHIP -OZAMBIQUE A COUNTRY WITHIN THE REGION HAS RECEIVED CHURCH KITS h/UR REGION IS GROWING SO FAST AND HOUSING NEW BELIEVERS HAS LONG BEEN A CHALLENGE v 2ATSARA SAID h4HE TIMING FOR THE /NE $AY #HURCH PROJECT WAS IDEAL FOR US v 3OME OF THE NEW /NE $AY #HURCHES WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN AND AROUND ,IVINGSTONE :AMBIA WHERE NEW MEMBERS WERE BAPTIZED IN A SINGLE DAY IN !UGUST !T ONE CHURCH SITE OUTSIDE THE CITY LAND HAS ALREADY BEEN GRADED FOR A NEW BUILDING THAT WILL REPLACE THE THATCHED ROOF OPEN SIDED STRUCTURE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED !CCORDING TO AN )NTERNET 7EB SITE WWW ONEDAYCHURCH ORG AN ESTIMATED 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CONGRE GATIONS WORLDWIDE LACK PERMANENT MEETING STRUCTURES 4HE 7EB SITE CONTAINS INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT AND A WAY TO MAKE ONLINE DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORT ˆ7ITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY !DVENTIST 7ORLD 3TAFF $ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
7 / 2 , $ 6 ) 3 4!
4
HE STATUS QUO CAN BE A WONDERFULLY COMFORTABLE hPLACEv TO OCCUPY )T HAS SECURITY OF ROUTINE THE SAFETY OF THE FAMILIAR THE EASE OF RECYCLED THINKING AND WELL WORN METHODS )N 3CRIPTURE THOUGH ) SEE A FAITH THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY AT ODDS WITH hWHAT IS v ) SEE MEN AND WOMEN DISSATISlED WITH THE FAMILIARˆPEOPLE WHO PUSHED INTO THE DEEP WATERS OF FAITH BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT CONTENT WITH WHAT WAS MERELY hROUTINE v ) SEE A 3AVIOR WHO CALLS US TO FAITHFULNESSˆA
4HINGS
)GN
7E #AN T !FFORD TO %MBRACING THE FUTURE MEANS EMBRACING THESE CHALLENGES
FAITHFULNESS THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TOWARD COMFORTABLE OR PREDICTABLE PATHS ! FEW THOUGHTS HAVE CRYSTALLIZED IN MY MIND IN RECENT WEEKS AS WE PREPARE TO LEAVE BEHIND AND STEP INTO A NEW YEAR )T S A LIST THAT S NATURALLY SUBJECTIVE AND BY NO MEANS DElNITIVE "UT IT REPRESENTS AREAS OF OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THAT IF LEFT UNTENDED WILL NATURALLY SUCCUMB TO THE PULL OF THE STATUS QUO 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS CAN T AFFORD TO IGNORE
!RE WE CONSCIOUSLY TAKING #HOICES
CHARGE OF THE CHOICES THAT SHAPE OUR DAILY LIVES $O WE HAVE A CLEAR SENSE OF OUR OWN VALUES $O WE LIVE
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
DELIBERATELY $O WE OWN OUR CHOICES %VERY DECISION WE MAKE CONTRIBUTES TO THE SHAPE OF OUR CHARACTER AND THE DIRECTION OF OUR LIVES )T S A PROCESS THAT HAPPENS SLOWLY INCREMENTALLY OFTEN UNCONSCIOUSLY "UT IT DOES HAPPEN 7E CAN T SIDESTEP OWNERSHIP OF OUR CHOICES )F WE TRY WE BEGIN TO lND OURSELVES AT THE MERCY OF CIR CUMSTANCES WE FEEL TRAPPED WE lND OTHER PEOPLE MAKING CHOICES ON OUR BEHALF )N THE SPIRITUAL REALM IT MAY LEAD TO UNHEALTHY DISCIPLESHIPˆWE BECOME DEPENDENT ON ANOTHER PERSON RATHER THAN OUR ,ORD TO DElNE OUR BELIEFS AND NURTURE OUR SPIRITUALITY 7HEN ) LOOK BACK AT MY OWN LIFE ) SEE CHOICES THAT WERE CERTAINLY FAR FROM PERFECTˆCHOICES THAT AT BEST WERE FOOLISH )T S A TRIBUTE TO 'OD S
PATIENCE AND COMPASSION THAT (E BROUGHT ME THROUGH IN SPITE OF MYSELF 7E DON T HAVE TO MAKE PERFECT CHOICES BUT WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY RE OURS TO MAKE 7E CAN T AFFORD TO IGNORE THE POWER OF OUR CHOICES
4HE #LOCK
4IME IS PASSING 7E ARE INEXORABLY MOVING TOWARD THE CLIMAX OF HISTORYˆTHE RETURN OF OUR ,ORD "UT TIME HAS A HABIT OF SLIPPING QUIETLY BY 7E BECOME DESENSITIZED 7E PACIFY OURSELVES WITH THE THOUGHT THAT hTHIS IS HOW IT S BEEN FOR EVER SO LONG TOMORROW WILL CONTINUE ON JUST AS TODAYv SEE 0ETER 7E SLIDE INTO COMPLACENCY h) M WELL INTENTIONED ) COME FROM A GOOD !DVENTIST HOME
MY CULTURE AND BEHAVIOR ARE THOSE OF A @GOOD !DVENTIST v 4HE STARK REALITY IS THIS IF WE AREN T SERIOUS ABOUT THE PASSING OF TIME IF THE SECOND COMING OF #HRIST ISN T A LIVING REALITY FOR US THEN WE LL FALL ASLEEP 7E LL SLIDE INTO A SPIRITUAL COMA $OES THIS MEAN WE HAVE TO LIVE IN A STATE OF ANXIETY OR PARANOIA .O )T SIMPLY MEANS BEING ALERT TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME AND THE CLOSENESS OF #HRIST S RETURN )T MEANS ALLOWING THIS REALITY TO SHAPE OUR DAILY CHOICESˆ LARGE AND SMALL 7E CAN T AFFORD TO IGNORE THE RAPIDLY CLOSING DOOR OF HISTORY
ORE "Y *AN 0AULSEN
3ELmESS 4HINKING
7E ARE A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERSˆNOT A LOOSE COLLECTION OF INDIVIDUALS OR CONGREGATIONS WHO EACH DO hWHAT SEEMS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES v 7E HOLD TOGETHER 7E SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER 7E GIVE PERSONNEL AND lNANCES TO ONE ANOTHER 7E PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER 7E DEFER TO ONE ANOTHER 7HEN ONE PART OF THE BODY STRUGGLES WITH A PROBLEM WE TALK IT OVER AS MEMBERS OF THE SAME FAMILY #OR "UT IF WE DON T DELIBERATELY CULTIVATE AN ATTITUDE OF hCONCERN FOR THE OTHER v WE LL DRIFT INSTEAD INTO hCONCERN FOR ME lRST v 7HETHER IT S INDIVIDUALS CONGREGATIONS OR CHURCH LEADERS SOME ARE MORE OPEN TO WHAT THEY CAN RECEIVE FROM THE LARGER CHURCH THAN WHAT THEY CAN GIVE BACK
4HERE ARE OTHERS WHO SAY h9OU HAVE NOTHING TO TEACH US v 7E CAN T AFFORD TO LET GO OF THE SACRED BONDS OF FAMILY 7E CAN T AFFORD TO GIVE UP OUR VISION FOR MISSION WHICH LOOKS TO THE WORLD BEYOND OUR OWN COMMUNITY 7E CAN T AFFORD TO IGNORE OUR IMMENSE NEED FOR ONE ANOTHER
! #ULTURE OF )NCLUSION
7E CAN T AFFORD TO WALK INTO THE FUTURE WITH SEGMENTS OF OUR FAITH COMMUNITYˆWHETHER YOUNG PEOPLE WOMEN CULTURAL OR ETHNIC GROUPSˆFEELING THAT THEY DON T HAVE A MEANINGFUL OR REPRESENTATIVE ROLE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH 7E NEED TO ATTEND TO THIS 7HY DOES THE REALITY OR EVEN THE IMPRESSION OF EXCLUSION EXIST !RE WE AFlRMING AND NURTURING THE GIFTS OF ALL OUR MEMBERS $O SOME LACK A PROPER REPRESENTATIVE ROLE BECAUSE SOMEWHERE IN THE ELECTION PROCESSES THEY WERE LEFT OUT )F WE FAIL TO ADDRESS THIS WE LL UNDERMINE OUR CREDIBILITY STUNT OUR CAPACITY FOR MISSION AND CHECK OUR GROWTH 7E CAN T AFFORD TO IGNORE THE ABILITIES AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS 'OD GIVES ALL (IS CHILDREN
#HANGE
3OME CONTINUALLY LOOK BACK WITH NOSTALGIA THEY SEE ALL THAT BELONGS TO YESTERDAY AS INVIOLABLE AND THE PAST BECOMES SACRED FOR ITS OWN SAKE "UT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN REFUSES TO STAND STILL ,IFE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CHURCH IS DYNAMIC )T S IN CONSTANT MOTION !S A CHURCH WE CAN T AFFORD TO LIVE INSIDE A COMFORTABLE COCOON OF hWHAT WAS v 7E CAN T AFFORD TO BE hONE IDEAv PEOPLE STEREOTYPED IN OUR MANNER OF WORKING SEE 'OSPEL 7ORKERS P ,ET ME BE CLEAR ) M NOT SUGGESTING
WE CHANGE WHO WE ARE &AR FROM IT /UR HISTORY AND HERITAGE HOLD TREMENDOUS MEANING FOR USˆWE SEE 'OD S HAND AT EACH TURN OF THE WAY /UR DOCTRINES AND SHARED VALUES PROVIDE US A POWERFUL ANCHOR AND GLOBAL IDENTITY 4HINK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT YOURSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL 9OU HAVE YOUR OWN HISTORY PERSONALITY AND VALUES 9OU WAKE UP EACH MORNING IN THE SAME HOUSE EAT THE SAME BREAKFAST AND HEAD OUT THE SAME DOOR "UT EACH DAY IS DIFFERENT NEW CHALLENGES STRETCH YOU IN UNEXPECTED WAYS AND DEMAND CREATIVE RESPONSES "UT YOUR BASIC PERSONALITYˆYOUR CORE IDENTITYˆISN T ALTERED 3O IT IS WITH THE CHURCH 7E NEED TO BE ABLE TO REACT TO ADJUST OUR STRUCTURE OUR PROCEDURES AND OUR METHODS OF RELATING TO SOCIETY *UST REPEATING WHAT WE VE ALWAYS DONE SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT S THE WAY WE VE ALWAYS DONE IT IS A ONE WAY ROAD TO INEFFECTIVENESS 7E CAN T AFFORD TO IGNORE CHANGE ! -EANINGFUL ,IFE
(OW SHOULD WE FACE THE COMING YEAR ) HOPE WE LL LIVE DELIBERATELYˆ CHOOSING OUR PATH WITH INTEGRITY AND WITH AN EYE TO THE PASSING OF TIME ) HOPE WE LL CHOOSE COMMUNITY OVER INDIVIDUALISM AFlRMING WHAT EACH OF US BRINGS TO THE BODY OF #HRIST !BOVE ALL ) HOPE AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A CHURCH WE LL REFUSE TO BE SATISlED WITH THE STATUS QUO
*AN 0AULSEN IS PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD WIDE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
7).$/7
)NTO
4HE COUNTRY S SANDY BEACHES AND TROPICAL FORESTS WITH IMMENSE mORA AND FAUNA DRAW CROWDS OF TOURISTS EACH YEAR
#OSTA 2ICA
!DVENTISTS IN #OSTA 2ICA
!DVENTISM lRST CAME TO #OSTA 2ICA AROUND THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY WHEN PIONEER MISSIONARY & * (UTCHINS "Y (ANS /LSON MADE FREQUENT VISITS TO ,IM˜N ON #OSTA 2ICA S EASTERN COAST ALLED BY SOME hTHE 3WITZERLAND OF #ENTRAL !MERICA v IN HIS MISSIONARY SCHOONER THE (ERALD 4HE lRST REGULAR MISSIONARIES A GROUP OF LITERATURE EVANGELISTS ARRIVED IN #OSTA 2ICA IS A BEAUTIFUL NATION SANDWICHED ! YEAR LATER ONE OF THEM ) ' +NIGHT REPORTED BAPTISMS BETWEEN .ICARAGUA TO THE NORTH AND 0ANAMA TO IN THE 2EVIEW AND (ERALD AND THE ORGANIZATION OF A CHURCH THE SOUTH 4HIS NATION HAS TWO COASTLINES WITH THE 0ACIlC OF IN A TOWN JUST OUTSIDE ,IM˜N "Y THE !DVENTIST /CEAN ON THE WEST AND THE #ARIBBEAN ON THE EAST #HURCH CONSISTED OF FOUR CHURCHES AND MEMBERS #OSTA 2ICA S COMPARISONS WITH 3WITZERLAND STEM FROM )N THE lRST PRIMARY SCHOOL OPENED ITS DOORS IN THE COUNTRY S RUGGED CENTRAL MOUNTAINS ITS THRIVING TOURISM INDUSTRY RELATIVELY STABLE GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY LOW CRIME ,IM˜N 3IX YEARS LATER A SECONDARY SCHOOL STARTED WHICH LATER BECOME #ENTRAL !MERICAN !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY 4ODAY RATE AND HIGHLY DEVELOPED WELFARE SYSTEM )N #OSTA THERE ARE TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN #OSTA 2ICA ONE IN 2ICA S PRESIDENT ABOLISHED ITS MILITARY #OSTA 2ICA STILL HAS NO STANDING ARMED FORCES 4HE COUNTRY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST LIFE ,IM˜N AND ONE IN 3AN *OS£ IN ADDITION TO THE UNIVERSITY 4HE CHURCH IN #OSTA 2ICA CONTINUES TO BE STRONG )N THE LAST EXPECTANCY RATES IN THE 7ESTERN (EMISPHERE YEARS THE CHURCH S MEMBERSHIP HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED 3PANISH EXPLORERS WERE INITIALLY UNSUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY #OSTA 2ICA IS ONE OF THE MANY COUNTRIES THAT MAKE UP TRIED TO COLONIZE #OSTA 2ICA DURING THE EARLY S BECAUSE THE )NTER !MERICAN $IVISION OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST OF LOCAL RESISTANCE PIRATES AND UNEXPECTED ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES )N THEY ESTABLISHED THE PERMANENT SETTLEMENT #HURCH 4HIS DIVISION IS HOSTING h&OLLOW THE "IBLEv THIS MONTH h&OLLOW THE "IBLEv IS AN INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY OF #ARTAGO IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS &OR THE NEXT YEARS THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH AROUND THE WORLD TO #OSTA 2ICA WAS ONE OF 3PAIN S MANY hNEW WORLDv COLONIES IN THE #ARIBBEAN AND #ENTRAL AND 3OUTH !MERICA )N #OSTA STIMULATE A DEEPER INTEREST IN READING THE "IBLE 4HE JOURNEY WILL CLIMAX 2ICA ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER COLONIES JOINTLY DECLARED THEIR INDEPENDENCE 4HEY FORMED A FEDERATION THAT LASTED YEARS AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE 3ESSION )N #OSTA 2ICA DECLARED ITS UNILATERAL INDEPENDENCE IN !TLANTA IN *UNE WHICH IT HAS MAINTAINED EVER SINCE 4O LEARN MORE ABOUT (ISTORICALLY #OSTA 2ICA S RICH NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRYˆPREDOMINANTLY COFFEE BANANAS #HURCH S WORLDWIDE MI BEEF PINEAPPLE AND ORNAMENTAL PLANTSˆHAVE DRIVEN THE SSION WORK PLEASE VISIT COUNTRY S ECONOMY 7HILE FARMING IS STILL IMPORTANT TO WWW !DVENTIST-ISSION #OSTA 2ICA A BURGEONING TOURIST INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY ORG MANUFACTURING GIVE THIS COUNTRY A HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING
#
#/34! 2)#! #APITAL
-AJOR LANGUAGES
3PANISH OFlCIAL AND %NGLISH
2ELIGION
2OMAN #ATHOLIC 0ROTESTANT
OTHER NONE 0OPULATION
!DVENTIST MEMBERSHIP
3AN *OS£
MILLION
!DVENTIST TO POPULATION RATIO
'ENERAL #ONFERENCE /FlCE OF !RCHIVES AND 3TATISTICS
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
TH
!NNUAL 3TATISTICAL 2EPORT
* / 3 ( 2 / 3 % . " , 5 -
4 : + % ! " 2 % % - % , ) 3 3
3 0 % # ) ! , & % !4 5 2 %
4%!- 7/2+ ,OCAL WORKERS WERE HIRED TO HELP CONSTRUCT THE SCHOOL
SERVED AS THE SCHOOL LIBRARY +INDERGARTEN STUDENTS MET IN AN ABANDONED WAREHOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAMPUS h4HE NEEDS ARE SO GREAT THERE THAT WHEN THE .!$ ;.ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION= UNION EDUCATION DIRECTORS AND ) VISITED THE HOSPITAL AND SCHOOL CAMPUS IN ,ESOTHO WE KNEW WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP v SAYS ,ARRY "LACKMER .!$ S VICE PRESIDENT FOR EDUCATION h7E COULDN T JUST WALK AWAY AND SAY @(OW SAD 7E MUST PRAY FOR THEM 7E BELIEVED 'OD WANTED US TO COMBINE ACTION WITH PRAYER v 7HAT TO $O
3OME !DVENTISTS WORSHIP IN CHURCHES IN THE SMALL !FRICAN COUNTRY OF ,ESOTHO ! REGION IN SOUTHERN !FRICA THAT NEVER SURRENDERED TO THE "RITISH ,ESOTHO BECAME AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY IN AND IS SURROUNDED BY THE 2EPUBLIC OF 3OUTH !FRICA 4HE MILLION RESIDENTS OF THIS MOUNTAINOUS AND LANDLOCKED TERRITORY EARN THEIR LIVING THROUGH AGRICULTURE LIVESTOCK AND MANUFACTURING
"Y 3ANDRA "LACKMER
THE (ELPLESS (ELPING FEEDS ORPHANS CONSTRUCTS SCHOOL IN -ALUTI .!$
4
HE CHILDREN S SMILES WERE DAZZLINGˆAND CONTAGIOUSˆAS THEY PLAYFULLY TEASED ONE ANOTHER AND GREETED THEIR TEACHER h'OOD MORNING v !FTER INITIAL INSTRUCTIONS THE YOUNG STUDENTS STARTED PULLING BOOKS OFF SHELVES THEN SAT AT DESKS BROWS FURROWED DEEP IN CONCENTRATION AS THEY BEGAN STUDYING THEIR LESSONS FOR THE DAY !LTHOUGH AN ORDINARY SCENE IN CLASSROOMS IN MOST COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN MANY WAYS THIS ONE WAS DISTINCTIVE VERY FEW BOOKS LINED THE WALLS PAGES MISSING FROM AND COVERS BARELY CLINGING TO THOSE THAT WERE THERE .INE STUDENTS WITH LITTLE hELBOW ROOMv SQUEEZED INTO THE BY FOOT METAL SHIPPING CONTAINER THAT INSTEAD OF HOLDING CARGO SERVED AS A CLASSROOM /BLIVIOUS TO THE ATYPICAL SURROUNDINGS THE ,ESOTHO YOUTH BEGAN ANOTHER SCHOOL DAY JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN AN EDUCATION !LSO SITUATED ON THE -ALUTI !DVENTIST (OSPITAL CAMPUS WAS A MORE CONVENTIONAL BUILDING THAT COMPRISED TWO ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS !NOTHER STEEL SHIPPING CONTAINER
COMMODITIES SUCH AS ELECTRIC POWER AND APPAREL 0OVERTY IS RAMPANTˆAS IS ()6 !)$3 %STIMATES INDICATE THAT IN PEOPLE DIED THERE AS A RESULT OF !)$3
.!$ EDUCATORS VISITED THE REGION ON A (OPE FOR (UMANITY MISSION TRIP IN 3EPTEMBER 4HEY WERE TO OBSERVE lRSTHAND THE (&( FEEDING PROGRAM FOR ORPHANS WHOSE PARENTS HAD DIED AS A RESULT OF !)$3 IN .HLENGELO 3OUTH !FRICA AS WELL AS THE !DVENTIST HOSPITAL AND SCHOOL IN -APOTENG ,ESOTHO 4HEY LEFT DETERMINED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CHILDREN S PLIGHT AND TO SOLICIT FUNDS NOT ONLY TO HELP FEED THE ORPHANS BUT ALSO TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING ON THE HOSPITAL CAMPUS $URING THE SCHOOL YEAR .!$ EDUCATORS AND
3ANDRA "LACKMER IS AN ASSISTANT EDITOR OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
%AGER 0ARTICIPANTS
+ % , ,9 " / # +
2 / - ! + 7 % # ( 2 ) 3
(OPE FOR (UMANITY (&( IS THE FORCE BEHIND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COLLECTED ANNUALLY BY CHURCH MEMBERS IN .ORTH !MERICA TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN WORK IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ABROAD (EADQUARTERED AT THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION .!$ OFlCE IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 5NITED 3TATES AND RUN BY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR -AITLAND $I0INTO (&( HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH MEETING NEEDS AT -ALUTI (OSPITAL h-ALUTI HOSPITAL SERVES A VERY UNDERPRIVILEGED AREA WITH A HIGH ()6 !)$3 RATE 4HEY ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB THERE UNDER VERY DIFlCULT CIRCUMSTANCES v $I0INTO SAYS /NE OF THE DIFlCULTIES FACED BY THE HOSPITAL STAFF ACCORDING TO $I0INTO WAS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN h7E FELT THAT IN ORDER TO GIVE THE KIDS A GOOD EDUCATION THEY NEEDED A BETTER SCHOOLˆBETTER FACILITIES v HE SAYS h3O ;THE NEW SCHOOL= WAS TO GIVE THE KIDS A BETTER EDUCATION BUT ALSO A WAY TO GREATLY ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF THE HOSPITAL TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION BY RETAINING WELL QUALIlED STAFF v .!$ EDUCATORS VOTED IN $ECEMBER TO ATTEMPT TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY THROUGH !DVENTIST + SCHOOLS DIVISION WIDE TO BUILD A SIX CLASSROOM BUILDING ON THE HOSPITAL CAMPUS 4HE INCORPORATION OF VOLUNTEER STUDENT AND ADULT LABOR TO HELP CONSTRUCT THE FACILITY GREATLY LOWERED THE PROJECTED COST OF THE PROJECT BUT THE ESTIMATED TOTAL STILL CAME IN AT A STAGGERING 4HIS WOULD COVER NOT ONLY THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND LOCAL LABORERS WAGES BUT ALSO WOULD PROVIDE DESKS BOOKS COMPUTERS AND PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT 4HE DIVISION EDUCATION LEADERS PRESSED AHEAD BY SENDING INFORMATION AND A $6$ ABOUT THE PROJECT TO EVERY .!$ SCHOOL AND ASKING EACH OF THEM TO SET A FUND RAISING GOAL OF PER STUDENTˆAND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE STILL MORE FUNDS TO BE RAISED THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS RESPONDED )N 3EPTEMBER ˆIN PARTNERSHIP WITH (&( AND -ARANATHA )NTERNATIONAL AND COORDINATED BY 0ACIlC 5NION EDUCATION DIRECTOR +ELLY "OCK AND CONTRACTOR 2OBERT *ACKSON FROM 7ASHINGTON 3TATEˆ STUDENTS SPONSORS AND OTHER ADULT VOLUNTEERS THE lRST OF THREE GROUPS SCHEDULED CONSECUTIVELY TO MAKE THE ARDUOUS JOURNEY BY AIR TO ,ESOTHO BEGAN WORK ON THE SCHOOL h4HE INTERACTIONS WE ENJOYED WITH THE LOCAL WORKERS AND THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AND ENTHUSIASM MADE IT CLEAR THAT 'OD WAS OUR LEADER THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT v "OCK SAYS 4HIS SCHOOL WILL ENABLE THE ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF TO RECRUIT MORE STUDENTS FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA AND TO SHARE THE LOVE OF *ESUS IN A WONDERFUL NEW FACILITY v -ARANATHA )NTERNATIONAL STORYTELLER 2ICHARD $UERKSEN SEES THE ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIP AS AN ASSET TO THE PROJECT $ESCRIBING THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AMONG -ARANATHA TEAM MEMBERS .!$ EDUCATORS AND (&(
4OP TO BOTTOM 4(% .%7 3#(//, #ONSTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL ON THE -ALUTI (OSPITAL IS ALMOST COMPLETED 345$%.4 6/,5.4%%23 3TUDENTS FROM !DVENTIST SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE .!$ TRAVELED TO ,ESOTHO TO HELP CONSTRUCT THE NEW SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE DIVISION S KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE + SYSTEM RAISED MORE THAN FOR (OPE FOR (UMANITY S FEEDING PROGRAM FOR THE ORPHANS 4HEN THEY TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF -ALUTI "LACKMER CONCEDES THAT BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL IS hA VERY AMBITIOUS UNDERTAKING THAT INVOLVES THE COSTS OF NOT ONLY THE BUILDING MATERIALS BUT ALSO OF THE CONSTRUCTION ITSELF v (E AND OTHER EDUCATORS DETERMINED HOWEVER THAT IF THEY COULD RECRUIT VOLUNTEER LABORˆACADEMY STUDENTS AS WELL AS ADULTSˆTO HELP AUGMENT WAGES THAT WOULD BE PAID TO LOCALLY HIRED WORKERS hWITH THE ,ORD S BLESSING WE BELIEVED THE PROJECT WAS DOABLE v h7E JUST RESOLVED TO STEP OUT IN FAITH v "LACKMER SAYS
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
LEADERS AS hA REAL PLEASURE v $UERKSEN NOTES h/UR TEAM INCLUDED THE %CUADOR STEEL CREW WHO FABRICATED THE SCHOOL S STEEL STRUCTURE AS WELL AS CEMENT AND STEEL WORKERS FROM -EXICO AND -OZAMBIQUE 4HIS PROJECT TRULY REPRESENTS THE MIRACLES THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN INTERNATIONAL GROUPS WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THE IMPOSSIBLE v 2IVER 0LATE !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY SOPHOMORE AND 3PANISH MAJOR -ELISSA "REETZKE SERVED AS TRANSLATOR BETWEEN -ARANATHA SPONSORED CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERS FROM 3OUTH !MERICA AND PROJECT ORGANIZERS THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE VENTURE $ESCRIBING ,ESOTHO AS hA LAND OF BIG MOUNTAINS NOISY FARM ANIMALS AND ENCHANTING SOULS v "REETZKE SAYS SHE HAD A hPHENOMENAL TIMEv THERE h)T SEEMED LIKE THIS TRIP WAS CUSTOM DESIGNED FOR ME v "REETZKE SAYS h%VEN THOUGH IT WAS SOME OF THE HARDEST WORK ) VE EVER DONE ) WAS HAPPIER THAN EVER v 4HE PEOPLE SHE SAYS IMPRESSED HER THE MOST h4HEY TAUGHT ME ,ESOTHO WORDS AND CALLED ME THEIR SISTER AND DAUGHTER v "REETZKE NOTES h4HEY LAUGHED MERRILY AT MY ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE CLICKING NOISES THEY USE IN THEIR LANGUAGE AND THEY CHEERED WHEN ) REMEMBERED THE PHRASES THEY TAUGHT ME v 3HE CONCEDES THOUGH THAT THE WORK TURNED OUT TO BE MORE STRENUOUS THAN SHE ANTICIPATED "ECAUSE THE HEATER IN THE ROOM SHE WAS STAYING IN DIDN T ALWAYS WORK THE NIGHTS SHE SAYS hWERE FREEZING COLD AND WE WOKE UP EARLY SOME MORNINGS TO WORK FOR HOURS HAULING SOME OF THE
HEAVIEST PIECES OF METAL ) VE EVER ENCOUNTERED v "REETZKE IS CONVINCED THAT THE -ALUTI SCHOOL PROJECT WAS hALL 'OD S DOING v 3HE SAYS IN !FRICA SHE FOUND hTHE REAL STUFFˆTHE PURE CONCENTRATED BLISS OF A LIFE WELL LIVED 4HIS TO ME IS A NEARER TASTE OF HEAVEN THAN ANYTHING YOU lND IN BOOKSx )T WAS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE v 4HE 2OLE OF !DVENTIST %DUCATION
"LACKMER NOTES h/NE OF THE ROLES OF !DVENTIST EDUCATION IS TO HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE PART OF A GLOBAL COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THAT COMMUNITY 4HE -ALUTI -ISSION PROJECT AND THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL MISSION PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY !DVENTIST EDUCATION EVERY YEAR ALLOW OUR YOUTH TO SHARE THEIR TIME TALENTS AND RESOURCES WITH THOSE IN NEED v (E ADDS h) BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM PLACES SUCH AS ,ESOTHO HAVE LESSONS TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS -ANY OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE LIVE WITH DISEASE HUNGER AND VIOLENCE AS PART OF THEIR DAILY LIVES YET THEY EAGERLY SHARE WHAT THEY HAVE AND THEIR SMILES COME FROM THE HEART 4HERE IS MUCH THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM h4HE .!$ IS COMMITTED TO lNDING WAYS FOR EVERY STUDENT EVERY YEARˆIF THEY SO DESIREˆTO BECOME INVOLVED WITH A MISSION PROJECT v &OR MORE INFORMATION AND TO VIEW ADDITIONAL PICTURES GO TO WWW NADEDUCATION ORG MALUTI OR WWW HOPE COM MALUTI
WWW CIA GOV LIBRARY PUBLICATIONS THE WORLD FACTBOOK GEOS LT HTML
3TUDENTS AND 4EACHERS 2ESPOND
3CHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION .!$ HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH FUND RAISING FOR THE -ALUTI SCHOOL MISSION PROJECT (ERE IS A STORY FROM ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS
!PPALACHIAN #HRISTIAN !CADEMY -ANCHESTER +ENTUCKY 5 3 ! 7HEN !#! TEACHER $EBBIE "ROCK OPENED THE INFORMATION PACKAGE THE +ENTUCKY 4ENNESSEE #ONFERENCE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD SENT TO HER REGARDING THE -ALUTI -ISSION FUND RAISING PROJECT SHE WONDERED HOW MUCH OF A CONTRIBUTION HER SCHOOL WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE !FTER ALL SHE REMINDED THE ,ORD hWE ARE A VERY SMALL SCHOOL OF MERELY SEVEN STUDENTS LOCATED IN THE POOREST COUNTY IN +ENTUCKY v "UT AFTER SHARING THE PROJECT INFORMATION WITH HER STUDENTS AND SHOWING THEM THE $6$ ABOUT
-ALUTI THEY FELT COMPELLED TO HELP "ROCK AND THE STUDENTS THOUGHT THE PER STUDENT GOAL THAT THE .!$ %DUCATION $EPARTMENT HAD SET WAS TOO LOW BECAUSE THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO ONLY FOR !#! 3O AFTER BRAINSTORMING ABOUT POSSIBLE FUND RAISING EVENTS THEY SET AN AMBITIOUS GOAL OF )DEAS THEY GENERATED FOR RAISING FUNDS AND WROTE ON THE CLASSROOM BOARD INCLUDED N 2ADIO AD N 2EADATHON N 4ALENT PROGRAM INCLUDING THE SCHOOL S PUPPET MINISTRY TEAM N 9ARD SALE $ONATIONS BEGAN TRICKLING IN THROUGHOUT .OVEMBER AND $ECEMBER AFTER THE $6$ WAS SHOWN IN AREA CHURCHES 4HE READATHON HELD THE FOLLOWING &EBRUARY BROUGHT IN AN ADDITIONAL 4HE TALENT
SHOW RESULTED IN ABOUT FOR THE PROJECT 4HEN THE YARD SALE RAISED THE TOTAL SUBSTANTIALLY WITH ANOTHER h"Y THIS TIME WE HAD RAISED APPROX IMATELY v "ROCK SAYS h7HEN SCHOOL ENDED ON -AY THE TOTAL HAD INCREA SED TO "UT THERE WERE A FEW MORE INDIVIDUALS TO CONTACT NOW THAT ;THE STUDENTS AND )= HAD DONE ALL THAT WE COULD DO v "ROCK PERSONALLY CALLED A FEW MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD PLEDGED TO HELP RAISING THE AMOUNT COLLECTED TO 3OON AFTER AN !DVENTIST COUPLE SHOWED UP AT HER HOUSE AND PRESENTED AN ENVELOPE CONTAINING BRINGING THE TOTAL TO h) FEEL LIKE -OSES AT THE BURNING BUSH WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS STANDING IN THE PRESENCE OF 'OD AND THAT 'OD WANTED HIM TO HELP WITH (IS WORK HERE ON EARTH v "ROCK SAYS h) FEEL BOTH HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE HAD A SMALL PART IN THIS ADVENTUREx 4HIS MISSION WAS 'OD S ALL ALONG v
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
$ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,
/
UR MENTAL PICTURE OF *ESUS SEEMS TO LEAN TOWARD THE HUMAN SIDE !FTER ALL *ESUS WAS A MAN 7E HAVE THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGSˆARTISTS CONCEPTIONSˆOF *ESUS SHOWING (IM PLAYING WITH CHILDREN TALKING TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OR MERELY LOOKING AT THE hCAMERAv OR OFF INTO SPACE "UT THE MEN WHO DOCUMENTED (IS EARTHLY MINISTRY IN THE 'OSPELS ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT WITHIN THE HUMAN *ESUS WHO DWELT AMONG US WALKED 'OD IN HUMAN mESH !ND THE IDEA OF THE DIVINITY OF *ESUS BRINGS UP MANY STARTLING CONCEPTS THAT BOGGLE THE MIND 4HEY LEAD US BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF OUR PLANET WHEN h'OD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTHv 'EN 7OULDN T *ESUS DIVINITY DEMAND THAT (E PLAYED A PART IN BRINGING THE EARTH INTO EXISTENCE
"Y 4HURMAN # 0ETTY *R
7HAT
(AVE7E
4ALKING ABOUT *ESUSˆABOUT WHO (E IS AND WHAT (E S DONE FOR US
4HERE S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT 0AUL EMPHATICALLY PROCLAIMS THAT *ESUS WAS hIN VERY NATURE 'OD ;AND= DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH 'OD A THING TO BE GRASPEDv 0HIL *OHN THE DISCIPLE AGREED SAYING THAT *ESUS hWAS 'ODv AND THAT hTHROUGH (IM ALL THINGS WERE MADE WITHOUT (IM NOTHING WAS MADE THAT HAS BEEN MADEv *OHN 4HAT WOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE WOULDN T IT 7OW )MAGINE READING 'ENESIS LIKE THIS h)N THE BEGINNING ;*ESUS= CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH v !ND h;*ESUS= ALSO MADE THE STARSv SEE 'EN 4HIS CANNOT HELP CHANGING OUR IMAGE OF THE BABY BORN TO -ARYˆTHE ONE AND ONLY 'OD MAN !ND YET x THE APOSTLES LEAD US TO THE INESCAPABLE TRUTH THAT THE /NE WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE INCLUDING OUR PLANET WITH ALL ITS HUMAN INHABITANTS SUFFERED AND DIED ON A CROSS OUTSIDE *ERUSALEM TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS 7HAT SACRIlCE 7HAT LOVE )T BRINGS US TO OUR KNEES IN UTTER HUMILIATION AT WHAT WE VE DONE
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
$ONE ,OOK 7HAT (E $ID
'OING BACK TO THE GENERAL IDEA OF CREATION ONCE MOREˆ TO THE FACT THAT *ESUS CREATED THE ENTIRE UNIVERSEˆLET S LOOK A BIT CLOSER AT (IS MARVELOUS WORKS 4O HELP US GRASP THIS CONCEPT LET S USE ONE OF THE TRICKS OF SCIENCE lCTION 7E LL IMAGINE THAT WE VE BECOME ASTRONAUTS AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE THAT *ESUS MADE /UR SPACE SHUTTLE BLASTS INTO THE EARTH S ORBIT AND WE SOON TRANSFER TO A GIANT STARSHIP FOR AN INTERGALACTIC JOURNEY /NCE ABOARD WE STRAP OURSELVES INTO RECLINING COUCHES AND SOON ZOOM INTO OUTER SPACE AT THE SPEED OF LIGHTˆ MILLION MILES PER MINUTE MILLION KM MIN !T THIS FANTASTIC SPEED WE D ZIP PAST OUR SUN IN LESS THAN NINE MINUTES AND mY BY THE DISTANT 0LUTO IN ONLY lVE AND A HALF HOURS #ONTINUING ON INTO DEEP SPACE WE D HAVE TO TRAVEL FOUR AND A HALF YEARS BEFORE WE D PASS !LPHA #ENTAURIˆTHE NEAREST lXED STAR /NE HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS WOULD SLIP BY HOWEVER BEFORE WE D CROSS OUR -ILKY
7AY 'ALAXY AND ANOTHER MILLION YEARS WOULD BECOME HISTORY BEFORE WE D EVEN APPROACH THE GREAT GALAXY OF !NDROMEDA KNOWN TO CONTAIN BILLION SUNS !ND THEN WE D HAVE ONLY BEGUN &OR BEYOND !NDROMEDA LIE AT LEAST BILLION OTHER GALAXIESˆEACH CONTAINING BILLIONS OF SUNS !ND ACCORDING TO 3CRIPTURE THE /NE WE KNOW AS *ESUS OF .AZARETH CREATED ALL THESE VAST SYSTEMS .O WONDER THE ANCIENT PSALMIST EXCLAIMED h7HEN ) CONSIDER YOUR HEAVENS THE WORK OF YOUR lNGERS THE MOON AND STARS WHICH YOU HAVE SET IN PLACE WHAT IS MAN x THAT YOU CARE FOR HIM v 0S 7HY WOULD THE #REATOR OF ALL THOSE MAGNIlCENT STAR SYSTEMS CARE TO NOTICE A RACE OF MICRON HUMAN REBELS LIVING ON A SPECK OF DUST CALLED %ARTH IN A FAR CORNER OF (IS UNIVERSE 4HE "IBLE SAYS IT S BECAUSE OF ,/6% DIVINE LOVE THAT S VASTERˆAND YET MORE SPECIlCˆTHAN OUR lNITE MINDS CAN COMPREHEND -YRIADS OF GIGANTIC SUNS
2ACING THROUGH THE TRACKLESS VOID /N COURSES KNOWN BUT TO AN OMNISCIENT MIND 3PLENDOR BEYOND DESCRIPTION %ACH mAMING MASS SCREAMS WITH A SILENT VOICE
h'OD IS MY MAKER v -EN ON ONE TINY ORB DECLARE h4HERE IS NO 'OD v 9ET THE 'OD WHOM THEY SAY DOES NOT EXIST
7ENT TO THAT DEJECTED WORLD
!ND $)%$ˆFOR ME !ND ,OOK 7HAT 7E $ID
0ERHAPS THE IDEA WE lND MOST STARTLING IS THE FACT THAT 'OD CREATED PLANET %ARTH KNOWING ALL THE TIME THAT THE HUMAN RACE WOULD EVENTUALLY MURDER (IM 4HE SELlSH NATURE OF EVERY HUMAN BEING CLEARLY REVEALS HOW DEEPLY WE HAVE BECOME INVOLVED )N FACT EVERY TIME WE ACT IN AN UNLOVING WAY TOWARD AN ANIMAL OR ANOTHER PERSON WE SHOW 'OD THAT IF WE HAD BEEN IN !DAM S PLACE WE WOULD HAVE JOINED HIM IN HIS OPEN REVOLT AGAINST THE #REATOR 4O HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS TERRIBLE TRUTH LET S TRAVEL BACKWARD THROUGH TIME AGAIN IN IMAGINATION TO THREE GARDENS %DEN 'ETHSEMANE AND 'OLGOTHA 7HEN WE SUPERIMPOSE OVER THE OTHERS THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN EACH WE GET A UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE 'OD SMILES AS (E SHOWS US THE MAGNIlCENT 'ARDEN OF %DENˆFRESH FROM (IS CREATIVE HANDS !ND WE SHOW OUR GRATITUDE BY THREATENING (IM TO THE POINT THAT (E SWEATS GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD WHILE IN AGONY (E CRIES OUT TO (IS &ATHER FOR RELEASE 4HEN WE GRAB (IM BY THE WRIST AND SPIT IN (IS FACE 7E THRUST A CROWN OF THORNS ONTO (IS HEAD
STRIKING IT AGAIN AND AGAIN IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE NEEDLE SHARP SPIKES DEEP INTO (IS NOBLE BROW 9ET (E CONTINUES TO LOVE US WILLING TO DIE TO SAVE US 7E TEAR OFF (IS CLOTHES AND SCOURGE (IS BACK UNTIL BLOOD mOWS FREELY 7E GRASP THOSE GENTLE POWER lLLED HANDS THAT FORMED US OUT OF CLAY SLAM THEM DOWN AGAINST SPLINTERY TIMBERS AND HAMMER GIANT SPIKES THROUGH (IS SENSITIVE PALMS STRINGING (IM UP LIKE A CRIMINAL !ND *ESUSˆWHO SPOKE UNNUMBERED WORLDS INTO BEING WHOSE COMMAND COULD INSTANTLY MOBILIZE BILLIONS OF ANGELS AND WHOSE TERRIBLE GAZE COULD VAPORIZE USˆCRIES OUT h&ATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DOv ,UKE +*6 7E HANGED OUR 'OD BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY WITH NAILS THROUGH HANDS AND FEET !ND HERE WE STAND STILL CLUTCHING THE HAMMER THAT DROVE THOSE NAILS (ERE WE STAND KNOWING THAT WE SHOULD BE HANGING ON THAT CROSS 7E MUST BEAR THE BLAME FOR OUR DAILY SINS STILL NAIL *ESUS TO THE CROSS AS SURELY AS DID THE CRUEL HANDS OF THOSE LEADERS YEARS AGO !S IT WAS WITH !DAM %VE #AIN AND !BEL WE STILL WANT TO DO THINGS OUR OWN WAY RATHER THAN SUBMIT OUR LIVES TO 'OD S WILL !ND THIS SELlSHNESS STILL CROWNS (IM WITH JAGGED THORNS AND DRIVES SPEARS INTO (IS SIDE 7E SHOULD BEAR THE TERRIBLE GUILT OURSELVES NOT (E "UT THERE (E IS x HANGING ON THE CROSS INSTEAD OF US (ANGING ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINSˆNOˆFOR MY SINS (E S DYING FOR -% 4HE REALIZATION OF MY CRIME BRINGS ME TO DESPAIR TO DEEP SORROW FOR WHAT ) VE DONE TO REPENTANCE !ND 'OD FORGIVES ME (E SMILES AT ME AS (E ONCE SMILED AT !DAM 9ES (E TOOK UPON (IMSELF THE PENALTY THAT ) SHOULD PAY FOR MY REBELLION (E HUNG BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY (E TOOK MY PLACE (E BORE MY SINS 0ETER !ND NOW (E FORGIVES ME *OHN 7HAT HAVE WE DONE 4HAT S NOT EVEN A RELEVANT QUESTION )NSTEAD IT SHOULD BE 7HAT HAS '/$ DONE !ND HERE S THE ANSWER h'OD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFEv *OHN !LL 3CRIPTURE REFERENCES ARE FROM THE .)6 UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED
4HE SAME MIGHT BE SAID OF COURSE ABOUT EACH MEMBER OF THE 4RINITY
0HILIPPIANS COMPARE *OHN h4HE 3ILENT 6OICE v BY THE AUTHOR #OMPARE 2EVELATION 0ETER #OMPARE )SAIAH
4HURMAN # 0ETTY A RETIRED !DVENTIST PASTOR AND AUTHOR WRITES FROM "URLESON 4EXAS
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29
!
DVENTIST 7ORLD EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER "ILL +NOTT SAT DOWN WITH !DVENTIST 7ORLD 2ADIO !72 PRESIDENT "EN 3CHOUN TO DISCOVER WHY RADIO CONTINUES TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF SHARING THE GOSPEL IN THE FARTHEST CORNERS OF THE WORLD
3OME PEOPLE ESTIMATE THAT !72 S WORLDWIDE REACH ACTUALLY EXCEEDS THAT OF ALL OTHER !DVENTIST MEDIA PUT TOGETHER 7OULD THAT BE A FAIR ASSESSMENT
)T S VERY LIKELY THE CASE 7E GENERALLY ESTIMATE THAT WE RE COVERING AT LEAST PERCENT OF THE WORLD S POPULATION NOT COUNTING OUR )NTERNET BROADCASTS 7E DON T CONCENTRATE ON THE VERY WELL DEVELOPED PARTS OF THE WORLD BUT RATHER ON THE HIGH POPULATION AND LESS EVANGELIZED AREAS SUCH AS !SIA !FRICA %ASTERN %UROPE AND OTHER REGIONS 4HOSE ARE THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE OUR BROADCASTS 7E REACH LARGE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN THESE ISOLATED PLACES OF THE WORLD AND WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DO THAT FOR ONE REASON BECAUSE WE USE SHORTWAVE RADIO 3HORTWAVE ISN T USED MUCH HERE IN THE 5NITED 3TATES OR IN OTHER DEVELOPED PLACES BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE TO USE LOCAL &- RADIO AS THE QUALITY OF THE SOUND IS MUCH HIGHER "UT AS FAR AS REACHING LARGE NUMBERS OF LISTENERS AROUND THE WORLD SHORTWAVE IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
O )S .OT
NOU %
!72 S ROOTS BEGAN IN SHORTWAVE NEARLY YEARS AGO BUT TODAY YOU ALSO BROADCAST THROUGH OTHER MEDIA AM ) CORRECT
)NDEED !S PEOPLES LISTENING HABITS CHANGE IN VARIOUS AREAS WE SHIFT OUR BROADCASTING METHODS AS WELL )N 3OUTH !MERICA WE WERE ACTIVE IN SHORTWAVE FOR MANY YEARS BUT TODAY THAT REGION USES LOCAL RADIO !- AND &- ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ,IKEWISE !FRICA IS IN THE MIDST OF A TRANSITION AS MORE AND MORE COUNTRIES ARE MAKING LOCAL RADIO
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
7HY !DVENTIST 7ORLD 2ADIO BELIEVES ITS WORK HAS JUST BEGUN
GH
LICENSES AVAILABLEˆAND OFFERING THOSE LICENSES SPECIlCALLY TO !72 7E ARE PREPARING FOR A MAJOR INITIATIVE IN )NTERNET BROADCASTING WHERE ALL OUR PROGRAMS IN ALL OUR LANGUAGES WILL BE AVAILABLE AS PODCASTS WHICH WILL BE A HUGE RESOURCE FOR THE CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD !ND WE HAVE DONE PILOT PROJECTS IN A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WHERE WE DISTRIBUTED SELF CONTAINED DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYERS WITH GREAT RESPONSE
)F ) LIVED IN THE WINDOW AND ) ENCOUNTERED AN !72 BROADCAST WHAT WOULD MAKE IT DISTINCTIVE FROM OTHER KINDS OF CONTENT
) LL TELL YOU A STORY ! FELLOW IN %THIOPIA TRAVELING AMONG THE !FAR PEOPLE WHO ARE -USLIMS IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY AND RATHER FEARSOME ! BIG TALL !FAR GUY SAID TO THE TRAVELER h) KNOW WHAT YOU RE LISTENING TO v /UR TRAVELER WAS A LITTLE INTIMIDATED BECAUSE THIS MAN WAS ACCUSING HIM OF LISTENING TO A #HRISTIAN PROGRAM "UT AS THEY TALKED THROUGH A TRANSLATOR THE !FAR MAN lNALLY )F YOU THINK OF THE KINDS OF PEOPLE TO SAID h) KNOW WHAT YOU RE LISTENING TO WHOM THIS ARTICLE WILL GOˆ!DVENTIST BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME BEGINNING AND 7ORLD READERSˆWHO LIVE IN !72 S ENDING MUSIC AS THE PROGRAM ) LISTEN TARGET REGIONS WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO v 4HE THEME MUSIC IDENTIlED OUR TO SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE 7HAT DOES BROADCASTS IN TWO DIFFERENT LANGUAGES !72 NEED FROM THEM "UT SO OFTEN PEOPLE WILL COMMENT &IRST OF ALL IN THESE PLACES AROUND THE WORLD WE NEED PEOPLE WHO WHEN THEY THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING THEY VE HEARD LEARN OF A PERSON WHO IS ACCEPTING #HRIST BY LISTENING TO THE RADIO 7HAT MAKES THEM SO DIFFERENT WILL TAKE THEM IN BEFRIEND THEM INTRODUCE THEM TO THE CHURCH AND DO /F COURSE WE HAVE A #HRISTIAN ORIENTATION SO THERE IS A DIFFERENT TYPE WHATEVER THEY CAN TO MAKE THEM PART OF MUSIC 7E USE A MAGAZINE FORMAT OF THE FAMILY OF 'OD 4HAT S A VERY WHICH IS MADE UP OF A HEALTH SEGMENT IMPORTANT THING OFTEN A FAMILY LIFE SEGMENT AND THEN A !LSO WHERE PEOPLE ARE ABLE WE "IBLE STUDY OR SPIRITUAL SEGMENT !ND NEED lNANCIAL SUPPORT BECAUSE THOSE TOPICS DEAL WITH BETTER LIVING AND THE MORE MONEY WE HAVE THE MORE IMPROVING COMMUNITY LIFEˆTHINGS BROADCASTS WE CAN PUT OUT )T S A THAT CATCH PEOPLE S ATTENTION 3OME SIMPLE EQUATION OF OUR STUDIOS EVEN GIVE TRAINING IN AGRICULTURAL PRINCIPLES OR THEY $O YOU HAVE AN AVERAGE COST PER MAY HAVE SOME CHILDREN S STORIES OR LANGUAGE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ,OOKING AT JUST AIRTIME COSTS A HALF HOUR BROADCAST RANGES FROM 53 9OU TYPICALLY LEAD IN WITH THESE MORE TO 53 OVER A YEAR S TIME BROADLY BASED KINDS OF THINGS 4HAT GIVES PEOPLE A SENSE OF WHAT THEIR SUPPORT COULD MEAN (OW MANY LANG UAGES DO YOU CURRENTLY BROADCAST IN
7E HAVE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE IN NEARLY LANGUAGES BUT IS NOT ENOUGH 4HERE ARE ABOUT LANGUAGES IN THE WORLD -ANY OF THEM ARE VERY SMALL ISOLATED LANGUAGES AND MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE KNOW OTHER LANGUAGES BESIDES "UT THERE ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE ABOUT CRITICALLY IMPORTANT LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN THE WORLD 3O YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR WORK HAS JUST BEGUN
4HAT S RIGHT !ND WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THAT THEY SAY h) VE NEVER HEARD THIS ON THE RADIO BEFORE v )T S A WONDERFUL WAY TO ATTRACT LISTENERS IN OTHER CULTURES SUCH AS -USLIMS )N THE !FAR AREA ) WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE ARE -USLIM LEADERS WHO HAVE RECOMMENDED OUR PROGRAMS TO THEIR PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH INFORMATION THAT IS IN THEM 'IVEN THE REACH OF !72 HOW MANY EMPLOYED STAFF DO YOU COUNT AS PART OF THE !72 MINISTRY !ND COLLATERALLY
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
AWR
IN "RIEF
-ISSION 4O CARRY THE !DVENTIST HOPE IN #HRIST TO THE HARDEST TO REACH PEOPLE GROUPS OF THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGES 4YPES OF MEDIA 3HORTWAVE RADIO LOCAL !- &- RADIO )NTERNET PODCASTS SELF CONTAINED AUDIO DEVICES WITH PRELOADED CONTENT 4ARGET AUDIENCES .ON #HRISTIAN LISTENERS AROUND THE WORLDˆPARTICULARLY IN !FRICA !SIA 0ACIlC THE -IDDLE %AST AND %ASTERN %UROPE #URRENT NUMBER OF LANGUAGES .EARLY
4OP TO BOTTOM 5.$%2 #/.3425# 4)/. /NE COUNTRY IN !FRICA HAS A LIST OF CITIES AND TOWNS WHERE IT IS WILLING TO GRANT LICENSES TO !72 FOR &- STATIONS 35. 0/7%2%$ !72 PRESIDENT "EN 3CHOUN DEMONSTRATES A MULTI POWERED SOLAR RADIO TO VIL LAGERS IN THE REGION OF &IANARANTSOA -ADAGASCAR #!34).' ! 7)$%2 .%4 7HEN .EPAL DECLARED ITSELF A SECULAR STATE !72 SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MUCH MORE BROADCASTING )N ADDI TION TO ITS SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS !72 WILL BE ON &- STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BY THE END OF THE YEAR
HOW MUCH DEPENDS ON VOLUNTEERS
7ORKING DIRECTLY FOR AND PAID BY !72 WE HAVE ABOUT PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD 4O REACH PERCENT OF THE WORLD S POPULATION
9ES (OWEVER YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT THE ACTUAL PRODUCERS IN THE STUDIOS ARE NOT DIRECTLY PAID BY !72 7E WORK WITH AND THROUGH THE LOCAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS WHETHER IT BE
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
'OAL 4O BROADCAST IN THE MORE THAN ESSENTIAL LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD 5NIQUE PROGRAMMING /RIGINAL PROGRAMS CREATED BY NATIVE SPEAKERS OF LOCAL LANGUAGES WHICH ADDRESS ALL ASPECTS OF PEOPLE S LIVES FROM SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH TO FAMILY LIFE !DVENTIST BELIEFS AND MORE 4O LEARN MORE OR TO BECOME A SUPPORTER PLEASE CONTACT !DVENTIST 7ORLD 2ADIO /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 5 3 ! )N 5 3 ! AND #ANADA PHONE 0HONE &AX 7EB SITE WWW AWR ORG % MAIL INFO AWR ORG
THE DIVISION OR THE UNION CONFERENCE OR A LOCAL MISSION CONFERENCE 7E ASK THEM TO HIRE THE STAFF FOR THE STUDIOS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE LANGUAGE 3O THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY SITTING IN A STUDIO OR ASSISTING TECHNICALLY WITH A PRODUCTION ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN SOME WAY BY THE WIDER !DVENTIST #HURCH
9ES "UT WE ALSO HAVE MANY VOLUNTEERS IN ADDITION ) THINK OF A STUDIO IN
-ADAGASCAR 4HEY HAVE TWO FULL TIME PEOPLE IN THE STUDIO "UT THEY HAVE ABOUT VOLUNTEERSˆPEOPLE WHO COME IN AND SPEND A FEW HOURS EVERY DAY TO PRODUCE A SEGMENT OR HELP PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM OR HELP IN THE OFlCE 3O THERE IS A LARGE TEAM ) M PROUD TO SAY THAT THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AROUND THE WORLD WORKING FOR !72 )N FACT A FEW YEARS AGO IN ONE .ORTH !FRICAN -USLIM COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS ONLY A
HANDFUL OF !DVENTISTS THERE WAS ONE PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH EVERY SINGLE !DVENTIST IN THAT COUNTRY WAS WORKING IN SOME WAY FOR !72 )N THAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN !72 EMPLOYEES REGIONALLY EMPLOYED CHURCH MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS HOW DO LISTENERS KNOW WHOM TO CONTACT TO RESPOND TO SOMETHING THEY HEAR
3INCE FOLLOW UP IS NECESSARY IN LOCAL LANGUAGES WE TRY TO HAVE EACH OF OUR STUDIOS BE A MEANS OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL LITERATURE OR INFORMATION TO FOLLOW UP WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS "ECAUSE THE PROGRAM SPEAKER ALREADY HAS A CONNECTION WITH THE LISTENERS HE OR SHE CAN WRITE THEM A LETTER THAT S MEANINGFUL TO THEM OR CAN SEND SOME MATERIAL IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE 4RADITIONALLY THIS COMMUNICATION TOOK PLACE THROUGH MAIL SERVICES (OWEVER WE DIDN T HEAR FROM MANY MANY LISTENERS AND OF COURSE WE STILL DON T 4HE MAIN REASON IS THAT MANY LISTENERS ARE VERY POOR 4HEY CAN T AFFORD TO BUY POSTAGE -ANY OF THEM ARE ILLITERATE AND CANNOT WRITE -ANY OF THEM ARE AFRAID BECAUSE A LETTER MIGHT BE INTERCEPTED AND IN SOME COUNTRIES THAT MIGHT MEAN THEIR LIFE 3O THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY WE DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH MAIL PERHAPS AS AN ORDINARY RADIO STATION )N RECENT YEARS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SENDING E MAIL TO US )N (ONG +ONG WE HAVE A FULL TIME )NTERNET EVANGELIST WHO SPENDS EVERY DAY ON HIS COMPUTER SENDING AND RECEIVING E MAIL MESSAGES (E HAS BEEN REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL IN PREPARING PEOPLE FOR BAPTISM IN THESE FAR OFF PLACES PEOPLE HE S NEVER MET 0HONE CALLS ARE A THIRD MEANS ESPECIALLY IN CERTAIN PARTS OF !FRICA WHERE EVERYBODY USES A CELL PHONE )N OUR STUDIO IN !DDIS !BABA %THIOPIA FOR INSTANCE THEY PROBABLY GET MORE PHONE CALLS THAN ANY OTHER MEANS OF COMMUNICATION ) M INTRIGUED BY THE FACT THAT YOUR MODEL FOR MINISTRY DIFFERS
!DVENTISM IN THE S 4HERE WERE INDIVIDUALS WHO WEREN T COGNIZANT THAT THERE WERE OTHER FORMED GROUPS OR A CENTRAL DENOMINATION EVEN IN "ATTLE #REEK
SIGNIlCANTLY FROM OTHER MAJOR MEDIA MINISTRIES /NE THINKS OF A #HRISTIAN BROADCASTER IN .ORTH !MERICA IN WHICH LISTENERS WRITE TO THE BROADCASTER S HEADQUARTERS IN /KLAHOMA FOR EXAMPLE 9OU SEEM TO HAVE A VERY DIFFUSE MODEL
9ES )T S DECENTRALIZED AND THAT S LARGELY DRIVEN BECAUSE !72 IS BROADCASTING IN SO MANY LANGUAGES 7E ARE STRONG BELIEVERS IN USING LOCAL LANGUAGES TO REACH THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE AND WE lND MUCH MORE SUCCESS WHEN WE USE PEOPLE S MOTHER TONGUE TO BRING THEM TO A WILLINGNESS TO READ THE "IBLE OR UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF SALVATION 4HAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO MEASURE SUCCESS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY THAN A TYPICAL #HRISTIAN BROADCASTER WOULD 9OUR SUCCESS IS REALLY THE SUCCESSES OF LANGUAGE MINISTRIES
9ES VERY TRUE !ND EVEN THEN WE CAN T JUDGE ENTIRELY BY HOW MANY RESPONSES WE GET THROUGH THE MAIL 3OME YEARS AGO WE BEGAN BROADCASTING TO THE -AASAI PEOPLE IN %AST !FRICA -OST OF THOSE PEOPLE DON T READ OR WRITE !ND IF YOU WENT BY LISTENER RESPONSES YOU D THINK NOBODY WAS LISTENING "UT WHEN YOU TRAVEL AMONG THE -AASAI IT IS AMAZING HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO THE RADIO AND ALSO HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO BECOME 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HRISTIANS )T SUGGESTS IN FACT THAT THE DIFFUSE DECENTRALIZED MODEL YOU RE DESCRIBING IS ONE THAT IS REALLY ABOUT BUILDING UP INDIGENOUS CHURCHES IS THAT IT
9ES )N FACT WE HAVE A PHENOMENON THAT WE CALL h!72 CHURCHES v 7E HAVE IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES PEOPLE WHO BEGIN TO LEARN AND SHARE WITH EACH OTHER HOW THEY LIKE OUR RADIO PROGRAM AND PRETTY SOON THEY ARE MEETING TOGETHER LISTENING TO THE RADIO TOGETHER AND THEN WORSHIPPING ON A REGULAR BASIS !ND NOBODY IN THE CHURCH ORGANIZATION KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THEM 9OUR STORY SOUNDS REMARKABLY LIKE SOME OF THE EARLIEST EXPERIENCES WITH
4HAT S TRUE !ND THOSE GROUPS ARE POPPING UP IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES "EFORE *OHN !SH RETIRED AS SECRETARY OF THE #HINA 5NION -ISSION HE WOULD TELL ME EVERY SO OFTEN ABOUT TRAVELING IN #HINA AND RUNNING ACROSS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE KEEPING THE 3ABBATH AND BELIEVED ALMOST THE SAME AS WE DID (E WOULD ASK THEM h(OW DID YOU LEARN THESE THINGS v 4HEY SAID h/H WE VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO v!ND THAT S HOW THESE GROUPS FORM /F COURSE EVENTUALLY WE TRY TO LEAD AND INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCH BUT ) KNOW THAT WE RE REACHING MANY PEOPLE WHOM WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT 3O WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THIS MINISTRY IT S BASED ON THE UN KNOWN PREMISE THAT 'OD IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE PREACHED WORD
7E CALL OURSELVES hMISSION RADIOv BECAUSE WE ARE OUT TO REACH PEOPLE IN PLACES WHERE THEY DON T HAVE A STRONG !DVENTIST MEMBERSHIP OR EVEN AN !DVENTIST ORGANIZATION 3O WE HAVE TO HAVE RESOURCES AND GIFTS FROM PEOPLE IN THE STRONGER AREAS OF THE WORLD 4HAT S TRULY MISSION RADIO ) OFTEN TALK WITH PEOPLE AND THEY SAY h7ELL ) CAN T HEAR YOUR RADIO 7HY SHOULD ) GIVE TO YOU v ) SAY h"ECAUSE YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE SALVATION OF THOSE PEOPLE "ECAUSE *ESUS IS NOT GOING TO COME FOR YOU UNTIL EVERYONE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION v 9OU RE REALLY APPEALING TO PEOPLE S MISSION COMMITMENT THEIR ALTRUISM IF YOU WILL
4HAT S ALL IT IS 7E TELL PEOPLE STORIES AND THE REWARD IS TO HEAR THE MIRACLE OF HOW PEOPLE S LIVES ARE CHANGED AND HOW PEOPLE WHO VE NEVER SEEN A "IBLE IN THEIR LIVES ARE NOW LOVING *ESUS #HRIST
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
& 5 . $ ! - % . 4 ! , " % , ) % & 3
.5-"%2
0ERFECT ON "Y 2OBERT * 2OSS
!
S A VOLUNTEER NIGHT CHAPLAIN ) WATCHED AN EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR TYING THE LAST KNOT OF THE MANY STITCHES THAT PULLED THE mESH TOGETHER OF WHAT HAD BEEN JUST A FEW MOMENTS EARLIER A GAPING HOLE (E STRAIGHTENED HIS BACK AND WITH EYES STILL FOCUSED ON THE REPAIRED WOUND SPOKE AS IF TO HIMSELF THE WORDS hPERFECT JUST PERFECT v ) LATER THOUGHT 7HAT DID HE REALLY MEAN BY THAT 7AS IT THE STITCHING ITSELF /R THE WOUND NOW PERFECTLY CLOSED 7AS IT THE GREAT JOB HE DID OR ALL OF THE ABOVE *ESUS PROMINENT 3ERMON ON THE -OUNT COVERS THREE CHAPTERS -ATT n AND FOCUSES INITIALLY ON THE ATTITUDES WE SHOULD FOSTER BEING BLESSED OR HAPPY REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES 7E KNOW THIS lRST SECTION AS THE BEATITUDES #HRIST THEN SHIFTS THE ATTENTION TO OUR MOTIVATIONS AS TO WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO )T IS OUR MOTIVES OUR ATTITUDE WHAT WE THINK
2OBERT * 2OSS A NATIVE OF 3OUTH !FRICA IS PASTORING THE -EADOW 6ISTA CHURCH IN THE .ORTHERN #ALIFORNIA #ONFERENCE 5 3 ! (E ENJOYS WOODCARVING AND DRAWING AND HIS EVER GROWING FAMILY INCLUDING SIX GRANDCHILDREN
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
'ROUND STRAIGHT AND POLISHED SMOOTH THAT SHAPES OUR ACTIONS THAT ULTIMATELY COUNT (ALFWAY THROUGH (IS SERMON *ESUS MAKES THIS STARTLING STATEMENT IN -ATT h4HEREFORE YOU SHALL BE PERFECT JUST AS YOUR &ATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT v 7HAT $OES h0ERFECTv -EAN
h0ERFECT v IN THE "IBLE IS EXPRESSED IN MANY WAYS BY MANY TRANSLATIONS 0ERFECT CAN BE BLAMELESS LOYAL COMPLETE MATURE KNOWLEDGEABLE PATIENT LOVING AND FOLLOWING (IM 0ERFECT DESCRIBES THINGS SUCH AS THE LAW OF LIBERTY *AMES SACRIlCES ,EV OR 'OD S WILL 2OM 0ERFECTION IS ALSO OFTEN LINKED TO ACTION THE CHURCH OF 3ARDIS IS REBUKED BECAUSE #HRIST HAD hNOT FOUND ;THEIR= WORKS PERFECTv 2EV 4O THE RICH YOUNG RULER *ESUS COUNSELS h)F YOU WANT TO BE PERFECT GO SELL WHAT YOU HAVE x AND x FOLLOW -Ev -ATT 7ITH ALL THESE USES WHAT THEN IS hPERFECT v OR PUT MORE COLLOQUIALLY hHOW WHITE MUST THE COLOR WHITE BE FOR PERFECT WHITENESS v %LLEN 7HITE S FAMOUS QUOTE h!S 'OD IS PERFECT IN (IS SPHERE SO WE ARE TO BE PERFECT IN OURS v MAY BE HELPFUL HERE AND ALLUDES TO TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PERFECTION 'OD S AND HUMANS 7E KNOW FOR SURE THAT 'OD AT (IS LEVEL IS PERFECT h(E IS THE 2OCK (IS WORK IS PERFECTv $EUT 7E ALSO
KNOW THAT *ESUS IS PERFECT hHAVING BEEN PERFECTED (E BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATIONv (EB 7E DElNITELY RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE NOT PERFECT FOR OUR hRIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE LIKE lLTHY RAGSv IN 'OD S SIGHT )SA 7HAT hPERFECTION IN OUR SPHEREv MUST WE THEN HAVE *ESUS GIVES US A HINT IN (IS HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER OF *OHN h) IN THEM AND 9OU IN -E THAT THEY MAY BE MADE PERFECT IN ONE v 0ERFECTION THEN HAS TWO LEVELS 'OD S PERFECT /NENESS WITHIN THE 'ODHEAD AND HUMANS PERFECT ONENESS WITH #HRIST /BJECTIVE 0ERFECTION 'OD S 0ERFECT /NENESS
/NLY $IVINITY CAN EVER STAKE CLAIM TO THIS PERFECT ONENESS )T IS THE ULTIMATE PERFECTION %VEN THOUGH 'OD S 3ON CLOTHED (IMSELF WITH FRAIL HUMANITY TEMPTED WHEN (IS HUMAN BODY WAS AT ITS WEAKEST STILL 3ATAN COULD NOT PLACE THE TINIEST WEDGE BETWEEN &ATHER AND 3ON /NLY $IVINITY CAN CHANGE ROCKS INTO BREAD 4HROUGH OBEDIENCE TO (IS &ATHER *ESUS REFUSED TO USE (IS OWN $IVINITY INDEPENDENTLY OF (IS &ATHER h)N #HRIST DIVINITY AND HUMANITY WERE COMBINED $IVINITY WAS NOT DEGRADED TO HUMANITY DIVINITY HELD ITS PLACE BUT HUMANITY BY BEING UNITED TO DIVINITY WITHSTOOD THE lERCEST TEST OF TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS v h@(Ex
SUFFERED BEING TEMPTED SUFFERED IN PROPORTION TO THE PERFECTION OF (IS HOLINESS "UT THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS FOUND NOTHING IN (IM NOT A SINGLE THOUGHT OR FEELING RESPONDED TO TEMPTATION v *ESUS HAD THE PERFECT ATTITUDE AND ONENESS TOWARD (IS &ATHER THAT MOTIVATED (IM TO RESIST ALL TEMPTATIONS
THAT WHICH SHADOWS (IS GLORY "Y BEHOLDING WE BECOME LIKE (IM AND ARE CHANGED INTO (IS GLORY 7E WILL NOT ONLY BE (IS IMAGE BUT WILL BE ONE WITH (IM 0ERFECT 5NION
ETERNITY 4HE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT (E WANTS TO IMPART TO US IS THE PERFECT ONENESS WE CAN HAVE THROUGH (IS 3PIRIT S LEADING /BEDIENCE MOTIVATED BY GENUINE LOVE ALLOWS (IM DAILY TO GRIND AND POLISH US UNTIL WE ARE SO ABSOLUTELY BONDED AS ONE IN (IM THAT WE WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE ) THINK THAT CAPTURES SOMETHING OF WHAT THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR MEANT AS HE lNISHED HIS STITCHING JOB 4HE WOUND WAS CLOSED 4HE mESH WAS BACK TOGETHER AGAIN AS IT SHOULD BE .O MORE TEARING APART .O MORE BLEEDING (EALING COULD BEGIN 0ERHAPS THERE WOULD NOT EVEN BE A SCARˆPERFECT
3CIENTISTS HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED A WAY TO MAKE THE lRST PERCENT COMPLETELY mAT AND SMOOTH SURFACE ON 3UBJECTIVE 0ERFECTION /UR MACHINED AND HIGHLY POLISHED GLASS /NENESS 7ITH #HRIST )T IS SO mAT AND SMOOTH THAT WHEN ) LIKE THE WAY %LLEN 7HITE DESCRIBES TWO OF THESE THICK SHEETS OF GLASS ARE OUR NEED OF ATONEMENT h-AN COULD SLID ONE OVER THE OTHER DISPLACING NOT ATONE FOR MAN (IS SINFUL FALLEN ALL THE AIR THE BOND BETWEEN THE CONDITION WOULD CONSTITUTE HIM AN MOLECULES BECOMES SO GREAT THAT IT IMPERFECT OFFERING AN ATONING SACRIlCE IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THE OF LESS VALUE THAN !DAM BEFORE HIS FALL TWO SHEETS OF GLASS 4HEY ARE TRULY 'OD MADE MAN PERFECT AND UPRIGHT ONE *ESUS PERFECT ONENESS WITH THE !LL 3CRIPTURE REFERENCES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE .+*6 %LLEN ' 7HITE #HRISTIAN %DUCATION P AND AFTER HIS TRANSGRESSION THERE COULD &ATHER THROUGH (IS OBEDIENCE HERE %LLEN ' 7HITE 2EVIEW AND (ERALD &EB %LLEN ' 7HITE 4ESTIMONIES FOR THE #HURCH VOL P BE NO SACRIlCE ACCEPTABLE TO 'OD FOR ON EARTH BECOMES OUR ROBE OF (IS %LLEN ' 7HITE 4HE 3PIRIT OF 0ROPHECY VOL P HIM UNLESS THE OFFERING MADE SHOULD RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED TO US FOR ALL OF %LLEN ' 7HITE -ANUSCRIPT IN VALUE BE SUPERIOR TO MAN AS (E WAS IN HIS STATE OF PERFECTION AND INNOCENCY v #HRIST S PURE ATTITUDE MOTIVATED ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE RESULTING IN A COMPLETE /NENESS WITH THE &ATHER 4HAT IS TRUE PERFECTION )T IS THAT IMPUTED PERFECTION THAT BECOMES THE ONLY MEANS OF OUR SALVATION h4HIS SACRIlCE WAS OFFERED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESTORING MAN TO HIS ORIGINAL PERFECTION YEA MORE x TO GIVE HIM AN ENTIRE TRANSFORMATION OF CHARACTER v 4HE IMPARTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF #HRIST IS THE WORK (E DOES IN US OF CHANGING US INTO (IS IMAGE A ONENESS )N INlNITE LOVE AND MERCY 'OD MADE #HRIST WHO KNEW NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US SO THAT WITH (IM 4HIS IS WHAT BEING PERFECT IN (IM WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF 'OD ,ED BY THE (OLY 3PIRIT WE SENSE OUR IN OUR SPHERE TRULY MEANS )T IS TO BE NEED ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SINFULNESS REPENT OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND EXERCISE FAITH IN PERFECTLY ONE WITH (IM /UR ATTITUDES *ESUS AS ,ORD AND #HRIST AS 3UBSTITUTE AND %XAMPLE 4HIS FAITH THAT RECEIVES SALVATION ARE CHANGED MOTIVATING OBEDIENCE IN COMES THROUGH THE DIVINE POWER OF THE 7ORD AND IS THE GIFT OF 'OD S GRACE 4HROUGH US TO REmECT (IM FULLY 4HE IMAGE (E #HRIST WE ARE JUSTIlED ADOPTED AS 'OD S SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND DELIVERED FROM THE ORIGINALLY CREATED US TO BE IS REmECTED LORDSHIP OF SIN 4HROUGH THE 3PIRIT WE ARE BORN AGAIN AND SANCTIlED THE 3PIRIT RENEWS OUR BY OUR ONENESS WITH (IM SEE (EB MINDS WRITES 'OD S LAW OF LOVE IN OUR HEARTS AND WE ARE GIVEN THE POWER TO LIVE A HOLY /NENESS IS NOT FOUND BY LIFE !BIDING IN (IM WE BECOME PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE AND HAVE THE ASSURANCE SUBTRACTING WRONGS OUT OF OURSELVES OF SALVATION NOW AND IN THE JUDGMENT #OR *OHN 'AL 4ITUS FOR THAT WILL LEAVE A VACUUM 2ATHER *OHN 'AL 0ETER 2OM ,UKE -ARK %PH BY ADDITION WE GRAB EVERYTHING OF 2OM #OL 2OM 'AL *OHN 0ETER 2OM (EB #HRIST WE CAN GET A HOLD OF DENYING %ZE 0ETER 2OM
%XPERIENCE OF
3ALVATION $ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
3 0 ) 2 ) 4 / & 0 2 / 0 ( % # 9
)
F MORE TACT AND DISCRETION WERE USED IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE TRUTH BY MINISTERS IN THEIR DISCOURSES AND BY THE CANVASSERS IN THEIR WORK MUCH MORE WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED THAN WE NOW SEE "ECAUSE OF A NEGLECT IN THIS DIRECTION MANY HAVE A MISCONCEPTION OF OUR FAITH AND DOCTRINE WHICH THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE FORMED IF THEIR lRST IMPRESSIONS HAD BEEN MORE FAVORABLE
-INISTRY TO !LL #LASSES
)T IS OUR DUTY TO GET AS CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE IN HIGH PLACES AS WE CAN BY PERSONAL EFFORTS 3UCH LABOR WILL NOT EXCLUDE THE POORER AND LOWER CLASSES BUT BOTH HIGH AND LOW WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE BENElTED BY THE TRUTHS OF THE "IBLE )F OUR OWN WORDS AND LIVES SHOW THE RElNING INmUENCE OF THE TRUTH OF 'OD UPON THE HEART THOSE WHO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH US WILL SEE THAT THE RELIGION OF THE "IBLE NEVER DEGRADES THE RECEIVER AND AS THEY ACCEPT THE TRUTH THEY WILL PERCEIVE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES RESTING UPON THEM IN THEIR TURN TO
BE REPRESENTATIVES OF *ESUS #HRIST UPON THE EARTH 4HE TRUTH OF 'OD OBEYED FROM THE HEART IS CONSTANTLY ELEVATING RElNING AND ENNOBLING THE RECEIVER )T IS NOT WORLDLY WISDOM BUT 'OD GIVEN WISDOM THAT REACHES US TO PRESENT THE TRUTH IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT WILL REACH THE HIGHER CLASSES WHO WILL WHEN CONVERTED TO THE TRUTH EXERT AN INmUENCE IN ITS FAVOR AND WHO WILL HELP TO SUSTAIN IT WITH THEIR INTRUSTED ;SIC= TALENTS OF INmUENCE AND MEANS 4HE DUTY WE OWE TO OUR FELLOWMEN PLACES US UNDER OBLIGATIONS TO PUT OUT OUR TALENTS IN THE LIGHT OF TRUTH WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED AS WELL AS THE TALENTS OF MEANS TO THE EXCHANGERS "Y WINNING SOULS TO *ESUS #HRIST SOULS WHO ARE IN RESPONSIBLE POSITIONS AND WHOSE INmUENCE CAN BE A POWER TO REACH MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HIGHER CLASSES WHOM 'OD HAS SEEN lT TO INTRUST ;SIC= WITH LARGE CAPACITY FOR DOING GOOD TALENTS WILL BE DOUBLED 4HE INmUENCE OF OUR WORK EVEN THOUGH IT BE THROUGH BUT ONE SOUL GAINED IS FAR REACHING OUR TALENT IS OUT TO THE EXCHANGER AND IS CONSTANTLY INCREASING
"Y %LLEN ' 7HITE
#REATIVITY
4ANDACT
A THFULNESS & 2EACHING OUT TO EVERYONE
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
&IND THE 2IGHT 'OSPEL $OSE AND !PPROACH
4HE WORKERS IN THE CAUSE SHOULD NOT FEEL THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN WORK IS TO MAKE KNOWN ALL POINTS OF DOCTRINE AS HELD BY 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS AT ONCE AND IN EVERY PLACE 3UCH A COURSE WOULD CLOSE THE EARS OF THE PEOPLE AT THE OUTSET AND FRUSTRATE THE END SOUGHT 'OD WOULD HAVE (IS WORKERS BE AS LAMBS AMONG WOLVES WISE AS SERPENTS BUT HARMLESS AS DOVES 4HEIR OWN IDEAS MUST BE LAID ASIDE AND THEY MUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE 3PIRIT OF 'OD 4HEY SHOULD NOT FEEL THAT ALL THE TRUTH OF 'OD IS TO BE SPOKEN TO UNBELIEVERS ON ANY AND EVERY OCCASION BUT SHOULD PLAN CAREFULLY WHAT TO SAY AND WHAT TO LEAVE UNSAID 4HIS IS NOT PRACTICING DECEPTION IT IS WORKING AS 0AUL WORKED (E SAYS h&OR THOUGH ) BE FREE FROM ALL MEN YET HAVE ) MADE MYSELF SERVANT UNTO ALL THAT ) MIGHT GAIN THE MORE !ND UNTO THE *EWS ) BECAME AS A *EW THAT ) MIGHT GAIN THE *EWS TO THEM THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW AS UNDER THE LAW THAT ) MIGHT GAIN THEM THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW TO THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT LAW AS WITHOUT LAW BEING NOT WITHOUT LAW TO 'OD BUT UNDER THE LAW TO #HRIST THAT ) MIGHT GAIN THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT LAW 4O THE WEAK BECAME ) AS WEAK THAT ) MIGHT GAIN THE WEAK ) AM MADE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN THAT ) MIGHT BY ALL MEANS SAVE SOME v (E DID NOT APPROACH THE *EWS IN A WAY TO STIR UP THEIR PREJUDICE (E DID NOT RUN THE RISK OF MAKING THEM HIS ENEMIES BY TELLING THEM THE lRST THING THAT THEY MUST BELIEVE ON *ESUS OF .AZARETH BUT HE DWELT ON THE PROMISES OF THE /LD 4ESTAMENT 3CRIPTURES WHICH TESTIlED OF #HRIST OF (IS MISSION AND OF (IS WORK 4HUS HE LED THEM ALONG STEP BY STEP SHOWING THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF HONORING THE LAW OF 'OD (E ALSO GAVE DUE HONOR TO THE CEREMONIAL LAW SHOWING THAT #HRIST WAS THE ONE THAT INSTITUTED THE WHOLE *EWISH ECONOMY OF SACRIlCIAL SERVICE !FTER DWELLING UPON THESE THINGS EVINCING THAT HE HAD A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THEM HIMSELF HE BROUGHT THEM DOWN TO THE lRST ADVENT OF #HRIST AND PROVED THAT IN THE CRUCIlED *ESUS EVERY SPECIlCATION HAD BEEN FULlLLED 4HIS WAS THE WISDOM THAT 0AUL EXERCISED (E APPROACHED THE 'ENTILES NOT BY EXALTING THE LAW AT lRST BUT BY EXALTING #HRIST AND THEN SHOWING THE BINDING CLAIMS OF THE LAW (E SHOWED THEM PLAINLY HOW THE LIGHT THAT WAS REmECTED FROM THE CROSS OF #ALVARY GAVE SIGNIlCANCE AND GLORY TO THE WHOLE *EWISH SYSTEM 4HUS HE VARIED HIS MANNER OF LABOR ALWAYS SHAPING HIS MESSAGE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH HE WAS PLACED AND YET THOUGH AFTER PATIENT LABOR HE WAS SUCCESSFUL TO A LARGE DEGREE MANY WOULD NOT BE CONVINCED 4HERE ARE SOME WHO WILL NOT BE CONVINCED BY ANY METHOD OF PRESENTING THE TRUTH 4HE LABORER FOR 'OD SHOULD NEVERTHELESS STUDY CAREFULLY THE BEST METHOD IN ORDER THAT HE MAY NOT AROUSE PREJUDICE OR STIR UP
4HE LABORER FOR 'OD SHOULD NEVERTHELESS STUDY CAREFULLY THE BEST METHOD IN ORDER THAT HE MAY NOT AROUSE PREJUDICE OR STIR UP COMBATIVENESS UNNECESSARILY COMBATIVENESS UNNECESSARILY ,ET HIM GIVE THE PEOPLE EVIDENCE THAT HE IS A TRUE #HRISTIAN CONSCIENTIOUS DESIRING PEACE AND NOT STRIFE AND THAT HE HAS A LOVE FOR THEIR SOULS 4HUS THE CONlDENCE OF THE PEOPLE WILL BE GAINED #HRIST SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES h) HAVE YET MANY THINGS TO SAY UNTO YOU BUT YE CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW v 4HERE WERE MANY THINGS (E DID NOT SAY TO THEM BECAUSE THEIR EDUCATION AND IDEAS WERE OF SUCH A CHARACTER THAT (IS INSTRUCTION WOULD HAVE CONFUSED THEIR MINDS AND RAISED QUESTIONING AND UNBELIEF THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFlCULT TO REMOVE "E #REATIVE IN 9OUR -ISSION
'OD S WORKMEN MUST BE MANY SIDED MEN THAT IS THEY MUST HAVE BREADTH OF CHARACTER 4HEY MUST NOT BE ONE SIDED MEN STEREOTYPED IN THEIR MANNER OF WORKING GETTING INTO A GROOVE WHERE THEY ARE UNABLE TO SEE THAT THEIR WORDS AND MANNER OF LABOR MUST VARY TO SUIT THE CLASS OF PEOPLE THEY ARE WITH AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY HAVE TO MEET !LL SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY SEEKING TO SUBDUE THEIR OWN PROMINENT CHARACTERISTICS AND EDUCATE THEIR WEAKER POWERS SO THAT THE MIND MAY BE EVENLY BALANCED 4HIS IS NECESSARY IF THEY MAKE USEFUL SUCCESSFUL LABORERS 'OD WOULD HAVE (IS SERVANTS OLD AND YOUNG CONTINUALLY IMPROVING LEARNING BETTER HOW TO REACH THE PEOPLE 4HEY SHOULD NOT SETTLE DOWN CONTENTED THINKING THAT THEIR WAYS ARE PERFECT AND THAT OTHERS MUST WORK JUST AS THEY WORK !LL OUR METHODS AND PLANS SHOULD BEAR THE DIVINE MOLD 4HIS ARTICLE WAS lRST PUBLISHED IN 4HE !TLANTIC #ANVASSER $ECEM BER 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS BELIEVE THAT %LLEN ' 7HITE EXERCISED THE BIBLICAL GIFT OF PROPHECY DURING MORE THAN YEARS OF PUBLIC MINISTRY
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 3 % 2 6 ) # %
!
4EAM%FFORT !S EDITORS AND STAFF OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD WE DO MOST OF OUR WORK BEHIND THE SCENES 3URE YOU SEE OUR NAMES ON THE MASTHEAD PAGE BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW OUR FACES OR WHAT WE DO FOR THE MAGAZINE 4HE PHOTOGRAPH ON THESE TWO PAGES WILL HELP YOU PUT NAMES TO FACES AND GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AT THE CHURCH S WORLD HEADQUARTERS 3TILL UNSUNG AND UNNOTICED ARE THE COPY EDITORS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS TRANSLATORS PRESS AND BINDERY WORKERS AND DELIVERY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WHO MAKE SURE YOUR COPY OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD ARRIVES IN YOUR HOME OR CHURCH 7E HONOR ALL OUR PARTNERS WHO MAKE THIS GLOBAL MINISTRY POSSIBLE ˆ%DITORS AND 3TAFF ,EFT TO RIGHT
,EFT TO RIGHT
+IMBERLY ,USTE -ARAN ASSISTANT EDITOR COORDINATES
'ERALD ! +LINGBEIL ASSOCIATE EDITOR COORDINATES ARTICLES
THE 7ORLD %XCHANGE PORTION OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD INCLUDING 4HE 0EOPLE S 0LACE AND WRITES OR EDITS OCCASIONAL FEATURE ARTICLES
DEALING WITH BIBLICAL STUDIES ARCHAEOLOGY FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS !DVENTIST HERITAGE AND THE 3PIRIT OF 0ROPHECY /RIGINALLY FROM 'ERMANY HE HAS LIVED AND SERVED IN FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES 3OUTH !FRICA 0ERU !RGENTINA AND THE 0HILIPPINES
2OY !DAMS ASSOCIATE EDITOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
DEVOTIONALS PREPARES THE OCCASIONAL COVER STORY AND WITH OTHER SENIOR EDITORS SUPERVISES THE PREPRESS MATERIALS FOR THE VARIOUS ISSUES -ERLE 0OIRIER OPERATIONS MANAGER COORDINATES
PRODUCTION DEADLINES COMMUNICATES WITH TRANSLATORS PUBLISHING HOUSES AND VENDORS AND TRACKS SHIPPING AROUND THE WORLD
-ARVENE 4HORPE "APTISTE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
PROCESSES MANUSCRIPTS FOR EVALUATION INFORMING AUTHORS AS TO THEIR PROGRESS 3HE ASSISTS EDITORS IN EDITING PREPARING MANUSCRIPTS FOR PUBLICATION PROCESSES HONORARIA MAILS CHECKS AND COMPLIMENTARY COPIES OF THE MAGAZINE #ARLOS -EDLEY IS ONLINE EDITOR FOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD AND
!DVENTIST 2EVIEW MAGAZINES (E OVERSEES THE DEPARTMENT S EIGHT 7EB SITES SEARCHES FOR SUPPLEMENTARY 7EB MATERIALS AND WORKS WITH AUTHORS 3ANDRA "LACKMER ASSISTANT EDITOR COORDINATES THE
!DVENTIST ,IFE AND 7ORLD (EALTH SECTIONS OF THE MAGAZINE AS WELL AS EDITS AND WRITES FEATURE ARTICLES
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
$ ! . ) % , " / 4 4 . % 2 3 4! 2 , ) ' ( 4 3 4 5 $ ) / 3
,EFT TO RIGHT "ILL +NOTT IS EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER AND EDITOR IN CHIEF OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD AND !DVENTIST 2EVIEW MAGAZINES 7ILONA +ARIMABADI IS EDITORIAL AND MARKETING DIRECTOR
FOR +IDS6IEW !DVENTIST 2EVIEW S MAGAZINE FOR CHILDREN 3HE WORKS ON !DVENTIST 7ORLD 7EB SITES FOR %NGLISH 3PANISH &RENCH AND 0ORTUGUESE AND WRITES OCCASIONAL FEATURES #LAUDE 2ICHLI ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER DEVELOPS NEW
INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD BY WORKING WITH REGIONAL CHURCH LEADERS TO CREATE AND lNANCE NEW PRINT AND 7EB EDITIONS IN MORE LANGUAGES AND TERRITORIES (E HAS SERVED THE CHURCH IN !FRICA %UROPE AND .ORTH !MERICA 2ACHEL #HILD EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR COORDINATES ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS AND INVOICING TO ASSURE AN EFlCIENT lNANCIAL SYSTEM
,EFT TO RIGHT *UDY 4HOMSEN CORRESPONDENCE EDITOR RESPONDS TO ALL E MAILS LETTERS AND PRAYER REQUESTS AND COORDINATES ,ETTERS AND 4HE 0LACE OF 0RAYER IN THE MAGAZINE 3HE ALSO ASSISTS THE ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER -ARK +ELLNER HAS SERVED AS NEWS EDITOR SINCE )N
THAT ROLE HE COORDINATES NEWS COVERAGE AND PRODUCES NEWS FEATURES SUCH AS THE *ULY AND .OVEMBER COVER STORIES !LFREDO 'ARCIA -ARENKO EDITORIAL ASSISTANT RECORDS MINUTES FROM COVER COMMITTEE AND PRODUCTION MEETINGS MAKES CORRECTIONS TO MANUSCRIPTS AND TRANSMITS DIGITAL lLES TO DESIGNERS AND PRINTERS (E SPEAKS BOTH 3PANISH AND 0ORTUGUESE AND HAS A RICH BACKGROUND OF LEADERSHIP IN YOUTH MINISTRY 3TEPHEN #HAVEZ MANAGING EDITOR EDITS COLUMNS SERVES
AS LIAISON WITH THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION AND OVERSEES THE mOW OF MATERIAL FROM OUR EDITORIAL OFlCE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ON TO THE PUBLISHING HOUSE
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
")",% 15%34)/.3
!
LLOW ME TO DEAL WITH THE CONTEXTUAL ISSUE PRESENT IN $ANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS WAS A PORTION OF THE FOOD PREPARED $ANIEL AND IN THE PROCESS ) LL ANSWER YOUR FOR THE KING HIMSELF THE BEST "ABYLON HAD TO OFFER 4HE SPECIlC QUESTION KING S MAIN INTEREST WOULD HAVE BEEN TO ASSURE THAT THEY 4HE FALL OF THE KINGDOM OF *UDAH AND THE LOOKED WELL AND EXCELLED IN THEIR TRAINING EXPATRIATION OF MANY )SRAELITES TO "ABYLON EXPOSED THEIR "UT LOOKING AT THIS DECISION FROM A CULTURAL POINT OF FAITH TO NEW CHALLENGES 4HEY WERE IN A LAND WITH A DIFFERENT VIEW WE REALIZE THAT THE KING S INTENTION WAS DEEPER FOOD CULTURE AND WITH RADICALLY DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS DETERMINES IDENTITY WHAT WE EAT REVEALS OUR CULTURE EVEN MAKING IT DIFlCULT FOR THEM TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGIOUS FAITH OUR RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS 4HE EMPHASIS ON FOOD WAS PART #ULTURAL !SSIMILATION 4HE "ABYLONIAN KING S INTENT OF THE CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ATTEMPT TO ASSIMILATE THE WAS TO SLOWLY SHIFT THE LOYALTY OF THE YOUNG (EBREWS FROM (EBREWS INTO "ABYLONIAN RELIGION AND CULTURE THEIR 'OD TO HIS GODS FROM *ERUSALEM TO "ABYLON 4HAT WAS 2EJECTING #ULTURAL 4RANSFORMATION $ANIEL hRESOLVED THE GOAL OF THE PROFESSIONAL NOT TO DElLE HIMSELF WITH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COMPONENTS THE ROYAL FOOD AND WINEv OF THEIR TRAINING PROGRAM VERSE .)6 h2ESOLVEDv &IRST THEIR SENSE OF SELF IS THE TRANSLATION OF THE WORTH WAS ENHANCED BY TAK (EBREW PHRASE hPLACE IN ING THEM TO THE ROYAL PALACE HIS HEART v $ANIEL S WILL AND WHERE THEY WERE PART OF THE RATIONALITY WERE INVOLVED INTELLECTUAL ELITE 4HIS COULD IN THIS DECISION PROBABLY EASILY HAVE CREATED IN THEM BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE A SENSE OF ACCEPTANCE IN A KING S FOOD WAS OFFERED FOREIGN LAND AND GRATITUDE TO TO HIS GODS BEFORE BEING THE KING FOR TRUSTING THEM BROUGHT TO $ANIEL S TABLE 3ECOND THEY WERE TO BE -OST PROBABLY THIS FOOD 15%34)/. TRAINED IN THE LANGUAGES AND WAS NOT PREPARED ACCORDING LITERATURE OF "ABYLON $ANIEL TO THE BIBLICAL MANDATE MAY ALREADY HAVE SPOKEN ,EV AND WOULD HAVE SEVERAL LANGUAGES BUT HE INCLUDED UNCLEAN MEATS WOULD HAVE HAD TO LEARN AT 4HESE BY THEMSELVES WOULD LEAST !RAMAIC AND !KKADIAN HAVE BEEN VALID REASONS TO "Y IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE REJECT THE KING S FOOD "UT !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ WITH OTHERS AND READ THE THE FACT THAT $ANIEL ELECTED LITERATURE THAT DEALT WITH MATTERS OF SCIENCE E G MATHE ON THIS OCCASION TO PRACTICE A VEGETARIAN DIET SUGGESTS A MATICS ASTRONOMY MUSIC AND RELIGION E G MYTHOLOGY DEEPER ISSUE 4HE KING HAD TAKEN UPON HIMSELF TO hASSIGNv DIVINATION ASTROLOGY AND BE INDOCTRINATED INTO THE ;YEMAN= THEM THEIR FOOD 4HE VERBAL FORM USED HERE IS "ABYLONIAN WORLDVIEW 4HE REST OF THE BOOK OF $ANIEL EMPLOYED IN THE /LD 4ESTAMENT ONLY FOR THE ACTIVITY OF 'OD E G 0S *ONAH SUGGESTING THAT THE KING DEMONSTRATES THAT THE INDOCTRINATION FAILED WAS TAKING UPON HIMSELF A DIVINE PREROGATIVE &OR $ANIEL 4HIRD CULTURAL ASSIMILATION BEGAN WITH CHANGING THEIR IDENTITY BY GIVING THEM NAMES THAT INCLUDED THE ONLY THE ,ORD COULD DETERMINE WHAT HE WOULD EAT )N THAT NAMES OF "ABYLONIAN DEITIES $AN 4HEIR PERSONAL SETTING HE WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DIET THAT EXCLUDED COMMITMENT TO THE ,ORD WAS THREATENED )NTERESTINGLY THE MEAT 'EN AND HELPED HIM BE OBEDIENT TO THE ,ORD !ND THE ,ORD BLESSED HIS EFFORT TO SERVE (IM 7HEN (EBREW SPELLING OF THE "ABYLONIAN NAMES APPEARS TO HAVE HE WAS IN CHARGE OF HIS OWN DIET HE FOLLOWED THE LEVITICAL INTENTIONALLY CORRUPTED THE ORIGINAL NAMES THUS SHOWING THEIR RESISTANCE TO CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ASSIMILATION REGULATIONS $AN 4HE THREAT OF CULTURAL ASSIMILATION IS STILL WITH US &OOD 0ROVISION 4HE KING DETERMINED THE DIET OF ,IKE $ANIEL WE SHOULD RESIST IT AND STAND BY THE VALUES $ANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS 4HIS WOULD VE BEEN CONSIDERED PRINCIPLES AND TEACHINGS OF 'OD S 7ORD A PRIVILEGE AND PART OF THE BENElTS OF STUDYING AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF "ABYLON 4HE FOOD WAS SUPPLIED BY THE KING 7E KNOW THAT "ABYLONIAN KINGS NOT ONLY PROVIDED DAILY RATIONS TO SOME OF THEIR OFlCERS BUT ALSO HOUSING FACILITIES !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODRÓGUEZ IS DIRECTOR OF THE "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH )NSTITUTE OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE 4HE BIBLICAL TEXT SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT THE FOOD GIVEN TO
4O%AT
.TOOTAT
/R
%
7AS $ANIEL A VEGETARIAN
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
" ) " , % 3 4 5 $ 9
R E V E L A T I O N S
OF EAL 3 'OD
"Y -ARK ! &INLEY
4HE "IBLE S LAST BOOK 2EVELATION REVEALS EARTH S lNAL BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL 7ORSHIP IS AT THE HEART OF THIS LAST CONmICT 5LTIMATELY THERE ARE ONLY TWO SIDES IN THIS WARˆTHOSE LOYAL TO 'OD AND THOSE WHO REBEL AGAINST (IM 2EV 4HESE TWO GROUPS ARE BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT IN EARTH S LAST WAR UNDER THE SYMBOLS OF THE SEAL OF 'OD AND THE MARK OF THE BEAST 4HIS MONTH S LESSON WILL FOCUS ON THE SEAL OF 'OD A MATTER OF NO LIGHT IMPORTANCE )T IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIlCANCE OF 'OD S ETERNAL SEAL AND HOW TO RECEIVE IT
7HAT SPECIlC INSTRUCTION DID 'OD GIVE TO 2EVELATION S SEALING ANGELS h4HEN ) SAW ANOTHER ANGEL ASCENDING FROM THE EAST HAVING THE SEAL OF THE LIVING 'OD !ND HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE TO THE FOUR ANGELS TO WHOM IT WAS GRANTED TO HARM THE EARTH AND THE SEA SAYING @$O NOT HARM THE EARTH THE SEA OR THE TREES TILL WE HAVE SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR 'OD IN THEIR FOREHEADS v 2EV "EFORE 'OD S JUDGMENTS FALL ON THIS REBELLIOUS PLANET 'OD INSTRUCTS THE SEALING ANGEL TO THE
OF 'OD IN THEIR
4HIS PASSAGE TELLS US THREE IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT THE SEAL OF 'OD &IRST 'OD HOLDS BACK (IS lNAL JUDGMENTS UNTIL THE SEALING PROCESS IS COMPLETE 3ECOND 'OD S SERVANTS THOSE TOTALLY LOYAL AND FAITHFUL TO (IM ARE THE ONES SEALED 4HIRD THE SEAL OF 'OD IS PLACED IN THE FOREHEAD A SYMBOL OF THE MIND
7HO ACCOMPLISHES THIS IMPORTANT WORK OF SEALING h!ND DO NOT GRIEVE THE (OLY 3PIRIT OF 'OD BY WHOM YOU WERE SEALED FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTIONv %PH 4HE DIVINE "EING WHO ACCOMPLISHES THE SEALING IN OUR LIVES IS THE
OF 'OD
4HE SEAL OF 'OD IS NOT A VISIBLE SEAL PLACED ON THE FOREHEAD AS A SIGN THAT WE BELONG TO 'OD IT HAS TO DO WITH THE (OLY 3PIRIT DEEPENING OUR LOYALTY TO *ESUS SO THAT WE ARE SO SETTLED INTO (IS LOVE AND TRUTH THAT NOTHING CAN MOVE US
(OW DID THE APOSTLE 0AUL DESCRIBE THE FUNCTION OF 'OD S SEAL h.EVERTHELESS THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF 'OD STANDS HAVING THIS SEAL @4HE ,ORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE (IS AND @,ET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF #HRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY v 4IM 'OD S FOUNDATION OF TRUTH WILL STAND IN THE lNAL CRISIS AND h4HE KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE
v
4ODAY AS IN ANCIENT TIMES A LEGAL SEAL AUTHENTICATES A DOCUMENT 3EALS IDENTIFY WHO THE DOCUMENT BELONGS TO AND WHOSE AUTHORITY STANDS BEHIND IT 'OD S PEOPLE ARE IDENTIlED AS STANDING TOTALLY COMMITTED TO (IM hDEPARTING FROM INIQUITYv AND LOVINGLY OBEYING (IM AS A TESTIMONY OF (IS SAVING GRACE TO THE WORLD $ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
7HERE IS THIS SEAL OF OBEDIENCE TO 'OD FOUND h"IND UP THE TESTIMONY SEAL THE LAW AMONG MY DISCIPLESv )SA 'OD S SEAL IS FOUND IN (IS
! #HRISTIAN S LOVE FOR 'OD IS ALWAYS REVEALED IN LOVING OBEDIENCE TO 'OD S LAW
7HAT IS ANOTHER NAME FOR A SEAL h!ND ;!BRAHAM= RECEIVED THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION A SEAL OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE FAITH WHICH HE HAD WHILE STILL UNCIRCUMCISED THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FATHER OF ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVEv 2OM !BRAHAM RECEIVED THE
OF CIRCUMCISION BY
WHICH HE DEMONSTRATED HIS LOYALTY TO 'OD )N THE "IBLE A SEAL AND A SIGN DESCRIBE THE SAME THING
$OES 'OD HAVE AN ETERNAL SIGN OF WORSHIP THAT SETS (IS PEOPLE APART h-OREOVER ) ALSO GAVE THEM -Y 3ABBATHS TO BE A SIGN BETWEEN THEM AND -E THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THAT ) AM THE ,ORD WHO SANCTIlES THEMv %ZE
'OD S ETERNAL SIGN OF LOYALTY IS THE SEVENTH DAY 3ABBATH !NCIENT SEALS CONTAINED THREE MAJOR ELEMENTS THE NAME TITLE AND TERRITORY OF THE ONE PLACING THE OFlCIAL LEGAL SEAL UPON THE DOCUMENT 'OD S 3ABBATH IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 4EN #OMMANDMENTS THAT CONTAINS (IS NAME hTHE ,ORD YOUR 'ODv (IS TITLE #REATOR hFOR IN SIX DAYS THE ,ORD MADEv AND (IS TERRITORY hTHE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEMv SEE %XODUS 4HE SEVENTH DAY 3ABBATH IS 'OD S ETERNAL SIGN OF LAST DAY LOYALTY )T IS THE OUTWARD SYMBOL OF AN INNER LIVING FAITH !T A TIME OF ENORMOUS CRISES AND PERSECUTION THE (OLY 3PIRIT WILL STRENGTHEN 'OD S FAITHFUL CHILDREN TO LIVE LIVES OF GODLY OBEDIENCE
7HAT lNAL APPEAL DOES 'OD MAKE TO ALL JUST BEFORE (IS RETURN h3AYING WITH A LOUD VOICE @&EAR 'OD AND GIVE GLORY TO (IM FOR THE HOUR OF (IS JUDGMENT HAS COME AND WORSHIP (IM WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH THE SEA AND SPRINGS OF WATERv 2EV 'OD S lNAL APPEAL IS A CALL TO WORSHIP 'OD AS THE
hOF HEAVEN AND EARTH THE SEA AND SPRINGS OF WATER v
4HE SEVENTH DAY 3ABBATH IS 'OD S ETERNAL SEAL OF (IS CREATIVE AUTHORITY )N EARTH S LAST HOUR IT WILL BECOME THE VISIBLE SIGN OF OUR LOYALTY TO (IM 7ORSHIPING THE #REATOR ON 3ABBATH AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC BOYCOTT AND PERSECUTION WILL REVEAL OUR DEDICATION TO OUR ,ORD AND TO (IS TRUTH )T WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT THE (OLY 3PIRIT HAS SEALED (IS TRUTH IN OUR HEARTS AND OUR LOVE FOR *ESUS #HRIST IS SO DEEP NOTHING WILL MOVE US
.EXT MONTH WE WILL COMPLETE THIS SERIES ON 2EVELATION WITH THE "IBLE STUDY h2EVELATION S %TERNAL 2EWARD v !DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
,%44%23 0ARTNERING
!FTER READING IN THE !DVENTIST 7ORLD ABOUT THE ENTHUSIASM TO JOIN HANDS WITH THE 7ORLD (EALTH /RGANIZATION h0AULSEN 3AYS #HURCH S (EALTH &OCUS #AN (ELP (EAL THE 7ORLD v 3EPT ) WONDERED ABOUT WHAT S HAPPENING hON THE GROUND v -ANY OF OUR CHURCHES ARE STILL VERY EFFECTIVELY MEETING COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND DOING IT PERHAPS MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN ANY OTHER GROUP 6EGETARIAN COOKING CLASSES ARE GROWING IN MY COUNTRY -ANY LASTING FRIENDSHIPS GROW OUT OF THE #()0 PROGRAM #ORONARY (EALTH )MPROVEMENT 0ROJECT AS DO BAPTISMS ) WONDER IF PARTNERSHIPS WITH 5NITED .ATIONS INSTITUTIONS WILL ACHIEVE WHAT OUR LEADERS ARE ANTICIPATING 0LEASE GIVE US SOME IDEA OF WHAT AN OFlCIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 7(/ WOULD INVOLVE #OULD IT MINIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CHURCH PROGRAMS *OHN 7ALLACE +AIKOHE .EW :EALAND )NSPIRATION AND #HALLENGE
4HANK YOU FOR COLLECTING AND PUBLISHING SUCH INSPIRATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL MESSAGES IN OUR PAPERS *AN 0AULSEN S CHALLENGE IN HIS PRESENTATION AT 'ENEVA h#HRIST S
4O READ OF OTHER PEOPLE S CHALLENGES AND EXPERIENCES ENCOURAGES ME TO LIVE FOR #HRIST DAILY KNOWING EVEN THE SMALLEST THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED CAN BE USED BY 'OD IN VERY BIG WAYS ˆ * OSEPH +ONGORO +ENYA
(EALING IN A #HANGING 7ORLD v 3EPT IS GOOD FOR US ALL ESPECIALLY THE STATEMENT h"UT FOR 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS THE RENEWAL OF ALL THINGS IS NOT JUST A FUTURE EVENT IN HISTORY IT S A PROCESS OF RENEWAL THAT BEGINS NOW !WAITING THE @BLESSED HOPE IS NOT A PASSIVE EXERCISE BUT SOMETHING THAT DEMANDS ACTION IN THE PRESENT v 4HAT CHALLENGE IS NOT ONLY FOR THOSE PRESENT AT HIS LECTURE BUT ONE THAT EVERY 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST EVERYWHERE NEEDS TO HEED %VERY DAY MUST BEGIN WITH A RENEWAL OF OUR #HRISTIAN WALK AND OUR #HRISTIAN DUTY 6IRGINIA -OYER # HESTERTOWN -ARYLAND 5NITED 3TATES
'IVING "ACK
) WAS TOUCHED BY THE !DOPT A -INISTER )NTERNATIONAL ARTICLES h&ROM 2EVENGE AND 'RENADES TO 3AVING 'RACE v !UG ESPECIALLY -ARILYNN 0EEKE S h'IVING "ACKv ABOUT 2EVA ,ACHICA -OORE 4HE ARTICLE WAS GREAT -Y HUSBAND AND ) ARE TRYING TO GIVE BACK TO OTHERS THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE 4HANK YOU FOR THE !DVENTIST 7ORLD MAGAZINE 7E NORMALLY RECEIVE COPIES IN THE LIBRARY OF !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY :URCHER 7E ARE PRAYING FOR THE CONTINUED PUBLICATION OF THIS 'IVE -E -ORE MAGAZINE 0RAISE THE ,ORD ) AM SENDING %VELYN 0ELAYO THIS LESSON ) SAW AND COMPLETED !NTSIRABE -ADAGASCAR ON 2EVELATION h2EVELATION S %ND TIME #ONmICTv 3EPT )N MY PERSONAL STUDY ) VE BEEN IN THIS BOOK 0LEASE FORWARD ME ANY FUTURE STUDIES ESPECIALLY ON 2EVELATION #HARLES ,IVINGSTON *R - EMPHIS 4ENNESSEE 5NITED 3TATES
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
,%44%23 2EACHING /UT
) WAS BORN IN %THIOPIA TO A *EWISH FAMILY !LL MY FAMILY ARE STILL *EWISH ME TOO ) FOUND YOUR MAGAZINE !DVENTIST 7ORLD AT AN EYE CLINIC IN %THIOPIA ) READ SOME ARTICLESˆREALLY INTERESTING BUT ) NEED SOME HELP )N OUR RELIGION ) READ ONLY THE /LD 4ESTAMENT ) HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE .EW 4ESTAMENT ,ET ME KNOW IF YOU WISH TO TEACH ME ABOUT IT )F IT IS POSSIBLE ) WILL WRITE MANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU $ANIEL 4EFERA -AMO !DDIS !BABA %THIOPIA
COPIES FOR OUR CHURCH (OWEVER MOST OF OUR MEMBERS DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH %NGLISH YET THEY WOULD STILL LIKE TO KNOW WHAT S GOING ON !LONG WITH MANY OTHERS FROM MY CHURCH ) AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING ISSUES (ANNES 3CHINAGL 6IENNA !USTRIA 4O ACCESS !DVENTIST 7ORLD ONLINE IN SEVEN LANGUAGES GO TO WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG 4O GO DIRECTLY TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD IN 'ERMAN GO TO HTTP DE ADVENTISTWORLD ORG ˆ%DITORS
'RATITUDE AND 4HANKS
) AM SO GLAD THAT IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO READ !DVENTIST 7ORLD IN 'ERMAN ON THE )NTERNET 7HAT !DVENTIST WOULDN T BE INTERESTED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR CHURCH WORLDWIDE 7E HAVE ALWAYS RECEIVED A FEW %NGLISH
) DERIVE MUCH PLEASURE FROM READING YOUR ARTICLES BECAUSE THEY REMIND ME THAT ) AM A MEMBER OF A LARGER COMMUNITY OF FAITH 4O READ OF OTHER PEOPLE S CHALLENGES AND EXPERIENCES ENCOURAGES ME TO LIVE FOR #HRIST DAILY
KNOWING EVEN THE SMALLEST THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED CAN BE USED BY 'OD IN VERY BIG WAYS ) WISH WE COULD SHARE YOUR ARTICLES NOT JUST THROUGH E MAIL BUT THROUGH &ACEBOOK LINKS *OSEPH +ONGORO &ROM +ENYA VIA E MAIL ,INKS TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD ARTICLES MAY BE SHARED ON &ACEBOOK ˆ%DITORS ) EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE THAT YOU PUBLISH A MONTHLY MAGAZINE WITH A PANORAMA OF !DVENTIST WORK IN THE WORLD "ASIL :AWADZKI -ISIONES !RGENTINA ,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
4 ( % 0 , ! # % / & 0 2 !9 % 2 0LEASE PRAY THAT 'OD MAY HELP ME TO lND MONEY TO PAY FOR MY FOUR YEARS OF STUDY ) COUNT ON YOUR PRAYERS BROTHERS AND SISTERS %MOL (AITI 4HERE WILL BE A lFTIETH ANNIVERSARY WHERE ) WORK ) HAVE BEEN NOMINATED TO GIVE AN OPENING PRAYER 0LEASE PRAY FOR ME THAT 'OD GIVES ME THE RIGHT PRAYER *UDITH :IMBABWE 0LEASE PRAY FOR MY SPIRITUAL LIFE ) AM GOING THROUGH lNANCIAL PROBLEMS AND THAT BRINGS PROBLEMS AT HOME "RIAN 3OUTH !FRICA 0LEASE REMEMBER THE VICTIMS OF THE 3AMOA TSUNAMI 3UMATRA EARTHQUAKE 0HILIPPINE TYPHOON )T IS SAD TO
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER
SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HOMELESS WITHOUT FOOD WATER AND FAMILY *OHNSON )NDIA ) LOST MY COURT APPEAL AND REMAIN IN PRISON 4HIS IS HARD FOR ME BUT ) AM NOT SHAKEN OR DISTURBED IN MY FAITH AS AN !DVENTIST 'OD IS IN CONTROL AND ) BELIEVE (E WILL ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE PREACHING IN PRISON 0RAY FOR ME AS ) AM WRITING A PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT FOR PARDON "ERNARD :AMBIA ) HAVE APPLIED FOR THE %TIHAD #ADET 0ILOT 0ROGRAM AND WITHIN A MONTH THEY WILL DO THE ASSESSMENT ) WANT TO BE AN INTERNATIONAL PILOT TO HELP SPREAD THE 'OOD .EWS ) AM REALLY COUNTING ON YOUR PRAYERS FOR ME TO BE A PART OF THIS TRAINING 2OBERT 6ANUATU
) WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PRAYERS FOR THE REQUESTS ) SENT 0LEASE PRAY FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS NOT IN THE CHURCH 3HE HAS A LOT OF HEALTH PROBLEMS ) AM WORRIED ABOUT HER 6IRGINIA 5NITED 3TATES 0LEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY TO STAND lRM IN THE FAITH !ND PRAY THAT 'OD WILL PROVIDE THE ECONOMIC MEANS FOR MY SON TO COMPLETE HIS THEOLOGY COURSE -ALENA -EXICO
4HE 0LACE OF 0RAYER SEND TO PRAYER ADVENTISTWORLD ORG 3END US YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISE THANKS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER +EEP YOUR ENTRIES SHORT AND CONCISE WORDS MAXIMUM )TEMS SENT TO THIS CATEGORY WILL BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY %VEN THOUGH WE WILL PRAY FOR EACH ENTRY DURING OUR WEEKLY STAFF MEETINGS NOT ALL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE PRINTED 0LEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND YOUR COUNTRY S NAME WITH YOUR ENTRY 9OU MAY ALSO FAX REQUESTS TO OR MAIL THEM TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE 3ILVER 3PRING -$ 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
. 3 - ! 2 4 ) # ร . 4 ) !
!
7ORD ABOUT
0ROPHETย C 'IFTS
4HIS MONTH A READER SHARES WHAT SHE LEARNED IN 3ABBATH SCHOOL
/
NE CAN ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO A VIBRANT 3ABBATH SCHOOL DISCUSSION AT THE .ORTHERN #ARIBBEAN 5NIVERSITY CHURCH IN -ANDEVILLE *AMAICA *ANUARY WAS NO EXCEPTION AS EACH CLASS GATHERED TOGETHER TO DISCUSS LESSON h4HE )NSPIRATION OF THE 0ROPHETS v 4HE HIGH POINT CAME TOWARD THE END OF THE LESSON STUDY WHEN $ , %BENEZER A PROFESSOR OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS POIGNANTLY SUMMED UP 4IMOTHY (ERE ARE A FEW OF HIS POINTS N !LL 3CRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION .OT SOME NOT A FEW SELECTED PASSAGES NOT WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT OR WRONG BUT ALL OF IT N )N HIGHER EDUCATION WE CRITIQUE A LOT 7E GROW UP CRITICIZING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING N 7E GO TO THE ALTAR AND THEN ALTER 7E GO TO PRAY AND THEN WE PREY N -OSES AND 0AUL WERE HIGHLY QUALIlED BUT THEY HAD TO UNLEARN EVERYTHING AND FOLLOW 'OD ALL THE WAY 0ETER QUESTIONED *ESUS WHEN ASKED TO CAST THE NETS 0ETER DID OBEY ALTHOUGH HIS FAITH WAS SOMEWHAT FEEBLE AND HE CAST ONLY ONE NET N ! LITTLE LEARNING IS A DANGEROUS THING 7E THINK WE KNOW IT ALL 7E DON T SEEM TO WANT TO BE CONNECTED TO #HRIST 7E WANT TO DO IT OUR WAY N h%ARLY IN MATHEMATICS ) WAS TAUGHT PARALLEL LINES MEET AT INlNITY 7HAT IS INlNITY 7E DON T KNOW "UT WE BELIEVE THIS BASIC PRINCIPLE WITHOUT QUESTIONING IT ALL THE TIME !ND WE GO ON IN FAITH LEARNING MORE AND MORE OF MATH 3O MUST IT BE WITH BELIEVING THE PROPHETIC GIFTย THE "IBLE AND %LLEN ' 7HITE S WRITINGS 3OMEDAY WE WILL GET A CLEARER PICTURE TO MOST THINGS AND WE WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO SEE THINGS THE WAY 'OD INTENDED THEM TO BE v N 3UMMARIZING 7ALLA 7ALLA 5NIVERSITY S !LDEN 4HOMPSON S THOUGHTS ON CRITIQUING
%BENEZER SAID THAT WE DISSECT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING UNTIL THE OBJECT WE DISSECT DIES AND WE GET CONTAMINATED IN THE PROCESS 4HROUGH HIS SUMMATION TO THE LESSON %BENEZER GAVE US A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PROPHETIC GIFTS ย 2 EPORTED BY 4AMEKA -C0HERSON STUDENT .ORTHERN #ARIBBEAN 5NIVERSITY -ANDEVILLE *AMAICA
7ALLA 7ALLA 5NIVERSITY IS IN #OLLEGE 0LACE 7ASHINGTON 5NITED 3TATES
0UBLISHER 4HE !DVENTIST 7ORLD AN INTERNATIONAL PERIODICAL OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE .ORTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTSยง IS THE PUBLISHER %XECUTIVE 0UBLISHER "ILL +NOTT !SSOCIATE 0UBLISHER #LAUDE 2ICHLI )NTERNATIONAL 0UBLISHING -ANAGER #HUN 0YUNG $UK 0UBLISHING "OARD *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 #LYDE )VERSON 'UIMO 3UNG 'LENN -ITCHELL #HUN 0YUNG $UK %DITOR IN #HIEF "ILL +NOTT %DITORS BASED IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 2OY !DAMS 'ERALD ! +LINGBEIL ASSOCIATE EDITORS 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 #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 +ย HLER *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 % MAIL )NTERNET WORLDEDITOR GC ADVENTIST ORG 7EB SITE WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG 5NLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED ALL "IBLE REFERENCES ARE TAKEN FROM THE .EW +ING *AMES 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT ร BY 4HOMAS .ELSON )NC 5SED BY PERMISSION !LL RIGHTS RESERVED 4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT ร )NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS !DVENTIST 7ORLD IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AND PRINTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN +OREA "RAZIL )NDONESIA !USTRALIA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES 6OL .O
$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
4HE
7 ( % 2 % ) . 4 ( % 7 / 2 , $ ) 3 4 ( ) 3
0 , ! # %
!$6 %. 4) 3 4 ,) &% ) LIKE THE NAME 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST )T SPEAKS TO ME OF hGOING HOMEv ONCE A WEEK THEN hGOING HOMEv FOREVER ˆ2ENEE &ORD #HARLOTTE .ORTH #AROLINA
*OHN #ARROLL LOST HIS RUBBER SHOE WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED IN THE /CALA 3EVENTH DAY !DVEN TIST #HURCH BAPTISMAL POOL /FlCIATING PASTOR $AVE 3WINYAR PICKED IT UP AND MADE A SAVING COMMENT ABOUT THE RETRIEVED SHOE )N A HALF ALOUD COMMENT ONE MEMBER SAID IT WAS BETTER THAN LOSING HIS SOUL ˆ(ERB 0RITCHARD /CALA &LORIDA
1 5 / 4 % /& 4 (% -/.4 (
h4HE NEW YEAR IS JUST BEFORE US AND PLANS SHOULD BE LAID FOR EARNEST PERSEVERING EFFORT IN THE -ASTER S SERVICE 4HERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE TO ADVANCE THE WORK OF 'OD v ˆ%LLEN ' 7HITE #OLPORTEUR -INISTRY P
- % % 4 9/52 .% ) '("/2 7HEN HUSBAND AND WIFE 3ALVADOR #ENA AND ,UCIANA 4ALQUENCA WERE lNISHING THEIR DEGREES AT 2IVER 0LATE !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY IN !RGENTINA THEY DREAMED OF BEING ABLE TO VOLUNTEER TOGETHER IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY .OW THEY ARE DOING JUST THAT &ROM *ANUARY TO $ECEMBER 3ALVADOR AND ,UCIANA HAVE BEEN SERVING AT (ELDERBERG #OLLEGE IN 3OUTH !FRICA 4HERE THEY SERVE AS ASSISTANT DEANS IN THE DORMITORIES AND HELP OUT DURING WORSHIP AND OTHER PROGRAMS 4HEY ARE ENJOYING THEIR TIME OF VOLUNTEER SER VICE AND THROUGH IT THEY FEEL 'OD HAS HELPED THEM GROW IN MANY WAYS h/UR EXPERIENCE HERE v SAYS ,UCIANA hHAS CONlRMED FOR ME THAT ) WANT TO SERVE 'OD FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE v !FTER ALMOST TWO YEARS OF SERVICE IN 3OUTH !FRICA THE COUPLE HEARTILY ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO
TRY VOLUNTEERING TOO h9OU MUST HAVE A VOLUN TEER EXPERIENCE v ,UCIANA SAYS h9OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE WILL GROW AND YOU WILL ENJOY MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND LEARNING ABOUT A NEW CULTURE *UST GO 'OD CAN USE YOU v )F YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ STO RIES ABOUT OTHER !DVENTIST VOLUNTEERS AROUND THE WORLD OR LEARN ABOUT HOW YOU CAN PAR TICIPATE IN THE VOL UNTEER PROGRAM GO TO WWW ADVEN TISTVOLUNTEERS ORG ˆ#OURTESY OF !DVENTIST 6OLUNTEER 3ERVICE
CAMPING EVENT OF THE .AMBOONGAN 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH AT 0OZORRUBIO 0ANGASINAN ! . 3 7 %2 4HIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN THE 0HILIPPINES DURING THE !PRIL !DVENTIST 9OUTH
3 5 " - ) 4 4 % $ " 9 ( % , % . 2 / 3 % ' ! , % 2 !
0,% % 3 0