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#ASTING A 5NITED 6ISION !SSISTANT EDITOR 3ANDRA "LACKMER INTERVIEWS $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON PRESIDENT OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN #ANADA $ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,
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"Y +UK (EON ,EE 4HE REMARKABLE STORY OF 3UNG (UN #HOI AND THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN +OREA
2 *AIRYONG .ORTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS TH mOOR 3AMHEE 0LAZA *UYEOP DONG )LSAN 3EO GU 'OYANG #ITY 'YEONGGI DO +OREA 0HONE .UMBER %DITOR #HUN 0YUNG $UK 0RINTER +OREAN 0UBLISHING (OUSE $ATE OF )SSUE -ARCH 4HIS MAGAZINE IS EDITED BY THE !DVENTIST 2EVIEW EDITORIAL TEAM HEADED BY "ILL +NOTT ACCORDING TO THE LICENSE CONTRACT AND PRINTED IN +OREA FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT !SIA
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
4HE 0EOPLE S 0LACE
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WATCHED MY MOTHER S EYES SLOWLY lLL WITH TEARS AS SHE STARED DOWN AT THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF !DVENTISTS SEATED BELOW HER ON THE mOOR OF THE GIANT DOMED STADIUM h) WISH v SHE SAID SOFTLY h) WISH MY OWN MOTHER COULD HAVE SEEN THIS 3HE NEVER KNEW THAT THE CHURCH SHE JOINED WAS CONNECTED TO A FAITH THIS BIG v -Y MOTHER S REACTION FROM HIGH IN A SKYBOX AT THE 4ORONTO 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE REMINDED ME OF HOW MOVING THE SIGHT OF A 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION CAN BE FOR BELIEV ERS 4HE SCOPE AND SCALE OF WORLD !DVENTISM NOW NUMBER ING MILLION MEMBERS AND MILLION PERSONS IN THE LARGER FAMILY THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN AND YOUTH IS POWERFULLY EN COURAGING IF ONLY BECAUSE SO MANY !DVENTISTS KNOW ONLY THE TENS OR DOZENS OF FELLOW MEMBERS THEY WORSHIP WITH EACH WEEK ,IKE MY )TALIAN GRANDMOTHER A CONVERT FROM ANOTHER FAITH MOST 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS DElNE THEIR CHURCH BY THE PEOPLE WHO SMILE AT THEM EACH 3ABBATH BY THE EARNEST MEN AND WOMEN WHO TEACH THE 3ABBATH SCHOOLS AND PREACH THE SERMONS BY THE DEACONS AND DEACONESSES WHO CARE FOR THE PRACTICAL NEEDS OF BOTH PEOPLE AND BUILDING !ND YET WE HUNGER TO KNOW THAT THIS WORLD CIRCLING
MOVEMENT IS STILL GROWING STILL EXPANDING STILL REACHING RE GIONS WHERE THE NAME OF *ESUS IS NOT KNOWN 3OMETHING IN OUR HEARTS LEAPS UP WHEN WE SEE NEW CONGREGATIONS PLANTED IN TIRED 7ESTERN NATIONS BESET BY SECULARISM 7E THRILL TO HEAR OF UNDAUNTED BELIEVERS IN UNDERGROUND CHURCHES WHO PRAC TICE OUR COMMON FAITH IN DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES 0RESENT IN ALMOST EVERY NATION OF THE GLOBE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS ARE ALWAYS EAGER TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THIS CAUSE 4HIS EDITION OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD FOCUSES THE WORLDWIDE !D VENTIST FAMILY ON THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION PLANNED FOR !TLANTA 'EORGIA 5 3 ! FROM *UNE TO *ULY 4HIS DAY INTERNATIONAL GATHERING OF THE CHURCH WILL FUNDAMENTALLY ALIGN THE CHURCH FOR THE NEW DECADE SELECTING LEADERS AND ADOPTING POLICIES TO KEEP THE FAITH STRONG AND THE MOVEMENT GROWING -ORE THAN OFlCIAL DELEGATES WILL BE JOINED BY MORE THAN FELLOW BELIEVERS ON THE TWO 3ABBATHS 4AKEN TOGETHER THE ATTENDEES IN !TLANTA WILL REPRESENT ONLY PERCENT OF THE BAPTIZED MEMBERS OF THE CHURCHˆ A TINY FRACTION SOME MIGHT SAY "UT THEY WILL CARRY THE HOPES AND DREAMSˆAND PRAYERSˆOF MILLIONS WITH THEM AS THEY PLAN AND PRAY AND WORSHIP 3TART PRAYING NOW FOR WHAT 'OD WILL DO IN !TLANTA
ˆ "ILL +NOTT
&IRST !DVENTIST #HURCH 5NDER #ONSTRUCTION IN 'ULF 2EGION N 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS IN THE -IDDLE %ASTERN 'ULF REGION ANTICIPATE WORSHIPPING IN THEIR lRST PERMANENT CHURCH BUILDING BY YEAR S END LOCAL CHURCH OFlCIALS SAID AT A *ANUARY GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY 6ICTOR (AREWOOD CHURCH LEADER FOR THE 5NITED !RAB %MIRATES 5!% AND /MAN ALONG WITH SOME LOCAL MEMBERS MET ON THE PLOT IN 2AS !L
+HAIMAH TO UNVEIL THE BUILDING S COR NERSTONE OFlCIALLY OPENING THE CON STRUCTION SITE 2AS !L +HAIMAH IS ONE OF SEVEN EMIRATES IN THE 5!% )TS CROWN PRINCE AND DEPUTY RULER 3HEIKH 3AUD BIN 3AQR !L 1ASIMI APPROVED THE BUILDING PROJECT IN h;4HE MOVE= WILL GIVE !DVENTISTS OFlCIAL REGISTRATION RECOGNITION x AND ;THE= ABILITY TO HAVE OUR OWN CHURCH BUILDING v SAID 2AJEE -ATHEW BUILDING PROJECT MANAGER 0REVIOUSLY !DVENTISTS MET IN
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'2/5.$"2%!+).' "UILDERS BREAK GROUND IN *ANUARY FOR THE 'ULF REGION S lRST 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CHURCH 4HE BUILDING WILL ALSO SERVE AS CHURCH HEADQUAR TERS FOR THE 5NITED !RAB %MIRATES AND SURROUNDING COUNTRIES
-ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
CHURCH MEMBERS HOMES OR RENTED WORSHIP SPACES OWNED BY OTHER #HRIS TIAN DENOMINATIONS #HURCH OFlCIALS EXPECT CONSTRUC TION ON THE THREE STORY BUILDING TO WRAP UP IN EIGHT MONTHS 4HE lRST LEVEL IS SLATED TO HOUSE A WORSHIP HALL SEATING UP TO 4HE BUILDING WILL ALSO SERVE AS HEADQUARTERS FOR THE 'ULF 3ECTION OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH (AREWOOD SAID WITH SPACE RESERVED FOR RESIDENCES AND OFlCE SPACE FOR AD MINISTRATIVE STAFF 4HE REGION COM PRISES 3AUDI !RABIA THE 5!% +UWAIT 1ATAR "AHRAIN /MAN AND 9EMEN h7E ARE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT AND PRAY THAT THIS PROJ ECT WILL BE THE START OF A NEW ERA FOR OUR CHURCH IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD v SAID *˜HANN % *˜HANNSSON TREASURER FOR THE CHURCH S 4RANS %UROPEAN RE GION WHICH OVERSEES THE 'ULF 3ECTION 3UPPORT FROM THE 4RANS %UROPEAN REGION AS WELL AS FROM THE LOCAL -ID DLE %AST 5NION AND THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH HEADQUARTERS WILL HELP COVER THE PROJECTED COST OF THE BUILDINGˆAPPROXIMATELY 53 MILLION WITH AN ADDITIONAL 53 TO FURNISH AND EQUIP IT 7ITH THE RECOGNITION THE BUILDING WILL GIVE THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN THE 'ULF 3ECTION !DVENTISTS WILL hlNALLY BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE THE ;CHURCH S= WORK IN THE REGION v ADDED +JELL !UNE CHURCH PRESIDENT FOR THE -IDDLE %AST 5NION ˆ2EPORTED BY 'URENI ,UKWARO 4RANS %UROPEAN $IVISION AND !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
(OPE #HANNEL 0ROGRAMS ON #ZECH 3TATE 46 N 3TATE TELEVISION IN THE #ZECH 2EPUBLIC HAS BEGUN BROADCASTING A SERIES OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS PREPARED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BY THE #ZECH (OPE #HANNEL "EGUN IN *ANUARY THE PROGRAMS CALLED "EYOND (ORIZONS WERE TO BE BROADCAST EVERY 3UNDAY MORNING FOR SIX MONTHS h/UR GOAL IS NOT TO PRESENT READY MADE SOLUTIONS BUT TO OFFER SECULAR VIEWERS AN ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE v EXPLAINS ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THIS NEW #HRISTIAN YOUTH 46 MAGAZINE 4HE PROGRAM WILL BE HOSTED AND MOD ERATED BY PROFESSIONAL ACTOR AND PRE SENTER -ATOUS 2UML AND !DVENTIST PASTOR *INDRICH #ERNOHORSKY h"EAUTY v h2ELATIONSHIPS v h(IS TORY v h0LAY v h#RISIS v AND h! 3TARv ARE A FEW OF THE TITLES OF THE VARIOUS EPI SODES %ACH OF THE EPISODES PRES ENTS IN LANGUAGE UNDERSTANDABLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT MOST PEOPLE FACE DURING THEIR LIVES &OR EACH TOPIC ORGANIZERS INVITED AN INTERESTING AND WELL KNOWN PER SONALITY WHO IN SOME WAY REPRESENTS THE DISCUSSED SUBJECT 6IEWERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS RIDER 0ETR 0ILAT WHO AP PEARS IN THE EPISODE ON EXTREME SPORTS ASTROPHYSICIST *IR¤ 'RYGAR WHO TAKES PART IN THE DISCUSSION ON ASTROL OGY AND VIOLINIST *AROSLAV 3VECEN« WHO TALKS ABOUT TRADITIONS %ACH EPI SODE FEATURES MUSIC FROM CONTEMPO RARY ARTISTS AND ENDS WITH A SHORT RE mECTION THAT OFFERS A BIBLICAL ALTERNA TIVE TO PREVAILING CONTEMPORARY CON SUMERISM "EDRICH *ETELINA DIRECTOR OF THE #ZECH (OPE #HANNEL EXPLAINS h4HIS
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.!4)/.!, 02/'2!--).' #ZECH (OPE #HANNEL CREW WORKS ON lLMING A TELEVISION PROGRAM FOR NATIONWIDE BROADCAST
SERIES OF PROGRAMS IS THE FRUIT OF A LONG TERM COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR MEDIA CENTER AND THE EDITORIAL OFlCE FOR RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS OF THE #ZECH STATE TELEVISION /UR MAIN GOAL AND MOTIVATION IN PREPARING THIS SERIES IS TO HELP A YOUNG GENERATION OF OUR FEL LOW CITIZENSˆMOSTLY POSTMODERN AND SECULARˆTO DISCOVER THAT THE "IBLE AND #HRISTIANITY CAN OFFER A VALUABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE PREVAILING WORLDVIEW AND LIFESTYLE AND THAT THE BIBLICAL AP PROACH TO LIFE S ISSUES IS REALISTIC FUNC TIONAL AND FULlLLING v 4HE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW ZAOBZOREM CZ ˆ2EPORTED BY %URO !FRICA $IVISION
(EADQUARTERS FOR 5 + AND )RELAND .EARS #OMPLETION !FTER &IRE N !DMINISTRATIVE OFlCES FOR THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN THE 5NITED +INGDOM AND )RELAND ARE NEARING COMPLETION MONTHS AFTER A lRE GUTTED PREVIOUS HEADQUARTERS 4HE lNAL PHASE OF REBUILDINGˆ INCLUDING A FOYER TRAINING ROOMS A BOARDROOM AND ADDITIONAL OFlCESˆIS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE YEAR REGIONAL CHURCH OFlCIALS SAID 4HE lRE STARTED .OVEMBER IN THE ROOF SPACE ABOVE THE BOARDROOM AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO PERCENT OF THE BUILDING %MPLOYEES MOVED BACK INTO HEADQUARTERS $ECEMBER DE SPITE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION h0EOPLE LIKE THE NEW LOOK OF THE OFlCE v SAID 6ICTOR (ULBERT COMMUNI CATION DIRECTOR FOR THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN "RITAIN h4HEY MAY BE SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM THEY WERE IN BEFORE THE lRE BUT IT HAS BEEN UPGRADED x AND THE WINDOWS LOOKING OVER 3TANBOROUGH 0ARK GIVE A STUNNING VIEW v (ULBERT ADDED THE NEW WORK SPACE ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO hMORE EFlCIENTLY FULlLL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH v 7HILE WORK SPACE AT HEADQUARTERS IS STILL LIMITED UNTIL CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED IN LATE SUMMER OR EARLY FALL (ULBERT SAID THE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE STILL FAR SUPERIOR TO THE CRAMP TEMPO RARY RENTAL SPACE THE STAFF OCCUPIED AFTER THE lRE 4HE CONSTRUCTION TEAM WAS NEXT DUE TO FOCUS ON AREAS COMPLETELY DE MOLISHED BY THE lRE EMPLOYEES SAID ! *ANUARY COLD SPELL TEMPORARILY HALTED PROGRESS !T PRESS TIME THE TEAM WAS WAITING FOR THE TEMPERATURE TO RISE ABOVE DEGREES #ELSIUS DEGREES &AHRENHEIT BEFORE THEY COULD CON TINUE POURING CONCRETE FOR THE FOUN DATIONS OF THE REMAINING WORK AREAS
/. 4(% */" !DVENTIST #HURCH EMPLOYEES IN THE 5NITED +INGDOM AND )RELAND BACK AT WORK IN NEWLY REFURBISHED OFlCE SPACE )N A lRE DESTROYED MUCH OF THE BUILDING 6 ) # 4 / 2 ( 5 , " % 2 4 " 2 ) 4 ) 3 ( 5 . ) / . # / . & % 2 % . # %
(ULBERT SAID HE WAS hIMPRESSEDv WITH THE SWIFTNESS OF THE REBUILDING SO FAR AND THAT THE WEATHER RELATED SET BACK WOULD LIKELY NOT AFFECT ITS PRO JECTED COMPLETION ˆ2EPORTED BY -EGAN "RAUNER AND %LIZABETH ,ECHLEITNER !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK ,EADERSHIP $EVELOPMENT /FlCE 3ETS 'UIDELINES FOR .EWLY %LECTED /FlCERS N 7HAT HAPPENS WHEN A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH MEMBER WITH LIMITED LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IS UNEXPECTEDLY ELECTED TO CHURCH OFlCE 4HE CHURCH S /FlCE OF 'LOBAL ,EADERSHIP $EVELOPMENT IS MAKING SURE THAT MEMBERS IN THAT POSITION HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO BECOMEˆIN SHORT ORDERˆEFFECTIVE MISSION FOCUSED LEADERS WHO CAN AN TICIPATE CHANGES AND CHALLENGES AND RESPOND IN A RESPONSIBLE AND APPRO PRIATE FASHION ,EADERSHIP $EVELOPMENT OFlCIALS MET IN "EIJING #HINA IN *ANUARY FOR THEIR THIRD ANNUAL 'LOBAL ,EADERSHIP $EVELOPMENT 3UMMIT 4HEY REVIEWED THE EXISTING CURRICULUM FOR REGIONAL CHURCH PRESIDENTS SECRETARIES TREASUR ERS AND OTHER LEADERS TO ENSURE NO TOPICS ARE OVERLOOKED h4HERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED AS SAY PRESIDENT WHO HAVE NEVER SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY BEFORE !ND WHEN THEY START THEIR NEW JOB
THEY SOMETIMES DON T HAVE THE NECES SARY SKILLSˆHOW TO CHAIR A MEETING HOW TO CONSIDER ISSUES IN A LEGAL CON TEXT v SAID 0ARDON -WANSA WHO ALONGSIDE -ICHAEL , 2YAN OVERSEES THE ,EADERSHIP $EVELOPMENT TEAM "OTH ARE !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH GEN ERAL VICE PRESIDENTS 7HILE CURRICULUM TOPICS WILL BE STANDARDIZED ACROSS CHURCH REGIONS THEY CAN BE TAILORED TO lT THE NEEDS OF A PARTICULAR CULTURE h/NE TOPIC FOR EXAMPLE IS DECI SION MAKING 9OU RE STILL MAKING DECI SIONS WHEREVER YOU LIVE AND WORK BUT HOW YOU MAKE DECISIONS IN #HINA IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM HOW YOU MIGHT MAKE DECISIONS IN SAY THE 5NITED 3TATES v -WANSA SAID 4HE LEADERSHIP TEAM ANTICIPATES lNALIZING AND APPROVING THE CURRICU LUM IN TIME FOR *UNE S !DVENTIST #HURCH WORLD SESSION DURING WHICH LEADERS ARE ELECTED TO lLL A NUMBER OF POSITIONS AT CHURCH HEADQUARTERS AS WELL AS IN EACH OF THE CHURCH S WORLD REGIONS -WANSA SAID 6IEW LEADERSHIP GUIDELINES AND LOOK FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT LEADER SHIPDEVELOPMENT ADVENTIST ORG CUR RICULUMS ˆ2EPORTED BY %LIZABETH ,ECHLEITNER !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK
-ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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(ANS "IRKEL 2ECE VES RESIDENTIAL
"Y 'ERHARD 0ADDERATZ EDITOR OF "7GUNG MAGAZINE "ADEN 7ÓRTTEMBERGISCHE 6EREINIGUNG 'ERMANY
0'ERMAN !DVENTIST RAISES € TO HELP OTHERS (ONOR
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4OP 02%3)$%.4)!, (/./2 'ERMAN PRESIDENT (ORST + HLER RIGHT GREETS 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST (ANS "IRKEL DURING A CEREMONY IN "ERLIN 4HROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF YEARS "IRKEL HAS RAISED ALMOST Ñ 53 FOR VARIOUS CHARITIES INCLUDING !DVENTIST RELIEF EFFORTS )NSET #(!2)49 34!-0 /NE TYPE OF 'ERMANY S CHARITY STAMPS WILL NOW BE SCENTED TO MATCH THE FRUIT DEPICTED
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
$ % 5 4 3 # ( % 0 / 3 4 ' % 2 ( ! 2 $ 0! $ $ % 2 !4 :
ANS "IRKEL AN YEAR OLD 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST WAS RECENTLY HONORED BY THE 'ERMAN PRESIDENT (ORST + HLER AT A SPECIAL CEREMONY IN "ERLIN !T THE EVENT "IRKEL AND HIS WIFE 2ENATE MET + HLER AND -INISTER OF &INANCE 7OLFGANG 3CHØUBLE AS WELL AS OTHER DIG NITARIES "IRKEL WAS HONORED FOR HIS FUND RAISING FOR CHARITY ESPECIALLY HIS WORK IN THE SALE OF CHARITY STAMPS #HARITY STAMPS ARE SPECIAL ISSUE CENT POSTAGE STAMPS THAT ARE SOLD FOR CENTS 4HE SURCHARGE GOES TO AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION THAT DISTRIBUTES THE MONEY TO OFlCIAL 'ERMAN CHARITIES !LTHOUGH "IRKEL BEGAN SELLING CHARITY STAMPS IN WHEN HE WAS YEARS OLD HE HAS COLLECTED € OR 53 "IRKEL HAS COLLECTED FOR DIFFERENT CHARITIES SINCE AND HIS RECORD IS IMPRESSIVE (E S RAISED € 53 THROUGHOUT THE YEARS FOR MANY DIFFERENT CHARITIES !ND WHILE HE WAS AT IT HE ALSO RAISED € 53 FOR 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CHARITIES !LTOGETHER "IRKEL HAS COLLECTED ALMOST
€ 53 DURING THE PAST YEARS $ESPITE HIS YEARS "IRKEL STILL LEADS AN ACTIVE AND DY NAMIC LIFE (E IS AN AVID SWIMMER AS WELL AS TABLE TENNIS TRAINER 'OOD HEALTH IS NOT SOMETHING HE TAKES FOR GRANTED (IS lRST CONTACT WITH 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS CAME IN THE EARLY S WHILE HE WAS WORKING AS A VOLUNTEER FOOT BALL TRAINER /NE OF THE PLAYERS OFTEN BROUGHT ALONG HIS SISTER AN !DVENTIST TO PRACTICES AND MATCHES !S HE DEVELOPED AN INTEREST IN THE YOUNG WOMAN "IRKEL ALSO DEVELOPED AN INTEREST IN HER RELIGION "IBLE STUDIES SOON FOLLOWED AND "IRKEL WAS BAP TIZED IN 4HE FOLLOWING YEAR HE MARRIED THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO HAD AWAKENED HIS INTEREST IN THE !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HROUGH HIS CHURCH PASTOR "IRKEL WAS INTRODUCED TO THE ACTIVITY THAT WOULD BECOME HIS PASSION 4HE PASTOR TOOK "IRKEL ALONG TO SOLICIT FUNDS FOR A WELFARE PROJECT IN 3OON "IRKEL WAS KNOCKING ON DOORS HIMSELF (E EVEN DEVEL OPED HIS OWN SYSTEM (E NOTED EVERY HOME AND BUSINESS THAT GAVE AT LEAST lVE DEUTSCHE MARKS THE 'ERMAN CUR RENCY BEFORE THE EURO AND THEN HE WOULD VISIT THE NEXT YEAR WITH A THANK YOU GIFT 3INCE THE GIFT A JAR OF HOMEMADE JAM MADE BY HIS WIFE HAS BECOME A HIGHLY PRIZED COMMODITY 7HILE "IRKEL DOES THE COLLECTING HIS WIFE INVESTS TIME AND LABOR FOR CHARITY )N SHE MADE JARS OF JAM FOR HER HUSBAND TO DISTRIBUTE !SKED WHY HE HAS SPENT SO MANY HOURS AND YEARS OF HIS LIFE COLLECTING MONEY FOR OTHERS "IRKEL REPLIES h3INCE ) HAVE COME TO KNOW *ESUS AND THE !DVENTIST MESSAGE ) AM SO HAPPY 4HIS IS MY WAY OF HELPING TO LESSEN POVERTY AND SUFFER ING AND HELPING OTHERS TO BECOME HAPPY 0ERHAPS IT IS EVEN A WAY FOR THEM TO GET TO KNOW *ESUS AND THE !DVENT MESSAGE v &OR "IRKEL EVERY CONTACT SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIT NESS ABOUT HIS FAITH 4ALKING ABOUT HIS FAITH COMES NATURALLY TO HIM 7HILE OTHERS MAY HAVE FELT SELF CONSCIOUS DURING THE SPECIAL CITY TOUR AND STATE DINNER "IRKEL WAS GIVEN AS A RESULT OF HIS VOLUNTEER WORK HE SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO 'ERMANY S PRESIDENT AND lNANCE MINISTER ABOUT HIS FAITH #OINCIDENTLY THIS YEAR A NEW SET OF CHARITY MAIL STAMPS HAVE BEEN PRINTED &OR THE lRST TIME THEY WILL CARRY A PLEAS ANT AROMA "UYERS WILL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE ADHESIVES WITH AN APPLE STRAWBERRY LEMON OR BERRY SCENT 4RANSLATED BY #HANTAL +LINGBEIL EDITED BY +LINGBEIL WITH !DVENTIST 7ORLD STAFF
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#HANGING (OW TO APPLY ETERNAL VALUES TO OUR CHANGING CULTURES "Y *AN 0AULSEN
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OR SOME SEEING THE WORDS hCHANGEv AND h!DVENTISMv WITHIN THE SAME SENTENCE IS UNSETTLING )S OUR CHURCH CHANGING $OES IT LOOK DIFFERENT SOUND DIFFERENT EXPRESS ITSELF DIFFERENTLY THAN IT DID A DECADE AGO TWO OR THREE DECADES AGO !ND IF THERE ARE DIFFERENCES HOW SHOULD WE RELATE TO THEM 4HE IDEA OF CHANGE CAN BE DEEPLY TROUBLING 7E PREFER THAT WHICH WE KNOWˆTHE COMFORTABLE THE FAMILIAR 9ET WHATEVER BELONGS TO TODAY IS IN CONSTANT mUXˆIN A PROCESS OF hBECOMING v ) ENCOUNTER THE INEVITABILITY OF CHANGE WHEN ) LOOK INTO THE FACES OF MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN OR WHEN ) OPEN A NEWSPAPER OR LOG ONTO THE )NTERNET ) HEAR THE CERTAINTY OF CHANGE IN THE WORDS OF YOUNG !DVENTIST PROFESSIONALS WHO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THEIR DREAMS FOR THEIR CHURCH ) SEE THE FORCE OF CHANGE IN THE WORSHIP OF !FRICAN WOMEN WHO MOVE AND SING WITH JOY AS THEY WALK INTO CHURCH ) EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF CHANGE AS ) WORSHIP WITH !DVENTIST BELIEVERS IN #HINA WHO HAVE FOR SO LONG BEEN CUT OFF FROM THEIR WORLDWIDE CHURCH COMMUNITY AND WHO SAY TO ME h$O WE STILL BELONG !RE WE PART OF THE FAMILY v 4HE ILLUSION THAT WE AS A CHURCH CAN STAND STILL WHILE THE REST OF THE WORLD IS IN CONSTANT MOTION AROUND US IS JUST THATˆAN ILLUSION /UR CHURCH EXISTS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS
OF TIME GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURE SO IT ALSO MUST CHANGE 7E ARE BUFFETED BY EXTERNAL FORCESˆPOLITICAL ECONOMIC CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL REALITIESˆWHICH ARE LARGELY BEYOND OUR CONTROL !ND THERE ARE INTERNAL FORCES FOR CHANGE AS WELL THAT EXIST SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE A FAMILY OF MILLION MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN HUNDREDS OF CULTURES LANGUAGES AND NATIONALITIES BLENDED TOGETHER IN #HRIST #HANGE COMES BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY OF !DVENTISM IS GROWING IT S DYNAMIC AND IT S ALIVE )S THE FACE OF !DVENTISM CHANGING 9ES IN SOME WAYS )S THIS SOMETHING TO BE FEARED SOMETHING TO BE RESISTED ) THINK NOT 7ALKING "ACKWARD )NTO THE &UTURE
7HILE CHANGE IS INEVITABLE OUR RESPONSE ISN T 4HERE ARE ESSENTIALLY TWO ATTITUDES WE CAN ADOPT 7E CAN TURN OUR FACES TOWARD THE PAST lX OUR EYES ON THE PATH ALONG WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY TRAVELED AND ATTEMPT TO WALK BACKWARD INTO THE FU TURE 4HUS WE COME TO SEE ALL CHANGE AS INHERENTLY DISTURBING AS SOMEHOW BREAKING FAITH WITH OUR SPIRITUAL HERITAGE ALMOST APOSTASY 7E ASK EACH OTHER ANXIOUSLY h7HAT SHOULD WE DO v !LTERNATELY WE CAN TURN AROUND AND FACE THE FUTURE WITH ALL ITS UNCERTAINTIES AND CHALLENGES 7E CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THE -ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
7 / 2 , $ 6 ) 3 4! CERTAINTY OF CHANGE AND SEEK TO HARNESS ITS ENERGY AND CRE ATIVITY 4HE PAST BECOMES NOT A DESTINATION BUT SOMETHING THAT HELPS DElNE OUR CORE IDENTITY AND VALUES AND POINTS TO WHERE WE ARE GOING AND IN THIS WAY WE CARRY THE PAST WITH US INTO THE FUTURE 4HE CRITICAL QUESTION NOW BECOMES h(OW CAN WE GUIDE AND CHANNEL THESE FORCES FOR CHANGE INTO THAT WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION v ) BELIEVE THAT AN !DVENTISM THAT HAS BECOME FROZEN WITHIN A PARTICULAR TIME OR CULTURE HAS LOST ITS WAY )T CAN NO LONGER RESPOND CREATIVELY TO CHALLENGES IT HAS LOST ITS ABILITY TO ADAPT ITS METHODS ITS STRUCTURE AND THE WAY IT USES ITS RESOURCES TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION IN A CHANGING WORLD
4IM .)6 h#ONTINUE IN WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND HAVE BECOME CONVINCED OF BECAUSE YOU KNOW THOSE FROM WHOM YOU LEARNED ITv 4IM .)6 0AUL IS SAY ING h4AKE CARE OF YOUR SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE 5NDERSTAND WHAT YOU BELIEVE THEN TAKE IT WITH YOU INTO LIFE v 4HERE ARE THINGS THAT COME TO !DVENTISM FROM OUR PAST THAT ARE hNONNEGOTIABLES v 4HESE ARE OUR SPIRITUAL INHERI TANCE 4HEY ARE NOT OPEN TO BE REINVENTED OR MODIlED OR RELEGATED TO A PLACE OF LESSER IMPORTANCE 4HEY ARE OUR BIRTHRIGHT THE TOUCHSTONES OF OUR FAITH WHICH GIVE US OUR IDENTITY AND MISSION AND WE MUST TAKE THEM WITH US INTO THE FUTURE
7E SERVE A ,ORD WHO IS NO CHAMPION OF THE STATUS QUO 4HE GOSPEL OF #HRIST IS A GOSPEL OF TRANSFORMATION ,ISTEN TO THE WORDS OF %LLEN 7HITE h7E CANNOT BE AC CEPTED OR HONORED OF 'OD IN RENDERING THE SAME SERVICE OR DOING THE SAME WORKS THAT OUR FATHERS DID )N ORDER TO BE ACCEPTED AND BLESSED OF 'OD AS THEY WERE WE MUST IMITATE THEIR FAITHFULNESS AND ZEAL ˆIMPROVE OUR LIGHT AS THEY IM PROVED THEIRS ˆAND DO AS THEY WOULD HAVE DONE HAD THEY LIVED IN OUR DAY 7E MUST WALK IN THE LIGHT WHICH SHINES UPON US OTHERWISE THAT LIGHT WILL BECOME DARKNESSv 4ESTIMONIES FOR THE #HURCH VOL P (OW DO WE hWALK IN THE LIGHT WHICH SHINES UPON USv (OW DO WE BRING THE AGELESS TRUTHS OF YESTERDAY WITH US INTO THE REALITIES OF TODAY )T REQUIRES A MIND SET THAT DOESN T FEAR CHANGE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS CHANGE )T REQUIRES AN ABILITY TO DISCERN THAT WHICH IS TRANSCENDENTˆTHOSE UNCHANGING VALUES AND TRUTHS THAT ALLOW US TO NEGOTIATE SAFELY THROUGH A WORLD OF CHANGE 5NCHANGING 4RUTH
!NYTHING THAT IS ALIVE EXPERIENCES CHANGEˆIT WILL COME IRRESPECTIVE OF HOW YOU OR ) FEEL ABOUT IT "UT IN ACKNOWL EDGING THIS DO WE THEN LET CHANGE RUN WILD $O WE ALLOW CHANGE TO DRIVE AND DETERMINE ITSELF WITHIN THE LIFE AND WITNESS OF THE CHURCH 4HE APOSTLE 0AUL WRITING TO 4IMOTHY RETURNS AGAIN AND AGAIN TO THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD TRUTH h4IMOTHY GUARD WHAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO YOUR CAREv 4IM .)6 h7HAT YOU HEARD FROM ME KEEP AS THE PATTERN OF SOUND TEACH INGx 'UARD THE GOOD DEPOSIT THAT WAS ENTRUSTED TO YOUv
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
7HAT ARE THESE CONSTANTS &IRST AND FOREMOST #HRIST AS (E COMES TO US OUT OF HISTORY AND AS WE MEET (IM IN 3CRIPTURE (E IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE /NE AND ONLYˆTHE h3OLID 2OCK v 3ECOND 3CRIPTURE ITSELF FOR THIS IS THE VOICE OF 'OD GIVING VALUES AND DIRECTION TO HUMANKIND 3CRIPTURE TELLS US ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF #HRIST ABOUT (IS ONGOING MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION AND JUDGMENT ABOUT HOW (E MADE US AND LIFE ON THIS PLANET ABOUT (IS PROPHETIC GIFT TO THE CHURCHˆIT S A LIST WE COULD EXPAND TO EMBRACE EACH OF OUR &UNDAMENTAL "ELIEFS 4HIRD 'OD S PURPOSE FOR EACH OF US AS INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PERSONAL SPIRITUAL BOND BETWEEN MYSELF AND MY #REATOR MUST EXIST BEFORE ) CAN TAKE MY PLACE AS A MEMBER OF THE CORPORATE BODY OF #HRIST !ND lNALLY OUR SHARED HISTORY AS A CHURCH ALL THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION h7HAT IS THE PURPOSE OF !DVENTISM WHY DID 'OD CALL THIS MOVEMENT INTO EXISTENCE v 4HESE FOUR CONSTANTS ARE NOT hUP FOR GRABS v 4HEY ARE NOT hMAYBE S MAYBE NOT S v 4HEY HAVE MEANING WITHIN EV ERY CULTURE AND THEY ARE NOT DIMINISHED BY THE PASSAGE OF TIME OR BY CHANGING SOCIETAL NORMS 4HEY EXIST ABOVE AND BEYOND THE WORLD OF CHANGE !ND WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THESE CONSTANTS WE lND A HUGE BODY OF IDENTIFYING VALUES 7HEN WE UNDERSTAND THIS WHEN WE RE CLEAR ON THE TRUTHS THAT WE WILL LIVE AND DIE FOR WE HAVE NO REASON TO BE THREATENED BY CHANGE 7E APPROACH CHANGE FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH AND CERTAINTY
.AVIGATING A 7ORLD OF #HANGE
) CAN UNDERSTAND 0ETER S AWE AND BEWILDERMENT AS HE WITNESSED THE GLORY OF THE TRANSlGURED #HRIST h,ORD v HE SAYS h,ET S STAY HEREˆLET S BUILD THREE SHELTERS ON THE MOUNTAINTOP ONE FOR 9OU %LIJAH AND -OSESv SEE -ATT "UT #HRIST WENT BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND CONTINUED (IS MINISTRY TO HUMANITY !DVENTISM DOESN T BELONG ON THE MOUNTAINTOP EITHER IT BELONGS TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE LIVE AND WORK WITH ALL THEIR UNTIDINESS AND DISORDER AND CHANGE )N RECENT YEARS ) VE BECOME ACUTELY AWARE OF VARIOUS PRESSURE POINTS FOR CHANGE WITHIN !DVENTISM WHICH COME FROM MANY MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES !ND ) VE BECOME MORE CONSCIOUS ALSO OF THE NEED FOR ME AS A CHURCH LEADER TO CULTIVATE A NONDEFENSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD CHANGEˆTO LOOK AT IT FOR WHAT IT REPRESENTS IN PRACTICE TO TEST IT AGAINST THE CONSTANTS OF OUR FAITH AS THEY COME TO US FROM 3CRIPTURE 7HERE WILL CHANGE TEST US 0RESSURE FOR CHANGE WILL COME TO US FROM THE POLITICAL REALM 4HE CHURCH MUST FUNCTION WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT S PLACED IT HAS LITTLE CHOICE )N THE 7EST THE CHURCH HAS FEW CONSTRAINTS 9ET IN MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD THE CHURCH MUST lND WAYS TO ADAPT TO POLITICAL REALITIES WITHOUT COMPROMISING THAT WHICH IT VALUES HIGHLY AS A FAITH COMMUNITY )N PLACES WHERE WE CAN SPEAK OUT FREELY THE VOICE OF !DVENTISM MUST BE CLEARLY HEARDˆIN A WAY THAT S FREE FROM PARTISAN POLITICSˆON THOSE ISSUES THAT TOUCH OUR CORE VALUES FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS JUSTICE CARE FOR OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS )NDIVIDUAL CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD ALSO ASK h#AN ) SHOULD ) BE MORE INVOLVED IN SHAPING THE MORAL AND SOCIAL LANDSCAPE OF MY COMMUNITY OR NATION (OW CAN ) DO THAT 7HAT CAN ) CONTRIBUTE 3HOULD ) BE COME POLITICALLY ENGAGED v 3OCIETY S CHANGING ATTITUDES TO HUMAN CONDUCT AND MO RALITY WILL ALSO TEST US )N MANY PLACES THERE S A PUBLIC DIA LOGUE ABOUT THE DElNITION OF MARRIAGE AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FOR SOCIETY (OW DO WE AS !DVENTISTS RELATE TO THIS )T S SOMETHING WE DIDN T NEED TO STRUGGLE WITH YEARS AGO 4HE CHURCH CANNOT AND WILL NOT ENDORSE CHANGING MORAL ATTITUDES THAT RUN COUNTER TO THE CLEAR INJUNCTIONS OF 3CRIP TURE EVEN WHEN THESE lND PROVISION WITHIN LAW #OULD IT IMPACT THE OPERATIONS OF OUR CHURCH 0ERHAPS 4HE CHURCH HAS TO EXPLORE THE DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN BEING OBEDIENT CITIZENS OF THE LAND AND BEING FAIR MINDED HUMAN BEINGS WITHOUT COMING ADRIFT FROM OUR BIBLICAL VALUES 4HESE THINGS ARE NEVER EASY AND YET THEY MUST BE FACED #HANGE WILL CONTINUE TO COME TO US THROUGH TECHNOL OGYˆESPECIALLY COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA 4HIS IS AN AREA IN WHICH ) BELIEVE !DVENTISM MUST HAVE AN
ATTITUDE OF ENGAGEMENT !RE WE KEEPING CURRENT WITH THE POSSIBILITIES THESE NEW MEDIA PRESENT TO US !RE WE WILLING TO HARNESS NEW METHODS OF COMMUNICATION IN THE HOPES OF REACHING THOSE SLICES OF HUMANITYˆPARTICULARLY YOUNG PEO PLEˆWHO ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY SELECTIVE ABOUT THEIR SOURCES OF INFORMATION !NOTHER AREA IN WHICH CHANGE PRESENTS ITSELF TO US IS IN WORSHIP PATTERNS 7E RE A GLOBAL COMMUNITY AND EACH ONE OF US IS A CHILD OF OUR OWN TIME AND CULTURE )T S NATURAL THAT THERE WILL BE VARIATIONS IN THE FORMAT OF WORSHIP OR THE STYLE OF MUSIC OR THE LEVEL OF FORMALITY OR SPONTANEITY 7E DON T ALL NECESSARILY SING TO ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT ) HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT ) DON T AUTOMATICALLY BRAND ANYTHING THAT ISN T FROM MY TRADITION AS SINFUL SIMPLY BE CAUSE IT S DIFFERENT )N THE SAME WAY WHEN ) MEET PEOPLEˆ EVEN WITHIN MY OWN FAITH COMMUNITYˆWHOSE APPEARANCE DOES NOT QUITE MATCH MY EXPECTATIONS LET ME NOT BE TOO HASTY IN CONCLUDING THAT THEY RE SOMEHOW COMING ADRIFT FROM THE ,ORD ,ET S BE GENTLE WITH PEOPLE FOR WHEN EVERY THING ELSE IS PEELED AWAY IT S PEOPLEˆNOT THINGS IDEAS OR CULTURAL EXPECTATIONSˆTHAT #HRIST IS GOING TO SAVE ! NONDEFENSIVE ATTITUDE TO CHANGE IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE WAY WE APPROACH MISSION 4HERE MUST BE A mEXIBILITYˆA SUPPLENESSˆIN OUR THINKING THAT ALLOWS US TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH WE lND OURSELVES 3O MISSION INITIATIVES AND PRO GRAMS MAY CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR 4HE WAY WE USE OUR RESOURCESˆOUR SPENDING PRIORITIESˆWILL CHANGE 0OLICIES AND STRUCTURES SHOULDN T BE SERVANTS OF TRADITIONˆWE SHOULDN T INVEST THEM WITH AN AURA OF SACREDNESS SIMPLY BECAUSE hTHAT S THE WAY WE VE ALWAYS DONE IT v )NSTEAD CHURCH POLICY SHOULD SERVE THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION AND THE LANGUAGE OF POLICY SHOULD BE SHAPED BY THE SIMPLE QUESTION h7HAT IS IT WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH AND WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE CHURCH v 'OSPEL OF #HANGE
7E SERVE A ,ORD WHO IS NO CHAMPION OF THE STATUS QUO 4HE GOSPEL OF #HRIST IS AT HEART A GOSPEL OF TRANSFORMA TIONˆOF RADICAL CHANGE #HRIST SAID h.ICODEMUS YOU HAVE TO BE BORN AGAIN 7HAT YOU ARE NOW IS NOT ENOUGH ) WILL CHANGE YOU AND MAKE YOU INTO A NEW PERSON v !ND IN 2EV ELATION #HRIST DECLARES h"EHOLD ) MAKE ALL THINGS NEW v #HANGE WILL COME )T WILL COME BECAUSE OUR CHURCH IS VITAL AND ALIVE AND IT WILL COME BECAUSE THE WORLD WE BELONG TO IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING 7E WILL TEST CHANGE AGAINST THE CONSTANTS OF OUR FAITH 7E WILL ASK h$OES THIS UNIFY US AS A SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY $OES IT FURTHER OUR MISSION v !ND THEN WE WILL WALK INTO 'OD S FUTURE WITHOUT FEAR
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7 / 2 , $ ( % ! , 4 (
3LEEP "Y !LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES AND 0ETER . ,ANDLESS -Y HUSBAND HAS A PECULIAR SLEEP PATTERN (E BREATHES DEEPER AND DEEPER THEN STOPS BREATHING ONLY TO START BREATHING AGAIN WITH A KIND OF SNORT (E THEN PANTS A BIT SLOWLY SETTLES DOWN AND THEN REPEATS THE PATTERN ) MAKE HIM ROLL OVER BUT ) M NOT GETTING A GOOD REST MYSELF !ND HE SEEMS TO BE MORE IRRITABLE THAN HE USED TO BE $O YOU THINK THIS KIND OF SNORING COULD BE HELPED BY SURGERY
IS SOMETHING CALLED #0!0 4HE LETTERS STAND FOR #ONTINUOUS 0OSITIVE !IRWAY 0RESSURE ! DEVICE THAT INCREASES THE PRESSURE IN THE AIRWAY IS USED TO HOLD THE AIRWAY TISSUE OPEN DURING SLEEP 4HIS TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO BUT THE PATIENTS READILY ADJUST TO THE AP PARATUS AND SOON LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE BENElTS ENORMOUSLY "Y REDUCING THE mUCTUATIONS IN OXYGEN AND CAR BON DIOXIDE LEVELS #0!0 REMOVES SOME OF THE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS THAT MAY PREDISPOSE TO HYPERTENSION AND HEART RISK
-ILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE HAVE SLEEP APNEA
7
HAT YOU HAVE VERY NICELY DESCRIBED IS hSLEEP APNEA v 4HIS IS A PROBLEM THAT S BECOMING MORE COMMON AND MAY WELL BE A REmECTION OF THE INCREASED PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT INDIVIDUALS AMONG US 3OMETIMES CALLED hOBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA v THIS IS WHEN THE UPPER AIRWAY IS NARROWED CAUSING THE RESPI RATORY MUSCLES TO WORK HARDERˆBUT THERE ARE MANY MORE RAMIlCATIONS THAN THAT -ILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE HAVE SLEEP APNEA )T S MORE COMMON AS THE POPULATION AGES AND MORE FREQUENTLY
!LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES - " #H " &2#0# &2#3# &!#/' IS DIREC TOR OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFER ENCE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT
0ETER . ,ANDLESS - " " #H - -ED & # 0 3! & ! # # IS )#0! EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT
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FOUND IN MENˆESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT SMOKE HAVE THICKER NECKS AND POSSIBLY HAVE MORE SOFT TISSUE IN THEIR NASOPHARYNGEAL AREA 3LEEP APNEA IS A FACTOR IN HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE 4HE RISE IN BLOOD CAR BON DIOXIDE AND THE FALL IN BLOOD OXY GEN TENSION MAY BE INVOLVED IN TRIG GERING VASCULAR CHANGES )T S WELL RECOGNIZED THAT AS A GROUP PEOPLE WITH SLEEP APNEA ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE CARDIAC RHYTHM IRREGULARITIES AND HEART FAILURE IN THEIR RANKS THAN A CONTROL POPULATION )T S NOT SURPRISING THAT YOUR HUS BAND MAY BE MORE IRRITABLE BECAUSE HE S NOT GETTING PROPER RESTˆAND NEI THER ARE YOU 0EOPLE WITH SLEEP APNEA ARE OFTEN TIRED DURING THE DAY COM PLAIN OF HEADACHES AND EXHIBIT FORGET FULNESS 3OME MALES MAY NOTICE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION AND SHOULD BE CAREFULLY SCREENED FOR HYPERTENSION 3OME PEOPLE HAVE HAD RELIEF FROM WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED hSOMNOPLASTY v 4HIS IS A SURGERY IN WHICH SOFT TISSUE AT THE BACK OF THE THROAT IS REMOVED 4HE PROCEDURE INVOLVES THE UVULA AND THE SOFT PALATE )T CAN BRING BENElTS BUT BY FAR THE MOST USEFUL TREATMENT
/F COURSE #0!0 SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS THE DElNITIVE TREATMENT -OST PEOPLE WITH SLEEP APNEA WOULD IMPROVE ENORMOUSLY IF THEY LOST WEIGHT 9OU DO NOT MENTION YOUR HUS BAND S WEIGHT BUT ) WOULD GUESS HE IS SOME POUNDS OVERWEIGHT )F THIS IS THE CASE HELP HIM BY REDUCING PORTION SIZES AT MEALTIME AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO EAT NOTHING BETWEEN MEALS 0EOPLE WHO CONSUME A LOT OF FAT AS IN RED MEAT CHEESE AND GREASY FOOD CAN RE DUCE CALORIES BY AVOIDING SUCH ITEMS -ANY EAT A LOT OF BREAD AND REDUCING THIS ALSO WILL HELP HIM LOSE WEIGHT 2ECENTLY GUIDELINES ON SUGAR CON SUMPTION WERE GIVEN THAT RECOMMEND NO MORE THAN SEVEN TEASPOONFULS A DAY FOR WOMEN AND NINE FOR MEN 4HIS IS EASILY EXCEEDED WHEN ONE CONSIDERS THAT MANY SOFT DRINKS WHICH REALLY ARE ONLY mAVORED SUGAR WATER CONTAIN UP TO TEASPOONS PER SERVING $ON T FORGET TO ENCOURAGE EXERCISE "EGIN WITH WALKING REGULARLY 4HIS WILL HELP BY IMPROVING METABOLIC EFlCIENCY 7E ALSO SUGGEST YOU VISIT YOUR DOCTOR IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR HUSBAND NEEDS TO BE UNDER ACTIVE MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
- !4 4 ( ) * 3 6! . ( % % 2 ) + ( 5 ) : % $ ) ' ) 4! , ,9 - / $ ) & ) % $
3 0 % # ) ! , & % !4 5 2 %
#ASTING A
5NITED
6 S ON $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON ON THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF THE CHURCH IN #ANADA "Y 3ANDRA "LACKMER
#!.!$)!. 5.)6%23)49 #/,,%'% 4HE !DVENTIST UNIVERSITY IN !LBERTA #ANADA EXPERIENCED A PERCENT INCREASE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR 4OP RIGHT !$6%.4)34 #(52#( ). #!.!$! 02%3)$%.4 $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON
!DVENTIST 7ORLD ASSISTANT EDITOR 3ANDRA "LACKMER RECENTLY TALKED WITH $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON PRESIDENT OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN #ANADA AT THE #ANADA CHURCH HEADQUARTERS IN /SHAWA /NTARIO 4HE CANDID AND INFORMATIVE INTERVIEW SPANNED TOPICS FROM 5 3 #ANADA RELATIONS TO THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP TO HOW #ANADA S OFlCIAL SANCTION OF GAY MARRIAGE IS AFFECTING THE CHURCH *ACKSON HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE !DVENTISTS WHO LIVE AND WORSHIP IN #ANADA FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS ",!#+-%2 4ELL ME A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF *!#+3/. 7ELL ) M A 7ESTERNER ) WAS BORN IN %DMONTON
!LBERTA SPENT MY EARLY LIFE IN %DMONTON AND ATTENDED #A NADIAN 5NIVERSITY #OLLEGE ) VE PASTORED IN !LBERTA "RITISH #OLUMBIA /NTARIO AND OVERSEAS IN 3RI ,ANKA AND )NDIA ) VE ALSO SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE -ANITOBA 3ASKATCHEWAN AND "RITISH #OLUMBIA CONFERENCES AND WAS ELECTED PRESI DENT OF THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN #ANADA IN .OVEMBER
COUNTRY ) CAN T SAY WE VE SUCCEEDED IN DOING THAT BUT WE VE MOVED IN THAT DIRECTION 7HAT S UNIQUE ABOUT THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IN #ANADA
#ANADA IS HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE .ORTH !MERICAN $IVISION 4HERE IS NO COUNTRY THAT WE ARE CLOSER TO NOT ONLY GEOGRAPH ICALLY BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF BROTHERLY TIES THAN THE 5NITED 3TATES "UT #ANADA IS ALSO A NATION OF ITS OWN 7E MUST DEAL WITH NATIONAL ISSUES AND BECAUSE OF #ANADIAN LAW WE CANNOT APPLY CERTAIN POLICIES THAT ARE APPLICABLE IN THE 5 3 4HERE S UNIQUENESS TO US BASED ON NATIONAL LAW AND NATIONAL CHARAC TERISTICS THAT MAKES US VERY DIFFERENT 3O WE MUST ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHURCH IN #ANADA 4HERE S BROAD ETHNIC DIVERSITY ACROSS #ANADA (OW DO !DVENTISTS HERE INCORPORATE THIS REALITY INTO WITNESSING AND OUTREACH
) BELIEVE THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT )N 7HAT S BEEN YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS PRESIDENT IN #ANADA
#ANADA IS A HUGE COUNTRY KILOMETERS OR MILES FROM COAST TO COAST (OW TO DEVELOP AND INFUSE IN THE MINDS OF OUR CONFERENCES AND LOCAL MEMBERS A UNITED VISION ) THINK THAT S BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE (OW DO WE SAIL THIS BIG SHIP IN ONE DIRECTION (OW DO WE INFUSE AN EVANGELISTIC PROCESS AN EVANGELISTIC ZEAL INTO THE WHOLE # / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & # ! . ! $ ) ! . 5 . ) / . - % 3 3 % . ' % 2
3ANDRA "LACKMER IS AN ASSISTANT EDITOR OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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3 0 % # ) ! , & % !4 5 2 %
4ORONTO ;/NTARIO= WE HAVE CHURCHESˆTHERE ARE SOME CONGREGATIONS THROUGHOUT ALL OF #ANADA "ECAUSE 4O RONTO IS VERY MULTICULTURAL WITH HUGE DIVERSITIES WE HAVE MANY ETHNIC CONGREGATIONS *APANESE +OREAN #HINESE 'HANIAN AND MORE 7E HAVE A MEMBER CHURCH IN -ARKHAM IN THE GREATER 4ORONTO AREA CALLED THE !PPLE #REEK CHURCH )T S PRI MARILY A 7EST )NDIAN CHURCH /NE WAY THEY VE WITNESSED TO THE COMMUNITY IS THROUGH PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS 4HEY VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SO ON 4HEIR PASTOR -ANSlELD %DWARDSˆ WHO RECENTLY WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE /NTARIO #ONFER ENCEˆACTUALLY BECAME CHAPLAIN OF THE 9ORK 2EGIONAL 0OLICE 4HE #ORNERSTONE CHURCH IN #OQUITLAM "RITISH #OLUM BIAˆWHICH HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED AN AMAZING FACILITY MAKEOVERˆHAS A PREDOMINANTLY #AUCASIAN MEMBERSHIP BUT IS SITUATED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY DENSELY POPULATED #HINESE AREA 4HEY VE HELD CULTURAL EVENTS THEY HAVE A DAY CARE CENTER THEY RENT THE CHURCH FACILITY TO A #HINESE COM MUNITY GROUP #OMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS THE KEY
4OP .!4)6% !$6%.4)34 3#(//, -AMAWI !TOSKETAN .ATIVE 3CHOOL IN 0ONOKA !LBERTA )NSET ! 6)4!, -)33)/. !DVENTIST TEACHERS INSTRUCT ABOUT DAY STUDENTS IN GRADES THROUGH AT THE CHURCH S .ATIVE SCHOOL
(OW MUCH OF AN !DVENTIST PRESENCE IS THERE IN THE MORE REMOTE REGIONS OF #ANADA
7E HAVE A CHURCH IN 9ELLOWKNIFE IN THE .ORTHWEST 4ERRITO RIES 7E HAVE A CONGREGATION IN 7HITEHORSE IN THE 9UKON 7E HAVE AN ESTABLISHED GROUP IN )QALUIT THE CAPITAL OF .UNAVUT 4ERRITORY .UNAVUT IS THE LARGEST ICE DESERT IN THE WORLD 7HEN THE SUN GOES DOWN IN /CTOBER IT DOESN T COME UP AGAIN UNTIL -ARCH 7E ALSO HAVE TWO CONGREGATIONS MEETING IN 0ORT (ARDY ON THE NORTHERN TIP OF 6ANCOUVER )SLAND /NE IS A .ATIVE CONGREGATION !BOUT YEARS AGO AN !MERICAN !DVENTIST TEACHER FROM /REGON WANTED TO MINISTER TO &IRST .ATIONS PEOPLE IN #ANADA 4HE "RITISH #OLUMBIA #ONFERENCE HIRED HIM AS A TASKFORCE WORKER IN NORTHERN 6ANCOUVER )SLAND (E SPENT A GOOD PART OF HIS lRST YEAR THERE JUST WALKING THE STREETS OF THE AREA (E WOULD PRAY WITH PEOPLE TELL THEM THAT *ESUS LOVED THEM (E BECAME KNOWN AS THE h*ESUS MAN v (E WAS SUPPORTED BY &IRST .ATIONS !DVENTIST FOLK UP THERE 4ODAY THERE S A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH THAT S A TESTIMONY TO THE PERSEVERANCE OF THAT PERSON S COMMITMENT TO 'OD 4HEY BUILT THIS CHURCH LIKE A .ATIVE LONGHOUSE AND HAVE A CONGREGATION OF ABOUT PEOPLE 4HE TEACHER AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN ADOPTED INTO THE LOCAL TRIBE )T S A WONDERFUL MULTICULTURAL STORY IN WHICH AN !MERICAN IS WORKING IN #ANADA TOGETHER WITH .ATIVES OR &IRST .ATIONS AND OTHER #ANADIANS TO DEVELOP THIS BEAUTIFUL CONGREGATION
THEM )T S LOCATED ON THE EDGE OF A RESERVE 4HE VIOLENCE DRUGS ALCOHOL SEX GANGPLAY IN THAT AREA IS INCREDIBLE BUT THE SCHOOL IS MAKING A HUGE IMPACT 3OME OF THE STUDENTS GO HOME TO NO FOOD SOME TO VERY VIOLENT SITUATIONS -ANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY SLEEP IN THE BASEMENT 4HEY WON T SLEEP ON THE MAIN mOOR OF THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE OF THE GUNPLAY 3O THIS SCHOOL AN !DVENTIST SCHOOL IS MINISTERING TO THESE KIDS )T S A MINISTRY IN THE TRENCHES ON THE FRONT LINES )N WHAT WAYS DO YOU INTEGRATE AND RETAIN YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE CHURCH
/UR UNIVERSITY #ANADIAN 5NIVERSITY #OLLEGE #5# IN ,ACOMBE !LBERTA IS A VERY POSITIVE INmUENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY )F ANY GROUP MODELS AND PROMOTES THE INTEGRATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE INTO THE CHURCH IT WOULD BE OUR COLLEGE 7E ALSO PROVIDE OUR CONFERENCE YOUTH LEADERS ACROSS #ANADA WITH FUNDS AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR YOUTH TRAINING EVENTS AND NATIONAL YOUTH RALLIES )NTEGRATING YOUNG PEOPLE INTO THE CHURCH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CHALLENGES WE HAVE
!RE YOU MINISTERING TO &IRST .ATIONS PEOPLE IN OTHER WAYS
9ES 7E HAVE THE -AMAWI !TOSKETAN .ATIVE 3CHOOL IN 0O NOKA !LBERTA ATTENDED BY ABOUT DAY STUDENTS IN GRADES THROUGH ˆAND THERE S JUST ONE !DVENTIST AMONG
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!BOUT TEACHERS INSTRUCT SOME STUDENTS IN !DVENTIST SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT #ANADA SO DO LOCAL MEMBERS AND PASTORS VIEW !DVENTIST EDUCATION AS A PRIORITY # / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & # ! . ! $ ) ! . ! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 - % 3 3 % . ' % 2
4HERE S A MIXED BAG ON THAT ,AST *UNE WE CONDUCTED A NA TIONAL PASTORS CONVENTION AT #5# 4HE EMPHASIS OF THAT CONVENTION WAS !DVENTIST #HRISTIAN EDUCATION TO ENCOUR AGE OUR PASTORS TO BECOME MORE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN EDUCA TION BECAUSE EDUCATION IS A PART OF WHO WE ARE )T S A TEACH ING OF THE CHURCH 3OME PASTORS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN OUR SCHOOLS IN OTHER AREAS IT S NOT THAT WAY !BOUT PASTORS ATTENDED THE CONVENTION AND ) WOULD SAY ONE THIRD OF THEM HAD NEVER BEFORE SEEN OUR COLLEGE )F AN !DVENTIST PASTOR SAYS h) DON T BELIEVE IN !DVENTIST EDUCATION v ) HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THAT 4HERE ARE TOO MANY ISSUES AT STAKE 4HE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN THE SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION OF OUR CHILDREN ARE FAR TOO IMPORTANT FOR US TO PLACE THEM INTO THE HANDS OF ;A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER= YOU DON T EVEN KNOW 9OU MAY GET A VERY lNE TEACHER WHO RE SPECTS YOUR CHILD S RELIGIOUS WORLDVIEW BUT YOU ALSO MAY GET ONE WHO DOESN T )F YOUR CHILD IS TAUGHT NOT TO BELIEVE IN THE #REATION STORY AND BECOMES UNSURE THAT 'OD EVEN EX ISTS TRY TO REVERSE THAT WHEN THEY RE (OW DO YOU ENVISION THE EDUCATION PICTURE WILL LOOK YEARS FROM NOW
7E RE TRYING VERY HARD TO GET INTO THE MINDS OF OUR PEOPLE HOW IMPORTANT !DVENTIST EDUCATION IS ) M NOT SURE WE RE SUCCEEDING BECAUSE LIKE ELSEWHERE IN .ORTH !MERICA OUR ENROLLMENTS ARE DECLININGˆWITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR COL LEGE 7E HAD A PERCENT INCREASE THERE 3O WHERE DO ) SEE IT GOING ) SEE US TRYING VERY HARD TO ENCOURAGE OUR MEMBERS TO BRUSH OUT THOSE INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL COBWEBS AND ASK h)N LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT *ESUS IS COMING WHY WOULD ) DELIBERATELY WILLFULLY PLACE MY CHIL DREN INTO THE HANDS OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS NO FAITH IN 'OD NO BELIEF IN 'OD S INTERVENTION IN HUMAN EVENTS 7HY WOULD ) DO THAT v 7E WANT OUR SCHOOLS TO BE STRONG 7E INVEST A SIGNIl CANT PORTION OF OUR BUDGET IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WILL CON TINUE TO DO SO )N #ANADA BECAME THE FOURTH COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO OFlCIALLY SANCTION GAY MARRIAGE NATIONWIDE AND NOW PRO HIBITS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SEXUAL ORIENTATION 7HAT WAS THE RESPONSE OF THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN #ANADA TO THIS
#ANADA IS NOT A #HRISTIAN NATION )T S A SECULAR PLURALISTIC SOCIETY 7HEN THE ISSUE OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE STARTED TO GROW IN INTENSITY WE BECAME INVOLVED /UR LEGAL COUNSEL AT THE TIME "ARRY "USSEY ;NOW ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE 0UBLIC !FFAIRS AND 2ELIGIOUS ,IBERTY= MADE PRESENTATIONS TO THE (OUSE OF #OMMONS *USTICE #OMMITTEE 7HEN 0ARLIAMENT SENT THE ISSUE TO THE 3UPREME #OURT OF #ANADA TO HAVE IT DECIDED ONE OF THE PRESENTERS WAS "USSEY 7E OF COURSE USED THE "IBLE BUT BECAUSE #HRISTIANS AREN T IN FAVOR IN #ANADA WE DIDN T COME AT IT FROM A STRICTLY
BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE /UR POSITION WAS NOT TO SUGGEST TO THE JUDICIARY THAT THEY COULDN T DO WHAT THEY WANTED IN THIS REGARD BUT THAT THEY MAINTAIN THE RIGHTS OF #ANADIANS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE EITHER IN THE FORMING OF SAME SEX MARRIAGES OR IN HIRING PRACTICES )N OTHER WORDS IN A FREE AND OPEN SOCIETY YOU CAN HAVE A LAW THAT PROVIDES FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGEˆBUT WE DON T AGREE WITH IT $ON T PENALIZE THE PER SON WHO DOES NOT CHOOSE EITHER TO PRACTICE IT OR PROMOTE IT 3O !DVENTISTS IN #ANADA STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE NOT TO PERFORM SAME SEX MARRIAGES AND THE RIGHT NOT TO HIRE A PER SON WHO PRACTICES A GAY LIFESTYLE AS A TEACHER OR A PASTOR
2IGHT ABSOLUTELY 7HERE DO YOU SEE #ANADA ON THE ISSUE OF WOMEN IN CHURCH LEADERSHIP
3ADLY EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE PLACES WHERE WOMEN ARE EM PLOYED IN MINISTRY ) M NOT SEEING THE LEVEL OF OPENNESS ) WOULD LIKE TO SEE 4HERE S RETICENCE ON THE PART OF SOME MEMBERS AND LEADERS BECAUSE THEY RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF HIRING A FEMALE PASTOR ) DON T SEE THE PROB LEM SO MUCH IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AS IN THE PASTORAL MINISTRY AND IN ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES !RE THERE WOMEN SERVING AS PASTORS IN #ANADA
7E DO HAVE SOME YES 7OMEN PRIMARILY SERVE AS ASSOCIATES BUT THERE ARE A FEW FEMALE SENIOR PASTORS )T CAN DEPEND ON THE CULTURE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH AND CONFERENCE .O MATTER HOW TALENTED AND GIFTED THE WOMAN IS THE PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP THERE MUST BE COMMITTED TO HER SUCCESS OR THEY WILL BE SETTING HER UP FOR FAILURE !S LONG AS WE HAVE THE ATTITUDE THAT SOMEHOW THE GIFT ING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT HAPPENS ONLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO GEN DER THEN WE REALLY ARE MINIMIZING THE POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRITˆAND WE RE ALSO MINIMIZING OUR WORK )S THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD BEFORE WE CLOSE THE INTERVIEW
%VERYWHERE ) TRAVEL IN #ANADA ) SEE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOVE *ESUS WITH ALL THEIR HEART AND WHO REALLY WANT TO SERVE (IM &ROM THREE WOMEN IN .EWFOUNDLAND WHO HAVE DE VELOPED A SMALL WORSHIP GROUP IN A NURSING HOME TO CON FERENCEWIDE INVOLVEMENT IN OUTREACH DURING THE &EBRUARY /LYMPICS IN "RITISH #OLUMBIA BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE HAPPENING 0EOPLE ARE REACHING OUT TO OTHERS IN MANY WAYSˆSIMPLE WAYS AND SOPHISTICATED WAYS 4HERE ARE WON DERFUL STORIES OF MINISTRY 7E CAN ALWAYS lND NEGATIVES BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THERE ARE WAY MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN NEGATIVE THINGS HAPPEN ING IN #ANADA 4O READ A FULLER VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW GO TO WWW !DVENTIST7ORLD ORG
-ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
)
VISITED A FRIEND WHO HAD BEEN DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL 4HERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THE DOC TORS COULD DO FOR HIM (E WAS DYING OF CANCER THAT HAD SLOWLY EATEN HIS LIFE AWAY ! STRICT VEGAN AND HEALTH ENTHUSIAST HE OFTEN WONDERED WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE DONE WRONG TO DESERVE THAT PAINFUL EXPERIENCE 0RIOR TO THIS VISIT WE USED TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES CONCERNING SALVATION AND HEALTH (E HAD RUN TRACK IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ) HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW YEARS 4RYING TO STEER HIS MIND OFF HIS PAIN ) BROUGHT UP THE TOPIC OF RUNNING (E REPLIED h#HONGO RUNNING IS THE LAST THING ON MY MIND RIGHT NOW v ) FELT LIKE *OB S FRIENDS WHEN THEY WENT TO VISIT HIM 4HE BEST TIME *OB HAD WITH THEM WAS WHEN THEY SAT SI LENTLY FOR A WEEK ) DIDN T KNOW WHAT SENSIBLE THING TO SAY NEXT -Y FRIEND RESCUED ME BY TALKING ABOUT HIS FAM ILY 7E THEN SANG HIS FAVORITE HYMNS READ FROM THE "IBLE AND PRAYED FOR 'OD S MIRACULOUS HEALING (E DIED SIX DAYS LATER ) WAS AWAY AND WHEN ) RETURNED ) VISITED HIS WIFE TO OFFER PERSONAL CONDOLENCES 7E REM INISCED ABOUT HIS LIFE ESPECIALLY ABOUT HIS ZEAL FOR 'OD AND HOW HE NEVER MET A STRANGER !T THE GRAVE SITE SHE STATED AS SHE WEPT h(OW ) WISH YOU WERE PRES ENT AT YOUR FRIEND S FUNERAL v
$EATH )S 3O &INAL
) HEARD HER PAIN OF LOSS AS ) FOUGHT BACK TEARS 3HE WAS ANGRY AND DISAP POINTED THAT HE COULD DIE SO PREMA TURELY AND ) WISH ) COULD SHARE HER PAIN "UT .ATHAN "ROWN IS RIGHT h0AIN IS THE MOST ISOLATING HUMAN EXPERIENCE .O MATTER HOW MUCH WE WATCH READ ABOUT LAUGH AT OR SYMPATHIZE WITH THE PAIN OF OTHERS PAIN ITSELF IS ALWAYS A UNIQUE AND ISOLATED EXPERIENCE 4HERE IS SIMPLY NO WAY OUR HURT OUR SORROW OR OUR FEAR CAN BE SHARED v
/F ALL CAUSES OF HUMAN PAIN DEATH SEEMS TO BE THE WORST 7OUNDS CAN HEAL 2ELATIONSHIPS CAN BE MENDED $EATH APPEARS SO lNAL )T REMINDS US
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
$ % ! . % $ 7 ! 2 $ 3
$ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,
'REAT AY
$ #OM NG 'OD GIVES HOPE FOR THE DARK TIMES "Y $ #HONGO -UNDENDE
THAT LIFE ON EARTH IS SHORT AND UNCER TAIN 3OMETIMES WE BLAME 'OD FOR THE DEATH EVEN WHEN WE KNOW (E IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAIN AND ANGUISH WE FEEL 7E KNOW THAT 'OD UNDER STANDS OUR SORROWS BETTER THAN WE DO (E EXPRESSES (IS LOVE THROUGH *ESUS hTHE HOPE OF GLORYv #OL 4HE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THAT DEATH ENGENDERS DISCOURAGEMENT THE DEVIL S GREATEST WEAPON AGAINST HUMANITY $ISCOURAGEMENT TENDS TO ROB US OF THE JOY AND HOPE IN #HRIST IN THIS LIFE AND OF THE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE TO COME 4HE GREATEST ANTIDOTE TO DIS COURAGEMENT IS *ESUS 4HEREFORE WHEN WE BECOME DISCOURAGED WE SHOULD RUN TO *ESUS lXING OUR EYES ON (IM BECAUSE (E IS hTHE AUTHOR AND lNISHER OF OUR FAITHv (EB 'OD LOVES US
4HE GOOD NEWS IS THAT DEATH IS NOT THE lNAL ANSWER 4HE RIGHTEOUS DEAD WILL LIVE AGAIN h&OR THE ,ORD (IMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT WITH THE VOICE OF AN ARCHANGEL AND WITH THE TRUMPET OF 'OD !ND THE DEAD IN #HRIST WILL RISE lRST 4HEN WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TO GETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE ,ORD IN THE AIR !ND THUS WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE ,ORD 4HEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDSv 4HESS 9ES A TIME IS COMING WHEN THE DEAD WILL HEAR (IS VOICE AND WILL COME FORTH FROM THEIR GRAVES TO LIFE EVERLASTING *OHN 7E OUGHT TO SHARE THIS GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS UNTIL THE DAY 'OD CALLS US HOME *ESUS DIED SO THAT WE DON T HAVE TO DIE THE SECOND DEATH
'REAT $AY #OMING
4HE GREATEST ANTICIPATED MOMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN *ESUS WILL RETURN /N THAT DAY DEATH WILL LOSE ITS POWER ,OVED ONES WILL BE REUNITED NEVER TO BE SEPARATED AGAIN 4HAT RESUR RECTION MORNING CAN T COME SOON ENOUGH /N THAT WONDERFUL DAY OUR NA TURE WILL BE TRANSFORMED 4HE RIGHTEOUS DEAD WILL RISE INCORRUPTIBLE AND IMMOR TAL #OR 4HESS %VIL WILL CEASE THIS WORLD AS WE KNOW IT WILL BE RESTORED TO THE ORIGINAL CONDITIONS 'OD INTENDED EVERY TRACE OF SIN AND DEATH WILL BE ERASED 'OD WILL DWELL WITH US AND WIPE AWAY THE TEARS FROM OUR EYES 4HINK OF IT NO MORE DYING NO MORE MOURNING NO MORE CRYING NO MORE PAIN 2EV !ND THROUGH THE CEASELESS AGES OF
/F ALL CAUSES OF HUMAN PAIN DEATH SEEMS TO BE THE WORST BEYOND MEASURE SENDING (IS 3ON TO DIE FOR US *OHN 9ES 'OD LOVES US AND DOESN T WANT ANY HARM TO COME TO US h&OR ) KNOW THE THOUGHTS THAT ) THINK TOWARD YOU SAYS THE ,ORD THOUGHTS OF PEACE AND NOT OF EVIL TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPEv *ER (OW ) WISH ) COULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS STATEMENT WHEN ) AM DISCOURAGED 3OME $AYS 7ILL "E $ARK
h4HESE THINGS ) HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU v *ESUS SAID hTHAT IN -E YOU MAY HAVE PEACE )N THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER ) HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLDv *OHN !ND IN THE WORDS OF 0AUL h!LL WHO DESIRE TO LIVE GODLY IN #HRIST *ESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTIONv 4IM "UT DEATH IS THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGEˆ EVEN TO A BELIEVER %SPECIALLY WHEN DIS EASES SUCH AS CANCERS ARE INVOLVED NOT WITHSTANDING YOUR STRUGGLE TO LIVE RIGHT (OWEVER IT S COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT *ESUS ALSO SUFFERED 4HEREFORE WE CAN SURRENDER OUR LIVES OUR PROBLEMS TO (IM (E IS THE GREAT BURDEN BEARER
)F 7E RE %VER 4EMPTED
)F WE EVER BEGIN TO DOUBT 'OD S LOVE WE NEED TO VISIT #ALVARY !T 'OL GOTHA FEELING FORSAKEN BY 'OD AS THE WEIGHT OF SIN ENVELOPED (IM SEPARAT ING (IM FROM (IS &ATHER *ESUS STARED DEATH IN THE FACE h-Y 'OD -Y 'OD v (E CRIED hWHY HAVE 9OU FORSAKEN -E v -ARK *ESUS IN (IS AGONY COULD NOT EVEN ADDRESS 'OD AS h&ATHER v "UT 'OD THE &ATHER WAS THERE INDEED 5NABLE TO BEAR THE SIGHT OF (IS 3ON NAKED AND HUMILIATED (E HAD ENSHROUDED 'OL GOTHA IN DARKNESS (E hWHO KNEW NO SINv HAD BECOME hSIN FOR US THAT WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF 'OD IN (IMv #OR h(E WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS (E WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES THE CHASTISEMENT FOR OUR PEACE WAS UPON (IM AND BY (IS STRIPES WE ARE HEALEDv )SA (EAVEN STOOD IN SILENCE AS IT WITNESSED THE FORSAKEN #OMMANDER STRUGGLE TO SAVE A REBELLIOUS PLANET (E TREADED THE WINEPRESS ALONE )SA
ETERNITY HUMANS WILL ENJOY BLISSFUL FELLOWSHIP WITH 'OD AND WITH ONE AN OTHER IN PERFECT HARMONY 4HEREFORE LET S NOT BE OVERLY TROU BLED WHEN WE SUFFER LOSS *OHN #OMPARED TO ETERNITY WE HAVE ONLY A FEW MORE YEARS TO CONTEMPLATE THE RAVAGES OF DEATH 4HE OLD DIE ALSO THE YOUNG 4HE POOR DIE ALSO THE RICH .ON #HRISTIANS DIE BUT #HRISTIANS ALSO 4HE IGNORANT DIE BUT ALSO THE EDUCATED (OWEVER IN EVERY CASE DEATH IS PAINFUL WHETHER ANTICIPATED OR SUDDEN ) YEARN FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL LAND WHERE THERE IS NO CANCER NO ACCIDENTS NO PARTING NO SORROW NO DEATH ) DON T EMBRACE DEATH BUT EVERY TIME ) LOSE SOMEONE ) AM REMINDED OF THAT GREAT DAY COMING !ND EACH DEATH BRINGS ME CLOSER TO THAT REALITY
.ATHAN "ROWN h#RASHING !LONE v !DVENTIST 2EVIEW *UNE P
$ #HONGO -UNDENDE IS A MEMBER OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CHURCH IN %DMOND /KLAHOMA 5 3 ! -ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29
, OOKING &O RWA RD
"Y +IMBERLY ,USTE -ARAN
)T TAKES EVERY ONE OF US TO MAKE THIS CHURCH FAMILY WORK
4
HERE ARE ALL KINDS OF CHURCHES SOME ARE SMALL OTHERS VERY LARGE 3OME WORSHIP IN GRAND BUILDINGS OTHERS RIGHT UNDER THE TREES 3OME ARE STOIC OTHERS ARE CLOSE KNIT AND AFFECTIONATE &OR A CHURCH TO BE SUCCESSFUL HOWEVER NO MATTER THE SIZE OR PLACE MEMBERS NEED TO WORK TOGETHER "Y WORKING TOGETHER CONGREGATIONS GET THINGS DONE AND MEMBERS ARE HAPPIER BECAUSE OF IT 4HERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT JOBS THAT NEED TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN A CHURCH &OR EXAMPLE WHO MAKES SURE THE BILLS GET PAID ON TIME 7HO HELPS THE CHIL DREN IN 3ABBATH SCHOOL 7HO PREACHES THE SERMON 7HO COLLECTS THE OFFERING 7HO HELPS WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE 7HO KEEPS THE PLACE NEAT AND CLEAN %ACH OF THESE JOBS IS IMPORTANT IN A CONGREGATION AND WHEN THEY ARE DONE WELL THE CHURCH IS USUALLY A HAPPY LOV ING PLACE !ND FROM TIME TO TIME CHURCH MEMBERS MEET TO DISCUSS WAYS TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND ONE ANOTHERˆUPLIFTING THE NAME OF *ESUS SHARING (IS MESSAGE AND REmECTING (IS LOVE IN THE PROCESS )T IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THE LOCAL CHURCH FOR MEMBERS TO TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER ON ALL THE ISSUES IM PACTING THE CHURCH AND ITS COMMUNITY 9OUR LOCAL CHURCH IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENTIRE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST
+IMBERLY ,USTE -ARAN IS AN ASSISTANT EDITOR OF THE !DVENTIST 7ORLD MAGAZINE
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
#HURCH 7ITH MORE THAN MILLION BAPTIZED MEMBERS AND MANY MORE WHO AREN T BAPTIZED YET BUT STILL ATTEND CHURCH EACH 3ABBATH THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IS ONE VERY BIG CHURCH FAMILY !ND JUST LIKE THE LOCAL CONGREGA TION THE WORLDWIDE !DVENTIST #HURCH HAS ALL SORTS OF MINISTRIESˆAND MEET INGS TO ENSURE THE MINISTRIES ARE WORK ING IN THE BEST WAYS POSSIBLE )N ORDER FOR IT TO SERVE 'OD IN ITS BEST CAPACITY AND HASTEN #HRIST S RETURN THE CHURCH MUST FUNCTION WELL 4HE LARGEST MEET ING IN WHICH THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IS DISCUSSED AND PLANNED IS CALLED A 'EN ERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION 4HIS ASSEMBLY WHICH BRINGS ELECTED DELEGATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD TOGETHER FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS OF INTENSE DISCUSSION AND DECISION MAKING OCCURS EVERY lVE YEARS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ABLE TO AC COMMODATE EXTREMELY LARGE CROWDS -ORE THAN DELEGATES ARE SE LECTED FROM ALL THE CHURCH S WORLD DIVISIONS AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LOCAL CONFERENCES AND CHURCHES 4HEY REVIEW IMPORTANT PLANS AND POLICIES OF THE CHURCH AND CHANGE REMOVE FROM AND OR ADD TO THE CHURCH S MANUAL A DOCU MENT CONTAINING INFORMATION AND IN STRUCTIONS ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HEY ALSO ELECT LEAD ERS TO SERVE IN KEY CHURCH GOVERNANCE ROLES ! TYPICAL DELEGATE WILL LIKELY SPEND EIGHT HOURS A DAY IN BUSINESS MEETINGS AND mOOR RELATED ACTIVITIES DURING THE DAYS OF THE GATHERING 3IMILAR TO THE POINT WHERE A TOSSED STONE ENTERS A CALM BODY OF WATER THE DECISIONS MADE AT A '# SESSION RIPPLE OUT AND AFFECT EVERY
RING ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE LARGEST RING THE LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE LEADERS ELECTED AT THE SESSION SERVE BY HELPING THE DIVISIONS WITH THEIR TASKS OF BRINGING MORE PEOPLE TO *ESUS AND KEEPING THE CURRENT CHURCH MEMBER SHIP INFORMED CARED FOR AND NURTURED 4HIS IS NO SMALL TASK -ANY OF THESE LEADERS WHO COME FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD WORK HARD FOR THEIR CHURCH RE MEMBERING THE RESPONSIBILITY ENTRUSTED TO THEM BY THOSE WHO ELECTED THEM 4HE MOST RECENT SESSION CONVENED IN 3T ,OUIS -ISSOURI 5NITED 3TATES IN 4HIS YEAR THE SESSION WILL BE HELD IN !TLANTA 'EORGIA 5NITED 3TATES FROM *UNE TO *ULY !BOUT PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO TRAVEL FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD TO THE SES SION TO WORSHIP ON 3ABBATH AND FEL LOWSHIP WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE #HURCH PRESIDENT 0 ( / 4 / 3 " 9 * / % , $ 3 0 2 ) . ' % 2
! , $ % . * ( /
! , $ % . * ( /
3.!03(/43 /& 4(% 3%33)/. &AR LEFT TOP MIDDLE TOP RIGHT 4HOSE WHO ATTENDED THE SESSION WERE ABLE TO ENJOY THE PAGEANTRY AND PERFORMANCES OF MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE DURING WORSHIP TIMES "OTTOM MIDDLE $ELEGATES VOTE BY RAISING CARDS DURING A BUSINESS MEEING "OTTOM RIGHT 4HE CONVENTION CENTER S )NTERNET #AFE FEA TURED QUICK CONNECTIONS AND LONG LINES
*AN 0AULSEN SAYS THE '# SESSION IS MORE THAN JUST BUSINESS h! GATHERING SUCH AS THIS IS USUALLY DESCRIBED AS A BUSINESS SESSION OF THE WORLD CHURCH "UT DON T BE MISLED BY THE WORD @BUSI NESS !T THE HEART OF ALL THAT WE WILL DO AND ALL OUR DECISION MAKING THERE IS REALLY ONLY ONE OBJECTIVE TO BETTER PREPARE AND EQUIP OUR CHURCH FOR THE MISSION 'OD HAS GIVEN US v %VERYTHING THE CHURCH DOES IS ULTI MATELY FOR *ESUS (E IS OUR LEADER *ESUS WANTS US TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT (IM 7HEN PEOPLE GO TO A '# SESSION IT AL WAYS REMINDS THEM A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CHURCH FAM ILY MEMBERS THERE WHO LOVE *ESUS 4HEY ALSO WONDER IF THAT SESSION WILL BE THE LAST ONE BECAUSE THEY WANT *ESUS TO COME SOON ) HOPE SO DON T YOU
!CCORDING TO THE '# 3ECRETARIAT DELEGATES ARE REGISTERED FOR THE SESSION
&OOD AND,ODGING .UTRITIOUS VEGETARIAN MEALS WILL BE SERVED FOR LUNCH AND SUPPER IN THE 'EORGIA 7ORLD #ONGRESS #ENTER EACH DAY OF THE SESSION BEGINNING WITH SUPPER ON 7EDNESDAY *UNE AND ENDING WITH SUPPER 3ABBATH EVENING *ULY -EALS WILL BE SERVED ONLY TO THOSE WHO HOLD MEAL TICKETS WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED EACH DAY AT THE CONGRESS CENTER OR IN ADVANCE FROM THE SESSION S 7EB SITE HTTP GC BIGFOOTTECH COM (OTELS CLOSEST TO THE 'EORGIA 7ORLD #ONGRESS #ENTER HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESERVED FOR DELEGATES AND 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE STAFF SO RESERVING A ROOM MAY BE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE "UT THE -ETROPOLITAN !TLANTA 2APID 4RANSIT !UTHORITY -!24! MAKES PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION A SIMPLE WAY TO GET TO THE CONGRESS CENTER &OR HOTEL ROOM AVAILABILITY VISIT ONE OF SEVERAL ONLINE RESERVATION SITES %XPEDIA COM 4RAVELOCITY COM (OTELS COM 0RICELINE COM ETC AND MAKE YOUR OWN RESERVATIONS ! NUMBER OF THE NEARLY HOTEL ROOMS RESERVED FOR THE EVENT BY THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE MAY STILL BE AVAILABLE &OR INFORMATION CONTACT !#6" (OUSING
0EACHTREE 3TREET .% 3UITE
!TLANTA '! 5 3 !
0HONE % MAIL HOUSING ATLANTA NET /R VISIT THE SESSION S LODGING 7EB SITE HTTPS RESWEB PASSKEY COM 2ESWEB DO MODE WELCOME?EI?NEW EVENT)$
-ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29
'ETTING TO $OWN " U S I N E S S -
ATTHEW "EDIAKO AND ,ARRY %VANS SECRETARY AND UNDER SECRETARY OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE RESPECTIVELY HAVE ATTENDED SEVERAL 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSIONS "EDIAKO SINCE AND %VANS SINCE !DVENTIST 7ORLD MANAGING EDITOR 3TEPHEN #HAVEZ ASKED THEM TO REmECT ON THIS YEAR S SESSION IN !TLANTA
!FTER ALL THESE YEARS WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF THE SESSION "EDIAKO 4HE PEOPLEˆPEOPLE FROM ALL
OVER THE WORLD COMING TOGETHER AND SINGING AND PRAISING 'OD h*ESUS IS COMING AGAIN v 4HEY ARE BOUND BY THEIR MISSION %VANS !T MY lRST SESSION ) WAS OVER WHELMED WITH THE SIZE AND THE DIVERSITY OF THE WORLD CHURCH .OW OF COURSE IT S EVEN MORE EVIDENT
-ATTHEW "EDIAKO -ATTHEW "EDIAKO
DETAILED EXAMPLES THEY BECOME VERY HARD TO IMPLEMENT %VANS !S -ATTHEW SAID THIS IS A REOR GANIZATION NOT A REVISION BUT SOME INTERESTING ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED /NE OF THEM IS WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD ORDAIN A CHURCH DEACONESS 7E ORDAIN OTHERS BUT WILL WE ORDAIN A 7HAT SIGNIlCANT AGENDA ITEMS WILL BE WOMAN AS A DEACONESS COMING BEFORE THE DELEGATES AT THIS !NOTHER ISSUE CONNECTED WITH THE YEAR S SESSION #HURCH -ANUAL AND THE 'ENERAL #ON "EDIAKO 7E WILL HEAR A REPORT FROM A FERENCE 7ORKING 0OLICY IS THE QUESTION COMMISSION THAT WAS APPOINTED TO STUDY OF ASCENDING LIABILITY 7E WANT TO PROTECT STRUCTURES AND SERVICES HERE AT THE 'EN THE CHURCH FROM SPURIOUS ATTACKS 7E ERAL #ONFERENCE 4HAT WILL BE SIGNIlCANT ARE A REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNANCE !SSUMING THIS RECOMMENDATION AND WE DON T PLAN TO DIMINISH THAT "UT PASSES 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE ASSOCIATE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE ORGANIZATION DIRECTORS WILL NOT BE ELECTED AT THE SES MATTERS ARE CARED FOR SION THEY WILL BE ELECTED AT THE lRST !NNUAL #OUNCIL FOLLOWING THE SESSION 0LEASE DESCRIBE THE PROCESS BY WHICH AN !T OUR LAST SESSION WE VOTED TO AS ITEM COMES TO THE mOOR OF THE SESSION SEMBLE A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE #HURCH %VANS !N ITEM THAT COMES TO THE mOOR -ANUAL AND MAKE SOME CHANGES )N A USUALLY COMES FROM ANOTHER ORGANIZA WORLD CHURCH SOMETIMES IF YOU GIVE TION !N INDIVIDUAL FOR EXAMPLE WILL
,ARRY ,ARRY %VANS %VANS EXPRESS A CONCERNˆTHAT WILL GO TO HIS LOCAL CHURCH !ND THAT LOCAL CHURCH CAN REFER AN ITEM STRAIGHT ON TO THE CONFER ENCE WHO THEN FORWARDS IT TO THE UNION ;CONFERENCE= THE DIVISION THEN WHEN IT GETS ;TO THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE= WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES 3O WHEN A #HURCH -ANUAL ITEM COMES IT WILL GO TO A #HURCH -ANUAL #OMMITTEE THEN TO THE !DMINISTRATIVE #OMMITTEE WHICH WE CALL !$#/- &ROM !$#/- WHETHER THEY BE CONSTITUTIONAL ITEMS OR #HURCH -ANUAL ITEMS OR ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS THEY THEN GO TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES OR ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCILS )TEMS GOING TO THE 'ENERAL #ONFER ENCE SESSION PASS THROUGH THE !NNUAL #OUNCIL SO THERE S A LONG PROCESS 3O THEORETICALLY AN ITEM CAN BE UNDER DISCUSSION FOR SEVERAL YEARS %VANS 3OME OF THEM DElNITELY ARE
3OME OF THEM HAVE BEEN REVISED EVERY
3TAY IN 4OUCH 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION HAS ITS OWN 7EB SITE WWW GCSESSION ORG 7EEKLY AND EVENTUALLY DAILY UPDATES WILL APPEAR THERE BETWEEN NOW AND THROUGHOUT THE SESSION
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
0 ( / 4 / 3 " 9 3 ! . $ 2 ! " , ! # + - % 2
$ELEGATES YEAR AND BY THE TIME IT GETS THERE IT MAY LOOK QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT FROM WHEN IT WAS lRST BROUGHT IN "EDIAKO 3OMEONE COMING TO THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE FOR THE lRST TIME MAY WISH AN ISSUE WOULD COME ;TO THE mOOR= AND EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT TO SAY ABOUT IT "UT THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT PASSES THROUGH SEV ERAL COMMITTEES AND IT COMES WITH SCRUTINY "IBLE STUDY )F ON THE mOOR SOMEBODY RAISES A QUESTION HE HAS THE RIGHT )T WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED RIGHT THERE IT WILL LIKELY BE REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE THAT DEALS WITH IT %VANS 7E HAVE ESTABLISHED A NEW SES SION STEERING COMMITTEE !GENDA ITEMS OR QUESTIONS THAT COME UP WILL BE RE FERRED TO THIS COMMITTEE THEN IT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE mOOR DURING THE SESSION OR MOST LIKELY DEFERRED TO THE NEXT 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE ITEM 7E WANT TO LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING AND HEAR 'OD S VOICE BEHIND IT "EDIAKO 7E SEND MATERIALS TO THE DELEGATES AHEAD OF TIME SO THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THEM ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOSE MOTHER TONGUE IS NOT %NGLISH 7E WILL TRANSLATE MATE RIALS INTO FOUR OR lVE LANGUAGES 4HESE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSIONS ARE NOT CHEAP THEY ARE EXPENSIVE "UT IT S WORTH THE EXPENSE BRINGING THE WORLD ;CHURCH= TOGETHER )T FOSTERS UNITY WITHIN THE WORLDWIDE FAMILY
4HE SELECTION OF DELEGATES FOR THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION FOLLOWS THE FORMULA OUTLINED BY THE #ONSTITUTION AND "YLAWS 4HESE INDIVIDUALS ARE SELECTED BY THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE DIVISIONS AND DIVISION INSTITUTIONS UNION CONFERENCES AND CONFERENCES )NCLUDED WITHIN EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES ARE DENOMINATIONAL EMPLOYEES AND LAY MEMBERS "ELOW IS THE NUMBER OF DELEGATES TO THIS YEAR S SESSION IN !TLANTA BY DIVISION %AST #ENTRAL !FRICA $IVISION %#$
%URO !FRICA $IVISION %5$
%URO !SIA $IVISION %3$
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.ORTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION .3$
3OUTH !MERICAN $IVISION 3!$
3OUTH 0ACIlC $IVISION 30$
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3OUTHERN !SIA $IVISION 35$
3OUTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION 33$
4RANS %UROPEAN $IVISION 4%$
7EST #ENTRAL !FRICA $IVISION 7!$
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&AITHFULAND4RUE
4HE !DVENTIST 2EVIEW SISTER PUBLICATION OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD HAS BEEN THE OFlCIAL RECORD OF 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSIONS SINCE 4HE 2EVIEW RECORDS THE NAMES OF DELEGATES REPORTS FROM THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE OFlCIAL ACTIONS DEVOTIONAL MESSAGES NEWS REPORTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AT THE SESSION $URING THE DAYS OF THE SESSION THE 2EVIEW GOES FROM BEING A WEEKLY PUBLICATION TO PUBLISHING EVERY DAY 4EXT AND PHOTOS PREPARED IN OFlCES AT THE 'EORGIA 7ORLD #ONGRESS #ENTER IN !TLANTA WILL BE TRANSMITTED DIGITALLY TO THE 2EVIEW AND (ERALD 0UBLISHING !SSOCIATION IN (AGERSTOWN -ARYLAND PRINTED OVERNIGHT AND ENOUGH COPIES FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE SESSION ARE SHIPPED BACK TO THE CENTER IN TIME FOR THE MORNING MEETING #OPIES OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE "ULLETINS WILL BE PROVIDED FREE TO DELEGATES AND OFFERED FOR SALE TO THOSE WHO VISIT THE EXHIBITION HALL 3UBSCRIBERS TO !DVENTIST 2EVIEW WILL RECEIVE THE "ULLETINS AS PART OF THEIR SUBSCRIPTION 4HE "ULLETINS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW !DVENTIST2EVIEW ORG
-ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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CAN STILL SEE HER PUZZLED EXPRES SION BEFORE ME /UR CHURCH GROUP WAS ON A STUDY TOUR IN SOUTHERN &RANCE WHERE FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK WE HAD BEEN EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF THE (UGUENOTS WHO WERE MARTYRED FOR THEIR 0ROTESTANT FAITH 3HE HAD BEEN OUR TOUR GUIDE AND WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN QUESTIONS OF HISTORY RELIGION AND CULTURE %VEN THOUGH SHE HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO MANY #HRISTIAN
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STAND WHY ONE DAY IN THE WEEK WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER DAYS 4HAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE PUZZLED EXPRES SION ) REMEMBER SO WELL ) PROBABLY REMEMBER THE LOOK THAT SHE GAVE ME BECAUSE IT HURT ) HAD TO ASK MYSELF ONCE AGAIN h!RE YOU JUST AN ODD RELIGIOUS OUTSIDER v 4HIS WAS NOT THE LAST TIME ) WOULD GET THIS LOOK AS IT IS AN EXPRESSION OFTEN USED BY SECULAR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEIR OWN hRELATIVEv
&INDING
PARABLE OF A BURIED TREASURE IN A lELD ! HARDWORKING FARMER FOUND THE TREA SURE WHILE GOING ABOUT HIS BUSINESS )T WAS A COINCIDENTAL DISCOVERY )T WAS SERENDIPITY 2EMEMBER HOW THE lRST !DVENTISTS DISCOVERED THE 3ABBATH )T WAS A LOT LIKE THE FARMER IN THE PAR ABLE )T WAS A SERENDIPITOUS DISCOVERY OF A BIBLICAL TRUTH THAT THROUGH THE AGES HAD SOMEHOW BEEN BURIED AND LOST /UR SPIRITUAL FOREFATHERS
4HE 3ABBATH AS A SIGN OF SALVATION
OD ' S2HYTHM "Y $ENNIS -EIER
TRADITIONS THROUGH HER WORK SHE HAD REMAINED AN ATHEIST 7E HAD DEVELOPED A WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP AND ON THE LAST DAY SHE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT !DVENTISTS 7E WERE A STRANGE AND NOTEWORTHY PIECE IN HER DENOMINA TIONAL COLLECTION 7HAT WAS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS 3ABBATH DAY SHE ASKED !ND WHY WERE WE SO STUBBORN AND OBSTINATE ABOUT SUCH AN UNIMPORTANT SIDE ISSUE ) TRIED TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO HER WHY 3AB BATH WAS SO IMPORTANT AND HOLY ) WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL 3HE COULD NOT UNDER
$ENNIS -EIER IS PASTOR OF THE 'RINDELBERG CHURCH IN (AMBURG 'ERMANY (E ENJOYS MAKING MUSIC AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIS WIFE 'UNDA DAUGH TER 4HANDI YEARS AND SON ,EVI YEARS
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
WORLD "UT ) ALSO DISCOVERED SOME THING ELSE ) REMEMBER HER EXPRESSION SO WELL BECAUSE ) COULD UNDERSTAND IT ) HAVE GROWN UP IN THIS SECULAR WORLD ) WENT TO SCHOOL AND HAVE BEEN MOLDED BY IT !ND IN MANY AREAS OF MY LIFE ) LIVE AND THINK SIMILAR TO THE AVERAGE POSTMODERN PERSON 4RADITION OR )DENTITY
3O DO WE !DVENTISTS KEEP 3ABBATH SIMPLY BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME A TRADI TION 'OD FORBID /R PERHAPS 3AB BATHKEEPING HAS JUST BECOME OUR !D VENTIST TRADEMARK 7HAT THEN IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADITION AND IDENTITY (AS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF TRUTH GOTTEN STUCK IN THE S &ORTU NATELY ) BELIEVE THAT FOR THE MAJORITY OF !DVENTISTS 3ABBATH IS NOT SIMPLY A TRADITION OR AN IDENTITY FEATURE )N -ATTHEW *ESUS TELLS THE
hBOUGHTv THIS TREASURE -ANY OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE PAID AND CONTINUE TO PAY A HIGH PRICE FOR THE TREASURE OF THE 3ABBATH 'OD S 2HYTHM
-USIC IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HU MAN LIFE 2HYTHM IS THE CURRENCY OF MUSIC AND IN A SENSE THE 3ABBATH IS A RHYTHM OF TIME THAT GOVERNS AND MOVES EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES !N ORCHESTRA OR A BAND CAN PLAY A SONG SLOW OR FAST 4HEY CAN VARY THE TEMPO BUT IF YOU WANT TO SING AND CLAP WITH THE MUSIC YOU MUST FOLLOW THE RHYTHM WITH EVERYTHING YOU VE GOT 9OU KNOW IT IS ALL ABOUT TIMING *ESUS USES THE PARABLE OF THE BURIED TREASURE AS A METAPHOR FOR THE KING DOM OF 'OD OR THE GOSPEL 7OULD IT BE A LITTLE FAR FETCHED OR COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTEXT TO COMPARE THE 3ABBATH TO
THE KINGDOM OF 'OD /R TO PUT IT AN OTHER WAY ISN T THE ACCUSATION OFTEN MADE AGAINST OUR 3ABBATH THEOLOGY THAT IT HAS BEEN MADE A SALVATION RE QUIREMENT *UST TO CLARIFY THIS POINT ) DO NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE 3ABBATH IN ORDER TO BE SAVED 4HIS IS NOT !DVENTIST THEOLOGY 3ALVATION COMES ONLY THROUGH *ESUS #HRIST 3ALVATION AND THE 3ABBATH
3OME #HRISTIANS THINK THAT THE ONLY IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE hSALVATION QUESTIONS v "UT IF WE WERE TO FOLLOW THIS LOGIC THEN DISCIPLESHIP WOULD BECOME UNIMPORTANT AS A DISCIPLE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN SAVED AND BECAUSE OF THIS BEGINS TO ORDER THEIR LIFE AROUND 'OD S WILL ! DIS CIPLE ALSO CONSCIOUSLY PRAYS hYOUR WILL BE DONEv -ATT AND THEN AFTER THIS PRAYER IS PREPARED TO SEARCH FOR AND THEN PRACTICE 'OD S WILL 4HIS BRINGS US FULL CIRCLE BACK TO SALVATION ,OOKING AT 3CRIPTURE ) BE LIEVE THAT IT IS 'OD S WILL THAT WE EN TER INTO (IS RHYTHM )T IS 'OD S RHYTHMˆNOT MINE ) DO NOT DECIDE AS MANY #HRISTIANS BELIEVE ON WHICH DAY ) SHOULD REST AS LONG AS IT IS ONE IN SEVEN BUT 'OD DECIDES )N THEO LOGICAL TERMS THIS IS CALLED RIGHTEOUS NESS BY FAITH )T SAYS NOT MY WILL BUT
9OUR WILL .OT MY METHOD BUT 'OD S METHOD .OT MY RIGHTEOUSNESS BUT 9OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS *ESUS 4WO BIBLICAL EVENTS ILLUSTRATE THIS CONCEPT VIVIDLY 'ENESIS INDICATES THAT 'OD RESTED LITERALLY hSABBATHEDv AND THAT (E BLESSED AND MADE THE SEVENTH DAY HOLY (OW hOLDv WAS HUMANITY AT THIS POINT IN TIME .OT EVEN A DAY OLD AS HUMANS STEPPED ONTO THE STAGE OF LIFE ONLY ON THE SIXTH DAY 'OD S SEVENTH DAY WAS THE lRST COMPLETE DAY FOR HU MANKIND 7HAT WORKS OF GARDENING OR hMULTIPLYINGv COULD THE COUPLE LOOK BACK ON !BSOLUTELY NONE /N THE lRST 3ABBATH DAY !DAM AND %VE ENJOYED 'OD S WORKS AND NOT THEIR OWN 4HIS IS WHY THE 3ABBATH IS A SYMBOL OF SAL VATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING 4HEN COMES THE GIVING OF THE LAW -OSES CLIMBS THE SLOPES OF -OUNT 3INAI AND RECEIVES THE 4EN #OMMAND MENTS FROM 'OD S HAND 4HE 3ABBATH IS THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAW "UT ISN T THE REAL ISSUE THAT 'OD HAD lRST FREED (IS PEOPLE AND THAT THIS ACT LED TO THE COVENANT LAW &IRST CAME THE %XODUS SALVATION AND THEN THE LAWS CHARACTERIZING THE COVENANT !GAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH "ACK TO OUR TREASURE BURIED IN A
lELD *ESUS SAYS THAT THE TREASURE IS A SYMBOL OF THE KINGDOM OF 'OD ) BE LIEVE THAT THE 3ABBATH IS ALSO A SYMBOL OF THE KINGDOM OF 'OD THOUGH NOT 'OD S KINGDOM ITSELF !S BAPTISM IS A SYMBOL THAT IN ITSELF DOESN T SAVE ANY ONE BUT RATHER IS A VIVID DEMONSTRA TION SO THE 3ABBATH IS A SIGN OF SALVA TION IN OUR TIME !ND WHAT IS REALLY FANTASTIC IS THAT REGARDLESS OF CULTURE LANGUAGE SOCIAL STATUS OR AGE TIME IS THE ONE THING THAT IS FAIRLY DIVIDED HOURS DAYS FOR EVERYONE 7HAT WOULD MY TOUR GUIDE HAVE SAID TO ALL THIS 3HE HAD SKILLFULLY DE SCRIBED THE FAITH OF THE (UGUENOTS IN THE OLD HISTORICAL SITES EMPHASIZING THAT WE CAN THANK THESE MARTYRS FOR OUR FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND CON SCIENCEˆYET SHE PERCEIVED OUR 3AB BATHKEEPING AS A STEP BACK INTO THE -IDDLE !GES 3HE TAUGHT ME THAT *ESUS NEEDS TO BE THE lRST FOCUS ALSO IN OUR 3ABBATH THEOLOGY AS ONE CANNOT UN DERSTAND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO A DIS CIPLE WHEN ONE DOES NOT KNOW THE ,ORD THE DISCIPLE IS FOLLOWING 4HE 3ABBATH IS NOTHING WITHOUT THE ,ORD OF THE 3ABBATH )NSTEAD OF ONLY TELLING PEOPLE TO KEEP THE 3ABBATH LET OUR 3ABBATHKEEPING BECOME A BRIGHT AD VERTISEMENT OF OUR REDEMPTIONˆAND YES FEEL 'OD S RHYTHM IN OUR LIFE
3ABBATH
4HE BENElCENT #REATOR AFTER THE SIX DAYS OF #REATION RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY AND INSTITUTED THE 3ABBATH FOR ALL PEOPLE AS A MEMORIAL OF #REATION 4HE FOURTH COMMANDMENT OF 'OD S UNCHANGEABLE LAW REQUIRES THE OBSERVANCE OF THIS SEVENTH DAY 3ABBATH AS THE DAY OF REST WORSHIP AND MINISTRY IN HARMONY WITH THE TEACHING AND PRACTICE OF *ESUS THE ,ORD OF THE 3ABBATH 4HE 3ABBATH IS A DAY OF DELIGHTFUL COMMUNION WITH 'OD AND ONE ANOTHER )T IS A SYMBOL OF OUR REDEMPTION IN #HRIST A SIGN OF OUR SANCTIlCATION A TOKEN OF OUR ALLEGIANCE AND A FORETASTE OF OUR ETERNAL FUTURE IN 'OD S KINGDOM 4HE 3ABBATH IS 'OD S PERPETUAL SIGN OF (IS ETERNAL COVENANT BETWEEN (IM AND (IS PEOPLE *OYFUL OBSERVANCE OF THIS HOLY TIME FROM EVENING TO EVENING SUNSET TO SUNSET IS A CELEBRATION OF 'OD S CREATIVE AND REDEMPTIVE ACTS 'EN %X ,UKE )SA -ATT %X %ZE $EUT (EB ,EV -ARK
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OW MUCH TIME DOES OUR WORLD HAVE LEFT )N CREASINGLY DESTRUCTIVE NATURAL AND MAN MADE DISASTERS SUGGEST THAT THE END IS NEAR !ND WHILE WE CANNOT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THIS WORLD WILL LAST WE HAVE A BROAD IDEA OF FUTURE EVENTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF %LLEN 7HITE )N THIS BRIEF ARTICLE WE CAN TOUCH ON ONLY SOME OF THEM 3O HERE ARE SEVEN MUST KNOW FACTS ABOUT LAST DAY EVENTS
3INCE THERE IS NO NEED FOR TIME BASED PROPHE CIES 4HE CONCLUSION OF THE LONGEST TIME PROPHECY IN MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE lNAL PERIOD OF EARTH S HISTORY &ROM THIS VANTAGE POINT WE CAN TRACE THE OUTLINES OF lNAL EVENTS BUT WE ARE WARNED THAT NO NEW LIGHT WILL BE BASED UPON DElNITE OR SPECIlC TIME CALCULATIONS OF THESE EVENTS 4HE YEARS SINCE PROVIDE AMPLE EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF %LLEN 7HITE S PREDICTION THAT hGREAT CHANGES ARE SOON TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR WORLD AND THE lNAL MOVEMENTS WILL BE RAPID ONES v "UT SHE ALSO LAMENTED THAT #HRIST WOULD HAVE COME ALREADY IF THE CHURCH HAD SUCCEEDED IN DOING THE WORK 'OD CALLED IT TO DO (IS RETURN IS DEFERRED hIN MERCY BECAUSE IF THE -ASTER SHOULD COME SO MANY WOULD BE FOUND UNREADY v
h"OTH OUR TITLE TO HEAVEN AND OUR lTNESS FOR IT ARE FOUND IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF #HRIST v ! WRONG UNDERSTAND ING OF THE GOSPEL MAY LEAVE PEOPLE UNPREPARED FOR THE FUTURE 4HROUGH CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE THE BELIEVER IS BROUGHT INTO HARMONY WITH 'OD AND (IS LAW 4RUE SANCTIlCATION IS A PROGRESSIVE WORK HAVING LIKENESS TO #HRIST AS ITS GOAL !T THE SAME TIME WE ARE GIVEN THIS ASSURANCE h)F YOU ARE RIGHT WITH 'OD TODAY YOU ARE READY IF #HRIST SHOULD COME TODAY v
! FALSE REVIVAL WILL SWEEP OVER THE CHURCH AND GENUINE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT WILL BE IGNORED 4HE LAST DAY MESSAGE IS DESIGNED TO PREPARE A PEOPLE FOR THE 3ECOND #OMING BUT 3ATAN WILL INTRODUCE AN EMOTION BASED COUN TERFEIT TO DRAW MINDS AWAY FROM THE TRUTHS FOR THIS TIME h7E MUST NOT REGARD IT AS OUR WORK TO CREATE AN EXCITEMENT v h)T IS THROUGH THE 7ORD NOT FEELING NOT EXCITEMENT THAT WE WANT TO INmUENCE THE PEOPLE TO OBEY THE TRUTH v 7E ARE ALSO WARNED THAT hWE HAVE FAR MORE TO FEAR FROM WITHIN THAN FROM WITHOUT v 3ATAN WILL SEEK TO UNSETTLE PEO PLE S CONlDENCE IN THE 3PIRIT OF 0ROPHECY BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT HE CANNOT HAVE hSO CLEAR A TRACK TO BRING IN HIS DECEP TIONS AND BIND UP SOULS IN HIS DELUSIONS IF THE WARNINGS AND REPROOFS AND COUNSELS OF THE 3PIRIT OF 'OD ARE HEEDED v
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
4 ME 'O "Y #LINTON 7AHLEN
3EVEN MUST KNOW FACTS ABOUT LAST DAY EVENTS
TO
7E MUST BE SANCTIlED BY OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH AND
HAVE A CLEAR KNOWLEDGE OF #HRIST S JUDGMENT MINISTRY IN ORDER TO SURVIVE THE SHAKING 3ATAN SEEKS TO DIVERT OUR MINDS FROM *ESUS SO THAT WE BECOME PREOCCUPIED WITH WORLDLY PURSUITS AND PLEASURES 3OON hTHE MARK OF THE BEAST WILL BE URGED UPON US 4HOSE WHO HAVE STEP BY STEP YIELDED TO WORLDLY DEMANDS AND CONFORMED TO WORLDLY CUSTOMS WILL NOT lND IT A HARD MATTER TO YIELD TO THE POWERS THAT BE RATHER THAN SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO DERISION INSULT THREAT ENED IMPRISONMENT AND DEATHx 3ATAN WILL SORELY HARASS THE FAITHFUL BUT IN THE NAME OF *ESUS THEY WILL COME OFF MORE THAN CONQUERORSv THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH
/N THE OTHER HAND MANY !DVENTISTS WILL RENOUNCE THEIR FAITH h"Y UNITING WITH THE WORLD AND PARTAKING OF ITS SPIRIT THEY HAVE COME TO VIEW MATTERS IN NEARLY THE SAME LIGHT AND WHEN THE TEST IS BROUGHT THEY ARE PREPARED TO CHOOSE THE EASY POPULAR SIDE v %LLEN 7HITE EVEN STATES THAT hTHE CHURCH MAY APPEAR AS ABOUT TO FALL BUT IT DOES NOT FALL v AND THAT THE MAJORITY OF #HRIST S TRUE FOLLOWERS ARE IN "ABY LON h4HOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS WILL LISTEN WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD WORDS LIKE THESE v NOTWITHSTANDING THAT hBY THE VAST MAJORITY THEY WILL BE DISREGARDED v
4HE lNAL GLORIOUS PROCLAMATION OF 2EVELATION IS A REVELATION OF 'OD S CHARACTER OF LOVE !S THE END AP PROACHES THE WITNESS OF 'OD S PEOPLE hWILL BECOME MORE DECIDED AND MORE POWERFUL v h4HE LAST MESSAGE OF MERCY TO BE GIVEN TO THE WORLD IS A REVELATION OF ;'OD S= CHARACTER OF LOVE 4HE CHILDREN OF 'OD ARE TO MANIFEST (IS GLORY )N THEIR OWN LIFE AND CHARACTER THEY ARE TO REVEAL WHAT THE GRACE OF 'OD HAS DONE FOR THEM v 4HEIR FACES WILL SHINE hMIRACLES WILL BE WROUGHT THE SICK WILL BE HEALED AND SIGNS AND WONDERS WILL FOLLOW THE BELIEVERS v 3ATAN ALSO WILL WORKˆWITH hLYING WONDERSvˆAND hTHUS THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH WILL BE BROUGHT TO TAKE THEIR STAND v
7HETHER A PERSON RECEIVES THE SEAL OF 'OD OR THE MARK OF THE BEAST THE DECISIVE FACTOR IS LOYALTY 4HE MARK OF THE BEAST IS hTHE SIGN OF SUBMISSION TO EARTHLY POWERS v WHILE THE SEAL OF 'OD IS FOR THOSE REMAINING LOYAL TO THE DIVINE AUTHORITY !LTHOUGH NO ONE HAS RECEIVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST YET PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE IT NOT MERELY BECAUSE THEY CEASED hWORK WITH THEIR HANDS ON 3UNDAY v BUT BECAUSE hWITH THEIR MINDS x ;THEY= ACKNOWLEDGE 3UNDAY AS THE 3ABBATH v 4HOSE WHO RECEIVE THE SEAL OF 'OD WILL BE PRO TECTED IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE AND WILL hREmECT THE IMAGE OF *ESUS FULLY v /NCE hALL WHO HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES LOYAL TO THE DI VINE PRECEPTSv HAVE BEEN SEALED *ESUS INTERCESSION CEASES PROBATION CLOSES AND THE SINS OF 'OD S PEOPLE ARE BLOTTED OUT h4HE COMING OF #HRIST DOES NOT CHANGE OUR CHARAC TERS IT ONLY lXES THEM FOREVER BEYOND ALL CHANGE v 4HERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY hSECOND PROBATION v BECAUSE ANY WHO PERSISTENTLY RESIST THE CONVICTION BROUGHT BY THE (OLY 3PIRIT WOULD hNEVER BE CONVINCEDv ANYWAY
4HE LATTER RAIN WILL BE MORE ABUNDANT THAN THE EARLY RAIN AND HELPS PREPARE 'OD S PEOPLE TO STAND THROUGH THE TIME OF TROUBLE %MPLOYING THE BIBLICAL IMAGERY OF THE HAR VEST %LLEN 7HITE EXPLAINS THAT hTHE RIPENING OF THE GRAIN
REPRESENTS THE COMPLETION OF THE WORK OF 'OD S GRACE IN THE SOUL "Y THE POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT THE MORAL IMAGE OF 'OD IS TO BE PERFECTED IN THE CHARACTER 7E ARE TO BE WHOLLY TRANSFORMED INTO THE LIKENESS OF #HRIST v %SPECIALLY DURING THE TIME OF TROUBLE *ESUS NOTES EVERY DIFlCULTY (IS PEOPLE FACE AND EVEN hTHE PRISON WILL BE AS A PALACE v "UT THE WICKED hHAVE NEVER TRAINED THE MIND TO LOVE PURITY x AND NOW IT IS TOO LATE ! LIFE OF REBELLION AGAINST 'OD HAS UNlT TED THEM FOR HEAVEN )TS PURITY HOLINESS AND PEACE WOULD BE TORTURE TO THEM THE GLORY OF 'OD WOULD BE A CONSUMING lREx 4HEIR EXCLUSION FROM HEAVEN IS VOLUNTARY WITH THEMSELVES AND JUST AND MERCIFUL ON THE PART OF 'OD v %LLEN 7HITE OFTEN SOUGHT TO DRAW PEOPLE S MINDS TO THE GLORIES OF HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH 4HE REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS SHE WROTE hWILL BE KNOWN ONLY TO THOSE WHO BE HOLD ITx /N THOSE PEACEFUL PLAINS BESIDE THOSE LIVING STREAMS 'OD S PEOPLE SO LONG PILGRIMS AND WANDERERS SHALL lND A HOME v %VEN THEN AND THERE THE MORE WE LEARN OF 'OD THE GREATER WILL BE OUR ADMIRATION OF (IS CHARACTER AND THE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLY WILL WE BE ABLE TO TESTIFY THAT h'OD IS LOVE v
%LLEN ' 7HITE ,AST $AY %VENTS "OISE )DAHO 0ACIlC 0RESS 0UBLISHING !SSN PP .OTE THAT UNDOCUMENTED IDEAS IN THIS ARTICLE ARE ALSO DRAWN FROM THIS IMPORTANT COMPILATION )BID P )BID P )BID P )BID P )BID EMPHASIS IN ORIGINAL )BID P %LLEN ' 7HITE 3ELECTED -ESSAGES 7ASHINGTON $ # 2EVIEW AND (ERALD 0UBLISHING !SSN BOOK P %LLEN ' 7HITE 4ESTIMONIES FOR THE #HURCH -OUNTAIN 6IEW #ALIF 0ACIlC 0RESS 0UBLISHING !SSN VOL PP %LLEN ' 7HITE 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY -OUNTAIN 6IEW #ALIF 0ACIlC 0RESS 0UBLISHING !SSN PP 7HITE ,AST $AY %VENTS P 7HITE 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY P %LLEN ' 7HITE )N (EAVENLY 0LACES 7ASHINGTON $ # 2EVIEW AND (ERALD 0UBLISHING !SSN P 7HITE ,AST $AY %VENTS P %LLEN ' 7HITE #HRIST S /BJECT ,ESSONS 7ASHINGTON $ # 2EVIEW AND (ERALD 0UBLISHING !SSN PP 7HITE 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY P )BID P 7HITE ,AST $AY %VENTS P %LLEN ' 7HITE %ARLY 7RITINGS OF %LLEN ' 7HITE 7ASHINGTON $ # 2EVIEW AND (ERALD 0UBLISHING !SSN P 7HITE 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY PP 7HITE 4ESTIMONIES FOR THE #HURCH VOL P 7HITE ,AST $AY %VENTS P )BID P )BID P 3EE ALSO P 7HITE 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY P )BID P )BID P
#LINTON 7AHLEN SERVES AS AN ASSOCIATE DIREC TOR OF THE "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH )NSTITUTE AT THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS AND LIVES IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 5 3 !
-ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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,EFT 3UNG (UN #HOI 2IGHT (!.$3 ,)&4%$ ()'( #HURCH MEMBERS SUFFERING THE EFFECTS OF LEPROSY AT 9OUNGSHINWON CHURCH
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T WAS 3EPTEMBER OF !FTER A HOT SUMMER THE HARVEST SEASON HAD lNALLY ARRIVED 4HE RICE WAS GETTING RIPE IN THE lELDS AND THE CHESTNUTS WERE BECOMING MATURE IN THE MOUNTAINS ALL AROUND !LTHOUGH THE lELDS HAD BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE +OREAN 7ARˆEVEN THAT COULD NOT IMPEDE THE COMING OF THE HARVEST SEASON -OST +OREANS EX HAUSTED FROM HUNGER AND WAR WERE HOPEFUL OF A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST -EETING THE 5NTOUCHABLES
4HE DAY FOLLOWING THE #HUSOK FES TIVAL A TRADITIONAL HARVEST MOON FESTI VAL A GROUP OF STRANGE LOOKING PEOPLE VISITED THE (ADONG 3EVENTH DAY !D VENTIST #HURCH LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE +OREAN PENINSULA 3UNG (UN #HOI THE CHURCH PASTOR OF THE (ADONG CONGREGATION WAS AFRAID TO MEET THEM BECAUSE THEY LOOKED SE VERELY DISlGURED &INGERS WERE IN A FEARFUL STATE OF DECOMPOSITION EYE BROWS HAD FALLEN OUT AND SERIOUS SKIN
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
/&&)#)!, "53).%33 3UNG (UN #HOI CENTER WITH HIS WIFE AND - 6 #AMPBELL A FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS
LESIONS WERE VISIBLE 4HE VISITORS WERE FROM THE LEPER COLONY NEARBY )N FACT THE SIGHT WAS SO REVOLTING THAT HE COULDN T EVEN LOOK DIRECTLY AT THEM #HOI HOWEVER WAS PASSIONATE FOR 'OD S WORK 7HEN HE GOT AN INVITA TION FROM THE LEPERS TO COME AND PREACH 'OD S MESSAGE HE MADE A DE CISION TO WORK FOR THEM h) COULDN T REFUSE THEIR INVITATION BECAUSE ) SAW THEIR LOOKS OF APPEAL ) FOUND THAT THEY REALLY LONGED FOR 'OD S MESSAGE AND HEAVENLY HOPE v HE CONFESSED 4HIS MEETING WAS TO BE A PROVIDENTIAL EN COUNTER FOR #HOI AS HE DECIDED TO FO CUS HIS MINISTRY ON PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM LEPROSY FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE
OF IGNORANCE AND PREJUDICE HE COULD NOT BE CLOSE TO THEM AT lRST %VEN THOUGH HE WOULD SHAKE HANDS WITH HIS LEPER CON GREGATION AFTER WORSHIP HE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO EAT TOGETHER IN THEIR HOUSES (E WAS AFRAID OF BECOMING IN FECTED /NE DAY A LEPER COUPLE INVITED HIM TO EAT WITH THEM IN THEIR HUMBLE HOME AS A TOKEN OF THEIR APPRECIATION (E KNEW THAT IF HE DECLINED THE INVITA TION WITH SOME EXCUSE THEY WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED AND TURN AWAY FROM #HRISTIANITY BECAUSE THEY WERE NEW BE LIEVERS %VEN THOUGH HE WAS AFRAID HE KNEW HE SHOULD SHOW THEM 'OD S LOVE AS A PASTOR (E ACCEPTED THE INVITATION AND SHARED A SPECIAL MEAL WITH THEM &ROM THAT TIME ON HE FELT THAT HE HAD BECOME A REAL PASTOR TO THE LEPERS (E BECAME A KERNEL OF WHEAT TO THE LEPERS "Y +UK (EON ,EE IN +OREA PROVIDING NOT ONLY MUCH NEEDED RESOURCES TO THIS FORGOTTEN COM MUNITY BUT ALSO SHARING PRACTICALLYˆ THROUGH HIS MINISTRY AND PERSONAL IN VOLVEMENTˆTHEIR PAINS AND JOYS #HOI MINISTERED FOR YEARS AS A PASTOR -OST OF THE TIME HE WORKED TO TAKE CARE OF THE LEPERS AT 9OUNGSHIN OF THE POLICE OFlCERS APPROACH (E WAITED WON IN (ADONG !EJOWON IN #HUN GMU 3OSAENGWON IN )KSAN AND IN FOR THE POLICE WITH ANXIETY AFTER HIDING ALL THE "IBLES AND HYMNALS "UT NOBODY OTHER PLACES (E BUILT MANY CHURCHES CAME TO THE SECRET PLACE 4HE POLICE JUST TRAINING CENTERS FOR THE CHILDREN OF LEPERS AND OLD AGE HOMES FOR THE AGED RETREATED FROM THE VILLAGE 'OD HAD USED A VILLAGE LEADER WHO HAD PERSUADED LEPERS !FTER RETIRING OFlCIALLY FROM THE MINISTRY HE CONTINUED WITH THE SAME THEM TO GIVE UP SEARCHING FOR THE !D PASSION UNTIL THE END OF HIS LIFE 'OD VENTISTS IN THE VILLAGE 4HANKS TO HIS SURELY USED 0ASTOR #HOI TO OPEN A PERSUASIVE INTERVENTION THE POLICEMEN WINDOW OF MISSION TO HIS FELLOW !D HAD GONE BACK AND #HOI PASSED VENTISTS IN +OREA AND BEYOND (E WAS THROUGH ANOTHER CRISIS UNTOUCHED A WONDERFUL MAN OF 'OD AND IS RE ! "REAKTHROUGH AND A MEMBERED BY +OREAN !DVENTISTS AS ,IFE -ISSION THE SAINT OF THE LEPERS (E TRULY )N 3UNG (UN #HOI BECAME A TOUCHED THE UNTOUCHABLES FULL TIME PASTOR !FTER GRADUATING FROM +OREAN 5NION #OLLEGE HE WENT TO (A DONG AS A CHURCH PASTOR AND WORKED HARD TO PREACH THE THREE ANGELS MES +UK (EON ,EE MINIS SAGES IN THIS AREA !ROUND THAT TIME HE TERS AS A CHAPLAIN AND MET THE LEPERS FROM THE LEPER VILLAGE PROFESSOR AT 3AHMYOOK NEAR (ADONG 4HIS ENCOUNTER CHANGED 5NIVERSITY +OREA (E HIS LIFE AND HE SERVED LEPERS FROM THAT RECEIVED HIS GRADUATE DEGREES FROM .EW MOMENT UNTIL THE END OF HIS LIFE (OW BOLD #OLLEGE AND 3AHMYOOK 5NIVERSITY AND EVER THIS WAS NOT AN EASY TASK "ECAUSE IS A SPECIALIST IN CHURCH HISTORY *APANESE AUTHORITIES )T WAS THE HARDEST EXPERIENCE FOR +OREAN !DVENTISTS 4HEY COULDN T MEET IN THEIR OWN CHURCHES #HURCH LEADERS WERE SCATTERED IN ALL DI RECTIONS (OWEVER SOME PASTORS DE CIDED TO STICK IT OUT AND WATCHED OVER THEIR CHURCHES AND CHURCH MEMBERS 4HEY FORMED SECRET CHURCHES THAT GATH ERED TOGETHER TO WORSHIP AND PRAY !T *ANGMAE RI NEAR 0YONGYANG #HOI ES TABLISHED A SECRET CHURCH AND HELD REGU LAR MEETINGS EVERY 3ABBATH /NE 3AB BATH MORNING POLICEMEN CAME TO THE VILLAGE IN SEARCH OF THE SECRET CHURCH 4HE 3ABBATH SCHOOL LESSON HAD JUST lN ISHED #HOI SENT THE CHURCH MEMBERS BACK TO THEIR HOMES AS SOON AS HE HEARD
UCHABLES 3AVED BY A -IRACLE
3UNG (UN #HOI WAS BORN IN A TINY +OREAN VILLAGE ON &EBRUARY )T WAS NINE YEARS AFTER THE THREE ANGELS MESSAGES HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO +O REA A SMALL !SIAN COUNTRY WHOSE ECONOMY WASˆAT THAT TIMEˆNEARLY EXCLUSIVELY DEPENDENT ON AGRICULTURE ,IKE MOST OF HIS NEIGHBORS HE LIVED IN POVERTY SINCE THIS WAS DURING THE *APA NESE OCCUPATION AND TIMES WERE HARD "LESSED WITH A STRONG INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AND SINCERITY HE OVERCAME MANY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS AND AS A YOUNG MAN MADE IMPORTANT CHOICES )T WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT HE BECAME AN !DVENTIST )N WHEN HE WAS YEARS OLD HE WAS BAPTIZED AT A LOCAL !DVENTIST CHURCH AND BECAME A COL PORTEUR AND LAY PASTOR DURING THE TROUBLING YEARS OF 7ORLD 7AR )) (ARD 4IMES
)N THE +OREAN !DVENTIST #HURCH WAS OFlCIALLY DISSOLVED BY THE
-ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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1 5 % 3 4 ) / . 0LEASE EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF
THOSE WHO lND IN #HRIST THEIR 3AVIOR AND HEAVENLY (IGH 0RIEST h4HE BLOOD OF #HRIST x ;WILL= CLEANSE OUR CON THE PURIlCATION MENTIONED IN (EBREWS SCIENCES FROM ACTS THAT LEAD TO DEATH SO THAT WE MAY SERVE HE TEXT READS h!FTER ;THE 3ON= HAD PROVIDED PURIl THE LIVING 'OD v (EB !LL ARE CALLED TO REPENT FROM CATION FOR SINS HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THEIR DEAD WORKS AND ARE ASSURED THAT THEY WILL EXPERI -AJESTY IN HEAVEN v 4HE VERSE COMBINES TWO ELE ENCE PURIlCATION THROUGH #HRIST 4HIS PRESENT CLEANSING IS MENTS #LEANSING AND EXALTATION BUT IT DOES NOT SPECIlCALLY AN INTRINSIC PART OF THE INTERCESSORY WORK OF #HRIST AT THE STATE HOW THE PURIlCATION HAPPENS )N ORDER TO CLARIFY THE RIGHT HAND OF 'OD AND ADDRESSES NOT ONLY OUR PAST TEXT LET S EXAMINE TWO OTHER PASSAGES WHERE THOSE ELEMENTS SINS BUT ALSO THE NONDELIBERATE SINS COMMITTED DURING OUR ARE ALSO PRESENT THEN EXPLORE THE SIGNIlCANCE OF PURIlCA #HRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE )N THAT JOURNEY WE MUST TION IN (EBREWS hTHROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT #LEANSING AND 3ACRI HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO lCE .OTICE THESE TWO PAS EASILY ENTANGLESv SAGES h"UT WHEN THIS PRIEST 4HROUGH THE POWER OF HAD OFFERED FOR ALL TIME ONE #HRIST S SACRIlCE ON THE SACRIlCE FOR SINS HE SAT DOWN CROSS WHERE (E BORE THE AT THE RIGHT HAND OF 'ODv SINS OF MANY OUR SINS h;#HRIST= ENDURED ARE FORGIVEN BY 'OD )N THE THE CROSS SCORNING ITS SHAME )SRAELITE SYSTEM THIS WAS REP AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT RESENTED THROUGH THE DAILY "Y HAND OF THE THRONE OF 'ODv SERVICES 4HE SACRIlCE OF !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ #HRIST AND (IS MEDIATION 4HE lRST PASSAGE READS hONE SACRIlCE FOR SINSv FULlLL THE TYPOLOGICAL SIGNIl INSTEAD OF THE hPURIlCATION CANCE OF THE DAILY SERVICES FOR SINS v THUS CLARIFYING ITS #LEANSING OF THE (EAV MEANING 4HE SECOND ONE ENLY 3ANCTUARY 4HE CLEANS ESTABLISHES THAT THE SACRIlCE ING POWER OF #HRIST S SACRI WAS #HRIST S DEATH ON THE CROSS (E MADE PURIlCATION FOR lCE ALSO HAS A FUTURE EXPRESSION REPRESENTED IN THE CLEANSING SIN IN THE SENSE THAT (E OFFERED (IMSELF AS A SACRIlCIAL VIC RITUAL OF THE $AY OF !TONEMENT h)T WAS NECESSARY THEN FOR TIM 4HE CLEANSING ATONING SACRIlCE WAS OFFERED ONCE )N THE COPIES OF THE HEAVENLY THINGS TO BE PURIlED WITH THESE (IS EXALTATION (E CONTINUES TO OFlCIATE AS OUR HIGH PRIEST SACRIlCES BUT THE HEAVENLY THINGS THEMSELVES WITH BETTER SAC IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY 4HIS WORK IS DIRECTLY CON RIlCES THAN THESEv 4HIS PASSAGE CLEARLY PRESUPPOSES A NECTED TO OUR CLEANSING FROM SIN TYPOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE $AY OF !TONEMENT "Y RE #LEANSING AND THE &IRST #OVENANT )T IS THROUGH FERRING TO THE CLEANSING OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY THE APOSTLE #HRIST S SACRIlCE THAT THE SINS COMMITTED UNDER THE lRST IS POINTING TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE CLEANSING EFFECTIVE COVENANT WERE lNALLY FORGIVEN h.OW THAT ;#HRIST= HAS DIED NESS OF THE DEATH OR SACRIlCE OF #HRIST THAT WILL RESULT IN THE AS A RANSOM TO SET THEM FREE FROM THE SINS COMMITTED UN VINDICATION OF 'OD AND (IS PEOPLE AND IN THE CONSUMMA DER THE lRST COVENANTv !CCORDING TO (EBREWS THE TION OF THEIR SALVATION AT (IS SECOND COMING SINS COMMITTED UNDER THE lRST COVENANT NEEDED CLEANSING 4HIS CLEANSING ALSO LOOKS FORWARD TO THE ESTABLISHMENT BECAUSE THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS COULD NOT REMOVE SIN OF 'OD S ETERNAL KINGDOM AND TO THE MOMENT WHEN OR PURIFY SINNERS 4HE SACRIlCE OF #HRIST LEGITIMIZED THE ALL THE ENEMIES OF #HRIST WILL hBE MADE HIS FOOTSTOOLv CLEANSING PERFORMED IN TYPE UNDER THE lRST COVENANT 4HIS CF THAT IS TO SAY WHEN (E FULLY AND lNALLY WAS A CLEANSING OF SINS COMMITTED UNDER THE OLD COVENANT DEFEATS THEM 4HIS EXECUTIVE JUDGMENT hWILL CONSUME THE AS TRANSGRESSIONS OF THE COVENANT LAW 4HIS RETROSPECTIVE ENEMIES OF 'ODv IN THE lNAL CLEANSING OF THE UNI EFFECT OF THE CLEANSING POWER OF THE SACRIlCE OF #HRIST IS NOT VERSE FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN AND EVIL POWERS UNIQUE TO (EBREWS IT IS IMPLIED ELSEWHERE IN THE .EW 4ES
!LL SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS IN THIS ARTICLE ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION .)6 TAMENT CF 2OM !CTS #LEANSING OF "ELIEVERS 4HE PURIlCATION OF SIN THR OUGH THE SACRIlCE OF #HRIST IS EFFECTIVE TODAY FOR THOSE WHO !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODRÓGUEZ IS DIRECTOR OF THE "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH )NSTITUTE OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE BELIEVE 4HE CLEANSING POWER OF THE CROSS NOW APPLIES TO
4
#LEANSING AND %XALTAT ON
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
" ) " , % 3 4 5 $ 9
#REATION ND TIME RUTHS
AND%
4
"Y -ARK ! &INLEY
#REATION IS ONE OF THE MOST VITALLY IMPORTANT TRUTHS IN ALL 3CRIPTURE /UR UNDERSTANDING OF #REATION IMPACTS AND INmUENCES OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENTIRE "IBLE )N THIS LESSON WE WILL STUDY THE IMPORTANCE OF #REATION AS IT RELATES TO OTHER "IBLE TRUTHS /NE OF 3ATAN S GREAT DELUSIONS AT THE END TIME IS TO DECEIVE 'OD S PEOPLE ON THE SUBJECT OF #REATION AND DISTORT THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF MANY OTHER BASIC "IBLE TRUTHS 4HE DEVIL IS A DECEIVER AND A LIAR (IS LIES REGARDING #REATION CARRY WITH THEM SEEDS OF ERROR THAT MAKE THE ENTIRE "IBLE IN THE EYES OF SOME NO MORE THAN A BOOK OF MYTHS AND FABLES
(OW WERE WE ORIGINALLY CREATED h3O 'OD CREATED MAN IN (IS OWN IMAGE IN THE IMAGE OF 'OD (E CREATED HIM MALE AND FEMALE (E CREATED THEMv 'EN %ACH ONE OF US IS CREATED IN 'OD S
3IN HAS DElLED THE IMAGE OF 'OD IN THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE /UR SINS HAVE SEPARATED US FROM 'OD )SA /UR NATURES ARE FALLEN *ER "UT THROUGH (IS (OLY 3PIRIT THE HEART OF A LOVING 'OD LONGS TO RE CREATE (IS IMAGE IN US
7HAT PROMISE DOES OUR ,ORD GIVE TO THOSE WHO COMMIT THEIR LIVES TO (IM h4HEREFORE IF ANYONE IS IN #HRIST HE IS A NEW CREATION OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY BEHOLD ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEWv #OR 7RITE THE MEANING OF THIS PROMISE IN YOUR OWN WORDS
)F 'OD DID NOT CREATE US IN THE lRST PLACE (E CANNOT RE CREATE US )F 'OD DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE THE WORLD IN THE BEGINNING (E CERTAINLY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO TRANSFORM OUR LIVES 7E CAN THANK 'OD THAT ALL (IS CREATIVE POWER IS AVAILABLE TO RE CREATE US INTO (IS IMAGE
4HROUGHOUT THE "IBLE 'OD IS CALLED THE #REATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH )SA %CCL 0ETER )F (E DID NOT CREATE THE WORLD IN THE lRST PLACE WHAT HOPE DO WE HAVE THAT 'OD WILL RE CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH 2EAD THE TWO PASSAGES BELOW AND SHARE IN A SINGLE SENTENCE WHAT THEY MEAN TO YOU h&OR BEHOLD ) CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH AND THE FORMER SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED OR COME TO MINDv )SA h.EVERTHELESS WE ACCORDING TO (IS PROMISE LOOK FOR NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH IN WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLSv 0ETER
-ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
)S THERE ANYTHING IMPOSSIBLE FOR 'OD TO DO h)T IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR 'OD TO LIEv (EB )T IS
FOR 'OD TO
4HE BOOK OF 'ENESIS BEGINS WITH THESE WORDS h)N THE BEGINNING 'OD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTHv 'EN )F THE VERY lRST WORDS OF THE "IBLE ARE NOT TRUE THEN WE CANNOT HAVE CONlDENCE IN ANY OF THE "IBLE 4HANK 'OD THEY ARE TRUE FOR 'OD CANNOT LIE
7HAT DOES THE PSALMIST SAY REGARDING THE TRUTHFULNESS OF 'OD S 7ORD h4HE ENTIRETY OF 9OUR WORD IS TRUTHv 0S h&OREVER / ,ORD 9OUR WORD IS SETTLED IN HEAVENv 0S 4HE PSALMIST DECLARED 'OD S 7ORD IS
AND IT IS
IN HEAVEN
4HE OPPONENTS OF 'OD S 7ORD CANNOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT IS TRUE AND SETTLED IN HEAVEN .O SO CALLED hSCIENTIlC THEORIESv CAN ALTER THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THE "IBLE
7HY IS 'OD WORTHY OF OUR WORSHIP AND SUPREME ALLEGIANCE h9OU ARE WORTHY / ,ORD TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER FOR 9OU CREATED ALL THINGS AND BY 9OUR WILL THEY EXIST AND WERE CREATEDv 2EV 'OD IS WORTHY TO BE WORSHIPPED BECAUSE (E
ALL
4HE SEVENTH DAY 3ABBATH IS 'OD S ETERNAL SIGN OF (IS CREATIVE AUTHORITY )F (E DID NOT CREATE THE WORLD THEN THE 3ABBATH HAS NO MEANING AT ALL 4HE FOURTH COMMANDMENT COMMANDS US TO h2EMEMBER THE 3ABBATHv %X 3ATAN WOULD LOVE TO DESTROY THE 3ABBATH BY INTRODUCING THE DECEPTION THAT 'OD IS NOT THE #REATOR "UT WHENEVER WE WORSHIP 'OD ON THE SEVENTH DAY 3ABBATH WE DECLARE OUR ALLEGIANCE TO OUR #REATOR 'OD
(OW IS 'OD S LAST DAY MESSAGE FOR THIS PLANET LINKED TO THE 3ABBATH COMMANDMENT 2EVELATION PICTURES THREE ANGELS mYING IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN 4HE lRST ANGEL SAYS WITH A LOUD VOICE h&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 VERSE )N LIGHT OF 'OD S lNAL JUDGMENT WHOM DOES THIS lRST ANGEL CALL US TO WORSHIP 7E ARE TO WORSHIP (IM WHO MADE
AND
4HE LAST BATTLE IN THE LONG STANDING CONTROVERSY BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IS OVER THE COMMANDMENTS OF 'OD 4HE 3ABBATH THE SYMBOL OF #REATION IS AT THE CENTER OF THE CONmICT /UR LOVING #REATOR CAN RE CREATE OUR HEARTS /NE DAY (E WILL CREATE A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH %ACH WEEK AS WE WORSHIP (IM ON (IS 3ABBATH (E REMINDS US OF OUR WORTH IN (IS SIGHT #REATION IS THE ETERNAL TRUTH THAT REMINDS US (E CAN STILL WORK MIRACLES IN OUR LIVES AND THAT (IS 7ORD IS TRUE TO EVERY GENERATION
.EXT MONTH S STUDY h%DEN S %CHOES OF %TERNITY v WILL EXAMINE OUR WEEKLY LEGACY FROM CREATION
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
,%44%23 7HAT 3ACRIlCE
) WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE ARTICLE BY 4HURMAN # 0ETTY h7HAT (AVE 7E $ONE v $ECEMBER AND THE COMPELLING PICTURE OF *ESUS #REATOR OF THE UNI VERSE CARING ABOUT US IN THIS LITTLE COR NER OF THE UNIVERSE CALLED %ARTH )N FACT 'OD LOVED US LONG BEFORE #RE ATION WITH A LOVE THAT WE WILL NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND UNTIL ETERNITY ,OVE INl NITE IMMEASURABLEˆTHE LOVE OF OUR BELOVED -ASTER *ESUS 2OBERTO $EIR˜ 3áO 0AULO "RAZIL 'RATITUDE
4HANK YOU FOR LISTING THE FARMING IN DUSTRY lRST IN THE EDITORIAL h/PEN HEARTED ,ISTENINGv $ECEMBER 3O MANY TIMES PEOPLE LIST PROFESSIONS SUCH AS DOCTORS LAWYERS #%/S AND SAY hEVEN FARMERS v ) AM A RETIRED FARMER AND IT WAS A CONSTANT IRRITATION TO BE AT THE TAIL END OF SUCH A LISTING 9OUR LISTING WAS OF WORKING PEOPLE AND ) APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH 4HANKS AGAIN -AY 'OD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE ENTIRE MAGAZINE *IM 'RUBBS ( ICKORY #ORNERS -ICHIGAN 5NITED 3TATES (EART 4RANSPLANT
) lND IT IMPORTANT THAT #REATION IS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION ONCE AGAIN AS ACCEPTING A CREATIVE 'OD IS VERY IM PORTANT 4HIS WAS NICELY EXPLAINED IN THE ARTICLE h#REATION 7ONDERSv *OHN 4 "ALDWIN ,EONARD 2 "RAND !RTHUR #HADWICK AND 2ANDALL 7 9OUNKER !UGUST
4HE FOUR REASONS QUOTED IN THE PARAGRAPHS TITLED h3PECIAL #REATION AND /THER "IBLICAL $OCTRINESv ARE IM PORTANT AND NICELY FORMULATED "UT ) MISSED A VERY IMPORTANT lFTH REASON 'OD ALSO WANTS TO RE CREATE OUR HEART 7E TALK ABOUT #REATION IN THE PAST AND LOOK TO THE NEW #REATION IN THE FUTURE 3ABBATH IS THE LINK BETWEEN THOSE TWO TIMES OF #REATION "UT IN BETWEEN 'OD IS WILLING TO CREATE IN US A NEW HEART OR RE CREATE OUR OLD HARD HEART #REATION MEANS INSTANTA NEOUSLY -ANY #HRISTIANS THINK THAT A NEW HEART IS NO LONGER CREATED BY 'OD BUT THAT WE EVOLVE INTO A BETTER BEING 4HIS IS A WRONG INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THE "IBLE TELLS US AND SHOWS THAT EVEN WHEN ACCEPTING THE SEVEN DAY #RE ATION WEEK WE CAN STILL BE EVOLUTION ISTS IN OUR OWN HEARTS -ANY HONEST #HRISTIANS STRUGGLE WITH SINS THEY CANNOT GET RID OF 4HEY WANT TO EVOLVE TO A BETTER HUMAN YET SIN IS SIN %VERYBODY HAS WEAKNESSES THAT ULTIMATELY MAY LEAD TO SIN AND YES WE EVOLVE TO A BETTER HUMAN AS STEP BY STEP OUR PERSONALITY IS POL ISHED BY 'OD "UT STRUGGLING AGAIN
AND AGAIN WITH ONE SPECIlC SIN MAKES US WONDER WHY THIS IS SO $O WE STILL BELIEVE IN A CREATIVE 'OD ABLE TO RE CREATE US IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ARE SAVED FROM OUR WEAKNESSES )F WE ASK OUR #REATOR MIGHT (E RE CREATE OUR WEAKNESS INTO A STRENGTH !RE WE TRULY CREATIONISTS *OHAN 6ANBRABANT :WEVEGEM "ELGIUM -AGAZINE !PPRECIATED
) GREET YOU IN THE NAME OF OUR ,ORD *ESUS #HRIST ) APPRECIATE YOUR PUB LISHING ENCOURAGING EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF 'OD S 7ORD ) AM TOUCHED WITH THE SAMPLES OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD ) HAVE READ SO FAR ) AM A +ENYAN BY NATIONALITY AND AN !DVENTIST TOO ) AM IN MY lRST YEAR OF $ALIAN -EDICAL 5NIVERSITY IN #HINA )T S VERY DIFlCULT TO lND A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CHURCH HERE SO ) AM RE QUESTING THAT YOU SEND ME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT ) WILL SHARE ANY MES SAGES WITH MY FRIENDS SO WE CAN START OUR OWN 3ABBATH SCHOOL #ALVIN ,IAONING #HINA
$O WE STILL BELIEVE IN A
CREATIVE 'OD ABLE TO RECREATE US IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ARE SAVED FROM OUR WEAKNESSES ˆ * OHAN 6ANBRABANT :WEVEGEM "ELGIUM
-ARCH \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
,%44%23 ) AM CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE %AST #EN TRAL !FRICA $IVISION OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH )T IS GREAT TO ALWAYS RECEIVE THE !DVENTIST 7ORLD MAGAZINE ) COMMEND THE WORK THAT THE TEAM GOES THROUGH TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT ) CONTINUE TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW THE MAGAZINES HAVE BEEN OF GREAT HELP TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ) DON T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD BUT ) HAVE BEEN TO EIGHT !FRICAN COUNTRIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN !FRICA ARE THE MAJOR ITY OF READERS OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD 4HE !DVENTIST YOUTH ARE ALWAYS READY TO READ ABOUT ANYTHING THAT CAN IMPROVE THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE MORE IN LIFE )T SEEMS THE CHURCH DOES LITTLE IN EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE IN !FRICA ) MIGHT BE WRONG AND IF ) AM ) AM OPEN TO CORRECTION !N EXAMPLE WAS *ULY IN 'E NEVA 3WITZERLAND WHERE THE !DVENTISTS AND THE 7ORLD (EALTH /RGANIZATION 7(/ HAD A HEALTH CONFERENCE 4HE
TOPIC WAS h)NCLUDING 9OUNG 0EOPLE S 0ARTICIPATION IN (EALTH $ECISIONS v AND AMONG THE PANELISTS NOT ONE YOUTH WAS REPRESENTED EVEN THOUGH YOUNG PEOPLE WERE SPONSORED TO THAT MEETING ) SPOKE AND IT WAS NOTED "UT IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THIS TO BE NO TICED BUT REALLY WORKED ON %VERY COUNTRY ) TRAVEL TO IN !FRICA ) LOOK FOR AN !DVENTIST FAMILY TO STAY WITH AND ) TALK EXTENSIVELY WITH THE YOUTH IN THE CHURCH 4HEY ARE WONDER FUL PEOPLE WITH PASSION FOR THE ,ORD 0LEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ) PRAY THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO lND FUNDING FOR THIS GREAT MAGAZINE SO THAT IN !FRICA AND BEYOND WE WILL AL WAYS BE EDIlED BY THE 7ORD OF 'OD 4EMMYLADE !YO !LADEOKIN %AST #ENTRAL !FRICA )NSPIRATION
#AN ) PURCHASE COPIES OF THIS MAGA ZINE TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN MY LOCAL
CHURCH 4HE CONTENT OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD IS SUPERB 4HE COPIES WE RECEIVE FOR THE CHURCH ELDERS HAVE BEEN RE CEIVED WITH MUCH ENTHUSIASM AND PLEASANT SURPRISE BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF OUR CHURCH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD -ARCOS DE /LIVEIRA -ACEI˜ !LAGOAS "RAZIL 5NFORTUNATELY AT THE PRESENT TIME !D VENTIST 7ORLD IN 3OUTH !MERICA CAN BE OBTAINED ONLY THROUGH A SUBSCRIPTION TO 2EVISTA !DVENTISTA "UT YOU CAN READ IT ONLINE IN VARIOUS LANGUAGESˆINCLUDING 0ORTUGUESEˆAT WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG &OR OTHER LANGUAGES ONCE YOU ARE ON THE 7EB PAGE PLEASE CLICK ON THE UP PER RIGHT WINDOW AND CHOOSE ANY LAN GUAGE OF YOUR PREFERENCE ,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 ) THANK 'OD FOR THE PRAYERS YOU OF FERED CONCERNING MY SCHOOL ) WAS ABLE TO STUDY A BUSINESS COURSE WITH FULL SPONSORSHIP 0LEASE PRAY FOR MY SPIRI TUAL LIFE AND FOR MY FAMILY SO THAT THE (OLY 3PIRIT MAY RESIDE IN OUR HEARTS AND *ESUS BE THE LEADER OF OUR LIVES 0ATRICK :AMBIA ) AM A GRADUATE FROM THE 5NIVERSITY OF ,IBERIA ) AM HOPING TO HAVE MY SEC OND DEGREE IN THEOLOGY BUT IN MY COUNTRY WE DO NOT HAVE ANY !DVENTIST UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE 0RAY THAT ) MAY lND lNANCIAL HELP FOR MY GOALS 2EMSEE ,IBERIA
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ -ARCH
) AM A LITERATURE EVANGELIST AND NEED THE ,ORD S CONTINUED FAVOR AND BLESS ING ON MY WORK FOR (IM ) KNOW YOUR PRAYERS WILL HELP +EEP UP THE GOOD WORK FOR *ESUS 0ATTIE 5NITED 3TATES ) AM SO GLAD TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY JOB 'OD ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS 4HANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PRAYER GROUP -Y OFlCE MAY RE DUCE STAFF SO NO ONE IS CERTAIN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT ) DO HAVE A CON TRACT EXTENSION TO !PRIL /UR 'OD HOLDS THE FUTURE 0LEASE PRAY FOR ME THAT ) MAY CONTINUE WORKING 'REETINGS TO THE WHOLE TEAM AND ) WISH YOU A (APPY .EW 9EAR (ENRY 5GANDA
) AM PLEASED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR PRAYERS HAVE TAKEN ME TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF CERTIlCATION IN EDUCATION SO THANK 'OD FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ME ) STILL BEG YOU TO PRAY FOR ME THAT ) MAY CONTINUE WORKING HARD *OSIYA -ALAWI ) WOULD LIKE TO PRAY FOR 'OD TO OPEN DOORS SO ) CAN STUDY MEDICINE ) D LIKE TO BE A MISSIONARY 0EDRO 0ARAGUAY 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
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S THE SCENIC TRAIN WORKS ITS WAY UP INTO THE HEART OF THE HIGHLANDS IN THE CEN TRAL !LPS REGION ) TAKE A MINUTE TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT MY lRST CLASS CARRIAGE COMPANIONS !T MY RIGHT THERE IS A COUPLE OF *APANESE NEWLYWEDS .EXT TO THEM IS A 0AKISTANI MAN AND THEN A BUNCH OF TALKATIVE %NGLISH GRANNIES /R SO THEY SEEM ) WOULD LOVE TO ASK THEM h7HERE ARE YOU FROM PEO PLE 7HAT ARE YOU DOING UP HERE 7HAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR v 4HEN ) TAKE MY EYES OFF THEM AND THE CAPTIVATING MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE TO FOCUS ON MY BOTTLE OF COLD MANGO JUICE !S ) DRINK ) READ THE NUTRITION FACTS AS USUAL TOO MANY CALORIES BUT THERE IS A PHRASE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LABEL THAT CATCHES MY EYE h-ADE IN 3WITZERLANDvˆIT SAYS IN THREE OF THE FOUR OFlCIAL LANGUAGES OF THAT COUNTRYˆhFROM MANGOS FROM )NDIA AND 0ERU v -ANGOS FROM )NDIA AND 0ERU !NONYMOUS HANDS THOUSANDS OF MILES APART PICKED UP THE FRUIT AND TOOK IT TO SOME FACILITY WITH EXPORT PERMITS THAT EVENTUALLY IS ALLOWING MEˆA 3OUTH !MERI CAN SOJOURNER UP IN THE !LPSˆTO ENJOY A BOTTLE OF SWEET 3WISS MADE MANGO NECTAR ! MOMENT LATER MY MIND MOVES AWAY FROM THE MANGOS TO THINK OF MY !MERICAN JACKET MADE IN 3RI ,ANKA WITH !USTRALIAN LEATHER AND MY HAND TOWEL MADE IN (ONDURAS WITH %GYPTIAN COTTON 7HAT KIND OF WORLD IS THIS 7HAT KIND OF WORLD ARE WE LIVING IN WHERE WE CAN SIP A BOTTLE OF JUICE MADE WITH FRUIT FROM TWO HEMISPHERES BUT NOT GET TO KNOW OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR (OW CAN WE AC COUNT FOR SUCH ABSURDITY (OW COULD WE EVER START BRIDGING SUCH A GAP ! COUPLE OF DAYS LATER ) AM AT SEA LEVEL AGAIN READY TO SPEND THE 3ABBATH HOURS WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS UNKNOWN !S ) SIT IN CHURCH A YOUNG MAN IS WELCOMING EVERYONE FROM THE PULPIT h/UR MEMBERS COME FROM MANY DIFFERENT NATIONS v HE SAYS AND STARTS NAMING THEIR NATIVE COUNTRIES !FTER MENTIONING MORE THAN A DOZEN THE WORSHIPPERS BEGIN HELPING HIM BY VOICING THE ONES HE OVERLOOKED h) APOLOGIZE IN CASE ) FORGOT SOME OF YOU v HE SAYS h"UT NO MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM HERE WE ARE FAMILY v HE ADDS EMPHATICALLY 3EEING HIS SMILE ) BELIEVE HIM ! MOMENT LATER ALL OF US RAISE OUR VOICES TO PRAISE *ESUS ) LEAVE THE CHURCH IN HIGH SPIRITS 4HE GAP IS WIDE BUT THERE IS AN OPENING WHEN 'OD S PEOPLE GATHER TO PRAISE (IS NAME !ND ) KNOW IT IS AN OPENING THAT ULTI MATELY WILL TAKE (IS FOLLOWERS TO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FROM EVERY NATION WILL MEET TO ENJOY AMONG A THOUSAND OTHER GOODIES THE SWEETEST MANGO JUICE EVER MADE ˆ - ARCOS 0ASEGGI LIVES IN /TTAWA /NTARIO #ANADA
/UR MISSION IS TO UPLIFT *ESUS #HRIST UNITING 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS EVERYWHERE IN BELIEFS MISSION LIFE AND HOPE 0UBLISHER 4HE !DVENTIST 7ORLD AN INTERNATIONAL PERIODICAL OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE .ORTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS§ IS THE PUBLISHER %XECUTIVE 0UBLISHER "ILL +NOTT !SSOCIATE 0UBLISHER #LAUDE 2ICHLI )NTERNATIONAL 0UBLISHING -ANAGER #HUN 0YUNG $UK 0UBLISHING "OARD *AN 0AULSEN CHAIR 4ED . # 7ILSON VICE CHAIR "ILL +NOTT SECRETARY !RMANDO -IRANDA 0ARDON + -WANSA *UAN 0RESTOL #HARLES # 3ANDEFUR $ON # 3CHNEIDER (EATHER $AWN 3MALL 2OBERT 3 3MITH +ARNIK $OUKMETZIAN LEGAL ADVISOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD #OORDINATING #OMMITTEE ,EE *AIRYONG CHAIR !KERI 3UZUKI $ONALD 5PSON 'UIMO 3UNG 'LENN -ITCHELL #HUN 0YUNG $UK %DITOR IN #HIEF "ILL +NOTT %DITORS BASED IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 2OY !DAMS '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 +šHLER *AIRYONG ,EE )SRAEL ,EITO 'EOFFREY ' -BWANA *OHN 2ATHINARAJ 0AUL 3 2ATSARA "ARRY /LIVER $ON # 3CHNEIDER !RTUR ! 3TELE "RUNO 6ERTALLIER 'ILBERT 7ARI "ERTIL ! 7IKLANDER 4O 7RITERS 7E WELCOME UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS !DDRESS ALL EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE 3ILVER 3PRING -$ 5 3 ! %DITORIAL OFlCE FAX NUMBER % 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 Ú BY 4HOMAS .ELSON )NC 5SED BY PERMISSION !LL RIGHTS RESERVED 4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT Ú )NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS !DVENTIST 7ORLD IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AND PRINTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN +OREA "RAZIL )NDONESIA !USTRALIA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES 6OL .O
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* / ) . 4 ( % # / . 6 % 2 3 ! 4 ) / . 7E ARE LOOKING FOR BRIEF SUBMISSIONS IN THESE CATEGORIES !DVENTIST 1UOTES PROFOUND OR SPONTANEOUS !DVENTIST ,IFE SHORT ANECDOTES ESPECIALLY FROM THE WORLD OF ADULTS *OTS AND 4ITTLES CHURCH RELATED TIPS #AMP -EETING -EMORIES SHORT HUMOROUS AND OR PROFOUND ANECDOTES 7HERE IN THE 7ORLD HIGH QUALITY PHOTOS OF MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
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h#REATING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE IN OTHERS IS A PROlTABLE INVESTMENT v ˆ !RNI (OLM DECEASED WHO WORKED FOR THE CHURCH MOST OF HIS LIFE AS A TEACHER PRINCIPAL PASTOR AND PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE 5NITED 3TATES AND )CELAND SUBMITTED BY HIS WIFE 3OLEY (OLM
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CAMPUS FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE HIRED TO BE THE MATH TEACHER 7HEN THE PRINCIPAL TOLD HIM THAT ONE OF THE CLASSES HE WOULD BE TEACHING WAS GEOMETRY HE OBJECTED )N ACQUIRING HIS MATH DEGREE THE TEACHER HAD SOMEHOW NEVER TAKEN A CLASS IN GEOMETRY !DVANCED ALGEBRAˆYES #ALCU LUSˆYES 4RIGONOMETRYˆYES "UT GEOMETRYˆNO )N SPITE OF
HIS SPUTTERING OBJECTIONS HE ENDED UP TEACHING GEOMETRY (E TOLD OF MANAGING TO KEEP ONE DAY AHEAD OF HIS STUDENTS /NE DAY A STUDENT SAID TO HIM h-Y ) WISH ) KNEW AS MUCH ABOUT GEOMETRY AS YOU DO v 4O WHICH THE INSTRUCTOR REPLIED h9OU WILL TOMORROW v ˆ 0HYLLIS 2OEHL ,INCOLN .EBRASKA 5NITED 3TATES
!DVENTIST #HURCH POSE FOR A PHOTOGRAPH AFTER THE 3ABBATH MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE ! .37 %2 )N 4AOYUAN 4AIWAN MEMBERS OF THE 4AOYUAN )NTERNATIONAL &ELLOWSHIP 3EVENTH DAY
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