AW English - December 2010.pdf

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/N THE COVER ). 4(/5'(43 'ETTING READY FOR THE GREAT DAYˆGETTING MAR RIED TO HER LIFE PARTNER !RAM !SHOD (/-% !7!9 &2/- (/-% 4HE LOCA TION OF THE MISSION HEADQUARTERS IN )STANBUL BOUGHT IN THE EARLY S

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NE OF THE MOST RADIANT PROPHE CIES ABOUT *ESUS WAS ANNOUNCED

BY THE hGOSPEL PROPHET v )SAIAH !MONG THE MANY GLORIOUS ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROMISED -ESSIAH )SAIAH CONlDENTLY ASSERTS THAT hTHE GOVERNMENT WILL BE UPON (IS SHOULDER v )F ANY PART OF THIS BURST OF LIGHT IN )SAIAH CAN BE CALLED ESPECIALLY GOOD NEWS THIS IS IT h4HE GOVERNMENT WILL BE UPON (IS SHOULDERv VERSE /N THE DOORSTEP OF WE CANNOT FORGET THAT WE HAVE WITNESSED THE RISE AND FALL OF MORE GOVERNMENTS THAN ANY GENERATION IN HISTORY 7E HAVE SEEN PRIME MINISTERS

PRESIDENTS AND OPPOSITION LEADERS GUNNED DOWN OR TURNED FROM OFlCE 7E HAVE FELT THE SURGE OF hPEOPLE S REVOLUTIONSv AS MASSES OF DISAPPOINTED CITIZENS THRONGED THE STREETS TO TOPPLE UNRESPONSIVE REGIMES 7E HAVE SEEN DICTATORS CLIMB TO POWER ON THE BLEEDING BACKS OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE AND WE VE WATCHED THEM PLUMMET JUST AS RAPIDLY WHEN THEIR CUP OF INIQUITY WAS FULLˆWHEN 'OD IN HEAVEN HEARD THE CRIES OF ALL (IS HURTING ONES AND RESTORED A LITTLE JUSTICE 7E VE DISCOVERED THAT THE HUMAN ART OF GOVERNANCE IS ALL TOO FREQUENTLY CORRUPTED BY A SINFUL LUST FOR POWER OR WEALTH OR PUBLIC ADULATION

)N DEMOCRATIC NATIONS WE TROOP TO THE POLLS EVERY FEW YEARS IN HOPES OF LIFTING THE DARKNESS A LITTLE BY THE POWER OF OUR BALLOTS "UT TOO OFTEN WE DISCOVER THAT THOUGH WE HAVE ELECTED MEN AND WOMEN OF GOODWILL THEY ARE POWERLESS TO BRING THE LIGHT AND HOPE WE CRAVE 3URELY WE NEED THIS #HILD OF WHOM )SAIAH WROTE THIS /NE WHO TAKES THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE ON (IS SHOULDERS WITH MORE EASE THAN ONE OF OUR CHILDREN PICKS UP A STALK OF GRASS 4HE PROPHET S ASSERTION REMINDS US THAT WE NEED NOT FEAR THE FUTURE WHEN WE REMEMBER THAT THE EARTH IS STILL THE ,ORD S WHEN WE REMEMBER THAT THIS #HILD BORN hTO USv IS ALSO THE +ING OF THE UNIVERSE %ACH TIME ) STAND IN SOME CROWDED HALL TO LISTEN TO (ANDEL S MAGNIlCENT h(ALLELUJAH #HORUS v ONE PROPHECY ABOUT *ESUS BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES

NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES ) HEAR IT 7ITH EVERY ATOM OF MY BEING ) JOIN MILLIONS OF BELIEVERS AROUND THE GLOBE IN PRAY ING FOR THAT DAY COMING SOON WHEN hTHE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD HAVE BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR ,ORD AND OF (IS #HRIST AND (E SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVERv 2EV %VEN SO COMEˆAND REIGNˆ,ORD *ESUS

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&OCUS ON REVIVAL REFORMA TION AND PROCLAMATION '# PRESIDENT SAYS "Y -ARK ! +ELLNER NEWS EDITOR N !S THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH CELEBRATED THE TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF ITS NAME

BY A THEN NASCENT GROUP OF BELIEVERS ASSEMBLED IN "ATTLE #REEK -ICHIGAN

'ENERAL #ONFERENCE PRESIDENT 4ED . # 7ILSON EXHORTED MEMBERS TO hREMEMBER YOUR NAME v BY WHICH THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT IS CALLED

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7ILSON %XHORTS 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS h2EMEMBER 9OUR .AMEv

2%-%-"%2 9/52 .!-% 0ASTOR 4ED . # 7ILSON PRESIDENT OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS EXHORTS MEMBERS TO hREMEMBER YOUR NAMEv AND THE SIGNIlCANCE OF THE MOVEMENT DURING A 3ABBATH

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SERMON IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND

$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

7/2,$ 2%0/24 h'OD KNEW THAT (IS REMNANT PEOPLE NEEDED A DISTINCTIVE NAME THAT WOULD IDENTIFY THEM AS THOSE @WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF 'OD AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF *ESUS AS INDICATED IN 2EVELATION v 7ILSON TOLD A PACKED 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE !UDITORIUM CONGREGATION ON 3AB BATH OR 3ATURDAY /CTOBER h4HE SELECTION OF THE NAME @3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST CAME AFTER THE PILLARS OF OUR FAITHˆOUR BELIEFSˆHAD BEEN ESTABLISHED THROUGH INTENSIVE STUDY AND CONSECRATED PRAYER v HE ADDED 7ILSON S MESSAGE WHICH WAS BROADCAST GLOBALLY ON THE CHURCH S (OPE #HANNEL SATELLITE SERVICE WAS THE KEYNOTE PRESENTATION OF THE 3ABBATH HELD DURING !NNUAL #OUNCIL A GLOBAL MEETING OF THE WORLD CHURCH S %XECU TIVE #OMMITTEE AT WHICH MAJOR DECI SIONS ARE UNDERTAKEN !LTHOUGH THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED lFTY NINTH 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION IN !TLANTA 'EORGIA

ACCOMPLISHED MUCH OF THE CHURCH S AGENDA THE !NNUAL #OUNCIL MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS OF CHURCH MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL ISSUES 2ECAPITULATING THE THEME THROUGH OUT HIS SERMON 7ILSON NOTED THE UNIQUE SIGNIlCANCE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST NAME (E DECLARED h%VERY TIME YOU SAY IT

YOU PREACH A SERMON v 7ILSON ADDED h7HEN YOU SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC IN WRITING OR IN SPEECH DON T JUST REFER TO YOURSELF AS AN @!DVENTIST OR HIDE BEHIND THE ABBREVIATION @3$! %VERY TIME YOU SAY @) AM A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST

YOU PREACH A SERMON .EVER NEVER BE ASHAMED OF OUR NAME 7HEN OUR CHURCH BEGAN MANY NAMES WERE SUGGESTED AND CONSIDERED BUT WHEN THE NAME @3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST WAS DISCUSSED 'OD IMPRESSED CHURCH LEADERS THAT THAT NAME WAS BEST v 4HE CHURCH NAME 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST hIS SO DISTINCTIVE v 7ILSON SAID h4HE @3EVENTH DAY REFERS TO

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'OD S POWER IN CREATING THIS EARTH IN SIX LITERAL CONSECUTIVE CONTIGUOUS

HOUR DAYS CAPPING IT WITH A MEMORIAL OF THAT CREATION THE SEVENTH DAY 3AB BATH 4HIS REMINDS US THAT WE ARE A DIRECT CREATION OF 'OD AND NOT SOME CHANCE ANOMALY OF SOME IMPERSONAL EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS v &URTHER EXPLAINING THE SIGNIlCANCE OF THE CHURCH NAME 7ILSON NOTED h@!DVENTIST TELLS US WHERE WE ARE GOING 7E ARE WAITING FOR THE IMMI NENT RETURN OF OUR ,ORD *ESUS #HRIST

AND LOOK FORWARD TO IT AS THE CULMINA TION OF ALL OF EARTH S HISTORY 4HE LITERAL RETURN OF #HRIST THE BLESSED HOPE IS THE GREAT OBJECTIVE AND GOAL OF EVERY 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST v h4HAT POWERFUL HEAVEN SENT NAME

@3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST IS A TWO WORD SERMON OF HOPE v 7ILSON ASSERTED h)T POINTS TO 'OD AS THE AUTHOR AND lNISHER OF OUR FAITH )T UPLIFTS #HRIST IN ALL (IS BEAUTY )T PROCLAIMS THE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY THEME FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END v !T THE SAME TIME 7ILSON SAID hAS JOYOUS AS IT IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT 'OD HAS SUSTAINED US THESE MANY YEARS SUCH AN EVENT SHOULD GENERATE A CERTAIN DEGREE OF UNEASINESS AND MORE THAN A LITTLE COGNITIVE DISSONANCE IN OUR MINDS 4HINK ABOUT IT (OW CAN A MOVEMENT

WHOSE SOLE MISSION IS TO PREPARE THE WORLD FOR THE SOON COMING OF *ESUS

REJOICE IN THE TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS DISTINCTIVE NAME (OW MANY MORE ANNIVERSARIES MUST WE CONCEDE (OW LONG WILL THIS MOVEMENT CONTINUE BEFORE THE ,ORD RETURNS v 7ILSON SAID h.OW IS THE TIME FOR US TO BE THE HUMAN VOICE OF 'OD

CALLING PEOPLE OUT OF SPIRITUAL "ABYLON AS INDICATED IN 2EVELATION AND 2EVELATION )N A CULTURE STEEPED IN PLURALISM RELATIVISM HUMANISM AND HEDONISM 'OD HAS CALLED 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS TO BE A COUNTERCULTURE

END TIME MOVEMENT IN WHICH EVERY MEMBERˆIN HUMBLE #HRISTLIKE

CONlDENCEˆIS WILLING TO STAND FOR THE RIGHT THOUGH THE HEAVENS FALL v 4O ACCOMPLISH THAT HE ADDED h) URGE EACH OF US IN THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH TO UNITE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IN lNISHING THE WORK ENTRUSTED TO US ,ET US PRESS TOGETHER EVERYONE WORKING IN A UNITED EFFORT BOTH THE ORGANIZED CHURCH ITS INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES AND THE SUPPORTING MINISTRIES MANY OF WHICH BELONG TO THAT WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION CALLED !3) THAT WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE OFlCIAL CHURCH STRUCTURE v h) CAN ONLY LEAD AS ) FALL AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS AND AS ) PERSONALLY SPEND TIME WITH *ESUS IN (IS 7ORD v 7ILSON ADDED h) DO NOT HAVE THE WISDOM AND ABILITY TO LEAD EXCEPT THAT ) RECEIVE IT FROM #HRIST 4ODAY ) WANT TO CONFESS BEFORE YOU AND MY 'OD MY PRIDE AND ARROGANCE MY SELlSHNESS MY NEGLECT OF SPENDING ENOUGH TIME NEEDED WITH 'OD IN PRAYER AND "IBLE STUDY AND STUDY OF THE 3PIRIT OF 0ROPHECY ) CONFESS TO YOU MY ENVY AND MY SELF CENTEREDNESS ) ASK YOU AS MY FELLOW LEADERS FOR FORGIVENESS ) WANT TO DO 'OD S WILL ) WANT TO HUMBLE MYSELF BEFORE 'OD ) WANT TO PRAY AND ) WANT TO SEEK (IS FACE ) WANT THE POWER OF THE LATTER RAIN IN MY LIFE 7ILL YOU JOIN ME v ˆ2EADERS INTERESTED IN VIEWING A VIDEO RECORDING OF THE SERMON OR IN READING 7ILSON S COMPLETE TEXT CAN VISIT WWW ADVENTISTREVIEW COM ARTICLE PHP ID FOR THESE RESOURCES +NEELING !NNUAL #OUNCIL -EMBERS !PPROVE 2EVIVAL 2EFORMATION #ALL 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS URGED TO PRAY FOR hLATTER RAINv POWER TO lNISH WORK "Y -ARK ! +ELLNER NEWS EDITOR N 6OTING BY KNEELING IN PRAYER

MORE THAN DELEGATES TO THE !NNUAL #OUNCIL OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH %XECUTIVE #OMMITTEE APPROVED hAN URGENT CALL FOR REVIVAL REFORMATION DISCIPLESHIP

2%&/2-!4)/. #!,, $WIGHT .ELSON PRESENTS MORNING WORSHIP AT THE !DVENTIST #HURCH S HEADQUARTERS IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND ON /CTOBER !T RIGHT CHURCH PRESIDENT 4ED . # 7ILSON LOOKS ON ! . 3 % , / , ) 6 % 2

AND EVANGELISMv DURING THE -ONDAY MORNING MEETING 4HE VOTE FOLLOWED AN HOUR LONG WORSHIP AND PRAYER SESSION FEATURING A DEVOTIONAL BY $WIGHT .ELSON SENIOR PASTOR OF 0IONEER -EMORIAL #HURCH IN "ERRIEN 3PRINGS -ICHIGAN IN WHICH !DVENTISTS WERE CHALLENGED TO PRAY FOR THE lLLING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IN hLATTER RAINv POWER TO lNISH THE MISSION OF EVANGELISM GIVEN TO THE MOVEMENT h4HE ,ORD WANTS TO lNISH THIS WORK v 4ED . # 7ILSON !DVENTIST #HURCH PRESIDENT SAID DURING THE MEETING h(E WANTS TO POUR OUT THE (OLY 3PIRIT IN LIMITLESS MEASURE v !CCORDING TO THE VOTED DOCUMENT

h'OD S 0ROMISED 'IFT v !DVENTISTS HAVE A UNIQUE IF UNFULlLLED CHALLENGE h4HE #HURCH S GROWTH RATE IS SIMPLY NOT KEEPING PACE WITH THE WORLD S BURGEON ING POPULATION !N HONEST EVALUATION OF OUR CURRENT EVANGELISTIC IMPACT ON THE WORLD LEADS TO THE CONCLUSION THAT UNLESS THERE IS A DRAMATIC CHANGE WE WILL NOT COMPLETE HEAVEN S ASSIGNMENT IN THIS GENERATION )N SPITE OF OUR BEST EFFORTS ALL OUR PLANS STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES ARE INCAPABLE OF lNISHING 'OD S MISSION FOR (IS GLORY ON EARTH v 4HE DOCUMENT ADDS h4HERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOW ING *ESUS AND SEEKING (IS PROMISE OF THE OUTPOURING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IN LATTER RAIN POWER FOR THE FULlLLING OF

THE GOSPEL COMMISSION v 2EVIVAL AND REFORMATION EACH HAVE THEIR ROLE TO PLAY THE DOCUMENT STATES 1UOTING %LLEN ' 7HITE A PIONEERING COFOUNDER OF THE MOVEMENT AS SHE WROTE IN 4HE !DVENT 2EVIEW AND 3ABBATH (ERALD OF &EBRUARY

THE PAPER NOTES h2EVIVAL SIGNIlES A RENEWAL OF SPIRITUAL LIFE A QUICKENING OF THE POWERS OF MIND AND HEART A RESURRECTION FROM SPIRITUAL DEATH 2EFORMATION SIGNIlES A REORGANIZA TION A CHANGE IN IDEAS AND THEORIES

HABITS AND PRACTICES 2EFORMATION WILL NOT BRING FORTH THE GOOD FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNLESS IT IS CONNECTED WITH THE REVIVAL OF THE 3PIRIT v !CCORDINGLY THE DOCUMENT URGES SEVEN DIFFERENT COMMITMENTS FROM CHURCH LEADERS AND MEMBERS 4O PERSONALLY PLACE PRIORITY ON SEEKING 'OD FOR SPIRITUAL REVIVAL AND THE OUTPOURING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IN LATTER RAIN POWER IN OUR OWN LIVES OUR FAMILIES AND OUR MINISTRIES 4O INDIVIDUALLY SET ASIDE SIGNIlCANT AMOUNTS OF TIME DAILY TO FELLOWSHIP WITH #HRIST THROUGH PRAYER AND THE STUDY OF 'OD S 7ORD 4O EXAMINE OUR OWN HEARTS AND ASK THE (OLY 3PIRIT TO CONVICT US OF ANYTHING THAT MAY KEEP US FROM REVEALING THE CHARACTER OF *ESUS 7E DESIRE WILLING HEARTS SO THAT NOTHING IN OUR LIVES HINDERS THE FULLNESS OF THE

(OLY 3PIRIT S POWER 4O ENCOURAGE THE MINISTRIES OF THE #HURCH TO SPEND TIME PRAYING

STUDYING 'OD S 7ORD AND SEEKING 'OD S HEART TO UNDERSTAND (IS PLANS FOR (IS CHURCH 4O ENCOURAGE EACH OF OUR CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS TO SET ASIDE TIME FOR ADMINISTRATORS PASTORS HEALTH CARE WORKERS PUBLISHING HOUSE WORKERS

EDUCATORS STUDENTS AND ALL EMPLOYEES TO SEEK *ESUS AND THE PROMISED OUTPOUR ING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT TOGETHER THROUGH A STUDY OF 'OD S 7ORD AND PRAYER 4O USE EVERY AVAILABLE MEDIA OUTLET CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP TO APPEAL TO CHURCH MEMBERS TO SEEK A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH *ESUS FOR THE PROMISED REVIVAL AND REFORMATION 4O URGENTLY APPEAL TO AND INVITE OUR ENTIRE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP TO JOIN US IN OPENING OUR HEARTS TO THE LIFE CHANGING POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT

WHICH WILL TRANSFORM OUR LIVES OUR FAMILIES OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR COMMUNITIES 4HE DOCUMENT INCLUDES THIS STATE MENT h7E APPEAL TO EACH CHURCH MEM BER TO UNITE WITH CHURCH LEADERS AND MILLIONS OF OTHER 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS SEEKING A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH *ESUS AND THE OUTPOURING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT AT EACH MORNING OR EVENING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 4HIS IS AN URGENT CALL TO CIRCLE THE GLOBE WITH EARNEST INTERCESSION 4HIS IS A CALL TO TOTAL COMMITMENT TO *ESUS AND TO EXPERIENCE THE LIFE CHANGING POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT THAT OUR ,ORD IS LONGING TO GIVE NOW v 0ATRICK -ULINDWA AN ADMINISTRA TOR IN THE %ASTERN 5GANDA &IELD

TOLD DELEGATES h) THANK 'OD FOR THIS WONDERFUL INITIATIVE 4HIS IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR THIS TO COME v !DDED (EATHER $AWN 3MALL

7OMEN S -INISTRIES DIRECTOR FOR THE !DVENTIST WORLD CHURCH h7HEN ) LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT ) SEE IT AS A DOCUMENT OF FREEDOM 7E EACH CAN BE REVIVED AND REFORMEDv TO SHARE THE $ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

7/2,$ 2%0/24 GOSPEL REGARDLESS OF GENDER 0ETER ,ANDLESS AN ASSOCIATE (EALTH -INISTRIES DIRECTOR CALLED IT A hTIMELY AND NEEDED DOCUMENT v ADDING h) HOPE WE CAN SEE THE WISDOM AND LIGHT IN INCLUDING A PHRASE THAT SAYS THIS IS NOT A NEW INITIATIVE BUT A CONTINUA TION OF THE DIRECTION OF THE CHURCH v (ERBERT "RUGGER PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH IN !USTRIA NOTED HIS NATION IS hA SECULAR SOCIETY AND A SECULAR CHURCH

AND WE SOMETIMES SEEK EXCUSES FOR WHY WE DON T MAKE ANY IMPACT IN SOCIETY ) ASK YOU TO PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IN !USTRIA v 7ILSON RESPONDED BY SAYING REVIVAL WOULD BE CONCENTRATED IN COUN TRIES SUCH AS !USTRIA WHERE OUTREACH IS DIFlCULT IN A SECULAR ENVIRONMENT ˆ7ITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY %LIZABETH ,ECHLEITNER !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK

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&).!.#)!, 50$!4% 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS TREASURER 2OBERT ,EMON DELIVERS HIS REPORT TO THE !NNUAL #OUNCIL AT THE CHURCH S HEADQUARTERS IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND

WORLD REGIONS WILL INCREASE BY PERCENT $ELEGATES ALSO ENDORSED AN ADDITIONAL YEARLY ALLOCATION TO THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION FUND FOR A lVE YEAR TOTAL OF MILLION MILLION MORE THAN THIS 3TABLE 4ITHE /FFERINGS .OTABLE PAST SUMMER S SESSION BUDGET AS !DVENTIST #HURCH 7ITHSTANDS 4ITHE RETURNED BY MEMBERS IN %CONOMIC $OWNTURN .ORTH !MERICA IS UP PERCENT AS OF MILLION BUDGET AN hEXPRESSION !UGUST COMPARED TO THE SAME OF MEMBERS FAITH v UNDERTREASURER NOTES TIME LAST YEAR SAID 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE "Y %LIZABETH ,ECHLEITNER !DVENTIST TREASURER 2OBERT ,EMON (OWEVER

THAT INCREASE IS NEGLIGIBLE WHEN THE .EWS .ETWORK EXCHANGE RATE BETWEEN #ANADIAN AND 5NITED 3TATES DOLLARS IS CONSIDERED

N !S IT WEATHERS LINGERING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST ,EMON SAID #URRENCY mUCTUATIONS #HURCH REMAINS IN A STRONG POSITION TO SIMILARLY AFFECT MISSION OFFERINGS FROM MAINTAIN OPERATIONS AND UNINTERRUPTED .ORTH !MERICA 4HAT TITHE AND OFFERINGS IN THE 5 3 MISSION FUNDING WORLDWIDE CHURCH HAVE LARGELY HELD STEADY DESPITE A SHARP lNANCIAL OFlCERS SAID RISE IN UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE COUNTRY $ELEGATES GATHERED AT WORLD CHURCH IS A TESTIMONY TO MEMBERS FAITHFUL HEADQUARTERS FOR !NNUAL #OUNCIL ON NESS ,EMON SAID !S MANY CHARITIES /CTOBER VOTED TO APPROVE A MILLION APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET FOR SEE A MARKED DECREASE IN DONATIONS

THE !DVENTIST #HURCH CAN hPRAISE THE 3OME MILLION WILL CONTINUE THE ,ORDv FOR lNANCIAL STABILITY HE SAID PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF !DVENTIST 7HILE TITHE RETURNED IN REGIONS 7ORLD MAGAZINE A JOURNAL LAUNCHED OUTSIDE .ORTH !MERICA MARKS A MORE IN THAT IS NOW PRINTED IN SEVEN SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE CHURCH lNANCIAL LANGUAGES AND MILLION COPIES EACH OFlCERS SAID CURRENCY EXCHANGES MONTH $ELEGATES ALSO APPROVED A SPECIAL INVESTMENT OF MILLION TO AMP INmATE TOTALS THERE AS WELL 4HEY ESTIMATE SUCH mUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT FOR UP CIRCULATION OF THE CHURCH S 3ABBATH MORE THAN HALF OF A PERCENT OR SCHOOL QUARTERLIES !DDITIONALLY APPRO MILLION INCREASE IN TITHE COMPARED TO PRIATIONS TO EACH OF THE CHURCH S

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

-ISSION OFFERINGS FOR THE SAME PERIOD INCREASED TO MILLIONˆAN PERCENT INCREASEˆWHEN CONSID ERING ACTUAL INCREASES IN LOCAL OFFERINGS AND EXCHANGE RATES 7HILE THE GLOBAL RECESSION INITIALLY CONTRIBUTED TO A STRENGTHENING OF THE 5 3 DOLLAR AGAINST MANY OF THE WORLD S CURRENCIES THE DOLLAR HAS WEAKENED SINCE EARLY 4HE SHIFT IS hPOSITIVE FOR THE ;WORLD CHURCH= BUDGET BUT NOT FOR THE WORLD CHURCH v ,EMON SAID 2EGIONS THAT RECEIVE APPROPRIATIONS IN 5 3 DOLLARS NOW lND THE AMOUNT NO LONGER STRETCHES AS FAR HE SAID .EXT YEAR S BUDGET IS BASED ON THE BILLION IN WORLDWIDE TITHE RECEIVED IN SAID 5NDERTREASURER *UAN 0RESTOL WHO CALLED THAT NUMBER THE hFOUNDATIONv FOR ALL APPROPRIATIONS )N CHURCH lNANCIAL OFlCERS WILL BEGIN IMPLEMENTING A SHIFT IN APPROPRIA TIONS lRST SUGGESTED AT A CHURCH BUSINESS MEETING IN 4HE MOVE RECOGNIZES INCREASED lNANCIAL SELF SUFlCIENCY IN SOME AREAS SHIFTING ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO MEET NEEDS IN OTHER REGIONS 4HE WORLD CHURCH HEADQUARTERS WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNDER A CAP OF PERCENT OF WORLD TITHE OR MILLION 0RESTOL SAID ˆ2EADERS CAN lND A LINK TO THE FULL TREASURER S REPORT ONLINE AT HTTP BIT LY B0!% +

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OR CENTURIES A VAST NETWORK OF TRADE ROUTES LINKED %UROPE AND !SIA !S THEY MEANDERED THROUGH KINGDOMS AND EMPIRES FAR MORE THAN GOODS WERE TRADED 4HESE TRAVELERS ALSO EXCHANGED IDEAS AND BELIEFS 4ODAY THIS ANCIENT 3ILK 2OAD MARKS A PATH WHERE #HRISTIANITY IS HARDLY KNOWNˆCITIES WITH NO !DVENTIST BELIEVERS WHOLE REGIONS WITHOUT #HRIS TIAN CONGREGATIONS 4HIS PATH TRAVELS THROUGH PLACES SUCH AS THE -IDDLE %AST

)NDIA #HINA AND CENTRAL !SIA /NE OF THESE COUNTRIES IS +YRGYZSTAN 4HIS MOUNTAINOUS LANDLOCKED COUNTRY IN CENTRAL !SIA IS BORDERED BY +AZAKHSTAN

5ZBEKISTAN 4AJIKISTAN AND #HINA 4HE EARLIEST KNOWN INHABITANTS OF +YRGYZSTAN WERE 3AKAN SPEAKERS 4HEY WERE GRADUALLY OVERRUN BY 4URKIC EXPANSION INTO CENTRAL !SIA AND BY THE lFTH CENTURY ! $ THE lRST KNOWN 4URKIC STATE WAS ESTABLISHED IN CENTRAL !SIA 4ODAY +YRGYZSTAN IS ONE OF SIX COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD INCLUDING 4URKEY WITH 4URKIC ROOTS -ONGOLS CONQUERED THE REGION DURING THE S AND SUBDIVIDED THE

COUNTRY S REGIONS AMONG A NUMBER OF CHIEFTAINS #HINA TOOK OVER +YRGYZSTAN IN AND MAINTAINED CONTROL UNTIL THE +HANATE OF +OKAND CONQUERED +YRGYZSTAN DURING THE S )N THE 2USSIAN %MPIRE EXPANDED INTO CENTRAL !SIA AND DECLARED +YRGYZSTAN ITS OWN 2USSIA MADE +YRGYZSTAN INTO AN AUTONOMOUS REGION FROM UNTIL WHEN IT OFlCIALLY BECAME PART OF THE 3OVIET 5NION /N !UGUST

+YRGYZSTAN DECLARED INDEPEN DENCE FROM THE 3OVIET 5NION %XACTLY FOUR MONTHS LATER ON $ECEMBER THE 3OVIET 5NION DISSOLVED AND +YRGYZ STAN GAINED ITS INDEPENDENCE 4ODAY TWO MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS LIVE IN +YRGYZSTAN 4HE LARGER GROUP IS THE +IRGHIZ WHO MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION 4HEY HAVE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND ARE KNOWN HISTORI CALLY AS NOMADIC TRADESPEOPLE WHO LIVE IN YURT HOMES MADE OF WOOL AND ANIMAL SKINS 4HEIR TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE WAS TO HERD SHEEP GOATS AND CATTLE 4ODAY ONLY A SMALL MINORITY OF +IRGHIZ LIVE IN YURTS AND THOSE WHO DO USE THEM DO SO ONLY DURING THE

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'ENERAL #ONFERENCE /FlCE OF !RCHIVES AND 3TATISTICS TH

!NNUAL 3TATISTICAL 2EPORTˆ

SUMMER IN THE MOUNTAINS .EARLY ALL +IRGHIZ ARE -USLIM ORGANIZED INTO LARGE KINSHIP GROUPS CALLED CLANS &AMILIES PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN +IRGHIZ SOCIAL LIVES ! HOUSEHOLD CAN BE MADE UP OF MULTIPLE GENERATIONS LIVING UNDER ONE ROOF 4HESE CLANS CAN TRANSCEND REGIONAL AND NATIONAL POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT OFlCES 4HE OTHER GROUP IN +YRGYZSTAN IS THE 2USSIANS WHO MAKE UP NEARLY PERCENT OF THE POPULATION -OST SPEAK 2USSIAN AS THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE AND LIVE IN +YRGYZSTAN S CITIES COMMONLY WORKING IN THE TECHNICAL OR INDUSTRIAL lELD 0EOPLE IN URBAN AREAS MOSTLY LIVE IN 3OVIET ERA APARTMENT BUILDINGS OR SMALL

ONE LEVEL HOUSES .EARLY ALL ARE MEMBERS OF THE 2USSIAN /RTHODOX #HURCH !DVENTISTS IN +YRGYZSTAN

+YRGYZSTAN IS PART OF THE 3OUTHERN 5NION #ONFERENCE IN THE %URO !SIA $IVISION OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 3HORTLY AFTER THE END OF #OMMUNISM IN THERE WERE !DVENTIST CHURCHES IN +YRGYZSTAN

WITH A MEMBERSHIP OF 4ODAY THE CHURCH HAS NEARLY DOUBLED IN SIZE BUT THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO TO REACH THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY 4HE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH TOOK A SPECIAL OFFERING THIS PAST SPRING FOR CENTRAL !SIA CALLED h,IGHTING A 0ATH OF (OPE v AS PART OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE SESSION

WHICH WILL HELP THE !DVENTIST #HURCH GROW OVER THE NEXT lVE YEARS IN THIS CHALLENGING MISSION lELD THROUGH A VARIETY OF MINISTRIES INCLUDING EDUCATION MEDIA LITERATURE 'LOBAL -ISSION PIONEERS FAMILY AND HEALTH

HUMANITARIAN CARE AND TENTMAKERS 4O LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH S WORLDWIDE MISSION WORK AND THE h,IGHTING A 0ATH OF (OPEv OFFERING VISIT WWW !DVENTIST-ISSION ORG $ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

7 / 2 , $ 6 ) 3 4!

7

HETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT

RECENT WORLD EVENTS HAVE CHANGED THE APPARENT INNOCENCE OF THE PAST 2EGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHAT NATIONALITY YOU BELONG TO THINGS ARE DIFFERENT 7AR IS HORRIBLE %VEN THOUGH IT CAN NOW BE FOUGHT WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TECHNOLOGICAL PRECISION AND lNESSE FROM A DISTANCE IT DOES NOT TAKE THE HORROR OUT OF ITˆESPECIALLY FOR THOSE ON THE RECEIVING END 4ECHNOLOGY HAS CREATED LASER GUIDED MISSILES REMOTELY CONTROLLED BOMBING DRONES NIGHT VISION GOGGLES '03 DIRECTIONAL GUIDANCE IMMEDIATE COM MUNICATION AND A HOST OF OTHER TECH NOLOGICAL WIZARDRY 4HEY TELL US THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE ALMOST PERCENT OF ALL TANKS AND ASSAULT ACTIVITY WILL BE DONE

BY REMOTELY CONTROLLED VEHICLES 6IRTUAL 2EALITYˆ!LMOST 2EAL "UT .OT 1UITE

)N SOME CULTURES TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS HAVE MOVED BEYOND UNIQUE CONVERSATION PIECES TO BECOME APPARENT NECESSITIES SUCH AS CELL PHONES

LAPTOP COMPUTERS AND THE )NTERNET &OR TOO MANY TECHNOLOGY HAS TAKEN OVER OUR LIVES )T HAS ADVANCED TO THE POINT WHERE IT CAN ALMOST REPLACE THE #REATOR 4ECHNOLOGY HAS CREATED A VIRTUAL REALITYˆTHAT WHICH IS ALMOST REAL 6IRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY IS USED FOR ALL KINDS OF PURPOSESˆCOMPUTER GAMES MILITARY ACTIVITIES AVIATION TRAINING SPATIAL TOURS OF ALMOST ANY THING GRAPHIC DESIGN LIFE EXPERIENCE SIMULATIONˆYOU NAME IT )N THESE STRANGE AND UNCERTAIN TIMES HAVE PEOPLE BEEN SO INmUENCED

4ED . # 7ILSON IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS HEADQUAR TERED IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 5 3 !

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

BY TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY ASSIGN EVEN 'OD TO THE CATEGORY OF VIRTUAL REALITY $O THEY CREATE A VIRTUAL *ESUSˆONE WHO CAN BE MANIPULATED AND BENT TO ONE S OWN LIKING PULLING (IM OUT OF THE BOX WHEN (E IS NEEDED OR WANTED /THERS DON T EVEN WANT A VIRTUAL *ESUS THEY DON T WANT A *ESUS AT ALL "UT #HRIST IS A REAL PERSON WHO

IF ) READ 3CRIPTURE CORRECTLY WANTS TO MINGLE WITH (IS CREATION )N 'ENESIS 'OD SAID h,ET 5S MAKE MAN IN /UR IMAGEv NO VIRTUAL IMAGE

BUT A REAL IMAGE )F WE TAKE THIS TEXT

(E SAID h!ND ) WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN AND BETWEEN YOUR SEED AND HER 3EED (E SHALL BRUISE YOUR HEAD AND YOU SHALL BRUISE (IS HEELv 'EN 4HIS WAS THE PREDICTION OF A REAL #HRIST WHO WOULD LEAVE THE POWER OF HEAVEN AND COME TO THIS EARTH AS A POWERLESS CHILD OF hTHE WOMANvˆA VERY REAL BIRTH 5NTIL THAT TIME #HRIST MINGLED WITH (IS PEOPLE SPEAKING TO THE PATRIARCHS PROTECTING THE )SRAELITES THROUGH A PILLAR HOVERING OVER 3INAI

AND lNALLY TELLING -OSES h,ET THEM

2EALITY /UR CONlDENCE IS IN THE REALITY OF A LIVING 3AVIOR "Y 4ED . # 7ILSON SERIOUSLY THERE IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT 'OD IS REAL AND THAT CREATION IS REALˆAFTER ALL WE WERE MADE IN (IS IMAGE )T IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO TRANSMIT THIS REALITY THIS REAL *ESUS TO THOSE AROUND US INCLUDING ALSO TO THIS TECH NOLOGY DRIVEN )NTERNET GENERATION 'OD IS A REAL PERSON WHO ENJOYED TALKING WITH (IS CREATION hIN THE COOL OF THE DAY v AS 'ENESIS RECORDS IT 'EN $URING THAT FATEFUL CONVERSATION IN 'ENESIS AFTER SIN HAD ENTERED

OUR REAL 'OD SPOKE TO THE REAL DEVIL

DISGUISED AS A SERPENT AND PREDICTED THE VERY REAL OUTCOME OF THE CONmICT

MAKE -E A SANCTUARY THAT ) MAY DWELL AMONG THEMv %X 3ANCTUARY 2EALITY

!ND SO THE SANCTUARY WAS BUILTˆTHERE WAS NOTHING FAKE OR VIR TUAL ABOUT IT )T WAS A REAL PLACE WHERE THE #REATOR 'OD WANTED TO MINGLE WITH (IS PEOPLE )N SOME SENSE THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY ALTHOUGH REAL WAS A VIRTUAL REALITY OF WHAT IS IN HEAVEN

A REPRESENTATION A COPY OF SOMETHING REAL IN HEAVEN %LLEN 7HITE S COMMENTS HERE ARE VERY HELPFUL h4HAT SANCTUARY

IN WHICH *ESUS MINISTERS IN OUR BEHALF

- ) # ( % , % 2 9! .

" 2 ! $ ! 5 3 4 ) .

IS THE GREAT ORIGINAL OF WHICH THE SANCTUARY BUILT BY -OSES WAS A COPY v 4HE BOOK OF (EBREWS CALLS THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY hTHE TRUE TABER NACLE WHICH THE ,ORD ERECTED AND NOT MANv (EB 4HE HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY SANCTUARIES SHOWED THE PICTURE OF A REAL 'OD AND (IS LOVE

DEMONSTRATING HOW (E INTENDED TO SAVE US 4HE SANCTUARY POINTED TO #HRISTˆ THE SUBSTITUTE ,AMB WHO DIED FOR US 7E CAN SEE A #HRIST WHO IS MEDIATING AS HIGH PRIEST FOR (IS PEOPLE A #HRIST

WHO CONQUERED SIN THUS SHOWING THE ULTIMATE GLORY OF THE SANCTUARY SERVICE !S %LLEN 7HITE PUT IT h-INDS WERE CARRIED FORWARD TO THE CLOSING EVENTS OF THE GREAT CONTROVERSY BETWEEN #HRIST AND 3ATAN THE lNAL PURIlCATION OF THE UNIVERSE FROM SIN AND SINNERS v 4HE SANCTUARY POINTED TO THE REAL *ESUS WHO WOULD LIVE A REAL LIFE AND CONQUER REAL SIN DYING NOT ON A VIRTUAL GRAPHICALLY RETOUCHED

SANITIZED CROSS BUT ON A REAL ROUGH INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE IN REAL AGONY WHERE (E WOULD DEPEND ON THE POWER OF (IS REAL HEAVENLY &ATHER $ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

7 / 2 , $ 6 ) 3 4!

4HIS VERY REAL *ESUS WOULD RISE TO A REAL HEAVEN TO SERVE AS A REAL HIGH PRIEST IN THE -OST (OLY 0LACE OF A REAL HEAVENLY SANCTUARY 4HERE S NOTHING VIRTUAL ABOUT ITˆIT S ALL REAL 2EAL LOVE

REAL MERCY AND A REAL SACRIlCE #AN YOU IMAGINE THE HORROR OF !DAM AND %VE BACK IN %DEN OR A PERSON COMING TO THE SANCTUARY TO OFFER A SACRIlCE AS THEY CUT THE THROAT OF A PERFECT LAMB ,EV 4HIS WAS NO VIRTUAL REALITY BUT A BLOODY REALITY POINTING TO THE REAL DEATH OF *ESUS FOR YOU AND ME (EBREWS TELLS US THAT hWITHOUT SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO REMISSIONv (EB *ESUS

FROM THE CREATION OF 'OD SET UP FROM EVERLASTING TO BE OUR SUBSTITUTE AND SURETY v

THROUGH THE POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT !S WE COME CLOSE TO *ESUS THERE IS NO VIRTUAL REALITY *ESUS IS REAL (IS LOVE FOR US IS REAL (IS LIFE AND DEATH WERE REAL (IS RESURRECTION WAS REAL (IS WORK IN )MMENSE 'RACEˆ!ND AN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY IS REAL (IS WORK )MMENSE -ISSION #AN YOU IMAGINE THE HUSHED GALAC AND MISSION FOR US ARE REAL IN SHARING THIS WONDERFUL STORY WITH OTHERS TIC WAR ROOM IN HEAVEN AS THE PLAN WAS UNVEILED 4HE 3UPREME !UTHORITY THROUGH OUR LIVES AND OUR WORDS 4HIS IS OUR MISSION TAKING THE REALITY OF SPOKE WITH UNWAVERING CONTROL AND COMMITMENT 7E WILL PROVIDE SALVATION #HRIST TO EVERY CORNER OF THIS GLOBE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH FOR EVERYONE WILLING TO SUBMIT THEIR MEMBERS AROUND THE WORLD ARE LIVES TO *ESUS #HRIST 4ODAY IT IS OUR HEAVEN ORDAINED MISSION TO PROCLAIM PLEADING WITH THE ,ORD FOR REVIVAL AND REFORMATION LEADING TO THE LATTER RAIN THAT MESSAGE THROUGH EVERY AVAILABLE MEANS 4HIS IS THE REASON WHY WE EXIST OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT AND #HRIST S SOON

*ESUS IS REAL (IS LOVE FOR US IS REAL SHED THAT BLOOD (E PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIlCE AND CONQUERED SIN FOR OUR ETERNAL LIFE (E RETURNED TO HEAVEN TO ACT AS OUR MEDIATOR AND HIGH PRIEST ,ISTEN TO (EBREWS h&OR #HRIST HAS NOT ENTERED THE HOLY PLACES MADE WITH HANDS WHICH ARE COPIES OF THE TRUE BUT INTO HEAVEN ITSELF NOW TO APPEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF 'OD FOR US v ! REAL #HRIST APPEARS RIGHT NOW FOR YOU AND ME !ND HOW IS IT THAT (E HAS THAT RIGHT 6ERSES AND PROVIDE THE CLUE h.OW ONCE AT THE END OF THE AGES (E HAS APPEARED TO PUT AWAY SIN

BY THE SACRIlCE OF (IMSELF v !ND h3O #HRIST WAS OFFERED ONCE TO BEAR THE SINS OF MANY 4O THOSE WHO EAGERLY WAIT FOR (IM (E WILL APPEAR A SECOND TIME APART FROM SIN FOR SALVATION v !

REAL #HRIST WHO DIED A REAL DEATH AND IS MEDIATING AS A REAL HIGH PRIEST SO (E CAN RETURN IN A REAL SECOND COMING TO TAKE US TO A REAL HEAVENLY HOME 7HAT AN INCREDIBLE 'OD WE SERVE 4HIS WAS NOT A DIVINE AFTERTHOUGHT BUT 'OD S PLAN LAID LONG BEFORE THE CREATION OF THIS EARTH h4HE PLAN OF SALVATION WAS DESIGNED TO REDEEM THE FALLEN RACE

TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER TRIAL #HRIST WAS APPOINTED TO THE OFlCE OF -EDIATOR

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

AS THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 7E ARE TO PRESENT THE REALITY OF #HRIST AND THE !DVENT MESSAGE TO THE WORLD 4O THOSE WHO HUMBLY SUBMIT AND MAKE A COMMITMENT 'OD SAYS IN (EBREWS QUOTING FROM *ER EMIAH h4HIS IS THE COVENANT THAT ) WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS SAYS THE ,ORD ) WILL PUT -Y LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS AND IN THEIR MINDS ) WILL WRITE THEM @4HEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS ) WILL REMEMBER NO MORE v !ND IN VERSE WE ARE TOLD WE HAVE hBOLDNESS TO ENTER THE (OLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF *ESUS v FOLLOWED BY THESE POWERFUL PROMISES IN VERSES AND THAT hHAVING A (IGH 0RIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF 'OD LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH v

COMING 7E FACE CHALLENGING TIMES AND SEEK COMMUNION WITH #HRIST THAT WILL CULMINATE WHEN (E RETURNS THE SECOND TIMEˆA REAL SECOND COMING

NO HOLOGRAM NO WIDE SCREEN $ NO HIGH DElNITION 46 WIZARDRY NO VIR TUAL REALITYˆTHE REAL THING THE BLESSED HOPE OF #HRIST S SECOND COMING 4HIS IS WHERE THE CIRCLE WILL BE CLOS ING &IRST *OHN SAYS THAT hWHEN (E IS REVEALED WE SHALL BE LIKE (IM FOR WE SHALL SEE (IM AS (E IS v 4HIS SAME *ESUS WHO CREATED US IN (IS IMAGEˆWE WILL SEE (IM AS (E ISˆREAL (E CALLS US EVERY DAY TO FOLLOW (IM THROUGH (IS POWER AND THROUGH THE LEADING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT TO SHARE WITH OTHERS THE REALITY OF *ESUS ) INVITE YOU TO COMMIT YOURSELF WITH ME TO SEEK FOR REVIVAL AND REFORMATION THROUGH -AKE )T 2EAL THE (OLY 3PIRIT S POWER SO WE CAN SHARE 3O HOW DO WE CONNECT AND COMMUNE THE REAL *ESUS AND PROCLAIM THE THREE WITH THIS REAL 'OD )N A WORLD OF VIRTUAL ANGELS MESSAGES OF 2EVELATION

REALITY HOW DO WE lND THE REAL THING POINTING TO THE REAL RETURN OF A REAL 7E ARE TO COME CLOSE TO *ESUS

#HRISTˆOUR ,ORD AND #REATOR OUR SPENDING QUALITY TIME EACH DAY IN COM 2EDEEMER AND -EDIATOR OUR &RIEND MUNION WITH (IM THROUGH PRAYER THE AND VERY REAL COMING +ING STUDY OF THE 7ORD OF 'OD THE STUDY OF %LLEN ' 7HITE 0ATRIARCHS AND 0ROPHETS P THE WRITINGS OF THE 3PIRIT OF 0ROPHECY

)BID P AND SHARING OUR FAITH WITH OTHERS %LLEN ' 7HITE 3ELECTED -ESSAGES BOOK P

7 / 2 , $ ( % ! , 4 (

( OFA Z A R D S

3MOKING 4OBACCO

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

) GAVE UP SMOKING CIGARETTES lVE YEARS AGO BUT YEARS OF IT HAVE DAMAGED MY LUNGS AND ) NOW HAVE OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE ) BECAME AN !DVENTIST lVE YEARS AGO AND AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE HEALTH EMPHASIS OF THE CHURCH )S THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE FOR MY LUNGS OR ARE THEY BEYOND HOPE

4

HE NAME hCHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE v OR #/0$

IS USED FOR THE DISORDER SEEN IN MANY SMOKERS IN WHICH THE BRONCHI BECOME CHRONICALLY INmAMED AND NARROWED 4HE SMALL AIR SACS OFTEN ARE BROKEN AND EXCESS MUCUS IS PRODUCED

GIVING RISE TO CHRONIC COUGH AND SPU TUM PRODUCTION 4HE DISORDER TENDS TO BE PROGRESSIVEˆESPECIALLY IN ANYONE UNABLE TO STOP SMOKINGˆAND LEADS TO BREATHLESSNESS AND WHEEZING )T USED TO BE MORE COMMON IN MEN BUT AS MEN AS A GROUP HAVE REDUCED THEIR SMOKING AND WOMEN HAVE TAKEN UP THE HABIT WE NOW SEE EQUAL NUMBERS WITH #/0$ )T S ON COURSE TO BECOME THE THIRD LARGEST KILLER IN THE WORLD ESPECIALLY AS SMOK ING IS BECOMING SUCH A PROBLEM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 0EOPLE WITH #/0$ OFTEN REPORT AN INABILITY TO TOLERATE EXERCISE AS THE MAJOR SYMPTOM AND FATIGUE ACCOMPANIES THIS EXERCISE INTOLERANCE )T S IN THIS FATIGUE AND LACK OF EXERCISE THAT WE HAVE THE CAUSE OF THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF MUSCLE WEAKNESS SEEN IN PEOPLE WITH #/0$ "ECAUSE EXERCISE MAKES FOR BREATHLESSNESS MANY PEOPLE WITH #/0$ BECOME SEDENTARY 4HIS LEADS TO A DECREASE IN AEROBIC MUSCLE lBERS AND BLOOD SUPPLY 4HERE S AN INCREASE

IN INmAMMATORY CELLS IN THE MUSCLE AND A FASTER RATE OF CELL DEATH #OUPLE THIS WITH THE WEIGHT GAIN THAT OFTEN ACCOMPANIES INACTIVITY AND WE HAVE A FORMULA FOR DISASTER !CTUALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE STOPPED SMOKING THERE WILL HAVE BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN YOUR LUNG FUNCTION UNFORTUNATELY MUCH DAMAGE IS NOT REPAIRABLE !LTHOUGH EXERCISE WILL NOT CHANGE THE LUNGS CAPACITIES IT WILL EASE THE MUSCULAR AND CIRCULATION PROBLEMS )T DOES THIS BY BUILDING MUSCLE FUNCTION

WHICH BOLSTERS THE MUSCLES OF RESPIRA TION BY STRENGTHENING THE DIAPHRAGM AND INTERCOSTAL MUSCLES %XERCISE ALSO REDUCES ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION WHICH BUILDS POSITIVE FEEDBACK TO THE EXERCISE PROCESS !NOTHER FACTOR THAT MAY BE OF GREAT SIGNIlCANCE IS THE REDUCTION IN SENSITIVITY TO BREATHLESSNESS IN THE BRAIN 4HIS HELPS A PERSON TO PUSH A LITTLE MORE WITH EXERCISE 4HE PROCESS OF PULMONARY REHABILITATION INVOLVES A GROUP OF SPE CIALISTS 3OME SPECIALISTS WILL HELP WITH OBTAINING RELIEF FROM BRONCHOSPASM

AND THE POSSIBLE USE OF OXYGEN MIXED WITH HELIUM MAY EASE THE WORK OF BREATHING 4HIS EMPHASIS HOWEVER IS AIMED AT PERMITTING MORE EXERCISE THE CORNERSTONE OF IMPROVEMENT 7ALKING IS THE BEST EXERCISE TO

BEGIN WITH BUT GUIDANCE BY A PHYSICAL THERAPIST CAN BE INVALUABLE IN BUILDING MUSCLE STRENGTH ENDURANCE AND MASS -ANY HOSPITALS HAVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS FOR PULMONARY REHABILITA TION AND YOU WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH A PROGRAM ! TYPICAL PROGRAM WILL RUN FOR EIGHT WEEKS WITH THREE SESSIONS A WEEK OF THREE HOURS EACH )T S WITH DIFlCULTY THAT WE OVERCOME THE YEARS OF ABUSE BUT LIFE IS WORTH THE EFFORT )T S A PITY THAT SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING ENSNARED BY NICOTINE ADDICTION IN THEIR YOUTH 4HE STATISTICS SHOW THAT PERCENT WHO COMMENCE SMOKING IN THEIR TEENS ARE STILL SMOKING IN THEIR S )F ONLY YOUTH REALIZED WHAT AGE WILL TELL THEY WOULD AVOID SO MANY HAZARDS TO HEALTH

!LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES - "

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

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

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

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

$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

$ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,

4HE

)NVISIBLE

ANO 0

'OD IS BEYOND GOOD !ND SOMETIMES (E MAKES THAT VERY TANGIBLE

h(URRY UP 7IL x ) M PICKING YOU UP IN MINUTES 7E RE GOING TO *O BURG v 4HAT WAS OUR FRIEND 0AT DU 4OIT ON THE TELEPHONE THAT UNFORGETTABLE .OVEMBER MORNING OF (E WOULD GIVE ME NO FURTHER INFORMATION h) LL TELL YOU IN THE CARv WAS ALL ) COULD GET OUT OF HIM ) HAD JUST EMERGED FROM RELAXING IN A WARM BATHTUB AND NATURALLY WAS MOST CURIOUS WHY ) WAS BEING GIVEN JUST A FEW MINUTES TO GET MYSELF READY FOR AN UNSCHEDULED TRIP TO *OHANNESBURG ) FOUND TWO TRAVELING COMPANIONS IN THE CAR 'LADYS ,EONI AND 0AT S WIFE -ARGIE 7E WERE ALL CURIOUS TO KNOW WHY WE WERE GOING TO *OHANNESBURG AND 0AT BEGAN TO EXPLAIN "UT LET ME BACKTRACK SOMEWHAT 7E WERE ALL MEMBERS OF THE !DVENT (AVEN #HOIR AND THE CHOIR NEEDED AN INSTRUMENT FOR AN UPCOMING MUSIC PROGRAM 4HE PIANO WE USED FOR PRACTICING WAS A FAIRLY LARGE INSTRUMENT ON LOAN TO THE CHURCH

AND IT NEEDED TO BE RETURNED TO ITS OWNER 7E WERE IN NEED OF A LOWER PIANO THAT WOULD ALLOW ME AS CHOIR DIRECTOR AND PIANIST TO HAVE EYE CONTACT WITH THE CHOIR MEMBERS 7E HAD BORROWED A KEYBOARD ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS BUT THIS NEVER WORKED AS WELL AS A PIANO !ND lNDING A SUITABLE INSTRUMENT

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

"Y 7ILHELMINA $UNBAR

HAD BECOME A MATTER OF URGENCY FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH 0AT EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD HAD A SURPRISE TELEPHONE CALL FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR 7HO ON EARTH COULD AFFORD TO DONATE A PIANO 4HAT WAS THE THOUGHT GOING THROUGH ALL OF OUR MINDS 0AT TOLD US HE HAD CALLED EVERY CONCEIVABLE SOURCE TO lND A SECONDHAND INSTRUMENT BUT THAT NONE OF THEM HAD ANYTHING READILY AVAILABLE 7HICH IN ITSELF SEEMED STRANGE 5SUALLY ONE CAN lND SECONDHAND INSTRUMENTS QUITE EASILY 7E HAD A GOOD LAUGH WHEN HE TOLD US HE HAD CALLED h9AMAHA $EALERSv IN *OHANNESBURG WHO TOLD HIM THEY HAD ONLY MOTORBIKES FOR SALE (OWEVER THEY DID REFER HIM TO THEIR MUSIC WAREHOUSE WHOSE MANAGER SAID SOMETHING STRANGE TO 0AT (E ASKED HIM h7HY ARE YOU CALLING ME TODAY v 0AT EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE URGENTLY LOOKING FOR A PIANO h"UT WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME TODAY v HE ASKED AGAIN h$ON T YOU WANT A SALE v 0AT REPLIED 4HEN THE MIRACLE BEGAN TO UNFOLD 4HE MANAGER TOLD 0AT THAT SOMETHING INEXPLICABLE HAD HAPPENED IN THEIR WAREHOUSE 4HEY HAD FOUND A BRAND NEW PIANO WHICH HAD BEEN OFF THE MARKET FOR MORE THAN 3 ! . * ! ' * % . % 2 / $ ) ' ) 4! , ,9 - / $ ) & ) % $

YEARS UNOPENED IN ITS WOODEN CASE )T SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR MANY YEARS "UT WHY THEY COULD NOT SAY h9OU WILL NOT lND THIS MODEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON THE mOOR OF ANY OF OUR DEALERS IT S OBSOLETE v HE SAID 4HE PRICE h9OU CAN HAVE IT FOR LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE OF CURRENT MODELS v HE ADDED .O WONDER 0AT WAS EXCITED (E HAD BEEN THINKING OF A SECONDHAND PIANO .OW A BRAND NEW INSTRUMENT COULD BE BOUGHT FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE "UT HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE THAT NO ONE HAD NOTICED THIS PIANO ON THE WARE HOUSE mOOR FOR ALL THOSE YEARS 7E WERE CONVINCED THAT 'OD HAD KEPT IT hINVISIBLEv BECAUSE (E KNEW OF OUR NEED SO MANY

h$O YOU WANT ME TO CRY v HE ASKED 0AT "UT HE DROPPED THE PRICE BY ANOTHER THIRD OF THE hHALF PRICEv ORIGINALLY QUOTED "LESSINGS MORE THAN WE EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE 7HAT A 'OD

4HE PIANO WAS DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING DAYˆJUST TWO DAYS BEFORE OUR MUSICAL PROGRAM )T CAME IN TIME TO BE PLACED STRATEGICALLY FOR OUR lNAL CHOIR PRACTICE THAT EVENING 7HAT A WONDERFUL 'OD WE SERVE (E ANSWERED OUR NEED IN SUCH A TIMELY MANNER EVEN BEFORE WE ASKED 7E HAD A WONDERFUL MUSIC PROGRAM 4HE CHOIR SANG AS NEVER BEFORE THEIR GRATEFULNESS RESOUNDING THROUGH THE

h$ON T YOU WANT A SALE v 0AT REPLIED 4HEN THE MIRACLE BEGAN TO UNFOLD YEARS IN THE FUTURE 3AYS THE ,ORD THROUGH THE PROPHET )SAIAH h!ND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT BEFORE THEY CALL ) WILL ANSWER AND WHILE THEY ARE YET SPEAKING ) WILL HEARv )SA +*6 7E ARRIVED AT THE 9AMAHA AGENT ,OVEMORE S -USIC 3HOP

TO VIEW THIS WONDERFUL GIFT !ND THERE IT WAS x A BEAUTIFUL

BRAND NEW ROSEWOOD PIANO %VEN THE WOOD WAS THE RIGHT COLOR AND WOULD MATCH THE INTERIOR OF OUR CHURCH )T WAS A GENUINE 9AMAHA MODEL OF MANY YEARS AGO ) KNEW BECAUSE ) HAVE AN IDENTICAL MODEL PRESENTLY IN MY DAUGHTER S HOME !S ) SAT DOWN AND LET MY lNGERS RUN OVER THE LOVELY KEYS ) DECIDED THAT h-AJESTYv SHOULD BE THE lRST ANTHEM ) WOULD PLAY )T WAS A FAVORITE OF THE CHOIR AND IT NEEDED STRONG SOUNDING CHORDS !S ) PLAYED ) NOTICED AN AUDIENCE GATHERING ROUND ) PLAYED ON AND 'LADYS THEN TOOK HER TURN 7E WERE THRILLED BEYOND WORDS 4HE ASSISTANTS STATED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD SUCH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC $ID HEAVENLY MUSICIANS ASSIST US ) M SURE THEY DID 0AT WE NOTICED HAD MOVED OFF TO ONE SIDE WHERE HE WAS IN CONVERSATION WITH THE MANAGER OF THE OUTLET 0AT HAD CONVINCED HIM THAT WE NEEDED AN EVEN LARGER DISCOUNT ON THE PIANO FOR A hCASH DEAL v

CHURCH AND THE LOUD h!MENSv FROM THE AUDIENCE ADDING TO THEIR ENTHUSIASM 7E WILL NEVER CEASE TO BE GRATEFUL TO OUR ANONYMOUS DONORˆSTILL UNKNOWN TO US 'OD MOVED UPON THE HEART OF THIS PERSON AT A TIME WHEN WE WERE IN NEED 7E HAD NO FUNDS TO PURCHASE ANOTHER INSTRUMENT "UT OUR GREATEST APPRECIATION GOES TO OUR LOVING &ATHER IN HEAVENˆWHO IS NOT UNKNOWN (E KNEW OUR NEED LONG BEFORE WE HAD EVEN THOUGHT TO MAKE IT KNOWN 7HAT A GRACIOUS 'OD WE SERVE (IS -!*%349 DESERVES ALL THE HONOR GLORY PRAISE AND WOR SHIP DUE TO (IM FROM OUR GRATEFUL HUMAN HEARTS

7ILHELMINA 7IL $UNBAR IS A RETIRED MUSI CIAN FROM (ELDERBERG #OLLEGE IN 3OUTH !FRICA

WHERE FOR MANY YEARS SHE SERVED AS HEAD OF THE -USIC $EPARTMENT !T PRESENT SHE AND HER HUSBAND ARE LIVING IN THE !DVENT (AVEN 2ETIREMENT 6ILLAGE AT (EIDELBERG 'AUTENG 3OUTH !FRICA

$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29

4HE

TTLE

"Y #HANTAL * +LINGBEIL

$IAMOND ,IVING A LIFE OF SERVICE ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME

)

T S THE STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF *UST IMAGINE BEING AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME HAVING THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN DO AND DOING IT WELL 7E ALL WISH FOR THAT DElNING MOMENT IN WHICH WE WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE BORN FOR 4HE "IBLE RECORD IS FULL OF PEOPLE

UNIQUELY PLACED IN HISTORY WHO KNEW THAT THEY HAD hCOME INTO THE KINGDOM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THISv %STHER

$ANIEL *OSEPH 0AUL THE LIST GOES ON )N A WORLD OF MEDIOCRITY WOULDN T IT BE WONDERFUL TO lND THAT UNIQUE SOMETHING THAT ONLY YOU CAN DO 7OULDN T YOU LIKE TO BE A CHAMPION 3O WHAT DO 'OD S CHAMPIONS LOOK LIKE 'OD S CHAMPIONS ARE NOT ALL FAMOUS -ORE OFTEN THEY ARE QUIETLY GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS 3OMETIMES THEY ARE MEN SOMETIMES WOMEN SOMETIMES TEENS SOMETIMES CHILDREN $IAMONDOLA WAS ONE OF THESE UNIQUE PERSONS !S A TEENAGE GIRL SHE

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

BEGAN HER MISSION LIFE PREACHING THE GOSPEL IN 4URKEY THE FORMER 9UGOSLA VIA AND 'REECE AND LATER ON IN )RAN

#YPRUS AND ,EBANON !T THE AGE OF SHE WENT AS A MISSIONARY TO !FRICA (ER STORY IS A TESTAMENT TO 'OD S POWER IN THE LIFE OF A WILLING WITNESS

%LIJAH AND SISTERS !LEXANDRA AND 3USANNA BECAME 0ROTESTANTS "EING 'OD S CHAMPION MEANS NOT GOING WITH THE mOW WHICH IS NEVER EASY $IAMONDOLA GREW UP KNOWING 4HE -AKINGS OF A #HAMPION THE RELIGIOUS PREJUDICES THAT OSTRACIZED 4HE GOOD NEWS FOR MOST OF US HER FAMILY FROM THE TIGHTLY KNIT IS THAT GREAT "IBLE HEROES NORMALLY COMMUNITY (ER FATHER S BUSINESS WAS CAME FROM HUMBLE INCONSPICUOUS BOYCOTTED BECAUSE OF HIS NEW RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS AS DID $IAMONDOLA THE BELIEFS AND THE FAMILY WAS FORCED TO hLITTLE DIAMOND v 3HE WAS BORN -ARCH MOVE TO "ROUSA A TOWN KM

TO 4HEODORA AND %LIJAH MILES SOUTHEAST OF )STANBUL +EANIDES (ER PARENTS WERE 'REEKS )N "ROUSA $IAMONDOLA S FAMILY LIVING IN %SKISHEHIR 4URKEY A TOWN DISCOVERED THAT FOLLOWING BIBLICAL TRUTH NEARLY KM C MILES WEST OF DOESN T ALWAYS BRING SHORT TERM BEN !NKARA $IAMONDOLA WAS A VERY FRAIL ElTS )T WAS HERE THAT THE FAMILY BECAME CHILD AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS WONDERED 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS A CHOICE THAT IF SHE WOULD MAKE IT TO HER lRST BIRTH COMPLICATED THEIR LIVES STILL FURTHER DAY 7HEN SHE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS 3OON -R +EANIDES WAS IMPRISONED FOR OLD SHE WAS BAPTIZED INTO THE 'REEK POSSESSING !DVENTIST LITERATURE !FTER /RTHODOX #HURCH 3OON AFTER THAT

HIS RELEASE HIS HEALTH WAS BROKEN AND SEVERAL RELATIVES INCLUDING HER FATHER

HE BECAME AN INVALID 4HE FAMILY WAS

AND WAS SOON ENGAGED TO A PROMISING YOUNG MINISTER NAMED !RES !RESIAN !S 7ORLD 7AR ) LOOMED THE ,EVANT -ISSION FACED AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM 3OME OF THE COUNTRIES THAT MADE UP THE MISSION SIDED WITH THE !LLIES OTHERS JOINED THE #ENTRAL 0OWERS 4HE MISSION WAS ALREADY DESPERATELY SHORT OF WORKERS WITH MANY OF THE EXPATRIATE WORKERS BEING CALLED BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES OR FORCED TO EVACUATE !RES WAS ASKED BY THE MISSION TO GO TO 'REECE TO HELP WITH THE WORK THERE )NITIALLY THE COUPLE WANTED TO GET MARRIED AND GO TOGETHER BUT AS THEY SPOKE THINGS OVER THEY REALIZED THAT $IAMONDOLA WITH HER TRANSLATING SKILLS

WAS REALLY NEEDED IN #ONSTANTINOPLE 3O $IAMONDOLA REMAINED TRUSTING THAT THE WAR WOULD SOON BE OVER AND THAT THEY COULD GET MARRIED 3OON COMMU NICATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WAS CUT OFF 3IX MONTHS LATER SHE GOT WORD THAT !RES HAD DIED OF TUBERCULOSIS

!BOVE '%44).' 2%!$9 &/2 !./4(%2 -/6% $IAMONDOLA ON !BOV !B OVVE ' '%4 %44) 4).' ).' .' 2 2 2%! %!$9 $ &&/2 $9 /2 ! ! !./ ./4( 4(%2 (%2 %2 -/6 /6% % $IA IAMO MOND NDOL ND OLA OL A O A ON N LEFT HER DAUGHTER )NDRA HER MOTHER 4HEODORA AND HUSBAND !RAM LE EFT FT H HER E DAU AUGH GHTE GH TERR ))ND TE NDRA R HE RA HERR MO MOTH MO THER TH E

4H ER 4HHEO 4 EODO DORA DO RA AN AND D HU D HUSB SBAN SB AND

AN D !

D

!RA RAM M !SHOD PRIOR TO THEIR DEPARTURE FOR )RAN ,EFT #,/3% 50 4HE AUTHOR OF !SHO !SHO !S HOD

D P D

PRI RIOR O T OR TO O TH THEI TH EIRR DDE EI DEPA DEPA P RT RTUR U E UR E FO FO OR R )R )RAN AN ,E AN ,E EFT FT T # #,/ ,/ /3% 3% 5 5 50 4 44HE HE A A AUT UTHO THO HOR R OF OF $IAMONDOLA S BIOGRAPHY -ILDRED /LSON AND $IAMONDOLA $IAM $I AMON ONDO DOLA DO LA S LA S B B BIO IOGR G AP GR PHY HY

-I -ILD -I LDRE LD RED D /L D /LSO SON N A AND ND $ $ $IA IAMO MOND NDOL OLA LA

.OT )MMUNE &ROM (EARTACHE ! , , 0 ( / 4 / 3 # / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & ) . $ 2 ! ' 2 % % 2 & ! - ) ,9

PENNILESS SO MOTHER 4HEODORA SET UP SILK WEAVING LOOMS IN THEIR HOUSE 3EIZE THE -OMENT

'OD S HEROES DON T WAIT FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMETHING IN LIFE h7HATEVER YOUR HAND lNDS TO DO DO IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHTv %CCL .!3"

SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN $IAMONDOLA S MOTTO $IAMONDOLA EDUCATED HERSELF AT HOME WHILE WEAVING SILK CLOTH

HER TEXTBOOKS PROPPED UP BESIDE HER LOOM "ESIDES THE REGULAR SCHOOL SUBJECTS $IAMONDOLA MASTERED !RME NIAN 'REEK 4URKISH AND %NGLISH THROUGH SELF TAUGHT GRAMMAR BOOKS 3HE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMONSENSE PRINCIPLE THAT WHAT YOU DON T USE YOU LOSE $IAMONDOLA BEGAN TO USE HER GIFT FOR LANGUAGES WHEN SHE WAS ONLY YEARS OLD /NE OF THE lRST !DVENTIST MISSIONARIES TO 4URKEY 0AS TOR !C-OODY MADE AN EXTENDED MIS SIONARY TRIP THROUGHOUT 4URKEY USING LITTLE $IAMONDOLA AS HIS TRANSLATOR

4HREE YEARS LATER IN SHE AGAIN BRAVED BANDITS EXTREME WEATHER AND MOSQUITO INFESTED SWAMPS AND SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS TRANSLATING FOR ANOTHER !DVENTIST LEADER 0ASTOR 'REAVES IN 'REECE AND !LBANIA !LTHOUGH SHE HAD ONLY THREE YEARS OF FORMAL EDUCATION SHE WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 3HE WAS IMMEDIATELY HIRED BY THE !DVENTIST ,EVANT -ISSION IN #ONSTANTINOPLE AS A TRANSLATOR AND SECRETARY 3HE TAUGHT HERSELF &RENCH AND 'ERMAN IN THE EVENINGS EXTENDING HER mUENCY TO SIX LANGUAGES "UT $IAMONDOLA DIDN T SPEND ALL HER TIME HOLED UP STUDYING 3HE HAD A REPUTATION FOR BEING FUN AND VIVACIOUS 3HE ENJOYED DOING FANCY NEEDLEWORK AND BEING WITH FRIENDS $ESPITE LOVING HER WORK AND BEING HAPPY TO BE WORKING FOR 'OD $IAMON DOLA DISCOVERED IN A PAINFULLY PERSONAL WAY THAT BEING 'OD S CHAMPION OFTEN MEANS FOLLOWING DUTY RATHER THAN INCLINATION $IAMONDOLA FELL IN LOVE

'OD S CHAMPIONS AREN T IMMUNE FROM HEARTACHE BUT THEY KNOW WHERE THEY CAN GO WITH THEIR PAIN &OR $IAMONDOLA THE PAIN OF THE LOSS OF !RES MADE HER CLING EVEN CLOSER TO *ESUS 3HE WANTED WITH ALL HER HEART TO HASTEN (IS COMING 3OON SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR SENDING OUT WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE !DVENTIST PROPAGANDA LITERATURE 3HE WAS THROWN INTO PRISON AND THEN BROUGHT INTO THE COURT OF "EDRI "EY A CRUEL CHIEF OF SECURITY IN 4URKEY !MAZINGLY CALM $IAMONDOLA ASKED FOR HER "IBLES 3HE GAVE THE JUDGE HER 4URKISH "IBLE TO FOLLOW ALONG AND THEN SHE WENT ON TO GIVE EVERYONE PRESENT A TWO HOUR "IBLE

#HANTAL * +LINGBEIL IS A HOMESCHOOL MOM AUTHOR

AND SPEAKER LIVING IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND

5 3 ! 3HE IS MARRIED TO 'ERALD +LINGBEIL AND ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR THREE DAUGHTERS

$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

,EFT ! -!. /& 02!9%2 !RMENIAN $IRAN 4CHARAKIAN WAS ,E EFT FT ! ! -!. !. / / /& 02 02 02!9 !9%2 !9 %2 !R %2 !RME M NI ME NIAN AN $ $IR I AN A 4 4CH HAR A AK AKI KIAN IAN WA WAS WA S PROFESSOR AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF )STANBUL PRIOR TO HIS CONVERSION P OF PR OFES ESSO SOR SO R AT AT T TTHE HE 5 5 5NI N VE VERS RSSITITY Y OF Y OF ))ST STAN ANNBU BUL L PR P IOOR PR R TO TO H H HIS IS CCON ONVVERS VERSSION ION (E PRAYED FOR $IAMONDOLA S RESURRECTION ,ATER HE DIED DURING THE (E P (E P PRA AYE YED D FOOR D R $I $IAM AMON OND DOLA DOLA LA S S R RES ESUR ES U RE UR ECTTION ION ,,AT ATER E HHE ER E DI DIED DIED ED D DDUR U INNG G TH THE E DEAT DE ATH TH MA MARC RCH H OF OF T TTHE HE ! ! !RM RMEN ENIIAN EN IAN #H #H HRIST STI TIANS IANS N IIN N /U /U /UT T OF OF G GGRA RATITITITTUDE TUDE DE

DEATH MARCH OF THE !RMENIAN #HRISTIANS IN /UT OF GRATITUDE

!RAM !RAM !R AM A AAND ND $ $ $IAMO IAMONDDOL OLA LA A USSED ED T TTHE HE LLET ETT TTERS TERS O OF FHI HIS S lRSST T NA S NA AME ME $I $IRA $I RA AN N F FOR ORR O !RAM AND $IAMONDOLA USED THE LETTERS OF HIS lRST NAME $IRAN FOR THE lRST NAME OF THEIR ONLY DAUGHTER

THE TH E lR E lRST S N ST NAM AME E OF E OF T TTHE HEIR I O IR ONL NLY NL Y DA Y DAUG DAUG UGHT HTER HT E

ER )NDRA "ELOW )NDRA 'REER )NNDR DRA A "E "ELLOW "E LOW W ))ND NDRA R ' RA 'RE REER E ER

# / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & ) . $ 2 ! ' 2 % % 2 & ! - ) ,9

STUDY ON THE #HRISTIAN S DUTY TOWARD GOVERNMENT AND 'OD 3HE EMPHASIZED THE SECOND COMMANDMENT WHICH PROHIBITED THE WORSHIP OF IDOLS AND EXPLAINED THAT !DVENTISTS BELIEVING THEIR BODIES TO BE 'OD S TEMPLES DO NOT USE TOBACCO ALCOHOL AND PORK "EDRI "EY COMMENTED ECHOING !GRIPPA S REPLY TO 0AUL IN !CTS h!LMOST YOU HAVE PERSUADED US TO BE LIKE YOU 9OU ARE ACQUITTED 'O IN PEACE v $IAMONDOLA WAS SET FREE $IAMONDOLA S LOSS OF !RES MADE HER EVEN MORE SENSITIVE TO THE PAIN OF OTH ERS )N THE WINTER OF REPORTS BEGAN TO lLTER THROUGH THAT #HRISTIANS WERE BEING EXPELLED FROM THE REGION $IAMONDOLA COLLECTED MONEY AND SUPPLIES AND VOLUNTEERED TO TRAVEL WITH %LDER &RAUCHIGER THROUGHOUT 4URKEY TRYING TO BRING FOOD CLOTHING AND MONEY TO THEM ON WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A DEATH MARCH INTO 3YRIA &RAUCHIGER

A 'ERMAN CITIZEN 'ERMANY AND 4UR KEY WERE ALLIES HAD SOME DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY BUT $IAMONDOLA WAS IN REAL DANGER OF BEING FORCED TO JOIN THE DEATH MARCH -OST !DVENTISTS ALONG WITH A MILLION OTHER #HRISTIANS DIED

' % 2 ! , $ + , ) . ' " % ) ,

,IVING ,INKS

.O ONE BECOMES A HERO IN A VACUUM 'OD S CHAMPIONS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS PART OF A 'OD GIVEN COMMU NITY &OR $IAMONDOLA BEING PART OF THIS COMMUNITY WAS LITERALLY LIFE SAVING )N WITH THE MINISTERS AND COLPORTEURS EITHER DEAD DEPORTED OR IMPRISONED $IAMONDOLA AND %LDER AND -RS %RZBERGER WHILE OPERATING THE ,EVANT 5NION -ISSION WERE SWAMPED WITH REFUGEES WHO STARTED POURING BACK INTO #ONSTANTINOPLE !LL FACILITIES IN THE CITY WERE HOPE LESSLY OVERBURDENED -OST OF THE !DVENTIST SURVIVORS WERE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF MEDICAL AND NURSING CARE !LL THE OFlCE ROOMS OF THE MISSION BECAME AN IMPROMPTU HOSPITAL 4HE RESPONSIBILITY OF FEEDING AND NURSING ALL THESE REFUGEES AS WELL AS TRYING TO RUN THE OFlCE FELL TO $IAMONDOLA

THE %RZBERGERS AND $IAMONDOLA S ELDERLY MOTHER 4HEN THE ONLY MALE

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

%LDER %RZBERGER BECAME CRITICALLY ILL WITH DYSENTERY 4HIS LEFT THE WOMEN TO STRUGGLE ON ALONE /NE YOUNG MOTHER INFECTED WITH TYPHUS DIED IN $IAMONDOLA S ARMS ! FEW DAYS LATER $IAMONDOLA WEAK FROM EXHAUSTION AND OVEREXPOSURE CAME DOWN WITH THE DREADED DISEASE &OR SIX WEEKS $IAMONDOLA RAN A HIGH FEVER 3HE COULD TAKE ONLY LIQUIDS AND SOON BECAME A WASTED SKELETON 4HEN AT LAST SHE DRIFTED INTO A COMA &OR THREE DAYS SHE SHOWED HARDLY ANY SIGNS OF LIFE &INALLY SHE LAY TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE $IAMONDOLA HAD DIED -RS %RZBERGER A TRAINED NURSE

CHECKED $IAMONDOLA FOR VITAL SIGNSˆTHERE WEREN T ANY $ESPITE THEIR DEEP SORROW -RS %RZBERGER AND $IAMONDOLA S AGED MOTHER CON TINUED CARING FOR THE MANY REFUGEES CROWDED INTO THE MISSION 3IX HOURS

LATER THE TWO WOMEN CAME TO PREPARE $IAMONDOLA S BODY FOR BURIAL 4HEY COULDN T MOVE HER BECAUSE RIGOR MORTIS HAD SET IN 4HE TWO WOMEN PRAYED FOR HELP 7EAK THEMSELVES FROM EXHAUSTION THEY NEEDED A MAN TO GET A COFlN AND HELP WITH THE FUNERAL !T THAT MOMENT 'OD SENT $IRAN 4CHARAKIAN (E LOOKED DOWN UPON THE STILL STIFF FORM OF $IAMONDOLA AND LIKE 0ETER WITH 4ABITHA KNELT AND PRAYED h)N THE NAME OF *ESUS ) SAY UNTO YOU ARISE v 4HE TWO WOMEN STARED WIDE EYED AS $IAMONDOLA SAT UP AND BEGAN TO SPEAK "EGINNINGˆ!GAIN

,IFE EVEN AFTER THIS SPECIAL EVENT

WAS lLLED TO THE SEAMS WITH CARING FOR REFUGEES AND ORPHANS AND HELPING PEOPLE TO lND HOPE IN 'OD "UT IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS ACTIVITY LOVE CAME FOR A SECOND TIME TO $IAMONDOLA )N

SHE MARRIED !RAM !SHOD AN !RMENIAN !DVENTIST WHO HAD BEEN FORCED INTO THE 4URKISH ARMY AND THEN CAPTURED AND HELD AS A PRISONER OF WAR

BY THE "RITISH FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR "ESIDES THEIR WORK IN THE MISSION OFlCE THE YOUNG COUPLE FELT A REAL BURDEN FOR THE MANY WAR ORPHANS 4HEY BEGAN AN ORPHANAGE THAT WAS LATER MOVED TO 'REECE ! FEW YEARS LATER JUST AS THE WORK WAS AGAIN TAKING ROOT THE VOLATILE POLITICAL SITUATION FORCED ALL THE FOREIGN MISSIONARIES AND CHURCH LEADERS TO LEAVE 4URKEY !LTHOUGH $IAMONDOLA AND !RAM HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE THEY DECIDED TO STAY &OR $IAMONDOLA IT MUST HAVE FELT A LITTLE LIKE THE MOMENTOUS TIME DURING 7ORLD 7AR ) WHEN THOUGH ISOLATED FROM THE WORLD CHURCH FAMILY

SHEˆTOGETHER WITH THE %RZBERG ERSˆWORKED ALONE TO TRY TO KEEP THE ORGANIZED CHURCH WORK GOING 4HIS TIME $IAMONDOLA AND !RAM HELD THE CHURCH WORK TOGETHER 4HEY RAN THE MISSION SAW TO THE LOCAL CHURCH WORK

KEPT THE ACCOUNTS AND CONTINUED TRANSLATING PUBLISHING CORRESPOND ING AND GIVING "IBLE STUDIES &ARTHER !lELD

%VEN ON GRAY DAYS THERE ARE OFTEN SUNNY MOMENTS !FTER HAVING BEEN INVOLVED WITH ORPHAN CHILDREN FOR YEARS $IAMONDOLA AND !RAM WERE lNALLY SURPRISED BY THE NEWS THAT THEY WOULD BECOME PARENTS ,ITTLE )NDRA WAS BORN IN AND lLLED THEIR HOME WITH SUNSHINE 3HORTLY AFTER THEIR DAUGHTER S BIRTH $IAMONDOLA AND !RAM WERE SENT TO HELP WITH A DIFFERENT KIND OF BIRTH ING 4HEY WENT TO )RAN WHERE THEY WERE TO SPEND AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR LIVES BUILDING UP THE WORK IN 4EHERAN 4HEIR NEW MISSIONARY ASSIGNMENT VIV IDLY REINFORCED THE TIMELESS TRUTH THAT 'OD S CHAMPIONS IN EACH GENERATION ARE CALLED TO TAKE 'OD S LOVE TO THEIR CONTEMPORARY WORLD 4HEIR JOURNEY HAD TAKEN THEM FROM 0AUL S MISSION lELD IN !SIA -INOR TO THE LAND WHERE %STHER AND $ANIEL HAD SERVED 3OMETIME LATER WHEN $IAMONDOLA AND !RAM RETURNED TO 4URKEY THEY

FOUND THAT !DVENTISTS STILL HAD NO OFl CIAL CHURCH BUILDINGS !DVENTISTS WERE NOT RECOGNIZED AS A LEGAL DENOMINATION

BY THE 4URKISH GOVERNMENT BEFORE 7ORLD 7AR ) !LL CHURCH BUILDINGS HAD BEEN CONlSCATED !FTER THE WAR THE ,AUSANNE 4REATY SPECIlED THAT NO #HRISTIAN CHURCHES COULD BE BUILT IN 4URKEY $IAMONDOLA AND !RAM HAD A FORETASTE OF HOW LIFE WOULD BE FOR MANY #HRISTIANS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AS THEY JOINED MEMBERS FOR SECRET MEET INGS IN DIFFERENT HOMES ON 3ABBATHS !LTHOUGH IT WAS A TIME OF GREAT DANGER AS THEY BRACED THEMSELVES FOR SUDDEN POLICE RAIDS IT WAS ALSO A TIME OF EXPERIENCING A SPECIAL CLOSENESS TO 'OD AND TO EACH OTHER %VENTUALLY THEY WERE ABLE TO RENT A ROOM IN THE BASEMENT OF THE !RMENIAN 0ROTESTANT CHURCH "UT EVEN WITH THIS SMALL VICTORY THE NEXT BATTLE WAS BREWING 7ITH THE BEGINNING OF 7ORLD 7AR )) ONCE AGAIN ALL FOREIGN WORKERS RETURNED TO THEIR HOMELANDS !GAIN !RAM AND $IAMONDOLA CARRIED THE OFlCIAL CHURCH WORK IN THE REGION ,EARNING AND 'ROWING

-IDDLE %AST $IAMONDOLA AND !RAM lNALLY JOINED THEIR DAUGHTER AND SON IN LAW IN THE 5NITED 3TATES !RAM PASSED AWAY IN AT AGE $IAMON DOLA REMAINED READY FOR ADVENTURE 7HEN HER SON IN LAW AND DAUGHTER WERE ASKED TO SERVE IN THE -ASANGA ,EPROSY (OSPITAL IN 3IERRA ,EONE IN 7EST !FRICA $IAMONDOLA AGE WENT ALONG TO HELP QUICKLY BECOMING KNOWN AS hOLD GRANDMUMMY v $IAMONDOLA HAD ONCE AGAIN FOUND AN IMPORTANT NICHE IN HER MISSION lELD 3HE SHOWED *ESUS LOVE BY HER WILLINGNESS TO REACH OUT AND PHYSICALLY HUG THE SHUNNED LEPERS (ER SMILES AND HUGS PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED AS MUCH AS THE MEDICATIONS TO THE HEALING OF THE PATIENTS .O ,IMITS

$IAMONDOLA PASSED TO HER REST ON -AY

AT THE AGE OF (ER LONG LIFE OF SERVICE CHALLENGES US NOT TO SETTLE FOR MEDIOCRITY %ACH OF US IS BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS 7E HAVE A UNIQUE PLACE TO lLL !S WE STRIVE TO BE 'OD S CHAMPIONS (E WILL GO WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY THROUGH THE ADVENTURES DANGERS AS WELL AS THE EVERYDAY DOLDRUMS $IAMONDOLA S LIFE LEGACY DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE IS hNO LIMIT TO THE USEFULNESS OF THOSE WHO

PUTTING SELF OUT OF SIGHT MAKE ROOM FOR THE WORKING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT v

,IVING A LIFE WITH 'OD DOES NOT MEAN LIVING IN THE PASTˆEVEN THOUGH SOME HIGH POINTS AND MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES MAY STAND OUT 'OD S CHAMPIONS ARE ALWAYS READY TO LEARN AND WILLING TO GROW &OR $IAMONDOLA AND !RAM THIS WILLINGNESS TO LEARN AND BE EVEN MORE USEFUL MEANT THAT AT THE

3CRIPTURE QUOTATIONS MARKED .!3" ARE FROM THE .EW AGE OF AND RESPECTIVELY THEY !MERICAN 3TANDARD "IBLE COPYRIGHT Ú

BY 4HE ,OCKMAN &OUNDATION LEARNED TO RIDE BICYCLES WHEN THEY 5SED BY PERMISSION WERE CALLED TO WORK IN #YPRUS IN 4HIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON SIGNIlCANT RESEARCH INCLUDING SEVERAL !ND MORE CHANGE CAME THEIR WAY INTERVIEWS WITH $IAMONDOLA S DAUGHTER )NDRA 'REER AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES . /UZOUNIAN h$IRAN 4CHARAKIAN ! !T AN AGE WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK "IOGRAPHICAL 3KETCH v UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT -ILDRED ABOUT RETIREMENT $IAMONDOLA AND 4HOMPSON /LSON $IAMONDOLA 7ASHINGTON $ # 2EVIEW AND (ERALD 0UBLISHING !SSOCIATION -ILDRED 4HOMPSON !RAM SAILED FOR "EIRUT ,EBANON /LSON $IAMONDOLA AND !RAM -IDDLE %AST !MBASSADORS .EW 9ORK 4%!#( 3ERVICES )T SHOULD BE NOTED THAT SOME !RAM WORKED AT THE "IBLE CORRESPON HISTORICAL SOURCES SPELL 4CHERAKIAN AND %RZBURGER INSTEAD OF THE DENCE SCHOOL $IAMONDOLA ALWAYS SPELLING THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED IN THIS ARTICLE %LDER %RZBERGER WAS THE SON OF THE %UROPEAN PIONEER *AKOB WILLING TO DO WHATEVER SHE COULD %RZBERGER 3EE THE RECENT ARTICLE BY $ANIEL (EINZ h*AKOB %RZBERGER 4HE &ORGOTTEN 0IONEER v !DVENTIST 7ORLD -AY

FOR 'OD GAVE &RENCH AND 'ERMAN PP

"IBLE STUDIES AND HELPED THE POOR $IRAN 4CHARAKIAN WAS AN !RMENIAN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR

FAMOUS AUTHOR AND POET 7HEN HE BECAME AN !DVENTIST HE IN THE COMMUNITY 3HE LOVED YOUNG SACRIlCED EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW *ESUS (IS FAMILY LEFT HIM AND CRITICS DUBBED HIM CRAZY (E DIED ON THE DEATH MARCH IN PEOPLE AND LATER WHEN SHE HAD THE )RONICALLY IT WAS !RAM WHO HAD lRST CONVINCED $IRAN OPPORTUNITY SHE HAD NO QUALMS ABOUT 4CHARAKIAN THAT THERE IS A 'OD AND IT WAS 4CHARAKIAN WHO IN JOINING A -ASTER 'UIDE CLASS AND BEING THE NAME OF *ESUS RESURRECTED $IAMONDOLA IN 3EE THE OBITUARY NOTE APPEARING IN !DVENTIST 2EVIEW &EB

P INSTRUCTED BY PEOPLE HALF HER AGE %LLEN ' 7HITE h4AUGHT OF 'OD v 3IGNS OF THE 4IMES *ULY

!FTER YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE

P

$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

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

7 H O !RE

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"Y 'RENVILLE +ENT

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N A "ERLIN PARK THE SECURITY GUARD CHALLENGED A SCRUFFY lGURE SLOUCHING ON A PARK BENCH h7HO ARE YOU v 4HE SCRUFF WAS THE PHILOSOPHER 3CHOPENHAUER AND HE SADLY REPLIED h) WISH TO 'OD ) KNEW v 3ECULAR THOUGHT DOESN T HELP US MUCH WITH UNDERSTAND ING OUR IDENTITY h4HE UNIVERSE IS NOTHING BUT A COLLECTION OF ATOMS IN MOTION HUMAN BEINGS ARE SIMPLY MACHINES FOR PROPAGATING $.! v SAYS ATHEIST PROFESSOR 2ICHARD $AWKINS

STRAYING OUTSIDE HIS SPECIALTY AREA OF BIOLOGY &UNNY ) FEEL ) M MORE THAN JUST A MACHINE h9OU YOUR JOYS AND YOUR SORROWS YOUR MEMORIES AND AMBITIONS YOUR SENSE OF PERSONAL IDENTITY AND FREE WILL

ARE IN FACT NO MORE THAN THE BEHAVIOR OF A VAST ASSEMBLY OF NERVE CELLS v SAID &RANCIS #RICK OF $.! FAME .O MORE "UT OUR DEEPEST INTUITIONS GO BEYOND OUR BODIES 7E FEEL WE MATTER 7E LOOK FOR PURPOSE IN OUR LIVES 7E LOVE SOUL DEEP 7E DREAM OF AFTERLIFEˆEVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY DON T HAVE A SPIRIT 4HE "IBLE DESCRIBES BEING HUMAN IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE OF OUR EXPERIENCE (ERE IS A QUICK SUMMARY

9OU !RE 7ANTED 9OU ARE NO ACCIDENT 'OD MADE YOU FOR RELATIONSHIPS AND ENJOYMENTˆYOURS AND (IS 2EV ,OVE AND

'RENVILLE +ENT IS PRODUCER PRESENTER OF THE "IG 1UESTIONS OUTREACH lLMS FOR THE !USTRA LIAN 5NION OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS AND EN JOYS MINISTERING TO YOUNG PEOPLE (E LECTURES IN /LD 4ESTAMENT AT 7ESLEY )NSTITUTE IN 3YDNEY !USTRALIA

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

JOYˆWHAT BETTER REASON FOR 'OD TO MAKE EVERYTHING h)N ;'OD S= PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY x ;AND= PLEASURES FOREVERMOREv 0S

9OU !RE -ULTILAYERED 9OU ARE NOT A SOUL TRAPPED IN A WEAK BODY YOU RE A WHOLE PERSON ,IKE THE COMPOUND TERMS IN A 'ERMAN CAR MANUAL

YOU ARE A BODYMINDSPIRIT 9OU CAN THINKFEELSENSE THAT TRUTH IF YOU LEARN TO LISTEN TO THE &ATHER3ON3PIRIT OF 'OD 9OUR BODY IS CREATED GOOD 9OUR SENSES WERE DESIGNED FOR PLEASURE AND RELATIONSHIP #ONTRARY TO $ARK !GES CHURCH DOGMA AND 0LATO YOUR SEXUALITY IS 'OD GIVEN

INTENDED FOR LOVE AND JOY IN MARRIAGEˆAND FOR CREATING PEOPLE A 'ODLIKE POWER "OTH MALE AND FEMALE ARE IN THE hIMAGE OF 'ODv 'EN 7E NEEDN T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT BODILY LOVE BUT ONLY FOR SELlSH LOVELESS ATTITUDES AND THE ACTIONS THEY PRODUCE 3O DEVELOP EVERY ASPECT OF YOURSELF h*ESUS GREW IN WISDOM ;MIND= AND STATURE ;BODY= AND IN FAVOR WITH 'OD ;SPIRITUAL= AND MEN ;SOCIAL=v ,UKE .)6

9OU !RE &REE 4HE ALL POWERFUL 'OD IS SUCH A GENEROUS 3OVEREIGN THAT (E LEAVES SPACE FOR YOU TO HAVE A FREE WILL 'OD LIKES YOUR INDIVIDUALITYˆ(E COULD HAVE MADE YOU A REMOTE CONTROLLED CYBORG BUT WOULD HAVE SEEN IN YOUR DULL EYES THAT YOU DID NOT LOVE (IM FREELY OR COOPERATE INTELLIGENTLY 3O (E GAVE YOU FREEDOM AND A STATUS JUST BELOW HEAVENLY BEINGS 0S 'OD IS IN ULTIMATE CONTROL OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE UNIVERSE BUT CANNOT BE BLAMED FOR WHAT PEOPLE DO WITH THEIR FREE WILL (E CHOOSES TO LIMIT EVIL AT TIMES *OB

AND IS SUCH A GOOD STRATEGIST THAT (IS OVERALL PLANS WILL

SUCCEED WHATEVER YOU OR ) INDIVIDUALLY DO 9OUR CHOICES MATTER ,IFE IS NOT JUST A VIDEO GAME THAT CAN BE RESET AT THE END WITHOUT REAL DAMAGE 9OU CAN HURT YOURSELF AND OTHERS

EVEN WITH ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES ) AM FREE BUT ) AM NOT FREE ) AM NATURALLY ENSLAVED TO MY MISGUIDED GRABS FOR HAPPINESS MY IGNORANCE SELlSH NESS AND BROKENNESS /NLY WHEN 'OD S 3PIRIT REACHES MY MINDˆLIKE OIL PENETRATING A RUSTY LOCKˆCAN MY WILL REALLY OPERATE 4HEN ) M FREE TO CONTROL MYSELF TO SAY NO TO PARTS OF MYSELF A GREAT FEELING AND TO BE MOST MYSELF "ECAUSE THE BAD NEWS IS x

9OU !RE &AULTY 7E CAN TRY TO SUPPRESS THIS WITH ALCOHOL OR FAME OR BUSYNESS BUT DON T WE ALL HAVE MOMENTS OF HUMBLING CLARITY WHEN WE SEE SELlSHNESS AND FOOLISH CHOICES ,OOK AT US RUSHING THROUGH OUR WORK WIRED FOR ELEC TRONIC ENTERTAINMENT BUT DISCONNECTED FROM THE HUMAN NEXT TO US DISCONNECTED FROM NATURE AND OUR BODIESˆAND EVEN FROM OUR OWN FEELINGS AND CONSCIENCES AT TIMES (OW WELL HAVE WE DONE IN CARING FOR THE NATURAL WORLD 'EN !ND WE CAN BE CLOSED TO 'OD BARELY MISSING THE COMPANY OF THE MOST INTERESTING "EING 7E ARE RELATIONALLY DEAD IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GREAT ,IFE GIVER 7E LOVE TO BLAME OUR PARENTS FOR OUR WEAKNESSES 7E VOW TO DO BETTER ONLY TO lND OURSELVES mAWED DISCOVERING OUR FAULTS IN OUR CHILDREN &ALLENNESS RUNS THROUGH THE ENTIRE HUMAN FAMILY 0S RIGHT BACK TO THE lRST PARENTS ) HAVE AN INNER SHABBINESS NO DESIGNER CLOTHES CAN COVER ) NEED KINDNESS AND REGULAR HEAVY DUTY CYCLES IN 'OD S BIG GOSPEL WASHING MACHINE )F ) UNDERSTAND THIS ) WILL NOT DEMAND PERFECTION FROM PEOPLE ) MAY EVEN lND GRACE FOR MY WIFE CHILDREN FRIENDS

WORKMATESˆEVEN ENEMIES ˆTHE SAME GRACE ) NEED !T LEAST IT S NOT JUST ME THAT S FALLEN IT S ALL OF CREATION 2OM *ESUS DIED TO RESTORE EVERYTHING THAT IS BROKENˆ$.!

ECOLOGY COSMOLOGY x

9OU !RE -ORTAL 0EOPLE DIE 9OU CAN RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT CURSE AT THE SKY BECAUSE YOU WERE NOT HEALED BUT EVENTUALLY EVERYONE DIESˆUNTIL *ESUS RETURNS 9OU HAVE ABOUT WEEKENDS

TOTAL "UT THIS CAN SOBER US AND DRIVE US URGENTLY TOWARD WISDOM 0S %CCL 4HERE S ONE UPSIDE TO HUMAN MORTALITY NOBODY WILL SPEND AN ETERNITY IN HELL WRITHING IN PAIN AS mAMES LICK THEIR BODY SCREAMING IN REGRET AND AGONY FOREVER 7HAT WOULD THAT ACHIEVE 7OULDN T THAT MAKE 'OD MORALLY WORSE THAN BRUTAL DICTATORS WHOSE VICTIMS SCREAMED ONLY FOR HOURS RATHER THAN CENTURIES 4HE "IBLE GIVES TWO OPTIONS ONE hTHE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATHvˆNOT ETERNAL LIFE IN TORMENT 4HE SECOND OPTION IS hETERNAL LIFE IN #HRIST *ESUSvˆAND THAT S A hGIFT OF 'OD v WHICH MEANS ) DON T NATURALLY HAVE IMMORTALITY 2OM )F ) REJECT 'OD ) WILL BE ASHES -AL

9OU !RE ,OVEDˆ!ND #ALLED *ESUS DIED FOR YOU TO RESTORE A RELATIONSHIP BROKEN BY REBEL LION #OR AND BECAUSE OF THE hJOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE (IMvˆETERNITY WITH YOU (EB 4HE GOAL IS RELATIONSHIP AND JOY AGAIN 7HY DOES (E WANT US TO SERVE PEOPLE AND TEACH THE GOSPEL 3O THEY CAN KNOW (IS LOVE AND JOY FOREVER *ESUS BECAME HUMAN AND DIED TO TAKE OUR GUILT AND REPAIR ALL OF US 7E ARE EVERYTHING TO (IM AND (E WANTS TO hFORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESSv *OHN 4HAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IDEA ) HAVE EVER HEARD SO PERHAPS YOU D PLEASE READ THIS SHORT PARAGRAPH AGAIN UNTIL IT SINKS IN h#HECK OUT THE LOVE 'OD HAS LAVISHED ON US CALLING US (IS CHILDREN x 7HAT WILL WE BE IN THE FUTURE 4HAT S BEYOND US NOW BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WHEN (E APPEARS WE WILL BE LIKE (IM x v *OHN

PARAPHRASE BY AUTHOR h7HO ARE YOU 7HO WHO v 4HANK 'ODˆWE KNOW

""# #HRISTMAS ,ECTURES 3TUDY 'UIDE ,ONDON ""#

QUOTED IN *OHN ,ENNOX 'OD S 5NDERTAKER (AS 3CIENCE "URIED 'OD /XFORD ,ION

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OF .ATURE -AN -AN AND WOMAN WERE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF 'OD WITH INDIVIDUALITY THE POWER AND FREEDOM TO THINK AND TO DO 4HOUGH CREATED FREE BEINGS EACH IS AN INDIVISIBLE UNITY OF BODY MIND AND SPIRIT DEPENDENT UPON 'OD FOR LIFE AND BREATH AND ALL ELSE

7HEN OUR lRST PARENTS DISOBEYED 'OD

THEY DENIED THEIR DEPENDENCE UPON (IM AND FELL FROM THEIR HIGH POSITION UNDER 'OD 4HE IMAGE OF 'OD IN THEM WAS MARRED

AND THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO DEATH 4HEIR DESCENDANTS SHARE THIS FALLEN NATURE

AND ITS CONSEQUENCES 4HEY ARE BORN WITH WEAKNESSES AND TENDENCIES TO EVIL "UT 'OD IN #HRIST RECONCILED THE WORLD TO (IMSELF AND BY (IS 3PIRIT RESTORES IN PENITENT MORTALS THE IMAGE OF THEIR -AKER #REATED FOR THE GLORY OF 'OD THEY ARE CALLED TO LOVE (IM AND ONE ANOTHER AND TO CARE FOR THEIR ENVIRONMENT 'EN 0S !CTS 'EN 0S 2OM #OR 0S *OHN

'EN

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M A 0+ A PASTOR S KID "UT WHEN ) WAS ABOUT AND LIVING IN &RANKFURT 'ERMANY ) BEGAN TO QUESTION MY CHILDHOOD FAITH !T SCHOOL ) WAS BEING INTRODUCED TO THOUGHTS THAT QUESTIONED EVERYTHING ) HAD PRE VIOUSLY THOUGHT OR BELIEVED ) REACTED

BY READING WIDELY AND ) HAD ENDLESS DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER YOUTH AT MY CHURCH ) ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND lNALLY ) OWNED MY FAITH FOR MYSELF 4HERE WERE GIRLS IN MY CLASS AT SCHOOL BUT THE IDEA OF 'OD WAS A JOKE TO THEM 7HENEVER SOMEONE WOULD CATCH ME BOWING MY HEAD OVER MY LUNCH GIGGLES WOULD BE HEARD )T WAS SURPRISING THOUGH THAT WHENEVER ANY OF MY CLASSMATES SUFFERED A HEARTBREAK

) WAS THE ONE THEY CAME TO WITH RED

SWOLLEN EYES FOR COMFORT !T AS PART OF A REQUIRED COURSE

) DID AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE FAMILY OF OUR %NGLISH TEACHER 9EARS BEFORE

THIS TEACHER HAD ABANDONED HIS BELIEF IN THE "IBLE AND NOW HE SEEMED TO SEE THIS AS THE IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO CURE THIS PASTOR S DAUGHTER OF HER OLD FASHIONED BELIEF IN 'OD (IS hTHERAPYv BEGAN AROUND THE LUNCH TABLE ) HAD BEEN TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF OFFERING A SILENT INCONSPICUOUS BLESSING BEFORE EATING SO THAT NO ONE WOULD NOTICE BUT ) FELT THAT ) WOULD SOMEHOW BE BETRAYING 'OD !T lRST

THE CHILDREN AROUND THE TABLE WONDERED WHY ) PAUSED AND BOWED MY HEAD 4HE YEAR OLD SON S REACTION WAS THE MOST BLATANT HE DELIBERATELY MOCKED ME WITH FACIAL EXPRESSIONS 4HIS WAS EMBARRASS ING FOR THE MOTHER WHO WANTED TO TEACH HER CHILDREN TOLERANCE 4HE FATHER MY TEACHER ONLY GRINNED CONDESCENDINGLY AND USED MY BRIEF PRAYER TIME TO THINK UP THE NEXT SET OF DIFlCULT QUESTIONS WITH WHICH TO NEEDLE ME h3YLVIA WHAT DID THE LION EAT IN 0ARADISE v OR h7HERE DID #AIN GET A WIFE v OR h)F 'OD IS ALMIGHTY CAN (E CREATE A STONE SO LARGE THAT (E (IMSELF CANNOT CARRY IT v -ORE THAN ONCE THAT lRST BITE OF MY

MEAL SEEMED TO STICK IN MY THROAT ) OFTEN WOKE UP IN THE MORNINGS ALREADY NERVOUS AT THE THOUGHT OF THE SHARED NOON MEAL )N THE EVENING AS ) KNELT IN MY SMALL ATTIC ROOM ) WOULD PRAY

h'OD PLEASE HELP ME GIVE ME ANSWERS THAT WILL MAKE THEM REALLY THINK v ) LL NEVER FORGET MY TEACHER S SARCASTIC GRIN ONE AFTERNOON AS HE SAID h3YLVIA WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU DISCOVERED THAT THERE REALLY IS NO RESURRECTION 4HEN YOU WOULD HAVE WASTED YOUR WHOLE LIFE ON THIS RELIGIOUS RUBBISH v -Y MOUTH SUDDENLY WENT

SCHOOL DIRECTOR STATED THAT ) WOULD BE PERMITTED TO RESCHEDULE THE EXAM ONLY IF THE %NGLISH TEACHER THOUGHT IT NECESSARY 4HIS WAS A NATIONWIDE EXAM AND MY FUTURE ADMISSION TO ANY STUDY PROGRAM WAS DEPENDENT ON IT 7ITH SHAKY KNEES ) WENT TO SPEAK TO MY FORMER %NGLISH TEACHER 7ITH A LAUGH HE SAID h!ND YOU WANT TO PASS THIS EXAM EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVEN T BEEN IN MY %NGLISH CLASSES FOR OVER A YEAR v ) REPLIED h'OD WILL HELP ME TO BE AS GOOD AS MY CLASSMATES WHO HAVE HAD THE EXTRA BENElT OF THE CLASS v h2EALLY v HE EXCLAIMED h.OW THAT IS

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DRY BUT ) REPLIED h)F THERE REALLY ISN T A RESURRECTION THEN ) WOULDN T BE AWARE OF IT AS ) WOULD BE DEAD "UT IF THERE IS A RESURRECTION THEN WHAT WOULD YOU DO 7HAT WOULD YOU SAY AS YOU STOOD BEFORE YOUR -AKER v 4HE SMUG GRIN VANISHED FROM HIS FACE AS THE WORDS SANK IN (E EXCUSED HIMSELF FROM THE TABLE AND LEFT THE ROOM 4HAT WAS THE LAST TIME HE OPENLY CONFRONTED ME ABOUT MY FAITH DURING MY INTERNSHIP ! 4EST OF &AITH

)N MY LAST YEAR MY lNAL EXAM FELL ON 3ABBATH ) HAD BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS EXAM ON MY OWN BECAUSE THE SPECIAL PREPARATION FOR IT WAS GIVEN BY THE %NG LISH TEACHER ON 3ABBATH MORNINGS 4HE

SOMETHING ) D LIKE TO SEE ) GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL FAIL THIS EXAM 9OU WILL SEE FOR YOURSELF THAT THIS 'OD IS JUST A lGMENT OF YOUR IMAGINATION v ! 4IME OF 0REPARATION

) KNEW MY FORMER TEACHER WOULD DO EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO MAKE THE EXAM AS DIFlCULT AS POSSIBLE ) HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT HE HAD COVERED IN CLASS BECAUSE NO CLASS NOTES WERE AVAILABLE AND THERE WAS NO TEXTBOOK 3O ) PRAYED h,ORD 9OU KNOW THAT ) WASN T ABLE TO ATTEND THIS %NGLISH CLASS BECAUSE ) WANTED TO GO TO CHURCH 9OUR DAY IS HOLY 9OU ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN MY FUTURE STUDY POSSIBILITIES "UT ) KNOW THAT 9OU ARE MIGHTY AND

# ! ) 4 , ) . 0 / 4 4 3

!S ) ENTERED THE EXAM ROOM A SENSE OF PEACE mOODED OVER ME ) FELT THAT THIS hBATTLEv WOULD NOT BE MINE -Y TEACHER WAS TO BE THE CHIEF ORAL EXAM INER (IS QUESTIONS FOLLOWED AS RAPIDLY AS MACHINE GUN lRE WITH EQUAL SPEED THE CORRECT ANSWERS CAME TO ME 4HE OTHER EXAMINERS ON THE PANEL STARED BLANKLY FROM ONE TO THE OTHER AS IF A TABLE TENNIS MATCH WERE IN PROGRESS 4HERE WAS NO PAUSE FOR EVERY hPING v A hPONGv FOLLOWED 4HE TEACHER lNALLY CONCLUDED WITH A SOUR EXPRESSION h)N SPITE OF YOUR HORRIBLE #ALIFORNIAN ACCENT ) AM OBLIGED TO GIVE YOU AN ! v

A NGE

! #OINCIDENCE

DENCE /R WAS IT ANSWERED PRAYER CAN HELP ME TO PASS THIS EXAM v ) TRIED TO PREPARE AS BEST AS ) COULD

BY PRACTICING CONVERSATIONAL %NGLISH WITH MY !MERICAN FRIENDS AND ) ALSO TRACKED DOWN EVERY %NGLISH BOOK ) COULD lND AND WRESTLED WITH THE TEXT 4WO WEEKS BEFORE THE lNAL EXAM ) FOUND A 'ERMAN TRANSLATION OF # 3 ,EWIS S BOOK 4HE 3CREWTAPE ,ETTERS ) ENJOYED THE VIVID DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIALS AND DILEMMAS FACED BY A YOUNG #HRISTIAN /NE CHAPTER IN PARTICULAR FASCINATED ME AND ) READ IT THROUGH SEVERAL TIMES 4HEN ) RELUCTANTLY PUT THE BOOK ASIDE AS THE EXAM LOOMED BEFORE ME AND THERE WAS SO MUCH MATERIAL YET TO REVIEW &IRST CAME THE ORAL EXAMINATION

-Y TEACHER APPEARED SMUG AS HE HANDED ME THE LITERARY EXTRACT THAT HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR THE EXAM !T lRST GLANCE ) WAS SHAKEN BY THE LONG COMPLICATED STRUCTURE OF THE %NGLISH SENTENCES AND THEN ) SUDDENLY REAL IZED THAT THE TEXT WAS FAMILIAR TO ME )T WAS TAKEN FROM THE VERY CHAPTER THAT HAD SO FASCINATED ME IN 4HE 3CREWTAPE ,ETTERS ) PRACTICALLY KNEW IT BY HEART ) WAS GIVEN MINUTES TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH THE TEXT BEFORE THE ORAL DISCUSSION WOULD BEGINˆIN %NGLISH

OF COURSE 3UDDENLY ALL MY CAREFULLY PREPARED %NGLISH NOTES SEEMED IRREL EVANT ) WANTED THE CHANCE TO SHOW THAT 'OD REALLY DOES EXIST AND THAT (E IS THERE FOR THOSE WHO TRUST (IM

)MMEDIATELY AFTER THE EXAM THE TEACHER APPROACHED ME AND MUMBLED

h) STILL CAN T UNDERSTAND IT (OW WERE YOU ABLE TO LEARN %NGLISH SO WELL v h) CAME ACROSS THE BOOK THAT THE LITERARY EXTRACT WAS TAKEN FROM AND ) READ RIGHT UP TO THE PLACE FROM WHERE THAT QUOTE WAS TAKEN v ) EXPLAINED (E UNBELIEVINGLY SHOOK HIS HEAD h7HAT A STRANGE COINCIDENCE v HE SAID ) RESPONDED h9ES IT IS A STRANGE KIND OF COINCIDENCE 'OD REALLY DOES EXIST 7HEN WE PUT 'OD lRST IN OUR LIVES

(E REALLY DOES TAKE CARE OF ALL THE COINCIDENCES v 7ITHOUT ANOTHER WORD MY TEACHER QUIETLY TURNED AND WALKED AWAY ) NEVER HEARD FROM HIM AGAIN ) LEARNED THAT HE DIED OF CANCER A FEW MONTHS LATER (AD MY EXAM BEEN A DOOR THAT 'OD WAS OPENING TO HIS HEART $ID HE lND HIS WAY BACK TO 'OD WITHIN THOSE LAST FEW WEEKS ) REALLY HOPE SO

3YLVIA 2ENZ WORKS FOR THE 'ERMAN 6OICE OF 0ROPHECY "IBLE 3CHOOL AND IS A PUBLISHED AUTHOR OF MORE THAN BOOKS 3HE IS MARRIED TO 7ERNER A RETIRED RADIO PRODUCER AND PASTOR

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DIFFERENT THAN THIS ) WANT THEM TO GROW UP ENJOYING SIMPLE THINGS LIKE SUNSHINE AND BUTTERCUPS v 2EALITY #HECK !ND 'OOD #OUNSEL

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LLEN 7HITE S IMPACT ON MY THINKING ABOUT MOTHERHOOD AND FAMILY LIFE BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE MY CHILDREN WERE BORN ) HAD GROWN UP WITH SOME AMBIVALENCE ABOUT HER MINISTRY AND DIDN T OFTEN READ HER BOOKS BUT EVERY NOW AND AGAIN ) WOULD PICK UP SOMETHING SHE HAD WRITTEN FOR MY DEVOTIONAL READING /N ONE MORNING AS ) READ ABOUT THE CHILDHOOD OF *ESUS ) CAME ACROSS THESE WORDS h4HE MORE QUIET AND SIMPLE THE LIFE OF THE CHILD THE MORE FREE FROM ARTIlCIAL EXCITEMENT AND THE MORE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE THE MORE FAVORABLE IS IT TO PHYSICAL AND MENTAL VIGOR AND TO SPIRITUAL STRENGTH v ,ATER THAT DAY AS MY HUSBAND AND ) WENT SHOPPING WE WALKED PAST A GAMING ALLEY WHERE YOUNG TEENS WERE PLAYING ARCADE GAMES !S ) WALKED BY THE LOUD MUSIC ECHOING IN MY HEAD AND MY PUPILS DILATED BY THE mASHING LIGHTS ) RECALLED %LLEN 7HITE S WORDS ) TURNED TO MY HUSBAND AND SAID h)F WE EVER HAVE CHILDREN ) WANT THEIR CHILDHOOD TO BE

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3EVERAL YEARS WENT BY AND WHEN AT LAST MY lRST CHILD WAS BORN THE PICTURE OF *ESUS CHILDHOOD THAT %LLEN 7HITE HAD PAINTED WAS STILL IN MY MIND "UT THE REALITY OF LIFE WITH A NEWBORN WAS MORE ABOUT TRYING TO SURVIVE ON FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP THAN ABOUT SUNSHINE AND BUTTERCUPS 7HEN A FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT A #HRISTIAN PARENTING PROGRAM THAT PROMISED TO TEACH A BABY TO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT ) WAS INITIALLY GRATEFUL !S ) TRIED TO LEARN HOW TO HELP MY CHILD SLEEP ) REALIZED THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT INFANT FEEDING AND SLEEPING SCHEDULES )T WAS ALSO ABOUT 'OD S DESIRE FOR ORDER AND PARENTAL AUTHORITY IN FAMILY LIFE &EELING UNEASY WITH SOME OF WHAT ) WAS READING ) SEARCHED TO UNDERSTAND MY NEW ROLE AS A MOTHER !GAIN ) FOUND WISDOM IN THE WORDS OF %LLEN 7HITE )N #HILD 'UIDANCE %LLEN 7HITE COUNSELS PARENTS TO hBIND THE HEARTS OF THE LITTLE ONES TO THEM BY SILKEN CORDS OF LOVE v 4HESE SIMPLE AND YET PROFOUND WORDS ONCE AGAIN CREATED A WORD PICTURE THAT HELPED ME TO SEE WHAT 'OD DESIRED FOR FAMILY LIFE ,OVE IS CENTRAL TO THE ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE THAT 'OD CREATED THUS TEACHING OUR CHILDREN TO hLOVE 'OD AND LOVE OTHERSv MUST BE CENTRAL TO #HRISTIAN PARENTING

"UT WHERE DOES THIS CAPACITY TO LOVE COME FROM 2ESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT IT IS ONLY AS CHILDREN ARE LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY

AND THEIR NEEDS MET RESPONSIVELY THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO INTER NALIZE LOVE AND GRATITUDE 4HIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY IN WHICH OUR HEAVENLY &ATHER hPARENTSv US h7E LOVE BECAUSE HE lRST LOVED USv *OHN .)6 !S ) PONDERED THESE THOUGHTS ) REALIZED THAT IN THIS NEW JOB THAT 'OD HAD GIVEN ME LOVE WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ORDER &OR MY NEWBORN DAUGHTER LEARNING TO LOVE AND BE LOVED WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LEARNING TO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT !S MY DAUGHTER GREW ) REALIZED THAT THE hSILKEN CORDS OF LOVEv THAT BOUND HER HEART TO MINE WERE THE FOUNDATION FOR

ONES WISELY DURING THE EARLIER YEARS OF CHILDHOOD )F EVERY MOTHER WERE CAPABLE OF DOING THIS AND WOULD TAKE TIME TO TEACH HER CHILDREN THE LESSONS THEY SHOULD LEARN IN EARLY LIFE THEN ALL CHILDREN COULD BE KEPT IN THE HOME SCHOOL UNTIL THEY ARE EIGHT OR NINE OR TEN YEARS OLD v -Y CHILDREN ARE OLDER NOW AND HAPPILY SETTLED INTO SCHOOL 4HERE ARE DAYS WHEN IT SEEMS THAT THEIR WORLD IS SO MUCH WIDER AND THE INmUENCE OF OUR HOME SO MUCH SMALLER /N THOSE DAYS ) AM BOTH CHALLENGED AND ENCOUR AGED BY THESE WORDS h4O A GREAT EXTENT PARENTS HOLD IN THEIR OWN HANDS THE FUTURE HAPPINESS OF THEIR CHILDREN 5PON THEM RESTS THE IMPORTANT WORK OF FORMING THE CHARACTER

EVERYTHING ELSE SHE NEEDED TO LEARN "Y THIS TIME ) HAD READ MANY BOOKS ON PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT BUT THE WORDS THAT MADE THE MOST IMPACT WERE THESE h!S THE MOTHER TEACHES HER CHILDREN TO OBEY HER BECAUSE THEY LOVE HER SHE IS TEACHING THEM THE lRST LESSONS IN THE #HRISTIAN LIFE 4HE MOTHER S LOVE REPRESENTS TO THE CHILD THE LOVE OF #HRIST AND THE LITTLE ONES WHO TRUST AND OBEY THEIR MOTHER ARE LEARNING TO TRUST AND OBEY THE 3AVIOUR v 4HESE WORDS REMINDED ME THAT AS ) LEARNED OFTEN WITH GREAT DIFlCULTY TO PUT ASIDE MY OWN NEEDS AND RESPOND TO HER NEEDS MY DAUGHTER WAS LEARNING ABOUT THE LOVE OF 'OD !S ) WAS AVAILABLE AND RESPONSIVE NOT ALWAYS CONSISTENTLY WHEN SHE NEEDED ME MY DAUGHTER WAS LEARNING THAT SHE COULD TRUST 'OD 4HIS FOUNDATION OF LOVE AND TRUST WOULD ENABLE HER TO BE OBEDIENT NOT ONLY TO ME

BUT ULTIMATELY TO 'OD ) REALIZED THAT THE TASK OF MOTHERHOOD WAS MORE SACRED THAN ANYONE HAD EVER TOLD ME

OF THESE CHILDREN 4HE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN IN CHILDHOOD WILL FOLLOW THEM ALL THROUGH LIFE v 4HERE ARE ALSO DAYS WHEN THE BAR SEEMS TOO HIGH WHEN THE STANDARD OF PARENTING DESCRIBED BY %LLEN 7HITE SEEMS UNATTAINABLE 4HAT S WHEN ) TURN TO THESE WORDS h7ATCH WHAT 'OD DOES AND THEN YOU DO ITx -OSTLY WHAT 'OD DOES IS LOVE YOU +EEP COMPANY WITH HIM AND LEARN A LIFE OF LOVE /BSERVE HOW #HRIST LOVED US (IS LOVE WAS NOT CAUTIOUS BUT EXTRAVAGANT (E DIDN T LOVE IN ORDER TO GET SOMETHING FROM US BUT TO GIVE EVERYTHING OF HIMSELF TO US ,OVE LIKE THATv %PH

-ESSAGE !S ) REmECT ON THESE WORDS ) AM HUMBLED BY THE ENORMITY OF 'OD S LOVE FOR ME AND ) M REMINDED THAT IT IS ONLY AS ) BEHOLD (IS LOVE THAT ) CAN BEGIN TO LEARN HOW TO hLOVE LIKE THAT v

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!S ) HAVE JOURNEYED THROUGH MOTHERHOOD THE WORDS OF %LLEN 7HITE HAVE CONTINUED TO ENCOURAGE ME IN DIFFERENT WAYS 7HEN MY CHILDREN WERE STILL VERY YOUNG THERE WERE DAYS WHEN THE TASKS OF MY EARLIER PROFESSIONAL LIFE SEEMED MORE SIGNIlCANT THAN THE DIRTY LAUNDRY AND RUNNY NOSES THAT ) FACED EACH DAY /N THOSE DAYS ) FOUND VALIDATION IN THESE WORDS h4HE KING UPON HIS THRONE HAS NO HIGHER WORK THAN HAS THE MOTHERx !N ANGEL COULD NOT ASK FOR A HIGHER MISSION v 3EVERAL YEARS LATER WHILE SERVING AS MISSIONARIES IN THE 3OUTH 0ACIlC THERE WERE DAYS WHEN OUR DECISION TO HOMESCHOOL OUR CHILDREN THREATENED TO OVER WHELM ME 7ERE WE REALLY RUINING OUR DAUGHTERS EDUCATION AND CREATING SOCIAL MISlTS /N THOSE DAYS ) WAS REASSURED BY THESE WORDS h-OTHERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO INSTRUCT THEIR LITTLE

%DYTA *ANKIEWICZ A TRAINED PHYSICAL THERAPIST IS CURRENTLY A STAY AT HOME MOM WHO ENJOYS RAISING HER CHILDREN AND IN HER SPARE TIME IS WORKING ON A 0H $ IN 2ELIGIOUS %DUCATION 7ITH HER HUSBAND $ARIUS AND THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS

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OLDEN ,APANI IS A LAY !DVENTIST WHOM 'OD HAS CALLED TO INTRODUCE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE TO A SPECIAL GROUP OF 'OD S CHILDREN IN -ALAWI h%VERY DAY ) PRAY @'OD LEAD ME TO ONE PERSON WHOM ) CAN LEAD TO 9OU v ,APANI SAYS h%VEN IF IT MEANS RISKING MY LIFE ) WANT TO REACH THESE PEOPLE FOR THE 3AVIOR v 'OD HAS BLESSED ,APANI S WORK WITH ALMOST

CONVERTS IN THE PAST YEARS ,APANI lRST MET THE ,ORD WHILE HE BECAME ILL WHILE HE WAS TEACHING SCHOOL $URING HIS ILLNESS HE HAD A DREAM IN WHICH 'OD CALLED HIM TO FOLLOW (IM AND BE HEALED ,APANI KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT *ESUS )N SPITE OF HIS PARENTS DISAPPROVAL HE DECLARED HIMSELF A #HRISTIAN AND SOON AFTER WARD HE WAS HEALED (E BEGAN TELLING OTHERS THAT *ESUS HAD HEALED HIM (IS lRST CONVERT WAS HIS ELDER BROTHER 4HE BROTHERS WORSHIPPED ALONE IN ,APANI S ROOM 4HEN HIS SISTERS JOINED THEM 4HE LITTLE GROUP OF BELIEVERS CONTINUED TO GROW AND TWO YEARS AFTER HIS BAPTISM ,APANI HAD RAISED UP lVE !DVENTIST CONGREGATIONS AND BAPTIZED NEW BELIEVERS 3IX YEARS AFTER ,APANI WAS CONVERTED HIS FATHER ACCEPTED *ESUS AS HIS 3AVIOR (IS MOTHER HESITATED FOR ANOTHER lVE YEARS BEFORE SHE GAVE HER LIFE TO 'OD AND WAS BAPTIZED 4ODAY HIS MOTHER IS ONE OF HIS STRONG SUPPORTERS 4HE -URDERED #HIEF

! SHORT WALK FROM ,APANI S HOME LIES THE VILLAGE OF $AMBA )N SPITE OF ,APANI S REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO MAKE FRIENDS IN $AMBA THE VILLAGERS RESISTED HIS EFFORTS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH THEM 4HEN ONE DAY THE VILLAGE CHIEF DISAPPEARED 2UMORS SPREAD THAT ,APANI HAD KILLED THE CHIEF AND SOLD HIS BODY ,APANI REALIZED THE SITUATION WAS GRAVE AND THAT WITHOUT 'OD S PROTECTION THE VILLAGERS COULD TAKE HIS LIFE ,APANI HIS FAMILY AND HIS "IBLE WORKERS FASTED AND PRAYED FOR DAYS

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OD '

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TIMES OVER

"Y #HARLOTTE )SHKANIAN

ASKING 'OD TO REVEAL THE TRUTH OF THE CHIEF S DISAPPEARANCE SO THAT 'OD S NAME WOULD BE HONORED /N THE TWENTY lRST DAY ,APANI MET A MAN FROM $AMBA ON THE ROAD (E GREETED ,APANI BY SAYING h0ASTOR YOUR 'OD IS A MIRACLE WORKING 'OD v 4HE MAN DESCRIBED HOW THE CHIEF S BODY HAD BEEN FOUND IN THE RIVER ATTACHED TO TWO HUGE STONES WEIGHING ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE CHIEF HIMSELF 4HE CHIEF S BROTHER WAS EVENTUALLY CONVICTED OF THE CHIEF S MURDER AND ,APANI WAS INVITED TO VISIT $AMBA 7HEN HE ARRIVED THE PEOPLE WELCOMED HIM OPENLY h4ELL US ABOUT YOUR 'OD

WHO SAVED YOU v THEY BEGGED ,APANI VISITED EACH HOME SHARING CORN AND USED CLOTHES WITH THOSE IN NEED .EXT HE HELD EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS AND MORE THAN PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED 2ECENTLY THE GOVERNMENT OF -ALAWI VISITED ,APANI TO HEAR FOR THEMSELVES THE STORY OF HOW THE CHIEF S DEATH HAD CHANGED $AMBA 4HEY RECORDED HIS TESTIMONY AND BROADCAST IT OVER NATIONAL RADIO AT LEAST THREE TIMES ,APANI HAS RECEIVED REQUESTS FROM A NUMBER OF NON #HRISTIAN VILLAGE CHIEFS TO COME AND TEACH THE PEOPLE ABOUT *ESUS $EATH 4HREATS

4HE INCIDENT IN $AMBA WAS NOT THE ONLY TIME ,APANI HAS STARED DEATH IN THE FACE (E HAS BEEN STONED AND POISONED AND BEEN THE VICTIM OF WITCHCRAFT AND ATTEMPTED DROWNING )N ONE TOWN HE DRANK POISONED WATER 7HEN HE BEGAN EXPERIENCING SEVERE STOMACH PAINS HIS YOUNG COOK ADMIT TED TO POISONING HIM ,APANI KNEW HE HAD ONLY A SHORT TIME TO LIVE SO HE PRAYED 4HEN HE TOOK THE COOK TO THE POLICE STATION TO REPORT WHAT HAD HAPPENED h) MAY DIE v HE TOLD THEM

hBUT ) HAVE FORGIVEN THIS BOY $O NOT PROSECUTE HIM v #HURCH MEMBERS PRAYED AND 'OD HEALED ,APANI WHO ENCOURAGED HIS COOK TO GIVE HIS LIFE TO *ESUS ,ATER THAT

DAY ,APANI PREACHED THE GOSPEL AND PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE ACCEPTED *ESUS AS THEIR 3AVIOR 4ODAY A CHURCH STANDS IN THE VILLAGE THE RESULT OF AN ATTEMPT TO KILL THIS FAITHFUL WITNESS

"UT IT RAINED ONLY IN THE MORNING NOT DURING THE AFTERNOON WHEN MEETINGS WERE SCHEDULED !T THE END OF THE SERIES PEOPLE GAVE THEIR LIVES TO *ESUS 0ARAMOUNT #HIEFS "OW TO #HRIST

#HRIST S -ETHOD OF -INISTRY

7HEN ,APANI lRST ENTERS A NEW AREA HE VISITS THE CHIEF TO ANNOUNCE HIS PRESENCE 4HEN HE AND HIS "IBLE WORKERS VISIT IN HOMES PRAYING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEEDS )F VILLAGERS LACK FOOD HE PROVIDES CORNMEAL THE MOST COMMON STAPLE IN -ALAWI )F THEY ARE SICK HE PRAYS FOR THEM AND LOCATES MEDICINE IF THEY NEED IT (E BRINGS CLOTHING FOR THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN "UT MOST OF ALL HE SEEKS TO MAKE FRIENDS AND WIN CONlDENCES 4HEN ,APANI ASKS FOR PERMISSION TO HOLD MEETINGS 5SUALLY THE ANSWER IS YES "UT IF IT IS NOT HE CONTINUES TO VISIT PEOPLE AND LOVE THEM !FTER EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS ONE OF ,APANI S lVE "IBLE WORKERS REMAINS IN THE AREA TO NURTURE AND TEACH BELIEVERS FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS ,APANI URGES THE NEW CONVERTS TO BUILD A CHURCH (E OBTAINS LAND FROM THE LOCAL CHIEF AND INSTRUCTS THE BELIEVERS HOW MANY BRICKS TO FORM AND BURN HOW MUCH SAND TO GATHER AND HOW LARGE TO MAKE THE CHURCH 4HEN HE RAISES FUNDS TO BUY SHEET METAL TO ROOF THE CHURCH 4HUS FAR ,APANI HAS LED ALMOST

PEOPLE TO #HRIST AND BUILT CHURCHES IN HIS REGION OF -ALAWI (E TRIES TO VISIT EACH CHURCH AT LEAST THREE TIMES A YEAR MAKES NOTE OF WHO IS NOT ATTENDING AND VISITS EACH ONE TO ENCOURAGE THEM HELP THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM IF THEY ARE SICK (E RETURNS REGULARLY TO HOLD REVIVAL MEETINGS

WHICH HAVE ADDED MANY MORE BELIEVERS TO THE CHURCHES HE HAS ESTABLISHED )N A DROUGHT HIT -ALAWI WHILE ,APANI WAS HOLDING MEETINGS 4HE PEOPLE WATCHED THEIR CROPS WITHER AND DIE WITHOUT RAIN ,APANI AND HIS TEAM PRAYED FOR RAIN FOR THREE DAYS THEN THE HEAVENS DARKENED AND HEAVY RAIN FELL

)N ,APANI JOINED A MISSIONARY PASTOR TO HOLD EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS IN ONE AREA THAT HAD RESISTED EFFORTS BY OTHER #HRISTIANS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL 4HEY TAUGHT COOKING CLASSES AND NEEDLEWORK TO THE WOMEN AND SHOWED A VIDEO ON THE LIFE OF *ESUS TO HELP BRING THE PEOPLE TO THE MEETINGS -ORE THAN PEOPLE IN THIS REGION GAVE THEIR LIVES TO *ESUS INCLUDING A PRINCIPAL CHIEF AND HIS WIFE &OLLOW UP MEETINGS BROUGHT MORE BELIEVERS INTO THIS CONGREGATION 4HE BELIEVERS HAVE BUILT A CHURCH THAT INCLUDES A LARGE GARDEN OF SWEET POTATOES #HURCH MEMBERS TEND THE GARDEN AND SELL THE PRODUCE TO SUPPORT THE CHURCH 4WO YEARS LATER MORE THAN PEOPLE INCLUDING ANOTHER IMPORTANT CHIEF AND HIS WIFE JOINED THE !DVENTIST #HURCH WHEN ,APANI HELD MEETINGS IN THEIR VILLAGE h!S LONG AS 'OD GIVES ME STRENGTH AND PROVIDES THE FUNDS ) WILL CONTINUE THIS WORK v ,APANI SAYS h4HE DEVIL HAS TRIED TO PUT ME DOWN BUT 'OD IS STRON GER THAN THE DEVIL AND (E PREVAILS v h0RAY FOR ME v ,APANI PLEADS h0RAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME #HRISTIANS THROUGH OUR WORK 0RAY FOR OUR ENEMIES TOO v /UR MISSION OFFERINGS PROVIDE RESOURCES AND MATERIALS TO HELP STRENGTHEN NEW BELIEVERS IN -ALAWI AND AROUND THE WORLD

$AMBA IS A lCTITIOUS NAME BUT THE VILLAGE IS REAL

#HARLOTTE )SHKANIAN IS EDITOR OF !DVENTIST -ISSION AND #HILDREN S -ISSION &OR MORE STORIES ABOUT !DVENTIST -ISSION VISIT WWW !DVENTIST-ISSION ORG

$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

")",% 15%34)/.3

1 5 % 3 4 ) / . 3HOULD !DVENTISTS

3CRIPTURES E G ,UKE )T IS THEREFORE COMMON TO HEAR IT ALLEGED THAT #HRISTIANS ADOPTED AND ADAPTED A PAGAN CELEBRATE #HRISTMAS FEAST 4HIS IS POSSIBLE BUT IT S DIFlCULT TO DEMONSTRATE FROM VERY YEAR ) RECEIVE LETTERS OR PHONE CALLS ASKING AVAILABLE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE WHETHER IT IS CORRECT FOR !DVENTISTS TO CELEBRATE #HRISTMAS AND THE "ELIEVER 7E SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE #HRISTMAS 4HE UNCERTAINTY IS USUALLY BASED ON TWO FACTS &IRST WE DO NOT KNOW WHY 'OD IN (IS PROVI THE ABSENCE OF ANY BIBLICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DATE OF DENCE CHOSE NOT TO PRESERVE FOR US A RECORD OF THE DAY #HRIST S BIRTH AND ON THE CONVICTION THAT $ECEMBER HAS OF *ESUS BIRTH 4HERE IS NO NEED TO SPECULATE ABOUT THIS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH A PAGAN FESTIVAL ,ET ME PROVIDE SOME 3ECOND THE FACT IS THAT THE #HRISTIAN WORLD CELEBRATES THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CELEBRATION OF #HRISTMAS BIRTH OF *ESUS ON $ECEMBER 7E CANNOT CHANGE THIS AND AND SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ITS SIGNIlCANCE THERE IS NO REASON TO TRY TO CHANGE IT !TTEMPTS TO REJECT #HRISTMAS AND !DVENTISTS "EFORE ) COMMENT ON THE THE FEAST ARE BASED ON THE ABSENCE OF BIBLICAL EVIDENCE AND QUESTION LET ME CLARIFY THAT !DVENTISTS ARE NOT NOR SHOULD ITS POSSIBLE CONNECTION WITH A PAGAN FEAST 4HEREFORE WE WE BE AGAINST #HRISTMAS SHOULD LEAVE THIS MATTER 7HY W O U L D W E B E TO THE CONSCIENCE OF EACH AGAINST A PERIOD OF TIME INDIVIDUAL WHEN #HRISTIANS REMEMBER (AVING SAID THAT LET THE BIRTH OF OUR 3AVIOR ME STATE AGAIN THAT THERE (OWEVER SINCE THIS FES IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING "Y TIVITY IS NOT ORDAINED BY WRONG WITH SELECTING !NGEL -ANUEL 3CRIPTURE WE DON T CON ANY PARTICULAR TIME TO 2ODR¤GUEZ SIDER IT TO BE BINDING ON MEDITATE AND REmECT ON BELIEVERS 7E RECOGNIZE THE INCARNATION OF OUR ONLY ONE HOLY DAY THE 3AVIOR ) WOULD SUGGEST 3ABBATH AND WE KEEP IT THAT DURING #HRISTMAS HOLY IN OBEDIENCE TO OUR WE COULD SPEND TIME #REATOR AND 2EDEEMER THINKING ABOUT THE MYS #HRISTMAS AND (IS TERY OF THE )NCARNATION TORY )T IS WELL KNOWN THAT )T IS A MYSTERY IN THAT IT THE TERM h#HRISTMASv IS TESTIlES TO THE FACT THAT DERIVED FROM THE OLD %N THE 3ON OF 'OD BECAME GLISH WORD h#HRISTMESSE v WHICH MEANS h#HRIST S -ASS v hmESHv *OHN 4HE #REATOR BECAME A CREATURE IN ORDER 4HE TERM ORIGINATED DURING THE -IDDLE !GES FROM THE TO SAVE US FROM THE POWER OF SIN AND DEATH PRACTICE OF HAVING A MIDNIGHT -ASS ON THE EVE OF $ECEM 4HE .ATIVITY CAN ALSO BE UNDERSTOOD AS 'OD S GIFT TO THE BER TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF #HRIST )N OTHER LANGUAGES HUMAN RACE IN (IS 3ON 'OD GAVE US THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT IT IS CALLED h.ATIVITYv ,ATIN NATALIS OR h(OLY .IGHTSv (E COULD BESTOW ON US (E WAS THE BREAD OF HEAVEN FREELY 'ERMAN 7EIHNACHTEN GIVEN TO US BY OUR HEAVENLY &ATHER *OHN 4HE HISTORY OF THIS #HRISTIAN FEAST REMAINS UNCLEAR "UT THE .ATIVITY IS ALSO A TIME OF PROCLAMATION 4HAT NIGHT (ISTORIANS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE NATIVITY FEAST BEGAN ANGELS PROCLAIMED TO SHEPHERDS THE GOOD NEWS h$O NOT BE TO BE OBSERVED BY #HRISTIANS DURING THE FOURTH CENTURY AFRAIDx 4ODAY IN THE TOWN OF $AVID A 3AVIOR HAS BEEN BORN 3OME #HRISTIANS CALCULATED IT BASED ON THE DEATH OF #HRIST TO YOUv ,UKE 7E SHOULD JOIN OUR VOICES WITH TAKING PLACE ON -ARCH )T WAS THEN SPECULATED THAT (E THAT OF THE ANGELS AND PROCLAIM ONCE MORE THROUGHOUT THE MUST HAVE BEEN BORN NINE MONTHS BEFORE ON $ECEMBER PLANET THE GLORIOUS NEWS OF PEACE AND FREEDOM FROM FEAR /THERS PLACED THE BIRTH OF *ESUS ON -ARCH AND THROUGH #HRIST THE ,ORD #HRISTMAS PROVIDES AN EXCEL "UT THE MOST COMMON EXPLANATION IS THAT #HRISTMAS IS LENT OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THE HUMAN RACE THAT THE #HILD SOMEHOW CONNECTED WITH THE 2OMAN CULT OF THE )NVINCIBLE BORN IN "ETHLEHEM IS COMING SOON 3UN ,ATIN 3OL )NVICTUS THE REBIRTH OF THE SUN WHICH WAS CELEBRATED ON $ECEMBER 4HIS COULD EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF LIGHTS DURING THE CELEBRATION OF THE .ATIVITY !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODRÓGUEZ IS DIRECTOR OF THE "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH )NSTITUTE OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE ALTHOUGH hLIGHTv IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH #HRIST IN THE

%

# HRISTIANS

#HR STMAS

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

" ) " , % 3 4 5 $ 9

0 R E VA I L I N G

0RAYER

"Y -ARK ! &INLEY

!S WE VE JOURNEYED THROUGH 'ENESIS WE VE DISCOVERED AN INCREDIBLY LOVING 'OD (IS HEART OF HEAVEN BORN LOVE mOWS FREELY TO (IS CHILDREN 4HE STORIES IN 'ENESIS ARE STORIES OF A PERSISTENT 'OD WHO NEVER GIVES UP EVEN WHEN (IS CHILDREN REBEL AGAINST (IM (IS LOVE REACHES OUT TO THEM EVEN WHEN THEY AREN T REACHING OUT TO (IM 4HE 'OD OF 'ENESIS IS A 'OD OF LIMITLESS LOVE BOUNDLESS COMPASSION AND ABUNDANT FORGIVENESS 4HE STORY OF *ACOB REVEALS 'OD S AMAZING GRACE

!FTER )SAAC PROMISED TO BLESS HIS ELDEST SON %SAU WHAT HORRIBLE SIN DID *ACOB COMMIT AS HIS FATHER WAS DYING h*ACOB SAID TO HIS FATHER @) AM %SAU YOUR lRSTBORN ) HAVE DONE JUST AS YOU TOLD ME PLEASE ARISE SIT AND EAT OF MY GAME THAT YOUR SOUL MAY BLESS ME v 'EN *ACOB PRETENDED TO BE %SAU TO

HIS FATHER AND CLAIM

BLESSING

7HY DID *ACOB LIE TO HIS FATHER ,IST AT LEAST TWO POSSIBLE MOTIVES

AND

3ELlSHNESS AND GREED LEAD PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY D DO *ACOB PAID A TERRIBLE PRICE FOR HIS SIN &ILLED WITH GUILT AND SHAME HE mED HIS HOMELAND (E THOUGHT CONSTANTLY ABOUT THE TERRIBLE SIN OF LYING TO HIS OWN FATHER WHEN )SAAC WAS DYING *ACOB S SIN BROUGHT HIM MENTAL ANGUISH INNER CONmICT AND EMOTIONAL PAIN )T ALSO TORE HIS FAMILY APART *ACOB NEVER SAW HIS PARENTS AGAIN AND IT WAS YEARS BEFORE HE SAW HIS BROTHER %SAU

7HAT THREE ASSURANCES DID 'OD GIVE *ACOB IN THE MIDST OF HIS GUILT h"EHOLD ) AM WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP YOU WHEREVER YOU GO AND WILL BRING YOU BACK TO THIS LAND FOR ) WILL NOT LEAVE YOU UNTIL ) HAVE DONE WHAT ) HAVE SPOKEN TO YOUv 'EN ) WILL

WHEREVER YOU GO

) WILL

TO THIS LAND

) WILL NOT

YOU

!FTER YEARS OF SELF IMPOSED EXILE *ACOB DECIDED TO RETURN TO HIS HOMELAND 7HEN *ACOB RECEIVED WORD THAT %SAU WAS APPROACHING WITH HIS lGHTING MEN WHAT WAS *ACOB S RESPONSE h3O *ACOB WAS GREATLY AFRAID AND DISTRESSED AND HE DIVIDED THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WITH HIM AND THE mOCKS AND HERDS AND CAMELS INTO TWO COMPANIESv 'EN *ACOB WAS

AND

$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

*ACOB WAS A SHEPHERD NOT A WARRIOR )N HIS DISTRESS HE TURNED TO 'OD IN PRAYER 3UDDENLY HE FOUND HIMSELF IN A DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH A 3TRANGER 7HAT WAS *ACOB S PRAYER OF DESPERATION h4HEN *ACOB WAS LEFT ALONE AND A -AN WRESTLED WITH HIM UNTIL THE BREAKING OF DAYx !ND ;THE -AN= SAID

@,ET -E GO FOR THE DAY BREAKS "UT ;*ACOB= SAID @) WILL NOT LET 9OU GO UNLESS 9OU BLESS ME v 'EN h) WILL NOT

UNLESS 9OU

ME v

7HY DID 'OD HONOR *ACOB S PRAYER h!ND (E SAID @9OUR NAME SHALL NO LONGER BE CALLED *ACOB BUT )SRAEL FOR YOU HAVE STRUGGLED WITH 'OD AND WITH MEN AND HAVE PREVAILED v 'EN *ACOB STRUGGLED WITH

AND WITH

AND

0REVAILING PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE 'OD HONORS OUR PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER 0ERSISTENCY PREPARES OUR HEARTS TO RECEIVE 'OD S BLESSING )T DEEPENS OUR DESIRE TO KNOW 'OD S WILL AND EXPERIENCE (IS PRESENCE

7HAT MIRACLE DID 'OD WORK BECAUSE OF *ACOB S EARNEST PRAYER h"UT %SAU RAN TO MEET HIM AND EMBRACED HIM AND FELL ON HIS NECK AND KISSED HIM AND THEY WEPTv 'EN $ESCRIBE THE MIRACLE 'OD WROUGHT IN %SAU S HEART IN YOUR OWN WORDS

'OD CHANGES HEARTS THROUGH PRAYER 'OD HEALS RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH PRAYER 'OD BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER

(OW ARE *ACOB S PRAYER LIFE AND *ESUS PRAYER LIFE SIMILAR h4HEN *ACOB WAS LEFT ALONE xv 'EN h&OR YOU ;*ACOB= HAVE STRUGGLED WITH 'ODv 'EN h!ND IT HAPPENED AS (E ;*ESUS= WAS ALONE PRAYINGv ,UKE h7HO IN THE DAYS OF (IS mESH WHEN (E HAD OFFERED UP PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS WITH VEHEMENT CRIES AND TEARS TO (IM WHO WAS ABLE TO SAVE (IM FROM DEATH AND WAS HEARD BECAUSE OF (IS GODLY FEARv (EB 4HEY BOTH SOUGHT TIME

WITH 'OD

4HEY BOTH

'OD WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS

7HEN WE ARE FACED WITH APPARENTLY UNSOLVABLE PROBLEMS AND OVERWHELMING CHALLENGES

AS WE PERSEVERE ALONE IN PRAYER 'OD WILL ANSWER FROM HEAVEN (E HAS NOT LEFT US ALONE WE ARE (IS CHILDREN )N TIMES OF CRISES SHALLOW SUPERlCIAL PRAYERS WILL NOT DO BUT PERSEVERING

PREVAILING PRAYER WILL MOVE THE ARM OF 'OD !RE YOU FACING SOME OVERWHELMING CHALLENGE IN YOUR LIFE 3EEK 'OD IN PRAYER DON T GIVE UP 0ERSEVERE AND 'OD WILL WORK A MIRACLE IN YOUR LIFE AS (E DID IN *ACOB S

.EXT MONTH S "IBLE STUDY

h$ELIVERANCE IN 4RIAL v

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

WILL FEATURE THE STORY OF *OSEPH

,%44%23 #ONTINUING THE #ONVERSATION

) GREATLY APPRECIATE THE WISE AND SKILLFUL WAY !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ INDIRECTLY ANSWERED THE QUESTION REGARDING THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN

PARTICULARLY HIS CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH IN h#AN 7E 4ALK v /CTOBER (E ENCOURAGED THE BODY OF #HRIST TO COME TOGETHER IN A SPIRIT OF UNITY AND HUMILITY PRAYING FOR HEALING SO THAT WE MAY SEE WHERE THE 3PIRIT IS LEADING ) AM NOT A THEOLOGIAN OR A FEMI NIST BUT ) HAVE BEEN GREATLY BLESSED BY A FEMALE THEOLOGIAN WHO GAVE ME AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND SHARED GREAT INSIGHT INTO WHAT OUR LOVING

COMPASSIONATE *ESUS IS LIKE BY HER PERSONAL EXAMPLE OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TO BOTH ME AND MY HUSBAND 3HE IS *AMAICAN ) AM !USTRALIAN -ARGARET ! -AJOR #OORANBONG !USTRALIA 4HANKS TO !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ FOR h#AN 7E 4ALKv /CTOBER AND TACKLING THIS SUBJECT IN THE MANNER HE CHOSE ) ESPECIALLY LOVED THE LAST PARAGRAPH URGING PRAYER AND SEEKING THE 3PIRIT S LEADING (E COULD NOT HAVE ENDED ON A BETTER NOTE 'OD WILL LEAD IF WE ARE WILLING TO HUMBLE OURSELVES AND SEEK (IM #LARINE .ORDELL # RYSTAL 2IVER &LORIDA

5NITED 3TATES 3INCE ) M /NLINE !NYWAY

#ONGRATULATIONS ON THE !UGUST EDITION OF THE ONLINE MAGAZINE #ON TINUE PROVIDING WHAT IS AN INSPIRATION WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG INDEX PHP ISSUE 2UTHY #HALCO ,IMA 0ERU

) M lNDING IN MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THAT THE MORE TIME ) SPEND WITH MY "IBLE

THE MORE ) WANT TO BE THERE AND THE LESS ) WANT TO READ THE WORDS OF OTHERS ˆ,INDA 3TEINKE -ILLET !LBERTA #ANADA

!NOTHER 4HOUGHT

(EART -IND AND 3OUL

4HANKS FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT COME THROUGH THE !DVENTIST 7ORLD 3INCE ) DISCOVERED THIS UPLIFTING JOURNAL ) DO NOT LOSE THE PRIVILEGE OF STAYING INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF THE PEOPLE OF 'OD IN THE ENTIRE WORLD -AY THE ,ORD CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS MINISTRY -ARVIN !TCHISON S ARTICLE h!BOUT (ERNIAS AND THE (OLY 3PIRITv !UGUST MADE ME THINK IN DEPTH ABOUT STRANGULATION AND DEATH WHEN AN INVOLVED ORGAN BECOMES TRAPPED AND ITS BLOOD SUPPLY COMPROMISED ) VE ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE WHO DIE SPIRITUALLY STARVED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND HOW OUR WITNESS LANGUISHES FOR NOT SHARING WHAT WE KNOW AND WORSE FOR NOT OBEYING THE LIGHT 'OD HAS GIVEN US INDIVIDUALLY )F WE DO NOT RENEW OURSELVES BY STUDY

OUR SPIRITUAL NATURE WILL DIE OF STARVA TION AND DROUGHT IN THE ABSENCE OF THE 3PIRIT WHO GUIDES US !NTONIO -ANUEL -EJIA -URCIA 3PAIN

) M SO GLAD TO HAVE READ THE INSPIRED MESSAGE h$O 9OU ,OVE -E v BY -IKULAS 0AVLIK *ULY ) SAW THE LOVE OF *ESUS AND HOW (E WANTS ME TO LOVE (IM MORE 4HE QUESTION CAME TO ME

h%PHRAIM ,ALRODINGA DO YOU LOVE -E v ) CRIED AND SAID h9ES ) LOVE 9OU ,ORD 0LEASE FORGIVE MY SINS AND MAKE ME LOVE 9OU WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL v ) GIVE MY SINCERE THANKS TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD %PHRAIM ,ALRODINGA &ALM #HIN 3TATE -YANMAR 7ORTH OF THE 7ORD

) READ h@3PIRI TUAL 0ERILS 2EVISITED v BY 2OY !DAMS !UGUST

BUT HAVE NOT READ THE ARTICLE YET

WHICH REFERENCES 4HE 3HACK h3PIRITUAL 0ERILS v 2OY !DAMS -AY ) READ EXTENSIVELY SPIRITUAL BOOKS FROM A VARIETY OF AUTHORS !DVENTIST AND FROM OTHER FAITHS ) M lNDING IN MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THAT THE MORE TIME )

$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

,%44%23 SPEND WITH MY "IBLE THE MORE ) WANT TO BE THERE AND THE LESS ) WANT TO READ THE WORDS OF OTHERS "OOKS ARE WONDERFUL ASSETS TOOLS

INSPIRATIONS ) WOULD NOT WANT TO ELIMINATE THEM FROM MY LIFE BUT WE MUST BE GROUNDED IN THE 7ORD IN ORDER TO BE WISE AND DISCERNING )T SEEMS !DVENTIST WATERS ARE BECOMING MURKY ) SEE COMPROMISES AND SOMETIMES SUBMIT TO THEM #ON TINUING IN THE 7ORD IS WHERE ) MUST lND MYSELF 4HANK YOU FOR THE DEDICA TION IN PROVIDING THIS PUBLICATION ,INDA 3TEINKE -ILLET !LBERTA #ANADA

AND NOT LET SECULAR IDEAS SEPARATE US FROM THE TRUE 'OD ,UCIMAGNA !GUIAR ,IMEIRA 3รกO 0AULO "RAZIL )NFORMATION AND )NSPIRATION

4HANK YOU FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY PUBLICATION )T REVEALS HOW OUR CHURCH IS MOVING FORWARD AND UPWARD %ZEKIEL 3 2UEDA #OLOMBIA

4HROUGH THE MAGAZINE ) HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION IN "RAZIL 4HIS YEAR THROUGH !DVENTIST 7ORLD ) HAVE FOLLOWED THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION WORLDWIDE 4HIS MISSION HAS INCREASED BY THE HAND OF 'OD

) THANK 'OD FOR THE !DVENTIST 7ORLD %VERY MONTH ) LOOK FORWARD TO IT 4HE (IS ANGELS AND (IS CHOSEN PEOPLE ARTICLES ARE INFORMATIVE AS WELL AS EDIFYING )T IS WONDERFUL ) AM HAPPY TO BE A 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST ) ESPECIALLY FOUND INTERESTING THE (ยฃLIO *OรกO #ABO ARTICLE h3PIRITUAL 0ERILS v BY 2OY !DAMS 2IO DE *ANEIRO "RAZIL -AY /NE MUST BE ATTENTIVE

) LOVE !DVENTIST 7ORLD ) USE -ARK &INLEY S "IBLE STUDY SECTION TO TEACH "IBLE AND %NGLISH TO MY STUDENTS AT THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST ,ANGUAGE 3CHOOL IN 3OUTH +OREA ) HAVE A "IBLE STUDY CLUB EVERY 3ATURDAY AFTERNOON AND PRINT OUT THIS SECTIONย ) PRINT THE %NGLISH VERSION AND THE +OREAN VERSION -ANY OF THE UNIVERSITY STU DENTS ARE POOR AND THEY DON T HAVE I0ADS OR I0ODS 4HEY ARE BENElTING FROM THESE STUDIES 'IOVANNI 3ABERON 'UMI #ITY 3OUTH +OREA

,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 ) AM NEW TO !DVENTISM 0LEASE PRAY FOR ME TO GROW IN FAITH AND FOR MY PARENTS TO ACCEPT MY RELIGION #HARLENE :IMBABWE

DIFlCULTY WITH THE COLD WEATHER *ACOB 0HILIPPINES

0RAY FOR ME PLEASE ) AM ()6 POSITIVE AND HAVE CANCER AS A RESULT ,ET S ALL PRAY FOR MORE FAITH AND LOVE IN *OSEPH -ALAWI *ESUS -AY THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD NOT DISTURB OUR BELIEFS AND FAITH 0RAY FOR 0LEASE PRAY FOR US -Y MOTHER HAS MY FAMILY AND MY HEALTH CANCER AND HER CONDITION IS ADVANCED 6ALERIA "RAZIL 0LEASE PRAY FOR HER AND MY FAMILY TO BE PROTECTED IN THESE DIFlCULT TIMES 0LEASE PRAY FOR MY SISTER 3HE IS -ARTHA 0ERU SERVING AS A MISSIONARY TEACHER AND HAS EXPERIENCED SOME DISCRIMINATION 0LEASE PRAY THAT 'OD S HAND WILL BE IN HER MISSION lELD 0RAY THAT 'OD OVER A YOUNG WOMAN IN HER DIVORCE WILL INTERVENE !LSO SHE NEEDS SOME AND CHILD CUSTODY SITUATION 7E NEED WINTER CLOTHES AND COMFORTERS 3HE HAS (IS POWER AND INTERVENTION FOR A

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ $ECEMBER

SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION TO A DIFlCULT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND (IS PEACE FOR ALL 4IA 5NITED 3TATES ) NEED PRAYER ABOUT SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES ) HAVEN T BEEN TO CHURCH IN A LONG TIME AND HAVE NOT RESPECTED THE 3ABBATH LIKE ) SHOULD !NONYMOUS

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 !

* ! . % " % 4 4 % 2 ) $ ' %

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

'RACIOUS 2EDEEMER )

! READER SHARES #HRIST CENTERED LYRICS TO WIDELY KNOWN CLASSICAL PIECE N MY ARTICLE h3PIRITUAL 0ERILSv -AY ) SPOKE BRIEmY ABOUT THE THEOLOGI CAL PROBLEMS IN THE LYRICS OF h!VE -ARIA v A #ATHOLIC LITURGICAL PRAYER SINCE THE lFTEENTH CENTURY !T THE SAME TIME ) EXPRESSED MY FASCINATION WITH ITS MUSIC COMPOSED BY &RANZ 3CHUBERT /P .O 4HE REMARK LED 3ANDRA !

(AYNES OF OUR 2OSEBURG !DVENTIST #HURCH IN 2OSEBURG /REGON 5NITED 3TATES

TO SHARE WITH ME ALTERNATIVE LYRICS SHE S COMPOSED TO lT THE TUNE

(ERE IS (AYNES h'RACIOUS 2EDEEMERv 'RACIOUS 2EDEEMER -AKER OF EARTH AND SEA AND SKY

/ COME BEFORE (IM WITH THANKSGIVING

!ND HUMBLY NOW TO YOUR -AKER DRAW NIGH

/FFER UP YOUR SILENT PETITIONS THERE

(E WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRAYER 4HE 3ON OF -AN

BY DEATH OUR SACRIlCE

4HE +ING OF KINGS AND THE GREAT ) !-

7E WAIT THE COMING RESURRECTION

7HEN THOSE IN #HRIST SHALL SEE THE ,AMB 'RACIOUS 2EDEEMER 'RACIOUS 2EDEEMER ,AMB FROM THE WORLD S FOUNDATION SLAIN

4HIS EARTHLY PILGRIMAGE DEPARTING

7E SEEK A BETTER LAND ABOVE

7HERE ALL IS PEACE AND HEAVENLY JOY

"LESSED BY THE 3AVIOR S LOVE &OR (E ALONE IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE

.O OTHER NAME MUST BE LIFTED ON HIGH

3AVIOR PLEAD OUR CASE IN 9OUR MERCY

/ *ESUS NOW TO 9OUR PEOPLE DRAW NIGH 'RACIOUS 2EDEEMER 'RACIOUS 2EDEEMER ,ORD OF THE HOLY 3ABBATH DAY

%MMANUEL OUR 'OD IS WITH US

#ONCEIVED BY EARTHLY MAIDEN MILD

2OSE OF 3HARON BLOOM IN OUR HEARTS WITH 9OUR LOVE

3AVE IN THE TEMPEST WILD 7E GIVE 9OU THANKS AS GRATEFUL CHILDREN

!ND BAPTIZED FROM OUR SINS BY 9OUR GRACE

7E SEEK THE RARE AND HEAVENLY MOMENT

7E VIEW 9OUR RADIANT GLORIOUS FACE 'RACIOUS 2EDEEMER

h"EHOLD ) COME QUICKLYxv

/UR MISSION IS TO UPLIFT *ESUS #HRIST UNITING 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS EVERYWHERE IN BELIEFS

MISSION LIFE AND HOPE 0UBLISHER 4HE !DVENTIST 7ORLD AN INTERNATIONAL PERIODICAL OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE

.ORTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS§

IS THE PUBLISHER %XECUTIVE 0UBLISHER "ILL +NOTT !SSOCIATE 0UBLISHER #LAUDE 2ICHLI )NTERNATIONAL 0UBLISHING -ANAGER #HUN 0YUNG $UK 0UBLISHING "OARD 4ED . # 7ILSON CHAIR "ENJAMIN $ 3CHOUN VICE CHAIR "ILL +NOTT SECRETARY ,ISA "EARDSLEY $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON 2OBERT ,EMON 'EOFFREY -BWANA !RMANDO -IRANDA 0ARDON + -WANSA ' 4 .G *UAN 0RESTOL -ICHAEL 2YAN %LLA 3IMMONS -ARK 4HOMAS +ARNIK $OUKMETZIAN LEGAL ADVISOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD #OORDINATING #OMMITTEE ,EE *AIRYONG CHAIR !KERI 3UZUKI +ENNETH /SBORN 'UIMO 3UNG #HUN 0YUNG $UK 'LENN -ITCHELL %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 4ED . # 7ILSON 2OBERT % ,EMON ' 4 .G

'UILLERMO % "IAGGI ,OWELL # #OOPER $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON

'EOFFREY -BWANA !RMANDO -IRANDA 0ARDON + -WANSA

-ICHAEL , 2YAN "LASIOUS - 2UGURI "ENJAMIN $ 3CHOUN

%LLA 3 3IMMONS !LBERTO # 'ULFAN *R %RTON +šHLER

*AIRYONG ,EE )SRAEL ,EITO *OHN 2ATHINARAJ 0AUL 3 2ATSARA

"ARRY /LIVER "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 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

4O LISTEN TO 3ANDRA S OWN PERFORMANCE OF THE PIECE GO TO HTTP ROSEBURG ADVENTISTNW ORG CLICK ON h3PECIAL -USIC ,IBRARYv THEN SELECT !PRIL

!DVENTIST 7ORLD IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AND PRINTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN +OREA "RAZIL )NDONESIA !USTRALIA 'ERMANY

!USTRIA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES

ˆ3UBMITTED BY 2OY !DAMS FORMER ASSOCIATE EDITOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD

6OL .O

$ECEMBER \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

4HE

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

3 5 " - ) 4 4 % $ " 9 % $ 7 ) . " ! . % 2 * % %

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7E ARE LOOKING FOR BRIEF SUBMISSIONS IN THESE CATEGORIES !$6%.4)34 15/4%3 PROFOUND OR SPONTANEOUS !$6%.4)34 ,)&% SHORT ANECDOTES ESPECIALLY FROM THE WORLD OF ADULTS */43 !.$ 4)44,%3 CHURCH RELATED TIPS #!-0 -%%4).' -%-/2)%3 SHORT HUMOROUS AND OR PROFOUND ANECDOTES 7(%2% ). 4(% 7/2,$ HIGH QUALITY PHOTOS OF MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE 0LEASE SEND YOUR SUBMISSIONS TO 4HE 0EOPLE S 0LACE !DVENTIST 7ORLD /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE

3ILVER 3PRING -$ FAX E MAIL MARANK GC ADVENTIST ORG 0LEASE INCLUDE PHONE NUMBER 3UBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACKNOWL EDGED OR RETURNED

0 , ! # %

!$6%.4)34 ,)&% ) WANT TO BE ABLE TO PEER INTO THE BRAIN OF A CHILD AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THERE 2ECENTLY ) INVITED )SABELLA OUR YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER TO GET A BOOK SO 'RANDMA COULD READ HER A STORY !S SHE LEFT THE ROOM ) SAID

h"RING A 3ABBATH BOOK BECAUSE TODAY IS 3ABBATH v 3HE QUICKLY WENT ON HER WAY (ER FATHER AND ) DID NOT SEE WHERE SHE WENT AND COMMENTED THAT WE THOUGHT SHE COULD NOT REALLY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS A 3ABBATH BOOK AND WHAT IS NOT 7E HAD PREVIOUSLY SELECTED HER BOOKS AND NOT MUCH MENTION HAD BEEN MADE OF h3ABBATH BOOKS v )N MOMENTS SHE RETURNED CARRYING EVER SO CAREFULLY MY HEAVY STUDY "IBLE 3HE DELIVERED IT WITH HER BEAMING SMILE 3HE STOOD SO PROUDLY BEFORE ME 9OU CAN BE CERTAIN THAT ) POSITIONED HER ON MY LAP AND PROCEEDED TO SHOW HER MY "IBLE READING TO HER TWO SIMPLE TEXTS FROM *OHN 4HEN SHE AND ) WENT TO SEARCH OUT OTHER 3ABBATH BOOKS FOR US TO READ TOGETHER 7HAT HAS BEEN STORED IN THAT LITTLE CURLY HEAD 7E HAVE NEVER HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT 'RANDMA S "IBLE 3HE SEES ME IN MY WORSHIP CHAIR OCCASIONALLY BUT NOTHING MORE ) VE SIMPLY NOT EXPLAINED 7HAT IS BEING STORED THAT ) AM UNAWARE OF 4HIS EX PERIENCE WAS HUMBLING TO SAY THE LEAST ˆ,INDA 3TEINKE -ILLET

!LBERTA #ANADA

15/4% /& 4(% -/.4(

h3AFETY IS FOUND NOT IN THE ABSENCE OF DANGER BUT IN THE PRESENCE OF 'OD v ˆ-ALAIKA ,ATAG ,A )SLAND 4AWI 4AWI 0HILIPPINES TAKEN FROM THE !UGUST 'OSPEL /UTREACH NEWSLETTER

! $ ! , ! " % 2 4 ' / 2 7 9 .

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! .37 %2 !T THE "ANGLADESH !DVENTIST 3EMINARY AND #OLLEGE "!3# IN 'OWALBATHAN 'AZIPUR "ANGLADESH -RINAL 3 (ALDER CHAIRPERSON OF THE ""! BACHELOR S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT POSES WITH HIS DEPARTMENTAL STUDENTS -OST OF THESE STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING IN $ECEMBER