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OT EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE TURNED OUT AS WE EXPECTEDˆAND WE COULDN T BE MORE DELIGHTED 7HEN !DVENTIST 7ORLD WAS LAUNCHED IN 3EPTEMBER IT WAS AVAILABLE IN JUST TWO LANGUAGES %NGLISH AND +OREAN AND ONLY IN PRINT &IVE AND A HALF YEARS LATER MILLION COPIES A MONTH ARE PRINTED IN EIGHT LANGUAGES AND READERS CAN ACCESS THE MAGAZINE ONLINE IN LANGUAGE EDI TIONS INCLUDING !RABIC 2OMANIAN AND 5RDU GO TO WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG AND SELECT FROM THE LANGUAGE MENU 4HIS MAGAZINE WAS EXPRESSLY DESIGNED TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF CURRENT CHURCH MEMBERSˆNOT THE GENERAL PUBLICˆBUT STORIES CONTINUE TO ROLL IN TO OUR EDITORIAL OFlCE ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE !DVENTIST 7ORLD IS AS A WITNESSING TOOL TO SHARE THE TRUTHS OF 'OD S 7ORD 7E PLANNED THIS JOURNAL TO FOCUS ON THE STORIES AND NEWS THAT WOULD HELP TO UNIFY AND NURTURE A LARGE AND RAPIDLY GROWING GLOBAL MOVEMENT BUT THEN DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDSˆEVEN THOUSANDSˆOF OTHERS WERE EAGER TO LOOK OVER THE SHOULDERS OF THEIR !DVENTIST NEIGHBORS TO SATISFY A GODLY CURIOSITY ABOUT 'OD S REMNANT CHURCH "Y NOW THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO HAVE JOINED THE
3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH BECAUSE OF THE MINISTRY OF THIS MAGAZINE SURELY NUMBERS IN THE HUNDREDS IF NOT THE THOUSANDS /NE FAITHFUL LAY MEMBER IN 7EST !FRICA COUNTS MORE THAN WHO HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED BECAUSE OF THE THOU SANDS OF COPIES OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD HE HAS DISTRIBUTED /UR COVER FEATURE h#ONVICTED BY A 3CRAP OF 0APERv *UNE HTTP WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG ISSUE PHP ISSUE PAGE TOLD OF DOZENS OF NEW BELIEVERS WHO CAME TO FAITH AFTER lNDING JUST TWO PAGES OF THIS MAGAZINE BESIDE A RURAL ROAD %VERY WEEK WE READ REQUESTS FROM MEN AND WOMEN OF OTHER FAITHS WHO WRITE TO ASK US HOW THEY CAN GET A PERSONAL COPYˆAND FOR NOW AT LEAST ALL WE CAN TELL THEM IS h+EEP ASKING THE !DVENTISTS YOU KNOW TO HAND THEIR COPIES ON TO YOU v 4HAT S ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD PLAN HAND YOUR COPY OF THIS MAGAZINE ALONG TO SOMEONE ELSE WHEN YOU HAVE lNISHED SAVORING IT "ETTER YET TELL THEM WHICH ARTICLES PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED YOU AND FOLLOW UP WITH A LATER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THEY READ )T S A SIMPLE WAY TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND ONE THAT *ESUS WILL SURELY USE TO CALL (IS OWN TO (IM
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)N #AMBODIA !DVENTIST 3TUDENTS &ROM 'ERMANY -AKE A $IFFERENCE N h4HE TIME ) SPENT IN #AMBODIA WAS A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE FOR ME v SAYS #ATRIN (OFFMANN WHO PARTICIPATED IN A FOUR WEEK DEVELOPMENT AID PROJECT IN 4HE PROJECT WAS SPONSORED BY -ARIENHšHE !DVENTIST !CADEMY WHILE #ATRIN WAS STILL A STUDENT THERE (OFFMANN PASSED HER UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE DIPLOMA !BITUR AT -ARIEN HšHE IN AND LATER VOLUNTEERED AS A TEACHER IN THE ACADEMY S PARTNER SCHOOL IN #AMBODIA FROM 3EPTEMBER TO 3EPTEMBER
(OFFMAN SHARED THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTS ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE h) WAS ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED BY THE FRIENDLINESS AND THANKFULNESS OF THE PEOPLE 4HROUGH THEM ) GOT TO KNOW A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CULTURE 4EACHING THEIR CHILDREN AND CARING FOR THEM WAS A GREAT HELP NOT ONLY FOR THEM BUT ALSO FOR ME AS ) LEARNED A LOT ) HAVE REMAINED IN TOUCH WITH THE CHILDREN SINCE LEAVING AND AM ALWAYS DELIGHTED WHEN THEY TELL ME ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THEIR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN #AMBODIA HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE v )NVOLVEMENT IN THE 3OUTHEAST !SIAN NATION BEGAN FOR THE SCHOOL IN
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&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
WHEN A GROUP FROM -ARIENHšHE !DVENTIST !CADEMY WENT TO #AMBODIA FOR THE lRST TIME TO HELP IN A DEVELOP MENT AID PROJECT !BOUT SANITARY INSTALLATIONS WERE ESTABLISHED IN A REFUGEE CAMP LOCATED NEAR THE PARTNER SCHOOL /NE YEAR LATER IN THE lRST ORPHANAGE WAS CONSTRUCTED ON THE CAMPUS )N THE FOLLOWING YEARS MORE ORPHANAGES AND SCHOOL ROOMS WERE BUILT SEWERS WERE DUG A DISPENSARY DAMAGED BY TERMITES WAS RECONSTRUCTED AND A DIESEL GENERATOR WAS INSTALLED TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY #URRENTLY ORPHANS LIVING IN lVE HOUSES ARE PROVIDED WITH CLOTHING AND LOVING CARE 4HIS AID HAS BEEN PRICELESS TO THE #AMBODIAN PEOPLE AS THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH MANY HARDSHIPS 4HE HELP ALLOWS THE CHILDREN PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALING AND ALSO PREVENTS THEM FROM HAVING TO LIVE ON THE STREETS 3TUDENTS FROM -ARIENHšHE !DVENTIST !CADEMY COOPERATE WITH THE LOCAL POPULATION &RIENDSHIPS MADE OFTEN LAST FOR MANY YEARS 4HE STUDENTS LEARN TO SEE THE WORLD FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE 4HEY LEARN THAT THE VALUES OF THESE CHILDREN DIFFER WIDELY FROM THOSE IN %UROPE 4HE STUDENTS BECOME AWARE OF THE LUXURY THEY LIVE IN AND THAT OPENNESS FRIENDLINESS AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHILDREN ARE WORTH SO MUCH MORE THAN MONEY AND LIFE IN ABUNDANCE CAN OFFER 4HE NUMBER OF STUDENTS GRADUAT ING FROM -ARIENHšHE !DVENTIST !CADEMY WHO WANT TO VOLUNTEER IN THE DEVELOPMENT AID PROJECT AT THEIR PARTNER SCHOOL IN #AMBODIA IS INCREASING )N 3EPTEMBER THE STUDENTS OF -ARIENHšHE !DVENTIST !CADEMY ORGANIZED VARIOUS FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES TO EARN THE MONEY NEEDED TO BUILD DORMITORIES FOR TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING AT THE PARTNER SCHOOL IN #AMBODIA ˆ2EPORTED BY +ARL 3TRASSNER %URO !FRICA $IVISION
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#(!,,%.').' */52.%9 -EMBERS OF THE -ONGOLIAN MUSIC GROUP $ESCEN DANTS POSE IN FRONT OF THEIR RENTED VAN WHICH BROKE DOWN TIMES DURING A RECENT MILE TRIP TO A SINGING APPOINTMENT 4HE !DVENTIST VOCALISTS REGULARLY PERFORM AT CHURCH RUN EVANGELISM MEETINGS IN THE REGION
-/.'/,)! $ESCENDANTS !DVENTIST 3INGING 'ROUP %NDURES (ARDSHIP TO 3HARE -ESSAGE N ! SINGING GROUP IN -ONGOLIA IS SUPPORTING EVANGELISM AS THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH GROWS IN THE COUNTRY AFTER HAVING BEEN ESTABLISHED THERE FOR LESS THAN YEARS 4HE SEVEN MEMBER GROUP CALLED $ESCENDANTS OFFERS CONCERTS AND CLASS ES DURING lVE DAY PUBLIC EVANGELISM MEETINGS IN AREAS RECENTLY ENTERED BY !DVENTIST MISSIONARIES "ECAUSE OF THE LIMITED lNANCES OF THE DENOMINATION S -ONGOLIA -ISSION &IELD WHICH IS HOME TO MEMBERS THE GROUP IS SPONSORED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS h9OUNG -ONGOLIANS LIKE IT 4HERE AREN T A WHOLE LOT OF OPTIONS FOR LIVE MUSIC v SAID 0AUL +OTANKO DIRECTOR FOR THE !DVENTIST #HURCH S OPERATIONS IN -ONGOLIA 4HOUGH THE $ESCENDANTS ARE NEW TO THE CHURCH IN -ONGOLIA THIS YEAR THE CON CEPT ISN T NEW IN THE REGIONˆTHE SINGING GROUP IS MODELED AFTER THE 'OLDEN !NGELS AN EVANGELISM SUPPORTING MUSIC GROUP SPONSORED BY THE DENOMINATION S .ORTH ERN !SIA 0ACIlC REGION HEADQUARTERED IN )LSAN 'OYANG 3OUTH +OREA 4HE CHURCH IN -ONGOLIA A TERRITORY OF THAT REGION IS GROWING FAST #HURCH ADMINISTRATORS ARE CON
SIDERING PURCHASING LAND FOR A YOUTH TRAINING CENTER AND ARE NOW APPLYING TO THE GOVERNMENT TO REGISTER A SCHOOL WHICH WOULD BE THE lRST !DVENTIST OPERATED SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY #HRISTIANITY IS RELATIVELY NEW IN -ONGOLIA 4HE END OF SOCIALIST RULE IN OPENED THE COUNTRY TO PRACTICE RELIGIONˆABOUT HALF ARE "UDDHIST AND MORE THAN A QUARTER ARE ATHEIST 3HA MANISM BELIEFS ARE ALSO WIDESPREAD !DVENTIST MISSIONARIES lRST CAME TO -ONGOLIA IN 4HOUGH THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IS GROWING IN THE COUNTRY THERE ARE ONLY ESTABLISHED CONGREGATIONS 4HE $ESCENDANTS GROUP MAY EVENTUALLY EXHAUST RESOURCES AND EVANGELISM MEETINGS AT WHICH TO PERFORM 3TILL THE GROUP HAS AIDED CHURCH GROWTH LEADERS SAY AND HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHURCH S HEALTH AND CULTURAL OUTREACH $URING WEEKLONG EVANGELISM MEETINGS HEALTH CLASSES ARE LED BY ONE OF THE GROUP S MEMBERS WHO IS A MEDICAL STUDENT 3IMILARLY CHILDREN S CLASSES ARE LED BY THE FORMER CHILDREN S DIRECTOR FOR THE -ONGOLIA -ISSION /NSTAGE THE GROUP PERFORMS A MIX OF LOCALLY COMPOSED SONGS *APANESE SONGS AND RELIGIOUS SONGS 4HEY SING IN %NGLISH +OREAN *APANESE AND -ONGOLIAN
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h)T S A BIT OF A NOVELTY HERE TO HEAR A GROUP SING IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE v +OTANKO SAID h6ISITORS ARE IMPRESSED v -ANY -ONGOLIANS USED TO SPEAK +OREAN BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRY S PROX IMITY TO .ORTH +OREA +OTANKO SAID 4HE GROUP PERFORMS CLOSE TO HOME IN THE CAPITAL OF 5LAANBAATAR OR WILL DRIVE FOR TWO DAYS FOR A GIG 4HEIR RENTAL VAN RECENTLY BROKE DOWN TIMES ON THE MILE TRIP TO THE TOWN OF 'OBI !LTAI h"UT IT MADE FOR UNITY AND REMEMBRANCE OF OUR MISSION TRIP v SAID THE GROUP S DIRECTOR +ANG (A3HIK -ORE THAN PEOPLE ATTENDED THAT CONCERT +ANG SAID ˆ2EPORTED BY !NSEL /LIVER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR NEWS 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS
*OHN 'RAZ DIRECTOR OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE S $EPARTMENT OF 0UBLIC !FFAIRS AND 2ELIGIOUS ,IBERTY 'RAZ SAID THE LEGISLATION IS A TESTA MENT TO THE EFFORTS OF ALL DEFENDERS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN 0ERU 4HE COUNTRY S RELIGIOUS LIBERTY MOVEMENT HAS A LONG HISTORY MAKING THE CONTIN UED PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THERE AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT HE SAID ˆ!DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK
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4!.:!.)! !$2! 5 + 3UPPORTS PERSON BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF AND !LBINO #OMMUNITY RECOGNIZES RELIGIOUS PLURALISM ASSURING N 4HE !DVENTIST $EVELOPMENT AND THAT ALL FAITHS ENJOY THE SAME hRIGHTS OBLIGATIONS AND BENElTS v &LORIÕN ADDED 2ELIEF !GENCY !$2! IN THE 5NITED +INGDOM IS PROVIDING SUPPORT AND !DVENTIST #HURCH REPRESENTATIVES TRAINING FOR THE ALBINO COMMUNITY HAVE WORKED FOR BROADER RELIGIOUS IN 4ANZANIA WHICH FACES A LACK OF LIBERTY PROTECTIONS IN 0ERU FOR MORE EDUCATION SCARCE JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAN A DECADE MEETING WITH GOVERN 0%25 .EW ,AW 0ROTECTS MENT OFlCIALS AND FAITH REPRESENTATIVES AND SEGREGATION IN THE REGION 2ELIGIOUS &REEDOM ,AUNCHED IN $ECEMBER THE IN THE COUNTRY TWO YEAR 4ANZANIA !LBINO 3OCIETY N -EMBERS OF 0ERU S CONGRESS VOTED h7E ARE VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT RECENTLY TO APPROVE LEGISLATION GUARAN 3UPPORT AND %MPOWERMENT 0ROJECT OUR WORK MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN TEEING THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY OF ALL CITIZENS THE PASSAGE OF THIS HISTORIC LAW v SAID #ONTINUED NEXT PAGE A FREEDOM ALREADY RECOGNIZED BY THE 3OUTH !MERICAN COUNTRY S CONSTITUTION 4HE ACT S PASSAGE COMES A YEAR AFTER MORE THAN 0ERUVIANS GATHERED IN THE COUNTRY S CAPITAL ,IMA FOR A FESTIVAL IN SUPPORT OF BURGEONING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY THERE 4HE NEW LAW GUARANTEES FREE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EXERCISE OF RELIGION EXCEPT WHERE SUCH EXPRESSION INFRINGES ON THE FREEDOMS OR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF OTHERS OR WHERE PUBLIC ORDER OR WELFARE IS THREATENED RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ADVOCATES SAID 3PECIlCALLY THE ACT PROTECTS STUDENTS RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS AND REQUIRES STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO RESPECT THOSE "2!:), 3 3%-).!29 '2!$5!4%3 ,!2'%34 #,!33 %6%2 4HE LARGEST GRADUATING CONVICTIONS ASSURING THAT A STUDENT S CLASS EVER PRESENTED BY THE ,ATIN !MERICAN !DVENTIST 4HEOLOGICAL 3EMINARYn PRACTICE OF FAITH DOES NOT AFFECT HIS OR -ASTERS OF 4HEOLOGY CANDIDATESnASSEMBLED OUTSIDE THE CAMPUS CHURCH ON *ULY HER ACADEMIC GRADES SAID %DGARDO BEFORE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES 4WO OF THESE WERE PASTORS FROM !DVENTIST -UGUERZA &LORIÕN WHO DIRECTS 0UBLIC CONGREGATIONS IN !NGOLA !FRICA AND SEVEN OTHERS RECEIVED DOCTORAL DEGREES 4HE !FFAIRS AND 2ELIGIOUS ,IBERTY FOR THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH S 3OUTH !MERICAN $IVISION IS ONE OF THE FASTEST 3OUTH 0ERU 5NION -ISSION GROWING REGIONS IN THE WORLD CHURCH AND THE NEED FOR TRAINED WORKERS IS GREAT )T ALSO PROHIBITS ANY hACTION OR OMISSIONv DISCRIMINATING AGAINST A &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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#ONTINUED FROM PAGE 4!33%0 WORKS WITH THE REGION S ALBINO COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN NETWORKING ADVOCACY AND MANAGE MENT FROM THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN $AR ES 3ALAAM 4HE PROJECT FOLLOWS PREVIOUS PROJ ECTS BY !$2! 4ANZANIA INCLUDING THE DONATION OF SUN PROTECTION PRODUCTS PRESCRIPTION GLASSES AND TUITION SUPPORT FOR ALBINO STUDENTS !$2! OFlCIALS SAID A FOLLOW UP PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON MICROlNANCE AS WELL AS THE MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE ALBINO COMMUNITY !CROSS SUB 3AHARAN !FRICA DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ALBINOS IS ACCELERATING 3OCIAL STIGMA PHYSICAL VULNERABILITY TO THE SUN AND POOR EYESIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO MAKE THE ESTI MATED ALBINOS IN 4ANZANIA THE COUNTRY S MOST IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE GROUP !LBINOS REGULARLY FACE RIDICULE ISOLATION AND PHYSICAL THREATSˆSOME OF THEIR BODY PARTS ARE VALUED ON THE BLACK MARKET FOR USE IN WITCHCRAFT !$2! OFlCIALS SAID h4HE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL HAS NOT REACHED THE LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE ALL THE SAME WITH ONLY A DIFFERENCE IN SKIN PIGMENT v :ULFA A TEENAGED MEMBER OF 4ANZANIA S ALBINO COMMUNITY TOLD !$2! OFlCIALS h7E ALL HAVE THE SAME NEEDS 7E ARE ALL HUMAN v SHE SAID !S PART OF 4!33%0 VOLUNTEERS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM ADVOCACY GROUPS TO TRAVEL TO KEY LOCATIONS IN 4ANZANIA TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ALBINO COMMU NITY THROUGH PRESENTATIONS IN SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES 4HROUGH SONGS DRAMAS STORIES AND SPEECHES THE GROUPS WILL SEEK TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ALBINISM AND INCREASE SUPPORT FOR THE ALBINO COMMUNITY !$2! OFlCIALS SAID
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"Y !NSEL /LIVER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR NEWS 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS WRITING FROM ,AMBULING 4 BOLI 3OUTH #OTABATO 0HILIPPINES
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IRLS GET MARRIED AND HAVE CHILDREN YOUNG IN THIS RURAL HILLSIDE VILLAGE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH LEADERS HERE HOPE THAT TRADITION WILL CHANGE FOR SOME WITHIN A GENERATION 4HEIR EXPECTATION FOLLOWS A TWO YEAR TREND IN WHICH SEVERAL MINISTERS OF OTHER 0ROTESTANT FAITHS IN THE LUSH HIGHLAND FARMING VILLAGES HAVE CON VERTED TO THE !DVENTIST #HURCH -EMBERS WHO JOINED WITH THEM COULD GAIN ACCESS TO THE DENOMINATION S SCHOOLS IF SPONSORS CAN BE FOUND 3OON LOCAL FAMILIES COULD PUSH THEIR AND YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS TOWARD EDUCATION INSTEAD EARLY MARRIAGE !DVENTIST LEADERS SAY 4HOUGH IT HAS LIMITED RESOURCES THE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN THE SOUTHERN SECTION OF -INDANAO IS TRYING TO INCREASE SUPPORT OF NEW !DVENTIST CONGREGATIONS !CROSS THE TERRITORY OF THE DENOMINATION S 3OUTHERN -INDANAO -ISSION A REMARKABLE MINISTERS HAVE CONVERTED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THROUGH THE WORK OF !DVENTIST MIS SIONARIES AND LOCAL "IBLE WORKERS AS WELL AS FORMER CLASSMATES AND PROFESSORS WHO HAVE SINCE CONVERTED -OST SAY CHURCH DOCTRINES SUCH AS THE SEVENTH DAY 3ABBATH OBSERVANCE AND AN EMPHASIS ON HEALTHFUL LIVING CONVINCED THEM TO SWITCH -ANY MEMBERS OF THEIR FORMER CONGREGATIONS HAVE CONVERTED ALONG WITH THEMˆNEARLY ALL IN SOME CONGREGATIONS ABOUT HALF IN OTHERS -ORE COULD STILL CONVERT DEPENDING ON HOW THEY VIEW THE INTENTIONS OF THEIR NEW DENOMINATION !DVENTIST #HURCH LEADERS SAY h3OME SWITCHED IMMEDIATELY SOME TOOK THEIR TIME SOME ARE WAITING TO SEE IF THEY GET BENElTS OR IF THE MISSIONARIES ARE TRYING TO GET BENElTS FROM THEM v SAID 2OMULO 4UBALLES COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR FOR THE 3OUTHERN -INDANAO -ISSION A REGION HOME TO NEARLY MEMBERS
-ARRIAGES #LOCKWISE FROM LEFT ,)&%349,% #(!.'% 'IRLS IN THE 4 BOLI HILLSIDE REGION OF 3OUTH #OTABATO IN THE 0HILIPPINES TYPICALLY MARRY AT AGES TO AND SOON BEGIN HAVING CHILDREN !DVENTIST LEADERS HOPE NEWLY CONVERTED MEMBERS WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THEIR PASTOR TO THE !DVENTIST FAITH WILL PUSH THEIR DAUGHTERS TOWARD EDUCATION INSTEAD OF EARLY MARRIAGE 2%&/2-!4)/. 4HE ,AM BULING CHURCH WAS A 0ENTECOSTAL CONGREGATION UNTIL IT BECAME AN !DVENTIST CHURCH AT THE URGING OF ITS RECENTLY CONVERTED MINISTER -OST CHURCHES IN THE RURAL HILLSIDES OF THE 4 BOLI REGION ARE MADE OF BAM BOO THATCH WALLS "539 0!34/2 7ILLIAM 'ALAGNARA OVERSEES CHURCHES IN THE ,AKE 3EBU DISTRICT OF THE !DVENTIST #HURCH S 3OUTHERN -INDANAO -ISSION (E IS ONE OF 0ROTESTANT MINISTERS THERE WHO HAVE CONVERTED TO THE !DVENTIST FAITH IN RECENT YEARS
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/THER RELIGIOUS GROUPS HAVE PREVIOUSLY COME THROUGH THE 4 BOLI REGION MAKING PROMISES OF SUPPORT THAT NEVER CAME HE SAID h7E AREN T MAKING BIG PROMISES v 4UBALLES SAID 3TILL LEADERS HAVE INFORMED CONGREGATIONS HERE OF A PROPOSED "IBLE SCHOOL FOR LAY PREACHERS -OST PASTORS HERE LIKE THEIR MEMBERS ARE CORN FARMERS 4HE DENOMINATION DOESN T WANT TO CREATE DEPENDENCY BUT 4UBALLES SAYS HE ALSO HOPES TO AID NEW PASTORS AND MEMBERS IN MORE PRACTICAL WAYS SUCH AS PROVIDING SOME BASIC FARMING TOOLS h4HEIR HOPE COULD GET STRONGER BECAUSE THEY KNOW SOMEONE CARES v 4UBALLES SAID DURING A MINUTE HIKE DOWN A STEEP NARROW DIRT PATH BACK TO HIS VEHICLE ALONG THE MAIN ROAD ONE RECENT 3ABBATH MORNING (E HAD JUST VISITED A THATCH ROOFED CHURCH FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE ITS ROUGHLY MEMBERS BECAME !DVENTISTS IN 3EPTEMBER 4HE TREND OF MINISTERS lNDING THE !DVENTIST FAITH IS ALSO SEEN AROUND ,AKE 3EBU ABOUT MILES AWAY ! DAY EARLIER SEVERAL RECENTLY CONVERTED !DVENTIST MINISTERS MET FOR MINISTERIAL TRAINING AT A CHURCH IN THE DISTRICT /NE OF THOSE MINISTERS WAS !RVIN $ULAY WHO ESTABLISHED CONGREGA TIONS FOR /NE 7AY /UTREACH A CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENT $ULAY SAID HIS FRIENDS WERE SURPRISED WHEN HE BECAME AN !DVENTIST ASKING h7HY v (E TOLD THEM HE SAW MORE BIBLICAL TRUTH IN THE !DVENTIST #HURCH AFTER HAVING BEEN VISITED BY A MISSIONARY AND STUDYING THE "IBLE WITH A LOCAL LAY MEMBER AFTERWARD &IVE OTHER MINISTERS BECAME !DVENTIST ALONG WITH HIM HE SAID %LIZAR , !BAS A FORMER "APTIST MINISTER BECAME AN !DVENTIST IN !UGUST &OR YEARS HE HAD READ BOOKS WRITTEN BY !DVENTIST #HURCH COFOUNDER %LLEN 7HITE ABOUT HEALTH AND FAMILY LIFE (E IS ONE OF SEVERAL NEW !DVENTIST MINISTERS SERVING IN THE NEARBY PROVINCE OF .ORTH #OTABATO -ISSION PRESIDENT 2OGER #ADERMA HAS IMPLEMENTED A GOAL OF AT LEAST ONE BAPTISM A MONTH FOR EACH OF THE PAS TORS WORKING FOR THE MISSION 4HE BIGGEST RECENT INCREASES IN MEMBERSHIP THOUGH ARE THE RESULT OF WORK DONE YEARS PREVIOUSLY AS MEMBERS OF OTHER CONGREGATIONS FOLLOW THEIR MINISTER INTO THE !DVENTIST FAITH h)T S AMAZINGˆWE RE BAPTIZING HERE BY CHURCH NOT JUST INDIVIDUALLY v #ADERMA SAID 4HE CHILDREN OF MANY NEW MEMBERS COULD SOON HAVE THE CHANCE TO ATTEND -ATUTUM 6IEW !CADEMY IN THE TOWN OF 4UPI 4HE BOARDING SCHOOL IS NAMED AFTER THE NEARBY MOUNTAIN WHICH LOOMS ABOVE THE SURROUNDING PINEAPPLE lELDS AND PALM TREES 3EVERAL HUNDRED STUDENTS FROM lVE TRIBES ATTEND THE SCHOOL AND NEARLY HALF RECEIVE SIGNIlCANT TUITION ASSISTANCE WITH A WORK STUDY PROGRAM &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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MAGINE MILES OF BOOKSHELVES 4HE ,IBRARY OF #ONGRESS IN THE 5NITED 3TATES IS THE LARGEST LIBRARY IN THE WORLD WITH NEARLY MILLION ITEMS ON THOSE MILES OF BOOKSHELVES 4HE COLLECTIONS INCLUDE
THROUGH TO US AND COMMUNICATES (IS EAGERNESS TO SAVE US h!LL 3CRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF 'ODv 4IM )T WAS 'OD WHO INSPIRED THE BIBLICAL AUTHORS 4HEY IN TURN WROTE IN HUMAN LANGUAGE
'OD WAS AND IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE TRANSMISSION OF (IS 7ORD "IBLICAL AUTHORS WERE MOVED LONG AGO BY THE (OLY 3PIRIT TO WRITE SEE 0ETER !ND THE SAME 3PIRIT THAT THE INSPIRED THE "IBLE NEEDS TO BE WITH US AS WE
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MORE THAN MILLION BOOKS 7HILE MANY OF THE BOOKS HAVE BEEN INmUENTIAL NO BOOK HAS BEEN AS INmUENTIAL AS THE "IBLE )T S A BOOK THAT HAS BEEN LOVED AND HATED 4HROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HUMAN HISTORY AND AGAINST RELENTLESS ATTACKS IT HAS BEEN MIRACULOUSLY PRESERVED 7HILE THE "IBLE HAS GREATLY INmU ENCED POLITICAL AND CULTURAL THOUGHT ITS UNIQUENESS COMES FROM ITS SOURCE AND SUBJECT MATTER )T IS 'OD S REVELA TION 4HROUGH THE "IBLE 'OD BREAKS
4ED . # 7ILSON IS PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD WIDE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
4HE "IBLE IS NOT A COLLECTION OF hCUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLESv 0ETER 4HE MANY FULlLLED PROPHECIES DEMONSTRATE THE "IBLE S RELIABILITY AND CONlRM THE TRUSTWORTHINESS AND RELIABILITY OF THE 3CRIPTURES AS THE INFALLIBLE REVELATION OF 'OD S WILL )N SPITE OF ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY IT THE "IBLE HAS BEEN PRESERVED WITH AMAZ ING ACCURACY ! 1UESTION OF !UTHORITY
0ERHAPS THE MAIN REASON MANY DO NOT ACCEPT THE "IBLE AS 'OD S )NSPIRED 7ORD IS BECAUSE THEY WOULD THEN HAVE TO ACCEPT THE AUTHORITY OF THE "IBLE IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES 4HE 3CRIPTURES HAVE DIVINE AUTHORITY BECAUSE IN THEM 'OD SPEAKS THROUGH THE (OLY 3PIRIT
READ IT TODAY 7ITHOUT THE (OLY 3PIRIT S ILLUMINATION OF OUR MINDS WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE "IBLE OR EVEN ACKNOWL EDGE IT AS 'OD S AUTHORITATIVE WILL !CCEPTING THAT 'OD WAS AND IS ACTIVELY COMMUNICATING THROUGH (IS 7ORD GIVES THE "IBLE AUTHORITY )T BECOMES THE lNAL AUTHORITY ON ALL MATTERS OF BELIEF AND OF LIFESTYLE 7E CANNOT LET SCIENTIlC AND SOCIOCULTURAL FORCES DICTATE WHAT THE "IBLE CAN MEAN 4HE APOSTLE 0AUL S WORDS ARE AS RELEVANT TODAY AS WHEN HE lRST WROTE TO THE BELIEVERS IN 2OME NEARLY YEARS AGO h$O NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF 'ODv 2OM
3OME PEOPLE WHILE ACCEPTING THE "IBLE AS THE 7ORD OF 'OD TAKE ISSUE WITH WHETHER THE WHOLE "IBLE IS INSPIRED !PPLYING DIFFERENT CRITERIA THEY CLAIM THAT SOME PARTS OF THE "IBLE ARE NOT INSPIRED OR NOT AS INSPIRED AS OTHERS
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RLD )N MANY #HRISTIAN CIRCLES THIS CRITICISM OF THE "IBLE HAS REDUCED THE AUTHORITY OF THE "IBLE TO A BARE MINIMUM OR NULLIlED IT ALTOGETHER )N EFFECT 'OD S COMMUNICATION WITH HUMAN BEINGS HAS TO A LARGE EXTENT BEEN MUTED 4HE TOOLS OR METHODS GENERALLY APPLIED TO LITERATURE ARE INSUFlCIENT WITH WHICH TO APPROACH THE "IBLE 4HE "IBLE IS SUPERIOR TO ALL HUMAN WISDOM AND LITERATURE )T IS THE NORM BY WHICH ALL OTHER IDEAS OR METHODS MUST BE TESTED 2ATHER THAN JUDGING THE "IBLE EVERYTHING WILL BE JUDGED BY IT FOR IT IS THE STANDARD OF CHARACTER AND TEST OF ALL EXPERIENCE AND THOUGHT SEE #OR #OR 7E 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS ACCEPT THE "IBLE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL OUR
BELIEFS AND SEE IN ITS PAGES OUR UNIQUE PROPHETIC IDENTITY AND MISSION 7E MUST RESIST THE SUBTLE AND NOT SO SUBTLE WAYS IN WHICH THE DEVIL SEEKS TO DISTANCE US FROM THE "IBLE AND A PLAIN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT 'OD HAS SAID IS TRUE 7E MUST TAKE ALL THE "IBLE AS AUTHORITATIVE FOR HOW CAN WE TRUST #HRIST AS 2EDEEMER IF WE DOUBT (IM AS #REATOR /R HOW CAN WE TRUST THE IMPLICIT BIBLICAL STATEMENTS ABOUT THE LITERAL 3ECOND #OMING IF WE DOUBT THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT OF A SIX DAY CREATION IN ITS PLAIN LITERAL SENSE 7E NEED TO
FACE OUR EVERYDAY CHALLENGES WITH THE SAME SOLID CONlDENCE THAT *ESUS HAD IN THE 7ORD WHEN CONFRONTED BY THE TEMPTER SEE -ATT %LLEN ' 7HITE WROTE THAT hWE MUST BE CAREFUL LEST WE MISINTERPRET THE 3CRIPTURES 4HE PLAIN TEACHINGS OF THE 7ORD OF 'OD ARE NOT TO BE SO SPIRITUALIZED THAT THE REALITY IS LOST SIGHT OF $O NOT OVERSTRAIN THE MEANING OF SENTENCES IN THE "IBLE IN AN EFFORT TO BRING FORTH SOMETHING ODD IN ORDER TO PLEASE THE FANCY 4AKE THE 3CRIPTURES AS THEY READv 3ELECTED -ESSAGES BOOK P
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!CCEPTING THE "IBLE S AUTHORITY INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST BELIEVING THAT THE "IBLE IS TRUE 4HE 7ORD OF 'OD IS A POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN US AND OUR #REATOR *UST AS WE CANNOT HAVE A LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE IN THEORY SO WE CANNOT ACCEPT THE "IBLE S AUTHORITY IN THEORY AND NOT IN
LIVE IT TEACH IT AND PREACH IT WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR AND THOSE WHO LET OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND OUR LIVES TOGETHER BE SHAPED BY ITS CLEAR AND COMPELLING TRUTHS /NE OF THE IMPORTANT OBJEC TIVES OF %LLEN 7HITE S WRITINGS WAS TO ENCOURAGE US TO MORE AVID "IBLE STUDY 3HE WROTE h4HE "IBLE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED TO EVERYONEˆTO EVERY CLASS
%VEN AMID THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE WORLD AROUND US WE CAN REST WITH ABSOLUTE CONlDENCE ON THE UNCHANGING WORDS OF 'OD PRACTICE !S WE SEE THAT 'OD S DIVINE AUTHORITY IS BASED ON LOVE AND TRUTH IT MUST ELICIT A RESPONSE OF LOVE FAITH AND WILLING OBEDIENCE IN US %ARLY 0ROTESTANT 2EFORMERS BELIEVED THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF READING AND STUDYING THE "IBLE FOR THEMSELVES ,UTHER 7YCLIFFE AND MANY OTHERS WERE WILLING TO RISK THEIR LIVES IN ORDER TO TRANSLATE THE "IBLE INTO LANGUAGES PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND 4HEY UNDERSTOOD THAT IN ORDER FOR THE "IBLE TO HAVE ANY EFFECT IT MUST NOT JUST BE SPOKEN ABOUT BUT ACTUALLY BE STUDIED 4HE POWER PROMISED IN ITS PAGES WILL BE POURED OUT ONLY ON THOSE OF US WHO READ IT
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
OF SOCIETY TO THOSE OF EVERY CLIME AND AGE 4HE DUTY OF EVERY INTELLIGENT PERSON IS TO SEARCH THE 3CRIPTURESv 3IGNS OF THE 4IMES !UG ! 3OLID !NCHOR
/UR ENVIRONMENT IS MARKED BY INSTABILITY $ESTRUCTIVE EVENTS IN NATURE ARE INCREASING IN FREQUENCY AND INTEN SITY 4HERE IS GREAT CONFUSION IN POLITICS AS WORLD ECONOMIES DO NOT MAKE THE PREDICTED RECOVERIES 2AMPANT CRIME IS ON THE RISE 3OCIETAL AND FAMILY VALUES ARE DISINTEGRATING (OW WE COPE WITH THESE SITUATIONS HAS MUCH TO DO WITH OUR QUALITY OF LIFE WITH PERSONAL SATIS FACTION AS WELL AS OUR ETERNAL DESTINY
7HEN WE ACCEPT THE "IBLE AS AN AUTHORITATIVE MESSAGE FROM 'OD WE ARE PROVIDED WITH A SOURCE OF STABILIZA TION THAT BRINGS MEANING TO OUR LIVES 7E SEE THAT 'OD IS ACTIVE NOT ONLY IN THE GOVERNING OF THE UNIVERSE BUT ALSO IN OUR DAILY LIVES !S WE LOOK AWAY FROM THE CHAOS AND CONTRADICTIONS OF LIFE AROUND US AND TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK INTO 'OD S 7ORD WE UNDERSTAND OURSELVES AND OUR GLORIOUS DESTINY )N THE "IBLE WE lND SECURITY IN KNOWING THAT OUR WORTH RESTS ON OUR CREATION AND REDEMPTION BY #HRIST 'OD S 7ORD IS AUTHORITATIVE FOR THE CHURCH AND ITS PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD "UT MORE IMPORTANT IT IS AUTHORITATIVE FOR MY LIFE -Y BELIEF IN A PERSONAL 'OD IS FORMED BY MY UNDERSTANDING OF 'OD S INCREDIBLE LOVE FOR US ) CAN TRUST 'OD TO DO EXACTLY WHAT (E SAYS (E WILL DO IN MY LIFE ACCORDING TO (IS 7RITTEN 7ORD ) CAN COUNT ON IT AND ) BELIEVE IT )T S A GREAT BLESSING TO KNOW THAT EVEN AMID THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE WORLD AROUND US WE CAN REST WITH ABSOLUTE CONlDENCE ON THE UNCHANG ING 7ORD OF 'OD 4HE READING OF THE "IBLE UNDER THE DIRECTION AND INSPIRA TION OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT WILL REVIVE US AND REFORM US ,ET US AS 'OD S PEOPLE PLACE OURSELVES INDIVIDUALLY AND CORPORATELY UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF hTHE AUTHOR AND lNISHER OF OUR FAITHv (EB ,ET US COVENANT TO READ (IS 7ORD DAILY !S WE DO THIS WE WILL DISCOVER A NEW POWER IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES THAT WILL ENERGIZE AND EMPOWER US TO PROCLAIM EAGERLY THE GOOD NEWS THAT THE CHAOS UNCERTAINTY FEAR AND PAIN WILL NOT GO ON FOREVER 3OON *ESUS WILL COME 3OON THERE WILL BE A hNEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTHv 2EV IN WHICH hTHERE WILL BE NO MORE DEATH OR MOURNING OR CRYING OR PAINv VERSE .)6 7HAT A BLESSING THAT WE CAN RELY COMPLETELY ON A PLAIN READING OF THE AUTHORITATIVE 7ORD OF 'OD
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)T SEEMS THAT NEW VACCINES ARE BEING DEVELOPED AND RECOMMENDED ALL THE TIME ) GET THE FEELING THAT THEY AREN T NEARLY AS NECESSARY AS DOCTORS MAKE THEM OUT TO BE 7HAT S YOUR OPINION ISEASE IS MISERABLE )T COMES IN AS MANY FORMS AS THERE ARE PATHOGENS AND TISSUES AND ORGANS THAT CAN BE AFFECTED BY IT 3OME DISEASES REMAIN MYSTERIES OTHERS ARE WELL UNDERSTOOD BUT POORLY MANAGED &OR
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CURBED BACTERIAL INFECTIONS 3ANITATION HAS AVOIDED THE INDISCRIMINATE SPREAD OF DISEASE 4HE USE OF VACCINES HAS REDUCED THE TOLL OF VIRAL ILLNESS -ANY PEOPLE SUCH AS THOSE WHO REFUSE TO WASH THEIR HANDS AFTER USING THE TOILET CAN POSE A RISK TO THEMSELVES BUT MORE SO TO OTHERS WHEN THEY REFUSE IMMUNIZATION )T S FOOLISH TO CLAIM IMMUNIZATION IS THE lNAL ANSWER BUT WHEN A SHINGLES VACCINE REDUCES AN OLDER PERSON S RISK BY PERCENT THAT S SIGNIlCANT
)N !FRICA SEVERE DIARRHEA HAS BEEN A MAJOR KILLER OF INFANTS FOR DECADES TUNATELY THE DEFENSE SYSTEMS BUILT INTO OUR PHYSIOLOGY WORK REMARKABLY WELL ,IKE MOST THINGS HOWEVER THEY ARE IMPERFECT IN THE FACE OF DISEASE CAUS ING AGENTS 7HILE CANCER AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS AND DEGENERATIVE PROCESSES ARE STILL POORLY CONTROLLED INFECTIOUS DISORDERS ARE BETTER MANAGED %VEN AS RECENTLY AS A FEW DECADES AGO INFEC TIOUS AGENTS KILLED FAR MORE PEOPLE THAN THEY DO TODAY 0EOPLE OVER THE AGE OF MAY REMEMBER THE HORRORS OF POLIO THE MISERY OF MEASLES THE DREAD OF DYSENTERY THE MENACE OF MENINGITIS AND THE DAMAGED BABIES THAT RESULTED FROM RUBELLA -UCH HAS CHANGED !NTIBIOTICS HAVE $ ! . ) % , 7 ! ( , % .
!N EXAMPLE OF SUCH PROTECTION IS THAT SEEN WITH A HUMAN ROTAVIRUS VACCINE )N !FRICA SEVERE DIARRHEA HAS BEEN A MAJOR KILLER OF INFANTS FOR DECADES )T WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR KILLERS OF BOTTLE FED BABIES WHO STOOD A FOUR lFTHS CHANCE OF DYING BEFORE REACHING YEAR OF AGE 9ET EVEN BREAST FED BABIES DIED IN FAR HIGHER PROPORTIONS THAN DID BABIES IN THE 5NITED +INGDOM OR %UROPE 4HE CAUSE IN MANY CASES WAS A VIRUS CALLED HUMAN ROTAVIRUS ! VACCINE WAS RECENTLY TESTED AGAINST THIS VIRUS IN -ALAWI AND 3OUTH !FRICA .EARLY INFANTS WERE DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS /NE GROUP WAS GIVEN A PLACEBO THE
OTHER TWO GROUPS WERE GIVEN ROTAVIRUS VACCINE IN VARYING AMOUNTS 3EVERE GASTROENTERITIS OCCURRED IN PERCENT OF THE PLACEBO GROUP AND IN ONLY PERCENT OF THE IMMUNIZED INFANTS 0EOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT VACCINES THINK OF ADVERSE EFFECTS 4HESE OCCURRED IN PERCENT OF THE VACCINATED GROUP BUT ALSO IN PERCENT OF THE PLACEBO GROUP 4HIS MEANS THAT WHAT ARE CALLED hADVERSEv EFFECTS ARE OFTEN JUST COINCIDENTAL EVENTS ASCRIBED TO THE VACCINE BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE IN THE UNVACCINATED GROUP 4HE PERCENT REDUCTION SHOWN IN THIS STUDY WHEN MULTIPLIED BY THE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN WHO GET ROTAVIRUS RELATED DIARRHEA TRANSLATES INTO MILLIONS OF CHILDREN WHO WERE SAVED THE MISERY AND POSSIBLE DEATH CAUSED BY THE DISEASE !S HEALTH PROMOTERS THIS STUDY DESERVES OUR ATTENTION
3TATISTICAL INFORMATION TAKEN FROM 3HABIR ! -ADHI ET AL h%FFECT OF (UMAN 2OTAVIRUS 6ACCINE ON 3EVERE $IARRHEA IN !FRICAN )NFANTS v .EW %NGLAND *OURNAL OF -EDICINE .%*- ORG *ANUARY
!LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES - " #H " &2#0# &2#3# &!#/' IS DIRECTOR OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT 0ETER . ,ANDLESS - " " #H - -ED & # 0 3! & ! # # IS )#0! EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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VER THE PAST FEW MONTHS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE ) HAVE BEEN GRAPPLING WITH THE ISSUE OF 'OD S WILL FOR MY LIFE 4HERE ARE TWO REASONS FOR THIS &IRST ) AM RIGHT NOW AT A CROSSROAD IN MY CAREER ) DON T KNOW WHETHER IT IS 'OD S WILL FOR ME TO KEEP SERVING IN THE PLACE WHERE ) CURRENTLY LIVE OR IF ) SHOULD MOVE ON !ND IF IT WOULD BE 'OD S WILL FOR ME TO MOVE ON WHERE WOULD (E WANT ME TO GO 7ORK IN ANOTHER PLACE OR GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR FURTHER STUDIES 3ECOND A CLOSE FRIENDSHIP THAT ) HAD TREASURED FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THAT SEEMED TO BE 'OD S WILL FOR MY LIFE FELL APART )T LEFT ME CONFUSED ABOUT ALL THOSE TIMES ) WAS SO CONVINCED THAT IT WAS 'OD S WILL FOR ME TO STAY IN IT $OES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR
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"Y /BED /NYIEGO 3OIRE
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) AM LIKE ANY #HRISTIAN WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO 'OD S WILL WHICH IS FOLLOWING 0AUL hGOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECTv 2OM )N HIS BOOK 4HE -YSTERY OF 'OD S 7ILL #HARLES 3WINDOLL POINTS OUT THAT hIN OUR MOST THOUGHTFUL MATURE MOMENTS WE WANT TO DO (IS WILL v 3O THE ISSUE FOR ME HAS NOT BEEN WHETHER OR NOT ) WANT TO DO 'OD S WILL THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HOW DO ) KNOW IT WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY 4HIS CAN BE A VERY BROAD AND DAUNTING SUBJECT 3IMILAR TO MY OWN QUESTIONS SOME ARE INTERESTED IN KNOWING 'OD S WILL AS THEY CHOOSE A CAREER /THERS ASK FOR 'OD S WILL AS THEY THINK ABOUT MARRIAGE AND A LIFE PARTNER (OWEVER ) WISH TO FOCUS ON HOW #HRISTIANS CAN UNDERSTAND 'OD S WILL FOR THEIR LIVES IN BROADER TERMS 7HAT DOES IT REALLY TAKE IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN !ND DISCLAIMER lRST THIS ARTICLE WILL NOT ANSWER ALL OUR QUESTIONS RELATED TO lNDING 'OD S WILL BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ALWAYS STRAIGHTFORWARD ANSWERS
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
3TARTING THE 3EARCH
3CRIPTURE PROVIDES MANY REFERENCES REGARDING THE QUES TION OF UNDERSTANDING 'OD S WILL FOR OUR LIVES &OR THIS ARTICLE ) WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THE PERSPECTIVE THAT 2OMANS BRINGS TO THE DISCUSSION 7HILE IT IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE OR SYSTEMATIC DISCUSSION IT IS NONETHELESS A GOOD STARTING POINT 4HROUGH 2OMANS ) HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE A SUSTAINED GENUINE CONVERSION EXPERI ENCE BEFORE WE CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND 'OD S WILL 4HIS CONTINUOUS CONVERSION EXPERIENCE OUGHT TO BE FACILITATED BY FULLY ENGAGING OUR 'OD GIVEN GIFTS IN MINISTRY 2OMANS PARTICULARLY THE lRST TWO VERSES IS A VERY FAMILIAR CHAPTER TO MANY 0AUL OFFERS TWO IMPORTANT KEYS TO DISCOVERING 'OD S WILL (E STARTS OFF BY INVITING HIS READERS TO hPRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIlCE HOLY ACCEPTABLE TO 'OD WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICEv VERSE (AVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT 0AUL MEANT HERE !S YOU READ THE ENTIRE CHAPTER YOU WILL DISCOVER 0AUL IS TALKING ABOUT USING 0 ( / 4 / 3 " 9 ,/ - ! , ) . $ ! 5 . ) 6 % 2 3 ) 4 9 ! . $ 5 . ) / . # / , , % ' %
BEING A CATERPILLAR TO BEING A MATURE BUTTERmY OUR MINDS NEED TO GO THROUGH A SIMILAR CHANGE 4HIS HAPPENS AS WE ENGAGE OUR 'OD GIVEN TALENTS AND GIFTS IN SERVICE )T IS HARD TO IMAGINE WELL BALANCED #HRISTIAN GROWTH WITHOUT USING OUR TALENTS AND GIFTS FOR 'OD )N THE %PISTLE TO THE %PHESIANS WHILE ADDRESSING THE SUBJECT OF USING SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN RELATION TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH 0AUL SOUGHT TO EMPHASIZE THIS FACT WHEN HE WROTE h!ND (E (IMSELF GAVE SOME TO BE APOSTLES SOME PROPHETS SOME EVANGELISTS AND SOME PASTORS AND TEACHERS TILL WE ALL COME TO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE 3ON OF 'OD TO A PERFECT MAN TO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF #HRISTv %PH )N SUMMARY 'OD S WILL IS REVEALED TO THOSE WHO ARE GROWING SPIRITUALLY IN #HRIST THROUGH THE USE OF THEIR 'OD GIVEN SPIRITUAL GIFTS 3PIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING TAKES PLACE IN ACTION !CTION PRODUCES THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH THAT IS NEEDED TO RECOGNIZE SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 2EALLY ,IVING
TALENTS AND GIFTS THAT 'OD HAS GIVEN US &ROM VERSES TO HE ADMONISHES THE CHURCH TO ACCEPT THE DIVERSITY OF THE GIFTS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND TO USE THEM IN LOVE (E WRITES h(AVING THEN GIFTS DIFFERING ACCORDING TO THE GRACE THAT IS GIVEN TO US LET US USE THEM IN PROPORTION TO OUR FAITHv VERSE 4HEREFORE WHILE WE ARE WAITING TO DISCOVER 'OD S WILL FOR OUR LIVES WE SHOULD NOT STOP USING OUR 'OD GIVEN TALENTS AND GIFTS TO ADVANCE (IS KINGDOM AND FOR (IS GLORY 'OD S WILL IS NOT REVEALED TO THOSE WHO SIT AND WAIT 2ATHER IT IS REVEALED TO THOSE WHO ARE ACTIVE IN MINISTRY AND PUTTING TO USE THOSE GIFTS THAT 'OD HAS GIVEN THEM 3WINDOLL AFlRMS THIS SUGGESTING THAT hFOLLOWING THE WILL OF 'OD REQUIRES FAITH AND ACTION v %LLEN 7HITE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THIS IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE STATING THAT hACTION PERVADES THE WHOLE CREATION AND IN ORDER TO FULlLL OUR MISSION WE TOO MUST BE ACTIVE v 3ECOND ONCE WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED IN (IS SERVICE IT IS IN THIS COMMITMENT THAT WE EXPERIENCE A SUSTAINED CONVERSION THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR MINDS FOR 0AUL CONTINUES h!ND DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF 'ODv VERSE 4HE PHRASE hTHAT YOU MAY PROVEv SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT A CONDITION HAS TO BE FULlLLED IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO HAPPEN 4HE 'REEK WORD THAT 0AUL USES FOR hTRANSFORMEDv IS METAMORPHOO FROM WHICH WE GET THE WORD hMETAMOR PHOSIS v 4HIS TERM IMPLIES A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE .OT ONE THAT IS SUPERlCIAL BUT ONE THAT AFFECTS THE PERSON COMPLETELY !CCORDING TO 0AUL WE GET TO PROVE OR KNOW THE WILL OF 'OD AFTER WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED *UST AS A BUTTERmY GOES THROUGH A METAMORPHOSIS FROM
) REMEMBER A PROGRAM ON (OPE #HANNEL CALLED 2EALLY ,IVING 4HE PROGRAM FEATURED A COUPLE WHO AT THAT TIME WAS SERVING IN AN !FRICAN COUNTRY AS MEDICAL MISSIONARIES ) MAY NOT REMEMBER ALL THE DETAILS OF THEIR STORY BUT WHAT CERTAINLY STUCK WITH ME WAS THE FACT THAT THEY BOTH MET THERE AS SINGLES ANSWERING A CALL OF 'OD IN THEIR LIVES 4HEY NOT ONLY ANSWERED 'OD S CALL BUT ALSO FOUND A SUITABLE MARRIAGE PARTNER IN THE PROCESS 7HILE THEY MAY HAVE HAD CULTURAL DIFFERENCES SHE WAS FROM %UROPE AND HE WAS FROM THE 5 3 ! THEY CERTAINLY FOUND A LOT IN COMMON BY THE MERE FACT THAT THEY BOTH HAD SHARED INTERESTS AND A SIMILAR DIVINE CALLING 4HIS CERTAINLY MAY NOT BE THE EXPERIENCE OF EVERY #HRISTIAN BUT IT MAY WELL SERVE AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE WHO lND 'OD S WILL WHILE ACTIVELY USING THEIR GIFTS !S YOU SEEK TO KNOW 'OD S WILL THERE IS ONE QUESTION YOU NEED TO ASKˆAT LEAST ACCORDING TO 2OMANS !RE YOU GROW ING IN #HRIST THROUGH FULLY UTILIZING THE GIFTS THAT 'OD HAS GIVEN YOU NOW WHILE YOU SEEK (IS WILL FOR YOUR LIFE
#HARLES 2 3WINDOLL 4HE -YSTERY OF 'OD S 7ILL .ASHVILLE 4HOMAS .ELSON )NC P )BID P %LLEN ' 7HITE %DUCATION P
/BED /NYIEGO 3OIRE ORIGINALLY FROM +ENYA WAS WORKING AS AN %NGLISH TEACHER IN *APAN WHILE WRITING THIS ARTICLE (E IS A VOLUNTEER YOUTH PASTOR IN #OFFS (ARBOUR 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH !USTRALIA &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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COULDN T BELIEVE WHAT ) WAS READ ING 7HY 3UDAN !FTER NINE YEARS OF SERVING AS THE !DVENTIST $EVEL OPMENT AND 2ELIEF !GENCY !$2! COUNTRY DIRECTOR IN -ONGOLIA ) WAS BEING REASSIGNED TO 3UDAN -Y YEARS IN -ONGOLIA HAD RUSHED BY AND ) D GROWN CONTENT WITH THE LONG COLD WINTERS AND THE SHORT COOL SUMMERS 3O DESPITE THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES THAT DAY ) BROKE OUT INTO A SWEAT AS ) READ h7E HAVE GIVEN IT CAREFUL THOUGHT AND PRAYER AND BELIEVE THAT 3UDAN WILL BE A GOOD lT FOR YOUR STRENGTHS v $ID THEY NOT KNOW THAT ) WAS JUST AN OLD FARMER 4HEY WERE PUTTING ME IN CHARGE OF EMPLOYEES 4HERE WOULD BE ALMOST VEHICLES TO CARE FOR !ND THE TEMPERATURE COULD RISE AS HIGH AS —# —& WHEN ) WAS USED TO IT GOING DOWN TO n —# n —& ) lNALLY REMEMBERED HOWEVER THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH 'OD SO ) TRUSTED (IS LEADING AND ACCEPTED THE REASSIGNMENT TO 3UDAN
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-Y WIFE 2ENEE AND ) ARRIVED IN +HARTOUM 3UDAN S CAPITAL WITH FEELINGS OF FEAR AND TREPIDATION 7E SOON ADJUSTED WELL TO OUR NEW HOME HOWEVER AND VERY EARLY EACH MORNING WE NOW AWAKE TO THE BEAUTIFUL -USLIM CALL TO PRAYER WE HEAR DRIFTING FROM AREA MOSQUES 4HESE CALLS TO PRAYER THROUGHOUT THE DAY REMIND US OF OUR NEED FOR GRACE WHILE SERVING 'OD IN 3UDANˆTHE LARGEST COUNTRY IN !FRICA AND A LAND OF DESERTS WARS AND SOAR ING TEMPERATURES 4HE 7ORK "EGINS
$ARFUR COMPRISES THREE PROVINCES ON 3UDAN S WESTERN BORDER !$2! IS WORKING IN 7EST $ARFUR WHERE THE CAPITAL CITY IS %L 'ENEINA 4HIS IS OFTEN THE LEAST STABLE PROVINCE ON THE BORDER WITH #HAD /N MY lRST TRIP TO THE !$2!
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lELD OFlCE THERE ) NOTED SEVERAL SIGNS OF WAR SUCH AS THE CAMOUmAGE MILITARY UNIFORMS WORN BY SOLDIERS ON THE AIRPORT RUNWAY S PERIMETER 4HE !$2! OFlCE BUILDING IS SITUATED BEHIND TALL WALLS WITH WIRE AND BROKEN GLASS CEMENTED INTO THE WALL TOPS 4HE METAL GATE IS CLOSED AT ALL TIMES 'UARDS ARE ALWAYS ON DUTY !$2! S PROGRAM IN $ARFUR INVOLVES THE HELP OF THE RURAL COMMU NITIES IN SOLVING HEALTH FOOD WATER
AND SANITATION CHALLENGES )N ORDER TO DRILL WELLS A DRILLING RIG MOUNTED ON THE BACK OF A TRUCK IS COUPLED WITH A COMPRESSOR MOUNTED ON ITS OWN TRUCK 4HE DRILL RODS CASINGS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT ARE CARRIED ON YET ANOTHER VEHICLE 7E RE ALSO ACTIVE IN DRILLING AND RESTORING WELLS IN AREAS WHERE )$0S INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS LIVE IN MAKESHIFT HOMES !$2! THEN TRAINS WELL MANAGERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ) - ! ' % 3 # / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & ! $ 2 !
MAINTAIN THE WELLS 7HAT JOY THERE IS WITH EVERY COMPLETED WELL 7ATER IS INDEED LIFE IN THIS HARSH ENVIRONMENT #ONTENDING 7ITH 6IOLENCE
#ARJACKINGS ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY AND !$2! 3UDAN HAS NOT BEEN EXEMPT ! TRUCK CARRYING A COMPRES SOR WAS STOLEN THEN FOUND SEVERAL MONTHS LATERˆMINUS THE ENGINE 4HE COMPRESSOR WAS SAFE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN WELDED ONTO THE TRUCK BED !NOTHER TIME THE ,AND #RUISER DRIVER CAME FACE TO FACE WITH A GROUP OF !+ WIELDING MEN WHO STOLE THE VEHICLE 4HE MILITARY WAS CALLED IN 4HEY FOUND THE ,AND #RUISER AND RETRIEVED ITˆAMID GUNlREˆON THE #HADIAN BORDER 3ADLY THE ,AND #RUISER AGAIN WAS TAKEN AND HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND /FTEN THESE STOLEN TRUCKS ARE TURNED INTO COMBAT VEHICLES !T NIGHT IN THE SMALL !$2! COMPOUND STAFF MEMBERS GATHER UNDER THE THATCHED ROOF SHELTER TO SHARE THE EVENING MEAL 3OMETIMES RAPID lRE GUNSHOTS CAN BE HEARD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS VIOLENCE BREAKS OUT )N THESE TENSE TIMES WE GAIN IMMENSE COMFORT FROM THE STORY OF %LISHA PRAYING FOR THE OPENING OF HIS ATTENDANT S EYES TO SEE THE ARMY OF 'OD ON THE HILLS SURROUNDING THEM 4O HIS ATTENDANT S QUESTION h7HAT SHALL WE DO v %LISHA ANSWERED h$ON T BE AFRAID 4HOSE WHO ARE WITH US ARE MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE WITH THEMv +INGS
$ESERT &ARMING IN THE 3AHARA
4HE LITTLE KNOWN STRONG (AWAWIR TRIBE LIVING IN THE DRY 3AHARA REGION OF THE NORTHERN STATE OF 3UDAN AT 5M *AWASIR WAS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE DROUGHT OF -OST OF THE TRIBESPEOPLE S WELLS HAD DRIED UP AND MANY HERDERS HAD LOST ALL THEIR ANIMALS 4HE GOVERNMENT BROUGHT THE PITIFUL CONDITION OF THESE HERDERS TO THE ATTEN TION OF !$2! 7ITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
!$2! .ORWAY AND .ORAD .ORWEGIAN !GENCY FOR $EVELOPMENT #OOPERA TION !$2! 3UDAN lRST DRILLED FOUR WELLS 4WELVE MORE WELLSˆDRILLED INTO A LARGE UNDERGROUND AQUIFERˆHAVE SINCE FOLLOWED $ESERTIlCATION DURING THE DROUGHT YEARS DECIMATED THE NATURAL INDIGE NOUS GRASSES OF THE DESERT SURROUNDING THE MEMBERS OF THE (AWAWIR TRIBE LIV ING ALONG THE -UGADDAM 7ADI A DRY RIVERBED 4HAT REGION HAS AN AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL OF MILLIMETERS INCHES 4HE NIGHTS ARE COLD n —# OR —& BUT IN SUMMER THE DAYS ARE UNBEARABLY HOT —# OR —& 3HIFTING SANDS BLOWN BY DESERT WINDS KEEP MOVING ACROSS THE DRY BARREN AREA WHERE THE PROJECT IS IMPLEMENTED "UT WITH WELLS PUMPING WATER TO HECTARES ACRES OF IRRIGATED LAND AN AMAZING TRANSFORMATION HAS TAKEN PLACE "ECAUSE THE lELDS ARE NOW IRRIGATED CROPS OF WHEAT BROAD BEANS FENUGREEK ONIONS AND OKRA mOURISH ) RECENTLY VISITED THE PROJECT SITE LOCATED KILOMETERS MILES NORTH OF +HARTOUM TO SEE THE CHANGES THIS PROJECT HAS BROUGHT %IGHTEEN YEARS AGO ) M TOLD HERDERS WALKED UP TO A SHINY !$2! VEHICLE AND STROKED IT WITH AWE 4ODAY THE ONCE TIMID HERD ERS ARE ABLE TO OVERHAUL ENGINES REPAIR WELLS AND WELD THEIR OWN IMPLEMENTS 3OON WHEN A NEW GOVERNMENT HYDROELECTRIC SCHEME IS COMPLETED ON THE .ILE 2IVER A TRANSFORMER WILL BE SET UP TO STEP DOWN POWER FROM THE PASSING POWER LINES SO THESE HERDERS CAN USE ELECTRIC PUMPS TO LIFT WATER TO THE SURFACE FOR IRRIGATION 4HIS WILL CUT THE MAJOR COSTS OF RUNNING THE DIESEL ENGINES THAT CURRENTLY OPERATE THE MASSIVE PUMPS .EVER ENDING 0ROJECTS
7ITH EVERY PROJECT !$2! EMPLOYS A HOST OF OTHER INTERVEN TIONS ARE ALSO NEEDED %DUCATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CHILDREN LIVING IN THE
ISOLATED SAND DUNES SO !$2! HAS ESTABLISHED A SCHOOL 4RADITIONALLY GIRLS MARRY AT AN EARLY AGE AND ONLY BOYS ARE EDUCATED 4HIS MIND SET IS SLOWLY CHANGING THOUGH AND GIRLS ARE NOW ATTENDING SCHOOL /THER PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED ARE LITERACY TRAINING AND ADULT EDUCATION WHICH GO HAND IN HAND WITH LEARNING TO OPERATE SMALL BUSINESSES #OUPLED WITH THIS ARE HEALTH AND HYGIENE TRAINING AND A WOMEN S FORUM IN WHICH ISSUES PERTINENT TO QUALITY OF LIFE CAN BE DISCUSSED !$2! ALSO CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THE HARMFUL PRACTICES OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AND DISCOURAGES EARLY MARRIAGE ! 3UCCESS 3TORY
) MET !LI DURING ONE OF MY VISITS TO THE PROJECT (E HAD BEGUN FARMING IN THE AREA BUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF WORKING HIS PIECE OF LAND HE BECAME DISCOURAGED AND QUIT (E THEN BEGAN HERDING GOATS AND CAMELS /NE EVE NING !LEX THE !$2! PROJECT MANAGER VISITED !LI AND NOTICED THAT HE HAD BOUGHT TWO BAGS OF ALFALFA FROM THE IRRIGATION FARMERS TO FEED HIS ANIMALS 7HEN !LEX EXPLAINED HOW MUCH MONEY !LI COULD SAVE BY GROWING HIS OWN ALFALFA !LI DECIDED TO GO BACK TO THE PROJECT WITH !LEX AND FARM ALFALFA 2ECENTLY ) SPOKE TO !LI AND ASKED HIM WHETHER AFTER A FEW SUCCESSFUL YEARS OF GROWING HIS OWN CROPS HE WAS THERE TO STAY (E SAID h%VEN IF YOU OFFER ME A WHOLE HERD OF ANIMALS ) WILL NEVER GIVE UP MY IRRIGATION LAND v )N 0SALM THE QUESTION IS ASKED h#AN 'OD SPREAD A TABLE IN THE DESERT v 4HE ANSWER FOLLOWS IN THE NEXT VERSE h(E STRUCK THE ROCK WATER GUSHED OUT AND STREAMS mOWED ABUNDANTLYv VERSE
"IBLE VERSES ARE QUOTED FROM THE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION
,LEWELLYN *UBY IS COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR !$2! 3UDAN
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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4HE JOY OF CHANGING LIVES
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ORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY BEFORE THE YOUNG 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH SENT OUT ITS lRST OFlCIAL MISSIONARY IN THE !MERICAN POET *AMES 2USSELL ,OWELL ANNOUNCED A MISSIONARY ETHIC THAT EARLY WORKED ITS WAY INTO THE FABRIC OF !DVENTIST WITNESS AND EVANGELISM h.OT WHAT WE GIVE BUT WHAT WE SHARE v 4EN YEARS BEFORE *OHN .EVINS !NDREWS AND HIS TEENAGE DAUGHTER AND SON SAILED FROM "OSTON -ASSACHUSETTS TO LAUNCH AN !DVENTIST MAGAZINE IN %UROPE (ANNAH -ORE A LAY MISSIONARY WHO HAD READ HERSELF INTO !DVENTISM PLANTED CONGREGATIONS OF 3ABBATHKEEPERS ON THE WEST COAST OF !FRICA ! YEAR LATER A FORMER #ATHOLIC PRIEST -ICHAEL #ZECHOWSKI FOUND SPONSORS AND TRAVELED TO NORTHERN )TALY PREACHING IN THE 7ALDENSIAN VILLAGES NEAR THE 3WISS BORDER AND IN 4URIN -ILAN "ERGAMO AND 6ENICE (IS TIRELESS BUT UNOFlCIAL EFFORTS PRODUCED THE lRST BAPTIZED 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS ON THAT CONTINENT AND LED DIRECTLY TO THE EARLIEST !DVENTIST CONGREGATIONS IN 3WITZERLANDˆWHICH WELCOMED !NDREWS WHEN HE ARRIVED YEARS LATER .O HISTORY OF !DVENTIST WITNESS AND MISSION IS EVER COMPLETE UNLESS IT TELLS MORE THAN THE STORY OF THOSE OFlCIALLY SPONSORED AND EMPLOYED TO PREACH THE THREE ANGELS MESSAGES 4HE SUCCESS OF !DVENTIST EVANGELISM CAN T BE MEASURED ONLY IN THE SIZE OF ANNUAL OFFERINGS OR EVEN
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
SACRIl CIAL GIVING )T S NOT THE SENDING OF TALENTED OTHERS TO TELL THE STORY OF *ESUS THAT MARKS US AS BELIEVERS BUT THE IMPRINT OF THE GOSPEL IN THE SHARED CONVERSATIONS OF DAILY LIFE THAT ILLUSTRATES HOW DEEPLY THE GOOD NEWS HAS PENETRATED OUR OWN LIVES )T S NOT JUST WHAT WE GIVE TO *ESUS BUT WHAT WE SHARE ABOUT *ESUS THAT BEST PERSUADES AN OPEN HEART TO CONSIDER (IS CLAIMS h%VERY MEMBER SHOULD BE A CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH 'OD CAN COMMUNICATE TO THE WORLD THE TREASURES OF (IS GRACE THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF #HRIST v WROTE %LLEN 7HITE EXACTLY A CENTURY AGO h4HERE IS NOTHING THAT THE 3AVIOUR DESIRES SO MUCH AS AGENTS WHO WILL REPRESENT TO THE WORLD (IS 3PIRIT AND (IS CHARACTER 4HERE IS NOTHING THAT THE WORLD NEEDS SO MUCH AS THE MANIFESTATION THROUGH HUMANITY OF THE 3AVIOUR S LOVE v 7ITNESS IS THE IMPULSE OF EVERY REGENERATED HEART EVEN IF THE TONGUE IS NOT TRAINED AND THE WORDS AT lRST SEEM HALTING h&OR TOO LONG AND IN TOO MANY PLACES THE MISSION OF THE !DVENTIST #HURCH HAS BEEN TIED TO THOSE OFlCIALLY EMPLOYED AND PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED FOR THAT JOB v SAYS 2OBERT &OLKENBERG 3R DIRECTOR OF 3HARE(IM A MINISTRY OF THE #AROLINA #ONFERENCE AND ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST INTERNATIONAL EVANGELISTIC MINISTRIES OPERATED BY 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS h!S A PEOPLE WE VE LEARNED TO PUT OUR EFFORT INTO WHAT SEEM TO BE ONLY THOROUGHLY SAFE EVENTS EVEN THOUGH THEY DON T YIELD THE HARVEST 'OD INTENDS FOR THESE LAST DAYS 7E MEASURE SUCCESS BY THE USUAL QUANTIlERSˆATTENDANCE BAPTISMSˆINSTEAD OF MEASURING MISSION SUCCESS THE WAY 'OD DOES BY THE CONSISTENCY AND CONTINUITY OF OUR INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS v &OLKENBERG PUNCHES THE AIR PASSIONATELY AS HE DESCRIBES THE WORK HE IS STILL ENGAGED IN AT AN AGE WHEN MANY LONG SERVING CHURCH LEADERS HAVE RETIRED ! FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE &OLKENBERG LAUNCHED THE 3HARE(IM ORGANIZATION THEN KNOWN AS 'LOBAL %VANGELISM IN AS A WAY TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE LAY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHURCH S EVANGELISTIC INITIATIVES +NOWN
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FOR HIS WARM OUTGOING MANNER AND BOOMING VOICE &OLKEN BERG LED THE CHURCH DURING ONE OF THE MOST RAPID GROWTH CURVES IN ITS YEAR HISTORY 'LOBAL MEMBERSHIP WAS MILLION WHEN &OLKENBERG WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD CHURCH IN *ULY AND STOOD AT MORE THAN MILLION WHEN HE LEFT THE OFlCE IN &EBRUARY AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN PERCENT 4HAT IMPRESSIVE RECORD MIGHT HAVE BEEN SATISFYING TO OTHER LEADERS BUT NOT TO &OLKENBERG h4HE MAKING OF DISCIPLES WHICH IS WHAT *ESUS SAYS IS OUR PRIMARY MISSION ISN T COMPLETE UNTIL THOSE DISCIPLES ARE MAKING OTHER DISCIPLES v &OLKENBERG SAYS THOUGHTFULLY h!DDING TO THE CHURCH NUMERICALLY ONLY REALLY COUNTS IF YOU RE ALSO REBUILDING THE MEN AND WOMEN ALREADY IN THE CHURCH INTO THE KIND OF DISCIPLES WHO SHARE *ESUS IN THEIR EVERYDAY RELATIONSHIPS AND THUS WIN NEW DISCIPLES !S LONG AS WE RE WINNING NEW CONVERTS WHO BELIEVE THAT IT S THE PASTOR S JOB OR THE EVANGELIST S JOB TO GO OUT AND WITNESS TO OTHERS WE HAVEN T MADE MUCH HEADWAY IN OUR MISSION v $ESCRIBING THE SPRAWLING MULTINATIONAL 3HARE(IM MINISTRY AS A VAST hLABORATORY v &OLKENBERG FREELY ADMITS THAT HE HAS LEARNED MUCH ABOUT WITNESSING AND MISSION SINCE LEAVING THE DENOMINATION S TOP LEADERSHIP POSITION MORE THAN A DECADE AGO h,EARNING HOW TO REALLY MOTIVATE AND EQUIP LAY MEM BERS FOR EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND SOUL WINNING TOOK A WHILE v HE SAYS WITH A RUEFUL SMILE h)T WASN T SOME INSTANT REVELATION LET ME TELL YOU -Y ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT SOME THINGS WERE COMPLETELY WRONG ) ASSUMED THAT IF YOU TAKE A LAYPERSON FROM .ORTH !MERICA OR 7ESTERN %UROPE OR !USTRALIA AND GIVE THEM A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE IN ACTUALLY DOING EVANGELISM IN !FRICA OR #ENTRAL !MERICA THEY LL COME HOME AND MAKE IT HAPPEN RIGHT WHERE THEY LIVE "UT THAT S NOT WHAT HAPPENS IN TOO MANY PLACES THEY COME HOME AFTER A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE OF PREACHING THE GOS PEL TO HUNGRY PEOPLE TO SIT IN A CHURCH THAT FEELS COMPLETELY UNLIKE THE PLACE THEY JUST VISITED !ND THE lRE THAT BURNED IN THEM WHILE THEY WERE PREACHING SLOWLY DIES AWAY v "EGINNING IN THE 3HARE(IM MINISTRY BEGAN A CONSCIOUS FOCUS ON REMOVING THE OBSTACLES AND THE EXCUSES THAT FREQUENTLY KEEP LAYPERSONS FROM INVOLVING
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!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
TIONSvˆINCLUDING THE %PISCOPALIAN AND "APTIST CHURCHES -ORMONISM AND *EHOVAH S 7ITNESSES BEFORE lNALLY lNDING THE TRUTH FOR WHICH SHE HAD BEEN SEARCHING )NTERESTED IN "IBLE PROPHECY 6ANESSA WAS PRAYING FOR HELP IN UNDERSTANDING ITS MYSTERIES WHEN A BROCHURE ARRIVED IN HER MAILBOX INVITING HER TO A PROPHECY SEMI NAR BY ,EO 3CHREVEN h)T WAS AN ANSWER TO PRAYER v 6ANESSA REMEMBERS !FTER ATTENDING THE lRST NIGHT 6ANESSA INVITED HER HUSBAND TO JOIN HER h3OON WE REALIZED THAT WHAT WE WERE LEARNING WAS COMING STRAIGHT FROM THE "IBLE 7E FOUND OUT THAT *ESUS WAS COMING AGAIN AND WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SEAL OF THE 3ABBATH 7E COULD SEE THAT THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH FOLLOWED THE "IBLE ACCURATELY v 6ANESSA AND 2ON DECIDED TO BE BAPTIZED TOGETHER ON !PRIL /VER THE NEXT SIX YEARS THEY CONTINUED TO GROW IN FAITH AND IN THEY DECIDED THAT 'OD WAS CALLING THEM TO A SPECIAL MINISTRY 3ELLING EVERYTHING THE FAMILY WHICH
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,OCAL CONGREGATIONS ARE URGED TO AUTHORIZE AND EMPOWER THEIR OWN EVANGELISTIC TEAMS TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT AN ONGOING YEAR ROUND SYSTEM OF hEVANGELIVING v RESERVING ONLY lNANCIAL DECISIONS FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH BOARD h7E TELL CONFERENCE LEADERS AND EVANGELISM COORDINATORS TO NOT POUR LOTS OF MONEY ON LOCAL EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES v SAYS &OLKENBERG WITH A GRIN h0LEASE DON T KILL EVANGELISM BY PAYING FOR IT v h7E RE ALSO WORKING TO HELP MEMBERS AND PASTORS DEVELOP A BROADER VISION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES EVANGELISM v SAYS *EREMIAH 7EEKS 3HARE(IM S ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR 4HROUGH ITS hMAKING KINGDOM FRIENDSv APPROACH 3HARE
(IM EQUIPS PASTORS TO TRAIN MEMBERS IN GROWING LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNBELIEVERS THAT ALLOW FAITH TO EMERGE IN NATURAL UNHURRIED WAYS h%VANGELISM INVOLVES MESSAGE AND RELATIONSHIP BOTH ELEMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL !ND WHILE SOME CONGREGATIONS HAVE FELT CONlDENT SHARING A MESSAGE MANY STRUGGLE WITH BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS 3INCE RELATION SHIPS GROW THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES EATING LUNCH WITH A COLLEAGUE HELPING A NEIGHBOR WITH A PROJECT OR EVEN PLAYING GOLF WITH SOMEONE CAN BE A STEP TOWARD LEADING THAT PERSON TO A SAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH *ESUS #HRIST v !S CHURCH MEMBERS BUILD FRIENDSHIPS WITH NON BELIEVERS THEY DOCUMENT THEIR PROGRESS AND SHARE THEIR
,/#!, -%-"%23 6ANESSA WITH MEMBERS OF THE 3ANTANA FAMILY WHO ASSISTED WITH MEETINGS IN THEIR LOCAL CHURCH IN THE $OMINICAN 2EPUBLIC NOW INCLUDED THREE YOUNG CHILDREN MOVED TO -ICHIGAN WHERE 2ON STUDIED AT THE 3EV ENTH DAY !DVENTIST 4HEOLOGICAL 3EMINARY AT !NDREWS 5NIVERSITY 7HILE ATTENDING THE NEARBY &ILIPINO !MERICAN !DVENTIST #HURCH 6ANESSA HEARD ABOUT OUTREACH OPPORTUNI TIES SPONSORED BY 3HARE(IM AND 1UIET (OURS INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EVANGELISM PROGRAM h!FTER MY OWN EXPERIENCE OF SEARCHING FOR YEARS BEFORE lNALLY HEARING THE EXCITING TRUTH OF 'OD S PEOPLE ) WANTED SO MUCH TO SHARE *ESUS AND BE PART OF THE GOSPEL COMMISSION v SHE RECALLS 3OON 6ANESSA WAS INVITED TO BE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS WITH A TEAM OF !NDREWS 5NIVERSITY STUDENTS GOING TO :IMBABWE h) KNEW ) WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS )
FELT SO UNWORTHY HAVING ONLY SOME COLLEGE EDUCATION "UT ) REALIZED IT WASN T ABOUT ME IT WAS ALL ABOUT *ESUS AND HOW (E SAVED ME AND ) WANTED TO SHARE THAT STORY WITH OTHERS v 3INCE THAT lRST TRIP TO :IMBABWE IN 6ANESSA HAS PARTICIPATED IN SIX DIFFERENT 3HARE(IM PROGRAMS RANGING FROM PRESENT ING SEMINARS IN "ENIN THE $OMINICAN 2EPUBLIC AND )NDIA TO WORKING WITH A MEDICAL MISSION AND 6ACATION "IBLE 3CHOOL IN &IJI )N ADDITION 6ANESSA HAS FOUND THAT PARTICIPATING IN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS HAS GIVEN HER THE COURAGE TO SHARE IN HER HOME STATE OF (AWAII LEADING OUT IN VARIOUS MEET INGS AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH 3HARE(IM PROGRAMS 4HERE HAVE BEEN TIMES 6ANESSA
ADMITS WHEN SHE HAS FACED DISCOURAGE MENT PARTICULARLY WHEN FACING CENSURE FROM THOSE LESS SUPPORTIVE OF HER PARTICI PATING IN INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH h-Y DAD SAID THAT WE ;2ON AND 6ANESSA= SHOULD USE OUR MONEY IN OTHER WAYS AND EVEN SOMEONE FROM MY CHURCH TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY v .EVERTHELESS 6ANESSA CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD IN HER DETERMINATION TO SHARE WITH OTHERS HOW *ESUS HAS LED IN HER LIFE AND THE GOOD NEWS OF (IS SOON RETURN h4HESE EXPERIENCES HAVE AFFECTED MY SPIRITUAL LIFE TREMENDOUSLY v SAYS 6ANESSA h) KNOW THAT ) CAN REACH OUT TO OTHERS THROUGH MY SIMPLE LOVE OF SHARING *ESUS TO KEEP (IS COMMANDMENTS IN MY HEART AND TO FOLLOW WHEREVER (E LEADS ME THROUGH MY FAITH IN (IM v $URING HER lVE YEARS OF INVOLVEMENT 6ANESSA HAS APPRECIATED THE SUPPORT GIVEN BY 3HARE(IM PROVIDING SERMONS AND OTHER MATERIALS ALONG WITH ENCOURAGING TEAM MEMBERS AND SUPPORT STAFF AT EACH SITE WHO HELP PRESENTERS CONNECT WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE &OR THOSE CONSIDERING OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES 6ANESSA IS STRAIGHTFORWARD h'O AND BE A LIVING SCRIPTURE &OLLOW YOUR HEART S COMPELLING DESIRE TO SHARE *ESUS 0RAY AND ASK (IM TO HELP YOU 9OU HAVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE THAT SOMEONE IS WAITING TO HEAR AND WANTS TO BELIEVE $ON T BE AFRAIDˆIF SOMEONE LIKE ME CAN DO IT YOU CAN DO IT TOO v
&EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29 EXPERIENCES WITH OTHER MEMBERS WEEK BY WEEK IN 3ABBATH SCHOOLS OR SMALL GROUPS h3HARING STORIES BUILDS ENTHUSIASM v SAYS 7EEKS h)T ENCOURAGES MEMBERS AS THEY RECOGNIZE THE PROGRESS THEY RE MAKING AND HELPS NURTURE AN OUTWARD FOCUSED EVANGELISTIC CULTURE v /UT REACH TEAMS ALSO USE THE PLANNING TOOLS OFFERED BY 3HARE(IM TO PUT hGET TO KNOW YOU ACTIVITIESv AND hREAPING EVENTSv ON THE CHURCH S CALENDARˆ THEN INVITE THEIR NEW FRIENDS TO JOIN THEM h4HE ,ORD IS CONSTANTLY OPENING DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS FOR (IM v 7EEKS SAYS h)T S NOT BY CHANCE OR BY ACCIDENT THAT WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORS COWORKERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WE DO 4HE QUESTION IS WHAT WE WILL DO WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES (E PROVIDES 3HARE(IM IS ALL ABOUT TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF MAKING DISCIPLES *ESUS DIDN T CALL US TO A COMPLEX TECHNICAL ASSIGN MENT (E CALLED US TO UTILIZE THE RELATIONSHIPS ALL AROUND US TO INVITED PEOPLE TO ACCEPT (IM AS 3AVIOR AND ,ORD v -ANY CHURCH ENTITIES HAVE PARTNERED WITH 3HARE(IM TO PROVIDE MOTIVATION TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR NEW OUTREACH BY LAYPERSONS )N ITS lRST YEARS OF OPERATION 3HARE(IM HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF LAY !DVENTISTS TO PREACH HUNDREDS OF SMALL TO MIDSIZE EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGNS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONALLY 4HIRTY NINE CONFERENCES IN THE 5NITED 3TATES HAVE FORMAL AGREEMENTS WITH 3HARE(IM AS DO CONFERENCES IN )TALY 'ERMANY !USTRIA $ENMARK AND (ONDURAS ! TOTAL OF EVANGELISTIC OR hREAPINGv CAMPAIGNS WERE COORDINATED BY 3HARE(IM INTERNATIONALLY DURING ANOTHER ARE ALREADY PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR )NTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN SITES IN INCLUDE LOCATIONS IN )NDIA THE 0HILIP PINES #UBA %L 3ALVADOR #OLOMBIA .ICARAGUA #OSTA 2ICA -ADAGASCAR THE $OMINICAN 2EPUBLIC -ALAYSIA (ONDURAS THE $EMOCRATIC 2EPUBLIC OF THE #ONGO -ALAWI +ENYA )NDONESIA :AMBIA AND :IMBABWE #OLLEGE STUDENT LED CAMPAIGNS JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE 1UIET (OUR MINISTRIES TOTALED MORE THAN FROM TO WITH THOUSANDS OF !DVENTIST YOUNG ADULTS FACULTY AND STAFF PARTICIPATING FROM !DVENTIST CAMPUSES ACROSS .ORTH !MERICA %UROPE !SIA 3OUTH !MERICA AND THE 3OUTH 0ACIlC h4HE ,ORD HAS COMMISSIONED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO SHARE THE PEACE AND HOPE WE HAVE IN (IM v SAYS 7EEKS h4HE WORK (E HAS TASKED US WITH NEEDN T BE DAUNTING OR SCARY BUT IT DOES REQUIRE A CHANGE IN OUR PRIORITIES IT TAKES TIME AND EFFORT -OST OF ALL IT TAKES A 'OD GIVEN PASSION FOR PEOPLE (E CAN GIVE US THAT PASSION !ND WITH (IS LEADING WE CANNOT FAIL v
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0ASTOR *AMES 6OLPE IS EXCITED TO SEE THE IMPACT THAT 3HARE(IM PROGRAMS ARE HAVING IN HIS THREE CHURCH DISTRICT IN 7EST 6IRGINIA %NCOURAGING MEMBER PARTICIPATION IN SIX 3HARE(IM PROGRAMS HAS BEEN REVITALIZING FOR THE CHURCH MEMBERS HE EXPLAINS h4HE CHALLENGE WE FACE IN OUR AREA IS COMMUNITY PASTORS TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO STUDY THE "IBLE WITH 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS SO ATTENDANCE CAN BE A CHALLENGE "UT THE POSITIVE SIDE IS THAT OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE LED OUT IN MEETINGS HAVE GROWN TO APPRECIATE OUR MESSAGE ALL THE MORE AND HAVE BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITY v 3TEVE AND 2EGINA "OYCE WHO WERE BAPTIZED BY 0ASTOR 6OLPE JUST TWO YEARS AGO PRESENTED A THREE WEEK 3HARE(IM SERIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO PRESENTING MORE MEETINGS IN THEIR AREA 4HEY ARE PRESENTLY INVOLVED IN GIVING "IBLE STUDIES IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING MEETINGS *ONATHAN 'REGG ANOTHER CHURCH MEMBER WAS A POPULAR HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WHEN HE DECIDED TO HOLD A 3HARE(IM SERIES IN A ROOM AT HIS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL "EING VERY ACTIVE IN SPORTS ACA DEMICS AND MUSIC *ONATHAN INVITED HIS FRIENDS TO THE MEETINGS AND PRESENTED EVERY OTHER NIGHT ALTERNATING WITH 0ASTOR 6OLPE FOR THE EVENING SERIES 7HILE NO BAPTISMS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED *ONATHAN GAVE EXCELLENT PRESENTATIONS AND IS THANKFUL TO HAVE GIVEN THE SERIES AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL (E HAS SINCE GRADUATED AND ATTENDS (AMPDEN 3YDNEY #OLLEGE IN 6IRGINIA AN UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION WHERE THE MOTTO IS h!ND THE 4RUTH 3HALL 3ET 9OU &REE v h) BELIEVE THAT ANYTIME YOU PUT YOURSELF IN A PLACE TO SHARE THE MESSAGE YOU ARE GOING TO BE BLESSED SPIRITUALLY v SAYS 0ASTOR 6OLPE &OR THOSE CONSIDERING BECOMING INVOLVED WITH 3HARE(IM HE URGES h'ET INVOLVED )T WILL NOT HURT YOU 7E NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN WHILE WE CAN WHEN WE CAN WHERE WE CAN v
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4HOSE WHOM #HRIST HAS CONNECTED WITH HIMSELF WILL AS FAR AS IN THEM LIES LABOR DILIGENTLY AND PERSEVERINGLY AS (E LABORED TO SAVE SOULS WHO ARE PERISHING AROUND THEM ! 7ORKING #HURCH 'ROWS
! WORKING CHURCH WILL EVER BE A GROWING CHURCH 4HEY WILL EVER lND A
)NSTEAD OF OUR MINISTERING BRETH REN LABOURING AMONG THE CHURCHES 'OD DESIGNS THAT WE SHOULD SPREAD ABROAD AND OUR MISSIONARY LABOR BE EXTENDED OVER AS MUCH GROUND AS WE CAN POSSIBLY OCCUPY TO ADVANTAGE GOING IN EVERY DIRECTION TO RAISE UP NEW COMPANIES !S LONG AS CHURCHES RELY UPON LABOURERS FROM ABROAD
-ISSIONARIES FOR
4ODAY "Y %LLEN ' 7HITE
4
HE CAUSE OF PRESENT TRUTH CAN BE GREATLY EXTENDED BY PERSONAL EFFORT !S CHILDREN OF 'OD NONE OF US ARE EXCUSED FROM TAKING A PART IN THE GREAT WORK OF #HRIST IN THE SALVATION OF OUR FELLOW MEN !LL MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE #HRISTIANS IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD SHOULD BE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD OF THE ,ORD 'OD WORKS WITH OUR EFFORTS 7E MAY CLOSE THE WAY FOR SINNERS BY OUR NEGLIGENCE AND SELlSHNESS 7E SHOULD NOT HOLD OURSELVES ALOOF FROM OUR FELLOW MEN BUT COME CLOSE TO THEM FOR THEIR SOULS ARE AS PRECIOUS AS OUR OWN -ISSIONARIES FOR 'OD ARE WANTED FAITHFUL MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL NOT SHIRK RESPONSIBILITY *UDICIOUS LABOR WILL ACCOMPLISH GOOD RESULTS $ ! . ) % , * 7 ! ( , % . 0 ( / 4 / ' 2 ! 0 ( 9
STIMULUS AND A TONIC IN TRYING TO HELP OTHERS AND IN DOING IT THEY WILL BE STRENGTHENED AND ENCOURAGED 3ATAN IS NOW SEEKING TO HOLD 'OD S PEOPLE IN A STATE OF INACTIVITY TO KEEP THEM FROM ACTING THEIR PART IN SPREAD ING THE TRUTH THAT THEY MAY AT LAST BE WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE AND FOUND WANTING 7E ARE ANSWERABLE TO 'OD FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WITH WHOM WE ARE BROUGHT IN CONTACT AND THE CLOSER OUR CONNECTIONS WITH OUR FELLOW MEN THE GREATER OUR RESPONSIBILITY %VERY OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE IMPROVED TO EXTEND THE TRUTH TO OTHER NATIONS 4HIS WILL BE ATTENDED BY CON SIDERABLE EXPENSES BUT EXPENSE SHOULD IN NO CASE HINDER THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS WORK 4HE ,ORD HAS LENT MEN MEANS FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE TO USE IN SENDING THE TRUTH TO THEIR FELLOW MEN
TO STRENGTHEN AND ENCOURAGE THEIR FAITH THEY WILL NOT BECOME STRONG IN THEMSELVES 4HEY SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED THAT THEIR STRENGTH WILL INCREASE IN PRO PORTION TO THEIR PERSONAL EFFORTS 4HE MORE CLOSELY THE .EW 4ESTAMENT PLANS ARE FOLLOWED IN MISSIONARY LABOUR THE MORE SUCCESSFUL WILL BE THE EFFORTS PUT FORTH
4HIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS h9E 3HALL "E 7ITNESSES 5NTO -Ev IN THE *UNE ISSUE OF 4HE !DVANCE A QUAR TERLY PERIODICAL PRINTED IN .EW :EALAND 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS BELIEVE THAT %LLEN ' 7HITE EXERCISED THE BIBLICAL GIFT OF PROPHECY DURING MORE THAN YEARS OF PUBLIC MINISTRY
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7HAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED 7HEN ) WAS YEARS OLD ) WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN MY PARENTS BOUGHT ME A SAXOPHONE %VERY DAY ) LOOKED FOR WARD TO PLAYING IT "UT ) SOON REALIZED THAT THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT GIFTS TIME RELATIONSHIPS AND LOVE FOR EXAMPLE ,ATER STILL ) LEARNED THAT IT CAN BE EVEN MORE SATISFYING TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE A PRINCIPLE THAT *ESUS (IMSELF TAUGHT !CTS 3CRIPTURE TELLS US THAT 'OD MADE EVERYTHING AND THAT (E OWNS EVERYTHING h4HE EARTH IS THE ,ORD S AND EVERYTHING IN IT THE WORLD AND ALL WHO LIVE IN ITv 0S 4HE AMAZING THING IS THAT (E HAS PUT US IN CHARGE OF CARING FOR THE WORLD SEE 'EN AND 'OD HAS ASKED US TO BE STEW ARDS OR MANAGERS OF (IS PROPERTY )N "IBLE TIMES A STEWARD WOULD MANAGE THE POSSESSIONS OF HIS MASTER E G *OSEPH FOR 0OTIPHAR IN 'EN (OWEVER 'OD IS DIFFERENT FROM AN EARTHLY MASTER IN THAT (E SHARES (IS POSSESSIONS WITH US FOR WE ARE PART OF THE FAMILY OF 'OD CF *OHN -ANY PEOPLE ASSOCIATE THE TERM hSTEWARDSHIPv WITH TITHE AND OFFERINGS "UT THAT IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF ITS MEANING 3TEWARDSHIP IS LIVING THE BIBLICAL LIFE FULLY *ESUS CALLS EACH FOLLOWER TO LOVE 'OD WITH ALL HIS HEART SOUL STRENGTH AND MIND ,UKE !S WE RESPOND TO
0HILIP 2ODIONOFF LIVES ON THE 'OLD #OAST IN !USTRALIA (E IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR WHO HAS A -ASTER S DEGREE IN RELIGION FROM !NDREWS 5NI VERSITY AND CONDUCTS SEMINARS ON EVIDENCES FOR THE #HRISTIAN FAITH
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
'OD S LOVE WE ARE MOTIVATED TO SEE HOW MUCH NOT HOW LITTLE WE CAN DO 7HEN WE CONSIDER WHAT 'OD HAS DONE FOR US WE WANT TO RESPOND TO (IS LOVE BY SERVING (IM WITH ALL THAT WE HAVE INCLUDING OUR TIME TALENTS AND MONEY
!PPLYING THE 0RINCIPLE OF 3TEWARDSHIP
4HE PRINCIPLE OF STEWARDSHIP INTERACTS WITH MANY ASPECTS OF OUR CALLING AND PURPOSE IN #HRIST *ESUS 4HE FOLLOWING ARE SOME KEY AREAS 4IME 'OD CALLS US TO CONSIDER OUR PRIORITIES 4HIS INCLUDES OUR USE OF TIME ,IFE CAN TOO EASILY BECOME A SERIES OF DISTRACTIONS (OW DO WE ENSURE THAT OUR LIVES MAKE A DIFFERENCE RATHER THAN BEING SQUANDERED ON THE TRIVIAL AND UNIMPORTANT "ELIEVERS ARE MOTIVATED TO SPEND TIME ON 'OD S PRIORI TIES AND OPPORTUNITIES h"E VERY CAREFUL THEN HOW YOU LIVE NOT AS UNWISE BUT AS WISE MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL 4HEREFORE DO NOT BE FOOLISH BUT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ,ORD S WILL ISv %PH SEE ALSO #OL 4ALENTS !BILITIES AND )NTELLIGENCE %VERY PERSON HAS TALENTS SKILLS AND ABILITIES !LL BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AT LEAST ONE SPIRITUAL GIFT #OR !S 0ETER EXPLAINS h%ACH ONE SHOULD USE WHATEVER GIFT HE HAS RECEIVED TO SERVE OTHERS FAITHFULLY ADMINISTERING 'OD S GRACE IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS v 'OD IS HONORED WHEN WE USE OUR MINDS FOR (IS PURPOSES $AN )NTELLIGENCE IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE SQUANDERED 2ATHER IT IS A GIFT THAT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED TO ITS 'OD GIVEN POTENTIAL IN ORDER TO SERVE AND GLORIFY 'OD -ONEY )NCLUDING 4ITHE AND /FFERINGS 'OD PROVIDES
3TEWARDSHIP IS LIVING THE BIBLICAL LIFE FULLY THE MEANS BY WHICH WE LIVE )N GRATITUDE WE RETURN OUR TITHE AND OFFERINGS TO (IM -ALACHI SAYS h@"RING THE WHOLE TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE 4EST ME IN THIS SAYS THE ,ORD !LMIGHTY @AND SEE IF ) WILL NOT THROW OPEN THE mOODGATES OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT SO MUCH BLESSING THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH FOR IT v -Y WIFE AND ) HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE RECENTLY GONE THROUGH A VERY TOUGH TIME 4HEY STRUGGLED WITH WHETHER TO CONTINUE TO TITHE OR WAIT UNTIL THEIR lNANCES IMPROVED 4HEY DELIBERATED h$O WE TRUST 'OD TO LOOK AFTER US v &INALLY THEY DECIDED TO PLACE THEIR TRUST IN 'OD 'OD PROVIDED FOR THEMˆSOMETIMES IN UNEXPECTED WAYSˆBUT (E ALWAYS CAME THROUGH *ESUS PROMISED IN -ATTHEW h"UT SEEK lRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL v 4HE MEMBERS OF THE EARLY #HRISTIAN CHURCH CARED FOR THOSE WHO WERE NEEDY IN THEIR COMMUNITY !CTS 7E ARE ALSO INVITED TO GIVE FREELY AND CHEERFULLY h%ACH MAN SHOULD GIVE WHAT HE HAS DECIDED IN HIS HEART TO GIVE NOT RELUCTANTLY OR UNDER COMPULSION FOR 'OD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVERv #OR /UR "ODIES 3CRIPTURE CLEARLY AFlRMS THAT OUR BODIES ARE IMPORTANT AND THAT WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEM h$O YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT WHO IS IN YOU WHOM YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM 'OD 9OU ARE NOT YOUR OWN YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE 4HEREFORE HONOR 'OD WITH YOUR BODYv #OR 'OOD STEWARDS WILL NOT ONLY WANT TO ABSTAIN FROM HARMFUL SUBSTANCES BUT WILL ALSO STRIVE TO KEEP THEIR BODIES IN OPTIMAL PHYSICAL CONDITION )F WE FOLLOW GOOD HEALTH
3TEWARDSHIP 7E ARE 'OD S STEWARDS ENTRUSTED BY (IM WITH TIME AND OPPORTUNITIES ABILITIES AND POSSESSIONS AND THE BLESSINGS OF THE EARTH AND ITS RESOURCES 7E ARE RESPONSIBLE TO (IM FOR THEIR PROPER USE 7E ACKNOWLEDGE 'OD S OWNERSHIP BY FAITHFUL
HABITS THE BENElTS EXTEND BEYOND JUST PHYSICAL HEALTH "ECAUSE OF THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MIND AND BODY PHYSICAL HEALTH WILL IMPACT OUR CLARITY OF THOUGHT AND ULTIMATELY OUR CONNECTION WITH 'OD %ARTH S 2ESOURCES 'OD PRONOUNCED THAT (IS CREATION WAS hVERY GOODv 'EN (E ALSO PLACED HUMANITY IN A POSITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP 'EN !LTHOUGH SIN HAS TARNISHED CREATION AND BELIEVERS LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH 2EV THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE TO NEGLECT THE PLANET *UST AS 'OD LOVES US AND HAS GIVEN US THIS WORLD TO ENJOY WE ARE TO LOVE AND CARE FOR ALL OF 'OD S CREATION 'OSPEL 4HE GOSPEL COMMISSION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO EACH OF US 7E HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE WORK OF MAK ING DISCIPLES OF BAPTIZING AND OF TEACHING -ATT 4HIS IS A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE 4HE APOSTLE 0AUL EXPLAINS THAT hMEN OUGHT TO REGARD US AS SERVANTS OF #HRIST AND AS THOSE ENTRUSTED WITH THE SECRET THINGS OF 'OD .OW IT IS REQUIRED THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN A TRUST MUST PROVE FAITHFULv #OR 7E HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING THE GOOD NEWS WITH THE WORLD !LL TO *ESUS
'OD ULTIMATELY OWNS EVERYTHING AND YET (E SHARES BY PROVIDING US WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF GIFTS (IS INTENT IS NOT THAT WE USE THESE GIFTS SELlSHLY BUT RATHER THAT WE USE THEM TO SERVE OTHERS "ECAUSE OF ALL THAT 'OD HAS DONE FOR US WE RESPOND WITH WHOLEHEARTED GRATITUDE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO THANK (IM FACE TO FACE
!LL 3CRIPTURE QUOTATIONS ARE TAKEN FROM THE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION
SERVICE TO (IM AND OUR FEL LOW MEN AND BY RETURNING TITHES AND GIVING OFFERINGS FOR THE PROCLAMATION OF (IS GOSPEL AND THE SUPPORT AND GROWTH OF (IS CHURCH 3TEWARDSHIP IS A PRIVILEGE GIVEN TO US BY 'OD FOR NURTURE IN LOVE AND THE VICTORY OVER
SELlSHNESS AND COVETOUSNESS 4HE STEW ARD REJOICES IN THE BLESSINGS THAT COME TO OTHERS AS A RESULT OF HIS FAITHFULNESS 'EN #HRON (AGGAI -AL #OR -ATT #OR 2OM
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Y GRANDFATHER 3TEPAN :AIT SEV SERVED AS A PASTOR OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH DURING THE DIFlCULT TIME OF THE 3OVIET REGIME (E ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WAS CONVICTED AS AN hENEMY OF THE PEOPLEv IN UNDER 3TALIN S FAMOUS ARTICLE OF THE 2USSIAN 0ENAL #ODE -Y GRANDFATHER SURVIVED THE HORRORS OF THE 'ULAG THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT ADMINISTERED THE PENAL LABOR CAMPS -Y GRANDMOTHER BARELY SURVIVED WITH FOUR CHILDREN -Y PARENTS TOLD OF HOW IN THE SPRINGTIME 'RANDMOTHER CLIMBED THE HILLS TO lND NEW GRASS FOR HERSELF AND HER CHILDREN TO EAT AS THEY WERE STARVING SUFFERING FROM CONSTANT MALNUTRITION AND HYPOVITAMINOSIS
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/N -ARCH 3TALIN DIED 7ITH HIS DEATH THE EPOCH OF REPRESSION SYSTEM OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND PRISON CAMPS DIED OUT 4HE YEARS FOLLOWING 3TALIN S DEATH ARE KNOWN AS THE hTHAW v BECAUSE IN MANY AREAS OF 3OVIET LIFE ESPECIALLY IN CULTURE AND RELIGION IT SEEMED THERE WAS A WARMING #ONFES SION OF FAITH WAS ALLOWED AS WELL AS HOLDING WORSHIP SERVICES WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS 4HIS STRENGTHENED THE HOPE OF MANY BELIEVERS THAT THE TER RIBLE PAST WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN
,EFT 0%23%#54%$ TEPAN :AITSEV IN 3OVIET EXILE !BOVE &!-),9 0/242!)4 3TEPAN :AITSEV FRONT ROW SECOND FROM LEFT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS TAKEN SHORTLY AFTER HE WAS SENT INTO EXILE
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(OWEVER THIS REVITALIZATION SPARKED A NEW ANTIRELIGIOUS CAMPAIGN WHICH BY THE END OF THE S BECAME MASS AND ORGANIZED 4HE CAMPAIGN REACHED ITS CLIMAX IN THE LAST lVE YEARS OF THE +HRUSHCHEV LEADERSHIP FROM TO !CCORDING TO RESEARCHERS +HRUSHCHEV S ANTIRELIGIOUS CAMPAIGN WAS SO CRUEL IT WAS SECOND ONLY TO 3TALIN S PERSECUTIONS IN THE S $URING THE ANTIRELIGIOUS CAMPAIGN MANY CHURCHES WERE CLOSED MANY PRIESTS AND PASTORS WERE ARRESTED )T WAS IN THIS DIFlCULT SITUATION THAT THE FAITH OF MY GRANDFATHER WAS CHAL LENGED AGAIN
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
)N THE LATE S 3TEPAN :AITSEV AND HIS FAMILY LIVED IN THE SMALL TOWN OF :YRYANOVSK IN EASTERN +AZAKHSTAN -Y GRANDFATHER WAS HIGHLY RESPECTED BY THE TOWNSPEOPLE 4HE LOCAL NEWSPAPER WROTE ABOUT HIM AS AN HONEST AND UNSELlSH MAN AS A TIRELESS WORKER AS HAVING hGOLDEN HANDSv AND PASSING ON HIS MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE TO YOUNG PEOPLE
(OWEVER WITH THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CAMPAIGN AGAINST RELIGION THE ATTITUDE TOWARD MY GRANDFATHER CHANGED DRAMATICALLY )N THE SAME LOCAL NEWSPAPER ANOTHER ARTICLE APPEARED IN WHICH HE WAS SHAMELESSLY MOCKED AND SLANDERED 4HE RADIO ANNOUNCED THAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE REQUESTED :AITSEV TO BE EXILED FROM :YRYANOVSK AND TO 0 ( / 4 / 3 # / 5 2 4 % 3 9 / & 4 ( % ! 5 4 ( / 2
BE JUDGED IN A PUBLIC COURT !BOUT PEOPLE CAME TO THE TRIAL 7HEN 3TEPAN :AITSEV WAS LED TO THE HEARING THE JUDGES MET WITH HIM IN A SEPARATE ROOM POLITELY GREETED HIM AND ADVISED HIM TO REFUSE THE hRELIGIOUS NARCOTIC v PROMISING TO CLOSE THE CASE AND SET HIM FREE h9OU COULD HAVE HAD A CAREER v THEY SAID h9OU ARE A PACESETTER 9OU SHOULD JUST LIVE AS ALL PEOPLE LIVE BUT INSTEAD YOU BELIEVE IN SOME KIND OF 'OD 9OU DESTROY YOUR LIFE AS WELL AS THAT OF YOUR FAMILY #OME TO YOUR SENSES BEFORE IT S TOO LATE DENY YOUR FAITH IN 'OD PUBLICLY WE WILL BELIEVE YOU AND YOU WILL BE FREE v 'RANDFATHER LOOKED AT THEM CALMLY LISTENING TO THEIR CUNNING SPEECH !T THE END HE SAID ONLY ONE THING h$O WHAT YOU VE PLANNED TO DO $O NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ) WILL NEVER DENY MY 'OD v 3TEPAN :AITSEV WAS BROUGHT INTO THE HALL AND THE PROSECUTOR BEGAN HIS SPEECH (E FALSELY ACCUSED MY GRAND FATHER OF DESTROYING THE 3OVIET FAMILY WITH HIS TEACHING DISTRIBUTING RELIGIOUS PREJUDICES CORRUPTING THE YOUTH NEVER WORKING AND LIVING AS A PARASITE BY DECEIVING PEOPLE AND LIVING ON THEIR MONEY 4HE PROSECUTOR ANNOUNCED THAT MY GRANDFATHER HAD ALREADY HAD SEVERAL PRIOR CONVICTIONS $URING THE SPEECH CRIES OF INDIGNATIONˆh4HERE IS NO PLACE FOR SUCH PEOPLE IN THE 3OVIET 5NION 7E SHOULD SHOOT THEM vˆWERE HEARD FROM SPECIALLY PREPARED PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY NEVER KNEW 3TEPAN :AITSEV !FTER THE AVALANCHE OF FALSE ACCUSA TIONS SLANDER AND LIES ALONG WITH THE HOSTILE CHANTS FROM THE AUDIENCE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WAS lNALLY GIVEN TO THE ACCUSED &AITH (IS /NLY #RIME
h) HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE THE AGE OF v BEGAN MY GRANDFATHER hAND HAVE WORKED UNTIL THIS DAY 2ECENTLY THE NEWSPAPERS WROTE THAT :AITSEV HAD @GOLDEN HANDS THAT HE PASSED ON HIS EXPERIENCE TO HIS APPRENTICES THAT HE IS FRIENDLY COURTEOUS AND A GOOD EXAMPLE 3O WHY AM ) STANDING BEFORE
YOU AS A CRIMINAL TODAY 7HAT KIND OF WRONG HAVE ) DONE AND TO WHOM h)SN T IT TRUE THAT MY FAULT IS THAT ) M A BELIEVER 9ES ) AM A BELIEVER ) BELIEVE IN 'OD #REATOR OF HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND IN THE 3AVIOR *ESUS #HRIST WHO GAVE (IS LIFE FOR ME AND FOR MY SINS ) ACKNOWLEDGE THE HOLI NESS OF 'OD S MORAL LAW EXPRESSED IN THE 4EN #OMMANDMENTS AND TRY TO LIVE KEEPING THEM h9OU MENTIONED THAT ) WAS PREVI OUSLY CONVICTED 9ES ) WAS CONVICTED FOR MY FAITH ) WAS IN PRISON FOR YEARS AND AFTER THAT TWO YEARS IN EXILE 4ODAY ) M STANDING BEFORE YOU AND MY ONLY CRIME IS MY FAITH ) M READY TO SUFFER FOR MY FAITH AGAIN BUT ) WILL NOT DENY MY #REATOR AND MY 3AVIOR v 4HERE WAS SILENCE IN THE ROOM FOR A LITTLE WHILE 0EOPLE WERE SHOCKED BY THE REPLY OF THE CONVICTED (OWEVER THIS TEMPORARY SILENCE DID NOT LAST LONG !CCUSATIONS SHOUTING AND THREATS SHOWERED AGAIN !FTER A BRIEF MEETING THE COURT ANNOUNCED ITS VERDICT A lVE YEAR EXILE FROM THE %AST +AZAKHSTAN REGION
SO IT WAS DIFlCULT TO DETERMINE WHERE HIS DWELLING ONCE STOOD !LMOST ALL THE SETTLERS WHO WERE EXILED TO THIS h'OD FORGOTTENv TERRITORY DEPARTED MANY YEARS AGO ) TRIED ASKING THE VILLAGERS IF THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT 3TEPAN :AITSEV .O ONE HAD AND NO WONDER AS ALMOST TWO GENERATIONS HAVE PASSED SINCE THEN &INALLY ) MANAGED TO lND AN OLD COUPLE WHO REMEMBERED THE :AITSEV FAMILY AND SHARED AN INTERESTING STORY 4HESE PEOPLE WERE YOUNG WHEN THEY WERE DEPORTED BUT THEY STILL REMEMBER HOW ONE EVENING WHEN THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYONE AND WERE STARVING MY GRANDMOTHER BROUGHT THEM A LOAF OF FRESHLY BAKED HOME MADE BREAD 4HIS ACT OF HUMANITY AND COMPASSIONˆSHOWN IN A SITUATION IN WHICH EVERYONE THOUGHT ONLY ABOUT HIMSELF TRYING TO SURVIVE THE INHUMAN CONDITIONSˆREMAINED IN THE MEMORY OF THESE PEOPLE FOREVER 4HE OLD MAN SHOWED ME THE PLACE WHERE THE DWELLING OF MY EXILED GRANDPARENTS ONCE STOOD 4HERE WERE NO HILLS ON WHICH TO NAVIGATE BUT THE OLD MAN POINTED OUT THE EXACT PLACE GOING TO A POPLAR TREE %XILED BUT .OT &ORGOTTEN )T WAS LATE AUTUMN AND THE LEAVES ! NEW PERIOD OF GRIEF AND TROUBLES HAD ALREADY FALLEN DOWN h(ERE AT THE BEGAN IN THE LIFE OF MY GRANDFATHER PLACE OF THEIR DWELLING THE TREE GREW v AND ALL HIS FAMILY !FTER SEVERAL MONTHS SAID THE OLD MAN IN DIFFERENT PRISONS GRANDFATHER WAS 4HIS TREE IS PERHAPS THE BEST TAKEN TO A REMOTE VILLAGE CALLED .OVO MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO LEFT IN THE .IKOLAEVKA IN THE 5BAGANSKAYA AREA REMOTE STEPPES A PART OF THEIR LIVES OF NORTHERN +AZAKHSTAN 4HERE ON %VERY YEAR IT RENEWS ITS FOLIAGE !PRIL HE WAS PUT ON THE RECORD INDICATING THE INDESTRUCTIBLE POWER AS AN EXILE SETTLER OF LIFE AND COURAGE OF THOSE WHO 7HEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL DEFENDED THEIR PRINCIPLES AND FAITH IN COLLECTIVE FARM LEARNED THE REASON WHY ANY CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE 3TEPAN :AITSEV HAD BEEN CONDEMNED HE EXCLAIMED h7E DO NOT NEED A FANATIC A LOAFER HE WILL ONLY INTERFERE v ,ATER HOWEVER HE RADICALLY CHANGED 9EVGENY 6LADIMIROVICH HIS MIND AND WAS CONVINCED THAT IF :AITSEV IS RECTOR OF HIS FARM CONSISTED OF SUCH hLOAFERS v HE THE :AOKSKY !DVENTIST WOULD SOON TAKE lRST PLACE IN THE AREA 5NIVERSITY S #OLLEGE OF ON ALL COUNTS (UMANITIES AND %CONOMICS IN :AOKSKY 2ECENTLY ) VISITED THE PLACE WHERE 2USSIA (E HAS A 0H $ IN 4HEOLOGY AND IS MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN EXILE 4HE ALSO AN - $ (E AND HIS WIFE 6ALENTINA VILLAGE HAD CHANGED SINCE THAT TIME HAVE THREE ADULT SONS &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
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HE TERM hANTICHRISTv COMES FROM A 'REEK TERM TO OCCUPY THE PLACE THAT EXCLUSIVELY BELONGS TO 'OD (E FORMED BY THE PREPOSITION ANTI hAGAINST v hIN PLACE QUESTIONED AND ATTACKED 'OD S CHARACTER IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY OF v AND THE NOUN CHRISTOS hTHE ANOINTED ONEv )T HIS ACTIONS (E WAS EXPELLED FROM HEAVEN AND AFTER THE FALL PRIMARILY REFERS TO A BEING WHO ATTEMPTS TO USURP THE ROLE OF !DAM AND %VE MADE THIS PLANET HIS BASE OF OPERATIONS OF *ESUS BY ILLEGALLY APPROPRIATING (IS FUNCTIONS )T COULD $ANIEL DEALT WITH THE ANTICHRIST USING SYMBOLS REPRESENT ALSO DESIGNATE THE SYSTEMS USED BY HIM TO WORK IMPLICITLY ING A HISTORICAL POWER THAT AFTER THE FALL OF 0AGAN 2OME OR EXPLICITLY hAGAINSTv #HRIST 4HIS TITLE REVEALS THE TWO MOST UNITED CHURCH AND STATE CHANGED 'OD S LAW $AN IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ANTICHRIST (E DECEIVES BY PERSECUTED 'OD S PEOPLE SPOKE AGAINST 'OD CHAP PRETENDING TO BE THE #HRIST AND HE OPPRESSES OR PERSECUTES AND USURPED THE PRIESTLY WORK OF #HRIST CHAP 4HIS 'OD S PEOPLE IN HIS CONmICT CLEARLY DESCRIBES THE SPIRIT AGAINST #HRIST AND WORK OF THE ANTICHRIST 5SE OF THE 4ERM 4HE WITHIN HISTORY TITLE hTHE ANTICHRISTv 'REEK 0ERSONAL !PPARITION HO ANTICHRISTOS IS FOUND EX OF THE !NTICHRIST 4HE .EW CLUSIVELY IN THE .EW 4ESTA 4ESTAMENT PREDICTS THE PRES MENT LETTERS OF *OHN &IRST ENCE OF APOSTASY WITHIN THE ACCORDING TO *OHN THE #HRISTIAN CHURCH 4HESS SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST IS AND CONSIDERED IT A ACTIVE THROUGH FALSE TEACHERS MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT 1 5 % 3 4 ) / . OF THE ANTICHRIST !CCORDING *OHN THUS SUGGESTING THAT THE ANTI TO THE BOOK OF 2EVELATION 7HO OR WHAT IS THE CHRIST WILL WORK FROM WITHIN APOSTASY WILL REACH UNIVERSAL #HRISTIANITY 4HE TITLE ITSELF DIMENSIONS AND WILL BE ANTICHRIST PRESUPPOSES THAT WE ARE DEAL ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMING ING WITH A CORRUPTION OF THE OF THE ANTICHRIST IN PERSON "Y #HRISTIAN FAITH 4HE ANTI 2EVELATION ANNOUNCES THE !NGEL -ANUEL CHRIST IS AGAINST THE TRUTH AS FORMATION OF A GLOBAL COALI 2ODR¤GUEZ REVEALED IN *ESUS REPLACING IT TION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP WITH HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING OF DEMONS 2EV OF *ESUS VERSE *OHN ACCOMPANIED BY MIRACLES 3ECOND THE COMING OF THE ANTICHRIST WAS PREDICTED IN AND SIGNS THAT WILL REACH ITS CLIMAX IN THE COMING OF THE ANTI APOSTOLIC TEACHINGS *OHN WROTE h!S YOU HAVE HEARD THAT CHRIST DESCRIBED BY *OHN AS lRE COMING hDOWN FROM HEAVEN THE ANTICHRIST IS COMING v *OHN "ELIEVERS WERE TO EARTH IN FULL VIEW OF MENv CHAP CF +INGS INSTRUCTED ABOUT THIS SIGNIlCANT THREAT TO THEIR COMMIT 0AUL WROTE ABOUT hTHE COMING ;PAROUSIA= OF THE LAWLESS ONE v USING THE SAME TERM HE EMPLOYED WHEN REFERRING TO THE MENT TO *ESUS hCOMING ;PAROUSIA=v OF #HRIST 4HESS 4HE ANTICHRIST 4HIRD THE ANTICHRIST COULD MANIFEST HIMSELF THROUGH WILL TRY TO IMITATE THE 3ECOND #OMING OF #HRIST HUMAN SYSTEMS OR INSTRUMENTALITIES h%VEN NOW MANY 4HIS POWERFUL APPARITION OF THE ANTICHRIST WILL DECEIVE ANTICHRISTS HAVE COMEv *OHN 4HESE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE INHABITANTS OF EARTH 4HEY WILL WORSHIP 3ATAN THE ANTI NOT PROPERLY SPEAKING hTHE ANTICHRIST v BUT THEY HAVE THE hSPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST v THAT IS THE SAME MINDSET 4HEY ARE CHRIST AND THE RELIGIOUS POLITICAL SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT HIM HIS INSTRUMENTS CHAP 4HEY ARE HISTORICAL EXPRESSIONS 2EV 4HE ANTICHRIST WILL LAUNCH A WAR TO EXTERMINATE 'OD S PEOPLE CHAP BUT THEY WILL lND SAFETY IN OF THE ANTICHRIST WITHIN THE CHURCH AND AS SUCH THEY COULD THE ,ORD CHAP NOT IN HUMAN ARMAMENTS 4HEIR BE DESCRIBED AS BEING MANIFESTATIONS OF hTHE ANTICHRISTv MISSION IS TO PROCLAIM THE ETERNAL GOSPEL OF SALVATION AND CHAP *OHN 4HE 0ERSON OF THE !NTICHRIST 4HE INDIVIDUAL CALLED BY UNMASK THE ANTICHRIST CHAP #HRIST WILL lNALLY DELIVER THEM AND DESTROY THE ANTICHRIST *OHN THE hANTICHRISTv IS MENTIONED IN OTHER PLACES IN THE "IBLE /RIGINALLY HE WAS A HEAVENLY BEING A CHERUB WHO REBELLED AGAINST 'OD AND INITIATED A COSMIC CONmICT %ZE 2EV (E WAS INDEED AN ANTI 'OD POWER THEREFORE THE ANTICHRIST WHO WANTED TO MAKE HIMSELF !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODRÓGUEZ IS DIRECTOR OF THE "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH )NSTITUTE OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE hLIKE THE -OST (IGHv )SA (IS ULTIMATE GOAL WAS
%ND TIME
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!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
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4HIS MONTH WE BEGIN A SERIES OF SEVEN LESSONS IN WHICH WE WILL STUDY THE NATURE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT %ACH LESSON IS DESIGNED TO GIVE GREATER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW TO COOPERATE WITH HEAVEN S DIVINE GIFT TO LIVE A FULlLLING #HRIST CENTERED LIFE 4HE INlLLING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD TRUTHS IN THE "IBLE ! CLEAR VIEW OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT S MINISTRY IN THE LIFE OF EACH BELIEVER IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE GOING TO LIVE A VICTORIOUS #HRISTIAN LIFE 7E CANNOT OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE ON OUR OWN WE CAN OVERCOME 3ATAN S TEMPTATIONS ONLY IN THE POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT
)S THE (OLY 3PIRIT AN INmUENCE OR THE THIRD PERSON OF THE 'ODHEAD )N THE TEXTS BELOW CIRCLE THE MEMBERS OF THE 'ODHEAD h4HE GRACE OF THE ,ORD *ESUS #HRIST AND THE LOVE OF 'OD AND THE COMMUNION OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT BE WITH YOU ALL !MENv #OR h4HE 3PIRIT (IMSELF BEARS WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF 'OD AND IF CHILDREN THEN HEIRSˆHEIRS OF 'OD AND JOINT HEIRS WITH #HRIST IF INDEED WE SUFFER WITH (IM THAT WE MAY ALSO BE GLORIlED TOGETHERv 2OM h'O THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE &ATHER AND OF THE 3ON AND OF THE (OLY 3PIRITv -ATT !S YOU READ THESE THREE PASSAGES DOES THE "IBLE INDICATE IN ANY WAY THAT THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS MERELY AN INmU ENCE OR IN ANY WAY INFERIOR TO THE &ATHER AND THE 3ON 9ES
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7HOM DOES *ESUS CALL THE (OLY 3PIRIT h!ND ) WILL PRAY THE &ATHER AND (E WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER (ELPER THAT (E MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVERv *OHN h"UT THE (ELPER THE (OLY 3PIRIT WHOM THE &ATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME (E WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS AND BRING TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE ALL THINGS THAT ) SAID TO YOUv VERSE 4HE WORD *ESUS USED IS
4HE WORD hHELPERv IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF THE .EW 4ESTAMENT IS PARAKLETE )T IS A WORD RICH IN MEANING )T MEANS ONE WHO STANDS ALONGSIDE )T WAS USED OF A FRIEND IN COURT WHO PROVIDED DEFENSE FOR THE ACCUSED ONE WHO WAS ALWAYS THERE
(OW CLOSELY DID *ESUS IDENTIFY (IMSELF WITH THE (OLY 3PIRIT h) WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS ) WILL COME TO YOUv *OHN 4HE (OLY 3PIRIT IS *ESUS PERSONAL
4HE (OLY 3PIRIT IS THE h3PIRIT OF #HRIST v (E IS *ESUS AMBASSADOR 7HILE *ESUS AND THE (OLY 3PIRIT ARE TWO DISTINCT BEINGS IN THE 'ODHEAD THEY ARE ONE IN PURPOSE AND ETERNAL IN NATURE &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
7HAT IS THE MOST SIGNIlCANT REASON *ESUS PROMISED TO SEND (IS (OLY 3PIRIT h"UT WHEN THE (ELPER COMES WHOM ) SHALL SEND TO YOU FROM THE &ATHER THE 3PIRIT OF TRUTH WHO PROCEEDS FROM THE &ATHER (E WILL TESTIFY OF -Ev *OHN 4HE PURPOSE OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS TO
OF *ESUS
7HAT THREE THINGS WILL THE (OLY 3PIRIT CONVICT EACH ONE OF US OF IF OUR HEARTS ARE OPEN TO (IS PROMPTINGS h!ND WHEN (E HAS COME (E WILL CONVICT THE WORLD OF SIN AND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND OF JUDGMENTv *OHN 4HE (OLY 3PIRIT WILL CONVICT THE WORLD OF
OF
AND OF
%ACH ONE OF US HAS FELT THE CONVICTING POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT !T TIMES WHEN WE HAVEN T LIVED IN HARMONY WITH 'OD S WILL THE (OLY 3PIRIT HAS BROUGHT CONVICTION TO OUR HEARTS 7E HAVE FELT (IS PROMPTINGS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE REALITY THAT ONE DAY EVIL WILL lNALLY BE CONDEMNED AND DONE AWAY WITH FOREVER
7HAT OTHER NAME DID *ESUS GIVE THE (OLY 3PIRIT h4HE 3PIRIT OF TRUTH WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE BECAUSE IT NEITHER SEES (IM OR KNOWS (IM BUT YOU KNOW (IM FOR (E DWELLS WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOUv *OHN h(OWEVER WHEN (E THE 3PIRIT OF TRUTH HAS COME (E WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH FOR (E WILL NOT SPEAK ON (IS OWN AUTHORITY BUT WHATEVER (E HEARS (E WILL SPEAK AND (E WILL TELL YOU THINGS TO COMEv *OHN *ESUS CALLS THE (OLY 3PIRIT THE
OF
7HY DO YOU THINK *ESUS GAVE THE (OLY 3PIRIT THIS SPECIAL TITLE
(OW DOES THE (OLY 3PIRIT RELATE TO *ESUS h(E WILL GLORIFY -E FOR (E WILL TAKE OF WHAT IS MINE AND DECLARE IT UNTO YOUv *OHN 4HE (OLY 3PIRIT
*ESUS
4HE WORK OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS NOT TO GLORIFY (IMSELF IT IS TO GLORIFY *ESUS 4HE WORK OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT IS NOT TO GLORIFY US IT IS TO BRING GLORY TO OUR 3AVIOR 7HEN WE ARE lLLED WITH THE (OLY 3PIRIT THE GREAT DESIRE OF OUR LIVES IS TO GLORIFY *ESUS IN EVERYTHING WE DO TO BE MORE LIKE *ESUS 7OULD YOU LIKE TO OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE (OLY 3PIRIT TO MAKE YOU MORE LIKE *ESUS 7HY NOT BOW YOUR HEAD AND PRAY FOR A GREATER INlLLING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT RIGHT NOW
.EXT MONTH S STUDY WILL FEATURE THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN THIS SERIES
h%MPOWERED BY THE
(OLY 3PIRIT v #/22%#4)/. 4HE "IBLE STUDY h0REVAILING 0RAYERv $ECEMBER
INACCURATELY STATED THAT *ACOB NEVER SAW HIS FATHER )SAAC AGAIN 4HIS WAS OUR MISTAKE NOT THE AUTHOR S /UR APOLOGIES ˆ%DITORS
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
,%44%23 3EEING -ORE #LEARLY
!LL THESE MAGAZINES ;!DVENTIST 7ORLD= ARE CHANGING THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO READ THEM
4HE GOOD GOT BETTER AND STILL HITS THE SPOT ) HAVE GREATLY ENJOYED !DVENTIST 7ORLD LATELY MORE THAN THE OCCA SIONAL !DVENTIST 2EVIEW ) COULD GET A COPY OF ) WAS TRULY BLESSED BY h#AN ˆ&RANCIS /KELLO 5GANDA 5NION 7E 4ALK v BY !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ /CTOBER WHICH DEALT WITH THE QUESTION $OES THE "IBLE SUPPORT THE 7E HAVE /UR CHURCH SEEMS TO REPLY h3ORRY ORDINATION OF WOMAN TO PASTORAL OBLIGATIONS $O NOT APPLY x IT S A MATTER OF MINISTRY OR NOT TO OURSELVES HISTORICAL CULTURAL BIBLICAL POLICY v 4HE WAY 2ODR¤GUEZ COMMENTED PHYSICALLY %DWIN , #HRISTIANSEN ON THIS HAS BROADENED MY VIEWS NOT MENTALLY AND 3 HELTON 7ASHINGTON ONLY ON THIS ISSUE BUT ALSO ON HOW TO SPIRITUALLY 5NITED 3TATES APPROACH OTHER MATTERS ON WHICH ) /UR LIFESTYLE 7ORD 0OWER HAVE NOT FOUND A CLEAR ANSWER IN THE CONTRIBUTES 4HANK YOU TO "IBLE AND OTHER "IBLE AIDS ON WHY WE TO HEALTH AND THE !DVENTIST BELIEVE WHAT WE BELIEVE )NDEED WE LONGEVITY 7ORLD PUB SHOULD PRAY FOR HEALING AND BE ABLE TO 7HILE WE FEED OUR PHYSICAL BODIES LICATION FOR LOOK AT ISSUES LIKE THESE IN A SPIRIT OF WITH A NUTRITIOUS DIET WE FEED OUR THE MESSAGES SERVICE TO THE CHURCH MINDS WITH 'OD S 7ORD TO NURTURE WRITTEN BY 2UBINET -ULLER OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE /UR OBLIGATION TO THE INSPIRED WRITERS 4HEIR MESSAGES 7ILLEMSTAD #URA½AO HUMANITY IS VAST AND WE BELIEVE IN GO FAR IN BRINGING ME CLOSER TO 'OD SAVING MORE SOULS IN THESE LAST DAYS 4O MENTION BUT A FEW 4HURMAN ) FOUND h#AN 7E 4ALK v BY !NGEL !DVENTIST EDUCATION IS CENTERED ON # 0ETTY h7HAT (AVE 7E $ONE v 2ODR¤GUEZ VERY OFF PUTTINGˆNOT 'OD S LAWSˆTHE GOAL OF THE LEARNER $ECEMBER AND h4HE "ATTLE )S SHOULD BE TO PLEASE THE #REATOR BECAUSE OF WHO WROTE IT OR WHAT WAS OPINED ) GUESS THE PART THAT DISTURBED /N 5NDERSTANDING THE 'REAT #ON WHATEVER COURSE OR DISCIPLINE HE OR TROVERSY v BY !LBERTO 2 4IMM -AY ME WAS THE COMPARISON THAT CAME TO SHE IS TAKING %DUCATION IS A LIFELONG MIND AFTER READING h0RESS TOGETHERxv -AY 'OD S NAME BE PRAISED PROCESS THAT LEADS TO THE TRUE SOURCE OF !LL THESE MAGAZINES ARE CHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND LIFE IN h4HE )NCENDIARY &ELLOWSHIP v BY THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO READ "ILL +NOTT AND THE EXTANT ATTITUDES ,AWRENCE 4ESORO THEM -Y REQUEST IS THAT AS ) MOVE REPORTED IN "IBLE 1UESTIONS )F ASKED 0ASAY #ITY -ANILA 0HILIPPINES INTO AN UNENTERED AREA OF 5GANDA FOR MY OPINION AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED ) WOULD TURN TO *OEL AND MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO DO "IBLE 4HANK YOU FOR THE ARTICLE h-EET -Y STUDIES MERELY ASK THIS QUESTION )F IT IS TRUE &ATHER v BY #LINTON 7AHLEN -ARCH &RANCIS /KELLO THAT WE ARE LIVING IN THE LAST HOURS OF ) GREW UP IN A POOR FAMILY 5GANDA 5NION -ISSION THE LAST DAYS WHY WOULD WE MANDATE PARENTLESS AND ) HAVE NOT YET KNOWN LEAVING HALF THE TEAM ON THE BENCH HOW GOOD OR BAD IT IS TO HAVE PARENTS 3TILL 3PEAKINGˆ )N SPITE OF THE BEST SPENT ARGU ) ALWAYS WEEP WHEN ) THINK ABOUT MY !RTICLES &ROM 0AST )SSUES MENTS ) HAVE READ ) TRUST *OEL MORE SITUATION ) FACE DAILY CHALLENGES OF ) ENJOYED READING THE ARTICLE BY %LLA THAN ALL THE PRINTED POSITING THAT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR FAMILY 3IMMONS h!IMING (IGHERv *ULY CHANGES NOTHING AND NO ONE 4HE ,IVING IN A POOR FAMILY WHERE ) 4RUE EDUCATION TEACHES THE BEST HAVE NO ONE TO SHARE MY SORROWS ) QUESTION IS NOT A THEOLOGICAL EXERCISE USE OF ALL ABILITIES AND ATTAINMENT AND HAVE KNOWN THERE EXISTS THE &ATHER OF OR AN INTELLECTUAL DUEL 4HE QUESTION COVERS THE WHOLE CIRCLE OF OBLIGATION TO THE FATHERLESS OR PARENTLESS 4O (IM ) IS h7HO WILL GO v !ND THERE ARE THOSE SELF TO HUMANITY AND TO 'OD WHO REPLY h(ERE ARE WE 3END US v POUR OUT ALL MY NEEDS 4HIS HAS HELPED &EBRUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD
,%44%23 ME LEAN ON (IM ) KNOW THAT 'OD IS MY FATHER !SA /LUOCH !BAGA +ISUMU +ENYA h&OUR ,ESSONS &ROM THE 0OTTER S (OUSE v BY +EISHA -C+EN ZIE .OVEMBER WAS HEART TOUCHING AND PRODUCED TEARS FOR ME )T WAS ALMOST A GOSPEL IN ITSELF "EST REGARDS TO THE AUTHOR -AY THE ,ORD BLESS YOU ALL AS YOU CONTINUE TO MINISTER TO (IS mOCK (ALTON -C.EIL #HANZA ,ILONGWE -ALAWI
3TRENGTH IN )NSPIRATIONAL 2EADING
4HANK YOU FOR A MAGAZINE THAT ALLOWS US TO BE TOGETHER IN A WAR WITH THE DEVIL 4O 'OD BE THE GLORY &ELIX #HAKA (ARARE :IMBABWE 4HANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PAST TWO !DVENTIST 7ORLD MAGAZINES ) HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THEM ) AM YEARS OLD AND REGRET THAT ) DID NOT LEARN MORE WHEN ) WAS YOUNG !LL THIS SHOULD BE WRITTEN FOR EVERYONE TO READ NOT ONLY FOR US !DVENTISTS -AY THE ,ORD BLESS YOU WITH ALL THE WORK YOU ARE DOING %LVIRA 3EEMANN # OORANBONG .EW 3OUTH 7ALES !USTRALIA
) AM ONE OF THOUSANDS OF YOUR READERS ) ENJOY !DVENTIST 7ORLD AS DO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH 7E APPRECIATE THE SPIRITUAL EDIlCATION AND LIKE THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORLD CHURCH -AY 'OD BE WITH YOU IN YOUR MINISTRY $AVID -UHINDO +AVUSA $EMOCRATIC 2EPUBLIC OF #ONGO ,ETTERS 0OLICY 0LEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO LETTERS ADVENTISTWORLD ORG ,ETTERS MUST BE CLEARLY WRITTEN AND TO THE POINT WORD MAXIMUM "E SURE TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE ARTICLE THE DATE OF PUBLICATION AND PAGE NUMBER WITH YOUR LETTER !LSO INCLUDE YOUR NAME THE TOWN CITY STATE AND COUNTRY FROM WHICH YOU ARE WRITING ,ETTERS WILL BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY .OT ALL LETTERS SUBMITTED WILL BE PUBLISHED
4 ( % 0 , ! # % / & 0 2 !9 % 2 0LEASE PRAY FOR MY SPIRITUAL LIFE ) AM LOOKING FOR A SPONSORSHIP FOR MY THEO LOGICAL STUDIES AND AM GOING THROUGH A DIFlCULT PHASE IN MY LIFE ) EXPECT A MIRACLE FROM #HRIST ) ASK FOR PRAYERS FROM THE !DVENTIST 7ORLD #HURCH !SA +ENYA ) M ASKING PRAYER FOR A FRIEND IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION 0LEASE PRAY THAT 'OD WOULD DO WHATEVER (E NEEDS TO DO TO SAVE AND BLESS THIS INDIVIDUAL AS *ESUS WOULD LIKE TO SAVE AND BLESS HIMˆTO THE UTTERMOST #ARYN 5NITED 3TATES 4HANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR ME ) SENT A PRAYER REQUEST ON .OVEMBER ) WAS
!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ &EBRUARY
JOBLESS AND ) WANTED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR MY MASTER S 7E SERVE A LIVING 'OD ) AM NOW WORKING ON MY MASTER S DEGREE 'OD IS SO REAL AND (E ANSWERS WHENEVER WE CALL 2EBECCAH "ELGIUM ) HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AS PASTOR AND PRINCIPAL OF A SCHOOL ) THINK IT S TOO BIG FOR ME ) NEED THE POWER OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT .GAIH -YANMAR
0LEASE PRAY THAT HE CAN SETTLE HIS PROBLEMS WITH HIS WIFE $IOVEL 4HAILAND -Y BROTHER PASSED AWAY RECENTLY 7E ARE SADDENED BY THIS LOSS IN OUR FAMILY BUT WE TRUST THE ,ORD 0LEASE PRAY FOR MY DAD BECAUSE HE IS VERY SAD AND FOR MY BROTHER TO GIVE HIS LIFE TO *ESUS %DDY -EXICO
4HE 0LACE OF 0RAYER SEND TO PRAYER ADVENTISTWORLD ORG
4HANKS FOR YOUR PRAYER FOR MY BROTHER AND MY FRIEND ) CAN SEE THE PROGRESS IN THEIR SPIRITUAL LIVES 0LEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR PRAYER ANOTHER FRIEND WHO IS EXPERIENCING A CRISIS IN HIS MARRIAGE
3END US YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISE THANKS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER +EEP YOUR ENTRIES SHORT AND CONCISE WORDS MAXIMUM )TEMS SENT TO THIS CATEGORY WILL BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY %VEN THOUGH WE WILL PRAY FOR EACH ENTRY DURING OUR WEEKLY STAFF MEETINGS NOT ALL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE PRINTED 0LEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND YOUR COUNTRY S NAME WITH YOUR ENTRY 9OU MAY ALSO FAX REQUESTS TO OR MAIL THEM TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE 3ILVER 3PRING -$ 5 3 !
h"EHOLD ) COME QUICKLYxv
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/UR MISSION IS TO UPLIFT *ESUS #HRIST UNITING 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS EVERYWHERE IN BELIEFS MISSION LIFE AND HOPE
4HIS MONTH A READER SHARES A POEM BASED ON )SAIAH
'IVE ME YOUR HEART THE 3AVIOR PLED !ND ) SAID h9ES v ) SAID h9ESv WITHOUT COUNTING THE COST
7ITHOUT KNOWING 4HAT MY HEART WAS WHERE ) KEPT !LL MY TREASURESย 4HE THINGS UNIQUELY MINE
LIKE TIME AND GOLD MY HANDS HAD EARNED
MY RIGHTS
AND ALL MY SKILLS AND TALENTS AND OUTSTANDING ABILITIES
AND THINGS ) COUNTED DEAR 4HINGS THAT LOOKED GOOD TO OTHERS AND BOOSTED MY EGO AND GAVE ME PRESTIGE AND HONOR AND PRAISE AND STATUS AND EXCUSE 3HEARED OF THESE ) GRASPED FOR A lG LEAF 3O OTHERS MIGHT NOT SEE "UT LO (E GAVE ME NOT A WILTING LEAF
"UT (IS OWN BEAUTIFUL ROBEย 7OVEN IN THE LOOM OF HEAVEN 7ITH NOT A THREAD OF MY OWN DEVISING !ND ) STOOD IN THIS FREE GIFT
0ERFECTย (IS GARMENT OF SALVATION ย + ATHRYN "ARNETT %LTING 9OUNTVILLE #ALIFORNIA 5NITED 3TATES
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0UBLISHER 4HE !DVENTIST 7ORLD AN INTERNATIONAL PERIODICAL OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE .ORTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTSยง IS THE PUBLISHER %XECUTIVE 0UBLISHER "ILL +NOTT !SSOCIATE 0UBLISHER #LAUDE 2ICHLI )NTERNATIONAL 0UBLISHING -ANAGER #HUN 0YUNG $UK 0UBLISHING "OARD 4ED . # 7ILSON CHAIR "ENJAMIN $ 3CHOUN VICE CHAIR "ILL +NOTT SECRETARY ,ISA "EARDSLEY $ANIEL 2 *ACKSON 2OBERT ,EMON 'EOFFREY -BWANA ' 4 .G $AISY /RION *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 (AN 3UK (EE %DITOR IN #HIEF "ILL +NOTT %DITORS BASED IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 'ERALD ! +LINGBEIL ASSOCIATE EDITOR 3ANDRA "LACKMER 3TEPHEN #HAVEZ -ARK ! +ELLNER +IMBERLY ,USTE -ARAN %DITORS BASED IN 3EOUL +OREA #HUN *UNG +WON #HOE *EONG +WAN #HUN 0YUNG $UK /NLINE %DITOR #ARLOS -EDLEY 4ECHNICAL #OORDINATOR -ERLE 0OIRIER %DITOR AT LARGE -ARK ! &INLEY 3ENIOR !DVISOR % %DWARD :INKE %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 +ย HLER *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 ร BY 4HOMAS .ELSON )NC 5SED BY PERMISSION !LL RIGHTS RESERVED 4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE .EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT ร )NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS !DVENTIST 7ORLD IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AND PRINTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN +OREA "RAZIL )NDONESIA !USTRALIA 'ERMANY !USTRIA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES 6OL .O
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3 5 " - ) 4 4 % $ " 9 ! ) 2 % % . # ! . ! , 3
- % % 4 9/ 52 . % ) ' ( " / 2 /N .OVEMBER $INA -IKVE BECAME AN !D VENTIST WHEN SHE WAS BAPTIZED $INA BELONGS TO A TRADITIONAL %UROPEAN *EWISH FAMILY AND BEGAN TO ATTEND OUR COMMUNITY OF THE 7ORLD *EWISH !DVENTIST &RIENDSHIP #ENTER IN !LTHOUGH $INA LIVES VERY NEAR TO ANOTHER SYNAGOGUE ONE DAY
SHE SAW A POSTER THAT ADVERTISED THE ACTIVITIES OF OUR COMMUNITY AND DECIDED TO ATTEND $INA HAS BEEN PART OF THE FAMILY OF "ETH "NEI 4ZION THE NAME OF OUR TEMPLE FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT FOR US HER DECISION TO BE AN !DVENTIST lLLS OUR HEARTS 7ELCOME $INA ˆ0HOTO AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY 0ASTOR $AVID "ARZOLA "UENOS !IRES !RGENTINA
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h'OD IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE AND LIGHT AND JOY TO THE UNIVERSE v ˆ#HURCH MEMBER /DIRELENG -OTLOGELWA FROM "OTSWANA TO ANOTHER MEMBER IN !UGUST
! .37 %2 )N 'UIMBA .UEVA %CIJA 0HILIPPINES A FEW MEMBERS OF THE #AWAYAN "UGTONG 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH #"3$!# ATTEMPT A hJUMP POSEv AFTER THEIR SUNDOWN WORSHIP -EMBERS OF THE #"3$!# PREFER TO CONDUCT THEIR SUNDOWN WORSHIPS ON RICE lELDS IN ORDER TO ENJOY NATURE ONE OF 'OD S CREATIONS