Adventist World November 2023 English

11/2023 Who Are You? Page 10 Identity in Christ, Not Crisis Page 15 In the Line of Duty Page 24

Finding Our Identity in Christ

10 Who Are You?

My Deceased Grandmother Still Lives

By Justin Kim

John Peckham

15 Identity in Christ, Not Crisis

Ronald Kuhn Cover image: Ivan Ruiz-Knott, Types & Symbols

18 Global View A Sure Foundation Ted N. C. Wilson 21 Millennial Voices Declaration of Dependence Carolina Ramos 22 Faith in Action Molars and Music Yuri Drumi 24 Mission In the Line of Duty Godfrey K. Sang

26 Bible Questions Answered The Gospel and the Slain Lamb 27 Health & Wellness Choosing and Evaluating a Dentist 28 May I Tell You a Story?

A Red Three-legged Bear 30 Growing Faith Unshakable Faith

I can still hear the voice of my maternal grandmother. A matriarch of faith, she woke up at irrational hours and prayed for unreasonable amounts of time. She never missed a prayer meeting, vespers, Bible study, Sabbath school, or worship service. Not only did she attend church meetings but she was active in witnessing and evangelism too. She conducted Bible studies, sacrificially funded mission projects, and told everyone who was willing to hear about Jesus and His return.

I can still hear her talking about God. She seemed most fervent when talking to her grandchildren. She would whip out her portable evangelistic graphics binder and point to the Daniel 2 statue, the four beasts of Daniel 7, the 2300-day prophecy chart, and a lamb being sacrificed at the bronze altar (with sanctuary diagram included) that pointed to Jesus! Honestly, I thought she would be taken into a rapturous vision with the zeal she showed.

Once, exasperated with the church van driver (who was consistently late to pick her up for worship) she decided to study for the driver’s test. The Korea Transportation Safety Authority was so impressed that a senior citizen passed that they publicly congratulated her for her accomplishment—she was mortified. In turn, my uncle bought her a bright yellow car, first because he was proud of her, but also because he wanted to ensure everyone would see her on the road.

I can still hear her voice today. Though she passed nearly five years ago, many still remember her voice and influence. The Bible is clear that she is not watching from heaven, nor is her spirit dwelling in her house. Rather, she is unconsciously sleeping in a grave in Pocheon, South Korea.

Yet my deceased grandmother still lives. Not in body, nor in thought, but her prayers still live. Not because she is alive, but because God heard and still acknowledges these prayers; they are effective beyond her lifespan. Pray-ers may pass away, but prayers in the ears of our Lord never do.

Her truth still lives. The Bible studies she gave, the hours she invested in Scriptural study and investigation continue in the minds of those who heard her voice. The truth embodied in her counsel, her spiritual habits, her instruction, her discipleship, her identity, and her parenting continue in the lives of her children and grandchildren, spiritual and biological.

Her hope of the resurrection still lives in others. Though her heart has stopped beating now, there are many hearts today that beat with that same hope, yearning to see her again resurrected at the Lord Jesus’ return, longing to see her prayers answered by the Holy Spirit, and hoping to hear her voice again after our Father’s voice awakens her to eternal glory.

We believe in the power of prayer, and we welcome prayer requests that can be shared at our weekly staff worship every Wednesday morning. Send your requests to prayer@adventistworld.org, and pray for us as we work together to advance God’s kingdom.

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News Moment

Carlos Tenold (left), manager of the Student Literature Program of the Norwegian Publishing House, thanks Gideon Machogu, from Kenya, for his work. Machogu was one of 32 students enrolled in 2023. The program, launched in 1965, won’t be offered after 2023.

Tor Tjeransen / Adventist Media Exchange (CC BY 4.0)

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News in Brief

“Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) is honored to host this cross-disciplinary program for graduate students who have not previously had the opportunity to engage with the intersection of science and faith in an academically rigorous and faith-committed approach. We believe this initiative will fortify educational institutions and churches in our region.”

My Identity in Christ Church members were asked which of the following statements best describes their commitment to Jesus Christ.

—Ginger Ketting-Weller, AIIAS president, about the recently added graduate faith and science certificate program. The program is specifically designed for educators and pastors in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division and is consistent with the Seventh-day Adventist belief in the understanding of God’s Word and the exploration of the natural world through the lens of science.

More than 150 The number of delegates that attended the Philippine Tri-Union Leadership Development Training Seminar for children’s ministries which took place in Cebu City, Philippines. The three-day event, themed, “Bridging the Gap: Every C.H.I.L.D. Matters,” aimed to promote a nurturing environment and empower leaders to assure a brighter future for children via care, healing, inspiration, love, and discipline. The seminar brought together a community of like-minded individuals inspired by a common passion for establishing a caring environment for children, regardless of their background or origin.

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30% I’ve been committed to Christ since I was a young child and continue to be fully committed to Him now.

16% My commitment to Christ came suddenly and I was changed; I am fully committed to Christ now.

38% My commitment to Christ has developed gradually over a period of time and I am fully committed to Christ now.

7% I committed my life to Christ at a specific moment in my life, but it didn’t last.

7% I am not sure if I am committed to Christ.

2% I am not committed to Christ.

N=58,086 Source: 2017-18 Global Church Member Survey Data provided by the General Conference Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research

8,000 The number of copies of a special Abide Bible that has been rolled out by Adventist Education across the South Pacific Division which is designed for all staff in Seventh-day Adventist schools. The Abide Bible contains extra resources designed to support personal time with God and growth in personal relationships with Jesus, which then function as a guide to confidently share Jesus’ love with others.

“This kind of project sensitizes and to some extent revitalizes the desire to serve, following in Jesus’ footsteps. It is love on the move. We hope that other church regions will soon follow suit and join their local ADRA representatives to work in partnership.”

—Luís Mário Pinto, a vice president at the South American Division (SAD), about the joint project between the SAD and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Brazil.

On September 17 staff serving at the SAD headquarters participated in the Love on the Move project.

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News in Brief

“The goal of the effort was to strengthen the youth’s relationship and appreciation for God through service to Him, each other, and the community. . . . We wanted to take part in reaffirming the vision and commitment of the Adventist Church and their stewardship to the preservation and love of the environment in Saint Lucia” —Richard Randolph, Saint Lucia Mission youth ministries director and main organizer of the event, about the community service project held on Saint Lucia Mission. More than 100 young people aged 15 to 35 cleaned, dug, and planted dozens of palm tree and flowering plants as part of the annual youth conference held on the island.

“In this 21st century, the methods of traditional evangelism—door to door canvassing, evangelistic series—are still valid, but a person who might not be reached by an evangelistic crusade could feel touched by some of our audiovisual productions. We are called to tell the world that Jesus is coming soon,” —Abel Márquez, executive director of Hope Channel Inter-America and Inter-American Division communication director, about the second film festival held by the East Venezuela Union Mission. This year’s gathering featured more than a dozen short films at the Casa del Artista in Caracas on August 26. More than 400 people gathered to view the films, which fell under the drama, videoclip, and documentary categories.

More than 4,000 The number of milk cartons that were collected by students at the Porto Alegre Adventist School in Brazil. The school partnered with the non-profit Brasil Sem Frestas (“Brazil without Gaps”) to help families in vulnerable situations, especially in times of heavy rain and cold weather, by covering their wooden houses with cut-tofit milk cartons. Under the leadership of primary school teacher Jozy Araújo, third-and fourth-grade students began collecting milk cartons from family and friends.

The project ran for two months. It was launched with a special program in which students learned about the milk carton coating process, saw photos of the end product, and watched videos showing the reaction of people who had benefited from the initiative.

(->) Photo: Porto Alegre Adventist School AdventistWorld.org November 2023

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News in Depth

Adventist Engineer Introduces a Robot that Can Teach the Bible

GAiN Asia conference showcases the latest uses of technology for mission.

Marcos Paseggi, Adventist World

“How should we, at Seventh-day Adventist schools, prepare for the future?” Jo-hee Park, president of Sahmyook University, asked at the beginning of his presentation at the Global Adventist Internet Network (GAiN) Asia conference in Jeju Island, Korea, September 15. “How do we make people come to our churches and schools?”

In the next few minutes, Park, an Adventist church elder who has a doctoral degree in engineering and taught medical information for 21 years, introduced Adam, a robot that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to answer your Bible questions and teach you Adventist beliefs and doctrines.

Park says he named the robot Adam for the Sahmyook University digital strategy, which he has named “Digital Eden.” He explained that he has tried this second-generation robot for some time now. “I made this robot learn the Bible,” he

said, “including the 28 fundamental beliefs of our church.” He can communicate in several languages, Park said.

He also explained that Adam can learn every doctrine and belief, because he is programmed to do so. To test him, Park asked the robot if he could share one representative Bible verse that talks about love. A few seconds later, Adam recited John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son.” Then he added, with what participants considered “a very realistic human voice,” “This verse highlights the immense love of God for humanity.”

“If you ask him more questions, you can see what level AI has reached,” Park said.

Park emphasized there is an important caveat. With AI, “there is a possibility of misinformation,” he said, “because robots will trust what AI says. When AI robots like this one

Sahmyook University president Jo-hee Park presents at GAiN Asia, as John Kang translates into English. Adam, the robot, is on the left.

Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review 6

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become available all over the world, we must make sure that the robot can teach our fundamental beliefs and present them in the right way.

It is a mission that we have for the future, to learn how to use AI and ask the robot the right questions.”

He explained that currently, the most famous lecture in Korea is one that attempts to explain how to make the right prompts, so it becomes possible to maximize the use of a robot such as Adam. The way you ask the questions determines the answers you get, Park said. “It is essential to get trained to learn how to ask those questions,” he emphasized.

Park shared that a few days after his presentation, the robot would be taken to his office at Sahmyook University. “I will spend the next year training him,” Park said. “So, when students eventually ask questions to Adam, he will answer based on the training that I’m planning to give him.”

He added, “If you come to our university in a year, Adam will give you a tour of our campus and work as a campus guard. He’ll be available 24/7 and will always be kind.”

Park also announced that the idea is that every student gets a small robot, which answers the questions they might eventually have. “Right now, Adam is not fully ready, and [what I’m sharing] might sound like something that will happen in a distant future, but this will be around sooner than you imagine,” he said.

“I know that all of you are leaders and specialists in certain areas,” Park said. “Let us work together and study how we can make this happen.”

News in Depth

Inter-American Division Adventists Advocate for an End to Violence

Leaders and members rally on behalf of healthy congregations and communities.

Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Women and children in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, march during enditnow awareness activities.

Photo: West Venezuela Union

Thousands of Seventh-day Adventists advocated from church pulpits, city streets, and communities for an end to violence during the “enditnow” campaign held August 26-27 across the Inter-American Division (IAD) of the Adventist Church. The enditnow campaign is an annual global initiative that seeks to mobilize Seventh-day Adventists and other community groups to advocate for non-violence around the world.

“Sometimes we think that an abuser could be a stranger that jumps out of a window or approaches a person from a dark alley, but usually it’s not like that,” Edith Ruiz, IAD women’s ministries director, said. “Abuse occurs when a person uses the power of his or her influence to take advantage of a vulnerable person.”

During this year’s focus, women’s ministries leaders preached sermons and employed resources centered around the theme, “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing: When Those Who Claim to Be Followers of Jesus Harm Others.”

With violence taking place in homes and everywhere, it’s important to know that the way we respond to the abuser and the abused makes a big difference in the level of healing that each can experience, Ruiz said. “We must listen with our hearts and be on the lookout for possible victims of abuse. Jesus, our good shepherd, can heal physical and emotional needs, provide spiritual nourishment, and bring peace, but we must do our part in churches and schools and everywhere,” she said.

In Venezuela, church members took to the streets to let onlookers know that violence against women and children must end. “No to abuse. No to child abuse. No to abuse against women. Yes to Christ. Yes to life,” were some of the shouts heard through the streets. Churches opened their doors to the communities to speak out against violence in any form and encouraged listeners to be active in speaking up against violence in every corner of the country.

Panama saw hundreds of church members young and old marching

with large banners encouraging people not to let violence claim another person. Young people marched together representing their Adventist school to promote awareness against violence in schools, parks, and children’s centers.

“Put an end to it” was the focus at churches across the Southeast Mexican Union region.

“Our churches held seminars, testimonies, and talks on how to respond to abuse and how to be vigilant against abuse and continue promoting awareness so that our churches can be a safe place for all,” Silvia Arjona, women’s ministries director for the Southeast Mexican Union, said.

In Colombia, hundreds of local congregations held enditnow programs to remind church members to be on the lookout for particular behaviors of children affected by violence, signs that women may show, as well as violence awareness against the elderly. In addition, several communities were visited in which children were provided talks and interactive activities to be able to identify any form of abuse and how to speak up about it.

Faced with ongoing violence in Haiti, churches took a stand against violence during Sabbath morning and afternoon programs.

Psychologist Laurcelie Alcimé addressed church members at Adventist University of Haiti in Carrefour, Port-au-Prince. “As soon as you identify any type of violence, whether financial, sexual, or psychological, know that you’re in the presence of abuse, and you must take action, seek help, and rely on your faith,” she said.

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News in Depth

ADRA Celebrates Fortieth Anniversary

by Planting 40,000 Trees in Zimbabwe

Initiative highlights the agency’s efforts to mitigate the consequences of climate change.

ADRA International News

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) kicked off its fortieth anniversary celebrations in Africa by planting 40,000 fruit trees across Zimbabwe. The initiative, which started in August, is expected to be completed by December.

The theme of the #plantafruittree project is “Environmental Safeguarding and Climate Change,” which highlights ADRA’s legacy of implementing practical efforts to mitigate the consequences of climate change and improve community health.

“The repercussions of the climate catastrophes are being felt all over the world,” ADRA International president Michael Kruger said. “Our global humanitarian agency has witnessed firsthand how extreme weather, deforestation, wildfires, and development have resulted in the extinction of billions of trees.

“As we commemorate ADRA’s 40 years of disaster response, humanitarian relief, and development assistance,” Kruger added, “we are committed to promoting initiatives such as tree plantings that not only can help improve natural air quality, decrease erosion, and

remove pollution but also generate wellness benefits for residents in all communities.”

ADRA inaugurated the #plantafruittreeinitiative in August, with the assistance of Zimbabwe Forestry Commission officials, by hosting public tree-planting demonstrations at campsites and planting the first 1,000 trees in the country’s schools, farms, homesteads, and institutions across 10 provinces.

The arbor celebrations continue this month with the installation of 200 more fruit trees on September 9 at the Country Club Newlands Zimbabwe golf course in Harare. ADRA International president Michael Kruger, ADRA partner USAID representatives, government leaders, ambassadors from various embassies, and more than 3,000 church volunteers are expected to participate in the tree-planting ceremony.

“We recognize that climate change has a wide array of impacts and inevitably has considerable implications on humanitarian and development interventions,” ADRA Zimbabwe director Judith Musvosvi said. “ADRA is dedicated to promoting environmental sustain-

Pathfinder Club members participated in the initiative of planting 40,000 trees in Zimbabwe.

Photo: ADRA Zimbabwe 8

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ability and raising awareness on the impact of climate change. Fruit trees have been specifically chosen for this effort because they are less likely to be chopped down in the future. We have noticed that it will be difficult for anyone to cut down a fruit tree, say, for firewood.”

ADRA invites all communities, schools, churches, and public and private organizations worldwide to join the movement by planting trees in neighborhoods and sharing their experiences online with the hashtag #GoGreenWithADRA. This year, for National Arbor Day, the global organization launched the campaign in the United States on April 28 at Atholton Adventist Academy in Columbia, Maryland. To mark ADRA’s fortieth anniversary, the students planted 40 trees at the event.

“ADRA is a positive change-maker,” Miya Kim, principal of Atholton Adventist Academy, said. “We know ADRA doesn’t just provide temporary aid to people in crisis but also stays in communities and partners with them to build for the future. We want our students to be positive change-makers as well as see the importance of investing in and caring for both our earth and its people. We want them to know about the tangible and life-changing effects that even planting a tree can have on people.”

ADRA International operates in more than 130 countries. The agency’s main task is to support people in need and the most vulnerable segments of the population, improving their lives and making them more active and successful in overcoming difficult life situations, so they can live as God intended.

Mission Focus

Liseht Santos South American Division, and Adventist World

In Peru, 10,000 Young People Prepare to Volunteer Abroad “Beyond the Mountain” camp draws thousands to train for service.

Thousands of young Seventh-day Adventists met August 30 to September 3 for the “Beyond the Mountain” Youth Camp in the San Pedro de Ancón Zonal Park in Lima, Peru. The event was organized by the Youth Ministries Department of the Adventist Church’s South Peru Union Mission.

The training event sought to prepare thousands of young people to be missionaries wherever God calls them: in their city, their country, or abroad. More than 10,000 young people hailing from the coast, the mountains, and the jungle regions of southern Peru attended.

Participants received special training for evangelism through seminars, national and international Adventist volunteer programs, and the presentation of the “28 Jewels of Adventist Youth” Bible study guide, organizers said. At the same time, young people enjoyed entertainment options in a large venue that includes a large pool, ecological areas, cafeterias, a market, and other amenities.

The camp days also featured live concerts by several musical groups, including Zimrah (from Argentina), Dulce Alabanza (from Colombia), and several Peruvian singers. Drama performances highlighted and shared biblical messages.

The evening keynote speaker was Nuevo Tiempo evangelist Joel Flores. North Brazil Union Mission youth director Sósthenes Andrade and Eduardo Lucas, a pastor who is a missionary in India, led some of the seminars offered.

The Beyond the Mountain Youth Camp held by the South Peru Union Mission.

Photo: South Peru Union Mission

MEANINGFUL CEREMONIES

During the camp, regional church leaders attended the launch of the 2024 Caleb Mission initiative.

“During the launch ceremony, thousands of young people in southern Peru showed great excitement about the prospects,” organizers said.

At the same time, 190 pastors, church administrators, and young adults were invested as new Adventist Youth leaders under the guiding theme, “Salvation and Service.” Also, 176 young people enrolled in the South American Division’s Adventist Volunteer Service initiative, and another 192 registered for the One Year in Mission program, regional church leaders reported. Hundreds more registered for several other outreach and mission initiatives in Peru and beyond, leaders said.

The day of high emotions was crowned by a baptismal ceremony, in which 304 people decided to bear public witness of their faith. The new members were welcomed with great joy, leaders from the South Peru Union Mission reported. “We want to keep leading thousands of young people and also adult members into prayer and missionary action,” leaders said. “It is our goal to keep sharing the gospel, always working together and connected.”

ABOUT CALEB MISSION PROJECT

Caleb Mission Project is an evangelistic program of the Adventist Church developed in the South American Division (SAD). Its goal is to promote the participation of young Adventists in voluntary service during school vacations across the eight South American countries which make up that church region.

The project encourages anyone over sixteen years of age to actively participate in community outreach and evangelism through home visits, Bible studies, and other activities. Those who participate in the Caleb Mission Project are commonly called “Calebs,” and usually go to the mission field wearing shirts and carrying backpacks, Bibles, and other materials stamped with the project’s name and logo.

According to church leaders, the greatest achievement of the Caleb Mission Project was the successful involvement of youth more directly and actively in the Adventist Church’s mission. “The project helped to create evangelistic awareness among youth based in their own communion with God, [and] awakened the missionary vocation in thousands,” they said.

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Focus

Who Are You?

Adventist identity and the presence of God

BY JOHN PECKHAM

W

ho do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Jesus asked. “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets,” His disciples replied.

“But who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked (Matt.

16:13-15).

On this question of Christ’s identity everything hinges—including my identity, your identity, and the identity of everyone else.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Peter correctly answered (verse 16).

Jesus of Nazareth entered this world as a human son, born to an ordinary Galilean woman. If you passed Him on a dusty road, you might not have even noticed Him. Jesus seemed like an ordinary man, but He was far more. He was the divine Son of God—“the Word.” He “was God” and “He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1, 2).

This same “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (verse 14). Thus, He was called “Immanuel,” which means “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Only through Him—truly God and truly man—could humanity be reconciled to divinity so that humans can live with God forevermore.1 But we are not yet with God in the way He originally intended—the way the first humans dwelled with God in Eden before sin, when God walked “in the garden in the cool of the day” (Gen. 3:8). The

Ontheroad / Lightstock

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entrance of sin severely disrupted the fullness of God’s presence with us. Satan became the temporary “ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), and evil, suffering, and death became part of all human experience.

But God responded with amazing grace, promising that a descendant of Eve’s would come and crush the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15)—foretelling that Christ would endure the ultimate suffering to defeat Satan and eventually eliminate evil, so that God could be with us again in fullness, forevermore.

GOD’S PRESENCE IS CENTRAL TO ADVENTIST FAITH

Many identify God’s presence as Scripture’s central theme.2 Accordingly, God’s presence is central to Adventist theology and identity, embedded in our very name—Seventh-day Adventist. The “Adventist” part of our name identifies our faith in Christ’s second coming, after which “we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17). The “Seventh-day” part emphasizes the Sabbath, the seventh day, set apart for worship and restful communion with God as a memorial of God’s works of creation (Ex. 20:11) and deliverance (Deut. 5:15).

In these and many other ways, Adventist faith is bound up with the hope of unbroken communion with God. Altogether, the name Seventh-day Adventist highlights God’s presence with us in “time” (the gift of the Sabbath) and the final restoration of God’s personal presence with us (the Second Coming).

Alongside these stands the sanctuary system, through which God makes a way to be with us despite the disruption brought by sin. The entire story of redemption revolves around God’s presence, with Christ’s works of atonement bringing about the ultimate fulfillment of God’s 12

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promises to be with His people.

Let us briefly take a closer look at these three pillars of Adventist faith and identity—the Sabbath, the sanctuary, and the Second Coming.

THE GIFT OF THE SABBATH

Some view Sabbath as a burden, but it is the opposite—a great gift of grace! The Sabbath is a gift of God’s presence; a day in which we can rest in His works so we do not have to work (the opposite of works-based religion). As Jacques Doukhan explains: “In obeying the fourth commandment, the believer does not negate the value of grace” but “through obedience to God’s law, the believer expresses faith in God’s grace.”3 The Sabbath is a sign that God saves His people—God sanctifies (makes holy) His people as His work of grace, in which believers can rest. As God proclaims in Ezekiel 20:12: “I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.”

The Sabbath thus stands as a sign of the identity of God’s people, those who belong to Him and are saved by Him. At the same time, the Sabbath rejects any attempts to locate our value or identity in our productivity or achievement, calling people to rest in what God has done and is doing.

The Sabbath is also a day of deliverance, remembering how God saved Israel from slavery in Egypt (see Deut. 5:15). Isaiah 58 further sets the Sabbath in the context of God’s concern for justice, calling God’s people to “release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke,” to share “bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into” our house, to clothe the naked and not

hide ourselves from our brothers and sisters and their needs (Isa. 58:6, 7, NASB)4—the kinds of things Jesus was criticized for doing on the Sabbath (Matt. 12; John 5; cf.

Luke 4:18, 19). Notably, in a chapter on the Sabbath in The Desire of Ages, Ellen White wrote: “Every false religion teaches its adherents to be careless of human needs, sufferings, and rights.”5 In this and other ways, the Sabbath stands as a sign of allegiance to Christ and His kingdom of unselfish love and justice over and against the powers of this world that follow the dragon, Satan (see Rev. 12-14). The Sabbath likewise stands as a temple in time; a day God sets aside for rest and relationship, to rejoice in the love of our Creator and Sustainer.

In contrast to our achievement-obsessed world, which fosters anxiety and burnout, the Sabbath offers us a time to celebrate God’s work for us instead of focusing on our works—to commune with Him, enjoying what He has made instead of chasing after what we might strive to make of ourselves, to rest in Him. In an age in which people are becoming more lonely, busy, anxious, and distracted, such sacred time is increasingly important.

Among other things, the Sabbath provides sacred time for undistracted relationship with God and others. What a gift! Christ invites you: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

THE GOOD NEWS OF THE SANCTUARY

Alongside the Sabbath—a temple in time—stands the sanctuary. The earthly tabernacle and temples prefigured the heavenly sanctuary in which Christ intercedes for us as our High Priest (Heb. 8:1, 2; 9:11, 12), to

Christ’s ministry as our High Priest brings the reconciliation necessary for the full restoration of God’s personal presence with all creation.

ways or the Lamb’s way of unselfish love? Where is your allegiance?

With whom do you identify?

Without Christ’s intercession for us, we would be condemned.

But all judgment has been given to Christ (John 5:22), and He stands as the advocate of all who place their faith in Him (1 John 2:1)—all who ground their identity in Him as Savior and Lord. Without Him you cannot win. But with Him you cannot lose.

Christ’s ministry as our High Priest brings the reconciliation necessary for the full restoration of God’s personal presence with all creation. He works not only for your personal deliverance but to right all wrongs in the universe, to bring an everlasting kingdom of unselfish love. If you call on Him, He will rescue you. He is enough.

As Ellen White wrote: “You will come up from the grave without anything, but if you have Jesus you will have everything. He is all that

Ontheroad / Lightstock

reconcile us to God forevermore.

This is tremendously good news!

Yet many do not understand just how good this news is!

When many think of the sanctuary, they think of judgment—and not in positive terms. On the surface this is understandable. Most of us do not like to be judged. But for those in need of deliverance, judgment is very good indeed—the Lamb’s way of unselfish love defeats and displaces the cruel and oppressive way of the dragon.

Imagine a man in a courtroom, waiting for a verdict. Everything depends on it. Will the verdict be good or bad? He cannot know for sure. He waits for what seems like eternity. Finally the verdict is in.

Guilty on all charges. The perpetrator is ordered to pay full restitution.

Is the man distraught or overjoyed? That depends on whether the man is on trial or a victim of the one found guilty, desperately hoping for restitution.

In the latter scenario the man and his family are overjoyed.

Justice has finally come. They’ll get back what was lost. Deliverance has come through judgment.

In Scripture judgment is a wonderful thing—bringing justice and deliverance for victims of evil.

The faithful in Scripture thus cry out for God to bring judgment, not questioning why God brings judgment or trying to avoid it, but often wondering why God does not bring it more swiftly and decisively.

Through the sanctuary proceedings God will bring justice in the end. Through the sanctuary proceedings God vindicates His character and makes atonement for us, reconciling us to Himself, so that all who are willing to be saved can live with Him forever.

This wonderful news calls us to reflect on where we stand. Do we follow the dragon (Satan) and his

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The story of Scripture is the story of God’s quest to restore the fullness of God’s presence with us as He originally intended. you will require to stand the test of the day of God, and is not this enough for you?”6 The dragon and his followers will finally be condemned, but all who repent of evil and embrace God’s unselfish love will be forgiven and cleansed (cf. 1 John 1:9). And the cry will go forth to God: “Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!” And: “Your righteous acts have been revealed” (Rev. 15:3, 4, NASB).

In ways I cannot even begin to describe here, the sanctuary system displays the beautiful love and work of Christ for us and in us—to redeem and transform us so we can be with Him forever.

THE GREAT HOPE OF THE SECOND COMING

This brings us back to the great hope of the Second Coming. As noted earlier, the label “Adventist” identifies us as people eagerly awaiting and preparing for Christ’s second coming.

After Christ’s return, God will again “tabernacle” with us (Rev. 21:3). Then “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more 14

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pain, for the former things have passed away” (verse 4).

In the meantime Adventists are tasked with proclaiming the three angels’ messages (Rev. 14:6-12) to help prepare the world for Christ’s soon return—preparing to be with God again in fullness. Among other things, the three angels’ messages highlight how the way of the dragon, who selfishly attempts to change God’s law, force worship, and dominate the world, is diametrically opposed to the way of the Lamb—the way of unselfish love.

At the Second Coming God’s personal presence with us will finally be fully restored. The story of Scripture is the story of God’s quest to restore the fullness of God’s presence with us as He originally intended. God desires to be with us so much that Christ became human—“God with us” in the flesh—and died for us.

In the end it will finally be the case that “the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.

God Himself will be with them and be their God,” and there shall be no more evil, or suffering, or death—forevermore (Rev. 21:3, 4; cf. 1 Cor. 2:9).

The Adventist message is a marvelous theology of God’s presence— deeply interwoven with the story of redemption as the story of God with us. This is a message of great joy and hope and love—God with us again forever! We should not only present our faith and teach it as such wonderful news, but also live and love accordingly.

IDENTITY ROOTED IN CHRIST

As we await and prepare for Christ’s return, each of us must answer Christ’s question for ourselves: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15).

Who do you say that He is? The way you answer this question

relates not only to His identity but to yours. Whether you recognize it or not, He is your Creator; He is the Lord over all and the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12).

As God’s creature, made in God’s image, you are already of immeasurable value, and God invites you into ever deeper relationship with Him. If you believe in Christ, then you are in Christ by faith—an adopted child of God, with all the inheritance rights that brings (see Rom. 8:15-17). That is your ultimate identity.

As Adventists, our faith is centered on God’s presence—our identity is bound up with waiting and preparing for Christ’s return, considering ourselves dead to sin, but alive in Christ (Rom. 6:11).

Ultimately, then, our identity is rooted in Christ—who was and is and is to come, through whom everything was created, who gave His life for us, rose from the dead, even now ministers for us as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, and will soon return to take home with Him all who trust in His name, to be with God forevermore. That is our identity— children of God, rooted in Christ, in hope. May we always remember who we are and live out our Adventist faith accordingly.

1 For more on this theme, see John C. Peckham, God With Us: An Introduction to Adventist Theology (Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Press, 2023).

2 See J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, God’s Relational Presence: The Cohesive Center of Biblical Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019).

3 Jacques Doukhan, “Loving the Sabbath as a Christian: A Seventh-day Adventist Perspective,” The Sabbath in Jewish and Christian Traditions, ed. Tamara Cohn Eskenazi, Daniel J. Harrington, and William H. Shea (New York: Crossroad, 1991), p. 155.

4 Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

5 Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898, 1940), p. 287.

6 Ellen G. White, Evangelism (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1946), pp. 243, 244.

John Peckham is associate editor of Adventist World and research professor of theology and Christian philosophy at Andrews University.

Identity in Christ, not Crisis The beauty and challenge of identity

BY RONALD KUHN

Ontheroad / Lightstock

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ho am I? This is probably one of the most complex questions we could ask ourselves. The answer takes many factors into account.

Someone might say, “I am an Arab girl,” or “a German player,” or “a New York police officer.” Arab girl is a very general description and provides limited information about the person’s context. She could be a Muslim princess in Dubai, a Christian Egyptian, or a Syrian refugee girl. The German player could be a Nigerian of the Yoruba ethnicity whose parents were from Togo. He may be a naturalized German soccer player with two citizenships now.

The New York police officer could further identify himself as an atheist, who just conducted a DNA test and found out that he has Dutch, Native AdventistWorld.org November 2023

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American, Black African, Irish, and Mongolian heritage.

As we can see, our identity could be described by many different aspects: citizenship, biology, geography, religion, culture, and profession, to name a few.

ASPECTS OF IDENTITY

The ways in which we are identified by governments and communities are, in most cases, beyond our choices. In terms of both biological traits and social structures, our identity is influenced and formed before we are even born. As we grow older, opportunities to consolidate our identity increase.

Education and social influences play a major role in what we choose to incorporate into our identities.

Depending on where we live and how much freedom we have, we can challenge certain assumptions and make some hard choices that may change our identity. These may include changing our religion, political affiliation, and even nationality.

Some of these choices can be the result of difficult circumstances.

For example, a persecuted religious refugee may decide to change his or her national identity because of the cruel treatment received in their own home country.

Some aspects of our social and cultural identity are better understood when we take a step back and draw comparisons with other cultures. I was born in Brazil, but became aware of some profound facets of my Brazilian cultural heritage only when I left my country and was able to see my identity from a different perspective. Interacting with Germans and Latinos (of Portuguese and Spanish backgrounds) outside of Brazil allowed 16

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me to understand my Germanic and Latin cultural traits more clearly.

After living outside our native countries for a long time, we may experience an identity crisis. The crisis develops as we adopt some aspects of the new culture in addition to our own culture. At times there may be a clash of values. Many of these values are not about right and wrong, but are simply different ways of doing things. For example, someone from a culture that has a more nuanced communication style may think people from a direct orientation culture rude when they speak directly. As our values are challenged, so is our identity.

that in the choices we make, God’s ideals and His law, as revealed in the Bible, set the standard of conduct for how we should live.

We choose God’s standard because He knows what is best for us even when it contradicts our own preferences and inclinations. We trust the promise that God is giving us a new dimension of identity, through Jesus, that transcends and guides all other understandings of our own identity. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Eze. 36:26, NIV).

HOW THINGS CAN GO WRONG

GROUNDED IN CREATION

Those who believe in the Bible as a revelation of God’s plan of salvation for the planet and for them as individuals see their identity primarily as children of God (cf. Gen. 1:26, 27; Rom. 8:16).

Scripture teaches that humans were created by God to grow in knowledge and happiness. When we accept this biblical truth, it changes the understanding of our own identity. We realize that while we are citizens of a certain place or belong to a certain people group, our fundamental identity is rooted in the grand biblical narrative of the history of humanity and what God has done and will do to restore everything to perfection. We understand that there is a moral code of conduct and an ideal for how we should live and treat one another.

The Bible’s grand narrative includes the concept of the new kingdom that Jesus came to establish, based on love, justice, respect, and freedom. Even when it comes to our freedom, we understand

A right understanding of identity should lead people to love and respect others. Unfortunately, terrible things happen when people stereotype and discriminate based on identity differences. This happens with respect to race, skin color, and religious and political affiliations. It seems humanity will always find a reason to discriminate. That is because discrimination is based on the evil nature of all humans. People of all cultural backgrounds have done terrible things against their own neighbors and against foreigners.

When I was growing up and learning about certain aspects of people’s identity, I first understood racism as a kind of discrimination between people of different skin colors. I witnessed it in my home country. When, at the age of 21, I went to Africa as a volunteer, I discovered at least as much, if not more, discrimination between certain tribes as the discrimination between those of differing skin colors in my own country. I was Image: Ontheroad / Lightstock

shocked! How could it be?

Later, to my horror, the world was faced with the sad reality of the genocide in Rwanda. In one of the smallest countries in the world, about 100 miles long, two main ethnic groups collided. The result was that more than 800,000 people were killed.1 At that time the population of the country was about 7 million.2 That would mean at least 11 percent of the population was killed. A study conducted

by Yale University estimates that up to 14 percent of the population died during the genocide.3 To put this into perspective, applying the Yale percentage estimate to the population of the United States, we would have the staggering number of 46 million people killed in less than a year. In South Africa today, that would be 8.4 million people, and in South Korea it would be more than 7 million people. People can do terrible things to one another when they accept a distorted view of human identity. As I mentioned, this has happened and continues to happen everywhere.

ROOTED IN CHRIST

Enter Jesus. He broke all barriers by loving and mingling with all people. During His time on earth the Jews so discriminated against their Samaritan neighbors that a Jew would not talk to a Samaritan.

In direct rebuke, Jesus illustrated a true neighbor by telling the story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:2537. He pointed to the discriminated Samaritan as the example of kindness and love when even the religious leaders failed in their duty.

In the book The Desire of Ages Ellen White beautifully describes the way Jesus treated the Samaritans:

“Jesus had begun to break down the partition wall between Jew and Gentile, and to preach salvation to the world. Though He was a Jew, He mingled freely with the Samaritans, setting at nought the Pharisaic customs of His nation. In face of their prejudices He accepted the hospitality of this despised people. He slept under their roofs, ate with them at their tables—partaking of the food prepared and served by their hands— taught in their streets, and treated them with the utmost kindness and courtesy.”4 It is perfectly normal to have a national or community identity. We don’t live in isolation. We are part of groups that hold similar cultural and social identities. The problem is when we misuse or mistreat those who may differ from us. Our identity must never lead us to compromise our Christian values. Jesus never broke the law. In fact, He lifted the standard, showing that you can break the law in your heart by hating others (Matt. 5:21, 22, NIV).

Our identity has been tainted and distorted from God’s original plan. But there is hope. Not in following what we think our identity should be, but by trusting the One who made us.

To keep a machine running well, we need to follow the creator’s manual for the best use of it. If we say, Now it is mine and I’m free to adjust and care for it the way I want, we may have serious problems. Would you like to fly on an airline owned by someone who disregards the manual and maintains the planes according to their own desires? I think you get my point. The principle is the same. Our Creator knows what is best for us. He also knows that an enemy has damaged His

Enter Jesus.

He broke all barriers by loving and mingling with all people. original creation. Fortunately we can choose to be repaired. He wants to re-create and imprint a new identity in us. Hating hearts will become loving hearts. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7, NIV).

Now the question “Who am I?” is no longer complex if we listen to the Creator. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12, 13, NIV). We are all children of God. A new Identity? A new me? Yes! “ ‘I am making everything new!’

Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’ ” (Rev. 21:5, NIV). https://www.britannica.com/event/Rwanda-genocide-of-1994 https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/rwanda/historicalbackground.shtml 3 https://gsp.yale.edu/case-studies/rwanda-project 4 Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898, 1940), p. 193.

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Ronald Kuhn is associate director of the Institute of World Mission at the General Conference of Seventhday Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. AdventistWorld.org November 2023

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GlobalView

A Sure Foundation Based on God’s Word, Part 2

Biblical Creation The Seventh-day Adventist Church teaches that God created this earth recently in six literal 24-hour days. I fully believe in a short chronology and not deep time, accepting the biblical history and Spirit of Prophecy indication that this earth is about 6,000 years old. When God created this earth, He spoke, and it was created immediately, not over long periods of time. The seventh-day Sabbath is the memorial of Creation. It points to God as our Creator and Redeemer and is integral to the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12.

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BY TED N. C. WILSON

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his article, the second of a two-part series, considers eight more challenges facing the Seventh-day Adventist Church today and biblical responses offered through God’s Word. We firmly believe in and stand confidently on the Bible and God’s counsels to us through the Spirit of Prophecy as provided in the writings of Ellen G. White. For further study, visit the cited fundamental beliefs for supporting Bible texts and more.

The Sanctuary Service and Righteousness by Faith The sanctuary of the Old Testament, as revealed to Moses, is a model of the heavenly sanctuary. Every aspect reveals God’s great love for His creatures and the centrality of Christ’s sacrifice and grace in the salvation process. The church believes and proclaims that the sacrificial aspect of the sanctuary was completed at Calvary when Christ died as the Lamb. His work continued when He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry in the first apartment of the real heavenly sanctuary. In 1844 Christ entered the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary to begin the investigative judgment where He is currently interceding as our High Priest. Scripture shows that in 1844 Christ entered the real second apartment of the real heavenly sanctuary to begin the investigative judgment and is currently interceding as our high priest. The sanctuary service reveals the complete ministry of Christ, uplifting His justifying and sanctifying righteousness as our only path to eternal life. Soon Jesus will leave the most holy place, exchange His priestly robes for His kingly robes, and take us home to be with Him at His soon second coming.

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FOR FURTHER STUDY, SEE: (->) Fundamental Belief 6, “Creation,” bit.ly/BiblicalCreation

The False Doctrine of “Love Reality” A recent false doctrine, “love reality,” has been promoted in some Adventist institutions of higher learning. It is a derivative of “once saved, always saved,” in which behavior is not important, since “God loves you and doesn’t worry about what you do if you are embraced in His love.” This is a very dangerous false doctrine and should not be accepted, since it destroys the understanding of Christ’s justifying and sanctifying righteousness. Do not be tempted with this false doctrine.

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FOR FURTHER STUDY, SEE: (->) Fundamental Belief 10, “The Experience of Salvation,” bit.ly/ BibleSalvation (->) Fundamental Belief 11, “Growing in Christ,” bit.ly/BiblicalGrowth

FOR FURTHER STUDY, SEE: (->) Fundamental Belief 24, “Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary,” bit.ly/heavenlysanctuary

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Photo: Sixteen Miles Out

Our name is a sermon, telling us where we came from, whom we worship, and where we are going.

A Sense of Urgency in the Advent Movement The urgency of Christ’s second coming should pervade every aspect of life for Seventh-day Adventists, but some seem to have lost this sense of urgency. The complex and worsening conditions in this worn-out world should awaken us to the urgency of proclaiming the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12 as we anticipate Christ’s return. Jesus indicated three times in Revelation 22 that He is coming quickly. Let us live with the sense of urgency that allows the Holy Spirit to work through each of us, sharing with others the need to fall at the foot of the cross and be prepared for the Second Coming through the grace of Jesus Christ.1

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God. God has called this church as a unique movement with a unique message on a unique mission, centered in Christ and His mission of salvation. The wonderful messages in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy help us see that Seventh-day Adventists are called by God as a peculiar and separate people.2 We are called and chosen for mission to prepare people for the Lord’s imminent return. Our name is a sermon, telling us where we came from, whom we worship, and where we are going. Be delighted to be a Seventh-day Adventist and share the Advent message with everyone!3 FOR FURTHER STUDY, SEE: (->) Fundamental Belief 13, “The Remnant and Its Mission,” bit.ly/ RemnantandMission

FOR FURTHER STUDY, SEE: (->) Fundamental Belief 25, “The Second Coming of Christ,” bit.ly/ ChristsComing

Our Identity as God’s Remnant Church Some members seem to have lost sight of the identity and reason for the existence of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as God’s remnant church. God called the Seventh-day Adventist Church for a particular reason—to lift up Christ and His righteousness. This is the core of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12—turning people back to the true worship of

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False Accusations About the Church’s Relationship to Ecumenism The Seventh-day Adventist Church is not involved in compromising ecumenism with other religious bodies or movements. Nothing can compromise our biblical understanding of truth. We believe in making friends with other religious and public groups to help them understand who we are and how we positively contribute to society by following Christ’s method of helping people physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. I have the privilege occasionally to meet public officials and share with them

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who Seventh-day Adventists are and what we believe, and I end with prayer for these public leaders.

The presence of Seventh-day Adventists in various groups of public or church officials does not in any way imply that Seventh-day Adventists have become ecumenical and given up any fundamental biblical beliefs or ever will. Some pictures of public affairs events have been misrepresented, attempting to show the church is involved in ecumenism. This is not the case. Beware of false accusations that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has become “Babylon” and has compromised biblical truth. We are God’s remnant church and will continue to stand firm on the Word of God. We know exactly what we will face in the future, and believe wholeheartedly in the prophetic understanding of our role in the final events of earth’s history as outlined in the books of Daniel and Revelation and The Great Controversy.

FOR FURTHER STUDY, SEE: (->) Fundamental Belief 12, “The Church,” bit.ly/ UnderstandingChurch

Challenges to the Authority of the Church The Seventh-day Adventist Church understands that the Holy Spirit works through structured organizations that are organized by heaven itself. This church was uniquely and

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The authority of the church is not some hierarchical process, but a worldwide representative process directed by the Holy Spirit. specifically organized as God’s lastday Advent movement to proclaim the three angels’ messages and final loud cry to a world that desperately needs the message of Christ’s righteousness, grace, and salvation.

The church is built on a committee system that allows for the Holy Spirit’s direct intervention in how decisions are made as He guides leaders and members in making decisions. When committee decisions at the worldwide level are made based on biblical and Spirit of Prophecy instruction and guided by humble prayer, personal opinions and convictions are to be laid aside, and the authority of the world church is to be respected and accepted. When people or organizations do not follow biblical principles of church authority, the church cannot simply “fire” people or get rid of organizations without a very careful, biblical approach of trying to help them realize their mistakes.

The church structure is not a hierarchical administrative arrangement; it is built on common biblical beliefs, policy agreements, and a commitment to work together under the power of the Holy Spirit. Although there are disciplinary measures that can be used, the church works carefully to bring people back to unity in Christ through the Holy Spirit’s power.

The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy are filled with counsel guiding us to accept the authority of the world church in session, where we make decisions on biblical beliefs, Church Manual items, governance decisions, 20

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and other specific topics brought to the world church representation.4 The Spirit of Prophecy indicates we are to work in harmony with each other and with God. At the local church, conference/mission, union, and division levels, all decisions should be made in accordance and cooperation with the worldwide decisions made. The authority of the church is not some hierarchical process, but a worldwide representative process directed by the Holy Spirit. With Christlike humility we are to respect the authority of the church at all levels as God leads His people in the final days of earth’s history. We are called to “press together,”5 and to unity in Christ (John 17; Eph. 4), in our belief, and mission to the world as we approach Christ’s soon coming.

FOR FURTHER STUDY, SEE: (->) Fundamental Belief 14, “Unity in

writings were given by God to lead His remnant church in all areas of life, pointing us back to Christ and His Holy Word, the Bible. Given by God, the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy instruct us in how to present to the world the final message of warning, calling people back to the true worship of God (Rev. 14:6-12).

Unfortunately, there are those who disparage, downgrade, and repudiate the Spirit of Prophecy. We should be united in our appreciation of and respect for the direct counsels of God given to us in detail about personal spiritual growth, church life, and our world mission as given in the Spirit of Prophecy.

I entreat you to have a strong commitment to reading the Word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy and following God’s instructions for His last-day remnant people, who are proclaiming to the world Christ’s powerful, prophetic, saving message. Jesus is coming soon!

the Body of Christ,” bit.ly/UnityInFOR FURTHER STUDY, SEE:

TheChurch

(->) Fundamental Belief 18, “The Gift of Prophecy,” bit.ly/PropheticGift

The Role of the Spirit of Prophecy Through the Writings of Ellen G. White There are constant attacks on the acceptance of the Spirit of Prophecy as given by God through the writings of Ellen G. White. The Spirit of Prophecy was given to the Seventh-day Adventist Church (Rev. 12:17; 19:10) as a precious gift from God and is as applicable today as when it was written. The large body of Ellen White’s

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See Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), vol. 7, p. 138; Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1956), p. 81.

2 See E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 19.

3 See Ellen G. White, Selected Messages (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1958, 1980), book 2, p. 397.

4 See E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, pp. 260, 261.

5 Ibid., vol. 5, p. 488.

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Ted N. C. Wilson is president of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. You may follow him on X (formerly Twitter): @pastortedwilson and Facebook: @Pastor Ted Wilson.

Millennial Voices

Declaration of Dependence

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t the center of the university campus where I study and work stands a pole with the Argentinian flag. Every day they raise it at dawn and lower it at dusk. When the Independence Day of another country is celebrated, however, they also raise its flag on a shorter pole. I am always struck with the image of constant change of flags on the shorter pole. The only flag that remains constant is the flag of my home country.

When I talk with my friends and He is still students, I see how changes in society us. Little by little, it seems, even inviting us to be affect our right understanding of Bible truths closer to Him is under threat of change. I have been shaken by the realization of how than we have deeply easily I could be led into confusion if ever been, and I am not careful. I see how earnestly I to pray and read the Bible in order work with Him need to keep the anchor in place. to help those While I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law last summer, I attended who have not church with them in the northern part yet surrendered of our country. They were observing “Ten Days of Prayer” in a very small to Him. the church, but with very enthusiastic people with whom we could share testimonies and beautiful moments of worship every night. As is usual in that program, I was given a card to write down the names of people I wanted to pray for every day. It was a simple gesture, but it ignited once again the desire to focus more on praying and intercession. Some of these people do not know that I am praying for them, but I have been trying to find ways of doing small things to show that I care about them.

Another resolution I made involves reading the whole Bible together with the Conflict of the Ages series once again. This time I decided to reflect on the stories with the people on my prayer list in mind. What a blessing it has been!

Those “ten days” have turned into more than 100, and have reminded me of God’s answers— “yes,” “no,” and “wait” —as I pray for specific things.

By the time the Midianites ruled over them, Israel had long lost its close relationship with God. Many of their neighbors had ruled, and were to rule, over them. Many secular ideas had fogged their minds. The produce of their land was being stolen, and another flag was flying over them. But the angel of the Lord came to Gideon, and, among many things, he told him: “The Lord is with you. . . . Go. . . . Have I not sent you? . . . I will be with you. . . . . I will wait until you come back” (Judges 6:12-18).

How beautiful it is to see that despite our walking away, our doubts, and our lack of faith, we are still given opportunities to rekindle the flame of our relationship with God. There is still time. But time is precious, not to be taken for granted.

In our specific countries we may celebrate a Day of Independence once a year, but the most important signature in the story of our lives should be the one accepting the terms of a Declaration of Daily Dependence on God and His Word. May that be our true and only flag. He is still inviting us to be closer to Him than we have ever been, and work with Him to help those who have not yet surrendered to Him.

Carolina Ramos studies translation, English teaching, and music education at River Plate Adventist University in Argentina.

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Dr. Kershner stands in his makeshift dental clinic at Zaoksky Adventist University in Zaoksky, Russia, in May 2014.

Faith in Action

Molars and Music American dentist makes big difference in Russia

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ew may have heard of John and Cheryl Kershner, an Adventist dentist and his wife from Frederick, Maryland. The couple are local celebrities and household names in Zaoksky, located two hours by car south of Moscow. They have taken about 60 trips to Zaoksky over the past 30 years, investing an enormous amount of time, energy, and resources in the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s premier educational institution in the former Soviet Union.

John, who retired on his eightieth birthday in June 2023, first came to Zaoksky shortly before the Soviet collapse in 1991. He set up a makeshift dental clinic, bringing his own equipment to spend countless hours fixing the teeth of children, students, faculty, staff, friends, and neighbors of the university.

Potential patients eagerly anticipated his next visit. The list of people awaiting fillings and extractions often filled up weeks before his arrival.

He never turned anyone away. Even with jet lag from the eight-hour flight from the United States, John typically got to work as soon as he reached the university. Someone once remarked to me, “The teeth of half of Zaoksky’s population are shining with healthy smiles, and the other half can’t wait until John comes to fix their teeth too.”

John usually brought a small dental team of other Adventists, Christians, and even atheists. Zaoksky provided an opportunity to witness to those dentists and hygienists about God’s love. Every team worked hard and never complained.

A RARE GIFT

John has a rare gift of friendship, knowing how to accept and appreciate others. Despite a limited knowledge of the Russian language, John visited 22

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Andrew McChesney

the homes of Russian families and made lifelong friends with university students and leaders, construction workers, drivers, teachers, pastors, and kitchen workers. Where John was present, celebration and fun was sure to follow. Table conversations and friendships were unforgettable.

“We are delighted to see the depth of love that the Lord has put into John’s heart,” said Alexander Salnikov, a gifted craftsman who, with his wife, Masha, has welcomed John into their home more than 50 times.

“He knows how to love sincerely, to love those who are suffering.”

John made friends everywhere: in the local hospital and village church, among local government officials, and on airplanes. At one point he was affectionately nicknamed “Ivan Ivanovich,” the most common name in Russia.

Interestingly, after making friends

John Kershner and his wife, Cheryl

in Russia, John often invited them to visit him in Maryland. Some people he couldn’t help with his limited dental equipment in Zaoksky ended up being treated at John’s clinic in Frederick.

How many people have received dental help? No one knows for sure, and if John knows, he isn’t telling.

MORE THAN TEETH

The assistance has gone far beyond teeth. Yelena, the daughter of Vasiliy Novosad, who supervised the construction of Zaoksky in 1986, was diagnosed with cancer as a 17-year-old girl in the late 1990s.

Seeing that she had no chance of receiving effective treatment in Russia, John took her to the U.S. Consulate in Moscow to plead for a U.S. visa. To their delight, the consulate officer granted the request.

Later John and Cheryl cared for Yelena both before and after the successful operation in the United States. They also covered her tuition to attend a U.S. college.

Many students have received an Adventist education through John’s help. Recognizing gifted young people who were committed to Jesus and eager to study medicine, John has helped put many of them through AdventHealth University in Florida, Andrews University in Michigan, Loma Linda University in California, and Southern University in Tennessee. Sometimes he has covered the tuition himself, and at other times he has found donors.

On one memorable occasion he intervened on behalf of a predental student with a heavy debt at Andrews University. He and his wife donated their private airplane to the university’s aviation program to cover it. In another instance John became aware of a young woman who could not pay for her last two years at Loma

Kershner family photo

Linda University’s School of Dentistry. He found someone to pay the tuition. Students have been deeply touched by John’s kindness and seen it as God’s answer to fervent tearful prayers.

John and Cheryl fell in love with Russian music and have partially or fully sponsored more than 50 students in Zaoksky’s music department over the years.

Without their generous support the department would probably not have survived several difficult years. John helped purchase musical instruments and donated money so the Zaoksky choir could travel and perform concerts across Russia and abroad. In 2009 John, together with his friends, organized and financially backed a trip for the Fletcher Academy choir from North Carolina to travel to Zaoksky.

The 45 students were well received as they sang for Week of Prayer meetings and at several concerts.

An unassuming man, John says little about his mission efforts for Zaoksky. His eloquence is his works. A wheelchair purchased for a girl with a disability. Money given to buy medicine. Airfares covered on behalf of financially

Perhaps no one has extended more love to Zaoksky Adventist University in Russia than a mission-minded married couple living thousands of miles away in the United States. struggling students. Vaccinations.

Clothes. Food. Computers. Textbooks. Plane tickets for a musician to give a concert for the Zaoksky community. More plane tickets for a pastor to hold a Week of Prayer at Zaoksky. The list goes on and on.

Heaven only knows all the names and circumstances in which the Kershners intervened to make a difference in someone’s life.

Without a doubt, their love for Zaoksky reflects their love for Jesus. Sadly, Cheryl passed away last March. The Kershners’ legacy will be lasting and continued by other mission-minded people who were inspired by their quiet dedication to Jesus. As a token of Zaoksky’s appreciation for the Kershners’ support, the university’s student center has been named in their honor.

Yuri Drumi, former president of Zaoksky Adventist University in Zaoksky, Russia, has known John and Cheryl Kershner for three decades. He now serves as associate professor of mission and intercultural studies at the Seventhday Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

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The Lale family when they were on furlough in the United Kingdom in 1978; left to right: Don, Andrew, Ann and Timothy.

Mission

In the Line of Duty Giving their all to the Lord One of our colleagues, Tim Lale, recently related the story of his missionary parents and their tragic end while serving in Zimbabwe. We share an adapted version of the account taken from the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists.1—Editors.

D

on Lale and his wife, Ann, were Adventist teachers serving as missionaries in Zimbabwe when in 1981 they were brutally murdered by suspected Mozambican rebels in a dawn attack at the school where they taught. The rebels were carrying out reprisals against an attack by South African forces, and the Lales were innocent victims of their rage.

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EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

Don Lale was born in 1931 on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.

As a young man he joined the Royal Air Force and, while serving in Mauritius, began taking Bible studies from a French family that led him to become an Adventist. When he returned to England, he was baptized and attended Newbold College. For a time Lale worked at the Stanborough Press in the Photo-Litho Department.

On March 18, 1962, Lale married Ann E. Smith. She had attended Newbold College, where she graduated as a Bible instructor. Ann had worked at the Stanborough Sanitarium and as a Bible instructor at the New Gallery Seventh-day Adventist Church in London. When the Stanborough Press relocated to Grantham in Photo: Stanborough Press Archive

1966, the Lales moved with it. Lale continued to work for the press until both he and Ann enrolled in a three-year teacher-training course at the Stoke Rochford College of Education in Grantham. After graduating, they both worked at schools in Grantham.

MOVING TO AFRICA

In January 1975 the Lales were called to serve at the Teacher Training College in Gwelo (now Gweru), Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The country was undergoing a period of instability following the war of liberation that pitted nationalist forces fighting the regime of Prime Minister Ian Smith. In a letter published in the British Advent Messenger in 1975, the Lales had evidently embraced and adjusted well to life in Africa, visiting and enjoying the attractions that Rhodesia had to offer. They wrote, “The political situation becomes more uncertain by the day and the terrorist war has been stepped up, but we believe that the Lord will be our refuge and our strength.”2 They served at Gweru for two years, and their two sons attended local schools. Timothy, the elder of the two, went to boarding school, while Andrew commuted to school.

In August 1977 they moved to Anderson School, 17 kilometers (10 miles) east of Gweru. They relocated because of insecurity in the Gweru area and remained at Anderson for three years. Besides the normal teaching load, Don was in charge of the boys’ dormitory. In July 1978 they returned to England on furlough with their sons, Timothy and Andrew, after which they returned to the Anderson School. In April 1980 Rhodesia became the independent nation of Zimbabwe.

DEATH AND AFTERMATH

In December 1980 the Lales moved to Inyazura Secondary School (now Nyazura Adventist High School) in eastern Zimbabwe, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from the border town of Mutare. They had responded to a call by the acting headmaster to move to Nyazura to fill a gap.

The school was established in 1910 and was one of the oldest Adventist schools in Zimbabwe.3 In 1976 it had been shut down during the war of liberation, reopening in 1979, and the Lales were part of its revival program.

The Lales had just settled in to teach when, on Tuesday, February 3, 1981, they were attacked by two armed men and murdered in cold blood. Ann was hit on the head with a stool and then shot at close range.

Don rushed to the office to get help, but was followed by one of the gunmen, who hit him across the chest with a blunt object.4 Don fell, and the staff who were there tried to help him, but the assailant threatened to shoot them if they dared. They watched helplessly as he

We cannot understand why such things occur to those who commit their lives to sharing the gospel, but we will not be deterred from reaching others for Jesus no matter the challenges or circumstances. bludgeoned Don to death. The assailant then forced the staff to recite nationalist slogans and forced them out of the building before fleeing into the dark.

The murder of the Lales sent shock waves across the world, and major news networks carried the story.

At the time of his parents’ deaths Tim was in England studying at Stanborough Secondary School, and Andrew was in Zimbabwe. Tim flew to Zimbabwe to attend their funeral. The couple were laid to rest next to each other at the Solusi Cemetery in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

A memorial service was held at Stanborough Park church on March 1, 1981, and was attended by the deputy mayor of Watford and a local member of Parliament. The BBC interviewed their son, Tim, soon after he and his brother returned from Zimbabwe. He spoke eloquently about the incident, his faith in God, and his hope in the soon return of Christ. He was heard by millions of listeners across England. The major newspapers also carried the story in their headlines, and the Adventist Church in England received unprecedented attention in a nation in which many had not even heard of the church.5 More than 40 years have passed since this tragic event, and their son, Tim, still speaks with confidence in God and His leading. We cannot understand why such things occur to those who commit their lives to sharing the gospel, but we will not be deterred from reaching others for Jesus no matter the challenges or circumstances. No matter where we are, we work “in the line of duty,” following Jesus no matter where He leads.

Visit encyclopedia.adventist.org and search for “Lale” or use this full address: encyclopedia.adventist. org/article?id=EH3H&highlight=lale.

2 R. D. Vine, “Open Letter—From Well-known Britons Serving in Rhodesia,” British Advent Messenger, Feb. 18, 1977.

3 “Institutions and Other Entities Located in the Zambesi Union Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1996), p. 118.

4 D. N. Marshall, “Tragic Deaths in Zimbabwe,” British Advent Messenger, Feb. 13, 1981.

5 W. J. Arthur, “Communication,” British Advent Messenger, July 24, 1981.

1

Adapted from an entry by Godfrey K. Sang, a historical researcher, writer, and published author with an interest in Adventist history who lives in Kenya.

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Bible Questions Answered

The Gospel and the Slain Lamb Q

What is the “eternal gospel” mentioned in Revelation 14:6 (NIV)?

A

Revelation 14:6 does not provide an explicit definition of the content of the gospel. One could and should assume that it is the same gospel of salvation by faith in Christ’s redemptive work found in the rest of the New Testament. The truth is that we do not need to assume anything, because a reading of the book of Revelation reveals John’s understanding of the eternal gospel.

“through His blood.” The sacrificial language introduced in Revelation 1:5 is now visible in the sacrificial death of the Lamb. The heavenly beings sing a hymn to the Lamb proclaiming His worthiness because “you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9, NIV). The concept of redemption is expressed using the image of purchasing the freedom of slaves. The cost to the Godhead was the blood/life of the Lamb—Christ’s sacrificial death. It is through His death that the Lamb overcame the forces of evil and delivered His people. The eternal gospel became visible and continues to be visible in Revelation in the figure of the Lamb that was slain.

3. THE LAMB AND GOD’S PEOPLE

1. SUMMARY OF THE GOSPEL (REV. 1:3-5)

It is precisely at the very beginning of the book that John introduces the good news of salvation through Christ, thus signaling the central importance of the topic in Revelation. John greets his audience in the name of the three persons of the Godhead, identified as the source of “grace” and “peace” (Rev. 1:4, NASB). These are two foundational soteriological terms. Grace is the gift of undeserved salvation, and peace points to our reconciliation to God through Christ. At the end of the greetings, John offers a doxology to Jesus and identifies Him as the one who “loves us” and “released [“freed” (NIV)] us from our sins by His blood” (verse 5, NASB).

Here John explains how grace and peace can flow from the Godhead to us, namely through the sacrificial death of Christ, who redeemed us from sin. Divine love is manifested in the divine act of redemption made possible at the cost of the blood/life of Jesus. He died in our place. This is the very heart of the gospel.

The sacrificial death of the Lamb is developed not only through the concept of redemption but also through that of cleansing. This is a new image— humans are in a condition of uncleanness, separated from God and heading to extinction, in need of cleansing. The detergent is the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). Only by accepting the divine offer of the saving effectiveness of the Lamb are humans declared free from moral and spiritual uncleanliness. Consequently, the blood of the Lamb enables God’s people to stand before God and the Lamb free from fear and in service to them (verse 15); a vivid contrast to the wicked, who cannot stand firm before the Lamb (Rev. 6:15-17). God’s people overcame the dragon through the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 12:11), particularly when they accepted Him as Redeemer. At the end of the cosmic conflict, Christ sits on the throne as the Lamb that was slain (Rev. 22:1, 3), thus assuring us that His sacrificial death will be eternally effective, because it is the most glorious manifestation of divine love.

2. THE LAMB AND REDEMPTION

The same understanding of salvation is found in Revelation 5:9, 10, but this time it is accomplished through the work of the Lamb that was slain for us, thus reaffirming our interpretation of the phrase 26

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Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, Th.D., is retired after a career serving as pastor, professor, and theologian.

Health & Wellness

Choosing and Evaluating a Dentist Some helpful tips

I

n each of our recent three articles about dental care, we mentioned that in our quest for comfortable, attractive, functional oral health, there are several essential things that professionals do for us that we cannot do for ourselves.

For optimum oral health, almost every person should visit a dental professional on a regular, personalized schedule. If you are one of millions of people who do not have a regular dentist either because you have chosen to avoid them, you have recently relocated, or because of some other barrier, you may decide to remedy this situation so that prevention and early, simple, comfortable, inexpensive treatment characterizes your dental experience.

So how does one recognize and evaluate a dentist? First, “just any dentist,” even a highly competent one, may not be the doctor for you.

Personalities, expectations, and other factors such as clinic policy must mesh as well. And of course, what we all want is a trustworthy, skillful, compassionate dentist who does the highest quality work.

First, a couple of ways not to choose a dentist: Online referral sites are often little more than paid advertisements, so be skeptical unless you find an evaluation site with many, many patient comments, of which the overwhelming majority are positive. Also, do not choose a dentist based on price. In dentistry as in many other things, the least-expensive thing sometimes becomes much more expensive in the long run, and high fees don’t ensure quality. Fancy ubiquitous advertising may not be dependable either.

Asking trusted friends who have a long-term relationship with a dentist is a good start, especially if several friends recommend the same dentist. When you first contact the dental office, you can begin to get a feel for the team’s attitudes. Does the receptionist listen? Do they answer questions gladly about fees, timing, etc.? Do they explain office policy, and are they pleasant?

When you meet the dentist, is he or she confident, kind, patient, and communicative? Are you shown the condition of your mouth? Are treatment options presented and long-term consequences explained?

Photo: Elizabeth Lizzie

Are you invited to help with decision-making? Does he or she understand your limitations regarding finances or scheduling, and suggest ways to address your personal needs?

During your first appointment, are you briefed on what will happen and how it will affect you? Is your feedback sought and your feelings, your anxiety, or concerns heeded? Is the dentist rushed or patient? Is instruction offered for effective oral hygiene? Does the dentist take X-rays and check your gums, soft tissues, and head and neck? Is the dentist careful not to hurt you?

Finally, you should be confident that if there are emergencies or problems in the future, your dentist will be responsive, concerned, and fair.

Good oral health is an essential part of overall health, and we know that God, in His mercy and love, wishes for us vibrant whole-person health.

When we have this health, it is much easier to have a “mouth . . . filled with laughter, and [a] tongue with singing” (Ps. 126:2).

Doyle Nick, D.D.S., specializes in prosthodontics at Koppel Special Care Dentistry in Loma Linda, California, and is the associate director for Global Dental Affairs at the General Conference.

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“May I Tell You a Story?”

BY DICK DUERKSEN

“They will check our water faucets, look in the refrigerator, and make sure I’ve cleaned under the beds,” Ruthie told him. “And they will check the door that goes down to the basement. The one with the broken latch. The one I’ve been asking you to fix for several months. The social worker will be here sometime Tuesday afternoon, which means you will be fixing the door Tuesday morning.”

The timing was terrible.

ALTERED PLANS

J

osé always does whatever his wife, Ruthie, tells him to do. Well, mostly.

This time was different. Ruthie sat José down and gave him an ultimatum. No options or delays.

The state of Maryland was sending a social work supervisor to their house—a person who would be inspecting every closet, checking every door, and making sure that their house would be an acceptable home for foster children who needed a new place to live.

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As director of the Office of Volunteers for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor José Rojas had helped send more than 100,000 volunteers around the world. For this reason Pastor José had been invited to the United Nations building in New York City on Tuesday morning to celebrate the United Nations “Year of the Volunteer.”

Instead, Ruthie was “requiring” that he stay home and fix the basement door.

The day had been carefully planned! He would take the train

José Rojas

A Red Three-legged Bear

from Baltimore to New York City and enjoy a long breakfast at the Windows on the World restaurant at the very top of the World Trade Center. He had always wanted to eat at the restaurant in the Twin Towers, and this was his chance!

Then, after watching morning arrive from the windows high above the city, he’d catch a taxi for the short ride to the United Nations building and the special ceremony.

“Fixing the door” was not in José’s Tuesday plans.

They argued about it. José explained how important it was for him to be at the ceremony. Ruthie reminded him of how important it was for him to go to the hardware store. José apologized for not fixing the door, and then reminded her how important it was for him to represent the church at the ceremony. Ruthie accepted the apology, but stayed firm about his needing to stay home and fix the door.

It was the worst argument of their marriage, and probably the only time Ruthie had made such a definite demand. José listened, and decided that somehow, fixing the door was God’s will.

José stayed home.

Instead of breakfast at the Windows on the World restaurant, he shared breakfast and watched the news with Ruthie at their kitchen table in Maryland.

The day was September 11, 2001, and the morning news filled José and Ruthie with terror and thanksgiving. They watched in stunned awe as smoke rose from where a jetliner had just flown into the New York World Trade Center’s North Tower, just below the restaurant. The day took on even greater meaning as they watched another airliner fly into the World Trade Center’s South Tower, then watched both buildings collapse, killing everyone in the restaurant and thousands more.

“You saved my life” were about the only words José could find as he and Ruthie shared a tear-filled bear hug in the kitchen. The rest of the day was filled with prayers, phone calls, more news, family prayer sessions, and fixing the door.

LENDING A HELPING HAND

During the years he worked for the church in Washington, D.C., Pastor José also volunteered as a domestic policy advisor for three different United States presidents. His insights had been appreciated by both Democrats and Republicans, and even now he often spent his afternoons working on domestic policy issues in a small office in the White House.

Wednesday morning Pastor Sung Kwon, director of Adventist Community Services, asked José to drive with him to New York and help serve a city in crisis. As they were preparing to leave, news came that the Northeastern and Greater New York conferences had secured the commitments of more than 50 pastors who could visit and minister to the families of those lost in the towers. They added associate director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, Pastor Marty Feldbush, to their drive.

In New York, Chaplain Feldbush immediately met with the pastors and trained them for the Official Red Cross Crisis Counseling Credential. The pastors soon fanned out across the city in support of families affected by the tragedy at the towers. After a joint meeting with the conference leaders, Pastors Kwon and Rojas led a small group to Manhattan’s “Ground Zero.”

“Ground Zero” was a vast pile of rubble and toxic dust. Hundreds of emergency responders were crawling through it, searching desperately for any sign of survivors. Because the disaster had struck chords of care in the hearts of thousands across America, security became a concern, as too many people wanted to help. Some were highly trained in search and rescue. Others were police, doctors, nurses, or crane operators. Some were politicians.

“We set up support stations with

bottled water, snacks, fruit, full meals, juices, and places to cry,” Pastor José remembers. “Though I was especially pleased with the restaurants who donated high-value protein meals, I believe the most important volunteers were those who knew how to provide a shoulder for someone to cry on. The first responders and searchers were not finding anyone still alive in the pile of rubble. The firemen would work for multiple hours ‘in the pile,’ then come to a station for a bottle of water, and begin sobbing uncontrollably in the arms of someone they had never met. Someone who understood. Someone who listened.

Someone who cried with them.”

All the workers were breathing in the toxic dust that was still rising from the building. Asbestos, carbon, concrete, gypsum, and burned plastic seemed to have vaporized into a thick cloud that made your throat convulse and your eyes burn.

“There was a bank across the street whose basement served as ‘the mortuary.’ ” José wipes away tears as he describes the place. “But there were very few whole bodies. Most had been crushed or burned, and the workers were often bringing in just body parts. It was a terrible time.”

In the pile firemen found a small red teddy bear, a souvenir from the Top of the World gift shop. Then two more. These little bears became emblems of hope at Ground Zero. Then José found a fourth bear, but this one had only three legs. One leg had been torn away in the fiery blast.

One bear is now in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.; two more are in other memorials to the September 11 attack. The fourth bear, the one with the missing leg, is a constant reminder of how God works in our lives every day.

“The little three-legged bear,” says Ruthie, “always brings me to tears, and I thank God that He kept José home that day, September 11, 2001.”

Publisher The Adventist World, an international periodical of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The General Conference, Northern Asia-Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists®, is the publisher.

Editor/Director of Adventist Review Ministries Justin Kim International Publishing Manager Hong, Myung Kwan Adventist World Coordinating Committee Yo Han Kim (chair), Tae Seung Kim, Hiroshi Yamaji, Myung Kwan Hong, Seong Jun Byun, Dong Jin Lyu Associate Editors/Directors in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA Sikhululekile Daco, John Peckham, Greg Scott Assistant Editors based in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA Enno Müller, Beth Thomas Editors based in Seoul, Korea Hong, Myung Kwan; Park, Jae Man; Kim, Hyo-Jun Digital Platforms Director Gabriel Begle Director of Systems Integration and Innovation Daniel Bruneau Operations Manager Merle Poirier Editorial Assessment Coordinator Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste Advisor E. Edward Zinke Financial Manager Kimberly Brown Distribution Coordinator Sharon Tennyson Management Board Yo Han Kim, chair; Justin Kim, secretary; Hong, Myung Kwan; Karnik Doukmetzian; SeongJun Byun; Hiroshi Yamaji; Joel Tompkins; Ray Wahlen; Ex-officio: Paul H. Douglas; Erton Köhler; Ted N. C. Wilson Art Direction and Design Mark Cook, Brett Meliti, Ivan Ruiz-Knott /Types & Symbols To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. Address all editorial correspondence to 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600, U.S.A. Editorial office fax number: (301) 680-6638 E-mail: worldeditor@gc.adventist.org Web site: www.adventistworld.org Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible references are taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.

All rights reserved worldwide. Bible texts credited to NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission.

Adventist World is published monthly and printed simultaneously in Korea, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, Austria, Argentina, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States.

Vol. 19, No. 11

Dick Duerksen, a pastor and storyteller, lives in Portland, Oregon, United States.

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Growing Faith

Fun-filled pages for younger ages

Unshakable Faith

A

melia was a young woman who loved and trusted Jesus with all her heart. Usually she found strength and joy in their friendship. But lately she’d been having a hard time. She’d lost her job, her boyfriend had broken up with her, and a family member she loved very much had passed away. She felt sad and lost—something she had never experienced before. Why are all these things happening to me? she wondered.

One night Amelia sat on her bed, tears rolling down her cheeks. She needed help and hope. She noticed her Bible sitting on her nightstand, and, picking it up, she opened it to a random page, praying to find some encouragement. Her eyes landed on Jeremiah 29:11: “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans 30

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to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’ ” (NIV). As her finger traced the words, she smiled through her tears. That verse was just what she needed. It told her that God understood what she was going through and that even when life was hard, He had a plan for her, a plan that included a future full of hope.

Amelia kept reading. She turned to Genesis and read the story of Joseph. He had had a very hard life! His brothers had treated him badly and even sold him as a slave. Later he had been put in jail for something he hadn’t done! But he had never lost faith in God’s plan for him.

Through some amazing miracles, Joseph had been made the second-highest governor over all of Egypt and had saved the whole country. Amelia could see that even in really hard times,

God would be with her, shaping and preparing her for something good she couldn’t see yet.

As Amelia snuggled down into her blankets that night, she thanked God that she had the promise of hope to hold on to. He would never leave her to struggle alone.

The following week Amelia joined a Bible study group at her church with other people who had faced tough times. They talked about their struggles and how they found strength in Jesus. Someone read Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV). Even though it was hard to understand, Amelia knew that somehow God would bring something good out of what she was going through.

Life wasn’t easy. Some days Illustration: Mugi Kinoshita

BY BETH THOMAS

Bible Treasure “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” Jeremiah 29:11

were really hard, and Amelia still felt sad, even though she knew God was with her. One day she read about a woman in the Bible who had tried to find happiness in the wrong places, but Jesus had offered her something that would make her truly happy forever. After talking with Jesus, the woman had been so excited that she had run and told all of her friends about Him—how He had known everything about her but cared for her just the same.

The woman’s life had been completely changed. This gave Amelia an idea.

She started volunteering at a shelter for homeless women and girls. She played games with them, made food for them, took them shopping, and led out in a weekly Bible study. As she shared her own story of hard times, she told them about the strength she was finding in

her friendship with Jesus. Second Corinthians 1:3, 4 became her favorite Bible verse: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy. And he is the God of all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so that we can comfort others when they have trouble.

We can comfort them with the same comfort that God gives us” (ICB).* Amelia discovered that while she was helping others, she didn’t feel so sad! Maybe this was the “good” that Romans 8:28 had promised, or maybe it was having something to share with the women and girls at the shelter.

Amelia kept seeking God’s guidance in her life. She found a text in Isaiah 43 that said, “Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not hurt you’” (verses 1, 2, ICB). She found comfort in those words. No matter what hard times she faced, she knew whom she could count on.

Her sadness was turned to joy in helping others; her discouragement was turned into determination; and that little whisper of doubt in her mind was turned into unshakable faith because she had found her strength and identity in Jesus. She was a child of God, loved and cherished beyond measure. * Scriptures credited to ICB are quoted from the International Children’s Bible, copyright © 1986, 1988, 2008, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Beth Thomas is assistant editor for Adventist World.

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