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The International Paper for Seventh-day Adventists

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Planting Community Health Centers

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I Have a

Dream, Too

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God

Is Love

43

Never

Give Up

North American Division | n a d

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C O V E R

The International Paper for Seventh-day Adventists

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O c tob e r 2 01 4

S T O R Y

Planting Community Health Centers

Planting Community Health Centers

By Andrew McChesney

I Have a

Dream, Too

29

God

43

Is Love

Never

Give Up

V I S T A

By Ted N. C. Wilson

Yes, He is still speaking.

20 I Have a Dream, Too F U N D A M E N T A L

B E L I E F S

By Willie Edward Hucks

Resurrection morning is coming.

By Evelyn Sayler

It’s something we humans struggle to understand.

29 God Is Love

By Bruce Manners

His unconditional love never stops.

30 God, the Designer

8 God’s Authoritative Voice W O R L D

L I F E

Prodigal Grace

D E V O T I O N A L

Seven stories from around the world 20

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A D V E N T I S T

S p ec i a l

F E A T U R E

By Ronny Nalin

What do the patterns of life tell us about God?

32 Thank God for Pastoral Families

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F E A T U R E

An interview with Ivan Williams, Sr., director of the Ministerial Association of the North American Division

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3 6 10 11 14 17 18

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R E P O R T

News Briefs News Feature A One-Day Church NAD News NAD Update NAD Perspective NAD Letters

19 W O R L D H E A L T H Every Church a Community Health Center S P 40

O F

I R I T P R O P H E C Y

Comfort and Help

www.adventistworld.org Available in 11 languages online

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B L E Q U E S T I O N S A N S W E R E D

Rituals and Ceremonies 43 B I B L E S T U D Y Never Give Up 44

I D E A

E X C H A N G E

On the cover: A boy receiving a hot meal at the Ashbury Adventist Center in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

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The Adventist World® (ISSN 1557-5519), one of the Adventist Review ® family of publications, is printed monthly by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Copyright © 2014. Send address changes to Adventist World, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. For information about advertising, contact Glen Gohlke, 301-393-3054 (ggohlke@rhpa.org). PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 10, No. 10, October 2014.

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From All the World

WORLD REPORT

South American Adventists

Make Bible a

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ANN

Hot Topic on Twitter

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very world-class team draws talent from around the globe. Millions of readers of Adventist World should expect nothing less.

In the past five months this editorial team has been deepened and strengthened by two international journalists whose skills and commitments to this faith are on display in nearly every edition.

Andrew McChesney, most recently the editor and executive publisher of the Moscow Times, Russia’s largest English daily newspaper, joined our team as news editor in May. Born in the United States, Andy spent 17 years in Russia, rising from a beat reporter to the top editor of the most influential newspaper for English readers in that nation of more than 140 million. His monthly column, Dateline Moscow, has endeared him to readers of the Adventist Review (sister journal of Adventist World) for more than seven years. His commitment to the global mission of the Seventhday Adventist Church shines in every article.

In July we welcomed Dr. John M. Fowler as editor-at-large.

Now “officially” retired after 52 years of continuous service to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, John served for 21 years as a literature evangelist and pastor, and later, chief editor of the Oriental Watchman Publishing House in Pune, India. He added roles as education director and associate secretary of the Southern Asia Division before coming to the church’s world headquarters in 1990 as an associate editor of Ministry magazine and associate director of the world church’s Education Department. Now living in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India, he provides invaluable assistance in understanding Scripture and world events.

These two strong journalists, added to a team that already includes members from Germany, Guyana, Switzerland, Trinidad, Singapore, Canada, and the United States, make real our commitment to bring you a truly “World”-class magazine each month.

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Left: WHY TWITTER WORKS: Magdiel E. Pérez Schulz says local Adventists have latched onto the idea of tweeting for three reasons: anyone can participate, it doesn’t take much time every day to do, and it can be done from any location. Right: LAUNCHING THE PLAN: Presidents of each of the church’s 13 world divisions read a portion of Genesis 1 to launch the Revived by His Word initiative on April 17, 2012, at the denomination’s world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.

■■ Are you familiar with the Twitter hashtag #rpsp?

If you live in South America and are active on the microblogging service, chances are you know that it stands for Reavivados por Su Palabra, or Revived by His Word.

Several thousand Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Seventh-day Adventists have been tweeting their thoughts on the daily Bible reading plan since the world church launched it in 2012, and their efforts have made #rpsp one of the most popular hashtags on the continent.

In fact, the hashtag has made the top list of trending topics—the most-discussed topics on Twitter—in Brazil and several other countries of the South American Division.

“It has been very uplifting to see how the church has reacted positively to Revived by His Word and the amount of daily tweets that we’ve had in the past couple of years,” said Magdiel E. Pérez Schulz, who oversees local social media as executive secretary of the South American Division.

Revived by His Word kicked off on April 17, 2012, with the church’s 13 division presidents taking turns reading Genesis 1 during a meeting Continued on next page

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WORLD REPORT

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Adventist World - nad | October 2014

other means, Pérez Schulz said. “Let your imagination work,” he said. “But if you want to hop onto this initiative, do so and involve everyone. We’ve got work to do. The gospel needs to be preached in every possible way.”

Nepal: One Millionth Scholarship Dollar Awarded

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ANN

■■ A Nepali student named Sunita has become the recipient of the one millionth dollar from a scholarship fund backed in part by the sale of women’s devotional books.

The one millionth dollar was included in a $500 scholarship granted to Sunita during a July 23 meeting of the Women’s Ministries Scholarship Fund at the world church’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. The money will assist Sunita in paying for her tuition at India’s Spicer Adventist University, where she is majoring in education.

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communities. “We use those networks to keep up with old friends and family, and we use Twitter to learn and to keep us informed,” Pérez Schulz said in an e-mail interview. “Why couldn’t we use it as a tool to share the gospel and to keep others posted about what we have learned or what has touched us during that day’s reading?”

That kind of thinking has seen the number of #rpsp tweets soar from zero in April 2012 to about 3,000 a day in July 2014. According to Twitter statistics, about 6,530 participants have sent some 100,000 tweets with the hashtag over the past 11 months, reaching 8.5 million people who saw the tweets a total of 197 million times (impressions).The region’s Facebook figures for Revived by His Word are also high.

“This shows that our members are committed to the project and to using their time and talents in this area,” Pérez Schulz said.

Local leaders make an effort to retweet messages from youth, Pathfinders, and other members. “The retweets show our members that we value their comments and that we learn from them,” Pérez Schulz said.

He underscored that South American Division president Erton Köhler, who has a respectable 30,500 followers, and other senior local Adventist officials tweet regularly about the Bible chapters.

“Remember that if leaders do this, then those who follow us will imitate us,” Pérez Schulz said. “So we need to be the first. God has called us to do this.”

While less than a year remains before the project ends, Adventists around the world can and should find ways to promote Revived by His Word, whether through Twitter or

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at the world church’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. At the same time a Web site, revivedbyhisword.org, opened where people can read all 1,189 chapters of the Bible by committing to one chapter a day until the General Conference session starts in San Antonio, Texas, in July 2015, and then two chapters a day during the 10-day meeting.

The daily reading, which is available in multiple languages, pairs each chapter with a reflective blog entry written by an Adventist church leader or layperson. About 100 bloggers have contributed so far, and another 50 are expected to weigh in by the time the project wraps up.

Adventist leaders have expressed hope that at least half of the church’s 18 million members would get involved in Revived by His Word, an amount slightly higher than the estimated 47 percent of Adventists worldwide who were reading the Bible every day when the online initiative started.

While comprehensive readership figures were not immediately available, each chapter on the Englishlanguage version of the site attracts 200 to 400 comments and thousands of readers daily, said Derek Morris, who helps steer the project and is the associate secretary of the world church’s Ministerial Association.

But the South American Division, and particularly Brazil, which has more than 1.4 million Adventist members, appear to be at the forefront in sharing the Bible plan via social media. “Magdiel has been doing an amazing job with tweeting for Revived

by His Word,” Morris said.

Magdiel E. Pérez Schulz said it was only natural for local church members to start tweeting Bible insights to their

$1 MILLION: Women’s Ministries associate director Raquel Arrais, at head of table, chairing a meeting of a scholarship fund in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Wednesday, July 23, 2014. The fund gave out its one millionth dollar during the meeting.

“By helping Sunita, we are strengthening our church in Nepal,” said Heather-Dawn Small, director of the world church’s Women’s Ministries Department. “We’re wanting to strengthen the church worldwide by empowering women and supporting them in their higher education.”

Originally founded by the proceeds of an annual women’s devotional book, the fund over the years has awarded 2,164 scholarships to Adventist women attending universities in 124 countries. Department leaders say the fund has helped strengthen the Adventist Church worldwide, especially in developing countries.

Small praised the $1 million mark as “a big accomplishment” for women’s ministries. “Education is one of our core focus points, and it’s the only department in the world church we know of that gives scholarships for women,” she said.

The fund began in 1993 from the royalties of what would become the department’s annual women’s devotional book. Its first recipient was May-Ellen Colon, who is now an assistant director with the Seventhday Adventist world church’s Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department.

“It was an encouragement, an affirmation,” Colon said of her scholarship, the only one awarded that year.

The committee now awards annual scholarships totaling $75,000 to $125,000, said Women’s Ministries Department associate director Raquel Arrais. Each of the Adventist Church’s 13 world divisions receives the same amount to award.

To donate or apply to the Women’s Ministries Scholarship Fund, visit adventistwomensministries.org.

— Ansel Oliver, ANN

Left: INSIDE THE DISPLAY: An IQ team member discusses artwork in a window display with a passerby at a Birmingham shopping center. Above: The window display and art exhibit that nine young Adventists organized at a Birmingham shopping center draws attention.

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Britain: Faith Showcased in Shop Window ■■ With shopping centers looking more crowded than churches nowadays, a group of creative-minded young Adventists in Britain decided to showcase their faith in a shop window.

The nine Adventists staged a public art exhibition in a shop window in one of the busiest shopping centers in Birmingham, the biggest British city after London with more than 1 million people.

The three-day exhibition, titled “The IQ: Innermost Questions,” featured artwork made by the nine Adventists and themed around life’s unanswered questions, such as the existence of humanity and the origins of morality.

“My whole aim with the IQ project was to make use of the creative skills we have in the church to bring the gospel outside of the church walls to the people,” said coordinator Daniel Blyden, a member of the local AstonNewtown Community church. He jumped at the chance to hold the exhibit when a friend opened a shop with a window display in The Square Shopping Centre in February.

Blyden said the unconventional approach to evangelism this summer

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stimulated conversations about Jesus with many shoppers and proved highly effective in reaching people from all walks of life, resulting in follow-up Bible studies with atheists and Muslims alike.

Safi, a young Muslim, was in the city center participating in Islamic outreach when he saw the exhibition and decided to take a closer look. The IQ team gave him a tour that raised his curiosity about Christianity and led him to ask for Bible studies to learn more, Blyden said.

— British Union Conference and Adventist Review staff

Vanuatu: Couple Gives Roofing to 100 Churches ■■ How far can US$35 go?

On the Vanuatu islands, deep in the South Pacific, it can cover an entire Seventh-day Adventist church with a durable iron roof.

Adventist leaders in Vanuatu have thanked a retired Australian couple, Henry and Hanni Rusterholz, for providing iron roofing to dozens of churches over the past decade. During a special lunch, Vanuatu Mission Continued on next page

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WORLD REPORT

By Andrew McChesney,

president Nos Terry presented the couple with a bowl carved out of coconut hardwood as a token of appreciation.

“This is nothing compared to what you have contributed to the Mission and church members in Vanuatu,” Terry said. “Without your support, we would not be able to respond positively and adequately to the many requests for iron roofs that we receive each year.”

The Ruzterholzs have spent more than 1 million vatu (US$10,700) since 2001 in providing iron roofing to more than 100 Adventist churches in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. A 12-foot (3.6-meter) iron roof costs 3,400 vatu (about US$35).

Now in their 80s, the Rusterholzs are unsure how much longer they will be able to contribute to the church roofs.

The couple first visited the islands in response to a pastor’s request to build a church. “As soon as we saw how people worship under simple thatched roof made from bush leaves, we were touched,” said Henry Rusterholz. “We thought if we could in a small way enable people to worship under at least a decent roof, we would be happy. It has been our ministry ever since.”

— Simon Luke, South Pacific Record

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She Missed Flight 17 Because of the

Sabbath

Frieda Souhuwat-Tomasoa tells why she changed her ticket from the flight shot down over Ukraine.

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THANK-YOU GIFT: Vanuatu Mission President Nos Terry, left, presents a carved bowl to Henry and Hanni Rusterholz.

news editor, Adventist World

Adventist World - nad | October 2014

Dutch Adventist woman who nearly flew on the Malaysia Airlines jet that was shot down over Ukraine said she changed her ticket at the last minute because she didn’t wish to travel on the Sabbath. Frieda Souhuwat-Tomasoa, 67, had booked a ticket on the July 17 flight to make an emergency visit to Ambon, Indonesia, where a major conference that she was organizing was on the brink of collapse.

But three days before the flight, Souhuwat-Tomasoa realized during morning worship with her husband, Max, that her itinerary meant that she would end up traveling on Sabbath, July 19, to reach her destination.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed by a missile on Thursday, July 17, as it flew over rebel-held eastern Ukraine on a flight from Amsterdam to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

All 298 people on board the plane died.

“On Friday, when I heard about the accident, I cried during my phone call with Max and said to him, ‘God is good and great to His children,’ ” Souhuwat-Tomasoa said. “His Spirit spoke to me during our devotional on Monday morning and told me, ‘If you take this route, you will travel on the Sabbath. Don’t.’

“God still speaks to us every single day if we are only quiet and willing to listen to His voice,” she said in an interview. “I still thank Him every moment of the day for His guidance and blessings.”

The Indonesia Connection

Souhuwat-Tomasoa, who has been a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since her baptism at the age of 20, said she has never flown on the Sabbath during her many trips for Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), a Hague-based organization that seeks to find nonviolent solutions to conflicts that affect indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognized or occupied territories.

“In all of my UNPO missions, no matter where I’ve gone, I have kept the Sabbath and not once set foot on an airplane,” she said in the e-mailed interview.

Souhuwat-Tomasoa, a member of the Netherlands Union Conference’s executive committee, and an elder at her local Rotterdam North church, retired from a career in Dutch government service but remains active with UNPO, which she joined in 1991. She serves as a representative of the people

C o u r t e s y o f N e t h e r l a n d s U n i o n C o n f e r e n c e

THE PLANE: The Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 that crashed in eastern Ukraine is seen at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport in October 2011. Right: Frieda Souhuwat-Tomasoa A l a n

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of the Maluku Islands, where a conflict erupted between Christians and Muslims in the regional capital, Ambon, in 1999. The sectarian violence, which saw entire villages burned down, raged until 2003 and killed an estimated 10,000 people.

Souhuwat-Tomasoa was present in Ambon during the violence and used her position with UNPO to steer shiploads of food and clothing from ADRA, the Adventist relief agency, to those who needed assistance. She also helped facilitate a peace agreement that ended the fighting and has engaged in efforts to rebuild the shattered region, again working with the Netherlands branch of ADRA. She said the four years of fighting left many orphans and people with posttraumatic stress disorder.

When a multiyear study found that the Maluku Islands are the secondpoorest of Indonesia’s 34 provinces and its inhabitants are among the least educated in the country, UNPO decided to organize a major conference to create understanding and insight into local problems and to help shape the province’s policy.

Souhuwat-Tomasoa set to work organizing the conference with Ambon’s

three largest universities.

“Unfortunately, it’s been a long and difficult road due to many different factors, including objections by the central government in Jakarta and the local government,” SouhuwatTomasoa said. “What further complicates matters is the large-scale corruption in the province.”

The Days Before the Crash

In June everything appeared to be in place. The conference program was finished. The time schedule and speakers had been arranged, and the event was scheduled to take place August 1 to 5. But on July 8 SouhuwatTomasoa received a phone text message from Ambon: The conference would have to be canceled. Leaders at the three collaborating universities were being threatened with dismissal.

UNPO held an emergency meeting on July 13, and decided that SouhuwatTomasoa should return to Ambon to look for a way to save the conference.

At the meeting, Souhuwat-Tomasoa agreed to take the July 17 flight on Malaysia Airlines.

“When I came home, I told my husband, Max. He answered, ‘It is your duty, and you have to do this,’ ”

Souhuwat-Tomasoa said. But after their morning devotional the next day, she told her husband that she would rather leave a day earlier, on July 16.

“If I were to leave on Thursday, I would spend the Sabbath traveling to Ambon, and I have never journeyed on a Sabbath in my life,” she said. She and her husband have no children.

With her husband’s support, Souhuwat-Tomasoa immediately contacted a travel agency and booked the new flight on Emirates Airline.

“I normally fly Malaysia Airlines or KLM,” she said. “I even traveled on a Malaysia Airlines flight in June.”

She informed UNPO about the change on July 15, confirmed the new flight the same day, and left Amsterdam on July 16. What happened to the Malaysia Airlines flight stunned and saddened her. “I am here to witness that God has spared me because I need to continue my mission here in Ambon and be available to aid people in our world who need help,” she said.

“At this moment, I’m still working relentlessly to solve the problems concerning the conference and will continue to listen to God’s voice, no matter what the outcome. His will be done, not mine.” n

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Editor’s Note: This article is abridged from Elder Wilson’s presentation at the International Conference on the Bible and Science in St. George, Utah, U.S.A. on August 15, 2014. The full text is available at www.adventistreview.org/affirmingcreation/‘god’s-authoritative-voice’. hat a privilege to be at this extraordinary International Conference on the Bible and Science. As educators, teachers, scientists, theologians, department directors, editors, administrators, pastors, and members, we all share a common belief in God’s authoritative voice as the Creator. We believe that the biblical creation account in Genesis 1 and 2 was a literal event that took place in six literal, consecutive days recently, as opposed to deep time. It was accomplished by God’s authoritative voice and happened when He spoke the world into existence.

As Psalm 33:6-9 proclaims: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. . . . For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” This is God’s authoritative voice!

By Ted N. C. Wilson

God’s

Authoritative

Voice He’s Still Speaking

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God’s Word is Powerful

God’s word was powerful then and is equally powerful today. We have His written Word and we have the account of the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ, who affirmed the creative power of the Godhead to create and re-create. Not only does our belief in origins hinge on this, but also our belief that in the salvation process of Christ’s righteousness, both justification and sanctification, that God can re-create something new in the heart of the human being.

Without this intrinsic belief in the power of God, neither origins nor the future have any real meaning.

Regarding origins, in the powerful, heavenly inspired book Patriarchs and Prophets the author writes: “The

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assumption that the events of the first week required thousands upon thousands of years, strikes directly at the foundation of the fourth commandment. It represents the Creator as commanding men to observe the week of literal days in commemoration of vast, indefinite periods. This is unlike His method of dealing with His creatures. It makes indefinite and obscure that which He has made very plain. It is infidelity in its most insidious and hence most dangerous form; its real character is so disguised that it is held and taught by many who profess to believe the Bible. . . . The Bible recognizes no long ages in which the earth was slowly evolved from chaos. Of each successive day of creation, the sacred record declares that it consisted of the evening and the morning, like all other days that have followed.”1 Trustworthy and Accurate

As we can see, the Spirit of Prophecy provides tremendous counsel and light on this subject. Actually, most who do not believe in biblical creation would not believe in the Spirit of Prophecy as a defining element in historical accuracy, and therefore they see

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it as unreliable for scientific or theological contribution. But the Spirit of Prophecy points back to the Bible, the absolute foundation of our faith and belief. I stand here today to state that both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy are absolutely reliable and are inspired by the Creator Himself.

Rely on the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy as the basis of your understanding of origins.

The seventh-day Sabbath is integral to a six-day creation week since it memorializes the literal creation week and provides a direct connection to our Creator.

God Speaks Clearly

In the book Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers we read: “Human philosophy declares that an indefinite period of time was taken in creation of the world. . . . The sophistry in regard to the world’s being created in an indefinite period of time is one of Satan’s falsehoods. God speaks to the human family in language they can comprehend. He does not leave the matter so indefinite that human begins can handle it according to their theories. When the Lord

This is not the time for halfhearted faith.

finds themselves in this dilemma to renew their connection with God through Bible study, prayer, study of the Spirit of Prophecy, and humble submission to the Holy Spirit who will lead us into all truth. Christ came to redeem us and reveal His love and authority as Creator and Redeemer.

Full Acceptance of God’s Authoritative Voice

declares that He made the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, He means the day of twenty-four hours, which He has marked off by the rising and setting of the sun.”2 How much plainer could it get?

Seventh-day Adventists around the world believe and accept the creation of this world in six literal days with the seventh-day as a memorial of creation, and we proclaim it with Holy Spirit power. If one does not accept the recent six-day creation understanding, then that person is actually not a “Seventh-day” Adventist, since the seventhday Sabbath would become absolutely meaningless historically and theologically—and most of our biblically based doctrines centered in Christ and His authoritative voice would become meaningless as well.

The person may claim to be an “Adventist,” but in reality without the clear biblical understanding of the foundational Sabbath doctrine and God’s authority as Creator and Sovereign of the universe, it is impossible to arrange a meaningful theological construct that would lead to or be acceptable for a belief in a literal second coming of Christ. I urge anyone who

The biblical account of origins underscores God’s power for salvation, His ability to re-create in us a new heart, and His ability to make all things new in the future.

This is not the time for halfhearted faith; it is the time to plead with the Lord for genuine revival and reformation leading to the latter rain of the Holy Spirit and a full acceptance of God’s authoritative voice. This is not some legalistic initiative, but is centered in Christ and Him alone.

The precious biblical truth of a recent, literal creation, including the commemoration of the creation week with the Sabbath, has come under fierce attack by unbelieving secular humanists, and is even being dismissed by some who claim to be Seventh-day Adventists. Do not believe them or participate in this manipulation of biblical truth regarding creation and the visible commemoration of creation—the Sabbath.

Evolution Is Part of Spiritualism

In essence, evolution is not a science—it is a false form of religion and part of spiritualism. “Spiritualism teaches ‘that man is the creature of progression; that it is his destiny from his birth to progress, even to eternity,

toward the Godhead.’ ”3 As teachers [at] Seventh-day Adventist academies, colleges, and universities, and leaders in God’s church, . . . hold firmly to a literal recent creation and absolutely reject theistic and general evolutionary theory. I call on you to be champions of creation based on the biblical account and reinforced so explicitly by the Spirit of Prophecy and as voted by the world Seventh-day Adventist Church at the 2010 General Conference session.

A church employee who teaches theistic or pure evolutionary theory should not exist in a Seventh-day Adventist school or church pulpit. Be loyal to God’s biblical truth, not just because you are employed by the church or you think it is the politically correct thing to do, but because you believe it with all your heart. Otherwise, the honorable thing, and I say this with all kindness, is for a person to resign from their position of trust. It is that important to God’s ultimate mission.

Methods of Interpretation Matter

Our church has long held to the historical-biblical method of interpreting Scripture, which allows the Bible to interpret itself. One of the greatest attacks against the Bible and creation is from the historical-critical method, which is influenced by the unbiblical approach of “higher criticism.” This approach is a deadly enemy of our theology and mission. It puts an individual above the plain approach of the Scriptures and gives inappropriate license to decide what he or she perceives as truth based on the resources and education of the critic. Reject this approach that is

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self-centered and inspired by the devil.

This approach does not lead people to trust God and His Word, and will destroy your own understanding of correct biblical theology and our precious Advent mission.

That Advent mission is completely linked to the bedrock memorial of God’s authoritative voice in creation and the Sabbath, which reminds us where we have come from. In the same way that “Seventh-day” reminds us of where we came from, “Adventist” tells us where we are going. We are waiting for the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ and look forward to it as the culmination of all of earth’s history. It is that blessed hope to which we cling and has been announced by God’s authoritative voice.

God’s authoritative voice was at the beginning of creation, where Moses records in Genesis 1 the words “and God said.” The apostle John records God’s authoritative voice in Revelation 22, the last chapter of the Bible, saying, “I come quickly.” God’s authoritative voice is real, and it is everywhere!

What a privilege to share our highly relevant biblical message that proclaims and upholds Christ as our Creator, Redeemer, High Priest, Coming King, and Best Friend! Thank God for His authoritative power at creation and His re-creative power to make us into new creatures for eternity. n 1 Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1890), pp. 111, 112.

2 Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1923), pp.

135, 136.

3 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), p. 554.

Ted N. C. Wilson is

president of the General Conference of Seventhday Adventists in Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A.

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One-DayChurch The Church at Runyararo, Zimbabwe

Top: OLD AND NEW: As the walls go up on the new church building, the old church building stands ready to assume a new role: fellowship hall.

Bottom: EXUBERANT LEADERSHIP: Lucy It was a party! not only leads the After years of waiting, the parts had all come local Dorcas Society, together: an ancient stickshe offers enthusiasand-thatch church building, tic leadership for the and a steel “one-day church”; a kiln packed with bricks entire project. ready for completing the church; and today, an ADRA well-drilling rig stood beside the church, its motors roaring and the bit grinding though tough granite.

The entire community was there, nearly 200 strong. Some to taste the water from the new well, some to lay bricks for the church walls, some to help prepare the noon meal. And some to stand on gray anthills and watch.

Hosted by the 35 members of the Runyararo Seventh-day Adventist Church, near Karoi, Zimbabwe, this was the event of the year. Even the headman and his wife had come.

The Maranatha team was welcomed by a dozen excited Dorcas women.

Dorcas leader Lucy grabbed our hands and joyfully announced, “Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming soon!”

The brick kiln was opened, and men quickly began raising church walls.

Women carried water, tended cooking fires, and stirred vast kettles of sadza and onions beneath the rough thatch of the “old” church.

Lucy pointed to the white ADRA truck and announced, “Today there will be a new church and a water well in Runyararo.”

At 220 feet the drill was still chewing through dry granite. After a brief lunch break, the drillers agreed to go a bit deeper. That brought more singing, praying, and even “calls for repentance” from Lucy and the other Dorcas women.

At 260 feet the drill hit soggy sandstone, and the great celebration began.

The old church was now the “fellowship room.” The new church was nearly ready for windows and doors. And the new water well had already become the “gathering place” at Runyararo.

Lucy stood beside the well and pointed toward heaven. “Jesus is coming,” she exclaimed. “Jesus is coming soon!”

ASI and Maranatha Volunteers International fund and facilitate One-Day Church and One-Day School projects. Since the project’s launch in 2009, more than 1,600 One-Day buildings have been built around the world. These stories come from Maranatha storyteller Dick Duerksen.

P HOTOS

BY

D i c k

D u e r k s e n

NAD NEWS

Breath of Life

Celebrates

40 Years

T

he year 2014 is a special one for Breath of Life Television Ministries. It was 40 years ago that this North American Division media ministry was born! In 1974 the Lord laid on the heart of Walter Arties the impulse to launch this powerful ministry. After 40 years of public evangelistic campaigns and weekly television broadcasts, Breath of Life, true to its mission of “presenting the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ to all people groups from a contemporary, urban perspective,” has helped launch 13 congregations and baptized more than 20,000 individuals.

Throughout its 40-year history Breath of Life has been led by three dynamic speaker/directors: C. D. Brooks (1974-1998), Walter L. Pearson (1998-2010), and Carlton P. Byrd (2010-present). Together the three have boldly proclaimed the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14, offered messages of healing and hope through Jesus Christ, and enthusiastically declared the love of our Savior and His imminent return.

To commemorate the 40-year anniversary of Breath of Life, Arties, Brooks, Pearson, and Byrd will be present in Huntsville, Alabama, at the Oakwood University church during the weekend of November 7-8, 2014, to celebrate God’s blessings on this ministry.

In addition to the collective preaching ministry of Brooks, Pearson, and Byrd, attendees will also be blessed with the music ministry of Arties, Shelton Kilby, the original and current Breath of Life quartets, the Oakwood University Aeolians, Dynamic Praise, Voices of Triumph, the Pine Forge Academy Choir, the Continued on next page

October 2014 | Adventist World - nad

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NAD NEWS Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy Choir, the Oakwood Adventist Academy Choir, and much more.

Anniversary worship services will be held Friday, November 7, at 7:00 p.m., along with Sabbath school at 9:15 a.m., divine worship at 11:00 a.m., and a musical concert/vespers at 6:00 p.m. on Sabbath, November 8.

Breath of Life is aired on multiple television networks including the Hope Channel, Three Angels Broadcasting Network, the Word Network, and other local television stations in select markets in North America. For a complete listing of the Breath of Life television schedule, and additional information about the Breath of Life fortieth anniversary weekend, call 256-837-1255 or visit www.breathoflife.tv.

Kerry Heinrich Appointed CEO of Loma Linda University Medical Center ■■ Kerry Heinrich, interim chief executive officer of Loma Linda University Medical Center and interim administrator of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, has been named CEO of both facilities, as well as the Behavioral Medicine Center. His appointment was approved by two governing boards on August 25, 2014. He had served in the interim positions since July 1, following the resignation of then-CEO Ruthita Fike.

Heinrich has had a long association with Loma Linda University Health as an attorney, serving on the legal counsel team. Since joining the organization in 1984, he has conducted contract negotiations and negotiated financial acquisitions and

complex corporate restructuring. He has also led major initiatives to improve reimbursements for the health-care entities.

A 23-member search committee— representing hospital, university, and physician leadership—recommended Heinrich’s appointment.

“After considering a number of strong internal and external candidates from many parts of the nation, Kerry Heinrich rose to the top as a natural choice,” said Richard H. Hart, president of Loma Linda University Health. “Not only does he have the right mix of business acumen, knowledge of Loma Linda’s culture, and passion for our mission, he has also demonstrated during his interim term the ability to provide the type of leadership we need during this critical time in Loma Linda’s history. For these reasons the boards approved the search committee’s recommendation.”

Heinrich will provide strategic leadership and oversee day-to-day operations of the six hospitals that together form Loma Linda University Medical Center. In addition, he will serve as executive vice president for hospital affairs of Loma Linda University Health.

“I’m looking forward with eager anticipation to the challenges and successes we will have as an organization wholly dedicated to the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ,” Heinrich said. “The coming years are going to be a dynamic, exciting time for Loma Linda. It will be a privilege to serve with my colleagues.”

Hart added that he was delighted to welcome Heinrich to this important leadership role on a permanent basis. “Kerry has the requisite skills and leadership ability to move us forward as our organization is changing

and maturing. He will be a great blessing in this position.”

Heinrich received his bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in business with an emphasis in finance and management from Walla Walla University in Washington. He earned a juris doctor (JD) degree from the University of Oregon’s School of Law and has specialized in health-care law.

He is a partner in the law firm of Schilt and Heinrich, LLP. His practice emphasis is health-care reimbursement and corporate transactional work for health-care entities. He served as special counsel for compliance to Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda University Health Care, and Loma Linda University Faculty Practice Plan.

Heinrich, 56, is married to Judy, a dentist, and they live in Calimesa.

They have two children in college, Christopher and Kate.

NEW CEO NAMED: Kerry Heinrich has been named CEO of Loma Linda University Medical Center.

LLU

12

Adventist World - nad | October 2014

H e a lt h

Left: OFF TO OSHKOSH: Each group that attended Pathfinder Day was given a complimentary group photo at the globe near the Andrews entrance. Right: T-SHIRT SCRAMBLE: The Department of Aviation flew an Andrews plane over the flag mall during lunch, dropping 100 University t-shirts for a few lucky Pathfinders.

D a r r e n

H e s lo p

Andrews University Hosts First-ever Pathfinder Day ■■ On Sunday, August 10, 2014, more than 100 Andrews University volunteers welcomed more than 700 Pathfinders onto campus. The firstever Pathfinder Day, coordinated by Rebecca May, community relations coordinator; Shelly Erhard, director of student visits; and Brittany Felder, student visits coordinator, introduced attendees to the university, some for the first time, and many of the great things it has to offer. Representatives from 29 states, as well as from England, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and the British Virgin Islands, were among the groups who came prior to their arrival at the Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which began two days later.

“About a year ago several areas on campus started receiving inquiries from Pathfinder groups who wanted to stop by on their way to Oshkosh this summer,” says May. “While we wanted to provide that opportunity, we also knew it would be impossible to accommodate multiple groups coming to campus over the course of a couple weeks at that time of the year.”

At the same time as Pathfinders

C h r i s ta

would be making the trek to Wisconsin, Andrews had summer graduation and the arrival of freshmen for the upcoming school year. In addition, many staff and faculty members themselves were heading to Oshkosh to assist with the camporee.

“It’s a challenging time to have an influx of campus visitors for an extended period of time,” says May. So in January she got together with three other staff members and decided to create a one-day event for Pathfinders to visit and experience Andrews.

With no additional budgetary allocations for the event, the involved departments stretched their collective resources and made a plan.

“We decided to cap the event at 1,000 people,” says May. “When a registration link was posted on the camporee Web site for Andrews University Pathfinder Day, in less than a week we had more than 1,000 registered, and we quickly closed registration!” The number eventually settled to 625, with a few groups showing up unregistered on the day of the event.

Participants had 16 different activities to choose from, all staffed by volunteers from across campus. Those who participated in at least four events were eligible to receive the cov-

M c C o n n e l l

eted Andrews University pin to wear proudly around Oshkosh.

Activities included a musical petting zoo, tours of the Horn Archaeological Museum, hayrides to the dairy, disc golf, campus tree walks, pipe organ demonstrations, and swimming in the pool, in addition to three honors offered: Flower Culture, Livestock, and Bones and Muscles.

In addition to the volunteers, the event could not have happened without the financial partnership of several areas of campus. The Andrews Airpark provided a pancake breakfast, for which Enrollment Management provided eggs and pancake toppings. Andrews Student Gardens obtained fruit at wholesale prices for lunch. Apple Valley market supplied cookies for dessert at lunch, and Dining Services offered an extremely good price for lunch and supper to make them affordable. Guest and Convention Services paid for the Pathfinder Day pins that participants received at the end of the day, and the Division of Integrated Marketing and Communication produced and paid for printed promotional materials.

“We will definitely do this again in five years,” says May. “It was a blast, and I think next time will be even better.”

— Becky St. Clair, Andrews University

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N A D U P D AT E

Embracing

the

By Jean Boonstra, Voice of Prophecy

Challenge After 85 years the Voice of Prophecy has a new location and a renewed vision.

I

t is a quiet Friday morning at the Voice of Prophecy’s headquarters.

Inside our new location at the corner of Lincoln and 6th streets in Loveland, Colorado, the landlord conducts a final check on the work his men finished this week. I sit in my sun-warmed office listening to the traffic on the street below. Four of the offices around me have furniture in them now, and a handful of team members are settling into their new homes with their families.

Anyone walking in off of the street this morning would describe this building as empty, and they would likely imagine that I am lonely here in my bright corner. They would be wrong. These offices and corridors are far from empty; they are brimming with the promise found in one of my favorite passages. These walls hold the promise of hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).

Voice of Prophecy’s move from Simi Valley, California, follows the decision by our parent organization, the North American Division, to close

14

and sell the Adventist Media Center.

In January 2014 our executive committee voted to relocate the ministry to Loveland, Colorado. H.M.S. Richards grew up in this community, and although that was not the deciding factor in choosing this as the new headquarters, we already feel as if we belong here.

Ministry Partners

We will continue to move in stages from the Adventist Media Center to our new headquarters throughout the fall, and the transition will be complete by the end of October. As we’re packing and unpacking, disassembling and reassembling, the business and mission of the ministry continues.

In September we celebrated what God did in the Mountain View Conference through a project in which we were partners: Reach Appalachia. The goal for this project was to send every home in the entire conference a Bible-study enrollment card offering free Bible studies. The cards were sent out in three waves, and the response caused a crisis!

Adventist World - nad | October 2014

VOP APP: Voice of Prophecy is available as an app on smartphones.

With more than 10,000 Bible study requests, the conference desperately needed enough volunteers to meet the need. The members in the Mountain View Conference rose to the challenge, and through stormy weather and on winding mountain roads they answered each request for Bible studies.

On September 13 and 14, 2014, a Discover Bible School graduation celebrated the difference that the gift of salvation has made in homes in this conference because of Reach Appalachia.

Our home base is new at Voice of Prophecy, but our mission has not changed. We exist for the same reason this ministry began 85 years ago: to bring lost people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. In October we will gather in California at the Ontario Convention Center to remember the eighty-fifth anniversary of this ministry. Join us on October 25 for beautiful music, inspiring preaching, and a chance to walk down memory lane even as we dream about the

future. For more information, visit www.vop.com.

The coming months will be busy ones. In early 2015 we will hold a full message series of meetings in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Speaker/director Shawn Boonstra and the team have already begun work in this beautiful city of many lakes. There are individuals in Minneapolis that need desperately to hear God’s message of hope.

Please join us in praying over this city, and for the work we know by faith God will do there.

Ministry Platforms

Voice of Prophecy has always been, and will continue to be, a media ministry. Our new headquarters will not only serve as office space, but as a

recording facility. Right now the basement is empty, and there is a lot of work to do: equipment to purchase and soundproofing to be installed. We began production of new radio programs this fall and are eager to add to the 18 new shows already recorded in Simi Valley.

Listen to the program anytime at www.vop.com/listen, and on our brand-new app. Just look for Voice of Prophecy in the Apple iTunes or Google app stores. Download the app to use right on your tablet or smartphone. You can listen to this week’s radio program, find out about current events in your area, and read all of our blog posts from www.vop blog.com right on your favorite electronic device.

In the midst of transition there are a lot of decisions to make. Do we install the industrial toilet paper dispensers or standard ones? When do we ship the cubicle walls, and who will set them up? Which much-needed pieces of equipment are a priority, and who has to wait for next year’s budget?

These decisions are an ongoing part of our transition. They are keeping us busy and tired, but they are all worth every minute.

These day-to-day decisions mean that we can continue with our mission to help others make the ultimate choice: their decision for Christ. We want to give them what is already in our headquarters at the corner of Lincoln and 6th streets: a hope and a future. n

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NAD PERSPECTIVE

By Juliana Baioni

“I am Pagliacci” Man goes to a doctor, says he’s depressed. Says life is harsh and cruel.

Says he feels alone in a threatening world.

Doctor says, “Treatment is simple.

The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go see him. That should pick you up.”

Man bursts into tears. “But Doctor, I am Pagliacci.”

M

y mind is still swirling with disconnected and confused thoughts. The loss of Robin Williams has had an unexpectedly heavy impact on me. How can you miss someone you’ve never met? It’s hard to describe the feeling of losing someone who, since my childhood, always seemed to be there, ready to share a smile and lift the spirits of anyone feeling down.

What could have caused someone who always wanted to make others happy to be so terribly, terribly sad?

One of the things that has hurt me the most since Williams’ recent death is the struggle to understand the spiritual implications of his actions. Most of my life I had been led to believe that suicide was an unpardonable sin; that taking your own life meant you were no longer granted admission into heaven. Yet, as I grew older and encountered individuals who have struggled with suicidal thoughts, I began to question this understanding.

Suicide happens for a host of rea-

sons, and not everyone who commits suicide is the same or has the same sort of events leading up to the action.

I was confused, unsure how to balance what many seemed to believe and what I didn’t feel was quite right. It’s not necessarily a topic that the church speaks about freely or often, normally because no one seems to know what to say. I didn’t know where to look or whom to ask.

God loves His children and wills that none should be lost. It is not my place to judge the eternal implications of someone’s choice to commit suicide. It is my place to show love to those who are hurting, hopefully to prevent such desperate actions, or to comfort those who have lost a loved one. Let’s love one another as Christ loves us, for this is one of our greatest duties on earth.

In my short life I have met several individuals who have had suicidal thoughts. Some have been close to me, others mere acquaintances. Most are people who by all accounts are happygo-lucky and free. I have not experienced losing someone in such a manner, but I know people who have. This is something that can happen to anyone; it is a condition that does not discriminate. Although not the only cause leading to suicide, depression is a condition that commonly precedes suicidal thoughts and actions.

Depression, my friends, is no joke;

it’s not fake; it’s not simple. You can’t just “get over it”; you can’t just “move on.” It’s something that has to be dealt with carefully and over time with the help of a professional psychologist, close friends and family, and sometimes medication. Thousands of people suffer and struggle from clinical depression, and most of them probably are not getting the help they need.

Part of this might have to do with the fact that most people struggling with depression tend to isolate themselves, not wanting to burden others.

This shuts them off from the very sources of care and love that would help them through these extremely difficult and sometimes dangerous times.

If someone expresses thoughts of depression or suicide to you, listen, be present, show that you care. Your persistent choice of showing them love might make all the difference.

If you are depressed, tell someone.

You are not a burden; you’re a treasure.

You are worth cherishing, worth loving.

Maybe no one understands what you’re going through, but they understand that you are special and loved and deserve not only to live, but to live abundantly.

Please seek the help you need.

We are here to help each other. If you, or someone you know, needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). Your call is free and confidential, and will be answered be a trained counselor at a local crisis center. n

Juliana Baioni is an elder at the Spencerville Adventist Church and an accomplished flute player.

Read her blog at wanderingminstrelette. wordpress.com.

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NAD Letters

Jesus didn’t try to compromise His principles to please the Pharisees. He let love win; enter Nicodemus.

Help From Alongside

Chandler Riley’s article “Help From Alongside” (July 2014) was timely for me. My mother-in-law recently passed away. I had just discussed with my brother-in-law where we should scatter the ashes of my husband and his parents. I said, “Let’s do this,” to provide closure for both of us. With the support of one of my brothers and my brotherin-law and his wife, it was done.

Then I read the article. Praise God for sending a message through your wonderful publication!

Jeanne Pressnall Forest Grove, Oregon In the Ghetto With F. C. Gilbert

I’m writing regarding Benjamin Baker’s article “In the Ghetto” (June 2014). I have had a book in my library entitled From Judaism to Christianity for years and have never read it until this past year. Now I’ve read it twice and plan to read it at least one more time, as I have learned so much from it.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the June 2014 Adventist World and found an article about the author of this book, Frederick Carnes Gilbert.

Glen W. Ballard Dana, Illinois

18

— E ric Anderson, Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada

The Diary

I was so touched by Lillie Grace Robinson Perrin’s diary, and I marvel at her faith and dedication (see “The Diary,”

by William Robinson, May 2014).

I recently read and, with the writer, “was comforted to know that . . . every sacrifice, every self-denial, and every pang of anguish endured for His sake is faithfully chronicled in heaven, and will bring its reward” (Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, pp. 97, 98).

There, our happiness will have nothing to spoil it and nothing to end it. Imagine!

Thank you for your good work.

Lou Ann Strachan Paradise, California Resurrection Morn

Thank you for printing Frank M. Hasel’s “Resurrection Morn” (on Fundamental Belief Number 26, May

Adventist World - nad | October 2014

2014). Several members in our area churches—including myself—have experienced untimely loss of loved ones. Some have tried to attend grief recovery meetings that did not agree with the biblical perspective of the state of the dead. I will be able to include this article as well as others in our meetings. My heartfelt appreciation goes to Hasel for his courageous attitude and strength in the Word!

Sharon McGraw Hendersonville, North Carolina What Is God Up To?

Adventism has become obsessed with camps—mainly liberal and conservative. In reading Justin Yang’s article “What is God Up To?” (May 2014), I see this obsession clearly played out.

The concern should not be what side you think you’re on. Rather, it should be: What do you actually believe? . . . The reality is that Jesus didn’t try to compromise His principles to please the Pharisees. He let love win; enter Nicodemus.

Eric Anderson Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada

W O R L D

H E A L T H

Every Church a

Community

Health Center

By Peter N. Landless and Allan R. Handysides

We’re excited about the concept of every church being a community health center. We’re also grateful for all the resources available to run various health programs. Could there be any legal concerns, though, if people were to think we were acting beyond our qualifications and thought to be “treating” patients?

A

s we see comprehensive health ministry gain momentum around the world, we too are extremely excited and enthusiastic about the concept of every church being a community health center. You’re correct in that we’re blessed to have excellent health programs and resources that we can share with the community.

There are, however, a few cautions that have to be kept in mind as we embark on this wonderful ministry and mission.

First, our health resources must be reliable and well researched. The General Conference Working Policy makes it very clear that health practices in our institutions and our health resources must be consistent with biblical and Spirit of Prophecy principles as well as peer-reviewed, evidencebased scientific literature. These principles ensure that we share health information with the highest integrity and credibility, both inside and outside the church.

It’s always very helpful to engage health professionals within our congregations in the selection and presentation of health programs. It’s also important to involve them in the training of church members for the presentation of health programs and principles, so that every member can indeed become a medical missionary and health promoter. We should never forget that the relief of physical suffering and caring for the whole person are inseparably related; Jesus, our “Pattern Man,” modeled this special ministry.

Once people and teams are trained and church programs are presented, it’s imperative that each and every program be voted and recorded by the church board. This is required in order to obtain insurance coverage by Adventist Risk Management (ARM).

Insurance is needed in case any lawsuits arise out of programs presented by local churches and church members. Without documentation of such board action, ARM will be unable to assist individuals or local congregations with what could be devastating financial consequences. Adequate planning and scheduling of meetings into the future will facilitate the bringing of each of these initiatives to the church board and ensure that adequate protection is in place.

Additionally, whether it be a smoking-cessation program or an initiative assisting people recovering from depression, we must always state both verbally and in writing that whatever is taught or shared is not intended to replace the treatment or management being given by any individual’s healthcare provider. All our programs are intended to be instructive and most often preventive; we should never interfere with people’s medications or treatment schedules. In fact, should screening programs discover issues that may be dangerous to the health of an individual, we need to encourage them to consult with their personal physicians or health-care providers.

It’s true that many lifestyle interven-

tions can change the course of noncommunicable diseases so dramatically that medications may be reduced, but those decisions are determined by the health professional.

There’s nothing more exciting than to see individuals who have type 2 diabetes and significant high blood pressure being able to reduce medication and enjoy better health. But we must be intentional in ensuring that we don’t take on responsibilities for which we are neither trained nor licensed.

These “housekeeping rules,” however, should not cause us to be hesitant or hinder us in our enthusiasm to share the grace-filled, precious gift of the Adventist health message with others. By His grace we can be conduits of the special love and salvation Jesus has for each of His beloved children. The time indeed has come, as Ellen White so profoundly and inspirationally stated, for “every member of the church [to] take hold of medical missionary work.”* May the Lord richly bless you and your team as you serve Him in this special ministry. n *Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1923), p. 425.

Peter N. Landless, a board-certified nuclear cardiologist, is director of the General Conference Health Ministries Department.

Allan R. Handysides, a board-certified gynecologist, is a former director of the General Conference Health Ministries Department.

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F U N D A M E N T A L

B E L I E F S

M

artin Luther King, Jr., delivered what is considered by many to be one of the greatest speeches of the twentieth century on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., on August 28, 1963. What was originally written as a short talk quickly became a powerful sermon, punctuated toward the end by his repeated phrase, “I have a dream.” In that “dream” he spoke of his hopes for both his children and society.

My Shared Dream

I too have a dream. I can never elocute as gracefully as did Martin Luther King. Nevertheless, I share my dream—one rooted in God’s promise of the millennium and the end of sin. Of course, I realize that dream is not unique to me; rather, it is shared by many.

My wife and I share many things in common, and one of them is our anticipation of the second coming of

Jesus. Like millions of others, we see His return as the commencement of eternal and uninterrupted joy—highlighted by living forever in His presence. We look forward to a day when we no longer will face temptations, and the millennium provides the start of that eternal respite.

There is, however, another element of the 1,000 years in the New Jerusalem that I also eagerly anticipate: “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them” (Rev. 20:4). The millennium provides an opportunity for me to participate in the process of judgment, granting me access to review the books so I can understand the realities of “things that pertain to this life” (1 Cor. 6:3). I need that 1,000year time frame because right now, as I live my myopic existence, there are so many questions I have; and sometimes I am tempted to wonder if God is really in charge. I know that God allows many things that He doesn’t

countenance. But I want to know why He allows such.

I have a lot of questions: Why did You allow institutions to implement “glass ceilings”? Why did You allow organizations to employ double standards in their dealings with others?

Why did You allow leaders to get away with demanding twice the work from some employees, yet giving them half the credit? Why did You allow governments to squabble over petty issues while the “little guys” were the ones who ultimately suffered? Why did You allow hunger and famine to exist in lands where people didn’t have the ability to fend for themselves? Why did You allow abuse of authority; and the administrators not only got away with it, they were lauded and rewarded in spite of it? Why did You allow sincere, hard-working people to experience such abuse, while often their coworkers and superiors were able to coast along in their lives of relative ease? Why did You allow people to

By Willie Edward Hucks

N U M B ER 2 7

I Have a

Dream, Too

Looking forward to a brighter day I m a g e

b y

D i c k

D e m a r s i c o

Millennium and the End of Sin The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ

descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous dead will

with His saints in heaven between the first and second

then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will

resurrections. During this time the wicked dead will be

surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and

judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living

cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin

human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels.

and sinners forever. (Rev. 20; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Jer. 4:23-26;

At its close Christ with His saints and the Holy City will

Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1; Eze. 28:18, 19.)

work a lifetime for their humble means, only to have it swept away by storms or floods? Why did You allow the innocent to suffer and die?

The millennium serves as God’s appointed time for me to gain answers, which, in turn, will confirm why I trusted Him all along, even when I didn’t fully understand Him. My Grandmother’s Dream

My maternal grandmother, Lula Mae Johnson Hill, was more than just the greatest Christian I knew while I was growing up. She was my best friend, instilling within me a love for her church, and teaching me many valuable life lessons. She dreamed of the day I would work for the Seventhday Adventist Church.

There was another dream she possessed that daily motivated her to patiently wait for the Second Coming, the millennium, and the end of sin. A year after she married my grandfather, they welcomed their firstborn into their home. Unfortunately, at only a few months of age, he became ill and died.

One day as my grandmother and I visited her son’s gravesite, she told me the story of his brief illness. But what followed has always stayed with me and inspired me. In the midst of her heartbreak—an anguish that only a

bereaved mother can know—she was cheered by one thought: that on the resurrection morning her baby’s guardian angel would pick her little boy up and place him back in her arms, and she would enjoy watching him grow up at the start of that 1,000year period.

My Personal Dream

For approximately 50 years my grandmother held on to that dream, until her death in 1987. My grieving grandfather, no longer possessing his infectious joy of life, succumbed to his broken heart nine months later.

In several graves at a cemetery in Augusta, Georgia, lie my grandparents, her mother (who outlived all her now-deceased descendants), my great-grandmother’s favorite uncle (whom I remember from my early childhood), and several other relatives, including my baby uncle. Every time I visit that cemetery, I remember the story my grandmother told me; and I am reminded that God “will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces” (Isa. 25:8). I dream of spending the millennium with them and other loved ones, rejoicing in the knowledge that the millennium brings with it the permanent end of sin and all its soul-wrenching effects.

My Ultimate Dream

In another Adventist World article Frank M. Hasel so eloquently wrote on the related theme of the Second Coming, stating, “Because God is love, He will conquer death and give life—even eternal life!”* Although “He who has the Son has life” (1 John 5:12), the fullness of that life is not realized during our sincursed existence.

Instead, with hope we wait for the fulfillment of Christ’s last quote in Scripture: “Surely I am coming quickly” (Rev. 22:20). His coming ushers in the millennium and the end of sin and all its hurtful consequences.

And to that, I echo the words of John the revelator: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20). n * Frank M. Hasel, “Resurrection Morn: Scripture’s Take on Death and Resurrection,” Adventist World: NAD Edition, May 2014, p. 32.

Willie Edward Hucks

serves as an associate ministerial secretary, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and as associate editor of Ministry: International Journal for Pastors, in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

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A D V E N T I S T

L I F E

H

ere, take this juice outside and pour it out on the ground, and take this leftover bread home and burn it,” the head deaconess said to me after we had finished cleaning up following Communion service at our church.

It was the first time I had been privileged to serve as a deaconess, and knowing that this was the normal procedure, I took the juice and headed out the back door of the church. But as I poured the grape juice on the ground, my mind began to ask why.

Sometimes “why” questions can be dangerous and lead to doubt and rebellion. But if they originate from a genuine desire to understand God’s will, they can lead to a deeper experience and be a great blessing.

The usual reason given for destroying the leftover bread and grape juice is that they have been blessed and therefore cannot be used as common food. I had no disagreement with that explanation, but I felt there must also be a deeper reason. After all, Jesus blessed the food He so miraculously provided for the 5,000, but He still told His disciples to “gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing is lost” (John 6:12). I was raised on the principle of “waste not, want not,” and throwing away good food was contrary to my nature.

Earlier that morning I had helped to fill the little cups with juice and set out the bread on the plates. We made sure there was enough and to spare for everyone we thought would be in attendance, then we added a generous number of extras for unexpected guests. No church would ever want to be embarrassed by running out of the emblems of Christ’s sacrifice on Communion day. So as I continued to think about the practice, I gradually began to realize that it did have a much deeper significance than just good hospitality.

By Evelyn Sayler

Prodigal

A Deeper Meaning

The sacrifice of Christ was adequate not only for all who would accept the blessing; it had to be sufficient for everyone on earth. He had to “taste death for everyone”

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Grace Reflections on the Communion service

(Heb. 2:9). He has given to every struggling, repenting sinner the assurance that “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

Ellen White expressed it beautifully in the following quote: “But the atonement for a lost world was to be full, abundant, and complete. Christ’s offering was exceedingly abundant to reach every soul that God had created. It could not be restricted so as not to exceed the number who would accept the great Gift. All men are not saved; yet the plan of redemption is not a waste because it does not

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Our selfish human natures have trouble understanding this abundant outpouring of God’s love. accomplish all that its liberality has provided for. There must be enough and to spare.”1 She also wrote: “Justice demanded the sufferings of a man. Christ, equal with God, gave the sufferings of a God.”2 But I still didn’t have a satisfactory answer to the question of waste. As I continued to ponder this, I reasoned that if the juice represented the blood that Jesus shed to provide atonement for our salvation, then why were we pouring it out on the ground?

Suddenly the truth dawned in my mind, and I realized the magnitude of what was really being wasted. It was not just a bit of grape juice—that was only the symbol! It was, in reality, Christ’s shed blood, His death for our sins. This is waste indeed! If every little cup of juice and every little piece of bread is a symbol of His sacrifice for us, then every glass of leftover juice represents someone who has not chosen to partake of the blessing so freely offered. For them, His sacrifice has been in vain; not because of any lack on His part, but simply because they did not open their hearts to receive it. What a prodigal waste! How this loss must wound the Savior afresh.

Jesus knew from the beginning how few would accept the offer of salvation, yet He did not limit the provision to only as much as was necessary to save that few. The sacrifice must be sufficient to save every lost sinner, whether they accept it or not. Sinners could never plead that Christ’s sacrifice was not great enough to cover their sins. It was never God’s intention that anyone should be left out of the great plan of salvation. “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

the thought that His sacrifice would be in vain because so few would ever see and appreciate its value, that His blood would be poured out on the ground and wasted. But Mary’s prodigal gift was God’s way of assuring His beloved Son that His sacrifice would be accepted and appreciated by many, and that in the end, “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied” (Isa. 53:11).

Paul also understood the magnitude of the gift provided when he wrote, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Gal. 2:21).

There are two ways that we can set aside, or “frustrate” (KJV), Christ’s sacrifice for us. One is by striving to save ourselves by our own works, as Paul explained in the previous text. Another even more common way is to simply ignore or reject His atoning death for us and continue in sin. This class is described in Matthew 22 in the parable of the wedding feast. The king had prepared a feast at great expense and had invited many to come and celebrate with him. “But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business” (Matt. 22:5). For both classes His death was in vain—like the grape juice I so wastefully poured on the ground.

Don’t let the sufferings of Jesus for your sins—your Communion cup, which has been so freely offered—be poured out and wasted because you were too occupied with earthly things to bother to partake of it. For Christ’s sake, and for your own soul’s sake, “taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him” (Ps. 34:8).

“Drink from it, all of you” (Matt. 26:27). n

Struggling to Understand

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Our selfish human natures have trouble understanding this abundant outpouring of God’s love. When Mary poured out her love and gratitude to Jesus by anointing His head and feet with fragrant and costly ointment, Judas was highly indignant and protested by saying, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:5). To Judas’ covetous nature, Mary’s generous gift seemed extravagant and wasteful.

Satan was always at hand to try to discourage Jesus with

Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898), pp. 565, 566.

Ellen G. White, in Review and Herald, Sept. 21, 1886.

2

Evelyn Sayler is a homemaker, gardener, nature lover, and a writer for Creation Illustrated.

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By Andrew McChesney

Planting

Community Health stories from around 7

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lifestyle-change coach leads fitness classes in Britain.

Health-care professionals discuss healthy living on a weekly radio program in Indonesia.

A 73-year-old volunteer feeds 350 young children and retirees every day in South Africa.

And a hand-cranked water pump draws scores of people to a church in Mozambique.

These are some of the most active Adventist-run community health centers in the world.

The health centers—some new, others open for a decade or more—aim to provide a Christ-modeled blend of physical and spiritual healing to local communities. And they might inspire you as your church looks to initiate or expand its outreach efforts.

Adventist leaders have prioritized plans to make every Adventist church a community health center, and the initiative gained momentum this summer when 1,150 participants from 81 countries attended a conference organized by the Health Ministries Department in Geneva, Switzerland, to learn how to start programs in their own communities.

“We would love to see the world church laying hold of the concept of every church becoming a community health

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center, promoting health in every way, and that way being relevant to the communities in which we live both physically and, ultimately, spiritually,” said Peter Landless, Health Ministries Department director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “That way every member becomes a medical missionary,” he said.

The steps to opening a community health center are simple, according to health professionals and church leaders: n identify a need in your community n find qualified church members and programs to address the need n determine expenses and how to promote the initiative n practice what you preach n pray The community health center might offer stop-smoking classes and vegetarian cooking lessons in its own building.

But many church members have found that participating can be as simple as organizing a soup kitchen, a support group, or a free clinic. The service might be provided once a week, every other week, or once a month.

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Fighting Hunger: Volunteer Sharon Middleton serves some of the 350 children and elderly people who line up daily for hot meals at the Ashbury Adventist Center in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Centers the world MEALS ON WHEELS: Violet Grobbelaar, 73, manager of the Ashbury Adventist Center in Bloemfontein, South Africa, stands near a car used to deliver meals from the center (background).

ing?” said Dr. Jun Negre, health ministries director for the Southern Africa Union Conference, which includes South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, and Lesotho.

Whether a standalone building or a community service, there is no wrong way to open and operate a community health center as long as it follows the principle of “Christ’s method alone,” people involved in outreach programs on five continents said in interviews.

The principle, as described by Adventist Church cofounder Ellen G. White in the book The Ministry of Healing, is simple: “The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’ ”* Also, Landless said, centers must make sure all programs are evidence-based and stay within the parameters of best health practices.

So how do you go about opening a community health center? Here are the stories of seven.

South African Meals and More

The Ashbury Adventist Center, located in Bloemfontein, South Africa, opened in 1999 when six Adventists bought a broken-down house in an impoverished neighborhood and turned it into a soup kitchen. As the crowds swelled, the center decided to team up with Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization that feeds the poorest in South Africa and has links to ADRA, the Adventist relief agency.

These days, a long line of people form as the center’s manager, Violet Grobbelaar, 73, and three other volunteers serve bowlfuls of hot food.

“More than 350 young children and elderly are fed a balanced vegetarian meal from the center every day,” said Lincoln de Waal, pastor of a small chapel at the community center and a larger church in the city. Costs are kept low because volunteers do all the work and the center spends no money on advertising.

“A board in front of the property is used to identify the center,” de Waal said. “Banners, invitations, and word of mouth are the most effective ways of advertising the programs and seminars.”

When the center first opened, church members covered 80 percent of the US$425 monthly budget and local businesses picked up the rest, de Waal said. Today, monthly expenses total $1,180 and are split between church members and a subsidy of $710 from the regional Meals on Wheels office.

“Funding is an unresolved problem, and we cannot present or implement a variety of programs or acquire the necessary equipment in order to do more for the community,” de Waal said.

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In addition to the soup kitchen, the center offers Vacation Bible School programs, a health awareness week, and enditnow seminars on domestic violence. Twice a year about 30 people gather at a bereavement seminar to hear a psychologist speak about coping with the death of a loved one from HIV/AIDS or drug abuse. De Waal leads Sabbath worship services and performs marriages in the chapel.

Four people have been baptized.

The Ashbury Adventist Center, one of the few stand-alone facilities in southern Africa, is not dependent on any person but God, de Waal said. “In 1999 the six founding members started the center without a pastor,” he said. “The center is managed by church members, and the center will continue to serve the community with God’s help as long as there are volunteers.”

The future of the Balance Wellness Center does not depend on a pastor but on finding qualified volunteers, Kulakov said. After cofounding the center, he has left his pastoral position to work as director of family relationships ministries for the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference.

“I have left, but it is still going strong because we had a good leadership team in place,” Kulakov said.

New Zealand Books and DVDs

The Balance Wellness Center opened in Invercargill, New Zealand, after its three founding members—Dr. Amy Mullen, a general practitioner, Dr. Kimball Chen, a psychiatrist, and Pastor Victor Kulakov—held consultations with city hall and several community agencies to determine local needs.

Based on what they learned, the center opened in 2007 with a lending library stocked with the best and the latest books and DVDs and a desktop computer where people could browse a center-approved site for more information on select topics. The center also offers workshops, seminars, and conferences themed around physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. “These meetings have grown really big,” Kulakov said.

At first the center advertised in the local newspaper and on its Web site. But many people visit these days on the recommendation of friends or local agencies, Kulakov said.

“A number of local agencies are referring their clients to us, and the agencies themselves come to borrow books and other resources,” he said.

The center’s monthly budget of $2,125 to $2,835— depending on the number of programs—comes from local church donations, ADRA, and the local conference, among other sources. More than 100 people have been baptized as a result of the center, but Kulakov stressed that the focus was “to genuinely help people have better lives,” not to win converts.

“We keep the separation between the church and the center very clear,” he said. “When people come to our seminars, they know that we won’t be selling them Adventism.

At the same time, they get excited about what we have to say and they are open to listen more about spirituality.”

The focus on building relationships rather than baptisms initially made it difficult to excite some church members about volunteering. “We are used to helping people if we have a good report to send to the conference,” Kulakov said.

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TEAM MINISTRY: Pastor Victor Kulakov, right, poses with the other co-founders of the Balance Wellness Center, Drs. Amy Mullen and Kimball Chen, in Invercargill, New Zealand.

British Fitness Clubs

The Adventist Church in Britain and Ireland has spent the past year training church members to conduct a variety of health programs, including cooking classes, and it hopes to launch community health centers in many local churches in 2015, said Sharon Platt-McDonald, health ministries director for the British Union Conference.

But in the meantime, some church members have taken the lead on their own.

Joni Blackwood, a lifestyle-change coach in London, started fitness classes in her church several years ago with the support of local city authorities. The programs grew so large that they could not be contained in community halls and were later moved to larger facilities.

“It has been extremely successful and our reputation is solid, so much so that I have been called twice as an expert witness to the Healthier Communities Select Committee,” Blackwood said. The committee is comprised of local city council members.

Blackwood said she has been training more “fitness evangelists” to open community health centers in other parts of London as well as in the cities of Reading, Luton, Bristol, and Manchester.

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POSITIVE MESSAGE: Pastor Victor Kulakov leads a seminar at the Balance Wellness Center in Invercargill, New Zealand.

Mozambique Water Pumps

Hundreds of churches in Mozambique are community health centers thanks to hand-cranked water pumps.

Maranatha Volunteers International, a nonprofit Adventist organization, is in the process of building 1,000 simple churches in the southeast African country and, in an effort to make the churches more relevant to their communities, church leaders decided to dig wells with water pumps at each location.

“This may sound very simple in terms of people in places where water is readily available by just turning on the faucet,” said Alex Llaguno, health ministries director for the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division. “But in many places in Mozambique, and in Africa, some have to walk 10 kilometers or more just to get this basic need into their homes.” More than 700 churches have been equipped with the inexpensive water pumps.

“These water pumps have been a tremendous success in addressing the needs of the communities,” Llaguno said.

“At the same time that these wells give physical water, they also are a means by which people are introduced to Jesus, the Water of Life.”

Kenyan Cakes and Yogurt

Members of the Kingeero Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kenya noticed a need for a community health center to assist AIDS orphans and widows after caring for people with HIV/AIDS for a decade.

The church in Wangige Town, 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) from Nairobi, has run a training center for the Adventist AIDS International Ministry since 2002, supporting hundreds of people with HIV/AIDS and more than 600 AIDS orphans. So church members opened the community center in 2012.

The center makes bread, cakes, and yogurt daily, said Gabriel Maina Gathungu, HIV/AIDS coordinator for the Kingeero church. It also provides a variety of services, including free clinics, counseling, and referrals.

While demand is high, money can be scarce. “We still have big problems with our project,” Gathungu said.

“The activities were supposed to be an income-generating project that ran itself, but this has not been achieved.”

The center has a monthly budget of $910 and is funded by the local church, the Adventist AIDS International Ministry, and an Asian businessman in Nairobi. People learn about the center through advertising in schools and churches. The center maintains a databank of church members who can be called for help as volunteers.

“The center will be there as long as there is a need,” Gathungu said. “There is still a demand and need.”

Indonesian Massage and Health Food

A group of Adventists from five churches in Jakarta got together in 2008 and opened Club Sehat, or the Health Club, in a rented building. Today, four Club Sehats are operating in the Indonesian capital, and more are planned. Each Club Sehat offers free health seminars, simple health check-ups, simple hydrotherapy treatments, Swedish massage, and lifestyle consultations. It also has a chapel and a health food store.

The centers have proved a hit with residents, said Arlaine Djim, a local leader. “People who come to our centers keep telling their families and friends about us,” she said. People also visit after hearing about Club Sehat during a weekly radio program hosted by health-care professionals associated with the center. Each health seminar attracts 30 to 100 non-Adventists, Djim said, and many stay for a 30-minute spiritual talk afterward.

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OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Right: Kristina’s Kitchen is located on the main street, next to the courthouse, and bears a large, lighted sign meant to attract customers in Whitley City, Kentucky. Below: Owner Kristina McFeeters cuts the red ribbon at the grand opening of Kristina’s Kitchen in Whitley City, Kentucky, in June 2014.

Rent is the biggest expense, and each center costs $715 to $860 per month. When a center first opens, the church’s Jakarta Conference subsidizes its rent for 12 months. Then it’s up to the center to survive. In the second year a center aims to raise a third of its expenses from donations, a third from the health food store, and a third from special offerings given in the chapel. By the third year 50 percent of financing comes from the store and 50 percent from the chapel, Djim said.

The centers’ biggest challenge is finding qualified volunteers. “We just conducted a four-month urban evangelism training program but still lack enough people,” she said.

U.S. Cooking Classes

Kristina’s Kitchen, a small vegetarian café, health food store, and bakery in rural Kentucky only opened in June 2014. But it has been five years in the making. The roots of Kristina’s Kitchen stretch back to 2009, when its owner, Kristina McFeeters, began teaching a monthly cooking class at a public community center.

Word spread quickly about the young Adventist woman who cooked with only fruits and vegetables, and McFeeters soon received requests to teach the same class in several towns.

A health food store offered to sponsor the class at its store, and the local government health department asked for classes.

The cooking class moved into Kristina’s Kitchen in Whitley City, which has a population of barely 1,100, in June and features one fruit or vegetable each month. “It was opened specifically to educate people on health, to help people see that healthy food can really taste good, to form friendships with the community, and to be used as an evangelism center,”

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said McFeeters, who serves as health ministries director in her local Stearns Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Kristina’s Kitchen is located on Whitley City’s main street, next to the courthouse, and bears a large, lighted sign meant to attract customers. Startup capital was provided by Kristina McFeeters, her husband, and her parents. Two local Adventist churches pay for free literature placed in the establishment and the cost of food for the cooking class.

“Thankfully, apart from the initial cost of getting started, the center seems to be largely paying for itself because it has no paid employees,” McFeeters said. While only 10 to 20 people have attended the cooking class every month over the years, the figure has broken all records for health classes in a community known as one of the unhealthiest in the state, McFeeters said.

“The health department has approached us numerous times asking what our secret is for having such a large attendance long-term,” she said. The results of five years of classes are also measureable. At least six families have become vegetarian, and more than 20 others have made significant changes to their lifestyles, McFeeters said. In addition, 10 people have asked for Bible studies, and most of the non-Adventists who attended an evangelistic series at the local church last fall came from the cooking classes.

Five years of friendship evangelism and health classes paved the way for the grand opening of Kristina’s Kitchen, which was attended by about 50 people, including cooking class students, city officials, and members of the local chamber of commerce, McFeeters said. “Barriers were broken down, bridges were built, and a large number of people in the community became excited when we announced our plans to open,” she said. n

Andrew McChesney is news editor for Adventist World.

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By Bruce Manners

God Is Love

D E V O T I O N A L

There is none like Him.

G

od loves me. And there’s nothing I can do to change that, for God is love.

God is love. Not God has love. Not God shows love. Not God gives love. God is love. It’s at the core of His being. It’s how He reveals Himself, and how He identifies Himself.

Imagine if the only thing we knew about God was that He exists. That God is. And we were left to add the descriptors of God. God is . . . Of course, we could try God is omnipotent (all-powerful); God is omniscient (all-knowing); and God is omnipresent (everywhere). But without the love factor this would be a scary God. Take omniscience, for instance.

That becomes I’m watching you; I know all about you. We would probably assume that He was watching us to see what we are doing wrong—to judge us. That’s why it’s scary. But because God is love, He loves us so much He just can’t take His eyes off us.

God is love.

It shows. A kiss brought Adam to life. Love sent Abraham to a distant land. Love brought Moses back to Egypt. The commandments and the Scriptures—one handwritten, the other Spirit-breathed—are love letters.

The second book of the law, Deuteronomy, has 34 chapters, with love mentioned 29 times (NIV). It’s where God declares that Israel was chosen not because of ability, performance, or size. “It was simply that the Lord loves you” (Deut. 7:7-9).1 The Psalms contain 73 references to God’s unfailing love and 36 to God’s faithful love (26 times in Psalm 136).2 The Old Testament ends, in Malachi, with strong words of condemnation for Israel. But it begins, “ ‘I have always loved you,’ says the Lord” (Mal. 1:2).

God is love.

God is love.

Jesus is the ultimate demonstration.

God had spoken through His prophets, but come the New Testament, and He speaks through the Son. No longer content with words, He sends the Word.

The Gospels tell the story. Paul’s letters give the story theology and meaning. The cross demonstrates the heart of God for His creation. Jesus’ sense of forsakenness means we never need be forsaken. The cry of “It is finished!” signals the defeat of the enemy.

“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:10). But there’s more, Jesus’ promise hangs in the air: “I will come again.” What a time of joy. What a time of sorrow. God rejoices as He comes for His own. His heart breaks as He’s forced to deal with those who reject Him, for God is love.

God is love.

This made no sense in the first century: “The simple phrase ‘For God so loved the world . . .’ would have puzzled an educated pagan. And the notion that the gods care how we treat one another would be dismissed as patently absurd.”3 The pagan world would never say of their pantheon of gods, “The gods are love.” Any way you look at it, their gods simply didn’t care about humans. The discovery of the one and only capital “g” God who is love changed the world.

God is love makes little sense to so many in our century. We live in a time in which religion is disparaged, in which it’s considered sophisticated to be an atheist. In which there are many religions rule-bound in their attempt to reach God. Other beliefs seek to find an inner god. Discovering the God who is love will change their world.

This is good Adventist teaching.

Ellen White wrote her five-book Conflict of the Ages Series with the first book, Patriarch and Prophets, beginning with “God is love.” The last book, The Great Controversy, ends with “God is love.” God’s weapon, His driving force in the cosmic conflict is love, because He is love. Her book Steps to Christ begins with these words: “Nature and revelation alike testify of God’s love.”

God is love.

It’s revealed in “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). It’s said out of love for the soldiers at the cross, for the priests who turned the crowd into a frenzy of hate, for the members of the Sanhedrin who bent the law to murder their Messiah. But it echoes through the ages whenever evil is personified in Adolf Hitlers, Idi Amins, and Osama bin Ladens.

As strange as it may seem, they are all loved by God. God is every prodigal’s Father, no matter how far they are away from home. His love is unconditional and it never stops.

Never has. Never will.

God loves me. God loves you. God loves them—whoever “them” is. And there’s nothing, absolutely nothing, we can do to change that, for God is love. n 1 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical references in this article are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

All rights reserved.

2 Counting is from the New Living Translation.

3 Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1997), p. 211.

Bruce Manners is senior pastor of the Lilydale Adventist Church in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

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ife is precious; without it there is no existence or experience. It only seems natural, therefore, for human beings to ask the fundamental question of how we got to this remarkable state of things. Why is it that you and I have the possibility of being?

The Bible provides a very straightforward answer to this question. Not only we, but also the world in which we live, are the result of a divine plan. God took the initiative to create the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1; 2:4), and He decided to make humanity (Gen. 1:26, 27).

Seventh-day Adventists embrace this message of divine creative activity. There are many, however, who think the uni-

“filling” the partitions established in the first three days (day 4: luminaries; day 5: flying and water creatures; day 6: land creatures and humans). The internal correlation between the days of Creation and the methodical approach described in the text clearly convey the message of a planned manner of divine activity.

Fingerprints of Design

If the Bible is clear in revealing that creation was originated by the deliberate will of God, what is the witness of nature itself? Is it possible to infer the existence of a designer just by studying the properties of natural systems?

By Ronny Nalin

God , the

Designer

What the patterns of life tell us about the Creator

verse and its inhabitants are just the result of a random concatenation of events, governed by natural laws that just happen to be the way they are. This view, known as naturalism, excludes that reality is the manifestation of a plan of God. A Planned Creation?

The question of origins is intimately connected with a search for meaning and context. There is a radical difference between seeing life as an accident or by-product and considering it the result of intentional design. The Bible not only indicates God as the Creator of the world but also suggests that this creation followed the pattern of a well-planned project.

The implicit suggestion of design is evident in the structure of the Creation account of Genesis 1. The initial condition of the earth is presented as tohû (“unformed”) and bohû (“unfilled”) (Gen. 1:2). The narration continues, showing how God orderly changed this original state first by “forming” a structured environment (day 1: light; day 2: sky and seas; day 3: land with its vegetation), then by

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Designed objects are built in a way that conforms to a preexisting pattern developed by the designer. One can be sure that a certain object is truly designed if it cannot be built by unguided natural processes. Let’s use the example of a pyramid to clarify these concepts. Suppose an Egyptian architect plans to build a structure with a pyramidal shape.

Following the directions of the architect, an actual pyramid made of bricks is erected. The preexisting pattern in the mind of the designer is the abstract pyramid, the implementation of the design is the material pyramidal edifice.

Several centuries later a tourist looking at the building can be sure that it was designed, because nothing in nature requires bricks to arrange themselves in a pyramidal shape.

Like the pyramid, some of the features we observe in the natural world conform to patterns that bear the impression of the fingerprint of a designer. Consider, for instance, the chemical elements, the atoms, which make up compounds and substances. The properties of the elements are determined by the laws of physics. But why are these

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The implicit suggestion of design is evident in the structure of the creation account of Genesis 1. laws such that they would determine the aggregation of matter in discrete elements that exhibit orderly, predictable, and periodic properties?

Fingerprints of design can also be identified in living organisms. Consider the DNA, for example. This molecule contains the information needed to build the parts that make us function. Like the sentences of this article, which are intelligible because they consist of a specific succession of letters, the sequence of “letters” in the DNA acts as precise instructions.. No natural law required the “letters” of the DNA to be originally arranged in a meaningful way. Nevertheless, we find that our cells contain pages and pages of meaningful “text,” allowing us to be complex and beautiful living beings.

Alternative Approaches

Even if the study of nature leads some to recognize the existence of a designer, others interpret the same observable patterns in different ways.

Instead of seeing the complexity and organization detected in natural systems as the fruit of intentionality, some ascribe them to the intrinsic properties of matter.

Some physical systems, such as the regular lattice of a crystal, have indeed the ability to spontaneously self-organize and produce ordered structures. Additionally, processes

observed in nature can also be regular and predictable because of the constancy of the laws of physics.

However, when natural laws bring to existence intelligible arrangements, we are still left wondering why natural laws are the way they are. When the assembly of a system does not require the direct involvement of a designer, the rules that regulate the assembly can still be the product of design.

Another mechanism invoked to explain why things exist without the action of a designer is chance. This view sees the universe as the theater of innumerable random and undirected events, which result in chance combinations of processes and materials. One of these combinations was responsible for the origin of life on Planet Earth. Proponents of chance do recognize the very low probability of life emerging this way. However, they maintain the problem is mitigated by the immensity of time and space.

A Reasonable Choice

We live in a society in which great value is placed upon scientific observations of the physical world. For some, contemplation of the physical world suggests a strictly naturalistic explanation to the question of our existence.

Conversely, the believer finds encouragement for faith when considering the patterns revealed by the study of nature, because they confirm that the biblical revelation of God as designer is a reasonable choice. n

Ronny Nalin, Ph.D., is an associate scientist

at the Geoscience Research Institute of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and lives with his wife, Elisa, and daughter Gioia in Mentone, California, United States.

If You Want to Read More 1 On the structure and intent of the Genesis creation account: R. M. Davidson, “The Biblical Account of Origins,” Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 14, no. 1 (2003): 4-43. Available online at www.andrews.edu/~davidson/Publications/Creation/ Biblical%20Account.pdf.

2 On the design implications of the periodic table: B. Wiker and J. Witt, A Meaningful World (Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity, 2006), pp. 111-193.

3 On inferring design: W. A. Dembski, “Signs of Intelligence: A Primer on the Discernment of Intelligent Design,” in W. A. Dembski and J. M. Kushiner, eds., Signs of Intelligence:

Understanding Intelligent Design (Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2001), pp. 171-192.

4 On evidence for design in nature: T. G. Standish, “What Is the Evidence for a Creator?” in L. J. Gibson and H. M. Rasi, eds., Understanding Creation: Answers to Questions on Faith and Science (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 2011), pp. 57-68.

5 Additional online resources: www.grisda.org http://grisda.wordpress.com/ www.facebook.com/Geoscienceresearchinstitute

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Thank God for

Pastoral

Families!

Guaranteeing good leadership in the local congregation

2015 that is specifically designed for pastoral families. For the first time in history the North American Division is planning a division-wide pastors’ convention. From June 28 to July 1, 2015, pastoral families have the opportunity to join thousands of others for inspiration, connection, equipping, and validation. Pastoral families may need some financial assistance to be able to attend. Congregations that take up a collection to help their pastoral families attend the convention would be very affirming.

Pastoral families would likely have some expenses for the event.

A lot of the funding for attendance has already been pledged from the North American Division, union conferences, conferences, and sponsors for the employed pastors, but not for their families. But Pastors Appreciation Month provides a great opportunity for churches to be financially supportive so our pastoral families may attend.

It so happens that the early-bird discount for registration ends December 31, 2014, so if churches could take up a collection in October, that would give the pastors and their families enough lead time to take advantage of the discount.

So this convention is for pastoral families as well?

Yes, since pastoral families are an important part of the team, we would also like to send pastoral spouses and their children. We will have specialty tracks designed for spouses, youth, and kids.

Sounds like a great idea. I’m sure the convention is part of a bigger vision.

What is the role of NAD Ministerial?

Yes, the 2015 Pastors Family Convention is one of several things that we’re focused on to help fulfill our mission of: “Empowering the ministerial community in leading churches to

Ivan Williams, Sr., serves as director of the Ministerial Association of the North American Division (NAD), which provides support to almost 5,000 pastors.

Recently we asked him about the role the Ministerial Association plays for the Adventist Church in North America.—Editors.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Why do you think Pastor Appreciation Month is so important?

Today’s pastors face an increasingly complex task of leading their congregations in a rapidly changing world of unrest. Expectations of pastors can be daunting and sometimes unrealistic.

The 24/7 nature of the role can wear down even the best of pastors.

Finances are sometimes tight; resources for ministry may be meager.

In these challenging times a little affirmation can go a long way in enhancing the effectiveness of pastors.

Do you have any recommendations for congregations that would like to affirm their pastors?

This year I have a specific recommendation for how churches can affirm their pastoral staff. We have an event coming up in the summer of

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N A D F E AT U R E

reach their world for Christ with hope and wholeness.”

As we think of our pastors we see a picture that could look something like this: “Throughout the NAD the ministerial community is valued, connected, effectively supported, and equipped with training and state of the art resources. Each church exudes hope and wholeness with significant spiritual and numerical growth.”

That’s quite a dream. Do you see that happening now?

In many places it is. I think of the REACH Philadelphia church plant, where attendees go door to door in the neighborhood, finding out what each household needs and reaching those needs with spiritual resources. I

see Paradise Valley [California] church assisting refugees with physical and spiritual needs as they become assimilated in a new country. I picture the Glenville Adventist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, doing evangelism in new and creative ways, such as the annual Back-to-School Block Party, where they provide school supplies for all the children in the neighborhood. I can see EPIC church plant in the hipster town of Wicker Park, Chicago, where second-generation immigrants have found a community in which to grow spiritually.

And as all of these churches and hundreds more are making a huge difference in their local communities, attendance and membership is growing as well.

It must be a huge job taking care of almost 5,000 pastors. You only have a small team at the NAD office. How do you do it all?

Actually, our team is quite large.

While we just have a few in our office, our team also includes outstanding ministerial directors at each union conference and conference offices. We take on the responsibilities together.

You also produce some resources for pastors from your office.

Yes, we love serving our pastoral families through regular dialogue, exchanging ideas, and finding out what’s working around this everchanging division. We publish Best Practices, a family of e-mails for pastors, spouses, ministerial directors, evange-

Things Pastors Wish Their Congregations Would Do for Them

1

Pray for your pastor. The pastor is the spiritual catalyst for the church. That makes the pastor a great big target for the enemy. Pray for the pastor’s spiritual health, protection, and wisdom. Among the most affirming words a pastor ever hears are, “Pastor, I’m praying for you every day” (Rom. 15:30; 2 Cor. 1:11).

Affirm your pastor. Pastoring may be one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Pastors live in a highly concentrated environment where they see the results of sin on a daily basis through their care for humanity. Though pastors don’t live for affirmation, words of validation do provide a lifeline of strength through treacherous times. Those little notes that say, “Pastor, you’re making a difference,” may be the very things that help your pastor make it through another tough day (see Acts 4:36).

Bless the pastoral family. Pastoral stress leaks into families and is enough to test every family bond. Throw in a few wild expectations about how a pastoral spouse and

2

3

pastoral kids are supposed to behave, and you have a recipe for a family meltdown. The antidote is the blessing. Bless the spouse. Bless the kids. Let go of any expectations, and treat the family with a rich blessing of heaven’s grace (Gal. 6:2; Matt. 10:8; 2 Tim. 1:16).

Release the pastor from constant ministry so that renewal can take place. Pastors who go 24/7 for weeks and months on end will inevitably self-destruct. Mandate that your pastor take weekly breaks for spiritual renewal, as well as annual extended breaks for study leave and vacation (Matt. 14:23).

Talk with your pastor, not about or around. Complaining about the pastor to someone else is corrosive for the entire church family. Writing anonymous, critical notes to the pastor are acts of spiritual terrorism. (By the way, smart pastors just throw them into the trash without reading them.) If you have a problem with the pastor, talk directly to the pastor and try to work it out (Matt. 18:15-17).

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N A D F E AT U R E

There are six core competencies all built on the spiritual foundation of a Christlike character:

discipleship scholarship

leadership management

lists, and worship leaders. We also are pioneering a quarterly digital magazine entitled CALLED. This media-rich publication can be downloaded at no charge for most tablet devices.

What are some of the challenges that your team faces?

We face the same three ABC’s of most helping professions: attrition, burnout, and complacency. All three are different coping strategies that pastors resort to when confronted with the incessant demands of the pastorate.

In attrition pastors leave the ministry for another line of work; in burn-

worship people skills

out pastors pull back from ministry; and in complacency pastors simply coast along waiting for retirement. At NAD Ministerial we believe that if we can address those challenges early on, we can be much more effective pastors.

Attrition, burnout, and complacency: Those sound serious.

They are serious challenges to effective ministry. So what we’re doing is studying some of the most effective long-term pastors and finding out how they are able to have sustained, powerful ministries. We’re getting close to finishing a grand research

project that reveals to us that effective pastors seem to exhibit seven core competencies. We believe that if those core competencies are continuously nurtured, pastors will be more effective in the long run, and we will have less burnout and complacency.

What are the core competencies needed to be an effective pastor?

There are six core competencies all built on the spiritual foundation of a Christlike character. In no particular order, they are: discipleship, leadership, worship, scholarship, people skills, and management.

Things Pastors Wish Their Congregations Would Do for Them

6

Forgive your pastor for falling short of your expectations, because no pastor will perfectly satisfy your ideals.

Remember that your vision of what a pastor should be is probably unique to you. Everyone else in the congregation also has unique expectations. Many expectations are mutually exclusive. Your pastor will make some mistakes; all pastors do. Extend to your pastor the same grace God extends to you (Matt. 18:21, 22).

Feed yourself spiritually. Don’t expect to live on a limited spiritual diet of 30-minute weekly sermons—even with the best sermons, you will starve to death spiritually.

The role of the shepherd is not to stick grass in the mouths of sheep, but to lead the sheep to green pastures (Ps. 23:2).

Bond with a small group. Don’t substitute your precious small-group privileges for dependency on your pastor. It is neither fair, practical, nor spiritually wise. Reg-

7

8

ular spiritual support occurs in small groups. When you are plugged into a weekly small group, you will grow together, pray for one another, care for one another, and support one another [and your pastor too] through all the ups and downs of life (Matt. 18:20).

Follow the leader. The pastor is not the CEO of the congregation; that role is reserved for Jesus. However, the pastor is your spiritual leader, and you should take your cue from the pastor and follow Jesus. Let your pastor lead.

Help your pastor flesh out the vision for your church, and then do your part to turn the vision into reality (Heb. 13:17).

Exercise your spiritual gifts. Let your pastor equip you. Take advantage of teaching and ministry opportunities at your church. Place yourself in optimal places for spiritual growth (Eph. 4:11, 12).

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N A D F E AT U R E

We also are pioneering a quarterly digital magazine entitled CALLED. This media-rich publication can be downloaded at no charge for most tablet devices.

Whose responsibility is it to grow these core competencies? The pastor? Ministerial Department? Colleges? Universities? Congregation?

All of the above. We are developing a system where pastors, congregations, ministerial secretaries, and the Adventist learning community all pull together to provide the very best continuing education for pastors to continually grow in these changing times.

Earlier you mentioned attrition. How many pastors move to another line of work?

A Duke University study found that 85 percent of seminary graduates entering the ministry leave within five years, and 90 percent of all pastors do not stay to retirement. I don’t know what the attrition rate is within the Adventist Church, but we face another challenge.

Many of the leadership positions in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination are chosen from the pastorate.

We think of conference, union conference, and division leaders, but chaplains, Bible teachers in academies, colleges, and universities are all made up of former pastors. There is a tremen-

dous outflow from the pastorate into other denominational positions. This is not a bad thing. In fact, pastoral experience serves as an outstanding background for spiritual leadership.

So we have to continually train more pastors to fill these vacancies?

Exactly. And one more thing is exacerbating the normal attrition rate: The baby boom demographic bubble is moving toward retirement.

In the next few years half of our pastors will be eligible for retirement. We will need many more effective pastors to replace those who are moving off the parish scene.

Where are you going to get those new pastors?

That, too, is a big challenge. Division-wide we will soon need to hire about 200 new pastors every year to keep up with attrition. In 2012 conferences hired only 41. So we have a ways to go.

But the challenge is also a wonderful opportunity. As we ramp up to equip all these new pastors, it gives us an opportunity to take a look at our whole ministerial training pathway, or

“architecture,” as [NAD president] Dan Jackson likes to call it. We’re trying to figure out the best way to inculcate these core competencies in the various mileposts of the ministerial training from undergraduate, graduate, internship, and continuing education.

For the first time in my memory conference presidents, college and university professors, ministerial directors, [and] pastors are getting together for energetic, creative conversations about how we can all team up to create clear pathways for effective ministry.

Closing thoughts?

The local pastor is the most influential leader in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As the pastor goes, so goes the denomination. If we have effective, spiritually fervent pastors, we will have effective congregations and schools. Think about it: All moneys given for ministry at all levels comes from local churches where pastors serve. We must prize our pastors, take care of them, nurture them, and let them lead us into ever increasing spiritual and numerical growth, preparing for the soon coming of our Lord. n

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S P I R I T

O F

P R O P H E C Y

Comfort F

rom Christ’s methods of labor we may learn many valuable lessons. He did not follow merely one method; in various ways He sought to gain the attention of the multitude, and having succeeded in this, He proclaimed to them the truths of the gospel. His chief work lay in ministering to the poor, the needy, and the ignorant. In simplicity He opened before them the blessings they might receive, and thus He aroused their soul’s hunger for the truth, the bread of life.

Christ’s life is an example to all His followers, showing the duty of those who have learned the way of life to teach others what it means to believe in the Word of God. There are many now in the shadow of death who need to be instructed in the truths of the gospel. . . .

The Lord wants wise men and women, who can act in the capacity of nurses, to comfort and help the sick and suffering. O that all who are afflicted might be ministered to by Christian physicians and nurses who could help them to place their weary, pain-racked bodies in the care of the Great Healer, in faith looking to Him for restoration! If through judicious ministration the patient is led to give his soul to Christ and to bring his thoughts into obedience to the will of God, a great victory is gained.

In our daily ministrations we see many careworn, sorrowful faces. What does the sorrow on these faces show?

It shows the need of the soul for the peace of Christ. Men and women, longing for something they have not, have sought to supply their want at earth’s broken cisterns. . . .

40

and

By Ellen G. White

Help

Christ’s followers have a responsibility to the sick and suffering.

In almost every community there are large numbers who will not listen to the teaching of God’s Word or attend any religious service. If these are reached by the gospel, it must be carried to their homes. Often the relief of their physical needs is the only avenue by which they can be approached.

Find Prayer Opportunities

Missionary nurses who care for the sick and relieve the distress of the poor will find many opportunities to pray with them, to read to them from God’s Word, and to speak of the Savior. They can pray with and for the helpless ones who have not strength of will to control the appetites that passion has degraded. They can bring a ray of hope into the lives of the defeated and disheartened. The revelation of unselfish love, manifested in acts of disinterested kindness, will make it easier for these suffering ones to believe in the love of Christ.

Many have no faith in God and have lost confidence in man. But they appreciate acts of sympathy and help-

Adventist World - nad | October 2014

fulness. As they see one with no inducement of earthly praise or compensation coming to their homes to minister to the sick, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to comfort the sad, and ever tenderly pointing all to Him of whose love and pity the human worker is but the messenger—as they see this, their hearts are touched. Gratitude springs up; faith is kindled. They see that God cares for them, and they are prepared to listen to the teaching of His Word.

Whether in foreign missions or in the home field, all missionaries, both men and women, will gain much more ready access to the people, and will find their usefulness greatly increased, if they are able to minister to the sick. Women who go as missionaries to heathen lands may thus find opportunity for giving the gospel to the women of those lands, when every other door of access is closed. All gospel workers should know how to give the simple treatments that do so much to relieve pain and remove disease.

The people need to see the bearing of health principles upon their well-being, both for this life and for the life to come.

Not Just for Medical Workers

Gospel workers should be able also to give instruction in the principles of healthful living. There is sickness everywhere, and much of it might be prevented by attention to the laws of health. The people need to see the bearing of health principles upon their well-being, both for this life and for the life to come. They need to be awakened to their responsibility for the human habitation fitted up by their Creator as His dwelling place, and over which He desires them to be faithful stewards.

Thousands need and would gladly receive instruction concerning the simple methods of treating the sick—methods that are taking the place of the use of poisonous drugs.

There is great need of instruction in regard to dietetic reform. Wrong habits of eating and the use of unhealthful food are in no small degree responsible for the intemperance and crime and wretchedness that curse the world.

In teaching health principles, keep

before the mind the great object of reform—that its purpose is to secure the highest development of body and mind and soul. Show that the laws of nature, being the laws of God, are designed for our good: that obedience to them promotes happiness in this life, and aids in the preparation for the life to come.

Encourage the people to study that marvelous organism, the human system, and the laws by which it is governed. Those who perceive the evidences of God’s love, who understand something of the wisdom and beneficence of his laws, and the results of obedience, will come to regard their duties and obligations from an altogether different point of view. Instead of looking upon an observance of the laws of health as a matter of sacrifice or self-denial, they will regard it as it really is, an inestimable blessing.

Every gospel worker should feel that to teach the principles of healthful living is a part of his appointed work. Of this work there is great

need, and the world is open for it.

Christ commits to His followers an individual work—a work that cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the sick and the poor, the giving of the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to committees or organized charities. Individual responsibility, individual effort, personal sacrifice, is the requirement of the gospel.

“Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in,” is Christ’s demand, “that my house may be filled.” He brings men into touch with those whom they may benefit. “Bring the poor that are cast out to thy house,” He says. “When thou seest the naked, . . . cover him.”

“They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Through direct contact, through personal ministry, the blessings of the gospel are to be communicated.

Those who take up their appointed work will not only bless others, but will themselves be blessed. The consciousness of duty well done will have a reflex influence upon their own souls. The despondent will forget their despondency, the weak will become strong, the ignorant intelligent, and all will find an unfailing helper in Him who has called them. n This material was first published in the December 24, 1914, Review and Herald, in an article entitled “Missionary Nurses.”

Seventh-day Adventists believe that Ellen G. White (1827-1915) exercised the biblical gift of prophecy during more than 70 years of public ministry.

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B I B L E

Q U E S T I O N S

A N S W E R E D

Rituals What is the meaning of laying hands on sacrificial animals?

and Ceremonies

The Hebrew phrase yad samak ‘al means “to press the hand on” sacrificial victims, and is primarily used in the cult and in some noncultic cases. We will examine both of them. The idea that the laying on of hands signifies ownership is practically irrelevant because the ritual assumes that sinners had to bring to the sanctuary their own animals. We should keep in mind that a ritual could convey different meanings depending on the context and the purpose of the larger ritual of which it is a part.

1. Nonsacrificial Use: The first case is found in Leviticus 24:14. Those who heard a person blaspheming the name of the Lord placed their hands on the person before they were stoned. The meaning of the ritual is not stated. But we can guess that as witnesses they are identifying the guilty one before the execution. But it could also be, as suggested in Leviticus 5:1, that those who heard the blasphemy got involved in the sinful act at the risk of their own lives, and unless they witness against the blasphemer they would also bear his sin (cf. Lev. 24:15). In this case they would be symbolically transferring to the person the guilt that otherwise would have adhered to them. During the installation of Joshua, Moses laid hands on him to “give him some of your [Moses’] authority” (Num. 27: 20, NIV). In this case the idea of substitution may be present because Joshua will take the place of Moses as leader of the Israelites.

In Numbers 8:10 the people laid hands on the Levites as they were separated to officiate in the tabernacle.

They were chosen by the Lord to serve Him in place of the firstborn of the Israelites (see Num. 3:12).We have here a transfer of responsibility and the concept of substitution.

In conclusion, several ideas seem to be expressed in the ritual: A relationship is established between the subject and the object (witness/accused; leader-successor/ substitute; firstborn/substitute); something is transferred from one to the other; and in some cases the idea of substitution is present.

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2. Cultic Use: The laying on of hands was required for the burnt (Lev. 1:4), peace (Lev. 3:2), sin (Lev. 4:4, 15, 33), and most probably the guilt offerings (Lev. 7:7). It was part of the ritual of ordination for Aaron and his sons (Lev. 8:14, 18, 22). It is debated whether two hands were always used.

When the subject is plural, the plural “hands” is used, and “hand” when the subject is singular. It is difficult to be definitive on this matter. The meaning of the ritual is not explicitly stated, except in one case, the scapegoat during the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:21). Aaron used both hands, confessed the sins of Israel, and transferred them to the live goat. In this case the idea of transfer is clearly expressed, but there is no substitution. It is not clear whether this meaning also applies to laying hands on the sacrifices, because the scapegoat was not a sacrificial victim.

3. Meaning of the Ritual: One meaning seems to predominate: transference. It would be most logical to assume that this is also the case with the sacrificial victims. Several arguments support this suggestion. First, every sacrifice had an expiatory function, implying that through it sin was removed. Second, sinners came to the sanctuary bearing their sin/impurity (Lev. 5:1), but this was removed through an expiatory sacrifice that resulted in forgiveness (verse 10) or cleansing (Lev. 12:8; 14:19), thus delivering sinners from this burden (cf. Isa. 53:6, 11, 12). We are even told that God (Ex. 34:7) or the priest bears the sin of the people (Lev. 10:17; Ex. 28:38). Third, sin/impurity was removed from the sanctuary once a year, suggesting that somehow the sin/ impurity of the people was transferred to it. It was through the laying on of hands that sin was transferred from sinners via the sacrifice to the sanctuary. The idea of substitution also seems to be present in the laying on of hands. The ritual is explained in terms of the divine acceptance of the offering that is at the same time the acceptance of the offerer (Lev. 1:4; 7:18). The experience of the one is the experience of the other. n

Before his retirement, Angel Manuel Rodríguez served as director of the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference.

B I B L E

S T U D Y

Never

Give Up

By Mark A. Finley

M

any years ago the English orator and statesman, Winston Churchill spoke at Harrow, one of England’s elite all-boys schools. Both students and faculty eagerly anticipated his speech. They talked about it in their classes, in the halls, and on the sports fields. Excitement mounted as Churchill arrived on the day of his speech. As he strode to the podium, it is reported that he stood motionless, silent, looking with piercing eyes over the audience. Beginning somewhat slowly at first, then building to a thunderous crescendo, he uttered those words for which he has become world-famous: “Never give in, never, never, never, . . . never give in!”

Churchill understood this fundamental truth about life: We can never succeed if we give up too soon. Often the path of success lies very close to the path of defeat. This is especially true in the Christian life. Satan’s goal is to get us to give up, to drop out, and to throw up our hands in dejected defeat. In this lesson we will study how to persevere until the end of the journey.

1 In His sermon on last-day events and the signs of His soon return, how does Jesus emphasize the importance of never giving up? Read Matthew 24:13.

Jesus recognized that as His people face the challenges of the last days, they would be tempted to give up. Many would be tempted to abandon their faith. That’s why the Savior emphasizes, “He who endures to the end shall be saved.”

2

What title is Jesus given in Hebrews 12:2?

What counsel does this passage give us in persevering until the end of the journey?

If we concentrate on looking at our past, we will often be gripped by guilt because of our many mistakes. If we focus on looking within our own hearts, we will be consumed with the thought of our own inadequacy and weakness. If we gaze too far into the future to consider all the possibilities of what might happen, worry will become our constant companion. If we fix our gaze upon Jesus, we will be filled with a sense of calm assurance at the joy of His presence.

Looking to Jesus, we find strength for life’s journey.

P h o t o

B y

R o g e r

P r i c e

3 What assurance did the apostle Paul give to the Philippian believers about God’s active involvement in their lives? Read Philippians 1:6, 7.

Paul assured these new believers that the God who had begun a good work in their lives would finish it. God does not leave His work in our lives undone. He does not start something in us, then leave us on our own to finish it. If God has started something in our lives, and He has, we have to trust Him to complete what He has begun.

4

Where did Jesus find strength to persevere in the trials at the end of His life? Read Matthew 26:36-39.

5 How can we find that same strength? Compare Matthew 24:42; 26:41; and 1 Corinthians 16:13.

Throughout the New Testament “watching” is often associated with being alert in prayer. That constant vigilance to maintain a relationship with Christ enables us to persevere in the trials of life. Knowing Christ, we know He will get us through any storms we face.

6 Analyze Philippians 3:12-16. What counsel does the apostle give about persevering in the Christian life? Notice especially two things: what Paul does not do, and what motivates him to never give up.

7 What amazing promise does Jesus give to those who commit their lives to following wherever He leads? Read John 10:26-29.

What incredibly good news! Jesus has pledged Himself to get us through until the end. All the powers of hell, and the temptations of the evil one, cannot pluck us out of His hand. Life’s most challenging times cannot separate us from His love. If we remain surrendered to Him and do not give up, He will guide us home. n

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IDEA EXCHANGE

I enjoy very much Adventist World, with its reports, commentaries, reflection, and creative ideas.

—Gitta Leunig, Hemmingen, Germany

Adventist brothers and sisters around the world.

Donna Tonn Texas, United States

Letters Taped Together

During the last week of July 2014 we received a mutilated copy of Adventist World. I was able to tape the back page, but the corners of pages 5 through 44 were chewed up as if caught in a machine. We were still able to read it.

Several other times, at least three or four times, over the past couple of years our Adventist Review has arrived damaged, and we thought maybe it happened at our post office, but we now wonder if it happens at the press.

None of our other mail has been damaged. Not sure what anyone can do about it; just thought I would pass this information on to you.

We have subscribed to the Review for more than 50 years and are thankful to be receiving it—and Adventist World—as it keeps us in touch with

Prayerw

We do not know of any issues with our press that would have caused what you describe; however, the weight (thickness) of the paper may have something to do with torn edges, as the magazine is sorted at postal facilities. We are sorry for this inconvenience, but glad you’ve been able to read the content!

—Editors Breast Cancer in Men

The health column article “Breast Cancer, Diagnosis” in the June 2014 Adventist World was very well done and informative.; However, as in other publications with regard to this subject, no mention is made of the fact that men can also get breast cancer.

Admittedly the numbers are small in comparison, but it should still be made known. In New Zealand it includes 1 to 2 percent of all breast

cancers, and men can die from it.

I had breast cancer in 2012, and because it was diagnosed early I have recovered well from the mastectomy and follow-up radiation treatment.

It may be worthwhile for authors Peter N. Landless and Allan R..

Handysides to make mention of this in the next article on this subject.

Allan Morse Paeroa, New Zealand Thanks; and a Request

As a lifelong Adventist I enjoy very much Adventist World, with its reports, commentaries, reflection, and creative ideas. I also enjoy reading the prayer requests and thanksgiving from fellow believers all around the world. I pray for them.

I am very concerned about my family and ask that you pray that my children may reconcile and that my grandson’s grades will improve. Please also pray that my youngest grandchild will participate in the religion classes in our local Adventist church.

PRAISE

Please pray for me. I am a graduate from Solusi University with a B.B.A. in marketing. I’ve been looking for a job for eight years.

Leonard, Zimbabwe

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I was looking for a job, and God gave me one. The problem is that I’m working in another state, and from Sunday to Friday I am alone. Please pray for my wife and me.

Paulo, Brazil

Adventist World - nad | October 2014

Please pray for my friend who has incredibly painful headaches. Pray for healing.

Martha, Germany Please pray for my uncle, who was shot accidentally by his friend. Pray for his spiritual and physical healing.

Champoumei, India

I praise the Lord from the bottom of my heart for this circle of prayer that blesses many people all around the world.

Gitta Leunig Hemmingen, Germany

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More Information Needed

I am glad to be able to contact you at Adventist World magazine. I met an Adventist volunteer through a prison ministry—she is doing a wonderful service, and I would like to know more about your magazine and the Adventist Church.

The volunteer shared a copy of the magazine with me, and in it I read an article from Kenya, my country. Please send me more information about your organization.

Shabani Juma Genoa, Italy Adventist World is produced by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and distributed to members free of charge. We are also on the Internet at www.adventist world.org. We are gratified that the magazine is filling this need.

—Editors Letters Policy: Please send to: letters@adventistworld.org.

Letters must be clearly written, 100-word maximum. Include the name of the article and the date of publication with your letter.

Also include your name, the town/city, state, and country from which you are writing. Letters will be edited for space and clarity. Not all letters submitted will be published.

4 Based on the percentage of people who donate money, volunteer time, and help strangers, the most generous people in the world live in:

1. United States 2. Canada 3. Myanmar

4. New Zealand 5. Ireland Source: World Giving Index

Revived by His Word A Journey of Discovery Together Through the Bible God speaks to us through His Word. Join with other believers in more than 180 countries who are reading a chapter of the Bible each day. To download the daily Bible Reading Guide, visit RevivedbyHisWord.org, or sign up to receive the daily Bible chapter by e-mail.

To join this initiative, start here: November 1, 2014 • Malachi 4

I have been asked to send out a special prayer request for the Mission to the Cities program planned for Iceland.

Please pray!

Unnur, Iceland Pray for me as I look for a job—all the jobs I’ve gotten end up requiring me

to work on Sabbath. I haven’t been working since 2012.

Paul, South Africa Please pray for peace and security in our country.

Becky, Kenya

The Place of Prayer: Send prayer requests and praise (thanks for answered prayer) to prayer@adventistworld.org. Keep entries short and concise, 50-words or less. Items will be edited for space and clarity. Not all submissions will be printed. Please include your name and your country’s name. You may also fax requests to: 1-301-680-6638; or mail them to Adventist World, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A.

October 2014 | Adventist World - nad

45

IDEA EXCHANGE “Behold, I come quickly…”

Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ, uniting Seventh-day Adventists everywhere in beliefs, mission, life, and hope.

86

years ago

O

n October 16, 1928, Henry M. Porter, and his daughter, Dora Porter Mason, donated US$330,000 toward the construction of what became known as Porter Sanitarium and Hospital in Denver, Colorado, United States. It was, at the time, the largest single donation to a Seventh-day Adventist institution.

Porter, a patient at Glendale Sanitarium earlier that year, had been impressed by the treatment he received, and by the fact that an attendant had refused to accept a tip. Later, after being a patient at Paradise Valley Sanitarium, Porter received a check for 45 cents, an amount he had been overcharged because of a bookkeeping error.

Porter’s donation purchased a 15-hectare (40-acre) plot and paid for the construction of a 75-bed hospital. The hospital, opened in 1930, continued to benefit from the Porter family’s generosity. When Porter’s son, William, died in 1959, part of his estate, valued at US$1 million went to the hospital. The hospital is now known as Porter Adventist Hospital.

!

Go

Only 28.5 grams (1 ounce) of walnuts a day (14 halves) has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Source: Men’s Health/Journal of Nutrition P h o t o

B y

s a n j a

g j e n e r o

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

Executive Publisher and Editor in Chief Bill Knott Associate Publisher Claude Richli International Publishing Manager Pyung Duk Chun Chun, Pyung Duk Publishing Board Ted N. C. Wilson, chair; Benjamin D. Schoun, vice chair; Bill Knott, secretary; Lisa Beardsley-Hardy; Daniel R. Jackson; Robert Lemon; Geoffrey Mbwana; G. T. Ng; Daisy Orion; Juan Prestol; Michael Ryan; Ella Simmons; Mark Thomas; Karnik Doukmetzian, legal advisor Adventist World Coordinating Committee Jairyong Lee, chair; Akeri Suzuki, Kenneth Osborn, Guimo Sung, Pyung Duk Chun, Suk Hee Han Editors based in Silver Spring, Maryland Lael Caesar, Gerald A. Klingbeil (associate editors), Sandra Blackmer, Stephen Chavez, Wilona Karimabadi, Kimberly Luste Maran, Andrew McChesney Editors based in Seoul, Korea Pyung Duk Chun, Jae Man Park, Hyo Jun Kim Online Editor Carlos Medley Operations Manager Merle Poirier Editors-at-large Mark A. Finley, John M. Fowler Senior Advisor E. Edward Zinke Financial Manager Rachel J. Child Editorial Assistant Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste Management Board Jairyong Lee, chair; Bill Knott, secretary; P. D. Chun, Karnik Doukmetzian, Suk Hee Han, Kenneth Osborn, Juan Prestol, Claude Richli, Akeri Suzuki, Ex-officio: Robert Lemon, G. T. Ng, Ted N. C. Wilson Art Direction and Design Jeff Dever, Brett Meliti Consultants Ted N. C. Wilson, Robert E. Lemon, G. T. Ng, Guillermo E. Biaggi, Lowell C. Cooper, Daniel R. Jackson, Geoffrey Mbwana, Armando Miranda, Pardon K. Mwansa, Michael L. Ryan, Blasious M. Ruguri, Benjamin D. Schoun, Ella S. Simmons, Alberto C. Gulfan, Jr., Erton Köhler, Jairyong Lee, Israel Leito, John Rathinaraj, Paul S. Ratsara, Barry Oliver, Bruno Vertallier, Gilbert Wari, Bertil A. Wiklander 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 © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 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. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

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

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