The International Paper for Seventh-day Adventists
Ma rc h 2 01 7
24 From Sundown to Sundown 30 Sabbath Memories From Around the World 44 A Matter of Justice
Love
Falling in All Over Again Rediscovering the gift of the Sabbath in a busy world
North American Division | n a d
Ma rc h 2017
24 From Sundown to Sundown
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U N D A M E N T A L
B E L I E F S
By Stephen Chavez
Let us not be legalistic about keeping the Sabbath.
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C O V E R
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S T O R Y
N A D F E A T U R E Did You Know You’re a Missionary . . . Right Now?
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The Sabbath is as old as Creation. Yet this is no time to take it for granted.
8 A Day of Rest and Gladness
Too bad the Sabbath comes only once a week.
20 Unity: Then and Now By Mark A. Finley
The Holy Spirit is indispensable.
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I S C O V E R I N G T H E S P I R I T O F P R O P H E C Y
By Valdecir Simões Lima
God never leaves His people without guidance.
42 The Sure Word of Prophecy
By Ted N. C. Wilson
F E A T U R E
By Amy D. Prindle
The only qualification is a willingness to serve.
V I S T A
L I F E
We have 52 opportunities a year to make the Sabbath something special.
By Gerald A. Klingbeil
D V E N T I S T
Sabbath Memories From Around the World
Falling in Love All Over Again
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D E PA RT M E N T S 3 W O R
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R E P O R T
3 News Briefs 5 News Feature 10 NAD News 14 NAD Update 17 NAD Perspective 19 NAD Letters
7 W O R L D H E A Heart Failure
L T H
44 B
I B L E Q U E S T I O N S A N S W E R E D
A Matter of Justice
45 B I B L E S T U D Y Experiencing the Power to Obey 46
I D E A
E X C H A N G E
www.adventistworld.org Available in 10 languages online The Adventist World® (ISSN 1557-5519), one of the Adventist Review® family of publications, is printed monthly by the Pacific Press® Publishing Association. Copyright © 2017. Send address changes to your local conference membership clerk. Contact information should be available through your local church. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 13, No. 3, March 2017.
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C O V E R
I M A G E :
S T E F A N
K U N Z E
Healed Each Sabbath
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1 Scripture
quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2 Abraham Heschel, The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man.
WORLD REPORT
Philosophy Professor Finds Adventism Through
N E W S
Health Message
A S N
f wishing it could make it so, I would stand each Sabbath morning on the western shores of Galilee, watching the dawn color the sky behind the eastern hills. Long before I visited the lake, I had been there a thousand times in my imagination, walking by myself—but never alone—the watery zone where wavelets baptize travelers’ feet as well as their minds. I never think about the seventh day without treading—often without conversation—the orbit of this lake where Jesus healed, restored, quieted, and calmed. All things take on their proper size and shape in the clear light of a Sabbath morning, whether we are in Galilee or Galway, Bethsaida or Buenos Aires. When we lay down our fishing and our fuming, we learn our true size and importance: we join the Lord in remembering that “we are dust,” but that “the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him” (Ps. 103:14, 17, ESV).1 On Sabbath, we remember that “the world has already been created and will survive without the help of man.”2 The Sabbath is the great renewer of an Advent people, the necessary counterpart to all our calls to mission, duty, sweat, and service. On Sabbath Jesus calls us to remember grace—the grace that made us, called us, saved us, changed us. We tell each other through our worship, rest, and time together that our finest effort is—at best—an act of gratitude for how we have ourselves been healed. As you read the pages of this month’s Adventist World, pray for the Sabbath restoration that Jesus promises to all who walk with Him each seventh day, and who wait so eagerly for the day of His appearing.
Francisco Rozas Bravo joined the Seventhday Adventist Church after attending classes at an Adventist center in his community.
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former philosophy professor at the Catholic University of Chile has joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church after a Center of Influence in his neighborhood offered courses in healthy cooking, and an opportunity to study the violin. Francisco Rozas Bravo passed by the local Adventist church for many years, but it never caught his attention. One day, as he and his wife were returning home from shopping, they noticed a sign outside the church offering a “healthy eating course,” for which the couple signed up. They met a young graduate from the Adventist University of Chile who urged Rozas to sign up for a violin workshop also being taught at the center. The student eventually gained Rozas’ trust and offered to give the professor Bible studies. Rozas was no stranger to religion: he’d studied many religious philosophies over the years, completing a program at the University of Chile that earned him academic recognition in the field. Finally, after study and participation in the congregation, Rozas was baptized on December 3, 2016, the day a youth seminar was held highlighting the experiences of young Chilean Adventists involved in the “One Year in Mission” program. The Centers of Influence launched in 2016 in Santiago, Chile, developed activities and courses to help the community. More than 500 people have participated in activities related to health, food, education, computer training, and music. —Gabriel Gamboa/ASN Continued on next page
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WORLD REPORT
Caleb Adeogun, Adventist Leader, Passes at 84
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aleb Oyelayo Adeogun, 84, the first African elected executive secretary of his home division, and the first Nigerian secretary then president of his country’s union mission, passed to his rest on December 2, 2016. The first child of a pioneering Seventh-day Adventist convert and pastor in Nigeria, the late Joseph Adeyemo Adeogun, Caleb served the Seventhday Adventist church all his life. He was a graduate of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where he received his bachelor’s degree, as well as churchowned Andrews University, where he received a Master of Arts in English. Adeogun held different positions
in denominational service: teaching at the Adventist grammar school, Ede, and as registrar and acting principal of the Adventist College of West Africa, which his father, Joseph, cofounded. Today that school is known as Babcock University, and is one of the premier educational institutions in Nigeria. Caleb Adeogun later served as the first Nigerian-born secretary and president of the Nigerian Union Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1990 he became the first African to serve as executive secretary of the Africa-Indian Ocean Division. Ted N. C. Wilson, world church president, served in West Africa when
Adventists Welcome New
U.S. International Religious Freedom Law
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egislation signed into law by then-U.S. president Barack Obama represents a muchneeded step forward in the global effort to combat religious persecution, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Washington, D.C., representative said. Dwayne Leslie, an associate director of the Public Affairs and Religious
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Liberty (PARL) Department of the Adventist world church, says the impact of the new law is potentially significant. It increases the emphasis on religious liberty issues within U.S. foreign policy, such as requiring religious freedom training for all diplomatic officers, mandating tracking of religious repression around the world,
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Caleb Adeogun Adeogun was Nigerian Union Mission president. In an e-mail message he paid tribute to his former colleague: “Pastor Adeogun was a longtime leader in God’s church in Nigeria and in the West-Central Africa Division. It was a privilege to work with him while serving in that territory some years ago. We are grateful for the dedicated service of Pastor and Mrs. Adeogun.” Adeogun’s survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; children Moyosore Ajayi, Caleb Olugbenga Adeogun, Ayotunde Adeogun, Oyinkansola Ajetunmobi, James Adeogun, and Comfort Kenya; 11 grandchildren; and two brothers. —Adventist World staff
and raising the status of the office of the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. “In recent years we’ve seen the devastation of Christian communities in the Middle East, along with increasing religious violence in so many parts of the world—from Nigeria, to Pakistan, to the countries of central Asia,” said Leslie. “As Adventists we believe that everyone, regardless of where they live, has a right to worship, or not to worship, according to their conscience. This fundamental freedom is one that governments around the world have a responsibility both to recognize and to protect.”
The passage of the bill, known as the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, came in the final legislative moments of 2016, and was passed by unanimous consent by the U.S. House of Representatives after earlier passage by the Senate. This was the last step in a five-year-long effort to pass the bill. Obama signed the legislation into law on December 16, 2016. Ganoune Diop, director of PARL for the world church, said supporting legislation such as this within every nation’s political system is a core part of the work of PARL. “Here at the world church headquarters, as well as at each of the church’s 13 world divisions, PARL leaders are charged with
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Former U.S. representative Frank R. Wolf addresses the 2016 International Religious Liberty Summit in Washington, D.C.
monitoring legislation, and advocating for legal change that will increase protections for religious freedom for all,” he noted. This, he adds, is a vital part of the church’s more-than-150-year commitment to promoting religious liberty as a fundamental human right.
By Andrew McChesney, Adventist Mission
Boys Sell Paper Airplanes in Kyrgyzstan
The two become unlikely—and successful—fundraisers
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hen Christian Müller, a Seventh-day Adventist who volunteered in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, found his two young sons selling paper airplanes on the city street outside their home, he was surprised. The boys—Lukas, 7, and Thomas, 6—had dragged a table into the road, decorated it with colorful flowers, and filled it with the homemade planes, which they were trying to sell for 10 Kyrgyzstani som (US15 cents) each. The boys wanted to donate the money for new classrooms at Heritage
Christian School in Tokmok, a city of about 53,000, located a 90-minute drive east of Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek. “The children became very excited about the project,” said Müller, who served as development director at Heritage Christian School, “so they decided to fund-raise.” The boys had spent the previous month listening to their father speak about the project at churches in their home country of Argentina, as well as in the United States and Spain, during the family’s annual leave. The Adventistowned school, with 330 students—
The law is named after former U.S. congressman Frank Wolf, a lawmaker known for his relentless efforts, for more than two decades, to protect religious minorities around the world. —By Bettina Krause, International Religious Liberty Association
kindergarten through high school— was turning away 40 students a year because of a lack of space, and needed US$400,000 to construct a new threestory building, Müller said. About 700 Adventists live in Kyrgyzstan, a predominantly Muslim country of 6 million people bordered by China and three former Soviet republics: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Müller said that his sons appeared to have caught the mission spirit by listening to his fund-raising presentations and hearing his daily prayers to God for help during family worship. But he said he didn’t want them to sell paper airplanes on the street; so he suggested that they try to sell them on the school campus. Plane Sales Take Off
The boys went straight to the school’s cashier, a native of Kyrgyzstan. She agreed to buy two paper airplanes for a total of 20 som (30 cents). Continued on next page
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WORLD REPORT Thomas, left, and Lukas Müller, right, sitting at home with their homemade piggy bank, in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan.
A N D R E W
Putting Mission First
“I am happy that they understand the mission we have as a family,” Müller said. “It is special to me because I have
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Adventist World
M I S S I O N
A portion of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering for fourth quarter 2017 will go toward the construction of a multifunctional center at Heritage Christian School in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, which is part of the Euro-Asia Division.
A construction team at work on the classroom building cofunded by Lukas and Thomas Müller.
M C C H E S N E Y / A D V E N T I S T
M I S S I O N
realized that I am not alone in my work. We are all committed to the same goal.” The school has raised nearly all the funds needed for the new classrooms, and the building is expected to open in time for the new school year in September 2017. Fund-raising work is now starting on another building: a multifunctional center where students will be able to attend indoor physical education classes during cold winter months. The center also will contain a large auditorium where students can gather for meetings; serve as a center of influence with a soccer school for 100 underprivileged children; and provide conference facilities for events hosted by the church’s Southern Union Mission, whose territory includes Kyr-
A N D R E W
Then the boys approached their father. “They came to me, and I said, ‘OK, I’ll buy one,’ ” Müller said in an interview in his home on the school campus. But the boys told him: “No, no. For you, it’s not 10 som, it’s $20. You’re a foreigner.” Foreigners in Kyrgyzstan are sometimes charged a significantly higher rate than locals. The boys’ fund-raising efforts didn’t stop with paper airplanes. They built a cardboard box to collect money for the school at the local grocery store. Their father liked the idea, but suggested that it might be better to place the box in the school. “I told them to ask the principal for permission,” Müller said. “The principal thought it was a good idea and assigned the boys’ father the task of placing the box in the school.” When the boys received cash from relatives for special occasions, they contributed it to the school project instead of spending it on toys or candy, their parents said. Lukas lost two teeth and put them under the pillow at night. The $20 and 5 Argentine pesos that he found the next morning went to the construction fund.
M C C H E S N E Y / A D V E N T I S T
gyzstan. The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in fourth quarter 2017 is to cover $300,000 of its $400,000 cost. Lukas and Thomas Müller, meanwhile, have contributed about $150 to the classroom project, and they are continuing to look for new ways to raise money. The boys have a homemade piggy bank where they collect som banknotes and coins. “I don’t need to buy more toys, because God has blessed me with many toys,” Lukas said in an interview. The boys’ enthusiasm for the school has built the faith of many, including Konstyantin Kampen, education director for the Southern Union Mission. “When I saw how these children were sacrificing, I realized that we would finish this project,” he said. “If God can touch the hearts of these kids, then He will touch the hearts of the adults, too.”
Heart
W O R L D
H E A L T H
Failure
Symptoms and Treatment By Peter N. Landless and Zeno L. Charles-Marcel My husband is 55 years old and had a coronary artery stent put in a year ago. We understand that his heart disease is now cured. He recently noticed shortness of breath on climbing stairs; could this be just a lack of physical fitness?
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hortness of breath on climbing stairs may be related to being unfit. In your husband’s case this must be a diagnosis of exclusion: other causes must be sought, especially the progression of coronary artery disease. Regardless of the intervention, be it medical treatment (medications such as aspirin and statins), percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA), stenting, or open-heart surgery with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), coronary artery disease is never cured. It is arrested, or may be partially reversed, but the propensity remains, and there has to be permanent, intensive treatment and lifestyle change. Key interventions include regular exercise and a healthful, balanced vegetarian diet. Sadly, fewer than 30 percent of individuals who have been given a life-threatening diagnosis such as heart attack, stroke, or cancer make long-term lifestyle adjustments, despite such changes promoting increased length and quality of life. Especially in your husband’s case, any new symptom must be taken seriously. Recently noted shortness of breath on exertion requires reassessment of his coronary artery disease. One must rule out progression of the disease and establish that it will be safe for him to engage in a supervised exercise program with gradually increasing inten-
sity. Numerous tests can be done, including a straightforward electrocardiogram (EKG), a stress or exercise EKG, radioisotope nuclear testing (which is not available universally), stress echocardiography (which is more readily available around the world and is not dependent on the short half-life of radioisotopes), computed tomography (CT) scanning for coronary artery calcification, and angiography/CT angiography. Each of these tests has its place and, as available, may be helpful in confirming the status of coronary artery disease at any given point in time. An echocardiogram may be particularly helpful. It can help detect the mechanical function and efficiency of the heart by measuring what we call the ejection fraction. In individuals who have scarring of the heart muscle or muscle deprived of oxygen (ischemia), ventricular function (pumping action) is decreased. These studies can show abnormalities of specific areas of the heart muscle that fail to move efficiently either when scarred or oxygen-deprived. This may be very useful in guiding further investigations and interventions. Other symptoms to look out for include chest pain, shortness of breath that wakes one up at night, increased ankle swelling that worsens toward the end of the day, generalized fatigue, and palpitations (an
increased awareness of one’s heartbeat). Lung congestion may manifest itself as wheezing and coughing and add to the shortness of breath. If these symptoms are present, then doctors must test for heart failure. The reason we emphasize possible heart failure is because of your husband’s history of coronary artery disease. Other conditions have to be excluded, including lung disease, thyroid underactivity, and anemia, to name a few. The essential take-home message is for your husband to see his physician as soon as possible and have a definitive diagnosis made. Best medical practices and healthful lifestyle changes are key to quality of life and longevity. A healthful lifestyle may prevent many dangerous diseases. Why not enjoy the more abundant life, including wholeness in Jesus? “[We] pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (3 John 2, NIV). n
Peter N. Landless, a board-certified nuclear cardiologist, is director of Adventist Health Ministries at the General Conference. Zeno L. Charles-Marcel, a board-certified internist, is an associate director of Adventist Health Ministries at the General Conference.
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W O R L D
V I S T A
A Day of and
Rest
By Ted N. C. Wilson
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ot long ago I received a question for my Q & A on Facebook asking, “Must we keep the Sabbath to be saved?” This question is similar to others that perhaps you have heard or even asked yourself: “Can we go swimming on Sabbath?” “Are we allowed to cook on Sabbath?” “Is it OK to eat out on Sabbath?” “May I ______________ [fill in the blank] on Sabbath?” We Seventh-day Adventists don’t have a book of rules specifying every detail of how to keep the Sabbath holy. As with all our beliefs, we turn to the Bible as the basis for belief and practice. In the Beginning
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). After six days of creating the world and all that was in it, “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (verse 31). But one thing was still missing: rest. True, sanctified rest comes only from the Creator. “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done,
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Gladn
and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Gen. 2:1-3). Notice in this passage the strong emphasis on God as the Creator. Three times it reminds us of the “work which He had done,” and links the seventh-day Sabbath as blessed and sanctified by the One who created everything. When we “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8), we acknowledge God as our Creator, the one who not only created us but who made all things good. The psalmist blended Creation and worship together beautifully when he wrote: “For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (Ps. 95:3-6). Paul links this psalm to the Sabbath in Hebrews 3 and 4. In chapter 3 he quotes directly from Psalm 95:7-11:
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Now and
“Today, if you will hear His voice: ‘Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” In Hebrews 4 this rest is linked to faith, salvation, and the Sabbath. “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. . . . For we who have believed do enter that rest. . . . For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.’ . . . There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” (verses 1-10). At Kadesh-barnea, on the borders of Canaan, nearly an entire generation of Israelites refused to enter because they failed to believe God’s promise that He would give them victory over the land’s inhabitants. A little later,
Most of Christ’s healing miracles were performed on the Sabbath.
ness
for eternity when God told them that they would never enter the land of Canaan but would die in the wilderness because of their unbelief, they rebelled again against God’s word and tried to win the victory over the Canaanites in their own strength. As elsewhere (see 1 Cor. 10:1-13; Gal. 4:22-31), Paul saw a lesson from the Old Testament in connection with righteousness by faith. The Sabbath symbolizes resting from our own efforts to gain victory over sin and accepting the righteousness of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. That rest is still available to those who believe and accept God’s wonderful promises. Jesus and the Sabbath
Jesus brought the true meaning of the Sabbath back into focus as a day of restoration and healing, a day for reCreation. We read in that wonderful book The Desire of Ages that “He had come to free the Sabbath from those burdensome requirements that had made it a curse instead of a blessing.”1 Most of Christ’s healing miracles were performed on the Sabbath. One of the many well-known examples is that of the paralytic at the Pool of
Bethesda, recorded in John 5. This man had suffered for 38 years, longing for healing but virtually hopeless. Jesus’ loving heart was touched. After a brief conversation Jesus told the man to “rise, take up your bed and walk” (verse 8). As the invalid obeyed, his faith was rewarded, and he was healed. While the man was overjoyed, not all were delighted, especially the religious leaders who were loath to acknowledge the miracle. Instead they condemned the man for carrying his bed on the Sabbath. Commenting on this incident, Ellen White wrote: “Jesus stated to them [religious leaders] that the work of relieving the afflicted was in harmony with the Sabbath law. It was in harmony with the work of God’s angels, who are ever descending and ascending between heaven and earth to minister to suffering humanity.”2 Christ honored the Sabbath not only in life, but even in death. Crucified on the sixth day, He rested in the tomb on the seventh day, just as His followers “rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56). Jesus, when speaking of future events, instructed His followers to “pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath” (Matt. 24:20), indicating the perpetuity of Sabbath sacredness in New Testament times and beyond. Edge of Eternity
As we come closer to the edge of eternity, our Lord’s sacred, seventh-
day Sabbath will be a deciding factor in end-time events. For well more than 100 years God as Creator has been ridiculed and relegated to the fringes by most of the world. The truth of His word—the Bible—has been attacked relentlessly. For more than 1,000 years His holy, sanctified Sabbath has been trampled upon by a religious power whose deadly wound is nearly healed (see Rev. 13). This end-time battle encompasses far more than a discussion on what we can or cannot do. It’s a battle for our loyalty, our faith, and our obedience. Do we really believe that God is our Creator? Do we actually trust that His Word is true? Are we willing to follow and worship Him on the day He set apart and sanctified? Now is the time for us to draw close to the Lord of the Sabbath (see Mark 2:28). Now is the time to discover the joy of having a relationship with Him, and experience the blessedness of resting in Him as our Creator, Redeemer, and Friend. When we know Him thus, we will eagerly anticipate spending His holy, set-apart day with Him, not only on this earth, but for all eternity (see Isa. 66:23). n 1
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898), p. 206. 2 Ibid.
Ted N. C. Wilson is president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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D A M S T E E G T
NAD NEWS
P H O T O S :
P I E T E R
Left: NAD AMC 2017 attendees pack bagged meals for a Stop Hunger Now project. Above: Compassion Movement volunteers rake leaves from the playground at the Elvira Elementary School project on January 8, 2017.
NAD Compassion Movement
Meets in Tucson
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dventist ministry leaders served the local community through three North American Division (NAD) Compassion Movement outreach opportunities during the 2017 NAD Adventist Ministries Convention (AMC): assisting two public schools through Tucson Serve the City, and packing more than 25,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now. During their online registration experience, each attendee was asked to select a compassion project to volunteer for during the first part of the convention. Each project was on a firstcome basis, so numbers of participants were restricted for each event. At the Stop Hunger Now event held at the convention host hotel, for example, more than 150 attendees helped put weighed dry foods into bags to create the meals that Stop Hunger Now distributes to countries/people in need.
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The Tucson Serve the City project was held off-site at two underresourced schools in the city. This outreach partnered NAD AMC attendees with a local organization, 4Tucson, to help clean up and refurbish the schools. At the Elvira Elementary School project, volunteers painted approximately 700 square feet of brick wall (to prep for future murals); added fresh paint to an existing desert scene mural; swept walkways; raked leaves from playgrounds; and assisted with a doorcutting project for the kindergarten. “Separation of church and state doesn’t mean what we think it does, and nowhere is that difference more evident than in public education in Tucson, Arizona,” shared NAD AMC organizers. “By saying to schools, ‘How can we pray for you, and how can we help?’ and then actually following through with both, churches have been welcomed by the
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public schools to come alongside and serve. Our attendees fit right in with the service they provided.” Santa Clara Elementary School has a fresh new look since NAD AMC volunteers painted the entire cafeteria. Said organizers: “We set aside time to be salt and light in Tucson in ways that make an immediate, tangible impact, but that also are having ripple effects throughout the entire city.” Bryant Taylor, Southeastern Conference communication/IT director in Florida, coordinated at the NAD Compassion Movement outreach project at Elvira school. Taylor said that “the principal appreciated that we were willing to give of our time to come out on a Sunday morning to paint their school.” Taylor explained that many of the students come from a reservation less than five miles away, and the school is in one of the poorest areas of the city. “The principal mentioned that he, along with one or two others, have been painting the school on weekends for weeks. He was ecstatic that we were able to complete a third of their total project in one day. He invited us to like the school’s Facebook page, his primary communication tool with par-
■■ On November 28, 2016, wildfires ravaged Gatlinburg, Tennessee, just four days before It Is Written’s partnership weekend event was to convene at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg. The North American Division media ministry was unable to hold the event there, but those who attended at the new location felt impressed to “do something” for the hotel and its team. Ellen Metcalf, It Is Written (IIW) development director, explained that IIW has held partnership weekend events at the Park Vista Hotel for more than two decades. Changing the location at the last minute was very unexpected. But “God provided a great alternate location right here in our hometown of Chattanooga,” said Metcalf. “Our partners very quickly changed their travel plans. We were blessed with a great, inspiring weekend.” It Is Written staff and partners who Continued on next page
W R I T T E N
■■ On November 26, 2016, the Ontario Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (OC) inaugurated Hope Vision Fellowship, believed to be the first congregation for visually impaired worshippers in the North American Division. Mark Johnson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC), and Mansfield Edwards, Ontario Conference president, joined the 25 charter members and their guests for the inaugural service held at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Scarborough, Toronto. Hope Vision Fellowship fulfills the dream of Charles Thomas, Pat Page, and Pat’s husband, Ralph, who previously worked for those who are visually impaired at Christian Record Services, to see a church for the visually impaired in Ontario. With the support of Theodore Sargeant, who provides leadership for disability ministries, and Jakov Bibulovic, church growth director, plans were made to open the church. Daniel R. Jackson, North American Division president, sent a congratulatory letter that was read at the inaugural service. “Like no other time in history, Christians need to recognize their call to God to be heralds of His soon coming,” Jackson wrote. “I am grateful that you have heard His call and that you see His vision for you. I believe that
It Is Written Responds to Gatlinburg Wildfires
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NAD’s First Congregation for Visually Impaired Inaugurated
the inauguration of the Hope Vision congregation is a hallmark for Canada for the North American Division.” During the event both Johnson and Edwards offered their congratulations. Edwards spoke of his appreciation to Charles Thomas, Pat and Ralph Page, Theodore Sargeant, and others who worked to make the church a reality. Sargeant is enthusiastic about the new congregation. “I’m simply blown away by their love for God, and for their trust and faith in Him,” he said. “They are so relaxed with each other, and they do not express any self-pity. They are together as one and want to see others experience what they have found in God. I get the sense that they are not content simply to form a new congregation. Their purpose is to lead other visually impaired people and sighted people to Jesus.” The congregation will meet on the last Sabbath of each month at the Holiday Inn until a more suitable location is found. —Halsey Peat, Ontario Conference
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ents and the community, so we could follow the activities at the school.” Taylor added, “We had prayer with him and prayed a blessing on the school.” —Kimberly Luste Maran, NAD Office of Communication
Jesse Johnson, It Is Written general manager (left); John Bradshaw, speaker/director; and Charles Reel, treasurer, present the check representing the funds donated for the Park Vista Hotel employees who were affected by last fall’s wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
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Oakwood University Celebrates Founder’s Day ■■ Oakwood University, in Huntsville, Alabama, celebrated its 120th anniversary with a week of Founder’s Day activities from November 9 to 16, 2016. University president Leslie Pollard said, “For 120 years Oakwood has advanced the mission of Seventh-day Adventist education, creating competent Christian professionals for servant leadership. I am immensely grateful for the 120-year celebration of Oakwood University. Since 1896 we have been in the blessed business of transforming lives.”
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O A K W O O D
attended the relocated annual event wanted to help the Park Vista staff affected by the fire. The hotel itself sustained only smoke and equipment damage, but many members of the hotel staff lost everything. One member of hotel management shared that the hotel management was purchasing hygiene and clothing necessities for its staff. “We have many employees who lost homes and vehicles,” she explained. At the event, partners generously filled offering baskets with cash and checks. IIW made its own contribution as some people contributed online. “Our partners were very generous,” reported Charles Reel, IIW treasurer. After the initial check was written, even more funds came in. It Is Written is working with the hotel management and using the funds to provide gift cards for the Park Vista employees. It Is Written holds seven partnership events, billed as inspirational, faith-building experiences, around the country each fall. —Annalyse Hasty, It Is Written
U N I V E R S I T Y
NAD NEWS
Attendees to the Oakwood University Founder’s Day celebration on November 16, 2016, received commemorative shirts as part of the weekend’s activities. Founder’s Day activities began with a Wednesday night prayer meeting service at the Oakwood University church, where senior pastor and Oakwood alumnus Carlton P. Byrd, class of 1994, Breath of Life speaker/director, presented a reflection about how God has led in the past. Anthony Bolden, class of 2015, spoke during the University church’s chapel service on November 10. Following chapel, a commemorative photo was taken. Also on November 10, the school dedicated the E. E. Rogers Biblical Languages and Resource Center, honoring Ernest E. Rogers, who served as Oakwood’s first full-time professor of biblical languages, from 1945 to 1979. The center fosters the learning and use of biblical languages, and provides computer-based resources for students. Later that afternoon a portrait of J. L. Moran was unveiled at Moran Hall, honoring Oakwood’s first African American president (1932-1945). On Friday evening, MyRon
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Edmonds, class of 1999, senior pastor of the Glenville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Euclid, Ohio, addressed a vespers service. Dynamic Praise ministered to the congregation in music. The speaker for divine worship on Sabbath was Calvin B. Rock, former Oakwood president, and member of the class of 1954. The Oakwood University Aeolians and Orchestra ministered in music. The Gospel Music Fest took place on Sabbath evening, featuring the Aeolians and guest choirs from Bethune-Cookman University and Alabama A&M University. Oakwood was founded to provide education for the region’s AfricanAmericans, many of whom had recently been freed from slavery. Originally the school was called Oakwood Industrial School, opening its doors on November 16, 1896, with 16 students. The 380-acre former slave plantation was dotted with towering oak trees, which inspired the name “Oakwood.” —Debbe Millet, Oakwood University
ADVENTIST SINGLE ADULT MINISTRIES
Cruise
Join ASAM on the Carnival Conquest from Aug. 31 – Sept. 4, 2017! This cruise will depart from Fort Lauderdale, FL and visit the Bahamas. THEME: Plugged In FEATURED SPEAKER: Mike Tucker, Faith for Today FEES Early-bird event registration: $75 through May 3 Regular event registration: $99 Cruise prices start at $454.59 per person for double occupancy and $768.59 per person for single occupancy REGISTRATION: Visit AdventSource.org or call 402.486.8800 Make your reservations today!
N A D U P D AT E Aidan Thomas Anderson, 16-year-old co-founder of AidanCares, shares his journey of living (and giving) for God during the final Adventist Ministries Convention keynote address. N O R T H
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ore than 750 ministry leaders attended the 2017 “Beyond the Pew” Adventist Ministries Convention (AMC) in Tucson, Arizona. The convention, held January 8-11, 2017, brought together conference, union conference, and division colleagues to inspire, educate, and renew church ministry leaders across the North American Division (NAD) through daily devotionals, more than 28 ministry tracks, 50 church resource exhibits, general sessions with keynote speakers, special leadership sessions, outreach activities (part of the NAD’s Compassion Movement), and awards given to individuals for ministry achievement. “The Adventist Ministries Convention is a place [where we] welcome those who are new to departmental ministry, learn about new resources and, most important, learn from each other,” said AMC organizers. “It’s also where we recognize accomplishments and celebrate transitions.” Many NAD ministry departments also conducted advisory meetings— intense half-day or full-day sessions— devoted to addressing challenges, showcasing new resources and programs, and planning for future ministry opportunities. Why We Work
General session keynote addresses began on January 8 with Daniel R.
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Two participants at the Adventist Ministry Convention in Tucson pause for a word of prayer. N A D
C O M M U N I C AT I O N
By Kimberly Luste Maran, NAD Office of Communication
Ministry Leaders Urged to Go
“Beyond the Pew” Adventist Ministry Convention Highlights Community
Jackson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. Jackson’s presentation, titled “Why We Work,” drew from Moses’ story (Exodus 2-3). Jackson challenged attendees with these questions: “What is the basis for our activities in the name of God? Why do we do what we do?” Other keynote speakers included Julian Archer, Tara J. VinCross, and Aidan Thomas Anderson, a 16-yearold who encouraged the audience to learn how to “live to give.” Anderson started his foundation, AidanCares, after he decided to donate the $80 he received in his fedora as he performed, at 7 years old, on a child’s harmonica when he was bored at a restaurant.
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Anderson received an extended ovation after his presentation near the conclusion of the AMC. Mark Brown, Southeastern Conference (Florida) family life, health and temperance, and religious liberty director, came to the convention to gather information and make contacts. “It was great. As an Adventist Church, we are very organized, and we have quite a lot of resources; it’s just a matter of getting those resources to our congregants. . . . With the technology we have, and the resources and the individuals who are committed to ministry, we will get it done.” Samuel Ngala, originally from Myanmar (Burma), worked in the
W. Derrick Lea, disaster response director for Adventist Community Services, talks with Adventist Ministries Convention attendees during the exhibitor expo. N O R T H
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ASAP (Advocates for Southeast Asians and the Persecuted) Ministries booth in the exhibit hall. He also helped conduct a church planting seminar for NAD Refugee and Immigrant Ministries. Ngala, engaged in Adventist church planting and pastoral work in Indianapolis, Indiana, said that after he fasted and prayed, God impressed on him that he needed to work with refugees. “They are like sheep without
D I V I S I O N
shepherds. They need someone to guide them, teach them, work with them,” Ngala said. Working with the NAD on church planting among refugees for the past several years, Ngala was happy to share his knowledge with others at the convention. Beyond the Pew
Debra Brill, NAD vice president for ministries, offered final remarks at
the AMC’s conclusion. She shared that the “work that the Adventist Church is doing in our conferences, in our churches . . . inspires me.” “ ‘Beyond the Pew’ is not just a slogan for us as we leave this place,” said Brill. “It is our hope and our prayer for you that you’ve had an opportunity to speak to a colleague who is facing similar challenges as you, [and] that you’ve been able to hear something that has inspired you—that has really met a need that only God knew you had.” Brill added, “ ‘Beyond the Pew’ is for us to come together as colleagues, friends, and brothers and sisters; to learn again of Jesus’ love for us, His love for the lost, and what a difference we can make for Him and in His name.” n
Filmed LIVE at the Oakwood University Seventh-day Adventist Church This special, which was aired on ABC in 2016, will now be shown on NBC in 2017! “The Rising” includes an Easter message from Dr. Carlton P. Byrd, Speaker/Director of the Breath of Life Television Ministry and Senior Pastor of the Oakwood University Church in Huntsville, Alabama, along with music by Grammy Award winning vocalist, CeCe Winans; violinist, Jaime Jorge; and the internationally renowned Oakwood University Aeolians Concert Choir.
Featuring
Dr. Carlton P. Byrd,
Speaker/Director of the Breath of Life Telecast
Internationally Renowned
Aeolians Concert Choir
CeCe Winans
Grammy Award Winning Vocalist
Jaime Jorge Violinist
Watch on NBC • April 16, 2017
For a list of stations, visit www.breathoflife.tv or call 256.929.6460
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ch One Rea
n e O C h an c a E
Christian reCord SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
Annual Day of Giving
Sabbath, April 8, 2017 Find out how YOU can reach one. Ask your church to show the video.
www.CRSBday.org 402-488-0981
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5900 S 58th St., Suite M
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Lincoln, NE 68516
NAD PERSPECTIVE By Erica Jones
Our Message of Hope and Wholeness
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ave you ever been told to “put your money where your mouth is”? The origin of this widely known expression is unclear, but its intended meaning is not: when we value something, we put our resources behind it. For years we’ve been watching as a growing number of teens and young adults leave the Adventist Church, and we ask, “Why?” I’ve searched for the answer to this question and have found that one reason surfaces more than any other: they don’t think the church is relevant. Leaders of the North American Division not only recognize this problem, but are committed to actively investing in new avenues to reach our young people with a message of hope and wholeness. When asked to serve as assistant director for the Women’s Ministries Department, I understood my primary role would be to create resources for teen girls and young adult women. As I travel and meet some of the amazing young women in our division, I feel certain God is leading and opening hearts. However, as they’ve shared their personal struggles and questions of faith with me, I am convinced that unless we minister to our young people in a way that speaks to their everyday lives—and relates to the real issues (and distractions) they face—and in a communication method they respond to, we will continue to see an exodus of this next generation.
Today’s youth are bombarded with thousands of messages every day. They spend an average of nine hours a day on social media.* The church cannot ignore this reality. Not only must we have a voice on social media platforms—our voice must be clearer and more relevant than all the others they hear. When the media tell our girls they’re not thin enough or running with the right group of people, we must speak up and help them understand how beautiful they are in God’s eyes. When they struggle to see their own selfworth, we must speak up and remind them they are daughters of the King. Together with the North American Division’s Education and Youth departments, the Women’s Ministries Department has developed an online blog to facilitate conversation about real-life issues, and to give our young women a place to ask tough questions anonymously. The Gorgeous2God blog serves to inspire and uplift teen girls while providing a Christian perspective about how to navigate the unique challenges they face. We often hesitate to open the door to difficult questions because we fear we may not have the answers. But I have found that young adults care less about us having the answers and more about feeling they have spiritual support and the ability to grow in a nonjudgmental environment. They are looking for leaders who are consistent, committed, and compassionate. They wilt under criticism, but grow
spiritually when they are mentored by a loving, mature Christian family. If being a Seventh-day Adventist looks like nothing more than a list of “don’ts,” they’re not interested. They’re searching for a faith that is deeper than how they dress or what they eat; a faith that is relevant and engaging, and serves others in practical ways. As leaders, parents, and mentors, we have a critical role to play in encouraging them as they search, showing compassion and understanding when they stumble. Every young person needs a feeling of acceptance, belonging, and validation; this must be reinforced by opportunities for leadership. Our goal must be to convince them that they have a stake in the future of the church. I’m grateful to be part of the North American Division family and to have been given an opportunity to serve the church in a leadership capacity. I thank the leaders of this division for being willing not only to speak up, but to put resources behind what they value: our young people, the future of the church. n * Vicky Rideout, Common Sense Media, “Media Use by Tweens and Teens.”
Check out Gorgeous2God through these online platforms: www.Gorgeous2God.org Facebook @Gorgeous2God Pinterest @Gorgeous2God Instagram @Gorgeous2God
Erica Jones is assistant director for the North American Division’s Women’s Ministries Department.
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Global Diabetes Burden
2 0 1 5 E S T I M AT E D A N D 2 0 4 0 P R O J E C T E D T O TA L S I N M I L L I O N S
NAD Letters
Adventist Television
While reading Adventist World (January 2017), I noticed on page 47 the annual offering for Adventist Television Ministries promoted. It listed various television ministries, including It Is Written. However, this seems to be very U.S.-oriented. There is no reference to It Is Written Canada. I’m not sure if you know it, but Canada produces the Portuguese and French versions of the It Is Written programs. Harald Zinner British Columbia, Canada Have a Plan
In “Have a Plan” (January 2017), Dennis Carlson, director of Planned Giving and Trust Services, is quoted as saying that all individual church members need an end-of-life giving plan to “protect the assets of God from falling into enemy hands.” Whom is he referring to? Other charities? Underserving friends? Political causes? This is an unfortunate example of the “us-against-them” mentality, and I am saddened by it. Sheryl L. Lizarraga North Chesterfield, Virginia
2015
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Fiber
All About Health
I always enjoy reading health features. Thank you! However, I am curious about your item on heart health in the January 2017 issue. It states, “A normal diet should contain five to 10 grams of fiber a day; a cup of legumes . . .” Perhaps the intention was to refer only to soluble fiber, which is more like 25-30 grams a day. Thanks! Cynthia Foster Brighton, Colorado
Thank you for the emphasis on health in the January 2017 Adventist World. It both shocked and encouraged me. I was shocked by the graph that showed the “Global Diabetes Burden,” which revealed that diabetes is projected to rise to frightening numbers in most areas of the world over the next 25 years. I was encouraged by the very next article, “Made to Move.” It not only reminded us of the benefits of regular exercise, but challenged those of us who live increasingly sedentary lives to be active. Count me in! Hector Sanchez Fort Worth, Texas
Thank You
I rarely write to say thank you for the sake of saying thank you, but thank you for Adventist World NAD edition. It faithfully comes to my mailbox, along with Adventist Review. Living in the United States, but coming from the United Kingdom, and having associations in other divisions of the world church, I love to read articles about God at work in different places, in different ways. I am reminded that God has a million ways to reach people in any part of the world. Your work is appreciated. I liked the informal photograph of the Adventist World staff this year, always a bonus in December. I’m glad Sandra Blackmer was there (on the phone)! Tabitha Abel Chiloquin, Oregon
True Success
I enjoyed the article “Desiring Their Good,” by Viriato Ferreira (January 2017). And I appreciate the church’s recent emphasis on reaching our communities by mingling, showing sympathy, ministering to needs, and winning confidence. It’s important to point out, however, that even after following those steps, people may very well choose not to follow Jesus. Does that mean our efforts are wasted? By no means. We have still demonstrated Christ’s character to those around us. And the seed we have planted may yield a crop in the distant future if not now. Anyway, it’s worth the effort. Samuel Richardson Ann Arbor, Michigan
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WF O E R A L T D U RVE I S T A
Unity
By Mark A. Finley
Then a n dNow
PART 1
A divine movement founded on the Word This is part 1 of a two-part series on church unity. Part 2 of “Unity: Then and Now” will be printed in the April issue of Adventist World.—Editors.
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he unity of the church lies at the very heart of the gospel and matters greatly to God. Without unity the church is powerless to proclaim the gospel in its fullness to the world; worse yet, it becomes a contradiction to the true nature of the gospel. Jesus revealed the importance of unity in His final intercessory prayer: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that
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the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23). One of the greatest evidences of the power of the gospel is the unity of the church. When people of different backgrounds, cultures, languages, and dispositions are united by the Holy Spirit in Christ, the world notices. Writing with divine insight, Ellen White put it this way: “Only as they were united with Christ could the disciples hope to have the accompanying power of the Holy Spirit and the cooperation of angels of heaven. With the help of these divine agencies they would present before the world a
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united front and would be victorious in the conflict they were compelled to wage unceasingly against the powers of darkness. As they should continue to labor unitedly, heavenly messengers would go before them, opening the way; hearts would be prepared for the reception of truth, and many would be won to Christ.”1 The Acts Model: A United Church
One of the most striking New Testament examples of a unified church is in the book of Acts. Although there were differences of background and culture and at times heated debates, at its very I L L U S T R AT I O N :
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core the New Testament church exhibited unity. This unity was not some vague, undefinable, pluralistic “oneness” in which each tolerated the others’ personal views to accomplish some larger ethereal goal; instead, it was a unity of faith rooted in the person, message, and mission of Jesus Christ. United in the Centrality of Christ’s Love
The disciples were united in their love for Christ. Committed to Christ, their bond of union was forged in Him. Charmed by His love, redeemed by His grace, and empowered by His Spirit, they were—in spite of their differences—united in one body. Ellen White used an interesting expression to describe this: “Christ’s name was to be their watchword, their badge of distinction, their bond of union, the authority for their course of action, and the source of their success. Nothing was to be recognized in His kingdom that did not bear His name and superscription.”2
Christ’s name was their “bond of union.” In other words, they were one in an indissoluble union with Christ. Revivalist A. W. Tozer put it this way: “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”3 Tuned to Christ, the disciples were tuned to one another. Christ is the great unifier. Speaking of Christ bridging the divide between Jews and Gentiles, the apostle Paul emphatically declared, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle
wall of separation” (Eph. 2:14). The apostle adds that in Christ “the whole body [is] joined and knit together” (Eph. 4:16), and pleads with the church at Corinth that there “be no schism in the body” (1 Cor. 12:25). When hearts are one in Christ, they cannot be far apart. United in the Centrality of Christ’s Message
It is often overlooked that when Jesus prayed for the unity of His church, He prayed that His Father would “sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The unity of the New Testament church was based on a common commitment to Jesus’ revealed truth. New Testament believers accepted the truth about such central teachings as the authoritative revelation of Scripture; salvation by faith; the ministry of the Holy Spirit; the second coming of Christ; the Sabbath; and Christ’s death, resurrection, and priestly ministry. They
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F E A T U R E
were brought together through His prophetic Word, bonded in truth and committed to the divine revelation of His will. Luke described the union of New Testament believers in Acts 2:41, 42: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Notice two significant expressions: (1) “those who gladly received his word” and (2) “they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine.” Both imply an acceptance of and commitment to the unchanging, eternal truths of Scripture. The unity of the New Testament believers was based on their common commitment to the teachings of Jesus. Charles Spurgeon spoke of unity in the truth in these straightforward words: “A chorus of ecumenical voices keep harping the unity tune. What they are saying is, ‘Christians of all doctrinal shades and beliefs must come together in one visible organization, regardless. . . . Unite, unite!’ Such teaching is false, reckless and dangerous. Truth alone must determine our alignments. Truth comes before unity. Unity without truth is hazardous. Our Lord’s Prayer in John 17 must be read in its full context. Look at verse 17: ‘Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.’ Only those sanctified through the Word can be one in Christ. To teach otherwise is to betray the gospel.”4 Ellen White would agree with Spurgeon. Commenting on Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17, she
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We cannot surrender the truth in order to accomplish this union; for the very means by which it is to be gained is sanctification through the truth. wrote, “We cannot surrender the truth in order to accomplish this union; for the very means by which it is to be gained is sanctification through the truth. Human wisdom would change all this, thinking this basis of union too narrow. Men would effect a union through conformity to popular opinions, through a compromise with the world. But truth is God’s basis for the unity of His people.”5 The New Testament church was united through a prophetic, presenttruth message. Peter’s masterful presentation in Acts 2 clearly revealed Jesus as the promised Messiah. In Acts 8 Philip’s prophetic Bible study on
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Jesus as the messianic fulfillment of Isaiah 53 led the Ethiopian to a decision for Christ, and Paul’s prophetic preaching in Acts 17 in Thessalonica for three consecutive Sabbaths touched Jewish hearts. The truth as it is in Jesus, prophetically proclaimed, unified the church in a common mission. Truth unites. There is something larger, greater, and grander than our personal opinions, or even our individual convictions. The truth of the Word revealed by the Spirit supersedes everything else. When the people of God are united in Christ to proclaim the prophetic Word of God in the power of
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the Holy Spirit, the earth will be lightened with the glory of God. Once again, in this generation, God has entrusted His people with a prophetic, present-truth message. God has given divine insight on what is coming upon God’s end-time people. Subtle errors and falsehoods in the name of truth will gradually enter in among God’s people. Ellen White wrote, “The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventhday Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. . . . Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced.”6 It is the Bible-based message of Christ our righteousness in light of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12 that will unite His people in one final end-time proclamation of truth. United in the Centrality of Christ’s Mission
The New Testament church was united in a single-minded passion of sharing Christ and the message of the gospel with the world. Personal preferences and opinions were secondary to the proclamation of the
message of the cross. The one thing that overshadowed everything else was a world in need of Christ’s saving grace and the certainty of the life-changing Word. Two classic statements in the book The Acts of the Apostles powerfully portray the focus of the early church: “The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of [men and women]. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.”7 “Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship. They drew nearer and nearer to God, and as they did this they realized what a privilege had been theirs in being permitted to associate so closely with Christ. . . . The disciples felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy unction that was to fit them for the work of soul saving. They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely. They were weighted with the burden of the salvation of souls. They realized that the gospel was to be carried to the world, and they claimed the power that Christ had promised.”8 The overriding purpose of the first-century church was winning the lost to Christ. This one thing triumphed over personal ambition and human strivings for position or power. They were willing to sacrifice their cherished ambitions to maintain a unified focus on soul winning. The New Testament church was united in Christ with a passion for His passion—saving lost people. Church organization stimulated this unity by providing a structure to grow in the truth of His Word and foster the proclamation of the Word.
United in the Centrality of His Church
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus emphasized the divine nature of the church. When Peter confessed that Jesus was the divine Son of God, our Savior replied, “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). The church is not some humanmade bureaucratic institution. It is a divine movement raised up by God. Its purpose is to nurture and foster the spiritual life of each believer and equip each one to use their gifts in the proclamation of the gospel through self-sacrificial service to others. The church is the “body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27), “the flock of God” (1 Peter 5:2), the “pillar and ground of the truth,”9 and “a holy temple.”10 It is “God’s appointed agency for the salvation of [men and women]. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.”11 n 1 Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), pp. 90, 91. 2 Ibid., p. 28. 3 A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p. 90. 4 Charles H. Spurgeon, “The Essence of Separation,” quoted in The Berean Call, July 1, 1992, p. 4. 5 Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers (Battle Creek, Mich.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1892), p. 391. 6 Ellen G. White, Selected Messages (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1958, 1980), book 1, p. 204. 7 E. G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 9. 8 Ibid., p. 37. 9 Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 54. 10 E. G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 275. 11 Ibid., p. 9.
Mark A. Finley retired in 2010 as a general vice president of the General Conference of Seventhday Adventists following nearly 40 years as a pastor, evangelist, and media ministry leader. He now serves as an assistant to the General Conference president.
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F U N D A M E N T A L
B E L I E F S
From
By Stephen Chavez
NUMBER 20
to What difference does a few minutes make?
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he sun was just going down as Dennis* drove an old flatbed truck filled with firewood up the driveway to his s last delivery for the day. At the sound of the truck homeowner Oscar strode into the yard and addressed Dennis, already unloading his truck: “I told you to deliver the wood before sundown,” he said emphatically. Dennis looked around. “Yeah, well, I didn’t quite make it. I had trouble with my truck. Fortunately, it’s still light enough to unload my truck before dark.” Oscar, a relatively new Adventist, walked into his house. He returned carrying a Bible. “Stop unloading,” he said. “This is my Sabbath, and we don’t work on the Sabbath.” “Well, it’s not my Sabbath,” Dennis replied. Oscar was ready. Opening his Bible to Exodus 20, he read: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work; you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates” (verses 9, 10). “You’re the ‘stranger within my gates,’ ” said Oscar. “I don’t want you working on my property on the Sabbath.” Dennis protested that his truck, still loaded with wood, might not make it home. He had to get rid of this load because he had other deliveries to make the next day. Oscar stood his ground. Not only did Dennis leave without unloading that firewood, he later returned to learn more. Oscar was right about the Sabbath beginning at sun-
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down, but he might have been more considerate. After all, Jesus said about the Sabbath, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 14:5). Not all “work” is prohibited on the Sabbath. A few months after this episode, I had the privilege of baptizing Dennis into the Seventh-day Adventist Church, all because of a believer who guarded the edges of the Sabbath. But Dennis went on to learn that the Sabbath isn’t just about a day; it’s about having a relationship with God, and having a day—24 hours—to focus exclusively on that relationship. Time Together
Anyone who’s dated knows how having a romantic interest influences everything you do. You may have a date on Wednesday, but you don’t wait until Wednesday to decide where you’ll go, what you’ll wear, and what you’ll do. You’re thinking about all these things for a portion of each and every day until Wednesday. So it is with the Sabbath. To receive the maximum benefit of keeping the Sabbath, we don’t wait until sundown Friday evening to plan how we’re going to spend the Sabbath, and with whom. Sabbathkeeping is not like flipping a switch: now it’s Sabbath, now it isn’t. Sabbathkeeping is a state of mind that informs our choices throughout the week. From the beginning of time—Creation week—each new day began at sunset: “So the evening and the morning were the first day” (Gen. 1:5). When God finished His
The Sabbath is God’s gift to us, a time for rest and restoration of our connection to God and others. It reminds us of God’s creation and Jesus’ grace. The gracious Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth commandment of God’s unchangeable law requires
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the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom.
work, He blessed the seventh day and made holy the time between sundown on the sixth day of the week and sundown on the seventh day of the week. That’s why we worship from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night; it’s the day God blessed and set aside for that particular purpose. But we don’t have to wait until sundown Friday evening to begin our Sabbath experience. We can use the days and hours leading up to the Sabbath to prepare for a relaxed, nonstressful 24 hours with our Creator. When the sun goes down Saturday night, we don’t have to switch gears and move directly into secular activities. It may no longer technically be the Sabbath, but we can still linger in the atmosphere of our Sabbath experience. Rest, Rest, Rest
In His wisdom God knew that humanity would need one day out of the week to rest and recharge. Indeed, our seven-day week is the universally observed legacy of that reality. And although the seventh day of Creation week was God’s seventh day on this planet, it was Adam and Eve’s first day. God commanded them to rest before they had done any work, suggesting that while work is important, rest is more important. We now live in a culture obsessed with work, status, achievement. How many of us really know how to rest? Even on Sabbath our digital devices—if we allow them— conspire to interrupt the communion God wants us to have with Him and with our fellow creatures.
The Sabbath is God’s perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people. Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God’s creative and redemptive acts. (Gen. 2:13; Ex. 20:8-11; 31:13-17; Lev. 23:32; Deut. 5:12-15; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Eze. 20:12, 20; Matt. 12:1-12; Mark 1:32; Luke 4:16; Heb. 4:1-11.)
God’s commandment to observe the Sabbath is intriguingly vague: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. . . . In it you shall do no work” (Ex. 20:8-10). But it doesn’t say what we should do. Jesus spent His Sabbaths worshipping in the synagogue. He also healed people. We can easily imagine Him hiking on a mountainside or strolling a seaside, surrounded not only by people who wanted to hear what He had to say, but also by those who just enjoyed being in His presence. It’s hard to imagine anyone saying, or even thinking, I wish the Sabbath were over so I could get back to work. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, NIV). The Sabbath was never meant to be an exercise in legalism; it was meant to be a delight (Isa. 58:13). That’s why it would be tragic to make the Sabbath a burden rather than a blessing. When the Sabbath is understood properly, we can appreciate it and revel in our relationship with Jesus long before the sun goes down on Friday evening, and long after it goes down on Saturday night. n *Although the events in this article are true, the names are fictional.
Stephen Chavez is an assistant editor of
Adventist World.
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C OV E R S T O RY
Love By Gerald A. Klingbeil
Falling in All Over Again
Rediscovering the gift of the Sabbath in a
A
P O K
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busy world
dventists take Sabbath as a given. We know it to be God’s special gift, offered to humanity at Creation. We know that the seventh day comes before Sunday (and many languages around the world reflect this truth). Based on prophetic interpretation, some write passionately about Sabbath laws and persecution or Sabbath and endtimes—but what does “keeping the Sabbath holy” really mean in a global church family reflecting many different cultural realities and practices? Our family lived from 2005 to 2009 on the campus of the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) in the Philippines. We cherish many unforgettable memories from these years living on a truly multicultural campus. One, however, stands out. Sabbaths on campus were always very special. The international nature of AIIAS’ students and faculty from all around the world made Sabbaths even more intriguing. Some people liked to welcome the Sabbath in a group outside their apartments; others preferred a quiet moment in the prayer garden on campus. Some left campus on Sabbath morning to serve smaller congregations around the area; others spent the afternoon playing games with their children outside. The prevailing attitude was: “If I see you do something on Sabbath that looks strange or even foreign to me, I will ask why you do what you do.” That’s a good premise as we revisit together five key principles underlying the biblical Sabbath.1
the third day, until we reach the sixth day (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31). God is thrilled with His handiwork, and the biblical narrator tells us that after the creation of humanity on the sixth day God looked, and “it was very good” (verse 31). God, however, is not yet done. Thrilled as He is with what He sees before Him, there is one more day that awaits completion. The seventh day of Creation is unique—in verbal forms used and focus offered. God finishes the work, He rests, and in His resting He blesses and sanctifies (Gen. 2:2, 3). The Sabbath represents the climax of Creation and an invitation to rest— side by side—with the Creator. God’s rest communicates that “it is done,” that His perfect creation is complete and perfect—and all we need. Wholeness is a key characteristic of God’s Creation before the Fall and covers all relationships. God’s Sabbath rest is also an expression of His passionate love. God wanted to spend time with His creatures. In Eden God gives Himself every seventh day exclusively to fellowship with humanity. Jump forward to Sinai. The Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:811 is the longest commandment and employs a distinct syntactic structure. The opening invitation to “remember” echoes Genesis 1-2 and the holiness that comes from fellowship with the Creator. God’s presence makes the Sabbath holy. Creation reminds us of His hallowing activity and our yearning for community. This is true in all cultures and at all times.
1. Creation Echoes
2. Free at Last
“In the beginning” is a powerful way to start a story. Right from the outset, Scripture reminds us that time is part of God’s Creation mix. He speaks in time—and Creation happens in time. Evening and morning make the first day, the second day,
Sabbath began with Creation, but there is more to Sabbath than creation. The Lawgiver Himself helps us understand this bigger dimension in Deuteronomy 5:12-15. Somewhere on a plain in Moab, Moses exhorts Israel at the end of wandering in the wilder-
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C OV E R S T O RY
ness for 40 years (Deut. 1:1-5). His retelling of Israel’s history is a teaching tool, helping a new generation to remember and to understand. Intriguingly, the rationale for Sabbathkeeping in Deuteronomy 5:15 is not Creation but rather focuses on God’s liberation of Israel from Egypt. Redemption is an integral part of the Sabbath package in Scripture. In fact, Deuteronomy 5:15 represents a conscious contextualization for a new generation, making the implicit explicit.2 In Creation there were no master and slave. All creation was equally dependent on the Creator and derived life from the divine Maker. Both man and woman were created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27), and after the Fall, both man and woman (and the rest of creation) required redemption. Sabbath is the great equalizer. We all sit around the table of God’s grace and enjoy the fellowship of the redeemed. Social standing, gender, and ethnic differences become irrelevant. God has brought us out of “Egypt”—all of us—and He did so with “a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deut. 5:15). Israel’s new generation is to remember Egypt and slavery and God’s mighty acts. As they enter the Promised Land, they become God’s “new creation.” Just imagine what would happen if we could remember every Sabbath that we have been brought out of our Egypts and Babylons full of addiction, hatred, self-centeredness, and selfrighteousness? “I’ve been redeemed” would become so much more than the title of a familiar hymn. The Sabbath liberates us from misguided attempts to produce righteousness and holiness within ourselves. Can we hear Scripture’s good news whispering in our ears that we can truly rest in Him?
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3. What About the Stranger?
4. How Can I Serve You?
Creation and liberation are foundational principles of a biblical Sabbath theology, but what about the stranger? Exodus 23:12 provides a helpful answer. Scholars have called the larger context of this passage the Book of the Covenant, as it details a number of laws governing human relations. These laws concern the altar, slaves, violence between human beings, property, restitution, equality before the law, Sabbath years, and annual feasts (Ex. 20:19-23:33). Exodus 23:12 speaks specifically about the Sabbath, and includes an important reference to “the stranger” (Hebrew: ger). In a section dealing with practical issues affecting God’s people, why would God include another reference to the Sabbath that specifically mentions the “stranger”? The Sabbath effect described in Exodus 23:12 may give us a hint. People and animals should rest so that they will “be refreshed.” The Hebrew verb used here describes refreshment coming from catching one’s breath while resting. In fact, the noun using the same root means “life” or “living being” and already appeared in Exodus 23:9. We all need to catch our breath and become, again, “living beings.” Sabbath rest is part of God’s therapy for stressed-out, overworked, and worried workaholics. Yet Exodus 23:12 does not really focus upon them. The text focuses on animals, the “son of your female servant,” and the “stranger.” Exodus 23:12 tells us that God cares for those who are downtrodden, those who are marginalized, and those who are strangers. Refugees and “strangers” are evermore present in many parts of our world. We do well to remember God’s special care for them and the close link to the Sabbath.
There exists a close link between the Sabbath and the commitment to serve others. We sometimes forget this important part of Sabbath theology, as did people who lived in ancient Israel. Amos, the prophet, wrote passionately about the disconnect between keeping the Sabbath and abusive practices aimed against those who are poor and afflicted (Amos 8:5, 6). Somehow, Israel had forgotten that God’s justice is intricately connected to His creation and redemption that involves all. Isaiah 58 highlights this important element of the Sabbath in Scripture. The chapter juxtaposes false and true worship. The prophet, echoing God’s voice, wonders about the disconnect of seeking God and drawing near to God, yet ignoring righteousness and oppressing society’s marginalized (Isa. 58:2, 3). Fasting and praying are not good replacements for humble service and unselfish giving. Sabbath worship, it seems, cannot be a self-centered pursuit of happiness but should focus upon God’s dreams and His will for this world. Pursuing “our pleasure” (or our “own interests” [verse 13, NRSV]3) is equivalent to “trampling the Sabbath” (verse 13, NRSV). Human agendas are not part of God’s Sabbath ideal. Rather, we are invited to look out for those who struggle, who are captives, who are hungry and naked and walk in darkness, whose names no one seems to remember. In fact, if we are honest and take a good look into the mirror, that’s really us, isn’t it? Revelation 3:17 tells us that we think we have it all together, but in reality we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. We think we are doing well, yet we are blindsided to our true condition. We are gracestarved and self-propelled.
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God is still around—and every new Sabbath becomes a sign of His presence, grace, and future. What happens when we recognize the Sabbath’s implicit invitation to serve others? Isaiah 58 mentions twice the notion of “delight.” The Hebrew root is not used often in the Old Testament. Isaiah 58:13 contrasts human pleasure to God-centered delight. Instead of pursuing self-gratification, God invites us to experience the sheer delight of discovering His sustaining and creative grace as we serve society’s downtrodden. 5. See the Sign?
In an age of smartphone apps and GPS we pay less and less attention to signs and maps. Yet signs still matter (and not just when the satellite is down or we don’t have coverage). Signs identify locations; they highlight important events; and they point to something beyond themselves. Exodus 31:12-17 includes a unique contribution to a biblical Sabbath theology: “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Ex. 31:13). Sabbathkeeping is not an optional recreational activity. Rather, as a divine command it represents a sign between God and His people helping humanity to understand true sanctification. Scholars have long recognized the close link between the Sabbath and the sanctuary. Both emphasize divine-human fellowship and community—in space and time (cf. Ex. 25:8). Both were given by God and reflect divine characteristics.
But another dimension to the Sabbath sign is expressed in Exodus 31:12-17. Sabbath is a sign for a perpetual (or eternal) covenant (verses 16, 17) that is rooted in Creation. Scripture mentions three covenant signs in the Old Testament (the rainbow [Gen. 9:12, 13, 17]; circumcision [Gen. 17:11]; and the Sabbath [Ex. 31:13, 17; Eze. 20:12, 20]). Of these three, Sabbath is the least physically tangible and involves a consistent human response. The Sabbath sign helps us to “know” (Ex. 31:13) the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. It’s like a flag that gets raised every seven days and helps us to remember—lest we forget. Adventists have always recognized the message of the first angel of Revelation 14:6, 7 as pointing to the Sabbath. The language of the text clearly reflects the language of the fourth commandment (Ex. 20:11). In a sense, the Sabbath becomes the subtext of God’s story set in contrast to the dragon’s story in Revelation. The loving Creator is set against the angry accuser who wants to sow doubt about God’s character. In the first angel’s message, “the Sabbath,” writes Adventist scholar Sigve Tonstad, “conveys the message of God’s enduring and faithful participation in human reality.”4 God is still around, and every new Sabbath becomes a sign of His presence, grace, and future. Looking Back—and Looking Up
We have nearly reached the end of our journey into the Sabbath. Cre-
ation and redemption lie at its very foundation; mission, service, and the public declaration are additional nuances reflecting the perfect character of the Lawgiver. But our search is not yet over. Too often we have become sidetracked by the intricacies of the do’s and don’ts of appropriate Sabbathkeeping and overlooked the foundational Sabbath principles that challenge us to ultimately “rest in Him.” Instead of living the Sabbath principles 24/7, we have frequently specialized in establishing a canon of appropriate Sabbath behavior. Imagine what could happen if these principles affected our lives, not just our Sabbathkeeping? Hebrews 4:1-6 speaks of another rest. It’s rest from our own righteousness; rest from our poor attempts at true holiness; and rest from our self-centeredness. As we begin to see more clearly the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28), we too are drawn to Him who came to save the lost, the weary, and the broken. It’s time to begin falling in love all over again. n 1 In
writing this article I have benefited significantly from the research found in Mathilde Frey, “The Sabbath in the Pentateuch: An Exegetical and Theological Study” (Ph.D. diss., Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, 2011), and Sigve K. Tonstad, The Lost Meaning of the Seventh Day (Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Press, 2009). 2 See Gerald A. Klingbeil, “The Sabbath Law in the Decalogue(s): Creation and Liberation as a Paradigm for Community,” Revue Biblique 117, no. 4 (2010): 491-509, esp. 506. 3 Bible texts credited to NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. 4 Tonstad, pp. 479, 480.
Gerald A. Klingbeil is
an associate editor of Adventist World who longs for the ultimate Sabbath rest in Jesus.
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A D V E N T I S T
L I F E
Sabbath Mem There’s probably no such thing as a “typical” Sabbath. Like a precious gem, the Sabbath has many facets that reflect the love, joy, and fellowship we enjoy with God and with one another. Enjoy this sampling from your Adventist family around the world.—Editors
S O U T H PAC I F I C D I V I S I O N
The Celebration of Salvation April 29, 2011, will always be one of my most special Sabbaths. I called it “The Celebration of Salvation.” It was the date of my baptism, the Friday night I publicly gave my life to Jesus Christ. It was also my first opportunity to share the Savior’s “matchless love” with the people close to me who didn’t yet know God. I also celebrated with my community the news that I was going into fulltime ministry. My experience with the Sabbath has gone through both ups and downs, but I can truly celebrate the sacred day of rest, and appreciate it for what God intended it to be. It all came together for me when a pastor friend of
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mine challenged me to search for Christ and His love in the Sabbath, rather than seeing the Sabbath as a limitation and restriction. I discovered God’s desire to intentionally connect with me, encouraging me to spend time with loved ones and help grow His community. I’m now a pastor for a church where God continues to reveal Himself each Sabbath, helping us to grow in His love as a family.
Bernard (Beez) Deojee lives
in Sydney, Australia, and has recently transitioned into a volunteer ministry role and, together with his wife, Caryn, has planted a home community church to build relationships with former members and new friends and family.
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F RO M A R S O U T H E R N AS I A- PAC I F I C DIVISION
Bringing Light— and Fruit Sabbath is a day of rest and a day of sharing God’s word and love. As a college student I had the opportunity to join a trip to an AIDS hospital in Lopburi, Thailand, with my professors and friends on Sabbath. It was a great way of sharing God’s word and love. That day has become one of my most memorable Sabbaths. After the church service we traveled almost two hours to the AIDS hospital. When we entered the patients’ hall, the atmosphere was quiet and somber. I saw sadness and pain in the eyes of the many patients. We had brought fruits for each patient. We massaged them, shared some Bible verses, and tried to talk to them in Thai and
English. Considering that neither is my native language, communication wasn’t always easy. Somehow, however, our presence brought light, comfort, and hope to them. If we love and are kind to one another, our lives will be meaningful. We need to be thankful for the miracles God performs for us every day. No matter what problems we may face right now, we can find courage and strength in God to face them. Every new Sabbath is a reminder of this to me.
Linh Nguyen Thi Phuong, a lecturer at Asia-Pacific International University in Muak Lek, Thailand, is passionate about teaching accounting and sharing God’s Word with her students.
mories
O U N D T H E WO RL D N O RT H E R N AS I A- PAC I F I C DIVISION
Faith and Freedom I lost all confidence in humanity when a physician said, “He’s going to pass away soon; we can do nothing for him now.” This was said to my mom about my dad when I was 16. The only thing that comforted me at this terribly lonely and disastrous time was
God’s Word. The more I read it, truer joy than I ever possessed filled my anguished mind and pushed out the darkness. The guilt, anger, and evil passion that had haunted me lost their grip on me, and I found healing and forgiveness in Jesus..
E U RO -AS I A D I V I S I O N ( E S D)
A Memorable Sabbath in Russia Everything was covered with snow and ice. That Sabbath my mom, my little sister, and I took a bus to church because my father— director of the youth ministry, communication, and global mission departments for one of the unions in the Euro-Asia Division at the
time—was away from home and had the car. After church we headed to the bus stop, which was on the other side of some railway tracks. I saw the bus coming and started running toward it without looking around me. I didn’t notice the train rushing
This experience prepared me for the trials I faced in my military service. When Friday came, I had to choose between human traditions and God’s solemn command. I was expected to participate in rifle training. To refuse was to risk going to jail. My conscience found no peace until I fully surrendered my will to God’s command to rest on His Sabbath. I was imprisoned for a year and two months.
What made my imprisonment meaningful was lovingly drawing my fellow prisoners, who were seeking heart change and moral renewal, close to Jesus. The habits I picked up there continue to brighten my life as a free citizen.
toward me. I heard my mom cry out, but the tracks beneath my feet were covered in ice and I couldn’t move. My sister, who was behind me, grabbed the backpack I was wearing and pulled me back. Just a heartbeat later the train sped by. My sister saved my life. God had sent my guardian angel to protect me. Every time I remember that near-death experience my heart fills with gratitude
to God for His goodness and love! God tells us to “fear not, for I am with you” (Isa. 41:10). These words give me confidence and remind me of the kindness, care, and love of our gracious Lord!
Jaehwa Shim is president of JAERIM, a GYC-inspired Adventist young adult movement in South Korea that seeks to empower every church member for local church mission.
Larisa Liberanskaya, a
fifth-generation Adventist, is secretary and translator for the Publishing Ministries Department and Ministerial Association of the Euro-Asia Division.
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A D V E N T I S T
L I F E
Surrender, singing, service, love: that would make any Sabbath great for me. — DA LY N E BA P T I ST E , N A I RO B I , K E N YA
S O U T H E R N AS I A D I V I S I O N
Awaiting the Lord of the Sabbath Around the age of 12 or so, I started receiving them: sets of two lessons twice a week. Never before or since have such soul-penetrating lessons come my way. From the metallic image of Daniel 2, to the mathematical puzzle of 2300 days, to the wonder of the cross, to the three angels of Revelation 14, hitherto unheard-of truth lit my soul in awesome marvel. Where did I come from? That question of life’s origin was always a puzzle wrapped in mystery. But two of those 36 lessons suddenly unraveled the mystery and unwrapped the puzzle: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. . . . For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the
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earth, the sea. . . . Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Ex. 20:8-11). The Lord made me, and the Sabbath became a perpetual pointer in time and in history that I am not an accident in a long evolutionary process. On the first Sabbath after that discovery I found myself in a small rented hall in Kolar Gold Fields, India, along with six others who had made a similar find. That Sabbath 65 years ago initiated me to the wonder of Jesus and remains the most memorable Sabbath of my life.
John M. Fowler is a Sabbathkeeper, awaiting the second coming of the Lord of the Sabbath.
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E AST- C E N T R A L A F R I CA DIVISION
A Sabbath of Communion Music! Laughter! Stories! Roses and a cross. Entering Brakenhurst Conference Center in Nairobi, Kenya, I smelled unleavened bread and grape juice. Maxwell Adventist Academy was concluding a Week of Prayer with Dwain Esmond, our guest speaker. That Friday night we all gathered together for a memorable vesper experience. The sounds that filled the room gave me a foretaste of heaven. I remember laying my white rose on the huge cross and thinking of God’s goodness and promises: “God can do just what He says He will do.” My rose on the cross reminded me of Jesus’ sacrifice for me. It also symbolized peace. On
Sabbath I always yearn for peace. Sabbath morning continued our awesome fellowship, and the afternoon was filled with numerous outreach programs. I joined a group that visited a women’s shelter where many women and children welcomed our group: the women sang along with us, sometimes in Swahili, and the children clapped and danced. Sabbath ended with a wonderful vesper program and a beautiful baptism. Surrender, singing, service, love: that would make any Sabbath great for me.
Dalyne Baptiste is princi-
pal of Maxwell Elementary School in Nairobi, Kenya.
S O U T H E R N -A F R I CA A N D INDIAN OCEAN DIVISION
Sabbathkeeping— Down South The small congregation of Monte Vista is located in Cape Town, South Africa. One recent Sabbath worship on a cold winter morning reminded us that even a few can serve. We had planned a special Sabbath activity that would cater to the needs of others, not our own. Following prayer in our church, we drove to the city center where those who are homeless can be found under
intersecting bridges. Forming a circle under the crisp morning sky, we started singing hymns. Suspicion turned to openness as people listened to familiar songs they hadn’t heard for a long time. People started coming closer and joining the circle; others stood afar, listening. Little children with bright smiles came out of “holes in the wall,” dark dingy corners where no one should ever
W E ST- C E N T R A L A F R I CA DIVISION
Sabbath: For All God’s Children On one of my best Sabbaths ever my family visited the Seabrook Seventhday Adventist Church in Lanham, Maryland, United States. As leaders in our Liberian Seventh-day Adventist community, we travel a lot on weekends
and do not always find enjoyable worship services for our two young children. But this Sabbath at Seabrook really worked. After an interactive Sabbath School program, during which the children sang and played with sheep and
live. The songs, the shared Word, and the prayers touched each heart. I drive past this place most workdays, and so I felt ashamed for never noticing, for never seeing needy people behind the faces. We shared food parcels and secondhand clothing with our new found friends who were struggling to survive. We served bowls of vegetable soup and bread for lunch. We began to chatted about the commonness of life’s challenges and the similarity of us all trying to find our way under the umbrella of God’s grace. As the winter sun
descended and a chill filled the air, it was time to return to our different realities. This Sabbath experience made me realize that God’s Word is indeed for all— without exception. “Lord, please forgive us, forgive the entitlement spirit we have about Your Word. Teach us to share Your Sabbath’s joy with all, great and small, rich and poor, as we all await Your soon coming.”
learned about King David, we went to Children’s Church. Much care had gone into planning the program: everyone got a name badge and their hand stamped before entering the hall. Besides many fun activities for the kids, a guest presenter spoke about the challenges of being blind. We learned about how our blind friends read braille, cross the street with their canes, and survive with just four
senses—hearing, touch, taste, and smell. It’s been more than two years now, but my children still remember many lessons from that day, including singing and acting the song “My God Is So Big.” https://www.you tube.com/watch?v=OfmPrAsKGI. We hope we can visit that church again soon.
Nqobile Nicholas Damane
works as a director at the City of Cape Town Municipality. He is married to Thembi and is the proud father of two girls, Lino and Khanya.
Johnetta Flomo is from Montserrado County in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa.
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A D V E N T I S T
L I F E
One Friday night my husband announced: ‘Tomorrow we are going to have an adventure Sabbath.’ — SY LV I A R E N Z , A L S BAC H - H A H N L E I N , G E R M A N Y
I N T E R - E U RO P E A N D I V I S I O N
The Other Kind of Service Sabbaths tend to be busy days for most pastoral families. Expectations of church members are high; children often take second place. On many weekends my husband, serving at the European Media Center Stimme der Hoffnung, had to visit distant churches to preach and train members. We
seldom spent Sabbaths with him. One Friday night my husband announced a special plan: “Tomorrow we are going to have an adventure Sabbath. We will visit another kind of service.” After a big breakfast we drove to a beautiful hillside and started to stroll through the meadows. There was so
T R A N S- E U RO P E A N D I V I S I O N
Memories From Ireland My husband and I had just left Ireland and our families to undertake studies at Weimar Institute in California, United States. I was looking forward to a new challenge and a new chapter in my life. Our suitcases not even unpacked, we drifted into a deep jet-lagged sleep when
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suddenly my husband’s phone rang. Muffled voices and then an eerie silence followed. It was bad news— but what? When my husband’s initial shock wore off, I learned that my mother-in-law in Ireland had died suddenly. It was August 6, 2011— Sabbath in California—and
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much to discover in God’s nature! Then we rested on a wooden bench and sang some hymns. Our prayers felt different. We spoke with Jesus as though He was right there with us, and I’m sure He was! We felt close to God and to each other. Before we left, each child received a Swiss Army pocketknife that included many different tools. “The Bible is a similar tool with its many answers to our questions,” my husband said. “It can help us solve our problems. The
white cross on top of the knife should remind you that we have a Friend in heaven. Trust Him and use this friendship as you will use these tools to manage life.” We never forgot this important lesson shared on a special Sabbath.
we knew no one on campus and had no friends or relatives nearby to console us. My husband went into the campus woods to talk with the Lord. God sent a retired teacher to encourage him and to invite us to join him and his family for Sabbath services at the ASI convention in Sacramento. “Spend this Sabbath with my family until you can make arrangements to travel back to Ireland,” he said. God sent us a new family to support us.
That Sabbath we experienced the love of a world church family, the love of strangers, and the peace of a very special Sabbath spent in a strange land, but with a familiar, comforting, and caring God.
Sylvia Renz is an author,
mother, and pastor’s wife living in Alsbach-Hähnlein, Germany. She recently retired from working at the Stimme der Hoffnung Bible correspondence school and enjoys playing with her young grandson.
Betty O’Rourke is a retired nurse manager, a mother of four young adults, a grandmother, and the wife of a three-district pastor in west Ireland. She recently accepted the position of health sponsor for the Irish Mission.
N O RT H A M E R I CA N DIVISION
My Father’s Third Sabbath S O U T H A M E R I CA N D I V I S I O N
As for Me, I Will Serve the Lord Since I can never look at the present from the vantage point of the future, I had no idea that the mild spring day would be my most memorable Sabbath. Following my birth, my mother faithfully took me every single Sabbath to the only Adventist church in our rural town. Now I was determined not to postpone my baptism anymore. Two years had already passed since Mom advised me to wait longer. It was not an easy decision for a shy 14-year-old girl. In my family (to this day), children adopt their father’s religion. My father, a Lutheran, had never been an active church member, but he hoped that I would become a Lutheran. So that week of November (late spring in Argentina),
when I invited him to come to my baptism, his typical even-tempered manners gave way to an outburst of rage so hurtful that I trembled like a leaf. As much as I loved him, I stood foursquare behind my beloved Jesus. I learned that “we must obey God rather than human beings!” My grandmother became even angrier. I was baptized during a simple ceremony that bittersweet Sabbath. I had reached a major crossroads of my life. I cannot imagine where I’d be now were it not for that decision for eternity.
Claudia Blath is a pastor’s
wife, mother of two preteens, and a freelance translator. She writes from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I N T E R -A M E R I CA N D I V I S I O N
Sabbath is for Family My best Sabbath was any Sabbath spent with my family at my grandparents’ house. Although I’ve tried to recall, I cannot remem-
ber a singular Sabbath that stands out. However, every Sabbath spent in deep conversation and laughter around the table with my
In 1942 my father, Max Torres, opened a grocery store in Magdalena, New Mexico, with his life’s savings and $2,000 he borrowed from his uncle. The business flourished and was profitable from the start. One year later he joined the Adventist Church and closed his store on Sabbaths. It was an agonizing decision, because ranchers accounted for half of his business, and they bought their groceries early on Saturday mornings. He feared bankruptcy. The following Sabbath Max took his family to church in a neighboring town and drove back to Magdalena after sundown, intending to open the store for business on Saturday night. To his chagrin, his father and brothers had kept the store open all day. The following Sabbath Max’s father and brothers again kept the
cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and immediate family while we ate Sabbath lunch is etched in my heart. I loved to listen to the different perspectives that each person had to share. It stimulated my intellect and caused warm fuzzies to grow. Because of this time spent together—accompa-
store open for business. On the third Sabbath the store was closed all day. I was only 4 at the time, yet I vividly remember that Saturday night. As my father drove the car into the parking area I saw about a dozen ranchers sitting in their pickups waiting for the store to open. I heard my father say, “God bless the ranchers. I won’t lose their business.” Then I saw my father run to the store and unlock doors. At least a dozen ranchers trailed him like cattle. They told him they admired him for sticking by his convictions. They assured him that he wouldn’t lose their business. The next year sales doubled, and my father paid his uncle in full. Before he retired, Rudy Torres spent his adult life as a pastor in the states of California, Washington, and Maryland, United States.
nied by my grandmother’s finest cooking—I love conversing and fellowshipping with others. This is what Sabbath means to me.
Marguerite Samuel, stay-
at-home mom, founded and directs a choral music organization named Journey Ministries.
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N A D F E AT U R E
By Amy D. Prindle
Did You Know
You’re a Missionary. . .
M
ission work can sometimes be a lonely venture. Whether teaching at an island schoolhouse, tending to orphans in a remote village, or helping with an inner-city afterschool program, even the most convicted and mission-focused families or individuals need support, understanding, resources, or just a like-minded person with whom to compare stories and struggles. On the other hand, many passionate individuals within the United States and Canada continue to search
36
for a fitting place to serve, but don’t yet possess the information or connections needed to locate volunteer opportunities that would utilize their particular strengths or skills. They may feel called, but find themselves at a crossroads. The recent “He Said Go!” mission conference, sponsored by the North American Division (NAD), set out to address these scenarios as it brought together more than 250 individuals who spanned ages, professions, locations, positions, and talents. These attendees united under a shared pas-
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sion for mission work as they gathered November 18-20, 2016, in San Diego, California. All Together Now
The event was spearheaded by Elden Ramirez, director of the Office of Volunteer Ministries at the NAD, after realizing there was not yet a division-wide gathering that focused strictly on missions. While smallerscale mission conferences do exist (held by Adventist universities or for specific niches such as medical missions), there was still a need for
More than 250 gather during a keynote presentation at the He Said Go! Missions Conference was held November 18-20, 2016, in San Diego, California.
“He Said Go!” conference brings together missionminded Adventists bringing together everyone interested in mission work regardless of age or skill set. “We’ve been anticipating this chance to brainstorm together about methods and strategies of mission work,” said Ramirez. “We also wanted to bridge the gap between volunteers looking to serve and mission coordinators seeking to address urgent and ongoing needs. There are many young adults new on the scene, and there must be a way to connect our abundance of mission opportunities to these recent graduates and young proP H O T O S :
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fessionals—they may not know about or have access to the opportunities and resources available.” That item was first on the conference agenda. One day prior to the event proper, college chaplains, missions coordinators, and recent student missionaries gathered in a presession to network; discuss ideas; and connect with conference, union, and division leaders before the formal event schedule began. “It was so useful to be in the [Adventist Volunteer Service] coordinators meetings beforehand with NAD universities,” said Janelle Scantleury-Smith, volunteer coordinator for the Inter-American Division. “We met directly with student mission coordinators from each campus, and we can now be better prepared to serve volunteers coming into our territory from these colleges.” “Division leaders get together only once every five years, so an opportunity like this helps us meet other coordinators, as well as those interested in volunteering for missions,” added Sergey Zhadan, Adventist Volunteer Service coordinator for the Euro-Asia Division. Students at the presession also expressed gratitude for this opportunity. “It was so nice to have a chance to meet and talk with other student missionaries. There isn’t much of a chance to do that after coming back,” said Cheyanne Welch, a junior at Burman University in Canada, who also serves as the campus coordinator for long-term missions. “I wish we could have a reunion-type event like this every year.” Jaci Allison, a junior at Walla Walla University (WWU) who just returned from a year in Pohnpei, observed, “We’re all here with the same mind-set about missions. . . . From here we can all go home with a similar focus and a similar goal.”
C O M M U N I C AT I O N S
Mission Work Everywhere
The following day, as the conference officially started, attendees were able to stroll through a bustling exhibit hall showcasing a variety of mission efforts from Maranatha, Guam-Micronesia Mission, Adventist Frontier Missions, ADRA International, Adventist World Aviation, college campus programs, and more. Both overseas and local initiatives were represented, each seeking muchneeded volunteer service. “We encourage participation in missions wherever a person is,” explained Ramirez. “Scripture is clear that every Christian is a missionary, and there is so much need right in front of us, even in our own neighborhoods, that calls for total member involvement.” The purpose of the weekend, therefore, was for attendees to work together and connect, rather than simply hear a set of sermons. As everyone found their way into the main ballroom for the first presentation, they seated themselves at round tables instead of in rows of chairs. A blank, folded name card and pen waited for each person, encouraging them to learn one another’s names and get acquainted. After the welcome by WWU chaplain Paddy McCoy, G. Alexander Bryant, executive secretary of the NAD, took the stage to kick off the event’s first keynote presentation. Not even 10 minutes into his talk attendees were already sharing quotes on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #HeSaidGo. This social sharing continued throughout the weekend, involving friends and family of the attendees as they too enjoyed points of inspiration from the event. Hundreds of others from around the world tuned in to view the NAD Facebook page’s live stream of each general session.
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More Than A Mission Trip
e c n e i r e p x e g n i g n a h c e f i l It’s a ADRA Connections
is your opportunity to volunteer with ADRA and connect with global communities who need you.
Visit ADRA.org/connections to learn more.
/joinADRA
@ADRAintl
@ADRAinternational
/ADRAinternational
17-014.07 | 01-17 | ©ADRA International, Lauren Lomba
C O M M U N I C AT I O N S
N A D F E AT U R E
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Jonathan Portney, from Loma Linda University, takes part in a Go Session small group discussion.
Of Presentations and Table Talk
The lineup of speakers consisted of respected leaders and visionaries, each of whom presented on a specific facet of the call to go and spread the gospel to the world, as outlined in Matthew 28:16-20 and Mark 16:15. Topics covered crucial subjects such as cultural competency, identity in Christ, clinging to God’s power instead of our own,
and what it truly means to serve “the least of these.” Several mission success stories showcased how intricately God can work miracles and change the hearts of unbelievers when He simply has willing servants to obediently go as He calls. “I liked how [La Sierra University chaplain] Sam Leonor presented the idea of just telling people who they
really are in Jesus, and how God can start working with just that,” remarked Kyle Elssmann, a senior at Walla Walla University who recently returned from a year in Pohnpei and now works in the student missions office at WWU. After each presentation, the round table groups of five to eight people participated in a “Go session,” a dedicated time of debriefing, reflection, and brainstorming based on the material that had just been covered. Each table also had a designated facilitator, trained before the event and armed with conversational prompts to help group members share their questions and express their ideas. And since most attendees were seated next to new acquaintances, these Go sessions allowed for a diverse, purposeful networking experience.
Leaders on Highlights from several “He Said Go!” mission conference speakers: G. Alexander Bryant,
Jonathan Duffy, president,
Randy Roberts, senior
executive secretary of the NAD: “Whether our mission is across the street, on the other side of the country, or whether it’s in Africa or Guam, the challenge is the same. We must first come to Jesus to receive the power that His Holy Spirit brings.”
ADRA International: “Are we prepared to serve, to speak love, to have our words and actions point people toward a loving Savior who desires their good? . . . Matthew 25:31-46 is not about who they [the “least of these”] are, but who we are.”
pastor, Loma Linda University church: “Let’s banish the phrase ‘it’s not my job’ from our vocabulary. . . . Jesus illustrated this principle when He got up to wash His disciples’ feet.”
Leslie N. Pollard, president,
Pioneer Memorial church: “God does not need the human race’s help to finish His work. But by going, we are growing. No go, no grow.”
Andrews University: “Jesus speaks to people at places and points on which they are familiar, then pushes them deeper. He speaks in their language.”
Gary Krause, director of
Sam Leonor, chaplain, La
Adventist Mission, General Conference: “Missions isn’t an event; it’s a lifestyle.”
Sierra University: “If we continually tell people who they are in Jesus, they will
Oakwood University: “[Jesus’] mission moved from ethnic exclusivity to ethnic inclusivity. Out of diversity, He built community. . . . My prayer is that we would embrace the notion of cultural competency in spreading the gospel.”
Dwight Nelson, lead pastor,
Andrea Luxton, president,
eventually come to believe it themselves.”
Yami Bazan, vice president for student life, La Sierra University: “I may not know what your calling is, but I know you have one. Because God’s desire for everyone is to encounter the Divine so the Divine can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.” Carlton Byrd, senior pastor, Oakwood University church: “God is not calling the equipped—He’s equipping the called.”
Steve Case, president, Involve Youth: “Our own assets aren’t essential. In fact, they can be a distraction from spreading the gospel if we rely on our human skills.”
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ith hundreds of series, features and exclusives to choose from, ARtv offers an ever-increasing collection of inspirational, short, on-demand videos from Adventist media outlets spanning the globe and up-and-coming Adventist filmmakers. This free new service also offers life-enriching original content to meet the spiritual needs of Adventists, while providing sharable videos which capture our passion for reaching others with the everlasting gospel.
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N A D F E AT U R E
Left to Right: Yami Bazan, vice president for Student Life at La Sierra University, speaks to conference attendees. Elden Ramirez, Office of Volunteer Ministries director, challenges attendees at the He Said, Go! conference. G. Alexander Bryant, NAD executive secretary, was one of the keynote speakers who made presentations at the conference. Most attendees found this activity to be their favorite. Several eagerly expressed that these small-group discussions provided a rare chance to put their heads together on topics they don’t normally discuss in structured, intentional settings. “I found the Go sessions enjoyable and reflective, good for our own souls in order to make sure we stay missionfocused,” said Scantlebury-Smith. “Our table had amazing conservations,” added Megan Weems and Kelly Siegal, both students at Pacific Union College, who recently served for a year in Fiji and Brazil, respectively. John Thomas, associate secretary of the General Conference (GC) and director of the Adventist Volunteer Service program, also agreed. “These [Go] sessions helped bridge the message being preached with the practical ways they can be applied,” he said. “It was a pleasure to talk with the recently returned student missionaries at our table.”
that specifically lifted up each of the names on the current list of NAD missionaries serving on front lines. After a total of 12 presentations, attendees were challenged to take their passion for mission work into whatever capacity they find themselves called. As the crowd dispersed from the main ballroom, hallways immediately echoed with positive accolades. The event also spawned several spontaneous small-group meetings to discuss particular mission ideas with new contacts. “This event was even bigger than I realized, and it was very well done,” shared Adam Deibert, chaplain at Burman University and one of the Go session facilitators. “But it was also
Go Now With Prayer
Throughout the event a prayer room was open for attendees to use at any time. A prayer request jar sat on a welcome table in the busy room, and chairs were set up for personal prayer time. During breaks between sessions, the event’s prayer room coordinator, Zac Page, pastor of the Templeton Hills, California, church, led prayers P H O T O S :
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small enough that it was easy to cross paths with those you might want to collaborate with.” “It was also inspiring to hear from such a diversity of speakers,” Deibert continued. “I can tell this provided positive encouragement to our students. It was good for them to hear about a wide variety of cultures and experiences as they think about their own futures in mission work.” n
Amy D. Prindle writes from Loma Linda, California.
He Said Go— The NAD Office of Volunteer Ministries hopes to make “He Said Go!” a regular, ongoing ministry gathering. If God has blessed you during this mission conference and you would like to see more “He Said Go!” mission conferences, or if you would like to offer feedback and give suggestions and ideas to share, contact hesaidgo@nadadventist.org. Did you miss “He Said Go!” this year? Visit www.hesaidgo.org to view session replays. Or browse the video collection on the North American Division Facebook page for selected #HeSaidGo presentations.
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D I S C O V E R I N G
T H E
S P I R I T
T
he hardening of the heart to the Word of God has provoked various kinds of misbehavior: idolatry, sensuality, egocentrism, unbridled struggle for power, disregard for the suffering of others, disregard for the Sabbath, etc. These are some of the reasons the world has faced many of its greatest crises. But for every major crisis God has provided people to deliver His messages, outlining the steps they must take to be spiritually safe. This principle was expressed by the prophet Amos: “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Allow me to trace how God guided His people through at least four major crises during earth’s history. We can see His providential leading during the time of the Flood, the liberation of His people from Egypt, through times of idolatry, and in the radical demonstration of His love for humanity that led God to allow His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live and die for us. Four Crucial Moments in History
The Flood. The Bible says, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). Verse 11 adds the damning indictment that the earth was “corrupt” and filled with “violence.” Secularism was so deeply rooted among the people that God took drastic action to stem the tide of sin and degradation. However, God did not do so without first announcing His decision to those who lived on the earth. He called Noah as His prophet to warn the people of the destruction to come. After 120 years of preaching by Noah (Gen. 6:3), God destroyed the world. Liberation From Egyptian Captivity. After centuries of captivity in Egypt,
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O F
P R O P H E C Y
By Valdecir Simões Lima
th e
SureofWord
Prophecy Human history has never been without someone who speaks for God.
the time for liberation had come. The people turned to God and cried out under their yoke of bondage (see Ex. 2:23). God decided to deliver His people from the yoke that plagued them, and He chose Moses as a prophet and leader to announce His plan and lead the deliverance of His people. Warnings Against Idolatry. Having arrived at the Promised Land, the people still did not obey God. His love had not been internalized, and idolatry was rampant. Canaan was full of idols. People worshipped “the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made” (Isa. 2:8). In response, God chose a number of prophets to call His people away from their worship of idols. It’s important to note that God not only used men for this task; He also used women. He called a prophet named Deborah, and used her as His instrument to warn people away from idolatry. The First Coming of Christ. The world needed the first advent of the Messiah. People needed to know and understand the true nature of God’s
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kingdom. Upon the Messiah the Spirit of the Lord would rest, and He would reign with wisdom and power, for He would reveal the Father (see Micah 5:2; Isa. 11:1, 2). Although the people did not know the hour of His coming, they should have been be prepared to receive Him. Through John the Baptist they learned that the time to receive this mighty King had come. John implored them to repent of their sins, rather than seeking to justify themselves by proclaiming their religious pedigree (see Matt. 3:8-11). To announce the first coming of Christ, and to prepare the people for this special occasion, God sent several prophets: Micah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, as well as Anna. Throughout the Bible we see a pattern, a twofold condition for safely navigating crises: seeking God with the whole heart, and believing His prophets (Jer. 29:13; 2 Chron. 20:20). This is how our sovereign Leader protected His people from destruction, and how He gave them opportunities to begin anew after great calamities.
restor at ion of t ru t h FLOOD FALL
EGYPT
AHAB/ JEZABEL
FIRST COMING
BABYLON
1844
SECOND COMING
NOAH
MOSES
ELIJAH
DANIEL
JOHN THE BAPTIST
ELLEN G. WHITE
Destruction
Captivity
Apostasy
Exile
Formalism
All others
Another Crisis, Another Voice
Is there anything about our time that justifies the presence of a prophet? The emphatic answer is yes! This double condition of seeking God and believing in His prophets is still a master line that runs through history. We believe the second coming of Jesus is near. We also expect another crisis before Jesus returns. If past crises are any indication, why would God fail to send a prophet to prepare His people now? The second coming of Christ is the greatest event in human history since Christ’s death and resurrection! Before Christ returns, many of the devastating realities that preceded His first advent will be repeated in greater scope and destruction. Christ Himself declared that the behavior of humanity, and the events that preceded the Flood, would be repeated at His second coming (Matt. 24:37, 38). The end of time will see a convergence of the characteristics that framed previous historical crises. This time these events will happen simultaneously. We will witness parallels between
the behaviors of people who lived in the past and those who live today. There is ample reason to believe that idol worship is an evil that plagues our time. Warnings to avoid this practice are few. Just as there are literal idols, people have to be warned about everything that stands between humanity and God, whether it’s secularism in all its forms or worship to the beast and his image—anything that makes us think of something other than worshipping God deserves reproof (Rev. 14:9, 10). God’s people will serve Him wholeheartedly. One of the characteristics of the remnant is the observance of the “commandments of God” and the “testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 12:17), defined in Revelation 19:10 as the Spirit of prophecy. God has sent us a prophet to whom we must pay attention. Rejection of God’s prophets at crucial times in history has always had serious consequences for God’s professed people, because the rejection of a prophet implies, according to Luke 10:16, the rejection of He who sent him or her.
Ellen White was enlightened by God. She inspired God’s end-time people toward the most secure paths of Christian behavior. We must respect her relevance and take her teachings seriously. We are responsible for believing, living, and proclaiming this light. The Adventist Church is going somewhere. Without a doubt, the Spirit of Prophecy belongs to this movement as it experiences the most critical days in human history. God, once again, has provided a way for His people to be led and delivered. One day soon Christ will return for those who are His. May God help us to seek Him with our whole hearts, and listen to His prophets so that we might be ready for His soon return. n
Valdecir Simões Lima is a professor at the Schools of Theology and Social Communication at Brazil Adventist University.
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B I B L E
Q U E S T I O N S
A
A N S W E R E D
Matter
Why did God choose to save the human race, but not Lucifer and his angels?
of
Justice
This question seems to be based on the false assumption that God did not try to save Lucifer. Perhaps the intended question is Why did God not send His Son to save fallen angels? Although the cosmic conflict is a central topic in biblical theology, there is not a detailed exposition of its origin in the Bible, making it difficult to know everything God did on behalf of the heavenly host at the beginning of the conflict. All I can do is share some of my own thoughts as they relate to your question. 1. Justice and Love: Sin was not created; neither did it come into existence. It is in fact the denial of both creation and existence. It is the embracing of de-creation by intelligent creatures who chose the nothingness of nonexistence while claiming the irrational right to exist independent of God. There was no reason for a group of heavenly beings to rebel. Therefore, in condemning them God acted justly. But He was also acting lovingly by not allowing de-creation to totally overtake His good creation. The integrity of divine judgment against rebellious angels will even be recognized by them at the close of the cosmic conflict (e.g., Phil. 2:10, 11). 2. Uniqueness of Lucifer’s Sin: We usually understand sin as a condition (e.g., having a sinful nature) or as an act (e.g., violation of the law). In the case of Lucifer and his angels we are dealing with the strangest expression of sin and evil: they are not yet explicit; they are being gestated inside the angels, altering their nature in a radical way: decomposing it. This chaotic anomaly was slowly disintegrating a segment of God’s creation and expressed itself in rebellion against the will of the Creator. There is not yet an external power tempting creatures to sin. We are dealing with the moment sin and evil originated. This was not the condition of Adam and Eve. However, their sin was as inexcusable as that of Lucifer and deserved the same penalty. 3. Resolution and Revelation: God did all He could to save not only Lucifer and his angels but also the human
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race. The Bible suggests a constant dialogue with the rebellious angels in an attempt to persuade them that their course of action would damage the divine cosmic order and themselves. God tried to abort the origin of sin. Through His Son, the Mediator between God and His creation (Col. 1:15), God revealed to them His infinite love. Because they had been so close to God, they experienced in unique ways His love and care for all His creatures. They also realized that the Son of God who seemed to have been one more among them—the Archangel (Dan. 10:21; 12:1; Jude 9; 1 Thess. 4:16; Rev. 12:7)—was none other than their Creator (Col. 1:16). This magnificent revelation presumably caused many angels to return to their allegiance to God and should have brought the insurrection to an end, but that was not the case. A judicial process was set in place to examine the evidence and the arguments, but the decision of the tribunal was clear: “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you” (Eze. 28:15, NIV). Satan was found guilty. Once the self-corrupting nature of sin/evil de-created the goodness of the nature of Lucifer and his angels, there was absolutely nothing God could do to save them. They had rejected the divine revelation of God’s love for them. God granted the same option to the human race. God’s most glorious revelation of His love for sinners through His Son, who became one of us through the incarnation, offers us the possibility or returning to our allegiance to God and living. Sin and evil have almost eradicated the image of God in us, but this process can come to an end if we see in Christ the most majestic revelation of His love that justly condemns rebellious creatures and justly saves repentant sinners (Rom. 3:25, 26). n
Angel Manuel Rodríguez is retired, after serving the church as a pastor, professor, and theologian.
B I B L E
S T U D Y
By Mark A. Finley
Experiencing the
Power
to Obey
F
rom the beginning of time, loving obedience has always been a test of loyalty to God. Lucifer led one third of the angels to disobey God (Rev. 12:3, 4, 7-9). He claimed that God’s government was unfair and His laws unjust. Satan painted a picture of God as an authoritarian ruler who had little interest in His creation. His claim has always been that obedience limits our happiness and that disobedience enhances life. He perpetrated this lie in heaven and repeated it in Eden (Gen. 3:1-5). In today’s lesson we will discover that obedience to God’s law brings the greatest joy and highest delight to God’s people. We will also discover the amazing truth that God not only calls us to obey, but also gives us power to obey.
1 What was David’s attitude toward the law of God? How does this compare to Jesus’ attitude toward doing God’s will? Compare Psalm 40:8 with John 8:29 and Hebrews 10:7. David sensed that God’s law was his source of true joy. In Psalm 1 he wrote about God’s faithful people: “But [their] delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law [they meditate] day and night” (verse 2). He added in Psalm 119, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction” (verse 92). The eternal Christ placed the desire in David’s heart to obey, just as that desire was in Jesus’ heart to obey throughout His earthly life.
2
Look up Deuteronomy 8:1, 6, 7, 11 and 28:1. What is God saying to Israel in these verses? Does it sound like obedience to God’s law limits our happiness and restricts our freedom?
3 Did Jesus come to do away with the law? Is it legalistic to want to keep the law of God? Compare Matthew 5:17 with Romans 3:31. I M A G E :
L D S
M E D I A / J E R R Y
H A R S T O N
The New Testament makes it abundantly plain: Jesus did not come to destroy the law; He came to fulfill it. To fulfill means to fill it full of meaning. In Colossians 4:17 the apostle Paul counseled a disciple named Archippus to “fulfill” his ministry. He certainly didn’t mean for him to do away with it. He meant for Archippus to fill it with meaning, to complete it; to persevere and never give up.
4
Is it possible to obey God’s law? Is the grace of God sufficient to enable Christians to overcome known sin? Discover the answer in Romans 5:20, 21; 1 John 5:4; and Revelation 14:12.
5
How is it possible to obey God? Where does the power to obey originate? Do we obey by our own willpower? Read Ephesians 2:8-10; 3:15, 20. We are saved by grace and grace alone. By faith we receive God’s forgiveness. In Christ we stand before God as if we had never sinned. The same grace that justifies us also sanctifies us. The same faith that gives us forgiveness also gives us power to obey.
6 What does God promise for each believer who comes to Him in faith? Compare Hebrews 8:10 with 1 Thessalonians 5:23. God promises to do for us that which we can never do for ourselves. In Christ the gift of salvation is ours. He places His law in our minds so we can know it, and places it in our hearts so we can love it. Through His Holy Spirit, God gives us power to obey and delight in His ways. This is the miracle of the gospel. n March 2017 | Adventist World - nad
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By May-Ellen Colón
Sabbath Observance
The principles below are based on God’s character and provide a foundation for our Sabbath rules and practices. God will help us to reflect and live His character as we translate these principles into actions.
1
RESTING
Sabbathkeeping means resting from work, life’s burdens, and secular concerns and distractions (Ex. 16:2830; 20:9, 10; 23:12; 34:21; Neh. 13:1522; Jer. 17:27; Luke 23:54-56). Divine relation to principle 1:
God is the epitome of rest. “My soul finds rest in God” (Ps. 62:1, NIV). Through Jesus, God offers rest to all who come to Him (Matt. 11:28). Jesus Himself rested on Sabbath (Gen. 2:1, 2).
2
CELEBRATING
Sabbathkeeping means celebrating the creation of the world (Gen. 2:13) and our redemption (Deut. 5:15), so its atmosphere should be one of celebration, joy, and delight (Ps. 92; Isa. 58:13).
Divine relation to principle 3:
God is a healer (Ex. 15:26; Ps. 103:3; 147:3; Matt. 4:23; Acts 10:38). He has “healing in His wings” (Mal. 4:2).
4
Sabbathkeeping means participating in corporate, focused worship of God with our church family (Lev. 23:3; Isa. 56:1-8; 66:22, 23; Mark 1:21; 3:1-4; Luke 4:16; 13:10; Heb. 10:25; Rev. 14:7). Worshipping together encourages and facilitates both spiritual and social communion between us as humans, and between us and God. Divine relation to principle 4:
God desires corporate worship (Isa. 66:22, 23). Jesus attended and led out in worship services while on earth (Luke 4:16).
Divine relation to principle 2:
God celebrates and rejoices. He celebrated Creation (Gen. 2:1-3; Prov. 8:2731). He rejoices when people come to Him (Deut. 30:9; Isa. 62:5; Zeph. 3:17; Luke 15). He will celebrate at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9).
3
HEALING
Sabbathkeeping means to foster healing, relief, release, liberation, and refreshment. Any action that hurts oneself or others is Sabbathbreaking (Isa. 58; Matt. 12:9-15; Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:38, 39; 13:10-17; 14:1-6; John 5:1-18; and John 9).
46
WORSHIPPING
5
FELLOWSHIPPING
Sabbathkeeping means nurturing our relationships with family and friends (Mark 1:29-31; Luke 14:1). In the gift of the Sabbath, God provides time for focused fellowship with the whole family—even the family animals (Ex. 20:8-11). Divine relation to principle 5:
The members of the Godhead are relational (John 15:15). God’s relationship with us is the foundation of our relationship with one another (John 13:34, 35; 17:20-23).
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6
BASKING
Sabbathkeeping means enjoying, studying, experiencing, and basking in the world God made (Pss. 92:4, 5; 111:2-4; compare Rom. 1:20). Divine relation to principle 6:
God is Creator, and He appreciates His creation—He considered it all “very good” (Gen. 1:31). At Creation, God was filled with satisfaction, rejoicing “in his whole world and delighting in mankind” (Prov. 8:31, NIV).
7
SERVING
Sabbathkeeping means serving other people in love and witnessing lovingly for God (Isa. 58:7-10; Matt. 12:12; Mark 3:4; Luke 6:9; 13:12, 16). Divine relation to principle 7:
Jesus is a servant and proclaimer of the good news (Luke 4:18-21; Phil. 2:5-11). He went about doing good (Acts 10:38).
May-Ellen Colón is director of Adventist Community Services International, special liaison for Community Services with ADRA International, and assistant director of Sabbath School and Personal Ministries for the General Conference.
J E R E M Y T H O M A S
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With corresponding characteristics of God’s person
P E X E L S
Guiding Principles for
IDEA EXCHANGE
“Behold, I come quickly…” Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ, uniting Seventh-day Adventists everywhere in beliefs, mission, life, and hope.
Letters Beyond Words
A note of thanks to Bill Knott for his December editorial in Adventist World, “Beyond Words.” I hope he doesn’t mind that I drew from it to share thoughts with the Dayton, Ohio, Christian Scribes writers’ group. I’ve been privileged to produce the club’s newsletter through many of these years. Knott’s words seemed just the ones to convey the desired message of inspiration to our writers as we approach the Christmas season and a new year. My best wishes to him and to all the talented and faithful staff. Lois Pecce Ohio, United States The Paradox of Unity and Variety
I enjoyed reading Richard Aguilera’s “The Paradox of Unity and Variety” (November 2016). I believe that “God loves every single person, whatever the surface differences, whether attire, coiffure, music, or styles of prayer. We must completely understand that our holy calling is to love and serve others and to share the good news of hope and salvation.”
Like a loving Father, God wants His family united. We cannot accomplish what God has for us to do if we refuse to be reconciled with one another. In His most impassioned prayer, on the night before He was crucified, Jesus pleaded with God to unite His followers: “That they all might be one as you, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be in Us” (John 17:21). Larry Valorozo The Hague, Netherlands We must discern between innocence and evil culturally, allowing the first and rejecting the second. People committed to biblical truths don’t end up divided while aiming at the same goal. Jesus produces pure truth, and real unity is a side effect only for those who accept it. Truth is a higher priority than false unity (Amos 3:2, 3; 2 Cor. 6:14, 15, 17; The Great Controversy, p. 45). Ken Lemky British Columbia, Canada Looking Forward to Adventist World
I look forward to the monthly release of Adventist World. I devour it from the first page to the last. In one of the special issues you had slipped in a GLOW leaflet to cut and give out. I want to participate in evangelizing efforts. When is the next coming? M arie-Pierre Crostella Cranves-Sales, France
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.
Publisher The Adventist World, an international periodical of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The General Conference, Northern Asia-Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists®, is the publisher. Adventist Review Ministries Board Ted N. C. Wilson, chair; Guillermo Biaggi, vice chair, Bill Knott, secretary; Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, Williams Costa, Daniel R. Jackson, Peter Landless, Robert Lemon, Geoffrey Mbwana, G. T. Ng, Daisy Orion, Juan Prestol-Puesán, Ella Simmons, Artur Stele, Ray Wahlen, Karnik Doukmetzian, legal advisor Executive Editor/Director of Adventist Review Ministries Bill Knott Associate Director of Adventist Review Ministries International Publishing Manager Chun, Pyung Duk Adventist World Coordinating Committee Jairyong Lee, chair; Yukata Inada; German Lust; Chun, Pyung Duk; Han, Suk Hee; Lyu, Dong Jin Editors based in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA André Brink, Lael Caesar, Gerald A. Klingbeil (associate editors), Sandra Blackmer, Stephen Chavez, Wilona Karimabadi Editors based in Seoul, Korea Chun, Pyung Duk; Park, Jae Man; Kim, Hyo-Jun Operations Manager Merle Poirier Editors-at-large Mark A. Finley, John M. Fowler Senior Advisor E. Edward Zinke Financial Manager Kimberly Brown Editorial Assistant Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste Management Board Jairyong Lee, chair; Bill Knott, secretary; Chun, Pyung Duk; Karnik Doukmetzian; Han, Suk Hee; Yutaka Inada; German Lust; Ray Wahlen; Ex-officio: Juan Prestol-Puesán; G. T. Ng; Ted N. C. Wilson Art Direction and Design Jeff Dever, Brett Meliti Consultants Ted N. C. Wilson, Juan Prestol-Puesán, G. T. Ng, Guillermo E. Biaggi, Mario Brito, Abner De Los Santos, Dan Jackson, Raafat A. Kamal, Michael F. Kaminskiy, Erton C. Köhler, Ezras Lakra, Jairyong Lee, Israel Leito, Thomas L. Lemon, Solomon Maphosa, Geoffrey G. Mbwana, Blasious M. Ruguri, Saw Samuel, Ella Simmons, Artur A. Stele, Glenn Townend, Elie Weick-Dido 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, Argentina, Mexico, and the United States.
Vol. 13, No. 3
March 2017 | Adventist World - nad
47
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