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THE LAND OF SILK ROADS 08
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Reopening the Silk Road for Jesus
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is home to a community of some 60 million people. They all need the gospel of Christ. They all need the blessings of the Second Advent. Building on the foundation of the early Adventist pioneers, we hope these centers will train a new generation of workers who will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, turn this part of the world “upside down” for Christ. On behalf of the Euro-Asia Division I thank you for your financial support of the many projects which are touching and changing lives of people living within our vast territory.
he Euro-Asia Division is a vast territory of extreme natural beauty and many mineral resources. Due to the vastness of the territory— which stretches from Western Europe to the Far East, from the Artic to Central Asia— there is a tremendous amount of contrast in terms of the socio-political, cultural, and religious diversity. The rapid modernization of the work of the Adventist Church in the Euro-Asia Division is beset with many challenges. Big cities create great challenges for the Church. The modern cities of the former Soviet Union are no different than the cities of the West. Every day, people are confronted with serious social, economic, and moral issues. The religious pressure from other faiths
makes it hard for the Protestant minority to grow and in some areas can make public evangelism next to impossible. Because of this Global Mission is making long-term plans to establish training centers to prepare people to work with the unreached in Central Asia—the land of the ancient Silk Road. At one time, this largely unreached area was a center of religious, cultural, and artistic exchange between the East and the West. Today Global Mission is making every effort to reopen that route for the exchange of eternal values set by Jesus Christ. Central Asia, which contains Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, is roughly four million square kilometres in size. This area
MICHAEL L. RYAN –Chairperson, Global Mission GARY KRAUSE –General Field Secretary GANOUNE DIOP –Study Centers Director RICK KAJIURA –Communication Director NANCY KYTE –Marketing Director MARTI SCHNEIDER –Programs Director HOMER TRECARTIN –Planning Director RUTH DUNBEBIN –Secretary / Donor Services LAURIE FALVO –Communication Projects Manager CHARLOTTE ISHKANIAN –Mission Editor ANDREW KING –Video Producer/Editor HANS OLSON –Communication Projects Manager NIMFA SUMAGAYSAY–Donor Response Coordinator STELLA THOMAS –Administrative Secretary DANIEL WEBER –Video Producer/Editor
FRONT LINE EDITION
HINDU STUDY CENTER
is published quarterly by Global Mission, part of the Office of Adventist Mission, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters. Tax- deductible gifts for Global Mission projects can be sent to Global Mission 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 209046600 800-648-5824 www.global-mission.org
G. R. Mohan Roy Southern Asia Division Post Box 2, HCF Hosur 635110 Tamil Nadu India Phone: 91 (4344) 22170 Fax: 91 (4344) 22090
GLOBAL CENTER FOR ADVENTIST-MUSLIM RELATIONS Jerald Whitehouse AMRNET PO Box 1223 Loma Linda CA 92354 USA Phone: (909) 824-4563 Fax: (909) 824-4845 102555.1163@compuserve.com
Branislav Mirilov Adventist Mission Director, Euro-Asia Division
WORLD JEWISH FRIENDSHIP CENTER Richard Elofer P.O Box 592 94186 Jerusalem Israel Phone; 972 (2) 6251 547 Fax: 972 (2) 6251 391 rielofer@netvision.net.il
BUDDHIST STUDY CENTER Scott Griswold P.O. Box 234, Prakanong, Bangkok Thailand 10110 griswold@loxinfo.co.th
CENTRE FOR SECULAR AND POST-MODERN STUDIES c/o Miroslav Pujic 119 St. Peter’s Street; St. Albans, Herts AL1 3EY; ENGLAND Phone: 44 (1727) 860-331 Fax: 44 (1727) 866-312 ©Copyright 2008 Seventhday Adventist® Church. ADVENTIST® and SEVENTHDAY ADVENTIST® are the registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®.
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The Gazette T
he sun sets along the river in the Western Russian town of Krasnodar. Fishermen cast their lines into the water hoping to catch one more fish before the day ends. Local people take a stroll across a bridge. Here people take time to stop and enjoy the warm evening air. Near the river a group of people gather around a street performer telling stories and drawing pictures on an easel. People laugh at his jokes and smile as he makes a connection with them. Michael, the street performer is a Seventh-day Adventist who leads a team of young people from the local church. They come here several times a week to do art evangelism. Michael uses his artistic talents to tell a story of someone who loves them very much, someone who died for their sins and wants to make their lives whole. As Michael tells his stories, the young people pass out a newspaper called the Gazette. This paper tells readers of Christian values and how to better their lives. It may seem like a simple thing, but it has changed lives. It has brought new life to people who have been looking for something that will make their lives complete.
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The Seventh-day Adventist Church in this town is an active part of the community. Lay members have taken Jesus’ call to spread the gospel to heart. Through their outreach, the local church is growing and spreading Jesus’ love. Small groups meet in homes and church members share their faith with their neighbors and friends. Entire families are coming into the church and they in turn share the story of Jesus with other people they meet. Hundreds of lives have been changed, and many of them can trace it back to the Gazette newspaper. A portion of your 13th Sabbath Offerings this quarter will go to build new churches in the Krasnodar region. These buildings will serve as houses of light to reach even more people and bring them out of darkness. Your prayers and financial support are making a difference in people’s lives around the world. To learn more abo about this quarter’s 13th Sabbath Offering, Offerin please visit AdventistMission.org. AdventistMission.o Mission.o org. g
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F E A T U R E
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Ancient Silk Road F
or thousands of years the Silk Road was the main trade route between China and Europe. Merchants, monks, nomads and pilgrims all traveled along the road, which connected ancient Eastern and Western civilizations, transporting trade goods as well as culture, and religion. Many historians consider this road a major conduit in the development of some of the world’s great civilizations. Today this region is a high-priority area for Global Mission, as it lies within the 10/40 Window, home to many of the world’s major religions but with relatively few Christians.
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Five countries make up this region known as Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. This landlocked region is filled with sharp contrasts; from the idyllic herding life of those still living in yurts to camels trekking across arid plains to glacier-capped mountains and alpine lakes. Although some may consider Central Asia a collection of underdeveloped post-Soviet communities, in many areas cars and trucks have replaced donkey-drawn carts and the nomadic life has been replaced by crowded housing in major cities. What hasn’t changed is the need
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to carry the gospel to this unreached region. For more than 100 years the Adventist Church has had a presence in this region yet sharing the Adventist faith remains challenging. Today’s socio-political climate and lack of resources have impeded church growth and the ability of church members to build bridges of understanding and friendship within Central Asia. After the fall of Communism, Adventist membership in Central Asia declined as ethnic Russians and Germans moved out of the region. Today Global Mission pioneers who are familiar with
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the language groups and culture are helping membership rise again. In 1990 several missionary-minded Germans heard about Global Mission’s push to reach every people group of a million or more individuals around the world. They began training and sending out groups of pioneers to one of Central Asia’s hardest-to-reach countries in 1994. In one city alone, 140 people were baptized the first year. Now Rubin Ott, president of the Adventist Church’s Central Asia headquarters says, “We want to train [more] church members to minister to the physical, social, and spiritual needs of the people.” A few months ago Adventists launched a bold 10-year initiative to reach the 60 million who live in this region. This initiative will help to establish an Adventist vocational school and a healthtraining program. Challenges remain ahead. Years of Soviet control with its atheistic mind set, opposition from well-established churches, modern secularism, and materialism have further complicated the church’s ability to take root. This past September a court sentenced two Adventist pastors in Uzbekistan for “unduly organizing and holding worships.” In 1999 the only Adventist Church building in Turkmeni-
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stan was destroyed. With no compensation from the government, church members have struggled to find a new home. The cost of rebuilding is $300,000—much too high for people earning $100 per month. To make matters worse, they can’t meet in government-owned buildings or private homes. The cost of renting a private facility is $100 per meeting. Members meet when they can, but often are unable to meet regularly as a group. In one Central Asian city people can only meet in groups of four, even if they are related. One pastor has 17 groups of four people.
“Helping the indigenous people of Central Asia is an ongoing priority for the Adventist Church,” says Gary Krause, Adventist Mission director. “Thanks to the generosity of those who support Global Mission and mission offerings, we can help meet this need.” Watch for updates on the progress of this 10-year program on our website at www.Global-Mission.org.
Hans Olson, Laurie Falvo, and Homer Trecartin all contributed to this article
R E G I O N P R O F I L E CENTRAL ASIA
By the Numbers 28 – Nu Numb mber er
off or o orda dain ined ed mini mi nist ster erss in C Cen entr tral a A Asi siaa
1:43 1: 4344 –
1244 – Nu 12 Numb mber er
Ratio Rati o of of Adveenttissts Ad t to po popu pula lati tion on worl wo rldw dw wide
of or of orda dain ined e mini mi nist ster erss in tthe he U Uni nite ted d King Ki ngdo dom m (a (ano noth ther er u und nder er reac re ache hed d co coun untr tryy wi w th a siimi mila larlyy-si size zed d po popu pulaati tion on)) 1:8, 1: 8,96 8, 9677 – Ra 96 Rati tio o
of A Adv dven enti tists to p pop opul ulat atio ion n in Cen entr t al Asia As ia
39 – Av Averag age
size off a cong ngregati tion on** in i Central a Asia As ia 1800 – Av Averag agee
si of a size co ong ngre rega gati tion on** in tthe he Unitted Sta Un t tess
* Congregation refers to either a church or organized company
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FAQ about Central Asia What countries make up Central Asia? Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
How many Adventist congregations are in Central Asia?
What are the major religions in Central Asia?
103 churches and 59 companies
Muslim and Russian Orthodox. After some 70 years of Communist rule many people consider themselves either secular or atheist.
What are the major languages of Central Asia? Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek, and Russian.
What fuels the economy of Central Asia? Natural gas and petroleum resources, mining
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metals and coal, raising livestock, producing textiles, and growing produce.
How many Adventists live in Central Asia? Kazakhstan: 3,200; Kyrgyzstan: 1,200; Tajikistan: 680; Turkmenistan: 80; Uzbekistan: 1,300
How can I support this project? Much of the ongoing funding will come from the general Euro-Asia Division Global Mission fund. If you’d like to support this project and other Global Mission projects across Euro-Asia, please contribute to FUND #6200.
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WHAT’S COOKING IN UZBEKISTAN
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Silk Road Cuisine ON THE MENU: • Black Sea Borscht • Uzbek Potato Salad • Salad Dressing
BLACK SEA BORSCHT—Serves 6 Borscht is a thick, slow-cooked soup popular from Russia to parts of Central Asia. Its ingredients vary from country to country, but an essential ingredient is a deep red vegetable, such as beets, tomatoes, or even rhubarb. Garnish 6 cups water or vegetable stock 1 cup of sour cream (or 2 medium onions, sliced thin 2 cloves garlic, minced drained yogurt) mixed 1 teaspoon salt with 2 tablespoons 1 medium head cabbage (white, of chopped dill and 1 green, or red) shredded grated clove of garlic 2 carrots, sliced in rounds 2 stalks of celery, sliced 1 large potato, peeled and diced into ½ inch cubes 3 large fresh beets (about 1 ½ pounds), peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes 1 cup of tomato juice or 1 large tomato, peeled, seeded, and diced 1 teaspoon sugar 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice
INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a heavy-bottomed large pot place 6 cups of water or vegetable stock with the onion, garlic, beets, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. 2. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. 3. Add the rest of the ingredients except for the dill and lemon or lime juice. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 40 minutes. Add the dill and lemon or lime juice and stir well. 4. Check to see if the vegetables are done. This soup should be reddish and slightly tart. 5. Pour soup into individual bowls. Garnish with the sour cream mixture.
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Uzbekistan has had a long and glittering history, especially during the days of the Silk Road when cities along the trade route thrived. Merchants built warehouses and filled them with silks, carpets, gold, and silver. The Uzbeks welcomed the new foods and spices that traders brought into the region and quickly incorporated them into their traditional cuisine. Throughout the generations, cooks have adapted their recipes according to the food that was available to prepare nourishing meals for their families.
UZBEK POTATO SALAD— Serves 6 2 large potatoes, cooked, peeled, and diced 1 carrot, chopped 1 cup fresh or frozen green peas 2 apples, firm and sweet 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional) 1 cup fresh scallions, chopped ½ cup raisins Salad Dressing ½ cup sour cream or 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1 ½ tablespoons mustard 2 tablespoons orange juice 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice ¾ teaspoon salt Garnish 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 cup coarsely (more or less to taste) choppedtoasted 2 tablespoons olive oil walnuts
DIRECTIONS 1. Steam the chopped carrots and peas for 5 minutes and set aside. 2. Peel, core, and cut the apples into ½-inch cubes. Place them in a large serving bowl and sprinkle with the lime juice to prevent discoloring. 3. Add the potatoes, carrots, peas, eggs, scallions, celery, and raisins to the bowl. 4. Thoroughly mix the salad dressing. Pour over salad and toss well. 5. Garnish with toasted walnuts.
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WORLD NEWS
In Loving Memory of Deep Bahadur Thapa: 1940–2007
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ordained minister. In 1986, he was appointed eep Bahadur Thapa was born into a Hindu as secretary, East India Section, Ranchi, and family on November 15, 1940 in Gorkha, worked in that field until 1991. Nepal; the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nar Bahadur In 1991, when Nepal became a democracy, Thapa. At age seven, the family migrated to Pastor Thapa was sent back to Nepal to India in search of educational prospects. establish the Himalayan Region. In Pastor Thapa’s early education was June 2000 he moved to Falakata, in Benali Medium. He joined West Bengal, and from there Raymond Memorial High he directed the Bhutan Global School in 1957 in standard While at school, Mission Project. He consix. He is remembered tinued working tirelessly to have said that, in the he learned about after his retirement in 2003. same year the medical Jesus and decided to The sad end came sudmissionary work was denly. On September 23, he started in Nepal with give his life to celebrated his 37th wedding the entry of Dr. Stanley the Lord. anniversary with family and Sturges, God was working friends. Around twelve that out His plan by introducing night, he had a mild heart attack. him to the truth to later serve in The next day, the doctor at Falakata that field. referred him to Siliguri’s Anandlok Nursing While at the school, he learned about Jesus Home where he was admitted in the ICU and and decided to give his life to the Lord. He there he breathed his last around 5:35 p.m. on was baptized in 1959 against the wishes of the 24th of September, 2007. his parents. He joined Spicer Memorial College He leaves behind his wife, Miron; daughers, in 1965 to study to be a minister and graduGreeta Jacob and Reeta Ernest; sons, Deepak ated in 1970. Thereupon he entered the Lord’s and Robin Thapa; grandchildren; field pastors; service as health educator at Scheer Memorial gospel workers; church members; and friends Hospital in Banepa, Nepal. who will miss him like the husband, father, That same year he married Miron Bala Panit grandfather, brother, mentor, and friend that in Bariatu, Ranchi, on September 23. His first he was. convert was his father. In 1976 the Southern Pastor Thapa held fast to the Blessed Asia Division sent him to Manila, Philippines, Hope, leaving the burning torch in our hands for his masters in health science. Two years to carry on the work. He rests in the grave to later the family returned to Nepal. He worked be raised at the sound of trumpets and the as a health educator and evangelist at Banepa, archangel. Nepal. In 1980 he became the first Nepalese
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Croatia
Japan In Tokyo, Japan, there is only one Adventist Church for every 2.1 million people. This crowded city of 30 million people is filled with busy people and few Christians. Recently, a group of pioneers sponsored by Global Mission and the Pioneer Missionary Movement of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division launched Kinshicho. This church plant reaches into five of Tokyo’s large unentered neighborhoods. Church planting in Tokyo isn’t easy. Although the Adventist Church started work some 100 years ago, the Japanese are relatively unreceptive.
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Tokyo is also one of the most expensive cities on the planet and funding the rental of a meeting hall and pioneer housing is difficult. In spite of these mission challenges, in the past two years seven people have been baptized. The weekly attendence at Kinshicho is now some 20 people every Sabbath. They’re even looking to move to a bigger place.
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Stop Smoking seminars aren’t a thing of the past. Last fall Marijan Persinovic held a Stop Smoking seminar in Vukovar, Croatia. This work week-long event was part of the “Touch of Hope” project that will hopefully start a new small group in this town. The event started with 12 attendees. After the first session some of the participants confessed that they had tried to stop smoking before, but it ultimately became too difficult to stop. They asked Marijan for advice. This gave him an opportunity to talk about the power of prayer. He asked if he could pray for them following the meeting. The rest of the week Marijan held a prayer meeting after each seminar. By the end of the week, some of the participants who had not yet managed to stop smoking asked Marijan to take the time to pray privately with them. At the close of the event everyone was invited to a health seminar held twice a week in the local church. Three people now study the Bible with a local pastor and elder each week.
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their daily lives. Just a couple months ago Miss Turtle publicly made her decision and was baptized into the Seventhday Adventist Church.
United States
Thailand If you were a church planter, what would you do the first week on the job? Renato and Catherine, two church planters in Bangkok, Thailand, said that they prayed. This past summer as they prepared to reach into this burgeoning economic center of Southeast Asia, they followed the Biblical example laid out in Luke 10 and prayed for someone to help them reach the community. Their first week, as they were knocking on doors in the community, they met Miss Turtle, a Thai businesswoman who was praying for someone to teach her more about Christianity and the Bible. She was touched by the lives of some Christian neighbors who’d moved away and she was looking for someone to study the Bible with her. Over the next two months Renato, Catherine and Miss Turtle studied scripture and looked for ways to apply it in
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Andrew Clark and the staff at the Adventist Community Services Center of Greater Pittsburg never planned to build a ministry for teenagers. As they planned their Conscience Café they expected it to be a place where Gen Xers could hang out while their kids played in the playground outside. Their vision quickly changed. One afternoon, just after they opened, four teenagers walked in with their pre-bought lunch. Andrew remembers thinking that they “looked like thugs.” But he went over and talked with them. He asked them questions and learned their names.
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The next day, they returned with some of their friends. This time they brought money to buy lunch in the café. The next day they brought even more friends. Each afternoon they’d buy lunch, hang out, and talk with Andrew. One day the conversation turned to religion. Andrew told them that he’s a pastor. “Well, where’s your church?” they asked. “You’re sitting in it,” he answered. “Now it’s our church, too,” they responded. “And we’re coming back and bringing our friends.” The kids keep coming each week. Now 30 kids a day show up at the café. This unique church plant has no church building, no church services, and no church membership list but the staff believes that God is using them to reach people.
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SPECIAL OFFERS
Hope for the Thirsting
A book of inspiring stories from the former Soviet Union Sometimes God sends an angel to do his work. This time he called 300 inexperienced missionaries, some barely in their 20s. Most were new Christians and new Adventists. Some were previously pizza salesmen, spirit mediums, and professional soccer players. Each of these Global Mission pioneers was given the same assignment: Go back to your home country and plant a church in an area with no other Adventists. Discover the exciting results in this book: • A lifelong KGB worker who was changed by a bowl of soup • A Bible that spent the night in a wood stove • A communist propaganda expert who found Christ in a children’s Biblee • A host of miracles from Siberia to the Asian deserts To learn more about Global Mission and to ask for your free copy of Hope for the Thirsting, visit: www.Global-Mission.org/Offer821, or call us at 1-800-648-5824. We’ll send your free book right away.
Free Book Offer from Adventist Mission!
Curse-Proof! An in inspiring story about a young man’s unsh unshakable faith Belov storyteller Eric B. Hare, with his wife Agnes, served as missionaries Beloved in Burma for more than 20 years. Their legacy of mission service continues Bu to inspire Adventists around the world. His many audio recordings have in been bee etched in the memories of children for the past three generations. Vis www.AdventistMission.org/Offer821 to order your free Visit copy co of Curse-Proof! the newly discovered manuscript by Eric B. Hare, published by Pacific Press®. p Offer available for a limited time and while supplies last.
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Remember when mission work was the most important thing we did as a church? It still is. Every day nearly 1,000 Adventist missionaries serve in more than 200 countries around the world. Your support of the Spring Mission Appeal offering on March 29 will help give them the resources they need to tell the world about Christ’s love. For more information visit: www.AdventistMission.org. www.AdventistMission.org Thank you for being part of it!
Be part of it!