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JUNE 4 JUNE 2011 ISSN 0819-5633 celebration affirms creation page 9 MISSION MAKES BIG IMPACT page 6 CHURCH LEADER STEPS DOWN page 7 Asian Aid, a ministry, is independent of the Seventh-day Adventist Church organisation but is supportive of the Church. NEWS media mission saves lives Sydney, New South Wales The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) be saved,” said trip Australia has found a unique way to help remote Nepalese coordinator Jessica communities. Ennor. “Also, donors ADRA recently organised a group of media and commu- will be able to see nication students from Avondale College to visit Nepal. The the impact their students’ skills were used to help the local ADRA office pro- support is making in duce material that will promote its work around the world this area of poverty. The images and footage taken will promote and potentially form part of its local community develop- It’s helped secure ADRA’s work. ment programs. the sustainability of The group also purchased video production equipment the project and the communities it helps.” for ADRA Nepal, which will enable health education training The group of nine students raised $A10,000 to purchase to reach villages that may have otherwise been too difficult the new equipment, as well as donating their own time and or costly to reach. expertise during the 10-day visit. As a result, local Nepalese A large percentage of Nepal’s population lives in remote are trained in media production—a skill they would never mountain areas, making access difficult and expensive. The previously have access to. The students continue to raise group hiked to see ADRA’s work in Bhumisthan, a remote funds to support ADRA’s work in Nepal. and highly disadvantaged mountain community. A second ADRA trip will visit Malawi in November. For “More remote communities like Bhumisthan will be able more information, visit <www.adra.org.au>. to access ADRA’s training, meaning hundreds more lives will —Braden Blyde avondale sets another record new chocolate diet Cooranbong, New South Wales Melbourne, Victoria Increases in the early childhood, of Nursing and Health will continue A new book by Adventist researcher, nursing and outdoor recreation dividing year levels into two groups Dr John Ashton, says a little chocolate courses have contributed to to enhance the scheduling of classes every day might actually help you lose yet another record enrolment and the availability of clinical place- weight! at Avondale College of Higher ments. It may also begin offering The Chocolate Diet, co-authored Education. evening classes to manage future with Dr Lily Stojanovska, says cocoa is Enrolment for semester one this increases in enrolment, reports the rich in theobromine, which is known to year is 1347, 29 more than the previ- dean, Dr Paul Race. increase energy and cause weight loss. ous semester one record set in 2010. Enrolment in the Bachelor of Dark chocolate has much higher The number of new students is Education (Early Childhood) also concentrations of theobromine than milk 538, compared to 566 in 2010. The continues to grow—from the previous chocolate. Theobromine also widens number of returning students offsets record of 51 students in semester the blood vessels thus reducing blood this—869 compared to 752 in 2010. one, 2010, to 71 in 2011. This is due pressure. The mentoring and recruitment partly to the course being offered Consuming a small amount of good initiative, Helping Hands, is thought by distance education and to an quality dark chocolate may help achieve to be partially responsible for the increased number of Commonwealth weight-loss goals sooner and protect increase. supported places. heart health. Bachelor of Nursing remains the Nineteen students are completing The Chocolate Diet is more than most popular course with 296 stu- the Diploma of Outdoor Recreation biomedical facts, however. It also dents—another record. The Faculty course, up from eight in semester contains tips and one, 2010, Enrolment in higher de- recipes. Dr Ashton said gree by research courses increased, it was already receiving with 20 students now completing excellent reviews. a Doctor of Philosophy, up from 15 Dr Ashton is adjunct in 2010. A further 23 students are associate professor of enrolled in Avondale’s four research Biomedical Sciences masters degrees. Students in these at Victoria University, courses will help Avondale in its which is formally application for university college launching the book. Emma Townend is completing a Bachelor of status.—Brenton Stacey —Kent Kingston Arts/Bachelor of Teaching. Credit: Colin Chuang record.net.au • JUNE 4, 2011 3 South PAcIfIc EDITORIAL every child Official news magazine of the Julie Weslake South Pacific Division Seventh-day Adventist church Children’s ministry has a vision for every child to be a disciple of Jesus. As a Church we have a rich ABN 59 093 117 689 tradition of discipling children through programs such as Sabbath School. We have Vol 116 No 11 many people who love and treasure children. We know that there is nothing more cover credit: Digital editing by Stephen Tonkin important than to be involved in the life of a child, helping them build their lifelong faith, beliefs and values. “celebration of creation conference: how old Unfortunately every day, children are being reached with the secular views, beliefs is the Earth?” and attitudes of society. If we are to reach them with the Gospel and connect them to Jesus, we need to be intentional and start as early as possible in a child’s life. To reach and keep the next generation, we must urgently rethink some current church practices. The successful discipleship of children needs to be a collaboration of many people and institutions. It cannot be compartmentalised but requires strong partnerships between leaders, churches, homes and schools. It is what happens on the Sabbath day plus what is happening 24 hours a day, seven days a week. head of News & Editorial: Every leader can help by fighting attitudes that isolate and discourage children. Pastor Pablo Lillo They can ensure that children are fully integrated into the plans of the whole church Email: [email protected] and broaden the church’s mission and outreach to reflect the inclusiveness of Jesus. Assistant Editor: Discipleship covers the life span and needs an integrated plan. Jarrod Stackelroth Every church can help by ensuring they are family-friendly and that they involve Assistant Editor: children and their families in worship, ministry and outreach. They can support by: Kent Kingston having a strong church community which mentors children and celebrates the key Sales & Marketing: milestones of a child’s life; working closely with the children’s parents, ensuring Dora Amuimuia that they are equipped to disciple their children; and focusing discipleship on copyeditor: transformation and spiritual disciplines not just education and knowledge. Tracey Bridcutt Every home can help by taking seriously their responsibility as disciple makers. Graphic Design: Parents have the greatest potential to influence their children and monitor their Loopeck Lim faith development. They do this when they live their faith 24/7, are intentional about communication assistant: creating spiritual routines in their home, and ensuring faith is talked about and shared. Revona Govender My prayer is that everyone will help EVERY child to be a disciple. Letters: [email protected] News & Photos: [email protected] Julie Weslake is director of Children’s Ministries for the South Pacific Conference. Noticeboard: [email protected] record.net.au CONTENTS Mail: Adventist Media Network Locked bag 1115 NEws Wahroonga, NSW 2076, Australia 3 Media mission saves lives Phone: (02) 9847 2222 6 Mission makes big impact fax: (02) 9847 2200 7 Church leader steps down Subscriptions: 6 9 Celebration affirms creation REcord mailed within Australia and New Zealand $A43.80 $NZ73.00 FEatUrEs Other prices on application 11 Counting the kids counts Printed fortnightly [email protected] 14 What’s happening to our kids? 16 Leaving a legacy of faith Executive Publishers 11 Senior consulting Editor: Dr Barry Oliver ColUmNs Director of communication: 10 Opinion David Gibbons 12 Opening His Word 18 Letters twitter.com/adventist_news 14 20 Snapshot fLAShPOINT: chILDREN’S MINISTRY Children’s leader visits Church planter Swimming pool baptism Children’s Ministries director for the Papua Coastlife church, Qld, held a special Children’s Easter Benjamin Gonzalez was baptised in the New Guinea Mission, Judith Nagamisovo, Celebration where 40 children thanked Jesus for His swimming pool of Matilda Homestead on met with children at the most recent gift of life to them. Pastor Wes Tolhurst shared the sto- the Gold Coast on April 23. Matilda is the Session. With a church membership of ry of Easter while the children sat at the cross-shaped home of Michelle and Graham Hood (left), 250,000 in PNG, there is a huge potential table eating pancakes. Hidden under their cross on a founders of Mission Serenity. Mr Hood for the Church to influence the lives of hill place setting was the symbolic bread of Jesus’ bro- studied with Benjamin, and Pastor Geoff many children in the country. ken body. The children also made an egg carton craft Donovan officiated. Benjamin is the son in the shape of a cross which they placed at the foot of of Ana Maria and Eliezer Gonzalez (right). a large wooden cross during the worship service. Changed lives Faith found Jesus found at VBS Happy Adventurer My life was miserable. I was always My name is Faith and I am three I told my mum I was going to Vacation I love Adventurers. I really love sick, and my mum and dad were years old. Five years ago my mum Bible School in 2008.