DOCSLIB.ORG

Ellen White's Counsel to Leaders: Identification and Synthesis of Principles, Experiential Application, and Comparison with Current Leadership Literature

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ellen White's Counsel to Leaders: Identification and Synthesis of Principles, Experiential Application, and Comparison with Current Leadership Literature Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Professional Dissertations DMin Graduate Research 2006 Ellen White's Counsel To Leaders: Identification And Synthesis Of Principles, Experiential Application, And Comparison With Current Leadership Literature Cynthia Ann Tutsch Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Tutsch, Cynthia Ann, "Ellen White's Counsel To Leaders: Identification And Synthesis Of Principles, Experiential Application, And Comparison With Current Leadership Literature" (2006). Professional Dissertations DMin. 372. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/372 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Professional Dissertations DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT ELLEN WHITE’S COUNSEL TO LEADERS: IDENTIFICATION AND SYNTHESIS OF PRINCIPLES, EXPERIENTIAL APPLICATION, AND COMPARISON WITH CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE by Cynthia Ann Tutsch Adviser: Denis Fortin ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: ELLEN WHITE’S COUNSEL TO LEADERS: IDENTIFICATION AND SYNTHESIS OF PRINCIPLES, EXPERIENTIAL APPLICATION AND COMPARISON WITH CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE’ Name of researcher: Cynthia Ann Tutsch Name and degree of faculty adviser: Denis Fortin, Ph.D. Date completed: December 2006 Ellen G. White’s counsel to leaders on both spiritual and practical themes, as well as her personal application of that counsel, has on-going relevance in the twenty-first century. The author researched secondary literature, and Ellen G. White’s published and unpublished works. She surveyed current leadership literature to compare and contrast with Ellen G. White’s leadership principles and constructed a theological foundation for Ellen White’s unique leadership world view. Ellen White’s leadership principles relating to knowing God, authority, visioning, and human relations may still inspire compassionate action and a deepening commitment to Jesus Christ in today’s Christian leader. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary ELLEN WHITE’S COUNSEL TO LEADERS: IDENTIFICATION AND SYNTHESIS OF PRINCIPLES, EXPERIENTIAL APPLICATION, AND COMPARISON WITH CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Cynthia Ann Tutsch December 2006 © Copyright by Cynthia Ann Tutsch 2006 All Rights Reserved ELLEN WHITE’S COUNSEL TO LEADERS: IDENTIFICATION AND SYNTHESIS OF PRINCIPLES, EXPERIENTIAL APPLICATION, AND COMPARISON TO CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Cynthia Aim Tutsch APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Adviser, ' Denis Fortin Dean, SDA Theological ¡Seminary Denis Fortin Ttecemlaer 15, ó10ÔL Date approved DEDICATION To Joy Sorensen capable, loyal, expeditious assistant understanding and perceptive friend faithful prayer partner in TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................... ^ Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................ j Statement of the Problem................................................................ 2 Statement of the T ask ................................................................ 2 Justification for the Dissertation.................................................. 3 Methodology.................................................................. 3 Expectations from the Dissertation.................................................. 6 Delimitations............................................................................ 5 2. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF ELLEN G. WHITE’S MINISTRY AND COUNSELS ON LEADERSHIP.................................. g 3. COMPARISON OF ELLEN G. WHITE’S PRINCIPLES ON LEADERSHIP WITH CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE.................................. 18 Leadership Concepts from Chapter F o u r........................................ 21 Leadership Concepts from Chapter Five........................................ 26 Leadership Concepts from Chapter Six .......... 29 Leadership Concepts from Chapter Seven...................................... 36 4. COUNSELS TO LEADERS ON KNOWING GOD................................ 43 The Holy S pirit ........................................................................ 45 Scripture Study .............................................................................. 47 Character Development .............................................................. 48 Prayer .................................................................................... 52 Ellen White’s Experiential Demonstration of Her Leadership Principles on Knowing God.................................................................. 56 5. COUNSELS TO LEADERS ON LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORITY .. 64 Servant Leadership .................................................................... gg Abuse of Authority .......................................................... 72 Moses Model versus Aaron Model................................................ 78 iv Ellen White's Experiential Demonstration of Her Leadership Principles and Theory.......................................................................................... 82 6. COUNSELS TO LEADERS ON HUMAN RELATIONS........................ 91 Empowerment of People for Evangelism and S ervice ...................... 94 Race Inclusive Empowerment ......................................................... 94 Gender Inclusive Empowerment..................................................... 95 Age Inclusive Empowerment ......................................................... 97 Connecting With O thers......................................................................... 101 M entoring.......................................................................................... 101 Care for the Poor ............................................................................. 104 Ellen White’s Experiential Demonstration of Her Leadership Principles on Human R elations........................................................................ 112 7. COUNSELS ON KEY LEADERSHIP ISSUES ..................................... 125 Leadership Qualifications .................................................................... 127 Dealing with the Erring ........................................................................ 134 Proactive Visioning and Planning ....................................................... 140 A lacrity..................................................................................................... 146 Ellen White’s Experiential Demonstration of Her Leadership Principles on Key Leadership Issu es................................................................ 150 8. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ......................................................... 158 Summary of Ellen White’s Counsel to L eaders................................. 158 Summary of Ellen White’s Experiential Practice of Her Leadership Principles .......................................................................................... 163 Ellen White’s Theory of Leadership .................................................. 165 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 170 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 176 VITA .................................................................................................................................. 192 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS No achievement takes place in a vacuum. And so it is with this project—I could never have completed this dissertation without the support of heaven, colleagues, family, and friends. I must first express gratitude to God, who faithfully responded to my constant (and sometimes desperate!) cries for help throughout the process of this project. I am also grateful to the Board of Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate, who voted to financially subsidize my Doctor of Ministry journey. My boss, Jim Nix, has been particularly supportive of my educational goals, and along with colleagues at the Ellen G. White Estate, sometimes carried extra work loads in my absence. And what would I have done without the verbal support and prayer ministry of the chairman of the board, Kenneth Wood? During the first year of my Doctor of Ministry program, I enrolled inThe Writings o f Ellen G. White class taught by Dr. Denis Fortin. Not only was the class helpful to my present career, Dr. Fortin also encouraged me to do careful, thorough research for the class. I am grateful that as my primary advisor, he has pressed me toward a higher level of excellence throughout this project. I also appreciate Dr. Skip Bell, who has helped me see a broader perspective on a range of topics by encouraging dissent and dialogue in the classroom. My third reader, Dr. John Baldwin, has blessed me throughout my time at the Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological vi Seminary by providing tools to help me face the leadership challenge of integrating faith and science while exercising his wonderful
Load more

Recommended publications
  • An Analysis of Adventist Mission Methods in Brazil in Relationship to a Christian Movement Ethos
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2016 An Analysis of Adventist Mission Methods in Brazil in Relationship to a Christian Movement Ethos Marcelo Eduardo da Costa Dias Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Missions and World Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Costa Dias, Marcelo Eduardo da, "An Analysis of Adventist Mission Methods in Brazil in Relationship to a Christian Movement Ethos" (2016). Dissertations. 1598. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1598 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT AN ANALYSIS OF ADVENTIST MISSION METHODS IN BRAZIL IN RELATIONSHIP TO A CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT ETHOS by Marcelo E. C. Dias Adviser: Bruce Bauer ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: AN ANALYSIS OF ADVENTIST MISSION METHODS IN BRAZIL IN RELATIONSHIP TO A CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT ETHOS Name of researcher: Marcelo E. C. Dias Name and degree of faculty chair: Bruce Bauer, DMiss Date completed: May 2016 In a little over 100 years, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brazil has grown to a membership of 1,447,470 (December 2013), becoming the country with the second highest total number of Adventists in the world. Very little academic research has been done to study or analyze the growth and development of the Adventist church in Brazil.
    [Show full text]
  • Southwest Bahia Mission Facade, 2019
    Southwest Bahia Mission facade, 2019. Photo courtesy of Nesias Joaquim dos Santos. Southwest Bahia Mission NESIAS JOAQUIM DOS SANTOS Nesias Joaquim dos Santos The Southwest Bahia Mission (SWBA) is an administrative unit of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) located in the East Brazil Union Mission. Its headquarters is in Juracy Magalhães Street, no. 3110, zip code 45023-490, district of Morada dos Pássaros II, in the city of Vitoria da Conquista, in Bahia State, Brazil.1 The city of Vitória da Conquista, where the administrative headquarters is located, is also called the southwestern capital of Bahia since it is one of the largest cities in Bahia State. With the largest geographical area among the five SDA administrative units in the State of Bahia, SWBA operates in 166 municipalities.2 The population of this region is 3,943,982 inhabitants3 in a territory of 99,861,370 sq. mi. (258,639,761 km²).4 The mission oversees 42 pastoral districts with 34,044 members meeting in 174 organized churches and 259 companies. Thus, the average is one Adventist per 116 inhabitants.5 SWBA manages five schools. These are: Escola Adventista de Itapetinga (Itapetinga Adventist School) in the city of Itapetinga with 119 students; Colégio Adventista de Itapetinga (Itapetinga Adventist Academy), also in Itapetinga, with 374 students; Escola Adventista de Jequié (Jequié Adventist School) with 336 students; Colégio Adventista de Barreiras (Barreiras Adventist Academy) in Barreiras with 301 students; and Conquistense Adventist Academy with 903 students. The total student population is 2,033.6 Over the 11 years of its existence, God has blessed this mission in the fulfillment of its purpose, that is, the preaching of the gospel to all the inhabitants in the mission’s territory.
    [Show full text]
  • Adventist Journey 09/20
    09 20 INSPIRATION & INFORMATION FOR NORTH AMERICA INCLUDED Adventist Journey Contents 04 Feature 13 Perspective Meet the New NAD President Until All Lives Matter . 08 NAD News Briefs My Journey In my administrative role at the NAD, I still do evangelism. I do at least one [series] a year and I still love it. Sometimes, through all the different committees and policies and that part of church life, you have to work to keep connected to the front-line ministries—where people are being transformed by the power of the gospel. Visit vimeo.com/nadadventist/ajalexbryant for more of Bryant’s story. G. ALEXANDER BRYANT, new president of the North American Division Cover Photo by Dan Weber Dear Reader: The publication in your hands represents the collaborative efforts of the ADVENTIST JOURNEY North American Division and Adventist World magazine, which follows Adventist Journey Editor Kimberly Luste Maran (after page 16). Please enjoy both magazines! Senior Editorial Assistant Georgia Damsteegt Art Direction & Design Types & Symbols Adventist Journey (ISSN 1557-5519) is the journal of the North American Division of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The Northern Asia-Pacific Division of the General Conference of Seventh-day Consultants G. Earl Knight, Mark Johnson, Dave Weigley, Adventists is the publisher. It is printed monthly by the Pacific Press® Publishing Association. Copyright Maurice Valentine, Gary Thurber, John Freedman, © 2020. Send address changes to your local conference membership clerk. Contact information should be available through your local church. Ricardo Graham, Ron C. Smith, Larry Moore Executive Editor, Adventist World Bill Knott PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Receiving the Word by Samuel Koranteng-Pipim Copyright © 1996
    RECEIVING THE WORD BY SAMUEL KORANTENG-PIPIM COPYRIGHT © 1996 1 CONTENTS FORWARD ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 TO THE READER ............................................................................................................................................. 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DEDICATION......................................................................................... 14 CRISIS OVER THE WORD ........................................................................................................................... 16 TRUSTING THE WORD ................................................................................................................................ 29 DOUBTING THE WORD ............................................................................................................................... 39 QUARRELING OVER THE WORD ............................................................................................................. 51 DEPARTING FROM THE WORD ................................................................................................................ 71 THE BIBLE--SOLE OR PRIMARY AUTHORITY?...................................................................................................74 THE BIBLE – FULLY OR PARTIALLY INSPIRED?.................................................................................................81 THE BIBLE – FULLY OR PARTIALLY TRUSTWORTHY?.....................................................................................105
    [Show full text]
  • With This Issue ADVENTIST WORLD
    ADVENTISTwith this FREEWORLD issue ollowing the earthquake tragedy that struck South Asia, ADRA-UK has launched an appeal to raise funds to bring immediate relief to the victims. ADRA-UK is 95% of the buildings in Bagh were co-ordinating its efforts with demolished by the quake Fother donor offices and ADRA- Trans-Europe to respond to this major disaster. The ADRA network is focusing efforts on Pakistan, which has been most affected by the disaster. ADRA has had a long-term presence in Pakistan, providing development proj- ects in the affected regions since 1984. The ADRA-Pakistan office has already commenced relief activities with the provision of food, medical supplies and shelter. The ADRA network was mobilised into action within hours of the earthquake, which occurred at 8:50 on Saturday 8 October, and measured 7.6 on the Richter Scale. The writer was in contact with ADRA-International and Trans- Europe (which covers Pakistan as one of its field territories) by > 16 It takes a great man to deal with failure and time to make sure I had not Christmas shoebox defeat. It takes a very, very great man to deal with misread something. No. There success and victory. David was not that great. it was. I read as far as verse I Victorious over the Syrians, military genius 15 where it says that Nathan David felt so confident about capturing Rabbah ‘went home’, and I thought, appeal (Amman) that he sent Joab to do it while he stayed ‘Right, that’s it’; and I lost Is God All boxes need to be received by 1 December in home.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018-04-20 NL ADVENTIST Ereport
    April 20, 2018 NL ADVENTIST eREPORT A digital publication brought to you by the S A C in Newfoundland and Labrador. Greetings! In this Issue: Deed to New Land Secured-Kenmount Road, Mount Pearl; Junior/Teen Camp Registration Update; Camp Meeting Guest Highlight-Leslie N. Pollard; Ollila Announcement... Junior/Teen Camp Registration Update April 18, 2018 | NL Adventist Communications On April 15, registration opened for Junior Camp and Teen Camp. As of April 18, we have received applications from 11 teen and 35 junior campers. This is a tremendous response! We are excited to see parents and students responding early! Jack Baier with Land Deedj & Survey, Kenmount Rd., Given the high response Mount Pearl | April 19, 2018 | Photo by Pastor Eric Ollila rate, we want to encourage | NL Adventist Communications those who may be contemplating attending, to not delay submitting Deed to New Land Secured- their application. Space is limited, and we are Kenmount Road, Mount Pearl encouraging parents who have children that are on the border age 12-13, to only have their child April 19, 2018 | NL Adventist Communications attend one of the camps. In past years, we allowed those children who are at the transition age to The official Deed to the newly purchased parcel attend one or the other or both. This year, we ask of land on Kenmount Road has been received by that you choose one. the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Newfoundland and Labrador (SDACNL) office. To register, visit us on the web at: Application for the piece of Crown land was http://www.nladventist.ca originally made in April, 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • Focus, 2005, Fall
    campus update Total enrollment reaches 3087 total of more than 300 students in the past five years.” Payne is also proud of the heart for service this year’s group of students has already demonstrated. Many new students, having been in school less than a week, joined the almost 100-member crew that recently traveled to Mississippi for Katrina relief efforts. “School has only just begun, and already students have gotten involved, taking the school’s admonition to ‘seek knowledge, affirm faith, change the world’ seriously by giving up their Labor Day weekend to help with Katrina relief,” Payne stated. Andrews’ commitment to academic excellence is recognized with the University’s continued ranking by U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges edition as one of only 248—162 public, 86 private—institutions of higher education in the United States to receive the National University ranking. Andrews is the only Seventh-day Adventist university to hold this distinction. According to the August 29, 2005 issue of U.S. News & World Report , a National University “offers a wide range According to the university's recent release of its annual enroll - of undergraduate majors as well as master’s and doctoral ment report, this semester's harvest promises to be a bountiful degrees; many strongly emphasize research.” one. An enrollment increase of 70 students has brought even Currently, Andrews offers approximately 180 different, under - more smiling faces to the Andrews campus this year, bringing graduate, master’s and doctoral programs. Andrews also contin - the total enrollment to 3,087 students compared to last year’s ues to rank at number six for percentage of international stu - 3,017.
    [Show full text]
  • A Historical Analysis of Adventist World Radio's
    HOWARD UNIVERSITY A Historical Analysis of Adventist World Radio’s Impact in the East Central Africa Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: A Case Study of Tanzania A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of HOWARD UNIVERSITY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies by Desrene L. Vernon Washington, D.C. May, 2011 GRADUATE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES DISSERTATION COMMITTEE ______________________________________ Barbara B. Hines, Ph.D. Chairperson ______________________________________ Carolyn M. Byerly, Ph.D. Dissertation Advisor ______________________________________ Melbourne S. Cummings, Ph.D. Communication & Culture _______________________________________ Sulayman S. Nyang, Ph.D. African Studies _______________________________________ Rhonda S. Zaharna, Ph.D. School of Communication American University ________________________________ Carolyn M. Byerly, Ph.D. Dissertation Advisor Candidate: Desrene L. Vernon Date of Defense: April 14, 2011 ii DEDICATION I have been blessed by God, with an international network of colleagues, family, church family, students and friends, too numerous to mention by name. This dissertation is dedicated to all of you. Thank you for showering me with your love, prayers, and other gifts, both tangible and intangible. “If any of you need wisdom, go to God who gives it graciously and generously to all who ask Him and it will be given to you” James 1:5 (The Clear Word). iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My deepest gratitude is extended to my dissertation committee for providing guidance and support throughout the course of this study. Special thanks to my dissertation advisor, Dr. Carolyn M. Byerly who both taught and modeled how to engage in mass communication and media scholarship.
    [Show full text]
  • Origin and History of Seventh-Day Adventists, Vol. 1
    Origin and History of Seventh-day Adventists FRONTISPIECE PAINTING BY HARRY ANDERSON © 1949, BY REVIEW AND HERALD As the disciples watched their Master slowly disappear into heaven, they were solemnly reminded of His promise to come again, and of His commission to herald this good news to all the world. Origin and History of Seventh-day Adventists VOLUME ONE by Arthur Whitefield Spalding REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, D.C. COPYRIGHT © 1961 BY THE REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFSET IN THE U.S.A. AUTHOR'S FOREWORD TO FIRST EDITION THIS history, frankly, is written for "believers." The reader is assumed to have not only an interest but a communion. A writer on the history of any cause or group should have suffi- cient objectivity to relate his subject to its environment with- out distortion; but if he is to give life to it, he must be a con- frere. The general public, standing afar off, may desire more detachment in its author; but if it gets this, it gets it at the expense of vision, warmth, and life. There can be, indeed, no absolute objectivity in an expository historian. The painter and interpreter of any great movement must be in sympathy with the spirit and aim of that movement; it must be his cause. What he loses in equipoise he gains in momentum, and bal- ance is more a matter of drive than of teetering. This history of Seventh-day Adventists is written by one who is an Adventist, who believes in the message and mission of Adventists, and who would have everyone to be an Advent- ist.
    [Show full text]
  • Phds at Avondale
    Magazine of the Avondale College Alumni Association for Friends of Avondale Summer Vol 18 No 2 AVONDALE PhDs at Avondale COLLEGE A “double wrestle” CHRISTIAN Graduation’s God-on-your-side theme HIGHER Homecomers challenged to leave legacy EDUCATION Searching for Swamp Mahogany James Cox: the academic’s academic since Historic clock comes full circle Reflections is the magazine of of the worldwide Seventh-day Reflections the Avondale College Alumni Adventist Church education system. Advancement Office Association for Friends of Avondale It publishes Reflections quarterly. Avondale College Editor The Autumn and Summer editions PO Box 19 Brenton Stacey are in hardcopy, the Winter and Cooranbong NSW 2265 Spring editions in electronic copy. Australia Consulting editors Reflections is © 2006 by Avondale Phone: +61 2 4980 2252 Joan Patrick (primary teaching, 1956) College Limited. Roger Nixon (theology, 1963) Email: [email protected] Printer Designer Signs Publishing Company Donna Pinter Printed on 100 per cent recycled Finished Artist paper. Heather Jones Cover Publisher Avondale College Master of Ministry Avondale College Limited graduands from 2005 Avondale College Limited is part Image by D & V Photography It might look like an increasing number of fellowship groups connecting older with younger people. It Christian might take people as willing to cross 21st century cultural borders, as did missionaries crossing community geographical borders in the 1700 and 1800s. It might take younger people who sense the experience and Dr Lyell Heise nurture in older people. It might take Baby Boomers willing to say and say often, “The icons of this new Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist church culture .
    [Show full text]
  • The Search for Knowledge Among the Seventh-Day Adventists in the Area of Maroantsetra, Madagascar
    1 The search for knowledge among the Seventh-day Adventists in the area of Maroantsetra, Madagascar Eva Salome Keller London School of Economics and Political Science Doctor of Philosophy 2002 UMI Number: U615598 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI U615598 Published by ProQuest LLC 2014. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 "Th c I S£- S F 7?6>7 ‘•4 2 Abstract The thesis is an ethnographic inquiry into the nature of Seventh-day Adventism in Maroantsetra, a small town on the northeast coast of Madagascar, and Sahameloka, a nearby village. The Seventh-day Adventists in Maroantsetra and Sahameloka do not participate in traditional practices through which local people communicate with their ancestors, because they consider such practices to be the work of the devil. This is highly significant in the context of Madagascar and causes serious tension between Adventist and non-Adventist kin. The thesis examines whether the members of the church form a discrete community, but finds that they remain firmly embedded in existing kinship networks despite the difficulties involved.
    [Show full text]
  • Brooks, Charles Decatur (1930–2016)
    Brooks, Charles Decatur (1930–2016) BENJAMIN BAKER Benjamin Baker, Ph.D. (Howard University, Washington, D.C.) is the author/editor of seven books and 150 articles and is the creator of two websites on Adventist history. He has taught history, religion, education, literature, and English at eight universities. Charles Decatur Brooks (universally known as “C. D. Brooks”) was one of the most successful evangelists of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and as speaker- director of Breath of Life Ministries for twenty-three years was a trailblazer of religious media. Early Life Charles Decatur (C. D.) Brooks was born in Morehead Township, just outside of Greensboro, North Carolina, on July 24, 1930, to Marvin Bishop Brooks and Mattie (née Reives) Brooks (1886-1967; 1889-1959).1 Marvin and Mattie Brooks would have sixteen children in all, ten girls and six boys, four of whom died before C. D. was born. The Brooks earned a livelihood by farming their 40-acre property in Morehead, cultivating a C. D. Brooks 2 variety of crops and raising livestock and poultry. Photo courtesy of Benjamin Baker, received from the late C. D. Shortly after C. D.’s birth the Brooks family, although Brooks. Methodists at the time, began observing the seventh- day Sabbath in honor of a pledge Mattie Brooks had made to God while in a hospital bed suffering from a near-fatal illness. The family observed the Sabbath and read The Great Controversy for years without knowing of the existence of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Finally, in 1940 the family took Bible studies with Napoleon Smith, pastor of the black Seventh-day Adventist church in Greensboro, and C.
    [Show full text]