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Faith For Today is planning a children's televi- "We're getting into children's television sion program to be released later this year, because we see a need for quality kids' shows, according to Dan Matthews, director. The pro- programs that teach something about life-style gram is part of a total children's ministry concept and values as well as entertain," says Matthews. which also includes a kids' health magazine and "A lot of parents are concerned about their Bible courses and games. children's health and well-being. It's our aim to The aim of Faith For Today's children's ministry provide kids with a program that will help them is to "Give Kids a Chance to Meet Jesus," which grow up healthy in mind and body." is the theme of their current annual offering cam- When all the parts of the children's ministry paign. work together, they provide opportunities to A children's program is not a new idea for Faith children that many of them might not otherwise For Today. A few years ago they developed a have, a chance to meet Jesus. Faith For Today children's series, but ran into some difficult pro- asks you to remember this ministry with a special blems with it, so it was shelved. The proposed pro- offering on Sabbath, February 13. You can help gram ideas, which Faith For Today is not yet give kids a chance to meet Jesus. ready to release, are entirely new. Matthews says the kids' program will reflect a philosophy of positive life-style. GIVE KIDS A CHANCE TO MEET JESUS "When you realize that most people who ever become Christians actually accept Christ before they're 12 years old, then it becomes important that we minister specifically to children," says Matthews. "Television makes it possible for us to meet them right where they spend a lot of time." And he adds, "Too much of what they see on TV isn't all that beneficial." As a step to get the children's ministry started, last October sample copies of Bodywise, a health magazine for children, were mailed to all of Faith For Today's donors. Adults were asked to sponsor the magazine for the children they know. During the current annual offering campaign that offer was extended to every Seventh-day Adventist who receives a union paper. Another part of Faith For Today's new children's ministry is a set of three Bible games called Project: ORION Kit. These were first made available through selected Vacation Bible Schools last summer. To date more than 2,000 children have received ORION kits from Faith For Today.
FAITH FOR TODAY BEGINS NEW CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
muog IgT lAggcore ©PforMHEn cgIFREmEkni i -joinVa 11[1 This is the second of several reports on the Atlantic Union Conference Executive Committee Retreat which was held last December at Camp Winnekeag in Ashburn- ham, Massachusetts. Emphasis is focused on Subcommittee II that made recommen- dations on the issues and needs of the educational work with reference to the fulfilling of our mission as a church. None of the committees was able to finish the work assigned to it in the time span of December 11 through 13. Here are the pertinent recommendations made by the Education Comittee: Whereas the educational program of the church is in a critical state due to declin- ing enrollment and weak finances, and whereas there exist different perceptions as to what Christian education is and its importance to the Seventh-day Advent- ist Church, and whereas these situations and dichotomy threaten the very ex- istence of the Seventh-day Adventist educational system, Voted that the subcommittee on Education propose to the Atlantic Union Conference Committee that each conference conduct a "Crisis in Members of the subcommittee on education and invited guests shown seated left to Education" Workers' retreat to in- right. Willis Adams, Robert LeBard, Nelle Steiner, Karen Harrison, Sue Harrison, clude the conference pastoral Mrs. Redcross, Joseph Redcross, Marie Armour, Eugene Armour, Helen Meade, workers and educational administra- Harold Baptiste, Paul Kilgore, and Helen Griffith. tion.
The committee spent most of its time Paul Kilgore, chairman of the com- college. The faithfulness of these new talking about number two on the "Most mittee, said in his introductory members and families in contributing Important Issues" priority list, the high remarks,"Education is the number one their tithes and offerings adds to the cost of Christian education. The follow- crisis in the Atlantic Union. If the Lord treasury of the church to care for church ing is a list for further study: does not give us new light or new direc- growth in all areas, including education. 1. Possible lengthening of the time tion, we will be in more serious trouble The report of Committee III, "Missions for workers to reach maximum than we are at the present time. We must and Goals," which will appear in the salary. think differently, creatively, and big, in February 23 issue, delves into this area. 2. Use of a teacher-pastor in outlying order to deal with the problems effec- It is true, when we focus in on educa- areas. tively. This committee to study the prob- tion, that there is a crisis. The subcom- 3. Developing a plan for teacher sub- lems should be an ongoing committee, mittee listed the five most-important sidy based on enrollment. meeting two or three times a year." issues in the following order: 4. Developing a subsidy plan for the We hasten to point out that the new converts. number one crisis in the Education 1. Commitment to Christian educa- 5. Supporting the Union Commit- Department has developed because of tion. tee's action that requests the several reasons. One of those reasons 2. High cost of Christian education General Conference not to in- that we should keep in mind during 1982 for conferences, churches, and parents. crease salaries for the 1983-84 is the objective of Elder Amundson, our 3. Proper education of our young school year. Atlantic Union Conference president, people should be to prepare them for 6. Supporting the action for the set- and the executives of the local con- Christ's return and to be witnesses in ting up of an ad hoc committee to ferences—namely, to reverse the nega- this life. Seventh-day Adventist educa- develop the master plan for secon- tive trend in church growth over the last tion must be distinctively different. dary education in the Atlantic ten years. The overarching solution to 4. In view of the emergence of a large Union. all of the problems in the church and the conservative and large liberal element in 7. Developing a program of coopera- educational system is people. The pro- the church, what changes or ad- tion in organizing our schools to ductivity of the current staff of workers justments, if any, need to be made in our serve all Seventh-day Adventist has not kept pace with the growth trends educational system? students in the most effective and of the previous decades. When more 5. Increasing the drawing power and economical manner without families are brought into the church, in- enrollment of our local schools, regard to conference lines. cluding the children, they feed the academy, and college, that serve the school system—kindergarten through Atlantic Union Conference. [Continued on page 17] INFLUENCING WITH TEMPERANCE INVOLVEMENT- PLANS FOR COMING WORLD PREVENTION CONGRESS 1982
BY E. H. J. STEED
Executive Director, ICPA
His Excellency The President of Kenya, Daniel T. Arap Moi; the USA Ambassador, John P. Mbogua; and the Foreign Minister, Dr. Robert Ouko discuss the coming ICPA Congress with ICPA Executive Director, Ernest H. J. Steed, during the presi- dent's brief visit to Washington, D.C., enroute to the Commonwealth Conference in Australia.
What have Seventh-day Adventists to do with the graciously provided for the ICPA as a Kenyan govern- coming World Congress for the Prevention of Alcohol ment contribution. Modern hotels nearby will comfort- and Drug Use scheduled for August 29 to September 2, ably house registered delegates. Each afternoon 1982, in Nairobi, Kenya? And what is this organization delegates will see something of the country with visits to called the International Commission for the Prevention villages, the wildlife reserve, where the famous animals of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency? of Africa freely roam, and the Rift Valley, where the The ICPA was set up by Seventh-day Adventists in magnificence of East Africa can be seen. Nairobi, on a 1952 as an autonomous body. The purpose was for plateau 6,000 feet above sea level, offers a medium Adventists to take the leadership in a world emphasis for climate in one of the world's beauty spots. All this nondrinking, with prominent people of every country, be helped us select Nairobi as the site of our Congress, a they Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Protestants, Bud- place truly at the crossroads of the world as far as air dhists, Communists, or Capitalists, who would give their travel is concerned. support for nondrinking and create a public sentiment This Congress has the potential to be a marvelous for an individual choice as the basis of a great preven- opportunity for our temperance emphasis in Africa. Peo- tion program. ple from over 60 countries are expected, and Adventists This is not an Adventist organization, but through the who attend, who believe in the temperance message, ICPA executive director, and cooperative support of will have occasion to meet with non-Adventists of in- selected Adventist leaders in many areas, support is fluence from many lands and share their convictions given to the ongoing prevention emphasis through per- and give a testimony for real life. sonal contacts, seminars, and world congresses. "The evils that are so apparent at the present time, The executive director has received favorable accept- are the same that brought destruction to the antedilu- ance for the ICPA in over 90 coutries that now make up vian world. 'In the days that were before the Flood' one representation in the organized body of the ICPA which of the prevailing sins was drunkenness . . . . Crime has received United Nations acceptance as a reigned supreme; life itself was unsafe" (Temperance, nongovernment organization, (NGO). p. 25). In this day and age, God has provided an occa- Because prevention is a concept whose time has sion for us to speak out in support of and in encourage- come, this organization is taking the lead in planning for ment of this modern temperance movement as an a major World Congress August 29 to September 2, answer to intemperance. You can do your part by par- 1982, in Nairobi, Kenya. Many authoritative lectures and ticipating and making this a great African safari, or if workshop periods are planned to emphasize the theme, unable to attend you can contribute financially to this "Social Action Toward Prevention." His Excellency, coming Congress. Do plan to attend, pray for, and sup- President Daniel T. Arap Moi, is serving as patron and port this venture for temperance. ICPA honorary president. The Minister of Health of Write to Ernest H. J. Steed, ICPA Executive Director, Kuwait, Dr. A. AI-Awadi, who is an ICPA vice-president for your Congress registration and information and also president of the World Health Organization, is brochure, or for making your contribution at the follow- to be the keynote speaker. ing address: The contemporary Kenyatta Convention Centre, in 6840 Eastern Avenue N.W. the heart of the modern city of Nairobi, has been Washington, D. C. 20012-9979 USA