SJOjSDj JOj plUflOf |DUO||DUJ91U| Ministry Ministry is the international journal of the Seventh-day AoVentist Ministerial Association and has been published since 1928,

Association Secretary International Advisors dames A, Cress. A. AbduJma|irj,AleJai)dro Bullon, , Tribute to]. Robert Spongier Jaime Castrejon, Dae yun Clio, Editor WatlonWhaley, EkkehardtMueller, James A. Cress and Willmore D. Eva Wilimore 0. Era Joel Mtisvosvi,, Peter Roenfeidt, Assistant Editor Heikkl Silvet, John Wiltmott, Eric 6 Julia W. Nqrcott Winter Editorial Assistant Pastoral Advisors journeying through personal grief Sheila Draper Leslie.BaumsarWer, s. Peter Campbell, Michael Cerna, Jeanne Loss and hope: impact of a murder Professional Growth and Hardsell, Mitehelt Heoson, Grej Inter-chorcb Relations Nelson, Norma Qsborn, Leslie Darold Bigger SltoWsSatelmijer = Pollard, Ban Smith, Steve Witlsey Contributing Editors Advertising Sharant;fess.!T : /

Biole credits: Texts credited to WIV are from the Hoty Bible, Mew International Version. Copyright 1973,1978, : 1984, International Bible Society.; Used by permission of Zpndeiyan KWe Publishers. Texts credited toMKJV.are from pie MewKing. James .Version. Copyright @ 1979,. ,:198|, t9§|rjy.T|<)mas Seisprt, Inc.- Used by|ermfssioft. 3 letters 28 Pastor©s Pastor Al;©rtilftiTeBi^iBl©iirJ|a texts credited to ffSffare©tram "". the Re:vlsel:§tawJatr.rj, Version «f the -Bible, copyright . .©. 1946," 1952,1 S7i, by the Division",of Gtjrlstian Education 4 Editorials 31 Resources :;oJ©t heJiiatidnjtCouneil: of the Churches of Cftristin©the USA©Used; By pehtiisston. V -. v - ' . "..©. "© ;... ~ ' • ''• .©©,,

2 Ministry/November 1997 Feed my different sheep article, but he found that no matter how excellent! Our conference regional Why does Ministry lower its editorial he tried, he could not resolve his problem taskforce here in eastern Colorado is standards so much as to publish such an by what he was doing. struggling with the "problem" of small article as "Feed My Different Sheep" The turning point came when he churches. I have ordered extra copies of (January 1997)? God has provided His admitted he was helpless and asked God this issue and will be sending it to all lay church with a wealth of divinely inspired to remove his intense anger and give him members on the taskforce, along with a knowledge to more than fill the needs of love for his boss. When the boss shouted letter suggesting that they prayerfully read God©s people. at him next, he writes, "to my surprise I it before making far-reaching decisions. I Shall we draw water from the broken wasn©t mad at him." This successful will also send a letter to all pastors on the cisterns of Babylon instead of the pure counselor operates from the perspective of taskforce suggesting they prayerfully read water of life made available to us? sin, not psychology. the copy they received. John Martin, Thomas E. Hansen, Ardmore, Oklahoma. My own experience parallels the pastor, Greeley, Colorado. doctor©s. I discovered that methods, no Preaching the Word to the heart matter how good they may be from the Appreciation 1 am a retired elder in the Church of psychological viewpoint, could not change I have been receiving copies of the Nazarene. I attended a funeral of the my heart, yet that©s what is needed. When Ministry for some years now and feel it is wife of one of our ministers. The minister I quit trying to solve my own anger time I wrote to express my appreciation who conducted the service did such a problems and give them to God, He first for your kindness in supplying the wonderful job. He preached from the removes my anger. Thomas A. Davis, magazine to me, and then for the high Psalms, and I was unable to find the Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada. quality of the contents. scripture. This was such a great sermon I am a Salvationist who, before my for a Christian who had brought so much Putting anger in its place retirement, served as our movement©s healing to others. "Putting Anger in its Place" by Ron ecumenical officer, and in this capacity I have been reading and searching for and Karen Flowers (July 1997) was much had good fellowship with Seventh-day this scripture for some time. Then I appreciated. The only part that disturbed Adventists whom I met at conferences. My picked up your magazine and read the me was the statement that "suppressed knowledge of your church was not article "Preaching the Word to the Heart," anger is anger stored." Authors such as extensive at the time. I now know a great by Nikolaus Satelmajer (January 1997). Carol Tavris (Anger: The Misunderstood deal more than I did, thanks to Bert Beach The message and scripture just seemed to Emotion, 1989) would disagree. Anger and others. And while there are still points jump out at me. I found the very thing I cannot be stored like so much baggage or of biblical interpretation and doctrine on had been searching for. as pressure in a hydraulic tube. The only which we differ, these are for the most You are my brother in Christ. Thank you reason why anger persists is because we part peripheral. for the magazine and your sermon, and for constantly rehearse the injury. With each I am impressed by the relevance of so being Spirit-led. You have been a great rehearsal comes fresh anger. Larry much in your magazine to our work as help. Rev. 0. R. Gunno, Poca, Nevada. Yeagley, Charlotte, Michigan. Salvation Army officers. The production from a technical point of view is excellent. Anger The pastor©s personal world Keep up the good work. And, again, Just about the time I came upon the I want to thank you for this issue of many thanks in the name of the Lord we article "Anger" (March 1997), a visiting Ministry that deals with the pastor©s all serve. William Clark, colonel, relative was sharing with us a book by a personal life (July 1997). It is needed much Salvation Army, London, England. Baptist doctor with a Ph.D. in Christian more than most know or will admit. Keep counseling. His solution to anger was up the good work! Name Withheld. I read through the May issue of Ministry different from what the article provided. and was really taken up by the magazine. He describes how he once had a very Small churches You dealt in detail with the Sabbath in that difficult boss who sometimes made him I want to thank you for your Septem issue. I could easily agree with that idea, quite angry. Of course he had to be nice to ber issue on small churches. All the though I am a Catholic by faith. Ruban him. He tried to handle his anger by articles about small churches were good, Joseph Thannickal, St. George©s Church, methods such as those outlined in the but the article by Loren Seibold was Kerala, India.

I If you're receiving Ministry bimonthly and haven't paid for a subscription, it's not a mistake. Since 1928 Ministry has been published for Seventh-day Adventist ministers. We believe. Free Subscription I however, that the time has come for clergy everywhere to experience a resurgence of faith in the authority of Scripture and in the great truths that reveal the gospel of our salvation by grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ We want to share our aspirations and faith in a way that will provide inspiration and help to you as clergy. We hope you will accept this journal as our outstretched hand to you. Look over our shoulder, take what you want and find helpful, and discard what you can't use. Bimonthly gift subscriptions are available to all licensed and/or ordained clergy. Requests should be on church letterhead and addressed to the editorial office.

Ministry/November 1997 3 0 R 1 A

n the fireplace of life, Spangler is pure reading these words would probably not cedar. Cedar catches fire quickly and A tribute to be doing so were it not for the vision and / burns brightly. And so does Bob. His initiative of this exemplary human being. creative genius and burning enthusiasm Another of his creative projects was the will be greatly missed by all of us as he Robert production and distribution of the book enters retirement." So wrote Robert 27 Fundamental Beliefs, which has been Spangler©s friend and associate Floyd Spangler given gratis to over 250,000 pastors and Bresee in July 1990, just after Bob retired. numerous libraries around the globe. He Now the truth and poetic definitude of JAMES A. CRESS was convinced that the cross and the great these words are felt with telling potency as AND WILL EVA centralities of God©s redemptive action in we grieve Pastor Spangler©s sudden Christ were central to the beliefs of time serve as secretary of the association accidental death early Friday morning, Seventh-day Adventists and had to be led him to resign as secretary and focus September 19, on California freeway 405. perceived and expressed that way. It was his energies again on the editorship of In the short time since then many this belief that inspired the book and its Ministry. things have been said and written in an circulation. During his service to the Ministerial attempt to encompass the immense sense In all of this, Bob never neglected his Association, Bob instituted PREACH of loss, sorrow, admiration, and respect we consuming passion of proclaiming the (Project for Reaching Every Active Clergy all feel converging upon us in the light of gospel through evangelistic outreach. Bob at Home). This plan has the visionary aim what seems such a contradictory moment. delighted in conducting public meetings of sending complimentary subscriptions "A man has fallen in our midst," says combined with field schools of evange Rex Edwards, "who was so absolutely lism wherever and whenever he had unique, so many-sided, capable of so many opportunity. kinds of leadership, so resourceful, so large He was joined in his service to pastoral of vision, so consecrated to his tasks, so families by his wife, Marie, who was inspirational in his leadership, and so man has herself seriously injured in the recent tremendously devoted to his mission, that A accident that took Bob©s life. Marie, along no man comes forward who is willing to fallen in our midst, who was so with the late Ellen Bresee, co-founded be considered a possible substitute." David Shepherdess International, the entity of Newman, former Ministry editor and absolutely unique, so many- the G.C. Ministerial Association that executive editor under Bob, expresses his encourages and nurtures pastoral spouses thoughts this way: "Bob was one of the sided, capable of so many kinds and families. finest Christian gentlemen I have ever met. of leadership, so resourceful, so Following his retirement from the He was always gracious, always kind, Ministerial Association, Bob continued to always Christ-centered. He gave me much large of vision, so consecrated to serve the church in a number of ways good advice and always encouraged me. including coordinating dozens of He was one of the most positive people I his tasks, so inspirational in his evangelistic meetings throughout the have known. His heart beat with joy and former Soviet Union, raising hundreds of love for the Lord Jesus Christ." These leadership, and so tremendously thousands of dollars for such endeavors, tributes certainly frame the perspective of chairing the coordinating board of the hundreds, including the Ministerial devoted to his mission, that no 1993 Moscow citywide crusade conducted Association of the General Conference. by Mark Finley, spearheading the fund- J. R. Spangler came to the G.C. man comes forward who is raising for a new Russian translation of the Ministerial Association in 1962 and gave willing to be considered a Scriptures, meeting with hundreds of It Is the next 28 years of his life and service to Written partners, and assisting with annual pastors and pastoral families. He served 23 possible substitute. fund-raising for the PREACH project, of those years as editor of Ministry which remained a priority in his mind magazine the longest tenured editor in right up to the last conversations the the 70-year history of the magazine. He Ministerial Association staff had with Bob. also served as secretary of the Ministerial of Ministry to clergy of all denominations. Will Eva remembers a moment in the Association from 1980-1985. But his This extended hand of fellowship early eighties when Bob met him outside primary interest in the association was the continues today with around 70,000 the old General Conference building and magazine. His conflict between trying to pastors receiving this magazine all over the invited him up to his office to discuss, to be effective as an editor and at the same world. A great number of those who are Will©s surprise, the possibility of joining

4 Ministry/November 1997 EDITORIALS the editorial staff of Ministry. Although where." When recently Jim phoned Bob©s great family of Ministry readers, acknowl this did not work out at the time, this home to express condolences to his edges and celebrates the vast contributions experience is illustrative of the beautiful daughters, the answering machine of Bob Spangler in the lives of pastors gift Bob had of seeing things in people responded in Bob©s own voice with his everywhere and the telling impact of his that they had not seen in themselves and instructions to "leave a message" at the influence and leadership in the forward of inducing them to share his perceptions. beep. And then he said at the conclusion thrust of the church as a whole. Jim and Sharon Cress recall how they of the message, "Remember, Jesus is have relied on the counsel and encourage coming soon." Vintage J. Robert Spangler! If you wish to express a personal tribute ment Bob and Marie Spangler have With deep sadness and heartfelt concerning Bob Spangler©s ministry in your personally provided them whenever they condolence to his family and many friends own life, please send it to our editorial office sought the Spanglers© input. "Bob prayed worldwide, the General Conference (seepage 2). We will see that all messages with us and for pastoral families every Ministerial Association, along with the are shared with Pastor Spangler©s family.

ome time will have little interest in their claims or ago I Decaffeinated in any deeper meeting with God. received a newsletter assessing Theoretical line easiest to follow the overall impact of Christianity It seems that one reason so many the Christian preachers have drifted into theorizing populace in the JOEL S A R L I sermons and philosophizing lectures is United States. The that they are much easier to prepare and writer mentioned Anglican bishop teachings made in the life of an undesir to present. Such sermons do not take so Michael Marshall, who suggested that able tax collector named Zacchaeus. The much out of them. Moreover, Christian there is a problem with contemporary text suggests that Jesus© visit in the home people cannot truly lead souls to the Christianity in America. He says many of Zacchaeus did more than reorder the transforming power of Jesus unless they Christians have settled for a facsimile of dinner conversation. It even did more first know the way themselves. It is Christian freedom: running their own than reorder Zacchaeus©s thinking. His impossible to teach others how to live the lives while at the same time saying they heart was touched; his whole life was triumphant life if one is not living believe in Christ. He contends that many altered. Greed was converted into victoriously himself or herself. so-called believers have accepted a generosity. Past dishonesty was countered The present state of affairs among decaffeinated Christianity it promises with restitution. Zacchaeus©s encounter Christians introduces critical conse not to keep you awake at night. with Jesus awakened a wide-ranging quences for the evangelistic ministry. A It is getting harder to distinguish behavior change. He became a different brand of faith that doesn©t prompt the loss Christians from non-Christians. Charles person. of sleep in our troubled and needy world Colson observes that "we live in a time that When Zacchaeus staked out his spot in will not wake up others to their need to be would seem to be marked by unprec the tree so he could get a clear view of redeemed in Christ. What incentive is edented spiritual resurgence: 96 percent of Jesus, in the back of his mind he had a there to investigate a message that has lost all Americans say they believe in God; 80 hunch that what Jesus had to offer was its reputation for making a difference? If percent profess to be Christians.... Fifty more than he already possessed. The the modern brand of the Christian million Americans claim to be born again. longer he and Jesus spent together, the message is not producing behavioral Yet families are splitting apart in record more he became convinced that what Jesus change, in all honesty, what do we have to numbers. There are 100 times more stood for was worth his allegiance. Before offer to those who are not Christians? burglaries in so-called Christian America the night ended, Zacchaeus made his move If the bishop Michael Marshall©s analysis than in so-called pagan Japan. Why this toward the forgiveness of God, and his life of Christians in America is accurate and we paradox between profession and practice?" was reordered. He was transformed. are delivering a decaffeinated message, we Colson wonders. "Why is the faith of so During the next week, I believe, should not be surprised that the faith many not making an impact on the moral Zacchaeus©s behavior was the talk of the claims of so many are having so little values of our land?"* town. Word got around that his encounter impact on modern society. with Jesus was the reason for it all. Jesus and Zacchaeus Unless word gets around about the * Charles Colson, Presenting Belief in an There is a wonderful story in Luke behavior of the people who verbally claim Age of Unbelief (Wheaton, 111.: Victor Books, 19:1-10 about the impact that Jesus© belief in God, those who do not believe 1986), pp. 5,6.

Ministry/November 1997 5 A S T 0 R P R E S S U R POINTS JOURNEYING THROUGH PERSONAL GRIEF n June 16,1996 Father©s Day and her grandfather©s birthday 25-year- O old Shannon Bigger was gagged and tied to her bed in her Takoma Park, Maryland, apartment, and heartlessly murdered.

Darold Bigger, Ph.D., Her body was discovered the next morning. wondered what issue in one of those is a professor of Less than 40 hours after the crime, the positions was so urgent as to require the religion and social police arrested the assailant. The accused first hour of my first day! work at Walla Walla pleaded guilty and was sentenced to Not until I walked into his office did I College and former consecutive sentences of 20 years, life in know that he had also summoned my senior pastor of the prison, and life in prison without the wife, Barbara, from her office at the church at College possibility of parole. Shannon is buried in college store. She was sitting in a chair Place, Washington. College Place, Washington. when I arrived, both of them quiet and Sociologists say the violent death of a strangely solemn. He offered me a seat, child brings the worst kind of grief human came around the desk toward our chairs, beings suffer. At our request, Shannons and immediately got to the point. "I have father, Darold Bigger, has courageously the worst possible news I could ever share consented to share with us how he coped with you," he said. "Shannon has been with this unspeakable tragedy. Editors. killed, murdered in her apartment."

It started with a Monday morning Shock phone call from John Cress, our campus Shock and disbelief filled most of the chaplain. He asked if I could come to his next half-hour. After we verified the facts office he had a matter of some urgency with the Maryland police, John he wanted to talk about. He was anxious Guldhammer, a pastor at the Walla Walla that I come even before I moved my College church, helped us organize our things to the office I would occupy as day. Henning Guldhammer drove us summer chair of the Theology Depart home, where we told our other daughter, ment and associate academic dean. I Hilary, and Rosemary Laarad, the

AROLD BIGGER

6 Ministry/November 1997 PASTORAL PRESSURE POINTS

Micronesian high school student who had that now means so much to us: Questions about God come to live with us two years earlier. "Each morning consecrate yourselves We haven©t been tempted to blame God The rest of the day was a blur of phone and your children to God for that day. for what happened to Shannon. We accept calls, doorbells, sobbing, decisions, Make no calculation for months or years; that we live in a hostile world in which questions, and sobbing and sobbing. Our these are not yours. One brief day is given Satan is in temporary control. A worldview impulse was to go immediately to Takoma you. As if it were your last on earth, work that allows God to be caring without being Park to be with Shannon. But there was during its hours for the Master. Lay all coercive gives us the freedom to trust Him nothing we could do there. Once we your plans before God, to be carried out or even when bad things happen. decided to have the funeral and burial in given up, as His providence shall indicate. Nor have we believed that God sent College Place and a memorial service back Accept His plans instead of your own, even this tragedy to teach us something. No! east, the dust settled a bit and I focused my though their acceptance requires the God doesn©t send evil in order to teach energy on planning the funeral service. abandonment of cherished projects."1 something good. If that were so, learning Later, when I was ready to listen, I find myself often praying now with about good would depend on the Barbara pointed out how compulsively I open hands, trying to learn how to existence of evil. That was Satan©s first had tried to manage every detail of the surrender what was so precious to me. argument to Eve. God promises to bring funeral. The time of each song and Doug Clark, chair of the School of good out of the worst evils Satan causes. speaker, the transitions, the choice of texts Theology at WWC, sent an E-mail from God never intended evil in the first place. and music, became the outlet for my grief. Jordan on the Sabbath after Shannon died. Leslie Weatherhead©s The Will of God They illustrated my need to control some "I didn©t go to church in Amman today," provided a framework that has brought us part of my chaotic world, to manage an he said. "Instead, in Shannon©s honor, I©ve comfort. He talks of God©s intentional environment gone mad. climbed up Mount Nebo to look at the will, God©s circumstantial will, and God©s I©ve always dreaded what I would do if Promised Land." ultimate will. God never intended us to someone hurt my girls. A man of ample Instrumental music expressed the suffer, and ultimately He will restore a temper and dogged determination, I©ve wordless agonies and hopes inside me. perfect world. In the meantime, under the hoped strong friends would surround me The rhythmic cadence of Bach©s organ present circumstances, He promises to at such a time to prevent me from doing pieces became favorites. They seemed give meaning to what appears to be something I would long regret. unstoppable, a reminder that life will go meaningless chaos. Texts like Romans 8:28 But those feelings didn©t come. There on even after it ends! (God transcends an evil event by bringing was no clenched-teeth rage at Anthony, Poetry, especially selected psalms that something beneficial from it) and Romans Shannon©s killer; no seething passion for describe unresolved human reality, was 8:35-39 (nothing, no matter how revenge. This wasn©t my choice, mind you. It significant too. I didn©t want to hear profound or shattering, can separate us was a gift! I was surprised by grace! God©s perfect stories with happy endings. I from God©s love) fit that explanation well. grace let me ignore Shannon©s attacker and wanted to hear the harsh, hard pain of Bracketed by the reference points of God©s helped me focus my anger on the real source anguished suffering. Creation and His return to usher in of the problem, not just an example of it! Then and during the months that eternity, all acts of evil even apparently Months later I had to face the anger, but followed, messages and visits came at just random, violent, and vicious ones take initially God relieved me of that burden. the right moments to relieve a burden or on cosmic meaning. That comforts us! What a wonderful gift from a gracious God! remind us of our hope. In addition to It also keeps us from settling for easy existing friends and pastors, priests and answers. Some suggest that violence can Solace believers in other faith groups extended be prevented, that even Shannon©s death Many family and friends shared gifts of our circle of support. We were surrounded may have been the result of her naivete or solace: trees, plants, and flowers; telephone by a host of people ministering to us. In lack of caution. "If only she had lived in a calls; cards; food; house, barn, and yard spite of the evil in this world, God has a different place, or if the drug problem chores; touches; hugs; tears; and checks wonderful family! were solved, or meaningful employment toward our expenses or for the Christian The unfamiliar role of being minis were available to everyone, or technology Service Volunteer Fund established in tered to rather than ministering was had been available that would have Shannon©s memory. All of these flooded humbling. Barbara tells me I insisted on warned her," they said. "If only she hadn©t us. Thoughtfulness also came as texts, planning the funeral myself! But exhaus been so trusting, or the legal system had poems, quotations, books, and music. tion finally defeated my insistence, and I reformed her attacker, or kept him in For example, Alden Thompson, Old had to let the pastors take care of the custody earlier, etc., etc." Testament teacher at Walla Walla College, service. In the end it was very, very Not only did those who made such came the first day to share our sadness. He comforting. Letting others minister to us suggestions not know Shannon; they do sat in our living room and, through his in other settings has been comforting, too, not understand evil either! We don©t look tears, recited from memory this paragraph for us and for them. to politicians, police departments, the

Ministry/November 1997 7 PASTOR

social welfare system, or self-defense time did not help. Not being able to perplexing to me, however, and at times training to prevent this kind of crime. As detect any hint of sorrow or regret frustrating. Our patterns had reversed, important as those things are, they will hardened me. No conciliating gestures or and she was now the one staying after never be the final solution. Until evil is looks or words helped me reach out to meetings to visit with friends! My need to destroyed, there will always be those who him. Would I love an unrepentant sinner? be alone conflicted with her need to share. align themselves with it. Human problems Could I? I have always been the most verbal of are symptoms of a deeper spiritual It was hard enough at his sentencing. the three of us and the one with the most problem. To let him alone while he faced the scattered interests. But in my grief I The rush to human explanations consequences of his behavior was one sought simplicity and solitude. Projects cheats us from discovering that we cannot thing. But when he appealed his guilty plea that had interested me intensely lost their save the world from evil any more than we and wished to have his sentences reduced, meaning. Words seemed frivolous. In the can save ourselves. The only way to find trying to get out of what he had confessed face of death, mundane issues lost salvation from evil is to find God. to doing, it was too much for me. significance. This journey has shown me how For months I didn©t read through a Questions surrounding me deeply sinful I am. Most of my life I©ve book. Even Bible reading was limited to Doubt. C. S. Lewis,2 in the aftermath of enjoyed helping others. I had come to see short familiar passages. It wasn©t so much his wife©s death, said he had two fears: that myself as others-centered, an altruistic what God said but a sense of His presence what he has believed is a dream and that embodiment of kindness! What a fool! that I wished for. A mystical connection he just dreams that he believes. I know all the right teachings. I make with Him consoled me more than His first question has not been my all the right speeches, even to my inner explanations and logic. problem. Belief comes easy for me. I can self. I©ve been able to let go of my rage and Rosemary, the academy student who trust what Scripture promises even when I let God take care of a situation I cannot came from Micronesia to live with us, can©t prove it. change, to remind myself and others that experienced her own painful journey. Her The second question troubled me most. evil was the problem and Anthony just an mother had been murdered back home Could I trust myself? Could I believe that I illustration of it. I balanced my anger with when Rosemary was in early grade school. really believed? What assurance did I have open expressions of sadness as the healthy Shannon©s murder and funeral brought that my verbal assertions were not just way to manage the rage. back those memories for her. facile affirmations of an attractive solution But all of that does not change who I Hilary and I developed a growing to my dilemma? How could I know that I am. At the core I am an angry, resentful, professional friendship as she took more was a real believer? selfish, unforgiving man! I am a sinner! I specialized social work courses in college. Times of trouble bring questions like cannot yet love my enemy as my Lord But Barbara felt left out of those conversa these. This was a harbinger of the time of commands me to do! This has been the tions and isolated from the two of us. That trouble for me. While Scripture, doctrine, most humbling discovery of my life. intensified her feelings of loss. Shannon and reason bring logical comfort, they do had been her soul mate. not resolve the emotional uncertainty Grief and family stress The holidays were terrible. For the first flooding the consciousness in the presence Each member of our family has grieved time I learned firsthand what it is to be of profound loss. The war between faith in her/his own way. And our reactions depressed. Time passes and brings change and feeling turned on and off for some have been different in many respects from to the intense reality of our loss. Others time, washing me with doubts, then what we would have expected. told us time would heal. I don©t know that soothing me with promises. In the end Our daughter Hilary©s feelings were "healing" is yet the right word. "Change," logic won over emotion and my verbal intense. A crusader at heart, she pursued yes. Certainly change. We found that affirmations convinced my feelings. I can questions about the case, wanted to be at sometime between the fourth and sixth trust, not because I©m trustworthy, but the arraignment and sentencing, and was month after Shannon©s murder, reality because God is! anxious to know details about the crime. began slipping to memory. We would go Resentment. My real faith crisis came She was quite reserved about her own for a day or two at a time without months later. As Anthony©s sentencing internal journey of grief and found it thinking about Shannon or her murder. approached, a deep unsettledness boiled more helpful to share that only with a very But that realization brought its own up in me. No matter how much I wished few friends. sadness. She was now part of the past, not to be charitable, no matter how many Barbara has always been the intuitive, the present. times I reminded myself that hating the experiential one, worried about having We went through her Christmas sin allows loving the sinner, no matter nothing to say. She became the outgoing, decorations and used some of them. how often I tried to see life from his talkative one who visited with nearly Friends sent flowers and called. But I depressing point of view, the knots stayed everyone at the slightest invitation! Her wanted Shannon, not decorations or in my stomach. Seeing him for the first growing willingness to talk was quite flowers or sympathy!

8 Ministry/November 1997 PASTORAL PRESSURE POINTS

Conclusion Loss. As part of a "victim impact statement" to the judge who sentenced Continuing education exercise Anthony, I included the following list of things I©d lost: Questions to consider A dainty, accepting girl who modeled 1. In what ways have you been ministered to by your members? How has that been genuine interest in and concern for others. a wonderful gift and an uneasy burden for you? What about it made it comfort Optimism and zest for life. ing or uncomfortable? What does your reaction to their ministry say about you? An enjoyable sex life (because of my What does your reaction say about them? hypersensitive concern not to take 2. Can you distinguish between those who grieve contemplatively or verbally? What advantage of Barbara as Anthony had indications alert you to their preference? How do you decide whether or not to taken advantage of Shannon, and because touch them or hug them? How do you decide whether to talk or just sit quietly of Barbara©s guilt at enjoying sex when with them and honor the loss in silence? How do you decide if they need more Shannon had suffered so much). personal space in which to sort things out, or if they need visits and contact from Actual calendar dates (everything now others? seems to revolve around Shannon©s death: 3. In what ways have you experienced loss yourself?. How can your own experience did that happen before or after...?). aid y&ur sensitivity to what others experience? In what ways might your I resent a number of things too, , experience;, complicate your understanding of what others face? ©, / : including: the power this tragedy has had to transform our lives; depression; having 4. fifow:do you farefeMo relate to grieving families? As, God©s gfoclafmer of the to remind myself to smile; anger that gets • • .' ' gcfod news? As facilitator of comfort by you of others? As logician who rnanages [ projected on undeserving friends and family; my life being defined by Shannon©s © Jfe WKa;t hasjpjeerf>&^edi|pir rMgst intense ipirittKst eri&Isf ;.Were fw death; being annoyingly compulsive, "T?;:Xvhatiyou ©ssaulctiiave Expected? What enco|iragecl;and disappointed yoji in yduj demanding, restless, and self-absorbed; - © "iespdiiSes? Ij&at ^ayeyoiiileanifedfroai that ©ejisis?;Bow did- it change you, and © © © becoming cynical, suspicious, and ©... © © %h©at laye yoh chaiigedas©a: result of it? .. ©© :, © ;>© , ;©:,.. ©* :©© " "©© .'•. untrusting; hearing Barbara sob as she says, "I©m watching you age before my eyes." As I look over the list now, there are J., e^i. L^^^ several items no longer relevant. That ©; '.;: Accident, Hgart Attack, Stroke., Bristol, Pa.: faylor and Francis, 1996. Doka edited indicates some mending of wounds. this compilation of articles/stories for the Hospice Foundation of America. Hope, Several months ago in church, Isaiah©s list of Christ©s attributes (Isa. 9) Lewis, C. S. A Gtief Observed. New York: HarperCollins Pub., 1961. Well-known prompted these reasons to hope. Christian apologist C. S. Lewis chronicled the dying of his spouse and the doubts Why despair at depression when we that rose in him as a result. A brief but penetrating inquiry, Lewis affirms his know the Wonderful Counselor? adopted faith even in the face of deeply troubling questions. Why despair at the power of Satan Sittser, Gerald L. A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss. Grand when we know the Mighty God? Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 1996. Sittser lost his mother, wife, and daughter Why despair at the shortness of life in a tragic accident and shares his journey of questions and reaffirmation when we know the Everlasting Father? through it all He traces the depths of pain and loss as well as the Christian Why despair at evil when we know the questions he faced during his search for meaning and happiness during, as well Prince of peace? as after, the tragedy. Why despair at suffering when we Swindoll, Charles R. For Those Who Hurt. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, know the Divine Healer? 1977. Swindoll©s very small booklet addresses the major issues faced by those Why despair at failure when we know who experience loss. Headings include: "Why Me, Why Now, Why This?" the Redeemer? "Getting Ready," "God Is Involved," "What Do We Suffer," "That We Might Be Why despair at death when we know Prepared to Comfort Others," "That We Might Not Trust in Ourselves," "That We the Creator of life? Might Learn to Give Thanks in Everything," "Looking Back," "Some Thoughts on Tears," and "Looking Ahead." 1 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church Westberg, Granger E. Good Grief. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1962, 1971. (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Westberg©s classic outline of the stages of grief bears review in the contemporary Assn., 1948), vol. 7, p. 44. world. A valuable resource for both the bereaved and those ministering to them. 2 C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed (New York: HarperCollins Pub., 1961).

Ministry/November 1997 9 o pastor is to preach, to counsel, to nurture the flock, to acquire new sheep, to rescue the lost, and to care for the young. To pastor is also to lead.

Philip Follett is a As a beginning pastor I anticipated that achievements that are valuable to all of those general vice my greatest work would be done in the pul who are involved. president. General pit. I was convinced that what I would say To help people to reach new heights they Conference of in my sermons would leave lasting legacies would not achieve on their own, while Seventh-day to all who listened. building them in the process. Adventists, Silver I believe some of my sermons have re To capture the highest values and noblest Spring, Maryland. sulted in life-transforming experiences, as aspirations of people, then support them in the Holy Spirit has used human words to achieving results that improve themselves, minister His life-changing grace. But I have their leader, and their society. concluded that my greatest contribution as To let God use you in developing other a pastor has resulted from the way I led people who, together with you, fulfill God©s God©s people. Pastors are leaders. plan and advance His kingdom. What I say in the pulpit must be rein Let©s see how pastors practice the art of forced by how I live with my family and in leadership. interrelationships with church members. Leaders create a shared vision. One of the The legacy I leave in a church probably con core essentials of leaders is to create a shared sists more in the direction I point the mem vision of a better future for their group. A bers, the vision I share with them, and the pastor who creates, shares, and brings to way I empower them to do God©s work than reality a vision of a full church on Sabbath any other contribution I make. Sermons are mornings, a new sanctuary or Sabbath one instrument I use in accomplishing this, school wing, new congregations in two or but the process is called leadership. three neighboring towns, and/or a school What lies at the core of leadership? There filled with happy, eager "growing-up are probably hundreds of definitions of Adventists" is demonstrating powerful lead what leadership is. Here are a few that I like: ership. Leaders often think in concrete pic To influence people to move. ture language, as Jesus did. They may not To challenge people to achieve a goal, be able to challenge their congregations to then help them accomplish that goal. land on the moon, as John R Kennedy did To link together a vision with people, the American people, but they clearly chal resources, and motivation, resulting in lenge them to bold new achievements that

FOLLETT

10 Ministry/November 1997 advance the kingdom of God. Wise leaders use the opportunity to encourage the guests their churches, of their members, of their don©t "push" their ideas on unwilling follow to return. He organized a special night each community, and of all of life. Never be afraid ers; they talk their dreams, preach about week when church members and their to admit that you don©t know something; them, and thoughtfully listen to other friends came to the church for supper just ask to be taught. Other people will ad people©s dreams, skillfully integrating key (dressed just as they came from work), mire you for your honesty, and they will feel elements of other people©s visions within shared a short worship service, then divided good about being able to share new infor their own. Soon the congregation says, "I into many self-help groups. Computer skills, mation with you. don©t recall which ideas the pastor first auto mechanics, handcrafts, and cooking Since pastors are leaders, and leaders love thought of and which were ours, but now classes were held along with Bible classes to learn, pastors are lifelong students of they all belong to us" and doctrinal studies. Baptisms resulted leadership. My first study of leadership was Leaders build other people; great leaders from all of these activities. This pastor de in watching other leaders. Leadership, like build other leaders. This principle of great cided that rather than scold the members parenting, is usually learned by watching leadership was powerfully demonstrated by for being sociable, he would channel that those who lead us. Early in my ministry I Jesus© example. He chose common people social energy toward achieving the church©s started reading books on leadership. When from common walks of life, but under His mission. R. R. Bietz and Del Holbrook started the influence they became extraordinary lead Christian Leadership Seminar series, I was ers. Pastors measure their success in a con sitting on the edge of my chair, eager to gregation not so much in what they talked learn. I attended other leadership seminars the people into doing, but by how the mem ri and began to teach some of what I had bers grew in spiritual maturity and leader learned. I discovered that teaching was an ship ability during their time together. Wise \ other form of learning, for I was required pastors learn how to delegate (not abdicate) . Effective to learn more and practice better the prin both responsibility and authority, then train, ciples I wanted to teach. encourage, affirm, and give new challenges leaders know that they can I have been fortunate in having worked to help their members to grow. with a number of outstanding leaders in the Leaders communicate their vision through never stop learning. So they Adventist Church. Let me mention only a every means available. Preaching supports few. R. R. Bietz was my first conference presi the pastor©s leadership. But pulpit procla read, ask questions, study dent. Cree Sandefur was my second confer mations must be reinforced by the pastor©s colleagues and competitors, ence president, as well as my first and third life example, by informal conversations, by union president when I became a confer budget priorities, and by creative commu and never lose their curiosity. ence president. Charles Bradford taught me nication techniques. One pastor enlisted the many lessons of leadership when he served church school children to draw pictures to as NAD president and I was a union con illustrate how they saw the future of their ference president. church. When the pictures were posted on Now it is my turn to pass on to others the bulletin board, on the walls of the Leaders keep growing throughout their what I have been taught by good leaders. For narthex, and in the hallways, parents, grand lives and help others to grow. Effective lead four years I served as director of leadership parents, and children gathered to discuss ers know that they can never stop learning. development for the General Conference. and admire those visual expressions of the So they read, ask questions, study colleagues Even though I now have many other assign church©s future. Some pastors use banners and competitors, and never lose their curi ments, I still accept invitations occasionally and posters to reinforce what they see as osity. Curiosity and creativity are first cous to teach leadership classes. I do this because important in worship and in the church©s ins. You really can©t have one without the I need the stimulation to keep alive myself. life. Great leaders give attention to commu other. I recall hearing Francis D. Nichol And I need to keep reminding myself of the nicating their vision, not just at one busi (longtime editor of the Adventist Review) principles of leadership that are rooted in ness meeting a year, but through every speak about his taking a walk in a strange Scripture and demonstrated in church life avenue possible. city, seeing workers digging a trench, ask around the world. Leaders focus their energies and their ing what they were doing, and learning The General Conference Ministerial De church's resources to accomplish the vision. In about splicing telephone cables. He was past partment has asked me to prepare a study one church social activities were very im the age when many men retire, but he still course that teaches the principles I have portant to the members. There were a lot of had the curiosity of a schoolboy. He never been sharing in classes around the world. parties and social gatherings in homes as stopped learning. Professional people are Within the next few months, this course will well as by church organizations. The pastor never satisfied with their present perfor be introduced in the pages of Ministry. I am wisely decided to utilize this "social energy" mance; they spend their lifetimes trying to praying that the written course will continue for soul winning. He challenged members improve and are always eager to learn. Pas to bless a new generation of daring and to invite newcomers to Sabbath lunch and tors must be students of the Scriptures, of faithful leaders in God©s church.

Ministry/November 1997 11 StOMNG DOWN TO PRAY? wish I could tell you that my ministry was like Mary©s. But I have to confess /that all too often I have been like Martha so busy serving God that I have not taken time to be with Him. Running on empty. Praying on the run.

Derek Morris, D.Min., I began my seminary training with such who visited our seminary and made this is a professor of good intentions, but I got caught up in my comment: "You have an excellent academic preaching and own little academic world deadlines and program here, but tell me, where do your pastoral theology at GPAs. I loved the Lord, but I was too busy students learn to pray?" Southern Adventist to spend much quality time with Him. That story struck me forcefully. Suddenly University, Colkgedale, Something was missing. I came face-to-face with my own spiritual Tennessee. I graduated from the seminary in 1980 poverty. and was assigned to a three-church district in northeastern Pennsylvania. To those The case of Martha and Mary members, it didn©t matter one iota what my At about the same time God led me to GPA was; it didn©t matter how vast my study a familiar narrative in Luke. I had read knowledge of current theological trends the story before, but this time it was as if I was. They had only one concern: Was I a was looking into a mirror, and I didn©t like man of God? Did I know God personally, the reflection I saw. It was the story of Jesus© and could I help them to find peace of mind visit to the home of Martha and Mary (Luke and assurance of salvation? They were look 10:38-42). ing for spiritual leadership. Almost in spite As I read this story, the words of Jesus of myself, the Lord blessed my ministry gave me a unique glimpse of what was go there. But deep in my soul I knew that some ing on inside Martha. Jesus said, "Martha, thing was still missing. Martha, you are worried, you are anxious." I enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry pro The verb used here is a strong one, gram at the seminary, and by the summer merimnao; it implies division and distrac of 1985 I had almost completed my tion of the mind. In other words: "Martha, classwork. And then one day in that swel you are all mixed up! You have no inner tering summer the Lord spoke to me, peace. You need to center yourself. To put changed the direction of my life, and redi things in their proper perspective." Because rected my ministry. I was sitting in a project things weren©t right inwardly, things weren©t seminar with a favorite professor of mine. right outwardly either. Not only was Martha He told a story about a religious educator worried, but she was also upset about many

K MORRIS

12 Ministry/November 1997 things. The verb thorubadsomai implies an plagues pastoral ministry and conference such narrow requests when they are for our external agitation. administration. We become preoccupied best good. But I soon realized experientially Martha was full of inward turmoil and with the task of "speaking for God," but take what I already knew theoretically: petition outward agitation. And as a result, she was little or no time to listen to Him speak per is only one aspect of prayer. For example, as distracted, drawn about in different direc sonally to us. God invites those who speak I learned to pray more maturely and tions. She was stretched to the limit and get for Him to take time to listen to Him. And thoughtfully, I discovered the joy of begin ting nowhere. And so she turned on Jesus. the place we most clearly hear Him is in His ning my prayer time with praise to God. I "Lord, don©t You care that my sister has left Word. So it is our privilege to make a com also discovered the profound truth that God me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help mitment to a personal, daily, contemplative wants me to live my whole day in His pres me!" (see Luke 10:20). reading of Scripture. So, it is helpful to buy ence. God is not calling us only to a devo This was my own story. I was praying on a new Bible. Build an altar and make this tional time, but rather is inviting us to the run. I was very busy "serving the Lord," commitment. experience a devotional life. I also learned but taking little time to be with Him. I was Keep a spiritual journal. Second, I began from Juanita Kretschmar©s Encountering like Martha, caught in the trap of ministry. to keep a spiritual journal. This was not a God in Prayer, that God longs not only to In the quietness of that moment of dis new idea for me but doing it was a new ex offer me forgiveness for my sins but also covery, the Lord invited me to hunt for that perience. I discovered that journaling is a deep personal healing and freedom. one thing that was needful, to spend time very profitable exercise. The first lesson I For an enriching exploration of various sitting at the feet of Jesus, to actually seek learned was my pathetic inconsistency. My models for prayer, I would strongly recom an experience of intimate communion with journal didn©t cover for me. If I spent sev mend Larry Lea©s Could You Not Tarry One Him. It was a turning point in my spiritual eral days praying on the run, taking no fo Hour? Learning the Joy of Prayer.2 This book journey. cused time alone with God in prayer and not only taught me a valuable model for Scripture reading, my journal would record prayer, but showed me a dynamic example Strategies to handle the Martha complex the tale. Not in words, but in blank space. of what can happen when prayer becomes Here are some specific strategies that I My journal brought me face-to-face with my central in a person©s life and ministry. have used to handle my own crisis of spiri spiritual poverty. Like a mirror in the hand Interact with Spirit-filled individuals. tuality. of an unkempt hobo, journaling exposed my Fourth, I have found it most helpful to Buy a Bible and read it. First, I bought a poverty. But journaling also gave me the grasp every opportunity to interact with Bible. Of course, I had many Bibles, but this opportunity to slow down and reflect upon those in whom I discerned the Spirit of God particular one was to be a symbol for me. God©s marvelous workings in my day. I re at work. It has been amazing how much I My wife wrote the following words in the alized that on many occasions I had ne have learned when I have taken a few mo inside cover: "Presented to Pastor Derek J. glected to give thanks to God for His gifts ments to listen to particular fellow humans Morris by invitation of the Lord." This Bible of love and mercy. I had not taken the time who are on the same journey with me. This represented a personal commitment to take to give Him praise and thanks for who He attentive listening has also involved the time alone with God, listening to His Word. is and for His marvelous work in my life and reading of biographies and autobiogra I had read through the entire Bible once ministry. phies of great men and women of God. I before, but that was the extent of my sys Many times, my journaling has taken have discovered Colin Whittaker©s Seven tematic Bible reading! For many years my the form of prayers. By providing a perma Guides to Effective Prayer? drawn from reading of Scripture had been very selec nent record of my intimate communion some of the great prayer warriors of his tive and functional. I read Scripture to pre with God, my journal has become a hal tory. Reading these stories had a tremen pare for sermons. I gathered texts to defend lowed "place" to which I can return when I dous impact on me. doctrinal positions. But I realized that my need the assurance of God©s activity in my The more we listen to and read about time alone with God in a contemplative life. great Christians, the less we will be content reading of Scripture had always been lim For someone who is beginning to jour to live our lives on a mediocre plane. ited and sporadic. nal, I would recommend the resource en It is time to stop praying on the run. It My experience was not unique. Some titled Journaling Through 1997} This journal is time to stop running on empty. Jesus in years ago I was teaching a colloquium at the begins with a brief introduction to the dis vites us to slow down, sit at His feet, and seminary entitled "The Pastor©s Spiritual cipline of journaling and provides a place learn of Him. Life." At the end of our first session a doc to record each day©s journal entry. toral student cornered me. He was obvi Explore various models for prayer. Third, ously under conviction as he shared with I began to explore various models of prayer. 1 Journaling Through 1997. (Nashville: Upper me his confession: "I have been studying As I wrote out my prayers, I became aware Room Press, 1997). Could You Not Tarry One Hour? here for the past five years, but I don©t re 2 Larry Lea, that many prayers were simply an itemized (Altamonte Springs, Fla.: Creation House, 1987). member the last time I opened my Bible just list of my wants. I now classify this type of 3 Colin Whittaker, Seven Guides to Effective to listen to God." He had been caught just petition as "shopping-list prayer." I am very Prayer (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, as I had. Of course, this kind of experience thankful to God that He responds even to 1987).

Ministry/November 1997 13 1 J D T T n T 1

hJ t> ] ave you ever noticed how many public figures have problems with their .. . voices? President Clinton often sounds strained and sometimes has to rest his voice completely.

Richard Rice, Ph.D., Several months ago Pete Wilson, governor that should prevent me from standing up and is a professor of of California, underwent surgery to help talking without tiring out. So I tried various theology at La him with his. things. Remembering what I©d always heard Sierra University, La If speaking has ever made your voice about the importance of the diaphragm, I Sierra, California. tired or hoarse, you can sympathize with made an effort to relax my throat and tighten these people. I know I do. Not long after I my abdomen. I tried pitching my voice in the started teaching, my voice gave me so much lower part of my range. I tried to forget about trouble that I wondered if I would have to the mechanics of speaking entirely and just leave the profession. think about what I was saying. But nothing I had a premonition of things to come changed. Whether I concentrated on my during my years as a pastor. A half-hour ser- voice or ignored it, it still failed me. In my mon left my throat dry and tight, but condition I could understand Ellen White©s preaching didn©t take that much of my time, sobering observation: "Many have died who and I recovered without difficulty. When I might have lived had they been taught how started teaching, however, things were dif to use the voice correctly."1 ferent. On an average day I had to speak two Approaching desperation, I turned to or three hours, sometimes four or five. In professionals for help. But the results were an hour I was forcing every sound. At the disappointing. Speech pathologists told me end of the day I was exhausted. there wasn©t much they could do. If my prob The problem mystified me. I was young, lem was saying "wabbit" instead of "rabbit," in good health, and did a lot of swimming for example, they could deal with that. But I and running. There was apparently nothing was enunciating perfectly. No one ever said

14 Ministry/November 1997 they couldn©t understand what I was saying. tually no effort involved. Speaking is as easy can still communicate even if they are sub Next I saw an ENT specialist. After hear as breathing. As my teacher said: "The breath jecting their voices to terrific abuse. ing my tale of woe, he warmed up a small is the blueprint of the sound."2 There was no sudden turnaround in my mirror and slid it gently down my throat. For a variety of complicated reasons, how journey to the natural voice, but eventually "Whatever you©re doing," he said after the ever, typically emotional rather than physi the effort paid off. In time I could speak examination, "it hasn©t damaged your vocal cal, many of us interfere with this natural without strain as long as I needed to, no cords. You don©t have a medical problem, so process in one way or another. And once the matter what the occasion or how large the I really don©t know what to tell you." Though practice becomes a habit, it is very difficult audience. I kept up the exercises for a while relieved to know I had no serious affliction to reverse. For one thing, when we are accus and then gradually let them go. But when or faced a radical procedure, I was now more tomed to using our voices artificially, it is hard ever I feel things begin to tighten up when I frustrated than ever. I had a real problem, for us to imagine any other way of speaking. speak, I return to them and find that they and no one seemed able to help me. So we have to work hard to recover the natu continue to help. On an impulse one afternoon, I called ral voice. It is no longer readily available to up the Drama Department at the local cam us. Second, we can©t stop speaking until we Attending to your voice pus of the University of California. I told learn how to do it right. For social and pro Some people have never messed up their the secretary the general nature of my con fessional reasons, we still have to talk. So we natural ability to speak properly. My wife, cern, and she put me through to one of the have to start where we are and work our way who is also a professor, can lecture for hours drama teachers. I made an appointment and out of a thicket of accumulated problems. without the slightest strain. But if you are went to see him a few days later. He served Third, as I found out, it is much more someone who finds it tiring to talk, either as a voice coach for students involved in the difficult to acquire a passive skill than an ac in public or in private, you should consider school©s drama productions. tive one. The challenge I faced in trying to giving your voice some serious attention. After hearing an account of my troubles, speak without difficulty was not to do some Here are some suggestions. he said, "I think we can help you." I eagerly thing, to acquire some new technique for 1. Get professional help. The challenge awaited his solution. I thought it would be producing sound, but to stop doing some of recovering the natural voice is too de something simple and easy that would in thing to get out of the way of what would manding to meet on your own. That©s one stantly solve the problem, like five minutes happen perfectly on its own if only I could reason I am not offering a list of steps or of deep breathing before a lecture or run stop interfering. When you are the kind of exercises here. The path to vocal freedom ning an extra mile every morning. Boy, was person who is used to taking charge of your isn©t a do-it-yourself project. You©ll need I wrong. life, solving problems and accomplishing competent assistance. Before I knew it, I was lying flat on my things through energy and determination, it 2. Expect to invest some time and effort. back on the linoleum floor of his office, not is vexing to discover that this approach ut The path to vocal freedom requires commit talking, but merely breathing. And not terly fails when it comes to voice problems. ment and intense concentration. The regi breathing exactly, but trying to observe what men I went through worked because it was happens to the breath when you aren©t try Speaking without strain so detailed. The production of vocal sound ing to breathe. Further complicating all this is the fact is a natural process, but it involves many that most of us are very self-conscious about different elements. So an effective program Demanding path our voices. After all, our speech is an inti for solving vocal problems needs to isolate It was the first of a long series of appoint mate expression of our personalities. Criti each facet of the process and provide exer ments. What I thought would be a simple step cizing someone©s voice is like criticizing their cises designed to develop it. This is why it to effortless speaking turned out to be a long looks. So we can©t face the prospect of doesn©t help to have people tell you to "re and demanding path to recovery. I visited the changing the way we speak without a deep- lax your throat" or "tighten your abdomen." voice coach once a week throughout the fol seated fear that we are tinkering with some The advice is so general that it©s useless. lowing school year nine whole months. thing central to our identity. 3. Remember that the goal of the process And in between our visits I spent an hour Modern technology contributes to the is freedom of expression. Proper speaking every day on the various exercises he pre problem too. It©s easy to see why people in should not be confused with oral interpre scribed. I had never imagined that something the nineteenth century said so much about tation or theatrical training. The purpose so complicated was wrong with me. speaking properly. Years ago if you weren©t of freeing the natural voice is not to change The basic problem, it turned out, was that speaking properly, you simply couldn©t be you into someone else or to produce an ar I was trying to do something that naturally heard by an audience of any size, at least not tificial or affected sound. You can tell by the happens without trying. I was exerting my for very long. But public-address systems are way some people talk that they want the self to perform an action that is basically ef so efficient now that you don©t have to speak audience to admire their voices. I have fortless. As parents well know, babies can cry correctly to be heard. There©s enough watt friends who use a pitch several steps below for hours at full volume. Dogs can bark all age in the average amplifier today to carry a normal whenever they pray or preach. It©s night long without losing their voice. When croak throughout a stadium, let alone an not impressive; it©s distracting. the voice functions as it should, there is vir average church or auditorium. So people Continued on page 29

Ministry/November 1997 15 POUR DAYS YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR

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aul©s words "we must through I I much tribulation enter into the * kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22) do not just apply to Seventh-day Adventists in repressive countries. Each year these words have a personal meaning for the 1,000 or so of our brothers and sisters in North America who, because of their faith, are threatened with the loss of their jobs: Mary, fired from a grocery store after 10 years because she wanted to keep the Sabbath; Larry, fired after two years in a mill because of the Sabbath; Carlton, fired after seven years as a prison guard because he©s a Sabbathkeeper. What will happen to these church members? What should they do? Who should they contact? It©s to help Mary, Larry, Carlton, and thousands of others like them that your Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) Department in North America exists. We are here to serve, minister, counsel, defend, and comfort fellow believers who struggle with religious liberty concerns. The North American Division and each union conference within the Division have a religious liberty ministry specifically for these problems. The North American Division Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (NAD PARL) is committed to (1) protecting freedom of religion, (2) maintaining the wall of separation between church and state, and (3) protecting freedom of conscience.* COMMON PROBLEMS Most of the requests for assistance come from individuals experiencing conflicts between Sabbath observance and work schedules, or with union membership. Others include child custody matters that involve religion, SDA education, or other issues of conscience. Children and grandchildren have been separated by court order from love of family, church, and church school.

BASIC RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the free exercise of religion. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides protection against religious discrimination in general, and the Equal Employment Act of 1972 provides protection against religious discrimination in employment. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides protection against discrimination on the basis of religion. And specific human rights protections, including freedom of religion, are contained in the Constitution of Bermuda.

HOW TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE The primary contact person for a church member experiencing a problem is the union PARL director. The local church religious liberty leader, pastor, or the local conference religious liberty director can also help in the process.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST POLICY Individuals should seek to avoid religious liberty problems by building good relationships, practicing good citizenship, and displaying Christian traits of character.

Employees should be excellent workers and possess conscientious work habits of punctuality and performance and an attitude of loyalty, flexibility, dedication,

Parliament Building, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and cooperation. Where problems exist, records should be kept indicating dates, times, precise actions, exact words, and witnesses."So should the followers of Christ, as they approach the time of trouble, make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger which threatens liberty of conscience" ( The Great Controversy, p. 616). Industries requiring regular weekend work not just overtime or periodically present most of the Sabbath work problems. Church members should take this into consideration when seeking employment. You will have certain basic rights, and you can count on your religious liberty team to help. But you may suffer some real hardships in these industries. However important, the work of PARL doesn©t end with helping members who suffer for righteousness© sake. We hope to avoid many potential problems by monitoring legislation that could impact our freedoms.

PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES OF CONCERN Legislative bodies, such as Congress, Parliament, and state and provincial legislatures frequently give attention to issues that affect freedom of conscience and church-state relationships, often relating to religion in public schools. NAD PARL seeks to share with these law-making bodies information that will protect religious freedom.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS INITIATIVES In addition to monitoring legislative bodies and acting to protect our freedoms, special initiatives have been implemented to witness to public officials. Christ died for these individuals, and they need to know of His gospel. Through visits, books, letters, and other materials, PARL keeps in touch with members of Congress, members of Parliament, the president, the prime minister, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, mayors, business leaders, labor union leaders, and others involved in influencing public policy. If you wish to participate in this ministry, write to your union PARL director. Liberty magazine is our most popular instrument for reaching public officials. It is sent six times a year without charge to public officials, attorneys, and others involved with public policy throughout North America. We receive letters regularly telling us how much it is enjoyed and how it helps to protect freedom.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE Some religious leaders are known more for their political influence than for their spiritual power. The prophecies of Revelation 13 and 17 are being fulfilled. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is to be known for spiritual power, not political influence. NAD PARL seeks, through moral influence, to keep political leaders sensitive to the inappropriate entanglement of religion and government. At times NAD PARL cooperates with special groups or organizations in pursuit of religious freedom, but care is exercised to avoid alliances that may compromise the Church©s doctrines and public positions. YOUR SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY Efforts to protect freedom can be very costly. The cost of placing Liberty magazine into hundreds of thousands of offices is expensive. We need to double these numbers to reach corporate executives, who, if they understood the issues, could prevent some of the Sabbath work problems. This is an end-time ministry. Many officials to whom we witness in the last days will

United States Supreme Court, Washington, D.C. accept this gospel at the last hour because of our witness. The cost of attorneys needed to handle legal cases is high. The annual Religious Liberty Offering received in NAD churches is not enough to cover these costs. Other funds are needed regularly. Church members should remember the religious liberty ministry in their wills, trusts, and other estate- planning documents. Call or write the General Conference Trust Services Royal Naval Clocktower Building, Bermuda Department for more information on gifts designated for religious liberty: (301) 680-5005 or (301) 680-5003; 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600. Large gifts from members have made some of our projects possible. For this generous support we are very thankful. Ask God to show you how you can do much more for this end-time ministry, if

FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE Contact your union PARL director (listed on opposite page). Information is also available on CompuServe: SDA On-line Library, Religious Liberty section; and from FAX Plus: Document f 199 (1-800-474-4SDA).

Published by the North American Division Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty. North American Clarence E. Hodges, Director Division . TEL: (301) 680-6455 FAX: (301) 680-6464 . Clifford Goldstein, Associate Director TEL: (301) 680-6448 Loleta Thomas Bailey, Associate Editor Liberty Magazine TEL: (301) 680-6691 FAX: (301) 680-6695 Wintley Phipps, U.S. Congress Liaison TEL: (301) 680-6683

Atlantic Union Charles Eusey, Director (includes Bermuda) TEL: (508) 534-1414 ; © ©©.© :: © FAX: (508) 840-1613 © SDA Church in Canada

Columbia Union

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SERVICE OVER SELF-INTEREST T he call to serve a church in any capacity is a call to serve people as a leader. ML Leadership in the church raises several questions. Is it possible for a pastor©s leadership to be out of harmony with the Christian ethic even though the objectives are spiritual and the arena of operation is within the church?

Rex D. Edwards, Is it possible to treat people as things rather and perhaps harshly, and influences by in D.Div., is director for than as persons? Is choosing a leadership timidation."2 Autocratic leaders take few continuing education role a moral choice? Is the leadership ex people into confidence and generally keep at the Ministerial erted to produce certain external numeri authority and responsibility highly central Association of the cal results or to help people grow in ized in themselves. Frequently such leaders General Conference Christlikeness, or both? Is there a conflict confess faith in a democracy, but insist that of Seventh-day between growth of organizations and spiri they be the democrats who will run it! They Adventists. tual growth of persons? are willing to delegate responsibility, but refuse to share authority. Their subordinates Leadership types are given little or no part in making the de Church leaders have varying concepts of cisions or formulating the policies that they their status and authority. Many borrow their are expected to carry out. Weldon Grassland ideas of leadership from the military, from describes the autocratic leader as "a kind of business, or from some former pastor who one-man army of the Lord. He is com has become their ideal and example. Henry mander in chief, master sergeant, corporal, Lindgren says, "We have all been made con and private. He is the bride at every wed scious at times of the vast differences that ding and the corpse at every funeral."3 Usu exist among the various kinds of people who ally such leaders lack faith in people and in guide, direct, or supervise our activities. themselves. They feel insecure. They avoid Some of them are likeable and incur little sharing responsibility and developing oth hostility; others are disliked.... Whether a ers as leaders, fearing it might raise up ri leader is liked or disliked depends partly on vals for their positions. the kind of person he is, but it also depends Laissez-fare leadership. Michael J. An on the pattern of leadership he follows."1 thony describes this type of leader as one Leadership falls into three general pat who "likes to maintain the status quo and terns: autocratic, laissez-faire, and demo prefers not to make a scene about anything. cratic. It may not be the best way of doing some Autocratic leadership. James Lundy de thing, but as long as it works, why try to scribes the autocratic leader as one who change it? This person©s motto is ©If it isn©t "makes decisions on his or her own, directs broken, don©t fix it.©... They prefer to work others to implement them, criticizes quickly alone in their office, far removed from the

REX D. EDWARDS

Ministry/November 1997 17 action. . . . They are ©nonconfrontive© and human personality as Jesus respected it or The objectives of leadership ©go with the flow.©... These people are seen whether we will treat persons as things. It is Vance Packard describes the objective of more as kindhearted chaplains than com a moral choice, for it can lead people either leadership as "the art of getting others to manders of the troops."4 Such a leader de to become free or to become slaves. want to do something that you are con velops an immunity to most of the What kind of leadership is needed in the vinced should be done."9 If this is true, then administrative work of the church, as well church today? church leaders need to ask themselves: as its organizations, and says: "I always leave "What am I trying to do in and through everything to my laypersons." The fact that Leadership for a spiritual community these people?" "How can I help them de the church work suffers does not seem to The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a velop their full potential?" "What am I try trouble them, nor do they sense that they spiritual democracy, with each member ing to accomplish in and through this are denying their encouragement, experi holding equal rights with every other mem church?" ence, and inspiration to their officers, who ber. E. Y. Mullins argues, "Democracy in Andrew W. Blackwood lists eight major often desperately need it. They are demo church government is an inevitable corol goals of pastoring: "New Testament evange cratic leaders in neutral. lary of the general doctrine of the soul©s lism, Christian nurture, household religion, Democratic leadership. Democratic lead competency in religion.... Man©s capacity church friendliness, community betterment, ers see themselves as guides and counselors. for self-government in religion is nothing home missions, universal brotherhood, and They help the group to define and achieve more than the authority of Christ exerted world missions."10 If the church is deeply its mutually visioned and negotiated objec in and through the inner life of believers, concerned with persons, then could not all tives. They help the group plan its program with the understanding always, of course, these goals be comprehended in one all- and develop its method. They seek to get that He regulates that inner life in accor embracing objective, namely, that church their followers to work with them, not for dance with His revealed Word. . . . The leadership ought to be evaluated in terms of them. They believe that democracy is dy priesthood of all believers is but the expres their contribution, directly or indirectly, to namic, developmental, and creative, in that sion of the soul©s competency on the building Christian character? A pastor©s ob it calls for the participation of many and Godward, as democracy is its expression on jectives ought to be set in the framework of places great importance on people and how the ecclesiastical side of its religious life."7 persons who have been redeemed, reborn, they fare. "Democracy," says Ordway Tead, The members of the New Testament and grouped together voluntarily in a "be "has high in its constituent elements the aim church were equal in rank and privilege. loved community." An interest in persons of conserving and enhancing the personal The offices of pastors and elders were or should lead to an interest in the growth of ity of all individuals, the idea of respect for dained for service, not for dictation; for persons. Thus the chief aim of the pastor the integrity of the person and of the pri leadership, not for lordship. Office in the ought to be an expansion of the opportuni mary value of developing persons as wor church was an appointment to service for ties of persons to grow in spiritual values thy and worthful ends in themselves. This the common cause. Distinctions dictated by toward maturity (see Eph. 4:13). includes the discovery and use of unique the gifts of the Spirit highlight various The pastor©s chief role is to facilitate the talents, the fullest possible expression of cre spheres of service, not authoritative posi development of Christian character and to ative powers, the responsible assumption of tion; of function, not of status. Christ©s own build a spiritual climate conducive to the a share in shaping the conditions which are teaching on the subject is unmistakable: growth of a true spiritual community. Pas formed to make growth in the quality of "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles tors are leaders motivated by love, vision, personal living possible."5 lord it over them, and their high officials and compassion. They have faith in people. We all have worked with church leaders exercise authority over them. Not so with They believe that people grow through vol who, while giving lip service to the demo you. Instead, whoever wants to become untary cooperation. Robert Sheffield writes, cratic process, actually deny it in practice. great among you must be your servant" "Since being a leader involves inspiration Such leaders will frequently "arrange" to (Matt. 20:25-27, NIV). John R. W. Stott re and influence, a leader cannot be dispas staff their team or elect subordinates who marks, "Autocratic clericalism is destructive sionate and be an effective leader. If the will "go along" with their ideas and pro of the church, defiant to the Holy Spirit, and leader doesn©t care, the followers likely will grams. They are dictators disguised as disobedient to Christ."8 not care either."11 democrats. Their philosophy is that the end Those who were selected as spiritual One way people grow is by becoming justifies the means. Engstrom elaborates, leaders in biblical times did possess quali involved in developing and maintaining the "He uses people and rides their aspirations ties similar to those who function in busi policies and programs of the church. Tell to increase his authority. He often gets their ness and civic organizations. But there was ing people what to do and how to do it stifles consent for decisions, but this is done by a difference. They had the power of the Holy individual creativity and produces spiritual manipulation, hiding the true facts, and Spirit that enabled them to be servants of dependency. They, like canaries, are content through the means of control and threat."6 the faith community, providing care, con in captivity and will always want to return Thus the style of leadership we adopt is cern, and compassion, and reflecting the to the cage when released. "The greatest help a moral choice with moral implications in direction and purposes God has for that that can be given our people," says Ellen volved. We choose whether we will respect community. White, "is to teach them to work for God,

18 Ministry/November 1997 and to depend on Him, not on the minis spiritual source, identified with divine val ters."12 If congregations become dependent ues, and believes in the infinite worth of upon their leaders, "great spiritual feeble persons. ness must result,"13 and the church mem Christian leaders would say to God©s bers "become religious weaklings."14 people, "The love of Christ controls us, be There is also the danger of pastors un cause we are convinced that one has died wittingly adopting a secular model of ad for all; therefore all have died. And he died ministration in which they see the church for all, that those who live might live no Toronto as a business with a chain of command and longer for themselves but for him who for 2000 they as the commanders and chiefs who pass their sake died and was raised" (2 Cor. 5:14, orders down the line. Grimes warns, "The 15,RSV). danger, then, is that the minister will bor A leadership controlled by the Holy Spirit row from the world the concept of the ex and directed by God eschews autocracy and You Could ecutive and fail to baptize this concept with models servanthood. The leader will choose the more inclusive one of the nature of the "service over self-interest."16 The leader fol Be a Speaker church as the body of Christ."15 The world©s lows the admonition of Peter to "tend the at the World Ministers Council wisdom must be transformed to fit the ends flock of God that is your charge, not by con and needs of the church. straint but willingly, not for shameful gain f you©re interested in presenting Spiritual leadership involves viewing the but eagerly, not as domineering over those at the World Ministers Council, church more as a school faculty, of which in your charge but being examples to the I tell us about a "can©t-miss" seminar the pastor is the supervisor, with various flock" (1 Peter 5:2, 3, RSV). you would like to share new correlated activities of worship, teaching, training, service, evangelization, recruit material and fresh insights on a ment, care of membership, public relations, 1 Henry Lindgren, Effective Leadership in Hu subject that will inspire, instruct, officer and teacher training, organization, man Relations (New York: Hermitage House, encourage, and inform the life and and administration. The pastor is the dean, 1954), p. 119. work of your colleagues in ministry. and all the members are colleagues in min 1 James Lundy, Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way (San Diego, Calif.: Pfeiffer and Co., 1993), istry. So a church leader will avoid arbitrarily p. 92. Write a proposal including the superimposing plans or programs on per 3 Weldon Grassland, Better Leader for Your following information: sons who have had no part in the planning Church (NewYork: Abingdon Press, 1955),p. 14. Your name and position 4 Michael J. Anthony, Effective Church Board or decisions. Pastors will be supporters of Subject of seminar ministry, not controllers. They will avoid the (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993), p. 135. 5 Ordway Tead, Democratic Administration Title of seminar preoccupation of growing an organization (New York: Association Press, 1945), pp. 58, 59. Languages in which you can teach while forgetting to help people. 6 Ted W. Engstrom, The Making of a Chris How the seminar will benefit tian Leader (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976), pastors or pastoral families The spiritual leader p. 74. The Axioms of Religion Six things you will teach in this Techniques of administration alone do 7 E.Y. Mullins, (Phila delphia: Griffith and Rowland Press, 1908), pp. not make a successful leader. What a leader seminar 55,56. Six "do-able" things participants is as a person is of greater importance than 8 John R. W. Stott, One People (Downers the leadership role assumed. A Christian Grove, 111.: InterVarsity Press, 1971), p. 33. will learn leader is first of all a Christian. With a God- 9 Vance Packard, The Pyramid Climbers (New Your handout on computer disk directed life empowered by the Holy Spirit, York: McGraw-Hill, 1962), p. 170. When and where you have pre 10 Andrew W. Blackwood, Pastoral Leadership Christian leaders must live what they pro (New York: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1949), viously taught this seminar fess. Their lives must be credible. They are pp. 16-19. Four pastor/administrator refer God©s men and women living out the life of 11 Robert Sheffield, "New Trends in Leader ences who have heard you pre Christ in the midst of His people. They are ship Practices," Church Administration 31, No. 4 sent this seminar first and foremost a witness of God©s grace. (January 1989): 18. 12 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church A video/cassette copy (if They serve not in order to benefit them (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., recorded) selves, but that their congregants may know 1948), vol. 7, p. 19. God, exhibit Christlikeness, and achieve 13 Ibid. Send to: James A. Cress spiritual maturity. 14 Ibid., p. 18. General Conference Ministerial Church leaders must believe in them 15 Howard Grimes, The Church Redemptive (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., Association, Toronto 2000 selves if they are to accept, believe, and serve 1956), p. 9. 12501 Old Columbia Pike others. The Christian leader©s life is other- 16 Peter Block, Stewardship (San Francisco: centered, not self-centered. It is rooted in a Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 1993), p. 49. Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600

Ministry/November 1997 19 i r T n \ 111 j

r T - j.

ealth ministry is doing whatever can be done to relieve human suffering, .. . with the ultimate hope of accomplishing an even greater task sharing the ospel. It involves giving simple treatments to relieve pain and hasten healing.

Gary D. Strunk is It includes imparting health information. It skeptic, it can apply quite readily to a blue- pastor of the ranges from driving someone to swimming collar worker who nurtures a similar skep Templeton Hills therapy sessions to being the "surgeon" who ticism about God and religion. Seventh-day gives a new lease on life in the name of Adventist Church, Christ. Penetrating the secular mind Templeton, What is the secular mind? It is a mind To the secular person the Bible seems California. whose mainsprings of behavior are nonreli- wholly irrelevant. It contains nothing use gious. Many who attend church regularly are ful. It may have some poetry and a little his more secular-oriented than biblical-oriented. tory, but "everyone" knows its history is Their understanding of the origin of life unreliable, and its poetry is fable talk about comes from popular science rather than God. It speaks about God creating the world from the Bible. The clothes they wear, the in six days and later destroying it with a food they eat, the friends they make, the way worldwide flood. It speaks about parting the they think, are determined more by social Red Sea. It portrays angels with flaming norms than by consulting what is in har swords destroying armies and cities. Baffled mony with God©s will. by these, the secular person dismisses as While the expression "secular mind" may myth the biblical portrayal of life, and tends conjure up images of the college-trained to reject the Bible as unreliable.

GARY D. STRUNK

20 Ministry/November 1997 Is there a way to reach such persons with "Moreover you shall not eat any blood in organelles, they have confessed that such a truth as found in the Bible, and to show any of your dwellings, whether of bird or process requires a brilliant Designer who them that the biblical revelation is authen beast" (verse 26, NKJV). To drive home the had to bring life into existence rapidly or tic and reliable? I think there is, through a point further, I show that God didn©t say this instantaneously. After one presentation, a careful application of our health message. just once. I read Leviticus 3:17: "This shall Sunday school teacher exclaimed, "Then we Let me share my experience of how health be a perpetual statute throughout your gen really are created." Her response speaks vol ministry has opened the hearts of some of erations in all your dwellings: you shall eat umes about the tensions some Christians these secular persons. neither fat nor blood" (NKJV). live with in the light of their lack of infor I use a series of lectures designed espe To be effective, a presenter must believe mation in these areas. cially for secular people. I begin by showing that these instructions still apply in prin For us to maintain credibility and for the what science says, then show what God has ciple. They are not limited to "the Jews." The safety of the audience, our information must already said. prohibition against eating animal fat did not be medically and physiologically sound. It For example, in an early lecture I show merely have ceremonial implications. Al becomes even more believable when we as the epidemiological relationship between though the ceremonial or levitical aspects of presenters act on it and are living by it. the eating of animal fat and coronary heart these instructions were affected by Christ©s By showing people what the Bible says disease and cancer, with brief mention of arrival, the scientific and health implications about animal fat, about excess sweets, alco other complications arising from animal fat clearly remain intact for everyone. hol, lack of exercise, gluttony and lethargy, in the diet. I cite recommendations from The first time I presented this talk (in depression, stress, improper sexual behav leading scientific organizations in the Toronto), a Swiss banker came up to me and ior, and preventing the spread of infectious United States and from the World Health asked how he could become a member of diseases, people come to see the Bible as use Organization. Their recommendations on my church. I explained that he needed to ful. Useful is an important term in their how to prevent these diseases agree: avoid study the Bible to understand the steps he value system. If it©s useful, it©s relevant and or drastically reduce the consumption of was taking. "Yes, yes," he said. "That©s what I reasonable. animal fats. The evidence is impressive. want. I want to study the Bible." Ever since The audience is convinced. They see how World War II the problem of human suffer A legitimate ministry much disease could be prevented by follow ing had driven him away from God. Now Is health ministry a legitimate ministry? ing the recommendations of these authori he understood the true nature of God. From In the new earth there will be no sickness tative scientific bodies. Through this avenue the Bible he learned that God is a God of (see Isa. 33:24). Apparently, God©s ideal state they are prepared to appreciate what God love and is not the author of suffering. Later for His people is freedom from disease. Judg told human beings centuries ago: "You shall we baptized him. ing from the descriptions of the new earth, not eat any fat, of ox or sheep or goat" (Lev. A few nights after my conversation with health will be more than the absence of dis 7:23, NKJV). the banker, a Toronto director for the Vic ease. It will be an abundance of life, com We must catch and convey the signifi torian Order of Nurses rose to her feet and plete in all its dimensions physical, mental, cance of this text. In speaking of coronary exclaimed, "Just think! If we had only emotional, spiritual, social, vocational, and heart disease and cancer, we are not major obeyed what God has already written we any other aspect one can identify. Do we not ing on minors. We are addressing and even wouldn©t have all this suffering." She was also teach that we begin our eternal life now as challenging the leading killers in the West baptized later. Neither of these had been we accept Jesus as our Saviour and Lord? ern world and in those countries that tend believers before. Then let us live out His desire for our good to copy these unhealthy trends. The health, In Bakersfield, California, I had given health now and share it with others. economic, and national defense conse only six talks in the series when a pediatri Jesus devoted the greater part of His min quences of these diseases are enormous. cian, who also had a Ph.D. in child psychol istry to relieving human suffering, restoring Just reading the text and then leaving it ogy and an M.P.H. from the University of health and sanity. Should not our ministry is not enough for its significance to register Oklahoma, stood to say, "This is the finest I be patterned after His as nearly as possible? on the consciousness of the average audi have ever heard the Bible and science in God promised His people freedom from ence. One needs to dwell on the text, to tegrated." He borrowed a Bible and began disease as they obeyed His commandments, magnify its importance. I try to help an au reading it through. His wife told us she had statutes, and judgments (see Deut. 7:11-14; dience to grasp how much human suffering never seen anything but a scientific journal Ex. 15:26). He gave many detailed com and premature death could be prevented by in his hand. mandments as evidence of His care. While following the wisdom of Scripture. I tell how I have seen evolutionists become creation- most of them are couched in religious terms thousands of studies have been initiated to ists by hearing the lecture "Prizing Your Body." for the sake of correct motivation, a ratio prevent all this disease. Millions of dollars Once they realize the complexity of the struc nal cause-and-effect relationship exists be have been spent. It©s nice to have the data, ture and biochemistry within a single cell, tween all God©s commandments and good but all we needed to do was regard the in especially the process of transforming glucose health. Obedience to God©s laws brings bet structions already given. into energy in the mitochondria, and under ter health. He protects His people from dis- It is the same when one comes to blood. stand the interdependence of the different Continued on page 29

Ministry/November 1997 21 ^-•!?':-%^" s'l'€'s^:ESi- 1'' ! 'f~*:':^:'' --^ ~" ^felh'^^llSPvv i^ifc-Ml^<«^€P^S^^feiri>^ ' *'*"?* ,<*'s? j usc s 'v=;? v*t« s

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22 Ministry/November 1997 ri n LL) J11H1U1 cross the centuries the connection that Solomon made between our emotions and our bones has baffled both theologians and physicians. Consider the following:

Robert H. Granger "A heart at peace gives life to the body, to why red bone marrow and other lym- is the former chair but envy rots the bones" (Prov. 14:30, NIV). phoid tissue such as the spleen are so richly of health ministries "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, supplied with nerves. Whatever their previ at Weimar Institute. and good news gives health to the bones" ous assumptions may have been, scientists (Prov. 15:30, NIV). now feel they know what is really going on. "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, Using specialized techniques, they have sweet to the soul, and health to the bones" found that many of the nerve endings com (Prov. 16:24). municate with specific leukocytes by mak "A merry heart doeth good like a medi ing direct contact with them. This startling cine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones" discovery led the researchers to ask, "Why?" (Prov. 17:22). When certain chemicals were adminis We need not blush and apologize for tered to rats in order to sever these nerves, Solomon©s seeming naivete and unsound they noticed that the immune response was physiological awareness. Science is now re greatly diminished. That is, the activity and vealing the mechanisms that confirm that number of circulating leukocytes were sup Solomon knew what he was talking about. pressed. The same thing happened if the nerves were physically severed by a scalpel. Bone functions If the nerves were stimulated, the immune Bones have many functions, one of response was significantly increased. which includes the production of different The researchers then looked for other types of white blood cells, or leukocytes, in ways of suppressing or enhancing the elec the red bone marrow. Some leukocytes, such trical activity of the nerves, which in turn as the macrophages, ingest unwanted and modulates the immune response. What they foreign objects. Others, like the T and B lym found was that if rats, and more important, phocytes, combat antigens as well as over humans, are subjected to psychological see and produce antibodies. The leukocytes stress that stretches their coping abilities, the play an indispensable role in the body©s im immune suppression that results is as mune response. though the nerves had been physically sev For years scientists have been curious as ered, leading to a decrease in activity and

ROBERT H. GRANGER

Ministry/November 1997 23 number of leukocytes. The effect is transi immune systems, with close contacts of When I first heard Jake give his personal tory, of course, and depends upon the con nerves with lymphocytes and macrophages. testimony at a smoking-cessation clinic, I text of the stressor, along with its severity, ... It certainly is very clear that extensive knew that Solomon had something to offer quality, and duration. bi-directional interactions occur between him. Jake had been financially successful in Dr. David Felten, a leading researcher in the nervous and immune systems, and that managing various business ventures, typi this field, notes that "changes in behavioral one system cannot be considered function cally earning in excess of $250,000 per year. and emotional states that accompany the ally without taking into account the state of He had a beautiful home on the edge of a perception of, and the effort to adapt to, activity of the other system."2 picturesque lake. Life seemed worth living environmental circumstances are accompa until his wife walked out on him. His loss nied by complex patterns of neuroendocrine was compounded shortly thereafter when he [nerve-hormone] changes. Animal and hu was laid off at work and was unable to find man studies implicate psychosocial factors another job to finish paying his home mort in the predisposition to and initiation and gage. He admitted that depression had led progression of various pathophysiological \hilel him to smoke more than he had before, up processes."1 to five packs a day. recognize the legitimate role of One day Jake, with chest pain, was ad Mind and health mitted to the hospital. Before he knew it, The implications are clear. The state of conventional medicine in quadruple bypass surgery was history. We mind has more to do with maintaining met one month after the operation. He physical health than we may have consid treating depression and other opened up and shared how he had actually ered possible. Solomon was years ahead of tried to commit suicide by heavy smoking. his time because his Creator had revealed mental disorders, I also see the His secret desire was to kill himself "legiti to him that envy can cause the bone mar need to apply natural, mately" so that his family could claim his row to atrophy, immunologically speaking. life insurance payout and thereby annul the So also can a crushed spirit. Conversely, a inexpensive, and easily family©s debts. merry and peace-filled heart, pleasant Jake©s feelings of failure, depression, ten words, and a cheerful look will give health accessible therapies. sion, and loss of control are commonplace, to our bones and consequently to our en which is why I mention them. Although tire being. there are many things that one could do for The central nervous system is not alone This subject more than any other has Jake, I chose to dig a little deeper, hoping to in sending messages directly to our internal convinced me of Ellen White©s prophetic uncover an expression of spiritual need. I "infantry"; the leukocytes can also send sta gift. With uncanny accuracy she made state was glad to discover that Christ was a very tus reports back to central command. To ments at the turn of this century that are special friend to him. Using this, I applied quote researchers again: "It now is evident now being made by foremost researchers in Solomon©s teaching. Not only did Jake quit that extensive neural-immune anatomical this new and expanding field of psycho- smoking, but in almost fairy-tale fashion he connections exist between the nervous and neuroimmunology. For example, Ellen found work and reunited with his wife. White states: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; "The influence of the mind on the body, and lean not unto thine own understand Calling to as well as of the body on the mind, should ing. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and Recycle your old Bibles. be emphasized. The electric power of the he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine Send them back into battle. brain, promoted by mental activity, vital own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from izes the whole system, and is thus an in evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and mar Upcoming evangelistic valuable aid in resisting disease. . . . The row to thy bones" (Prov. 3:5-8). meetings in power of the will and the importance of Abiding in Christ brings physical health. Africa urgently self-control, both in the preservation and No wonder Ellen White said that "the influ need in the recovery of health, the depressing ence of the Spirit of God is the very best used Bibles. and even ruinous effect of anger, discon medicine for disease.... Even his physical tent, selfishness, or impurity, and, on the health improves by the realization of his se other hand, the marvelous life-giving curity in Christ."4 Box, label, and ship via surface to: power to be found in cheerfulness, unself ishness, gratitude, should also be shown. Health-enhancing therapies ((USED BOOKS—NO COMMERCIAL VALUE) I George Wheeler, Treasurer There is a physiological truth truth that While I recognize the legitimate role of Seventh-day Adventist Church East African Union we need to consider in the scripture, ©A conventional medicine in treating depression I Milimani Road—PO. Box 42276 merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a and other mental disorders, I also see the V Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa ^^.______* medicine© (Prov. 17:22)."3 need to apply natural, inexpensive, and eas-

24 Ministry/November 1997 ^^••^^___>B»^^^___«^^^^___^^^^^^^^^__B^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^___ 20 Years of Household Moving

In celebra|iorl of ^ a discount, to clergy beyondl©-

ily accessible therapies. As examples, I offer freer circulation of the blood and a toning that "laughter stimulates the immune sys four health-enhancing therapies that posi up of the entire body." 5 "One of the surest tem, offsetting the immunosuppressive ef tively alter moods; you may be able to add hindrances to the recovery of the sick is the fects of stress."9 In case you have not had a many more to this list. These simple thera centering of attention upon themselves."6 good chuckle for a while, you may recall that pies could go a long way in pastoral counsel Praise. Since "nothing tends more to it is very difficult to not feel like a million ing and leadership, protecting oneself against promote health of body and of soul than dollars after a hearty laugh. professional burnout and increasing the ef does a spirit of gratitude and praise,"7 it So don©t you think that Christians fectiveness of health behavior change pro seems prudent that individually and corpo- should not only be the happiest people grams such as smoking-cessation clinics. rately we praise God more often and be around, but have the healthiest bone mar Walking. Walking will accomplish many grateful to others who come our way. My row? I do. things. It will increase blood and lymphatic wife and I practice a "therapy" before going circulation, both essential for enhancing the to sleep. We each identify two people who 1 R. Ader, N. Cohen, and D. Felten, "Psychoneuro- immunology: Interactions Between the Nervous System immune function. Exercise will increase the have positively influenced us during the day and the Immune System" Lancet 345 (1995): 99-103. production of and sensitivity to certain and then share why. Not only is it then dif 2 S. Felten, D. Felten, D. Bellinger, and I. chemical mediators that affect mood. And ficult to criticize such persons, but they be Olschowka/©Noradrenergic and Peptidergic Innerva- tion of Lymphoid Organs," Chemical Immunology 52 then there is the therapeutic value of seeing come objects of our fondest affections. (1992): 25-48. a blue sky and sunshine. Greater spiritual and physical health 5 Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, Service. Encourage a spirit of active, might result if our church worship services Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1952), p. 197. 4 , Counsels on Health (Mountain View, unselfish, and preferably voluntary service allowed a special place for testimonies and Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1951), p. 28. for others. Says Ellen White: "The condi expressions of praise and thanksgiving. 3 Ibid., p. 28. tion of the mind affects the health of the Laughter. "Laughing is a buoyant im 6 , The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1942), p. 256. physical system. If the mind is free and mersion in the presence of unanticipated 7 [bid., p. 251. happy, from a consciousness of rightdoing glimpsings prompting harmonious integrity s R. Parse, "The Experience of Laughter: A Phe- and a sense of satisfaction in causing hap which surfaces anew through contemplative nomenological Study," Nursing Science Quarterly 6 (1993): 39-43. piness to others, it creates a cheerfulness that visioning!"8 Patty Wooten, founder and 5 P. Wooten, "Humor: An Antidote for Stress," will react upon the whole system, causing a president of Jest for the Health of It, says Holistic Nursing Practice 10, No. 2 (1996): 49-56.

Ministry/November 1997 25 n n^ \ 1 J. j . j

re you trying to develop a team spirit among your church staff? Perhaps you would _ _ like your staff to display more cooperation and enthusiasm as they work together. Maybe you are hoping that they will develop a greater sense of loyalty and dedication.

Doug Burrell is If you are trying to develop an effective staff who failed to shape their players into a co associate pastor of team, here are some helpful principles. hesive, dedicated group that could win. the First United Likewise, many churches continue to change Methodist Church Fighting in the huddle—not a good sign! leaders, looking for someone who can pro in Carrollton, Having been a fan of the Atlanta Falcons vide leadership and develop a team spirit. Georgia. football team for more than 30 years means Sometimes a church staff doesn©t func I©ve had to endure many disappointments. tion as a team. Instead, the members of the But my all-time worst memory is of the Sun staff function as individuals who head vari day afternoon when a fight broke out among ous programs or groups, with little or no the Falcon players while they were in their communication or cooperation. In this case own huddle. There they were, on national they actually become the opposite of a team; television, fighting each other! I remember they develop into "opponents" who "com thinking, This coach has a lot of work ahead pete" for resources, territory, and the loy of him if he wants to transform this bunch of alty of the church©s constituents. In effect, players into a team. they too "fight in the huddle"! It©s true in sports, and it©s true in minis At the very least, such a model discour try. There is a significant difference between ages church growth and progress toward a group of individuals assigned to positions common objectives. Taken to its logical con and a real team! In fact, transforming a gath clusion, such a situation results inevitably ering of individuals into a unit that works in major conflicts, broken relationships, and together for a common purpose (i.e., a team) injured churches. is one of the most challenging assignments that can be given to any leader. My beloved Tools that build teams Falcons have had a succession of coaches Of course, no pastor or church wants this

DOUG BURRELL

26 Ministry/November 1997 kind of staff. So here are four indispensable inspired the following acrostic, which rein continuing intentional effort to make it hap team-building tools that will help to trans forces the nature of a team. pen and to keep it happening. The prover form a staff into a ministry team that will bial "left hand" needs to know what the work together and in harmony. T ogether can accomplish more than apart. proverbial "right hand" is doing if we are "When the day of Pentecost had come, to have them working in concert. Encour Consideration they were all together in one place" (Acts age and model good communication; make The first necessary team-building tool is 2:1). "And all who believed were to it a priority. Your ministry team will be consideration. No coach in his or her right gether" (verse 44). healthier and stronger as a result. mind will randomly put players at various E veryone owns the team©s outcomes. "And positions without first considering where [they] had all things in common" (verse Commitment each would best be suited. As a team leader 44). The fourth team-building tool one must a pastor must consider the gifts, tempera A ttitudes are transformed and selfishness have is commitment! Without commitment ments, needs, and motivations of his/her diminished. "And they sold their posses the hard work of ministry goes undone. various team members before they can be sions and goods and distributed them to Again, referring to the second chapter of led. The writer of Hebrews says: "Let us con all, as any had need" (verse 45). Acts, we find the followers of Christ "devot sider how to stir up one another to love and M otivation to be involved is awakened by ing themselves" to certain things: the good works" (Heb. 10:24).© It©s well worth sharing. "And day by day, attending the apostles© teachings, meeting together, prayer, the effort to do all one can to know each temple together and breaking bread in the breaking of bread, and fellowship. staff member; to consider her or his needs, their homes, they partook of food with Jesus gathered "the willing" around Him gifts, experiences, and point of view and to glad and generous hearts, praising God and the willing ones turned the world up keep that knowledge in mind as direction is and having favor with all the people. And side down. They were ordinary people with given to the staff.2 the Lord added to their number day by an extraordinary willingness to yield them Some team leaders are guilty of trying day those who were being saved" (verses selves to Christ. to treat everyone the same. And it©s often 46,47). Great things can be accomplished by with the assumption that everyone else people who are willing to work. You know should operate as I do. This is one time a Communication the story of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. leader should "discriminate." Treat everyone The third tool one has to employ when Nehemiah came back from exile, back to fairly, but be flexible enough to allow each fashioning a team is communication. Good Jerusalem to make repairs to the city. He and team member to express his or her gifts and teams are able to succeed in accomplishing some willing ones were able to restore the abilities. This creates harmony, happiness, their objectives because they communicate walls of Jerusalem. The wall had been de and team loyalty. well. Teamwork is a coordinated effort di stroyed and neglected. Restoring it looked rected toward a common objective. almost impossible. To some it was even Cooperation I recently attended field day at the el laughable. But the almost impossible hap The second indispensable team-building ementary school where my children attend. pened, and the wall was built. I love the ex tool is cooperation. Ministries that thrive The three-legged race provided some inter planation of how this feat was accomplished. and grow do so because they have a shared esting entertainment and a good example Nehemiah 4:6 says: ministry. Putting the "co" into the "opera of the need for communication in a team. I "So we built the wall; and all the wall was tion" is a must if a pastor hopes to develop noticed that the winners weren©t always the joined together to half its height. For the a ministry staff that works together toward fastest or the best athletes, but who best co people had a mind to work." a common purpose. ordinated their efforts. The top finishers This is the real issue before a pastor and The fact is that togetherness is the be would take the time to talk, rehearse their the ministry staff he or she leads. Do you have ginning of a team. We see that in the miracle strategy, talk again, and rehearse again be a mind to work? Do you have a mind to make of Pentecost. In Acts 2 we have a record of fore they began the race. Those who didn©t things work? Do you have a mind to work the birth of the church as the Holy Spirit spend some time communicating provided out differences and problems? Do you have came to the followers of Christ. some good laughs for us parents. a mind to work together to achieve greater It strikes me that this promised blessing Of course, we know that uncoordinated things than could ever be achieved alone? If came to the early Christians and flourishes effort in the church is no laughing matter. so, you©ve got what it takes to transform a today in the context of "togetherness." Acts Nevertheless, we are often guilty of believing ministry staff into a ministry team. 2 begins, "When the day of Pentecost had that since we are trying hard and working for come, they were together in one place." Such the Lord, we will "magically" get things This is the final article in a series of five. togetherness allowed them to receive the gift worked out without coordinating and com of God and announce the "good news" to municating with each other as we should. I Bible texts in this article are from the Re those who would take the gospel across the As a staff leader or team captain, a pas vised Standard Version. I I would refer you to the first article in this Middle East and throughout the world of tor must be a role model of good commu series for more on this subject of considering that day. The early life of the church has nication. This takes discipline and a each person©s uniqueness.

Ministry/November 1997 27 © ecently I sat word of praise for a job well done, or a down with a Is your sincere "Thank you" for extra effort will RM. m. igroup of keep workers motivated far longer than colleagues to discuss the effort required to affirm that indi how to build trust. church vidual. A kind acknowledgment is more We divided our motivating than overtime pay. work into two organization Appropriate reward system. Scripture topics: (1) the speaks of those to whom much has been qualities of a trustworthy individual and entrusted and from whom much is, (2) the qualities of a trustworthy organi trustworthy? therefore, expected. Jesus told parables of zation. Whether conference or congrega different rewards for different levels of tion, the characteristics that, we believe, WES A. CRESS performance. Our one-size-fits-all method are hallmarks of a trustworthy church discussion, lively debate, searching prayer, of financial remuneration tends to breed organization include: and respect for the opinions of other mediocrity more than it encourages Leaders who lead. Visibility of viewpoints? A trustworthy organization excellence. While no one should enrich leadership, both in defining the mission will view the process to be as important as themselves at the expense of the mission, and targeting desired outcomes is vital. the product. In fact, when followers are neither should others be encouraged to Typically, followers will not rise above expected to endorse and implement the sloth because they will be remunerated their leaders in either vision or accom decisions that are made, it is fair to state equally regardless of performance. plishment. Wise leaders remember even that the process is the product. Followers Joint ventures encouraged. The more their ceremonial role, which places them will "buy in" when their participation in that leadership can inspire team members at the forefront of organizational the process is recruited by more than lip to pool their knowledge, talents, ideas, and functions to represent, to recommend, service. resources, the better that process will serve and to reaffirm progress. People matter. A trustworthy organiza the mission. Whether conference office Agenda agreement. Is the mission tion encourages expression of both departments or local church committees, apparent, understood, and agreed upon cognitive and emotive feedback. Both the urging cooperation without prescriptive throughout? Can each team member rationale of the decision as well as the micromanagement encourages creativity readily explain the purpose of the needs and responses of the team members and reduces competition. organization? Can they succinctly describe are important. An action may be correct, Leadership accessibility. Wise leaders what they are about? Do those who but have such negative repercussions that are readily available to their team shoulder the day-to-day work comprehend the end result invalidates the decision. members, especially those who are the issues, and are they as committed to the Competition downplayed. The expected to implement the organization©s mission as administrative leaders? If not, achievement of long-term mission is more programs. In fact, vision is more readily the question must be Where has leadership important in trustworthy organizations "caught" by association with leaders than failed? not What do the followers lack? than the attainment of short-term "taught" by mandates or edicts. Such open Consonant values. Do the objectives. While there is nothing evil about access demonstrates the trust leaders have organization©s activities reflect the values goals in and of themselves, team members for their team and, in turn, enhances the of the denomination? Is there dissonance are better motivated by their cooperative trust of workers for their leaders. between what the mission statement says participation in reaching mutual objectives Creativity rewarded. Those organiza and how the work is carried out? Do than by constant comparison with the tions that encourage appropriate risk- scriptural principles mark the decision- accomplishments of other workers. Too taking and provide an environment where making process more than expediency or many of us are more competitors than we bold initiatives can be attempted will see crisis management. Is the organization on are colleagues, and our clergy and laity increased creativity in areas that might course for the long view or merely leaders alike reflect this stance. have been assumed dormant. Trustworthy reacting to the urgent at the expense of Individual initiative recognized. organizations protect the freedom to fail the important? Do those who interact Trustworthy organizations acknowledge while striving for a laudable goal and thus with the organization readily recognize it the contribution of those individuals encourage new ideas, new methods, and as a spiritual entity? whose service may seem ordinary or often new ventures. Process focused. Does the organization be overlooked. The mechanic who Consistency. Although trustworthy seek harmonious consensus rather than maintains the engines is no less vital than organizations avoid being "stuck in a rut," merely winning a vote? Are decisions the captain who sets the course for the they do experience a keen sense of history implemented through a process of ship. A pat on the back from the leader, a that affirms God©s leading in the past and

28 Ministry/November 1997 PASTOR'S PASTOR

anticipates heaven©s blessings for the overestimate the value of those individuals predetermined criteria for measuring future. Mixed signals are reduced when who are "just like us." Each member of a performance and focus on learning from appropriate reference is made to the past working force must be valued for his or the recent past to inform future plans. Few decisions that have led to the present her unique abilities to move the Lord©s workers will resent being evaluated if they position on current issues. work forward within assigned roles. have participated in establishing the Spiritual gifts valued. Whether for Likewise, leaders who affirm the impor criteria by which their work is measured. departmental leaders of the conference or tance of their different team members Forward focused. Finally, trustworthy union or those in the local church, it is rather than constantly debating their value organizations are more interested in essential to value and utilize the different will unleash a freedom among their worker tomorrow than today. Little energy is gifts among your team. Not everyone has team to serve in new and better ways. expended to maintain the status quo. Such the same gifts as administrators. Not Appropriate evaluation. Rather than organizations have a firm grasp on the everyone has the same creativity quotient something to be feared, evaluations that potential growth of God©s kingdom, and as those who devise new concepts and are planned, open, and interactive actually their thoughts, prayers, plans, and programs. The temptation is to devalue motivate the team to better service. programs are intentionally geared toward those gifts that differ from ours and to Effective evaluations are based on the triumph of God©s love.

Reaching the secular area. In the light of this, the husband had to the home that had been closed to the gospel sell, move to a small house on the edge of opened wide for Bible studies. tnind Cont.fromp.21 town, and work long hours. In his disap Although we should be sure to recognize pointment and fatigue, he was destroying our limitations and understand that we are ease through the laws He has given. His laws her and their marriage. not physicians, a knowledge of physiology are a great blessing to us. In fact, all of God©s As we visited, I could see that the wife was and hygiene, a little loving care, and prayer, commandments reflect a personal and com suffering from a lack of exercise and physi and often the skeptical walls of the secular munity health outcome. Hence John could cal stamina. I outlined a fitness program for mind come down. Ministry to physical wish: "Beloved I wish above all things that her, writing it all out on paper. It took a while needs can open the heart©s door. It happened thou mayest prosper and be in health, even to work out the formulas and make sure she during Jesus© time. It can happen now. as thy soul prospereth" (3 John 2). understood. Her husband was more fasci The second great commandment is to nated with the process than she was. For copies of five health lectures designed love our neighbor as ourselves. Any parent During my visit their little boy came out to persuade listeners with the Bible's timely would affirm that love for children includes of his room three times begging attention. and useful health information, send $10.00 trying to keep them healthy and doing ev He was obviously ill. Before leaving, I asked to A Model For Living, 470 Lysandra Court, erything to get them well when they are sick. to see him. She ushered me into a dark, Templeton, California 93465. Love demands that we do no less for our damp cubicle with a pallet on the floor and neighbors. Thus helping people become well an obedient little boy shivering under the and stay well is by all means a legitimate covers. He was feverish and couldn©t breathe Speaking up without ministry. through his nose. Suffering from chest con gestion, he hadn©t slept for three nights. wearing down Cont.fromp. 15 A ministry of love With permission, I took over. I opened the Breaking down the cold walls of secu window to let in fresh air and dry out the The ideal is speech that perfectly expresses larism may require more than giving health dampness. I gave the lad hot fomentations your ideas and a voice that is perfectly re lectures. It may require loving ministry in and showed his mother how to do them. His sponsive to your sentiments so people hear the home. When I was pastoring in Mary chest muscles relaxed and he took deep, long you and what you have to say, not the words land, one of my members lived next to a breaths. With the very first towel, he began you use or the voice you say them with. If young couple who refused to accept her in going to sleep. that©s your goal, you©ll find it worthwhile to vitations to church or to let her pastor visit I finished the treatment and offered get some help with your voice. them. In time the health of the wife began prayer for healing. He slept all day until about failing, so they relented and let me visit. The 5:00 p.m. when his father phoned home. The 1 Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents and primary cause of her poor health was dis little boy got on the phone and shouted ex Teachers (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press appointment and friction in the home. citedly, "Daddy, Daddy, remember that nice Pub. Assn., 1943), p. 297. 2 My teacher followed the program elabo When first married, they dreamed of rais man that was here this morning? Well, he put rated in Kristin Linklater©s important book Free ing their children on a farm. But making a some rags on my chest." That meant I had ing the Natural Voice (New York: Drama Book living on a small farm was difficult in that done a good thing. Just one useful visit, and Publishers, 1976).

Ministry/November 1997 29 Ithough Seventh- Kit, who has previously served as a pas day Adventists Kit Watts to tor, will function as our coordinator of data ido not ordain regarding women ministers, provide coun women to the gospel sel and encouragement to young women ministry, more than 200 encourage seeking a pastoral career, offer seminars for women serve in pastoral leaders who are seeking to encourage and ministry leadership women women in ministry assignments, and edit a roles throughout the world. In fact, not one newsletter for women pastors, which will division of the church is without women provide nurture, encourage interchange, functioning in some leadership capacity. ministers and facilitate awareness about this growing The entire Ministerial Association staff segment of Adventist ministers. has attempted to affirm and encourage these The church will benefit from this con women, especially through the efforts of This is a natural assignment for Watts sultative role by gaining an opportunity to Sharon Cress. However, while many of these who, after serving 10 years as assistant edi guide women as they develop their gifts and women have expressed their appreciation for tor of the Adventist Review, became the seek to use them more effectively in minis such efforts, they have clearly stated that they founding director of La Sierra University©s try roles. Women will benefit by having tan wish to avoid confusion with the pastoral Women©s Resource Center on April 1,1997. gible evidence that the Ministerial wives who are Shepherdess International©s This center, the only entity of its kind at Association recognizes their call and is in primary target group or with the laywomen an Adventist college, is to familiarize stu terested in their needs and success. who are served by the Department of dents with Adventist heritage and the role You are encouraged to share the names, Women©s Ministries. women have played in the realization of addresses, and current assignments of Therefore, with pleasure we announce Christian mission. It will also facilitate dia women who serve in pastoral or denomi that Kit Watts will serve as our special con logue with regard to mission and interper national leadership roles. Mail to J. A. Cress, sultant to encourage women everywhere sonal relationships and help prepare women 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, who serve the denomination in pastoral, to participate in defining and shaping the MD 20904, USA; fax 301-680-6502; or E-mail chaplaincy, and administrative leadership. church community and the public sphere. [email protected].

A Professional Growth Seminar sponsored by Ministry magazine is coming to your neighborhood March 31, 1998 featuring four noted speakers and authors • Charles E. Bradford: Pastor Emeritus, teacher, lecturer, author, administrator. "The dean of preachers." editor, Ministry • W. Frank Harrington: Senior Minister, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia. "An ardent proponent of a living faith." former editor, Liberty • Dwight K. Nelson: Senior Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church, Berrien Springs, Michigan."Speaks to our Age." editor, Perspective Digest Write to: Ministry Professional Growth • Gardner C. Taylor: Senior Pastor Emeritus, The 12501 Old Columbia Pike Concord Baptist Church of Christ, Brooklyn, New York. Want to sponsor a downlink Silver Spring, Maryland 20904 "Among the 15 Greatest Black Preachers." Ebony, site? Nikolaus Satelmajer Phone 301-680-6507; Fax 301-680-6502 "Poet Laureate of the Pulpit." Christian Century will tell you how. E-mail 1025 5 5.2473 @compuserve.com

30 Ministry/November 1997 SHOPTALK on "Postmodernism, Fuzzy Denomina- with disease, arthritis, diabetes, and other tionalism, and Unique Opportunities" and lifestyle diseases, they were determined to New Seventh-day Adventist logo "Effective Preaching: An Alternative View turn their health around. The results were The new Seventh-day Adventist logo From the Writings of Ellen G. White," miraculous! combines several symbolic references into (parts 1 and 2). He also preached a The stories in this book are about one quickly identifiable symbol. And sermon entitled "No Miracle." people who, under the guidance of while some of the references are obvious, To order any or all of these materials, qualified health others are more subtle. You may find the call Bonnie Beres, Andrews University professionals, made following explanation helpful. Theological Seminary at 616-471-3408. lifestyle and medica The Open Bible: tion changes. They The Bible forms the VOP broadcasts go Internet tell how they base of the design and The Voice of Prophecy can be heard prevented even represents the biblical anywhere if you have Internet access, a reversed killer foundation of our sound card, and external speakers. The diseases, lost weight, beliefs. It is portrayed necessary software (usually Real Audio or kicked bad habits, in a fully open position, suggesting a full Streamworks) can be downloaded free reduced or discarded medications, beat acceptance of God©s Word. from the radio station©s Web site carrying fatigue and pain, and began living the best The Flame: This the broadcasts you want to hear. years of their lives. shape is formed by Contact www.vop.com and access In the back of the book, there is a four- three lines encircling "Where You Can Hear Us." From there you part appendices about lifestyles, diets, an implied sphere. The can link any of several stations that practical tips for success, and a list of lines represent the broadcast VOP on the Internet. health resources of current books, three angels of magazines, and live-in education centers. Revelation 14 circling the globe and our Children©s dedication: making it Feeling Fit can happen to you! These comission to take the gospel to the entire special inspiring stories show you how. world. The overall shape forms a flame Here©s an idea I use in child dedication symbolic of the Holy Spirit. services. Take a 9" x 12" envelope and Blood Brothers, Philip Samaan. The Cross: The write the parents© names in calligraphy on Pacific Press Pub. Assn., Nampa, Id., 1991. symbol of the cross, the outside. Inside the envelope place The three great monotheistic religions representing the poems, encouraging articles, and how-to- of the world Judaism, Christianity, and gospel of salvation, is do-it scripts, and give the package to the Islam have grown from a common positioned in the parents at the dedication service. Arrange ancestral tree but have become entangled center of the design to to tape the service and put this tape into in a seemingly irreconcilable blood feud. emphasize Christ©s sacrifice, which is the the package with the other materials and The author traces this family feud of the central theme of our faith. the dedication certificate. This gives the children of Abraham to their father©s For information on signage, church parents something by which to remember household, and explores what lies at the furnishings, and accessories bearing the the special day and encourages them as root of the continuing turmoil tearing the new logo, call Positive ID toll-free at they plan for the upbringing of their Middle East apart. 1-888-446-LOGO (5646) or 208-424-0915. children. Steve Cinzio, Logan Village, Blood Brothers leads the reader to Queensland, Australia. explore the common heritage that binds H.M.S. Richards lectureship on these people and their religions together. preaching and evangelism BOOKS It also endeavors to explain how that Audio- and videotapes of the H.M.S. important region of the world, so integral Richards Lectureship on Preaching and Feeling Fit, byAileen Ludington, to biblical history, fits into biblical Evangelism, held recently at Andrews M.D., Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald prophecy. University (Oct. 19, 20,1997), are Pub. Assn., 1997, 237 pages, paperback. Seventh-day Adventists have special available. Audiotapes are $4.00 each, and Internationally known health educator advantages in reaching the Muslims and videotapes are $15.00 each. Aileen Ludington, M.D., is the author of Jews scattered in different parts of the The series© theme was "Preaching More Feeling Fit, a book of true stories of people world. This book compares similarities in Effectively in Today©s Postmodern Era: who turned their health around. Most of beliefs while pointing to the true Seed of Opportunities and Challenges." Walter L. us can identify with the real people in Abraham, Jesus Christ, as the only hope Pearson, Jr., the featured speaker, lectured these case studies. Even though riddled for Abraham©s descendants.

Ministry/November 1997 31 MINISTRY 55 WEST OAK RIDGE DRIVE HAGERSTOWN, MD 21740

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