Adventist World President Resigns

SPECIAL REPORT:

February 18, 1999

Cutting Edge

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ForFor AllAll WhoWho FeelFeel AverageAverage ThirtyThirty TermsTerms EveryEvery NewNew AdventistAdventist ShouldShould KnowKnow SPECIAL REPORT Adventist World President Resigns

BY CARLOS MEDLEY, news editor for the Adventist Review

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9

Ten days after top church officers In late December 1998 allegations would come,” Folkenberg told the voted to call a special meeting of the of financial and ethical improprieties headquarters employees as he church’s highest deliberative body to by Folkenberg surfaced in connection explained his decision to resign. consider allegations against him, with a civil lawsuit filed by James “There are things that are far more General Conference president Robert Moore, a Sacramento, California, important than Robert Folkenberg and S. Folkenberg announced his resigna- entrepreneur against Folkenberg, attor- the position of president of the tion, effective immediately. ney Walter Carson, and accountant General Conference, and that is this Folkenberg’s decision averts a Ben Kochenower, who had all at one movement that the Lord has raised up potential conflict between himself and time served on the board of two inde- and the task that He has given us to the General Conference Executive pendent charitable organizations. do. And that transcends all personali- Committee scheduled to meet at the The General Conference Corpora- ties. It is bigger than any mistakes, and church’s world headquar- Lord knows, I’ve made ters on March 1. my share of them. And I By provisions of the have confessed them, church’s working policy, apologized, and wept and General Conference prayed about them. But secretary G. Ralph above and beyond all of Thompson became acting those is this end-time president. He will serve in movement with a last-day that position until the message the Lord has 268-member committee given us.” elects a new president. Folkenberg also read (See “What Happens aloud the resignation let- Next?” p. 3.) ter that he sent to In an emotional state- Thompson on Sunday, ment to more than 600 February 7, in which he employees at the denomi- acknowledged mistakes in nation’s world headquar- his dealings with Moore ters in Silver Spring, but “rejoiced that the Maryland, on Monday, integrity of my motives February 8, Folkenberg cited the dis- tion and the church’s Inter-American has not been called into question.” tractions created by a lawsuit against Division were also named in the suit, A Special Ad Hoc Group appoint- him and the need for church unity as but are not expected to figure promi- ed by the General Conference reasons for his decision. nently in the litigation. No church Administrative Committee Folkenberg, 58, was elected presi- entity had any funds invested with (ADCOM) met on January 25, 26 to dent of the 10-million-member Moore, nor were any church funds at hear presentations by Phil Hiroshima, ALLAGHER

denomination in June 1990 at the risk. The General Conference a General Conference-retained attor- G church’s international constituency Corporation never had any dealings ney, and Folkenberg and his attorneys. meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, and with him, and the Inter-American Hiroshima had discovered evidence of THAN ONA reelected at the 1995 General Division had cut off all contact with possible ethical irregularities as he pre- J BY Conference session in Utrecht, him 10 years ago. pared to defend the General HOTO

Holland. “This is a day I never dreamed Conference Corporation and the P

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Inter-American Division in the civil theft in 1987. The president’s failure Folkenberg had made the right deci- suit. The 19-member committee met to share information with the leader- sion even as they underscored their for more than 25 hours and concluded ship circle about the lawsuit when it personal pain about the events of the by an overwhelming secret ballot vote was still only being threatened seri- last three weeks. that the allegations against Folkenberg ously damaged his credibility. “All of us are saddened by this sud- were grave enough to warrant calling a There was also evidence that the den rush of events that has necessitated special session of the General office of the president had been mis- Elder Folkenberg’s resignation,” said Conference Executive Committee, used, according to those at the meet- Thompson in a phone interview from subsequently scheduled for March 1-7. ing. Several financial schemes were Loma Linda, California. “A series of The Special Ad Hoc Group deliv- attempted, invoking the influence and events has swamped and engulfed him, ered its report on January 27 to an even the letterhead of the General and for the good of the church and his ADCOM meeting which included 10 Conference to introduce Moore to family it is important to let a time of of the denomination’s 12 division pres- leaders of foreign countries as a way to healing begin. We admire him for his idents. raise money and pay off what Moore decision and look forward to his con- According to several persons at the claimed Folkenberg owed him. tinued contributions to the church he ADCOM meeting, members were ADCOM members deemed that so much loves.” troubled by Elder Folkenberg’s long behavior unacceptable. “Elder Folkenberg reminded us business association with Moore, who Church leaders reached for com- when he was first elected nearly nine had been convicted of felony grand ment expressed their belief that years ago that the real president of the

What Happens Next?

BY BILL KNOTT, ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF THE ADVENTIST REVIEW The Executive Committee is composed of nearly 270 layper- sons, pastors, and church administrators from around the The decision by General Conference president Robert world, and is charged with giving leadership to the worldwide Folkenberg to resign his office has set in motion a never- church between the five-year international sessions. before-used policy for replacing the highest officer of the 10- At the March meeting, a nominating committee will be select- million member denomination. ed with representatives from each of the world church’s 12 divi- G. Ralph Thompson, secretary of the General Conference and the sions and will meet to bring a recommendation to the Executive second-ranking officer, became acting president upon Folkenberg’s Committee. The person elected as president will serve until the resignation, and will serve until a new president is elected and next General Conference session in June 2000 in assumes the responsibilities of the office. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Thompson, 69, has served 18 years as General Only rarely has the church had to act to fill a Conference secretary, and was first elected at the midterm vacancy in its highest post. In October church’s international session in Dallas, Texas, in 1978 President Robert H. Pierson surprised the April 1980. He was subsequently reelected in Annual Council gathering in Takoma Park, Maryland, 1985 and 1990, and most recently at the July with an announcement that he was resigning his 1995 General Conference session in Utrecht, post and retiring from denominational service on the Holland. Originally from Barbados, West Indies, advice of his physicians. Members of the General Thompson is the first non-North American to serve Conference Executive Committee at that meeting as the church’s second-ranking officer and subsequently elected Neal C. Wilson, then vice pres- becomes the first person in its 135-year history to ident for North America, as the new president. function as an acting president. He has served as Fifteen persons have served as General a pastor, evangelist, theology teacher, union presi- G. Ralph Thompson Conference president since the church was orga- dent, and general vice president of the General nized in May 1863 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Conference during 48 years of denominational service. Terms of service were only two years during the first decade of The General Conference Administrative Committee the church, but gradually increased to four and then five years (ADCOM) has scheduled a special meeting of the full as the denomination lengthened the span between its interna- Executive Committee for March 1-7 at the world church head- tional sessions. quarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, to elect a new president.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (195) 3 SPECIAL REPORT

General Conference is the Lord Jesus Review special report to his congrega- church’s leadership in higher educa- Christ,” Thompson continued. “The tion. “We appreciated that the matter tion,” Geraty adds. “I personally felt church moves forward, and, as I always was handled forthrightly and with his leadership style of ‘management like to say, the future is as bright as dispatch. But we concluded that these by destabilization,’ while perhaps the promises of God.” events won’t sidetrack us from the useful in other settings, was not Others echoed Thompson’s senti- mission of our local church. While appropriate for the church where ments about the denomination’s need one person has apparently stumbled, ‘doing justice, loving kindness, and for stability. the rest of the church’s processes have walking humbly with God’ is what “The history of recent events succeeded.” we expect of our leaders.” cannot be undone,” said Jan “The resignation of a GC president “He’s been a good president for Paulsen, General Conference gen- under these circumstances is an un- the church,” says Steve Timm, mod- eral vice president. “But we owe it precedented event,” says Reinder erator of the 600-member SDANet to God and the church to look for Bruinsma, secretary of the Trans- computer forum, an Internet discus- ways of healing and a sense of a European Division, headquartered in sion group that focuses on issues strong, deliberate march forward.” St. Albans, England. “More informa- affecting the Adventist Church. “I’m sorry Elder Folkenberg made tion must be provided to the church at Timm’s Internet group has featured mistakes,” says Kelly Butler, 22, a pro- large. Only openness can ensure con- dozens of comments about the duction artist in Laurel, Maryland. tinued trust in the church’s leadership.” Folkenberg matter in recent weeks. “Now, however, our church should Still others looked for lessons in the “We should ask God to guide our move on with new leadership to share three-week drama. leaders as they choose another the gospel. I’m sad when people “Situations like this should be General Conference president.” approach me and say, ‘Have you seen viewed as a warning for the church, what’s on the front page of the L.A. particularly church leaders,” says Times today about your church?’ I Gregory Allen, chair of the Theology believe our church can be better rep- Department at Oakwood College in resented than that.” Huntsville, Alabama. “In a crisis, we Man on the Move “There are still many unanswered must evaluate and ask the critical questions,” says Kit Watts, assistant to question ‘What is God saying to the BY BILL KNOTT the president of the Southeastern church through this situation?’ For the California Conference and a former people of God, the answer is always Aggressive church planting, Adventist Review assistant editor. that God is calling us back to a rela- administrative downsizing, rapidly “Folkenberg’s resignation will give the tionship with Him. He’s calling us expanding use of communication church a chance to heal and move on, back to His mission, operating on His technology, and unprecedented mem- and I hope the same for him.” agenda, using His strategies.” bership growth marked Robert Some observers expressed satisfac- Lawrence Geraty, president of La Folkenberg’s 8 1/2-year tenure as presi- tion with the speed and candor with Sierra University in Riverside, dent of the General Conference. which church leaders have dealt with California, notes both strengths and Elected to his post in July 1990 at the crisis. weaknesses in Folkenberg’s presidency. the church’s fifty-fifth General “I’m deeply grateful that the “I have appreciated so many things Conference session, Folkenberg was church has dealt with this openly and about his leadership: his strong com- the youngest General Conference quickly,” says Richard Stenbakken, mitment to the message of righteous- president in nearly 90 years and the director of chaplaincy ministries for ness by faith; his ability to think ‘out first to come to office directly from the the church. “The anguish of this situ- of the box’ when it comes to the use of conference level since the Seventh- ation is palpable. But I’m glad that technology; his tireless commitment to day Adventist Church reorganized in the church has exercised judgment holding a worldwide church together, 1901. The son of missionary parents without being judgmental.” with all its diversity; his calls to evalu- and fluent in both Spanish and “Our church gathered for prayer ation and accountability in the light of English, he spent more than 30 years and debriefing when we first heard mission, eschewing ‘business as usual.’ in Inter-America, including 16 years about these matters two weeks ago,” He never asked anyone to do what as a pastor, departmental director, and reports Ron Schultz, pastor of the he himself was not willing to do. church administrator, before assuming Lewiston, Idaho, Adventist Church, “It is no secret, however, that his the church’s highest elected office. who read the February 11 Adventist methods often clashed with the Folkenberg spearheaded major ini-

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tiatives during his first five-year term and even dangerous regions, includ- to reduce both personnel and budgets ing Iran, Iraq, China, Cuba, and, at the church’s world headquarters in most recently, war-ravaged Angola. “Behold, I come quickly . . .” Silver Spring, Maryland, and to cap In 1994 Folkenberg baptized the first Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ through stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help operating expenses for the denomina- convert in Mongolia. Adventists for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return. tion. With the enthusiastic support of around the world could follow the Publisher General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Adventist laypersons in business and peripatetic president on his many Executive Publisher William G. Johnsson Associate Publisher Charlotte McClure industry, he promoted the use of satel- travels via his personal website, Publishing Board: Phil Follett, vice-chair; Lowell Cooper; William G. Johnsson; Robert E. Lemon; A. C. McClure; Ardis D. lite and Internet communication to complete with day-by-day diaries Stenbakken, Donald R. Sahly; Ted N. C. Wilson; Robert Nixon, further evangelization. Three interna- and photographs. A weekly “From legal advisor tional satellite evangelistic efforts— the GC President” fax newsletter Editor William G. Johnsson Associate Editors Roy Adams, Bill Knott commonly known as NET evangelism kept hundreds of Adventist leaders Managing Editor Myrna Tetz in 1995, 1996 and 1998—resulted in and institutions updated on the News Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editors Stephen Chavez, Andy Nash tens of thousands of baptisms and posi- president’s travels and opinions. Editorial Assistant Ella Rydzewski tioned the Seventh-day Adventist Folkenberg also championed sev- Administrative Secretary Chitra Barnabas Church as a global leader in church- eral initiatives that called for greater Editorial Secretary Jean Sequeira Art Director Bill Kirstein based satellite communication through church scrutiny of Adventist institu- Designer Bill Tymeson AGCN, the Adventist Global tions and more accountability to Design Assistant/Production Stephanie Kaping Ad Sales Genia Blumenberg Communication Network. constituents. His “Total Com- Subscriber Services Steve Hanson

For the first time in its history, the mitment to God” initiative, voted Consulting Editors: G. Ralph Thompson, Matthew Seventh-day Adventist Church by the church’s 1996 Annual Bediako, Phil Follett, Robert J. Kloosterhuis, A. C. McClure, Jan Paulsen, Leo Ranzolin, R. L. Rawson, approved an official logo for the Council in Costa Rica, called for Calvin B. Rock denomination, even as it contested each Adventist pastor, congregation, Special Contributors: P. D. Chun, L. T. Daniel, L. J. Evans, Ulrich Frikart, Lee Huff, Israel Leito, Ruy H. trademark infringement with entities school, health facility, communica- Nagel, L. D. Raelly, Ron Watts, Bertil Wiklander that inappropriately used the tion enterprise, and administrative To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. (Please church’s name. office to adopt mission statements, query before submitting long articles.) Include address, telephone number, and Social Security number, where World membership of the church prepare specific and measurable available. Address all editorial correspondence to 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600. increased by nearly 68 percent during objectives, and annually assess out- Editorial office fax number: (301) 680-6638. Folkenberg’s term, from approximately comes. A 1998 world church action E-mail: Internet: [email protected] 6.3 million in 1990 to more than 10.3 to establish a Board of Ministerial CompuServe network: 74617,15 million in early 1999. Contributions and Theological Education in each Subscriptions: US$38.97 for 40 issues, US$50.97 for 52 issues. Add $10.20 postage for addresses outside North to the church increased by more than division to give oversight to church- America. To order, send your name, address, and payment 57 percent, from a 1989 total of operated seminaries and theology to your local Adventist Book Center or Adventist Review Subscription Desk, Box 1119, Hagerstown, MD 21741. $953,134,989 to $1,500,521,546 in departments has evoked significant Single copy, US$2.50. Prices subject to change without notice. 1997, the last year for which a com- criticism in some areas, including Subscription queries and changes of address: Call l-800-456-3991, 301-393-3257. or plete report is available. The church’s North America, and awaits imple- e-mail [email protected].

Global Mission initiative planted mentation. Postmaster: Send address changes to Adventist Review, 55 nearly 12,000 new Adventist congre- Twice during Folkenberg’s tenure West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. gations in previously unentered territo- (at Indianapolis in 1990 and Scriptures credited to ICB are quoted from the International Children’s Bible, New Century Version, copyright © 1983, 1986, 1988 by Word ries during Folkenberg’s term. Utrecht, Holland, in 1995) dele- Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission. Texts credited Rapid growth for the church in the gates to General Conference ses- to Message are from The Message. Copyright © 1993. Used by permis- sion of NavPress Publishing Group. Texts credited to NIV are from formerly Communist countries of sions declined to approve the ordi- the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Eastern Europe, in Africa, and in the nation of women to gospel ministry Bible Publishers. Bible texts credited to RSV are from the Revised South Pacific resulted in the creation or to allow world divisions to pursue Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. of a new world division of the church independent policies to do so. An MAGES I since 1990, the Euro-Asia, and the Office of Women’s Ministries was The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119), published since 1849, is the general paper of the Seventh-day Adventist TONE splitting of the Asia-Pacific region into organized in 1990 and gained full Church. It is published by the General Conference of S Seventh-day Adventists and is printed 40 times a year each the Northern Asia-Pacific and the departmental status in 1995, high- Thursday except the first Thursday of each month by the ONE ® Review and Herald Publishing Association. Periodicals T postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Copyright © 1999, Southern Asia-Pacific divisions. “On lighting the increasingly public General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. BY the road” an average of nearly 200 days involvement of women around the PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. PHOTO each year, Folkenberg showed no hesi- world in the church’s evangelism Vol. 176, No. 7 VER tation in visiting politically sensitive and nurture efforts. O C

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (197) 5 EDITORIAL A Gathering Intensity WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON

s I reflect on life in these wonderful but terri- “the Christian century,” but it became the era of Hitler and fying times, more and more one word comes Auschwitz and Idi Amin and Rwanda. to my mind—intensity. Evil is gathering in intensity—this seems undeniable. Everything seems Seemingly, nothing has become too to be speeding up, to vile for humans to commit, nothing Abe off balance, to be out of whack. Are we in the too degraded to be viewed or read. Communication, travel, work—the Once little children and the aged pace quickens, and the demand is and nuns were shielded from personal only for more and faster. So people birth pangs of attack, but no more. Once people make big bucks but burn out and indulged in filth secretly; today they marriages fly apart. And we Jesus’ return? flaunt obscenities and trash on Christians aren’t immune from the T-shirts and bumper stickers. pressures and hazards of these times. The Christian church has existed I don’t know how close we are to Jesus’ return, but we nearly 2,000 years. Only in our generation has it seen pas- may be much nearer than many Adventists believe. It’s as tors who openly espouse homosexuality, and congregations though the world is rushing on to a divine appointment. I of members with similar practices. don’t put any stock in the year A.D. 2000: Jesus was born It’s not true that what we are seeing is just more of the same, about 4 B.C., so more than 2,000 years have already passed. that all things continue as they have from the beginning. But all around I sense the sort of gathering intensity that Ellen White noted: “An intensity such as never before Jesus gave as the sign that His coming was imminent. was seen is taking possession of the world. In amusement, “It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, in money-making, in the contest for power, in the very stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the struggle for existence, there is a terrible force that engrosses world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the body and mind and soul” (Education, p. 260). She wrote threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking. these words almost 100 years ago; I cannot find a better “And then—then!—they’ll see the Son of Man wel- expression of life today. comed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this But at such a time—at this time—God’s work is going for- starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads ward as never before. The gospel is speeding to every creature high. Help is on the way!” (Luke 21:25-28, Message). under heaven by satellite, by the printed word, by radio, by Even nature is off course. Last year brought the biggest spate one-on-one sharing. of natural disasters in human history. The planet reeled under For God is drawing together a people around the globe who the impact of droughts, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, as love and obey Him. The lines between those who follow Christ scores of thousands of people perished and damage ran into and those who do not are being drawn ever more sharply. The hundreds of billions of dollars. Areas such as Honduras have pressure of the times is such that mere profes- been so devastated that it will take decades to restore them. sion doesn’t work anymore. But someone will say, “The world has always had its prob- John saw them, a people redeemed lems—crime, famine, earthquakes, and other natural calami- from the earth when Jesus returned ties. What we see happening is only more of the same.” (Rev. 7:9-17; 14:1-5). They love Jesus Perhaps, but I wonder. I wonder if the very intensity that and are loyal to Him whatever the cost. characterizes these times isn’t the key, that in fact we are in They speak truth; they are pure. the midst of the birth pangs that accompany the time of the Through His blood they are with- Messiah’s coming (see Matt. 24:8). out blame. And they follow the And some things are different. Our century—this century Lamb wherever He goes. about to close—has witnessed the waging of war and death Here is intensity—the intensity on a scale unique in human history. It was to have been of grace.

6 (198) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 ADVENTIST LIFE Years ago my father was teaching a Sabbath school class in his home church in Kearney, Nebraska. During the discussion he reached into his back pocket for the hand- kerchief he always kept there. Wondering why the class members were REWS C

smiling, he looked down at his “handker- Y

chief.” Imagine his chagrin when he saw ERR T

that he was holding the cloth he had used to BY

polish his shoes. TION GI&VE —Ruth Rankin, Lincoln, Nebraska LLUSTRA I During our Sabbath worship services I always give our congregation an opportunity to voice their praises and prayer requests. One Sabbath one of our dear senior citizens praised the Lord for the suc- cessful cataract surgery she had endured on her eye. She then requested prayer for the upcoming surgery on her other eye, adding, “And I’d like to praise the Lord that He gave me only two eyes!” —Gary Moyer, pastor, Summerville, South Carolina

TAKE JUST HANGING OUT TAKING IT EASY: Sixth- DREAM CENTER generation Adventists Cherise and Mindy Hill— In this feature Adventists share their and their donkey, Jenny dreams for this church. We welcome your Lee—live on the campus of brief submissions. Daystar Academy, an TV COMMERCIALS: The Adventist high school in Mormons have run some very nice Castle Valley, Utah. television ads. I think we should pro- duce ads that promote an image of a church that loves the Bible. I suggest a takeoff on successful existing commer- cials—like the Sprint ads that contrast garbled versus clear messages. Have someone read a particularly obscure passage from the King James Version, then hand them a contemporary ver- “Come on, boy! sion and say, “Here, try this.” End the CALLING ALL UNUSUAL PETS ad with an offer to send a free copy of ” that translation. My nomination Do you own—or know an Adventist who owns—an interesting pet? We’d would be the New Century Version like to feature them on this page. Send (1) a photo of the owner and pet and from Word Publishing. Others—such (2) a short descriptive paragraph to Pet Show at the Give & Take address as the Good News Bible, or the below. Deadline: April 1. That’s a good boy. Contemporary English Version from the American Bible Society, or the “Come her New Living Translation from Tyndale— “Stay!” e, girl!” are also excellent. “Here, boy!” —Bob Dahl, Plymouth, Minnesota

WE NEED YOU Send Give & Take submissions to . . . Give & Take, Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904; Fax: 301-680-6638; E-mail: [email protected]. Please include phone number. Submissions will not be returned.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (199) 7 COVER STORY

Young Widowhood Not everyone’s Valentine’s Day is happy.

BY RUTH-ANN J. MOSBY

E WERE RUNNING A in my womb, they said, that could result in spontaneous abortion. My broken ribs would not be able to heal properly little behind schedule. while I was carrying a baby. My rib cage would expand to accommodate the baby, causing me excruciating pain. The It was already 1:30, and baby would likely be born with some type of disability, per- haps even blindness and/or deafness. My decision was firm we should have been at and final. No abortion.

our friends’ home by Lonely I soon realized that the best of life and the worst of life is W12:00 noon. But Tim had to finish a two-year project (18 that life goes on. My friends had to return to their new hus- bands; people had to return to work. Jai had to return to his months ahead of schedule), call his sister, and, on the way to special preschool program designed for the specific needs of autistic children. And I had to return to . . . what? our friends’ home, stop by the Army/Navy surplus store. Still injured from the accident, I was unable to work. I sat at home day after lonely day. Mostly I cried. It felt as if I could They would be his final acts. physically reach out and touch the loneliness. Daily around 4:30 p.m. I would imagine families reuniting all over the A car accident on Interstate 71 North left Tim brain-dead world, and I would sink even lower into depression. My heart in one hospital, our 2-year-old son, Jai, in another hospital ached worse than the morning sickness and broken ribs. with a slight concussion and head lacerations, and me in still I confided in a friend who had also been widowed at a another hospital with five broken ribs and a confirmed preg- young age. She gave me a key to her home and told me, nancy. In an instant my life was forever changed. I was 24. “Sometimes you just don’t want to be at home.” On some An immediate outpouring of love and support came from all days just looking at the key helped me to feel better. I also over the country. In the days before the funeral I was sur- frequently phoned some distant friends who never seemed to rounded by family and friends, neighbors and coworkers, and tire of listening to me. A large phone bill was a small price bombarded with phone calls, food, and cards. But as soon as the to pay to hear another human voice. funeral was over, the calls and the visiting decreased drastically. On Sabbaths I would go to church and put on my most My physicians advised me to abort the baby. I had a tear sincere smile. Usually that day was filled with potluck dinners,

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ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (201) 9 afternoon youth programs, and even assumed that the spouse had died in Weighing in at seven pounds, the Saturday night activities. But my fellow the “golden years.” There was scarcely handsome bundle of joy was born on church members had no way of know- any help available for me. I needed Father’s Day, June 16, 1985. When ing how my week had truly gone. Just some practical information about cop- Brandon was just 5 weeks old, my to crawl out of bed and put one foot in ing with young widowhood. I was father died of colon cancer. front of the other was a challenge. For overwhelmed with the responsibilities entire weeks I never got dressed. Simple of running a home, cutting the grass, Questioning God things like taking a shower or preparing rearranging the furniture, preparing a After a while I began to question a meal were sometimes unbearable. I nursery, handling the finances, main- God and tell Him that I didn’t like His was unable to think or feel—sometimes taining the car. plan for my life. Then I prayed for a even unable to pray. Next I attended a few single-parent- sign to show me that He had not aban- Whenever anyone called and asked ing groups. I certainly didn’t fit the doned me. Weeks passed, but nothing. me how I was doing, I’d respond in my pattern of a single parent. I found that So I stopped praying. What good was most cheerful and pleasant voice. I was the issues of child rearing were similar, that doing anyway? terrified that if I complained about my but I hadn’t experienced a divorce. I Then one morning I descended the situation, people would weary and stop soon began to feel out of place. steps to the basement to do yet another calling altogether. Many told me how Writing in my journal became a pile of unending laundry. I heard water encouraging and uplifting I was—they solace. It was the one way that I could swirling around, and as my foot had no clue that I was aching, vulnera- express my true feelings as I shuffled touched the basement floor I found ble, almost suicidal. There was an through the stages of grief—shock, myself ankle-deep in water. My entire unspoken assumption that I would get anger, guilt, bargaining, acceptance. basement was flooded. The recent on with my life and even talk of remar- On April 11, 1985, despondent and storm had caused the pump to back up. riage. I know people meant well, but feeling as if I just could not live A real mess. For me this was the last those “encouraging” words were dis- another day, I wrote: straw. I raced upstairs to my bedroom heartening. I longed for a sense of nor- “The fact is that I’m still very much and dropped to my knees and prayed, malcy and a return to life as I had in love with Tim. But I must remember “God, You said that You would be a known it to be. that my husband is dead. Dead. Dead. husband to the widows, and guess Death. Dying. I have to keep saying it what? I’m a widow, and a young one at Out of Place cuz it’s still difficult to believe. I don’t that. I don’t care what You have to do, I began to realize that perhaps I expect I’ll ever ‘get over’ him, but I but You mop my basement.” needed help that my family and friends wonder if I’ll ever be able to stop hurt- I gathered the boys and left the were unable to give. My physician sug- ing, to fill the void. Tim was so much a house. I was gone all day. When we gested that I attend a support group part of me. A part that is now dead. I returned home that evening, I put the and made all of the necessary arrange- can’t stop feeling guilty. We were both boys to bed and then went to bed ments. I was excited at the thought of in the car and both in the front seat. myself. The next morning I awoke and meeting others who truly understood. I So how did Tim die and I live? Perhaps went downstairs, fully intending to was in for a rude awakening. I shouldn’t have lived. clean up a messy basement. But there The group was designed for widows “I keep seeing couples . . . twos are was no sign of water anywhere. Even and widowers, and that’s the only everywhere. Two squirrels, two spar- more, there was no sign of water dam- thing we had in common. Tim died rows, two shopping carts touching in age anywhere. I ran my hands under just short of his thirty-fourth birthday; the middle of the parking lot. Every- the couch in the family room. Dry. I the group was filled with people whose where there are couples. Even Brother went to the piano. Dry and undam- spouses had died just short of their and Sister J are sitting together in aged. No damage to the washer and fiftieth anniversaries. While these church. We’ve lived in Columbus for dryer, the desk, the bedroom furniture, senior citizens were bemoaning that almost four years and I’ve never seen the stored boxes . . . everything was their spouses would never share their them together. bone-dry. I ran through the entire retirement years or see another grand- “And I keep seeing fathers with basement screaming like a lunatic. I child graduate from high school, I sat their sons. I’m trying to be brave, but knew that there was no human expla- watching my belly swell with our sec- this is simply awful.” nation for what had happened. ond child that Tim would never see. I About two months later I became a listened as long as I possibly could, but mother for the second time. I had spe- Healing finally stormed out of the meeting, my cial birth announcements made with a That was a turning point in my eyes burning with tears of anguish. double-exposed picture of Tim and me life. My true hope was in God. I knew I went home and cried that entire on the front. The inscription read: that with God in my life, I was no night. What was this thing called wid- “Tim’s last and most precious gift of longer alone. In a real and tangible owhood? Every book I found on it love to Jai and me was our son.” way He had shown me that He loved

10 (202) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 me just because. I then began to study to help. Shine shoes for the funeral, loved one was special to others as well. His Word. Oh, I had read the Bible pick up prescriptions, or supply the A funny story or anecdote can be before, but now I put the words in my house with toiletries, paper goods, sta- endearing during a time of a loss. heart. And I searched for stories in ples, and practical items. Offer to pick ■ Remember the “anniversary” date the Bible that touched me personally. up people from the airport or house of the death. Make a mental note—if The story of Ruth became especially out-of-town guests. Respond to the not of the day, then of the season. dear to me. (Ironically, my mother-in- concerns God places on your heart. Around that time send flowers or a law’s name was Naomi.) I found a ■ Offer simple condolences. A card or make a special telephone call God who comforted others whose brief, sincere “I’m sorry for your loss” is just to say you are thinking about the lives had hit bottom. Talk about a much more tasteful than a long disser- bereaved and/or the deceased. support group! I clung to God’s Word, tation. Also, avoid the story of Job. Remember holidays that may trigger trusting in His promises—and my bro- How about a hug instead? especially lonely times, especially the ken heart began to heal. ■ Understand that, whether sudden “firsts.” That first Christmas, I still saw couples, fathers with or expected, death is a painful process. Mother’s/Father’s Day, even birthdays, sons, and happy families, but I no And remember that grief has no time can be surprisingly traumatic. longer resented what I saw. While limit. Allow one year or more for a ■ Don’t try to be the “perfect” sup- before I had tried to put up a good person to adjust to the loss of a loved port—simply do what you can do. At front, now I could feel genuine happi- one. Let the bereaved talk freely— times like these words often fail, and ness for other people. I settled in my without fear of criticism. no one has the ability to be a complete mind that life is full of change and ■ Help out financially if you can. support system. that what we have today can easily be Some banks will freeze accounts when ■ Don’t presume to know exactly gone tomorrow. I learned that time they discover that someone has died, how a person feels, even if you’ve also and people are precious and that we even if it’s a joint account. Those experienced the death of a spouse or must learn to appreciate both. accounts can be frozen for as long as loved one. No one knows the heart Once God began to heal my heart, seven days. Even if the deceased had but God. ■ He impressed me that it was time to insurance, these claims may not be set- heal my emotions. I sought professional tled for three to six months or longer. Ruth-Ann J. Mosby lives in counseling. The ability to speak openly Often up-front expenses need to be Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about my grief, my life, and my needs handled immediately, which can with her husband, three was another necessary step in the heal- deplete the family’s income. sons, and a daughter. ing process. When after two years my ■ Relate an amusing or touching counselor suggested that I didn’t need anecdote about the deceased. It’s her anymore, I felt another loss. But always comforting to know that the this time I had the strength and the courage to face life on my own. I even returned my friend’s house key. I was invited to a baby blessing in Pittsburgh, and that’s where I met Alvin. He had an understanding heart and a listening ear. Five and a half years after struggling with widowhood, I remarried.

“Mourn With Those Who Mourn” When someone is grieving, we often don’t know what to do. We are stunned, shocked, immobilized. Yet we are called by God to “mourn with those who mourn.” How do we do that? Here are some suggestions: ■ Pray earnestly for them—and for yourself. Pray for wisdom and a caring heart. Only God knows exactly what grieving people need and when they need it. ■ Find practical and specific ways

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (203) 11 DEVOTIONAL

For All Who Feel Average Lessons from my personal journey

BY STEPHANIE GULKE

AM AVERAGE. then someone stole my idea, so I was left with nothing. Not brilliantly average or even pathetically average. I used to be proud, and I really hate to admit this, but Just plain old average average. maybe even a little cocky about my writing. I do a lot of different things very so-so. I thought, yeah, sure, I could be syndicated. Why not? I play a little piano, a little tambourine. I can sing a But that was before I took an upper-division writing class Isong, but it definitely won’t bring tears to your eyes or goose and realized that I am a nothing. That my short sentences bumps to your arms—and usually it’s along with the radio. and made-up words are ridiculous and I need to get some I ski and swim, horseback-ride, and land a mean roundoff, serious, probing topics to write on. but the only awards on my mantel are the “Grammy” I won That was before I realized how many people there are in college at a Valentine’s banquet and a blue ribbon from who were born to write. And I’m not talking about silly the 4-H fair when I was 9—for my Rice Krispies Treats. And ding-dong essays, either. There are immensely creative souls I think that was a fluke. How can one plate of Rice Krispies who breathe poetry and prose. People who crank out two Treats really be that much better than the next? books a month. Artists who have been writing since they Yep. Mediocre. That’s me. were 4. There are students and coworkers whom we pass in And the problem is, I’m not quite sure how I ended up the hall, people whom we chat with every day, who write this way. eloquent lines and encourage intense thought. I always had high dreams. I always imagined grand And then I felt embarrassed. Embarrassed that I’d ever accomplishments and medals, honors, and speaking engage- read my opinion aloud, printed a column in my school paper, ments. I always thought I would be fabulous and deserving of or sent an article to a publisher. praise, but I’m beginning to realize that that’s just not going I felt embarrassed for ever thinking that I was funny or to happen. clever, that I had a moving point or swayed opinions. I felt I don’t have “it.” I don’t have the ambition or umph. I embarrassed for my puffed-up attitude. Embarrassed because I don’t have the talent. was but a measly wild clover in the prairie of life.

Reality Setting In Wondering and Wishing There was a time when I thought that maybe writing was So here I sit at average, wondering where all of my “my thing.” That this was my spiritual gift with which I could childhood dreams went. Wondering what I do that makes touch lives and make a difference. I used to lie in bed and think me special or changes the world. Wondering whatever hap- about what I could write a book on . . . you know, so I could pened to my book deal, my ice-skating career, my Meals- live off the royalties and wouldn’t have to get a “real job.” But on-Wheels mission project that would change dinner hour

12 (204) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 for seniors across America. shock there. We knew it all along.” been kind to their annoying neighbors Here I sit wishing I had taken that But there are others. There are those and smiled in the checkout line. leap of adventure and just tried. Wishing who set their minds and refuse to take There will be teachers who encour- I had the guts to step out and say Here I no for an answer. Those who don’t age excellence in their students and am, ready to shout greatness. exude brilliance, but who accomplish mold bratty children into gracious, Wishing I wasn’t just average. because they say they will. They are responsible adults, and men who turn I wonder how these people who are tenacious and spirited and won’t give up. hearts to Christ through their gentle- president of this and editing that, They’ll make fools of themselves and ask ness and accepting ways at the restau- these people who intern and produce, questions and do anything to get what rant every morning. publish and compose, draw and get the they want. And they will. Because There will be couples and families, top scores every time, do it? they’ve worked hard for it. Because that’s grandparents and single mothers, who I wonder if they ever see themselves their dream. Because they deserve it. will do so much for not an ounce of as average or if they know they are far recognition. No one will ever know. ahead of those of us who just go along On a Different Level They will never be thanked or put on digging life? And then there are the seemingly a plaque or applauded for. Yet they are But most of all, I wonder if they average. miles from mediocrity. always knew they were going to be Those who don’t make millions of They are the souls who inspire us to brilliant? Did they always know what dollars. Those who will never be on the be more. Who enrich our lives and they were going to make of their lives? news or in the papers. They will never nourish our spirits. Is it all just a part of the fateful plan have accomplished titles or prizes The souls who encourage us to love that always works out for some and behind their names. They will work ourselves. To show tenderness. To open never for others? Or is it this immense normal jobs and have children and our hearts. MODIFIED Y talent that encompasses their lives? make dinner and go to the Wisconsin And there’s nothing average about ALL Talent that cannot be denied? Dells once a year for a family outing. that. ■ IGIT

/ D I think for some it’s a given. They will There will be people who to the

ISC be great. They will win awards and hang outsider are not much to speak of, but D Stephanie Gulke is a gradu- their art in galleries. They will land in truth are the most accomplished of HOTO ate student at Loma Linda record deals and start Fortune 500 busi- all because they have touched people’s © P University. nesses. They will come back to reunions, hearts. Because they have shown Jesus HOTO

P and everyone will say, “Yeah, so. No in their daily lives. Because they have

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (205) 13 CUTTING EDGE CONVERSATIONS

Ed Reid: Proclaiming the End Wake-up call? Or date setting?

ANDY NASH INTERVIEWS ED REID

An ordained minister and licensed attorney, G. Edward Reid aspects of your books is what some call “the 6,000-year the- serves as the stewardship director for the Seventh-day Adventist ory,” or “the great week of time.” In Even at the Door, page Church in North America. Over the past few years, though, Reid has 152, you write: “. . . God will use His cycle of seven, in this been best known for his books on end-time events. Even at the Door case 7,000 years, to complete the cycle of the great contro- (1994), Sunday’s Coming! (1996), and Ready or Not? (1997)–all versy—6,000 years for the great controversy struggle with evil published independently but distributed by the Review and Herald followed by the sabbath rest of 1,000 years for the earth.” Publishing Association—have each been top sellers among Adventists. How convinced are you that this will actually happen? I believe that it’s a biblical concept. By the way, I didn’t NASH: In 1993 you published a best-selling book—It’s Your always. When I first heard about this I thought it was proba- Money, Isn’t It?—on money management. When and why did you bly coincidental, and I didn’t think it could be supported in decide to write books about the end-time? the Bible and in the Spirit of Prophecy. But the more I found, REID: Interestingly, I never have thought of myself as a the more convinced I became. Just a couple examples: writer, and I never had any illusions of writing a best-seller There are two places in the Bible—Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter or anything like that. In fact, the Review and Herald came 3:8—where “with the Lord a day is like a thousand years.” and asked me to write the book on money management. But (By the way, Ellen White and J. N. Andrews comment that when it sold well, I had the confidence to think, Well, maybe 2 Peter 3:8 talks exclusively about the Second Coming and I could write the material I’ve been researching on prophecy. its imminence.) The early Christian church fathers pointed Are you surprised that your end-time books have sold out that God told Adam, “In the day that you eat of this so well? fruit, you will die.” Remember that with God a day is a thou- Not really, because I think that there has been a vacuum sand years, and Adam died at 930 years. God didn’t let him in this area. As the Bible predicted in Matthew 25:5, while pass a thousand years. This is fascinating. the bridegroom seemed to delay, people slumbered and slept. Then you have the sabbatical year—the Babylonian cap- So you had sleeping people, even sleeping pastors. I mean, I tivity, the 70-year exile. The Bible says that the Israelites went was one myself. into captivity because they hadn’t honored the sabbatical year. People don’t read my books because of my writing ability. During that time the land was keeping its Sabbaths, according They read them because of the content and because every- to 2 Chronicles 36:21. It was desolate, and the cities were bro- thing is well documented. ken down and so on. This same language is used to describe Some people say end-time authors today are just look- the millennium in Jeremiah 4:23-27. ing to make an opportunistic buck. Why do you think the 1,000-year period even exists? Does You don’t write books for the Adventist Church to make the judgment really take a thousand years? The reason is that money. the earth is lying desolate, keeping its Sabbath. Our pioneers Certainly one of the most intriguing—and controversial— called it the great Sabbath—or the seventh millennium.

THE14 (206) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 Would you say that the texts you efforts than it ever has to fulfill clock only wakes up sleeping people.” cite in your books provide exegetical Matthew 24:14. What I am wanting to do is say: “Hey, support for the “great week of time” What about the Islamic community? these are my friends—and Jesus is theory? That’s a very good question, but almost here.” From a legal perspective, I would remember, just a few years ago we were Returning to the “great week of say that instead of a smoking gun, we asking questions about China and the time”: Would there come some point, have a preponderance of the evi- Berlin Wall. The Lord is working, and say, A.D. 2020, when you would dence—although I believe significant He is going to finish the work. revisit your belief in this theory and exegetical support can be found. Can you understand how some say, “Apparently I misunderstood You mentioned J. N. Andrews. people would call your books “soft these prophecies”? He actually thought that the 6000 date setting” and say that the only I would say that, yes. I want to be years would end in the late nine- thing stopping Ed Reid from setting a honest with people and with myself. teenth century. specific deadline for the Second But at the same time you are asking Anybody can do a chronology, but Coming is the fact that he doesn’t me a hypothetical question at this my chronology or yours is immaterial know when the 6,000 years are over? point in time. What if somebody came to the principle. I can understand that question, but to Noah at the end of the 119th year Now, you don’t believe that Jesus I think I have already answered it in and asked, “What if it doesn’t rain will necessarily return right at 6,000 one way when I say that I don’t think next week?” years. we’re going all the way to 6,000. I Do you think Y2K could play a That’s actually true. The other time think God is going to come short of part in all this? prophecies were fulfilled right on time that, but that’s His judgment. The fact I think Y2K could cause instability so that we could have confidence in is, if we believe the end is near, then in a society that has been so stable for them. But Matthew 24:22 says that for we have a duty to tell other people, so many years. If things are falling the elect’s sake, time will be cut short, because if you believe you are leaving apart, people could actually say that and Romans 9:28 says that the Lord here soon, you would be changing we need to get back to God. As I men- Himself will finish the work. some of your plans. For example, the tioned in Sunday’s Coming! the reason So you believe that Jesus will goal of Christians would be to go to that people call for Sunday laws is not come at or before 6,000 years. heaven penniless—you know, zero to make it difficult for Sabbathkeepers, My personal judgment is He could down their accounts. From a steward- but to try to save the United States. come early, but He will not come ship perspective, we want to be trans- When you read Adventist publica- late—not beyond 6,000 years. ferring funds over there, so I personally tions today, you don’t find even a On pages 157 to 159 of Even at think that as The Great Controversy fraction of the end-time articles that the Door, in which you discuss Bible says on pages 370 and 371, we are you found a century ago. Does this chronology, you note that Ellen instructed and required to know when disappoint you? White believed that exactly 4,000 it is near so that we can make ade- It really does, because Jesus Himself years passed between Creation and quate preparation. wanted everybody to think that He the birth of Jesus Christ. Assuming So that’s your purpose in preach- would come in their day. The blessed that Jesus was born in 3 or 4 B.C.— ing these things—that it should hope in Titus is that we are all looking as most scholars believe—at least change the way we live? forward to the Coming. Paul thought 2,002 years would have passed since Oh, yes, indeed. Whenever you that Jesus would come in his day. He then, meaning that we’re already past make an appointment—such as an air- said that when the dead in Christ rise, 6,000 years. Correct? line appointment or whatever—there we who are alive and remain will rise. Ellen White was using Ussher’s are certain preparations that you have The third angel’s message is the final chronology, which was the best avail- to make. It’s not a legalistic thing to be message to earth. It’s repeated in able to her at that time. Essentially, we ready. Revelation 18 when God’s Holy Spirit have approximately 4,000 years to the But shouldn’t we be doing these comes in greater power. I think that just time of Christ and approximately things anyway—being good stewards, as John the Baptist prepared the way for 2,000 years to our day. witnessing to people, praying more? that First Coming, the Adventist When you wrote Even at the Door Should it matter where we are on the Church has been called to prepare the in 1994, did you in your heart expect time line? way for the Second Coming. ■ that we would reach 1999? No, it shouldn’t matter—but here’s I actually did. I personally thought, the bottom line. Matthew 25:5 says Andy Nash is an Adventist based on 2 Peter 3, that though Jesus is that while the bridegroom was delayed Review assistant editor. eager to return, He is so loving that He they all slumbered and slept. Some- wants more people saved. And the body once talked about my being an church right now is making greater alarmist, and I said, “Well, an alarm

ENDADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (207) 15 Valley View (Southern Oregon) June 18, 19 North American Division Camp Upper Columbia (Walla Walla College) June 16-19 Family Fellowship Festival Meeting Schedule for 1999 (Upper Columbia Academy) To Be Announced Hispanic (Walla Walla College) To Be Announced Washington (Auburn Academy) June 17-26 very year Seventh-day New Jersey Spanish June 27-July 3 Hispanic (Auburn Academy) Adventists all over the world Ohio June 13-19 To Be Announced come together for spiritual Pennsylvania June 11-19 Black Convocation (Camp Berachah) renewal at a time determined Potomac English June 22-26 To Be Announced by their local conferences. Potomac Spanish June 30-July 3 ETraditionally we call these camp meet- Pacific Union Conference Lake Union Conference ings, and they are usually held in the Arizona (Prescott) June 11-19 Illinois summer. Of course, we lack the space Spanish June 21-26 Central September 10, 11 Central California (Soquel) July 8-17 to list all of the worldwide camp meet- Hispanic September 8-5 Nevada-Utah (South Lake Tahoe) August 9-14 ings, but we have received the dates of Northern (Broadview Academy) June 11, 12 Nevada-Utah (Springville) June 21-26 those for the North American Southern September 17, 18 Portuguese August 20-22 Division. Plan now to attend your local Indiana (Indiana Academy) June 6-12 Nevada-Utah Convocation camp meeting. A few of these dates Hispanic September 3-6 (Las Vegas) March 19, 20 may change, so check with your pastor Lake Region (Camp Wagner) June 18-26 Northern California July 22-31 as the time gets closer. An updated list Hispanic August 6-14 Southeastern California July 31-August 7 will be published later. Michigan Southern California (Cedar Falls Conference Hispanic Center) To Be Announced Atlantic Union Conference (Camp Au Sable, Grayling) May 21-24 Bermuda June 18-June 26 Lower (Cedar Lake) June 16-25 Southern Union Conference Greater New York Upper (Camp Sagola) July 30-August 1 Carolina May 30-June 5 English June 30-July 4 Wisconsin (Camp Go Seek) June 18-27 Florida May 28-June 5 Hispanic July 16-24 Hispanic August 19-22 Georgia-Cumberland May 26-29 Portuguese May 28-31 Gulf States May 24-29 United September 4 Mid-America Union Conference Kentucky-Tennessee May 28-June 5 New York June 25-July 3 Central States June 11-19 South Atlantic June 13-19 Northeastern June 25-July 3 Dakota June 11-19 South Central June 6-12 Hispanic To Be Announced Iowa-Missouri June 1-5 Southeastern June 10-19 Northern New England June 25-July 3 Kansas-Nebraska May 28-June 5 Southern New England June 18-26 Minnesota June 11-19 Southwestern Union Conference Union: Franco-Haitian To Be Announced Native American Arkansas-Louisiana (Gentry) June 1-5 South Dakota (Pine Ridge) To Be Announced Arkansas-Louisiana (Baton Rouge) March 25-27 Canadian Union Conference Rocky Mountain North America Cowboy Alberta July 2-10 Eastern Slope July 9, 10 (Springtown, Arkansas) July 7-10 British Columbia July 23-31 Western Slope June 1-5 Oklahoma (Wewoka) July 16-24 Manitoba-Saskatchewan July 2-10 Wyoming July 13-17 Southwest Region (Lone Star Camp, Maritime July 23-August 1 Athens, Texas) June 12-19 Native American North Pacific Union Conference Texas (Fort Worth) April 24 Alberta (Bowden) June 3-8 Alaska (Interior) To Be Announced Asian (Nameless Valley Ranch) July 30, 31 British Columbia (Lytton) July 17-19 Alaska (Palmer) August 10-14 Texas (Pasadena) March 27 British Columbia (Port Hardy) May 21, 22 Alaska (Prince of Wales) To Be Announced Texas (Longview) May 15 British Columbia (Kamloops) May 21-24 Alaska (Vank Island) To Be Announced Texas (Keene) May 28, 29 Newfoundland July 19-24 Idaho June 15-19 Texas (San Antonio) February 27 Ontario July 8-11 Hispanic To Be Announced Texas (Valley/South Padre Island) April 9, 10 Quebec July 13-17 Montana (Mount Ellis Academy) June 23-26 Texas Korean Convocation To Be Announced Native American Texas Spanish June 2-5 Columbia Union Conference Alaska (Dillingham) Past (January 21-23) Texico (Albuquerque) June 8-12 Allegheny East June 24-July 4 Alaska (Nome) Past (January 28-30) Texico Northern (Lake Hopewell) July 16, 17 Allegheny West June 23-27 Oregon Texico El Paso Convocation Chesapeake June 15-19 Gladstone Campground To Be Announced (Nameless Valley Ranch) August 21, 22 Mountain View June 18-26 Hispanic Camp Meeting To Be Announced New Jersey English June 18-26 Portland July 13-17

16 (208) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 THE X-CHANGE Blasting Off A. ALLAN and DEIRDRE MARTIN

ecently I visited a church in which a variety 2. They involved young, creative individuals. I can live with of music was featured. The first number was some squirming if it means young people are participating and performed by a duo who pantomimed the song expressing worship. You have to give the con- “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” The gregation credit for using the young talents. church seemed moved by the fanci- 3. The worship served as a catalyst for con- Rful notions of movement. gregational involvement. I’m intrigued with The song just prior to the sermon the action verbs you use in your account: had me squirming in my seat. It was “moved,” “squirming,” “joined in.” Some rendered by a group of young people churches could use only the verbs “sit” and dressed in black with white gloves. The “snore.” song was one I had heard before—“I Believe I get the feeling that the sermon topic might I Can Fly,” from Michael Jordan’s movie have been something about God’s care for us, Space Jam. Interestingly, a large number in and the encouragement for believers to take the congregation joined in on the chorus. wing. That’s good stuff, a worship meal that As the song ended, a visiting literature evangelist (a inspires me to soar just imagining it (see Isa. 40:31). student) moved to the microphone. He said he thought Using songs, using young people, using involvement, we should all get on our knees and ask forgiveness. He using all things to the glory of God, is all right by me. continued by sharing his thoughts on how we had blas- Deirdre’s reply to the second question: I agree with the phemed God’s house by using a secular song for worship. student’s concern. Popular secular songs are very difficult to Two questions: What do you think of using songs like use in worship services. this for worship? And what do you think of the literature But I’m angered at the judgmental attitude displayed. evangelist’s response? More young people are pushed away from the church by dis- Allan’s reply to the first question: We often respond plays of “righteous indignation” than anything else. Too quickly to a “hot potato,” in this case song selection, rather often we don’t carefully consider the impact of our words than dealing with the entire meal. But since you asked, let and actions. me start with some questions of my own: It would’ve been best if the student had taken the per- 1. Did the overall program inspire and point the congre- formers aside after the program and tried to understand what gation to God? they were trying to do. If he still had concerns, he could 2. What was the intention of the various elements of the share them in a private, individual setting. worship? Did they accomplish their intention? Besides, those who are “visiting” need to be aware that 3. Did the elements facilitate or subtract from worship? they may not have all the information or the relationship From what little you shared, I’m impressed by the church’s with the group. It would be wise to be conservative with our desire to incorporate creative and diverse ways to express the conclusions without context and liberal in giving others the gospel. And I’m delighted to hear of young people so promi- benefit of the doubt. nently involved in the worship experience. This is positive. If someone is offended by what is going on, pray hard. I empathize with your difficulty in keeping your mind Then quietly leave. If you don’t have the heart to share your focused on worship. Given my passion for basketball, I too concerns gently and gracefully, then simply pray for wis-

REWS may have become distracted. But overall there seems to dom—both for them and for yourself. C

Y have been considerable merit to the worship experience. ERR

T 1. They spoke in a divergent cultural language to convey

BY Allan and Deirdre Martin are cofounders of the gospel. “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” spoke to some in dre•am VISION ministries, dedicated to TION the congregation, much in the same way that “I Believe I empowering young people in Christian Can Fly” spoke to others. I admire a worship service that lifestyle and leadership. LLUSTRA I tries to reach a cross-generational congregation.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (209) 17 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES Snakes Alive in Maluku Divine providence saves ADRA project.

BY JACK MAHON, A RETIRED WRITER AND EDITOR LIVING IN ENGLAND

n eastern Uganda the Adventist He quickly became aware that he was writhing, spitting serpent. Gasping Development and Relief Agency not alone in the excavation as some through gritted teeth, the digger con- is transforming the shantytown frantic beast panted and pulsated tinued his death grip and wrestled the of Maluku into a garden suburb. around his feet. He became instantly snake up against jagged rocks for what One part of the program—the aware of what was happening as a sec- seemed like hours. Ideep latrine—ADRA uses as a front ond body hurtled down the shaft. Shouting to his companion to haul line against disease. Each of the trim The latest arrival was long, moist, him up, he burst into nervous laughter. new dwellings in Maluku is built from and scaly, causing cold sweat to break Not until more than an hour had passed the soil excavated from the deep shaft from the digger’s face. He didn’t need could he give a coherent account of his of the new toilet on each building plot. the faint light filtering from above to subterranean struggle. With cement, 4,000 profiled blocks, realize the identity of his second This story is an authentic account of a cunningly contrived to interlock without unwelcomed guest. Above the thun- duel in the dark, which almost claimed mortar-bonding, form a solid weather- der-beat of his own heart’s pounding the life of a man. In a way, it is a kind of proof, verminproof building in parable in the African idiom of a predetermined sanitary envi- what has been happening ronment. Doris Jorgensen, aboveground in eastern ADRA’s country director for Uganda. Uganda, who took on the chal- In turning the shantytown of lenging task of the Maluku Maluku into a garden suburb, “makeover,” told me the story there was an unfortunate reac- of the sinking of one such tion by some local criminals. latrine shaft. Sheltered in dismal dwellings, To construct a deep latrine, surrounded by the poor and a two-person team is required. unfortunate, were some small- Taking turns, the two men BREAKING UP THE FALLOW GROUND: ADRA projects in Uganda include time crooks. Although these excavate the soil layer by agricultural training and garden projects, as well as water conservation individuals appeared to favor layer. As the hole gets deeper, and clean water supply for the community, slum resettlement, primary the transformation of their it is no longer possible for the health service provision, and microenterprise development. town, they were secretly digger to throw the soil up on opposed to any change that to the surface, so he fills the basket and came the hiss of a king cobra. would take away the livelihood they then shouts to his companion to haul it It was a simple scenario. The snake made from their neighbors. up, using the windlass. was hungry, and here was a big rat. In other words, the beautiful garden As the shaft gets deeper, the light The battle began—a swift strike, a of the transformed Maluku already had fades and the digger needs a candle to near miss, and rapid pursuit. The three its resident “serpent.” And as the evil see where to dig and fill the basket in creatures recognized that only one reptile raised its ugly and malevolent the close confines of the shaft, which would emerge alive. The rat had sharp head, murder would halt the program is not much wider than his body. teeth; paralysis and quick death were of change at Maluku. On one occasion the digger on one in the serpent’s fangs; but the man “The answer is simple,” said the big team reached about 10 meters deep scarcely moved to protect himself. man with the puckered scar on his fore- when a sudden life-threatening crisis With an instinctive reflex action head. “All we have to do is take Moses occurred. His first warning was a sud- the man in the hole managed to grab Okello out. We’ll get people from out- den flurry of soil falling on his head the cobra below its venomous jaws. All side to do the job so that we keep in and a hairy body plummeting down he could do with the strength of des- the clear. I know just the bunch of lads and extinguishing the candle in its fall. peration was to hold on to the who will do the job for us at a reason-

18 (210) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES able price. Once Okello is killed, no delayed the project. to carry out a similar contract killing, one else will take the job on. ADRA The man who saved Moses’ life, and the gang had been ambushed by the will abandon the project, and for us it the project, had an extensive criminal police and, in the ensuing gun battle, will be back to business as usual. What’s record. He was a member of the gang, had been wiped out. Christians in more, all these do-gooders who want to but had become sold on Moses’ dream. Maluku are convinced that the same clean up our patch will think twice He had a conflict of loyalties. For several God that allowed ADRA to trans- about tangling with us in the future.” days he was deeply troubled, and nights form their town made doubly sure the The conspirators planned to “take brought only anxious dreams. After one “evil serpent” would be banished out a contract” on Moses Okello, the of these nights he came to Moses’ office from the garden. project manager. The choice of Moses and shocked Moses with his disclosures. Although he seemed somewhat sub- was, from the view of the conspirators, Despite his criminal record, the dued for several days when the con- an intelligent choice. Although not an man voluntarily accompanied Moses to spiracy to murder him was revealed, architect or a building technician, the the police headquarters and gave a full Moses is a firm believer in divine pro- young, dynamic sociology graduate was account of the conspiracy. The police tection. Today, however, he rarely goes an ideal “front” man. It was Moses acted swiftly, and all the conspirators out after dark, and in his office eats who gave the vision of the new were jailed. Two of them were and drinks only the food and water he Maluku. He persuaded people to move respectable councillors and members of has prepared. their dwellings to make way for devel- the Maluku Development Committee. There is no halt in the develop- opment. He persuaded 100 families to When the police discovered the ment work of Maluku. In fact, the clear the new school building site. identities of the men who had taken tempo has increased. Day by day and Moses was a tall, smiling man of out the contract to kill Moses, they month by month the appearance and great influence. Maybe the would-be shrugged their shoulders. “They will character of the town are changing, murderers did have a point. To kill not give us any more trouble,” they as trim houses take the place of the Moses Okello would have seriously said. Two days before, while attempting tumbledown shacks.

NEWSBREAK

Adventists Take School Battle to or increase administrative costs,” says Trujillo. “They are European Court of Human Rights asking for the same right given to majority religions of rec- ognizing their choice of the day of worship. It is unaccept- able to think that religious liberty is a question of numbers wo Seventh-day Adventist families began proceedings of members or that respect for difference operates only T at the European Court of Human Rights following the when there are no differences.”—Adventist News Network. refusal of the Luxembourg school system to allow their children to observe the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday). ADRA Compound Reported Burned and Looted Until the 1990s Adventists had arranged permission in South Sudan for their children to be absent from school on Saturdays, reports Jacques Trujillo, religious liberty director for the The Adventist Development and Relief Agency Adventist Church in the region. (ADRA) compound in Chukudum, south Sudan, was “However, since 1993 the Luxembourg authorities reportedly burned and looted in mid-January while two consider that any such exceptions to school requirements local military factions spent three days fighting nearby. cause interruptions to the running of the school system,” The United Nations helped evacuate 14 expatriate says Trujillo. ADRA staff to Lokichokio, Kenya, the United After the case was pursued through tribunals in Nations/Operation Lifeline Sudan (UN/OLS) headquar- Luxembourg, it was brought before the European Court ters in northern Kenya, after the staff spent three days last December. While accepting the need for regulations hiding. ADRA is a member of the UN/OLS consortium governing school attendance, the families appeal to their of 40 nongovernmental organizations. religious convictions and the internationally recognized “While bullets from the warring factions flew through human right to observe the day of worship of their Chukudum and the surrounding hills, ADRA staff hid in choice. The case highlights a discriminatory situation a roofed bomb shelter. Bullets continued to whiz over against a religious minority that needs to be resolved, as their heads,” reports Robin Willison, acting country is the case in most parts of the world, reports Trujillo. director for ADRA/South Sudan. “There was no food or “Adventists are not seeking to upset the school routine water except when someone was brave enough to venture

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (211) 19 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES Get Connected

BY STEPHEN CHAVEZ, ASSISTANT EDITOR, ADVENTIST REVIEW

icrosoft’s latest ad campaign ends with the words having conversations, cooperating on projects, solving prob- “Where do you want to go today?” Those words lems, planning for the future. Malways follow action images of people biking, danc- Making a difference requires personal contact. It’s not ing, painting, cooking, kayaking, playing musical instru- as comfortable as sitting alone in a room with your hand ments, writing the great American novel, etc. on a mouse, but in the long run it’s surely more effective. But who’s going to do anything if they are, in fact, plant- Getting involved with others is risky; it’s time-consuming; ed in front of a computer monitor? it calls for commitment. It’s a life of activity and some- While Internet designers and com- times frustration, emotional highs and puter makers give the impression that NEWS COMMENTARY lows, and—ultimately—great rewards. surfing the Web has substantially altered When Jesus calls us to fish for fol- the way we live our lives (and in some ways it has), it’s still lowers, I don’t think He means for us to do it from the a person-to-person world. And even though the Internet shore (or from somebody’s website). He means for us to provides access to thousands of sites all over the world, vis- get in the boat; to feel the sea breezes, to taste the salt iting a website is no substitute for being there in person. on our lips, to hear the sound of the waves splashing The computer is a terrific tool, but unless you have a very against the bow, and, most important, to listen to the long cord (or a powerful battery), you still have to go out Captain’s voice. (sometimes) and get involved in real life—where people are Microsoft won’t take you there.

NEWSBREAK

out for a few minutes, at peril to their lives.” “After the UN security appraisal, ADRA will have Not only was the compound reportedly burned and more definite information on the situation in Chukudum,” looted during the fighting, but several of ADRA’s six says Randy Purviance, ADRA program management vehicles may have been removed. “I’m not sure what is bureau chief and senior grants administrator. going to happen with these vehicles or to our com- pound,” says Willison, “but I expect it will be a few more Y2K Bug Goes to Church weeks before the UN goes in to check on the situation and give our employees the approval to go back to work. Many Adventist churches in North America con- This emergency occurred in a location where there was fronted the Y2K problem one year early. The problem, previously little insecurity.” which surfaced in early January 1999, affects about 2,000 Most recently ADRA has been operating a United congregations using Church Accountant software devel- States Agency for International Development (USAID)- oped by the Lake Union Conference. funded child survival and veterinary health-care project. The problem arises in the contribution entry program Additional funding provided by the Dutch government is that checks the date to make sure it is not more than one enabling ADRA’s team to renovate 38 water pumps that year in the future or one year in the past, says Harvey have fallen into a state of disrepair. In western Equatoria, Kilsby, the software developer who wrote the program. large grants from Denmark and Sweden are enhancing edu- Because the next year after 1999 is 2000, the program cational opportunities for these desperately poor people. will not accept any date and prevents contribution In partnership with other nongovernment organiza- entries after the first batch of 1999. tions, among them the United Nations Children’s Fund The software fix was released last year, but only half of (UNICEF) and World Vision International, ADRA dis- the local conferences using the program ordered the tributed 98 tons of food biscuits and 20.58 tons of milk update. Many of the entities that received the update powder since early July of 1998. An estimated population didn’t install it until the problem arose. Kilsby contacted of more than 140,000 moderately and severely malnour- conferences, explained the problem, and sent out an ished people in Bahr al-Ghazal and eastern equatorial additional 900 updates. Nearly 1,000 software updates regions of south Sudan received help from this effort. had been shipped in 1998.

20 (212) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES

Religion in the News For Your Good Health

Mormon Missionaries: No More E-mail Home Sticks and Stones . . . and Words Can Hurt The Mormon Church has told its young missionaries Hostility and higher levels of cholesterol have previ- around the world they may not use e-mail and faxes as ously been associated. But a new Duke University study ways of communicating with families and friends back shows it’s people who express their hostility in an antago- home. nistic way—in either a verbal or physical manner—that Don LeFevre, a spokesperson for the church, said there are most at risk for elevated cholesterol levels. People who will be exceptions to the new policy for missionaries living feel angry but seldom take it out on others have a lower in areas where postal service is poor. The church has risk.—Annals of Behavioral Medicine. always tightly controlled communication between mission- aries—typically young men in their early 20s—and their Grape Juice: It Does a Heart Good families as a means of keeping the missionaries focused on Purple grape juice seems to have the same effect as red their work. Missionaries are allowed to phone home only wine in reducing the risk of heart disease. While twice a year—on Christmas and Mother’s Day—and are researchers call the process extremely complex, purple not supposed to write more than once a week. grape juice appears to increase the bloodstream’s levels of But LeFavre said that given the convenience of e-mail, nitric oxide. This chemical reduces the amount of blood “some missionaries may be communicating more than platelet clumping in arteries, and helps dilate (or widen) once a week, and that would detract from missionary blood vessels. Both of these effects reduce the likelihood work.” However, Bonnie Carter, of Orem, Utah, called the that blood clots will block arteries and cause a heart policy change “a cruel move” at a time when several mis- attack.—American Heart Association. sionaries have been injured or killed in foreign countries, the Associated Press reports.—Religion News Service. —compiled by Larry Becker, editor of Vibrant Life, the church’s health out- reach journal. To subscribe, call 1-800-765-6955.

NEWSBREAK

Voice of Hope Program on Polish State Radio on many local FM radio stations, and the number is growing. Television programs are also broadcast on 18 After more than 18 months of negotiations, officials of independent cable TV stations. “Some of the stations the Voice of Hope Media Center in Poland and Polish have worked with us for more than three years and State Radio reached an agreement allowing Voice of Hope have already transmitted many programs, including programs to be aired on Polish State Radio. the NET ’96 series, family life issues, and Bible Phil Follett, a General Conference vice president, prophecy,” says Pastor Chalupka. “We believe this is was present for the signing of the contract. “I wrote a just the beginning.” letter to the president of Polish Radio requesting the finalization of the contract and mentioning that the News Notes visit of Pastor Follett will give an international aspect to the occasion,” says Roman Chalupka, media center ✔ A Lutheran minister has joined the Seventh-day director. Adventist Church in India, reports Dorothy Eaton Watts, The contract gives the church the guarantee to associate secretary of the Southern Asia Division. have 12 programs on public radio—one per month. Through Bible studies and literature ministry, Pastor The programs prepared will be broadcast on the sec- Ponda of the Koraput district accepted the Sabbath and ond Sunday and will cover the whole country. The was baptized. Seventh-day Adventist Church is only the third church organization in Poland to receive such a privi- What’s Upcoming lege. The others are the Roman Catholic Church and the Polish Ecumenical Council. Feb. 13-20 Christian Home and Marriage Week “We treasure the good cooperation with the Voice of Feb. 20 Youth Temperance Day Hope Radio that we’ve had for many years and know Feb. 20 Health and Temperance Magazine how much you care for people in the area of health edu- promotion cation,” said S. Popiolek, Polish State Radio president. Mar. 6 Women’s Day of Prayer The Voice of Hope Media Center is broadcasting Mar. 13 Adventist World Radio Offering

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (213) 21 LIFESTYLE

BY CHRISTOPHER J. SMALL

T WAS A LOVE STORY, A VALENTINE’S color was fading to a bit less grotesque purple-red in the warmth of the cab. Day story from the very beginning. It had all the Tucking a dangling string of blood that he thought must be an umbilical cord between his fingers, Joshua finally slammed elements—romance, passion, love at first sight, through the kitchen door. The baby hadn’t made another sound since that first tiny squall, so Joshua was glad to hear tragedy near the end. It would have read like the 911 dispatcher say in a clipped but kindly voice that an ambulance was on its way right now, even as they spoke. the script of some second-rate soap opera with Only a couple years before, Joshua had been a teenage lifeguard at the local pool in the nearest town 15 miles away. Isome dashing TV doctor in a gleaming white coat smiling He didn’t remember much of the CPR course he’d had to take, but he knew he had to try. Whether it was the CPR or his Colgate smile . . . that is, if it had been made up, not he never knew, but at last the baby squalled again—a thin, tiny sound—and for the first time Joshua had some instead of real. hope that she might live until the ambulance got there. Joshua grabbed a new package of three sponges from under- Maybe it was Valentine’s Day, that chill February morn- neath the sink, ripped it open, and pulled out the pink one. ing when Joshua zipped up his windbreaker over a thick “For a little girl,” he said. wool sweater and went out to the east field to think about It was while he was wiping the blood slicked around the the year’s crop. He didn’t have love on his mind—no, nor baby’s nostrils and eyes Valentine’s Day, either. What the young farmer was thinking that Joshua finally about was fertilizer, high-yield seed, and combines. Babies found time to were the furthest thing from his thoughts. So it was with a wonder why great deal of surprise that he stumbled over one. this baby— Joshua had just pulled his battered old blue pickup over obviously just to the side of the bumpy dirt road and swung out of the cab, born, perhaps leaving his keys dangling in the ignition as he always did. in the back seat He half jumped over the ditch, where—the morning still of somebody’s dingy cold—water congealed at the end of a concrete culvert in old car that early what would, he hoped, be the last ice of the season. Joshua Valentine’s Day morning—should was just thinking that, given an hour or two, the sun would be in his field. melt it away and by midafternoon he might just leave his He’d seen trash bags filled windbreaker in the pickup when he heard something. with rotten watermelon rinds The sound reminded him a little of the pathetic squall a and beer cans dumped tiny goat makes just before the kid sucks its mother’s milk along the rural roads, for the first time or of a cat that knows it’s being bundled and even a lit- up for the vet’s, but too sick to make much fuss. But it ter of kittens wasn’t a goat kid or a kitten. or a mangy “It’s a baby.” dog left along- “It’s a baby,” Joshua said again, testing the words against side the dirt lanes—but never a baby! MODIFIED the slate-colored sky. In the city, the radio said, women sometimes left their Y Suddenly he was glad he’d left the keys in the ignition. children in trash cans or dumpsters, but never here in the ALL A IGIT Back in the pickup, Joshua cradled the baby against his country! Not a baby! He couldn’t think of anyone he had / D

chest with one hand—never mind the blood on his wind- ever met who would do such a thing. ISC D breaker—and tried to steer around the potholes with the “They didn’t want you.” other. After one particularly violent jounce, he glanced “They didn’t want you.” Joshua repeated. “I can’t believe HOTO © P down at the baby without taking his foot off the accelerator, no one cared.” HOTO

and was glad to see that some of the horrible purple-blue “But I care. And I want you. You can live with me.” P

22 (214) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 All the elements are here– romance, passion, love at first sight. But she couldn’t. He half jumped the ditch and, before know she was your wife. The unat- After the ambulance there was the she could say anything, swung his tached society men would do just police, and after the police, the social windbreaker around the young about anything to be seen escorting workers, and so on, all trying to help, woman’s shoulders. her, and a number of them have.” but all feeling that young Joshua, despite “Bet I know why you’re here,” he said. As it turned out, unattached men the fact that he was the one who found Later, sipping hot chocolate from weren’t the only ones seen on her the baby, wasn’t the one to care for her. steaming mugs in the old farmhouse arm—or entering her apartment. He saw her once at the hospital, kitchen, she told him the whole story. Joshua went home, unable to locate looking through the impenetrable It revolved around foster parents and his children, and was once again stymied thickness of a plate-glass window into agencies, and a deep feeling of insecu- by the courts. He raged at her during the what he called “the baby ward.” rity, never knowing where she came night and cried during the day. Another man slapped him on the back. from or whether she was ever wanted, Before long, it was Valentine’s. “They all look alike in there, don’t anywhere she went. By now, Joshua had no tears left to they?” “I wanted you,” said Joshua. “I cry, just an ache that pounded at his “No,” said Joshua coldly. always cared. It’s why I knew you’d be brain every day. He got in the pickup “Sorry. That your baby?” back, and why I kept looking for you and drove out to the east field. “No. Not anybody’s baby.” A figure was standing there. She A sergeant down at the police looked defiant. Joshua swung out of station had told him that the par- the cab and slammed the door. ents could not be found. Joshua He cared for her “How could you? You were my walked out of the station and out of wife. I wanted you! I cared for you! the hospital and went back to his as he always said Why didn’t you want me? Now farm. That year he let the east field you’re nothing but a sick prostitute. lie fallow. he would. No, you’re worse! They charge for But sometimes, when he was their services, but you entice men to driving by, Joshua stopped the old you and promise them gifts!” blue pickup, left his keys dangling, and year after year.” Joshua reached out and, thinking of trudged over to the spot where he’d He was 40 and she was 21. But as it his children, bunched the top of her found the baby. He’d stand there for turned out, the 20 years separating dress in his fists. He wrenched it and long moments, a young man alone them didn’t matter. And Joshua never heard a ripping sound as the garment with his dreams. He’d stare hard at the once felt like her father. He was smit- came apart in his hands. ground, then up into the sky, out ten. It was love at second sight. “Look!” he called out to the world. across the field, and finally, far down They were married a year later—on “See what my wife’s become!” the dusty dirt road. Valentine’s Day. Suddenly, all of Joshua’s fury was “She’ll be back. Someday.” Joshua doted on his wife, and lived spent. He leaned against her, noiseless, And every Valentine’s Day Joshua every minute for her. He gave her racking sobs shaking him for a long would drive out past the east field, softly everything her heart could desire and time. humming “Happy Birthday,” because he cared for her as he’d always said he “I forgive you.” knew he was the only one who cared. would. They had two sons and two “I forgive you,” Joshua said. “I Twenty years passed this way. daughters. The farm seemed like par- remember what I promised—to have Joshua expanded the family farm, adise. And Valentine’s was always their and to hold—to love and to honor in made successful deals, bought the com- special day. sickness and in health—in good times bine he had been dreaming about and But paradise wasn’t good enough, and and bad—till death do us part. I for- a great many other things. But for all Valentine’s lasted only one day a year. give you. Let’s go home.” * ■ his success and his acres and acres of The note Joshua found in the empty “amber waves of grain,” Joshua never house said she felt stifled, smothered, as * Of course it’s a true story! You can read the original in Ezekiel 16. forget the Valentine’s Day ritual. though she and the children needed to This year, when he got to the east make it on their own for a while, and field, Joshua looked twice. A pretty girl she appreciated the Visa card. stood on the other side of the culvert, Joshua followed her to the city, but wearing only a thin dress, and hugging then didn’t know how to go about her arms protectively around herself as finding her. Christopher Small is a pastor she looked out over the field. “Doesn’t matter,” an acquaintance living in South Haven, Joshua climbed down from his new in the State Department of Agriculture Michigan. blue pickup, leaving the motor idling told him. “Everyone knows her. Most and the keys swinging in the ignition. beautiful woman in the city. Didn’t

24 (216) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 LEAVING THE COMFORT ZONE The Little Sabbath CHRIS BLAKE School That Could

Dear Something Else, be a Friday night campfire, picnic potluck, or game night. How does a person even begin to thank you for what you The final 20-minute section is an interactive Bible study. have done for me? I can think of no reason my misfortune would Money ministries is perhaps the most cutting-edge ministry. matter to anybody. Especially something as “minor” as vandal- While also supporting local Sabbath school expense, it oper- ism—it wasn’t life-threatening or anything “important.” To think ates under five premises2 with 65 projects completed, totaling anyone would care about what was so unbelievable. nearly $20,000 (see a sampling in the center box). “I give more in Sabbath school than I ever have before,” says one Dear friends, member, “because I know it’s going to Thank you for coming to the rescue something worthwhile.” 1. $350 to Center for Abused Women of this school in Pakistan. What joy When a single mother didn’t show 4. $40 to young couple for Thanksgiving you’ve brought to the school personnel. for class one Sabbath, during prayer 10. $150 for electric/heat bills and grocery time it was announced that her car certificates for Lincoln family Something Else, had “died” on Thursday, and she was 12. $80 to Union College student for two That’s what you guys really are. The in danger of losing her child-care coats and a pair of slacks prayers, food, visits, the long card, and business as a result. The class took up 15. $194 for toys to Romanian orphanage phone calls kept us both going—knowing an instant offering and made pledges, 22. $782 for Christmas to four Lincoln that you were behind us in spirit and in the total reaching $875. The next families love. Don’t know what we would do day a car was bought. On Monday it 34. $220 to international student traveling without our Sabbath school class. You’re was licensed. On Tuesday she had her home after 11 years such an important part of our lives. business back. 35. $300 to victims of Grand Forks, North This information is mentioned Dakota, flood our years ago a Sabbath here as a spark of courage and hope 53. $1,200 to build six $200 churches in school was born. It was for those readers who are like-minded, Peru conceived under the best who desire their Christianity 57. $500 to send five Union College family planning condi- “intensely practical.” 3 Adapt the students to eXcite98 tions, and held two mis- ideas yourself. Anyway, I understand 59. $120 to buy sweat suits for people Fsion statements for life: “The king- that this approach has made burned out of their home in Lincoln dom of God does not consist in talk Sabbath school inspiring and but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20, RSV) “unmissable” for many members. I and “Christianity is always intensely practical” (Messages to know it has for me. Young People, p. 200).1 The church bulletin depicts the one-hour class as “point- 1 Too often, the members thought, Sabbath school is more talk than power, and intensely impractical. ing toward Christ, and propelled by five ministries. Prayer. 2 “1. Money ministry is a participatory process—it’s the members’ Time. Money. Study. Social.” In the beginning about 20 money, not the leaders’. 2. Acts 2—we give first priority to the needs pre- people showed up—now 50 or more attend. Each class is sented by our class members. 3. Projects from outside the class need to have a class sponsor to be seriously considered. 4. Limited, short-term financial divided into three 20-minute sections, with the first desig- help is what we offer to anyone in need. 5. Prayer for God’s leading is what nated for prayer, where a roller coaster of laughter and griev- we prefer to do before giving.” ing rolls along. 3 One member has developed a class website with more information: http://welcome.to/somethingelse. Time, social, and money ministries take up the next 20 minutes. An ongoing time ministry is the monthly opera- tion—buying food, cooking, serving, cleaning up—of a soup Chris Blake is a member of the College View kitchen downtown. Other time ministries are helping people Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lincoln, move, cleaning out a burned house, or setting up a free Nebraska. lemonade stand on a hiker/biker trail. Social ministries may

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (217) 25 P ARABLES OF THE KINGDOM

26 (218) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 OS INSECTOS IS A “it’s just a coincidence, of course, but ntil this time, the I’ve been thinking that we really need Orthopterenes on Riverside city like many to make a few changes around here as U Boulevard, being a compara- well.” The agenda went right out the tively conservative lot and one of another. It has its window, and before the evening was the very oldest congregations in the over, the Coleopterans had embarked city, had chosen to remain aloof museums and shop- on an exciting remodeling plan that from the mounting competition. But included a new wing for administration with all the growing media attention ping malls, its schools and an impressive stone facing across that the other churches were now the entire front of the building. receiving, the Orthopterenes simply Land sports stadiums. You may notice could not resist any longer. They hortly after construction on the removed the simple, steeply sloping that churches are not mentioned in Coleopterans’ administration shingled roof on their church and Swing had begun, the pastor of the replaced it with a breathtaking sys- this list. There is a perfectly good rea- Church of Hymenoptera, out on tem of arches that fairly commanded Highway 215, introduced to his con- one to turn eyes heavenward. They son: with regard to churches, Los gregation the idea of refurbishing the even added a buttress or two, though front of their church with white mar- the architect confided in a weaker Insectos is not a city like many ble pillars and expansive, concrete moment that the structure didn’t really need them at all. another. Whereupon the Lepidopterists, who, you will remember, unwittingly Many explanations have been By now began the whole building furor, put in offered for this state of affairs, but as some gardens with ponds and streams accurately as anyone can remember, the whole city and constructed a massive visitor cen- it all came about like this: ter, where guests could attend multi- of Los Insectos was media programs and buy books and ne congregation—the souvenirs. Lepidopterists over on buzzing. ODreamland Drive—decided hus, in an amazingly short time, one day to make just a few needful the good citizens of Los Insectos improvements in its place of worship, steps that rivaled those of the state T completely lost the vision of which had been built some 54 years capitol. From all his previous 14 years what a church is supposed to be. If you before. At the time it seemed a sensi- as pastor of that church, the pastor asked any of them to define the word ble and inspired thing to do. They could not recall a time one of his ideas “church,” they would invariably begin consulted a highly respected architect had inspired such enthusiasm from his describing a building, with all its archi- and called in a dependable contractor, church members. It gave him a thrill tectural possibilities, and they could do who helped them find a creative way to see how they took hold of his sug- this with unusual sophistication. They to move a wall or two and expand the gestion with such fervor. This was knew what a nave was, and a clere- entrance to the building to include something no one had mentioned back story, and a tympanum, and a purlieu. YMESON T three huge wooden doors, doors that in seminary. But in the process, they forgot that ILL

B had been hand-carved in Europe. By now the whole city of Los a church is made up first of mem- BY A few days after the completion of Insectos was buzzing. The Tattler and bers—not of mere wood and steel and the remodeling project at the Times, Los Insectos’ daily newspaper, glass and concrete. With regard to

MODIFIED Lepidopterist church, the choir direc- ran a full-length feature story with churches, Los Insectos is certainly not Y

ALL tor of the Coleopteran congregation in large photographs in four colors on the a city like many another. ■

IGIT the suburb of Hundley Woods hap- aesthetic improvements that the / D pened to drive by and just couldn’t churches of the city were making. help noticing the improvements to the Reports were broadcast on the 6:00 RAPHICS

G place. She was impressed. So at the news, in which architects and pastors beginning of the Coleopteran board were quoted and counterquoted in stir- Gary B. Swanson is the edi-

YNAMIC meeting that very evening, she com- ring sound bites. “With regard to tor of the Collegiate © D mented in an offhand way on how churches,” intoned a TV reporter for Quarterly and Cornerstone

TION much the Lepidopterists’ new look had channel 4, “Los Insectos is not a city Connections. He lives and improved their church. like many another . . .” Now things works in Silver Spring, LLUSTRA I “You know,” one board member said, really began to become interesting. Maryland.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (219) 27 FEATURE

Learning the Language Thirty Terms That Baffle New Adventists

BY THE EDITORS

ou may be one of more than 15,000 new Seventh- mote economic development, provide medical care, and dis- day Adventists picking up this journal for the first tribute clothing. time in February as you begin receiving a one-year free subscription funded by members and conferences Adventist Review (the Review, the Review and Herald)— throughout North America. To help orient you to the the weekly general church paper of the Seventh-day Ysometimes baffling terminology that Adventists use, we offer the Adventist Church (you are reading it now!), published first installment of an occasional dictionary of key Adventist since 1849, and offering news and inspiring articles about terms. The list is by no means exhaustive, and the definitions are Bible study, Christian experience, healthy lifestyle, only our own. E-mail us at [email protected] with Adventist heritage, and education. your suggestions of other terms that need some explanation! camp meeting—an annual multiday gathering of Seventh- ABC (Adventist Book Center, Book and Bible House)—a day Adventists in a given conference, often including on- Christian bookstore retailing Adventist and general site housing in cabins, tents, recreational vehicles, and trail- Christian books, magazines, Bibles, devotional materials, ers. Camp meetings offer inspirational preaching, music, educational resources, and vegetarian food products. Usually seminars, and fellowship to attendees, and may vary in located at or near the conference office, the ABC may also length from a single weekend to 10 days. Camp meetings operate a mobile van that brings products to local churches began in the early nineteenth century and have been a stan- on a specified schedule. dard feature of North American Adventism since the 1840s. academy—any one of 108 secondary schools operated by the celebration church—a usually unflattering reference to a denomination in North America. Academies usually offer an Seventh-day Adventist church that offers more contempo- accredited high school level and college preparatory program in rary worship and music styles. either boarding (residential) or day (school hours only) settings. They are staffed by Adventist faculty and administrators and church school—an elementary-level private Christian school, funded by denominational subsidies and parent-paid tuition. sometimes including kindergarten and usually extending through grade 8, operated by one or more Adventist congrega- ADRA—the Adventist tions in an area. Church school teachers and administrators are Development and Relief Seventh-day Adventists, as are most students who attend. The Agency. This school is usually funded by a combination of congregational humanitarian/disaster relief subsidies and parent-paid tuition. REWS C program operates in more than Y ERR 140 countries around the Communion (Lord’s Supper)—a celebration of the meal T world, coordinating both Jesus inaugurated with His disciples on the evening before BY

donated moneys and govern- His arrest and crucifixion (see Luke 22:14-20), often pre- TIONS ment grants to manage ceded by a service of foot washing (see below). Seventh- LLUSTRA hunger-relief programs, pro- day Adventists use unfermented grape juice and small I

28 (220) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 pieces of bread to symbolize the blood and body of the ence in which all baptized members are invited to participate Lord. Most Adventist churches celebrate Communion at in literally washing the feet of a chosen partner in accor- Sabbath worship services at least once a quarter, often on dance with Jesus’ command to His disciples (see John 13:3- the last (thirteenth) Sabbath of the quarter. 15), signifying a willingness to humbly serve each other as Christians. Many congregations provide separate areas for Community Services (Dorcas Society)—the local humani- men, women, and married couples. Foot washing can be a tarian outreach of one or more Adventist congregations in a powerful symbol of reconciliation between estranged mem- community, often providing free or reduced-price food, bers and is designed to spiritually prepare participants for the clothing, and assistance to needy persons or those displaced Lord’s Supper, which immediately follows. in natural or man-made disasters. GC (General Conference)—an abbreviated reference to the conference (conference office)—the administrative and General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the admin- resource center that coordinates the efforts of local con- istrative headquarters of the worldwide church, with offices gregations in a given region (e.g., Southern New England, in Silver Spring, Maryland. GC can refer collectively to all Ohio, Rocky Mountain, etc.). There are 52 conferences in the world departments of the denomination or, more fre- North America. In its earliest conception, the conference quently, to the Executive Committee and officers who help was a gathering of representatives from each Seventh-day to shape church policy between GC sessions (see below). Adventist church who met annually to coordinate evan- gelism, cooperate financially, and share resources. GC session—the quinquennial gathering of elected and Conference officers and departmental directors are now appointed delegates of the worldwide church to hear reports, elected at triennial, quadrennial, or even quinquennial elect officers, vote major policy initiatives, and plan for the sessions. After decades of functioning primarily as admin- mission of the denomination. Recent GC sessions have been istrative units for pastoral assignment, financial adminis- held in Indianapolis, Indiana (1990), and Utrecht, Holland tration, and local policy development, many conferences (1995). The next GC session will be held in Toronto, Ontario, are recasting themselves as resource centers to serve the Canada, from June 29 to July 8, 2000. More than 2,000 dele- mission of local congregations. gates are expected to attend. deacon, deaconess—literally, “servant” of the local church, independent ministries—privately organized and funded often responsible for helping to meet the physical needs of ministries operated by Adventists outside of the official members and of maintaining the church building and church structure. These may be supportive and cooperative, grounds. A deacon/deaconess may assist with offering collec- or founded on a criticism of some aspect of the church’s tion, ushering, coordinating church work bees, and assisting teaching or practice. needy members. junior camp (summer camp, youth camp)—an outdoor division—the largest administrative subsection of the activity/retreat center operated by each conference, usually denomination, often encompassing a continental land mass offering camping and outdoor recreation experiences for chil- (South America, North America, etc.), a transnational dren and youth aged 8 and older. Many camps now offer year- region grouped by common language (Africa-Indian Ocean) round experiences targeted to meet the needs of special popu- or history (South Pacific, Euro-Asia). There are 12 divisions lations, including singles, married couples, college students, in the world fellowship of Seventh-day Adventists. senior citizens, and men’s and women’s ministries. elder—the local leader of a congregation, responsible for help- Miller, William—early-nineteenth-century Baptist lay- ing to coordinate its life and mission in the community. There man-turned-preacher whose teachings about the prophe- may be multiple elders in a congregation, depending on its cies of Daniel and Revelation ignited the movement today size. An elder frequently helps to plan worship services in con- known as Adventism. Miller initially believed that Jesus junction with the pastor, may would return to earth during 1843-1844. With thousands serve on or chair the church of other Adventists, he was disappointed when Jesus did board, and may be responsible for not return on October 22, 1844. Groups of his followers, overseeing a given segment of the however, discovered that the events referred to in the key church’s ministry (youth ministry, prophecy of Daniel 8 occurred in heaven, and that while Sabbath school, etc.). no date can or should be set for the second coming of Jesus, believers should live in the confident expectation of foot washing (ordinance of His soon return. These believers soon rediscovered the humility, service of truth of the Bible Sabbath, and coalesced into the organi- preparation)—a pre- zation that was officially organized in 1863 as the Seventh- Communion fellowship experi- day Adventist Church.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (221) 29 ported by tithe. Both are collected each week during the worship Pathfinders—a youth ministry of the church for children service, and are differentiated by the designations members sup- and youth aged 9-16, focusing on spiritual growth, citizen- ply on the tithe and offering envelope, usually in the pew rack. ship, outdoor activities, recreation, skill-building, and crafts. Many local congregations sponsor a Pathfinder Club. Uncle Arthur—a familiar reference to Arthur S. Maxwell (1896-1970), whose 10 volumes of The Bible Story and many potluck (fellowship dinner, fel- volumes of Bedtime Stories provided decades of Adventist lowship meal, etc.)—a “bring children (and adults) with easy-to-grasp Bible knowledge your own dish” style meal, usu- and moral lessons. ally following a worship service, to which church members bring union—not a reference to a labor union, but to a midlevel a wide and wonderful variety of administrative unit of the denomination, usually coordinat- casseroles, salads, vegetable dishes, ing the work of four or more conferences in a region. (There and desserts. A great place to are nine unions in the North American Division of the sample local, and usually vege- church, for instance.) Unions assist with financial adminis- tarian, cuisine. tration, offer resource development, and help to provide edu- cational resources on a scale unavailable to most confer- the health message—a generic ences. Each union operates at least one accredited four-year term referring to Seventh-day college in its territory that serves the Seventh-day Adventist Adventism’s long tradition of constituency of the union. espousing healthful living, includ- ing dietary reform, lifestyle vegemeat—a generic term referring to any or all of more improvement, and natural reme- than 100 meat-substitute products made by a variety of dies. Often associated with the health food companies, including Worthington Foods, teachings of Ellen G. White, Morningstar Farms, and Loma Linda Foods, among others. Adventism’s health message is Vegemeat may refer to soy-based, wheat-based, or peanut- increasingly appreciated by secular based foods that health-minded church members employ to persons looking to make healthy reduce or eliminate the use of flesh foods in their diets. lifestyle changes. vespers (vesper services, sundown worship)—worship expe- the quarterly—the Sabbath school lesson guide provided at riences on either Friday or Sabbath evening, designed to the beginning of each quarter to each attending individual or assist members in welcoming the Sabbath or reflecting on its family for use in studying the Sabbath school lesson each week. meaning. Often coordinated at or near sundown times, these A quarterly is available for each age division of the Sabbath are frequently smaller and less formal gatherings of members school, and adult quarterlies can be obtained in large-print or in either homes or church buildings where testimony, Bible Easy English editions (in the North American Division). study, and music are enjoyed. the seminary—usually a reference to the Seventh-day White, Ellen G. (Ellen White, Sister White, the servant Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, in of the Lord, the pen of inspiration, etc.)—(1827-1915) Berrien Springs, Michigan. Graduate-level pastoral educa- prominent leader of the early Seventh-day Adventist tion in North America is offered at this site, usually Church who Seventh-day enrolling 400 or more students. Adventists believe exercised the biblical gift of prophecy during tithe and offerings—a dual term referring to two distinct her more than 70 years of public aspects of financially supporting the ministry of the Seventh- ministry. Her numerous books day Adventist Church. Tithe is a biblical concept (see Malachi and articles continue to power- 3:10 and Numbers 18:20, 21) refer- fully shape the church she helped ring to 10 percent of income, and to found and are considered by all members are encouraged to most Adventists to represent return tithe to God through His divinely inspired counsel for church to support the ministry of God’s last-day people on many preaching, teaching, and evangeliz- matters of Bible teaching, Christian lifestyle, and health. ing. Offerings are additional funds Author of such Christian classics as The Desire of Ages, donated by members to support the Steps to Christ, and The Great Controversy, her works have needs of the local congregation or been translated into dozens of languages and distributed in specified ministries not usually sup- millions of copies worldwide.

30 (222) ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 REFLECTIONS Are You New? BY ALETHA RODERICK

love children. They are so open and honest. It seems 147 texts that speak about something being new, but four of like just yesterday that we were at our daughter’s them spoke especially to me: home celebrating our youngest grandson’s birthday. Second Corinthians 5:17, 18: “Therefore, if anyone is Everyone was asking Jeffrey how old he was, in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has and he happily answered, “free,” as he proudly gone, the new has come! All this is from Iheld up three fingers for all to see. God, who reconciled us to himself As we sat around the table laughing and through Christ.” * talking, Jeffrey looked across at me and When very young, I gave my heart to sweetly said (in a voice that everyone the Lord. He made me new when He could hear), “You’re old, aren’t you, came into my life. Yet somehow, in my Grandma?” human way of thinking, it has been so long “Yes, I’m old, Jeffrey,” I humored that surely by now I must be old, like clothes him. that wear out, you know. And so the search “How old are you, Grandma?” continued. “Oh, I’m very old!” I replied, evad- In Ezekiel 36:26 God gave a promise of ing the question. renewal to the Israelites because He wanted to “How did you get so old, Grandma?” he show Himself holy to the surrounding nations persisted. through them. “I will give you a new heart and put a “By having so many birthdays,” I teased. “And from eat- new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of ing so much cake and ice cream.” stone and give you a heart of flesh.” His eyes grew big as everyone laughed, and we all assured God holds out the same promise to us today. How many him that the cake wouldn’t make him old like Grandma. times God has taken my stony, unforgiving heart and made Soon father and son disappeared for a few moments. it new. He keeps giving me a new heart even though I keep When they returned, Jeffrey ran to my chair and looked up putting things in there that dirty it—harden it—and have into my eyes, a sweet smile upon his face. to ask again for another one. If I had all my old stony hearts Cocking his head, he paused, and then: “Grandma, are stacked in our backyard, the pile would be large enough to you new?” erect an altar to the Lord. Does God run out of new hearts? I really liked the idea of being new. “Yes, I’m new,” I What are our chances of always having a new heart? answered. And with a hug he was off to play. Lamentations 3:22, 23 tells me “Because of the Lord’s Later we learned that during their short leave of absence great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never his father instructed him that he musn’t tell people they are fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” old, especially women, because this makes them feel sad. Thanks, Jeffrey, for giving me new insights. Jeffrey thought for a moment and then questioned, “What Yes, you and I can always be new because of Jesus’ are we, Daddy? Are we new?” love for us—no matter how old we grow to be. “He put a The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to be new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God” new. New eyes that don’t need glasses, a new face without (Psalm 40:3). ■ wrinkles, new vocal cords that will sing like Amy Grant. And, yes, I know that someday Jesus will make all things * Bible texts are from the New International Version. REWS C

Y new (Revelation 21). But I would like to be new right now; ERR

T no waiting around until heaven comes. Until graves are Aletha Roderick is a freelance writer living in BY opened. Until trumpets sound. Wouldn’t you love to be new Martinez, California.

TION right now? You don’t have to be old to want to be new. It had never hit me just that way before, so I went to my LLUSTRA

I Bible and looked up the word “new.” I was amazed to find

ADVENTIST REVIEW, FEBRUARY 18, 1999 (223) 31