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Climate Change Frenzy Climate crisis HAVE WE REACHED OUR MELTING POINT? 3, 14, 16 NEWS WOMEN IN MINISTRY AFFIRMED AND UPLIFTED 8 ADVENTIST RECORD | MARCH 21, 2020 ISSN 0819-5633 editor’s note climate crisis? Finally, in early March, we heard that there were no marketable difference that we have over the doomsday active bushfires remaining in NSW. After six months predictions. At the centre of our message is hope. of burning across a number of states, destroying lives, We believe that no matter how bad things get, the wildlife and businesses, the fires have been extin- hope that we have is greater than our anxiety, stronger guished and much-needed rain has arrived. than calamity. God is the ultimate Victor and has a The devastation wrought by Australia’s bushfires this greater plan and purpose for our lives than existen- fire season was unprecedented. The unrelenting smoke tialism or nihilism. Let me make this clear: I’m not haze created haunting red skies and toxic air quality like saying that we should therefore abandon the world to we’ve never experienced before. its destruction, only working for our own salvation and It was a wild summer. shutting out those who may believe differently. In fact, The fires were politicised and the media went into the climate crisis provides us with a great opportunity a climate change frenzy. As human nature often does, to work alongside others to care for God’s creation, now that the danger is not as immediate, people seem and perhaps point them to our Creator. to be “cooling off” on the idea of climate change. The second, and perhaps more challenging lesson The next frenzy is coronavirus. Disasters keep that this scenario teaches us, is that while there is a lot coming and people keep getting flustered. of noise about climate change, few people are uncom- Back to climate change. It has been interesting to fortable enough to change their habits. They rant and see the growth of urgency and commentary on the rail against big business, the developing world or coal widespread, wholesale changes that people say need power, but refuse to stop eating meat or have their to happen. There’s a strong sense of injustice about own livelihood and comfort impacted. people acting selfishly and placing profit and pleasure In a similar way, our old urgency about Christ’s before others, their wellbeing and the environment. return has waned, and those of us who do still empha- These are all things our Christian faith speaks sise that part of the message often seem alarmist or against: pillaging the earth, taking advantage of the out-of-touch with other realities. vulnerable, placing profit before people. Our faith There has been a lot of talk about those who are community has a strong prophetic voice, and for a long leaving the Church, but are we who remain modelling time we have looked for signs that the world might be what living in hope and expectancy actually looks like? ending—signs that many in the community might say Are we living like we believe everyone needs to know are being fulfilled in this day and age. Jesus or do we act like the message of Jesus, while it In fact, we should feel some sense of solidarity with may be true, will interrupt our comfort? our brothers and sisters who are campaigning for the At the end of the day, if we call ourselves Adventist, climate; and relate to their frustration at the apathetic whatever we believe about climate change, we should response. They may be asking themselves: Why does love God, love others and care for God’s creation. it take such unmitigated disaster for people to be inter- The same outpouring of prayer and support that ested in change? motivated us to give to help those We could ask ourselves the same question. Where affected by the bushfires should be has our urgency gone? We believe the planet is being the same energy we pour into the destroyed, that many are living beyond their means communities around us that don’t and worshipping at the wrong altars. We want to see know Jesus. wholesale change. We want the Bridegroom to return jarrod stackelroth but are our lamps full or are we asleep at midnight? senior Editor There are two points I want to make here. One is a /JStackelroth senior consulting editor graphic designer noticeboard adventist media glenn townend linden chuang [email protected] locked bag 1115 senior editor template designer subscriptions wahroonga nsw 2076 australia jarrod stackelroth theodora pau’u [email protected] + 61 (02) 9847 2222 assistant editors noticeboard + 61 (03) 5965 6300 cover credit maryellen fairfax julie laws mailed within australia and getty images—jongho shin abn 59 093 117 689 copyeditors letters nz $A43.80 $NZ73.00 other vol 125 no 6 tracey bridcutt [email protected] prices on application. kent kingston news & photos website melody tan [email protected] record.adventistchurch.com March 21, 2020 | Adventist record 3 news panic stations! ABC managers network and learn jarrod stackelroth My wife Pam and I received a text Adventist Book Centre (ABC) products from Signs Publishing and message from our daughter Megan, managers from all over the Pacific Pacific Press (PP) in North America, who lives in Sydney, early one came together in Victoria’s Yarra with PP representative Doug Church evening recently. She was shopping and sent a Valley from February 21-24 for sharing some unique methods that picture of an aisle that had no food sales and marketing training and some American ABCs are trying. at all. She had gone to buy a few fellowship. Monday was a highlight for groceries, but the shelves were “ABC managers from a diverse Signs staff and ABC managers, as almost empty. This prompted Pam range of cultures are united in their the annual “kilo sale” took place and I to go to our local supermarket vision of using Adventist literature in the Signs warehouse, with the to buy a few items and check it out. to make a positive impact on managers filling up pallets with Our local supermarket seemed to people in their communities,” said some of the written-off stock, be stocked at normal levels—although Tim McTernan, Adventist Media’s which is charged by weight. there were no hand sanitiser bottles marketing and sales manager. or face masks. As texts and pictures On Sabbath morning, the between family continued, we were managers travelled to North alerted that there was a run on toilet Fitzroy church (Melbourne), paper. So we made our way to the one of the first Adventist toilet paper aisle. Sure enough, there congregations in the South was one plastic grouping of eight Pacific Division and a place toilet rolls left. As we meandered where Ellen White preached. toward it, with no intention of buying Sunday was filled with Max Lassah, Central Papua Conference CFO, it, a preschool-aged boy raced past presentations of new carrying a box of books during the “kilo sale”. Pam and I and grabbed the toilet paper. With a smile on his face, he ran back past us to his mum, yelling, “I got it. I got the last one!” Historic ordination in Tuvalu Why this panic buying? I can’t explain it but most believe it is linked tracey bridcutt to people’s fear of getting the coro- An historic ordination was held Vann, a Solomon Islander who navirus—COVID19. The sanitiser and at Funafuti Seventh-day Adventist is also the district director, while masks make sense, but why toilet Church in Tuvalu on Sabbath, Fijian Bible worker Patemo Lobau is paper? Diarrhoea is not a symptom. February 22. serving on Vaitupu. Did some people think all toilet paper The ordination of minister “For many years we have is made in China? (It is not.) And why Vaguna Satupa made history—the been sending missionaries from the stock-piling of food? Australia first ever ordination of a Tuvaluan other Pacific islands to look does have some cases of corona- citizen. The church was packed with after the work in Tuvalu,” said virus, and people have died, but we family, friends and members of the TPUM president Pastor Maveni have a very good health system. community, including one person Kaufononga. “Now that we have a I value caution and good health who travelled from New Zealand Tuvaluan-ordained pastor, someone habits, but buying all the toilet paper? for the special occasion. The who understands the local culture How is this going to help? ordination was conducted by Pastor and context, it will help us with Human hearts are filled with fear Bob Larsen, secretary for the Trans our goal to reach the unreached as they look on what is happening in the world (Luke 21:26). It reminds Pacific Union Mission (TPUM). islands.” me that fear can bring panic and Tuvalu has at least 11 panic can change the world situation inhabited islands, with quickly. Jesus is right—we need to three having an Adventist be prepared for unexpected crises presence. For seven years, before He returns— Pastor Satupa has served perhaps even the on Niutao, an isolated loss of toilet paper! island with no airstrip and only a monthly boat service. Funafuti is being Newly-ordained pastor Vaguna Satupa with Glenn townend his wife, Sunia, family and friends. SPD president cared for by Pastor George /SPDpresident 4 Adventist record | March 21, 2019 Mums At The Table magazine ceases publication melody tan/record staff The Adventist Media-produced distributing a magazine.” Mums At The Table magazine will Expert parenting advice cease publication with the April/ and content will still be May 2020 issue due to a lack of available on the Mums At donor funding.
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