December 1998 LETTERS

Reaching the Cities Atlantic and Columbia unions and want to feel the influence of what hap- Regarding Monte Sahlin’s “Mission to their conferences in the Greater New pens in New York City. an Island Named York area. It got off to a highly publi- Manhattan” (Oct. cized start, then faded. —Albert Dittes NAD Edition). I I want to see the New York-New PORTLAND, TENNESSEE am glad to see our Jersey Metro Ministry Long-range church taking on Planning Commission incorporate the challenge of medical missionary work into its pro- Two words thrilled me about this arti- evangelizing New gram, especially vegetarian restaurants. cle: “experiment” (“with church plant- York City, but I That doesn’t mean the ministers ing among major unreached people have seen this should operate restaurants. I see that as groups”) and “long-range” (planning to same thing done deacons’ work. The churches can sup- develop a strategy that reaches beyond before. When I was in school back in port this ministry. a onetime campaign). the 1960s, I remember an Adventist The past shows us that radio-and- In order to remain faithful to our metro organization comprising the television evangelism is not enough. I pioneers, do we need to remain faithful

A Little News, a Big Invitation And, kids, we’ll award a Review cap to the 27 best draw- ings/colorings of a fundamental belief. Your parents can If you receive the weekly , you know that help explain the beliefs, but real quick—here’s the list: you receive four editions each month: the North American (1) the Holy Scriptures, (2) the Trinity, (3) the Father, Division Edition (which you’re holding), the World Edition, the (4) the Son, (5) the Holy Spirit, (6) Creation, (7) the nature Cutting Edge Edition, and the AnchorPoints Edition. of man, (8) the great controversy, (9) the life, death, and You also know that four times a year (in the months with resurrection of Christ, (10) the experience of salvation, five Thursdays) you receive a special edition of the maga- (11) the church, (12) the remnant and its mission, (13) zine. Here’s a sneak peak at the special editions we’re unity in the body of Christ, (14) baptism, (15) the Lord’s planning for 1999: Supper, (16) spiritual gifts and ministries, (17) the gift of April 29: A Fresh Look at Our 27 Fundamental Beliefs prophecy, (18) the law of God, (19) the Sabbath, (20) July 29: A Celebration of the Review’s 150th stewardship, (21) Christian behavior, (22) marriage and Anniversary the family, (23) Christ’s ministry in the , Sept. 30: Money and Stewardship (24) the second coming of Christ, (25) death and res- Dec. 30: Meeting a New Millennium urrection, (26) the millennium and the end of sin, (27) the new earth. We Need Your Help Send submissions by February 1 to: Fresh 27, While we always welcome reader contributions Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, to our magazine, we especially welcome your con- Silver Spring, MD 20904; fax 301-680-6637; e- tributions to our special edition on the 27 fundamen- mail: [email protected]. Please tal beliefs. include address and phone number. Here’s what we’re thinking—27 colorful two-page By the way, if you don’t receive the weekly Adventist spreads, each expressing a particular belief in a variety of Review, just call 1-800-456-3991 to subscribe for yourself forms: brief testimonies, anecdotes, photos, paintings, you or for someone on your Christmas list. Let’s make 1999 our name it. The more creative, the better. best year yet!

2 (1634) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 to their methods or to their pioneering face this issue as we witness to others. and innovative spirit? When I have asked the reason for such overt bigotry, I have been told that — F. Edgar Nunes, PASTOR this segregation facilitates political rep- BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN resentation. I imagine the Romans thought changing the Sabbath to COVER STORY Sunday was in their best political inter- Thank you for publishing Andy Nash’s est also. If we really are the church of 8 The NeXt Level Thousands find a forever short interview with New York pastor the Bible, we cannot afford to ignore its friendship with God. Samir Selmanovic (“Ministry to commands for any reason. If we really BY JACK STENGER Postmoderns: No Blueprints”). are the remnant, we cannot afford to Selmanovich’s responses should be distance ourselves from God’s presence, ARTICLES “required reading” and a talk item for where all minister together as one body. every North American Division mem- Racism is as anti-God as any other 14 The Birth of ber and for our leaders and planners. form of hate. We have been called to a Quiet Revolution It began in a stable, but it’s not so He may have thought to speak only love. quiet anymore. about his Manhattan church. Actually, BY STEPHEN CHAVEZ he was talking about all of us when he —Colleen Wire said, “Large imported programs have SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 24 “Go Home,” He Said. less and less leverage in mobilizing the He thought any church was good power of laity. One life at a time, that’s enough. BY J. R. HANEY where it’s at.” Exactly! He then This article contained what I believe implied that one-life-at-a-time min- to be some factual errors. I refer specifi- 26 Everything I Need to istry was undersupported, while cally to the paragraphs regarding an Know About Evangelism “money and effort” were “being put in alleged incident of some church elder I Learned From My Sons the same basket all over again.” threatening to shoot a Black person Where did they pick that up? BY JUDY L. SHULL I am aware of a congregation (see who accidentally sat in the wrong the Aug. 20 Cutting Edge Edition) that place in church. DEPARTMENTS has remade the current and previous The general feeling among the White extravaganzas into a yearlong, weekly Adventist congregations in the South 2 Letters small group study and discussion exer- was such that no White church would 7 Give & Take cise between members and nonmem- invite a singing group from Oakwood 13 From the Heart bers, nearly one-on-one. Since NET College to sing anywhere. That makes ’98 started, I am informed that they the speaker’s information suspect. 17 On the Home Front began the October event with a nearly Oakwood was and still is the only Black 18 World News & Perspectives equal number of nonmembers and institution in the denomination. 22 Mystery Visitor members attending and now interact- Stories from 35 years ago have ing in small groups. My church can’t grown out of proportion to reality. We 23 Global Mission equal that ratio. Does yours? at Huntsville were in constant touch 28 A Pastor’s Perspective with what was happening in the 29 Children’s Corner —Frank R. Lemon church all over the South. There 30 Reflections BANNING, CALIFORNIA never was a threat of violence.

—Kenneth Noel EDITORIALS Racial Bigotry MADISON, ALABAMA Bravo to Mike Oxentenko (“Babylon 5 Confessions of a Fiscal and Pentecost,” Oct. NAD Edition) for Our author obtained the information from Conservative saying it like it is. When I joined the a published source and accepts its authen- 6 Encore, Encore Adventist Church 30 years ago, I did so ticity. His article, however, identified no because this was the church of the particular institution.—Editors. NEXT WEEK Bible. However, the issue of racism, as displayed by segregated churches and O N THE COVER: PARTICIPANTS AT THE Social Justice: Who Cares? NEXT MILLENNIUM SEMINAR, HELD conferences, brings me to tears. I can- OCTOBER 9 TO NOVEMBER 14 AT Don’t we have more important things to not call my church the church of the , BERRIEN worry about? SPRINGS, MICHIGAN. PHOTOS BY Bible on this one. How embarrassing to RICHARD DOWER.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1635) 3 “Behold, I come quickly . . .”

Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ through stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return. The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119), published since 1849, is the general paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and is printed by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Standard postage paid at Hagerstown. The North American Edition of the Adventist Review is published 12 times a year on the first Thursday of each month. Copyright © 1998, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Publishing Board: Robert S. Folkenberg, chair; Phil Follett, vice- chair; William G. Johnsson; Lowell Cooper; A. C. McClure; Dorothy Watts; Ted N. C. Wilson; Martin Ytreberg; Robert Nixon, legal advisor

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PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 175, No. 49

4 (1636) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 EDITORIAL Confessions of a Fiscal WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON Conservative

couple months ago I did something totally out of conferences around North America to partner with us, to put in character. You can judge for yourself how stupid $10 for every $15 we supply. That means that every $25 we it was. receive will go nearly twice as far. In financial matters I play it During the past couple months, my associ- safe. Perhaps because I grew up ates Bill Knott and Roy Adams and I have Ain a home where we didn’t have much money, fanned out across North America, meeting I early learned the value of a dollar. My wife, with the union conference committees and Noelene, who is a generous person, has helped working with each conference. We prepared a steer me away from a tendency to stinginess, short video featuring new believers at the even with the Lord. Templeton Hills church in central California But in late summer I leaped into the fiscal and how they reacted to receiving the weekly ISC abyss. And further, I pulled in the Adventist Review.* Everywhere the response was the D

Review also. same—overwhelming acceptance. HOTO

For several months NET ’98 had been on Several conferences asked us: Can you © P

my mind and in my heart. As I prayed about extend the offer to new believers who joined HOTO this fantastic global outreach, I felt impressed the church by some means other than NET P that the Lord was calling the Adventist Review to do something ’98? We couldn’t turn down that request. unusual. I thought of the thousands of new believers who would So, dear friends, here is the situation: we are facing a deluge join the church in North America, and their need to be grounded of names, and I have committed the Adventist Review to the and built up in the Lord and the message we hold dear. The Lord larger part of their funding. If during the next month or two the seemed to say: Find a way to get the weekly Review to every one of conferences send in names of 7,000 new families, our share of these My children. the cost will be $105,000. If they send in—as I think likely— I talked with church leaders. They thought the idea was 10,000 or more names, we will need to come up with $150,000 wonderful, but they were busy with many projects, and budgets or more as our share. had long since closed. Go and do it with our blessing, they I’m not used to this sort of behavior. I’m not used to going said—but you will have to make it happen. ahead without a budget. And I have to confess that once or twice I talked with the organizers of NET ’98. They responded I have awakened in the night wondering if this was the most stu- enthusiastically to the possibility, but they were too busy with pid thing I’d ever done. Most of the time, however, I have a deep preparations for NET ’98 itself to get involved. peace, a sense that God is in this venture and therefore it cannot That led me to the day I did something really stupid. One fail. This fiscal conservative is learning new dimensions of faith. Wednesday morning, when the Adventist Review staff had gath- Noelene and I gave the first check—we believe in putting our ered for worship and prayer, I shared the burden on my heart. I money where our mouth is. When the $25 Club reaches told them I believed that the Lord was behind the dream, and $100,000, we will give another $1,000. that He was calling us—no one else—to take the lead. I sug- I invite you to pray for this faith ven- gested we go directly to our readers, inviting them to partner ture. And also to join us in giving and with us in making the dream a reality. giving again. Make out checks to the The staff—bless them—readily agreed. Soon I was writing Adventist Review in multiples of $25— “Let’s Do It—The $25 Club,” and you read it in the September $100, $500, $1,000, $10,000—and mail NAD edition. to: The $25 Club, Adventist Review, We got the idea of the $25 Club two years ago in connection 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver with NET ’96. Our efforts then were tentative, but the Lord Spring, Maryland 20904-6600. blessed them, and readers responded generously. Every penny that came in was earmarked to send the Review to new members. * For those who give $100 or more, we will This year we have a much bigger dream. We have invited the mail you a free copy of this video on request.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1637) 5 GUEST EDITORIAL Encore, Encore BY CYRIL MILLER

hat do you do for an encore when you Prophecy will take on Chicago that fall. Tentative plans for have just pulled off an international satel- Toronto include a major evangelistic thrust to occur there lite broadcast that attracted an unprece- sometime after the 2000 General Conference session. dented number Other satellite evangelistic initia- of viewers? tives also will be uplinked in North WWell, first, you don’t claim any America. Walter Pearson and credit. God’s blessing—God’s God calls Breath of Life are planning a cam- alone—let us create the largest paign in Nairobi, Kenya, that will evangelistic endeavor in modern each of us be uplinked throughout North history to spread the three angels’ America. Mark Finley will circle the messages. It was God’s blessing that globe conducting reaping meetings attracted hundreds of thousands in to have a part. under the name ACTS 2000, and every time zone, from every inhabited many of those series will be continent on the earth, and moved uplinked in North America. tens of thousands of people to make decisions to accept His These are major initiatives, every bit as bold and vision- overpowering love and join His remnant church. ary as NET ’98. Together they will require millions of dollars But what do we do as an encore? Rest on our laurels? Do of funding. The individual media ministries have each com- a repeat? Try to top it? mitted hundreds of thousands of dollars to this next step in Over the next few years North America will place a spe- our evangelistic endeavors to reach North America for cial emphasis on evangelism in the big cities of our territory, Christ. The North American Division, the unions, and the beginning next year in New York City. We won’t abandon conferences are likewise committing extensive funding. satellite evangelism, but we will focus it on the special needs And God calls each of us to have a part as well. We may of large cities. not each give an equal amount, but we can each make an Net New York ’99 is a major evangelistic thrust that equal sacrifice. embodies the elements of old-style and new-style evange- The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering overflow this quarter is for lism. We will have 1,000 points of light radiating to the North American outreach to the large cities of our field. On Greater New York metropolitan area. December 26 we hope to receive at least $500,000 for this great Beginning September 10, 50 live public evangelistic cam- project. Your offering—your sacrificial gift—can help make paigns will be conducted by conference pastors and other Jesus real to millions of people. guest evangelists in New York City. One day later, starting There’s something else you must do: God’s blessing, and September 11, Alejandro Bullon of La Voz de la Esperanza His blessing alone, can bring success for these initiatives. will speak from Orlando, Florida, via satellite to 150 Pray for the meetings in the four cities target- Spanish-speaking groups in New York, along with hundreds ed for special emphasis: New York, of other audiences throughout the Western Hemisphere. Chicago, Los Angeles, and Toronto. Doug Batchelor of will host another round of Pray for the pastors and churches on satellite campaigns beginning October 15 that will target 100 the grassroots level who will be sup- English- and French-speaking congregations as well as families porting these meetings. And pray at home. Members can invite friends, family, and neighbors into for your city, your church, your their homes—just as members did 100 years ago—to share neighbors. Pray that God’s work will Christ the old-fashioned way via a twenty-first-century medium. be finished on earth. The meetings in New York City are part of a larger initia- tive to target many of the major cities in North America. Cyril Miller is vice president for Mark Finley and the team will host an event in evangelism in the North American Los Angeles in the spring of 2000. Ken Cox and the Voice of Division.

6 (1638) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 ADVENTIST LIFE Our family celebrates Christmas in a big way, simply leaving out some of the more secu- lar or materialistic traditions. We didn’t realize

how effectively we had eliminated Santa Claus, REWS C

however, until we took our 20-month-old Y ERR

daughter, Jenny, to the mall during the holi- T days. As I pushed her stroller past the various BY

Christmas displays, she greeted each bearded TION figure with a delighted “Hi, Moses!” LLUSTRA GI&VE —Joy Cassano Coleman, Glen Burnie, Maryland I Our school bands have to start somewhere. When our daughter Andrea was to make her debut in the Hermiston Junior Academy third- and fourth-grade band at their Christmas concert, we were thrilled. We sat in anticipation, waiting for the first song. Andrea’s 3-year-old brother, Graham, was eager too. The room was quiet; the parents were on the edge of their seats. When the band struck the first few measures of what must have been a Christmas carol, Graham piped up, “Mama— what’s that noise?” —Debby Melnychenko, Umatilla, Oregon TAKE THE REVIEW STAFF . . . AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM At the Review and Herald Publishing Association’s open house in September, ADVENTIST QUOTES the Adventist Review decided to showcase the magazine’s four monthly editions in a creative way. Representing the North American Division Edition (the one you’re holding), “Did you see news editor Carlos Medley (third from left) sports apparel from the American West. Representing the World Edition, editorial secretary Jean Sequeira (right) dons a two-piece outfit from Africa, where she served for 18 years. that? They had a Representing the Cutting Edge Edition, General subcommittee Conference employee James Jordan (second from left) after each song.” wheeled over from a bikers’ convention. —world church president Robert S. Folkenberg, Representing the Anchor- after a September concert by The Singing Senators at the headquarters Points Edition, editorial assis- tant Ella Rydzewski (left) dug YDZEWSKI

“It wasn’t a subcommittee. It was a out her reform dress for the R T prayer huddle.” occasion. AL W

—Senator Trent Lott, responding to Folkenberg Finally, design assistant BY Stephanie Kaping (second HOTO “Stephanie Williams was baptized last from right) brought a P Sabbath at Beechwood Lake following a CULTURE SHOCK: A diverse magazine for a diverse church. little normalcy to the group. terrific thunderstorm by Pastor Joyce.” As you can see, if you receive only the monthly NAD Edition of the Adventist —a bulletin announcement at the Fletcher, North Review, you’re missing three quarters of the picture. To subscribe for yourself or Carolina, church someone on your Christmas list, call 1-800-456-3991.

WE NEED YOU NEW FEATURE: DREAM CENTER Send Give & Take submissions to . . . Give & Take, Have you ever had a knockout idea that you were just dying to share with Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904; Fax: 301-680-6638; E-mail: other Adventists? This is your chance. Beginning soon, we’ll be printing your [email protected]. Please include dreams for this church on the Give & Take page. Send submissions (100 words or phone number. Submissions will not be returned. fewer) to “Dream Center,” Give & Take, Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904. Idea by Shasta Burr.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1639) 7 COVER STORY

The NeXt Level Responding to fresh, relation-based evangelism, thousands find a forever friendship with God.

BY JACK STENGER, A NDREWS UNIVERSITY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN—Something is obvi- the simultaneous translation has been physically demanding. But it doesn’t dim Mhando’s enthusiasm—or his nightly pacing. “It’s ous about Pastor Herry Mhando: The man is excited. exciting because we are part of something bigger here, and I’m proud to have a part in it,” he says. From inside his cubicle the Tanzania native watches a video monitor. The image flickering on the 12-inch color screen is of Dwight K.

Nelson, speaker for the NeXt Millennium

Seminar. Nelson’s message is about the rele- vance of Sabbathkeeping for a stressed-out world, but you sure won’t mistake Mhando for an unstressed person.

He paces. He nearly shouts with happy enthusiasm. His gestures are animated, and WER sweat covers his brow as he translates the ser- O D mon, “A Dying Queen’s Last Wish,” into the

East African dialect of Kiswahili. It will reach ICHARD R

80 sites in the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and EVERY TONGUE: Translators Manuel Ferro of Portugal and Julian Nam of Korea BY Uganda. visit with Brad and Kandus Thorp, Adventist Global Communication Network HOTOS

Of course, the nightly brain strain accompanying coordinators. P

8(1640) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 Worth Repeating A few of Dwight K. Nelson’s memorable lines

“God is not someone to be afraid of. He’s someone to be a friend of.” —October 9 and throughout the series

“Love that will not let you say no is not love. It’s called rape.” —October 10, on the freedom God offers

“I can assure you that right now I’m sweat- ing on both sides of my face.” —October 16, during a difficult lecture on Darwinism, responding to a fax from Africa saying that Nelson seemed to sweat on just one side of his face

“Even the friends of Jesus get sick and die.” —October 23, on Lazarus MAKING THE POINT: Energetic, funny, and relevant, speaker Dwight K. Nelson stressed humanity’s need for Jesus Christ. “I owe everything to my Forever Friend,” “Human sincerity can never be a substitute he said the final week. for divine truth.” —October 27 Unknowingly the pastor speaks for united the church in ways we’ve more than himself. His dedication never seen before,” says Alfred “They steal heart in the fear of . . . They and enthusiasm reflect that of the McClure, North American also steal fear in the heart of every global Adventist Church—for NET Division president. “And the American. See, I get nervous even talking ’98 was something much bigger than unique thing was that around the about them.” just human endeavor. The NeXt world Adventists and their guests —October 28, on the Internal Revenue Millennium Seminar was about get- heard the gospel presented in the Service ting an eternal message of hope to a same way.” dying world. The import of McClure’s state- “Now you get to call Him ‘Dad.’ ” ment shouldn’t be lost. During a —October 30, on joining the family of God Unprecedented Scope five-week span the Adventist To understand the scope of NET Church put on a unified, and yes, “Revelation 12:17 is not an apocalyptic call ’98, maybe a little math is in order: six distinctly North American face to arrogance. It’s a prophetic call to faith- continents, 12 satellite feeds, 25 broad- to the world. fulness.” cast technicians, five cameras, 22 In Papua New Guinea this —November 7 floodlights, 1,500 host site unifying message prompted volunteers, 31 programs, 7,600 sites 110,000-plus people to gather in “Too many of us have been sin-centered (2,000 in North America), 100-plus five outdoor stadiums. On rather than Saviour-centered.” countries, millions of potential view- makeshift plywood screens the —November 14, on prayer ers, one message, one world, one God. Gen X guitar strands of contem- All told, a global adventure that porary Christian group Plan C And finally here’s a quote, not by the NET brought the Adventist message to a were heard by villagers who ’98 speaker, but about him: world audience as never before. traveled up to three hours by “Now I know why they call him ’Wight Held October 9 to November 14, the horse, bus, and boat to hear the Nelson. It’s because of his hair.” church’s biggest global satellite campaign message. —a child viewer in the Oudtshoorn church, was broadcast in 40 languages and In western Australia an George, South Africa reached people in more than 100 coun- Internet connection meant NeXt tries. “The NeXt Millennium Seminar Millennium viewers in the dusty

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1641) 9 outback saw and heard the satellite evangelism. So when majestic 75-rank Casavant pipe Nelson and Andrews University organ in Pioneer Memorial were named speaker and host site church, the campus church of for NET ’98, the world had a gen- Andrews University. eral idea of what to expect. In 600 sites in Romania more But even if the concept was than 45,000 people saw Bible- not new, the extent of this toting American college students endeavor was. “This was the first crowding into church pews. effort on the church’s part to “Imagine the impact when view- reach the whole world,” says Brad ers from the formerly Communist Thorp, director for the Adventist countries of Eastern Europe see Global Communications Network American college students lead- (AGCN), the General Con- ing out in a global evangelistic ference agency that delivered campaign,” says Nelson, senior NeXt Millennium messages to pastor of Pioneer Memorial downlink sites. (The Adventist church. “Years from now we will GROUND CONTROL: More than 20 technicians worked Communication Network, or call this series a ‘God moment,’ a together to produce the NeXt Millennium Seminar. Here, ACN, delivered content in time when He was at work producer Colin Mead directs the camera crew. North America.) around the globe in ways that we After a relatively glitch-free won’t understand until eternity.” and NET ’96, the Adventist Church is opening on October 9, a General Con- Thanks to the success of NET ’95 familiar with the promise and results of ference press release aptly set the stage

NET ’98 Superlatives ■ Most frequent expressions: Nelson’s “Come on!” and “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist . . .” Midway through the Personal impressions of an series, a laughing Nelson switched to “It doesn’t take a impressive fall campaign brain surgeon . . .” ■ Most awkward juxtaposition. A series-long emphasis on the imminent end of the world interrupted by a health BY ANDY NASH, ADVENTIST REVIEW ASSISTANT EDITOR lecture on “how to add 11.5 years to your life.” ■Smartest pre-series move. ■ Most improved element: the NET ’98 planners rebilling the series graphics. Not only were they greatly as “user-friendly for the young, life- improved from past NET campaigns; changing for all” (as opposed to ear- they improved as this campaign went lier “We’re targeting Gen X” along. In this highly visual age, such announcements). Apart from effective graphics are one of the better Nelson’s generation-crossing gift, arguments for satellite evangelism. the program was not targeted at Many local pulpits still completely secular Xers. However, it was more ignore visual learners. user-friendly than previous series ■ Most overused punctuation: the were. exclamation point. Though employed ■ Most touching moment. more sparsely than in previous evan- Nelson’s “It took the birth of a baby” gelistic materials (“And guess what! interview with the Ayala family. A This beast is none other than the beautiful metaphor—and a classy CHILD SAVIOUR: shakes hands of America!!!!”), the decision to feature a non-Adventist with 6-year-old Marissa Ayala—who was con- Adventist Church’s favorite punctuation family. ceived in the desperate hope that her bone mar- still appeared too often on-screen and ■ Rudest audience response: the row might match that of her dying older sister. in print. It’s much more effective to dozens who faxed in criticism of (It did.) Nelson used the story to illustrate God’s punctuate key sentences with a simple sending a Baby to save the human race. cohosts Shasta Burr and Bernie period, allowing the reader room to do Anderson and other participants. Wasn’t this the time to his or her own exclaiming. close ranks and support each other? ■ Funniest moment: the precious coloring of Nelson, ■ Best audience response: the hundreds who faxed in Anderson, and Burr, sent by a child in Germany and shown encouragement. closing night.

10 (1642) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 for the campaign to including civic follow: “An and national lead- unprecedented out- ers and pastors reach program pro- from other denom- duced by the inations. In the Seventh-day Solomon Islands Adventist Church one parliament has reached thou- member said he sands globally.” On wants to become the opening night an Adventist the percentage of Church member.” non-Adventist Satellite tech- guests at most sites nology was not the exceeded 30 per- only way that cent. Wide promo- NET ’98 created a tional efforts global community. prompted more The overwhelming than 1,000 non- popularity of the Adventists to NeXt Millennium “How one church received World Championship Wrestling instead of NET ’98” attend the opening website meant the —, Warburton, Victoria, Australia night meeting at evangelistic cam- Pioneer Memorial paign was the church. church’s most sig- The most expensive satellite event in potential audience exceeding 2 mil- nificant Internet event to date. Christian history relied on some of the lion people. And early projections, The campaign website, www.- most sophisticated technology available, based on attendance figures, suggest net98.org, averaged nearly 500,000 including a $500,000 “encoder” that that more than 150,000 people could hits per week, and more than 15,000 transmitted one video channel and 40 join the Adventist Church in the people used the graphic locator to find audio channels. Professionals from the immediate wake of NET ’98. the nearest NeXt Millennium down- Adventist Media Center, in Simi Valley, link site. A team of 65 counselors California, produced the program. A Global Community fielded more than 2,300 Bible ques- Downstairs, in contiguous sound- The breadth of the evangelistic tions, and NET ’98 chat rooms sus- proof cubicles, the team translated the effort was unprecedented in terms of tained ongoing cyberspace dialogue. messages into Mandarin Chinese, both human capital and technology. A message from a 20-year-old girl in French, German, Italian, Japanese, But the responses to the meetings that Arkansas was typical of the Internet Portuguese, Spanish, and 32 other were sent to the Berrien Springs-based missives: “I have never heard someone languages ranging from Afrikaans to NET ’98 communication center showed preach like Pastor Nelson does. It just Zulu. Curious crowds flocked to hear that the event was not about technolo- grabs my attention, and I find myself the trainlike roar of voices, and to gy, but about sharing a message of hope. stuck to the TV.” experience a modern-day Pentecost Hundreds of faith-inspiring dispatches moment similar to the disciples’ mul- were sent by fax, e-mail, and phone. It Took a Village tilingual address to crowds in BRITISH WEST INDIES—“In the The messages that changed lives Jerusalem. Cayman Islands, they have had power around the nation and world also elec- Satellite dishes parked outside the shortages and ‘shaky screens,’ but have trified the Andrews campus, the site of church uplinked video and audio to not missed one night of the NeXt a massive volunteer effort. Church nine communication satellites hover- Millennium Seminar.” members and Andrews students filled ing over the globe. These messages FLORIDA—“Port Charlotte reports in as camera operators, ushers, chil- were then downlinked to 4,600 sites. ‘unprecedented attendance and dren’s ministry coordinators, parking More than 3,000 other sites would response,’ with 170 attending each lot attendants, row hosts, song leaders, receive the program on a taped- night, including 48 non-Adventists.” and greeters. All told, more than 1,500 delayed basis, and cable channels in PAPUA NEW GUINEA—“The individuals volunteered during the Bulgaria, Canada, Fiji, India, Italy, the small grandstand that seats 3,000 peo- five-week campaign. Solomon Islands, the United States, ple is filled up every night, and the “No matter how big or small the and Venezuela also carried the seminar. entire ground is filled up.” job, everyone did it with the same atti- AGCN calculations indicate that VANUATU, SOUTH PACIFIC— tude in mind,” says Skip McCarty, each night’s message reached a “Five venues have 3,500 attending, associate church pastor and volunteer

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1643) 11 coordinator. “This was not only about that made the whole seminar seem We Next?” “Star Wars: When the putting the Adventist Church’s best even fresher,” says Colin Mead, NeXt Empire Strikes Back”—are typical for face forward but also showing the Millennium producer. a pastor savvy in pop culture and solid world the hospitality of this local Mead and series director Bruce in Christ-centered preaching. church. It was an honor for us all.” Braun led a group of more than 25 “Our goal,” says Nelson, “was to reach Perhaps the best known volunteers technicians. The pressure they faced people in a new way and in a manner were Andrews students Bernie to deliver a well-produced broadcast that they had not heard before.” Anderson and Shasta Burr. On a for more than 7,000 seminar sites But notwithstanding the massive nightly basis the telegenic series hosts was considerable. Graphics had to be technology, NET ’98 was ultimately a warmed up site audiences with a produced, scripts written, camera redux of a far more ancient story—a unique brand of unscripted banter. personnel trained. biblical “rerun” put into twenty-first Chosen for their fresh personalities But perhaps the greatest pressure century parlance. Because “God so and Gen X credentials, they quickly was placed squarely on Nelson’s shoul- loved the world,” the message of a for- became minor celebrities on campus. ders. Chosen for his widely regarded ever friendship had to go out. “Every day I would have someone say speaking skills and his success in min- to me in class: ‘I can’t believe you said istering to college students, Nelson that last night!’” says Burr. wrote his 31 messages in 1997. The Look for more NET ’98 coverage in “They represented a friendly face seminar’s catchy titles—“Titanic: Are the December 10 World Edition. ■

New York City Chicago Los Angeles Toronto

What’s NeXt? strate what big-city evangelism should look like. New York, which leads the way in size and numbers, North America selects four cities presents an unusual challenge. The Greater New York as evangelism foci. metropolitan area encompasses two unions (Columbia and Atlantic) and five conferences (Greater New York, Northeastern, New Jersey, Allegheny East, and Southern BY VIKKI MONTGOMERY, CORRESPONDENT FOR THE New England). It’s Miller’s job to bring them all together NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION in the Greater New York-New Jersey Metro Ministries New York. Los Angeles. Chicago. Toronto. The names of Long-Range Planning Commission. Commission members these cities have become almost a mantra to the members are pioneering a different kind of evangelistic effort. of the NAD Mission Strategy Council. These are the largest Called Metro ’99, this effort will be a combination of cities in the United States and the principal city in Canada, live and satellite preaching by Evangelists Doug Batchelor respectively. Many hopes ride on them. The $500,000 the of Amazing Facts and Alejandro Buillon of La Voz de la division plans to raise during the Thirteenth Sabbath Esperanza. As participants watch from theaters, churches, Offering for fourth quarter 1998 will be used to target or—for the first time—homes, local evangelists will be scat- evangelism in these metropolises. tered throughout the area. “These are the icebreakers, the pacesetters, the Creativity and communication will come together examples,” says Cyril Miller, North American Division starting in September 1999. It will continue as It Is vice president for evangelism and Global Mission. Written’s Mark Finley, ’s Kenneth Cox, “During our year-end meeting [in 1997] we said, ‘Let’s and Breath of Life’s Walter Pearson move by satellite use them to spearhead activity. Let them be models to across the division to the other three cities in the year help others do the same thing.’” More than 44 cities 2000. You can be a part of this wave of metropolitan in the U.S. alone have a population of 1 million-plus, evangelism by giving generously when the offering plate and these four will be closely watched as they demon- is passed on December 26.

12 (1644) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 FROM THE HEART The Sins of the Church ROBERT S. FOLKENBERG

hough many lessons about forgiveness can be like these problems; we prayerfully work to solve them. But gleaned from the story of the woman caught reality and the human condition being what they are, when in adultery (John 8), there’s one often one problem is solved, a dozen more shoot up in its place. missed—and it has to The church has made mistakes. do with how Christ But instead of weeping, praying, and Ttreated the hypocritical Jewish seeking to remedy the situation, do leaders who tried to entrap Him. The church has we make it worse by trumpeting the After defending the woman against evil? Though some problems are her accusers with His famous line indeed bad, time and again I’ve seen “He that is without sin among you, made mistakes. situations in which it seems as if the let him first cast a stone at her” biggest sin isn’t so much the prob- (verse 7), Jesus continued to write lem itself, but the attitude of those on the ground with His finger their individual sins. who feel impressed to herald those problems to the world. Rather than publicly humiliating these accusers (who had Look at these words: “This is what the Sovereign Lord no problem publicly humiliating the woman), Jesus chose to says: Because you said ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was rebuke them in a way that, while making a point, didn’t air desecrated and of the land of Israel when it was laid waste and their sins publicly. Mercy was shown not only to the woman over the people of Judah when they went into exile” [and] but also toward those who were purposely trying to hurt Jesus. “because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, What’s the point? rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of As a church we will never be any better than the sum of Israel, therefore I will stretch out my hand against you” (Eze. the godliness and holiness of our members; and that depends 25:3-7, NIV). Now, if the Lord felt that strongly about the solely upon the degree to which we surrender our lives to Ammonites when they rejoiced over the failures of His peo- Jesus Christ. There’s no better indication of the degree to ple, how does He regard those who do so from within? which we have allowed ourselves to become “partakers of For the past year I have written about the church—its the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) than in how we treat each authority, structure, policy, and polity. But I conclude this other, especially those who err. series with an appeal to you, my fellow member. I assume But what about when the church itself errs? that your love for your church motivates your concern for It’s one thing to show forgiveness and mercy to individu- the problems you see in it. Do you treat the church with the als, but what about the organization—the conference, the same love and forgiveness that Jesus displayed, or do you union, the division, or the General Conference? Do we become worse than the problem by making the problem demonstrate the kind of mercy, forgiveness, and love Jesus itself worse? showed; or do we feel authorized to attack? When someone you love does wrong, do you abandon In many ways the church can be an easy target. Filled with them, attack them, or parade their errors before others? Or erring sinful beings, the denomination has something for do you seek through patience, love, and kindness to bring everyone—“liberal,” “conservative,” “moderate,” or “extrem- about healing, restoration, and harmony? The first alterna- ist”—to hate, criticize, and condemn. A person seeking to tive can make the problems worse; the latter, only better. find fault, error, hypocrisy, incompetence, mismanagement, Christ left us a powerful example on how to treat erring can find it in the church—all the way back to Abraham. individuals and organizations. Following it is solely up to us. I know of nothing, either in the Bible or in the writings of Ellen White, that promises a flawless organization this Robert S. Folkenberg is president of the General side of the Second Coming. And as the president of the Conference. General Conference, as someone who has been to churches all over the world, I probably know more about our church’s problems than most of our most vociferous critics. We don’t

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1645) 13 DEVOTIONAL

The Birth of a

Revolution Was it a coincidence that Christ was born in obscurity?

BY STEPHEN CHAVEZ

EFORE JESUS WAS BORN, BETHLEHEM’S education, they carried only enough money for their immediate main claim to fame was that David had watched needs. But they had what most people in Bethlehem that night his father’s flocks on the rocky hills and country- did not have—a mandate from heaven based on a revolu- side around the small village. Before that, it was tionary encounter with the supernatural. the home of Ruth, the young Moabite who had For Mary it was an angel who appeared with the incredible Bfollowed her mother-in-law away from her native country to message: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power a life of romance and adventure with her new husband, Boaz. of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be As far as ancient cities go, Bethlehem wasn’t more than a born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35, NIV). wide spot in the road, a dusty place where you could water To Joseph the angel’s message was “She will give birth to your animals and store up provisions for your trip south to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he Hebron or Beer-sheba. If you were traveling north toward will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21, NIV). Jerusalem, you might not even stop, as you had less than five In the confusion and mystery of that impromptu journey, miles to reach your destination. Most people who came to there is nothing to suggest that the events of that evening in Bethlehem were on their way to somewhere else. Bethlehem would change the course of cosmic history. It’s On the night Jesus was born there was no mad rush of almost as if the Lord God didn’t want people to know that people frantically attempting to finish their holiday shop- His one and only Son was going to be born that night. ping; there were no decorations, no carolers, no pilgrims Sure, there was one rather obscure snippet of prophecy: who had flown in on chartered jets to be near one of “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small Christendom’s most revered shrines. Bethlehem was just among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one Bethlehem—nothing more, nothing less. And despite what who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, you may have seen portrayed on Christmas cards and in from ancient times” (Micah 5:2, NIV); but the ones who plays, the pilgrims who thronged Bethlehem’s narrow streets interpreted prophecies lived in Jerusalem, not Bethlehem. wanted only to satisfy their obligation to Rome and return The events surrounding Jesus’ birth featured a cast of quietly to their homes and villages. characters that has enchanted writers and storytellers in the centuries since: unlikely heroes such as the lowly shepherds, Ordinary People crude and illiterate, who became heralds of the most unbe- There was likewise nothing extraordinary about the couple lievable news the planet had ever heard; noble foreign from Nazareth who came to register for the census. Mary and philosophers, affluent and cultured, yet unsophisticated in Joseph blended easily into the crowd of common citizens. They the ways of Jewish religious and governmental politics; wore rough clothing, they had no more than a rudimentary homegrown mystics, Anna and Simeon, who had immersed

14 (1646) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 by virtue of their strength, their cha- risma, their wealth, their artifice. But except for the Wise Men, with their expensive gifts to present to the King, the principal characters in this drama were likely to be ignored if not disdained. Their qualifications had less to do with obvious or worldly tal- ents and abilities than with their sim- ple faith and their passionate desire to do God’s will. There’s never been a shortage of people who want to impose their will on others. Many have been the attempts to influence others by means of force, coercion, or intellectual bully- ing. But those aren’t the foundations of the kingdom Christ came to establish. The ones who first adored the Christ child weren’t so eager to per- suade others that He was the Messiah as they were to be in His presence, to worship Him and somehow experience the miracle of divine love: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoul- ders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6, NIV). Seeing Jesus—God in human flesh—was, for them, the fulfillment of their spiritual quest.

Changed Forever One can only imagine how the lives of those early pilgrims were changed by their encounter with Christ. It’s not hard to believe that their lives were never the same again, because we know firsthand the difference Jesus has made in our lives. In addition to His themselves in prayer and the reading extravagant salvation, He’s brought kingdom. But the primary qualification of ancient writings and prophecies, light to our darkness, calm to our for usefulness in the kingdom Christ hoping to be eyewitnesses to the fulfill- storms, strength to our weakness, and came to establish is a passion for know- ing of God’s promises. healing to our suffering. ing God’s will—and doing it. While other characters in this drama Christ’s activity on our behalf Before Jesus’ first advent all serious- were consumed with mundane matters demands a response. We can no longer minded Israelites looked for the com- such as finding lodging for the night, be merely spectators. We may not take ing of the Messiah. They wanted, making a living, or protecting their turf, center stage in the controversy between among other things, relief from Roman UTLER

B a handful of people—Mary and Joseph, good and evil, but we’re all involved. oppression, economic security, and the shepherds, the Magi, Anna and From the stories that surround Jesus’ spiritual reinforcement. And the popu- ALPH R Simeon—suddenly found themselves birth, it’s clear that God doesn’t regard lation, fragmented by different reli- BY playing a part on center stage in the ful- only the dynamic leaders, the influen- gious, political, and social factions,

TIONS fillment of God’s revolutionary plan. tial powerbrokers, the well-read schol- found itself tugged between different People who shape history are typi- ars. There’s truly a place for leadership, philosophies and methods for realizing LLUSTRA I cally the ones who seize opportunities authority, and knowledge in Christ’s their dreams.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1647) 15 Wait patiently. Many Israelites lost How to Keep Christmas Spiritual their spiritual bearings because of their anxiety to follow some messiah, any Make a Nativity scene the center of Christmas decorating. Place it on a table, messiah. They became vulnerable to mantel, or other prominent location. Forget the teddy bears, mice, elves, rein- some of the numerous “false christs” deer, and Santas. Use a crèche and retell the wonderful Christmas story. It will who wandered the area. become a family tradition that children will continue in their future homes. Our impatience may lead us to try Jean Sequeira to “run ahead” of God’s perfect plan, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A. and use methods to build up His king- dom that are half-baked at best and ■ Avoid materialism—resist the temptation to be swept along by cultural mores un-Christlike at worst. that focus on the giving and receiving of things. Serve in humility. As far as we know, ■ Focus on the incredible Gift and the sacrifice of the Giver that Christmas Mary and Joseph never prayed that represents. they could be the parents of Jesus the ■ Recognize that Christ didn’t really come in December, so don’t feel obligated to Messiah. Rather they were chosen isolate the Christmas spirit to this time of the year. Amortize the Christmas spir- because God saw that they were faith- it—decompartmentalize it and allow the spirit of exceptional goodwill to permeate ful. When the angel choir appeared to the entire year, favorably flavoring our interactions with our fellowmen and -women. the shepherds in the field, the shep- J. T. Shim herds were simply doing their jobs. Longwood, Florida, U.S.A. The Magi left their homes in obedi- ence to the conviction that they were The result was religious and politi- depends less on what we can do than on being led to a fuller understanding of cal chaos to the point that Jesus’ min- what God can do through us. the truth. istry as the Messiah—His birth, life, More than anything, God calls us to teachings, death, and resurrection— Long Live the Revolution! be faithful. Sometimes God calls us to was ignored or repressed by the very In the two millennia since Jesus was different, more visible lives of service for people He had come to exalt. born in obscurity, the revolution He Him. But more often He looks for wit- Now, on the eve of Jesus’ second began is no longer a quiet one. The nesses who will serve Him in revolution- advent, the church (and society at principles of Christ’s kingdom—love ary ways under ordinary circumstances. large) is fragmenting under the weight for God and loving service to friends of a thousand different religious, politi- and enemies—remain revolutionary. he revolution that began with a cal, and sociological pressures. The Lives are changed whenever and wher- Baby’s birth in an obscure vil- world’s inhabitants look in vain for ever they’re put into practice. But T lage in the presence of a small principled, dynamic leadership. these principles have to be cherished group of largely anonymous witnesses Throughout the world truth and jus- and internalized. It’s easy to lose the will continue, gaining momentum tice are trampled into the ground by passion of a movement and be satisfied until Jesus comes again in glory. In greed, lust, and violence. with empty slogans and unconvincing some places it will be loud, obvious, It’s time for another revolution. rhetoric. But we can help maintain the and hard to ignore. In other places it There is a solution for this world’s momentum of Christ’s ministry. will be barely audible, like the sound problems, but it’s not a human solution. Nurture the dream. Ancient Israel of a baby’s whimper. As the course of world history was expected the Messiah; they talked But the revolution will continue altered by the birth of Jesus (and also by about it, prayed for it, hoped for it. But inexorably until all things are fulfilled. His death and resurrection), only Jesus’ their expectations were filtered Then it will truly be said: “Glory to second coming will bring to fulfillment through mistaken notions of what the God in the highest heaven, and on God’s ultimate plan for this planet. Messiah would accomplish when He earth peace among those whom he But first there has to be a revolution appeared. Their lack of understanding favors!” (Luke 2:14, NRSV). ■ in the way we think about accomplish- prevented them from being prepared ing God’s will. Just as God chose the for the ministry of the true Messiah humble and unlearned—the uninitiated and the kingdom He came to establish. Stephen Chavez is an assis- outsiders—to herald Jesus’ first advent, Jesus’ second coming should be antic- tant editor of the Adventist so He still looks for people with an odd ipated not only because it means the end Review. combination of humility and passion. of cancer, television sitcoms, and income We needn’t unlearn all that we know— taxes (minor irritants), but because it we still need to sharpen our skills and will mean the end of poverty, injustice, talents for the Lord’s service—but we spiritual ignorance, and religious and can never forget that our usefulness political oppression (major issues).

16 (1648) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 ON THE HOME FRONT The Presence of God LESLIE KAY

t’s that time of year again, when covetousness is exalted nizing over every breath, waiting for the sun to rise and bring to the status of art, if not religion. When Santa is com- blessed relief. At such exhausting times, weak and oppressed, missioned to deliver the battery-operated heart’s desire of I sensed the empathetic, comforting presence of God. every good boy and girl—and One day in October 1980 I was picked MasterCard is entrusted with the up while hitchhiking on Washington’s Icravings of their parents. When sincere Highway 97 by a man and his young son. Christians blanch at the secularism and Almost immediately Ron broke all the commercialism of it all and admonish one rules of witnessing and blurted out, another to “keep Christ in Christmas.” “Have you ever heard of Ellen G. White?

REWS Which forces a confession from my We believe she’s a prophet. I think you’d C

Y guilty lips: I don’t know how to keep enjoy her books.” At that moment the ERR

T Christ in Christmas. Earnest appeals of the hair on the back of my neck literally BY Christian community notwithstanding, I’m stood on end and a silent, authoritative

TION just not able to generate a seasonal sense voice commanded, “Listen to this man. of awe for the birth of my Saviour. He’s going to tell you something that LLUSTRA I The Lord knows of my scandalously will change your life.” At that time, and Scroogian incapacity of “keeping” Him close to me during others like it, I experienced the compelling presence of God. Christmas—or any other time of the year. That’s why He’s I can only wonder at the undeserved affection of this called Immanuel—“God with us”—because it’s His job to great God, who has so treasured my questionable company “keep my soul, and deliver me . . . for I put my trust in as to take the initiative in identifying Himself consistently [Him]” (Ps. 25:20). with my daily concerns, my chronic illnesses—even my And the wonderful thing is, even before I knew how to prodigal youth—long before I ever began to return the favor. put my trust in Him, before I acknowledged Him as Lord of I can only marvel at the persistence of the Holy Spirit, my life, Christ took the initiative in keeping Himself near who has so lovingly hounded my steps and mercifully broken me and drawing me closer to Him. And if the Christmas into my life at just the right times and in just the right ways, season does little else, perhaps it can lend itself to a recount- startling me from my habitual self-preoccupation—long ing of some of those times when, though unconverted, I was before I appreciated it. attentive enough to sense the presence of the One who calls I can only be forever grateful for the condescension of Himself “God with us.” this Saviour called Immanuel, who, “being in very nature Peter Forte was undeniably the most “challenging” devel- God, . . . made himself nothing” (Phil. 2:6, 7, NIV); who opmentally disabled resident in Kelly Hall. His destructive “in all things” chose “to be made like unto his brethren” and bizarre behaviors continually frustrated my attempts to (Heb. 2:17); who “humbled himself and became obedient to keep order among the five men in my care. But in spite of all death—even [my] death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8, NIV). this—or perhaps because of it—the end of my shift invariably Truly, I am not able to “keep” this mighty God anywhere. found me sitting at Peter’s bedside, holding his dry, bony I can only prostrate myself in His holy, pervasive presence hand, trying to soothe away the demons so this unfortunate and allow Him entrance into my broken heart, that “God man could rise to thrash his way through another monoto- with us” may be permitted to live out His perfect redemptive nous day of institutionalization. In such disheartening service will as “Christ in [me]” (Col. 1:27). I sensed the encouraging, compassionate presence of God. As a severely asthmatic child in smoggy southern Leslie Kay is a wife, mother, and freelance writer California, I knew the consequences of a night of hide-and- who lives in Chloride, Arizona. seek in the damp coastal air; I knew the ER nurses at St. Francis Hospital by name; I knew what it meant to spend the night with my head propped on the dining room table, ago-

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1649) 17 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES

Year-end Meeting Report NAD Leaders Focus on Urban Evangelism

BY CARLOS MEDLEY, ADVENTIST REVIEW NEWS EDITOR

ow can the Adventist concentrated efforts in subur- Church effectively reach ban areas and medium-to-small major cities in North cities. America? What are the On the year-end meetings’ best methods and most opening night Rod Colburn, Heffective tools? Who has the necessary of New York City, one of two expertise? lay members giving keynote These key questions burned in the messages, alluded to the hearts of union and local conference church’s traditional approach. officers, pastors, teachers, and lay “New York, if it is the world’s members as they gathered for the capital city, represents a huge North American Division year-end void in ,” he said. meetings, held November 1-5 at the “Strange that such a global Adventist world headquarters in Silver church would be so invisible Spring, Maryland. in the world’s most global city. UP FRONT AND PERSONAL: NAD president Alfred This year’s meeting was a historic “It’s not that we don’t have McClure (left) brings the committee to order. gathering. The focus—reaching urban a presence there. We’ve actu- America—was designed to promote the ally done a fairly good job of reaching the editor. Let’s speak up. Let’s let our division’s large-city evangelistic initia- first-generation Americans,” he said. voices be heard and enable others to do tive beginning in 1999. During the next “But for the millions of New Yorkers the same.” two years major meetings and seminars who are second-, third-, and fourth- By using lay members to give the will be held for target audiences in generation Americans, and thousands keynote messages on opening night North America’s four largest cities— who move in from other parts of the instead of division president Alfred New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and country, we barely exist.” Colburn C. McClure, NAD leaders under- Toronto. believes that successful outreach will scored the importance of lay input in The new thrust signals a different require the best pastors, evangelists, the large-city thrust. McClure was evangelistic approach for the church, and church planters. scheduled to give the closing devo- which, except for Asian, Black, and Walter Thompson, of Chicago, the tional message on November 5 but Hispanic initiatives, has frequently other lay speaker, called on church was prevented by illness. leaders to refine their methods The year-end meeting is where as they take on an urban strat- church leaders vote new policy egy. “The NETs [satellite evan- items, hear reports, elect personnel, gelism] have had their day. It’s and approve the division’s budget now time to go on,” he said. for the next year. “Conduct major evangelistic In his secretary’s report Harold series via public media—tele- Baptiste said the division had main- vision, radio, Internet, and tained a growth rate of 2 percent over

cable—again and again, always the past several years. As of EDLEY in differing formats with differ- December 31, membership was M

ing audiences in mind. 875,811, a gain of 17,811, or 2.03 ARLOS C

NEW APPROACH: Keynote speakers Rod Colburn and “Go public with our message percent, over the previous year. BY Walter Thompson told NAD leaders it was time for a using newspapers and maga- During the first six months of 1998 HOTOS new approach to outreach. zines—articles and letters to membership reached 879,829. P

18 (1650) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES

Though growth for the first six denomina- because the increase in future retirees months was small, Baptiste said that tional would deplete the current retirement many baptisms are expected before employees fund in the next 13 years (by 2011). year’s end as a result of NET ’98. He when mem- In responding to Johnson’s presenta- noted that division membership bers voted a tion, several committee members could reach 1 million by the 2000 new retire- voiced opposition to the discontinu- General Conference session in ment plan, ance of spouse allowance. Allegheny Toronto. “Let’s not rest on our suc- effective East Conference president Alvin cesses but build on them to climb to January 1, Kibble pointed out that the geographi- higher heights in the future,” 2000. The cal movement of (largely ministerial) Baptiste urged. highly sensi- employees makes it impossible for their NAD treasurer Juan Prestol re- tive issue spouses to acquire adequate retirement ported that division tithe reached sparked dis- benefits. “By moving workers we create $534,169,178 in 1997, up 5.3 percent SPEAKING OUT: Allegheny cussion that the problem, and we know it’s going to East Conference president from the previous year and up 17 per- lasted more impact them when they are most vul- Alvin Kibble lists concerns cent in the past five years. Per capita on the retirement plan. than two nerable,” he said. tithe also increased to $633 last year, hours before Pastor Ron Halvorsen Jr., of Keene, up 3.4 percent from the previous year it was voted. Texas, voiced the concern of many pas- and 9.07 percent in the past five years. The new plan, a defined contribu- tors. “My churches have always been In the first six months of 1998 the tion plan, will replace the current blessed with two pastors when they get division tithe reached $248,531,758, defined benefits plan, which will be me, and my wife has always been the an increase of 5 percent over the same frozen on December 31, 1999. Under better of the period last year. the new plan, Adventist entities will two,” he Prestol noted that though increase contribute roughly 4 percent of the said. “I in per capita tithe was significant, it employees’ salary to an employee- would not failed to keep pace with the index of directed investment fund. An want the disposable income in North America. employee has an option to contribute work that Offerings for 1997, which include to the fund, and the employer will may send me all offerings collected by the local partially match the contribution up to an early church (excluding tithe), totaled to an additional 1 percent. grave to $315,228,166, up 3.2 percent from the To help employees make their deprive the previous year and 15.7 percent over matching contributions, a 2 percent ones I love the past five years. Next year’s division salary increase will be given at the of benefits budget will total $70,890,396, up start of the new program. that should ON THE HOT SEAT: $2,647,967, or nearly 4 percent. One advantage of the new package be there.” Delbert Johnson explains Retreading Retirement. The is that employees can keep the To ad- the new retirement plan. NAD executive committee took a amount of their fund balance regard- dress the removal of spouse allowance, major step to secure the future of less of when they leave denomina- McClure proposed the establishment of tional employment. Some a task force to restudy the issue and current benefits, however, consider alternative options. such as the spouse Some committee members voiced allowance for employees concerns that the plan offered some with spouses who don’t investment options that included “sin have their own retirement stocks,” securities in companies con- plan, have been elimi- nected with alcohol, tobacco, gam- nated, and the official bling, and other businesses frowned on retirement age will begin by the church. to increase along with the Johnson explained that investment Social Security official options will include mutual funds retirement age. [which hold hundreds of stocks and Delbert Johnson, associ- bonds] that will be screened to reflect ate administrator in the church’s values, as well as NAD’s retirement office, unscreened funds [which may include DIVERSE GATHERING: Church leaders gathered from all cor- explained that the change some sin stocks]. “Our attorneys advise ners of North America. in plans was necessary us that we must offer employees a wide

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1651) 19 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES range of investment choices,” he said. “The choice is up to the employee.” NAD Committee Members Another concern of committee members was that details for 10-month Question Tithe System teachers were not spelled out. Johnson assured the group that teacher provi- BY CARLOS MEDLEY, ADVENTIST REVIEW NEWS EDITOR sions would be addressed shortly. New Ingathering Appeal. The t was born out of a routine report— practice [of diverting tithe to local committee voted a new Ingathering a formality at the North American church funds] will become more and plan for local churches. The new plan, IDivision year-end meetings. NAD more common, to the detriment of called “ADRA Annual Appeal,” will executive committee members were all our church,” Hamilton commented. last only 10 days. Funds received will set to vote the division’s 1999 operat- “If the local church believed that be split in four ways: 40 percent will go ing budget of $70,890,396. President help was on the way, you’d see dra- for Adventist Development and Relief Alfred C. McClure, who chaired the matic increases in tithe. Until church Agency International projects, 10 per- committee, called for questions and members can look at these pie charts cent for Adventist Community observations. and see the smallest Services (ACS) projects in North Among those piece that said ‘local America, 25 percent will be held for responding to treasurer church operating,’ the local ACS centers, and 25 percent will Juan Prestol’s report frustration will be be allotted to local conferences. was Joni Hamilton, a maintained.” A major advantage of the new lay member from the Pastor Helvius program is that the division will tar- Georgia-Cumberland Thompson, of Texas, get promotional materials to specific Conference, who voiced his concern programs and needs. asked the critical ques- over the lack of con- Theological Standards. The com- tion “When do we sistent funds for com- mittee heard a brief report on a new [the local Adventist munity outreach and plan voted by the Annual Council in church] get our little evangelism. “Our first- Brazil (see Review, Nov. 12, 1998, p. piece of pie?” JUAN PRESTOL: Limited dollars and day churches are beat- uncommon sense. 20) that affects graduate theological That simple ques- ing us over the head education in North America. The tion ignited an impassioned dialogue [with outreach programs] because of International Board of Ministerial on how tithe funds are distributed. It the funds that they have,” he declared. and Theological Education seeks to was a question that many loyal church “My frustration is that there is not a answer the critical question of who members ask as they see large amounts definite amount of funds that return to should determine the direction of of tithe sent to the local conference the local church for evangelism, theological education for pastors and while they struggle to meet local church growth, and outreach. teachers. According to the provisions expenses with church offerings. “There’s not a specific amount that of this plan the North American It was a question that has taken on a church can depend upon [for out- Division would be asked to set up its a new urgency in recent years as sev- reach]. We could plan three, four, five own board. eral congregations have broken away years in advance for outreach [with Reading a statement from the col- from the Adventist Church. evangelistic funds],” Thompson said. lege presidents, Gordon Bietz, “I serve on our local church board, NAD stewardship director Edward Southern Adventist University presi- and we meet month to month and try Reid, however, voiced dismay at dent, told the committee, “We are to figure out creative ways to meet our those calling for a return of tithe to pleased that the division is about to budget,” Hamilton said. “We con- the local church. “I’ve been a little take up this assignment. We would stantly try to educate our church mem- embarrassed to hear this discussion,” have hoped that the process used in bers to the fact that locally our church he declared. “We are the wealthiest the development of the original docu- budget has to be met over and above division in the world, and if our sister ment would have involved more con- the tithe dollar. More and more we divisions could hear us saying that we sultation with those who hire, with meet resistance. The result is that indi- can’t live on 90 percent that we keep those who train, with those who listen viduals divert the tithe dollar to meet and we need to use God’s tithe to to ministers.” the local budget. It’s out of frustration, operate our churches, then I think we Bietz urged that division officials con- also out of necessity. I just want to should be embarrassed.” vene a committee that will ensure broad confirm that it is happening.” “If we could just understand biblical participation by religious educators, con- “I believe that if no changes are stewardship, there’s plenty of money in ference officials, and lay members. made in our [tithing] system, the our local churches to support the

20 (1652) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES

my colleagues and local leadership. We NAD president Alfred McClure need your help in stopping it.” promised committee members that a Lake Region Conference president special task force would be established Norman Miles told the committee that to probe a wide range of issues including his conference has started a program tithe distribution, stewardship, church that returns an amount equal to 5 per- growth, and other factors affecting the cent of tithe increase back to local local church and its mission. LONE STAR: Wilma Lee, of Texas, talks about the work of the Center for Family churches. “We’ve done this as an Wholeness. experiment,” Miles explained. “We hope to increase it to 10 percent Other Year-end programs that we want to do,” he said, next year. We believe this has encour- Meeting Actions “and giving tithe back will not help aged our members to increase their our stewardship education at all.” giving, and we believe it is in part In other business, the North Pastor Ron Halvorsen, Jr., of Keene, responsible for our 13.1 percent American Division executive Texas, noted that demands for funds increase in tithe.” committee: are skyrocketing. “I’m in a church with Pastor George Pangman, of Georgia, ■ Heard a report on the 1998 2,900 people, with a grade school and expressed the dilemma that North Ebony Evangelism thrust in Central academy,” he said. “We can say that American leaders find themselves in as States Conference. The 12-month ini- just the local offerings take care of the they finance the world church. “We in tiative reached 22 cities and involved local church. We’re not only trying to North America have been given the 26 of the conference’s 35 churches. survive on our local budget, but we’re opportunity to fund the world church,” Thus far 375 new believers have being asked to support more and more he said. “But we cannot let the world been baptized and three churches have projects from everywhere and every- make us incapable of ministering to our been organized in Iowa, Missouri, and thing. Money is being pulled left and communities. We are losing members Nebraska, respectively, reports confer- right, and churches are left scrimping to full-service churches who can minis- ence president Alex Bryant. and trying to survive. ter to the unwed mother when we ■ Voted to designate 1999 as the Year “There’s a growing tide of congrega- can’t. It’s in these environments that of Religious Freedom in North America. tionalism, and I am against that and we are asked to do evangelism and ■ Elected Debra Clements Brill, would do everything to stem that grow so that the tithe will increase, but executive director of the NAD Church tide,” said Halvorsen. “It’s coming from it takes capital to do that.” Resources Consortium, as vice presi- dent of ministries. Brill replaces Rose Otis, who became vice president and director of women’s ministries for the Texas Conference. ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO ■ Voted a new administrative model for the division’s Ministerial Association. Under the new format Dear Sirs: We are 15 university students from the Middle East the association would consist of a sec- living in [an Asian country]. We listen to your programs very retary and three associate secretaries, eagerly, and we really enjoy them—they are informative and we like the beauti- including an African-American, a ful hymns. We want to know about Adventists, since 14 of us are Muslims and Hispanic, and a female. one is a Jew who knows the Old Testament well. Could you send us a volume of The model also calls for one associ- the Bible in Persian? Is there an Adventist church in this city? If so, please send ate to run the office and the other three us the address. And please send us a complete list of your programs, since we staff members to be full-time pastors. want to inform others about them. “This model will provide for those who are currently involved in ministry to During these past years I was upset and bitter. That’s when I heard the gospel train pastors,” says Bjarne Christensen, from you. And that’s when things finally came into real focus and I was ready assistant to the division president for for a new life. I determined to come back home, to be one of God’s children.” administration. —Ching, from China. ■ Voted into policy new procedures for handling allegations of sexual mis- For information about Adventist World Radio, write to: 12501 Old Columbia Pike, conduct involving denominational Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600; or call toll-free: 1-800-337-4297; or e-mail: employees and approved volunteers. The [email protected]; Website: www.awr.org. model procedures have been field-tested as guidelines for the past five years.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1653) 21 MYSTERY VISITOR Southern Hospitality— A Large Helping The Tyler, Texas, church

oving around the country as I do, I fre- gentleman, Bob Jinks, took a special interest in introducing us quently receive directions—some good, to other members, and before long Harvey and Bob were others not . On this Saturday morn- corecruiting us to join the church. Bob even volunteered to ing the directions were help us find employment in the area. “Have adequate, but my wife and you met Dunbar yet?” he asked. MI were “cramming” for the V I finally got to meet Dunbar and his family Y R I S lesson in the car and not paying much E I over an excellent meal in the gymnasium. I attention to the road signs. (Forgetting our T T honestly wouldn’t have eaten as much as I S map didn’t help either.) Consequently, our O did, but a woman named J.J. kept telling me Y R 50-mile drive became a two-hour journey. M to go back for more—so I obliged. I considered turning around and going + I probably would never have heard of the home, but my wife suggested that we phone + Tyler, Texas, church had it not been for a the church. We talked to a man named Steve, high school friend who had dated and later who gave us detailed directions. Arriving at married a girl who once introduced herself as 11:00, we missed Sabbath school, but were “Trai-cy Truitt from Tahler, Teyxas.” At the just in time for the worship service. None church my wife and I had the chance to meet other than Steve (and his baby) greeted us at “Trai-cy’s” mother, stepfather, and grand- the door. During our short conversation he mother. These “family ties” combined with a told me of another church member I needed very genuine hospitality have my wife and to meet—a guy named Dunbar, who was in my line of work. me eager to attend Tyler regularly—until our traveling occupa- After chatting a minute in the church lobby, we met Harvey tion takes us elsewhere. Meharry, who urged us to “come on in while the pickin’s good.” Located 100 miles east of Dallas, Tyler is a bigger church Invitation to Readers than I had expected. Lisa Meharry gave the welcome and Over the past year Mystery Visitors A, B, and C have reviewed announcements—I was already beginning to put families several churches across North America. Over the next year we’re together—and Trudy Doerner’s children’s story about a “big inviting Review readers to participate. Send 800-word submissions stinky dog” had me envying her animation and expressions, to: Mystery Visitor, Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia which the kids loved. Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904. Please include your phone number Several rows ahead of me I spotted the face of a former and, if a U.S. citizen, your Social Security number. Payment is Adventist college student I had taken a racquetball class with. $75 upon acceptance. It seems that no matter how far you travel, you can always find Note: While we’ve tried to make this feature as “honest” as pos- an Adventist who either knows you or at least knows someone sible, some have objected to our mentioning anything negative about you know. This is somewhat scary, because I’m starting to a specific church—even when the essay was predominantly positive. remind myself of my parents whenever I say things like “Are (It’s the nature of any real journalism we attempt here.) So in a you related to [so and so] from [such and such]?” nod to these sensitivities, we invite you to review only those churches The guest speaker’s sermon, titled “Blood on the Door,” that “sweep you off your feet” in a strictly positive sense. Feel free included an actual door frame on the platform next to him. I to focus on one or two outstanding aspects of the church—as was a little worried when he took out red spray paint and opposed to a blow-by-blow account of your visit.—Editors. sprayed the sides and top of the frame, symbolizing the action taken by the Israelites before the angel of death flew over Egypt, Mystery Visitor A is a twentysomething male. but no oversprayed “blood” reached the polished grand piano. As the service ended, I was glad to receive a dinner invita- tion—especially since our drive back might take another two hours! Everyone seemed eager to have us visit again. A kindly

22 (1654) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 GLOBAL MISSION: REACHING THE UNREACHED WITH HOPE

At Home . . . and Abroad

TO THE TAR HEELS WHERE JESUS’ NAME WAS NEVER HEARD It’s a tough place to CAMPUS MINISTERS: For start a Seventh-day Ad- four years John and Kellie ventist church. Yet Global Van Eyk have been run- Mission is changing lives ning Campus Advent in the Hindu city of Ministry (CAM) in North Kurukshetra, India. Carolina–a ministry to Kurukshetra, holy to secular university campus- Hindus, is the site of the es. On October 3 they “glorious epic battle” of the started a new congrega- Mahabharata, a sacred HARVEST: Global Mission pioneer tion aimed at young Hindu text. It was here Parveez Musih introduced this family adults and students near that Lord Krishna preached near Kurukshetra to Jesus. They the campus of the his sermon recorded in have been waiting many months for University of North another holy scripture, the sufficient water to be baptized. Carolina at Chapel Hill Bhagavad-Gita. Kurukshetra (UNC-CH), and 65 people is a special place of pilgrimage—and the heart of Hinduism. attended. John and Kellie began CAM while John was a stu- When Global Mission pioneer Parveez Musih (pictured dent in the graduate physical therapy program at UNC-CH. below) and his wife, Reena, arrived in Kurukshetra in 1997, Although John has now graduated, they continue this min- nobody would rent a house to them. The problem was, they istry to the secular campuses of five large universities and were Christians. Finally a man offered them accommodation several smaller technical colleges in the Raleigh-Durham- on a trial basis of a month. Chapel Hill area. “Our program consists of outreach activities When the Musih family moved in, a fundamentalist on campus, a midweek Bible study, Friday night vespers, Hindu group threatened them and told them to leave the retreats, Christian music concerts, and more,” they report. city. The landlord intervened and said “We’ve found that Adventist students on secular campuses that as a citizen of a free India he could are very excited and willing to reach out to their peers and have anyone in his house and listen to introduce Adventism on campus. This age group is searching what they had to say. The fundamental- and open for the truth. What could be a better mission ist group warned Parveez and Reena to field?” If you’re interested in starting a similar project in speak only privately in homes. your area, contact John Van Eyk (phone: 919-935-4075; So they began visiting homes and e-mail: [email protected]). telling people about Jesus. Today within the city limits more than 15 people are PERSEVERANCE: preparing for baptism. But this is only part Miss the Annual Parveez Musih of the story. This pioneer couple are work- ing in eight other villages and studying Sacrifice Offering? the Bible with more than 340 people. Many of the people they are studying with had never It’s not too late to support the Annual Sacrifice heard the name of Jesus. In the village of Shahi, for exam- Offering and help God’s love break through in unentered ple, they were the first Christians ever to visit. Today more parts of the world. Simply mark your envelope “Annual than 20 people from Shahi have been baptized. Sacrifice Offering” and place it in the offering plate. Nearly 100 Global Mission pioneers are currently working throughout the state of Haryana and leading thousands to Jesus.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1655) 23 STORY “Go Home,” He Said.

A former Adventist, successful in business and society, gets some unlikely and unexpected counsel.

BY J. R. HANEY

ACK IN 1977 I WAS THE OWNER AND publisher of the Okmulgee County News, a county- wide weekly newspaper in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. I was the mayor of Okmulgee. Raised a Seventh-day Adventist, I was not Battending church. I knew what I should be doing, but I wasn’t doing it. My wife and I never really quit being Seventh-day Adventists. We were what I call “mugwumps”: we were kind of sitting on the fence, with our “mugs” on one side and our “wumps” on the other. There was no Adventist church in Okmulgee, so we didn’t attend church. It was 50 miles to the closest town where there was an Adventist church, and it seemed like we were so tired on Sabbath mornings that we just didn’t get up and go.

For the Children But I noticed that my children needed some spiritual instruction of some kind, so I told my wife one day, “You know, maybe we ought to attend one of these churches here.” She said, “If we’re going to attend any church, we need to go back to our own church.” “But it’s so far,” I said. “We live here in town, and it’d be better to go to a Sunday church than to no church.” So we began to visit other churches, and we took our children with us. We enjoyed some of them, and some of them we didn’t. In the course of things I met the pastor of the First

24 (1656) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 Presbyterian Church, Bob Tull. I’ll become members of the First “Yes,” I said, “I did. I was a student never forget Bob. He was a friendly Presbyterian Church in Okmulgee.” pastor up there for a while. It’s been guy, and he just went out of his way to “Well, that’s very nice,” I responded. many years ago, but I was a student be nice to me. We both belonged to “I appreciate the invitation.” pastor.” the country club and played golf “But there’s something else,” he said. Pastor Tull said, “J.R., were you together. We were also both members “If you join our church, I want you to raised a Seventh-day Adventist?” of the Rotary Club. He used to invite know that you’ll be on the board of gov- “Yes. I grew up in the Seventh-day me to his house to shoot pool in his ernors. Now, I don’t know what your Adventist Church,” I admitted. basement. He had a real active church. political aspirations are, but this will be a And he looked at me with the So I told my wife one Sunday, good place for you to be.” There were a strangest expression on his face. He “Let’s get up and take the kids to the lot of doctors, attorneys, judges, and said, “J.R., I tell you what you need to Presbyterian church.” And she reluc- other influential community people in do: you need to go home.” And he got tantly agreed to go. We didn’t get the Presbyterian church, so he was saying up and walked out of my office. there in time for Sunday school, but that this would be a good step politically Up to that time my life revolved we got there in time for the worship as well as socially for my wife and me. around my family, my work, and my service. And I’ll never forget the ser- I listened while he told me about all civic responsibilities. Although I mon Pastor Tull preached. the good things the church was doing; hadn’t deliberately turned my back on He preached about what happens then he said, “Before you answer my the Lord, I had become careless in my when a person dies, which agreed com- question about whether you’d be inter- relationship with Him. pletely with the theology that I’d grown ested in becoming a member of our The Lord hadn’t forgotten about up with. And as I sat there listening, I church, I have a question to ask you. me, however. But it took Bob Tull, a couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’ve been in my Sunday school Presbyterian minister and a real This is unusual, I said to myself. I have to class and you’ve asked some thought- Christian, to help me make a decision get to know this guy better. provoking questions there. The ques- for Christ and turn my life around and tions you ask make me think that per- follow Him completely. ■ Making the Pitch haps you have some kind of theological We were back the next Sunday. We background.” sat in Pastor Tull’s Sunday school class. “Well, I guess I do,” I said. “I was a J. R. Haney, now retired, I enjoyed his class and his church student at in Lincoln, has served the Oklahoma because they were outgoing people, very Nebraska.” Conference as a pastor, friendly. We had a good time there and “You mean to tell me that you evangelist, and revival speaker. attended several times. attended a Seventh-day Adventist He lives in Disney, One day I got a call from Bob. “I seminary?” Oklahoma, with his wife, Faye. need about 30 minutes of your time. There’s something I want to talk to you about,” he said. “I know you’re real busy, and your office is like Grand Central Station, but I just need 30 minutes.” So I blocked out some time and told him when I could meet with him. When he came to my office, I told my secretary, “Please hold all my calls.” We sat down in my office, and I closed the blinds so that no one could interrupt us if they saw us sitting there. My office was right across the street from city hall. And because I was the mayor, people were always coming to me with city business in addition to newspaper business. So it was like Grand Central Station. Pastor Tull and I sat down and had a nice visit. He said, “In our church we vote on people before we ask them to become members. And I’ve discussed you, your wife, and your children with our church board. And we want you to

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1657) 25 LIFESTYLE

Everything I Need to Know About Evangelism I Learned From My Sons

BY JUDY L. SHULL

’D LOVE TO TELL YOU MY SONS ARE I hear them answering questions their playmate asks, such as: “Why don’t we play football on Saturday?” conference evangelists, but since they’re 9 and 11, “Because that’s the Sabbath.” When their friend says “We go to church on Sunday,” I know you would never believe me. Both boys they get their Bibles out and show their friend the Ten Commandments and point out the fourth in particular. are true evangelists, though; I’ve been watching hen she offered them a wonderful book she’d them for years. I think I’m finally catching on to just read, my evangelists looked the book over Wand handed it back, saying, “We don’t read Iwhat it takes to be a good evangelist. stories about ghosts.” “Why?” The first thing I’ve noticed is that they start by being “There are no ghosts; dead people are just sleeping until friends. That’s it. They just do friend-type things. Next door Jesus returns,” the boys told her. is a girl about the older one’s age and the younger one’s size. “I thought they were in heaven,” she responded, confused. They play catch in the backyard and shoot baskets in the “No, just asleep. When Jesus returns He’ll call and wake driveway out front. Wood for a building project keeps mov- them up. Then we’ll all go to heaven together.” ing around the yard, but I’m a bit When the school has a roller-skat- afraid to ask what the end result is ing party, the neighbor girl gets an intended to be. invitation. When the church has a While they are doing all this, Vacation Bible School program, the they’re talking constantly to each boys bring her. When the school has a other. They share everything. They Christmas program or the boys have a describe what they ate at supper, what piano recital, this good friend is

wonderful new game their teacher always included. ISC D taught them, and when they will get a The boys don’t even feel insulted day off school again. You know, really when their friend can’t come. They just HOTO © P important things—right to the heart of say, “Maybe next time.” Then they keep HOTO

what makes life worth living. asking. They’ve brought their friend to P

26 (1658) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 MODIFIED Y ALL DIGIT / CK TO S AL IGIT © D HOTO P

so many activities that she knows lots something to read.” missionary. I’ve learned: about their school and their church Have they seen any baptisms from Be a friend. friends, too. their efforts? No. Have they seen Spend time together. One day I heard the movement of results? Their friend informed them Answer questions. bicycles and lawn chairs in the shed. I one Sabbath afternoon that she had Keep inviting. peeked in and discovered I’d stumbled to go home and get cleaned up. She Include other friends. onto a Tuesday afternoon branch explained that her parents had decid- Embrace as part of God’s family. Sabbath school. There is still a lovely ed to attend Mass on Saturday Now I know how to plant seeds— hand-lettered sign on the inside of the evening instead of Sunday morning. gospel seeds. I know that the Lord shed door that clearly asks “What As she hurried home, the boys instructs in the tending, and He is Would Jesus Do?” grinned at each other. The younger the one who will harvest. All He The other day my older son walked one said, “Well, at least she’s going to asks me to do is plant. My sons out of his room with a stack of his church on the right day now.” taught me that. ■ cherished Guide magazines. “I’m going Her mom occasionally asks for more to give these to Catherine,” he stated. information about the church school “Why?” I asked. where I teach. She’s even let me give Judy L. Shull is a mother “Well, her mother tells her she has her some reading material about who writes from Grand to read for an hour on Friday evenings, Adventist education. Rapids, Michigan. and I think she should be reading My children have taught me a lot Sabbath things, so I’m giving her about what it means to be a backyard

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1659) 27 A PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE Time for a Miracle JOHN S. NIXON

iracle” is the word that describes what God leadership position among White Pentecostals. Charles did in giving the very first Christmas gift, Blake, a COGIC bishop, called the meeting a giant step in forever mending the historic rift between the eradication of racism among Pentecostals. heaven and earth. But the reconciliation was only a Jesus, fully divine beginning and not a complete one. Mand fully human, is the eternal link The presiding bishop of COGIC, for between divinity and humanity. Jesus Ministers fell instance, did not even attend the con- alone successfully navigates the path ference, which some Black from earth to heaven, over the chasm to their knees Pentecostals viewed as an attempt by of tragic sin. He is the eternal symbol Whites to invade their territory and of reconciliation. take over their organization. The ministry of reconciliation is and wept At one dramatic moment during vertical. We are no longer separated one of the worship services a White from God, but are eternally and in humility. pastor from Florida got up and girded intimately joined to Him by the himself with a towel. Crossing the cross of Christ. room, he bent down and washed the But just as the cross of Jesus has two posts—one vertical feet of a Black pastor. Ministers throughout the auditorium and one horizontal—so the ministry of reconciliation is not fell to their knees and wept in humility. only vertical but also horizontal: “You are all sons of God In His prayer before going to the cross, Jesus pleaded for one- through faith in Christ Jesus. . . . There is neither Jew nor ness among His followers, praying “that all of them may be one, Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26-28, NIV). in us”—notice the expected outcome—“that the world may Paul here expresses an accomplished fact, not something believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21, 22, NIV). for us to achieve. We can no more reconcile ourselves to Is not this our great objective as a church, that the world one another than we can reconcile ourselves to God. Jesus might believe that Jesus Christ is the only one? Have we has accomplished reconciliation already. He is its vital force. been trying to convince the world with our doctrine while What’s left is for us to consummate what Christ has already failing to live our faith convincingly? Perhaps it’s time for a done—to learn to be who we are. miracle among us. In October 1994 something was going on among The reconciliation that is ours in Christ Jesus is both Pentecostal Christians that caught the national attention. vertical and horizontal. All division between us and God is In print and broadcast media it was dubbed the “miracle in overcome in the cross of Calvary. So also is all division Memphis.” Twenty-one White Pentecostal groups gathered between us and our brothers and sisters in Christ, whatever together with ministers and leaders from the largest Black our culture, gender, or race. Pentecostal group, the 5 million-member Church of God in What better present could we offer God this Christmas Christ (COGIC), to end the racial rift between them.* than the gift of ourselves, fully united in Jesus? The three-day conference was organized and paid for by the predominantly White Pentecostal Fellowship of North * J. Lee Grady, “Pentecostals Renounce Racism,” Christianity Today, October 1994. America (PFNA). The board members of PFNA demon- strated their change of heart by dissolving their organization and forming a new interracial group, the Pentecostal/Char- John S. Nixon is senior pastor of the Oakwood ismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA). College Seventh-day Adventist Church in Joined by some but not all of the bishops of COGIC, the Huntsville, Alabama. new interracial organization elected Ithiel Clemmons as its chairperson, the first African-American to hold such a high

28 (1660) ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 So store your treasure in heaven” (Matthew 6:19, 20, ICB). Moth Holes What kind of treasure cannot be stolen from you? Who you are. What kind of treasure can you store in heaven? The things you do. Your character is a treasure that no one can take away. And it is the only thing you can take with you to ROSY TETZ heaven. The things you do in kindness are another kind of treasure. When you ave you gotten your clothes are ruined. are loving and kind, it helps others, winter clothes out yet? Wait a minute. Moths don’t have but it also enriches you. It builds your If you live in a place teeth. How can they chew holes in any- character. When you give, you get. where it’s always warm, thing? They can’t and they don’t. We “Your heart will be where your trea- you may not have to do call them “moth holes,” but we really sure is,” Jesus says (verse 21, ICB). If Hthis. But many people have summer should call them “caterpillar holes.” you love clothes and cars and money, clothes and winter clothes. At some Sometimes moths lay eggs on you’re going to be dealing with moth point during the fall they get their woolen clothes. After the eggs hatch, holes and rust and inflation. But if winter clothes from the basement or the little caterpillars nibble on what- your heart is in heaven, then you will attic and they pack up their summer ever is nearby. If it is your sweater, know what’s really important, and you clothes until next spring. then it will be full of holes when you will pile up treasures of kindness and It’s kind of a pain, but in a way it’s unpack it in the fall. love and character. sort of fun because you get to wear But hey, it’s just a sweater. That’s clothes again that you’d nearly forgot- what happens to stuff. Bread gets ten about. And that’s almost like get- moldy. Cars get rusty. Stock markets ting a bunch of new clothes. crash. Clothes get holes. There is one thing you don’t Jesus says, “Don’t store treasures for want to find when you’re getting out yourselves here on earth. Moths and your winter clothes—moth holes. rust will destroy treasures here on Sometimes moths get into woolen earth. And thieves can break into your clothes and chew holes. Then the house and steal the things you have.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, DECEMBER 1998 (1661) 29 REFLECTIONS Try Giving BY H. J. HARRIS Yourself Away

early 50 years ago David Dunn wrote a book many hours of patient handwork, was lovingly presented to entitled Try Giving Yourself Away. The me by a woman who lived at that time in the far north of Updegraff Press, Ltd. (the publishers), have Alberta, Canada. I had not known her until one day, as a since allowed Prentice conference administrator, I received Hall to reprint it at a letter from her. She stated that leastN a dozen times. It not only was a You can’t really she and her family were isolated good book, but it also taught a prac- members, surrounded by neighbors tical way of life. When you give who plied her with questions about something of value to someone who give yourself her beliefs, and that she needed a needs it, both parties gain. projector and filmstrips to help One evening I was sitting alone away—it always answer their questions. I arranged in the lobby of a Victoria, British for the shipment of the requested Columbia, hotel. Across the way a comes back to you. witnessing tools and wished her pianist quietly played several selec- well in her desire to reach her tions that seemed to match my neighbors for Christ. “away from home” mood. Others sat in the same lobby, but Several months later she presented me with the lovely somehow they didn’t seem to notice or appreciate his musi- carving that has been hanging on my study wall ever since. cal contributions. After a while he paused to rest and look It was her way of saying thanks. You can’t really give your- around the lobby, and as our eyes met, I silently clapped my self away—it always comes back to you. hands in appreciation of his musical talents. Immediately he “It didn’t take me long,” writes Dunn, “after I took up giv- stood to his feet, walked over to my table, and said, “Thanks ing-away as a hobby, to discover that it is virtually impossible for appreciating my music. I was beginning to think no one to give yourself away without getting back more than you noticed or cared whether I played or not.” He was beaming, give—provided you give away with no thought of reward.” 2 my loneliness was gone, and he continued to play, much to Some anonymous person wrote the following: the delight of everyone. “I stand by the side of a river “There are a hundred ways to give a portion of yourself,” As it enters the restless sea. writes David Dunn. “But they all start from the same spot— And men of all sorts from many ports your heart. The French have a proverb, ‘He gives nothing Come in to be healed by me. who does not give himself.’” 1 And some have more sin than sickness, Being the benefactor of someone else’s thoughtfulness And some have more grief than pain. brings its own unforgettable rewards too. In our mail one Lord, help me to make whole, both body and soul, day we received a simple postcard from dear friends. The Before they go out again.” message was: “We want you to know that every day this Try giving yourself away. The rewards for all concerned week you will be especially remembered in our prayers.” are out of this world. ■ We have had a special glow ever since that day, and especially when we think of that precious couple who 1 David Dunn, Try Giving Yourself Away (Scarsdale, N.Y.: The Updegraff Press, Ltd., 1947), p. 11. remembered us in prayer when administrative burdens 2 Ibid., p. 20. seemed particularly heavy. Since then we too have adopted a similar plan in the hope that it will be a bless- ing to someone in need. H. J. Harris, a retired minister living in Portland, Hanging on the wall of my study is a heavy, hand- Oregon, continues to serve the Seventh-day carved, carefully crafted piece of woodwork. All across its Adventist Church as president of the Retirees’ 30" x 40" face are carved depictions of various Bible heroes Association for North America. and inspiring stories. This masterful carving, requiring

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