Ministry Ministry is the international journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association and has been published since 1928.

Evangelizing a communication-saturated world Association Secretary Pastoral Assistant Editors Gaining people©s attention in a media-crowded age James A. Cress John C. Cress, Fredrick Russell, Alejandro Bullon Editor Maylan Schurch, Loren Seibold Willmore D. Eva International Advisors A. Abdulmajid, Alejandro Bullon, Assistant Editor Jaime Castrejon, Victor P. 8 Julia W. Norcott Krushenitsky. Carlos Martin, The pastor as a purposeful leader Editorial Assistant Gabriel Wlaurer, Joel Musvosvi, Sheila Draper David Osbome, Paul Ratsara, Seven principles of effective Christian leadership Peter Roennfeldt, John Wilimott, Professional Growth and Eric Winter, R. A. Zeeman Luka T. Daniel Inter-church Relations Nikolaus Satelmajer Pastoral Advisors Leslie Baumgartner, S. Peter 11 Contributing Editors Campbell, Miguel A. Cerna, Sharon Cress Jeanne Harwell, Mitchell Keeping our proclamation fresh Peter Prime Henson, Greg Nelson, Norma Joel Sarli Osborn, , Dan Five things that keep our preaching alive Kit Watts Smith, Steve Willsey Christopher Beason Consulting Editors Advertising Matthew Bediako, Ben Ministry Editorial Office Clausen, Raois! Dederen, 12 Teofilo Ferreira, Ron Flowers, Subscriptions and Circulation John M. Fowler, Michael Jeannette Calbi Adventist missions in a new millennium Hasel, Roland Hegstad, Resources Kathleen Kuntaraf, Ekkehardt Gathy Payne Meeting the contemporary challenges of the Adventist mission Mueller, , Robert Cover Illustration Peach, George Reid, Angel Reinder Bruinsma Kevin Chadwick Rodriguez, Penny Shell, William Shea, Russell Cover Design 16 Staples, Richard Tibbits, Harry Knox Worship and praise Edward Zinke A model for change in the worship hour Subscriptions: 12 issues (double issue for June- July): United States us$29.95; Canada and overseas John A. Solomon us$31.50; airmail us$41.50; single copy us$3.00. To order, send name, address, and payment to 20 Jeannette Calbi, Ministry Subscriptions, 12501 Old "Thy Word is a light unto my feet" (part 2) Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904 U.S.A. Subscription queries and address changes: Viewpoint: Further thoughts on the nature of revelation and inspiration E-mail: [email protected]; 1ax: 301-680-6502; Richard Coffen telephone: 301-680-6503. To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. 25 Editorial preference is to receive manuscripts on diskette with name, address, telephone and fax Miracles do happen! numbers, and Social Security number (if U.S. The pastor©s day citizen). Send editorial correspondence to 12501 Mel Matinyi Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600. Phone: 301-680-6510; fax: 301-680-6502; 28 e-mail: [email protected] or Celebrating the life of Norman Reginald Dower [email protected] (editorial offices). Writer©s Guidelines available on request. Richard Dower Ministry (ISSN 0026-5314), the international journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial 30 Association 2000, is published monthly (except Ministry report for June-July, when a double issue will be published) by the General Conference of Seventh- Jan Paulsen on world evangelism day Adventists and printed by Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1350 N. Kings Road, Nampa, ID 83687-3193. Member Associated Church Press. Standard mail Is the seminary moving to your home? postage paid at Nampa, Idaho. Seminary news PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

Vol. 73 Number 2 IN EVERY ISSUE

Bible credits: Texts credited to PJIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973,1978,1984, 3 Letters 26 Pastor©s Pastor International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. 4 Editorial 31 Resources

2 Ministry/February 2000 August 1999 issue to complete the job, but Western given people of other countries the Graeme S. Bradford©s "The medicine no longer uses irrational impression that this is a new work. Prophets Are Human Too!" was chemical poisons in the trial and error Verdia and Harvey may have been timely and most constructive. His manner that Ellen White so vigorously pioneering, but I was born on an biblical examples of the less-than- condemned. aboriginal mission station in the late perfect prophets who wrote ageless, C. Is there nothing left for 1940s while my father was ministering inspired Scripture emphasize that the Adventists to do besides share the there, and our church had work for message is more important than the blessings of the seventh-day Sabbath aboriginals well before that time. messenger the content more with our world? Hardly. God©s Health Also, to recount some of the sad important than the container. The Message through Adventists in 2000 early Australian history and to say in only way to listen to the inspired A.D. could include several the same paragraph that "medical prophet is to discover his or her core distinctives: (1) We remain commit care is poor" gives an unbalanced message, which, in most cases, is ted to preventing disease rather than picture, and no credit for the enor always an advance over messages merely treating it; (2) is mous efforts the Australian previously given to an inspired not unique because we know more; government is making towards the prophet. We miss the point of we remain unique because we have indigenous people of Australia. In revelation/inspiration when we focus spiritual motivation to do more of recent years I have participated in unduly on the prophet. Herbert E. what we know; (3) Followers of the educational programs for aboriginals Douglass, Th.D., Weimar, California. Source of all wisdom must become as and have observed the government wise and informed in health sciences giving a bias in their favor in an effort Both Professor Fraser©s well- as their position in life allows; (4) It is to compensate for past mistakes. Joy written article "Refocusing the economic and financial morality that Watts, pastor©s wife, Solomon Islands, Message" and the Health Care System needs today. South Pacific. several same issue Letters longing for How needed are institutions run by "historic Adventism" carried the notes believers who have eschewed greed Recent articles in Ministry calling of nostalgia. and selfishness to give the world a for a return to the days when minis While God©s truth always rests on demonstration of how God would run ters (in NAD) were basically engaged a foundation of past revelation, unless a hospital, clinic, or pharmaceutical in evangelistic church planting rather it is "present truth," an active and company; and (5) Adventists today than pastoring a church or district call growing "living temple," blown to new need to teach the world not so much for some serious study on the part of destinations by the Spirit that "bloweth how to live, as how to die. Firm trust administrators, pastors, evangelists, where it listeth," it is a mere ruin. in God©s love at the end of mortal life and college and seminary teachers. I©d like to introduce some can lead to a purposeful rejection of When I studied in college to become a additional thoughts regarding God©s the futile, expensive, and sometimes minister, it was evangelism. My first Health Message for the year 2000. painful pursuit of another one or two few years in the ministry (during the A. First, it isn©t an "Adventist" months. John Bryon Hoehn, M.D., late 40s) were engaged in tent health message any more, thanks be to Walla Walla, Washington. meetings and raising up new God. Millions of non-adherents the churches. After 14 years of mission world over in 2000 A.D. know the October 1999 issue service, I returned to the U.S. to find basics of what God shared with Ellen I do not wish to negate the that the emphasis had shifted. White 136 years ago. wonderful work Verdia and Harvey Evangelism was being done by B. Secondly, what God needed to Williams did for the aboriginal people professional evangelists, and our reform in 1864 in the medical while they were in Australia in 1998. young men were being trained to be profession has long been reformed. It However, I feel to entitle the article theologians, counselors, and pastors. took about 120 years after the visions "Pioneering in Australia" may have continued on page 29

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

Ministry/February 2000 3 hy initiative is called Project Reaching exactly Every Active Clergy Home, or do we Why PREACH. have a magazine This fine enterprise was launched such as Ministry? Ministry? during the Dower and Spangler years What is its value? and is calculated to break down What is it designed WILL EVA prejudice, provide a genuinely helpful to accomplish? warning the world of impending resource to these clergy and inspire LeRoy Edwin Froom, the first judgment. Also, efficiency in ministry positive thought about the Adventist editor of Ministry, said in the seemed to be a real concern for those message among them. Alert Adventist magazine©s 1928 inaugural editorial who forged the charter for this journal. readers will notice that their January, that it was to be "a designated medium They clearly felt that the magazine March, May, July, September and of communication between our world would simply help to improve the November issues are a little different group of gospel workers, a vehicle performance of Adventist ministers. from the others. In these issues we try wherein counsel could be given by In July 1985 the Ministry editorial to consider this large proportion of strong, experienced leaders, where our staff published a mission statement. our readership while we maintain a special problems could be discussed The statement was revised in 1990 strong and authentic Seventh-day with frankness and profit without and 1994, and once again in January Adventist emphasis in the journal. becoming common property and 1996 (see page 17 for this most recent A significant number of our where methods of labor could be talked statement.) subscribers from other denominations over apart from the full observation of All of this is far from merely have been receiving Ministry for years our church membership."1 academic. When it comes to deciding and feel it to be a meaningful part of Focusing on each phrase of what will go into a given issue of their life and ministry. As such they Froom©s description of the designed Ministry, a holistic grasp and applica are eager to submit articles to us for role of Ministry leads to at least four tion of the original charter and the publication. We obviously consider it major reasons for the existence of this contemporary mission statement important to include some of their magazine. 1) It has been called into provides the underlying rationale. articles in our PREACH issues. being by an official assembly of When any potentially publishable We are all at different points in our ministers and thus has been given a item is evaluated, the essential thinking and believing, come from certain representative and formal practical question always is: In the varied parts of earth, and represent responsibility and status. That is, it is a light of our charter and mission, how every conceivable kindred, tongue, and "designated" means of communica will this benefit or contribute to the people. But we are all made of one tion. 2) It is a medium of global life and function of the individual blood, we have been redeemed by the "communication" between a "world Adventist minister worldwide? blood of One, possessing one Lord, one group of gospel workers." In other There are times, for example, faith, and one baptism. I hope Ministry words, it is an "international journal when a potential Ministry article is a metaphor for both our variety and for pastors" (see cover). 3) Most causes serious, almost agonizing, for the togetherness we manifest in important, in terms of its reason for editorial heart-searching. We know Christ despite it. I believe it is more existence, according to Froom Ministry that for one reason or another some than imperative that we come to see is to be a "vehicle" through which will be quite disturbed by a certain one another in terms of our solidarity counsel maybe given by seasoned line of thinking in an article, but in Christ and in the Advent message, leaders, and 4) a venue through which weighing all the dynamics of our before we see ourselves in any other particular "problems" and "methods of mission and charter, if we still believe way. Our national, racial, tribal, labor" can be frankly and profitably that the article has a bottom-line, linguistic, cultural, and even our discussed in a relatively discrete setting. overall value to the average pastor, we theologically liberal versus conservative In one sentence Ministry \s the pooling will go ahead and publish it. identities must by no means be of our best thought about any topic An important part of our mission ignored, but they must take a back seat relevant to our ministry. is Ministry©s outreach. Presently the to the glorious reality of who we truly Aside from these four reasons, magazine is sent to about 50,000 are together in Christ. much was said in that 1928 issue about clergy of other denominations. These 1 Sec Froom, L. E., The Ministry, January, 1928, Our the distinctive task of the Adventist ministers receive Ministry every odd- Apology and Our Authorization, 2, 31. minister the evangelistic task of numbered month of the year. This

4 Ministry/February 2000 uring the last evangelistic crusade in the Maracanazinho Sports Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the average nightly attendance reached 25,000.

Alejandro Button is More than 15,000 names were re dent. Everything is governed through ministerial secretary corded and 1,300 individuals accepted the principles established by God. for the South the invitation to join the church "There are great laws that govern American Division, through baptism. the world of nature, and spiritual things Brasilia, Brazil. How is it possible, in a city like Rio are controlled by principles equally cer de Janeiro (with such an active tain. The means for an end must be nightlife), that 25,000 people chose to employed, if the desired results are to attend meetings about Jesus every be attained." 1 night? What led so many individuals to The evangelist who does not know decide for Christ? how and why decisions are made is dis- First, it is the Holy Spirit who at advantaged. tracts individuals to Christ. The Spirit "To lead souls to Jesus there must leads into "all truth," offering deeper be a knowledge of human nature and a understandings of Scripture, victory study of the human mind."2 over sin, the desire to obey, and power "Whoever desires to obtain deci for that obedience. This is why we must sions from people must know first, consistently place the Holy Spirit first foremost, and finally, the deep recesses in our evangelistic activities. Then we of the human mind."3 will see extraordinary results. Therefore, we must understand that every decision is the result of a de The role of persuasion sire and conviction that takes place The fact that the Holy Spirit is in within the mind. It does not matter if dispensable does not justify ignoring the subject involves clothing, the pur key persuasion principles. The Holy chase of a car, or joining a church. In Spirit acts through these means as well. every case, desire and conviction lead No decision is made by chance or acci to a decision.

A L E©J AN D R O B U L L 0 N

Ministry/February 2000 5 To change a mind? sage, simply attempting to change piece of the market. In such a situation, We live in a society saturated by all someone©s mind is a venture doomed what should this company present to kinds of communication media. In the to almost certain failure. the public? Should it make the claim United States alone, 30,000 new books "Guarana is better than Coca-Cola?" are published each year! Perhaps that Positioning No. Here the Guarana advertisers must does not sound impressive until one What should be done, then, to remember what we have said: When the considers that it would take the average communicate our message successfully mind is set, it is almost impossible to person 24 hours a day for 17 years just in a world filled with so many voices? change. Also, the mind will accept only to read those 30,000 books. Positioning is the organized system that which somehow coincides with its Every year North American news that discovers a window to the mind. previous experience. papers use ten thousand tons of paper Positioning is notwhat is done with the Coca-Cola already has the first for printing. This means that every in product, but what is done with the place in people©s minds; how then can dividual, on the average, consumes 94 mind of the individual who is to receive you approach people and communicate printed news sections per year. The Sun the product or service. to them that Guarana is better? Cer day edition of a newspaper, such as The tainly not by telling the public that they New York Times, weighs four and a half are wrong in consuming Coca-Cola. pounds, and contains approximately Guarana discovered that young 500,000 words. To read all that, at the people in Brazil enjoy eating pizza, con average speed of 300 words per minute, D sequently in their advertising they say, would take 28 hours. In other words, "Coca-Cola is better, but pizza only goes Sunday isn©t long enough for most read well with Guarana." Thus Guarana ers to read the whole of the Sunday pa . . ositioning is openly accepts the fact that Coke has per.4 And the newspaper represents only the first place in people©s experience. a tiny fraction of the communication the organized system that But they then look for a new and dif media available in the contemporary discovers a window to the ferent "position," one involving a close world. association with a central and widely With all communication roads so mind. Positioning is not what accepted element in the life of the cul jammed, with traffic so heavy, so disor ture pizza. Using this strategy, they are ganized, so maddening, so pervasive is done with the product, but of course attempting to remove Coca- how much information is actually Cola from the individual©s preference. gained, let alone retained? Combine and what is done with the mind of mix together radio, TV, video and au Placing our message in the mind dio tapes, movies, theater, magazines, the individual who is to receive But our message is not a soft drink. newspapers, books, posters, billboards, How do we place it in the mind of the and now the Internet, and we may well the product or service. individual? The easiest way is by being ask, "Who is left undrowned in this there first. It is not difficult to prove the massive torrent of communication?" importance of this principle. Who is the With the communications traffic father of aviation in Brazil? Santos so gridlocked at the toll booths and Dumont. Who is credited with aviation crossroads of modern minds, and with In the world of communication, firsts in the United States? The Wright our mental engines boiling over, the positioning has changed the way of pre Brothers. And in either country, who is question is How do we effectively grasp senting a message. Avis is only number the second most important name in and hold people©s attention? two in the car rental world, so their slo aviation? This is not so easy to answer. To defend itself against the daily gan is "We try harder." But in such an The first doctor to perform a heart communication onslaughts, the con approach, what has happened to mar- transplant was Christian Barnard. temporary mind has learned to filter velous words such as "The First," "The That©s easy. Who was the second? The and reject much of what bombards it. Best," and "Number One?" They©re not Catholic Church is the largest Christian Generally, the human mind accepts only there. Why? Because what is ultimately denomination in the world. Which is that which somehow coincides with its important today is not necessarily be the second? own knowledge or with a previous ex ing number one. What is important is It©s not only the message that©s im perience. Thus, millions of dollars have to occupy a place in people©s minds. portant in communication. In a very been wasted in the effort to change In Brazil, for example, the soft significant sense, the mind to which the minds through advertising. Once the drink that holds the best position in the message is directed is itselfjust as impor mind is set, it is almost impossible to market is Coca-Cola. But, Guarana, a tant. Thus an innocent mind that has change it. When communicating a mes national soft drink, wants to have a never been touched by another message

6 Ministry/February 2000 in the same area is the easiest to reach. ence loneliness at some point in their who receives the message. The most difficult part in the journey lives. Some have referred to this univer Unfortunately, the obvious con of reaching someone©s mind is to arrive sal sense of human aloneness as "cosmic cepts are often the most difficult to be second. If we are not the first ones there, loneliness." Deep down it is loneliness recognized and transmitted. The hu then we have the problem of position for God. Moreover, we must not forget man mind admires the complicated; it ing. In communication, the first that our listeners are carrying feelings rejects the obvious because it is too message to mark a position has an enor of guilt. And finally, we must remem simple. But we have to spread the Eter mous advantage. It is good to have the ber that in one way or another, our nal Gospel©s obvious concepts which best message, but it is even better to be audience is afraid of death and the fu contain, however "simplistic," the only the first one to arrive with it. ture. Human beings were not born to answers to human apprehensions. "But Fortunately, there are strategies for die. Death is an intruder. God chose the foolish things of the those who are number two, three, or world to shame the wise: God chose the even one hundred. Naturally, we must The real question weak things of the world to shame the be careful, because the messages pre Thus the question must be formu strong" (1 Cor. 1:27, NIV). sented in the old traditional style of lated and faced: How will the doctrines More than a thousand people dis aspiring to prove that one thing is bet presented occupy a place in the public©s covered some of these answers during ter than another does not have the same mind so that they truly address the that series at Maracanazinho Sports Sta chance of success in our society as when common existential problems and dium in Rio de Janeiro. Millions more, there were fewer messages being pre needs of being human? Individuals may the world over, are waiting. We have the sented! Inventing or discovering not even want to know that the Sabbath message that they need to hear. The cru something good or best is not enough; is the day of the Lord. But if we present cial question is Can we position this it is necessary to be the first in the the Sabbath as a day of fellowship and message so that these millions will hear public©s mind. The correct message is communion with Jesus and the church, it and, hearing, take it to heart? not sufficient; it must be positioned the people may find an answer to their correctly. loneliness. 1 Ellen G. White, Testimonies to the Our answers, taken from the Word Church (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press* Pub. Assn., 1909), 9:221. Identifying and addressing of God, may sound simplistic or overly 2 Ellen G. White, Testimonies to the human need obvious in the face of such complex Church (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press" Pub. We must search for the root of problems. But experience has demon Assn., 1885), 1:453. things as they reveal themselves within strated that the practice of positioning 3 Robert Oliver, Psychology of the Per the minds of people. One way of find involves the search for the obvious and suasive Speech (New York: Longmans Green ing these is to discover what people the simple. And the obvious should be and Co., 1957), 6. 4 Al Ries and Jack Trout, Positioning: want, what they need, what they dream the easiest concept to be communicated The Battle for Your Mind (New York: about, what they desire, and what they because it makes sense to the individual McGraw-Hill, 1985), 5. desperately search for. Also, it is not so much what we say as how we say it that Genera! Conference Ministerial Association meets the individual©s inner needs. The basic needs of our listeners will never be fully satisfied by social or eco CONTACT INFORMATION nomic improvements. Jesus said, ©"A Phone Number E-mail Address man©s life does not consist in the abun Association 301-680-6501 [email protected] dance of his possessions©" (Luke 12:15, Elder©s Digest, f heologifiat Education 301-680-6508 [email protected] NIV). There is a void in the life without Evangelism atwj: j$jurch firoyrth 301-680-6509 [email protected] Christ. Humanity continues crying out M/msfrj©Efliferiaf ttffice, : 301-680-6510 [email protected] for something that it cannot identify. [email protected] If a person wins one million dol & Circulation 301-680-6503 [email protected] lars, there is no ultimate satisfaction. Sex PREACH ;30d Professional Growth 301-680-6518 [email protected] and all other forms of sensual indul Resource Center 301-680-6508 [email protected] gence do not satisfy the deepest internal 888-771-0738 (toll-free) yearnings. People are empty without Shepherdess International 301-680-6513 [email protected] God. We need to take advantage of that World Ministers© Council 301-680-6515/6499 [email protected] emptiness by showing them how it can be filled. Fax number for all departments: 301-680-6502 Another point that needs to be Web site: www.ministerialassociation.com considered is that all listeners experi

Ministry/February 2000 7 THE PASTOR AS A PURPOSEFUL LEADER

3me are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness :hrust upon them." So said Shakespeare. Whichever way leadership comes our way, the challenge remains the same: to make it purposeful.

Luka Tambaya Daniel Nowhere is the challenge to be pur for a baptism the next day. The presi is the president of the poseful in leadership more concrete dent quietly removed his jacket, rolled Africa-Indian Ocean than when one is leading the church. his sleeves up, got down into the bap Division of Seventh- Everything we do must have a pur tistry and began to clean it. The point day Adventists. pose a plan, a goal, an aim. If we fail was made. Immediately, both the pas to plan, we plan to fail. Of Daniel, we tor and the intern stopped quarreling read that he "purposed in his heart that and took over the cleaning. he would not defile himself" (Dan. 1:8). Nobody wants to be manipulated "To purpose" means "to determine" or or controlled. Nobody wants to be man "to resolve." In leadership, one needs to aged. Everybody prefers to have leader be purposeful and determined to ship rather than mere management. achieve one©s set goals. What is purpose And leadership is "not lording it over ful leadership? Here are seven pointers: those entrusted to you, but being ex 1. Purposeful leadership is servant amples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3, NIV). leadership. Don©t wait to be served, but 2. Purposeful leadership is just and serve! Jesus washed the feet of the dis fair. Apparently, this is what Solomon ciples before they realized they should had in mind when he said that the throne have washed His first. He then chal is to be "established by righteousness" lenged them to "wash one another©s (Prov. 16:12, 13). Christian leadership feet" (John 13:14). has no room for autocracy, tyranny, and A conference president happened vengefulness. Yet how often we receive to come by a church pastor as he was complaints about church leaders who are quarreling with a ministerial intern on dictatorial, demonstrating little care for a Friday morning. The president in either justice or fairness. If each ruler is quired what the problem was. The God©s "minister" whom He "ordained" pastor told him that the intern refused (Rom. 13:1-4), then that ruler©s respon to clean the baptistry and have it ready sibility is for the "punishment of

UKA T. DANIEL

8 Ministry/February 2000 evildoers, and for the praise of them that by love. If you love your work, you will the yoke . . . lighter" for his subjects. do well" (1 Pet. 2:14). Even punishment invariably plan well and resolve to Probably they wanted the king to reduce ought to be tempered by compassion, achieve positive results. If you love the the heavy "levy" his father had imposed with the purpose of redeeming, not de people you are leading, you will be an on them to run his increasingly expen stroying the individual. In any case, when effective leader. The "shepherding" mo sive regime (1 Kings 12:4, 10, 11). His we are just and fair the tendency to be tif, so common in the Bible, illustrates young friends advised him to make the vengeful and autocratic is diminished. the love-based guidance of ministers "yoke" even heavier. Thus, purposeful leadership must ensure over their flocks. A Christian leader not The king took the advice of his the rule of justice. only searches for one lost sheep but goes youthful friends, resulting in rebellion Even when all things are evenly to the extent of giving his or her life to and the secession of ten tribes, leaving administered, there is the danger that save that lost sheep. Jesus is the "Good the king with only the tribes of Judah justice will deteriorate into corruption Shepherd." Because He loves the sheep, and Benjamin (1 Kings 12:20, 21) a if not tempered with mercy. Saul aimed He nurtures them, goes after the lost disaster that was to plague the history at killing David twice and missed both ones, and is ready to die to save them. of Israel for centuries. How true is the times. Twice David had the opportunity Likewise, we are called to be shepherds counsel of the wise man: "Where no to wreak revenge against Saul, but who love their sheep. counsel is, the people fall: but in the David showed the earmarks of true 4. Purposeful leadership acknowl multitude of counsellors there is safety" leadership when he resisted the temp edges safety in the multitude of counse (Prov. 11:14). tation. The Pharisees condemned a lors. Purposeful leadership values 5. Purposeful leadership is a shared woman caught in adultery, but Jesus consultation (Prov. 20:18) and spurns leadership. As a typical pioneer, Moses forgave her with a warning that she confrontation. However, to seek coun attended to people "from morning un should "sin no more" (John 8:11); in the sel is one thing and to accept it is an til evening" (Exod. 18:13). As a result, process Jesus saved a soul. It is forever other. Consider Rehoboam, the son of the great leader was tired and stressed true that "mercy triumphs over judg Solomon. The young king sought coun out and ended up unfocused on the ment" (James 2:13, NIV). sel from the people of Israel, old and great objectives ahead. Fortunately, 3. Purposeful leadership is motivated young. The elders advised him to "make Moses had a wise counselor. Jethro ad-

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Ministry/February 2000 9 pays. You may not lead your flock into the promised land, but you will at least have trained many Joshuas to take them over the Jordans and around the Jerichos on their way to the promised kingdom. Which is more important? Sitting tight Subscriber Services in your political or ecclesiastic chair and losing the kingdom, or making way for young and creative leaders to take on the D Please send me a orte-jrear subscription (12 issues) of Ministry mantle of ministry? (United aates:^$293>5i Canada and overseas: "^l.50) 6. Purposeful leadership passes the Q Please retteW; my subscriptien. baton, not the buck. Within forty days of taking over the reins of Israel©s lead {Bister new addressibtowand include old mailing label.) ership, Aaron led his people to worship O Phase send a gift subscriptidBt to the following address: a golden calf. Questioned by Moses, he quickly blamed "the people" (Exod. 32:22). Similarly, when Samuel chal Current Mailing Address lenged Saul for not carrying out God©s City instructions to destroy the Amalekites and their belongings, the king blamed State/Province Zip/Postal Code "the people" (1 Sam. 15:15). Leaders like Aaron and Saul, who Please enter previous address or-gift address here: find it convenient to pass the blame for Name ,; -:—:/v'-: ; . '.•.*•'•. . .'"'''• : ;: •• - - •-. • their failure onto others, are not pur Mailing; Address poseful leaders. Successful leaders pass City the baton. They are accountable. 7. Purposeful leaders lead by ex §tate|Pi»viiice Zip/Postal Code ample. "Do what I say, not what I do" is the style of some leaders. But that kind of leadership is bound to fail. Here are Please enclose payment for orders. Mail to: the words of Paul, the leader: "Those M/HKfrj Subscriptions-*• c/ojeannette Calbi 12501 Old Columbia Pike > Silver Spring, MD 20904. things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do" QUESTIONS OR ORDERING BY CREDIT CARD? (Phil. 4:9). As leaders, our speech should E-mail- [email protected] * Fax: 301-680*502 + Phone: 301-680-6503 be truthful and credible. Our leadership should manifest selfless deeds of love, care, compassion, and impeccable char acter. vised him to slow down by sharing his departmental directors, and pastors lis A leader should be an example of duties with other leaders. He warned tening? patience and self-control. The wise man Moses that the alternative was burn-out Slow down, pastors, when there are asserts: "Better a patient man than a for him and tragedy for his people. ten homes to visit, a funeral, a prayer warrior, a man who controls his tem Moses heeded the counsel and was able meeting and a church board to con per than one who takes a city" (Prov. to lead Israel through many crises over duct all in one day. Learn to share 16:32, NIV). Paul©s advice is ever timely: a period of forty years. your leadership with others. After all, "Let no one despise your youth, but be James White was not as responsive you may be settling your members© an example to the believers in word, in to counsel. Ellen White wrote, "My hus marital problems while your own mar conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in band thought it wrong for him to spend riage is about to break up. You may be purity" (1 Tim. 4:12)."Follow my ex time in social enjoyment. He could not busy counseling the delinquent children ample, as I follow the example of Christ" afford to rest. He thought that work in of your members while your own chil (1 Cor. 11:1, NIV). the office would suffer if he should. But dren are out on the streets. Slow down after the blow fell on him, causing physi and share! cal and mental prostration, the work Sharing leadership also helps in 1 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the had to be carried on without him."1 training successors. In the same way, Church (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Are we as church administrators, Moses trained Joshua. In the long run it Assn., 1948), 1:519.

10 Ministry/February 2000 ©hy ad 5. While staying focused on the vertise?" major point, keep the momentum. W:was one Keeping our Next time you are watching a home question my adver video, pull out your stopwatch. You will tising company kept proclamation notice that there is a major change of at the forefront. The setting, action, or dramatic climax ev answer was simple: ery 12 minutes or less. If we translate results. Now, ten fresh the 90 minutes of a movie down to 30 years later, after leaving the world of CHRISTOPHER BEASON minutes of a sermon, then you should advertising, as I prepare my sermons, I reach a peak in your delivery about ev notice similarities between sermon 3. You never get a second chance to ery four to five minutes. Hit a new preparation and marketing campaigns. make a first impression. point, dramatic illustration, change of Please don©t misunderstand me. I In less than three seconds a viewer voice tone something should happen. am not advocating that we sell the gos decides to watch or flip from a program Advertising the gospel, the Cross, pel in a three-ring circus. However, we or commercial. Our people may give us is more important than any worldly must endeavor to keep the message fresh the grace of about fifteen seconds. With media campaign. For the glory of Jesus, and practical for our congregations. this amount of time you must pull them we are seeking results for the kingdom. Al Reis, in Sales and Marketing, 1 into the message and answer their in Don©t be afraid to use these marketing suggests that the most successful prod quiry, "Why should I listen to this per techniques. Far from trivializing our uct launches and sales of 1995 [and son?" Don©t waste the opening moments message, these techniques can help us since] have had four common ingredi with a forgotten announcement, casual better proclaim the message of the ents. I have added a fifth from my own comments, or flip commentary. Get Cross every time we preach it. experience. right to the Word. 1 Al Reis, "No Dogs Here," Sales and 1. Relate to what's already in the 4. Launch a new category, Marketing Management (Bill Communica tions, Dec. 1995), 24. consumer's mind. not a new brand. 2 In Andy Cohen, "At the Top of the Are you in touch with your people©s Some seem to think we should Game," Sales and Marketing Management felt needs? One of today©s legendary change our theology in order to make (Bill Communications, Jan. 1996), 32. marketers, Jerry Delia Femina, wrote: it more appealing to the world. No, not "Too many companies operate in a for a minute. What we must do, how Christopher Season is a pastor in the vacuum and produce ads that only they ever, is become more resourceful in the Pine Belt District in Hattiesburg, care about. Successful ads speak to the way it is presented. Mississippi. buyer in an original and distinctive way . . . new, exciting, fun, unique."2 As a preacher, you must ask yourselves, "Do my sermons follow my favorite sub jects?" or "Am I in touch with the needs of my people so much that I preach to those needs?" SEEDS 2000 A Church Planting Conference 2. The visual is as important as the At Andrews University... .It©s on your way to ! verbal. How do you look when you preach? Beyond gestures, facial expressions, and ©English and Spanish Speakers include Topics include body language, how does your stage/ Young Adult Module Robert Logan Basic Church Planting, platform appear? Clean up the papers, ^ Kids© SEEDS Camp Russell Burrill Workshop for Active hymn books, and audio cables. Dress it Church Planters, Role of up with a simple flower arrangement to George W. Brown the Pastor, Ministry of the soften the peripheral look. Perhaps your Plus many course and Laity, Natural Church entire church interior needs the spiri seminar presenters Development, Boot Camp tual investment of a face lift. Add what will compliment, remove what distracts. ssa.8oeipp.7568 Cell Church Intensives—June-18-21 Christ took the people to the natural www.nadei.org beauty of the country, away from the June 21-24, 2000 [email protected] hustle, whenever He could.

Ministry/February 2000 11 orldwide missions was not uppermost in the minds of the earliest Adventists. Immediately after the 1844 disappointment, for example, the small group that was to form the nucleus of the Seventh-day Adventist Church believed that "the door" of grace had been "shut" against the world at large.

Reinder Bruinsma, Such a belief left little reason to so mission-focused as the thirty years Ph.D., is secretary of evangelize. But after just a few years, this (1901-1930) when A. G. Daniells and the Trans-European outlook began to change, and in its W. A. Spicer were the leaders of the Division, St. Albans, place a sense of responsibility for the church. Over fifty countries were "en Hertsfordshire, world began to emerge. A strong and tered" during this period. In 1890 the England. abiding mission awareness followed. church had one "overseas" worker for In the decades that followed, prac every North American employee. In tically all the attention of the Adventist 1930 the ratio was dramatically differ movement was focused on missionary ent: three workers outside of North work in the United States and Canada. America for every worker "at home." Preaching the message to "every kin During this era mission giving was dred" and in "every tongue" meant pri higher (as a percentage of tithe) than it marily white Americans: the German, has been since, and the numbers of mis Scandinavian, Dutch, and French im sionaries sent out in the late 1920s migrants flocking to the new world. equaled those of the 1960s and 1970s, However, once the overseas missionary when the church was many times larger. outreach of the Adventist Church be Great strides have been made in the gan in earnest, it was unstoppable. last seventy years. An Adventist presence Within a quarter of a century after J.N. has been established in all but a few Andrews© departure to Switzerland in countries, and global membership has 1864, an Adventist presence was estab increased dramatically. However, the lished in almost every European coun number of cross-cultural missionaries try. Soon Australia and South Africa has been sharply declining in the last followed, and before too long Adventist two decades. Today there are fewer than missionaries went to all continents. eight hundred official Adventist mis sionaries, less than half the number only Missionary zeal twenty years ago. Meanwhile, fewer and No period in Adventist history was fewer missionaries are involved in

REINDER BRUINSMA

12 Ministry/February 2000 "front-line" evangelism. Most workers consultants who work in countries leaders, out of touch with the needs of who leave for overseas do "mainte that do not welcome missionaries. overseas countries, have come to believe nance" work. These workers seek every opportunity that much more money is needed at to share their faith, often in secret, and home. They therefore find ways to keep Re-visioning the Adventist mission in some locations help organize "under the money closer to its source. They feel Fortunately, some trends are coun ground" churches. they cannot afford continued high-level terbalancing these recent developments. support of the "foreign mission" work. The Global Mission initiative (started The world as our parish Thus, members in these countries come in 1990) has done much to refocus Ad- As the Adventist Church in the West to believe that their own local church, ventism on its global task. Adventists are struggles to hold its ground, it runs the conference, or union must have finan being reminded that the work is not al risk of becoming too inward-looking. cial priority. most "finished," as some have believed, Being a missionary now carries a major This approach, however, is largely based on glorious reports that almost risk: one cannot always be sure of re- counterproductive. Involvement in mis all countries had been "entered." Thou employment upon return to the sions whether by actually going on a sands of regions, cities, and ethnic mission assignment or by raising funds groups remain "unreached," not only for mission projects has a dual effect. with the Adventist message, but with It not only helps the church in the "mis the gospel in any form. sion field" to become stronger but also Many younger and older Seventh- builds morale at home. It fosters a sense day Adventists have recently become of global solidarity that has always been excited about short-term mission ser a critical part of the genius of Advent- vice. Unfortunately, the official church © ome church ism. It also causes people to feel that has often not been able to find suitable they are part of something significant assignments. Some have found a slot by leaders, out of touch with the and successful. signing up with one of the "indepen needs of overseas countries, Reliable indicators tell us that if dent" ministries, many (though not all) people are accurately informed about of which are supportive of the church. have come to believe that what happens overseas and are cre The church needs to take a careful atively encouraged to support missions, look at its cross-cultural mission pro much more money is needed at the average church member will give gram. Missionaries are still needed. even more both to mission projects and Church workers must continue to go home. They therefore find to the church at home. Many church "from everywhere to everywhere." Be leaders see this assumption as risky, but coming and remaining a missionary ways to keep the money closer the facts bear it out. must, once again, be an exciting option. At the same time, the church must care to its source. They feel they From maintenance to new initiatives fully consider whether so many mis cannot afford continued high- The shift from pure maintenance sionaries should be assigned to to an emphasis on fresh initiatives, in institutions, many of which contribute level support of the "foreign cluding branching out into new little to the actual mission of the church. geographical areas, is not an idea that In other words, we must assess how a mission" work. should be embraced only by our fellow- shift back from "maintenance" to believers in the less-developed parts of "front-line" work can be achieved. the world. As I attend church commit The church is experimenting with tees in the many different countries of new approaches to mission. Some "glo my division, I see that the vast majority bal mission budgets" are set aside for homeland. Budgets are tight; the sud of agenda items and practically all of the true front-line work. Realizing that den return of a missionary may cause available finances are related to "main volunteerism offers an enormous po insurmountable financial problems for tenance." There is a dearth of new tential, the church is developing ways the "home field." And, of course, few initiatives, of bold plans that capture the to tap this vast resource in a more effi people are prepared to accept a mission imagination of the members and, thus, cient and dynamic way. "Tentmaking" call if their future employment may be the surrounding culture. is a concept the Adventist Church is in jeopardy. The financial problems in the West now beginning to embrace in a more At the same time some church en ern church, I believe, are not primarily structured way. Tentmakers may be de tities in the West attempt to limit the the result of over-extension and over scribed as Christian professionals outflow of funds to economically-chal spending. If this is true, they cannot be medical experts, professors, engineers, lenged areas of the world. Some church solved simply by initiating rounds of

Ministry/February 2000 13 cost-cutting. That approach merely per geted at specific groups in society. that the speaker and hearer use the same petuates a vicious circle. Once church If a person wants to have a mean language. When the BBC news an members come to feel that little of sig ingful conversation, he or she cannot nounces the day©s cricket matches, I am nificance is happening in their church, talk to everyone at the same time! Not lost. I do not have a significant enough they are less inclined to support it. The everyone is interested in the same ques background in the game of cricket. I problem is not so much that the church tions. Not everybody speaks the same have no idea what "wickets," "innings," is spending too much, or even that it is language and that is also literally true, and "overs" are. For the majority of the spending money on the wrong things, even within one country or city. The people in today©s secular society, reli but that its income is not growing, es church must encourage experiments, gious language is just as mysterious. pecially when inflation is factored in. Terms like atonement, justification, sanctification, covenant, and salvation Reaching the community often mean little, if anything. Many The Seventh-day Adventist Church people today have no idea who Jacob, has never had a lack of programs. In fact David, Solomon, lames, or Nicodemus there is a frequent and justified com might have been. Adventist communi plaint that programs follow each other .n added cators, by and large, have not mastered with such frequency that the local the art of communicating to secular churches have barely begun to test plan difficulty is that Adventists people. That needs to change. A when plans B and C are already be An added difficulty is that Ad ing promoted. Local churches should have their own peculiar ventists have their own peculiar jargon. never feel compelled to "buy" into ev Adventist communicators must stop ery program. Some things that fit in one jargon. Adventist using a language as obscure to many part of the world might be less useful fellow believers as ecclesiastical Latin elsewhere. Churches differ in social, communicators must stop was to the average Roman Catholic in demographic, and ethnic composition. the 1950s. They must challenge the They are also at different stages in their using a language as obscure members to witness in a language that development and possess divergent tra to many fellow believers as non-Adventists, even non-Christians ditions. It should be not only permis can follow. This is not an easy task, even sible but highly advisable that a local ecclesiastical Latin was to the when we see it providing us with the congregation be encouraged to carefully extra bonus of giving ourselves a better pick and choose which programs they average Roman Catholic in appreciation of the concepts we seek to adopt and which they decline. The express to others. Adventist Church must be known for the 1950s. They must its unity, but it should not attempt to Conclusion be a global, ecclesiastical McDonald©s challenge the members to Those on the cutting edge of com chain, where the menu is duplicated al munication face an enormous chal most everywhere. witness in a language that lenge. Many faithful members who foot There has been a drastic change in non-Adventists, even non- the outreach bill of the church tend to the way postmodern people react to be rather traditional in their outlook spiritual truth. Truth is no longer pri Christians can follow. and enjoy the old ways of doing things. marily propositional. Instead it is seen These often elderly and staunch sup to be much more relational. This has porters must be taught that what tremendous implications for public and worked in the past might not work now, personal evangelism. People may still and that unless innovative and more come to a series of lectures about the allow for pilot projects, proceed by trial daring, many of our publications and ancient world, or may watch a video and error, be daring and innovative, and media presentations will appeal only to about a particular biblical topic, but be willing to risk failure. traditional Adventists, and not to those these things will not often persuade Communication cannot take place we are desperate to reach. them to become Seventh-day Adventist when the language used by one party is As we enter a new millennium, the Christians. "foreign" to the other. Communication mission of the church remains un Evangelistic activities, whether in is a complicated process in the best of changed. But the way in which the church dividual or communal, can succeed circumstances. Much of what is sent by works and the way in which we, individu only if they scratch where it itches. They the speaker is lost in the "noise" of the ally and corporately, witness to our faith must address the questions of post communication act itself and therefore will have to change to meet the rapidly modern people. And they must be tar is not heard by the receiver. It is vital changing world around us.

14 Ministry/February 2000 Dr. Haddon Robinson©s A teacher, ministry director, passion lor sharing and college president. Dr. Scripture resulted in his Andrea Luxfon is admired being named "one of the by colleagues and students 12 most effective :; for her deep understanding preachers in the English- of personal spirituality. speaking ;world." : ; ; :

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here are many ways churches grow. Growth is one of the greatest challenges facing the church today.

John A. Solomon is an From innovative worship forms to your church. Upon what are your associate pastor of the contemporary music to a preaching people focused? What are their needs? Yakima Seventh-day style that touches the heart, churches Does the church see itself and its wor Adventist Church in have tried numerous ways of attracting ship with a missionary or evangelistic Yakima, Washington. and retaining members. Paul points out focus? Does the church see itself as a a formula for church growth: come place to which those who have hurts down to people©s level and meet their may come and find shelter? Are your needs without sacrificing the integrity members friendly? Does the church of truth (1 Cor. 9:20). But how can have a good public address system? Can churches, big and small, create the kind the people be happy with different of approach that will cause members to forms of music? There will never be a feel that they are part of the church, that "perfect" church for growth, but the the church exists for their nurture and better the basic health of the church, the growth and to meet their sense of need? better the chance that it will grow. Here is one simple plan that you may try. Know yourself Third, you need to understand Know your community yourself. Know your strengths and First, know your community. A weaknesses. Do you have a vision for demographic study of the community your ministry and your church? Are you surrounding the church is important. willing to sacrifice the time and energy We must evaluate the community to to cast this vision and make it a reality? determine whether change will be pos Do you have a passion to reach your sible and profitable. If, for example, you community? Are you willing to be cre find that 75 percent of the population ative to reach them? These are some of in your community are Baby Boomers the questions you need to prayerfully (those born between 1946 and 1964) ask yourself as you seek God©s will. and Busters (those born between 1964 and 1980), and you want to reach those Know the music and the worship people, you then need to appraise the Throughout history, music has been kind of music used in your worship. a powerful medium for communicating the good news to Christians and non- Know your church Christians alike. Moses and the children Second, you need to understand of Israel sang after the crossing of the Red

16 Ministry/February 2000 Sea (Exod. 15:1-21). Verse 20 points out that Miriam and others were exuberant in affirming their praises to God through lively singing. David and others who wrote the Psalms composed some of the Ministry's greatest songs and lyrics in literature, and when they sang accompanied by tam bourines and cymbals and the trumpet, Statement of Mission ecstasy filled the air (Ps. 145-150). The point is that God used this music, these instruments, and actions to bring glory Ministry is an international professional journal to Himself. If He did it then, it may cer published monthly by the Ministerial Association of the tainly be done in a variety of ways now. Seventh-day Adventist Church, it is directed primarily to Adventist pastors and secondarily to church elders. It also Does contemporary music in addresses pastors of other communions on a bimonthly worship help the church grow? basis. The question remains: can con temporary worship help a church grow? Its principal purpose is to assist pastors in proclaiming Robert L. Bast, who specializes in evan the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ within the context of gelism and congregational growth, says: the three angels© messages (Rev. 14:6-12). It does this by: "During the last few years, I have vis 4- Communicating distinctive doctrines in a Christ- ited a number of the churches in the centered way that strengthens commitment to Christ country which are reaching large groups and His church of Baby Boomers. I found more differ ences between them than I expected, 4- Providing resources that contribute to ministers© but I was impressed by one thing all of effectiveness in evangelism, preaching, counseling, them had in common. They all make administration, and other areas that will help them to extensive use of contemporary music."1 be agents of church growth and nurture This is a powerful statement! Bast ar gues that Baby Boomers have been 4- Presenting biblical, theological, and historical studies heavily influenced by music with a beat. that speak to human needs Only six percent listed classical music 4- Addressing the minister©s spiritual, mental, physical, as music of their choice, with a bias and social needs against organ music. Overheads have replaced hymn books; synthesizers have 4- Encouraging dialogue among pastors, administrators, replaced organs; and drums and guitars theologians, and local elders have taken their place in the repertoire 4- Assisting pastors in training local church elders of church music instrumentation. A research group headed by George 4- Contributing to the growth and stability of ministers© 4 Barna found that only 21 percent of marriages and family relationships adults wanted a church that offered only 4- Affirming the service of ministers© spouses as they traditional hymns and music. About 66 relate to the life and ministry of the church and percent said they would seek a church that provided a mix of traditional and 4- Informing ministers of current issues in the church. contemporary music. Only four percent In providing these services, Ministry intends to serve found contemporary music alone ap as a prophetic voice calling the church to be faithful to the pealing. This tells us that it is a mixture biblical principles that constitute Adventist truth, ideals and of contemporary and traditional mu values. It will encourage ministers continually to grow in sic that would seem to portend the best results. The continuum of contempo Christ that they may exemplify faith and encourage its rary music versus traditional music development in the congregations that they serve. went up if respondents were Boomers or Busters, living in an urban or subur ban area, or not living anywhere in the Southern United States.2

Ministry/February 2000 17 This Review and Herald VBS kit is available at your local Adventist Book Center. (ga (/f 1 J@0J?.§SJ|f:SS or shop online at www.adventistbookcenter.com.

US$59.99, Can$89.99. Price and availability subject to change. Add GST in Canada. The younger the generation, the gradually. Perhaps they can bring a gui 1. Add a praise song at the end of more they look for services that they can tar and introduce praise music. Have one the sermon. relate to. Does this then mean that of these leaders meet with a "song leader" 2. Add a praise song, like "Family," younger groups do not experience or of their choice and pick out songs that just before or after the greeting time. seek to experience the power of the gos have words coming straight from the 3. In the call to worship use a more pel? This is a charge frequently made by Bible, such as "Thy word is a lamp unto traditional hymn and a praise song the critics of a more contemporary style my feet" (Ps. 119:105), or"I Exalt Thee" based on a biblical text. Narrate the his of worship. Bill Hybels, senior pastor of (Ps. 97:9). Both these songs, and many tory of both songs and sing them one the Willow Creek church (famous for its others like it, can be found in the after another. "seeker services"), states that contempo Maranatha! Music Praise Chorus Book, 4. Plan a sermon or sermon series rary music, drama, and multimedia which has over 300 well known songs for on music and have the musicians pull presentations are never used for "titilla- praise and worship.6 out the stops on some of the great tion." He says that even though the hymns and biblical songs. The key is to primary way to communicate the gospel authentically focus on Christ and on is through preaching the Word, texture worship, rather than on the music it and feeling are added to it by the use of self. The Bible is full of instances in drama, music, and other media.3 which a worship gathering is marked Lee Stroebel, in his book Inside the with singing and praising, along with Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary, ^ nee the the sharing of the Word. explains that one of the first compo 5. Add more musicians to the mu nents that attract the unchurched to people in the small groups sic time. This provides variety in both attend church the first time is a curios music and singing. ity about the music. He says: "I can tell become accustomed to the 6. Continue to offer lively rendi you from personal experience that tions of hymn music along with praise when their [the unchurched] favorite music, the pastor may again music. style of music is wed to Christian lyr meet with the leaders and find 7. Ask each small group to begin ics, the combination can have a strong taking charge of the music for a Sab impact on furthering their spiritual some of the most meaningful bath. Encourage them to use the same journey."4 Adding to this, Ellen White songs the small groups use. Begin ro says: "Music should have beauty, pathos songs and plan for a Sabbath tating the leadership of music groups. [emotion], and power. Let the voices be lifted in songs of praise and devotion."5 when some of the music may The work of the Holy Spirit Music can move one closer to God, The inclusion of modern music in and many attest to the fact that they he introduced to the larger worship is crucial if we are going to keep have been positively affected by con in touch with many important sectors temporary change. But is there a general setting of worship. of contemporary culture. We need to model that can fit into the way a church pray, fully seeking the direction of the moves toward some of these changes? Holy Spirit as we contemplate reaching people. We must be sure we are follow A plan facilitating transition Step 2. The leaders may begin by in ing the guiding of the Holy Spirit. The plan outlined here is one of troducing these songs to small groups in Through a willingness to work within many. It is flexible, simple, and yet ef the congregation. This could occur quite culture, we can, like Paul, be all things fective; it starts from the small group naturally and easily in certain existing to all people so as to win the un and works out informally into the con groups, such as classes. churched to Christ and to the power of gregation as a whole. This is a method Once the people in the small groups be the gospel. by which a church may include contem come accustomed to the music, the pas porary praise with traditional forms of tor may again meet with the leaders and 1 Robert L. BasI, The Missing Generation (New York: Reformed Church Press, 1991), 157,158. worship and music. find some of the most meaningful songs © George Barna, TheDream Church (Glendale,Calif.: Step 1. Start by educating a small and plan for a Sabbath when some of the Barna Research Group, 1992), 3. 3 Edward Gilbreath, "Selling Out the House of God." group of leaders on the importance of music may be introduced to the larger An interview with Bill Hybels. Today, July 18, 1994. worship and offer statistics, such as those setting of worship. 4 Lee Stroebel, Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry given earlier, to show the importance of Step 3. After the first Sabbath when and Mary (Grand Rapids, Mich.-.Zondervan, 1993), 180,181. 5 Ellen G. White, Evangelism (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific contemporary music in worship services. one or two familiar praise songs are in Press Pub. Assn., 1958), 505. If leaders in the congregation are con troduced, the pastor may make these 6 George Baldwin, ed., Maranatha! Music Praise Cho rus Book (Laguna Hills, Calif.: Maranatha! Music, 1993), vinced, they can help initiate changes changes: 1-326. Expanded 3rd ed.

Ministry/February 2000 19 7°rh part 1 (Dec "teach" them. Gram war was cor ember 1999) of rected: "little things ... concerns you" itithis two-part 'Thy Word is became "little things ... concern series, we consid you." Awkward syntax was smoothed: ered four of the a light unto "Jesus has purchased for us redemp seven significant tion" was edited to "Jesus has issues underlying purchased redemption for us."3 an understanding myfeet" Mrs. White herself admitted: "I of the dynamics of inspiration and cannot prepare my own writings for revelation: (1) The mental normalcy Part 2 the press.... I am not a grammar- of those claiming divine revelation ian."4 and inspiration; (2) the role played by RICHARD Problems of Content. A little over the community of faith; (3) the "authentic" inspired wording? And a decade ago Adventist scholars approach in determining the dynam does it matter? pointed out historical errors in the ics of inspiration; and (4) the quest About her writing, Mrs. White writings, particularly in The Great for an appropriate analogy for divine said: "Although I am as dependent Controversy, despite the earlier inspiration. This concluding part will upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing revisions. deal with the remaining three: (5) the my views as I am in receiving them, Historical documents clearly modeling of inspiration as found in yet the words I employ in describing show that the Waldenses did not exist Ellen White; (6) the amount of error what I have seen are my own."2 That©s for a thousand years as Ellen White permissible in inspired writings; and a clear testimony to the human side of asserted.5 They flourished from 1170 (7) the various approaches to inter the divine/human duality of inspira and ceased to exist in 1532, when they preting inspired writings. tion. merged with another Christian group. What we find in this corpus of Furthermore, contrary to her claim, 5. Ellen White's modeling of inspired writings has prevented there is no historical record of inspiration Adventists from officially going the Waldensian Sabbath keeping;6 in their Earlier, we suggested that there way of so many fundamentalist own documents they clearly refer to were two ways of ascertaining the denominations subscribing to a worshiping on Sunday. nature or dynamics of inspiration dictation model of inspiration, which In some instances we find the deductive and inductive methods. by its nature must claim an inerrant chronological glitches in her accounts. We Adventists see in Ellen White a Scripture. In an article in the Review and Herald, laboratory in which to investigate she quoted Isaiah 53:1 and 44:18, inductively the dynamics of inspira 6. Dealing with error in inspired commenting that "Christ quoted a tion. From her own testimony we writings prophecy which more than a thou accept the fact that Ellen G. White Some elements in the writings of sand years before had predicted" how relied heavily upon God as she wrote Ellen White evidencing the human people would respond to Him.7 This her messages. "I am just as dependent side of inspiration involve literary makes Isaiah a contemporary of upon the Spirit of the Lord in relating and/or stylistic infelicities. Here are a David and Solomon. Yet chronologi or writing a vision, as in having the few examples. cal studies show that Isaiah received vision."1 That©s clear testimony to the Problems of Form. Testimonies for his call in 740 B.C. toward the end divine aspect of the divine/human the Church was revised from 1882 of King Uzziah©s reign.8 duality of inspiration. through 1885. Spelling was modified: In a daily devotional, she wrote: But there is more. For our "eye-salve" became "eyesalve." "Fifteen hundred years before [Christ research base we have nearly every Capitalization was changed: "he," was born] Abraham saw [Jesus©] day thing she ever wrote letters, diaries, when referring to God, became "He" and was glad."9 Did Abraham really articles, books. Additionally, we can and "Enemy," when referring to live at the same time Moses did? It is observe the various stages of prepara Satan. Diction was improved: the likely that Abram received his call not tion rough drafts, edited copies, and advice that mothers are to "learn" 1,500 years before Christ but more published work. Which, then, was the their children was replaced with to than 1,800 years earlier. 10

Viewpoint articles are designed to stimulate thought and do not necessarily reflect the position of our editorial staff or of Ministry.

20 Ministry/February 2000 V I E W

Sometimes we may discover a ignored; nothing is cast aside; but Sunday law). Her suggestion that we problem in Mrs. White©s interpreta time and place must be considered." 1© should see in Revelation 13 aspects of tion of a biblical passage. For example, Additionally, from our reading of the United States fulfilling a special in Patriarchs and Prophets11 and The her works, we can infer that she was a role in an area that was uninhabited j Great Controversy12 she understands woman of her culture. She wrote a nation arising from the "land" the word after in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 mostly in the nineteenth and early rather than from the "sea" seems to to refer to timing "Even him, whose twentieth centuries. As a child of her echo the concept of Manifest Destiny coming is after the working of Satan." times, she used American English. held by many Americans of the time. According to these two books, this Much of her advice was specific to the She was highly involved in the verse means that Jesus will return condition of the church in the United temperance movement sweeping subsequent to the time in which Satan States. She addressed issues contem- America. The "standards" of Chris works with great power. This may well tian conduct no card playing, no be the case in the last days, but that is dancing, no attending the theater not what Paul intended. The term he paralleled that of the Methodism she used was not a preposition of time left. Even though she indicated but a preposition indicating mode. definite independence in her develop The idea is that someone would arrive ment of health reform, studies have whose modus operandi would be we find shown that some of her ideas con consistent with that of Satan. So the W formed nearly word-for-word with individual who was coming was not in this [Ellen White©s] corpus that written by others of her time. Christ but an impostor. Those who espouse the CEO- Readers sometimes find a few of inspired writings has dictating-to-stenographer model (see cases of scientific error in Mrs. White©s prevented Adventism from Part I) to describe how inspiration books. For instance, her explanation functioned in the case of Ellen White, of the origin of volcanoes the officially going the way of so find such indications of human burning of underground coal and oil involvement in the inspiration process mixed with lime and water" seems many fundamentalist unacceptable and regard them as flawed. serious anomalies. Wishing to retain There are also indications of denominations subscribing to Mrs. White©s writing as authoritative theological lapses in her writings. On (a laudable motive), they might deny May 27, 1856, while attending an a dictation model of inspiration, or attempt to explain away such a important conference in Battle Creek, human role in the writings, becoming Michigan, Ellen White received a which by its nature must claim quite alarmed when any such evi vision of comfort and exhortation. an inerrant Scripture. dence is discussed. Others, also Among other things, she reported: "1 unwilling to adjust their "steno was shown the company present at the graphic" view (though holding to it in Conference. Said the angel: ©Some a different way) move to the opposite food for worms, some subjects of the extreme. They discard the authority of seven last plagues, some will be alive poraneous with her, not those the writings because they conclude and remain upon the earth to be contemporaneous with Moses or from the presence of human involve translated at the coming of Jesus."©14 those living in the next millennium, ment that Ellen White was not The vision and her report of it though the principles underlying the inspired, or that her writings do not reflect a theology of an imminent specifics of her testimonies can by all measure up to their conception of Second Advent. However, only part of means be applied universally. what degree of accuracy inspired the threefold eschatological predic We can detect certain cultural writing should possess. tion came to pass all (not some) conditioning in some issues she These traces of the human became food for worms. The seven addressed. She saw nineteenth- element, however, are precisely what last plagues and the century politics as being fraught with those holding the incarnational/ are yet to come. eschatological and cosmological quantum-duality model expect in Ellen White gave practical advice overtones (for instance, the Sunday inspired writing (see Part 1). Thus, its to those reading her counsels. laws being enforced at that time and presence does not trouble them. They "Regarding the testimonies, nothing is the attempt to legislate a national have no problem at all affirming Ellen

Ministry/February 2000 21 White©s authoritative prophetic role. beings we are physical and materialis What would convince us of the They do not regard these examples as tic creatures. Because of this, it is presence of divine aspects in a body of anomalies, or as reasons to doubt the difficult for us to discern and compre writing anyway? Inerrancy? Absolute validity of Mrs. White©s work. Instead, hend supernatural things. This accuracy doesn©t really epitomize they recognize them simply as traces realization does not mean we do not divine inspiration. If it did, a strong of the humanity of the inspired have an inclination toward that which case could be made for the inspiration recipient. is immaterial or spiritual. Nonethe of The Encyclopaedia Britannical less, most of us find it hard to discern Heavenly language? A supernatural 7. Approaches to interpreting the reality of heavenly things. grammar? Or something more inspired writings In other words, that which we can subjectively subtle such as the impact Significantly, when examining the empirically detect and verify is much made on persons© lives? Persons have particle/wave duality of light (see Part testified that John Bunyan©s Pilgrim©s 1) the researcher can study only one Progress changed their lives. Was aspect at a time. The apparatus and Bunyan inspired? protocol set up in the lab to investigate Some may assert: "Because the photons can detect only that. Such an Bible is divinely inspired we cannot experiment can reveal nothing about Mhed.he difference treat it as we would any other book. light waves. Similarly, the equipment T The tools we use to understand and procedures set up in the lab to in approaching the Bible lies not Jeremiah must be different from those study light waves are worthless when it used to interpret the Wisdom of Jesus comes to telling us about the existence in the tools themselves nor in ben Sirach a religious but unin and behavior of photons. In other spired literary work." words, while it is possible even how the tools are used. The Certainly such advice legitimately imperative to hold in one©s thinking reminds us that Scripture is God©s the dual nature of light, it is impossible difference exists in the Word not just David©s word or to examine empirically both aspects at James©s word. There is by all means a the same moment and with the same presuppositions about divine aspect to the Bible, and to deny equipment. authoritative super naturalism it is heresy. But merely studying the It appears that we find ourselves human aspect of the Bible is not in in a similar plight when it comes to that lie in the minds of scholars and of itself heretical. Why? Because the communication of God©s Word doing so does not necessarily deny the the divinely inspired light that shines and in the additional complementarity principle of its dual on our pathway. Although in theory it nature. is not a matter of either/or but both/ approaches employed by more Additionally, the affirmation that and, the divine/human duality of we should use a different approach Scripture seems to elude simultaneous liberal approaches. and different tools because Scripture investigation as a unity. So, contrary has a divine side seems a bit naive in to what some suggest, it is not practice. For example, those who heretical to deal with merely the advocate such methodologies do not human aspect of the Bible in isolation more real to us than are "theoretical see anything wrong in studying from its divine side, or vice versa. constructs." Toyotas and apples are Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek so that That©s not heresy but simple necessity. more real to most of us than are they can read the Bible in the original The heresy occurs when we deny the protons, angels, and God. These latter languages. unity, wholeness, and complemen categories may be just as real as the It is a noble aspiration to use tarity principle in relation to former, but typically they do not have different tools when approaching the inspiration. the same immediacy for us. When we Bible, but those who eschew the tools Personal experience also seems to have a mystical experience, it is not an of rational scholarship inevitably use bear out this theoretical difficulty of empirical matter. The point is that many of the same (or similar) tools being able to simultaneously investi when it comes to the dual nature of themselves. How does someone who gate both the divine and human Scripture, it is easier for us to relate to wishes to honor the divine side of the dynamics of inspiration. Whether we and detect its human characteristics product of inspiration do linguistic want to admit it or not, as human than for us to study its divine aspects. analysis differently from those who

22 Ministry/February 2000 either ignore or deny any supernatu- would mean that no conservative Bohr speaks up: "Newton and ralism at work? Do conservative Christian could be a scientist because Huygens really sound silly in their scholars adopt a different ancient science operates on the basis of purely disputations. Don©t they understand vocabulary? Do they learn a distinct materialistic presuppositions. And, the complementarity principle? Each grammar or syntax? After all, some of some have maintained this stance uses the tools appropriate to the half those philologists who helped because all the sciences pure or of the duality he emphasizes. Why resurrect those dead ancient lan applied are empirically based. can©t they stop quibbling and live like guages were not necessarily motivated However, a scientist may indeed be a Christian brothers?" by faith. So the identical linguistic believer, but theistic supernaturalism Are we listening? tools are used by both those who does not usually inform the investiga concentrate on the human aspect of tion of protons or black holes or Richard Coffen is vice president of Scripture and those who emphasize robins or oil deposits or sodium editorial services at the Review and its divine side. Again, the important chloride. Herald Publishing Association, thing is to give both aspects, the Hagerstown, Maryland. divine and the human, their due Conclusion weight as we approach Scripture. In closing, it might be helpful to Editor's note: A response to Richard Every biblical scholar, whether return to the complementarity Coffen©s two-part series will follow in the liberal or conservative, whether principle of light. Let us imagine (1) April issue of Ministry. It will be authored emphasizing the human or the divine that Isaac Newton, Christian Huygens, by Ekkehardt Mueller, associate director in the text, wrestles very similarly with and Niels Bohr are not physicists but of the General Conference Biblical the ancient vocabulary. They all theologians, (2) that when they talk Research Institute. analyze the grammar, scrutinize the about light, they are really speaking of syntax, and look to the literary and God©s Word, which is a light to our 1 Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, historical contexts in their attempt to path, (3) that Newton©s particle theory (Hagerstown, MA: Review and Herald Pub. decipher the message of Scripture. is the same as emphasizing the divine Assn., 1958, 1980), 1:36. The point is that one does not aspect of Scripture, and (4) that 2 Ibid., 37. 3 For a fuller explanation, see Ron have to possess a supernatural Huygens©s wave theory is like focusing Graybill, "Visions and revisions, part II: editing presupposition to use the tools of on the human side. the Testimonies" Ministry, April 1994. conservative scholarship (such as the Let©s eavesdrop on them. 4 White, Testimonies for the Church, (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., grammatico-historical method). The Newton says: "Huygens is one of 1948), 3:90. difference in approaching the Bible the most dangerous theologians in the © , The Great Controversy (Nampa, lies not in the tools themselves nor in church. He uses tools that inherently Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), 66. " Ibid., 65. how the tools are used. The difference act as though God©s Word is merely 7 Review and Herald, vol. 77, no. 46, Nov. exists in the presuppositions about the word of man. Only agnostics and 13, 1900,721. authoritative supernaturalism that lie atheists can truly agree with his "" Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commen tary (Hagerstown, MA: Review and Herald in the minds of the scholars and in approach. His theory flies in the face Pub. Assn., 1955, 1977), 4:17. the additional approaches employed of what the church has always taught. 5 That I May Know Him (Hagerstown, by more liberal approaches. Believe him and the light of God©s MA: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1964), Letter 119, 1895, 12. It seems to me that ;/these Word loses its authority, and anything 111 Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary approaches ("tools") (1) are not so goes." (Hagerstown, MA: Review and Herald Pub. rooted in materialistic thought that Huygens counters: "Newton, in Assn., 1960, 1979), 218. 11 Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets they must deny supernaturalism and his mystical pietism, concentrates (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., (2) are utilized with the recognition solely on the divine side of the Bible. 1913), 686. that they apply merely to the human As a result, he cannot see the obvi 12 , The Great Controversy (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), 553. side of the duality of inspiration and ous that God©s Word bears the 13 , Spirit of Prophecy (Battle Creek, Scripture, they might legitimately be marks of human activity. Newton Midi.: Seventh-day Adventist Pub. Assn., 1969 used even by conservative biblicists. must go through all sorts of mental facsimile), 1:81-85; Manuscript 29, 1885; Patriarchs and Prophets, 108-110. Any tool that works only because it gymnastics and strain all credulity 14 , Testimonies for the Church denies supernaturalism will, of course, whenever he comes to evidence of the (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., be ruled out. human side of Scripture. His theory 1948), 1:131, 132. 15 , Selected Messages (Hagerstown, The same kind of logic used by leads people to make naive assump MA: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1958), those who dispute these conclusions tions about the Bible." 1:57.

Ministry/February 2000 23 misters • spouses • Local Uiurcn Elders PKs • Clergy of All Denominations Seminar Update NOTE: If you have already pre-registered for a cancelled seminar and/or want to change to a newly-added seminar, we will guarantee your choice at Toronto. If you have not already pre-registered, please keep the following information in mind as you select your choices among the seminars.

The following seminars have been cancelled: 283/484 Memorizing Scripture 409 Radio/TMnternet June 25-29, 2000 399 Pastoring: Information Process (Spanish) 297 The Role of the Holy Spirit Baptism (French) 217 Personal Money Management for Pastor's Family —Pardon Mwansa The following seminars have been added or additional Four basic steps to financial management and a information has been provided: clear system of managing personal funds plus a 116/316 Literature Evangelists Generate Interests plan to pay off debts and remain debt-free. Ten —Ron Appenzeller methods of how to increase home income. Learn how to increase baptisms in your district by 314 Lordship and the Pastor's Home utilizing Literature Evangelists. —Ben and Mary Maxson 115 Recapitulation in the Book of Revelation 414 Real Problems, Real Lord—Fylvia Fowler Kline —George Reid 106/216/315/415 A Faith that Works in Each Cycle of Life Do the trumpets follow the seals chronologically. —Tom Carter and Accepting or rejecting recapitulation dramatically 245/446 Spreading His Fame—Michael Cafferky affects the interpretation of the Apocalypse. Word-of-mouth networks are considered to be 346/448 Pastors Meeting the Secular Mind (English) the most powerfulform of advertising and a —Johann Gerhardt most effective medium for spreading the gospel. 148 Pastors Meeting the Secular Mind (German) Note the impact when human effort is —Johann Gerhardt combined with Divine power. What is the secular mind and how do Adventist truths 248/447 Successful Leadership in Multicultural Ministry impact secular thinking. What are the challenges and — opportunities and the role of the local church and Dynamic, Christ-centered principles for leading pastor. diverse groups ofpeople. 247/347 The Time Before the End (English)—Udo Worschech 499 The Time Before the End (German)—Udo Worschech The first written prophetic records within Register Now! an eschatological climate of wealth and www.ministerialassociation.com self-destruction in a nation originally called General Conference Ministerial Association by God. 12501 Old Columbia Pike • Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 114 Spiritual Growth in Lordship—Ben Maxson Phone: 301.680.6515 or 301.680.6499 214 Contemporary Issues in E-mail: [email protected] Finance/Stewardship —Ben Maxson Individual registration postmarked by February 29, 2000: us$79 {price increases to us$125 on March 1)

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ne weekend gave the invitation. At first only two I in Septem Miracles do came forward. Encouraged, I pleaded 0ber 1995,1 more, and another two moved toward was the guest the altar. Then three responded. 1 said speaker for the happen! I would wait as long as the Holy Spirit sixth and last camp spoke to souls in the audience. meeting of the Another one stood up, then three year. As soon as I more. I then made one last call. arrived at the campsite, I made it a turning over every aspect of my life in Would one last soul accept Jesus as his point to visit the graves of some of the search of some hidden reason why the or her personal Savior? Twelve people early Adventist missionaries from Lord had dealt with me that way. stood up making a total of twenty- Germany who were awaiting the Toward the early hours of Sabbath four! The congregation burst into sound of the last trump. The visit morning, sleep overtook me. I woke up amens and the choir into praise. I refreshed my soul. Even more, what and prepared for the worship hours. I stepped down from the pulpit to was happening to the living saints spent Sabbath School alone, sitting shake the hand of each person. strengthened me. More than three under the shade of a tree near the I stood there amazed and hundred souls had been baptized meeting place, trying to understand overwhelmed by the working of God. during the previous five camp why no one had answered the altar calls When one of the church clerks meetings that year. And now I was the previous day. handed me the list and addresses of looking forward with a child's When Sabbath School was over, a those twenty-four people, I discovered eagerness to making another call church elder came to tell me that it was what had happened the previous day. during this last camp meeting. time to get ready for the divine service. Of the group only two were local On Friday I preached in the power I prayed for a few more seconds, stood people. Others had traveled that of the Holy Spirit. A visiting choir up and turned to the church elder with morning from as far away as 40 graced the meetings with uplifting a request that I know sounded strange kilometers. Four of them came music. Heaven seemed so near that one to him. I told him to immediately fill determined to join the church that could touch it! The sermon ended on a the baptismal pool with water. Puzzled day if there was going to be baptism. high note, and I requested the choir to with my "order," he reminded me that An elder from a neighboring district provide inspiring gospel songs as I no one had answered my altar calls the confided in me that three girls made the altar call. I gave the call and previous day. He then asked who I baptized that afternoon were from his then, as usual, waited for the Spirit to expected would be ready for baptism. I church. One young woman said she touch and move souls to come forward. replied that I too did not know who had recently come home from a Not a single person stood up! I was going to be baptized or where they neighboring country where she had repeated the call four times, but no one would come from, but that he should been engaged in prostitution. Then responded! I began sweating as the nevertheless see to it that the pool was and there she decided to give her life entire congregation sat motionless but made ready. As I passed the district to Jesus. "I am through with this with eyes fixed on me! The conference church pastor near the entrance to sinful life," she told me. "I am giving departmental director, who was my meeting place, I also told him to make my soul to Christ right away." A host and who was sitting on the sure that the baptismal pool was filled. friend of hers also came forward, and rostrum with me, came to my aid. He Equally puzzled, he instructed the head both were baptized that Sabbath. repeated the altar call three times, but deacon to see that arrangements were Suppose, overwhelmed by the no one responded or moved to the made for a baptism. apparent debacle of the previous day, front! The meeting ended. I marched As the service began, I could see I had not given that call that Sabbath from the platform with my head down. the church elders and deacons going morning. Suppose my faith had not After shaking a few hands, I in and out, making the preparations. I been sufficient to request that the headed straight for my guest house. approached the pulpit that morning, baptismal tank be filled. Suppose.... On entering the room, I locked the pleading with God to demonstrate Well, the miraculous intervention of door, sat on my bed, and poured out His glory. I preached from Matthew God defies such suppositions. • my heart to God. "Lord, what has 7:13,14. happened? What have I done wrong? I The time for the altar call arrived Mel Matinyi is a book editor at Tanzania asked. I spent many hours that night and accompanied by choir music, I Adventist Press, Morogoro, Tanzania.

Ministry/February 2000 25 PASTOR'S PASTOR

F he hatred its interaction between others who that welled confront culture differences, the more T up within The racist I realize that the ultimate poison of me was shocking. I racism is rooted deep in each of us. could not believe within me Like untended weeds in a garden, if that I could despise we emphasize our differences and total strangers with JAMES A. CRESS maintain cultural barriers that such vehemence. separate us, evil will eventually As I stood in the grocery check Jews were gassed; Korean women were control and consume us. out line behind parents and their two enslaved for the convenience of their We may never escape all cultural rambunctious children, anger sprang captors; Eastern Europeans were or ethnic preferences until Jesus to my mind, not for anything that controlled by force because of their restores all things. But believers must they were doing wrong, but instead, geographic or ethnic proximity to struggle against the evil stereotyping of for who they were. stronger powers; Black women were people based on their race, nationality, I found myself hating this family required to stand at the back of the ethnic experience, or even their gender for their ethnic similarity to someone bus; and a fellow theology major at my or social standing. Furthermore, my from another culture who had college was informed he would not personal struggle against racism in any unfairly lodged a lawsuit against us a receive a call to ministry if he pursued of its ugly manifestations must be few years before. Even though the his romance with a Hawaiian girl. matched by the corporate struggle of facts and judgment were in our favor, And even as we transition into my denomination and my congrega I relived the pain of those events as I the new millennium, such conflicts tion where, too often, we give lip happened upon this family whose multiply. These tragedies can be as service to fellowship without behavior only crime was being different than overt as the ethnic cleansing and that matches the convictions we me—and like my antagonist. bloody retaliation between disparate express. Remember, whether Saturday Almost as quickly as I felt this groups all over the world, or as or Sunday, the eleven-o'clock worship hatred, I questioned my own mind disguised as the reality of racial service remains one of the most and asked heaven's forgiveness. I even profiling which means that while segregated hours of the week. managed to express greetings to this driving down the street, my colleague, We may explain this away on the family before we each went our way. Walter Pearson, is much more likely basis of cultural preference, worship But, I've pondered these things for to face police apprehension than I am. style, neighborhood churches many months. Racism and its siblings of social, ministering to those who live within Coming to age in the segregated religious, and gender discrimination their precincts, or any of several other southern United States, I was taught are reality. But my encounter with my mental gymnastics that can never land by my pastoral parents that racism is own soul's prejudice seems different. I on a solid footing. Sharon and I have wrong. They taught this principle by had nothing against that family in the observed ourselves and our ethnically attitude, deed, and at least once, by grocery store and even their physical diverse Adventist neighbors depart discipline when I repeated a word that similarities to the individual who had the same street on which we all live I had heard on the street. My Mom mistreated us was no excuse for my and drive miles in different directions, literally washed out my mouth with poisonous attitude. past many different churches, to find vile soap. In my limited world of I have realized that I did not abhor the one where we worship with those those days, however, racism was an that family for who they were, but who are just like us. This is wrong. issue of only black and white. I rather for who they were not. They God's word permits neither thought I had learned to reject racism were not "me." They were "other than racial, social, nor gender bias "in and its accompanying slogans, slights, me and mine." Making that unfair Christ." We are all one if we are in slurs, and segregation. distinction, I took a short leap from Christ. Scripture forbids categorizing Years later I learned a wider reality "other" to "like others who had "others" based on ethnicity, social that racism exists in nearly every wronged me" to denigration of their status, or gender. When Jesus declared culture and continues well beyond very existence in my mind, much less that "all would know His disciples by earlier eras in which Americans hated their presence in "my" grocery market. their love for one another," he meant and impounded Japanese; Germans The more I consider the evil that just that—"one" loving the "other." were suspect; Irish were refused jobs; flamed in my own mind and observe Wow! That is radical! It is easy to

26 Ministry/February 2000 PA S T 0 R ' S P AST 0 R

love one alike. It is difficult to love experience with others. I applaud the be traced through the Caribbean back one "an other." Rather than excusing recent Summit on Racial Relations to African slaves who were brought to our present reality, we should strive to conducted at General Conference the Dutch West Indies. uplift and experience the ideal rather headquarters by the North American Champion the cause of others. than wallow in prejudice. Rather than Division. Open conversation, repen Racism can be a two-way street. There excluding one another, we should seek tance for sinful discrimination, and is always a temptation to focus on the ways of including one another. This real desire for progress promote injustice I have experienced more than calls for proactive seeking rather than genuine unity as we move forward the pain of others. If I'm White, let me reactive or defensive response. And together. contend for those who are Black. If this does not happen by merely Pastors lead by example. What if Black, let me take on the trials of my declaring, "some of my best friends every pastoral family would seek for Hispanic brothers; if Hispanic, the are ______." themselves to experience the richness struggles of my Asian sisters. Of all Pretense in any area is a sham. of other cultural heritages? What if we people, Adventists ought to affirm the Pretense in racism is a shame—a structured our churches for real, in- rights of others more than asserting shame for me, a shame for you, a depth, experiential, cross-cultural our own rights. shame for God's church. My personal encounters. Jesus is racism's antidote. Poison experience leads me to several Truth liberates. Falsehoods ous prejudice, so blind that it refuses observations: enslave. Our church must acknowl to acknowledge the obvious, much Sin infects us all. While none of edge our failures and confront what less what is right, will paralyze the us may completely eradicate the we have "glossed over." For example, church's progress as we strain out cultural effects of the sinful world we would it destroy confidence in the gift gnats and swallow camels. All dis inhabit, we must never excuse racism of prophecy to discover that Ellen G. crimination is sinful; the only escape based on the world's condition. God White was born to interracial parents? is a deeper experience of the Saviour's calls the church to a different standard. Charles Dudley, the retired dean of presence. Inviting Christ to control Racism is Satan's potent tool. Our regional conference presidents, has ongoing discussions and efforts is the enemy delights when, entrapped by our published credible and carefully- only hope of dealing with real issues own shallow preferences, we boast of researched evidence that Ellen White's and seeking real answers. I pledge to inclusiveness, yet remain in comfort mother, Eunice Gould Harmon, was a be part of that process and encourage able exclusivity. Discrimination of any mulatto whose Gould family roots can you to join me. • stripe gives opportunity for evil to flourish. Vigilance is necessary. It is easy to The Genealogy of believe we have progressed, only to discover Satan's moving target. While Ellen I prided myself in what I assumed was my absence or low level of prejudice against African-Americans, I gave way The Genealogy of Ellen Gould Harmon White may be to prejudice against strangers from ordered from the following sources: another ethnicity. Friendliness does not equal Charles E. Dudley, Sr. friendship. I have pastored churches Dudley Publications who believed they were a "friendly 1604 White's Creek Pike = t/s, congregation" but discovered that, Nashville, Tennessee 37202-4948 despite superficial cordiality, we lacked genuine fellowship beyond the GC Ministerial Association Resource Center barriers of "our own." 12501 Old Columbia Pike + Silver Spring, MD 20904 Wider experiences bring great Phone: 1-888-771-0738 (toll-free) or 301-680-6508 benefit. Think about expanding rather Fax: 301-680-6502 4- E-mail: [email protected] than constraining your cultural Web: www.ministerialassociation.com horizons. Rather than defend the Charles E. Dudley, Sr. status-quo, seek deeper fellowship and Also available at your local Adventist Book Center

Ministry/February 2000 27 ow beautiful upon the mountain Also, during his presidency land was pur are the feet of him that bringeth Celebrating the chased near Athens, Texas, and the Lone Hgood tidings that publisheth Star Camp was developed. peace; that bringeth good tidings ofgood, life of Norman In 1957 the family moved to Seattle that publisheth salvation; thatsaith unto where Elder Dower was the president Zion, Thy God reigneth.... These words Reginald Dower of the Washington Conference until beautifully express the life and ministry 1966. Evangelism was again a crucial of Norman Reginald Dower, exceptional RICHARD DOWER part of his leadership as the Stanley and renowned Ministerial Secretary of Harris and Kenneth Mittleider evange the General Conference of Seventh-day ings netted baptisms, the church grew, listic teams held meetings throughout Adventists for the climactic 14 years of and an evangelism center was built. western Washington. Another youth his formal ministry. Elder Dower died on While there, in 1941 the Dowers had camp was purchased and developed— Sabbath, November 13,1999. their first child, Richard Carlson. Sunset Lake Youth Camp—and Auburn Born August 10,1911 to James and The young family was then called Academy was completely rebuilt. Emmeline Dower in St. Johns, New to the Grand River Church in Detroit At the next General Conference foundland, Reggie was the sixth of seven and in December, 1943, their second Session (1966) in Detroit, Michigan, children. His father was captain of a child, Karen Joanne was born. In De Elder Dower was asked to become the trading schooner that sailed the coasts troit, Reggie became the district leader, secretary of the Ministerial Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. and every Monday morning the pastors of the General Conference. Before Reginald Dower was born, of 18 Detroit area churches met in Elder Bob Spangler wrote about an Adventist minister sailed the same workers meetings. those years in the Ministry at the time coastal route visiting the small villages. of Reggie's retirement. His words, par Walking through a village one day, he tially quoted below, fittingly sum up knocked on the door of the Dower Elder Dower's remarkable contribution: house. Mrs. Dower invited him in and "His fourteen years of leadership they began to study the Bible together. have done much to encourage the The minister stayed in their home for Adventist ministry around the world. His two weeks until Mrs. Dower had em ability to suggest solutions to problems braced the message. About five years and to give counsel on perplexing ques later Reggie was born. tions facing the leaders of our church He enrolled in Washington Mis have been deeply appreciated... . The sionary College, studying to be a Tape of the Month Club was developed minister and working at the Review and and Mission '72 was launched.... The Herald to put himself through. While "Concern" program was also developed, in college Reggie met Catherine (Kay) to reclaim [estranged] members; a min Carlson. He graduated in 1935, and the isterial recruitment leaflet was developed two were married the same year. and given to thousands of young people Elder Dower was called into the Norman Reginald Dower in our academies and colleges; booklets Adventist ministry by William Robbins, 1911 -1999 such as "Let's Get Acquainted" for intro president of the East Pennsylvania Con ducing new members to the church ference. In 1946, Elder Dower was called to departments and programs, have been In 1936 he was called to Atlantic the presidency of the Texico Confer produced; a new baptismal manual was to be dean of men and ence. During his term, the office was prepared; a church officer's manual was Bible teacher. His dislike for the disci moved to Amarillo and a Book and developed; a revision of the Ministers' plinary part of the dean's job led Reggie Bible House was built. Still an evange Manual took place; and the PREACH and Kay to the pastorate of the Harris - list at heart, this conference president (Program Reaching Every Active Clergy burg district in Pennsylvania. As a result conducted a three-month campaign in Home) Project was launched, which is of their work, a church was established Albuquerque, while doing his adminis now reaching 50,000 clergy of all de in Elizabethville and a company in trative work. nominations around the world." • Hershey. His next post of duty began in 1950 In December of 1939, they were as president of the Texas Conference. called by the Michigan Conference to Here his interest in evangelism grew. The Written by Richard Dower, son of Flint where Elder Dower was pastor of conference sponsored the Detamore- Reginald Dower and communications the church. The work in Flint flourished Turner evangelistic team, along with the director of the Lake Union Conference, under Reggie's leadership. Cottage meet- Barren brothers, and Stanley Harris. Edited to fit Ministry.

28 Ministry/February 2000 M t his recent memorial service, I I^L was privileged to participate in JL m. honoring the unique life of Farewell Elder N. R. Dower, General Confer ence Ministerial Secretary from 1966 till the to 1980. Reggie Dower's declining health of the past few years never diminished dawning! his cheerful spirit. Several years ago, when Bob Spangler and I visited with JAMES A. CRESS James A. Cress, N. R.Dower, our predecessor for the last time, he and}. Robert Spangler encouraged us with his love for Jesus supervised by a woman senior pastor. and his infectious joy. You will be During that assignment, they planted effective in ministry?" encouraged by some highlights of his two additional churches. After the death of his beloved impact on our denomination: The Dowers were called to lead Kay, who always actively participated Born in St. John's, Newfoundland, the Ministerial Association upon the in team ministry and wrote a recur Reggie was the son of James Dower, retirement of R. Allan Anderson. ring column in Ministry, Reggie captain of Dr. Wilfred T. Grenfell's Significant events during his tenure married Peggy Bata, who survives vessel which plied the coastal waters of include Mission '72, encouraging the him. Sharon and I will always be Newfoundland and Labrador. His embryonic ministry to pastoral grateful for the ministry he provided mother traced her roots back to the spouses, reclaiming inactive members, our congregation as pulpit pastor for family of Susanna Wesley, mother of recruiting the best young candidates the first five months after we were John and Charles. for ministry, and sharing Ministry called to the General Conference. In 1935, Reggie and Kay Dower with clergy of all denominations. The blessed hope assures me that began their team ministry in at a six- Invariably he would ask, "What can I Jesus will come soon to awaken His church district in Pennsylvania do to help you be more fruitful and friend, Reggie Dower. •

Letters continued from p. 3 FAITH stronger than In most conferences evangelism is no longer the number-one priority. Before we seriously move into the DEATH concept of freeing up our pastors for "church planting," should we not plan for a number of pilot programs in In stunned silence the Anglo communities to ascertain couple listened as the whether the concept is viable in today's doctor told them that society? Should we not consider there was nothing he whether or not the seminary is could do to save their prepared to train with "on the job baby's life. training" our present and future ministerial workers? This concept won't Read Mission this quarter to learn their story. fly if our administrators aren't conviced that this is the direction the church should take. There are many important March 25,2000 considerations that must be studied before we implement the concept. We Fulton College in Fiji and secondary schools in Samoa and Tahiti must come to grips with the situation will benefit from the Mission Offering to the South Pacific and, through study and prayer, devise a Division this quarter. plan to meet the need.—Carroll V. Brauer (retired but still pastoring), A message from the Office of Mission, Sabbath School-Personal Ministries Department Tom's Brook, Virginia. • 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904 USA (301) 680-6676

Ministry/February 2000 29 ever, the General Conference can be a divisional initiatives, and (3) to make Ministry Report significant support instrument and financial recommendations to our bud cross-divisional coordination center for geting process." Jan Paulsen on world major outreach activities.... During the ensuing meeting en evangelism I wish that as we go into a new thusiastic delegate support was given to In his keynote address to the as quinquennium the General Conference Elder Paulsen's address and particularly sembled world delegates during Annual to the aspect of creating an Advisory Council (September 28 to October 6, Council. Accordingly, on October 4 the 1999) Elder Jan Paulsen addressed a following was voted: number of key issues. Perhaps the most "VOTED, To appoint an Advisory exhilarating of these were his thoughts Council on Evangelism and Witness at on a fresh worldwide evangelism and the General Conference to explore and witnessing initiative in which the Gen advise administration on possible ini eral Conference would be involved. tiatives and concepts in evangelism and As Elder Paulsen moved toward the witness which the General Conference close of his address he said: "I would should carry and support by direct in also like to say a word about evange volvement. This council, which should lism and witness and the General fan Paulsen, president of the General convene at least annually, shall have a Conference's potential role in this mat Conference of Seventh-day Adventists composition which is international and ter. The General Conference is not set broadly based (including laity); and up to take control of the evangelism would set up an Advisory Council of shall consider, without limitations to its agenda of the Church.... The owner Evangelism and Witness, as a somewhat agenda, interdivisional initiatives in ship of that initiative belongs primarily permanent fixture in our jungle of com evangelism/witness; and its recommen to the local church where the member mittees. Its purpose would be (1) to dations shall be channeled into the ship lives and where the everyday focus our thinking and planning on worldwide evangelistic planning of the dynamics of life are experienced. How witness, (2) to advise on specific multi- General Conference."—Will Eva •

degree while remaining in their local sette, readings, projects, and interaction Seminary News districts (more on this in future col with teachers and other students by umns). Second, the Seminary has estab means of the Internet. Interested stu Is the seminary moving to lished a Distance Education Center to dents can contact Ruzica Gregor by your home? develop and administer the delivery of phone (616-471-3514) or by e-mail A couple of year ago, the SDA selected courses via correspondence, the ([email protected]) for informa Theological Seminary hosted a special Internet, satellite, video-conferencing, tion about enrollment and registration faculty meeting to which several union and other means as they become fea procedures. presidents and a representative of the sible. Jon Paulien and Ruzica Gregor Tuition for distance education North American Division were invited direct the Center under the general classes is charged at the regular rate for to share their dreams for the Seminary. oversight of Associate Dean John the various programs at Andrews Uni One message that came through loud McVay. versity. The Seminary is able to offer a and clear was that it was time for the Toward the end of 1999, the Dis special rate to students in the M.Div. Seminary to find ways to extend its min tance Education Center celebrated the or M.A. Min. programs. For these two istry beyond Andrews University and a completion of its first two distance programs a 50 percent reduction is few extension campuses. It was time to courses, Exegesis of the Book of Revela available so that a quarter credit costs start making use of satellite broadcast tion (NTST 550), developed by Jon $150 (rather than the usual $300) per ing, video conferencing, the Internet, Paulien; and Techniques in Church credit. For updates on the development and other tools of the information age. Planting (CHMN606), developed by of this and other courses, check in pe The Seminary has chosen to re Russell Burrill. These courses are avail riodically at the new Seminary web site spond to this challenge in two ways. able now by correspondence and (www.andrews.edu/SEM/DEC). • First, in cooperation with the NAD, the eventually over the Internet. Develop Seminary has developed an "in-minis- ment of several other courses (in areas try" track of the M.Div. program (the like youth ministry, issues in origins, Jon Paulien is the director of the basic degree for ministry in North Daniel, archaeology, and more) is al seminary distance education center, America), which allows students to ready in progress. These courses include Adventist Theological Seminary, Berrien make significant progress toward the presentations by audio and video cas Springs, Michigan.

30 Ministry/February 2000 ^^^^mm RESOURCES ^^^^^m

1 BOOKS • such an undertaking. We call it placed in our hands — talents, time, Sabbath School Investment. life, love, possessions. HH9IH Altar Call, $15.00, I©ve Seen Miracles . . . shows you The Highest Form of Worship is byRoyGane how to take part in this thrilling filled with offertories that take a •H^^^l (Berrien Springs, experience. Though it is aimed holistic approach to stewardship. It •B^O^H Mich.: Diadem, primarily at Investment leaders, the has been written with the hope of H^^^^l 1999), can be dozens of true stories and suggested broadening our minds and hearts so •HBIHIH purchased through projects will be a resource for anyone that we realize our total responsibility EB||IB9 ABC bookstores. seeking to revive or enliven the and relationship to God. Altar Call is a Investment plan in their own lives or To order, write to Thurman C. teaching book, building concepts step in the local church. To order, write to Petty, Jr., 4295 South Drive, Burleson, by step from the simple to the deep Thurman C. Petty, Jr., 4295 South Texas 76028. and profound. It is a devotional book, Drive, Burleson, Texas 76028. passionately portraying Jesus and His Church Planting love. It is an interesting book, with Common Sense Uidi rliiBK 1 1 01 (workbook and many down-to-earth and sometimes Ministry, by James jj| three videos) by Ron amusing modern illustrations and A. Cress, $8.95. ^-vA^-r Gladden. $79.00 per set. © ©© ti&jjjjji&IIJR&Bijffl©*} analogies to enable readers to easily !}&S3il^^SS Ministerial Associa- Seminar One: Why understand and identify with the HiiSSS*lnal* powerfully persuasive and published in such a way that it successful ministry case for why we must recapture can be effectively shared with people for laity and pastoral leaders with church planting as our primary of other faiths. Although Altar Call practical, action-packed solutions method of evangelism. strongly supports what Ellen G. White born from the crucible of ministry on Seminar Two: Never-changing taught, it does not mention her, in the edge of the new century. Gospel, Ever-changing World. Ron order to show that the SDA sanctuary Mail orders to the General shows how we must adapt our way of doctrine she cherished is firmly Conference Ministerial Resource "doing church" to the needs of the rooted in the Bible. Center, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, unreached. Silver Spring, Maryland 20904. E- Seminar Three: Your Strategy I©ve Seen Miracles: A How- mail: [email protected] or Your Town. Ron guides groups step by to Story Book of Sabbath School telephone: 1-888-771-0738. step through the process of planting a Investment, $6.95 new church. He helps participants Adventists want to follow Christ's The Highest Form of think through each major issue, commission to preach the gospel in all Worship: 52 Offertories for the establish priorities, and deal with the world." We've begun work in Local Church, $6.95. obstacles. (The workbook is to be nearly every nation on earth. It's a Most people think of stewardship used with Seminar Three) . huge task, and it requires large sums as having to do with tithes and Contact the Ministerial Associa of money. No single individual or offerings. These are, of course, a part tion Resource Center to order these local church could complete it. God of stewardship. But God made us materials: phone 301-680-6508 or has given us a way to help finance responsible for everything He has toll-free 1-888-771-0738. •

Let Ministry move with you! Send address changes to Jeannette Calbi, Ministry, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring Maryland 20904, or E-mail us at [email protected]. Please notify us eight weeks in advance. loving' Please print clearly: First Name Middle Initial Last Name

Old Street Address City ______State Zip Code Country

New Street Address _ City ______State Zip Code Country THE VOJlf |)F PRO?

ieptember 9 to October 14 S" THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE You can hold an evangelistic meeting and Bible School in your own home! Materials to organize the meeting will be furnished FREE of charge. For information/ phone the (805) 955-7735

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS MINISTRY 1350 N.KINGS ROAD NAMPA, ID 83687-3193