THE COURAGE TO CHANGE (A Continuing Series On Substance Abuse) LOOK UP Karen Steele MacDougall M.A. C.A.C. morning, in the southern skies, at 11/4 hours before sunrise look for Mars (SSE-1/4 way up), Safi, (SSW—t/4 way up). Jupiter (ESE—near horizon), Spica (WSW—near horizon). Arcturus (W arty 1/2 way up), Antares (SSW—nearly i/4 way up), Vega (ESE—near sky center) and Altair (S way up). In the northern skies look for Deneb (ENE-2/3 way up), The Dippers and Cassiopeia. In the evenings, in the southern skies, at 1'/4 hours after sunset look for Halley's Comet (SSE—above the horizon), Rigel (WSW—near horizon). Betelgeuse (WSW-1/4 way up) (both of Orion). Sirius (SW—above the horizon), Castor and Pollux (WSW to W-2/3 way up), Procyon (SW— nearly 1/2 way up) Regulus (5-2/3 way up). Spica (SE—nearly '/4 way up) and Arcturus (E-1/2 way up). In the northern skies look for Venus (WNW—near the horizon), Aldebaran (W—nearly 1/4 way up). Capella (WNW—nearly V2 way up). Vega (NE—near the horizon), Deneb (NNE—just coming up), the Dippers and Cassiopeia. On April 26 Antares is close to the moon. Information supplied by Earl L. Shepard. Pendleton, OR. The data is calculated on the point 73 degrees longitude and 44 degrees latitude, a point close to the town of Middlebury, Vermont. The calculations are made for the dates of publication and naturally change small amounts each day before and after these dates. BECOMING Linda had been trying desperately range his life as best as he could. to stop using pills for two months and When she started using again he AN EXPERIENCED was starting to feel better than she had reacted by saying, "I knew you for years. She was actually starting to wouldn't quit." NATURALIST enjoy her children and gain con- Finally, Linda sought help in Nar- fidence as a wife and mother again. cotics Anonymous and Bill went to Al- By Leon Strickland She still had a strong desire for pills at Anon. There they found the peer sup- (This article is taken from the notes times but had managed to stay "clean" port they needed to change their lives of a five-lesson nature seminar.) despite these feelings. Her husband in a positive way. Linda learned that Bill had been very helpful up to this Bill's reactions did not give her a valid There are many kinds of naturalists. All point; however, she began to notice reason to start using again. She also are to some degree scientists. Some are subtle changes in his behavior. He was found several other peers to lend collectors of everything from shells and becoming argumentative and criticized the support and encouragement she butterflies to honor badges from the her efforts to gain control of herself needed. Youth department. (There is nothing and the household. Because she had Bill began to see how his reactions wrong with that. I am a Master Guide.) relied on him for the support and en- had affected Linda and was surprised But you don't have to become a collector couragement she needed to quit using at himself for feeling the way he did. to become a naturalist. pills, she now became confused and He found the support he needed to The first requirement is to become an angry. Her closest peer, Bill, was sup- work through his feelings and learned observer and an insatiable curiosity helps plying her with an excuse (not a to accept the changes in Linda. He a lot. You were born that way—you reason) to start using again. Bill had realized he needed to change in order [Continued on page 4] usually been kind and sympathetic to maintain the balance in their rela- before she quit so she concluded that tionship. he must like her better under the in- Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics fluence of pills, and she started taking Anonymous and Al-Anon are power- About Our Color Photos them again. ful groups in lending support and en- Bill's reaction to Linda's sobriety couragement to those who are trying On the cover are pictured Elder William was normal, yet hazardous to both of to change. The common prayer of Brace, Southern New England Con- ference Evangelist, and Rita Vital, coor- them. Without realizing it, he resented these groups is, "God grant me the dinator of the Boston Van Program. her resuming the duties she had neg- serenity to accept the things I cannot On page 4 are Southern New England lected for so long. He couldn't trust change; courage to change the things Conference office building and the Plan- her or forgive her so quickly. I can; and widsom to know the dif- ning Committee for the Greater Boston Although he had wanted her to quit, ference." If you or a friend have tried Evangelism Program. he never realized how much she to quit using drugs or alcohol without The color photo of Indian Moccasin ac- would change and take control of her success or have used AA, NA, or Al- companying our nature feature on page 5 life again. He wondered how she had Anon half-heartedly, try really using was taken by Caroline Carter of Buck- the right to step in and take over the peer support of these programs. land, MA, with a Leicaflex SL camera. where she left off, leaving him to rear- Your success may surprise you. The photo took first place in our 1984 Gleaner Cover Photo Contest. April 22, 1986, Vol. LXXXV, No. 8. The Atlantic Union GLEANER (USPS 036-280) is published twice monthly by the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 400 Main Street, South Lancaster, MA 01561. Printed by Atlantic Graphic Services, Inc., South Lancaster, MA 01561. Second-class postage paid at South Lancaster, MA. 01561. Annual subscription price, $6.00. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Atlantic Union GLEANER, P.O. Box 1189, South Lancaster, MA 01561. MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF BOSTON EVANGELISM An interview with Elder William Brace and Rita Vital on October 16, 1985, by Victor W. Collins, Communication Director of the Southern New England Conference. Bill, when did you first get the burden for evangelism in I can't say enough about the prodigious work of this commit- the Boston area? tee as we met to pray and plan from month to month. Having read the Testimonies on city work about seven years As you thought of the van ministry, what did you hope to ago, I felt the call of God to work for Boston. I was a pastor in do first? Connecticut then in the second year of my ministry. God Well, first we started looking and praying for the right person and Sister White get the credit. to head it up. Someone highly committed and who shared What happened to this impression? the Spirit of Prophecy concept. There was a double prob- I continued to study and pray. Then while I was in the lem—the right person to head up the work and then again to Leominster district I shared my burden with Elder Jayne and find funding. Once more we saw a succession of miracles. later with Elder Steiner. What were they? What was their reaction? The person needed came to our attention as Rita Vital was Very positive, especially Elder Steiner. He had a similar vi- impressed to return to our Conference where she had sion for Boston and its environs. One-third of the Con- labored for many years. ference population live in the area. The problem was So, Rita, how did you come to be involved here? finance. And that is where the miracles began. It began with praying for a burden for souls while I was living What kind of miracles? in Warehouse Point, Connecticut. Elder 0. J. Mills, then Elder Steiner suggested at the beginning that a certain pastor in Hartford, and his wife, Millie, inspired me and amount of money should be raised. This was in December, another lay person, Lois Whitesell, to work for souls in our 1982. In about one month I placed in his hand a check for dark county. This resulted, under God's blessing in the rais- the amount. ing up of the Enfield church. A visit to Florida impressed Lois Where did it come from? and me with the potential of the van ministry then carried on A lay person felt impressed to give because he, too, shared in that conference. This type of burden has been with me the burden for Boston and had for some time. This person ever since. I've followed the van work in New York with and his family have continued to generously support the pro- great interest. gram. Others in the Conference and even from other parts of How did you come to look toward Boston? the country and some overseas have helped. I would like I would say Boston came looking for me. I was completing everyone to know that it is due to the continued support of my work for the Master of Public Health degree at the the Conference and the laity that the work has gone forward University of Tennessee at Knoxville and praying for God to the last two years. show me where I should work after graduation. Where were you to begin? How did God answer? The plan was to begin with the towns along the circumferen- As graduation time approached I sent resumes to many on tial highway, Route 128, with the city of Waltham as the first the East Coast, one of which went to a longtime friend, focus of effort.