,46.4awc-oet -4A December 1973 "--4 Vol. 4o No. 4
Organ of the Euro -Africa Division Ravi
The Quarterly Review wishes to join its sister periodicals in honoring Alfred Vaucher, one of the long-time workers of the Euro-Africa Division. Elder Vaucher entered the work in October, 1903, when he was 16 years old. Although he has served as a Bible worker, preacher, and administrator, it is as a Bible teacher at our seminaries in France and Italy that his influence has been greatest. Today hundreds of his students are extending his ministry in many lands. Alfred Vaucher is the grandson of Mrs. Catherine Revel, the first SDA in Europe. Like other pioneers who had the courage to step out from long-established churches, Mrs. Revel knew what she believed and passed this certainty on to her grandson, along with a deep love for the Scriptures. An avid Bible student, Elder Vaucher has shared his findings in his Histoire du Salut (History of Salvation), an excellent text on Bible doctrines. He is now working on an enlarged fourth edition of this work, along with his Alfred Vaucher teaching at the Italian Secondary School. As one considers the life of this outstanding teacher, Bible student, and completely humble man, one wonders what is the source of his vitality and mental vigor. In his article about Elder Vaucher, Daniel Walther wrote, "I think I know. "A few years ago Vaucher and I attended a conference in the Waldensian Valleys, where he was born in 1887. We shared a room in the guest house of the Waldensian college. One morning as the first rays of the sun illuminated the rugged mountains, I noticed Vaucher on his little cot reading a small volume. It was his favorite Bible. He read it intently. I wondered why a man who had practiced Bible reading during a long lifetime, one who knew so much about it and was teaching it effectively, still needed Cifetime to read what he already knew. "'The more I read,' he (Vaucher) mused, 'the more I of realize how little I know about the eternal living God."' `Uninterrupted Service 1 AWR Completes Two Years in Europe
By Allen R. Steele, Manager Adventist World Radio/Europe
"I have heard your transmission, and I must say I am Some listen because they desire to hear what is happening fascinated. Now I know what God really is and how I can in the world. Or shortwave listening is their hobby. Or a speak to Him. I have so many thanks for your transmission. friend has told them about AWR programs. I never thought that a radio program could move my r->Wherever they live, whatever their occupation, they all heart so strongly."—H.D., W. Germany. have the same need for Jesus in their lives. For thousands "I listened to your Sunday broadcast, and I would like to of Europeans AWR is truly their "Voice of Hope." participate in your Bible study course."—J.W., Austria. October is anniversary month for AWR. Two years ago "Would you be so kind to send me your Bible course the General Conference launched this giant radio project which you mentioned on your wonderful program?"— on faith that financing would be forthcoming from our V. S., Spain. church members around the world. Fourteen hours per week were purchased from Radio Trans-Europe, Lisbon, "I happened to tune in on one of your broadcasts. It Portugal. On this station we were promised complete was as though something had lifted my heart to hear liberty to transmit our programs. words of Jesus Christ on the air waves. Now I always Today, two years later, we are still on the air, still listen to AWR and wish it God's guidance."—J. M., Eng- vigorously sending out our daily inspirational broadcasts. land. Listenership continues to grow. In European shortwave "I was listening to your sermon on the radio about the circles AWR is now known as a major force in religious Bible. I liked it so much. You offered the book Mount broadcasting. Our 12. Bible schools are increasing enroll- of Blessing. I would be very grateful for it."—E.M., Poland. ment and sometimes are unable to keep up with the work. Letters from listeners of Adventist World Radio in The most successful programs are those in German, Europe. Five hundred a month! In 16 languages! Swedish, and English. Also bringing in a continuing good Letters of appreciation from around the world. From response are those programs beamed to parts of Europe students, doctors, engineers, carpenters, housewives, min- where Greek, Italian, and Arabic "guest workers" are isters, dentists, retired folk--from every walk of life. located. These peoples have left their homeland to work in the more industrialized countries of Europe. Equally successful are the broadcasts to Eastern Europe. Although it is difficult to measure listenership in the Eastern bloc countries, the letters that do come to us in Russian, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukrainian, or in the Yugo- slav languages indicate that our programs mean much in those lands. In this international broadcasting work there are prob- lems and dangers. Because of certain religious and/or political situations we cannot share these with you. But at AWR every day is a miracle. God has opened the door to us to broadcast to Europe. For how long we do not know. But we hope long enough to bring many searching hearts to the feet of Jesus. The radio activity has required strengthening plans in most of our church organizations. During AWR's two years three new studios have been constructed in England, Sweden, and Holland. Additional studio or major equip-
Heinz Hopf (right), studio manager of Stimme der Hoffnung, the Darmstadt studio, greets A ff7R Manager Allen Steele with taped programs in German.
2 ment updating was necessary at the production centers in Paris, Darmstadt, and Lisbon. These improvements repre- sent an investment of $70,000 by our local church units Mrs. Steele works as secretary to her husband in the Lisbon office of on the Continent. Adventist World Radio. Special effort has been required by our radio producers to satisfy the station's appetite for quality religious pro- grams. In one country a yearly "songfest" recording session is required to supply music for AWR broadcasts. On a summer weekend one can see many cars arriving at our SDA college bearing singing groups of all kinds to record hymns for the radio programs. In other areas dozens of artists have become regularly active in giving their musical testimony that Christ means new life to them. Many of our pastors have been called on to use their speaking talent in the productions. Most of them had little experience in radio work. From every European nation, kindred, tongue, and people come heartfelt thanks for Adventist World Radio. It is our hope that we can continue in this important work for God.
* Erwin Kilian, secretary of the Euro-Africa Division Communications Department, reports that in 1973 Bible correspondence school enrollments have increased more Allen Steele observes the work of technician Jose Fernandes. than too per cent over last year, largely as the result of Adventist World Radio programs.
* There were 6,338 new enrollments in division Bible schools during the first two quarters of 1973. The num- ber of active students increased from 11,538 on March 31 to 14,228 at the close of the second quarter.
* During the first six months of this year, 1,687 students graduated from one of the Bible courses, most of whom re-enrolled in an advanced course.
* During the second quarter, 135 new members were added to the church by baptism as a result of radio and Bible school evangelism, bringing the total to 174 for the first six months of 1973.
* During the month of August, AWR received 320 letters from 24 different countries, bringing the total listener response to 2,444 for the first eight months of the year. During August the letters were written in 16 different Allen Steele discusses reception problems at the Sesimbra studio with languages. technician Antonio Cipriano.
3 MISSION '73 in the Indian
By Jean Zurcher
As the Euro-Africa Division studied its role in the of the workers, and a section of the sanctuary was reserved worldwise outreach program of the church, leaders in the for the group. As the members had been requested to Indian Ocean Union began to lay careful plans for making leave the places for visitors, some 700 to Boo interested MISSION '73 a reality in each part of their vast island people were able to press together inside the church, while field. According to latest reports, 6o evangelistic efforts about ion lay preachers waited outside. One evening no were held during the first six months of 1973, resulting in less than a thousand people were present, hundreds stand- more than boo persons in the baptismal classes and z85 ing the whole time. baptisms. It is still sowing time, but already it is possible Twelve experienced evangelists and pastors worked with to foresee a rich harvest of souls. me. Each morning we met together to report the expe- Plans included the holding of large-scale campaigns in riences of the previous day, to finalize plans for that day in the capital of Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, and Rodri- view of the evening meeting, and to pray for the Lord's gues. To arouse interest, a visiting evangelist was featured blessing and special help in our work. It also gave us as speaker for each of these efforts. A team of local ministers opportunity to meditate together on the Word of God, and lay workers prepared the way and assured continuity to exchange impressions, and to discuss the best methods of the work after the speaker's departure. of evangelism. As contact was established with interested On May z it was my privilege to launch this program listeners, the daily reports became more and more encour- in Tananarive, capital of Madagascar. The local pastors aging. had worked out every detail before my arrival: announce- The choirs of three of the city churches played an ments placed in strategic spots, invitations distributed, and, important role in this effort. Each evening their spiritual most important, the seven outlying churches fully instructed messages created an atmosphere for the study of God's concerning their role in the campaign. The members were Word and contributed to the decisions made. to contact their acquaintances and friends and to invite When the time came to present the subject of baptism, them personally to the meetings. A special bus was placed instead of showing color slides to illustrate the subject as at the disposal of each church to take the visitors to the we had after every other presentation, we had a live large downtown church, where the effort was held. There baptism. Not only was the ceremony an illustration of Bibli- the passengers of each bus were the responsibility of one cal baptism, it also provided an opportunity to call for a decision. Although we had planned to ask those who re- sponded to come forward, because there was no room in the aisles for people to pass we requested that they stand where they were or raise their hand if they were standing. The ministers in charge of the different groups noted those who stood and quickly contacted the more than 6o people who thus expressed their desire to follow their Lord in baptism. Before the close of the campaign, over 30o people ac- cepted the invitation to join a baptismal class. Hundreds more asked to be visited in their homes. That work is still
Left, top of page : The new church at Port-Mathurin, Rodrigues, which was inaugurated June 30, 1973, as the first in the series of MISSION '73 meetings.
Left : A partial view of the audience in the Mandrosoa, Tananarive, church, on Sabbath, May 52, when 26 new members were added to the church by baptism.
4 Ocean Union
in progress. We are certain that within the next few months will continue in their study until they come into the full there will be a good harvest of souls. knowledge of the gospel message. Concurrent with this effort, the French-speaking church In June Union President Eugene Vervoort held an effort in Tananarive invited me to hold three meetings in the on the small island of Rodrigues, following the inaugura- Madagascar-Hilton Hotel for the elite of the Malagasy tion of their new church. Rodrigues hardly counts 30,000 capital. This I did every Wednesday evening during my inhabitants, but God's last message must be preached three weeks there. The radio and leading newspapers in there. Surely this effort will also result in a good harvest, the city announced my subject: "The Revolutionary Jesus, in spite of the aridity of that small island almost lost in the His Life, His Teachings, and His Vision of the World of vast Indian Ocean. the Future." They followed this announcement with pic- But that is not all! As I write these lines, Paul Nouan, tures and news reports of each meeting along with a brief of Paris, is finishing a large evangelistic campaign in Port summary of the lecture. This coverage resulted in a growing Louis, capital of Mauritius, and in a few weeks Georges interest. About zoo persons attended the first meeting, Vandenvelde, president of the Franco-Belgian Union, will 35o the second, and finally more than 400 were present to hold an effort in Saint-Denis, Reunion. The air tickets for hear the lecture on the world to come, as Jesus Himself these two brethren were provided by a Mauritian church said it would be. member who wanted to do something special for MIS- Because of the locale and the subject, a very representa- SION '73. This gesture, like that of so many of our mem- tive audience followed the three lectures—government of- bers, is his way of having a part in worldwide evangelism. ficials, diplomats, teachers, business men, students, protes- It testifies to the close collaboration which exists—and tant and catholic missionaries, as well as others who were must become even stronger—between the ministry and the interested in spiritual things. In response to the demand of laity of the church. We are all workers together with God, both those who had heard the studies and of the people servants to be used by the Saviour to accomplish His work. outside Tananarive who had heard radio reporters com- May the seed so generously sown in each of these island ment on the meetings, the three studies were printed in fields by visiting ministers and nurtured by local pastors small book form, which lay workers and French-speaking and laymen come to fruition and bear a rich harvest of members are using in their missionary work. souls for the Kingdom. At the last meeting the people were asked to fill out a questionnaire designed to sound out audience opinion on the subjects presented. Of the i s z people who returned the questionnaire, 107 expressed a desire to hear more lectures on that or similar subjects; 95 asked to receive complimentary literature; and 78 enrolled in the Bible study class. In the end, 102 interested people requested personal visits from our workers. We thank God for this excellent response. We are praying that the Word thus sown will find its way into their hearts and that all who came to the lectures with a sincere desire to know Jesus
Pictured right with their wives are two young Malagasy ministers who were ordained on Sabbath, May j, 1973, at Tananarive. Left is Emilson Rajaonesa, of the Antsirabe Mission and right, Raymond Randriamahefa, of the Tananarive Mission. Participating in the ceremony were Pastors Jean Zurcher, of the Division, Engine Vervoort, the union president, and Bernard, president of the Tananarive Mission.
5 Hungarian Union Observes Diamond Jubilee
By Jean Zurcher
To mark the 75th anniversary of of the country, as is taught by the President Stevan Sabo, of Yugoslavia; the founding of the Seventh-day Ad- gospel we preach. and Stanislaw Dabrowski, of Poland. ventist Church in Hungary, the union On Friday evening and all day Following the very nice custom leaders planned several special days Sabbath, spiritual meetings followed practiced in the Socialist countries, September 5-8, 1973. one another almost without interrup- the official guests from outside the There was, first, at Budapest, the tion in the Central Budapest church country had the honor and the privi- meeting together of all active workers and in other Adventist churches in lege of being received by the govern- and sustentees, and on the following the capital and in other cities. All ment representative in charge of reli- day a large number of church elders guests were put to work, to the great gious affairs. The interview was most from the 144 SDA churches and joy of our Hungarian brethren and cordial and, we hope, profitable for groups in Hungary joined them. On sisters. the future of our work in Hungary. Thursday, September 6, an official The General Conference was rep- Among the things discussed was meeting was held, to which govern- resented by W.R. Beach, an old the question of an Adventist center ment representatives and church friend of the work in Hungary. In in Budapest. leaders from several different denom- 1948 he participated in the 5oth anni- The Division would like to help inations had been invited. At that versary celebration as president of finance this center with a portion of time Jozsef Szakacs, the union presi- the Southern European Division. the 13th Sabbath Offering overflow dent, traced the history of the Advent C.L. Powers and Jean Zurcher, presi- which has been assigned to our field Movement in Hungary, from its dent and secretary respectively, were for the second quarter of 1975. We humble beginnings through its devel- present from the Euro-Africa Divi- have been assured that this will be opment during the decades which sion office; and representing the given favorable consideration, to the followed, often in spite of difficult Seventh-day Adventists in neigh- great joy of our Hungarian leaders. circumstances, and finally its reason boring countries were union presi- This would be a beautiful anniversary for existence as a church and its desire dents Manfred Boettcher, of the DDR ; gift for our church there. to work for the peace and prosperity Jovan Slankamenac and Conference In planning this celebration, the idea of the brethren was not to emphasize the fact that the Seventh- day Adventist Church has existed as a body of Christian believers for 75 years in Hungary. For a church or- ganization, that is a short time, but for a body of Christians anticipating the imminent return of Jesus, it is a long time. This anniversary was
The Hungarian Union Committee met with representatives of the General Conference, the Division, and neighboring unions in the com- mittee room of the union office, where posters illustrated the march of the work in Hungary since its very beginnings in 1898.
6 rather an opportune occasion for each Danube basin, found the first Ad- began only six or seven years ago, one to recall God's providential inter- ventist in Budapest, Anna Nagy, from and there are nearly zoo members." ventions in the humble beginnings of Transylvania. But it was not until the In reviewing the history of our the work from the years z 890 to 1900, autumn of 1901 that Michael B. Osz, work in Hungary, with the help of in its rapid development at the begin- who had recently been won by Broth- the different panels in the exposition, ning of the century, and during the er Huenergardt, came to work in the these words of Ellen White took on heroic years and persecutions between Magyar capital. new meaning : "The past experiences the two World Wars, to arrive at our In 1903, Huenergardt decided to of God's people are not to be counted day. settle in Budapest and to begin hold- as dead facts .... The record is to be To this end a very interesting ex- ing evangelistic meetings. Assuredly kept in mind; for history will repeat position had been prepared in one of these were crowned by success, for itself."—Letter 238, 19o3. the rooms at office headquarters, ad- Jean Vuilleumier, who was visiting At the same time, considering the joining the chapel, which had been from Switzerland, reported in Le gradual progress which our church entirely renovated for the occasion. Messager, November, 1904: in Hungary has made, decade after Drawings, photographs, sample cop- "During a recent trip to Hungary decade to the present day, how ap- ies of different publications, were dis- I met four or five of our workers in propriate is the following declaration played as homage to all who had that country. In Budapest, the head- from the pen of God's servant: "As worked for God in Hungary. quarters, meetings that started ten I see what the Lord has wrought, It was striking to note that there, months ago have already resulted in I am filled with astonishment, and as elsewhere, Steps to Christ, by Ellen about 15 baptisms, several candidates with confidence in Christ as leader. G. White, served to open doors. being Hungarian and others German. We have nothing to fear for the Even before the arrival of the first . There are companies of believers future except as we shall forget the Adventist minister, God put it into in several cities along the railway line way the Lord has led us, and His the heart of a Hungarian Calvinist crossing the country from North to teaching in our past history."—Life priest to translate this small book South . . .. The work in Hungary Sketches, page 196. from the English language. The plan of salvation is so simply and so marvelously explained in this master- piece that it touches hearts. That was in 1894, or four years before the arrival of the firstAdventist in Hungary. Then on August 21, 1898, to be exact, J. F. Huenergardt, the pioneer of our work in the
Delegates from the SDA churches of Hungary met with government officials and church leaders on Thursday, September 6, as part of the 7yth anniversary program at Budapest. Seen on the front row, left to right, are Stevan Sabo, Jovan Slankamenac, Stanislaw Dabrowski, Manfred Boettcher, Jean Zurcher, C.L. Powers, IV. R. Beach.
7 Spirit of Prophecy Workshop Held at Andrews University
Sixty individuals from throughout the United States and several over- seas divisions attended a Spirit of Prophecy Workshop held July i6 to August 3 at Andrews University. The From left : Mrs. Hedwig Jemison, assistant secretary of the Ellen G. White Estate ; workshop was designed to acquaint Dr. Thomas Blincoe, assistant dean of the SDA Theological Seminary ; Dr. Arthur White, secretary of the board of trustees of the White Estate ; and Paul Gordon (extreme teachers, ministers, and seminary right), associate secretary of the White Estate, examine documents with Oswald Bremer, students with the writings of Ellen Euro-Africa Division representative to the Spirit of Prophecy Workshop. G. White. It was under the direction of Dr. Arthur L. White, secretary of the secretary for emphasis on the Spirit placed renewed emphasis on Christian board of trustees of the Ellen G. of Prophecy; Fred Zurcher, professor sions of God's will. The three angels' White Estate, located at General at the French Adventist Seminary messages of Revelation 14 should be Conference headquarters in Washing- who was studying at Andrews Uni- cited, for they gave direction to the ton, D. C. versity; and Paul Steiner, director of Adventist Church. Her visions also Lectures, seminars, and discussions the European Branch of the Home made Sabbath observance a divine dealt with such topics as Sabbath- Study Institute. and eternal command." keeping, inspiration and revelation, AU News Service Oswald Bremer concepts of God in the Conflict Series, and Ellen G. White and medi- cal science. *Instead of adding broadcasts in new "The workshop was designed to languages, AWR has had to shorten inspire confidence in the writings of <
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