AUGUST 1,982 VOLUME 77, NO. 8
.11.111•1•11 SOUTHERN ASIA
10111•111MM.
Our Mandate— the whole gospel to the whole world page 2
A Lie? page 4
Getting ready for Sabbath page 13
Suddenly the truth hit me: God missed my father more than I did!
by did He take her? Why did He have to How does a take my little Laura ?" The words are spat out with anger and frustration. The Christian's death young mother's face shows intense anguish as she rocks affect God? back and forth wringing her hands. No amount of explain- ing at that moment can con- vince her that God under- Stephen Adessa stands.
To page 5
Our Mandate—
the whole gospel "Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people." to the whole world
John Y. Willmott
For twenty-five years it has been my privilege really one. Christian unity is an instrument for to f ottow the evangettstie cart ytven to me as evangelism. Those who received the advent mes- a young man when .1 surrenaerea my tile to the sage should manifest their unity to the world, Lord Jesus Christ. There is no happier pace displaying a new solidarity which will stand on earth than in the fires of a great evangetisiic examination and analysis, showing to everyone campaign. I'm never happier than when I'm that what binds us as a people is God. The model challenging men and women to accept the ctaims of that unity is the Divine God Himself. of Jesus Christ. Whether it is preaching in an When the world begins to see such unity, ordinary pundal, in a community hall, they will sit up and take notice of our message. behind the sacred pulpit in our churches or in For when they hear us proclaim the message but the open air, I'm committed to the task of cannot see it in us, our behaviour negates our evangelism. message. Then they are not interested. The I've had the privilege of preaching in evan- world already has too many words. They want to gelistic campaigns throughout this land and over- see the message operative before their eyes. seas. I'm, however, increasingly persuaded about 3. The most e ffective evangelistic church will certain things and the burden of this editorial is have a sound financial base. If our work is to to express them to my fellow workers and be- be strong we need to increase our internal re- lievers in Southern Asia. sources and endeavour to utilize all appropriated 1. The most effective evangelistic method funds for special projects. God desires His people is not public evangelism (even though I'm com- to be faithful in the support of His work by re- mitted to public evangelism). but every member turning that which belongs to Him—the tithe— evangelism. It is the task of the whole Church to and by willing participation in generous giving take the whole Gospel to the whole world. And I to His cause. believe the task of the pastor, and especially the The Church needs to rethink through vital evangelist, is not to attempt the job alone but to concepts and seek to educate the local churches to teach the membership of the Church to do the build up a strong financial base rather than de- job of evangelism. The task of the Church is to pend upon funds received from elsewhere. We train members to become missionaries to enter should be willing to change the wage scale hitherto unentered places and seek to evangelize structure, organizational structure and other all those areas. The Holy Spirit desires to im- methods of operations to suit the condition of the press upon the Church that every member in places and the people for whom we are working. whose heart Christ dwells is a missionary and Leadership styles and departmental operation every person in whose heart Christ does not dwell must be geared to meet the needs of the local is a mission field. Let us tap the full resources church. All our activities must be service- of the Church for mission work. oriented and people-oriented. Local people, cul- 2. The most effective tool of evangelism is tures, languages must be recognized and valued unity. In John 17 we see this as one of the specific and they must be educated and encouraged to petitions in the Lord's high priestly prayer. He respect one another and cooperate with one realized that Satan would make God's special another in pushing forward the Lord's work people a target of constant attack, to divide and together. Unity in diversity must be our goal. to rob us of our joy in the family of God. He Total stewardship is the key to reaching this prayed not just for unity in the Spirit, a unity goal. inherent in the body, but for a visible demonstra- When God's work is carried forward according tion of it—that the world should see that we are to the instruction we have been given as a people, John Y. Willmott is division ministerial advisor residing at there will be no lack of men, money or methods Salisbury Park, Poona. to finish His work. ❑ 2 Southern Asia Tidings Every church member an evangelist Every Adventist home a church Every Adventist church an evangelistic centre 1000 DAYS OF REAPING Sept. 18 ....
Union President Rex Riches rendering the keynote address on the theme, "Our High Calling", with P. S. A. A ranze and J. Gnanasekaran translating. Sri Lanka Camp Meeting Draws 500
Lowell C. Cooper
Members from almost every Vellore, Dr. M. E. Cherian from was made for members to join Seventh-day Adventist Church Spicer Memorial College, and in a commitment with their pas- in Sri Lanka travelled to Lak- Lowell C. Cooper from the divi- tors for evangelism. As each pahana Adventist Seminary sion. church name was called out a and College for the Camp Facilities at Lakpahana were lay representative from that Meeting, April 28-May 1, 1982. used to the limit in accommo- church came forward to hold a Almost two years had passed dating the nearly five hundred banner with the church name since the last Camp Meeting. persons attending various meet- printed on it. This signified This lengthy interval created ings on the campus. the partnership of workers and strong desires for fellowship During the closing meeting members in witnessing and among the members who on Sabbath evening, an appeal evangelism. 0 came—and that is just what they did. From early morning till late at night groups, fam- ilies, relatives were reunited in conversation, worship and laughter. The Camp Meeting theme, "Our High Calling" was intro- duced by Union President Rex Riches at the opening meeting. Throughout the brief Camp Meeting speakers developed various facets of the theme, in- cluding redemption, demonstra- tion of God's character, wit- nessing and stewardship. Guest speakers for the session includ- ed : Pastor C. P. Jonahs from
Lowell C. Cooper writes from Poona, where he serves as division lay activ- Children at Sri Lanka annual camp meeting enjoy lively Sabbath schools. De- ities advisor. voted ladies care for every Sabbath school children's division. August 1982 3 don't know where he stands—he does not deal with the challenge of the Ellen G. White pheno- A LIE? menon." Seminar attendees recognized that represen- Victor Cooper tatives of the Church have sometimes not clearly It had been promised for many months. presented the true Ellen G. White and have un- feinany it was published witnin a few days wisely encouraged cult-hero attitudes. To the of the opening in Washington, D.C. of the inter- extent we have perpetuated myth, counselled one national rropnetic Guidance vv orksnop. iviempers reviewer, we are party to a white lie. Another of the Vv lute hstate Board of Trustees, bran commented, "We must move away from the pro- _Members, Research Centre Directors, 'Overseas motion of a mythical, infallible saint, to the Division Spirit of Prophecy Coordinators and presentation of a person whose total commitment others met to discuss current issues relating to to God enabled her to be used fully for the up- the writings of Ellen G. White. building of a church and its people—in spite of "We knew The White Lie was coming," said her humanity, fallibility and limitations." one of the 70 delegates, "so it's no surprise." Mrs. White's use of printed materials has "Certainly not surprised," continued an- always been recognized by Church leaders. More other—"except perhaps in my degree of sadness recently, members of the White Estate have pub- regarding Walter's stridency and rancor." licly confirmed that evidence of some borrowing Walter Rea's 400-page book lists a large has been found in all types of Ellen G. White's number of parallels between Ellen G. White's writing except in autobiographical material. In- published works and those of other authors. He deed, White Estate secretary, Robert Olson, said also charges church leaders with suppression of in his Washington, D. C. office that their re- information about her writing methodology. searchers have evidence of additional materials In the foreward to the book, Associate Dean on which Ellen White was dependent but which and Professor of Law at the University of South- were not part of the Walter Rea research. ern California School of Law, Jerry Wiley, des- cribes the book as "deliberately harsh." Attendees Researchers for the White Estate, Ron Gray- at the Seminar who were asked for their initial bill, Warren H. Johns, and Tim Poirer have as- reactions agreed on the tone of the book. They sembled information about Ellen G. Whit's use found it "vitriolic," "cynical," "selective," "out- of the sermons of the popular English preacher, rageous," "sensational," and "an offensive, scur- Henry Mellville. Their findings suggest that rilous piece with little to commend it to our Ad- Ellen G. White read through the book system- ventist readership." atically but did not reach the last few chapters. "However, beyond the offensive style and Asked what his father knew about literary language, it raises a few very significant ques- borrowing, Ellen White's grandson, Arthur, who tions that call for serious, candid, honest, posi- for 40 years was secretary for the Ellen G. White tive answers. I shall devote some of my time and Estate (1939 - 1978) told seminar attendees that effort to providing these," said one perceptive "well informed workers have known down participant. through the years. My father, W. C. White, knew "It's sad to see the bitterness," one ventured. —and I knew, except for the extent. Years ago, Another added that his reaction was one of "sad- there were no tensions, no suppression. We work- ness for the pain and disillusionment it will ed with a limited staff and did not deal with cause, sorrow that (for whatever reason) we have questions that were not being asked. We were not had so much essential information until such busy trying to do something constructive. as Rea have forced us to seek it and share it." "I've never held back in revealing any in- Still another described the former California formation that I have had. I dealt with the mat- minister's book in these words—"It lives up to ter of her borrowing. I dealt with the Desire of its title." "It's the response of an angry man who Ages. I gave exhibits of her work. I published has not had a proper understanding of Mrs. them. Reprints were advertised. White's inspiration," opined another. "No, there's been no conspiracy to cover up "It's not a scholarly presentation," observed facts." one. "Very unfortunate language," agreed an- Expressing satisfaction over the confer- other. "His theological position worries me; I ence, Director of the Ellen G. White Estate, Victor Cooper writes from the General Conference where Robert Olson, added: "We were able to clarify he serves as associate communication director. some of the issues." To page 12 4 Southern Asia Tidings COVER STORY
5,07 "God, why did You take my Maria from me? She was such a good wife and mother. Why, God, why?" A young father stares at the empty sewing room and the dress that will never be finished. Numbly he picks up her Bible and reads a freshly:, underlined text that bears mute testimony to the last thing she read before being struck head-on by a truck on a narrow country road. "He was such a good man. I don't under- stand why God would take him so suddenly." An elderly widow wipes her tear-streaked face for the hundredth time. She was my mother. While working through my own grief over my father's sudden death, I began to think about God's feeling. How does a Christian's death affect awaiting the call of the Life-giver. Like me, Jesus God? Knowing the Bible teaching about death must wait until the resurrection to embrace His (John 11 :11-14 ; Acts 7:59, 60; Eccl. 9:5, 6), I mother in joyful reunion. How do you think our was aware that God was no more able to com- Lord felt as He watched His beloved disciples municate with father than I was. Father no being slaughtered one by one until John was the longer could think, speak, hear, or remember; only one left of the 12 ? and therefore God also had lost a friend. I picture Jesus looking with longing eyes on Suddenly the truth hit me. God missed Father the graves of Noah, David, John the Baptist, more than I did! Why? Because God knew him Peter, Mary, Martha and the martyrs. I see Him better than I did. He lived in Maryland ; I lived looking at the silent resting places of the millions in northern Pennsylvania. I saw him once every who used to walk with Him and talk with Him. six weeks or less ; God saw him 24 hours a day. I think of Enoch, the antediluvian patriarch I talked with him by telephone about four times who walked with God (Gen. 5:24). With so many every month, but God and Father talked together people pursuing their own pleasures and ignoring every day. God, our Saviour must have treasured the walks As a child I remember my father often on He and Enoch took together. Perhaps the idea his knees in prayer. Sometimes he prayed past of parting with Enoch was too much for even midnight. When he died, God had one less person God to bear. One day He eagerly said : "Enoch, on this hostile planet to speak with Him. we have walked together for so long. I don't want I think about the men of old who lived close it to end. I cannot let you die. Come home with to their Creator. Abraham was a "friend of God" me so we will always be together." So the two of (James 2 :23, R.S.V.). They were such close them sped back to Paradise, and Enoch became friends that God once said; " 'Shall I hide from the first of only two people to whom God never Abraham what I am about to do ?' " (Gen. 18 :17, had to say goodbye. N.I.V.). When Abraham died, I believe God felt I no longer question God's being touched by the loss more keenly than Isaac, Abraham's son, a Christian's death. I believe He misses His peo- as he wept at the cave of Machnelah. God must ple more than we do. Whether they are snatched wait for the resurrection to see His friend Abra- away by a sudden and tragic death or succumb ham again. to a lingering illness, God feels the emptiness of How did Jesus feel when His mother Mary their passing. The more they love Him, the was laid to rest? She too sleeps in the grave, more He misses them. I often have wondered why many of the graveside services I have at- tended have been on rainy days. Could it be that Stephen Adessa is a pastorlevangelist in Fredericksburg, falling from heaven are the tears of God ming- Virginia. ling with our own? ❑