Volume 23 Number 4 Hartland MINISTRY REPORT
Cover
God Makes a Way for Soriya 3 5 10
A School That An Army of Determined Nurtured My Workers Dreams to Succeed ALUMNI A School that Nurtured My Dreams At Hartland, I was encouraged to develop my spiritual gifts with music, children, and storytelling. Michelle (Chai) and Ki Song with their children, Eliyon (5) by Michelle Chai Song as told to Rachel Perry and Nate (3)
hank you for talking with me,” opened. I started with Keep the Faith for “Tthe email read. “I had been Kids, character-building songs and stories contemplating suicide, but your still listened to by children around the encouraging words have blossomed in my world. Later, I hosted a children’s television heart. I want to give life another chance program, Camp Do Right, through Light for and get to know your God.” Life Ministry—another dream come true! The email came from a girl I met in Now, AudioVerse has asked me to create Japan during a Three Angels’ Chorale tour. an audio children’s program. StoryTime I’d noticed she looked sad and withdrawn, Adventures is slated to air its first episode so I made a point to find her after the this fall. concert. As we talked, she confided to me It’s neat to look back and see how my that she was the target of ruthless bullying. experiences at Hartland prepared me to be I shared with her about Jesus and told her, an active member in my church and fitted “Even if you feel that there is no one on me for leadership. The practical education earth you can trust, He will never leave I received stretched me in every way you or forsake you.” I later learned that she possible and ingrained in me a ministry broke free from her depression and began mindset. In return, it is my goal to impart attending church faithfully. This beautiful my knowledge and training to the youth experience is one of many I had during my within my influence, so they can best time at Hartland. utilize their God-given talents to render In fact, the Three Angels’ Chorale is effective service to our Master. what initially drew me to Hartland. My older cousins went to Hartland and were part of this choir. As I listened to their stories, I knew I wanted to experience it for myself. I chose to major in elementary education. I am deeply grateful for the vision and encouragement of a dear friend and mentor at Hartland who told me she saw a future for me in children’s media ministry. Her faith in me gave me Michelle working on a recording project courage to step through the doors God
2 HARTLAND MINISTRY REPORT | Vol 23 No 4 MISSION TRIP
Bahamian Residents Find Treasure
Lanardo fulfills a wish to bring the health message to his island. by Lanardo Rolle
Senator Fred Mitchell with Lanardo Rolle (right)
can’t afford to miss a night!” exclaimed People showed up every night with “IMerralee, a regular attendee during the note pads and questions. “When will you “Health Is Your Treasure” seminar held in have another one of these seminars?” they Exuma, Bahamas. For two weeks attendees asked. “Can you bring this program to learned how to prevent and treat many my island also?” “This was so much good diseases with remedies from their kitchen information!” cabinets. The Lord used this mission trip to open The Lord has placed a burden on my doors and remove barriers for the church heart to minister to the people on my members in their communities. “The Lord island. Whenever I visited home during blessed our small team to do much with school breaks, I was overwhelmed with health work in Exuma,” said Angela Pulley, questions from church members and director of Hartland’s Lifestyle Education people in the community such as “What Center and one of the presenters. But the can I do to lower my blood pressure?” Lord was not done working yet. or “How can I improve circulation in my My last day there, I had the opportunity legs?” Seeing this need, I made plans to to meet with Senator Fred Mitchell, the bring God’s health message to those who former minister of foreign affairs and were suffering in my country. immigration. I told him I am studying The Lord confirmed His hand in this health ministry abroad for the Seventh-day work by providing all expenses. We posted Adventist Church, and he responded, “Oh! flyers and invited people, and the turnout Well-spoken-of people.” After talking, I was wonderful! Many came from near asked him if I could pray with him, which and far to hear how they could improve he freely accepted. Our meeting has grown their health. We focused on major diseases into a friendship, and I’m seeking God for common on the island, teaching how to wisdom to reach this politician. This trip prevent and manage them through kitchen has intensified my desire to return home remedies, hydrotherapy, and NEWSTART to share the gospel through the health principles. We also provided free blood message. pressure and glucose screenings.
540-672-3100 | [email protected] | hartland.edu 3 COLLEGEMTF
God Makes a Way
Soriya thought her hope of attending college was lost, but God had a plan. by Rachel Perry
y people need a missionary teacher and I didn’t like to share. But seeing how “Mwho can bring them to God,” says the staff and students love and care for Soriya. “That’s why I am taking Christian each other has changed me.” Elementary Education at Hartland College.” “My spiritual life has grown a lot Born into an Adventist missionary through morning chapels, vespers, and the family, Soriya Sem was baptized in fifth Bible classes,” she continues. “Now I love to grade in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. However, read the Bible! Day by day I see that I am when she was nine years old, life took an growing.” unexpected turn when her father passed Soriya is excited to share what she’s away—a crippling blow to her family’s learning with her people back home. “I’ve financial stability and her hopes for college. been recording the lectures and saving After finishing high school, Soriya all my notes and textbooks—especially volunteered at an orphanage, where she the Ellen G. White books, many of which met a missionary family who introduced are not available in my language. I want her to Hartland College. Hope sprang to share this knowledge with my people, up in her heart as they told her about because I want them to know God loves the Missionary Training Fund. Maybe them. They can apply it to their lives and she would be able to attend college after be saved.” all! She applied and through a series of “Thank you so much to those who give miracles was accepted to Hartland College, to the Missionary Training Fund,” Soriya was granted a Missionary Training Fund concludes. “Your gifts make it possible for scholarship, and received a visa to study in me to learn and to see God’s mighty work the United States. in my life. Without you, I wouldn’t be at “One of the biggest challenges I faced Hartland. May the Lord prosper and protect when I arrived was culture shock,” Soriya you, and may your families be filled with shares. “Everything was so different! His joy.” But God has never left me through this experience. He is teaching me to share, love, be patient, forgive, and humble myself. Before, I didn’t care about anybody
4 HARTLAND MINISTRY REPORT | Vol 23 No 4 MISSION TRIP
An Army of Workers Hartland students inspire Nigerians to be medical missionary soul winners. by Staff Writers PVYBC Ad his August, a group of Hartland students Testimonies from Nigerian youth: Tjourneyed to Osun State, Nigeria for a “I’ve learned so much, especially mission trip. For three weeks, they trained from Kendi, the youngest of the local Seventh-day Adventist youth and staff Hartland team. If such a young lady at the Ile-Ife Adventist hospital in medical could go places for God, leaving her missionary evangelism. Topics included comfort zone for an unknown place, personal evangelism, natural remedies, the what about me? I’ve realized that I effects of media and music on the brain, urgently need to study the Bible every and the use of health ministry to lead souls day. I also need to be careful with what I to Christ. put into my stomach, because I am what “Our Hartland training prepared us for I eat. I pray that the Lord will grant me the challenges we faced in Nigeria,” says boldness to share with my friends and Kahn Ellmers, a pastoral evangelism major family what I’ve learned.” —Mary from New Zealand. “Nigerian Seventh-day “I learned to seek God first in Adventists need thorough education in everything. Also, I learned how healthy living and practical ways to study personal effort wins people to Christ. the Bible and share their faith. We taught Lastly, I learned about healthy living them how to combine medical missionary and knowing my Bible by observation, work with the gospel. A lot of youth and interpretation, application, and asking staff were motivated to take better care questions. It has really inspired me to be of their health and be more involved in a medical missionary, pointing sin-sick outreach to their communities.” souls to the Man of Calvary.” —Modupe There is still much to do in Nigeria, “Fellowshipping with mission- where many lack health education minded believers from the ends of the and have yet to hear the three angels’ earth increased my faith in God’s Word messages. God has placed a burden upon and His providence for His children. The the Hartland students’ hearts to continue lessons I learned inspired in me hope, supporting and helping with this work. courage, belief, and assurance that there is no limit to how much God will use me if I surrender.” —Opeyemi
540-672-3100 | [email protected] | hartland.edu 5 COLLEGE
I chose to attend Hartland College because...
“I want to be trained to serve others by meeting their physical needs and then presenting the gospel to them, while at the same time developing my character and growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.” —Joy Inyele, Kenya, Health Ministry
“I want a true education so that I can provide the same to the children in my classroom.” —Nia Mukasa, Georgia, USA, Christian Elementary Education
“I know that we’re in the end times and Jesus is coming again very soon. I want to hasten His second coming with the best of my knowledge and ability.” —Bryan Lim, Tennessee, USA, Christian Media Ministry
“I want to be equipped to train church members for evangelism.” —David Dazile, Florida, USA, Pastoral Evangelism
“I want to be trained not just to deliver babies, but to reach the hearts of the unreached through practical service to families.” —Lizzy Osborne, Michigan, USA, Midwifery Ministry
6 HARTLAND MINISTRY REPORT | Vol 23 No 4 INTERN
The Key Kevin learned something at Hartland that proved to be vital for effective ministry. by Gillian Bethel Kevin Condori (far left) with a family he is studying with
hen Argentinian student Kevin Did Hartland prepare Kevin for this WCondori went to Queens, New York, kind of internship? He answers, “I have for his internship, he wasn’t expecting to used everything I learned at Hartland. be an associate pastor in a three-church Many times I thought, I will never need district with full responsibility for a new this in the future. But here God puts me in church. Working under a mentoring different situations and places where I use pastor with over 20 years of experience, even the things I thought I would never Kevin finds himself giving Bible studies, need! In preaching, teaching, and even preaching, teaching, leading small groups, talking with people, I use the knowledge visiting members and non-members, I learned at Hartland.” Even beyond this, assisting in meetings and church boards, being at Hartland prepared Kevin in a helping the youth department, and more. vital way: “The self-discipline and time “My favorite part is the human part— management I learned at Hartland has being with the people, listening to them, been key in my experience in New York,” helping them, counseling them,” he he says. This key has helped turn a busy says. “As a pastor, God has given me the and demanding internship—which he opportunity to see the people’s necessities describes as “squeezing me”—into an and reach them in a more effective way.” experience “helping me to develop my For example, Kevin relates his experience abilities and qualities to the utmost.” studying with an 8-year-old boy: “After His vision beyond graduation? “To going to his house, I realized he was going serve God, the church, and the people as a through a tough situation. His parents are pastor.” This internship is certainly a good divorcing. God is using me as a pastor, start! father figure, and friend for him, and has given me the opportunity to help him through this hard situation. Last week he told me, ‘Pastor, we only have four more lessons, and after that I want to be baptized.’ What a joy in my heart to see that even while the devil is trying to destroy his family, he is making a decision to give his life to Jesus." This little boy (right) is studying for baptism.
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CALADOS: A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY Loma Linda Campestre helps a family expand their self-supporting ministry. by Freddy (’06) and Connie Castro
n 2011, we met Milena de Pablos, mother The city offers all kinds of distractions, Iof five, who has been a powerful influence misleading friends, and wasted time. The on her children even without formal country offers tranquility and gives me an education. Her trust in God has been her opportunity to have fun with my younger tool for survival. Loma Linda Campestre* siblings. has assisted her in finding a country Milena: Living in the country provides home and opening new points of sale in true preparation for Jesus’ second coming the marketplace to support her family by contemplating God’s creation. We industry. Here is her story. have more family communion, reading, How did the industry start, and what studying, and spiritual growth. does it mean to you? What changes have you seen in your Milena: Providentially our industry children by living in the country? started by a request from a movie actress, Milena: I have seen positive changes in who wanted to try a nutritional cracker. all our children. They have each learned My husband and I used to sell nuts and to value creation. They read more and homemade bread on the streets. After the have learned to adapt to new schedules. request and many trial recipes, we came We explore together, and the Bible stories out with a unique and delicious Calado become alive just outside our front door. (toast) that is now a top-selling product in We have no complaints. several cities in Boyacá. What part of the Bible do you like to Our industry means everything to us. meditate on? We all love to work from home, and as we Milena: I like to study the Psalms hear our clients tell how our product has because they are full of encouragement. helped them with their health problems, Their counsels are practical and real. I we know our commitment to serve others ask God to reveal His answers to all my is not in vain. questionings. He is extremely faithful to How has living in the country answer all I ask of Him. blessed you? Dillan (age 19, eldest son): Living in *Loma Linda Campestre is an alumni project the country has helped me grow closer supported through Lord, Send Me. to God. It saves me from many troubles.
540-672-3100 | [email protected] | hartland.edu 9 LIFESTYLE EDUCATION CENTER
Determined to Succeed
“The devil wants to keep us cripples— but we must not let him win!” by Rachel Perry
don’t know if I can, but I must! thought guidance, I will succeed! I am no longer IMaryfrances Brown upon arriving at taking my blood pressure or pain meds, Hartland’s Lifestyle Education Center (LEC) blood thinner, or fluid pill. My goals have in July of this year. A single mother of not all been reached, but I know they will.” three grown sons, she was determined to But the good news doesn’t end there! regain control of her health. Maryfrances has continued on the total “I suffered from congestive heart plant-based meal plan and walking each failure, high blood pressure, obesity, day. When we called her in October, she prediabetes, and depression,” she shares. announced, “I have lost a total of 117 These conditions were compounded by pounds since March, and 58 pounds since her sedentary office job, which left her Hartland. I thank God for saving my life with little time or motivation for exercise. and sending me to Hartland.” At Hartland, she hoped to gain physical Angela Pulley, director of the LEC, strength and reverse these conditions. believes Maryfrances’s upbeat outlook has As Maryfrances went through the 17- been key to her success. “She was positive day lifestyle program, she found that the with all the hard things she had to do, and positive, peaceful atmosphere was just I believe that determination was the best what she needed. “Each day was filled with part of the healing process.” encouragement, positive reinforcement, Maryfrances has a special message for and genuine concern for my physical, those who may be facing similar health emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. The challenges. She says, “Call Hartland and entire staff shared their enthusiasm and go! We can and must, with God’s help, love for each of us and our Lord. No matter take control of our lives. The devil wants to how busy they were, they always wore a keep us cripples—but we must not let him real smile. Their ‘realness’, encouragement, win. I encourage you to attend Hartland’s and prayer motivated me to keep going.” Lifestyle Education Center!” By the end of the program, Maryfrances glowed with new hope and confidence. “I feel that with God’s continued help and
10 HARTLAND MINISTRY REPORT | Vol 23 No 4 PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
The Day of the Lord Increasing disasters indicate the climactic sign of Christ’s coming is at the door. by Norbert Restrepo
he apostle Peter exhorts believers to look the “abomination of desolation” as the sign Tfor and hasten the coming of the day of of imminent destruction. God (2 Peter 3:1–14). He reminds them of Today many of these signs have been “the words which were spoken before by fulfilled; the condition of the days of Noah the holy prophets” warning of the day of and Lot are upon us, and nations are the Lord, the day of His wrath, the day of distressed and perplexed. Natural disasters judgment, and the day of His coming. Even have hit nearly every continent in 2017,¹ though classical prophets warned people in crimes such as the deadly shooting in Las their time of God’s impending judgment, Vegas have increased,² and ecumenism their prophecies had a wider typological advances, as is being celebrated this year apocalyptic application. with the 500th anniversary of the Protestant We find a notable example of this in Reformation.³ These fulfillments indicate Matthew 24, where Christ foretold the that the climactic sign, the abomination of destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, desolation, is at the door. merging this event with the final judgment “We are standing on the threshold of of the whole world at His second coming. the crisis of the ages. In quick succession This discourse was His comprehensive the judgments of God will follow one response to the apostles’ question, “Tell us, another—fire, and flood, and earthquake, when shall these things be? And what shall with war and bloodshed."4 Oh, may we be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end heed the warning! May we pray, watch, and of the world?” Matthew 24:3. work to hasten the coming of the day of the Jesus placed His second coming as Lord. occurring after the “tribulation,” after the
“times of the Gentiles” (Matthew 24:21, ¹ “10 of the Deadliest Natural Disasters of 2017,” www.usnews.com, 29; Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:2), after the updated September 20, 2017. notable “signs in the sun, and in the ² “Police say Las Vegas gunman planned ‘extensively,’ used cameras to monitor officers as they approached,” WashingtonPost.com, October moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth 3, 2017. distress of nations, with perplexity” (Luke ³ “Reformation Anniversary (1517-2017),” www.churchofengland.com, 21:25). He also mentioned the condition of accessed October 10, 2017. the world, comparing it to the days of Noah 4 White, E.G., Prophets and Kings, p. 278. and of Lot (Luke 17:26–30), and pointed out
Hartland Ministry Report | Volume 23 Number 4 Copyright ©2017 Hartland Institute | Printed in the USA | All Rights Reserved Hartland We want to hear from you! Send us your comments, questions, or address changes. MINISTRY REPORT Email: [email protected]. Telephone: 540-672-1995. Write: Donor Relations, Editor: Rachel Perry 444 Hartland Oak Dr, Rapidan, VA 22733. Layout and Design: Jonathan Min Subscriptions are free within the USA. Previous issues are available upon request. 11 540-672-3100 | [email protected] | hartland.edu Upcoming Events
Winter Convocation Staff Openings About Our Winter Convocation Winter Convocation January 26–28, 2018 Contact: J. H. Shin Speaker Speaker: Dwayne Lemon (540) 672-1996 ext 302 Dwayne Lemon, once a Contact: Events Coordinator [email protected] professional dancer and JANUARY 26–28, 2018 (540) 672-1996 ext 232 Visit hartland.edu for updates. choreographer in the hip-hop and R&B culture, was called out Spring Convocation Hartland College of the darkness of that life to April 27–29, 2018 Bible teacher humbly bear the light of God's Dwayne Lemon Speaker: Joshua White Graphic design teacher love in his local vineyard of Atlanta, Contact: Events Coordinator GA. He loves to share how we (540) 672-1996 ext 232 Hartland Industries can have a genuine and fulfilling Experienced organic farmer relationship with Jesus through a Piedmont Valley Youth Bible Industry leader with business and life of surrender. He believes that Camp marketing experience medical missionary work and the June 10–17, 2018 three angels’ messages will help Speaker: Eugene Prewitt Lifestyle Education Center us prepare to meet the Lord. Elder Contact: Joan Reichard Nurse comfortable working in Lemon and his wife Alexandra (540) 672-1996 ext 305 multiple facets of a lifestyle center have four children: Jahred, Kayla, Kaleb, and Jada. Camp Meeting Plant Services July 18–22, 2018 Skilled electrician/plumber/basic Hartland Prayer Request Speaker: TBA construction worker Please remember Dr. Colin MINISTRY REPORT Contact: Events Coordinator Standish and family in your (540) 672-1996 ext 232 prayers. Advancement & Development 444 Hartland Oak Dr Rapidan VA 22733
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