BRITISH ADVENT I IMO I Church Paper of the British Union Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists Volume Eighty Number Five March 7, 1975 Literature-evangelists with their leaders who attended the Swanwick Convention, January 1975 Give Us This Mountain ESPITE depressing weather, on Report of Swanwick Convention Tuesday showed little improvement January 20th, there was excite- by Shirley Davey weatherwise, but an air of expectancy D ment in the air for 25 people gathered momentum. The reason? For assembled at the Hayes Conference specially designed to cover the basics the first time ever, our Dutch literature- Centre, Swanwick, for a Beginners' of Christian salesmanship; and also to evangelists were joining with our Training Seminar in Literature-evan- show those attending a Literature- British Union workers for the yearly gelism. 'On the ball' with instruction evangelists' Institute for the first time, `get-together'. demonstrations, film-strips from the that God is calling men and women The Institute officially started with General Conference, and quizzes, were to join His mighty army, for 'If there Pastor J. T. Knopper, Publishing our Union Director, Pastor John is one work more important than an- Director of the Northern Europe— Arthur and his conference associates other, it is that of getting our public- West Africa Division, welcoming all to Brethren T. Watts, E. Fung, I. Cotton, ations before the public' (Testimonies, this unique session, the guest speaker and A. Dublin. This course was vol. 4, page 390). being Elder J. N. Hunt, Associate INGATHERING 1975 We'll New factors do it and a new challenge together (see page 3) Foreman Glynne Meredith explains a litho press The platform party for the opening meeting. to colporteurs who visited The Stanborough Press. Publishing Director of the General hand-painted pottery. By way of re- Conference. Elder Hunt's opening ciprocation the British delegates, message centred on the motto: 'Give Literature-evangelist 'Stars' of 1975. chaired by Pastor John Arthur and us this mountain'. He asked all to get translated by Elder Knopper, pre- if not only our literature-evangelists sented an enjoyable programme cover- their spiritual vision into proper but each churchmember could 'preach focus. 'We need to get our eyes on ing the work throughout the Union the Gospel' by the distribution of the God and see His power; and when in slides and literature experiences, by printed page? song, music, and verse, not forgetting we see like Elisha of old, it will be a During the week we were privileged Spirit-inspired vision. This kind of the simple but delectable food during to have a number of guest speakers vision helps us to seek for higher the intermission at which time each including Pastor E. H. Foster, Union things. It will arouse a greater desire of our 36 Dutch friends received a President, with his timely message to see higher things and do greater little token of remembrance when based on Galatians 5:25 - 6:5. It was things for God. In this hour of today's small stainless steel dishes engraved a pleasure also to have Pastor J. P. history we must not be satisfied with 'Swanwick 1975' were presented. Sundquist from the Division Head- The week's activities were con- a sluggish pace, molehills of medioc- quarters who led out in the Friday rity, but must plant our banner of cluded all too soon, and as we sep- evening Consecration Service; Pastor arated for our scattered homes among truth on the highest peak—for God Don Lowe our Southern President, calls us to do this. God is waiting for a the teeming millions of this land, we Pastor B. W. Ball, our Northern Presi- carried with us not only inspiration, complete commitment of our lives. dent, while the H.H.E.S. was repre- Jesus is waiting for our surrender, enthusiasm, and added knowledge, but sented by Brother and Sister S. V. waiting for us all to get our eyes on a greater desire to work for the Lord Maxwell, the Northern Book Centre in a world where 'time is fast running the cross and only when this happens, by E. Johnson, and The Stanborough when we give ourselves wholly and let out'. Press by E. A. Pender, R. D. Vine, the Holy Spirit take over, will we ex- We pray that our fellow believers E. P. Pettit, A. R. Crouch and D. in the churches around the British perience a power and a glory. We Archer. Other highlights of the Seminar must renounce SELF, then the latter Isles will also be constrained by a included one night of entertainment rain will come, and the Holy Spirit greater desire to see higher things and given by our Dutch friends, chaired will possess us. God is waiting. In the do greater things .for the Lord. The by R. Bruinsma, the Publishing House past our vision has been restricted, words of Isaiah echo in our minds: Manager, who, with his fluent English but by complete submission to God, 'How beautiful upon the mountains and wit, along with Pastor J. Lijken- our eyes will be opened. Let us there- are the feet of him that bringeth good dijk, the Publishing Director acting as fore open our eyes, keep our eyes on tidings, that publisheth peace. Dutch interpreter, made the evening the mountain and the Lord will in- What better means of fitting into this a tremendous success. All were in- deed give it to us.' picture than through the literature trigued when Brother K. Hendricks ministry? 'Also I heard the voice of Throughout the week Elders Hunt one of the Dutch workers played for the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and Knopper directed the minds of us on his 'Mandoline-Zither'. Three and who will go for us? Then said I, the team into channels of evangelistic of our sisters were dressed in tradi- here am I, send me' (Isaiah 6:8). salesmanship. It was thrilling to hear tional costume. After films and slides on again that God Himself started the Holland and information about our literature ministry when way back in work over there the evening finally 1848 Ellen White received a vision concluded by an 'all-round treat' of Welsh Constituency telling her that a message-filled paper Dutch cookies, cheeses and drinks. Session should be printed and taken out to Each British delegate was then pre- the people. A DAY OF FELLOWSHIP sented with a souvenir of Blue Delf for churches and companies of the We ask the question, 'Why would Welsh Mission the literature work be triumphant to the end ?' First, it is God ordained and SABBATH, APRIL 12 therefore cannot fail. Second, it is the in Cardiff SDA church, quickest way to preach to the people. Cowbridge Road East Third, it is the least expensive to any (corner of Rawden Place) Conference. Let none be deceived VISITING SPEAKERS into thinking that the literature DR. B. B. BEACH, Secretary, Northern Europe- West Africa Division; PASTOR E. H. FOSTER, ministry is only for 'drop-outs'. Not President, British Union Conference. so. God Himself ordained it to be the Sunday, April 13th at 10.30 a.m. there will be front-line. The front-line determines a special business session to give considera- tion to British Union Conference re-organization how fast the army advances, and con- plans in relation to the Welsh Mission and its sequently how the Church advances. constitution. One message-filled book sold can open By order of the Welsh Mission Executive Committee—P. H. Slearman, chairman; up many sermons of truth. How far- J. Ginbey, secretary. reaching then would the message be, Dutch ladles at Swanwick, in national dress. 2 HAVE YOUR HEARD INGATHERING 1975 THE LATEST RUMOUR ? IN recent months many have heard new factors — new challenge that 'Ingathering'—our house-to-house collection for mission funds—is to undergo change in 1975. FRANKLY, I'm concerned! I am not 'worried' for that would We have been unable to give you show a lack of faith; but I really am concerned. a complete picture of these changes before now, because we are still re- For many years our Ingathering programme has gone ahead most success- ceiving word from the new local fully and last year we showed an increase over 1973 of almost 14%. This authorities. This information will now went a long way to meet the spiralling inflation which in many mission help you to make plans for your per- fields is greater even than here in Britain. However, with the recent division of sonal involvement so that our mission the whole country into new Counties and Districts, the Home Office charged work may continue its full programme. each local authority to maintain a register of house-to-house collections to Changes in arrangements for house- ensure that charities do not overlap in their dates. As there are 64 nation- to-house collections mean that re- wide charities holding the Home Office Exemption Order there is insufficient duction in our collecting time has be- time for each one to have even one week in a year, yet the very holding come inevitable. On top of this, be- of an Exemption Order means that the holding charity may not be prevented cause arrangements must now be made from collecting. with each individual local council, we This means that we now have to negotiate with 565 separate authorities have differing dates in many areas. in addition to the Greater London Metropolitan areas knowing that the former Generally our collection will be during freedom which we had, has gone. In many places we have been reduced March 23rd—April 6th and all local to one week, and in the others we have for this year managed two weeks.