The Time of the Singing of Birds Is Come
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UWE union r.) n MARCH 3, 1981 VOLUME LXXIII, NUMBER 5 The time of the singing of birds is come EARLY a year ago Gordon Frase, a pastor in Michigan's Upper NPeninsula, received an It Is Written interest card with the name of Beverly Johnson, who lived 50 miles away from any Adventist churches. Her interest had begun when she heard of the book and cassette narrative on the "Theater of the Universe," being offered by It Is Written. She requested and received the material and began to study the story of the Bible as told in this book. It Is Written notified Pastor Frase of her interest, and he drove 50 miles to her home in the western part of the Upper Peninsula. Mrs. Johnson was pleased to meet Pastor Frase, and expressed an interest in having Bible studies. These were soon started. When Pastor Frase gave her the lesson on the Sabbath to be studied for the next visit, he mistakenly left two lessons—the second on the change of the Sabbath. When he discovered what he had done, he prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide her study of the lessons. When Pastor Frase returned to Mrs. Johnson's home, she had already studied both lessons and had decided to keep the Seeing Him Sabbath. The pastor wanted to invite her family to attend the Adventist Church 50 miles away, but he thought they would think it was too Who Is far. He was surprised when Mrs. Johnson asked if they could attend his church. They went the next Sabbath. As studies continued, Mrs. Johnson's two daughters, Jackie and Invisible Vicky, and her husband, Duane, began to listen and became interested. On Sabbath, September 20, 1980, Mrs. Johnson was baptized. Pastor Frase continued the Bible studies with the rest of Charles Keymer the family, and step by step they, too, accepted all the teachings of President Jesus. Michigan Conference Beverly's daughter Vicky was a star player on the local high school girls' basketball team. She was highly respected by her fellow students and the people in the community. Her team was headed for the Upper Peninsula playoffs. When the playoff games were scheduled on Sabbath, Vicky told her teammates and coaches that she could not play. Pressure was placed on her to change her mind. The others felt they could not win without her. Though severely tested, Vicky held firm to her decision to follow Jesus all the way. Vicky, like Moses of old, chose that better part: "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt" and enduring, "as seeing him who is invisible." Hebrews 11:26, 27. Her faithfulness was a remarkable witness to her friends and the community. On Sabbath, January 31, 1981, Vicky, her sister, Jackie, and her stepfather, Duane, were baptized by Elder Frase, and joined COVER the Houghton-Hancock Church. "For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; . .." The Song of Solomon 2:11, 12, KJV. Photo by Tom Burgess. The LAKE UNION HERALD is entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103. Send Form No. 3579 to Box C, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103. TWO THE HEART OF THE LAKE UNION `There's always something to be thankful for' by Grace Green =DNA Norris likes to look back over the years of she taught for two years. She had 20 pupils and her life to see how God has been with her. She received $20 a month while boarding in a different was born just before the turn of the century to Olive home each month. In 1916 Edna met and married Earl and Hubert Sweet. Her mother was an Adventist but Norris of La Farge. They had two children, Virginia her father was not. Because of her parents' and Irene. differences, Edna did not attend church school until Earl was not a healthy man, so the burden of the the seventh grade. Then she attended Bethel farm and home were left largely to Edna. But Edna Academy and graduated in 1913. says, "In the worst of times there's always something Still little more than a girl herself, Edna went to to be thankful for." Shennington, Wisconsin, in the fall of 1913 to teach Even though Edna never entered the classroom Olive, Evelyn and Della Cady in their home. Her again, she did not stop teaching—through the years wages, besides room and board, were $12 a month. she has taught on every Sabbath School level, as well Both church and school were held in this home. The as holding nearly every office in the church. children had homemade "cracker-box" desks. One of Throughout her life, Edna has seen God's Edna's pupils, Olive, married Frank Pitchen, and was consistent help. This is well illustrated in her held in affectionate esteem by students and friends continued success at Ingathering. For 25 years Edna of Wisconsin Academy. has gone Ingathering to local businesses. I In 1914 Edna went to La Farge, Wisconsin, where accompanied her last fall, and it was a pleasure for me to see how the business people enjoyed her visit and were ready to give, some of them increasing their donations over previous years. Grace Green lives in Richland Center, Wisconsin, In spite of declining health, Edna continues to say, where her husband, Ted, is pastor of the Richland -God will take care of me, just like he has all these Center district. years." THREE manager and coordinator of the new AM project, relates "We could see the Lord's leading right from the start." Within 10 days, supportive Adventist laymen in the area provided $3,300 for license preparation. "That was miracle number two," he said. "Miracle number three was when the consulting engineers discovered there was an excellent channel available for a nondirectional facility, thereby permitting use of the existing FM tower for the AM antenna." With the formation of a legal nonprofit corporation as owner, the application for a license was prepared and submitted to the F.C.C. on September 28. The Adventist Berrien Broadcasting Corporation, formed as a minority group with Lake Union Conference President Radio Robert H. Carter as chairman, applied for a 500-watt facility at 640 Evangelism kHz. Local Adventist ministers act as an advisory council to the WAUS in Michiana staff who are planning and will operate the new station. "Although final programming plans are still solidifying," said Mr. Steele, "the main feature of the station will be about 12 hours a day of good gospel music. Care will be taken," he asserts, "to carefully choose music of high standard, in contrast to many so-called gospel stations that actually are a disgrace with their gospel rock and rhythm." Other program plans call for a NE million Michiana residents, made its important "clear channel possible three hours per day in Ofrom Logansport to South decision." This action, adopted on Spanish, America's number-one Haven and from Michigan City to May 29, 1980, gave protection of up minority language, as well as Kalamazoo, will soon be able to to only 750 miles to the old programs for Blacks and a small hear the Adventist message in established clear channel stations block of weekly foreign-language voice and song 18 hours a day. in America's larger cities. The broadcasts. A special feature will That is, if plans of local Seventh- commission hoped to encourage be Adventist-produced programs on day Adventists continue as local program services, especially good health, nutrition, Bible scheduled. for nonprofit and minority groups. doctrines and regular news. The idea of an AM gospel radio The staff at WAUS, Andrews "With the university's station for southwestern Michigan University's fine arts station, saw resources," said Mr. Steele, "we and northern Indiana originated the F.C.C. decision as an feel our programming will be of several years ago. Early last year opportunity to present the such a quality that it will be in an investigation into the feasibility possibility of a full-time demand for use on other stations of such a station was made. evangelistic voice for the around the country." However, no frequencies were community. University adminis- Michiana Seventh-day Adventists available at that time, and the trators and Lake Union Conference will take part in a special fund- possibility of obtaining one was officials gave the green light to raising campaign for the new remote. investigate the feasibility of such a station during March, and Then last spring miracle number project, provided funds could be according to Mr. Steele, it is one happened. The Federal found to support it. conceivable that the new station Communications Commission Allen Steele, WAUS general will be on the air by Christmas. FOUR Publishing directors will also be speaking to the students at the Lake Union academies later this spring. There are multiple advantages in the literature ministry. Not only do young people gain practical experience in witnessing, but many of them can expect to pay their expenses for an entire school year The Key in 10 weeks of work during the summer. For example, if a student sells only three sets of The Bible Story, with a large copy of The Great Controversy or The Desire of Ages each week for 10 weeks, his sales to a Finished will total $8,000.