Why Tongan Sdas Worship on Sunday
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
• • • • ... : . • 0 Nivafoo • Why .• • • ii • Nivatobutabu CS o. Tongan I' I' • . • • • • SDAs Tonga Is • • I • Vava'u Gr I • 0 o Worship • . III • • Tofua p 0 • . on o 0 • o or • L U • Ha'apai Group I Z • -7J Sunday • Nuku'alofa • i L U . Cs F- Page 6 0 o Eua - J ..Tongatapu s < • 0 Z I 0 I 117 •. 0 Ata • Z X L U I - Christ and the Cross Z —Page 4 RECORD EDITORIAL Official Paper of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church A Book Worth Reading Editor James Coffin eventeen years ago, as I was about to Associate Editor Gary Krause needle to the pole, men who will stand Assistant Editor Joy Totenhofer Sleave on an assignment as a student for the right though the heavens fall."— Editorial Secretary Glenda Fairall missionary, my sister gave me a paper- Page 57. Copy Editor Graeme Brown back copy of a book she thought I might "In the common walks of life there is Graphic Designer Wayne Louk enjoy. And she was right. many a toiler patiently treading the Senior Consulting Editor A. H. Tolhurst Consulting Editors During the evening and early- round of his daily tasks, unconscious of Correspondents R. H. Baird, J. T. morning hours there in my little one- latent powers that, roused to action, Banks, R. L. Coombe, N. K. Peatey, P. B. room flat at the mission school, I had would place him among the world's Weekes Regional Reporters R. K. Brown, G. E. plenty of time to read. I was only 19, im- great leaders."—Page 85. Christian, M. Darius, R. G. Douglas, G. W. pressionable and looking for answers to "Man, created for fellowship with W. Drinkall, K. A. Houliston, L. J. Laredo, many questions. And maybe what I God, can only in such fellowship find his L. G. Robinson, L. Solomon, E. I. Totenhofer, A. R. Walshe needed most was a challenge. real life and development. Created to Local Reporters Church Communication I hadn't read far until I realised the find in God his highest joy, he can find in Secretaries book was radical. Its assertions were pro- nothing else that which can quiet the Subscriptions South Pacific Division, $A24.00 $NZ31.20. All other regions, vocative and exhilarating. I read it cravings of the heart, can satisfy the $A45.25 $NZ58.25. Air mail postage rates through three times that year. hunger and thirst of the soul . and, ex- on application. Order from Signs Publishing I've read the book several more times cept by his own choice, there is no limit Company, Warburton, Victona 3799, Australia. during the intervening years. In fact, to the possibilities of his Manuscripts All copy for the paper next to the Bible I would say that it has development."—Pages 124, 125. should be sent to The Editor, RECORD, Signs Publishing Company, Warburton, had more influence on my life than any "He who studies most deeply into the Victoria 3799; phone (059)66 5781. other book. And I still can't read some of mysteries of nature will realise most fully Printed weekly "by Signs Publishing its statements without a slight shiver run- his own ignorance and weakness. He Company. ning up and down my spine. will be ready to say, with Newton, 'I Directory of the South Pacific Division of Let me share a few of the sections I've seem to myself to have been like a child the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 148 underlined, and I think you'll quickly on the seashore finding pebbles and Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga, NSW 2076; see why I like it so much. shells, while the great ocean of truth lay phone (02) 489 7122 "Every human being, created in the undiscovered before me.'"—Page 133. President Walter Scragg image of God, is endowed with a power Secretary A. H. Tolhurst "The world does not so much need Treasurer W. T. Andrews akin to that of the Creator— men of great intellect as of noble charac- Associate Secretary V. B. Parmenter individuality, power to think and to ter. It needs men in whom ability is con- Associate Treasurers 0. S. Mason, W. H. Stokes Field Secretary A. J. Ferch do. It is the work of true education to trolled by steadfast principle."—Page Administration Projects Director M. G. develop this power, to train the youth to 225. Townend be thinkers, and not mere reflectors of, "God's purpose for the children grow- Archivist and Statistician R. E. Clifford other men's thought."—Page 17. Auditor G. J. Bland ing up beside our hearths is wider, Associate Auditors E. N. Hokin, M. E. "Instead of educated weaklings, deeper, higher, than our restricted vision Mitchell, E. J. Moffitt, N. F. Sawert, K. E. Watts institutions of learning may send forth has comprehended. And many a lad Church Ministries A. E. Birch (Director), A. B. Gane (Youth), R. L. Hodgkinson (Sabbath men strong to think and to act, men who of today, growing up as did Daniel in his School), B. K. Craig (Family Life), P. R. Jack are masters and not slaves of circum- Judean home, studying God's word (Personal Ministries), L. R. Chester (Sabbath stances, men who possess breadth of and His works, and learning the lessons School) Communication, Public Affairs and Religious mind, clearness of thought, and the of faithful service, will yet stand in legis- Liberty R. L. Coombe courage of their convictions."—Page 18. lative assemblies, in halls of justice, or in Education G. F. Clifford (Director), H. T. "No one can stand upon a lofty height Irvine, J. I. Howie royal courts, as a witness for the King of Health Food E. W. Grosser without danger. As the tempest that kings."—Page 262. Adventist Health D. E. Bain (Director), leaves unharmed the flower of the valley Of course, being a paperback, my copy uproots the tree upon the mountaintop, has now fallen apart. So one of these Ministerial Association A. D. C. Currie Publishing J. T. Knopper so do fierce temptations that leave un- days I'll have to slip down to the Trust Services A. W. White touched the lowly in life assail those who Adventist Book Centre and buy another ADRA G. A. Laxton (Director), W. P. Truscott stand in the world's high places of suc- Christian Services for the Blind E. C. Lemke copy. This time in hardback, I think. cess and honour."—Pages 51, 52. And, should you be interested in get- "The greatest want of the world is the ting a copy for yourself, just ask the ABC want of men—men who will not be staff for the book Education, by Ellen G. bought or sold, men who in their inmost White. It's an investment well worth the souls are true and honest, men who do money. Particularly if it affects your life not fear to call sin by its right name, men as much as it has mine. whose conscience is as true to duty as the James Coffin. 2 RECORD January 30, 1988 LETTERS The Real Issue often do not see Christ as the reason for The Front-door, Too! Thanks to Pastor Parr and the editors the church's existence. I may have a different perspective on for addressing one of the important They perceive the church more as a "The Back-door Syndrome" (November issues pertaining to the survival of club with rules and regulations—you re- 21 and 28) than most readers—because Christianity in today's society—"The main as long as you stay within the par- I never got completely in the front door! Back-door Syndrome" (November 21 ameters. Of course, this could be viewed Although I fellowshipped with and 28). More important, though, I as lack of commitment. But to what? To Adventists from 1963 to 1980, I was would like to thank Rob Pullar (Letters, Christ? Or to what is seen as an outdated never a member. December 19), who, given the perspec- organisation? Unfortunately, for some But I did get to teach the youth tive of a more recent generation, was the Adventist Church means standards, Sabbath school. And it was interesting to able to identify some less comfortable— not love. see the numbers in my class steadily though more pertinent—reasons for at- This group feels their needs are not grow as I challenged the youth to think trition. being met. They need opportunity to use for themselves, and to search the Scrip- I watched a large number of friends their talents. They need room to move tures for answers to important and some- leave the Adventist Church, and often and grow. And they need understanding, times difficult questions. Above all, I Christianity, as we went through univer- because they are products of a different challenged them with the gospel, and to sity. Now that we are established in our culture and social era. find Jesus for themselves. various professions the numbers con- With too much emphasis on doctrine Then, without warning, I was told tinue to dwindle. Those who leave are and standards in a multicultural church, upon arriving one morning to teach the seldom uncommitted, contrary to what there is a danger of becoming irrelevant lesson that I would no longer be permit- Pastor Parr suggests. Often they are to a world desperately in need of Jesus' ted to do so—because I was not a church among the more committed and morally love. Val Charlton, NSW. member. I continued attending for concerned. awhile, but soon realised that my contri- Most of them leave because there is Revival Needed butions were not appreciated and that little, if any, room for their intellect, Pastor Parr ("The Back-door Syn- free thought was not welcome.