Launch Affirms Ministry of Teaching
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October 6, 2007 In this issue PAU library’s replacement roof Pathfi nders reach out in Mackay Seesaws and merry-go-rounds Avondale College education students help launch an initiative to reposition teaching as ministry. Launch affi rms ministry of teaching COORANBONG, NEW SOUTH WALES n Avondale College initiative to Affi rmation of teachers, the desperate reposition teaching as a ministry need for more teachers in Christian schools launched nationally in Seventh- and a desire for Adventist Church admin- Aday Adventist churches on Sep- istrators to recognise education as a “main- tember 15. stream” form of evangelism provided the The initiative, called “Ministry of Teach- impetus for the initiative. ing,” includes the following resources: The dean of Avondale College’s Faculty Church Ministry of Teaching, a website contain- of Education, Dr Peter Beamish, who is ing teachers’ refl ections on the ministry also the Ministry of Teaching coordinator, of teaching and pathways to enter it; speaks passionately about a generation of TEACH, a biannual, online journal of young adults “wanting to make a signifi cant honours Christian education, published by Avon- contribution to the community.” dale Academic Press; and an Adventist His message? “Stop! Is God calling you education issue of RECORD (September to the ministry of teaching? storm heroes 15 issue). (Continued on page 5) ISSN 0819-5633 3388 CCover.inddover.indd 1 225/9/075/9/07 88:35:40:35:40 AAMM editorial This begins with learning to listen to our communities. One reason churches grow iscovering why churches grow But the signifi cance of community in- communities,” he observes. is one of the great quests of pastors, volvement for church growth is not a new Such activism is also vital for those within evangelists, church administrators suggestion. In the book he edited to mark the church. In her survey of growing main- D and many concerned church mem- the centenary of Seventh-day Adventists line Protestant churches—Christianity for the bers. The allure and elusiveness of a key, in New Zealand, sociologist Peter H Ballis Rest of Us—Diana Butler Bass quotes one of catch-all ingredient is evidenced by the comments on the signifi cance of involve- her interviewees: “People are looking for a multiplicity of books and seminars claiming ment in real social and political issues in the place that will enable and encourage mean- to offer an answer. Many of these are well- founding and early dramatic growth of the ingful service in the community, a way to intentioned but limited in their credibility church in New Zealand. He notes how “Ad- live out the faith they hope to espouse.” and applicability, so it is refreshing to fi nd a ventists found themselves joining commit- But engaging in meaningful and use- carefully researched and Adventist-specifi c tees, speaking before audiences that under ful community service is not always easy. study of this question. different circumstances would have been Church leaders must encourage, create and Monte Sahlin, director of research and inaccessible to them, and, at times, cooper- be alert to opportunities for community in- special projects for the Ohio Conference, ating with clergy of other denominations. volvement. And this begins with learning to has spent most of the past decade asking the . Such interaction with the public served listen to our communities. As Sahlin points questions about why churches grow, prima- to acquaint Adventists with large numbers out, “There is little evidence that the com- rily focused in urban and suburban areas. As in the community.”2 munity service activities carried on in most part of this research, he surveyed all 647 Ad- Ballis cites membership fi gures that cases have anything to do with the need of ventist churches in the north-eastern United show a doubling in church membership the community as viewed by local residents States mega-metropolitan area, stretching in New Zealand between 1911 and 1921. and civic leaders.” from Boston to Washington, DC.1 “It is tempting to conclude that it was the For the good of our communities and the Interestingly, Sahlin concluded that Church’s involvement in New Zealand’s good of the church, we need to work togeth- “there is no correlation between the number social issues that brought about this unprec- er to fi nd authentic, practical, ongoing and of Bible seminars [conducted by local edented growth rate,” he refl ects. sometimes creative ways to serve our com- churches] and soul-winning.” This does Of course, churches grow for more than munities. As Peter urged the early church, not mean public evangelism is necessarily one reason. But it seems community serv- we should “live such good lives among the ineffective, simply that such programs are ice works in at least two ways—attracting pagans that . they may see [our] good deeds run as regularly by churches that do not those benefi ted by the church’s community and glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12, NIV). grow as by churches that do. service and those considering joining a faith By contrast, Sahlin’s research found community that is making a difference. 1. Sahlin’s research was published recently as Mission that the strongest correlation with church Sahlin argues that service is the key to in Metropolis: The Adventist Movement in an Urban World (Center for Creative Ministry). growth was engaging in community serv- gaining credibility within the community ice. And, Sahlin concludes, “few Adventist to which the church ministers. “A church 2. “Seventh-day Adventists and New Zealand Politics, 1886-1918.” churches are involved in the types of pro- that is invisible and largely absent from grams that have the strongest correlation the public arena will not be taken seriously with church growth.” by educated citizens who care about their Nathan Brown Offi cial Paper of the South Editor Nathan Brown Mail: Signs Publishing Company Pacifi c Division Seventh-day Associate editor David Edgren 3485 Warburton Highway Adventist Church Editorial assistant Adele Nash Warburton, Vic 3799, Australia ABN 59 093 117 689 Editorial assistant Jarrod Stackelroth Phone: (03) 5965 6300 Fax: (03) 5966 9019 www.adventist.org.au Copyeditor Talitha Simmons Email Letters: [email protected] Editorial secretary Kristel Rae Email Newsfront: [email protected] Vol 112 No 38 Layout Nathan Chee Email Noticeboard: [email protected] Cover: Ann Staff ord Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver Subscriptions: South Pacifi c Division mailed within Australia and to New Zealand, $A43.80 $NZ73.00. www.record.net.au Other prices on application. Printed weekly. 2 October 6, 2007 3388 EEditorial.inddditorial.indd SSec1:2ec1:2 225/9/075/9/07 88:36:02:36:02 AAMM news PAU library gets replacement roof PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW with frequent modifications to the GUINEA roof line, the PAU library building has not been able to cope with the ore than 25 years ago, the li- heavy rainfall experienced in the brary building at Pacific Ad- Papua New Guinea wet season. ventist University (PAU) was Each year, during the wet sea- M considered a masterpiece and son, water leaks down walls and took pride of place among all the build- from the ceiling. As result, many ings at PAU. The building was well con- of the walls are stained and much structed, well designed and adequate for of the carpet in the stacks area is the needs of the students. ruined. Today, the PAU library is still the cen- To solve the drainage problem, trepiece of the campus—but no longer and at great expense, the PAU takes pride of place. Administration Committee has Pacifi c Adventist University’s library building. Time and weather have taken their approved the construction of a toll on this wonderful building. Even new roof, to completely cover the exist- expected to be completed in time for ing library building. This will cost graduation this year (December 2007). a total of K600,000 (approximately To support other developments for the $A280,000) but the building will library, 40 per cent of this year’s camp- now be waterproof. The librarians meeting mission offerings will be di- are busy trying to restore the library rected to this project. to its past glory, while incorporat- “Members can be assured that this ing necessary new services. is a priority need in the mission of the “We are very much looking for- church,” says Pastor Ray Coombe, direc- ward to having more space and tor of Adventist Mission for the South better facilities for our library, so Pacific Division, who is responsible for we can serve our students and fac- promoting the camp mission projects. ulty better,” says senior librarian Once again, with a new roof over Steel trusses for the new library roof, Ita Kemba. their heads, the PAU library will take which will protect books and facilities Construction on the new roof pride of place at PAU.—Ray Coombe/ from further water damage. began in February 2007, and is RECORD staff first CD—Reach for Jesus—and the TV program Better Homes now involves the families of and Gardens. Both years, CCS has Rob and Kimberly Houliston, just missed the makeover but Johnny and Donna Cleverdon, has won a number of valuable Daron and Lisa Pratt, Krystal prizes. This year, the school won Parker, and Neil and Jennifer more than $A12,000 in technol- Edwards. They have recently ◆ For the past two years, Canber- ogy, plus a $A10,000 upgrade of ◆ Abide Family Ministries completed 13 children’s DVDs ra Christian School (CCS), ACT, its library. The school appreciates dedicated its new recording called Arnie’s Shack. Arnie’s has participated in the “Shop for the support of church members studio on September 1.