ADVENTIST YOUTH AND ADULT QUARTER 3 MISSION MAGAZINE 22008008 NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION
featuring:
OWNER OF THE SKY pg 8| FAITH FULL CIRCLE pg 24 www.AdventistMission.org 1
www.AdventistMission.org C ONTENTS
On the Cover: Born out of a movement in what is now the North American Division in the 1840s, the Seventh-day Adventist Church sent its first missionary overseas in 1874.
UNITED STATES 4 Truth on Late-Night TV | July 5
6 Biker Rides for Christ | July 12
8 Owner of the Sky | July 19
10 The Accidental Church | July 26
CANADA
12 Youth Forge Modern Ministries | August 2
14 The Little Station That Roars | August 9
UNITED STATES
16 Mission Field at Home | August 16
18 The Sabbath Test | August 23
20 A New Beginning | August 30
22 Mission in My Backyard | September 6
24 Faith Full Circle | September 13
26 A Passion Shared | September 20
RESOURCES ights re ® - All r served. | September 27 tists 28 Thirteenth Sabbath Program ven Ad ring, MD 209 ay er Sp 04 -d Silv th e, rg 31 Resources en ik sion.o v P Mis e ia ist S b nt f m ve o lu d e o .A 32 Map and Projects c n C w e d w r l w e O f -
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2 © Dear Sabbath School Leader, Welcome to a new quarter and a new world of radio almost 80 years ago, and division on which to focus our attention television outreach began in 1950. and our prayers. Today, satellites, the Internet, and other technological advances have created North American Division new avenues through which we can The North American Division share God’s love with people. Media can includes Canada, the United States, the reach people who might hesitate to enter island nation of Bermuda, and several a church or attend evangelistic meetings. island possessions. In spite of modern strides in The Adventist Church was born technology, radio continues to be a and nurtured in North America. Early powerful force in people’s lives. Christian Adventist believers sacrificed to send programming can reach significant missionaries to Europe, India, Africa, numbers of people who might never be Australia, and Asia. Today the church reached by other means. This quarter’s ministers in some 200 countries around Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will focus the world. on broadening our reach to people across But growth of the church in North the division via radio. America, like much of Europe and While Canadian law does not allow Australia, has slowed. Today North special-interest radio stations, it does America has just over a million allow low-frequency radio stations to members. Millions across North rebroadcast another station's signal in America have never heard the areas where few other media outlets Adventist message. Today less than exist. Long before Newfoundland 8 percent of the church’s 15 million became part of Canada, an Adventist members live in North America. radio station began broadcasting This quarter the division that cradled there. This station was permitted to Adventism will use the Thirteenth continue broadcasting. Today about 20 Sabbath Offering to expand evangelism rebroadcast sites on the Atlantic and through radio. Pacific coasts of Canada send radio station VOAR’s Adventist message to towns and rural areas across the nation. Radio Outreach Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering The Adventist Church entered the will establish more of these rebroadcast stations across Canada. LifeTalk Radio is a network of more O PPORTUNITIES than 70 radio stations across the United States. These stations have generated This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help up to 5,000 telephone inquiries a ¾ place rebroadcast radio stations in day. People are listening. Part of our communities across Canada; Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help ¾ expand the reach and expand the reach of LifeTalk Radio. www.AdventistMission.org effectiveness of LifeTalk Radio across the United States. 3 4 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division O Growing Conviction couldn’t denythatwhatthespeakers screen andlistened tothesermons,Ben read theBibletextsthatflashed onthe words werebackedbythe Bible. Ashe home andrecognizedthat the speakers’ night TV. routine ofwatchingsermonsonlate- preacher speak.Thisbegananightly on thetelevisionandwatchedanother and watchedtheentireprogram.” spiritualism,” Benrecalls.“Iwascurious man waspreachingonthedangersof a stationthatcaughthisattention.“A flipped throughthechannels,hefound through channels. on thetelevisionandbeganflipping end ofhisshiftonenight,heturned shift atalocaldepartmentstore.Atthe their parents.Benworkedtheevening Josh, wereteenagerswholivedwith Ben Reitman. July 5 Ben hadbeenraisedinaChristian The nextnightBenagainturned TV receptionwaspoor, butasBen Ben andhisbrothers,Charles watching late-nightTV,” says ur liveschangedforeverwhile | Told to Mission byBen,Charles,andJoshReitman. UNITED STATES T RRUTH U T Josh explains. filling yourmindswithotherthings,” still smallvoiceaseasilywhenyouare games hadtogo.“You can’t hearGod’s video games,butwereconvictedthatthe They wereheavilyinvolvedinplaying brothers madechangesintheirlives. local Adventistchurch. and eventuallytheydecidedtovisitthe the Seventh-dayAdventistChurch, television programsweresponsoredby were biblical.Still,hewavered. realized thatthepreachers’statements watched theprogramforhimself,he involved inacult.ButwhenCharles and worriedthatBenmightbegetting Charles wasskepticalabouttheprograms his brothers.Joshwasn’t interested,and said wasthetruth. First BigTest local department store,”Joshsays.“We their convictions. “We all workedata long beforethebrothersfaced atestof Sabbath. Joshsoonfollowed. Itwasn’t H As God worked on their hearts, the workedontheirhearts,the As God The brotherslearnedthatthe Ben sharedwhathewaslearningwith Charles wasthefirsttokeep the
OON N L AATE T E --N IIGHT G H T TV talked with the manager, and he said New Doors Open there would be no problem and agreed The three brothers were baptized into to give us two Saturdays a month off.” the Adventist Church and soon began But the brothers couldn’t compromise seeing God unfold events in amazing their convictions, so they told the ways. As they continued to study the store manager that they wouldn’t work Bible and grow in knowledge, they were on any Saturday. They offered to quit invited to preach and to present a Week their jobs, but the store manager tried of Prayer revival for young people. to convince them to stay because they It took the brothers several months to were such good workers. However find jobs that gave them their Sabbaths Ben, Charles, and Josh believed that off, but God honored their commitment, UNITED STATES God would honor their decision and and eventually all three had jobs. Then provide for their needs if they honored during the summer of 2006, the brothers His Sabbath. Charles and Josh resigned met a team of Bible workers who were their jobs. working in their town. Charles was “Our dad couldn’t believe we working two jobs at the time, but he resigned,” Charles says. “He was worried decided to work with these Bible workers that we were making a mistake, but as well. we were sure God would provide.” Ben The brothers learned about a three- had just bought a car, and his father month evangelism course offered at an had cosigned the loan with him. It Adventist college of evangelism. They troubled him that if he couldn’t pay his wanted to go, but they didn’t have the loan, his father would have to make the US$4,000 tuition each needed. As they payments. Finally Ben moved forward prayed for God’s will and leading, a in faith and resigned his job to keep the friend challenged them. “Don’t ask for Sabbath with his brothers. a slice of bread when you need a whole loaf.” The brothers took their friend’s advice and enrolled in the course. By F AST F ACTS the time the course was finished, their tuition had been paid. ¾ Because people in North America Today Ben, Charles, and Josh are no longer attend mass evangelistic meetings as they once did, media Bible workers, sharing the good news plays an increasingly important role they discovered while watching a in evangelism. Besides purchasing late-night television program they time to broadcast radio and television shouldn’t have been able to receive programs on public or commercial without cable or a satellite dish. “We stations, the church operates an love studying the Bible with people,” extensive network of radio stations and Hope TV. These avenues have says Josh. “It’s more interesting than proven effective in reaching those, any video game or television.” such as the Reitman brothers, who Your mission offerings help reach are either unchurched or who are people such as Ben, Charles, and Josh searching for Bible truth beyond what with the gospel message. Thank you
they receive in their own churches. for sharing. à www.AdventistMission.org 5 6 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division July 12 unsettled hefelt. “TheHolySpirit he soughtitthrough drugs,themore apart, andIescapedwithdrugs.” Rob sayswithregret.“My life wasfalling for, Robcontinued usingdrugs. a family. Butevenwithafamilytocare life. Hemarried,gotajob,andstarted military, hewaseagertoget onwithhis easy accesstodrugs. drafted intotheArmy. There hefound and drinkingtookoverhislife.Hewas relationship withChristaspartying was like.Robslippedawayfromhis decided toseewhatlifeintheworld but whenhewasoldenough, I’malivetoday,”grace ofGod Robsays. and filledwithdespair. “It’s onlybythe His lifewasamess,cloudedwithdrugs motorcycle. Andatonetime,hewas. to crosswhenheridesintotownonhis R He kneltdownandcriedoutforforgiveness. Peace waselusive toRob.Themore “I wasn’t husbandorfather,” agood When hewasreleasedfromthe Rob grewupinanAdventisthome, biker, someoneyouwouldn’t want ob Turlington lookslikeatough | Told to Mission byRobTurlington UNITED STATES B IIKER K E R R IIDES “Not Yet, Jesus!” ready toreturn.” had taughtme,”Robsays.“ButIwasn’t bringing tomindthingsthatmyfather was workingonmeduringthistime, sat onhiscouch, enduringtheeffectsof without drugs. Onthethirdnighthe he returnedhome withoutalcohol, home. Thenextdayandthe next stopping bythebar, hewentstraight of buyinghisnightlysupply ofdrugsor usual, butattheendof day, instead time tochangehislife. father’s words,tellinghimthatitwas face inthemirror, herememberedhis recognize himself.Ashestaredatthe Rob lookedinthemirror. Hedidn’t morning afteraparticularlyhardnight, partied harderthanever. Thenone point inRob’s life,butitwasn’t. He “Not yet,Jesus!I’mnotready!” Terrified, hesatupinbedandcriedout, Rob wassurethatJesuscoming. heard wasfollowedbyablindinglight. The loudestclapofthunderhehadever D Rob wenttoworkthatmorning as That shouldhavebeentheturning Then onenightRobhadadream. E S
FFOR O R C HHRIST R I S T withdrawal from drugs and alcohol. He resign, but his biking brothers refused was impressed to pray. He knelt down to accept it. Instead, they insisted he and cried out for forgiveness. “God, I remain in the group. “And,” Rob says need peace in my life. I’m tired of the with a chuckle, “when we had club bar fights, the drugs, and the alcohol. meetings throughout the United States, Please Lord, give me peace!” these guys would find the local Adventist Immediately, Rob felt a wave of peace church for me before I even got there.” wash over his body. He slept well that Rob began asking God how he could night. He knew that his family had been reach out to his fellow bikers with the praying for him for years. At last their message of Christ’s forgiveness. God prayers were being answered. He felt the impressed him to buy 50 Bibles and UNITED STATES Holy Spirit in his life. distribute them to bikers. He found the International Bible Society’s Web Brotherhood of Bikers site and was amazed to find they sold Rob was an officer in a motorcycle New Testaments with a picture of a club that was composed of men motorcycle on the cover and the title who served in the military. He felt a Hope for the Highway. brotherhood with the bikers, but as the Rob bought the New Testaments and Holy Spirit reminded Rob of the truths distributed them to fellow bikers. Soon he had known since childhood, Rob felt he had to order more. He asked his local that he couldn’t continue as an officer church to help him provide the Bibles, in the club because of his faith. He was and they did so willingly. Since that especially concerned with Sabbath first case, Rob has distributed more than issues. He wrote a letter explaining his 1,100 Bibles to bikers throughout the conversion and his conviction that he United States. wouldn’t be able to participate in events Rob continued sharing his testimony held on the Sabbath. He offered to of God’s love with the members of his biking club. His testimony created such an impression that during recent elections, the club voted to create the F AST F ACTS position of chaplain and ask Rob to fill it. Today as the national chaplain of his ¾ One out of every 321 people in bikers’ club, he continues witnessing to North America is a Seventh-day his fellow bikers. Adventist. But some communities have no Adventist family to spread Recently Rob was asked to speak at God’s love. In these areas radio can the funeral of a member in the club. provide a vibrant witness to those “Telling my fellow bikers about the hope who have not yet heard the message we can have in spite of tragedy means that God loves them and is coming everything to me,” Rob says. to take His children home soon. Rob and his wife, Sharon, have found ¾ Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth their ministry as they reach out to bikers Sabbath Offering will help spread across the country. “I don’t know where that message via radio throughout God is going to lead, but I’m ready for www.AdventistMission.org the United States and Canada. the ride,” Rob says with a grin. à 7 8 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division Danger ontheMountainside F July 19 deadly cobra lay coiledonthepath, again, whenshe suddenlygasped.A prepared tojumpdownonto thepath onto alogthatlayacrossthe pathand the nearbymountainside. She climbed vegetables fromthefamily gardenon to Him,astheChristianssaidHecould. He reallyheardpeoplewhentheyspoke including her. Shewonderedwhether He couldhavemadealllivingthings, wondered whothisOwnerwasandhow created everythingintheworld.Blia of thesky.” TheOwner, theysaid, theycalled“theOwner talk aboutagod Christians, sheoftenoverheardvillagers companions. fear, andrejectionwereconstant servant thanafamilymember. Hunger, her in.Butshewastreatedmoreasa was young,andreluctantrelativestook or globe] [locate LaosinSoutheastAsiaonamap a difficultlife.ShegrewupinLaos One dayBliawassenttogather Although Blia’s relativeswerenot child, BliaXiong[BLEE-ah]lived rom thetimeshewasasmall | Told to . Herparentsdiedwhenshe Mission byBliaXiong UNITED STATES O WWNER N E R
OOF Flee Beforethe Enemy sky hadheardherprayer. was convincedthattheOwner ofthe that thesnakedidnotattack you.”Blia large snakewashere.You areverylucky had lain.“Yes,” hesaidquietly. “Avery but Blia'sgrandfathercouldseewhereit with fear. log,” shesaid,hervoicestilltrembling seen thesnake.“Itwasjustbeyond cobra blockedmyway!” told. “Icouldn’t go,” shepanted.“A going tothegardenasshehadbeen house, herrelativesscoldedfornot mountainside. Whensheranintothe from thecobra,sheraceddown had justcomeup.Oncesafelyaway and steppedbackdownthepathshe Owner ofthesky, pleasehelpme!” said, andsilentlyshecriedout,“Mr. remembered whattheChristianshad death. Howcouldsheescape?Then knew thatacobra’s bitemeantcertain right whereshewasgoingtojump.Blia F The snakewasnolongerinthepath, Blia tookthemtowhereshehad Slowly Bliabackedoffthelog Several months later, rumors spread
TTHE H E S KKY Y through the village that enemy soldiers of the Adventist church not far from had invaded their country and were her home. They prayed with her and approaching Blia’s village. The family encouraged her to believe that God grabbed what they could carry and fled could heal her body and meet her before the soldiers. As they stumbled spiritual needs. Blia believed, and her along dangerous paths, Blia begged the health improved. Owner of the sky to help them escape. Blia’s new friends shared their faith At last they reached a refugee camp, with her, and she received it joyfully, where they would be safe. The family sensing that this was what she had made a temporary shelter and settled been seeking all of her life. She and down to a miserable existence. Blia her children began studying the UNITED STATES often talked to the Owner of the sky, Bible with the Adventists, and a few wishing she knew more about Him and months later, Blia and her two eldest wondering what her future would hold. children were baptized and joined the One day someone gave Blia a Bible Adventist Church with a number of in her own language. What a wonderful other Hmong believers. gift! Blia began reading the Bible, and Today Blia seeks ways to tell others soon she realized that the God of the how much Jesus means to her. Blia can’t Bible was the Owner of the sky. wait until she can bow at the feet of Weeks melted into months, and Jesus and thank Him for hearing the months into years as life in the refugee prayers of a lonely, unloved girl. à camp dragged on. When Blia was still a young teenager, her family married her to a man who didn’t believe in God. He refused to allow Blia to read her Bible or sing songs to God or attend Christian worship services in the camp. F AST F ACTS ¾ Adventists in Minnesota, where Hope and Despair—and New Hope Blia lives, began an outreach to Then one day Blia learned that the growing Hmong community she would be allowed to immigrate in their midst. The church invited to the United States, where she and Hmong pastors from California to come and study with two families her family could make a new life. The who showed deep interest in the family settled in an area with a growing Adventist message. Hmong community. The Hmong pastors studied Some time later, Blia became ill. She with the families for up to 12 grew weaker and weaker. Doctors didn’t hours a day for several days before know what was causing her illness, and returning to California. The local she was afraid that she would die. pastor continued studying with the families, using their teenage As Blia lay on her sickbed, some children as interpreters. In Hmong people came to visit her. Blia January 2005, 14 Hmong people, was glad that they had come. Her including Blia and her two eldest visitors were Christians—members children, were baptized into the www.AdventistMission.org Adventist Church. 9 10 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division UNITED STATES W July 26 university was completing her degree in university was completingherdegreein step oftheway. Astudentatanearby was granted. Thepermitfollowing thefloods. the Adventistshadhelped somuch area, whosupportedtheplan because The ideaappealedtopeople inthe themtoChrist.people andintroduce means toestablishrelationshipswith for limitedhoursduringtheweekasa seminar. Planswerelaidtoopenacafé idea toopenacaféwasbornfromthat decided tositinontheclass.The their ownbusinessesintown,Clark to helppeoplewhowantedstart had deterioratedintoaganghangout. revitalize thearea,includingaparkthat to helpandstayedon.Theyhelped Adventist CommunityServicescame affected werethelowerincomepeople. the areain2004.Thosemostseriously damagedordestroyedmuchof flood in Pittsburghsinceahurricane-driven hadotherplans. adults. ButGod church there,theyfocusedonyoung Pennsylvania, laidplanstoplanta Services ofGreaterPittsburgh, God provided their needs every providedtheirneeds every God When theyorganizedaseminar Clark andhisstaffhadbeenworking | at theAdventistCommunity hen AndrewClarkandthestaff Tamyra Horst T HHE E A CCCIDENTAL C I Unexpected Customers Where’s Your Church? olds could feel that they belonged. olds couldfeelthattheybelonged. welcoming placewhere25-to40-year- a designer. Shedesignedawarmand just atthetimewhencaféneeded interior designandneededafinalproject to thestaff. They enjoyedeatingthere andtalking continued bringingfriends tothecafé. obey therules.Theteensagreedand were goingtousethecafé,theyhad buy lunch.Clarktoldthemthatifthey time withsomefriendsandmoneyto They werejustkids. he realizedtheyreallyweren’t badkids. andtalkedwiththeteens, fixed food lunch forthem.AsClarkandhisstaff come inandevenmadesomemore the caféaswell?ButClarkletteens damage inthearea.Would theytearup knew thattheteenshadcausedalotof sure hewantedtheminthecafé.He lunch theyhadbrought,Clarkwasn’t afternoon lookingforaplacetoeatthe turned toreligion. Oneoftheteens D The nextdaytheteensreturned,this So whenfourteenagerswalkedinone One dayconversation atthecafé E N T A L C HHURCH U R C H asked Clark why he cared for them, and people don’t do homework at the café,” he answered, “Because I’m a pastor.” he said. “Well, where’s your church?” they “I know,” the woman replied. “But asked. he can’t come to your café unless he “You’re sitting in it,” he answered finishes his homework. So now he with a smile. does his homework.” “Well, now it’s our church too,” they “We don’t know where God will lead responded. “And we’re coming back next,” Clark says, “but we’re learning and bringing our friends.” And they to keep our options—and our minds— did. About 30 teens visit the café to open to His leading.” eat, talk, and volunteer to help when The Conscious Café is part of a larger UNITED STATES it’s needed. When they get noisy, they church plant project to reach greater remind one another to settle down. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Your mission The staff of the café are busier than offerings help sponsor church-planting they planned to be, and sometimes they projects throughout North America and feel overwhelmed. “Teens weren’t in around the world. à our plans,” Clark says. But when they see the teens come in to talk, they Tamyra Horst is communication director for the know this is not their work but God’s. Pennsylvania Conference. Andrew Clark is director of the church-planting effort in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. The café has become a meeting place for youth in the community, and the community is glad. These teens were getting into trouble before and probably F AST F ACTS would cause problems if they didn’t ¾ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is one of have a place to hang out. the 25 largest cities in North America Although this church plant has no with more than 2.37 million people church building, no church services, and living in the greater metropolitan no church membership, the staff believes area. But only about 2,300 Seventh- that God will use them to reach people day Adventists live in the region. in the community if they remain open This means just one in every 1,016 is to His leading. And letting teens feel a Seventh-day Adventist,* while the divisionwide average is one Adventist that the Conscious Café is their place to for every 321 people. belong opens a ministry that Clark and the other volunteers hadn’t planned. ¾ Churches in many regions are dying And the ministry continues to grow. because they have lost their vision Recently the mother of one young or their congregation. However, new teen called. “I hear you’re thinking churches are being planted in areas that currently have no church. These about taking my kid on the road,” she vibrant new church plants reach out said. Before Clark could explain his to areas that need God’s love. thoughts about taking some of the teens to camp meeting, the woman * The Pittsburgh metropolitan area includes continued. “You can take my kid neighboring counties that depend upon the city for income. This area is ranked as 21st anywhere you want as long as he does in population in the United States. Statistics www.AdventistMission.org his homework.” are from the Religious Congregations and Clark was surprised. “The young Membership Study, based on the 2000 census. 11 12 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division photo: SarahLeeofAmbientLightStudios Project PUSH T August 2 God—and ministry—inthem. God—and And someyoungpeoplearefinding young people,theyaresecondnature. may confoundsomepeople,totoday’s message reads wristband thatIwore.Itssimple others findChristatthesametime. a waytoconnectwithHimandhelp showedhim Then oneSabbath,God involved inchurch,hefeltdisconnected. Whenhewasn’t drifting awayfromGod. Canada, isateenagerwhofoundhimself established a new groupontheInternet who shareacommon interest.Aaron on tochatwithfriendsor find others social networkingsitewhere peoplelog and findarelationshipwith Christ.” message couldencourageothers topray PUSH andwonderedwhetherthat from me,”Aaronsays.“Ithoughtabout waswaitingtohear a reminderthatGod Until SomethingHappens.’Iworeitas “I lookedattheblackrubber Aaron Ayow ofToronto, Ontario, Aaron isamemberofanInternet electronic gadgetsandtheInternet oday’s youtharewired.While | AaronAyow andKatieCrews PUSH . Itstandsfor‘Pray CANADA Y OOUTH U T H F OORGE Surprising Response I wanttowork asayouthminister,” he for hisfuture ministry. “I’vedecidedthat Christ isgrowing,andhe’s makingplans in Aaron’s lifetoo.Hisrelationshipwith requests thatcomeinfrom thesite. the threepraytogetherover prayer from twoyouthpastorsinhisarea,and difference intheirlife. person theyknowandwatchfora Week—a timetosecretlyprayforone on thesite,suchasSecretPUSH answered prayers.Healsoplansevents site andencouragingpeopletoreport correspond withthem.” asking forprayer, andI’vebeenableto aren’t evenChristianshaveloggedon Aaron reports.“Somepeoplewho PUSH andareprayingforothers,” join himandprayforothers. his PUSHpageandinvitedpeopleto for answerstolife’s questions.Heposted and people whoweresearchingforGod site, asitethatwouldattractyoung R The PUSHsitehasmadea difference Aaron getshelpwiththePUSHsite Aaron keepsbusycoordinatingthe “So faralmost800peoplehavejoined G E M OODERN D E R N M IINISTRIES N I S T R I E S says. “I want to help young people know a coworker. But when she began to show Christ and grow in faith.” kindness, and even bought a small gift for the coworker, the other person’s Silly Sites? attitude changed, and the antagonism Katie Crews of British Columbia, faded away. “When we show kindness it Canada, also found a ministry using the not only changes others, it changes us,” Internet’s social networking sites. Katie adds. Katie and some friends were talking The Internet has proven to be about silly sites that people join on the an attractive and effective means Internet. “We talked about setting up a of reaching people with a specific OUTH ORGE ODERN INISTRIES site as a joke,” she says. Katie sat down message. Churches as well as to work on the site. individuals are posting God’s message But then she felt impressed to design of love and salvation to reach those a group site that had real meaning. She who are searching for answers. Many remembered a conversation she and things may seem small, but they can her husband had about random acts of make a big difference in someone’s kindness. She set up the group site, and life. This Thirteenth Sabbath you CANADA within 24 hours had 40 members who have an opportunity to help share the wanted to participate. gospel with people who are searching The response surprised Katie, who for hope. The small contributions you needed help to maintain the site. She make each week add up to change lives invited friends to help her. “Even around the world. à though we’re thousands of miles Aaron Ayow lives in Ontario, Canada; and Katie Crews apart, the Internet makes it possible lives in British Columbia, Canada. for us to collaborate,” Katie explains. Today the Random Acts of Kindness group has almost 300 members and continues to grow. F AST F ACTS Intentional Kindness Through the group site, Katie ¾ Canada has 32.6 million people and encourages members to be intentional 56,118 Seventh-day Adventists. in showing kindness throughout the day. That means one person out of “We post lists of ideas for our members,” every 581 is an Adventist. For all of North America, one person she explains. Ideas range from paying out of every 321 is a Seventh-day for someone else’s meal or groceries to Adventist. anonymously mowing a neighbor’s lawn, or befriending someone who is lonely. ¾ Canada will benefit from the “We want to make suggestions that will Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter to help establish a number make a lifestyle change in a person’s of rebroadcasting facilities for an life,” Katie adds. existing Adventist radio station One member reported that she was located in Newfoundland, eastern facing an antagonistic relationship with Canada. www.AdventistMission.org 13 14 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division S August 9 An ImpossibleDream low-power FM stations—FMfrequency United States, Elliottlearnedabout Elliott says. Christian musicorprogramming,” three radiostations,andnone played area. “Irealizedthatthetown hadonly Columbia, relocatedhisfamily toarural layperson livinginVancouver, British radio throughoutCanadatoday. a majorroleinspreadingthegospelvia station ontheedgeofCanadaisplaying the time.Today this onesmallAdventist only religiousradiostationinCanadaat to continueasabroadcastentity, the Canada in1949,VOAR waspermitted Newfoundland. Radio (VOAR) inSt.John’s, pastor, foundedVoice ofAdventist in 1929andisreapingbenefitstoday. planthatbeganwitnessing aGod-laid will beseen.AdventistsinCanadaare Then whilevisiting friendsinthe Fast forwardto2004.ElliottTam, a When Newfoundland became part of When Newfoundlandbecamepartof In 1929,HaroldWilliams, ayoung His plansyearsbeforeanyresults laysafoundationforometimes God | DeenaBartel-Wagner CANADA T HHE E L IITTLE T T L tight, butElliott believedthatthe process. Elliott's familybudgetwas station inhisareabecoming areality. could seethedreamofaChristian radio as itmeetscertainrequirements. Elliott communities acrossthenation, aslong programming canberebroadcast in power FMstation.Infact,VOAR’s VOAR’s programmingoveralow- The lawpermittedthemtorebroadcast in theCanadianParliament1949. historical actionthathadbeenvoted aspects ofElliott’s dreamstation. three beganworkingonthetechnical friend thatwasaretiredengineer. The a fellowAdventistlaypersonwhohad community. ThenhemetNathonHall, dream tooperatearadiostationinhis continued talkingwithpeopleabouthis that Canadadidn’t offerthem.Elliott station. Onegovernmentofficialsaid about startingalow-powerradio with hisneighbors. rural areasohecouldsharethegospel establish alow-powerFMstationinhis small regions.Elliottwantedto stations thatbroadcasttorelatively E S It wouldcost $500 justtostartthe Then Elliottlearnedabouta Elliott talkedtogovernmentagencies TTATION A T I O N T HHAT A T R OOARS A R S radio station was God’s project and known Adventist programs mixed in. gave the funds to begin the process of Elliott explains that Canadian law establishing the station. That evening, requires that the stations air programs when Elliott opened his mail, he found that are produced outside of the a year-end bonus check that he wasn’t denomination. This has led to breaking expecting from his former employer. down prejudice among listeners, making That check more than covered the cost people more willing to hear what to begin working on the radio station. Adventists have to say. The low-power station became a Churches across Canada are applying reality, and VOAR programming began and receiving permission to rebroadcast rebroadcasting in British Columbia. radio signals from the existing Adventist “It was so rewarding for us who had radio station in Newfoundland. One prayed and worked for this,” Elliott day, as radio listeners across Canada says. “For the first time, Christian radio push the seek button on their radios programming could be heard in British they will hear the gospel story as VOAR Columbia, Canada!” rebroadcast stations dot the country.
The Adventist Church in Canada CANADA A Dream Grows has laid plans to establish rebroadcast Today about 20 stations rebroadcast stations in targeted communities where VOAR’s programming in Newfoundland no Adventist presence exists today. and British Columbia. The programming These stations will open the way for format is primarily musical with well- church planting efforts in these areas. Harold Williams couldn’t have known that the single radio station he founded in Newfoundland, Canada, F AST F ACTS would lead to low-power FM stations across the country, broadcasting the ¾ Radio station VOAR was established story of redemption. Likewise, Elliott in 1929, before Newfoundland was admitted to Canada in 1949. had no idea how his desire to have a Christian radio station in his small ¾ Canadian law allows religious community could lead to a nationwide broadcasting on an equal opportunity network of Adventist radio stations. basis. Therefore, it has not allowed Church leaders across the division denominationally owned stations, such as VOAR. But since VOAR existed eagerly plan to establish hundreds of prior to Newfoundland’s entry into such rebroadcast stations across Canada Canada, that station was permitted so that all may hear the wonderful to continue broadcasting as they had words of life. been before admission into Canada. We can help make the dream of Adventist radio across Canada a reality. ¾ Currently VOAR’s signal is rebroadcast to at least 18 stations in A portion of this quarter’s Thirteenth British Columbia and Newfoundland. Sabbath Offering will help build low- The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will power FM radio stations in communities
expand the reach of VOAR across across the country. à www.AdventistMission.org Canada. 15 16 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division during theSabbath hours,hedecided team, butsince somanyeventsfall and wouldhave likedtojointhetrack Nathan enjoyscross-country running place onFridaynightsand Sabbaths. things, suchassportingevents thattake school meanssacrificinglots offun stayed inpublicschool. with myfriendsthere.”SoNathanhas I wouldn’t beableto sharemyfaith go, butasIthoughtaboutit,realized to anAdventistschool.Iwanted point myparentsofferedtosendme started school,”saysNathan.“Atone with fellowteenagers. love whereit’s neededmost—inthehalls very reason.HisgoalistoshareGod’s chosen tostudyinpublicschoolforthat [svah-BOH-dah]knows.He’sSvoboda is toshareyourfaithwithothers.Nathan public highschool,especiallyifyourgoal August 16 I my day, it’s easiertomakethewrongchoices “If Idon’tspendtimewithGodbeforestart Adventist Christian while attending Adventist Christianwhileattending t’s noteasybeingaSeventh-day Nathan knowsthatstudying inpublic “I’ve attendedpublicschoolssinceI | Told to during theday,” Mission byNathanSvoboda UNITED STATES M IISSION S S I O N F an opportunitytowitnessthem.” and that’s importanttome.Itgivesme Sabbath, withmyfamilyandGod, “I tellthemthatIspendSaturday, my do otherthingsonSabbaths,”headds. not tojoin.“Myfriendsinviteme that itwasbestforhimandtheteam Daily StrengthTraining Jesus, peer pressure becomes the strongest Jesus, peerpressure becomesthestrongest intheirlives, andwithout have God choices theymake arebecausetheydon’t at school,herealizesthatmany ofthe forgiveness andstartover again.” doesn’t reflectGod’s love,Icanask I messupandsayordosomething that me alldaylong,”headds.“Andwhen just 10or15minutesisenoughtohelp spiritual books.“Itdoesn’t takelong— the eveningheenjoysreadingother during theday,” Nathansays. Thenin it’s easiertomakethewrongchoices beforeIstartmyday,time withGod starting outforschool.“IfIdon’t spend reading hisBibleandprayingbefore his faithbyspendingtimeeveryday understand. SoNathanstrengthens stand upforhisbeliefswhenfewpeople As Nathan watches the other students As Nathanwatchestheother students It takesalotofspiritualstrengthto IIELD E L D
AAT T H OOME M E force guiding teens as they decide what Saturday because it was his Sabbath. to do. “Most kids feel that it’s cool to do He offered to work on it on Sunday, but drugs and smoke,” he says. “When I hear the team decided to finish the project students bragging about what they did without him. over the weekend, I try to find ways to On Monday, when Nathan’s team talk with them about how their choices made their presentation, one of the team will affect their lives for years.” members told the teacher that Nathan Nathan doesn’t usually see the hadn’t helped with the project. His outcome of his conversations, but that teacher failed him. It hurt, but Nathan doesn’t bother him. “Even if I never knew he had made the right choice. see any results, I know that my friends “Jesus has asked me to follow Him no are listening to what I’m saying,” matter what it cost,” says Nathan. “I he says. “Someday they’ll remember didn’t want to let Him down.” something they heard, and it may make In science class Nathan defended a difference.” his belief in creation during lessons on evolution. After class one boy asked Making the Right Choices him why he believed in creation. Nathan has faced challenges because Nathan explained that God created of his faith. In one of Nathan’s classes the world. The two boys talked about the teacher assigned students to teams what they had learned in class and what to work on a project together. They Nathan said. Then Nathan gave the boy gathered their information, and then a book on creation so he could study they had to meet to put it together. more about it. Nathan’s team chose to work on their Nathan admits it’s not always easy project on Saturday. Nathan told the to speak up or go against the crowd. others that he couldn’t participate on In fact, it’s scary at first. But the more he does it, the easier it becomes. “We need to rise above the bad influences that are around us,” Nathan says. UNITED STATES F AST F ACTS “Those influences can be anywhere—at school, in the neighborhood, on TV, or ¾ With just over a million members, in the music we listen to. We need to North America has one Adventist understand how our choices will have for every 321 people. The world average is one Adventist for every consequences for years to come. Then 434 people. But in spite of this, we will make better choices now. By many regions have populations with growing closer to Christ, good choices no Adventist church. become easier to make.” Nathan has chosen his high school ¾ The Adventist Church operates almost 1,000 elementary and as his mission field. Where is your secondary schools in North mission field? Your mission offerings America. Many of these schools help make outreach possible at home enroll more non-Adventist students and around the world. Thank you for than Adventist, making them making mission possible even in places www.AdventistMission.org mission schools. you can never visit. à 17 18 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division C August 23 extra money—more than he could earn extra money—more thanhecouldearn a bigpayraise. Chealsewasgladforthe Sabbath again. would makeawayforhim tokeepthe time. Heprayedthatsomehow God to workduringSabbathhours halfthe his rotatingjobscheduleforcedhim meant keepingtheSabbathagain,but wascallinghimbacktoHimself.God believing, however, andheknewthat from thechurch.Heneverstopped the truth.Buthehaddriftedaway Chealse knewthatAdventiststeach Adventists whenhewas10yearsold, Ever sincehisparentshadbecome to findinruralVirginia. between hisfingers.Butjobswerehard loved thefreshairandfeelofdirt a differentjob—anoutdoorsjob.He to think.Heoftenthoughtoffinding skin crawl.Asheworked,hadtime fumes thatstunghiseyesandmade He triednottothinkaboutthetoxic plastics companyforwhichheworked. Then he received a promotion—and Then hereceivedapromotion—and Chealse knewthatreturningtoGod Something elsebotheredChealse. on themanufacturinglineat healse [chel-see]tookhisposition | Told to Mission byChealseCleveland UNITED STATES T HHE E S AABBATH B B think about keeping the Sabbath. think aboutkeepingtheSabbath. that Satanhadsetforhimsohewouldn’t realized thathispromotionwasatrap anywhere elseinthearea.Butsoonhe Testing Truth a mistake.But Chealserefused.“I’m and thatthecomputer musthavemade him tosaythat hehadcheckedsamples station. Hissupervisortried topressure passedhiswork the timeproducts sent toanotherpartofthe plantduring explain whathadhappened. Chealse’s supervisorcalledhiminto sampled. Therollsweredefective,and plastic cameoffthelinewithoutbeing was awayfromhisstation,threerollsof elsewhere intheplant,andwhilehe day hewascalledtoresolveaproblem plastic asitcameofftheline.One lower wage. could findnothing,evenatamuch do. Hetriedlookingforotherworkbut whatto Sabbath. ChealseaskedGod he readit,theversesreferredto again, anditseemedthateverytime A Chealse explainedthathe hadbeen His jobrequiredhimtosample Chealse beganreadingtheBible T H T EEST S T a Christian and I won’t lie,” he said. His vacation time ran out with one The supervisor demoted Chealse and more Sabbath before the end of the year. lowered his pay. On his last shift before the Sabbath, his Why should I be punished for doing right? supervisor asked him, “Are you going to Chealse wondered. Then he realized that call in sick tomorrow?” No one would the demotion was God’s answer to his question him if he called in sick, and prayer for help to keep the Sabbath. he would get his year-end bonus and Chealse began to apply his vacation another year’s worth of vacation—time time to each Friday night or Sabbath enough to find another job. that he was scheduled to work. With “No, sir,” Chealse answered, “that careful planning, he hoped to have wouldn’t be honest.” At the end of the enough vacation to see him through shift Chealse walked out of the plant to the end of the year. Meanwhile, he without a job. He arrived home tired applied for other jobs, sure that God and wanting to sleep. Suddenly he would provide him work. But no jobs remembered seeing a familiar orange opened up. truck that belonged to a tree-trimming company. Maybe that company has work, Decision Time he thought. But Chealse had no idea As December approached, Chealse how to contact the company. realized that he would come within one shift of having enough vacation time God’s Perfect Timing to finish the year. He asked colleagues Instead of going to bed, Chealse to trade shifts and prayed that God jumped into his car to search for the would make a way for him. But nothing orange trucks. He stopped at the main opened up. road and waited for traffic to clear. The battle was intense. Chealse knew To his amazement, one of the bright that his supervisors and co-workers orange trucks drove past. Chealse were watching him. Sometimes he followed the truck until it stopped,
rationalized that God would understand then he asked the truck driver for his UNITED STATES if he worked that one Sabbath to pay employer’s telephone number. his bills and support his children. But Chealse raced home and called the he did not give in. When his co-workers company. The supervisor invited him asked him about his faith, Chealse told to come in on Monday for an interview. them that God would provide for him if After the interview, the supervisor he remained faithful. So he hung on. asked, “Can you start work tomorrow?” Chealse started work immediately. “God had it worked out all along,” Chealse F AST F ACTS says, grinning. “He was just testing me.” Chealse’s faithfulness has been a ¾ Although religious liberty laws protect means to share the gospel with his many employees from discrimination, Adventists must stand up for their co-workers and friends. Our mission faith almost daily. Some lose their jobs offerings help us to share our faith or choose to resign rather than break beyond our immediate circle and into www.AdventistMission.org the Sabbath. the whole world. à 19 20 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division August 30 came crashing down.JeffandIwere my highschool graduation,ourworld Anne: about thedirectionmylife washeaded. my friends,diddrugs,and didn’t think during myteenyears.Ipartied with 11 yearsold,andIwasatlooseends salvation. MydaddiedwhenIwas never connectedwiththemessageof School programsasachild,butI I’d gonetoacoupleofVacation Bible Jeff: time.That’sgood whenImetJeff. All Icouldthinkaboutwashavinga began partyinganddrinkingwiththem. made friendsamongthe“cool”kidsand attend thelocalhighschool,whereI taught me.Italkedthemintolettingme my parentsandthebeliefsthatthey’d but duringhighschoolIrebelledagainst Anne second chance. saved usfromourselvesandgavea ended indisaster, inHislove, butGod, lives wereoutofcontrolandalmost Jeff: Ihadnoreligiousbackground. We’re JeffandAnnStrong.Our : IgrewupinanAdventisthome, Thenduringthesummer after | JeffandAnneStrong UNITED STATES A N EEW W B Jeff: two ofhisvertebraehadbeencrushed. didn’t wanttodie.Laterwelearnedthat he couldn’t feelhislegsandthathe I rememberhearingJeffscreamingthat minor injuries,butJeffwasn’t solucky. were thrownfromthetruck.Isuffered and over. Without ourseatbeltson,we control ofthetruck,anditflippedover While tryingtolightacigarette,Ilost high ondrugsaswespeddownaroad. be alive. He washappyto have comefrom God. a peaceandcheerfulnessthat couldonly be angryanddepressed.Instead hehad came toseeJeff.Theyexpected himto Anne: would changemylife. of peace.Ididn’t understand howthat sent theHolySpirittobringmeasense roadside. AsIthoughtaboutthis,God had happened.Icouldhavediedonthe and Irealizedtheseriousnessofwhat to killme.Finally, thedrugs woreoff, that thedoctorsweredemonstrying drugs andwashallucinating.Ithought but Iwasstillundertheinfluenceof EEGINNING G We wererushedtothehospital, I People were amazed when they Peoplewereamazedwhen they N N I N G Jeff: After three months in the It was also a time to think about our hospital I was able to go home. But future. God provided an opportunity we went back to our former lifestyle, for me to attend college and receive partying and doing drugs. I had been training in radio broadcasting. We smoking pot every day of my life since dreamed of owning a Christian FM junior high and had even managed to radio station, but we soon realized that sneak some while in the hospital. this dream was financially impossible. I had a serious infection, and my body So when we learned about Internet wasn’t healing properly. I lay in pain radio, I knew that this was the wondering what would become of me. direction God was leading us to go to One night I decided I needed a change. reach out to others. I began to read my Bible. Anne’s mother had given us some videos by Doug Anne: We launched Word of Truth Batchelor, and I began to watch them. I Radio in 2001 with very humble was fascinated with what I was hearing beginnings. We had a rented laptop and couldn’t get enough of the truths and a few CDs. Since then God has that I had never known before. Anne provided equipment, contacts, and knew these things, and I wondered why donations to keep our dream going. she hadn’t shared them with me before. In 2005, we launched a Bible school. We receive e-mails from around the Anne: I wasn’t happy with the changes world, including China, the Middle I was seeing in Jeff, but God helped me East, and Africa. realize that the changes in Jeff’s life were things that I wanted in my life too. Jeff: We have several hundred people enrolled in the Bible school. Since the Jeff: As we grew spiritually and made beginning our goal for Word of Truth lifestyle changes, my medical problems Radio has been to reach out to people cleared up. Soon we were making plans who are searching for truth. As we read to be baptized and married. the letters and e-mails of people’s lives UNITED STATES that have been changed through the gospel, we understand their joy, for this same gospel changed our lives as well. F AST F ACTS ¾ Radio remains a powerful influence Narrator or Anne: Your mission in people’s lives and an avenue for offerings help reach people around the sharing the gospel. Nearly everyone world through hundreds of different in North America owns at least one radio. means. This quarter a portion of your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will ¾ Internet radio is a relatively new help provide low-power Adventist medium. People can access a regular radio stations across Canada and will radio station’s programming through make Adventist radio programming streaming audio or can access a number of Internet-only radio venues, throughout North America available such as the one Jeff and Anne manage. around the world. Thank you for www.AdventistMission.org supporting world mission. à 21 22 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division or howtofindit. something, butIwasn’t surewhatitwas I readthatbook,myheartlongedfor told methatittaughtBibletruth.As It wasprintedinGerman,andmyfather with greatinterestasIwasgrowingup. about lifeoutsideourtight-knitcolony. while Iwasgrowingup.curious in thecolony, andfourofmyunclesleft strong faith.Noteveryonelikedliving followed strictrulesofdisciplineand Themembersofthecolony food. everything—our land,ourtools, Life ontheOutside M September 6 there existed something thatwould in adangerousdownwardspiral. of freedomandhappiness, I wascaught great asIhadhopeditwould be.Instead that lifeoutsidethecolony wasnotas me firmlyinitsgrip.Iquickly realized and Istarteddrinking.Soonalcoholhad poorly preparedforlifeontheoutside, see whattheworldhadtooffer. Iwas My fatherownedabookthatIread However, Iknewthatsomewhere When Iwas18,leftthecolonyto a Christiancolonythatshared y nameisZeke.Iwasraisedin | ZekeKleinsasser UNITED STATES M IISSION S S I O N
Treasure intheTrash teach onlyfromScripture. agree withScripture.Ideterminedto I discoveredthattheydidn’t always tried tofollowthelessonguides,but to leadoutintheadultBiblestudy. I our searchforafaith. confused andsometimesdiscouragedin aside forfellowshipwithHim.Iwas hasset that SaturdayisthedayGod Sunday, whentheBibleclearlyteaches why somanychurchesworshipon followed theBible.Ioftenwondered many churches,lookingforonethat andvisited were searchingforGod that eventuallyledustomarriage.We Karen, andwedevelopedafriendship drinking. AboutthatsametimeImet Alcoholics Anonymousandgaveup fill thelonginginmyheart.Ijoined book Ihadread inGermanasachild!I books caught myeye.Itwasthesame I wasemptying.Thetitleon oneofthe found asetofbooksintrash binthat would findinpeople’s trash.OnedayI picking uptrash.Ineverknew whatI IIN N We joinedachurch,andIwasasked I workedwithasanitation company M Y B AACKYARD C K Y A R D realized that the German book was just Truth at Last! one volume of a set—and in the trash I had known Karl for several years, were the other volumes in that set. I was and I knew that he was a member of so excited! the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I removed the books from the trash One day Karl stopped by to invite me can and took them home. When I was to evangelistic meetings his church was a child my aunt had told me that the hosting. After he explained more about author of the book I had treasured, the meetings, I asked him, “Karl, what Patriarchs and Prophets, had written took you so long? I thought your church many books. And at last I had found was never going to invite me.” Later he them! I began reading the books, poring told me that he wasn’t sure how I would over them, studying each one carefully, respond to an invitation to attend the and comparing them with the Bible. meetings and almost didn’t ask me. But To my delight, the writings agreed God had impressed him to invite me, with everything I had studied in the and he obeyed. Bible. The Lord was leading me to even I attended the meetings and was greater truths through these books. amazed by what I heard! The meetings As I continued searching for Bible discussed prophecy, and they disagreed truth, I saw many inconsistencies in with many things I had been taught the teachings of the church that I as a child. However, I could see that attended. I wondered how the things I everything was backed up by Scripture, was studying would fit together. I sensed and I was impressed. that there was still a piece of the truth As the pastor made his nightly puzzle that I was missing and I asked presentations, the pieces of the puzzle God to lead me to that truth. One day began to fit together and make sense. God answered that prayer through a Soon I realized I had found my spiritual friend’s invitation. home, and before long I was ready to join God’s people through baptism. As I look back over my life and see UNITED STATES how God led me, my heart rejoices. I’m sad that so many have died without ever knowing the truths I now love so much. Because so many of my family F AST F ACTS and friends don’t know or love God as ¾ Every year thousands of people learn I’ve learned to, I am answering God’s the truth through Adventist books, call to work in the mission field in my magazines, and tracts. The vision own backyard, and I invite you to do so that Ellen White had in which she as well. saw that the publishing work, which And while you’re working for began with one small paper, would God, remember those who work in become “like streams of light that went clear around the world” (Life difficult places. Our mission offerings Sketches, page 125) has proven true help supply them with the tools they many times over. need to share God’s love in their own www.AdventistMission.org backyards, too. à 23 24 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division A HoleinHisLife H September 13 and Marktalked oftenaboutlifeand know wherehe wasgoinginlife.David Mark, aChristian teenwhoseemedto friends. AboutthattimeDavid met life. Hesoughtcomfortfrom familyand suddenly, leavingahugeholeinDavid’s almost nothingaboutGod’s love. their ownchildren.SoDavidknew they decidednottoforcereligionon attend church,andwhentheymarried homes inwhichtheyhadfeltforcedto knew thathisparentshadgrownupin where religionwasnotafocus.He turning pointinhislife. day, butthatconversationmarkeda time. Hedidn’t makeadecisionthat forthefirst David thinkaboutGod texts tohim.TheBiblewordsmade a NewTestament andreadseveralBible father ofoneDavid’s friends,opened making Jesuspartofhislife.Len,the true. Davidhadneverthoughtabout David Armstrongoneday. When Davidwas15,hisfather died David hadgrownupinahome “No,” Davidanswered,anditwas Lord andSavior?”Lenasked ave youacceptedJesusasyour | Told to Mission byDavidArmstrong UNITED STATES F AAITH I T H F UULL Christ andnotonothers.ThenLen for Christianstokeeptheireyeson why wehaven’t gone,” Davidexplained. my daddidn’t wantto gotochurchand attending church.“Iguessthat’s why some ofthechurchleadersandstopped disillusioned becauseoftheactions leader. Buthisgrandfatherhadbecome and hisgrandfatherhadbeenachurch great-grandfather hadbeenaminister together, Davidmentionedthathis think ofLenlikeafather. in theirconversations.Davidbeganto Often Markincludedhisfather, Len, viewpoint ontheseimportantsubjects. death. MarkgaveDavidaChristian’s L Len explainedthatitwasimportant One nightasthethreeweretalking ¾ F L AST
C lead searching heartstoJesus. provide materials andtrainingto to followJesus. Missionofferings not heardoracceptedthecall That leavesmillionswhostill have America isaSeventh-dayAdventist. One personinevery321North
IIRCLE F R ACTS C L E asked David if he had accepted Christ as me daily,” David says. “My grandmother his Savior. was dying, but she was able to attend my David said no. “Do you want to know baptism and see the fruit of her prayers. more about salvation?” Len asked gently. That was the last time she was able to David was eager to hear what Len had attend church.” to say, for he trusted Len. During their conversations David accepted Jesus as The Bible studies opened David’s mind and heart his Savior. “I knew this was important,” as he discovered new truths he had never heard. David says. “But I wasn’t sure exactly what was happening.” When David was baptized into Len David and a friend began memorizing and Mark’s church, he had no way to Bible texts and studying the Bible know how difficult the next few years together. “As the Word of God took would be. Although he spent time with root in my mind, my old ways lost his Christian friends, he had friends their appeal,” David says. “My former who were not Christians. And their friends, the ones who invited me to wild influence drew him away from Christ. parties, noticed the difference too. They decided that I wasn’t much fun to be around anymore. Then one of my good Turn Around to Joy friends told them that they should be When he graduated from high school, happy that I had found Jesus. When I David realized that he hadn’t been heard this, I was amazed that my friend living the life of a follower of Jesus. He had stood up for me like that.” knew he needed to make some changes David’s new focus on Bible in his life, but he wasn’t sure of what to memorization and prayer resulted do. “This is when Jesus made a move in rapid spiritual growth. But after in my life,” David says. “My aunt had a while, David felt that he had hit a been a Christian, but she, too, had spiritual plateau. Then God sent a drifted away from God. She decided to friend who told David about a summer have Bible studies in her home, and she literature evangelism program and UNITED STATES invited me to join her. She didn’t know invited him to be a part of it. David that I felt the need to know more about joined the literature evangelist team God and the Bible.” and has worked every summer since The Bible studies opened David’s then sharing his faith as he sells mind and heart as he discovered new Christian literature. truths he had never heard. He wanted David continues sharing his faith a sense of purpose in his life like with others, for Christ is the most the pastor with whom they studied. important part of his life. “I know God David and his aunt studied the Bible will bless and multiply my life, just as with the pastor for a year. Then He did with the loaves and fishes, if I David recommitted his life to Christ will give all to Him.” through baptism into the Seventh-day Our mission offerings support Adventist Church. many ministries for people such as “All these years I didn’t know that David. Thank you for helping tell www.AdventistMission.org my grandparents had been praying for the world about God’s saving grace.à 25 26 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division that! a literatureevangelist. thought oftheprospectbecoming and shiversrandownherspineasshe be embarrassed forget whatI’msupposedtosay;thenI’ll K September 20 become anoptician. complete aninternshipand qualifyto optometry practice,where shecould arranged forhertoworkin herfather’s was beckoning,andherparents had that shehadcometolove. Butschool that shedidn’t have to leavethiswork week ofcampended,Kristinawished wantedhertodo.Asthe what God rejoiced knowingthatshewasdoing her faithasaliteratureevangelist.She and hadatasteofwhatit’s liketoshare the principlesofliteratureevangelism a specialyouthcampwhereshelearned offering peopleChristianbooks. a littleredwagonfromdoortodoor, with others.Shedreamedofpulling that madeherwanttoshareGod’s love Kristina enjoyed workingwithher Then asateenager, Kristinaattended As achildKristinahadreadbook scary, nocking ondoorstosellbookssounds Shethought.Orcouldshe? KristinaReevethought. | Told to . Herstomachchurned Mission I couldneverdo byKristinaReeve UNITED STATES A P I’ll AASSION S S I The Invitation and evenlost hervoice.Sheknew rejections from peopleshespokewith, by adog,hadseriousfall, facedmany difficult forKristina.Shewas bitten literature evangelistatthe schoolwere literature ministry. to enrollintheschoolandwork felt peaceinherheartassheprepared to bealiteratureevangelist.Kristina reallywascallingtheirdaughter God prayed toknowHiswill. againand she committedherlifetoGod she continuedworkingwithherfather, continue heropticiantraining.While parents, however, encouragedherto to herparentsabouttheoffer. Her she studied.Excited,Kristinatalked a literatureevangelismprogramwhile college offeringherachancetoworkin from ateacheratsmallAdventist will forherlife. wouldshowherHis praying thatGod evangelist, andshespentmanyhours She stillwantedtobealiterature father, butshefeltrestlessandunsettled. O The firstfewweeksofwork asa Eventually herparentsrealizedthat One dayKristinareceivedane-mail N S HHARED A R E D that her trials were the devil’s attempts her efforts. Then she was asked to lead to discourage her, so she prayed for a group of student literature evangelists, strength and continued working. which was less taxing physically. God Eventually her voice returned and her was preparing her for a new work. sales increased. She felt God’s presence Kristina’s health did not improve, and closer than ever. eventually doctors diagnosed her ailment as a degenerative condition. She would Serious Setback not get better. She finished her college But the devil wasn’t done trying studies and returned to her parents’ to discourage her. Kristina began home. She spent hours in prayer, asking experiencing severe pain and lack of God to reveal His will for her life. energy. She went to a doctor, who diagnosed her ailment as stress-related A New Ministry muscle tension. The doctor told her Later that summer Kristina received that she must rest; she couldn’t continue a telephone call asking her to be the to sell books. Kristina was devastated. leader of a group of young people who She couldn’t believe that God wanted wanted to work as literature evangelists. her to stop her work. Kristina agreed, glad that she could Kristina finished the school year and engage in the work she loved. Even took the summer off, hoping to regain though she couldn’t go door-to-door her strength. But when school started in herself, she could lead others who could August, she realized her strength hadn’t go in her stead. completely returned. She longed to be Kristina’s condition has continued to out knocking on doors and hoped that deteriorate, and today she is often in a her strength would soon allow her to wheelchair. But she continues to do the return to the work she loved. work she loves. “Last summer God gave She tried selling literature again, but me groups of young people to lead in some days she had only enough strength the literature work,” she says. “This way
to knock on three or four doors before I can help spread God’s love to those UNITED STATES she had to return to her room and rest. who haven’t heard.” As her condition In spite of the difficulties, God blessed worsened, she guided and inspired by use of telephone, e-mail, and Internet. “Our path in life may not always go the way we would wish,” she says. “But F AST F ACTS if we are open to God’s leading, He will show us the way, for He has a plan for ¾ More than 1,150 full-time, part-time, our lives. By faith we conquer in Him!” and student literature evangelists worked in North America during Our mission offerings support the 2007. These frontline evangelists publishing work, which Ellen White were instrumental in leading more said would encircle the world with light. than 2,700 people to Christ last Thank you for helping to share this light year, according to the Publishing with others who have not yet seen it. à
Department at the General www.AdventistMission.org Conference headquarters. Kristina Reeve lives in Kettle Falls, Washington. 27 28 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division Web siteandprojectitontoascreen,ordrawmaponlargepieceofpaper.) of thequarterlyordownloadalinedrawingmapfromAdventistMission Props: inflection whereappropriate.] read everythingfromthescript.Practicesothatparticipantscanfeelcomfortableadding their parts,buttheyshouldbefamiliarenoughwiththematerialthatdonothaveto Participants: division. _____ reality andbenefit areasthroughoutthe willhelpmaketheseprojects a today radio. OurThirteenthSabbath Offering that focusonspreadingthe gospelvia America haschosentwospecial projects our ThirteenthSabbathOffering. evangelism inNorthAmericathrough the opportunitytomakeanimpacton God’s lovewithothers.Today wehave women, andyouthwhohaveshared quarter we’veheardstoriesofmen, on thisThirteenthSabbath.This Narrator: Filling theAirwavesWith God’s Love T The AdventistChurchin North
O HIRTEENTH C LOSING C A large map of the North American Division (Scan the map that is on the back AlargemapoftheNorthAmericanDivision(Scanthatisonback LOSING PENING Welcome toSabbathSchool O Anarratorandtworeporters. P
FFERING ROGRAM P P [name ofreporter 1]
S RAYER RAYER S ONG ONG S “Working, OChrist,With Thee” “JesusIsComingAgain”
ABBATH “Filling theAirwavesWith God’s Love” The Seventh-dayAdventistHymnal, The Seventh-dayAdventistHymnal, will P [Note: participantsdonotneedtomemorize ROGRAM almost 80years ago.AndthroughGod’s broadcasting the Voice ofProphecy 70 years,sinceH.M.S.Richards began formorethan to sharetheloveofGod influence. it hascontinuedtobeapowerful would severelylimitradio’s influence, predictions thattheadventoftelevision for morethan100years.Inspiteof Reporter 1: North America. opportunities availabletoAdventistsin explain abitaboutthechallengeand The AdventistChurchhas usedradio Radio hasbeenwithus No.582 No.213 blessing, radio and television continue Reporter 2: Canada has had a long- to beam the good news of salvation to standing policy prohibiting licensing of millions. But there’s so much more we Christian radio stations. But God has can do to reach the world through radio. provided a way that Adventist radio can Imagine 5,000 people a day calling an be heard across the nation. Adventist radio station to ask questions Almost 80 years ago, before the about something they heard or to island of Newfoundland became part receive materials that explain Bible of Canada, God impressed a young truths. This is not a dream of what might Adventist pastor to found the Voice be; God is already doing these things in of Adventist Radio, or VOAR, a small North America through LifeTalk Radio. radio station. That pastor couldn’t have LifeTalk Radio is a network of more known that one day that small station than 70 radio stations across the North would become the lion that will roar American Division. That number is across Canada. increasing and by the end of 2008, When Newfoundland became part LifeTalk programming will be heard of Canada in 1949, VOAR was allowed on more than 100 radio stations. to continue broadcasting as a Christian In addition, LifeTalk operates three radio station—the only religious radio Internet-based radio channels that serve station in the country. a specific audience of listeners. LifeTalk Canadian law favors radio stations strives to provide God’s truth through that offer a broad base of programming as many electronic avenues as possible. to listeners. Therefore, Adventists At present its programming is available can buy time on any station they can to most of the billions of people around afford, but they cannot broadcast only the world. Adventist programming, even over their We want people to know that Jesus own radio station. However, a historical is coming soon. Part of your Thirteenth action taken more than 50 years ago Sabbath Offering will help strengthen allows low-power radio stations in areas this vital outreach to bring people to that are underserved by the media to Christ. The possibilities are vast. Today’s rebroadcast the signal of another station Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help in Canada. expand the LifeTalk Radio Network When some lay people learned of this throughout North America and, through provision, they set out to establish low- the Internet and satellite, the world. power FM stations in British Columbia that could rebroadcast the programming Narrator: Canada offers a unique that originates at the Adventist radio opportunity to Adventists to broadcast station more than 3,000 miles (5,000 the gospel message. Part of today’s kilometers) away. Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will Today 18 low-power stations in take advantage of that opportunity. Newfoundland and British Columbia ______[name of reporter 2] will share rebroadcast programming from radio with us some of the exciting events that station VOAR, providing Christian led to this special opportunity. music and programming, along with www.AdventistMission.org community service features tailored 29 30 ADVENTIST MISSION North American Division where JewishseekerscanexploretheAdventistfaithinwaystheyaremostcomfortableforthem. to Christianradiointheirhomesand Millions whohaveneverhadaccess possible acrossCanada’s vastlandscape. Offering willhelpmakemorestations woulddowithhisonelittlestation. God years agocouldnothaveimaginedwhat made radiostationVOAR possible80 programming atnearlyeverystop. across CanadaandhearingChristian through smalltownsandcommunities are almostendless.Imaginedriving the possibilitiesforfurtherexpansion to theneedsofeachcommunity. And Part oftoday’s ThirteenthSabbath That pastorwhosevisionanddrive Three yearsagopartofyourThirteenthSabbathOfferinghelpedprovidethisJewishworshipcenterinFlorida, O FFERINGS
[Offering] through radio. support God’s messageofsalvation to Consider whatyoucandotoday God’s lovethroughoutNorthAmerica. impact inspreadingthemessageof quarter. Theseprojectscanmakeahuge Thirteenth SabbathProjectsthis to theThirteenthSabbathOffering. reality throughourgenerousgiftstoday God’s love.Let’s helpmakethisdreama cars beforewillhearthemessageof AT Narrator:
W ORK Thoseareourtwospecial L EADER' S R ESOURCES ADVENTIST For more information on the cultures and history of Canada and the United States, visit your local library or MISSION a travel agency. Online Information. The Adventist Mission Web site contains additional material that can add flavor to T HIRD QUARTER 2008 your mission presentation, including words and songs in N ORTH AMERICAN DIVISION Spanish and French, the two most common languages spoken after English in North America. Look for puzzles E DITORIAL and recipes as well on the Children’s Mission site. Go to Charlotte Ishkanian Editor www.AdventistMission.org. Click on “resources” and Hans Olson Managing Editor then on the icon of the mission quarterly. Click on Deena Bartel-Wagner Contributing Editor Third Quarter 2008, and “activities.” Emily Harding Graphic Designer An offering goal device will help focus attention on world missions and increase weekly mission giving. O FFICE OF A DVENTIST M ISSION Gary Krause Director Ask your Sabbath School council to set a quarterly Ganoune Diop Study Centers Director mission offering goal (set the goal a little higher than Rick Kajiura Communication Director last quarter and divide it by 14, one part for each Nancy Kyte Marketing Director Sabbath and two parts for Thirteenth Sabbath). Chart Marti Schneider Programs Director the weekly progress toward the quarter’s goal on the Homer Trecartin Planning Director goal device. C OMMUNICATION STAFF Draw an outline of a radio station tower on a large Project Manager poster board (a pattern is available on the Children’s Laurie Falvo Charlotte Ishkanian Mission Editor Mission activities page). Cut strips of paper to resemble Hans Olson Projects Manager the girders of the tower and glue or tape sections on Daniel Weber Video Producer each Sabbath to represent the progress your Sabbath Andrew King Motion Graphics Editor School is making toward its goal. Display the goal device prominently, and call attention to members’ progress in mission giving week by week. As each week’s mission offering comes in, add the appropriate number Web site: www.AdventistMission.org of girders to the tower. Urge members to complete the girders by Thirteenth Sabbath. Mission (ISSN 0190-4108)is produced and copyrighted © 2008 by the Office of Adventist Mission, General Remind members that the ongoing work of the world Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®,12501 Old Columbia church depends on Sabbath School mission giving, and Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A. Printed in U.S.A. that one quarter of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go directly to the projects in North America. On Volume 97, Number 3 the twelfth Sabbath, report on mission giving during the ® ® quarter. Then on Thirteenth Sabbath, count the ADVENTIST and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST are the registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh- offering and record the amount at the end of Sabbath ® School. This immediate feedback will encourage day Adventists . members to continue their mission giving. Permission is granted to reproduce material from this quarterly for use in local Sabbath Schools and children’s ministries programs. Permission to reproduce any portion of FUTURE THIRTEENTH SABBATH PROJECTS this material for sale, publication in another periodical, or Next quarter the Northern Asia-Pacific Division will other commercial use must be authorized in writing by the be featured. Special projects include a dormitory in editor at the above address. Mongolia, Chinese-language radio broadcasts from For subscription inquiries, e-mail Julie Haines at jhaines@ Taiwan, and a Chinese-language church in Tokyo, Japan. rhpa.org or call 800-456-3991 or 1-301-393-3280. First quarter 2009 will feature the Southern Annual subscription rates per edition: domestic, US$7.50; Asia-Pacific Division. Projects will focus on work international, US$14.50. in the Philippines. www.AdventistMission.org 31 North American Division
UNIONS CHURCHES MEMBERS POPULATION Atlantic Union 529 95,119 33,891,567 Canada 334 56,118 32,589,000 1 Columbia Union 621 121,653 49,443,212 Lake Union 505 79,467 35,115,747 Mid-America Union 455 60,192 25,371,232 North Pacifi c Union 421 91,465 13,011,370 Pacifi c Union 672 210,559 48,636,609 Southern Union 1,046 228,479 57,937,993 Southwestern Union 535 87,309 35,767,270
NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION 5,118 1,030,361 331,764,000
As of June 30, 2007 2 PROJECTS: 1 Place Adventist radio stations in cities and towns across Canada
2 Expand the reach and effectiveness of LifeTalk Radio Network in the United States and other English-speaking countries.
For more information, visit www.AdventistMission.org.