New Zealand Pacific Union Conference report RECORD 2 0 0 0 In this issue

Lessons from a I self-centred scientist

Adventist TV evangelist dies

Training for the `youth guy"

S

Signs of the imes takes a reality check edit o r i a l THE KILLING OF JESUS n the brief space of four chapters I and the Father . . . through humanity" (The Desire of in the book of John, we read of It's the Feast of Hanukkah and Ages, page 536). The Creator recre- Itwo attempts to kill Jesus and the Jesus walks through Solomon's ates life in Lazarus. beginning of the plot that would Colonnade in the temple (John 10). "Here is this Man performing take His life. The issue? His divinity. "How long will you keep us in many miraculous signs," says His suspense?" ask those gathered there. opposition. "If we let Him go on Before Abraham . . . "If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." like this, everyone will believe in "I am the light of the world," says "I did tell you, but you don't Him, and then the Romans will Jesus, beginning the first incident (in believe. The miracles I do in my come and take away both our place John 8). Father's name speak for me, but you and our nation." "Where are your witnesses to such don't believe because you aren't my "Better that one man die for the a claim?" is the response. "Your testi- sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I people than the whole nation per- mony isn't valid."• know them, and they follow me. I ish," says high priest Caiaphas. So "Even if I testify on my own give them eternal life, and they'll they plot to take Jesus' life, and He behalf my testimony is valid," says never perish; no-one can snatch dies—for the people. Jesus. "My other witness is the them out of my hand. Father, who sent me." "My Father, who has given them to Stone Him? "Where is your father?" me, is greater than all; no-one can In reality, the resurrection of "If you knew me you would know snatch them out of the Father's hand. Lazarus is not Jesus' ultimate miracle. my Father." I and the Father are one." The ultimate miracle is His resurrec- "Who are you?" Again, they picked up stones to tion. "When you have lifted up the Son kill Him. "The reason the Father loves me is of Man, then you will know I am "I have shown you many great that I lay down my life—only to take the one I claim to be and that I do miracles from the Father," says Jesus. it up again," He says. "No-one takes nothing on my own but speak just "For which of these do you stone it from me, but I lay it down of my 1 what the Father has taught me." me?" own accord. I have authority to lay it "Abraham is our father." "We aren't stoning you for any of down and authority to take it up "If you were Abraham's children, these, but for blasphemy, because again" (John 10:17, 18). then you would do what Abraham you, a mere man, claim to be God." At these words, some say He's did." They understand what He's saying. demon-possessed and raving mad. "At least we aren't illegitimate. Others say, "These are not the sayings The only Father we have is God The ultimate miracle of a man possessed by a demon. Can Himself." Deeply moved by those weeping a demon open the eyes of the blind?" "If God were your Father, you over the death of Lazarus, Jesus also Or raise people from the dead? Or would love me, for I come from weeps (John 11). raise Himself from the dead? God. Your father Abraham rejoiced "See how He loved him," say So what do we do? Do we try to at the thought of seeing my day; he some. stone Him for claiming saw it and was glad." "Could not He who opened the to be God? Or reason it "You are not yet 50 years old, and eyes of the blind man have kept this away? Or accept Him you have seen Abraham?" man from dying?" ask others. The for who He is? "Truthfully, before Abraham was healing of the blind man (on the born, I am!" Sabbath) was the issue in John 9. At this they picked up stones to But listen: "I am the resurrection Bruce Manners kill Him. He'd taken upon Himself a and the life. . . . Lazarus, come title of God, "I am" (see Exodus forth." * Quotations based on 3:14). "As He speaks, divinity flashes the 1VIV.

Next week Official Paper Mail: , 3485 Warburton South Pacific Division Highway, Warburton, 3799, Seventh-day Adventist Church Phone: (03) 5966 9111 ACN 000 003 930 Fax: (03) 5966 9019 Last words from lIiURCH Email letters: [email protected] Editor Bruce Manners Email news: recordOsignspublishing.com.au the Trans- Senior assistant editor Lee Dunstan Email advertising, manuscripts, obituaries and Assistant editor Brenton Stacey wedding notices: [email protected] Copy editor Graeme Brown Australian Union Editorial secretary Meryl McDonald-Gough Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver conference. Subscriptions South Pacific Division mailed within Vol 105 No 47 Australia and to New Zealand, $A43.80 $NZ73.00. Cover photo: Other price on application. Printed weekly.

December 2, 2000 f 1 a shpoint FIRST ACCREDITED OUTDOOR LEADERS Nathan Brown

ight Pathfinder and cate in bushwalking, as grams have pioneered demonstrators and Sabbath youth leaders from well as Level 3 Pathfinder much of the training adopt- school leaders completed a Ethe Northern training and some Level 4 ed nationally. module on training small Australian Conference have subjects. Those completing the groups as well. become the first accredited The training is adminis- Level 3 certificate were "These people, and the outdoor recreation leaders tered by the National Paul Givney, Kelly 80 others involved in the in the South Pacific Adventist Outdoor Activity Kombamong, Pastor John ongoing NAOATAC train- • Division. Training in Training and Accreditation Wells and Judy Wells (all ing process, will be an Townsville, October 28-29, Council (NAOATAC). of Townsville), and Maria asset to the future of they completed a three- According to Wayne Burgess, Rick Chelman, Pathfinder and youth lead- year program. Miller, NAOATAC's national Kim Kelly and Denise Mau ership in the conference," Each of the eight has program coordinator, the (all of Mackay). says Pastor Wells, the completed a Level 3 certifi- conference's training pro- A number of cooking youth director.

New Zealand Pacific Union Launceston, Devonport, Worship service the highlight, says Joni Conference appointments Deloraine, Wynyard and Appointments from the Burnie as a follow-up to New Zealand Pacific Union the broadcasting of The Conference (NZPUC) ses- Search television adver- 1111 sion to the NZPUC: tisements and the screen- • Associate treasurer ing of the Jesus 2000 satel- Lynden Parmenter; lite evangelistic • Adventist Development program.—Colin Renfrew and Relief Agency director (part-time) Alan Fletcher; SAH staff join Operation • Education director Ken Open Heart in Vanuatu Weslake; • Ministerial Twelve Sydney Association secretary Adventist Hospital staff referred to the NZPUC helped perform 14 open- Executive Committee; and eight closed-heart • Departmental director procedures during a two- referred to the NZPUC week visit to the Vila Executive Committee; Central Hospital in cclaimed United States-based author, painter and • Trust services director Vanuatu recently. The 12 inger Joni Eareckson Tada (pictured) spoke at the Pastor David MacDonald; were part of a team of 34 Avondale College church during the Paralympic Games, on Youth director awaiting volunteers. The country's October 21. Seventy other Seventh-day Adventist churches 11/ confirmation;• • Associate president and prime minis- in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific islands and Guam youth director (Auckland) ter visited the team to downlinked the worship service via satellite. Pastor Eddie Tupai; thank them for their sup- Ms Eareckson Tada, who described her visit to college • Associate youth director port.—Janine van den as the highlight of her Australian trip, encouraged church (Christchurch) Pastor Mike Tillaart members to embrace the Australian disability community Parker. with "open arms and with a heart that understands."— Fulton offers certificate Bruna Tawake Search and J2K impact Tassie in women's ministry Eighteen people in Fulton College (Tailevu, Tasmania made decisions Fiji) is now offering two for baptism after 53 new certificate courses— year). "With an increasing and planting, evangelism attended one of seven women's Christian ministry shortage of ministers in and service to maintain meetings by Pastor Geoff (12 subjects over two the Seventh-day Adventist the momentum of God's Youlden, November 11-13. years) and lay church Church, it is important work in the world," says The Adventist Media evan- leadership (10 subjects church members be head of theology Pastor gelist visited Hobart, and a practicum over one trained in church growth Gary Roberts.

December 2, 2000

n e w s f r o n t I NEW UNION CREATED IN NZ Adventist TV

Bruce Manners evangelist

Erhe two New Zealand con- Took.67,355 Members Is Marquises dies Wallis 6 Western ferences and the French French Polynesia Fi T Sam. Polynesia, Cook Island and Cook Is. Wahrti' IsiTuamotu Brenton Stacey .'Niue Is.de Sociltetb New New Caledonia Missions met in Caleb/on:N., 4 Tub., `k-?i9Ver session in Auckland, from • Pitcaim nastor , 84, November 10 to 12, to appoint r" founder of the personnel and work on consti- NEW ZEALAND television program and presenter PACIFIC UNION tutional issues to create the CONFERENCE for more than 35 years, died of New Zealand Pacific Union 16,133 Members heart failure at his home in Conference (NZPUC). • Chatham is. Newbury Park, California, USA, This was a unique exercise on November 3. for the South Pacific Division, A.-land Is. The author and to have conferences and mis- Cam'pbell I. evangelist had a sions work together to create a strong presence in union. Translation was also Australia and New needed as delegates and Zealand through church leaders spoke in either Division president preaching. his television min- z French or English. On Sabbath afternoon conferences istry. Many church Pastor George "This session was historically sig- and missions gave their reports. In members were Vandeman in nificant because it grouped together the evening the delegates met involved through 1976. areas that had never been connected together in session. the program in the past," says North New For Sunday, the nominating com- through the delivery of books Zealand Conference president Pastor mittee and the constitutional com- and Bible correspondence cours- I Bill Townend. "It also will lead to mittee did its work while the rest of es to It Is Written viewers. managing the departmental needs of the delegates looked at strategies for Retired minister Pastor Ken New Zealand in quite a unique the new union. Mead (Launching Place, Vic) way." During the day the nominating coordinated Pastor Vandeman's The departmental leadership for committee report was voted (see visit to Sydney in 1967 where New Zealand will come from the November 25 RECORD and Flashpoint some 5000 people attended each NZPUC, not the conferences. The in this issue). And the new constitu- of the five meetings—more than departments will also oversee the tion was in place by 7.30 pm. 80 were baptised. The series also missions within the union. A lot of work was done in a short ran in . The meetings, held in the period of time, says Pastor Pastor Mead attributes the suc- Papatoetoe church, began with a Townend. cess of the Sydney series to Friday evening communion service "I sensed that all parties felt it a Pastor Vandeman's training in for delegates. On the Sabbath, the profitable time," he adds, "and there home visitation. Pastor Vandeman worship service was held in the was a harmonious working relation- returned to Australia two other church with the South Pacific ship within the group." times to run seminar programs in several cities. a Established in 1956, It Is New president's strong youth background Written pioneered the use of tele- vision for evangelism. It is broad- he president of the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference, Pastor Allan cast in more than 150 countries. Walshe, comes from a broad background of youth min- Pastor Mead: "I visited George istry, beginning in 1976 when he was dean of men at in the United States earlier this Avondale College (two years after graduating). year and, even after all his years He was called to the Tasmanian Conference as president in of quality, professional presenta- 1999. Before that he had served in both the Trans-Australian tion, he remained a Christian gen- and Trans-Tasman Union Conferences, and in Victoria and tleman." Tasmania Conferences as youth director. Pastor Vandeman is survived by The presidents of the North and South New Zealand Pastor Allan his wife, Nellie, and four children, Conferences (Pastors Bill Townend and Garry Hodgkin) have Walshe. George Jr, Bob, Ron and Connie also served as conference youth directors. Vandeman Jeffery.—with ANN

4 December 2, 2000

new s f r on t SIGNS TAKES A REALITY CHECK ted to commenting on what's captur- And local church minister Pastor Editorial and ing attention now and placing it in a Errol Webster "will help get people design changes for Christian perspective," says Pastor into their Bibles" with his series of Manners. studies. "These are fresh and new," new year. says Pastor Manners. "He has adapt- New writers ed them for Signs from a series eigns of the Times will feature Monash University sociologist that's about to be published. ga more real-life stories and new Robert columnists in 2001. Wolfgramm According to editor Pastor Bruce will write Manners, the philosophy of the about trends 'Ai Me anarolao Nslliftop ...la No, vxh svetestil, 144. do, .ffintilnlia ot.ilma" hre thr nrdem magazine remains the same: teach in society. •Nlorthe • n (01,01s hr 54.Ts rlaah, ow .1) J•eu, fell* Coml Iva dar load wane Itc aal Ix, 41 h.og mrio, people about Jesus and how to "Some topics lc. dual. :len. .4.42-4..4•4. *Glen dawelso cperormv come to Him; emphasise Christian will be seri- claww• kora, nrd•mne m.ft Oen rho I tavl d. •Fhar tnnarat,•1 Loa wry. Ind ouldn, 1,01.1,1, pre 4otior terns oak idr,' rh,tha 1.1,44,1m-ft., /ig inr,C144,. lifestyle from a Seventh-day ous and oth- di, AIWA ha I adat KIP smOnla pnvos. tips go b.,* aul Nam ah..• a war 1 ...or.r..I adfarg hos, r. on Arr risomgio0. hoinddles I nail,. hew, yartrOdre,tut - land Adventist perspective; present ers light- crane M... Nnath...1.14.111. e. I le bem naxe•,,, Seventh-day Adventist distinctive hearted," says ma Bo ounalii,...o.a. hwursalac 11”. al c••,,, farml, nu*, Ank Oleo••01 Jrer megh.Lunw...tuhh, gAA teachings; and encourage positive Pastor wth 41,10. I.M.1201 M1Am malka, flAnn 1,htnAlt‘o Mmaltrn Wan, val ura/ourn Lua.onxItov. tazyna.herset ws,,,a1.111 dr on/4 , • asz b.J11vai inota0ge WU. Faun. hal,hoglrer.r,JeF and healthful living. Manners. ta.. NI pa* sty... Thear,s0 • Larp, Ferybum wrrn• Ms fdahrty• onallf Mow, an. att. Wombat hrt.e.trc teal Mon • So, what is new? "Robert's task Ix a Fh• .11. fantod .6. hau...n1 Murat hired, brIpe.e• a,. ,/,r,lo 14,1 I., 4414, •Itiakek. :Qv hot hppe lorhan "This is where the reality check is to keep us Wart% ta,,h thc hem dog.u../..,•.Lp 4 4, .41,1•alo vxk torn. an.1 la 4, h4,1e.hhiF ma. h 11,-,1“..,111nev.Nje per...I comes in," says Pastor Manners. in touch with ..i.', in unin onsItor ac,, ax• sad Iv, Fad Alm ...IQ and ..laro,k, While Signs has presented many of what's hap- n `fiw a ‘.0.1,..kr, lin mica t.clunr..4 I., tun, kr.,1 h 61. ow{I prxxvin.,,. I mnch " Konoutei,,e ianamo t.sms. the following, there will be more pening in a., app a, unarr ha anIN ael avra. aum., 6eirni hrr. No. anl•. ame-r• consistency and focus with: the world .rem • Real people, Seventh-day about us." Adventists, sharing their conversion Former As part of its new-look Signs of the Times will feature in every issue next story in every issue of 2001. Insight edi- year more stories of people, such as Glen and Robyn Kimpton, whose faith • Real people telling how their tor Chris has helped them battle life's problems. faith has helped them battle life's Blake will problems in every issue of 2001. present a series from his book "Signs has a tradition of present- • Real issues, such as divorce, Searching for a God to Love. "He ing timeless truths in a way that is tackled in every issue. tackles the basic issues of relevant to the times. Signs 2001 • Real currency. "Signs is commit- ." continues that tradition."

A pensioner—who was also sav- God answers video ing to buy the Jesus 2000 video cassette tape series to add to her evangelist's prayers library of resources—she did not have the money to repair or buy a David G Gibbons new video cassette recorder. So, she prayed for a new one. rin Raines says health and Mrs Raines registered her name G she experienced spirituality. for Adventist Media's newsletter an answer to However, while visiting the institution's dis- prayer—and then her video Erin Raines says the Jesus ADVENTIST play at camp-meeting. Little did she some—during the cassette 2000 video tapes she won know hers would be drawn from South recorder, at the South Queensland the 300 registered. The prize? A MINISTRIES Conference camp- which she Conference camp-meeting new video cassette recorder and are an answer to prayer. meeting in September this year. use d to the Jesus 2000 video cassette tape The Kingaroy church member rewind series. loans video cassette tapes to people tapes after loaning and to preview "God answers prayers," she says in her community who want to tapes before loaning, broke down now, "and He doesn't do things by know more about improving their eight months before camp-meeting. halves either!" • December 2, 2 0 0 0 5 n e w s f r o n t 4

Briefly RESEARCH AIMS TO REPLACE Unity at meeting of ministers SARAJEVO. Some 140 Bosnian, PILLS WITH POTATOES Croat, Hungarian, Kosovar—Albanian, Macedonian, Bettina Krause Montenegrin, Serb and Slovenian Seventh-day Adventist ministers esearchers at Loma Linda dren, die annually from diarrhoea- have met for the first time in RUniversity Medical Center causing diseases." nearly a decade. War and ethnic (California, USA) are developing Dr Langridge says using genetical- conflict in the former Yugoslavia strains of potatoes and tomatoes ly altered vegetables to deliver vac- cines overcomes a number of prob- has prevented more frequent they hope will eventually be used to I meetings. "This demonstrates the provide immunisation against lems associated with coordinating unity that holds Seventh-day cholera, rotavirus and enterotoxi- pharmaceutical aid in poverty-strick- Adventists together," said Trans- genic E coli, better known as "trav- en countries, such as inadequate European Division president Dr eller's diar- supplies of Bertil Wiklander.—ANN rhoea." vaccines and The scien- inefficient dis- Evangelists get on their bikes tists have suc- tribution meth- SOUTH SUDAN. Each of the 70 cessfully ods. "Ideally, evangelists (pictured) in the South immunised these will be Sudan Field has received a bicy- mice against crops that can cle, Bibles, Bible-study guides and cholera and be grown, har- a T-shirt identifying them as a rotavirus by vested and dis- church employee and minimising feeding the tributed local- their chance of being recruited animals with ly, at minimal into the army. More than 1000 raw potato cost." Some of the people, an increase of 33 per from the Potatoes could soon provide immunisation against cent, have been baptised during genetically cholera, say researchers at Loma Linda University difficulties yet the first nine months this year.— altered