April 1999

So How Are You Doing?

In the wake of NET ’98, Dwight Nelson checks in. LETTERS

E. E. Cleveland and purpose of God in our lives. Even regarding living in cities will change I applaud Stephen Chavez for such a a housewife like me can pray through materially in this generation. wonderful article my neighborhood as I take my chil- In addition to Halvorsen’s three on E. E. dren for a walk in their stroller. Fellow suggestions to sensitize us to inner-city Cleveland (“A members, we must not wait for the work, I have another. Many Adventist Life in the church to be problem-free before we churches use beautiful backdrops of Spotlight,” start making an impact for neighbor- snow-covered mountains, green forests, February NAD hoods and cities! pristine seascapes, or fields of golden Edition). In my grain for congregational praise singing. eyes he is the —Peria Dreibus I suggest that these be supplemented very best servant TEMPLE CITY, CALIFORNIA with images that depict the many faces of the Lord in my lifetime. I am a and experiences of the city with its product of that great 1966 Trinidad bustle, wealth, poverty, and pain. evangelistic event. My spouse of 32 “Cities Under Siege” was a very frank Imagine those images combined with years has since had the privilege of and honest assessment of the tension “Far and Near the Fields Are being in his ministry class at Oakwood Adventists feel when discussing our Teeming.” This is really easy with mul- College. One of Pastor Cleveland’s key mission to the hordes of unbelievers in timedia devices. Christ-centered music sayings has stayed with me: Do not the cities. Since it appears to be in the has tremendous power to change atti- look at me or any other person in the cities where the new and immoral tudes and beliefs. Send your photogra- church. Look to Jesus—He alone died norms of culture are being established, phers into the cities! for your sins. our lack of intrusion is alarming. However, it is really unlikely, short of —Robert Thomas —E. M. Caesar a miracle, that Adventist thinking PORTLAND, OREGON CAMERON PARK, CALIFORNIA Folkenberg and Paulsen Cities Under Siege If you don’t receive the weekly Adventist Review, Thank you for printing Ron you might have missed our coverage of Robert S. Halvorsen’s sermon “Cities Under Folkenberg’s resignation of the Adventist Church Siege” (January NAD Edition). In the presidency and Jan Paulsen’s subsequent election. midst of competing confusion secularly (See our February 11, February 18, and March 11 and within the church, he has stated issues.) the vision and purpose clearly, even President Paulsen’s inaugural sermon will be pointing to the willful darkness and printed next week (in our April 8 issue), and we’ll staining we have have continuing news and perspectives throughout put in our hearts the year. and minds. Remember, the issue you’re holding is the Thank you for monthly North American Division Edition of the NEW PRESIDENT: Jan reminding us of Adventist Review (sent free to most North Paulsen our need to American Adventists). To subscribe to the weekly Review (40 additional repent from our issues at $33.97), call 1-800-456-3991. Obviously, this is a pivotal year for divisive goals and the Adventist Church, and you’ll want to stay informed. follow the call

2 (394) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 In this article we found a masterpiece of Bringing Us Home oratory, and we pray that it may stir the Betti Knickerbocker’s “Two Are Not church to action. But it seemed to con- Enough” (February NAD Edition) tain a contradiction to what we have really tugged at my mother’s heart. We been told these many years by God’s can’t be satisfied until all our children messenger. Ellen G. White wrote that are safely back home. It gives us a lit- COVER STORY we should not live in the large cities. tle insight into God’s heart of love. He Christ spent many working days in longs for His children who have been 8 So How Are You Doing? Just checking to see if you’re still Jerusalem, but did He live there? The stolen away from Him. My heart glowing. writer seemed to urge us to move back swells with appreciation as I think of BY DWIGHT K. NELSON to the large cities. Where does Ron the expensive plan God initiated and Halvorsen live? Does he still live in is carrying on to bring us back home. ARTICLES the ruins of New York City, or has he Praise His name. evacuated to more healthful, comfort- 12 Letters From the $25 Club able, and respectable surroundings? Do —Deloris Knecht Even more valuable than their we have to live inside a garbage can in WASHOUGAL, WASHINGTON financial contributions are their order to clean it up? notes of encouragement. A COMPILATION Army of Youth —Warren Strawn 14 Growing Churches HOHENWALD, TENNESSEE What a treat it was to sit down on ’Tis the season for planting. the sofa Friday night with the Review BY ALFRED C. MCCLURE and discover a picture of our daughter, Whereas God may call a modern Joy, along with Pastor Julie! (see Give 23 Captivated by Love Jeremiah to the city to meet a specific & Take, Feb. NAD Edition). Thanks It’s not only how much you get, it’s how much you give. need, the truth remains that the call to their friendship, both of our chil- BY ALBERTA MAZAT of an individual should not be pro- dren are now workers with the jected as a call to the church in gen- Washington Conference Youth DEPARTMENTS eral. The God-given outreach model Challenge summer program. We can- for the church, then and now, is not say enough good about that pro- 2 Letters Enoch—who from a rural country out- gram. It is a wonderful opportunity for 7 Give & Take post, entered the inner city, “pulling learning Christian leadership, devel- 18 World News & Perspectives them out of the fire” (Jude 23). oping people skills, realizing a true walk with God, as well as earning 22 Sandra Doran: Dialogues —Calvin J. Fischer money toward a Christian education. 27 Tuesday’s Child APPLETON, WASHINGTON The miracles and answered prayers 28 Global Mission witnessed by the young people during the summer are transforming lives. 29 Cityscapes Monte Sahlin’s sidebar “Do the Math” It was such a thrill this past sum- 30 Reflections noted that there is one Adventist hos- mer to see Pastor Julie baptize our pital in the Chicago area. Actually, son, Jeremy, at the WCYC final pro- EDITORIALS Adventist Health System Midwest gram—because they first met when 5 The Lordship of Jesus Region currently has four hospitals, Jeremy was 4 and Julie was 7! We are three of which are in the immediate truly seeing an army of “youth, rightly 6 The Awesome Power of One Chicago suburbs, and also the first free- trained” (Education, p. 271) spreading standing emergency center in Illinois. the gospel. NEXT WEEK Surgical centers, Health Care at Home sites, and outpatient clinics are also —Stan and Brenda Muth One part of AHS Midwest Region. For more PARADISE, CALIFORNIA A solitary believer and her struggle to WIN information, please contact me at keep her lamp lit. HER [email protected]. B. S VID A D

— Crister DelaCruz, BY MARKETING SPECIALIST PHOTO ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM VER O

MIDWEST REGION C

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (395) 3 “Behold, I come quickly . . .”

Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ through stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return.

Publisher General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Executive Publisher William G. Johnsson Associate Publisher Charlotte McClure Publishing Board: Phil Follett, vice-chair; Lowell Cooper; William G. Johnsson; Robert E. Lemon; A. C. McClure; Ardis D. Stenbakken, Donald R. Sahly; Ted N. C. Wilson; Robert Nixon, legal advisor

Editor William G. Johnsson Associate Editors Roy Adams, Bill Knott Managing Editor Myrna Tetz News Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editors Stephen Chavez, Andy Nash Editorial Assistant Ella Rydzewski Administrative Secretary Chitra Barnabas Editorial Secretary Jean Sequeira Art Director Bill Kirstein Designer Bill Tymeson Design Assistant/Production Stephanie Kaping Ad Sales Genia Blumenberg Subscriber Services Steve Hanson

Consulting Editors: G. Ralph Thompson, Matthew Bediako, Phil Follett, Robert J. Kloosterhuis, A. C. McClure, Jan Paulsen, Leo Ranzolin, R. L. Rawson, Calvin B. Rock North American Edition Consulting Editors: Alfred C. McClure, Bjorne Christensen, Kermit Netteburg, Monte Sahlin Special Contributors: Harold Baptiste, George Crumley, Malcolm D. Gordon, Bruce Johnston, Ted Jones, Ralph Martin, Cyril Miller, Thomas J. Mostert, Jr., Orville D. Parchment, Charles Sandefur

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The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119), published since 1849, is the general paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and is printed 40 times a year each Thursday except the first Thursday of each month by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Standard postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Copyright © 1999, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 176, No. 13

4 (396) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 EDITORIAL The Lordship of Jesus WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe strength and let the Man of Galilee be our Master. That is in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be radical stuff, the stuff of counterculture, a far cry from the saved” (Rom. 10:9).* listless, emasculated Milquetoast with which many people associate the Christian faith. oday Christianity often seems cluttered up with The lordship of Jesus seems like the path politics, prohibitions, and platitudes, but in real- of denial, but it is the doorway to life in its ity it is simple: Will I confess Jesus Christ as my fullness. The secret lies right here: He who Lord? challenges us to His lordship is first our Saviour. For the first Christians, that confession He loved us with an overwhelming love and Tmeant serious business. By publicly declaring the lordship gave Himself up for us; now we gladly take up of Jesus, they renounced all other claims to supreme His cross and follow as His loving slaves. authority—which put them in defiance of the state, as the This changes our entire living. It isn’t a mat- Roman emperors became regarded as divine beings and ter of whether the church permits us to do took the title “lord” for themselves. something or not, or what other people do or Who would it be, Lord Caesar or Lord Jesus? From don’t do, far less of what others may think of us time to time, as waves of persecution rolled over the if we do or we don’t. The only question that Roman Empire, Christians went to the lions or to the counts is whether I will honor Jesus as my stake because they refused to offer a pinch of incense Lord. And that counts supremely. to the image of the emperor or to say “Caesar is The lordship of Jesus embraces the church, Lord.” also. “He is the head of the body, the church; The centuries have rolled on; the wheel has come he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, around. Most of us who take the name of Jesus do not face so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col. threat to life or possessions because of our faith. But in these 1:18). last days of earth’s history the lordship of Jesus more and Because the church is a human organization it’s easy for it more emerges as the issue, the defining question for men and to fall into the politics, grasping for position, pride, and prej- TION women of all ages and in all places. udice that characterize any other earthly body. It’s easy to CIA

SSO As in the early years of Christianity, a multitude of deities rely on human wisdom and skill for solutions to problems, A clamor for our allegiance. Religions from the East, nostrums easy to focus on human leaders and forget who is really of the New Age, the gods of sex, money, power, sport, and Head, easy to—even in the name of Christ—act like the

UBLISHING possessions—they attract and command the devotion of the devil. Jesus must be Lord. P

® multitudes. Through and behind all stands the ultimate When the waves mount up and the boat rocks, we need

ERALD deity: God I. The exaltation of myself—my feelings, my to remember who is our Captain. The church is safe in His

& H wants, my desires, my gratification—reigns supreme. hands; it is not safe in our hands. I think Against this backdrop we hear the word of the Almighty: of the barque of Adventism—so small, EVIEW “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3). And so weak, so apparently helpless before

/ © R we catch the response of the first Christians: “For even if the tempest—but then I remember there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as how the Lord has brought us safely

NDERSON indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’), yet for us through more than 150 years. A

Y there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came He who has guided us all the days ARR

H and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus of our lives will bring us into His BY Christ, through whom all things came and through whom eternal harbor. Jesus is Lord.

TION we live” (1 Cor. 8:5, 6). The lordship of Jesus cuts across the grain of the age. It * All Scripture quotations come from LLUSTRA I calls us to lay aside our plans, our will, our wisdom, our the New International Version.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (397) 5 GUEST EDITORIAL The Awesome Power ALFRED C. MC CLURE of One

newscast report the other day said that the of those folks would accept Christ. I’m sure some would find average temperature of the earth has increased new meaning in their lives. Think of the improved quality by one degree this century. One degree didn’t of life many of them would enjoy. Can you imagine the sound like much until eternal consequences? the announcer started Many of them would undoubtedly Adescribing some of the effects: join the Adventist Church through ■ Glacial melting faster than at One Bible study baptism. Here in North America, any time in modern history. we’ve hoped and prayed and worked ■ More icebergs prowling the from each member to see more than 40,000 baptisms in oceans. a single year. We had more than ■ Ocean levels rising, causing each week would 39,000 baptisms one year. More than erosion to coastal areas. 35,000 baptisms in many years. But The announcer listed several never more than 40,000 in one year. more things that could result from total about 45 One Bible study each week given an increase of just one degree, by each member would do it—and things I didn’t catch. My brain had million Bible far more. What a blessing that started whirling, considering other would be to God’s church. things that could happen if one per- studies per year. One New Church: What would cent, one dollar, one day, or one of happen if we planted just one new anything could be changed. church each week for a year? One Dollar: What would happen if each Adventist Well, we’re already doing more than that. This past year member gave just one dollar more each week for the work of there were nearly three new churches planted somewhere the church—just one dollar a week. A dollar won’t buy two across North America every Sabbath. candy bars or rent one video. It might get you a gallon of That’s the power of one: at least one child loved each gas, but not a gallon of kerosene for a space heater. week, at least one person ministered to each week, at least Yet one dollar from each of the almost 900,000 members one kind deed each day, at least one caring word. Think of of the Adventist Church in North America, for each of the the awesome power of one. 52 weeks in a year, would mean $45 million for God’s work One More One: There’s another One we must remem- in just one year. ber—the One who died and rose again. Jesus Christ is only Just one dollar. Forty-five million dollars, if all of us one, but He is also the only One. would do a little bit extra each week. This time of year special attention is given to Christ’s Think of the blessings for God’s work. NET ’98 cost less death on the cross and the celebration of His resurrec- than $2 million. Our television and radio ministries spend tion from the grave. We should remember the incredible less than $10 million each year. Our schools could provide power of the One, the one Son of God, the one tremendous scholarship help. mediator between God and humankind. He What a blessing just one dollar each week from each is the reason for giving that one dollar member would be. more or one Bible study more, to lift up One Bible Study: What would happen if each member that One—Jesus Christ—and make Him gave just one Bible study each week? Just one Bible study known. He is the One. with a friend, coworker, or follow-up interest. It takes an And He can teach us better than anyone hour or so each week; about the time spent watching a tele- else about the tremendous power of one. vision program or reading the newspaper. One Bible study from each member each week would Alfred C. McClure is president of the Seventh- total about 45 million Bible studies per year. No doubt some day Adventist Church in North America.

6 (398) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 ADVENTIST LIFE My husband valiantly tried to hum along as I stumbled, by ear, through “Jesus, Take My Hand.” “I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I didn’t play

all the right notes.” ISC D “That’s all right, dear,” he said philo- sophically. “I didn’t know all the right HOTO © P notes.” HOTO GIVE —Lynda M. Tataryn, Kelowna, British Columbia P & JOTS & TITTLES ADVENTIST QUOTES In this feature Adventists share We invite quotes of both the profound church-related tips. and spontaneous variety. THOSE OLD CHRISTMAS CARDS: The holidays are over—what “God doesn’t care which to do with all those beautiful greeting generation you’re part of— cards, enriched by personal notes? Put just as long as you’re part of them in a box, and each morning (per- the regeneration.” haps at worship time) remove one, —Pastor Keith Hanson, Richlands, Virginia reread the sentiments, savor past remem- TAKE brances, and pray for those dear ones. “. . . And help Baby Sara learn to You might even choose to let them keep her eyeballs shut! Amen.” READERS’ EXCHANGE know that you are thinking of them. —4-year-old Bryan Pope, blessing a spring lunch in —Lois May Watts, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia Kansas City, Missouri In this feature Adventists request cor- respondence on a specific subject. (Note: We will no longer be running general “pen FISHERS OF MEN pal” requests.) CHURCH PLANTING: We are a MEMORABLE DAY: Committed to helping children understand “the importance of their decision and family in the central part of southern to have a wonderful memory to carry with them New Zealand planting a church in a throughout eternity,” Shari Leader and others from town of 5,000 that has minimal church the Raleigh, North Carolina, church planned a spe- presence. We are looking to correspond cial program for the 22 children baptized by six via e-mail with other laypersons in- local pastors. First, church decorations included a volved in small-town church planting. Nathan Greene painting of Jesus, flowers, two —Kim, Jenny, Jessica, and Jayden Heck; e-mail: sets of candelabra, big loaves of bread, grapes, [email protected] and goblets of grape juice. Then, following the baptism, the young people were visited by “Jesus” CONTRIBUTE TO GIVE & TAKE (Nathaniel Age), who passed out symbolic fishing equipment. Finally, a beautiful reception coordi- We can especially use submissions to nated by Kathy Powers included a Happy Re- these categories: Adventist Quotes, Birthday cake and a red cross with the children’s Readers’ Exchange, Jots & Tittles, signatures and handprints. and Dream Center. And we can always use top-quality photos/captions, DREAM CENTER tasteful drawings and cartoons, brief In this feature Adventists share church-related dreams. poems, and other fast-paced items. TRAFFIC CONTROL: Often my drive from home to work can be a pleasant Send submissions (which won’t be 25- to 30-minute trip. However, during the tourist season it can turn into a two- acknowledged or returned) to Give & hour nightmare. Gridlock along the highway becomes so common that listening to Take, Adventist Review, 12501 Old traffic control is more of a necessity than eating breakfast. My dream—indeed, my Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD prayer—is that someday we will need to listen to traffic control to get to Sabbath 20904; fax: 301-680-6638; e-mail: school on time. Wouldn’t it be great to see our parking lots jammed and cars need- [email protected]. ing to use the Sunday church lot down the street? Help me fulfill this dream! —Sidney J. Allwein, Virginia Beach, Virginia

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (399) 7 COVER STORY

So How Are You Doing? Whether it’s been weeks, months, or years since you invited Jesus into your life, it’s time to ask yourself some honest questions.

BY DWIGHT K. NELSON

EMEMBER HOW WE USED TO just such a joy-filled grin on his face. It’s called new life in Jesus, and that’s what it really is. Every time I witness write letters as kids? Eager as we another baptism I want to shout “Praise God!” and “Thank You, Jesus!” for the supernatural way He makes us into “a were to hear from that faraway new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). Your own newly baptized life is proof of that. friend and bursting with news of our But how has it been since that happy day? How are you? I am fine. Are you fine? own to share, it seemed that the cat Lloyd C. Douglas, in his book Time to Remember, recalls the youthful correspondence between his brother Clyde and Rhad our tongue (or at least our pen), and we kept ending up a youngster named Sam Logan. The Logan boy once wrote: “Dear Clyde, How are you? Well I hope. We are alright here. with another of those yawningly predictable childhood Do you still have the white rat? Mind that pair of rabbits I had? I have lots of rabbits. School has took up again. I hate exchanges: “Dear Bob, How are you? I am fine. Are you fine? school. Your friend, Sam Logan. PS: Pap died last night.” Can you believe it? The poor boy announces his father’s I am. Write soon. Your friend, Dwight.” death in the postscript. The most important news of all got squeezed in at the end. When I think of you with whom it was my privilege to How many times are we like little Sam Logan, whether share a satellite journey called The NeXt Millennium Seminar, we’re new or not-so-new Christians? Does the most impor- and all of you who began a forever friendship with God this tant news of all get squeezed in at the end? Does it even past year—I still want to blurt out the childish query, “How make the page? are you? Are you fine?” Are you? Do you still awaken with a new song in your A Wonderful Invitation heart? Is the glow of your new friendship with Jesus still Just in case your time alone with God has become a hur- shining brightly? ried postscript in your life, let me share a stirring invitation Just last Sabbath here at Pioneer Memorial church I wit- straight from Jesus to you. Here at Pioneer we’ve been spend- nessed one of our seminar participants, a university student ing the first weeks of 1999 focusing our hearts on the quiet named Chad, rise up out of the waters of our baptistry with thunder of Jesus’ appeal in Matthew 11: “Come to Me, all you

8(400) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 WIN HER B. S VID A © D HOTO P

who labor and are heavy laden, and I Why? Because I sense for my own minds, and love for our struggling rela- will give you rest. Take My yoke upon soul—and for yours, too—the com- tionships? Jesus says, “Come to Me . . . you and learn from Me, for I am gentle pelling power behind Jesus’ quiet and learn from Me.” and lowly in heart, and you will find appeal to sit at His feet and learn from We spent the final evening of The rest for your souls” (verses 28, 29).* His life. Hence, the “quiet thunder” of NeXt Millennium Seminar detailing how My own heart has been drawn to His promise. Where else can we turn to grow our forever friendship with God that pair of three-word invitations: daily to find rest for our frenzied lives, through “A New Way to Pray.” Let me “Come to Me” and “Learn from Me.” forgiveness for our guilty hearts, power reiterate that simple seven-point strategy To keep me returning to them every for our tempted souls, companionship for coming to and learning from Jesus: morning, I’ve laid the ribbon of my for our lonely spirits, hope for our dis- 1. Set aside time for a daily en- Bible down beside those words. couraging days, faith for our doubting counter with Jesus (20 minutes each

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (401) 9 morning is a good beginning). 2. Read only from the Gospels Life Lines (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). 3. Read only one story (incident, Scores of people have corresponded with Pastor Dwight Nelson in the wake of parable, teaching). NET ’98. Here is a sampling of their comments. 4. Reread the story to relive the experience (see, hear, smell, feel it). I left the church when I was in my early 20s. The church had too many rules, 5. Ask yourself—What does this and I needed to find myself. What I found was heartache and misery. tell me about my Forever Friend? But I’ve finally found a God and a church I can believe in. My 15-year-old son 6. Write your reflections in a letter has also learned to love God and has chosen to follow Him. to Jesus or a letter from Jesus (in a —Arlington, Washington prayer journal). 7. Kneel in prayer to commit your I was born into the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but my family split up and day and your world to Him. we moved to a town where there wasn’t a church nearby, so we stopped going. There isn’t any magic in the Then I came to school here and visited a church, but at the time I didn’t think I method. What matters is that you and I had time to go to church. keep on coming to Him and learning But I decided one day to go to church, and there in the sanctuary, up on a big from Him. And what’s Jesus’ promise? screen, was Pastor Dwight. That’s how I learned about The NeXt Millennium “You will find rest for your souls.” And Seminar. It came at a perfect time for me. It’s helped my commitment to attend with the way 1999 is turning out, God church every Sabbath. knows we need His rest—not just on —Austin, Texas His Sabbath, but every day of the week. My grandfather is an Adventist, and he got me interested in Jesus. NET ’98 On the Winning Side came along at a perfect time for me. I am attending Sabbath worship services After all, that old serpent “called regularly now. My grandfather, NET ’98, and all the nice people at the church the Devil and Satan, who deceives the have changed my life—all for the better. I love you all. whole world” (Rev. 12:9) hasn’t taken —Daytona Beach, Florida a day off since you gave your life to Christ. In fact, according to the testi- The members of the church were so welcoming on our first night. They remem- monies of some of those I baptized at bered our names on the second night and really seemed to care if we were there the end of The NeXt Millennium or not. I’ve never met such a great group of people. After only a few meetings I Seminar, he’s even decided to put in was already calling them my friends. some overtime. (Good news, though— We really want a forever friendship with God. We want to keep His command- he’s going to get time and a half when ments, and we want all of the great and wonderful things He has in store for us. this is all over!) We are now going to church and loving it. But guess what? Our Forever Friend —Chesapeake, Virginia went through the identical experience after His baptism. The muddy water When I walk into the Seventh-day Adventist church I feel like I’m at peace, and from the Jordan River had hardly drip- that God is watching over me. My longing and loneliness have been lifted. I’m dried before Satan unleashed his attending a Bible study that I find so exciting and wonderful. demonic attacks on Jesus. Read the —Ringgold, Georgia gospel story again. The author of The Good Book writes: “It is something of an ing anyone. That’s why he was hot on can suddenly erupt after a baptism. The irony that Jesus is tempted immediately the heels of Jesus immediately after His devil takes no holidays. Not after a bap- after baptism and not before it. . . . The baptism, and why he has been blasting tism. And that’s why we mustn’t either. temptations in some very real sense are away at you, too. “Come to Me . . . and learn from the consequences of a life set apart for One newly baptized couple here at Me” means don’t take a vacation from goodness and God’s will. That is why Pioneer accepted God’s invitation to your daily pursuit of Jesus’ friendship. they follow directly upon that moment make Jesus their financial senior part- For it’s in that quiet time of daily of consecration and dedication; there is ner, and no sooner did they begin reflection and prayer that Christ forti- no one more desirable to Satan, more returning His tithe than the pipes in fies our minds and empowers our lives. susceptible to Satan, than the one who their home burst in our frigid winter No wonder Paul, another embattled has just given his or her life to God.” 1 freeze. Another person found victory follower of Jesus, kept exclaiming, “I Let’s not be surprised at the devil’s over smoking, only to be lambasted can do all things through Christ who wrath—he has always been a sore with that temptation a few weeks into strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Paul loser, and he hates the thought of los- the journey. Fairly tranquil marriages understood that Jesus alone “is able to

10 (402) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24). with your newborn Christian experi- of porcupines in a winter storm—we ence as are parents with their toddler draw together for warmth, but we keep Victory Now who is learning to walk. Parents don’t pricking each other in the process. By the way, Jesus won’t keep us from walk away from their stumbling tod- That’s us, saints with quills. But please temptation—He Himself wasn’t exempt dlers—and neither does God. We’re know that we do love Jesus passionately from the enemy’s barrages—but He can not giraffes—we take time. and that we do want to love you uncon- keep us from stumbling. Because we have That’s why God invites us to “grow ditionally. Just as He does. His promise that “with the temptation in the grace and knowledge of our So keep going and keep growing [God] will also make the way of escape, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter with us Sabbath after Sabbath, Wed- that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 3:18). Growth takes time. But with nesday after Wednesday. Because I 10:13). Praise God, we have the ringing every faltering step God stands beside believe with all my heart that Jesus assurance of 1 John 4:4: “He who is in you—scooping you up, brushing away Himself led you to this family. It’s no you [the same Jesus you invite into your the tear, lifting you back to your feet. mistake that you’re a part of us, and life each new morning] is greater than That’s the way it is in a family. we’ll do all we can to stand by you and he who is in the world [you know who].” And that’s the way it is in the one another “until all of us come to the With Jesus you’re on the winning side. church, God’s family. Every Seventh- unity of the faith and of the knowledge I love the way this truth is ex- of the Son of God, to maturity, to the pressed in that wonderful classic on measure of the full stature of Christ” the life of Jesus, The Desire of Ages: (Eph. 4:13, NRSV). “When the soul surrenders itself to Is the glow Christ, a new power takes possession Someday Soon of the new heart. . . . It is a supernat- of your new I have an amazing invention one ural work, bringing a supernatural ele- of you gave me during the seminar— ment into human nature. The soul friendship it’s called a Next Millennium clock. that is yielded to Christ becomes His It counts down the days, hours, min- own fortress, which He holds in a utes, and seconds until the year 2000. revolted world, and He intends that with Jesus Wouldn’t it be something if God no authority shall be known in it but gave us a clock that counted down His own. A soul thus kept in posses- still shining the time until Jesus’ return? The sion by the heavenly agencies is fact is, we don’t need such a clock, impregnable to the assaults of Satan.” 2 brightly? because all of God’s clocks keep I repeat, you are on the winning reading “NOW.” “Behold, now is side with Jesus. the accepted time; behold, now is day Adventist congregation is commit- the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). Ready, Set, Grow ted to demonstrating a loving environ- Can you think of a better time than A few weeks ago Karen and I took ment in which spiritual newborns and right now to begin writing the next our daughter Kristin over to Brookfield toddlers can wobble and totter about, chapter in your journey with Jesus? One Zoo in Chicago. In the giraffe corral we stumble, fall down, ask “dumb” ques- thing’s certain: when you travel with watched a video of a live birth. With a tions (there really isn’t such a thing, of Jesus, you really can write “How are you? splat the newborn giraffe calf literally course), and still be loved. A place in I am fine.” Because there’s nothing more fell to the ground from its mother’s which when you do go down, you’re satisfying than His forever friendship. womb (the mother remained standing quickly hugged and helped back up by That’s what I pray for you. That’s the whole time). Within minutes that older brothers and sisters who know what I hope you’ll pray for me; until lanky, long-legged baby giraffe was wob- what it’s like to live with scraped knees we’re together with Him, friends bling and stumbling, collapsing and and skinned-up hearts. A place in forever. ■ wobbling up again, over and over, until, which you’re loved no matter what—no by the end of its first hour, it was walk- matter what you do or what you’ve * Scriptural references are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted. ing on its own. done, how you look or how you act. In We couldn’t believe it. Why did it church you’ll find God’s forever friends 1 Peter J. Gomez, The Good Book (New York: take our kids so long to walk? Ah, at every imaginable stage of maturing— Avon Books, 1996), p. 272. 2 Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 324. because the way of the human is a as did Peter and Mary and Judas and journey of gradual growth and often Paul. You’ll find that nobody’s perfect imperceptible maturation. We’re not and that everybody stumbles sometime. Dwight K. Nelson is the senior pastor of giraffes—we take time. We in the church can sometimes the Pioneer Memorial Seventh-day Please remember that spiritual seem unfriendly and unloving. Some- Adventist Church in Berrien Springs, truth. God is as loving and patient one has said the church is like a family Michigan.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (403) 11 FEATURE

Letters From the $25 Club From our heart to yours, and back again

ate last year, in two editorials (“Let’s Do It—The $25 He’s so generous with me, I want to be generous with Him. Club,” and “Confessions of a Fiscal Conservative”) Rome, Georgia executive publisher and editor William G. Johnsson challenged readers to contribute to a fund that would read your column, “Confessions of a Fiscal Conservative,” put a one-year subscription to the Adventist Review and I really don’t care so much about getting the Review Lin the home of every family who joined the church in North Iinto everyone’s hands as I do about your willingness to step America in 1998. out by faith. I think your commitment is wonderful. I’m send- The response has been overwhelming, with approximately ing this check to affirm you in your decision to do this $25 $105,000 in hand so far. Club. God provides. Thank you for trusting God in the work But at least as valuable as the financial contributions have been you do. I’m really glad you’re the editor. the letters and notes of support and encouragement that accompa- Berrien Springs, Michigan (from a seminary student) nied the donations. It’s clear that for many, the Review is an essen- tial part of being an Adventist, and making new members a part of will be 90 years old my next birthday. I live on a pension this ministry resonates with many throughout North America. and have enough, but not too much extra. If I’m careful I Below is a sampling of the letters we’ve received. We share Ican get along fine. So I’m sending you $50. I’d really like these here to express our appreciation to the many who sent in to make it more, but I’ll pray for God’s richest blessings on contributions, and as an indication of the love and support our “my” two families—and all the others too. new members can expect from their church family.—Editors. Colville, Washington

his past Sabbath I was Sabbath school superinten- y husband and I decided not to exchange gifts this dent, and I challenged the members to make a sacri- Christmas, but to use the money instead to send T fice for Christ this Christmas season, realizing that Mthe message of God’s love to others. the greatest gift ever given to humankind is Jesus. I told Although we sent a check for one Review subscription in them to pray, as I would, that God would show them what late October, we wish to use part of our Christmas money for He wanted them to do, that they should just be willing, and more gift subscriptions. Our check is enclosed. He would open a door of opportunity. We are blessed by reading the Review, and we are eager Then your editorial arrived. I received my Christmas for new members to share that blessing. bonus just a$25 few hours before, so I gladly, joyfully sent it to Worthington, Ohio you to use so that others may have [a subscription to the Review]. It’s really not a sacrifice when you look at all the hank you for letting me help with new members by things I’m blessed with. Oh, yes, you can always use more, giving them the Review. God has been good to me by but God always supplies all my needs and lots of my wants. Tletting me live beyond the “threescore and ten.” I’m

12 (404) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 still able to help in His his is a good idea. work. I’m all for it. I will Rockville, Maryland T send $25 as often as I can. I am 81 years our willingness to young, and I’ve read the “go out on a Review as long as I can Ylimb” and confess remember. it was indeed refreshing. Newberg, Oregon To read about your heartfelt and already his check comes committed desire to use at a sacrifice. I am the Review as a tool to T 73 years old, on a help nurture those who fixed income. But I must are new in the have a part in the giving Adventist family is like of God’s message to a a breath of fresh air. dying world. This week I received Baton Rouge, Louisiana some unexpected funds, and I wish to share want to do my part to them with you and the help new members be Adventist Review for this Ibuilt up in the whole project. message. I know of no bet- Cherry Valley, ter way than through the California Review. When people come into the church, we lease be sure this want them to stay until helps a new Jesus comes. May God P member. I’m bless you, and may the broke, but I’m proud to Holy Spirit guide you so advance my Forever that every Review will do Friend’s kingdom. just that. Orlando, Florida Collegedale, Tennessee

great idea to don’t receive the make the MAIL CALL: Chitra Barnabas (left), administrative secretary, and Linda Review because I’m a Review avail- Golden, volunteer, record some of the many letters received from members senior citizen and A of the $25 Club. I able to everyone. money is scarce, but I’m Glendale, California able to borrow copies from my friends. Enclosed, please find a check so that new members may have the Review e want to be a part of sharing the Review with each week, something I cannot afford—yet I cannot afford new members. Thank you for this opportunity to not to do. Wforward God’s kingdom. God bless you for giving Hendersonville, North Carolina us a clearer picture of God’s love. Ellensburg, Washington have wanted the Review to be in every Adventist home for years, and believe it is possible. So let’s flood Elder ’m a simple person who believes wholeheartedly in our IJohnsson’s office with checks of all sizes, and be a extraordinary God. I’m so pleased to have a small part in blessing to all our new believers. Years ago if we had estab- Ithe aftermath of NET ’98. lished an endowment fund that would yield returns to Paynesville, Minnesota finance the Review to every Adventist home, what a bless- ing it would have been, and then the appeal would not

NOTT e are lifetime Seventh-day Adventists, and we have been necessary today. K wish our check could be more. We’re both 89 Collegedale, Tennessee ILL B years old, and we love getting the Review every BY W week. Our eyes are dim, but praise God, we can read most of HOTO

P it. God bless you as this work advances. Selma, California

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (405) 13 DEVOTIONAL

Growing Churches It’s not a new idea—only a new emphasis.

BY ALFRED C. MC CLURE

AST FALL WE BROUGHT ALMOST initiatives for God throughout North America. Our pioneers were church planters. Early Adventist pastors planted a a dozen youngsters into a room and church, trained lay leaders to keep the church going, then moved on to plant new churches. asked them how to plant a seed. We What Happened? wanted to videotape their answers for a Somewhere along the way we in North America lost the vision of planting churches. We grew content to keep the report we would show to the delegates at lights shining in existing churches, but we stopped lighting the lights on new hills. Llast year’s Annual Council. Some facts: ■ Between 1990 and 1996 we had a net loss of six After we asked “How do you plant a seed?” there were a churches in North America—a net loss! few moments of silence. They looked at each other. Some ■ Between the summer of 1996 and the summer of 1998 scratched their heads. Others shrugged their shoulders, the we planted more than 250 churches. nonverbal gesture for “I don’t know.” What a dramatic turnaround—from a division that was A few had answers. They described a process of digging losing churches to a division that is planting churches at a the dirt, placing the seed in the ground, and watering the rate of 10 every month. plant. These young Adventists knew the basics of planting It was a tremendous change, a God-inspired and God-blessed and growing a garden. change. It was a change that I had personally longed for, prayed One child described the process in a way that seemed for, challenged leaders and pastors and members to work for. inspired. The child listed all the things that human beings must And it was a change that brought us back to our roots as a do, then mentioned one last step in planting a seed: Wait for church-planting denomination. the sun to shine and warm the ground so the flower could grow. What changed? Much of it had to do with a church-plant- There’s only so much we can do to grow spiritually. Then ing convention that the North American Division Evangelism we must wait for the Spirit to warm our lives so that we— Institute conducted at Andrews University in the summer of and others around us—can grow. 1996 (an annual event, with Seeds ’99 scheduled for June). The point of our question to the children was actually Look at the number in attendance at the Seeds conventions: about planting churches. That’s one of our important new ■ in 1996—about 300 people attended.

14 (406) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 HEN C VID A D BY TION LLUSTRA I ■ in 1997—about 400 people attended. Getting to Be a Habit ■ in 1998—about 500 people attended. BY BETTY KOSSICK Another change has taken place. In 1996 we had to ask a Members of the Central church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, started church church-planting expert from another planting four years ago. “From the beginning it was our goal to start yet another denomination to explain church plant- new church,” says Bob Joseph, pastor of the Three Angels Fellowship. “Now ing to us. We didn’t have someone there is the Kentwood Company, a group of about 20, who were with our ready to train those 300 people who church—and they have the same goal.” Pastor Joseph is leading out in the sec- attended Seeds ’96. In 1999 the entire ond planting as well. Seeds convention will be led by Three Angels was established by mostly brand-new members brought in Adventists—Adventists who know through evangelist Robert Wagley’s efforts. “We are constantly training small church planting, who have done group evangelism,” Joseph stresses. church planting, who have studied Head elder Larry Cruttenden and his wife, Marian, of the Central church, are church planting, and who can explain with a third group being planted as a home church in the Lowell-Ada-Cascade it within the context of Adventism. area of Grand Rapids. “We looked for a blank spot with no churches,” Cruttenden But even more of this change had says. “It was also the area where most of the people who had the burden [for to do with God’s rekindling a fire in church planting] live.” the hearts and lives of Adventists to Cruttenden notes, “Rick Douglas is the leader of this small-group based out- see His message taken to all the world, reach, with the proposed name of Riverside Fellowship Seventh-day Adventist. We including North America. He wanted have an ‘every member’ evangelistic commitment.” us to see His vision for His church.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (407) 15 A Biblical Plan Church planting isn’t just the heri- A Friendly Place tage of our early Adventist pioneers: it’s the heritage of early Christians. Acceptance is the key to success for Paul, the great missionary of the the Lighthouse of the Valley, a bilingual Christian church, was a church congregation meeting in Burbank, planter. Look at his first missionary California. It began in April 1996, with journey, described in Acts 13 and 14: 12 people sharing a passion for miss- ■ He went to Salamis, planted a ing members, ages 18-40. Average church. attendance today is about 200, 85 per- ■ He went to Paphos, planted a cent of whom are former Adventists. church. ■ He went to Perga, planted a church. ■ He went to Antioch, planted a church. ■ He went to Iconium, planted a BACK ON TRACK: Reuben Santana, a church. missing member for more than 32 ■ He went to Lystra, planted a years, is back. church. Pastor Gustavo Squarzon says, ■ He went to Derbe, planted a “We’re accomplishing our goal. This church. is a difficult generation to reach, but ■ Then he left Derbe and went back we feel that God is guiding us.” to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, Their greatest challenge? “The encouraging the new congregations he MAKING CONTACT: Pastor Gustavo Squarzon healing process for former Adventists had planted. (center) encourages his members. is slow,” offers Pastor Squarzon. Paul was a church planter. His mis- sionary journeys were really church- planted trees in his yard. then across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and planting adventures. John Chapman, however, soon real- Indiana. But planting Christian congrega- ized how few people would be able to We now know him as Johnny tions actually started before Paul. eat apples if the apple trees were limited Appleseed. His missionary zeal for the After the stoning of Stephen, the to his yard. So he planted trees all common apple resulted in the planting Christian believers scattered. Their around town, then all around his region, of millions of apple trees throughout motive was to avoid the persecution in Jerusalem, but the outcome was to plant churches throughout Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:4 summarizes what happened: “And wherever they [the believers fleeing Jerusalem] were scat- tered, they told people the Good News” (NCV). Church planting turned the first- century world upside down. I believe it will turn the world upside down again in the twenty-first century. And I believe it is exactly what God wants us to do.

By Their Fruits Ron Gladden helps plant churches throughout the Mid-America and North Pacific unions. He loves to tell the story of John Chapman. An ordinary fellow from central Massachusetts, Chapman thought everyone should have the bene- fits of eating the nutritious apple. So he

16 (408) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 In the Footsteps of the Pioneers settling in the city’s historic area, they chose a Lutheran church in the heart of the new neighborhoods and apartment BY JAY E. PRALL with contributions from EDWIN A. complexes. The facility’s octagonal sanctuary gave it the feel SCHWISOW of “fellowship” more than a traditional rectangular design. It Oregon City was a city of promise, the original seat was a strategic decision for continued growth. of territorial government, and a center of pioneer cul- Late last summer Clarissa Worley, the Andrews ture at the westernmost terminus of the Oregon Trail. University-educated daughter of longtime missionaries, was Adventists in the 1870s itched to establish a church in appointed full-time pastor. this frontier town. Today a group of vocalists is accompanied by several key- When the Oregon City church was officially adopted into boards and guitars, flowing effortlessly from song to song, the registry of Adventist congregations, it claimed only 20 from reading to poetry, and back to passages of Scripture in members. The historic city would eventually be dwarfed by song and verse. The contemporary music, at times animat- neighboring Portland, and the lure of newer congregations ed, guides worshipers into an attitude of prayer. It’s part of would take its toll. The church was disbanded. a strategic plan to introduce newcomers to the heart of a Years passed, and though talk of planting a new congre- loving God. An energetic speaker, Worley offers her congre- gation surfaced from time to time, it wasn’t until September gation traditional Adventist presentations. Her goal each 1997 that a group of nine families got serious about Sabbath is “to reward every visitor and member with a reestablishing an Adventist presence in Oregon City. sense of having met Jesus that day and to foster in them a In a town of such historical proportions, the new congrega- desire to continue growing in Him.” Pioneer Christian tion adopted the name Pioneer Christian Fellowship, a Fellowship is designed to be a place where irreligious peo- Seventh-day Adventist Congregation. In just a few months the ple in Oregon City can be transformed into fully devoted fol- group had outgrown its original meeting place. Rather than lowers of Christ.

America. Coincidentally, historians had to plant more trees if he were to that we do have help. It comes in the also tell us that Johnny Appleseed introduce apples to more people. form of having a connection with actively spread his religious faith wher- Ron likes to finish this story by point- Christ. Jesus said, “Just as the branch ever he went. ing out that the fruit of an apple tree cannot bear fruit by itself unless it Think how few people would have isn’t only apples—it’s more apple trees. abides in the vine, neither can you eaten an apple as the result of his efforts The children in our video were also unless you abide in me. I am the vine if Johnny Appleseed had spent all his asked about how to plant a church. They you are the branches. Those who abide time pruning and fertilizing the lone shrugged. “That’s a hard question,” one in me and I in them bear much fruit, tree in his yard. He could’ve said, “I said. No one had an answer. But one because apart from me you can do need to make this tree stronger and help child made a profound statement: “You’d nothing” (John 15:4, 5, NRSV). it produce more before I plant other need help to do that,” she said. I’m so proud of those in North trees.” But he didn’t. He realized that he She was so right. The good news is America who are taking the gospel to everyone in our territory. Guided by the Holy Spirit, and demonstrating a living connection with Christ, they are reach- THE ADVENTure ing more and more people with the Bible truths about a loving God and His BY ED GALLAGHER last-day church. New congregations are springing up, fulfilling Jesus’ words to “THE ADVENTure: a Seventh-day Adventist Ministry” has met each Sabbath in His earliest disciples: “This is to my Greeley, Colorado, since last November. “The project has gone exceptionally Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, well,” reports Pastor Roger Walter. “About 90 people attend, most of them young showing yourselves to be my disciples” families. We are passionately seeking the lost while providing a safe place for (John 15:8, NIV). ■ them to investigate Christ. We are building small groups and want to launch a public ‘seeker service’ soon.” Alfred C. McClure is presi- Pastor Walter credits every-member involvement for success so far. “The mem- dent of the Seventh-day bers are the team; I serve as the coach,” he says. The effort is not without its Adventist Church in North challenges. “We have a deep pool of talent, but we’re mostly new to each America, where there are other—we have yet to establish a history of worshiping and working together.” now more than 5,000 churches. People who want a copy of the video he describes can contact AdventSource at 1-800-325-0525.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (409) 17 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES Listen Summit Takes to the High Seas

BY LINCOLN E. STEED, EDITOR OF LISTEN MAGAZINE

Carnival cruise liner Perhaps some were heading to the Bahamas encouraged to join the is probably not where historic summit because you’d expect to find a of the vacation atmos- conference promoting phere. It was a pleasant Atemperance lifestyle. However, that’s environment, but a very where more than 70 Adventist believ- busy weekend of ers from around North America gath- onboard meetings and a ered for the Listen/ICPA Summit. high day of Sabbath The contingent included approxi- activities ashore in mately a dozen of the remaining full- Nassau. time Listen literature evangelists, This, only the third- some church leaders, and a wide array ever Listen Summit, was of laypersons united by a common cosponsored by the desire to advance the principles of Review and Herald temperance and the particular min- Publishing Association, istry of Listen magazine, the in Hagerstown, ALL HANDS ON DECK: Current Listen editor Lincoln Steed Adventist Church’s journal for Maryland; International shares details of the afternoon anti-drug rally with charter edi- healthy lifestyle choices. Commission for the tor Francis Soper and his wife, Eunice, and Lincoln’s mother, Their commitment translated into Prevention of Roda Steed. paying their own way, which created a Alcoholism, based at largely self-funded occasion. The dis- the General Conference; and the The Sabbath speaker proclaimed the counted cruise price actually came to North American Division Publishing need for our Seventh-day Adventist less than comparable expenses for and Health Ministries departments. community to ensure that our young accommodations and meals. Also participating was Inter-American people are protected by use of Listen Division Health magazine. Ministries director After lunch summit attendees gath- Elie Honore. ered at a nearby parade grounds with Ashore in the more than 600 Adventist Pathfinders. Bahamas on Marshals assembled clubs and with a Sabbath, Decem- brass band and two community service ber 5, the summit vehicles leading the way, we marched group led out with through the streets of Nassau to pro- full Sabbath school claim that Seventh-day Adventists and church service stand for drug-free living. at the main Following the march, summit pre- Centerville church senters and local civic leaders pre- in Nassau. It was a sented a community drug-free rally. It high day, marked was a grand success and a great testa- by official greetings ment to the local organizational skills from division, of Bahamas Conference temperance HUT, TWO, THREE, FOUR: Pathfinders and summit participants General Con- director John Carey. gather behind this banner for the Sabbath afternoon community ference, and con- As the 2,000-passenger cruise ship anti-drug march and rally. ference leaders. left port in the early hours of Sunday

18 (410) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES morning, all attendees knew that an Listen magazine. Attendees also challenge was answered by others, indelible statement for temperance had endorsed a new design for a full-color, and with the Lord’s help we look to been made in the Bahamas. And there upbeat Winner magazine—the junior considerable positive sales response in were still approximately five hours of edition of Listen. the months ahead. landmark discussions and presentations Attendees applauded when The summit ended in the early for temperance. informed that Listen magazine had just hours of Monday morning. The seas Leading the way was policewoman begun publication of a very special had been so calm that few noted the Yvette Saladino, from Florida, an spiritual themes teacher’s guide to gentle nudge of the big ship against the expert in youth gang and drug behav- properly facilitate Listen use in dock in Miami. And perhaps that is fit- iors. She painted a stark picture of Adventist schools and Adventist ting, because in a very real sense the need and the role that Adventist churches. Perhaps the biggest initia- Listen Summit has not yet ended, and activists must play in protecting all tive of the onboard meetings was will not come to anything like a natu- young people, and in particular our taken by veteran Listen literature ral pause until the church has accom- own young people, from the ravages of evangelist and trainer George plished its goal of communicating tem- the drug culture. Peterson, of Redlands, California. perance and drug-free values to young The summit accomplished its prime Peterson, now in his mid-80s, is people of all ages and backgrounds. objective of reasserting our temperance reminiscent of Moses—his strength is Ellen G. White likened the chal- message and the viability of Listen mag- not diminished nor his vision lenges facing our ship of beliefs to ice- azine. Beyond that, some important dimmed. At a critical juncture and in bergs and other hazards. We must face actions and initiatives were taken. ringing tones he proclaimed that he them head on and deal with the chal- Recognizing the broad-based cultural is making a solemn commitment to lenges. This is our opportunity to deal needs of a youth temperance message, doubling his Listen sales in the year head-on with a very real threat to the the group took some initiatives to set in ahead (he currently sells nearly security of Seventh-day Adventist motion an upcoming Spanish language $40,000 per year part-time). This young people.

NEWSBREAK

Southern Adventist University church rebuilding project, students raised $575 each to Students Rebuild Communities in cover their own expenses. Hurricane Georges hit the Dominican Republic in Central America September 1998, killing more than 500 and leaving Students from Southern Adventist University in 100,000 people homeless. In October, Hurricane Mitch Collegedale, Tennessee, spent their spring break holding pummeled Nicaragua, causing an estimated 10,000 deaths medical clinics in hurricane-ravaged Nicaragua and the and more than $5 billion in damage, according to the Dominican Republic from February 25 to March 8. United Nations.—Adventist News Network. A group of 41 students joined volunteer doctors and nurses at clinics where a variety of infections, malnutri- Avondale College Earns High Marks tion, and malaria were treated. Students also held educa- tional classes, teaching local community members basic Avondale College was recently ranked highest in health principles. Memorial Hospital in Tennessee and Australia on studies measuring teaching quality and stu- Bergen Bruswig, a Chattanooga medical supply company, dent acquisition of generic skills. both donated medicines and materials for these clinics. Conducted by Australia’s Federal Department of The student volunteers are part of a Frontier Mission Education, Training, and Youth Affairs, the study also nursing class, a mission-based senior nursing class in ranked Avondale as second highest in the nation on stu- which students learn how to suture, diagnose infections dent satisfaction, reports Gilbert M. Valentine, college and diseases, and deliver babies in a mission setting. This vice president. The report was published in The Australian, is the fourth year the class has taken mission trips. a national daily journal. Another group of SAU students spent their spring break rebuilding a church destroyed by Hurricane Georges North America Has Largest Tithe Gain last September in the Dominican Republic. The students in a Decade stayed 12 days in La Romana, which is 70 miles (110 kilo- meters) from the Dominican Republic’s capital city, Santo The North American Division posted its largest Domingo. Besides giving their time and energy to the tithe gain in more than a decade in 1998, when tithe

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (411) 19 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES The Shades of Humanity

BY ELLA M. RYDZEWSKI, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT, ADVENTIST REVIEW

recent news report tells about Joann, the daughter of has already been to Japan and researched his Japanese roots. a Japanese mother and African-American father. Interracial families can become divided or blessed AJoann considers herself as belonging to two cultures. (depending on how they choose to experience it). Many This growing awareness of one’s true racial background is tak- see this intermingling as a rich heritage that young ing hold among young adults. They no longer see any stigma Americans of the twenty-first century will embrace. An in interracial marriage. And the idea of one racial background anthropology teacher told our class years ago that there predominating over another may one day disappear. really isn’t such a thing as race, for it is difficult to tell Joann visits the Japanese section of where one stops and another begins. her city because she wants to get in NEWS COMMENTARY The shades of humanity stretch from touch with her background. Other one end of the spectrum to another in African-Americans may be wondering about their White one magnificent blend of the Creator’s brushstroke. ancestors as well, for as much as racist society wants to make In the Old Testament, Gentiles who embraced the God them fit the African-only mold, that is not their complete of Israel did not need to meet any racial or ethnic qualifica- identity. Nor is White the only identity of many other tions to be adopted into the faith. God made both the Jew Americans as they check their genealogies, as descendants and the Gentile—but we divided ourselves into categories. of Thomas Jefferson recently discovered. Perhaps God is opening the way for a new generation to get Leonard, a Japanese-Caucasian who is taking an interest in over the hurdle of racism so that He may have a people who his father’s roots in eastern Maryland, feels the same way. He can more fully reflect His ideal.

NEWSBREAK

grew 7 percent to almost $570 million. year period from 1989 to 1996, reports Pastor Don “The gain is especially impressive when compared Hosken, conference president. to the 1 percent increase in the cost of living,” said Also at issue are another 17 counts involving an addi- Kermit Netteburg, assistant to the president of the tional $258,329. Van Buuren was disfellowshipped from division for communication. “It says a lot about faith- the church in 1997. Some of the money ($121,700) has ful tithe-paying members.” been paid back by the family. “Even though the church The Atlantic Union had the largest gain at 12 per- was the victim, it was the Department of Public cent, with the Southwestern Union showing the second- Prosecutions who brought the charges, rather than the largest gain at 9 percent. Seven conferences had gains of church,” Hosken says. more than 10 percent, including Northeastern, South Van Buuren was sentenced on February 18 to seven Atlantic, Montana, Nevada-Utah, Indiana, Arkansas- years’ imprisonment, with a nonparole period of three years. Louisiana, and Lake Region. The division also said that world mission giving through Rotarians Support Adventist Hospital in Nepal regular church offering channels increased 3 percent. Church officials attribute the tithe gain to an increased The Rotary Foundation has given generous support to emphasis on stewardship education, positive feelings about Scheer Memorial Hospital, an Adventist hospital in the church in the wake of the NET evangelism events, and Nepal, reports Ira Bailie, medical director. the healthy economy in the United States. The facility recently received three tons of equipment from the Modesto Rotary Foundation in Former Conference Treasurer Pleads Guilty California. The equipment included surgical lights, to Fraud incubators, and operating room tables, as well as sup- plies, says Bailie. In the past, Rotarian grants enabled On January 29, in the Supreme Court of Adelaide, the hospital to get its first computers, monitor defibril- South Australia, Rob van Buuren, former secretary-trea- lators, and electrocardiographs. “The equipment and surer of the South Australian Conference, pleaded guilty supplies have helped us to upgrade the quality of care to 36 charges of fraud involving $648,250 over a seven- at Scheer,” Bailie says.

20 (412) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES

For Your Good Health AWR Letter Box

Grow a Rose, Save Your Hip “We are a small group who live Spending leisure time doing some gardening or following a in a remote part of Cuba. As light walking program may do wonders for your bones. A the church is quite a distance study of almost 10,000 older women found a 36 percent lower from us, we meet in the home risk of hip fracture in women with higher levels of daily of one of the sisters. There we activity (at least two hours per week), household chores, and tune in to your broadcasts from fewer hours of sitting.—Annals of Internal Medicine. PanAmerica and have our wor- ship with AWR. We have learned many things that are Smoking’s Effects on Weight Minimal valuable in our spiritual lives.” Up to one third of university women who begin smoking —Lissette do so in a misguided effort to lose weight. The tobacco Cuba industry even names cigarettes “thins” and “slims,” trying to sway weight-conscious young women. But now a new study “My compliments for your beautiful programs, which, apart shows that for people under 30, smoking does not prevent from shining in their content, are also to be appreciated for age-related weight gain. A seven-year project followed the message that they contain.” almost 4,000 people age 18-30 and revealed no significant —Fulvio difference in the amount of weight gained by nonsmokers Italy compared to those who smoked for all or part of the study’s length.—Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. “All your programs are educative, interesting, and useful, and they give me peace of mind. Keep up the good work!” “For Your Good Health” is compiled by Larry Becker, editor of Vibrant Life, —Muhammad the church’s health outreach journal. To subscribe, call 1-800-765-6955. India

NEWSBREAK

News Notes

✔ Tyrone Backers, an Adventist who founded the Community Crusade Against Drugs, was among the eight recipients of the African American Achievers Award given by the Toyota distributors of southeastern Florida and JM Family Enterprises. Backers received the award for the nonprofit organization category. Based in Miami, Florida, CCAD works with youth to find positive alternatives to drugs, says Anne-Beth Nemeroff, a JM Family spokesperson. Activities include essay contests, camps, and drama. Tyrone Backers ✔ Clarification. In the article “Mission to an Island Named Manhattan” appearing in the October 1998 Review, author Monte Sahlin cited a study conducted at the City University of New York. The study, “From American Church to Immigrant Church: The Changing Face of Seventh-day Adventism in Metropolitan New York,” was authored by Ronald Lawson, an Adventist profes- sor, and was published in Sociology of Religion, vol. 59, No. 4 (1998), pp. 359-391.

What’s Upcoming

Apr. 1 Monthly Focus—Stewardship Apr. 3 Missionary Magazine Emphasis (El Centinela, La Sentinelle, Message, Signs) Apr. 3 Stewardship Day Apr. 10 Literature Evangelism Day Apr. 17 Education Day

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (413) 21 SANDRA DORAN: DIALOGUES My Daughter-in-law SANDRA DORAN Is a Workaholic

’m concerned that my daughter-in-law is a workaholic. My sense is that your daughter-in-law does not need criticism She’s always rushing—to her job, to church, to the in the midst of her hectic life, but support. It is one thing for a store. Don’t you think Jesus would rather have her person to give of herself to the point of exhaustion so that all slow down and spend more heads remain above water. It is an- time with her children? other to do so in the midst of a judg- IBefore affixing the label mental and disapproving atmosphere. “workaholic” to the sleeve of your What can you do My question to you is this: What daughter-in-law, you might want can you do to help alleviate some of to consider the implications of to alleviate some the pressure your daughter-in-law is the title and the possibility that feeling? I remember many an after- the term is unfair. noon, as a newly married first-year The word “workaholic” was coined of the pressure? schoolteacher, driving home, bone- in 1968 by Wayne Oates, a counselor tired, fantasizing about casseroles who used it to mean “a compulsive already prepared, offerings on my worker” or a person who, for some deep psychological reason, doorstep, tasks miraculously done, nothing but a couch and pil- covers all of the empty spaces in life with time commitments. low awaiting me. I would have gladly walked in the door, The workaholic, by definition, has opted to replace free time, accepted my slippers, and waited to be served. But such is not leisurely moments, walks in the rain, with volunteer activities, the lot of women. To imply that our busyness is motivated by a extra hours at work, places to go, people to see. personal psychological need is not only erroneous; it is insulting. Since its introduction into the culture, the word “worka- Rather than scrutinize your daughter-in-law’s activities holic” has reshaped the way we view busy people, leading to against a “What would Jesus do?” why not ask the same ques- a yearly Workaholics Day, dedicated to those who can’t or tion of yourself? What would Jesus do if He encountered an won’t slow down. Workaholics are not too far removed in overcommitted, struggling, frenetic, going-in-all-directions-at- our minds from alcoholics, from whom they got their name, once woman, striving to do the best by her family and her or chocoholics, who found themselves defined after Oates’s - God? How might He lighten her load? gladden her heart? holic ending began defining diverse groups within society. As you look for ways to make this family member’s life The -holics are addicts of one sort or another—people who easier, I would caution you to do so with no strings attached. cannot seem to extricate themselves from alcohol, choco- A casserole with a hidden message as one of the ingredients late, or 68-hour workweeks. is worse than no casserole at all. A window washed because While I have heard “workaholic” loosely applied to many it was “about time somebody did it” affords a dimmer view women whose busyness appears to be all-consuming, I am not than a hand-smeared pane. sure that all pieces of the definition fit. The overcommitted, On the other hand, a gift from the heart, an understanding ball-juggling, pack-a-kid’s-lunch-while-answering-the-phone- spirit, a pot of homemade soup handed off at the door between and-drying-the-dishes women that I know would gladly piano recitals and Little League, might be well received.* exchange a frenetic afternoon for a trip to the Bahamas. They do not, either deliberately or subconsciously, fill their lives * Sandra Doran’s new book, Gathering, coauthored with her sister, Dale Slongwhite, addresses many of the issues faced by women on the brink of with things to do for the sake of things to do. They are not the next millennium. motivated by some driving Puritan work ethic that is inextri- cably tied into their self-esteem. They do not need a psycholo- gist to probe into the deep, dark places that spur them on to Sandra Doran is an author and educator who writes add more and more layers of complexity to their lives. They from Attleboro, Massachusetts. are, pure and simple, women who do what has to be done to keep their families together, bills paid, orthodontic wires con- nected, science projects firmly glued down.

22 (414) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 LIFESTYLE

Captivated by Love Six ways the Edenic experience is a model for marital love.

BY ALBERTA MAZAT

S WE STUDY SCRIPTURE WE OFTEN created them equal,1 we can trust Him to have made this come to a phrase or sentence that is so famil- distribution fairly and appropriately. iar to us that it speaks volumes, and without God allowed Adam to experience his male personhood any additional comment. “For God so loved by himself long enough to realize he was not complete. God the world” (John 3:16) is one that influences said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18, Aour ways of thinking and doing in this life, and provides a NIV). A male and female creation had been planned long in blessed assurance of life eternal. advance. Perhaps this time spent without a companion of A breadth of meaning that is also impossible to encom- the same nature would deter Adam from ever feeling self- pass mentally is contained in six words in Genesis 1:27: sufficient or self-satisfied. “Male and female created he them.” Our concept of self, our Then God did four things that included both of them: relationships, and our behaviors are profoundly influenced 1. He blessed them. by these six words. 2. He told them “be fruitful, and multiply” (Gen. 1:28), and This was the crowning act of Creation, but why male and that was a process in which both were absolutely essential. female? For the purpose of populating the earth? Too sim- 3. He told both to “subdue” the earth (verse 28) thereby plistic. God, being God, was not restricted to this creation making them equals in implementing submission upon creation. by sexual means. He could have just spoken humans into 4. He told them to rule over God’s nonhuman creation as existence. But a mechanical, impersonal creation does not comanagers (verse 28). sound like our God, who desired companionship and an “When a great and decisive work is to be done,” Ellen intimate relationship with His creation. White wrote, “God chooses men and women to do this An intimate relation between God and His Son had always work, and it will feel the loss if the talents of both are not existed. Jesus gave us a small window into the quality of this combined.” 2 Certainly being coregents of this earth was the relationship. In His prayer before He returned to His Father, beginning of the many types of “great and decisive” works He used such phrases as “All I have is yours, and all you have that God intended qualified men and women to carry out is mine” and “That they may be one as we are one” (John together as equals. 17:10, 11, NIV). This type of relationship could be experi-

ISC enced only by thinking, reasoning, free-to-choose individuals. Unitive Aspects of Sexuality D Since God made male and female “in his own image” Can we know what God intended the act of sexuality to HOTO (Gen. 1:27), which elements of His image did He bestow contribute to marriage? We sometimes ignore the fact that God © P upon the male? Which on the female? Or did each have could have planned for procreation to be simply a biological HOTO

P some qualities of both? We cannot know this, but since He event that carried with it nothing more than a physical blending

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (415) 23 of bodies for the purpose of impregna- Ellen White makes this memorable seek to regularize them and make them tion. More was obviously involved. It statement: “Love can no more exist the norm. was also to encompass unitive aspects without revealing itself in outward acts The result has been that many earnest including a sense of closeness for the than fire can be kept alive without Christians may have never seen sexuality enhancement of the love relationship. fuel.” 5 What should these “outward in its beauty and think of it in terms of a All these aspects of sexuality would acts” consist of? She explains by using “regrettable necessity” rather than a joy- have been wondrous in themselves, if this charming statement, “little atten- ous privilege. Young people may believe they had been their natural the only quali- impulses are ties of sexual- frowned upon by ity—but there adults, God, and was more, much even Ellen more. Pleasure White. and ecstasy in sexuality were What can we also gifted to do to rescue humans, not and restore only initially, but sexuality in throughout their marriage? lives. Solomon 1. Recognize advised, “May that there are you ever be cap- problems in our tivated by her homes and love” (Prov. churches, 5:19, NIV). among married We can only or single, par- dimly compre- ents or parish- hend the joy ioners. We can God intended to add to the lives of tions.” 6 (See sidebar.) no longer ignore these issues.7 husbands and wives in their sexual Couples can usually recall the pro- 2. Dispense with the myth of “natu- experience. With perfect bodies, keen gression from hand-holding to the ralism.” Sexual matters do not just nat- responses, every muscle and nerve deepest intimacies—which are, in urally take care of themselves. Parents, attuned, this awesome gift was to God’s plan, restricted to the protected educators, counselors, and ministers remind them often of God’s plan for space of marital love. Intimacy must must educate our children, youth, and their love. Married couples living now include emotional, intellectual, and adults in sexual matters that have to are responsible for pondering the spiritual components as well. When do with their sexual choices. Edenic ideal and patterning their expe- two lovers are within each other’s life 3. Do not allow the ugly messages rience after it as nearly as possible. boundaries—sharing their bodies along of perversions and violence to “taint” (See sidebar.) with their thoughts, ideas, values, the whole area of sexuality in our Ellen White reminds us that Adam goals, including delights as well as dis- minds. It can still be pure and beauti- and Eve were created with a nature so appointments and sorrows, then they ful in God’s plan as we prayerfully that they could love and be loved,3 that are truly sharing at an intimate level. spend time in its study. their “existence should be a blessing to There is a true “knowing” (Scripture’s 4. Control the radio, television, and themselves and to one another, and an very appropriate term for intercourse). videos that are invading Christian TV honor to their Creator.” 4 There is no When God’s children substitute their sets and spilling their off-color jokes, honor in a grudging, joyless, or demand- will for His, disintegration and disorga- double entendres, and trivializations ing sexual experience, nor one that does nization follow. Within a few genera- into our homes. Even when young not seek to give and receive pleasure or tions after Creation, polygamy, marital people in surveys tell us that most of fulfillment. unfaithfulness, prostitution, and incest what they know about sex comes to As God exhorts wives and husbands were introduced. The protective plan of them through the media, complacency to love one another, He makes very sexuality being reserved for a wife and seems to prevent the taking of a firm

clear what love entails. Married love husband gave way to destructive and stand in not allowing the innuendos ISC will manifest itself by being patient, ugly practices. Future cultures added to and explicit materials in soap operas D kind, unselfish, and protective. It will the degradation of God’s plan for sexual- and situation comedies, videos, and HOTO be courteous, optimistic, and slow to ity, and now we hear sordid and debas- movies into our homes. © P HOTO

show frustration and anger (1 Cor. 13). ing incidents spoken of in ways that 5. Combine physical intimacy with P

24 (416) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 other intimacies in marriage, specifically emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. The Original Eden Experience Most studies show that a good interper- a Model of Christian Marital Love sonal relationship between a husband and wife is more important than sexual physical know-how if their lovemaking By Alberta Mazat is to become a living and vital experi- ence for them, not only initially, but in 1. A setting of complete beauty, sights, sounds, and aromas—all united to the months and years ahead. Wise cou- delight their God-given senses. Modern lovers need to plan for beauty in the sur- ples will seek premarital counseling so roundings of their lovemaking. that they will each be able to under- 2. Privacy—not only from mundane things, such as telephones, doorbells, and stand their part in implementing these children, but also from messages that debase and trivialize this wonderful gift. other important intimacies. Couples 3. Interpersonal harmony—there was no discord until sin entered. already married need frequently to 4. Equality—they experienced sexuality without elements of dominance and think of refreshing their intimacy submission. Insisting on gratification was never consistent with their relationship. potential through reading, counseling, 5. Sexuality—experienced with the full assurance that what they were doing and marriage enrichment opportunities. with their bodies was just exactly what God intended for them to do. There were 6. Give attention to the joyousness no nagging concerns that this much pleasure might be questionable. of life and the privilege of living. 6. God as instructor—He always fully informs us of His purposes. Under- Learn to have fun together, to laugh standing “leaving and cleaving” gave their sexual experience knowledge and and share special private jokes and complete validation. humor. Often when dysfunctional cou- ples seek marital counseling, it is noted to the editors and many other observers. part of their spiritual orientation. They that their appearance is accompanied Women who perceived themselves to be know that the sexual oneness God by heaviness—as though it had been a deeply religious turned out to be among intended for femaleness and maleness very long time since they “had rejoiced those who enjoyed sex the most, and can indeed be a sanctified and at the and been exceeding glad.” were “most highly satisfied.” same time a joyous delight. 7. Avoid carelessness in the relation- Well, why not? These women con- Let married couples think of this, ship. Solomon in his memorable Song sider sexuality to be God’s plan for their let them talk of this, and let them of Songs speaks of the “little foxes” that bodies. The qualities of love have been rejoice with the bride and groom in “spoil the vines” (S. of Sol. 2:15), refer- divinely defined for them, and through- the Song of Solomon as they sing their ring, it seems, to the carelessness with out the Bible they have God’s counsel song of songs: which relationships are treated. on conducting successful relationships. “Let us go early to the vineyards to How important is spirituality in a They are assured that God wants their see if the vines have budded, if their couple’s sexual expression? In 1980 a happiness, and that they can appropri- blossoms have opened, and if the nonconservative women’s magazine, ately make their marital sexual relation- pomegranates are in bloom—there I Redbook, conducted a survey among its ship a matter of study and prayer. All the will give you my love” (S. of Sol. 7:12, readers. It produced findings surprising ingredients of good sexual experience are 13, NIV). ■

1 Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 46. Relationship Skills to Enhance Your Marriage 2 Evangelism, p. 469. 3 Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 46. 4 Education, p. 174. By Ellen White 5 The Adventist Home, p. 111. 6 Ibid., p. 108. 7 Note: Our church took a landmark step in ■ Be quick to recognize the good qualities of the other. October 1998 by calling a World Commission ■ Give love rather than exact it. on Human Sexuality. It was unanimously de- ■ cided that we must be involved in educating for Express appreciation; it’s a wonderful stimulus and satisfaction. Christian sexuality in our homes, schools, and ■ Be gentle in speech; keep sharpness out of the voice. churches. ■ Don’t linger over mistakes and disappointments. ■ Practice little courtesies. This article is an abbreviated ■ Watch for chances to evidence affection by tenderness and regard. form of a paper presented at ■ Don’t always try to get the other to follow your wishes. the First International ■ Study to advance the happiness of the other. Jerusalem Bible Conference, ■ Let there be mutual love, mutual forbearance. Jerusalem, Israel, in June The Adventist Home, chapters 4 and 5 1998, by Alberta Mazat, retired marriage and family therapist.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (417) 25 ROSY TETZ I Wonder

o you know one of the things I like best about people? I kangaroo and set it hopping? And who sprinkled fireflies in like the interest people show in things, and how exited the grass at dusk? Was He trying to leave a trail for us to fol- Dthey can get about them. low? Was He hoping we would notice and wonder and say, For instance, have you ever been to a band concert? “Wow”? Most of the people involved in band concerts are there When we wonder at things, that is a way to worship. because they love to make music. The director loves to When we wonder about the Creator, that really is worship! wave her arms and keep everyone together and upbeat. The In Psalm 17:7 David prays, “Show the wonder of your musicians can hardly sit still because there is so much music great love” (NIV). The more we discover about God’s world, inside trying to get out of them. the more we discover about God’s love. When there are people like that in the band, there is a Do you wonder what to do for worship? What sounds good chance the audience will enjoy the music. They will like fun? God is ready to astound you with wonder upon show their amazement and wonder by clapping. Some may wonder. even shout, “Bravo!” People get excited about so many different things. It’s wonder- ful to watch them at dog shows and football games and stamp col- lector club meetings. It’s wonder- Family Time ful to listen to them talk about the stuff they’re interested in. On Tuesday (or whatever day you like), invite your family to There are so many fascinating worship God together. things to find out. There are so ☛ many cool things to do. There is Ask the person with the newest watch to keep time so much we can get excited about. while you all scurry around the house to find something that Our world is filled with things God made and that you can show and tell. Take three min- that make our jaws drop in a won- utes. When you get back and show each item, see which one derful “Wow!” This was all God’s idea. He draws forth the longest “Wow!” from everyone. says, “Therefore once more I will ☛Ask an adult to tell you about their most memorable astound these people with wonder “Wow!” experience. Ask them how they felt at the time. You upon wonder” (Isaiah 29:14, might even figure out a family “Wow!” scale. You could give one NIV). So there must have been some point if it makes your jaw drop, two if you shiver, three if you first wonders to wow Adam and get goose bumps, four if you . . . well, you get the idea. Eve. Rainbows and elephants and ☛Think what you like best about God. Then see if you can apricots, maybe. We can never think of a song that expresses that thought. For instance, if learn all there is to know about such wonders. you like God because He loves you, then sing a song about Do you ever think about the God’s love. Or make up the words so that they say what you One who made these wonders? like about God. Sing your song worshipfully. What kind of God made the first ✃

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (419) 27 GLOBAL MISSION: REACHING THE UNREACHED WITH HOPE

New Starts From Alaska to India

FIRST BAPTISMS AMONG THE MARATHA CASTE FIRST ESKIMO LEADER

The first baptisms from among the Maratha caste of Marathi-speak- ARCTIC EVANGELISM: Jeremy Koonooka, the first ing people took place recently in the village of Gardolli, in southern Eskimo Global India. “This people group has been very resistant to Christianity and Mission volun- our message,” reports teer, has begun Dorothy Watts, associ- work in Selawik, ate secretary of the Alaska. Jeremy Southern Asia Division prepared for (SUD). “All 12 are working as a native messenger from the same family.” by attending These Hindus were evangelism train- baptized with 59 people ing at the Black from another distinctive Hills Health and cultural group—ethnic Education Africans (pictured). Institute for three “Nestled in the thick months. Jeremy’s work in Selawik involves pastoring, teak jungles of western working with new believers, and organizing new church READY TO LISTEN: Along with Maratha caste mem- Karnataka, near the companies. “The Alaska Adventist native work has bers, ethnic Africans in India are eager to learn Goa border, are many never before achieved the goal of indigenous native about Jesus Christ. villages of ethnic leadership in any of its areas,” says Jim Kincaid, of Alaska Native Missionaries. “We are happy that finally Africans,” says Watts. “They came to India 3 or 400 years back and we have an Alaska Yupik Eskimo ministering to his own have not intermarried with the local Kannada people.” people in the Arctic.” The baptism resulted from reaping meetings conducted by Edwin Charles, SUD youth director, and a team of African students studying in the university at Dharwad. For several months these students had been working in local villages with Global Mission pioneer James Marihal. Among those baptized were the village headman’s wife and C A N A D A Selawik three other members of his family. “If you are serious,” said the head- man, “I will help you enter 35 villages with your message.” “This man is very favorable AFGHANISTAN to our message,” says Watts. CHINA “The headman is an influen- A L A S K A

PAKISTAN tial political worker and well

NEPAL known throughout the area. BHUTAN

I N D I A BANGLADESH Already he has given us three acres of land to build a Pacific Ocean MYANMAR church and a school. If we will establish ourselves in TELL ME STRAIGHT these three villages, then we Arabian Sea A Bay of Bengal

K

A T will have entrance into According to best estimates, more than 13,000 A

N

R

A K dozens of other villages of new Adventist congregations have been estab- ethnic Africans in the area.” lished since Global Mission began in 1990.

28 (420) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 CITYSCAPES In the Spotlight ROYSON JAMES

hat surprises me most about God is that I New York and Toronto among bankers, directors, set design- continue to be surprised by God. ers, costume makers, advertising agencies, and many in the The latest revelation involves one of the industry owed an estimated $500 million. world’s most pow- There was little sympathy for a erful live theater church group whose $3,500 deposit Wimpresarios, Garth Drabinsky; the was now part of the funds frozen in collapse of his multimillion-dollar Was this a sign Livent’s account. If the Adventist entertainment company, Livent, Inc.; ensemble carried on, any funds from a group of Adventist singers who got ticket sales likely would be gobbled entangled in the international from the Lord? up by creditors with first call on intrigue; and how God used the Livent’s funds. The only reasonable group’s misfortune to get the name of decision was to cancel the show. His church plastered positively on the pages of Canada’s largest In just three years the choral ensemble had built a repu- newspaper. tation of excellent and varied music, a ministry that could The Seventh-day Adventist Choral Ensemble of Greater reach non-Adventists, and a tradition of giving proceeds to Toronto started singing in 1995 with about 25 members. A institutions such as ADRA and the local Crawford modern oratorio by Greg Nelson and Bob Farrell, featuring Adventist Academy. Was this a sign from the Lord? Should soloists such as Wintley Phipps, Steve Green, and Larnelle we quit? Or did God have some other bold plan? Harris, provided the perfect launching pad to take the stir- Two of our churches came to the rescue. A scaled-down ring music of Saviour to churches in Greater Toronto. production took place at the inner-city West Toronto The following year we dramatized the work and trans- church, and the main presentation occurred as planned at formed it into Mi Corazon (My Heart), a full-blown musical the Apple Creek church in the Toronto suburb of Markham. production with pageantry, movement, and a voice choir. Offerings totaled an amazing $5,500, allowing the group to And, most satisfyingly, we presented it in one of the city’s pay off its debts. But God wasn’t through yet. major concert halls, the Ford Center for the Performing In commenting on the Livent scandal in one of my news- Arts in North York, a city-owned arts center run by paper columns, I had mentioned the Seventh-day Adventist Drabinsky’s company, Livent Inc. Choral Ensemble as one of the many nonprofit groups While the press raved about Drabinsky’s abilities to beat scarred by the high-flying entertainment moguls. Two weeks Americans at their own game, our audience was caught up before the production, reporter Ashante Infantry picked up in the “compelling portrayal of God’s passion for His peo- the story, and it ran as a front-page picture and a page 2 story ple.” That success spawned the production Hush in 1997 in the Sunday Star. and plans for Immanuel last December. But strange things A Christian production by amateur Adventist singers, happened on the way to the anticipated third straight sold- once bound for a major concert hall and then doomed by out performance. the storm swirling around big-money entertainment, is It had become obvious after Mi Corazon that the group had rescued by a God who has already played in the biggest created a monster, of sorts. The audience demanded bigger and drama to hit the world stage, and thrust into the headlines more elaborate productions, with costumes, sets, and costly for 2 million people to know that Jesus is God and we are accoutrements. Non-Adventists were being introduced to our His people. Saviour through the productions, but the price tag was high. Group members had families and major responsibilities in Royson James is a columnist for the Toronto Star. their local congregations. The demands, it seemed, exceeded our abilities to deliver. Then God intervened. Reports filtered out that Livent had filed for bankruptcy protection. Aftershocks were felt in

ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 1999 (421) 29 REFLECTIONS Why Be Afraid? BY MORT JUBERG

enjoy standing at my back patio door watching birds at mouthwash to keep your friends, or the correct shampoo to a large feeder I made. Although the feeder attracts eliminate dandruff. many kinds of birds, towhees and juncos are generally Fear even enters into religious worship. The dread of in the majority. All of them, hellfire is an often-used sermon theme though, show one predominating for some fundamentalist preachers. Even Icharacteristic—fear. Christians fear that they won’t be ready They peck at the seeds provided but for the return of Jesus, and despite the keep a wary eye for other birds. Always promises of eternal life, almost everyone looking around, they are definitely fears death. aware of my movements. The slightest People are afraid of the future. Jesus motion sends them scattering. Larger said that in the last days people’s hearts dominant-type birds chase smaller birds would fail them for fear in expectation to the nearby cherry tree. Then a of the events coming to earth. Steller’s jay, resplendent in its blue iri- But why be afraid? Fear is often an descent feathers, scares away all the overpowering emotion that takes con- birds. A sudden movement by me in the trol of one’s senses. The psalmist wrote, doorway sends it flying away. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Occasionally a crow comes to dine, raucously telling its whom shall I fear?” (Ps. 27:1). And in the familiar words of mates of its good fortune in finding a handout. They are the shepherd’s psalm he wrote, “Yea, though I walk through more wary than most birds, and a move to the door by me the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for sends the scavenger to the top of a nearby fir tree. thou art with me.” Most assuring are the words of Jesus in As I watch these birds that God cares for so carefully, I John 14:27: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be wonder, “Has fear always had such control over them?” I afraid.” think not. I’m sure that in the Garden of Eden the birds Fear can be a paralyzing emotion. A person is told they flocked around Adam and came to him fearlessly eating have cancer, and immediately there is that sinking feeling in from his hand. the pit of their stomach. In circumstances like these, fear But fear of humans isn’t limited to birds. A large bob- takes many forms—anxiety, worry, depression, and stress. tailed gray cat rolls in the soft dirt in my garden, and if he According to the Scriptures, fear is a form of slavery. “You sees me step out of the door, he quickly disappears. did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but At the end of the garden I watch a squirrel on its rounds you have received the spirit of sonship” (Rom. 8:15, RSV). gathering food. It appears even more frightened than the What can be done about fear? In 1 John 4:18 we read, birds. Any sight of me, and it scurries up the fir tree where it “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.” REWS C makes its home. The answer is Jesus. The acceptance of Jesus and His love as Y ERR

But why all this fear, not only in the animal kingdom but Saviour is paramount. Then add to that the assurance that T most certainly among people? It’s part of Satan’s plan of comes from the Holy Spirit coupled with the trust found by BY

control. Fear is a predominating emotion today. Animals filling one’s mind with God’s promises in the Scriptures. TION fear people. People fear animals. People often fear people. It Daily prayer for a calming spirit works wonders as an anti-

■ LLUSTRA even goes further than that—nations fear other nations. dote for fear. I Fear is used by repressive governments to squelch criticism and even to stifle religion. Mort Juberg is a retired North Pacific Union com- Fear is often used in advertising. Subtly the message goes munication director and Gleaner editor. out: install an alarm system in your home or purchase this brand of automobile, and your family will be safer. Advertising effectively uses fear of rejection: use the right

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