Southern Tidings for 1975

UGUST, 1975 SOUTHERN Tit llNCGO • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE OF VENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS • by George A. Powell Photography by Dallas Lighthouse and the author. Eyes. Searching. Observing. Contractible black spheres peer through discs of brown, gray, green, and blue. Eyes. Portholes of the soul. Vast images shrink through minuscule portals, only to be projected on the picture tube of the mind. Eyes. Nature's psychological index. Wide. Red. Downcast. Moist. Penetrating. Soft. Smiling. Eyes. Behind them stand people— gazing, as through a knothole, at the stadium of the world, watching the cast of humanity perform the unrehearsed, unpredictable drama called life— surpassing the tragedy, comedy, Ten Southern Union optometrists attended the annual SDA optometrists' convention held adventure, and suspense of June 11-14 at Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They are: Ronald Becker, Tom Bost, John Eaton, Norman Elliott, Bill Hawthorne, Roger Hogan, Larry Pritchett, Wayne Rimmer, James celluloid extravaganzas. Tillman, and Fred Wright. But the gift of sight is not absolute. Some 200,000 older have subnormal vision. Poor vision was found to be a Americans suffer from blindness. Approximately 80 per cent of contributing factor in half of But that, as tragic as it is, is delinquent and semi-delinquent these cases. only part of the problem. youth studied by the White Intimately involved in the According to the National Health House Conference on Juvenile treatment of this malady are the survey, 94 per cent of those Delinquency had learning nation's 21,085 optometrists, Americans 65 years of age and difficulty, especially in reading. most of whom are graduates of the 12 colleges of optometry in the United States. Picturesque scenes, lush vegetation, and a blend of the modern and the quaint provided ample diversion from the round of meetings during the four-day event. Today's optometrists are educated in the sciences of physics, optics, pharmacology, ocular anatomy, disease processes and detection, neurology, psychology, social sciences, and public health. While the four-year program of advanced studies may be entered after as few as two years of college study at an accedited institution, most optometry students have completed requirements for the bachelor's degree before entering opto- metrical training. But the contributions made by approximately 150 Seventh-day Adventists in this profession go SOUTHERN TIDINGS entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at Collegedale, Tennessee 37315. Twelve per cent had worked with Nowata, Oklahoma, president of the youth as officers in the MV the Association of SDA Optom- or Pathfinder organizations. etrists. Several serve on conference Repeatedly during the committees, academy and convention, the spiritual dimen- hospital hoards. One reported sion was emphasized. Desmond being on the radio daily one Cummings, president of the week per month. Georgia-Cumberland Confer- These statistics reveal an ence, and 0. L. Heinrich, intimate involvement with a Southern Union communication different kind of vision than that director, brought inspiration to connected with the optometric the group through their mes- profession. sages, augmented by a showing "Several of our members have of the multi-media, Adventists gone to Haiti, the Dominican Around the World. Republic, and Honduras on one-, SDA optometrists are a James Tillman, Americus, Georgia, auc- two-, and three-week missions," cohesive corps. Nine of the 10 tions one of the handicrafts prepared by the women's auxiliary. stated Ralph Howard of Battle union conferences in the North Creek, Michigan. "We go on a far beyond optometry. The self-supporting basis," he competence which characterizes continued. "We pay our own their performance in the office is way. We supply lenses and also exercised in behalf of the frames for those who need church. them." A questionnaire taken at the Admission to schools of annual convention of the optometry has become difficult, Association of SDA Optometrists, thus limiting the number of held June 11-14 at Gatlinburg, SDA's wishing to enter the Tennessee, revealed that, of profession. "Most of the schools those in attendance, 81 per cent can accept only 10 to 12 per cent had served as elders of their of the applicants that they have local churches within the past each year," according to three years. Those serving as Clarence Omans, also of Battle deacons over the same period Creek. "At this particular totaled 31 per cent. meeting we have committed Not only the men were ourselves to $5,800 to buy involved. Thirty-two per cent of contract seats with some of the Many of those in attendance went on mountain hikes or woodland strolls, like the ladies had been deaconesses. schools of optometry in order to Wayne Rimmer of South Pittsburg, Ten- get SDA's into optometry." nessee, who was chosen president-elect Seventy-two per cent had served during the convention. in the children's and youth "We are working toward the Sabbath school divisions. possibility of having a Seventh- American Division were Of the total number of day Adventist college of optom- represented. From its small husbands and wives present, 20 etry," probably connected with beginning in 1958, the Associa- per cent were Sabbath school an existing institution, Howard tion of SDA Optometrists has superintendents, 35 per cent explained. grown into a progressive force, adult class teachers, 12 per cent "One of our basic goals is the stimulating not only the lay activities leaders, and 27 per spiritual relationship of the membership of the church, but cent were involved in the optometrists in the way they reaching out to the community in educational program through represent the church to their ways that go beyond optometry, school board membership or clients in their practice," concerned not only with people's Home and School leadership. according to Lowell Meister of sight, but also involved with another kind of vision. Delicious meals, based on prearranged menus, were served throughout the convention. On the final evening the newly elected officers met to outline the year's activities. From left: Philip Makousky, outgoing president; Wayne Rimmer, president-elect; Lowell Meister, president; Harry Oster, secretary-treasurer; Ralph Howard, director of public relations. Alabama-Mississippi — Tui and Faye Pitman, Richard and Maxine Centel Carolina — Herbert and Lois Weise, W. G. Ambler, program participant, E. S. Georgia-Cumberland — Desmond Cummings, president, Retie, president. Norman Lunt, Lynn Hayner. South Atlantic — Alvin and Marilyn LaCount, Barry and Brenda Black, Philip and Helen Flor- ence, James and Vanvernard Warren. Kentucky-Tennessee — K. D. Johnson, president, Jerry and Louise Willis. Florida — H. J. Carubba, president, Clarence Pillsbury, Lester Pratt, Dominic Cotta. FOUR Alabama-Mississippi Richard P. Center was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and graduated from Southern Missionary College in 1966. After serving as assistant auditor and later as assistant treasurer of the Southern Union, he was called to be the treasurer of the Alabama-Mississippi Conference, a post he has held since 1973. He and his wife, Maxine, have two children, Pam, 10, and Doug, 8. Tui D. Pitman, a native of California, graduated from Southern Missionary College in 1965. Following graduate work at the Andrews University Seminary, he served as a pastor in the Illinois Conference. In 1970 he went to Bolivia as a medical missionary. In 1974 he became pastor of the Athens, Phil Campbell, and Sheffield, Alabama, churches. He and his wife, Faye, have two boys, Sean, 4, and Shannon, 2. Carolina Herbert Weise, a graduate of Southern Missionary College, was born by George A. Powell in Germany. He began his pastoral work in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference. For three years he has served the Florence, Kingstree, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, churches. Ruby Lynn, Nancy Darlene, and Herbert Victor complete his family, along with his wife, Lois. The call. Florida Dominic Cotta graduated from Southern Missionary College in 1971 Sometimes dramatic. More often, not. and joined the Florida ministerial staff as a singing evangelist. After serving as assistant pastor of the St. Petersburg church he moved to his Usually early in life, but not always. present assignment with the Eustis, Leesburg, and Groveland churches. His wife, Nancy, has just given birth to a daughter, Stacy. They also have Clear. a son, Christopher. Clarence Pillsbury received his education at Southern Missionary Compelling. College and joined the Florida Conference as a singing evangelist. He is presently the pastor of the Gainesville church. He and his wife, Anita, have three daughters, Roseann, Dixie, and Gloria (Mrs. Danny Bent- It is more than a conviction based on zinger). Lester Pratt graduated from Columbia Union College in 1968, and environment, family tradition, or scores began his ministry in the Alabama-Mississippi Conference. In 1974 he joined the Florida Conference as a singing evangelist. He and his wife, on a vocational preference test. Ruth, now comprise one of five evangelistic teams in the conference. They have two children, Lezlie Dawn and Lester, Jr. The call offers something—an Georgia-Cumberland Lynn Hayner, a native of New York, worked as a literature evangelist opportunity to serve; the satisfaction of before enrolling at Southern Missionary College to study for the ministry. Upon his graduation in 1971 he became assistant pastor of the Knox- witnessing miracles—miracles in ville, Tennessee, church, and later served as pastor of the Lenoir City and Maryville, Tennessee, churches. His current assignment is with the impossible tasks accomplished and in the Lookout Mountain and Wallaceville, Georgia, churches. He and his wife, Lucy, have six children. lives of men. Norman Lunt was born in Texas and received his undergraduate training at Loma Linda University. He received his master of divinity It offers friendship. degree from Andrews University in 1971. After serving in Macon, Georgia, as assistant pastor he became pastor of the Atlanta Southside church.

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