Page 9 Page 10 Page 16 October 2018 Don’t Let Your A Remnant Jonah’s Fishing Kids Read This Chosen by Grace Campaign Called to Belong By Bill Knott efore I reached the age of 6, I learned a central truth about the Bremnant. My Aunt Gladys was one of those remarkable women who illustrated “multi-tasking” long before the term grew trendy, for she was never doing only one thing. While telling long and fascinating stories or playing complicated word games, she was invariably cro- united states cheting, braiding a rug, or sewing shirts that little boys were proud to wear. Spending afternoons with Aunt Gladys meant entering a world of projects, including frequent visits to the “remnant store.” Among the bolts of printed cotton and yards of colorful fabrics, Aunt Gladys searched for bits of cloth—scraps and pieces—which her trained eye and frugal sense could imagine for her next project. We would return with plastic bags well-stuffed with About the Cover “remnants”—squares and triangles of fabric soon integrated into another quilt or sturdy, handmade rug. Tsega Sileshi T. was born into an By definition and repeated observation, a “remnant” was a Adventist home in Ethiopia. She moved thing created by the choice of someone else—something left to the United States seven years ago. when larger pieces found their designated purpose. No square of She is currently pursuing a B.Sc. degree red-checked gingham or floral fabric ever chose to be a remnant. A in biology in Chattanooga, Tennessee, remnant was a thing made valuable because an artist and creator where she attends the East Ridge saw possibilities in pieces. Seventh-day Adventist church. Tsega That understanding, planted in my mind before I even started is passionate about helping people and school, has always helped me when the rhetoric of “remnant” enjoys the outdoors. She dreams of seemed to imply an exclusive or self-chosen identity for those who serving others in the medical field and is rightly call themselves “God’s end-time remnant people.” The Scrip- excited about Jesus’ soon coming. tures are entirely clear: we don’t choose to make ourselves a rem- Cover Photo: Tim Pethel nant any more than we can claim responsibility for our salvation. It’s the gracious call to follow Jesus that creates Focus the identity and purpose of His remnant. It’s His 10 A Remnant Chosen by Grace act to gather up small and frequently discarded fragments from other causes and faith groups 14 Faithful to His Word according to a pattern only He can see. 16 Jonah’s Fishing Campaign It’s the glory of our Saviour that “He has 18 Living With an Imperfect Remnant made everything beautiful in its time” (Eccl. 22 Jesus Has His Reasons 3:11), including what He makes of those the The Word world rejects or persecutes. The vast, un- 26 Bible Questions Answered counted throng seen by the apostle John in vision is assembled from the fragments others My Church spurned or counted worthless—a quilt, if 13 Millennial Voices you will, of hues and patterns pleasing to the 20 Global View Artist who repurposed them. His call creates 24 Discovering the Spirit of Prophecy His remnant: His grace is still what ties us to millions of other believers who differ in so many human categories but find our Living Faith satisfying place in His design. 27 Health and Wellness Rejoice in this: that you have been invited by grace to belong to 28 May I Tell You a Story? that remnant precious to the Lord, those who “keep the command- 30 Growing Faith—Children’s Pages ments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17). We believe in the power of prayer, and we welcome prayer requests that can be shared at our weekly staff worship every Wednesday morning. Send your requests to [email protected], and pray for us as we work together to advance God’s kingdom. 2 October 2018 AdventistWorld.org News Moment Pedro Valença, an ADRA Connections Extreme participant from UNASP-Brazil, carries supplies while working on an Amazon River school site. Photo: ADRA International AdventistWorld.org October 2018 3 News in Brief “It was a humbling experience. “Christian Many community and church members attended the launch.” youth to- —Apisalome Seru, Vanuatu Adventist Mission chief financial officer, who day want participated in the launch of a government-aided school renovation proj- ect on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. It is the first time the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the trans-Pacific region has received government to under- funding to renovate an Adventist school. Total funding for the project is close to AU$2 million (US$1.48 million). Speaking to those in attendance, stand faith Jean-Pierre Nirua, Vanuatu’s minister of education, thanked community members for their patience, prayers, and commitment to the project. and origins, and need First Phase of Medical School in Rwanda to Be Completed by 2019 The Adventist to hear The first phase of the East-Central Humanitarian Africa Division (ECD) medical school Source: Office of Archives, Statistics, and how top in Rwanda is expected to be com- Research Global Membership Survey 2013 pleted by March 2019, regional scientists Adventist leaders have reported. Once completed, the medical school will address some of Africa’s most like Walton pressing health challenges. The ratio of doctors to patients across have de- the ECD territory is very low. In Rwanda there is one physician veloped per 15,625 inhabitants. Leaders also expect that the new medical their sense program will support the 10 Seventh- day Adventist mission hospitals and 166 clinics across the ECD territory. of wonder in God’s 200,000 responsibility a deep sense of I feel suffering. to reduce creation.” The number of acres (equiva- 47% I often care a great deal about reducing deal about reducing a great care I often the world. country/around in my poverty lent to 80,937 hectares or 809 —Victor Hulbert, communication square kilometers) that were on of a significant portion I give to help people. time/money director of the Trans-European fire in California when the Central 36% Division, commenting on the California Conference canceled 31% release of a new episode of the its Camp Wawona summer camp series Seeking Understanding. sessions for the remainder of The episode features University of the season. The decision was St. Andrews professor of chem- made because the air quality istry John Walton, and highlights index had reached very unhealthy one top scientist’s view on the levels. A few days later a man- origins of life. Hulbert organized datory evacuation order was a preview of the film on the given for those in the area. campus of Newbold College. 4 October 2018 AdventistWorld.org News in Brief “We have not been 350 able to transmit Number of victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) who have received the message of medical attention and reconstructive surgery at the Desert Flower salvation yet, but Center located in the Waldfriede Adventist that story is go- Hospital in Zehlendorf, Berlin, Germany. The center was launched in ing to change.” 2013 with the support of former top model Waris —Dany Perla, president of the Metropolitan El Salvador Conference, congrat- Dirie. According to United ulating a group of young Adventist members in San Salvador who decided Nations statistics, more to take a course in basic sign language in order to be able to minister to than 250 million women deaf individuals. Perla told the group that the church has so few members with hearing disabilities “simply because we have not been able to commu- worldwide are affected by nicate with them.” this damaging procedure. 8,742 Number of patients served over a three-day period by a mega clinic organized in Palawan, the Philippines. The clinic was a joint effort by Adventist World Radio and LifeSource International Medical Clinics, a humanitar- ian service associated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Patients were offered a wide range of free medical services including access to Dental providers care for one of the 8,742 dental care, medical consulta- patients at the mega tion, minor surgeries, optical clinic organized in services, laboratory tests, a Palawan, Philippines. pharmacy, and counseling. Photo: Southern Asia-Pacific Division AdventistWorld.org October 2018 5 News in Depth Administrative Committee Takes Document to be considered Step Forward in Unity Process at the 2018 Annual Council. By Adventist World and ANN The Seventh-day Adventist The Unity Oversight Committee cle, and showed that a majority of Church’s General Conference Admin- was informed by quantitative and the world church’s union presi- istrative Committee (ADCOM) voted qualitative data gathered from dents favored some kind of process on Tuesday, July 17, a document rec- church leaders worldwide as well for dealing with noncompliance. ommended by the Unity Oversight as dialogues with the 13 world Following standard process and Committee. The recommendations divisions, General Conference Lead- protocol, the document voted on came after nine months of listening ership Council, and GC institutions. July 17 by GC ADCOM will also be and consultation with church enti- Comments from Executive Commit- discussed by the General Conference ties around the world, and outline tee members during previous Annu- and Division Officers Committee. It a process of addressing entities not al Councils were also considered. will then be sent to the GC Execu- in compliance with the actions of a The Office of Archives, Statistics, tive Committee at its Annual Coun- General Conference (GC) Session, the and Research was tasked with cil this October for consideration.