'THE CEIYIRAL UNION REAPER Vol. XLVIII No. 3 Lincoln, Nebraska Feb. 8, 1979 Polar Bear Club See page 2 Polar Bear Club Braves Winter Camping By Duane Hallock, Communication Secretary While some are content to spend frigid, winter After sundown, the group spends time working on weekends in front of the fireplace, the youth of the the shelters, cutting wood for the next outing, or Kansas City area churches are trying something new socializing around a homemade campstove made from this season—gathering around outdoor campfires as a 55-gallon oil barrel. part of weekend campouts in the snow. Sunday morning, following devotions, the group The Polar Bear Club, as the group is aptly named, discusses such topics as shelter building, trail blazing, operates only during the winter months between orienteering, backpacking, first aid, and clothing and September and April, and campouts are scheduled for equipment for cold weather. the second weekend of each month—regardless of A canoe trip in the spring is planned as a finale to weather conditions. Club members are required to this season's activities. At that time, those who have attend at least six of the eight campouts. completed the camping requirements will receive a "The club's purpose is twofold," says Maynard patch bearing the Polar Bear emblem. LeBrun, club director. "Our primary emphasis is on The idea for the Polar Bear Club originated in becoming better acquainted with God through nature. Ohio, where such organizations have been active for Secondarily, we want to learn the techniques of many years. Although the program in the Central wilderness winter camping and survival." LeBrun Union originated with the New Haven, Chapel Oaks, points out that this new program offers the young and Olathe churches, it is being sponsored by the people something more than the traditional crafts. Kansas Conference and is open to all young people Now they have an opportunity to learn who wish to participate. outdoorsmanship. Wilbur Burton, Kansas youth director, spoke for The campouts are conducted at Polar Bear Valley, the church service at the January campout. He about 3/4 mile from the youth camp at the Kansas oversees the club's activities, and points out that Conference's Broken Arrow Ranch. insurance for the group is carried through the General A typical campout begins with the Friday evening Conference. vespers around the campfire. The service includes Adult leadership includes C. M. and Meg Adams, discussion groups and small prayer bands. Sabbath Steve and Debbie Davis, Maynard and Ellie LeBrun, begins with the traditional—yet informal—Sabbath Dan and Cindy Miller, Andy Snyder, Gene Sellow, and school and church services. The afternoon is spent Terry and Darlene White. hiking cross-country. The hikers avoid all trails, using LeBrun says the club can use donations of canvas, only a compass and a topographical map. chicken wire, and plastic tarps for the shelters. COVER PICTURES: Top: The framework of the shelter has been erected and one of the campers prepares to spread plastic tarp over it. Left: Campers gather around the homemade campstove inside the completed shelter. Right: Two of the campers stand outside their pup tents. MID-AMERICA MEMO The Central Union Conference moves into the The scholastic training will be conducted during an new year with a positive approach to the church's eight-week period including a six-week public crusade primary task of evangelization. Every local conference by the team. has scheduled as many public evangelistic crusades as The purpose of this program is to enrich the possible, using the union evangelists as well as their evangelistic experience of the young men entering the own evangelists and pastors. ministry, thus strengthening their soul-winning The Jack Bohannon and Sam Woods families of the capabilities as pastors, and preparing some for an Colorado Conference have accepted the invitation to effective public evangelistic ministry. serve as a Central Union evangelistic team. Bohannon The Central Union is emphasizing a concept of will be the director of a new department called the total evangelism linking the efforts of laymen, pastors, Academy of Evangelism, whose purpose is to train and evangelists in personal and public efforts to win selected young ministers in the methods of public souls to Christ and accelerate the advancement of evangelism. This training program will be worked out God's work in this territory. The program is a challenge in harmony with the Andrews University Theological to the faith and action of every leader and member of Seminary, and in counsel with S. P. Vitrano, chairman the church. of the Seminary's Department of Church and Ministry. —E. S. Reile, President WYOMllsiG Students Baptized Twelve Baptized At Worland Church In Sundance By Bette Curtis, By R. L. Johnson, Communication Secretary Communication Director Recently baptized in Worland, Having a baptism of 12 in a church Wyoming, were Curt Curtis and Kim- that had an active membership of 20 berly Peel, students of the Worland brought new life and enthusiasm to Church School. Sundance. Edwin G. Brown, Wyo- These are the first fruits of the Sundance Preceding the baptism, Paul Vercio, ming evangelist, conducted the In- Insight to Revelation meetings. Back row, pastor, delivered his sermon on The sight to Revelation meetings in the from left: Edwin G. Brown, evangelist; and Meaning of Baptism and the congre- Sundance Church. The attendance Richard Holmes, pastor, Newcastle district. Middle row: Donna Spracher, Kathy Jensen, was good from the beginning and gation had the opportunity to renew Pearl Jensen, Dan Bousa. Front row: Kendon their vows. continued to grow until the church Rindels and Wade Spracher. Six others were Curt is the son of Dr. and Mrs. reached its capacity of around 60. All baptized later. Lee Warren Jensen, Frank and Duane E. Curtis; Kimberly is the of those baptized were in their mid- Toni Wondercheck, Jolene, Kari, and Tori daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bud Peel. thirties or younger. Two were Rindels. children, the rest were teenagers or relatives say. I know the Sabbath is the young adults. truth." The new members are proving One young couple had attended to be real leaders. One young man is six different churches in their quest now Sabbath school superintendent for truth. They saw the Insight to and doing an excellent job. Revelation advertising and decided One young couple received much to investigate. They drove 60 miles opposition from relatives. Reading round trip each evening to attend. the Great Controversy together dur- Their search was completed as they ing the meetings helped strengthen joined the Sundance Church through their faith and courage to stand the baptism. pressure. They took their stand for Several young people that were truth and were baptized. baptized plan to attend Union Col- Many of the baptisms were a result lege this fall. of the seed sowing of Richard Worland pastor, Paul Vercio, with Curt Cur- One mother was strongly harassed Holmes, district pastor. Several said tis and Kimberly Peel. by her relatives when she began to their decision was strengthened be- keep the Sabbath. She said, "Their cause of the friendship and help ATTENTION criticism began to bother me, but not given in times past by various mem- PLEASE! any more I don't care what my bers of the church. SPECIAL OFFICERS'- LAYMEN'S MEETINGS ROCK SPRINGS. Evangelistic Meetings WYOMING February 10,1979 To Be Held All Day In Sheridan, Wyoming (Sabbath School starting at 9:30 a.m.) Ben J. Liebelt Sheridan Women's Club SPECIAL GUESTS 20 South Tschirgi E. S. Reile—Central Union President Les Pitton—Central Union Youth Director March 17 to April 21 Members in the Rock Springs District and the Rawlins Church are urged to attend. ALL WYOMING WORLAND, WYOMING FEDERATION MEETING February 17,1979 April 29, 1979 3:00-5:30 SPECIAL COMMUNION SERVICE HELD Powell, Greybull, Lander, Riverton, The Gillette school room was in readiness 10:30 a.m. Worland, Ten Sleep and Thermopolis for the New Year's Eve candlelight com- Adventist Church members are all urged to attend. munion service. A slide presentation on West Riverview Road • All church workers in these areas are Christ opened the rededication service. urged to attend these meetings for in- Riverton, Wyoming spiration and instruction to work as Ann Landers and Art Linkletter. They unto the Lord. GUEST SPEAKER: share the same initials. They're highly Dick O'Ffill • All other laymen in these areas are in- respected public figures. And they both vited to attend for inspiration to help endorse Listen magazine. Hear them talk General Conference ministers and church workers ac- about Listen—on Lay Activities Department complish the Lord's work as He would a cassette soon to be have it. heard in your church. Bring sack lunch NEBRASKA Rudometkin To Speak Drafted by the New York Knicks, At Festival of Praise Rudometkin's professional career started, then unexpectedly began to John Rudometkin, the subject of fade. After just two years with the Herbert Ford's book, Rudo, the Reck- Knicks, marked by periods when his less Russian, will speak to Nebras- energy and agility were inexplicably kans on March 24. cut short, he was released and picked up by the San Francisco (now Golden The former All-American basket- State) Warriors. ball star at the University of Southern Finally released by the Warriors California will relate the gripping when his symptoms continued, story of his battle to overcome a Rudometkin went to Fresno where, as virulent form of cancer that cut short a result of a freak accident, it was dis- his promising athletic career. covered that he was suffering from Rudometkin, who credits his amaz- one of the most virulent forms of ing recovery, in large degree, to his cancer.