AISTRALASIAN IFAMRD and advent word survey rd Mg. EctonGeotrey Garne. Registered for posting as a Periodical—Category A VOL. 86, NO. 19 PRICE 25 CENTS May 11, 1981 Radio and TV Advertising Works N. E. DEVENISH, Assistant Communication Director, South Australian Conference DURING THE FOUR MONTHS lead- ing up to the Pastor George Vandeman Revelation Seminar in Adelaide, various forms of advertising were used to attract new viewers to the "It Is Written" programme. The most successful form of advertising proved to be thirty-second spot advertisements on radio. On all occasions when radio advertisements were broadcast the responses to the free book offers were far above normal. On one Sunday the responses were five times higher than usual. One lady wrote in and thanked us for advertising the "It Is Written" programme on radio. She had not previously viewed Pastor Vandeman. These advertisements, broadcast between twelve midnight and six in the morning, cost just one dollar each. On March 20 Pastor Vandeman recorded advertising tags here in Adelaide, to be used in all future radio advertisements for "It Is Written." Pastor Vandeman also recorded two television commercials, to be broadcast free by the two channels carrying the "It Is Written" programme in this conference. Also while in Adelaide, Pastor Lonnie Melashenko taped interviews with five people; to be included in future "It Is Written" programmes. In our city 9f 934,000, ratings reveal that 33,000 people view the "It Is Written" programme on Sunday mornings at 10.00 on Ten. ## ABOVE: Pastor Vandeman in a studio at 5AA Adelaide, with announcer Des Feary and scriptwriter Miss Keera Anderson. LEFT: Pastor Lonnie Melashenko taped five interviews at SAS Channel Ten Adelaide, for inclusion in future "It is Written" programmes. Photos: N. Devenish. REMEMBER MAY 23 DISASTER AND FAMINE RELIEF OFFERING 2 :: AUSTRALASIAN RECORD :: May 11, 1981 WHAT SAWS IS ALL ABOUT Interview with Richard O'Ffill, Executive Director of SAWS, by VICTOR COOPER, Associate Director, Communication, General Conference PASTOR RICHARD O'FFILL—you are the executive director of SAWS. Is it resources that are maintained at our ten division the Seventh-day Adventist Welfare Service? offices. Our principal and most recent disaster was the Italian earthquake which devastated the southern part of Italy. We're very pleased to say SAWS was originally established with a compassion in which our communication of the that the relief project for this disaster was large welfare significance. It was established gospel is not only in words, but in deeds. administered exclusively from the European after World War II, particularly to address the Isaiah chapter 58 in action? side—from our SAWS office in Berne. These influx of European refugees. However, SAWS Right, in the highest sense. folk filled trucks with commodities, blankets, began to become involved in what we called Your goal in all of this, then, is to help and tents, and sent them with relief teams "development activities," by which we would people to help themselves, rather than to directly to the affected villages. They try to help a person help himself. The large give people things and thus make them personally distributed these resources, estab- hand-out overtone began to take on less dependent on the donor? lished tent cities, carried out first-aid duties, significance, and so the word "welfare" was Yes. We must be careful as we administer and helped clear the rubble. omitted. resources to those who don't have the basic Another very serious disaster during 1980 So you're now known as "Seventh-day necessities of life, that we don't exact a spiritual was Hurricane Allen, which swept through the Adventist World Service"—you're an in- price. You see, these people are in a condition Caribbean and touched a number of countries. ternational organisation? to accept anything we have to offer. If they feel, From the General Conference, SAWS made We're very pleased to say that Seventh-day for example, that receiving food from us is appropriations in excess of $100,000 to try to Adventist World Service is the international conditional upon attending evangelistic meet- alleviate some of the effects of that disaster. relief and development service of the Seventh- ings, or even becoming baptised, we set And I might say, Pastor Cooper, that we are day Adventist Church. SAWS is a registered ourselves up for a classic "rice Christians" encouraging our representatives to become voluntary agency, recognised by national and situation. In fact, this has happened sometimes engaged not only in relief but in rehabilitation. international organisations as a channel for in some places. And so it is extremely You see, to send a tent, for example, is a resources to people in need. important that we don't exact a spiritual price temporary measure. What the people need is In 1980 we conducted or supported and that we let the people know that we're help to build new housing. In the Dominican programmes in fifty-five countries, and we concerned with their nutritional status; we're Republic, SAWS, in co-operation with a operate ongoing SAWS programmes in fifteen concerned with their living conditions; we're European funding organisation, is actually countries. We have area offices. For example, concerned about their children, because they're building hundreds of permanent houses, which there is a SAWS-Australia, where they have an human beings, and not because we may see will be (if there is such a thing) hurricane- Australian organisation under an executive them as candidates for church membership. resistant. We feel that if we have $100 to spend, director. They have centres where material Pastor O'Ffill, besides you, Milton rather than buy a tent we should buy tin for a resources are collected, and they are very active Nebblett, Conrad Visser, Mario Ochoa, and new roof, because if disaster relief doesn't in the Pacific Basin, for example, and in your secretaries here at church arrive within two days, the people find South-East Asia. SAWS-Canada is a Canadian headquarters—just how many people are temporary shelter. So we're trying to ensure organisation with programmes particularly in involved in SAWS? What size organisation is that our relief is appropriate. Africa, and they work closely with the it? How much money is annually spent by Canadian International Development Assis- We have in divisions around the world SAWS? Is it all from Seventh-day Adven- tance (CIDA). SAWS-Euro-Africa is providing SAWS directors who oversee the SAWS tists? over 100 tonnes of food and clothing for Africa. programmes in their field, and we have in the The foundation of the SAWS budget is the They are also sponsoring well-digging projects various countries SAWS directors or represen- annual Disaster and Famine Relief offering. in North Cameroon. tatives who are in charge of the administration That's the dollar that makes all the other And so your basic purpose then, is to assist of the programme. programmes of SAWS possible, without which underprivileged people to a better way of In Peru, for example, the SAWS programme we could do nothing. In 1980 our world-wide life? has maybe fifty paid staff. There are probably ministeries cost in excess of $10 million. Of In countries that have resources, SAWS 200 to 300 volunteers associated with this course, the Disaster and Famine Relief offering organises itself to direct help to countries in programme. In Chile it would be something isn't $10 million. It's usually in the neighbour- need. similar. In Thailand, where the refugee hood of $1 million. In the overseas divisions, A Robin Hood venture—not to rob the programme is going on, we've had over 150 50 per cent of the Disaster and Famine Relief rich, but to accept from the rich, to give to doctors and nurses and paramedical support offering is reserved there for immediate the poor? personnel participate in that programme. So it's response to disasters. Fifty per cent is sent here Yes—to channel from the "haves" to the very difficult to say at any one time how many to the General Conference for distribution "have-nots." people are engaged in actually administrating world-wide in times of need. Here in North How important do you think this is? Is the the SAWS programme. Every day some America, 100 per cent of the Disaster and task of Adventists more to preach the gospel 350,000 people—mostly children—benefit Famine Relief offering comes to the General and tell of Christ's second coming than it is from our world-wide feeding programme. Conference. We not only send disaster relief to help poor people? Should we leave welfare Their diet is supplemented by protein-enriched overseas, but help in North American projects. to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and foods. In one country there may be 500 This year we sent $12,000 to one of our other charitable organisations? distribution centres. In another country, 1,000 conferences in the south-west for aid to the Well, some even refer to a quotation from centres. So you see the number of personnel victims of Hurricane Allen. So, as our people Ellen G. White that appears to agree with that. involved in SAWS is enormous. give, they are not only giving for faraway But I believe that we have to put this in context, In the list of your programmes here in places, but they are giving to what could because we are also told that if we were as kind your newsletter, SAWS Reporter, I see that ultimately be any disaster in North America, and loving and tender and pitiful as we ought to you have a number of disaster or relief- too.