November 7, 2009 In this issue Students Encounter Bible curriculum Bilingual book a health aid for kids Thank God for pioneers A group of students on their way to the closing Sabbath service at the fourth Adventist Students Association convention, recently held in Fiji. ASA Fiji “heeds call to serve” Tavua, FIjI ore than 80 Adventist tertiary stu- inspiration, fellowship and service.” dents from several nations of the In addition to ASA convention activities, Pacific and five different tertiary the group also worked to clean walls, install institutions met in Fiji to attend new linoleum for classrooms and dormito- Mthe fourth national Adventist Students As- ries, and upgrade computers at the school. sociation (ASA) convention, held at Lewa Through acts of service, the ASA students Adventist Primary School in the highlands hope to inspire students at the school with of Fiji from October 9 to 12. the knowledge that Adventist tertiary stu- Mission Pastor Nick Kross, associate director of dents believe in and care for them. Adventist Youth Ministries for the South The head teacher of the school, Setareki Pacific Division and division-wide ASA Vuniayawa, was impressed with their work projects keep chaplain, was a special guest at the con- and told the students, “Your coming to our vention. He says, “The annual Fiji ASA school has been timely and rewarding for convention is a high point in the life of Lewa school, the church and the whole growing tertiary students, who come together for (Continued on page 4) ISSN 0819-5633 editorial We do our best work for God when we truly repent. Imperfect people he scene is a boardroom overlook- hurt him and those around him but in the means everything else they’ve done that’s ing the golden streets and “many end, it will be okay—David’s a man after positive no longer “counts,” or is coloured rooms” of heaven, midway through a my own heart” (see Acts 13:22). by the shadows of the past. meeting on another perfect day in eter- - - - The fact that God can use imperfect peo- Tnity. God and the angelic senior managers They’re meeting again, centuries later. ple to reach out to others isn’t an excuse for of various departments in heaven have been This time, it’s about finding someone who’ll us to keep on sinning with abandon (or to meeting to talk about Balaam (the story’s in be able to preach to the Gentiles. They need take the sin of pride on a test drive by look- Numbers 22 and 23). someone who’s educated and passionate ing down on others who make mistakes). “It looks like he’s seriously considering about what they do—willing to throw them- In Psalm 51:10-13, David says, “Create those massive bribes offered to him by the selves heart and soul into the work. in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a Moabites to curse Israel,” says one of the “I was thinking Saul,” says God. steadfast spirit within me. Restore to managers pensively. There’s a stunned silence in the room. me the joy of your salvation and grant me The Trinity smile. “We’ve got this great After a few minutes—or maybe it’s a few a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will idea about how to fix that. And it involves hours—one of the angelic managers coughs teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners a talking donkey . .” nervously to clear her throat and asks, “Do will turn back to You.” - - - you mean Saul the basketweaver or Saul Jesus never turned away anyone who It’s a few centuries later (although it hardly the psychotic guy who’s been going around came to Him with a genuine desire to con- feels any time has passed at all) and the same murdering Christians?” nect with Him. He would forgive them and boardroom and senior managers are meet- “The second one,” says God with confi- encourage them to give up sinning. People ing. This time, the meeting is in the wake of dence. “I’m pretty sure we can touch his life would often go away praising God and shar- King David’s Bathsheba breakdown, with in a way that will see him ready and raring ing what they had experienced with others. rumours of him using high-powered binocu- to go for the gospel” (see Acts 9). We do our best work for God when we lars to spy on her remaining unfounded (you - - - truly repent. Although God loves us as we can read the story in 2 Samuel 11). People who bring God’s message to others are, we need to make an effort to be better One manager looks over some notes in may not be perfect—in fact, they rarely are, people and better Christians—we cannot front of him. “According to surveys, Sir, peo- as we can see from these examples from the remain stagnant. Not that it’s about salva- ple’s confidence in the king is at an all-time Bible. However, God was still able to work tion through works—just about making an low and some are questioning his ability to with and through them to have a positive effort to live a life more in line with what lead. Also, sales of his Greatest Hits—Psal- impact on the lives of others. God wants for us. morama have declined.” It doesn’t excuse the fact that they did But with all of that said, our imperfections God stares silently out the window for a wrong things but having done the wrong don’t hinder God. No matter how flawed we few moments, yet doesn’t seem to be looking things didn’t negate God’s ability to use are, God can use us. And He will do amaz- at much. He turns around with a look on them to do something for Him. ing things if we let Him work through us. His face the angels find hard to interpret— There are many times we dismiss the posi- something between pain and love—before tive things others say or do because of mis- saying in a soft voice, “What he’s done will takes they have made. One error suddenly Adele Nash Official Paper of the South Editor Pablo Lillo Mail: Adventist Media Network Pacific Division Seventh-day Editorial assistant Adele Nash Locked bag 1115 Adventist Church Editorial assistant jarrod Stackelroth Wahroonga, NSW 2076, Australia ABN 59 093 117 689 Copyeditor Talitha Simmons Phone: (02) 9847 2222 Fax: (0) 9847 2200 www.adventist Editorial secretary Theodora Amuimuia Email Letters: [email protected] connect.org Layout Kym jackson Email Newsfront: [email protected] Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver Email Noticeboard: [email protected] Vol 114 No 43 Subscriptions: South Pacific Division mailed within Cover: Nick Kross/ Australia and to New Zealand, $A43.80 $NZ73.00. ASA Fiji www.record.net.au Other prices on application. Printed weekly. 2 November 7, 2009 news Global Mission projects keep on growing Wahroonga, NeW SOuTh WaleS are provided from the Week of Sacrifice “All Nations” church and Cafe 7 in Perth; Offering, which is collected in churches Indigenous outreach in Coober Pedy, South n spite of financial limitations, Pastor Ray around the world today. The total value of Australia; and a revived church group in Coombe, director of Adventist Mission the projects approved for 2010 represents an Scottsdale, Tasmania, called “Project Hope.” for the South Pacific Division (SPD), says all-time high of $A1.5 million. Of this, the In New Zealand, projects continue at the number of Global Mission projects SPD is contributing $A192,000, the unions Matamata with an Indian group in Auck- Iaround the SPD that plant new churches are contributing more than $A241,000 and land and a new project to plant a church to open up new areas is continuing to grow. the GC is contributing more than $A504,000. among the Filipino population in Christch- Around 50 projects have been conducted this Pastor Lawrence Tanabose, committee urch. The new group of Adventists on Wallis year and budget cuts threatened to limit the chairman and SPD general secretary, says, Island struggle against intense opposition but addition of any new ones. Pastor Coombe “Global Mission projects represent the cut- Dr Jude Cuniah continues to minister there. reports that 66 Global Mission projects out ting edge of church growth. When so many “Projects also continue in Papua New of the 75 applications received have been ap- areas are calling for us to open up new work, Guinea, where funding has been missing proved and given funding for 2010. we must respond. The Lord is opening doors for two years,” says Pastor Coombe. “These The SPD’s Global Mission Committee of opportunity and every new church plant include 10 very successful church plants in met on October 20 in Wahroonga to ensure represents a group of new candidates for the Western Highlands Mission. Five new the 50 ongoing projects and 16 new projects God’s kingdom.” projects have been approved for 2010, with will continue to grow church groups next Although reports from this year are not other church plants developing in the Sepik, year. “These range from inner and outer city due yet, more than 100 baptisms have al- Madang Manus and Central Papua areas.” church plants in Sydney, Melbourne and ready been reported as a result of the projects Several small chapels have been construct- Perth to new island communities and iso- and a number of new churches have been ed in the Solomon Islands.