BRITISH ADVENT N =SS =NE Church Paper of the British Union Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists This issue includes ENCOUNTER Volume 79 • Number 11 • May 31, 1974 Newbold Graduation, 1974 Report by A. J. Woodfield, M.A., Ph.D.(Lond.) F the twenty-one students who Beardsell, now serving as Youth Leader young Christians, and for the times we finished their course and graduated for the British Union, that the class have laughed together. Dr. Harry O at Newbold on May 6th, no fewer chose him to talk to them at the open- Leonard, like Brother Pearson another than ten come from the British Union ing of the graduation services on Friday Londoner, head of the History Depart- Conference. But there is need for still evening. "It was like coming home," ment, gently chaffed his open Sabbath more, for the field can scarcely wait for confessed Pastor Beardsell, and it cer- school class at their spiritual masochism. them to finish. Already two have taken tainly looked like happy old times to "We wallow in being Laodiceans," he up their work, Brethren William have him in the pulpit again in the said; and there may well be much truth Beamish, and Peter Sayers, and to them homely intimacy of a college Friday in the charge. "But there is encourage- may be added Brother Melvyn Trevena, night. It was good to hear his quiet ment to be had in that we don't need a New Zealander of Cornish descent. wisdom once more: "The Master calls to remain Laodicean and that Christ Norma Wiltshire of Rye is joining the in a thousand ways, but you can answer sent a warm, tenderhearted message of gallant little force of Bible Instructors only in one way, the way best suited concern to Laodiceans." in September. However, the pressures on to you." Another ex-preceptor on the graduates' our young people are conflicting and There was something movingly list of choices showed that the mainten- great in these urgent days—on the one homely too, about the prayer that ance of law and order in the college hand fields that are beyond the white of Michael Pearson, Newbold's lecturer in dormitories is no bar to student esteem. harvest,. and on the other the need for Modern Languages and Philosophy, Long will this year's class remember greater skill in their harvesting. In re- offered in Sabbath school. He thanked the valedictory sermon of the man who sponse to this problem several of the God for the new library, for the gener- began by confessing that he didn't re- graduating class plan to stay on for an- osity of the ordinary members of God's member one word of the sermon de- other year at Newbold taking advanced Church, for the young people recently livered at his own graduation. But he studies before joining their colleagues. baptized at the college, for new ideas, did remember how preachers had told It was because of special affection for parents—especially the parents of his generation that the world was wait- for their former preceptor, Pastor Derek the graduates, for growth in the life of ing for them, and he could never forget his reception in a famous old city in Northern Britain. "You, Watson, get out!" raged his landlady after her second failure to feed him on pork sausages. And Newbold's beloved scientist, Albert Watson, wept on the street in utter desolation. "The world was not waiting for my crackpot ideas," he declared. He had to be broken as his hearers have to be. But "one solitary life" of One broken on a Roman cross has made more impact, said Brother Watson, than all the navies that ever sailed, all the armies that ever marched, and all the philosophers who ever thought. Sunday brought the crowds in force for the great moment, the award of the diplomas. Pastor Alf Lohne, Division president, addressed a congregation of some 1,500 in the new gymnasium on Sunday afternoon, reminding the gradu- ating students and their friends and loved ones of the days of fear and un- certainty in which we live. Like John the Baptist we too may be assailed by doubts, but we should remember that Newbold graduates of 1974. Pastors D. C. Beardsell and Alf Lohne, centre front row. Photo: Krzysztof Zygowiec. .(continued overleaf.) Such a concept, rightly understood, warmly cherished, and courageously implemented in our daily lives, will EDITORIAL assure a healthy, happy Church that will grow and prosper, and that, in the broadest sense, will never lack mini- sterial manpower. It is generally true that church buildings will never face factory workers, and very much less redundancy that are used by men and Putting First Things First than other "professional" workers. Pay, women who are aware of the fact that for those who are fired with genuine they are expected, as members of "a THE real strength of a Church is not desire to serve, is never the most vital royal priesthood," to mould and exert its buildings, but its people. Indeed, factor. The real trouble is declining their influence and energies in terms fine, well-appointed churches can be- belief, a weakened faith, a lost vision. of evangelistic ministry. Nor, where this is done, will there ever be too serious come embarrassing liabilities when con- Times reporter points out: But as the a lack of young people willing to dedi- gregations dwindle. Perhaps most "In these days of good works . we cate their whole lives to Heaven's countries provide sobering examples. tend to lose sight of the fact that the royal service. Britain, for instance, where for the past Church and its priesthood are here on The vital thing is that we, as Advent- ten years an average of 250 Methodist earth to lead men to worship. That chapels have annually become redun- ists, put first things first. That we rec- above everything. The Church is here ognize that the Church's supreme dant. In varying degrees the example to teach men about the things eternal; is confirmed by other Churches, includ- task, towering in importance above all to point, as church spires do symboli- others, is to proclaim the Gospel of the ing the Anglican whose heritage of cally, to heavenly things. To lead men Kingdom, to point people to Christ, to lovely buildings has become, in thou- in a life of prayer ... to feed them with acquaint them with the distinctive mes- sands of cases, a burden which must the bread of heaven, and, of course, be shed. sages of Revelation fourteen. to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. How relevant and appropriate today Of course, the change in population [sic] first and . The Church is not is the prayer offered by Paul for fellow pattern is partly to blame. The exodus foremost a welfare organization." The of people from the land to the centres believers: "My prayer for you is that Church's "main task" is "to deal with you may have still more love—a love during the Industrial Revolution deci- heavenly things." mated and even wiped out many a that is full of knowledge and wise in- rural congregation. So that today, it is Adventists are called to Christian ser- sight. I want you to be able always to possible to tour Britain and see lovely vice. The very knowledge of Bible truth recognize the highest and the best, churches now disused and ivy-covered, carries with it a call to bear witness to and to live sincere and blameless lives their towers and steeples thrusting that truth. This ennobling fact is con- until the day of Jesus Christ" ('Philip- heavenward in silent witness, which firmed by Peter's truly inspiring re- pians 1:9, 10, J. B. Phillips translation). once served country hamlets and vil- minder: "Ye are ... a royal priesthood" "The highest and the best"! Where lages that have. either vanished or left (1 Peter 2:9). None among us who truly else can this be found than in the only a few scattered dwellings. believe, are denied the honour of evan- glories of God's truth and in respond- More sobering is the sight of city gelistic ministry. Both laymen and mini- ing to the challenge of Christian mini- churches and chapels that now serve sters are to share in the "ministry of stry? R. D. VINE, as workshops, club centres, discothe- reconciliation." Editor. ques, etc. Although in many cases it is a repeat story of changing patterns of population due to redevelopment, more often it is due to a ministry that is inadequate in man-power, sometimes Aristotle Vontzalides of Greece. in 'Spirit-power, but more often in Newbold Graduation The music of the graduation celebra- knowledge and conviction of the Bible's tions matched the inspiration of the cardinal truths. <— page 1 event. Elizabeth Vine held the congre- Pandemic is Christendom's anxiety gation spellbound at the conclusion of over man-power. A London Times report faith grows strong in earnest conflict the Friday evening service with her headed: "Where have all the young with doubt and fear. organ voluntary; The Newbold Singers men gone?" rued the "serious problem" This year's British graduates not moved us deeply with Braham's: "Ah, of far too few young men "coming for- already named were James Henderson, Thou Poor World"; while Roy Scarr ward for training for ordination" in the graduating in both History and Theol- and his college choir were in excellent Church of England's ministry. Its burden ogy; and Ernest Blay, Philip Rhodes, form, revelling in the exciting resonance was summed up in the expression: "We Lawrence Turner, and Christopher Wild, of the gymnasium, as they sang need more young men." For several all completing courses in Theology.