November 15, 2008 In this issue VIA continues mission in Pacific Volunteer re-entry at Jindabyne Making financial sense A mock refugee camp reminded Avondale College staff members and students of their privileged status, while also raising awareness of poverty. MAD about poverty: students take a stand COORANBONG, NEW SOUTH WaLES n Avondale College staff member and made a “huge statement” because students students challenged their classmates could not only see it but also experience liv- and colleagues to make poverty his- ing in it. Those who chose the latter—about tory as part of the college’s first Make 20 each evening—slept under tarpaulins and A Difference (MAD) Week, run from Oc- ate food made from rice and rolled oats. tober 13 to 18. Reflecting on the movie Invisible Chil- A range of activities and events—high- dren, which those in the camp watched lighted by the construction of a mock refugee on Thursday evening, Ms Parsons says, KickStart camp in the middle of the Lake Macquarie “It opened everyone’s eyes. They realised campus—raised awareness for poverty and why they were doing this and they got to other social justice issues. The camp operated see who they were helping.” raises funds for 40 hours, beginning Wednesday after- On the Wednesday, representatives from noon and ending Friday morning. the Adventist Development and Relief Agen- Coordinator Jessica Parsons, president cy (ADRA) Australia, Adventist Volunteer for ministry of student club One Mission, says the camp (Continued on page 4) ISSN 0819-5633 editorial It is the conclusion of the conversa- tion, not the opening demand. “Go and sin no more” few years ago, I volunteered is far more complicated. crouching woman, He was at risk should occasionally as an on-air presenter In many situations, what we do, how any one of her accusers decide he was wor- for a community Christian radio we act and the choices we make are not thy to throw his stone. station. As many such radio sta- so readily divorced from who we are. To Then, with the accusers gone and the Ations do, from time to time, we would many people, “hating the sin” feels like rest of the crowd surrounding them, Jesus invite listeners to call in with their song hating the sinner or “loving the sinner” goes still further to defuse the risk to the requests. feels like loving the sin. Often, neither the woman. By His own definition, Jesus was I distinctly remember one such request lovers/haters or the loved/hated are careful entitled to lead the stoning. He had never we received because of the song title and the or adept at managing and understanding sinned—and He was offended by the sin scenarios it suggested. The caller dedicated the nuances of such relationships. she had committed. But after she reported the request to a specific person, giving us Naturally, this problem does not exist the departure of her accusers, Jesus sim- her name and requesting the song “Go and if we simply abandon the concept of sin. ply says, “Neither do I condemn you” (see Sin No More” by Christian artist Rebecca Perhaps this is why even many Christians John 8:11). St James. Of course, the song is inspired by try to get by with a faith without all the Then, and only then—after putting the story of the woman caught in adultery sin “hang-ups.” If nothing or no-one is re- Himself on the line physically, standing and brought to Jesus (see John 8:1-11). ally sinful, we don’t have to worry about up for the woman in the face of her accus- There may have been a remarkable relating to sinners. ers and surrendering His “right” to carry personal story behind this dedication or it On the other hand, if we can just skip out the punishment she “deserved”—does might simply have been a favourite song straight to the “Go and sin no more” part, Jesus send her on her way with the com- about a much-loved story about Jesus. But we will be able to set the sinners around us mand, “Go and sin no more” (see John we also imagined circumstances in which straight. Then they will be either reformed 8:11). It is the conclusion of the conversa- requesting such a song and “sending it or repulsed by our righteous prompting tion, not the opening demand. By risking out” to some wayward daughter, sister or and, again, we don’t have to worry about Himself, He has earned her trust and His friend could have been a means of deliv- relating to sinners. call to righteousness is more powerful for ering some kind of rebuke, to pass judg- Jesus took neither approach. When the its foundation in His own righteous acts ment or prod a conscience. As I remember woman caught in adultery was hurled at of self-sacrifice and embrace. it, we played the song but were careful not His feet, Jesus stooped and wrote in the This is more demanding than a song to overemphasise the dedication aspect of dust as the angry accusers waited expect- request to a Christian radio station and the request. antly. At their continued questions, Jesus much deeper than a formulaic, “Hate the It’s a question that arises every time we stood up, told those without sin to start sin; love the sinner.” In Jesus—and su- talk seriously about sin: how do we, as peo- throwing their stones, then bent down premely in His death—we see both the ple who seek to follow a sinless God, relate again. Next to the woman—the target of tragic hatefulness of sin and what it truly to those who wrestle with the reality of sin, the stones. means to love the sinner. as we all do? The common formulation of In those tense few moments, until the “hating the sin but loving the sinner” rolls accusers began to quietly move away, Jesus off the tongue so easily. But in practice, it put Himself on the line. Bent beside the Nathan Brown Official Paper of the South Editor Nathan Brown Mail: Signs Publishing Company Pacific Division Seventh-day Associate editor David Edgren 3485 Warburton Highway Adventist Church Editorial assistant Adele Nash Warburton, Vic 3799, Australia ABN 59 093 117 689 Editorial assistant Jarrod Stackelroth Phone: (03) 5965 6300 Fax: (03) 5966 9019 www.adventist Copyeditor Talitha Simmons Email Letters: [email protected] connect.org Editorial secretary Kristel Rae Email Newsfront: [email protected] Layout Kym Jackson Email Noticeboard: [email protected] Vol 113 No 44 Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver Subscriptions: South Pacific Division mailed within Cover: Ann Stafford Australia and to New Zealand, $A43.80 $NZ73.00. www.record.net.au Other prices on application. Printed weekly. 2 November 15, 2008 news VIA continues mission in Pacific BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND decided that this was an important way to serve,” he reflects. ministry that has contributed to Seeking a specific way to serve, some 39,000 baptisms in the South the then-South Pacific Division Pacific in the past 13 years is plan- treasurer supported Mr Morgan on ning to enter a new phase by the a trip to mission areas of the Pacific Aend of this year. Volunteers in Action (VIA), to find out their needs. “I visited a which currently supports 647 volunteer number of areas in the Pacific,” he ministers in seven Pacific nations, is plan- recalls, “expecting that they would ning to become an incorporated entity, and talk about help with building but Participants in a training program sponsored by Volunteers in Action in the Solomon Islands. will see the retirement of founding direc- they said they needed workers to tors Cliff and Val Morgan. take the church’s message into new areas. has done,” he says. “God has been the one “Val and I have run this as a ‘ma-and-pa’ It had an appeal and continues to have an who really made it go. My hopes are that show,” Mr Morgan explains. “So that will appeal.” VIA can continue to develop the potential change but VIA will continue to operate VIA works closely with the local mis- of lay missionaries in the islands to be ef- in conjunction with the South Queensland sions and has contributed substantial funds fective for the nurture and pastoral care Conference and continue to pursue our to equip their volunteers with supervision, each church needs.” mission in much the same way.” training and resources to enhance their But there is another aspect to what prom- VIA’s work has raised almost $A7.5 mil- ministry. In the past four years, 128 VIA ises to be an active second retirement for lion and seen an average of nine people volunteers have been funded to spend at Mr Morgan. “There are two parts to what baptised per day as a result of the ministry least one year in theology training at one VIA does,” he explains, “sponsoring lay of VIA-supported volunteers since 1996. of the Adventist Church’s training schools. missionaries and our roofing projects. I am “God and many people with brown and VIA has also partnered with local mis- going to keep working with the roofing white faces have been very good to Vol- sions, and other organisations, to provide projects because if you grow a church, you unteers in Action over almost 13 years of motorbikes and canoes to assist outreach need someone to look after it and a build- operation,” says Mr Morgan.