SUMMER 2021 Hartland's Influence Spreads to Nigeria 6 TRAINING A Bridge for ST Hurting Hearts 8 21 CENTURY MISSIONARIES Something Very Different 11 PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE Norbert Restrepo As a Thief in the Night The day of the Lord will come unexpectedly. he coming of the Lord is illustrated several times in Scripture as a thief coming Tin the night. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2. However, Jesus stated clearly that “as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:27. He further added, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24: 30. Therefore, the coming of the Lord as a thief does not mean that it will be a secret event. What then could be the main purpose of this illustration? The pen of inspiration answers: “Before the Flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. ‘So,’ says the Saviour, ‘shall also the coming of the Son of man be’ (Matthew 24:39). Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men.”1 Scripture provides evidence that probation will close shortly before Christ’s second coming. The parable of the ten virgins conveys this lesson. The book of Revelation indicates that before Christ’s second coming, the righteous will be sealed and that those who are filthy shall remain filthy still. To Daniel also was revealed a day when the books will be opened and the judgment will be set before Christ’s second coming. See Matthew 25; Revelation 7 and 22; Daniel 7:10. “The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above.”2 Oh, may we be sober and vigilant so that day will not overtake us as a thief! 1 Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, p. 230. 2 White, The Great Controversy, p. 491. 2 VOL. 27 NO. 2 | HARTLAND MINISTRY REPORT NEW STAFF “I had made a pledge that I would give FROM WALL back to the community. And so I quit my job and went to work for a community outreach program. It was basically an after-school program that allowed me to STREET TO work with kids and their families. I had a passion to help them.” This pivotal decision set him on the HARTLAND road to eventually getting his master’s and then his doctorate in educational Dr. Andrew Smith brings a wealth of leadership, in addition to his master’s experience to our Education Department. in finance and economics. After a rich experience in working with at-risk by Rachel Perry youth, he eventually transitioned into higher education, teaching at Argosy, Southwestern, and Washington Adventist University (where he continues to teach as an adjunct professor). Along the way he also gained experience as an athlete, a professional truck driver, and a commercial pilot. “Each step of the way I’ve seen why the Lord allowed me to do certain things, because from each of those forays into different disciplines or occupations, I’ve learned so much. As a teacher I’m able to draw on those experiences and use them as object lessons, and it has a way of helping the students to grasp the concepts and theories in a more tangible way.” As the new chair of the Education Department at Hartland College, Dr. Smith looks forward to training teachers for the mission field, be it in the cities or in remote locations around the world. “My charge is to ensure that each hen Andrew Smith began his first degree offering is biblically based, Wjob at one of the largest investment spiritually sound, and pedagogically firms on Wall Street, he never dreamed that relevant to uplift students’ faith in Jesus one day his career path would lead him to Christ. Secondly, I aim to develop a train missionaries at a tiny Seventh-day solid curriculum focused on training Adventist college in Virginia. professional teachers who are competent, Although he loved working in finance Spirit-filled, and adequately equipped to and economics, the rushed lifestyle quickly serve in the mission field for which they wore him down. It was around this time are called. I am a sower of seeds and I that he remembered a promise he had leave the increase up to God.” made during his time as a peer counselor Dr. Smith is truly an answer to our in college. prayers, and we are so blessed to have him here with us! 540-672-3100 | [email protected] | hartland.edu 3 ALUMNI olombian-born Jonathan Santana came to Hartland to study Cpastoral evangelism, impressed that this was God’s calling for his life. His student years had a far-reaching effect on him: “Hartland greatly impacted my life spiritually and academically,” Jonathan says. “I grew spiritually through the study of the Bible in my classes and through the spiritual environment Hartland provides. It also impacted me academically because I acquired the mental disciplines needed to approach a postgraduate degree and do research properly and professionally.” THE Jonathan’s experience at Hartland impacted him in other ways too. “One of the most valuable things I took away from Hartland is the servant spirit that dominates in mostly every staff and RIPPLE student. I deeply appreciate everyone’s humility and willingness to help and serve.” While Jonathan was at Hartland, God gave him an unusual EFFECT opportunity to impact other lives. In his second year, he and another student were invited to co-pastor a small Spanish church. “Seeing some of my Bible study contacts being God’s work in baptized and giving their lives to Jesus was my strongest Jonathan’s life confirmation that God was calling me to pastoral ministry,” continues to impact Jonathan recalls. many other lives. Sadly, Jonathan suffered some personal tragedy while he was a student, but he looks upon even this as an experience by Gillian Bethel that has ultimately impacted him and others for good: “I learned how God uses tragedies and difficulties to enrich our testimony and impact more lives for Jesus,” he reflects. To round out Jonathan’s training, God guided him to an internship in Maryland. A pastor in the Chesapeake Conference asked Hartland for a bilingual intern to work with English- and Spanish- speaking congregations. Jonathan is still working there as a graduate. During his ministry as an assistant pastor, Jonathan’s personal testimony, his love for God, and his knowledge of the Bible have impacted many more lives. He recounts, “Seeing the first ten of my Bible contacts being baptized on the same day was one of the most exciting and memorable experiences I have ever had in my ministry.” While he ministers to everyone, Jonathan especially loves working with youth. “I’m passionate about teaching and ministering to young people personally. I see myself working as a pastor and/or Bible teacher,” he says. Certainly, God has more plans to impact Jonathan’s life so that the ripples will continue to bless and change other lives. Please pray for his ministry. 4 VOL. 27 NO. 2 | HARTLAND MINISTRY REPORT COLLEGE TRAINING 21ST CENTURY Hartland College is adding some exciting MISSIONARIES new classes to its core curriculum! by Kevin Grams artland College’s reason for their chosen area of ministry. Hexistence is to educate 21st century A new Digital Ministry Fundamentals missionary professionals to spread the class will teach students how to use gospel to the world. Our mission is to social media, webpages, multimedia, and ensure that every student is expertly traditional instructional technologies to trained in their chosen vocation to improve their presentations, lectures, serve wherever the Lord might lead. sermons, and outreach efforts. Throughout the past year, the college Our new Ministry & Leadership and administration and department chairs Ministry & Economics classes will offer have spent many hours reviewing, students opportunities to learn how to assessing, and evaluating our be effective leaders while developing effectiveness at reaching this goal. The the business aspects of their future result of this review has led to some ministries. exciting innovations in our curriculum The class Entrepreneurial Mindset that we would like to share with you. continues this training by showing One of our most significant updates students how to combine business is our improved core curriculum. It and mission using innovative is important for us to maintain the entrepreneurial principles. solid biblical instruction that Hartland Every Hartland student will also receive College is well known for, while adding training in life and health coaching, additional classes that will benefit which is being used effectively in the missionaries-in-training. mission field to encourage people to make practical changes that improve We have now included four new their life and wellbeing. classes in missiology and a world history course that will teach students This is only a brief summary of some of about the history and culture of the enhancements we have made at our the various people groups they will college.