Contents SEPTEMBER 2006 In Every Issue 3 | Editorial 4 | Newsline 6 | Potluck 16 | Visitor Blog 18 21 | Healing Ministry News & Features Newsletters 25 Allegheny East 8 | Bible Workers: 27 Allegheny West Planting Seeds, Reaping Souls 29 Blue Mountain Academy Tanisha Greenidge and LaVerne Henderson 31 Chesapeake Bible workers have an important role to play in spreading the 33 Columbia Union College gospel. Theirs is a mission driven by a strong desire to win souls 35 El Telescopio for the kingdom. Meet some Columbia Union Bible workers and discover why they have a burden to plant seeds and reap a har - 37 Mountain View vest for Christ. 39 New Jersey 41 Ohio 14 | Getting a Taste of 43 Pennsylvania Evangelism—Youth Weigh In 45 Potomac Compiled by Kris Eckenroth 47 Shenandoah Valley Academy It’s one thing to talk about mission with youth; it’s quite another to actively involve them in it. That’s why youth were recently invited to engage in the Pennsylvania Youth Challenge (PYC), 51 | Bulletin Board a summer literature evangelism program. Find out what these participants—possibly future Bible workers—have to say about 55 | Last Words their experience. 18 | Olney Adventist Preparatory School: No Ceilings, No Gates Mark Young Olney Adventist Preparatory School has become a strong institu - On the Web: tion of Christian education for tomorrow’s church and communi - I Belize Mission Adventures ty leaders. One of Olney’s strengths is a rigorous, individualized academic program that strives to meet each child’s needs. blog with photos Discover how parents and students feel about this unique school. www.columbiaunion.org 2 | VISITOR Editorial JAMES L. LEWIS Buildings, Bodies, and Bankrolls? his issue of the Visitor spotlights the outstanding work done by Bible work - ers—volunteers and conference employees. Under the heading of shameless T promotion, let me mention the Allegheny West Conference Bible Workers Institute, September 15-17. The objective of this venture is to train members to provide leadership in developing local evangelism strategies. Having said that, I am reminded that the strategy for the church has not been altered or amended. Its mission is still to proclaim the gospel with the power and clarity birthed out of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. But it is not enough to bring people into the church. Our goal, based on Christ’s mission, has always been to make disciples. The apostolic church had a clear view of this mission and goal. It provided a road map that emphasized undiluted commitment to the power of Christ, even in a hostile environment. This was a community of spiritual warriors whose faith was so strong, many chose death rather than compromise biblical principle. Somewhere along the way this “road map” was lost or ignored. Christianity has become a spec - tator sport where God’s people are comfortable being preached to and ministered to week after week. In many cases, the local church agenda is based largely on the whims and desires of church members rather than the New Testament model. We started measuring success in the local church by buildings, bodies, and bankrolls rather than mission fulfillment and discipleship. Sadly, laity and clergy have bought into the notion that ministry is for “the professionals”—the paid clergy— and a select few zealous church members. Church growth is no longer a high priority, and fewer and fewer members are interested in being involved. BUILDING HEALTHY CHURCHES The dawn of the 21st century brought about a para - We started measuring digm shift in the ongoing discussion of church growth. This shift in thinking focused the local church on meas - success in the local uring its effectiveness, improving its programming, promoting soul winning, and emphasizing stewardship, church by buildings, with the hope that these methods would help the church grow. While many of these programs were bodies, and bankrolls helpful, our local churches continue to be challenged. Over the past few years, there has been increased dis - rather than mission cussion on the subject of improving “church health.” By this I mean that there is a shift from viewing the fulfillment and discipleship. church as an institution or organization, to viewing it as a living organism (body of Christ). Brothers and sisters, if we really want to improve the health of the church, we first have to address the spirituality of the local church member. When you improve that, you improve the health of the entire church. But how does this happen? Revival and reformation. Revival is a renewal of the spiritual life—a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation is a reorganization—a change in ideas, habits, and practices. Ellen White says, “God’s people will not endure the test unless there is a revival and a reformation ” (Testimonies to the Church , Vol. 7, p. 285). So Lord, make us receptive to the revival that comes from You. When our plans are contrary to Your plans, give us the strength to abandon our plans and trust You. James L. Lewis is president of Allegheny West Conference, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Contact the Allegheny West Conference office at (614) 252-5271 for details on the upcoming Bible Workers Institute. SEPTEMBER 2006 | 3 Newsline LAVERNE HENDERSON Potomac Conference was 74. vation in shaping church, educa - Gets New President Ordained as an Adventist min - tion, and healthcare organizations of the future in an increasingly Bill Miller was recently ister in the Florida Conference in complex and fast-changing socie - appointed president of the 1959, McClure served many ty. Speakers include Leland Kaiser, Columbia Union’s Potomac areas of the church, as a pastor, Leanne Kaiser Carlson, and Kevin Conference. Miller, who since evangelist, departmental leader, Kaiser from the Kaiser Institute. 2001 has and conference president. He was “Our goal is for church, edu - served as elected president of the NAD at cation, and healthcare entities president the 55th General Conference to collaborate to advance our of the Session in Indianapolis in 1990. mission in Minnesota During the 10 years he led the today’s con - Conference, Adventist Church, more than temporary will assume 250,000 people were baptized society,” says Potomac’s helm this month. in North America. Raj Attiken , “This is a humbling experi - Survivors include his wife president of ence,” he says. “I sense a real Francis and their children: the Ohio commitment to see the church Sally, Al Jr., and Scott. —George Conference. grow from the people that I’ve Johnson Jr. For more information, or to met. I’m really looking forward register, visit www.sdapart - to learning how ‘church’ is Pittsburgh Metro nersininnovation.org. done in the Virginia area and to Initiative to Host see what the Lord has in store.” “Unity Day” Miller previously served in “Together in Hope, Together Satellite Event to the Washington, Northern in Mission” is the theme of the Highlight Biblical California, and Hawaii confer - 2006 Pittsburgh Convocation. Sanctuary ences. He holds a Bachelor of This Unity Day event will The Presence, a five-night Theology from Pacific Union take place September 9 in satellite event, will air September College, and a Master of Divinity Carnegie, 29-October 3, at a Seventh-day from Andrews University. Pa., a suburb Adventist Church near you. “I plan on doing lots of lis - of Pittsburgh. It Is Written speaker/director tening and asking questions,” Charles E. Shawn Boonstra will host the says Miller. “I like to discover Bradford , special series. people’s gifts and empower retired presi - This event, will also air on the them to do God’s will.” dent of the ACN/Esperanza Channel. For more Miller and his wife Sally, a Seventh-day Adventist Church in information call (877) 507-3239 nurse practitioner, are the parents North America, will or visit www.thepresence.com. of Dwight, Calvin, and Brianna. be the worship speaker. For more information, call Annual ASI Offering Former NAD (800) 438-9600. Yields $1.8 Million President Passes The Sabbath offering from Ohio Conference/ On August 1 lung cancer last month's ASI (Adventist- claimed the life of Alfred C. Kettering Adventist laymen’s Services and McClure , former president of HealthCare to Industries) annual, international the Seventh- Sponsor Second convention was $1.8 million. day Innovation Conference These funds will benefit 39 Adventist The 2006 National Conference diverse, worldwide ministries. Church on Innovation will be held in North October 1-3 in Columbus. It will Correction America challenge participants to think The Visitor regrets the mis - (NAD). He creatively about the role of inno - spelling of Gloria Lichtenwalter’s 4 | VISITOR Newsline Weigley Hosts First Executive Committee o something for God; do affirmed the importance of mis - Dsomething, and watch what sion in their organizations and will happen!” This was the shared stories of how it’s being devotional challenge set forth fulfilled in their workplaces by new Columbia Union every day. Conference president Dave Next members approved cre - Weigley recently as he convened dentials for institutional workers his first executive committee (based at the hospitals, colleges, meeting of the quinquennium. and union office) and voted to “This will save the lives of some “Today we begin to talk about return all current departmental trees and save money for the ideas, thoughts, and processes,” directors and associates to office church,” he announced. Weigley stated. Then he, execu - for the next five years (see box). New members were very tive secretary Neville Harcombe, Committee members—many impressed with the proceedings: and treasurer Seth Bardu took of them new to this position— “I feel like the union is really were also invited to complete a headed in the right direction, survey and engage in a small which is evangelism and reach - group brainstorming session ing the lost,” said Christina that the new administration Stahl, a college student and says will help direct the work of member of the Lewisburg (Pa.) the union for the next five church.