E n g l i s h • F r e n c h • P o r t u g u e s e • S p a n i s h Science finds God What is the purpose of prayer? Six myths of marriage Joy: The secret of being content Marrying a non-Christian? Alcohol’s dark secrets Vo2 l u m e 1 7 REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES EAST-CENTRAL AFRICA DIVISION PO Box 14756, Nairobi, KENYA CONTENTS Hudson E. Kibuuka [email protected] EURO-AFRICA DIVISION PO Box 219, 3000 Bern 32, SWITZERLAND ESSAYS Roberto Badenas Science finds God [email protected] 5 EURO-ASIA DIVISION All the precision found in the universe and all the complexity evidenced Krasnoyarskaya Street 3, Golianovo, in living things indicate that a Creator God is necessary. 107589 Moscow, RUSSIAN FEDERATION Heriberto Muller by Ariel A. Roth [email protected] INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION What is the purpose of prayer? PO Box 140760 8 Prayer doesn’t change God’s character or His heart. But it gives Him Miami, FL 33114-0760, U.S.A. Carlos Archbold huge new arenas to work His wonders. [email protected] Bernardo Rodriguez by Dan Smith [email protected] Six myths of marriage NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION 10 12501 Old Columbia Pike, The greatest happiness in marriage isn’t found in the early euphoria but Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600, U.S.A. Martin Feldbush in the long-term satisfaction found in a faithful partnership of many years. [email protected] by Calvin Thomsen Gerald Kovalski [email protected] Joy: The secret of being content NORTHERN ASIA-PACIFIC DIVISION Koyang IIsan, PO Box 43, It’s both our commission and our privilege to live in joy and walk in light, 783 Janghang-Dong, Ilsan-Gu, Koyang City, 13 Kyonggi-do 411-600, KOREA spreading both to the world around us. Shin, Dong Hee by Céleste Perrino-Walker [email protected] SOUTH AMERICAN DIVISION Caixa Postal 02-2600, 70279-970 Brasilia, DF, BRAZIL Roberto de Azevedo DEPARTMENTS [email protected] Erton Carlos Kohler [email protected] EDITORIAL OPEN FORUM Followers first Marrying a non-Christian? SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION 3 27 Locked Bag 2014, Wahroonga, C. Garland Dulan Nancy Van Pelt N.S.W. 2076, AUSTRALIA Gilbert Cangy 4 LETTERS FOR YOUR INFORMATION [email protected] PROFILES 28 Alcohol’s dark secrets Barry Hill John F. Ashton [email protected] 16 Dora Bognandi SOUTHERN AFRICA-INDIAN OCEAN Roberto Vacca BOOKS DIVISION The Trinity: Understanding God’s H.G. 100, Highlands, Harare, ZIMBABWE 18 Neville Clouten 30 Tommy Nkungula Delyse Steyn Love, His Plan of Salvation, and [email protected] Christian Relationships (Woodrow SOUTHERN ASIA DIVISION ACTION REPORT Whidden, Jerry Moon, and John PO Box 2, HCF Hosur, University students meet W. Reeve) Tamil Nadu 635110, INDIA 20 Gordon Christo in Ecuador Aecio E. Cairus [email protected] Erton Kohler Prophets Are Human (Graeme SOUTHERN ASIA-PACIFIC DIVISION 30 PO Box 040, Silang, 20 Philadelphia Adventist Network Bradford) Cavite, 4118 PHILIPPINES Lakisha Hull Juan Carlos Viera Gladden Flores [email protected] 21 Adventist students active in the 31 The Battle for the Bible (David TRANS-EUROPEAN DIVISION Philippines Marshall) 119 St. Peter’s Street, St. Albans, Redentor A. Feliciano Kwabena Donkor Herts., AL1 3EY ENGLAND Orville Woolford LOGOS 33 INTERCHANGE [email protected] 22 He breathed into his nostrils: WESTERN AFRICA DIVISION God’s kiss of life FIRST PERSON 22 Boite Postale 1764, The voice He gave me Abidjan 22, COTE D’IVOIRE Larry L. Lichtenwalter 34 Japheth L. Agboka Charles Ngandwe as told to Anita [email protected] VIEWPOINT Marshall 24 Ellen White and her critics Leonard Brand INSERT A Neville Clouten Portfolio 2 DIALOGUE 17•2 2005 EDITORIAL This international journal of faith, thought, Followers first and action is published three times a year in four parallel editions. (English, Jesus’ ministry on Earth began with the calling of a group of followers to French, Portuguese, and Spanish) by the whom He would entrust His work after His ascension. The task of selecting fol- Committee on Adventist Ministry to College and University Students (AMiCUS) of lowers was an awesome one, especially since He had but a few years to prepare the General Conference of Seventh-day them for the work of carrying the good news of salvation to the world. Most Adventists. of those whom Jesus called were initially like rough-cut lumber that, without Volume 17, Number 2 the sandpaper of Jesus’ companionship, would injure or splinter others when Copyright © 2005 by the AMiCUS engaged in His service. But regardless of the condition of those Christ called, Committee. All rights reserved. learning how to follow was a necessary prelude to becoming leaders. Dialogue affirms the fundamental beliefs Jesus spent considerable time allowing His disciples to observe His manner of of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and operation prior to assigning them leadership roles. In addressing or confront- supports its mission. The views published in ing scribes, Pharisees, members of tribes or racial groups, and people of other this journal, however, are the independent thoughts of the authors. faiths and traditions, Jesus used various approaches in order to provide a broad perspective of what true and effective leadership entailed. The disciples often Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Humberto M. Rasi misinterpreted Jesus’ leadership style and purpose. But through the many expe- Editor John M. Fowler riences to which He exposed them, Jesus gently moved the disciples from the Associate Editors Martin Feldbush, rough-cut state toward the condition in which He could use them in leadership Alfredo García-Marenko roles. Managing Editor Julieta Rasi Copy Editor Beverly Rumble As students pursue their education, it is often surprising how much matura- Editorial Secretary Esther Rodríguez tion occurs in the process of observing teachers, fellow students, administrators, International Editions Julieta Rasi and others in leadership roles. Through this process, a transformation begins to International Copy Editors take place such that at some point, the student should move from a reactive role Corinne Egasse (French) Cesar Luis Pagani (Portuguese) toward a more proactive one. For this transformation to take place, students Julieta Rasi (Spanish) must begin to think of themselves in the new roles for which they are preparing. Editorial Correspondence “Anticipatory socialization” describes the process during which mental transfor- Dialogue mation occurs prior to the actual acceptance into a new role. Anticipation is an 12501 Old Columbia Pike important part of the process, but it usually does not occur by itself—it must be Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 USA fostered by current leaders who are willing to mentor others. Thus, leaders are Telephone 301 680 5060 Fax 301 622 9627 built. Email [email protected] The Adventist Church is in dire need of leaders. Many members are comfort- AMiCUS Committee able merely following but are not willing to take the risks involved in leader- Chairman Gerry Karst ship—misrepresentation of motives, unanticipated obstacles, and mistakes. Vice Chairmen C. Garland Dulan, Martin Examples of mistakes by well-known leaders recorded in Scripture include great Feldbush, Baraka G. Muganda men of God such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and Peter—to name Secretary Humberto M. Rasi Members John M. Fowler, Jonathan Gallagher, a few. The fact that these leaders made mistakes gives us a more balanced per- Alfredo García-Marenko, Clifford Goldstein, spective on leadership, but does not negate their important contributions to the Bettina Krause, Kathleen Kuntaraf, Vernon B. cause of God. Parmenter, Gerhard Pfandl, Gary B. Swanson During their academic careers’ students must mentally transition from being Circulation Inquires should be addressed followers to accepting that they will or may soon be called upon to lead. Christ to the Regional Representative located prepared His disciples for the leadership responsibilities that would be thrust in the area where the reader resides. See names and addresses on page 2. upon them soon after His death. Had they not learned these lessons, they would never have become effective leaders. The risk of leadership is a challenge, Subscriptions US $13 per year (three issues, airmail). See coupon on page 6 for the reward of which can only be realized in the success of seeing a job accom- details. plished. Like Christ’s disciples, leaders eventually move off the scene through retire- Website http://dialogue.adventist.org ment, changes to other positions, fatigue, burnout, or death. Thus, there is a DIALOGUE has received continual need to prepare for leadership transitions. No church organization can correspondence from readers in 117 countries around the world. Continued on next page DIALOGUE 17•2 2005 3 afford to ignore the great need for future leaders. As you the challenge to lead. In doing so, there are not only cor- pursue your career, think about the need of your church porate benefits to the church, but personal ones as well. to fill the gaps in leadership that not only exist today but which will likely increase in the future, and prepare to become a Christian leader. God is in need of leaders who have prepared themselves by first understanding what it means to follow. Thus, when C. Garland Dulan the opportunity presents itself, they are prepared to accept Vice-chairman, AMiCUS Committee LETTERS The journal is a blessing benefit from its content. I am willing to such organizations sponsored by the I am very impressed by the con- help in translating some of the articles Seventh-day Adventist Church. tent of Dialogue. Each issue addresses and make them available to a wider read- The vice-chancellor was favorably important subjects for Adventist stu- ership.