December 22, 2007 In this issue New TPUM leadership Signs reaches millions God has time for us Children dressed up for the offi cial opening program of the children’s camp, held in Kokoda, Papua New Guinea. Child preacher gets kids “wild for God” KOKODA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA 10-year-old boy from the Eastern tor of children’s ministries in the South Highlands Province of Papua New Pacifi c. “It is amazing what God can do Guinea was the guest speaker for a and the impact parents can make.” A week-long Seventh-day Adventist Some children and their families children’s camp in October. walked for three days over rugged moun- Jordan Wesley preached twice daily for tain ranges to attend the camp. Many chil- seven days, to more than 400 children and dren brought their non-Adventist friends Graduates their families at the Kokoda Children’s along, and the 500 children of the local Camp, organised by the children’s minis- primary school visited the camp twice tries department of the North East Papua during the week. and Milne Bay Administrative Offi ce. “The highlight of the camp was on Sab- charged “Jordan would be playing games with bath afternoon, when children as young as the children like everybody else but is re- fi ve shared how God was blessing them, ally dynamic when he gets up and preach- and that they were going back to their to serve es,” says Litiana Qiosese, associate direc- (Continued on page 5) ISSN 0819-5633 4499 CCover.inddover.indd 1 110/12/070/12/07 44:20:10:20:10 PPMM editorial I apologise. Advent ooking through our editorial It seems we need to put the Advent back tion and living with that kind of expecta- library here at Signs recently, I was into Adventist. And what better time to tion. Perhaps the most important lesson in intrigued to discover a volume titled begin than in the season of Advent? Be- faithfulness to learn from the Christmas L Writing for Adventist Magazines, pub- fore Christmas became our annual festival story is to expect God. Traditionally, the lished in the 1960s. It’s a topic in which I of shopping and sacrifi ces to the gods of Advent celebrations have also included ex- have some interest, so I dusted off the book consumerism, many Christian traditions pectation of God’s future acts in history. The and invested the necessary reading time. celebrated Advent—from December 1—as two events are inextricably linked. I learnt a few things, received new per- the beginning of the new liturgical year. By celebrating the reality of Jesus’ fi rst spectives on a number of aspects of writing It is an appropriate time to refl ect on the coming, we point forward to His return. and publishing, and was entertained by some reality of God breaking into the history of It is diffi cult to embrace the Jesus of his- of the now quaint projections for the future our world. When celebrated thoughtfully, tory without at least considering His many of publishing and communications. the sense of anticipation builds through the promises to come again. And the connection But I was particularly struck by the fol- Advent season toward Christmas and the between the two events was emphasised by lowing defi nitions of writing: “Good writing “coming”—originally, Advent calendars the angels who comforted Jesus’ fi rst dis- builds a bridge to the reader, a bridge from were about much more than a chocolate ciples moments after His ascension: “This the mind of the writer to the mind he hopes a day throughout December—refl ecting same Jesus . will come back” (Acts 1:11, his message will enter. Good Christian writ- the expectation that has surrounded faith emphasis added). ing builds a bridge from heart to heart. Good in God throughout history. Ultimately, both these historic God Adventist writing walks across the bridge To be a follower of God is to expect God acts—the incarnation and the Second and impels the reader to prepare immedi- to act to fulfi l His promises of salvation and Coming—are about Jesus. That’s why the ately for the second coming of Jesus.” re-creation. That was the experience of those writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as “the Prompted by this formulation, I looked few who recognised Jesus for who He was. pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews back through the editorial pages of Record They had a vibrant expectation, a living hope 12:2). He is the foundation and the hope, over the past few years. I was surprised to based on the many Old Testament prophe- the beginning and the end. When we build discover no editorials directly on the topic cies of God’s imminent intervention. our lives on Him and our relationship with of the Second Coming. I apologise. In Jesus, they recognised the reality of Him, we can live with joyful expectation It isn’t that the topic has been absent. It has God’s action, presence and salvation. For and a certain hope. been mentioned, assumed and part of other example, when Jesus was presented at the That’s what the advent in Adventist is topics that have been written upon—and Temple as a baby, the old man Simeon about. Like Simeon, one day our eyes will has also appeared elsewhere in our publica- was content that his greatest hope in life see and our salvation will be complete. tions—but perhaps our editorial omission is had been fulfi lled. “For my eyes have seen “Oh, come. Oh come, Emmanuel!” an example of the taken-for-grantedness or your salvation,” he said, “which you have even ambivalence surrounding Jesus’ prom- prepared in the sight of all nations: a light *Bible quotations are from Today’s New International ises to return. And that even when we do for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory Version. think on it, we struggle to grasp the certainty of your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32*). and reality of this climactic event. We need to practice seeing God’s salva- Nathan Brown Offi cial Paper of the South Editor Nathan Brown Mail: Signs Publishing Company Pacifi c 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.org.au Copyeditor Talitha Simmons Email Letters: [email protected] Editorial secretary Kristel Rae Email Newsfront: [email protected] Vol 112 No 49 Layout Nathan Chee Email Noticeboard: [email protected] Cover: Julie Weslake Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver Subscriptions: South Pacifi c Division mailed within Australia and to New Zealand, $A43.80 $NZ73.00. www.record.net.au Other prices on application. Printed weekly. 2 December 22, 2007 4499 EEditorial.inddditorial.indd SSec1:2ec1:2 110/12/070/12/07 44:21:01:21:01 PPMM news Avondale graduates charged to serve COORANBONG, NEW SOUTH WALES in the lives of the people the students serve but in the lives raduation at Avondale College (No- of the students themselves,” vember 30–December 2) has remind- he said. ed students of their responsibility to Speaker Desley Scott, the Guse education not for self-interest but state member for Woodridge in service to the community. in Queensland, assured gradu- Dr Peter Beamish, dean of education, en- ands, “Your stand for principle, couraged graduands attending the consecra- for openly and honestly reveal- tion service on the Lake Macquarie campus ing your values of faith, and ord to live life meaningfully. “Remember, it’s not your authentic and genuine Ann Staff about you, it’s about them,” he said. interest in others and their is- Lecturer Katherine Cooper acknowl- sues, will open up many doors Graduands sing the hymn, “Take my life and let it be,” edged, during the consecration service on of opportunity.” as their response to valedictory services speaker Carole the Sydney campus, the spirit of service dem- “Expect adventure on this Ferch-Johnson’s challenge to remain close to Jesus. onstrated by the graduating nursing class— journey with God,” she said, “but always valediction. “It is His last word. He gives it students served in Kenya, Mozambique, the remember everything is possible with God fi rst place. He says, ‘Remain in me.’” Philippines and Romania this year. “This and no-one is beyond His reach.” The presentation by Avondale Founda- class exhibits mission in action in the com- Service also featured prominently in the tion of a letter of guarantee for $A300,000 by mitment and care they have demonstrated charge given by the pro-chair of the Avon- foundation president, Dr Norman Young, to others in need,” she said. dale College Council, Dr Barry Oliver. “As highlighted its role in serving the college and The theme of both services refl ected the graduates of Avondale, you have the unique the importance of scholarships. graduation class motto, based on a text from privilege of going from this place not merely Some 266 graduands—the most since the biblical parable of the sheep and goats. to serve self-interest but to follow the exam- 1985—were eligible to march during the The text, “Because you did it for the least of ple of Jesus, and serve the community with service, held in the Chan Shun Auditorium them . you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40), compassion and concern,” he said. on the Lake Macquarie campus. These in- appears on a plaque attached to the back of a Carole Ferch-Johnson described the “close cluded an equal record number of honours decorative key ring the graduands received and intimate” nature of the love of Jesus students (six), the fi rst students with an As- as a gift from the class.