for the least of these A MATTHEW 25 RESPONSE TO CURRENT WORLD CRISES 16 NEWS CHURCH LEADERS SHARE SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES AND VISIONS 8 ADVENTIST RECORD | APRIL 1, 2017 ISSN 0819-5633 editor’s note i want to be a fool Happy April Fool’s Day. was heir to a silver mining fortune. He had education, I remember at school, on the last day of March, opportunity and money. Before leaving America he planning elaborate pranks with my friends in prepara- raised lots of money and set up missionary societies tion for April 1. It was fun, the ideas were crazy—and in the colleges he attended. He inspired many young we never followed through. They were too much—ei- men to mission; yet he never made it to his intended ther too much risk or too much preparation. It was fun mission destination. to dream though. Engraved on his resting place in the American Instead, when April 1 rolled around we would tell Cemetery in Cairo are these words: “Apart from Christ, silly jokes or try to trick our classmates with made-up there is no explanation for such a life.” stories. Will people say that about my life? I have always Now the date passes, for me at least, with very little been careful by nature and risk averse. I like comfort, thought. This year I tried to find out the origins of the having all my worldly needs met. I do enough for the day. It was impossible. It seems people have made Church to assuage my guilt but spend my spare time up the origins as April Fool’s jokes and the and money on food and entertainment. actual history of the day has been lost. It’s time for me to ask myself some dif- In early days in Europe, people tried to “Maybe it’s ficult questions. Where are my time, talents link the origins of April fools to the Bi- and treasures truly invested? Is my faith ble. They said, sending people on foolish time for me too comfortable? Does it appear foolish to errands commemorated Jesus being sent to start others? back and forth between Pilate and Herod. Maybe it’s time for me to start acting the Another attempted link was Noah’s errand acting the fool for the sake of the gospel. of sending the raven from the Ark. The problem is, I care too much about While no-one has come up with the real fool for what other people will think. I hesitate or story, the Bible has a lot to say about fools. self censor before I share my faith—watering There are two types of fool in the Bible. the sake of down offensive and challenging doctrines. Firstly, there is the fool described in the I’ve attended a few church events re- so-called wisdom books. This is a person the gospel.” cently and the message has been the same. who “hates knowledge”, “despises wisdom Everyone wants to overcome challenges, and instruction” (Proverbs 1), they “chatter”, “slander” grow the Church and see the kingdom flourish. We and “lie” (Proverbs 10), they are proud, hot-tem- want to be a movement again. But that can only hap- pered, mocking, love money, avoid discipline, don’t pen through church members personally and individu- get along with others, disrespect their parents, are ally committing to revival. Only then will the Holy Spirit quick to quarrel . I could go on. This fool is used as move and the Church corporate become a movement. a warning against certain types of behaviour and as a That means I need to be more of a fool for God. comparison point for recommended behaviour. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s After reading all that, it doesn’t seem like being a wisdom . God chose the foolish things of the world fool is such a wise idea. to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:25,27). Yet would you believe I still hope to be called a Heroic missionary martyr Jim Elliot fool? put it this way: “He is no I recently read about missionary William Borden. fool who gives what he He died in Egypt from spinal meningitis while studying cannot keep to gain jarrod stackelroth senior editor Arabic so he could reach out to Chinese Muslims. He what he cannot lose.” /JStack senior consulting editor graphic designer noticeboard adventist media adventist record is the glenn townend theodora amuimuia [email protected] locked bag 1115 official news magazine of the senior editor copyeditor subscriptions wahroonga seventh-day adventist church’s jarrod stackelroth tracey bridcutt [email protected] nsw 2076 australia south pacific division assistant editors noticeboard + 61 (03) 5965 6300 + 61 (02) 9847 2222 kent kingston naomi hurst mailed within australia and cover credit: ADRA abn 59 093 117 689 maritza brunt letters nz $A43.80 $NZ73.00 other vol 122 no 6 vania chew [email protected] prices on application. “Young Syrian in refugee linden chuang (digital) news & photos website camp.” [email protected] record.adventistchurch.com april 1, 2017 | Adventist record 3 news Men of godly wisdom San inspires with stories of healing Owen Cooper was an elder in the TRACEY BRIDCUTT first church I pastored on my own from 1988-1990 in Roma, Qld. I was Sydney Adventist Hospital is energetic and full of community service encouraging people to pause, catch ideas for the small church. Most people their breath and be inspired by sto- appreciated my enthusiasm but were ries of healing. busy with life and just keeping the The hospital has introduced “First church going. This frustrated me. Friday”, a special evening service for That’s where Owen was God-sent. patients, staff and the wider commu- Owen ran a saddlery and leather busi- nity presented on the first Friday of Dr schubert in the san chapel. ness. I soon learned that whatever my the month in the San chapel. issue was, I could talk to Owen. He’d It features stories of healing—both keep stitching a saddle while listening personal and biblical—music and been long and stressful, you are intently. He understood my zeal but prayer, and is livestreamed so pa- tense . time to take a deep breath, asked questions or commented from a tients unable to get to the chapel can time to take a break’,” he said. new perspective that would challenge watch from their rooms. While the service draws attention me. Ideas, breakthroughs, disappoint- Adventist HealthCare Mission and to the benefits of Sabbath rest, Dr ments—all were shared with Owen in Culture director Dr Branimir Schubert Schubert said it’s not about preach- his shop. His calm, down-to-earth and likened “First Friday” to his smart ing: “In a sense it’s just a visible good-humoured wisdom centred me. watch, which measures steps and demonstration of some of our core Owen was a great guitarist. I loved to breathing. If the watch detects that values and commitment to the over- play but was not very talented so Owen he’s feeling tense it buzzes him with all mission of the hospital.” encouraged me and we played together a message to take a break. It will also provide closer connec- in church. Others, including his wife Le- “First Friday is just like this device: tions between the San and the wider ora, joined in and the church enjoyed it. we are sensitive to this divine ‘buzz’. Adventist community, with local Barrie Collins was the CEO/CFO for The message says, ‘Your week has churches invited to provide music. Adventist Education when I became president of the WA Conference in 2003. He was an excellent support and showed me how to have a clean desk Trinity gardens celebrates 50 years (not that I have succeeded). I appreci- Debra heidik/record staff ated his thoughts on stewardship and health. I personally benefited from his Trinity Gardens Sev- financial advice as did many pastors and enth-day Adventist Church teachers. Barrie was always cheerful (SA) celebrated its 50th and his love for Jesus, the Church and anniversary on March 4. our complete message was obvious. A special commemora- Barrie ran an efficient board and helped tive service was held and attendees at the celebration. photo: Duncan heidik me understand the business side of the the founding members who Church. His views were always worth had worked so hard to establish the Trinity’s 25th anniversary, was guest listening to in meetings, as were his church were honoured. speaker for the day. Also present stories of life in the army in Rhodesia The church school, which operat- were previous pastor Ian Watts, and working for global accounting firms. ed between 1961 and 1993, and the current pastor Jan Pollok and visiting He was a man of great discipline. emergency foster care organisation pastor Will Grobler. Both Owen and Barrie died recently. were remembered as well as a re- Trinity Gardens was formed Yet I am certain that, because of their cent mission trip the church’s young when the Kensington and Maylands faith in Jesus, Owen and I will play the people made to Thailand. congregations joined together and guitar and Barrie and I will eat vegan Founding families represented at built a church on property owned by food together after the the special day included Van Wee- the Maylands church. The foundation resurrection. And I will nen, Browne, Banks, Jenkins, May- was laid in 1965. For just over two listen to more of their wald, Watson, Mitchell and Hartwig.