July 2007 SOUTHERN Spreading Tidings of the Southern Union Adventist Family Students Dream6 Recognizing Excellence of Success 32 Separation of Church and Hate 33 A Cruise With a Mission Vantage Point The B-I-B-L-E: Yes, That’s the Book for Me George Washington Carver, the African-American genius of Tuskegee Institute, has been called the world’s greatest biochemist. He is best known for his discovery of hundreds of valuable uses for the peanut and sweet potato. I read that in 1921, Dr. Carver was invited to testify before the United States Senate Ways and Means Commit- tee on the possibilities of the peanut. Though initially given 10 minutes to speak, he so captivated the committee that the chairman gave him unlimited time, and Carver spoke for one hour and 45 minutes. At the conclusion of his presentation, he was asked, “Dr. Carver, how did you learn all these things?” Carver replied, “From an old Book.” “What book?” the Senator continued. The famed scientist replied, “The Bible.” “Does the Bible teach about peanuts?” The surprised Senator inquired. “No, Sir,” Dr. Carver replied, “but it tells about the God Who made the peanut. I asked Him to show me what to do with the peanut, and He did.” I believe every friend of God should read some portion of Scripture every day. No matter how many times we’ve read the Bible, it is still fresh for each day and still applicable for each person and circumstance. We all have different ways of studying Gordon Retzer Scripture and learning from Scripture. Southern Union In the past four years, I’ve found it quite revealing to read through the Bible from President Genesis to Revelation several times a year. That means that, in the past four years, I’ve read the Bible 14 times. Please, this isn’t bragging, only testifying that when one reads through the entire Scriptures over and over again, it becomes clear what the main theme is. The theme is repeated in many ways, in many stories, in many forms, but it’s the same theme. It’s the same theme from beginning to end. It’s an inescap- able message that really only comes through when looking at the whole. You know what the theme is, I’m sure. It’s just that my Bible reading plan has seared this theme into my mind and heart. At the end of the day, there’s one mes- sage: Humans beings are desperately wicked and selfish; God is infinitely good and merciful. And in Jesus, human beings can become righteous by the grace of God. “But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15 Daily Bible reading is still a must for the Seventh-day Adventist Christian. If you’ve become a little lax, I invite you to begin again in the morning. It is the best part of the day—the time to listen to God speak. “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:11 2 T IDINGS • J u l y 2 0 0 7 SOUTHERN Contents Volume 101, No. 7, July 2007 The Southern Tidings is the Official FEATURES Publication of the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE 3978 Memorial Drive • Mail Address P.O. Box 849, Decatur, Georgia 30031 Students Dream of Success Telephone (404) 299-1832 www.southernunion.com 4 Staff Editor R. STEVEN NORMAN, III Editorial Assistant IRISENE DOUCE Recognizing Excellence Circulation ARDITH BEERS 6 Production COLLEGE PRESS Layout BRIAN WIEHN Contributing Editors Adventist Health System ANTHONY VERA CRUZ Welcome Home Evie Carolina RON QUICK 7 Florida MARTIN BUTLER Florida Hospital College DAWN MCLENDON Georgia-Cumberland TAMMY FISHER Gulf States BECKY GRICE Kentucky-Tennessee MARVIN LOWMAN Peruvian Blessings Oakwood College MICHELE SOLOMON 26 South Atlantic JAMES LAMB South Central MICHAEL HARPE Southeastern Robert HENLEY Southern Adventist University LORI FUTCHER Into Russia Conference/Institution Directory 28 CAROLINA (704) 596-3200 P.O. Box 560339, Charlotte, NC 28256-0339 God Has Placed a FLORIDA (407) 644-5000 P.O. Box 2626, Winter Park, FL 32790-2626 GEORGIA-CUMBERLAND (706) 629-7951 BIG Project on Me P.O. Box 12000, Calhoun, GA 30703-7001 30 GULF STATES (334) 272-7493 P.O. Box 240249, Montgomery, AL 36117. Separation of KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE (615) 859-1391 P.O. Box 1088, Goodlettsville, TN 37070-1088 SOUTH ATLANTIC (404) 792-0535 Church and Hate 32 P.O. Box 92447, M.B., Sta., Atlanta, GA 30314 SOUTH CENTRAL (615) 226-6500 P.O. Box 24936, Nashville, TN 37202 SOUTHEASTERN (352) 735-3142 P.O. Box 1016, Mt. Dora, FL 32756-0056 A Cruise With a Mission ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM (407) 975-1400 111 North Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 33 FL 32789-3675 FLORIDA HOSPITAL (407) 303-6611 601 East Rollins St., Orlando, FL 32803 8 Carolina FLORIDA HOSPITAL COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES (800) 500-7747 10 Florida 671 Winyah Drive., Orlando, FL 32803 12 Georgia-Cumberland OAKWOOD COLLEGE (256) 726-7000 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896 14 Gulf States SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY 16 Kentucky-Tennessee (800) SOUTHERN P.O. Box 370, Collegedale, TN 37315-0370 18 South Atlantic SOUTHERN TIDINGS (USPS 507-000) Volume 101 Number EWS22 South Central 7, July 2007. Published monthly by the Southern Union. Free to 25 Southern Adventist University all members. Periodical postage paid at Decatur, GA, and at ad- ditional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send changes of address to Southern Tidings, P.O. Box 849, Decatur, GA 30031 38 Classified Advertising N 41 Calendar COVER PHOTO: PAUL MARTIN Cover Caption: Julia Tkachuk, a student at Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, is a tutor in the Student Success Center. July 2007 • TIDINGS 3 Cover Story Feature Students Dream of SuccessBY KATIE SHAW Stephanie San- stand difficult math chez is a success concepts. “She has story even though a way of applying she hasn’t been ac- the math assign- cepted yet to the ments to daily life nursing program and making it so at Florida Hospital easy to under- College of Health Sci- stand,” Stephanie ences (FHCHS). But, stated. “She’s a Stephanie’s dream of great tutor!” becoming an RN—a Sometimes the third generation student becomes nurse in her family— the teacher. Julia gets closer every day Tkachuk’s success thanks to the Student IN story began a new T Success Center. chapter when she While a student was accepted in PAUL MAR PAUL at University High the nursing pro- School, Stephanie Julia Tkachuk, a second-year Nursing student, tutors Navreet Kaur who has gram in the fall first heard about just begun the nursing program. Julia remembers how challenging the first of 2006. “Before I semester of the program was and wants to help other students understand how Florida Hospital Col- to study the difficult concepts. began the nursing lege at the Orlando program, I was a Spanish church, her 4.00 student,” Julia home congregation. She made the College, but she has kept in contact recalled. “But the classes were so dif- decision to attend FHCHS and began with me ever since, making sure that ferent from what I was used to, and I her first experience in an Adventist I have the resources I need to be started to have trouble academically.” school the summer before her fresh- successful,” Stephanie commented. Julia sought help from Susan Wool- man year. Stephanie signed up for Another key to Stephanie’s ey, professional program tutor and a Destination College, a three-week success is Patty Wooley, tutor- practicing nurse. “She was so great program offered at the College for ing coordinator. Patty trains tutors and helped me a lot,” Julia stated ap- students wanting to prepare them- that support the general educa- preciatively. Now that Julia is in her selves for the rigors of collegiate tion courses offered at FHCHS, and third semester of the nursing pro- life. Here Stephanie met Lenore also lends her expertise in math to gram, she gets great satisfaction from Brantley, Ed.D. “Dr. Brantley not aid struggling students. Stephanie tutoring first-semester students and only helped me during Destination credits Patty for helping her under- sharing her experiences with them. 4 T IDINGS • J u l y 2 0 0 7 and to apply is committed to helping students re- those in their alize their dreams. In fact, DREAMS academic and per- has become the mantra for the sonal lives.” department—Delivering Resources As coordina- that Empower And Motivate Suc- tor of academic cess. Students who visit the Center advising and Des- are constantly reminded of their tination College, own value and ability. “Success is a Lenore Brantley decision,” one framed picture says. helps faculty Another charges: “Dare to dream. advisors learn the Choice, not chance, determines best ways to as- destiny.” sist their advi- “I believe that Florida Hospital Students IN T sees. Regular College is a better place for every- advisors’meetings, one because of the Student Success PAUL MAR PAUL mentoring work- Center,” stated Steve Roche, vice shops, and president for student services. “It The Student Success team at Florida Hospital College: Patty Wooley (left), student worker Alina Oramas, Lenore Brantley, instruction in is evident that each team member Dream of Success Neal Smith, Karen Tilstra, and Betty Varghese. strengths-based wants only the best for all of the advising make the students on campus, whether they The Student Success Center is Student Success have visited the Success Center or where many students’ dreams spark, Center a place for faculty success as not.” grow, and become realized.