SOUTHERN VANTAGE POINT BY MALCOLM GORDON Staff Update We are bidding farewell to one education associate director Oakwood Academy as principal; and served as principal, teacher, in the office of education as we welcome another. Rita Henriquez- or media specialist at a variety of schools from the elementary Green, associate director for elementary education, has accepted to university level. She also serves on several curriculum-related a call to Southern Adventist University, where she will be an advisories for the Union and North American Division. associate professor of education in the School of Education and Fryson's varied expertise will be a strong addition to the Psychology. While we are sorry to lose her, we are glad that her Southern Union education team. expertise will be used to guide future teachers in the Southern Ted Smith, a 45-year veteran of the publishing ministry, re- Union Conference. tired in April of this year as the Southern Union associate pub- Debra Fryson will be joining us in June as the new associate lishing director. His primary responsibility was to oversee the director. "We are pleased to welcome Mrs. Fryson to the team," three Family Health Education Services (FHES). Uncle Teddy, as says Gerald Kovalski, director of educa- he is affectionately known, was converted to Adventism shortly tion. "As the current associate superin- after graduating from Fort Valley State University. He soon began tendent for South Central Conference, his literature ministry on a bicycle. His career has seen a tremen- Debra is highly esteemed by her col- dous growth in the regional publishing work. In retirement he leagues in the other conferences. Under plans to spend his time writing and selling books. her leadership we expect the strength of Robert T. Smith has assumed the the elementary education program to con- leadership of Family Health Education tinue." Services (FHES). Smith was one of the Fryson is a graduate of Andrews Uni- first group of student leaders to help start versity, and holds a master of arts in math/ the Oakwood College Publishing Indus- science curriculum from Clark Atlanta University, as well as a try now called LETC. He has served as master of science in library media from Alabama A & M Uni- pastor, evangelist, and associate publish- versity. ing director in the Allegheny West Con- Before accepting the position at the Southern Union, she ference in Columbus, Ohio. His most re- served as associate superintendent for the South Central and cent assignment was the director of Fam- South Atlantic conferences; administered the K-12 program of ily Health Education Service for the South Atlantic Conference. PAGE 8 • COVER STORY Calendar 30 Awakened to the Challenge Classified Advertising 22 by Olson Perry Obituaries 29 NEWS PAGE 10 • GA-CUMB FEATURE Carolina 6 The Twelfth Fold Florida 18 by Vernon Alger Georgia-Cumberland 15 Gulf States 20 Kentucky-Tennessee 26 PAGE 17 • SOUTHERN UNION VIEWS South Atlantic 4 A Prayerful Weekend South Central 5 by Belinda Perry Southeastern 16 A Marigold Sabbath Florida Hospital College 12 by Blondel Senior Southern Adventist University 11 Cover: Time spent developing a relationship with God and each other is essential Adventist Health System 13 to having a happy family. SOUTHERN TIDINGS (USPS 507-000) VOLUME 93 NUMBER 6, JUNE 1999. FEATURES Published monthly by the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Free to members. $8 yearly subscription to others. Second-class postage paid at A Symbol of Freedom 3 Decatur, GA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send changes of address to SOUTHERN TIDINGS. P. 0. Box 849, Decatur, GA 30031. COVER PHOTO BY RON QUICK RELIGIOUS LIBERTY FEATURE BY VERNON ALGER ost of us favor being with people like in the way we want our freedom assured is has become an international symbol of Mourselves. The problem comes when an application of the Golden Rule. religious diversity, was destroyed in 1993 we must relate to individuals with whom Some people do not support religious by the evil forces the bridge stood in we do not care to associate. Even though freedom for others, and, in fact, actively monument against—religious- and ethnic- we may not seek a person's friendship, we seek to repress it. Hatred of an individual based violence. Gone is the bridge which must acknowledge the value of the exist- or a group because of religion is the most for over four centuries represented and ence of each human and his or her right to invidious and illogical form of discrimi- assisted religious diversity. be different. By protecting the freedom of nation. But it happens. Laws can go only Because of the significance of the old others, we help maintain our own liber- so far. Love for humanity is required to Mostar bridge, the Council for America's ties. Clarence Darrow, one of the 20th make a pluralistic society work for all. First Freedom has undertaken to restore century's great trial attorneys, said, "You A literal and symbolic example of re- it. This organization, headquartered in can only protect your liberties in this world ligious liberty is the Old Stone Bridge in Richmond, Virginia, promotes the prin- by protecting the other man's freedom. the city of Mostar, the capital of ciple of religious freedom based on You can only be free if I am free." Herzegovina. Mostar comes from most Jeffersonian principles of separation of A practical reason for supporting reli- meaning "bridge." It was a magnificent church and state and religious liberty gious freedom for others is the possibility bridge designed by the Ottoman architect, which were embodied in the Virginia Stat- of being in a minority either in the future Hayrudin, and constructed between 1557 ute for Religious Freedom and subse- or in another situation. However, the best and 1566. This bridge allowed Catholic quently in the First Amendment to the U.S. reason is because it is right. As Thomas Croats, Moslem Bosnians and Orthodox Constitution. It is laying plans and raising Jefferson said, "Almighty God hath created Serbians to interact with each other—re- funds for the old bridge's restoration. the mind free." Protecting others' liberties ligion being no barrier. This bridge, which Carol 0. Negus, president of the Council, said of the Mostar bridge reconstruc- tion, "The old bridge was a stunning example of Ottoman architecture, unique in the world. It was signifi- cant not only to the local Serbs, Croats, Muslims and Jews, but to those of all religions who know about and visit this beautiful area. The old bridge was important as a symbol of religious pluralism, beauty and peace, not only to Yugo- slavian minds, but to all those who know of it." As important as is the meaning- ful old Mostar bridge, more impor- tant are the bridges to differing people we build in ourselves— bridges of freedom and support to those of other heritages, to those of other religions and yes, to those of our own religion whose views do not parallel our own. Only as we sup- port their freedom and they ours, can we all be truly free. A beloved landmark in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the stone footbridge built at Mostar Vernon Alger is the Lake Union Con- by the ruling Turks in 1566 is no more. It survived centuries of conflict but was ference public affairs/religious lib- destroyed during fierce fighting in 1993. erty and trust services director. JUNE 1999 • SOUTHERN TIDINGS • 3 SOUTH ATLANTIC • CONFERENCE .0111144 BY DONNA GREEN-GOODMAN AND LAURA HUNTER-VALCIN Lifestyle Principles, Inc., Develops Health Ministry covery. By pointing them to God and His plan for health, the staff at Lifestyle Principles is witnessing dramatic results. One If you have ever been to camp meeting, perhaps you recog- gentleman whose foot was decayed, had no pulse and was sched- nize David Moore, M.D. He has spoken at churches and camp uled for amputation, followed Dr. Moore's advice. When he re- meetings around the Southern Union, presenting the simple prin- turned to his primary physician, ciples for better health outlined in Scripture and the Spirit of the foot had regained color, and Prophecy. Dr. Moore accepted the third angel's message while a when pressed actually bled. The student at Meharry Medical College, after meeting fellow stu- doctor was amazed and pleased dents who were graduates of Oakwood College. that the foot could be saved. The After thoroughly researching the Spirit of Prophecy and the patient's daughter is now receiv- counsel regarding health work, Moore spent time at Wildwood ing Bible studies. Metro-Atlanta participants Lifestyle Center and Hospital getting medical missionary train- Recently, Lifestyle Prin- at Reversing Diabetes ing. Following that training he served as staff physician at Wild- ciples participated in the Weimar Naturally seminar. wood, and medical director at Living Springs Retreat in New Institute Reversing Diabetes York. His purpose in life was to point people to God's plan for Naturally seminar, held in the Atlanta area. Dr. Moore and Donna health. joined the Weimar Reversing Diabetes staff as presenters. Of the In October of 1995, Moore was working in a traditional people in attendance, two were already patients at Lifestyle Prin- medical facility in Charlotte. For 20 years he wanted to serve in ciples. Ralph Franklin and Oscar Sherrod, South Atlantic Confer- the south as a medical missionary physician. Still burdened with ence ministers, were among a number of others who stated that that desire, he made a covenant with God to offer his time, tal- God had led them to the conference. They were happy to learn of ents, and means to the service of God as a medical missionary.