OCTOBER 23, 2004 RECORD In this issue Youth gear up for 2005 evangelism Reaching the Internet generation Sabbath school: Take Two Drs Gary Hopkins and Kiti Freier take time out during a busy Australian itinerary to chat with students at Ironbark Christian College in Yarrambat, Victoria. Learning to take time for kids Warburton, Victoria wo international health and paediatric professors encouraged Australians to “build positive Tand resilient kids through relationships” during a three-state tour from September 15 to October 2. Dr Gary Hopkins, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion and Public Education at Loma Linda University, California, USA, and Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Andrews University, Michigan, USA, along with Dr Kiti Freier, Associate Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics at Loma Linda University, undertook a series of church and public seminars, media interviews and visits with schools and politicians to get their message across. Their tour included Western Australia (WA), Tasmania and Victoria. According to Pastor Neil Thompson, director of Youth Ministries for the Victorian Conference, the message was straightforward and challenging. “Transforming the lives of children and young adults doesn’t take money, it takes adults with values and principles investing their time,” he Postmodern recounts. “This is a challenge to each of us personally, not just a system thing.” The Australian tour started in WA and was hosted by Beryl Carpenter, joint director of the Adventist Health Association for the Western Australian Conference. A busy eight-day itinerary and started with Dr Hopkins teaching for two days at Mamarapha College. He found the students very receptive, and eager to learn how to have an impact in their own communities, and in ministry. Other WA schools visited included Carmel Adventist College and Mount Lawley Senior Christian High School. (Continued on page 5) ISSN 0819-5633 EDITORIAL Children’s Sabbath—every Sabbath he children stood proudly and they are eight years of age. Therefore it is Research tells us children are making Tconfidently. They were doing important for us to assess how we value decisions to follow Jesus by the age of 132 something important for their church and children at church. and that children’s brains are hardwired for for God—they were leading the singing in One way of valuing children is by deep connections to spiritual and moral praise and worship. Later, two children recognising their God-given gifts and meaning.3 Ellen White also tells us “the stood with their grandparents and blessed abilities and allowing these gifts to be used hearts of the young are most susceptible to their church with their prayers. Other in worship. Children’s Sabbath provides a the teachings of Christianity.”4 children helped collect the offering, great opportunity to do this, but once a Let’s value, support and empower our dramatised a story and gave their year is not enough. We suggest children children. I am constantly meeting people testimonies. Three children preached 10- should be encouraged to take church for who are passionate about this and who minute sermonettes, and challenged the the adults at least once a quarter. This have committed their time, energy and congregation to “Stand up and stand out, involves supporting them, identifying resources. However, building a child’s faith for Jesus.” Did something similar happen in your church today? Today is the day set aside by One way of valuing children is by recognising their God- the General Conference as Children’s given gifts and abilities. Sabbath. Learning how to worship is an essential their gifts and mentoring them, teaching requires a total church effort. It requires part of faith development. Jesus said, “Let them the skills of preaching, praying, the integration of children into the the little children come to me, and do not storytelling and musicianship. priorities of your church. It requires hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven Worship, however, happens at your children to be included as valued belongs to such as these” (Matthew church every week. How validated do participants in the life of your church. It 19:14*). Later, when He was accused of children feel on a normal Sabbath? We requires you to see them through the eyes allowing too much noise in the Temple know that Jesus’ ministry included of God. Children’s Sabbath is a great idea, area, He said, “Have you never read, ‘From children. He used a boy’s lunch to feed the but don’t forget that you have children the lips of children and infants you have five thousand (John 6.9), He healed the with you every week! ordained praise’?” (Matthew 21:16, official’s son (John 4.49), healed the boy quoting Psalm 8:2). with demon possession (Matthew 17:18), 1. Gary Hopkins, It Takes a Church, 2002, page 22. We want our children to be spiritual told Peter that if he really loved Him to 2. George Barna, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions, 2003, page 33. champions, and to be connected to God “feed my lambs” (John 21:15) and told us 3. Commission on Children at Risk, USA, and our church for a lifetime. Being that to enter heaven we all needed to be Hardwired to Connect, 2003. connected to you as a church community like little children (John 18:3). Show 4. Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol 4, is very important in this process. If children how valuable they are by page 142. children feel they are treasured by the allowing them to regularly participate in *Bible quotations are adults in your church, they are more likely the worship hour in some small way. from the New to stay at your church. Priest Eli could not understand that International Version. We define a person’s sense of how God wanted to speak to Samuel. Maybe capable and worthwhile he or she is as you are finding it difficult to understand their self-esteem. Research tells us that why children should have a high priority Julie Weslake self-esteem cannot be taught; it is the value in the ministry—discipleship, worship, Director of Children’s Ministries we put an ourselves according to the way community, service—of your church. South Pacific we believe other people value us.1 Most Maybe you are struggling to understand Division. children have fairly well developed self- that children in your community are Today is Children’s esteem (negative or positive) by the time waiting for you to lead them to Christ. Day. OFFICIAL PAPER Editor Nathan Brown Mail: Signs Publishing Company South Pacific Division Senior assistant editor Lee Dunstan 3485 Warburton Highway Seventh-day Adventist Assistant editor Kellie Hancock Warburton, Vic 3799, Australia Church Editorial assistant Scott Wegener Phone: (03) 5966 9111 Fax: (03) 5966 9019 ACN 000 003 930 Copyeditor Graeme Brown Email Letters: [email protected] www.adventist.org.au Editorial secretary Meryl McDonald-Gough Email Newsfront: [email protected] Layout Kathy Chee Email Noticeboard: [email protected] Vol 109 No 41 SPD news correspondent Brenton Stacey Subscriptions: South Pacific Division mailed within Cover: Brenton Stacey Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver Australia and to New Zealand, $A43.80 $NZ73.00. www.record.net.au Other prices on application. Printed weekly. 2 October 23, 2004 FLASHPOINT • Bachelor of Nursing now avalible at PAU • Medieval formal banquet unites youth • Christian divorce rate same as non-Christians • Entire Bible read in public • and more —Compiled by Scott Wegener— ● The Papua New Guinea costumes (including tights) Nursing Council has ap- Grand variety concert a success worn by the men serving the proved the School of Health tables. A challenge was given Sciences curriculum covering by Warrnambool church the expansion into the fourth pastor Paul Kotanko about year of nursing specialist putting on the whole armour studies at Pacific Adventist of God (Ephesians 6:13).— University. Students can now Intravic continue into the fourth year of specialist studies and attain a bachelor’s degree or may ● Avondale College had an “I choose to graduate at a dip- Serve, I Worship” Saturday loma level, gain practical ex- night concert recently perience and return for their elbourne Advent Brass celebrated its 80th anniversary of service presented by the Avondale bachelor year.—Leon Powrie Mto the church and community with a Grand Variety Concert at Contemporary Choir and the Melbourne Town Hall on September 4. Avondale Acromasters. The Just one week before the event only 500 bookings had been made to free concert, attended by 450 ● Dr Gary Fraser (pictured), attend, but on the night 1500 turned up to the concert, which was also people, raised $A800 toward principal investigator of the in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund, originally known as the the Southlakes Women’s Adventist Health Study Hospital Sunday Appeal, dating back to 1873. Refuge in an intermission (AHS) based in Loma Linda, The variety evening featured the Welsh Male Choir with Yola offering. The night involved a California, has shared his Mielczarek, organist David Macfarlane, celebrity singers Kane range of music styles experiences with health Alexander, David Ferguson and Ken Mead, the Salvation Army’s including quiet, powerful, professionals in Hobart. Melbourne Staff Songsters and of course Advent Brass. fast and fun songs. A new Although on annual holidays Anthony Bailey, All Faiths Fund chairman, says, “The concert was a and exciting element, the to visit family in Australia and triumph and we at the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund are outstandingly Avondale Acromasters, per- New Zealand, Dr Fraser grateful. The whole event was a great success.”—Intravic formed a routine and added kindly accepted the invitation an acrobatic flavour to the by the Menzies Research Institute to spend ● The Warnambool church, Vic, recently choir’s performance.