CONTENTS EDITORIAL 2 Editorial: Do Not Forget Why You Are Here 3 Operation Amigo: Do Not for,?;O: Why Gannavaram, India, Evanglistic Crusade 2000 you Are HE7':f • 4 New Members BY WALTER L. WRIGHT, LAKE UNION 5 Meet Gordon Retzer, New CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Lake Union President 6 NAD K-12 Teachers Conven- tion in Dallas Makes History I arrived in the Dominican Republic nine hours after taking off from South Bend. 9 Annual ASI Convention Stresses Maybe it was because the baggage handlers had dropped my suit bag in a Priority of Mission puddle of water, soaking all my underwear, dress shirts, suits and fading the new 10 Andrews and Evangelism Field ties onto each other. Maybe it was the narrow streets and uncollected trash, or School Create Stories and maybe it was the hotel phone system that was out of order after a lightning strike. I Friendships am not sure what had me riled, but I am sure that God was displeased with me. 12 Global Mission and the Maranatha Spirit He suddenly reminded me of why I was in Santo Domingo. I was not sent 13 Bible Labs—Service Learning at to evaluate the country and its infrastructure. It was not to judge the culture, the Its Best people, or their manner of driving. I was sent there to love them. 14 Youth Ministry Leadership 2000 Yes, love them. Love them enough to share the story of Jesus and His 15 Exploring God's World: grace. After all, He is the source of their salvation, as well as mine. I was to love Porcupine Fish them enough to learn about them—their hopes, fears and dreams. I was sent to 16 Adventist Health System love them as Jesus loves them. Midwest Region News And guess what? At the same moment God reminded me of why I was 17 Andrews University News 0 18 Education News there, a remarkable attitude adjustment came over me. I started to laugh along with 19 Local Church News the people at some of the drivers, reminding myself of my frequent frustration with 21 Mileposts some of the drivers in Michigan. 26 Classified Ads I cancelled having hotel management switch me to the room I should 28 Announcements have had. The reason: I saw the fantastic view of the ocean and the palm trees. It 30 eXtreme Grace was always there, I just hadn't noticed. I began to really see that wonderful 31 Profiles of Youth country and its marvelously-resilient people. I started to appreciate how they have COVER endured, even thrived, through adversities that I have never experienced. A 10-week youth crusade "Revelation Then it happened. I loved them! No, I really mean it. I wanted to tell each Promises Hope" in Grand Rapids (see story of them just how much Jesus cares—how much I care. And I did it! Night after on page 10) resulted in baptisms during the Sabbath program at the August ASI con- night, to over-capacity crowds, I preached the good news that Jesus saves. And vention. Herald photo. those beautiful people, for whom Jesus died, responded with great enthusiasm and The Lake Union Herald (ISSN 0194-908X) were baptized in His name. 0 is published monthly by the Lake Union Conference, P.O. Box C, Berrien Springs, MI 49103. My prayer shall always be: "Lord, help me not to forget why I am here." Do you remember why you are here? Periodicals postage paid at Berrien Springs, MI, and additional mailing offices. Yearly subscription price $7.50; single cop- ies 50 cents. Vol. 92, No. 10. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to: Lake Union Herald, P. 0. Box 6 C, Berrien Springs, MI 49103. 2 • LAKE UNION HERALD, OCTOBER 2000 Now YOU CAN READ THE LAKE UNION HERALD ONLINE. computer. He became the link to our families. Though Raja is a Hindu, he r began to see in us and in Rau and OPERATION AMIGO Rubin, his co-workers, the love of Jesus as we went about our daily routine. Raja continues to e-mail me now that I am back in the United States. With the Lord's help, I will continue to witness to him. E \/;_ArIgc-211Siii• 000 Jim Wyckoff was the speaker for the meetings, and for sixteen nights he preached the Word of God. We began with about 150 people in attendance BY RICHARD MUSKETT the hotel housekeeping manger. Rubin the first night, and the number is a Christian Catholic whose father continued to grow each night until we was English and n April 17 of this year, Bob had more than mother was Indian. and Gail Jordan from the 900 in He too had Jesus Hillsdale (Illinois) Church, attendance! O in his heart, and he along with Jim Wyckoff and myself, We were able talked to us daily members of the Houghton Lake to distribute about what he had (Michigan) Church, left for 1,079 Bibles in read in his Daily Gannavaram, India, for a one-month the Telugu Bread Devotional. evangelistic crusade. While in language, Gannavaram which is the • we stayed at people's the Hotel native Ilapuram and tongue. became When the call acquainted went out to with three accept Jesus special men During the evangelistic crusade in as their who worked • India, Jim Wyckoff spoke to an au- Savior, there and dience of more than 900 people. hundreds made our stay stood for Him, an enjoyable and many came experience. forth wanting to First, there Approximately 1,079 Telugu lan- be baptized. As a guage Bibles were distributed. was Rau, the result, the hotel restau- pastors in the Rubin • rant manager, who provided us with nearby areas prayed our noon meal each day. Rau is a baptized 284 with Christian Hindu. He was a true people. us Christian with the love of Jesus in his Though I had also, heart, but from outward appearances many apprehen- and he was a Hindu with the red dot on his sions about forehead. Rau longed for the day that during his last From left: Richard Muskett and James Wyckoff going to India, I he could openly preach the second from the Houghton Lake Church, and Robert am glad God prayer coming of Christ. He came to our hotel and Gail Jordan from the Hillsdale Church, all gave me this with room on several occasions and prayed participated in the crusade. opportunity to be Rau earnestly for us and our mission. He a witness for Him. I can more fully told how he had two visions on the and us, he prayed in his own words for the first time in his life—not a memo- appreciate what God has given me, and second coming of Christ, both I thank Him daily for the blessings I rized prayer, but a prayer from his heart biblically correct. Rau's testimony was saw in India. truly a witness for Christ and touched to his God. • our hearts. Last of all, there was Raja, a Richard Muskett is the head deacon Second, there was Rubin Joseph, loveable Hindu who operated the hotel at the Houghton Lake Church. VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT LUC.ADVENTIST.ORG LAKE UNION HERALD. OCTOBER 2000 • 3 the first song each night, Ruth would leave and go into the fellowship hall to • prepare for her next day's school NEW MEMBERS assignment—this way she felt she could also escape the convicting power of the preaching of God's Word. ILLINOIS Nevertheless, God gave me the But the Lord still used this opportu- When I was a little girl, frequently a courage to follow through on my nity—since Ruth had to know when to Christian aunt of mine would take me convictions. A few months later, return to the sanctuary to accompany to church with her on Sundays. Then without telling anyone in my immediate the appeal song, she had to leave the • when I was 10 years old my grand- family, I had Priscilla dedicated at speaker turned on in the room. mother, Nancy Psik, moved back into church. Decision time arrived in the our area, and she began taking my God continued to send people into crusade, and many prayers were siblings and me to the Mattoon my life, such as an Adventist aunt, ascending to God's throne room. Seventh-day Adventist Church. I had who helped me grow and be strong. "Lord, we just must have Ruth!" Dan always felt like something was missing God gave me the strength and courage had just finished preaching The Seal of to start baptismal lessons. So that I God or the Mark of the Beast. We in my life, and that's when I found • what it was. It was love. Love for the could study freely, I kept the lessons knew Ruth had heard the message Savior, the Word, and a genuine love at work and completed them during through the speaker system—what for each other. As a result, I expressed breaks. On Priscilla's second birthday, would be her response? We did not a desire to be baptized, but I was I was finally baptized into the Mattoon have long to wait! The God of heaven forbidden by my father from doing so. Church. moved upon her heart all night. When I was about 15 years old, my Teresa Dawn as told to Lisa Poole, "Dave," Ruth said to her husband grandmother took me to the Northern Mattoon Church communication the next morning, "I am thinking of Illinois camp meeting where Don secretary becoming a Sabbath-keeper, but I want to remain a member of my own Schneider, then Lake Union president, MICHIGAN was speaking.