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times to do more recordings in theAWR studio. As programs were produced,AWR started airing them oncea week on an FM station in Nepal nearthe Tibetan border.Nurpu’s trips require considerableperseverance: a long walk from hishillside home to a larger town, a busride, at least a full‐day’s walk to theNepali border, and another long busride to Kathmandu. The expedition,one way, can take between three andsix days. Even at home Nurpu’s life isnot easy. Although his small housedoes have electricity and he is able touse the laptop computer provided byAWR, to access e-mail he must hikedown the mountainside to a lowervillage to visit an Internet café. Hisdays are very full as he raises someanimals and food for his family andalso works as a Gospel Outreach pioneer.“Please pray for Nurpu as he continuesthe hard work of producingprograms for his people,” Chow says,“that he may be encouraged in thisministry, which is in its infancy.”—Shelley Nolan Freesland, AdventistWorld RadioAdventist Church inHungary Must Reregister■■Under controversial legislationrecently enacted, the Seventh-dayAdventist Church in Hungary isone of 344 Christian churches andother faith groups that have lost theirlegal status and must apply to theHungarian Parliament for registration.Only 14 religious organizationshave retained their previous statusunder the new law, which humanrights advocates around the worldhave decried as “draconian” and“oppressive.”REGISTRATION NOW REQUIRED:Tamás Ócsai is president of theAdventist Church in Hungary.TED file photoTamás Ócsai, president of theAdventist Church in Hungary, hasexpressed his dismay that, in spite ofprevious assurances by governmentleaders, the church must now undertakethe considerable task of applyingto parliament for renewal of its registration.“We’re currently reviewing thismatter with our church members,legal experts, the Trans-EuropeanDivision, and the General Conference,and we intend to make a decision inSeptember regarding the best way tomove forward,” Ócsai said.“The Seventh-day AdventistChurch in Hungary meets all the criteriafor reregistration under the newlaw,” he said. “We ask for the prayersof our brothers and sisters around theworld as we face this challenge.”According to Raafat Kamal, directorof the Public Affairs and ReligiousLiberty (PARL) Department for theAdventist Church’s Trans-EuropeanDivision, the legislation that waspassed by the Hungarian Parliamentduring the early-morning hours ofJuly 11 was very different from theversion shown to faith groups duringconsultations in May and June thisyear.“The process of applying for registrationhas now become politicized,”Kamal said. “The outcome will bedependent on the political climate atany given time, and could expose religiousminorities to unchecked discrimination.”John Graz, PARL director for theAdventist world church, says the newlaw has seriously compromised Hungary’sstanding as a country thatrespects and protects basic humanrights.“This law is inconsistent withboth European values and with internationalcovenants protecting religiousfreedom,” Graz said. “Werespectfully urge Hungary’s lawmakersto consider the message this lawsends to the international community,and to take steps to protect itsreligious minorities.”The legislation, called the “Law onthe Right to Freedom of Conscienceand Religion, and on Churches, Religions,and Religious Communities,”requires religious groups that are notone of the 14 “approved” religiousgroups to undergo a process of applyingfor legal status. The new law alsonarrows the legal definition of “religiousactivities” and imposes a numberof stringent conditions that mustbe met before an organization isgranted the right to refer to itself as a“church.” The law comes into force onJanuary 1, 2012.The Adventist Church in thiscentral European country has morethan 100 congregations and some5,000 members. Since Communistrule in Hungary ended in 1989, interestin religion has grown, with some55 percent of the population nowidentifying themselves as RomanCatholic.—reported by Bettina Krause, IRLA,with Adventist News NetworkOctober 2011 | Adventist World 5

ChurchW rksWORLD REPORTSeventh-day Adventist communicators from acrossCuba gathered recently at La Víbora AdventistChurch in Havana for a three-day conference to network,sharpen their skills, and learn better ways to communicatehope in their communities.Nearly four dozen communicators were in attendanceto learn how to write news articles, as well as hear aboutcommunication duties and responsibilities, the direction ofthe media, practical communication, the church as a supercommunicatedorganization, and social networking.With practically no Internet access and limited workingequipment, the church headquartered in Havana struggles tocommunicate with its four regional offices that oversee morethan 280 congregations in the 16 provinces on the island.“Through this conference we wanted our communicatorsto be clear on the objective of building bridges of hopethroughout our country,” said Dayamí Rodríguez, communicationdirector for the church in Cuba. “Every constructionsite needs to have professional builders for a successful outcome;the same goes for us as communicators of the truth.We must be trained to fulfill the mission of the church.”It’s not only about keeping a church informed but alsoabout reaching every corner of the island, said Rodríguez.Informing and reaching is still a process that takes time,she explains.“We work with what we have available,” said Rodríguez.“Our best way to communicate among our regional offices isthrough landline telephone communication and newsletters.”“We are able to promote our church initiatives, plans,strategies, and activities from the different departmentsand ministries to reach across all our provinces,” she added.Rodríguez, who has been communication director for alittle more than a year, said the conference was also an opportunityto push communicators to network and establish moredialogue among themselves—in spite of existing challenges.However, these challenges have not prevented a growingchurch from establishing a structure for communicatingand spreading the good news of salvation through printednewsletters and pamphlets, Rodríguez added.Coralia García has been a passionate communicator asshe spreads hope in Santa Clara, the central region of theisland. For 12 years García has labored to produce monthlynewsletters to inform members about what is taking placein the church in her region and the island, share encouragingstories, and bring about unity to a church membershipmostly aware of what takes place in a short-mile radiusaround them. She is able to print dozens of newsletters formembers and nonmembers who subscribe to them.She is excited to participate in the conference, the firstshe has seen organized for decades.Cuba’sSeventh-dayAdventist ChurchSharpensCommunicMembership has grown to 31,000 in20 years, despite limited resourcesBy Libna Stevens,Inter-American Division, reporting from Havana, Cuba“This workshop has really helped me in expanding myknowledge and confirming my resolve to continue doingmy best to communicate our message,” said García. Shehopes that networking among her fellow Adventist communicatorson the island will result in greater outreach.Arnaldo Rodríguez, 30, pastors an Adventist group of30 members in Batabanó, a municipality in the south ofHavana. He is also the communication director in hischurch. Rodríguez is in awe of what he has learned in theconference, but sometimes feels overwhelmed by the lackof resources, such as a phone, computer, camera, and more.“I liked what I’ve learned in this conference,” saidRodríguez. “The tools we may or may not have are notimportant; the message we must carry is most important.”Rodríguez, who is an information systems technologistby trade, left his cyber job to become a pastor two yearsago. He points out that he worked with wonderful toolsbefore, but is comforted by the importance of the messagehe must carry. He is excited to be part of a team composedof techs like him from throughout churches in Havana thatassists when church programs or special activities takeplace and productions are needed.Reider Querol, communication director for the EastConference in Cuba, struggles with limited resources, butstrives every month to publish a series of pamphlets withnews and information for each of the church’s departmentsand ministries.Yordángel Franco Navarro, who overseas a mountain-6 Adventist World | October 2011

photos by Libna Stevensation SkillsLeft: PRESENTATION: Abel Márquez, associatecommunication director for the church inInter-America, presents a seminar at La VíboraAdventist Church, Havana, Cuba, July 1, 2011.Right: CONGREGATION: Participants in worshipservice July 2, 2011, during the communicationseminar at La Víbora Seventh-day AdventistChurch.ous area belonging to the newly organized mission in theeastern part of the island, hopes to soon find ways to bettercommunicate in his region. A former journalist, hedreams of one day using a camera to capture images ofwhat is taking place in the churches he oversees. Hereports on the progress of his region to his fellow communicatorsfrom a used-up notebook and holds photographprints of activities and stories that took place severalmonths ago.“These photos were taken by a member who sharedthem with me,” said Franco. He admits his news is not“fresh,” but it’s the only way he can share it now.Most communicators like Franco do not possess a camera.García is one of the few who do; a church membergave her a 7.2-megapixel digital camera years ago beforethat member left the island. Many of her colleagues havenot been so fortunate.Dayami Rodríguez understands the challenges her communicatorsface. She too struggles to produce materialswith limited equipment. Her small studio staff endeavorsto work with a broken-down video camera, a used donatedhome-video camera, an old CD burning machine, and acomputer. “It’s what we can work with as we produce audioand video programs for our membership,” said Rodríguez.Yet she points out that the work of spreading the messageof hope and communicating activities and events is stillmultiplying and not limiting the church.Rodríguez, who also heads the community’s Art andCulture Department, recently organized a island-wideactivity where dozens of Adventist artists displayed theirpaintings and works. She plans to organize a photographycompetition to involve church members across the islandwith whatever cameras they have at hand.“We will continue to work the best we can to sharehope,” said Rodríguez. “Our communicators will sharetheir learned knowledge in this conference with theirrespective churches and territories.”Rodríguez, just like her fellow communicators, dreamsof when online access will be available on the island to satisfytheir hunger to learn of what is taking place in theAdventist Church surrounding Cuba and around theworld. For now, they hope for a better tomorrow and workhard to network together.Aldo Pérez, president of the church in Cuba, firmlyshares the vision of communication on the island. With agrowing membership of more than 31,000 members, heand his fellow administrators see the greater impact communicatorscan have on the island.“Now, more than ever, we see the importance of communicatingmore love and hope, and believe in the workthey are doing,” he adds. “We have grown rapidly from10,000 members in 1990 to 31,179 this year and believe therole of the communication department is invaluable.”“We know how crucial it is to have an informed churchmembership and hope that our administrators and leadersin each of our four fields capture the vision of how communicationcan aid in the integrated evangelism strategy ofsharing the message of truth,” said Pérez.“The leadership of the union communication departmentand the administration during the event allowed meto see the commitment they have to sharing love by usingall available means,” he added.The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cuba was establishedin 1905. The church oversees three conferences, onemission, a seminary, and more than 280 churches andcongregations. nOctober 2011 | Adventist World 7

ChurchW rksWORLD VISTAHistorians and sociologists tellus that most of the people onearth during the past 6,000years have lived in rural areas, necessitatedby an agricultural lifestyle thathad to be “close to the land.” In 1800,only 3 percent of the world’s populationlived in urban areas. By 1900, 14percent were living in cities, althoughonly 12 cities had 1 million or moreinhabitants.During the twentieth century theworld experienced unprecedentedurban growth. In 2007, for the firsttime, 50 percent of the world’s populationwas living in cities. More than400 cities now host at least 1 millioninhabitants: at least 20 cities have populationsgreater than 10 million.I’ve lived or worked in some of theworld’s great cities, including Cairo,Washington, D.C., metropolitan LosAngeles, New York City, Abidjan, andMoscow. As I studied the faces of thethousands caught in the urgency ofcity life, I developed a particular burdenfor the church’s mission to bigcities. My concern for big cities is animportant part of how I follow Jesus.Nearly 2,000 years ago Jesuspaused on the brow of a hill andlooked at the capital city of Jerusalem.Though He knew what would happento Him, and that He would be rejectedby many in that city, He wept overJerusalem with some of the mostempathetic language in Scripture(Luke 19:41-44). Following Jesus inthe modern world means learning Hisheart of compassion for those wholive in the crowded metropolises oftoday—understanding their needs,studying their habits, and yes, weepingfor their condition if they are withouta saving relationship with Him. It’s fartoo easy to stay within our own comfortzones rather than reaching out tothe masses of people in the greaturban centers of the world.By Ted N. C. WilsonBigCities—BiggerVisionEvery member involved in everypossible outreachSeeing the Big PictureA commitment to the people ofthe world’s great cities is not a trendymodern impulse, but is instead firmlybased on Christ’s ministry as seen inthe Gospels and clearly explained inthe writings of Ellen White. As Seventh-dayAdventists we’ve oftenfocused our work on rural and suburbanareas while many of the great citiesremain largely unentered. Severalfactors are responsible for this, includingthe undoubted difficulty of urbanministry and the fact that we havereceived inspired counsel from EllenWhite about the desirability of countryliving. God’s original plan placedhuman beings in a delightful garden,not a crowded city, but Ellen White isequally clear that we must accept andwork with the situation as we find ittoday. The Spirit of Prophecy offers usa very balanced approach for ministeringto large cities, clearly recognizingthat many people, including manySeventh-day Adventists, may need orchoose to live in the cities. An “in-out”approach by which those ministeringin cities are encouraged to regularlyrecharge their spiritual and physical“batteries” in rural environments is arealistic and restorative approach tothe tough realities of urban ministry.As Ellen White described it, “outpostcenters”—including trainingschools, lifestyle health facilities, andmissionary homes—would be establishedjust on the edge of urban areas.A cycle of outreach moves the missionaryinto the city to engage withpeople on the level of their need,inviting responsive persons out to theoutpost center for rehabilitation andrecovery, and then returning withthem to continue the cycle of witness.This in-out movement is essential forthis special work, because God neverintended believers to spend all of theirlives in dense, overstimulated urbanareas of the modern world.Essential, Comprehensive,and SustainableLet’s reaffirm the fact that SeventhdayAdventists understand that citiesare where God would have us focusour work just now—because that’swhere the people are. While we continueour efforts in rural and suburbanareas, we ought to intensify ourwork for the hundreds of millionswho live in the great metropolises ofour planet. More than a century agoEllen White wrote that “the work inthe cities is the essential work for thistime. When the cities are worked asGod would have them, the result willbe the setting in operation of a mighty8 Adventist World | October 2011

movement such as we have not yetwitnessed.” 1Even as we agree that the half ofthe world’s population living in bigcities needs to be reached with thethree angels’ messages, the task looksdaunting. Our big city strategies haveoften been spasmodic, with largeevangelistic campaigns sometimesfollowed by months and even years ofsilence. The Spirit of Prophecy modelis very different, and involves a sustained,biblical, and compassionateapproach to doing urban evangelism.This model is best described as“comprehensive urban evangelism”—with the emphasis on comprehensive.The model includes establishing workingunits and activities in the cities thatuse the skills and gifts of localchurches, young people, small groups,medical missionary workers, pastors,social workers, literature evangelists,and all available media channels.Diverse, well-planned, and sustainableprograms for evangelizing the cities ofthe world are needed. We must nothave one big program once in a whileand then forget the people of the cities.The Beehive ModelEllen White eagerly described thechurch’s efforts in San Franciscoaround 1906 as a “beehive” of activity. 2ness have been implemented in NewYork and elsewhere during the pastcentury, we have never been able toput together all the elements EllenWhite described.Some may ask the question “WhyNew York?” Ellen White indicated thatNew York should be a symbol for howother urban areas should be worked. 3New York City is a unique microcosmof the world’s population, illustratingboth the amazing diversity of theworld’s people and the special challengesof designing methods of witnessthat will appeal to them.Over the coming weeks andmonths church leaders will be discussinghow to plan, implement, andlaunch a multidimensional approachfor New York City and other majorurban centers. The “beehive” modelsuggests a swarm of activities: evangelists,health ministry leaders, and creativeoutreaches targeted to specificpopulations are needed from all overthe globe if these plans are to succeed.By God’s grace the church will thenreplicate this approach in each of thechurch’s 13 world divisions—focusingon the large cities in each division,union, and local field with sustainableevangelistic outreach.For the New York City initiative,the North American Division, alongwith its unions and conferences in thespecific area of New York City, will laythe groundwork over the next twoyears and then coordinate the sustainedbeehive of activities that willextend beyond public evangelism.Health work and “medical missionarywork” (a multidimensional approachto meeting people’s needs as seen inJesus’ ministry and outlined in theSpirit of Prophecy) must featurelargely in all this. I foresee a tremendousopportunity to demonstrateeven greater cooperation with ourSeventh-day Adventist health profescarolinekeyzorThis, she wrote, most closely resembledwhat the Lord had in mind fordoing city work—everyone workingtogether, each with specific responsibilities,but all integrated with thecommon goal of evangelizing the city.Ellen White elaborated on whatshe termed “centers of influence” inthe many communities that make up acity. These centers of influence can bechurches, bookstores/reading rooms,various kinds of street ministry, vegetarianrestaurants, educational entities,community service centers, healtheducation centers, or clinics. Theremay be new and creative outreachmethods of community service orInternet-based witnessing strategiesthat target special communities. Thekey quality is sustainability: how canwe continue interacting with the communityin helpful Christian serviceand evangelistic outreach, rather thanlapsing into sporadic activities?This kind of comprehensive urbanevangelism will change both the cities,through the power of the Holy Spirit,and us as a church family. By individuallystudying the Bible and theSpirit of Prophecy, we will find platformsfor cooperation and sustainability,and experience the Spiritinspiredunity among His people forwhich Jesus prayed (John 17:21).Reaching the “Big Apple”Just now church leaders arefocused on trying to replicate this“beehive” of activity and work in NewYork City and then, through God’spower, in many other large urban centersof the world.Many wonderful Seventh-dayAdventist evangelistic activities aretaking place in hundreds of citiesaround the world, but we have tointensify our efforts using the “comprehensive”approach described here.While many useful strategies for wit-October 2011 | Adventist World 9

ChurchW rksWORLD VISTAsionals, institutions, and the manysupporting ministries that enrich Seventh-dayAdventist mission.We are now in a multiplatformmedia age, and we need to use allavailable media to the fullest as we layplans for urban outreach. When a citydweller hears about something on theradio, sees the same message on TV,views it on different Internet sites orFacebook, then comes across the samething in print or on billboards, thatindividual will be far more receptiveto one-on-one contact.Here is where we will particularlyneed the energetic support of thechurch’s young adults. Imagine hundredsof dedicated Seventh-dayAdventist young people going to NewYork City every year, selling truthfilledmagazines and books, walkingthe boulevards and parks to witnessabout their love for Jesus! This is atthe heart of city evangelism: we haveto make and maintain contact withpeople using Jesus’ methods of interaction(see the Spirit of Prophecy article“To Make Him Known,” on page23 of this edition). Now imaginethousands of Seventh-day Adventistyoung people doing the same thing inhundreds of cities around the world!Next month I’ll focus on this talentedpopulation—this army of youth“rightly trained” 4 —and why we needto motivate and support them as theyinvest their time and love in reachingthe world’s great cities. n1Ellen G. White, Medical Ministry, p. 304.2Ellen G. White, Welfare Ministry, p. 112.3Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 384.4Ellen G. White, Christian Service, p. 30.Ted N. C. Wilson ispresident of the GeneralConference of SeventhdayAdventists in SilverSpring, Maryland, U.S.A.AOne Day ChurchOlanchito, HondurasThe Olanchito Adventist congregations knew what they wanted:nothing complex, just a remodeling job on the small, concreteclassrooms nestled around the main church. They were thinkingpaint: maybe stretching the land to find room for a couple new classrooms.That was their request to the conference, union conference, and divisionoffices. It was also the request Maranatha Volunteers International received.Darrell Hardy, Maranatha’s vice president for Latin America, visited Olanchitowhile scouting a number of potential one-day, church building sites in Honduras.“It looked good,” Hardy said, “but I think there is a possibility for muchmore. This might be a great location for a one-day school campus.”The Camelback Seventh-day AdventistChurch in Phoenix, Arizona, alsoknew what they wanted: a missiontrip that would bring their memberscloser together; an adventure thatwould focus them on the needs ofothers; something complex; not justa remodeling job, but a whole schoolcampus with at least 10 rooms.That was the request they madeto Maranatha, who quickly connectedthem with the church members inOlanchito. They put a visiting team together and flewto Honduras with a set of carefully designed plans.Before they shared their plans, they asked thecongregation and school leaders to describe theirdream for ministry in Olanchito.“We have to have the school fixed, but whatwe really need is a soccer field,” said schoolprincipal Denora Alvarado. “If we are going to bethe best school in town, we need a new field where all the people will cometo play fútbol.”Camelback and Maranatha listened. They changed the plans, helped findbetter land, and built a field for fútbol. Then they built a new school around it.They also remodeled the old school!Everyone knew what they wanted. But God knew even better!The One-Day Church program is a collaborative effortbetween the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Adventistlaymen’sServices and Industries (ASI), and MaranathaVolunteers International. These stories come to you eachmonth from Maranatha’s storyteller, Dick Duerksen.10 Adventist World | October 2011photos by dick duerksen

W O R L D H E A L T HTooBy Allan R.Handysidesand Peter N.LandlessFor several years we didn’t have a television, and now that we have one, I’m concernedthat my husband and kids watch too much TV. Sitting in front of the TV screen seemsunhealthy to me. Do you have any advice?tvMuch ?Actually, your question raises several issues, all of thempertinent to us as Christians and parents.Concerns with media focus on a few areas. One ofthese is the content; another is the time factor; a third is theway the media insinuates itself into our lives and disruptsfamily relationships. We will discuss these three areas, andthen—as always—leave the decisions, which are the toughchoices, to you.Content varies so tremendously that it’s difficult tomake one sweeping statement. Anyone who views a samplingof commercial TV is soon aware that explicit sexualcontent, violence, and highly debatable ethical situations areconstantly being served in a titillating and explicit manner.Documentary, educational, and informational programs areavailable, but need to be carefully sought for and selected.The rapid-fire imagery of modern TV flicks quickly fromone image to another with consequent shortening of theattention capacity of modern young people as a group.What we feed our eyes alters our brains, and recent studieson brain plasticity indicate that new neural connections andnetworks are centered in response to how we feed our brain.Time spent in front of a television has been associatedwith an increase in obesity, thought to be related to theinactivity of the “couch potato.” A recent article publishedby Anders Grøntved and Frank B. Hu in the Journal of theAmerican Medical Association, June 15, 2011, suggests adirect linear correlation between type 2 diabetes, fatal heartattacks, and all-cause mortality and the duration of TVwatched each day. Not only is the inactivity a factor, but thefood eaten while watching is both excessive and usually of ahigh-fat, salt, and calorie value.It’s estimated some 40 to 50 percent of free time inmany countries is spent watching TV. This means it’s thethird-most-common activity, after working and sleeping,in many populations. Such numbers suggest that aboutthree and a half to four hours per day are being spentwatching TV in Europe and Australia. In the U.S. the averagenumber of hours is estimated at five hours per day.A third area of concern—although we are sure there aremany more—is the disruption of family relationships. Somany husbands and wives become “e-hermits,” living inisolation—with disastrous consequences for relationships.The strongest protective action against at-risk behaviorrelating to substance abuse and self-demeaning activity isto form strong, trusting, supportive relationships with ourchildren. How many youngsters are deprived of these relationshipsby parents who immerse themselves in “surfingthe Net” or watching favorite TV programs? Some childrenare perched to “vegetate” in front of the “idiot box”—thesurrogate babysitter.It’s foolish for us to rail against modern technology; it’sfar more important for us to regulate and use it for its positivepotential, while avoiding the pitfalls.We recommend that you select content very carefully,limit the time spent watching, and intentionally engage inactual family interaction.Not only will you reduce risks of obesity, but you alsowill encourage meaningful interaction that will yield a lifetimeof benefits to you and your family.The urbanization of modern societies has led to greaterreliance on TV and the Internet. The difficulties of making aliving and paying for the never-ending latest technology havemany of us competing to have the newest gadget or phone.We probably should have an “electronic blackout” every day,setting a family time that is dedicated and inviolate.You are correct in your concerns—but you will have todecide on change together, and make the time-out from TV(and the Internet) a most precious and valuable time. nAllan R. Handysides, a board-certified gynecologist, isdirector of the General Conference Health MinistriesDepartment. Peter N. Landless, a board-certified nuclearcardiologist, is associate director of the General ConferenceHealth Ministries Department.October 2011 | Adventist World 11

D E V O T I O N A LWe all do it.Everybody knowsthe experience—withoutexception. It is partof our daily life. Small children arefamiliar with it, just as older peopleand everybody in between. No matterwhether you are a student, a successfulbusinesswoman, or unemployed, youhave to deal with it. Nobody is exempt.Men experience it just like women,single persons the same as marriedcouples. Divorced people have to livewith it, and widowers as well. Youencounter it when you are healthy orwhen you are sick. It does not matterwhere you live on this globe or whatcolor your skin is. It is a universalhuman condition. I am not talkingabout sin. And yet I hardly know anybodywho looks forward to experiencingit. What am I describing the wholetime? I’m talking about waiting.We All WaitEvery human being waits.We hope and dream—and wait.We are hungry and thirsty—and wait.We yearn for change and look forhappiness—and wait.We experience suffering and are inpain—and wait for relief.We study and work—and wait forthe results. Some things we hope forare delayed—and keep us waiting. Wepray—and wait for answers. We waitin line at the supermarket and the gasstation. We wait in traffic jams and atairports. We wait for the mail toarrive. We wait so good things willhappen and bad things will go away.Some wait at night to fall asleep, andsome even wait to die.It seems as if our entire life, frombirth to death, is characterized bywaiting. Some waiting appears short,and time passes quickly. For otherthings we wait our whole life. Itappears that waiting makes us awarethat often the most important, mostWaitingGod’s way oftransformationBy Frank M. Hasel12 Adventist World | October 2011

essential, most beautiful, and mostlasting things in our life are thingsbeyond our control and power. And sowe have to wait.I have reflected on the dynamics ofwaiting in my own life during the pasttwo years, particularly when my wifewas diagnosed with terminal cancer. Ihave waited a lot in hospitals beforetreatments began and after theyended. We had to wait for the resultsto come in and for new appointmentswith the doctors. And where did wewait? In the waiting room, as the placeis conveniently called.I don’t know about you, but I hateto wait. I don’t like long lines or trafficjams or delayed appointments. I don’tlike tardy people or processes that prolong.I want to get things done fast andefficiently. I want to move forward.And normally I know how best to goabout it quickly and easily. I know whatI need to accomplish, and I know howto get it done. Often waiting appears asa meaningless delay of something that Iwant to reach much faster. But as longas we are not in heaven, God calls us towait. There is no human life withoutwaiting. Waiting is part of our humanexistence. It characterizes us as beings,which exist in time. Waiting is part ofour story, our history. There is no historicalsuccession without waiting.There is no life without waiting. Theperson who lives—waits! The personwho waits—lives!Waiting Upon GodEven the biblical writers knew aboutthis experience. The prophets oftenexpressed waiting with the question:“How long, O Lord?” (see Hab. 1:2; Dan.8:13). The biblical authors employedseveral word pictures that can be understoodadequately only when waitingprovides the background to them.The Bible speaks about hope. Thewonderful Advent hope of Jesus’ sooncoming (Titus 2:13). Hope has to doWe allwaitbecauseGod’s gracehas not yetended.with waiting. The person whohopes—waits!Then there is the patience of thesaints. “Here is the perseverance of thesaints who keep the commandmentsof God and their faith in Jesus” (Rev.14:12, NASB).* Perseverance andpatience have to do with waiting. Theperson who is patient—waits!Scripture also speaks about thelonging of the believer for God. “Asthe deer pants for the water brooks, somy soul pants for You, O God” (Ps.42:1, NASB). Longing has to do withwaiting. The one who longs—waits!Consider Scripture’s take on suffering.Suffering has to do with waiting.The suffering person asks: “Howlong will it last, Lord Jesus?” The personwho suffers—waits!In the Bible, God also calls us to bealert and to be awake, so that we areready when He returns (see 1 Peter5:8; Luke 12:37). The person who isalert—waits!In the final analysis we all waitbecause God’s grace has not yet ended!Even God, in His great mercy andpatience, waits. He waits for us. Hewaits for you, and He waits for me.God does not want to lose anybodywho could be saved. And so He waitsto extend His grace and mercy.Waiting TransformsWaiting is difficult. Waiting withouthope and without meaning isalmost unbearable. Only a person whohas a worthy and meaningful goal inview can be patient and perseverantwhile waiting for it. The temptation intimes of waiting is to focus on thethings we wait for. We tend to focuson the obstacles that need to beremoved, or the good things that willbring change. But remember: waitingisn’t just about what you are hopingfor in the future. From a biblical perspectivewaiting is also about what Iwill become as I wait! Waiting alwayspresents me with a spiritual choice:Will I allow myself to question God’sgoodness in what I experience, or willI embrace the opportunity of exercisingliving hope in times of waiting?Living hope is a hope that is alivebecause it is grounded in God’s faithfulnessand trusts His never-failingpromises. If God has allowed me tolive, He is using my waiting as anopportunity to change me into somebodyI would never be if I didn’t haveto wait. Rather than being a meaninglessdrag and a hindrance, I am learningto see that waiting actually is fundamentallyabout what I will becomeas I wait. In this sense waiting is anexpression of God’s goodness. It isrestorative because it is one of God’sunique tools to develop my characterso that I can become the person Hewants me to be. n*Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New AmericanStandard Bible, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971,1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.Used by permission.Frank M. Hasel is adean and professor of theTheological Seminaryat Seminar SchlossBogenhofen, Austria.October 2011 | Adventist World 13

F U N D A M E N T A L B E L I E F SIlove mosaics. 1Since kindergarten, where I was given coloredpaper and scissors and told to make a picture, mosaicshave represented for me the challenge of creatingbeauty out of diverse and dissimilar parts. Unlike my papercreations, which often began falling apart on the way homefrom school, many mosaics are made of precious stones andhave endured for centuries. Some months ago I was with agroup visiting Masada, the mountaintop retreat of KingHerod the Great. Overlooking the Dead Sea and surroundingdesert, the ruins of Masada are a haunting reminder ofNUMBER 14God’sMosaıcThe wonder of unity in diversityBy Cheryl Dossthe suffering and the determination of the Jewish people. Aswe wandered through the excavated palaces and bathhouses,storage buildings and plazas, we saw numerousmosaics. Still beautiful, made of thousands of bits of stoneof many shapes, sizes, and colors, they have survived theravages of war, vandalism, and time. They are astonishingfor their diversity, creativity, and sheer endurance.God’s MasterpieceThe church—indeed, all of creation—reminds me of amosaic: abundantly diverse, remarkably creative, and blessedlyenduring. Think of the food we enjoy every day—sovaried in flavor and color and texture. Consider the marvelouscreativity and amazing variety in the animal kingdom—lionsand anteaters, elephants and orangutans, warthogsand giraffes, and on and on. God’s remarkable creativityis also revealed in the way He made people sodiverse—tall and short, all shapes and sizes, brown eyes,black eyes, blue eyes, straight hair, curly hair, wavy hair, andno hair at all. Some of God’s amazing creative ability Hehas shared with His human children, enabling them to cre-ate an astonishing variety of cultures. There are so manydifferent ways of eating and dressing, of living, thinking,and working. The Bible tells us that this creation diversitywill endure to the heavenly kingdom. The lion and thelamb will be there, and all the nations of the earth, recognizablydistinct as they gather around the throne (Isa. 11:6;Rev. 7:9).The Hagia Sophia was the greatest church of Christendomfor nearly 1,000 years. When the Muslim conquerorsof Constantinople turned it into a mosque, the manymosaics that adorned it were plastered over. With thebirth of the modern nation of Turkey, the Hagia Sophiabecame a museum, and the plaster was painstakinglyremoved from the mosaics. A partially restored mosaichead of Christ in one of the upper galleries is stunninglybeautiful. With gold and silver, lapis lazuli, and otherdiverse and precious materials the artist created a work ofenduring beauty that was hidden for centuries behindplaster. How often we too want to plaster over differences,to deny people creativity, to forget the enduring nature ofhuman diversity.14 Adventist World | October 2011

Diversity and UnityWhile we easily rejoice in God’s diversity and creativityin nature, variations in people and cultures challenge theunity of the church. Too often this divides us. Humandiversity was a challenge in the early church as well. Yet thegood news of the gospel, Paul says in Galatians 3:28, is thatin Christ these differences are no longer important—“thereis neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,there is neither male nor female.” Paul challenges thechurch to cross every cultural barrier—religions, society,gender—to become one in Christ. The metaphor of thebody in 1 Corinthians 12 illustrates what he means by thisoneness. Just as the body needs its diverse parts (“if thewhole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?”), 2just as suffering in one part causes suffering to all (verse26), just as the weaker parts of the body are indispensable(verse 22), so, Paul tells us, we need to value differences inthe church and use every part for the good of all. We needpeople who look different and think differently. We needcreativity and diversity in worship and witness. We needapostles and prophets, teachers, healers, all the varied gifts(verses 27-31). Most of all, he says, we need the greatestgift—the gift of love for all people everywhere (1 Cor. 13).The Seventh-day Adventist Church reflects the enduringcreativity of the world’s diversity. Within our fellowshipare people of many languages, cultures, and ethnicities.There are people of distinctive gifts, varied backgrounds,and different ways of thinking. Just as the stones of amosaic can be individually distinguished yet the pictureseen only when all the stones are viewed together, so it isonly as we come together in love, accepting the enduringvalue—indeed, the necessity—of our differences, that wecan be one in Christ. Only as we creatively use every part ofthe body and all the different gifts that God has given Hischurch can we share the good news with “every nation,tribe, tongue, and people” (Rev. 14:6) and complete themosaic of His kingdom.“At the Concert of the Age,” gospel artists Phillips,Craig, and Dean sing, “the great I AM takes center stage.” Aparade of nations will walk by in saris and suits, dashikisand kaffiyehs, and “the kings of the earth bring their glory”(Rev. 21:24). At the Concert of the Age Indians will playtheir tablas, Pacific Islanders their guitars, and Africanstheir finger pianos. Americans will be there with theirmarching bands, Mexicans with mariachi bands, and Filipinoswith anklong bands. Chinese will play bamboo pipes,Brazilians will come with accordions, and, no doubt, theScots will be there with bagpipes wailing.That is why Seventh-day Adventists remain a worldchurch and why creativity and diversity is so important toour unity. That is why we study and worship, witness andserve in many different ways. We want all people everywhereto be part of that “great multitude which no onecould number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues,standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9),praising God on that heavenly Sabbath day. Then togetherwe will be God’s most glorious, diverse, creative, andenduring heavenly mosaic. n1Small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials arranged to form a picture.21 Cor. 12:17.Cheryl Doss, Ph.D., is a seasoned missionaryand director of the Institute of World Missionof the General Conference of Seventh-dayAdventists. She resides with her husband,Gorden, in Berrien Springs, Michigan, U.S.A.Unityin theBodyofchristThe church is one body with many members, called from every nation, kindred, tongue,and people. In Christ we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, andnationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must notbe divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into onefellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partialityor reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures we share the samefaith and hope, and reach out in one witness to all. This unity has its source in the onenessof the triune God, who has adopted us as His children. (Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Matt.28:19, 20; Ps. 133:1; 2 Cor. 5:16, 17; Acts 17:26, 27; Gal. 3:27, 29; Col. 3:10-15; Eph. 4:14-16; 4:1-6;John 17:20-23.)October 2011 | Adventist World 15

COVER STORYIntotheCitiesWith L ovingUsing Christ’s methods toArmsreach the world’s great citiesBy Gary KrauseOurMissionFieldsThe largest cities (arrangedalphabetically) in the world are:n Beijing, Chinan Buenos Aires, Argentinan Cairo, Egyptn Delhi, Indian Dhaka, Bangladeshn Guangzhou, Chinan Istanbul, Turkeyn Jakarta, Indonesian Karachi, Pakistann Kolkata, Indian Los Angeles, United Statesn Manila, Philippinesn Mexico City, Mexicon Moscow, Russian Mumbai, Indian New York, United Statesn Osaka-Kobe, Japann Rio de Janeiro, Braziln Sao Paulo, Braziln Shanghai, Chinan Tokyo, JapanThe first weekend after the September11, 2001, terroristattacks in New York and Washington,D.C., Graydon Carter, editorof Vanity Fair, was on the phone toChristopher Hitchens, a contributingeditor to the magazine.Carter was in his home near SeventhAvenue, Manhattan; Hitchenswas stranded at the Denver, Colorado,airport. While talking, they both hearda band playing “Battle Hymn of theRepublic.” Intrigued, Carter headedout into the street and saw a smallmarching band of African-Americanteenagers, a group of Seventh-dayAdventist students from OakwoodCollege (now Oakwood University).The group, in New York City fromHuntsville, Alabama, had touched theheart of a secular editor of a secularmagazine in the heart of one of theworld’s most secular cities. “Theirnoble posture and their music heldthe people around them like a pair ofloving arms,” wrote Carter. “At thatmoment, and in that place, it was acharm that soothed this savagedbreast.” 1The cities of the world desperatelyneed to be wrapped in the loving armsof the gospel. More than 100 years agoEllen White wrote: “The Lord has beencalling our attention to the neglectedmultitudes in the large cities, yet littleregard has been given to the matter.” 2The ChallengeImagine standing in the New Marketarea in Dhaka, Bangladesh, watchingrickshaws roll down PeelkhanaRoad, each carrying a person, oneevery minute. Statistically speaking,you’d be standing there for nearly sevendays before a rickshaw came past carryingan Adventist. 3 Similar scenarios—some even more dramatic—play out inurban areas around the world. 4In the 1880s the Seventh-dayAdventist Church placed a high priorityon city missions in the UnitedStates. The General Conference publishedan annual report on city missionfrom 1885 through 1899. In 1886 thereport indicated there were 36 missions,employing a total of 102 denominationalworkers, and training 224 laymembers as interns and trainees. 516 Adventist World | October 2011

AdventistsinCitiesn There are at least 2O cities with populations of at least 10 million.By the turn of the century a “medicalmissionary” project in Chicago,sponsored by Dr. John H. Kellogg,included “a small hospital, free clinics,a soup kitchen, visiting nurses program,emergency residences for menand women, and the Life Boat Mission,where evangelistic and socialwork was done.” 6 When looking forwhere best to locate the mission,Kellogg and an Elder Olsen approachedthe police chief and asked for “thedirtiest and wickedest spot in allChicago.” 7Yet just a few years later EllenWhite said that the Seventh-dayAdventist Church had “neglected” thecities. If we’re candid, we have toadmit that 100 years later little haschanged. In 1910 the population ofNew York City was nearly 5 million;today it’s almost double that. In 1910Ellen White described urban ministryas “the essential work for this time.” 8How would she describe it today?The Way ForwardAs we face the incredible challenge ofthe cities, how should we move forward?Ellen White summarized the incarnationalministry of Jesus, which she called“Christ’s method,” in five steps. 9 Thismethod is key to urban ministry.1. Mingling. In the late 1990s,under the leadership of MarkMcCleary, the Southwest PhiladelphiaSeventh-day Adventist Church, inPennsylvania, planted three new congregations.McCleary led his churchmembers in mingling with the peopleof their communities. They formed alocal chapter of Sisters for Christ, aprogram to prepare young women foradulthood; they helped flood victims;they mentored young people. PastorMcCleary was an officer on the WestPhiladelphia Partnership Board—agroup of organizations partnering toenhance civic life in the community.The church plants were involved ineverything from helping people findjobs to baby dedications and VacationBible Schools. When McClearyreceived a call to lead a church inWashington, D.C., community leaderslobbied the mayor of Philadelphia tokeep McCleary in the city. 10Jesus left heaven, came to earth,Continued on next pageOurGreatestMıssıonChallengeThe world’s urban areas are ourgreatest mission challenge for at leastthree reasons.1. Sheer numbers. In Stockholm,Sweden, 410 Adventists live among apopulation of 1.25 million—a ratio of morethan 3,000 people for every Seventh-dayAdventist. In Kolkata, India, there are 558church members among a population of 15million. That’s one Adventist for more than26,000 people.In the United States 80 percent ofthe population lives in urban areas 1 —butonly one in three Adventist churches islocated in an urban area. In Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania—a metropolitan area with2.4 million—there are fewer Adventiststoday than there were in 1948 whenGeorge Vandeman held evangelisticmeetings in that city. 2Urban areas thrive and groweverywhere—Africa, Asia, the Pacific,Europe, and the Americas. MainlandChina has nearly 40 cities with more than 2million people. Cities contain most peoplein the 10/40 window and in the secularWest. They’re the world’s future—arapidly growing future.2. Unique urban issues. In manyparts of the world, a Global Missionpioneer running an outreach effort isthe biggest show in town, bringing outalmost the entire village. Try the samething in downtown Sydney, Australia, andyou’re competing with theaters, cinemas,restaurants, concert halls, clubs, andnumerous other places of entertainment—along with the sheer busyness of people’slives. For many, church is a quaintcuriosity, a relic of another era.3. Adventist dislocation from cities.While most people live in urban areas,most Seventh-day Adventists, churches,and institutions are located away fromthis mission field. In many cases, urbanchurches are commuter churches—withmany or most of their members drivingto church from the suburbs. Withoutproximity to the mission field, the church isdistant, an observer, at best an occasionalvisitor.1Stone and Wolfteich Sabbath in the City, p. 2.2Monte Sahlin, Mission in Metropolis: The Adventist Movementin an Urban World (Lincoln, Nebr.: Center for Creative Ministry,2007), p. 156.October 2011 | Adventist World 17

AdventistsinCitiesn The population-to-Adventist ratio in the world’s largest cities is 953:1 .n By comparison, the population-to-Adventist ratio outside the world’s largest cities is 423:1 .and lived among us. He put on humanskin, got His hands dirty, rubbedshoulders with us. Bible writers recordhow Jesus physically touched people.In Matthew 8 and 9 alone He touchedfive people, including a leper—therebymaking Himself ritually uncleanaccording to Jewish tradition. 11It’s great to distribute literature, tosupport public evangelism, radio, andInternet outreach. But these only support,not replace, personal, hands-on,mingling ministry. Just as we sendmissionaries to other lands and cultures,so we need missionaries in citiesto make a long-term, on-the-groundcommitment to city ministry.2. Showing sympathy. Speaking ofthe city of Nineveh, God asked rhetorically:“Should I not have concern forthe great city?” (Jonah 4:11). 12 Centurieslater Jesus showed that same concern:“When he saw the crowds, he hadcompassion on them, because theywere harassed and helpless, like sheepwithout a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36).Wayne Krause pastors a church heand a small team planted in an urbanarea an hour or so north of Sydney,Australia. 13 It’s in the middle of acommunity of thousands of youngfamilies, the vast majority of whomhave never stepped foot inside aChristian church.One day a couple from Wayne’schurch was shopping in a local mallwhen a young man approached themand asked if they would take him to amethadone clinic. Without thinkingtwice, they took him there immediately.Afterward they drove him homeand cooked him a hot meal.The young man started attendingchurch each Sabbath, and afterwardmembers took him to the methadoneclinic. At a court hearing severalchurch members surprised the youngman by showing up to support him. Afew weeks later his entire familyshowed up at church.Dressed in heavy-metal regalia,complete with chains and leather, theysat in the front seats of the church. Theboyfriend of one of the sisters was thelead singer in a heavy-metal band andhad every finger on both hands coveredwith silver. Wayne looked out from theplatform and decided to change hissermon and talk about the great controversybetween good and evil.None of the family was Christian,but after the service they came toWayne and asked how they could beLifeHopeCentersEllen White envisioned putting Christ’s method into action inurban areas through wholistic ministry centers that she called“centers of influence.” They would feature a variety of activities suchas lifestyle education, small-group meetings, literature, restaurants,treatment rooms, public meetings, and “reaping” ministries.“It is through the social relations that Christianity comesin contact with the world,” 1 she wrote, and urged Adventiststo “strive to place themselves where they will come in directcontact with those needing help.” 2The Office of Adventist Mission is working to help establisha network of self-sustaining centers of influence in key urbanareas around the world. These will be branded the same, beundergirded by the same theological/spiritual principles, but willvary in shape, size, and sophistication depending on the city.Their look, style, and flavor will be shaped to local situations, butthe philosophy and principles of operation will be consistent.These centers will have a goal of becoming self-sustainingfinancially, and, where possible, will be linked to some revenuegeneratingenterprise such as a medical or dental clinic. They’llutilize local Adventist workers and volunteers, and partner withchurch departments, institutions, and lay organizations.Although these centers are primarily seed-sowing, theyshould connect to small groups and urban church plantinginitiatives. They must be long-term, on-the-ground projects.1Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 496.2Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 76.18 Adventist World | October 2011

Into theCitiesAdventistsinCitiesn In 2010 there was 1 Adventist for every 405 people.on God’s side in the war between goodand evil. After Wayne explained thegospel to them, they all asked to haveJesus as the center of their lives.3. Ministering to needs. We’re toldthat when the apostle Paul arrived inAthens, he spent some time as a tourist.He “walked around and lookedcarefully” at what the Athenians wereworshipping (Acts 17:23). Like Paul,we have to stop, look, and listen.A few years ago Wayne’s churchdiscovered that some students werearriving at the local public school eachday without having had a properbreakfast. Church leaders startedworking with school administrators,and soon this Seventh-day Adventistchurch was serving the needs of thesehungry kids. Later, when WyongGrove Public School decided to hire achaplain, they turned immediately toWayne’s church. Rochelle Madden ofWayne’s Central Coast CommunityChurch is employed as school chaplainfor this public school, fullyfunded by the Australian government.“My role as chaplain is to be a windowto Jesus,” says Madden. “I reallywant the kids, parents, and teachers tosee a Christian as someone who reallycares about them and what’s going onin their lives.” 14Seventh-day Adventists should beat the forefront of making cities betterplaces.In the book of Jeremiah, Godinstructed the Jewish exiles about howthey should function when they got toBabylon: “Also, seek the peace andprosperity [shalom] of the city towhich I have carried you into exile.Pray to the Lord for it, because if itprospers [shalom], you too will prosper[shalom]” (Jer. 29:7).The Hebrew word shalom is a powerfulword with layers of meaning. Itconveys thoughts of peace, well-being,and prosperity. Adventists should beat the forefront of making cities betterplaces to live. Every person in the cityshould have a friend because Adventistsare living in, working among, andpraying for the shalom of the city.Jesus modeled a wholistic ministrythat perfectly balanced the spiritualand physical: “Jesus went through allthe towns and villages, teaching in theirsynagogues, proclaiming the goodnews of the kingdom and healing everydisease and sickness” (Matt. 9:35).To care for someone’s physicalneeds while being blind to opportunitiesto share the good news aboutCountryLivingJesus is to sell ministry short. Just talkingabout spiritual things and neglectingthe physical also ignores Christ’sexample and sabotages our witness.4. Winning confidence. In 2004Andrew Clark was called to Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, to head upAdventist Community Services in theaftermath of Hurricanes Ivan andFrancis. It was his first posting aftergraduating from Columbia UnionCollege (now Washington AdventistUniversity) with a theology degree.Clark and his team helped familiesrebuild their homes and their lives.After the floods had subsided andbusiness was almost back to normal,the local town council met to discusswhether to grant Adventist Commu-Continued on next pageAdventist dreams of living in rural areas often find their grounding in Ellen White’scounsel. But a thorough review of her writings presents a broader view of our duty tothe city.Monte Sahlin, director of research and special projects for the Ohio Conference ofSeventh-day Adventists, found 107 articles in the Ellen G. White periodical index in whichshe addressed the topic of urban ministry. He found 24 articles that gave instructionon moving out of and establishing institutions outside the cities. But 75 percent of thearticles gave specific instruction to move into the cities to reach those who live there. 1For example, she wrote: “There will be laymen who will move into . . . cities . . . thatthey may let the light which God has given them shine forth to others.’” 2 “Why should notfamilies who know the present truth settle in these cities?” 31Monte Sahlin, Mission in Metropolis: The Adventist Movement in an Urban World (Lincoln, Nebr.: Center for Creative Ministry, 2007), p. 16.2Ellen G. White, in Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Sept. 29, 1891.3Ibid.October 2011 | Adventist World 19

AdventistsinCitiesn In 1880 there was 1 Adventist for every 89,768 people.nity Services an occupancy permit. Ina powerful tribute to our church, morethan 100 people from the communitycame out to support Clark and thechurch: pastors of other denominations,business leaders, mothers, etc. 155. Bidding people to follow Him.Inviting people to follow Jesus isn’tsome artificial construct placed on topof all the other steps. It’s a naturaloutgrowth. Will all people acceptJesus? No. Does that mean we stopmingling with them and servingthem? Certainly not.As Clark and his team mingled,showed sympathy, ministered toneeds, and won confidence, theyreceived plenty of criticism from otherAdventists. “You’ve been mingling formonths now; where are the results?”But God has His own timing. Oneday a tattooed teenager Clark had beenworking with said, “Pastor Clark, am Ian Adventist yet, or what?” I received amessage from Clark pleading for helpin finding a Bible worker. Bible studyrequests were starting to flood in.“PLEASE HELP!!!!” Andrew wrote, inhis typical enthusiastic style. “We arefour people already stretched too thintrying to follow up 70 leads so far!”Ellen White wrote that Christ’smethod, when accompanied by thepower of persuasion, prayer, andGod’s love, “will not, cannot, be withoutfruit.” 16Will We Have the Faith?When Moses sent spies into Canaan,he instructed them to investigatethree things: (1) the land, (2) thepeople, (3) the cities.The spies returned with glowingreports of the land and its produce,but also a daunting picture of the peopleand cities (Num. 13:26-30). Thepeople were giants, the cities were “fortifiedand very large” (verse 28). OnlyCaleb and Joshua dared speak of victoryagainst such formidable obstacles.Today’s twenty-first-century citiesare also “fortified and very large.” Thefortifications aren’t made of stone;they’re reinforced by the intangiblefortifications of secularism, postmodernism,and consumerism. Will wehave the faith of Caleb and Joshua tosay that, with God’s help, “we can certainlydo it” (verse 30)? n1Vanity Fair, November 2011.2In Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Nov. 11, 1909.3This is calculated on the basis of 730 baptized Seventh-dayAdventists in a Dhaka population of 7 million people. Thisis a conservative figure; many authorities estimate Dhaka’spopulation at up to 15 million.4Of course, there are some notable exceptions to this trend.Many inner-city Adventist churches have been lighthouses forthe good news for many decades.5Ivan Warden, “Ellen G. White Speaks on Urban Ministries.”6Ibid.7Quoted in Amy Lee Sheppard, “Doers of the Word: Seventh-dayAdventist Social Christianity in Thought and Practice Duringthe Gilded Age” (unpublished B.A. honors thesis, Department ofHistory, University of Michigan, Mar. 26, 2007), p. 67.8Ellen G. White, Medical Ministry, p. 304.9Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.10See www.advantagetechsolutions.net/SW2001_html/history.htm and Monte Sahlin, Mission in Metropolis: The AdventistMovement in an Urban World (Lincoln, Nebr.: Center forCreative Ministry, 2007), pp. 128, 129.11He also noticed in the press of the crowd the touch of awoman who had been sick for 12 years.12Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, NewInternational Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 byBiblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.13For more information about this church, visit www.cccc.org.au.14Rochelle Madden, “My Ministry Idea,” South Pacific Record,June 4, 2011, p. 12.15A video of the event, “Finding Carnegie,” can be viewedat www.youtube.com/watch?v=htzzdAHs4co. To view moreAdventist mission videos about this church-planting initiative,visit AdventistMission.org and type “Carnegie” in the search box.16Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 144.Gary Krause is directorof the Office of AdventistMission.HearThe scene is etched in my mindforever—as vivid today as it wasmore than 40 years ago. It wasone of those sweltering July days in thesummer of 1968. We were waiting forthe traffic light to change at an intersectionin New York City’s Bowery. Weoften returned from our home in southernConnecticut to New York City tovisit Dad’s childhood neighborhoods.New York City was in Dad’s blood.Somehow he wanted his children tounderstand their heritage. Dad’s storiesof growing up in the city were pricelessfamily treasures, heirlooms to pass onfrom one generation to the next.In the late 1960s sections of theBowery were havens for men andwoman using alcohol to escape fromthe reality of life. The run-down tenementapartments, dingy storefrontbars, and trash-littered streets toldtragic stories of broken lives, shatteredhomes, and ruined futures.As I sat gazing out the car windowthinking about the lives of theunshaven, bleary-eyed men lying onthe sidewalk in a drunken stupor, Inoticed a red-faced man with a shabbyplaid shirt staggering over to the car.As he approached he simply said,“Could you spare a man a dollar?” Adollar to buy another drink, no! Butfood, yes! We rummaged around andcame up with a semblance of a lunch.As I handed it to him, he reached20 Adventist World | October 2011

ByMark A. FinleyJesus’tCrythrough the open window, cupped hishands around my head, and pulled myface toward his. The stench of alcoholon his breath was overpowering. As Ilooked into those bloodshot blue-greeneyes, he quietly said, “Thank You,Jesus,” and turned and staggered away.Although years have passed sinceour chance encounter, his words havelingered in my mind. I have wondered:If Jesus were here today, where wouldHe be? Would He be basking in thecomfort of His suburban home writingbooks about reaching city people?Would He be preparing a “how-to”fully illustrated DVD to reach the cities?Would He be taking a demographicstudy to assess city needs? Orwould He be there in the context ofhuman need ministering to the poor,the marginalized, and the disadvantaged?Would He be there pointing theeducated, the sophisticated, and thewealthy to life’s true meaning?Whatdoes Jesussee whenHe looksat today’scities?among the people” (Matt. 9:35).The gospel record is too plain to bemisunderstood: Jesus immersed Himselfin the lives of people in cities. Hebrought hope to the hopeless, peace tothe troubled, forgiveness to the guilty,and power to the powerless. His heartoverflowed with love to broken, battered,and bruised people living in thecities. His ministry in the cities was notonly to those who were economicallydisadvantaged. It was also to the wealthywho were spiritually impoverished.The rich were attracted to Hisauthentic revelation of the Father’slove. Nicodemus, a respected, well-todoreligious leader, secretly soughtHim out one night. Matthew, a cunningtax collector, responded to Hiscall. A Roman centurion was transformedat Calvary. Jesus appealed toyoung and old, rich and poor, educatedand uneducated, religious andskeptical. Male and female, Jew andInto theCitiesGentile, were attracted to Him. Hiscare, compassion, and concern foreach individual was unequaled.Matthew’s Gospel states that He hadcompassion on the multitudes (Matt.9:36). Luke adds, “Now as He drewnear, He saw the city and wept over it”(Luke 19:41). You can never weep untilyou draw near. Your heart can never bebroken in love over the city until you“behold” it in its raw wildness.Cities are places of incredible contrast.They are places of sugarcoatedpleasure and heartbroken sorrow;abject poverty and staggering wealth;starry-eyed greed and selfless sacrifice;sheer excitement and absolute boredom;cultured sophistication and openrudeness. They are filled with honesthearted,committed believers, as wellas skeptics and those who could careless about religion. Jesus’ heart of loveoverflows to each one of them.Have you ever wept over the povertyof children who are not yourown, but His? Has your heart everbeen broken over the emptiness ofhollow lives consumed with greed?Have you ever wept “soul tears” formillions in the world’s cities attemptingto eke out a meager existence butwho do not know the meaning oftheir own existence? They have littleor no knowledge of God’s everlastinggospel to an end-time generation.Listening to Jesus’ HeartIf we pause long enough, we mayhear His sobs—the heartbroken, ago-Jesus and CitiesJesus loves the cities. He loves thecities because that’s where people are,and Jesus loves people. Cities have noshortage of one thing, and that’s people.They’re everywhere. Matthew’sGospel records: “Then Jesus wentabout all the cities and villages, teachingin their synagogues, preaching thegospel of the kingdom, and healingevery sickness and every diseaseWant toKnowMore?To learn more about Global Mission’s Center for Secular and Postmodern Studies,please visit www.secularandpostmodern.com.More than 50 percent of the world’s population now live in cities. To reach the peoplein these urban areas, the church is establishing centers of influence designed to meet theirphysical and spiritual needs and lead them to Christ. To help fund these centers of influence,such as the New Seed Church Project in Brazil, please support “Project Fund 9730.”October 2011 | Adventist World 21

Into theCitiesnizing cries of Jesus for lost peopleliving in the cities. Ellen White wrote:“Our world is a vast lazar house, ascene of misery that we dare not alloweven our thoughts to dwell upon. Didwe realize it as it is, the burden wouldbe too terrible. Yet God feels it all”(Education, p. 264). And the Old Testamentprophet wrote: “In all theiraffliction He was afflicted” (Isa. 63:9).Jesus experiences the pain of thisworld’s sin in ways we can never imagine.Lost people are the object of Hislove. He “desires all men to be savedand to come to the knowledge of thetruth” (1 Tim. 2:4). He is “not willingthat any should perish but that allshould come to repentance” (2 Peter3:9). The one thing that matters toHim more than anything is peoplesaved in His kingdom eternally.If we have little interest in reachinglost people, are we really following theOne who came “to seek and to save thatwhich was lost” (Luke 19:10)? If theburden of His heart is not the burdenof our hearts, are we fully surrenderedto Him? If we are complacent aboutsharing His love with lost people, canwe really claim we are His disciples?The call of the cities is a call to passionateprayer. It is a call to rally tensof thousands of Adventists to set asidesignificant time each week to pray forthis world’s population centers byname. It is a call to members living inthe cities to compassionately witnessto their friends and neighbors. It is acall to young people to dedicate a yearof their lives to mission in the cities. Itis an appeal to church leaders on alllevels to plan comprehensive definitivestrategies to reach the cities of theirterritories with the three angels’ messages.It is an urgent appeal to reallocateour financial resources.Ministry in the cities is not inexpensive,but it is absolutely imperative ifthe church is going to make an impacton the cities. This urgent appeal tocity mission is an appeal to the selfsacrificingministry of Jesus.In this crisis hour, when we areliving on the knife-edge of eternity,the status quo will not do. Whateversuccess the church has had in the pastin reaching people in the cities is notsufficient for today. This is a time foraggressive action. This is a time forcreative thinking. This is a time for acommitment to action. No halfheartedefforts will reach the cities inthis final hour. God calls for our bestefforts and all our commitment. Inthe light of His incredible love and theimmense sacrifice He made for us, canwe do any less? nMark A. Finley is anassistant to the GeneralConference president.ReachingtheUnreachedWithHopeIt started as a dream . . . Everythingbegan on May 4, 2005. That’s the dayKleber Gonçalves and his family returnedto Brazil after spending nearly nine yearsstudying at Andrews University.His mission? To start a new churchplant in São Paulo, one of the largest urbancenters in the world, with a population of 20million people. New Seed (Nova Semente)would be the first Seventh-day Adventistchurch in South America designed to reachsecular/postmodern people for Jesus.Gonçalves immediately began recruitingpeople from established Adventist churchesto serve as the core group for New Seed.“The essential prerequisite for those whowanted to join our church plant,” saysGonçalves, “was passion for God, passionfor His church, and passion for lost souls.”The group started with 16 membersand met at the São Paulo Conferencefacilities. For six months they met weeklyto pray, dream, and plan their new church.During this time their group grew toabout 45 people. They decided to launchNew Seed in November of 2005.“Since our first public worship service,the work has been intense and highlyrewarding,” says Gonçalves. For thefirst two months they had between 180and 200 people worshipping with themeach Sabbath—45 to 60 of them werepostmodern people. But this number grewquickly as visitors began to bring friendsand relatives to the evangelistic services.By 2006 they had grown so large thatthey rented a nearby convention center. Itwasn’t long before 750 to 900 people wereattending one of their three services eachSabbath. It was time to move again!In 2010 New Seed rented a larger facilitythat enabled them to hold two Sabbathservices. And they’ve kept growing.“During these past few years theHoly Spirit has transformed many peoplethrough New Seed and its ministries,”says Gonçalves. More than 90 people havebeen baptized so far, and another 60 areattending the Bible study classes held fourtimes a week at New Seed.“I deeply believe that through theestablishment of postmodern-sensitivecommunities such as New Seed and otheractions supported by Global Mission, thechurch is becoming aware of the immensechallenges and the great opportunitiesthat exist in leading secular/postmodernpeople to Christ.”22 Adventist World | October 2011

S P I R I TofP R O P H E C YMakeTo ByEllen G. WhiteHonoringChrist means living as He livedHımKnownThe world needs todaywhat it needed nineteenhundred years ago—arevelation of Jesus Christ.A great work of reform isdemanded, and it is only through thegrace of Christ that the work of restoration,physical, mental, and spiritual,can be accomplished.Christ’s method alone will givetrue success in reaching the people.The Savior mingled with [men andwomen] as one who desired theirgood. He showed His sympathy forthem, ministered to their needs, andwon their confidence. Then He badethem, “Follow Me.”There is need of coming close tothe people by personal effort. If lesstime were given to sermonizing, andmore time were spent in personalministry, greater results would beseen. The poor are to be relieved, thesick cared for, the sorrowing and thebereaved comforted, the ignorantinstructed, the inexperienced counseled.We are to weep with those thatweep, and rejoice with those thatThe Saviormingled with[men and women]as one who desiredtheir good.He showed Hissympathyfor them, ministeredto their needs,and wontheir confidence.Then He bade them,“Follow Me.”rejoice. Accompanied by the power ofpersuasion, the power of prayer, thepower of the love of God, this workwill not, cannot, be without fruit. . . .Many have no faith in God andhave lost confidence in [humanity].But they appreciate acts of sympathyand helpfulness. As they see one withno inducement of earthly praise orcompensation come into their homes,ministering to the sick, feeding thehungry, clothing the naked, comfortingthe sad, and tenderly pointing allto Him of whose love and pity thehuman worker is but the messenger—as they see this, their hearts aretouched. Gratitude springs up. Faith iskindled. They see that God cares forthem, and they are prepared to listenas His Word is opened. nThis is an excerpt from the chapter“Teaching and Healing” from the bookThe Ministry of Healing. Seventh-dayAdventists believe that Ellen G. White(1827-1915) exercised the biblical gift ofprophecy during more than 70 years ofpublic ministry.October 2011 | Adventist World 23

A D V E N T I S T S E R V I C ETravel through the high desert of north-central Arizonain the southwestern United States, and youcome to the town of Page. Head south from there,and you enter the land of the Navajo nation. This is thereservation of the largest Native American tribe in theUnited States. There is no Seventh-day Adventist church inPage—at least not yet. But one family has been hoping andpraying for a church there.“Native Americans originally occupied this land,” saysDan Jackson, president of the Seventh-day AdventistChurch in North America. “The rest of us are really immigrants.Yet our First Nations, or Aboriginal peoples, areamong the most underserved populations in our ministryoutreach in North America.”The closest Seventh-day Adventist church is a two-hourdrive away in Flagstaff. In Utah are the Monument Valley(two and a half hours to the east) and St. George (threehours north) churches. There’s nothing to the west of Pageexcept the Grand Canyon.had the same experiences you had, so there’s no excuse whyyou can’t change the way your life is.’ You can talk to themstraight and they don’t have any excuse for not reallyresponding. It really impacts them.”A Ministry Is BornWhen the Fowlers first moved to Page, they lived in atraditional Navajo hogan. Today they live in a house that’sstill not finished because their ministry comes first. Notonly did Allen and Kelley move to a new location—theyalso found a ministry to the Navajo people.Kelley says, “The whole model of going to the door andasking, ‘Do you want to have Bible studies?’ doesn’t workout here, because they have to see that you care about themand that you really have their best interests in mind. Thenthey’ll trust you.”As the Fowlers saw the needs around them, theydecided to build a community center so that they couldhelp their newfound friends and neighbors.Walkingin TheirShoesByRick KajiuraGetting close to people by stooping to serveA Homecoming of SortsAllen and Kelley Fowler came with their family to thisarea several years ago. For Kelley and the children it was anew adventure. For Allen, a Navajo, it was like coming home.In the years since he had left, Allen had met and marriedKelley, started a family, and become a Seventh-day Adventist.Allen’s family expected him to return the same as whenhe had left. When he came back as a Christian, they wereshocked. After three years they’re getting used to it.Because Allen is a Navajo, he brings a unique perspectiveand understanding to their ministry. “To understandNavajos, you have to walk in their shoes, take part in theirgrief, take part in their way of life,” says Allen. “Then theywon’t say, ‘You never did this; you never experienced this.’When you lived there, you grew up there, you can say, ‘Iknow you. I know what happened and how it happened. I“The community center has been such a beautiful workin progress,” says Kelley. “To us it feels like it took a longtime, but in the scheme of things it’s almost done, and itonly took two and a half years to get it done with all themission trips that came.“Our goal for the community center is to have cookingclasses at least once a week. We would love to have peoplecome in and help us, to move here and help us on a regularbasis; to have a cooking class every week and to make surepeople would always know that it would be on Tuesdaynight. We would love to have a well. The well is in progress.Once the well is put in, it’s going to be even more of a draw,because people have to travel so far for their water.”The community center is nearly finished thanks to thehelp of volunteers who have come on mission trips to helpAllen and Kelley.24 Adventist World | October 2011

Jim Genn is one of these volunteers using his buildingtalents to work among the Navajo. “Everyone has a talent,”he says. “If you turn your talent over to God, He’ll tell youwhat the talent is. It might be out here scooping sand, drivingnails, or sending money—whatever.”Some people, such as Francis Browning, found a missionfield in their own backyard. “We went to Mexico a numberof times, until it got so hard to get across the border. Nowit’s getting unsafe to be down there, so we started lookingfor something closer to home. Here we don’t have to have apassport, we don’t have to get airline tickets for a long flight.There are mission fields all over if we just look for them.”office of adventist missionthat they’ve asked a Bible worker to come and help them.The Bible worker, Carla Clare, reports, “I’ve been hereonly a few weeks, and I’ve realized that we have more than200 names.”Although most of their ministry is on the reservationwhere they live, Allen and Kelley are feeling God’s call tostart a church in Page, the nearest town. For Allen it’s ahomecoming in more than one sense.“It feels comforting to be here and to work for God.God places you where you need to be, for the experience,and anything in life is to prepare you for work that youdon’t know of but that God will show you in time. When Iwalk here, it brings me memories of my childhood. That’swhy God let me go through that experience—so I’ll be ableto be prepared for now.”“To have a young couple move to Page, Arizona, andbuild a community center where there can be studies, worship,and so on is an exciting project,” says Dan Jackson.“To see our native work all throughout North America is aLeft to right: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE: Allen and Kelley Fowler hope this community center will provide theirfriends with a venue to take classes in health, family, and spirituality. UNITED IN SERVICE: With their two children,Allen and Kelley Fowler hope to bring the message of Christ’s love to the Navajo nation.Something for EveryoneWhy do people like Jim and Francis help with projectslike this?“These [projects] don’t belong to me,” says Jim. “Theybelong to the Lord.”Even though it’s not quite finished, the community centeris already making a difference in Allen and Kelley’sneighborhood. “Now that it’s almost done, we’ve reallyseen a huge increase in the awareness of the communitythat we’re here to help them,” says Kelley. “We just want tokeep the mission trips coming. We need mission trips forpretty much anything you can imagine that a trip coulddo—medical missionaries, building, dentistry, you name it.They need our help.”Some of those being helped are interested in learning moreabout what Allen and Kelley believe. They had so many requestspositive thing because it is a growing work. But we do haveto support this very worthy project.”Twenty-five percent of this quarter’s Thirteenth SabbathOffering will help finance projects in the North AmericanDivision, including ministries to Native American andimmigrant populations. Thank you for supporting AdventistMission.For more reports of Adventist Mission around theworld, visit www.AdventistMission.org. nRick Kajiura is a writer/producer for theOffice of Adventist Mission.photos by Rick KajiuraOctober 2011 | Adventist World 25

BIBLE QUESTIONSQUESTION: What is the purpose ofchurch standards?Church standards answer an important question:How should Christians live? Most of the Bible’scontent is about how we should live—how weshould relate to God, other humans, and nature. TheChristian church has always taught the value and need ofbiblical standards, and the Adventist Church has continuedthis biblical tradition. When Adventists state that the Bibleis our only creed, we meanthat whatever the Bible saysabout the Christian lifeshould be accepted and putinto practice. We have identifieda number of biblicalstandards that those whojoin or have joined thechurch are expected toexhibit in their Christianlives. By this we demonstratethat we have accepted Christas our Savior and Lord.1. Church Standards andthe Gospel: Although wesh-ould not equate biblicalstandards for the Christianlife with the gospel, they donot play down the gospel.They presuppose the gospel and have it as their center. Inother words, church standards should contribute to theunfolding of the meaning of the cross and its implicationsfor the lives of believers. They are our response to God’slove for us revealed on the cross of Christ. God did notleave it up to us to decide how Christians should live. Heinformed us about the impact of Christ’s work on our dailylife through the example of Jesus, the Scripture, and theguidance of the Spirit. When put into practice, churchstandards reveal the work the Holy Spirit is doing in us.2. Content of the Standards: Biblical standards deal withall aspects of our lives.Spiritual Life: Our spiritual life is strengthened and growsthrough prayer, Bible study, the proclamation of the gospel,attendance at church services, and Sabbath observance.Moral Life: God is interested in our moral purity and inour commitment to a holy life. Therefore, what we watch,read, listen to, and think about is important. Consequently,we willingly submit to His will as revealed in the TenCommandments and, above all, in the life of Jesus.Physical Life: Since God is interested in our bodies and26 Adventist World | October 2011For theGlorygodoftheir proper function, the practice of good health principlesis important. The way we dress and adorn ourselvesis significant in what it reveals about our values. We practicemodesty, simplicity, and purity in the way we dress andadorn our bodies.Social Life: God is interested in how we interact withothers on a daily basis. This applies to the family (husbandand wife, children and parents), to the church family, andto society at large.Material or Financial Resources: God is interested inblessing us and in guidingus concerning the properuse of our financialByAngel ManuelRodríguezresources in order to helpus overcome our naturalselfishness. Consequentlywe apply biblical principlesof stewardship to the waywe manage what we haveand to the use of naturalresources.3. Collective andPersonal Standards: In orderfor the world church towork together toward acommon goal, it has toagree not only on its doctrinesand mission but alsoon standards of life requiredfrom its members. Those standards, accepted by the totalityof the community of faith, are the minimum, not the maximum,of what is expected. They are based on biblical passagesor on biblical principles (for example, not smoking, aswell as the nonuse of drugs, is based on health principlesfound in the Bible). Such connection with the Bible makesthem authoritative for the world community of believers.Some individual or personal standards are not necessarilypromoted or required by the world church. In suchcases the believer should not try to impose them on others.They are simply individual decisions (for instance, whetheror not to eat eggs or cheese, or to have a TV at home). Individualsshould be careful not to develop an attitude ofsuperiority and religious pride.Whatever we do should be done to the glory of ourLord, who is our Creator and Redeemer. nAngel Manuel Rodríguez recently retired as director of theBiblical Research Institute of the General Conference.

B I B L E S T U D YGetting ThroughDark DaysByMark A. FinleyWe all have dark days from time to time, days we wish we could just stay in bed. Like adark cloud, discouragement hangs over us. We’re bothered; we’re troubled. It might be afractured relationship, a financial burden, a health problem, or countless other things. Butwhatever it is, we can’t seem to get it out of our minds.In this lesson we will study life-changing principles to get through tough times and darkdays. These biblical principles will make a positive difference in your life. Here’s one thingto remember: You are not alone in your feelings. Great people of faith, biblical giants, felt thesame way. They have found a way through their difficulties, and you can too.1. What feelings did David express in Psalm 6:6, 7?“I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with tears. My eyewastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies.”These verses reveal David’s .2. Where did David find the source of his strength? What new emotions flooded his soul?“Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength andmy shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with mysong I will praise Him” (Ps. 28:6-8).The source of David’s strength was .David’s new emotions were .3. What is the purpose of the trials and difficulties God allows us to experience fromtime to time?“Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Ps. 62:8).“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. You are good, and do good. Teach meYour statutes” (Ps. 119:67, 68).God’s purpose in trials and difficulties is to:a.b.c.God does not bring grief and sorrow into our lives; He wants only the best for us. But sincewe live in a world in which both good and evil exist, God often does not prevent difficultiesfrom coming upon us. But despite the trials, He strengthens us to grow through them, andleads us to a deep dependence upon Him in those trials.October 2011 | Adventist World 27

4. How did Paul, a prisoner in Rome at a time of great trial, counsel the believers inPhilippi?“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4).“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let yourrequests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).Paul counseled the Christians in Philippi to:Notice that Paul does not encourage the believers to be glad that they are experiencingtrial. He focuses their attention, not on the trial, but on the Lord. He urges them to“rejoice in the Lord” in spite of their trials and to present their requests to the Lord “withthanksgiving.” As one would-be poet said: “Looking at our trials, our trouble grows; lookingat Jesus, our trouble goes.” Jesus provides strength for every trial, and courage to faceevery difficulty.5. What assurance allowed Paul to “rejoice” even in life’s tough times?“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13)..6. After the mighty victory on Mount Carmel over the prophets of Baal, Elijah was soexhausted he became discouraged and fled from the threats of King Ahab. How did Godsupport him? What can we learn from this experience?“Then as [Elijah] lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him,‘Arise and eat.’ Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So heate and drank, and lay down again” (1 Kings 19:5, 6)..At times our feelings of discouragement are because we are exhausted. They have their rootsin our being overtired. We may have pushed ourselves too hard for too long. We may needexactly what Elijah needed—a little encouragement, a good meal, and a good night’s rest.7. What promise does our Lord give us in every trial?“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).God is ain trouble. What does that mean to you?28 Adventist World | October 2011God does not promise us that all our days will be trial-free, but He does promise us thatHe will be with us in each of life’s trials. He will strengthen, encourage, guide, andsustain us. That’s something we can rejoice about.“Dealing with Worryand Fear” is the topic ofnext month’s Bible Study.

NOTICE BOARDW rldExchangeweddingShope of a resurrection to eternal life.Mike BrownhillMuharam—Robertson. ImanAlamsyah Muharam, son ofDadan (Bandung, Indonesia)and Asye Muharam (Sunny-Clark, Frances (nee Kelly), born 5.5.1926;died 23.5.11 in Rockhampton hospital, Qld.EXCHANGE OF IDEAS On 15.11.1956, she married Robert (Bob) Johnbank Hills, Qld), and Karina Helen Robertson, Clark.daughter of Graham and Helen RobertsonScott Wareham(Toowoomba), were married 14.8.11 atMaleny My FeetTheManor, Maleny.Flanjack, Carolyn Maree, born 8.10.1970 inSMike Brownhill Sydney Adventist Hospital, NSW; died 27.7.11avior Washedin Tweed Hospital. She is survived by her parents,John and June Flanjack, her daughters,Paisley—Dorman. James, sonof Allan and Minda (Canada), Rayann and Layla (all of Murwillumbah), andand Cheree, daughter of Eric her sister, Susie (Bilambil, Qld). In her Father’s(Coffs Harbour, NSW) and hands.Lesley (Camp Logue Brook, Harvey, WA),Brett Townendwere married 19.12.10 at Camp Logue Brook.Many family and friends had travelled from Flemming, Frederick Charles, born 29.12.1912Canada and the eastern states to attend this inCPaddington, ommunion NSW; died Sabbath? 30.7.11 in Today? Wahroonga.He married Frieda, a 1937 San nursinghappy occasion.Mark Ellmoos graduate, with That’s whom the he last had thing five children, I wanted toJanice, Adrian, hear Susan, while Carol walking and Anne. to church Fred inPratt—Carlile. Christopher was flip-flops, in his 100th splattering year and held muck the across mantra, myJames Pratt, son of Gary and ‘love would always win’. Abiding love for hisMarita Pratt (Hervey Bay, Qld), family, ankle-length God and church skirt. is A his recent legacy. tropicaland Alanna Marie Carlile, storm had wreaked Alex Currie, havoc Adrian in the Flemming littledaughter of Les and Sharyn Carlile (Hervey Honduran town of El Suyatal.Bay), were married 23.7.11 at Grassy Lookout, Fraser, Olive Edna (nee Russell), bornPoint Vernon, Hervey Bay.2.11.1915 Far in from North home, Fitzroy, I Vic; tried died not 30.6.11 to fidgetLorenzo Berry in as Warburton. I self-consciously On 3.4.1938, stared she married at my Alex mudcakedwho feet predeceased planted firmly her in upon 1991. She the isFraser,obituariessurvived by her son, Don and his wife, Pat(Oxley, church’s ACT), dirt and floor. their children, Between Toni, the Donna carBennett, horns Karin blaring, (nee Schulenburg), dogs barking, born roosters crowing, and Nicole, and and the their ever-present grandchildren, outside Mat-loudthew,April, to the Saffron, speaker Jas, rattle Teah off and in Bailee; Spanish herspeaker in Schoeningen, advertising “fresh” Germany; produce, died I listened 2.11.193411.8.11 in Helping Hand Aged Care, Ingle daughter Lexie, and her husband, Ted DeedFarm, which SA. In room 1960, to she enter married for Arno the foot Bennett washing. (Warburton, Lynette, a Vic), precious and their Honduran children, Kelly friend andin St of Stephen’s mine, leaned Lutheran over Church, to me Adelaide, with a smile and Peta; asked and sisters, if she Ruby could (Nunawading) wash my feet. and MySA. confident, She was predeceased affirmative by response her husband. did not match Audrey the (Warburton) hesitant and look their on families. my face. OliveShe is survived by Frank Bennett (Adelaide) was a quiet and gracious Christian who gaveand Ralph As Bennett. I scrunched Karin my migrated oversized from foot Ger-intmany how to Australia quickly the in 1958 water to begin changed a new to life. a muddy ministry brown of color. her church. Expecting She was the the usual pianist two-well the water over 50 basin, years I of couldn’t her life to help the noticing musicThe second ship she splash, travelled I was on sank surprised in the Indian when Lynette for began countless to drench school concerts, my feet with Vacation water Bible andOcean. She was rescued by a cargo ship Schools, Sabbath Schools, camp meetingsand gently arrived massage in Australia the with mud only away. the clothes For several and minutes the Warburton she scrubbed Retirement between Village. my toes Ason her and back. around She my worked nails for just the to Sanitarium make sure that author, every Alan spot Holman, of filth penned, had been “Her cleansed. modestyHealth Food She shouldn’t Company in have Adelaide. to do She this! and I thought. belies That’s the fact not that fair. she I can is a take local care legend”. of it! Olher husband lived in the Elizabeth area with will be greatly missed from our lives, but nowtheir After two sons. all, who They would returned want to Germany to touch in such rests muck in the with sure their and bare certain hands? hope of But resurrection.I began to fight back tears as I realizedI1965, slowly then migrated started to South feel something Africa, before change.permanently what heartfelt returning love to South and sacrifice Australia. she was showing.Morrie KriegKarin was very gifted at cake and pastry making.She At was that baptised moment in 1989 it all at began the Elizabeth to make Godfrey, sense. Through William Andrew the muddy (Bill), born water 28.1.1913 surroundingand was my actively feet, involved I saw a there. clearer She picture in of Clayfield, Jesus. I Brisbane, saw myself Qld; as died Peter: 3.8.11 self-con-in Mur-churchwas scious, a committed self-sufficient, Christian whose and works-oriented. faith was willumbah, Yet Lynette’s NSW. On example 14.3.1936, gave he married mestrong in Lord.Isabel, who predeceased him. He is survivedanother picture as well. Lee Bowditch-WalshI couldn’t help feeling by Carole, the Helen warmth and Graeme of God’s (all presence of Murwil-alumbah).He didn’t Bill was have a shining to, I don’t light in deserve the historyHe told me He does this and more for me!Him—but Bernazza, He loves Mickelle, me! born As I 7.3.1930 felt the tears of begin the Adventist to fall church on my and cheeks, school I (now prayed toin Tari, Northern Italy; died 8.8.11 TVAC) in Murwillumbah, serving as seniorGod, “Please, in Caboolture cleanse Hospital, all of Qld. me! Please, give elder me and that school heart board of chairman love as well. for 22 Lord, years. Isurrender Mickelle all.” served I didn’t in the want Croatian this moment Until to Jesus end—I comes. felt so close to Christ. I hadNavy never before realized migrating before to Australia how beautiful in 1957. In that service can be—but I know Brett now. Townend1961, he married Lubitsa (Val) Glarsen, aCroatian Since who had my also return migrated from to Honduras, Australia. I have, Haines, in all Catherine honesty, Robyn avoided (Cathy), the born ordinancesurvived of humility by his wife, service. Val, a member The genuine of experience 20.7.1965 in Mildura, I had in NSW; that died adobe-walled suddenly onHe isRedcliffe room church, is still Qld. so fresh During with Mickelle’s me. But the next 3.8.11, time aged I do 46, participate, at her Coffs Harbour I plan on home. lookingfor and a stranger the fact that whose he died feet in I the can wash. who Not personally the nicely cared scrubbed, for her all perfectly her life. Shefuneral, people spoke about his excellent She is survived by her loving mother, Joyce,character man-This month a reader shares a special foot-washing experience.icured type; but the filthy ones that look as though they have traveled manyhard roads. You know, like the feet that my Savior washed.—Carissa McSherry, United StatesGILLES VAN LEEUWEN“Behold, I come quickly…”Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ, unitingSeventh-day Adventists everywhere in beliefs,mission, life, and hope.PublisherThe Adventist World, an international periodical ofthe Seventh-day Adventist Church. The General Conference,Northern Asia-Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists ® ,is the publisher.Executive PublisherBill KnottAssociate PublisherClaude RichliInternational Publishing ManagerChun, Pyung DukPublishing BoardTed N. C. Wilson, chair; Benjamin D. Schoun, vice chair;Bill Knott, secretary; Lisa Beardsley; Daniel R. Jackson;Robert Lemon; Geoffrey Mbwana; G. T. Ng; Daisy Orion;Juan Prestol; Michael Ryan; Ella Simmons; Mark Thomas;Karnik Doukmetzian, legal advisorAdventist World Coordinating CommitteeLee, Jairyong, chair; Akeri Suzuki; Kenneth Osborn;Guimo Sung; Chun, Pyung Duk; Han, Suk HeeEditor in ChiefBill KnottEditors based in Silver Spring, MarylandLael Caesar, Gerald A. Klingbeil (associate editors),Sandra Blackmer, Stephen Chavez, Wilona Karimabadi,Mark A. Kellner, Kimberly Luste MaranEditors based in Seoul, KoreaChun, Pyung Duk; Chun, Jung Kwon; Park, Jae ManOnline EditorCarlos MedleyTechnical CoordinatorMerle PoirierEditor-at-largeMark A. FinleySenior AdvisorE. Edward ZinkeExecutive Assistant to the EditorRachel J. ChildEditorial AssistantsMarvene Thorpe-BaptisteAlfredo Garcia-MarenkoReader ServicesMerle PoirierArt Direction and DesignJeff Dever, Fatima AmeenConsultantsTed N. C. Wilson, Robert E. Lemon, G. T. Ng,Guillermo E. Biaggi, Lowell C. Cooper, Daniel R. Jackson,Geoffrey Mbwana, Armando Miranda, Pardon K. Mwansa,Michael L. Ryan, Blasious M. Ruguri, Benjamin D. Schoun,Ella S. Simmons, Alberto C. Gulfan, Jr., Erton Köhler,Jairyong Lee, Israel Leito, John Rathinaraj, Paul S. Ratsara,Barry Oliver, Bruno Vertallier, Gilbert Wari, Bertil A. WiklanderTo Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. Addressall editorial correspondence to 12501 Old Columbia Pike,Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600, U.S.A. Editorial office faxnumber: (301) 680-6638E-mail: worldeditor@gc.adventist.orgWeb site: www.adventistworld.orgUnless otherwise indicated, all Bible references are takenfrom the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980,1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rightsreserved. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible,New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011by Biblica Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.Adventist World is published monthly and printedsimultaneously in Korea, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Germany,Austria, and the United States.Vol. 7, No. 10October 2011 | Adventist World 29

NOTICE BOARDalso leaves behind her father,Ralph; sister, Erlyn and herhusband, Neil Sutton, and theirchildren, Alex and Aiden; and herbrother, Darcy and his wife, Kim,and their sons, Jakob and Isaac.We are all looking forward to agreat reunion with Cathy at thesoon return of our Lord Jesus.Miroslav Stilinovicsupporting ministryJankiewicz, Michal,born 14.9.1912 inGrabina, Poland; died21.6.11 in Wallsend,NSW. He was predeceased by hiswife, Waleria. He is survived byhis two sons, Pastor Jan (LakeMacquarie) and Zbigniew(Melbourne), and their wives,Male and female house parents (immediate start). Develop,implement and supervise activity programs for students aged10—17 out of school hours including weekends on a roster basis.Supervise students at meal times and associated care in thedormitories.Accountant (immediate start). Qualified accountant to providefull accounting services to fulfil various funding agency requirements.Provide payroll, account payments and banking functions.Karalundi also operates a few business enterprises that requirefinancial management.Teachers (2012) primary trained. Plan, develop and implementteaching programs across all subject areas for high schoolaged students in a composite year 8-12 class.Sport and recreation officer. Develop and implement a healthand PE curriculum during school hours and assist in physicalactivity implementation amongst students after school hours inconsultation with boarding house parents. Manage the 25mx10mheated class 2 swimming pool which requires the holding of avalid bronze medallion in order to obtain a Royal Life Saving SocietyAustralia, Life Guard Certificate or higher qualification, or beable to obtain such a qualification. Additionally, hold or be able toobtain a Pool Operations Certificate.Deputy principal. Karalundi is currently seeking a teacher whohas administration experience or someone who aspires to anadministration position while still doing a part teaching load. Theapplicant preferably will be a qualified manual arts teacher whoholds a current Cert 4 in Workplace Trainer and Assessment. Thesuccessful applicant will manage the VET program at the schoolby coordinating Year 11-12 students in their workplace activities.Some duties that will be required of this position are whole schooltimetabling, VET timetabling and management, developing staffduty rosters, coordinating school reports, coordinating excursions,administering school discipline procedures and be acting principalwhen required.Karalundi Aboriginal Education Community Inc is an independent,Seventh-day Adventist-affiliated boarding school and communitycatering for Indigenous students from Kindergarten to year 12. Itis situated 55km north of Meekatharra in central WA.Karalundi is an oasis in the desert and includes a swimming pool,staff gymnasium and other recreational activities. Salary packageincludes subsidised on-site housing and utilities with salarysacrifice available. Salaries/wages based on the Association ofIndependent Schools of Western Australia Awards. Contact theCEO or principal for further information on 08 9981 2000, email: or or post your CV with three work-related references to The CEO,PMB 6, Meekatharra, WA 6642.Karalundi Aboriginal Education Community Inc, a ministry, is independentof the Seventh-day Adventist Church organisation but issupportive of the Church.Elzbieta and Grazyna; fourgrandchildren, Pastor Darius(USA), Dr Ewa Wegner (Sydney,NSW), Krissy and Ben (Melbourne,Vic); and four greatgrandchildren.Michal acceptedthe Adventist message during theWorld War II occupation of Brest,on the Bug River, in Poland. Thiswas the time when his wife,small son and other familymembers were fleeing theGerman forces which werefighting with the Russian RedArmy. A few weeks after hisbaptism he was taken, togetherwith a group of 600 other Poles,for forced labour to dig anti-tanktrenches for the Germanoccupying army. Michal and histwo brothers-in-law bravelysought permission from thecommanding officer not to workon Saturdays as they explainedthat this was their day ofworship. This greatly angered thecommanding officer, whoordered them to presentthemselves for work on Saturdayor be sent to a concentrationcamp or be put in front of a firingsquad. Michal and his relativesdecided to keep the Sabbath holyand prayed earnestly for God’sintervention. On the Friday nightthis commanding officer receivedPositions vacanTorders for the Eastern front andleft that night. Another officertook his place and announced tothe whole labour camp that theAdventists were to have the Sabbathday free. Michal was afaithful church member in Polandand, from 1967, he was amember of the Slavic church inWallsend, Newcastle, NSW,where he took on many churchoffices such as elder, headdeacon and Sabbath Schoolleader.Romuald Varzonek, OwenD’CostaLawrence, Leonard (Len) Robert,born 7.5.1938 in Newcastle, NSW;died 8.2.11 in Whangarei, NZ. Heis survived by his wife, Lyn; hissons, Alstair and his wife, Chris;and Graig and his wife Diane.Len’s life, was one of service,serving his Lord and churchwith many gifts and excellingin teaching God’s Word. Ourmemories are of his love for hisfamily, grandchildren and friends.May his sleep be a short one, aswe await the Lord’s soon return.Garry HallmondLittlewood, Gloria Lillian, born2.2.1924; died 8.8.11 in YeppoonHospital, Qld. In 1982, sheFor more vacant positions, go toChief financial officer—Adventist Media Network (Wahroonga,NSW) is seeking a full-time chief financial officer tobe based in our Wahroonga office. The CFO will lead a team ofdedicated individuals to provide critical financial support to thebusinesses and ministries that are part of Adventist Media Network.The successful applicant will have skills and experience in:managing financial procedures, processes and/or developing newprocedures and processes as needed; advising the CEO and othermanagers on financial matters including budgeting, forecastingand analysis; financial reporting as required to meet establishedtimelines. The successful applicant will hold suitable qualifications(CA or CPA preferred) and have equivalent experience insimilar roles. Commitment to quality and service, together with arespect for Christian values and ethics, are essential. Please sendapplications with a copy of your CV to Kalvin Dever, phone (02)9847 2222 or email . Applicationsclose November 1, 2011.VicYouth personal assistant—Victorian Conference(Nunawading, Vic). Maternity leave position–12 months. VictorianConference Youth Ministries (VicYouth) is seeking a full-timepersonal assistant/administrative professional for a 12-monthperiod to provide a welcoming office environment, care forincoming and outgoing communication and provide administrativesupport to the youth department personnel. Interested applicants,please contact Moe Ioane Stiles for a copy of the job description.Contact via phone on (03) 9264 7741 or email . Applications close November 4, 2011.To receive regular email updates go to30 Adventist World | October 2011

NOTICE BOARDSouth PACIFICPacificmarried Anthony (Tony) Littlewood.She is survived by herhusband. Gloria and Tony metwhen he responded to an AdventistMedia advertisement fora free book, in 1982. Gloria wasthe one sent to deliver it. Theymarried in Toongabbie churchand attended there.Alvin ColtheartLujan, Emma Margarita, born4.4.1926 in Argentina; died12.5.11 in Maleny, Qld. She issurvived by her daughter Ceceiliaand her husband, Richard; andgranddaughters, Veronica andGrace. Emma arrived in Australiain 1975 to help look after hergrandchildren. She became anAdventist in 1976 and attendedthe Spanish church in Sydney.She is missed by all.H RusterholzNurzynski, Herta (nee Gomola),born 25.1.1922 in Bielsko-Biala,Poland; died 3.7.11 at RobinaGold Coast Hospital, Qld. On18.4.1950, she married JerzyNurzynski at the Adventist CollegeChapel in Krakow, Poland.She was predeceased by herinfant son, Jan and by her infantgrandson, James. She is survivedby her husband; their children,Marek and Grace (Qld), John andBeata (ACT); grandchildren, Janeand Wayne, Steven and Lyndal,Peter, Stashek and Julie, andChristopher; and great-grandson,Brenden. She was a loyal anddevoted wife, a caring motherand a true and faithful Adventist.She is sadly missed until thatgreat resurrection day.Ken Martin, Ray RichterPatrick, Joseph John William, theoldest child of William and BerthaPatrick, was born 23.5.1924 inCooranbong, NSW; died 2.8.11 inPort Macquarie Private Hospital.The family moved to PappinbarraJunction in 1938, and thereafterJoseph was dairyman, timbercutter and farmer. On 18.9.1944,he married Lillian Hope Everett,who predeceased him in 2009.Together they raised Beryl PattyStrong, Joy McPherson (bothfrom Cooranbong), John, Len(both from Wauchope), CoralSimpson (Cooranbong) and Allan(Pappinbarra). His siblings areIvy Everett (Port Macquarie),Alice Lewis (deceased), Arthur(Cooranbong) and John (FennellBay). Survivors include thespouses of his children and 18grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren;and one great-greatgrandchild.Joseph was notedfor his love of family, support forcommunity and local churches,especially Wauchope, and hisresilient faith.Arthur Patrick, Danny Milenkov,Joseph MaticicPurvis, Keith Henry, born9.2.1931; died 30.7.11 in RockhamptonHospital, Qld. He issurvived by his sister, MargaretKirk (Yeppoon). Keith wasinfluenced to join the Churchthrough his father’s faithfulness.He was baptised in 1982, joiningYeppoon church. Despite hisdisability, Keith faithfully attendedchurch every Sabbath. He lovedreading his Bible and choosinghis favourite hymns.Alvin ColtheartReynaud, John Pierre Louis, born21.6.1925 in Hanoi, Vietnam; died3.8.11 in Cooranbong, NSW. On7.8.1952, he married Paulette atGrenoble, France. He was predeceasedby Gabe Reynaud. Heis survived by his wife (Cooranbong,NSW); Francine (Paris),Cat (Windsor, NSW), Daniel(Cooranbong) and Marilyn (Erina).Doctor John Reynaud was bornand raised in French Indo-China,living an adventurous life throughthe French Indo-China War. Hemarried Paulette in 1952, movingto France in 1955, and thento Australia in 1958. His naturalinterest in religion led him tothe Adventist Church, workingbriefly as a literature evangelist.From 1966 to 1978 he taughtFrench at Avondale College,which was the highlight of hiscareer. Then he established theAdventist high school in Tahiti,and served as principal of Aureschool in Vanuatu. Dr Reynaud isremembered for his integrity, hisdeep commitment to God andchurch, for his intellectual gifts,for the nurture he provided to hismany students and staff, and forhis love for his family.John CannoneadvertisementsVictoria Point (BaysideBrisbane) Adventist Churchinvites interested Adventiststo visit us for fellowship andto assist us in our innovativeoutreach projects. We areseeking help for community andmember visitation, small groupsministry, and instrumental/vocal music. Contact our clerk,Barbara, at (07) 3207 8156 or.Giant book sale. 30% new stock.See last week. Been once, you’llcome again. Religion, EG White,Bible (also children’s), Christiannovels, music. Nunawadingchurch, central Rd. Sun, Oct 16,11am—3pm. Next Sunday.Warrnambool 90th anniversary,October 22. Former pastors,teachers, members and friendsare invited to share a day ofpraise and reminiscing. Formore information phone Judy0400588154 or Val 0355622808.Data projectors, screens,DVDs, PA systems etc. Lowerprices for Adventist churches,schools etc. Australia only.Contact Trish, (02) 6361 3636;or .Receive the Hope Channel and3ABN. Complete satellite kit$265 + freight; prime signal areasin Australia only. Instructionsfor DIY installation. Installersavailable. Phone (02) 6361 3636;or .Is your Bible falling apart? Haveit repaired by a professionalbookbinder—any books, nomatter what the condition, big orsmall. Visit or call Milton on 0438876 467.Law firm in Sydney. JYP Legalis a law firm run by Adventistchurch member, Jane Park. Areasof law include property, wills andestates and family law. Pleasecall (02) 9267 7171 or email.FinallyHappiness will nevercome to those whofail to appreciatewhat they alreadyhave.Next Adventist WorldNovember 12Contactinformation foradvertising inAdventist WorldHead of News & Editorial:Pastor Pablo LilloEmail: editor@record.net.auAssistant Editor:Jarrod StackelrothAssistant Editor:Kent KingstonSales & Marketing:Theodora AmuimuiaCopyeditor:Tracey BridcuttGraphic DesignerKym JacksonEmail @ RecordNoticeboard: ads@record.net.auwww.record.net.auMail: Adventist Media NetworkLocked bag 1115Wahroonga, NSW 2076,AustraliaPhone: (02) 9847 2222Fax: (02) 9847 2200ABN 59 093 117 689Note: Neither the editor, Adventist MediaNetwork, nor the Seventh-day AdventistChurch is responsible for the quality ofgoods or services advertised. Publicationdoes not indicate endorsement of a productor service. Advertisements approved bythe editor will be inserted at the followingrates: first 30 words or less, $A60 +GST;each additional word, $A1.98 +GST. Foryour advertisement to appear, paymentmust be enclosed. Classified advertisementsin RECORD are available to SeventhdayAdventist members, churches andinstitutions only. See masthead (above) forcontact details.October 2011 | Adventist World 31

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