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DEC annual meeting reportFirst-timers see big pictureWAHROONGA, NEW SOUTH WALESMore than half of the attendees atthe recent division executivecommittee (DEC) meeting werefirst-timers, with an increase ofrepresentatives from the Pacific islands.This was a result of new procedures put inplace after the action was taken inSeptember this year to discontinue divisionsessions [RECORD, September 17,2005].According to Mewie Launa from theEastern Highlands Simbu Mission of thePapua New Guinea Union Mission, “Ihave never asked, contemplated or dreamtof being a part of the DEC of the SouthPacific Division. I don’t feel worthy to beon this committee—but I know God willempower me.”Mr Launa has worked in the privatesector for more than 30 years and has frequentlytravelled overseas. However, thisis his first church-related trip and he says,“I’m at the best part of my life nowbecause I’m doing God’s business.”The opportunity to learn about newissues and developments of the churchbefore his colleagues back home, and theability to see how decisions are made andpassed through the local missions, werethe highlights of Mr Launa’s trip.Another of the 46 first-timers wasSolomon Islander Patilin Sisiolo, whoechoed Mr Launa’s sentiments. “It hasbeen eye-opening to attend such highlevelmeetings,” she says. “Ordinarychurch members don’t usually understandhow hard people [in administration]work and how everything comes about.All we get is the end product [of theirdecisions].“I’ve seen people coming together andpraying a lot over these few days, and I seethe Holy Spirit leading and working,” shesays. “Those at this level of work pray alot before making a decision. It is wonderfulthat we have unity through theHoly Spirit, even though we come fromdiverse places.”Richie Reid, associate youth director forthe South Queensland Conference,another first-timer, says, “It is good toactually listen to reports and get the biggerpicture of the church and its mission.”According to Mr Reid, the most significantlesson he learned from attending theDEC meeting was being able to see that“the heart of all aspects of the church,from its institutions to its entities, is thesame mission. The church is workingtoward a common goal, which is thevision to know, experience and share ourhope in Jesus Christ.”—Melody TanAppointmentsWAHROONGA, NEW SOUTH WALESThe annual meeting of the SPDexecutive committee made anumber of appointments thatremained to be made in 2005:Deputy Chief Executive Officer,Sydney Adventist Hospital: PhillipCurrieDirector, Institute of Family Relations:Dr Bryan CraigInvestment and Financial ServicesManager: Virgilio CadungogSenior Assistant Editor, SignsPublishing Company: Pastor DavidEdgrenPartners in Ministry Coordinator:Merilyn WebsterManager, Christian Services for theBlind and Hearing Impaired: LesRelihanPrayer Ministries Coordinator: JoyButler; (Associate) Dr Paul PetersenRetiree Ministries Coordinator: PastorRay CoombeAssociate Chief Financial Officer,Papua New Guinea Union Mission:Joshua WambillieDivision Executive Committee members:Jenny Boyd (SA); ApaitiaWaganiboro (Fiji); Pastor Tom Osborne(Fiji); Pastor John Skrzypaszekj (Ellen GWhite Research Centre).◆ Projected enrolment at HeritageCollege, Vic, for 2006 is up 63 percent on the numbers for 2005. Anumber of parents seeking enrolmentwere impressed by the qualityof the campus grounds,remarking that students must behighly cared for if so much attentionis given to its appearance. TheVictorian Conference EducationDepartment has purchased some20 acres about 10 kilometres distantfor the establishment of a secondarycampus, to commence in2009. For the second year running,the school won the Westfield shoppingcentre’s “Shop for your school”competition, with prizes totallingnearly $A12,000. A larger prize,however, has been the 10 studentsrequesting baptism after studyingwith the college chaplain, PastorCraig Gillis.—Stuart Barons◆ Scotland will trial AdventistDevelopment and Relief Agency(ADRA) Christmas cards. The cardsare aimed to promote ADRA’sname among non-Adventists.ADRA will also receive 33p for eachpack sold. The packs contain fivecards with a Christian theme andfive with a traditional Christmasscene. Inside each card, along withthe ADRA logo and websiteaddress and traditional season’sgreetings, is the ADRA theme“Changing the world one life at atime.”—Messenger◆ To encourage and inspire thespirit of giving at Christmas time,a web site listing 125 things peoplecan do to help their community,from the basic to the innovative,has been developed. "There isplenty of desire from people tomake a difference but often theone thing lacking is ideas," says DrRhonda Galbally, CEO of.More @www.ourcommunity.com.au/christmastips◆ The 10th anniversary of theCroatian Adventist Association ofAustralia was celebrated with aformal dinner, attended by morethan 90 people at Tullamarine, Vic,on October 23. The consul of theRepublic of Croatia, Ana Modun,spoke highly of Adventists andtheir humanitarian efforts throughADRA during the war years, andencouraged the continuation oftheir highly respected culturaland social contribution to thewider Croatian community in Australia.Coverage of the event wasgiven in a half-page report in aCroatian ethnic newspaper and onChannel 31.—Boris JakovacPROVIDE HELP FOR PEOPLE IN REAL NEED @ WWW.ADRA.ORG.AU6December 17, 2005
New Ellen WhiteDVD releasedWAHROONGA, NEW SOUTH WALESAnew DVD from the South PacificDivision’s (SPD) Biblical ResearchCommittee has been released.Prophetic Inspiration: The Holy Spiritat Work aims to give a balanced, educationalintroduction to the life, ministry and writingsof Ellen G White.Issues that are examined on the DVDinclude what her role is, what relationshipshe has to the Bible, how God choosespeople to be His messengers and howprophetic inspiration works.Work on the DVD has taken more thanthree years, with study materials gatheredand extensive research being conductedby the committee. The recording and editingprocesses were completed by AdventistMedia.Dr Paul Petersen, who worked on theDVD, says, “We have sought a consensusposition among Ellen White scholarswithin our church.”The main presenters are Drs GraemeBradford and Allan Lindsay. A number ofbiblical scholars and theologians from theSPD also made contributions.As well as providing people with agreater insight into Ellen White, PropheticInspiration aims to dispel common mythsabout her and her writing, as well as restorea balance in perceptions about her.Dr Petersen says, “Extreme criticism fromone side has been nourished by extremepositions taken by people on the other.Though obviously contrary to the intentionof Ellen White herself, she has been abusedto establish or settle exegetical or doctrinalissues, thusreplacing theBible, orselect statementsfromher pen havebeen hammeredonthe heads ofthose wholook at anyissue differently.”—The new Ellen White DVD. Adele NashAvondale graduationsecond largest in 20 yearsCOORANBONG, NEW SOUTH WALESMembers of the second largest classto graduate from AvondaleCollege received their testamurson December 4.Some 259 graduands were eligible tomarch during the ceremony, held in theChan Shun Auditorium on the LakeMacquarie campus. These included thefirst with Master of Ministry degrees infamily and youth ministries.Former lecturer Pastor Alfred Jorgensen,94, received the honorary award of Masterof the College. “His teaching was noted forits academic rigour, his love of language, andoccasional ironic edge,” reads PastorJorgensen’s citation. “His preaching hadrichness and depth.” This is only the thirdtime Avondale has conferred the award.Pastor Laurie Evans, president of theSouth Pacific Division, referred to vision as“a white feather” in his address. “We caneither dip it in permanent ink or do nothingand see it turn to dust,” he told the graduands.Friday’s consecration service on the LakeMacquarie campus featured a drama writtenby graduand Makushla Kontaxis.Initially set at Homecoming in 2045, thedrama showed how vision shapes action.“The kingdom of heaven is at hand—that’sthe grand vision that informs our personalvision,” said speaker Pastor Gilbert Cangy.newsJenny Dixon encouraged nurses on theSydney campus to be proud of their profession,saying, “Hold true to the values youhave embraced as an Avondale graduate.”Anita Allen, Yanina Nunez, Lati Ratuand Jacqueline Thompson were baptised onSabbath morning. Valedictory servicespeaker Pastor Lyell Heise challenged theirclassmates to pass on “spiritual DNA—themitochondria of mercy, the chromosomes ofcourage.” The baptisms bring to nine thenumber of students joining the church thisyear.Other highlights of the year include: arecord enrolment of 1060; increasedCommonwealth financial assistance to students—FEE-HELPmeans mostAustralian citizens do not need to paytuition fees while at Avondale, while nearlyone-third of students now benefit fromsubsidised places in teaching and nursing;five-star Good Universities Guide ratings foreducational experience, staff qualifications,getting a job and graduate outcomes; andnew degree programs.President Dr John Cox says Avondale iscommitted to its mission of deliveringquality education in the context of anAdventist world view. “The high take-upof graduates demonstrates the value thecommunity places on people with highethical standards, a well-balanced lifestyleand a commitment to faith, integrity, justiceand service.”—Brenton StaceyCommunication and marketing major Lynden Rochford is one of 259 graduates of AvondaleCollege this year, the second largest class in 20 years.December 17, 2005D & V Photography7
Page 1 and 2: RECORDIn this issueAdventist school
Page 3 and 4: Adventist schools in PNG join NESLA
Page 5: New session election procedures fin
Page 9 and 10: Prayer keys forChristmasBY JOY BUTL
Page 11 and 12: December 17, 2005 11shocked that he
Page 13 and 14: AnniversariesGotts, Phillip and Wil
Page 15: 15 AcademicExcellenceScholarships i

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