Christ Kona?

Superheroes
Cleveland, Ohio, this year is celebrating the seventy-fifth
birthday of its native hero—Superman. The fictitious “man of steel,” who is faster than a speeding
bullet and leaps tall buildings in a single bound, was the brainchild of two young men, Jerry
Siegel and Joe Shuster. The now-cultural icon began to formulate in Siegel’s mind one hot
summer night in 1933 while he looked out his window at the moon and stars and wondered what
it would be like to fly. The next morning he visited his buddy Shuster, an illustrator, and together
they created the character Superman. Five years later they sold the concept to Detective Comics,
Inc., which introduced Superman to the public in a 10-cent comic book, Action Comics. Recently a
copy of that comic book sold for $1.2 million.
Superman and his adventures have been featured on radio, television, video, and have
spawned numerous films. They also helped create a genre of superheroes—venerated by both
children and adults—which has significantly grown the bank balances of countless media folk.
But then, don’t we usually pay our entertainers well? The most highly successful in such venues
as movies and sports receive salaries ascending into millions of dollars. Compare that to
the much-less-lucrative incomes of many service-minded individuals. Teachers, for example,
guide and instruct our most precious possessions: our children. Firefighters put themselves in
harm’s way to save the lives, homes, and businesses of others. Social workers strive ceaselessly
to repair the fraying fragments of society. And we can’t overlook the volunteers who minister
to the weak and vulnerable with no expectation of reward—financial or otherwise.
If we were to gauge success by looking to the only true superhero, the meek and lowly Jesus,
which endeavors come out on top? The answer is easy to see—even
without X-ray vision. n
Sandra
Blackmer
How People Join the Church *
“In late 2004 a survey was sent to a sample
of Seventh-day Adventist congregations
in the North American Division to be
given to attending members on a certain Sabbath.
Those surveyed were asked how they were
brought into the church (they could choose more
than one option, so the percentages will not add up
to 100 percent). . . .
“‘Who is the most effective evangelist in the
world?’ It is obvious from both the formal research
and informal data collected in these groups that the
most effective evangelist in the world is the person
who takes a personal interest in us and shares
Jesus. . . . ‘Who is the most effective evangelist in
the world?’ The answer is, ‘I am the most effective
evangelist in the world.’ . . .
“The reality is that relationship is the most
effective form of evangelism and ministry.”
Brought up in an Adventist home
A friend or relative
Read books, journals, other literature
Public evangelism meetings
Bible studies in the home
Visits by a pastor
Television or radio programs
Bible correspondence course
Material on the Internet
Other
59%
58%
49%
36%
34%
20%
20%
19%
7%
22%
*Excerpt taken from S. Joseph Kidder, “The Most Effective Evangelist in the World,” Elder’s Digest, April/June 2013, p. 13. You may subscribe by visiting www.eldersdigest.org or
writing Editorial Office, GC Ministerial Department, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904.