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NEWS from the 58th General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists

Record Number of British Adventists to Attend World Session in St. Louis

St. Louis, Missouri,/USA | 29.06.2005 | AN/NAPD | General Conference Session

Seeking fellowship, networking opportunities and a glimpse of how the Adventist world church works, a record number of Seventh-day Adventists from Britain, will join thousands of other members at the church's quinquennial business meetings in St. Louis, Missouri this week.

Several of the more than 1,000 expected members organized special trips to the event. One unusual "travel agent" is Pastor Sam Davis, who used to be a minister for the Adventist church in South England but is now pastoring the multi-ethnic Sandton church in Johannesburg. He will be taking a group of 123 people to the meetings -- 41 from South Africa, 30 from the Netherlands, and 52 from United Kingdom.

"I've been organizing these trips for years," he said. "I was only planning to take a small group from South Africa but when others heard about it they wanted to come along as well! People see the [world church meeting] as the biggest event in the church calendar and most people want to go at least once in their lives."

"I think people want to feel the experience of being part of the global Adventist family," Catherine Boldeau, communication director for the church in South England agreed. "It's a great networking opportunity. Many of our members here, particularly those from the West Indian and African communities, have relatives who live in America and this is an opportunity for them to fellowship and share quality Christian time with them. As for the meetings themselves, I don't think our members are really sure what to expect, but many of them are excited to see how the international Church will carry out its business on such a large scale."

Most of those attending the meetings will be coming from the church in South England whose members make up more than two thirds of the 24,500 adult baptized members in Britain. Along with those attending the meeting as visitors, 11 Adventists from Britain, will join 2,000 delegates who make decisions on critical church issues. The British delegates comprise approximately 12.5 percent of the Trans-European region's delegation, a regional official estimated. [Editor: John Surridge and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Session: Delegates Have Varied Expectations

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 29.06.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Several delegates attending the 58th General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church - the world movement's quinquennial business meeting - come with high hopes and varied expectations.

A thoroughly random and non-scientific canvas of the delegates reveals they are talking about church unity and growth, as well as expressing an interest in how the global community of more than 25 million Adventist Christians, including 14 million adult baptized members operates as a united body.

"I hope the session will give me a good idea of how the church operates," says Andrea Danie Brink, a first-time delegate from the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean region of the church, who is also director of the regional media center near Cape Town, South Africa. "Just coming here I've seen how global the church is," his wife, Penny, added.

Pastor Solomon Maphosa, president of the Adventist Church in Zimbabwe, emphasized the need for church unity during the session.

"We want to make sure the church stays together, that unity is maintained," Maphosa told Adventist News Network (ANN). His main concern is "unity of doctrine," adding that when church manual revisions are weighed, he hopes any changes "come with a way that keeps us together" as a denomination.

Dr. Barry Oliver, executive secretary of the Adventist church's South Pacific area, said he "would like to see the church focus on its mission, giving priority to the most important things," adding that his region needs leaders who can "think outside the [box] while maintaining church unity."

Oliver said this session "can't be business as usual if we really want to make changes" in church administration. He said it was "good that we are focusing on leadership issues," as will happen in several breakout meetings during the session.

While acknowledging the "fantastic" atmosphere of a world church session, Patricia Swan of the church's Trans-European region said she questions "spending millions of dollars" for a business meeting, along with the cost in money and time to each church region.

"We have areas that are crying out for money for evangelism," Swan said. "The atmosphere at [a Session] is fantastic. But is it really worth the money and the time?"

That worth is expected to be demonstrated in the coming days, as 2,000 delegates weigh a variety of issues, as well as the election of world church officers. [Mark A. Kellner/ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Church: Session A Celebration of Faith, Diversity, Paulsen Says

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 29.06.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

"It's important that we have time to worship together and to celebrate the incredible diversity of the church," Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church, told local media at a June 29 news conference kicking off the church's 58th General Conference Session.

With delegates and visitors coming from more than 200 countries, he added, "you have this sort of blend" of people at the event, representing a "global family of between 22 and 25 million people, 93 percent of whom live outside of North America." Paulsen later explained that since the church only baptizes teens and adults, the church's official membership of 14.3 million is expanded "by about half" when children and other weekly worshippers are counted.

The world president was joined by the North American region church president, Pastor Don Schneider, and Session Manager Linda de Leon, in speaking with representatives of local media outlets, including radio and television outlets. The event was designed to formally introduce the Adventist Church's quinquennial meeting -- which will bring as many as 70,000 people to St. Louis for the two Sabbath or Saturday worship sessions.

"This event is a mixture of friendship, information and worship," Paulsen said, although he also emphasized that the principal function of the event is business. The Session is designed, he said, to transact church matters including the election of "a considerable number" of world church leaders and the top three officers of each of the 13 Adventist church regions around the world.

Responding to the question of why St. Louis was selected for the event, de Leon said the city "has a lot to offer" a convention such as this; Paulsen added it is an advantage to have the meeting under one roof. America's Center and Edward Jones Dome are covered, downtown facilities that can handle crowds of the size anticipated for the 10-day meetings.

"By being in the city and sharing, I hope we leave behind a strong testimony of faith," Paulsen said, adding jocularly, "I expect we will also leave behind some cash," as Adventist visitors are taking thousands of hotel rooms and making other expenditures here.

At the same time, Paulsen said the presence of teetotaling Adventists means "the liquor industry will not do particularly well during the days we are here." Reflecting a commitment to health, Adventists abstain from alcohol, while St. Louis is home to one of America's largest breweries.

But the Adventist involvement in St. Louis will be more than transitory. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency, ADRA, will donate the entire proceeds of its merchandise sales here to alleviate poverty in the city.

The church is also sponsoring several cultural activities, including a film festival, and a Bible-writing project, where the public will be invited to write their version of a single Bible verse on a scroll, which will be presented to the city as a gift.
Asked to compare the Adventist election process with the more familiar Papal election held in April in Rome, Paulsen said that while he was "not privy" to the inner workings of the Roman Catholic Church, Adventists rely on the work of a 200-member nominating committee.

"In our church the selection is more widely based," Paulsen said. "We use a nominating committee made up of delegates from around the world; they will go through a list of [potential] nominees for each position."

He added that much thought is given to ensure that church leadership "reflects the diversity of the world church."

Paulsen and Schneider also explained the church will engage in evangelism during the Session, but more of the media-based and individual variety, as opposed to area-wide meetings. [Editor: Mark A. Kellner for ANN/APD]

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Ghanaian Delegates and Guests Arrival at World Synod Delayed

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 30.06.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

About 38 of the 60 delegates and guests from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana will be late arriving at the church's quinquennial meetings in St. Louis, Missouri. The small band was to be a part of the 2,000 member delegation charged with voting on items affecting the future of the church. However, the private plane that they chartered was not there when the group arrived at the airport, said Jean Emannuel Nlo Nlo, communication director of the Adventist church in West Africa.

The group should be leaving today on another flight, but because they did not get a full refund for the first flight, they will have to take a circuitous route. They should have boarded a plane in Accra, Ghana today which will stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and then proceeded to New York. However that's as far as they can go on their current tickets. Nlo Nlo speculates they may have to take a bus from New York to St. Louis.

"Maybe it was our fault," says Pastor Peter Mensah, president of the Adventist church in Ghana. "Next time we will deal will a more reputable airline."

Although the business portions of the meetings have not started and their votes are not yet required, Mensah is concerned that they are missing a crucial part of the meetings.

"They are missing out on fellowship," he notes. "They need to be exposed to fellowship and get to know other people." He explained that he believes that while Ghana has enough delegates already in St. Louis to vote, "they will be missed."

Matthew Bediako, secretary of the world church agrees saying that "Many of those missing are guests at the Session and will not be voting." It is not clear how many of those missing are delegates.

"It's very frustrating," Nlo Nlo says.

"We can't stop the meetings," says Larry Evans, undersecretary for the Adventist world church who told ANN the matter was discussed by the church's leaders earlier today. "Although there are other Adventists coming from Ghana they cannot replace the missing members. They may have their own private agenda and may not represent the interests of the church in that region."

Those interests, Mensah says includes the unity of the church and promoting evangelism.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana has nearly 300,000 members. [Editor: Taashi Rowe for ANN/APD]

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Worship at World Session

Dedicated Worship Integral to Business of the Adventist Church

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 30.06.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

They will attend to business -- lots of it. The 10-day meeting of the worldwide Adventist Church, which happens once every five years, covers a multitude of tasks, including choosing who will lead the church in the coming five years. But, that task aside, there is something more important for this worldwide denomination. As the group congregated June 29 for a worship service before the Session officially kicks off, they were challenged to examine the act of worship.

"As you come together as a church ... as a worldwide congregation, when we attend to the business of this church, when we attend meetings ... when all is said and done, will we be able to look back and say, regardless of all else, 'We worshipped?'" asked Randy Roberts, senior pastor at the Loma Linda University Adventist Church in Loma Linda, California.

"How is your worship life? Does God have the loyalty of your soul?"

Nothing matters more than worship, Roberts said, emphasizing that worship is the heart and soul of who Seventh-day Adventists are. "Who I worship determines how I live," he declared.

"[The message] is very relevant to Adventist life today," said John Arthur, publishing director for the church in the Trans-European region. "The way we live is affected by the way we worship."

Anything in life leads to worship or grows out of worship, Roberts said in his talk. "It is worship that most accurately portrays the loyalty of my heart. All you need for confirmation of that is to check what you worship in day-to-day life. If you know what you worship, you know what has your heart."

"Our primary purpose is to know Him and introduce others to him. [As a church] we've had significant success. The Lord has blessed," said Keith Jacobson, delegate to the Session from North America.

But, he added, "Do we have work to do? Of course. But we have meetings like these to remind us ... God is the focus, not ourselves as individuals, or even as a denomination." [Editor: Wendi Rogers for ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Church President Emphasizes Member Ownership of Church, Youth Involvement

St. Louis, Missouri/USA, | 30.06.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

"Do not define the church as something other than yourselves; that would be a mistake," Pastor Jan Paulsen declared to the opening-night assembly of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's 58th General Conference Session. The quinquennial business meeting began today in St. Louis, Missouri, some 59 years after it was supposed to open here.

According to Pastor Dennis Carlson, president of the Adventist Church in Mid-America, a General Conference Session had been scheduled for St. Louis in 1946, but was relocated to Takoma Park, Maryland, because enough housing wasn't available in the Missouri city. This year, with an estimated 59,000 hotel rooms being used for at least part of the Session by Adventists and friends, housing did not appear to be a problem.

Along with the debut of "Jesus Christ, How We Adore You," the session theme song, the meeting included greetings from North American church president Don Schneider, Carlson, and Pastors G. Alexander Bryant and Walter E. Brown, presidents, respectively, of the Central States and Iowa-Missouri church areas.

A 288-member nominating committee was suggested, moved and accepted by voice vote. The panel, which begins meetings tonight, will select world church leadership nominees over the next 10 days.

But it was Pastor Paulsen's report that was the main feature of the evening. After paying tribute to his wife, Kari, for support during 50 years of marriage, the Paulsens presented stories of church members serving their communities in various parts of the globe. A question for church members, he said, was "is your city, your community, your country a better place because you [as an Adventist] are there?"

To the youth of the church - members between 15 and 30 - Paulsen said, "I want you to come in and to partner with the rest of us. I want to make room for you, for you have energies and ideas which no one can quite match. If you don't find the church interesting, you can make it interesting. Just don't walk away. That would be the worst possible thing you can do: It is Christ we are talking about. Don't turn your back on him, for if you do, all you then all you are left with is Peter's haunting question: "To whom shall we then go?" (John 6:68)

Lay members, youth and women each and all need "to claim and accept a much greater share of ownership in our church," Paulsen said. "The church is not defined by election nor is it by who pays your salary. The church is defined by faith. Do you have faith? OK, you're the church."

He declared, "I say to you - especially you who are young: 'Come, walk with me for Christ and his church.' I will do my best to make space for you, for you are my partner. Christ invites you. The church needs you. And we are all one family of faith."

The next 10 days will help shape the future of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Protestant denomination with 14.3 million baptized members and a total of 25 million attending weekly worship in more than 200 countries. Two series of seminars, Paulsen noted, one on the nature of Adventist leadership, and the other on "challenges to mission" should be daily requirements for all delegates, he said.

One of the proposals Paulsen put to delegates during his keynote address was that they should spend a considerable amount of time discussing five crucial issues facing the Church. These were: the spiritual life of Church members, the Church's relation to society, tackling increasing rates of apostasy, making the Church more effective in cities, and how the Church can meet the challenges of secularism.

Time has been scheduled for this discussion during the Session next week but the Church will undoubtedly need to take these issues seriously for some time to come.

A quick exit poll showed that delegates and guests agreed with the importance that Dr. Paulsen had attached to these issues. Ken Beyreis, a guest from the church in North America, felt that spiritual life was the main area that the Church should concentrate on. "Without a spiritual life it's hard to deal with any of the other four issues."

Althea Mc Millan, a guest from the Inter-American region agreed. "I think that spiritual life is the most important because that is what empowers you to do the others."

However Friedhelm Klingberg, a Bible Correspondence School instructor from Germany, felt that secularism was the big issue of today. "The position of the Church in the world and its ability to bring the gospel to common people is the most important thing. These people are deeply impressed by the gospel, but only if you present it in a way they understand."

Fourteen-year-old Renee Cardoza from New York said that the issue of apostasy was important for the Church to look at. "If others see people leaving the Church they won't want to join will they? But I guess sometimes people just stop believing." [Editors: Mark A. Kellner and John Surridge for ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Synod: The Nominating Committee and the Long Walk

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 30.06.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

The rows of tables seat 288 committee members. There are electronic voting pads. There are video projectors and big screens. Technology abounds in a room that will be busy for the next 10 days. This is where the Nominating Committee for the Seventh-day Adventist world church will meet starting Thursday evening. Their purpose: to elect leaders to the world church for the next five years.

Two thousand delegates, representing the Church's 13 world regions, select the committee. Larry Evans, undersecretary for the world church told ANN that they have worked hard to ensure that the delegation is representative of the church not just geographically, but also in terms of gender balance and youth.

The delegates meet in their various regional caucuses to select the nominating committee. With such large numbers this is a process that takes several hours. It is the pre-planning that has already taken place that will help the committee to work smoothly and get through an agenda of more than 100 names.

Much of that pre-planning is done by Bob Woolford. "Over the next 10 days I'll walk a thousand miles", he says. He has already spent years in planning for today's start. Every world church business meeting or "GC Session" since 1980 Woolford, assistant to the president at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Kansas, has given of his time to assist the nominating committee.

It's a task that calls for an eye for detail, good organizational skills, a pleasing personality and a satisfaction in seeing a job well done. From making sure there is cooled water for up to 200 committee members, to ensuring appropriate access and security, Woolford is on the job and has a protocol for every eventuality.

Assistance on the technology side comes from Ed Bahr of the Pacific Press. He developed the electronic voting system which allows committee members to vote on numbered names projected on a big screen. Over a 45-second period members can vote, and even change their vote, but electronic security ensures that each person only votes once. The results can then instantly be displayed on the screen.

Once a name has been voted on Woolford starts his thousand mile stroll, searching the halls and corridors of the Americas Centre looking for the nominated candidate.

Woolford states that this is the last time that he plans to assist the nominating committee. "I started this job as a young volunteer. I now have gray hair and it's time to hand on the privilege to a new generation who can bring new skills and new vision." With 25 years of expertise under his belt he may be a hard act to follow. [Editor: Victor Hulbert for ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Church Business Session Opens with Welcome, Remembrance

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 30.06.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

An auditorium of delegates commenced the 58th General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the afternoon of June 30, praying for God's guidance, remembering fallen colleagues, as well as recognizing and recording establishment or reorganization of the church's several regional organizational units internationally, including three regions in a rapidly growing faith community in Africa.

Along with opening remarks from Pastor Lowell Cooper, a general vice president of the world church, and Pastor Matthew Bediako, executive secretary of the church, initial business included the formal recognition and voting on several matters involving the organization of the Adventist world church. Cooper commented on the global nature of the delegates represented here, while Bediako said that all necessary requirements for holding the session had been met.

In devotional comments at the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Jo Ann Davidson, assistant professor of systematic theology at Andrews University, emphasized the centrality of the cross in Adventist belief. "What better time, than this world convocation of the Seventh-day Adventist church, to behold the Lamb of God which takes away our sin," Davidson said. "The Cross was the ugliest, most horrible instrument of torture that had yet been devised. But this is not what killed Him. Our sins did. And Christ was willing to bear our punishment to win the Great Battle with Satan for me and for you. And because of that, the Cross has been transformed into the glorious memorial of God's love. And now, we 'glory' in that old rugged Cross."

A much reflective moment came when delegates were asked to remember those who were killed while on church service during the past five years. Prayers were offered for the families of the slain. These included Pastor Ruimar Duarte DePaiva, his wife, Margareth Ottoni DePaiva, and their son Larisson Ottoni DePaiva who were killed Dec. 23, 2003, on the Pacific island of Palau.

Earlier that year, on May 20, 2003, Adventist pastor and missionary Lance Gersbach was murdered in an attack at Malaita, Solomon Islands. Kaare Lund, ADRA country director for Norway, and two colleagues, Emmanuel Sharpulo, country director for ADRA Liberia, and Musa Kita, chief driver for ADRA Liberia, were attacked and killed near Toe Town, Liberia in February 2003.

Recognizing that missionary service can be hazardous, Adventist lay members and pastors continue to go, as the Bible says, "into all the world," seeking to share God's love and message of hope.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a community of 14.3 million members in over 200 countries around the world. [Editors: Mark A. Kellner and Ray Dabrowski for ANN/APD]


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New Administrative Regions Reflect Growing Adventist Church

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 30.06.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

The first major item of business conducted at the 58th Session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on Thursday afternoon June 30 was the acceptance of three new divisions, or world church regions, all of which are in Africa, into the Adventist Church.

The East-Central Africa, Southern-Africa Indian Ocean, and the West African church regions have been operating since Jan.1, 2003, when a major reorganization was carried out. However, this move needed to be ratified by a formal business session of the church for the regions to be officially recognized.

The reorganization of world regions and the recognition of new regions was "evidence of the growth of the church," said Vice President of the Adventist world church, Lowell Cooper, who chaired the business session. Over the last five years, 5 million new members have joined the Adventist Church, many of whom have been in Africa.

The East-Central African region (ECD), comprising the countries of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda, is a brand new creation, reflecting how quickly the church is growing in this part of the world.

"The church we belong to started because the 3,000-member Nairobi Central church, like many of our churches, was full," said Rosette Kibuuka who works at the church's office in East Central Africa. "We started meeting in a big blue and white tent about two-and-a-half years ago, and we are still in it today, along with 150 to 200 other members. It is a very happy church, mixed culturally and nationally, but we all get on very well together."

Germaine Musoni, who works with and attends church with Kibuuka sees positives to their meeting place. "One advantage of the tent is that when it gets hot we just take the sides down! However we have been given a plot of land by the East Africa Union [church region] and we are raising funds to build a church that will seat 400."

When asked the secret behind the explosive growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in East Africa, Kibuuka and Musoni both pointed to a heavy emphasis on evangelism. "During our recent year of evangelism every officer and director in the [regional] office ran at least one campaign, and they were very successful," Musoni said. "While they were running the campaigns we had special prayer for them."

The church is growing in other parts of the world, but there are very few places where it is growing as quickly as in East Africa. When asked what was special about her part of the world, Musoni replied, "In Africa we have time -- the people want to listen and understand. The Holy Spirit is really moving here." [Editor: John Surridge for ANN/APD]

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Transformed By Entering His Rest (Devotional)

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Devotional for General Conference Session

July 1, 2005

by Richard M. Davidson,
Andrews University Theological Seminary

**************

Introduction

This morning I would like to remind you of a group of powerful and prominent leaders in the Bible. Because they were so prominent in Israel's history, no doubt you will all recognize their names: Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi and Guel. These are household names on the tongue of every Seventh-day Adventist,right? Hardly. I have yet to find a group of SDA's who can identify these names as I read them. But if I add the last two names of the list, the other ten come into clear focus: the last two names are Caleb and Joshua. Yes, these are the names of the twelve spies sent out by Moses under the command of God to survey the land of Promise (Num 13:4-16). It's astounding: twelve princes, each the head of his tribe, governing thousands of men (Num 13:3). Yet the names of ten are lost in obscurity in a list tucked away in the book of Numbers, while two are still household names, immortalizations of greatness and fame. Ten leaders were a dismal failure, dragging a whole generation down with them, but two, Caleb and Joshua, were paragons of victory and success. What made the difference?

The Story of Joshua

The Ten Spies and Unfaithful Israel+No Rest

The ten spies represented the majority-spirit of the wilderness generation of Israel, of whom God said, "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?" (Num 14:11). Against this generation, including the ten spies, the Lord in righteous indignation "took an oath, saying, 'Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers'" (Deut 1:34-35). Hundreds of years later the Psalmist remembered this incident and wrote: "Today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest'" (Ps 95:7-11).

Caleb and Joshua+Enter God's Rest

In contrast to the rebellious ten spies and the general population of Israel they represented, God spoke glowingly of Caleb, that "he had a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully" (Num 14:24); "to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the Lord" (Deut 1:36). Likewise of Joshua, God promised, "Joshua, the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it" (Deut 1:38). Joshua had the same faithful spirit as Caleb, and before Moses died, Joshua was anointed to replace Moses as Israel's visible leader. Joshua the able general, humble prime minister, and faithful scout, became Moses' successor, to lead the children of Israel into rest in the Promised Land.

On the borders of Canaan, God had promised Israel through Moses, "For as yet you have not come to the rest [menuchah] and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you. But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and He will give you rest [nuah] from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety" (Deut 12:9, 10). After Moses died, God repeated the same promise through Joshua as he began his ministry as Israel's leader: "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, 'The LORD your God is giving you rest [nuach] and is giving you this land'" (Josh 1:13).

Reliving the Story of Joshua's Pilgrimage toward Rest

Just ten years ago, I was engaged in writing the Sabbath School quarterly on the book of Joshua. As part of my attempt to grasp the profound meaning of the stories in that exciting book of the Bible, I took advantage of a 2 ½ -month teaching assignment in Israel with seminary students to visit all of the major geographical locations associated with the life of Joshua. We traveled the route the Israelites took from Egypt. We stopped at the thick groves of palm trees and lush gardens at the oasis of Rephidim, some 25 miles NW of Mt. Sinai, where the Bible first introduces us to Joshua, the brilliant general, engaged in conquering the Amalekites, as Moses stood on a hill above the oasis with arms upheld by Aaron and Hur. I thought of the character of this man Joshua, whom Ellen White describes as "Courageous, resolute, and persevering, prompt, incorruptible, unmindful of selfish interests in his care for those committed to his charge, and above all, inspired by a living faith in God" (PP 481).

We climbed majestic Mt. Sinai, and I imagined Joshua, now Moses' minister, climbing Jebel Musa (the Mountain of Moses) along with Moses on one of his ascents (Exod 24:13), and remaining there for forty days and nights.

During that extended tour of the Holy Land ten years ago, I also visited the Valley of Eshcol and the city of Hebron, where Joshua and the other spies went to spy out Canaan, and brought back the fruit of the land. Somewhat similar to Joshua, I took my life in my hands visiting that area in the height of the Arab "intifada" or uprising; one of my students and I were the only tourists in the entire city filled with gun-toting Arabs and Israelis. On the Arab bus traveling to Hebron through the valley of Eshcol, the Arab vineyard-owner I was sitting beside boasted that the vineyards in this valley grew the biggest and sweetest grapes in the world! He was not exaggerating, for on my first trip to Israel, which came during the season of ripe grapes, I had the good fortune to actually sample grapes from the Valley of Eshcol. Just like in the story of the 12 spies in Numbers 13, the grapes were actually as big as the size of plums, and I had to use two hands to lift up a cluster of those wonderfully tasting purple jewels!

Our group of seminary students also traveled the route from Mt. Sinai to the borders of the Promised Land, where the children of Israel wandered for forty years. We crossed the Jordan at approximately the same place as Israel crossed under the leadership of Joshua. We traveled to the site of ancient Jericho, and from the top of the tel (the ancient mound of the city ruins), I envisioned the joy of Israel after that shout of victory and the conquest and destruction of the city. Then came the privilege of retracing the footsteps of Joshua and his army as they conducted their military conquests and "the Lord fought for Israel" (Josh 10:14, 42; 11:8). Joshua 12 lists 31 kings defeated by Joshua whose land they possessed throughout Canaan, and we visited most of those cities. Under the power of God Israel's army had broken the back of enemy resistance, and the record states that "the land had rest from war" (Josh 11:23).

After dividing the inheritance among the twelve tribes (Josh 13-21), the author of Joshua writes this powerful and thrilling summary:

So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The LORD gave them rest [menuchah] on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled (Josh 21:43-45; cf. 22:4; 23:1).

The people of God had entered His rest! True, they had many battles yet to fight before they would actually possess the land in all its fulness; yet in a real sense the promise of rest in the land of milk and honey was already being fulfilled as they had trusted in God's promise. What a marvelous story is that of Joshua!

Joshua Typology

But the story of Joshua leading Israel into God's rest is not just a story of a people long ago and far away. It is our story!

Old Testament Hints

In the book of Joshua and elsewhere in the OT there are indicators that Joshua was a type of Christ. The evidence already appears in Joshua's name! His name originally was Hoshea, meaning "salvation." But in Num 13:16, we find that Moses, apparently under God's direction, changed his name to Joshua, Yehoshua, or in its shortened form, Yeshua "The Lord [Yahweh] is salvation. The name Joshua is a departure from all other names given to men appearing thus far in Scripture. Look all through the Pentateuch, including Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and the first half of Numbers. There is no man's name like it up to his time (although many similar names come later in the biblical record). It is the first theophoric name for a man in the Bible, that is, the first record of the divine name (Yahweh) becoming part of a man's name. It seems to be no accident that the first man to whom this divine-human kind of name is given by God is Joshua, as a hint of the special mission of the one (or One) bearing this name in uniting man and God. The name highlights the "Immanuel principle",God with us!

With our modern language distinction between the names Joshua and Jesus, it is difficult for the full force of Joshua's name to sink in. But in Hebrew and Greek Joshua and Jesus are one and the same name, (Hebrew) Yeshua, (Greek) Iesous. Joshua bears the very name of the Messiah! It does not appear co-incidental that God inspired Moses to give to Joshua the very name reserved from all eternity for the coming Messiah.

The unique character of Joshua's connection with the mission of the Son of God is also dramatically revealed in the Pentateuch by comparing the work assigned by God to Joshua with the work of the pre-existent Christ, who in Old Testament times is often called the "Angel of the Lord." The descriptions of Joshua's mission and that of the "Angel of the Lord" contain numerous parallel expressions, using exactly the same Hebrew words. Both Joshua and the Angel of the Lord were to "cross over before" and "go before" Israel and "bring them into the land" and "cause them to inherit" it (compare Exod 23:23; Num 27:17, 21; Deut 3:28; 31:3, 23; ). The comparisons are clear in their message: Joshua is doing the same work as the Angel of the Lord, the same work as Christ!

We could look at many other Old Testament hints that Joshua is a type of Christ, but perhaps the most explicit Old Testament indicator that Joshua is a type of the Messiah is found in Isa 49:8. Isaiah records God's description of the work of the coming Messiah: "to cause them [God's people] to inherit the desolate heritages." Here Isaiah uses the same Hebrew expression that we find repeatedly employed to describe the work of Joshua (see Deut 31:7; Josh 1:6; etc.). Thus the inspired writer indicates that Joshua in his mission of causing ancient Israel to inherit the land of Canaan, is a type of the Messiah in His work of causing spiritual Israel to inherit the antitypical land of Canaan.

As we have already noted, the Psalmist in Ps 95 alludes to a future Messianic fulfillment of the Joshua typology as he writes: "Today, if you will hear his voice, Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest'" (Ps 95:7-11). The fact that the Psalmist speaks of a "today" after the time of Israel's wilderness wanderings in which people can avoid hardening their hearts, and can enter the rest promised to those who believed, implies that Joshua had not been able to lead Israel fully into the ultimate spiritual rest+there remained a future spiritual fulfillment of the promise for those who believed.

New Testament Verification

In the New Testament, the apostle in the book of Hebrews makes clear what was implied in Psalm 95 and the other OT passages that Joshua was a type of Christ. Heb 4:8-9 pinpoints the typological connection: "For if Joshua [KJV mistakenly has 'Jesus' here since in the Greek the two names are identical] had given them rest, then He [God] would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God." The relationship between Joshua and Jesus described here indicates that Jesus is the antitypical Joshua, accomplishing in the antitype what was only partially fulfilled in the type.

In the New Testament Joshua typology finds its basic literal fulfillment in connection with Jesus' first advent. As Joshua led Israel to Canaan after forty years (Josh 1-5), so the new Joshua entered heavenly Canaan after forty days (Acts 1:3, 9-11; Heb 1-2). It was no coincidence that Jesus remained here on this earth just forty days after His resurrection. He was consciously following in the steps of Old Testament Joshua, a day for a year, and at the end of the forty days in the wilderness of this earth, He ascended to the heavenly Canaan as the "captain" or "pioneer" of our salvation (see Heb 2:10). Just as Joshua conducted the conquest of Israel's enemies (Josh 6-12), so Jesus leads out in the conquest of our spiritual enemies (Col 2:15). Just as Joshua appointed an inheritance for Israel (Josh 1:6; 13-21), so the New Joshua, Jesus, receives and appoints an inheritance for His saints (Heb 1:4; 9:15). Just as the major goal of Joshua was to bring rest to the people of Israel (Josh 1:13-15; 14:15; 21:44; 22:4; 23:1; etc.), so the antitypical Joshua said to His disciples, "I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28; see Heb 4:8, 9).

Entering God's Rest Today

In the time that remains in our devotional this morning, I want to focus upon the aspect of Joshua typology involved with entering God's rest, what it means to enter God's rest.

Faith and Entering God's Rest

First, we must ask, Why did most of ancient Israel in the wilderness not enter God's rest? As we have already seen from the book of Numbers, God says it was because they refused to believe, because they allowed their hearts to become hardened through rebellion against Him! The author of Hebrews draws out the implication for us today:

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. . . .And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief (Heb 3:12-13, 18-19).

In contrast to the spirit of unbelief disqualifying ancient Israel from entering God's rest, a willingness to trust God's word characterized the lives of Caleb and Joshua, and their families, who claimed God's promise by faith and entered His rest. That promise still stands for God's people today!

Hear the word of the Lord in Heb 4:1,3: "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. . . .For we who have believed do enter that rest."

Enter God's Rest Now!

For Old Testament Israel in the wilderness, entering God's rest referred to their entry into the land of Canaan and being given victory over their enemies. I used to think that the typological fulfillment of entering God's rest, like Caleb and Joshua and faithful Israel, would take place only in the future when we enter Heavenly Canaan after the Second Coming. And as we will see later, that is true in the ultimate sense. But according to the book of Hebrews, we can by faith already enter God's rest in Canaan! As we have just quoted from Hebrews: "For we who have believed do enter that rest" (Heb 4:3). The verb here is the present continuous tense,"are entering" that rest. We may be experiencing it now by faith!

Sabbath Rest and Righteousness by Faith

What actually is involved in God's rest? The apostle who penned the book of Hebrews,whom I believe was none other than Paul himself,grasped the deep spiritual insights of the Old Testament regarding God's rest. In sharing his epistle with the Jewish Christians to whom he was writing, pleading for them not to forsake Jesus, He unfolds the meaning of God's rest. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament which Paul was quoting from in addressing his Greek-speaking Jewish audience living outside of Israel, the same word for "rest" that appears in Joshua for the rest in Canaan (katapau‹), is used of God's rest from His work on the seventh day of creation week (Gen 2:1).

The apostle elaborates upon the implication that emerges from the first mention of God's rest in Gen 2. God rested by ceasing from his works on the Sabbath, and invited Adam and Eve to rest on that first Sabbath. From what were Adam and Eve resting? From their own works? No, they had just been created only hours before. They were resting in God's finished work! Thus even before sin, there is a profound inference of the principle of righteousness by faith. And Paul draws the implication for believers in his day: "There remains a rest [sabbatismos, sabbath-rest] for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His" (Heb 4:9-10). Every Sabbath, as we rest from our work, we proclaim our experience of righteousness by faith, that we trust not in our own works, but in the finished work of Christ in our behalf! The Sabbath becomes the outward sign of the "rest of grace" (7BC 928) that believers in Christ the New Joshua may experience all week long.

Personal Experience with "Rest in Christ"

The precious thought that we can "rest in Christ" by faith and have assurance of our acceptance with Him is wonderful news! It is almost too good to be true. And I dared not believe it even as a theology major in college, as a Seminary student, and as a young pastor. Such statements as the following kept ringing in my ears: "Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved." (COL 155; cf. 1 SM 314) I didn't understand that Ellen White was refuting the erroneous belief of "once saved always saved"; I thought she was stating that I could never have present assurance of salvation, that I could never have the peace of knowing that I had entered His rest. How tragic that I did not see in the very same paragraph God's assurance that we can "give ourselves to Christ and know that he accepts us"! (COL 155)

For several years as a young pastor I preached sermons full of Christ yet devoid of assurance that I am resting in Him. But finally, through a chain of marvelous providential leadings, the simplicity and beauty of the gospel began to dawn before my eyes. I was "surprised by joy" with the clear Scriptural testimony that I could really have the assurance of entering His rest. This experiential grasping of the truth of justification by faith I will ever treasure as the most precious chapter of my life.

The sublime promises jumped out at me from Scripture: "Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." (Jn 6:47) "I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 Jn 5:13; cf. vs. 11-12). "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28). I found the same glorious revelation in the statements of Ellen White: "If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned." (SC 62) "Our part is, by believing His word, to find rest in Christ Jesus. His words are spirit and life. In believing them there is rest and peace" (SpTB03b 5.5).

The marvelous news that I was "accepted in the beloved" (Eph 1:6), that Christ is my righteousness, that I can truly rest in His grace, brought to my soul a joy and peace to my heart. Since that experiential introduction to the message of gospel assurance as a young pastor, the beauty of righteousness by faith, of resting in Christ by faith, has grown ever more precious. Contrary to what I once thought, the message of confidently resting in Christ's righteousness does not lead to cheap grace. Rather "its fruit is unto holiness" (1 SM 359; cf. Rom 6:22). I have found true in my own experience that only as I trust wholly in the merits of my Substitute and Surety can I truly obey God in the spirit as well as in the letter. Before internalizing the good news of justification by faith, I had tried to "depend upon watchfulness against temptation, and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with Him", and discovered that indeed "there are no victories in this kind of faith." Then came the glorious revelation: "There is need of constant watchfulness, and of earnest, loving devotion; but these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through faith....God will accept every one that comes to Him, trusting wholly in the merits of a crucified Savior. Love springs up in the heart....Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure." (1 SM 353-4) Elsewhere Ellen White writes:

Let us show sincere repentance, and the Lord will pardon our transgressions and forgive our sins. Power will come to us through connection with Christ. The conscience will find rest in Christ. He is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." As we believe him, we are changed into his likeness. His image is engraved on the heart. His love is reflected to the world in our words and deeds. Thus is revealed to the world the power that truth has to sanctify the receiver. Under the bright, glorious beams of Christ's righteousness, the human soul is made pure and holy (SW, July 9, 1903 par. 2).

I am thankful that my assurance of resting in Christ is not dependant upon my feelings. I cannot look within myself for evidence of my acceptance with God, for I will find there nothing but that which will discourage. My only hope is in looking to Jesus, daily "entering His rest" by faith, depending upon Him as my righteousness, my consolation, and my rejoicing (See SC 64-65. cf. Ps 51; Isa 6). As Ellen White writes,

A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there should be an abiding, peaceful trust. Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ. Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might. We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away from the Source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your soul to God, and trust in Him. Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him. Put away all doubt; dismiss your fears. . . . Rest in God. He is able to keep that which you have committed to Him. If you will leave yourself in His hands, He will bring you off more than conqueror through Him that has loved you (Steps to Christ, 70 72).

I rejoice that as I continue to keep resting in His grace, my eyes upon Christ my righteousness, the promised result is inevitable: my repentance will ever deepen, and at the same time, by beholding, I will become changed+"transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory" (2 Cor 3:18; see COL 160; SC 65).

Other Dimensions of Sabbath Rest

The apostle assures us in Heb 4:10: "There remains therefore a sabbath-rest (sabbatismos) for the people of God." This Greek word sabbatismos refers not only to the spiritual rest of grace, but to an actual weekly observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. It implies a multidimensional rest available to God's people especially on the sabbath. I have found seven different dimensions of Sabbath rest highlighted by the various Hebrew verbs used to describe the Sabbath in the books of Moses. As we prepare to welcome the Sabbath in a few hours, I invite you to contemplate this multi-faceted rest.

We have already spoken of the spiritual rest. As a second facet, God also offers us physical rest: Gen 2:2 indicates that on the seventh day of creation week God "rested . . . from all His work which He had done." The verb for rest used here is shabbat, which means "to pause, to cease." In the fourth commandment we are invited to follow God's example, to pause, cease from our week-day work, and rest on the shabbat (Exod 20:10). For 24 golden hours we don't have to work! We are free from the tyranny of toil!

The fourth commandment also indicates that God rested mentally as well as physically. Vs. 11 reads that "In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day." The verb for "rest" used here is not shabbat, as in Gen 2, but nuach (related to the name Noah). It means to "be tranquil, in a state of repose and peace." After creating in six days, God sat back, as it were, in tranquil repose, mentally rejoicing in the world which He had created. On sabbath, He invites us into a third dimension of sabbath rest, to join in that mental tranquility, that sense of restful repose and peace! It was as a college student that I first began to appreciate this wonderful dimension of Sabbath rest. I studied hard for my classes all week, struggling to keep up with all the work teachers piled on, but on Sabbath my professors couldn't tyrannize me,I didn't have to study! I could experience mental rest. That blessing of mental rest on the Sabbath I now appreciate even more as a teacher!

In Exod 31 the Sabbath commandment is repeated, but here God adds a fourth dimension of Sabbath rest. Vs. 17 reads: "For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested (shabbat) and was refreshed." The verb "was refreshed" literally means "took on new soul or life (nephesh)." On that first Sabbath, even though God obviously was not tired, yet the text indicates that He took on new life, new soul; He experienced emotional rest. On the Sabbath God longs to recharge our emotional battery, to refresh and restore our souls. In Matt 11:29, Jesus promises, "You shall find rest unto your souls." The Shepherd psalm indicates that God will "restore our soul" (Ps 23:3). The Greek word for "soul" is psuche, and one of the Greek words for "restore" or "heal" is iatria. When you say those two words together over and over, you realize that psuche iatria is the word "psychiatry!" Psychiatry is "the restoring or healing of the soul." I like to imagine that every Sabbath God offers me a free "psychiatric" session, compliments of the Great Psychiatrist who know just how to heal my soul! This emotional rest we can experience especially on the Sabbath, and its healing effects of emotional emotional refreshment will spill over into all the week.

Also in Exod 31, in vs. 16, God pronounces that "the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant." The word "observe" is literally "to make" ('asah), and is the same word used in the very next verse, "God made ('asah) the heavens and earth." Our sabbath rest is not one of slothful inaction. We are to "make" the Sabbath, as God made the heavens and the earth, with all the creativity and energy that God displayed in His creative process! God thus offers a fifth dimension of sabbath rest, creative, celebratory rest. The KJV captures the meaning by translating here, "to celebrate" the sabbath. God offers us a chance on the Sabbath to exuberantly celebrate His goodness!

As a sixth dimension of Sabbath rest, we go back to Gen 2:3, where we are told that God "blessed" the Sabbath. In Hebrew thought, for God to bless something is to empower it to fulfill the function for which it is designed. The sabbath is thus filled with power. We are empowered as we enter into His rest on the Sabbath. And that sabbatic empowerment spills out into all the other days of the week.

The seventh dimension of Sabbath rest is captured in Gen 2:3: "God sanctified (or made holy) the Sabbath day." How does God make something holy? How did He make the burning bush holy? How did He make the sanctuary holy? By His presence! So here we have an indication that the gift of Sabbath rest is not just the gift of a day, but the gift of a Person, filling the day with His loving presence! On the Sabbath God invites us into special intimate fellowship with Him, what I like to call "an all-day date with God." As we partake of intimate fellowship with Him on this day, the promise of Exod 31:13 comes true: "Surely my Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you. . . that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you (makes you holy)." In fellowship with God on His holy day, we ourselves are made holy as well! And this intimate fellowship is not limited only to Sabbath. . .

The Heavenly Sanctuary and Present Experience of Rest

God's rest has one more dimension that we do not often consider. It is intriguing to notice that in the Old Testament the main noun for "rest" [Heb. menuchah; Gk. katapausis] also means "resting-place," and is equated with Mt. Zion (the city of Jerusalem), and in particular, with the place of God's throne in the sanctuary or temple. Listen to Ps 132:8, 13,14: "Arise, O LORD, into thy rest [or 'resting-place'; Heb. menuchah; Gk., katapausis]; you, and the ark of your strength. . . .For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation. This is my rest [or 'resting-place'; Heb. menuchah; Gk., katapausis] for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it" (KJV). God's "rest" or "resting-place" is Zion (i.e., Jerusalem), and more specifically, the place where the ark, representing his throne, was located, i.e., the sanctuary.

In light of this OT background, it is no wonder that the epistle to the Hebrews, immediately after mentioning the sabbath rest in Hebrews 4, invites us to "come boldly to the throne of grace [in the heavenly sanctuary, God's "resting place"], that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16). This is not just a metaphor for prayer. We are invited to actually come to the throne of grace in the heavenly sanctuary by faith. Three more times in the epistle this invitation is given. Heb 6:19-20: "This hope we have an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Heb 6:19, 20). Our hope enters into the heavenly sanctuary, where Jesus is!

Again, Heb 10:19-22: "Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the [heavenly] sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He has inaugurated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, . . .let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled form an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." We are called to boldly enter his place of rest, the heavenly sanctuary, by faith. Finally, Heb 12:22-24: "But you have come [not will come, but have already come!] to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel." According to this four-fold repetition of the apostle in Hebrews, we are invited now, by faith, to enter God's rest (i.e., his "resting-place") in heavenly Mount Zion and the heavenly sanctuary!

I believe we as a people who are called to proclaim the sanctuary message to the world, have too often missed out on this deep experience of heavenly sanctuary "rest" that the book of Hebrews describes. We have frequently taken these passages merely as metaphors for prayer or some other spiritual discipline. But I believe these passages repeatedly call us to consider that we actually COME by faith into the heavenly sanctuary, that by faith we have ALREADY come to Mt. Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. In these passages there is a call to more than metaphorical lip-service to the sanctuary doctrine. More than a call to "sanctuary prayer." I hear an invitation to what I like to call "sanctuary life!" When faced with difficulties here on earth, when the first elder speaks against you, or the next-door neighbor turns on you, or financial woes weigh you down, whatever the pressures of life, you want to get away? You can,you can enter God's rest, you can come to His "resting-place" in the heavenly sanctuary! You can now live by faith a life of rest and joy with the angelic host in heavenly Mt. Zion!

Notice that the experience of entering God's heavenly rest (or resting-place) is a transforming experience! The "rest of grace" is the source of "mercy and grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16); it is an "anchor of the soul" (Heb 6:19); it is connected with the privilege of "having our hearts sprinkled form an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb 10:22); it is vitally linked with joyous celebration and worship in the presence of "an innumerable company of angels" (Heb 12:22).

In a word, Jesus, the New Joshua, makes available to us the antitypical fulfillment of all that was implied in God's rest in the history of ancient Israel. We can come by faith to the heavenly Canaan (Heb 12:22-24); we conduct spiritual warfare against our spiritual enemies (Eph 6:10-17); and we receive our spiritual inheritance (Acts 20:32; Eph 1:11, 14, 18); and, praise God, we enjoy the spiritual rest of grace in His presence (Heb 4:9-11; cf. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, 2:928)!

The Final Glorious Entrance into God's Rest

What is ours to enjoy now as a faith experience of entering God's rest, will one day reach its ultimate fulfillment in connection with the Second Advent and beyond. The author of Hebrews points to God's "rest" not only as a present experience but as a future hope: "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest" (Heb 4:11). Ellen White beautifully expresses the connection between the present and future rest:

As through Jesus we enter into rest, heaven begins here. We respond to His invitation, Come, learn of Me, and in thus coming we begin the life eternal. Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ. The longer we are in the heaven of bliss, the more and still more of glory will be opened to us; and the more we know of God, the more intense will be our happiness. As we walk with Jesus in this life, we may be filled with His love, satisfied with His presence. All that human nature can bear, we may receive here. But what is this compared with the hereafter? There "are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. 7:15 17 (DA 331.3).

At the Second Advent of Christ we will find literal entry into the Promised Land,heaven, and after 1000 years, the New Earth (Rev 20:9; 21:3). There will be the final literal conquest of the enemies of God in the Promised Land (the wicked, described as Gog and Magog in Rev 20:7-10; cf. Zechariah 14 and Ezekiel 38-39). In the world-wide Canaan of the New Earth we can enjoy our ultimate inheritance (Matt 25:34; Col 3:24; Rev 21:7). And yes, we will enter God's glorious eternal rest! May that day come soon!! Amen.

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Adventist Church Prays for God's Guidance during World Session

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

It should come as no surprise that the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Christian World Communion, consults the Lord before it makes any decision. But today as the group prepared to spend 10 days making decisions that range from electing church officers to revising church doctrine, it has set aside 24 hours before its business meetings to spend in prayer.

In an effort to be sure that God is indeed leading the church, the period of prayer, "Hearing God's Call," examines the call to prayer, worship, relationship and witness. Inaugural speaker for the prayer session, Dwight Nelson, said more than anything else in the world God's presence is "the one thing" that the church should be praying for. He added that in a world in crisis, letting God lead is crucial.

Prayer is the only way that "we can be sure of God's leading," Nelson said. It may seem pretty obvious to most, but Nelson, senior pastor of the Pioneer Memorial campus church at Andrews University, encouraged fellow believers to keep God's will ever before them.

"It was the most significant thing he could speak of," Pastor Bjorn Otteson, president of the Adventist Church in Sweden, commented following the meeting. "I believe we need to get on our knees and pray and pray for the Holy Spirit ... especially in a church that is in so many ways stagnated."

Leadership is hard, Nelson admitted to the group of church leaders from all around the globe. He went on to point out how quickly the early Christian church grew after they asked for and received God's spirit, which guided the members.

"We should follow the steps of the early church as we plead together for heaven's outpouring." he said. "We must pray and pray for this one thing."

"The mission and vision of this church is far beyond the human scope," said Geoffrey Mbwana president of the East Central Africa church region. "We need God to accomplish any goals. It is very clear without God we cannot do it."

The group has made it a practice to set aside the day before the business meetings to ask God's guidance on decisions that will affect the church for years to come.

"There is a will for renewal, but we are not there yet," said Otteson. "We won't get anywhere with the plans we have in mind without God's leading." [Editor : Taashi Rowe for ANN/APD]

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World Session: Adventists Challenge the World to Stop Devastating Poverty

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

It takes more than words to make a difference in the lives of the 840 million people who go to bed hungry each night. It takes action, it takes protest. And that is just what the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), a humanitarian organization, is doing with its new poverty-fighting initiative. "Protesting Global Poverty" is the theme of their exhibit at the Adventist Church's 58th General Conference Session in St Louis, Missouri.

The impressive exhibit presentation, prompted by the tsunami that devastated large parts of South Asia and Africa in December, includes a series of graphic and moving placards telling of the millions suffering from hunger, the million people who died of hunger-related diseases last year; the 2.8 billion people (about half the world's population) who live on less than U.S. $2 a day; and the one out of every six children born to an uneducated woman who dies before the age of five.

Tereza Byrne, the organization's marketing and development chief, says "There was something very different about the tsunami. The entire world wanted to do something and the generosity of ADRA donors supported our involvement with emergency management."

"But," Byrne continues "whilst giving money is important, what's really important is to make a lasting impression on the heart. And that's what this exhibit will do."

The agency has a strong track record of providing community development and relief wherever it is needed, helping in Iraq, Sudan, North Korea and Afghanistan, including the hot spots of the world.

"Church members are keen to know who gets the help and what type of help they receive," adds Byrne.

The 'Protesting global poverty' display invites delegates and visitors to America's Center to select which of ADRA's poverty-fighting projects should receive funding.

A handbook of community development projects, entitled "The Really Useful Gift Catalogue," includes training women in small business skills in Papua New Guinea, providing care to infants orphaned by AIDS in Siberia and paying school fees for a child in a developing country.

While fundraising and provision of aid continues, the launch of the poverty protest coincides with the Live 8 concerts to take place around the world this weekend demonstrating solidarity with the world's poor and inspired by popular musicians Bob Geldof and Bono.

The protest brings a new dimension to ADRA's work. The agency operates around the world without regard to political and religious affiliation, and that helps when it is required to open doors into closed societies. The new poverty-fighting initiative, therefore, focuses on persuasion as much as protest. "We are protesting to anyone who will listen," admits Byrne.

The protest is not with the church. "The Adventist Church lends great support to all we do," she points out. ADRA's intention is to influence anyone who is able, to impact poverty, whether inside or outside the Adventist Church.

Byrne suggests the thousands attending the church's quinquennial event over the next two weeks will leave the America's Center with a better understanding of the aims and work of ADRA and, hopefully, accept that helping the world's poor and disadvantaged is both an individual and a corporate responsibility. [Editor: John Smith for ANN/APD]

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General Conference President’s Report GC Session 2005

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | GC PRE | General Conference Session

Presented by Dr Jan Paulsen

It has been a wonderful privilege for me to serve the Lord and the church in a very trusted role during the five years which are now ending. The colleagues I work with are the finest professionals, who love the Lord and are committed to the mission of the church. And therefore, in a way, the assignment, although a busy one, has been uncomplicated and immensely rewarding. Our emphasis has been on mission, for that, we hold, is our primary agenda. Annual Councils have consistently kept this agenda in focus and have during this period voted and supported a range of initiatives (Go One Million, Sow One Billion, 10/40 Window, Year of Evangelism, Elijah Project, etc) which have ensured that mission was the context for the decisions we made and for our use of resources.

We hold that when we engage in mission, the church comes alive, for then, and then only, the church becomes what she was designed to be. In the words of inspiration God says to His people: “I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and I will make you . . . to be a light for the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to free the captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42: 6,7) and, more recently, to us as a people: “The church of Christ on earth was organized for missionary purposes, and the Lord desires to see the entire church devising ways and means whereby high and low, rich and poor, may hear the message of truth” (6T p. 29).

All that we are and do as a people finds its meaning in this. If we spend our resources and energies otherwise, we will have wasted them.

In looking back over the past five years I want to recognize and honor in particular the increasing number of lay members in our church who are engaged in mission. Whether it be in the building of churches or establishing communities of believers, in building schools or orphanages, in feeding the poor or healing the sick, or by being partners in a small-group evangelism, multiple thousands of lay-people are daily involved, as volunteers, in the mission of the church. Theirs is a service of love. They give it; and ask for nothing except to be allowed to take part. Our mission is broad and inclusive, and there is room for all. I thank you and I honor you for what you do. The agenda and the mandate for mission are Christ’s. And until he comes, this is what we will do—and we will do it together.

Among our institutions there are probably none that reach more people daily than do our educational centers. They touch one-and-a-half million students every day. I honor them for their ministry. And I say to them: We need you, and we cannot finish what we are here to do without you. So I encourage you to continue to love the Lord and to care for His youth by teaching them the values and identity that Christ has given us.

Now, a word about this particular session that we have now come to: Early in the history of General Conference Session major blocks of time were regularly set aside for considering spiritual and doctrinal issues. With the passing of time, maybe reflecting the increasing complexity of operating our global church, our agendas have been occupied largely by election issues, constitution and by-laws, and some Church Manual matters. That is important, and we will do also that this time. However, in planning this Session, we have set aside significant blocks of quality time to the consideration of some matters that are of critical importance to the spiritual life and values of our church.

Five mornings, from 10:45—12:00, beginning this Sunday, we will focus on the nature and character of Adventist Leadership. What makes Adventist leadership special? What are its hallmarks? What is its genius? There will be five different presentations followed by discussion and input from the delegates on the floor. These are five highly protected periods, and we want all delegates present in this hall. (Not even the Nominating Committee will meet then.) We want the leadership of the church, from all levels and organizations, employed and lay leaders, present to take part in these considerations.

This will be followed by five afternoon periods, also beginning this Sunday, from 2:00—3:00 p.m., which will focus on “Challenges to Mission: 2005—2010.” With you we will consider:

The Church and Spiritual Life
The Church and Society
The Church and Apostasy
The Church and the Cities
The Church and Secularism

There will be short introductions of each of these topics, but most of the time will be reserved for comments from the delegates.

Careful notes will be taken of the comments you make so that these do not disappear with the air you breathe. They will have a life in influencing plans and programs that will be developed and presented to Annual Councils. We are serious about wanting to hear you on these matters. So, plan not to miss these sessions.

As I look to the future, among many things which occupy my thinking, can I mention just two?

1. The involvement of youth in the life and witness of our church; and

2. The need among our people for a much broader sense of ownership in everything that the church is about. The church is us; and it all has to do with what is going to happen to us.

I am very pleased with the increasingly strong and creative participation by laity in the governance, life, and witness of our church. They have resources and they have spiritual gifts; and clearly they know that they are going to answer to God for how they use them. That is good, for they are the church. It is good, but it is not enough. And I say to you: Don’t hold back!

But can I say this to you who are young—you who are between 15 and 30—a student or young professional: I want you to come in and to partner with the rest of us. I want to make room for you, for you have energies and ideas which no one can quite match. If you don’t find the church interesting, you can make it interesting. Just don’t walk away. That would be the worst possible. It is Christ we are talking about. Don’t turn your back on Him, for if you do all you are then left with is Peter’s question: “To whom shall we then go?” (John 6:68)

I want you who are young, I want the women, and I want laity—and these overlap—to claim and accept a much greater share of ownership in our church. Do not define the church as something other than yourselves; that would be a mistake. The church is not defined by election nor is it by who pays your salary. The church is defined by faith. You have faith? Then you are the church. So, I say to you—especially you who are young: “Come walk with me for Christ and His church.”
I will do my best to make space for you, for you are my partner. Christ invites you. The church needs you. And we are all one family of faith.

As we continue the evening we will now share with you, not a comprehensive report of the church globally—that will come to you through the combination of the evening reports from the thirteen divisions—but some selected snippets of our global church as it witnesses for Christ and serves as His hand reaching out to humanity.

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Copyright © 2005 by Adventist News Network

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Transformed by the Incarnation (Devotional)

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | GC | General Conference Session

by Glen O Samuels

Text: John 1:1-4, 14; 1 John 4:9

In his influential book, "The Essence of Christianity" the German Philosopher, Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach (1804-72) argued that God was simply a human projection.

Schopenhauer 1788-1860 - There was no absolute, no reason, no God, no spirit at work in the world: Nothing but brute instinctive will to live.

George Wilhelm Hezel (1770-1831) - God was a tyrant, a divine despot and it was time to cast this barbaric deity aside. ("History of God by Karen Armstrong", p.352).

In 1882 Friedrich Nietzsche proclaimed that God was dead. He argued that "not only had our science made such notions as the literal understanding of Creation impossibility, but our greater control and power made the idea of a divine overseer unacceptable."

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) regarded belief in God as an illusion that mature men and women should lay aside.

Jacques Monod, a Nobel Prize Winning biologist, in his book "Chance and Necessity: An Essay on the Natural Philosophy of Modern Biology (New York - Vintage Book 1972, p. 180) says:

"Men know at last that he is alone in the universe's unfeeling immensity, out of which he emerged only by chance. His destiny is nowhere spelled out, nor is his duty."

"Human beings have always been their own most vexing problem" writes Reinhold Niebuhr in his famous study of human nature--"The Nature and Destiny of Man: A Christian Interpretation."

Richard Rice--in "The reign of God", declares that "no matter what we learn about the vastness of the universe or the intricacy of the atom, we ourselves are the greatest mystery of all, and the more we learn about ourselves, the more mysterious we become.

THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION

I suggest, however, that the greatest mystery, with which the human mind could ever be confronted, is the mystery of the Incarnation.

1Tim. 3:16

The mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh, is the basis of every hope, the foundation of our Salvation, the source of our transformation and the reason for our rejoicing.

The Creator becoming a creature God, becoming flesh, the Divine becoming human, in the person of Jesus Christ, who was all God and all man at the same time, is fundamental and foundational in the transformation of sinners into saints.

For the Hindu, the incarnation of the Divine, Brahma, is all pervasive, so that no significance is attached to personality and individuality.

For the Christian, the incarnation is distinctive and unique.

The Incarnation, the apex of Divine revelation, the "Crème de la crème" of divine communication, is distinctive and unique, because it is personal. It is in a particular life, in a particular person that "the word became flesh."

This is not an idea or philosophy. It is not an ideology or mere theology. It is not an all pervasive force. It is in Christ and Christ alone, that God became man. He is the "monogeis" There is none other like Him.

This Creator, became a creature - He who by the word of His mouth established this vast Universe in all its immeasurable and inconceivable complexities.

........who carved out valleys and peaked majestic mountains;

....... who sent meandering streams coursing their way in curvaceous contours out into the belly of the deep.

.......whose boundless resources deposited undiscovered gold and diamonds, minerals and oil in the bosom of the earth--

Yes, this mighty God whose creative power bedecked night skies with twinkling stars, hanging Orion and Plaidese on the hinges of nothing, causing the heavens to "declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handy work."

It is this God, whose spoken word established unfallen worlds causing morning stars to sing together and the sons of God shouting for joy.

This God who established millions of galaxies and mighty stars not visible to naked mortal eyes. This God who made the world in six days, creating man from the dust of the ground. This God became flesh.

Let me borrow the expressions of Ellen White - Desire of Ages, p. 20

"He spread the heavens and laid the foundation of the Earth. It was His hands that hung the worlds in space and fashioned the flowers of the fields. His strength setteth fast the mountains. The sea is His and He made it. Ps. 65:6, Ps. 95:5. It was He that filled the Earth with beauty, and the air with song."

He enabled us to listen to the whispering winds of eternity, catch the melody, write the tune and spread the message, that the Almighty God is Sovereign Creator. His signature appears on the hard-drive of Creation, and He, out of His great love for mankind, chose to become like one of them.

William Barclay, in his commentary on 1 Cor. 1:18-25, states that, "The very idea of God becoming man, was revolting to the mind of ancient Greeks".

To the Greeks:

The first characteristic of God was "apatheia" - more than apathy, it means total inability to feel.
They argued that if God can feel joy or sorrow, anger or grief, it means that He can be influenced. So they argued that God must be incapable of all feelings that nothing may affect him.
A God who suffers was to the Greek a contradiction in terms.

Plutarch declared that it was an insult to God to involve him in human affairs. God of necessity was utterly detached.

The idea of Incarnation, of God becoming man was revolting to the Greek mind.

Augustine, a great scholar, long before becoming a Christian, said that in the Greek philosophers he found a parallel to almost all the teaching of Christianity except no parallel for "the Word became flesh."

Celsus, who attacked the Christians with such vigour towards the end of the 2nd Century A.D., wrote:

"God is good and beautiful and happy and is in that which is most beautiful and best. If then he descends to men, it involves change for Him, a change from good to bad, from beautiful to ugly and from what is best to what is worst - who would accept such a change?"

This is precisely the message that John brings.

John, the last of the surviving Disciples, whose gospel differ significantly in content from his other three gospel writing companions, writing from Ephesus, somewhere around A.D. 100 seemed eager to make his point.

John described as that disciple whom Jesus loved.

John, the one given the responsibility of the custodial care of Mary (mother of Jesus) upon the death of Jesus at Calvary.

John's gospel has no long list of genealogy at its beginning -

No baptism

No record of temptation

Tells us nothing of Gethsemane

nothing of the last Supper

nothing of the Ascension

Lists no parables

No account of the birth in Bethlehem's manger

Like a pregnant mother in the delivery room, with contractions of increasing frequency and intensity, impatient with the slow ticking of seconds, with the life transforming truth pulsating and kicking in his bosom - aided by the Holy Spirit, as the Divine midwife, John delivers:

John 1:1-4, 14; 1 John 4:9

"When the world had its beginning, the word was already there; and the word was with God; and the word was God. This word was in the beginning with God. He made all things and there is not a single thing which exists in this world which came into being without Him. In Him was life and the life was the light of men . . . so the word became (flesh) a person and took up his abode in our being."

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us because God sent His only Begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him."

This Divine Revelation is a powerful weapon against the heresy known as Gnosticism. The Basic doctrine of Gnosticism was that:

1. Matter is essentially evil.

2. Because matter is evil, God himself cannot touch matter and therefore did not create the world.

3. Jesus was merely an emanation from God, not in any real sense divine but only a kind of demi-god.

4. Jesus has no real body, that He was a kind of phantom without real flesh and blood, that when he walked he left no footprints, because His body had neither weight nor substance.

5. Some Gnostics held a variation of Docetism which states that Jesus only seemed to be a man.

This Gnostic heresy was a two-part evil. One part states that Jesus was not truly divine and the other, was that he was not truly human.

But, my brothers and sisters, the Seventh-day Adventist Church declares Jesus the Christ, was all God and all man at the same time.

THE HUMANITY OF JESUS

John's gospel uncompromisingly stresses the real humanity of Jesus.

1. Jesus was angry with those who bought and sold in the temple courts. (2:15)

2. He was physically tired as he sat by the well of Sychar in Samaria. (4:6)

3. His disciples offered Him food as an ordinary hungry man. (4:31)

4. He had sympathy for those who were hungry and with those who were afraid. (6:5, 20)

5. He knew grief and he shed tears as any mourner might. (11:33,35,38)

6. In the agony of the Cross the cry of His parched lips was "I thirst". (19:38)

The fourth Gospel shows us a Jesus who was no shadowy docetic figure. It shows us one who knew the weariness of an exhausted body, and the wounds of a distressed heart. It is the truly human Jesus whom the Fourth Gospel sets before us.

THE DIVINITY OF JESUS

On the other hand, there is no other gospel writer which sets before us such a view of the Deity of Jesus.

1. John stresses the pre-existence of Jesus.

a) "In beginning was the word and the word was God" (1:1)

b) 'Before Abraham was I am." (8:58)

2. He speaks of the glory which He had with the Father before the world was made. (17:5)

3. He speaks again and again of His coming down from Heaven. (6:33-38)

4. The Fourth Gospel stresses more than any other, the Omniscience of Jesus. He knew the past record of the woman of Samaria. (4:16-17)

5. He knew of Lazarus' death before anyone told Him (11:14)

6. No man took His life from Him. He had power to lay it down and power to take it up. (10:18; 19:11).

John presents us with a Jesus who was undeniably human and who yet was undeniably Divine.

He is Sovereign God and humble man
He is Mighty Master and Obedient Servant
He who gave birth to the unfathomable mysteries of the Universe presents to us, in His birth, the unfathomable mysteries of the Incarnation.
LOVE AND THE INCARNATION

The force that moved God to experience the Incarnation, the foundation of our transformation, was the very essence of His nature--Love, a love that is saving and revelational.

1 John 4:9

"In this was manifested the love of God towards us because God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him."

The mystery of redeeming love will occupy the minds of the redeemed throughout Eternity.

Sinners by choice and by nature, and often recalcitrant in the exercise of sinful proclivities, humanity alienates itself from the very character of God.

But God refused to be separated from a world so loved by Him. Through disobedience, the powers of humanity became perverted. Weakened through transgression, it became impossible for man in his own strength, to resist the power of evil.

So love found a way to purify the sinful springs of humanity. Love found a way to transform the sinner into a saint. Love found to reconnect humanity with Divinity.

So He came down to our level, because we could not get up to His and with loving arms He is lifting us up, to show what living is. In this, God's love is manifested. He is saving us, transforming us in the process as He reveals Himself to us.

In the book, "Steps to Christ", page 10, Ellen White states:

"It is impossible for us of ourselves to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil and we cannot change them . . . Education, culture , the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behaviour, but they cannot change the heart."

Left to ourselves, we would self-destruct. Sin, like a cancer has permeated every tissue of the human soul, made painfully evident in acts of brutality, covertly and overtly expressed, in gross inhumanity by man to his fellowman, even in sacred circles.

The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love that is stronger than death. And God became man - "mild He lays His glory by, born that men no more may die, born that men may live on high, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth."

The saving love of God is revealed in the birth of Christ, for our transformation. For John, the purpose of His coming is that we might live through Him. It is only as He lives in us, transforming us, empowering us, that we can experience true life -- and only because He became one of us - all because of His saving love.

Only love could make the Holy touch the sinful. In Christ incarnate Holy God could touch sinful man and not consume him. Only love could make Him leave the heavenly palace for an earthly manger.

From a world of indescribable glory to one of indescribable shame.

From a world of pure and spotless holiness to a world marred by sin, blighted and darkened with the shadow of death. He came, in order that we may reflect God's character and the earth may reflect His glory.

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE INCARNATION

By becoming one of us, the transforming power of God, in Christ, is available and accessible to any and every believer.

This for John is the prime purpose of the Incarnation - "God sent His Son into the world that we might live through Him."

We are transformed and empowered to deal with life's challenges in Christ.

We can live above bigotry - through Him--we can

We can live above hypocrisy - through Him -we can

We can love above selfishness and greed--through Him--we can.

We can live above sinful egotism and racial prejudice--through Him--we can.

We can live above ethnic cleansing and tribal wars--through Him--we can

We can live above empty religious formalism and discover true spiritual power--through Him we can.

We can live above the things that divide us and through Him lift those things that unite us--we can.

We can live above the destructive distractions of deviant behaviour--through Him-we can.

We can live above the popular dismantling of traditional family values and through Him raise up a standard for the world--we can.

We can live above the abandonment of Biblical principles and through Him restore the foundation of many generations--we can.

We can live above the issues and challenges seeking to devalue the currency of Adventist Ministry and by the power of this transforming Christ preserve an Adventist Ministry of moral, spiritual, authentic professional integrity.

The Incarnation is the fundamental source and foundational platform for our transformation. The weakest, vilest, most wretched, recalcitrant sinner, sinking beneath the weight of his transgression asks, can God change and save a sinner like me? In the incarnation, God shouts His response in an open-ended, Yes I can, and I will.

The greatest tragedy that could ever befall a human being, the greatest tragedy that could ever befall any member of the body of Christ is to come to the end of life and discover that we have not really lived a transformed life.

Paul says, "If any man be in Christ he is new creature." Transformed from a power-seeking despot with a desire to rule, to a loving, caring under-shepherd--called to serve, chosen to model the life of the transforming Christ.

Transformed from what is to what ought to be. Transformed from sin to holiness. Transformed from a candidate for hell into a citizen of the kingdom.

AGENTS OF TRANSFORMATION

My brothers and sisters of God's world-wide Seventh-day Adventist Church, a people with a mission to fulfill the great commission--we have been transformed in Christ in order that we may be agents of transformation through Christ.

We are who we are, what we are and where we are by the transforming power of Christ. And if we are conscious that we are not what we ought to be, let us thank God that we are not what we use to be--and even in this, let us share the testimony of the transforming power of the God-man.

For whether we be doctors or patients, presidents or district pastors, teachers or students, administrators or lecturers, accountants or secretaries--lets be agents of transformation seeking to change lives by the spirit of God.

From Africa to America--let our lives be an Incarnation of Christ.

Go back to Afghanistan and Albania, Algeria and Argentina--

Go back to Austria and Australia--let your life be an Incarnation of Christ.

From Belgium to Burma, from Barbados to Bulgaria--

From Brazil to the Bahamas--

From Bolivia to Cambodia, from Canada to Colombia--

From Cameroon to the Cayman Islands--

From Cuba to Costa Rica--let your life be an Incarnation of Christ.

From Denmark to the Dominican Republic--

From Ecuador to El Salvador, From Estoria to Ethiopia--let your life be an Incarnation of Christ.

From France to Finland, from Gambia to Great Britain, from Guyana to Guatemala--let your life be an Incarnation of Christ.

From Haiti to Hungary, from India to Indonesia, from Iceland to Ireland--let your life be an Incarnation of Christ.

From Japan to Jamaica, From Korea to Kenya--let your life be an Incarnation of Christ.

From Luxembourg to Lebanon--From Mexico to Morocco--

From New Zealand to Nigeria--From over here to over there and everywhere--

Let us lift them with the hand of love and share with them the Word of Hope--that He is God with us, lifting humanity, saving humanity, transforming humanity, preparing humanity to live with Divinity. Eden will be restored and God and man will dwell together again--this time--together forever, all transformed because Christ became "flesh" and dwelt among us. Amen.

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News & Analyses: Driven by Mission

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | ADVENTIST REVIEW | General Conference Session

William G. Johnsson*

The Seventh-day Adventist Church today, perhaps more than at any time in its history, is driven by a sense of mission. We believe the Lord has given us a mandate, described in Revelation 14:6, 7--to take the everlasting gospel to every nation, tribe, and people group.

Adventists, unlike many other churches, include only those baptized in our membership lists, and we baptize only believers--we do not baptize infants. Even so, our rolls show nearly 15 million adherents, drawn from more than 200 countries--a veritable United Nations. The session in St. Louis will reflect this amazing diversity in the composition of the 2,000 or so delegates, who are principally selected on a representative basis. The 60,000-70,000 members who will pack the Dome each weekend will also showcase the international character of the church, though to a lesser degree.

We have reached a point in our history when the Pentecostal figure of 3,000 accessions in a day has become a reality. And not just now or then: on average every day of the year sees about 3,000 new people join the church. Each year more than 1 million new people swell our numbers; total membership almost doubles every decade.

I have served at the world church headquarters since 1980. During these 25 years--years of great interest and privilege--I have seen many changes in this movement I love. Leaders have come and gone; crises have erupted; the church has faced new and difficult challenges. But of this I am convinced: the Lord has been leading us onward and forward. Not because we deserve His blessing. Not because the work has been faultless--for it has not been--but because of His grace.

And over the course of these 25 years I have seen emphasis on mission rise to a new pitch, be given more and more attention until it has taken precedence over all other items that concern leadership.

At the Annual Councils of the church--the meetings of the General Conference Executive Committee each October--I used to hear new committee members express disappointment that the agenda was filled with adjustments to policy and other seemingly trivial matters, with no consideration of the big issues facing the world church. No longer: each year's council now convenes on a Friday evening, with a shared Sabbath worship providing a spiritual foundation; then, on Sunday, the first items taken up always focus on our worldwide mission.

The agenda for the St. Louis session likewise shows the driving force of mission.
Examples:

A new fundamental belief. The fifty-third GC session, held in Dallas, Texas, in 1980, spent the majority of its time and energy on the fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists. Out of this important deliberation emerged a new and expanded set of beliefs, numbering 27 in all.

The St. Louis session will consider adding a new fundamental belief on Growing in Christ. The proposed statement has been considered by the world church at various levels and been made available for input by circulation in the Adventist Review and Ministry magazine, and on the Internet.

The impetus for this new statement arose out of mission. As Global Mission Pioneers endeavor to take the good news to unreached people groups, they encounter large numbers who live in daily apprehension of spiritual powers. Millions of others are caught up in religious systems built around transcendental meditation. Our current set of beliefs does not speak to these concerns.

Leadership. The exploding church demands leaders--many, at all levels. On five days of the session all business, including the work of the Nominating Committee, will stop for 90 minutes so that all delegates can focus on principles of leadership.

Beyond specific agenda items such as the above, the entire session in its range of speakers, music, reports, and dynamics will make tangible the miracle of the Adventist mission. From all the world, to all the world, for all the world--this a church driven by mission.

________________________
* William G. Johnsson is editor of the Adventist Review.

(C) ADVENTIST REVIEW

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Adventist World President Jan Paulsen Re-Elected

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Pastor Jan Paulsen, 70, was re-elected July 1, 2005, as world president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the movement's 58th General Conference Session. He was elected by a unanimous vote of delegates to the church's 58th General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.

"It is a privilege to serve the Lord and the Church in the leadership role that you have asked me to fulfill. It is an honor, and I want to express appreciation for the trust you placed in me. And I will do my very best to serve the Lord and His church," Paulsen said immediately after the vote.

"I need to know that the Holy Spirit will be a constant companion and support, and I believe He will. I want to express my appreciation to the many, many of you who have, since I came here, offered their support," he added. "Thank you for continuing to remember us in your prayers."

Pastor Jere Patzer, president of the church's North-West Pacific region in the United States, is chairman of the nominating committee, with Dr. Delbert Baker, president of Oakwood College, as the vice chairman. The panel is composed of 196 delegates from around the world.

The Norwegian-born Paulsen, church president since 1999, has more than 40 years of service as a Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor, missionary, educator and church executive. He is an ordained minister and has served his church in many areas, beginning in the West Norwegian Adventist church area. He has been a pastor, a Bible teacher in Ghana, teacher and principal in Nigeria, teacher and principal of Newbold College in England, and general secretary and education director of the Trans-European region, headquartered in England. In 1983, Paulsen became president of that region, and was elected as general vice president of the General Conference in 1995, a position he held until he became world church president.

Following early education in Norway and Denmark, Paulsen earned a bachelor's degree from Andrews University, a master's degree from Washington Theological Seminary, and a bachelor of divinity degree from the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews. He earned a doctor in theology degree from Tubingen University in Germany. In addition to numerous articles and papers, Dr. Paulsen is the author of several books, including "Let Your Life So Shine" and "When the Spirit Descends."

Paulsen's re-election comes on a day when he and his wife, the former Kari Trykkerud, are celebrating 50 years of marriage. The Paulsens three adult children: Laila Paulsen Becejac, Jan-Rune, and Rein Andre.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainstream Protestant denomination that has 14.3 million baptized adult members in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. A total of 25 million people worldwide attend Adventist worship services each week. [Editor: Mark A. Kellner for ANN/APD]

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Voting Delegates

Adventist World Synod Votes to Affirm Bible; Spirit of Prophecy Resolution Tabled

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

"The Scriptures constitute our supreme rule of faith and practice and the standard by which all teaching and experience is to be tested," according to a resolution on the Holy Bible voted by delegates to the 58th General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A vote on a second resolution, citing the importance of the writings of Ellen G. White, one of the church's founders, is anticipated on Sunday, July 3.

The Bible resolution came from an earlier Spirit of Prophecy measure that was adopted by the Adventist business session in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 2000. At that time, Jurrien Den Hollander, an Adventist pastor from the Netherlands, reminded delegates of the primacy of the Bible in Adventist belief, and asked if a resolution affirming that could be presented.

The Reformation principle of sola scriptura (the Bible alone) lies at the heart of the Adventist church, as the final norm of truth.

The Bible resolution reads:

"As delegates to the 2005 General Conference Session in St Louis, Missouri, we reaffirm the centrality of the Scriptures in the message and life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In them the beauty, love, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ are revealed and offered to us as a gift of salvation through faith in His atoning sacrifice. Through them God reveals Himself to us, conveying an authentic expression of His character, a true conception of the nature of reality, a reliable record of His acts, a revelation of His purpose and an expression of His loving will for us. The Scriptures constitute our supreme rule of faith and practice and the standard by which all teaching and experience is to be tested. Their divine origin invests them with an authority and a message that is relevant to and transcends all cultures and can satisfy our deepest needs.

"Given the unique nature and importance of the Scriptures and the manifold benefits their systematic study brings to the Church, we the delegates of the General Conference in Session appeal to all Seventh-day Adventist believers around the world to make intentional provision in their daily routine for regular, prayerful reading of the Scriptures. Moreover, because biblical truths are for the benefit of all, especially those who will come to Christ, we urge every believer to actively seek ways to share the message of the Scriptures with others in order to prepare the world for the soon coming of our Lord."

The resolution was passed on a show of voting cards among the delegates present. Discussion began on the Spirit of Prophecy resolution but was tabled to accommodate a second report from the Nominating committee, which led to the re-election of Pastors Matthew Bediako as world church secretary and Robert Lemon as treasurer for the world church. [Editor: Mark A. Kellner and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]

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Pastor Matthew Bediako Secretary of the General Conference

World Church: Bediako, Lemon Re-Elected at St. Louis Session

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Pastor Matthew Bediako, who began his ministerial career in his native Ghana, has been re-elected as secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, following a unanimous vote of delegates to the movement's 58th General Conference Session. Pastor Robert Lemon, world church treasurer since 2002, was also re-elected to a full term in that office.

The elections complete the top tier of Seventh-day Adventist Church world leadership. Pastor Jan Paulsen was re-elected as president earlier in the afternoon of July 1.

"I want to express my appreciation for the choices you have made," said Pastor Paulsen in remarks to delegates following the vote. "Pastor Bediako has served with distinction for the past five years, and will continue to do so."

Responding, Bediako said he wanted "to thank God for His leading during the past five years."

He added, "I appreciate your prayers; I receive e-mails every day from around the world, saying they are praying for us. Please keep praying for us."

[img id=497 align=left]Of Lemon, Paulsen said he "has the heart of a minister" and is "one of the finest financial professionals that we have.

Lemon told Paulsen and the delegates, "It's a humbling experience to be asked to be part of your great team of leadership around the world."

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has 25 million weekly worshippers in more than 200 nations around the world, of which 14.3 million are baptized adult members. The church receives an average of US$5 million in donations every day, which is managed by a network of financial professionals led by the church's Treasury department. [Editor: Mark A. Kellner for ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Session: Statistical Report Shows Growth, Highlights Issues

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

For the first time in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, membership grew by more than 5 million new members in a five-year period. This was reported July 1 by Bert Haloviak, director of Archives and Statistics for the world church, to delegates at the 58th General Conference Session.

Adventist Church membership grew from 10,939,182 at the beginning of 2000 to 13,936,932 at the end of 2004, Haloviak reported.

However, he added, nearly 1.5 million left membership during the time period 2000 to 2005. "The bottom line for this quinquennium is that for every 100 accessions, more than 35 others decided to leave," he told delegates. "That total is considerably more than the 24 subtracted for every 100 added as reported at our last session" in 2000.

Despite a fast growth rate during the last five years, when considering the number of those leaving the church compared to how many joined, this is the "lowest growth rate since the 1960 to 1964 period."

But, Haloviak said, an average annual growth rate of 4.97 percent during this quinquennium suggests the Seventh-day Adventist Church is prepared for a period of major growth in the near future.

"At the end of 2004," he stated, "six of the current world divisions [administrative church regions] surpassed the 1-million membership mark, and of those, three fellowship more than 2 million members."

"A new kind of million-member club was established this quinquennium," he added. "The North American Division celebrated more than 1 million new members entering it's membership rolls," becoming the sixth world division with 1 million members or more.

And it's not just divisions reaching the 1-million member mark; countries are doing so as well, Haloviak added. Brazil did this since the General Conference Session in 2000, and India, Philippines and the U.S.A. are poised to do so within the next five years.

Haloviak concluded his report by highlighting the tools of evangelism used during the last half-century of mission, including television ministry, airplane evangelism, open-heart team evangelism, medical mission launches, orphanages, and "other innovative means of alleviating the suffering of the world while pointing toward a perfect kingdom of the future."
[Editor: Wendi Rogers for ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Session: Where are the Young People?

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 01.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

There are reportedly about 35 people -- out of nearly 2,000 -- under age 30 serving as delegates to the Adventist world church session in St. Louis, Missouri. The delegates come from the church's 13 world regions across the globe to represent a church of some 14 million members.

Estimates suggest that more than 70 percent of Adventist world membership is under 30, while less than 2 percent of the delegates to the Session are in that age range.

[img id=499 align=right]"We need experience to be chosen as young people and that means being more involved in our churches," says delegate Eustace A. Penniecook, 31. "The older delegates have given years and years to the church. They deserve to be here. On the other hand, the older ones should be teaching the younger ones and maybe we can learn from each other," Penniecook, who works at a hospital in Uganda with his wife, says.

Taking a quick scan of the delegate floor during the June 30 afternoon meeting, Marcel Wagner, a young Swiss living in North Korea, says, "There are [few] young people around here." But, while at Session, he's looking forward to getting "insights on how to involve young people" in church life.

Youth delegate representation is less than in the 2000 world church session in Toronto, Canada, where there were 45 delegates under 30. "It seems that church leaders assume that youth aren't interested in the business of the church, but that is a wrong assumption," said Henrik Ingo, a delegate from Finland in 2000, as reported in "The GC Daily," July 7, 2000. Ingo, 23 at the time, made his comments during a meeting of young delegates in Toronto. "The church is missing out on a great resource as a result," he added.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how church business is run on this level," says Session 2005 delegate Mark Howard, a 20-year-old history major at Oakwood College in Alabama, United States. "There could be more young people," he says, but "I'm looking forward to learning new things from those who are older and putting it to use for years to come."

During one of the daily business meetings at the 2000 Session, Andrej Godina, a Croatian living in the United Kingdom, 24 at the time, made a motion that young adults be represented as delegates in all future world church sessions. But, he suggested, without such measures being written into the church's constitution, there are no guarantees that world church regions will not act indifferent to young adults.

Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the world church, challenged young people in his opening address to the world Session June 30: "I want you to come in and to partner with the rest of us. I want to make room for you, for you have energies and ideas which no one can quite match. If you don't find the church interesting, you can make it interesting. Just don't walk away. That would be the worst possible thing you can do: It is Christ we are talking about. Don't turn your back on Him, for if you do, all you then all you are left with is Peter's haunting question: 'To whom shall we then go?'" (John 6:68)

The General Conference, or world church headquarters, Administrative Committee has included more young adults in its delegation to Session. "We see it as extremely important, vital and critical that the young adults have a voice in the mission of this church," says Orville Parchment, assistant to the president of the world church. He explains that the General Conference encourages the church's 13 administrative regions to allow adequate representation when choosing who will serve as a delegate to a Session.

Paulsen has made a conscientious effort to send a message to church leadership around the world. "They [young people] represent in large measure the future of this church," he says. "There must be a more intentional dialogue with young people, and a greater recognition of the contribution that they can and do make within the church."

Paulsen has conducted three "Let's Talk" broadcasts, conversations in which Adventist young people share their concerns and ask questions of the president. The first was held in Simi Valley, California, United States in 2003; the second was held on the campus of Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States in 2004; and the most recent was in Darmstadt, Germany in April this year. A fourth Let's Talk is being planned for the autumn of this year in Australia.

"I recognize that many, many of our young people feel distanced from the church -- they feel as if they don't have a voice, they don't feel that they have been heard, they don't feel that they have been understood," says Paulsen.

"But I want them to know that the church cannot be defined and cannot survive without them."

"It is time to include them in the decision-making process," says Baraka Muganda, world church youth director. "When we involve them, they will own the mission of the church. Young people will feel that this is their church. They will support actions taken. When they see themselves getting involved, then the church becomes a reality in their lives."

He adds, "They [will] say 'our church,' not 'their church.' We will see a lot of fire among the churches because of their support." [Editors: Wendi Rogers and Taashi Rowe for ANN/APD]

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Jan Paulsen: International Man of Ministry

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

He is never satisfied with the status quo. And that could be one reason why under Jan Paulsen's leadership the Seventh-day Adventist world church has grown phenomenally over the past five years, from nearly 11 million to presently 14.3 million. As the newly re-elected president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Paulsen has kept the church focused on its original mission: sharing the Gospel with as many people as possible.

Those who know him well say the well-educated, well-travelled 70-year-old's passion is making the Adventist Church synonymous with family.

As the first Adventist church president to hold a doctoral degree (from the University in Tubingen/Germany), Paulsen has been a leader at various levels of the church, including a college president, a teacher and a published author. Working in those many different capacities seems only to have reinforced his personal and professional passion for mission.

For the past 50 years -- Paulsen and his wife, Kari, have ministered together. Their anniversary is celebrated today, on his re-election day. Before he gave the president's report Thursday evening, June 30, he paid tribute to his wife for her support over the years.

Looking at his travelogue gives a picture that Paulsen is a man with an international outlook. He was educated in Norway, Germany and the United States, lived in England when he was president and secretary of the Trans-European region of the church and president of Newbold College, was president of the Adventist Seminary of West Africa in Nigeria, and was a Bible teacher in Ghana and began his pastoral career in his native Norway. He was first elected to the office of president in 1999, then re-elected for a full term in 2000.

What those who work closely with Paulsen want others to know about him is that this is a church president who is passionate about mission, about his work promoting mission, and about the church family.

"It is exciting to work in the president's office because Pastor Paulsen has a global vision of the church and has a good grasp of what needs to be done," said Orville Parchment, assistant to the president. "He is very, very much interested in the mission of the church." Parchment adds that this is why Paulsen's office has pushed initiatives that encourage mission, such as Sow 1 Billion, Grow One Million and Let's Talk -- an initiative that involves a series of conversations with young people.

Paulsen would like to see all parts of the church and every individual involved in the primary purpose of the church, which is to share Christ with everyone, said Bettina Krause, special assistant to the president for global initiatives.

He has a great sense of humour and has an in-depth of knowledge of cultures, Krause added.

His personal passions seem to complement his professional ones: people.

"Many see the president as untouchable, but when you get to know him he is not that way," said Parchment, explaining that Paulsen "is very easygoing and easy to talk to."

This has been made clear over and over again. "Our assignment is to move out, to reach out. People are what matters," Paulsen said nearly two years ago at a meeting of Annual Council, one of the church's biannual business meetings.

Parchment described Paulsen as an avid reader who knows what's happening around the world and in the church regions all over the world.

As someone who has been handpicked to join Paulsen's team, it is clear that Parchment believes in Paulsen. He expressed great confidence in Paulsen's leadership for the next five years. "He can go on for more than another term. He is one of those individuals who are built for longevity."

When he was re-elected for the first time in 2000, Paulsen told the Adventist Review, "I have to say I observed with a certain sense of wonder how the Lord would use me. I am not as young as I used to be and yet I find within myself an enormous amount of energy and a sort of desire for the opportunities that the Lord has opened."

Upon his second re-election, he said: "Brothers and sisters, it is a privilege to serve the Lord and the church in a leadership position. I want to show my appreciation for the trust you have placed in me."

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Adventist Church: Finances Strong as Giving Supports Global Church Work

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

"The duty of the treasury is to safeguard the church's assets," said Robert Lemon, treasurer for the Seventh-day Adventist world church. "The assets are not investments, bank accounts, or buildings, but members."

Lemon made this statement during the treasurer's report to the church Friday, July 1. The report revealed that the 14.3 million-member church averaged US$ (USD)1.87 billion in tithe contributions for each of the past five years. While this number stays consistent, the church treasurer expressed concerns that for the last 25 years giving to missions has remained around US$50 million each year with no distinct increases.

He pointed out that tithe-giving, which is 10 percent of a church member's income, has kept pace, increasing from US$398 million in 1980 to what it is today.

Over the past five years worldwide tithe has been up by 29 percent, from US$1,029,257,377 in 1999 to US$1,333,482,562 in 2004.

"We praise the Lord, but mission giving does not seem, at this point, to captivate the imagination of the church as it should," Lemon said.

Steve Rose, undertreasurer for the world church, explained that while mission giving has not increased substantially, members are still giving, just through other channels.

Of the total world tithe and offerings, only 1.5 percent, or an average of U.S. $28 million, is spent operating the church's headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. Lemon expressed concern that the actual costs of headquarters operations -- which includes building maintenance and staff -- are inching closer to the spending limit.

The world church draws funding from church members around the world, and then allocates or appropriates funds to a variety of areas in of great need. Lemon emphasized the church's commitment to mission; to increasing funds that will make possible programs that introduce the Gospel to the millions who have not heard it. [Editor: Taashi Rowe for ANN/APD]

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Sabbath Morning Prayer Photo: Adam Bujak

World Session: Sabbath Expectations

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Today is a big day in St. Louis. The veiled prophet parade hits downtown. A two-hour Independence Day celebration. Thousands of people line the streets for a celebration with Miss USA, Shandi Finnessey, as Honorary Grand Marshal; Disney Channel star Raven Symone; American Idol's Aloha Mischeaux; and the Voices of St. Alphonsus Rock Church Choir joining with floats, bands and street celebrations.

Yet while the spectators set up on the sidewalk with their picnic baskets and camping chairs, streams of smartly dressed people pass by them on their way to another big day, a General Conference Sabbath. Many have flown in just for the weekend. Why are they here?

"I've come to worship and praise the Lord with fellow Christians," states Maria Lena Lewis from St. Lucia as she makes her way to the main auditorium. She is also delighted to meet up with a cousin she has not seen for years. Florence Callender from New York likes the "global sense of mission, enthusiasm and renewal." Edward Hastie, a delegate from Brisbane, Australia just appreciates a Sabbath break from the session business.

Dressed in their traditional Indian Sabbath best, Sam and Patta Kamahos from Hyderabad, India are simply impressed by the thousands of people from so many countries meeting together as God's people. "The idea of unity in Christ is very evident here."

Petra Ferraz from Switzerland agrees, enjoying the idea of "worshipping and singing with a world family," the sentiments of many in an auditorium that radiates with color, some hymns being sung in 16 languages simultaneously. Young Ezekiel Dias, a Mexican resident in St. Louis, is impressed. "This is different to my normal church experience."

There are more youth in attendance than during the week. Three teens, Denrod, Samantha and Elroy, have traveled from New York. They find church "more comfortable" here. A "relaxed free-roaming environment," where they hope to "deepen a relationship with God and make friends from around the world."

Even the event staff are caught up in the atmosphere. Tom works on security for guest services. "I've done many religious conventions. This is the best. You are such nice people. I'm enjoying being here."

Jane Botabara-Yap from Malaysia maybe sums it all up. "I'm in heaven. It's a precursor to worshipping God in heaven."

Kelechi Onyenso, an engineer from Nigeria, agrees. "It's inspiring, uplifting and makes me look forward in hope."

Happy Sabbath!

[Editor: Victor Hulbert for ANN/APD]

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Mayor of St. Louis Praises Adventists Efforts

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Taking part in the parade in downtown St. Louis on Saturday morning, Francis Slay, the city's mayor, thanked the Seventh-day Adventist Church for choosing St. Louis for its quinquennium conference.

"The impact is tremendous. They [Adventists] come into St. Louis and create a lot of activity in our downtown. They fill up our hotel rooms," he told Adventist World News.

"They are also working on religious efforts through St. Louis. They are a great organization, and we are pleased to have them here this week and next week," the mayor said.

Slay gave no specifics about the impact, but said he hopes to have the Adventist Church back again soon in the city.

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World Church: One Body, Many Languages

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Hidden away in the upper levels of St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome, a small army of interpreters is attempting to make the proceedings of Seventh-day Adventist church meetings intelligible to the thousands unable to understand the language of the speaker on the podium. Using an array of transmitters, the translated message is beamed out to special receivers, or in some cases ordinary FM radios, being carried by those for whom English is not an option.

Although the Seventh-day Adventist Church had its origins in English-speaking North America, back in the 1840s, it has now spread around the globe. English is still the primary language spoken at the headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, but in the church's 568 regional offices, work is conducted in nearly 900 different languages. A world gathering of the Adventist Church consequently presents special linguistic challenges and, without careful organization, could result in a Babel-like confusion.

Odette Ferreira, originally from Portugal and now director of Adventist Colleges Abroad, coordinates the simultaneous interpretation program. She heads up a team or more than 100 interpreters working in 12 languages.

"Each language has its own team," she says. "Simultaneous interpretation takes a great deal of concentration -- the brain can't take more than two hours of this kind of work. The main cause of stress is the speed. It's not like 'side-by-side' interpretation where the speaker waits until the interpreter has finished. With simultaneous interpretation you have to work at the same speed as the person you are interpreting for."

"Another challenge is that most languages are 'longer' than English," Odette continues. "Our interpreters have to speak faster than the main speaker and almost have to guess where he or she is heading. If your mind wanders, even for a few seconds, you are lost."

Despite the stresses, or perhaps even because of them, the Adventist interpretation team in St. Louis has developed a strong sense of comradeship. "We have an extremely competent and responsible team here," says Odette. "Although they are all here as volunteers, they always arrive early and are wonderful to work with. I have worked with other teams in the past and some of them are very demanding, but this is the best team I have ever worked with."

An additional language that comes under Odette's care is American Sign Language (ASL). During the meetings in the Edward Jones Dome, just in front of rows A through D in section 112, ASL expert Marvin Budd leads the signing team. With animated gestures and facial expressions he makes the platform messages come alive for his audience, and attracts attention from much further afield than his allocated rows.

Speaking to ANN after what must have been an exhausting morning, Marvin is restrained in his own use of words, preferring to interpret for someone else. That someone else is Francesca Trexler who, together with her husband David, is profoundly deaf.

"Sign language is a mode of communication for all deaf people," says Francesca. "If a person can lip-read they can pick up a few concepts, but with signing they can get so much more. Sign language gives the whole picture. It gives you all of the concepts that are being communicated by voice -- the expressions and the visual picture. Sometimes it's very hard to translate signing back into the spoken word because of the expressions that are used."

When asked about the success of sign language in relaying the message of the podium speaker to a deaf audience, Francesca replies that it depends on a number of factors. "It depends on the interpreter," she says. "Today, for example, we had two interpreters just for the sermon, each one with a different style. Also words can be different, and there can be regional variations as well, even within ASL. But for me I feel that I got the full benefit of the sermon."

Concluding the interview, Marvin puts in a word for the wider deaf audience. "Many deaf Adventists are isolated because when they watch these meetings on television, they have no way to hear them. It's interpreted here, with cost and effort, but it doesn't benefit those at home. Closed captioning ... would be very helpful."

With communication and diversity being key components of the Adventist world church's strategy for the future, these recommendations will no doubt be taken on board. [Editor: John Surridge for ANN/APD]

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Thousands Challenged to Save the big Cities

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has official presence in 207 countries, and is working in all but seven of 228 countries, declared Mike Ryan, a general vice president of the world church and director of Global Mission, to the thousands attending the first Sabbath, or Saturday, services of the movement's quinquennial meetings.

But while the church is successful in rural areas and on islands, it does not have a significant presence in the fastest growing areas of the world: big cities.

"Is there hope for the big cities of the world?" Ryan asked. An offering collected this morning will go to spreading the message of hope in these cities that are considered a "growing challenge" for Adventists.

With the offering, Global Mission -- a department of the Adventist Church that shares the Gospel in places that have not heard it -- will help fund outreach programs and new church buildings in 60 cities.

Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the world church, was featured on a video presented during the world church gathering. Standing on a Bangkok, Thailand street, he said, "This is one of the great cities. ... What are we doing in the cities? Our work has been to a large extent based on rural work. We have not really addressed the huge masses of big cities such as this."

He added, "We are told that in 15 years, two-thirds of the world's total population will live in cities like this one." There are new, creative efforts being taken in the cities, he concluded.

Hope 4 the Big Cities is funded in part by three other major offering collections in Seventh-day Adventist congregations worldwide: The first was gathered April 9 in Adventist congregations outside of North America; churches in the United States, Canada and Bermuda had a special collection for the project April 30; and on July 9, all the church's congregations -- and the world business in St. Louis, Missouri -- will participate in another offering for the project. [Editor: Wendi Rogers for ANN/APD]

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Adventists One Of The Most Diverse Church on Earth

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Seventh-day Adventists who have gathered in St Louis, Missouri, for their quinquennial world meetings, are taking a break from business today as they celebrate the Sabbath together. Numbers of delegates and visitors are expected to exceed 50,000.

Those attending the meetings are impressed by, and proud of, the extraordinary diversity of the church, which has a presence in more than 200 countries.

William Hunt from Texas says of the diversity, "I think it speaks to all those watching that this is supernatural. You don't normally see a melting pot of people like this. It shows that God is leading us. Something brings us together and that something is a united faith in God's word."

Thirteen-year-old Ivan Sol from Mexico says, "I think it's good. It's difficult to understand all the different languages, but it's good to be part of a big church. It's good that the church is in so many countries of the world."

Dona Klein from California says, "The world church should be made up of all types of people. It shows that we are doing our duty in spreading the gospel. I think it's wonderful."

The diversity of the Adventist Church, widely recognized as the most diverse church on earth, can be explained, at least in part, by the church's strong emphasis on evangelism and mission. Since its organization in 1863 the Adventist Church has seen 'preaching the gospel to all the world' as its primary function, and has pursued this task with exceptional vigor.

Response to the church's efforts however, has varied enormously. Membership in some countries is increasing rapidly, while in others numbers are static or even in decline. These demographic changes pose challenges for the church and will undoubtedly lead to major changes in the future. Some even question whether or not the church can remain united in the face of its increasing diversity.

But John Duroe, Global Mission director for the church in the Southern Asia-Pacific region, is philosophical. "There has got to be change and we shouldn't be afraid of change," he says. "I'm sure the church will remain united but we have exciting times ahead and I'm sure the Holy Spirit will bring about some radical new developments in the future. We have to be ready to accept these changes."

This confidence is echoed by others at the meetings in St. Louis. Fernand Lombart, an Adventist pastor from England, says, "I see no reason why the unity of the church shouldn't continue. Christ is the focus of our unity and, as long as we keep our eyes on Him, the church will keep growing and keep together."

Amar and Molly Nuthalapati, originally from India but now living in Canada, say, "We have to stay together no matter how fast we grow. Unity is very important for the strength of the church. If we are divided we are giving a place for Satan to work."

Seventeen-year-old Halim Chung, originally from Korea but now studying in Michigan, says, "I think the church will stay together because the same Spirit is at work throughout the church." Halim's friend, Rian Cho, agrees. "Why should the church split up? I think it will become even more united."

Seth Abang Laryea, president of a large Adventist college in Ghana, says, "I think we can stay together. There will be diversity, in opinions, and sometimes in practices. But we have unity of purpose. We have the same expectation of a soon coming Savior. These factors will bind us together."

The challenge of managing the growth and diversity of the Adventist Church, whose membership now exceeds 14 million, is one of the matters being discussed at this week's meetings. Despite the concerns as to whether or not the structure can keep pace with the growth, there is, at least so far, no evidence that the church is planning to moderate its evangelistic work. [Editor: John Surridge for ANN/APD]

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Paulsen re-elected president of Seventh-day Adventists

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | Associated Press | General Conference Session

Paulsen re-elected president of Seventh-day Adventists

by Betsy Taylor
Associated Press


ST. LOUIS - The man who has led the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the past seven years, Jan Paulsen, was re-elected president on Friday of a denomination that is rapidly growing in membership.

The denomination has grown from more than 3 million members in 1980 to about 14 million baptized members in more than 200 countries, according to church statistics. That led members to say they need a leader to make teachings clear while reaching out to newcomers.

"I will do my very best to serve the Lord and his people as I best know how," Paulsen said in brief remarks in St. Louis.

Paulsen, 70, was selected by a nominating committee of 196 delegates. Then the general body of about 2,000 delegates approved him in what was called a unanimous vote, by raising paper cards signaling their approval.

About 70,000 Seventh-day Adventist members began a 10-day meeting here Thursday at the America's Center convention center. The worldwide conference is held once every five years, with a presidential election at that time.

Paulsen has served seven years because he won his post after a previous president, Robert Folkenberg Jr., resigned.

Paulsen earned a bachelor of divinity degree in 1962 from the Seventh-day Adventists Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Mich., and completed his graduate studies in 1972 at Tubingen University in Germany.

He was ordained as a minister in 1963, has worked in Europe and Africa, and has published widely, including two books "When the Spirit Descends" and "Let Your Light so Shine." The church said he expanded Adventist work in several eastern European countries after the collapse of communism.

Paulsen has a reputation for encouraging young people and women to be active in the religion, said conference attendee Joan Clarke, 63, of Kingston, Jamaica.

"He tried to reach out to all people in the church, so people would feel a part of the church," she said.

The Seventh-day Adventists are attracting a diverse mix of new members, Clarke said, and she hoped leaders like Paulsen would continue efforts to reinforce the faith's teachings while making new members "feel at home."

The church was organized in 1863, but has its roots in the "Advent Awakening" movement of the 1840s, when many Christians believed that Jesus Christ would soon return. After the "great disappointment" of their hopes in 1844, believers broke into several groups.

One group, turning to their Bibles for increased understanding, recognized Saturday as the Sabbath. The group became the nucleus for the Seventh-day Adventists Church, which officially organized in Battle Creek, Mich.

The Adventists are known for their emphasis on both good health and strong education.

The church's members, many of whom are vegetarians, do not drink alcohol or use tobacco, and caffeine is discouraged. Adventists run about 700 hospitals, nursing homes and health clinics around the world.

The church said it has the largest Protestant parochial school system in the world with more than 6,000 elementary and secondary schools educating over 1 million children.

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On the Net:
Seventh-day Adventists Church: http://www.adventist.org/

(C) Bellevile News Democrat 2005

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Seventh-day Adventists re-elect their president

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | Associated Press | General Conference Session

Saturday, July 2, 2005

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The man who has led the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the past seven years, Jan Paulsen, yesterday was re-elected president of a denomination that is rapidly growing in membership.

The denomination has grown from more than 3 million members in 1980 to about 14 million baptized members in more than 200 countries, according to church statistics. That led members to say they need a leader to make teachings clear while reaching out to newcomers.

"I will do my very best to serve the Lord and his people as I best know how," Paulsen said in brief remarks in St. Louis.

Paulsen, 70, was selected by a nominating committee of 196 delegates. Then the general body of about 2,000 delegates approved him in what was called a unanimous vote by raising paper cards signaling approval.

About 70,000 Seventh-day Adventist members began a 10-day meeting Thursday at the America’s Center convention center in St. Louis. The international conference is held once every five years and includes a presidential election.

Paulsen has served for seven years because he won his post after a previous president, Robert Folkenberg Jr., resigned.

Paulsen earned a bachelor’s degree in divinity in 1962 from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Mich., and completed his graduate studies in 1972 at Tubingen University in Germany.

He was ordained as a minister in 1963, has worked in Europe and Africa, and has published widely, including two books, "When the Spirit Descends" and "Let Your Light so Shine." The church said he expanded Adventist work in several Eastern European countries after the collapse of communism.

Paulsen has a reputation for encouraging young people and women to be active in the religion, said conference attendee Joan Clarke, 63, of Kingston, Jamaica.

"He tried to reach out to all people in the church so people would feel a part of the church," she said.

The Seventh-day Adventists are attracting a diverse mix of new members, Clarke said, and she said she hopes leaders such as Paulsen will continue efforts to reinforce the faith’s teachings while making new members "feel at home."

The church was organized in 1863 but has its roots in the "Advent Awakening" movement of the 1840s, when many Christians believed Jesus Christ would soon return. After the "great disappointment" in 1844, believers broke into several groups.

One group, turning to Bibles for increased understanding, recognized Saturday as the Sabbath. The group became the nucleus for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which officially organized in Battle Creek, Mich.

The Adventists are known for their emphases on good health and strong education.

(C) Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved
Published on July 2, 2005, in the Columbia Daily Tribune

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North American Adventist Report Highlights Growth, Need For Evangelism

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America topped one million members at the end of 2004, a milestone leaders credit to evangelism, including media ministries. In a report presented to the 58th General Conference Session in St. Louis, the world Adventist Church's quinquennial business meeting, Pastors Don Schneider, president, and Roscoe Howard, secretary, cited the foundation laid by pioneer Adventists as the basis for today's growth.

"In the past five years in North America, 153,000 converts were added to the Seventh-day Adventist family in our 6,000 churches across the U.S.A. and Canada," said Howard, who with Schneider was filmed at Elmshaven, the Northern California residence of Ellen G. White, a pioneering founder of the church.

Combining video clips, montages of ministry, specialized reports and live speaking, the 30-minute presentation, which concluded the first Saturday evening of the 10-day business session, included four live vocal numbers by the Heritage Singers, a premiere Christian ensemble based in U.S. State of California.

According to the North American report, evangelism included not only traditional forms of outreach, but media ministries including It Is Written, Amazing Facts, Voice of Prophecy, Bread of Life, Faith for Today, the Quiet Hour and La Voz de Esperanza (Voice of Hope). During past year, the report indicated, combined efforts of Adventist Media Ministries touched more people than in all previous years combined.

Following a filmed presentation by North American church treasurer Juan Prestol emphasizing the care with which the region spends money on outreach, Schneider told the World Session audience in St. Louis that the determination to fund evangelism is a long-time Adventist tenet.

"The pioneers gave everything to spread the Adventist message," he said, Now, "I want to give everything I have to the Lord Jesus Christ. In our reports you have seen about people coming to Jesus, we want to give everything we have to bring more people to Jesus."

He conceded that the work is far from finished: "In our own division we have not completed this work. Some of our neighbours have not yet heard about Jesus. We are committed to telling everyone about His coming. Around the world, you can count on us. We will put our resources, everything we have, to this."

The Seventh-day Adventist Church was formally established in Battle Creek, Michigan (USA), in 1863. It is active in more than 200 nations around the world, with its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, near the US Capital Washington D.C. [Mark A. Kellner and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]

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Trans-Europe: Adventists Face Challenges of Secularism and Islam

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Delegates and guests at the quinquennial business meeting of the global Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Edward Jones Dome this evening were entertained and informed by a colourful video presentation prepared by the church's Trans-European region. The presentation was part of a series of reports designed to give an overall picture of the church's activities around the world and to provide a insight into the huge cultural variations that exist between regions.

The world regions of the Seventh-day Adventist church do not always follow clearly defined geographical boundaries. The Trans-European region for example includes 36 countries from three different continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. Diversity within this region is extreme - from the frozen arctic of northern Scandinavia to the deserts of South Sudan; and the urban sprawl of London to the forests of Pakistan.

From an Adventist perspective the region holds two major, and very different, challenges: Islam and secularism. There are 588 million people in this part of the world and 62 percent are Muslim. In Europe 79 percent of the population are now 'secular' -- that is they consider Christianity to be mere superstition and see churches as outdated relics of a bygone era.

Despite the difficulties the 100,000 Seventh-day Adventists in the Trans-European region are rising to the challenge of keeping the flame of living Christianity burning. According to the region's leader, Bertil Wiklander, they have actually managed to achieve 12 percent growth over the last five years. This growth has taken place, at least to some extent, through methods that might be considered radical in other parts of the world.

One of these methods has been labelled "LIFEdevelopment". This, according to Cecil Perry, the leader of the church in Britain, is more of a process than a program. The secular post modern people of Europe do not respond well to a direct presentation of the gospel and LIFEdevelopment provides them with a gentle, non-threatening introduction to Christianity. It encourages existing members to bridge genuine friendships with secular people, allowing them to belong to church communities before they have become believers. Asked about the reaction to this new form of evangelism Perry responded, "We are re-orientating the minds of our members. They are now thinking outside of their own flock." Adapting the biblical parable he continued, "Our members are becoming aware that we have one in the flock for every 99 that is outside in the secular community, and we must go out and reach them."

Evidence of this process in action was seen in a number of video clips. In Greece small house groups built on the friendship principle have led to a 350 percent growth. In Finland and Hungary new churches using this approach have been "planted" from scratch. In London a community choir project has been used to get Christian and secular people together and has resulted in the founding of the "Hope Community Church." According to Don McFarlane, leader of the church in South England, a further 20 such churches will be started in the near future. In Northern England a combined cafe and drop-in center functions as a church. Former convicts are involved in the project and have been welcomed by the members.

Perhaps surprisingly the same methods being used by Adventists to reach secular people in the Trans-European region are also being used to reach Muslims and Jews. The challenge here is to share the message of Christianity in a way that does not cause offence as, particularly in the case of Muslims, a change of faith may involve individuals risking their lives. Ways must be found of communicating Christ to these people while continuing to respect their culture and traditions.

Concluding the report Wiklander acknowledged the challenges faced by the church members in the Trans-European region and urged the audience to continue to pray for them. [Editor: John Surridge/ANN]

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Adventist Global Mission: Thousands Challenged To Save The Big Cities

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has official presence in 207 countries, and is working in all but seven of 228 countries, declared Mike Ryan, a general vice president of the world church and director of Global Mission, to the thousands attending the first Sabbath, or Saturday, services of the movement's quinquennial meetings.

But while the church is successful in rural areas and on islands, it does not have a significant presence in the fastest growing areas of the world: big cities.

"Is there hope for the big cities of the world?" Ryan asked. An offering collected this morning will go to spreading the message of hope in these cities that are considered a "growing challenge" for Adventists.

With the offering, Global Mission -- a department of the Adventist Church that shares the Gospel in places that have not heard it -- will help fund outreach programs and new church buildings in 60 cities.

Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the world church, was featured on a video presented during the world church gathering. Standing on a Bangkok, Thailand street, he said, "This is one of the great cities. ... What are we doing in the cities? Our work has been to a large extent based on rural work. We have not really addressed the huge masses of big cities such as this."

He added, "We are told that in 15 years, two-thirds of the world's total population will live in cities like this one." There are new, creative efforts being taken in the cities, he concluded.

Hope 4 the Big Cities is funded in part by three other major offering collections in Seventh-day Adventist congregations worldwide: The first was gathered April 9 in Adventist congregations outside of North America; churches in the United States of America, Canada and Bermuda had a special collection for the project April 30; and on July 9, all the church's congregations -- and the world business in St. Louis, Missouri -- will participate in another offering for the project. [Editor: Wendi Rogers/ANN]

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Adventist World Synod Mission Program Speaks of Sacrifice, Dedication

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 02.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

"Thank you to those of you who support and help give hope and meaning to the world," said Rick McEdward, an Adventist missionary working in Sri Lanka. This was the message of a special program held today at the Seventh-day Adventist world church's official gathering. Today was a day of rest and thanksgiving, and songs, video clips and live interviews with missionaries, including a live telephone interview. The Adventist Church has a soft spot for mission.

Over the years church members have faithfully given money that supports the world church's primary mission of sharing the Gospel with those who have never heard it. Some people, inspired by videos, pictures and stories sent by missionaries surviving on very little pay, living among people of another country and culture, send money to keep the work going.

Over the years the face of mission has changed in the Adventist Church. Missionaries are no longer majority white, North American men braving third world conditions. Today the church encourages each member to participate in mission in any way possible, and because of that, missionaries are young and old, come in every shade of the rainbow, and travel from anywhere to anywhere. The entire globe is a mission field.

The afternoon program, organized by the Office of Mission Awareness and Global Mission departments of the world church, featured missionaries from, among other places, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Chad, the Solomon Islands and India. Their stories told of their faith and commitment despite challenges.

Dr. James Appel and his wife Sarah, a nurse, work at a remote hospital in Chad.

"I wanted to go to a place where no one else wanted to go," said Dr. Appel. "I wanted to fill a need there that no one else wanted to fill."

Appel is fulfilling a six-year commitment in one of the world's poorest countries.

"Most of the things I do were not included in my nurse's training," said Mrs. Appel. "I've had to deliver babies by myself, give anesthesia, do sutures, revive babies, and do health education. We've been in many hopeless situations that make me long even more for heaven, make me see that suffering was not a part of God's plan."

While missionary life can be extremely difficult, today some shared stories of heart-rending tragedies. Some have spent years in prison for their faith.

Lance Gerbasch, his wife Jean and daughters, Anita and Louise were living in New Castle Australia when the family decided to go to the Solomon Islands for mission work. Lance worked as a business manager at Atoifi Adventist Hospital. He was beheaded last year.

Twenty-year-old Justin McNeilus and his 18-year-old sister Christina led a major evangelism outreach in Cambodia last Christmas. They believe that the Adventist Church has too powerful of a message not to share.

"With all the people in the world, God chose me, a shy young person ... with no formal training," said Justin.

"Each night we preached we got to know those who came to the meetings better," said Christina. "To see the transformation is amazing. I knew it wasn't anything I did. It was God." Christina says they plan to return to Cambodia this Christmas.

Their efforts in the Buddhist country, torn apart by years of civil war and the Pol Pot genocidal regime, led to hundreds of baptisms.

"The Adventist Church is in great hands with people like Justin and Christina," said Mark Finley, director of Global Evangelism for the Adventist world church. He also spoke about the Elijah project, which has more than 60,000 young people, ages15 to 30, leading evangelism meetings around the world. Already due to these efforts 20,000 people have become Adventist Christians through baptism.

The Adventist Church struggles daily in the country of Sri Lanka, which is 70 percent Buddhist and 15 percent Hindu. W. D. Anthony, president of the 3,500 member church in Sri Lanka, told Adventist News network (ANN) that opposition from Buddhists in that country is very strong.

"Some who distribute literature are handed over to police and are sometimes beaten," he said. In spite of such challenges, 200 people joined the church in Sri Lanka last year.

Pastor Jan Paulsen, General Conference president, said his early experiences as a missionary has shaped his life. At 26, he and his wife went to Africa to do missionary work. "I felt like it opened a door to a huge new world never seen before -- not just geographically or culturally or to different languages -- but to the real mission of the church. The experience has remained with me ever since,," he said in an interview with ANN after the program. "The church is alive when it is engaged in mission."

Church members support more than 1,000 Adventist missionaries worldwide, said Pastor Matthew Bediako, world church secretary.

"Thank all those of you for your years of support for mission support," said Robert Lemon, treasurer for the world church. "Over the years we have received around US$50 million each year. That offering reaches every country of the world, even those with no officially organized church."

Benjamin Banaag, from Simi Valley, California said it's about time the church reach out to all corners of the world. For the past 19 years he and his wife have worked on a project called "Partnership in Evangelism" in the Philippines.

"Every year we send three Americans to hold evangelism meetings. There have been 78,000 have been baptized since we started," said Banaag.

Paulo Jose Peixoto from Portugal said the program was inspirational. "This is the kind of work we try to do locally. With this kind of vision, it is very, very important to share news like this with members in my country." [Editor: Taashi Rowe for ANN/APD]

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Antigua: Sir James Carlisle Calls for Adventist Commitment at World Church Session

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 03.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Sir James Carlisle, governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda, spoke with passion and conviction July 1 to the Seventh-day Adventist world church gathered in session at St. Louis.

Expressing his conviction that Adventists should be more involved in community, Sir James urged his audience to stand firm for their faith. As head of state, "I decided not to serve alcohol at state functions." The reason--knowing the damage alcohol does to human body, he says.

He also is committed to observing the seventh-day Sabbath, noting that "a number of people objected to my appointment due to my refusal to work on Sabbath."

When invited to be knighted by the Queen of England, Sir James also had to decline because the ceremony was on Sabbath. Later he did receive the accolade, being invited by the Queen to Buckingham Palace, which was, he says, "even better."

The governor-general and his family were welcomed by Dr. John Graz, director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Adventist world church, who praised him for his clear endorsement of Adventist values and principles.

Sir James is also highly committed to religious liberty issues. In January 2003, at the time of the formation of the first organization in the country to be dedicated exclusively to promoting and defending religious freedom, he called for strong Adventist support.

"As a Seventh-day Adventist, I believe we are to be model citizens in society, promoting and defending essential values," he said. "Religious freedom is one of our most precious values, and brings great benefits to society. We also need to remember that we cannot please everyone, we simply do what is right, whatever the hostility we may have to face."

Sir James was appointed Governor General in 1993 and is the recipient of many awards of distinction. He is also active in his local church, identifying his faith as a positive contribution to his leadership role in the country. [Editor: Jonathan Gallagher for ANN/APD]

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First Adventist Vice President Dr. Ella Louise Smith Simmons

Adventist Leaders Should Have Humility, Integrity and Vision

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 03.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

In a historic vote today Seventh-day Adventists elected a woman as general vice president of the world church. Dr. Ella Louise Smith Simmons, is the first woman to fill this position. Until recently she served as provost/vice president at La Sierra University, in California. Before that she was vice president of academic affairs at Oakwood College in Alabama. Both schools are operated by the Adventist Church. Simmons has a doctorate in education from the University of Louisville.

Her election came on the heels of a presentation by newly re-elected church President Jan Paulsen on characteristics essential to Adventist leadership where he fielded questions from members of the delegation, one of which concerned the promotion of women to top levels of church leadership.

During a discussion on character and personality of Adventist leadership Paulsen admitted that women are underrepresented in church leadership Paulsen indicated that may soon change. "It is very valid what you what you have stated," he said. "It's an issue that even the nominating committee is now working with and we will have to see what comes out of that. We just have to be deliberate about it. And we'll see whether we can, even coming out of this Session, we can give a signal that we are trying to do better."

As the keynote speaker for the first of a series of five topics on leadership, Paulsen spoke on "The Character and Personality of Adventist Leadership." This took place on the fourth day of the world church's business meetings in St. Louis, Missouri. Church leaders say with explosive growth of the church globally the series of seminars - new to business agenda - will help the next generation of leaders who may not have traditional backgrounds in leadership remain true to the some of the church's traditional immutable values.

The issue of developing leadership skills was also raised. Paulsen says "The gift and skill of leadership does not come overnight." He put much of the onus for initial leadership training on the local church.

Paulsen added, "There is no Biblical requirement that says you have to be 50 before you become a [lay leader]," which was greeted with applause. "Christ's original disciples were not chosen when they were approaching retirement."

Pastor Maw-Feng Ko spoke to ANN following the forum. In his native Taiwan the Adventist Church is facing a lack of potential leaders, particularly young leaders, he said, adding the church is responsible for exposing people to leadership. "We get our young people to take important roles in church," he said.

Up until very recently much of the church's leadership standards reflected the culture of its founding country -- the United States. But with an influx of members around the world, creating a very distinct mix of new leaders, Paulsen said it is vital for the church to incorporate changes that consider various cultures. With estimations claiming the church could reach 50 million members worldwide by 2020, the president explained that change is inevitable.

"Our being global means that our church contains a huge variety of cultures, traditions and diversities. To resist change is unnatural," he said.

At the same time, he added "Only when we are vague, unclear, and uncertain about our faith and our moral values can culture and local traditions undo our identity and do us harm."

He cautioned that the global church's core values should not be markedly different from place to place, culture to culture. "We have a common model constitution, we share the same policies, we have one common manual which describes the authority and functions of the local congregation, we have a common statement of fundamental beliefs, and we have integrated resource support systems."

Paulsen stated that the church cannot rely on secular expectations of leadership as they "will not reflect the will of Christ for His people and will not meet the needs of a spiritual community."

However he agreed with Jack Krogstad, from the North America who pointed out that Jesus was an example of great leadership. "Even the secular world studies Jesus Christ as a great model of leadership," Krogstad said. "Those traits are openness, flexibility, tolerance, and acceptance."

Astrid Thomassian, from North America, commented after the discussions that she found the Paulsen's presentations very useful. However she wondered what tools were in place to evaluate effective leadership.

Humility, integrity and vision are traits essential to all Adventist leaders, Paulsen said. [Editor: Taashi Rowe for ANN/APD]

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Presentation of First Woman Vice President Dr. Ella Louise Smith Simmons Photo by Richard Dower

Adventist Church Elected First Woman Vice President, Regional Presidents Voted In

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 03.07.2005 | APD | General Conference Session

In a historic vote, delegates to the 58th General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church elected veteran educator Dr. Ella Louise Smith Simmons (57) as a general vice president of the church. This is the first time a woman has been elected to this position and is an attempt by the world church to make the leadership more inclusive.

Until recently, Dr. Simmons was provost and vice president for Academic Administration at La Sierra University in Riverside, California (USA). As part of the 10-member leadership team -- world church President Jan Paulsen and nine vice presidents -- it is expected Simmons will bring her skills in education and as an administrator to the job. Delegates responded very positively to the election of Simmons. Zeljko Porobija of Croatia stated, "I think it is a very, very good thing. As a matter of principle we should see more women in office."

Owen Lloyd Bryar Gayle, a delegate from Inter-America, agreed. "It is wonderful to give females a part in church leadership."

Anton Van Wyke from the Adventist church's South Pacific region believes "It is a breakthrough for our church in its standings with world organizations, and it will lead us from strength to strength in our mission."

It took a long day in session before the nominating committee presented its third report, recommending names for the nine vice presidents as well as the presidents of the 13 divisions around the world.

While six current vice presidents were returned to office, the three new officers demonstrate the emphasis on the church for both diversity and evangelism.

Also newly elected is Pardon Kandanga Mwansa, currently president of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean church region, who brings a wealth of experience to the world church leadership, having served in the Euro-Africa church region prior to his current position.

The third new vice president is popular Adventist evangelist Mark Finley, currently director of Global Evangelism at the world church headquarters and speaker/director emeritus of the It Is Written television program. Emphasizing the need to raise the profile of evangelism both in head office and worldwide, Paulsen took time to emphasize that Finley "is so saturated in evangelism that it is the center of his life." Finley's new position is not a change of job so much as recognition of the importance of evangelism to the church, he said.

Six incumbents were returned to other general vice presidential offices: Lowell C. Cooper (Canadian), King-Yi Eugene Hsu (Chinese), Gerry D. Karst (Canadian), Armando Miranda (Mexican), Michael L. Ryan (USA) and Ted N. C. Wilson (USA).

Paulsen also paid tribute to outgoing vice president Harold Baptiste. Having faithfully served the church for many years, he indicated his desire to retire at this business session.

The vice presidents assist the General Conference President with the general administrative work, as resource counsellors and liaisons between the president and the world church regions (so-called divisions). The vice presidents have also the mission to strengthen the bond of this world-wide protestant mainstream church.

In the same report the presidents of 13 world church regions were elected. There were no surprises, with the only change being in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division where, due to the election of Mwansa as a world church vice president, Pastor Paul S. Ratsara, current secretary of the region, was unanimously elected as president.

The returned regional Adventist church presidents are: Geoffrey G. Mbwana, East-Central Africa; Ulrich W. Frikart, Euro-Africa; Artur A. Stele, Euro-Asia; Israel Leito, Inter-America; Don C. Schneider, North America; Jairyong Lee, Northern Asia-Pacific; Ruy H. Nagel, South America; Laurie J. Evans, South Pacific; D. Ronald Watts, Southern Asia; Alberto C. Gulfan Jr., Southern Asia-Pacific; Bertil A. Wiklander, Trans-European Division, and Luka T. Daniel, West-Central Africa. [Editors: Victor Hulbert , Braden Blyde and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Session: Youngest Delegates Part of an Exclusive Club

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 03.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Looking at the faces of the 2,000 delegates who will over the next few days make decisions on policy affecting the Seventh-day Adventist church for the next five years Mark Howard and Aira Arina stand out. Howard, the student body president at Oakwood College, in Alabama, United States and Arina, a church planter from Latvia are the youngest delegates attending the 58th business meeting of the world church. Both 20-years-olds reflect a church membership that conservative reports place at 60 percent young people. They and 33 others make up the small group of young delegates under age 30.

"Being here at these meetings is a great opportunity to see how the church operates behind the scenes" said Howard who is a history major. You get to meet more people as well as give a young person's perspective on different issues discussed by the church."

Arina is the youth director of the Adventist Church in the Baltic countries of Latvia and Lithuania. She helped establish the "Korinth Church" which world church President Jan Paulsen visited in May. Arina said she wants to make a difference and make Christianity available to all.

"Riga is the 'Las Vegas' of Latvia, so having this in mind we wanted to create an informal environment where people from different backgrounds would feel welcomed. We wanted to show them that God is real and make Christianity alive," she said. Korinth has about 60 members, 31 of whom are baptized.

"It's important for the youth to be willing to get involved, and that starts at the local level. We are the church of tomorrow, and need to participate now so that we will know what we're doing later on," Howard said.

Even though these delegates are younger than the main delegate body attending the General Conference, they said it is fairly easy to get to know other more experienced members. And since they participate in their local churches, both are familiar with the issues discussed and the process involved.

Young adult delegate representation is less than in the 2000 world church session in Toronto, Canada, where there were 45 delegates under 30.

"There could be more young people," Howard concluded, but "I'm looking forward to learning new things from those who are older and putting it to use for years to come." [Editor: Irena Nesterova for ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Church: Northern Asia Pacific Reports 97,000 Baptisms in Five Years

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 04.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

The Seventh-day Adventist Church may divide the world into thirteen regions, but in terms of population, the church's Northern Asia Pacific area claims a full quarter of the world's people. Covering the countries of China (with dependent territories Hong Kong and Macau), Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan the region totals a membership of 546,000 spread over 1,731 churches.

North Asia Pacific President Jairyong Lee reported baptisms of 97,439 people in the last five years. Yet he also expressed the challenge of countries like North Korea where there is no Adventist church, even though there is evidence of many people keeping the Sabbath. He also recognized that only three percent of the region's population is Christian. With secularism, materialism and political ideologies that detract from God he stated the church has had to look for special ways of reaching out to touch people's lives.

These are figures that struck the audience in the auditorium. Denisson Dorl from Brazil made the contrast with his own country. "I see so many difficulties with evangelism in those countries that make it so hard for the church to grow in this part of the world. In Brazil we don't have these problems in comparison it is almost too easy for us."

Clyde Thomas, president of the Adventist church in Trinidad and Tobago was delighted that, "the gospel is reaching far more people than we thought."

Adventists have been in the region for 100 years and the church there is committed to using all the resources of their mission history to share the gospel.

In a video presentation Lee reported that the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is working effectively in North Korea, Mongolia and China. For instance, after 10 years in Mongolia ADRA is running 16 projects involving farming, health and education, while in Japan ADRA repairs bicycles by the thousands and sends them to Laos which helps children to attend school. ADRA's North Korean bakery project has been particularly successful providing needy children with 50,000 bread rolls daily.

Twelve hospitals and many sanatoriums and clinics across the region use Adventism's NEWSTART health strategy to share the gospel. The hospitals combine modern medical science with holistic Adventist health principles.

Some 44 Adventist schools share the gospel with 25,000 students. The Adventist-owned Sahmyook University in Seoul rejoices in 800 baptisms annually. Added to that English Language Schools across the region have proved an effective way of introducing students to the Gospel. Mainly based around English conversation classes they have resulted in 12,000 baptisms in South Korea.

The region has also been expanding frontiers in publishing. In Japan the "Signs of the Times" published for 100 years, is the longest running Christian magazine. In South Korea the publishing house has produced the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary while for China and Mongolia the focus has been on producing the works of Ellen White, who is one of the church's founders, as a means of outreach.

It would be easy for members in that region to be discouraged when only three percent of the territory is Christian and the growth rate is quite slow. However it can also be seen as a challenge. The Pioneer mission movement in South Korea trains and sends pastors to plant new churches. Currently 28 pastors serve in Japan, Taiwan and Mongolia. The five-year goal is to have 100 pastors.

The "1000 Missionary Movement" with headquarters in the Philippines is also having a significant effect with 3,100 missionaries having served in 34 different countries. The aim is for the members to be life-long missionaries.

The "Go One Million" and "Sow 1 Billion" programs have also benefited the region with churches starting Bible Schools and Bible course requests increasing by 100 percent in Japan. This has is helped by a pioneer initiative to advertise in 14 major newspapers - the first church to ever do so.

The church's centennial celebrations over the last few years have emphasized the strong heritage of Adventism in the region, yet also focused the mission imperative of working for the many millions who have not yet heard of Jesus Christ.

That particularly stuck one man in the audience. Pyung Il Cho is a pastor in the Republic of Korea. "The challenges are great because of the large population. We have to do many things to proclaim the gospel. Communism in North Korea makes it so difficult to penetrate. As someone who lives in that region I found the reports very accurate. But [the] most important thing is to keep proclaiming the gospel." [Editors: Victor Hulbert and Taashi Rowe for ANN/APD]

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Adventist World Church: Euro-Asians Captivate Session Audience

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 04.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

This evening in the Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri, a presentation by Seventh-day Adventists from the Euro-Asia region held the audience of the world church's business session attendees spellbound.

After a noisy welcome, generated by the Euro-Asian team rattling little wooden spoons together, Pastor Artur Stele, Euro-Asian church president, presented world Adventist church leader Pastor Jan Paulsen with a gigantic and ornately decorated wooden spoon. Smaller spoons, the delegates were informed, would be given to any of them who visit the Euro-Asia booth in the exhibition hall over the next few days.

The Euro-Asia region is the largest geographical region of the Adventist church, comprising the 12 countries that make up the Commonwealth of Independent States: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. To illustrate its size, Stele pointed out that the region covers 11 time zones and the distance across some 6,200 miles.

The main report took the form of a video packed with statistics and fast paced images. Adventists have 147,000 members in the region, with 62,300 of these baptized in the last five years. To accommodate the new members, 781 new churches have been built and another 277 are under construction.

Church leaders in the Euro-Asia region face some special challenges. In Belarus there are legal restrictions that mean that Adventists are not allowed to hire public buildings for worship services. The solution: buy existing buildings or construct new ones. In Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, there are 40 different nationalities to contend with, as well as legacy of the Chechen war. In Kazakhstan, where the population is predominantly Muslim, it is particularly difficult for Christianity to flourish.

Challenges in some parts are balanced by opportunities in others, however. The seeds of the gospel, like the farmers, are finding the soil fertile in Ukraine. Adventists first came to the Ukraine in 1886 and established a church of some 19 members. In the last five years Ukraine has seen 1,093 new Adventist members baptized. In Moldova 23 families have formed evangelistic teams to work in their local communities and many young people are getting involved

This kind of growth seen in the Euro-Asian region does not happen without careful planning. Leaders have developed a number of strategies to accelerate their program of evangelism. These include 30 million printed booklets and satellite television evangelism broadcasts. As in a number of other parts of the world small groups are also proving to be the key to Adventist growth. Following an initiative in 2001 more than 5,000 people attended small group training.

The effectiveness of small group work was brought home by the story of Luba. An invalid since childhood and suffering continuing physical disabilities, Luba prayed that she might find a way to witness for her faith. Her chance came through local radio where she spoke on the subject of loneliness. Immediately following her interview she received a phone call from one of the listeners, and the calls continued all night. She made so many new friends that she was able to begin a small group ministry and lead a number of people to become church members.

A round of applause followed Luba's story at the end of the video presentation, but there was even louder applause when Luba appeared in person on stage. Holding crutches and standing more than three-feet tall she was asked what she would like to say to the audience.

"Dear people," she said through her interpreter. "If the Lord could use me, I believe He can use all of you."

Reactions from the audience showed that the report and Luba's contribution in particular, had impressed many people.

"The report was very exciting and strengthening," said Herber Brugger, a pastor and president of the Adventist Church in Austria. "It's amazing how many young people are involved in the spread of the gospel. I was especially impressed by the handicapped woman who used her gift to to bring the gospel to others. I think we in Austria can learn many things from our brothers and sisters in Euro-Asia."

"Beautiful and amazing," said Isolda Costa from Brazil. "I was impressed by the unity in that region. Christianity knows no boundaries. There are many cultures, but still there is unity in Christ and the church is growing." [Editor: John Surridge for ANN/APD]

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New Technology Improves Adventist Church Meetings

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 04.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Wireless computer networks, electronic voting systems, barcode scanners and 300 "official" cell phones all form an integral part of the running of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's 58th business meetings in St. Louis, Missouri this week. The 142-year old church has held periodic business meetings since the very first one held under a tent in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1863.

"Setting up was a huge task," said audio/visual technical director Warren Judd. "We have been working day and night for a week to get things completed."

Behind the formalities of business and worship services six wireless computer networks allow a constant flow of information between management teams. A one-terabyte hard drive forms a cornerstone of operations with what Dan Hamstra, associate director of Information System Services at the church's world headquarters, describes as a "common photo repository" for all images captured during the Session.

Using this technology along with wireless networks and the associated high-speed Internet connection, media outlets from around the world have been given insight into the happenings of the Session.

Internet is the news delivery system of choice for the world Session. Dozens of news stories, images, audio and video downloads are available. All Internet users can have instant access to the Session at www.news.adventist.org.

"Today, we have to use the technology that is most accessible to everyone," says Ray Dabrowski, director of communication for the world church. "Even a couple of years ago, we couldn't accomplish what seems to be a real-time demand -- instant access to news."

On the floor of the Edward Jones Dome, where the business meetings take place, nine data projectors ensure that delegates and guests have an unobstructed view of the on-stage action.

The Hope Channel, a service of Adventist Television Network (ATN), broadcasts footage from the meetings daily. With six cameras and two editing suites, Hope Channel produces an hour of news along with a combination of live and pre-recorded material at 5:30 p.m. local time. Hope Channel makes the programs available to other broadcasters such as Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN), an independent Adventist broadcaster.

Often-unreliable pagers were replaced with cell phones for the Toronto, Canada meetings five years ago. More than 300 cell phones have been distributed to staff and many delegates attending the 2005 meetings.

"It is very useful for contacting people when they are stuck in their own spaces," said Kathy Pinnick, telecommunications manager for the world church. Sixty-two landline phones have also been installed for use during the meetings.

Church officers will be elected using electronic touch-pads. The nominating committee delegates will take part in a secret ballot that allows automated vote collection and count. Ed Bahr of Pacific Press Publishing Association developed the system to allow accurate and instantaneous display of votes to the nominating committee body.

Barcode scanners have been implemented to ensure that delegates wishing to comment during open-discussion business meetings are dealt with fairly and in a timely fashion. As delegates stand to speak they swipe their delegate badge, which records their names and at which microphone they stand. [Editor: Braden Blyde for ANN/APD]

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Integrity-A 21st Century Imperative (Devotional)

| 04.07.2005 | APD | General Conference Session

B. Lyn Behrens MB, BS

July 4, 2005

In our conversations about leadership we come today to an intangible yet essential aspect of leadership--Integrity.

• What is integrity, and why is it important in the 21 Century?
• What does integrity look like in the lives of individuals and leaders, and in institutions?
• What are the consequences of broken integrity?
• How do we live a life of integrity amidst the opportunities and challenges of the 21 Century?

What is integrity, and why is it important in the 21 Century?

A decade ago our campus community engaged in a process to define how we would translate the lofty words of our mission statement into the reality of daily living. First, we placed Christ as central to all our activities. We affirmed that:

• He is our Model as the Master Teacher, the Great Physician, and the Servant Leader.
• He is the Motivation for our daily work.
• He is our Means to accomplish all He calls us to be and do.
• He is the Foundation of our Faith, Hope and Love.

Next we selected seven virtues to guide personal and professional behavior and institutional decisions, policies and systems. Integrity was one of the seven we embraced. From this framework has flowed our commitment to wholeness and whole person care.

Similarly, in 1998 integrity was listed, along with honesty and courage, as a valued foundation for all actions of the General Conference and its employees[1].

The word integrity comes from the same Latin root as integer. Like a whole number, integrity defines a state of "being" and "living" characterized by unity, completeness and wholeness[2].
Integrity is being "one person." Many of the words we use to indicate a lack of integrity have the sense of being "split in two"--words such as "duplicity" or expressions such as "being two-faced," and being "double-tongued."

Integrity is the wholeness of our character. Integrity is the foundation of our conscience[3]. Integrity calls us, personally and corporately, to discern right from wrong; to thoughtfully identify the pathway of upright living; and to choose to consistently walk that pathway even if it requires great personal sacrifice or institutional cost[4].

Integrity manifests:
• As authenticity - "being who I claim to be and doing what I promise to do"[5].
• As honesty, sincerity, forthrightness and consistent truthfulness.
• As promise keeping and the avoidance of all forms of deception.[6]

Integrity is a universal and timeless principle for living. It is the soil out of which grows trust - such an essential ingredient of all human relationships. Research confirms that integrity is considered to be an essential principle of living for leaders. A survey of 54,000 people placed integrity as the number one quality needed in a leader[7]. Further, 100 top executives of Fortune 500 Companies listed honesty, character and integrity as essential for corporate success[8].

Dwight David Eisenhower, a significant leader in the Second World War, considered integrity to be the "supreme quality for leadership" without which no success would be possible[9].
What does integrity look like in the lives of individuals and leaders, and in institutions?
We see integrity in the lives of Biblical heroes.
We are inspired by the timeless stories of Noah, Moses, Elisha, Nehemiah and Paul. All of these persons courageously lived lives founded on the principle of integrity. They were unmoved by circumstances and even the threat of personal danger or death. Similarly, Joseph remained morally pure in the face of the attempted seduction by Potiphar's wife. He was trustworthy both as a prisoner receiving unjust punishment and as the second in command of the nation of Egypt.
From my youth I have been awed by the life of Daniel - a leader with an unblemished record of integrity.

• He lived with integrity in adverse circumstances. As a youthful captive he was transported a thousand miles from his family and country, yet he neither lost his identifying values nor succumbed to despair.

• He lived with integrity when he was an academic superstar. As the most successful graduate of the world's finest university, he was given preeminence; yet he maintained humility and compassion towards his peers.

• He lived with integrity despite the turbulence of national conquest. As a sage, he stood apart from a world in pursuit of power, prestige, possession, passion and pleasure; yet his counsel was equally valued by the world leaders of succeeding nations-Babylon and Medo-Persia.

He was the trusted and trustworthy counselor of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. The King dreamed about a tree that had been cut down. It was God's solemn warning of impending punishment to be inflicted because of kingly pride and arrogance. This was a message of doom from the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe to the Ruler of the then known World. Although "greatly perplexed," with thoughts that "terrified him"[10] and at great personal risk, Daniel authentically and forthrightly delivered God's message, framing it in gracious words of respect and advice.
The final and supreme test of Daniel's character of integrity came when, as an aged leader, he fell victim to the schemes of jealous colleagues. Their duplicity entrapped King Darius. They could find no flaws in Daniel's character. They, who wished his annihilation, could only attack his faithfulness to God. Daniel's worship of God continued with unwavering consistency. The plot appeared successful. The lion's den received him. But God's protection saved him. Once again he stood as God's witness, this time to Daruis and to the Medo-Persian Empire.

In recent history there are shining examples of leaders who lived integrity in spite of great real or potential personal cost.

Mahatma Gandhi - modeled non-violent resistance to achieve self-government for the citizens of India; Abraham Lincoln - endured civil war for the emancipation of the American slaves; Martin Luther King Jr. - followed his dream, as the champion of non-discrimination, knowing his life was threatened; and Mother Teresa - shunned fanfare and notoriety as she continued her ministry to the untouchables.

Corporate leaders also demonstrate integrity. In 1982 seven people died in the Chicago area of the United States. The cause of their deaths was a medication called Tylenol. No, this was not a drug reaction. They died because someone, not related to the manufacturer, had intentionally poisoned the medication with cyanide. This incident is most remembered today because of the actions taken by the company president. He attempted no cover-up. Immediately he alerted the public to the danger and removed all Tylenol from sale throughout the nation. Only after he was sure that the product was safe was it redistributed[11]. That day, the President of the Johnson and Johnson Company demonstrated personal and corporate integrity. He knew and acted on the company's mission to "alleviate pain and disease" and to provide safe quality products[12]. That incident cost the Johnson & Johnson Company $100 million. That incident gained the Johnson & Johnson Company priceless public trust.

We can identify integrity in business, our institutions, and our Church entities by a variety of behaviors:

• We see integrity in corporate governance when Boards of Trustees ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are approved and implemented; when leadership and management are held accountable for fulfilling the institution's mission, implementing strategic action plans, achieving quality in programs and products, ensuring healthy employee relations and prudently handling all resources; and when real or potential conflicts of interest are fully disclosed.

• We see integrity when everyone is treated with fairness and equality without favoritism or discrimination. Members of our academic communities consistently implement policies of academic integrity and require all students to complete assignments and take examinations honestly even if they are the child of a Board member, a major donor or the President's son or daughter. Quality health care is provided to all patients regardless of their social status or ability to pay. All persons are treated fairly with dignity and respect. The environment is free from discrimination, hostility or any form of harassment. All persons are held to a single standard of accountability for their behavior and performance.

• We see integrity in business practices when commitments and contracts are honored even if it is unfavorable to the person making the commitment; and when there is regulatory compliance and financial integrity in all dealings.

• We see integrity in our institutions and churches when rumors and gossip are confronted and investigated. A pillar in the community was accused of embezzling funds. The rumor circulated like all rumors do - faster than a forest fire! An independent investigation was conducted. Yes, the embezzlement had occurred but the perpetrator was another individual who was then appropriately charged by the civil authorities. The results of the investigation were shared. The falsely accused was cleared of wrong-doing. Gossip ceased and his reputation was restored.

Integrity is not the same thing as perfection. In fact, it is even possible to find integrity when an error has been committed. For example, a child received ten times the dose of medication required for her age and size. The caregiver realized the error as soon as the injection was finished. She was tempted to keep it to herself and to pray that there would be no side effects. But the Board-approved hospital policy was clear - such errors must be reported as soon as recognized. Acting with integrity, the caregiver informed the supervisor and the treating physician immediately. An antidote was administered. Complications were avoided, and the child survived without any permanent side effects. The parents were also informed about the incident - specifically about what had happened, how it was managed and the actions implemented to prevent it from happening again to their child or to anyone else. Forthright acknowledgement that an error has occurred is always challenging. This is especially so for those whose task it is to prevent disease and to bring healing to those who are ill. However, forthrightness is an imperative. In this case it saved a life.

"To err is human." Corporate integrity is displayed when the governing body approves policies and procedures about how to handle errors; when leadership create pathways for reporting errors so they can be promptly mitigated and prevented in the future; and when employees are educated about, and rewarded for, following protocol if a mistake occurs.

In what ways can integrity be breached and what are the consequences?

Pictures are etched in our minds of the morning of September 11, 2001: pictures of two jumbo jets, loaded with unsuspecting passengers and filled to capacity with flammable fuel torpedoing into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City; pictures of persons trapped high above the engulfing flames jumping to their deaths hundreds of feet below; the picture of the gigantic mushroom cloud of dust and debris as those indestructible structures of steel, glass and concrete collapsed into a pile of rubble. Those towers had been built to withstand such an impact. Why then did they collapse? The investigation proved that the inferno buckled the steel girders that ringed the building and supported each floor. One by one each floor stacked like a pancake onto the floor below and the building fell in upon itself.

Integrity is the steel infrastructure that supports our characters, our families, our institutions, our communities, and our Church. Just so, broken integrity fractures personal and professional relationships. And trust within a family, a community, an institution and a church collapses. There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity.

Breaches of integrity always hurt people, institutions, churches and the reputation of our God. Unfortunately, this 21 Century is already marred by evidence of, and damage from, blatant breaches in integrity.

Instances of perjury, duplicity, fraud, immoral and illegal conduct are all too familiar.

• Some corporate leaders have put their own self-interests ahead of organizational responsibilities. The public has been put at risk by the collapse of large corporations through fiscal irresponsibility and blatant dishonesty. Shareholders have been robbed of their rightful returns. The employment of staff and their longer-term financial stability has been jeopardized.

• Immoral conduct has become widespread in the secular world. In fact, it is often the theme of entertainment. Unfortunately, it has even invaded our Church. Secular and spiritual leadership have not been immune to this temptation. The fallout from immorality is always devastating. Clearly, the lives of family members are severely disrupted and most times they are irreversibly damaged. Corporate communities and Church organizations also feel the impact. At a minimum, confusion occurs about the moral code for living. Church members become disillusioned. Trust, the social fabric of our families, communities and our Church entities, is ruptured. And God's name is always dishonored.

• Also egregious is the tolerance for, and perpetuation of, a hostile environment. Discrimination of any kind is never excusable. Regardless of whether discrimination is based on race, ethnicity, gender, or disabilities it should never occur. Likewise, sexual harassment is unacceptable. Both are illegal in many countries and should be cause for discipline up to and including dismissal. Nepotism also creates problems. Whether or not it is real, there is always a perception of favoritism towards the employed relative of a leader or manager - having access to special perks, receiving "insider" information, or being excused for unsatisfactory performance. Associates and supervisors often feel intimidated. Fear of retaliation often delays and/or blunts forthright confrontation of unacceptable behavior. By contrast, there can actually be reverse discrimination where the employed relative is held to a higher standard of performance than is expected of other colleagues.

Beware of the "end justifying the means" trap.

• It is not appropriate to engage in a cover-up even if it is ostensibly to protect the good name of the Church.
Transparency demands that financial difficulties be promptly disclosed to, and addressed by, the responsible governing bodies. Failure to fulfill regulatory requirements should be reported to the appropriate agency as soon as the failure is recognized.

• It is not appropriate to hide confirmed sexual misconduct of a teacher with students, pastor with parishioners, or supervisors with subordinates. Sex offenders are required to register with law enforcement in the USA. It is never appropriate to agree to hold that information as secret while allowing offenders to participate with children in church activities.

• The commitment to exhibit only "loving kindness" must never blunt honesty with others or lead to duplicity.

Colleagues and employees deserve authentic feedback in their evaluations. I, like all of us, thoroughly enjoy affirming colleagues and staff for appropriate performance. However difficult and unpleasant it is to address under-performance of our employees, it is still imperative that we communicate areas needing remediation. Eventually, unacceptable behavior will be addressed! Far better to lay out areas needing change and provide coaching about how to achieve a positive outcome while the situation is remediable than to delay until it is hopeless. Failure to be forthright on a timely basis robs our colleagues and employees of growth opportunities. It sets them up for major professional failure. Their God-given potential is thereby never maximized. If remediation is unsuccessful, individuals should not be moved from one place to another to avoid the crucial confrontation. This only damages the effectiveness of yet another work place, community or church. It always takes courage and it is the way of integrity to counsel about other career paths and then to facilitate their pursuit of these options.

It is never appropriate to hide confrontation of a negative outcome behind prayer. A senior pastor interviewed a couple for an open position on his team. The conversation was glowing about the match between their talents and the proposed tasks. A lengthy prayer concluded the meeting. The minister thanked God for a "perfect fit" and asked His blessing on their working together. Weeks elapsed and there was no call. Phone calls were not answered. Perplexed, the couple sought for answers. It was a bitter lesson. The senior pastor had himself informed the conference committee that he did not want to work with them. Little did he realize his duplicity would be discovered and the profound impact it would have on their journey of faith as Seventh-day Adventist Christians.

• We must protect the ethical line between advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ with integrity while coping with restrictive civil laws. These complex dilemmas require great wisdom, careful, prayerful thought and God's guidance to chart the appropriate course of action.

We are called to avoid less egregious, even socially acceptable, behavior that jeopardizes integrity.

• Facts should not be manipulated or exaggerated. We are to avoid deceit "in word, thought, or action"[13].

• Backbiting is never appropriate. Ellen White characterized backbiting as "cannibalism." We are called to be loyal to all members of our teams and especially to those who are not present in the gathering. "Praise in public and counsel in private" is sage advice for every leader and manager. Such trustworthy behavior builds organizational confidence and commitment[14].
Solomon observed: "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."[15].
How can we live a life of integrity amidst the challenges and opportunities of the 21 Century?
Seven steps to safeguard personal and organizational integrity:

• Always practice transparency: beware of believing that the end justifies the means.

• Treat all employees fairly: create a nurturing work place that is free from discrimination and harassment. Avoid nepotism.

• Be courageous: speak truthfully, listen carefully, ask tough questions, give forthright responses.

• Establish and maintain appropriate boundaries. Avoid all appearances of impropriety.

• Declare conflicts of interest.

• Acknowledge errors promptly. Implement corrective actions.

• Investigate concerns fairly and impartially. Appropriately disclose the results.
How does one live a life of integrity in the 21 Century?
It is proposed that ninety percent of all leadership failures are character failures[16]. Our characters are built from the accumulation of the day-by-day choices and actions of our lives. What we think, what we say and what we do in relationship to others and our God determines who we are in our inner being. We are counseled by Ellen White to "weave stern principles of integrity into our characters"[17].

We all have lapses in our integrity. These are times when we stray from the path of right living, times of brokenness. Conviction comes to us in many ways. It may come through confrontation by a colleague, through observation of another's brokenness that is a mirror to our own status, or through Scripture. But it is most often in prayer, as we reflect on the day's activities or wait in silence before God, that the searchlight of His Holiness shines into the nooks and crannies of our souls and brings conviction of our brokenness. With conviction comes a choice:

• The choice to make excuses until the conviction fades and there is a return of the feeling: "I'm really OK just as I am." Or

• The choice to accept the conviction and be changed. John tells us[18] that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict about sin [the brokenness of my integrity], to convict about righteousness [that Christ is my Messiah, forgiving my sinfulness and allowing me to forgive myself], and to convict about judgment [that I am freed from Satan's slavery; free to begin again, to acquire new knowledge and skill, to be transformed by His power and grace to wholeness and full integrity].
Mark's gospel[19] gives to us the hope of God's transforming grace in the midst of brokenness. He records the words of a father who brought his son to Christ for healing. The situation was hopeless. The disciples were impotent to provide a cure. Christ affirmed that if the father could believe the child would be healed. In desperate and courageous forthrightness the father admitted, "I believe, help me with my doubts." He was still of "two minds." Christ did bring healing to the son. And in that miracle, I believe, there was also healing for the father and assurance of healing for us - the assurance that His grace can bridge the brokenness in our lives; that His grace brings unity or integrity to our being.

Gordon MacDonald, a Christian author, who himself has known moral brokenness in the face of temptation, points us back to Daniel and asks a critical question: "How did Daniel survive and even thrive in that world of incredible brutality and disregard for human value?"[20]. The answer comes from Scripture: "When Daniel learned that the decree had been published he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."[21]. We, who live in the 21 Century, are invited to maintain a living connection with the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. He is the Source of all wisdom and power. We can know and be about His agenda. We can experience His transforming grace. Empowerment comes from a living connection with the God of the Universe.

Crucial questions for 21 Century living:

• Do we, as persons, professionals and leaders, stop three times every day to refocus on God and seek His wisdom in dealing with the dilemmas we encounter in our various roles? If we did, what might be the transformation in our personal lives and in the institutions and entities entrusted to our leadership?

• Do we, like Christ, rise early for unhurried time with our Creator and Messiah? Henry Nouwen, noted spiritual writer of the 20th Century, said: "Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and place for God, and Him alone"[22].

• Is our mind informed and enriched by Scripture? Do we experience God's sustaining power and grace?

Ellen White reminds us that: "The power that is near to deliver from physical harm or distress is also near to save from the greater evil, making it possible for the servant of God to maintain his integrity under all circumstances, and to triump

________________________________________
[1] Statement of Ethical Foundations for the General Conference and its employees. September 1998
[2] Stephen L. Carter. Integrity, Harper Perennial, New York 1997, p. 7.
[3] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 349.
[4] Stephen L. Carter. Integrity, Harper Perennial, New York 1997, p. 7.
[5] Richard Kriegbaum. Leadership Prayers, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 1998, p. 85.
[6] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 150.
[7] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 148.
[8] Eric Allenbaugh. Deliberate Success: Realize Your Vision with Purpose, Passion, and Performance, Carter Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ 2002, pp. 83.
[9] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 146.
[10] Daniel 4:19.
[11] Eric Allenbaugh. Deliberate Success: Realize Your Vision with Purpose, Passion, and Performance, Carter Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ 2002, pp. 78-82.
[12] James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras. Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, Harper Business, New York 1994, pp. 58-61.
[13] Judith C. Lechman. The Spirituality of Gentleness: Growing toward Christian Wholeness, Harper and Rowe Publishers, San Francisco, CA 1987, p. 89.
[14] Stephen Covey. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, Fireside Simon and Schuster, New York 1989, p. 196.
[15] Proverbs 11:3
[16] Stephen R. Covey. The 8 Habit. From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press, New York 2004, p. 147.
[17] E. G. White. Messages to Young People. p. 45.
[18] John16: 8-11
[19] Mark 9:24
[20] Gordon MacDonald. Forging a Real World Faith, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN 1989, p. 121.
[21] Daniel 6:10
[22] Henry Nouwen. Making All Things New. Harper, San Francisco,CA 1981, p. 69.

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Religious Leaders Appreciate Adventist Values, Pray for Success

St. Louis, Missouri/USA | 13.07.2005 | ANN/APD | General Conference Session

Religious leaders visiting the Seventh-day Adventist world church's business meetings, held from June 30 to July 9 in St. Louis, Missouri/USA, commended the church for its values, and prayed its work will be successful.

"Our prayer is that through these sessions you will grow in three distinctive Christian qualities that we share with you: the qualities of peace, praise and purpose," said Dr. Lynn Jost of the Mennonite Brethren College. He prayed that the church will "represent God so clearly that the world will find God's love irresistible."

"I like to see what Jesus is doing through others," added Most Reverend Robert J. Hermann, Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis. "I am thankful for the values we share together. I appreciate what you're doing and what the Lord is doing through you. I have a lot to learn and as I learn from you I will be keeping my eyes and ears and mind open."

Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger, Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, said he was glad for "the great opportunity to have you here in the home city of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. I appreciate the strong stand Adventists have in taking Scripture seriously, and the stand you take on life. I commend you for your zeal in community and in taking the gospel to the world. I pray that the Lord will bless you mightily as you bring many people to the Lord."

Rabbi Susan Talve said that she was "probably the only non-Christian here, but as a vegetarian and Sabbath-keeper I feel very much at home. While there are places where we have different ideas, I have appreciated what you are doing here. Nothing speaks more to my heart and gives hope to our world. As Rabbi of the only congregation within the city limits I share with you the belief that we have to address real people and real issues such as racism and poverty. The fact you have brought so many people here in God's presence and in God's will to do his work means we will all benefit."

In a letter to the those attending the meetings, Dr. Denton Lotz of the Baptist World Alliance spoke of his organization's appreciation of the Adventist church's religious liberty stand. "Your defense of religious freedom around the world has won the acclaim of many governments and churches. The Baptist World Alliance joins with you in supporting religious freedom for all people." He added "We rejoice in this tremendous gathering of Seventh-day Adventists and join with you in praying God's blessings on this world at war."

On behalf of the Presbyterian Church USA, Executive Presbyter Paul T. Reiter, addressed the meetings.

"It's perhaps not surprising that guests from other faiths visiting our session have commended Adventists," said Dr. John Graz, director of the Adventist world church's Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department. "To some degree, it's what's expected. But we really appreciate the specific endorsements of some of our values, especially as they relate to important issues in our world. We also thank them for their prayers on our behalf."

The protestant mainstream church of Seventh-day Adventists was formally established in North America in 1863. Today, this Christian World Communion is active in more than 200 nations worldwide. A total of 25 million Adventist Christians attend worship services each week. The church headquarters (General Conference) is based in Silver Spring, Maryland, near the US Capital Washington D.C. [Editors: Jonathan Gallagher and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]

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