Está en la página 1de 48

The International Paper for Seventh-day Adventists

Apr i l 2 01 6

Talking

FAITH
,
Protecting
FREEDOM

22

Our Greatest

Strength

43

Daniel: The Blessings


of

Obedience

North American Division | n a d

Apr il 2016
C O V E R

The International Paper for Seventh-day Adventists

24

Apr il 2016

Talking

FAITH,
FREEDOM

Our Greatest

43

Strength

F U N D A M E N T A L

Dialogue helps us understand


and be understood.

The
Zika Virus:

Looking for Answers

Obedience

V I S T A

By Jordan Stephan

Some people talk about unity; some people live it.

30

N A D

By Scott Christiansen

F E AT U R E

Along with questions about origin and transmission are the theological ones.

8 Being Like Jesus


W O R L D

B E L I E F S

Talking Faith,
Protecting
Freedom

Daniel: The Blessings


of

22 Our Greatest Strength


By Ganoune Diop

Protecting

22

S T O R Y

38

A D V E N T I S T

By Ted N. C. Wilson

The best way to share our faith is to reflect


Christs character.

L I F E

Ten Things I Learned From


Church Planting

By Jlio Csar Leal

20 A Story to Tell

Start small and go from there.

By Ty Gibson

An epic story in seven acts

By Gibson Caesar with Lael Caesar

Its always rewarding to see how God has led.

D E V O T I O N A L

40 Another Native Son


A D V E N T I S T

H E R I T A G E

D E PA RT M E N T S
3 W O R





6
10
11
14
17
18

L D

R E P O R T

News Feature
A One-Day Church
NAD News
NAD Update
NAD Perspective
NAD Letters

19 W O R L D H E A
The Zika Virus

L T H

B I
42 

B L E
Q U E S T I O N S
A N S W E R E D

43 B I B L E S T U D Y
Daniel: The Blessings of
Obedience
44

I D E A

E X C H A N G E

A Question of Slavery

www.adventistworld.org
Available in 12 languages online
The Adventist World (ISSN 1557-5519), one of the Adventist Review family of publications, is printed monthly by the Pacific Press Publishing Association. Copyright 2016. Send address changes to
your local conference membership clerk. Contact information should be available through your local church. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 11, No. 4, April 2016.

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

C O V E R

I M A G E :

B A N A N A S T O C K / T H I N K S T O C K

WORLD REPORT
By Carolina Flix, South American Division

Brazils Player of the Year

Stands for Sabbath

J A I M E

C O S TA

Soccer goalkeeper stuns the countrys sporting world.

P H O T O S :

The young couple between me and the


airline window smiled as I slid into my aisle
seat. After I buckled my seatbelt, the husband
leaned forward.
Were Jim and Amy, he said, offering his
hand. Glad were flying together.
Unaccustomed to such graciousness from
airline seatmates, I returned the smile, and
murmured a question about their reasons for
making this three-hour flight.
Oh, we work for InterVarsity Christian
Fellowship. Were on our way to a convention,
Amy said cheerfully. What are you headed to?
A speaking appointment, I said wearily.
I wasnt eager to launch into a theological
conversation when I was already tired and
hoping to sleep.
In moments, they had deftly extracted
from me my identity as an Adventist pastor
and editor, and my plans to preach at a camp
meeting far from my Maryland home.
Really? they said, eyes widening with obvious delight. Would you mind terribly if we asked
you some questions about your faith? You see,
weve never actually met a real, live Seventh-day
Adventist, and theres a lot wed like to know.
So unfolded my favorite airline conversation evera thoughtful interchange that
ranged from the seventh-day Sabbath to the
Second Coming to Adventist lifestyle practices.
We even talked about the Spirit of Prophecy
after a grinning 20-year old two rows back
(who had obviously been listening) urged Jim
and Amy, Ask him about Ellen G. White!
Three hours later, after many questions
and earnest prayer, we parted in the airport
terminal, sensing that we had done something
Jesus very much wanted us to do.
There are millions like Jim and Amy out
therededicated followers of Jesus who just
now are gathered in some other faith, but still
fully attentive to the Great Shepherds voice.
Other sheep I have which are not of this fold;
them also I must bring, and they will hear My
voice (John 10:16) Jesus says. How will they
hear unless we start conversations, build
friendships, and share faith?
As you read this months feature on how
the wider Seventh-day Adventist
Church talks with other world
faiths, pray for those whom
the Spirit is even now leading
into a conversation with you.

Left: Carlos Vtor da Costa Ressurreio, 30, says he wouldnt be


playing soccer if it werent for God. Right: Ressurreio stretching
during practice with his team, Londrina Esporte Clube.

n up-and-coming soccer goalkeeper has stirred up a storm


in Brazils sporting world by announcing that he will no
longer play matches scheduled from sundown Friday to
sundown Saturday.
Carlos Vtor da Costa Ressurreio, 30, who was baptized into the
Seventh-day Adventist Church last month, disclosed his decision at a
news conference, sparking a wave of surprise, sympathy, even anger
from fans and sports commentators who struggled to understand his
rationale.
The furor is in no small part linked to the fact that Ressurreio has
made a number of important saves in the past year that moved his
Londrina Esporte Clube up from Serie C to Serie B in the Brazilian
National Championship, the main soccer league championship in the
country. Ressurreio was named player of the year, resulting in a job
offer from Serie A team Chapecoense that would have doubled his salary.
Ressurreio turned down the job because it wouldnt have
allowed him to observe the seventh-day Sabbath as mandated by the
fourth commandment, according to the newspaper Lance!
Continued on next page

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

WORLD REPORT
Moreover, Ressurreios future is
up in the air because a number of
Serie B matches are held on Friday
nights and Saturdays. His team has
announced that it will not renew his
contract when it ends in May.
But Ressurreio is clinging to his
convictions, telling the news conference
on January 20 that he wouldnt even
be playing soccer if it werent for God.
A year before his baptism, he said,
he spent four long months at home in
Salvador, in the state of Bahia, without
a signed contract with any team. During that time his wife, Gabriela, was
approached by a friend at a hair salon
and offered a partnership in producing handbags. The two women subsequently created their own label and
formed a business that grew quickly,
Ressurreio said.
In a short amount of time the
profit grew larger than my salary had
been in the soccer club, he said. That
was the moment I understood that

God had several possible ways to care


for my family.
After this realization, Ressurreio
set aside his fears about not being able
to land a soccer contract and instead
began a process that he called intimacy with God. He started to study
the Bible and pray every day.
My faith is not based on words
said by a pastor or anything like that,
he said. I studied the Bible and came
to the conclusion that I needed to
grow spiritually.
As he studied, he became convinced that his mother-in-law, Tnia
Rocha, a Seventh-day Adventist, had
been right when she had told him
about the Sabbath 12 years earlier. He
was baptized on December 27.
The uncertainties that Ressurreio now faces may be as daunting
as those that he had when he didnt
have a soccer contract a year ago. But
he expressed calmness about the
future when a reporter asked him at

Die
Faith

By Andrew
McChesney

Willing to
for Their

Two married couples tell why they


moved to the Middle East

arge tears welled up in Juanitas


eyes. She drew her young
daughter close in her arms. But
her voice remained resolute as she spoke
about the possibility that she might die
for her faith in the Middle East.

When you are sure of the call of


God and the call of the church, it is easier to go to dangerous places because
you know that God will be with you,
Juanita said. He will help us.
Her husband, Carlos, nodded his

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

the news conference whether he was


prepared to choose between his faith
and his career.
Without any doubt, I choose my
faith, he said. Many others came
before me, giving me this opportunity
to choose.
But he isnt sitting around. As the
clock ticks down on his current contract, he has started a Bible study
group with his teammates.
Im at peace because my life is in
the hands of God, he said. As long as
there are teams that respect my beliefs,
sports will always be an option. If not,
the Lord has already shown me in the
past that He will take care of me.
Ressurreios stand is winning
admiration from some sports commentators. Im not religious, but Im
touched by Vtors choice, said Ayrton
Baptista, Jr., a sports blogger with
Globo Esporte, one of the best-known
sports Web sites in Brazil. His faith
speaks loudly. n

head solemnly. He said he had been


thinking about Arabs who made international headlines giving their lives
for a cause they believed in, no matter
how wrong the cause might be. Why
cant we believe in our cause and be
willing to give our lives, too? he said.
This is the true cause; it is the cause
of Jesus.
Carlos, Juanita, and their daughter
are among 17 Seventh-day Adventist
families who arrived in the Middle
East from South America in February
2015. The highly-trained professionals
gave up comfortable jobs in their
home countries to spend the next five
years working in one of parts of the
world where it is most difficult to
share the gospel.

A R
/
M C C H E S N E Y
A N D R E W

Juanita and her daughter hold hands and together hold the daughters doll.

The past year has been filled with


Arabic lessons, intensive planning,
and complicated paperwork as the
couples inch closer to securing jobs in
restricted-access countries. Their goal
is to serve as tentmakers: front-line,
self-supporting Adventists who share
their faith in the workplace. Juanita
and Carlos spoke about their efforts in
a candid interview. Adventist World is
not using the couples real names nor
disclosing their location because of
the sensitivity of their work.
Tears formed in Juanitas eyes
when she was asked how she had
weighed the risks as a mother. Before
leaving South America, she said, she
and Carlos signed a document granting custody of their daughter to her
maternal grandparents in the event
something happened to them. Juanita
said she had no doubt that God had
called not just her and Carlos but
also their daughter to serve in the
Middle East.

God has called us as a team, the


three of us, she said, holding her cooing daughter on her lap. The call is
for her as well, even though she
doesnt know it.
The girl has already helped her
parents make inroads in a culture
where its difficult for foreigners to
make friends with Arabs. Not only are
men and women strictly segregated,
but Arabs and foreigners often live in
their own worlds as well.
The other day, Carlos was playing
with his daughter at an outdoor playground when her antics caught the
attention of an Arab father who had a
child of the same age. The two men
started conversing and ended up
exchanging phone numbers. Soon
Carlos new friend invited him to a
one-on-one game of ball.
My daughter is making a lot of
connections, Carlos said.
Personal relationships are especially important in the Arab world,

where literature evangelism, public


meetings, and other outreach efforts
common elsewhere are banned,
church leaders said.
No Adventist believers have been
killed for their faith in the Middle East
in recent memory, said Homer Trecartin, president of the Adventist
Churchs Middle East and North
Africa Union. We have had some
close calls, but I am not aware of any
who have died, he said.
But Trecartin openly tells potential
volunteers that they must be willing to
die if they accept a call to serve in the
Middle East. I dont want people to
come and help us for the adventure
and thrill, he said. I want them to
come because they really believe that
God has called them and they are willing to go, even if it means they never
return home.
All the self-supporting families
who arrived in the Middle East last
year were selected in a process that
involved being screened by the
churchs South American Division and
approved by the Middle East and
North African Union. The South
American Division is covering many
of the families expenses as they settle
down to work.
Meanwhile, Carlos said he didnt
know whether God would call him
and his wife to make the ultimate sacrifice. He said he didnt know whether
they were ready to die. But he said he
believed that God would prepare them
if that time came. We know God will
give us the strength to face any difficulty, he said as his daughter, now
off her mothers lap, joyfully toddled
around the room. If He calls us to
make that sacrifice, it would be an
honor, of course. We are at peace. If
we are within the will of God and
serving Him, we are happy. n

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

WORLD REPORT

ission pilot Gary Roberts


has flown airplanes from the
United States to destinations
in the Philippines, Angola, and South
America. Once he even airlifted an ill
baby elephant for medical treatment
in Chad.
All those experiences helped prepare Roberts for the delivery of a mission plane from Austria to its new
home at Adventist Aviation Indonesia
in Papua, a complex trip that involved
stops in nearly a dozen countries,
obtaining permits from 17 countries,
and more than 80 hours of flying time.
The flight was also personal. Roberts
was piloting a plane to replace a plane
that had crashed 20 months earlier,
killing his father, veteran mission pilot
Bob Roberts.
It was not only his fathers legacy,
however, that compelled Roberts to make
the 16,335-kilometer (10,150-mile) flight
over the Middle East and southern Asia,
countries located in the so-called 10/40
window (between 10 and 40 degrees
north of the equator) that have the
highest level of socioeconomic challenges
and least access to the gospel message.
There is still a great need in many
of the countries, Gary Roberts said of
the countries that he flew over and
prayed over during his trip. I just ask
you to continue to uplift them and our
church administration there.
He also expressed gratitude for
people around the world who had
prayed for him during the sometimes
perilous journey filled with setbacks
but also opportunities to share God.
The Pilatus PC-6 Porter airplane
will be used for mission outreach in
the 10/40 window of southeast Asia.
Acquiring the Plane

Obstacles always seem to accompany trips of great magnitude, and

By Teresa Costello, Southern Asia-Pacific Division

Mission Pilots Remarkable

10,000-Mile Trip
An Austria-to-Indonesia flight carries
on his fathers work.

Roberts faced the first when he carried


out an initial inspection of the aircraft
in Vienna and found corrosion in the
engine. It was bad enough that we
thought we would have to send the
engine to a shop to be opened up,
cleaned, and inspected before we
could bring it here, said his wife,
Wendy, who closely followed the flight
from their home in Papua.
The planes owner, a resident of
Jordan, called off the sale when he
found out about the rust. But several
months later he contacted the Adventists and offered the plane at a significantly lower price, taking into account
the reality that the required repairs
would cost an estimated $150,000.
Then the Adventists learned that
the planes paperwork had not been
kept up-to-date, and they spent considerable time sorting that out. After
that, Gary Roberts traveled to the owners home in Jordan to seal the deal.
Following the purchase, Roberts
decided to fly the Swiss-built plane to
its factory in Switzerland to have the
work done on the engine. Thats when
a big miracle occurred, his wife said.
When he arrived, they put their
scope, the camera, into the engine,
and it was clean! she said.

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

The factory inspector had seen the


engine photos sent earlier by the
Adventists, and he asked Gary Roberts
with astonishment, Are you sure this
is the same engine?
We believe God healed the
engine, Wendy Roberts said.
Up and Away

Many months passed while the


Adventists processed the paperwork
and importation permission to bring
the plane into Indonesia. Gary Roberts
finally headed to Vienna in midNovember to pick up the plane. The
plan was to meet his copilot, Dwayne
Harris of Philippine Adventist Medical Aviation Services, and fly out of
Vienna on November 19, 2015.
Harris flight from Manila to Vienna,
however, was delayed by an ill passenger,
so he and Roberts agreed to meet
instead in Athens, Greece. Harris arrived
in Athens on November 20, only to
learn that Roberts had faced a delay
getting a visa for India and would only
arrive with the plane on November 22.
It was vital to stay on schedule.
Roberts had started planning the itinerary and securing permits for the trip
in February 2015. Some permits were
valid only for a certain time period, and

Left: Gary Roberts landing a new mission plane in Papua, Indonesia,


after a 10,150-mile flight. Right: Gary Roberts being greeted by his wife,
Wendy, and daughter, Cherise, at Adventist Aviation Indonesia on Dec. 8.
any unexpected delay could require
him to submit a new application.
Roberts landed as planned on
November 22, but strong winds forced
them to wait until November 23 to
leave for the next planned stop, Egypt.
Early the next morning, November
23, Roberts and Harris flew to Egypt
with minimal complications. At an
airport on the Mediterranean shore a
young woman who helped refuel aircraft asked Roberts what he was doing
with the plane. He told her that he
worked for God. God? she replied
with surprise. Is there even a God?
Roberts said he was reminded that
Christians have a duty to share their
faith wherever they go. We still have a
lot of work to do, even in modern
countries, he said.
The next day, November 24, the
pilots encountered unexpected ice as
they flew over Saudi Arabia en route
from Egypt to Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates. Across the desert, youd
think it would be nice weather because
youre over a dry desert, Harris said.
But it was the worst weather of the
whole flight.
The plane started picking up dangerous ice as it cruised at 3,050 meters
(10,000 feet). The pilots requested and

P H O T O S :

C O U R T E S Y

O F

G A R Y

R O B E R T S

received permission to change their


route and descend to about 2750
meters (9,000 feet). The bad weather
and resulting diversion caused the
plane to land several hours after sunset.
The Last Leg

In Abu Dhabi the two pilots parted


ways. Harris, who hadnt secured an
Indian visa, applied at the Indian
embassy, and Roberts took off on a
commercial flight to Indonesia to
attend the previously scheduled yearend meetings of the East Indonesia
Union Conference, for which he was a
delegate. Ultimately, Harris wasnt
able to obtain the visa, and he flew
home to the Philippines.
Roberts returned to Abu Dhabi
after four days. Technical issues
delayed his departure by one day. From
there Roberts flew almost nine hours
with good weather to India. Next he
flew to Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Bolstered by many people worldwide praying for the journey, Roberts
continued on to Thailand, to Borneo,
and then to several stops in Indonesia
before reaching the Adventist Aviation
Indonesia headquarters on December
8. Roberts became the first known
Adventist mission pilot to fly around

the world longitudinally in a small


aircraft.
At the airstrip he was met by his
wife, Wendy, and daughter, Cherise.
Roberts and his family moved to
Indonesia after the death of his father
to continue his work with Adventist
Aviation Indonesia. The elder Roberts
and one passenger died on April 9,
2014, when the Quest Kodiak plane he
was piloting struggled to become airborne on takeoff and crashed into a
bridge at the end of the runway at the
headquarters of Adventist Aviation
Indonesia. Gary Roberts now flies in
the same areas his father once flew.
The arrival of the new plane means
that Adventist Aviation Indonesia will
be able to expand its work of spreading
the gospel in practical ways. The plane
will be used to transport pastors, Bible
workers, missionaries, and literature to
areas inaccessible by vehicles. In addition, the plane will act as an ambulance, ferrying people from remote
areas to medical care in larger towns.
We pray that many will be saved
for eternity because of this tool God
has given us to reach those in remote
places, Wendy Roberts said.
Contact Gary Roberts at medical
aviation@gmail.com. n

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

W O R L D

V I S T A

Being Like

ne of the most important verses


in the Bible is found in 1 John
4:8: He who does not love does
not know God, for God is love.
Throughout His earthly ministry,
Jesus repeatedly stressed the importance
of love. When asked, Which is the first
commandment of all? (Mark 12:28),
Jesus responded by quoting a wellknown passage from Deuteronomy:
And you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your
strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment
greater than these (Mark 12:30, 31).
After washing His disciples feet,
Jesus told them, A new commandment
I give to you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love
one another. By this all will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love
for one another (John 13:34, 35).
The beloved apostle John echoes
this important theme in 1 John 4:7, 8:
Beloved, let us love one another, for
love is of God; and everyone who
loves is born of God and knows God.
He who does not love does not know
God, for God is love.
John continues in verse 16: And we
have known and believed the love that
God has for us. God is love, and he who
abides in love abides in God, and God
in him. Love has been perfected among
us in this: that we may have boldness in
the day of judgment; because as He is,
so are we in this world. There is no fear
in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment. But he
who fears has not been made perfect in
love. We love Him because He first
loved us (verses 16-19).

A Beautiful Diamond

Like a beautiful diamond, God is


multi-faceted. The God of love is also
the God of truth. We read in Deuter-

Speaking the truth in love

onomy 32:4 that He is the Rock, His


work is perfect; For all His ways are
justice, A God of truth and without
injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
The changelessness of Gods love is
balanced by the changelessness of His
truth. For I am the Lord, I change
not, He says in Malachi 3:6. God
doesnt change, so His truth remains
the same.
In His prayer to the Father, Christ
stated, They [His followers] are not
of the world, even as I am not of the
world. Sanctify them through Thy
truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast
sent me into the world, even so have I
also sent them into the world (John
17:17, 18, KJV).
Gods Wordthe Bibleis His
truth, and because it is His truth, it is
changeless. Jesus sends His believers
out to share His truth. And because
His truth runs contrary to the world,
its often met with hostility and rejection. Nevertheless, Love suffers long
and is kind; love does not envy; love
does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek
its own, is not provoked, thinks no
evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but
rejoices in the truth (1 Cor. 13:4-6).
Speaking the Truth in Love

Jesus gives many examples of how


to speak the truth in love. One of the
best known is in John 4, where Jesus
speaks with a Samaritan woman at
Jacobs well.
The Jews avoided interactions with
Samaritans because they considered
them to have an impure, twisted form

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

of religion. But Jesus reached out to


everyone. He knew He had a work to
do in Samaria and trusted God to lead
Him. Furthermore, He wanted to set
an example for the disciples, revealing
that their work would be broader than
just to Israel.
When Jesus met the Samaritan
woman at the well, He thirsted not
only for a cup of water, He longed to
heal her soul. Because Jesus was not
afraid to speak the truth in love, an
encounter that began with a simple
request turned into an effective twoday evangelistic outreach.
A Difficult Conversation

The conversation between Jesus


and the woman at the well wasnt easy;
Jesus had to say some hard things. He
wanted her to see her need of the living water He had to offer, and how the
way she had lived her life up to that
point had been keeping her from Him.
After the woman expressed a desire
for the living water Christ was offering, He gently brought her need to the
forefront. Go, call your husband, He
said, and come here (John 4:16).
Admitting that she didnt have a
husband, Jesus responded, You have
well said, I have no husband, for you
have had five husbands, and the one
whom you now have is not your husband (verses 17, 18).
The truth hurt, and the woman
didnt want to talk about what she had
hoped would remain secret. Seeking
to divert the conversation, she brought
up a long-standing theological controversy: Sir, I perceive that You are a

Jesus
By Ted N. C. Wilson

those who worship Him must worship


in spirit and truth (John 4:23, 24).
True worship, Jesus said, is in spirit
and truthyou cant just have the
spirit or just the truth. You must have
both. In spirit means to be in accordance with Gods spirit of love and
following His way. Truth is always
according to His Word; thats where
truth is defined. Those who worship
in spirit and truth are the true worshippers that the Father seeks. God is
the focus; Hes the source of truth, and
its His Spirit that draws us to worship,
know, and love Him.
No Ordinary Man

prophet. Our fathers worshiped on


this mountain, and you Jews say that
in Jerusalem is the place where one
ought to worship (verses 19, 20).
Jesus didnt dismiss the diversion
immediately, but instead watched for
an opportunity to again bring the
truth home to her heart. Woman,
believe Me, He told her, the hour is
coming when you will neither on this
mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship
the Father (verse 21).
But Jesus goes farther, stating: You
worship what you do not know; we
know what we worship, for salvation
is of the Jews (verse 22).
This was a hard truth for a Samaritan to hear, nevertheless it was imporI M A G E :

L D S

M E D I A

tant. Paul acknowledged this truth in


Romans 3:1, 2: What advantage then
has the Jew, or what is the profit of
circumcision? Much in every way!
Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
In Spirit and Truth

As Jesus spoke with the woman at


the well, he sought to lift her thoughts
above form, ceremony, and controversy. He longed to free her from the
bondage of sin and prejudice.
The hour is coming, and now is,
Jesus continued, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit
and truth; for the Father is seeking such
to worship Him. God is Spirit, and

The Samaritan woman sensed that


the Person with whom she spoke was
no ordinary man. And even though
He had confronted her with some difficult truths, Ellen White observed,
she felt that He was her friend, pitying and loving her. While the very
purity of His presence condemned her
sin, He had spoken no word of denunciation, but had told her of His grace,
that could renew the soul.1
Sensing Christs warmth and
acceptance, she dared to broach the
question on her heart: I know that
Messiah is coming . . . When He
comes, He will tell us all things (verse
25). Immediately Jesus responded, I
who speak to you am He (verse 26).
Ellen White observed: As the
woman heard these words, faith
sprang up in her heart. She accepted
the wonderful announcement from
the lips of the divine Teacher. With a
heart filled with joy, she hastened on
her way, to impart to others the precious light she had received.2
Truth As It Is In Jesus

Today God has revealed the truth for


these last days: truth as it is in Jesus, in
His righteousness and salvation, in His
Three Angels Messages, in His sanctuary service, in His health message, and

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

V I S T A

1
2

One-DayChurch
By Carrie Purkeypile,

Maranatha Volunteers International

A One-Day Answer to a 12-Year Prayer


I NT E R N AT I O N A L

in His soon return. We Seventh-day


Adventists must not keep these truths
from the world. Its not our truth, its
Gods truth. He wants it shared with
everyone, in order to save everyone.
We are calledeven amongst ourselvesto speak the truth in love, even
when the truth goes against culture,
worldly wisdom, or values. Our speech
and convictions must always be
accompanied with compassion for
those who may not agree with us,
whether they be in the church or in the
public. We should share our convictions, based on Gods holy Word and
the leading of the Holy Spirit, with
love and compassion demonstrating
Christs eternal love working in us.
The message entrusted to Gods
remnant people is trans-cultural and
timeless as indicated in Revelation 14:
Then I saw another angel flying in
the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who
dwell on the earthto every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people (verse 16).
Our message is as relevant today as
when it first sounded in the 1840s; in
fact, its even more relevant now
because were closer to the time of
Jesus return. Now is the time for total
member involvement and total faithfulness to Gods Word. Now is the time
for us to be speaking the truth in love,
that we may grow up in all things into
Him who is the headChristfrom
whom the whole body, joined and knit
together by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working by
which every part does it share, causes
growth of the body for the edifying of
itself in love (Eph. 4:15, 16). n

M A R A N AT H A VO L U NT E E R S

W O R L D

Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 189.


Ibid., pp. 190, 191.

Ted N. C. Wilson is president of the Seventh-day


Adventist Church.

10

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

Church members
arrive to watch
the construction
of their One-Day
Church frame, and
cook lunch for the
workers (inset).
Within months
walls for the
building had been
completed.

In the early 2000s Adventists in Godzo,


Zimbabwe, decided that they needed
a place of their own to worship. They
pooled their resources and dove into
the construction of four walls. But as
often happens in rural southern Africa,
construction stalled when it came to
purchasing metal sheeting, support
beams, and roofing materials.
The walls built with so much dedication and enthusiasm wilted and
crumbled under the sun, wind, and rains merciless routine. The walls built in
2002 were never completed, never graced with a roof, all for a lack of funds.
The congregation continued meeting wherever they could, most recently in a
rented classroom of the local public school.
A dozen years after starting their building, an answer arrived in the form of
a One-Day Church. When Maranathas crew pulled into Godzo and unloaded
the steel frame and solid aluminum panel roof, years of prayer were answered.
Church members were ecstatic! Everyone gathered: either to watch, help, or
prepare a celebratory meal for the crew.
Just one year later the Godzo Adventist Church is a beautiful building,
complete with hand-hewn pews, windows, and bright, welcoming doors.
Given the chance to have a solid structure and roof, members wasted no
time in building walls for the church for which theyve been praying for
more than a decade!
ASI and Maranatha Volunteers International
collaborate to fund and facilitate One-Day Church
and One-Day School projects. Since the projects
launch in August 2009, more than 4,500 One-Day
Churches have been built around the world.

NAD NEWS

Adventist Health Roseville employees join with facilities employees to participate in the California International
Marathon each December.
A D V E N T I S T

Adventist Health-Roseville
Receives

Well Workplace Award

dventist Health-Roseville is
one of only 28 companies
nationwideand the only
one in Californiato receive goldlevel recognition in 2015 for its
commitment to worksite wellness.
The Wellness Council of America
(WELCOA) uses a rigorous set of
criteria when evaluating organizations
that compete to be recognized
as among Americas healthiest
companies.
System-wide, Adventist Healths
worksite wellness initiative is known
as LivingWell, a whole-person health
and wellness program that encourages
employees to take an active role in
their well-being. LivingWell offers
classes, activities, and challenges to

help employees set and achieve health


goals. Team activities, such as participating in the California International
Marathon each December, provide
employees with the opportunity to
come together as a group to improve
their health.
Last year Scott Reiner, Adventist
Health System/West president, and the
executive cabinet challenged each
Adventist Health facility to form a
LivingWell team. In 2016 theyve challenged hospitals to apply for WELCOAs Well Workplace Award at the
bronze level or above. There are four
designations of the Well Workplace
Awardbronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Each of these designations is
based upon progressive development

H E A LT H

V O L U N T E E R

and implementation of an organizations wellness initiative within the


context of seven critical benchmarks.
The Roseville LivingWell team got
a jump-start on the 2016 challenge
when Jill Waters, LivingWell team
cochair and innovation resident, led
the charge to complete and submit the
application in December. Waters
worked with Seth Leamon, a resident
in the Central Valley Network, to
develop a guide for all entities to use
to complete the application.
The executive cabinet has also
challenged Adventist Health employees to maintain their BMI (body mass
index) by 2017, defying the annual
weight-gain trend in America. Reaching this goal means that Adventist
Health employees will collectively
keep off 300,000 pounds by 2020, the
equivalent of four fully loaded
18-wheel truck trailers. The ultimate
goal is to lower health risks, increase
employee energy to serve patients, and
enjoy time with family and friends.
Shelby Seibold, Adventist Health
Continued on next page

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

11

NAD NEWS

B R E A N A

S O L I D AY

shoot, edit, and produce their films


before they are shown to a jury of
professionals and premiered at a redcarpet, black-tie event.
Price initially developed his career
as a composer for contemporary
dance. In 1996 he was invited by composer Michael Kamen to orchestrate
and program electronica for the film
Event Horizon (1997). He went on to
coproduce the music for other productions, such as The Iron Giant
(1999), X-Men (2000), Lara Croft:
Tomb Raider (2001), and HBOs epic
World War II miniseries Band of
Brothers (2001).
Price has written and recorded
original scores for several films with
Southwestern Adventist University
associate professor of communication
Kyle Portbury, including: Swan Song
(2008), The Mountain Within (2009),
and Beyond the Search (2012).
Darcy Force, Southwestern Adventist
University

The Creation Wall, in the main entrance of Kettering College, has bronze
reliefs for each day of creation.

12

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

U N I V E R S I T Y
A D V E N T I S T

Michael Price, Emmy Awardwinning composer of the hit BBC


series Sherlock, has been confirmed as
one of the judges for the upcoming
Brain Games 48-hour film challenge
South by Southwestern, hosted by
Southwestern Adventist University.
Brain Games is an annual event
hosted by Southwestern Adventist
University designed to challenge academy students in a variety of ways. The
2016 Brain Games is a 48-hour film
challenge scheduled for March 30 to
April 1. Students from academies
across the nation will participate in
this challenge, testing their teamwork,
creativity, and problem-solving skills
in creating a short film.
Each team will be made of up six
academy students and a Southwestern communication major. The university students will serve as both
liaisons and advisors for the teams,
and to provide advice for the project.
The teams will have two days to

S O U T H W E S T

Kettering Health Network CEO


Fred Manchur and Kettering College
president Nate Brandstater drew
back the curtain on the Creation wall
installed at Kettering College in the fall
2015 term. It consisted of eight sculpted
and painted bronze panels, one for each
day of Creation, and one to reflect the
beginning of time. Three more Creation
walls have been installed at other
Kettering Health Network facilities.
I have often admired the Creation
wall in some of the other Kettering
Health Network hospitals, and was
pleased when I heard that Kettering
College was going to get its own, said
David VanDenburgh, professor and
chair in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. It is a great
testimony to our faith, and our understanding of what it means to be created
in Gods image on this earth. Genesis is
a far more important piece of scripture
than is commonly appreciated.
The wall is located inside the main
entrance of Kettering College.
Jessica Beans, Kettering College

Emmy Award-winning
Composer to Judge Brain
Games

C O U R T E S Y

Kettering Colleges
Creation Connection

Michael Price accepts the 2014


Emmy Award for composing the
music for the BBC series Sherlock.
Price will judge the 2016 Brain Games
at Southwestern Adventist University.

youth director, challenged Adventurers and their parents not only to


memorize the Bible, but also to share
with others what they learned. For
next years competition they will be
studying selected chapters from the
books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and First and
Second Timothy.
Youth Department, Texas Conference
Adventurers who competed in the Texas
Conference Bible Adventure celebrate
their victory and look forward to the
next level of competition.

Hundreds Compete at
Texas Conference Bible
Adventure
Adventurers from all over Texas
came together in Houston on January
16, 2016, for the Texas Conference
Bible Adventure. They had to reach
first place in their respective areas of
the state to compete at the conference
level. This year 509 Adventurers,
grades one through four, participated
at the area level forming 93 total
teams. One hundred eighty-two
of those Adventurers qualified to
participate at the conference level.
Their challenge consisted of learning
the first 20 chapters of the book of
Exodus, the same as their older fellow
Pathfinders.
Young Bible scholars, aged 6 to 10,
answered questions taken from the
Bible correctly and enthusiastically.
They were eager to put their Bible
knowledge to the test with other Adventurers throughout North America.
This is the second year the Bible
Adventure has taken place in the
Texas Conference. At the end of the
meeting, Paulo Tenorio, associate

Oregon Conference to
Offer Spanish and English
TV Programming
In early 2016 the Oregon
Conference began airing 24-hour
television programming in English
and Spanish.
The channels, 36.3 (English) and
36.4 (Spanish), broadcast Hope Channel and Esperanza TV, and plan to
film more local programming to create channels that speak to non-Christian Portlanders in a more localfriendly style.
Bringing Hope Channel to Portland
was only a dream for Oregon Conference president Al Reimche when channel 36 came up for sale five years ago.
At the time, 36 was an out-of-use
analog channel. The seller offered a low
price to 3ABNs affiliate network, Better Life TV. Better Life was eager to
move into the Portland area, but purchasing another channel proved too
expensive.
Thats when Reimche stepped in.
With support from the North American Division (NAD), the Oregon Conference purchased channel 36. The
seller even helped license the channel
for digital TV, meaning that, among
other things, the conference could
now have several channels: 36.1, 36.2,
36.3, and 36.4.

Reimche invited Better Life to


begin broadcasting immediately, and
in October 2010, channel 36.1 went on
the air. The network has since added
Better Health TV on channel 36.2.
But Reimche still wanted to see the
Hope Channel on Portland screens. As
the conference media program grew,
so did his dream. Finally, in 2014, the
Oregon Conference media center
became an affiliate of the Hope Channel and announced plans to release
English and Spanish channels with
locally produced programs.
Now, after years of preparation
under communication director Gary
McLain and media center director J. C.
Muoz, the channels are ready.
Reimche stresses that locally produced content is key to reaching
unchurched Portlanders. Reimche
hopes church members will understand when the shows arent familiar
or churchlike. The Portland area is
unique, Reimche says. Being the
most unchurched area in the United
States, it takes special programming
to enter the market. . . . Preaching is
not necessarily going to reach them.
I have a feeling that if we create
content for the Portland area people,
its going to go way beyond Portland,
McLain says.
Producing the quality and quantity of shows necessary to reach a secular audience is a daunting task, but
Reimche, McLain, and Muoz all
believe God plays a significant part.
We are dreaming with little here. We
know its going to be difficult,
Muoz says, but we believe God can
bless us. So we are starting.
I pray about it every day, McLain
says. Ive been amazed by what we have
been able to accomplish so far. I think
thats because of Gods hand in it.
Rachel Scribner, Oregon Conference

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

13

N O R T H

A M E R I C A N

D I V I S I O N

C O M M U N I C AT I O N

N A D U P D AT E

Dan Jackson, president of the North American Division, prays for those who stood to dedicate themselves to sharing
Christ with their communities at this years Just Claim It Conference.

undreds of Seventh-day
Adventist young people
pledged to share the gospel
with the world after Daniel R. Jackson,
president of the Adventist Church
in North America, urged them to be
involved in completing the churchs
mission.
God did not choose my generation to finish the work on this planet.
He has called your generation, Jackson told an audience of 1,000 young
people at the conclusion of the threeday Just Claim It prayer conference in
Ontario, California.
You will finish the work reaching
the lost, he said on Sabbath, February
20. Jesus is coming soon, and He is
calling you. Your church needs you.
The church wants you. This work will
be finished by your generation.
Jackson thanked the more than 80
teens who volunteered to lead small
study groups each day of the confer-

14

By Dan Weber, communication director, North American Division

Young Vow
People
to

Change World

Prayer conference attendees challenged to reflect Christ.


ence, which was themed The World
Changers. He asked them to join him
onstage for a prayer of dedication.
Turning to the audience before his
prayer, he asked them to stand and
dedicate their lives to serving Jesus
and sharing Him with others.
The young people stood as they
made the promise.
The conference, organized by the

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

North American Divisions youth


department, was packed with prayer
sessions, spiritual meetings, and recreational activities. Attendees took time
out on Friday to assemble 1,000 kits
filled with soap, shampoo, toothpaste,
and other essentials for distribution at
homeless shelters in the nearby Los
Angeles area.
This Just Claim It conference, held

N O R T H

every two years, was the fifth sponsored by the North American Division. The next conference will be held
in Toronto, Canada, in early 2018.
Sabbaths prayer of dedication followed a special time of prayer Friday
evening. At the end of the evening
program, Armando Miranda, Jr., associate youth director for the North
American Division, invited attending
pastors and youth leaders onto the
stage for a prayer of dedication for
their service to young people in their
churches. Hundreds of attendees then
followed the pastors to the conferences Gethsemane prayer room,
where each pastor spent several minutes with each young person, praying
for their personal requests and
anointing them if requested.

A M E R I C A N

D I V I S I O N

C O M M U N I C AT I O N

Youth and young adults come to the Gethsemane Prayer Room for prayer,
counseling, and annointing the Friday evening of the conference.
Jackson, in his remarks on Sabbath, told the story of the first time he
built a house, and the tensions that
arose when the building inspector
advised him that he might have built
it on the wrong property. The potential conflict ended when Jackson told

ALL YOUR
MINISTRY
NEEDS FROM

the inspector who had laid the foundation. The builder had a reputation
for never making mistakes.
We need to have a foundation
built on Jesus, Jackson said. He must
be in the middle of everything we
share or do. n

AZ

Whether youre looking for resources for your Pathfinder Club or you
need new ideas for family ministries, stewardship or the youth group,
AdventSource has you covered.

Contact us today to learn more!


402.486.8800 | adventsource.org

Continued on next page

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

15

3ABN CAMP MEETING

3abncampmeeting.org

Dont miss this live event!


John Bradshaw

Carlton Byrd

John Carter

Kameron DeVasher

Ivor Myers

Danny Shelton

Mollie Steenson

C.A. Murray

Shelley Quinn

David Shin

Join special guest speakers and your


3ABN family as they share this years theme,
Christ, Calvary, and the Sanctuary.
Live from the 3ABN Worship Center
Engaging Sermons & Seminars
Childrens Programs
Complimentary Meals

John Lomacang

Kenny Shelton

Brenda Walsh

Roy and Earlenne Hunt

Cant be there in person? Watch it on 3ABN with MYSDATV


Other ways to watch

Order at mysdatv.org
Questions? Call 618-627-2300

Live 24/7 Streaming 3abn.tv


Stream 3ABN directly to your TV
No monthly fee
Music, program guides, photos and more
Multiple languages

Three mysdatv boxes* to choose from


- Including a compact pocket size
All Adventist content

Available Streams (For an updated list visit: mysdatv.org)

Mobile Devices(iPhone, iPad,


AndroidTM) download the 3ABN app
RokuStream 3ABN directly to
your TV, visit Roku.com
DishChannel 9393, visit dish.com
Verizon FiOS Channel 291,
visit buyverizon.com

*Must have internet connection.

For more information visit 3abncampmeeting.org or 3ABN.tv or call 618-627-4651

NAD PERSPECTIVE

Secret

Greater love has no one than this,


than to lay down ones life for his
friends (John 15:13). Thank You,
Jesus, for Golgotha.

By Daniel Weber

Information

he media are buzzing with news


of an encrypted iPhone, and the
secrets that may or may not be
on it. This information, if it does exist,
may be able to prevent future terrorist
attacks. But at what price does society
put privacy above security? When does
information become more important
than the potential invasion of peoples
private matters?
We Christians have been given
some important information, lifechanging data that affects everyone on
the planet. The Breath of Life television ministry and producer Jeff Wood
are making sure that this saving information becomes available to all.
The collaboration has given us a
Seventh-day Adventist Easter special
on ABC television this year, called
The Rising. Directed by Carlton
Byrd, senior pastor of the Oakwood
University church, and produced by
Jeff Wood, a long-time veteran of
Adventist television programming, the
film both presents a message of hope
reflecting the special flair of Oakwood
University, and mirrors the vast diversity of the Adventist Church throughout North America.
Byrd divided his sermon into four
sections: Gethsemane, Golgotha, Friday Evening to Sunday, and Ascension/Anticipation. Sermonettes are
separated by a narrative vignette presented by the gardener, portrayed by
actor Jonathan Hickey. The vignettes

Friday Night to Sunday

serve as a retelling of the events that


played out during Jesus capture, trial,
crucifixion, resurrection, and return
to heaven. Powerful performances of
traditional hymns frame a message of
hope in the resurrection of our Savior,
Jesus Christ.
Heres a synopsis:
Gethsemane

In the garden the weight of the


world pressed down on Jesus. His suffering was so intense that drops of
blood appeared on His forehead as
perspiration. Jesus prayed three times,
If it is possible, let this cup pass from
Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as
You will (Matt. 26:39).
Jesus came to earth and took the
form of a man for this very reason.
Jesus was born to die, to pay the price
for our sins. He came to taste the cup of
Gods wrath in our stead. Jesus prayer
didnt change the outcome. He still
absorbed the torture, the pain, for us.
Golgotha

Its not a high hill, but it is symbolically the highest hill in the world.
There humanitys sin intersected with
Gods love. Jesus was the key to unlock
the door of salvation. If Jesus hadnt
gone to Golgotha, who would have
fulfilled the prophecy of salvation?
God had a plan of salvation in
place before the world was formed.
What kept Jesus on the cross? Love!

Jesus died on Friday; His body was


taken off the cross. His body rested on
the Sabbath according to the commandment. Even in death He was
obedient to Gods commands.
We think we must fight to win. No
Christian is able to win. We fight
because we have already won. We fight
to protect, not to occupy. Satan is a
defeated foe. His attacks on us can
never be greater than his attack on our
Lord at the cross. Jesus power over
Satan at the cross is the same power that
we claim today. We possess power and
authority over the kingdom of darkness. Satan was defeated 2,000 years
ago. We have this same power today.
Jesus died on Friday; He rested on
the Sabbath. Jesus rose on the third
day. Because He lives, we also live!
The Ascension

Gods power didnt stop at the resurrection. It continued at His ascension. Before Jesus left the earth, He
said, Im coming back.
This same Jesus who was taken up
into heaven will return again! He
came as a babe to save His people. At
His second coming He is coming with
the voice of the archangel to rescue
His people.
This is good news, life-changing
news. We must not keep it secret. n

Daniel Weber is communication director for the


North American Division.

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

17

NAD Letters

A Great Man

I read with interest the profile of the


great Adventist educator Thomas Geraty in the December 2015 issue.
My experience with him was
somewhat more mundane. Our family
was in line at the departure gate of an
airport in the Philippines, ready to
return to our mission work in Taiwan
after a monthlong evangelistic series.
At the gate we were informed that we
had overstayed our visa by one day, so
there was a fine of US$37. The day
before, we had cashed in all our Philippine money and had no U.S. money.
What to do? Staying another day
was not possible. Just then I looked
behind me and there was Geraty,
returning to Singapore. I went to him,
explained our problem, and asked if
he had any U.S. money on him. He
looked in his wallet and found just
enough to take care of the fine.
Thankfully, we went through customs and boarded the flight to Taiwan. I repaid Geraty a few days later.
Robert Bird
Mora, New Mexico
Why Are We Confused?

Was anyone else besides me shocked


at the four theological controversies
given by Gerhard Pfandl in Who Are
We and Why Are We Here? (January
2016). If Adventists are questioning

18

whether the Bible is inspired or reliable, then we are in grave danger. All
four conflicts are clearly answered in
the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy.
Fran Wilson
West Carrollton, Ohio

Those of us who live in North America


are fortunate to have many dietary
options. But for Adventists in many
parts of the world, dairy products, eggs,
even meat, are necessary for optimal
nutrition.Editors.

Meat-eating and Aging

Fond Memories

Thanks for another fine edition of


Adventist World. I feel impelled to
comment on Andrew McChesneys
article on the hazards of meat eating
(December 2015). Of all the literature
Ive read concerning vegetarianism, Ive
yet to note any that mention how the
consumption of meat has an effect on
premature aging. The pituitary gland
located in the brain emits a hormone
that causes a persons cells to age and
limit growth. Animals have a shorter
life span than humans; therefore, when
we eat their blood, we receive the animals aging hormone added to your
own. The ramifications of this phenomenon are worth considering.
Milton Lenheim
Madera, California

I commend you on your excellent


article on Karachi Adventist Hospital
(KAH) in Pakistan (January 2016). I
was administrator of KAH from 1986
to 1990, and my wife taught in the
overseas school.
While we were there, the hospital
added a 10-bed pediatric unit on the
second floor of the administration
building immediately adjacent to the
main hospital. At the time, KAH was
the only hospital in Pakistan recommended by the American embassy for
Americans traveling in that part of
the world.
Allen and Airlie Fowler
S herwood Park,
Alberta, Canada

Eggs and Yogurt?

In the article Fiber Up, in the January 2016 edition of Adventist World, I
was surprised to find eggs and yogurt
listed as recommended. When were
those items approved as healthy
choices according to our beliefs?
Therese Young
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

Glory to God Only

I am writing about the article on the


street named after Ellen G. White in
the March 2015 edition of Adventist
World. I have read many of her
books; I even own some. But
nowhere does she seem to accept
praise or any kind of reward for her
work. She always gave glory to God. I
truly believe she wouldnt be pleased
with this recognition as it was not her
style. I think it was a good idea, but
from what I have read of her, shed be
against this glory.
Louville J. Sanderson
Florida

By Peter N. Landless and


Allan R. Handysides

W O R L D

H E A L T H

P I X A B AY

ZikaVirus

Can anything we do make a difference?


I am worried because my daughter is
pregnant, and all the news about the
Zika virus and microcephalic babies
is making me nervous. What advice
do you have to offer?

he Zika virus was isolated in


1947 from a rhesus monkey in
the Zika Forest near Entebbe,
Uganda. The recent explosive
outbreak of Zika virus infection in
Brazil, and the temporally associated
spike in the incidence of microcephaly
and of the Guillain-Barr syndrome
(a paralytic disorder), have caused
tremendous anxiety and concern.
Epidemics often have a tipping
point, where the background rate of
an infection is higher than the norm.
With the Zika epidemic, this probably
corresponds to the increased numbers
of infected mosquitoes and, consequently, humans.
The virus belongs to the arboviruses, or arthropod-borne diseases, such
as dengue. Additionally, and of concern,
the virus may be transmitted by sexual
contact. A large number of infected
individuals remain asymptomatic, making control more challenging, because
documentation of the diseases progress
in a community becomes difficult.
The symptoms are of a viral infectionwith fever, rash, and joint
painsand might have permitted the
infection to remain obscure. An association with Guillain-Barr (paralysis)
raises significant concern. The potential to damage babies (teratogen) has
caught global attention. Zika is associated with abnormal brain development (microcephaly) in the fetus,

which may later be associated with


convulsions and learning disabilities.
Many questions have not yet been
answered. For example, does the
infection have to occur at a specific
time in the pregnancy to be associated
with fetal damage? What percentage
of mothers infected at such a specific
time have babies that are affected?
Does prior infection offer long-lasting
protection, and if so, for how long?
We shall learn a great deal about this
Zika virus now that its association with
major problems has been described.
But for now, what does one do?
Avoidance of mosquito bites
becomes the number-one priority.
This is particularly true for anyone
contemplating pregnancy. This would
have been to simply defer going to
places where mosquitoes are known
to carry the virus. The problem now,
however, is that mosquitoes in our
own backyards may be carrying the
virus. Public health measures of cleaning up the environment and removing
even small amounts of water sufficient
for the breeding of mosquitoes need
to be implemented. This reduces the
number of mosquitoes. Individual
householders may consider spraying
the walls of their houses inside and
out with a permethrin-containing
spray to kill mosquitoes. Insect
screens should be checked and
repaired.
Programs that include spraying or
even the introduction of genetically
modified male mosquitoes that produce nonviable larval forms need to
be considered by regional health
authorities.

Experience with malaria has demonstrated the difficulty of mosquito


control, so avoidance of bites is a
major strategy. Insect repellents are
recommended, especially those containing DEET. A pregnant woman,
however, may wish to have more of
this on her garments than on large
areas of skin. Permethrin-impregnated mosquito netting could
become a feature of living even in
nonmalaria areas.
The concern for pregnant women
also affects their partners because of
the potential of person-to-person sexual transmission.
The Brazilian health minister suggested couples might even defer having a family because of present uncertainty. Microcephaly may be associated with cognitive handicap, and this
is a lifelong challenge.
In the long term, a vaccine may
become available and help to contain
the epidemic; in the short term, the
concerns we have discussed are important. Some may feel the size and importance of the problem may be exaggerated, but better safe than sorry. n

Peter N. Landless, a board-certified nuclear


cardiologist, is director of the General
Conference Health Ministries Department.
Allan R. Handysides, a board-certified
gynecologist, is a former director of the General
Conference Health Ministries Department.

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

19

D E V O T I O N A L

to Tell
By Ty Gibson

he Bible is not a textbook of systematic theology,


nor is it a proof-text manual; it is not even a book of
good moral advice.
The Bible is, rather, a story.
Its a grand narrative rich with intersecting characters in
an unfolding saga of infinite love, horrific loss, and glorious restoration at last.
At the center of the story is a singular, towering figure.
Every prophecy and parable, every song and symbol, every
wailing prayer for justice and weeping plea for mercy, every
cry for help and longing for love, every episode and act of
the story, whispers His name.
The entire Old Testament basically says, He is coming.
The entire New Testament says, He has come.
A promise made and a promise kept! Thats the whole
Bible, the whole story, in a nutshell.
In the Old Testament we hear God saying, I will faithfully love you at any and all cost to Me. No matter your posture toward Me, I will never stop loving you. I will come to
your world and enter into your pain. I will bear your shame.

20

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

I will absorb your sin into My love and overcome its power to
destroy you.
In the New Testament we hear God saying, See, I am
here, and I will fulfill every aspect of My promise to you. I will
love you to the utter end of Myself. All the rage and hatred
you can heap upon Me will not conquer, nor even weaken, My
love for you. And when I am lifted up on the cross in self-sacrificing love for you, I will draw you back to Me.
Summing up the relation of the two testaments, Paul
brilliantly observed, For all the promises of God in Him
are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us
(2 Cor. 1:20). In Christ, God has shown His love to be
faithful and true by fulfilling every promise He made
through the prophets.
The story unfolds in seven epic acts:
Pre-Creation: Once upon an eternity, God was all there
was. Before all of creation, for eternal ages past, God
existed as an expression of other-centered love: Father, Son,
and Spirit, the eternal Three as One. The God of the biblical story is not a solitary self, but rather a self-giving

In its various forms and phases of development,


the covenant is Gods pledge to continue
fallen humanity in spite of our rebellion.

loving

friendship, a social unit of nonstop outgoingness. Selflessness defines God and is the foundation of reality.
Creation: The physical universe, with all of its rational,
thinking, choosing beings, was born from divine love
as an expression of Gods character. Creation is simply the
demonstration of Gods love in material form. We exist
because God is love, and in order to love as God does.
Physically, emotionally, and spiritually human beings were
engineered to reflect Gods self-giving love back to Him
and to one another.
Fall: Sin entered the picture as the desire to live for self
above and before others, thus generating mistrust,
which led to isolation, which led to death. The fall of
humankind was basically a falling out of love with God
and one another. Sin is not the breaking of arbitrary rules
imposed by a controlling God, but rather is anti-love,
resulting in breakdown of relationships.
Covenant: In response to the Fall, God remained true
to His character. The key concept of the biblical story
is Gods faithfulness. The story in Genesis reveals how
Gods relationship with His people is summed up in the
word covenant. In its various forms, the covenant is Gods
pledge to continue loving fallen humanity in spite of our
rebellion. He will follow through with His plan to save us
at any cost to Himself. To accomplish the covenant plan,
God establishes in Israel the biological and theological
lineage through which His plan will be fulfilled. The
prophets of Israel become the channel through which a
series of covenant promises and prophecies are proclaimed, all of them pointing to Jesus.
Messiah: The Christ eventHis birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascensionconstitute the complete fulfillment of Gods covenant promise. Jesus is Gods love
embodied in human form. In Him, covenant is kept
from both the divine side of the relationship and from
the human side. As God, Jesus was faithful to humanity. As
human, He was faithful to God. Salvation is historically,
objectively accomplished in Christ as the complete fulfillment of the covenant.

2
3

Church: The body of Christ is His covenant community. Its mission is to bear witness, through words and
actions, to the transforming reality of Gods love. As the
good news of Gods faithfulness is communicated to the
world, salvation, liberation, and healing happen for every
person who says yes to the message. Saying yes is what
the Bible calls faith, which is exercised when individuals
identify with Christ and live for Him. This is the subjective
experience of redemption in Christ Jesus.
Re-Creation: As the Bible story reaches its climax,
everything contrary to Gods love will be eradicated.
Only that which is good and beautiful will remain for all
eternity. The story promises the final removal of evil
and the restoration of all things to Gods ideal.
Redeemed humanity will finally enter into the eternal
bliss of other-centered, social integration God had
planned from the beginning. Gods love will reign
supreme in every heart as the only motive behind every
thought, feeling, and deed.
This is the whole Bible at a glance, and this is the message God raised up the Advent movement to proclaim to
the world. Our understanding of the Bible serves its true
purpose only when we tell this story. It is the most
enchanting and moving and mind-blowing story that can
be told, because it tells of a God who loves each of us
more than His own existence; one who would rather die
forever than live without us.
If we tell this story, our own people, as well as those
we try to reach, will spontaneously jump into the narrative to play their part. n

Ty Gibson is lead pastor of the Storyline Adven-

tist Church in Eugene, Oregon, United States. He


has authored eight books and codirects Light
Bearers, an international publishing, teaching,
and media ministry.

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

21

F U N D A M E N T A L

B E L I E F S

Our

Greatest

By Jordan Stephan

NUMBER 14

Strength

(which we often see as a weakness)

n the center of the lobby of the mens dormitory at Walla


Walla University stands a stone monument with a Bible
verse engraved into it: How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity! (Ps. 133:1, NIV 1984).
Adventists would stand firmly against a congregation
that didnt keep the Sabbath. A church that preached an
incorrect view of the state of the dead would cause an
uproar. But what about a church that is in disunity? That
certainly wouldnt make headlines on the Adventist Review
Web site, or would it? If unity in Christ is a fundamental
belief of our church, why are we so indifferent when this
unity is challenged?

An African Illustration

Few people travel to Africa without taking an opportunity to see the incredible wildlife unique to this part of the
world. Ive had the chance to see many animals while living
in Kenya, from regal lions to lumbering rhinos.
Two African animals help make an important point:
zebras and ostriches. Undoubtedly, these two animals are
not the superstars of African safaris. Theyre the animals
you delete from your full memory card to make space for
more elephant and lion photos. Zebras are little more than
pretty donkeys, and it is a proven scientific fact that
ostriches arent terrifying. But the way these two species
interact is remarkable.
Zebras have poor eyesight, but they make up for it with
an incredible sense of smell and hearing. Ostriches, on the

22

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

other hand, have limited hearing and smell, but with their
big eyes they have sharp vision. The two animals will often
graze in similar areas to help protect each other from predators, relying on the other species for what they lack.
Just as these animals work together using each others
strengths, so too should we look for strengths in others to
strengthen our church as a whole. But does that happen?
If there were a career to be had pointing out flaws in
others, many people would bring home a hefty paycheck.
(And if you read that and thought of someone in your life,
then maybe you would bring home a nice check as well.) In
our churches, do we see a certain woman as the one who is
best at organizing service projects, or do we see her as the
one who leads the worst praise team each month? Does the
teenager get encouraged for bringing his friends to church,
or do we call him out because those friends have tattoos
and earrings? Like film critics and art collectors looking for
originals, we are experts at finding imperfections.
What Unifies Us Most

Paul makes the best comparison for what church unity


should be like in his letter to the Romans. For as in one body
we have many members, and the members do not all have the
same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ,
and individually members one of another (Rom. 12:4, 5).1
Look at the circle of believers in your home church. We
all know those who are gifted to be the legs, willing to go
wherever God asks. Others are certainly chosen to be the

UNITY

in the Body

of Christ

The church is one body with many members, called from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In Christ we are a new
creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and
female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him
and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in
the Scriptures we share the same faith and hope, and reach out in one witness to all. This unity has its source in the oneness of
the triune God, who has adopted us as His children. (Ps. 133:1; Matt. 28:19, 20; John 17:20-23; Acts17:26,27; Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor.
12:12-14; 2 Cor. 5:16, 17; Gal. 3:27-29; Eph. 2:13-16; 4:36, 11-16; Col. 3:10-15.)

eyes, blessed with the ability to see people in need. Some are
the ears, able to bite their tongues and simply listen, while
others still are the hands, able to fix and heal. And we each
have that one friend who proudly claims to be the mouth.
Christ-centered unity does not come when churches
cultivate same-minded people with a singular gift. Diversity, rather, is what brings healthy, unified growth. What
ties us together is often the very thing we think is tearing
us apart: differences.
A Question for You

Do you think the Seventh-day Adventist Church is unified? Yes or no? Many Seventh-day Adventists, especially
from my generation, might say no. I myself would even
have said no before starting this article. But I recently had a
conversation with a Roman Catholic student here at Maxwell Academy that changed my perspective.
After discussing Catholic practices that I find interesting, I was curious to hear what he thought of Adventism.
Being at an Adventist school, he is required to study our
curriculum and attend our Sabbath services. I asked if
there was anything about Adventism that he admired. His
answer surprised me:
You guys all seem really close, like a family.
This conversation served as an eye-opener for me. We can
often be oblivious to something about ourselves until someone else points it out. Is it possible that we as a church are
more unified than we think we are? The unity of our church
has been under attack by some in the past couple years.
The most divisive topics bring with them the most ardent
opponents with strong (even extreme) convictions.
I always saw this as a sign of weakness in the church.
But this conversation caused me to rethink this stance. If
few things are being shaken more violently than our unity,

and Satan targets areas where he feels most threatened,


then what does that say about our churchs unity? Is it possible that Satan targets our unity because its on the brink
of being our greatest strength (read John 17:20-23)?
This idea is hard to imagine because we tend to focus
on the wrong things. Christian unity is not about agreeing
with one another or thinking the same way. We can disagree and still be unified. The point of unity is not to be
unified with each other, but rather to be unified in Christ.
Ellen White spoke to this when writing about the disciples:
They would have their tests, their grievances, their differences of opinion; but while Christ was abiding in the
heart, there could be no dissension. His love would lead to
love for one another; the lessons of the Master would lead to
the harmonizing of all differences, bringing the disciples into
unity, till they would be of one mind and one judgment.
Christ is the great center, and they would approach one
another just in proportion as they approached the center.2
The things that divide us today will soon fade as we
look to Christ. Thats true unity, and it can be our churchs
greatest strength.
How good and pleasant that would be, indeed. n
1Unless

otherwise noted, Scripture quotations have been taken from The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
2Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898), p. 296.

Jordan Stephan is a fourth-year theology


student at Walla Walla University. He is taking a
yearlong break from his studies and is a student
missionary in Kenya, where he serves as boys
dean and teacher at Maxwell Adventist Academy.
April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

23

C OV E R S T O RY

Talking
Protecting

FAITH,

FREEDO
Dialogue + religious
unique witness

24

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

DOM
liberty =

I M A G E :

B A N A N A S T O C K / T H I N K S T O C K

By Ganoune Diop

eventh-day Adventists shower me


with questions when they learn
that I represent the Adventist
Church at meetings of Christian
ecumenical organizations. How exactly
do Adventists view Christian unity,
interfaith relations, and ecumenism?
they ask. Why do Adventists choose
to accept and maintain only observer
status and not membership among
Christian ecumenical organizations?
My answer is simple: It is legitimate for all people of goodwill to
unite to save lives, to protect lives, and
to affirm the importance and sacredness of life. It is even urgent for all
people to partner to make this world a
better place for all human beings, contributing to better health, education,
and humanitarian work in all dignity,
freedom, justice, peace, and fraternity.
All the services and activities of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church seek to
promote life, and life in abundance. In
the fulfillment of the churchs mission,
Adventists mingle with other Christian organizations. In reference to its
position in global Christian organizations, the Adventist Church has held
observer status at meetings and been
open to cooperation with other
churches in areas that do not compromise its identity, mission, and message. The rule of thumb is not to hold
membership in any ecumenical body
that eradicates or erases the distinctive
Adventist voice in reference to the sovereignty of God the Creator, the Sabbath, and the Second Coming.
In principle, Adventists choose not
to be involved in doctrinal alliances with
other churches because of the Adventist
adherence to a wholistic and integrated
approach to biblical doctrines and
because of that seeks to uphold doctrines that Adventists consider to have
been sidelined, changed, or forgotten in
the course of church history.
That said, unity is not a bad
word. Adventists value unity just as

God does. Unity is grounded in the


existence of God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Adventists promote unity for the sake of
mission, to make Christ known to all
people groups, languages, tribes, and
nations. Christians can also unite to
make the world a better place through
the promotion of health, education,
humanitarian work, and the promotion and protection of human rights.
But Christians must keep in mind
that they will miss their primary calling if they do not unite to uphold and
model spiritual values grounded on
the everlasting gospel. The theological
virtues of faith, hope, and love are
paramount in the Christian mandate
and gift to the world. These virtues
can best flourish when religious liberty is a reality.
Religious liberty for Adventists is the
antidote to syncretistic ecumenism. It is
a call to embrace truth with the inalienable freedom of conscience, freedom of
religion or belief, freedom to express
publicly ones beliefs, freedom to invite
others to share ones convictions or to
join ones community of faith.
Ecumenism Up Close

A subtle cluster of interrelated topics in the arena of interchurch and


interfaith relations that needs much
clarity is the issue of unity, visible
unity, and ecumenism. Other words
are sometimes brought into the conversation as if they mean the same
thing. They are collaboration, partnership, and interchurch (or interfaith) dialogue.
The word ecumenism is used
differently in various contexts. The
word can refer to unity among the
worlds Christian churches, but people
usually use it to describe a general
sense of cordial relations, dialogue, or
partnership for a project.
Historically, the first church
councils were called ecumenical in

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

25

C OV E R S T O RY

Delegates to the Third International Forum on Religion


and Peace, a gathering of leaders from across Russias
religious and political spectrum, met in October in the
Great Hall of Moscows President Hotel. The event included
scholars, public officials, and religious leaders representing
the Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, Catholic, and Islamic
communities. Ganoune Diop, director of Public Affairs and
Religious Liberty for the General Conference, represented the
Adventist Church at the event and is pictured at far left.

the sense that many churches interacted to define orthodoxy. This is not
the sense it is given today. Some
denominations, such as Roman
Catholic and Eastern Orthodox
churches, use it in this sense because
they believe they are the guarantors
of orthodoxy. But to label any partnership among Christians as doctrinal ecumenism may be uninformed,
uneducated, and far-fetched. Spiritual honesty is also needed in identifying and evaluating the real content
of interchurch relations.
Defining Unity

The concept of unity has a solid


biblical and theological foundation.
The blessing God intended to spread
through Abraham and through his
descendants was destined to all the
families of the earth. God wants all His
people to experience doctrinal unity.
This never materialized among His
covenant people, Israel. The belief in

26

the resurrection of the dead, for


example, was not shared by all Israelites. The New Testament mentions
that the Sadducees did not believe in
the resurrection of the dead.
Today unity is understood differently among various Christian
churches. For Roman Catholics, for
example, unity includes the concept of
the communion of saints, meaning
both those who are alive and those
who are dead.
In the Catholic Encyclopedia the
communion of saints is described as
the spiritual solidarity which binds
together the faithful on earth, the souls
in purgatory, and the saints in heaven
in the organic unity of the same mystical body under Christ its head. . . . The
participants in that solidarity are
called saints by reason of their destination [heaven] and of their partaking of
the fruits of the Redemption.
With this example in mind, global
church unity could be a reality only if

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

all Christians adopted the Roman


Catholic worldview or understanding
of reality or if all Catholics gave up
their deeply held beliefs.
Nevertheless, there is much that
unites Christians, beginning with the
foundation of unity itself.
Unity is dear to the heart of God.
The whole plan of salvation demonstrates Gods determination to unite
His divided and dispersed family,
which He created in His image. Unity
is grounded in the being of God who
is Trinity: a unity in Trinity.
Jesus death was purposed to
gather people into one. In John 17
Jesus prayed for unity for the sake of
mission so that the world might
believe. The Holy Spirit was given to
seal the unity in mission.
Adventists and Unity

Adventists join God in all that God


is doing in the world for its salvation.
God evangelizes (Gal. 3:8); so do we.
P H O T O S :

B E T T I N A

K R A U S E

God is committed to unite the whole


world under the lordship of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We join God to fulfill
His purposes to lift up God the Son so
that the world might be saved.
Adventists are committed to call all
peoples to fix their eyes on Jesus (Heb.
12:1, 2). They remind all Christians of
what constitutes a core belief since
apostolic times and is also present in
the earliest Christian statement of
faith: the second coming of Jesus.
The principle that informs Adventists relations to other Christians has
two inseparable aspects: truth and
religious freedom. Adventist Church
cofounder Ellen G. White underscored this in The Acts of the Apostles,
writing: The banner of truth and
religious liberty held aloft by the
founders of the gospel church and by
Gods witnesses during the centuries
that have passed since then, has, in
this last conflict, been committed to

our hands. The responsibility for this


great gift rests with those whom God
has blessed with a knowledge of His
Word. We are to receive this Word as
a supreme authority. We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment, and
teach obedience to it as a sacred duty,
within its legitimate sphere. But
when its claims conflict with the
claims of God, we must obey God
rather than men.1
More fundamentally, Adventists
understand their mission as their
name intimateshighlighting the
truth of the Second Coming as the
hope of the world to finally embrace
freedom from death and from evil,
bringing with it justice and peace.
These convictions are the reasons
that Adventists emphasize the Second Coming and a message of healing. Adventists understand that the
words of Jesus calling His disciples

salt and light (Matt. 5:13-17)


apply also to them.
Every aspect of Adventist engagement with any institution, agency, or
organization, whether ecclesiastical
or political, built primarily upon the
reason for the existence of the
church: bringing hope to humankind
entangled in all kinds of evil. To fulfill
this mission, Adventists participate in
Jesus method as articulated by Ellen
White: Christs method alone will
give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as
one who desired their good. He
showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their
confidence. Then He bade them, Follow Me.2
Jesus served people, healed them,
and fed them with no strings attached.
He made them know and feel they
were free to choose their future with
or without Him. Freedom of con-

How to
Relate to Others
Seventh-day Adventist Church cofounder Ellen G. White offers
practical advice in the art and science of relating to Christians
from other denominations. Here are three pieces of advice.
When some who lack the Spirit and power of God enter a
new field, they commence denouncing other denominations,
thinking that they can convince the people of the truth by
presenting the inconsistencies of the popular churches. It may
seem necessary on some occasions to speak of these things, but
in general it only creates prejudice against our work and closes
the ears of many who might otherwise have listened to the truth.
If these teachers were connected closely with Christ, they would
have divine wisdom to know how to approach the people.1
We should not, upon entering a place, build up unnecessary
barriers between us and other denominations, especially the

Catholics, so that they think we are their avowed enemies. We


should not create a prejudice in their minds unnecessarily, by
making a raid upon them. There are many among the Catholics
who live up to the light they have far better than many who claim
to believe present truth, and God will just as surely test and prove
them as He has tested and proved us.2
We profess to have more truth than other denominations;
yet if this does not lead to greater consecration, to purer, holier
lives, of what benefit is it to us? It would be better for us never to
have seen the light of truth than to profess to accept it and not be
sanctified through it.3
1Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948),
vol. 4, p. 536.
2 Ellen G. White, Evangelism (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1946), p. 144.
3E. G. White, Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 620.

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

27

C OV E R S T O RY

science matters to Him. Without this


freedom, no covenant is genuine. This
is because love cannot be forced.
Interchurch Relations

Adventists recognize other sincere


Christians who confess the truth of
Jesus as members of the body of
Christ. But Adventists do not hold formal structural membership in ecumenical organizations primarily for
freedom of religion purposes. Membership in an ecumenical body would
limit the freedom to share ones convictions with everyone else and thereby
jeopardize a universal end-time mission as Adventists understand it.
Adventists are not part of the ecumenical organizations that require
membership, but they do enjoy guest
or observer status at meetings. Cooperation with other Christian denominations is in accordance with the
Adventist Churchs view of other

Christians must keep in mind that they


will miss their primary calling if they do
not unite to uphold and model spiritual
values of the everlasting gospel.
Christians. Ellen White, writing
about temperance, said this about
leaders in other denominations: In
other churches there are Christians
who are standing in defense of the
principles of temperance. We should
seek to come near to these workers
and make a way for them to stand
shoulder to shoulder with us. We
should call upon great and good men
to second our efforts to save that
which is lost.3

In reference to prayer, White said:


Our ministers should seek to come
near to the ministers of other denominations. Pray for and with these men,
for whom Christ is interceding. A solemn responsibility is theirs. As Christs
messengers we should manifest a
deep, earnest interest in these shepherds of the flock.4
In accordance with the above
counsel, the General Conference, the
administrative body of the Adventist

Meeting

Muslim Leaders
When I retired as editor of the Adventist World, my life took on
an unexpected turn. General Conference president Jan Paulsen
requested that I become his personal assistant to develop
relationships with leaders of the world religions. The aim would
be to acquaint them with Seventh-day Adventists, who we are,
our mission, and our values.
This new assignment, for which there was no job
description, led me on frequent trips to the Middle East,
especially to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. There,
during the course of multiple visits, I had conversations with
major leaders of state and religion. Some of these prominent
individuals became close friends.
Interaction with these Muslim leaders made a profound
impression. I had much to learn, much to unlearn. I found them
easy to contact, but quite unaware of Seventh-day Adventists.
They hadnt heard of us; they were amazed to learn of Christians

28

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

By William G. Johnsson

who dont eat pork or drink alcohol. And their belief in a second
coming of Jesus offers an interesting opportunity for discussion.
These high-level conversations accomplished much good.
Eventually they bore fruit in the organizing of a symposium,
Teaching Respect for Religions. Held at a university in Amman,
it featured presenters from both Islam and Christianity and was
attended by leading figures of the nation.
These experiences led me to place a high value on interfaith
dialogue. Especially in these times of religious bigotry, hatred,
and misinformation, dialogue is essential. Said the Master:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children
of God (Matt. 5:9).

William G. Johnsson was the founding editor of Adventist World,


and participated from 2007-2011 in many interfaith dialogues.

world church, has inscribed in the


General Conferences Working Policy
that church leaders recognize every
agency that lifts up Christ before men
as a part of the divine plan for the
evangelization of the world, and . . .
hold in high esteem the Christian
men and women in other communions who are engaged in winning
souls to Christ.
Rejecting Ecumenism

Unity, though clearly willed by


God, is not the supreme value. Loyalty
to Gods truth takes precedence.
The Adventist Church and several
other denominations that have not
joined organized ecumenical bodies
object to ecumenism as doctrine or as
an objective to fuse Christian
churches into one world church, leading to loss of distinctive denominational identity. Also, Adventists and
other believers do not adhere to syncretistic alliances that would diminish
the importance and weight of truth,
especially when beliefs in some
churches may not be in harmony with
revealed biblical truth.
The main concern of Adventists is
that they will be restricted from
sharing their convictions with every
person regardless of religious or
philosophical persuasion. This is
fundamentally an issue of religious
freedom. How could Christians
question the right to freedom of religion or belief while even the secular
world has accepted this fundamental
human right and value?
The Bottom Line

While considering other Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ,


the principle that prevents the Adventist world church from being a
member of an organized union of
churches such as the World Council
of Churches is that of religious freedom. Religious freedom implies the

unrestricted right to share ones religious convictions and the right to


invite others to join ones own Christian tradition without being accused
or labeled as a proselytizer.
Seventh-day Adventists support
Christian unity as they join the triune
God, who is determined to gather
people He created in His image. The
purpose of the whole plan of salvation
is the restoration of Gods image and
the gathering of those He saves. Unity
is grounded in God. It was for this
purpose Jesus Christ came to earth to
unite all the families of the earth.
Doctrinal unity among Christian
churches is elusive and unreachable
unless churches lose their distinctive
beliefs and join one of the church traditions, be it Roman Catholic, Eastern
Orthodox, Anglican, Reformed, Evangelical, Pentecostal, etc.
Freedom of religion or belief is a
nonnegotiable gift of God that should
characterize the freedom of every
Christian person or community to
share his or her convictions with others, to invite others to join his or her
Christian tradition. Obviously, for the
sake of mission Christians can join to
witness to Christ to a world that needs
Him most urgently. n
1Ellen

G. White, The Acts of the Apostles (Mountain View, Calif.:


Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), pp. 68, 69.
2Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, Calif.:
Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1905), p. 143.
3Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View,
Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), vol. 6, p. 110.
4Ibid., p. 78.

Ganoune Diop was


elected director of the
Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department
of the General Conference at the General
Conference session in July 2015. He became the departments associate director
and the Adventist Churchs representative
for interfaith relations and liaison to the
United Nations in 2011.

10 Ways

Adventists Can
Encourage

Unity
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

10

in the Christian vision of a caring,


three-personal God;
in a shared, new humanity,
re-created in the image of Jesus
Christ and having the mind of Christ
in understanding our common
calling to love God with our
whole being and our neighbor as
ourselves
in recognizing the real spiritual
controversy between good and
evil, Christ and Satan
in commitment to nonviolence,
peace, and peacemaking, and the
dignity and integrity of everyones
personhood.
in service to alleviate suffering,
especially of those most in
economic, physical, social, and
other such need
in promoting temperance, healthful
and re-creative living
in promoting freedom, equality,
fraternity, and good neighborliness
in proclaiming the good news of
Jesus teachings (the gospel;
the Beatitudes)
in uplifting Jesus Christ before
the world

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

29

The

Zika Virus

Looking for

Its natural to blame something,


By Scott Christiansen

30

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

N A D F E AT U R E

he Zika virus exploding


across parts of the world
is unimaginably horrible.
Preliminary research suggests
that when it infects pregnant
women, it can result in heartwrenching deformities: babies
born with undeveloped brains.

Answers
or someone.

M O S Q U I T O : F L I C K R / C O N I F E R C O N I F E R / D I G I TA L LY M O D I F I E D
Z I K A V I R U S : C D C / C Y N T H I A G O L D S M I T H / D I G I TA L LY M O D I F I E D

If humans hold any among us worthy of communal


protection, it is pregnant women and babies. There is currently no treatment for the virus. And our highly advanced,
globally technological society is reduced to trying to figure
out how to stop the mosquitos that are one vector of the
virus. Health officers in some countries can only advise
women to avoid getting pregnant.
This virus reveals the extreme limits of human power
even as it preys upon helpless babies. Why would God let
this happen? Even more important, what kind of god
would create a world that includes such a virus? These
questions are important because they bear directly on the
issue of the character of God. What kind of god is God?
The Zika virus provides occasion to ask these questions,
but it is just one among many. AIDS, ebola, polio, tuberculosis, plague, malaria: these terrible diseases have claimed
the lives of untold millions of people. But its not just diseases that make us question the character of God.
Lets set aside the fact that the earth is full of suffering
from such disasters as earthquakes, famines, floods,
storms, and fires, and go instead to the actual system upon
which the earth works. We can look at nature at any
levelfrom microorganisms in the soil to the largest animals aliveand find the same patterns: predation, struggle, disease, and death. All across nature we see creatures
taking the lives of other creatures as their primary survival
strategy. Conflict and selfishness are at the root of almost
all survival strategies in nature, and are employed by
April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

31

She just told us what


shes thinking. Will you?

@adventistreview

/adventistworldmagazine

N A D F E AT U R E

everything from microbes to parasites to predators. Conflict and struggle are even employed by plants through
chemical warfare.1
Objective persons are likely to ask: What kind of god
creates a world that has conflict, disease, predation, and
death as its primary operating elements? This is a hugely
important question, because we understand intuitively that
the world is a reflection of the character of its god.

Two Basic Questions

This question brings us to a critical juncture, because


there are really only two answers to consider. The first is
that the description of God in the Biblethat God is
loveis false, as is the Creation account, and that God created a dysfunctional world that operates, fundamentally, on
a system of suffering and death.
If this is the case, then God is a monster unworthy of

Zika
What You Need to Know
By Katia Reinert, associate director, General Conference Health Ministries
Cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus
have escalated in several places in the
world, and the World Health Organization
has declared it a Public Health Emergency
of International Concern.
As with any major public health threat,
factsnot fearare necessary. We
know from experience that knowledge is
the ultimate tool to keep people healthy
in any public health issue. While there is
still much we dont know about the Zika
virus, the global community is coming
together to take action and share reliable
information.
Here is some helpful information:
1. The primary source of Zika is bites
from infected mosquitoes (Aedes species).
These are the same mosquitoes that spread
dengue and chikungunya viruses and are
known to circulate in Africa, the Americas,
Asia, and the Pacific. They bite aggressively
during the day, but also at night.
2. Zika can also be transmitted via
sexual intercourse and blood transfusions,
and potentially by organ donation, saliva,
and urine (semen and urine have tested

positive for the virus in one case when


the blood did not). There is currently no
vaccine or treatment.
3. Information about Zika viral
transmission from mothers to babies
during pregnancy or childbirth is very
limited, but the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) confirms that it can be spread from
a mother to her fetus during pregnancy.
4. Infection during pregnancy has
been linked to birth defects in babies.
5. An increase in Guillain-Barr
syndrome (GBS) has been observed in
areas in which a Zika virus epidemic has
been documented (e.g., French Polynesia
and Brazil). However, a direct causal
relationship has not been established
between Zika and GBS.
6. A possible link between
microcephaly and Zika virus infection is
being investigated after an outbreak in
Brazil in 2015, resulting in an increased
focus on screening pregnant women who
may have been exposed. Factors that
may cause increased risk to the fetus are
unknown and are being investigated.

7. Time from exposure to symptoms


(incubation period) is unclear, and only
one in five people infected with Zika
become symptomatic. Most people
infected will have minimal symptoms.
Severe disease is uncommon, and no
deaths have been reported.
8. Common symptoms are low-grade
fever (38.5C/101F) and a rash with small
bumps, but can include muscle and joint
pain, malaise, or headache, conjunctivitis,
pain behind the eyes, and vomiting, and
normally last two to seven days.
9. Only licensed medical
professionals can accurately diagnose
Zika in someone, and the diagnosis can be
confirmed only by laboratory testing for
the presence of the Zika virus RNA in the
blood or other body fluids.
10. We do not know if there is a safe
time during pregnancy to travel to an area
with Zika; therefore the CDC recommends
pregnant women not travel to these areas.
11. It is not known how likely it is
that a pregnant woman will get Zika if she
travels and is bitten, or how likely it is that
her baby will have birth defects from the
infection.
12. Mosquitoes that can carry Zika
are found in some areas of the United
States. And since the mosquitoes that
spread Zika are common throughout the
tropical areas of the world, outbreaks will
continue.

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

33

IN

CASE

OF

EMERGENCY

TOGETHER

WORKING

IN

PARTNERSHIP

Every $1 contributed to support emergency preparation


saves $7 in emergency response.
Your offering on May 14 will ensure the safety of more
families before the next disaster even strikes.

DISASTER

AND

FAMINE

RELIEF

OFFERING

You can also contribute online today:


CommunityServices.org
ADRA.org

16-033 | 01-16

MAY 14

N A D F E AT U R E

The importance of proclaiming the


war between Christ and Satan as the
context for everything that happens
on earth cannot be overstated.
our worship. Either that, or God doesnt exist at all, and we
waste our time worshipping Him.
Fortunately, there is a second answer: The description
of God in the BibleGod is loveis true, and that the
Creation account is also true (God created all animals as
vegetarians, not as predators [see Gen. 1:30]). If this is the
case, then obviously something catastrophic happened to
the world after God created it.
Many Christians throughout the world would defend
God, and try to explain that the first answer is false, while
the second is true. But many of these well-intentioned
Christians stumble in their explanation, and understandably so. How can we reconcile the character of a loving God
with the suffering we see so obviously throughout the
world? How do we explain a God who is all-powerful and
yet who does not step in and immediately stop all suffering?
What these well-intentioned Christians lack is a sufficient understanding of the war between Christ and Satan:
how it began and how it will end. They lack the ability to
see the world and all that happens in it as a part of the
great controversy between Christ and Satan.
A Biblical Framework

The importance of proclaiming the war between Christ


and Satan as the context for everything that happens on
earth cannot be overstated. After all, to do so is to defend
the character of God in a conflict that all started with the
charge against His character. We can be certain that attacks
against His character will be again leveled with vigor in the
last days. Inasmuch as we are living in the last days, we
should be pouring energy into proclaiming the great controversy story.

Who will proclaim this message with vigor if Adventists


dont? This message, in its fullness at least, is unique to
Adventists. Praise the Lord for that, because this understanding is one that opens up both Scripture and world
events to a deeper understanding. Seeing the world
through this lens can lead to a profound, even radical,
transformation. This context, this framework, is an amazing light to a world searching for answers.
However, proclaiming a unique message comes at a
cost: it separates Adventists from the rest of the Christian
world. It makes us unique, which is a problem, because we
seem to value acceptance and inclusion highly. So we have
this dilemma: will we, or will we not, embrace being
unique and loudly proclaim the background and context of
everything that happens in this world? Will we, or will we
not, defend the character of God?
The apostle Paul wrote that Satan is the god of this
world (2 Cor. 4:4). We know that Satan does not have
power to create, but we also know he has power to pervert
and twist creation into something unnatural that includes
diseases such as the Zika virus.
Ellen White wrote: Satan is the originator of disease. . . . There is a divinely appointed connection between
sin and disease. . . . Sin and disease bear to each other the
relationship of cause and effect.2
And Ellen White observed that Satan controls the elements and causes disasters.3 We also know that the whole
world is subject to the curse of sin (the consequence of which
is death), and that creation itself suffers (Rom. 8:21, 22). So
whether disease, disasters, and suffering come from Satans
direct action or whether they come as a consequence of sin,
everything negative in the world can be traced back to Satan.

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

35

N A D F E AT U R E

We dont know exactly how Satan perverted creation,


but we do know he has dominion over this world (which
he took from humanity when Adam and Eve fell in the
Garden of Eden).4 There is a god of this world who is a
monster, and that is Satan. He is responsible for all suffering, all disease, all disasters, all unhappiness. And he will
do anything he can to place the blame for all this on God.
Ellen White explained: It is Satans constant effort to
misrepresent the character of God, the nature of sin, and
the real issues at stake in the great controversy. His sophistry lessens the obligation of the divine law and gives men
license to sin. At the same time he causes them to cherish
false conceptions of God so that they regard Him with fear
and hate rather than with love. The cruelty inherent in his
own character is attributed to the Creator.5
Looking Forward

Disasters have increased some 300 percent in the past


35 years.6 Disease is becoming rampant. Suffering increases
exponentially. Objective persons want to know: What kind
of god allows this to happen? Its a fair question.
And when it is posed, a profound witnessing opportunity is created. God has given us the ability to answer this
question. Lets throw ourselves into the task.
The great controversy is fundamentally a story. Where
are the poets, singers, songwriters, playwrights,

videographers, writers, and bloggers among us who will


compellingly retell this story? Where are the artists who will
assist them? Where are the legions of supporters who will
make it happen? And where are the throngs of Adventists
who will put the story of the great controversy, in its many
forms, into the hands of everyone in their social networks?
Its never been easier to communicate on a grand scale.
And never before have so many been searching so desperately for credible answers. Its time for Adventists to step up
and accept the challenge of unmasking Satan and revealing
Gods true character. n
1 Yes, chemical warfare. For an old but fascinating reference, look at E. L. Rices Chemical Warfare
Between Plants, in Bios 38 no. 2 (May 1967): 67-74.
2 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948),
vol. 5, pp. 443, 444.
3 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), pp.
589, 590.
4 Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1890),
p. 67.
5 E. G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 569.
6 For more information and a graphic of the increase, see my article The End of Normal in the
March 2016 issue of Adventist Review.

Scott Christiansen is communication director


for the Northern New England Conference, and
author of the book Planet in Distress.

How to

Prevent Zika While Travelling


1. Prevent mosquito bites by
wearing long-sleeved shirts and long
pants (preferably light-colored), sleeping
under a mosquito net, or staying in
places with air-conditioning or places
that use window and door screens to
keep mosquitoes outside.
2. Use EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency)-registered insect
repellents. They are effective and

proven safe, even for pregnant and


breast-feeding women. Reapply as
directed. If applying sunscreen, apply it
before applying insect repellent.
3. Strengthen your immune system
by getting plenty of rest, drinking enough
fluids, and treating pain and fever
with common medicines. If symptoms
worsen, seek medical care and advice.
Researchers are carefully designing

and conducting studies to learn more.


Reliable, updated information can be
accessed at:
www.cdc.gov/zika
www.who.int/mediacentre/
factsheets/zika/en/
www.paho.org/zikavirus
wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/
zika-travel-information

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

37

A D V E N T I S T

L I F E

uring my first visit to Europe


many years ago, I tried to give
a brochure to a person in the
subway. She rejected it. That shocked
me. In my home country this would
rarely happen. People here, it seemed,
were not as receptive to the gospel. So I
wondered, How can I break the cultural
barriers and reach peoples hearts?
Soon after, while traveling on a
train, my 2-year-old-daughter was
reading a book about the Flood and
the creation of the world. A couple
beside her were enchanted with her
enthusiasm and listened to her attentively while she showed them the
pictures and explained to them their
meanings. When we arrived at our
stop, we said farewell to the couple
with affective and spontaneous smiles,
which in other circumstances we
would likely not have experienced.
That event helped me understand that
we can reach the hearts of those who
apparently seem closed to the gospel
message if we use the right key.

By Jlio Csar Leal

Things
I Learned
From

Church Planting

A Church Is Born

In 2011 I went to Madrid, Spain, to


continue my postgraduate studies. I
began meeting with a small group of
Portuguese-speaking Adventists, most
of whom were Brazilians. The group
organized initially in 2008, was growing slowing, and dreamed of building
a church. I offered to help.
We began our campaign with
prayer, and God answered our prayers.
The European Portuguese Advisory
(EPA) (in Portuguese, Conselho Europeu de Lngua Portuguesa), a supporting ministry that helps coordinate and
foster the creation of Portuguese
immigrant churches in Europe, began
dialoguing with leaders and pastors
of the Spanish Union of Churches
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
(SUCC), and meetings were held to
discuss the possibilities. The EuroAfrica Division (now the Inter-European Division) released resources of
the project His Hands* to facilitate the

38

Small group establishes the first


Portuguese Adventist church in Spain.

foundation of the new church, the first


Portuguese Adventist church in Spain.
A Church and a Mission

The Lord blessed our efforts. We


were able to obtainfree of charge
a small facility in which to meet and
worship on Sabbaths. This strengthened our faith in Gods leading, and
we continued to move forward in
faith. The official inauguration of the
small group was held on March 23,
2012. EPA representatives from
London and Switzerland, as well as
church leaders from SUCC, attended.
At first weekly attendance hovered

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

around 30, but the members enthusiastically embraced their mission to


reach as many as possible of the more
than 20,000 Brazilians and others living in Madrid who spoke Portuguese.
They happily greeted Sabbath visitors
and welcomed them into their group.
The Key to Success

Every human being has spiritual


needs, as well as a need for fellowship
and companionship with others. A
genuine and vibrant Christian group
that is biblically oriented can help
satisfy these needs. A community of
immigrants such as ours can also offer
P H O T O S

C O U R T E S Y

O F T H E

A U T H O R

Left: JOYFUL MEMBERS:


Members of the Madrid
Portuguese Adventist
church Below: CELEBRATING
COMMUNION: Two members
of the Madrid Portuguese
Adventist church participate in the
Communion service.

practical assistance, such as providing


food to those in need and helping
them find jobs or places to pursue their
education or learn a second language.
A support network was developed
through small-group meetings in
church members homes. Four small
groups prayed with one another and
shared sorrows, joys, and dreams.
They developed friendships with one
another and shared their faith with
neighbors, relatives, and others. Sharing Sabbath meals also provided fellowship. The spontaneity and joy in
our social meetings and religious services in the church created an attractive environment for visitors.
A Dream Realized

The small groups, visits to


members, frequent phone calls,
Bible studies, and daily church
life fostered friendship and
confidence. When I visited
other community churches, I
shared the story of the
fledgling congregation.
Eventually the news
spread throughout

the region, resulting in many prayers


and messages of encouragement.
Adventists from other churches
soon began to migrate to our congregation. Former Adventists and people
interested in learning about the gospel
started attending as well. Before long we
outgrew our meeting facility and began
looking for something larger.
One day, while talking to a
church brother at his automobile repair shop, I mentioned
that we were praying and looking for a new meeting site. He
showed me a place for rent in
front of his shop. It was the size
we needed and in a good location,
close to a subway station and in a
Brazilian immigrant neighborhood.
It seemed God was leading. We
signed the lease in October 2012.
The new meeting place needed
much work and renovation. Church
members volunteered both time and
resources. Refurbishing the place
included constructing a second bathroom, acquiring new chairs, organizing a childrens room, updating the
heating system, and, of course, cleaning and painting. The SUCC approved
the opening of the new church on
November 13, and its official dedication was held January 19, 2013.
All those initial months of hard
work, sweat, and tears were finally
crowned with the slow but sustainable
development of the first Portuguese
Adventist church in Spain.
Lessons Learned

Here are 10 things I learned from


helping to plant this new congregation:
1. Success depends on both the
heavenly rain and the sweat of those
who work in it.
2. Negotiations and administrative formalities can sometimes be dry,
slow, and challenging, but they are the
inevitable way to plant a new church.
3. Pleasing everyone should not be
the goal. But respecting different opinions is a sign of maturity and wisdom,

and helps avoid a lot of problems.


4. Words of encouragement can
lighten the exhausted soul and
strengthen a persons faith.
5. God often uses humble, weak,
and unskilled people to teach us to
depend on Him.
6. If we use lack of money as an
excuse to do nothing, we dont understand that God is truly in control.
7. Unless we spend time with
people, strive to be close them, and
love them, its impossible to share our
knowledge and experience of God
with them.
8. Every pastoral ministry is
beyond human capacity, but with God
all things are possible.
9. Gods mercy and love toward
lost souls allow us be instruments of
salvation, independent of our personal
strengths and weaknesses.
10. We sometimes need to
unlearn things in order to be able to
understand other lessons God wants
to teach us.
Practical Love

The central gospel message is practical love. After breaking through the
numerous artificial and cultural barriers that people use to protect themselves, we find hearts in need of love
and understanding. Sincere Christians
can provide genuine friendships
through which others can experience
a true encounter with God. n
*His Hands is an initiative of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church. For more information, go to www.adventistvolunteers.
org/HisHands/

Jlio Csar Leal, a

pastor and translator,


serves in a supporting
prison ministry in
Madrid and is a speaker for 7dayradio
(www.sevendayradio.com) and 7Day
Media Group. He also serves on the board
of the Brazilian chapter of the Adventist
Theological Society.

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

39

A D V E N T I S T

H E R I T A G E

or the first 10 years of my life I


was a little boy in a little village
on a big plain: the magnificent,
wide-open, undulating plains of
Venezuelas Gran Sabana in South
Americas northern region.

Another

Native
There are many
ways to become
a pioneer.

Beautiful Land

My name is Gibson Caesar. I am


one of the original inhabitants of my
region: Taurepan, Akawaio. Pemonspeaking Amerindians inhabit a land of
splendid beauty shared with Spanishspeaking Venezuelans, English-speaking
Guyanese, and Portuguese-speaking
Brazilians. Many of us speak all those
European languages and several of our
own as well.
Our land features dramatic ancient
rock formations called tepuis (or
tepuys) that suddenly rise from the
savannah floor in awe-inspiring isolation from one another. They make for
spectacular waterfalls, one of which,
Ayuantepui, is the source of Angel
Falls, at 979 meters (3,212 feet) the
worlds tallest waterfall, with one
uninterrupted plunge of 807 meters
(2,648 feet). Its river, the Gauja, is but
one of the areas wild rushing currents
that sweep over these falls.
The indigenous word Guayana
(Guyana) goes far in explaining the
lush profusion of this (at times) inaccessible interior. Its meaning, land of
many waters, describes the fertility of
hinterland earth in Guyana, Surinam,
Cayenne, Venezuela, and Brazil. The
deep jungles of these lands have provided exotic flora and fauna for many
of the worlds zoos.
My own Taurepan-speaking relatives still freely move across the fluid
international borders at the base of
Mount Roraima, where Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyanas borders meet. For me,
as a 10-year-old, moving from the land
of my birth to Guyana would give me a
new land, language, name, and life.

40

Paruima, Waramadong,
Georgetown

Son

Paruima is an indigenous Amerindian village across the Guyanese border


where the Seventh-day Adventists
operated a school, with Riley Caesar
as teacher. School drew me there. But
within a short time teacher Riley and
his wife, Lucy, drew me further in.
They took me into their home and
gave me their name. I could not know
then how big a step this was into
Gods future for me.
Two years later, in 1948, we moved to
the village of Waramadong, where my
dad served as teacher in the Waramadong school. But Daddy Caesar soon
realized that his firstborn son needed
more schooling than he could get in
hinterland Akawaio villages. So after
about two years in Waramadong, he sent
me to Guyanas capital city of Georgetown. By then he was not as lonely as he
had been when he took me in as his first
son. Now there were four kids: me, 14
years old; Val, 4; with Theron and Lael
trailing behind. And though there were
no Adventist schools in Georgetown in
1950, there was an Adventist head
master. Daddy Caesar entrusted me
into Bruce Dummetts care.
Coming of Age

Georgetown was still not enough


for my thirst for learning, or Daddys

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

By Gibson Caesar
(with Lael Caesar)

dreams for me. So after being there


three months, I sailed across the Caribbean Sea to Caribbean Training College on the island of Trinidad, where
my teacher-parents, Riley and Lucy
Caesar, had themselves been trained. I
spent three years in that school, learning to fill Daddys shoes. For that was
just what the Lord had destined me to
do: return home to make history for
my native people. When Daddy Caesar
was transferred to Guyanas Essequibo
Coast to take up pastoral duties, I took
his place in Waramadong. At just 17
years old, I became the first indigenous
teacher in Adventisms history of my
people in Guyana.
Back in my school days at Daddy
Caesars Waramadong school there
was a girl named Anita. She was one
year my junior. Her dad, William
Frederick Kenswil, traveled a bit. So
for reasons of her stability, he let her
spend much of her time in the care of
Pastor and Mrs. Roy Brooks, missionaries living and teaching in the village
of Paruima. Mr. Kenswil paid his
daughter weekly visits in Paruima, but
one day when she was 13, he decided
to have her come visit him instead:
You are growing up my daughter,
he said. You need to find a good husband . . . Gibson, perhaps, or someone
like him. It was the only fatherdaughter conversation of that kind she

Gibson, fourth from


right, with family
members

Moving from the land of my birth


to Guyana would give me a new land,
language, name, and life.
would ever have with her dad. He died
that same week.
Far away in Trinidad, I was doing
my own thinking:
I have nobody, I told myself. The
solution would be to write to Mrs.
Brooks. I did, and told her to keep
Anita for me.
But life isnt always that simple.
After I came home to teach, I found
myself aware of more than one charming, Christian young woman in my
world. I kept thinking of Esther, who
liked me a lot, and of Anita at Pastor
Brooks home away in Georgetown.
One day I made up my mind to go
see Anita. It was enough. A week later
Pastor Brooks brought Anita to Waramadong to join us in marriage, March
18, 1954me and my old schoolmate;
the girl whose father, when she was 13,
had encouraged her to think of me just
days before he died; the girl I had asked
P H O T O

C O U R T E S Y

O F T H E

A U T H O R

Sister Brooks to keep for me. Amazing,


isnt it, or at least amusing, that none
of us ever thought of asking Anita
what she thought of all this? Blessedly
for me, Anita was in full agreement
with having me as her life companion.
Life Together

I taught for seven years in Waramadong, the last six of them with Anita at
my side as teacher and loving wife.
Later we moved to Kako, some eight
hours away, to open a new school.
Kako put all my capacity as a leader to
the test. God helped me persuade
the village community to join me in
doing it all. We built everything
from classroom blackboard, to school
furniture, to the schoolhouse itself.
Life After Kako

I did many things in life after


Kako. There was mining, logging, and

many years of work in agriculture.


Daddy and Mommys preparation,
and my years at Waramadong and
Kako, stood me in good stead.
Beginning at the Mon Repos School
of Agriculture in 1973, I served as a
career educator, teaching in eight of my
peoples communities, places with
musical Amerindian names like
Paruima, Waramadong, Kamarang,
Kako, Jawalla [in the Upper Mazaruni],
Imbaimadai, Chinauyen, and Philippi.
Anita left teaching to become a certified
midwife. From her base in Waramadong she worked from 1973 to 2001,
and earned the astonishing record of
never losing a baby through 28 years of
midwifery in Guyanas hinterland.
But my history-making years at
Waramadong and Kako will never be
forgotten. God has been good to this
little boy who wandered across an
international border to find his family and purpose in life. Life has had
its sorrows along with its joys. But I
am thankful that God let us see seven
of our children, three girls and four
boys, grow to adulthood and do very
well. Considering their success, the
growth of Adventist education
among Guyanas historic Davis
Indian community, and the way God
has led throughout my life, I shall
always be grateful for the privilege He
granted me of being the pioneer in
the Christian education of my people.
Across the next border in heavens
promised land my children and students and I will all learn from Jesus
in the school of eternity. n

Gibson Caesar,

retired, now lives


in the town of
his birth, Santa
Elena de Uairn, in the state of Bolvar,
Venezuela.

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

41

B I B L E

Q U E S T I O N S

Please clarify
the law of slavery
in Exodus 21:2-6.
Wouldnt God be
opposed to slavery?

A N S W E R E D

A Question
of

Slavery

A number of laws in the


Old Testament regulate
the treatment of Israelite
and non-Israelite slaves. I
will provide an overview of
slavery in Israel and discuss
the legislation to which you refer.
1. Slavery in the Old Testament: Slavery was
not a social institution established by God, but a
common one found throughout the ancient Near East,
including Israel. God did not proscribe it, but He did regulate it in order to protect slaves from abuse and exploitation. God does not uproot us from our culture, but takes
us where we are and makes us better persons. In fact, some
of His laws point to a time that there would not be more
slaves (the law of jubilee). The Hebrew term translated
slave, ebed, means servant, worker, adviser, slave, etc.
Most slaves were prisoners of war who served those
who defeated them, probably for life. In Israel people
became slaves because of poverty (Lev. 25:35, 39) or for
committing a crime (Ex. 22:3). In such cases they were
not devalued but were still considered a fellow Hebrew
(Deut. 15:12). Physical abuse that resulted in the loss of
limb (e.g. an eye or a tooth) was compensated by freeing
the slave (Ex. 21:26, 27). Slaves had the Sabbath free to
serve God (Ex. 20:10). For the poor, slavery was not necessarily that bad, because it assured them food and shelter; consequently they often voluntarily became slaves to
pay their debts.
2. A Legal Case: Exodus 21:2-6 is a case law that legislates how to deal with a person who has become a debt
slave: If you buy a Hebrew servant . . . Such persons
would work until the debt was paid. They would work for
six years, and on the seventh they would go free without
paying anything (verse 2, NIV). Two possible scenarios
are mentioned and regulated: Those who had a family
when they became debt slaves leave with their families. If
they did not have a family and the owner gave them a
wife and they had children, slaves would leave without
their wives and children. In that case they could choose to
remain a slave by permanently becoming part of the
household. This required taking a vow before the Lord and

42

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

having the ear perforated to indicate that the person had


become part of the household.
3. Significance of the Legislation: When placed within
the larger context of Old Testament law, this legislation is
concerned with the well-being of slaves.
First, the Lord does not want slavery to be a permanent
condition. It is limited to six years. In fact, a redeemer
could set slaves free by paying their debt. And the six years
could be shortened if, during that period, there was a sabbatical year, when the debts of the poor were remitted
(Deut. 15:1-6), or the jubilee was celebrated, granting freedom to all Hebrew slaves (Lev. 25:10).
Second, the family of those who were married when
they sold themselves to slavery was cared for by the master.
This was not a free service, but was paid by the work of the
family members.
Third, after the six years the owner was not to send
them away empty-handed but to supply them liberally
from your flock, your threshing floor and you winepress.
Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you
(Deut. 15:13, 14, NIV). Former slaves were granted a new
beginning.
Fourth, although the person who came alone into slavery could not take his wife and children with him, he had
the right to redeem them; but this would be difficult for a
poor person. Thus a second option was legally available: He
could become a member of the household of the owner.
Under this arrangement they would not have to worry
about their own subsistence as a family.
Obviously, none of this was ideal. But in the imperfect
world, the Lord legislated slavery to make it as humane as
possible, while at the same time announcing the coming of
a final jubilee when slavery, including slavery to sin, would
come to an end (Luke 4:17-19). n

Angel Manuel Rodrguez is retired after


serving the church as a pastor, professor,
and theologian.

B I B L E

S T U D Y

By Mark A. Finley

B. P R A T T

Daniel

The Blessings of Obedience

ne of the key characteristics of Gods heroes of


faith is a relationship of trust in His goodness
that leads to obedience to His will. Obedience
is not legalism; it is the fruit of faith. Daniels life reveals
the blessings of one whose faith led him to obey Gods
commands at the risk of his life. This months lesson will
reveal lessons from one of Gods heroes of faith that we can
apply daily to our own lives so that we too can receive the
rich blessings God intends to bestow upon each believer.

1 What tragic event occurred in Jerusalem in


Daniel 1? Read Daniel 1:1, 2.
Daniel 1 begins with a defeat for the true God. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem, overthrew
Judah, and ransacked the Jewish Temple.

2 What instruction did Nebuchadnezzar, king of


Babylon, give to one of his princes, Ashpenaz? Read
Daniel 1:3, 4.
Nebuchadnezzar used a common strategy in times of war.
When he overthrew Jerusalem, he instructed Ashpenaz, one
of his commanders, to seize some of the most handsome,
intelligent, and gifted young men as captives to be educated
in the University of Babylon. It was the kings intent to so
brainwash these young men so they could be sent back as
puppet rulers to represent Babylon in Jerusalem.

How did Nebuchadnezzar attempt to shape


the thoughts of these Hebrew teenage captives?
Discover the kings strategy in Daniel 1:5-7.
Nebuchadnezzars strategy included changing the names of
these young Hebrews, awing them with the splendor of
Babylon, inviting them to a banquet in honor of the Babylonian gods, and educating them in the most prestigious
university in the land.

4 What was Daniels response to the kings


invitation to eat his food and drink his wine? Read
Daniel 1:8, 11-15.
Daniel purposed in his heart to serve God. The word
purposed means decided, determined, or chose. The
wise man said, Keep your heart with all diligence, for out
of it spring the issues of life (Prov. 4:23).

5 What was the result of Daniels faithfulness?


Read Daniel 1:18-20.
6 How did Daniel face a similar test at the end of
his life? Read Daniel 6:5-9.
In the scheming of the princes we discover that jealously
leads to envy, envy to lying, and lying to the willingness to
put an innocent man to death. Cherished sin strangles all
goodness. It leads people to do things they never imagined
they would do.

What was Daniels response? Read Daniel 6:10.

For Daniel, prayer was a way of life. He knew that if he


neglected his prayer life he would lose his spiritual
strength.

How did God honor Daniels faithfulness? Find


the answer in Daniel 6:21, 22, 25-27.
As a result of Daniels faithfulness, God shut the mouths of
the lions, delivered Daniel from the lions den, and influenced the entire nation for the kingdom of God. Faithfulness to God, which leads to obedience, brings with it the
blessings of heaven. It was true for Daniel; and it is true for
each of us as well. n

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

43

IDEA EXCHANGE

We all need to be reminded that


by His death Christ not only
loosed us from Satans clutches
but restored our own lives to us.
Shirley Mathieu, Australia

From Reader to Contributor

Letters
Better Than a Brother

Thank you for Angel Manuel Rodrguezs beautiful article Better Than a
Brother (December 2015). It was
comforting and inspiring. We all need
to be reminded that by His death
Christ not only loosed us from Satans
clutches but restored our own lives to
us. We are no longer hopeless vessels
but children of the living God, soon to
spend an endless eternity with our
beloved Jesus.
Shirley Mathieu
Australia

PrayerW

I enjoy the monthly updates from


Adventist World. I thank God for you.
Many Ethiopians, as well as I, read it
every month. Until recently we used
to receive the magazine just on time. I
dont want to be just a reader, however. If God wills, I plan to contribute
an article.
Bereket Feleke
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Revives and Encourages

I greet you in the wonderful name


of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am working
as a professional nurse in a prison.
This magazine always revives and
encourages me to press on with my
daily duties.
Musa Sibisi
via e-mail

Looking for Legalism, Finding


Hypocrisy

Thank you for publishing the article


titled Looking for Legalism, Finding
Hypocrisy (November 2015). This
article makes a point about which all
Christians should be aware. I would
like to get a copy of this article in PDF
form as well.
Matthew Alexandra
Australia
Letters Policy: Please send to: letters@adventistworld.org.
Letters must be clearly written, 100-word maximum. Include the
name of the article and the date of publication with your letter.
Also include your name, the town/city, state, and country from
which you are writing. Letters will be edited for space and clarity. Not all letters submitted will be published.

PRAISE

Please pray that I can get a good


job where I dont have to work on
the Sabbath.
Enid
Uganda

44

I pray to God that He helps me and


strengthens our relationship so I can
feel Him and love Him more.
Ronnie
Austria

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

I thank God for answering prayers.


Please pray for us that we can finish
our church, as we are struggling to
build it.
Chikunda
Namibia

P I X A B AY / A
R S H

I B R A H I M / L I
S A

R E D F E R N

Why Walk

When You Can

Ruck?

Walking is good. But walking with a weighted backpack, a rucksack


in military parlance, burns more calories and improves posture.
A 30-minute walk burns about 125 calories. But three 30-minute
walks a week while wearing a weighted pack can burn an extra
31,200 calories over a year, the equivalent of nine pounds of fat.
A weighted backpack also promotes better posture by making
you walk upright, so back muscles dont have to work as hard.
Start by packing an amount equal to 10 percent of your body
weight (15 pounds for someone who weighs 150 pounds). Use
weights, bricks, or bags of sand. Once you feel comfortable,
increase the weight. Carry no more than 35 pounds.
Expect some tenderness as your muscles get used to the new
routine. But done regularlyat least three times a weekyoull
enjoy the benefits of moving past walking to rucking.
Source: MensHealth.com

Saints:

a Definition

The truly great saints are often the


unknown, unrecognized, undecorated
men and women whose lives reflect the
love of Jesus far more than their words.
These are the real saints.
Larry R. Valorozo, Newfoundland, Canada

P I X A B AY / G E R A R D O

Please pray that I pass my exams.


Clotilde
France
Please pray for my grandchildren to
rededicate themselves to God.
Agatha
Jamaica

Please pray for me. My husband is


planning to come and see my parents,
and I want to see my son again.
Eva
Uganda

R O J A S

The Place of Prayer: Send prayer requests and praise (thanks


for answered prayer) to prayer@adventistworld.org. Keep entries
short and concise, 50-words or less. Items will be edited for
space and clarity. Not all submissions will be printed. Please
include your name and your countrys name. You may also fax
requests to: 1-301-680-6638; or mail them to Adventist World,
12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A.

April 2016 | Adventist World - nad

45

Behold, I come quickly


Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ, uniting
Seventh-day Adventists everywhere in beliefs,
mission, life, and hope.
Publisher
The Adventist World, an international periodical
of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The General
Conference, Northern Asia-Pacific Division
of Seventh-day Adventists, is the publisher.
Editor and Executive Publisher
Bill Knott
Associate Publisher

54 years ago
On April 14, 1962, the Iranian minister of education signed a document permitting Adventists to operate a full-scale high school under its
new name, Iran Adventist Academy. The first twelfth-grade class graduated in 1965.
Iran Adventist Academy began as a boarding school for boys on the
secondary level, formerly operated by the Iran Mission on a three-hectare
(seven-acre) property about 13 kilometers (eight miles) north of Tehran,
in the foothills of the Alborz Mountains. With the exception of religion
classes, the curriculum was prescribed by the Iran Ministry of Education.
The school was originally founded in Darband by Paul C. Boynton in
1946 with the name Iran Training School as a coeducational high school,
unlicensed by the government. After two years of operation at Darband,
high rent and other factors forced the school to move to the mission
building in Tehran. When Boynton left on furlough, Iran Mission officers
took over responsibilities of running the school until the arrival of C. L.
Gemmell, who carried on under adverse political conditions until the
school was forced to close, and a few students transferred to Middle East
College in Beirut, Lebanon.
In 1955 M. E. Adams reopened a vocational junior high school with
government approval until it became a full-time high school. The academy was later appropriated by the government.

International Publishing Manager


Chun, Pyung Duk
Adventist Review Ministries Board
Ted N. C. Wilson, chair; Guillermo Biaggi, vice chair;
Bill Knott, secretary; Lisa Beardsley-Hardy; Williams
Costa; Dan Jackson; Peter Landless; Robert Lemon;
Geoffrey Mbwana; G. T. Ng; Daisy Orion;
Juan Prestol-Puesn; Ella Simmons; Artur Stele;
Ray Wahlen; Karnik Doukmetzian, legal advisor
Adventist World Coordinating Committee
Jairyong Lee, chair; Yutaka Inada, German Lust,
Pyung Duk Chun, Suk Hee Han, Gui Mo Sung
Editors based in Silver Spring, Maryland
Andr Brink, Lael Caesar, Gerald A. Klingbeil
(associate editors), Sandra Blackmer, Stephen Chavez,
Wilona Karimabadi, Andrew McChesney
Editors based in Seoul, Korea
Pyung Duk Chun, Jae Man Park, Hyo Jun Kim
Operations Manager
Merle Poirier
Editors-at-large
Mark A. Finley, John M. Fowler
Senior Advisor
E. Edward Zinke
Financial Manager
Kimberly Brown
Editorial Assistant
Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste
Management Board
Jairyong Lee, chair; Bill Knott, secretary;
P. D. Chun,Karnik Doukmetzian, Suk Hee Han,
Yutaka Inada, German Lust, Ray Wahlen, Ex-officio:
Juan Prestol-Puesn, G. T. Ng, Ted N. C. Wilson
Art Direction and Design
Jeff Dever, Brett Meliti
Consultants
Ted N. C. Wilson, Juan Prestol-Puesn, G. T. Ng,
Guillermo E. Biaggi, Mario Brito, Abner De Los Santos,
Dan Jackson, Raafat A. Kamal, Michael F. Kaminskiy,
Erton C. Khler, Ezras Lakra, Jairyong Lee, Israel Leito,
Thomas L. Lemon, Geoffrey G. Mbwana, Paul S. Ratsara,
Blasious M. Ruguri, Ella Simmons, Artur A. Stele,
Glenn Townend, Elie Weick-Dido
To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. Address
all editorial correspondence to 12501 Old Columbia Pike,
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600, U.S.A. Editorial office fax
number: (301) 680-6638
E-mail: worldeditor@gc.adventist.org
Web site: www.adventistworld.org

O V E R H E A R D

We cannot have room for


God if we do not have room
for our neighbor.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible references are taken


from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980,
1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights
reserved. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible,
New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
Adventist World is published monthly and printed
simultaneously in Korea, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia,
Germany, Austria, Argentina, Mexico, and the United States.
Vol. 12, No. 4

Thomas Hoffman, Maryland, United States

46

Adventist World - nad | April 2016

30% OFF
Using promo code:

AW2016

12 months for $26.95 $18.95

1. Visit: AdventistReview.org/Subscriptions
2. Select 12 month subscription
3. Enter promo-code AW2016 and enjoy 30% off!

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

U.S. POSTAGE

12501 OLD COLUMBIA PIKE


SILVER SPRING, MD 20904

PAID
Bolingbrook, IL
Permit No. 2351

También podría gustarte