the Record as a PDF - Seventh

August 19, 2006
In this issue
Adventist Health’s
eye on future
ASA’s Rockingham
health run
Answering
Inspired? questions
Students studying in the leadership training courses
offered at the two-week session held in Fiji.
Training sharpens
Pacific leaders
A
Institute
celebrates
20 years
Wahroonga, New South Wales
bout 50 people, three of whom
were women, attended leadership
cohort training sessions for leaders of the Adventist Church in the
Pacific islands.
The two-week training sessions were
held in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua
New Guinea between May and July
Representing the different levels within
the church, including senior pastors, departmental directors, school principals,
treasurers and presidents, participants will
be presented with a Certificate in Leadership from Pacific Adventist University at
the completion of their course.
ISSN 0819-5633
“Most of the students in the training
sessions already hold tertiary qualifications, so the fact that they are still seeking
further development in their professional
skills shows their zeal for learning,” says
Dr Barry Gane, director of Leadership and
Professional Development in the South Pacific Division (SPD). “It is also nice to see
women included in the training groups.”
“I think the program is a very good
move by the SPD to give proper training
to islanders in regards to leadership in
the church,” says Mrs Elma Sese, finance
director of the Adventist Development
(Continued on page 5)
editorial
We need to find better ways to engage with
the art and entertainment of our culture.
“Dear Slim”
P
icking up a “best of”/remix album
recently, I was reminded of two of
the most intelligent and inspiring
examples of contemporary Christian music I have come across. The tracks
come from an unlikely looking white-boy
hip-hopper called KJ-52. While you might
be tempted to agree with P J O’Rourke’s
less-than-complimentary description of this
musical genre—“a form of music created
by one performer shouting obscenities in a
singsong voice while other performers torture a cat and throw garbage cans down a
flight of stairs”—let’s give KJ a chance.
The two songs—“Dear Slim” (from the
album Collaborations) and “Dear Slim pt 2”
(on It’s Pronounced Five-Two)—were addressed to controversial and hugely successful shock-rapper Eminem. “Dear Slim pt
2” tells of the attention received by the film
clip to the first track when it was played
on MTV. Both tunes provide an example
of a credible Christian engagement with
popular culture. KJ employs the culture
itself to communicate with that culture
and translates the gospel into a language
just as significant as that of some obscure
jungle community.
When it comes down to it, decrying
popular culture as substandard is a cheap
shot: it’s not hard to do and achieves little—even P J O’Rourke without much in
the way of Christian or moral pretensions
can do it. And so often, albeit well intentioned, Christian cultural critique simply
misses the point.
Official Paper of the South
Pacific Division Seventh-day
Adventist Church
ABN 59 093 117 689
www.adventist.org.au
Vol 111 No 32
Cover: Alex Currie
Commenting upon Eminem’s 8 Mile
movie from a couple of years back, a newspaper reviewer questioned one prominent
Christian response. By way of movie critique, the Christian review had simply tallied up the number of uses of various swear
words through the movie, presumably concluding that this automatically implied an
“unsuitable viewing” label. The newspaper
reviewer justifiably questioned the significance of this word count in comparison
with the unmentioned culture of poverty,
violence and desperation portrayed in the
movie, reflecting the real-life background
from which Eminem and his movie alter
ego emerged.
We need to find better ways to engage
with the art and entertainment of our culture and KJ demonstrates one way it can be
done. As a fellow white performer trying
to find credibility in a largely black musical genre, KJ expresses his identification
with Eminem’s struggles, disadvantage and
heartbreak. In “Dear Slim,” he reflects upon
his initial resentment at comparisons with
the more-famous Eminem but comes to
recognise the compliment and opportunity
this gives him within that culture.
Though not expressing it in such terms,
KJ is echoing Paul’s mission statement: “I
try to find common ground with everyone
so that I might bring them to Christ” (1
Corinthians 9:22*). Through hip-hop, KJ
is meeting the culture on its terms—and
subverting it to the cause of the gospel.
And KJ does it well. His songs are not
Editor Nathan Brown
Senior assistant editor David Edgren
Editorial assistant Adele Nash
Editorial assistant Scott Wegener
Copyeditor Graeme Brown
Editorial secretary Meryl McDonald-Gough
Layout Nathan Chee
Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver
www.record.net.au
August 19, 2006
awkward, half-hearted ditties—the “fifthrate poems set to sixth-rate music” of much
of C S Lewis’s church experience. As Lewis
noted in his essay “Good Work and Good
Works,” “Good works need not be good
work, as anyone can see by inspecting some
of the objects made to be sold at bazaars
for charitable purposes.” To be credible in
our culture, we need to ensure we appreciate and respect the artistic forms we use to
communicate. If we are simply feigning an
interest as an evangelistic hook, we are not
respecting the integrity of the art and the
people who find expression and meaning
through that form. God expressed great
satisfaction at the excellence of His creation
(see Genesis 1:31); we need to take similar
care with our creative communication.
When an artist such a KJ-52 can address
Eminem, his music, his fans and the wider
culture, reminding them all—in a culturally
relevant artistic form—that “I only want to
share with you Jesus’ love for me,” “not a
day goes by that I don’t pray for you,” and
“a life without Christ is still a life that is
never fixed” (from “Dear Slim pt 2”), we
have to rejoice. Regardless of our musical
appreciation, “the fact remains that the
message about Christ is being preached,
so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice”
(Philippians 1:18).
*Bible quotations are from the New Living
Translation.
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Nathan Brown
news
Institute celebrates 20 years
COORANBONG, NEW SOUTH WALES
T
his year, the Institute of Church
Ministry (ICM) celebrates 20 years
of service. In August 1986, ICM was
founded at Avondale College by Dr
Alwyn Salom and adopted the vision of
“Empowering local churches to fulfil the
Great Commission.”
Thus began an era of service by ICM as
a seminar trainer, researcher and church
consultant in a variety of ministries. The
directors of ICM over these two decades
have been Drs Alwyn Salom, Stephen Currow and Doug Robertson.
Examples of the seminars currently operated by ICM include “Living proof” (spiritually motivated Christians are the “living
proof” of the gospel), which trains church
members in lifestyle witnessing to secular,
postmodern people.
“Live long and love it” is a local church
ministry to the large and growing group
of active “new” seniors in the non-church
community.
“Opening the front door of your church”
assists the local church in changing its focus
from an inward to an outward orientation
and making the church “user friendly” for
newcomers. “Network” (new edition) trains
church members in the discovery and use
of their spiritual gifts.
ICM has also conducted and
participated in a variety of research projects, including studies from the National Church
Life Survey (NCLS) (to be held
again in 2006). After each survey,
ICM prepares a report based on
the responses from all the Adventist churches participating in
Australia.
These reports are made available to the church at large. The
The Institute of Church Ministry website.
most recent report was prepared
by Dr Currow. It is available from the web- consultancies such as “Refocusing your
site <www.InstituteOfChurchMinistry.org> church” and the envisioning and goal-set(follow the link to “Challenges”).
ting process in the church.
In addition, ICM prepares demographic
In the past seven years, Dr Salom has
studies of the community to assist local established an off-shore ministry in Japan.
churches meet the ministry needs in their Research and coaching in the area of church
areas. Over the 20-year period, demographic health has been carried on in 130 Japanese
studies (“Community profiles”) have been churches. After evaluating church health
prepared for more than 400 Adventist assessments, consulting/coaching visits have
churches.
been made to the churches to assist them in
Both the NCLS reports and the commu- improving their church health.
nity profiles become the basis of consultanPastors and church leaders are encourcies as ICM personnel coach churches in aged to consult the ICM website for a full list
appropriate ministries that target existing and details of services offered by ICM and
needs in their own church or in the minsitry for contact information.—RECORD staff
area of their community.
More @ www.InstituteOf Church
Other consultancies include long-term
Ministry.org
◆ In 1994 the
◆ During a week-long Lava Lava
Kanwalchurch,
NSW, was burnt
down. Recentl y, a s m a l l
burnt Bible
found in the
burnt church, showing the affects
of the fire, had a revolving glass
showcase made for it by church
member Robert Gordon. It is
now on display at the front of the
new church as a reminder of the
destructive nature of fire and, like
the fire, that sin leaves permanent
scars until the second coming of
Jesus.—Northpoint
Island Vacation Bible School program at Wallsend church, NSW,
children were invited to bring children’s books and clothes for donation to an orphanage in India. More
than 300 books and 500 items of
clothing were collected. Of the
185 children who attended, 78
had never been to church. Children received a DVD with photos
and video taken during the week.
Wahroonga church, NSW, ran Serengeti Trek, attracting 128 children. The children at this program
collected books, pens, stickers
and other stationery to send to
children in Papua New Guinea.—
Lidia Nowicki/Lloyd Turner/Tracey
Bridcutt
◆ Jade McGrady, an active mem-
ber of the Warwick church youth
group, received an award for senior student of the year at the
National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee
Week in Warwick, Qld. NAIDOC
Week recognises
the accomplishments of young
indigenous people in the community.—Mary
Fedorow
◆ The Royal Oak church, NZ,
were paid a visit by Dr Jonathan
Gallagher as their speaker on
July 15. Dr Gallagher is a General
Conference representative on the
United Nations Religious Liberty
Association where the Adventist
Church holds Special Consultative Status.—Mark Ryan
IN YOUR HANDS - HAVE YOU GIVEN AWAY YOUR SIGNS YET?
August 19, 2006
3
news
Messiah comes to PAU
Port Moresby, Papua New
Guinea
J
une 30 saw the presentation of 520 copies of the book Messiah to students of
Pacific Adventist University (PAU).
The book is an adaptation of The Desire
of Ages by Ellen White into contemporary
language.
The arrival of the book was seen
as very timely by PAU, as it came
a week after the conclusion of the
Week of Prayer conducted by Dr
John Hammond, director of Adventist Schools Australia for the Australian Union Conference.
Graham Chester, deputy vicechancellor of PAU, says, “Dr Hammond had taken a very successful
Week of Prayer, using the theme,
‘Unlikely heroes of the cross.’ We
decided to capitalise on both the
Week of Prayer and that theme.
“We launched the book as the ‘Hero of
the cross,’ the Messiah. During the opening
part of vespers we had our speaker for the
evening, Dr Paul Petersen, the South Pacific
Division’s (SPD) field secretary, present a
copy of the book to a representative from
each of the six schools.”
At the conclusion of the program, stu-
◆ On May 20, Betty Antwis was
honoured at Albany church, WA,
for having played the organ for
50 years. She was presented
with flowers and chocolates as
appreciation from the congregation. The next day Betty contributed an item for a concert at
the church, which raised $A500
for the Bible Society—June Gallop/Stacey Brown
dents collected their copy of Messiah from
their school deans, who were located at one
of the five exit points of the chapel.
When asked about the reason for giving
out the books, Dr Petersen said, “So that the
students can read and come to know more
about the Messiah, the Desire of Ages, and
build an intimate relationship with Him.”
PAU students with their copies of Messiah.
Dr Petersen also encouraged the students
to read a chapter a day as part of their daily
devotional readings.
Students were enthusiastic about receiving the book, with several students expressing their gratitude to God for giving them
the gift of the book for free. One student
commented, “I heard of this book and
wished I had the money to buy one. If I
were to buy this book, I would have bought
it for more than K30 but I’m so thankful
that I got one free.”
A non-Adventist student also remarked,
“This book will not only help me in my
gospel class but also enable me to come to
know more about the Messiah and what
the Messiah expects of me.”
Mr Chester says, “I would say that
the giving of the book has been very
well received and we will only know
in the kingdom just how much good
it actually did.”
The university expressed thanks to
the Signs Publishing Company, which
provided copies of Messiah.
Liz Dunstan, Signs book department manager, says, “This completes
an SPD initiative to encourage young
people to read more Ellen White by
providing them with subsidised copies of Messiah. More than 1000 copies were distributed as part of this project,
which began with a promotion in The
Edge and ended with this mass distribution at PAU.
“In the past two years, we’ve managed
to offer this book for $A5 to young people in Australia and New Zealand, while
providing it free in the Pacific.”—Adele
Nash/Edna Worri
◆ Northpine Christian Col-
◆ Jack Harris
lege, Qld, has run a number of
seminars for parents and carers
of students in recent months,
dealing with a variety of topics
of interest. Their first seminar
covered the background of the
Adventist Church, its institutions
and some if its major beliefs.
Other seminars have covered
topics such as marriage enrichment, grief and loss, and parenting teens. “These seminars have
been a wonderful opportunity
to reach out to our college community,” says principal Graham
Baird.—Katy Bidmead
of Broken Hill
church, NSW,
was chosen
by the Quota
Club of Broken Hill as
the Citizen
of the Year for 2006. Mr Harris gives his time to many services, including Meals on Wheels,
Neighbourhood Watch, Broken
Hill walking tours—from which
he has raised thousands of dollars for local charities—and
has donated blood some 117
times.—Len Tolhurst
◆ The Parramatta church, NSW,
held their annual International
Tea on July 17. Julie Owens, local
parliamentarian, officially opened
the event for the more than 450
attending members who represented more than 40 nationalities. Food from 10 different stalls
was served and church members
presented entertainment representing nations from different
parts of the world, including Scotland, Peru, USA, Croatia, Sweden,
Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Italy, Africa, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Latin
America and Australia.—Jasper
Hutabarat
Days and offerings: ◆ AUGUST 26—Abuse prevention Awareness day
August 19, 2006
news
Adventist health professionals eye on future Training sharpens
Pacific leaders
Wahroonga, New South wales
A
lmost 100 Adventist health professionals from around Australia,
New Zealand and the Pacific islands attended the third annual
Adventist Health Professionals Conference in Sydney at the end of June.
Organised by Adventist Health Ministries of the South Pacific Division (SPD),
the theme of the conference this year was
“Where to from here,” focusing on emerging trends in health care.
“It’s meant to be a
weekend of spiritual
refreshment for Adventist health workers,” says Dr Chester
Kuma, associate director of Adventist
health ministries. “It’s
also an opportunity
for them to get together and share their experiences and
a time to find strength again to go back
to work.”
Leanne Kaiser Carlson, futurist and
co-founder of the Kaiser Institute in the
United States, was the main speaker for
the conference. Ms Kaiser spoke about the
future of health delivery and the opportunities that are coming up for improvement
and development in the health industry.
◆ Kyle Cummings of La Sierra
University, California, USA, celebrated his 21st birthday in England, competing in the World
Championship Water Ski Race.
“My dad started a water ski
team called Team Jesus a few
years ago,” says Mr Cummings.
“We put the name Team Jesus
on our truck and boat that now
go all over the world.” Mr Cummings began skiing when he was
Other guest speakers for the conference
included Dr Darren Morton, senior lecturer at Avodale College; Sue Radd, one of
Australia’s leading nutritionists and health
communicators; Paul Bogacs, manager of
the Salvation Army Counselling Service;
and Dr Ross Grant, head of the Australasian Research Institute, situated at Sydney
Adventist Hospital and lecturer at the
University of New South Wales.
Health challenges faced in the Pacific
islands were also presented by Gad Koito,
director of Adventist health ministries of
the Papua New
Guinea Union
Mission; Dr Lester Ross, director of Adventist
health ministries
of the Trans-Pacific Union Mission; as well as Dr
Kuma, who until
recently was working as the head surgeon
at the National Referral Hospital in the
Solomon Islands.
“It was an excellent program and a good
opportunity to meet new people,” says
Dr Kuma. “It was good to get out of the
daily routine, get acquainted with other
Adventist health workers and put a face
to the names of people we only dealt with
through phone or emails.”—Melody Tan
three years old. He has become
one of the top waterski racing
skiers in the United States. The
sport consists of skiing up to 177
kilometres per hour behind a
6.4-metre-long boat with 1200
horsepower.—Tamara Fisher
◆ Users of eBay UK can now
donate a percentage of their
sales to ADRA–UK. eBay commissioned MissionFish to build
a program that would offer their
UK-based members an opportunity to support charities while
buying and selling. Now, if UK
eBay members sell an item, there’s
(Continued from page 1)
and Relief Agency–Solomons who attended
the training session in the Solomon Islands.
“The church in the Pacific has a lot of potential leaders, but they often lack proper
training and right information in this special area. I’d like to encourage more women
to join this course in the future.”
The course includes modules ranging
from basic leadership theory through to
human resource management and strategic planning.
Dr Alex Currie, manager of the Adventist Counselling Centre, says, “There
has been a real desire among South Pacific
islanders to be involved in leadership training. They are passionate about learning
and developing their skills and show a lot
of enthusiasm.”
Dr Gane adds, “The groups have been
committed when it comes to building competencies and developing personal growth
Many of them will move into positions of
greater responsibilities and this is already
happening for some.”
The groups from Fiji and Papua New
Guinea are scheduled to receive their certificates next year while the group from
Solomon Islands will complete their training in 2008.—Melody Tan
the option to choose a charity
on whose behalf they want to
donate a percentage—ADRA–UK
is one of them.—Bert Smit
More @ www.
missionfish.org.uk
◆ This year Adventist Risk Man-
agement Inc (ARM) celebrates
70 years of insurance and consulting services. ARM supports
the Adventist Church on issues
ranging from property damage
loss resulting from fire or natural
catastrophe to indemnity costs.
In 2005 ARM spent some $US8
million to restore more than 400
properties damaged during the
US hurricane season. “ARM has
saved the church thousands of
dollars in insurance premiums,
says ARM vice-president Arthur
Blinci. “At the time of a loss it’s
really the church responding and
coming together to restore that
which was lost instead of those
dollars going out to commercial
insurance companies.”—Rochelle
Browne/ANN
◆ September 9—World Mission Budget Offering
August 19, 2006
news
ASA runs for Rockingham’s health
Rockingham, Western Australia
A
team of 30 members from the Adventist Students Association (ASA)
pushed two old, unused hospital
beds through the streets of Rockingham to raise money for the Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital on the
afternoon of July 7.
The fundraising run began at the hospital and wound its way through the trade
centre and by the city’s shopping centre
before ending at the beach on Railway
Terrace.
As they went, the university students
from ASA collected donations from pedestrians and car drivers. By the end of
the journey, they had collected $A1,639.60,
which will be given to the Friends of the
Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital. A team of police constables from the
Kwinana police station escorted the ASA
members, together with a brigade from
the Rockingham fire station.
ASA members were very pleased about
the total amount that had been raised.
“I really felt like I was contributing substantially to the Rockingham community
by participating in this service project,” said
Paul Sexton, who is a volunteer for the St
John’s Ambulance Service in Perth.
Dr Jared Watts, a graduate from the
University of
Western Australia Medical
School, said this
was one of the
best fundraising bed-pushes
he has been involved with.
Members from
ASA continued
the attitude of
generosity by
visiting individual patients in
Adventist Students Association members with local police,
the medical and
who helped provide vehicular escort for the bed run in
maternity wards
Rockingham, at the end of the fundraising event.
at RockinghamKwinana District Hospital on July 8 and ical wellbeing. This concern for people’s
giving them a rose and a card with a mes- health is motivated by the care that Jesus
sage of Christian encouragement.
Christ had for the physical wellbeing of
“We believe that Jesus has been abun- the people of His day,” he adds.
dant in His generosity toward us, so we
This community service project comes in
would like to reflect that attitude of giv- the middle of the annual ASA Convention,
ing in the way we relate to our immedi- which was held at Lake Cooloongup. The
ate community,” says Dr Sven Ostring, convention was organised by Dr Ostring,
ASA president and organiser of the serv- the tertiary student chaplain for the Westice project.
ern Australian Conference, Maree Sexton
“As Adventists, we have a fundamental and Wendy Sexton, who is herself studybelief in a holistic understanding of human ing medicine at the University of Western
nature, so that the spiritual wellbeing of Australia.—Adele Nash/Sven Ostring
people is closely integrated with their physMore @ www.myasa.org.au
◆ The goddaughter of Adolf
◆ An American report, entitled
Hitler participated in a unique
outreach to southern Poland to
share her story of forgiveness.
Rosemary Claussen, whose own
father was later executed by the
Nazis for being sympathetic
to the plight of Jewish people,
joined 150 Americans and scores
of Polish Christians for the Festival of Life 2006 held in Wisla.
The festival included several mini
festivals throughout southern
Poland, which include music concerts, extreme sports demonstrations and children’s ministries.—
Dan Wooding/Assist News
“Bible Literacy Report II: What
University Professors Say Incoming Students Need to Know,”
revealed that English professors
surveyed at leading universities
agreed that “regardless of a person’s faith, an educated person
needs to know about the Bible.”
“The virtual unanimity and depth
of their responses on this question were striking,” said Dr Marie
Wachlin, researcher and author
of the report.—crosswalk.com
◆ Students recently created
and voted for the best games
tion. The role-playing game
illustrates the difficulties
people must endure simply to gain food and water
while militia kill, rape and
pillage.
More @ www.
dafurisdying.com
programmed to create awareness of the genocide occurring
in the Darfur region of Western
Sudan in the Darfur Digital Activist contest. The game “Darfur is
dying,” developed by students
at the University of South California, USA, won the competi-
◆ Researchers have turned up
no evidence to support a link
between personality, intelligence
and birth dates. The study of more
than 15,000 people found “in no
cases did date of birth relate to
individual differences in personality
or intelligence.”—The Australian
IS your church doing something Exciting, innovative or inspiring? Email [email protected]
August 19, 2006
news
Territory kids get a daily healthy start
Darwin, Northern Territory
K
ids in the Northern Territory have
been given a great start to the day,
following a visit from eminent
Australian cricket star Brett Lee,
who visited two schools in the area to
celebrate their successful progress and
involvement with the Good Start Breakfast Club (GSBC) program, an initiative
of Sanitarium and the Red Cross.
As well as bowling a few overs, Mr Lee
also served up some bowls of the breakfast
variety, encouraging kids to choose the best
start in life by eating a healthy breakfast
every day, a major aim of the program.
Chatting to kids at Ludmilla Public
School in Darwin and Yipirinya School in
Alice Springs, Mr Lee said educating kids
about adopting healthy lifestyles is something he is passionate about.
“The GSBC is such a fantastic initiative,
and one of those programs where you can
actually see the positive difference it’s making in communities all over Australia,” said
Mr Lee. “What started out as a program
giving kids in areas of most need a healthy
breakfast every day, has turned into something much greater and more positive than
ever imagined.”
Recent research suggests an overwhelming 80 per cent of teachers where a GSBC
is operating report a higher rate of concentration, attentiveness in the classroom, and
improved social behaviours in those kids
who regularly attend the program.
General reports on the program are indicating valuable community benefits such
as a reduction in petty theft of food prior to
school starting as reported by local police,
and a sustained increase in school attendance
as reported by school principals.
Darwin’s Ludmilla Public School principal Graham Chadwick said the program
has been making some fantastic inroads in
their community.
“There’s no doubt the breakfast club has
been making waves in our classrooms in
terms of better concentration and cooperation. Kids across all year levels have been
coming into the classroom full of energy and
enthusiasm, and are really ready to engage
in learning,” Mr Chadwick said. “But it’s
not only in the classroom where we’ve been
Adventist cleans up
Australia Day Award
Albany, Western Australia
M
Brett Lee with children in Darwin,
enjoying a healthy start to the day.
noticing their progress—in the playground
at lunchtime and recess as well, the kids
generally seem a lot happier, and are getting on well with each other, their teachers
and with the wider community.”
Yipirinya School principal Ken LangfordSmith confirmed the positive impact of the
program on their community.
“We’ve noticed a whole range of improvements in the kids; however, the most
visible has been an impact on their health
and physical wellbeing, and a great improvement in attendance rates as a result
of the breakfast club,” says Mr LangfordSmith. “We are incredibly proud of the
kids’ continued progress, and a visit from
Brett Lee is an exciting reward for all their
improvements.”
Sanitarium Health Foods general manager Dean Powrie attended the Ludmilla
Public School breakfast event.
“Working with the local community
is a really important part of our vision at
Sanitarium. We’re committed to providing
happy, healthy lives, and want to ensure the
kids in our community have every opportunity to start developing healthy habits from
an early age,” Mr Prowrie reflected. “This
is more than just a feeding program—it’s
about nourishing the minds of growing
bodies, and teaching kids positive habits
that will stay with them for life, ensuring
the brightest futures.”
Research suggests more than 40 per cent
of Australian schoolchildren miss breakfast.
Not eating a nutritious breakfast can adversely affect a child’s ability to concentrate, their
social behaviour and early physical development. More importantly, skipping breakfast
is now considered a major contributor to
obesity in children.—Jaemes Tipple
argaret Martin, a member of
the Albany Adventist church
in Western Australia, received
an Australia Day Award earlier this year for her service to the community.
The mayor of Albany presented Mrs Martin
with the award, which came following her
retirement from the Keep Albany Beautiful
Society, of which she was president for 30
years. During that time, Albany won the
state title 13 times.
Mrs Martin has been heavily involved in
other community activities over the past 35
years, and says, “I was a member of the town
council for 10 years and have been a justice
of the peace for 26 years, and have only recently retired from bench duties. The Royal
Association of Justices recently made me a
life member, which was an honour.”
Her term as the national president of the
Women’s Christian Temperance Union
(WTCU) is also drawing to a close after
six years, which is the maximum term allowed. Mrs Martin has been involved with
the WCTU in various roles since she was
18 and has now become the world superintendent of Alcohol-Free Hospitality.
She also helped establish the Citizen’s
Advice Bureau in Albany, a hydrotherapy
pool, mammography unit and Lions Day
Care Centre for disabled people, as well as
volunteering with health services.
“I enjoy working for my community, as
it is very fulfilling,” says Mrs Martin. “I really enjoy being a quiet achiever and don’t
seek accolades.”—Adele Nash
Margaret Martin with her
Australia Day Award.
August 19, 2006
feature
Video ministry:
Are you ready?
By John Gate
V
ideo ministry, like any outreach ministry, if it’s to be effective
and successful, requires vision and
planning. A local church that is
planning to be involved in long-term video
ministry needs to address the following:
1. Advertising. How will the videos be
advertised? Television? Letterbox cards?
Or one of the many other ways?
2. Budget. What funds are put aside in
the church annual budget for the purchase
of video sets for distribution, and also for
advertising?
3. Team. Video ministry needs a team
“Training in video
ministry is important
for the delivery team.
Ensure the videos or
DVDs advertised are
supplied and ready for
delivery.”—Pastor Gary Kent, Fountain in the City church plant, Sydney, NSW
who can work and pull together.
4. Supplies. This includes supplies of
advertising material as well as supplies of
videos for distribution.
5. Ministry resources. See the article on
video-ministry resources that lists what is
available in this area.
6. Training. Video ministry follows a
definite strategy. Once the strategy is understood, give some training on how to
implement video ministry in harmony
with that strategy.
7. Support. The devil will do all he can
to discourage those involved in outreach.
Those involved in video ministry need support, so when discouraging times come they
do not fall by the way.
8. Reaping. Video ministry, although
it connects with people on their agenda,
August 19, 2006
is also directional. It aims to encourage
people to respond in a positive way to the
messages shared through the videos. Plan
for events people can be invited to where
they can make decisions.
When we look at the church preparations for TV advertising, the following key
points should be attended to:
1. Prayer—both personal prayer and
church prayer. In the week before the TV
advertising and in the week or two after,
it’s appropriate during the worship service
to have a season of prayer requesting God’s
special blessing on the advertising and the
delivery of the videos.
2. Prepare supplies in advance. Weeks
before the TV advertising, each church
should make sure it has sufficient of the
distribution video, whether it is Search 6 or
Who Is Jesus or one of The Code videos. Sets
of the videos, so distributors can also follow
through with the video series, and other follow-up resources, such as the call card and
the record of contacts, should be available.
These forms are on the resource CD.
3. Bulletin notices. Several weeks before
the TV advertising, bulletin notices announce the time of the television advertising
so members can be aware of what is happening and be prepared to participate.
4. Training. It’s helpful for experienced
video ministers to share with new video
ministers the strategy for delivering videos
and following up. This series of articles is
designed to help in this process.
5. Screening. A number of churches have
taken the opportunity to show the advertised video during the worship service on
the week the TV advertising commences.
This gives an opportunity to see what is
being delivered to the homes and gives
members ownership of the program. R
This is part of a series of articles exploring video ministry
and how it can work in your community.
John Gate is director of the Adventist
Discovery Centre.
Lord of
my heart
By Lesley Howie
O
h Lord, You are all I desire.
It burns within my heart
To know that You are with me
And that You truly love me.
I desire day by day to be more like You,
A humble servant
With a character that reflects only You.
Lord, You are the Desire of all the Ages
Written about in earth’s history pages.
I long to see Your shining face—
When You come to take me to Your
heavenly place
You will have given me, my whole
heart’s desire. R
Lesley Howie writes from Marks
Point, New South Wales.
feature
Past the excuses
BY CHRISTINE MILES
I
took SIGNS magazine for granted. I
listened to the words of other people
who also took it for granted. It wasn’t
modern enough, Christian enough, interesting enough or cheap enough for me
to be bothered with. Why should I read it?
Why should I provide financial support to
Signs? Of course, I hadn’t read it myself.
I simply made my decision based upon
what other people said.
And then one day, in 2001, the cover of
a Signs magazine caught my eye—“John
Grisham on success.” John Grisham, at
the time, was my hero. I loved his books.
I aspired to be a writer, just like him. And
the article grabbed me. I read it five times.
And I still have that issue of Signs.
Inevitably, I read the rest of the magazine too. It fitted in the glove box of my
car quite nicely, and since I was often in
the car waiting for other people, it provided interesting reading for otherwiseboring moments.
I became an avid reader of Signs. Of
course, my admiration didn’t reach my
pocket and I continued to scrounge magazines from Signs racks at churches and
Tui Ridge Park. My admiration did not
extend to sharing Signs with my friends
nor, I am ashamed to say, did it extend
to arguing its good points to fellow church
members who continued to insist the
magazine was not modern enough, Christian enough, interesting enough or cheap
enough to convince them to subscribe.
But God knows the ways of my heart. I
found myself writing personality profiles
that were published in Signs. The most successful way of getting an interview with
famous people was, I found, to send a covering letter with a copy of the magazine.
Nobody turned down my request for an
interview if approached in this manner, but
I soon discovered that if I wanted to provide
a copy with one of “my” articles in it, then
I’d need to begin a small bulk order.
About the same time, my unchurched
friends discovered I was being published
and requested their own copies. And so I
found myself delivering up to 20 copies of
Signs every month to friends and potential
subjects. (That—incidentally—was when I
discovered that Signs was the cheapest magazine to which I could ever subscribe!)
While this may sound great, it wasn’t
all that great because my friends didn’t
really want the magazines on the months
when I wasn’t in print. Their interest did
not extend beyond wanting to read what
I wrote.
So, I prayed about that too—and started
giving my extra copies of Signs to acquaintances. These were the people whom I met
at least twice a month on the street, whose
children attended the same school as my
own children, but they didn’t know I was
a writer. Their reaction was incredible: one
person opened the magazine and promptly
wanted to subscribe; another person phones
and scolds if she thinks I’ve forgotten to
deliver her copy; another person shares it
with five other people before returning the
magazine in time for the next issue. Several teachers at my children’s school read
Signs. It is, they all say, the best magazine
they’ve read in a long time. And they
want more.
I have always been big on friendship
evangelism. I’ll listen to anyone. If people come to me for help, I can provide
it. Most people know I am a Christian,
simply because I keep a “Sabbath.” But
the thing that was often missing in my
friendship evangelism was a starting
point for Bible-based discussion.
And Signs gave it to me.
Easy. I deliver a Signs magazine—and
we have a chat over the fence or beside the school gates or in each other’s
homes.
Not one of these people ever said, “I
don’t like the magazine. It’s frumpy, it’s
not Christian enough, it’s too Christian,
it’s boring or it’s too expensive.” Most of
them promise to subscribe. Like me, one
day they probably will. From agnostics
to Buddhists to Christians of other faiths,
they love Signs and always say yes to another issue.
My excuses—possibly your excuses—are
just that: excuses. There’s ministry with
Signs—and anyone can do it. R
Signs—In you hands. August is Signs month. Visit
<www.signsofthetimes.org.au>.
Christine Miles writes from Auckland,
New Zealand, and is a regular
contributor to Signs of the Times and
RECORD.
August 19, 2006
9
feature
Answering Acquired
or Inspired? questions
Dr Don McMahon
BY DON S MCMAHON
Released last year, Acquired or Inspired?
Exploring the Origins of the Adventist
Lifestyle by Dr Don McMahon launched a
strong scientific argument for the inspiration of
Ellen White’s writings on health and by extrapolation her wider writing and ministry.*
While recognising that some of her health
statements have not been verified by today’s
medical science—particularly her explanations of the why of many of her health principles—Acquired or Inspired? concluded that
“a large core of accurate lifestyle statements
are in accord with modern thinking. In these
[Ellen White] was more than 100 years ahead
of her time. When the knowledge of the mid19th century is taken into consideration, it is
impossible to exclude inspiration from Ellen
White’s writings. Ellen White’s writings should
not be rejected; it is essential they be carefully
studied and appreciatively implemented.”
Dr McMahon’s study was endorsed by Dr
Jon Paulien of Andrews University (USA) in
the following terms: “If McMahon’s research
on health can be fully verified, it will revolutionise our understanding of Ellen White’s
ministry and spiritual gifts.”
To date, few arguments have been raised
to call into question the scientific method or
results of this research. But questions from a
critic have prompted Dr McMahon to extend
his study.
R
onald Numbers, author of THE
Prophetess of Health, who in 1976
raised serious doubt about the
origins of the Adventist lifestyle
and whether inspiration was involved has
commented on Acquired or Inspired? He
raised two doubts: that an independent
marker assessing the credibility of the various statements of health principles would
come to a different conclusion; and that
if the methodology were to be applied to
the health writings of Joseph Smith, the
founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of
the Later Day Saints —commonly known
as the Mormons—the same results would
be gained.
A different measure?
The first query was readily answered.
The World Health Organisation—an independent assessor—was heavily used in
the assessment used in Acquired or Inspired?
The statistics used to establish the evidence
of inspiration in the health writings of Ellen
White were repeated using the “risk factors
for death and disease” as published by the
World Health Organisation (2002) only to
10
August 19, 2006
make the assessment. This change made no
substantial difference to the results.
Mormon health writing
The second doubt was harder to refute
and took considerable effort delving into
the health writings of the Mormon Church.
In 1833—four years after the founding
the Mormonism—Joseph Smith claimed
he had a vision on health. It is called the
“Word of Wisdom” and is recorded in
“Doctrine and Covenants,” Section 89. It
contains only eight health recommendations of which only four are significant.
These are: exclusion of all alcoholic drinks
(except beer and communion wine); no
smoking; sparing use of meat (confined to
times of famines, winter and if hungry);
and living on a diet of fruit, vegetables
and grains.
Three years after the murder of Joseph
Smith, in 1844, Brigham Young—the new
Mormon president—claimed he had a vision that led to the exodus of the Mormons
to Salt Lake City, Utah. From 1851 until
1886 all sermons given by senior Mormons
were recorded and are still available in
the “Journal of Discourses.” From 1852 to
1877, Brigham Smith added to and altered
the “Word of Wisdom.”
Alcohol, pig meat and any meat for children was totally excluded. Eggs and fish
were considered suitable as a replacement.
The dietary rules were expanded to exclude
the eating of fat or sugar or too much volume or variety of foods. Bread should be
cooked slowly until the crust is as thick
as a man’s hand and the bread should be
dry and stale. The exclusion of hot drinks
Number of health principles
feature
110
100
90
80
Unverified
Minor
Significant
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Mormon health
writing
Spiritual Gifts
Sylvester Graham
Health principles considered verified and unverified
found in the “Word of Wisdom” was extended to include tea and coffee. He stated
the need for clean air and water, even to
boiling the water before drinking it, but
he also claimed there should be a limit to
how much is drunk as well as eaten, especially for young people. He also limited
the amount of exercise regarded as safe.
He warned against the wearing of warm
clothes or heated houses, going so far as to
claim it was better to live in the open or in
tents rather than in houses.
In 1856, Jedediah M Grant—a church
president—talked about cleanliness. He
Defining terms:
Significant, minor
and unverified
“Significant”—a health principle that
has played an important role in the increase in life expectancy in the past 150
years, including principles addressing
health risks listed by the World Health
Organisation as leading risk factors for
death and disability.
“Minor”—a health principle that
has been endorsed by medical science
but that is unlikely to have a dramatic
impact on life expectancy or quality
of life.
“Unverified”—a statement or principle judged not in accord with today’s
medical knowledge.
did not present it as a health rule or as a
part of the “Word of Wisdom,” but because
stinking houses and people were socially
unacceptable. As cleanliness rules are part
of health they have been included in the
assessment.
Comparing Mormon
health principles
In total, there were 45 rules of healthful
living extracted from the Mormon writings, of which 18 (40 per cent) were regarded as being significant, 6 (13 per cent)
minor, giving a total of 24 (53 per cent)
verified health principles. There were 17
(46 per cent) principles that are unverified
by modern medicine.
The question must be asked as to whether this is sufficient to raise the possibility
of inspiration in the process of developing
these health principles. One way to do this
is to compare them with secular writers of
the same time—and with Ellen White.
Ellen White’s health writings presented
in Spiritual Gifts (published in 1864) are the
closest in number and time to the Mormon
health writings. She had in this work 46
health principles of which 32 (70 per cent)
were significant, 12 (26 per cent) minor,
giving 46 (96 per cent) verified with only
two (4 per cent) not verified by modern
medicine.
As an example of a comparable 19th
century health writer, Sylvester Graham
is perhaps the most appropriate secular writer with which to compare the
Mormons’ health principles. Graham
had a much larger number of health
principles at 106 of which 24 (23 per
cent) were significant, 21 (25 per cent)
were minor, with a total of 45 (48 per
cent) verified and 61 (58 per cent) were
unverified.
Thus it is seen that the combined
Mormon work had a better percentage, but lesser number of significant
principles than Graham, and that both
the Mormons and Graham, in all aspects, were considerably worse than
Ellen White.
The probability
of inspiration
It is possible to do a comparison between each of the health reformers by
the probability of getting their results
by random selection from the available
health knowledge at the time in which they
wrote. In doing this, an adjustment is made
for the possible influence of Scripture and
the Methodist tradition of health reform.
The Mormons have a 1 in 45,000 chance of
getting their results, while Ellen White has
a 1 in 1018 chance of getting her results.
The Mormons’ result is slightly worse
than that obtained in a similar analysis of
another health writer of the time, James C
Jackson, and a little better than the result
that can be found in the writings of John
Harvey Kellogg. Thus when the same
methodology is applied to the combined
health writings of Joseph Smith, Brigham
Young and Jedediah Grant it becomes evident that they fail to demonstrate inspiration as can be demonstrated in the health
writings of Ellen White and that the assertion of Numbers is incorrect. R
*See Record reports: “Acquired or Inspired? dedicated,”
News, April 9, 2005; “Acquired or Inspired?—Review,”
Perspective, April 30, 2005; and “Acquired or Inspired?
reprinted by Signs,” News, August 27, 2005.
For more information, see Acquired or Inspired? Exploring the Origins of the Adventist Lifestyle by Dr
Don McMahon. Available from Adventist Book Centres
or at <www.acquiredorinspired.com>.
Don McMahon is a retired medical
specialist, who writes from
Nunawading, Victoria.
August 19, 2006
11
perspective
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I want to know
BY KELLIE HANCOCK
Kellie Hancock writes from Raymond Island, Victoria.
12
August 19, 2006
DD
8[^^[`fZW4^S`]e
“Out of the
the Lord formed every
of the field and every
of the air, and brought
them to
to see what he would call them.
And whatever
called each living
, that
was its name.”
Genesis 2:19 NKJV
5a^agd;`
IadVEWSdUZ Find the word in the list below
BUDGIE CAT CHOOK DOG DUCK GOLDFISH
GUINEAPIG HORSE RABBIT TURTLE
Peta Taylor
I
don’t care which religious community you align yourself with. I want to know how spiritual you are as a person in
the daily activities of life.
I don’t care how many fundamental beliefs you cherish in
your head. I want to know what your heart cherishes, for that is
what your hands will ultimately do. Show me what you do with
your time and how you spend your money and I will know what
your real beliefs are.
I don’t care what doctrinal knowledge you possess or how many
times you’ve “proved” your position. I want to know how many
times you’ve proved God exists by being His helping hand to the
lonely, the sick, the poor and the unheard voices.
I don’t care if your church building has fancy stained-glass windows, cushions on the pews or beautifully landscaped gardens. I
want to know about the people inside. Do they act differently when
inside those four walls than when outside? Do they use different
words, put on different mannerisms or even dress differently? Do
they have friends outside those walls?
I don’t care if you pay tithes and give offerings or how much
you donate to charities or other tax-deductible organisations. I
want to know how the other 90 per cent of your income is spent.
Your generosity in all of life speaks more to me of who you are
and what kind of God you serve.
I don’t care where you are on the ladder or what your title is. I
want to know how much family time was sacrificed to get there
and what you will sacrifice to stay there. Show me how much family time and personal time you spend with God, and I will have a
clearer picture of where you are spiritually.
I don’t care which food you choose to eat or drinks you choose to
drink. I want to know how often you share that food and drink with
others. If you practise hospitality—whether your table is groaning
with gourmet delicacies or simply bread and water—that tells me
more about your “inner health” than any dietary preferences.
I don’t care what special days, seasons or festivals you observe. I
want to know how you live sunset-to-sunset every day of the year.
Your daily pace, rituals and observations reveal more to me than
your beliefs about specific days.
I don’t care which books or magazines you read, conferences
or seminars you attend or even how much Bible study you do. I
want to know how all that information is making a difference to
your ability to live in such a way that I might be attracted to That
Story as my own. R
letters
Jesus’ nature
In response to “‘Identity’ question” (Letters, June 17) and “Near enough” (Letters
July 22).
John Ralston, SA
In order to be useful, a ladder must always be long enough to connect the lowest
point with the highest point to be reached.
Jesus identified Himself as such a ladder
(see John 1:51).
Many attempts have been made to shorten it. Sometimes the top is “cut off” by
making Him a “lesser God” or the bottom
is shortened by making Him into a “greater
human.” In either case the “ladder” would
not meet its intended purpose.
Both faith and reason should enable us
to accept the inspired logic of Romans 8:14 and Hebrews 2:11-18 and see that “the
Ladder” is indeed long enough. It may be
unpleasant to accept that these statements
remove our excuses for sinning, but they
also give us the assurance of possible victory over temptation.
H K Mcrobb, NZ
When Jesus was born He took on our
fallen human nature, not to be confused
with character. “It was in the order of God
that Christ should take upon Himself the
form and nature of fallen man” (Spirit of
Prophecy, Vol 2, page 39).
Ellen White writes further, “Many claim
that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation. Then He could not
have been placed in Adam’s position. . . .
But our Saviour took humanity, with all its
liabilities. He took the nature of man, with
the possibility of yielding to temptation. We
have nothing to bear which He has not endured” (The Desire of Ages, page 117).
Hebrews 2:16-20 makes it clear that
Christ did take our fallen nature. It was for
we fallen humans that He came as a baby,
lived a sinless life and we can too if we are
connected with Him by faith.
Ron McGrath, WA
The sinless nature of Jesus was from
His Father’s side. This was combined with
the sinful nature from His mother’s side.
This—the incarnation—was to connect
humanity with divinity.
“God cannot be tempted by evil, nor
does he tempt anyone” (James 1:13, NIV).
Therefore, when Jesus was “tempted in
every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NIV) it must have
been His humanity that was tempted. If it
was not possible for His humanity to sin,
why was He tempted at all?
Praise God for the sinlessness of Jesus.
teachers, who receive a very small stipend.
One of our schools has 95 per cent nonAdventist students and had 45 baptisms
last year—the biggest source of baptisms
in that mission.
At the same time I have enjoyed some
of the most creative and interesting lessons
that I have ever seen, with extremely lim-
The answer to our need for spiritual enlightenment is to focus on
a power outside ourselves.
Looking up
David Caldwell, NSW
“Less introspection” (Letters, July 1)
certainly makes a valid point. Perhaps introspection has been overdone. According
to Paul, there is a place for self-inspection
but it is no doubt to be done on a higher
level than the navel: “Examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith; prove your own
selves” (2 Corinthians 13:5, KJV).
As Christians, we must surely believe
that, because of our inherent carnal natures, a spiritual life would be impossible to
achieve through transcendental meditation,
an Eastern practice that became popular for
a time last century. Indeed, the answer to
our need for spiritual enlightenment is to
focus on a power outside ourselves.
Again Paul has the answer. We must be
“looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, KJV).
Our gaze should be up and outwards, not
down and inwards.
Apples for teachers
David McClintock, Director of
Adventist Education, TransPacific Union Mission
This year I have had the privilege of
visiting many schools in the Trans-Pacific
Union Mission. I agree with “Adventist
secondary schools: A more complete ‘report
card’” (Feature, July 15) that we have many
committed and spiritual teachers.
I have seen teachers, who receive considerably less than their government counterparts, enthusiastically teach students in
our Adventist schools. Many are volunteer
ited resources. The examples I have seen of
the integration of faith and learning have
been inspiring and humbling.
Do our schools in the Pacific measure
up? Absolutely. Could they be better resourced? Absolutely.
Are they producing students with a closer
relationship with Jesus? Absolutely.
Am I proud to be a part of the Adventist education system as a Bible teacher for
26 years and this year as an administrator?
Absolutely.
Counting costs
Dean Powrie, General Manager,
Sanitarium–Australia
Sanitarium shares the concern about the
cost of Sanitarium products in the Pacific
(“Powerful food,” Letters, July 22).
Conscious of the unemployment and
low disposable income in the Pacific islands, Sanitarium has always had a pricing
strategy in this region of a very low margin
and therefore little profit. Most of the retail
price is actual costs involved in sending our
goods to market, with fixed costs outside of
our control such as highly expensive freight
costs, VAT or GST added by governments,
import duties and retailers’ margins.
Sanitarium will continue to discuss
with retailers appropriate pricing for our
products.
Note: Views in Letters do not necessarily represent
those of the editors or the denomination. Letters
should be less than 250 words, and writers must
include their name, address and phone number. All
letters are edited to meet space and literary requirements, but the author’s original meaning will not be
changed. Not all letters received are published. See
masthead (page 2) for contact details.
August 19, 2006
13
noticeboard
Positions vacant
▲ Administrative Assistant—Risk Management Service (Wahroonga, NSW). For fur-
ther information please visit the POSITIONS VACANT section of the SPD website
at <spd.adventist.org.au/employment>. Applications in writing (including your CV,
three work-related referees and the contact details of your church pastor) should be
forwarded to Human Resources, Seventh-day Adventist Church (Division Services)
Limited, Locked Bag 2014, Wahroonga NSW 2076; email <[email protected]>;
fax (02) 9489 0943. Applications close August 18, 2006.
▲ Book Department Support Officer—Signs Publishing Company (Warburton, Vic)
is seeking an energetic, customer-focused person to join the busy Book Department
team. Duties include assisting with operational activities, internal administration, client
relations and marketing. Microsoft Office Suite skills as well as database experience
necessary. Must be a team player and have a proven commitment to the church, its value
system and beliefs. For further information contact Liz Dunstan on (03) 5966 9111; or
email <[email protected]>, no later than August 31, 2006.
▲ Graphic Designer—Signs Publishing Company (Warburton, Vic) is seeking an en-
thusiastic Graphic Designer for a full-time position in a busy, modern prepress department. The successful applicant will be skilled in the Mac environment; be proficient in
electronic design and layout; and have experience in commerical electronic design. Any
other connected attributes would be favourably considered. Commitment to quality
and service, together with a respect for Christian values and ethics are essential. For
further informationcontact Ray Portbury on (03) 5966 9111; email <ray.portbury@
signspublishing.com.au>. Applications in writing should be forwarded to Ray
Portbury, Production Manager, Signs Publishing Company, 3485 Warburton Highway,
Warburton 3799, no later than September 1, 2006.
Weddings
Obituaries
Agafonoff—Jones. Samuel Peter Agafonoff, son of Peter Agafonoff and Tamara Melnikoff (both of Las Vegas, USA),
and Alison Kay Jones, daughter of Ion
Jones and Glenda Boulton (both in Sydney, NSW), were married on 25.2.06 at
Winston Hills, Sydney.
Sean Berkeley
Brew, Ina May, born 11.8.1909 at Garfield
North, Vic; died 25.6.06 at Nunawading.
Ina was a devout Christian and gave quite
a number of years for the work of God in
denominational service, firstly at the SHF
Warburton, then Signs Publishing Company as a proofreader, before taking charge
of the bookbinding department. She believed that flowers were truly God’s gift and
was never far from them.
Mervyn Sparrowhawk
Ball—May. Howard Charles Ball (Terranora, NSW) and Lynette May Weeding
(Terranora) were married on 23.6.06 in the
Tumbulgum Adventist church.
Adrian Raethel
Bapty—Venter. Luke Bapty, son of Greg and
Janelle Bapty (Caboolture, Qld), and Amy
Venter, daughter of Steve and Joan Venter
(Napier, NZ), were married on 3.7.06 at the
Caloundra Adventist church.
Steve Kane, David Edgar
Beaden—Sison. Barry Glenn Beaden, son
of Gerry Beaden (Palmwoods, Qld) and the
late Heather Beaden, and Anna Fe M Sison,
daughter of Constantino Sison (Pangasinan,
the Philippines) and the late Gorgonia Sison,
were married on 29.7.06 at Maroochy Bushland Botanical Gardens, Tanawha, Qld.
Mike Brownhill
Clark—Gould. Stuart Nickolas Clark, son
of David and Lorrita Clark (Lesmurdie,
WA), and Heidi Lewella Gould, daughter
of Ian Gould (Valentine, NSW) and Kerrie Wolters (Singleton), were married on
16.7.06 in the Pacific Room at Noah’s on the
Beach, Newcastle.
Norman Young
Fernandes—Gagliano. David Immanuel
Fernandes, son of John and Idalina Fernandes (Punchbowl, NSW), and Camille
Louise Gagliano, daughter of Antonino and
Carol Gagliano (Fairfield), were married on
30.7.06 in Wahroonga Adventist church.
Bruce Shield
14
August 19, 2006
Carmichael, Peter David, born 16.4.1952;
died 25.6.06 at Grafton, NSW. Rachael
Parsons, Peter’s last live-in carer, had become like family to him and carried all the
responsibilities of family in regard to him.
Peter was adopted early in life, but brought
up by his grandmother (adopted) who was
an Adventist. Muscular dystrophy should
have seen him die before the age of 20,
but his will to live and love for God and
spiritual things carried him to age 54. The
church, his friends and his family have
been blessed by his life and connection to
God.
Gordon Smith
Howse, Kathleen Ailsa, born 10.8.1937 at
Wahroonga, NSW; died 25.6.06 in Ringwood Private Hospital, Vic. In 1961 she
married Brian. She is survived by her
husband (Warburton); her sons and their
spouses, Greg and Jannene, Tony and
Tammy (Warburton East), and Murray
and Lynelle (Bundaberg, Qld); her grandchildren, Kalan, Ashlyn and Hannah; and
her step-grandchildren, Kirsty and Hayley.
Kath was a godly woman who has given us
all a wonderful example of faith in the face
of adversity. She will be greatly missed by
both her family and her church family.
Eric Kingdon, Joy Kingdon
Hudson, Freda Elsie (nee Webb), born
21.1.1915 at Glebe, NSW; died 21.6.06 at
Kings Langley Nursing Home. In 1934
she married Leslie Tanner, who predeceased her in 1944. In 1957 she married
Bill Hudson, who predeceased her in 1998.
She is survived by her brother, Pastor Fred
Webb (Adelaide, SA); her son, Victor Tanner (Camden, NSW); her daughter, Ellena
Brack (Leumeah); her sons and daughters-in-law, Athol and Barbara Tanner
(Leppington), Reginal and Ella Tanner
(Bundaberg, Qld), and Nigel and Le-anne
Hudson (Kingscliff, NSW); her grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and greatgreat-grandchildren. Freda supported her
husband in literature evangelism and was
also very active in church work.
Robert Craig, Wal Taylor
McCutcheon, Avis Melva (nee Fischer),
born 17.12.1925 in Napier, NZ; died 7.5.06
in the nursing home, Victoria Point Adventist Retirement Village, Victoria Point,
Qld. She was predeceased by her husband,
Alan, on 30.12.02. She is survived by her
children and their spouses, Mirian and
Peter Gratton (Motueka, NZ), Ivan and
Maree (Melbourne, Vic), Bevin and Jan
(Auckland, NZ), Ruth and Garth Jensen
(Taihape), Barbara and Bruce Myers, and
Glenda and Stephen Sheaffe (all of Brisbane, Qld); her sister, Ethne Knight (Napier, NZ); her 13 grandchildren; and 12
great-grandchildren. Avis was a devoted
mother to her family. She was also committed to the church and served in many roles.
Avis and Alan grew up together in the Napier church, where their parents met and
worshipped with Ellen G White.
Anton Van Wyk
McGillivray, Aubrey, born 17.1.1926 at
Tumut, NSW; died 30.6.06 in Tumut
Nursing Home. On 15.12.74 he married
Gloria. He was predeceased by his stepson, Ron, on 8.7.05. He is survived by his
wife (Gundagai); his stepchildren, Robin,
and family (Wollongong), and George,
and family (Wagga Wagga); his sister, Jean
(Tumut); and his nephew, Colin, and family (Wahroonga). Aub was loved and respected by all who knew him. He possessed
a strong faith and trust in his Saviour and
died looking forward to a glorious resurrection. He will be sadly missed.
Neil Lawson, Nicu Dumbrava
Advertisements
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Classified advertisements in Record are
available to Seventh-day Adventist members, churches and institutions only. See
masthead (page 2) for contact details.
The Idea of North will be performing at the
Adventist school hall in Erina on August
26, 2006, at 7.30 pm. “The best contemporary a cappella group in the country,” says
James Morrison. Tickets can be purchased
by phoning CCAS school on (02 4367 7239;
or Rod on 0412 430 830.
Carer needed—Pennant Hills, NSW. Livein carer needed for 38-year-old female. Carer’s pension/allowance available. Rent subsidised by Housing Department. Vanessa
(02) 9481 4746.
Incredible India! An incredible journey!
Next tour scheduled for November 2006 so
plan to be there! Book now to avoid disappointment. Visit web: www.pgsindia.net.
Contact Personal Guide Services—India,
PO Box 42066, Casuarina NT 0811; or
phone (08) 8945 2845; 0427 510 841; or email
<[email protected]>.
Final Events DVD and other Amazing Facts
products and Your Story Hour dramatised
stories are available from the Australian distributor, The Story Factory. Contact Darren
or Robyn Peakall on (08) 9257 2211; 0417 913
695; or email <[email protected]>.
Receive the Hope Channel and 3ABN
NOW! Complete satellite kit for just
$A265 + freight. Full instructions for DIY
installation or installers available. Australia
only. Rural Electronics (02) 6361 3636; or
<[email protected]>.
Wanted—large three-year-cycle Bible Story felt sets and any felt pictures or sets for
use in China. Please contact Fae Sawyer
(Mon–Thurs) during business hours on
(02) 9847 3333.
Electrician 4U—for all your electrical needs
contact Bruce Petrie on 0418 333 175. Servicing Melbourne Eastern, South-Eastern,
Outer Eastern and Yarra Valley areas. Want a change from Pentecostal worship
songs? Conferences, churches, schools, pastors, teachers, songleaders—Psalm Harmony is a new worship concept from an Adventist composer. For a free demo contact
<[email protected]>.
Data projectors, screens, DVDs VCRs, PA
systems etc. SDAs committed to lower prices for SDA churches, schools etc. Ask for
Trish at Rural Electronics (02) 6361 3636;
or <[email protected]>.
Retirement village—Hopelands Estate.
Brand-new English cottages for sale in
Wallsend, NSW. Close to shopping mall,
hospital and conference office. Phone John
McNaughton today for free brochure. (02)
4951 1810; mobile 0418 114 388.
General practitioner required—Warburton,
Vic—VR and FRACGP necessary qualifications. Training practice in the idyllic Upper
Yarra Valley, only 70 km from Melbourne
CBD. Please contact Dr David Church (03)
5966 5988; or <[email protected]>.
Luxury cottages (3) and day spa/residence, mini
bus. Award nomination. Excellent takings!
Ballarat Tranquility and Serenity. <www.tranquility.com.au>; (03) 5336 1343.
Finally
Birthdays are good for
you; the more you have,
the longer you live.