Adventist Review

Adventist Review General Organ of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

November 10, 1983

Annual Council 1983:

change and commitment

Page 3

God's providence

at work 3

Husbands, if the

apron fits . . . Page 19

R. R. Figuhr, General Conference president

from 1954 to 1966, died in California on

October 28 See page 31

Adventist Review

• m• -.11.MiL

%AP Published continuously since 1849

EDITOR William G. Johnsson

ASSOCIATE EDITOR George W. Reid

MANAGING EDITOR Jocelyn R. Fay

ASSISTANT EDITORS James N. Coffin, Eugene F. Durand Aileen Andres Sox

ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Corinne Russ

EDITORIAL SECRETARIES Chitra Bamabas, Jeanne James

ART Director, Byron Steele Designer, G. W. Busch

CONSULTING EDITORS Neal C. Wilson, Charles E. Bradford, L. L. Bock, L. L. Butler, Charles B. Hirsch, W. R. Lesher, Alf Lohne, Enoch Oliveira, G. Ralph Thompson, Francis W. Wemick

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Kenneth H. Wood, R. R. Figuhr, Robert H. Pierson, George W. Brown, G. J. Christo, W. T. Clark, Bekele Heye, R. J. Klooster-huis, Edwin Ludescher, Kenneth J. Mitt-leider, K. S. Parmenter, W. R. L. Scragg, Joao Wolff

SOUTHWESTERN UNION EDITION Editor, Richard W. Bendall

EASTERN AFRICA EDITION Editor, Bill Edsell

INTER-AMERICAN EDITIONS Editor, Wanda Sample Associate Editors, Simone Doleyres, French; Humberto Rasi, Raul Villanueva, Spanish

SOUTH AMERICAN EDITIONS Editor, R. S. Lessa, Portuguese Acting Editor, Rubem M. Scheffel, Portuguese Editor, Jose Tabuenca, Spanish

CIRCULATION Manager, Robert S. Smith Assistant, L. Rhea Harvey

TO CONTRIBUTORS Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome, but notification as to acceptance or rejection may be expected only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

An index is published in the last Review of June and December. The Adventist Review is indexed in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index.

The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119) is published every Thursday. Copyright © 1983 Review and Herald Publishing Associ-ation, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagers-town, Maryland 21740, U.S.A. Second-class postage paid at Hagerstown, Mary-land. Postmaster: send form 3579 to same address. Subscriber: send address change to the above address. Subscriptions: one year, US$30.95. Single copy, 90 cents U.S. currency. Prices subject to change without notice.

Address all editorial correspondence to 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012.

Vol. 160, No. 45.

THIS WEEK This week, assistant REVIEW

editor James Coffin shares with readers the report "Annual Council 1983: Change and Commitment" (p. 3). "Cover-ing the eight days of Annual Council was a highly educa-tional experience. Now I know why the General Conference has so many standing commit-tees," he says with a smile. "They get tired of sitting."

Having had the privilege of sitting in on the deliberations of the Steering Committee (this is the first year a reporter has been invited to do so), he came away

Letters submitted for publication should contribute ideas and comments on articles or material printed in the ADVENTIST REVIEW. They should be brief, not exceed-ing 250 words, and must carry the writer's name, address, and telephone number (although this number will not be printed). Letters must be legible, preferably typewrit-ten, and doublespaced. All will be edited to meet space and literary requirements, but the author's meaning will not be changed. Views expressed in the letters do not necessarily represent those of the editors or of the denomination.

More like the Example The letters (Sept. 1) regard-

ing the article "Behold the Man" made me think of my own experience.

There was a time when I focused on Jesus the Example in my religious life. Comparing my actions, words, and thoughts with what I understood His to be, I felt a lack and set about "in His strength" to right all known wrongs and go on to perfection "in Him." It was an exercise in frustration. Guilt was always with me. Spirit of Prophecy counsels became bur-densome in the light of my focus. In near despair I prayed that if there was no hope for me, if I could not rear my children properly, the Lord would let me die.

He had other plans. Finally I began looking to Jesus the Sub-stitute, merciful and kind, as the most loving person I could think of. As I stopped the striving so natural to my melan-choly temperament and rested in the thought of the Substitute, my anxieties began to lessen. The Spirit of Prophecy became

with a new appreciation of the committee members' role—and not just because their committee met at 7:00 A.M. each morning! (The Steering Committee is made up of the General Confer-ence officers.)

"During Annual Council these men have the rather awe-some responsibility of seeing that all the homework has been done for every item coming to the council floor," he states. "It is their responsibility to see that backup materials are prepared and ready for distribution when needed.

a reasonable guide. I began to experience love, joy, and peace.

I am still looking to the Substitute. For me it is the only way. But you know, I believe Jesus is working in me, making me more like the Example. I must trust Him to finish the work He has begun.

ANN BURKE Yucaipa, California

Outrage I read with outrage that Shady

Grove Adventist Hospital requested and received a court order to transfuse an adult Jeho-vah's Witness, because her five children would suffer if she died (Review and Comment, Sept. 29).

Actions like this are illustra-tive of the shallow, self-serving attitude Adventists have in reli-gious liberty issues. Small won-der that Christians of other faiths wonder what society would be like run by Advent-ists.

Jesus said, "With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured" (Matt. 7:2).

If one day Adventists sit in jail because of their refusal to work on the Sabbath (for reli-gious reasons, of course), I wonder, will it be because we have finally fully reflected the character of Jesus, or because we helped establish a spirit of

"In addition, they give input during the general sessions, attend scores of committees, are constantly being buttonholed by delegates—yet they maintain a calm demeanor in spite of the pressures. They either enjoy their work or they are beggars for punishment—and maybe it's a little of both."

Art and photo credits: Cover, pp. 4, 5 (top and bot-tom), 6, 9, 10, Holly Denton; p. 14, A. Devaney; p. 17, J. Byron Logan; pp. 20, 22, Conrad Visser; all other photos courtesy of respective authors.

intolerance in the courts regard-ing religious convictions.

JERRY LEE HOLT Greeneville, Tennessee

Already set to music In "How to Help Your Chil-

dren Study" (Family Living, Sept. 1) it was suggested that a parent "put the verse to music and sing it at worship all week" to help children learn memory verses.

Our family has been aided in remembering the text for the verses since we have been using the Sing a Bible Verse cassette and book by Wayne Hooper. He has set the three-year cycle of Kindergarten and Primary verses to music. Our whole family sings them and enjoys them. MARY LIND

Los Angeles, California

Wrong title! Re "Adventist Alcoholics?"

(Sept. 1). The title was enough to start

rumors that alcoholism is a problem among Adventists. The title startled me, and I read the article (which is what you intended people to do). How-ever, an Adventist minister friend of mine said, "Did you know that alcoholism is a prob-lem among Adventists? I haven't had time to read the article yet, but . . ."

Beware of tricky titles. FAYE CAMPBELL

Bradford, Tennessee

LETTERS

2 (1106)

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 10, 1983

Seated on the platform for the opening meeting of the council are General Conference officers Lowell Bock and Charles B. Hirsch, general vice-presidents; G. Ralph Thompson, secretary; Neal C. Wilson, president; and Lance L. Butler, treasurer.

Annual Council 1983: change and commitment By JAMES COFFIN

To the casual observer stroll-ing past the Takoma Park, Maryland, Seventh-day Ad-ventist church during the week of October 5-13. the only visi-ble out-of-the-ordinary fact might have been the weather—for October, it was hot. To the participants of the Annual Council being conducted inside the church, however, actions were being taken, proposals were being entertained, and discussions were in progress that will have far-reaching con-sequences.

Opening the syllabus that was handed out early during the first meeting, I began to thumb through the agenda items. My heart skipped a beat when I saw before me agenda item number 710! Fortunately someone already initiated into the system informed me that the agenda items were both color coded and numerically coded and did not run from one to 710 consecu-tively. I felt greatly relieved. Nevertheless, there still were scores of items on the agenda, and more to be added.

My first glance at the com-mittees' schedule was equally overwhelming. Except when general sessions were in prog-ress, various committees were scheduled from 7:00 A.M. until late in the evening. General Conference associate secretary Don Roth, whose responsibility it is to schedule all the commit-tees, making sure that there are as few personnel conflicts as possible, casually told me that on the average there are about 175 committees during an Annual Council! Needless to say, I did not attempt to attend them all.

In his keynote address, Gen-eral Conference president Neal C. Wilson outlined the major items to be addressed during the council, reported on the church's progress in various parts of the world, and chal-lenged the delegates with a

message based on Joel 2:21-27. The phrase stressed throughout his presentation was "Rejoice

. . the Lord will do great things." Behind the speaker hung a large banner bearing these words, and to the side was a One Thousand Days of Reap-ing promotional poster with the 1,000 covered by a number that changed daily, indicating how many of the 1,000 days were left.

G. Ralph Thompson, Gen-eral Conference secretary, gave his report the following morn-ing. He noted that the church's membership has passed the 4-million mark, and during the 12 months leading up to June 30, 1983, more than 1,000 people were baptized each day.

Because missionary recruit-ment and oversight fall under the jurisdiction of the General Conference Secretariat, Elder Thompson gave statistics regarding missionaries. Although North America still leads the combined world field two to one as the point of origin for missionaries, other divi-sions, such as Northern Europe, Euro-Africa, and Australasia, have sent out many. The Far East has provided a number of missionaries in recent years, and other divisions increasingly are expected to become sources of personnel. Elder Thompson stated that he hoped there would never come a time when there ceased to be international exchange in the Adventist Church, even though more and more the areas formerly desig-nated as mission fields are able to care for their own personnel needs.

When the chairman called for any questions regarding Elder Thompson's presentation, attention was drawn (somewhat facetiously) to a discrepancy between his verbal report and his printed report. One placed current church membership at 4,005,596; the other at 4,005,-

599. The questioner wanted to know which figure was correct. In his inimitable style, General Conference vice-president for the North American Division Charles Bradford said, "Breth-ren, as an evangelist I suggest that we accept the larger fig-ure." Humor was an ever-pres-ent component of the Annual Council. Slow-moving discus-sions often were livened up by some form of witticism.

Upbeat remarks

Typical of the upbeat nature of Elder Thompson's remarks was the statement that God never leads His people where retreat is necessary or where advance is impossible. How-ever, when General Conference treasurer Lance Butler gave his succinct but pertinent treas-urer's report, it became clear that not every area of the church is showing vibrant health.

Elder Butler reported that in 1980 world tithe income was 11.13 percent greater than in 1979. The 1981 tithe income was 6.9 percent over that of

1980. The 1982 tithe income, however, was only 1.15 percent above that of 1981—a figure well below the inflation rate. A depressed economy and a strong dollar (tithe received in other currencies is translated into U.S. dollars) provide a partial explanation. However, slightly more than two thirds of the world tithe total is collected in North America, so the rate of exchange is not the sole prob-lem.

Moreover, the world Sabbath school offerings reveal an actual decline (of 5.7 per-cent)—from $35 million in 1981 to $33 million in 1982. North American contributions to Sabbath school, which were $20 million in 1981, decreased to $19 million in 1982.

World Ingathering collection reached its zenith in 1980, with some $16.6 million. The year 1981 saw a decline to $15.8 million. And the downward trend continued in 1982, to $15.2 million. In North America, however, where approximately 50 percent of the

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 10, 1983 (1107) 3

Euro-Africa Division secretary Jean Zurcher (left) speaks with N. A. Zhukaluk (center) and M. P. Kulakov, delegates from the U.S.S.R., both of whom have attended previous councils.

Ingathering funds are collected, Ingathering reached a plateau in 1974, and since that date has hovered around the $8-million mark. Although the actual dol-lar figure has not decreased, when inflation is considered, the decline is dramatic.

The treasurer's report was not all negative. The church's investments have performed well, and income from them has bolstered the church's budgets. Reserves are above policy requirements, and there are other positive indicators as well. Nevertheless, Elder But-ler called for serious study of the trend toward decreased giv-ing before it impedes progress. As he stated, more significant than the decrease itself are the reasons for it, which he did not attempt to pinpoint.

Commenting on the treas-urer's report, Elder Wilson said the figures were not a good omen and should sober us. "All is not well," he said. On a more positive note he stated that, considering the complexities of today's world, it is amazing how well the church has been able to maintain its program.

Prior to the session David Baasch, undersecretary of the General Conference, had gone through the agenda with me, pointing out the items likely to generate debate. "You never can tell, though," he said. "Some items that seem insig-nificant generate considerable discussion. Other items that seem major are voted almost immediately."

Despite such a disclaimer to the prophetic gift, I found that almost without exception he was correct in his predictions. Furthermore, his insights allowed me to speak with dele-gates before items came up, soliciting their observations.

Following reports by the General Conference secretary and treasurer, the first major item to be addressed was a proposal to merge two divisions in Africa—the Trans-Africa Division and the Eastern Africa Division. For nearly an hour Elder Wilson outlined the finan-cial, organizational, historical, linguistic, and geopolitical con-siderations that had led the General Conference officers to

make such a proposal. Then the floor was open for discussion—a discussion that was to domi-nate almost the first half of the council.

It was recognized that the members in the areas under consideration would have strong feelings about the pro-posed merger, so provision had been made for a broader than usual representation from those areas at this Annual Council. Union presidents in any given division usually attend on a rotational basis, and division secretaries and treasurers come on alternate years. In this case, however, all union presidents and both secretaries and treas-urers of the two divisions were present.

Preference for status quo

My personal discussions with various delegates before the session began had persuaded me that both divisions preferred almost unanimously to stay as they were. Trans-Africa has the fastest growth rate (ratio of baptisms to membership) of any world division. In fact, they joke that TAD stands for Total Action Division. Eastern Africa has the largest union in the world (the East African Union), and so far during the One Thousand Days of Reaping has seen 144 baptisms per day (which, division president Bekele Heye pointed out at the session, would give a propheti-cally significant 144,000 by the end of the One Thousand Days of Reaping!).

Although both divisions strongly preferred to maintain the status quo, neither was categorically opposed to a merger. The problem was that the Eastern Africans did not feel comfortable with a merger that included South Africa, and the Trans-Africa personnel did not feel comfortable with the part of the proposal that called for the two South African unions—the South African Union and the Southern Union—to be attached directly to the General Conference.

The racial policies of the South African Government have created a number of prob-lems for administering the work of the church. Although South

Africa will grant visas to black Africans from other parts of the continent, many African nations will not allow their citizens to travel to South Africa. In addition, many of the African countries will not grant visas to South Africans wishing to visit them. As a result of these tensions—over which the church has no control—it was pointed out that the inclusion of the two unions of South Africa would create an almost insur-mountable obstacle, for even a visa to South Africa in one's passport can preclude entry into some other African countries.

The Trans-Africa Division delegates argued that although the countries bordering South Africa do not approve of South Africa's policies, trade and travel have continued. Thus the division has been able to func-tion with a reasonable degree of efficiency despite the situation.

Elder Wilson pointed out in his opening remarks, however, that there has been a long-range plan to organize sub-Sahara Africa into two divisions one where French is spoken pre-dominantly, the other where English is more prevalent. He further noted that the formation of the Eastern Africa Division was an interim step to a two-division sub-Sahara Africa. (North Africa is basically Mos-lem and is part of either the Euro-Africa Division or the

Middle East Union—which likewise is attached directly to the General Conference.)

Elder Wilson stated that the General Conference officers could not justify financially the permanent establishment of a division that had only three unions, as is the case in Eastern Africa, which is composed of the Ethiopian Union, the East African Union, and the Tanza-nia Union. He reported that merger of the two divisions would reduce annual operating costs by nearly $1 million and remove the need to construct a division office in Nairobi, Kenya, where the division now is renting quarters. A new office would cost at least $1.5 million, so the overall financial savings of a merger are substantial.

Following Elder Wilson's detailed explanation of the pro-posal, Elder Heye was the first to speak. He stated that when his delegation had come to the council, they had come with a defense strategy already pre-pared. But after having heard Elder Wilson's explanation of the reasons for the merger, he stated that his "defenses were shattered." If it would result in such great financial savings and facilitate the work of the church as outlined, he would support it. Other speakers, however, did not agree so readily.

It was pointed out repeatedly that both divisions were func-

4 (1108)


tioning effectively as they were. While there might be financial savings, it is not always wise to allow that to be the sole crite-rion; there are other considera-tions at times that may merit even greater attention. In this case it was the impact that isolation from a division (and from the rest of Africa) would have on the South Africans—particularly the black South Africans. Furthermore, H. C. Currie, president of the Zam-besi Union, noted that the ra-tionale for merging the two divisions was primarily to tidy up the church's administrative structure in Africa. He observed, however, that, in effect, the five-union Trans-Africa Division would be losing two of its unions and gaining only three. He seriously ques-tioned the idea that the structure was being improved signifi-cantly.

Duncan Eva—a South Afri-can by birth, secretary of the Trans-Africa Division for more than a decade, former president of the Northern Europe-West Africa Division, vice-president of the General Conference, and now active in his retirement—made a moving and heartfelt speech expressing his concern over the proposal. Candidly admitting that South Africa has its problems, problems that in international relations have iso-lated it almost completely, he nevertheless pleaded that we not exacerbate the problem by isolating even more the Advent-ists in South Africa. As I watched the listening delegates it was obvious that Elder Eva's stature as a church leader, his personal knowledge of the situ-ation, and his articulate descrip-tion of the potential conse-quences were having a deep effect.

D. K. Bazarra, president of the East African Union, spoke with a brevity that contrasted sharply with the style of most of his colleagues. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his passport, and holding it up for all to see, said something like this: "Brethren, this passport states that I am allowed to travel to any country in the world except South Africa—a prohi-bition that is my government's

reaction to that government's policies toward black people. Yet, brethren, every black man who has spoken does not want to see South Africa isolated from the rest of Africa, and that should tell us something."

I have attended scores of local church board meetings and a number of local union and conference constituency meet-ings. I have listened to impas-sioned debate on many occa-sions. But never had I been so impressed by the spirit of the debate as I was at this council. Almost to the man, the speakers who opposed the proposal also made it extremely clear that they would "work with the brethren" no matter what the result of the vote.

They were not a group of namby-pamby yes men ready to rubber-stamp whatever the administration proposed. They had strong feelings and they spoke them, but they spoke them without threatening mutiny or attempting to intimi-date. Then they pledged their loyalty.

Straw vote

Owing to time constraints, the chairman of Thursday's session, General Conference vice-president F. W. Wernick, had limited the speeches to those delegates who were repre-senting Africa. Many of them had been brought in especially for the discussions, and he felt it would be unfair not to give them priority. Nevertheless, at about 4:00 P.M. he proposed that a straw vote be taken following a statement by Elder Wilson.

Elder Wilson spoke for sev-eral minutes, recapping his ear-lier presentation. He stated he was aware that many of the African delegates were opposed to the merger. Delegates from those areas had been brought to the council in greater numbers that they might voice their concerns. However, he contin-ued, there had been an ongoing analysis of the problem, he and Elder Thompson had spent five weeks personally visiting the areas under consideration, and the proposal before the group was the only option he and the General Conference officers could see as a viable possibility.

He noted how everyone tends to fear the unknown, and how often people who are involved intimately in a situation cannot view it as objectively as those at arm's length. He said that the delegates who could not with clear conscience vote in favor of the proposal should vote their conscience, but he urged every-one to note that serious study had been given and that this proposal had resulted from the study. A straw vote then was taken, and the proposal was defeated by a ratio of 60 to 40.

When discussion of the merger resumed on Sunday morning, many of the pro-posal's proponents were dis-armed by Elder Wilson's frank, even humorous analysis of the events of the previous vote. As he put it, he had been told that delegates felt that he was telling them how to vote. Noting that he himself would not like to be told how to vote, he differen-tiated between telling someone how to vote and telling him how one thinks he should vote.

Admitting that the proce-dures might not have been handled properly, he stated, "We all learn by experience—and that was some experience." He continued, "We tested the water—and it was somewhat icy." Stating that he was not a man from whom apologies came naturally, he quoted an old Chinese proverb that says, "If you are going to apologize, be sure to bow low." He continued by confessing that he obviously had done a poor job of outlining the problem or the delegates would have seen it in a different light.

Elaborating on the proposal's background, Elder Wilson pointed out that the Annual Council of 1979 and the Gen-eral Conference session of 1980 had requested that study be given to the formation of only two divisions in Africa. The General Conference officers had done that study, and from their findings they were recom-mending the merger. He asked the delegates, as fellow admin-istrators, to consider the pro-posal carefully. The status quo was not justifiable organization-ally, financially, or logically. Furthermore, unnecessarily it

Speaking to the proposed merger were D. K. Bazarra, East African Union president; P. M. Mabena, Southern Union president; and K. J. Mittleider, Trans-Africa Division presi-dent. All speakers stated strong convictions but showed a conciliatory spirit.

was costing hundreds of thou-sands of dollars a year.

Elder Wilson expressed his concern that a serious proposal of the General Conference offi-cers could be treated so casu-ally. "Where you can in good faith and conscientiously hold up our hands, — he said, "we covet your doing so.-

Sunday' s debate, unlike Thursday's, included a number of speeches favoring the merger. The General Confer-ence secretary gave additional

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 10 1983

(1109) 5

fora. Elder Wilson watches with interest as the votes are counted by Don Christman, J. W. Bothe, C. D. Watson, and M. T. Battle, all associate secretaries of the General Conference.

background. The General Con-ference treasurer clearly laid out the financial details. Other world division and General Conference officers spoke sup-porting the motion. But the opposition had not abated.

Fred Thomas, president of the Pennsylvania Conference—but born, reared, educated, and for many years a worker in Africa—expressed his deep concern over the proposal. Referring to a time years ago when once he had sought coun-sel from Robert H. Pierson (at that time Trans-Africa Division president and later General Conference president), he said that Elder Pierson had told him that when a decision flies in the face of what the constituency wants, it is crucial that it be a matter of principle and not merely one of policy.

Alf Birch, secretary of the Trans-Africa Division, stated, "We may save money, but how do you quantify pain?" And once again Elder Eva spoke, reiterating many of his points from the previous discussion and voicing his opposition to the proposal.

Several veterans of Annual Councils told me that they had not heard such a debate since the vote on whether to form black unions in North America. And as in that debate, the question under consideration

was not precipitated by animos-ity between groups, but in a sincere effort to establish a church structure that under the circumstances could most effectively accomplish the church's mission.

When General Conference vice-president Lowell Bock, chairman of Sunday's meeting, brought discussion to an end late Sunday afternoon, he offered the floor to Elder Wil-son, who declined, stating that the topic had been covered well. Elder Bock asked that ballots be distributed. But as he asked Elder Bradford to offer a prayer for guidance he stated, "Please do not vote yet, because I haven't told you what I want you to write." He meant that he had not yet absolutely clarified what No would mean and what Yes would mean, but the dele-gates immediately perceived his words in light of Elder Wilson's earlier statement that people had accused him of telling them how to vote—and they erupted in spontaneous laughter.

Elder Bradford's prayer of intercession was one of the most eloquent and solemn appeals for divine guidance that I have heard. Acknowledging human frailty, he asked for God's leading. Then, quoting from Acts 15:28, he pleaded that when the decision was made the delegates would all be able to

say that "it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us."

The ballots were marked, collected, and counted. The proposal had passed: 145 to 136. If five people had voted the other way it would have failed by one vote. But the council was not concerned with "what ifs." Almost two full days had been occupied by the merger question. There now were offi-cers to be elected for the new Eastern Africa Division, as it was to be called, and the fine details of merging two large operations needed to be sorted out. (See box for list of officers for the new division.)

On the opening night Elder Wilson had surprised everyone when he stated that any dele-gates who had strong feelings about whether the church should continue to operate Harris of Pendleton (formerly Harris Pine Mills) should plan to attend a Thursday night meeting scheduled to deal with that topic. As some members of my family had helped defray educational expenses by work-ing at one of Harris Pine's branch factories, I was more than casually interested in the discussion.

At the meeting, Elder Wil-son, Kenneth Emmerson (re-tired General Conference treas-urer presently working with Harris of Pendleton), and Charles Frye, the company's general manager, outlined Harris Pine's history and the

nature of its contribution to the church. Taken over by the church in 1951, today it oper-ates 28 plants, 22 of them adjacent to Adventist colleges or academies. During 1982, a year when the company was adversely affected by recession, some 2,297 students earned nearly $3 million working for the company. Since 1955 stu-dents have earned more than $41.5 million, $15 million of it in the past five years.

Over the years thousands of students have worked their way through school or at least paid a major portion of their expenses because of the availability of employment at Harris of Pen-dleton. In fact, in a number of the academies as much as 40 percent of the student body works in a Harris plant. Con-sidering that those under 16 are excluded, one can see that the percentage of eligible students working for Harris nearly dou-bles.

Elders Wilson and Emmer-son stated that attractive offers for the operation frequently are made by would-be buyers and that from a purely financial perspective the church would be well advised to accept these offers. If the capital gained from the sale of the company were to be invested, it would make considerably more money than is being earned presently, because the operation is not as cost-effective as it could be. Whereas most companies of

Delegates elect new Eastern Africa administration

Annual Council delegates voted to accept the recommen-dation of the nominating committee for the staffing of the new Eastern Africa Division. Elected: president, Bekele Heye; secretary, Donald J. Sandstrom; treasurer, J. F. Wilkens; assistant treasurer, T. de Villiers; field secretaries, Ralph P. Bailey (educational consultant), R. R. Ndhlovu, and Clifford G. Patterson (SAWS director); auditor, Hans Sakul; associate auditor, Wayne Vail; district auditor, J. P. Wilmot; communication and youth, Bill Edsell; associate communication and youth, P. J. Salhany; lay activities, D. W. B. Chalale; associate lay activities, Solomon Wolde-Endreas; Ministerial Association, Harry A. Cartwright; public affairs and religious liberty, Bekele Heye; Sabbath school, Solomon Wolde-Endreas; associate Sabbath school, D. W. B. Chalale; Spirit of Prophecy, E. Armer; stewardship and development, Frederick K. Wangai; associ-ate stewardship and development, E. Armer; and General Conference vice-president for the Southern Union and South African Union, K. J. Mittleider.

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that size would have three or four large plants, Harris of Pendleton—the only U.S. fur-niture company to carry out every phase of the operation from the forest to the sales-room—has multiplied its plants simply to provide work for students. Regular skilled labor would be more cost-effective than the split-shift, often-inter-rupted schedules tailored to students. Multiplication of plants means a similar multiplication of facilities, machinery, and inventory. While the company always has made money, its profits have not been as great as if the operation were radically restructured.

The meeting had been called to elicit input, and the minute the floor opened for discussion it came. I had the distinct feeling of being at a testimony service following a revival meeting, as one by one, educa-tors and conference, union, and even division presidents stood up to tell how Harris of Pendle-ton helped them through school, helped their children through school, or helped financially troubled schools in their areas. In fact, two votes of apprecia-tion were recorded formally: one to Mrs. Harris, who with

her husband had made the gift of the company available; the other to the company's manage-ment for being willing to put up with the inconveniences and frustrations unavoidable in using student labor.

To the idea of selling the company, establishing an endowment, and simply hand-ing out financial aid, Pacific Union Conference president W. D. Blehm maintained ada-mantly that the worst possible thing for any youth is a handout; he needs to be acquainted with hard work.

A needed business

Trans-Africa Division presi-dent K. J. Mittleider, in support of Elder Blehm's position, stated that we should not do things for people, but we should do things with people. By the time the testimonies had fin-ished, it was clear that Advent-ist young people and the church need and appreciate the work of Harris of Pendleton.

Not every item on the council agenda received the attention that the African merger did. Nevertheless, neither could we classify many of the items as inconsequential. Although it is impossible to give a complete

rundown of every item dis-cussed, I will note briefly some of the items that were voted. (A list of Annual Council actions will be published in the November 24 issue of the REVIEW.)

Because numerous individ-uals and groups have capitalized on such names as Adventist,

Seventh-day Adventist, and Ministry (sometimes to gain acceptance and to enhance cred-ibility, as in the case of private publications; sometimes for financial gain, as in the case of private business), an action was taken to have the titles regis-tered as trademarks.

The name of the Australasian

Council includes activities for women By JOCELYN FAY

Each morning during the Annual Council I joined other General Conference workers in attending morning worships in the Takoma Park church. It was at one of these worships that I experienced something new: singing "Seeking the Lost," which has a bass solo part, in the midst of a congregation overwhelmingly male. The basses brought the song to life—and in the process reminded me dramatically that of the 326 Annual Council delegates attending this session, 318 were men.

Nevertheless, a number of women from out of town accompany their delegate-husbands to Annual Council each year. Again this fall, as it has in the past, the General Conference Ministerial and Stewardship Association conducted meetings for women, including the wives of conference and union presidents, some General Conference staff members, and a few overseas division leaders. Coordinator of these meetings, held from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. on October 10 and 11, was Marie Spangler.

The meetings included devotional messages by Ethel Bradford and Ruth Murrill, and the discussion of items of particular interest to administrators' wives.

On Monday morning, Dorothy Emmerson, a former secretary in the General Conference offices, spoke about coping with loneliness as the wife of someone who frequently travels on church business. (Her husband is Kenneth Emmerson, retired

General Conference treasurer.) It was during the second world war, when she and her husband were separated for three years while he served his country overseas, that Mrs. Emmerson learned how to conquer a number of the problems that accompany being temporarily husbandless. She illustrated her talk with personal experiences, many humorous, some poign-ant.

On Tuesday morning Miriam Wood moderated a panel discussion of questions that had been submitted the previous day by the women attending these meetings. The panel members were a conference president's wife, Barbara Nelson, from Montana, and the wives of three pastors in the Potomac Conference, Lillian Grosboll, Marguerite McGraw, and Lira Weiss.

It was agreed that the wives of administrators need to demonstrate commitment and love in their own lives in order to encourage and support the wives of local pastors in their conferences and unions. Marie Spangler, who is responsible for Ministry magazine's Shepherdess section, said that the tape recording of this discussion will be transcribed and edited for possible publication.

The General Conference Women's Auxiliary also planned one activity specifically for the wives of those attending Annual Council—a trip to the discount stores in Reading, Pennsylvania.


Gathering to chat informally near the Takoma Park church are: F. A. Botomani, South-east Africa Union president; Nyembo Mwema, Zaire Union president; D. K. Bazarra, East African Union president; F. K. Wangai, Eastern Africa Division stewardship and development director; J. N. Kyale, East African Union lay activities director; and Yohana Lusingu, Tanzania Union president.

Division was changed to the South Pacific Division. As divi-sion president K. S. Parmenter (who will retire in November) pointed out, Adventists lived in the "homeland" on a ratio of two to one when the division was formed. Today the ratio is exactly reversed. As many peo-ple confuse the name Austral-asia (which merely means "south of Asia") with Austra-lia, it was felt that the new title would be more appropriate and descriptive.

Because a number of divi-sions have felt it would be advantageous to establish their own schools of medicine, strin-gent guidelines were adopted outlining the prerequisites for such a venture. Operating a medical school is extremely costly, and many a division could find itself hamstrung try-ing to keep up with government requirements and the many increasing costs.

A proposed guideline entitled "A Statement on Theological Freedom and Accountability" was rejected as either policy or guideline, but was voted as a study document. The document attempts to outline a consistent policy for dealing with those who misuse their positions as teachers or ministers to promul-gate theological views unac-ceptable to the denomination. It was pointed out that conditions of employment for college teachers and pastors are quite different, making it question-able whether a standard policy can deal adequately with both situations. Conference admin-istrators expressed concern that the autonomy of the hiring board or executive committee might be compromised by the document's wording. As a result the document will be studied, with the possibility that a revised version will appear at a subsequent Annual Council.

Tulio Haylock, an associate director of the General Confer-ence Communication Depart-ment, reported progress toward the establishment on Guam of a powerful shortwave radio sta-tion capable of reaching a major portion of the Far East. The department's goal is to have a shortwave broadcast that can reach every point on the globe.

When the ensuing comments questioned the advisability of shortwave as opposed to medium-wave, Elder Haylock admitted its limitations while defending its potential. If secu-lar shortwave broadcasters were developing a Far East clientele, then why couldn't Adventists? Furthermore, it was pointed out that regional medium-wave broadcasts can continue; it is simply a matter of using every medium available to spread the gospel. The General Confer-ence session offering in 1985 is slated for the construction of the new station on Guam, and a goal of $5 million has been set.

The international flavor of the Adventist Church will be enhanced by the decision to hold the 1986 and 1988 Annual Council sessions outside the United States, continuing a practice begun in Mexico City and Manila. South America is to be the 1986 host area; and in 1988 the council will be held in Africa.

SAWS reorganized

Seventh-day Adventist World Service (SAWS) was reorganized under the name Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). The new organization will continue the work traditionally carried on by SAWS but will be broadened to encompass institutional development as well. R. R. Drachenberg, of the General Conference Treasury, was voted the new executive direc-tor.

Discussion of the SAWS reorganization plan evoked lim-ited but pointed debate. Some speakers were concerned that a change of name could have adverse effect on both support and function, as SAWS is legally registered in many areas and a name change would involve great amounts of red tape. Similarly, donors familiar with the name might lose their affinity if they were not ade-quately informed of the change. Others expressed concern about the Treasury having too much control and about the danger that the institutional side of development might crowd out the grass-roots programs that SAWS has found so successful.

Elders Drachenberg, Butler, and Wilson addressed the ques-tions raised. They maintained that the Treasury was not seek-ing to take over, nor was it imperative that the name SAWS be dropped. In addition, it was pointed out that the new organi-zation, ADRA, was an unbrella organization to encompass what SAWS was doing, as well as institutional development, and that the work of SAWS would continue as it had in the past.

An innovation by the General Conference insurance company Gencon was announced: the almost-monopoly program of the past was being relaxed. Adventist entities needing insurance coverage would be allowed to shop for the best deal available—although it is Gen-con's objective always to offer the best deal. Newly appointed Gencon president Stanton Parker said that Gencon should win support rather than mandate it.

In his opening remarks the first night Elder Wilson had said that he wanted to see Pine Forge Academy—the only Adventist boarding academy in North America established specifi-cally to meet the needs of black Adventist youth—assisted with a General Conference appro-priation. A few days later the academy's choir sang beauti-fully in the Takoma Park church, and Elder Wilson re-stated his desire to help. Hear-

ing how the school's enrollment had gone in one year from fewer than 100 to more than 250, and after hearing their choir of per-haps 90 voices (seldom have I been so moved by a choral rendition), the delegates were in a good frame of mind for the $1-million ($500,000 each year for two years) appropriation request. No doubt the request would have been granted even without the choir's presence; with it, however, the approval was a foregone conclusion.

PREACH's success

Many items were brought to the council as reports, requiring no action. One such report featured the PREACH project (Project for Reaching Every Active Clergyperson at Home), sponsored by the General Con-ference Ministerial Associa-tion. The project involves send-ing alternate issues of Ministry magazine to nearly 250,000 non-Adventist ministers. In addition, some 232 professional seminars have been held. In fact, the seminars have proved so beneficial and the presenta-tions are of such a caliber that a number of prestigious educa-tional institutions—such as Princeton University—have arranged for seminars to be held on their campuses. Southwest-ern Union president Ben Leach reported that in his union alone more than two dozen non-Adventist ministers had become

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At the opening session, a choir of General Conference personnel provided the special music.

Adventists as a result of PREACH and a well-organized follow-up.

A report by Elder Wilson on the final day of the general council noted that divorce is not the only marital problem with which the church must cope. In certain cultures, polygamy is a major problem for the church—I hasten to add that this is a problem of polygamous unions contracted before conversion to Christianity. Elder Wilson out-lined the church's various posi-tions on polygamy over the years. He also outlined the pros and cons of our current position, which requires that all but one wife be put away:

He noted, however, the problems created by such a position: Women often become social outcasts, perhaps driven into prostitution; the children are considered illegitimate and ostracized; and numerous other evils result. Elder Wilson's purpose for raising the issue was to make the delegates aware of its complexities and to inform them that while the church's position remains unchanged, study will continue, and updated recommendations may be forthcoming.

Following the adoption of the 1984 budget, Elder Butler out-lined the problems the General Conference is having concern-ing possible relocation—a pos-sibility that has been discussed at two previous Annual Coun-cils. He noted that they seem to be going in circles: they do not feel free to prepare seriously to build elsewhere until they have a buyer for the present property, and they do not feel they can pursue buyers seriously until they have obtained formal per-mission to build and are making concrete plans to move ahead with the project.

As a result Elder Butler requested what he termed an "enabling action" whereby the General Conference would sell the ten-story North Building and then appropriate a bridging loan of an estimated $3 to $3.5 million from reserve funds to facilitate construction of a new complex. He noted that the increased energy efficiency of the new building, the lower workmen's compensation rates

(Washington, D.C.'s rates are the highest in the nation), the reduction in security costs, and other expenditure reductions would result in an operating savings of at least $500,000 a year. Any expenditure over and above the sale of the present property would be recouped within a few years by reduced operating costs.

Either Elder Butler's presen-tation—the last heard by the delegates—was extremely con-vincing or the delegates were in a hurry to sample the selections at the salad buffet provided by the General Conference Women's Auxiliary, for not only did they approve the bridging loan, they raised the ceiling to $6 million, in case actual cost exceeded projected cost. Some 20 minutes after the salad buffet was to have begun, business in the general section of the council was completed, and the delegates adjourned.

Break with tradition

Traditionally, the Annual Council has recessed for two or three days while the North American Division Committee on Administration (NADCA) dealt with items of concern to North America. During this recess, the budget committee finalized its work and the pro-posed budget then was pre-

sented when the full council took up business once again. As many delegates attend preses-sion meetings and have been away from home for many days, they have not appreciated spending relatively idle time while North America attended to its business. Therefore, this year the budget was presented earlier, and the North American business session convened after the delegates from the world divisions had completed their business.

In the two days of North American matters, a number of significant items arose. Perhaps none has more direct implica-tions for denominational employees than an adjustment made to the retirement fund policy. The denomination's retirement fund, like many other private and governmental funds, has faced difficulties in the past few years. Policy calls for the maintenance of reserve funds equal to three years' disbursement. Recently the reserve has been decreasing slowly. Although the decrease has not been dramatic, the trend is significant, and if allowed to continue, could become a major problem.

To correct it the General Conference Treasury recom-mended an increase in contribu-tions by donor entities and a

decrease in benefits to retire-ment benefit recipients. In order that neither recipient nor donor should be overwhelmed by a sudden change in rate, the pro-gram is to be implemented on a graduated scale, with adjust-ments finalized after seven years. (Denominational retirees will be given specific details and explanations from the General Conference retirement office.)

In a move discussed for many years, the two missionary mag-azines These Times and Signs of the Times were merged. The new magazine will be printed by Pacific Press, although the Review and Herald will con-tinue to publish the Ingathering materials. Both the magazine title and the editorial staff remain to be determined.

Virtually the entire morning of the last day of the North American section was devoted to a discussion of the relation-ship that North America should have to the General Conference. For some time there has been a growing feeling in some circles that the North American Divi-sion should be constituted in the same manner as the other world divisions and that the General Conference should relate to it as it relates to the other divisions.

Following an extended examination of the current pol-icy, Elder Bradford shared his


Les Pitton, North American Youth Ministries director; G. W. Morgan, Ontario Conference president; and Kris Coffin, Advent-ist Intercollegiate Association president, share observations about the council. Miss Coffin was the official representative from AIA and will be reporting on the session for the AIA newsletter, which goes to North American SDA colleges.

concept of how the two are to interrelate. Then the floor was opened for discussion.

Earl Amundson, Atlantic Union Conference president, commended the administration for the strides it has made in creating a system to meet more effectively the needs of North America. He suggested, how-ever, that as the General Con-ference contemplates construc-tion of a new facility, thought should be given to the possibil-ity of a separate building for those serving the needs of the North American Division. He then was "so bold as to suggest that it might even be in a different city."

Closely connected with the feeling that there should be a

full-fledged North American Division is the suggestion that union conferences have out-lived their usefulness. Address-ing this issue, Elder Leach stated that administration at all levels should be lean (as streamlined and efficient as possible), seen (their usefulness and function apparent), and clean (above reproach in their dealings). While there seems to be considerable support among North American administrators for the formation of a North American Division, the disso-lution of unions does not enjoy such support. Commenting

briefly on the question of unions, Elder Wilson pointed out that the union is an essential level in the church's structure.

Regarding the possible for-mation in the future of a North American Division, R. R. Frame, an Australian serving as president of the Adventist Media Center in California, remarked that he had the unique privilege of being a member of his local church board, his local conference committee, his union committee, the North American Division Committee on Administration, and the General Conference Commit-tee. Speaking from all of those perspectives, he did not dis-courage change, but urged that change come in such a manner

as not to fragment—a concern repeated many times by the various speakers.

Warren Banfield, director of the General Conference Office of Human Relations, was con-cerned about confrontation. He urged that an adversarial rela-tion not develop between those of opposing views, that no one be considered an enemy because of a sincerely held belief that a particular church structure would be most effec-tive, Lay delegate George Ramsey reiterated Elder Ban-field's concern, noting that even "divisive" people need to be

Lillian Grosboll, wife of a pas-tor, participated on a panel discussing problems the wives of ministers often face.

listened to, because behind their criticisms are insights that may be helpful.

From a slightly different per-spective, Clayton Farwell, president of the Kentucky-Ten-nessee Conference, expressed the concern that too often church leaders are viewed as making changes only when their hands are forced. He urged his colleagues to cease being on the defensive and take the initiative on many of these issues.

Elder Wilson clearly and frankly stated his position: that the North American Division should relate to the General Conference in much the same way that it has. He acknowl-edged that improvements still can be made, and he outlined many steps already taken toward a more effective work-ing relationship. But, Elder Wilson pointed out, there are sound reasons why the unique relationship of the General Con-ference and the North American Division was established in the first place. And those reasons, generally overlooked, should be analyzed carefully.

Still, one speaker indicated that by a conservative estimate, if a ballot were taken among the North American delegates, 98 percent would favor the estab-lishment of a separate division. My private discussions with a, number of delegates indicated that such an assertion may be accurate. What impressed me, however, was the willingness of the delegates to move slowly and not to rock the boat. While they want change, they want it

only if it can come without undue upheaval. As Robert Reynolds, an associate director of the General Conference Edu-cation Department, stated dur-ing the discussion: "Unity must come first."

One veteran overseas divi-sion leader told me personally that in his opinion North America should become a divi-sion on an equal footing with every other division, citing the Annual Council itself as a prime example of such a need. "The American delegation is so large that it overwhelms us," he said, suggesting that the North Amer-ican Division delegation usually is the determining factor in the direction a vote will go. "How-ever," he said, "the beauty of Adventism is that even when we do not agree with some aspect of the way things are done, there is a harmony and a unity that totally transcends such feel-ings."

The 1983 Annual Council was a time of change; it also was a harbinger of changes yet to come. Some decisions were made that not everyone agreed with. But, having observed the church's administrative machinery in action, I am con-vinced, like the division leader to whom I just referred, that there is a basic unity that will continue to be one of the fore-most characteristics of the worldwide Seventh-day Ad-ventist Church. And that char-acteristic is one that I find most encouraging. ❑

Northern European Division president W. R. L. Scragg familiarizes himself with the items on the council agenda.

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The monk who shook the world-2

By DANIEL WALTHER

The life of this many-sided genius challenges modern Adventists.

What was Martin Luther's most important contribution to the world?

Was it his preaching? His lectures on Paul's Epistles? His translation of the Bible? His enormous output of writing on many subjects? Or was it his breaking of the dominance of the Roman Church, or his lecturing in the universities on the Scriptures rather than on pagan philosophy? "0 sophists, 0 pests of the human race," he cried of philosophers. He wanted to clean up those "hoggish" scholastic theologies to which he had been subjected. Or was his chief legacy his convincing the Western world that sinners are saved by God's grace through faith, and not by the church?

A genius endowed with so many gifts is difficult to define. Luther was obstinate, contradictory, domineering, contro-versial, violent, and coarse. On the other hand, his life was marked by frankness, sincerity, fearlessness, and by lavish gifts as a musician and master of words. In German literature he holds an eminent place as a creative linguist and poet. That Christmas became a festive Christian occasion is largely owing to Luther, who wrote some of the most charming and enduring Christmas hymns.

In an age deficient in hygiene and elementary health principles, Luther suffered most of his life from painful ailments such as gout, rheumatism, kidney stones, asthma, headaches, and stomach troubles. He was often a victim of deep depression, referring to himself as "old, decrepit, worn out, and lazy." "I am overwhelmed with working, preaching, lecturing. But Christ is all in all."

Because he was a genius, the usual standards of greatness do not fit Luther. Some see him belonging to a distant past, that his life and teachings are not relevant today. In reality his influence is still strong and his example important to us in stressing a Bible-oriented way of life.

The Reformers did not create a new theology, even though some ideas appear novel because of a new emphasis. Even the brilliant Calvin was not original; his Institutes do not convey any new doctrine. How could they? The major source of Protestant theology is the Bible, which does not vary.

Similarly, the Advent Movement is based on fundamental beliefs held before but given a new emphasis. Forgotten or misunderstood Bible truths make up the message needed in these times.

At the beginning of every religious movement there is a fervent minority with a vision. That vision may be enhanced and guided by the prophetic spirit. Men and women follow

Daniel Walther served as a teacher at the French Adventist Seminary, Collonges, France, and also in the United States. He is now retired and living in Collegedale, Tennessee.

that initial vision, often beset by opposition and seemingly insurmountable difficulties. Gradually the initial fire sim-mers down; organization and promotion take over. The message is put on paper, with faith defined in clever formulas. The vision fades, and the movement requires a spiritual awakening.

To the Reformers, Christianity is contained in the Bible alone. Owing to his linguistic genius, Luther was able to translate the entire Bible for the common person. There had been several earlier German translations based on the Latin text, the Vulgate of Jerome. For the New Testament, Luther was able to use the excellent Greek text published by Erasmus, but for the Old Testament it was a different matter. It took many years to complete that translation, as opposed to three months for the New Testament.

In his time there was no common German language, but Luther, with rare literary genius, was able to use a language understood in the different German areas. "How hard it is," he complained, "to make the Hebrew prophets speak German! They withstand our efforts, not wishing to give up their native tongue for our barbarous idiom."

In his translating he sometimes forced the text. For example, in Romans 3:28 he added the famous word alone: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith alone." He explained, "I know full well that the word solum (alone) was not in the Greek or Latin text. At the same time the word belongs there. I wanted to speak German, not Greek or Latin. I inserted the word solum because the text itself and the sense of St. Paul demanded it and forced it upon me."

Already in the 95 Theses (1517) Luther had declared that the Word of God should be preeminent. The Bible instead of the church, the Bible instead of the priest, the Bible instead of scholastic theology, was his motto.

Is the entire Bible necessary for salvation? In Luther's opinion, "St. John's Gospel and his first Epistle, St. Paul's Epistles, especially Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians, and St. Peter's first Epistle are the books which teach all that is necessary for salvation. " In comparison, James "is an epistle of straw, for it has no evangelical manner about it." He was also hesitant about the book of Revelation.

An interesting aspect of Luther's Bible text is that he wrote a short introduction to each book. One of these had a great influence on John Wesley. Recalling his conversion in London, Wesley records that "1 went very unwillingly to a (Moravian) society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he (Luther) was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed."

Luther was a preacher of righteousness par excellence. The discovery of this divine theme was to Luther the gate to paradise. The theory, while quite simple, nowadays is made almost unintelligible by endless digressions. Justification

ADVENTIST REVIEW NOVEMBER 10, 1983

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consists in the forgiveness of God whereby we are reconciled through our Redeemer. "All that God asks of us is faith, and it is through faith alone that He is willing to treat with us."

Justification was not Luther's monopoly. Calvin had a similar interpretation: "We simply interpret justification as the acceptance with which God receives us into His favor as if we were righteous; it consists in the forgiveness of sin and the imputation of the righteousness of Christ."

How much theology must one know to be saved? Theology per se is not a means of salvation. But a simple doctrine can be made so obscure and interwoven with such sophisticated speculation that no one understands it. Luther tried to present the basics of salvation simply. "No one should be damned for a doctrine he doesn't understand."

In the Lutheran concept salvation is by faith alone as distinct from the Catholic view of justification and works. Did Luther reject good works? "We do not reject good works; nay, we . . . teach them in the highest degree. It is not on their account that we condemn them but on account of this impious and perverse notion of seeking justification by them." Faith is not a mere assenting to beliefs, but a personal soul surrender to the Redeemer, accepting the free gift of grace. Justification is "the sweetest melody from God through human lips."

As a preacher

Preaching was of pivotal importance in the Reformation. Luther's clarion calls from the pulpit aroused princes, informed the masses, and set the tone for a new Biblical Christianity. As historian Bainton puts it: "The pulpit was higher than the altar, for Luther held that salvation is through the Word, but the Word is sterile unless it is spoken."

Luther did more than preach once a week. At Wittenberg University there were three public services on Sundays. From 5:00 A.M. to 6:00 A.M. the sermon featured Paul's Epistles; from 9:00 to 10:00 the Gospels; and in the afternoons, the catechism. While there were other preachers, Luther's share was stupendous. He sometimes spoke four times on Sundays in addition to numerous weekly series. Some 2,300 of his sermons have been preserved. In 1528, for example, he preached 195 sermons in 145 days.

Read today, his sermons convey a deep earnestness and feature vivid colorful descriptions spiked with homespun, often blunt language well understood by illiterate peasants as well as by clerics and princes. He would tell in simple but glowing terms of the birth of the Savior or the harrowing experiences of Jonah. His dramatic style can be illustrated in this brief homily on the destruction of Sodom:

"The Sodomites drank, danced, rejoiced. They would not have wished Lot a penny—just like our burghers, peasants, and noblemen today. Lot said: 'God will submerge you in fire.' Then they laughed at him and replied: 'You dear old simpleton!' What happened? Early in the morning, as the sun rose above the horizon, the heavens turned black: a great tempest arose. Splash! dash!—they were in hell."

Luther's importance to us

Today we see Luther largely as a preacher of righteousness by faith, but he put forth other teachings of great importance. Unfortunately the Reformer's views on a topic often varied or were even contradictory. In more than 100 passages he

refers to death as a sleep; yet in some 30 passages he avers that death is a conscious state, and seven times he affirms that the dead live but are unconscious. Characteristically, he wrote: "We shall sleep until He comes and knocks on the little grave and says, 'Doctor Martin, time to get up!' Then I shall arise and be happy with Him forever."

On the commandments, Luther stated that they were not repealed, yet he saw no need of observing the seventh-day Sabbath. "The rest day," he wrote, "is a universal law in order that the people may assemble for the worship of God. But that they should assemble on the seventh day applies only to the Jews." With his usual vehemence he opposed those who in his day observed the Sabbath.

Luther's belief in the Lord's return is important. In 1528, when he translated part of the Old Testament, Luther thought he should start with the book of Daniel in order to benefit "the poor Christians in the last times. "I hope," he wrote, "the last day will not be long delayed, not over a hundred years." The world could not last over 300 years, he thought.

Some years ago I met Lutheran Pastor Martin Niem011er in Germany. He had spent long years in a concentration camp for refusing to accept the Nazi-appointed state bishop. "What contribution," I asked him, "can we Adventists make in Germany today?"

He thought a while, then replied, "You have made that contribution by making our world aware of the end of all things. We were a little afraid of you. You were foremost in pointing to an impending doom. You had no temples, worshiped in tents, in homes, yet you were everywhere. People were upset. Now, we are no longer afraid of you. You have decent churches like everybody else. You do not preach as you used to; teaching on the last things has been taken over by other theologians. So, you did make a contribution by your insistence on the last day. But your contribution is no longer visible or needed."

I begged to differ with him, but frankly I wondered whether he was totally wrong. Are we too comfortably settled in institutions? Are we too concerned that our message be intellectually acceptable, while at the same time we bask in impressive statistics of material progress and "know not" our true spiritual condition?

In these times of our continuing mission as a reform movement, that intrepid person whose 500th birthday we remember this year should encourage us to align ourselves unreservedly on God's side.

Despite the numerous ailments that tormented Luther, he continued to teach and witness to the end. His last university lectures were on the Book of Genesis. Before his end he wrote, "This is my beloved Genesis. May others come after me and do a better job. I can do no more. I am weak. Ask the good Lord for me that He may grant me a blessed and pleasant last moment here on earth. "

Do we truly long for the Lord's return as he did? One day Luther had guests for a meal, as he often had. On the table in the dining room his children saw a large bowl of luscious fresh peaches. They were not allowed to touch, much less eat them, but they could look at them with great longing. Watching them, Luther remarked, "Look at the eyes of those children! If only we could look on our Lord's return with the same joyous desire." ❑

Concluded

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ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 10. 1983

God's providence at work

By LAURICE DURRANT

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days" (Eccl. 11:1).

Amost 30 years ago in Cairo, Egypt, a young man came running after my father on a hot summer evening,

asking for his home address. Father seldom gave out that information, especially to strangers. But this time he seemed pleased to cooperate, particularly because Antar (as we later learned was his name) had said: "Mr. Neal Wilson wishes to visit you at home."

It had been an eventful evening at the Adventist "auditorium," as the church was called in those days. During King Faruk's reign the Egyptian Government was very antagonistic toward the idea of building new churches. Special written permission had to be obtained before one could be established, and it was almost impossible to secure. An auditorium was the next-best alternative. Government rules since have eased, and there is today a greater spirit of friendliness and brotherly tolerance toward people from different Christian faiths.

That evening we listened to Neal Wilson's dynamic presentation on the state of the dead. We marveled at his eloquence, but were opposed to the views he expressed. His offer to visit our home was good news, for after all, we thought, we might be able to change his mind on a matter or two, namely, heaven and purgatory. With this hope we welcomed Neal Wilson's and Antar's visits.

Our youngest brother, George, was 7 at the time. He recently had recovered from a severe illness diagnosed by the physician as typhoid. Antibiotics were rare and scarcely known in Egypt in those days. At the outset he was given simple palliative treatments, but without much success. Dr. Ghatti repeatedly urged that he be hospitalized. "No way , - Mother insisted. "I am going to take care of him at home." In her mind, going to a hospital translated into going into the land of no return. Mother would rather sacrifice her welfare and watch over him at home day and night than take that chance. And she did.

When George finally recovered, he weighed barely 25 kilograms (55 pounds). He could not stand without support. One day I watched that frail body leaning on Mother's arm, trying to take a step or two. Suddenly he stopped, and with his big brown sunken eyes looking up at her, he said with determination, "Mamma, when I grow up I want to be a doctor and treat the poor people free." Mother commended him for his high goal in life. She confided her fears to us later that although he always had been first in his class in the past,

Laurice Durrant is chairman of the Department of Nursing, Southwestern Adventist College, Keene, Texas.

sometimes typhoid affects the mind, weakening it. But she prayed daily that God would restore him to full health, in both body and mind.

Often a person is more willing to listen to God's Word during difficult times, which may be the reason why when Bible lessons were offered at this critical point in our life, we were willing to study. George had attended a French Jesuit school, and consequently could understand only Arabic and French. Invariably, Antar translated Neal Wilson's Bible lessons into Arabic or did the teaching himself in that language. George listened intently, taking in every word. He needed to eat frequently because of his poor health, but he would forego or postpone his meals in his eagerness to hear the Word of God.

Soon the Sabbath issue was introduced. With the Arab-Israeli conflict in Egypt in the late forties, the last people with whom Dad wanted to be identified were other

Song of the crickets By LA VON RAY

Dogs were barking; clouds swirled in the sky—and in my mind. An unofficial country road, unkempt except by the traffic of those who had discovered this hideaway, led to a tiny neglected woodland lake. It could have been beautiful, I thought, as I wandered aimlessly, trying to ignore the garbage that people had dumped along the way. Life could be beautiful too, I thought, if only people cared.

All around me was evidence that others had been there, but on this bleak afternoon I was surrounded with solitude. I struggled to shut out wrongs, injustices, hurts, as I stretched out on the little fishing dock and gazed at the litter on the water, the trash left by people. The sight repulsed me, so I almost got up and left.

Then something happened, not to the scum or trash, but to me. Suddenly my ears were tuned in to a glorious choir of crickets! My first reaction was How can they sing here? But they were singing at the top of their voices.

I looked across the lake. It was heavenly. I could not see the trash in the distance. Studying the shoreline, I saw something previously unnoticed, the reflection of the trees down in the lake. What a picture! I wanted to paint it indelibly in my mind, and record the song of the crickets so I would never forget!

It was almost dark when I left. Dogs still were barking. Clouds still were swirling, but as I looked up I saw one star. Just one! And in my heart was born a tiny beam of hope.

There was another little road I could take so I could follow that star. I changed my course just a little. In the semidarkness I did not notice the trash along the way as long as I watched the star.

ADVENTIST REVIEW NOVEMBER 10. 1983 (1117) 13

FOR THE YOUNGER SET

Why Samson goes to church By VALETA NASVALL

Rain or shine, winter or summer, Samson never fails to go to church on Sabbath morning.

That is how it should be, you say. And you are right. Except that Samson is a very old, very tired, very large bassett hound and the church is about six blocks from his home.

Samson lives with a fam-ily that has a father and mother, three very blond little boys, and one older blonde sister. The family goes to church in their car on Sabbath.

With four children, a father, and a mother, there is no room at all for poor Samson. So he trudges the six long blocks to the church door all by himself. Samson seems to know that dogs do not belong inside the church, so he sits on the front step. He never tries to enter as the worshipers come and go. He just sits all through Sabbath school and church, listening and waiting.

He can hear singing, and sometimes the little blond brothers step out between the services, pat him on the head, and talk to him.

Samson's family is busy all week long. Mother and Father have a business to run, and the children go to school. So, Monday through Friday, the family all leave together each morning in the family car. But Samson doesn't try to follow them during the week. He spends the whole day watching the house and lounging in the unfenced yard. He never

tries to go anywhere; he just waits until the family comes home.

But on Sabbath morning things are different! Samson gladly eats his breakfast, then waits on the front porch until the family comes out-side and gets in the car to go to church. On Sabbaths, Samson doesn't stay home. He goes to church.

Do you think the neigh-bors might wonder where Samson goes every Saturday morning? And do you sup-pose they might ask the children in Samson's fam-ily? I am sure that the children will tell them if the neighbors ask. Have you thought about what you might say if someone asked you where you go each Saturday morning?

Samson is a faithful, silent witness each week. But I have often wondered, How does Samson, just an old, old dog, know when it is Sabbath?

Sabbathkeepers, namely Jews. Egyptian Jews were leaving in large numbers for Palestine, and he thought we might have to do likewise if we kept the Jewish Sabbath.

Father insisted that the day of the week kept holy was unimportant. He worked for the Egyptian Government, where Friday was the regular day off each week. Repeatedly he assured us that he would be fired from his job if he requested Saturday off.

Antar patiently explained the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy, following Ellen White's counsel that "the Sabbath question is one that will demand great care and wisdom in its presentation. "—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 211. Dad debated the point repeatedly. Antar simply smiled, and at an opportune time tactfully repeated God's command. Dad surnamed him "Antar El Shaddad," meaning "Antar the persistent."

Mother argued that food would spoil if kept overnight and insisted she would have to cook on Saturdays so her family could eat. But George saw things differently.

"Mamma," he said, "remember when the children of Israel saved manna from one day to the other, it spoiled except when kept from Friday to Sabbath? Why don't you try it, Mamma?" The boy was not only learning the Bible, but was applying his knowledge to everyday living. Later Mother found that food prepared on Friday was good the next day.

Continued prayers led to surrender

After some years Father finally surrendered his life to God and was baptized. The continued prayers and patience of people such as Antar led him finally to full surrender.

Often difficult times threw dark shadows along our Christian pathway. Faithful Antar and Mathilda were always there with their understanding love to buoy us on with zeal for the Lord. They always seemed happy in Jesus, and their cheerful countenance inspired peace.

One by one the children went to the United States to attend colleges, and soon George also left Egypt for Walla Walla College to study pre-medicine. Entering Loma Linda School of Medicine at 19, he completed his medical course of study, and at 29 he was a thoracic surgeon.

In one of those unexpected turns of life, Antar, whose faithful witness to Christ had led the family to the Adventist hope, became gravely ill. His heart suffered serious damage that could be corrected only by a delicate procedure of open-heart surgery. With such sophisticated care unavailable in Egypt at the time, he came to the United States in search of help. His surgeon was George, now a specialist at the White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles.

There was no way Antar could have known that George, the same young boy who years before had eagerly listened to his Bible studies, now would save his life by performing surgery on his heart.

Today Antar and Mathilda are again in Egypt, the same cheerful Christians full of gratitude and enthusiasm for their Lord. When doctors had given up on his case, the Great Physician and George had not. George's childhood wish had come true in more ways than one. He had been permitted to preserve the life of the man who led him to Christ. As Ellen White reminds us: "Providence, though unseen, is ever at work in the affairs of men."—Ibid., vol. 3, p. 547. ❑

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Why lions roar

By GEOFFREY E. GARNE

Whatever his technique, the lion is at heart a beast of prey.

Anybody who knows about lions would have reason to wonder whether Peter knew what he was talking about

when he wrote, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

The simple fact is that lions do not roar when they're stalking their prey. They work quietly and stealthily, and will creep up on their unsuspecting victims so silently that barely a twig will snap under their considerable weight.

All members of the cat family operate this way. You've noticed that domestic cats don't go around meowing when they're trying to catch a mouse! They wait around ever so quietly, and pounce on their hapless little victim before he knows that his enemy is around. Lions are no different. They operate the same way—silently. "Pussyfooted" is an apt expression that fits all members of the feline family.

So where does that leave Peter? Was he guessing? Was he speculating? Was he talking through his hat, as the expression goes? Wasn't he divinely inspired? If so, why would God, speaking through him, be so obviously wrong? Do we have here an expression critics can latch onto and say, "See! The Bible isn't scientifically accurate! Anybody who has studied the habits of lions knows they don't roar when they're stalking prey. So the Bible isn't dependable. Its scientific data is erroneous!"

Does Peter's statement prove the Bible wrong? On the contrary! Here we have another amazing proof of the Bible's divine inspiration. Once again revelation is vindicated, not demolished, by Peter's "roaring lion" statement.

There is one time when a lion on the hunt does roar, and that is when he wants to create panic!

Lions generally hunt in packs, called prides. The pride will include the oldest male—the old maanhaar—several younger males, and, if they have weaned their cubs, lionesses. If they are old enough, the cubs will join in the fun too for exercise and training. Lionesses generally do the killing, though in most instances they will miss out on the kill when carrying young or still feeding very small cubs. Nevertheless, they will join in the feast that follows. The maanhaar—the big fellow with the king-size beard—is the kingpin in the operation. He is the patriarch of the clan, the leader of the pride. He gives the cue. Younger ones follow his direction.

When a gnu, kudu, zebra, or impala is sighted alone, there is no real problem. One lion generally can handle him. The lion will descend on the prey, who discovers too late what is

Geoffrey E. Garne is editor at the Signs Publishing Company, Warburton, Australia.

happening and attempts to scamper away—usually in vain. Swiftly the lion will catch up with him, spring at his throat, and bring him down. He probably will be dead by the time he hits the ground. All this occurs without a sound save the pounding of the fleeing quarry's hoofs; there is not so much as a growl from the pursuer!

But when a troop of animals is encountered, a strategy is planned. The lions of the pride take their positions in hiding, in a horseshoe-shaped line around the troop. Now it is time for the maanhaar to give a mighty roar! The animals take fright and scatter in all directions. In whichever direction they flee, there is a lion waiting for one of them. Those that stay together generally are left in peace. Invariably it is one of the animals that has become separated from the rest who is singled out for the kill.

In the days of the early settlers in Africa, they would keep their cattle inside a corral at night. Strong wooden posts were set, and between the posts thorn-tree branches were packed tight. Inside that enclosure cattle were safe. But the lions on the outside would start roaring. Panic would set in among the cattle. They would begin stampeding around, pushing and shoving one another. Pandemonium would prevail. Some-times the inevitable would happen. In their panic they would break down the protective fence and stampede out in terror. The lions would have access to come in and accomplish their purpose.

God has placed a hedge of protection around His people, a hedge of truth, His Word, His law, His grace, His promises, warnings, counsels, reproofs, His message, and the gift of prophetic guidance. We are safe if we stay within the corral—His church. The enemy cannot assail us there, because Christ is with us, on whom we can cast all our care. But the devil stalks, roaring to cause panic and alaiiii. He wants to cause confusion, bring disunity, and discourage us. He wants to separate us from our church family so he can "devour" us. He must not succeed. We need one another. We must stick together. We are no match for the devil on our own, but together we can face him unafraid. And well he knows it!

When the lion roars, God says to His people, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10). Do not panic. Do not become alarmed. Do not lose heart. Do not lose your head. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee. . . . Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.- "In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (Isa. 26:3, 4; 30:15). Stay with the group. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb. 10:25).

"Press together!" "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without

wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)" (verse 23). ❑


The Vatican State in the modem world By ROALD GULENG

After more than a century in relative eclipse, the Vatican today is an increasing force in world events.

On February 11, 1929, an agreement, called the Lateran Treaty, was signed by the Italian Fascist dictator

Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI. One of the points of the treaty was that the Vatican State was established as a substitute and indemnity for the church lands, vast areas of central Italy that had been ruled for centuries by the popes and that had been incorporated in 1870 into the kingdom of Italy. The treaty was ratified on June 7.

The reestablishment of the pope's authority created a great deal of attention in both political and religious circles. Pius XI became pope in February, 1922. In the following October the Fascists staged their "march on Rome." Mussolini became prime minister and later dictator, triumphing over Socialism and liberalism. However, one important task remained, to come to an understanding with the most influential authority in Italy, the Roman Catholic Church.

Historians give a detailed picture of how the Fascist dictator cautiously approached the Vatican. He took care to appease the church, favoring it in many ways. He recognized Catholicism as the national religion of Italy, guaranteed the rights of Catholic schools, ordered crucifixes to be hung in public schools, and modified the military service require-ment for priests. Therefore, it is not strange that Pius XI was said to sympathize with Fascism. The same pope also came to a tentative understanding with Hitler's Germany, signing a concordat (agreement) in 1933 regulating the rights of the church in the Third Reich. The practical results, however, proved to be unfavorable to the church.

At that time, in the late twenties, the pope regarded himself "the prisoner in the Vatican." This state of affairs had arisen from the unification of Italy into one state about 1870. In response to Italian national feeling, the Papal States, over which the pope ruled as king, were overthrown and incorporated into the new kingdom of Italy. The incorporation followed a referendum that inflicted a humil-iating defeat on the church. The vote was 1,507 to remain under the sovereignty of the pope and 153,681 for merger with Italy, which became united once more by political and military means. Rome was taken from the church and made the capital of Italy.

King Victor Emmanuel did everything possible to heal the papal wounds. In the Law of Guarantees May 13, 1871, the pope was declared sovereign. The Italian state would pay

Roald Guleng has served as a Bible worker, pastor, associate editor, and teacher in Norway.

him 3 million lire a year, provide him with free postal and telegraph services, and give him the use (but not ownership) of several church buildings. However, the pope rejected this hand of reconciliation, refused to recognize the king, and turned down the yearly subsidy. He limited himself physically to the Vatican and declared himself a "prisoner" there, the "prisoner in the Vatican." He lost nothing from his stubborn attitude. The believers of the worldwide church pitied him, and soon he was receiving 20 million lire yearly in "Saint Peter's money."

This was the situation in 1929. For almost 60 years the stalemate had existed between the church and the Italian state, a most uncomfortable situation for both parties.

Pius XI, who had been a famous scholar and mountaineer, was a nationally minded Italian. He left the negotiations to Cardinal Gasparri, who signed the treaty with Mussolini February 11, 1929. The agreement was divided into three parts economic, political, and religious.

The religious section is usually called the concordat. Here Catholicism was recognized as Italy's state religion, but without prohibiting other faiths. Catholicism was to be taught in the public schools, church weddings became legally binding, and divorce was assigned to ecclesiastical courts. The church's marital regulations have been severely criticized recently as a hindrance to divorce legislation and an obstacle to religious liberty.

Strengthening church economy

The economic part of the treaty stated that the Italian state would pay the church 750 million lire in cash and 1 billion lire in state obligations. In 1929 this sum was considerable, greatly strengthening the economy of the church.

The political section provided for creation of the Vatican State, or Citta del Vaticano (Vatican City), which is the official name. This area of almost 109 acres (44 hectares) is, legally speaking, a sovereign state, fulfilling the three fundamental requirements of a state: area, citizens, govern-ment. In return, the Vatican was required to acknowledge Rome as the capital of Italy.

The Vatican State is the spiritual capital of the interna-tional Roman Church. In this independent state, which is an absolute monarchy, the pope is sovereign. He is the sole possessor of legislative, executive, and judicial power. The Vatican State is, in fact, a theocracy, that is, a state whose government is executed by priests as the representatives of God. It is at the same time a political reality with a host of secular functions.

The Vatican State has about 1,000 inhabitants. It boasts its own railroad and electric power plant. The official publica-tion is L' Osservatore Romano, a newspaper that is read with interest all over the world. The Vatican radio station transmits about 500 programs weekly in 30 languages. Vatican stamps, the Vatican flag, and Vatican currency

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remind the whole world of the existence of the Vatican State. The Lateran Treaty stresses the neutrality of the Vatican

State in international conflicts. The pope has diplomatic relations with about 60 countries, sending ambassadors, called papal nuncios. Ecclesiastical representatives without diplomatic status are called apostolic delegates. They are links between the Vatican and the hierarchal structure in various countries.

The Vatican State's influence far exceeds that which its area would suggest, a fact recognized everywhere. Its king, the pope, is the spiritual head of more than 700 million Catholics around the globe. When he speaks, rulers of the nations listen.

During the past few months Pope John Paul II has become an effective traveling salesman for his church, visiting his native Poland, England, Ireland, Argentina, United States,

and many other lands. Millions have hailed him. As the Moslem world seems to be experiencing a spiritual awakening, it is possible that the Christian world may experience one in reaction against materialism. Recent events in Eastern Europe indicate a restlessness that could easily catapult the pope into the role of its foremost spokesman and principal guide.

Pope Pius XI and Mussolini no longer live. The Fascist state disappeared in 1945, but the Lateran Treaty still exists. In 1946, the kingdom of Italy became a republic, but the new constitution provides for the continued validity of the 1929 Lateran Treaty. The treaty has proved to be a practical arrangement in the midst of shifting fortunes of the past 50 years. As far as we can gaze into the future, these events seem to strengthen the Vatican as a powerful political, religious, and moral force in a world of unrest. ❑

his seat mate. No need for communication there. Eyes averted, square jaw set, hands clinched tightly. Well, he wouldn't bother him. He obviously wasn't needing friends. He looked completely self-sufficient.

Then he remembered his prayer before he boarded the plane, a prayer that had ended something like this: "And Lord, help me to witness for You to whomever shall cross my path this day."

Begrudging the time, but impelled by the Holy Spirit, he asked, "Going to Miami?"

"Yes," softly came the answer. "Do you live there?" "Hope to." "Well, you and your family should be happy there. It's a

beautiful city." "My family isn't coming." There was a sob in his voice. The minister forgot his tiredness. "Have you talked to your minister?" The man's face flushed as he cried out, "Would you want

to tell your minister that your wife was having an affair with your best friend!"

"Does your wife want to leave you for this man?" "No, she says she never wants to see him again." "And you won't forgive her?" "Well, should I? I can't live with her now." "Have you told your children you are leaving?" "No, she deserves to have to do that!" The plane landed. The discussion could have ended there,

but suddenly the distraught man turned to the minister and begged for counsel. The hour before the next flight was spent in straight talk about forgiveness and running away from home responsibilities. When they parted they exchanged telephone numbers.

Later, when the minister returned to the area, he anxiously dialed his friend's number. After identifying himself he said, "I talked to your husband on the plane recently. Is he in?" The response was almost a shout, the wife was so excited.

"No, he isn't in right now, but thank God, he is back home with his family. And you are the one who sent him home to us! Thank you so much!—

How pleased he was that he had seen the sad man in the next seat as he traveled the airway of life. How rewarding to see a family reunited because a friend paused, forgot himself, and helped another!

Crossed paths

By VIRGINIA HANSEN

The college president's strenuous program had left him exhausted mentally, emotionally, physically. As he settled gratefully into his seat an involuntary sigh of relief told his story. Fifteen minutes of complete relaxation would help to renew his tired mind and body for the stint ahead of him at the end of the flight. He sank gratefully into the comfortable seat beside a man he intended to ignore.

Just before he closed his eyes, he glanced disinterestedly at


(1121) 17

DEAR MIRIAM

Harmony on the hymnal I am really worried about

the new Church Hymnal being planned. I am afraid they are going to include some of this awful modern music and—perish the thought!—guitar music. Do you have any influence with the committee?

None whatsoever, and I'm not one bit worried. There are few people in whom I have more musical confidence for such an assignment than the executive secretary of the com-mittee, Wayne Hooper. I can't remember the names of the others, but I am sure they will take all viewpoints into account.

First, let's state their assign-ment. They are to produce a hymnal that will glorify God, represent the beliefs of the Adventist Church, provide worship in music, and bless the hearts of those who listen and participate. They must visualize a small church in, say, Wyo-ming, with 20 members, as well as Pioneer Memorial church at Andrews University, with its thousands.

Now let's talk about music. Left to my own devices, on Sabbath I probably would choose only what is often termed "high church" music. But my concepts expanded when I visited different parts of the world and observed other cultures. We have to accept the fact that all people are not blessed and helped by the same music any more than by the same sermons or books.

Moreover, attitudes are always changing. I remember as a young married girl around 1940 when students from the music department at a nearby college attended camp meeting to help play the piano. When they found that gospel songs were being sung, they refused to play. "That music," they

declared, "is cheap." Now, however, "gospel" is a recog-nized musical genre in the reli-gious world.

Can we take a broom and sweep everything out the door without examining it carefully? I think of the chorus "Sweet, Sweet Spirit." What a beautiful concept it portrays. And how about "Welcome Home, Chil-dren " ? Having had many deaths in my immediate family, I can never hear this song without tears of remembrance and a longing for heaven.

Another factor to ponder is that this is a troubled age for young people. The words of their songs reflect a search for love, security, stability, and peace in a world that can no longer be trusted. Shall we deny them music that answers these longings? We need to scrutinize what the song is saying—will it lead the hearer or singer closer to God?

Like you, I deplore the cheap and tawdry. I don't believe this kind of music will be in the new hymnal. People don't come to church to be educated, they come to worship—though in Adventism there is always a strong element of the educative process. If different musical paths are trod now and again, we all can do our best to enlarge our sympathies and our under-standings. One of the humorous twists to this situation is that the people who deplore guitars may be deeply committed to gospel songs that to the classicist are equally repugnant. The com-mittee needs our strong support.

My wife and I don't agree on who should select her clothes. I think she should allow me to do this because I have strong likes and dislikes and she should want to please me. Don't you think I'm right?

Not unless (a) your name is Ralph Lauren and (b) you are willing to give her the reverse privilege, agreeing to wear her choices happily, even if they turn out to be a suit with large black-and-white checks, a green shirt, and purple tie. Seriously, of course married people should want to please each other. Any other attitude defeats the entire concept of sharing a life. But pleasing another person and totally sur-rendering one's own person-hood are completely different matters.

Somehow I get the feeling your attitude toward your wife is condescending, that she is "the little woman," with all that phrase implies.

We must assume that a grown woman is capable of selecting her own clothes; moreover, we might almost say this is one of her "civil" rights! You should be allowed to express your opinions—courteously, and without too much pressure. Are you sure, though, that your taste is impeccable? I've known some men who cherish a vision of the 16-year-old they fell in love with, avalanches of ruffles and bows and all, with curls hanging on the shoulders. Somehow this style doesn't fit the girl of your dreams 30 years later.

I am reminded of an incident last week when I remonstrated with KHW about his haircut. (I like his hair longer than he does.) He reminded me gently but firmly that it is his hair. I subsided. One question: Is this typical of the way you feel about all decision-making in your marriage?

Have you ever had aspira-tions to become a minister?

Never. NEVER. What do you consider the

most poetic passage in the Bible?

Psalm 137:1-4, King James Version.

I have a friend who is pretty, smart, has a good personality, and her parents have lots of money. I don't have any of those things, and I don't think that's fair. Do you?

Who in the world ever told you that life is fair? I'm afraid you have a mental picture of some big celestial agency where file cards are started on new babies and the angel clerks say, "Now this child will be beauti-ful, so she must be poor. This child will be brilliant, so he must be ugly." But it doesn't work that way. We are the product of our genes, our cir-cumstances, and our own will. It's up to each human being not to spend time in fruitless envy, but to do the best possible job with the material he has.

I work in a service station that is patronized by many Adventists. Time and again, prominent church members drive up and ask me to fill their cars with leaded gas, even though it is against the law to do that for the cars they drive. Don't you think that's a poor way for Adventists to witness?

Not only is it a poor way to witness—on a witnessing scale of one to ten it would be a minus number, for it is actual law-breaking. The few cents saved over a period of time could never offset the twinges of conscience produced if these people are aware of their responsibilities to "Caesar." However, many people are prone to take the position that if a law seems "stupid" to them, then that releases them from the necessity of obedience.

Note to readers: Here is an address for those who have written for it—and remember that you must be single, 18 or older, and a member of the SDA Church. Adventist Contact, P.O. Box 5419, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912-0419.

18 (1122) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 10, 1983

Husbands, if the apron fits .

I know a few women who enjoy housework, who thrill to the smell of newly washed clothes, who surge with creativity when setting a lovely table, or who think sparkling windows, floors, and dishes are better than any sparkling jewel. But in my experience these women are rare. For most, housework seems close to unending drudgery. And even if we enjoy some tasks or the results, we do not enjoy them so much that we want to do them all by ourselves.

However, by ourselves is often the way housework gets finished. I listen to a lot of married women, housewives and career-oriented, old and young, women I would call "liberated" and more traditional. We talk of many things, but almost all will comment eventually, "I wish my husband helped me more at home."

"We both work," said the mother of two, "but I put the supper on the table, clean up after-ward, put the children to bed, and make lunches. I have no time to do anything for myself. Often, while I am rushing around in the evening, my husband is reading the paper or watching television."

"I lived with various women housemates for nine years after I finished college," said a woman who married at 31. "None of them ever sat around when there was work to be done. If one made supper, the other set the table and cleared up. We split the housekeep-ing chores on Fridays and always finished quickly. Women know instinctively what needs doing and do it. Now housekeeping seems like an endless burden. My husband just

doesn't seem to understand team-work."

"When my husband helps me voluntarily, which isn't nearly often enough in my opinion," added another, "I feel so close to him. I feel like he understands the pressure I'm under and that we're part of a team. I get exhilarated like I often do at work when my office staff meets and conquers a mountain of work together. When he doesn't help or when I have to ask and ask again, I feel like a slave or a nag. I don't like either."

Are these exaggerated com-plaints? Not according to an Octo-ber Good Housekeeping article. Even though more than half of all married couples are both employed, wives do 70 percent of the house-work; husbands and children share the remaining 30 percent equally. The percentages remain the same whether or not the wife works outside the home.

Men probably could do nothing that would go farther in creating a feeling of closeness, love, and good will in their marriage than would lifting some of this burden. Wives will respond to this treatment as a flower unfurls in the sun. Some suggestions for improving:

1. According to the Good House-keeping article, "even when . . men are contributing to housework, it is still wives who are carrying the burden of remembering what must be done." Sometimes that burden seems greater than the actual physi-cal work. Ask your wife which household tasks she dislikes most. Choose at least one that you will carry out from now on in such a thorough manner that she will never have to worry about it again.

2. Enlist your children's help. Both boys and girls need to learn that keeping the household running smoothly is everyone's responsibil-ity. Yet, being contrary creatures (at least sometimes), children need supervision to accomplish the tasks assigned them. You would lift a tremendous load if you would be the children's supervisor at least part of the time.

3. Help out when the pressure is on. Morning, supper time, chil-dren's bedtime, Sabbath prepara-tion, and visitors all bring pressure. A woman I know said that she used to feel frantic on Sabbath mornings trying to fix breakfast, feed, and clothe her two preschoolers and dress herself. "My husband used to pace the living room, jingling his keys in his pockets, upset because I was late. Finally, I thrust my son into his arms and told him if he wanted to be on time, he could do something to help." Don't let things get to this state before you notice that your wife is feeling frazzled and needs rescue.

4. Say Thank you. We have a tradition in our house that whoever cooks the meals gets "paid" with a kiss. That means that I get most of the kisses, though not all, but I do not mind cooking nearly so much when I know my effort is appre-ciated and I am told so. An elderly widow, reminiscing about her hus-band, told me, "He always thanked me when he saw his newly ironed shirts hanging in the closet." The memory brought a smile to her lips even years after her husband had died. Let your wife know that you realize and appreciate how she con-tributes to your comfort.

The apostle Paul admonishes us to bear one another's burdens "and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2). Those burdens begin at home; bearing them should begin at home as well. A. A. S.

FROM THE EDITORS


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Every day about 100,000 families in Peru eat some food provided by SAWS (known there as OFASA). Warehouses are located in Lima, Pucallpa, Juliaca, and Arequipa. Dwight Taylor, at left in bottom photo, executive director of SAWS in Peru, was the author's guide in Lima.

WORLDVIEW

Our night flight's touching down in Lima gave me my first chance to practice almost all my Spanish: "Buenos dias, Peru"—which I discovered was the title of the local TV program that parallels NBC's Good Morning, America.

I was to travel for two weeks with Chalmers Dale, producer for CBS News (Division of Cultural and Religious News), and a crew of three: David Conley (camera), Dale Cihi (audio), and Joe Leiper (lights). They were in South America for the shooting of ten hours of video material that will be edited into a 30-minute televi-sion program to be aired some time in 1984 on the CBS reli-gious weekly program For Our Times. They also were there to discover the story of how mem-bers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Peru care for those who need to find food, work, and hope.

Who are these kind, caring Adventist people?

The executive director of Seventh-day Adventist World Service (SAWS) in Peru is Dwight Taylor. He has spent 14 years in Peru and speaks fluent Spanish. It was he who stepped up to me at the airport as I waited for my baggage and said, "Would you be Victor Coop-er?" How do Adventists know one another? There's an inde-finable affinity among family members!

The leader of SAWS, or

Victor Cooper is an associate director of the General Confer-ence Communication Depart-ment.

OFASA (Obra Filantropica y Asistencia Social Adventista) as it is known in Peru, guided the filming group with its 600 pounds of equipment through the appointments we had set up in advance. We saw SAWS in action. In cooperation with the

United States and Peruvian gov-ernments, through U.S. Aid and the support of the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 14,000 tons of food a year go to fill empty stomachs in Peru. Because of the floods in northern Peru and the drought in south Peru, there will be more food distributed in 1983.

The food is piled up in warehouses in Lima, Pucallpa, Juliaca, and Arequipa—cracked wheat from Augusta, Georgia; cornmeal fortified with calcium and vitamin A; wheat flour, rolled oats, and

soybean milk furnished by the people of the United States; and My Boy full-cream powder from Eldorin, Holland. About 100,000 families eat some SAWS food every day.

Accompanied by Peru's com-munication director, Gonzalo Monroe, and the South Ameri-can Division communication director, Assad Bechara, we watched the food being weighed out, signed for, and taken away by families in Arequipa; eaten by 5-year-old schoolchildren in the Lima suburb of Collique; and distributed as part of the

CBS news team films SAWS activities in Peru

By VICTOR COOPER

20 (1124)


Food for Work program in Juliaca, where road workers are building a bypass around the city. We shall not forget the grateful expressions of appre-ciation or the pleas for more help.

The whole region is suffering from persistent drought. Lack of water for several years has produced food shortages, unemployment, and poverty. Crops cannot he grown. Thou-sands flock from the country to the city. Most have nowhere to go.

Unforgettable is the pain-wracked face of Juliaca's social worker as she powerfully pleaded for more help for the region—help for the children, many of whom have tuberculo-sis, and help for the illiterate who are unable to help them-selves. She said, "OFASA brought me to college to educate me, and now I can help educate other people.

"God can help us too," she said, "with our physical needs, as well as our spiritual needs. This is my goal, to help lift the living standards of my peo-ple—not for my honor, but to satisfy their needs."

The mayor's representative, Marcos Valencia Toledo, pre-sented the need for corrugated iron roofing and cement for community centers, and the need for wells, for a system to harness power from windmills, and for access roads.

I was given a folder of pictures of incomplete projects, which I have delivered to SAWS headquarters in Wash-ington, D.C.

Maranatha Clinic

Dale Duerksen was treasurer of the Bolivia Mission from 1969 to 1971. "I was aware of the great needs of the people and the great lack of money," he told me. "I went back to the States for ten years to educate my four children, and I came to the conclusion that if a person is dedicated to the Lord and to His work, all his money is the Lord's. So my wife and I decided to try the Lord out.

"We read a book about George Miiller, of the Bristol orphanages in England, and it greatly impressed us. He prayed

to the Lord to meet all his needs and never directly asked people for anything. We decided to adopt the same philosophy."

So Pattie Duerksen, 37, took a nursing course. Two years ago the Duerksens traded Califor-nia's comforts for an isolated patch of Peruvian jungle by the Pachitea River, a tributary of the Ucayali River, which flows into the mighty Amazon.

First, they had to clear enough forest to erect a two-person tent as their base. There is no fresh water on the site, and of course no electricity. They brought very little furniture with them—"didn't want to frighten the people with possessions," said Pattie. The only luxury they brought with them was a piano. "It fell in the river when the boat sank," added Dale with a shrug.

Along with the CBS camera crew, I reached the Duerksen mission station by a simple three-part journey. First a 60-minute plane flight from Lima to Pucallpa, a trip that takes OFASA' s trucks approximately 30 hours. Then a 50-minute flight in an Adventist Cessna 185 piloted by Harry Lloyd, who also is a mechanic and area director of OFASA. He took us to Puerto Inca, a small village where student missionaries Leandro and Nany Rios, with their baby daughter, were awaiting their packet of monthly scholarship money-40,000 soles (little more than $20). Then we took a short hop in a float Cessna 215 owned by Wycliffe Bible Translators and landed on the river outside the Duerksen home and the Mara-natha Clinic.

As CBS cameras took pic-tures of the Duerksen's Mara-natha Clinic in the thick Peru-vian jungle Pattie said, "Don't call it a self-supporting opera-tion; it's a faith project. I'd like you to know what God can do if we look to Him in faith."

Dale showed me his garden. He has had difficulty raising some plants, but now he has papaya, sugarcane, rice, sweet pepper, cauliflower, tomatoes, kale, and pineapples. "We produce about half of what we eat," he commented. Nearby were two goats and some

chickens. "We are attempting to teach people how to enjoy better health, because the majority of their problems relate to malnutrition."

Pattie described the people who come to the clinic. "Some-times they travel eight hours on the river, both on the outward and return journeys. When it's raining they cover themselves with banana leaves. Most fre-quently they have parasites, extreme anemia, kwashiorkor, or malnutrition. We find people suffering from rheumatism, many gall-bladder problems, or from snake bite. When we came we brought $200 worth of medi-cine for worms and diarrhea.

"To the serious cases we give primary care here, then take them by boat 40 minutes to Puerto Inca and radio Pucallpa. We have never asked for money. Some pan gold at Puerto Inca to pay us. Others pay us with bananas or other produce. Sometimes its three months later, but most are grate-ful, and they pay--except for the food I get from SAWS, which provides food supple-ments for the undernourished children of 22 families. SAWS also gives us clothing and medi-cines for which we don't ask payment."

Evangelism

Henrique Berg is president of the Inca Union, with headquar-ters in Miraflores, an attractive Lima suburb close to the Pacific Ocean. The ministers in the Inca Union share his energetic dedi-cation. Every year all ministers are expected to conduct meet-ings for the public, and they do so-150-180 a year, usually in tents. The average cost is $500; the largest may cost $45,000. Most of the money is raised by the local churches. If ministers cannot find a tent they look for a church or other building.

"If we had 5,000 tents for evangelism in Lima they all would be full," said Pastor Berg. "Now is the time for evangelism in South America."

Communication

Broadcasting the Adventist word in Peru is in the capable hands of Francisco Lozano. In addition to the 15-minute La

Vox de la Esperanza ("Voice of Hope"), the five-minute daily program Es Hora de Vivir ("Time to Live") carries the message in 64 broadcasts each week.

Our broadcasts were featured in the exhibit area of the Feria del Hogar ("Fair for the Fam-ily " ), July 21-August 7, attended by more than one million people. Five thousand fairgoers requested one of our correspondence courses. Radio National, Radio Lima, and Radio San Isidro all carry a Christian message for the fam-ily, provided by Adventists.

Inca Union College

Just outside Lima—the city of no rain and no drains—Inca Union College is flourishing with 530 students, 1,200 if you count those in the secondary and primary schools. Approxi-mately ten earth tremors rock the campus at Nana every day, but so far they have been gentle and have not affected the col-lege—or the skeletons that were discovered when workmen were excavating foundations for one of the buildings but were left in situ for all to see.

Also in stable health is the college's foremost industry, the bakery. It has a budget twice that of the college and is the second largest bakery in the country. It received an award from the Ministry of Health for the cleanliness of the premises and for the highest quality prod-uct. College president Eleodoro Rodriguez said 52 students produce tortitas (cupcakes), galletas de limon (biscuits), doughnuts, peanut butter, and packaged honey in addition to the main product, bread. These goods are sold by students in areas up to 1,000 kilometers from the college.

As we watched students packing the biscuits by hand the president commented, "We could use more machinery and make more money, but we would then lose the involve-ment of the students. So we choose to make less money and keep students employed and thus accomplish our purpose. We want to keep the bakery a part of college life."

Some youth work full time in


Women participating in SAWS' Food for Work program in Peru make souvenir items for tourists.

order to earn school fees for the ensuing year. Other students work in carpentry, producing all the college furniture, and in the department of Artes Graficas, where they print literature for conferences and for local businesses.

The president was in a confi-dent mood as he looked to the future. "We have asked the Government of Peru to license us as a university," he said. "We expect this to happen in December. Eventually we expect to have at least 14 faculties and—perhaps 15 years from now—a school of medi-cine. We will be the first private Protestant university in South America."

As we attended a nutrition class the college president com-mented, "Not only do we emphasize the use of grains, fruits, and nuts, we also are interested in introducing the soybean to Peru and teaching people on low-income levels how to prepare good food."

Miraflores Adventist Clinic

Also in Lima, in the fashion-able suburb of Miraflores, is the 60-bed Miraflores Adventist Clinic, where the staff, includ-ing seven Adventist physicians led by Eleodoro Alayza, are adding a third and fourth story to the building so as to accom-

modate 120 patients. They are awaiting government approval for the operation of a nurse's training program at the hospital, a former German embassy building.

The CBS team were also interested to see Adventists outside the capital city. From Pucallpa we traveled several miles by dugout canoe to the "Adventist village" of San Francisco.

In Cuzco, "navel of the world," with its road links to Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and north to Ecuador, the camera filmed an Adventist minister giving a Bible study.

On Lake Titicaca (at 12,500 feet, the world's highest fresh-water body) a band in uniform welcomed us outside a church on one of the floating islands, where Adventists (90 percent of the population) have two churches and two schools (on aluminum pontoons) with 70 students.

In nearby Platerfa, where Ferdinand Stahl built the first Adventist church before the arrival of a congregation, church elder Carlos Ordano Centu said that 99.9 percent of the congregation is unem-ployed. Most depend on their agricultural skills, but because of a drought, nobody will employ them. They are losing their animals, because there is

no pasture. Because they have no money to send their children to school, the schools are cut-ting back or closing. Supplies are dwindling, and people already thin and emaciated are expected to die. They have tried to dig wells, but the wells have dried up. They need pumps but have neither the money to buy them nor the power to drive them.

Church officials did not appeal for money for them-selves, but for their church building. No repairs have been made since 1911. One of the walls erected by Pastor Stahl was leaning outward. Walls were cracked, and members were fearful of the effects of the ferocious winds.

The drought also is affecting the Collegio Adventista del Titicaca, where we used to have 700 students. Now there are 150 day students. Fees of $375 a year are far beyond the ability of most students.

In 1982 the 750-acre farm showed a profit for the first time. Eighty acres of alfalfa, which thrives even with little moisture, turned the tide. "If we could put in 300 acres . . . " dreamed Milton McHenry. "But we need a new tractor with plows and drills to put the seed in."

Milton's wife, Carol, from Angwin, California, was busy

with a class for mothers, most of whom believe that children who are bathed will catch colds. "They usually do," said Carol, "and they blame the bath!"

Through OFASA, evangel-ism, education, and medical work Adventists have an active, growing, caring program for the people of Peru. But I cannot forget the faces of the hungry, undernourished people of the sun-drenched, barren altiplano. All their lives they have sub-sisted on the edge of starvation, but now they face a bleak and desperate future without employment or food.

With continuing help from SAWS, I hope Peruvians will all be able to smile as we say, "Buenos dias, Peru."

CALIFORNIA

Edson Bible donated to Loma Linda

A Bible owned by Adventist pioneer Hiram Edson recently was acquired by the Loma Linda University Library's Her-itage Room.

Hiram Edson (1806-1882) was a respected Methodist steward in 1843 when he accepted the message of the imminent second advent of Christ. As the Millerites' day of expectation approached he held evening cottage meetings in his home. On October 22, 1844, he invited people to await the Lord's return in his barn.

The morning after the great Disappointment, as he crossed a field on his way to visit other disappointed Adventists, he came to understand the reason Christ did not then return. Fur-ther Bible study by Mr. Edson and others led to the sanctuary doctrine as taught by the Adventist Church.

Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Saxby to James R. Nix, chairman of the department of archives and special collections for the library, the Edson family Bible was printed in 1838 and records many family members.

Mr. Saxby, who is a great-grandson of Hiram Edson, and his wife have been residents in Loma Linda since 1946.


Since the founding of the North Ghana Mission in the sixties, Adventism has pro-gressed slowly in north Ghana. Tamale, the mission's head-quarters, is also the seat of the Dagomba tribe, which is chiefly Moslem. Several campaigns have been held, including one designed to appeal to Moslems. Many people have been bap-tized, but most of the converts are from the south and even-tually return to the south. Among the local Moslem popu-lation, the Adventist church has seen only minimal response.

Because of this, the members of the Tamale church have been pressing for a school, which they have felt could play an important role in breaking through the barrier. In 1980 the church board met with the presi-dent of the North Ghana Mis-sion and put their request to him. At that time the case looked hopeless. But on faith they began building. Soon the school was opened, owing in great measure to the encourage-ment of K. Adjei Mensah, the regional accountant for Ghana Education Service.

When September came and the school building was not ready, the church was made the temporary accommodation for the nursery and kindergarten classes. The members also decided to build a shed on the side of the church to house one group of primary students.

Within a short time the news had spread that the Adventists had opened a school. But the teachers had to turn away many of the children, because the school already had exceeded the number allowed by the Educa-tion Service. Many prominent persons, including the regional minister for Tamale, were eager to have their children in the

Flynn Antonio is the wife of the president of the North Ghana Mission.

Adventist School because they knew of Adventist education's reputation in the southern part of the country.

With the school in operation, the chief concern was to con-struct a permanent building. Cement and building materials were hard to obtain. Finally, after 11 months of prayer and perseverance, the much-needed cement was in hand. Each Sun-day morning the church mem-bers—men, women, and chil-dren—came to the church to help build the school. They dug and laid the foundation. Some cooked while others carried water or did other necessary jobs. And by September, 1981, three classrooms were ready.

At Christmastime, 1981, the students presented a concert in which they featured the birth of Christ. For the first time, many Moslems and native Dagombas came onto mission property—coming to see their children taking part in the Christmas play. The native children, who made up half of the school family, surprised everyone with their high standard of perform-ance.

When a similar program was held the next year, it was held outdoors in order to accommo-date the record-breaking crowd. At the play the appeal for funds for the school's building pro-gram brought in US$1,500.

A Catholic priest who had heard a great deal about the Adventist school came to see for himself. When he asked ques-tions concerning the quality of the program, he was told that it was the result of the spiritual atmosphere. He was told of both the daily teacher's worship and the daily children's worship. He returned a few days later, asking permission to see how the wor-ships were conducted, and per-mission was granted.

The next morning, before any of the teachers arrived, he was waiting at the school. After

attending the worships, he commented, "So this is what you do? I wish all the schools in Ghana would follow this prac-tice." He then left, but returned the following day to purchase a set of Bible story books. As he was in charge of several schools in North Ghana, he said he had decided that wherever he was in charge, he would implement a worship program similar to what he had seen.

The school continues to maintain its high reputation in

This year, the P. E. Palmer Endow-ment Fund yielded FF41,000 (US$5,-325 ) in interest, which was distributed in the form of scholarships to students attending the French Adventist Semi-nary, in Collonges, France. Although the recipients of the assistance no doubt are grateful that the endowment exists, few may have heard the story of how the endowment came to be established—the result of a cheery greeting and a hand-shake. At least, that is how it started.

In mid-July, 1948, my wife and I left our home in Col-longes-sous-Saleve, France, where my wife was teaching English at the French Adventist Seminary, and headed to Paris to attend the annual meeting of the French Conference. I was sent there as the delegate from the Southern European Divi-sion.

Although we originally had planned to take the train, at the last minute we decided to drive our car—a decision that we later viewed as providential. Our car was a 25-year-old Fiat, roomy and still running fairly well. While it wasn't a showpiece or a status symbol, cars were scarce during that period after the war, and we were glad to have one at all.

Following a week of meet-ings, we were preparing to return to Collonges when I was called to the conference presi-

Frederic Charpiot is a retired publishing department secre-tary of what formerly was the Southern European Division.

the town. Children are turned away daily because we lack space, personnel, and funds. Three chiefs in nearby villages have given land to the mission, requesting that we build schools. So far, we have been unable to do so. We remain confident, however, that means will be found whereby these services may be provided. In North Ghana there may be no better way to break through the religious barriers in order to win people for Christ.

dent's office to answer a phone call from the division headquar-ters. I was told that the two men slated to attend a similar series of meetings for the Belgian Conference had been delayed, and I was asked to go to Brussels to lead out.

As I hung up the phone and started to leave the president's office, I noticed a man wearing a light-gray suit. He had a kind face, blue eyes, and silvery white hair. Our eyes met for just a moment; then I left the office and attended to my business. However, I wondered who he might be. He appeared to be an American.

A quarter of an hour later, as I ran down the stairs of the conference office to go back to the hotel, I saw the stranger again. This time he was leafing through a notebook with a pen-cil in his hand. He seemed to have a worried expression on his face, and a voice seemed to say to me, "Why don't you greet him?"

Turning to him, I asked, "Are you from the United States?" Immediately his face brightened. "Oh, you speak English!" He grasped my out-stretched hand—a handshake that was the beginning of a solid friendship and a long relation-ship bringing a rich blessing to Adventist education in France.

I learned that my new

First school in north Ghana breaks down prejudices

By FLYNN ANTONIO

One handshake that filled many palms

By FREDERIC CHARPIOT


(1127) 23

UPDATE

New church inspires new pews A beautiful and representative building (above) graces the

bushveld of central Zambia as a result of a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in 1980.

Encouraged by the financial support of the worldwide church, local members made each of the thousands of blocks needed in construction. Working together, men, women, and youth kneaded into pliable mud the clay (obtained from large ant mounds) that was used to plaster the walls.

Proud of their new church building, the members now are replacing the pews rough-hewed from nearby trees with more representative ones.

friend—P. E. Palmer—was an Adventist from Seattle, Wash-ington, spoke just a little French, had known Ellen White in his youth, and was the owner of a prosperous firm—Palmer Electric Company. After a life of hard work, he was enjoying a lifetime dream of visiting France.

Although his wife had come with him, she suffered so badly from asthma that she had diffi-culty walking, and she spent most of the time on her hotel bed. I offered to visit her with my wife—a gesture that made him very happy—and we spent a good part of the afternoon at her bedside.

"The Adventist people around here are very busy," he remarked. "I have been in church three Sabbaths and sev-eral times have visited the office, yet nobody has taken time to talk to me. You are the first person with whom I really have talked. Now, I would like to buy a car for traveling around with my wife. However, I have heard that since the war it is almost impossible. Is that so?"

Too late for a car In a few minutes I was off to

the Citroen factory in search of a front-wheel-drive car—the best seller of that time. I was told that if we paid with U.S. dol-lars, it was possible to get one. But the factory was closing in a few minutes for the vacation period. It was too late. We would have to wait until it reopened in August.

As a consolation, we offered to take the Palmers with us to Belgium—in our 25-year-old Fiat! They gladly accepted. While I attended the conference meetings, Mr. Palmer and his wife drove around Brussels. Following the meetings we took them to Holland, then back to Collonges, where it was our privilege to accommodate them in our little home and to show them around the French Adventist Seminary.

My wife was to attend an educational convention in Flor-ence, Italy, the following week, after which we had planned to take a vacation around Italy with our son and one of our nieces—a program ideally

suited for including the Palmers. While my wife took part in the meetings, we visited Milan, Verona, Padua, and Venice, sharing expenses along the way. Reunited in Florence, the six of us squeezed together in the shaky old vehicle and toured Rome, Naples, Capri, Sorento, and Salerno before turning north for the return trip along the beautiful Mediter-ranean coastal road. Being well acquainted with Italy, I was able to point out the most interesting places, and we found the Palmers' company delightful.

Upon our return they stayed in our home in Collonges for another week, during which time Mr. Palmer developed a keen interest in the French Adventist Seminary. "The Lord has blessed me finan-cially," he said to me one day, "and I want to do something for the French work. The educa-tional program seems to me to be the first importance."

I put him in touch with W. R. Beach, then division president, to whom Mr. Palmer gave a check—which was followed by many more over a period of several years. Thus was born what we call the Palmer Fund, out of which many students have received—and many still receive—financial assistance toward a Christian education.

Until his death nearly 20 years later, at 94 years of age, Mr. Palmer continued to send money for the fund that bears his name. Among other things, he paid for the paving of the seminary's roads. A $10,000 contribution of his helped to provide the Annemasse church near the school. Many of the young people who received financial help as a result of his liberality are bearing important responsibilities in France and elsewhere in the worldwide mission field. How different the story might have been if I had been too preoccupied for a cheery greeting and a warm handshake that mid-July day 35 years ago.

I must add also that later I drove the Palmers to Paris to get their new Citroen, bought with U.S. dollars. For two months they toured France and other countries, accompanied by a

student whom we had chosen for them (Mr. Palmer wanted to have someone along with whom to practice French). As remu-neration, the young man received a scholarship to the seminary—paid for by the Palmers. Then, when the Palmers departed for the States, they insisted that we have the

new (two-month-old) Citroen. We were dumbfounded by such a show of appreciation, but they said they wanted it that way. As Ellen White has said, "It is the little attentions, the numerous small incidents and simple courtesies of life, that make up the sum of life's happiness. "—Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 133.


A distinctive feature of the Adventist Church is its belief that spiritual health is enhanced by a sound body. Adventist concern for both healing and the teaching of preventive medicine is visible in its chain of 167 hospitals and sanitariums, 25 health-food factories, two schools of medicine, two schools of public health, and 45 schools of nursing and mid-wifery.

The Skodsborg Physiother-apy School in Denmark is unique in this chain of institu-tions, in that it offers a four-year tertiary program and has an enrollment of some 100. (Other one-of-a-kind schools in the Adventist health world are the School of Dentistry at Loma Linda, California, and the School of Pharmacy at Seoul, Korea.)

Skodsborg Badesanatorium was established by an Adventist physician, J. C. Ottosen, in 1897. It soon was frequented by royalty and became famous over all Europe. Even today it is the second-largest Adventist health-care institution outside of North America.

A not-so-well-known fact is that Dr. Ottosen at the same time established a small health-food factory in Copenhagen. In 1966 it was moved to a new location 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of the city. Nutana Health Foods is prepar-ing to celebrate its eighty-fifth anniversary this year.

The impressive modern plant has 9,000 square meters (97,-000 square feet) of floor space and does a business of more than US$12 million a year. A new computer worth $100,000 was installed the day of my visit. It sorts and arranges orders so that the stack loader can proceed along a prescribed

Charles R. Taylor is director of the General Conference Educa-tion Department.

path through the warehouse collecting items in the order in which they are stored. Further-more, it groups the orders for loading so that deliveries on a given route will be arranged sequentially.

Some 700 products have been handled during the past ten years, with as many as 550 on the market concurrently. Although the administration now has cut the list to 250 products, sales have doubled. The 140 employees, 55 percent of whom are Adventists, are hard pressed to fill current orders, having to work three shifts in some departments. Nutana is Denmark's only pro-ducer of peanut butter and sun-flower seed. The raw materials it processes include a wide variety, such as dates from the Persian Gulf and cassava from Africa.

The odor of peppermint and ginseng, and the sight of machinery counting vitamin E pills, packing and sealing vege-links, and baking Ottosen's original formula for granola, lingers in visitors' minds. Gen-eral manager Bent Nielsen and sales coordinator John Hou-gaard are both ordained minis-ters, and aside from serving in local churches and on church school boards, they recently have had the joy of personally baptizing four of the non-Adventist employees, led to Christ by the Presence that lingers in properly run Advent-ist institutions.

Nearby Ringsted church school, 13 kilometers (eight miles) to the west, serves the children of the company's employees. Patrons have pro-vided good classrooms, a gym-nasium and well-equipped playground, a home economics laboratory, and industrial arts facilities. Next door is a well-appointed church.

A Nutana-owned restaurant in the city is not as successful as

it might be because Danish people eat out primarily on Friday nights and Saturdays, and they enjoy wine with their food. However, the growing interest in health in Scandina-vian countries is creating so great a market that Nutana is planning to open a branch in Jutland and is further expanding its production.

NORTHERN EUROPE

Workers meet in Finland and England

During the first 12 days of June, two division-sponsored workers' meetings were held in Northern Europe. Workers and their wives from Finland, Swe-den, Norway, Iceland, and Denmark gathered at the beauti-ful West Danish Conference youth campsite at Himmer-landsgarden. Workers from the Netherlands and the British Union traveled to Newbold Col-lege.

The two featured guest lec-turers, although coming from the United States, were "sons" of Northern Europe. Niels E. Andreasen, lecturer in Old Tes-tament at Loma Linda Univer-sity and originally from Den-mark, daily presented Studies in the Minor Prophets, in which he concentrated on the ethical and social responsibilities of God's people as presented by Amos, Hosea, Micah, and Zechariah. Hans K. LaRondelle, a profes-sor of theology at Andrews University and originally from the Netherlands, gave four pres-entations on God's Prophetic Word Today, in which he out-lined the Biblical view of the Israel of God.

Three Newbold staff mem-bers presented lectures in ethics: Sakae Kubo, A Christian Ethic of Sex and Marriage; Mike Pearson, Christian Social Responsibility; and Kevin Howse, Christian Life Style for the Eighties.

Considerable time was given to practical aspects of ministry, with a large section devoted to workshops on preaching—a topic introduced in a lecture by Bryan Ball, chairman of New-

bold's religion department. Various aspects of evangelism were dealt with by the writer.

DAVID E. LAWSON Ministerial Director

Northern European Division

CENTRAL AMERICA

2,528 evangelistic meetings held simultaneously

During the first six months of 1983 the Central American Union conducted a historic evangelistic campaign that encompassed seven local fields and won almost 11,000 persons to Christ. Although Central America is troubled by civil war, economic instability, and natural disasters, the pastors and lay people continue to preach the gospel with vigor and enthusiasm.

During this evangelistic extravaganza there was simulta-neous preaching in 2,528 places. As there are only 150 pastors in Central America, 2,378 of the preachers were lay people. Combined nightly attendance was estimated at 75,000.

The campaign was divided into three stages. During the first stage, which occupied the first two months of 1983, lay people, supervised by the pas-tors, did all the preaching, and 4,415 persons were baptized. In the second phase, pastors and other denominational workers preached, assisted by the lay preachers, and 4,499 persons were baptized. In the third stage, the youth occupied the pulpits, and 1,907 persons were baptized.

This gigantic evangelistic campaign proved once again that when we attempt great things for God in faith, we achieve great things for Him. In June, 1983, the membership in Central America passed the 100,000 mark. In spite of the gloomy circumstances in some areas of that union, the brilliant light of the gospel is illuminat-ing a path of hope and salvation for thousands.

CARLOS E. AESCHLIMANN Ministerial Secretary

Inter-American Division

Health outreach in Denmark: alive and well at 85 By CHARLES R. TAYLOR


WASHINGTON, D.C.

Fourth Street SDA church: oasis in the city

The Fourth Street Seventh-day Adventist church, although located in the heart of the nation's capital just a few blocks east of the White House and a little more than a stone's throw from the Capitol, is in what could be called a ghetto. Fourth Street has approximately 50 members. It does not boast a large edifice of beautiful stone and masonry, but is a simple, wood-frame apartment, con-verted into a church. It is clean and air-conditioned, but plain. However, the church's watch-word—"Total involvement for Christ"—is both an aim and a description.

The pastor, Jesse L. Reaves, who started the church nine years ago, is of a special breed. He is one of the hardest workers I have ever met, leading the way in all areas of Christian activity. He is knowledgeable but hum-ble. His wife, Mary, serves as the church's Bible instructor.

Although it is in the nation's capital, the Fourth Street church is like an oasis in the desert. It operates a weekly food distri-bution program for the poor, a soup kitchen, Bible study groups, regular training classes for literature evangelists, and prison visitation, plus the Path-finders are involved in learning vocational trades.

The members have chosen not to engage in a building project—which might incur much debt in a time of economic crises. Instead, there is money in the bank and cash on hand to minister to human needs and to contend with almost any emer-gency that might arise. Funds continue to flow into the church treasury, despite the absence of constant appeals.

At Fourth Street everyone is equal—whether he has funds or not. The concern of the mem-bers at Fourth Street is to render service to mankind, regardless of race or color; if people are in need, the church is ready to serve. The poor and hungry are fed; the downcast, the lame, the

elderly, and the incarcerated are ministered to.

Plans now are being laid for the church to operate a daily refuge center to meet the needs of the inner city.

C. M. WILLIS Associate Publishing Department Director General Conference

CALIFORNIA

Loma Linda Century Club looking for gold

The word is out for Adventist dentists to save scrap gold from bridges and crowns. The gold is then cashed in and used for special projects by the Century Club, the fund-raising arm of the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry Alumni Association.

Known as the "Gold Pro-ject," it has netted as much as $20,000 in past years. This project is but one way the Century Club endeavors to raise funds to promote growth in the dental school and improve the standards of instruction.

Dentist Alden Chase, Cen-tury Club president, reports that funds raised by the club in the past have been used for an electronic closed-circuit televi-sion system for instructional use. More recently the club has given more than $200,000 to augment salaries of full-time faculty members; pledged $50,-000 a year over a 15-year period toward the addition to Prince Hall; pledged $150,000 for the Alumni Hall for Basic Sciences, which will be shared by medical and dental students; given funding to the Jorgensen Memorial Library; and worked to help eliminate school dependency on government funding. Furthermore, as spe-cific needs arise, more projects will be added.

Anyone wishing to partici-pate in the "Gold Project" should contact: School of Den-tistry Alumni Association, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California 92350.

BRENDA L. PFEIFFER Public-Relations Officer

Loma Linda University

First camp meeting in 40 years held in Caprivi Strip

Adventists in Africa's Caprivi Strip (the narrow strip of land north of Botswana, connecting Namibia and Zimbabwe, and also bordering Zambia and Angola) in July held their first field-wide camp meeting in 40 years, an event attended by nearly 2,500 people (top picture).

Despite the great lapse of time since a similar convocation, a number of those present were also present four decades ago (adults, center picture).

Sabbath, July 9, had been publicized via African Broadcasting Corporation radiobroadcasts as a day of prayer for national and local leaders. In response, Chief Mamili—one of the two main local leaders (center of bottom)—and his counselors, and a deputy for Chief Moraliswani, along with the chief's counselors, were in attendance.

When the Sabbath morning speaker made an appeal to those wishing to join the Adventist Church, one of the soldiers from Chief Mamili's retinue and 99 others responded. For the prayer that followed, the local dignitaries and their counselors were invited to the front. The meeting was brought to a close when the entire group movingly sang "To God Be the Glory."

Adventists began work in the Caprivi area around 1920. Today the Adventist Church is the largest church in the area, with approximately 4,000 members—or one in every ten of the total population. D. W. B. CHALALE

Sabbath School Director Trans-Africa Division

26 (1130)


PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT? Reasons to Consider PUEBLO NORTE

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Review and Comment UMW/ 1113,1%

■ Beginning this fall, students in grades six through 12 in Loudoun County, Virginia, face sobriety tests if they are suspected of having consumed alcohol. The 13,000-student school system will use the same breath analysis tests that police use to detect drunk drivers. Loudoun is the second school jurisdiction in the Washington, D.C., area to use such testing: the Fairfax County system three years ago provided breath analysis devices to every high school in the county. This sad reflection on the state of modem society should challenge Adventists to more vigorous efforts in educating the adolescent public against the evils of alcohol.

■ Presbyterian feminists may be smiling secretly at the plight of Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian church, which in 1980 voted 362 to 7 to withdraw from the United Presbyterian Church, when that denomination insisted that women be elected to the governing boards of all congregations. In a decision that was "among the most troubling [he] . . had made in . . 14 years as a judge, " Judge Paul Chalfin, of a Common Pleas Court, ruled that -under Pennsylvania law, the members of the Tenth Church who voted to disassociate have forfeited their rights to the church property," basing his decision on the denomination's hierarchical structure.

■ Sixty-six-year-old Paul van K. Thomson, married, the father of seven children, and grandfather of ten children, soon is to be ordained a Roman Catholic priest, a move made possible because Pope John Paul II has made provision for Episcopal priests—even married ones—to be ordained as converts in the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Thomson's presence should cause no real problems in

the U.S. Catholic community, which, according to a recent Gallup poll, favors a married priesthood by a margin of two to one.

■ High heels get low ratings in the estimation of Vert Mooney, professor and chairman of orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. "Women undergo 40 times more bunion surgery than do men," he states. "High heels may also be a source of pain in the ankles, knees, and back. A fair amount of back pain in women can be resolved by changing to a more reasonable, lower heel."

■ How much do babies know? Much more and also much earlier than many adults had thought, according to a cover story in Time magazine. Recent research points up the extreme importance of the infant's relationship with its mother. Says Dr. Benjamin Spock, doyen of child rearing to a generation of parents: "All these new data about how early the baby can distinguish things should upgrade motherhood, restore some prestige to it." To which we say Amen!

■ Roman Catholics in the United States are growing more independent from church and papal teachings. At the same time, they are showing increased support for the institutional church. These divergent trends turned up in a survey of more than 10,000 Catholics living in 60 parishes and reported in Thomas R. Sweetser's book Successful Parishes: How They Meet the Challenge of Change, which was released in September. Unlike previous studies, the survey, conducted by the Parish Evaluation project (Chicago), polled exclusively Catholics actively involved in the parish, and covers the years 1978-1982. Only 34 percent agreed with the statement "Catholics should follow the teaching of the Pope and not take it upon themselves to decide differently." The poll also showed that the most pressing concern expressed was over not personal salvation (40 percent), but the future of the United States (78 percent).


(1131) 27

NEWS NOTES from the world divisions

CORRESPONDENTS, WORLD DIVISIONS—Africa-Indian Ocean, J. B. Kio; Australasian, R. M. Kranz; Eastern Africa, Bill Edsell; Euro-Africa, Heinz Hopf; Far Eastern, S. Wayne Young; Inter-Ameri-can, Fred Hernandez; Northern European, H. J. Smit; South American, Assad Bechara; Southern Asia, A. M. Peterson; Trans-Africa, Ruby Patterson

CORRESPONDENTS, NORTH AMERICA—UNIONS: Atlantic, Leon H. Davis; Canadian, P. F. Lemon; Columbia, Ernest N. Wendth; Lake, Jere Wallack; Mid-America, Halle G. Crowson; North Pacific, Morten Juberg; Pacific, Shir-ley Burton; Southern, George Powell; Southwestern, Richard W. Bendall

UNIVERSITIES: Andrews, Andrea Steele; Loma Linda, Richard Weismeyer

North American Atlantic Union ■ The Glens Falls and Gran-ville, New York, churches have voted to merge and to build a new church near their elemen-tary school in Kingsbury, New York.

■ A medical/dental retreat recently was conducted at Camp Lawroweld in Weld, Maine, hosted by the Northern New England Conference. Guest speakers for the weekend were Kenneth and Miriam Wood.

■ "Reaching New Heights in Health" was the theme for this year's Medi-Fair held at the Nashua Mall in Nashua, New Hampshire, and sponsored by St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua. A Community Services team was on hand with vegetarian food samples, giving out more than 300 copies of the recipes for the sample foods.

Columbia Union

■ The Chardon, Ohio, com-pany, organized in May of 1978, recently became the Ohio Conference's ninety-third church, with 48 charter mem-bers.

■ Norristown, Pennsylvania, Korean Adventists formally have organized into a church.

■ Members of the Capital Spanish church, of Washing-

ton, D.C., which has doubled its membership during the past five years, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new sanctuary.

■ The Ashland, Ohio, church has received a letter of commen-dation from the President of the United States for the work of its Community Services center.

■ The Potomac Conference's Takoma Park and Sanitarium congregations recently merged, a move necessitated by new construction at Washington Adventist Hospital. New Pastor Ron Halvorsen preached his first sermon to an overflow crowd on the day of the merger.

Mid-America Union

■ Churches in Ames, Clairion, Guthrie Center, and Harlan, Iowa, provided vegetarian-food booths along the route of the annual RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Race Across Iowa) sponsored by the Des Moines Register. More than 6,500 bicycle riders and their support teams partici-pated.

■ Three new schools opened in the Kansas-Nebraska Confer-ence: Manhattan, Kansas; Hol-land, Nebraska; and Gothen-burg, Nebraska.

■ The 14-student church school in Clitherall, Minnesota, has acquired more spacious facili-ties in a building purchased by one of the church members, Laurie Barsdale.

■ Sunnydale Academy in the Iowa-Missouri Conference reports an enrollment of 158 students, 33 more than last year.

■ One hundred and thirty acad-emy young people learned how to evaluate music at the Mid-America Union Bible Camp at Camp Heritage, Climax Springs, Missouri.

North Pacific Union

■ When Mel MacPhee, of Grants Pass, Oregon, got ready to take the Oregon State Board examination for optometry, he found the three-day examina-tion was due to start on a Sabbath. When contacts with the board proved fruitless, he contacted the North Pacific Union Religious Liberty secre-tary, A. R. Lickey, who worked out a plan with the board so those keeping the Sabbath or Sunday can take two days' examination in one.

■ The growth of the Hispanic work in the North Pacific Union was demonstrated at a recent convocation of Spanish-speak-ing believers held at Auburn, Washington. Sponsored by the union department of human relations, under the direction of E. A. White, the group met for their third annual session, with 300 in attendance. Ten years ago there were only three groups meeting. Today there are 16 congregations, including new ones established this past year in Grandview and We-natchee, Washington, and Mil-ton-Freewater, Oregon.

■ Three generations are serving simultaneously as deacons at the Heppner, Oregon, Advent-ist church—Millard Holt, his son Chuck, and grandson Shawn. Technically Shawn is a junior deacon, but this does not detract from the work he does or his dedication to his task.

Pacific Union

■ Pacific Union literature evan-gelists recorded a 6 percent gain for the first eight months of 1983, with deliveries totaling just less than $4 million.

■ Arizona Adventist layman Ray Rusthoi, a man who has considerable opportunity for overseas travel, has made it a point to visit Adventist institu-

tions and to visit with Adventist leaders wherever he goes. After some 28 trips to 134 countries, he has an appreciation of Adventism's global outreach that few Adventists have. When he returns home, Mr. Rusthoi speaks in Adventist churches, giving updates from overseas.

■ Earl Labry has been asked to head the Pacific Union's pub-lishing department, following the retirement of E. 0. Glenz, who served nine years in the union.

Southwestern Union

■ One of several new degrees offered by Southwestern Adventist College this fall is the bachelor of arts degree in com-puter information systems. Uti-lizing Southwestern's main-frame computer, a BTI 8000, the degree program is offered for the student with a general interest in data processing. This program is intended as a second major, and coordinates with another discipline in which it can be applied. A B.S., B.B.A., and A.S. degree, and an academic minor—all in com-puter information systems—also are offered at Southwest-ern.

■ The Southwest Region Con-ference reports 744 baptisms for the first nine months of 1983—almost doubling their record of 375 for the same period last year.

■ The Texas Conference has 132 Revelation Seminars in progress, 92 of which are being conducted by laymen. Most of them are being held in homes.

■ Five new church schools were opened in the Arkansas-Louisi-ana Conference this year, according to Don Hevener, superintendent of schools. The conference has a total of 39 schools, with an enrollment of 800.

28 (1132)

ADVENTIST REVIEW. NOVEMBER 10 1983

BULLETIN BOARD

To new posts Worker transfers within union confer-

ences are not listed here. Such transfers ordinarily are included in News Notes.

NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION

Regular Missionary Service

M. Earl Adams (AU '60) and L. Marie (Jenkens) Adams (WWC '51), to serve as teachers, Bangla-desh Adventist Seminary, Goal-bathan, Kaliakoir Post, Dacca Dis-trict, Bangladesh, and one daughter, of Reno, Nevada, left Los Angeles, September 14.

Roy Adams (AU '80), returning to serve as professor, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary (Far East), Manila, Philippines, Celia Mercedes (Wilson) Adams, and two children. left Los Angeles, Aug. 24.

Leonard Eugene Atkins (AU '73), returning to serve as pastor, Kabula Hill church, Blantyre, Malawi, Ann Ilene (Wilson) Atkins (AU '72), and two children left Chicago, September 11.

Arthur Fred Bell (LLU '56), to serve as administrator, Thailand Adventist Academy, Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Viola Mildred (Carscallen) Bell, of Enumclaw, Washington, left Los Angeles, Sep-tember 7.

Marion Scott Blum (PUC '76), returning to serve as automotive technology teacher, Ethiopian Adventist College, Shashamani, Ethiopia, Kathryn Helen (Keyes) Blum, and two children, left New York City, Aug. 23.

Larry Wayne Boughman (LLU '82), to serve as elementary teacher, Philippine Union College Interna-tional Church School, Manila, Phil-ippines, Carolyn Ann (Phillips) Boughman, and three children, of Wilson, North Carolina, left Los Angeles, August 10.

Goldson Oliver L. D. Brown (McMaster U. '73), to serve as mathematics teacher, Akaki Seventh-day Adventist School, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Rita Maureen (Chen) Brown (McMas-ter U. '76), and two children, of Frederickton, New Brunswick, left Toronto, Sept. 5.

Douglas Clayville (WWC '79), returning to serve as pastor, Truk Seventh-day Adventist Church, Moen, Truk, Susan Lynn (Huyck) Clayville, and one child, left Port-land, Oregon, Sept. 9.

William Lee Cochran (Golden Gate U. '80), returning to serve as business manager, Kamagambo High School and Teachers' Col-

lege, Kisii, Kenya, Linda Sue (Stockton) Cochran, and two chil-dren, left Los Angeles, Aug. 16.

Samuel Eugene Cole (U. of Nebr. '70), returning to serve as academic dean/teacher, Adventist University of Eastern Africa, Eldoret, Kenya, and Ethel Modena (Reynolds) Cole, left New York City, September 14.

Phyllis Eileen Collins (LLU '80), returning to serve as director of nursing education, Trans-Africa Division office, Harare, Zimbabwe, left Chicago, Aug. 28.

William Lee Guth (LLU '78), to serve as dentist, Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic, Tamuning, Guam, Sharon Kay (Erhard) Guth, and three children, of Cald-well, Indiana, left Los Angeles, August 10.

Mary (Dietz) Hayward (Cath. U. '73), returning to serve as teacher, nursing department, Antil-lian College, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and David Richard Hayward, Jr., left Miami, August 4.

Lorna K. Hino (U. of Hawaii '83), to serve as English teacher, Japan Missionary College, Isumi-gun, Chiba-ken, Japan, and Pack-ard A. Hino, of Kailua, Hawaii, left Honolulu, August 21.

Simon Mathieu Honore (Louis Pasteur U. '73), returning to serve as mathematics-science teacher, Gitwe College, Nyabisindu, Rwanda, Suzanne Marie (Ravaud) Honore (AU '68), and two children left Boston, September 11.

Alcega Jeanniton, to serve as publishing director, Zaire Union, Lubumbashi, Zaire, Veronica (Davis) Jeanniton, and three chil-dren, of Providence, Rhode Island, left New York City, Sept. 5.

Dale Kay Kamberg (LLU '64), to serve as auto mechanics teacher, Lukanga Adventist Secondary School, Butembo, Kivu, Zaire, and Kathleen Ramona (Ellis) Kam-berg, of Gaston, Oregon, left New York City, Aug. 31.

Robert Neland Kisinger (UCLA '60), to serve as dental technician, Arusha Medical and Dental Center, Arusha, Tanzania, East Africa, and Beverly Mae (Fletcher) Kisinger, of Montrose, Colorado, left New York City, Sept. 6.

Sakae Kubo (W. Mich. U. '68), returning to serve as president, Newbold College, Bracknell, Berkshire, England, and Hatsumi (Sakai) Kubo (AU '70) left Boston, September 5.

Lorna Lillian Lawrence (AUC '67), to serve as elementary teacher,

Mountain View College, Valencia, Bukidnon, Philippines, of Napa, California, left Los Angeles, August 20.

Michael Bryan Lee (LLU '83), to serve as dentist, Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic, Tamuning, Guam, and Shirley Ann (Pong) Lee (LLU '82), of Colton, Califor-nia, left Los Angeles, August 15.

Dallas Eugene Lighthouse (L.A. Coll. of Opt. '60), returning to serve as optometrist, Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic, Tamuning, Guam, Martha Lee (Sauer) Lighthouse, and two chil-dren, left San Francisco, Aug. 27.

James Otis Manley (PUC '64), returning to serve as business man-ager, Adventist University of East-ern Africa, Eldoret, Kenya, Louise Elaine (Bullock) Manley (PUC '65), and two children left Chicago, September 14.

Evelyn J. (Weiss) Mariani (Mich. St. U. '71), returning to serve as associate professor of music and piano teacher, Monte-morelos University, Monte-morelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, left McAllen, Texas, September 11.

Charles Samuel Miller, Jr. (Ohio St. U. '76), returning to serve as assistant professor, Adventist University of Eastern Africa, Eldoret, Kenya, Pattie Rose (Reaves) Miller, and one child left Atlanta, September 12.

Monroe Alexander Morford (U. of Nebr. '82), to serve as mathematics and physical science teacher, Egypt Field Academy, Cairo, Egypt, and Frances Jeanne (Osborn) Morford, of Weimar, California, left New York City, Sept. 7.

David Wayne Patterson (U. of Oreg. '73), to serve as principal, Ethiopian Adventist College, Sha-shamane, Ethiopia, Sheila Geral-dine (Moretz) Patterson (SC '71), and two children, of Knoxville, Tennessee, left New York City, Sept. 5.

Robert Patterson (OC '72), returning to serve as treasurer, Central African Union, Bujumbura, Burundi, Barbara Jean (Johnson) Patterson, and two children, left Atlanta, Sept. 7.

Norman Province (AU '72), returning to serve as mathemat-ics/science teacher, Guam Advent-ist Academy, Agana, Guam, Cherie Lynn (Kistler) Province (U. of Guam '81), and two children, left Los Angeles, Aug. 17.

Edward Elmer Quiring (U. of N. Dak. '79), returning to serve as head, secretarial science depart-ment, Antillian College, Maya-guez, Puerto Rico, and Myrna Mae

(Werth) Quiring left Chicago, Aug. 3.

Edelweiss (Rocco) Ramal (LLU '74), to serve as senior sister-tutor, and Hector Enrique Ramal (AU '82), to serve in eye work and as community health director, Kanye Hospital, Kanye, Botswana, and two children, of Berrien Springs, Michigan, left Chicago, September 11.

Anthony A. Rockwell (LLU '73), to serve as medical director, Kanye Hospital, Kanye, Botswana, and Bernardine (Kruger) Rock-well, of Berrien Springs, Michigan, left Chicago, September 11.

Dwight Arthur Rose (AU '74), returning to serve as principal, Beirut Overseas School, Jedeidet El Matn, Lebanon, Donna Jeanette (Heinricks) Rose, and three chil-dren left New York City, September 13.

Carl Omer Rusk (U. of Colo. '47), to serve as builder/vocational arts teacher, Middle East Union Development Project, Juba, Sudan, and Dorothy Eloise (Foster) Rusk, of Loma Linda, California, left New York City, Sept. 4.

Samuel Donaldo Schmidt (AU '78), returning to serve as theology professor, Montemorelos Univer-sity, Montemorelos, Mexico, and Olga (Hantsch) Schmidt (NW U. '68), crossed the border at McAl-len, Texas, Sept. 4.

Donavon Schwisow (U. of Calif. '78), to serve as medical direc-tor/physician, Juliaca Clinic, Juliaca, Peru, Marcella (Hen-drickson) Schwisow, and Carolyn Stites, of Goldendale, Washington, left Miami, Sept. I.

Timothy Craig Scott (Portland St. U. '75), to serve as biology and mathematics teacher, Kamagambo High School and Teachers' Col-lege, Kisii, Kenya, Fay Merica (Clark) Scott (WWC '72), and two children, of Valencia, California, left Chicago, Aug. 31.

John Folkert Sipkens (WWC '61), to serve as academic dean, Hong Kong Adventist College, Kowloon, Hong Kong, and Ruth Ellen (Strickland) Sipkens, of Weimar, California, left Seattle, August 24.

Ethel Louise Twing, returning to serve as nurse, Heri Hospital, Kigoma, Tanzania, left Chicago. Aug. 30.

Corliss Wesley Vander Mei (San Jose St. U. '77), to serve as librarian, Solusi College, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and Joan (Thompson) Vander Mei, of Wei-mar, California, left Los Angeles, Aug. 28.

Donald Clifton Van Ornam


(UCLA '66), returning to serve as financial consultant, Philippine Union College, Manila, Philip-pines, Barbara Jean (Slocum) Van Ornam, and two children, left Los Angeles, Aug. 23.

William Robert Van Ornam (PUC '77), to serve as Bible/history teacher, and Cheryl Mitsue (Morita) Van Ornam (PUC '77), to serve as elementary and music teacher, Maxwell Adventist Acad-emy and Elementary School, Nairobi, Kenya, of Santa Rosa, California, left Los Angeles, August 28.

Barry H. Wecker (LLU '80), returning to serve as health director, Central African Union, Kigali, Rwanda, Alberta (Pumphrey) Wecker, and three children left Toronto, September 11.

Barry Lewis White (Elkhart Institute of Tech. '68), returning to serve as dental technician, Yaounde Dental Clinic, Yaounde, Came-roon, Breta (Wolcott) White, and two children, left New York City, Sept. 5.

Jerald Wayne Whitehouse (LLU '77), returning to serve as director SAWS/Sudan, Middle East Union, Seventh-day Adventist Development Project, Juba, Sudan, Judith Elaine (Dietrich) White-house, and one child left San Francisco, September 14.

Wendell Lyle Wilcox (PUC '51), to serve as president, Thailand Mission, Bangkok, Thailand, and Audrey Muriel (Fuller) Wilcox, of Colfax, California, left San Francisco, August 28.

Volunteer Service

Ronald Keith Abrams (WWC '82) (Special Service) and Holly Renee (Ingersoll) Abrams (WWC '83) (Special Service), to serve as teachers, Saipan Elementary School, Saipan, Mariana Islands, of Oregon City, Oregon, left Portland, August 11.

Emile Augustus Brodeur (SOS), to serve as acting publishing director, Southeast Asia Union Mission, Singapore, and Helen (Knowles) Brodeur, of Avon Park, Florida, left Los Angeles, August 27.

Marcia Eno (UC '82) (Special Service), to serve as teacher, Majuro Mission School, Majuro, Marshall Islands, of Chisago City, Minnesota, left Minneapolis, August 29.

Karen Louise Flack (Biola Coll. '80) (Special Service), to serve as teacher, Seventh-day Adventist English Language Institutes, Seoul, Korea, of Chico, California, left Los Angeles, August 2.

Victor Ivan Gouge (Special Service), to serve as teacher, Guam Adventist Academy, Agana, Guam, and Jeanette Marie Gouge, of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, left Seattle, August 9.

Muriel Frances Harlow (SOS), to serve as teacher, Okinawa Over-seas School, Naha, Okinawa, Japan, of Lone Pine, California, left Los Angeles, August 11.

Roy Leonard Henrickson (WWC '51) (SOS), to serve as acting treasurer, Middle East Union, Jedeidet El Mani, Lebanon, and Jewel (Hatcher) Henrickson (AU '40), of Estacada, Oregon, left Washington, D.C., September 15.

Louann June Hryhirchuk (Special Service), to serve as teacher, Adventist English Conver-sation Schools, Jakarta, Java, Indo-nesia, of McBride, British Colum-bia, Canada, left San Francisco, September 6.

Suzanne Kay LaCount (AU '83) (Special Service), to serve as English teacher, Hong Kong Adventist College, Kowloon, Hong Kong, of Berrien Springs, Michi-gan, left Los Angeles, September 7.

William Milton Lee (PUC '36) (SOS), to serve as teacher/VOP speaker, Taiwan Adventist College, Taiwan, Republic of China, and Helen Virginia (Warren) Lee, of Angwin, California, left Los Angeles, August 11.

Ruth Nora McInnes (Mem. U. of Nfld. '71) (Special Service), to serve as teacher, Taiwan Adventist College Overseas Elementary School, Taiwan, Republic of China, of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, left San Francisco, August 24.

James B. Nick (UC '53) and Gladys Lorraine (Simcox) Nick (Central St. U. '69) (Special Serv-ice), to serve as teachers, Guam Adventist Academy, Agana, Guam, of Shafter, California, left Los Angeles, August 5.

Grace (Hardy) Richardson (Lynchburg Coll. '69) (Special Service), to serve as English teacher, Central American Union College, Alajuela, Costa Rica, of Lynchburg, Virginia, left Miami, September 15.

Lloyd Wayne Rimmer (So. Coll. of Opt. '58) (Special Service), to serve as optometrist, Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic, Tamuning, Guam, and Agnes Neita (Canis) Rimmer, of Collegedale, Tennessee, left Los Angeles, August 22.

Brent Bernard Schroeder (LLU '83) (Special Service), to serve as teacher, Japan Missionary College, Isumi-gun, Chiba-ken, Japan, of Arlington, California, left Los Angeles, August 20.

Robert Dean Scott (AVSC), to serve as mechanic/manual laborer, Central African Union health department, Kigali, Rwanda, of Orlando, Florida, left Toronto, Sep-tember 7.

Jeremy Michael Matthew Van Dieman (Special Service), to serve as music teacher, Guam Adventist Academy, Agana, Guam, of South Lancaster, Massachusetts, left New York City, August 22.

E. W. Wescott (U. of Md. '62) (Special Service), to serve as math-ematics-science teacher, Palau Mission Academy, Koror, Palau, and Mary Susan (Callis) Wescott, of Sequim, Washington, left Seat-tle, August 9.

Robin David Willison (LLU '80) (Special Service), to serve as

pastor, South Queensland Confer-ence, Brisbane, Queensland, Aus-tralia, Heather Iris (Clark) Will-son (Queensland U. '73), and three children, of Almonte, Ontario, Canada, left San Francisco, Sep-tember 25.

EASTERN AFRICA DIVISION


D. I. Ogillo (and Rebeka and family), of Tanzania, returning to serve as pastor-evangelist, Juba, Sudan, left Feb. 22.

EURO-AFRICA DIVISION


Alberto Guaita (and Maria Teresa and family), of Spain, to serve as president, North Cameroon Mission, left May 17.

Volunteer Services:

Adventist Volunteer Service Corps: 2

SOUTHERN ASIA DIVISION


Justin S. Singh (and wife and family), of India, to serve as evan-gelist, West Indies, left July 26.

Deaths JAMES, Sunderaj—b. July 24,

1917, Madras, India; d. Aug. 27, 1983, Salisbury Park, Poona, India. He served the Southern Asia Division for 45 years, beginning as office secretary at the Oriental Watchman Publishing House. He served as Sabbath school and lay activities secretary, Northwestern India Union; assistant statistical secretary for the division; director of the temperance, public relations, and stewardship depart-ments; and general field secretary. Sur-vivors include his wife, Elisa; daughter, Priscilla Selvaraj; son, Wesley; brothers, Selvaraj and Sathyaraj; and sister, Mercy.

KIBBLE, Harvey Ward, Sr.—b. Jan. 28, 1908, Madison County, Ala.; d. July 26, 1983, Huntsville, Ala. After graduating from Oakwood College, he pastored in Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, and New York; served as president of the Lake Region Conference; and was direc-tor of the Sabbath school and personal ministries department of the Northeast-ern Conference. Survivors include his wife, Thelma; four sons, Harvey, Jr., Herman, William, and Alvin; two daughters, Marie Robinson and Ann Beckett; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

KLEIN, Eva Machado—b. Oct. 22, 1893, Brazil; d. Sept. I, 1983, Fair Oaks, Calif. She and her husband were among the early leaders of the Adventist work in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Survivors include two daughters, Neida K. Stoehr and Neusa Harder; one son, Naor; 7 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

MORRISON, Marylane Thomp-son—b. July 14, 1937, Chicago, Ill.; d. Aug. 1, 1983, Riverside, Calif. She served several years as executive secre-tary for Kathleen Zolber in the Loma Linda School of Health. Surviving are her parents, Julian and Geneva Thomp-son; and one daughter, Holly Anne.

RODERICK, Edwin J.—b. Nov. 3, 1912, Mason City, Iowa; d. July 26, 1983, Hillsboro, Oreg. He served at the Angwin Book Bindery of Pacific Union College from 1960 to 1977. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; and two daughters, Barbarann and Nancy Joe.

SENSON, Roman R.—b. Feb. 28, 1901, Philippines; d. May 25, 1983, Hot Springs, Ark. The first convert of the first mission academy in the Philippines, he served as academy teacher, evangelist, educational and young people's secre-tary, and became the first Master Guide in the Philippine Islands. After finishing a five-year Home Study Institute course for evangelists, he was ordained, became the first Filipino academy principal, was union religious liberty secretary, and dean of the school of theology at Philippine Union College. When he retired at age 70, he continued to serve as dean of the School of Liberal Arts; acting director of Philippine Union College, Naga View Campus; and later, chairman of the college's history department. He is survived by his wife, Josefa; one daugh-ter, Fidela Hechanova; ten grandchil-dren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Elena Miranda.

VIXIE, Elwin Royce—b. May 26, 1924, Berrien Springs, Mich.; d. Sept. 11, 1983, Walla Walla, Wash. He served the denomination as a teacher at Oshawa Missionary College, Walla Walla Col-lege, and Enterprise Academy. Survivors include his sons, Kevin and Curtis; and his brother, Clifford E.

WEAVER, Genevieve Stabler—b. April 25, 1911, Seattle, Wash.; d. July 10, 1983, Gentry, Ark. A graduate of Auburn Adventist Academy, she fin-ished the normal course at Walla Walla College and taught at the Adventist grade school in Auburn, Washington, until her marriage to Horace E. Weaver, then serving as the education director of the Washington Conference. The Weavers taught at Laurelwood Adventist Acad-emy, Yakima Valley Academy, and Upper Columbia Academy, before mov-ing to Walla Walla College. After graduating from Walla Walla College in 1949, Genevieve taught in the secretarial science department until 1965. At the time of her retirement she was named associate professor emeritus. Her hus-band, Horace, and their two sons, Don and Bob, survive her.

WESTPHAL, Henry J.—b. Nov. 13, 1903, Puiggari, Argentina; d. Sept. 14, 1983, St. Helena, Calif. His parents, Elder and Mrs. J. W. Westphal, were pioneer missionaries to South America. A graduate of Pacific Union College, he pastored in Nevada, southern California, Texas, and Michiga uid spent 34 years of mission service is South American and Inter-Americas. .iivisions. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; one daughter, Halcyon Wilson; two sons, Arthur and Melbert; 18 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two brothers, Herbert M. and Chester E.

VVHISENHUNT, Dick—b. March 16, 1911, Okemah, Okla.; d. Aug. 12, 1983, Fallon, Nev. For 26 years he was a teacher of industrial arts and mechanics at the following academies: Lodi, Golden Gate, Rio Lindo, and Upper Columbia. Survivors include his wife, Lillian; daughters, Bobbie Jensen, Laura Piper, LuAnn Burland, Linda Moon; sister, Cuma McDonald; and brother, Don Whisenhunt.

WILKINSON, Nellie B.—b. June 21, 1892; d. Aug. 3, 1983, Newbury Park, Calif. After the death in 1942 of her husband, George L. Wilkinson, superin-tendent of the West China Union Mis-sion, she taught art at Pacific Union College, then worked as a self-support-ing Bible worker in California. Survivors include one son, Melvin T.; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grand-children.

30 (1 1 34) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 10, 1983

THE BACK PAGE

Taskforce holds third session

The third meeting of the Publishing Work Taskforce appointed by the General Con-ference took place September 25-26 in Washington, D.C. After studying various reports and studies, taskforce members voted to recommend the follow-ing to the General Conference officers: (1) To form a Litera-ture Ministry Coordinating Board to establish general poli-cies and to coordinate all phases of the literature ministry in the North American Division (the board would consist of a total of up to 19 members, replacing the present Publishing Council with its 60 members); (2) To appoint` a full-time executive secretary to serve the new board; (3) To update the bylaws of the pub-lishing houses regarding the makeup and size of the con-stituencies and boards.

A full report of the marketing committee dealing with produc-tion, marketing, and distribu-tion, should be ready for the next meeting of the taskforce, scheduled for the end of Janu-ary. The role of the Adventist Book Centers also is under study, and a report will be given to the marketing committee to be included in the total market-ing presentation.

CHARLES B. HIRSCH

Annual Dinner for Philanthropy held recently

A highlight of the Seventh Annual Dinner for Philan-thropy, held October 6 in Wash-ington, D.C., was the awarding of checks totaling $365,366 to ten Adventist colleges and uni-versities in the North American Division. The money came from the Business Executives' Challenge to Alumni (BECA), a five-year $2-million incentive

program established by a group of Adventist business and pro-fessional people in 1979 to encourage annual alumni sup-port.

The colleges were awarded the money for having surpassed the collective goals of the BECA challenge by raising $1.24 million in unrestricted support from 19.7 percent of their alumni. An overall goal in the remaining two years of the BECA effort is to reach or exceed the national average of 23.2 percent alumni participa-tion in the annual fund. This support not only helps the col-leges and universities with eco-nomic needs but also fosters a commitment to the church and its educational endeavors.

In honor of The Kresge Foun-dation's impact on and inspira-tion to Adventist colleges and hospitals, General Conference president Neal C. Wilson made a presentation to Alfred H. Taylor, Jr., president of the foundation. Over the years The Kresge Foundation has helped generate $25 million in volun-tary support for Adventist insti-tutions by providing nearly $2.5 million in challenge grants.

WILLIAM L. MURRILL

Norwegian school is 25 years old

Tyrifjord videregaende skole (Norwegian Junior College) celebrated its twenty-fifth anni-versary in August. The main speaker at the celebration was Alf Lohne, general vice-presi-dent of the General Conference. As president of the West Nordic Union in the 1950s, he took the initiative in planning the new school for Norwegian Adventist youth.

The banquet on Sunday was attended by representatives of the Adventist Church as well as by State and local educational authorities. The personal secre-tary of the minister of educa-

tion, Dagfinn HOybraten, represented the minister and the department of education.

Tyrifjord videregaende skole has 240 students and offers a variety of courses. The students choose from three main lines of study: business, science, and

languages. The school is well known by Adventists around the world because of its excellent Ingathering achievements. In recent years the total for each campaign has been around US$40,000.

PAUL ODDVAR LISETH

Death of R. R. Figuhr, former General Conference president

Reuben Richard Figuhr, longtime denominational employee and for 12 years president of the General Conference, died in St. Helena, California, on October 28—eight days after his eighty-seventh birthday. Funeral services were conducted October 30 at the Pacific Union College church, Angwin, California.

Survivors include Mrs. Figuhr and their two children. Their son, Richard, has served the denomination as an educator, both in North America and overseas; and their daughter, Wilma Jean, is the wife of Alva Appel, General Conference Trust Services director.

Elder Figuhr was born in Superior, Wisconsin, on October 20, 1896. He attended Laurelwood Academy (Oregon), Pacific Union College (California), and Walla Walla College (Washington).

He entered denominational employment in 1915, serving in the Western Oregon Conference as a literature evangelist, teacher, evangelist, and pastor. On June 18, 1918, he was ordained to the gospel ministry. A little more than two weeks later, on July 4, he was married to May Belle Holt. That same month he entered the Army, and was discharged the following March.

For 18 years, beginning in 1923, he served in various capacities in the Philippines. In 1941 he went to South America, where he was president of the division until 1950. After serving as a General Conference vice-president for four years, he was voted General Conference president at the 1954 General Conference session in San Francisco. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 1966. His administrative capabilities were augmented by his linguistic skills, for he was fluent in German, Spanish, and Tagalog, as well as in English.

Not many of the General Conference employees who worked with Elder Figuhr are still working at the church's headquarters. However, former ADVENTIST REVIEW editor Kenneth H. Wood (who currently is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate) was in Washington, D.C., for some 15 years during Elder Figuhr's General Conference tenure, including both his vice-presidency and presidency.

Elder Wood specifically recalls Elder Figuhr's businesslike way of conducting meetings. He noted that Elder Figuhr was straightfor-ward, direct, organized, yet with a sense of humor. He was a man who believed in an economy of words, but his presentations were well prepared and carefully thought out. He was capable of delegating responsibility, then always stood behind the decisions of those to whom he had committed the assignments. Summarizing, Elder Wood referred to him as a good balance between consecration and administration.


(1135) 31

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