the international paper for seventh-day adventists€™s been nearly 2,000 years since the apostle...

14 Life on the Edge 24 Simple Gifts 26 Why Lucifer?

July 2007

T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P a p e r f o r S e v e n t h - d a y A d v e n t i s t s

ofHero

C H U R C H W O R K S

Editor’s Pen ......................3

World Report3 News & Views

World Vista8 When Words Are Not Enough

Window10 Into Liberia

H E A L T H

Lymphoma......................11By Allan R. Handysides and Peter N. Landless

B I B L E Q U E S T I O N S

Why Lucifer? ..................26By Angel Manuel Rodríguez

B I B L E S T U D Y

Prayer Is Vital ................27By Mark A. Finley

W O R L D E X C H A N G E

29 Letters30 The Place of Prayer31 Exchange of Ideas

The People’s Place ........32

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C O V E R S T O R Y

Hero of Faith By Tadaomi Shinmyo ...............................16He paid the ultimate price to be faithful to his God.

D E V O T I O N A L

Taking the Leap By Lorraine Trynchuk Guild........................12Lessons from nature teach a lot about nature’s God.

A D V E N T I S T L I F E

Life on the Edge ......................................................................14Josephine Akarue speaks with Luka T. Daniel, president of the West-Central Africa Division, about his encounter with cancer and how it affected his life, his family, and his ministry.

F U N D A M E N T A L B E L I E F S

Being Part of God’s Family By Rolf J. Pöhler.....................20The church isn’t called Christ’s body for nothing.

S P I R I T O F P R O P H E C Y

Our Utter Need By Ellen G. White .........................................22A relationship with Christ is all we need to get us from this world to the next.

A D V E N T I S T S E R V I C E

Simple Gifts By Rick McEdward .............................................24In the hills of Mindanao, among people ignored by society, Adventists are taking a message of hope.

■ It’s been nearly 2,000 years since the apostle Paulwas shipwrecked on the Mediterranean island ofMalta, and now Bible lessons prepared by the Voiceof Prophecy, a Seventh-day Adventist media min-istry, are spreading around the island following adirect mail campaign that reportedly reached everyhousehold.

“Try Jesus” advertising cards—offering the free“Discover” Bible lessons—were sent to 160,000homes on the island of 400,000 people, according to local Adventist church pastor Daniel Ferraro.Although Maltese is the local language, English,a remnant from British colonial rule, is also widely spoken.

So far, Ferraro reports, the response has been encour-

aging: As of May 10, “745 copies of the first lesson havebeen mailed out, with 102 sending back the answer sheetso far. A total of 50 people are following the course.”—Adventist Church in Malta/AW.

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As Natural as Breathing

In my third year of high school, I learned what it meansto pour yourself into the life of someone else.Far and away the most important thing that hap-

pened to me that school year happened every dayafter class. A godly teacher prayed with me—everyday—for an entire year, sometimes with a smallgroup of friends, but mostly just the two of us.

It was my first sustained opportunity to hearanother Christian praying his way through his life,with all its joys, frustrations, successes, and sorrows.I was given a glimpse into the heart of a maturingChristian when I was a bundle of teenage anxietiesthat made a profound impact on my walk with Godand my future professional choices.

I was mentored, I was taught—I was discipled—in a lifewith God by someone who went far beyond what his job

required and gave me a window into his heart for God.When I reminded him of all this a few years ago

and tried to find words to express my gratitude, hetold me that he had forgotten all about it, that itdidn’t seem so remarkable to him.

This is the marvel of true Christian nurture—thatit arises from the daily sharing of “life together” asnaturally as one breath follows another. Sometimeswe scare ourselves (and others!) with the complexityof our 10-point plans to shape, form, or indoctrinatenew believers. What they really need may be as sim-ple as listening to us pray, watching how we worship,joining us in digging deep into the Word. Christianlife and deeper faith are often better learned in thedailyness of devotion and friendship than in theintensity of a workshop, seminar, or sermon.

Here’s to the saints who keep on opening up theirlives to share the richness they have found in Christ.When the Lord of all good servants calls them for-ward on that great day, they will enter even morefully into a joy they have already been giving away.

—B I L L K N O T T

From theEDITOR’S PEN

July 2007 | Adventist World 3

Malta: Adventist Bible Lessons ReachIsland of Paul’s Shipwreck

BIBLE CORRESPONDENTS: A group of Adventists onMalta process Voice of Prophecy Bible lessons.

W O R L D R E P O R T

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PUC Professor Returns From Fulbright Scholar Passage to India■ Victoria Mukerji, Ph.D., returned to Pacific UnionCollege, an Adventist-owned institution in Angwin,California, U.S.A., this spring after teaching in India forsix months as part of the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Before coming to teach at PUC nine years ago, Mukerjispent almost 20 years doing fieldwork as an anthropolo-gist in India. This experience led her to apply for aFulbright grant to return to India and teach at GoaUniversity in the city of Panjim. She was curious to expe-rience the culture in Goa, which is an ex-Portuguesecolony and a unique area of India.

“It was time to fly the coop for a while,” says Mukerji,who is a professor of visual arts and communication atPUC. “You can’t call yourself an anthropologist and stay inAngwin your whole life.”

Mukerji wanted to develop a media and culture cur-riculum for Goa University. However, when she arrived,she found that the university did not have the funding toaccomplish this goal, so she took a teaching position in theSociology Department. She also sat on committees for sev-eral thesis projects and conducted workshops in docu-mentary and media.

Research published by the British charity Tearfund makessomber reading for church leaders. Only one in 10 people in theU.K. attend church on a weekly basis, while 53 percent of thepopulation identify themselves as Christian. This is a 20 percentdecline over six years.

But there is hope. The report noted a group of up to 3 millionpeople who said they would attend church “given the right invi-tation.” As the report puts it, “one in every 17 U.K. adults [is]open to churchgoing, if only churches reach out to them.”

Tearfund’s president, Elaine Storkey, told BBC Radio that “the

church for a lot of people is a very strange place these days. They’re not familiar with what’s going on inside the build-ing, with the form of service, with the way people gather, withwhat they say, how they pray.”

Churches such as Beckenham Hope Community AdventistChurch have tackled this problem by working in the community,starting a community choir, and listening to residents’ needs.Leamington Spa Adventist Mission has restructured its service tobe a place in which a visiting stranger can quickly feel comfort-able and become a friend. “Walk in the front door and you aremore likely to be offered a drink and biscuit than a hymnbook,”states worship leader Robert Pearce. “Worship is really impor-tant to us, but it comes in a context of being open and friendly,and trying to reduce the ‘cringe factors’ for those coming in thedoor for the first time.”

Don McFarlane, president of the Seventh-day AdventistChurch in the U.K. and Ireland, remarked that “the report empha-sizes the need for Christians to be open to their communities, todevelop genuine friendships, and to build bridges that will makethe church a more inviting home for those who are seeking.”

During her previousanthropology work inIndia, Mukerji tried toblend in and not allowher American back-ground to disrupt theculture she was study-ing. On this project,

however, she says she was conscious that, coming from anAmerican program, she was an ambassador. This created adifferent dynamic from her previous experiences.

Mukerji says having a Fulbright scholar reflects well onPUC because it proves we are in this world doing “intellec-tual outreach.” She also recognizes that sending aFulbright scholar away is a team effort. Mukerji’s col-leagues had to work more to cover her classes, and she saysshe felt great support from PUC faculty. “I’m grateful tothe college for letting me go,” she says.

The U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program provides funds forthe exchange of scholars among foreign countries.Scholars may receive grants for research or teaching. PUChas had one other Fulbright scholar, Eric Anderson, whotaught at Ionian University in Greece in 1992.—Morgan Chinnock/PUC/AW.

N E W S C O M M E N TA R Y


BY VICTOR HULBERT, Communication Director, British UnionConference of Seventh-day Adventists

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OverseasMeetingsMiddle East, Jewish, and Adventist Leaders

ADVENTIST YOUTH MINISTRIES MARKS CENTENNIAL: With tree plant-ing ceremonies at a local congregation in Silver Spring, Maryland(above), and worldwide, 100 years of Seventh-day Adventist Churchministry to youth was noted on May 15, 100 years to the day that theGeneral Conference voted to create the program. “When the next gen-eration asks what this tree is for, we want them to know that thischurch cares for young people,” said Baraka Muganda, world churchYouth Ministries director. “Because of that care—that spiritual care—the church created a special department to nurture young peopleaccording to their needs and challenge them to participate in the mis-sion of the church.” Also participating in the ceremony was worldchurch vice president Armando Miranda.—ANN/AR Staff.

AUNE IN AMERICA: Speaking to a group of mostly MiddleEasterners gathered at the Pine Springs Ranch in southernCalifornia, Kjell Aune, leader of the Seventh-day AdventistChurch in the Middle East region, reflected on the elements that should drive the members. “It’s not tradition, people, money, programs, buildings, or activities. Our purpose ismore profound than that,” he said as he addressed the MiddleEast Fellowship (MEF) group on Friday night, April 20. “It is worship, service, evangelism, baptism, and turning people into disciples.” The MEF is an association of Middle EasternAdventists living in the U.S.A., mostly located in California. About 120 were gathered in a beautiful mountain setting for theirannual weekend retreat.—Alex Elmadjian/MEU/AW.

ELOFER IN LITHUANIA: On May 4, 2007,Richard Elofer, president of the Church inIsrael, and Bertold Hibner, AdventistChurch president for Lithuania, met withMousa Barak, a leader of the Jewish syn-agogue in Kaunas. In an open and friend-ly atmosphere Elofer outlined a possibilityof future dialogue between Jews andAdventists in Lithuania. The next day,Elofer presented an interesting series onthe topic of sharing with Jewish people.While answering questions and present-ing biblical as well as historical argu-ments, Elofer outlined a method forreaching Jewish people with the gospelmessage.—Lithuanian Mission Field/AW.

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When 61-year-old Judge Crispin B. Bravoannounced his early retirement to hisMetropolitan Trial Court staff in Manila,

Philippines, just before the end of 2006, he didn’tknow 21 members of his legal staff, lawyers, andother judges would sign a petition asking him toreconsider.

“Our years of a wholesome but strict professional rela-tionship tempered by your strong faith in God has…[taught us to be] potent but effective dispensers of justice,”they stated in the petition. The residents of Manila agree,calling Judge Bravo a man of integrity.

A quick scan of Judge Bravo’s office reveals that he isnot shy about his faith. Posters and handwritten state-ments reflecting his Seventh-day Adventist faith dot thewalls. A poster from last year’s movie Superman Returnshas Bravo’s comment: “[It is] only in God that you can bea Superman.” Next to it is a Tell the World poster, easilyrecognizable by any Adventist as one of the vision-valuesof the Adventist world church.

“The Word of God is the only power and authorityexisting on earth,” he wrote on another poster, which hesigned “Crispin B. Bravo: spiritual revolutionary.”

“As a judge, I don’t have the power. The onlypower is with God. That’s what I tell the people,” heresponded when questioned about his public declara-tions of his faith. His beliefs are not altogether for-eign in a country in which separation of the religiousand secular public realms often seems tenuous.

Standing behind a seven-inch-high stack of court

papers and a Bible, Bravo explained that “as a judge in thecity of Manila I am compelled by the law. I have no optionbut to implement the law.”

Bravo explained that he is guided in his profes-sion by God’s Word when “as a judge, I have discre-tion to make decisions in application of the law…without whims or capriciousness.”

This seemingly puzzling fusion of religious values andthe civil law was for Bravo clearly explained by Jesus in theGospels (Luke 12:17, NIV) when He said to “Give toCaesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

Judge Bravo does, however, factor forgiveness into hiscourtroom decisions. “If there is repentance; if I see thatthe victim is forgiving the offender, as a judge I should notbe a barrier,” he explained.

Bravo said the idea of forgiveness is what led him toget involved with his church’s prison ministry outreach.

Since becoming a Seventh-day Adventist in 1999, Bravohas listened to numerous sermons and actively participat-ed in spiritual discussions and Bible readings. A few yearslater, in 2004, he “came to realize that I could preach also,and spread the gospel of God. I could go into jail[s] andalso preach the Word of God there. It was a test and achallenge to my personal spiritual life.”

One Saturday afternoon Bravo went to theCaloocan City jail alone. “I asked permission topreach as a member of my church, but I also wrote aletter to the city mayor that if something happenedto me, the city would have no liability should a pris-oner inflict physical harm on me,” he reminisced.



By Rajmund Dabrowski, Communication Director,General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

ConversionsFromConvictions

Adventist Judge Ministers to Prisoners

to

At least 100 inmates gathered in the chapel thatSaturday. “For 30 minutes I delivered my message, andwhen I ended, I had this tremendous feeling,” he said. Heexplained that even though a judge, studying the Bibleprovided a way for him to connect with the prisoners.

The prisoners invited him back the followingSabbath. “[They] sat down, listened, observed, andbecame friendly. Later dialogues began, and a formalBible study class was organized.” On December 17,2005, 66 inmates were baptized.

Now that he has retired, Judge Bravo plans to becomemore involved with personal ministry activities in his localchurch. That is, unless the Supreme Court reverses itsapproval for Bravo’s optional retirement. Even though hehas completed his five-year term of service and is free toretire, the Supreme Court may require Bravo to continue

on because of the overwhelming support for the petition.“It’s all now up to their verdict,” Bravo agreed.

His staff calls it a “premature retirement” thatwill result in a “tremendous loss to the judiciary.…”“We don’t want him to go,” said one of the lawyersin the four-floor office of the Metropolitan TrialCourt of Manila.

For Bravo, if his retirement is upheld, his departurefrom the trial court will not mark a break with the legalprofession. He plans to “offer legal services to humanrights victims suspected as enemies of the state withoutstrong evidence.”

Judge Bravo also plans to be more involved with theplight of the poor. “The church is not [fully] spiritual if itis not helping poor people,” he said.—Adventist News Network/AR.


Left: In Manila, Philippines, Judge Crispin B.Bravo, a Seventh-day Adventist since 1999,balances justice and forgiveness when mak-ing courtroom decisions. Below: Realizing that "the Word of God is theonly power and authority existing on earth" iscentral to Judge Bravo's philosophy.

P H O T O S B Y R A J M U N D D A B R O W S K I / A N N


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It is difficult to describe something for which you haveno words. When the apostle John talks about the newearth in the book of Revelation, he begins by saying

what it is not, rather than what it is. He describes it interms of the absence of things that destroy our lives here:death, mourning, crying, and pain. Why? Because we candescribe only that which belongs to our experience; wecannot describe what lies beyond it.

When I think about the second coming of Jesus Christ,seeing my Savior face-to-face, there are few words thatseem sufficient, yet there is a longing that cannot be meas-ured. There are perhaps four waves of thoughts, or emo-tions, that come to me—feelings almost too immense toadequately describe.

FreedomThe Second Coming represents to me, first, a gateway

through which we leave behind all that imprisons us here.In John’s description of the earth made new, I find it strik-ing that the first thing he says is that the sea is gone. And itis natural that he should focus on this imagery. To John,exiled on the Island of Patmos, the ocean around himformed the walls of his prison.

For us, there are other kinds of prison walls. People areimprisoned in poverty, and they can’t get out. People areimprisoned in addiction, or in abusive relationships, or inbodies wracked with illness—they can’t get out. People arealso imprisoned by war and violence. We think of Sudan,or Iraq, or Afghanistan, and we can easily name a dozenmore countries where men, women, and children arecaught in a seemingly endless cycle of political unrest and

bloodshed. All these things hold us tight; we see no escape.I see Christ’s return as the moment when He will tear

down these walls that surround us; when, in the words ofJohn, the sea will be gone.

ReunionFor John the sea also represented distance—separa-

tion—from his loved ones and friends. And so when hedescribes a place where there is no sea, he is talkingabout the absence of anything that creates distance orseparation. There are so many things that generate dis-tance between people: misunderstandings, anger, harshwords. Or we allow divisions to arise based on differ-

W O R L D V I S T A

WordsAre Not

When

By Jan Paulsen

ences in ethnicity, or national background, or language.Of course, the greatest separator of all is death, and

Christ’s return means that this also will be gone. Itmeans that I will be reunited with people who are veryimportant in my life. I will see my parents again—I feelsure about that. I want to see my brother also, and mychildren. And I want to meet others I care very muchabout. So as I think about this reunion, there is a greatsense of anticipation, yet also a measure of anxiety. Willall those I love be there?

I believe there will be a wonderful display of gracewhen that moment comes. We need to prepare our-selves for some surprises. To put it somewhat flippant-ly, we may see someone else there and ask them,“What! You’re here?” and Christ will respond, “And youshould talk!”

I feel sure that it is only at the moment of Christ’sreturn that we will realize the depth of His commitment tosaving everyone He can possibly lay His hands on. I expectthere will be a huge number of young people—teenagersand children who had not yet learned fully what life is allabout, yet whose lives were cut short while they were stilldiscovering, or experimenting, or searching. I think we willsee when Christ comes back that acceptance by Him isrooted in far more than performance reward, that thereare other values that also come into play.

AcceptanceWhen the Lord returns, when I see Him face-to-face, I

will look into the eyes of the One who knows me throughand through; the One who created me, who has a perfect“CT scan” of my personality. Nothing is hidden! And yet Iwill see in His eyes not condemnation, but a mixture oflove and compassion.

The second coming of Christ represents to me themoment of ultimate acceptance, the moment when Godreceives His children. Yes, He sees everything that is notright; things that we wish we could change, have tried tochange, but cannot. He sees all of this, yet still receives us.It is an incredible thought, one that fills me with hope andanticipation and awe.

RenewalWhen Christ returns we will be freed from that which

imprisons us, we will be reunited with those we love,and we will experience divine acceptance. And on thatday we will also hear our Lord say: “Let’s start again. Iam erasing everything hurtful that has come before. Let’s

move forward with a fresh, clean slate.” In this new era“the former things will not be remembered, nor will theycome to mind” (Isa. 65:17).

How can we find words to capture the breadth of thisidea? Each of us has scars and hurts that come in so manyshapes and forms. There are the self-inflicted wounds; sillymistakes whose consequences we find so difficult to livewith. There are the hurts of broken relationships; of lovedones who suffer; of illness and death. For some it is pover-ty and hunger, or the frustration of having no future tooffer a child, or the pain of abuse or injustice.

In these moments of anguish, in the struggle to makethe best of what life has dealt out, there is no ointmentmore soothing to our wounds than the words: When Icome “I am making everything new” (Rev. 21:5). I long forChrist to come back so that I may hear these words fromHis own lips.

Living in AnticipationHow then do I wait for the Lord’s return?I wait without fear, knowing that He is with me every

step of the journey; knowing that the moment of seeingHim face-to-face will transcend every sorrow, every diffi-culty, every hurt.

I wait in anticipation, knowing that His return will besoon—not just in the sense of a particular moment intime, or part of the linear sweep of history. But for eachone of us, individually, Christ’s return may be in the nextinstant when we open our eyes.

I wait with the conviction that how I live today matters;that although I yearn for that moment of ultimate healing,God is calling me today to be a healer, an agent of trans-formation and renewal in society.

And I wait with a sense of responsibility—a desire toshare this hope with as many people as possible; to helpthem know that the Second Coming will be a real event intime; that Jesus Christ is a real person who offers Hisgrace to everyone; and that it is only through His returnthat all our yearnings, our deepest longings, will meettheir fulfillment.

Jan Paulsen is president of the worldwide Seventh-day AdventistChurch.


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Liberia is a c o a s t a l

country locatedalong the west-central tip ofAfrica. Situatedbetween SierraLeone and Côted’Ivoire, Liberiawas Africa’s firstmodern repub-lic. During the mid-nineteenth century reform-minded Americans andEuropeans formed the American Colonization Society torepatriate former slaves from the New World who wantedto return to Africa. The west coast of Africa was chosen asa good location, and Liberia was founded as an independ-ent country in 1847.

Today descendants of freed slaves are consideredAmerico-Liberians and make up 5 percent of Liberia’spopulation. Historically considered “elites,” they held mostgovernment leadership positions until 1980, when a revo-lution by indigenous peoples overthrew the governmentand installed authoritarian rule.

For nearly 20 years, Liberia moved through an era ofpolitical and civil instability as various factions competedfor power. Two civil wars and their attendant violencelargely destroyed the country’s infrastructure, resulting inan unemployment rate that has ranged as high as 85 per-cent, one of the highest in the world. In 2003 peace was

once again restored, and the United Nations has main-tained a strong presence to ensure stability.

Adventism’s roots in Liberia are the oldest of any coun-try in Africa, and some of the most fascinating. In 1862independent American missionary Hannah More (insetphoto) accepted a position on the St. Paul River upstreamfrom Monrovia, but soon moved to the Hoffman Station atCape Palmas. While there, she fully embraced the Seventh-day Adventist message first taught to her by fellow New

Englander Stephen Haskell, who had also beensupplying her with Adventist literature in Africa.She wrote to the Adventist Review and SabbathHerald (now the Adventist Review) in late 1863,“Your people may now consider that you have

wholeheartedSeventh-dayAdventists here,waiting with youfor the blessedappearing ofHim whom welove and adore.”Haskell laterreported that she

single-handedly helped to establish the first groups ofAdventist believers on the west coast of Africa.

The Adventist Church in Liberia today is vibrant andgrowing. However, like other countries in this war-tornregion, church members don’t have the resources theyneed to keep up with the financial needs of new congrega-tions. It’s important to provide churches for new congre-gations, because without houses of worship new membersoften drift away. It sometimes takes years to get the finan-cial resources needed to complete a church.

Just outside Liberia’s capital, Konola Academy, the onlyAdventist school in the country, was virtually destroyedduring the civil wars. It recently reopened its doors on alimited basis and is now rebuilding its campus. TheAdventist Church also operates Cooper Memorial Hospitalin Monrovia. Both these institutions are making a valuablecontribution as the country rebuilds.

Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter willhelp congregations in Liberia establishan evangelistic training center and anew church in Monrovia. For informa-tion about Adventist mission work andthe Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, visitwww.AdventistMission.org. Whileyou’re there, read inspirational storiesabout current mission work in westernAfrica in the online quarterly AdventistMission magazines.

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LIBERIACapital MonroviaLanguages English (official), 20 other ethnic group languagesReligion Christian 40% , Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 40%Population 3.3 millionAdventist membership 22,113Adventist-to-population ratio 1:148 (Worldwide average: 1:459)Ministers 5Churches and companies 100

Into

LiberiaBy Hans Olson

H E L D U R N E T O C N Y / P A N O S P I C T U R E S

W O R L D H E A L T H

have undergone several changes overthe years. Basically, we talk ofHodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lym-phomas. But there are subclassificationsthat are too detailed for this column.

It is increasingly obvious that mul-tiple causes of lymphoma may exist.Burkitt’s lymphoma, and probably 40percent of Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases,are related to infection with a viruscalled Epstein-Barr (EBV). Burkitt’slymphoma is predominantly seen inAfrica. In Asia, there is a form of lym-phoma that is nasal in location andseems also to be related to EBV. Severalof the non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas arepossibly related to the use of agricul-tural chemicals, which affect farmworkers more than any other group.

You may have noticed that morelymphomas seem to be occurringamong your acquaintances, becausefor the last 50 years, for reasonsunknown, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomahas been increasing at a rate of 4 per-cent per year. In 2000, 60,000 newcases were documented.

A special kind of stomach lym-phoma is related to infection with bac-teria called Helicobacter pylori. Thebacteria do not cause the lymphomadirectly, but rather they set up such astrong immune reaction that some-how a lymphoma is triggered. ThisMALT lymphoma, as this is called, isnot as aggressive as other lymphomasand often resolves with antibiotic ther-apy, which kills the bacteria.

Lymphomas vary so much it ishard to give a sweeping overview ofoutcomes, but many respond reallywell to treatment.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma, for exam-ple, is very successfully treated, and a

I have heard of several peoplebecoming ill with lymphomas. Whatcan be done to prevent this disease?

Lymphomas are a complex group ofdisorders. We do not have enough

space, nor are we expert enough,to give more than a short overview.

The lymphoma is a solid tumorthat arises in lymphoid tissue. Somelymphomas have a close relationshipwith the leukemias.

Perhaps we should first considerthe lymphatic system. Blood ispumped from the heart througharteries to the capillaries and returnedby veins to the heart. The tiny capil-laries are not totally watertight, sosome of the blood fluid oozes throughthem into the tissues. This fluid iscalled lymph and is collected througha network of tiny vessels called lym-phatics. These vessels bring the lymphback to the veins. They have little fil-ter stations dotted along their length.These are called lymph nodes. Alymph node has collections of lym-phocytes, which are immune cells thatfight infection clustered within them.

Lymphocytes are broadly classifiedas T-lymphocytes or B-lymphocytes.T cells are lymphocytes whose geneshave been switched on in the thymusand have developed special receptorson their surface. B-lymphocytes,which are the majority of lympho-cytes, have been switched on to pro-duce antibodies. Both types are need-ed in immunity, and both types cangive rise to lymphomas.

Some lymphomas are the laziestcancers known, and others can bevery aggressive. Often lymphomasdevelop into leukemias.

The classifications of lymphomas

cure can be expected in the vastmajority of cases. Treatment withradiotherapy and chemotherapy is notthe easiest to endure, but offers such agreat possibility of cure that we wouldadvise all patients with lymphomas tofollow the advice of appropriate quali-fied medical practitioners.

A lymphoma, like all cancers,starts when the cell regulation by thecell nucleus is altered. This means itsorigin is, in a way, “genetic.” Severallymphomas have defined chromoso-mal abnormalities, and in fact, chil-dren with trisomy 21, or Down syn-drome, are at increased risk for someforms of leukemia, including lym-phomas. When an infectious agentalters the genes, cell regulation maybe altered. Infection with the humanimmune deficiency virus (HIV)increases the risk of lymphoma in theperson who is infected.

No part of the world is free ofthis unpleasant group of tumors,though the varieties may showregional differences.

Note: This important topic was also discussed by thedoctors in Adventist Review, April 26, 2007.


By Allan R. Handysidesand Peter N. Landless

Lymphoma

P A T H O L O G Y O U T L I N E S . C O M

Allan R. Handysides, M.B.,Ch.B., FRCPC, FRCSC, FACOG,is director of the GeneralConference Health MinistriesDepartment.

Peter N. Landless, M.B., B.Ch.,M.Med., F.C.P.(SA), F.A.C.C., isICPA executive director andassociate director of HealthMinistries.

“Faith comes from hearing the message” (Rom. 10:17, NIV).“A bunch of baby ducks! Come, look! Hurry!” I blurted

out with excitement. The view out the window was unbeliev-able. At that moment the most adorable tiny balls of yellow-ish-brown fluff were moving across our lawn. Led by a femalewood duck, a brood of a dozen wobbly ducklings bouncedover thick grass as they scurried to keep up with their mother.

Danger and ObstaclesAll 13 of them were headed toward the busy street

beyond. This aquatic family, no doubt, was in search of awater source—a pond, a lake, or a creek. However, nothingresembling water was within viewing distance of our yard.Their trek was to be a long hazardous one through a smallfield, across another busy street, between several homes, andfinally behind these houses they would find a small waterdrainage. So, why were they so far away from a water source?

These innocent hatchlings had already experiencedinsurmountable obstacles. Somewhere in the couple ofacres of pristine forest behind our home, had been theirnest. The typical behavior of wood ducks is to search for alarge tree cavity, an excavation chiseled out by woodpeck-ers or resulting from natural decay. The opening into thehollow needs to be about four inches in diameter. Foradditional safety, the distance of the nest opening fromthe ground is of vital importance. Being inconspicuous toenemies (such as cats, raccoons, weasels, and other eggeaters) provides a better chance that predators will notdisturb the clutch. Ornithologists have measured woodduck nests to be 30 to 50 feet (10 to 16 meters) high,although nests 20 feet (6 to 7 meters) off the ground aremore typical.

Other construction details of this hollow tree nest arealso crucial. The inside cavity requirements must be ade-quate to accommodate an adult wood duck, as well as 12to 15 eggs, each of which will be nicely insulated with softdown, plucked from the mother’s chest. On the otherhand, the hollow must not be too deep. If situated too fardown, the hatchlings would be unable to spring upwardhigh enough inside the tree to reach the opening thatbeckons them to the outside world.

When the hatchlings finally get to perch on the treeopening for their first time, their instinct is to find food andwater. But they cannot fly yet and must get to the ground bytheir own efforts. How do they get down 50 feet? Or even 20feet? One would consider this to be a terrifying experiencefor something so tiny, weighing only a couple of ounces, tolook down and perhaps not even see the ground below.

A Special (Familiar) SoundAn incredulous event occurs! These fledglings jump!

With their tiny stubby wings spread out, they push outof the opening to tumble to the abyss below. Is it sui-cide? What is it that compels a new hatchling to jumpout of a tree?

Actually, preparation for these leaps is part of the over-all parenting plan. Scientists record that a couple daysbefore the ducklings crack open their shell, their motherhears their faint tapping and peeping from the inside. Shein turn peeps back. She continues communicating witheach duckling-to-be with her frequent soft peeping. Evenbefore the hatchlings obtain a glimpse of their world, theyare familiar with their parent’s tone and messages.

Within 24 hours all eggs hatch. With vigilance thewood duck parents study the area for possible attackers.When all appears safe and peaceful, the mother fluttersdown beneath the tree and begins peeping loudly. Fromsomewhere far below is a familiar call that the ducklingsrecognize as their mother’s. With her coaxing peeps, theducklings scramble to the tree opening; and one afteranother, they leap down, down to the ground.

D E V O T I O N A L


Taking

LeFrom God’s tiny, featheredcreatures come

lessons to tide usthrough life’s

demands and difficulties.

the

Lorraine Trynchuk Guild is retired fromcommunity college administration.Besides writing, she is involved in literacyefforts for both young children and adults.She lives in Moab Utah, (USA).

July2007 | Adventist World 13

Upon bouncing to the ground, they regain composureas their awkward, wobbly feet take them to their mother’sside. The mother’s peeps become louder with more per-sistence until all have jumped. With alertness for safetyand additional persuading peeps, she groups her youngfamily—sometimes as many as 24—and together theybegin their search for water and nourishment.

What a leap of faith!This leap is possible because the hatchlings have lis-

tened and heard their mother’s message. Researchersreport that when the female duck does not communicatewith the ready-to-hatch eggs, the newborns are lessresponsive to her coaxing. In such cases the just-hatchedducklings either need more time of coaxing to followdirections, or they just do not seem to respond. As a result,they do not jump out to freedom.

Hearing God’s VoiceThis example is so much like us. In Romans 10:17

(NIV) we are told that “faith comes from hearing the mes-sage.” The ducklings that respond with the leap of faith arethose that had heard their mother’s message communicat-

ed to them. For us, the message heard through the Word ofChrist is what helps us establish connection with ourCreator and Savior. We need to hear God’s voice in orderto maintain faith in Him.

Faith requires some form of action, like that of theducklings jumping from high in a tree. James reminds usthat “faith, if it does not have works [deeds and actions ofobedience to back it up], by itself is destitute of power[inoperative, dead]” (James 2:17, Amplified).* In Hebrews11:6 we are further reminded of the importance of faith inour lives: It says that “without faith it is impossible toplease and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever wouldcome near to God must [necessarily] believe that Godexists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestlyand diligently seek Him [out]” (Amplified).

The BenefitsThere are everlasting rewards for those who hear (who

listen), and everlasting rewards for those who obey (whotake the leap)! Romans 5:1 explains that “having been jus-tified by faith, we have peace with God” What a wonderfulreward—peaceful and joyous living!

But that is not all. Not only do we have peace, butultimately we will “inherit the world … through therighteousness of faith” (Rom. 4:13, Amplified).Unbelievable rewards! All because we choose to takethe leap of faith.

Male wood ducks, with their distinctive face patternsand iridescent plumage, are probably North America’s mostspectacular ducks. Their habitats are usually in woodedswamps, rivers, and ponds. Wood ducks live and breed inspecific parts of Canada and the United States. Some spendtheir winters in northern Mexico and Cuba.

*Bible texts credited to Amplified are from The Amplified Bible. Old Testamentcopyright © 1965, 1987 by Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testamentcopyright © 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

R O G E R S T R A N D, C O U R T E S Y O F B L U E B I R D S A C R O S S N E B R A S K A

apBy Lorraine

Trynchuk Guild

Freelance journalist Josephine Akaruefrom Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, interviewedLuka T. Daniel, president of the AdventistChurch’s West-Central Africa Division,about how two major surgeries—includ-ing brain surgery—have affected his life,his family, and his ministry.

AKARUE: Pastor Daniel, you have justgone through an experience manypeople don’t survive. Tell us how itall began and how this has reshapedyour life?DANIEL: It began with malaria. I was inLiberia for meetings when I startedfeeling feverish. The doctor I met gaveme a few tablets that provided somereprieve, and I was able to continuemy trip to Togo, Ghana, and Nigeria.

On my return home I told mywife, Risikat, I would rest since I hadtwo weeks before I was to go to theGeneral Conference’s springExecutive Committee meeting inApril 2006 [held in Loma Linda,California, U.S.A.]. But I didn’t justrest; I was hospitalized. I was put ondrips, but there was no reprieve. Thedoctors suggested I go through aseries of tests, including an MRI. Itwas then they discovered I had abrain tumor.

What happened next?The neurologist said he could removethe tumor, but in the case of metasta-sis [the spreading of a disease-pro-ducing agency], the hospital didn’thave the equipment to handle it. Hesaid that in case of further complica-tions my only choice was to go to ahospital in Europe or the UnitedStates. So I settled on the U.S.

I was flown to Loma LindaUniversity Medical Center accompa-nied by two specialists. My wife couldnot immediately come with mebecause of visa regulations.

After the first surgery, which last-

ed about five hours, I had 33 sessionsof proton radiation treatment.

When you first recovered from yoursurgery, whose was the first faceyou saw?My younger daughter’s—Miriam. Shehad come with her husband to visitme. I could hear her voice as I wasrecovering. As I was being taken out[of the operating room], I called outto her, “Lya,” her other name; sheshouted, “Baba.” It was one of thesweetest things I’d ever heard.

Before the surgery, did you have anymoments of panic?No, I didn’t. But the doctors inAbidjan were anxious. My wife alsodidn’t panic, though she was under alot of mental strain. She arrived inthe U.S. a day after my operation.

What kept you going? Faith in God. I realized my life was inHis hands. This and a positive state ofmind kept me going. That is whatkeeps me going even now.

How did you feel when you were toldyou were to have a second surgery?This was when I realized I was onlyflesh and blood. I was reluctant to gothrough a second surgery. But afterundergoing more tests, I was diag-nosed with prostate cancer. This wasabout four months after the first sur-gery. I felt discouraged. But with theencouragement of some doctors, mywife, and church members, I agreedto go through with it. Like the firstsurgery, it lasted five hours.

To what extent have both experi-ences affected your life?They have made me sober-minded,and I realize that this life is nothing.After the brain surgery I experiencedfew challenges, but the prostate cancerwas a different ball game. That waswhen I realized I was human after all.

After the first surgery I had torelearn how to do many things—tospeak, to position my mouth to say aword, and even to chew and walk. Ihad to learn to move my arms as Iwalked. When people see me now,

A D V E N T I S T L I F E


EdLifethe

on

July2007 | Adventist World 15

they say this is nothing short of a mir-acle. They are right. It’s been quite anexperience. When all is well you’recomplacent, carefree, and sometimescareless. When crises come, you’re puton the spot.

Did you have any anxious momentsduring this entire crisis?Ironically, there was nothing for me tobe anxious about. First, I trusted God.Then the Loma Linda staff also saw tomy other needs. Besides the goodmedical care, my wife and I were wellcared for in other ways during ourstay. The staff even arranged outingsto help keep us happy. I was alsoinvited to the local African churchwhere I preached my first sermonafter the surgery. It was quite an expe-rience—one I’ll never forget.

What was your wife’s role in this? Risikat not only played the role of awife but of a professional bedsidenurse. Her training as a nurse came inhandy. She was a real blessing to me.My wife not only prepared my

favorite meals, she also encouragedand prayed for me. She was alwaysthere, taking me out on long walks torestore my strength. Loma Linda isquite hilly. These walks ultimatelyprepared me for the 20-hour flightback to Abidjan.

Other family members were alsohelpful. Both our daughters came tovisit me, and our son and his wifeflew in from Nigeria. I’m also gratefulto other church family members, col-leagues, and friends, who keptencouraging me through their calls,visits, and prayers. I cannot thankthem enough.

Have there been any lifestylechanges since then?Yes, of course. Now I take medical coun-sel concerning mealtimes and rest moreseriously. I no longer take anything forgranted. I also delegate duties more thanI used to. Pastor Gilbert Wari, the West-Central Africa Division secretary, nowtakes on most of my travels.

I’m learning to rest. I used to workabout 16 hours a day when I was in

Bukuru, near Jos, Plateau state,Nigeria. I wish I could do more trav-eling, but I’ve learned to slow downand take one day at a time.

What counsel do you have for others?Make God first, maintain a positiveoutlook, and slow down. God has atime for everything. My advice is, doas much as you can each day andleave the rest to the morrow—or tothe next generation. God has His owntime. Though my complications werenot traced to stress or diet, I still say,let’s eat well and rest when we can.

Any other comments?Some people have asked me, “Whyyou?” The implication to that ques-tion is, “Are you the greatest sinner?”This has led me to read the book ofJob more closely. Job lost all—chil-dren, property, and health. What did Ilose in comparison?

I thank God for keeping this ail-ment at the level He did. So to thosewho ask, “Why you?” I have thisresponse: “Why not me?”

geP H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F J O S E P H I N E A K A R U E

Left: INTERVIEWER: Freelance journalist JosephineAkarue from Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, talked with LukaDaniel about his recent surgeries. Below: GRATEFULCOUPLE: West-Central Africa Division president Luka T.Daniel and his wife, Risikat, praise God for PastorDaniel’s recovery from two surgeries.

August 2, 1944. Shinobu, the oldest child of Adventist

Pastor Masaichi Imamura, hears knocking on the back door of the parsonage of the Fukuoka

Adventist Church on Kyushu Island, one of the four majorislands that make up the country of Japan. He wakes hismother (Masa Imamura), who, like Shinobu’s other sib-lings, was already in bed. Opening the door, Mrs. Imamurafound a man with news about her husband, imprisonedfor more than 10 months. The news was not good. Herhusband was very sick; she must come immediately.

Mrs. Imamura left home, asking the children to prayfor their dad.

It was in the midst of World War II, and Japan had beenattacked by the Allied Forces, mainly the United States. Toprevent further attacks, house lights throughout the coun-try were turned down; and a black painted can covered thelamp in the sleeping room of the parsonage. There in thedarkness, the Imamura children prayed earnestly for theirfather. As the time wore on, however, they fell asleep.

Awakened later by noise at the front door of the par-sonage, Shinobu found his father being carried on astretcher by his grandfather, his uncle, and his mother.

C O V E R S T O R Y

PH

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By Tadaomi Shinmyo

WEDDING BELLS: Masa andMasaichi Imamura, on the dayof their wedding in December

1932, faced a future that was tobe both exciting and tragic. But

their hopes were set on realitiesbeyond the present world.

Heroof

What Happened Shinto had become the official doctrine of Japan dur-

ing the war years, with the authorities putting tight con-trols on all other religions. The government’s slogan was:“Japan is the land of god … Shinkoku Nippon.”

When signs of Japan’s defeat became more explicit, gov-ernment leaders appealed to the people to carry on the holywar. Using Shinto as a motivator, they argued that “sinceJapan is the land of god [kami], the divine wind [kamikaze]will inevitably blow away the enemy from the country.” InSeptember 1943, the Greater Japan Religious Association forthe Protection of the Country During War (Dainihon SenjiShukyo Hokoku Kai) was formed, and leaders wereappointed for war-time religious indoctrination.

Almost all Buddhist organizations cooperated in theprogram, and became active even in missionary workamong overseas troops and among Japanese civilians liv-ing in occupied territories. In addition, certain mainlineChristian denominations also advocated ImperialChristianity (Kodo Kirisutokyo) in harmony with Shinto.

The few churches that did not always agree with thegovernment were suppressed and victimized. The Holiness

groups were accused in 1942; the Salvation Army wasordered dissolved in 1943; and the Seventh-day AdventistChurch came under condemnation—also in 1943.

These developments would eventually bring PastorImamuru to the attention of the authorities.

Dreams and Disappointments Masaichi (Pastor Imamura) was born the first son in

his family, January 9, 1901, in the southern part ofKagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu Island. Although he wasnot physically strong, he eagerly wanted to become a sol-dier. Later, however, he gave up the idea.

He studied commerce after this, but that did not suffi-ciently interest him. Then it was on to Tokyo to take uplaw studies, working at a public office during the day andstudying law in the evening at Nihon Daigaku University.He got sick from hard work and study, however, and sowas forced to quit just before his graduation from lawschool. Returning to his hometown to recover his health,he kept a regulated daily lifestyle with natural treatments.

One day a Lutheran young man introduced him to theBible, the study of which not only brought him hope butalso spiritual light and healing. After struggling in bed forfour years, he was at last free from illness.

Thereafter, his spiritual journey took him through theMethodist church (even if it was a Lutheran friend who’dled him to God) to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Becoming a member of the Kagoshima Adventist Church,he was thrilled to discover the treasures of the Bible.Accepting the three angels’ messages and firmly believingthat the Adventist church was the true church, he was bap-tized by Pastor Tokutaro Kobayashi at Isono Beach inKagoshima on November 4, 1930.

After his baptism, a call came to become a literatureevangelist, and he moved from his hometown to KagoshimaCity. Here he visited from shop to shop in the downtownarea. He also called from house to house in the slums, seek-ing suffering souls. He even posted a map of the city on thewall of his room, marking off areas with red ink that he’dvisited. Sales were not high, but he was able to support him-self financially and make contact with people seeking truth.

Masaichi focused much of his efforts on the poor, everyday visiting the slum town of Shioya Cho, not skipping a sin-


Tadaomi Shinmyo is the director of thedepartments of public affairs and religiousliberty, stewardship, and trust services ofthe Japan Union in Yokohama, Japan.

A Japanese Adventistpastor stands strong forGod in a time of war.*

gle house, however wretched, and whether or not they couldafford to buy. Some days, not selling anything, he practicallywent hungry. Nevertheless, the Kagoshima church grew inmembership, in large part because of his work.

Marriage and Call to Pastor December 28, 1932, was a big day at the Kagoshima

church. That’s when Masaichi married Masa Tadamatsufrom the Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyushu Island. Masa,who once worked for an insurance company, later took upliterature evangelism.

Right after their marriage, in January 1933, Masaichiwas appointed pastor as well as literature evangelist atthe Moji church on (the same) Kyushu Island. InSeptember of the same year, they dedicated a beautifulchurch building, the work of his predecessor, PastorKajiyama, and of the local believers; and in May of thefollowing year, their little church was privileged to hostthe second session of the Kyushu Mission.

Pastor Imamura kept busy holding meetings both in thechurch and in people’s homes—giving Bible studies and doingliterature evangelism. Giving Bible studies to enthusiastic truthseekers was his passion, and the pastor couple went to Oosatoseaside several times to conduct baptismal ceremonies.

After studying at Saniku Gakuin (Japan MissionaryCollege) for six months, Pastor Imamura returned to Moji inAugust to prepare to move to the big city of Fukuoka onKyushu Island. At Moji, where the couple had spent seven anda half years, God gifted them with one son and two daughters.

The family arrived at the Fukuoka church and joinedPastor Eikichi Seino and Sister Moyo Hamasaki to work forthe city’s 300,000 inhabitants. But after the departure of Pastor

Seino in February 1942, and the illness and departure of SisterHamasaki, the Imamuras worked on alone. Their second sonwas born that year—on their tenth wedding anniversary.

Arrested“In mid August 1943,” wrote Masa, “we held a youth

retreat for three days together with church families, andenjoyed a program of praising God and sharing fellow-ship. This joyful and blessed day, however, became our lastmemory of fellowship with the church members.”

In the early morning on September 20, 1943, PastorImamura was arrested by the police and charged withbreaking Japanese law. Though he’d anticipated thatmoment, it came earlier than he’d expected. Be faithful tothe end, he told Masa as he was being taken away.

Pastor Imamura was not the only police victim thatday. At 6:00 that morning, the thought-control police hadswooped down upon the homes of all Adventist ministersand leading laypeople throughout the country, north tosouth. Altogether 42 leaders were thrown into prisonbecause of the Peace Preservation Law. And all theirbooks, diaries, and letters were confiscated. They werecharged with preaching the second coming of Christ andthe end of the world, and with teaching that the sover-eignty of God was above the sovereignty of the emperor.Church services were prohibited and many church mem-bers were forced to sign a statement that they would holdno more meetings.

Life in Prison Masa was able to visit her husband in Fukuoka Prison

three times a week, but sometimes was not allowed to see


Masa was 37 years old when she became a widow. Remaining inFukuoka City with her family, she witnessed the attack by the U.S.Air Force in June 19, 1945. The family was spared, fortunately,though their possessions, as well as the Fukuoka church build-

ing, were all burned. Two months later (August 6 and 9), the first atomic bomb in human his-tory fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Japan finally surrendered to the Allied Forces.

After the war, the life of the Japanese people was simply miserable, with the food situa-tion becoming worse and worse. In the midst of those dark times, Masa lost her second-born son, Mamoru, at the age of only two. Praying and thinking of the future life of the fami-ly, Masa decided to move to her husband’s hometown, Yamakawa Cho, in KagoshimaPrefecture, there to begin their new life with help from her husband’s relatives.

Her life continued to be one of dedication and service. As a volunteer missionary, shelabored for tuberculosis patients at the National Ibusuki Sanatorium located near the town,a mission that eventually took her life, as she herself contracted the disease. She passedaway at the age of 51, on March 8, 1958.

Martyr’s WifeThe

him. Masaichi told her that he actually enjoyed jail lifebecause he was able to witness to special people. However,because of the poor sanitation in the prison he sufferedfrom a severe skin disease all over his body.

When Masa visited him at the end of December (toprovide clothes for him since he was being transferred toanother prison) they had a chance to talk, through thekindness of a prison officer. While eating lunch together,they talked about the church, about their family, abouttheir future. Following that occasion it became difficult forMasa to see him weekly, and sometimes they had to com-municate by postcards. Throughout his time in prisonPastor Imamura remained faithful, constantly strugglingagainst the prosecutors, as he confessed to his wife, todefend the truth of the Bible.

For a while, his skin disease seemed to be healing. OnJuly 16, 1944, for example, when Masa visited him to talkabout getting an attorney, it had almost healed, and he wastold he’d be able to take a bath soon. (He’d not been ableto bathe for the past 10 months.) But 17 days later, he sud-denly died in prison.

Martyr for the Lord Reflecting on the night she was called to her sick hus-

band’s prison, Mrs. Imamura confessed: “Thinking of how togive him treatment, I consulted with a medical doctor aboutmy husband’s condition. Then, he said to me, ‘He would sur-vive [only] until tomorrow morning.’ Therefore, I decided totake him home…. [Not being able to secure a car], I bor-

rowed a stretcher…. It was 10:15 p.m. [And], unfortunately, Iwas told ‘It is too late. Your husband died at 9:45 p.m.’

“I regretted that I had not been able to take care of himbefore his death. In the meantime …, the reason for hisrelease … was changed from sickness to death. His death wasdue to acute inflammation of his kidneys, as stated in thedeath certificate. While it was so sad for me to see his weak-ened face, I was very thankful to see a peaceful sleep on hisface after fighting his battle as a faithful servant of the Lord.”

“I don’t complain,” Masa wrote further, “because this is asilent triumph of a soldier of Christ. I will shout ‘Hallelujah!’I do not regret not seeing him at the moment of his death inthe prison. Oh, no. God did not allow me to enter … so thatI would not remember the dark and awful impression of theprison and the miserable picture of my husband laid downin a cold cell. Let’s thank God! This was one of His greatplans. Praise the name of Jehovah! Masaichi Imamura, 43years old, is sleeping peacefully in the holy hands of the Lordand is waiting for Jesus’ Second Coming….

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write:‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, andtheir works follow them.’” (Rev. 14:12, 13).

*Information for this article (and for its sidebars) was drawn from Masa Imamura,“Remembering the Loved One Who Did Not Come Back,” Shimei (Fukuinsha),March 15, 1946, and Junko Fukushima, “Memory of Mother,” Adventist Life(Fukuinsha), September 15, 1994.


The eldest son, Shinobu, saw his mother as a “woman of the MeijiEra—a woman of endurance, perseverance, patience, and a hardworker.” “She did not live a wonderful life,” he said, “but she liveda heroic life.” And the eldest daughter, Junko, wrote: “After thedeath of father, mother did not show a sad face to her four chil-dren, instead she loved us in a way that included our father’s loveand told us about her faith in him throughout her life....

We can see God’s grace even in her death. Dedicating her life

to the Lord, according to His will, mother was finally delivered froma long suffering of disease. Our parents taught us the way of truth,united us with God, and left us the best (invisible) inheritance.”

Postscript: the eldest son, Shinobu (above), served as treasurerof the Japan Union Conference before his retirement. Eldestdaughter, Junko (above), served as a nurse at Tokyo AdventistHospital and later married an Adventist pastor. And the secondeldest daughter, Kazuko, became a nurse, and also served at thesame hospital.

By the grace of God, the children bore the fruits of the faith-ful lives of their parents.

P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F A U T H O R

ChildrenRemembered

By Their


Iwas only about 5 or 6 years old. But Istill remember vividly how we chil-

dren entered the church that day. “Asword for the Lord and for Gideon!”(Judges 7:20)* we sang as we marchedalong the aisle to the front. The card-board sword in my own hands left nodoubt about which side I was on. “Oh,when the saints go marching in…!” Ihaven’t forgotten that moment frommy early childhood days.

Has it remained so clear because asa shy little boy I suddenly felt big andstrong, like children do today whenthey act as computer game heroes to compensate for experiences of defeatin their everyday lives? Or was I so deeply moved, becausein playing the role of one of Gideon’s soldiers I experi-enced for myself that God is indeed powerful and mighty?

Whatever the reason, as far back as I can remember, thechurch has been an integral part of my life. You couldalmost say that I absorbed it with my mother’s milk. WhenI was 15 years old I got baptized, becoming one of the 1.5million members belonging to the Seventh-day AdventistChurch at that time. The “little flock” had become an inter-national movement. While we were not (yet) called a“church” (Kirche) in Germany where I was born and raised,we certainly were part of a “fellowship” (Gemeinde) inwhich we felt at home. What others looked for in a sportsclub or clique was what we found in “our” community.

The “True” ChurchMany years have passed since I joined the Adventist

Church. I still belong to it—out of conviction. However,my childish conceptions and youthful idealism have longsince given way to a more realistic way of looking at things.

The dream of a safe haven may manage to stay alive fora long time despite experiences to the contrary; but thesobering reality will eventually overwhelm it or even com-pletely wash it away, giving way to disillusionment, frustra-tion, bitterness. The “first love” vanishes, the relationshipgrows cold. All too often this marks the end of a sweet

dream, when our idealized concept of the church gives wayto a more critical perspective, when we finally see thechurch in a new light.

But what is the church really like? Is it the way it’sdescribed in Sabbath sermons and baptismal preparationclasses? Or is it rather the way it appears to an impartialobserver: human, imperfect, narrow-minded, lethargic,superficial, insensitive, divisive, boring, naïve…?

If we could ask God to tell us the true story about Hischurch, what would He say?

The “Assembled” ChurchWhenever the “church” is mentioned in the Bible, it

denotes the “assembly” of believers—whether in a house, acity, or a region. Therefore, the church of Christ is not a build-ing or an institution, but a meeting of people who, in thewords of the Fundamental Belief, No. 12, “join together forworship, for fellowship, for instruction in the Word, for thecelebration of the Lord’s Supper, for service to all mankind,and for the worldwide proclamation of the gospel.”

This is the biblical description of the church: believers—that is, those “who confess Jesus Christ as Lord andSaviour”—gathering together. No cathedral, no priest, nopastor is needed. “For where two or three are gathered in myname, I am there among them,” Jesus declared (Matt. 18:20).The biblical use of the word ekklesia (Greek for church)refers to the gathering and fellowship of the believers (thosecalled together). This becomes clear when we consider thevarious metaphors that the New Testament uses to describethe church (body, bride, family, flock, army, priesthood, etc.).

This community of faith does not consist just of thoseChristians who are physically gathered in one place. Theyare bound together, not merely by a certain place or time,and by language, culture, or church membership, but

F U N D A M E N T A L B E L I E F S

Rolf J. Pöhler is theological advisor to the North German Union Conference ofSeventh-day Adventists in Hannover,Germany.

Family

N U M B E R 12

A reflection on what it means to be the churchBy Rolf J. Pöhler

Being Part of

god’s


rather by their belief in Jesus Christ and their personalconfession of faith in Him as Lord and Savior. That’s whyChristians know that in Christ they are one community ofbelievers and united with each other across all boundaries.

The “Embodied” ChurchWhile the church is universal (Rev. 5:8ff.) and its mem-

bers cannot be counted (Rev. 7:9ff.), it is nevertheless notinvisible and—except in times of persecution—does notexist in secret. Jesus made this clear to His disciples: “Youare the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot behid” (Matt. 5:14).

Paul liked to use the illustration of the body with itshead and many members (1 Cor. 12:12ff.; Eph. 4:11-16).As the body of Christ in the world, the church is a visi-ble sign of His continuing presence and loving care forthe human race. Without the church, the proclamationof the gospel would have no clear evidence that the king-dom of God has become a reality here and now, even ifstill only in part.

Yet the church is not just a visible sign from God, but isitself the “object” of His love. The image of a dearly lovedand beautifully dressed bride illustrates this in a way thatgoes beyond any rational explanation. Like a bridegroomwho has fallen in love, Christ is concerned for His church(Eph. 5:25ff.; Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9). He sustains it and protectsit like the apple of His eye (Deut. 32:10; Zech. 2:8).

Similarly, the comparison with a family is an expres-sion of the close and caring relationship God seeks to havewith His creatures. Like a “Father,” God lovingly looks afterHis own (Jer. 31:9; Eph. 3:15), like an older “brother,” Jesusintercedes for His sisters and brothers (Matt. 25:40; Rom.8:29; Heb. 2:11, 17), and, like “children,” we belong to thefamily of God (1 John 3:1).

Those who wish to see the true church must searchwith eyes of love, otherwise they will not recognize it.“One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential isinvisible to the eyes” (Saint-Exupéry).

The “Perfect” ChurchIn Revelation 21:2 John sees a vision of the New

Jerusalem as it descends from heaven “as a bride adornedfor her husband” (Rev. 21:2). It is the victorious, perfectchurch that is represented by a large city (21:9ff.). It isclothed in “splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anythingof the kind … holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).

We often don’t have the eyes of love to understandwhat we see. From the perspective of objective realism andcritical detachment, the earthly, imperfect—even the sin-ful—side of the church stands out clearly. But still it is “thepurchase of His blood.” He gave His life for it and took itas His bride. That changes everything, creates a new reali-ty, and gives weight to the words: “not even death will everbe able to overcome it” (Matt. 16:18, TEV).†

Will the church succeed? From a human perspective, apositive answer is rather unlikely. The church lacks somuch: credibility, authenticity, persuasiveness, enthusiasm,courage, determination, love, unity. Yet, if you look at thechurch through the eyes of God, you discover a hiddenbeauty so fascinating that it never lets you go.

There is the radiant gem of faith, the precious pearl ofhope, the sparkling jewel of love, the golden ring of stead-fastness, and the bracelet of mercy. Can you see her, “thebride of the Lamb,” when you encounter other believers?Do you recognize the “body of Christ” during the worshipservice? Are you aware of the fact that you belong to the“family of God,” and that others are your sisters and broth-ers? Yes, if you really want to come to know the church ofChrist, you have to get close and look carefully!

Note: This article is a shortened version of the author’s chapter on FundamentalBelief, No. 12, taken from a 30-part series on the Adventist faith published inGerman and scheduled to be released in book form in the latter part of 2007.Translated by Brent Blum.

*Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from the New RevisedStandard Version, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of theNational Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission.

†Bible texts credited to TEV are from the Good News Bible—Old Testament:Copyright © American Bible Society 1976; New Testament: Copyright © AmericanBible Society 1966, 1971, 1976.

The church is the community of believerswho confess Jesus Christ as Lord andSaviour. In continuity with the people ofGod in Old Testament times, we are calledout from the world; and we join together forworship, for fellowship, for instruction in

the Word, for the celebration of the Lord’sSupper, for service to all mankind, and forthe worldwide proclamation of the gospel.The church derives its authority fromChrist, who is the incarnate Word, and fromthe Scriptures, which are the written Word.The church is God’s family; adopted by Himas children, its members live on the basisof the new covenant. The church is thebody of Christ, a community of faith of

which Christ Himself is the Head. Thechurch is the bride for whom Christ diedthat He might sanctify and cleanse her. AtHis return in triumph, He will present her toHimself a glorious church, the faithful of allthe ages, the purchase of His blood, nothaving spot or wrinkle, but holy and withoutblemish. (Gen. 12:3; Acts 7:38; Eph. 4:11-15;3:8-11; Matt. 28:19, 20; 16:13-20; 18:18; Eph.2:19-22; 1:22, 23; 5:23-27; Col. 1:17, 18).

TheChurch

Man was originally endowed with noble powers anda well-balanced mind. He was perfect in his being,and in harmony with God. His thoughts were

pure, his aims holy. But through disobedience his powerswere perverted, and selfishness took the place of love. Hisnature became so weakened through transgression that itwas impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist thepower of evil. He was made captive by Satan, and wouldhave remained so forever had not God specially interposed.It was the tempter’s purpose to thwart the divine plan inman’s creation, and fill the earth with woe and desolation.And he points to all this evil as the resultof God’s work in creating man.

In his sinless state, man held joyfulcommunion with Him in whom are hidall the treasures of wisdom and knowl-edge. But after his sin he could no longerfind joy in holiness, and he sought to hidefrom the presence of God.

It is impossible for us, of ourselves, toescape from the pit of sin in which we aresunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. “Who can bring a cleanthing out of an unclean? not one.” “Thecarnal mind is enmity against God: for itis not subject to the law of God, neitherindeed can be.” Education, culture, theexercise of the will, human effort, all havetheir proper sphere, but here they arepowerless. They may produce an outwardcorrectness of behavior, but they can notchange the heart; they can not purify thesprings of life. There must be a powerworking from within, a new life fromabove, before man can be changed fromsin to holiness. That power is Christ. Hisgrace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, andattract it to God, to holiness.

“When the fulness of the time was come, God sentforth His Son,… to redeem them that were under the law,that we might receive the adoption of sons.” In Christ Godhas provided means for subduing every sinful trait andresisting every temptation, however strong. But many feelthat they lack faith, and therefore they remain away fromChrist. Let these souls, in their helpless unworthiness castthemselves upon the mercy of their compassionateSaviour. Look not to self, but to Christ. He who healed thesick and cast out demons when He walked among men isthe same mighty Redeemer today. Faith comes by theWord of God. Then grasp the promise, “Him that comethto Me, I will in no wise cast out.” Cast yourself at His feet

with the cry, “Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.”You can never perish while you do this—never.

Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. He turnsno weeping, contrite one away. He does not tell to any oneall that He might reveal, but He bids every trembling soultake courage. Freely will He pardon all who come to Himfor forgiveness and restoration.

Christ might commission the angels of heaven to pourout the vials of His wrath on our world, to destroy thosewho are filled with hatred of God. He might wipe this darkspot from His universe. But He does not do this. He is

today standing at the altar of incense, presenting beforeGod the prayers of those who desire His help.

The souls that turn to Him for refuge, Jesus lifts abovethe accusing and the strife of tongues. No man or evil angelcan impeach these souls. Christ unites them to His owndivine-human nature. They stand before the great Sin-bearer, in the light proceeding from the throne of God.“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It isGod that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christthat died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at theright hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his ter-rible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing thesoul from sin. The man who came to Jesus was “full of lep-rosy.” Its deadly poison had permeated his whole body.

S P I R I T O F P R O P H E C Y


ByEllen G. White

Our

NeedUtter

His arm is never too short to save.

The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touch-ing him, for he who touched a leper became himselfunclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesusreceived no defilement.

His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy wascleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy of sin—deep-rooted,deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power. “Thewhole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the soleof the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it;but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores.” But Jesus,coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His pres-

ence has healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall atHis feet, saying in faith, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst makeme clean,” shall hear the answer, “I will, be thou clean.”

The Saviour never passed by one soul, however sunkenin sin, who was willing to receive the precious truth ofheaven. To publicans and harlots His words were as thebeginning of a new life. Mary Magdalene, out of whom Hecast seven devils, was the last at the Saviour’s tomb, andthe first whom He greeted in the morning of His resurrec-tion. It was Saul of Tarsus, one of the most determinedenemies of the Gospel, who became Paul, the devotedminister of Christ.

The dying thief, seeing in Jesus the Lamb of God, thattaketh away the sin of the world, cried, “Lord, rememberme when thou comest in thy kingdom.”

Quickly the answer came, full of love, compassion, andpower: “Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be withme in Paradise.”

As Christ spoke the words of promise, the dark cloudthat seemed to enshroud the cross was pierced with abright and living light. To the penitent thief came the per-fect peace of acceptance with God. Christ in His humilia-tion was glorified. He who in all other eyes appeared to beconquered was a conqueror. He was acknowledged as theSin-bearer. Men might exercise power over His humanbody. They might pierce the holy temple with the crown of

thorns. They might strip from Him His raiment, and quar-rel over its division. But they could not rob Him of Hispower to forgive sins. In dying He bore witness to His owndivinity and to the glory of the Father. His ear is not heavythat it can not hear, neither is His arm shortened that it cannot save. It is His royal right to save unto the uttermost allwho come unto God by Him. “Neither is there salvation inany other: for there is none other name under heaven givenamong men, whereby we must be saved.”

The above article first appeared in the Signs of the Times onOctober 25, 1905. Seventh-day Adventists believe that Ellen G.White exercised the biblical gift of prophecy during more than 70years of public ministry.


“The man who came to Jesus was ‘full of leprosy.’Its deadly poison had permeated his whole body.The disciples sought to preventtheir Master from touchinghim…. But in laying Hishand upon the leper, Jesusreceived no defilement.His touch imparted life-giving power.”

L A U R A K E N N E D Y

In the rugged mountains ofMindanao lie hundreds of small villages inhabited by different tribal

groups. During the past two decadesthe South Philippine Union Confer-ence, in partnership with MountainView College (MVC), has been sendingmissionaries to reach the people of themountains with the gospel.

It all started in 1969 when twostudents from Mountain ViewCollege went to serve the Minobotribe. Since then, hundreds of studentmissionaries and volunteers havegone to share God’s love with theseunreached people groups.

The missionaries are calledSulads, which means “brother.” Yearby year the missionaries becomebrothers and sisters to the people ofthe villages. As the missionaries expe-rience daily life, live with the people,and share their hearts, people becomeopen to the gospel.

A Place of Real NeedsThe people in the mountains live

simply, many times raising green veg-etables and root crops that supplybasic necessities for their families.The Sulad missionaries share in thissimple lifestyle. Sulad volunteers giveone year of their lives to teach andserve. Missionaries live simply, oftenwithout any modern conveniences, oreven basic supplies.

Life in the mountains is some-times lonely, and the missionaries areallowed to go to MVC once everythree months to share their testi-monies of how God is blessing themin their exciting mountain ministries.

There are 29 Sulad literacy centersin the mountains. These schools pro-vide four levels of basic literacy forchildren, but the Sulad missionariesalso teach adult literacy classes. TheSulad schools are officially recognizedby the Philippine government asAlternative Learning Systems.Students can be mainstreamed intothe public educational system bypassing a placement test.

Alejandro Perez, Jr., AdventistMission director of the SouthPhilippine Union Conference, visitedthe village school in the area ofBukidnon, some 20 kilometers fromBalaybalay. This school serves thepeople of the Higaona tribe.

“People are living right here; theyare very far from the governmentschools. So we have our teachers,trained at Mountain View College,serving the community,” he says.

Ultimino Rivera, Jr., Sulads execu-tive director for the South PhilippineUnion Conference, explains the HEALmethod for helping the villages in themountains. “This is designed to givefree health, education, agriculture,and livelihood programs to the people

of the mountain here in Mindanao.“These people are the most neg-

lected and most rejected by our socie-ty,” he says. “We want them to be edu-cated, but we also want them to besaved in God’s kingdom. These peo-ple are now being educated; peoplewho were worshipping idols are nowserving the true God.”

Changed LivesDarrel Famisaran, field director

for Sulads, was a Sulad missionary in1981. Later he became filled with adesire to share God’s love in a practi-cal way among those whom societyhad left behind. Daryl has a treasuretrove of stories about how God worksevery day to show His great love tothe people in these villages.

The Ronquillo Literacy Center wasestablished seven years ago when one

A D V E N T I S T S E R V I C E


Giftss i m p l e

Reaching out to the hill tribes

of Mindanao

Ultimino Rivera, Jr.

By Rick McEdward

of the Sulad missionaries traversingthe mountains came across a tribethat was worshipping on the Sabbath.

Famisaran remembers the experi-ence: “We came on a Sabbath, andthey were worshipping. But they wereworshipping idols. We talked to thechief and found out they were ani-mists. He said he heard a voice from astone saying that the real day of wor-ship is the Sabbath. After Sulads camehere the people began learning fromthe pioneers. Little by little our Suladmissionaries introduced theScriptures. Now some of the peopleare already baptized, and more than90 percent are studying the Bible.”

The children love to sing and pray.They love learning from the teachers,who have left everything for one yearto give them an education. It is notonly an education they give, it is the

hope of eternity they placein their hearts.

When children finish thefour levels of basic educa-tion they can enter into theSulads Comprehensive HighSchool. This school has beenbuilt in the mountains toprovide a high quality edu-cation for those who want tostudy. The school staff puttheir hearts into their work.The campus is beautifullylandscaped, and is poweredby its own hydroelectricwater wheel generator.

More than 20 faculty teach 236students at the high school. If youvisit the campus of the high schoolearly in the morning you will hear thesongs of worship as the studentsgather to sing, study, and pray.

The campus has a cafeteria, library,and biology laboratory. Students raisetheir own food and are active in land-scaping around the campus.

The students here do not plan tostop studying after finishing at theSulads High School; they plan to go tocollege. Some plan to come back tothe mountains to serve their own peo-ple, to become missionary teachers tounreached people groups in the hills.

One of goals of the Sulads is tohelp people of the mountains becomehealthy, literate, and self-sufficient.The most important purpose is tohelp the people of the hills to shinewith the love of God.

What People WantSome years ago the chief of a vil-

lage led his people to come and settleon land belonging to Mountain ViewCollege. Darrel Famisaran picks upthe story:

“I asked the chief, ‘Why are youhere? This land belongs to MountainView College.’

“He said, ‘This is the land of ourforefathers, and we need educationfor our children. We need this land.’

“I asked, ‘What if we give youteachers who will stay in your village?’

“‘For free?’“And I said, ‘Yes, for free.’“‘That’s the best!’ he said.”The conflict was resolved, and the

people stayed in their home village.Since then two missionaries weresent, and the people are glad to havetheir children learning from theSulad teachers.

At that time the people were ani-mists; they offered pigs or chickens tothe spirits in tribal rituals. They lovedto dance, and they used to have tribalwars. The very chief who used todance together with the witch doctoris now the elder of this church.

When the village decided tobuild a church it was built high upon the hillside. When it rains thepeople have a hard time walking upthe hill. One Friday night, while theywere conducting vespers in the vil-lage below, they noticed the churchwas shining like a light on a hill.Wondering what was happening,they watched, and again the nextFriday evening the same thing hap-pened. People from other villageshave seen the shining church as theywalk the hills at night. The people ofthe village say that angels must bemeeting there on Sabbath.

All around the hills of Mindanao,people are learning about Jesus.Global Mission and the SouthPhilippine Union Conference arepartners in telling the world amongthe unreached people groups in thePhilippines. Thank you for your sup-port of Global Mission.


Rick McEdward isAdventist Mission director for the SouthernAsia-Pacific Division. Formore information about

the work of Adventist Global Mission, visitwww.AdventistMission.org.

Alejandro Perez, Jr.

Darrel Famisaran

P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F O F F I C E O F A D V E N T I S T M I S S I O N

the behavior of the cherub did not correspond to whatwas expected from him. The court concluded there was“wickedness” in him.

3. Exploring the Divine Mind: The fact that God isomniscient means that He foreknew that Lucifer, thelight bearer, would become Satan, the accuser. Since Godis omnipotent, sin and evil exist because God permitsthem to exist. Why did He permit them to exist? That isyour question. Some theologians have established a dis-tinction between the nature of Lucifer and his will. Hisnature, as created by God, was good; but his will, as usedby him, led to sin and evil. God is responsible for the

first but not for the second. Themisuse of the will is based on, butnot determined by, the freedomwith which God invested Hisintelligent creatures.

But, could not God haveavoided all of that by not creat-ing Lucifer? The cost to Himwould have been too high, in factinconceivable. We have to usehuman analogies as we speculateabout why God did what He did.At some moment in eternity Goddecided to create intelligent, freecreatures. In His omniscience Heknew that one of them wouldrebel against Him. Should He notat that moment change His plan?The natural human answerwould be, “Yes!” We would giveup our plan because we fear fac-ing such a terrible problem. Indoing that the anticipated prob-lem defeated us by forcing us tochange our plans.

But God is not like us! Once He decided to create, noreal or potential force would force Him to alter His plans.Otherwise, the fear of sin would have defeated Himbefore He created anything. God is the Fearless One, who,without changing His plan, decided to confront the prob-lem of sin and evil and resolve it once and for all throughHis Son. And He did!

Perhaps that’s what happened. Who knows? I certainly don’t.

This is a question to which it is practically impossibleto provide a definitive answer. This topic is notexplicitly addressed in the Bible. Therefore, any

attempted answer will remain incomplete and to someextent will include an element of speculation. Questionslike this carry within them the fear that God may some-how be implicated in the origin of sin and evil in the uni-verse. Let me share with you a few thoughts.

1. God’s Connection to Sin and Evil: When it comes tothe origin of sin and evil the Bible rejects monism—God isthe originator of both good and evil; and dualism—goodand evil are two eternal principles that have been fighting each other eternally. The Bibleoffers a modified dualism thatdenies the eternal nature of sin andevil by affirming that such phe-nomena had a beginning and willalso have an end. Since God is eter-nal and sin and evil are not, we canconclude that they do not belong tothe divine essence. But could theybe part of God’s creative activity?Did God create them? The biblicalanswer is clear: Everything God cre-ated “was very good” (Gen. 1:31).This affirms the essential goodnessof that which came into existencethrough God’s creative power.

2. God’s Connection to Lucifer:What about Lucifer? He was creat-ed by God. The Bible states threeimportant things about him. First,he is a creature; second, when Godcreated him he was “blameless”;and third, “wickedness was foundin [him]” (Ezek. 28:15, NIV). Thetext affirms the goodness of God’s creation (in this case, Lucifer) while recognizing thatsomething awful happened to this creature (“wickednesswas found in you”). But, does not the last phrase suggestsomething intrinsically wrong with Lucifer that at somepoint came into the open?

Here we face the mystery of the origin of sin: its irra-tionality. While the blamelessness of the cherub is clearlyexplained as the product of divine creation, wickedness isan unexpected phenomenon that “was found” (Hebrew:matsá) in him. The passive use of the verb in other legalcontexts inclines us to conclude that here it also has a legalsense (cf. Esther 2:23; Ps. 17:3; 1 Sam. 25:28). The strangebehavior of the cherub was legally examined and found tobe wicked. The legal proceedings were necessary because

ByAngel Manuel Rodríguez

Angel Manuel Rodríguez is director of the Biblical ResearchInstitute of the General Conference.

B I B L E Q U E S T I O N S

Why

Q U E S T I O N :

If God knew

Lucifer was

going to rebel,

why did He

create him?


Lucifer?

B I B L E S T U D YB I B L E S T U D Y


Have you ever longed for a deeper prayer life? Has your mind ever wandered while pray-ing? Do you find yourself constantly asking God for something, sensing prayer must bemore than merely begging God to give you what you want? In today’s lesson we will studythe deeper prayer life. We will discover how to really communicate with God in prayer.

1. How did Jesus describe eternal life? Read the text and complete the sentence below.“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”(John 17:3).

Eternal life is to

Eternal life is more than living forever. It is knowing God and experiencing His love, good-ness, and joy through all eternity. In prayer we enter into His presence and experience Hislove in our lives now.

2. Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane illustrates the true purpose of prayer.Circle the words in the passage below that reveal the heart of Jesus’ prayer life.“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will”(Matt. 26:39).

The purpose of prayer goes beyond fellowship with God. In prayer we surrender our will to His.

3. What two things does the text below reveal about Jesus’ prayer life?“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitaryplace; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35).

a.

b.

4. How regular or consistent was Jesus’ prayer life?“So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed (Luke 5:16).

Jesus prayed

PrayerBy Mark A. FinleyVitalIs

5. Jesus sometimes prayed alone (Luke 9:18), but other times He took His friendswith Him to pray for some special need. Who were Jesus’ regular prayer partners?“And it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James andwent up on the mountain to pray” (Luke 9:28).

Jesus’ special prayer partners were

6. Why is praying with friends so powerful? Read the following text and answerin your own words on the line below.“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will bedone for them by My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19).

Group prayer is powerful because

7. What assurance did Jesus give to those who pray? Read the following text andwrite your answer on the line below.“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will yourheavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).

8. When Satan attempted to hold Peter in spiritual bondage, what did Jesus do?“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you.… But I have prayed for you, that your faithshould not fail” (Luke 22:31, 32).

Jesus for Simon Peter by name.

Our Lord invites us to pray earnestly for our loved ones by name. Through prayer Godworks miracles on their behalf. Through prayer we get to know God better. Choose atime and place to pray each day. Open your heart to God. Share with Him your joysand sorrows. Express to Him your deepest needs. Be sensitive to the impressions ofHis Spirit, and you will live surrounded by the joy of His presence.

In our next study, “Sanctuary Shadows,”

we will look at Jesus’ continuing ministry for us in the heavenly sanctuary.


presence of God among you. Healone can do work meant for a teamof men.

I hail from the interior part ofKenya, Kisii, in Nyanza province, aplace that has been in a pit in terms ofevangelism until these small maga-zines have worked miracles upliftingand rather rescuing a number of per-ishable hearts.

From the articles in AdventistWorld, October 2005, I have learnedthat magazines, regardless of the waypeople may discriminate against thembecause of their being mere papers,can do the work an evangelist can do.

God bless all of those joined handsthat make this handsome work a suc-cess. I have been a stray young manfor some years after backsliding fromthe church only to be brought backhome by this magazine.

Evans Ondimu MasakaKisii, Kenya

A Church That GrowsI thoroughly enjoy reading theAdventist World from cover to cover.How appropriate to start every monthby examining ourselves and ourprogress through the years as a bodyof believers who are growing up intothe stature of Jesus in grace andknowledge (see the “ChurchWorks”section of the magazine).

I am happy to be a member of achurch that is not afraid to examineitself from time to time to see if it isin the faith of Jesus. It is encouragingto belong to a community of believers

who are still growing spirituallythrough a deeper study of the Word.Since we are not bound through alle-giance to an apostle, prophet, or out-standing leader, we are free to studythe Scriptures and approve ourselvesunto God. We are also free to weedout any tares of error that havesprung up through a misunderstand-ing of the Word and to plant the truthas God opens up our understanding.

Prince Newman AzubikeNigeria

We Can’t Wait!I am a Kenyan Adventist in college. Iam taking civil engineering, thoughmy dream is to get into the movieindustry. Even though the AdventistWorld paper reaches us maybe aboutthree months late, we still can’t helpeagerly waiting for the next issue. Godbless your efforts so very much.

Islim ImranKenya

Correction: On page 21 of our April2007 issue, the scriptural reference atthe end of paragraph 1, column 2,should have read: (Isa. 53:2-5; cf. Luke24:25-27). For some reason unknownto us the reference to “Luke,” clearly inthe original drafts, was dropped, creat-ing the error.—Editors.

A New DayI found the article by Jim Johnabout Oak Hill Cemetery inMichigan, United States, interesting(“A New Day,” Adventist World, April2007, p. 45). Do you know how Icould obtain a copy of the articleconcerning the cemetery that Johnmentions that he read?

Shirley McKnightOhio, United States

Jim John owns the “Ellen G. WhitePublished Writing on CD-Rom” andsimply typed “Oak Hill” into the searchengine. He then read what Ellen Whitehad written: all his information camefrom the Spirit of Prophecy. Most of thereferences pointed to the death of heryoungest son, oldest son, and husband.A few references were to a child of theLoughboroughs and a woman whoworked in the office. You can read someof the references relating to the deathsof her family members in the books LifeSketches, Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, andTestimonies, vol. 1.—Editors.

Being Part of the ExchangeI have, at last, got a reason to be partof the exchange!

I am extremely happy and felt Ihave to be abundantly thankful to theentire staff concerned with publishingand distributing the Adventist Worldmagazine.

To do such an expensive andtedious job without human supportfrom elsewhere is indeed a blessing,a situation that makes me realize the

W rldExchangeL E T T E R S


L E T T E R S

Letters Policy: Please send your letters to the editor to:[email protected]. Letters must be clearly written andto the point, 250-word maximum. Be sure to include the name ofthe article, the date of publication, and page number with yourletter. Also include your name, the town/city, state, and countryfrom which you are writing. Letters will be edited for space andclarity. Not all letters submitted will be published.

I am in my late 20s and still single. Iam praying for a wife from God. Iwork in a huge organization in mycountry, and I am improving myselfthrough continuing my education.But for all things the help of God isthe most needed.

Tesfaye, Ethiopia

I was offered a place at StrathclydeUniversity to study MSC in Libraryand Information Science beginning inSeptember 2007. I don’t know where Iwill get the fees from, but I know thatGod will provide. Pray for me that Iget the money to pay fees, accommo-dation, and airfare. I know my Lordwill make a way.

Patricia, Zimbabwe

Please pray for me. I’m aspiring for abusiness degree while I’m taking care ofmy mother and young brother. I’m work-ing; both things are just tough right now,for I’m trying to accumulate some tuitionfee to start the studies by September. Ireally need God to help me make it, anduplift my spirit forever. Thank you.

Garikai , Botswana

I am an Adventist, and though mywife accepts Jesus, she is not anAdventist. We have been married forseven years but could not have chil-dren of our own. Please pray for mywife to accept the truth of theAdventist Church’s teachings. Alsopray for us to be blessed with children.

Assefa, Ethiopia

I want to study theology atAndrews University, but I don’thave the connection to make it.Please pray for me.

Ikesinachi, Niger ia

Please pray that I get training kits forthe October 28 Nairobi Marathon. IfI win, I’ll donate the winnings thenjoin Oakwood.

Shem, Kenya

I turned 24 on April 4 this year.I am a devoted Christian andAdventist. I am willing to studytheology but things are hard here,so please help me with yourprayers.

Guerry, Hait i

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T H E P L A C E O F P R AY E R

The World Exchange of this magazine is for you—and allabout you, dear reader. We welcome your noncompensat-ed submissions to this vibrant section of Adventist Worldin the following categories:

■ The People’s Place (back page); send to [email protected] cornucopia of items from across the world, these areshort slices of life that will make readers think, laugh, andenjoy their Adventist family more. We are looking for briefsubmissions in these categories:

Quotes (profound or spontaneous)

Where in the World? (high-quality photos of members from around the globe)

Meet Your Neighbor (high-quality photos with short biographical profiles ofnewly baptized members, Adventists engaged in activecommunity service, or small groups undertaking newefforts in sharing the gospel; maximum words: 75).

■ Exchange of Ideas; send to [email protected], thoughtful stories/essays/interviews about life as amember of the Adventist Church. Topics in the past haveincluded Sabbath school, prominent Adventists in poli-tics/society, spiritual experiences, persecuted members,miracles, and more (300-500 words). You may submit aphoto, which won’t be returned, with your material.

Other ways to send us your materials: fax to 301-680-6638;or send to World Exchange, Adventist World, 12501 OldColumbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600 USA.

Send in your stuff and enjoy the Exchange!

How to Be Part ofExchangethe

Not many years ago duringone vacation, as I walkedalong the sea shore in

Mumbai, India, rolling the pebblesunder my naked feet, I suddenlyrealized that I was living a meaning-less life. The drudgery of routinehad set in and I hardly had a moment to think “outside the box.” My entire life could be written down in oneshort paragraph: She woke up. She went to work. She raised her children. Sheperformed her daily chores. She went to bed. But it wasn’t just me, the samecould be said about my husband—the only difference being the paragraphwould be one or two phrases shorter!

I started thinking about other individuals I know and I realized that notmuch could be added to define the lives of many of the people around me.

Being a once-in-awhile painting type of artist, it was startling to look atthings through a “color palette.” I realized that my life (and others’ too, for thatmatter) was filled with just black and white. There was no gray or red or purpleor mauve. Come to think of it, humankind seemed to be painting the once col-orful earth with black (and in some places, “erasing” with white). This world, itseemed to me, was growing darker by the day with so much fear, doubt, materi-alism, confusion, violence, poverty, unbelief…

Then I opened my eyes with a new awareness. I saw the ever rolling waves ofthe sea—full of creative energy. Not one wave was the same as the other indepth, in force, in shape. It brought to surface only a glimpse into the deepmysteries of the sea. I noticed a fish come up to the surface. As it returned tothe depths it took a gill-full of sunlight to bring a ray of brightness to the dark-ness underneath.

As dusk approached, I saw the blue of the sky blending with pink, gold, pur-ple, and red. I turned to return to my routine. By now my heart had been light-ened, and as if stung by faith, I found God calling me out of the world of blackand white to fill my corner with color only He would supply—the color ofeverlasting love.

Have you been stung by faith yet?—Vinita Gaikwad, Indian miss ionar y ser v ing in Ghana

PublisherThe Adventist World, an international periodical of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is housed in theKorean Adventist Church. The General Conference is the publisher.

Executive PublisherBill Knott

International Publishing Manager Chun, Pyung Duk

Publishing Board Jan Paulsen, chair; Ted N. C. Wilson, vice chair; BillKnott, secretary; Armando Miranda; Pardon K. Mwansa;Juan Prestol; Charles C. Sandefur; Don C. Schneider;Heather-Dawn Small; Robert S. Smith; Robert E. Kyte,legal advisor

Adventist World Coordinating Committee Lee, Jairyong, chair; Akeri Suzuki; Donald Upson; GuimoSung; Glenn Mitchell; Chun, Pyung Duk

Editor in Chief Bill Knott

Editors based in Silver Spring, Maryland Roy Adams (associate editor), Sandra Blackmer,Stephen Chavez, Mark A. Kellner, Kimberly Luste Maran

Editors based in Seoul, Korea Chun, Jung Kwon; Choe, Jeong-Kwan

Online Editor Carlos Medley

Technical Coordinator Merle Poirier

Executive Assistant to the Editor Rachel J. Child

Administrative Assistant

Reader Services Merle Poirier

Art Direction and Design Jeff Dever, Fatima Ameen, Bill Tymeson

ConsultantsJan Paulsen, Matthew Bediako, Robert E. Lemon,Lowell C. Cooper, Mark A. Finley, Eugene King Yi Hsu,Gerry D. Karst, Armando Miranda, Pardon K. Mwansa,Michael L. Ryan, Ella S. Simmons, Ted N. C. Wilson,Luka T. Daniel, Laurie J. Evans, Alberto C. Gulfan, Jr.,Erton Köhler, Jairyong Lee, Israel Leito, Geoffrey G.Mbwana, Paul S. Ratsara, Don C. Schneider, Artur A. Stele, Ulrich W. Frikart, D. Ronald Watts, Bertil A. Wiklander

To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. Addressall editorial correspondence to 12501 Old Columbia Pike,Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600, U.S.A. Editorial office faxnumber: (301) 680-6638

Email: Internet: [email protected] site: www.adventistworld.org

Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible references are takenfrom the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980,1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rightsreserved. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984,International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Adventist World is published monthly and printed simul-taneously in Korea, Australia, and the United States.

Vol. 3, No. 7

E X C H A N G E O F I D E A S “Behold, I come quickly…”Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ, unitingSeventh-day Adventists everywhere inbeliefs, mission, life, and hope.


A S I F A K B A R, F R O M M U M B A I, M A H A R A S H T R A, I N D I A

FaithThis month a reader sharesan eye-opening

experience on a beach in

Mumbai

Stung by

ANSWER:This is a photo ofthe Tungurahua volcano that exploded near Ambato,Ecuador,last fall.The photo was taken byKatrina Miller,a student missionary at the Colegio Adventist del Ecuador in Santo Domingo de los Colorados,Ecuador.

the volunteers it was also a way to introduce peopleto Christ. Some of the students who attended theFriday Parties began to attend church regularly.

“Looking back now,” Martin says: “God blessedmy time in Russia as it brought individuals in touchwith Jesus and changed lives.”

Martin volunteered in Russia throughthe Adventist Volunteer Services (AVS)program. If you would like to read storiesabout other Adventist volunteers aroundthe world, or learn about how you canparticipate in the volunteer program, goto www.adventistvolunteers.org.—Courtesy of Adventist Volunteer Services

Q U O T E O F T H E M O N T H

“Wonderful things we have in our minds; they have value only as they affect our lives.”—Jan Paulsen, world church president, during a GC worship talk on May 1, 2007, about howthe second coming of Christ should influence our daily actions and interactions with others

M E E T Y O U R N E I G H B O RMartin Greenlaw is a nurse in a Washington

state prison, a job which he considers a ministry.Although he is not able to proselytize directly, hesometimes has the opportunity to encourage peoplewhen they speak of their own faith, and he oftenprays for specific prisoners. Martin is also a verybusy church member at Puyallup Adventist Church.He is a deacon, Sabbath school teacher, chorister,greeter, and a member of “The Covenant Quartet,”a group that often sings at Western Washingtoncamp meetings. He also gives Bible studies andenjoys going on mission trips.

In 2005 Martin volunteered for six months atthe English Language Center (ELC) in Moscow,Russia. While there, he taught English as a foreignlanguage to college students. “Friday Parties” are aspecial memory for Martin. Each Friday night heand other teachers at ELC held a Bible study or

devotional inEnglish. These “par-ties” were open to allstudents who wantedto practice theirEnglish skills, but to

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