1. The International Paper for Seventh-day Adventists
Nov e m b e r 2012
Years of Mission Giving
14 Translator The Jews of
22 27 Jesus’
of theWord Adventism Life-changing Power
2. Nove mb e r 2012
C O V E R S T O R Y
14 Translator of the Word
A D V E N T I S T S E R V I C E
16 100 Years of
Mission Giving
By Gina Wahlen
By Celeste Ryan Blyden
Mikhail Kulakov, Jr., leads a team of scholars in
translating a new version of the Bible into modern
Where would we be without it? Russian.
8 It’s Time
W O R L D V I S T A
Being about our Father’s business
20 He Can and He Will
F U N D A M E N T A L B E L I E F S
By Eliezer Gonzalez
Coming soon: A new and improved Planet Earth!
12 Standing Up
D E V O T I O N A L
By Lael Caesar
You don’t always have to do something.
22 A D V E N T I S T
The Jews of Adventism
By Mark A. Kellner
L I F E
How they preserve their culture as they serve their
Messiah
25 To the Jew First
S P I R I T O F
By Ellen G. White
P R O P H E C Y
Our outreach is all-inclusive.
D E PA RT M E N T S
3 W O R L D R E P O R T 11 W O R L D H E A LT H 27 B I B L E S T U D Y
3 News Briefs Cardiovascular Disease Jesus’ Life-changing
6 News Feature Power
26 B I B L E Q U E S T I O N S
A N S W E R E D
28 I D E A E X C H A N G E
Marked
www.adventistworld.org
Available in 13 languages online
2 Adventist World | November 2012
3. The Unfinished Mission Story
“But Sergio did not improve.” WORLD REPORT
I t’s the only line I can still remember of
the first mission story I ever had to tell
at church. When I was 10, my fourth-
grade teacher somehow cajoled me into South America:
memorizing and then telling the mission
story from the Mission Quarterly, and— Adventist Outreach Seeks Greater
terrors!—presenting it to the Sabbath
school members in the large congregation
she attended.
Member Engagement
As best I can recall, Sergio was a small ■ Lay evangelism was the focus of a 200-person gathering of South
and very ill boy from Brazil, who desper- American Division leaders recently, held at the Seventh-day Adventist
ately needed medical help from a church- Church’s headquarters in Brasília, capital city of Brazil.
run clinic. And try as I may, I still can’t Luis Gonçalves, who coordinated the meetings, said one of the
recall how the mission story turned out. main discussion topics for the group was the development of training
All I have left of it is that rather ominous- for lay evangelists in all countries
sounding fragment: “But Sergio did not and regions. The initial goal is to
improve.” empower more than 1,400 laypeo-
Needless to say, I’ve thought a great ple, who then would perform more
deal about Sergio over the years. Each than 2,000 outreach programs.
time I meet a Sergio in my travels around “Members will engage in evan-
the world—and there are many—I ask gelism in a practical way,” said
myself, “Could this be him? Is this the Gonçalves.
boy from the mission story 40 years ago Evangelism is not limited only
whose health was heading the wrong to prophecy seminars and other
A S N
direction?” topics during a set time period. It
I’m not the only one for whom the has much to do with building
C O U R T E S Y
mission stories of this worldwide move- permanent relationships, even
ment have been greatly influential. As after baptism, within the context HOMEWORK: Marcos Alexandre
you’ll learn from this month’s cover fea- of discipleship. Martins (right) tells about evangeliz-
P H O T O
ture, “100 Years of Mission Giving,” mil- Discipleship is what motivates ing his neighborhood.
lions of Seventh-day Adventists around Marcos Alexandre Martins, 25,
the globe have for 100 years been finding who gave his testimony at the
inspiration, motivation, and worthy proj- conference’s opening session on August 28, 2012. Along with his
ects to support in the mission stories told mother, Iolanda, Marcos was responsible for contact with a psy-
with such color and skill. The thirteenth chologist who was recently baptized into the Adventist Church. In
Sabbath offering—long a treasured the words of Erton Köhler, South American Division president:
opportunity to push forward the mission “Evangelism is not the mission of a department—it is the mission
of the church—has built schools and of a church.”
churches and seminaries and publishing In the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and
houses—and hospitals, maybe even the Espirito Santo the results of evangelism training are already being
one where Sergio sought help. seen, leaders report. Raimundo Gonçalves, who coordinates outreach
Pray as you read this month’s edition strategies in this region of Brazil, explains that more than 8,000 peo-
of Adventist World. Pray for a heart that ple were trained in person or via satellite in an 18-month period.
still seeks to know how the mission story “I see greater mobilization in churches, and consequently bap-
will finally come out, and for a tisms occur with people better prepared for the spiritual challenges,”
heart made generous by grace. Gonçalves says. Two of the most challenging goals the Adventist
By the grace of God, and Church has in these states are to confirm the official Adventist pres-
because you continue to ence in 389 cities and increase its evangelism efforts in urban con-
care, Sergio will yet improve.
Continued on next page
November 2012 | Adventist World 3
4. WORLD REPORT
Beyond: The Search is a 14-part
documentary series featuring stories
from around the world that promote
the Christian worldview as relevant,
attractive, and reasonable. Produced
by AMN, the series has already
received a number of mainstream film
awards, including two prestigious
Cine Gold Eagles.
For more information, visit www.
beyond.info.
—reported by Jared Madden and Kent
Kingston, South Pacific Division
South Pacific: Conference
Teaches Women to Share
Their Faith
S P D
■ Hundreds of Adventist women
C O U R T E S Y
leaders from across the South Pacific
have been empowered to spread
the gospel through a world-first
FIT FOR A KING: King Tupou VI of Tonga receives a set of DVDs produced
conference held in Brisbane, Australia.
P H O T O
by Australia’s Adventist Media Network. Every nation in the church’s South
Pacific Division (SPD) was repre-
sented at the Adventist Women’s Con-
ference, themed “Touch a Heart, Tell
glomerates such as the Rio Grande Tonga: King Receives the World.” The 630 attendees
(the metropolitan area of Rio de
Adventist DVD included 230 women from Papua New
Janeiro), with more than 6 million
Guinea, the largest group represented.
inhabitants. ■ The king of Tonga was the grateful
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the recipient of one of the first Beyond:
challenge is huge too, as evidenced by The Search DVD sets to go to the
David Del Valle, coordinator of evan- Pacific islands.
gelism. One strategy is to recruit 3,000 King Tupou VI, a member of the
young volunteers (Calebs) who will Free Wesleyan Church, was given a
give Bible studies, maintain friend- Beyond box set during official celebra-
ships, and contribute to strengthening tions to mark his birthday.
small groups. Del Valle and his team Tonga native Paula Moimoi Latu,
are working in advance of a citywide who works for Sanitarium Health and
outreach in 2013, featuring up to an Wellbeing at Tuggerah, Australia, pre-
aggregate of 187 weeks of messages. sented the gift.
S P D
“We also planted four new The presentation received great inter-
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANT: Sarah
C O U R T E S Y
churches in Buenos Aires, as well as a est in the local press and community.
school for lay evangelists and district More than 400 orders for the DVDs have Aratia, director of women’s ministries for
pastors,” he adds. already come from Tonga, according to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the
—reported by Felipe Lemos, ASN staff the Adventist Media Network (AMN). Cook Islands, was among those partici-
P H O T O
pating in the women’s ministries event.
4 Adventist World | November 2012
5. Hosted by the SPD Women’s Min- Jamaica: Adventist
istries Department, the conference
was the first of its kind, according to University Honors Prime
department director Erna Johnson. Minister With Honorary
“It’s a first for women’s ministries the
world over,’’ she said. “They have done
Degree
■ Portia Simpson Miller, Jamaica’s
retreats before, but never a conference
prime minister, received a honorary HONORED: The Prime Minister of Jamaica,
to show women how to do outreach.
N E T W O R K
degree from Northern Caribbean The Most Honorable Portia Simpson Miller,
“The whole reason for the confer-
University (NCU) during its 2012 receives an Honorary Doctor of Public
ence was to teach women first of all to
commencement exercises at its main Service degree from Trevor Gardner,
have a relationship [with God] and
N E W S
campus in Mandeville, Jamaica.
study the Bible for themselves; then to President of Adventist Church-operated
The prime minister received an
be able to share that with others.” Northern Caribbean University, during
A D V E N T I S T
honorary doctorate of public service
Guest speakers included General commencement exercises on August 12.
during the first commencement exer-
Conference Women’s Ministries The university is located in Mandeville.
cise, at which she was the main
Department director Heather-Dawn
speaker.
Small; La Sierra University (California)
“I thank you for conferring upon
associate professor of New Testament
me the honorary Doctor of Public
studies Kendra Haloviak Valentine; nishing to ensure your education. You
Service degree, which I accept with
and SPD president Barry Oliver. A must never forget their contribution
humility and dedicate to the people of
series of workshops was held through- in ensuring that you are here today,”
Jamaica, to whom I have dedicated
out the weekend on such topics as dis- said Simpson Miller.
most of my life.”
cipling children, friendship evange- Her Excellency Audrey Marks, for-
She added, “The Bible says that a
lism, spiritual gifts, and leadership. mer ambassador of Jamaica to the
city set upon a hill cannot be hidden,
The Sabbath offering collected United States of America, was the sec-
and NCU, formerly West Indies Col-
more than A$9,000, which will sup- ond commencement speaker and was
lege, has been lit in a bright, shiny edu-
port such ministries for teenage girls also given an honorary Doctor of
cational beacon that has more than 100
and young women as Gigi magazine. Public Service degree.
years of contribution in education.”
The Saturday night closing program —reported by Nigel Coke,
The prime minister also used the
included a challenge for women to go Inter-American Division
opportunity to praise the Adventist
out and share the gospel once they
Church for its contribution to nation
returned to their communities. Philippines: Adventist
building.
Johnson said the sad fact was that
“I extend the appreciation of a grate- Nurses Gain Top Honors
many women across the South Pacific
ful nation to the Seventh-day Adventist ■ The Manila Adventist Medical
think they have nothing to contribute
Church with its more than a quarter Center (MAMC) was named grand
to church life. “They are capable
million members in Jamaica for your winner of the second Rachell
women; they have gifts and talents
sterling contribution to the spiritual, Allen Nursing Quiz Show 2012, an
that would enhance the ministry of
educational, economic, and social devel- invitational event sponsored by the
the church,” she said.
opment of our people and our nation.” nursing test review company.
“My goal has always been to help
As she addressed the more than Registered nurses Jamill Prieto,
women realize their potential. I will
500 graduates assembled, the prime Weanne Estrada, and Cherianne Cosejo
be encouraging them to do outreach,
minister challenged them not to forget bested other teams to win the competi-
and I will be supporting them as
their parents as they climb the ladder tion at the University of the Philippines
much as I can.’’
of success. “I commend those mothers Film Institute in Quezon City.
—reported by Tracey Bridcutt, South
and fathers who would forgo the
Pacific Division
church hat or a new dress or new fur-
Continued on next page
November 2012 | Adventist World 5
6. WORLD REPORT
The invitational event tests medical By Corrado Cozzi, Euro-Africa Division
institution representatives in a variety
of nursing specializations. In addition
to the grand winner trophy in the reg-
istered nurse category, the contestants
Euro-Africa Division:
earned scholarships to the Rachell
Allen Nursing Review Center, a cash Adventists Meet At
Waldensian
prize, and products from sponsors.
The Manila Adventist Medical
Center and Colleges, formerly Manila
Sanitarium and Hospital, is a tertiary
level IV academic medical center
located in Pasay City, Metro Manila.
The hospital is the primary teaching
affiliate for Manila Adventist College.
Temple
MAMC has also served as a train-
ing hospital for specialist physicians in
surgery, anesthesia, internal medicine,
Lay ministries convention
pediatrics, obstetrics, and gynecology.
T
Rachell Allen Reviewers, U.S.A., is he end of summer—August 30 to September 2,
an international review center 2012—was the beginning of a season of inspiration
designed to assist nurses in their prep- for nearly 400 Seventh-day Adventists from across
aration for licensing exams such as the the Euro-Africa Division (EUD), as participants in the
Commission on Graduates in Foreign region’s first-ever lay ministries convention gathered at a
Nursing Schools and the National Waldensian church in Bobbio Pellice, Italy. Adventists and
Council Licensure Examination. others regard the Waldensians as early Christians who kept
—reported by Gay Deles, via Adventist the seventh-day Sabbath.
News Network Attendees came from Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Repub-
lic, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, and Switzer-
land, as well as Italy. Ted N. C. Wilson, General Conference
president; his wife, Nancy; Adventist Mission director Gary
Krause; and division leaders were guests at the event, but cen-
ter stage was reserved for lay members themselves.
“The main goal of this event is to share testimonies on
evangelism experienced by lay people in their local coun-
try,” said Paolo Benini, personal ministries director for the
Euro-Africa Division and an organizer of the event.
Three-minute presentations were allotted to each lay
project. Each country was introduced by a report that pre-
sented the major programs and projects supported by the
church members in that nation. The presentations centered
on innovative means of outreach to a Europe that is largely
“postmodern” in its philosophical outlook.
K E N N E T H
VICTORY CELEBRATION: The winning team Said one delegate, “I will go home with a lot of ideas, and
and supporters from Manila Adventist Medical with God’s help I will be able to put some of them to use.”
Center. Youth delegate Gabriele Taddei added, “The laypeople’s
I A N
testimonies have been uplifting and inspiring; it’s encour-
6 Adventist World | November 2012
7. P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F E U D C O M
Top left: WALDENSIAN CHURCH: Exterior of Waldensian church in Bobbio Pellice,
Italy, where hundreds of Adventists from the Euro-Africa Division gathered for the
lay ministries conference. Bottom left: PRAYER PAUSE: Division president Bruno
Vertallier (right) prays alongside General Conference president Ted N. C. Wilson
and Nancy Wilson. Right: MORNING WORSHIP: Participants answer a call to
service during lay ministries conference.
honors early sabbatarians
aging to see how God is working through His people all my eyes over the beautiful mountains and the little stony
around Europe. Sharing our experiences gave us the roads of Bobbio Pellice, it made me think back to the days
opportunity not only to know what is happening in other when these rocks protected the religious freedom here in
countries but also to get new ideas for evangelism.” Italy,” said Salvatore Cutrona. “I’ve found it very appropri-
Krause shared a church planting report and a Global ate to have these meetings right here in the Waldensian val-
Mission overview. In one of his presentations, Taddei leys, especially after the message that Pastor Wilson shared
noted, “he showed a clip about a couple from Atlanta with with us on revival and reformation.”
three children who moved to a dangerous neighborhood of These kinds of meetings give the opportunity of com-
the city. They used Jesus’ method of reaching the people, munication between the church and the lay members who
mingling with them, and ministering to their needs; the are involved in personal ministries. As Wilson said:
missionary’s words really moved me.” (To read the report “Church leaders cannot do it all by themselves.”
that appeared in Adventist Review, go to: http://www. “The Lord has been good to us in Bobbio Pellice, send-
adventistreview.org/issue.php?issue=2011-1528&page=16.) ing more than 400 witnesses from different European
Christian Altin, another youth participant, attended a countries to this special Waldensian valley, the scene of so
workshop entitled “Creation and Evangelism.” He said, many memories of their faithfulness to carry the truths of
“Can we believe in evolution without our faith being the Bible,” said Bruno Vertallier, EUD president.
affected? Do people have an interest in creationism? Is Along with the hundreds of participants, the event
there something going on to present these issues to the drew the attention of at least one significant media outlet:
public in a captivating way? This workshop caught the L’Osservatore Romano, the official daily newspaper of the
attention of those attending because the speakers shared Holy See in Rome, published a report of nearly 1,000
exciting experiences of how each one of them is bringing words noting the Adventist event and commenting on the
creationism to the public.” discipline and evangelistic fervor of the participants. It’s
The health message presentations were well received in not the first time the newspaper has spoken well of Sev-
the towns of Torre Pellice and Bobbio Pellice. The Roma- enth-day Adventists: Following the 2011 earthquake in
nian Union presented an interesting “health bus,” made Japan, L’Osservatore Romano noted the reaction of Adven-
just for health expos, reminding us that indeed the right tists there and Pastor Wilson’s comments of support for
hand of Adventist outreach is the health message. victims.
“I knew the program, I knew the guests, but when I set —with additional reporting by Adventist World staff
November 2012 | Adventist World 7
8. A
S
A
N
H I L A S H A K E D
W O R L D V I S T A
F
O
Y
S
E
T
R
U
O
C
O
OT
P H
MOUNT CARMEL STANDOFF: A
recent forest fire on Mount Carmel
(inset) sent billows of smoke that
were visible from outer space;
reflecting not only the majesty of
God’s answer to Elijah’s prayer,
By Ted N. C. Wilson but also the divine perspective
of Elijah’s faithfulness.
I Time t’s
To Be About Our Father’s Business
The following article is adapted from a sermon given on August 11, 2012, at the Never minimize the power of prayer.
Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI) International Convention in No matter what we are going through,
Cincinnati, Ohio. Elements of the oral style have been retained. —Editors or what we may face; no matter where
we have to stand for truth, God will see
D
o you believe it is time to be the truth—in love—but to speak the this church through! Prayer is a power-
about our Father’s business? truth! Jesus is coming soon! ful protection against the devil’s insidi-
We are a people of prom- Let’s briefly look at the familiar ous plans.
ise, bidden to share the straight mes- story of Elijah the Tishbite—the very After Elijah prayed, he was ready to
sage of Christ’s precious love and His humble individual, the reformer, the give a special message to the king.
soon coming to the world. We know simple man, the straightforward per- Although Ahab “did more to provoke
that this is God’s Advent movement; son who had a burden for Israel. Elijah the Lord God of Israel to anger than all
this is His remnant church; these are prayed to God to change the course of the kings of Israel who were before
His three angels’ messages; the sanctu- Israel, and God answered his prayer. him” [1 Kings 16:33], Elijah was not
ary message is His truth; and His final afraid. The prophet walked straight into
warnings to the world are the mes- Prayer and the Elijah Message the palace. Passing by the guards, he
sages we are to proclaim. But do we Elijah knew the essential truth for gave no defense of his entrance or apol-
really believe these things? Our only his time and all time: Prayer is power- ogy for arriving unannounced, because
safety is in God’s Word. ful. God can do incredible things as he knew he was on God’s mission.
Do you believe? You know it is you invite Him to change the course of Striding straight into the king’s
time; it is time to stand up and speak whatever is facing you or the church. presence, Elijah proclaimed: “As the
8 Adventist World | November 2012
9. Lord God of Israel lives, before whom Notice how this dramatic confronta- mel, the four hundred and fifty
I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain tion unfolds: Ahab asks a most inter- prophets of Baal, and the four hun-
these years, except at my word” [1 esting question: “Is that you, O trou- dred prophets of Asherah, who eat at
Kings 17:1]. Then he disappeared. bler of Israel?” [verse 17]. It was a Jezebel’s table” [verse 19].
People both in and outside of the remarkably strange question. God
royal courts soon heard about the had tried to turn Israel around, to Standing Firm
prophecy, and they made fun of God’s reform the nation, to turn His people Under divine direction, Elijah
prophet. “Ahh, what does Elijah know? back to Him. Ahab knew—as all chose Mount Carmel because it was a
It has always rained; it is going to wicked men ultimately know—that most conspicuous place to display
rain,” they ridiculed. Just as today, what he was doing was wrong, but he God’s power. The text tells us that it
there were many skeptics and many tried to justify himself. In the book was early in the morning when thou-
cynical people. Prophets and Kings we read: “It is nat- sands gathered near the top of that
So begin with this understanding, ural for the wrongdoer to hold the great mountain rising up from the
brothers and sisters: As you preach the messengers of God responsible for the coastal range. Jezebel’s prophets
Elijah message today, you will be ridi- calamities that come as the sure result marched to the site in all their gor-
culed—be prepared for it. Thank God of a departure from the way of righ- geous array; the king in his regal robes
and claim Matthew 5:11, 12: “Blessed teousness. Those who place them- arrived; and Elijah stood alone.
are you when they revile and persecute selves in Satan’s power are unable to Pointing to the impossibility of
you, and say all kinds of evil against you see things as God sees them. When genuine faith coexisting with evil
falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be the mirror of truth is held before practices, Elijah demanded that his
exceedingly glad, for great is your them, they become indignant at the listeners make a choice. “How long
reward in heaven, for so they persecuted thought of receiving reproof ” [pp. will you falter between two opinions?”
the prophets who were before you.” 139, 140). the prophet asked the people. “‘If the
Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal,
Blaming the Messenger Great Courage Needed follow him.’ But the people answered
As the results of Elijah’s prophecy How is it with you and with me? him not a word” [verse 21].
began to become evident, Ahab’s Are we ready to receive God’s I had the great privilege a few
wicked wife, Jezebel, denounced Elijah reproof in our own lives? Are we weeks ago to be in Israel for the first
as the source of the problem. Here willing to humble ourselves and time and to see Mount Carmel from a
again is a lesson for God’s last-day accept the changes that a loving God distance. Unfortunately, time did not
people. Many times when you are urges us to make? allow us to visit that incredible place
standing for truth, those who hear the Elijah showed great courage at this where this magnificent event took
truth you are sharing will denounce tense moment, and we may coura- place. I’ve imagined myself at Mount
you as the problem. And so the Israel- geously follow his example. He was Carmel many times: have you put
ites said, “If we put Elijah out of the known as a person who routinely yourself in that picture, too? Would
way, all of our troubles will be over.” declared, “Thus saith the Lord.” He you be willing to stand firm for God?
When Elijah could not be found, spoke truth distinctly and bravely. God’s Word tells us that the Israelites
Jezebel was furious and killed all of Three thousand years later God still were afraid to reveal anything about
God’s prophets she could find. When needs strong men and women to their commitments. “The Lord abhors
God dried up the rain in the land speak His truth clearly, in love, and indifference and disloyalty in a time of
because of the sins of His people, Jeze- with the power of the Holy Spirit. crisis in His work,” wrote Ellen White
bel watered the ground with the blood Responding to Ahab’s accusation, in Prophets and Kings. “The whole
of His servants. But in the third year Elijah offered a powerful defense: “I universe is watching with inexpress-
of the drought, God gave another have not troubled Israel, but you and ible interest in the closing scenes of
message to Elijah: “Go, present your- your father’s house have, in that you the great controversy between good
self to Ahab and I will send rain on have forsaken the commandments of and evil” [p. 148]. Friends, whether we
the earth” [1 Kings 18:1]. the Lord and have followed the Baals” appreciate the fact or not, the whole
At last, the two were face to face— [verse 18]. Then he launched his universe is watching us right now to
Ahab, the proud king, and Elijah, appeal: “Now therefore, send and see what we will do, how we will
God’s humble but fearless servant. gather all Israel to me on Mount Car- choose. This is no moment for equiv-
November 2012 | Adventist World 9
11. W O R L D H E A L T H
Cardiovascular
DiseaseA leading killer
saturated fats and calorie-dense foods
(commonly known as junk foods), as
well as decreased physical activity.
These have fueled the emergence of
high blood pressure and degenerative
arterial disease (atherosclerosis). In
By Allan R. Handysides and Peter N. Landless many parts of the world, physical activ-
ity is declining, there is an epidemic of
overweight and obesity, and the rates of
I read about the problem of coronary heart disease in industrialized coun- high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes,
tries. I live in Sub-Saharan Africa and am saddened by our significant prob- and abnormal blood fat levels (choles-
lem with HIV and AIDS, but wonder whether this part of the world is at risk terol) are increasing—even in children.
for the heart disease that seems so prominent in affluent countries. Do we Sub-Saharan Africa has not been
who live in low- to middle-income countries need to be concerned about the left unscathed by this mega challenge
problem of coronary heart disease? of cardiovascular disease. Increased
urbanization has led to changes in
Y
our question probes into deaths, and these were mainly related nutritional patterns, physical activity
the whole process of the to rheumatic heart disease (rheumatic has decreased, and obesity is a growing
changing face of heart disease fever) caused by streptococcal infec- problem. It is currently estimated that
in the world at large and in low- to tions, and heart muscle damage (car- 40 percent of women in South Africa
middle-income countries in general. diomyopathies) related to other infec- are overweight. Tobacco use also con-
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) tions and malnutrition. tinues to increase in low- to middle-
became the single largest cause of As nutritional knowledge increased, income countries, further increasing
death worldwide in 2004, when it was as public health measures improved the risks for coronary heart disease.
estimated that it caused 17 million sanitation, and as water cleanliness and Population risk-factor profiles of
deaths. This figure continues to grow. immunization became common prac- developing countries are mimicking
Low- and middle-income coun- tices, there was a decrease in infectious the developed countries more and
tries are seeing an alarming and accel- diseases. Life expectancy increased more. Regular exercise, a diet rich in
erating increase in rates of cardiovas- dramatically, and in a number of coun- fruits and vegetables, avoidance of
cular disease. CVD now causes the tries the child and infant mortality rate saturated fats, and the avoidance of
most deaths in all developing regions, declined. During this time cardiovascu- tobacco in all its forms are essential if
with the exception of Sub-Saharan lar diseases accounted for between 10 you wish to avoid heart disease.
Africa; in this part of the world CVD is to 35 percent of deaths and included In short, practice the healthy
the leading cause of death in those rheumatic valvular heart disease, Adventist lifestyle. Make wise
over 45 years of age. Infectious diseases hypertension (high blood pressure), choices—your heart will know the
such as HIV and AIDS, malaria, and coronary heart disease, and stroke. difference! ■
lower respiratory tract infections con- It is sadly ironic that nutritional
tinue to be the leading cause of death practices caused the pattern of diseases
in the young in Sub-Saharan Africa. to change even further. In technical
There has been a change in the terms an epidemiologic transition took
pattern of diseases over the past 150 place: degenerative and human-made
years. Before 1900, infectious diseases conditions (noncommunicable dis-
and malnutrition were the leading eases) have come to the fore, and car-
causes of death in almost every part of diovascular diseases now account for Allan R. Handysides, a board-certified gynecolo-
the world. If one added to this the between 35 and 65 percent of deaths, gist, is director of the General Conference Health
high infant and child mortality rates, mainly from coronary heart disease Ministries Department.
the mean life expectancy was approxi- and stroke. The factors that are largely Peter N. Landless, a board-certified nuclear
mately 30 years. Heart diseases responsible for this change in disease cardiologist, is an associate director of the Gen-
accounted for less than 10 percent of pattern include the increased intake of eral Conference Health Ministries Department.
November 2012 | Adventist World 11
12. D E V O T I O N A L
S
tanding seems to be harder than sitting. Standing They don’t know what to do. But they know they can’t
seems to be harder than falling. Even walking seems just stand there. They have to do something.
to be easier than standing. Have you ever noticed So they start up a chant about going back home: “The
how much easier it is to walk around in circles, going sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were march-
nowhere, or to pace the floor back and forth inside a ing after them, and they became very frightened. . . . They
room—going toward the wall, then back toward the said to Moses, ‘. . . It would have been better for us to serve
other wall, then back toward the first wall again—instead the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness’ ” (Ex. 14:10-12).*
of just standing? You know you aren’t going anywhere. This is, of course, untrue, but is one consequence of the feel-
But it’s easier to walk up and down going nowhere than ing that we can’t just stand there—we must do something. It
it is just to stand. is a feeling that inspires triple confusion.
Standing
By Lael Caesar
You don’t always
have to do something.
Have you ever heard the command: “Don’t just stand
there! Do something!” Do what? Nobody can necessarily tell,
but it’s better than just standing there. Just standing is prob-
lematic. Something, it seems, is wrong with standing, even
when you don’t know what else you can do besides stand.
The Urge to Act
You and I both have a question about that: We want to
know the origins of, and basis for, that desperate human
urge—the urge to do something even when we have no
idea what. Old Testament history points us to one
momentous occasion when desperate humans responded
to that urge. It is a point in Israel’s story during which
God is rescuing Abram’s children from trouble. He wants
to take them to a place where they can live well and free.
They have to cross the sea, and they don’t have any boats.
12 Adventist World | November 2012
14. A D V E N T I S T S E R V I C E
By Celeste Ryan Blyden
Translator
of the
Word
Translating the Bible into
modern Russian is a fearsome yet
rewarding responsibility
O
n the third floor of the Sligo
Seventh-day Adventist Church
office building in Takoma
Park, Maryland, in a tiny white-walled
attic with three windows, Mikhail
Kulakov, Jr., is waxing poetic about
merging the past with the future.
“The task of a translator could be
compared to a musician transposing a
piece written for violin and readying it
for guitar,” he says. One end of his
desk is completely covered with open GOD’S WORD IN RUSSIAN: From his office in Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S.A., Mikhail
books and Bibles, a lamp, a smattering Kulakov, Jr., oversees a team that is translating the Bible into modern Russian.
of office supplies, an open laptop
computer, and a black encased iPad 2. standing,’” he reads in full crescendo. time zones away in Russia, painstak-
The professor of philosophy on a five- The goal, he says, is to find the ingly research, write, review, and
year leave from Washington Adventist best words and idioms to render the rewrite each text. “We go back and find
University (WAU) rehearses the Rus- meaning of the original Hebrew and the original Hebrew, study the defini-
sian translation of the Bible he hopes match them with words typical for tions of each term, consult the Russian
will be useful for public worship and today’s Russian culture. “Scripture literature database to see how the best
personal devotional study. was written over a period of 1,000 writers through the centuries used the
“As we work on each phrase and years, and over that time language verbiage in the most appropriate, fit-
passage, we read it aloud to see if it changed,” says Kulakov, who matricu- ting and closest context,” he shares. “We
retains the melody and rhythm of the lated from Newbold College in Eng- choose a variant, sleep on it, review it
original,” he notes. “This morning I land, the Seventh-day Adventist prayerfully and critically, and send it to
reviewed Jeremiah 51:15 in the King Theological Seminary in Michigan, philologists—specialists in language
James Version.” He peers at the text and, and the Oxford University’s Christ studies of syntax, style, and usage—
with arms in full accompaniment, con- Church College, where he earned a who can tell us if it sounds like perfect,
ducts an orchestra of words that stream Doctor of Philosophy in theology. natural, good Russian that is the best
forth melodiously. “‘He hath made the “It’s important to keep the linguistic equivalent for the original phrase.”
earth by his power, he hath established nuances in mind.” And so it goes—phrase by phrase,
the world by his wisdom, and hath That’s why he and a dozen other text by text, passage by passage, chapter
stretched out the heaven by his under- translators, some of whom live eight by chapter, book by book, and year by
14 Adventist World | November 2012 P H O T O B Y C E L E S T E R YA N B LY D E N
15. year. The process has taken more than extensive underground subway system finish their day, it’s morning here, and
two decades, and so far the team has in Moscow, a metro area of 15 million, I review their latest version.” Now that
completed and published the Psalms many of whom struggle with alcohol- they’ve finished Jeremiah and the
and the New Testament (2002); the five ism, domestic abuse, tobacco, addic- other major prophets, they Skype,
books of Moses, known as the Penta- tions, or emptiness. “They are looking live-chat, telephone, and e-mail about
teuch (2009); and Daniel and the 12 for something, and we have the answer,” drafts of their current work on the
minor prophets (2011), all projects led he posits. “We are committed to bring- poetic and wisdom literature of Job,
by the fourteenth and founding mem- ing this gospel of hope to them.” Proverbs, and Song of Songs.
ber of the translation team, Kulakov’s At the division’s Zaoksky Adventist Back in his office at Sligo church,
father, role model, and namesake, the Seminary and Institute 70 miles south Kulakov is trying to articulate why his
late Mikhail Petrovich Kulakov, Sr. of Moscow some of the translators are father’s legacy has become his life’s
Talking about his father’s death in 2010 working with Mikhail Kulakov, Jr. In work. “I started working with my
and carrying on his dream to translate May Biaggi, nine union presidents, the father in 2006, and I don’t know if in
the Bible is a “fearsome responsibility” publishing house president, and other my lifetime I will participate in any-
that his son finds moving and, at this leaders of the vast ESD convened their thing as important, rewarding, joyous,
moment, nearly overwhelming. Bible Translation Institute board. Kula- or humbling as this project.
kov, Jr., who helped found Zaoksky in “I remember when he was working
Strong Heritage the 1990s, attended with fellow board on Genesis 5:22, which reads in King
According to Guillermo Biaggi, members Weymouth Spence, president James, ‘Enoch walked with God,’” he
president of the Euro-Asia Division of Washington Adventist University said. “Out of their desire to be reverent,
(ESD), it was 22 years ago that Mikhail (WAU); and Zack Plantak, chair of nineteenth-century Russian scholars
Kulakov, Sr., had the dream. “As the first WAU’s Department of Religion. instead chose ‘Enoch walked before
president of the Euro-Asia Division, he During his report Kulakov shared God.’ But having suffered through
wanted to translate the full Bible into how the meticulous work of the trans- humiliation and loss of dignity in
modern language, because the current lation team is drawing encouraging Joseph Stalin’s labor camps, my father
Russian translation of the Holy Scrip- reviews from leading Russian philolo- wanted new generations of Russians to
tures is 130 years old,” he says. gists touting the beauty of the lan- experience a God who stands at the
Biaggi, now president of Kulakov’s guage. He also shared how specialists doors of human hearts, respectfully
home division, sits in his office on the in biblical languages have noted its knocks, and waits to see if we will invite
first floor of the four-story division “accuracy and high literary and schol- Him to enter,” he says, pausing to gather
headquarters in Moscow. Biaggi, exec- arly” work, and that leading Russian himself. Then comes the crescendo: “He
utive secretary Volodymyr Krupskyi, Orthodox scholars have given positive so wanted them to understand that you
and treasurer Brent Burdick shepherd evaluations for its literary and schol- can have such a personal experience of
the Adventist Church’s work in 13 arly quality. Adventist leaders, readers, love, acceptance, and affirmation with
countries including Russia, Moldova, and donors underwriting this project God, that on this rare occasion, prop-
Belarus, Armenia, Ukraine, and are also pleased and anticipate the erly footnoted, he departed from the
Afghanistan. They have the largest completion of the translation by 2015, original and chose to say ‘Enoch lived in
land territory of the Seventh-day in time for it to be distributed at the intimate relationship with God.’”
Adventist Church’s 13 world divisions. General Conference session in San Like father, like son. ■
“Russia alone has nine time zones,” Antonio, Texas. “People who have read
Biaggi says, pointing to a large framed the finished portions say, ‘Now I can
map on his office wall. The ESD has a understand the Word of God,’” says
membership of 137,000 out of 315 Biaggi, who chairs the board.
million inhabitants. All of this spurs Kulakov and his Celeste Ryan Blyden
Although the church Biaggi leads serves as communication
translation team forward and keeps
director for the Columbia
exemplifies resilience and growth, they them going around the clock between Union Conference of
now face a new crisis: postmodernism. Maryland, United States, and Zaoksky, Seventh-day Adventists in the mid-Atlantic
“We used to share literature, but now Russia. “When I go to bed at night region of the United States. See a video
people spend more time on the Inter- here, it’s morning there, and they start about this project at www.columbiaunion.
net,” he explains. He talks of riding the work,” he explains. “And when they org/videos.
November 2012 | Adventist World 15
16. C OV E R S T O RY
1OO Years
of Mission Gi Making a World of
W
hat would you do with But $2 billion can do much more
more than US$2 Billion? In than this. Seventh-day Adventists
the United States the U.S. have learned that it can build a
presidential candidates are estimated worldwide system of spreading the
to have spent a total of $2.5 billion on gospel and ministering to millions,
their campaigns this year.1 The cost of meeting the spiritual, physical, men-
NASA’s Curiosity space rover mission tal, and social needs of countless
to Mars was more than $2 billion.2 Two individuals and communities around
and a half billion dollars represents the world.
a small stake in Facebook,3 and also Over the past 100 years Seventh-
represents the loss of Microsoft’s day Adventists have sacrificially given
Online Services Division in 2011.4 US$2.2 billion in mission offerings,5
16 Adventist World | November 2012 P H O T O B Y C L A U D E R I C H L I
17. making an enormous impact on the dreds of popcorn balls to raise $15 for teenth Sabbath mission offering. For
world in which we live. That’s the Pitcairn fund—that is $365.85 in nearly a year J. L. Shaw, “superinten-
rounded to $13.3 billion in today’s today’s dollars! Working together, dent” of the India Union Mission, had
U.S. dollars.6 young and old raised $12,000 for this been writing letters to the Mission
first Sabbath school mission project.8 Board: “At the last General Conference
First Mission Project we pled for a minister for that great
In 1885 the first Sabbath school A New Plan metropolis of Calcutta. The board
mission offering was collected by the Following the Pitcairn project, Sab- made an effort to answer the call; but
Upper Columbia Conference, a terri- bath school mission offerings contin- as you know, no help has yet been
tory covering a portion of the north- ued to increase. On Sabbath, January sent. Many prayers, letters, and
western United States. The offering was 6, 1912, Sabbath school members were appeals for the work in Calcutta have
used to send missionaries to Australia. introduced to “a new plan” through a since been written, and still no help
The following year the General small eight-page pamphlet that would has come. I am hoping, praying, and
Conference promoted the first later become known as the Sabbath believing that help will soon be sent to
churchwide Sabbath school mission school Missions Quarterly, published India.”10 In another letter Shaw wrote:
project—building a mission boat by the Sabbath School Department of “The great Lord of the harvest surely
named the Pitcairn to sail to the tiny the General Conference. somewhere has men and means to
island in the South Pacific where the “Our Sabbath-school offerings pioneer the way.”11
have increased so splendidly that it is Shaw’s prayers were answered
thought we may now have a special when more than $7,500 was given for
object for which we may set apart the evangelistic work in the large cities of
gifts of one Sabbath in each quarter,” India in the first Thirteenth Sabbath
By Gina Wahlen announced the cover page. “The Gen- Offering, and George W. Pettit and J.
eral Conference Committee has voted M. Comer, along with their families,
to allow us to select the last Sabbath in were sent from the North Pacific
each quarter as a day when we may Union Conference to work in India.
ving
donate to a special object.” Today approximately 900 ordained
Thus, the special Thirteenth Sab- and licensed Seventh-day Adventist
bath Offering program was begun, ministers work in nearly 4,000
along with the mission quarterly, churches throughout India.12
helping to focus the attention of the Other special mission offering proj-
church on the specific regions and ects in 1912 included a new mission
projects that would benefit from the station on the Selukwe Reserve in Rho-
quarterly Thirteenth Sabbath Offer- desia (Zimbabwe), homes for mission-
Difference ing. This, of course, was in addition to
the regular mission offerings that were
collected each Sabbath and sent to
missions around the world.
aries in China, India, Korea, and Africa,
a school in Argentina, known then as
River Plate Academy, and the Púa
Training School in Chile.
Members were encouraged to min-
gle prayer with their gifts. “By intel- Limping Along
islanders were waiting to be baptized ligent, prayerful, cheerful giving, our Writing to the secretary of the Gen-
and join the Seventh-day Adventist gifts may be multiplied as were the five eral Conference, W. A. Spicer, the presi-
Church.7 After its mission to Pit- loaves and two fishes, and a multitude dent of the South American Union
cairn, the boat sailed on to Tonga, blessed thereby,” urged the first Missions Conference, J. W. Westphal, explained
the Cook Islands, Samoa, and Fiji, Quarterly. “Pray as you give. In every the dire situation at River Plate Acad-
continuing its missionary work for Sabbath-school on that day [Thirteenth emy: “We are limping along as best we
several years. Sabbath], let there be a season of prayer can. . . . In the large schoolroom [the
Children were some of the most in behalf of the cities of India.”9 chapel] three classes have to recite at
enthusiastic supporters of this special the same time, because the classrooms
mission project. One boy helped his Early Projects above are used as living-rooms for the
mother pop popcorn over the family’s The cities of India were selected to students. One teacher has his classroom
wood-burning stove to make hun- be the recipients of the first Thir- in the vestibule [by the stairway], and
November 2012 | Adventist World 17
18. C OV E R S T O RY
the others have to help themselves as embarrassed to come back. It would training centers, libraries and media
best they can; and the whole equip- have cleared up her condition, and centers, youth campgrounds, and Bible
ment is far from desirable.”13 thus she would have been cured and lesson materials in local languages came
Through the special Thirteenth would not have been a source of infec- into existence through the generosity of
Sabbath Offering, River Plate Acad- tion to others. . . . Many are sick who those who gave to the Thirteenth
emy was able to repair and expand its come to us for treatment, but we do Sabbath Offering.
buildings. Today River Plate Adventist not have the necessary equipment and These offerings have helped to
University in Argentina enrolls more supplies, and we are obliged to turn send thousands of missionaries and
many away because we cannot go interdivision workers, Global Mission
beyond our budget.”15 pioneers and lay evangelists, doctors,
More than Sabbath school members dentists, nurses, teachers, and pastors
responded with a mission offering to serve in every part of the globe.
that year of $2.5 million to help with Special mission offerings have
this and many other needs in the Mid- helped to provide materials for evan-
dle East region, as well as in Africa, gelistic outreach, radio and television
mission projects India, Burma, and Inter-America. programming, broadcast equipment,
completed in satellite broadcast time, literature,
Telling the Stories books, and video and online Bible
last 100 years. In 2012 the Sabbath school Missions studies. More than 1,200 mission
Quarterly, now known as Adventist projects around the world have been
than 2,500 students per year and Mission, turned 100. For the past cen- completed because of generous gifts to
offers more than 30 university degrees tury this small publication has faith- mission, and many more are still
through its Schools of Business fully chronicled the needs of missions being completed.
Administration, Education, Health around the world and has inspired Charlotte Ishkanian, who has
Sciences, and Theology.14 young and old to give to the special served as editor of Adventist Mission
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering projects. since 1993, spends much of her time in
Medical Mission in Depressed Schools and universities, hospitals, the field gathering stories and con-
Times clinics, and orphanages, printing presses ducting interviews that will be featured
In the 1930s much of the world and Better Living centers, churches and in upcoming issues of the magazine,
experienced difficult financial hard- chapels, dormitories and evangelistic available in editions for children and
ships during what became known as
the Great Depression. Unemployment
was high and income low, and yet Sab- $5.83
bath school mission offering boxes
were overflowing as members faithfully $5.01
followed the “60 cents per week” mis-
sion offering plan, providing the means $4.47
to help millions of people in need.
In 1931 Dr. A. Arzoo, who was
serving in Sultanabad, Pakistan, told of
one such need, which was published in
the Missions Quarterly: “Some time Average amount given to missions per member each year.
ago a young girl was brought to me for
treatment. Her throat was in a very
bad condition. A dreadful disease was
eating its way into the flesh. A pre-
scription was given to her people, and
they were told to buy the ampule and
come back to the dispensary. They all
went to get the medicine, but they
never returned. I suppose they could
1912 1932 2011
not pay for the medicine, and were too *The amounts above reflect the average yearly gift to missions per member and are not adjusted for inflation.
18 Adventist World | November 2012
