RECORD - documents.adventistarchives.org

RECORD February 4, 2006

In this issue

Mission Possible in Mildura

Asian Aid extends work in India

Tell me the old, old story

A visiting UniCo team enjoys Sabbath with fellow Christians at a local Adventist church in Hangzhou, China.

ASA meets China's university students

Summer camp fun with science

HANGZHOU, CHINA

I n December 2005, the Adventist Students Association (ASA) organised a tour by a team of 22 university students, graduates and professionals to Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, to build an interactive relationship with university students in China.

This was the first UniCo team to travel to an overseas university for an international exchange trip, with team members coming from many locations, including Brisbane, Christchurch, Cooranbong, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and as far away as New York, USA.

The team visited three universities in China, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University and

Beijing Normal University, which comprises a combined student population of more than 100,000 students.

The UniCo exchange trip was primarily centred at Zhejiang University, which is located in the garden city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. As the hosting institution, Zhejiang University introduced the Adventist student group to many cultural and historical aspects of Chinese life.

The team had a number of opportunities to interact with Chinese university students, including a basketball competition and panel discussions on the topics of relationships, Australian culture and basic health principles. The Adventist students

(Continued on page 4)

ISSN 0819-5633

news

Amazing Discoveries in Africa

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

In late 2005, concluding a four-week evangelistic crusade in Lusaka, Zambia, a team of some 20 pastors baptised more than 500 candidates, up to 12 at a time in a community swimming pool. The baptismal group was just a portion of a total of almost 2726 baptised in the six-night-perweek campaign.

The campaign was run under the auspices of the Australia-based Amazing Discoveries ministry, but supported by the local conference and Zambia Union. Amazing Discoveries is a lay organisation operated by Dr John Jeremic of Melbourne for the support of the church in the Third World, and which has influenced and baptised thousands for God's kingdom.

Australian Pastor Gary Kent, the principal presenter, was supported by a large team of Zambian lay workers, pastors, administrators, medical experts who gave nightly nutrition and health talks, and Dr Jeremic himself. Pastor Kent's father, Pastor Ray Kent, who spent many years in ministry in Africa prior to his retirement, also presented some of the evangelistic programs during Pastor Kent Jr's absence.

Amazing Discoveries crusades have been run in Africa previously, principally Nairobi, Kenya, as well as in a number of city and regional centres in PNG in its 20-year life.

Despite the lack of public transport due to a strike and the absence of petrol for private vehicles, the meetings were attended by up to 10,000 people nightly, with an estimated 35,000 attending on the final Sabbath, braving extreme heat conditions.

Given the transportation problems, Dr Jeremic said he was very pleased with the result--something that went largely unheralded at the time despite it being among the largest baptisms of 2005. He said it was the equal of 10 new churches in a conference of

103. Dr Jeremic says he has

plans to take Amazing

Discoveries back to Africa

in the near future, returning

to Nairobi, where, in 1996,

single programs were

attended by more than

55,000 people and some

3350 were baptised. The

East African Union and

recently formed East-

Central Africa Division

have their headquarters in

Pastor Gary Kent (right), presenter of the Lusaka Amazing

Nairobi, and along with the Discoveries Crusasde, with (from left) his father, Pastor Ray Kent ; a

local conference are cooperating to ensure the success

baptismal candidate; Mrs Kent Sr; ShirleyJeremic; and Amazing Discoveries director Dr John Jeremic.

of the 2006 outreach.

southern provinces where the church first

Dr Cornelius Matandiko, president of the entered 100 years ago, it lacks the compre-

456,000-member Zambia Union Conference, hensive church education system enjoyed in

speaking publicly to the newly baptised surrounding nations. Until recently no

church members at the conclusion of the Adventist tertiary institution was available to

campaign, thanked the visiting Amazing its high school graduates, with students

Discoveries team, saying, "Amazing being forced to travel to neighbouring

Discoveries brought a new dimension of Zimbabwe or further for higher education.

Christ's love to Lusaka and all of Zambia." So while in Lusaka, Dr Jeremic, who is a

Zambia, although called a "haven of successful businessman and persuasive nego-

peace" in strife-ravaged Africa (it's sur- tiator, was asked to assist in local fundraising

rounded by South Africa, Zimbabwe, for a new church university--Zambia

Malawi, Congo and Namibia, all of whom Adventist University (ZAU)--being estab-

have suffered debilitating civil wars or lished near Monze, in southern Zambia.

strife), suffers much of the same poverty as In anticipation of a major development

the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, with a decline push, which will see residential and educa-

in mineral commodity prices leading to eco- tional infrastructure built, some 250 invitees,

nomic stagnation and high unemployment. representing the national government, church

While it is a declared Christian state, ironi- and Lusaka's wealthier citizenry, met for a

cally it also has a high rate of HIV/AIDS fundraiser, the proceeds of which would

infection, which threatens to overwhelm its enable construction to begin in confidence.

public-health resources and further harm the In the course of the program, following

economy if intervention is delayed.

presentations by the university chancellor

Education and a higher standard of living and vice-chancellor, the Zambian Minister

is the key to escaping the debilitating aspects for Education and Dr Jeremic, almost six bil-

of the continent, and the church is doing lion Zambian kwacha ($A1 m) was pledged,

what it can in respect to both. Although it has with the minister suggesting a government

a relatively high proportion of Seventh-day contribution to complement the donated

Adventists (about one in 20), especially in the funds would be added.--Lee Dunstan

OFFICIAL PAPER of the South Pacific Division Seventh-day Adventist Church ABN 59 093 117 689 .au

Vol 111 No 4

Cover: Sven Ostring

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news

ASA meets China's university students

(Continued from page 1)

also joined the so-called "English corner" at the university, where they were able to assist Chinese students by providing opportunities to practise their conversational English.

These opportunities allowed friendships to be formed between the Chinese university students and the UniCo team members. Sun Lin, who is the International Programs Coordinator at Zhejiang University, said the concept of developing highly interactive programs between international students and local Chinese students had not been explored by the university before, and that the university was very interested in extending these ideas to other international student groups who visit the university. A number of the local university students were interested in the Christian beliefs held by UniCo team members and appreciated receiving Chinese Bibles as gifts.

Due to the significant proportion of medical students and professionals in the UniCo team, Dr Celia Clifford from the Yarra Valley church in Victoria, arranged for medical team members to meet with doctors working at two of the major university hospitals in Hangzhou. At her workplace in Melbourne, Dr Clifford had met a Chinese doctor who refered to himself as "Dr Smile," and he was interested in showing the medical

team members

around Hangzhou.

His

hospital

expressed an interest

in Adventist medical

professionals from

Australia teaching

professional English

to local Chinese doc-

tors at the hospital.

Dr Smile invited

Dr Carl Welsh, an

Adventist medical

administrative consultant based at the Sir Run Run Shaw

The UniCo team during their team-building time at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China.

Hospital in Hangzhou, to give a presenta- UniCo team.

tion on Christianity to all the surgeons at the The team also visited the Sir Run Run

hospital. Dr Clifford said, "God opened Shaw Hospital, which was constructed

doors that we could never have imagined." with the assistance of Loma Linda Hos-

During their stay in Hangzhou, the pital in California; the Hangzhou Chong

UniCo team worshipped at one of the local Yi church, which traces its roots back to the

Adventist churches, and were particularly missionary work of Hudson Taylor, and is

inspired with the fervour and gospel-cen- the largest Chinese church in the world;

tredness of the worship of the Chinese and the Zhejiang Theological Seminary.

Christians.

Tim Shelton, the UniCo team chaplain,

They participated in the worship at the said, "God is moving powerfully in China,

church through music, drama, testimonies and it was an honour to see Him move and

and talks on relationships and health. A at the same time be used by Him. This trip

number of the Chinese university students was truly a blessing and a challenge for me

expressed an interest in attending the to live mission not only in China but also at

Adventist church for their first time with the home here in Australia."--Sven Ostring

N The Bindoon church, WA, commemorated their centenary on November 26, 2005, with programs of reminiscing, attended by some 75 visitors. The church, originally situated 13 kilometres away at Mooliabeeni and called the Spring Valley church, was begun by Anna Glover and family, whose descendants and spouses (pictured) also attended the event.-- Dawn Blizard

N Several happenings have been taking place up on the Gold Coast, Qld, lately. Gold Coast Central Seventh-day Adventist church, formerly known as the Southport Seventh-day Adventist church, has changed name due to its new location. While awaiting council approval to start building their new church and community centre, they are worshipping at The Uniting Church of The Good Shepherd, Cotlew Street, Ashmore. The Gold Coast Adventist School has also changed its name to Gold Coast Christian College. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the school, to be celebrated on May 6, 7. And

Pastor Geoff Youlden (pictured), presenter in the Search video series, held a three-part series titled "Lest we forget" at the Burleigh Gardens church, December 9, 10. More than 400 people attended the series, which coincided with a special Sabbath school visitors day.--Scott Wegener

N The weekend of December 17

and 18 was the inaugural graduation weekend for Eastward Missionary College (EMC), NSW. The graduation service was hosted at Dorrigo church, where EMC has been based for the past year. Darlene Turpin and Tim Saunders received their diplomas in medical missionary work from Pastor John Lang and Rod Bailey, EMC director, as part of the graduation service. Eastward College is a self-supporting ministry, supporting the mission of the Adventist Church and specialing in evangelism, agriculture and medical missionary work.--Brett Higgins More @ eastward.edu.au

HISTORIC SPECIAL: LOOK BACK AT 120 YEARS OF SIGNS @ WWW..AU

4 February 4, 2006

news

Asian Aid extends work with hearing imparied

KOLLEGAL, INDIA

The Asian Aid School for the Hearing Impaired in Kollegal, India, was expanded in November last year to help meet the high demand for places at the school.

With the support of Asian Aid sponsors and donors throughout the South Pacific Division, a second floor was added to the school building, increasing the school's potential capacity from 70 to 120 students.

This additional space provides two speech-pathology labs, an additional hostel room, an assembly and study hall and staff residence.

Kollegal is an area where congenital deafness is common and the school plays an important role in helping children to overcome their disabilities. Working with specially trained staff, children are taught to read, write and communicate through both speech and sign language. This helps them to become contributing members to their community.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Asian Aid's work--Sharon Heise/Adele Nash

Andrew Johnson

Arts an option, but science still rules at summer camp

COORANBONG, NEW SOUTH WALES

Visual arts and music subjects feature more prominently, but astronomy, chemistry and mathematics remain as popular as ever

art, music from jazz to bebop and sound reinforcement, but most decided to stay with the traditional science subjects.

"The students, who give up a week of their holidays to come to camp, are the cream of the crop," says "Science+" camp

at Avondale College's annual "Science+" coordinator Jason Morton. "They're moti-

Summer Camp.

vated and enthusiastic."

The 28 senior high school students from And, perhaps, a little tired of the televi-

across Australia attending this year could sion. Student Kirrily Howarth, said, "This

choose to complete projects in computer far into your holidays, you run out of

things to do."

This year's camp, held

January 8 to 15 on Avon-

dale's Lake Macquarie

campus, is the 24th organ-

ised by the college's

Faculty of Science and

Mathematics.--Brenton

Stacey

For details about next

year's "Science+" camp,

contact Dr Lynden

Rogers, Dean of Science

and Mathematics,

phone +61 2 4980 2213

High school students at Avondale College's annual "Science+" Summer Camp now have more subjects to choose from, but science classes, such as this one in physics, remain popular.

or email .

N Major bookstores, such as Dymocks, Angus & Robinson and Borders, are currently displaying (under the popular science category) copies of Michael Westacott and John Ashton's book The Big Argument: Twenty-four scholars explore why science, archeology and philosophy haven't disproved God. "This is a major breakthrough as it is very difficult to get books defending the Christian faith into mainstream bookstores," says Dr Ashton. Contributors to the book include seven leading Adventist scholars. Sue Radd, columnist for Signs of the Times has recently had her book Eat to Live published in its

fifth language--French.

N Some 100 people attended the community Christmas concert "From Bethlehem to Calvary" run by the Wauchope church, NSW, on November 27 in the Hollisdale Hall, Pappinbarra. Many community members were included in the program and a collection taken raised money for the Wauchope Hospital.--Eva Everett

N Fox Valley church, NSW, annually holds "Christmas in reverse"-- donating various efforts, time and gifts to the community. A Christmas tree set up in their foyer has

80 tags with the age and sex of less fortunate people so a church member can purchase an appropriate gift, wrap it, attach the tag and leave it near the tree, ready for distribution. Some 50 mothers who are victims of crime are also listed to receive gift vouchers. Also, a week after letterboxing a large portion of Wahroonga, 50 volunteers and drivers go door to door collecting canned food, which is sorted and packed into 12-kilogram gift cartons. This year the total weighed in at 1.35 tonnes, to be distributed through five outlets, including Blacktown ADRA Centre. Each year the local

newspaper features their efforts.-- Loren Tinworth

N A US Navy chaplain protesting for the right to pray publicly in Jesus' name while wearing his uniform ended his 18-day hunger strike after the Navy gave him permission to do so. Chaplain James Klingenschmitt says "I won't stop fighting until every chaplain has the same rights."--Crosswalk

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY IN NEXT WEEK'S OFFERING FOR THIS MIGHTY FINE MAGAZINE YOU ARE NOW READING!

February 4, 2006 5

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