Adventist Peace Fellowship

I haven’t been updating this blog very often because I’ve been putting my efforts into the Adventist Peace Fellowship. Check out our podcast, YouTube videos, blog posts, and more!

ADRA STATEMENT ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY

NOTE: In addition to this ADRA statement, check out the third episode of the Adventist Peace Radio podcast (episode 3; all episodes). The episode focuses on ADRA and the refugee crisis.

Silver Spring, Md.— This World Refugee Day, there are more than 60 million people around the world who are internally displaced, seeking asylum, or living as refugees in other countries. The United Nations has described the Syrian crisis, which has displaced approximately half of the country’s population, as the biggest humanitarian emergency of our era.

As an international humanitarian organization, ADRA has a long history of helping people displaced by conflict and persecution. Between 2010 and 2015 alone, ADRA has assisted around 5 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). We are currently assisting refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs, and returnees in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. ADRA’s response to the Syrian crisis involves responding to the needs of IDPs within Syria, and working with refugees and asylum seekers in Lebanon, Greece, and other parts of Europe.

In the face of this unprecedented humanitarian crisis, ADRA is marking World Refugee Day with a call to action.

We call on the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY to find a timely, humane solution to resettling the refugees stranded in Greece and other parts of the world. We also call on the international community to address the circumstances that cause people to become refugees. We call on the international community to help the Syrian Government find a peaceful resolution to the Syrian conflict, and address the conflicts and human rights concerns in other countries which cause people to flee.

We call on POLITICIANS to stand firm on their beliefs, and not be swayed by populism. What is right and what is wrong never changes. Human dignity and human rights are always the same regardless of changing circumstances and commerce.

We call on the MEDIA to report responsibly on the refugee crisis and related events. We call on them to present a balanced, fair picture of events, and not to stoke people’s fears and prejudices.

We call on CHURCHES to talk to your congregations about what the Christian response should be to these events and how to follow Jesus’ example, even in difficult times. Adventist churches in Europe have partnered with ADRA on projects to support refugees in their community. We challenge churches to consider whether they have a role to play in reaching out to the millions of displaced people around the world and in our own communities.

We call on INDIVIDUALS to not be guided by selfishness, fear and prejudice. We urge a response to this crisis driven by intelligence, compassion and a recognition of our shared humanity and human rights. We believe that every person has the power to have a positive impact on the world around them, and that there is something everyone can do to help refugees, even if it is just saying a prayer for them or educating yourself about the situation.

To find out more about ADRA’s work with refugees, and to read the stories of some of the refugees we’ve met, visit ADRA.org/refugees. To learn more about what you can do to help refugees, sign ourpledge. For downloadable resources your church can use to devote a service to refugees, visit https://www.adventist.org/en/ information/special-days/ refugees/.

 

Mini Web Round-up

I haven’t posted anything for a while. Here are a few articles I’ve missed:

• The Prophetic Voice and Social Justice – Spring Symposium 2016 (Adventist Theological Society)
• In Dominica, ADRA Begins Rebuilding After Tropical Storm Erika (Adventist Today/ANN, 17 Feb 2016)
• Adventist Spokesperson Promotes Human Dignity at African Union Prayer Breakfast (AToday/ANN, 12 Feb 2016)
• Mexican State Governor pledges support for Adventist efforts in religious liberty and social programs (ANN, 2 Feb 2016)
• Adventists distribute bottled water in Flint, Michigan, amid water crisis (ANN, 21 Jan 2016)
• Perspective: The Church as God’s Answer to the ISIS Crisis (Phillips, Spectrum, 10 Dec 2015)
• NAD Leaders Pack 20,000 Meals (Weber, NAD, 16 Nov 2015)
• Adventists Offer Prayers and Support in Paris Tragedy (McChesney, Adventist Review, 13 Nov 2015)

AT: Voluntourism: More Harm than Good

Adventist Today has republished a story about some of the unintended consequences of global volunteerism–“Voluntourism: More Harm than Good” (Heather Ruiz, 19 Aug 2015). The article begins with this explanation:

In August, 2013, Heather Ruiz traveled through West Africa as a journalist for ADRA. After working in development for nine months, Ruiz moved to a village in the Western Sahara to find answers for her questions about responsible volunteering and empowering communities. The following article is her insight on constructive service.

Read the entire article at Adventist Today (link).

ANN: A new networking association is formed for Christ’s “unusual ambassadors”

Adventist News Network (ANN): The World Adventist Public Officials Association (WAPOA) aims to connect Adventists around the world who serve their country as elected or appointed officials.

July 22, 2015 | Silver Spring, Maryland, USA | Bettina Krause

It can be an isolating experience for Seventh-day Adventist Church members who hold high public office: this was one of the key messages to emerge from a unique gathering of Adventist public officials earlier this month in San Antonio, Texas. Some 21 leaders from ten countries—ambassadors, ministers of state, members of parliament, a senator, a deputy chief justice, and high-level officials within international organizations—came together for a lunch meeting on July 8 to discuss both the challenges and opportunities facing Adventists within the public realm.

Elder Ted N.C. Wilson, president of the Adventist world church, attended briefly and encouraged his fellow church members. “You are the Esthers, the Josephs, the Daniels of our world,” he said. “You make a difference in an arena that most of us never touch. And never forget you are there for a purpose; you are where God has placed you. Yes, you serve your country, or a particular legislature. But most importantly, because you are a Seventh-day Adventist, you are working under the very highest authority: Jesus Christ our Savior. You are called to be unusual ambassadors for Christ.”

Those seated around the table spoke frankly about the need for better networking between Adventists who serve their governments, and about the loneliness that often comes with serving in a political or civic role. Some expressed their disappointment that holding elected office is sometimes seen as “off limits” for faithful church members—a sign that someone has compromised their integrity. All spoke about their desire to carry their spiritual values into the public realm and to reflect Christ’s character in their service to their country.

Senator Floyd Morris, Senate President of Jamaica, was voted as the first president of WAPOA. Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Bienvenido V. Tejano, was chosen to serve as the association’s secretary, and Damaris Moura Kuo, president of the Religious Liberty Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association’s São Paulo Division, was selected as its public relations officer.

According to Senator Morris, the first order of business will be to identify more Adventist public officials—whether they serve their national government, or their local city council—and invite them to join the association. The group plans to communicate regularly and to organize a meeting of the association in 2017.

The gathering was hosted by the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department of the Adventist world church, and took place during the General Conference Session, which some of the public officials were attending as delegates.

Dr. Ganoune Diop, the newly elected director of PARL for the world church, says he hopes the association will promote a vigorous dialogue between Adventists who hold prominent and often-influential positions. “These men and women need our support and our prayers,” he says. “They are first and foremost our brothers and our sisters, but they are also called to represent Christ’s kingdom and His values within often-difficult and sensitive circumstances.”

Those who are interested in the association can contact the Adventist Church’s PARL department through its website, www.adventistliberty.org.

A Conspiracy of Love in Action.

José Cortes, Jr., has written a powerful essay for NAD Ministerial on practical community engagement. He begins:

“What if our Adventist Churches across North America began a conspiracy? What if we decided in harmony with all the other churches across Bermuda, Canada, United States and the islands of Guam and Micronesia that we are going to love our cities like Jesus did? What do you think would happen if we ventured outside the walls of our churches, asked people about their needs, and did something transformational for individuals and communities?

“What if our local churches conspired together to do the following?”

Please review is creative list here.

Lake Union Conferece Apologizes for Racist Failures

“Lake Region Conference celebrates 70 years of service, Lake Union Conference apologizes for failures of the Church in regard to race, June 20, 2015, Camp Wagner, Cassopolis, MI. In order of appearance: Don Livesay, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Lake Union Headquarters; Clifford Jones, Lake Region Conference.”

The video below can also be seen here.

<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/131332874″>LUC Apology</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/lakeunionherald”>Herald</a&gt; on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

Why I Go To Church.

I wrote this a couple weeks ago while flying home from a business trip. Now I’m posting it in the context of the recent killing of nine African-American Christians in Charleston, SC. And since I’m sitting at home on a Sabbath morning instead of sitting in church, apparently I should write a follow-up essay, Why I Don’t Go To Church. :)

—

Church-goers Anonymous:

“My name is Jeff, and I go to church.”

“Hi, Jeff.”

Yes, I am a church member. I attend a local congregation. I was part of a conversation recently about why I go to church. My basic answer was that at church I get connected to the people who are the local “body of Christ.”ⁱ That deserves some serious unpacking (by someone more insightful than me, but I’ll do my best).

I should clarify from the outset that my answer is not really about a congregation, a denomination, or a building, although each of those is inherently involved. A more complete response about attending church would deal with these directly, but that’s not my focus here.

I go to church to be in the community that, I believe, is in some mysterious way the body of Christ on earth. As an aside, for my friends who are atheists or followers of other spiritual paths, if you momentarily allow a resurrected Jesus for argument’s sake, can you imagine how frustrating it must be for him to be identified with many—okay, all—of his professed-followers? The church being the body of Jesus on earth, with Jesus being the head, sounds ridiculous from either side of that question. With that admitted, I’ll return to the argument at hand.

Being part of Jesus’ body means a few overlapping things to me at this point in my walk. First, it means to me that Jesus intends his disciples to be in community. My culture idolizes individuality and supposed independence, but my God favors community and interdependence. If God desires introverts and extroverts to be Jesus’ body together, then I need to overcome my urge to go it alone and instead explore life in community. On some level, this is about my identity (my being; who I am). My identity is part of the world-wide body of Jesus, and I engage this in my local setting (more on this soon).

Second, and this order is not necessarily sequential, this means to me that I need to believe some things relating to Jesus. The faith community is where we teach each other as we continually wrestle with the written word in a community of discernment. In church I listen, discuss, read, pray, learn, and teach (thinking/knowing). Learning and believing are community activities. Some of us may read the Bible on our own, but this is only possible in the era of the printing press. Paul wrote his letters to churches, not individuals. They were read and digested in a community. There is no private interpretation, it is said (try to figure that out).ⁱⁱ

Some people may personally prefer to learn through reading alone, but the authors of those books are almost certainly members of congregations and learning communities. Their thoughts didn’t appear out of a vacuum; they were formed in community even if they are later read in private.

In my faith community I have also learned that knowing things about Jesus is insufficient. I need to understand and believe the things Jesus actually taught. Believing the Apostle’s Creed is not sufficient or else I think Jesus would have written it himself. Instead, he said things like: love your neighbors, friends, and enemies; forgive people; treat people as we want to be treated; be generous; don’t fear; be humble; hunger and thirst for righteous/justiceⁱⁱⁱ; and care for people who are powerless, disrespected, and marginalized.^iv To believe things about Jesus (e.g., virgin birth, resurrection, etc.) and not believe the things he is reported to have said is in my mind to miss the boat. This leads to the third point—our actions.

While psychologists have found that we act our way into thinking and not only think our way into acting, it still seems logical to me that our actions (doing) should be consistent with our identities (being) and our beliefs (knowing).

I think my actions reveal what I really believe, regardless of what I say I believe. Values are expressed in actions. Do my actions embody the teachings of Jesus? Do I forgive people, practice compassion, do justly, show impartiality, and speak honestly? If I’m more interested in religious observance than in pursuing the life of discipleship (following the way of Jesus), then I might be missing Jesus’ point.

Within this context, I want to highlight one facet of this community that is especially meaningful to me. Jesus’ opponents recognized that he showed partiality to no one.^v Later, James spoke about this value, as did Peter and Paul.^vi Here’s the thing: impartiality and equality presume and require community. I can’t be equal with myself in any meaningful way beyond a simple tautology. I can’t demonstrate this feature of the kingdom on my own. It’s impossible. In a community we can express equality across lines of race (so called), gender, nationality, ethnicity, socio-economic level, and all other social markers.

This radical equality should emerge in a community where members are committed to pursuing the way of Jesus, and I want to be part of this social revolution. I want to live in this egalitarian community where everyone has value, everyone is cared for, and everyone is safe. I believe this is the meaning of the body of Christ. This is why I go to church.

At this point I can imagine at least two objections, even from people who would be inclined to agree with me. First, a person doesn’t need to sit in a pew to be part of the body of Christ. Second, I’ve never seen a local congregation that looked anything like what you’ve described here. You’re ignoring how dysfunctional, oppressive, and hurtful the church can be… and frequently is.

There are other objections (e.g., Jesus was a rabbi, not God, so this is all ridiculous), but these two arguments stand out foremost in my mind. I think they are fair, and they’re worth reflecting on. Very briefly, here is my attempt at a response.

Yes, I don’t want to confine God to a certain building, day, ritual, or anything else. I can’t pretend to set or know God’s limits. I simply mean to say that in some unique way, meeting with other people who also want to live as Jesus’ body in this world has a special significance for me. Even when I feel out of rhythm or out of place in the community, I still find some form of meaning in sharing life’s journey with those who are seeking to live for Jesus, in Jesus, with Jesus (and hopefully more and more like Jesus).

And yes, the church—broadly defined—has serious problems. I am not under the delusion that Christians—again broadly defined—live up to the description I’ve given here. We aren’t that—I’m not that—but those are the ideals I want my community to embrace as established by our head, Jesus. I want to be an influence in my faith community, and I want to be part of a community that influences me in this way.

So despite the serious flaws of the church, and despite God’s presence far beyond a religiously-dedicated building or ritual, I continue to find meaning in being part of the body that Jesus has invited to join to himself. And that level of humility on Jesus’ part (joining our bodies and reputations to his) tells me that I need to be mighty welcoming of others as well!

I’ll conclude with a series of questions posed by Craig Nessan:

What would it mean for the church to take seriously the theological conviction that Jesus Christ is present in the world today as a collective person in the form of the church? How would we need to revise our individualistic notions of the Christian faith? Instead of focusing on what Christ has done and can do for me, I would instead see myself as a member whose functioning contributes to the well-being of the whole body…. I begin to search for how Christ encounters us as members of the body of Christ. I begin to think corporately about how we together give expression to Christ’s presence in the world. (Shalom Church, p. 45)

I have a feeling we can find significance in both realities—individual and corporate—without losing the other. We are individuals, and we are a body together. May we become all that Jesus would have his body to be in this world.

i 1 Cor. 12:12, 27; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 4:12, 5:23.

ii 2 Peter 1:20.

iii For a description of the relationship between justice and righteousness, see “The Strand of Justice” by Steven Thompson in Do Justice: Our Call to Faithful Living, edited by Nathan Brown and Joanna Darby (2014).

iv Matt. 22: 36-40; John 15:13; Matt. 5:43-48; Matt. 18:21-22; Matt. 7:12; Luke 12:15; Matt. 6:25-34; Luke 14:7-14; Matt. 5:6; Matt. 25:31-46.

v Mark 12:14.

vi James 2; Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; 1 Tim. 5:21; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11; Eph. 2:14. “The apostle Paul said, ‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ Historian Thomas Cahill says that this was the first statement of egalitarianism in human literature” (John Ortberg, Who Is This Man?, p. 41).

ADRA Continues to Respond to Earthquakes in Nepal

Adventist Today reported on ADRA’s response to the devastating earthquake on April 25 (link). Subsequent tremors and quakes in the area have caused additional damage. Regardless of the risks, ADRA continues to work in the area, as seen in this news release:

ADRA and GlobalMedic partner to distribute tents to replace health posts

KATHMANDU, NEPAL— ADRA and GlobalMedic have partnered to provide large tents that will provide a temporary place for health posts that have been damaged or destroyed by last month’s earthquake.

This 36-by-20-foot (10-by-6-meter) tent will increase Scheer Memorial Hospital capacity to take in patients hurt by last month’s earthquake. Credit: ADRA International

“The people of 10 communities in Kavre District will have a better place to receive health services through ADRA working with GlobalMedic and Scheer Memorial Hospital,” explained Simon Lewis, former ADRA Nepal country director and emergency response team member.

Yesterday, ADRA and GlobalMedic delivered a 36-by-20-foot (10-by-6-meter) tent to Scheer Memorial Hospital that will help increase capacity for patients at the hospital.

“This tent is going to allow us to hang onto patients that could go back but don’t have a home to go back to,” said Dale Mole, president of Scheer Memorial Hospital. “After the earthquake we had to have C-sections outdoors because patients were too afraid to enter. This tent gives us capacity we’ve never had before.”

For now, ADRA and GlobalMedic are distributing a total of 15 tents—10 in Kavre, including one at Scheer Memorial Hospital and five in Dhading.

“These tents are so multipurpose,” said David Sakaki, GlobalMedic volunteer. “They could be used for hospitals or for child-friendly spaces, or medical storage.”

A total of 240 health posts were destroyed in areas affected by the earthquake as well as 347 health posts have suffered severe damage. Lewis explained that while these 15 tents will make a large difference in these communities, there’s a lot of unmet need.

“For now, these communities in Dhading and Kavre will have somewhere safe, secure, and dry to meet their doctor, nurse or health worker in dignity,” said Lewis. “But we still need support from the global community to help us provide tents for healthcare.”

NOTE: You can support these efforts by donating here.

About ADRA

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its work empowers communities and changes lives around the globe by providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. For more information, visit ADRA.org.

Headline Round-Up (27 March 2015)

Here is an unsystematic and incomplete listing of some recent Adventist headlines relating to social ethics and action (excerpts included). Click on the titles to access the complete articles.

AU to hold Social Justice Summit: Race and Justice in America (Adv Peace Fellowship, 27 Mar 2015)

The Social Justice Series presents a conversation on race and justice in America. 51 years later, and still fighting for civil rights.

San Antonio to Get $10 Million in Free Adventist Healthcare (McChesney, Adv Review, 27 Mar 2015)

Hundreds of healthcare professionals are gearing up to provide more than $10 million in free medical and dental services as part of a Seventh-day Adventist initiative in San Antonio, Texas, next month. The April 8-10 event at the Alamodome stadium will be one of the Adventist Church’s biggest outreach projects of 2015 and seeks to introduce local residents to the church ahead of the General Conference session, a major church business meeting that will be held in the stadium in July.

Adventists in Nigeria Urged to Not Vote in Election on Sabbath (Adv Today, 27 Mar 2015)

Adventists in Nigeria have been urged by denominational leaders to refrain from voting tomorrow (March 28) on the Sabbath.

ADRA’s Docuseries Brings Viewers to Remote Projects (Byrd, Spectrum, 26 Mar 2015)

Question: ADRA’s nine-part docuseries, “A Closer Walk,” concludes this week on the Hope Channel. What was the message of the series?

Answer [Natalia López-Thismón]: We wanted people who watch “A Closer Walk” to be educated and to be inspired. Many people think they know ADRA — but our work around the world is more than responding to disasters (even though that is some of our most visible work). We work around the world to make sure that people can rise out of poverty in a sustainable way. We provide resources and hope. My favorite part of ADRA’s ministry is that we act as the hands and feet of Jesus on Earth — doing practical work that meets people’s most essential needs.

Adventist Denominational Leaders Address Issues of Ethnicity & Structure (Adv Today, 26 Mar)

The leadership of the Adventist denomination in North America has voted a statement addressing recent discussions on the topic of how the organization deals with ethnic minorities. The statement affirms “the historical establishment and current role and function of Regional Conferences [as] structurally essential, mission effective, and relevant in reaching the diverse populations and urban centers within our division.”

Mission Trip Aims to Prepare San Antonio for World Church Gathering (Adv Today, 26 Mar 2015)

For two weeks leading to the Adventist Global Youth Day on March 21, nearly 150 youth and their sponsors participated in service projects in San Antonio. The MOREcompassion Mission Trip was planned by the Texas Conference, which “has been working towards preparing San Antonio for the General Conference this summer,” Armando Miranda told Adventist Today.

More Compassion in San Antonio (Miranda, NAD Ministerial, ND)

The simple concept of helping people seems to get lost in our churches with so much “church” work that we get carried away by it. One of the best things that I have heard from participants and pastors alike is the aspect of service without the intention of getting something in return. People seem interested to know why we are mowing their lawns at no charge, why we are picking up trash and giving them food for free.

Interview with Kevin Kuehmichel, Pastor Committed to Community Service (Boyd, Adv Today, 25 Mar 2015)

AToday: Did church members get involved?

Kuehmichel: It took awhile, but I got a number of church members to engage the youth…. When we had a regular group of 12 or 14 kids coming every night, and I kept telling church members stories about these kids and encouraging people, I did get some people to start coming. They said, “Hey, this isn’t that hard. We just have to care about people.”

Boarding Academy to Save Big With Solar Energy (Zerne & McChesney, Adv Review, 25 Mar 2015)

Highland View Academy, based in Hagerstown, Maryland, will save $30,000 a year in electricity costs when the solar field comes online late this year and take a leading position among Adventist institutions in embracing renewable energy.

Religious Freedom: A Communal Right (Bussey, CCCC, 24 Mar 2015)

On March 19, the Supreme Court of Canada released its long-anticipated Loyola decision and came very close to saying that there is a religious freedom right, protected by the Charter, for religious corporations. It was only one vote short. However, the entire seven-member panel of the Court ruled that religious freedom does have “communal aspects.”

PUC Student Drops Out To Join “Limbless Evangelist” (Logan, Spectrum, 24 Mar 2015)

Nineteen-year-old Pacific Union College student Bradon Schwarz is dropping out of school to join “limbless evangelist” Nick Vujicic in ministry around the world.

Shakespeare Walla Walla Presents “A Gay SDA Play” (Wright, Spectrum, 24 Mar 2015)

Don’t let the April 1 event date fool you—Shakespeare Walla Walla’s presentation of “A Gay SDA Play” is a serious depiction of the lives of two dozen Seventh-day Adventists (some have left the denomination) who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

My Story: My Experience With Race and Racism as an Adventist (Fernandez, TheHaystack.TV, 23 Mar 2015)

To begin with: I’m mixed, both ethnically and racially (that’s my family and I in the picture above at my brothers wedding last year). My father is an Afro-Caribbean from the Dominican Republic, with some Haitian decent. My mother is from the Central American country of El Salvador. Although many people may think all Hispanic countries are the same (no, we don’t all eat tortillas), these two cultures are vastly different.  Here is where my struggle with cultural, ethic, and racial identity begins.

The Other Side of the Cheese: My Response to Dr. Dwight Nelson’s Sermon on Ending “Ethnically Separate Conferences” (Edmond, SCC, 23 Mar 2015)

I thought about something that the former President of our conference, Elder Joseph McCoy, used to say (he may have gotten it from one of our former Pastors, the late Elder Xavier Butler) “no matter how thinly you slice the cheese, there is always two sides.”

ADRA Celebrates World Water Day (Adv Today, 22 Mar 2015)

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, joined the United Nations (UN) and other nongovernmental organizations in celebrating World Water Day on Sunday, March 22. ADRA implements a range of projects that make water available to individuals and communities around the world.

Records Broken as Young Adventists ‘Are the Sermon’ (McChesney, Adv Review, 21 Mar 2015)

Hundreds of thousands of Adventist young people shared Jesus’ love in 132 countries for Global Youth Day on Sabbath, March 21, setting a new record that surpassed organizers’ expectations.

Unity 2015 Campaign Looks Toward General Conference Vote (Wright, Spectrum, 21 Mar 2015)

A statement targeting Seventh-day Adventist Church members entitled “Affirming Adventist Unity” garnered over 1,000 signatures in its first seven days online, averaging about 185 signatures a day. People in 44 states in the United States and in several more countries added their names to the statement.

The statement endorses a YES vote on the question of whether each major geographic division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church can decide to ordain women pastors. The vote on that question will be held at the 2015 General Conference Session in July.

Millions of Adventist Teens, Young Adults Do Social Action Projects This Weekend (Adv Today, 19 Mar 2015)

The denomination’s General Conference (GC) has asked every Adventist local church to observe Global Youth Day with activities “that will inspire daily acts of kindness throughout the entire church. The goal is to integrate daily acts of kindness into our lifestyles, both as individuals and as a church,” states the official materials from the GC youth department

ADRA Responds to Cyclone Pam’s Devastation on Vanuatu (Adv Today, 19 Mar 2015)

Before Tropical Cyclone Pam hit the archipelago of Vanuatu on March 13 and 14, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was prepositioned to assist in recovery. Despite this preparation, devastation caused by winds averaging 167 miles per hour near the eye of the storm is making it difficult for ADRA and other agencies to respond.

Millions of Young Adventists to Share Food and Hugs on Sabbath (Kingston & Stevens, Adv Review, 19 Mar 2015)

Millions of Adventist young people from Norway and Mexico to the cyclone-devastated South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu will share food, visit hospitals, and offer hugs to passersby as they seek to show Jesus’ love in their communities on Sabbath, March 21.

Ebola Survivor Finds New Life at ADRA (McChesney, Adv Review, 17 Mar 2015)

Henry Tony lost his wife, little son, mother, and grandmother to Ebola last fall. But the 31-year-old Liberian native says he has reason to praise God. He survived the deadly virus and is now playing a role in ADRA’s efforts to combat Ebola in West Africa. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency recently announced plans to employ survivors, who face widespread discrimination, and Tony is one of the first to be hired.

Adventist Church Makes History in Cuba With Major Health Fair (IAD/Adv Review, 17 Mar 2015)

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cuba made history with 2,000 young people donating blood, conducting health screenings, and distributing thousands of books at two of the communist island’s most revered sites.

Adventist Church adopts stance on vaccines (McChessney, ANN/Adv Review, 16 Mar 2015)

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has issued an official statement on vaccines, saying it “encourages responsible immunization” and has no faith-based reason to discourage believers from participating in immunization programs.

Peacemaking through Medical Care (Weir, Adv Peace Fellowship, 16 Mar 2015)

On March 12, 2015, students and professors gathered in Newbold auditorium at Andrews University to hear how doctors in western Galilee are using medicine to build trust and promote peace between Israel and Syria.

Andrews University Holds Forum On Racially Divided Conferences (Boyd, Adv Peace Fellowship, 12 Mar 2015)

On March 7, 2015, the Andrews University APF Chapter, along with a number of other student organizations, sponsored an event which looked at the state and regional conference structure within the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Brazilian Adventists Give Roses to Prostitutes (Ayanne, Adv Review, 11 Mar 2015)

As many countries around the world celebrated International Women’s Day last weekend, Seventh-day Adventists in a Brazilian city presented prostitutes with red roses. A group from the Carapina Grande Adventist Church hit the sidewalk in the southeast coastal city of Serra at 9 p.m. Saturday, the eve of the March 8 holiday, and spent four hours passing out flowers and DVDs to the surprised and delighted young women.

ADRA Gets $2 Million to Turn Young Romanians Into Business Owners (McChesney, 8 Mar 2015)

ADRA has received a European Union grant of 2 million euros ($2.16 million) to help young Romanian adults open their own businesses, part of an effort by the Adventist-run organization to give people the tools they need to improve their lives.

Church Fears Same-Sex Marriage Ruling May Stifle Religious Freedom (McChesney, Adv Review, 6 Mar 2015)

The Seventh-day Adventist Church filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Count on Friday asking that it provide legal protections to religious denominations in a potentially landmark same-sex marriage case.

Seventh-day Adventists and the WWI tribunals (Hulbert, Everyday Lives in War, 26 Feb 2015)

John Benefield was both a baker and a Conscientious Objector. Working in an essential industry he was exempt from the armed service as his skills were needed at home. Nevertheless, every few months he had to attend a tribunal in order to re-establish his status. This took place in a court house 13 miles from his home in Bournemouth. As losses mounted the Tribunal became more strict, constantly looking for any loop hole they could to dispatch even essential workers to the front.

Abercrombie & Fitch, The Supreme Court and You (Leslie, Huffington Post, 25 Feb 2015)

The issue in question concerns a young woman who believes differently than I do. And yet, I care deeply about this case that is being heard by the Supreme Court involving a young Muslim woman who was denied employment by Abercrombie & Fitch due to the headscarf she wore for religious reasons… because this conflicted with Abercrombie & Fitch’s “look policy.”

Adventists in Central Jamaica fight crime by putting youth to work (Coke, IAD, 24 Feb 2015)

More than 2,000 Seventh-day Adventist young people took to Jamaican streets last weekend to spruce up neighborhoods and encourage healthy lifestyles as part of a church initiative to keep youth away from crime.

Adventist Church’s Ebola response highlights coordinated effort (Oliver, ANN, 20 Feb 2015)

The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s coordinated response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa includes eradication projects in the affected countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as support for several hospitals and more than two-dozen schools, most of which still remain closed.

In Sierra Leone, ADRA decontaminating homes to stop Ebola’s spread (ANN/ADRA, 3 Feb 2013)

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Sierra Leone is helping to operate a home decontamination program to prevent the spread of Ebola, an initiative that agency officials say is the only one of its kind in the country.

A History Lesson (Hines, Spectrum, 2 Feb 2015)

In 1905 the Spanish philosopher George Santayana published Reason in Common Sense, in which he penned the often quoted (and misquoted) phrase, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It seems we have the same problem in the Adventist Church. One of the great travesties of Adventism is that the church in America is still structurally segregated.