Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INISIW
Ministry is the international journal of the
Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association
and has been published since 1928.
EVERY The theological value of the Flowers, John M. Fowler, Michael Hasel, Roland
Hegstad, Kathleen Kuntaraf, Ekkehardt Mueller, Jan
ISSUE Creation account Paulsen, Robert Peach, George Reid, Angel Rodriguez,
Penny Shell, William Shea, Russell Staples, Richard
Genesis 1 and 2 as foundational theology rather Tibbits, Ted Wilson, Edward Zinke
than solely an account of physical origins Pastoral Assistant Editors: John C. Cress, Fredrick
Russell, Maylan Schurch, Loren Seibold
Greg A. King International Advisors: Alejandro Bullon, John
Duroe, Paulraj Isaiah, Anthony Kent, Ewoo Andrews
Laurence, Ivan Manilich, Carlos Martin, Gabriel Maurer,
Editorial Joel Musvosvi, Ivan Omana, David Osborne, Peter
Roennfeldt, Raymond Zeeman
Growing a healthy church, part 2 Pastoral Advisors: Leslie Baumgartner, S. Peter
Four basic dimensions for effective church growth Campbell, Miguel A. Cerna, Jeanne Hartwell, Mitchell
Henson, Greg Nelson, Norma Osborn, Leslie Pollard,
John Grys and Greg Schaller Dan Smith, Steve Wiilsey
Advertising Editorial Office
Subscriptions and Circulation Jeannette Calbi
Resources Cathy Payne
Celebration and experience in
Cover Illustration Kevin Chadwick
preaching Cover Design Harry Knox
An interview with Henry H. Mitchell by Derek J.
Subscriptions: 12 issues: United States US$29.95;
Morris Canada and overseas US$31.75; airmail US$41.75;
single copy US$3.00. To order, send name, address,
and payment to Jeannette Calbi, Ministry Subscriptions,
Sexual abuse of children in the 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904
U.S.A.
church
Subscription queries and address changes:
The candid, eye-opening account of a pastor's Email: calbij@gc.adventist.org
Fax: 301-680-6502
struggle with a sexual abuser Phone: 301-680-6503
Peter Winter To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts.
Editorial preference is to receive manuscripts on
diskette with name, address, telephone and fax num
bers, and Social Security number (if U.S. citizen). Send
editorial correspondence to 12501 Old Columbia Pike,
God in the garden? Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600.
Phone: 301-680-6510; fax: 301-680-6502;
An Easter message Email: norcottj@gc-adventist.org or
drapers@gc.adventist.org (editorial offices).
Thomas E. Schmidt
Writer's Guidelines available on request.
Ministry (ISSN 0026-5314), the international journal
of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association
2001, is published monthly by the General
Christianity and the church in the Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and printed by
Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1 350 N. Kings Road,
twenty-first century Nampa, ID 83687-3193. Member Associated Church
Press. Standard mail postage paid at Nampa, Idaho,
What's the future of Western Christianity?
Bill Jackson PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
Vol. 74 Number 3
Bible credits: Scripture quotations from NASB are from the New
American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Texts
credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.
Copyright 1973, 1978,1984 by the International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Texts credited
to NK|V are from The New King James Version. Copyright 1979,
1980, 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. Bible texts credited
to RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
Copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian
Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
USA. Used by permission.
If you're receiving Ministry bimonthly and haven't paid for a subscription, it's not a mistake. Since 1928 Ministry has been
Free Subscription published for Seventh-day Adventist ministers. We believe, however, that the time has come for clergy everywhere to experience a
resurgence of faith in the authority of Scripture and in the great truths that reveal the gospel of our salvation by grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
We want to share our aspirations and faith in a way that will provide inspiration and help to you as clergy. We hope you will accept this journal as our
outstretched hand to you. Look over our shoulder, take what you want and find helpful, and discard what you can't use. Bimonthly gift subscriptions are
available to all licensed and/or ordained clergy. Requests should be on church letterhead and addressed to the editorial office.
The call
in the calling
C
alling or career? Prophet or pro he spoke to me . . . and I heard him
fessional? Priest or pundit? who spoke to me. ... As for them,
Conviction or compliance? [Ezekiel's "congregation"] whether they
Bottom line, why are we ministers? Why hear or whether they refuse ... yet they
are you and I doing what we're doing?
WILL EVA will know that a prophet has been
What actually got us doing it in the first among them. Do not be afraid of them
place? What keeps us going? Perhaps nor be afraid of their words, though
most challenging of all, what in fact briers and thorns are with you and you
have we come to consider ministry to dwell among scorpions; do not be
be at its heart? afraid of their words or dismayed by
"What I object to most is the their looks.... Behold I have made your
appalling and systematic trivializing of face strong against their faces, and your
the pastoral office. It is part of a larger forehead strong against their foreheads.
trivialization, that of the culture itself, a Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I
trivialization so vast and epidemic that regular rhythms of immediate sight and have made your forehead; do not be
there are days when its ruin seems consciousness, a pastor becomes subject afraid of them" (Ezek. 2:2-9).
assured. There are other days, though, to what easily develops into a ministry of Hard as it may be to admit it in writ
when we catch a glimpse of glory a minutiae and trivialities, a mere profes ing, especially in a magazine like this
man here, a woman there determined sionalism, simply a job, at best another one, there is a question mark of pro
to live nobly." 1 service profession. I definitely do not gressing size that presents itself squarely
With these words, Eugene Peterson wish to rob ministry of its relevancy on the foreheads of we who are today
reintroduces the idea of "vocational (God knows, how often in the name of called "clergy." It has to do with our
holiness." In that context he speaks of a heavenly calling we have pompously believability, our credibility. The reason
seeing "all around men and women, destroyed, as we say, anything of any for its scarlet presence lies, I believe
pastors, hammering together a voca earthly good). But I want my own heart close to the matter of our sense of the
tional identity from models given to always to beat with the conviction that, holiness of our calling. People are starv
them from the 'principalities and pow bottom line, God Himself has in fact ing for the real thing. We are starving
ers'" that surround them. "The models," called me to do what I am presently for the real thing.
he continues, so persuasive in the sur doing in my ministry. Eugene Peterson, once again: "But
rounding culture, "were all strong on A few weeks ago I talked to one of here I was on a religious ship on which
power (making things happen) and my fellow ministers a colleague I God was peripheral to the bottom line,
image (appearing important). But none admire and respect. My moments with in the background of an enterprise that
of them seemed congruent with the him were inspiring. He simply talked of was mostly informed by psychology,
calling I sensed forming within myself."2 the deeply conscious sense that he has sociology, and management-by-objec-
That calling is, in short, based upon the come to possess that when he stands tive." 3 Let me commit myself under
fact that it itself, even more than the up to preach, whether here or there, it God either to plunge into the ocean
minister himself or herself, is holy. That's is God who has inspired his soul with a and out of such a ship, or to turn such
no new thought, but one that, given the particular content for this particular a ship into a more worthy course. We
neglect of it during the last thirty years congregation or audience at this partic may not be able to turn the whole
or so is quite a shattering concept! Ours ular time; that God has sent him to fleet, but we can, by Cod's grace, turn
is a genuinely holy calling because it is these people at this time. There is some our ship about. H
one given to us or made for us by Cod thing magnificent and true about the
Himself. convictions he shared with me.
We must recognize again that the call Ezekiel had these convictions. He 1 Eugene Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant
to ministry, our calling, is a holy one; w< ild not be caught merely doing his (Grand Rapids, Midi.: William B. Eerdmans Pub.
Co., 1992), 37.
one that has its origin in the heart of o. thing. His work was the work of 2 Ibid., 50, 51.
God. Yet, bit by bit, running beside the ti .Spirit. "The Spirit entered me when 3 Ibid., 45.
W
hen Deborah, a middle- ing" into a ministry a service of love that
Misheck Kirimi
aged, divorced woman the church exists to offer. Unfortunately, the
was found dead in her "talking ministries" have increased tremen
room with a lethal syringe dously at the expense of the listening
still dangling on her ministry. It's time we readjusted the scale.
thigh, the local counselor recalled two signif One practical way to overcome this limita
icant facts he had observed about her. First, tion is to begin to create a culture of attentive
although Deborah was affiliated with a near listening in the congregation. A minister can
by church, she had no close friends. Second, turn the church into a listening community.
she had a distressing tale that she had to share Parents can learn to listen to their children,
with someone who would listen. She found children to their parents, spouses to each
nobody responsive enough with whom to other. Everyone can learn to listen. The result
share her story, and in a way that is what will be improved relationships.
killed her. Probably the only ears that ever lis In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective
tened to her were those of Sly, her tomcat. People, Stephen Covey writes that "to relate
Our churches, homes, and workplaces are effectively ... we must learn to listen. And
full of Deborahs people in dire need of this requires emotional strength. Listening
being listened to. "It is impossible," said involves patience, openness and a desire to
renowned Christian psychiatrist Paul understand highly developed qualities of
Tournier, "to overemphasize the immense character."2
need humans have to be really listened to, to
be taken seriously, to be understood." 1 The Listening to heal
world is thirsty for quality listeners. Teenagers When it comes to mind-healing listening,
talk to the wrong people because adults have we don't merely listen to what is said; we lis
no time or will to listen. Spouses confide in ten to the person who is saying it. Here the
the wrong ears because they don't find "messenger" is more important than the
Misheck Kirimi is a
patience or grace in the ears of their life part "message." We must be genuinely sensitive
local church elder in
Nairobi, Kenya.
ner. Nowhere do we see more clearly the because talking is often so personal that inat
don't-care attitude that has permeated our tention equals disrespect or disregard for the
culture than in our low tolerance to the talker.
"tales" of others. Although many people hear when we
This is why, at least in part, effective listen speak, only a caring person listens. The differ
ing is a minister's premium skill. Good ence is that hearing is done with the ear while
MINISTRY
listening is done with the mind and sciously, assessing the credibility of the speaker. Only then can they assist
heart. Pharaoh Ptahhotep instructed pastors testing the water before step the speaker to explore and pick the
his officials to listen to pleas of clients ping in. Can the pastor be trusted? Is best solutions to the presenting prob
patiently and without rancor, because he or she "safe" and actually interest lem.
a petitioner actually wants respect and ed in me? Does the pastor care? How
attention to what he says more than much can I disclose to him or her? Learn to listen
the accomplishing of that for which Only when these questions are Pastors need to deliberately hone
he came. answered can the listener start to dis their listening skills. J. Michael
Listening with this kind of con close useful information. In the Bennett, an expert in listening,
cern heals emotional wounds. Not presence of this kind of caution it is writes, "No one could count the tales
doing so can in fact create wounds. common for listeners to jump to con of woe that have as their central point
We talk our problems away when we clusions before the tale has been fully T thought you said....' No one could
know someone who cares is listening. told. "I know what she's going to say" tally the jobs ruined, the classes
Naturally, knowing that another is an attitude that portrays the typical failed, the battles lost, the hearts bro
human being is aware of how we hurt lack of patience. James W. Gibson and ken, the money wasted, the lives
makes the hurt endurable. Similarly, Michael Hanna write, "You can deal damaged as a direct result of poor lis
knowing that someone is aware of with this problem if you learn to be tening skills." 5 Listening experts
our joy makes that joy more intense. patient. . .. Wait until you hear what compare good listening skills to good
Either way, a "listening someone" others have to say, then make a criti reading skills. If reading is listening
makes life better. cal judgment. . . . Being patient may with the eye, listening is reading with
mean biting your tongue in order to the ear. Like reading, listening can be
Qualities of a good listener keep yourself from interrupting."3 difficult. By far the greatest hindrance
For someone to actually disclose 3. Attention. Many listeners let to skillful listening is a false belief
themselves, the listener must demon their thoughts wander or descend that we are already good at it. What
strate four qualities. into lethargy when another person is we forget is that listening is quite dif
1. Confidentiality. The speaker talking. Unless the speaker is excep ferent from hearing. It requires active
needs assurance that he or she is con tionally gifted or the subject acutely discipline.
fiding in the right person, someone important to the listener, 80 percent A study by Gary T. Hunt and Louis
who can be trusted with the deepest of what is said goes to waste. Most of P. Cusella found that many corporate
secrets without the risk of leakage. us are awake only when we're talking. employees did not seek to improve
The majority of Seventh-day As soon as it's our turn to listen, we their listening abilities because they
Adventists rate their pastors high tend to slide into indifference. Real mistakenly believed that they lis
with regard to confidentiality. listening is a highly active skill. tened well.6 The first step in learning
Listening pastors gather vast amounts The very name "shepherd" carries effective listening might be the
of information concerning the day- with it a connotation of patience. admission or suspicion that one is
to-day problems of their flock. This Some sheep are slow, clumsy, thank not such a good listener.
increases their efficiency in minister less, and always getting lost. A pastor Active acquisition of information
ing to those needs, not to mention may have to listen to speakers who from speakers be they be boring or
the trust that is built on the basis of are slow, boring, unintelligent, unin entertaining greatly improves our
which all sorts of further doors of telligible, or in error. When pastors professional and personal decision-
ministry may be opened. patiently listen to such people, they making processes. Moreover,
Some of what the pastor hears live up to their title. Writes John listening makes our services more
brings him or her personal trial. Being Powell, "If you raise your eyebrows or responsive to the personal needs of
privy to some classified information narrow your eyes, if you yawn or look those we serve. W
can be overwhelming, creating in at your watch, I will probably retreat
pastors the pressure to share it in to safer ground. I will run for cover of
turn. As persons of integrity, they silence. . . ."4 1 J. Michael Bennett, Four Powers of Communication:
resist the temptation to do that. They 4. Involvement. Gibson and Hanna Skills for Effective Learning (New York: McGraw-Hill,
Inc., 1991), 51.
can safely vent the pressure by recy say that emphatic listening allows us 2 John Powell, S.J., Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I
cling the story at its source. to identify, to understand, and to Am? (Miles, 111.: Argus Communications, 1969), 5.
2. Patience. A speaker/parishioner reflect the feelings, needs and inten 3 Stephen R. Covey, The Seven Habits ofHighly Effective
People (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989), 37.
might not go to the root of his or her tions of another person. This kind of 4 James W. Gibson and Michael S. Hanna, Introduction
problem during the first or second listening equips listeners with infor to Human Communication (Wm. C. Brown
counseling session. Early sessions are mation that gives them a feel for Publishers, 1992), 66.
5 Powell, 56.
usually spent quietly, even uncon what it is like to be in the shoes of 6 Bennett, 47.
M
uch of the time that Bible salvation and eschatology?
Greg A. King
students have devoted to
the first two chapters of An extra-biblical creation account
Genesis has been directed With these points in mind, let us review a
toward matters other than creation account drawn from the literature of
understanding the theological thrust of this ancient Mesopotamia.4 Though it is a com
critical passage. For example, Christians have posite account, I will refer to it as The Enuma
tried to understand the relationship of the Elish, which is the major source from which it
Creation account to the scientific record and is taken.
have tried to harmonize the two. They have "In the beginning, neither heaven nor
spent time and energy contending that earth had names. Apsu, the god of fresh
Genesis 1 and 2 preserves a factual, authentic waters, and Tiamat, the goddess of the salt
account of the origins of this earth and its life oceans, and Mummu, the god of the mist that
forms. Their efforts have sometimes led them rises from both of them, were still mingled as
to clashes with the scientific community and one. There were no mountains, there was no
even to vigorous debates within the Christian pasture land, and not even a reed-marsh could
community. 1 be found to break the surface of the waters.
While this kind of debate may be neces "It was then that Apsu and Tiamat parent-
sary, if it is made the sole focus, it can cause ed two gods, and then two more who outgrew
us to overlook other important components the first pair. These further parented gods,
in the Creation account, such as its theologi until Ea, who was the god of rivers and was
cal message. The theology of Genesis 1 and 2 Tiamat and Apsu's great-grandson, was born.
is neither peripheral to the purpose of the Ea was the cleverest of the gods, and with his
account nor is it irrelevant to contemporary magic Ea became the most powerful of the
Christians. The fact is that the first two chap gods, ruling even his forebears.
ters of Genesis are theological in nature.2 And "Apsu and Tiamat's descendants became
Greg A. King, Ph.D.,
that theology, far from being abstract and an unruly crowd. Eventually Apsu, in his frus
is chair of the
Department of
unrelated to life, is as practical and relevant as tration and inability to sleep with the clamor,
Religion, Pacific when it was first written. went to Tiamat, and he proposed to her that
Union College, I will attempt to touch on the main theo he slay their noisy offspring. Tiamat was furi
Angwin, California. logical messages while encouraging a lifelong ous at his suggestion to kill their clan, but
study of these crucial chapters. My approach after leaving her Apsu resolved to proceed
will be comparative, inductive, exegetical, with his murderous plan. When the young
1. Empowering leadership
John Grys and Editorial note: Understanding this second When our church received and evaluated
Greg Schaller of a three-part series requires reading the first, our "snapshot" survey (see the January article
which appeared in our January issue. The final for an explanation of this survey), we discov
part will be published in the May issue of ered God was prompting us to address the
Ministry. quality of our leadership. God uses a certain
kind of leadership in healthy congregations, a
L
fe and ministry have something in leadership best described by the word
ommon. There is the frustration at "empower." Empowering leadership was our
imes that what I am doing doesn't minimum factor, that is, our weakest link.
eem to make a difference. I seem to Our church had largely sensed this. In fact, in
:ast seeds only to watch them die. Schwarz's findings, many of the healthiest
In the state of anxiety that this causes, it is churches with a high quality index discover
John Grys is easy for me to listen to the sweet whispers of that empowering leadership is their lowest
administrative pastor another church hawker, promising the holy quality. As churches grow rapidly, which ours
of the Hamilton grail of church growth programs. An amazing had, expectations and needs for leadership
Community Church in array of "models" are out there for me to escalate. Healthy churches grow leaders who
Chattanooga, choose from a smorgasbord of holy pro grow leaders. Investment in people through
Tennessee. grams that can lead me on in my conquest. discipleship, delegation, and multiplication
But can I measure the spirituality of an indi of leaders are some of the factors that empow
vidual? Of a congregation of individuals? er overall leadership quality. Our leadership
What can I be certain of in a ministry that has (both paid and lay) had to move toward a
much uncertainty? more empowering style of leadership.
This brings me to Christian Schwarz's find The greatest barrier to empowering leader
ings in the Natural Church Development ship is myself as a pastor-leader. Am I willing
retooling. His findings eight characteristics to trust God through His people? Am I willing
that cause churches to grow are quality-driv to hand the ball off or do I want to keep it and
en. These characteristics are remarkably run on alone? The greatest growth barrier to
Greg Schaller
biblical, relevant, and comprehensive. my congregation is my own growth. This is
D.Min., is pastor of
While a weather vane can tell me the why Jesus spent so much time doing what is
the Stone Mountain
Seventh-day
wind's direction and an anemometer can tell today called self-leadership. He spent time
Adventist Church in me the speed of the wind, neither can pro with the Father, seeking to constantly align
Lawrenceville, duce the wind. They are merely instruments His heart to the heart of His Father. Like ours,
Georgia. informing me of the movement of a wind His society was one of turmoil, change, and
F
or over thirty years, Henry H. something, I have to generate the kind of
Henry H. Mitchell
with Derek J. Mitchell has been recognized as an image with which they identify and therefore
Morris authority on Black preaching, and in which they participate vicariously. So
what he shares about preaching is when I paint a picture, I'm not just entertain
relevant for preachers of any ethnic ing them. I'm providing a means whereby
or cultural background. His preaching is they can get on board this experience. And
known for its keen perception of what the when we come out at the end, the biblical
Bible says here and now. His books include story is their personal story. Whatever hap
Black Preaching: The Recovery of a Powerful Art pened to the prodigal son happens to them.
and Celebration and Experience in Preaching.
DM: This idea of an image helping people
Derek Morris: Dr. Mitchell, you are a rec to make the Bible story their story reminds
Henry H. Mitchell is
ognized authority on Black preaching. I'm me of something you said in The Recovery of
president of the sure that many of the readers of Ministry have Preaching: "If you have an idea that can't be
Academy of read your book Black Preaching: The Recovery of translated into a story or a picture, don't use
Homiletics, Atlanta, a Powerful Art} What are some of the charac it!"4 Why is a story or a picture so important?
Georgia. teristics of Black preaching that make it such
a powerful art? HHM: An idea as idea is not self-evident.
It's as simple as that. And that's why Matthew,
Henry H. Mitchell: Black preaching uses Mark and Luke seem to accuse Jesus of always
a medium of imagery and tonality to enhance using parables.
the message. It isn't a downgrading of quality;
it is an upgrading of effectiveness. Preaching DM: The art of storytelling has a long his
has to be more than a cognitive essay, no mat tory. Today narrative preaching is back in
ter how coherent, no matter how forceful the vogue but you point out that Black preaching
logic. People are not saved by logic; people are has used narrative for generations.
Derek J. Morris,
not saved by exciting, stimulating, intellectu
D.Min., is professor
ally impressive ideas; people are saved by HHM: And I would hasten to suggest that
of preaching and
pastoral theology at faith, and faith is not an idea. the narrative preaching talked about in so
Southern Adventist many western circles is still not what I'm talk
University, DM: Is that what you mean when you talk ing about. The narrative preaching they're
Collegedale, about needing to have an "experiential talking about focuses on cognitive goals.
Tennessee. encounter" with the Word?2 Explanation. And while explanation is impor-
I
3 Ibid., 139.
ric and beauty of phrase to touch 4 Mitchell, The Recovery of Preaching (San Francisco: Harper & have read cover to cover the January
people, things that we would not use Row, 1977), 45
5 Ibid., 115.
2001 issue of Ministry. It is one of the
in the earlier more conscious moves 6 Black Preaching: The Recovery of a Powerful Art, 1 13. finest ever! Bi
7 Ibid., 87.
in the sermon. 8 Celebration and Experience in Preaching, 26. Russell L. Kaufman, interim pastor, River
Fourth, the preacher has to be 9 Black Preaching, 131. Valley Community Church, Newaygo,
10 The Recovery of Preaching, 54.
caught up in celebration. You can't 11 Celebration and Experience in Preaching, 139. Michigan.
Sexual abuse of
wife had talked with Lisa and she had con
firmed Sandra's story. Both girls' parents
wanted to meet with Martin.
children in the
I had serious misgivings about confronting
Martin. Could a man, friendly, ever ready to
laugh, really be a child abuser? How could I be
church
sure that the girls were not exaggerating one
or two harmless incidents? What would I do
if Martin denied the girls' statements?
Over the next few days I prayed about the
case, and then decided to visit with Martin. I
came straight to the point. "Sandra has said
A nne sounded concerned, even a that while she and her sister were on vacation
Peter Winter
/% little desperate. "Pastor, I want to with you, you rubbed her genitals," I said.
/ ^ talk to you," she said. I found it "She also said that you did the same to Lisa. Is
y""""^k difficult to believe what she told that true?"
JL. J^Lme. "Martin* has sexually abused Martin hesitated. Then, looking down he
my daughter." said "It's true." He seemed to actually be
Martin was the leader of one of the chil relieved that he could finally talk about it. As
dren's ministries in our congregation. He was his pastor I felt the curious sensation of being
in his mid thirties, capable and fun-loving. He repelled by his admission and yet relieved
and his wife had no children. They were very that he was apparently willing to discuss his
popular with our young people and had a behavior with me.
number of close friends in our small, family- "I've already talked with the parents of
oriented church. both girls and we have decided that unless
My first reaction was to ask Anne if her you want them to report you to the police
daughter was sure of what she was saying. you are going to have to meet certain condi
"Sandra wouldn't lie," said Anne. "What's tions," I told him. "First, you have to meet
more, there are clear indications that what with the parents of these girls, listen to what
she says is true. After she and her sister came they feel about what you have done, and
back from a vacation with Martin and his wife apologize. Then you have to pay for the ther
last summer, her attitude to Martin changed apy the girls need. You must also go to a
drastically. She no longer wanted to go to any therapist yourself. Finally, you have to resign
youth meetings. When we bought Martin a immediately as Pathfinder leader, and for as
Christmas present, she didn't want to sign the long as it takes for the girls to get over this
accompanying card. And she refused to be you must not come to church."
alone in the same room with her male piano We talked about these conditions for an
teacher." hour or so. Martin's main objection con
"In fact," Anne continued after a pause, cerned the matter of therapy. "You just want
"right now she won't even let her father to force me to see a psychiatrist as if I were
touch her. We thought she was just going some sort of a pervert," he said.
Peter Winter is a through a phase associated with puberty. But This surprised me. I felt that if his problem
pseudonym. now it seems there is much more to it." had been mine I'd have been eager to go to a
I was shocked. But there was more to therapist. However, Martin began to show
come. "Sandra isn't the only one Martin has signs of not believing that he had done any-
E WERE JUST
BEING
PLAYFUL," HE SAID,
lessly playful with a girl setting her
on his lap, tickling her tummy, or
massaging her playfully on her back.
Then his hand would drop below the
waistline and he would touch the
genitals. When this happened to
Emotional trauma Sandra, she was on the verge of
One of the cruelest emotions in "AND MY HAND puberty. Martin's fingers penetrated
abused children is their sense of her vagina. Sandra realized that
shame. Even though they do nothing Martin had crossed a critical line. She
whatever to provoke their abuser, suddenly stiffened and became fright
they still feel ashamed that they have ened. She stopped laughing, felt
been singled out as objects of pervert nauseated, and lay limp, not knowing
ed desire. They try to hide their how to react. Martin stopped his sex
shame by keeping their abuse a ual advances and tried to make light
secret in many cases even from their of them, as if nothing abnormal had
own parents. occurred an attitude that confused
In order to spare the feelings of the referred him to a highly recommend his young victim.
two girls, we decided to keep Martin's ed therapist. After an initial visit, Later Martin adopted the same
abuse a secret from the church. Martin told me that this therapist attitude when talking to his friends in
Reading 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, I was could only give him appointments the church about the incidents. "We
convinced that, with some coopera during work hours. He said that for were just being playful," he said, "and
tion from Martin, he could be healed. this reason he would be unable to my hand accidentally dropped below
The secrecy was also intended to give undergo therapy. I believed Martin the waistline, that's all. Lisa and
Martin an opportunity to get himself but nevertheless insisted that he Sandra's parents are just making a big
sorted out without suffering the enor undergo therapy. As a result of this fuss about a minor incident." Thus
mous repercussions that a police pressure Martin eventually started to again the rumors spread in the con
investigation would bring. go to a psychologist of his choosing. gregation that Martin was being
Looking back, I can see how naive This counselor had little expertise in victimized by members too hard
I was. I should never have tried to the area of sexual abuse. I gradually hearted to forgive.
stop a member from coming to began to realize that Martin was in At the time I wasn't aware that
church without the understanding fact avoiding our agreement and his Martin had spread these rumors. I
and support of the church. That was a responsibility. was simply aware of a rapid deteriora
mistake. I now recognize also how The second problem was that as tion in the atmosphere of our church.
my attempt to keep the matter confi church members noticed his absence, As I saw mistrust and recriminations
dential merely extended and even they visited him and asked why he no grow, I realized I had to get advice. I
intensified the suffering of all con longer came to church. Martin's talked to my denominational leader
cerned. A problem that should have replies hinted at unfair treatment at ship who immediately assured me of
w
with the child. Even if this intimacy
'
March 2001 I N I S T R Y 21
eral evenings and mornings, and that got him
up to the fifth day.
And then Modern Man said, "Let us make
God after our own image, according to our
likeness." And so he did. He blessed God, and
he said to him, "Be distant and keep to your
self, because we have already filled the earth
and subdued it and classified it, and there
really isn't much room left for you, but you
certainly are a pleasant thought."
God in the
And then Modern Man planted a garden,
and there he put the God he had formed. And
he called the garden Safe, Respectable
garden?
Religion. And out of the ground of that gar
den Man made to grow trees that are pleasant
to the sight, and flowers, and he put a fine
building in the midst of the garden, because
good landscaping enhances property values.
An Easter message And the Lord Man took God and put him in
the building in the garden. And the Lord Man
T
commanded God, "You may freely look
through the windows at all of the trees and
reading is taken from the New flowers of the garden, but don't leave the
Thomas E. Schmidt
'mproved Genesis, chapter 1: "In building, for in the day that you leave it you
the beginning of modern times, shall surely die."
1 a about one hundred years ago,
Ji. i\Man looked at his universe, and it
Then the Lord Man said, "It is not good for
God to be awake; someone might wander
seemed without form and void, and darkness into the building and find him and be fright
was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit ened." So the Lord Man caused a deep sleep to
of mankind looked over everything, and Man fall upon the God he had made, and he slept.
said, 'Let there be science.' And there was sci And Man laid him in a box inside the build
ence. ing and put a lid on the box and laid a curtain
And Man saw the science that he had over it and placed tall candlesticks on top of
made, that it was good, and with it he divided it, so he could come there from time to time
all things. He created a science to rule the day, to remember the God he had made. The
all things he could see, and he called it Natural Modern Man said, "At last, I have expressed
Science, even unto Physics, Chemistry, and fully the mystery of life, and the depth of my
Biology. And he made a lesser science to rule mind; I shall call this God Personal, for out of
the night, all the darker things about himself, my personality he was taken."
and he called it Social Science, even unto And there was evening and morning, the
Psychology, Sociology, and Political Science. sixth day, and Modern Man saw that it was
And Man saw that it was good. And there was very good, because all this was done leaving
morning and evening, and the modern day one extra day in the weekend for recreation.
had begun. So ends our daily reading. If we had an
And Man divided all the things he saw into equivalent hymn book, we could turn to
the waters above, the land, the waters below, #372, "How Great We Are."
the grass, the fruit tree yielding fruit, the
swarms of living creatures in the waters, the God in our image
Thomas Schmidt, birds that fly above the earth, and moving Modern culture and religion deserve such a
Ph.D., writes from creatures of every kind that are on the earth, parody. We may be willing enough to say that
Santa Barbara, including himself, a higher primate who can God created us, but we all too often live as
California. be distinguished from other creatures mainly though we create God. I don't mean in the
by his ability to destroy and separate the secular materialist sense of declaring that God
whole creation. And Man saw that all this is a projection of wishes and superstitions.
dividing and classifying was good. It took sev Few people can be sure of God's nonexis-
midwest
FOLDING PRODUCTS Pfefc laniafe wer 3/4* Plywood
Manufactured from the highest RECTANGULAR TABLES
quality materials, these tables are miQWA$ t
designed to stand up to the stress Gawfies oi24 or we
of constant use, and come in
a variety of colors and finishes.
Hails
Any
ROUND TABLES
A$ LOW AS
Quantities of 24 or more
ne Cathedral Stacker
Features 41/4" high density foam seat, free lumbar support, 20 year
steel frame guarantee, and 5 year fabric and foam guarantee!
OurMosf
if you' re considering the purchase of WO or more chairs Affordable MiM-U$e Chair!
in trie next 12 months, call toff-free today for your A'Qb/i "9&S[
FREE mr
All prices sudjecf to change without notice. Quantities of fOQ Of more
Christianity and
think, the easier one. And it is easy for the
believer, at least, because Jesus basically
answers it for us.
the church in
Consider, for example, the parables taught
by Jesus which have to do specifically with the
Kingdom of God. The collection of parables
the twenty-first
that appear in Matthew 13 are typical. There is
the parable of the good seed and bad seed
(verses 24-30), the mustard seed (verses 31,
century
32), the yeast (verse 33), the treasure, once
hidden but then found (44), a pearl of great
value (45, 46) and of a net bringing in all kinds
of fish (47-50). Then in chapter 23 there is the
parable of the wedding banquet (22:2-14).
The thrust of each and all of these parables
I
was recently asked to be the guest speak clearly suggests the conclusion that in
Bill Jackson
er at the annual gathering of a local Christianity, we have God's permanent reign
chapter of a national Christian organiza breaking in and continuing to expand until
tion. I was asked to speak on Christianity one day it takes over everything. So, accord
and the Church in the Twenty-First Century, ing to Jesus, it is certain that Christianity has
a timely topic for the end of the millennium. a future. Of course, many dominant world
As I prepared my presentation, I realized that powers over the centuries have done their
this subject was not as easy as it first sounded. best to disprove Jesus' words. Along with this,
For example, it struck me early that the title many of these same powers have given the
assigned to me implies several assumptions persuasive appearance of outdoing and even
that should not be taken for granted. To begin destroying God's Kingdom. A mere 30 years
with, now that we are well into the new mil after the crucifixion of Jesus, the Roman
lennium I guess I can accept the assumption emperor Nero initiated the first intentional
that we will have at least part of a twenty-first Christian persecution which, although limit
century! ed to Rome, resulted in a vast number of
The second and third implied assump Christians experiencing unspeakable cruelty
tions, however were not as easily dismissed: and death.2 In the midst of this and other per
that Christianity has a future and that the secutions it has seemed, sometimes for
Church is also assured another century. It is extended periods, that Christianity would
these two assumptions that, of course, under fade away.
lie the thrust of any discussion of the future of One hundred fifty years after this the
the "Christian" "Church." Roman emperor Decius put to death yet more
So, does Christianity and the Church have Christians; and a few decades later Diocletian
a future in twenty-first century? To such a initiated the most severe of persecutions with
question many would ask "Aren't Christianity possibly thousands of believers perishing,
and the Church one and the same? For some churches being razed, Bible Scriptures being
BHIJackson, Ph.D.,
these two entities may be interchangeable. I, destroyed, and Christians losing all civil
is principal of North
however, do not believe they are. rights.3 Despite or perhaps because of this,
Queensland College
of Ministries in Although both the word "Christianity" Christianity continued to grow and spread.
Queensland, and the word "Church" have a particular his Aside from the pressures that came from
Australia. tory, the word Christianity as used today outside the Church, there were those that
simply refers to a system of faith grounded came from within, threatening the survival of
among those who are adherents of Jesus Christianity even more seriously. The emperor
I
will it mean as, more and more,
denominations embrace interfaith
AND FUNCTION OF DENOMINATIONS WILL dialogue?
What might Christian education
CONTINUE TO CHANGE; INDEED, THEY ARE look like as we continue to train our
young people, and our not so young
ALREADY CHANGING. people in organizations like Campus
Crusade and other organizations
designed to deal specifically with the
to connect, in view of the truth that himself realizes, that the possibilities young? When might we learn that
there really is strength in numbers. are endless when it comes to how we training such leaders is worthwhile
It is also true, however, that the might arrange the church and the not just as something to do, but
role and function of denominations church's mission in the days to come. because we believe a person must be
will continue to change; indeed, they The variables determining our future equipped to minister effectively to
are already changing. Traditional direction are almost infinite. those they encounter?
denominations and denominational For example, what will the Church What will be the shape of theolog
leaders are finding that their old "tried look like in the future as multicultur- ical education in the days to come?
and true" methods are not working, alism becomes more pronounced and Will we continue to press on under
nor are they being readily accepted by as the church more accurately reflects the old overworked models, or will
up-and-coming pastors. At the same this growing phenomenon? We are we be prepared to take risks, to begin
time mega-churches are taking over already facing this issue in Australia to train people differently, more expe-
many of the traditional denomina where, according to the 1996 census, rientially. Will such training include
tional roles and are thus becoming only 75 percent of Australians were areas pertaining more to what pastors
more like denominations themselves. actually born in Australia. While 25 and potential ministers actually need
This in itself is an exciting challenge percent of the Australian population as they pastor, rather than to what
to all involved in Christian ministry. only translates to a mere 4.5 million, some have always thought is needed?
enough to warrant significant propor I have written elsewhere that theolog
So what of the future? tions of our attention. Significant ical education is at a crucial crossroad.
The future, I believe is not prede parts of the world are facing similar It needs to be more than simply
termined. We are not God-created changes and challenges. imparting and measuring knowledge.
automatons who have been divinely Yet again according to the National Theological education needs to pre
programmed to act without thought. Church Life Survey people with non- pare Christian leaders so that they
God has created within us the capac English speaking backgrounds are become better equipped to face and
ity, and the ability to "work out our under-represented in Australian cope with a plethora of needs and
own salvation" (Phil. 2:12). church life. People from non-English expectations such as those defined by
Million-
Dollar Party
R
ecently, Greg Nelson, pastor of the first in the large cities. They went to
2,000-member College View urban centers where shifting people
Church at Union College, sur groups and repeatedly replenishing
prised his congregation and shocked populations offered the best potential
most of his colleagues by announcing
JAMES A. CRESS for attracting new people. Suspicion or
that he was leaving the comfort zone of prejudice about new projects is much
Lincoln, Nebraska, to venture planting a less of a factor in metropolitan areas.
new church in Seattle. New churches fund more new
What would motivate one of the churches, just as baptisms inspire others
most successful pastors to enter the to be baptized, so new churches can
apparently risky venture of planting a actually pay for planting more new
new church in one of the world's most churches. Gladden says that in Mid-
secular cities? Why are so many pastors finance committees and local church America Union, each conference places
and laity becoming increasingly excited boards that, beyond the joy of bringing an equivalent of 60 percent of the tithe
about planting new churches? new individuals into a relationship with from their new churches into a specific-
Perhaps you have wondered if new Jesus, winning souls is a sound financial purpose fund for establishing even more
churches are really worth the effort. investment. Typically, newly-baptized churches. Thus, not only is the initial
Maybe you have seen some new members return the entire expense of investment recouped, but future con
churches started by disgruntled mem an evangelistic crusade within the first gregations are already funded by those
bers who swarm to form a new group 14 months of membership. Any finan recently planted.
which remains essentially the same size cial gains after that is "new income" to Church planting must be inten
for many years. Or perhaps you have the conference and local congregation. tional. Each of these projects is an
known dedicated laity who moved to a Likewise, new converts are an excellent intentional, planned outreach, funded
dark county in order to establish a light network strategy for reaching even by the union and local conferences and
house where no previous church more potential members. Ron Gladden, following established, proven methods
presence existed after years of struggle, director of church planting for the Mid- for planting new churches. Qualified
they seem barely to have impacted the America and North Pacific Unions in the pastoral couples are designated as
community. North American Division, states that the church planters and undergo rigorous
What's different about church plant conference treasurers have studied tithe training and establish long-range objec
ing today? If you were able to observe patterns for churches adjacent to the tives with specific implementation
ten recently-planted congregations in newly-planted churches and report that assignments. An up-front funding
the Mid-America Union (USA), you those already-existing churches have investment of salaries, time, budgets,
would be amazed at their vigor and the experienced no tithe decrease. and energy helps guarantee success.
dynamic spirit that drives their success. In other words, these new churches Church planting principles can be
In fact, next May the pastors of these ten are not in existence only because of a taught. Each year the North American
new churches which will have been shift in members away from other Division sponsors a SEEDS convention
meeting for an average of only 24 churches. In fact, statistics for these ten on the campus of Andrews University.
months will celebrate a million-dollar churches, demonstrate that over 440 Russell Burrill and Marti Schneider, who
party to commemorate returning over individuals are participating who would coordinate these events, report that
$1 million dollars in tithe from these not be attending any church if they attendance grows every year. Plenary
new congregations. Several factors were not involved in these new congre sessions and topic-specific workshops
explain why these new plants have been gations. No wonder they will host a offer the best training for those who
so successful when other past projects party to celebrate the million dollars net want to understand church planting. If
have languished. tithe increase to the conferences. you dream of launching a newly planted
Evangelism does not cost. It pays! Co where the people are. God's church, your first priority should be to
Through many years of itinerant evan strategy is to target people centers. The register for the next SEEDS convention,
gelism, I demonstrated to conference early Christians planted new churches continued on page 31
more Bible passages or verses which are those being employed in the passages
then discussed. In the second part the under discussion. In other places, the
author touches on subjects such as the text of the KJV may also create problems
natural immortality of the soul, holiness, (e.g. "meat" instead of "food").
and the Sabbath while presenting the The book contains some inaccura
Left Behind or Sincerely biblical doctrine of Christ's second com cies, e.g., with regard to spelling.
Taken: Exposing the Myths of ing. The last chapters contain a practical Whereas in chapter three the author
the Secret Rapture, by Louis R. application and a call to be ready for transliterates the Greek, in chapter 11
Torres. Remnant Publications, 2000, that coming now. Although pointing to he uses Greek characters, yet the words
paperback, 127 pages, U.S.$11.99. turbulent times lying ahead of us, at the are misspelled. This is also true for some
At a time when the doctrine of the end of his book the author points to the names. In some cases, one feels uneasy
secret rapture is widely propagated, hope and the joy of the second coming about the author's method of interpre
Christians who believe this teaching to of Jesus. tation, e.g., clouds are chariots, and
be unbiblical are looking for a much In chapters two to five, Torres studies chariots are angels (73) which sound
needed corrective; the author addresses Matthew 24:40, 41 and Luke 17:34-36. more like proof-texting than serious
this important topic. Although the out He suggests that those who are taken, exegesis. This is even more serious since
line does not indicate it, Torres states are lost, whereas those who are left the author suggests methods for
that the book consists of two parts, the behind, are saved. This suggestion is "Rightly Dividing the Word" (101 -106).
first attempts to refute "some of the interesting and deserves further study. The book is easy to read and contains
non-biblical teachings regarding the However, the authoralthough refer some helpful information in the present
secret rapture," the second, considers ring to the Creek textfalls short of debate over the secret rapture. Bi
"what God has predicted will happen" discussing all the relevant terms. In addi Ekkehardt Mueller, Th.D., D.Min.,
(60) at the time of the end. tion, his decision to rely on the KJV text associate, Biblical Research Institute, General
Eight of the fourteen chapters of the leads him to quote parallels which use Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver
first part are introduced with one or Greek words that are different from Spring, Mary/and.
Million-Dollar Party
continued from page 30
July 18-21 (see ad at right).
Enthusiasm can be caught. Like
influenza, enthusiasm for planting
SEEDS 2001 A Church Planting Conference
churches is highly contagious. As 1 had
opportunity to hear the reports and
share the experiences of church Plant a Church ... Reap a Bountiful Harvest!
planters at SPROUTS, another conven English, Spanish ^ Reaping...Innovative Reaping Ideas
tion which Ron Gladden has introduced Young Adults ' ,c, Role of the Pastor As Equipper, the Lay-Led
for those who are actively engaged in Lay Members & Church, and Church Planting
specific new church plants, I was rein- Pastors, Planters
Administrators Introduction to Church Planting
vigorated with the imperative of
reaching the lost and building new con Departmental Basic Church Planting
verts into God's church.
Directors Cell Church Planting
Why a party? Jesus said "all heaven July 18-21,2001 Planting and Growing Healthy Churches
rejoices when one sinner repents." Andrews University through Natural Church Development
Imagine the joyous celebration when www.nadei.org
1.800.255.7568
whole congregations of people are
1.616.471.9220 SEEDS_NADE1 @ compuserve.com
won for the kingdomlB
#Va<
resenc/oftMHoly
Only those who are secure can play, for only they
Tuesday April 35 2001 believe that good will triumph over evil. Calvin Miller,
professor of preaching and pastoral studies at Beeson
1:00 pm 4:30 pm Eastern Divinity School is uniquely equipped to help ministry
'-iWI- -,,-.,-:../..,- professionals experience personal and corporate spontaneity in the
_^_, tva-
the Presetwe of the Hwy
Grace is only given to sinners, and only they can know
the height and breadth of holy joy. Morris Venden's
four decades of preaching about grace have helped tens
of thousands rediscover the gladness of being children of
God. He now is associate speaker for the Voice of Prophecy, the
international radio broadcast of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
GENERAL CONFERENCE OF
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS Nonprofit Organization
MINISTRY U.S. Postage
1350 N.KINGS ROAD PAID
NAMPA, ID 83687-3193 Nampa, ID
Permit No. 147
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED