New president for NNSW Conference. The blessed commandment. Adventist Heritage Center

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1 Adventist Heritage Center From: Sent: To: Subject: Record enews on behalf of Record enews Thursday, February 23, :00 PM Adventist Heritage Center New president for NNSW Conference Asian Aid Australia appoints new CEO How to self-examine for breast cancer New president for NNSW Conference Dr Tom Evans has been named as the new president for the North New South Wales Conference. The blessed commandment There is more to keeping the Sabbath than you might think. 1

2 Return to Gomlongon Village A keen group of Lae city Adventists confronts the reality of remote mission work. By Pastor Enosh Enopa - February 20, 2017 The Two Mile mission team at Yangla Adventist Church, a location that was not even on their original itinerary. The journey didn t begin well for us. The ship from Lae to Umboi Island, between the Papua New Guinea mainland and New Britain, was scheduled to depart on August 16. But there were some mechanical problems that delayed our departure for 10 days. The original group of 31 Two Mile Adventist Church members who had been approved by the church board was reduced to the 20 members who were able to embark on August 26. The team was mostly women from the congregation s Community Services department under the leadership of Rhoda Sokoripa with Minister Enoch Kitum and myself, representing the Morobe Mission office, as assistants.

3 Ready and waiting. The mission team in front of their home church building at Two Mile, Lae. Two Mile church members first travelled to Gomlongon Village in the heart of Umboi Island in At that time there was no established Adventist presence there but the visitors found a number of villagers who were interested to learn more about the truths of the Bible. Two Mile took a step of faith and decided to sponsor a pioneer missionary, Minister Caleb, to live in Gomlongon full-time and cultivate the young, green shoots of faith. Now it was time for us to return in order to see if the harvest was ready. The overnight voyage was uneventful and we arrived safely on Sabbath morning at Umboi s port of Bunsil. To our surprise the people from Gomlongon who we d heard were growing in faith were so serious with their Sabbath commitment that they did not make themselves available at Bunsil to help us carry our bags and equipment. There was just one man waiting for us who we remembered from our previous trip. Needing a solution, our leaders made an arrangement with the logging company at Bunsil Station they generously provided us with a tipper truck and driver to take the one-hour journey up rough mountain roads to Gomlongon. This was our first time to travel in a vehicle so high above our heads and we found it difficult to jump on. When we got in the back we had nothing to hold on to but held each other for support, cowboy style.

4 Warning: unsecured load. The Two Mile team travel in high style. At one point while driving we noticed the driver was using a screwdriver and a hammer to hit the gearbox to change gears. We were told that he was the only one who knew how to handle this truck. We kept silent because it s not normal to pass your driving test to get a licence to drive like that! We continued to climb the mountain. Thankfully we arrived safely at Gomlongon. As it is elsewhere in in Papua New Guinea, the churches were in the centre of the village, in this case a Catholic church, a Lutheran church, a Baptist church and the newly constructed Seventh-day Adventist lamb shelter built out of bush materials by Minister Caleb and his 57 Sabbath school members. We d arrived at the close of the worship service and were soon in the presence of the shining faces of the villagers who had been seeking truth under the guidance of Minister Caleb. The smiles on their faces on that Sabbath day were like the lilies in the three lakes that I ve seen at Pacific Adventist University. Observing protocol. Welcome events and goodbyes are a great excuse for a special occasion with multiple songs and speeches.

5 We were welcomed to Gomlongon with songs and speeches as we prepared to deliver our series of meetings. A local councillor invited people from the nearby villages of Opai and Tarawe to attend and support. Our theme for the nightly presentations was God s Final Call, with Minister Enoch Kitum preaching from the book of Revelation. I spoke during the morning meetings, focusing on the theme Jesus is Coming Soon and elaborating further on the subject matter presented the previous night. The meetings were concluded with the first Adventist baptisms in the history of Gomlongon. On September 3, 2016, we baptised a local man, Jacob, as well as Mary, who was part of our group from Two Mile. Jacob declared that he would do his very best to work alongside the missionary, Caleb, to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to his contacts in the local area so they can understand why he was baptised as the first Seventh-day Adventist member from Gomlongon. I baptise you. Gomlongon s first local Adventist makes an eternal commitment. When the appeal was made after the baptism, we had 18 people indicating their commitment to be baptised soon. Praise God! Many of these people are from Opai and Tarawe villages.

6 Returning home to Two Mile in Lae was not that easy after our blessed week at Gomlongon. We were told that the ship would arrive on Sunday, September 4 so we had our last farewell speeches and gifts. I was really convinced that we would definitely depart on Sunday because the Baptist pastor told me that the ship was confirmed and members of his congregation were also ready to travel with us on the same trip from Bunsil to Lae. Upon receiving this news, I gave all that I had to our friends at Gomlongon. My towel, my sleeping bag, my shoes, thongs, shirts, trousers, coat and torch. Some of the other Two Mile members did the same. But then we were told that the ship was delayed and would arrive on Monday. On Monday we were told it would be on Wednesday, but not from Bunsil. Instead the departure point would be Lablab, a five-hour walk and two hours by truck along the coast. This gave us an opportunity to visit the Adventist congregation at Yangla, which is near Lablab. So when we were again told the boat would not come until Friday this delay become a blessing. We held a further series of night and morning meetings for two days, as well as seminars during the day. At last the ship arrived on Saturday, September 10. Hallelujah! What a test for the patience of the saints! During this second missionary journey we saw the harvest being multiplied. The door is now open in new villages and we look forward to the third missionary journey later this year when we hope to see the numbers of disciples increase and perhaps even the dedication of a new church building.

7 Temporary accommodation. This lamb shelter is where Gomlongon s Adventist worshippers now meet. Adventist Record encourages quality conversation and welcomes your thoughtful comments. All comments are subject to approval. Comments will not be approved if they contain any of the following: Advertisements or websites Profanity Libellous statements Language insensitive to other religions Comments not relating to the topic Comments in all capital letters Individuals may not make statements on behalf of any organisation. You may not represent that you are another person, real or fictitious, or imply a connection with an organisation with which you are not affiliated. While you may challenge opinions, you may not write personal attacks about another commenter. If you find that your comment was not approved, you may resubmit your comment by following the above guidelines. Adventist Record reserves the right to remove any comments at any time. The opinions expressed in Adventist Record comments are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Adventist Media and/or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

8 New president for North New South Wales By Maritza Brunt - February 23, 2017 Tom Evans with his wife, Mara. (Photo: Facebook) Dr Tom Evans has been named as the new president for the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference. The appointment comes less than a month after Pastor Justin Lawman announced he was returning to local church ministry, after serving for nine years in the NNSW Conference. Citing his mother s health and a conviction to lead a local church again as reasons for his departure, Pastor Lawman, who will pastor the Canberra National church, was officially farewelled at the recent NNSW Leadership Weekend.

9 Pastor Justin and Wendy Lawman were farewelled at the NNSW Leadership Weekend. (Photo: Martusia Rutkowska) We have felt convicted about this for some time, but have left it in God s hands, said Pastor Lawman in his farewell message. Every door has been flung open, so we are very much at peace with making this important decision. Replacing Pastor Lawman is Dr Tom Evans, assistant professor of Christian ministry at Andrews University and assistant director of the North American Division Evangelism Institute (NADEI). Though most of his pastoral ministry has been in the USA, Dr Evans has already spoken at Big Camp, ministers meetings, and evangelism training events for the NNSW Conference, as well as serving in the South New South Wales Conference. Dr Evans most recent ministry assignment prior to joining NADEI was as the church planting director for the Texas Conference, where he saw 114 new churches planted over a period of nine years. Dr Evans is also passionate about working with refugees in North America and abroad and serves as the board chair for the Advocates for Southeast Asians and the Persecuted (ASAP) Ministries.

10 Dr Tom Evans. Dr Evans is married to Mara, who is originally from Brazil, and has 3 girls and 2 boys. His hobbies include gardening, softball, racquetball, travelling and raising golden retrievers. We wish Pastor Lawman and his wife Wendy God s blessings as they embrace this new challenge and continue to grow God s kingdom, said Pastor Jorge Munoz, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia. But at the same time, we would like to welcome Dr Evans and his family to the NNSW Conference. We are excited about what God will do through his ministry as he consolidates the positive work that is taking place in this Conference. written by Maritza Brunt Assistant Editor Adventist Record encourages quality conversation and welcomes your thoughtful comments. All comments are subject to approval. Comments will not be approved if they contain any of the following: Advertisements or websites Profanity Libellous statements Language insensitive to other religions Comments not relating to the topic Comments in all capital letters Individuals may not make statements on behalf of any organisation. You may not represent that you are another person, real or fictitious, or imply a connection with an organisation with which you are not affiliated. While you may challenge opinions, you may not write personal attacks about another commenter. If you find that your comment was not approved, you may resubmit your comment by following the above guidelines. Adventist Record reserves the right to remove any comments at any time. The opinions expressed in Adventist Record comments are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Adventist Media and/or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

11 Millennials Converge for next level living By Kym Piez/Record staff - February 21, 2017 More than 350 young adults from around Australia recently came together for a weekend of revival and renewal at the annual Converge camp. Held at the Stuart s Point Convention Centre (NSW) on February 10-13, the spiritual weekend inspired Millennials aged to live the next level. Returning for his second year, US native Jeremy Anderson challenged those who attended to let God name and claim them and use them to be something more amazing to step up and make a difference. Your condition is not your conclusion, he said during one of his evening presentations. God has called us to run into burning buildings, into Babylon, into our local communities, into our churches... be a light in dark places. He was like a personal trainer for life, said Jessica Symes, co-organiser of Converge. The whole weekend was like a battle call.

12 A baptism at sunrise on Sunday was a highlight of the camp. Photo: Charmaine Patel Tertiary and Young Adult Ministries director for the Adventist Church in South Queensland, Alina van Rensburg, was the morning speaker, and reiterated the importance of We, The Church. Her focus was on each person being the body of Christ a community of believers people doing life groups together. The Church is not the administration or the politics, she said. The Church is us. Highlights of the weekend included daily personal stories of faith, one baptism and five others who recommitted their lives to Jesus, and a leaders breakfast where more than 50 young people came because of their desire to step up, challenge and change the church. Together, they shared stories and experiences, and were prayed over. The focus of Converge is to build community, not run entertaining programs for young people, said Pastor Jeff Parker, Youth director for the Adventist Church in Australia and coordinator of Converge. It s so exciting to see so many of our Millennial generation who are willing to converge in the one

13 place to worship Jesus Christ. This very capable generation is already making a difference in the world we need to let them do it in the church as well. Converge will return to Stuart s Point in February 2018 for its third year. Adventist Record encourages quality conversation and welcomes your thoughtful comments. All comments are subject to approval. Comments will not be approved if they contain any of the following: Advertisements or websites Profanity Libellous statements Language insensitive to other religions Comments not relating to the topic Comments in all capital letters Individuals may not make statements on behalf of any organisation. You may not represent that you are another person, real or fictitious, or imply a connection with an organisation with which you are not affiliated. While you may challenge opinions, you may not write personal attacks about another commenter. If you find that your comment was not approved, you may resubmit your comment by following the above guidelines. Adventist Record reserves the right to remove any comments at any time. The opinions expressed in Adventist Record comments are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Adventist Media and/or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

14 Asian Aid Australia appoints new CEO By Sonja Kama - February 23, 2017 Asian Aid's work focuses on helping children, women and disadvantaged communities in six South-East and South Asian countries. Asian Aid recently appointed its third Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Ulrich. Wayne grew up in NSW, Australia. His parents Maurice and Estelle Ulrich are long-time Asian Aid supporters. During the past 30 years, Wayne has worked for organisations such as UN agencies, Medecins Sans Frontieres, ADRA, CARE, multi and bi-lateral organisations, and the International Federation of the Red Cross. He says that his travels and work assignments some dangerous and life threatening have taken him on a journey of gaining a deeper understanding of a shared humanity and hope. In meeting exploited children, abused women, the unemployed, the starving from disaster-affected and war-torn communities all around the world, he says that hope, for all these people, is a common denominator.

15 Wayne Ulrich with his family. I believe that people of different race, culture and gender although diverse share similar values and dreams. They should be given equal opportunities and be able to succeed in their endeavours and ambitions, says Wayne. Wayne will officially begin as Asian Aid s CEO on March 22. He says he looks forward to working with and leading an organisation that is full of passionate people who are committed to serving others.

16 It is my prayer that we continue working together to assist children and communities break down the barriers that are preventing them from building a future free from poverty. And it is my desire to see many more people come to experience Jesus, our blessed hope. I believe he will continue to lead me and to use my skills and abilities as a means for the betterment of those who are suffering and in need. Asian Aid is run by committed Seventh-day Adventist members and is officially recognised as a supporting ministry by the Church. Find out more about Asian Aid s work at asianaid.org.au. Adventist Record encourages quality conversation and welcomes your thoughtful comments. All comments are subject to approval. Comments will not be approved if they contain any of the following: Advertisements or websites Profanity Libellous statements Language insensitive to other religions Comments not relating to the topic Comments in all capital letters Individuals may not make statements on behalf of any organisation. You may not represent that you are another person, real or fictitious, or imply a connection with an organisation with which you are not affiliated. While you may challenge opinions, you may not write personal attacks about another commenter. If you find that your comment was not approved, you may resubmit your comment by following the above guidelines. Adventist Record reserves the right to remove any comments at any time. The opinions expressed in Adventist Record comments are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Adventist Media and/or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

17 Asian Aid Australia appoints new CEO Asian Aid recently appointed its third Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Ulrich. The truth will set you free: InFocus Recouched Constipation: the uncomfortable truth Transformed by the Holy Spirit History recorded in ancient rocks Child ritual sacrifice in Uganda. Millennials Converge for next level living More than 350 young adults from around Australia recently came together for a weekend of revival and renewal at the annual Converge camp. 2

18 Return to Gomlongon Village A keen group of Lae city Adventists confronts the reality of remote mission work on a trip to Umboi Island filled with unexpected challenges and blessings. Health matters: Michael Hughes Sydney Adventist Hospital specialist Michael Hughes explains how to selfexamine for breast cancer. And remember... "The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10, NIV). Copyright 2017 Adventist Media. All rights reserved. Have a story to share? us at news@record.net.au, 3

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