Social leaders visit Myanmar church headquarters

A delegation of Charity Oriented Myanmar (COM) led by Mr Chan Nyein Aung and 16 members of his team visited the Myanmar Adventist Church (MYUM) headquarters on August 12, at 5:00 in the afternoon.

They were welcomed by Maung Maung Myo Chan, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director of MYUM, and personnel of AWR Myanmar. The visitors exchanged views and became aware of the organizational operation and management for other faith-based organizations. MYUM is one of the many faith-based organizations in Myanmar involved in religious liberty and social services.

The delegation consisted of some leaders from various Christian churches, leaders of social and community-based organizations. Myo Chan presented the organization profile of Adventist church, its operational procedure, recruitment of church leaders, church officers’ elections, organizational structure and governance, fundamental beliefs, offering and budget management and other topics covering the general operation of the Adventist church.

On the other hand, questions were raised regarding the Adventist educational system, women ordination, communion services, humanitarian work and government relations. “We believed the visitors were satisfied with the answers provided by the church representatives,” said observers.

“I am satisfied and glad to hear about the operational system of Adventist church and was impressed by your religious liberty concept,” said Chan Nyein Aung.

“We learned a lot about Adventist church and are very impressed on humanitarian work which is being carried out by the Adventist Church through ADRA,” said a member of the visiting team. [Myo Chan/AND Staff]

Writing seminar meant to “build bridges of hope”

How can this seminar help us “build bridges of hope”? asked one participant at a seminar conducted at Central Luzon Adventist Academy (CLAA), Bodega, Floridablanca, Pampanga on August 9-11.

“Learn writing and you will know how to communicate your mind with other people—making you skillful in pointing to Jesus the people who become hopeless in a world that goes crumbling in moral and ethical values,” responded Dr Jonathan C Catolico, communication director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD).

One-hundred twenty-six students representing three Adventist academies in the territories of the Adventist Church in central Luzon (CLC) came to the seminar and workshop to learn about news writing and electronic publication. Incorporated in these topics were layout and design, photography, web design and blogging techniques. The students were accompanied by their faculty sponsors. The schools represented here were Baesa Adventist Academy, Pasay Adventist Academy, and CLAA.

Ms Janet Rosel-Tolete, analyst at the news and public affairs department of GMA network, skillfully guided the students’ learning in news writing by a minute-to-minute full activity of games, quizzes, writing, and explanation on how news get into publication and broadcast.

“Wow! Five hours into the subject would have been boring, tiring, and damning had it not been for the creativity that went into the activities by the enthusiastic lecturer,” said the participants about Ms Tolete’s methodology of presentations.

Equally interesting were the other subjects: Layout, design and photography—Reuben A Pagaduan, chair of Tradigital Fine Arts at the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP); Internet evangelism—Winelfred Pasamba, web specialist at AUP; and blogging ministry—Malou Escasa, president of the Adventist Photographers Club of Central Luzon and a blogging enthusiast.

Pastor Romeo T Mangiliman, communication director for the Church in northern Philippines (NPUC); and Pastor Petronio M Genebago, CLC communication director, provided the devotional messages. They both initiated this seminar in coordination with the SSD Communication Department. [Emily Bacosa/Jolly Ann Naval/Jade Imperial]

New President for Adventist World Radio

The Adventist World Radio (AWR) Board of Directors met by teleconference today and elected Elder Dowell Chow as the new president of Adventist World Radio, replacing Dr. Benjamin Schoun, who has served as president for the past eight years.

Chow has filled the role of AWR vice president for finance since 2005. He is noted for his wide administrative experience, including positions as chief financial officer/treasurer of the Columbia Union Conference in Maryland, president of the New Jersey Conference, stewardship and trust services director as well as senior pastor in Puerto Rico, and publishing house administrator in Venezuela, among many other roles over the years. He served on several boards of directors in the area, including Washington Adventist University, Adventist Health, and Washington Adventist Hospital, and additional health entities in New Jersey.

Chow says, “While working at AWR during the past several years, I have come to learn what a unique, passionate, exciting ministry it is. I relish the excitement of developing new projects, and my aim is to build on what Ben has done in the field and keep moving ahead. AWR has diversified its offerings, such as a much greater FM radio presence and incredibly extensive podcasting, and we need to pursue that even further.”

At the recent General conference Session, Schoun was elected as one of the general vice presidents of the General Conference, where his portfolio includes becoming the new chair of AWR’s board. He will also be advising and overseeing departments such as Education, Communication, and Stewardship; chairing the boards of Andrews University and the International Board of Theological Education; and serving as vice chair of the boards of Hope TV and Adventist Review/Adventist World. One of his main roles in filling these responsibilities will be to coordinate the church’s various media initiatives, with the goal of creating greater synergy though joint planning and use of resources.

Schoun says, “I wish Dowell well in his new position. Dowell and I have worked together at various times through the years, and I have a lot of confidence in his leadership. AWR has been one of my favorite assignments in my professional life. It is a positive, inspiring, and compelling work to reach out to people who have never heard of the hope in Jesus Christ. I want to thank the great team of colleagues who work at AWR for the fine work they have done, and express appreciation to the board, which has been supportive of our visions for growth and expansion. I am thankful that my ties to AWR are not completely cut, and that I will still be able to cheer this ministry onward as I chair its board.”

AWR senior vice president Greg Scott says, “AWR has benefited tremendously from Ben’s leadership and has experience significant growth during his time with us, from adding approximately 50 new languages to investing in a new podcasting service that expands AWR’s ministry to every corner of the World. We look forward to continued innovation and development under Dowell’s new leadership. (Shelly Nolan Freesland/AWR)

SSD associate officers and directors elected

Two days to the end of the business session of the 59th General Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the 154 regular delegates of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) completed its work of electing associate officers, department directors and associates.

Earlier this week, Pastor Alberto C Gulfan, Jr; Pastor Saw Samuel; and Mr Keith Heinrich, president, secretary, and treasurer, respectively, were elected and their names were voted upon by the 2,412 regular delegates to the world session.

On Thursday, July 1, the SSD body affirmed the recommendation of the 17-member of the nominating committee for associate officers, department directors and associate directors who will serve the 18-country territory of SSD for the next five years.

Those elected were:
Johnny Lubis—Vice President for Administration
Sergie Ferrer—Undertreasurer
Moldy Mambu—Associate Treasurer
Kevin Costello—Associate Treasurer
Gary Rustad—Associate Secretary
Houtman Sinaga—Ministerial Association Secretary
James Brauer—Adventist Mission Director
Wendell Mandolang—Stewardship/Trust Services Director
Jonathan C Catolico—Communication/PARL Director
Leonardo R Asoy—Sabbath School/Personal Ministries Director
Miriam Andres—Children/Family Ministries Director
Helen B Gulfan—Women Ministers/Shepherdess International Director
Vivencio Bermudez—Publishing Ministries/Spirit of Prophecy Director
Abraham T Carpena—Health Ministries Director
Jobbie Yabut—Adventist Youth Ministries Director
Lawrence Domingo—Education Department Director
Denny Rantung—Education Department Associate Director
Michael Bankhead—Information Technology Director
Rufo Gasapo—Adventist Health Care Director

In this election, a vice-president for administration has been added as a new position while the Philanthropic Services Department has been added as an additional responsibility in the Trust Services Department.

The retirement of Ms Thelma Selerio necessitated the appointment of a new director in the Adventist Health Care, while the vacancy brought about by the election of Dr Mike Lekic to the position of associate director of education for the General Conference of the World Church (GC) has elevated Dr Domingo to the directorship. A new education associate, Dr Rantung, was elected. [Jonathan C Catolico]

SSD president and treasurer get fresh mandate, secretary elected

Pastor Alberto C Gulfan, Jr, on Sunday, June 27, was elected president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD) by the 2,410 regular delegates to the 59th General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists here in Atlanta, Georgia along with the presidents of the other 12 regions of the world field.

A dedicated administrator and evangelist, having conducted several evangelistic meetings every year, Pastor Gulfan has been president of SSD since 2003. He is committed to vigorously pursuing evangelistic programs of the church in the next five years with the support of all church organizations and departments. Since he assumed his post, he has encouraged his fellow officers and associates and the directors of departments to conduct at least one evangelistic meeting each year. His leadership style has united his constituents in the region.

On Monday, June 28, after the 246 members of the nominating committee submitted the names of Pastor Samuel and Mr Keith Heinrich as secretary and treasurer, respectively, the delegates voted to confirm the said nominations.

Pastor Samuel, a Burmese by blood and married to a Thai, has served Thailand Adventist Mission as pastor and seven years as executive secretary; and for the last one and half years served as ministerial secretary of the Southeast Asia Union Mission (SAUM), which is based in Singapore. Pastor Samuel takes the post vacated by Pastor Joshua W Mok, who accepted his appointment as president of SAUM. Asked by this writer how he felt being elected to the post, he said that he felt “so unworthy of the calling but by God’s grace and through the help of veteran colleagues I will be able to carry out the sacred task the church has assigned me to perform.”

Mr Heinrich, on the one hand, has been the SSD treasurer since 2005. With his able financial management skills, SSD has been consistently assisting the eight unions, two attached missions, and one field with financial allocations. He also has soft hearts for big projects within the division territory, foremost of which is the Hope Channel Philippines which is slated to have television coverage Philippine-wide soon.

The associate officers and department directors are slated for election within the next two days of the Session. [Jonathan C Catolico]

Photo Credit: JCC

Spiritual emphasis opens World Church’s 59th Session

The 59th world session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church started June 23 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with a day of spiritual emphasis that set the stage for a 10-day rigorous sessions aimed at tackling agenda ranging from election of world and regional church leaders to various other items dealing with administrative structure and changes in the church manual.

The spiritual emphasis messages were anchored on the theme, “Experience the Power of the Holy Spirit Now” that uplifted the spirit of more than two thousand delegates as they get involved into making a new history for the church as it trudges into this postmodern era.

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Believers, the first of the five topics was profoundly delivered by Dr Angel Rodriguez, director of the Biblical Research Institute. It was followed Dr Carlton P Byrd’s Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Dr Byrd is the senior pastor of Berean Church in Atlanta and associate speaker and director of the Breath of Life television ministry. Other topics and speakers were: Harvest Work by the Holy Spirit, Dr Derek Morris, senior pastor of the Lake Forest Church; Experiencing the Presence of the Holy Spirit in Devotions, Raquel Arais da Costa, associate director for Women’s Ministries at the General Conference; and A Finished Work in the Power of the Holy Spirit, by Dr Mark Finley, one of the vice presidents of the General Conference.

Asked about their impressions on the messages, two delegates delightfully commented: “It was truly a spiritual experience that set the tone for this session. We’ll duplicate this experience when we hold our constituency meetings in our field,” said Pastor Willy Catolico, executive secretary of the Adventist Church in the southern Philippines (SPUC). “What life-changing messages we have had. It readied us for discussions on issues that affect church life in our time,” added Pastor Abe Carpena, health ministries director for the southern Asia-Pacific region of the Church (SSD). [Jonathan C Catolico]

Wilson, Ng, and Lemon elected new GC officers

The world church has new officers on Friday, June 25, when Ted N.C. Wilson and G.T. Ng were elected president and secretary, respectively; and Robert E Lemon, re-elected treasurer of the General Conference (GC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Wilson, Ng, and Lemon were appointed by the church’s nominating committee of 246 members and subsequently confirmed by the 2,410 regular delegates to the 59th session of the world church.

Pastor Wilson, was a general vice-president of the church and has been in denominational service for 36 years as administrator; Dr Ng, was associate secretary of the GC immediately prior to his election but served as professor and dean of the seminary at the Adventist Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) and later became secretary of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) while Lemon has served the church for some 40 years, the last eight years being GC treasurer.

During his acceptance speech Pastor Wilson told the audience that the Seventh-day Adventist Church “is not just an organization; this is not just another denomination. This is God’s remnant church.” He also extolled the Spirit of Prophecy as “one of the great gifts God has given to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.” He said that in fulfilling his responsibility, he would seek the wisdom from “counselors and from the Bible and from the Spirit of Prophecy.”

Dr Ng, upon his confirmation by the august body, told the audience that he was surprised by the development. “Never in my wildest imagination would I ever be put in this position of responsibility…but the Lord has His way…with the help and support of my colleagues…we will accomplish the mission. May God bless us.”

Lemon, on the other hand, commended his colleagues in the treasury for having helped the church achieve its goals. He, however, added that he looks at the goal to change offerings into “the eternal currency of heaven, to change cash for souls.”

On Sabbath, June 26, the three were consecrated into their leadership responsibilities before thousands of delegates and church worshippers at the Georgia World Congress Center here in Atlanta, Georgia.

Vice presidents, associate officers, and department directors will be chosen within the next two days of the session. [Jonathan C Catolico]

photo credits: JCC

Traveling Bible ends world trek at 59th General Conference Session in Atlanta

In 2008 in Manila, Philippines, the hardbound 12-by-18 inch Bible started its journey around the world as the Seventh-day Adventist Church launched the Bible study initiative “Follow the Bible.” On Thursday, June 23, it ended its 20-month trek at the opening of 56th General Conference Session in Atlanta, Georgia.

With representatives of the 13 world regions representing all nations of the world, the Bible was passed on to the hands of all representatives until it reached the hands of the five representatives of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) led by Dr Jonathan C Catolico, “Follow the Bible” coordinator of SSD and representing the Philippines, who was the last to receive the Bible, and handed it to Pastor Mark Finley in the presence of the church’s world president, Dr Jan Paulsen.

All presidents of the 13 world divisions laid their hands on the Bible, just as they did in Manila at the start of Bible’s journey. Pastor Finley then offered a prayer.

The official Session Update on June 24 reported that the initiative was launched to “promote Bible study in the community and among its members, following studies suggesting that only about half of members regularly study the Scriptures.”

Update further reported that the “Bible has been featured in stadium events, rallies, and parades in nearly 130 countries. It has been held by governors, tribal chiefs, presidents, kings and queens.”

In his message, Pastor Finley, General Conference vice president, said that the initiative has “brought Adventists around the world together.” [Jonathan C Catolico]

Administrators’ spouses hold retreat

Church administration is no easy task. Many administrators lost a great portion of their time from home responsibilities because of the demands their functions call, and their wives take these left-out role of their husbands in the home. More than that, their being spouses of administrators seem to occupy a higher level of regard as perceived by their husbands’ subordinates or even church members. These and many more make these wives vulnerable to physical and emotional breakdowns.

Indeed, what a treat for the 37 wives of administrators of hospital, college, and church offices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in east Indonesia (EIUC), to meet for a 5-day retreat, March 17-21, at the Hotel Sedona, in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Themed “Renewed by God’s Love,” the retreat was held through the initiative of Ms Helen B Gulfan, director for the Shepherdess International (SI) in the southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD). Knowing the participants’ concerns, Ms Gulfan invited presenters who addressed various issues and needs that helped alleviate the above concerns.

Ms Sharon Cress, SI coordinator from the world church (GC), in keynoting the retreat, dealt on the topic “Leaders Living Together.” She pointed out that “headship is an assignment while leadership is a gift.” She further said that “both husband and wife may be gifted with leadership but respect and love find their proper places in the home.”

On several instances, an administrator’s wife is likened to a pressure cooker that cooks tough food faster, hence much is expected from her beyond her usual self. The problem, though, rests on her being less appreciated and accepted which subsequently puts her life at risk. “Wives, Christ commends you. He provides the strength to make you able to cope with the grinds of daily life,” Ms Gulfan assured the participants.

“The wives are often unappreciated,” said Dr Armand Fabella, a clinical psychology professor at the Adventist University of the Philippines, and one of the presenters. “But building up self-affirmation derivable from Jesus’ commendation to the seven churches of Revelation buoys your spirit.” He further noted that “wives should take the honor and appreciation their husbands received as theirs as well.” This, he added, is the essence of unity in the home.

In one of the sessions, Ms Poppy Lubis, SI coordinator of the church in West Indonesia (WIUM), delivered a topic on family finance. She said that right management of finance spells out joy in the family as it enables it to be used as a powerful instrument to glorify God.

On Friday evening, all participants went for a special celebration of the Sabbath, the Jewish way. Called Kiddush, the Sabbath evening meal was held, with Pastor Noldy Sakul, president of EIUC, taking the role as Patriarch and leading out in the commemoration.
In Tomohon, the Sabbath day church service was held with Sharon Cress as speaker. She exhorted the ladies with Jesus’ declaration, “I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

In the afternoon of Sabbath, testimonies were heard from participants. Dubbed “Joys and Challenges,” women talked about personal experiences that were reflective of their reactions to calls, assignments, work, and challenges. At this moment, they offered prayer for each other as they continue to face the challenges of their role.

One of the ladies voiced out: “Tomorrow we will be going back to the reality of our daily life and service, but I believe we have gotten the stamina to be willing and ready to be hurt by criticisms from fellow ministerial spouses and a lot others. Now it’s time to embrace each other in prayer and resolve to exhort each other.”

One of the highlights of the event was a one-day visit to Bukit Kasih Hill. And the walk up and down the 3000 steps leading to Bukit Kasih was a test of endurance but exciting. On the hill, the ladies had the opportunity to dip their weary feet on a warm sulfuric spring that also warmed their bodies from the rainy, cold and windy hours. [Novry Kaumpungan/AND]

Myanmar women complete leadership certification

For four consecutive years, the women of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Myanmar (MYUM) have gone through leadership certification trainings. And the latest, a level 4 certification was held, May 11-13, in Pyin Oo Lwin at the headquarters of the church in Upper Myanmar.

At this time, 89 women who had gone through the three stages were in attendance including two others who came for the first time.
Ms Helen B Gulfan, women’s ministries (WM) director for the church in the southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD), and Ms Ninfa B Bindosano, WM director for East Indonesia (EIUC), were the resource persons. They were assisted by Sohila Shine, MYUM WM director; Khin Khin Htwe, WM director for Upper Myanmar; and Cho Cho David, WM director for Central Myanmar.

Ms Gulfan delved on the topics: “Jesus Leadership Model” and “The Nature of Relationship in Leadership.” Ms Bindosano focused on two subject matters: “Creating Potential Leaders” and “Women Mentoring Women.”

Ms Shine, presented “Women in Leadership in Bible while Ms Htwe “Equipping Leaders for Success” and Cho Cho David, CMM taught “Leadership Mentoring for the 21st Century Woman.” [Myo Chan]

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