Tlie Messenger
BSOUTHEAST ASIA UNION MISSION 1B
Key Staff Members Leave SAUM
Three Kev statfmembershave departed from SAUN
recent months, and so taronly one ofthe openimeshas been
filled. Thusthe Union staffs somewhat shorthanded ata
crucial time when the work is expandmg into new areas
suchas Cambodia, Callsare beng extended toreplace the
other staff members, but no otficial appomuments have
been made.
First to depart from the statt wis Wo Rayburn Buddy
smith, who had served as Publizhing Departirent Director
since 1929 Ravburn also served m the Thadand Mission
from 1978 to [980
The Smisth family faced a dithicult decision alter the
dosing of Far Eastern Academy mm Mayo Although they
telt a <ttony dedication to mission service, the closimg of
the academy meant that their vouneest daughter, Mandy,
would have to choose between a homestudy th pe program
for hier Yh vear ot school, or com to the United States to
study while her parents remamed m Singapore.
When a call came for the Smiths to jom the statt ot the
Southwestern Umon in the United States, the decision
became even more difficult for then, Finally they decided
that the time had come for them to return to ther homeland
to allow Mandy to complete her education there.
While he was here, Ravburn Ted out moan extremely
active publishing procram, wd the enerey he putinto his
work was retlected mo sizable soles coms am all missions.
The SAU N staft and the Mission Publishing Department,
miss Ravburn’s enthusiasm and expertise, but we wish the
Srnths well in ther new assignment
Dr. Standish retums home
During more than Ix years of service in Southeast Asia
Dr Russell standish endeared himseltto people throughout
the Union His service me SALA began at Penang
santarium and Hospital oon Penane Adventist Hospitals
mm 1967 He served asa physician there until [973 after
whieh he returned to Australia
fn 1O7N Deostandiesh returned to SATIN to serve as a
physician at Bangkok Adventist Hospital Onda | 1079,
he was apponted Medical Director ot the hospral, a
position he held until his departure to serve ina sell
supporting institution in burope my March of [984
in Teen DrooStandish answered the call of Penny
Adventist Hospital (PAH) to serve as ts president, and
then mm 19%9 he was appotated Director of the Health and
Temperance Department of SAUNM az well as Health
Services Director tor the Uiion In this postion he took
responsibility tor leadership of ai the hospitals inthe Union,
Sept Oct ua?
Laterhe wasalsoappomted Spinto Prophecy Coordmator
for the Unton
While he was presrdent of PAH he succeeded in
bringing the hospital our of a slump and restoring it to
protuability In addition he pioneered the idea otbrineing
voy Adventist Bast Malaysians to recerve trmime and
experience while they worked at the hospital
In bis travels throughout the Union Dr. Standish
demonstrated thar his skills are not limited to the medical
beld He isknown asa powerful proclaimer of the vospel.
and he was much in demand as a preacher
In addon to his service mo SAUNM Dro Standish
accepted speaking appointments other divisions without
authonzation tram the leadership of those divisions, and
raneled freely without following normal procedural
pobhicie: This Ted to misunderstandings between these
divisions and the FED
Along with proclamimg the cospel. Dr Standish sensed
an urgency to call the church to a hreher standard of
commitment in every phase of church activity to this end
he wrote volumimousv, Some of his more recent book
manuscripts and macazime articles were perceived by
leadership as unnecessanly entcal of the church and 1s
leaders The FED leaders ureed Dro Standish to endeavor
Io maintain a more constructive approach to church
adership, but it seemed impossible for Dro Standish and
leadership to reach asatistactory agreement on this point,
UHumatelhv and with extreme reluctance, the Far Eastern
Division Executive Committee voted a permanent rerum
to the South Pacific Division tor Dro Standish, eftectve
September 11902
Dr Standish departed Singapore on Septeniher 30 He
ionow vane we Victoria, New South Wales) but has
nivitations to tras el tomany parts ofthe world forspeakmy
chouarements
Staples cruising home
Tom and Raren Staples brouvhtther tannalvto Simgapore
mn 1983 when Tom was appomted SAUN Treasurer. For
several vears priog to their move to Singapore the Staples
enporved slime mr the Mediterrnezan as a pleasant rehiet
from ther high tension hife mw artorn Lebanon. Soon atier
they armed here they Tocated wused boat that they could
use for saing around this area
Sone time dure ther stay here the Staples began to
dream aboutwharitwould be hike to take ther boatand sal
ve)