(CD � 4/A,W„ WTO C©lkOEMkilei [Cala March-June, 1970 Approximately 1,400 peo- ple packed the Conference Hall and overflowed into the foyer the opening night of the crusade. The mes- sages were heard in six different languages simul- taneously through transis- torized receiving sets. March-June, 1970 At the time this is being written there have been two baptisms with a total of fifty having been bap- tized. There are many more who are at present studying the message and making plans for baptisms. Responding to several altar calls during the crusade were over three hundred who thus expressed a desire to become members of God's church. More baptisms are sched- uled in the near future by the churches involved. A unique feature of the crusade was that each sermon was available to those in attendance in any one of six different languages; English. three Chinese dialects, Tamil. and Malay. This was accomplished by A MAJOR evangelistic endeavor, The Singapore Christian Cru- sade, under the direction of Pastors Bruce Johnston and Don Jacobsen, was conducted April 11 to May 2 in the beautiful Conference Hall in downtown Singapore. It was follow- ed by transition meetings in the five Singapore churches during the week of May 3 to May 9. In connection with the crusade a field school was also conducted with daily classes conducted by Pastors Johnston and Jacobsen. More than thirty min- isterial students were involved in these classes as well as in the cru- sade. Attendance at the crusade began with more than 1,300 present for the opening meeting and continued to be excellent throughout the meet- ing with an average of approximate- ly 1,000 present. A corps of faithful counselors who assisted in the crusade the use of electronic equipped trans- lation booths and transistorized re- ceiving sets, each carrying six chan- nels. All five of the Singapore churches participated in making the crusade successful and all five will be strengthened by the addition of new members. The churches were: Southeast Asia Union College Church. the Malay Church, the Chinese Church, the Queenstown Branch Church, and the Balestier Road Church. Most of the new members are young people and this will mean strength to the cause of God in years to come. Stiil other youth are struggling with problems that must , he solved before they can be bap- tized. For these. your earnest pray- ers are needed —R. E. Finney .1r, JANUARY VONIS' Meeting 11-14 Malaya Mission Biennial Session by Don Jacobsen AFEW years ago the financial picture in the Malaya Mission was a gloomy one. Today that pic- ture has changed to the extent that the Mission is in perhaps the strong- est condition in its 50-year history, and may lead Southeast Asia in its fiscal strength. On this optimistic report from Pastor Samuel Tsai, Secretary- Treasurer, the 11th Biennial Session of the Malaya Mission began at the comfortable compound of the Baptist Mission at Port Dickson on January 13. The 61 delegates and 17 pastors from Malaya's 22 churches and companies heard reports of the half million dollars in tithe, the 500 baptisms, the $100,000 in Sabbath School offerings, the $200,000 in literature sales, and other evidences of God's blessing during the pre- ceding biennium. As well as looking back, the Mis- sion leaders and Union representa- tives presented a forward-looking program for the 70s. The first reso- lution of the Session was that each established church seek during 1970 to open new work somewhere in the area of that church. While a current shortage of pastors will not permit pressing into isolated areas at this time, detailed plans were drawn up for the expansion of current churches into surrounding neighborhoods and communities. Initial steps were taken to meet the critical problem of developing church schools in the Mission by electing Pastor Joshua Chong as O N the beautiful Golden Sands beach at Port Dickson in Mala- ya, about twenty literature evangel- ists gathered for sales instruction and spiritual encouragement on Monday evening, January 11, 1970. The Malaya Mission Session had just come to a close on the previous day at this same Baptist camp- ground. Many times our denomina- tion has used this place for various kinds of meetings because of the fine facilities and the beautiful sur- roundings. Brother L. Pandjaitan, Acting Publishing Secretary for the South- east Asia Union, and Brother S. S. Daniel, Assistant Publishing Sec- retary of the Malaya Mission, led out in these meetings with Brother Daniel acting as the chairman. Other instructors and speakers were: Elder M. R. Lyon, Mrs. Choo Yau Fong, Elder T. K. Chong, Elder Samuel Tsai, Mr. C. K. Chan, and Elder Cheah Hun Yong. Elder Lyon showed some film slides about literature evangelists in Indonesia, Philippines, Japan. and from other places in our Divi- sion. The sales instruction and spiritual encouragement given by our leaders brought much help to all our literature evangelists. All literature evangelists including the leaders made a rededication at the close of the meeting with the aim to double their efforts to finish God's work in Malaya and Singa- pore. Elder T. K. Chong, President of the Malaya Mission, offered the closing prayer. —I. Pandjaitan 3 Literature Evangelists Institute Educational Secretary. He will also carry the Lay Activities Department and Ministerial Association. To bring additional leadership to the Missionary Volunteer and Sab- bath School Departments, a call was placed for Elder Wong Yew Seng from the Cholon Chinese church in Vietnam. With a rich background of service in Sabah, Cambodia, and Vietnam, Pastor Wong will also serve as Mission Evangelist. On the final day of the Session the pastoral workers looked ahead also by faith to 1970 and set for themselves a baptism goal of 577. A spirit of unity, optimisim, and enthusiasm pervaded the entire Ses- sion, and there is every indication that, under the blessing of God, Malaya Mission is entering upon an unprecedented period of growth. Literature evangelists and speakers who attended the institute which followed the Malaya Mission Session. Spiritual Revival in Penang wITH the encouragement of Pas- tor H. Y. Cheah and Pastor James Wah to have a week of spiritual revival in April. in prepa- ration for the reaping campaign in August during the Voice of Youth, the M.V. Society of Penang held a Week of Prayer from April 4 to 11, 1970. The week of prayer was sparked off with an inspiring taped message from Pastor Hewitt, Union M.V. Secretary. Dr. Sam Ketting, M.V. Sponsor, gave a special welcome to the week of prayer. Brother Edward Poey, M.V. Leader and recent grad- uate from Spicer College, gave an inspiring sermon at the service on April 4, encouraging the youth as they "Stand at the Crossroads" to fill their hearts' deep longing by coming to Jesus. This inspiration was rekindled nightly by sisters Karen Tan and Esther Khor and Brothers James Tan and Peter Tan. On April 10 we heard inspiring testimonies. Brother David Hor led out that night. The week of prayer closed with a baptism Sabbath, April 11. Dr. Effie Jean Ketting showed us some refreshing slides of nature for three nights and Brother Lee Tsai Teik talked about shells for one night. Brother Peter Tan ar- ranged for the special music. It was surely a week to be re- membered as a week of inspiration for all. —Dorothy Mah, Secretary Penang English Church Retirement of Brother Yuen Tse BROTHER Yuen Tse, who has rendered 30 years of service to the Penang Adventist Hospital, re- tired at the end of March, 1970. Known to all the pioneers of our medical work in Penang, he has seen. the development and expansion of our institution. When Pastor J. M. Nemess, former Union Pres- ident, called Brother Yuen Tse to work in Singapore, he politely de- clined and recommended his nep- hew Peng Kong instead. For many years Peng Kong served faithfully in the workshop of Southeast Asia Union College. Presently he is on the staff of Youngberg Memorial Hospital. Baptized in 1941. Brother Yuen Tse now recalls with gratitude, the blessings of our heavenly Father on him and his family. He has two sons, one of whom is a ministerial student in SAUC. The other son works in the Maintenance Depart- ment of the Penang Adventist Hos- pital. —James Wah Mr. Robieson, the Business Manager, wishing Brother Yuen Tse a happy retirement on the day he terminated his employment. by Maggie Tan THE General Conference Depart- ment of Education has given permission for Southeast Asia Union College to begin offering a third- and fourth-year program in Ministerial and Teacher Training courses. This is a big step forward for Southeast Asia Union College, and the teachers and administrators are determined to accept the great chal- lenge before them. They are equally determined to make SAUC the best college in the far Eastern Divi- sion so there will be no further need for students to go abroad for higher studies in these two fields. This will mean a big saving in time and money. Students will be able to finish their courses with no loss of credits as a result of trans- ferring, and, best of all, at a cost that is within the reach of all. The administration and staff of Southeast Asia Union College cor- dially invite all alumni who are still holding the Junior College Diploma to come back to SAUC for a com- pletion of their course in the Min- istry or Teacher Training. College Promotion D EAN Rau of Southeast Asia Union College brought 12 col- lege students on a promotion trip to Port Dickson and Kuala Lumpur in mid-January. This promotion trip was timed to coincide with the Malaya Mission Biennial Session held at Port Dickson. The students presented a 45- minute program on the second night of the session. The program includ- ed a variety of musical numbers, the first of which was a piano duet of the school song by Jessica Goh and Adeline Cheah. A Physical Education demonstration was fol- lowed by talks given by two min- isterial students who told of their soul-winning activities in the college church. Their talks were ably trans- lated into Chinese by yet another ministerial student. Two students narrated as colored slides of the school buildings and activities were shown. The program ended with the group singing the school song. March-June, 1970 SAUC—A Senior College .1 Dr. B. E. Olson speaking at the opening ceremony of the Pre-U classes of San Yu High School, with Pastor J. Chong translating. San Yu students attend ceremony. March-June, 1970 On Sabbath afternoon the group went up to Kuala Lumpur and took charge of the church service there. The service featured three student speakers and two special numbers. The group also formed a mini-choir which supplied the responses throughout the service. The students returned to Singa- pore feeling very much inspired— glad that they had a part in pro- moting the school of their choice. President & Mrs. Daniel Tan also completed a successful promotion tour through Bangkok, Saigon, and Penang in April. President Tan was given the opportunity to speak twice at each place. Excellent contacts were made with prospective stu- dents, and home-and-school rela- tionships were further enhanced through personal contacts with stu- dents' parents. Several wealthy former students were visited and presented with SAUC's need for a generous donation toward its Libra- ry Fund. It is hoped that this pro- motion trip will bring in many more college students to enjoy a Christian education in the Union's only institution of higher learning. —Maggie Tan San Yu Is Making Progress by James H. C. Wang, Principal T HE Lord has been merciful. He has not overlooked the Chinese- speaking young people in Singapore. The church, in establishing the San Yu High School, is giving these youth an opportunity to obtain not only a true Christian education but a knowledge of the love of God. During the past twelve years since its founding, hundreds of teenagers have passed through its doors. The majority came from non-Christian homes. Most of them were rebel- lious, uncontrollable or without a purpose in life. After some time at San Yu, many of them left with a sense of responsibility to offer their humble service to mankind. Many have been baptized; some have gone for further training in our colleges; a few arc now working at various posts in our mission. During the past year the school has launched an ambitious expan- sion program. Encouraged by the good results of our students who sat for the Singapore Government School Certificate Examination last year and sensing the need of con- ducting Pre-University classes to give our pupils another two years' training, permission has been ob- tained from the Singapore Ministry of Education and blessings from our mission leaders to start these classes. The official opening cere- mony for the Pre-U classes was held in February this year. Union and Division representatives were present. Thus another milestone has been added to the road to suc- cess for the school. It has been the dream of every- one connected with the school to provide better facilities for our students. Thanks be to the Lord, this dream will be realized in the very near future. Through the gen- erosity of the Division leaders, the school will receive as a gift the land adjacent to the school. Dato Tan Hian Tsin and his family will con- struct on this property a five-story school building as a memorial to their late mother. This will increase the number of classrooms and lab- oratories and the entire top floor will become a large library. With these new additions, we can look forward to a larger enrollment of students. We give to God all the glory for another goal achieved. The San Yu High School has entered its thirteenth year of opera- tion. It has been our hope and prayer that this institution may continue to hold as its goal the development of characters of the highest integrity with a sense of loving service for the Master. Delegates in attendance at the 11th biennial mission session of the Thailand Mission which was held in the Ekami School Auditorium, March 17-22, 1970. Progress in Thailand by H. W. Bedwell M arch -J une, 1970 Way of Life Correspondence Course in Lao Language WHEN Pastor Biton began work in Laos, he had only Chinese members to work with. He is learn- ing the Lao language, but he also needs evangelistic material to work with the Lao people. There is no printed material except the Bible, and Bible portions, in the Lao language. Our church has had noth- ing printed in Lao up to this time. So the Thailand Mission authorized the translation and printing of the Way of Life course into the Lao language. The Lao language is very similar in sound to the Thai lan- guage, but in writing it looks much different, so Thai people are not able to read the Lao printing. Thus it was a major job to translate from English into Lao, and then find a printer. We found it easier to have it printed in Bangkok, then mail it to Vientiane. Not only will this course be used in Vientiane, but also in Ban Huay Sai, farther north, directly across the river from our church in Chieng Kong. With a church near there we can work with the Lao people from Chieng Kong, and from the village in Nam Yawn, Laos, also. This Way of Life course has 24 lessons, which cover our complete doctrine. These lessons are mad.: quite simple and easy to understand, especially for people with a non- Christian background. It is a real thrill for us to have this new course in the Lao language! —Palmer G. Wick, President Thailand Mission Saisamorn Suwunee (left) the first V.O.P. graduate in Laos, receives his certificate from Pastor Biton, missionary in Vientiane, while the language teacher and translator of the Way of life course looks on. AS it had been five ears since I had attended a session of the Thailand Mission, I listened with interest to the reports of the mis- sion officers and district pastors. These reports indicated continued progress and greater opportunities. This eleventh business session of the mission was under the capable leadership of the mission president, P. G. Wick, and the secretary- treasurer, C. K. Han. There were about 80 delegates present repre- senting the 14 churches of Thailand and Laos. The delegates met for meetings in the pleasant and ccrn- fortable Milne Auditorium of the Ekamai Adventist School in Bang- kok. In the meetings of this eleventh session there were some interesting contrasts as compared to some ses- sions I attended a few years ago. This session was held in the pleasant Milne Auditorium instead of a crowded and uncomfortable class- room. Another difference was the larger number of delegates present than in former years. Of course this is due to the increased mem- bership of the mission. Another contrast was the large number of young people present as delegates. This reveals that the younger mem- bers of our churches are carry- ing greater responsibilities in our churches. Another contrast to some years ago is the appearance of several new buildings and the improve- ments seen on the Ekamai school compound. One great change is the attractive mission office and pub- lishing house building ns compared to the crowded quarters formerly used on the hospital compound. Several of the important items of progress as revealed in the va- rious reports are as follows: The Ekamai school has been fully accredited by the government so that M. S. Classes 4 and 5 can be taught. The Ubol Mission School was also accredited. The first gov- ernment approved church school was recently opened at Phuket. Plans are being made to open a church school also at Haad Yai. The training school recently grad- uated seven students. During the Thailand Biennial Session Pastor Chalaw Artamopadung, Pastor Jon L. Dybdahl and Pastor Jerrold 1. Aitken were ordained to the gospel ministry. Members of the Chiengmai, Fang and Prow churches present for the mini-campmeeting in Chiengmai, Tho;land. March-June, 1970 � THE MESSENGER � 7 Ordination in Thailand Mission by Palmer G. Wick DURING the Biennial Session of the Thailand Mission three young men were ordained to the gospel ministry. They were Pastor Jerrold J. Aitken, pastor of the Phuket district in south Thailand, Pastor Chalaw Artamapadung the pastor of Ubon district, and Pastor Jon L. Dybdahl, pastor of the Chiengmai district. Pastor Aitken began work for the denomination in September of 1965. He came to the mission field in September of 1967. He is married to Judy Olson, and they have been blessed with two children, Jay and Jolene. Pastor Aitken has been do- ing a lot of building during his years of service in Phuket. He has built a beautiful new church, and also our first legal church school. We are very happy for the work that Pastor Aitken has done. Pastor Chalaw Artamapadung was the second Thai national to be ordained as a minister of the Sev- enth-day Adventist Church. Pastor Chalaw has just recently returned from studying in the Philippines where he got a B.A. in Theology and a B.S.E. degree also. He began work for the denomination in 1956 and he married Buareo in 1958. They have four children: Ruth, Chanchai, Naparat, and Busara. Pastor Chalaw has been a pastor in Chiengmai, Bangkok, and Ubon. He has now been assigned to Ubon upon returning to our field again, and has the responsibility of the district as well as some respon- sibility in the Ubon Mission School. Pastor Jon L. Dybdahl has lived in our Division and attended school at Far Eastern Academy during the time his father was a doctor at the Manila Sanitarium and Hospital. Pastor Dybdahl began working for the denomination in September, 1967 after finishing his B.D. degree at Andrews University. He also was a colporteur, and worked as a col- porteur assistant for two summers. Pastor Dybdahl married Kathryn Trefz. They have two children, Jon- na and Paul. Pastor Dybdahl has a great gift for languages. He has learned the Thai language so that he has been preaching sermons in Thai from about his sixth month in Thailand. He is now learning the Meo language and just recently the Mission Committee has voted to assign him as the director of Tribal work. The Mission has plans to establish a Tribal Center for train- ing tribal people, working mostly with Karen and Meo Tribes, and Pastor Dybdahl will be the overseer of this project. The ordination of these three young men will add strength to the work of God in Thailand. We praise the Lord for young people who have consecrated their lives to service for Him. Mini-Campmeeting in North Thailand by D. Kenneth Smith WORK by Seventh-day Advent- ists in North Thailand was es- tablished in 1951 when James Po- gue, then Ministerial Secretary of the Southeast Asia Union of Sev- enth-day Adventists, and a team of Thai workers, held a series of taber- nacle meetings in Chiang Mai, a large city at the rail terminus, to foster an interest among some Voice of Prophecy students. Of the three baptized, one today is the wife of a pastor and another is a Bible worker at the Bangkok Sanitarium and Hospital. Elden B. Smith and family were transferred to Chiang Mai to build up the work. A term of service there resulted in purchase of land and erection of a church in addition to a good increase in church mem- bership. Following them, the D. Kenneth Smith family arrived to further develop the work. During their years of service, work was begun in two other areas, Amphur Praw and San Sai. In addition, work was opened in Chiangkong, on the border between Thailand and Laos, by Richard Hall, when the work in Laos where he had been laboring ended due to Com- munist activity. Later, Dr. Clark Lamberton, D. D.S. and family, moved to Chiang Mai to open a dental clinic. Dr. Lamberton was interested in work- ing for the mountain tribal groups in the area also and today through his efforts and the energetic work of local Thai pastors, work has been established in several villages. Most recently, Jon Dybdahl and family have arrived in Chiang Mai to give guidance to the evangelistic outreach of the church in North Thailand. The last weekend of December, 1969, D. Kenneth Smith, now chap- lain of the Bangkok Sanitarium and Hospital, with his family, planned a trip to Chiang Mai to pay a fare- well visit to old friends there as they are planning on permanent re- turn in 1970. It was decided to in- vite church members and interests from the surrounding churches to come to Chiang Mai for a mini- campmeeting. ' Accompanying the Smith family to Chiang Mai were (Continued on page 10) 11 Child Evangelism by Paulene Barnett "NO other form of Christian effort brings such immediate, such large, and such lasting results as work for the conversion of children. It has � kF many advantages over other forms of work. First of all, children are more likely to stay converted than those parently converted at a later period of life. They also make better Christians, as they do not have as much to unlearn as pl �those who have grown old in sin. They have more years of service before them. A man converted at sixty is a soul saved plus 10 years of service; a child saved at 10 is a soul saved plus 60 years of service." Does not the above statement by � , , religious leader, Dr. R. A. Torrey, (not a Seventh-day Adventist) sound very much like the statement in Desire of Ages, p. 515 which says: "It is still true that children are the most susceptible to the teachings of the gospel; their hearts are open to divine influences, and strong to retain the lessons received. The little children may be Christians, having an experience in accordance with their years. They need to be educated in spiritual things.... that they may form characters after the similitude of the character of Christ.' 4 4 r) Satan has probably been more suc- cessful in deceiving us in regard to the Value of chirdren than in regard to the value of any other group. Only rarely do we see religious effort in their behalf placed on a par with work for adults. As the result of this attitude, the spiritual interests of the child often are sadly neglected. Under the capable leadership of Miss Nony Sha'ah in Sabah and Miss Dorothy : � Lapan in Sarawak this situation is fast changing. These two Child Evangelism leaders spend their entire time preparing complete soul-winning Sabbath School programs for the field then follow the material out and train every leader and i � V. � teacher how to use the programs. The sad faces of neglected children are turn- ing to smiles. Sabbath School has be- come something to look forward to with interest. Children walk long distances or use any mode of transportation available (Nos. 12. 13. 14 & 15) to go to Sabbath School, Branch Sabbath School or Va- cation Bible School. They come dressed in "uniform" (No. II) or in their very best (No. 8). New scholars in some areas join Miss D. Lapan's "bathing class" (No. 6) and learn to become neat, clean and dressed to meet and talk to their heavenly Father (No. 7). Vacation Bible School in Sabah finds Miss Nony Sha'ah (No. 5) leading in a most enjoyable class period with the children in the river. bathing, brushing teeth and cleaning noses. (Watch for detailed report later.) Children respond happily and enthusias- tically to every new phase of training. For more than sixteen years children at Kelawat. Sabah. have met under this big shade tree (No. 1), but today they meet in the lovely recently donated combina- tion Lamb Shelter-schoolroom building (No. 2). Inside they have large black- boards. tables and flannel board which Miss Sha'ah uses effeciently in her teach- ing. (Nos. 3. 4). Child Evangelism is now bringing the good tidings of salvation to the chil- dren of Sahah and Sarawak and, interest- ingly enough. winning some adults with them. When grown men sit on the floor of the longhouse and become converted as a result of listening to the children's meetings, they are ready to join the ranks and advance the efforts in Child Evangelism. (No. 10) "How beautiful upon th.l. mountains are Ili � the feet of him .hat bringeth good tidings. . • � • that publisheth " �salvation." Isaiah 52:7 10 Mini-Campmeeting in North Thailand (Continued from page 7) Dr. and Mrs. Clarence Ekvall and their daughter Betty and Elder and Mrs. D. E. Venden of St. Helena California. Dr. Ekvall is Far Eastern Division Medical Secretary and acting Medical Director of the Bangkok Sanitarium and Hospital. Mrs. Ekvall is a daughter of Elder and Mrs. Venden as is Mrs. Smith. These three families presented a weekend of meetings for the as- sembled members. Elder Venden, evangelist, former conference pres- ident and revivalist, spoke three times. Dr. Ekvall gave a very in- teresting health talk. Elder Smith showed pictures of the development of the work in North Thailand and officiated at a baptism of three can- didates. The earnest messages of Elder Venden were very inspiring to his listeners. For Mrs. Venden it was a special treat to see friends she had made on a previous visit ten years before and for Elder Venden it was the fulfillment of a dream of the past twelve years. Special gratitude is due to Elder Venden who very generously paid all the expenses of the campmeeting in- cluding travel and food for the members who came in from out- lying districts. The work of the Thailand Mis- sion is most strongly represented in Northern Thailand. Work has be- gun among the Karen tribes and the Meo tribes in both Thailand and neighboring Laos. Plans are being developed to begin a tribal center in Chiang Mai where young men can be brought in from dif- ferent tribal'groups and given sim- ple training in health principles, agriculture, and Bible, and then be sent back to their home villages tc 1-‘,3r others. Workers' Training School Graduation AT the time of the 1 1 th Biennial Session for the Thailand Mis- sion there was a graduation for the 3rd graduating class from the Thai- land Workers' Training School. Eight young men graduated, two of whom were already hired workers for the Thailand Mission, and five others have been placed in different positions of responsibility here in the Mission. Pastor Don Jacobsen was the speaker at the graduation exercises. Pastor Sunti Sorajjakool, the Prin- cipal of the school, and Pastor Palmer Wick, one of the instructors, presented the certificates. Of these young men, three belong to the Meo Tribe, and five were Thai. The three Meo students will be placed in Meo villages to work with their own. people. We have one all-Seventh-day Adventist Meo village where one of the young graduates will teach in the church school for the first year of his work, and another young man will he the pastor of the church there, as well as work in many surrounding Meo villages. The third Meo graduate is opening new work in the northern area of Thailand where we have many Meo villages. These villages are not very large, mostly, so the worker has to do a lot of traveling by foot in high altitudes of the mountains where these people prefer to live. Three Thai graduates have been assigned, one to assist Pastor Aitken in Phuket, one to assist Pastor Dybdahl in Chiengmai, and one to assist Pastor Chalaw in Ubon. We of the Thailand Mission are very happy for this increase in our working force, and we know that by the grace of God these young graduates will do great things for Him. —Palmer G. Wick Training School Graduate Holds Effort in Home Village PRASARN Boonwong, one of the graduates from the Thailand Workers' Training School, has had a burden on his heart to win his family to Christ. They live in a remote village in Northeast Thai- land, close to Ubon, and many peo- ple in this village had been Chris- tian in one or two other denom-. inations. Prasarn had had several of his relatives come and live with him at different times so that he could teach them the Bible doc- trines, and his mother has already been baptized, and also one or two brothers and sisters were baptized. But before his assignment to Phuket he requested permission to go and hold an evangelistic series of meet- ings in his home village. Two other training school graduates, Peng Bumroong, and Hu Saeyang, assist- ed him in this effort. They held nightly meetings for three weeks, and since this is the dry season and the people in the local areas have very little to do, they taught a Bible class most of the day each day. The meetings were very well at- tended, with never less than 300 at a meeting, and up to a thousand at some of their meetings. At the time of the completion of these meetings Pastor D. K. Smith trav- eled to this Village and had a bap- tism where eight precious souls be- came members of the Remnant Church. Not only were eight bap- tized, but there are about 20 very interested people in this village who are still studying. We hope to be able to establish a permanent church here within a short period of time. We are very happy for this young man, Prasarn, who has such a burden for his relatives and has been working very faithfully ever since he became an Adventist to bring them to a full knowledge of the gospel. He says he has only one sister now, from a very large family, who has not accepted Christ. We are all praying with him that she will accept Christ soon. • —Palmer Wick Ekamai School Graduation THE MESSENGER � 11 March-June, 1970 EIGHTEEN 12-grade graduates received their diplomas Monday night, March 16, during Commence- ment ceremonies at the Adventist Special Time School in Bangkok. Also graduating at the same time from the elementary section were 39 other young people, who plan to continue their studies at the Ekamai School. The Adventist Special Time School is the English language medium section of the entire school complex generally known as the Ekamai School, another division of which uses the Thai language med- ium of instruction. These two mis- sion schools together. form a com- plex with nearly 1,000 students en- rolled. The Commencement address was given by the writer. Diplomas were conferred by the Principal, Mr. Banjong Tonasudh, and Pastor J. B. Falconbridge, administrator of the school, who was also co-sponsor with Mr. J. Tauro of the senior class. Responses were presented by Vorarit Keerikoolporn, President of the 12th grade senior class, and by Munkong Chinsomboon, President of the elementary school graduating class. Class gifts were presented by the class treasurers Nikorn Paka- hunto and Paranee Sriyongluckana. Please pray for the advance of the work in Northern Thailand. a stronghold of Buddhism and a tar- get of Communist activity. Pray that the work may go quickly while there is yet freedom and oppor- tunity to work. At the close of the program, "My Task" was sung by the ladies trio, Mrs. Royce Thompson, Mrs. P. G. Wick, and Mrs. J. B. Falconbridge. The processional, the "King's An- them", and the "Poet and Peasant Overture" were presented by a chamber orchestra under the direc- tion of Mr. Suwan Vichairat. It is most encouraging to see these young people advancing in their education and to note the progress in the development of the physical plant of this excellent mis- sion school. The Ekamai School enjoys a very good reputation in the city of Bangkok and a number of its students have become workers for the church in Thailand. —F. H. Hewitt, Secretary Department of Education News Notes—Thailand THAILAND Bible Society Direc- tor, Pastor Young Choi, has re- requested Pastor Abel Pangan, Thailand Mission Lay Activities Director, to attend the Bible Society Advisory Group in planning a bet- ter and more systematic way of distributing Bibles in Thailand. Church Buildings. Two lovely church buildings were recently finished. One was the new Chinese church in Bangkok and the other was on the island of Phuket which is the second church there. New chapels were also built or pur- chased in Nam Yawn (Laos), Ta K ham, and Fang. Publishing. Presently there are eight regular and four part-time colporteurs in Thailand. During the last three-year period the total sales of literature amounted to 2,126,125 Baht. Recently the Desire of Ages was published in Thai. Plans are being made to publish the other four volumes of the Conflict of the Ages series. Ekamai. Word has just come from the Thailand Department of Education that 9 of the 12 students from the Ekamai Adventist School who sat for the nation-wide pre- university level exams passed. This is the first year the school was registered for its students to sit for these exams, and a 75 r4 pass is considered very commendable. Three of these graduates have applied for admission to the Bang- kok Hospital School of Nursing. NEWS F-L-A-S-H ! • THE General Conference Quadrennial Session was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA from June 11-20, 1970. At that time the appointment of the Far Eastern Division Committee and staff was made for the ensuing five-year period. The next session will be held in 1975. The following are the Division staff appointments: P. H. Eldridge, President; W. T. Clark, Secretary; G. 0. Bruce, Treasurer; H. B. Ludden, Auditor; E. L. Longway and H. W. Bedwell, Field Secretaries; Don Roth, Assis- tant Secretary and Public Relations; E. A. Broduer, Publishing; Mel Rees, Stewardship; B. E. Olson, Educational; B. E. Jacobs, MV; W. V. Clements, Sabbath School; R. C. Williams, Ministerial; C. L. Shankel, Lay Activities. Division staff members going to the General Conference will be H. D. Johnson, Assistant Treasurer; L. A. Shipowick, Associate Lay Activities; G. L. Bertochini, Asso- ciate Temperance. Following the General Con- ference Session the Fir Eastern Division Committee appointed D. M. Barnett as president of the South China Island Union to replace W. T. Clark, and R. I. Gainer of the Japan Union to be treasurer of the Southeast Asia Union. Delegates in attendance at the 7th biennial session of the Vietnam Mission T HESE words in bold letters greet- ed the delegates and mission workers at the opening meeting of the Vietnam Mission's seventh business session. This motto —"While Time Re- mains"— appeared across the map of Vietnam that formed the back- ground of the school chapel in Saigon where the mission session was held. On either side of the plat- form also appeared the words: "Tell Vietnam Now." The spirit of these two mottoes was evident in all the meetings held and reports given and plans made. Despite the diffi- culties caused by the military and political activities, the delegates felt that today there is a great oppor- tunity for witnessing for Christ. Even though the past few years have seen many problems arise, yet the reports given by the mission leaders and pastors indicated pro- gress in every line of work. Evan- gelistic efforts have been held and lay workers have been active. Dur- ing the past five years a' total of 677 persons were baptized. Of these 242 were baptized in 1969. This was 14". of the church membership at the beginning of ' the year. The church membership in 1965 was 1,358 as compared to 1.940 at the end of 1969. This represents a 40(% increase in five years. The tithe income during 1969 showed an increase of nearly 400'; as compared to 1965. The total Sabbath School offerings for 1969 amounted to 580.000 piasters which is more than 350"; greater than during 1965. At the present time there are 16 organized churches in Vietnam. The past two years has seen many churches and schools re- paired or rebuilt. Most of these had been damaged as a result of mili- tary activity. A student missionary from Walla Walla College, Bert Jager, has spent the past year as- sisting in the rebuilding of a new three-room school building at Can Tho. Another student missionary, Miss Ruthita Jensen from Union Col- lege, has been assisting for nearly a year in an inoculation program among the refugee children. She has been instrumental in helping 100.000 such children. In addition to this she has been teaching Eng- lish in several schools. Due to the faithful work of the colporteurs thousands of books have been distributed in Vietnam. The publishing house has had to work overtime to provide all the literature needed. During 1969 a total of 13,530,000 piasters worth of literature was sold. As compared to 1968 this represents a 30% increase in sales. The total sales over the last two year period exceeds 23,600,000 piasters. In 1969 there were 142,000 books sold. This is double the number sold in 1968. At the present time there are 60 full-time colporteurs working in Vietnam. There are now 6 schools being operated with 17 full-time teachers and with nearly 1,400 students en- rolled. The lay members of the churches are active in the soul-win- ning activities of the Far East Harvest. Sabbath schools and Bible classes are being held in jails, mili- tary prison camps, orphanages, and many other places. In one orphan- age near Saigon meetings are be- ing held where there are 2,500 chil- dren. The business session ended with the • mission workers renewing their dedication of going forth to "Tell Vietnam Now" the good news of salvation "While Time Yet Re- mains". A highlight of the Sabbath afternoon meetings was the ordina- tion to the gospel ministry of two mission workers, Ha Doi and Duong Sau. The mission session was under the capable leadership of the mis- sion officers: V. L. Bretsch, pres- ident: Pham Thien, secretary; and Le Toan Tho, treasurer. Others who assisted in the meetings were as follows: from Southeast Asia Union office, R. S. Watts, G. 0. Bruce, Don Jacobsen, F. H. Hewitt, D. M. Barnett, and Mrs. D. M. Barnett; from Southeast Asia Union College, Daniel Tan; and from the Far East- ern Division, H. W. Bedw ell. Vietnam Ordination by Ralph S. Watts, Jr. O NE of the highlights of the Sev- enth Biennial Session of the Vietnam Mission was the ordina- tion to the gospel ministry of Pas- tors Duong-Sau and Ha Doi. In a country torn asunder by war, these young men have given outstanding service. Those participating in the ordination services were: Elder H. W. Bedwell from the Division; Elders Watts and Jacobsen from the Union; and Elders Bretsch, Pham Thien and Le Huu from the Vietnam Mission. "While Time Remains" by H. W. Bedwell Brethren Duong-Sau and Ha Doi were ordained at the Vietnam biennial session. Sarawak Mission holds annual meeting with Southeast Asia Union representatives present. Sarawak Student for Okinawa ON Sunday, 1st of February, Ray- mond Sakor, a youth from Kampong Simbo, left for Okinawa to attend a 12 month course at the Mittleider Scientific Agricultural School. Raymond is a church school teacher in his village. He is the first local youth to be sent on an agricultural scholarship by the Sa- rawak Mission. It is hoped that on his return, Raymond will be able to impart new agricultural skills to the needy Kampongs of the Mission. Sarawak Pledges 400 Souls by Herb Sormin, P. R. Secretary AT the Annual Meeting (January 26-27) of the Sarawak Mission this year, officers of the Mission Committee pledged to support Elder R. C. Hall's proposal for a harvest of 400 souls. The Committee was privileged for the spiritual guidance of Elder R. S. Watts, Jr., the new Union president, in all its delibera- tions. Other Union officers in at- tendance were Elders K. T. Kong, G. 0. Bruce and F. H. Hewitt. At the meeting Mr. Choo Wee Fong was elected Principal and Business Manager of Sunny Hill School. Mr. Gilbert Asen was elected Treasurer and Assistant Business Manager. Elected Editor of the Mission Bulletin was Elder Sammy Lee Blessings Through Opposition by Doyle Barnett "I OOK!" they said. "Twenty two I-4 teenagers and adults are reading and studying the Bible every day! Before they go to their farms they study their Bible. Returning home from the farm they study their Bible. And they go to the Bible meetings in the evening!" So spoke two irritated and angry religious leaders. They were really upset as they spoke to the village elders. Pastor J. B. Th. Umboh, Sarawak Lay Activities Director, was con- ducting a series of meetings in the village of Jenan. Never before had the villagers heard such wonderful Bible truth, and the attendance kept growing each night, but so did the opposition. Those two men kept agitating the matter with the village leaders, insisting that the "heresy" meetings be stopped immediately. On the last of the fifteen nights of meetings Pastor Umboh had a real confrontation when the two men came and tried to force him to stop the meetings. Whereupon he invited the elders of the village and these two men for a counsel to- gether. Speaking kindly and softly to them, Pastor Umboh said: "If you want to stir up trouble and try to close these meetings I cannot stop you. But I do not believe you want to do this. I know your head church officer in Kuching, and I would very much dislike to have to report to him about the kind of people his church has in this vil- lage." This approach changed their at- titudes, and especially since all the village elders supported the meet- ings. Then the younger of the two agitators snoke to Pastor Umboh: During a recent stop over in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia Union president, Ralph S. Watts, visited Southeast Asia Union students who are now studying at South China Union College. Pastor and Mrs. Handel Leke (extreme left) who have just responded to a call to Southeast Asia, are pictured with President M. D. Lee and the following students: Candance Cheong, Lim Chin Hooi, Daniel Chuah, Patricia Fung, Christina Ng, Joshua Mok, Vincent Foong, Mah Chee Ping, Wee Hock Kee, Yuen Fook Kee, Margaret Ho, Lee Kam Hong, Mary Ann Lee, Phang Nyuk Thu, Phong Nyuk Su. Another Step Toward a New Saigon Hospital by G. 0. Bruce MAY 15, 1970 became a high point in the long years of planning that have gone into the development of the Saigon Adventist Hospital. On that date the contract was signed for the drawing of the detailed construction plans for the new hospital. The architectural firm of Daniel, Mann, Johnson, & Mendenhall has been chosen by the hospital Board of Directors to prepare the plans and to handle the technical supervision when actual con- struction begins. Whiting and Associates in Rome, Italy, experts in hospital planning, carried on the initial planning and prepared the original critique. The accompanying photograph shows the signing of the contract by G. 0. Bruce, Vice-Chairman of the Hospital Board. E. A. Pender, Secretary of the Board, and Perry M. King, Resident Sai- gon Manager for the DMJM firm. The contract was signed in the firm's Saigon office. 14 "May I have some of The Bible Says lessons? I want to find out more about your religion." The next morning the village chief was seen going from house to house calling on his villagers, telling everyone that they should accept the messages of truth and become Christians. Eighteen families signed their names in his notebook to take this step, the village chief's name heading the list. Then the inquirers said to Pastor Umboh, "When can we have a church?" "The mission will provide the zinc roof if you will get the other materials and do the work," the pastor replied. Soon two ministerial students were assigned to follow up this interest, and a new church is already being built in Jenan. Oppo- sition only increased the quest of seekers after God's truth. Funeral for Lyle C. Wilcox S ERVICES for Eld. Lyle C. Wil- cox, a retired Seventh-day Ad- ventist educator, minister and ad- ministrator, were conducted by Eld. R. R. Figuhr, assisted by Dr. Elton Wallace and Eld. C. R. Bonney, in the Morrison Funeral Chapel, St. Helena, Tuesday afternoon, April 21. After an extended illness, he had passed away on the Sunday before in a Calistoga convalescent home. Born in Hoquaim, Washington, August 30, 1891, Lyle Wilcox at- tended Adventist academies in Washington state, and in 1916 was graduated from the ministerial de- partment of Pacific Union College, Angwin, California. In 1919 he was married to Miss Hazel Pearl Lyle and in 1923 they came to Canton, China as principal of the South China Training School. They spent 35 years in the Far Eastern Division in the educational work, returning to the homeland in 1959 when they made their home near the St. Helena Sanitarium. His wife, Hazel, survives, also two daughters and a son, Eld. Wendell Lyle Wilcox, President of the Korean Union Mission of SDA. We extend to the family our sincere sympathies. 7 r- ht Pastor Joseph and his group of willing helpers who conducted a successful "Word of Life Crusade" in April at the Island Estate, Kiang, Malaya An overflowing crowd packed the building at the "Word of Life Crusade" opening meeting. At least three hundred were still in attendance on the closing night. Ten persons were baptized and at least thirty more are interested., 5; Educational Leaders Visit Sunny Hill SUNNY Hill School was honored by the presence of Dr. I. V. Stonebrook of the General Con- ference and Elder F. H. Hewitt, Educational Secretary of the Union, this February. At the end of the short visit, the visitors praised the quality and quantity of Spirit of Prophecy books and encyclopedias in the Library. Elder Hewitt com- plimented Mr. W. F. Choo, the principal, for the fine spirit and high morale of the teachers and students. by Herb Sormin, P. R. Secretary 16 � THE MESSENGER THE MESSENGER Published bi-monthly as the official organ of the Southeast Asia Union Mission of Seventh- day Adventists, 251 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore, 13. Yearly Subscription Price SC cents (U.S.) Editor � M.C. (P) 0810 SOUTHEAST ASIA UNION MISSION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS DIRECTORY R. S. Watts, Jr., � President K. T. Kong � Secretory G. 0. Bruce � Treasurer W. Y. Chen � Assistant Treasurer G. Gurusamy � Auditor D. M. Barnett .... Lay Activities & Temperance Mrs. D. M. Barnett � Sabbath School Richard McKee � Publishing F. H. Hewitt � M. V. & Educational Don Jacobsen � PR, Ministerial & Radio-TV � Medical MALAYA MISSION President � T. K. Chong Sec'y-Treasurer � Samuel Tsai 166, Jalon Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur SABAH MISSION President � G. Munson Sec'y-Treasurer � A. Wawaroendeng P. 0. Box 34 Kota Kinabalu, Sobah SARAWAK MISSION President � R. C. Hall Sec'y-Treasurer � P. R. Siborani P 0. Box 41, Kuching, Sarawak THAILAND MISSION (INCLUDING LAOS) President � P. G. Wick Sec'y-Treasurer � C. K. Hon P. 0. Box 11/234 Bangkcik, Thailand VIETNAM MISSION (INCLUDING CAMBODIA) President � V. L. Bretsch Secretary � Pham Thien Treasurer � Le Thoan Tho P. 0. Box 453 Saigon, Vietnam SAUC Alumnus Returns Home BROTHER anti Sister Poey have joined the work at Penang Ad- ventist Hospital. Brother Poey grad- uated from the Commerce course at Southeast Asia Union College in 1966. He joined the work at Youngberg Memorial Hospital in Singapore. In May of 1967 he left for India to join Spicer College. He now possesses a Bachelor of Busi- ness Administration degree, with a major sequence in accountancy and a minor in religion. Mrs. Poey is a B. A. graduate of the same col- lege, with a major sequency in Sec- retarial Science and a minor in English. She has served as secre- tary to the President of Spicer Memorial College, the Business Manager of Spicer and also of a principal and a registrar of a high school. She is now secretary of the manager of our Penang Hospital. About their stay at Spicer, Broth- er Poey says: "It was profitable, interesting and challenging. Only sophisticated foreigners will not en- joy Spicer. It has notably strong departments, especially in Business." News Notes—SAUC by Maggie Tan • THE K. T. Kongs have taken leave of absence to be with their children and grandchildren in America. They arrived just in time to welcome the birth of yet another grandchild, a much-wanted baby girl born to Peggy & Reggie Yeo. They will tour the U. S. in June and attend the General Conference before coming back. • Villy Chen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. K. D. James Chen, mar- ried Lee Sze Ching, son of Pastor and Mrs. S. J. Lee, on January 18 in the U. S. The bride's parents flew over to attend the wedding. • John Chai, an alumnus of SAUC, took the opportunity to spend a few days in Singapore and Johore (his hometown) on his way to Expo 70 in Japan. He is a jour- nalist of the Melbourne Herald and is being sent to cover news of the exposition. He has been in Australia the past 4+ years. • Dr. Melvyn Yeo is currently serving his term of 18 months in the U. S. army at the Bangkok Military Hospital. His mother, Mrs. Grace Yeo, took the opportunity of spending her annual vacation with her son and family in Bang- kok. • James Wong and Viola Ca- nagasabai were recently appointed Principal and Elementary Super- visor, respectively, of The Seventh- day Adventist School. These ap- pointments relieve President Daniel March-April, 1970 Tan of his duties in the elementary and secondary school, thus giving him more time to devote to the overall improvement and long-range planning of Southeast Asia Union College. • Arrivals—Edward Poey and Y. J. Moses have returned from Spicer Memorial College where they successfully completed their bachelor's course in Business Ad- ministration and Education respec- tively. Both returned With brides who will help fill positions of need in the Lord's vineyard. Edward is manager of the Pur- chasing Department at the Penang Adventist Hospital while his wife is secretary to the Business Man- ager. Moses will resume his teach- ing duties in the secondary school; his wife will assist in the teaching of secretarial subjects in the college. • Pamela Koh is back from Andrews University to work on her research project for her M. A. degree in Education. She will con- duct surveys in several Singapore schools and then compile her find- ings before returning to the U. S. to complete her requirements for the Master's degree. • Weddings—John Ho and Lucy Tan were united in marriage on April 12, 1970, at the college Auditorium. John's twin brother, Peter, was to have been married on the same day in Canada, but his future bride, Khoo See Gee, was still waiting for her travel papers to be completed, and this has delayed her departure to Canada. • Dr. Julian Tsai, youngest son of Pastor & Mrs. Samuel Tsai, married Elaine Mitsuko on April 12, 1970, in Los Angeles. Pastor & Mrs. Tsai flew to the States to attend this wedding as well as the grad- uation of their eldest son, James. • Honors—Dr. Melvyn Yeo, of the U. S. Medical Center, was recently awarded a certificate for being the most outstanding person- ality of the year and for his out- standing performance as a physician to the U. S. public. • Hilmer Hutapea has become the first male nurse in New South Wales, Australia's biggest State, to gain a midwifery certificate. He has delivered 42 babies thus far. Sister G. E. MacDonald, supervisor at Bankstown Hospital maternity sec- tion, describes Nurse Hutapea as being "marvellous."