M.I.T.A. (P) No. 138/5/92 Sept-Oct 1992 ISSN 0026-0371 SOUTHEAST ASIA UNION essen er The Messenger How to Wash Your Brother's Feet Seventh-day Adventists take literally the words of Jesus found in John 13:14 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."* We practice foot washing at what we affectionately call the "Quarterly Service" or the "Ordinance of Humility." Perhaps once a quarter is enough for literal foot washing, but in washing the disciples' feet Jesus taught more than the need for humility. We can see it in His conversation with Peter, who at first refused the Lord's service. "`If I do not wash you, you have no part with me,'" Jesus told Peter (verse 8). At that point Peter was ready for a complete bath: "'Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"' he pled (verse 9). But Jesus made it clear that because Peter had been baptized he did not need his whole body washed again. The foot washing had a special purpose: not to replace or repeat baptism, but to renew it. —He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet,"' Jesus said. This exchange between Peter and his Lord brought the real meaning of the foot washing service into focus. After a person has had a bath, the feet soon become dirty again through contact with the world. All the person needs to be clean again is a foot washing. After baptism, we soon become soiled again by contact with the world. Sin creeps in on us, and we need to be cleansed. The foot washing service symbolically provides that cleansing. But once a quarter is not enough for us to provide the service of cleansing to our brothers and sisters. It may be often enough for the physical act, but the spiritual act of cleansing and removing the dirt from one another's lives must go on continually, without interruption. Day by day we need to be dealing with sin and removing it through forgiveness. Three texts can teach us how to make this spiritual foot washing a continual part of our interaction in the church. "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). "'Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times •-'7. a day returns to you, saying "I repent," you shall forgive him— (Luke 17:3, 4). "'Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has.. • something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift"' (Matthew 5:23, 24). It takes a great deal of courage to follow the instructions in these three texts. It is much easier to try to sweep our sins (and the sins of our brothers and sisters) under the carpet and pretend that they don't exist than to confess them openly and ask for prayer. We find it easier to tell others about our brother's sin than to go to him, rebuke him, pray with him, forgive him, and be reconciled. But the teaching of Jesus and His half-brother James is clear. The way to deal with dirt on our sister's feet (sin in her life) is not to talk to others about it, but to go to her, lovingly point out her sin, and pray for her to be able to repent and gain the victory. The way to deal with dirt on our own feet (our own sins) is not to put on shoes and hope no one will see what's inside. We should be able to go to the church, admit our failing and weakness, and ask our brothers and sisters to pray that we won't get our feet dirty that way again. The way to deal with hard feelings between myself and my brother or sister is not to simply sit on the other side of the church and avoid meeting him or her. Rather, I must go to that person, give and receive forgiveness, and seek reconciliation. This spiritual foot washing requires more courage, and more humility, than physical foot washing. But it is Jesus' prescription for unity in the church. And it is just what we need. *All texts are from the New King James Version. -- Kenneth R. Wade, Ministerial Secretary, SA UM. 2 � Sept/Oct 1992 The Messenger I SOUTHEAST ASIA UNION MISSION I Key Staff Members Leave SAUM Three key staff members have departed from SAUM in recent months, and so far only one of the openings has been filled. Thus the Union staff is somewhat shorthanded at a crucial time when the work is expanding into new areas such as Cambodia. Calls are being extended to replace the other staff members, but no official appointments have been made. First to depart from the staff was W. Rayburn (Buddy) Smith, who had served as Publishing Department Director since 1989. Rayburn also served in the Thailand Mission from 1978 to 1980. The Smith family faced a difficult decision after the closing of Far Eastern Academy in May. Although they felt a strong dedication to mission service, the closing of the academy meant that their youngest daughter, Mandy, would have to choose between a homestudy type program for her 9th year of school, or going to the United States to study while her parents remained in Singapore. When a call came for the Smiths to join the staff of the Southwestern Union in the United States, the decision became even more difficult for them. Finally they decided that the time had come for them to return to their homeland to allow Mandy to complete her education there. While he was here, Rayburn led out in an extremely active publishing program, and the energy he put into his work was reflected in sizable sales gains in all missions. The SAUM staff and the Mission Publishing Departments miss Rayburn's enthusiasm and expertise, but we wish the Smiths well in their new assignment. Dr. Standish returns home During more than 18 years of service in Southeast Asia Dr. Russell Standish endeared himself to people throughout the Union. His service in SAUM began at Penang Sanitarium and Hospital (now Penang Adventist Hospital) in 1967. He served as a physician there until 1973, after which he returned to Australia. In 1978 Dr. Standish returned to SAUM to serve as a physician at Bangkok Adventist Hospital. On July 1, 1979, he was appointed Medical Director of the hospital, a position he held until his departure to serve in a self- supporting institution in Europe in March of 1984. In 1986 Dr. Standish answered the call of Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH) to serve as its president, and then in 1989 he was appointed Director of the Health and Temperance Department of SAUM, as well as Health Services Director for the Union. In this position he took responsibility for leadership of all the hospitals in the Union. Later he was also appointed Spirit ofProphecy Coordinator for the Union. While he was president of PAH he succeeded in bringing the hospital out of a slump and restoring it to profitability. In addition he pioneered the idea of bringing young Adventist East Malaysians to receive training and experience while they worked at the hospital. In his travels throughout the Union Dr. Standish demonstrated that his skills are not limited to the medical field. He is known as a powerful proclaimer of the gospel, and he was much in demand as a preacher. In addition to his service in SAUM Dr. Standish accepted speaking appointments in other divisions without authorization from the leadership of those divisions, and traveled freely without following normal procedural policies. This led to misunderstandings between these divisions and the FED. Along with proclaiming the gospel, Dr. Standish sensed an urgency to call the church to a higher standard of commitment in every phase of church activity, to this end he wrote voluminously. Some of his more recent book manuscripts and magazine articles were perceived by leadership as unnecessarily critical of the church and its leaders. The FED leaders urged Dr. Standish to endeavor to maintain a more constructive approach to church leadership, but it seemed impossible for Dr. Standish and leadership to reach a satisfactory agreement on this point. Ultimately, and with extreme reluctance, the Far Eastern Division Executive Committee voted a permanent return to the South Pacific Division for Dr. Standish, effective September 1, 1992. Dr. Standish departed Singapore on September 3. He is now living in Victoria, New South Wales, but has invitations to travel to many parts ofthe world for speaking engagements. Staples cruising home Tom and Karen Staples brought their family to Singapore in 1983 when Torn was appointed SAUM Treasurer. For several years prior to their move to Singapore the Staples enjoyed sailing in the Mediterranean as a pleasant relief from their high tension life in wartorn Lebanon. Soon after they arrived here they located a used boat that they could use for sailing around this area. Some time during their stay here the Staples began to dream about what it would be like to take their boat and sail Sept/Oct 1992 � 3 The Messenger it all the way back to America. They decided that they would like to leave Singapore in September of 1991, sail to South Africa, where Tom and Karen were born, and then sail on into the Mediterranean, and finally sail to America in October of this year along with other boats that would be crossing the Atlantic in commemoration of Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492. Refurbishing their boat and outfitting for the trip took longer than they had anticipated, so their departure had to be delayed until September of this year. On September 18 Tom and Karen, along with their son Chris and nephew Randy, set sail for Jakarta on the first leg of their voyage home. Replacing Tom as treasurer will be Tom Massengill, who has served as treasurer of the Indiana Conference in the U. S. for the past several years. The Massengills will arrive in Singapore on October 28. -- Kenneth R. Wade, Communication Director, SAUM New SAPH Manager Pastor Wong Yew Seng and his wife Lock Mei Chan arrived in Singapore on October 18 to take up the position of Manager of Southeast Asia Publishing House. He replaces David Tan, who has managed the house for two years. David is returning to work in the family-run Crocodile company. SAPH deeply appreciates the labor of love that David gave during his two years here. "I am glad to come home and work with you," said Pastor Wong to the workers on his first morning with them. His reference to Singapore as home had its beginning during his years as a student at SAUC. After attending SAUC he went to work in 1958 as a pastor in Sabah and later in Cambodia. Pastor Wong with his wife, Lock Mei Chan. 4 After serving for several years in SAUM, Pastor Wong went to South China Island Union College for one year to complete his studies in 1965. He then spent the next eleven years working in SAUM - as a pastor in Vietnam, a departmental director in the Malaya Mission, and pastor of the Bangkok Chinese Church. For the past six years he served as a script writer, producer, editor, and global mission director with the Eastern Asia Committee in Hong Kong, a General Conference institution producing materials for the work in mainland China. Before that appointment he served SCIUM in different posts for eleven years: mission president, union secretary, and departmental director. He is not new to the publishing work, as he was the manager of Signs of Times Publishing Association in Taiwan from 1984 to 1987. Welcome to Southeast Asia Publishing house Pastor Wong Yew Seng! -- Win: Turambi, Editor, SAPH Clark is Acting President During Johnson Furlough SAUM President George Johnson left on furlough at the end of August, but he will return to Singapore during the Division and Union year end meetings in November, after which he will continue his furlough in the U. S. Because he has not taken a furlough for several years, and because the furlough has to be interrupted for year end meetings, Pastor Johnson will not return to stay in Singapore until January. Rather than leave SAUM without a president for this long period, the Far Eastern Division has appointed Elder Winston Clark to serve as acting president of SAUM during Elder Johnson's absence. Serving in Singapore is not a new experience for Elder Clark. He and his wife lived here from 1970 until 1985. From 1975 until 1985 he served as president of the Far Eastern Division. In 1985 he was appointed administrative assistant to General Conference President Neal C. Wilson, a position he held until his retirement in 1990. The Clarks now live in Madera, California. Things have changed quite a lot since they left Singapore, and Mrs. Clark says "I didn't remember that it was so hot, " but they are enjoying their chance to serve here once again. The SAUM staff is very pleased to have an acting president who understands the work in our area so well. -- Kenneth R. Wade, Communication Director, SAUM Sept/Oct 1992 The Messenger Christian Radio Will Reach Singapore After nearly one year of construction and outfitting, Gema Harapan--the Echo of Hope—Radio Station will soon begin broadcasting Christian programming in the Riau Islands of Indonesia. Because the transmitter is close to Singapore, broadcasts will be heard there and in Johor Baru as well. The station will broadcast at 102.4 megahertz on the FM band. The West Indonesia Union Mission (WIUM), which is building the station, has been involved in broadcasting the gospel in various parts of its territory for several years, and has seen good results. But building a station fully dedicated to Christian programming has proved to be quite a challenge for the WIUM Communication Department. Throughout the project they have maintained close contact with the SAUM Communication Department. Because the broadcasts will reach their territory as well, church members in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia have become involved in raising funds to help with construction costs. Four offerings this year have been dedicated to the station, but these offerings will provide only a small portion of the construction and startup costs. SAUM has also advanced development funds to support the construction. Eventually the station should become self- supporting through the sale of programming time to sponsors. It will be an exciting day when the sweet sounds of the gospel begin to fill the airwaves around Batam and Singapore. At first the station will be able to broadcast only three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening, but after the initial test period the broadcast hours will be extended. Please pray for this important project, and when the station begins to broadcast, tune your radio to 102.4 FM. -- Kenneth R. Wade, Communication Director, SAUM I CAMBODIA I Praying for the Latter Rain in Cambodia I have come to Cambodia as supervisor of an ADRA project in Siem Reap province. My home is just a few miles from the ruins of Angkor Wat, one of the most famous ancient temple complexes in the world. My objective is to help raise the rice production of the local farmers. As the first rays of the sun light the Angkor temple complex, I retreat to the flat roof of my room to seek the Lord. The peace of the morning is broken only by the chanting of Buddhist monks at the pagoda 100 metres away and the creak of a passing ox cart. I wrestle with the Lord on not merely how to increase rice production, but how to communicate the love of God to the multitudes of Buddhist people that live around me. My family is the only Christian family in Siem Reap. It is Sabbath morning. Despite the fact that it is only eight weeks since we arrived, more than 40 Khmer children will soon burst through the door of our one- room living quarters for "Sabbath school." I grapple with the communication challenge: my wife, Wendy; and I speak only a smattering of Khmer, while our eager Sabbath school attenders speak even less English. I plead with the Lord to give me the spiritual gift of speaking Khmer. Our Sabbath school attenders help themselves learn about Jesus' love for them as they read aloud from the Khmer Bible and copy out the memory verse for the day. The influence of this time is already being noticed. As we walk down the street we now hear young Khmer voices singing about Jesus. The children have been taking home the news about Jesus in books and scripture portions pubished in Khmer. The seed is being sown. This season's rice harvest will soon begin throughout Cambodia. A greater spiritual harvest is also ready. The few workers for the Lord in Cambodia are earnestly seeking the outpouring of the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit in order that an abundant harvest of souls for the kingdom may be reaped. We have set aside November 28 as a day ofprayer and fasting for the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit to be poured out in Cambodia. If you are eager for the salvation of the Khmer people, we ask you to join our prayers on this day. -- Tins Maddocks, ADRA Cambodia Sept/Oct 1992 � 5 The Messenger Home to Cambodia When Lim Pheng left Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975, he thought he would be returning to his home in just three days. The Khmer Rouge soldiers who came to his house told his family to leave everything behind and take only enough food to last for the three-day evacuation. Lim's father, an official in the Cambodian Government, left the house without even bothering to put on a shirt. Urn was only 12 years old at that time. He spent the next 4-1/2 years doing forced labor with never enough to eat. One day some soldiers took his father away from the family, and they never heard from him again. An older brother and sister also died during those years. When Lim and his surviving family members first fled to Thailand in 1980, they were taken back to the border and forced to walk back into Cambodia through heavily-mined fields. Later they went to Thailand again, and this time found their way into a refugee camp. It was there that Lim Pheng learned to know Jesus while taking English lessons at an Adventist church. In 1981 he and his family moved to the United States, and after he finished secondary school he felt the call of God to study for the ministry. In December, 1991, he graduated from Columbia Union College with a degree in theology. On Sunday, October 4, I sat beside Lim Pheng on Malaysia Airlines Flight 754 as it touched down at Phnom Penh's Pochentong Airport. "It gives me a strange feeling to be coming back here," he said. He had been to the airport many times as a boy to watch his father depart and return. Lim Pheng has volunteered to come back to his country of birth to serve the Lord. He is fluent in both English and Khmer, and in the week that I spent with him in Phnom Penh I could already see what a tremendous asset he will be for the church's work in Cambodia. His responsibilities include training church workers as well as traveling throughout the country to locate and teach the lay Bible workers who have recently returned to Cambodia from the refugee camps. It took real courage for Lim Pheng to return. It took courage for his family to bid him farewell as he left the U. S. But we believe this courage and faith will be rewarded many times over in souls won in Cambodia. -- Kenneth R. Wade, Global Mission Coordinator, SA UM MI LAOSI Agreement Signed in Laos In Vientiane, Laos People's Democratic Republic at the office of the Ministry of Communication and Construction, at 10:30 am on Tuesday July 21, the Cooperation Agreement between Laos and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was signed. This Agreement officially recognizes ADRA within the country. Warren Scale, Director of ADRA Thailand/Laos, and Thongsavane Phomivihane, Acting Director of the Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, performed the signing ceremony. The national television network videotaped the proceedings to broadcast on the evening news. ADRA's policy worldwide is to establish formal agreements with the governments ofthe countries in which it works. ADRA follows this policy for two reasons. It outlines for the governments what ADRA is there to do, and it permits ADRA to secure assistance from government agencies for reducing or waiving customs, duties, and importation costs related to personnel, equipment, and supplies needed for programs. ADRA has been actively working within Laos drilling wells for almost a year. The project, funded by Canada, will drill 200 wells and install 300 latrines to provide sanitation and drinking water to over 50,000 people. The Laotian officials are very pleased to have ADRA as a partner in the development of their country. In the words of one official, "We look forward to a long and lasting cooperation between ADRA and Laos P.D.R. as together we build a new future for our people". -- Messenger Staff 6 � Sept/Oct 1992 The. Messenger I PENINSULAR MALAYSIA I Prejudices Melted by Books Twenty years ago a colporteur stationed in Kota Bahru, Malaysia, sold a set of the Conflict of the Ages books to Rodney Siew, the pastor of an independent church. Pastor Siew read the books with great interest and in subsequent years he ordered more and more books by Ellen White. Today he has a library of them in his office. As he read these books Pastor Siew's prejudices against the Seventh- day Adventist Church melted away. Pastors Leong Fai, Janssen New and Brother Tan Kok Chin have befriended Rodney, who has received them in good Christian spirit. Pastor Siew has allowed Seventh- day Adventist pastors to speak to his congregation on several occasions recently. Seminars on Daniel, Revelation, Health Reform, and other areas have been presented in his church by Dr. Russell Standish and Pastor Samuel Money. -- Samuel Monty, VOP Director, SA UM Work Renewed in Sungai Patani In 1964 I worked with an American Missionary, Pastor William Earl Smith, conducting evangelistic meetings in Sungai Patani, Kedah. We baptized about ten people. A short while later Pastor Smith returned to the U.S., and I was transferred to another location. Unfortunately little attention was given to this new work after that, and as time passed by the interest among the members vanished. Some went back to their former churches and others went back to their heathen practices. I was able to keep contact with two of the families, and in particular with a teacher named Saravanan and his son Shanmugam, who is now practicing medicine in Kuala Pilah in the State of Negeri Sembilan. Recently Brother Nagesh Prasad, a colporteur, was assigned to Alor Setar to help in the Global Mission program there. Since Alor Setar is a Malay town, he couldn't do much and decided to move to Sungai Patani. The Peninsular Malaysia Mission made the arrangements and he moved there about four or five months ago. He did not know that we had some former Adventist members there, so he started with the Voice of Prophecy students and contacts made through sales. Recently I visited Sungai Patani and introduced the colporteur to some o f our former members and Mrs Helen Sinniah, who remained a faithful Adventist in spite of all the disappointments the group went through. Now we have visited all the former members. Pastor John Willmott, an evangelist from India, conducted a meeting in Sungai Patani recently, and 20 persons, including Mr Saravan, attended. One woman is ready for baptism and two more are preparing for baptism in the near future. I have a great burden for this group because we started a work but disappointed the new members. We have to do something to help them. I am confident that this group will become a church in the near future. Kindly pray for the people of Sungai Patani, and specially for Brother Nagesh Prasad, who is helping with this new work. -- Benjamin Paramiah, Ministerial Secretary, PEM Hospital Ministry Leads to Baptism in Penang May 30, 1992 was a high Sabbath for the Penang Indian Church and Penang Hospital Ministries. On this date, Pastor James Wah, head of the Chaplain's Department, Penang Adventist Hospital, baptized four members into the Seventh-thy Adventist Church. These baptisms resulted from the combined effort of Penang Adventist Hospital's Chaplain's Department, the Hospital Ministries, and the Penang Indian Church. Mr. M. S. Maniam came to the hospital to visit his father- in-law. Pastor Theva, pastor of the Penang Indian Church, approached Mr. Maniam while doing his hospital visitation. In the course of their conversation Pastor Theva gave him some Christian tracts. Mr. Maniam readily accepted them and then informed Pastor Theva that he had been a Voice of Prophecy student under Pastor Wah. At that point Pastor Theva invited Mr Maniam to attend the local Indian church. After the initial hospital contact, Mr. Maniam began attending the Indian church regularly. He expressed his desire to learn more about the Bible and then requested Bible studies from Pastor Theva. In the meantime Mr. Maniam couldn't keep quiet about the new truths he was learning. He contacted his close friend, Mr. Vellu. When Mr. Vellu came to church, at the insistence of his friend, he brought his son along with him and a short time later Mr. Vellu and his son joined the Bible studies with Mr. Maniam. The Bible studies culminated in the baptism on May 30. Also baptized during this day was Mr. Jayaram. He met with an accident in 1984 in which his right leg was broken. The government hospital treated him fora few months and then discharged him. However, he continued to suffer due Sept/Oct 1992 � 7 The Messenger to an infection which slowly spread throughout his leg. This condition continued until 1991 when the problem became serious. Mr Jayaram came to the Adventist Hospital on September 8, 1991. His right leg had to be amputated below his knee. Because he was quite discouraged about this turn of events, Pastor James Wah, Mrs John Lai, and Pastor Theva visited him and prayed with him. Also the Hospital Ministries Sunshine Band, which consists of doctors, nurses, and other members, visited him to sing songs and pray with him. Their Christian love brought encouragement and happiness in the midst ofhis suffering. Unfortunately an operation to remove his knee became necessary. After this operation, his health began to improve dramatically, and he was discharged on November 29. After his return home, Pastor and Mrs Theva began visiting regularly and started weekly Bible studies with him and his family. Mr. Jayaram was born in a Hindu family, but in order to marry his wife, Lucy, he joined her Catholic Church. He only joined the Catholic Church out of convenience, and didn't know much about the Bible. When he studied the Bible Speaks lessons, he found many precious truths that were new to him. Week after week without fail, Mrs. Jayaram would telephone Pastor and Mrs. Theva to express her eagerness about the Bible studies. After six months of studies Mr. Jayaram expressed his desire to be baptized. On May 30, 1992 Pastor James Wah baptized Mr. Jayaram and the three other canidates. Mrs. Jayaram is planning to follow her husband's example in the near future. -- Pastor Thevarajalu, PEM, and Dr William Laspe, PAH I SABAH I Pathfinder Fair in Goshen On August 28-30, 1992, about 1,000 pathfinders from churches throughout Sabah converged at Goshen Adventist Secondary School for the Mission-wide Pathfinder Fair. The theme of this year's Fair was, "At Home in the Forest." For the first time, the farthest-distant club Tawau, participated in the Pathfinder Fair. The events started on Friday night with the keynote address of Pastor Shupinar Koubong, Southeast Asia Union Mission Youth Director. Pastor Koubong challenged our youth to be alive for Christ. On Saturday afternoon the youth representiatives from various parts of Sabah Pastor Shupinar Koubong and a pathfinder, testing the strength of a signal tower. participated in a Festival of Praise and Testimony. That evening, Dr. Elvin Chong, Director of the Mission Health and Temperance Department, led out in a Mission-wide Temperance Program. Sunday morning marked the beginning of the fair's olympic events. The colorful opening ceremony, officated by Dr. Libin Kutup, Director for the Institute of People Development Sabah, included a parade inspection, releasing of birds, a march in review, and a display of floats specially designed around the theme of the fair. It was inspiring to see the talents, enthusiasm, and energies manifested by our youth in the different events. The youth are the heartbeat of a church on the move. Churches where the youth are active are growing churches. The Pathfinders left with the thought that aside from being "at home in the forest" with their Pathfinder know- how, they must look forward and be ready to be "at home in the forest" ofthe heavenly country during the Pathfinder Fair of all Pathfinder Fairs. Congratulations to all of our youth leaders and pastors who worked hard in the preparation of this Pathfinder Fair, making it a memorable one! Nelton Bingku, Youth/Communication Director, SAB 8 � Sept/Oct 1992 The Messenger New Church Building Nearing Completion A Cathedral-like Seventh-day Adventist church is rising in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The M$1.4 million construction project is nearing completion. This imposing structure will house the English and Malay congregations. It promises to be the biggest Seventh-day Adventist church in the entire Southeast Asia Union Mission, able to seat more than 1,000 people at one time. Set against the cool, green backdrop of a steep forested hill, the church stands with a cone-shaped roof and several columns at the facade. Beside it rises a tower that bears the emblem of the three angels' messages. The ground floor slopes toward the pulpit area, and will accommodate about 900 people. The mezzanine can seat 180 persons. It also has a mother's room, library, choir room, technical room, and pastor's room. The brethren hope to open the doors ofthe church at the end of this year. On the same lot the church plans to build time more structures: a youth hall, a guest house, and a parsonage. -- Moises Sumile, Likas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah I SARAWAK I Bintulu Church Organized The Bintulu Church was organized on Sunday, August 23, 1992. About 60 people participated in this important and historic occasion. It was a simple and yet meaningful event led by Pastor Daniel Walter, the Mission President, Pastor Edmund Liah, the Mission Secretary, and Pastor Matthew Bandan, the church pastor. Twenty-three became charter members. The officers who had been serving Bintulu Company since the beginning of 1992 were appointed as church officers. They are: Elder, Nyuak Kubon; Associate elder, James Kator; Treasurer, Elnah Lewald; Church clerk, Jennie Sepie; Deacons, Colin Jabeng, Alex Poh, and Rayang Ganing; Deaconesses, Jennie Sepie, Hilda Clarence, Annie Ragi, and Lily Kuan. In a solemn ordination service the church elder, Nyuak Kubon, and one of the deacons, Alex Poh, were set apart to the ministries to which they had been called. Charter members and friends at the Organzing of the Bintulu Church, Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Since its beginning in the early 1970's the church has met in rented accomodations and has had to move to several locations for services. The church has been struggling for nearly 10 years to find a property upon which to build a place of worship. Now, for the second time, the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) has allocated a piece of land at Kidurong Township for the church. However, this will have to wait for the approval from the Ministry at Kuching. Holding services at the present premises is becoming impractical, so we hope and pray that the Bintulu Church can soon have a permanent home. — Lawrence Banyie, Communication Director, SAB Tornado Strikes Sarawak On the afternoon of September 15 a huge thunderstorm near Kuching, Sarawak, apparently bred a tornado funnel. Theoretically tomados never occur within 8 degrees lati- tude of the equator. But this tornado struck just six miles south of the center of Kuching City, less than 2 degrees from the equator. Observers saw the twisting funnel come out of the clouds and cut a swath for more than a mile, splintering or uprooting more than half the trees in the area and taking the roofs off of most of the buildings. The Mission has two houses in the area. Pastor Walter's house lost part of the roofmg over one of the bathrooms, but suffered only minor damages. The Mission Treasur- er's house was more heavily hit--nearly 30 pieces of Sept/Oct 1992 � 9 The Messenger roofing and half of the ridge were blown away, leading to considerable rain damage. Falling trees and branches broke down power lines and telephone lines, interrupting services for more than three days. Despite the damages, we are thankful that no lives were lost and that, as far as we know, no injuries were suffered by anyone in the area. Remarks around the community are "it must be that God is trying to get people's attention for something important about to happen." -- Daniel Walter, President, SAK Sarawak's Treasurer Turns Evangelist Mr. Ishak Simatupang, Treasurer of the Sarawak Mission has just completed his Master's degree in Business Administration. Part of his training included training in how Christian businessmen can become involved in evangelism. Mr. Ishak joined with Pastors James Sagit and Gibbson Siaw in evangelistic meetings in Kepayang. Brother Ishak, the featured speaker for the final meeting, mixed a few words of Iban which he learned together with his Indonesian Bahasa. The audience filled the existing auditorium that night. At the conclusion of the meetings five people were baptized and a number are now preparing with Pastor Gibbson Siaw to be baptized in the near future. We hope that other Adventist businessmen will follow the example of Brother Ishak by using their talents in evangelistic outreach. -- Daniel Walter, President, SAK Youth Camp in Sarawak Two bus loads of youth from northern Sarawak converged on Lambir National Park just south of Miri at the end of August for youth camp. Pastor Shupinar Koubong, youth leader for Southeast Asia Union, was the guest speaker. Activities and events during the camp included hiking park trails, swimming in the pool at the foot of Lambir Waterfall, climbing the nearly 100-foot high treehouse as well, as classes and talks on youth problems and other topics of interest to youth. Speakers included Pastors Daniel Walter and Edmund Liah, President and Secretary from Sarawak Mission. -- Daniel Walter, President, SAK I SINGAPORE I City-wide Evangelism Planned for Singapore All of the Adventist churches in Singapore are working together in anticipation of a city-wide evangelistic campaign scheduled for the middle of 1993. Building on the theme "Winning the Marathon of Life," the campaign will take place in the weeks leading up to the coming of the SEA Games to Singapore. Because the campaign is planned as a reaping event rather than a seed-sowing event, participation by all church members is essential. There will not be a large advertising budget, but attendance at the meetings will depend on church members bringing friends, Bible study interests, and relatives to the meetings. To assist lay people in developing interests whom they can invite to the meetings, a number of preliminary events are planned, including concerts, a stress control seminar, and a fitness program. Radio broadcasts on Gema Harapan will also help to develop interests. Currently the files of the Voice of Prophecy Bible School and other Adventist institutions are being reviewed in search of interests who can be followed up and prepared for the meetings. In January, 1993 , Pastor David Parks, the director of the Far Eastern Division Church Growth Institute, will spend two weeks leading the religion department students at SAUC in a field school in which they will learn how to find and develop interests in preparation for the campaign. The meetings will begin on Friday evening, May 28, with a Christian music concert, a Talking Hands presentation, and a message delivered by Victor Lee, 10 � Sept/Oct 1992 The Messenger chaplain of the SDA School. Victor will speak on Friday, Sabbath, and Sunday evenings, pointing to people's need of Christ under the topic "Life Without Christ." The meetings will resume the following Friday evening with Wann Fanwar, pastor of Jurong English Church, speaking on the topic "Christ Jesus the Answer." Pastor Fanwar will continue this theme on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The next weekend's speaker will be Pastor Samuel Money, Director of the Voice of Prophecy. His topic will be "Celebrating Life With Christ." It has been several years since Singapore had a city- wide campaign. Excitement is beginning to build as people consider the potential ofthe se meetings for bringing interests to a decision for Christ. Full cooperation and support by all members in Singapore in praying and working for souls under the Holy Spirit's instruction will guarantee that this campaign will be a rousing success. -- Kenneth R. Wade, Ministerial Secretary, SA UM A Lovely Christian Lady Laid to Rest Retired VOP worker, Miss Janet Arulpragasam passed away of heart failure on September 25, 1992 at Youngberg Adventist Hospital. Miss Janet was 76 years old. She worked for the Voice of Prophecy for 23 years. Miss Janet was born in Sri Lanka and raised as a Methodist. After finishing a Bible Worker training course in Madras, India, Miss Janet visited her cousin, Miss Hepsie Goonasegaram, in Singapore. During that visit she became ill and was admitted to the Youngberg Adventist Hospital. While in Hospital, Miss Janet learned about the Adventist beliefs from Dr. Coffin and Mrs Dyer. In 1954 Miss Janet gave up her career in Sri Lanka and was baptized at the SAUC Church in Singapore. She did not know where the Lord was leading her when she took this stand for Him. God marvelously opened the door of opportunity for her to pioneer the Voice of Prophecy work among the Tamil speaking people in Southeast Asia. After her retirement in 1979 Miss Janet was in and out of the hospital for her heart trouble. Despite her illness, Miss Janet never failed to give an encouraging word to people who visited her. She passed away on Friday, September 25, 1-992. -- Samuel Money, VOP Director Singapore Mission Gets New President On September 1, Dr. Phoon Chek Yat was appointed president of Singapore Adventist Mission. Dr. Phoon is well known in Singapore, having served as chairman of the Religion Department at Southeast Asia Union College for the past 11 years. He steps into a position that has been held on an "acting president" basis by Union President George Johnson for more than a year. Dr. Phoon Chek Yat and family. Dr. Phoon and his wife Sally, along with their 2 children Michelle and Rachel, have lived in Singapore since 1978. Dr. Phoon has served as Bible teacher and B ible Department Chairman at SAUC. He will continue to teach Bible part time at the college until January 1, 1993, when he will begin working full time at the Mission office. Along with his full time work with the Mission he will continue to teach one class per quarter and supervise field education and projects for the Bible Department. Taking Dr. Phoon's place as chairman of the Bible Department is Pastor Ng Kah Seng. Along with filling that position, Pastor Ng will continue in his role as ministerial secretary of the Singapore Mission. -- Kenneth R. Wade, Communication Director, SA UM Real Happiness Is ... With the theme "Real Happiness Is...", the Voice of Youth Seminar began on September 18, 1992. Six meetings were conducted over two weekends. SAUC Church's Adventist Youth sponsored the seminar, and the speakers were mostly college students. A huge, enthusiastic crowd attended on opening night, and at the end of the meetings many responded by marking a survey form to indicate that they had accepted Christ as their Saviour. Sept/Oct 1992 � 11 The Messenger The speakers, Patrick Stephens, Bernice Sego, Diana Subramaniam, Mussie Estifanos, Felix Liew, and Sim Nueng all seemed eager to share their messages. Many were touched by the grace of God ministering through the speakers and the powerful, moving film shows that preceeded each sermon. Regular attenders received a gift Bible at the last meeting, and demand exceeded supply. Perhaps, when asked what the motivating factor was in the Voice of Youth, it would be the overwhelming enthusiasm of Voice ofYouth sponsor Pastor Simon Siew. Technical areas like P.A. and Music were carried on with equal zeal by Teoh Boon Chong and Raymond Koubong. Encouragement came from Pastor Ng Kah Seng and the prayers and support of church members. -- Iris Ng, SAUC Church AY Leader Leaders and speakers. of The Singpaore Voice of Youth Seminar. I THAILAND I German and American Volunteers Help With ADRA Water Projects Two groups of volunteers recently spent several weeks in Thailand assisting with ADRA projects, A group from Germany found themselves running pipe down the hills through the dense jungle. The pipe would ultimately transport water from a clean source high up in the hills to Pung Tah, the Karen Village below. They laid PVC piping in trenches that they had to dig by hand. The volunteers worked side by side with the Karen villagers who were extremely excited about getting clean water piped into their remote village. They lived with the villagers for two weeks, slept just as they did - on the floor, ate just as they did - seated on the floor, and talked mostly in body language, but communicated nonetheless. They were awakened by the blind roosters that started crowing at 3:00 a.m., and they worked long, hard hours. A group from Andrews University worked on .a more level plain. The province of Sisaket is very flat and dry. The only place to find clean water is 17 to 30 metres below the earth's surface, and the only way to get to it, economically, is with a small drilling rig. Two drilling rigs were in use in Sisaket, and the group split into two teams to get the job done. There wasn't a specific goal set - they were only to work as fast as possible to complete as many wells they could. When all was said and done, this hardworking group had completed 32 wells. For the last two weeks the Germans j oined the Americans in Sisaket. The hand drilling rig, powered by human effort, was put into operation, and it produced eight wells in about two weeks. The two groups merged into one and had a wonderful time working together. Unfortunately one member of the Andrews group had to return home early due to a persistent gastro- intestinal disorder. Many that stayed on also had a little trouble gastro-intestinally speaking. However the trip to Pee Pee island during their last week left these volunteers with warm (hot), tropical memories of Thailand. When asked if they would recommend a trip such as this to their friends back home, everyone said-definitely - YES! ADRA believes in providing opportunities for college groups to experience development first hand and to be, for a short time, our partners in helping people help themselves create a new and more promising future. -- Messenger Staff 12 � Sept/Oct 1992 The Messenger Gertrude Green Retires After 41 Years Gertrude Green's ministry spans the history of Bangkok Adventist Hospital from the time of the first president, Dr Ralph F. Waddell, to the current president, Dr Ronald W. Brody. She officially retired from active service on April 9, 1992. Her work included serving as Director of the School of Nursing, Director of Nursing Service, Operating Room Supervisor, Directorof Anesthesiology, X-Ray Technician, Supervisor of 3rd and 4th floors, as well as the head of Midwifery. Only five days after her arrival on March 14, 1951, the hospital made a major move, from Plaphlachi in the city, to what was then a more rural location on Pitsanuloke Road. What had been a clinic was then upgraded to Bangkok Sanitarium and Hospital. It was a di fficult time for Miss Green, as most ofthe staff took their much- needed furloughs. This left her to handle a great deal of the load with mostly student help. "I didn't go to bed for one whole week then," she says. "Two hundred to two hundred and fifty patients was quite common, and rooms and halls were filled." During the Vietnam war the staff was busy, and she often had to be on call at night for X-Ray, Pharmacy, and Surgery while teaching four to five hours during the day. The Midwifery officially opened on January 4, 1955 under Miss Green's direction. Miss Green and Dr. Yupha were in charge of the first Midwifery class, which had nine students. Most of her time has been dedicated, since the hectic early years, to the Midwifery Department, which is now in its 37th year. "I will miss Bangkok Adventist Hospital, and all my many friends, dreadfully," Miss Green says, and adds that she'd like to come back and stay about three months each year during the coldest weather in Hendersonville, North Carolina, USA, her home area. BAH wishes the very best of everything to a valued friend. -- Messenger Staff Spiritual Emphasis at BAH The Bangkok Adventist Hospital family had its first Week of Spiritual Emphasis for the year from July 27 through August 1. Mrs. Shirley Chapman, Home and Family Director of Southeast Asia Union Mission, spoke on the theme "The Healing Touch of Love." At the conclusion of this Week of Spiritual Emphasis, Mr. Kiattikoon Poparipat and his 2 daughters were baptized. As a follow-up to the special week, a Bible Conference was conducted. Meetings were held over the weekend of August 7-9, 1992, at Wangkeow, Rayong province. Pastor Keow Ahyuperm, Northeastern Regional Director of the Thailand Adventist Mission, spoke for the event. About 60 nursing students, workers, and churchmembers attended the sessions. Pastor Keow spent a great deal oftime talking about how to keep a meaningful relationship with God. Mr. Walee Chamnanyont and his son Nattavit were baptized after attending the Bible Conference. Sonschai Chuenjit, Chaplain, BAH I VIETNAM I They Stayed for Eighteen Years Pastor Iran Ngoc De (Pierre), Treasurer of the Vietnam Adventist Mission (VNM), and his wife, Loan, departed Vietnam on October 13, eighteen years after more than 400 of their colleagues evacuated Saigon. As Saigon fell to communist forces in April, 1975, an evacuation list of key Adventist workers was hastily drawn up. The names of Pastor Pierre, the Publishing Director of VNM, and his wife and two children were on this list. The deadline to meet at the evacuation site was 8 o'clock on the evening of April 23. The Trans agonized for hours over whether to stay or go. The propagandists ofthe South Vietnamese government said that if the communists gained control, all priests and pastors would be targeted for persecution. But church members pled with the Trans not to desert them. Some members claimed that they belonged to the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) and promised safety for the Tran family if they decided to stay. If they stayed, Pierre reasoned, there might be an opportunity after reunification to preach the gospel in the north, his wife's native region. Sept/Oct 1992 � 13 The Messenger With a feeling of dread the Tran family alternately prayed and stared at the clock as the sun set and the point of no return approached. Unable to decide, Pierre told Loan to take the two children and go; he would remain. She refused to go without him. Finally, in desperation, Pierre turned to his wife and told her to make the decision, and he would agree. After a long, tense silence she quietly replied, "We will stay." Life in Vietnam was very difficult after that for the Tran family and other church members. The State exercised strict controls on religious activities. There was no opportunity to preach outside their own communities, to say nothing of the north! Tithe slowed to atrickle and the church leaders struggled to survive. Loan worked for several years as an English teacher in a government school. After many educated people fled the country in boats, creating a shortage of English teachers, Loan was told to begin teaching on Sabbath. Reluctantly, she quit the job rather than work on Sabbath. Another urgent decision had to be made about their children's education. Their children were told to attend school on Sabbath, which they would not do. Also, there was no possibility that they could attend college in Vietnam, because pastors' children were not allowed that privilege. After further soul-searching, the Trans decided to send their 12-year-old son away on a boat to try to reach the U.S., where he would live with his aunt and attend church school. A few years later, when she was 17, their daughter also fled Vietnam on a boat. Loan remembers the torturous wait of nearly 2 months before they finally received word from their daughter that she had made the voyage safely. (Both children are currently enrolled in medical programs at Loma Linda University.) Pierre served as the Vietnam Mission treasurer for 17 years. After Loan stopped teaching English, she began translating the Sabbath School lessons and other documents for the Mission, and she started a translation class to train the youth ofthe church to do this work. She has also been very active as a Dorcas leader and has involved the local church in many outreach projects in the community to help orphanages, leprosy centers, etc. When times were severe, Pierre and Loan were tempted to think that they had made a big mistake in choosing to remain in Vietnam. One of the greatest sacrifices has been the separation from their children. But when they recall the leadership roles they have filled in the church and the countless times they have consoled discouraged church members, they know that they made the right decision on April 23, 1975. As Pierre and Loan leave, there is no doubt that their departure will create a big vacuum both in the church's leadership and in the hearts of the church members in Vietnam. -- Messenger Staff SOUTHEAST ASIA UNION MISSION DIRECTORY G. C. Johnson � President, ADRA W. T. Clark � Acting President C. Y. Wu � Secretary, Religious Liberty Tom Massengill � Treasurer Peter Wong � Associate Treasurer Steven Goh, Simon Sim � Auditors Shirley Chapman � Home & Family Shupinar Koubong � Church Ministries Samuel Money � VOP, Assistant Communication Edmund Siagian � Education, Associate CM � Publishing � Health & Temperance Health Care, Spirit of Prophecy K. R. Wade � Ministerial, Communication Dorothy Walter � Child Evangelism Shepherdess International LOCAL MISSION DIRECTORY Peninsular Malaysia 166-A Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55 1 00 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Telephone: 242 7795 David Leoh � President � Secretary Lai Swee Chan � Treasurer Sabah P. O. Box 7, 89257 Tamparuli, Sabah, Malaysia Telephone: 782346, 782244; Fax: (088) 782346 Charles S. Gabon � President Mansor Gingging � Secret Secretary Lim See Him � Treasurer Sarawak P. O. Box 41, 93700 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Telephone: 242340, 242341, 242342; Fax: 242343 Daniel Walter � President Edmund M. Liah � Secretary Ishak Simatupang � Treasurer Singapore 90 Jurong East Street 13, Singapore 2260 Telephone: 561 0022; Fax: (65) 562 4923 Phoon Chek Yat � President Jolui S. K. Ho � Secretary-Treasurer Thailand Prakanong Post Office Box 234, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Telephone: 391 0525, 391 3595, 381 1928; Fax: (662) 381 1424 W. S. Bassham � President Rungsit Saejang � Secretary Betty Chin-Jongsu Ksathaporn � Treasurer INSTITUTIONAL DIRECTORY Mission College � Salinee Navamarama Mission Health Food Company � Ken Myers Southeast Asia Union College � K. S. Koh Southeast Asia Publishing House �Wong Yew Seng Thailand Publishing House � Solomon S. Agdon Bangkok Adventist Hospital � Ronald W. Brody Penang Adventist Hospital � William Laspe Phuket Adventist Hospital � Nursia Supunavong Youngberg Adventist Hospital � Joshua Goh The Messenger is published hi-monthly as the official organ of the Southeast ASia Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists, 251 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 1334. Tel: 284 7281; Fax: 284 7757 Editor � C. Y. Wu Managing Editor � Marilyn Johnson Circulation Manager � C. Y. Wu Layout and Printing by Southeast Asia Publishing House 14 � Sept/Oct 1992 The Messenger SOUTHEAST ASIA UNION COLLEGE SAUC Tuition Scholarships ing at SAUC for the first time in 1993, for r your first quarter the regular SAUC tuition of S$500 per quarter will be subsidized by S$250. The cost of a 12-16 hour course load would be S$250. A comparable course load at allorth America college wouldbe S$4800. Beginning your study at SAUC represents a savings of S$4550 for your first quarter of college. In addition, 75% scholarships for one year ofstudy at SAUC are available to two SDA students from each mission within the Southeast Asia Union Mission. These are available to students not presently enrolled at an SDA school and whose parents are not employed by the SDA church. Scholarships will be granted to the two qualifying applicants from each mission who have the best academic achievement and leadership records. A full-tuition scholarship for one year of study at SAUC is available to the top SDA student from each SDA secondary school in the Southeast Asia Union Mis- sion. This scholarship will be based on academic achievement and leadership record. It will also require a recommenda- tion from the secondary school adminis- tration. For students considering education abroad, the curriculum at SAUC is a bridge to studies in North America at a fraction of the cost. Students regularly transfer cred- its from SAUC to colleges and universi- ties in the United States, and have found acceptance for all Walla Walla College credits. If you are interested in the programs offered at SAUC, or if you are aware of students who are consid- ering a college education, please direct them to contact: The Registrar, Southeast Asia Union College, 273 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 1334. Tel: 285-7976/285-7834, Fax: 283-7850. -- R. Gary Brendel, Academic Dean, SAUC 1 SAUC is offering several scholarships to entering students in 1993. These range from a 1/2-tuition one- quarter scholarship to a full-tuition one-year scholarship. Any Seventh-day Adventist students from Southeast Asia Union Mission can receive a one-half tuition schol- arship for one quarter if he or she enrolls for the first time during 1993. If you study as a full-time student enroll- CI1MEU Yes, I am interested. in college and would" lib to apply for a tuition scholarship. Please send a scholarship application to: Address: I am interested in the fodowing scholarship: Please tickboK(es): One-half tuition scholarship For one quarter. Open to all SDA students attending SAUC for the first time in 1993. Seventy-five percent tuition scholarship for one year of study at SAUC. Open to SDA students not currently attending an SDA school. Bused on academic merit/ exam marks and leadership activities. Full-tuition scholarship for one year of study at SFlUC. Open to SDA students who are attending (or have grroduoted from) an SDR school. Based on academic merit/exam marks and Leadership activities. COTIFr Mail to: gjegirtrar 273 tipper Serangoon Itpoit. Singapore 1334 Ter: (65) 285-7976 Fax: (65) 283-7850 Sept/Oct 1992 � I5 The Messenger A number of years ago I found myself alone in a government office here in Singapore, waiting to see a certain individual. Due to the subject matter of the visit I felt a certain tension coming over me, and did my best to relax. If I'd been a smoker no doubt a cigarette would have helped the situation, although "No Smok- ing" signs stood out prominently in the waiting area. Just at that moment another expatriate, like myself, en- tered and sat down beside me. With- out looking around he quickly took out a cigarette, lit up, and began blowing smoke in my direction. My spoken reaction at that mo- ment was to remind him that we were in a "no smoking" area and he must be a newcomer to Singapore to be unaware of the government attitude toward smoking in public offices. He listened carefully, looked me straight in the f eye, and then said, "You must be a bigoted Ad- ventist." We had Packaging Our Message never before met and he hadn't the slightest way of knowing who I was. But from what I said, together with some previous contact with Advent- ists somewhere, he was very unfavorably impressed with Seventh- day Adventists. This has led me to do some serious thinking. Seventh-day Adventists have a special message for the world at this time. We may not realize it, but quite literally the eternal destiny of multi- tudes ofpeople may be decided by the way you and I "package" and endeavor to "sell" this message. If you are the package, what im- pact do you make upon others? When people see you, what do they see? Courtesy? Kindness? Warmth and friendliness? How do they react to your words? To the expression on your face? Do you attract them? Or I � do you repel .5 � them? One day the scribes and pharisees sent officers to observe Jesus and find a pretext to arrest Him and bring Him back to the church leaders. However, after watching Him for several days and listening to His words, they returned empty-handed and reported to those who sent them, "Never man spake like this Man." Ellen White, in comment- ing on this incident, wrote, "Never man spake like this man because never man lived like He lived." Then she went on to say "It is our own character and experience that determines our influ- ence upon others. In order to convince others ofthe power ofChrise s grace, we must know its power in our own hearts and lives. The gospel we present for the saving of souls must be the gospel by which our own souls are saved" (The Ministry of Healing, p. 469). How is the gospel message pack- aged in your life'? -- Winston Clark, Acting President, SA UM 16 � Sept/Oct 1992