Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...

 
CONTINUE READING
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
Manna haven
makes an impact
CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS
TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11

NEWS
ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO
1000 FAMILIES 5
ADVENTIST RECORD | JUNE 6, 2020
ISSN 0819-5633
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
editor’s note

     Conspiracy in a time of Covid
        I was looking through old Record archives online              often used by us as an excuse not to care. We circum-
     when this unusual news item caught my eye. More than             vent or avoid obeying the commands of Jesus, we
     20 years ago, in the late ‘90s (wow, does anyone else            actively duck doing good, run from civic responsibility
     feel old reading that?), something happened in Papua             or allow bad people to get away with real and measur-
     New Guinea that caused a stir:                                   able destruction and greed, because we don’t want to
        “Some Adventists in PNG are refusing to have their            be associated with some shadow organisation’s secret
     children immunised against polio following claims it             agenda.
     leads to eternal damnation. An independent ministry,                 I can include myself in this category. There are
     operating in the Eastern Highlands Simbu Province,               terrible things going on in the world that I’m aware of
     says the Sabin vaccine contains a metal labelled ‘666’,          but choose not to do anything about.
     meaning children and their families will be under                    Enough is enough. Whether these theories are true
     constant satellite surveillance. . . . According to South        or not there are a few things we must keep in mind.
     Pacific Division Adventist Health director Dr Percy                  The apostle Paul, who suffered at the hands of the
     Harrold, the claims are creating fear . . . [and] spreading      powers that be, exhorts us, “Do you want to be free
     dangerous misinformation about a lifesaving program.             from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right
     The consequences are serious. In the interest of public          and you will be commended. For the one in authority is
     health and the credibility of the church in PNG, I’d             God’s servant for your good” (Romans 3:3,4). Paul, in
     discourage any further financial support of the ministry”        this passage, makes a number of points, including that
     (October 25, 1997).                                              the government rules because God allows it.
        It seems that history does repeat itself. In this                 We must also remember that, ultimately, evil cannot
     current COVID-19 situation, conspiracies are rife.               triumph. So we must focus on the good and live as
        A recent report on news.com.au suggests that one in           though Christ has already won the victory (which He
     eight Australians believe Microsoft founder Bill Gates is        has). Proverbs 14:22 tells us: “Do not those who plot
     somehow responsible for the COVID-19 outbreak and                evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find
     the 5G phone network is spreading the disease. One in            love and faithfulness.” (This could also be evidence that
     five believe the media and government are fudging the            some of these conspiracies aren’t real because any evil
     death toll to scare people.                                      plot will inevitably go astray.)
        I’m sure these statistics would hold true in the                  As Luke 6, among other passages, tells us, it is our
     Church. If we’re honest, we set ourselves up for it. We          fruit that ultimately matters: “A good man brings good
     believe our biblical knowledge gives us special insight          things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an
     into things that are hidden. We even use the biblical            evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in
     phrase “even the elect will be deceived” (Matthew                his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full
     24:24) to pat ourselves on the back and show that we             of” (v45).
     are not in that boat. Except that’s not what the text                So live and love well. If a theory or idea doesn’t
     means. We are unlikely to be deceived by not knowing             point you to God and help you
     some secret conspiracy. It is more dangerous to believe          to serve people, it’s not worth
     something that is not true (or not entirely true) and            investing your passion and energy
     to stake our faith and salvation on it. We’ve become             in . . . or wasting your time on.
     hypervigilant looking for secret knowledge and special
     understanding—often sacrificing our credibility.
                                                                                          Jarrod Stackelroth
        But even if the conspiracies are true (for argument’s                             Senior Editor
     sake, let’s suppose some are), understanding is most                                   /JStackelroth

                           senior consulting editor   graphic designer            noticeboard                   adventist media
                           glenn townend              linden chuang               ads@record.net.au             locked bag 1115
                           senior editor              template designer           subscriptions                 wahroonga nsw 2076 australia
                           jarrod stackelroth         theodora pau’u              subscriptions@record.net.au   + 61 (02) 9847 2222
                           assistant editor           noticeboard                 + 61 (03) 5965 6300           cover credit
                           maryellen fairfax          julie laws                  mailed within australia and   maddy voinea
abn 59 093 117 689         copyeditors                letters                     nz $A43.80 $NZ73.00 other     “A Manna Haven staff member
vol 125 no 11              tracey bridcutt            editor@record.net.au        prices on application.        serves customers.”
                           kent kingston              news & photos               website
                           melody tan                 news@record.net.au          record.adventistchurch.com

                                                                                                                  June 6, 2020 | Adventist record   3
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
news

Lockdown life                                           COVID-19 glow tracts make big impact
                                                        maryellen fairfax
       During COVID-19 lockdown, my
                                                            In light of widespread concern          houses around my home. I had an
    wife Pamela and I have set a record.
                                                        about COVID-19, Hope Discovery              Adventist health professional say
    We haven’t been home with each
                                                        Centre (Wahroonga, NSW)                     that they need such a tract now
    other for longer than a month at a
    time for more than 17 years—half                    produced “Coronavirus Versus Your to give to patients. Now is not the
    our 34 years of marriage. As I write,               Immune System” GLOW tracts—                 time to be conservative in such
    we’ve been together for 10 weeks,                   small brochures of information for          outreach. We have a message and
    and it could be more to come. Pam                   church members to distribute to             this is a real and valued way to get
    says it’s nice having me around. She                their communities.                          it out.”
    doesn’t like lonely days when church                    Until recently, South Pacific Divi-         In addition to distributing
    work takes me away for weeks. We                    sion (SPD) president Pastor Glenn           thousands of GLOW tracts, the
    used to joke that part of our secret                Townend and his wife Pamela were Townends also letterboxed more
    to a good marriage was spending up                  daily distributing the tracts around        than 400 “Here to Help” cards—
    to a third of our time apart and we                 their Central Coast neighbourhood, produced by the Australian Union
    enjoyed catching up together after                  following government health advice Conference—to offer practical help
    travel. However, being together for                 and using sanitised hands and               and emotional support to locals in
    an extended period is all right too!                gloves.                                     their area.
       But not everything about the lock-                   “Glenn bought 10,000 of them,               “I’ve made note of everybody
    down is positive. Humans were made                  so we’ve managed to get other               who contacted me, and have
    to be “free” (Genesis 2:16). When                   people from the SPD to help us              been in touch with 24 people on a
    freedom is restricted—little move-
                                                        distribute them,” Mrs Townend               regular basis as a result,” explained
    ment, limited face-to-face contact—
                                                        explained. “We[‘d] go out most              Mrs Townend. “Some of the
    it does impact us. On personal
                                                        mornings and letterbox around               seniors just want to chat, and a lot
    reflection, I am more anxious and
                                                        200-250 of them.”                           of people gave me their personal
    focused on my needs and less
    sensitive to the needs of others. My                    Church members and literature           details and shared stories with me.”
    children, who act as a brilliant mirror,            evangelists across Australia also               Pastor and Mrs Townend sent
    have lovingly revealed a selfish streak             distributed the GLOW tracts, with a two follow-up messages of blessing
    and a weakness I was blind to in our                woman in Western Australia finding to their contacts—one at Easter
    online family catch-ups. Lockdown is                one in a public toilet and contacting and another on Anzac Day. Having
    revealing some less-than-Christ like                the Hope Discovery Centre as a              received many positive responses
    characteristics in me.                              result. She was then put in contact and invitations to meet up, they are
       How about you? What are you                      with local literature evangelist Paul now planning to invite everyone to
    enjoying about the lockdown? What                   Bodor, and ordered 100 tracts to            a “break-out” party at their home
    are you finding difficult? What is it               distribute.                                 when restrictions are lifted.
    revealing about yourself?                               “She read it and was so excited             “People really want to connect
       Not spending 1.5 hours in a car                  that we are talking about strength- and letterboxing is a way of doing
    commuting each day means I have                     ening our immune systems,”                  it that is non-threatening,” Mrs
    invested time into extra and deeper                 explained Hope Channel admin-               Townend explained. “It gives
    Bible study—I love it. I received an                istration assistant Linda Thomas.           someone the option to respond
    answer for my sinful nature issues
                                                        “She said, ‘No-one is talking about if they want to. I really encourage
    from Colossians 3: Focus on Jesus;
                                                        this, everyone is buying junk food          people to take a step out of their
    choose His grace, mercy, power,
                                                        when the fresh veggie aisles have           comfort zone, because God will
    peace and holiness to be a part of
                                                        an abundance of food we need.’”             reward in an amazing way.”
    my life; think about the end goal; let
    Jesus live within; put to death the                     “People want
    evil by not giving it thinking time;                answers—a GLOW
    check your behaviour—there are a                    tract in a letterbox
    wealth of practical insights. Knowing               as people walk for
                        that Jesus, who is              exercise is something
                        the fullness of God,            anybody can do and
                        lives within me,                it has a huge impact,”
                        gives me hope.                  added Pastor
                                                        Townend. “I know the
                                       Glenn townend
                                       SPD president    impact letterboxing
                                        /SPDpresident   has done in the 500          the front cover of the glow tracts.

4    Adventist record | June 6, 2020
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
ADRA NZ provides essentials to 1000 families
sarah ryan
   The Adventist Development                   Each pack that a family receives
and Relief Agency (ADRA) New                includes a contact number of their
Zealand is working with a network           local pastor and a lead church repre-
of Seventh-day Adventist churches           sentative with hopes of connecting
throughout the country to provide           again in the future. After two weeks,
essentials to more than 1000 Kiwi           the families were given a second gift
families in need.                           card to help them over a longer period
   During the level 4 lockdown in New       of time.                                         A volunteer giving essentials to families.
Zealand, many non-essential workers            “It’s been an amazing experience,
lost either all or a percentage of their    I’ve been able to witness firsthand            special to see her face light up when
income. Many families have struggled        the gratitude that people have when            she realised she would be able to buy
throughout this time, but it has been       receiving these gift cards and food            her daughter a cake, along with other
especially difficult for families already   packs,” said Sally Lavea, ADRA NZ              essentials needed at home,” shared
living in poverty.                          coordinator for national programs.             one of the volunteers.
   In response, ADRA NZ launched               All volunteers were provided with             ADRA’s hope is that through this
the “Love Thy Neighbour” campaign,          the appropriate PPE gear—gloves, face          response, churches are encouraged
which encourages everyone to do             masks, sanitiser, and a safety manual          to engage with the vulnerable in
something to show love to their neigh-      providing relevant health and safety           their community and create genuine
bours, especially during difficult times.   guidelines to ensure the safety of             connections.
   ADRA NZ worked alongside                 those they were delivering to as well            ADRA will continue to distribute
“community champions”—people                as their own safety.                           grocery gift cards and food packs to
involved in community initiatives—in           “In one of the homes we visited             Kiwi families in need during level 3
local churches to identify families in      during deliveries, we met with a               lockdown in New Zealand.
need and distribute food packs and          mother who shared with us that it                To learn more or to donate, please
grocery vouchers.                           was her daughter’s birthday. It was            visit .

Remote church rededicated in Kiribati
jarrod stackelroth
   One of the first churches to be             During the rededication,                    government moved to ban interna-
established by early missionaries in        Kiribati Mission president Pastor Luther       tional flights early, and no cases have
Kiribati, Taribo Seventh-day Adventist      Taniveke and his wife Florence were            been recorded there, meaning church
church on Abemama Island, was               joined by the Kiribati government’s            services can continue. However, the
rededicated on March 12.                    Minister of Lands, leaders of other            Church in Kiribati still faces plenty
   Originally made of local bush            denominations, chiefs and local people.        of challenges, according to Pastor
materials, it has finally reached the          Mrs Taniveke cut the ribbon to open         Taniveke.
point of becoming a permanent brick         the church while Pastor Karebwa Roroa              “Kiribati Mission is the poorest
and timber building after changes over      invited members into the church.               mission in this Union. We have less
many years.                                    “Church pastor Karebwa Roroa                members supporting the work through
                                                                 and the church            tithes and offerings, but a very big area
                                                                 members put on a          of responsibility, with islands scat-
                                                                 beautiful program         tered over a quarter of the vast Pacific
                                                                 that ended with           Ocean. To reach these islands is very
                                                                 a big feast and           difficult and costly.”
                                                                 presentation of               Young people in Kiribati are currently
                                                                 gifts in their cultural   preparing for the planned harvest
                                                                 ways,” said Pastor        program. They are visiting homes to
                                                                 Taniveke.                 find out who has been listening to
                                                                    COVID-19 has           Hope Radio and offering Bible studies.
                                                                 had only a small          Some have taken up the offer.
                                                                 impact on the                 “Please pray for Kiribati Mission,”
 Taribo’s new building                                           remote nation. The        said Pastor Taniveke.

                                                                                                                   June 6, 2020 | Adventist record   5
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
pocket edition of wellbeing book released
    nathan brown
       A new Pocket Edition of Live More       optimal lifestyle, which has
    Happy offers opportunities to share        been published in two previous
    its insights into emotional wellbeing      editions, but has now been
    with family and friends, as well as the    condensed into this smaller
    wider community, at a time when its        volume. “I always love it when           Resources on the Literature Ministries website.
    message is “so needed”, according to       people tell me that they enjoyed
    author Dr Darren Morton.                   and benefited from my book so much            purchase the larger book or access
       “Recently we saw the appoint-           that they shared it with others,” said        further resources for living well. The
    ment of Australia’s first deputy chief     Dr Morton. “The pocket edition makes          brochures are also available for sharing
    medical officer for mental health,” said   it so easy to do that.”                       in electronic form.
    Dr Morton, director of the Lifestyle          Coordinator for literature ministry at       According to Mr Lowe, tens of
    Medicine & Health Research Centre          Adventist Media, Brenton Lowe, agrees thousands of the pocket books and
    at Avondale University College,            that this new edition has arrived at          brochures have been pre-ordered
    speaking of the Australian govern-         an important time. “Amid the coro-            by conferences in Australia and New
    ment’s response to the mental health       navirus crisis and social isolation, we       Zealand, but they are also available for
    concerns amid the COVID-19 crisis.         are seeing increasing mental health           purchase from Adventist bookstores in
    “Many people are struggling and this       concerns. The Live More Happy pocket packs of five for personal distribution.
    resource can give people practical         book and the related brochures are              “Everyone loves to receive gifts,”
    strategies for maintaining and building    great gifts to share,” he said.               said Dr Morton. “And giving a gift like
    their mental wellbeing.”                      The brochures are a series of three        this offers the opportunity to create
       First published two years ago, Live     small samples of Live More Happy              connections. [It’s] an easy way to
    More Happy brings together current         content—on the topics of stress,              show someone you care.”
    scientific understandings in neuro-        gratitude and service—that can be               Visit  for
    science, positive psychology and           shared widely, with an invitation to          more online sharing resources.

6    Adventist record | June 6, 2020
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
food hamper ministries making a difference                                                    news grabs
Maryellen FairfaX
   Young people in Adelaide (SA) and        possible thanks to support from ADRA
Brisbane (Qld) have been reaching out to    Australia, ADRA Eight Mile Plains and
international students struggling to make   Vital Connection (an ADRA project) in
ends meet during COVID-19.                  partnership with Foodbank. In addition,
   “A number of them haven’t been           a pallet of products was donated by
able to go back home,” explained South      Sanitarium. Church members also turned
Australian Conference youth director        up on the day with trolleys of groceries
Pastor Joel Slade. “Many of them have       to include in the parcels.                   preventing sexual abuse
also lost their jobs because hospitality       The Brisbane initiative was held to       During recent annual Spring Meet-
industries have been shut down. The         support Brisbane Spanish Seventh-day         ings on Zoom, Adventist Church
government doesn’t provide support, and     Adventist Church, who have been              leaders discussed concrete steps
                                                                                         to prevent and treat sexual abuse
many of their parents are also struggling   distributing food parcels to international   in the Church. General Conference
financially back home so can’t help.”       students struggling to make ends meet        associate secretary Gary Krause
   Every Wednesday, young people            during COVID-19.                             shared evidence that every church
involved with South Australia Youth            “I got a call from [Pastor Yimi Duarte    division around the world is rolling
                                                                                         out measures to prevent and treat
Ministries (SAYM) have been gathering       from the Brisbane Spanish Church]            sexual abuse.—Adventist Review
at College Park Seventh-day Adventist       asking for help,” said Dr Pule.
Church, under the leadership of Marek          “We distribute food parcels from 9am
Jantos, to collect and assemble food into   to 3pm every Saturday,” added Pastor
hampers to be sent out to an interna-       Duarte. “The first week it was 16, then
tional dormitory in Adelaide, home to       30, then 65, now 90. So many students
mostly PhD students from the city’s         don’t have work at the moment and they
three major universities.                   don’t even have enough food.”
   Food is being sourced from FoodBank         Meaningful and longlasting connec-
by Pastor Jan Pollok, who has experience    tions are being made with students as a
running the ADRA community pantry at        result of both ministries. While students
Trinity Gardens Church. In addition, a      in Brisbane are now seeking Bible studies
                                                                                         growing for god
                                                                                         Member of Philipsburg Adventist
local cafe has been donating meals to       with Pastor Duarte, SAYM is creating         Church (Dutch Caribbean) Jacky
add to the hampers.                         plans to continue building relationships     Barry started a vegetable garden at
   “We were delivering individual           with students through follow-up small-       her home during COVID-19, which
                                                                                         has now become an online ministry
hampers to 80 students, but now we just     group ministries.                            reaching 776 people. She started
supply them a large delivery of goods for                                                with a Facebook livestream of
their communal kitchen,” Pastor Slade                                                    herself transplanting lettuce, which
explained.                                                                               soon became an online group of
                                                                                         likeminded individuals.—IAD News
   In a similar vein, more than 40 church
members—mostly young adults—from
eight Adventist churches around Bris-
bane partnered with ADRA in South
Queensland on the weekend of May 2
to 4 to assemble 112 food hampers to
assist international students and local      pastor joel slade (far left) and
families.                                    SAYm volunteers packing boxes.
   “It was a way for local churches to
connect and to be involved with ADRA,
especially during COVID-19,” said ADRA                                                   memorising scripture
                                                                                         The Southern Asia-Pacific Division’s
SQld director Dr Irena Pule Dr Pule. “I
                                                                                         Adventist Youth Ministry launched
thank God for the opportunity to serve                                                   #MemoriseABibleVerseChallenge on
and that churches responded to the call.”                                                April 25, which has attracted more
   Calling themselves the “ADRA South                                                    than 300 enrolments. Participants
                                                                                         have been posting videos of them-
Queensland Care Crew”, the volun-
                                                                                         selves to Facebook reading Bible
teers worked hard on Saturday night                                                      verses and tagging their friends to
and Sunday to pack grocery items             brisbane volunteers wearing                 gain momentum.—SAPD News
into parcels. The initiative was made        personal protective equipment.

                                                                                                      June 6, 2020 | Adventist record   7
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
hot topics                          Thieves steal fruit trees, community spirit
                                               still strong
                                               maryellen fairfax
                                                  Thieves broke into
                                               the private garden of
                                               Cannington Community
                                               Church (CCC) in Western
                                               Australia last month to steal
                                               10 fruit trees, the produce
    church saving lives                        of which was to be included
    A new Harvard University study of          in community food parcels.
    more than 100,000 people found                “They dug under the fence
    that women who attend religious            and took the roots and all.
    services once a week or more are                                                  a young visitor in cannington’s community garden.
                                               And they stole our wheel-
    67 per cent less likely to die from
    suicide, unintentional alcohol or drug     barrows to transport the
    overdose, chronic liver diseases and       trees. I’m just disappointed they didn’t            people,” said Mrs Stewart-Johnson.
    cirrhosis. In comparison, men were         feel they could come and ask for help,”             “People come because they’re hungry,
    33 per cent less likely to die from
                                               explained ADRA representative and                   or because they are just lonely and
    these causes.—The New Daily
                                               church project coordinator Heather                  really want to connect and have a chat.
                                               Stewart-Johnson.                                    Now we’re doing food parcels for the
                                                  Recognising the church’s generous                time being instead, but it will be good
                                               community involvement, Canning                      when we start the cafe up again.”
                                               Mayor Patrick Hall, in partnership with               The food parcels, which include
                                               the local Bunnings Warehouse, coordi-               fruit, vegetables and grocery staples,
                                               nated the supply of new trees, seed-                are mostly sourced from food pantry
                                               lings and wheelbarrows to compensate                service Second Bite.
                                               the damage.                                           “When our current pastor first came,
    Coping with social isolation                  In an interview with Cannington                  there weren’t very many members,”
    According to a new study by the            Times, Mr Hall said the theft reflects              explained Mrs Stewart-Johnson. “He
    University at Buffalo, “nontraditional”    the sad reality of desperation felt by              challenged us and said, ‘If we closed
    social strategies such as watching
                                               some in the community.                              our doors today, would anyone miss
    TV shows, listening to music or
    reading books can fulfil critical social      “At a time when the work of the                  us?’ Maybe no-one would. That’s when
    needs in a similar way to familial or      Cannington Soup Kitchen is more                     we started the community cafe.”
    romantic connections. They suggest         important than ever, having valuable                  Thanks to the generous work of
    practising nontraditional methods
                                               equipment and so many fruit trees                   volunteers, CCC’s ministry is not only
    during social isolation, labelling it a
    “good substitute“.—Healthline              stolen is a real blow,” he said.                    meeting the immediate needs of
                                                  Since CCC was forced to close its                individuals, but also helping to reduce
                                               soup kitchen a month ago due to                     community crime rates.
                                               COVID-19 restrictions, volunteers have                “At one point we’d been talking to
                                               been handing out 30-40 food parcels                 a local police sergeant who said a
                                               every Friday instead, thanks to a team              throwaway line, ‘We know what you’re
                                               of volunteers.                                      doing, and crime rates are dropping
                                                  “Our community cafe, as we like                  in the area. So don’t stop what you’re
                                               to call it, was held every Friday night             doing,’” said Mrs Stewart-Johnson.
                                               and we’d sometimes feed up to 120                     When there is leftover food, CCC
    a grave discovery                                                                                         has partnered with the school
    Dozens of paving stones made                                                                              across the road to give to
    from Jewish headstones have been
                                                                                                              families in need. CCC also runs
    found during the opening phase of
    a £10.6m redevelopment project in                                                                         a clothing op-shop, a street
    Prague’s tourist district, Wenceslas                                                                      library and has plans to open
    Square. The find confirms suspicions                                                                      its garden to the community.
    that the former communist regime
                                                                                                                 “We’re trying to reach
    raided synagogues and graveyards
    to find building materials.—The                                                                           as many areas within our
    Guardian                                     The church garden where their community                      community as possible,” she
                                                 cafe attracts hundreds of people.                            said.

8    Adventist record | June 6, 2020
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
flashpoint

                                  39 young people baptised                                                      what a treat
                                  A “lamb shelter”—a facility where    baptisms in glen innes                   Young adults Elisha and Shuree
                                  children and young people to         Glen Innes Adventist Church              Davey and the Women’s Ministry
                                  have Sabbath School and Bible        (NSW) recently celebrated the            group at Caboolture Church
                                  studies—has been built by young      baptism of five people. Two              (Qld) teamed up with the local
testing 1, 2, 3                   people from Bumbu Sand Church        men—Jon Fletcher and Ken Amy—            Kings Bakery to honour the staff
Hope Channel Fiji has doubled     in Lae, Morobe Province (PNG),       were baptised this year after            at Caboolture Hospital. They
content production rates in       to facilitate groups meeting for     completing Bible studies with            wanted to thank the doctors,
recent weeks, leading to a        World Changer Bible studies. So      Pastor Afi Tuaoi. Mr Fletcher came       nurses and security staff for
need for new equipment and        far, 39 young people have made       to the faith through his wife and        their hard work and compas-
resources. Due to extraordi-      the decision to be baptised—22       a carer he had as a child, both          sion during COVID-19. Eleven
nary circumstances as a result    from the World Changer group,        Adventists. Mr Amy became an             beautifully wrapped gift boxes
of COVID-19, audiences are        three former church members,         Adventist through the church’s           containing Anzac biscuits, cream
seeking messages of encourage-    six existing baptismal candidates    “Glen Food Hub” ministry, which          buns and chocolate brownies
ment. In response to this need,   and eight new interests. Morobe      he says made him feel like he had        were delivered to the hospital on
Fijian Adventists in Melbourne    Mission president Pastor Blasius     “come home”. In addition, Pastor         two Sabbath afternoons in April.
gifted Hope Channel a new         Managos visited the site on          Tuaoi baptised his three children­—      One of the nurses posted a FB
wireless microphone set. The      Sabbath, May 2, for a dedication     Maria, Elana and Jesiah—last year.       message saying, “thank-you for
microphones were dedicated and    service where dozens of World        Family travelled from Sydney             your kind gesture, our hospital
immediately utilised in program   Changer Bibles were handed out.      and Melbourne to witness their           staff are very grateful for our
production.—TPUM Facebook         —Record Staff                        baptisms.—Michelle Barber                treats.”–Lynette Ashby

                                              children loving children
                                              COVID-19 didn’t stop Korobosea Adventurers, parents and
                                              teachers from delivering food, toiletries and gifts to homeless
                                                                                                                      have a
                                              children at the Born Free Sanctuary (BFS) in Port Moresby
                                              (PNG) on March 21. The children were extremely happy to
                                                                                                                   news story?
                                              receive the gifts, and the Adventurers played, sang songs and
                                              read scriptures to the BFS children. The visit was originally         email it to
                                              planned as part of Global Youth Day, but after the event was
                                              cancelled, the group decided to go and share Jesus’ love
                                                                                                                   news@record.net.au
                                              with them anyway.—John Nebare

harmonious zoom choir                         hills adventist shines                             a new way to give
“The Musicionaries”, a choir from Auckland    The Rouse Hill Times recently reported that        The Fiji Mission launched “M-Paisa” last
International Seventh-day Adventist Church,   Hills Adventist College was the second-            month, an online platform for members and
filmed a beautiful rendition of “Psalm 23”    highest-ranking school in Sydney’s Rouse Hill      treasurers to return tithes and offerings.
composed by Heather Sorenson and shared       region for NAPLAN in 2019. Incorporating           Funded by the Trans Pacific Union Mission
as a message of hope during COVID-19. The     students’ literacy and numeracy performance        and South Pacific Division, pastors and minis-
group has also been doing performances for    data from Years 7 and 9, the school received       ters in the central and western division are
Sabbath schools and children’s programs,      an average score of 584.1. According to            now equipped to train members and treas-
Bible studies and worships on Zoom. You can   the data, high schools in the Rouse Hill area      urers in their local churches to use the plat-
watch the performance at “The Musicion-       outperformed students at schools across the        form, helping to avoid the long and expensive
aries” YouTube account.—Hugh Heenani          state.—Record staff                                commute to Tavua.—TPUM Facebook

                                                                                                                         June 6, 2020 | Adventist record   9
Manna haven makes an impact - CAFE DISTRIBUTES MEAL VOUCHERS TO THOSE DOING IT TOUGH 11 NEWS ADRA NZ PROVIDES ESSENTIALS TO 1000 FAMILIES 5 ...
Evangelism

           o r t u n
     An opp to share i t y
                                                                     HA                                                     Y

                                                                                  )
     I
        t was an effective way to get our       few times), and we have both found its    it seems an important time to share
        attention—a small package of            ideas useful. . . It seems that many of   this practical resource for wellbeing,
        chocolates delivered on the eve of      us could do with a little help with our   feeling better, and seeking happiness
     Easter, “packed with sanitised hands”,     emotional wellbeing and resilience at     and hope. And as I have been walking
     with an introductory letter complete       the moment—so [we] hope it might be       the dog up and down our street, I have
     with details of their family, work and     of interest.”                             also been praying for our neighbours
     pets.                                         Our personal introductions and         and neighbourhood, as well as our
         Over the following few weeks, amid     recommendation make this more than        nation and the wider world.
     the ongoing social-distancing restric-     junk mail—and offer opportunities for         One of the challenges of this time is
     tions, the 21 houses on our street         future conversations. And we have         feeling like there is nothing we can do.
     have exchanged a number of letters         since received a few responses and        But Live More Happy quotes Dr Martin
     and created a “Hope Fence”—includ-         thank-yous in our letterbox.              Seligman—former president of the
     ing artworks by children and young                                                   American Psychological Association—
     people, messages of encouragement,                                                     in asserting that doing something
     jokes and an Anzac Day tribute—on                                                              for others “produces the single
     the high wire fence of the                                                                            most reliable increase
     public tennis court next                                                                              in wellbeing (happiness)
     to the community hall.                                                                               of any exercise we have
     While “isolated” like never                                                                         tested”. The new Pocket
     before, our neighbourhood                                                                          Edition of Live More Happy
     is growing closer together,                                                                       is a resource for doing this,
     thanks largely to the initiative                                                                  particularly at a time when
     of one family and with the                                                                       some of our regular opportuni-
     invitation to a neighbourhood                                                                   ties for serving are not available
     barbecue planned for when                                                                      to us. So share this with your
     restrictions are eased.                                                                       neighbours, write them a letter
         Like many others, we know only                                                           either introducing yourself or
     a small number of our neighbours,                                                           thanking them for being part of
     despite having lived on our street for                                                     your community. This might be the
     years. As we were considering what                                                        lift that each of us needs and the
     we might be able to contribute to                                                        opportunity to get to know more of
     this neighbourly exchange, I received                                                   our neighbours even while we are
     the first copies of the new Pocket                                                     apart.
     Edition of Live More Happy. It might                                                       And if you haven’t yet read Live
     not have been as instantly gratifying      Like many neigh-                          More Happy—that’s a great place to
     as our neighbour’s chocolates but we       bourhoods, appropriately dis-             start. I recommend it.
     decided to respond to the invitation to    tanced conversations and friendly
     follow this first neighbourhood family’s   waves in the past few weeks have             Live More Happy (Pocket Edition)
     example and write to our 20 neigh-         been more common than previously,         by Dr Darren Morton is available in a
     bours to introduce ourselves. And we       at least partly because we are at home    5-book pack from Adventist book-
     chose to include this little book as       and out walking more often.               stores in Australia and NZ: .
     he was editing the original edition of     Of course, we have been working on
     this book, Nathan read it more closely     this project over the past six months,     nathan brown
     than anyone else ever will (and quite a    but with the books available right now,    book editor, signs publishing.

10    Adventist record | June 6, 2020
topic/genre
                                                                                                                   Ministry

Vegan cafe distributes meal vouchers to those doing it tough
W
            ell-loved community cafe Manna Haven—a           coming in were asking questions. A guy from the
            ministry of Byron Bay, Alstonville and Ballina   dress shop down the road was asking if it was the end
            Seventh-day Adventist churches (NSW),            of the world. People aren’t so safe in their worldliness
among others—is distributing meal vouchers to back-          anymore, and it creates opportunities,” he explained.
packers, families and individuals struggling to make             With a large proportion of Byron Bay’s population
ends meet as a result of COVID-19.                           being internationals and tourists, people’s spiritual
    Customers, church members and people from the            beliefs and practices are diverse.
community have so far purchased more than 200                    “It’s a real battlefield. New Age practices and med-
meal vouchers to feed people in need, at a cost of           itation are huge here and anything goes spiritually.
$A14 per meal.                                               What’s a real battle for me is that people are happy
    “I’ve been giving the vouchers to the local fruit        that you believe in Jesus and that you’re a Christian
and veggie shop, the local organic shop,” explained          and a lot of them will say they believe that too, but
Manna Haven head chef and Alstonville church                 still believe in and practise [New Age spirituality],” Mr
member Bryce Wegener. “I gave some to lady who               Wegener explained.
lives with a house full of backpackers out of work.              Despite the diversity, people from all walks of life
Some I’ve given to social workers at the local hospi-        are attracted to Manna Haven because of its focus
tals to give to people in need.”                             on healthy living and creating a better lifestyle, and
    The meal-voucher initiative was proposed during          everyone is welcome.
a Manna Haven board meeting where members—rep-                   “The community knows who Adventists are now,”
resentatives from various Adventist churches in the          said Mr Wegener. “I’ll walk down the street and
area—made the decision to keep Manna Haven open              know people by name. The homeless guy is a good
during COVID-19.                                             friend of mine, so are the bus drivers and buskers.
    “When COVID-19 hit and we didn’t know whether            It’s because people love good food and it creates
to continue operating or not, our regulars were              community.”
begging us not to close,” said Mr Wegener. “[But]                If you would like to support Manna Haven in these
we’ve lost about 70 per cent of our customers.”              tough financial times or purchase food vouchers for
    Despite the drop in sales, Mr Wegener says that          those in need, visit .
the uncertain times have caused customers to be
more open to spiritual conversations.                         maryellen fairfax
    “In the initial stages of COVID-19, many locals           assistant editor, adventist record.

                                                                                                      June 6, 2020 | Adventist record   11
Church

     the new normal
     back to church in Papua New Guinea

     A
             s Pastor Gaza Asitore stood up    worship programs will be conducted in           Finally, after seven Sabbaths,
             to deliver his message he was     Rainbow Adventist Church and also all       Rainbow Adventist Church and its
             hit with a rush of mixed emo-     over the world.                             branch churches in Barakau, Dogura,
     tions. Looking out, he saw just a few         Pastor Asitore shared from the          Granville, Momokoura (Baruni), Moale
     church members, physically distanced,     scripture, 3 John 1:2, “Beloved I pray      Heights and Baruni Bay Side con-
     who had come to dedicate the safety       that you may prosper in all things and      ducted their first Sabbath services on
     and hygiene items to be used by the       be in good health, just as your soul        May 9.
     Rainbow Adventist Church and its          prospers.”                                      It was not an easy transition for
     six branch churches in Port Moresby,          God’s desire for us is to enjoy the     everyone. Church member Gabriel
     Papua New Guinea (PNG).                   fellowship with our fellow church           Porolak shares that he watched people
         The last time the church was filled   family. During the COVID-19 pandemic        entering church that Sabbath and
     to capacity was on March 21, for a        lockdown it has truly made the church       wondered if he should have fellow-
     health talk by Dr Moses Lester of         family come to treasure the joy of          shipped at home. “Everything felt
     ASPEN Medical about awareness of          fellowship and unity in adversity.          distant, including the presence of God.
     COVID-19.                                     As soon as the restrictions were        . .” However, he recalled the verse in
         On March 23, the PNG government       lifted (April 29) and worship gather-       Deuteronomy 31:6 and found reassur-
     declared a State of Emergency (SOE)       ings were allowed, Rainbow Adventist        ance: “My sadness turned into joy as
     after WHO declared COVID-19 a             Church held a special church board to       I slowly smiled and I thanked God for
     pandemic. A 14-day lockdown of the        effectively open the church building        the great honour to be able to attend
     country after PNG’s first reported case   on the basis of being compliant to the      church that glorious morning.”
     meant all church gatherings were pro-     National Emergency Order 28, regula-            While there are challenges for the
     hibited. Church members were having       tion No. 9.                                 present and in the future, as adhering
     Sabbath worships at home for seven            The church approved the purchase        to the new normal will take some time
     Sabbaths as Parliament extended           of church hygiene kits to ensure that       and as church membership grows,
     the SOE a further two months. So          the main church and six branches            there are some benefits already expe-
     all who were present in the church        commenced with pastoral care for the        rienced.
     were feeling both happy and sad           congregation. The kits are comprised            “The feeling of reverence is there
     as the “new normal” would see a           of an infrared thermometer, bars of         inside and outside the church due to
     drastic change with the way Sabbath       soap, two litres of antiseptic deter-       less noise and movement in, out and
                                                           gent, isopropyl and a box       around the church,” shared Rainbow
                                                           of gloves. The deacons,         church member Veronica Bonasu.
                                                           deaconesses and elders              For now, Rainbow church prays:
                                                           were trained during the         “Beloved I pray that you may prosper
                                                           week on the use of the kits     in all things and be in good health, just
                                                           and standard operation          as your soul prospers.” To all of God’s
                                                           procedures for Sabbaths.        people in Papua New Guinea and
                                                           The training was conducted      around the world.
                                                           by the church’s Health Pillar
                                                           co-leaders, Dr Tekie Purewa      willie kunsei
                                                           and his wife, Hayley.            emergency coordinator, adra png.

12    Adventist record | June 6, 2020
Living his word
                                                                                     With Wayne Boehm
                                                                                     SOWING SEEDS
                                                                                         In recent weeks, we’ve been
                                                                                     forced into a new world. The
                                                                                     pandemic has not discriminated,
                                                                                     devastating communities and
                                                                                     resulting in loss of life and jobs,
                                                                                     mental health impacts, strains on
                                                                                     global financial markets and poten-
                                                                                     tial trade issues. In light of these
                                                                                     challenges, how do we carry out
                                                                                     our calling to be disciple-makers?
                                                                                         Mark’s first three chapters
                                                                                     record Jesus’ interaction with
                                                                                     people—some responded positively
                                                                                     while others rejected Him. As you
                                                                                     review these interactions, WHY did
                                                                                     people reject Jesus and WHAT do
                                                                                     you learn from these stories?
12-year-old feeds the homeless during lockdown                                            CONSIDER the story of the
                                                                                     sower in Mark 4:13-20. Jesus
                                                                                     identified four types of soil but

I
    t’s 5am on a Sunday morning in         songs and praying with people.            only one kind of seed. Jesus, at
    early April. Although Fiji’s capital      The situation is different now.        the outset of His ministry, gives a
    of Suva is in lockdown, 12-year-       The remaining team are wearing            lesson to His listeners on emotional
old Nasoni Junior is already awake         masks, gloves and have bottles of         intelligence (EQ). As you sow seeds
and ready to feed the homeless on          hand sanitiser, and only three people     (disciple), you will meet four types
the city streets.                          are allowed to go out together            of people: v15, v16, v18, v20.
    Today, Junior is joining his parents   because of social distancing. But this         Jesus identified three enemies
like he has done so many times             morning, they still ministered to 40      of the gospel seed—hard hearts,
before, but this time he is more           people—providing them hot drinks,         shallow hearts and crowded hearts.
reluctant. The police have been very       homemade buns, rice and stir-fry in       When the seed is sown, the hearer
strict in arresting people, and author-    takeaway packs.                           has a responsibility to act upon it,
ities have not made it clear whether          The recipients responded with          otherwise it is in danger of being
Junior and his team are allowed to         words like “thank you for your love”,     snatched from them. In contrast,
continue their ministry.                   and “God bless”.                          the good soil were the ones who
    Junior’s team is called “MISSION-         Knowing that the homeless in           acted upon the seed that was cast
1”, named after the mission work           Suva depend on the city opening for       upon their heart. CONSIDER the
they do on Suva’s streets every            business each day, the MISSION-1          words Jesus spoke in Mark 4:26-29
Sunday morning. They have been             team kept ministering for four weeks      as it relates to our mission to make
doing this for a year now, but it’s        during lockdown. Despite their hesi-      disciples—the seed grows and the
getting harder. Half of the team were      tation, they were overwhelmed with        sower reaps.
recently forced to return home to          a deep sense of compassion to reach           So in these times, keep casting
Australia due to the pandemic. The         out.                                      the seeds of the kingdom upon all
Wood boys from Campsie, NSW                   Junior and the MISSION-1 team          types of soil. Demonstrate the love
(sons of Dr Paul Wood, Health direc-       feel that this is a unique way to share   and compassion of Jesus because,
tor for Trans Pacific Union Mission),      the good news of Jesus’ love and          just maybe, the seed that is sown
would normally be here. They have          salvation with the forgotten people of    will fall upon the good soil and
been serving with Junior for 12            Suva City.                                will produce a crop 30, 60 or 100
months, providing the homeless with                                                  times that which was sown.
breakfasts of hot chocolate, muffins        nasoni Lutunaliwa
and homemade buns, and singing              discipleship ministries, Tpum.

                                                                                                     June 6, 2020 | Adventist record   13
mission

       PENTECOST
           AND MISSION
       F
             ifty days after the Passover came the feast of         find the theme of God’s salvation embedded in the first
             Pentecost. This was the third feast in Israel’s        three verses: “I will make you a blessing to all people.”
             yearly cycle of feasts. It celebrated the harvest      However, this is also an indication of mission.
       of the first fruit and served as an annual reminder             The stories in the Exodus and the book of Judges
       of God’s blessing. In spiritual terms, “first fruits” is a   also show a saving God.
       mission concept. It is a celebration of people won to           Then came the Babylonian captivity. This was a
       Christ.                                                      wakeup call. But unfortunately the wrong lesson was
          The Church’s nature has always been a continuing          learned. Faithfulness to the law and rituals became
       witness to the salvation and power of God. This is true      confused with faithfulness to God and Israel’s role to
       for the Old Testament where God raised up a people           be a light to the world.
       out of nothing to be His witnesses in the earth.                When we get to the New Testament the theme of a
          In the covenant made to Abraham (Genesis 12) we           saving God in the Gospels leads into the book of Acts.

14   Adventist record | June 6, 2020
Here we see God raise up the Christian church to replace             However, the phrase “being of one accord” may indicate
a failed Old Testament church, a church that had become          far more than just the principle of unity. For within it are
institutionalised. It no longer was interested in being on the   the seeds that form the foundation for a revival of mission.
cutting edge of mission, but had become satisfied in main-       And what we read here at the beginning of chapter 2 is
taining its structure and forms. Its nature had changed and      expanded into a far more detailed picture of unity and
purpose subverted.                                               activity for the church at the end of chapter 2.
   God’s plan for His New Testament church was for it to             After the dramatic entrance of the Holy Spirit appear-
be a continuing witness to the crucified and resurrected         ing as flames of fire, and after the disciples going out and
Messiah, Jesus Christ. This is still the church’s nature and     preaching powerfully and in tongues, we read how a large
purpose. It is still to be a missionary church.                  group of people are convicted and converted and join this
   Harry Boer in his book Pentecost and Mission argues that      new Christian movement. And then we read, “They devoted
Pentecost and not the Great Commission was the conscious         themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship,
ingredient in the mission thinking of the early church.          to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).
   Think about that for a minute.                                    How many great revivals have resulted from a fervent
   We usually hear that it is the Great Commission that          study of the Bible and prayer? Even our own history evi-
gives us our imperative for mission. We have heard a lot         dences such beginnings. This is what we see on the day
about Matthew 28:19,20, “Go, and make disciples of all           of Pentecost. Bible study, fellowship, prayer, sharing with
nations,” baptise, teach, etc. But in our preaching of mission   others and the Holy Spirit. These are the foundations for
have we given thought to the place of Pentecost?                 mission.
   If Harry Boer is right, and Pentecost was the motivating          So what is the state of the church today? How ready is
factor for mission in the early church, what does this say to    it for a Spirit-led revival that will usher in the close of this
us as a church today, and how should we view Pentecost?          world’s history? Have we grown complacent and become
   Perhaps Acts 1:8 sums it up for us: “You shall receive        the lukewarm church of Revelation 3? Do we take seriously
power when the Holy Spirit is come.” Or in other words,          our need to know Christ each day? Are we spending a
mission and witness can only really be accomplished              thoughtful hour in Bible study and prayer with our Lord and
through the power of the Holy Spirit. The command to “Go,        Saviour? And are we sharing Jesus with others? Or have we
make disciples” anticipates the promise “You will receive        lost our awareness of the urgency of the hour and our great
power”. In truth, you can’t have one without the other. If       need to “put off the deeds of darkness and to put on the
the Great Commission gives the church its instructions,          armour of light” (Romans 13:12).
Pentecost provides its initiation, initiative and power. (For        Towards the end of The Great Controversy is the follow-
example see the stories in Acts 2, 3, 4, etc.)                   ing statement: “Before the final visitation of God’s judge-
   And so Pentecost stands at the beginning of the Chris-        ments upon the earth there will be among the people of the
tian church shaping its nature, which is mission. When we        Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been
talk about the mission of the church we must not stop at         witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of
the Great Commission, but understand that the power for          God will be poured out upon His children.”1
mission is experienced in Pentecost. The church’s work of            Isn’t this what we are longing for?
mission therefore, must also be rooted in every member of            If the church therefore—meaning you and me—is to take
the church having a Pentecost experience.                        seriously its mission and purpose, it must take its lead from
   In Acts we read, “When the day of Pentecost came, they        Pentecost. We must call the church to unity and fellow-
were all together in one place.” The KJV puts it this way:       ship. We must call the church to pursue meaningful study
“they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1).         of God’s Word and intimate prayer. And we must call the
Now this is not talking about just being in the same room        church to become dependent on its relationship and fellow-
together. This is talking about a certain type of harmony        ship with Jesus through His Spirit. For without the Spirit’s
and unity. About seeking God’s will through prayer and           presence in our life we face the very real danger of becom-
the study of Scripture and moving forward together to            ing like the Old Testament church that had lost its way
achieve His purpose. Too often everyone wants their own          because it came to rely on its forms and structures2 and not
way and they think that they know what is best. And so the       its heavenly Leader.
church pulls in different directions. And sometimes it even          May God help us start such a revival and may we each
pulls itself apart. Independent groups break away from the       determine to be His instruments in calling men and women
church, each thinking they know best.                            back to an experience of “primitive godliness”.
   But what do we see here?
   That the prerequisite for mission requires that the church    1. EG White, The Great Controversy, 464.2.
                                                                 2. See Jeremiah 7:3,4 and Isaiah 1:11-20.
be in one accord. That it be in the same place with the
same goals and purpose. For it is through a church united
in the worship and service of God that God can do great           dr brad kemp
things and that mission can truly be accomplished.                CEO, Adventist Media.

                                                                                                              June 6, 2020 | Adventist record   15
Adventist history

                       SDA
                                                      ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
                                                      SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
                                                      Gersbach, Lance Russell (1942–2003)
                                                      By Milton Hook

                                                      L
     On July 1 the online Seventh-day Adventist             ance Gersbach worked in Australia, New Zealand,
     Encyclopedia will be launched. Entries for             Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He was
     the Encyclopedia continue to be written,               brutally killed while working as business manager at
     but at its launch it will have approximately     Atoifi Adventist Hospital, Malaita, Solomon Islands.
     2000 articles, including more than 600 from
     the South Pacific Division. This article on      Family Background
     Lance Gersbach is a sample of a biography.           Lance Gersbach’s grandfather, Albert, was converted
     There are also articles on denominational        from Roman Catholicism to the Seventh-day Adventist
     institutions and organisations, supportive       (SDA) Church in Eugowra, New South Wales (NSW), Aus-
     ministries and issues that impact on the         tralia, after reading The Great Controversy, sold to him by
     Church and its ministry. It will be one of the   colporteur Fred Reekie. The Kent family in Eugowra made
     most exciting and helpful resources that the     the same response at that time. Albert Gersbach eventually
     Church has ever produced. And it is written      took his family to Warburton where he worked as gardener
     by contributing authors from around the          at the Sanitarium.1 He had 10 children, one named Albert
     world, including 140 authors from the South      [Jr.], who worked at the Signs Publishing Company and
     Pacific Division.                                the Sanitarium Health Food Company (SHF).2 Albert, Jr.
                                                      managed the Carmel SHF factory near Perth, WA, and then
                                                      took up farming in the southwest of the state.3

                                                      Early Years
                                                         Lance was born into the family of Albert Gersbach Jr., in
                                                      Perth on November 19, 1942.4 Another son, Alwyn, later
                                                      became a pastor and gave a life of service to the Church.
                                                      Lance was raised on a farm near Busselton and attended
                                                      the Margaret River SDA Church. Most of his early education
                                                      took place locally, his final secondary years (1958-1959)
                                                      spent as a boarder at West Australian Missionary College.5

                                                      Career Path
                                                         Leaving Western Australia, Lance worked as an office
                                                      clerk at the Sanitarium Health Food Factory in Adelaide,
                                                      beginning in November 1959.6 After four years he attended
                                                      Avondale College, NSW, graduating with the Accountancy
                                                      Certificate in 1964. He remained with the SHF until May
                                                      1970, serving as senior clerk at both the Cooranbong and
                                                      Warburton factories.7
                                                         With a sense of adventure and a desire to travel he
                                                      joined the firm of Ernst and Young in 1970 as a senior audit
                                                      accountant, working in their London, Calgary and Sydney
                                                      offices until 1977. During this period he improved his
                                                      qualifications, becoming a certified practising accountant
                                                      in 1971 and a chartered accountant in 1975. In 1978 he
                                                      gravitated back to Western Australia, taking some tempo-
                                                      rary accountancy assignments before accepting the position

16    Adventist record | June 6, 2020
as office manager at SS Engineering and Foundry in Perth.         heart of the people of East Kwaio”.15
He continued his studies, earning a diploma in business              Jean and her two daughters, Louise and Anita, returned
administration from Curtin University, Perth, in 1984. The        home, crushed with grief. Church officials and friends
following year he transferred east to work as accountant          brought them some solace, but the crime seemed so
and auditor for Walker and Company, Belmont, New South            senseless, indeed, satanic. Forgiveness for the criminal was
Wales. He held this position until 1990, during which time        unresolved in Jean’s soul. She wrestled for a long time,
he also studied at Newcastle University. He was awarded           seeking closure, until a visiting Kwaio chief, a Christian,
a master’s in business administration (1989) and was              awakened within her a deep desire to offer unqualified
subsequently accepted as a Fellow of Certified Practicing         forgiveness. She finally wrote a letter of forgiveness to the
Accountants.8                                                     accused man and found peace of mind. Her initiative was a
                                                                  most moving Christian testimony. She has since continued
Marriage and Mission Field Experience                             her own career as a nurse educator at Newcastle University,
    Lance married Jean Tilley in the Galston SDA Church on        NSW.16
September 3, 1989.9 Jean had graduated from the Sydney               In 2013, on the anniversary of his death, a scholarship
Adventist Hospital (1974) and completed a post-graduate           fund was set up by the South Pacific Division in the name
Midwifery Certificate (1975).10 Late in 1990 they accepted        of Lance Gersbach. The fund is administered by the Trans
an appointment to Sopas Adventist Hospital in the Western         Pacific Union Mission and provides an annual scholarship
Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Lance was second in                or award for selected nursing students at Atoifi Adventist
charge of the 100-bed training institution and Jean was           Hospital.17
Director of Nursing.11
                                                                  1. TF Judd, “Albert Gersbach obituary,” Australasian Record and Advent
    In April 1993 Lance accepted a transfer to Auckland
                                                                  World Survey,” May 23, 1960, 15.
Adventist Hospital, New Zealand, assuming the role of             2. C M Snow, “Gersbach-Ellis,” Australasian Record, April 2, 1928, 5.↩
director of finances. Eighteen months later Jean’s mother         3. Milton Hook, personal knowledge as result of father working with
had become so ill it became advisable for the Gersbach            Albert Gersbach in SHF factory, Carmel, Western Australia.
                                                                  4. Desmond Ford, Alwyn Gersbach and Graeme Loftus, “Lance Russell
family to return to Australia. Lance resumed his association
                                                                  Gersbach obituary,” Record, June 28, 2003, 13.
with Walker and Company in Newcastle, NSW.12                      5. Jean (Tilley) Gersbach, interview by author, Hornsby, New South
    A second request from the mission field came in late          Wales, August 28, 2016.
2002. Lance was asked to fill an urgent need as business          6. Lance Gersbach Work Service Records, Sanitarium Health Food
                                                                  Company Archives, Berkeley Vale, NSW, Work Service Records, Folder:
manager at Atoifi Adventist Hospital, Malaita, Solomon
                                                                  Lance Gersbach. Document: “Lance Gersbach Work Service Records.”
Islands. He agreed to take his family for a 12-month emer-        7. Lance Gersbach, [Curriculum Vitae] Resume, 2000, unpublished
gency stay, arriving at the hospital in February 2003.13          manuscript, personal collection of Jean (Tilley) Gersbach.
                                                                  8. Ibid.
                                                                  9. Thomas H Ludowici, “Gersbach-Tilley,” Record, September 30,
Horrific Tragedy                                                  1989, 14.
   An incident allegedly arose between a local Kwaio man          10. Jean Lynette (Tilley) Gersbach Work Service Records, South Pacific
and the hospital’s maintenance supervisor. A Kwaio young          Division of the General Conference Archives, Wahroonga, NSW. Work
man was refused free passage on a boat chartered by               Service Records. Folder: Jean Lynette (Tilley) Gersbach. Document:
                                                                  “Jean Lynette (Tilley) Gersbach Work Service Records.”
the mission. The man felt aggrieved because, according
                                                                  11. Lance Gersbach, [Curriculum Vitae] Resume, 2000, unpublished
to his culture, he had lost his honour over the refusal. He       manuscript, personal collection of Jean (Tilley) Gersbach.
was reported to have threatened the supervisor’s life. A          12. Ibid.
senior hospital staff member paid the angry man com-              13. Jean Tilley Gersbach, interview by author, Hornsby, New South
                                                                  Wales, August 28, 2016.
pensation, but it apparently did not satisfy him. Instead, it
                                                                  14. Ibid.
is alleged that the aggrieved man engaged a devil priest          15. Brenton Stacey, “Missionary Murdered in the Solomons,” Record,
to obtain permission for an honour killing according to           June 7, 2003, 5.
Kwaio protocols. Lance was not told of the developments           16. Jean Gersbach, “Ten Years on ….” Record, June 15, 2013, 14-15.
                                                                  17. Barry Oliver, president of the South Pacific Division in 2013, inter-
and was therefore unaware of danger to the hospital staff.
                                                                  view by the author, Cooranbong, NSW, May 3, 2020.
On May 18, four months after Lance arrived at Atoifi, he
was ambushed and brutally beheaded at a building site on              If you wish to donate towards the Lance Gersbach Schol-
campus. His body was brought back to Australia for burial         arship Fund, which will assist nurses in training and Atoifi
near his home.14                                                  Hospital in the Solomon Islands, please send your donation
                                                                  to the South Pacific Division treasurer with instructions that
Retrospect                                                        it be added to the fund which is administered by the Trans
   Suspects were brought to trial, but not convicted, chiefly     Pacific Union Mission.
because the devil priest refused to attend court and other
key witnesses garbled their answers. Did the aggrieved             dr barry oliver
young man regain his honour? No. Instead, a local member           retired spd president. dr oliver has worked on the spd submissions
of parliament called it “an evil killing, an attack on the very    for the SDA encyclopedia.

                                                                                                                  June 6, 2020 | Adventist record   17
You can also read