"The only green spot in all New South Wales." these words, used in legislative assemblies and newspapers, described a 1,500 acre tract of land during the dreadful drought that caused hardship and famine shortly after Ellen G. White's departure from Australia in September, 1900. This remarkable "green spot" was none other than the Avondale College grounds and farmland (see Selected Messages, book 1, p. 102). The story of God's direct leading in the establishment of this institution inspires even a skeptic. Faith of no ordinary character was constantly exhibited.
"Wild Out-of-the-Way Place"
In this "wild, out-of-the-way place" according to nineteenth century critics (see Life Sketches, p. 359) an Andrews University Extension School was conducted. Today's Avondale, named this because of numerous creeks and abundance of flowing water, has graduated in part from antiquated faith-built wooden structures to modern glass, brick, and steel edifices. Obsolete architecture has yielded to current design.
From December 6 through January 27, eighty-five Bible-minded men met in the modern administration building's main multitiered lecture theater. Watson Hall, the new men's dormitory, accommodated the visiting teachers and the majority of students. There is a stunning contrast between present facilities and the old rented hotel in Cooranbong plus a few tents, which housed twenty young men on Avondale's original registration day, March 6, 1895.
S. H. Horn, professor of Old Testament history, director of the Extension School was ably assisted by E. E. White, Australasian educational secretary, and E. G. McDowell, president of Avondale College. Instructors were S. H. Horn; Desmond Ford, Avondale bible department head; and the writer. Courses offered were Archeology and the Bible, New Testament Backgrounds, Eschatology, and Evangelistic Leadership. In addition to regular class-work, morning and evening worships, daily chapel talks, question-and-answer periods, and special evangelistic forums enriched the entire program. Chapel speakers included division leaders, college professors, and the Extension School staff.
Fellowship—King of the Mountain
It would take a book-sized treatise to fully record my impressions of the Extension School and the Australasian field. To condense two months of heartwarming memories into a short article is frustrating. Numerous recollections vie for first place, but one surmounts them all. Fellowship! Christian fellowship! Adventist Christian fellowship! Nothing can excel the latter experience. To share, counsel, play, weep, laugh, and work with those who have the same aims, beliefs, and motives is not only memorable but an absolute necessity in the lives of those who would understand and know by experience the truth of John's words "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14).
Competition Replaced by Cooperation
As days merged into weeks hearts were softened toward one another. All tendency to jealousy subsided while desire to regard the others as better than and superior to himself was strengthened. Feelings of understanding and kindness replaced all critical attitudes. Any fractionizing tendencies tottered and collapsed. Neutral hearts were molded into a living, unified throbbing declaration that God is love.
This synthesizing process reached its zenith during the communion service conducted just prior to the graduation exercise. We put into practice a beautiful custom introduced to us by our Japanese brethren a few years ago. During the preparatory foot-washing experience, each kneeling participant offered an invocation just before he bathed his brother's feet. An act of this nature brings in a spirit of thankful reverence for the privilege of following in the Master's footsteps and might well be practiced as a part of this impressive service not only in the Australasian Division but in the entire world field. This monumental experience will remain on our hearts and minds with particular vividness.
Greedy for Souls
The second most important impression on my mind was the demonstration of a fervent spirit for public evangelism. Of the eighty-five men in attendance forty-three counted themselves as evangelists. Twenty-one laid claim to the title of pastor-evangelist, one mission president, one hospital chaplain, five departmental men, and ten upper-division college students. Regardless of position, the deep concern for soul winning was constantly obvious. The Australasion Division has the highest percentage of Adventists compared to the total population. This achievement is not difficult to understand. Whether it was archeology, eschatology, or evangelistic leadership, the supreme question was "How can this help me in my soul-winning program?" I have never seen a group more eager for public evangelism. It almost bordered on greed! “We thank God for this emphasis and pray that this same intensity and desire for souls will be felt by every minister in the world field.
Three-Million-Square-Mile New York City
The most amazing feature of this unexcelled desire to win souls is the fact that this division has a limited population.
Take about 12 million people, approximate size of metropolitan New York City, and sprinkle half of them over a threemillion-square-mile continent and group the other half into large cities, such as Brisbane. Melbourne, and Sydney—this is Australia! I have unlimited admiration for men who are willing to conduct public meetings not only in extremely small towns and villages but to hold forth in places where evangelistic campaigns have constantly been conducted for half a century. Young interns and even college ministerial students eagerly anticipate the day when the conference committee votes for them to launch out in their own public meetings.
My heart yearned to take many of these men and lend them to scores, yea, hundreds, of towns in other parts of God's vineyard that have rarely or never heard the gospel to say nothing of these special truths God has committed to this movement to promulgate throughout the entire world.
Summer in Winter
Australia's seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere. The Extension School was conducted in the midst of the summer—camp meeting season. The division committee kindly arranged a schedule for Dr. Horn and myself, permitting us to visit camp meetings in various parts of the field. Not only were we privileged to meet with thousands of our believers but this gave us the opportunity of catching a glimpse of the natural beauty contained in landscape, flora, and fauna, much of which is unique to this area. The strangely violent mud pools and boiling sulphurous waters, steaming cascades, beds of golden sulphur crystals of New Zealand's Rotorua thermo area, are examples. We carved out an hour of time from a star-studded night and visited Windy Point, overlooking the magnificently laid-out city of Adelaide and saw one of the world's outstanding scenic attractions. To behold a vast panorama of twinkling colorful lights as bewitching as scintillating gems unfolding their beauty is a breathtaking experience. As I stood there with Pastor Ormond K. Anderson, brother of our beloved chief, I couldn't but think of what is in store for us when we reach the New Jerusalem.
Towering in importance above public gardens, bridges, glorious scenery, waterfalls, and all places where nature has been lavish with her gifts stands the blessed privilege of meeting with our members during the camp meeting sessions. The kindness, the appreciative spirit of our people, brought real blessing to my heart. The ouality of leadership in the various conferences was of great encouragement. Nothing was spared to make my visit comfortable and pleasant.
Money in a Sheet
Of special interest was the missions appeal program conducted at each camp-meeting on Sabbath afternoon. Usually a representative from the division or union took charge of this important meeting. Even though a program of this nature lasted several hours, the people eagerly remained to hear the stories of the progress of the overseas mission program conducted by the Australasian Division.
One story in particular touched the hearts of everyone. Australasia recently lost its first missionary by martyrdom in their own mission field, which includes the numerous islands and territories of the South Pacific. Brian Dunn, a new missionary with his wife, were sent to the island of Malaita in the Solomon group. On the doorstep of Christmas, Brian was brutally speared in the back. The story of his bravery and awful ordeal riding in a boat, car, and plane with a spear sticking through his chest will go down in Adventist church history as a monument and testimony to the total dedication of our missionaries.
During the final Sabbath afternoon mission program, a large container or perhaps a sheet is held by the deacons while children bring forward their offerings. Thousands of dollars are raised each year for the mission field by the children. It is a touching sight to see these little ones bring jars of metal money plus the folding kind and drop them in the container. Sometimes the boys and girls continue going around the tent collecting offerings from the adults and then bring them forward. This meeting is really one of the high lights of the entire camp meeting.
Sunnyside
Much more could be said about the progress and quality of the work in Australasia. The giant health food factories under the leadership of spiritual men pour literally hundreds of thousands of dollars into the division budget yearly. The sanitariums, hospitals, and clinics scattered throughout the field are another witness to men following the leading of the Lord. Sydney Sanitarium and Hospital, a training center for missionary-minded medical personnel has cast its influence from mainland to widely scattered island fields. The publishing work and growing educational program are another testimony of obedience to God's will.
In a definite sense we can trace the broad river of Adventist missionary activities back to a small spot known as Sunnyside. Located on Avondale Road at the college, Ellen G. White lived here with her staff and office assistants from the years 1895 to 1900. This "little old lady," as she was affectionately known by Adventists and non-Adventists alike, found time to take a personal interest in the sick, orphans, and depressed people in this area. It was here that God inspired her to write the The Desire of Ages, the most touching and appealing book ever written on the life of Christ. It was from here that letters of guidance and counsel were sent to the leaders of Australasia. Today our ministerial force strongly believe in the counsel and advice given through the pages of the Spirit of Prophecy. Perhaps no other ministerial group in the world more firmly accept the truth contained in the statement, "We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history."— Life Sketches, p. 196.
