1974 has been a great year in the proclamation of the three angels' messages. Multiplied thousands are listening and responding to the solemn truths that are to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. Al though at this writing several weeks still remain of 1974, still all reports indicate that this year marks a major advance in world evangelism, and that the prospects for 1975 are better than ever. From correspondence around the world field we share a few high lights. Health Evangelism in Western Australia A short, effective health evangelistic thrust entitled, "Life at Its Best," was conducted in the city of Freemantle in Western Australia this past summer. A series of nine meetings was held in a modern Centenary Hall on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights for three weekends. The local pastor, Graeme Loftus, was joined by two doctors in private practice in the nearby suburb of Coolbellup and by Dr. Lance Risbey, a psychiatrist from the Royal Perth Hospital, and Brother and Sister Pasco, managers of two denominationally owned sanitarium health-food stores. The program titles advertized on the 10,000 handbills that went out were:
The Miracle of Life Caring for your amazing body
Simple Ways to Vibrant Health Prevention is better than cure
You Only Have One Heart How to postpone that heart attack
Fears, Tears and Ulcers Strategy for coping with stress and emotion
Peaches and Cream—or Pimples Lovely skin and clear complexion
Red River of Life The miracle of human blood
Sex, Saints and Sinners Is your marriage holy wedlock or unholy dead lock?
The Way to a Man's Heart Nutrition does concern you
Secrets of Fitness
Proper ways to lose weight—exercise, relax
The pastor's part of the program, which tied in spiritually with the doctor's medical talk of the evening, covered the following subjects:
The Wholeness of Man—relationship of body, mind, emotions
Inspiration of Scripture—medical laws in Deuteronomy
Fear of the Unknown—Daniel 2 and the Second Coming
The Cause of Stress—guilt and the Ten Commandments
A New Covering—righteousness by faith
The Sanctuary
Biblical View of Sex and Marriage
The Original Diet—Origins in General; the Sabbath
The Answer to Modern Stress—three angels' messages
Those attending were enrolled at the door by the receptionist, and issued an attractive folder. Each night additional material was made available for inclusion in the notebook. A prominent nightly feature was the 20-minute cooking demonstration by Brother and Sister Pasco. Also a series of 15-minute films from the Upjohn Series was used. These were followed by presentations of the Loma Linda School of Health prevention slide series. Those attending were given opportunity to ask questions. These were written out and placed in a box and five minutes each night was given to answering them.
According to Pastor Loftus, the members of the team were tremendously impressed with the potential of this program of evangelism and plans were immediately initiated to convert the church social hall into a Better Living Center for similar future programs. In evaluating the program, it was felt that the operation of community services preceding such meetings would be a definite advantage; also, that the program should have been longer in sequence, with perhaps one meeting per week thereafter to continue the spiritual orientation, keeping in mind also the health aspect of the program. Through this series, numerous openings and interests were created, which the pastor is following up.
Salim Japas Revolutionizes Evangelism in San Pedro Sula
Pastor James W. Zackrison, president of the Honduras Mission, reports on the work of Salim Japas in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. During the past summer forty-two workers joined Pastor Japas in a field school of evangelism in which he introduced his, "new, evangelism" for Latin America and the Spanish-speaking population of the world. This approach involves team spirit in a concept designed to meet the needs of the people in a more specific way.
According to Japas, it is time to open up and let Latin America and the whole Spanish-speaking world know what Adventism is and what it means. According to Japas, the "new evangelism" directly mentions the names of the sponsoring organizations. Though not presented polemically, it is a clear presentation of the everlasting gospel. It educates the mind to accept correct Bible truths. It respects the personality of the listener and presents the gospel in natural, practical terms that are easily understood.
The new evangelism utilizes all the resources of the church, such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, as evangelistic tools to educate the people to a new way of life.
All who came in contact with this program clearly understood that it was sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church through the radio program, The Voice of Hope, Andrews University, and the Adventist Educational Center of Honduras. As a result there was little opposition from religious sources and open communication with other religious groups.
According to Japas, this new evangelism unites rather than separates. It eliminates the differences be tween Adventists and non-Adventists. All simply fol low Christ as the Scriptures indicate and do whatever the Scriptures show to be correct.
An outstanding aspect of this approach was the involvement of a non-Adventist committee composed of businessmen and other professionals in the city of San Pedro Sula. As a result of a short visit by Japas in March, 1974, one hundred business entities in the city organized a committee of twenty-five to meet weekly at the Chamber of Commerce offices to plan and execute the Japas campaign. The president of the Honduras Mission and the public relations man for the campaign formed a part of the committee and met with these men and women for three months prior to the opening night.
Because of this, the gospel message was received in the highest sector of San Pedro's society, and prejudice was minimal. Five thousand dollars' worth of free advertising was granted in the leading newspaper of the country, La Prensa. A side effect has been that the president of the Honduras Mission is now a credentialed correspondent for this paper. The free time offered by television was of special benefit to the success of the campaign. Five minutes per day for sixty days were made available free of charge on a program seen by 30,000 people daily.
At the outset of the campaign, a goal of six hundred Voice of Prophecy Bible School graduates was established. The number actually graduated was 661.
An all-out effort was made to contact the religious leaders of the city. All Protestant pastors were contacted and invited to participate as they saw fit, with special music, et cetera. The Catholic bishop was visited and informed of the program. His response was cordial and he presented no opposition.
This was the first field school sponsored by Andrews University in Latin America. Andrews students participating represented Spain, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Peru. Fifteen national groupings were rep resented among the workers.
The precampaign attractions included a Five-Day Plan in which about one hundred persons gained victory over the tobacco habit, including a television personality who, in turn, was responsible for the free time given to advertise the campaign. The meetings were held in a tent seating 1,200 persons. It was filled to overflowing every night. A special child evangelism program attracted the children and was responsible for many parents attending who otherwise might have remained at home. Pastor Zackrison concludes his report with the words, "The new evangelism promises to revolutionize soul winning in Latin America."
Lay Field School of Evangelism in the South Philippines
The past summer witnessed a major lay field school of evangelism in the town of Monkayo, Davao del Norte. Three of our workers, G. Galinato, a representative from International Education Recordings; Mike Ombiga, district leader; and A. A. Villarin, lay activities director and Sabbath school director of the South Philippine Union, joined forces to lead out in the field school in which fourteen active lay preachers participated.
Each morning began with physical fitness exercise at five-thirty, followed by group worship at the Better Living Center at six o'clock. Four classes were con ducted every morning, Sunday through Friday, while the afternoon was given over to visitation and fol low-up. Evangelistic lectures were held each night. The field school closed with an impressive baptismal ceremony, with three ministers officiating and thirty-nine persons buried in baptism with their Lord.
Because of the continued interest following the five weeks of lectures, Pastors Galinato and Ombiga continued with further lectures. Also seven of the fourteen laymen chose to stay by and continue the fol low-up work and the giving of Bible studies. As the result of this, twenty-one more souls were baptized.
One woman was bitterly persecuted because of her baptism and forced to leave her husband. Two days later the husband had an arresting dream. He saw a light from heaven that enveloped him for some time. Early the following day he went to see Brother Agunod, Jr., a member of the team. Almost the whole day was spent in Bible study. Under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, the man asked his wife for forgiveness, told her of his dream and of his desire to be baptized. The home was reunited and the wife joyfully witnessed the baptism of her husband.
The program of conducting lay field schools of evangelism is continuing as a major part of the Target 80 program being promoted in the South Philippine Union.
