August 2021 Issue
Alain Coralie
Billy Sunday, the famous American evangelist of the 1900s, was a colorful character. He once said: “If I had a million dollars, I’d give $999,999 to the church and $1 to education.” Sunday made no pretense of being a learned man. On another occasion, he boasted: “Billy Sunday does not know any more about theology than a jack-rabbit knows about ping pong.”Billy Sunday had an impactful ministry, largely due to his undeniable charisma, great organizational skills,… Continue reading...
Working with other strong leaders: Lessons from David and Joab
Glenn Townend
Steve’s story Steve is a great youth pastor who has dynamic preaching and storytelling skills. His messages connect with children and young adults. He is also very relational, someone who listens, affirms, and helps. A model of biblical servant leadership and popular…
The three angels’ messages: Antiquated message or relevant present truth?
Mark Finley
In the 1840s, social, political, scientific, and religious revolutions began changing the world. Charles Darwin wrote his first draft of On the Origin of Species in 1842 but hesitated to publish his ideas. But by 1859, his thoughts had developed enough that he was…
Restoration for a traumatized world
Katelyn Campbell Weakley, Ingrid Weiss Slikkers
This last year has been difficult, to say the least. Amid a pandemic, isolation, social justice concerns, and societal uneasiness, along with the pressure of leading a church through all of this, perhaps you have felt an emotional weight begin to overtake you. You…
The divine “Go” commands: Embracing the biblical model of disciple making
Melak Alemayehu Tsegaw
The focus for the 2020–2025 strategic plan of the Seventh-day Adventist world church is “I Will Go.” The “strategic plan is rooted in the Great Commission found in Matthew 28, which calls for Jesus’ followers to go and make disciples of all nations.”1 However, to truly…
Conversion, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and New Testament religious practices
Clinton Wahlen
How are conversion and the gift of the Holy Spirit related to baptism and the laying on of hands? Is either of these religious practices necessary to receive the Holy Spirit? This brief consideration of the New Testament evidence attempts to answer these questions.1Origin…
More from this issue:
Adventist leaders elect church president for the South American DivisionStanley Arco, an experienced leader in both Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions of the South American Division (SAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was elected as the new president of that 2.5-million-member division on April 22, 2021. The Executive Committee of the General Conference (GC EXCOM) voted to accept the SAD Executive Committee (SAD EXCOM) recommendation of Arco for the… Continue reading...
Vincent Woolsey
Dan Day contributes to church leadership by offering a strategy for mission that translates into a greater level of success. His book 8 Secrets to a Mission-Driven Church beckons to leaders practicing traditional methods of mission to take the reins in leading the movement on a path that not only challenges the status quo but also, more importantly, enables us “to become more efficient, more comprehensive, and especially, more able to reach contemporary audiences… Continue reading...
Don Mackintosh
Have you ever experienced brokenheartedness? Perhaps through the loss of someone or something significant to you or the loss of a relationship? It is an intense sorrow.Having recently experienced heartbreak when my mother suddenly died, I would describe it as an ache that impacts every organ in your body. After the initial shock, I began to look at what I was experiencing, through the lens of God’s Word and found some concepts that started to bring healing to me… Continue reading...