Autumn has become synonymous with the ADRA-UK Gift Box Appeal.This year the charity prepared 9,000 boxes for Togo, making this oneof their busiest autumns yet!

For over seven years ADRA has sought out countries that are most inneed in order to deliver these little boxes of joy to impoverished children.Togo, the destination for this year’s boxes, is a West African country whereover half the population live below the poverty line, and ADRA feels deeplygrateful to be a part of a project in which so many children will benefit.

However, this Gift Box Appeal was made slightly different with ADRA’s introduction of a Gift Box competition and quality control before the boxeswere shipped. To enter the competition, donors were asked to send in theirbest Gift Box picture, illustrating what the Appeal meant to them personally,as well as a way to showcase the care and attention people lavish on theirboxes.

For the quality control, it was of the highest importance that all of the little Togolese recipients receive the same quality of goods in each box.ADRA is extremely thankful for all the goods that people across the UK andthe Republic of Ireland send in for the Appeal, but there was the odd boxthat needed an additional item or contained something that will not sustainthe trip abroad. In order to guarantee their best batch of boxes yet, ADRArented storage space from October to November and scoured the UK for volunteers to help with the quality control. And what a response the charity received!

At the start date of the quality control there were more than fifty volun-teers enlisted to help, but this number grew to more than ninety by the endof the project! Volunteers travelled from Liverpool, Birmingham, Gloucesterand Bracknell, to name but a few places! It was inspiring and encouragingto see the variety of volunteers ADRA welcomed during this period, from

couples to seniors, parents to children and teachers to students.A key moment during the Gift Box Appeal and quality control process

was the involvement of children and youth. The youngest participants werefrom Kingswood Pre-School Nursery. A troop of more than forty children,aged 2-4 years old, walked all the way to the ADRA office to deliver theirboxes in person. There were also more than forty teenagers from the SECPrayer and Faith Retreat who helped sort boxes with such enthusiasm andmotivation that it was a sight to behold. Lastly, a group of more than 26Newbold Pathfinders travelled to Watford to assist ADRA, and also gain honours for their work with the charity.

This diverse group of volunteers during the quality control process enabled ADRA to pack and ship a container with thousands of boxes onWednesday 19 November. These individually packed gifts are set to arrive in Togo at the end of December, with children receiving boxes from the beginning of 2015. There will even be a few volunteers from our churcheswho will be assisting with the Togo Gift Box Distribution in February!

ADRA staff feel blessed to have successfully completed another year ofthe Gift Box Appeal, in partnership with various churches, schools and clubsacross the British Union Conference. Due to the unbelievable involvementfrom supporters and volunteers, ADRA would like to extend a large andheartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone who took the time to volunteer for the quality control. This was a project of substantial proportions and it is onlythrough the passion and willingness of our church members and theirfriends that the charity can proudly send high-quality gifts to so many children living on the edge of existence. Without your support, time and sacrifice, this project would not be possible. Remember, we’ll be back to organise another Gift Box Appeal next autumn – will you be there to supportus again?

by Sophie Gordon, Volunteering Programmes officer

There was a restaurant that I used to frequent whose walls were decoratedwith pictures of the manager and the

celebrities who visited his establishment. The owner clearly wanted his non-celebritycustomers like me to know that, when I dinedin his restaurant, I was eating in the sameplace frequented by the stars. The pictureswere clearly a marketing ploy aimed at peoplelike me, ensuring that we would make repeatvisits on the off chance of seeing a celebrity!This manager is not alone in recognising themarketing opportunity of having celebritiesfrequent his restaurant. After all, don’t werecognise the value of having VIPs visit ourchurches or attend our events, making sure to include such details in our advertising?

The nativity story tells us that a hotel manager once missed possibly the greatestmarketing opportunity of all time by not making a room available for Mary and Joseph.Just imagine what he would have been able toadvertise . . . ‘Welcome to the Bethlehem Inn,the hotel of choice for the discerning traveller.Here is where the Son of God was born!’

Truth be told, millions of people still flockto the Holy Land to visit the places that Jesusfrequented, but Luke 2:7 tells us that ‘shegave birth to her firstborn, a son. Shewrapped him in cloths and placed him in amanger, because there was no guest roomavailable for them’ (NIV).

The reason for the manager not being ableto find a room was blatantly obvious – all hisrooms were occupied with guests and themanager did not know the importance of theguests he was turning away. Joseph and Marywere unrecognised and not honoured, and theimportance of the Child that Mary was aboutto give birth to was unknown.

Surely we cannot blame the innkeeper fornot knowing who his guests were. However,this part of the Christmas narrative is, quitesadly, applicable to our contemporary world.For how much room is found for Jesus today?

In the lead-up to Christmas, the supermarket chain Sainsbury’s received anumber of complaints over its Christmas television advert, which uses World War I imagery to promote its stores. However, whatis blatantly obvious to me, in all of the creativeChristmas television adverts that I have seenfrom Sainsbury’s and other major retailers, is

that Christmas advertising does not haveroom for Jesus or indeed any reference to thenativity narrative.

Christmas advertising is about promotingso many things, but certainly not the story of Jesus. There is no room in it for any references to Him. While it would be cynicalfor retailers to use the nativity as a means toadvertise their products, the issue merelyhighlights how a season that uses ‘Christ’ aspart of its name doesn’t have room for Hisstory.

There was no room for Jesus some 2,000years ago and there is still but little room forHim today. Ellen White, while commenting on the celebrating of Christmas in her day,made this comment: ‘Shall we not have such a Christmas as Heaven can approve?Thousands of dollars are needlessly spentevery year in gifts to each other. . . . Christmas is not observed as its name implies

it should be. Man has forsaken God in almosteverything, and has turned the attention toself.’ (Review & Herald, 9 December 1884.)

Ellen White warmly recognised the Christmas season as a time when we makeroom for Jesus by placing our focus upon Himand His mission. This is how Christmas isrightly celebrated. Indeed, further in the 1884article, Ellen White stated that instead ofmembers spending money on presents for relatives and friends and being at a loss as towhat gifts they should purchase for them,those same funds could be given to support amission project in Europe.

While this Christmas season will witnessthe usual excesses in spending, wining and dining throughout the British Isles, as Seventh-day Adventist Christians, let us celebrate the season in a manner to ensurethat Jesus is supreme . . . because room hasbeen found for Him.

3devotional2

Commenting on dementia prevention, Age UK2 say: ‘People who follow a healthy lifestyle that protects their heart and blood vessels andwho enjoy active and fulfilling lives have been shown to have a lowerrisk of dementia.’ In addition to the above, Age UK recommend regularmedical check-ups as part of a prevention strategy. They have alsocome up with the following dietary advice:• Eat a varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.• Eat less salty and fatty foods, particularly avoiding those high in

saturated fat.• Enjoy an active life with plenty of outside interests that exercise body

and mind.• Ask your GP to check your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Treatment and supportFollowing a diagnosis of dementia, and depending on symptoms, specific medication may be prescribed. This may include medicationthat impacts on chemicals in the brain; medication that treats hallucinations or depression; or even antipsychotic drugs to treat challenging behaviour, such as aggression or agitation.

Where vitamin deficiency is evident, supplements like B vitamins,zinc and vitamin D may also be prescribed.

Various psychological interventions such as cognitive stimulation,reality orientation therapy and behaviour therapy have also been identified as effective coping strategies. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)3 recommends cognitive stimulationin dementia cases, as research indicates its efficacy in improving thinking and memory skills in people with mild to moderate dementia.

For additional information visit:www.dementiauk.orghttp://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/http://www.youngdementiauk.org/

Good health!

1www.alzheimersresearchuk.org2http://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/dementia/could-you-be-at-risk/3http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia-guide/pages/dementia-treatment.aspx

Dementia Part 3In the last issue we examined research that highlights key factors such as age, family history and heredity that increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, but which cannot be changed. However, thereare other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, heart disease anddiabetes, which are lifestyle disease risk factors over which we havecontrol.

Looking at the body of available research on dementia, there doesnot appear to be one single factor identified as the sole cause. Rather,research to date points to a combination of factors that affect overallrisk. It is now suggested that aiming at preventive interventions in theserisk areas is the best way to tackle this disease.

PreventionMost of the research in risk reduction and dementia prevention fromagencies such as Alzheimer’s Research UK1 highlights the followingpreventive action with regard to cardiovascular health, physical fitness,and diet:• Well-controlled blood pressure• Recommended cholesterol limit• Blood sugar within normal range• Maintaining physical fitness• Maintaining a healthy weight• Not smoking• Healthy dietary habits

Stanborough breaks recordsDuring last year’s Gift Box Appeal, Stanborough Secondary School students packed 95 boxes and raised £200 for shipping costs – all ofwhich went to underprivileged children in Sierra Leone.

This year the Stanborough students once again proved their generosity by packing 105 boxes for disadvantaged children in Togo, and raised £250 towards shipping costs. They have outdonethemselves and the school’s staff are exceptionally proud of their commitment to such humanitarian projects.

Year 9Y packed 26 boxes among themselves, earning them the ‘MostSuccessful Form’ award. Another commendation went to Tabason, whosingle-handedly packed 15 boxes this year!

The teachers, staff and alumni also participated, managing to pack23 boxes between them. In addition, a very generous staff member donated over £150 to buy toys and stationery for the boxes.

Special thanks to everyone who participated in this project; particularly to Ms Eileen Hussey, who co-ordinated the appeal. Every box will make a difference to a child in Togo. WANDA REBOLLEDO

No roomin the inn?

by Pastor Ian Sweeney, British Union Conference president

Many of us have beenmoved by that tableau of red ceramic poppies

that was recently ‘planted’ in themoat of the Tower of London byvolunteers. It formed a centralpart of the installation known as‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas ofRed’ – a fitting tribute to the888,246 Commonwealth liveslost during the Great War. Everypoppy was a piece of art . . . andthe symbol of someone’s tragicstory.

Today we look fleetingly atfour stories from that war. Thesestories take us beyond our ownlosses to serve as a reminder thatblood soaks the soil on bothsides of every violent conflict.

The last to dieHostilities on the Western Frontformally ceased with an armisticethat took effect at eleven o’clockin the morning on the eleventhday of the eleventh month of1918. But it came too late forthese men . . .

Augustin Trébuchon,1 a French-man, had been in service as amessenger since the war began.His task was an extremely dangerous one. Daily he wouldput himself at risk delivering messages along the frontline,often having to run across openground within easy range of theenemy trenches or during heavyshelling. He was a brave manwho had survived the bloody battles at Marne, Verdun, Artois and the Somme. On 11November 1918, he found himself in the Ardennes.

Augustin already knew that thearmistice had been signed, butthe French high command wantedto strengthen their position by afinal token attack across the RiverMeuse – ‘as fast as possible, bywhatever means and regardlessof cost’. During this futile engagement France lost 91 bravemen. The last to die was AugustinTrébuchon.

‘He fell near the railway line with his message still in hishand. It read “Rassemblement à 11h 30 pour le ravitaillement”

– “Muster at 11.30 for food.” ’

Henry Gunther,2 an American citizen of German descent,worked at the National Bank ofBaltimore until he was draftedinto the US army in September1917. His unit arrived at theWestern Front on 12 Septemberand ‘was still embroiled in fighting on the morning of 11 November’.

According to reports, as his squad neared a roadblockconsisting of two German machine guns, Gunther chargedthem with bayonet fixed, againstthe orders of his sergeant.

‘The German soldiers, alreadyaware of the Armistice that wouldtake effect in one minute, tried towave Gunther off’ but he ‘keptgoing and fired “a shot or two”.When he got too close to the machine guns, he was shot in ashort burst of automatic fire andkilled instantly.’

This unfortunate man’s divisional record states: ‘Almostas he fell, the gunfire died awayand an appalling silence prevailed.’3

George Lawrence Price4 ofMoose Jaw, Saskatchewan,Canada, was represented by thelast flower to be placed in thatfield of ceramic poppies. He is‘traditionally recognised as thelast soldier of the British Empireto be killed during the First WorldWar’.

On the morning of 11 November 1918, Private Pricefound himself advancing into thetown of Ville-sur-Haine under fire.His patrol began moving fromhouse to house ‘intent on pursuing the machine gunner whohad harassed their crossing of thecanal’. But there were no enemysoldiers in either of the first twohouses.

An occupant of the secondhouse urged him to stay inside,but he ignored the advice,stepped into the street and was‘fatally shot in the chest’ at10:58am – dying just 2 minutesbefore the ceasefire came into effect.

4 5

Do you have a question you’d like to see answered in Q & A? Why not send it in to us at:editor@stanboroughpress.org.uk? If your question doesn’t appear in the next issue, don’tdespair – we will deal with it in due course.

Ever had questions about our faith, doctrines or practice that youwant to see resolved? In each issue I’ll be hosting Q & A in an effort to answer them. Andrew Puckering

Last issue’s column on lunar Sabbaths left out discussion of Isaiah 66:23. This was

done consciously, because it deserves an article all to itself! So – will we be observing

‘new moons’ in the new earth or not?

Isaiah 66:23 (KJV) reads: ‘And it shall come topass, that from one new moon to another, and from onesabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship beforeme, saith the LORD.’ This seems to suggest that inHeaven we’ll be observing new moons. Can this beright?

Well, what is a new moon? It’s a phase of the moon that marked the beginning of the Jewish calendar month, whichGod ordained should be celebrated with burnt offerings and blowing oftrumpets (Numbers 10:10; 28:11-14). Its significance and identity were maintained along with the Sabbath (from which it is consistentlydistinguished in Scripture, though the two are often mentioned in thesame context) even in the reign of idolatrous kings of Israel (2 Kings4:23), although with varying levels of enthusiasm (Amos 8:5). God said He hated such insincere worship, and threatened to abolish the ceremony altogether, along with Israel’s other festivals (Isaiah 1:13, 14;Hosea 2:11). Nevertheless, He included it in His plans for a restored Israel (Ezekiel 45:17; 46:1), and the Jews observed it after their returnfrom exile (Ezra 3:5; Nehemiah 10:33).

It is in this context that the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentaryrefers to it – regarding the ‘new heavens and the new earth’ of Isaiah66:22 and onwards, we are referred to notes for Isaiah 65:17, whichstate: ‘Isaiah describes new heavens and a new earth that would havebeen brought about should Israel heed the messages of the prophets andfulfil the divine purpose following the restoration from captivity. Israelfailed; hence, in secondary application, these verses point forward to the new heavens and the new earth to be ushered in at the close of themillennium. However, the description should be understood first in termsof its local setting. . . .’1 In Old Testament prophecy, failure to give consideration to ‘the role of literal Israel as God’s chosen people, to theway His plan for them was to have been accomplished, [and] to the wayin which it actually did work out’ ‘does violence to the Scriptures’.2

Does that mean, then, that Isaiah 66:23 has no application for our future in Heaven? No – on the contrary, although there is no mention of the new moon in the New Testament, save for Paul’s injunction inColossians 2:16 that we not judge each other about it, Ellen Whitequotes directly from Isaiah 66:23, in multiple volumes, to describe exactly that future, post-millennial scenario in Paradise.3 Lest we be inany doubt, she puts it in her own words in Testimonies for the Church:‘There they will assemble in the sanctuary from Sabbath to Sabbath,from one new moon to another, to unite in loftiest strains of song, inpraise and thanksgiving to Him who sits upon the throne, and to theLamb for ever and ever.’4

For a more detailed analysis, see W. E. Howell’s November 1945 article in Ministry magazine, available online here: https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1945/11/new-moon-and-sabbath-of-isaiah-66.1Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, pp. 332, 338 2Ibid, p. 25 3The Desire ofAges, pp. 283, 770; Prophets and Kings, p. 733 4Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 368

Do you have a question you’d like to see answered in Q & A? Why not send it in to us at:editor@stanboroughpress.org.uk? If your question doesn’t appear in the next issue, don’tdespair – we will deal with it in due course.

AQ

editorialBlood Swept Lands and Seasof Red . . . by Julian Hibbert

They did nothing to achieve victory or secure a lasting peace.They shouldn’t have happened.Could the French high commandnot have waited instead of riskinglives ‘by whatever means and regardless of cost’? Why didHenry Gunther disobey orders andrecklessly charge those machineguns? Why didn’t George Pricelisten to the urgings of that householder to stay inside?Couldn’t those trigger-happyAmerican troops see that Lieutenant Tomas posed no threatto them?

There is one death, however, ofwhich I am powerfully remindedas I look at this tableau of crimson poppies. It is the one immortalised by these words:6

Oh, now I see the cleansing wave,The fountain deep and wide;Jesus, my Lord, mighty to save,Points to His wounded side.

I see the new creation rise;I hear the speaking blood.It speaks! polluted nature dies!Sinks ‘neath the cleansing flood.

I rise to walk in Heav’n’s own light,Above the world and sin,With heart made pure and garments white,And Christ enthroned within.

Amazing grace! ‘tis Heav’n belowTo feel the blood applied,And Jesus, only Jesus know,My Jesus crucified.

1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustin_Tr%C3%A9buchon 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Gunther 3http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/november_11_1918.htm4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lawrence_Price 5http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/november_11_1918.htm and http://hubpages.com/hub/World-War-One-The-Last-Morning6‘The Cleansing Wave’ by Phoebe Palmer

Information is sketchy aboutLieutenant Tomas,5 a junior officer, who is widely believed tobe the last German casualty onthe Western Front. His death actually occurred after the ceasefire had come into effect.He and his men knew that hostilities had ceased, but theAmerican troops opposing them had not received this communication yet. Inspired, no

doubt, by old-fashioned battlefielddecency, Thomas left the safetyof his trench and approached theAmerican lines to tell them that‘the war was over and that theycould have the house he and hismen were just vacating’. Theyshot him.

Why?Why have I chosen to recite thesefour sad stories today? Firstly,the reason I stated at the beginning: because they remindus that blood soaks the soil on both sides of every violentconflict. It matters not underwhose flag a soldiers falls. Eachdeath is a sad and terribletragedy, so as we mourn, weshould mourn for all.

Secondly, because – in a sense –these four deaths were futile!

Photo: David Bell

Old church – new hopeLast winter was the wettest on record and it certainly created problems at our church in Voguebeloth. It was built as a Sunday school in Victorian times but age and bad weather have taken their toll.

We bought the property in the 1970s and did extensive work on it.The building was tall so we were able to create a second floor in it, withthe sanctuary upstairs and the hall and kitchen downstairs. Since thenwe have done what we could to keep it in good order.

But during the storms we worried about the roof blowing off or beingdamaged, and we noticed that wooden window frames were rotten and past repair. Damp had permeated the walls and thrown off the plastering in places. We were even afraid that the wind would blow thewindows in on us. What should we do?

The repairs would cost thousands. Was it worth the effort now thatour membership had declined? Should we sell it and rent somewheresmaller? After many prayers and much talk, it was decided to ‘step outin faith’, carry out the immediate repairs, and continue worshippingthere.

After a closer inspection of the building, we were pleased to find theroof was undamaged. Not even a slate had been lost!

The immediate need was to replace the windows. One of our members, Timothy, who is in the building trade, was given the task of getting quotes. He discussed the situation with a friend who has adouble-glazing business, Graham, who said he would make the verylarge windows at cost. More than that, he and Tim would install them in their free time without charge!

It took them a week to finish those on the one side of the building.When church members arrived on Sabbath morning they were surprised and delighted with our new windows on the one side. Thesanctuary was so much lighter and cleaner and at last we could openthe windows to let in the fresh air!

A couple of weeks later Graham and Tim installed the windows onthe opposite side of the church. As they removed the windows a lot ofwater poured out of the walls. It was as if the water that had soakedinto the wood had been released – hopefully this will have solved ourdamp walls problem.

It felt as if a ‘renewal’ had taken place among our members, whospent days cleaning the church and weeding the garden. David and Val cut down the hedge and bushes; Dawn, Frida, Chris and othersscrubbed floors, cleaned everything in the kitchen, hoovered the sanctuary carpet and polished furniture.

A few weeks later, our pastor said he had a nice surprise for us. Hehad been given a cheque of £1,000 towards the cost of the windows bya housebound couple who live several miles away.

I share our little story with you in the hope that it may inspire othercongregations with similar challenges. PASTOR CHRIS PEAKE

Thirty-six years later . . . Dr Borge Schantz is no stranger to many members of the BUC. He is particularly known for his many years as both missionary and Adventist missiologist. Here he shares a truly touching story of abaptism that concludes mission work that began thirty-six years ago in distant Ethiopia.

As a missionary, while on a visit to Ethiopia in 1978, I met 11-year-oldHassen, whose young face bore the dreadful scars he had receivedfrom a hyena mauling but a few years earlier. He sat on the front pewwhile I conducted the week of prayer at the Ethiopian Adventist College,Kuyera, and his disfigurement made a deep impression on me. Whatkind of future would this boy have? Could a skilled surgeon do anythingto help him? These were some of the thoughts that troubled my mind.

A short while later, during a furlough to Denmark within the sameyear, I talked to journalists of the widely circulated tabloid BT, and theytook the initiative, launched a campaign and collected sufficient fundsfor Hassen to travel to Denmark, where he underwent numerous operations at the hands of a specialist who did not charge anything for his services.

Hassen stayed in Denmark for a few years; then moved to Norway;then back to Ethiopia; and eventually ended up in Denmark. His life withthe very visible scar on his face after the operation was not an easyone.

However, in Copenhagen at the Ethiopian Club, he later met Helenand they married and had three children. Sadly, Hassen had not keptcontact with the Adventist Church.

After my 1978 trip to Ethiopia I had to continue my missionary andother services abroad, and completely lost contact with Hassen.

But God was still working, this time through Hassen’s wife. Helenwas a faithful Coptic Christian, and she took the family to the Adventistchurch, because she knew Hassen had an Adventist background. Thiswas in the spring of 2014. Then, a few months ago, I preached in theHolbaek church – where to my joy and amazement I found Hassen andhis family sitting in the pews.

What a reunion!It was reported in the BT newspaper’s Sunday 20 July edition, and

the article of our reunion covered seven pages with ten photographs.My wife, Iris, and I started to visit the Hassen Anbesse family. We

had Bible studies and Helen and their two children asked for baptism,while Hassen’s membership was transferred to Denmark from theAddis Abeba church.

You can imagine that it was a very special experience for me to baptise the three of them as a result of a contact made thirty-six yearsago while on mission service so far away.

6

Pastor Bill Nicholson, who oversaw thebuilding of the Belfast and Dublin churches,observed in the 1950s that ‘The work will never be finished in the world until it is finished in Ireland.’ That is as true today as itwas then!

Reflecting on the Mark Finley outreach, onemember observed, ‘We have prayed to Godfor years that something might happen inDublin to move the work forwards. We havewhat God has given us. It is our duty and responsibility to support it as best we can and trust Him to lead us forwards.’

It has been my privilege to spend threeweeks visiting contacts and preaching in the local churches. I can only express mygratitude to Pastor Neal and his colleagues in Dublin for what has been an uplifting experience. It is a far cry from the harsh pastwhen men and women struggled to keep thelight of the Advent message alive. If Dr JohnHouston, George Sisson (Senior), Miss Lange,John Murtagh, Rita Ponder and Mary Taylorwere alive today to see what God is doing,how they would rejoice. Their sacrifices andlabours have laid the foundation on which wecan build.

God is doing something in Ireland that isexceptional. There is a harvest of souls to begathered in, but the workers are few. As youread this report the Lord may impress yourheart to respond to the door He has opened inIreland. A church in north Dublin is an urgentneed – please bear this before the Lord in yourprayers.

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The recent Mission to the Cities series inDublin, Ireland, was a watermark in thehistory of the local church. Around forty

people were baptised, including some nativeIrish. The city’s population is approximately1.4 million, of which fifteen percent are non-Irish, and we had high expectations of asignificant inreach among the native Irish. The result may not have measured up to whatwas hoped for, but God’s ways are sometimesdifficult to interpret. Nevertheless, the effectupon the Dublin members was positive and inspiring. A little jog down memory lane maygive a perspective that can demonstrate howmuch was, is, and can be achieved.

With this in mind, and to put things intoperspective, take a little jog down memorylane with me. My wife and I were baptised in the new Dublin church in the 1950s. Itsbaptistry was spacious and helped make baptisms quite dignified occasions. It was different when Pastor Desmond Murtagh andothers were baptised, years earlier, before thechurch was built. Baptism took place in a zinc tub, an experience lacking dignity but notsignificance. At my baptism the total churchmembership was around thirty members, withanother half-dozen scattered around the restof the country. In total the Republic of Irelandhad fewer than forty members!

Seventh-day Adventists met hostility andabuse from other Christian churches, who resented our emphasis on the Second Coming, the Sabbath and man’s condition indeath. In 1990 the membership had slipped to29. Many efforts were made to reach out topeople but with little success. Things began to change, however, when Eithne Amos, anIrish lady, returned from America. She took up colporteur work and led members of herfamily and others to accept Christ as Saviourand join the Adventist Church. Initially herwork was in Galway, but its influence hassince spread.

Over the past 25 years changes in societyand the abuse scandals in the Catholic Church have enabled Adventism to grow in the Republic of Ireland.

Today there are in excess of one thousandSeventh-day Adventists in the Irish Republic.They are found from Cork in the south toDrogheda in the north, from Dublin in the eastto Galway in the west.

God is doing wonderful things in Ireland.On Sabbath the Dublin church cannot hold allwho come to worship. In Castleknock over ahundred members worship in a hotel. A groupof Brazilians worship in a community centre atDrumcondra. A large group of Romaniansworship in Tallaght and a group meets on Friday nights in the Dublin church.

The Mark Finley outreach has not only provided us with new members, but it hasalso given us an interest list of 250 persons,all of whom attended his lectures. The urgenttask is to make contact with all these people,a significant number of whom are native Irish.This is a big task for the four ministers whocare for the existing churches and groups.

An urgent need exists for an adequateplace of worship on the north side of Dublin. Itmay appear an impossible task to obtain suchfacilities but with God nothing is impossible.The Mission president, Pastor David Neal, hasthe vision and leadership to power the workforwards, but he needs help.

There is a Macedonian call going out fromIreland to the world church. Come over andhelp us. Help us with your resources. Help us with your prayers. Help us with encouragement. Ireland’s sons and daughters have left its shores to serve elsewhere, but now is our chance to preachthe Advent message to the Irish people.

A door of opportunityby Pastor Patrick Boyle (retired)

Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin.

PUT THIS IN YOUR DIARYHyland House Homecoming

18 July 2015Celebrate 90 years of service to Adventist Education.

(SEC Education Department)

Kurdistan by Julian Hibbert

Kurdistan is presently one of the world’s geo-cultural ‘hotspots’ and much in the news. The term is used to refer to a region whereTurkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq meet, and where ‘the Kurdish people form a prominent majority population, and Kurdish culture, language, and national identity have historically been based’.1

There are certain Kurdish nationalist organisations that seek to forman independent state of Kurdistan, but so far it is only Iraqi Kurdistan thathas been recognised as an autonomous region within the Republic ofIraq.

Due to the bloody civil war in Syria and the recent brutal excesses ofIsil in Iraq, many in the region have become internally displaced persons(IDPs). They differ from refugees in that they still live within the countrywhere they first came under threat. This puts them ‘among the world’smost vulnerable people’ because they ‘legally remain under the protection of their own government – even though that governmentmight be the cause of their flight’.2

Many of these IDPs, including a significant number of Christians, havefled deep into Kurdish-held territory where, although destitute, they are atleast safe from the ‘convert or die’ alternative!

A little-known factIt is probably a little-known fact, but back in 2003 ‘just over 5%’ (about1.5 million) Iraqis were Christians. That number had fallen dramatically toless than 500,000 in 2013, with Chaldean Catholics forming the largestgroup among them.3

A month ago, in the MESSENGER of 7 November, we reported on the relief efforts of Adventist Frontier Missions (AFM) in that area of Kurdis-tan to which many of these IDPs have fled. AFM is not a registered reliefagency, but within three days (and ‘fewer than ten’ personal phone calls)they had raised more than £20,000 towards a project that has providedshowers and latrines for many of these displaced people.

In this issue we want to show you the conditions under which these fellow Christians (and others) live – and the difference that AFM’sdonation has made. If you feel impressed to put them on your Christmaslist, then kindly send your gift to AFM as outlined on the opposite page.Thank you for thinking of them.1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdistan 2http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c146.html 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Iraq

9

In the West most people try to explain super-natural events with science, but this is notso in other cultures, particularly in Africa.

Beliefs that Westerners might dismiss as irrational are viewed as quite logical amongAfrican cultures, where most people will havewitnessed obvious interaction between thespirit and material worlds.

People who work in allegiance with evilspirits to protect or hurt others are known as witches, wizards or sorcerers. Objects oranimals can become links and mediums ofcontact between these evil spirits and humans(Genesis 3:1). In allegiance and often withfear, many Africans worship these spirit mediums for protection, prosperity and health.Unfortunately, these worshippers often become victims of their own idols and suffermisfortune, disease or death if they break anyrule. On the other hand, those whom the spirits favour can benefit from their evil alliances to achieve great things and hurt theiradversaries or anyone else they want to afflict.

As African AFM missionaries working inBenin, the birthplace of voodoo, we encountertangible demonic power on a regular basis.Let me tell you about three of these cases,one of which happened quite recently.

There was a man in our neighbourhoodknown as Mr Il fait Peur, which translates sim-ply to Mr ‘He is Feared’. He was a notorioussorcerer, and nobody dared offend him. Hisvictims were many and well known. Heworked with some very dangerous spirits tocause misfortune, disease or death. Vendorspaid him to cast spells on the jewellery andhair extensions they sold so that the womenwho bought them would become bewitchedand buy more. He also enchanted hair clip-pers, hair and skin creams, perfumes, pieces

of clothing and many other items so that thepurchasers would come under the influence of demons and be ‘spiritually tied’ to the vendors.

We were introduced to two ladies whowere victims of Mr Il fait Peur’s sorcery. One lady was invited to our mid-week prayersession by a friend who has been meetingwith us for a year. The other lady came to oneof our afternoon prayer sessions while shewas visiting a brother who worked at a nearbypetrol station. Both ladies were wearing jewellery and hair extensions that were linkedwith evil spirits.

As we began praying for these ladies, they both manifested the same behaviour –pulling at their hair extensions, tearing off theirjewellery, screaming and rolling on the floor.Our church ladies had to jump in with scissorsto help them remove the hair extensions forfear that they would pull out their real hair. Itwas a fearful spectacle.

This kind of event is frequent here in Beninin churches of all denominations. Evil forcesare very active, but, as the Lord promised tothose who believe in Him, any sincere andcommitted prayer exposes them quickly (Mark16:17).

But the most amazing part of this story hasto do with Mr Il fait Peur himself. Against allexpectations, even as he worked his evilmagic, his heart was being drawn by the Spiritof the Almighty God. Today, Mr Il fait Peurworships his Lord and Saviour with us, oftenstanding side by side with Marinne, a ladywho lives in his compound and who used tobe very afraid of him. Mr Il fait Peur asked usto come and pray in his house and cleanse itfrom every evil presence. During the prayersession, he gave us the two fetishes from the

entrance to his house that had protected himfrom attack and cursed anyone who came intohis house with the intention of hurting him.

Today, Mr Il fait Peur is a new person.Praise God that our earnest prayers are beinganswered! Souls are being saved, and theenemy is losing ground. Please continue topray for the people of Benin, that they may experience deliverance from the clutches ofSatan and find peace with God.

SIM evangelismAFM missionaries in countries like Benin facean enormous amount of prejudice, even openhostility. So do those who show any public interest in the Gospel, like attending servicesand openly reading Christian literature or listening to radio broadcasts. In order to makeit easier for earnest seekers to listen to theChristian message without harassment, AFMnow discreetly distribute SIM cards that havebeen preloaded with an audio copy of theBible, plus a selection of suitable Adventist literature, sermons, studies, etc.

Recipients of these cards put them intotheir mobile phones or other handheld devices so that they can listen to them using the privacy of earphones – just asthough they were listening to the local radio or their favourite stored music selections.

These cards have great appeal – especially among Islamic women – and theyare relatively easy to distribute. In this respecttechnology is proving to be a great friend ofthe Gospel.

If you would like to partner with AFM by sponsoring such SIM cards feel free to makeyour donations directly to their bank account:Lloyds Bank, sort code 30-99-21, accountnumber 55208360. Those who are kindenough to make donations are encouraged to email John Simon jsimon@afmonline.orgconfirming the deposit (name, date, amountand project to be benefited).

8 AFM updates

West Africaby Michee Bade, an AFM missionary in Benin

As part of our commitment to the mandate of Jesus for globalmission, we give our readers another glimpse of the work thatAFM is doing in Benin, West Africa.

What ‘kindness’ costs . . . • Completed ablution block of 4 showers/4 latrines (includes geysers,

drainage, water tanks, tiled floors, and so on) – £4,000• Twenty-litre water dispensers with filters – £100 each• Arabic audio Bibles on micro SD cards – £12 each• Adult winter coats – £15 each• Children’s winter coats – £12 each• Nido multi-vitamin enriched powdered milk for malnourished infants

– £8 per month, per infant

Conrad Vine of AFM next to a shower block

What future is in store for him?

Washing day at the camp

A garden baptismOn 30 August, 2014, Patricia Thomas was baptised into the family ofJesus Christ. The celebration took place in the beautiful garden of Keithand Lorna Nightingale, on the outskirts of Winchester.

Tricia, as she is better known, came to meet Jesus through a VOPcorrespondence course 14 years ago. Her request for a pastoral visitwas forwarded to Pastor Barry Alen, who visited her on a regular basis.When Tricia moved to London the friendship was kept up, and she vis-ited the Alens and the Bradleys at regular intervals over the followingyears. She asked, and is still asking, some profound questions, but herjoy at having Jesus in her life is very visible. She’s a great mum to her7-year-old son, who wanted to be baptised too!

Tricia has found a new spiritual home and family at WinchesterChurch and its members are overjoyed!WENDY BRADLEY, WINCHESTER CHURCH

God uses David to reach RonRon Delaharp was receivedinto the fellowship of the Norwich church onSabbath 2 August. Ronhails from South Africa and comes from a Jewishbackground. As a child,Ron was interested instudying the Bible but that was against his father’s wishes. Later, atschool, a Christian friend introduced him to Jesus and he acceptedChrist as his personal Saviour. As a young man he asked for baptismby immersion, which took place, as far as he can remember, in a Baptist church, although he did not join any particular church at thattime but identified himself as a Messianic Jew.

He later came to live in the UK. It was early this year that Ronwalked into our Norwich church during an open coffee morning. DavidDewing and his wife befriended him and David commenced weeklyBible studies with Ron. Coming from a Jewish background, Ron foundseveral things about our beliefs that he shares, such as the Sabbath,our dietary laws and the layout and meaning of the sanctuary. Hisknowledge of Hebrew also helped him to appreciate the accuracy of what he was learning. After several months of Bible studies, Ron expressed his desire to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As theinterim pastor, the writer visited with Ron, talked about his relationshipwith Christ and reviewed the doctrines of our faith. It was clear that Ronclearly understood and embraced what we believe. Seeing that Ron hassteadily grown in grace and the knowledge of the truth from the time of his baptism into Christ all those years ago, we received him into ourfellowship on profession of his faith.

We invite the church in the British Union to rejoice with us over theway God has led this precious soul, and for the effective lay-ministry ofDavid, who was used by the Holy Spirit in helping Ron to a closerknowledge and understanding of Bible truth.PASTOR MICHAEL I. WALKER

11

On Sabbath 11 October the Newport church was packed with family

members, friends and neigh-bours, as well as visitors fromother churches in the area, whohad come to support Grace Beniand Absolom Ndlovu in their decision to accept Jesus Christas their Saviour and get baptised.

Pastor John Surridge hadspent the whole day in Newportencouraging the members andchallenging those who still hadn’tmade such a commitment toChrist to do so.

Pastor Rancic, who conductedthe baptisms, expressed his joyat seeing both Grace and Absolom being baptised andasked them to share their testi-monies with the congregation. Introducing Grace’s testimony,Pastor Rancic explained that theNewport church had been prayingfor Grace and her brother Brianeven before they knew them personally. They had lived abroad,separated from their family herefor several years, but when they

were finally allowed to move tothe UK, Grace followed hermother and younger sister by attending the Newport church.She loved the atmosphere in thechurch as well as the warm welcome she received from theyoung people. She had been inspired to become a Christian byother members of her extendedfamily and this decision wasstrengthened when she startedattending the Newport church.

As Absolom shared his testimony it was clear that thecongregation had taken him totheir hearts. Absolom explainedthat he had been brought up in aSunday-keeping church; however,when he was introduced to theSeventh-day Adventist Church by a work colleague he realisedthat this was the one he wassearching for. The message, especially the teaching about theSabbath, together with his warm acceptance by the Newport members, resonated inAbsolom’s heart and he decidedto get baptised. This was a

beautiful conclusion to a memo-rable year in which Absolom got married to Thelma, the work col-league who had introduced him tothe church, and with whom henow has a baby daughter, Olivia.

Two weeks later, on Sabbath25 October, the tiny LlandrindodWells company, with just eightmembers on its books, celebratedtwo baptisms of its own. David and Samson Vaughan areyoung men who have grown upattending the Llandrindod Wellscompany with their family. Theydecided to be baptised in the Fforest Fields Lake – up in thehills of Wales – and more thanfifty members and friends turnedup from Llandrindod Wells, Newport, Ystrad Mynach, Cardiff,Port Talbot and Newtown.

The Vaughan boys are wellknown in Builth Wells, where theylive, and they were thrilled to seeneighbours, work colleagues,school friends, and one schoolteacher in the congregation. Confidently sharing their testimony in front of this diverse

group, David and Sam both spokeof their gratitude to their parentsfor a good Christian upbringingand to the Llandrindod Wellsmembers for their love, acceptance and support. Theytestified that, with God on one’sside, there is much more to lifethan most people realise.

Reflecting on all four baptisms, Pastor Rancicexpressed his gratitude to bothchurches and the Welsh Missionfor their support. ‘When youngpeople decide to get baptised,’ hesaid, ‘it shows that parents havegiven them a Christ-like exampleand that the local church has embraced them as their own.When adults decide to make thismost important decision of theirlives, it shows that they havefound in the Bible what was missing in their hearts, and havefound in the local congregationthe friendship and sense of belonging they’ve been lookingfor.’More photos can be seen on the Welsh Mission website: http://wm.adventist.org.uk.

10 baptisms

Baptisms inspire Welsh youthby John Surridge and David Rancic

Pastor David Rancic with Grace Beni in the Newportbaptistry

Pastor David Rancic with Absolom Ndlovu in the Newport baptistry

Left to right: Ron Delaharp and David Dewing

Five youth baptised at SwanseaOn Sabbath 1 November, Swansea church members and visitors fromaround the Welsh Mission were honoured to welcome five Swanseayouth into the church. Three young people originally from Zambia (Wallace Hacuma, and sisters Nalishuwa and Lubona Ikachana), together with twin sisters from Cape Town, South Africa (Sasha Lee andShannon Joy Cranfield), publicly proclaimed their love for Christ throughbaptism. They were delighted to be baptised by ‘their’ pastor, JovanAdamovic, in a special service at the Swansea Waterfront Communitychurch, which had been hired for the day. Once baptised, each youngperson took the opportunity to share their testimony with the audience.What a blessed day, especially for the parents present.

Youth from around Wales, from as far as Bangor, and as close asCardiff and Newport, had gathered for the Welsh Mission Youth Day. The preaching of BUC Youth Ministries director, Pastor Nathan Stickland,inspired everyone during the morning sermon. In the afternoon hehosted a ‘question and answer’ session using the latest mobile phonetechnology. Inspiring music was provided by a live band throughout theday. DR DESIREÉ CRANFIELD

A unique performance of the ‘Night of Wonder, Night of Joy’ Christmas cantata will be held at the Filipino International Church (FIC) on 20 December from 4pm. While admission is free, this dramatic musical event is also guaranteed to be life-changing. Come with your family and friends. For further details please

contact Ishmael Baring, Music Ministry leader, on 07838 115416.

Cambridge Church holds an annual world culture month and this year’s event was as successful as ever. During themonth, different groups have theopportunity to showcase theirculture through sharing traditionaldishes, information about thechallenges they face back home,and the way God has led in thespread of the Church in theirhomelands.

The event draws the membersand their friends into regular fellowship during the month, andit is a great opportunity to deepenrespect for each other’s culture.

The highlight of the Africanpresentation was the revelationthat a manna-like food still appears at the Namba Adventistmission in southern Angola today(see www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntadn2DHRGQ for more information – skip to 3:20 to getto the relevant segment).

The Asians provided a memorable spread of dishes, including delicacies such aspancit (intricately flavoured noodles), lumpia (hand-rolled

spring rolls), Thai-style curry,cassava cake and plantain rolls.

Those from the Caribbean andEurope shared their memories ofwhat it was like for them and theirfamilies to be Christians in theircommunities back home.

The Caribbean night didn’t disappoint, with plates full ofworld-renowned favourites like‘rice and peas’, ackee and saltfish. The Europeans chose to celebrate British culture – thatof the land in which they now reside.

One of the biggest blessings

13

ASNA carers learn to ‘Let go, let God’The Adventist Special Needs Association (ASNA) held its annual carers’respite weekend, at the stunning Hellidon Lakes Resort, Northampton,from 17 to 19 October.

Sophia Nicholls, SEC Disability Ministries co-ordinator and ASNA organiser, and her helpers had focused on creating a restful getaway forthose who provide support and care for those with special needs. Itwas an opportunity for them to relax and share their experiences withthose in similar situations.

The weekend’s theme, ‘Let Go, Let God’, emphasised the need tolook to the future in faith, but not to forget God’s leading in the past.

Weekend speaker, Pastor Paul Liburd, Family Ministries director at the North England Conference, encouraged the audience with his exposition of the story of the widow of Zarephath who never ran out offood again because of God’s care for her.

Audrey Balderstone, a professional flower arranger, visited the groupon Sabbath to demonstrate how floral arrangements can tell a story.She did this through three separate arrangements – each one with apersonal story behind it. She then encouraged the attendees to arrangetheir own floral designs, linking them to experiences close to theirhearts. The arrangements were later auctioned off to raise money insupport of ASNA.

Jacqui Bingham found the experience of using an arrangement to tellher own personal story a very powerful experience, as did many of theother attendees.

Jacynthia Peters spoke about how she became an Adventist, and amember of ASNA, through a drop-in centre held at High WycombeMicklefield Church. The centre enabled people from the community totalk about their struggles and achievements as carers of those withspecial needs.

She went on to tell of how the centre is a wonderful idea and thatthose who run it are very understanding and truly listen, regardless ofwho you are. ‘I started going there and I soon found peace. I began tolearn about Christ, each time I went, and about six months later Istarted going to church, eventually getting baptised.’ What a powerfultestimony to the work of the centre.KATIE ALLEN

without it costing a tremendous amount of money. Crieff is a smalltown of about 7,000, and the church has about 70 members, witharound 10 who do displays.

We believe in involving children wherever possible, and this yearthey depicted the hymn ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ using flowersand toys.

Ever adventurous and willing to tackle new challenges, this year themembers had a craft stall and a home-baked-cake stall on three of thefour days of the festival. The funds raised amounted to £850 and thisyear the amount was divided equally between the Perth branch of theSalvation Army (they used it for their youth work) and PerthshireWomen’s Aid (an organisation helping abused women).

The festival is one of our church’s ways of involving as many members and church-attending friends as possible: and they thoroughly enjoy it.

So, next year, why not look at our website and make a date to visitScotland in general, and the Crieff church in particular for its Floral ArtsFestival? We look forward to seeing you! RUTH FARRER

Crieff’s Floral Art FestivalAbout 20 years ago Crieff Church, situated at the Gateway to the Highlands of Scotland, had its first Flower Festival. It was the idea ofMoyra Rodd, ably supported by Edith Perry and her daughter Janice(now Hatch), Christine Hall, and several members willing ‘to have a go’at something they had never done before. The organisers for the pastfew years have been Moyra Rodd and Dorothy Logan. Over the yearsthemes such as ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ (the very first festival),‘Treasures of the Earth’, ‘Favourite Psalms’, and ‘Church Beliefs’ havebeen beautifully portrayed by these amateur flower arrangers.

Just a few years ago the organisers decided to change their emphasis from flower arranging to floral art. Now, each design is madeup of various materials, most of them natural, plus flowers. The churchis well known for this different approach and people come from as faras 60 miles away and more to appreciate these works of art. This yearthe theme was ‘Poetic Gems in Nature’ and there were the usual 25-30displays. The participants are not professionals, neither do they belongto flower-arranging clubs, but some do arrange flowers for Sabbathservices. They are total amateurs working to a very high standard,

12 news

Adventists celebrate ‘Shabbat’During the weekend of 24 to 26 September, families from the WindsorStreet church retreated to the Pioneer Centre in Kidderminster for thefirst time in several years. The focus for the weekend was ‘Making theFamily Whole’.

Sabbath morning commenced with an interactive discussion led byPastor Nicholson on ‘Living Christian Values’. We were reminded that

we need to know who we are and Whom we worship, for this determines our values and how we live them out. Both adults and youngpeople were reminded of their individual uniqueness and the fact thatGod has a special job for each one to do.

It was also emphasised that the Christian faith is the only one thathas a living Messiah who has never sinned.

Throughout the workshops, where key issues relating to men andwomen’s health were addressed, the cords of love were at work, bringing families and friends closer together like a tightly woven quilt.

Friday evening was one of the many highlights of the weekend, as family members joined in the experiences of a traditional Jewish‘Shabbat’. Old and young received insight into the meaning behind thesymbols of the shewbread, wine and candles, and how they pointed towards Jesus. Blessings were pronounced upon each family as is done on Friday evenings in traditional Jewish family homes. This wasfollowed by a beautifully presented Agape feast.

An assortment of activities was organised for all to enjoy, rangingfrom glass painting and treasure hunts to massages and five-a-sidefootball. All were blessed in so many ways. One member commented:‘It was amazing – I would like to have more family retreats – it was fantastic.’JUNE RICHARDS (COMMUNICATIONS LEADER)Vespers taken by Pastor J. Nicholson

Cambridge culture month

Intelligent Designtrumps EvolutionOxford Church members wereblessed to have two accomplishedscholars for their afternoon programme on 11 October. Professor John Walton from the University of St Andrews,Scotland, and Dr Alastair Noble,from the Intelligent Design Centre,presented a fascinating and inspiring seminar reminding us of the awesomeness and power of God and the validity of Creation.The Intelligent Design theory helpsyoung people to see that sciencedoes not contradict creation, butprovides evidence for it. Youngpeople were heard to say that it had given them a ‘better understanding of creation’. Theprogramme was organised by theReligious Liberty department ofthe Oxford church, which is led byNolan Victory. SOPHIA NICHOLLS

of the Cambridge culture month isthe opportunity to reach out to thecommunity by attracting visitors to the church. It is alsogood to see large numbers ofchurch members and their families come out week afterweek to support the programme.

According to local pastor, ColinStewart, ‘There is something special about sharing a meal andstories that brings people together.Seeing the church grow strongeras a family is a huge blessing, anda foundation on which outreachcan be even more effectivelydone.’CAMBRIDGE COMMUNICATION TEAM

The Stanborough Centre wasfull on the morning of Friday 7November as friends, includingmany former colleagues, joinedwith family members to celebrate and remember the life of Pastor Maurice BoonMusgrave, who passed to hisrest on 23 October 2014 at theage of 95 – after a fulfilling andvaried life that was ‘well lived’in the service of his Lord.

The service, conducted byPastor Paul Clee, supported byPastor Jacques Venter, focusedon Pastor Musgrave as a much-loved person rather thanon his years of service for theChurch, while recognising thatthese two dimensions were inextricably linked.

Drawing onsome of PastorMusgrave’sown sermonnotes on the23rd Psalm – a psalm thatMaurice considered as especially personal to his ownlife – Pastor Clee conveyed amessage of encouragement,comfort and hope: adding that it had been a privilege andpleasure to have known Mauriceas a friend.

Many have come to knowPastor Musgrave through the publication of his book, WeWere Happy in Africa. He attributed its title to his belovedwife, Annie (Nan). Africa is stillthe home of his two sons and

14

Yvonne LeonoraBaxter (néeKirwan) (1932-2014) d. 9 August.Yvonne was bornin Dublin, spend-ing her early child-hood there and on the Isle ofMan. In 1944, the family movedto London, which left her with avivid memory of the sound of thebombing that occurred there.Along with her parents she attended the evangelistic meetings of George Vandeman at the London Coliseum in 1952.They became members of theHolloway church.

Yvonne qualified as a char-tered physiotherapist at King’sCollege Hospital and later movedto Bath for work. This proved tobe a very significant move, for in1955 she met her future husband,Brian Baxter, at a churchChristmas party held in the homeof Pastor L. Murdoch, nearBristol. They were later marriedin Lewisham Church inSeptember 1958. They begantheir married life in the WestCountry and later moved toAshcott, in Somerset, where they spent the rest of their livestogether.

Their marriage became a perfect example of love and devotion. Humour and the sharingof amusing stories, both personaland otherwise, became an important part of their family life. Yvonne had two daughters,Elizabeth (1963) and Juliet(1968). Brian and Yvonne

became loving and proud grand -parents to four granddaughters,Alexandra, Catherine, Sarah andLaura, who in turn loved theirOma. Elizabeth recalls hermother as being both ‘ahead ofher time’ and very traditional.This is highlighted by Yvonnetaking a gap year, going to rugbymatches with her father and con-tinuing to work even when herchildren were small. Traditionallyshe was a royalist, attended theWomen’s Institute and was a firmbeliever in chivalry.

Yvonne became a member ofthe Croscombe church in 1958,and remained so for the rest ofher life. She faithfully served thechurch in various capacities,which included Communicationsecretary, roles in both the adultand children’s Sabbath School,and church treasurer. Both churchmembers and family fondly recallher tradition of always wearing ahat to church, and her lifelonglove affair with the sun. Sheadored sunshine and always livedin hope of the sun coming out.This was reflected in the words ofher favourite hymn, ‘Be Thou MyVision’:

High King of Heaven aftervictory’s won,

May I reach Heaven’s joys, Obright Heaven’s sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler ofall.

This traditional Irish hymnalso served to reflect her pride in

her Irish heritage. She remained afaithful believer in Jesus through-out her life and shared her faith insimple, quiet ways, through a lifelived honestly and to the full.

As in the words of herfavourite hymn, God remainedYvonne’s ‘vision’ right to the end,and her loved ones are comfortedby the knowledge that they willmeet her again in a place of eternal sunshine.ILONA JACKSON

Etta LouiseSmith (1927-2014) d. 9September. Etta Smith ofGrantham passedaway in GranthamHospital on 9 September aged 86.She was born in St Elizabeth,Jamaica, the second eldest offive. She grew up in Jamaica butmoved to Barbados to work, andfinally to England in 1965. She took a nursing course andspecialised in midwifery. Thisbrought her to Boston PilgrimHospital in the early 1970s, andthen to Grantham Hospital, whereshe became a much-loved andhighly respected sister at theSpecial Care Baby Unit.

Her interests were people-centred. She took on a variety ofroles in the Grantham church:teaching the children; singing inthe choir; visiting the sick andlonely; offering hospitality; andletter-writing to the young peoplewho had moved away. She supported a number of charitiesby collecting for the annualADRA-UK Appeal; volunteering

at the Red Cross shop inGrantham; and regularly donatingto the Grantham Foodbank andthe Passage programme to feedthe homeless, as well as buyingsecond-hand toys and clothing to send overseas. Etta became aregular helper at the ABC stand at camp meetings and at theStanborough Press open days.

Etta Smith will be remembered for her heart of loveand for her sense of fun, whichbrought smiles, laughter andwarmth to many. This was reflected in the tributes given during the service by SherilleHyatt on behalf of the family,Beryl Pusey on behalf of theLewisham church, where Etta attended before moving toGrantham, and Paul Poddar, representing the Grantham churchand the Stanborough Press.

The funeral service, followedby committal at GranthamCrematorium, took place at theSeventh-day Adventist church onDudley Road, Grantham, and wasconducted by Pastor JohnFerguson. He concluded his sermon by quoting a poem onEtta’s wall which began, ‘A smilecosts nothing but gives much.’This is Etta’s legacy. We look forward, along with her family, torenewing our relationship in theearth made new.ELISABETH CARNELL

Bessie OlwenTweedie (néeParkin) (1922-2014). Bessie(Bess or Beth, asshe was known in

15obituariesA life well lived

their families, and it was fromthis extended family that hisgranddaughter, SimoneFalconer, brought a very personal and moving message of the love and joy she and theother grandchildren and great-grandchildren had experiencedthrough having Maurice in theirfamily.

Paul Bellamy used PastorMusgrave’s own words while presenting the life sketch: ‘Thefirst 30 years of our lives werethe preparation for Africa. Thesecond 32 years were the yearsof experience in Africa; and thethird 30 or more years continueto be the years of remembranceof Africa.’

Pastor Musgrave, one ofthree brothers, was born in theSouth Wales village of Skewen,in an end-of-terrace cottageoverlooking the Neath Valley, on8 March 1919. At the time hisfather was serving as a ministerin the Swansea church. Before

entering Newbold Mauriceserved an apprenticeship as ajoiner in Plymouth, the familyhaving returned to the WestCountry – the home of hismother, whose maiden namewas Boon.

Maurice graduated in 1942and, after serving in Kettering asa ministerial intern, was calledto Newcastle to work withPastor Kinman. It was while inNewcastle that he met and fellin love with a young nursewhose ambition was to serveoverseas as a missionary. Theymarried in July 1945, and fouryears later, with their 15-month-old son Keith, they set sail ontheir African adventure for theLord.

Serving first as a pastor in remote and primitive areas,Maurice later took responsibilityfor large and diverse regions in many countries that havebeen renamed by history. Helater served as treasurer and

secretary-treasurer at Divisionlevel. Who can begin to quantifythe number of lives their ministry touched? Their familygrew: first another son, Nigel,and then a daughter, Gillian.

In August 1980 Maurice andNan bid farewell to their familyand returned to the UK. Mauriceworked first as treasurer at the SEC before taking up his appointment as treasurer at theBUC, where he served until his retirement in 1986. At thatsession he received a standingovation in recognition of his outstanding ability, while Dr Jan Paulsen said of him, ‘PastorMusgrave inherited BUC finances when they were veryshaky – to put it kindly. He hasplaced those finances on asound footing.’

Following his retirement,Maurice remained involved in local church ministry andserved for a number of years assecretary to the Board of BUC

Pension Trustees. He also travelled back to be with hisfamily in Africa in 2012, andvisited the South of France withfamily in the spring of this year.

He will be greatly missed by his three children – Keith,Nigel and Gillian – and by hisextended family, all of whom heloved and was justly proud of.

A letter from a member received by Maurice just prior to his death was read at the funeral service and serves hereas a fitting conclusion. It states,‘I wish so much that I hadknown you and Nan many moreyears than I did, but I count it an honour to have known you alittle, and experienced your loveand devotion towards each otherand towards our loving, livingLord, the memory of which willlive on. Your life has been welllived to the glory of God. Whata wonderful true servant youhave been.’PAUL BELLAMY

later years) was born inBirmingham on 18 January, 1922,where her father was the NorthEngland Conference secretary-treasurer. Soon after, he wasmoved to the South EnglandConference office in London andthen back to the NEC in 1928.They lived in Nottingham until1936, when her father was againin London. During this time shewas baptised by Pastor O. M.Dorland along with his daughterand her friend, Ruth, later to bethe wife of Pastor E. Hulbert.After leaving school, Bess took ajob in the Hounditch JewishWarehouse in London, as a secretary.

When World War II broke out,the SEC moved to St Albans Rd,Watford, and later to StanboroughPark itself. Bess took a position asa secretary at the StanboroughPress, which at that time was alsoon the Park.

At 21 she was called up forwar service but refused to go intothe Forces. Pastor Emmerson, aneditor at the Press, accompaniedher to the tribunal and spoke onher behalf. But she was told thatshe must either do domestic work,work on the farms as a Land Girl, care for children to releasemothers for war work or train as a nurse. She chose the latter,gained her SRN at ShrodellsHospital, Watford, and went on toqualify as a midwife. Soon afterthis she went to Newbold Collegein Warwickshire and then to its present position in Berkshire.Here Beth took the BibleInstructor’s course and graduatedin 1951 along with her future

husband, Thomas Owen Tweedie,from Stockport.

She then worked as a theatrenurse and later as a maternity sister. She and Tom were marriedin 1953 during his dentistry training in Liverpool by herbrother, Pastor Howard Parkin.Later, she worked as a dental practice nurse in Tom’sManchester practice. They had a son, Ian, who became an anaesthetist in Liverpool, and then a daughter, Alison, who became a dentist with her ownpractice near Carlisle.

Bess was a faithful and loyal Adventist, taking her turn at being Sabbath School superintendent, deaconess andcleaner at the Liverpool church.She greatly enjoyed the yearlyIngathering for missions. Later,because of distance and age, sheattended the Southport company.When Tom died in 2011 shemoved into a residential home,and during the last few monthsinto a nursing home. But she hada loving family and her childrenand grandchildren visited her regularly. She was grateful forthese visits as well as those of thepastor and church members. Bessoften voiced her longing for Jesusto come.

A service of thanksgiving washeld for her on 25 April at theLandican Crematorium in theWirral, conducted by Pastor I.Philpott. She is survived by hertwo children and their families,three grandchildren and a great-grandson, and by her sister,Lillian.LILLIAN BATTS

December7 Manchester South 10am-2pm7 Cambridge 10am-2pm14 Brixton 10am-2pm14 Nothingham Central 10am-2pm21 Holloway 10am-2pm21 Dunstable 10am-2pm

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90th birthdays celebratedBirthdays are commonplace for all of us but not all of us reach the age of ninety. Yet, within a couple of weeks of each other, two of ourNorwich members celebrated that achievement! On 22 July MaxeyCooper celebrated hers. Since she was unable to get to church due toinfirmity, on the preceding Sabbath afternoon a representation from thechurch, composed of her very close friend Lilly Walker, Silviu and PaulaTeodor, Glyn Jones and the writer, visited her with a delightful bouquet offlowers and a birthday cake with love from the church. Myrtle Rhodescelebrated her special day on 3 August; and on the Sabbath we gave hera similar presentation during the church service. A special prayer ofthanksgiving and blessing was offered on each occasion. We thank theLord for bringing them across all these years and for their service to thechurch. PASTOR MICHAEL I. WALKER

Left to right: Paula Teodor, Maxey Cooper, Lilly Walker

Well done, Sandra!Sandra Grice of the St Albans church completed the St Albans half-marathon onSunday 8 June, 2014. Her aim was to raisefunds on behalf on Centre 33, which is ahomeless drop-in facility, sponsored weeklyby her congregation. The centre is run entirely by volunteers who provide a warmmeal, clothing and a warm, welcoming atmosphere for the homeless and disadvantaged in the local community.

Sandra trained for eight months, graduallyincreasing her physical and mental staminafor the race day.

After setting up an online fund-raisingpage through Virgin Money Giving, Sandrawas generously supported by family, friends,and colleagues to the tune of £1,503.61, including £66.25 Gift Aid, all of which went to Centre 33. According to Sandra, ‘I was energised by the marshals, well-wishers and whistle-blowing bystanders who cheered on the runners.’ Hearing hername announced as she crossed the finish line and received her medalwas a great reward for the hard work and commitment she had made tothis worthy cause. Well done, Sandra!DR LYNDA INCE

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SunsetSunset times are reproduced with permission from

data supplied by HM Nautical Almanac Office.

Lond Card Nott Edin BelfDec 5 3.53 4.05 3.50 3.41 4.00 12 3.52 4.04 3.48 3.38 3.58 19 3.53 4.05 3.49 3.39 3.59 26 3.57 4.09 3.53 3.43 4.03

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back pageFruits (and vegetables) of the SpiritFrom Thursday 2 October, Ringway Life Church was open on four consecutive days for the public to view our Harvest display. The artistic,talented and hardworking among us had produced a superb display of crops and fruits, along with a 100-year-old horse-drawn plough(minus the horse) and wooden wheelbarrow that was lent to us for theoccasion by a local farmer. Each of the church’s windowsills was usedto depict a scene from the parable of the sower.

Fortunately, the church is located next to a very busy country pub,and barely a week goes by without someone coming into the church onSabbath just to see what is going on. This time it was good to have itopen on some weekdays as well, allowing our visitors to reflect on thegoodness and generosity of our Lord. PHILIP EMM

MessengerVolume 119 • 26 – 5 December 2014

Editor: Julian HibbertDesign: David Bell

Proof reading: Andrew Puckering

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ISSN 0309-3654