What are your churches or school planning this fall to bring people to Jesus and into the Adventist movement? Now is a great time to ask the Lord for wisdom, review what is already happening and talk and pray with your church and school boards.

Here are a few tools that can help your board members see where they are at and what can be done to maximize soul winning in your district.

Local Church or School Planning Sheet- Download and make copies for each board member. Praise the Lord for what is already happening and look at new initiatives you can take. Start by involving as many of your congregation in Intercessory Prayer for Souls as possible.

My Prayer List Cards- These will be distributed to NPUC Pastors at August/September Pastors’ Meetings and to NPUC Teachers through your Conference Education office. There are enough for everyone in your congregations and schools. Take 5-10 minutes to explain how important it is to ask Jesus who to put on your prayer list, especially those you would like to see accept Jesus, embrace all Bible truth and join a vibrant Adventist group by the end of the year.

Satellite Reaping- This fall experienced evangelists Byron Corbett and John Bradshaw are teaming up in Spokane, Washington, one of our Top Ten Metro areas, to present an eight part reaping series called “In the Beginning God Said…” Churches and schools outside the Spokane area can be a part of this outstanding series by watching on the Hope Channel in November or using DVDs supplied to each NPUC church and school this fall. (Dates: Live: Oct. 24-27, 2008; Via satellite on Hope Channel November 8-15, 2008)

More Soul Winning resources can be found at www.npucmomentum.wordpress.com

Additional Soul Winning satellite opportunities include-

Amazing Adventure with Doug Bachelor September 12-20, 2008
Via satellite on 3ABN - special evangelistic series for kids ages 8-12 and families.
Register at www.amazingfactskids.org

Discoveries ‘08 with Mark Finley October 24 - Nov. 29, 2008
Via satellite on Hope Channel from Orlando, FL.
Register at www.Discoveries08.org  or call 1.800.226.1119

This fall why not preach your own series using the Revelation of Hope series PowerPoint slides, notes and synchronizer and follow it with eight nights by Byron Corbett & John Bradshaw on DVD or the Hope Channel.

By God’s grace let’s keep the spiders out of our baptistries this fall by having a baptism every month!

Andrew MIchell had a compulsion to steal. By the time he was sixteen he went to prison for ten years, the first two in solitary confinement. Today Andrew is in his late twenties, has a college degree, is a member of the Puyallup Seventh-day Adventist Church (WA Conf) and wants to share how Jesus transformed his life. Watch his testimony on the latest Northwest Spotlight on Mission (sent to all first elders and Sabbath School Superintendents in the NPUC) or online at http://www.npuc.org/article.php?id=340.

Let your friends watch about this amazing story by sending the email link above. There are five individual segments (4-9 minutes each)–

• Andrew Michell, Part 1 of 5: Candybars to Prison
• Part 2 of 5: What My Mom Sent Me
• Part 3 of 5: Conversion by Walkman
• Part 4 of 5: The Belief Crisis
• Part 5 of 5: Back to Prison

Related Articles-

• NPUC Changed Lives website
• NPUC Changed Lives stories

Here is a great, inexpensive resource for the pastor/evangelist. Contact your Conference Evangelism Coordinator to see if they are placing a group order (if not then contact HART Research Center at www.hartresearch.org or phone 800-487-4278 directly). Bruce Koch (Washington Conf) and Dave Livermore (Upper Columbia Conf) have already had a tremendous response from their pastors.

HART Research Center has made available to all pastors in the NAD, the Revelation of Hope sermons/graphics (by Mark Finley) and the full synchronizer for a special price of $92 (normally $160)!

Features of the DVDs:

• Revelation of Hope sermons can be used as regular Power Point sermon as is or can be edited.
• Revelation of Hope sermons can be used in synchronizer as is or can be edited.
• Sermons in the synchronizer run two Power Point programs at the same time — one for the audience the other for the speaker.
• The speaker’s Power Point will show how many slides are in the program, what slide the speaker is on, current audience slide, next audience slide and speaker notes.
• New sermons can be made in the synchronizer in the advanced mode.
• Sermons already in Power Point can be imported into the synchronizer all at one time in the audience side.
• Written sermons in Word docs can be imported in the synchronizer on speaker’s side.
• Speaker can add/delete pictures and notes as desired.
• The synchronizing software and graphics were developed by David Johns who, most recently, wrote the Share Him software and graphics. I’m told that this new software is a step above Share Him and can be used with any presentation files and WORD docs.

To Order- Contact your Conference Evangelism Coordinator to see if they are placing a group order (if not then contact HART Research Center at www.hartresearch.org or phone 800-487-4278 directly).

Some conferences are offering options such as payroll deduction, use of continuing education money and/or group training at fall pastors meetings.

On February 19, 2008, the Canyonville Seventh-day Adventist Church Board voted enthusiastic support for an intensive plan of evangelism for the remainder of 2008. Three series of evangelistic outreach meetings are included - May 2 - 21, August 15 - September 3, and October 31 - November 19, with Pastor Loren Fenton scheduled as speaker for each series. The first of the three series was successfully completed on May 21. The Canyonville church has welcomed four new members as fruit from this harvest. Jim Shaw sealed his commitment to Jesus by being re-baptized on May 24, followed by Gerri Wisbey, Robert Priebe, and Joyce Priebe, all of whom joined the church by profession of faith on May 31. In addition, three young families have begun Bible studies in preparation for baptism at a later date.

The Lord is very much at work in Canyonville and South Douglas County. Victories are being won over drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other addictive substances. As always, when the Holy Spirit is working with searching souls the devil does his evil work of creating confusion, chaos, and distraction. We praise God, however, that “he that is in [us] is greater than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Preparations are already beginning for the next series which begins August 15. Through God’s amazing grace we look forward to another rich experience of proclaiming His truth to our territory and seeing the harvest of souls for His kingdom.

In a recent letter to supporters, Adventist World Radio President Benjamin D. Schoun shared an amazing story of how angels are distributing radios to village chiefs in some remote areas and training them how to tune in to Adventist World Radio. Read an excerpt of the letter at http://www.prophecytalk.com/index.php?topic=4699.msg79568.

Jesus said “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26. What does it take to feed the world? Click here to view an interesting online pictorial view from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

At a recent Upper Columbia Conference Church Planting Committee, newly elected Conference Church Planting Coordinator Wayne Kablanow shared a compelling PowerPoint presentation on the history of church planting in the Bible. Titled “How to Grow the Church” he traced five phases of church planting, starting with the Garden of Eden church plant which had a core group of two. He points out the two common characteristics of the apostate church in each era in contrast to the two characteristics of God’s true church. Watch the PowerPoint presentation and follow along with the script/notes.

You are headed to a new district. You’re excited but nervous. What should you do and what should you avoid in your first few weeks and months? We would love to have you add your comments. Listed below are insights from–

• Charles Burkeen, Associate Ministerial Director, Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
• Glenn Aufderhar, Retired Church Leader and Current Pastor of Abundant Life Seventh-day Adventist Church, Wenatchee, WA
• Dan Serns, Ministerial Director, North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Click here to read “Why Not Try This? … Share Advice With A New Pastor to a New District”)

Charles Burkeen–

Here is a document that I’ve given out as I work with the new guys. Some of the items are dated, but it gives us a chance to discuss how to adapt the principles for the 21st century.  

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GO INTO A NEW DISTRICT

I. “Well begun is half done.”

A. Usually, as you come into a new field you will speak on Sabbath before you are moved in.

1. Fit right into the church program as it is planned. The first Sabbath, or first few months for that matter, is not a time for a change in the service.

2. Pray and plan for an excellent and appealing sermon.

3. End your sermon with an appeal.

a. A call for baptism first, and then -
b. A call for re-consecration on the part of the entire congregation as you take up your work among them.

4. This will immediately set the pace for a deeply spiritual ministry. Keep it that way. Be known as a man of God.

B. At the close of this first service it is well to call a church board meeting.

1. This will be brief, but will give you an opportunity to get acquainted with the leading church officers.

a. Have the clerk introduce you to each member of the board. Repeat their names and remember them! (The clerk can give you a list of the members present, and by the next time you see them you will call them by name.)
b. Cultivate the talent of remembering names. Nothing will get you off on the right foot so quickly as mastering the church members’ names - soon.

2. At the close of this “get acquainted” meeting ask:

a. Are there any members in the hospital who should be visited?
b. May I have a list of all shut-ins? I want to visit them first.
c. Are there any sick at home?
d. How about those who are discourage and needing a visit?

3. Now you have really set the pace for your visiting ministry.

a. Your board will be greatly impressed.
b. But unless you follow through, this program will be nothing but a sham. So go out that afternoon and visit - hospital, shut-ins, sick at home, the discouraged. Already you will have made a deep impression upon your members and begun your new assignment as a true shepherd of the flock.

C. Clerk’s Book

1. The clerk’s records are a valuable source book for a new pastor to read upon coming to a new district.

2. They contain all the church members’ names, how and when they came into the church.

3. They will also give a valuable source of backsliders and disfellowshipped.

a. Make a note of these names and place them in your prospect file.
b. Immediately you will begin to see your prospect file grow.

4. The clerk’s book will give you actions taken at the church board and business session, thus acquainting you with the church immediately.

5. There is probably no more reliable a source for the pastor than the clerk’s records. Don’t bypass this opportunity to be an “expert” on your church in a very short time.

a. You can see if the church has grown, or lost membership.
b. How it has been doing in soul-winning.

D. The Treasurer’s Report. Take this file along with you too.

1. Here again is ready material to make you an expert on your new church.

2. In a few minutes’ study you can pick up the financial trend of the church.

a. Tithe per capita
b. Response to all offerings

3. Acquaint yourself with these facts for the past 3-4 years. Pick up the trend so you can speak intelligently concerning these matters. Your fingers will immediately find the problem areas, and know where your strength lies.

II. When you have moved to your new field -

A. First set your home in order, spend some hard days helping your wife.

1. Make the home as homey and tidy as possible.
2. Hang draperies, etc.

B. Now you are ready to become acquainted with your new parish.

1. This is the moment for organizing your visiting program.
2. You will never regret the time spent on organization.

C. How to organize visiting.

1. Obtain a master map.

a. Pinpoint every member’s home.
b. In rural areas pinpoint the homes on a county map according to routes.
c. This will give you an over-all picture of every home.

2. Now with each family pinpointed -

a. Organize a visiting schedule.
b. Place your folks’ names on cards or in a pastoral visiting book, as you would visit them.
c. Then when you are in a certain area, you can visit all members there, one after the other in sequence, and save much time.

3. Divide your visitation list in two groups:

a. Those who can be seen days (retired, elderly, wives of non-Seventh day Adventist husbands who don’t work out, young people, etc.)
b. Night calls (those who are away days)

4. Your visiting is where you will learn your parish.

a. Become a professional at remembering names. A football player goes over every play until he can see it backward and forward.
b. One old minister, Pastor William Anderson of Nashville, says:

Be sure to get the name. Spell it distinctly. Write it down. Say it aloud, more than once. Associate it with something fixed, facially. Visualize the other person, with a “camera eye.” Use the name whenever you meet the person. Talk over at night every new name or face. Take time. Use all your senses. Will to know. Determine by God’s grace to excel in this art.

c. When you get home at night go over your visits with your wife. Describe the people to her, and tell her the names. This will fix names and faces in your mind.
d. You will discover soon the fringe members who need special attention.

5. The call itself should be in the most relaxed manner.

a. Never appear to be in a hurry, yet always appear to be a man with a mission.
b. Someone has said: “Our doctor is the busiest man in town. Still he never seems to be in a hurry. No matter how many people are waiting to see him elsewhere, he always stays until he has done everything he can to make us feel well, strong, and happy.”
c. This should be said about every pastor.
d. Each young minister ought to develop early in his ministry the ability to make short, spiritual, unhurried calls.

6. If the folk are not home, leave your card and a brief note of encouragement. (Scripture promise)

7. Let the folk know you are a visiting pastor, a spiritual pastor and a professional pastor.

8. Every visit should add to your prospect file.

a. All of these interests, family and friends, should be placed in your visiting file, geographically, so that you can visit them along with your pastoral visitation.
b. Always keep your eye open for two families close together so that you can begin a branch Sabbath School or a cottage meeting.

D. Now that you have visited your entire congregation.

1. Your prospect file is growing and current.

2. You know the needs of your district so your preaching can be more effective.

3. You are now ready to make definite plans for a program of soul-winning and soul-keeping in your parish.

 ———–

Glenn Aufderhar–

sent three items (shown below) to each of his new members before his arrival- “Your Dreams For Your Church,” “Let’s Get Aquainted” and “Mostly Personal”

 Your Dreams For Your Church

(Use the back side and or extra sheets if you need more space-just identify which number your comments relate to. 

If you want a reply to dialogue about any comment please include your name at the bottom.)

• 1. If the Lord has not come three years from now it is my prayer that our church will

have:__________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________

• 2. My main reasons for belonging to the Abundant Life Church Family are:

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

• 3. The things I enjoy most about this fellowship are:

______________________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________

• 4. Changes that I think would strengthen or improve the ministry of our church are:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

• 5. I hope our new pastor will _____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

• 6. I hope our new pastor will not __________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

• 7. Things I’d like to understand better through study groups or sermons:

(Please identify at least your top three with 1 being of highest interest, more is OK-leave any blank if of no interest)

  __ Assurance in Jesus;   __ Giving and getting Forgiveness;  __ End time prophecies;      __ How to enjoy sharing my faith;  __ Relief from grief;   __Daniel;  __Revelation; __ Hebrews; __Paul’s epistles; __ Why Bad Things Happen; __ Victory in Jesus;  __ Inspiration & the Spirit of Prophecy;                        __ Standards & why they appear to change; __Joyful Christianity;  __ Holy Spirit & latter rain:   __Making family worship worth the effort; __ Resolving conflict;  __Health & Spirituality; __Stewardship of time & resources:  __Peace in a troubled world; __ Managing anger: __Ready for the Return:  __ How to help our youth;

Other: _____________________________________________________________________

Name (optional) __________________________________________________________________

 ———————

Let’s Get Acquainted

My name: ___________________________________ I’m (Circle one) single,  married,

                                                                                                              widowed, divorced

 (if married, when ______________ & where __________________________________)     

My Address in the church directory is correct ­­­­­ __ yes; __ no (if not please print new address) 

 _______________________________________ Address ­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________________________________________________________Phone ______________

I’ve lived here ________ years.  I’m a (circle all that apply) student, entrepreneur, home-maker, retiree, employee at __________________________________,   professional _____________________. parent with (number) ___________ children,

names and ages_______________________________________________________

grandparent with (#) _____________ grandchildren  & ___________  great grands with ages ranging from _________ (youngest to oldest __________

Hobbies I enjoy include (circle all that apply)

archery, astronomy, auto-racing, baking, biking, bowling, camping, carving, ceramics, computers, cooking, crocheting, fishing, flower-arranging, gardening, golf, hiking, horseback-riding, horseshoes,  hunting, jogging, knitting, music, needle work, numismatics, painting, photography, ping-pong, puzzles, reading, rock hound, rock-climbing, scuba diving, sculpting, sewing, sailing,  sky-diving, snow skiing, spelunking,  stamp collecting, table games, team sports, tennis, traveling, video games, walking, water sports, weaving, woodworking, writing,  other _________________________________

My Favorite Vacation is _________________________________________________

Skills I’d like to develop include _____________________________________________

Seminars I’d like to take ________________________________________________ or                                                          be willing to teach __________________________________________________

One Place I’d like to visit (if money and time were no obstacle) ____________________

Best books I’ve read in the last year include: __________________________________

My Childhood Hero was _________________________________________________

One thing I’d like to be able to do to make our town a better place _________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________

Anything else you would like to share you may put on the back

————–

Let’s Get Acquainted

A request has come for a bit of personal detail about our family.  We gladly exchange something about us hoping you will do the same.  I have created a form that may make it easier for Barb and me to keep it organized in our heads and hearts.  (If you have a copy of a favorite photo we’d be appreciate it as well).  Here’s a personal sketch.

Mostly Personal

            Barbara Salter and I met at Auburn Academy in the early ‘50’s.  We were married in Centralia, Washington and worked in the woods, or canvassed for 5 years before we went to college at Walla Walla and earned a masters degree at Andrews.  We had three children, Nancy Aufderhar-Harlan, Kenneth and of course you know Mike and his family, Brenda, Serena and Chad.

            We lost Nancy to cancer just over a year ago during her distinguished career teaching at Loma Linda Academy.  We have seven grandchildren.  The youngest two are in Calimesa, California, where their father Kenn is home-schooling them while their mother Christine is finishing her third year of dental school at Loma Linda.  One grandchild teaches art at LaSierra Academy, one teaches Spanish and English at Livingston Academy in Salem, Oregon and the other is a manager in a fast food restaurant in Loma Linda.

            We interned in the Washington conference, served in evangelism for 6 years in Washington, Idaho and the North Pacific Union before moving to Wisconsin to hold a city-wide evangelistic series in Milwaukee.   While there we were asked to join the conference office staff to open two new departments-Stewardship and Trust Services.

            Early in that work a family gave the conference a chain of health-care facilities known as Mid-American Health Care Inc. with 1000 beds in 8 locations.   Before the final transfer the family made the gift conditional upon my coming to work there as president.  After much agony and prayer by the conference committee I agreed to go if I could remain as an employee of the conference at ministerial pay rather than the higher health care scale.  It was a great learning experience and prepared us for the future in ways that I could not have envisioned.

            After nearly seven years we had found a person the donor and the Board felt could relieve us to go back into more direct soul-winning work.  Washington Conference invited us to return as Ministerial Director and Executive Secretary.  A year later we were elected president.  Those were wonderful years of fellowship and spiritual development in our “home” conference.

            God dramatically saved churches from some of the heresies and financial pitfalls that were raging during the early ‘80’s.    We served Washington until 1985 when Michigan Conference invited us to become their president.  In Michigan we spent six eventful and rewarding years where we again saw God do things that were beyond human devising or skill.

            One of our interests in harnessing the power of personal evangelism with the power of the public media had opportunity for expression when the General Conference asked us to serve as President of the Adventist Media Center.  We lived in Thousand Oaks, California for 12 years and rejoiced at the evidence of God’s leading in the creation of Net ‘95, series and its successors.   Barb enjoyed her work as a counselor in the VOP Bible Correspondence School.

            The last six years of active ministry we served as Assistant to the President of the North American Division.  Much of that time was spent maturing the Adventist Communication Network, planning and assisting in the “Net Evangelism” activities which has grown into the Hope Channel.

            The disadvantages of that work was its constant travel.  Barb and I both missed the encouragement and  growth that comes from being integrated into a spiritual family.   That is what we are looking forward to in joining you in the Abundant Life Church.  By His grace we can all benefit from our association and work together. 

That is our prayer.

Glenn and Barbara Aufderhar

————–

One of the challenges with any pastoral or teacher move is how the family relates to the experience. Saying good-bye to friends, starting a new school or job, etc. And the list goes on.

One of our moves was especially hard on one of my sons. Another move was extremely difficult for my wife, causing me to call back church leaders a month after accepting and decline the move. The position was offered again four months later and she was ready to accept.

What have you done to make it easier on your family transitioning to a new location? We welcome your 1-3 paragraph response below that will be included in our next e-newsletter.

Two Powerful Quotations–

“If you will read the Conflict Series [Patriarchs and Prophets, Prophets and Kings, The Desire of Ages, Acts of the Apostles and The Great Controversy] along with your Bible through every year for four years, it will change your life.”

“A great many people look down upon revivals, but the entire history of the Bible is a history of revivals. I have heard preachers say, “Well, they are temporary.” Surely they are. So is a bath, and so is a meal, but very necessary. The whole story of this blessed Book, my friends, is one of apostasy and revival. And if there was ever a deeper apostasy than today, and a greater need of revival, I do not know where it was or where it will ever be…. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring forth. The world of crying need tells of the necessity of a revival in our own lives…. (Read the Complete Article)

                               — H.M.S. Richards (1894-1985), a Seventh-day Adventist biblical scholar and evangelist, pioneered the use of radio to present the gospel more than 75 years ago-when many of his colleagues thought the new device was the devil’s playground. His Family Worship programs were first aired in 1929. Radio headquarters was a renovated chicken coop at the back of his garage. The broadcast’s name was changed to the Voice of Prophecy in 1937. Richards often said that perhaps the greatest thrill of his entire ministry was his first coast-to-coast broadcast over 89 stations on Sunday, January 4, 1942. The next month the first Seventh-day Adventist Bible Correspondence School was begun, a ministry that has blessed millions. Lessons are currently available in more than 75 languages. And today dozens of affiliated Voice of Prophecy and Voice of Hope studios worldwide produce radio broadcasts that are aired by more than 1,000 stations.

                       Richards was a prolific reader, writer and speaker, who always put the highest value on reading the Bible through at least once or twice a year. He found great inspiration in reading the writings of Ellen White as well. During his lifetime he was arguably the best known Seventh-day Adventist in the entire world. He Knew What He Talked About (H.K.W.H.T.A.)

“Nigeria: A sharia court efficiently settles a land dispute in Kano, a city on the Sahel’s southern border whose Muslim majority lives under strict Islamic law. After years of corrupt and bureaucratic secular rule, most residents welcomed Kano state’s imposition of sharia in 2000. But minority Muslim sects, human rights advocates, and Christians, especially those who could no longer sell alcohol for a living, protested.”

Caption on photo #9 in “Africa’s Ragged Edge: Journey Into the Sahel” in National Geographic, April 2008

Among Moslems it is important for Seventh-day Adventists to make a distinction between “Christianity” (which has sometimes been equated with selling alcohol, supporting corruption, and violence toward Moslems- see quotation above) and Adventism (which emphasizes total abstinence from alcohol and tobacco, calls for transparency in all our dealings, and promotes kindness toward all mankind as those for whom Jesus died- see Fundamental Beliefs #22, 10 and 19). The more effective we are in communicating and living our message in these regions, the greater the likelihood that the residents will not see Sharia law as the only option for progress.

Here are excerpts from a prominent British newspaper The Telegraph June 13, 2008

Article titled “George W Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism” (Click link to read entire article)

• “George W Bush and Pope Benedict XVI have held an intimate meeting in Rome as rumours mounted in Italy that the president may follow in Tony Blair’s footsteps and convert to Catholicism.”
• “Several Italian newspapers cited Vatican sources suggesting that Mr Bush may be prepared to convert. One source told Il Foglio, an authoritative newspaper, that “Anything is possible, especially for a born-again Christian such as Bush.”
• “He added that while the Holy See deplored the war in Iraq, “on ethical matters he has always had a line that is practically identical to that of the Vatican.” Mr Bush has spoken out against gay marriage, abortion and stem cell research. He proposed amending the US constitution to “fully protect marriage” as the “union of man and woman as husband and wife”.
• “Mr Bush has filled the White House with Catholic speech-writers and consultants and is also thought to have asked a Catholic priest to bless the West Wing. “
• “Before he became president, Karl Rove, his former political adviser, invited Catholic intellectuals to Texas to lecture the candidate on the church’s teachings. Mr Bush appointed the Catholic judges Samuel Alito and John Roberts to the Supreme Court.”
• “However, it is thought unlikely that Mr Bush would convert until after he has left office. Jeb Bush, the president’s brother, has already converted to Catholicism.”
• “Catholics have noted that during the contested election in 2000, Jeb Bush travelled to Mexico and prayed to the icon of Our Lady of Guadelupe. His victory was announced by the Supreme Court on December 12, the feast day of the Lady of Guadelupe.”

More than one hundred twenty years ago these trends were outlined in Chapter 35 “Liberty of Conscience Threatened” of the book The Great Controversy. Now is a good time to re-read the chapter that begins with these words–

“Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome….”

Some of the trends to watch are found in this statement on page 566. “Catholicism is gaining ground upon every side. See the increasing number of her churches and chapels in Protestant countries. Look at the popularity of her colleges and seminaries in America, so widely patronized by Protestants. Look at the growth of ritualism in England and the frequent defections to the ranks of the Catholics.”

Dr. Michael Hasel, an Archeologist and Egyptologist who teaches at Southern Adventist University and oversees the Institute of Archeology there, shares some recent archeological findings that link with Bible times. For more information click on any link below–

Seal of Jezebel identified

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/911612.html

Archaeologists discover footprint made by sandal of Roman soldier

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/893560.html

Tiny tablet provides proof for Old Testament

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/11/ntablet111.xml

Hazor: city of stature in days of old 

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=900032

Archaeologists find Second Temple quarry

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411466635&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

2007 excavation at Ramat Rahel in Jerusalem

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411495971&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

Excavation and restoration work at Ephesus

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=123445

“A land of milk and honey”

http://www.rehov.org/bee.htm

Dig could harm Temple Mount artifacts

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/898762.html

You can request his free bi-monthly e-newsletter on archeology “DigSight” by emailing Justo Morales at jmorales@southern.edu

Want to keep up with religious liberty issues? Check out the Liberty Blog sponsored by the North American Religious Liberty Association.

A recent post shows how the California Supreme Court decision that mandates state sanctioned gay marriage threatens religious liberty. Click here to read Alan Reinach’s perspective on the recent California Supreme Court decision that mandates state sanctioned gay marriage. Alan is a minister and law graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Alan hosts of the nationally syndicated “Freedom’s Ring” radio show and directs the Adventist Church’s religious liberty department in the Pacific Union.

Mark Remboldt- To NPUC Treasurer from NPUC Undertreasurer. Read story

Lonnie Melashenko- To Vice President of Spiritual Services and Missions for the Kettering Health Network in Kettering, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton from Speaker/Director of the Voice of Prophecy Radio Broadcast. Read story

Larry Unterseher- To President of Nevada-Utah Conference of Seventh-day Adventists from Education and Ministerial Director of Nevada-Utah (previously Education and Youth of Montana Conference)