The 15th GYC (Generation of Youth for Christ) conference was held in Houston, Texas, from December 28, 2016, to January 1, 2017. There were about 5,000 people in attendance on Sabbath. GYC has grown from just 400 people in 2002 to many thousands in the past few years.
Read MoreOn Conspiracy Theories
“We should present sound arguments, that will not only silence our opponents, but will bear the closest and most searching scrutiny...” – Counsels to Writers and Editors, pg. 40
Read MoreTwo Misleading Premises that can Hinder Reform
For those through the years who have sought to bring revival and reformation to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, two misleading theories—among others we could mention—have tended at critical times to dampen the courage and impede the resolve of the striving faithful.
Read MoreMene, Mene, Tekel: Weighing Climate Change, Pope Francis, and Vegetarianism
Over the last few decades, discussion of “environmental” issues has increased greatly. Perhaps the most contentious argument has been the reality or not of climate change. Due to the fact that this issue is not really the most important topic needing solving, I have refused to address this in my public presentations. But because of the recent Papal encyclical LAUDATO SI, this has become a pressing issue for many people. But is the crisis real? And is the Catholic Church’s proposed cure worse than the disease? Does Pope Francis have a hidden agenda that affects you and your faith? What is the truth of climate change, the Pope’s solutions, and our response to this issue? I have decided to tackle the science and politics involved and hopefully provide an Adventist perspective to this debate.
Read MoreChrist and Christmas
At about this time every year, the question arises in various circles as to what role the celebration of the Christmas season should play in the experience of Seventh-day Adventist Christians. There are those who believe that because of the holiday’s pagan origin and commercial exploitation, Christians should have little or nothing to do with it. In my ministry I have occasionally encountered devout souls among us who piously—and no doubt sincerely—insist that they don’t “do Christmas” in their homes or families.
Read MoreBack in Business
You may have noticed that the comments are back up. It took longer than it should have, for which I apologize. Our website domain expired (we had forgotten to update some expired credit card information with a third-party provider), which caused the entire website to go down for a few hours. We “fixed” the problem by using the domain advindicate.org for a few days, but advindicate.com is back, along with its comments.
Read MoreA Missionary Kid Remembers Hacksaw Ridge and Desmond Doss
Okinawa was my home as a teenager. It was the time of the Vietnam War, and on many Sabbaths, 15 to 35 GIs would come to our home for dinner. After dinner, we would often hike the trail along the base of Maeda Escarpment, or drive to the top and enjoy the view.
Read MoreEditorial by Jay Gallimore on Annual Council
Jay Gallimore, president of the Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, wrote this editorial on the recent decision of the Annual Council. Many have construed the events at Annual Council as a further attack by conservatives on women's ordination. In this editorial, however, Pastor Gallimore shows what the real issue is, and why it is so important for the church to deal with it.
Read MoreLast Thoughts Before Facing the Ballot Box
The 2016 Presidential Election is coming up fast. Some have already voted early, such as myself. Some are convinced that these elections are the most significant to date, certainly among the most recent Presidential elections that come to mind. There is truth to this; every American Presidential election, and minor election, has the more significance the closer we come to the Second Coming of Christ, especially with what we know about the role of America in Bible prophecy.
Read MoreThe Christian and the Ballot
This editorial was written by the late Kenneth H. Wood, who served as editor of the Review and Herald (later the Adventist Review) from 1966 to 1982. It was published in the Review and Herald of October 19, 1972, as the U.S. presidential election of that year approached. Though written many years ago, its insights regarding Seventh-day Adventist participation in the secular political process remain cogent, balanced, and timeless. Its thoughts would be helpful to ponder on the eve of the pending U.S. presidential election.
Read MoreImportant responsibility in following voted World Church actions, from the Adventist News Network
The Biblical Consensus, Slavery, and Contemporary Adventist Issues
In the article under review, a professor from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University examines the Christian debate over slavery in nineteenth-century America, and how different approaches to Biblical authority allegedly led to different conclusions.
Read MoreQ and A with Elder WIlson
In the wake of this year's annual council, Elder Wilson has published a Q and A session that addresses many of the issues and concerns that have been voiced.
Read MoreWhere are the Pauls?
We then come to the conclusion of three kinds of relationships at creation: first, between Man and the lower creatures, second, between man and man, and finally, between man and God. Relationship seems to pervade the kingdom of God, an evidence of how particular it is to Him. No wonder God took all the necessary measures to ensure that there could be perfect relationships.
Read MoreAutumn Council's Other Issue
This year's Autumn Council generated much interest with its focus on reconciliation and mission. Yet General Conference President Ted Wilson chose neither unity nor mission, but education as the topic of his October 8 Sabbath sermon. A gift copy of Ellen White's Education had been placed at each seat, and he recommended it as both a complement to the educational instructions in the Bible and a book that could change the direction of our institutions.
Read MoreAnnual Council 2016: Reflections and Analysis
On October 11, 2016, the Annual Council of the General Conference Executive Committee voted to approve a procedure by which the non-compliance of certain denominational entities with world church policy is to be addressed. This procedure will involve a year-long, two-step process in which efforts at reconciliation will be conducted by those strata within the church organization which bear responsibility for those entities—such as Unions and local Conferences—who have lately veered in their practices from the voted decisions of the worldwide Adventist body.
Read MoreElder Wilson's Closing Remarks at "Unity in Missions" Meeting
Video of Elder Wilson's Closing Remarks
Read MoreElder Wilson’s Opening Remarks on Unity in Mission
Transcript of Elder Wilson's Opening Remarks
Read MoreDismissal of Unfaithful Shepherds, Part II
In the first article of this series, Dismissal of Unfaithful Shepherds, it was seen that unfaithful ministers in the remnant church must be converted or purged out before the remnant church receives the promised showers of blessing through the latter rain, or makes decided progress in the movement of the Three Angels’ messages.
Read MoreWho Should I Believe?
Annual Council 2016 is imminent. Union and Division presidents and other church leaders are arriving at American airports. Some have never been here before; others were present in San Antonio in 2015 or have come at other times. But some puzzle over the Adventist Church in North America. They are told that most American Adventists decidedly favor women’s ordination. Then they discover that many, many American Adventists strongly oppose women’s ordination. They ask themselves, Who should I believe?
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