Adventist Crossroads
January - March 2001

What Is Your Response?
Editorial

"I think that technology in communication has advanced so much that we are able to get more news about natural disasters like earthquakes which would not have been possible in years past." This response was given by a stranger I befriended recently. I put to him if he knew why there are so many occurrences of natural disasters in the news lately. Would you have given the same response?
As people in the know we are familiar with the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospels about the signs of His soon return. Should our response be different?
I recalled as a youth attending church, there was no lack of sermons that left the listeners feeling unsure and fearful. Sermons about the second coming were not something I especially enjoyed. They only serve to instill more fear than hope in my heart. This feeling of uncertainty continued on for many years.
One day, I thought seriously over this matter. I reasoned that if I were a Christian I should not be perturbed. I prayed and I read. The Lord pointed to my Laodicean existence. I may be in the Church but I was spiritually lukewarm. How could I, a spiritually dead “Christian” anticipate His soon return. I needed to know Him better.
Praise the Lord! As in the parable found in Luke 15, the Father in heaven was waiting while I was a long way off. Time spent in prayer and His word helped me to know Him on a personal basis. In short, know His will. What a difference it made!
Now, signs of His soon return be they political or social unrest or natural disasters no longer trouble me. I am looking forward to His soon return.
Readers, seeing that we are one year nearer to the coming of Jesus, what would be your personal response? Would it be one of trepidation or would it be one of anticipation?

On Air - the Lord has taken me higher
Michelle Gjaltema

Hope 105.5 FM has touched so many hearts and minds. One of our keen listeners is Michelle Gjaltma, an Anglican lady. She was so impressed with our programs that she accepted our invitation to host the “Reflection” programme under very unique circumstances. The following is her testimony of how God has in his perfect timing led her to Studio Elpizo. “He hath made all things beautiful in His time.” Eccl. 3:11-how true are these words which form the HOPE we have of our ministry.
The Lord indeed has very creative ways of solving problems. That we already know. What you may not know is how He solved my problem of having too much time on my hands by giving me the desire of my heart...or at least one of them.
Let me explain. Two years ago, my husband and I attended a Christian seminar which had, as one of its topics, “How to be financially-free.” We felt rather convicted by that and purposed from then on to take positive steps towards such a goal. In preparation for what we knew would be a life of greater simplicity, we decided to sell our condominium and look for a place which did not require two full-time jobs to upkeep. Once that was done, I knew the next thing I had to do was to look for something to occupy my time.
I am not known for being the homely type. Initially, I thought about working with the aged but was afraid I may not possess the necessary patience and perseverance. I am not known for those qualities either. Furthermost from my mind at that time was hosting/producing radio programmes as a service to the Lord but He definitely knew that such an endeavour was not far from my heart. What a wonderful Father He is!
While all this was going on, one day, I spotted a care sticker which displayed, “Beautiful music, inspiring messages...105.5 FM.” Being ever-hungry for beautiful music and inspiring messages of the Christian kind, I immediately tuned our car radio to the channel. Although the reception was weak then, thankfully, I managed to catch the tail-end of the station’s contact number which I scribbled on my hand.
Despite the fact that we were leaving for a vacation the next morning, Hennie (studio staff), and Luz (former Lifestyle host from the ABLC) still managed to convince me to host a program. Their sincerity and grace on phone impressed me, so was the mild-mannered person I found in David (studio general manger). The rest is history.
I guess what keeps me going these past months is the fact that I know of so many who are touched by the programmes on air. Loyal listeners who are my friends, include in particular, an 80-year-old woman whose faith in God is unwavering despite the fact that she is recovering from a fall and needs crutches and a wheelchair to move around. Her son-in-law had been seen at Lentor Crescent holding up an antennae, together with my husband, in search of our station, 105.5 FM. After much ingenuity, they managed to pick up the signals. I have heard of people who tuned in to our programmes as soon as they jump into their car first thing in the morning and immediately after work as they head for home. There are others who record the messages on tape and pass them on, as a source of inspiration and hope, to dying relatives in the hospital.
HOPE, that is what we are called! May we be worthy of our calling. All glory to Jesus Christ.

ATS Bible Symposium
John Tan, Ministerial

The Adventist Theological Society, an international group of Adventist theologians, professors, ministers and lay members, held a Bible symposium, its first-ever in Singapore from 17 through 20 January, 2001.
The ATS team of presenters featured a distinguished line-up of theologians.
They were Norman Gulley, research professor of systematic theology from Southern Adventist University; Gerhard Pfandl, the associate director of the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference; Gordon Christo, vice-president for academic administration at Spicer College; William Shea, retired associate director of the Biblical Research Institute; and Jiri Moskala, associate professor of Old Testament from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University.
Altogether, there were 22 presentations on a variety of Biblical topics. The audiences that showed up indulged in a spiritual feast as the ATS lecturers taught from their areas of specialty. Dr. Gulley, an authority on eschatology or last-day events, provided valuable insights into the study of Revelation. Dr. Shea, who is acknowledged by the Christian scholarly world as a renowned expert in Ancient Near East studies and archaeology, thrilled his listeners with his superb lectures on Daniel. He taught without any notes and seemed to know the book of Daniel like the back of his hand. Dr. Pfandl presented in a clear and crisp manner the complex concepts of hermeneutics, exegesis, inspiration and also the interpretation of Ellen White’s writings. Dr. Christo drew out lessons from the book of Job, and presented them from the perspective of the great controversy theme. Dr. Moskala handled the weighty topics of sin, salvation, sanctification and the nature of Christ.
It was encouraging to observe members taking time off from work and their busy schedules to attend the lectures. The Singapore Mission pastors, heartened by the positive response, voted in their last meeting to organize this symposium annually.
The Mission wishes to acknowledge the financial donations by laypersons to defray the costs for the lunch provided and the financial sponsorship of the symposium by the local chapter of the Adventist-Laymen Services and Industries (ASI) as well as the promotion on Hope 105.5 FM by Studio Elpizo.

Congratulations!

The Singapore Mission’s first doctorate holder Pastor Michael Ho was conferred a Doctor of Pastoral Theology degree (DPTh) on 4 March, 2001, by the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, Philippines. The DPTh program is academic and professional in nature. It is designed for specialized training in the various forms of pastoral ministry and in Christian leadership. Dr. Ho’s research uses the descriptive, case-study method. His dissertation was on the “Strategies for Enlisting Young People to prepare for Ministry in the Adventist Church in Singapore.”