Historically the Adventist denomination has discouraged extensive staffing at the local church level while investing significantly more personnel in institutions than do other Protestant denominations. Russell Burrill, a retired Andrews University seminar professor, linked this idea to a focus on church-planting and entering new territory in his doctoral dissertation and several books.

Have you noticed that in each of the last three months, a young Seventh-day Adventist has put his or her life on the line for the cause of Christ? In September, Rwimo Boss Kayamba (age 34) who was supervising construction of emergency housing for ADRA in the Congo was beaten to death by extortionists.

Historically, Adventists have always worked for health reform. Ellen White advocates it in many of her writings. You can find material about health reform in hoary typefaces from the "steam press" at Battle Creek. And over the decades, Adventists have made significant impact on the health of America and the world. Now health reform is front and center in the U.S.

Throughout my lifetime one or more the Kennedy brothers have held a high office and exercised significant political influence in our nation. With the death of Senator Ted Kennedy, an era comes to an end. Jack was the first Catholic to be elected president.

Since the 1970s a growing segment of the Adventist Church in North America has been made up of Spanish-language local churches. Until recently Hispanic congregations have had a faster growth rate than the average and conference administrators have encouraged the planting of more such groups. The hardening stance of the U.S.

My grandson was born at 1:20 a.m. on Friday, July 17. It is the first for my wife and I. I hope you forgive me for this personal moment, but this event cannot help but bring thinking to mind about my most strongly held faith and values.

Have you seen George Knight's new book, The Apocalyptic Vision and the Neutering of Adventism? (2008, Review & Herald Publishing Association) Several times recently I have been among a group of pastors when copies of the book were passed out. It never fails to get a mixed reaction among those who have not yet read it.

It is off the press! Ministering with Millennials published by AdventSource for the Center for Youth Evangelism. A total of 25 contributors--researchers, pastors, educators, health professionals and youth workers--touch on every aspect of this new generation, today's young adults and teenagers.

Some discouraging trends for Christianity and some encouraging trends for Adventism can be found in the latest edition of the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS 2008).

The current issue of Outreach (Jan-Feb 2009), a widely read Evangelical journal, includes an article reviewing "25 Ideas & Trends Reshaping the American Church." They are presented in no particular ranking and there are many interesting concepts included, but what struck me is how many of them have a history in the Adv