by Nathan Wehr

“Be not deceived” were the first words that Jesus spoke when His disciples asked Him what would be the sign of His coming. Today there are many deceptions in and out of God’s church. One of the realms where people are ensnared is entertainment. Before I delve right into my opinion on this topic of “Christian” video games, I want to take a step back and establish some ground work.

The written Word, which started with Moses, utilized very primitive technology that did not change for over a thousand years. Copies were maintained by the tedious task of hand transcription.

When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1436, it was probably the first major leap in technology since the invention of the wheel, and definitely the single most important tool used by the Reformation. Protestants then had the ability to put truth in the hands of the people in a way that could never be achieved without utilizing modern tools. Though God’s people needed to embrace the printing press—then a revolutionary piece of technology—the media itself had not changed, and would not change for a long time.

Nearly 500 years later, the only media available to distribute the gospel would still be the printed page. Not until the 1920s did radio and television become available in people’s homes. This was brand new technology and along with it came brand new mediums of communication. However, it took God’s church a lot longer to make use of it. It wasn’t until 1937 that Voice of Prophecy began broadcasting on the radio—and then it was not until 1986 that 3ABN began its television ministry.

Technology began to unnerve conservative Seventh-day Adventists when it ushered in this new kind of media. They began to criticize it by saying that if we utilize television to spread the gospel, we were becoming too much like the world. Today the battlefield looks much different. The lines have been redrawn, the soldiers have changed their positions, and overwhelmingly, Seventh-day Adventists are in favor of just about any type of media or entertainment, as long as it promotes good intentions.

One of the trendier things to do is to take things that people are addicted to and cover it up with Christian words, Christian symbols, or Christian ideas. Examples of these would be rap and rock music.

The latest of these trendy activities that I have come across is Christian video games. Anyone who has gained the victory over their addiction to video games knows right away that they cannot possibly draw anyone to Christ. But, I believe that there are more subtle deceptions in all of this that are not readily seen from the surface.

Despite official reports from leading universities that violent media does not necessarily lead to violent crime, it seems obvious that the opposite would be true.
One of the more prolific writers on the topic is former West Point psychology professor, Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman. In his books, he repeatedly refers to first-person shooters as “murder simulators.”

How does this happen? How can playing video games change a person’s behavior in real life? I believe it happens for several reasons. The first of which is that by beholding—or by doing—we become changed. Most will agree that a person’s environment, and his interaction with it, has an impression on their psyche. Prolonged exposure to certain types of behavior will eventually render themselves as being normal. This by itself is dangerous enough. But, video games add another layer to the complexity of human impression—virtualization.

Virtualization is a big buzzword in a lot of big fields. In the field of video gaming, it is taking hypothetical, real-world scenarios and presenting them to the gamer in a noncommittal and harmless environment. Why is this dangerous? Because the addictions that people have, virtual or not, hold the potential to influence everything that they do. Violent video games, when they become an addiction, can drive a person to commit real and violent crimes. These crimes are often committed in the same manner that they would be in the game. In this way, people are living the life of the person they play in the game. In some cases, the events of virtuality and reality are foggy in the minds of the perpetrators. Mentally deranged people are even more susceptible to these types of psychological phenomena.

In my opinion, virtualization cuts down to the fundamentals of why Christian video games could never lead anyone to Christ. This is because, as Christians, we are striving to have a living connection with Christ. This comes through prayer, Bible study, and the exercise of our faith. Video games, by their very nature, are steering away from reality, to take someone on a journey or live an experience they otherwise would not or should not be able to. This is contrary to the Christian experience. A Christian experience is absolutely possible and it is as real as it gets—it needs to be.

Another problem with video games is that they are addicting. Christians are supposed to help people break free from their addictions, not steer them in a different direction. If someone is hooked on smoking, we would not try to encourage them to smoke incense instead of cigarettes. We would strive to help them break the habit of smoking altogether.

One thing we need to realize is that we are all players in a much bigger game—a game of eternal life and death. How are we going to wake people up and persuade them to start playing on the right side of the field? I challenge everyone who has made it to the end of this article to answer that for themselves. In Matthew 24, the Bible says that after the gospel of the kingdom is preached in all the world, Christ will come.

We each have a spot on the team. All of us have our part to play. But, this great controversy is not virtual. Why should our evangelism be any less? There is a world to win!

Nathan Wehr is a senior Media Ministries major at Hartland College.

Hartland’s Lifestyle Education Center (LEC) uncovered the incredible potential of cabbage poultices in their last sessions.

“When treating patients with arthritis, we put cabbage poultices on their joints overnight. The next morning, the pain had decreased by 60-80 percent.” says Maria Gligor, director of the LEC.

Cabbage is abundant in vitamin C and glutamine, a crystalline amino acid that has anti-inflammatory properties. A simple cabbage poultice reduces inflammation in joints and increases local circulation, relieving lymphatic congestion. It also draws out infected matter and toxins from the body. Use a cabbage poultice for arthritis, chest infections, laryngitis, tonsillitis, mastitis, lymphatic blockages, tumors, gangrene, sciatica, and other nerve pains and skin infections.

Directions for cabbage poultice:
1. Wash cabbage leaf thoroughly and drain water.
2. Lay the cabbage leaf flat on the table, and then apply pressure with a rolling pin to soften the leaf.
3. Apply the leaf on the affected area, cover with plastic and then cloth, and then pin it in place.

by Laura Wehr

“I’ve been through a tough week and a very hard day.” Tears flooded the man’s eyes as he shook my hand after a concert. “Now I feel such peace.” During our 2010 winter break, the Three Angels’ Chorale spent three weeks presenting concerts from Virginia to California and back. Throughout those 9,200 miles, we received many opportunities to witness the Holy Spirit working in people’s hearts as we presented “Heaven’s Greatest Gift,” a seasonal celebration of the life of Christ. Whether in churches, prisons, schools, homes or even gas stations, God had specific individuals for us to meet.

“We are so amazed. We rarely see people your age doing this kind of work!” People are inspired and encouraged when they see young people presenting Christ in music and testimony.

We also have been blessed with special power to reach other young people. At a youth correctional facility in California the chaplain explained, “Some of these young men and women are facing life sentences. They don’t need entertainment. They need Jesus.” Some of those teenagers had committed violent crimes. The spiritual warfare grew visible as we sang, and we prayed that God would speak to them through us.

“God worked here tonight through your music,” the chaplain told us later. “When these young people go back to their rooms, the battle begins as they struggle with what they have seen and heard. Please pray for our work here,” he pleaded.

Sometimes we ourselves forget the tremendous power of sacred songs to convict and comfort. This proved especially true at a boarding school in Arizona where caring Seventh-day Adventists work for Native American youth, many from traumatic backgrounds. Our choir director, Betsy Mayer, met a senior named Emanuel at breakfast. He shared about his baptism.

“Do you know what your name means?” she asked him.

He shook his head.

“It means ‘God is with us.’ During our concert we will be sharing a song entitled ‘Immanuel.’ It has a special message just for you.”

Classes started as soon as our concert ended, but Emanuel took the time to tell us how much the music meant to him. He even asked for some of the music so that he could learn to play it himself.

We later learned from a school counselor how God really was with Emanuel. During one school break he had found his clothes outside his home in a box and no trace of his family. Now the Seventh-day Adventists at the mission school are his family.

When the last note sounds at a concert, our ministry doesn’t end. The music frequently opens the way for us to pray with our guests and share about God and the unique missionary training we receive at Hartland. We often leave Last Generation magazines, and many people buy our CDs and receive information about our school.

At a gas station in Utah, a Native American lady selling beads motioned Adrian, a black choir member, over. “Come here. I want you to meet my husband.” She explained, “My husband is black, too, and we never see black people out here.”

“At first I feared that I was about to be robbed, but then I sensed an opportunity to witness,” Adrian says. “She took me to the back of the parking lot and began asking me questions.”

Adrian shared that he sang in a Christian choir, and the woman opened up about her desire to return to God. Her husband, completely skeptical, mocked her. “He just wants your money!” As Adrian and the wife continued talking, the husband walked away.

“I felt impressed to offer her a CD,” says Adrian. “I ran to the van for one, but when I got back to her, the husband had returned.

“Then her husband yelled, ‘You actually bought one of those things from him?’ When I explained to him that it was a gift, his expression changed to one of surprise.

“As I turned to leave, the man stopped me and said, ‘You know, she’s going to play that thing, and it’ll probably drive me crazy, but that’s okay. I need God right now, too.’”

As I reflect on this trip, I am reminded how God used us to bring the Three Angels’ Messages to people who might have never attended a prophecy seminar or a Seventh-day Adventist church. Our tour was not just a series of nice songs, but music with power, testimonies from the heart, and an opportunity to witness and to encourage others.

by Claire Ware, Junior, Christian Secondary Education

by Leilani Hortaleza

“Such beautiful music!” one lady exclaimed. “I kept crying from the first song on,” confessed a gentleman. On May 14-16, 2010, the Hartland College choirs and guest soloists shared “Sing the Story,” a narrated musical presentation showcasing this region’s religious heritage in Madison, Orange, and Culpeper counties. “The presentation featured historical narrative generously laced with well-loved hymns, spirituals, and gospel melodies—songs that are touchstones of a common heritage between all Christians of this region.

“We spent a lot of time practicing these songs. People were in tears. I don’t think that would have happened if we hadn’t practiced or made the effort to sing from the heart,” points out one singer. Seth Lucas, director of the Campus Choir, rigorously rehearsed the dynamics of each piece before giving students this advice: “What comes from your voice can only reach the ear—but what comes from the heart will reach the heart.”

Students befriended people after each concert. One listener enthused, “Their Christian deportment—so young and yet so spiritual!” A Chinese student confided, “Talking with people before the concert was difficult. After the concert, they treated me like an old friend! We discussed spiritual themes mentioned in the songs. The best time to make friends is after charming people with music!” Another student later met a listener at a farm fair. This person asked for a Bible study on the Sabbath.

Most importantly, the concert celebrated religious liberty. Betsy Mayer, director of the Three Angels’ Chorale, the College’s touring choir, explains, “It’s so easy to take the religious freedoms we enjoy for granted. This concert recognized the vital influence of our region in the development of American religious freedom—a standard admired by people of all nations.” Jeff Gordon, narrator for the concert, concurs: “Personal worship according to one’s conscience is a God-given right, not just for Americans, but for people the world over. We need to share this gift!”

As in previous years, “Sing the Story” accomplished this once more, and it is the desire of all who took part in this presentation to continue sharing in the future.
“As He died to make men holy,
Let us live to make men free!
While God is marching on.”1

1 Lyrics from the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

By now all of you know that at the 59th General Conference Session, Elder Ted N.C. Wilson was elected to be the seventeenth General Conference president. He is the first son of a former General Conference president to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Many of us were praying for God’s blessing and guidance in the choice made at the session. So much is at stake. I am thrilled that the delegates, on the very first ballot, voted him to be the leader of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Elder J.C. Perozo, my assistant, joins me in those sentiments. He studied at Andrews University with Elder Wilson, and for some time they served the Lord together in the Greater New York Conference as young men. I have known Elder Wilson from his twenties and have developed a great respect and honor for this man who truly loves the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages and the transcendent truths that God has entrusted to the Seventh-day Adventist people.

Elder Wilson has served God’s church in many capacities, and in that sense he is well qualified for the role to which he has been elected. He has served overseas in the Southern African-Indian Ocean Division. He was president of the Euro-Asian Division, which encompassed the territories of the former Soviet Union. He has been president of the Review and Herald Publishing Association and a general vice-president of the General Conference for the last ten years.

I have attended the last nine General Conference Sessions. Elder Wilson’s second Sabbath address was the most dynamic presentation I have ever heard. I was greatly inspired by the clarity and conviction with which he shared his loyalty to the precious principles and pillars of the Seventh-day Adventist faith. In order to recall a presentation equal to his, I had to think back to 1970, the very first General Conference Session I ever attended. It was then that Elder Robert Pierson made his appeal for revival and reformation. In 1975, Elder Pierson presented another wonderful appeal for revival and reformation with great earnestness. Years later, Elder Pierson told Elder George Burnside, Russell, and me that the reason reformation did not come was because “neither the ministry nor the laity were ready for it”—how very sad.

I believe that God has chosen another mighty leader in Elder Wilson. He will be buffeted and pressured to water down God’s truth, but I believe that it would be against his character and convictions to water down this precious message. Could he be the Joshua to lead God’s people into the Promised Land? My appeal is for everyone to read carefully his address to the Seventh-day Adventist people, and prayerfully seek to come up to all the calls he made in that address.

If God’s people heed Elder Wilson’s calls, then the third angel’s message, joined by the message of the angel of Revelation 18, could swell to a loud cry. Under the power of the latter rain, this loud cry will be proclaimed “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6), or as Jesus said prior to His ascension, “to every creature.” Mark 16:15.

Our earnest prayers are needed every day for this man of God. Pray that no matter how attacked he may be by those who are not faithful to the true gospel, he will stand firm, ever seeking to help those who are confused by a false gospel. Let us pray that daily he will receive heavenly wisdom to understand from Scripture—the critical message which God has given to His people.

I admonish all readers to pray without ceasing for the Holy Spirit to work within his or her life. May all of us firmly believe the message, grow in it, and live up to it with all our heart, soul, and mind, as we earnestly study God’s Word. We must also ask the Lord for the skill to share the message with others whom we meet. Let this ever be our goal and purpose.

By Colin Standish, President, Hartland Institute | Hartland Ministry Report – July/August 2010

Giving birth at home? While the idea may raise some eyebrows, a growing number of women with low-risk pregnancies opt for a midwife as their primary caregiver during pregnancy.

Midwives spend more time with their clients in prenatal and postpartum visits, as well as during the actual birth, than do obstetricians. This can result in fewer birth complications and medical interventions. Home environments also slash risks from hospital infections and, a major factor to many, midwifery care can cost from half or even less than half the total expense of traditional hospital deliveries. ¹

From September 6–10, 2010, Hartland Institute hosted a midwifery seminar by Dr. Mary Ann McNeilus and Patricia Barnes, CPM (Certified Professional Midwife). Offered every two years, the seminar covers prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, natural birth planning, and neonatal assessment.

“I heard about this seminar from a Christian midwife group called Charis Childbirth,” comments Amy Elliott. Amy, a doula (a woman who assists women during labor and after childbirth) who attended from Norfolk, Virginia, continues, “Currently, I teach childbirth education classes in Central Asia, and I definitely feel this seminar gave me more confidence to move forward with that.”

Patricia Barnes, a CPM for many years, shares, “Midwifery is not a business or a hobby. It’s a ministry. You learn to work in the fear of the Lord. Even with the training and experience I already have, I still need God’s presence to make decisions that could mean life or death. It’s not just catching babies.”

Dr. McNeilus adds, “Women will always meet women who need this information. We would like to put together a midwifery course where you can be certified and learn the unique service offered by Seventh-day Adventist midwives.”

Students appreciated the seminar. Martha Castañeda comments, “My mother suffered a lot having me as a baby, and even more so with the births of my sister and my brother. What I learned this week helped me understand why. I am so excited to have the knowledge to help others avoid more suffering, especially in the mission field.”

Ladies, plan on being at the next midwifery seminar in September 2012!

by Leilani Hortaleza

¹ ezinearticles.com, Devine, Joseph, “The Benefits of Using A Midwife During Childbirth,” June 12, 2008

“God sent you all to deliver us!” exclaimed a group of African youth who were touched by the Bible studies presented by four Hartland students this winter.

“The studies on righteousness by faith helped many young people have a closer,
genuine walk with God and to avoid extremes,” shared Loago Setswalo. “They
discovered that God empowers them to live a Christlike life, and that they can’t do it in their own strength.”

Aaron Wilson, Ike Anurukem, Noah Hill, and Loago Setswalo, all pastoral evangelism majors at Hartland College, visited three countries in southern Africa for four weeks. Their purpose? To share the gospel and do ground work for establishing health and Bible training institutions similar to Hartland.

“I would say the greatest need in Africa is to get resources for the people that will help them study for themselves,” Noah commented. When students finish at Hartland, they are able to study the Bible for themselves, and they have countless resources to share with others. With this in mind, Loago is planning to establish a training institution where many African young people can study and go back to their own people, shining like rays of light throughout the dark corners of their homeland.

“These were the best two weeks of my life,” one young lady shared after participating in a Bible camp where the students were guest speakers. She had been able to learn about Daniel and Revelation, conversion and righteousness
by faith, and outreach.

Aaron says, “The Bible camp youth have gone back to study for themselves.” The
team shared resources with them, which will enable the young people to continue
learning. Now they are going out and sharing in their own communities.

During the day, participants went out with an outreach group to minister to the
people through health ministry and Bible work. The evenings followed with public
evangelistic meetings, where Aaron and Loago preached for one week each. During
the meetings, about fifty people came out, ranging in age from little children to adults. In the end, about thirty of them took a stand for Christ.

This winter, an impact was made in Africa. Aaron believes that God really prepared them at Hartland so they could do the work there. It may seem small now, but seeds have been planted which are about to be watered by the Holy Spirit. Streams of water which cannot be stopped will cause those seeds to germinate and spring forth to bear fruit for God’s glory very soon.

by Leilani Hortaleza

“It’s a miracle and a blessing to be at Hartland!” Ruth Warner, originally from Michigan, came to the Lifestyle Education Center (LEC) at a friend’s suggestion.
Ruth had been in an accident and could walk only with great pain. She suffered constant pain in her hips, joints, and lower back. Recurring headaches and fatigue also plagued her. “I came to the LEC to be changed,” she said.

Ruth wanted to learn how to make these changes in her health. “A better understanding of how to make these changes came from the health lectures. I appreciated being educated.” She found herself not only learning valuable
information, but also practicing what she learned. “I appreciated so much the cooking demonstrations, the treatments, and the transformation in the way I
feel. I can walk better, and I have had no headaches since the first day here.” Ruth
continued to lose weight and was soon able to walk with minimal pain.

In addition to these changes, Ruth also discovered other blessings. “I was able to
form some very good friendships; the young people here are wonderful. Dr. Tolan taught me so much about food properties and spent a lot of time with the health guests.”

Ruth also found time to improve her most important friendship. “I learned how to
maintain a closer walk with God. I see now the great importance of spending quiet time with Him.”

Not only has Ruth experienced healing, but so have some of her friends! One of
them came to visit during the LEC session and sat in on a health lecture. “The
next day he went from drinking sixteen cups of soda per day to straight water. He
changed his diet, too, by eating more fruits and vegetables each day. That’s pretty powerful!” says Ruth.

Now that Ruth has completed the session, she plans to continue making the right choices with her lifestyle. “I pray that I will stay faithful. This body is for God’s
glory, and it is His temple. By my own choices I was bringing harm to it. Now, through obedient choices, I can have good health. I am really excited to see what the Lord will do.”

Since she’s been home, Ruth’s enthusiasm has been contagious! “I’ve already encouraged four other friends to come to the LEC,” she says. One of them even requested Ruth’s prayers for his health. “I was able to take all the knowledge that I’ve learned at Hartland and tell him, ‘Drink water and get sunshine.’ It’s nice to have an answer. It’s nice to give people hope!”

God alone can provide answers in these harsh economic times.

by Colin D. Standish

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” How many times have we sung these words? As we face the unknown this year, let us sing them more sincerely than ever before.

I had decided not to say too much about the implosion of the world economy, but now I am breaking my silence. I wish to avoid the speculative announcements common in the Internet Age. I always seek the best and the most credible sources for my information.

I will not be surprised if as early as this year the deep recession will have developed into the third world depression since the 1890s. Because of globalism and the magnitude of recent economic developments, it could be a depression of unparalleled magnitude in the history of mankind. There is concern that the US dollar’s and other currencies’ buying power will be greatly reduced. The efforts of the G-20, the 20 largest economies, seem to have achieved little. These summits have not been able to find the solution to the economic implosion.

As president of Hartland, I have responsibility for the funds which God has entrusted to us. I do not have the wisdom—no one on this planet has the wisdom—to know how to handle this situation. Some “experts” say this downturn will last at least 10 years; others say 15 years. The most optimistic say at least 2 years; some are not even willing to hazard a guess.

Therefore, all that the staff and I can do is turn to the Lord for help. He is the Master Economist. Our ministries are working to get out as much free literature as possible to help overseas projects which are doing a dedicated work for the Lord. We are also doing all we can to expedite the remediations at Hartland so that the funds from faithful supporters will not be devalued in this financial crisis.

This is not the time to hold back from God’s work. I pray that we will not be amongst those who hesitate to provide God’s funds for His work.

As Seventh-day Adventists, we are not in darkness as to what these world-wide developments mean. This is not a call for panic. It is a call for each one of us to look up, for our redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28).

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…”

by Joan Reichard

He knows he has lost. Surrender is near. With a general’s craftiness, he ravages the land. He may have lost, but his enemy won’t benefit, because everything this enemy has fought for will burn. As the vanquished flees before the victor, he burns bridges, sacks towns, and salts fields.

To stop this sabotage, the victor must quickly send trained units to put out fires. He must engage his foe constantly to distract him from destruction. He must also assure the inhabitants of the defeated land of his noble intentions so they will not assist in the ransacking.

In the greatest war of history, God’s enemy has already lost. When Christ paid the penalty for sin, Satan could no longer claim that God was unfair. Sin required death, and “Christ gave His life to save the sinner from the death sentence.” In Heavenly Places, p. 361.

When Satan knew he was defeated, he decided, like the general we began with, to snatch the benefits of victory from Christ. Since Christ came to save men, Satan wants to ensure that there are few to save. He has focused his energies to deceive and distract men from our Savior, trying, among other things, to convince men that Christ’s death and work in the sanctuary are not enough to enable them to keep God’s law. As his time shortens, the battle intensifies, and more and more souls perish in his grasp.

Christ must end this sabotage. He, like the victor of our beginning, needs trained soldiers to douse the fires of Satan’s delusions, to dispel darkness with light, to draw souls from the clutches of Satan through the love of Christ.

Hartland College is a war college, one of Christ’s tools for fitting leaders for this spiritual conflict. We are here to equip God’s men and women, so our graduates can effectively help God win battles in His way.

This is the focus of this Hartland Ministry Report: How God is using Hartland to prepare soldiers for this conflict. We report on the ordination of two graduates on pages 6 and 7, and on student battle plans coordinated by the new “Lord, Send Me” program on page 11. We give a detailed perspective of Hartland’s aims and methods in our interview with Pastor Baker on page 9.

If God is calling you to Hartland College, heed His voice. If you are open to the Spirit, Hartland will arm you. Whether or not Hartland is for you, consider this a general call to throw yourself into this final push against evil. Let us, with God’s help, end this war and go home.