|
Since that time this institution has never looked back. What
has transpired since the move from Takoma Park has been marvelous.
It is obvious that God was leading in the development of the Seminary.
I am so happy to join you this afternoon to celebrate this occasion.
The Seventh-day Adventist educational system is highly recognized
by non-Adventists and governments in many parts of the world.
This is attested to by the fact that our colleges and universities
have been chartered or recognized by many national governments.
Andrews University and, of course, the Seminary has played a
critical role nurturing and guiding these institutions to maturity.
The University has served as the center for training trainers.
It is my hope that you will continue to assist these institutions.
The extension of the Seminary at this time when some of the
divisions have or plan to have their own graduate schools is an
indication that your role is going to be expanded and not diminished.
As I have said before, the Seminary has a special place in the
global mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. For all these
years you have prepared workers to go to Christian lands, and
we have been successful. But now we need to take the gospel to
the 10/40 window, where the majority of the world population lives.
The challenge of cities in the developed world and the secular
people is where we don't have many successful stories to tell.
The world Church is waiting and looking at this great institution
for help. Our ministers should be coming to this Seminary to learn
the techniques of church growth, and not any other place. Our
youth leaders should be coming here to learn youth ministry. For
we are unique, we are a world church and not a congregation.
I am encouraged by the way you are reshaping the M.Div program.
This will best prepare pastors to serve the churches in North
America. America is in the midst of radical cultural transformation,
which is having a dramatic effect on the Church. How do you minister
Christ to the various ethnic groups in your community? America
is not a mono-cultural nation anymore. It is no longer a melting
pot. It is a mosaic that has retained distinctives. And I believe
that the reshaped M.Div program will help ministers acquire the
leadership skills that will make their ministry more effective
among ethnic Americans. This is wonderful. This is needed. But
I want to remind you that the seminary is to serve the whole world.
I want to appeal to the University and the Seminary leadership
that centers of special studies be in place here, where young
people can acquire the skills to take the gospel to the Muslims,
Hindus, and Buddhists, including language studies. If we are serious
about taking the gospel to the 10/40 window, and to the secular
world, we need to be international in our thinking and planning
to prepare not one, but many workers solely for this purpose.
To do this, I believe we need to nurture a strong partnership
between the seminaries and Church leaders. It is unfortunate that
sometimes the Church leaders do not know what is happening at
the seminaries, and visa versa.
I have been at the General Conference for 15 years, I am not
aware of a meeting between the Church leaders and leaders of the
seminary to discuss the mission of the world church. You find
one or two of you appointed to serve on a committee. However,
I hope the board of Theological Education will foster this relationship
that is greatly needed.
The Use of Technology
In 1998 an evangelistic campaign was conducted from the Andrews
University Church. With the help of modern technology these meetings
were seen live via satellite throughout the world. I was visiting
Namibia and was able to see the programs there.
The other day the president of this university had an interview
with the General Conference officers through a video conferencing
machine. It is about time the Seminary make use of technology
in order to prepare more church workers for this growing church.
Very soon, it may be difficult to have many students from the
world field come here to study. But through modern technology,
the walls of the Seminary can be extended.
As a General Conference institution, the Seminary has played
its role very well. The world Church is ever grateful to you.
Your work will not be finished until we see our Savior face to
face.
May God bless each of you in a mighty way so that Jesus may come
quickly to take us home. May the work being done here at the Seminary
hasten that day. Again, congratulations and God bless you.
|
