Colin Standish

Since the end of World War II, there has been a decided, alarming change in the moral values of Western society. Until World War II, morality in the Western world had been, to a large extent, consistent with biblical principles. Even those who lived in immoral relationships rarely tried to defend their antisocial behavior. Premarital sex, extramarital sex, homosexual and lesbian relationships, and divorce were at least seen in a negative light.

By the time we reached the 21st century, to a major extent, this had vanished. Indeed, those who still held strongly to Christian morality were branded as narrow-minded, void of love, and exercising bigotry. Instead of rejecting immoral practices and behaviors, society began to consider them alternative lifestyles. If this had been limited to those who practice these sins in the secular world, it might be understandable. But society has greatly influenced many people in the Christian world, who now believe that God desires us to accept such sinful behavior. Before going further, I must mention that we should not despise those living in sin. We should seek to “put our arms around them” and encourage them to live a life in harmony with the godly principles which have, in the past, protected marriage, family life, and society.

On May 15, 2011, the Los Angeles Times published an article entitled “A More-inclusive Church,” written by a Presbyterian minister. Most of us have come to understand that the word “inclusive” today means accepting the immorality that may be found in the world and in the church. This ordained minister pastors a church in West Virginia. He had once adhered to biblical principles of Christian morality, but sometime ago he faced the issue of his church electing a known lesbian to become one of their elders. In the end, the majority of the members concluded that they were wrong in their previous stand, and that the stand of the Presbyterian Church was wrong.

All but a few members came to agree that Christ would approve them ordaining this lesbian as a church elder. So, the said lesbian became an elder in their church. The pastor reported that this decision brought many of the estranged Christians in the area back to the church, and he spoke of great growth in the membership. However, there were members of that church who refused to continue worshiping there and withdrew their membership. It was implied that these members were not Christlike.
Certainly, Christ showed His love for the immoral. The stories of Mary Magdalene, the woman caught in adultery, the Samaritan at the well, and Rahab give us examples of Jesus’ love and compassion. He set the perfect example. Christ loved the sinner, but He also hated the sin. His words, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more,” sum up the Christlike principles in dealing with immoral behavior. John 8:11.
Jesus’ compassion for the sinner is the reason why He died on Calvary. Not only did He have compassion for the sinner, He earnestly entreated the sinner to “sin no more.”

Many congregations in our beloved Seventh-day Adventist Church have abandoned Jesus’ principles. They may express a great “love” for the sinner—and they should—but they ignore or condone the sin! What a contrast from Christ’s principles. Christ provides grace and power to overcome sin and restore the character of the repentant one.
No one can be truly content living in sin. It brings guilt and disharmony—especially among family and friends. By example, it leads other people in the way of Satan. Some of our churches openly endorse the lifestyles of members practicing immorality.

No true Seventh-day Adventist, no true Christian, can ignore, condone, or endorse a lifestyle which is clearly against the Word of God. Let each one of us pray daily for power and strength from Christ to live a moral Christian life, and that we will also help others gain the victory Christ gives over all sin. May this be the blessing of every reader.

In the fall of 2006, I came to Hartland to study Christian Media Management. Little did I know that this experience was actually going to direct me towards a different calling. At the beginning of 2007, I started working at the Hartland Farm, and also took the Agriculture minor course led by Mr. Bob Gregory. This experience really impacted my life. Even from the first few days of working at the farm, I knew that this was what I wanted to do. Computers were nice, but it was nothing compared to the joy I received from taking care of the crops on the farm.

The relationships that we were able to establish with the staff and students on the farm resembled those of a family. Compared to the usual student activities that were very strenuous, especially intellectually, working on the farm was more like a recreational activity. I have been able to develop many practical and theoretical agriculture skills during my two years of working at the Hartland Farm, but it was also essential in developing character, a healthy work ethic, and complex management skills. Working with Mr. Esteban Cabrera is one of my best memories from my time studying at Hartland College. It was a real blessing to learn from his agricultural experience, and also from his distinct people skills.

During this period, I became more and more convinced about the fact that it would be a great blessing for me to live in a rural setting and work on a farm as a means of sustaining my future family. Right now, I own a 12-acre organic farm in the southern part of Romania, close to the city of Craiova. I have been managing the farm for almost a year now, improving it, and preparing it for production. This year will be the first year of serving the community through the produce we grow. We plan to open our own store and also do home deliveries through the produce basket-type marketing. I am also a sophomore studying horticulture at the University of Agriculture and Horticulture here in Craiova.

I thank God for the experience I have had at the Hartland Farm, and for the people who have been a part of my training. My life would have been different without it.

Sincerely,
Bogdan Chirvasuta

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

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

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.

by Joseph Ware

Are you thinking about coming to Hartland College to prepare for God’s service? We spoke with Aaron Baker, Bible Instructor at Hartland College, to show you what it’s like to be a student at Hartland.

“You’re going to be challenged at Hartland.” Aaron Baker makes no bones about it as he advises prospective students. “Expect to be pushed to another level.” Do you have what it takes?

“If God is calling you to leadership, Hartland College is where you should be,” Pastor Baker goes on. “You don’t just come to Hartland to learn to give Bible studies. That has a role, but what makes Hartland different is that this institution trains leaders. You will have a desire not only to learn the Bible, but also to use it practically to finish the work.”

Hartland has a distinctive curriculum to ensure that both of these things happen—that Hartland graduates will both know their Bibles and how to apply them to God’s work.

“Here are the tools that you need to have,” explains Pastor Baker, referring to Hartland’s program. “You will have a much more thorough understanding of the Scriptures if you use these tools correctly.” Once you have the tools, Hartland gives you direction with classes such as Principles of Self-Supporting Work. “This is where you will learn how to be a leader and how to establish a ministry which should become a light,” continues Pastor Baker. “Wherever you are in the vineyard, you should be a light.” Through programs like “Lord, Send Me,” Hartland helps its students establish their place in God’s service even after graduation.

The challenges that face a Hartland student also have potential to make him/her a better worker for God. “The number one way for God to reveal His will to you is for you to grow. And you cannot grow if you don’t have trials,” explains Pastor Baker. “That’s why we encourage students to stay the course. You may have a rough quarter, but this will help God reveal His will. Endurance, prayer, and consistent devotions cannot be neglected at Hartland.”

This education bears fruit. Giancarlo de Miranda, a senior Pastoral Evangelism major, says of his experience, “I see major changes in my life. I only wish I had applied myself even more so that God could have done an even greater work in me.”

Pastor Baker concludes, “Don’t expect to see your understanding of Christianity here. Expect to be challenged in what it means to be a Christian. Expect to grow. Hartland is here to train young people based on the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy so that they can reproduce this training, whether it’s by establishing strong churches or ministries, by being solid teachers, or by publishing God-filled literature that teaches truth in love.” Is this your dream? Perhaps you should be a Hartland student!