Southern Asia Division of Seventh-day Adventists

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Welcome

Welcome to the Southern Asia Division of Seventh-day Adventists home page! It is a delight to have you visit us. We hope that this website will give you helpful information, answer your questions, and provide you with an overview of who we are and what we are about.  We are a family of committed believers in Jesus Christ, living expectantly in the light of His love and His coming, and seeking to serve the world around us. We would be delighted to have you visit us in person! May God bless you this day and every day.
 

Sud News July 2010

SDA_Logo

SUD News July, 2010

T P Kurian

Communication Department

 

The updated list of church officers as they are elected at the 2010 World Church Session

President -- Ted N. C. Wilson
Secretary -- G. T. Ng
Treasurer -- Robert E. Lemon

General Vice President -- Delbert W. Baker
General Vice President -- Lowell C. Cooper
General Vice President -- Geoffrey G. Mbwana
General Vice President -- Armando Miranda
General Vice President -- Pardon K. Mwansa
General Vice President -- Michael L. Ryan
General Vice President -- Benjamin D. Schoun
General Vice President -- Ella S. Simmons
General Vice President -- Artur A. Stele

Undersecretary -- Homer W. Trecartin
Associate Secretary -- Rosa T. Banks
Associate Secretary -- Myron Iseminger
Associate Secretary -- Agustin Galicia
Associate Secretary -- John Thomas
Associate Secretary -- Harald Wollan

Undertreasurer -- Juan R. Prestol
Associate Treasurer -- George O. Egwakhe
Associate Treasurer -- Daisy J. Orion
Associate Treasurer -- Roy E. Ryan
Associate Treasurer -- J. Raymond Wahlen II

General Field Secretary -- Paul S. Brantley
General Field Secretary -- Gary D. Krause
General Field Secretary -- Angel Manuel Rodriguez
General Field Secretary -- Charles Sandefur
General Field Secretary -- Brad Thorp

 

World Divisions

East-Central Africa
President -- Blasious M. Ruguri
Secretary -- Nathaniel M. Walemba
Treasurer -- Jerome Habimana

Euro-Africa
President -- Bruno R. Vertallier
Secretary -- Gabriel E. Maurer
Treasurer -- Norbert Zens

Euro-Asia
President -- Guillermo E. Biaggi
Secretary -- Vladimir A. Krupskyi
Treasurer -- Brent B. Burdick

Inter-American
President -- Israel Leito
Secretary -- Elie Henry
Treasurer -- Filiberto M. Verduzco Avila

North American
President -- Daniel R. Jackson
Secretary -- G. Alexander Bryant
Treasurer -- G. Thomas Evans

Northern Asia-Pacific
President -- Jairyong Lee
Secretary -- Akeri Suzuki
Treasurer -- Kenneth W. Osborn

South American
President -- Erton C. Kohler
Secretary -- Magdiel Perez
Treasurer -- Marlon de Souza Lopes

South Pacific
President -- Barry D. Oliver
Secretary -- Lawrence P. Tanabose
Treasurer -- Rodney G. Brady

Southern Africa-Indian Ocean
President -- Paul S. Ratsara
Secretary -- Solomon Maphosa
Treasurer -- Goodwell Nthani

Southern Asia
President -- John Rathinaraj
Secretary -- Gordon E. Christo
Treasurer -- G. S. Robert Clive

Southern Asia-Pacific
President -- Alberto C. Gulfan Jr.
Secretary -- Saw Samuel
Treasurer -- Keith R. Heinrich

Trans-European
President -- Bertil A. Wiklander
Secretary -- Audrey Andersson
Treasurer -- Johann E. Johannsson

West-Central Africa
President -- Gilbert Wari
Secretary -- Onaolapo Ajibade
Treasurer -- Emmanuel S. D. Manu


General Conference Departments

 

Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries
Director -- Gary R. Councell
Associate Director -- Mario E. Ceballos

Auditing Service
Director -- Paul H. Douglas
Associate Director -- Gary B. Blood
Associate Director -- Christopher S. Garrity
Associate Director -- Daniel E. Herzel
Associate Director -- Mark S. Hyder
Associate Director -- Jeremy T. Smith
Associate Director for North America -- Robyn W. Kajiura
Associate Director for Trans Africa -- Furaha Mpozembizi
Associate Director for Trans America -- Roy Cortez
Associate Director for Trans Asia-Pacific -- Paul J. Edwards
Associate Director for Trans Euro-Asia -- Sandra C. Grice

Children's Ministries
Director -- Linda Koh
Associate Director -- Saustin K. Mfune

Communication

Director -- Williams Costa Jr.
Associate Director -- Andre Brink
Associate Director -- Garrett Caldwell

Education
Director -- Lisa M. Beardsley
Associate Director -- Hudson E. Kibuuka
Associate Director -- Mike Lekic
Associate Director -- Luis A. Schulz
Associate Director -- John Wesley Taylor, V

Family Ministries
Director -- Willie Oliver
Associate director -- Elaine Oliver

Health Ministries
Director -- Allan R. Handysides
Associate Director -- Fred Hardinge
Associate Director -- Kathleen H. K. Kuntaraf
Associate Director -- Peter N. Landless

Ministerial Association
Secretary -- Jerry Page
Associate Secretary -- Janet Page

Planned Giving and Trust Services
Director -- Thomas A. Kapusta
Associate Director -- Charles B. Simpson
Associate Director -- Wilfredo L. Sumagaysay

Public Affairs & Religious Liberty
Director -- John Graz
Associate Director -- Barry W. Bussey
Associate Director -- James D. Standish

Publishing
Director -- Howard F. Faigao
Associate Director -- Wilmar Hirle

Sabbath School and Personal Ministries
Director -- Jonathan Kuntaraf
Associate Director -- Gary B. Swanson

Stewardship
Director -- Erika F. Puni
Associate Director -- Mario Nino

Women's Ministries
Director -- Heather-Dawn Small
Associate Director -- Raquel C. Arrais

Youth
Director -- Gilbert R. Cangy
Associate Director -- Jonatan Tejel

General Conference Auditing Service Board

Ailton Dorl
Hyden G. I. Gittens
Elvira Grosu
Svetlana Kara
Jack L. Krogstad
Philip Maitanmi
Phillip Ndlovu
Yungsang Oh
Frensly Panneflek
Lotie Ragas-Blando
John Stanley
Evelyn Will
Vincent Zirimwabagabo
Ex Officio
Lowell C Cooper
Paul H Douglas
Robert E Lemon
G. T. Ng
Ted N. C. Wilson

 

 

Atlanta News

SUD News from

Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center

June 28, 2010

By T P Kurian ANN

 

   pastor-r-john

Pastor  John Rathinararaj was re elected as the President of  Southern Asia Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church   during the General Conference Session at Atlanta.

 A brief background

 Rathinaraj John was born in Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India on March 3, 1949. He attended a government school but moved to Spicer College where he worked his way through a degree in Religious Philosophy and a minor in Religious History, graduating in 1973. The South Tamil Section appointed him pastor of a high tithe-paying congregation and at the same time principal of a small boarding school. During the seven years he was there Pastor John established another two new churches and a day school.

The South Tamil Section ordained him to the gospel ministry in 1979 and posted him to one of the church’s largest day schools in Madurai where he again served as church pastor in addition to his responsibility as principal. Pastor John moved to Pondichery as principal of our largest school in 1983 but only for a year since he was elected president of the South Tamil Section in 1984, a position he held till 1993. After three years he responded to a call to serve as principal of the James Memorial Higher Secondary School in the pioneer Adventist community of Prakasapuram. During this time he completed an MA in History and a B.Ed., but his school administration days were over.

From 1996-1997 he served as president of the Karnataka Section and just a year later was elected president of the South India Union, which at that time included all of Kerala, Tamilnadu, and Karnataka. The membership grew under his leadership exceeding 80,000 members in over 1,000 churches, so in the year 2000 the Union was divided into three unions—East Central India, South Central India, and South East India. Pastor John moved from Bangalore to Chennai to the headquarters of the South East India Union serving as the president till 2005. At the General Conference Session in St Louis that year he was elected Secretary of the Southern Asia Division. Upon the resignation of Ron Watts last year, R John was nominated by an overwhelming majority to replace   Elder John’s wife Flora John coordinates the work of the Adventist Child India at the Division office. He has two married children, his son has a master’s degree in physiotherapy and is principal of a school; his daughter works at the Division Office. He has two grandchildren

 

Dr_Gordon_Christo

Dr. Gorden E Christo was re elected as the Secretary  of the Southern Asia Division

A brief background

 Gordon Christo spent most of his life at Spicer College (Pune, India), having been born when his parents were stationed there, then spending four years as a student in high school, completing his DSLC, and ISC, followed by five years in college, earning the BLA and BTh degrees. Finally he and his wife spent 26 years on the faculty.  At various times, Dr Christo headed the department of Biblical Languages and the department of Religious Philosophy.  He also served as the Dean of the School of Religious studies, and Vice President for Academic Administration.  At Spicer, Gordon, at various times, also conducted the choir, served as youth pastor, coordinated social activities, and worked closely with the Spicerian and Oreodoxa publications.

Gordon Christo began his ministry in 1972 in the Calcutta church.  He later served in the Chandigarh and Ajmer churches, and then in Union evangelism till he obtained a visa for the Philippines where he completed his MA and MDiv degrees.  Before returning, he married Rosenita Moncayo with whom he had been singing in the PUC Ambassadors choir.

In 1986 Dr Christo was sponsored to Andrews University where he completed his PhD in Old Testament Studies.  Though he has written a number of articles for Church magazines and scholarly journals in the areas of Biblical studies, and contextualization, his passion is history of Adventism in India.

At the Division office Dr Christo has served as Director of Higher Education, Vice President, and Secretary of the Division.

Rose Christo serves at the Division office as coordinator for the Adventist Volunteer Centre, and editor of the Southern Asia Tidings.  They have two children.  Gerald teaches music at a school in Bangalore, and Cheryl works as an interior designer in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

GSRClivephotoscan

Pastor  G S Robert Clive was re elected as the Treasurer of the Southern Asia Division

 A brief background

 Ganta Solomon Robert Clive was born to Pioneer Adventist Parents on September 16, 1946 at Kesinapalli in Andhra Pradesh.  After his primary education in a Government School, he moved to Flaiz Adventist High School for his elementary and secondary education.  He graduated with majors in Bachelor of Business Management and Economics from Spicer College in 1969 and went on to obtain a Masters of Commerce degree from Pune University.  After which he began his denominational service as a school accountant in 1972. 

He served the church for 38 Years, as a School and Hospital Accountant, Section Treasurer, Union Assistant Treasurer, Union Treasurer, General Manager of OWPH, Under-Treasurer of Southern Asia Division and was elevated as the Division Treasurer in 2005.  He was re-elected to serve another term as the Treasurer of Southern Asia Division on June 28, 2010.  He was awarded the best Section Treasurer of the Division in 1984.  While serving as the Treasurer of Central India Union he conducted two Evangelistic Crusades, as a result two hundred and eleven (211) members were added to the church.  He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry, on November 18, 2000.

 

His wife Jayamani retired from active service after serving as a teacher in the Adventist Schools for 34 years.  He has three daughters who completed their undergraduate education – an Office Secretary, a Medical Doctor, and a BSc. Nurse.  He is blessed with three grandchildren. As the son of a pioneer Adventist Evangelist he is passionate about evangelism.  He always prioritizes resources to meet the primary goal of the Adventist Church which is to “Tell The World”.

 

 

 

Sud news June 2010

  • Wilson elected president of Seventh-day Adventist world church
Ted N. C. Wilson, a vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the son of a former church president, was today elected to serve as president of the 16.3-million member global Protestant denomination.

Wilson was appointed by the church's 246-member Nominating Committee and confirmed by the General Conference Session delegation, which is an international body of 2,410 appointed members and the highest governing body in the church.

Wilson replaces Jan Paulsen, who has served as president since 1999.

The appointment took place at the church's 59th General Conference Session, being held at the Georgia Dome and adjacent World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

"This is not just an organization, this is not just another denomination. This is God's remnant church," Wilson said in an address to delegates after his appointment.

"I do not know everything, but I shall seek wisdom from counselors and from the Bible and from the Spirit of Prophecy," he said, referring to the writings of church co-founder Ellen White.

"The Spirit of Prophecy is one of the great gifts God has given to the Seventh-day Adventist Church," Wilson said. "It applies to the past and to the future. And, we are going home soon."

Wilson asked that church members ask for God's guidance "and pray that the Holy Spirit would bring us revival and reformation."

Wilson, 60 years old, was elected as a general vice president of the Adventist Church in 2000 during the General Conference Session in Toronto. His 36 years of denominational service include administrative and executive posts in the Mid-Atlantic United States, Africa and Russia.

Wilson began his church career as a pastor in 1974 in the church's Greater New York Conference. He served as an assistant director and then director of Metropolitan Ministries there from 1976 to 1981. He went on to serve in the church's then Africa-Indian Ocean Division, based in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, until 1990. There he served as a departmental director and later as executive secretary, the second highest officer.

Following his post in West Africa, he served at the church's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, as an associate secretary for two years before accepting the position of president of the church's Euro-Asia Division in Moscow, Russia, from 1992 to 1996. Wilson then came back to the United States to serve as president of the Review and Herald Publishing Association in Hagerstown, Maryland, until his election as a General Conference vice president in 2000.

An ordained minister, Wilson holds a doctorate degree in religious education from New York University, a master of divinity degree from Andrews University and a master of science degree in public health from Loma Linda University's School of Public Health.

During his address to delegates, Wilson was joined on stage by his wife, Nancy Louise Vollmer Wilson, a physical therapist. The couple has three daughters.

"Our spouses are so important. This wonderful woman is a spiritual backbone for me," Wilson said.

Wilson is the son of former General Conference president Neal C. Wilson, who served in the post from 1979 to 1990.

Many delegates on the floor of the Georgia Dome said Wilson's election demonstrated the church's confidence in his leadership.

  • World church Treasurer Bob Lemon was re-elected to another five-year term

LemonReelect246-thumb-246x164-3407

God's leading and prudent handling of funds has seen the church through the recent global economic downturn, world church Treasurer Robert E. Lemon told delegates in his financial report for the past five years. [photo: Gerry Chudleigh]

  • Associate Secretary G. T. Ng was promoted to Secretary

GTNg480-thumb-246x165-3410

Seventh-day Adventist Church during its World Session in Atlanta yesterday. [photo: Gerry Chudleigh]

Delegates voting in the Georgia Dome unanimously approved the Nominating Committee's recommendations, which occurred just four hours after selecting Ted Wilson as General Conference president -- three significant actions that, observers said, occurred with remarkable speed.

Ng, a native of Singapore, began his ministry in war-torn Cambodia in the 1970s where he and his wife fled before the capital city Phnom Penh was taken by the Khmer Rouge political party. He later worked in various positions in Asia, including that of professor, and eventually received a call to the church's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he serves as the secretariat liaison between the GC and three of the church's 13 world regions.

Addressing the delegates who voted him into the job for the next five years, Ng called the appointment a humbling experience. Never in my wildest imagination will I ever imagine t hat I would ever be put in this position of responsibility," Ng said, "but the Lord has his way." He replaces Matthew Bediako, who was elected in 2000.
Lemon, treasurer since 2002, said his appointment "was a real privilege and an honor" to work with treasury staff from around the world. He asked that delegates pray for every Adventist member and worker around the globe.In brief remarks, he also said, "We need to change the soft currency of this world into the hard currency of eternity." The biggest challenge facing the church over the next five years, Lemon said in a brief interview after his appointment, is the need to increase involvement among young people.

Edwin Manuel Garcia/ANN

 

April 2010

SUD News, April 2010

Communication Department, Southern Asia Division

T P Kurian

 

HAPPY LIVING SEMINAR IN AIZAWL CITY

 

HAPPY LIVING SEMINAR was conducted by our Brethrens from Philippines mostly from AIIAS and AUP.  On 24 April to 1st May, 2010, the seminar members from abroad are:

 

1. Dr. Paoring Ragui – Vice President, AIIAS (Adventist Institute of Advance Studies)

Indian

2. Mr. Puring Ragui – AIIAS, Filipino

3. Benjamin Mckenzie – AIIAS, England (British)

4. Dr. Arden Perdon – Vice President, AUP (Adventist University of Philippines) Filipino

5. Dr. Mrs Imelda Gomez Perdon – Filipino

6. Dr. Ben Mergal – Professor AIIAS, Filipino

7. Ms Anelyn Orbe – Public Health Instructor AIIAS, Filipino

8. Mr. Eleivan Tingugan – AIIAS, Filipino

9. Ms. Evelyn G. Cezar – AIIAS, Filipino

10. Dr. Hilario Dela Torre Jr – AIIAS, Filipino

11. Dr. Mrs. Mabel Dela Torre – AIIAS, Filipino

12. Dr. Jacqueline R. Salagubang – AIIAS, Chinese- Filipino

13. Jan Romuel Salaubang – Filipino

14. Pastor Joo Youngchoel – AIIAS, Korean

15. Mrs. Eun Hye Joo – Korean

16. Joo Jochyun – Korean

17. Hyun Joo Kim – Korean

18. Dr. Eduard H. Michael Palar – Indonesian

19. Ms. Jenny Ramrar – AUP, Indian

20. Ms. Ellyscia Situmorang (Olga) - Indonesian

21. Mr. F. Sangliana, U.S.A

22. Mrs. Thangmawii, U.S.A

23. Mr. Ropuia, AIIAS

 

Among these team members, there are Medical Doctors, Public Health Instruction, Professors and Theologians.  The group had a meeting with Mr. Lalthanhawla, Chief Minister of Mizoram on Friday evening on May 23, 2010.  The seminar teams felt very much privileged to have such a courtesy visit to the Chief Minister to pay homage respect and offer prayer for his leadership role in Mizoram, in spite of his busy and hectic schedule. The First Lady Rii Lalthanhawla warmly received them and had a tea party at the end of the meeting and dialogue.

 

The seminar team members were divided into various smaller groups and were sent to 11 churches in Aizawl City for vespers and Divine Service meeting on the first Sabbath. The so called “International Gospel Concert” was organized on Saturday night.  All the seats and Isles of Vanapa Hall, the biggest Hall were filled and many more were there outside seeking chance to enter the hall.  Music and songs in groups and solo were presented by the teams and local Adventist singers.

 

The seminars were scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m Sunday evening April 25, 2010 at five different places.  The venue of the seminars and the speakers were:

 

1. Vanapa Hall – Dr. Paoring Ragui, Mr. F. Sangliana, Mr. Benjamin Mckenzie and Evelyn G. Cezer and Jenny Ramrar as Children’s Program in charge and health talk.

2. ITI community hall – Pastor Joo Youngcheol, Dr. Arden Perdon as speakers and Dr. Jacquiline Salagubang and Dr. Imelda G. Perdon as health lecture, clinic and Children’s program in charge.

3. Chawlhhmun Community hall – Dr. Helario Dela Torre and Mr. Benjain Mckenzie were the speaker, Mrs. Puring Ragui and Dr. Mabel Dela Torre were the Health Talk and Children’s program in charge.

4.Thuampui Community Hall – Dr. Michael Palar and Dr. Ben Mergal were the speaker, Anelyn Orbe and Elievan Tangugan were health and Children’s Program in charge.

5. Ramhlun – In this area, evangelistic crusades had been conducted as ground work, eight people had been baptized, during this Happy Living Seminar, another serious of meeting had been conducted by local pastors and evangelists.

 

The seminar in fact, evangelistic meeting series were short. However, the local pastors and evangelists had been working giving Bible studies and cottage meetings for two and half months prior to the seminars as ground work.  Therefore, this Happy Living Seminar was the reaping evangelism.

 

May 1, 2010 Sabbath Day, the appointed day for baptism came. Baptismal pools were made on the dry Helen Lowry School ground with sylpouline.  A short meeting was held in the school auditorium where short sermons were delivered and baptismal vows taken.

 

Ten pastors, one in each pool were baptizing 139 precious souls. Large crowd of Adventist members attended the solemn ceremony.  This was one of the most remarkable events of the Mizo Conference of SDA history.  We were all filled with the joy of victory in Christ. “This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous to our eyes”.

 
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