Receiving the Word, by Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

A thorough and convincing study on the nature of inspiration and the trustworthiness of the Bible. Shows the far-reaching implications of “higher criticism” in Bible study. Includes an eye-opening look at the challenges to our SDA beliefs posed by “progressive” Adventists in academic and theological circles, as well as answers to common objections and explanations of common “problem texts.” It deals directly with many of the so-called errors, contradictions, and discrepancies in the Bible that are used to justify unbiblical beliefs and practices today.

Besides dealing with the theological-philosophical issues of higher criticism and skepticism toward inspiration, the book also touches upon the following contemporary debates which hinge on our view of the authority of Scripture:

• Use of alcohol
• Homosexuality/lesbianism
• Origins (Darwinism)
• Integrity of our doctrinal foundations (prophecy, atonement, etc.)
• Dress and adornment
• Women’s roles in the home and in church
• and more

Dr. Samuel Koranteng-Pipim is a frequent and admired presenter at events like Generation of Youth for Christ (GYC), and is widely read or listened to within Adventist circles.

368 pages.

Available from Amazon.com and other outlets.

If you are an Adventist involved in some form of publishing, and want to be included in this list, please let me know.

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Print on demand and low-volume printing

“Print on demand” printers can be a good choice if you have a small run of books that you want to market yourself. The printer may also have outlets to help sell your book. However, unlike traditional printers, these printers require you to pay for the printing yourself, and most or all of the promotion is your responsibility too. On the other hand, all the profit from book sales is yours!

TEACH Services: Brushton, New York. Phone: 800-367-1844.

Traditional publishers

Traditional publishers will usually edit, design, and promote your book for you at their own expense. This usually means less cost and less work for you — but in exchange for reduced personal risk, you have less control of editing and design, and less profit per piece. However, if your book is a great success, a traditional publisher will most likely bring you more income in royalties than you would have been able to earn publishing the book yourself. Your book will most likely be of higher quality, and your book will have a greater chance of reaching outlets such as Adventist Book Centers.

Andrews University Press: “The Press publishes and distributes books, journals, papers and films that make a scholarly and/or professional contribution to their respective fields and are in harmony with the mission of Andrews University.”

Inter-American Division Publishing Association: “IADPA is the printing and publishing house of the Inter-American Division of Seventh-Day Adventists. Founded in 1984, our publishing ministry is today one of the largest publishers of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, with more than 491 titles in print and 133 new titles in process. IADPA is an international publisher, drawing authors from several countries and distributing its products around the world.”

Orion Publishing: Ukiah, California. Phone: 800-471-4284.

Pacific Press Publishing Association: Nampa, Idaho. Phone: 208-465-2500. One of the two major denominational presses.

Remnant Publications: Coldwater, Michigan.

Review and Herald Publishing Association: Hagerstown, Maryland. Phone: 301-393-4050. One of the two major denominational presses.

Web and sheet-fed presses

Web and sheet-fed presses are best suited to medium- and high-volume printing of 10,000 or more pieces. However, some of these presses may have economical solutions for low-volume printing as well.

Color Press: Collegeplace, Washington.

Light Bearers Ministry: Malo, Washington.

Pacific Press Publishing Association: Nampa, Idaho.

Remnant Publications: Coldwater, Michigan.

Review and Herald Publishing Association: Hagerstown, Maryland.

Southwestern ColorGraphics: Keene, Texas.

Web Hosting

netAserve

TAGnet

DVD, film, motion picture, and video

Adventist Media Productions: “Adventist Media Productions (AMP) is the primary electronic media production unit of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. AMP has the responsibility of producing radio and television programming for 5 different ‘ministries’ of the SDA Church — It Is Written, Voice Of Prophecy, Breath of Life, Faith For Today and La Voz de la Esperanza.  AMP also produces programming for Adventist Communication Network and Adventist Television Network.”

It Is Written Digital Media Group: “Formerly known as Advent Digital Media, IIW Digital Media Group was founded in 1995 by evangelist Don Gray as a ministry of the North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.  Throughout the last decade, DMG has provided evangelism graphics and illustrations for nearly every Net satellite series, and also offers these graphics on CD-ROM for use by pastors and evangelists.”

Organizations

Adventist Digital Artists Association (ADAA): If you are interested in 3D, motion picture production, or animation, check out this Adventist discussion group.

Society of Adventist Communicators: “The Society of Adventist Communicators is an organization committed to networking Seventh-day Adventists in North America who work in the communication industry as writers, editors, videographers, web designers, broadcasters and many other fields.”

I think these guys did a great job. While there is always room for improvement, I think the site has taken a big step in the right direction. I really like the bright, open feel, as well as the human factor present in the new design.

Providentially, my friend Diana was leading a group of Bible workers at Battle Creek, and she invited me to come. The timing was perfect, since if I had waited any longer, their evangelism series would have been over, and I would have lost my “inside connection.” Thanks, Diana!

The drive there would have been about 7.5 hours, except for a little mishap. Near Effingham, Illinois, a police car came up behind me, and flashed its lights. I was driving exactly the speed limit, so I couldn’t guess what would be the problem. He pegged me for two things: not having a front license plate (my saving grace was that I had the missing plate in the car, having intended to put it on as soon as I could visit a dealership), and my back plate was half off! I could hardly believe it. We walked around to the back of the car, and as I was fiddling with the plate to see if I could reconnect it, the other screw popped out, and the whole thing fell to the ground! (The screws were the ones that came with the car, but they were definitely non-standard.) The officer was friendly, though, and didn’t fine me for anything. He told me where to go to get it fixed, which I promptly did. The whole episode cost me maybe 30 minutes.

When I arrived in Battle Creek, the night’s evangelism series was in progress at the local SDA academy, so I went directly there. The evangelist was Ted Struntz, someone who I’d never met, but indirectly knew: He was the father of a girl I knew in academy and whom I had done LE work with one summer (Julia). Also, it just so happened that I sat down, without realizing it, next to David and Marie Tenold, who had been staff at Oklahoma Academy when I was a student there. Also, Marie had been my work supervisor for two years. The night’s message was good, and it was encouraging to hear that quite a few non-SDAs were attending and interested in baptism. Besides Diana, I also bumped into someone else I knew that night: Phil Mills.

The Bible workers were staying right at the Historic Adventist Village, and they let me stay with them. I had a nice, comfortable room to myself, on the second floor. The room had eight windows, four each on two adjacent walls—really nice.

Sabbath morning I went to the Dime Tabernacle, the main SDA church in the area. There was a large painting behind the pulpit, Heinrich Hoffman’s “Christ and the Rich Young Ruler”—one of my favorites—which I thought was cool. I joined a Sabbath school class taught by Jerry Finneman, which was really good. The sermon was by the evangelist, and was part of the series. Later, at lunch, I met a couple more people I know: Doug Carlson, an associate pastor who previously was the pastor at my grandma’s church in Edenville, and Ranger Jim from Kids’ Time on 3ABN! He was showing off a hummingbird and a chipmunk, both of which were in large glass jars.

Sabbath afternoon I took the official tour of the village.

William Miller’s prophetic chart, on display in the visitor center:

The pulpit in a church where Ellen White spoke:

Garth Stoltz, Village Director:

The Whites’ home:

An early edition of Early Writings, published in Battle Creek:

The dining room in their home:

Where Ellen would write jounal entries, manuscripts, and letters (these are not the original items of furniture, but are similar to what she would have used):

Copies of her writings (pretty good penmanship!):

A carriage similar to what the Whites would have used:

That evening we returned for more of the evangelism meetings. Later back at the village, we had a long discussion about women’s ordination; it lasted past midnight! Although the five or so of us most involved in the discussion had deep-seated opinions on this subject, the entire exchange was very civil, and I came away with greater perspective on the subject.

The Bible workers:

In front of David Hewitt’s home:

On Sunday we all went out to eat at a pancake place. This was mainly in honor of the Bible workers for all their hard work, and was paid for by Pastor Russell from Andrews who had oversight of them. But they invited me along. It was a good meal! But my stay was over all too soon!

I left soon after we got back from the restaurant, but on the way home I stopped at this cemetary in Battle Creek where many SDA pioneers are buried:

The tombstones of James and Ellen White:

On the way home I passed these vehicles. I took this while driving, so it’s a bit blurry. But if you look closely, you can see the car on the left is one of those models that can be driven in water. You can see two propellers under the bumper, and it has a high exhaust pipe to keep the water out. The other truck is towing a log cabin!