Two "Firsts" for Adventist
Naval Chaplain

United States Navy chaplain Rear Admiral Barry C. Black took up responsibilities as Chief of Navy Chaplains on August 18, becoming the first Seventh-day Adventist and the first African American to hold the office.

As head of the more than 1,000 U.S. Navy chaplains around the world, Black says his mandate is to "ensure that the millions of people we serve have their constitutional religious free exercise, and that no one is placed in a position where their spiritual needs are not met." Black will also have the task of advising navy leadership on "ethical, moral, religious, and spiritual matters."

Admiral Barry Black

In his new position Black will serve navy personnel from more than 190 different religious traditions and backgrounds. In this "pluralistic milieu," says Black, there is always the challenge of maintaining unity, treating everyone fairly, and keeping a level playing field and it is vital to be "assiduous in guarding [religious] free exercise rights of Navy Service members."

"The moment equal accommodation is permitted to be jeopardized, it becomes an ethical slippery slope," says Black. He adds that the Adventist Church's emphasis on religious liberty and Sabbath-keeping has made him more sensitive to the religious accommodation needs of all naval personnel, no matter what their faith.

Black cites "the opportunity to serve" as one of the most rewarding aspects of his role. "Leadership involves being a servant," says Black. "Jesus said that if you want to be great and lead, you have to serve. The opportunity to receive rank, to open doors for other people, and to empower them is exhilarating."

The ceremony took place at the Washington Navy Yard. Referring to his upbringing as the child of a single parent family in the projects of Baltimore, Black told the audience: "When you see a turtle on a fencepost, you know he had some help getting there." He paid tribute to all those who helped him grow spiritually and in technical expertise over the years.

A graduate of Oakwood College and Andrews University, Black has been a Navy chaplain for more than 24 years. For the past three years he has served as Deputy Chief of Chaplains. According to Richard Stenbakken, director of chaplaincy ministries for the Adventist Church worldwide, Black has a "spectacular" service record. "In his new role, I'm sure that he will continue to serve with distinction," says Stenbakken, who attended the change of office ceremony. "He has the prayers and best wishes of his church family around the world."

Black is now responsible for U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corp chaplains. He was nominated for the position by President Bill Clinton and the Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig in April this year, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The Adventist Review will print an interview will Chaplain Black in the October North American Division issue.–-Adventist News Network

GC2000 Clothing Distribution
Project A Success
During GC2000 in Toronto, volunteers distributed an average of 1,200 pieces of clothing a day at the Toronto Adventist Community Services center (TACS).

The distribution project was a cooperative effort of visiting attendees and local church members. Many persons traveling were asked to bring extra clothing to give away in Toronto for distribution. These items were collected at strategic locations and taken to the community service center. Volunteers from the Canadian Youth Challenge and Youth Scholarship programs sorted and displayed the clothing.

Each day 120 to 150 pastors, pastors' wives, teachers, and lay evangelists visited the center to get the needed clothing. They came from more than 30 countries.

"The Toronto Adventist Community Services is grateful that it could have been involved in such a needed and worthwhile project," says Dean Lashington-Francis, TACS executive director.

Embassy Bomb Survivors Still Reveive Assistance From ADRA
Two years after the bombing of the United States Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, changed hundreds of lives, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to help survivors rebuild their shattered lives.

ADRA is one of three agencies funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) providing services to those affected by the blast. Four hundred people recovering from physical disabilities caused by the blast remain in the care of ADRA, receiving rehabilitation and financial assistance to start personal businesses. Many will stay in recovery until the program's end in April 2001.

"ADRA's goal is that the bomb survivors will be rehabilitated to, at least, a near normal condition, as they were before the bomb, and will be able to be independent," reports Ann Gacheru, an ADRA spokesperson for the bomb blast rehabilitation program.

Former Bahamas Prime Minister Dies
Sir Lynden Pindling, 70, former prime minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, died August 26 at his home in Cable Beach, Nassau. He had been battling cancer for sometime. Pindling was a member of the Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Lynden served as the prime minister of the Bahamas for 25 years. He rejoined the Adventist Church in 1996 and was an active church member up until his death.

AWR Officials Break Ground in Italy
"We are here today in specific response to a command of the Lord to bring His message of salvation to people who are otherwise almost unreachable." With those words, Elder Jan Paulsen, President of the General Conference, led out in the groundbreaking for the new Adventist World Radio (AWR) superstation at Argenta, Italy, on August 17.

When constructed and operational the station will have a potential listening audience of more than two billion people in 47 countries of the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia.

In his remarks, AWR President Don Jacobsen noted that while the station was hosted in the territory of the Euro-Africa Division, it is being built to serve the world church. "This is not an AWR project," said Jacobsen, "This is a church project. It is a project that we are taking on together because of our commitment to transmitting the gospel to those who may only hear the story of Jesus and His love through the means of radio."