New President Chosen for the Oldest Adventist Corporation

On September 6, the Review and Herald Publishing Association board of directors named Robert S. Smith its eighteenth president.

Robert Smith

"It will be like coming home," Smith told the 280 employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's oldest corporation. "I'm excited when I think about us working together for a common cause--sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the printed page."

Smith, whose most recent post was North American Division publishing director, has served as a pastor, literature evangelist, and publishing administrator, including seven years with the R&H. With more than 40 years in the business, Smith has traveled to 145 countries and trained hundreds of employees in the area of literature evangelism and publishing.

Born in Zebulon, Georgia, he has a degree in business administration from Fort Valley State College in Georgia, a master's of divinity from Andrews University, and a doctorate from New York University School of Religion. He is married to the former Frances Olivia Godfrey. They have six adult children.

Smith replaces Ted Wilson, who after four years as president, is moving to the General Conference as vice president for communication. At 65, Smith is the first African American president for the 150-year-old publishing house.

Teens with Personal Religious Beliefs
Less Likely to Abuse Drugs, Alcohol
Personal spirituality prevents adolescents from developing alcoholism or abusing drugs, according to a new study from Columbia University in New York.

Teenagers with personal religious beliefs are half as likely to become alcoholics or drug addicts, the study reports. A more personal degree of devotion, personal conservatism, and institutional conservatism are factors that contribute to the lower risk.

The correlation between religion and substance abuse was much higher in the present study of adolescents than in previous adult studies.

"Religious beliefs are protective," said Gary Hopkins. "I think we've always had this notion." Hopkins, director of the Center for Behavioral Research at Andrews University, has conducted similar studies of Seventh-day Adventist youth. The Columbia study, however, shows for the first time that personal spirituality protects against ever developing addiction to alcohol or drugs, according to Lisa Miller, lead author.–-Adventist News Network

Child Preachers Convention
Convenes in Peru
A total of 150 children participated in the first Child Preachers convention on August 11-12 in North Peru. The objective of the meeting was to train participants with their teachers so that they accomplish better work in the evangelization of other children.

Many seminars were presented in this event such as "Strategies of Evangelism for Children", "The Influence of Television on Children, "Writing the Sermon", and "Strengthening Children's Ministries."

Another activity during this event was the contest among child preachers. Several teams of children from 6 to 13 years of age participated in this contest. There, children preached sermons with messages filled with the Holy Spirit, showing that God is using the talents of our children. The child preachers also witnessed of the work done during Holy Week when 34 people joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"We believe that if we prepare our children, soon the preaching of the gospel will be finished," comments Ana Ramos de Azo, North Peru Mission children's ministry director.

ADRA Initiates Hearth Program for Malnourished Children in Haiti
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is improving the lives of hundreds of malnourished children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after implementing the Hearth Program into its Child Survival nutrition intervention program in January this year.

"The program engages mothers in rehabilitating their malnourished children in the home, using diets taught by other volunteer mothers and based on local resources and knowledge," explains Lesly Ed Archer, medical director of Hôpital Adventiste.

Children enrolled in the program are fed one meal each day for two weeks in addition to their normal diet. These feeding demonstrations are called "hearths" simply because they generally take place in the kitchens of volunteer mothers. The program takes into account nutrition needs and includes growth monitoring, micro-nutrient supplementation and deworming. Mothers who participate in the program also benefit from a package of health education in family planning, immunizations, nutrition, breast feeding, micro-nutrient supplementation, sanitation, and hygiene.