ike a raindrop falling on a lake’s still waters, the Adventist Review creates ripples that roll on and on, farther and farther. Even to the ends of the earth.

Recently I received a letter from Joress M. Moreno, a student at Adventist Mission Academy located at Romblon in the Philippines. “I’m a native Filipina; that’s why I’m afraid to write to the Adventist Review. Even though I’m shy, I will try,” she wrote. “This is my first time to read Adventist Review. . . . But I liked it.”

Someone had given her a copy of the Review—the March 26, 1996, issue! More than four years after publication it somehow came into her hands.

Surveys from North America show that every copy of the Adventist Review is read on average by four to five people. But others send their “old” Reviews to our believers overseas, and only the Lord knows how far or for how long the ripples of ministry extend from every issue. Even to a man in Africa who picks up a torn-out piece on the street—the Give & Take page—and wants to know more.

But we do know that the second issue of each month, the World Edition, has taken off and is flying higher and higher. Within the past year or so we have added three new editions:
For Korea, in the Korean language.
For India, in the Telugu language.
For the Southern Asia-Pacific area, in English.

And right now we are working with church leaders who have requested another three editions:
For the old Soviet area, in Russian.
For eastern Africa, in English.
For India, in Tamil (a second edition).

All of these editions are translated, printed, and distributed on site. All consist principally of material taken from the World Edition that we produce in our office in Silver Spring, Maryland. All carry the Adventist Review logo.

For years the Adventist Review has appeared in English, Spanish, and French editions in Inter-America; and in Portuguese and Spanish in South America. Thus 11 editions carrying the Adventist Review logo will be seen around the world. The papers of several other divisions don’t carry the Adventist Review name but frequently reprint selections from us.

With the Adventist Review editorial office now the hub of a worldwide ministry, I think of Ellen White’s vision of 1848. Calling on her husband, James, to start a “little paper,” she predicted that it would circle the globe with streams of light.

OnLine Edition
The Adventist Review’s OnLine Edition has sent new ripples of ministry around the world. Launched only 15 months ago, it receives more than 700,000 hits monthly from readers in about 80 countries. Far from hurting the circulation of the printed Review, it has brought in some 500 new subscribers. And it garnered an award from the Associated Church Press for its excellence.

I pay tribute to the entire staff of the Adventist Review; they are dedicated professionals who love the Lord and this church. But I would single out Carlos Medley, who dreamed, planned, and prodded us to develop the OnLine Edition. Carlos raised the money for the site (it is self-funded), got it going, and keeps it going. And all this on top of his responsibilities as news editor.

And those letters . . .
They keep coming, day by day, week by week, a never-ending stream. From homemakers, from church employees, from people in prison. From near, from far. From people responding to an article, from people upset or broken who just want someone to listen.

The volume has stepped up markedly over the past few months. Two factors in particular are turning the stream into a flood.

We’re receiving many messages requesting prayer by our Wednesday morning staff prayer circle. Dozens come from around the world, sent by e-mail.

And we’re getting many letters in response to our appeal to help send the weekly Review to new members. My “What a Ride!” editorial (Nov. 23, 2000) generated some 300 letters with checks by Christmas. With the sweetest notes of encouragement.

Like the psalmist I exclaim: “You, O God, are strong, and . . . you, O Lord, are loving” (Ps. 62:11, 12, NIV). To Him, Lord of the mission, be all praise for the worldwide ripples of ministry from the Adventist Review.

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William G. Johnsson is Adventist Review editor.