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Adventist Leader Condemns
Tobacco's Industry of Death

he world's largest maker of cigarettes has issued an apology for a study commissioned by one of its affiliates showing that the Czech Republic saves money on health care, housing, and pensions due to smokers dying prematurely. Dr. Allan Handysides, General Conference health ministries director, says the incident shows the tobacco company in a true light.

"For one of our tobacco companies to commission this study was not just a terrible mistake, it was wrong," said Philip Morris Co. Inc. on July 26, apologizing for its study, which found the Czech government saved $1,227 on each smoker who died. "All of us at Philip Morris, no matter where we work, are extremely sorry for this. No one benefits from the very real, serious, and significant diseases caused by smoking."

Handysides is not impressed by the response. Despite its apology, Philip Morris continues to benefit from the sale of the cigarettes which cause these "very real, serious, and significant diseases," he says. Philip Morris has canceled similar studies that had been planned for Poland and other Eastern European countries.

"As long as Philip Morris continues to engage in the tobacco industry, it's impossible to believe that it really wants to make reparations for the damage its product has created worldwide," says Handysides.

A full-page ad in several newspapers across the Untied States July 26 showed a cadaver's foot with a toe tag that read: "$1,227 - That's how much a study sponsored by Philip Morris said the Czech Republic saves on health care, pensions and housing every time a smoker dies." The ad was sponsored by several anti-tobacco organizations.

Handysides is glad the incident has gained public attention. He believes it will add to the discomfort of many tobacco companies that are in a "frenzied state of trying to refurbish their image."

"Until Philip Morris and other tobacco companies go beyond making placating statements and get out of the production of cigarettes, their sincerity will always be in question," says Handysides. --Adventist News Network

800 Celebrate Hispanic Evangelism
More than 500 pastors attended the North American Division (NAD) Hispanic Evangelism Council July 1-7 at Forest Lake Academy in Florida.

With the theme of "Con Cristo, tu Puedes!" (With Christ You Can!), the program featured training seminars and workshops, prayer sessions, children's ministries, and an awards ceremony. "It was the greatest concentration of Hispanic pastors that have ever gotten together in North America," said Manuel Vasquez, a NAD vice president and director multilingual ministries. "We had more than 800 people there including wives and children."

The seminars included provided training in soul winning, youth ministries, and Internet evangelism. Vasquez explains, "Lay training is especially important. In Hispanic churches much of the work is done by the laity because there is often just one senior pastor for many churches."

During the awards banquet, nine pastors received the Centurion award for conducting more than 100 baptisms during the past year.

AAW Honors Eight Women
Eight Adventist women who are making significant contribut ions to their churches, professions, families, and communities will be honored during the 19th annual conference of the Association of Adventist Women (AAW) in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area, October 4-7.

The Professional Life Award goes to Merlene Ogden (left), who has worked for 46 years as an educator and administrator at Andrews University. Gwendolyn W. Foster (right), Health and Fitness Czar for the City of Philadelphia, is being awarded the Community Life Award. Foster has been a health enthusiast for more than 22 years, and has helped thousands of people to improve their lifestyles.

Joan Bova (left) will receive the Church Life award. Although she's held church offices from Pathfinder counselor to elder, she's best known for her work with Disabilities Ministries. The Spiritual Life Award is being given to evangelist Gladys Jeremiah (right) of Zimbabwe. She has led out in 50 evangelistic series, resulting in more than 2,200 people being baptized.

Donna Jeanne Lugenbeal Habenicht (right) is being given the Family Life Award. Mother, teacher, administrator, clinical psychologist, and author, Habenicht's greatest personal satisfaction was developing the children's materials for Net '98.

Grace Emori (left), recently retired from the Center for Disease Control, is accepting the Outstanding Achievement Award. In 1968 she went to what is now Loma Linda University Medical Center as "nurse epidemiologist." As the third nurse epidemiologist in the United States, she walked into an unknown-and created a profession.

Two women are being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award--Betty Howard (left) and Minnie Iverson Wood (right). Howard, first president of AAW, devoted her life to Adventist higher education. Wood turned from away from a promising career in acting to become a missionary and church musician. Now in her 90s, Wood continues to teach private students.

"AAW is honored to recognize the contributions of these outstanding women," says Toini Harrison, chair of the Woman of the Year committee. "They represent millions of Adventist women who provide immeasurably to their families, churches, and communities."

News Notes

Led by Maranatha Volunteers International (MVI), nearly 200 teens experienced the ultimate work out as when they completed their work on four churches and an evangelism center in Costa Rica. Many of the groups were plagued with heavy rains. "One group in Agua Zarcas encountered mud so thick that they had to purchase boots just to make to their camp site," an MVI spokesperson says.

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