Clarence Hodges, North American Division vice president and religious director, echoed Steed's sentiments. "We appreciate the kind words from the president of the United States," Hodges said, "We cannot have too many friends regardless of their positions. We appreciate his support four our religious freedom as we support religious freedom for all."
For more information about Liberty magazine, visit www.libertymagazine.org. For more information on religious liberty work at the White House and on Capitol Hill, please visit http://ola.adventist.org.
Health Ministries Director Refutes
Claim of the Benefits of Alcohol
The recently-touted "benefits" of alcohol are unproven and risky, says Dr. Alan Handysides, General Conference health ministries director. Following the healthy lifestyle promoted to and among Adventist Christians "will produce all of the heart benefits--without the risks."
A pair of news articles appearing Dec. 30, 2002 in the New York Times rekindled interest in the subject of the benefits of "moderate" daily alcohol consumption as a preventative for heart disease. Several physicians and researchers were quoted as endorsing the concept, although the newspaper conceded that such views have been--and remain--controversial in many circles.
Noting that alcohol is a drug, Handysides noted that regular consumption of alcohol is likely to cause serious health problems--addiction or cirrhosis or other conditions--in one of every 15 people. A medicine submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval with such a ratio would not be approved, he said.
"Depending on the degree of adherence to a healthy lifestyle, people can add seven to 14 years to their life," Handysides said. "By exercising, changing the nature of fats in their diet, eating more nuts, people can live healthier and longer, and we have statistical evidence of that."
"Alcohol is a carcinogenic compound," Handysides said. "People who have more than two or three drinks a day will increase their stomach cancer risk."
Moreover, while the consumption of alcohol may in some cases help some in middle age to avoid various heart problems, endorsing moderate drinking can send a wrong signal to young adults, many of whom tend towards so-called "binge drinking," where massive amounts of liquor are consumed at one time. --Adventist News Network
North American Regional Conferences
Celebrate Literature Evangelism
The annual Family Health Education Services (FHES) held its annual convention in Miami, Florida in late December. Sponsored by the North American Division (NAD) and regional conferences, the meeting celebrated the efforts of literature evangelists in 2002 throughout the NAD regional conferences.
Speakers for the convention included Lawrence Brown, publishing director for the Northeastern Conference, Alvin Kibble, a NAD vice president and chairman of the FHES subcommittee, and Robert Smith, FHES director for the Southern Union. "We want Calebs Now," the chosen theme for the four-day event, energized the attendees by encouraging them to continue their efforts in sharing the Gospel through the printed page.
It was reported that the literature evangelists within the NAD regional conferences experienced a total of $3.5 million in sales for 2002 and were responsible for 269 baptisms.
Loma Linda University Receives Grant
for Alzheimer's Disease Research
A recent $6.55 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to Loma Linda University (LLU) School of Medicine's Neurosurgery Center for Research, Training and Education will provide means for research into a cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
The disease, which researchers call "deadly," is the eighth-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers at LLU School of Medicine believe a cure for AD may be found, but they must first determine what causes the disease. The research team plans to develop a diagnostic tool for early diagnosis of AD.
Researchers believe commercially available screening tests for Alzheimer's may not be too far away. Initial screening clinics, part of a five-year study sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association, have already begun and will ultimately include 100 healthy seniors 50 years of age and older who live in southern California.
"I am excited about the project because of its comprehensive design," says Lora Green, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and the radiobiology program at LLU School of Medicine. "And even if all of our goals are not met, we will have made significant roads into better understanding the biological processes of Alzheimer's disease and thereby improving the diagnostic options and potential for earlier therapeutic intervention." --Adventist News Network
Retired La Sierra Professor Murdered in Home
A fatal shooting has devastated a small, close-knit community after Brian Jacques, a 73-year-old retired professor, was killed while he was sitting in bed in his home on the evening of Jan. 2. The unknown attacker fired through closed window blinds into the Jacques' master bedroom, hitting Brian in the chest. Florence Jacques, Brian's wife of more than 50 years and retired nurse, tried to stop the bleeding, but Jacques died at Riverside Community Hospital less than one hour later.
According to local homicide detective David Smith, a witness saw a car drive up the Jacques' long driveway, heard two to three gunshots, and then saw the car leave.
"It's just an odd set of circumstances," Smith says, and notes that police are not ruling out any possible motives, including the chance that the murder was random.
"We are all saddened and shocked by this senseless tragedy," says Ella Simmons, La Sierra University provost and vice president for academic administration. "Many on our campus remember Brian as an individual of consistent faith and dedicated, unselfish service. The effects of this loss will ripple around the world, because he taught so many students for so many years and our graduates live and work in practically every part of the world."
Jacques was a communication professor for 26 years at La Sierra University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution in Riverside, California, United States. He retired in 1996.
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or the first time in history, the President of the United States has contributed a segment to the annual Liberty magazine religious liberty video. In the special video segment available to Adventist churches throughout the North American Division, the President talks about the principles of religious freedom and his appreciation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The President states "the Seventh-day Adventist Church has enriched America--your individual churches are providing hope and inspiration to countless Americans every week."
"We are very pleased to have the President appear in the video," states James Standish, director of legislative affairs for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. "His appearance in the video reflects the seriousness in which our religious liberty work is taken in Washington and the reputation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for making a positive contribution to the societies in which we have a presence." "Having the President of the United States appear as part of our 2003 Liberty campaign reinforces our view that religious liberty for all people must be a national priority," says Lincoln Steed, editor of Liberty magazine.
