Adventist Screenwriter
Gets High Marks in Germany
BY JULIO C. MUNOZ, a correspondent for Adventist News Network
hristoph Silber is a rising star in German cinema. The screenwriter is a devout Seventh-day Adventist whose most recent project, "Goodbye Lenin," won six awards at the European film awards in Berlin earlier this month.
"Goodbye Lenin" tells the story of an East German woman who falls into a coma in October 1989. It's not the best of times for the woman who is an activist for social progress and improvement in socialist Germany.
Her son Alex finds himself in a bind when she awakens eight months later. Her heart is so weak that the shock of discovering that socialism has fallen along with the Berlin wall could kill her. The solution? Keep the woman under the impression that nothing has changed, even though everything actually has.
"Goodbye Lenin" has been an astounding success, not only in Germany, but throughout Europe. The film will also be released theatrically in the United States.
Silber joined the project near the end of pre-production and tried to strengthen one of the film's most important messages. He says the film is primarily about reconciliation, not just for Germany, but for the family.
"It is basically the story of a broken family," says Silber, "and this boy finds out that he needs peace. He wants to make peace in his own life and also he has to make peace for his family which was split pretty early because of history."
The themes of family unity are special to Silber, who says his most important role is that of father and husband. Silber says being a Christian in the film industry is not difficult.
"For me it works very well because I know that I'm always a Christian. I can't take off my Christian coat and put on my film writer coat," says Silber. "So I just go with God as much as I can. Sometimes I fail, of course, but my ideal in life is to follow God and to walk with him in everything I do."
He is very active in his Berlin church and says he draws strength from it. Silber sees his mission as reaching to millions of people through his art--writing for movies.
"I think there is a great chance to reach people who are in positions of power, who have voices in society, and you can reach those people, you can touch those people and open their eyes about things they are closed off about. And that's something I think I have a great chance of doing."
Silber says that all filmmakers, not just Christians, have a tremendous responsibility.
"I feel filmmakers have a responsibility to tell the world the truth, as it is, but to also show that the world could be different, that we could love one another more, that we could make peace in a time when people make war and that we do not have to be what other people make us."
--Adventist News Network
Guam President Lauds Slain Missionaries
What the Guam Pacific Daily News described as "a wrenching, nearly four-hour state funeral for a slain missionary family"1 was held on Monday, December 29, on the island of Guam for Adventist pastor Ruimar Duarte DePaiva, his wife Margaret, and their son, Larisson, age 11.
The three were killed December 22 during an attempted robbery of their home. A 10-year-old daughter, Melissa, was kidnapped and strangled, but survived and was hospitalized. The DePaivias, who were Brazilian citizens, had moved from Berrien Springs, Michigan, to Palau 17 months ago to pastor the Koror Adventist Church, part of the Guam-Micronesia Mission.
A 43-year-old suspect, Justin Hirosi, who admitted to smoking methamphetamine at the time, is in custody.
First degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment on the island nation, which does not have a death penalty. "Life imprisonment is the harshest sentence we have here. It will be sought," said Michael Rosenthal, Palau's minister of justice.2
The newspaper article described a moving moment at the funeral service, held in the Palau National Gymnasium, when "the mother of the murdered pastor suddenly asked the mother of the alleged killer to join her at the altar. . . . Then Ruth DePaiva, [also] a missionary, forgave."
Tommy Remengesau, president of the island of Guam, said he was awed by Ruth DePaiva's decision to visit Hirosi and forgive him. "This is the kind of heart we all should have," he said. "For if we all had this heart, my fellow countrymen, none of this would have happened."
Remengesau also said that in honor of the slain DePaivas, Palauans must fight harder against drugs and redouble their dedication to family and community.
The service was "attended by hundreds and marked by speeches that celebrated the joyful, loving lives of the dead, . . . and by Palauans, who expressed regret that the missionaries lost their lives here in a country they set out only to help."
The newspaper also reported that "according to Palau traditions, High Chief Raphael Ngirmang brought the uncle of [the accused] before the Ruimar DePaiva parents to somehow compensate the family. He provided $10,000 for a trust fund for the surviving daughter, also pledging to provide more."
1. Pacific Daily News, December 30, 2003.
2. Ibid., December 25, 2003.
Review Staffer Retires
Ella Rydzewski, a senior editorial assistant at the Adventist Review for the past nine years, retired in December 2003 with 28 years' service to the Adventist church.
"Ella Rydzewski has a keen, probing mind that continually explores knowledge in various fields," noted Review editor William Johnsson. "She has given excellent service to the church paper and to the world church."
Among many duties, Rydzewski processed incoming manuscripts for the Review, facilitated payment to authors, maintained inventory and author photos, edited the annual children's Week of Prayer readings, and listed obituaries, literature requests, and mission appointees. She also initiated and edited "Bookmark," the book review column, and will continue to do so on a contract basis.
Rydzewski's experience includes 10 years with Ministry magazine and four years of study and work at Loma Linda University's religion department. A former human interest writer for a Pennsylvania newspaper, she has authored more than 200 articles published in Adventist journals.
ADRA Assists Earthquake Survivors
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) offices in Turkey and Germany recently sent a team to Iran to assess damages and formulate a larger response to the severe earthquake that hit near the ancient city of Bam, on December 26, killing more than 30,000 people and leaving additional thousands injured and homeless.
Initially, ADRA provided 1,500 blankets, 1,500 petroleum heaters and canisters, 100 six-person tents, mats and mattresses, jackets, and biscuits. The relief organization also established an Iran Earthquake Fund to accept monetary donations.
For more information, check www.adra.org.
AUC to Offer New Degrees
Beginning in August 2004, Atlantic Union College (AUC) in South Lancaster, Massachusetts, will be the first Adventist college or university to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Evangelism, says President George Babcock. A certificate program in evangelism will also be available.
In addition, AUC will offer a new Master's in Education degree in Clinical Ministry (Chaplaincy) that can be earned through the adult degree program, and an Associate of Science (two-year) degree for a creative Gourmet Vegetarian/Vegan Chief program, including business courses to prepare students to operate institutional food services or restaurants.
News Notes
Members of the Columbia Union Conference received a gift from the union paper (Columbia Union Visitor) staff--a 2004 calendar with photos of "Columbia Union People." The monthly pages include important dates such as camp meetings, graduations, alumni weekends, union executive meetings, and sunset times.
On Sunday, December 14, the Adventist Vocal Ensemble, conducted by Ken Burton, was featured on BBC's "Songs of Praise." A previously recorded performance by the Adventist group was broadcast on the Sunday, December 28, edition of "Songs of Praise." A well-known conductor, composer, singer, and pianist, Burton is also a licensed Adventist lay preacher.-British Union Conference News.
On December 15, an Adventist Bahamian medical doctor working at Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, received The Most Outstanding Junior Physician Award for Medicine for 2003. Dr. Dionne Dames-Jarrett, 28, was selected for the award by medical consultants of the Bahamas Medical Association for her keen interest and dedication as a medical doctor. She is a graduate of Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska, and the University of the West Indies, Trinidad, where she completed her medical degree in 2001.
Avondale College, New South Wales, Australia, scored a five-star rating in several categories of the Good Universities Guide (GUG) rankings. The Adventist institution ranked among the top universities in the nation for staff qualifications, student-staff ratio, and graduate rating of the educational experience for the fifth consecutive year. "Our GUG ranking places us alongside the top six universities in Australia in terms of staff qualifications," says Glenn Roberts, director of marketing services.
Rodney Grove was recently elected executive secretary of the Lake Union Conference, replacing Walter Wright who is now president of the union. Grove is the former president of the Oklahoma Conference.
Adventist singer Francine Bell took top honors at the Australian Gospel Music Awards in Canberra on November 22. She received the 2003 Golden Gospel Award, recognizing lifetime achievement in gospel music. Bell teaches at the Newcastle Conservatorium; she has toured extensively in the United States and France, and performed at the Sydney Opera House.
More Religious News
Adventist News Network
Religion News Service
Religion Today
