NEWSBREAK

he Adventist Review has learned that Army Spec. Frank K. Rivers, Jr., of Newark, New Jersey, is the first reported Seventh-day Adventist to die in military service in Iraq.

Rivers, 23, enlisted following graduation from high school in 1999. He died April 14 after collapsing during physical training exercises in Iraq, according to a report in the Washington Post on April 17. Army officials said the cause of his death is being investigated.

Active in the Trinity Temple Adventist Church in New Jersey, Rivers spent "every Saturday there when he was home," the Post article said. His grandmother, Betty Rivers of Newark, described him as "a church boy," always available to help his friends. He was sent to Iraq in November.

Funeral services were held at the church on Friday April 23. During the services Rivers was posthumously awarded a Bronze Start. "Specialist Frank Rivers Jr. is an American hero," said Major General William H. Russ as reported in Newsday. "Today, we will present this star to the hero’s hero. You all recognize that Frank Jr.'s hero is Frank Sr."

Rivers joined the army to follow in his father’s footsteps, according to Newsday. He was based at Fort Lewis, Washington, and had spent several years on the West Coast since enlisting.

Frank’s brother Lamar is currently serving in the U.S. military in Germany.

BY STEPHEN CHAVEZ, managing editor, Adventist Review

he Adventist Review came away with eight awards for writing, editing, and design from the annual convention of the Associated Church Press (ACP), held April 18-21 in Toronto.

"We're delighted with these awards," said one Review staffer, who refused to be identified for reasons of humility. "They're especially rewarding in view of the high caliber of periodicals we competed against." The eight awards, the highest number ever received by the Review in any one year, came from among nearly 1,200 entries in more than 70 categories representing different aspects of magazine production, including editorials, news, features, design, special issues, departments, theology, photography, and others. Judging was done by journalism and publishing professionals throughout North America.

For the second consecutive year, the Adventist Review for children, KidsView, won the award of excellence in the "Acorn Award" category. Sharon Shuster, past senior designer at Augsburg Press and judge of the category remarked, "Hands down, this is the best in its class. . . . Any 8- to 12-year-old would have a hard time passing this by."

William Thorn, professor of Marquette University's College of Journalism, gave the award of excellence to the Adventist Review's special issue, "Adventists and Addictions" (July, 2003). He wrote: "Each article has a compelling design that helps develop the focus, which is on dealing with the problem rather than judging and dismissing an individual."

Bill Knott, associate editor of the Adventist Review, received an award of excellence for his Christmas article, "A Child at Risk" (Dec. 25, 2003). Nancy Fitzgerald, an editor at Morehouse publishing wrote: "It is a beautifully written and very challenging piece."

Bill Tymeson, designer at the Review and Herald Publishing Association, earned two awards of excellence with the cover design for the story, "A Christian's Guide to Investing" (August, 2003); one for 4-color magazine design, and one for humor graphic. Tymeson also received an award of merit for his design of the article, "What Made Jesus Angry?" in the same issue.

Rounding out the awards received by the Adventist Review were an award of excellence for reader response in "Dear Editor . . . The Flock Responds" (April, 2003), a collection of letters received from readers reacting to an earlier cover story about clergy sexual abuse. And the paper received an honorable mention in the fiction category (called "Parables of the Kingdom" in the Adventist Review) for Gary B. Swanson's article, "Organica" (March 20, 2003).

The ACP is the oldest religious press association in North America. Founded in 1916, the ACP is an international association of communication professionals, with a membership of nearly 200 individual members and periodicals.

BY BOBBY DAVIS, producer for the Three Angels Broadcasting Network

er Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, welcomed Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) with a personal appearance at the February 21 inauguration of 3ABN's television station, Channel 45. The full-power Manila station broadcasts 3ABN's signal 24 hours a day to a potential audience of approximately 24 million people. "This is the beginning of what will be surely yet another of your valuable and significant contributions to Philippine culture," President Arroyo said in a live, televised address. "Through your programs . . . you offer Filipinos what we need most-a healthy mind, in a healthy body, anchored on faith in God."

Greeting the audience of about 6,000 persons in Manila's Philippine International Conference Center with "A happy Sabbath evening to all of you," President Arroyo received thundering applause. She also expressed her appreciation of the church's health ministry, relating a personal story from her youth of the care her brother received at a local Seventh-day Adventist hospital after a tragic accident. "My family knows what it is like to be grateful to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. . . . ." she said.

Her address highlighted an entire day of celebration at the center, where a capacity crowd of Adventist laymen and church officials gathered for worship. The 10-hour event was carried live throughout Metro Manila. Several thousand people gathered outside waiting for a glimpse of their president. As a show of her appreciation, and despite security concerns, President Arroyo walked through the crowds flanked by Philippine Ambassador Bien Tejano and Danny and Linda Shelton.

The Sheltons were invited to breakfast with the President and the First Gentleman at the Presidential Palace, accompanied by Ambassador Bien Tejano, a long-time friend and 3ABN supporter. Ambassador Tejano, who has served under two presidents, is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor. A major 3ABN supporter, he was instrumental in getting the last full-power television station license for 3ABN while serving former President Joseph Estrada. He is currently the Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, where 3ABN is building another full-power television station.

Adventist church officials throughout the Philippines report that many people have begun attending church and some are being baptized as a direct result of watching 3ABN on Channel 45 and on cable systems around the country.

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