VOCATIONAL HAZARDS
The cover story by Terrie Dopp Aamodt about the difficulty of being a prophet ("Just How Hard Is It to Be a Prophet?" June 24, 2004), is one of the most thoughtful and insightful brief discussions of important elements of Ellen White's prophetic career that the Adventist Review has published in decades. Coming to a clear understanding of the nature of Mrs. White's personality and her problem with depression will do much to place a number of her views, attitudes, and comments in better perspective.

Dr. Aamodt has done our church a great favor in writing this article and the Adventist Review has shown great courage in publishing it.

Ervin Taylor
Loma Linda, California

OUTSTANDING ISSUE
The June 17 Adventist Review was outstanding. "A Hero's Story" was well done. I hope I can find the video/DVD of The Conscientious Objector to share with my students. Ms. Maran's point regarding crowd control was well put and pertinent to the older generation. I always appreciate Nathan Brown and Ed Christian's writing.

Patty Foese's article got pulled to send to my daughter who is setting up her first home. Sari Fordham's column will be read to my ninth and tenth grade worship group. I was brought up short with her premise that we will never be kicked out of the car.

And I'm using Jere Wallack's "A Rhapsody of Rejoicing" tomorrow in Sabbath School. Thank you so much for a remarkable gathering of excellent work.

Mary Bishop
Arroyo Grande, California

A TEAM EFFORT
"Love under Fire" (June, 2004), was tragically relevant and couldn't be more timely--a great window to the world of ADRA. I'm grateful to these courageous people who put their lives on the line to meet the basic needs of others, just as Jesus did. The article was well written and informative. Who's the author? Who can I thank?

Pat Garot
Reston, Virginia

ADRA asked that no author attribution be published.--the Editors

READING THE NUMBERS
Thank you, Carlos Medley, for "A Message in Numbers" (June 10, 2004). As a former grant writer, it was necessary to include a reporting system in the grant of how the donations were used at the completion of the project or year if I expected to get more donations. Since the Seventh-day Adventist Church subsists on donations, it should be willing to report to the members--its donors--about how they have used the funding.

Offerings or contributions are failing in Sabbath School because the church no longer reports mission activity; it is seldom included in public services or periodicals. Independent ministries constantly pepper me with newsletters about their activities and I respond by donating. The next generation is not making a habit of giving because it doesn't hear about mission activities. Donations will continue to drop as the older generation dies.

We returned as overseas missionaries this past year, but only once has an Adventist church requested our report. On the other hand, we have spoken at many Lutheran churches and secular service clubs. Most Seventh-day Adventists are still interested in missions but aren't given the chance to hear or read about them. The end result is a self-centered church with a loss of the world vision.

It doesn't have to end that way.

Gail Schatzschneider

ADVENTISTS AND AMISH
Regarding Roy Adams' editorial, "A New Low" (June, 2004): As an Adventist with an active ministry to the plain people and a business that utilizes their expert crafting skills, I have followed this development closely. While I share the disgust of many regarding this proposed reality show centering around Amish youth during their rumspringa, I am not nearly as shocked nor horrified as are many others.

For decades (actually centuries) the media has exploited ethnic populations, religious sects, minorities, and conservative groups in many disgusting ways. Any group that stands out as different from the normal population is fodder for scrutiny, misconceptions, persecution, and exploitation. It is, unfortunately, human nature.

One must remember that the Amish youth who will be involved in this production will not enter into it by force. They will likely be the young, rebellious population that will sadly give the rest of the world an incorrect perception and misunderstanding of the Amish people, their culture, and their religion. But isn't this the way it's always been? The majority of the Amish themselves will have little to say regarding this media production because they understand the illegitimacy of it and understand that it will have absolutely no bearing on their culture. It will only bring about more misconceptions from the outside world.

No matter how imbalanced this portrayal of the plain people will be, it will only bring more attention to a little-known and little-understood group of Christians who have refused to compromise themselves with the world and have successfully maintained their unique identity for 250 years. The plain people have a history that is crimson red with the blood of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for an uncompromising faith. They are no strangers to exploitation, persecution, and mistreatment. In fact, they are best known for their non-resistance and pacifism, regardless of the circumstances, which exemplifies the character of Christ more than any other. They will not complain or fight back and will only maintain their humble, quiet existence centered on their unchanged, centuries-old faith.

Think of the seekers who will be led to investigate Amish beliefs and lifestyle as a result of this media exploitation. While I certainly do not condone this ridiculous production, nor do the Amish, I know that the public exposure of these quiet, faithful people will only lead more people to seek after what they have.

Can the same be said about Adventists? Are we known to be just as stalwart, faithful, and uncompromising in our faith, religion, beliefs, and standards? The Amish and other plain churches are not perfect; neither is ours. But they are known for their faith, for their standards, and for their steady, quiet, uncompromising indifference to the world and its pressures to conform. Can their example of the contrast between the world and of godly, uncompromising faithfulness be seen just as profoundly in God's last-day, chosen, remnant church?

Kimberly Hamme
Thomasville, Pennsylvania

SERIOUS READING
Roy Adams' editorial, "Wake Up Call" (May, 27, 2004), is serious reading. It is a sad commentary on so-called Christian nations as seen by Christians in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Here is a great opportunity for the Adventist Church worldwide. We in North America, with out financial resources, must be willing to share even more, but not dictate.

Natalie Dodd
Centerville, Ohio

ANOTHER ANSWER TO SUFFERING
On "Suffering's Glorious Unanswer" (May 20, 2004): we can know why we suffer. It is because Jesus suffered, and still is suffering, along with us. Let us remember what Ellen White wrote: "Of all the gifts that heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor" (The Desire of Ages, p. 225).

Howard Loewen
Honolulu, Hawaii