BY MICKEY NICKLESS, correspondent for the Adventist Review, communication director of the Michigan Conference

f attendees needed information about the General Conference session events, were lost and required directions to the next meeting they wanted to attend, or even dropped a shoe from the bleachers and required someone to retrieve it for them, they often looked for one of the Union College students wearing a light green knit shirt.

Union College chaplain Rich Carlson oversaw nearly 40 of the school's students who volunteered to staff the four information booths located throughout the America's Center, where the 58th GC session was held. Their goal was "to do whatever we could to make their stay more enjoyable," says Carlson. "The students could be seen not only in the booths but running errands all over the building, helping everyone."

No job seemed to be too small. Student volunteer Miguel Nunez was walking out of the delegate area on the main auditorium floor when he spotted a non-delegate being turned back from entering the area by security staff. The woman seemed distraught that she was being denied access to the floor, so Nunez asked if he could help. She explained that she had been sitting in the second-level bleachers, and somehow her shoe had fallen to the floor. He took one look at her shoeless foot, and because the Union students had been given full access to the convention floor and other meeting rooms, he ran back into the auditorium to retrieve her shoe. Her gratitude was evident.

The positive image these students projected extended beyond church membership.

"One person came in [to the America's Center] and asked, 'Who are Seventh-day Adventists, and what do they believe?' " says student Dale Bridger. The college students shared what the church's name means. Another walk-in asked whether there were any activities for children. When told that children's programs were available on Sabbath, she said she and her children would be back.

Language barriers were not a problem for this group. Although being able to speak a second language was not a requirement to volunteer, the total of 15 languages spoken by the team of students was an asset. Sometimes, however, hand motions and the drawing of maps were the mode of communication needed.

Simple acts of kindness made a big impression, says Carlson, including walking people to their cars at night, carrying messages to delegates from friends not permitted onto the floor of the convention center, helping lost children find their parents, and even helping spouses to find each other. Although part of the students' expenses were covered by the General Conference and Union College, the students themselves paid some of the costs to have the privilege of assisting at the session.

The students said they were grateful to be there, and that the smiles and words of appreciation from those they assisted made it worthwhile.

Delegates Vote Resolutions of Support for Bible and Spirit of Prophecy

BY MICKEY NICKLESS, correspondent for the Adventist Review, communication director of the Michigan Conference

n Sunday, July 3, General Conference session delegates voted to accept three resolutions of support for the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, which are presented at each of the church's quinquennial sessions. Biblical Research Institute associate director Gerhard Pfandl stated three reasons for the resolutions:

1. To reaffirm Adventist Church beliefs.
2. To express gratitude for the guidance God has given the church.
3. To encourage new members and youth to become better acquainted with the writings of Ellen G. White.

Pfandl also pointed out that we live in changing times where some would like to see Ellen G. White relegated to our history, and that others have raised questions concerning the inspiration and relevance of the writings of Ellen White. He said the statements can be used to motivate leaders to develop programs to increase the awareness of the writings of Ellen White and her ministry in the church today.

Regarding the three resolutions, Larry Lichtenwalter, president of the Adventist Theological Society and senior pastor of the Berrien Springs Adventist Church, told the Adventist Review, "By affirming the centrality of Scripture and the important role the writings of Ellen G. White still play in our thinking, we gave witness again of the basis for our life and thinking as an Adventist community on those important matters of origins. They are forever linked in our psyche-our view of Scripture and the writings of Ellen G. White on the one hand, and our understanding of first things on the other."

Lake Region Members Meet After Audit Finds Irregularities

eaders of the Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a five-state church region, are assisting with developments in the Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a local church administrative area. A special constituency meeting was held July 24 at which Lake Union leaders helped explain to members and pastors decisions that led to major leadership and employment changes in the Lake Region.

"Please pray for your church, for the Lake Region Conference, and for all who are involved," said George C. Bryant, acting Lake Region president, and Walter L. Wright, president of the Lake Union Conference, in a written statement.

The special session, initially called to elect a new regional church president, came after an audit revealed irregularities in the Lake Region's operations.

Constitutional provisions prevented the election of a new president at the specially called constituency session. Constituents voted to have the Constitution and Bylaws Committee review the process for electing a president and bring a recommendation back to delegates at a future session.

An internal investigation continues into alleged financial irregularities in the Lake Region Conference.

In addition to the resignation of the Lake Region Conference president, it was announced to constituents that as the result of the two-year internal investigation the Lake Region Conference treasurer resigned; the conference's Executive Committee relieved a vice president of his duties; two other financial employees of the Lake Region Conference also left church employment; another financial employee was suspended; and four local church pastors were each placed on a leave of absence, pending further action by church leaders.

Following the loss of these church employees, Carmelo Mercado, a general vice president of the parent Lake Union Conference, was assigned to provide assistance to the Lake Region Conference.

It is the intent of church leadership to be transparent in the interest of all concerned, Wright and Bryant said.

The Lake Region Conference was organized in 1945 and operates out of Chicago, Illinois. Its territory includes 109 churches with a total membership of 27,541 in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.                               --Lake Union Communication Department/Adventist News Network/AR