Publishing Leader’s Digest v Page 1

The Literature EvangelistCongress in Wagrain,Austria, took place

September 16 to 20, 2009.Literature evangelists, publishingdirectors, publishing house man-agers, and editors of the Euro-Africa (EUD) and Trans-European (TED) Divisions wereinvited to this congress. Thirteenunions were represented. It wasthe first publishing meeting con-ducted in this bi-division format.The theme was “Sharing Faith

Through Books,“ and this themepermeated everything we experi-enced.

The setting for the congresswas surrounded with picturesquelandscape scenery, which was apleasing surprise. Without cityand traffic noise in the heart ofthe mountains, delegates experi-enced days filled with peace,encouragement, and inspiration.

We worshiped God and listenedto His Word under the guidanceof Howard F. Faigao and Wilmar

Publishing Leaders

Digest

Publishing Leaders

Digest

The

Publishing Ministries DepartmentGeneral Conference of Seventh-day AdventistsVol. III No. 3July - September, 2009

The

First Bi-Division LiteratureEvangelist Congress

Euro-Africa and Trans-European DivisionsJoin Together

The Publishing Leaders’ DigestIs an e-bulletin published quarterly by thePublishing Ministries Department of the

General Conference of Seventh-day AdventistsDirector

Howard F. FaigaoEditor

Melvin R. LyonContributing Writers:

Wilmar Hirle, Associate DirectorGeneral Conference of S.D.A., Maryland, U.S.A.

Philip GaiEast-Central Africa Division, Nairobi, Kenya

Gabriel E. MaurerEuro-Africa Division, Berne, Switzerland

Andrei ArfanidiEuro-Asia Division, Moscow, Russian

FederationMirto Presentacion

Inter-American Division, Florida, U.S.A.Dae Sung Kim

Northern Asia-Pacific Division, Goyang City, Korea

Almir MarroniSouth American Division, Brasilia, D.F., Brazil

Terence G. GoltzSouth Pacific Division, Wahroonga,

N.S.W., AustraliaSuper Moesi

Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, Irene, South Africa

A. J. TitoSouthern Asia Division, Tamil Nadu, India

Vivencio R. BermudezSouthern Asia-Pacific Division, Cavite,

PhilippinesMichael G. Hamilton

Trans-European Division, St. Albans, Herts, England

Oyeleke A. OwolabiWest-Central Africa Division, Abidjan,

Cote d’IvoirePublishing Ministries Department

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Hirle, from theGeneral Conference,and Gabriel Maurerand MichaelHamilton, from twoEuropean Divisions.We were blessed bythe presence and par-ticipation of LevBondarchuk, Managerof the RussianPublishing House;Terry Goltz,Publishing Ministries Director of the South PacificDivision, and Mario Martinelli, Vice President forMarketing, at the Review and Herald PublishingAssociation.

We took part in training seminars for LiteratureEvangelists (LEs) and also met personally with oneanother to discuss and share our own experiences.

One by one, the delegations from participatingcountries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria,Romania, Poland, Switzerland, Portugal, andGreat Britain) introduced themselves. Theyinformed us about their work, methods, results,ideas, and projects, as well as about their visionsfor the future. It is a wonderful feeling to knowthat in a European and worldwide context ourwork has a much bigger extention and outreach

than we wouldever think!More than 300literatureevangelistswere presentfrom differentcountries ofEurope.

In Romania,LEs sell booksin metro sta-tions. Theyuse a smallkiosk wherethey offer totake bloodpressure forfree. Peoplequeued up,

eager for the service. Inoffering a personal serv-ice in this manner, theybefriended people andthey, in turn, becamecustomers for literature.

In one instance, inRomania, while LEswere distributing books,one upset man went tothe local Orthodox priestand showed him thebook. The priest read the

book, came to see the LE, and asked for 50 copieshe could share with his parishoners the nextSunday.

The congress was presented in English,andsimultaneously translated into five major lan-guages. In addition, three more translations weredone for smaller groups.

The site of the congress was also historicallyinteresting: 102 years ago the Gospel was broughtto Austria through a Seventh-day Adventist litera-ture evangelist.

We also learned that the Missionary Book of theYear, Signs of Second Coming of Jesus, was soldand handed out in millions of copies. In some coun-tries it was promoted by an extensive advertisingcampaign and distributed extensively, which is agreat motivation to continue spreading this book toas many people as possible.

Food and care were first class. We enjoyed nutri-tious, tasty, good-quality food. We spent free timetogether on a trip to a mountain lake, to Salzburg,as well as to the surrounding mountains.

Sabbath evening all literature evangelistsrenewed their commitment to God for the litera-ture work. It was a wonderful finale of the meet-ing. Our work has a huge significance and throughthis work many hearts will be filled with God’slove.

Praise to our Lord!

Lubica Sebekova, EditorAdvent Orion Publishing HouseSlovakia

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In a quintuplet of nines, it was a blessed four-day event. The 9th nationwide Literature

Evangelist (LE) Convention convened on the 9thday of the 9th month in the 9th millennial year atprecisely 9:00 in the morning!More than 1,000 eager and well dressed literatureevangelists made their way in parade style aroundthe huge compound of Cebu InternationalConvention Center (CICC) before entering the audi-torium, which was the venue for their convention.

Florante P. Ty, President of Philippine PublishingHouse and coordinator for the event, opened theservices with welcoming words of encouragementfor the many LEs whose faithful work in sellinggospel literature “enhances the moral, social, andspiritual aspects of life.”

In his keynote address, Howard F. Faigao,Publishing Ministries Department Director of the

Adventist world church, told participants, “You arehere today not by chance, but by choice and calling.It is up to us individually to broaden our vision andto remind ourselves of our commitment to this min-istry. Let us live up to our theme: Keeping theVision Alive!

Devotional speakers included Vivencio Bermudez,Publishing Ministries Director for the SouthernAsia-Pacific Division (SSD), and Sergie Ferrer,under treasurer of the Adventist church in SSD.

Guests from other countries included Thang LianKhai, Publishing and Spirit of Prophecy Director ofMyanmar Union Mission, and Demetrio Taotao Jr.,Publishing Director of the Thailand AdventistMission.

A highlight of the convention was the 50thanniversary celebration of Health and Home, theflagship periodical publication of PhilippinePublishing House (PPH). A video presentation high-lighting the ministry of PPH, its early beginnings,and the guiding hand of God through the years wasenjoyed by the delegates.

After the video presentation, three top LEs fromthe Northern Luzon Mission in the province ofPangasinan Luzon, gave their testimonies and expe-riences about why they concentrated on sellingHealth and Home (single copies and book-bound)and how they have been so blessed by maintainingtheir rosters of 600 or more customers each.

All throughout the convention, the primary focuswas upon the experiences and successes of LEs as

Dynamic Filipino Literature Evangelist Enjoy their 99999 Convention

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they go about their work of selling, sharing thegospel of Jesus, and winning souls for God’sKingdom through the printed page.

Singspirations, awards ceremonies, and soul-win-ning stories punctuated the spiritual atmosphere ofthe gathering. Responding to the challenge to anever deepening experience with Christ and fidelity

to His literature ministry, the delegates wererefreshed and returned home ready to resume theirministry in the field.

J. F. Sarsoza, EditorPhilippine Publishing House

It was a vibrant day when 240 literature evan-gelists from both the East and West IndonesianUnions meet.September 2 to 5, 2009, and from

all parts of the vast Indonesian archipelago. Theyarrived to experience the spiritual feast and warmfellowship that attends such a gathering.

Assembling together at Denpasar, the primarycity on the island of Bali, it was an educationaltreat. Many Literature Evangelists (LEs) were visit-ing Bali for their very first time.

Administrative officers from the two unions andlocal fields were also present to participate and lendsupport to their valued literature workers.

Howard F. Faigao, General Conference PublishingMinistries Director, was on hand along withVivencio R. Bermudez, Publishing MinistriesDirector of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. Theyled out in energizing the assembly with their inspir-ing counsels and training sessions. They focusedupon the sacred calling of God to the literature min-istry. Each literature evangelist is literally a “mod-ern-day apostle,” affirmed Elder Faigao. The work-ers were likewise challenged by Pastor Bermudez.

He set forth the example of Nehemiah, whoseundaunted dedication to build was met with myriaddifficulties imposed by agents of Satan to hinder thework of God. As it was with Nehemiah, today’s LEsalso meet many hindrances and challenges, butthey continue to go forward in the spirit of God!Books that contain truth must now be spread likethe leaves of autumn, Pastor Bermudez pointed out.

The Indonesia Publishing House serves twounions within Indonesia. Indonesia, a nation of 240million, has the largest Muslin population of anycountry in the world. The Indonesia PublishingHouse stands tall in supplying the Health andFamily magazine and many books for distribution

to the millions of Indonesia. It also nurtures the225,000 Adventists, and it provides the literatureneeds of its 1,002 literature evangelists—whosenoble ministry and worthy livelihood is derivedfrom their outreach ministry.

Elisha Gultom, Editor-in-ChiefIndonesia Publishing House

East and West Indonesia Unions Convene for Joint Convention at Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

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For the second time theSouthern Asia Division(SUD) held a division-

wide LE Congress in Kolkata,India, August 12 – 15, 2009.

Over 200 delegates gath-ered from all the over thedivision territory includingdivision, union, and local con-ference/field administrators,publishing leaders, and liter-ature evangelists.

The guest speak-ers were Howard F.Faigao, GCPublishingDirector, R. R.John, SUD

President, A. J. Tito, SUDPublishing Director, andunion presidents.

Included within thecongress programs werethe exciting reports fromthe Unions and their del-egates. We were blessedimmensely as we listenedto the heart-warming tes-timonies of literatureevangelists from the dif-ferent regions of the divi-sion territories.

Literature evangelists and leaders went homespiritually refreshed and recharged with new ener-gies for a dedicated and efficient ministry.

Publishing Ministries DepartmentSouthern Asia Division

Southern Asia Division Holds Its Second Division-wideLiterature Envagelist Congress

The Euro-Asia Division is on the move withthe Missionary Book of the year. The divisionand union officers have led in the promotion

of this great missionary endeavor. The objective isto mobilize every member of the church in thewhole division to be involved in evangelism.

This evangelistic outreach is combined withthe great plan of the division for a series ofevangelistic meetings, thus using the writtenword and the spoken word as tools of evangel-ism, according to God’s plan.

Starting January 2009, the division adapteda goal of having “Each member share onebook each month for 20 months,” a total of1,502,000 copies. As of this period, close to onemillion copies of the 2009 Missionary Book, byAlejandro Bullion, about the second coming ofJesus, have been printed and distributed bychurch members and workers.

Lev Bundarchuk, ManagerSource of Life Publishing House - Russia

Each Member to Share 20 Books in 20 Months

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We have just concluded our two PublishingAdministrative Councils for the SouthAmerican Division. One council was held

for the Brazilian unions and the other for theSpanish-speaking unions.

In the Brazil Publishing House we joined with theBrazilian leaders to dedicate the first installment of5,200,000 copies of the 2010 Missionary Book. Thebook is interestingly authored by Pastor MarkFinley to emphasize the timely truth about theGod’s holy Sabbath. The distribution goal carriesapproval for 8 million copies, but our administratorsreally expect to reach more than this.

Additionally the publishing houses are producinga small magazine presenting the same basic mes-sage for our Hope Impact 2010. Thus, the magazineand the book will total 40 million publications thatare to be distributed this coming year.

In recent months, we have seen outstandingprogress in mass distribution strategies. InCampinas, church members distributed 250,000books in July.

In October we will be broadcasting an evangelisticseries for the entire country of Brazil. EvangelistMark Finley will be the speaker. The church hasselected a fine venue in Brasilia for holding thesemeetings. All of our churches will receive the pro-gram through satellite, and this will constitute ourprimary evangelistic thrust for this year.

Our church leaders in Brasilia are excited aboutthe challenge of distributing one missionary book toevery home. Inside each book will be found a warminvitation to attend the evangelistic meetings.

The leaders from 101 churches of one of our con-ferences were invited to attend a special meeting onAugust 22. The president of the division and thepresidents of the local and union conferences werein counsel together with the church pastors, elders,and treasurers. After sharing with them the distri-bution plans, the churches then placed their firstorders, in excess of 500,000 copies of the MissionaryBook to be distributed from house to house inOctober. This contagious enthusiasm has energizedand strongly motivated the entire church in SouthAmerica.

In another conference, in the city of Goiania,church leaders have ordered 360,000 copies. They,too, have developed a plan to thoroughly blankettheir city with literature, and church members areexcited about that.

We have a dream to reach every home in SouthAmerica by 2015. It will require 100,000,000 booksand thousands of helping hands. We believe thatwith God’s enabling power, this too, shall be accom-plished. Almir Marroni, Publishing DirectorSouth American Division

South American Division Initiates Great Evangelism Plans for 2010

First European Joint Publishing House Council

On September 20 to 21, 2009, the firstEuropean Publishing House Council washeld in Wagrain, Austria. In attendance

were the managers of 16 European publishinghouses plus one each from Australia and the UnitedStates. Howard F. Faigao, Director of the General

Conference Publishing Ministries Department,served as chairman.

A primary purpose of the event was to provide foran open, sharing communication between the con-stituent members of the European family ofAdventist publishers.

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In rendering their reports, it was amazing tohear about, and view samples of, the various prod-ucts that have recently been developed. I’ll sharesome observations:

Stanborough Press in England printed about 30pocket books last year that our lay members canobtain for missionary activities.

Safeliz Publishing House in Spain has becomestrong in producing specialized health books.

Portuguese Publishing House specializes in pro-ducing fine children’s literature. My Little Friend isissued monthly, and every year produces numerousnew books for children.

Austrian Publishing House and AdventPublishers in Switzerland are working diligently toproduce the five-volume of Conflict of the Agesseries with a high level of craftsmanship and adesign that appeals to today’s readers.

With the Missionary Book of the Year, Signs ofHope, these European publishing houses are doinggreat things. Here are some recent print runs:Stanborough Press, 250,000; Poland, 200,000;Source of Life Publishing House in Russia,1,000,000; and Romania, 2,500,000 until now, butthey are pressing toward the worthy goal of placingthe Missionary Book of the Year into every home intheir entire nation.

One of the great publishing challenges faced inEurope is the number of variant language groupsamong the many smaller countries. It is difficult topublish and print quality publications when thequantity of an individual print run is relativelysmall. To address this problem, a coordinatinggroup of five leaders has been appointed to studyand work in the interest of these publishing houses.One plan, for example, is to test-market a bookwhere the entire design and cover graphics can beidentical across the ethnic identities and the textfor the various languages can be interchanged.

During the council in Wagrain, Austria, time wasdeliberately set aside in order to find the blessedstrength that derives from the fellowship of prayingtogether. It was wonderful to see leaders sittingtogether, sharing their thoughts and products witheach other, each one trying to serve God throughthe printed page. It was very clear that the pres-ence of the Holy Spirit is working among us.

Wilmar Hirle, GC Associate Publishing Director

“Every believer (SDA) is called upon to scatter and broadcasttracts, leaflets, and books containing the message for this time”(RH, November 5, 1914).

*Divisions who have reached their circulation numbers overtheir church membership.

Division Division membership

Number of CopiesCirculated as ofSeptember

1. East-Central Africa 2,376,903 350,000

2. Euro-Asia 137,676 950,000*

3. Euro-Africa 176,047 2,400,000

4. Inter-American 2,958,485 Report not available

5. NAD-Pacific Press 234,000

5. NAD-Review & Herald 1,062,189 224,000

6. Northern Asia-Pacific 590,684 203,000

7. South American 2,617,706 7,350,000*

8. South Pacific 399,979 Report not available

9. Southern Africa-Indian 2,187,125 500,00

10. Southern Asia 1,345,615 25,000

11. Southern Asia-Pacific 902,394 1,685,000*

12. Trans-European 107,050 288,000*

13. West-Central Africa 798,494 872,000*

Each Member Shares One Book Each Year!

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College Students Distribute 15,000 MissionaryBooks in One DayAs part of the 15th founding anniversary celebrations of theCentral Philippine Adventist College, students went out to near-by Bacolod City to distribute 15,000 copies of the missionarybook He Is Coming. Enthusiasm filled the students as they par-ticipated in the global mission of the church and the “Share aBook, Tell the World” initiative. By Philippine Publishing House

Nepal Field Revives Literature EvangelismAfter 10 long years of waiting, the publishing work in Nepal isreviving. With the determination of the field administrators, lit-erature evangelism was given a mandate for a fresh start byaction of the executive committee. The first training for eight lit-erature evangelists was conducted in August by BenedictBiswas, publishing director of the Northern India Union. By UmeshKumar Pokherel, Nepal Field Publishing Director

Literature Evangelists (LEs) Convene for AnnualCongressNearly 300 literature evangelists in the Ukraine Union convenedon the campus of the Ukrainian SDA Institute, July 16 to 18,2009, for their annual congress. Publishing leaders from theGeneral Conference, Euro-Asia Division, and Publishing Houses,with the union president, Vladimir Krupskyi, graced the eventand inspired the delegates with their messages. Heart-warmingtestimonies of God’s blessings from the LEs punctuated the spiri-tual fervor of the event. By General Conference Publishing Department

110 Pastors Commit to Circulate 400,000 Missionary BooksThis was the encouraging response of the pastors who attended the Publishing Awareness Seminar inCentral Luzon Conference, North Philippine Union, on August 18 to 19, 2009. Their enthusiasm wasdemonstrated by their commitment to motivate their church members to distribute a total of 400,000copies of the missionary book in Metro Manila. By Bong Guevara, Conference Publishing Director

120 Literature Evangelists Distribute 1,000 Books in 20 MinutesAs part of the program of the Council of Literature Evangelists of the North Ecuador Mission, 1,000 books“Sinais de Esperança” (Signs of Hope)were distributed from house to house. The distribution took place ina fishermen’s village located just a few kilometers from the hotel where the council was held. The booksreached nearly all of the houses in that locality, where there is an Adventist congregation of about 20members. While literature evangelists distributed the books, they wrote down the names and addresses ofthe people who seemed interested in future contacts. By Almir Marroni, South American Division Publishing Director

Newsbits from Around the World