News Archive

Brenton Stacey
Public reltions officer

A full house and a live-to-tape television recording confirmed Avondale College Alumni Association's decision to present Hymns and Songs of Praise as the concert at Homecoming (August 29-31) this year.

The Saturday evening concert, held in the Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church, featured the Salvation Army Sydney Staff Songsters, the Avondale College Contemporary Choir and a 40-piece orchestra. The choir received one of the loudest rounds of applause for its version of the gospel song, "O Happy Day," while the songsters' version of "How Great Thou Art" proved a rousing and fitting finale.

Dr Lyell Heise, director of the Institute of Worship for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific, has coordinated three other Hymns and Songs of Praise programs, but never at Homecoming. He speaks of the program's connection, noting this program attracted the largest ever audience for a Hymns and Songs of Praise. "One member of the audience came to me almost in tears after the program," he says. "They hadn't been to church in 20 years."

The worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church's satellite television station Hope Channel will broadcast the program later in the year.

Evangelist, author and former church administrator Pastor David Currie presented "Highlights of public evangelism during the last century in the South Pacific" during the second annual Alumni Lecture on Friday. David's historical review served as a reminder of the characteristics of successful outreach--evangelists as skilled communicators, both as speakers and as marketers, the ability to adapt, the use of new technology, the use of personal invitations, and the courage to share and publicly defend your faith. David noted the decline in number of evangelists and the lack of connection Adventist Church members now have with evangelistic programs. "Where are the reapers?" he asked.

The association dedicated the lecture to Dr Allan Lindsay, a former director of the Ellen G White/SDA Research Centre, based at Avondale. His proudest achievement is presenting the then video series, Keepers of the Flame, now translated into more than a dozen languages. "You have been an evangelist for the church, but more importantly . . . for Jesus Christ," said dean of the Faculty of Theology Dr Ray Roennfeldt in his introduction.

The association also honoured educator and librarian Brian Townend with its Outstanding Alumni Award for his more than 40 years of selfless service to the church, for his outstanding contribution to Adventist education and for his dedication to lifelong learning.

The presentation of the award during the worship service on Saturday will be the last for president Pastor Roger Nixon, who announced during the annual general meeting on Friday he would not seek re-election. Members of the association voted Jenny Hilder (1981, 1982) as his replacement.

Eight other alumni--one for each honour year--joined Brian as award recipients. Receiving citations were: former missionary Beryl Stocken (1938); former minister, evangelist, publishing director and mission president Percy Holmes (1948); fly'n'build coordinator Elwin Ferris (1958); lecturer Robyn Priestley (1968); chair of music-performance at the University of Salford David King (1978); former tradesperson and nurse now medicine and surgery student and heart transplant recipient Graeme Fitzclarence (1983); teacher and Abide Family Ministries director Kimberley Houliston (1988); and chaplain Elia Crevar (1998).

Elia spoke emotionally about renewal during the vespers sermon. His message? "We are never not good enough for God." Worship service speaker Pastor Malcolm Allen (1958) recounted stories from his 35 years of denominational service as a reminder that "God still leads His church."

Despite wet weather on Sunday, 26 competitors, including five staff members, entered the golf classic at the Toronto Country Club. Brothers Graham and Kendall Holmes, sons of citation winner Percy, won the Ambrose format tournament with a score of one under par 71.

And about 100 people attended the Sanitarium Health Food Company brunch, also on Sunday. Most then visited the library to view a display of Avondale's new corporate image and screenings of classic Avondale promotional films.

Caption: The Avondale College Contemporary Choir (front) joined the Salvation Army Sydney Staff Songsters (back) at Hymns and Songs of Praise.
Credit: Ann Stafford

Caption: Three nursing students rejoice together at their 1998 class reunion.
Credit: Ann Stafford

Caption: Pastor Russell Kranz meets colleagues from the theology class of 1968.
Credit: Ann Stafford

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