The Lincoln Amazing Grace Church closed the Sabbath on February 4 with a special fund raising concert by Weimar College students. The students are raising money for a mission trip to Zimbabwe Africa. The three-week trip will include two evangelistic series, a health clinic and an orphan ministry. Read more on the newly created PACmissions website. You can also donate online to be a part of this important end-time ministry!
The Michigan Conference President, Elder Jay Gallimore visited the Weimar campus this past weekend. He led in a special week of prayer for Weimar College students that expanded into a weekend of spiritual emphasis for Weimar Academy students as well as for the newly arrived AFCOE students. The students, staff and visitors were blessed by a series of talks that started on Thursday morning and ended on Sabbath evening. We want to thank the Michigan Conference for lending us Elder Gallimore and pray God’s richest blessings as we move forward to help accomplish God’s work.
Weimar College students assisted with the Antelope Hills SDA church health expo on Sunday, September 25. Roughly 35-40 people attended the expo. Students provided blood pressure screening and the Harvard step test which measures how high the pulse reaches under moderate levels of exercise. Everyone who came through was very thankful for the screening and several people with high blood pressure were particularly interested in our free website, http://www.newstartclub.com Click. here to view our resources for hypertension.
A couple of ladies did not come prepared to participate in even mild exercise. They both had shoes that were not the most comfortable for stepping up and down on a nine inch step 90 times in three minutes. However, one of the ladies who was wearing sandals toughed it out and did her best. The other lady took off her high heel shoes and did it barefoot. She did not even speak English and had to depend on a translator from another booth. The determination of both of these ladies was amazing and it seemed like both of them had good health. Perhaps one of the qualifications of good health is determination. If we would be as determined to take off our shoes or exercise even when it’s not the most convenient we would probably be in much better health.
Company evangelism and evangelistic education sound like terms straight out of the nineteenth century. However, when a team of missionaries (three doctors, a speech therapist turned pharmacist, an experienced Bible worker turned teacher, and an English faculty member turned preacher) combined their efforts to put on a variety of events in Zambia. The results were surprising.
The team began in Lusaka hosting health expos in the capital’s Central Seventh-day Adventist Church as well as at a local business. After the initial health expo at the church, a television station caught wind of the free health services and came to interview some of the hosts. As a result a couple of successful businesses heard about what was happening and invited the team to inform their employees on the best ways to maintain or improve their health. At first the team expected to have Kettering Cardiologist Brian Schwartz give a lecture on preventing heart disease, a rising threat in Zambia. However, when the team arrived at the first business they were invited to launch a mini health expo. Fortunately for the team, Dr. Marge Cook and Terri Kennedy, also members of the Kettering Health Network, utilized their years of missionary experience to set one up on the fly. When they reached the second business, Dr. Schwartz’s lecture brought on some earnest questions from a couple of employees who sincerely desired to improve their health.
Before they left Lusaka the team also had the privilege of giving some encouraging words at a Christian orphanage. The visit to the orphanage involved a tour before some singing and short talks about the importance of persevering in the Christian life.
All throughout their time in Lusaka, the team was assisted and guided by a group of young people who regularly visit local orphanages and who participate in almost every form of evangelism and missionary work they can find: the IMPACT Team. This group of youth resemble, in some ways, the GYC movement in the U.S. and their willingness and energy inspired the U.S. team. Although the team had to part ways with Dr. Schwartz and his wife (who had hosted a week of prayer filled with health nuggets) they were able to take a couple of IMPACT Bible workers with them to Mazabuka.
The team departed for Mazabuka on a Friday afternoon; as they neared the sweetest town in Zambia, they saw the sugar cane fields burning in the distance. This is a common practice just before the harvest season. However, the Spirit of God would soon light a different kind of fire in this town as the team prepared for an evangelistic series. During the first four days the health practitioners held free health clinics at the same venue that the evangelistic series would take place: a soccer field next to the city’s police station. The church did a great job advertising the events with posters on trees and radio announcements. Hundreds of people flocked to the health clinics to receive free consultations and advice.
Every morning a group of dedicated church members gathered to a Bible working training class that would involve practical application during the evangelistic series and would ensure that the new believers would be nurtured after the mission was over. After the first few days Winston Green, the Weimar College theology student turned Bible work instructor, also took on another large responsibility: teaching the baptismal class. His duties continued to expand offering him an educational experience that he could never have received sitting in a lecture. After the health practitioners departed the people continued to gather every morning. Not wanting a golden opportunity to pass Winston and the Bible workers began to give the people nutritional and spiritual counseling. Most of the nutritional advice came from the IMPACT evangelist/Bible worker Hastings Phiri; who had a wealth of knowledge on natural remedies. This continuing stream of people traveling to the venue for prayers or advice ensured that the Bible workers in training would have plenty of outreach delivered straight to their class. Nevertheless, Winston made sure the class also had a chance to try some door-to-door action and they came out of it with Bible studies lined up after only a few hours.
The revival of old methods extended to the evangelistic series as well. English faculty member, Cosmin Ritivoiu, decided to write his own series of sermons using the themes and Bible verses in the first eight chapters of Steps To Christ mixed with the themes and verses in many chapters in The Great Controversy. To build up to the appeals he used a copy of Louis Torres’ Great Stories for Gaining Decisions that he had borrowed from one of his students back at Weimar College. Finally, to keep the interest of the visual learners he used a new presentation software called Prezi for most of his sermons.
The experimentation with old methods peaked in Cosmin’s estimation when he decided to have the local church elders and Bible workers go out into the field after his sermon. He asked the people to gather in small groups around the elders and Bible workers so that they could repeat the main points of the sermon and answer questions. All this took place before the appeal and closing prayer. At first this method met with some skepticism and some people refused to gather in the small groups. Nevertheless, every night Winston, Hastings, and the other Bible workers would come back with great stories of how they had clarified the sermon to the people. All this was a fulfillment of Testimonies to the Church Volume 6, page 88.
So, do these old methods work in this contemporary context? It is hard to tell because God ultimately gives the increase. The attendance to the series peaked at a thousand people on the second night. Fifty people were baptized in an irrigation dam next to the sugar cane fields at the end of the series. Twenty-two prisoners were baptized after studying with local church members and hearing the series from loud speakers whose sound carried over the prison walls. These seventy-two people underwent a series of serious questions from Pastor Choongo, a man who believes in quality over quantity. Ten Bible workers graduated from Winston’s course. Countless others received precious Biblical counseling to help with the struggles in their lives. In a town where molasses is so plentiful it is dumped on the road to cut back on the dust, a new kind of sweetness entered the hearts of the people. The psalmist exclaimed in Psalms 119:103: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Some of the people in Mazabuka would likely repeat these words after receiving a taste of the goodness of their Savior.
It was with great enthusiasm that I arrived with 15 young people on a Weimar College mission trip, at Harare International airport. We had over 32 pieces of luggage with medical supplies, computers and personal items for orphans. Josie and her assistant Raquel, our contacts in Zimbabwe, had been working for the last three days to obtain the necessary documentation for our group to clear customs. However, we were unaware that they had been unsuccessful in securing the required clearance forms. So there we were with our caravan of luggage trollies lined up at customs. With an uneasy feeling, Shiloh and I bowed our heads over our luggage cart and prayed that God would get us through customs with our needed supplies. Upon finishing our prayer, we found ourselves being waved passed the officials without further questioning. That was the first of many amazing miracles and providences of God during this trip. We happily squeezed our entire group and luggage into a 20-seater bus to make our way to Redcliff, our final destination, 3.5 hours southwest from Harare.
Although we had been travelling for well over 30 hours, our bus load of young people exuded much excitement as we began this last portion of our trip. However, this excitement was soon to be overshadowed by an accident about an hour into our trip. Our driver started to pass a slowing dump truck at high speed. However, what he didn’t realize was that the truck he was passing was actually slowing to turn in front of us into our path. Before we realized what was happening the truck had slammed into the front left corner of the bus which sent us reeling off the road. My first thought was everything would be OK…until we came to an abrupt stop in the grass that resulted in suitcases and students being airborne. As the dust settled we realized we were actually OK with only minor injuries. There was a ditch to our left and a bank of dirt to our right that could have caused the bus to roll had we swerved in either direction.
Outside the bus a crowd of locals gathered and began arguing while we huddled inside for safety. Still in shock and shaken from the incident, one of the students suggested we sing…’It is well with my soul’ rang out of the bus and quieted the noisy crowd outside – I can never sing that song again without remembering God’s salvation in Zimbabwe. Other songs, prayer, and a reading of Psalm 91 followed as we waited for over 1.5 hours for another bus to come ‘rescue’ us. We later heard that the police that tended to the accident commented that these types of accidents are usually fatal but for some reason this one was different. I had not realized that our humble trip to Africa would result in us being so dramatically thrown on to the front lines of the Great Controversy!
The trip was a collaboration between Weimar College and Penuel Springs Institute (PSI). Josie Moyo an adjunct faculty in the Health Sciences Department at Weimar is the president of PSI. This organization runs an orphan network and a college where older orphans are trained to be medical missionaries. We were there to minister to the orphans, run an evening VBS meeting for the orphans and local children, and a week of prayer for the local church. During the day we were to conduct health expos for the community. Our luggage was packed tight with a multitude of things for the orphans: backpacks, shoes, sweaters and other clothing, beanie babies, sheets, and much needed personal items. We also had brought urgently needed medical equipment and medicines.
One of the reasons why there is such a great need and why there are so many orphans in Zimbabwe is the high incidence of HIV. It was sobering to see the results of this terrible disease. A large percentage of a generation is missing and we often saw grandmothers with young babies strapped to their back; the parents lost to HIV. I often felt like I was walking through the ‘valley of the shadow of death.’ The little clinic across the street from PSI had a sign offering ‘free body removal’ ‘free funeral service’ and ‘coffins at competitive rates’. Josie tells me that funerals are the biggest business in Zimbabwe.
It was exciting to meet the orphans and talk with those who cared for them. We drove for hours one evening through savannah country to find one PSI-sponsored family living in an isolated home in a mining compound where people are no longer working. The faces of the two teenage girls and their younger brother lit up when we presented them with their new backpacks and personal items.
My most unforgettable orphan experience though was meeting Mary.* We visited Mary in Redcliff who was now being cared for by her aunt. I thought she must be about 11 but was surprised to find she was 14. We did a short video interview with her on the front steps of her humble home (which I think her aunt waxed and polished prior to our arrival). Mary read a neatly written testimony of her gratitude to PSI and her dreams to be an executive secretary. However, I tried desperately to maintain my composure when to my shock she read how medical tests revealed she was HIV positive. This young frail orphan girl was not going to achieve her dream in this world. It was with a terrible feeling of helplessness that we left that family and walked down the road.
One of the highlights of the trip was handing out backpacks to the remaining orphans with personal items and shoes that all seemed to fit! What a blessing to bring a little bit of happiness to those in such need. It was indeed a blessing to serve in Zimbabwe.
Our presence in the little town of Redcliff where we stayed didn’t go un-noticed and we ended up one Sabbath morning waiting for a long time in the local police station for a personal interview with the Chief Inspector. We also needed permission to conduct our health expos. It was a formality and he welcomed us. I was later able to visit him again and give him my backpack, a Bible, glow tracks and personal items.
The PSI and Weimar students worked together to minister to the needs of the community in a number of health expos. Hundreds of people received medical and health assessments as their blood pressures and glucose levels were determined. They also received HIV and HPV counseling, chair massages, and other health information. Unknown diabetes and very high blood pressure was detected and people were directed to medical help. One tent we used to minister to the people was packed with a huge crowd, some of who had been waiting for us since 6 AM, even though we didn’t get there until 11 due to yet another visit to a local police station for approval.
This pilot mission trip impacted many lives for the better (including the Africans and us) and paves the way for future collaborative mission trips. It is our desire to be able to sponsor college-level PSI orphans to come study massage and hydrotherapy at Weimar. PSI has a dream to build a lifestyle center where the orphan’s can have employment and minister to the community using simple natural remedies. Weimar and PSI hope to work together to realize this dream. The orphan needs are great. We pray that great things will happen as a result of this first small step in ministry in Zimbabwe. This trip would not have been possible without generous assistance from Quiet Hour and other donors – we sincerely thank you.
*Not her real name
George Jackson is the Chair of the Health Sciences Dept. and Associate Academic Dean at Weimar College.
Josie Moyo grew up in Redcliff Zimbabwe but now works as a Physicians Assistant in Maryland USA. She is the President of PSI and also holds a position as Adjunct Faculty at Weimar College.
Raquel Garcia is also based in the USA and works as an administrator for PSI.
Shiloh Hooker, a nursing graduate, is currently working as the Registrar for Weimar College
The phrase instructing that the health message be the right hand of the three angels’ messages was penned long ago. Throughout the years, some in the church have grown despondent saying that evangelism doesn’t work and that health reform is old fashioned. But a new generation of young people has been raised up and they have reopened the treasures in the Bible and volumes of the Spirit of Prophecy, unearthing beautiful discoveries.
Such a group of young people from Army of Youth Ministries (AYM) began meeting together, praying, reading, and discussing what they were learning. A picture began to form in the minds of these young people and they sought to piece together a complete blueprint of what God intended for them to do. AYM Director of Health, Kimberly Azelton, a pre-med student at Weimar College, led out in these bi-monthly studies. From reading these messages to God’s end time church, it became readily apparent that their ministry was lacking key components to success. As Bible workers, colporteurs, revivalists, students, and missionaries, a practical knowledge and experience in the health field would provide vital bridges for friendship and trust. People in communities are often wary of anyone who comes to the door, but when God’s workers are able to show genuine interest in their wellbeing and offer sympathy, they are impressed to trust. “Whether in foreign missions or in the home field, all missionaries, both men and women, will gain much more ready access to the people, and will find their usefulness greatly increased if they are able to minister to the sick.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 146)
There is a strong correlation between the health work and canvassing. “As the canvasser goes from place to place, he will find many who are sick. He should have a practical knowledge of the causes of disease and should understand how to give simple treatments, that he may relieve the suffering ones. More than this, he should pray in faith and simplicity for the sick, pointing them to the Great Physician.” (Counsels on Health, p. 464)
From the outline pieced together in her mind, Kimberly decided to launch a program to train gospel workers during spring break in a comprehensive two-week program. The program’s name became Ambassadors: Mobilizing Medical Missionaries, based on 2 Corinthians 5:20. The main components included the history of the health message, massage, hydrotherapy, NEWSTART ® principles, outdoor Bible studies, and a practical application in the form of a public health expo. Doctors and NEWSTART staff delivered important health lectures on pertinent topics like the cause and prevention of disease.
News of the health training program spread quickly and soon applications came from various regions, country-wide. The classes were a huge success, and each student experienced what those old, red-bound books spoke about when they talked of hydrotherapy, massage, an abstemious diet, colporteuring, and much more. Each student also captured the vision of how health is indeed the right hand of the gospel. When they canvassed, they also advertised in the community for their public health expo. The health expo was sparsely attended, but those who visited were lovingly served.
At the conclusion of Ambassadors, a special graduation service was held to celebrate the completion of the program. During the consecration service, students were given the opportunity to share how the Lord led them to the program and what they planned to do with the knowledge they gained. Their testimonies were inspiring. One mother and daughter from Madara, CA, shared their plan to set up a medical clinic in Mexico. Another young man plans to integrate the health message into his Bible work. A woman from New York is planning the health events for her conference’s campmeeting, and is inspired and refreshed to do so powerfully.
The Lord is no doubt resurrecting an army of youth that will finish the work with His power so that His children can go home.
Laura Gren
Freshmen
Pre-nursing
A day in the middle of a semester for a college student typically looks like this: get up, class, homework, class, class, class, then yep, more homework until you drop into bed, hoping for a deep sleep before repeating it all again in the morning. Oh, throw in a few meal breaks, church, and maybe some time checking your e-mail, but that’s about it. So what did I decide to do on my spring break, my time to finally catch up on all that homework? I went on a mission trip. Escapism? Well, maybe a little but I learned some lessons about stress I couldn’t learn at home.
I boarded a plane and flew over the Atlantic to Zimbabwe, a land very different than my own. We stayed in a town on the African savannah that seemed almost abandoned. The main source of income had been a large steel mine. It was closed down, cutting off the power and water supplies and putting many people out of a job. The whole country has also recently gone through an economic collapse. They use US bills that are so old they look half decomposed. Added to this is the sad situation of many orphan children. Almost a whole generation of adults is gone from their country due to AIDS and TB. The children remain, left in the care of the grandparents who are unable to work and support them. There are almost no vehicles in the town; everyone walks where they need to go, carrying purchases on their heads and babies on their backs. Their clothing is threadbare from being washed by hand and definitely not in the latest style. They eat the same food everyday: cornmeal, steamed greens, some sort of meat, and fruit.
While we were there we did a lot of health expos, screening for high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and giving HIV/HPV and diabetes counseling. There were a lot of people who needed help. Many people there have HIV or live with someone who does; often with the additional complications of TB. We were able to do a lot of good, showing people they can help keep themselves healthy by just changing a little of their lifestyle, giving them the power to change their lives.
I didn’t want to leave. You’d think with all of their problems that they would be depressed, that everywhere you would see people weighed down with trying to live one day after another. But we didn’t. There was singing. Children laughed. I had gone to minister to them, give them hope; instead they taught me. I knew it would happen; I have been on other trips before, yet every time I come away with a new, deeper understanding of trusting in the Lord. It’s something I think every young person needs to experience. Travel to another country, one vastly poorer than yours, and minister to the people who live there, people who greet every morning with a smile instead of a groan. Then pause for a moment and realize that when you leave to come back home they will stay, probably for the rest of their lives. Then the next time you wake up with a heavy heart, remember, it’s not that your problems are less than theirs but that with God’s help, all problems can be overcome.
Cassandra Holdal
Freshmen
Pre-Nursing
Weimar College has come out of difficult times and has been growing and increasing by the grace of God. God is truly doing a work in this college and much has already been accomplished. One important area of growth is the number of students that have decided to come experience the Weimar College vision.
As the student body has grown and the organization of the college has progressed, the student body has also organized. The students founded the Student Association (SA), based on a vision of Landon Wagstaff, a nursing student. The goal was to make the SA an instrument within the body to promote revival and reformation under the divine working of the Holy Spirit.
As the SA become more solid, exciting things began to happen. One event was the International Supper. The supper featured authentic international food made by friends of Weimar College based on their various backgrounds and cultures. All the money raised by the supper helped to fund mission trips.
The SA organized other events as well. One important event was the campfire meetings which included activities and a spiritual devotion. Student led outreaches were also organized regularly. A special Halloween outreach was done as well. This event was about doing outreach on a day when people expect someone to come to their door. Generally the SA did a wonderful job in promoting the social and spiritual level at Weimar.
As the years went by, Weimar fall class of 2010 came. Carlos Leos Ponce, stepped up to the plate as President. Carlos was a great President throughout his term. He was truly in it for the people and not for himself. He dared to change things and make things happen. Granted he did mistakes, but he was humble enough to acknowledge them. Carlos set up a high standard for any student running for the Presidency, yet it is possible to continue in that steady process up wards.
As new elections begin for this coming year, the question is asked: who can, not only meet the standards put up by Carlos, but continue moving forward? This is the question all must ask if wanting to run for President. Much prayer and humbling before God must take place. I am praying about running for this position and I believe it is safe to assume that all the other candidates are also spending time on their knees. The purpose for writing this article is to uplift and raise the standard higher. Carlos’s goal must be perfected in the Student Association and body. The connection between the president and key leaders, SA and the student body must be perfected. This election challenges the students of Weimar to look to the future. By the grace of God, it can be a bright future. Together we must make progress on the vision.
Isaac Jacobo
Sophomore
Theology major
In May of 2011 Weimar College will be conducting a mission trip to Mazabuka, Zambia that will involve a large evangelistic series, in a city of 47,000 people. The group of two staff and six students from both the College and Academy may see as many as six thousand attend the series. Along with this series the College plans to hold clinics in conjunction with a group of health care providers who are a part of the Kettering Health Network. This group includes cardiologist Dr. Sula Mazimba who is a native of Zambia that currently works in Ohio. Weimar College students will also provide Bible worker, massage, and natural remedies training and expect to distribute six thousand Bibles thanks to Remnant Publications.
This trip began providentially last spring when a group of Weimar Academy volunteers heard the drums of a funeral. The man who had died of AIDS was a well-loved fisherman in the village. This sad event reminded the group of the great need for health and spiritual education in Zambia. Fortunately, that mission trip also brought them in contact with Hillary Moonga, a Bible worker, evangelist, and translator, who received his training from Riverside Farms, an Adventist training center in Zambia. Mr. Moonga invited Weimar to come back to Zambia, this time to his hometown Mazabuka. Weimar’s return will provide health and salvation to many with the help of donors.
According to statistics from 2007 in the CIA Factbook 15.2% of all Zambian adults have AIDS. That is the equivalent of 1.1 million; 56,000 of which die every year. In addition, the country is listed as having a very high degree of risk for major infectious diseases.
In an effort to lower these numbers Weimar College plans to raise money for the construction of a small sanitarium which will provide a twenty day lifestyle program. Volunteers from Riverside Farms will build the structure once the money for the materials has come in. The sanitarium would provide lifestyle training to those who are at risk of AIDS or who have already contracted it, allowing them a better chance at a longer life. Weimar’s second visit to Zambia will be another step in fulfilling counsels such as this sentence from Counsels on Health: âThe sick are to be reached, not by massive buildings, but by the establishment of many small sanitariums, which are to be as lights shining in a dark place” (211). This project is only one example of Weimar’s work to establish locations where the gospel will be proclaimed along with the health message.
If you would like to donate to this trip please visit our donations page at www.weimar.org.
Weimar College students did many things over Christmas break, but perhaps none saw Godâs hand like the six students who went to Atzala, Puebla, Mexico.
The mission trip was born out of one studentâs desire to return to his hometown to share his faith. Claudio Fuentes, who has been a Seventh-day Adventist for two years, came from a village in southeast Mexico where there are only two Seventh-day Adventists in the whole area.
Claudio shared his desire for the mission trip at Weimar College where he currently studies theology. Soon there was a group of students excited about the trip, but they had one problem. They didnât have the money. This was not, however, a problem for God. âRight before the trip the money came in,â shares Isaac Jacobo. The students’ faith was tested, but they saw the power of prayer at work.
âWe needed to go and we needed a miracle to get there,â says Rebecca Cameron, âso we prayed- At first with trembling, uncertain words, then with more confidence as we recalled the promises of God. By the end of the meeting, we were singing praises to God for the money He would provide to enable us to go.â
The students didnât know that just before they prayed $1000 had already come in. Over the next two days God provided enough money for them to buy their travel tickets. The donations kept coming in. Two days before their trip, they received over $1000 from a church, which gave them enough to cover their budget for the trip.
God provided in other ways as well. Rebecca, who was in charge of the childrenâs meetings for the trip, was approached by a lady who was looking for someone who could use felts that she no longer needed. âIt was exactly what we needed,â says Rebecca.
In Mexico, the students organized evangelistic meetings and health education and childrenâs meetings. Prayer was constant. During the first week the students tried to locate a place to hold their meetings. They talked with leadership at a local school, but they seemed resistant and skeptical. The students began to pray. âWe started praying and we saw the school leaders skepticism turn into enthusiasm. God opened the door,â says Eugene Van Wyk. The students were able to use the school for their meetings.
The meetings touched many hearts. Near the end of the trip the children who had been learning Bible stories and songs were asked to invite their parents to come to a meeting. Many came and listened as the children shared songs and stories of Jesus. Many responded to the appeal to be ready when Jesus returns.
Some of the most memorable experiences were meeting the daily needs of people in the village. The students had brought clothing with them to give to people. They had an odd assortment of items and didnât know whether they would have items that people needed or not. But God had His hand over the matter. âWe had just the right amount of clothes for everyone,â says Kimberly Azelton.
One lady they met lived in a dirt floor bamboo house with her three daughters. The family was very poor, and the village was very cold at night. The students were able to provide her with sweaters and clothing to keep her children warm. But the greatest blessing to this woman was spiritual. She brought her children to the meetings and they were able to learn about Jesus and receive Him into their hearts.
The health outreach was a blessing as well. One person with health problems from exposure to toxins was helped by activated charcoal that the students taught her about. At one home where the students stayed there was a sick woman. The students prayed for her, and she was able to walk the next day to see her daughter. âWe would pray and things would happen as soon as we finished praying,â says Isaac.
Providing something as simple as food was a great blessing to many of the poor in the village. âWe brought food baskets to several families,â says Kimberly. â It was wonderful to see the joy on their faces when they realized they had food to eat.â
In addition to meeting peopleâs needs, the students held seminars for local Christians, teaching them how to help their community.
The students are planning another mission trip to Atzala in June of this year. Plans are underway to build a church and continue to share the love of Christ in Mexico.
On September 13, Weimar College had the pleasure of welcoming Loma Linda University‘s Dean of Medicine, Dr. Roger Hadley. During Dr. Hadley‘s visit to campus he gave a presentation to the general student body, and afterward, Weimar College‘s pre-medicine and science students had the opportunity to personally speak with Dr. Hadley at a special meeting over dinner.
Dr. Hadley answered student questions and shared valuable advice including the importance of learning how to communicate effectively, how to avoid failing a medical school interview, and the one non-required class in college that would help the most when practicing medicine. The dean revealed exactly what interviewers look for in medical school applicants. He also stressed the fact that Loma Linda is very serious about accepting committed Christians. ‘Don‘t just write on your application, ‘I love the Lord‘‘you need to show us that you really do love God,‘ he said emphatically.
Ramiro Quero, a first-year pre-med student, appreciated the emphasis Dr. Hadley placed on service. “I tend to focus on studying and it‘s easy to forget about others. He told us it‘s helpful to be engaged in activities of service because it‘s a big factor at Loma Linda University.” Ramiro was also impressed with Dr. Hadley‘s openness in answering questions. “He wasn‘t gaining anything. He was simply interested in helping us.” Kimberly Azelton, a second-year pre-med, was very motivated by Dr. Hadley‘s visit. “Probably the most encouraging thing is that Loma Linda wants to see all the hard work‘ pay off and result in patient-focused evangelistic healthcare. Now that’s exciting!”
Meeting with the dean helped students to focus their educational goals. Many of the students hope to enroll in Loma Linda University and the dean provided very useful information on how to increase the likelihood of acceptance to the medical school. Dr. Hadley‘s advice helped Talisa Jackson and Kimberly Azelton decide to pursue bachelor‘s degrees instead of simply fulfilling the pre-med requirements in order to strengthen their applications.
For Lindsey Longo and Emery Cordrey, both second-year science students, the meeting gave them something to seriously consider in terms of future career choice. Lindsey described her initial reaction after seeing what medical school was like as, ‘I would never do that‘. However, the idea has grown on her since then as she sees the opportunities for ministry as a doctor. For Emery, the experience was ‘eye-opening.‘ Emery found the timing of Dr. Hadley‘s visit interesting, since he had begun thinking about the possibility of studying medicine a week earlier.
The dinner with Dr. Hadley gave a great kickoff to the school year and the newly formed Weimar College Pre-med Association. Talisa Jackson, a second-year premed, is president of the association and helped organize the special visit. ‘It was an inspiration to me,‘ Talisa states. The purpose of the Pre-med Association is to get students involved in activities that will prepare them for medical school, whether it‘s having MCAT study sessions or arranging visits from guests like Dr. Hadley. In addition to helping the premed students achieve their academic goals, the Pre-med Association is planning a number of exciting events and activities, including a trip to the Adventist Medical Evangelism Network (AMEN) Conference in San Diego in October. Also in the works is a mission trip this spring to Zimbabwe to help in a medical clinic.
Ultimately, the main goal of the association is service. ‘We want to imitate Jesus‘ example in ministering to others,‘ Talisa says. ‘We‘re reminding the students it‘s not just about the academics, but to keep the bigger picture in mind.‘
By Michael Lombart
Weimar College began the Fall 2010 semester with 60 students. This represents the highest enrollment at Weimar College in a number of years. Students came from all over the United States, as well as a few from Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Korea. With the addition of 53 students attending the Amazing Facts Center of Evagelism (AFCOE) and 52 Weimar Academy students, the campus seems to be bursting at the seams like the ancient schools of the prophets.
During vespers on the first weekend, the chapel doors and windows had to be opened so students could crowd around the outside of the building to hear Dr. Neil Nedleyâs message about a similar problem faced by students in the time of the prophet Elisha. Rows of chairs outside the open doors of the chapel helped more to hear. The dorms are also filled to capacity and students going to the cafeteria take advantage of the good weather to find seating outdoors.
The energy on campus is clearly seen. Dr. George Jackson, head of the science department says, âI thought we would never equal the energy and power of last school year, but that has been totally eclipsed by what is now happening. God is truly working on this campus. His power and Spirit are here.â
Students are also enjoying the new school year. âIâm so excited about the new year,â says one returning student. âThere are a lot more students here this year and I am enjoying it even more than before.â
Despite full facilities, there are many smiles. Many classes have 20 or more students, providing a stimulating learning environment. Many musical students have provided for a large choir. Also, the entire Weimar campus is benefiting from the work of the college students as they fulfill the practical component of their education.
âOur staffing needs became a concern, but God had a plan,â says Dr. Jackson. A last minute change left the college without a massage instructor, but Susan Pellandini, a massage therapist from Michigan, agreed to close her busy massage practice and move to Weimar to answer Godâs call and work with young people. Other contract teachers have filled in gaps including Esmie Branner, author of Beyond the Veil of Darkness. She will be teaching psychology. âGod has absolutely provided everything we need,â says Dr. Jackson.
Evangelism and outreach has already been happening. Students passed out GLOW tracts on the first weekend, and already have a Bible study contact. They have also been organizing campus ministries, and plans are already underway for a mission trip to Zimbabwe. Additionally, many students are participating in a student-led Wednesday night prayer meeting.
Students are also fanning out to local area churches. During the first weekend of school, students filled many rows of pews at the Sacramento Central SDA Church. Students in the Principles of Health class will be providing health outreach for the church and assisting in producing health programming for the new Amazing Facts 24-hour satellite channel. Other students will assist local area churches with their evangelism efforts.
Some students faced serious financial challenges in coming to Weimar. They didnât think they would be able to attend, but last minute financing opened up for many. Some came through the help of board members, some through family, and some through anonymous donors. One student turned down a full scholarship to another college to attend Weimar college and receive the Bible based education it offers. âWe are on the crest of the wave,â says Dr. Jackson. âAnd we are gaining momentum.â
Christina Harris joined Weimar College in the summer of 2010 as professor of Chemistry. She will teach general and organic chemistry as well as biochemistry to Weimar Collegeâs health science majors and pre-nursing students.
Christina began her journey to Weimar College before she had even heard of it. While at the University of Colorado, Boulder, she came in contact with people involved in campus ministries. As she began to take online Bible studies, she was amazed at how much the Bible and science agreed. She was eventually baptized during the Net â98 meetings with Dwight Nelson.
After her conversion, Christina attended the very first class of the ARISE Institute, then located in Michigan. She also became involved in outreach through public campus ministries while in Michigan.
A variety of circumstances led Christina to Weimar College. She states, âI learned about Weimar College because of its position on the six literal day creation week. Through various people and circumstances, God led me here.â
She was especially drawn to Weimar College because of its emphasis on the health message and Biblical education. âIâm thrilled to be teaching at a school where the Bible is so welcomed in the classroom,â she says.
Christina is well qualified. After her undergraduate degree in chemistry, she received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Colorado, Boulder, graduating with a 4.00 GPA. She then completed post-doctoral research at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in May 2000.
After her training, Christina was Senior Research Scientist for Pharmacia Corp. and most recently, Senior Research Scientist at Kalexsyn Inc. She holds 6 patents, and is the author of over 25 journal publications. In addition to her proven professionalism in the field of chemistry, Christina also has teaching experience at Western Michigan University.
Weimar College brought a healing touch to the recent San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival by providing massages and health information to the attendees. Three college students and two staff members joined the San Francisco Japanese Seventh-day Adventist Church at their booth for the April 17, 2010 event.
The Weimar team provided 5-minute massages as well as information about the NEWSTART Lifestyle program and a drawing for free NEWSTART cookbooks. Those who received massages were directed to a table covered with GLOW Tracts, NEWSTART brochures, and other SDA literature. In addition, each person who received a massage was placed on the Japanese Church’s mailing list so they can receive invitations to other outreach events the church hosts. This list grew long as the group massaged over 60 participants in about 5 hours.
Response was positive from those who attended the festival. One lady who came to the booth said she had been unable to move her neck since she woke up that morning. After the massage the lady easily turned her head from side to side and exclaimed that she wanted to learn more about NEWSTART.
This is Weimar Collegeâs second year participating in the Cherry Blossom Festival. The college plans to continue this yearly outreach to the 150,000 festival attendees.
On February 11 the Weimar Pre Med students had an exciting field trip to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. The day got off to a great start when the students all agreed that their driver/instructor should pass a Glow tract to the attendant at the toll gate of the Oakland Bay Bridge. This resulted in an amazing encounter leading to the attendant asking what denomination we were â then in great excitement he exclaimed (while many cars were waiting in line!) that he was from Nigeria and that he was familiar with Adventists and Adventist institutions in his country. We were all encouraged that we could reach a potential soul for the kingdom at such an unlikely place.
The trip provided a fantastic opportunity for the Biology students to view a vast array of living organisms from a 4 story rainforest ecosystem to a 212,000 gallon Philippine tropical coral reef â all housed in the new hi-tech eco-friendly building. While it is one thing to learn about corals or plant anatomy in class, it is far more unique to be able to view these organisms alive and close up. Perhaps the most amazing experience was sitting in the clear acrylic tube underneath the Amazon flooded rainforest with gigantic catfish and other massive Amazonian fish swimming overhead. It was indeed a blessing to be able to view such a diversity of Godâs creation alive and up-close â and by the way, the Glow tracts didnât stop at the toll gate. Many staff and security guards at the Academy received a new insight on truth from courageous Weimar students who were unashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
View photos of the field trip here
Weimar Center of Health and Education is pleased to announce that Jennifer Ish has accepted the volunteer position of Alumni Director. Her role will be to help coordinate communication and involvement with Academy, College and Staff who have been a part of Weimar through the years. She will be working with the alumni groups to help them stay in touch and facilitate the goals and objectives that they have created as well as those of Weimar as a whole.Â
Jennifer graduated from Weimar College in 1982 with a degree in Health Science. She was also one of the first students at Weimar College when it started in 1978. She later was employed at Weimar from 1986 to 1992, working in a variety of positions in the medical and health promotion areas for the NEWSTART. Living in the local community since leaving Weimar in 1995 she has been able to stay in contact with many of the staff and students who have come and gone through the years. This long term connection with Weimar will be a valuable asset as she seeks to build the New Alumni Department at Weimar.
Jennifer has already been busy planning the 2010 Alumni Reunion. The weekend is scheduled for April 15 – 18, 2010. While all are encouraged to come, the focus for this year will be on the college (alternating years with the academy).
This year the honored classes are:
25 year 1984, 1985, 1986
20 year 1989, 1990, 1991
15 year 1994, 1995, 1996
10 year 1999, 2000, 2001
5 year 2004, 2005, 2006
Read more about:
2010 Alumni Reunion
You can contact Jennifer at Alumni@Weimar.edu or write: Alumni Department, PO Box 486, Weimar, CA 95736. We are all looking forward to hearing from you!
Weimar College is offering a new class this semester with a fresh approach to learning. How to Start a Ministry (LEAD 130) was created in response to a studentâs desire to know how to start a ministry that God put on his heart.
How to Start a Ministry is not a typical, formal class within the four walls of a classroom. Students usually meet at the home of the professor, Dr. Randy J. Siebold, Weimar Centerâs Vice President of Education. The group often shares food before class and is always filled with lively discussion, good counsel, and input from everyone on the topic of the day. There is one major requirement to be in the class: Everyone has to have a ministry project they are working towards.
Danielle, a sophomore pre-med student, started the class without a specific ministry idea, but that soon changed. âThe class brings to life what God has already placed in you,â she says. Her goal is to start a ministry to help young girls deal with relationships and âat riskâ behaviors caused by low self-esteem. She says, âThe ministry class helps to refine what God wants us to do and helps us build on that. But the class is not just about ministry; it is about leadership and life. I know I will take lessons from this class with me through life.â
Another student, Carlos, says the class really helped him clarify his vision. âThe class makes my ministry goal seem more possible,â he says, âI know that with Godâs help it will happen.â
The class has dealt with a variety of topics such as allowing God to reveal His mission for you, developing leadership-level communication skills, as well as the power and simplicity of mission and vision. The class has challenged the students to see their ministry as one of continuous improvement. âWe canât wait until we have everything planned and perfect before we start our ministries,â says Dr. Siebold. âWe need to do our best at that which lies nearest…and start now. God will bless us as we follow His leading today.â
Dr. Siebold focuses on preparing very relevant material for the students to learn and discuss in each class. The teaching is not merely theoretical, but focuses on the practical needs of a leader in ministry. Dr. Siebold draws on his own experience as well as ideas from the best minds in the field of leadership. He plans to help the class develop into a series of leadership courses for the College focusing on Biblical concepts of leadership.
Weimar College is pleased to welcome 12 new students for the Spring 2010 semester. âWe are thankful for Godâs blessing in bringing each of our new students,â says Dr. Randy Siebold, Vice President for Education. âThey are already showing great progress. We see them applying themselves to the academic rigor and challenging each other in spiritual growth.â Mid-year enrollment increases are uncommon and many schools actually decrease in enrollment between semesters. The students form an ethnically and internationally diverse group from Europe, the Pacific Islands, South Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The semester began with a convocation weekend focused on âKnowing God Better Through Missions.â JoAnne Lafever, Education Director of the Guam-Micronesia Mission, inspired students to become involved in missions. The weekend also included student testimonies about their own mission experiences, afternoon hikes, and presentations by Pastor Jim Brackett and Dr. Randy Siebold. Weimar Academy joined the college students for the weekendâs events. âIt was a great blessing having the academy and college combined to learn about missions and grow together spiritually,â says Laura Im, College Administrative Assistant.
Along with the 28 students from Weimar Academy, the 34 college students will be sharing the campus with approximately 41 students from the Amazing Facts College of Evangelism (AFCOE) this semester. At first there were concerns about overcrowding, but as Doctor Siebold says, âThe Lord provided the perfect mix of male and female students between the college and AFCOE, so our dorm space worked out perfectly.â
A bigger challenge appears on the horizon for next school year as Weimar College continues its growth. This year the College has a student body of primarily freshmen. With next year bringing a new batch of freshmen in addition to the current students, dorm space will be limited. The College is looking into solutions so that just like the ancient schools of the prophets, there will be room for all who want to come. If you would like to be a part of the solution, you can donate here to help Weimar College prepare for more students seeking Bible-based education.
Weimar College‘s Health Sciences Department is welcoming two new faculty members and the beginning of work on a new nursing program. David DeRose, MD, is joining the College faculty and will also work concurrently with the NEWSTART® clinic. He will lead out in both classroom and practical aspects of health evangelism. Josephine Jacavone Kelley, RN, MS, CCRN, CNS, will head Weimar College‘s development of LVN and RN nursing programs recently made possible by a generous grant from ASI.
Dr. George Jackson, head of Weimar College‘s Health Sciences Department, is excited about the new developments. ‘This is truly a huge boost for health evangelism at Weimar College,‘ he says. ‘Dr. DeRose and Ms. Kelley are high profile people in health evangelism and are a perfect fit with the College‘s ‘Core of Four‘ method of education. With these changes we are continuing to improve our program of training those who will do medical evangelism work at the end of time.‘
The College‘s goal is to be able to provide an accredited LVN program within a year, and an accredited RN program within 2 years. Both programs will provide practical training by partnering with local hospitals for clinical education and utilizing the NEWSTART® program for experience in natural and lifestyle medicine. ‘There is strong demand for both LVN‘s and RN‘s in the job market,‘ says Dr. Jackson. ‘Our graduates will be highly employable with their added knowledge of lifestyle medicine and health evangelism in addition to the regular curriculum.‘
David DeRose. Dr. David DeRose is a board certified physician in both Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine. In addition to hosting a weekly radio program, he is a published researcher and has lectured widely, presenting complex health topics to the public in an understandable way. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. DeRose will practice at the NEWSTART® Medial Clinic. His wife, Sonja, who is also a physician, and his children, Victor, Angela, and Michael will join him at Weimar.
Dr. DeRose‘s experience in both health education and clinical medicine provide a close match with Weimar College‘s focus on public health evangelism and its priority of providing practical and experiential training to students in addition to classroom lectures. Dr. DeRose studied at Andrews University (both undergraduate coursework and in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological seminary) and earned his M.D. and later his Masters in Public Health at Loma Linda University. He has also provided occupational and preventive medicine services for Kettering Hospital‘s Center for Health Promotion and has presented at many health related venues including the Nedley Depression Recovery, CHIP programs, lifestyle change programs, and cooking programs to name a few. His deep desire to train people on how to find healthier lives and a growing walk with Jesus help make Dr. DeRose a heaven-sent match for Weimar College.
Josephine Jacavone Kelley. Josephine Jacavone Kelley is a nurse educator, clinical nurse, and community health educator. She is currently the President and Founder of the Health and Natural Healing Ministry in Rogue River, Oregon and the Clinical Nurse Educator at the Providence Medford Medical Center. Prior to this she served as the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Critical Care at the Rogue Valley Medical Center for more than 13 years. She has also been a professor of nursing, a clinical instructor and is a graduate of the Amazing Facts AFCOE program. Ms. Kelley has consistently been involved in health education, Bible work, and service to her community. Her passion for health evangelism and health education in nursing will be invaluable in establishing a nursing program that matches Weimar College‘s unique philosophy.
Weimar College students and staff are excited to receive an invitation from the Southern Conference of the Ukrainian Union to participate in a youth evangelistic series in the city of Nikolaev, Ukraine. In the same country that Andrew, Jesus’ disciple, evangelized before he was crucified on an X-shaped cross, we will be partnering with local youth in evangelism during our spring break in March 2010.
We cherish your prayers for God’s guidance as we prepare to share our testimony of Godâs love with the intelligent and searching minds of young people in several cities. The Lord has provided graciously for our housing and food through the hospitality of our generous hosts and the Sacramento Ukrainian community has already provided some seed money for this campaign. Funds are still needed for hall rental, community outreach resources and airfare.
If you would like to participate in this opportunity to share Christ with young people and sponsor dedicated students who have a passion for evangelism, please prayerfully consider a special gift to this exciting project. To donate, simply click here and choose ‘College Mission Trip’ or make your check out to Weimar Center and put “Ukraine Mission Trip” on the memo line. Donations may be tax deductible.
We look forward to seeing God work in a powerful way and to sharing testimonies of His miracles through your involvement. Thank you for supporting our commitment to missions and for giving young people an opportunity to experience the joy of seeing souls reached for eternity!
Click here to download the powerpoint presentation about this trip.
Click here to watch the video on Vimeo.
View the gallery of the R & R weekend »
The College schedules one weekend for rest and relaxation each semester, going to the coast in the fall, and camping at Yosemite during the spring semester. This fall, the College stayed at the Mendocino Christian Camp from October 2-4, enjoying the rustic accommodations along with quality time around the campfire.
R&R is an opportunity for staff and students to interact in an informal setting and to get to know those they don’t normally see. Rebecca Cameron, a Massage Therapy student, says she appreciated the opportunity to spend quality time with friends in a relaxed setting and play her violin.
The group worships were informal, but spiritually filling. Students and staff took turns sharing and leading song services. The weekend was also an opportunity for quiet, personal spiritual growth and reflection.
Even though taking a break from classes, the educational experience did not stop. Students and staff enjoyed examining tide pools at the beach and watching sea lions soak up some sun. Dr. George Jackson, head of the College’s Science Department, was literally in his element as a marine biologist. “This was the first time since the start of the school year that I had been to the coast,” he says. “The mist, the redwoods, the smell of the ocean were all incredibly refreshing.”
Although back at classes, the deepened friendships and shared experiences of the students and staff remain. All look forward to next semester’s R&R in Yosemite.
Dr. Neil Nedley and Dr. Randy Siebold appeared on the 3ABN Today program on Thursday, October 8, 2009. They discussed a crisis in America that is almost never in the news, yet may have deadly consequences for the U.S. economy. That crisis is the state of our education system.
The United States spends more money on education than health care. We personally invest thousands of hours in education, yet companies hiring graduates must spend more money and time to re-educate new hires. Our education system simply does not do an adequate job of preparing students to work in the real world. With the astronomical cost of education on the increase, this pattern is unsustainable. Dr. Nedley, and Dr. Siebold explained that true education reform is the answer to these challenges. It is their goal that Weimar College become a model for this reform exemplifying harmonious whole person education.
In addition, Dr. Nedley and Dr. Siebold discussed health reform and offer answers for America’s health care crisis. They explained the difference between true and false health care reform, and how to find the answers to today’s health care problems.
Neil Nedley, M.D., is the President of Weimar Center of Health and Education. He is also a full-time practicing physician in Internal Medicine with emphasis in Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Preventive Medicine, and Mental Health.
Randy Siebold, PhD, is Weimar Center’s Vice President of Education. Dr. Siebold has previously been a principal at Broadview Academy and worked in the curriculum and instruction department at Andrews University, where he was instrumental in initiating their distance learning program. He has also taught in college undergraduate and graduate levels. He has consulted internationally in curriculum development, online course design, and educational support and training.
Dr. George Jackson knew it would be challenging to accomplish all the experiments during biology lab’s limited time slot. There were sucrose solutions to test, semi-permeable membranes to observe, Elodea leaves to examine under the microscope, and more.
After beginning class with prayer, Dr. Jackson rushed into the next room to gather some necessary supplies. He paused as he heard sounds coming from the classroom. It was singing! The students, responding to all they were learning about science, had burst into spontaneous praise for the Creator. “O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hand hath made…”
By the end of lab, the students had completed all the experiments. The potato tuber sections lost or gained weight and size according to the concentration of sucrose solution they soaked in. The glucose diffused out of the dialysis tubing but not the starch, and students learned something about the size of molecules. The Elodea cells responded dramatically to the two different solutions they were bathed in.
Biology lab is just one class at Weimar College that combines rigorous academics with knowledge of God and wholesome fellowship. It is part of Weimar College’s goal of promoting true education reform through harmonious mental, physical, spiritual, and social development.
Randy Siebold, PhD, and Vice President of Education, says, “Our reason for existence is to share and exemplify the often unheralded third reform. We all know the unique theological beliefs of our church, and we understand the health message, but education reform is seldom talked about. Yet it is vital to our church’s mission of taking the three angels’ messages to the world.”
With God’s help, Weimar College is providing the missing link by becoming the school for modern day Daniels â a place where students can become “thinkers and not mere reflectors of other men’s thoughts.” The College is focusing on four essential elements of educational reform:
The environment Weimar provides attracts excellent students. The fall semester has brought 27 dedicated students to Weimar College. Weimar Center’s board chair, Northern California Conference President, Jim Pederson, and Weimar Center President, Dr. Neil Nedley, are enjoying the challenge of working with what they call “some of the best minds in our denomination”. Combined with AFCOE, and Weimar Academy at joint events, there are over 100 students on campus providing an energetic learning environment. Maria Lombart, College Registrar, says, “we are extremely pleased by the high quality of the students this year.”
Students are pleased with what they are finding at the College. Jazmon says, “The people at Weimar exceeded my expectations. The teachers are so dedicated in teaching the youth to think critically, learn the real truth, and to study hard and spend time with God.” When asked why she came to Weimar, Talisa said, “I want to obtain the best education possible. I not only want to prepare my life and career here on this earth, but also for life throughout eternity.”
Dr. Siebold is excited about how far Weimar College has come and about where God wants to lead. “I don’t think we begin to understand what God has in mind in the field of education,” he says. “We are constantly amazed as we discover each new concept, but if we truly understood where God wants to take us, it would blow our minds. But we are committed to the process and to going where God leads.”
We’re very pleased to have Dr. Rodney Abriol join the Weimar College staff. A recent graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Cincinnati, his doctorate is in Musical Arts and Composition. His principal instrument is the piano and he also plays the violin and viola professionally.
Dr. Abriol is deeply committed to holding a high standard for music in worship. With many voices calling today for entertainment style worship experiences, we are very grateful for the clear convictions Rodney brings to the Weimar campus. He and current music teacher, Rina Ritivoiu, who just completed her master’s degree, will combine their skills in teaching musical presentation and composition for both the College and Academy. We plan to have a principal touring orchestra for the advanced students of both schools but also include a campus orchestra to develop and train other musicians who will be able to advance into the touring group. Both the Academy and College will have choirs and, again, an advanced choral group will tour, often with the orchestra. Dr. Abriol and Rina will teach keyboard and voice along with classes in music appreciation, music theory and in the history and purpose of music in worship.
If you desire to be in a school where Heaven’s music is sought and taught, you will be greatly blessed with the Weimar program God has brought to this campus.
New degree programs will be added to the curriculum in the fall of 2009, with the focus on Pre-med, Pre-nursing, Religion and Media.
Our one-year Medical Missionary Certificate includes an emphasis in Massage and Hydrotherapy and prepares graduates to take the National Certification Exam and practice as massage therapists. Classes include massage, hydrotherapy, anatomy & physiology, kinesiology, and pathology, and health evangelism. The program includes over 500 hours and meets the NCBTMB requirements (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork).
The one-year Certificate in Pastoral Ministry combines one semester of training in evangelism at AFCOE (Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism) with several general education courses, including English, science, and psychology. Courses completed will count towards a two- or four year degree in Religion.
Our two-year Pre-nursing program includes nursing courses with a focus on health evangelism. Students learn the principles of balanced health and how to share it with others through different methods of evangelism. Courses include the sciences, general education and religion.
An exciting new addition to the programs this year is our four-year Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology degree that includes pre-med requirements. The first year of pre-med offered this fall includes courses in biology, chemistry, and English, along with health evangelism. Weimar College is working with Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities to facilitate transfers.
Our two-year Associate of Arts in Personal Ministries degree is offered in cooperation with Griggs University. Students complete one semester at AFCOE, then continue on at Weimar College to complete additional religion courses and general education courses. The program can be used as a stepping-stone for the four-year degree in Religion.
The four-year Bachelor of Arts in Religion degree is offered in cooperation with Griggs University. Students complete one semester at AFCOE, then continue on at Weimar College to complete additional religion courses and general education courses.
Our new Media Ministry certificate is an 11-month internship thatâs both practical and educational. It will prepare students to lead a church-based media team or outreach project, as well as produce attractive, high-quality media productions that communicate Godâs Word effectively to people.
All degrees and programs offered at Weimar College include practical outreach to the community, work education and physical labor, choir and orchestra as well as the Christian Perspectives course sequence that covers key topics such as creation and science, the spirit of prophecy, music and worship, and others.
Weimar College is affiliated with Griggs University and students receive Griggs University credits for approved courses completed at Weimar. Those approved courses are then transferable to Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities.
On March 19 and 20, the leadership of Weimar Center of Health & Education and Amazing Facts came together for another insightful education summit led by Dr. Neil Nedley, president of Weimar.
Along with staff from Weimar Academy, College, and the NEWSTART® program, leaders in Adventist education from across the nation also joined in this effort to develop the guiding principles of our school’s operations and determine the courses to be offered this fall. The emphasis of this important gathering was to prayerfully create a school model that biblically applies all of God’s wisdom found in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy.
The summit opened with a moving devotional, led by Don Mackintosh, about the school of the prophets as recorded in Scripture and expanded upon in the writings of Ellen White. She writes that as we near the end of time, our “youth are to be encouraged to attend our schools, which should become more and more like the schools of the prophets” (CG 329).
Two important questions, posed by Dr. Randall Siebold, were then presented to the panel: Why should Weimar College and Academy exist? What will be their unique contribution within the wider context of Adventist education?
The answers to these fundamental questions emerged as the more than 20 participants carefully considered Weimar’s current model and positioning and Dr. Nedley’s vision for its future. For the panel, it’s clear that Weimar exists because world chaos speaks clearly of the urgent need for gospel-medical missionaries. Weimar’s unique contribution will be a restored model of education that raises up Adventist ambassadors who can lead people everywhere to be part of the remnant church.
Dr. Nedley then shared his vision of what Weimar will look like in five years, but he first reminded participants, “We are to live as if the Lord would come today, but to plan as though His coming could be delayed.” Nedley also underlined the need to not only train evangelistically oriented pastors, but that our physicians, nurses, and other health professionals should be trained as soul winners too.
Dr. Nedley’s vision for the future of education and medical mission work, which can be developed here, was gripping, urgent, and thrilling. And his plans for the expansion of NEWSTART® and the development of a lifestyle-based cancer treatment center will bring even more people from around the world to Weimar, opening doors and offering eternal hope to otherwise suffering souls.
Ultimately, unmovable faith, determined effort, careful planning, and God’s blessings will be the bedrock for making this all a realityâand the staff of Weimar’s schools are deeply committed to it. A Guiding Mission Statement The summit’s participants were able to synthesize the vision and expectations of the education program with the following mission statement: “The purpose of the Weimar Schools (Academy, College) is to offer Adventist evangelistic education that is spiritually, practically, and academically excellent.”
To launch this education-centered purpose, the team determined to establish curriculum for what is called the “core of four” at the Weimar Academy and College:
Faculty and students are to be accepted on the basis of their demonstrated commitment to sharing the Adventist message and being fully involved in the core of four. Applicants who show an evangelistic commitment but have not attended an evangelism school will be able to take a special health evangelism course and practicum that will prepare them to make their pre-med degree a foundation to become soul-winning healthcare workers.
Weimar will also strive to seek students who want to dig deeply into God’s Word and to learn while fulfilling the great commission. Please pray that our education program will be a bright center of hope and learning in this last-day thrust for health evangelism.
The curriculum available to students in the autumn semester includes courses in religion/evangelism, science, and general education. Specifics include:
Finally, the four-month Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (AFCOE) course will continue to be offered on the Weimar campus twice a year, providing a valuable opportunity for synergy and fellowship between AFCOE and Weimar College students. Weimar will also further develop music opportunities in choir and orchestral fields.
If you or someone you know is interested in attending Weimar or AFCOE, applications can now be made for all schools at “www.weimar.org”: www.weimar.org, where you can also find catalogs for each school.