A Note From the Publisher
May 15, 2001 - 9:30am - Elwin Dunn
It has been some time since I shared with you what is happening behind the scenes at Adventist Today.
We are well into our ninth year of publication. Building on the foundation laid by Ray Cottrell, Jim Walters, and Ervin Taylor when they established our magazine, we have been able to take Adventist journalism to new heights.
John McLarty’s editorials are a must read for every thinking reader. “The Essence of Adventism” in our January-February 2001 issue, and “Changing Churches” in the March-April issue are some of the best examples. There is more to come, not only from McLarty’s pen but also from others who will explore the issues of hard jobs in the church, Sabbath School Quarterly management of doctrines, structural changes in church administration, the health system, new trends in missions, spirituality in the church, the General Conference session in 2005, and others.
Yes, there are those who are not comfortable with the cutting edge of Adventism. It seems they would much rather consider Adventism from the point of view of Uriah Smith’s Daniel and Revelation than try to understand their neighbor’s problems, or discover whether their adult children see relevance to the religion of their parents.
Francis Bacon said, “Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk or discourse, but to weigh and consider.” Adventist Today seeks to examine issues that are relevant to present-day needs. When we understand these issues fully, we can become better examples to both our neighbors and our children.
In our annual survey, subscribers generally described themselves as “middle of the road,” with a number who have found themselves separated from their usual church affiliations. Regardless of which group they came from, those who took the time to describe themselves and their needs all expressed a hunger for news, information, and ideas which our regular church periodicals do not carry.
Of significance to me, as I have reviewed the comments, are the number who signed their names. They represent a cross section of ministers, teachers, and others of prominence in Adventism over the years, as well as “ordinary” members. Of course, no one is ordinary; all our readers are special.
Our paid subscribers continue to number just over 2,000. While many addresses are from the west coast, there is a remarkably good geographic distribution, particularly where major colleges or other institutions are located. We would like to see more readers, and would appreciate your telling your friends about us and inviting them to join.
Someone has said that every new generation must redefine the faith of its fathers. I believe Adventist Today articulates a vision of church and spiritual life that will recommend itself to our children. It is only beginning to make its mark, however, and we hope it will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Adventist thinking and help make the church a healthy, happy spiritual home for thoughtful people from all backgrounds.
To do so, however, we will need help. We appreciate your subscription support, and hope you will continue to renew. But if you could go beyond this to make an additional gift, large or small, it would help us to make our vision come true.
Your ongoing support makes Adventist Today possible, and we thank you. Your comments are invited.
Elwin Dunn, M.D.
Publisher/Board Chair, Adventist Today
'
We are well into our ninth year of publication. Building on the foundation laid by Ray Cottrell, Jim Walters, and Ervin Taylor when they established our magazine, we have been able to take Adventist journalism to new heights.
John McLarty’s editorials are a must read for every thinking reader. “The Essence of Adventism” in our January-February 2001 issue, and “Changing Churches” in the March-April issue are some of the best examples. There is more to come, not only from McLarty’s pen but also from others who will explore the issues of hard jobs in the church, Sabbath School Quarterly management of doctrines, structural changes in church administration, the health system, new trends in missions, spirituality in the church, the General Conference session in 2005, and others.
Yes, there are those who are not comfortable with the cutting edge of Adventism. It seems they would much rather consider Adventism from the point of view of Uriah Smith’s Daniel and Revelation than try to understand their neighbor’s problems, or discover whether their adult children see relevance to the religion of their parents.
Francis Bacon said, “Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk or discourse, but to weigh and consider.” Adventist Today seeks to examine issues that are relevant to present-day needs. When we understand these issues fully, we can become better examples to both our neighbors and our children.
In our annual survey, subscribers generally described themselves as “middle of the road,” with a number who have found themselves separated from their usual church affiliations. Regardless of which group they came from, those who took the time to describe themselves and their needs all expressed a hunger for news, information, and ideas which our regular church periodicals do not carry.
Of significance to me, as I have reviewed the comments, are the number who signed their names. They represent a cross section of ministers, teachers, and others of prominence in Adventism over the years, as well as “ordinary” members. Of course, no one is ordinary; all our readers are special.
Our paid subscribers continue to number just over 2,000. While many addresses are from the west coast, there is a remarkably good geographic distribution, particularly where major colleges or other institutions are located. We would like to see more readers, and would appreciate your telling your friends about us and inviting them to join.
Someone has said that every new generation must redefine the faith of its fathers. I believe Adventist Today articulates a vision of church and spiritual life that will recommend itself to our children. It is only beginning to make its mark, however, and we hope it will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Adventist thinking and help make the church a healthy, happy spiritual home for thoughtful people from all backgrounds.
To do so, however, we will need help. We appreciate your subscription support, and hope you will continue to renew. But if you could go beyond this to make an additional gift, large or small, it would help us to make our vision come true.
Your ongoing support makes Adventist Today possible, and we thank you. Your comments are invited.
Elwin Dunn, M.D.
Publisher/Board Chair, Adventist Today
'
 | Elwin Dunn | n/a |