World Church: New 'Seventh-day Adventists Believe' Book Rolls Off Pres

[Adventist News]

World Church: New 'Seventh-day Adventists Believe' Book Rolls Off Presses

August 22, 2005 Nampa, Idaho, United States .... [Mark A. Kellner/ANN]

[]http://news.adventist.org/data/2005/07/1124740423/fpadventists-believe-cover.jpg[/]

NEW BOOK: 'Seventh-day Adventists Believe..." a new book offering an exposition of Adventist's fundamental beliefs, is on its way to bookstores now. Spanish, French and Portuguese editions are expected by the end of 2005.

Six weeks after world church leaders voted a new fundamental belief

statement, Seventh-day Adventists can now consult a 446-page reference

volume offering a deeper explanation of what Adventist Christians

believe, and why. The new paperbound volume, titled "Seventh-day

Adventists Believe: An exposition of the fundamental beliefs of the

Seventh-day Adventist Church," has just been printed by the Pacific

Press Publishing Association, one of the world church's publishing

houses, based in North America, a church official said.

The book includes a new chapter on "Growing in Christ," the fundamental

belief statement voted by delegates to the church's 58th General

Conference Session. The chapter explains the rationale for the belief,

as well as its expression in the life of the believer. Although only

the belief statements are officially voted expressions of Adventist

doctrine, the expositions in the book can be used to amplify and deepen

members' understandings of those beliefs.

The church's Ministerial Association, which is responsible for

nurturing pastoral development in the denomination, supervised the

revision and publication of the book. It's the first rewrite since the

original "Seventh-day Adventists Believe" appeared in 1988. That volume

went through many printings, with nearly 1 million copies in

circulation.

"Seventh-day Adventists Believe" is currently published in English, and

editions in Spanish, Portuguese and French are expected to be available

by the end of this year, according to Pastor James M. Cress,

ministerial secretary for the world church.

"This single volume shows in detail how each [seventh-day Adventist]

belief is grounded in the Bible and focused on Jesus Christ," the

book's back cover notes, written by Cress, states. "Adventist church

members can use this book to dig down to the roots of their faith -- to

rediscover the details of truth that excited them when they first found

the joy of salvation," he adds.

The book promises "students of any background will discover enriching

insights into a fulfilling relationship with God for their individual

lives. If you worship in another church, anticipate some fresh

perspectives as you read. As a group, all Christians comprise a

minority of the world's population. We need to draw close together and

grow from each other's spiritual journey."

The new volume was revised and edited by John M. Fowler, an associate

in the church's Education Department who had previously served in the

Ministerial Association. Fowler also wrote the new chapter on "Growing

in Christ."

The book, indexed and with endnotes for almost every chapter, reveals a

wide range of sources used in explaining and expanding on Adventist

beliefs. More than 30 authors and speakers are quoted or referenced in

the chapters, accompanying and explaining each belief statement.

In North America, the English edition of "Seventh-day Adventists

Believe" will be available through church-owned Adventist Book Centers,

as well as the Ministerial Association Web site,

http://www.ministerialassociation.com.

Related Sites

Ministerial Association of Seventh-day Adventists Orders for "Seventh-day Adventists Believe..." are being accepted through this Web site.

AdventistBookCenter.com Site lists North American retail Adventist Book Center locations as well as accepts online orders.