THEOLOGICAL BASIS OF PRINCIPLES OF HYGIENE ANDAPPEARANCE OF MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS

The religious and theological basis of the components of the teachings of a healthy lifestyle of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, namely the principles of hygiene and appearance of the faithful of this denomination, are analyzed. The purpose of the article is to determine the theological basis of the principles of hygiene and appearance of the faithful of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The peculiarities of the Adventists' interpretation of the Holy Scriptures regarding the application of the Old Testament hygienic instructions in the conditions of modern realities are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on a number of principles in Adventism regarding the contents of a Christian's wardrobe. It is highlighted that from the Adventist point of view, it is the clothing and appearance of a person that is an important indicator of a Christian character and a silent testimony to the values ​​that a person adheres to. It is emphasized that important in the appearance of a person are gender differences in clothing, which clearly indicates a male or female identity. Emphasis is placed on regular consumption of sufficient water to prevent and improve physical condition, and good health in turn is a reliable basis for the perception of high moral values, including spiritual ones. The analysis of the theological basis of the principles of hygiene and appearance of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church presents a holistic concept of Adventists, namely: human health is three interrelated components: physical, mental and spiritual. The key thesis of the theological basis in Adventism on hygiene and appearance is the following statement: there is no point in disturbing the Lord's prayers if one ignores the moral principles and laws of hygiene and appearance that are already set forth in the Scriptures and understandable because most diseases is the result of a wrong way of life and a departure from moral and ethical Christian values.

A Look at the Seventh-day Adventist Church:

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a worldwide Christian denomination with a rich heritage. Thus, the Adventist Church considers itself to be set apart from the world with a unique mission; members also follow distinctive lifestyle practices. But are Seventh-day Adventists really a unique denomination or are they just a different flavor of mainstream Protestantism? Using data from the FACT 2020 survey and comparing the Adventist sample (N = 313) with the entire interfaith sample (N = 15,278), researchers compared different aspects of church life, including vitality and church growth, local church leadership, engagement in spiritual practices, and engagement in relational spiritual activities. While the data from the FACT 2020 survey present unique strengths of Adventist congregations, weaknesses were also revealed, as compared with the interfaith sample.

Colonial Politics, Missionary Rivalry, and the Beginnings of Seventh-Day Adventist Mission in Northern Nigeria

When compared to its relative success in the Southern and Western parts of Nigeria, Seventh-Day Adventism (S.D.A.) had some difficulties in establishing its mission in the North from the 1930s onward. This paper argues that there were three reasons why S.D.A. missionaries found the North difficult. First, the S.D.A. joined the Christian missionary scene in Nigeria rather late. Second, due to colonial politics, which did not favor the proselytizing aims of Christian missionaries in the North, Adventist missionaries did not find it easy to immediately establish a mission. Third, the difficult beginnings in northern Nigeria can also be attributed to the relationship between S.D.A. missionaries and other mission bodies, which tended towards rivalry, as a result of the “spheres of influence” established by the colonial government.

Sabbath Observance in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic

The study of the nature of the church1 is very significant to the body of Christ. Often, when this subject is introduced, Christians tend to ask: which is the true church and how can it be identified? Most churches claim to be the only ‘true church’ based on their teachings and this has continued to divide the body of Christ across the centuries. The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church has maintained the physical observance of the Sabbath to be one of the marks2 of identifying the ‘true church,’ yet the church fathers described the church as One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. The SDA uses the Sabbath worship as a mark of identifying a ‘true church’ alongside the four attributes; and on the other hand, those churches that do not worship on Saturday regards the SDA’s emphasis of worshipping on Saturday as ‘worshipping the day’ rather than the almighty God. Besides this, misunderstandings have been encountered between the SDA and the so-called Sunday churches concerning the issue of what constitutes the true Sabbath. The study employs the dialogical-ecclesiological design in its bid to understand the contestations between the SDA and the ‘Sunday churches’ and in its building on the premise that dialogue is critical in our endeavor to find a new understanding and re-interpretation of the Sabbath, as one of the marks of a true church. The crucial question remains: can the observance of physical Sabbath be considered as one of the key marks of knowing the ‘true Church’?

BIOGRAPHY AND MEDICAL ACTIVITIES OF JOHN HARVEY KELLOGG IN THE FIELD OF PROMOTING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

It was discovered that John Harvey Kellogg, with the help and financial support of the White family, began studying to become a doctor at the age of fourteen and headed the Battle Creek Sanatorium at a young age, which under his leadership soon became a world-famous health resort. The publishing activity of Kellogg, who was able to raise the popularity of the magazine “Good Health”, repeatedly published his ideas and recommendations in the field of healthy living. Kellogg has repeatedly heard warnings from Ellen White about trying to separate the Sanatorium from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, namely to make the institution non-denominational without promoting Adventist religious ideas. An inventor, a surgeon, a promoter of a healthy lifestyle, a lecturer who has given about five thousand public speeches – these are just some of the things he has managed to do in his life.

The Faith-Based Advantage: A Case Study on the Adventist Development & Relief Agency’s Response to Humanitarian Impacts of COVID-19 as a Faith-Based Organization

Large-scale health emergencies like COVID-19 oftentimes result in widespread humanitarian impacts. Due to their long-standing relationships and involvement within local communities, along with extensive networks and support from faith-affiliated institutions, faith-based NGOs carry a unique advantage in reaching the most vulnerable during such crises. The Adventist Development & Relief Agency’s (ADRA) experience during its global COVID-19 response showcases how keeping a local presence in-country and fostering partnerships with affiliated faith institutions and constituents can result in a wide reach of programming. By providing dedicated personnel and small seed-funding, developing a flexible global strategy involving strong business continuity plans and emphasis on its faith base, and supporting the sharing of information and lessons learned among local offices, faith-based NGOs are capable of quickly delivering life-saving interventions to vulnerable communities. ADRA and the affiliated Seventh-day Adventist Church have proved during the first year of COVID-19 that they are stronger together, highlighting the importance of utilizing faith base when implementing humanitarian interventions.