Released by:   Ray Dabrowski                 
Phone:  +30-955-324 (June 29-July 8, 1995) or +301-680-6300 
               
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 1995

ADVENTIST STATEMENT ADVOCATES LITERACY FOR ALL PEOPLE

Utrecht, The Netherlands... In a statement released at the 56th World
Congress of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church states that
the ability to read God's Word should not be reserved for the
privileged few and that teaching reading is a uplifting? priceless?
ministry.  The statement was released by the Office of the President,
Robert S. Folkenberg, after being adopted by the Administrative
Committee of the General Conference.
	The statement, entitled "Literacy," reads as follows:
	"The Seventh-day Adventist Church values the unique role that women
play in fulfilling the Church's mission to spread the gospel. Part of
that mission involves meeting the physical, intellectual and social
needs of those around us, just as Jesus did when He lived on earth.
	"Research indicates that six major challenges in the lives of all
human beings women in particular are:  literacy, poverty, abuse,
health, work hours and conditions, and opportunities for training and
mentoring. To better meet these needs, the Office of Women's Ministries
of the Adventist Church has launched a major thrust on literacy
training for 1995.
	"The inability to read impacts every aspect of a person's life earning
power, career opportunities, access to health care information, and
even the ability to raise a child properly. Without the skill of
reading, few doors of opportunity can ever be opened.
	"Teaching reading creates endless possibilities for people to be
informed concerning such topics as careers, health, parenting and
marriage, and offers the teacher unexcelled opportunities for touching
lives through ministry.
	"Adventists recognize a more vital reason to share the gift of
reading. We believe that the ability to read God's Word the good news
of salvation should not be reserved for the privileged few. We assert
that every man, woman and child should have access to the truths and
uplifting power of the Bible."
	                         -end-