Session Delegate The delegate's quick glance at the 56th General Conference Session activities in Utrecht, Holland. Tuesday . July 4, 1995 The Center of the Session One Delegate's View Yesterday I saw a fascinating sight. Business sessions were marked with disagreement, energy, and points of order. Items were referred to committees, back to the floor, and back to committees again. At times, confusion reigned. Eighteen minutes into the 1100 worship hour, the nominating committee was completing a partial report while the worship team was standing by. There was one more action to be taken, a vote on the nomination of a division president. Just when it looked like another quick vote, a delegate came to the microphone to speak. When recognized, he asked that the name be referred back to the nominating committee. He was one voice in a giant auditorium, asking for a major change in the actions of a large committee. I expected the chair to simply call for a vote and leave the delegate standing in frustration. Instead, he listened to the speech and sent the name back to the nominating committee. GC Session is now five days old. Already, we've heard incredibly grand music from choirs, orchestras, steel bands, and singers from around the world. And we've seen videos. This is the technologically-correct GC where video is overwhelming-flying swans, dancing Aborigines, smoke and lasers-it's been quite a show. But have you seen the people? People are the center of this Session. Colorful costumes, bright smiles, eager kids, intense human fragrances, joyful hugs, strange-sounding languages, and spontaneous prayers all mix into a kaleidoscope of adventure. It's midnight and groups are still gathered around the convention center singing hymns. You can stand in one place and hear Russian, Dutch, English, Spanish, and Romanian all mixing together into a symphony of praise. "Singing is my way of telling the Lord that I love Him," Vitaly Gurulich says to me. I meet other Adventists on the trains, by the canals, in the stores, and at the tourist sights. I see faces etched with hope and feel hearts beating in tune with my own. Last weekend I met Davahuu, the first person baptized as an Adventist in Mongolia in a long while. She is small of stature but mighty in spirit. There are more Adventists here like Davahuu. There is a nurse who has opened a dozen clinics in India, a young couple who has dedicated their lives to bringing Cambodians to Christ, and an Adventist dentist who began practicing last year in Djibouti. This morning I found new life in Lanz of South Africa, Robert of the United States, and Petr of Germany. But whether in the auditorium and hallways, on the street or train, people are the center of everything. That is truly amazing. -Dick Duerksen Election Update Yesterday delegates voted the following recommendations: Division Presidents . Bertil Wiklander, Trans-European Division . Ulrich Frikart, Euro-Africa Division . Ruy H. Nagel, South American Division . L.D. Raelly, Eastern Africa Division . Ted N. C. Wilson, Euro-Asia Division . Israel Leito, Inter-American Division . Alfred C. McClure, North American Division . Bryan W. Ball, South Pacific Division Undersecretary . Athal H. Tolhurst Associate Secretaries . Maurice T. Battle . Larry R. Colburn . Lowell C. Cooper . Mario Veloso Undertreasurer . F. Martin Ytreberg Associate Treasurers . Gary DeBoer . Annetta M. Gibson . Dennis C. Keith . Donald Robinson Youth Impact Utrecht '95 Youth Lead Out at GC Session Earlier today, Mardene Bartholomew of the United States shared the devotional message for moring worship. She's just one of many young adults who are leading out during this Session. Last week, youth from every division descended on Utrecht to evangelize in the streets, work with the press, sing in choirs, and assist behind the scenes. Impact Utrecht '95 has brought 320 youth from 61 countries to participate in a field school of youth evangelism. They are using their talents to distribute literature, sing, do puppet ministry, mime, and public outreach in 13 locations throughout the city. Youth have also been active in key media positions including photography and news writing. Ray Tetz, executive director of GCTV, reports that about 40 of the 63-member media staff are youth. Wes Bailey, a college student, says he feels honored to anchor the GCTV broadcasts with Paula Webber and Dan Matthews. "The majority of our photographers are young adults," says Elwyn Platner, coordinator of photography in the press office. "Their photos have been published in the Adventist Review, sent to Union and Division papers around the world, and distributed to the non-church press." David Wong, a GC youth director, reports that six youth from around the world will lead out in the youth divine service next Sabbath. "This Session proves that youth can deliver quality leadership," says Jose Rojas, Youth Ministries director for the North American Division. "Hopefully, we will soon experience the greater drama of more young adults involved in key leadership." Food Display Gets Attention When rushing through the speed line dining hall, you can't miss the towering Dutch windmill garnished with a colorful array of fruits and vegetables. The display, created by Ted Lang, an assistant to the food service director, has become a major attraction to Session attendees. At mealtime, many people stop to look and to have their pictures taken in front of it. It's even become a source of nutrition. Food Service reports that more than half of the display's produce had disappeared by Sunday. "I guess some people were hungry," Lang says. "I think many people have not seen this abundance and variety before." Food service has replenished the produce and put a guard chain around the display. After the Session, some of the produce will be given away. Adventists in Action Fitz Henry of Jamaica calls himself an engineer by profession and an evangelist by calling. "I had gotten myself in trouble," says Henry. "I actually came to know my Jesus during a 90-day stint in jail." Since then he has had a direct role in the baptism of more than 14,000 people through meetings held in England, Zambia, Canada, Martinique, Uganda, Trinidad, and Jamaica. Adrian Golea of Romania is an accomplished violinist and lyric baritone on the faculty of the Academy of Music in Bucharest. He came to Utrecht to work with the Food Service department but when he was heard singing with fellowship groups on the Jaarbeurs grounds he was asked to sing "The Passion According to St. John" and with the mass choir next Sabbath. New Books Premier at GC Combating race wars, ethnic rivalry, and tribal warfare is a new book called Make Us One. Written by 13 authors, and edited by Delbert W. Baker, Make Us One demonstrates how to create spiritual unity in the midst of cultural diversity. It is available for purchase at the ABC. Book Signings at the Adventist Book Center Keavin Hayden, author of The Shaking Among God's People, will be signing his book at 1300 today at the ABC. At 1800 Ray Dabrowski and Dick Duerksen will be available to sign the 1995 GC Session photo book Images of Mission. This is also a reverse signing. If your picture is in the book, please come and sign a souvenir copy. Looking to Phone Home? . Local call: Just dial the number. . National call: Dial area code and number. . International call: Dial 00, the country code, area code (without the first zero), then the number. . A few country codes: Austria, 43; Belgium, 32; Canada, 1; Denmark, 45; England, 44; Finland, 358; France, 33; Ireland, 353; Italy, 39; Japan, 81; Luxembourg, 352; Norway, 47; Spain, 34; Sweden, 46; USA, 1. Depending on the location of your telephone you may need to first dial zero to get an outside line. Global Village Hours Global Village is open weekdays from 1600 to 1900 and on Sabbath from 1000 to 1900. Published by Adventist News Network . Celeste Ryan & Jeff Scoggins, editors . Jason Wells, assistant editor