The Review and Herald Publishing Association (R&H), the oldest and one of the largest publishing houses of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, continues to publish and distribute truth-filled literature to prepare a people for the coming of Jesus. During the past five years the Lord has blessed and guided us so that we continue to contribute to the overall mission of the church.
Here is a brief overview of the accomplishments in three important areas:
Canvassing Ministry
R&H continues to strongly support the canvassing work, both in North America and in other world fields. We have developed more than 10 new products (including magabooks) for the subscription market (literature evangelists). Additionally, an agreement with our sister publishing house in Spain, Safeliz Publishing House, to distribute their subscription products in English and Spanish for the North American Division has proven to be a great success.
At the beginning of this past quinquennium the R&H was managing the publishing program for three conferences of the North American Division, and had about 70 literature evangelists (LEs). Currently, R&H's Home Health Education Service (HHES) manages the canvassing work for eight conferences, with more than 130 regular LEs, plus 80 students who canvass during the summer.
LEs place literature in public places such as shopping centers, supermarkets, and county fairs. They are successfully visiting churches, factories, and other business places, making presentations on health, stress, drugs, family education. They have placed our publications in many homes, and have led many people to Jesus. In 2004 they reported 147 baptisms as a direct result of their endeavors. The numbers of LEs, as well as sales and baptisms, keep growing every year--and we praise God!
Church Nurturing
R&H continues to invest in the development of new materials for both the Adventist and the non-Adventist markets. In the past five years it has published more than 200 book titles for the trade market--devotional books; books on church history, Adventist theology, Bible teachings; and books for children. The best-selling products for the trade market have included At Jesus' Feet (250,000), The Incredible Power of Prayer (170,000), The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal (190,000), and The Clear Word paraphrased Bible.
A second important and dynamic ministry at the R&H is the ministry of our periodicals. We currently print or publish approximately 30 periodicals; these include the magazines and papers printed for the General Conference and other institutions. Among them are the Adventist Review (300,000 copies of the monthly NAD edition, and 30,000 weekly subscriptions), Message magazine (70,000 subscriptions), and Guide magazine (32,000 subscriptions), as well as Vibrant Life, Women of Spirit, Insight, Listen, Winner, Sabbath School Leadership, and others.
R&H also publishes Sabbath school products--quarterlies and other resources for kindergarten, juniors, and youth--to help in the formation and grounding of young and old in the Seventh-day Adventist faith.
Worldwide Ministry
Since 2000, R&H has invested more than $6 million in updating equipment and other fixed assets. Among them is a direct-to-plate system by Fuji, a new Kolbus binding line that is capable of finishing one book per second, and a new high-speed Kolbus sewing machine. In the past five years our Graphics Division has used more than 37 million pounds of paper, transforming it into books, magazines, and pamphlets filled with the Seventh-day Adventist message. Much of this material has been shipped overseas, while other products have been licensed and reprinted by our sister publishing houses around the world.
We praise the Lord for His guidance and leadership, and for the many blessings we have received as a publishing house during this quinquennium. Let us move forward in faith and diligence to use the printed page to proclaim the good news of salvation. "More than one thousand will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first convictions to the reading of our publications" (Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 693).
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