wfn.org | Book Opens Classic Jesus Biography to New Readers

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

May 24, 2002
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
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APD@stanet.ch
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Book Opens Classic Jesus Biography to New Readers

Nampa, Idaho, USA -  A contemporary adaptation of the 
book The Desire of Ages was released by the Adventist 
publishing house, Pacific Press, last month, and aims to 
make Ellen White's biography of Jesus more accessible 
to a new generation of readers. Author Jerry D. Thomas 
says his adaptation, Messiah, was written for students, 
young adults, new Adventist believers, or anyone who 
finds the language of the original difficult to understand.
 
"For years as a teacher, I struggled to help students 
grasp the concepts and images of God's love as
shown in The Desire of Ages," says Thomas. "I became 
convinced that a contemporary adaptation could
preserve the meaning of her words while simplifying and 
updating the language."
 
Throughout the two-year project, Thomas worked 
closely with the White Estate at the Adventist world
headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. Scholars from 
the White Estate, which has preserved and
promoted Ellen White's writings since her death in 1915, 
went over the manuscript page by page to ensure
that White's message was not blurred. "Messiah is 
certainly not intended to be a replacement for The
Desire of Ages," adds Thomas. "I hope it leads more 
people to read more of Ellen White's beautiful book on
the life of Jesus."
 
Thomas says reaction to Messiah has so far been 
positive. "Some people who were handed The Desire of
Ages as a young person or new believer have felt guilty 
for not being able to finish reading the original right
through, or not understanding it properly," says 
Thomas. "Since the release of Messiah, I've had a 
number of people tell me, 'I feel great for finally being 
able to read it!"
 
"I've always wanted to do something that matters for 
the church, something that makes a difference,"
explains Thomas. "And as a writer of children's books, 
I've enjoyed helping children learn about Jesus and
gain a love of reading." But Messiah is different, he 
says. "Making The Desire of Ages more accessible to
today's readers has the potential to affect an entire 
generation, influencing how they feel about Ellen White
and her writings, and more importantly, how they feel 
about Jesus."
 
Many church leaders have welcomed this adaptation. 
Noelene Johnsson, children's ministries director for the
church in North America, says there has long been a 
need for a popular "translation" of the The Desire of
Ages. Don Hevener, a vice president for the Adventist 
Church in North America, praises the "friendly style,"
accuracy in adaptation, and clear language of the book.
 
Thomas, a book editor at Pacific Press for the past 10 
years, is author of more than 20 children's books,
including the Shoebox Kids Bible Stories series and 
Detective Zack. Before joining Pacific Press, Thomas
served as a pastor and high school religion teacher.
 
The Desire of Ages, first published in 1898, is one of 
White's best known books and has been translated
into more than 60 languages.
 
For more information about Messiah, go to 
www.adventistbookcenter.com. [Editor: Bettina Krause 
for ANN]

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