THE PUBLIC MIND: PASTOR: CULT HAS NO LINK WITH SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

To the Editor:

The religious cult known as the Branch Advidians in the news has no connection with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Several splinter groups have broken away from Victor Houteff who formed the Shepherd's Rod group and was disfellowshipped from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1929.

Through the years, the group has changed leaders as members and further splinters were developed. They have called themselves the Shepherd's Rod, Branch Davidians, and the Davidians. Not one of them is known to hold membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church at Waco or any other place.

Seventh-day Adventist total more than 7 million in 206 countries worldwide. They promote the sanctity of the family, practice allegiance to government, observe the seventh day (Saturday) Sabbath, believe in a second advent of Christ, follow a non-violent lifestyle, promote healthful living, abstain from the use of illegal drugs or alcohol, and acknowledge Christ as Saviour and judge of the universe. This is what Seventh-day Adventist are really about.

Pastor Bob Alarcon

Cape Girardeau