H Peters, PhD says:

The tragic deaths of men, women, and children at Waco 15 years ago were the result of misguided FBI and ATF officials responding violently to David Koresh’s militant posturing as a delusionary self-proclaimed prophet. Most knowledgeable persons are deeply troubled not only by the gulliblity of the several dozen adults who were duped by Koresh but also by the actions of the FBI and ATF in unleashing military tanks against the Koresh compound, thus starting the fire that consumed the terrified women and children remaining in the compound. (For one account of these events, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koresh).

Equally troubling are the derogatory and grossly misleading statements of uninformed or prejudiced persons who try to link the actions of one man (who was obviously mentally confused, i.e., David Koresh) and his few followers–a miniscule offshoot (Branch Davidian) of another small and well-nigh-extinct offshoot (Davidian Shepherd’s Rod)–with a church of 15 million persons widely known throughout the world for its humanitarian ministry to mankind.

In complete contrast with the Branch Davidian organization with its self-centered focus, the Seventh-day Adventist church operates among the the largest church-supported educational and medical systems in the world (second only, I am told, to the educational and medical systems of the Roman Catholic church). It also operates an international aid and development program (Adventist Development and Relief Agency, known as ADRA) that provides assistance in the majority of the developing countries of the world. That assistance takes many forms, including being the world’s leader in infant heart transplants and in use of proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. As a beneficiary of the latter, I can personally attest to the blessings of Adventist-owned and operated Loma Linda University Medical Center and its motto, “To Make Man Whole”. (For more information regarding the efficacy of proton treatment, please see the patient-run website, http://www.protonbob.com/).

It is worth noting that in contrast with cult leaders such as David Koresh, who consistently have used their power and influence for self-aggrandizement (often with disastrous results for their followers), the founders and subsequent leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist church, in the tradition of other Protestant leaders such as Martin Luther, John & Charles Wesley, John Calvin, and John Knox, have consistantly striven to uplift Jesus Christ and His love to the world. As a result of this focus on “the spreading of the gospel”, the Adventist church has demonstrated its dedication to the “gospel commission” of Matthew 28:18-20 by establishing a Christian ministry in more than 200 of the countries of the world.