|
News Archive
from adventist.fm |
Free prime time TV
Late update June 4: The soup kitchen has already geared up to serve 250
hot meals a day.
The second new
concept is about the name Gehenna (the New Testament word for "Hell").
Gehenna means "Hinnom Valley," a valley just outside Jerusalem. According to next
week's deeper lesson, there is a connection between this name and the wicked
being punished just outside the New Jerusalem.
Click here to read this lesson, or to print
it out and give it to your Sabbath school class on Sabbath.
Questions and Answers About Ellen G. White
Comments Regarding Unusual Statements Found in Ellen G. White's Writings
Statements Mistakenly Attributed to Ellen G. White
Reference Library
If that's your philosophy too, why not
write news stories
for adventist.fm News in the black frame above?
Stories in this news service are reported by Adventists around the world. If
you have an uplifting story about the church that will interest Adventists
world-wide, use your mouse to enlarge the black-colored frame above and report
it.
The Adventist Church has been getting an hour of nationwide TV a week for the last few months — and none of our church officials knew.
Optus introduced a religion channel for their Australian pay-TV network and put an American Adventist program on air.
Our church officials found out on when Optus phoned them to see if our church had any more good religious programs.
The Optus program is presented by Dan Matthews from Faith for Today.
It runs at 10am Wednesday, plus in the primetime position of 8pm Sunday.
Entered
October 10, 1999
Unique among world religions
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is unique among the world's religions, says Roger Coon, formerly of
the White Estate.
Firstly, it is the only church which finds its prophetic roots in Revelation 10.
Secondly, it is the only church which finds its prophetic messenger in Revelation 12.
Thirdly, it is the only church which finds its prophetic message in Revelation 14.
No other denomination makes any of these claims, he says.
Entered
October 10, 1999
Sir Michael praises church
The Foundation prime minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare
said that he wished that his Government had been able to do what the Adventist Church had been able to do.
Sir Michael's speech at Pacific Adventist University amazed Adventist listening to it.
He said his Government had deep reservations when it gave a
licence to the Adventist Church to start the university in
his country.
However, the Adventist Church with its university had been
able to do what the Government universities had been able to
do.
Entered
October 10, 1999
Outreach for country towns
A Queensland evangelism concept is to go world-wide.
StormCo, where young people run outreach programs in country towns, has already spread to New Zealand.
Next year, 30 young people from South
Queensland Conference will travel to the GC session in Canada to teach their techniques to others from around the world.
Entered
October 10, 1999
Joint venture with DuPont
Sanitarium, the Adventist Church's largest health food business,
is setting up a joint
venture with a Dupont subsidiary to sell is soy drink range on a global basis.
The So Good product range is already successfully sold in Australia, New
Zealand, Canada and the UK. The joint venture with DuPont will
take it into the United States and many other countries worldwide.
Sanitarium has set up a sophisticated tracking system to make sure it uses no genetically modified soya beans.
It takes a lot of work to track the beans from seed through to the end product, but Sanitarium
believes it's worth the effort.
According to The Australian Financial Review, Sanitarium is now one of Australia's most trusted brandnames — which reflects very well on the church.
Sanitarium had a 4.1% sales increase last year. Sales were $277 million and it provided 42% of the South Pacific Division budget.
Entered
October 10, 1999
Gambia president praises SDA church
The president of Gambia invited the Seventh-day Adventist Church to cooperate
in the development of several programs in his country.
During an official visit to the World Headquarters of the Adventist Church on
September 26, Dr. Alhaji Yahya Jammeh spoke of the urgent need to advance plans
in health, education and agriculture.
"Your Church has done a great deal for my country," said Jammeh.
Entered
October 10, 1999
Website may close
The adventist.fm website will close within a month unless
another Adventist organisation is found to run it.
The site is one of the busiest Adventist websites in the world with about
100,000 pages accessed each month.
Plus the material in its Sabbath school lessons and news services are
passed on to thousands of other Adventists each week.
"An Adventist university or church department which ran it would get very good
exposure within the Adventist church," says webmaster Phil Ward.
"At present, the website is run by an extremely small Adventist church in
Queensland Australia. However, it is now beyond the resources of that
church to run the site.
"Our local church doesn't need the exposure that adventist.fm gives. It would
be far
more appropriate for it to be run by an Adventist institution," Ward says.
Coolum Beach Church will offers the site on the basis that it continues
to run with the present ideals.
The basic rule of the site is that everything on it must be encourage
people just starting to attend an Adventist Church.
The site does not promote one side of issues which are divisive within
the church and it is loyal to church leaders and church members.
Plus the material on the site is basically free of criticism.
If you are interested in the website, email details to Phil Ward
philward@adventist.fm
with an email headed "Adventist.fm.Available."
Entered
October 6, 1999
Chinese hire online evangelist
jwash@pacific.net.hk
The Chinese Union Mission has hired an Internet evangelist to cope with the
large response to its new website.
In the first two months online, its new website has had 8000 visitors with
4-5 prayer requests and Bible Study requests per day. "The
potential is increadible for online evangelism," says John Ash, the
Chinese Union Missions Communication Director. "Where in 1995 there was
virtually no private internet use in mainland China, by the end of this
year there will be 12 million Internet users."
The new internet evangelist will respond personally to mail and connect
interests with a local church in the reader's area.
The website is called Village of Hope and Blessing --
www.vohc.com.
Entered
September 13, 1999
Boxing champion joins church
A former national boxing champion in India has been baptised as a Seventh-day
Adventist. Shomen was raised an unbeliever, but became a Christian and married
a Christian woman. However, he was dissatisfied with the churches he knew and
often prayed "Lord, show me the true church." A few months ago he saw an
advertisement for a Bible crusdae in Dimapur and vowed to attend the meetings,
hoping this may be the answer to his prayer.
Attending was difficult because they were held while he was at work and he had to take
time off.
One day he visited the preacher in his hotel room and said, "Pastor, I
have heard many great preachers, but I was never satisfied with their
messages. The great difference is that you are preaching the Bible. I
searched for the truth and now God has led me to the truth. I want to be
baptized."
Shomen and his wife were among the 28 baptized in the Dimapur meetings.
Entered
Dorothy Watts, Good News From
India
September 13, 1999
Mongolia trebles membership
Still developing its presence in Mongolia, the youthful Seventh-day Adventist
Church increased its official membership by one-third on August 28. The baptism
of twelve people in the Ulan Bator Church was also the first time anyone over age
25 has been baptized in Mongolia.
More than 70 people regularly worship each week in Ulan Bator, the capital of
Mongolia. Others worship in home churches in the city and in rural areas. Many of
these worship groups are run by teenagers in a church dominated by young
people.
With the breakdown of communism in the mid-1990s, Mongolia became more open
to religious activity.
"There's an exciting new climate of discovery of spiritual things," says Gary
Krause, Communication director for the Global Mission
program. "In the Adventist Church in Mongolia, the experienced, senior members
are in their late 20s. We're happy for a young church here in Mongolia who
really want to accomplish their mission."
Entered
ANN September 8, 1999
More efficient administration
The South Pacific Division is planning to reorganise the church structure to
save $1.7 million a year. The plan reduces the present five unions to four.
The efficiency is further increased in one union by having the officers of the
union also serve as officers of one of the local conferences. The streamlining
brings both the two main countries of the Division (Australia and New Zealand)
into their own adminstrative units. It is hoped that the changes will be
approved at the once-in-five-years church sessions next year.
SQAussie News has more details.
Entered
September 3, 1999
First outreach promoted on website
An Adventist website has held a witnessing program in the Northern Ireland
city of Derry.
www.youthpages.org
gathered 23 young people from Britian and abroad to do a
week of street witnessing in the city. The witness of young people wanting to
talk about Jesus was increased because recent violence nearby highlighted
that there were young people who didn't want to throw petrol bombs. About 40
people signed up for Bible study guides and about 10 turned up to a meeting
being run by the young people. Plus 700 copies of "Desire of Ages." "Steps
to Christ," and "Stop Smoking" were given out.
This
was the first outreach program organised by
www.youthpages.org, and may be the first such outreach in the world
organised by by an Adventist website.
Entered
BUC News September 3, 1999
Cleaning up graffiti
As a community service project during its annual camp meeting,
North Australia Conference arranged for its youth paint over graffiti in the city
of Townsville. The project received favorable TV, radio and newspaper
coverage.
Entered
September 3, 1999
Singing for the Olympics
Singers from Illawarra Adventist School will perform part of the official
welcome for next year's Olympic Games in Sydney. They will sing the national
anthem of the Cook Islands as a welcome to Cook Island athletes. The tiny school
requested this duty because four of its 31 students are from the Cook Islands.
Entered
September 3, 1999
Aussie SDA magazines win top awards
The Australia-New Zealand "Signs of the Times" won an award for the best article on social
justice in the annual Australian Religious Press Awards. The article looked at
teenage suicide through the eyes of a counsellor who deals with teens who
attempt suicide. The Aussie Church's weekly newspaper also won a top award --
for the best news article. The article told of Adventist influence in an
Aboriginal revival in the outback town of Nullagine. In 1996, the TV program "A
Current Affair" featured the town as the "crime capital of Australia." In
1998 the TV program returned to do a story about its 98% FALL in crime.
Entered
September 3, 1999
1787 people baptised
To end a Family Life Crusade in Nairobi, Kenya last Sabbath, 1787 people were
baptised and 2000 renewed their wedding vows. About 700 more people are
interested in baptism. Further baptisms are planned for the next two months.
Entered
ANN September 3, 1999
Church belongs to laity says president
Jan Paulsen, the world president of the Adventist Church,
has called for the laity to take over the church.
"It's healthy for the Church that the laity take hold of the Church, saying, 'It
belongs to us,'" he told a laity seminar in Guatemala.
Entered
September 3, 1999
BBC TV to cover ADRA's Balkan work
In Britain next week, BBC East TV will run three features on ADRA's work in
the Bulkans in the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime and evening news
bulletins.
Renowned BBC journalist Bill Hamilton has just completed an
itinerary with John Arthur, ADRA director for the Trans-European Division
based in St Albans, England.
A despatch from Albania will show how school children in
Hertfordshire, England, were able to purchase a much-needed
respirator-ventilator for the Maternity Hospital in Tirand.
A second report from Montenegro will feature food distribution from
the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Podgorica.
Thirdly, there will be news from Kosovo about ADRA's co-operation
with Kfor in running a telephone help-line together with the delivery of
food to a crippled lady.
Church leaders hope that some of this material will also be used on the BBC
World Service.
Entered
September 3, 1999
Gearing up for hurricanes
ADRA is gearing up to fund possible damage in North America from this year's
hurricane season.
Entered
ADRA News September 3, 1999
New Pacific Union website
The Pacific Union's web site and web address have changed. You will now
find it at
www.puconline.org.
Entered
September 3, 1999
Andrews rating improves
Andrews University has considerably improved its rating in the "Best Colleges"
annual listings in "US News and World Report." Last year it stood in the top
228 national universities, but this year is in the top 176.
Among national universities,
Andrews was also ranked among the leaders in international and racial diversity.
Entered
September 3, 1999
FBI admits fire-bombing Davidians
America's FBI this week admitted that it launched incendiary devices into the
Branch Davidian headquarters in April 1993. Until now the FBI had claimed it
was in no way responsible for the fire which killed 74 Branch Davidians,
including 21 children. The Branch Davidians had lived peacefully at the
headquarters in Waco Texas since the 1930s. They were a radical breakaway
group from the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
"The siege of Mount Carmel and the tragedy
that ended it was absolutely unjustified," says last Sunday's LA Times.
"In Waco, bureaucratic
stupidity and a horrible lapse of morality combined to produce a
spectacle of a U.S. government agency incinerating men, women
and children."
Entered
September 3, 1999
Minor damage to building
ADRA's office in Yemen received minor damage on Saturday morning when a car bomb
containing half a ton of explosives went off one block away.
Entered
September 3, 1999
Video evangelism is our future
Video and TV evangelism will be a major part of the western-world Adventist
Church in the next century. So says Pacific Union College video lecturer Terry
Branster. PUC currently has 64 students in its video training courses, with
the number expected to rise in the new academic year. About 75% of students
say they want to work for the church.
Entered
August 28, 1999
ADRA cares for 5000 in Turkey
ADRA Germany is providing relief
assistance to 5,000 survivors of the Turkey earthquake, with funding from the
German government. Besides distributing 4,000 blankets and hygiene
articles (including soap, detergent, combs, etc.), an additional 1,000
people will receive food for their babies. Another ADRA shipment of
nearly 10 tons (9 metric tonnes) of baby food has now left
Germany for the project area.
All of the recipients of ADRA’s assistance are living between the
towns of Yalova and Gölcnk, on the coast of the Marmara Sea. This
is the area where ADRA is concentrating its relief efforts since last
Tuesday, immediately following the devastating earthquake.
Over the weekend, ADRA Germany distributed more hygiene items
and blankets to its project area, benefiting thousands of survivors.
ADRA Germany is also assisting with the medical needs of thousands
of patients in a make-shift hospital at a sports arena in Yalova,
providing much-needed hygiene kits and materials.
Entered
ADRA August 27, 1999
Adventists rescue two in earthquake
An ADRA rescue team from the Czech Republic located two living people from
the wreckage of the Turkish earthquake disaster. The team was made up of
five rescuers, dogs and an ADRA volunteer. The team flew back to the Czech
Republic on Tuesday and was greeted by Czech media at the airport. Following a
press report, they were given a round of applause for their efforts.
Entered
August 27, 1999
Plane load of supplies fly in
A plane loaded with relief supplies has arrived in Turkey from ADRA’s
Czech Republic office. Included in the shipment are medical supplies,
body bags and blankets. A portion of the supplies will be used in a
Czech mobile military hospital in Gölcnk. The other portion will be
distributed by ADRA to its project area in Turkey. The supplies,
valued at US$40,000, were provided by the Czech government. An
additional US$60,000 was donated to ADRA Czech by the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in the country, to help with ADRA’s
relief efforts in Turkey.
ADRA Czech is also preparing a truck full of hygiene items, blankets,
medical supplies and tools for Turkey. That shipment is scheduled to
leave in the next few days.
An ADRA team of volunteers continues to work in Istanbul with local
authorities to coordinate the relief efforts and handle the logistics of
ADRA’s projects.
"The situation is really bad, both for the survivors and for the relief
workers," says Thomas Petracek, desk officer for Turkey in ADRA
Germany’s office who just returned from forefronting ADRA’s
response to the natural disaster. "The victims are still in shock and
don’t have access to psychological care yet, to talk about what has
happened to them. And I can remember the very tired eyes of the
relief workers from Yalova, but they continued to work."
Entered
ADRA August 27, 1999
PUC still top in California
Pacific Union College this week was ranked as the top college in California
by "US News and World Report."
This is the sixth straight year of top ranking for PUC.
PUC was ranked in the top five for "Best Values" among liberal arts
colleges in the Western U.S. -- a ranking based on a ratio of quality to price.
It was also ranked among the top ten most "ethnically diverse" campuses in
the Western U. S. PUC scored well in all ranking categories, especially in
academic quality, faculty-to-student ratio, and student diversity.
PUC ranked in the top ten among all
American colleges and universities for acceptance into medical school.
Entered
Monday Fax August 26, 1999
ADRA responds to Turkey crisis
Immediately following last week's earthquake,
ADRA volunteers in Turkey distributed food
and clothing to survivors in Istanbul. The supplies were being stored at a warehouse in
the Turkish capital.
"Izmit and Istanbul are getting a lot of relief attention from various
organizations," says Erich Lischek of ADRA Germany
which is coordinating ADRA's efforts. "ADRA is going to
make sure that the smaller towns surrounding Izmit receive assistance. It is
usually the smaller towns that get overlooked."
ADRA's first priority will be to purchase food, clothing and hygiene items for those
whose homes were destroyed. The international organization will be working through
its Turkish liaison, Naval Captain Tanju Akbay, to obtain governmental assistance for
its efforts.
Entered
August 25, 1999
Adventist TV in South America
Adventist TV programs are now being broadcast 24 hours a day in Peru, Argentina
and Columbia. The programs are relayed via satellite to land based stations
mainly in small country areas.
Entered
August 25, 1999
Lutheran move significant
A leading Adventist theologian says that recent moves between Lutherans and
Anglicans are very significant. On August 19, the
Lutheran Church of America voted to approve a
document that makes possible full communion with the Episcopalian (Anglican)
Church.
The vote at the Lutheran's Churchwide Assembly in Denver, Colorado, marks a
major step in ecumenical efforts to bring about the "visible union" of denominations.
Commenting on the decision,
Dr. Gerhard Pfandl of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church's Biblical Research Institute said that this was a significant development in
ecumenism.
"We are concerned over some statements that tend to suggest a
dismantling of what the Protestant Reformation has achieved," he said.
Entered
August 25, 1999
Dismissed minister in court
A court case about improper dismissal of an Adventist minister will be heard
on September 9 and October 27 at Napa Superior Court in California. The
minister claims he was improperly dismissed because the grounds for dismissal
related to his wife, not himself.
Entered
Bill Sands
August 25, 1999
Burnt church not firebombed
Earlier reports were incorrect which said that an Australian church
destroyed by fire was firebombed.
"Police and Fire Inspectors aren't even sure if it was arson now, as no
evidence can be found to support the theory," says church elder
Adam Sparke.
"As a result, a Coronial Inquest has been set up to determine the cause
of the blaze," he says. The members of Toronto Church 100km north of Sydney
are now meeting in another location.
Entered
Adam Sparke sparkey@rivernet.com.au
August 25, 1999
Wheat to Azerbaijan
ADRA and the United States Department of Agriculture will donate 11,550 tons
of US wheat of Azerbaijan. ADRA will mill the wheat into flour to help meet
the area's flour shortage.
Azerbaijan currently has nearly one million internally displaced people,
two-thirds of whom
are occupying temporary shelter in camps, railway cars or public
buildings/
ADRA will open a
vocational training center with a 500-student capacity to help some of these
people develop skills to rejoin the workforce.
Entered
August 25, 1999
ADRA donations for Turkey
ADRA is accepting donations to assist victims of the earthquake in Turkey,
according to an Associated Press news report.
Entered
August 18, 1999
City square named after Ellen White
The city council of the Southern Brazilian city of Curitiba
A city council in Brazil
has given unanimous
approval to name one of its squares after Adventist pioneer
Ellen White.
Curitiba, the capital of Paraná province, is considered a model city because of its care
for ecological balance, the percentage of green areas in the city, the efficiency of
public transportation, as well as a large number of squares and parks, cleanliness,
urban development and security.
The Ellen G. White Square is in a popular location on a daily exercise route for cycling and
running. The square will in inaugurated in November.
Zukowski adds that such a decision was greeted with enthusiasm by the Church in
Curitiba.
The initiative to approach the city council came from Tarso Furlan, a church member
in Curitiba who was baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist a few months ago. He was
impressed by the books written by Ellen White, and felt that the population at
large should also get to know her important contribution as an Adventist
Christian visionary, writer and church leader.
The square will feature a
sculpture of Ellen G. White, gardening and plaques telling about her.
Entered
August 18, 1999
ADRA cares for 10,000
ADRA is providing relief assistance
to many thousands of displaced people and is working to reunite families separated by
years of fighting in Sierra Leone.
The recent peace agreement that was signed in Togo means a drastic
increase in needs as relief agencies gain access to thousands of Sierra Leoneans who
have been behind rebel lines for several months.
ADRA is assisting nearly 11,000 displaced people at the Waterloo Village camp.
ADRA is the lead agency at the camp, working with the United Nations World Food
Programme, UNICEF, and other humanitarian agencies. More than 10,000 people
are receiving emergency relief assistance from ADRA. Emergency relief includes
non-food items such as blankets, sleeping mats, lamps, and eating utensils, and daily
feeding of malnourished children.
Entered
ANN August 18, 1999
Adventists tortured in jail
Adventists found not guity for desecrating a Catholic church in Cape Verde
were tortured while they were held in jail for 12 months awaiting trial
"They have been tortured by all kinds of methods, including
electric shocks, to try to force them to confess to a crime that they had not
committed,"
says Felix Monteiro, president of the Adventist Church in the
Cape Verde islands.
"But God gave them strength and a great deal of courage to stay on
the side of truth." As reported earlier,
the three Adventists, JosT Maria Monteiro Rodrigues, Jorge Adalberto Ramos
Tavares, and Benvindo da Cruz Ramos, were declared innocent of all charges
brought against them. Judge Dr. Helena Barreto stated that "the only crime which
the three Adventists had committed, if that constitutes a crime, was to be
Seventh-day Adventists."
Entered
ANN August 18, 1999
Pastors receive AIDS training
More than 600 Adventist pastors and their wives
have received training in AIDS awareness and counseling regarding HIV
infection. Trainers included doctors and health experts from the U.S. and Australia, as
well locals.
"This event marks a new day in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Papua New
Guinea," says Percy Harrold, health director for the Adventist Church's South Pacific
Division. "No longer can the church bury its head in the sand. No longer can
pastors say 'I can only give the Biblical stand.' Now pastors are equipped to give
practical advice as well in preventing HIV infection."
Entered
August 18, 1999
Doctors wanted for ADRA trip
Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher, NC is looking for doctors to join a medical
team working at ADRA clinics in Ghana for two weeks after Christmas.
The hospital has enough nurses for the project, but needs physicians, dentists,
and opthomalogists. Lorraine
Hansen from the hospital says that they have arranged exceptionally
good airfares,
but that they must be booked by September 1. For details, email
Lorraine Hansen
lorrhans@brinet.com.
Entered
Lorraine Hansen lorrhans@brinet.com
August 15, 1999
Lawsuit against Florida church
A court case is scheduled for mid October against a Florida church using the
name Seventh-day Adventist. The church is called
to the "Eternal Gospel Church of Seventh-day Adventists" in West Palm
Beach, Florida. The church placed an advertisement this week in "USA Today,"
using the name the "Eternal Gospel Church of Seventh-day Adventists."
Entered
August 13, 1999
Statistics show rapid growth
Statistics just released show the ratio of Adventists to non-Adventists
is dropping sharply world-wide. In 1994 there was one Adventist for
every 669 people on the planet. Five years later, according to the latest
statistics, this figure had dropped to one in 583. The statistics also show
a dramatic increase in the number of baptisms per hour.
Five years ago there were 71.8 baptisms and confessions of faith every hour.
Last year, this had increased dramatically to 93.4 every hour. Projections
suggest that this year we are probably having about 100 baptisms every hour.
Click here for the full set of annual statistics
Entered
August 13, 1999
Jailed pastor requested prison change
An Adventist pastor/educator jailed in Sri Lanka asked to be transferred to
another jail so he could evangelise prisoners more effectively.
Pastor Anthony Alexander, from the Tamil race, was in a jail with only 26
Tamil prisoners.
"On my request I was transferred
to this new prison where more than 800 Tamil political prisoners are
imprisoned," he wrote from jail.
"The reason for my request was to do some work with my net and bait. Now
I can really feel the importance of the commission stated in Matthew 25:36.
The thirst for the living water is inexpressible. I am busy as
never before, giving Bible studies and worshiping with them. I have to
preach both on Sundays and Sabbath days and the other days teach them
Bible, English and electronics.
Many have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. How3ever, some don't come
to the worship room because of fear, though some come boldly. I have been
already threatened to death by some Tamil liberation fighters, because of
the conversion of their fellow cadres, knowing that these new-born children
of God will never take weapons in their hands," he wrote.
Adventists world-wide are writing to him to encourage him, and he appreciates
it. His address is
Pastor M A Alexander 2476, "B" Ward, New Remand Prison, Kalutara North,
Kalutara, Sri Lanka. The General Conference Religious Liberty Department has
prepared three different form letters you could use if you want to write to
help free Pastor Alexander.
Click here for the GC form letters.
Entered
August 13, 1999
Almost a million pages requested
TAGnet, the Adventist "mother of all websites" was only 2000 hits less than
a million hits last week. The Adventist websites housed by TAGnet had an
incredible 998,114 pages requested last week. Adventist.fm was the number
one website of more than 1000 on TAGnet, with Adventist TV 3ABN number two.
TAGnet itself is number three. It is sporting a brand new look
which combines TAGnet and the search engine SDAsource.
To check out the new look, go to
www.tagnet.org.
Entered
August 13, 1999
Adventists sang outside court
Adventists in Cape Verde sang praises to God after three church members were
released after a year in jail without trial.
The three church members had been charged by
police with vandalizing and desecrating several Catholic churches.
JosT Maria Monteiro
Rodrigues, Jorge Adalberto Ramos Tavares, and Benvindo da Cruz Ramos were
found innocent of all charges. The presiding judge, Dr. Helena Barreto, in
an hour-long verdict, said that no proof had been presented by the prosecution and
added "the only crime which the three Adventists had committed, if that
constitutes a crime, was to be Seventh-day Adventists."
The judge then commended the Adventists for their conduct and behavior during the
trial, as well as the church members who had attended all the sessions of the trial. She
emphasized that never in her career as a magistrate had she presided over a case with
such positive characteristics. She also added that she did not normally make such
comments, but in this case her conviction of the innocence of the accused was so
strong she felt it was important to declare this publicly.
"Her words were like a gospel message to our three brothers to encourage them
to take positive lessons from this experience," commented Felix Monteiro, leader
of the Adventist Church in Cape Verde.
At the conclusion of the trial, church members sang their praises before the court.
"This was a very emotional moment," said Monteiro. "We then moved to the
central church and held a service of thanksgiving, attended by several judges
and civic leaders. We want to thank the members of the world church for all
their prayers and the Lord for answering these prayers."
Entered
August 13, 1999
Healthiest group in USA
"The Saturday Evening Post" has called Seventh-day Adventists "the healthiest
group of people in the country."
"Adventists have supplied the world with some rather impressive medical
statistics," the popular magazine said.
"Male Seventh-day Adventists aged 35 to 40 have a 6.2-year
longer life expectancy on the average than the general population.
Female members have a 3.1- year greater life expectancy.
Male subjects 55 and over who eat meat six times a week or more are twice
as likely to die of heart attacks as are some of the Adventist vegetarian
men, as shown by surveys.
Not only do Seventh-day Adventists have fewer heart attacks, they also
have less cancer -- 50 percent less than the general population. Their
rate of lung cancer is only 21 percent of the expected rate and their
colon-rectal cancer is 60 percent of expected.
Education-medical as well as general-receives strong support from
Adventists. Three times as many members have completed college compared
to the general population," the Post says.
Entered
August 13, 1999
Atlantic College won't close
Atlantic Union College is prospering, according to its beleagued president
Sylvan Lashley. Ashley was responding to a newspaper report which said the
College does not have enough funds to operate beyond the end of August.
Theodore Jones, the Atlantic Union Conference president responded to the claims by saying
that the College is now it better shape than it was.
"The college is going full steam ahead. We are
anticipating a very good school year for the fall and going into 2000
and beyond. We have no plans for any shutdown," he said.
The Adventist Today news service has further details at
www.atoday.com.
Entered
August 10, 1999
Coca-Cola award
A student at Southwestern Adventist University will receive a $20,000
scholarship from the Coca-Cola Foundation. One scholarship has been awarded
for every independent college in Texas. Ironically, many Adventists
object to Coca-Cola because of its caffine content.
Entered
August 10, 1999
Adventist pastor stays in jail
An Adventist pastor jailed without trial in Sri Lanka will remain in jail
until at least September 22. Pr Anthony Alexander was jailed in March last
year on suspicion of assisting Tamil Tiger rebels. His lawers have petitioned
Sri Lanka's High Court to either force the Government to take his case to
trial, or to release him. This appeal will be heard on September 22.
Latest information on Pastor Alexander is that he was severely tortured while
in jail and apparently forced to sign a "confession." However, the confession is in
a language he cannot read. The pastor is making the most of his time in
jail. He currently is giving Bible studies to 50 of his fellow prisoners.
Entered
Gary Krause August 8, 1999
Kosovo drawings on display
Drawings by children ADRA is caring for in Kosovo will go on display
at Oshkosh Public Museam, August 13-27.
"The paintings depict the recent experiences of these children, and
their suffering," says Tereza Byrne, ADRA bureau chief for marketing and
development, who visited the children last week. "All of them have lost
their fathers and other male relatives."
The 400 children, aged six to 18, live in Djacova, which is one
city that has endured the most intense fighting during the last few months.
Virtually 80 percent of Djacova’s infrastructure has been destroyed. Each
week day, the children visit the Sports Center in Djacova for three hours
and participate in ADRA’s rehabilitative activities. Some of the activities
include soccer, basketball, dance, computer, and English lessons. ADRA also
provides them with lunch.
Alban Pruthi teaches art as part of the rehabilitation program.
Alban first started working for ADRA in Kukds, Albania, where he had to
live as a refugee after being forced from his home in Kosovo. "The children
need to tell you how they feel, but many of them don’t talk," he says of
the recovering children. "Instead, they communicate by painting what
they’ve seen."
Entered
ADRA August 8, 1999
Court rules against SDA pastor
A New Orleans court has ruled that an elderly Adventist pastor accused of being
involved in a massacre in Rwanda
must be turned over to a war crimes tribunal
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals
upheld an earlier ruling by a federal judge stating there is probable cause
that Elizaphan Ntakirutimana, 75, committed genocide and crimes against
humanity.
Ntakirutimana can still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In the 1994 Rwanda massacres,
Ntakirutimana was pastor of a Seventh-day
Adventist Church.
Witnesses claim he urged a large group of men, women and
children to seek refuge in a church and hospital complex -- then took part in a
daylong gun and machete attack against them.
He was arrested in September 1996 in America, where his son lives, while
there legally on a permanent resident visa.
His lawyer Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark
argued that the tribunal was formed in violation of the U.N. charter, and that
evidence was not sufficient to warrant the pastor's extradition.
Entered
August 8, 1999
Youth chatroom open
The British Adventist website YouthPAGES has opened a new youth chat service.
It is on line at
www.youthpages.org/chat. It's open on Friday nights (British time) from
7pm-11pm.
Entered
August 8, 1999
ADRA's Kosovo phones run hot
ADRA in Kosovo is
is providing a telephone hotline,
medical clinics, and water and sanitation rehabilitation.
In Pristina, the telephone emergency service
receives nearly 200 calls each day. About 40 percent of
these calls are considered high level emergencies or are calls from people in
life-threatening situations. ADRA also operates a "food on
wheels" program that delivers food to minority groups, including Serbians and Romas,
who feel threatened and are afraid to leave their homes.
With the destruction and contamination of wells and other sources of water, ADRA
has begun repairing 1,500 wells in 60 villages.
ADRA is also preparing to rebuild and re-equip 105 schools in Kosovo and to help
farmers obtain parts to repair damaged tractors, so they can plant crops before the
growing season ends.
Entered
ANN August 5, 1999
Bible studies for SDA websites
Voice of Prophecy has a program that
allows any church to offer a Discover Bible School on their own web site.
The church supplies the teachers, grades the lessons, and interacts with the
students. They can also offer live chats, news groups, RealVideo and
RealAudio. VOP offers backup support for visiting interests from the Internet.
Contact the Voice of Prophecy Bible School at the Adventist Media
Center (phone: 805-955-7659). Ask for the Internet Bible School Information
Packet which explains how the site works and how to get started.
Churches can also link to the Voice of Prophecy web site and instructors at
Voice will handle all interests. Go to
www.vop.com, and contact the
webmaster for more information about this option.
Entered
Monday Fax August 5, 1999
Kosovo pastor returns home
Seventh-day Adventist pastor Dijana Daka has
returned to her home in Kosovo from Albania to find all the members and friends of
her church in Djakovica alive and well.
"We have all returned to our place," says Daka, "and although we found our
houses destroyed we are happy that we found Jesus who keeps us together and
gives us hope for the future."
Daka was believed dead in the Kosovo crisis, but escaped into Albania.
She is now back in Djakovica where she was instrumental in establishing a new
church last year. After several evangelistic campaigns and various seminars, Daka had
the joy of ministering to 35 adults and about 20 children who attended worships and
special meetings. Daka was very successful in ministering to the mainly Muslim
community.
"We need Bibles, literature and a baptistry to continue our work in Kosovo," she
says.
Entered
ANN August 5, 1999
Collegiate quarterly on web
The young adult Sabbath school study guide, including the
Teaching Guide and worksheets, is now on the internet. You'll find it at
can be downloaded in weekly
portions directly from YouthPAGES at
YouthPAGES if you click on "Resources."
YouthPAGES was begun by young adults in the British Union, and is fast
becoming an international site that will help connect youth to youth in other
parts of the world.
Entered
Monday Fax August 5, 1999
Blind services celebrates 100 years
The Adventist services for the blind is celebrating 100 years of service
this month. Christian Record Services will hold a
centennial convention at the Lincoln,
Nebraska, Holiday Inn Downtown, August 18-21, 1999. Christian Record
sends materials to 50,000 individuals in 75 countries and in every world church
division. The "Christian Record" magazine is the oldest continuously published
journal for the blind in North America.
Entered
Monday Fax August 5, 1999
GC news now on email
The General Conference news service (ANN) is now available by email each week.
The new service started this week and operates from the
"subscribe Adventist News" page at
www.adventist.org.
"This new system is a great development in providing our news bulletins and
releases to anyone who wishes," says Jonathan Gallagher, news director for the
Adventist World Church. "Instead of having to check the website the news is
automatically forwarded through e-mail to subscribers as soon as it is released,"
he says.
Now you can have up-to-date news and information from the Adventist News
Network delivered immediately to your electronic mail box."
Entered
ANN August 5, 1999
Refugee support needed
Indian Member of Parliament Narendra Mohan
has pleaded for Adventist churches to support the displaced
people in northern India. More than 400,000 people from Kashmir and Jammu need
help due to religious terrorism that has forced them out of their homes with no hope of
returning. Currently, they are living in tents but they have needs that exceed beyond
shelter.
"India, the world's largest democracy, is totally committed to religious freedom,
yet there are areas in which religious liberty is looked upon with skepticism, "
Mohan said.
For the most part however, India enjoys "unity in diversity." They believe that no
one can deny anyone else's religious freedom. "It is a fundamental right from
birth," said Mohan.
Mohan pledged to help facilitate the forthcoming World Conference on Religious
Freedom in New Delhi and urged Adventist leaders to invite Ambassador Naresh
Chandra and Mr. Sreenivasan, deputy chief of mission in India, to visit the Church's
world headquarters.
Entered
ANN August 5, 1999
ADRA care 12 months after bomb blast
ADRA is still caring for 400 people whose lives were shattered when a bomb
destroyed an American embassy in Africa 12 months ago. Associated Press quotes
ADRA officials as saying, "It's like we're still at the beginning of the
crisis" -- because so many victims haven't yet come to terms with the
disaster which killed 213 and wounded 5400. Only a dozen of
the 400 people ADRA is caring for in Kenya have moved on with their lives.
Entered
August 2, 1999
Aussies want to adopt Russian city
An Australian local conference is considering "adopting" a city in Russia to
try to develop a strong church there. South Queensland
Conference wants a city where there are no Adventists or just a small Adventist
presence. "This city would become especially targeted and supported by our
Conference," says South Queensland's conference president Pastor Chester
Stanley. "This would involve us planning evangelistic programs using our
pastors, evangelists and lay people. I think it has exciting possibilities,"
he says. For more details, see
SQ Aussie News.
Entered
July 31, 1999
GC website links not working
A redesign of the General Conference website inadvertently means that
some links
on Adventist websites world-wide are no longer working. The General Conference's
news service, for example,
is no longer at news.adventist.org but is at www2.adventist.org. Links to
the sunset calculator also no longer work.
Adventist webmasters may need to check that their links to the various
parts of the General Conference website are still valid.
Entered
July 30, 1999
SDA website wins top award
The Italian Adventist church's official
website has been selected as one of Italy's top four
websites for July and August. The award was presented by Direct
Marketing Linked Resources for the church's skill in presenting its religious
values on the Web. The award-winning website is at
www.avventisti.org.
But unless you can read the words
"Unione Italiana Chiese Avventiste"
you may have some difficulty understanding everything it says [grin].
Entered
Vincenzo Annunziata vannunziata@avventisti.org
July 30, 1999
Worthington's big sales increase
Worthington Foods,
the world's largest company solely
dedicated to producing and marketing meat alternative products, has had a
massive 27.5% sales increase. Its net sales rose from $36,038,000
to $45,951,000 for the thirteen weeks ended July 2, 1999.
During the quarter Worthington launched the largest advertisign campaign
in its 60-year history.
Additional information can
be found by visiting the company's web site at
www.wfds.com.
Entered
July 30, 1999
ADRA outreach in Liberia
ADRA is opening a teacher-training institute in the African country of Liberia.
After seven years of civil war, the number of trained teachers in the country
has dropped from 12,000 to 3000. ADRA's teacher training program will can
handle about 100 teachers at a time. ADRA has also built or renovated 23
schools in the country.
Entered
July 30, 1999
Testing primary Sabbath school material
New primary Sabbath School material is ready to pilot in the North American
Division. lesson of the new materials to pilot.
The lessons will be mailed directly to churches that had already
volunteered. Evaluation forms are provided to gather feedback for curriculum editors. Six sample
lessons have been provided but it is requested that a church pilot only one.
The new curriculum is due to begin in churches in January 2001.
Entered
Monday Fax
July 30, 1999
Russian TV breakthrough
Russian Adventists have 2000 people enrolled in Bible correspondence courses
following the launch of a two-hour SDA TV program in Moscow. It
happened when the largest Christian network in America approached a commercial
television station in Moscow requesting airtime. There is a strong
pro-Russian attitude in Russia. So the TV station's program director
immediately called the Russian 3ABN studio and
asked if they would be interested in purchasing the two-hour weekly time
slot. The TV station executive indicated that they would prefer Russian-produced
programming.
This tremendous
soul-winning opportunity would reach a potential audience of 11.5 million
viewers in Moscow and the surrounding areas and would cost $110,000 per
year. "Considering the enormous amount of viewers these programs would reach,
this was an evangelistic bargain," say 3ABn executives.
"We took a leap of faith, without the funds
in hand, and our Russian 3ABN programs began airing in Moscow in March."
They are also seen in Nizhni Novgorod and the surrounding Volga
Region, where they reach a potential audience of 7 million people for only $40,000
per year.
these programs broadcast in Moscow are also
being carried via satellite to all of Russia! As a result 3ABN is
receiving a flood of responses from Moscow and other cities throughout
Russia whose stations pick up our programs and rebroadcast them.
Already there are over 2,000 people enrolled in 3ABN Bible Studies by mail and the
numbers are growing. Fifty-two additional stations have responded as well by
requesting copies of our programming which they broadcast free of charge,
reaching another potential audience of 18.5 million souls!
Entered
July 30, 1999
Adventist chaplain at Kennedy burial
A Seventh-day Adventist chaplain,
Rear Admiral Barry Black, was asked
to represent the Navy at the burial at sea of John F. Kennedy, Jr.;
his wife, Carolyn Bessette
Kennedy; and her sister, Lauren Bessette. Black, the deputy chief of Navy chaplains participated in
the service along with three Catholic Navy chaplains and a civilian priest. Black was in charge of
coordinating the logistics and ensuring that the Kennedy and Bessette family needs were met. During
the travel time chaplains took the opportunity to console the family and talk about the power of
God's word.
"I felt I received more than I could give. It was a blessing to see the dignity with which this family
was able to deal with the tragedy and how faith was able to provide an anchor for them," says
Black.
Entered
Monday Fax July 30, 1999
New look TAGnet on line soon
A complete redesign of the TAGnet site is in in the works. "We plan on
having it on the web in the next week or two," say TAGnet adminstrators.
The upgrade will allow users to more effectively search a database of more
than 1000 Adventist websites. Existing TAGnet websites can upgrade their
information at the database at
http://database.tagnet.org/cgi-bin/login
Entered
July 30, 1999
Atlantic Union College in trouble
According to a local newspaper, Atlantic Union College is in deep financial
trouble. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette quotes a former employee as saying
the college is at the verge of financial collapse. The paper says the College
Trustees were meeting last week to discuss the claims made in a four-page
exit report by Gwendolyn Ashley,
a former
administrative assistant to five college presidents and five academic deans.
The newspaper says,
`The July 6 letter to the college board of trustees accuses Lashley, who was
appointed in October 1996, of making decisions that are arbitrary, poorly
conceived and executed, purely political, and evincing remarkable
short-sightedness and little leadership skills.
Board of trustees Chairman Ted Jones, president of the Lancaster-based
Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, said Ashley's report
will be taken up a tele-conference among trustees. He would not
comment further. Ashley resigned from her college post last month,
primarily, she said, because of her disgust at the "interminable
situation" at the college. She now works as the assistant to the president
of human resources assessment at the General Conference of the Seventh-day
Adventists Church in Silver Springs, Md.
"I can say with some authority that President Sylvan Lashley has mismanaged
the college to the point that its survival is in grave jeopardy," Ashley
said in the letter. "To be sure, when he was elected president, the college
was already in deep trouble. However, under President Lashley's leadership,
what might prove to be irreparable harm is being done to the college."
Lashley said he considers Ashley's letter to be "musings from a
disgruntled employee who was intending to leave the college for some
time."
"We don't have a comment on it," Lashley said. Ashley, who worked at the
college for 10 years, resigned June 20 and moved to the Washington, D.C.,
area, where she has family. While in Lancaster she had served as chairman of
the town Zoning Board.'
Entered
July 30, 1999
Domino effect
When a regular viewer of 3ABN visited a local cable
station manager to stir his interest about 3ABN, it started a domino effect.
This cable manager owned and
operated several cable systems and decided to experiment by
rebroadcasting 3ABN on one of his channels. He received such marvelous
feedback from the viewers that he decided to rebroadcast 3ABN 24 hours a day
on the rest of his cable systems. Then his curiosity led him to start
watching 3ABN on a regular basis to find out what was different about this
network, of which he knew nothing. 3ABN's simple approach to presenting the
gospel combined with the health programming, as well as 3ABN's lack of heavy
on-air fund-raising efforts won this man's heart. His appreciation of 3ABN
led him to personally promote 3ABN to other cable owners. He also
volunteered his time to install the equipment they needed to receive 3ABN.
Then he even spent many hours getting 3ABN into the prison in his area.
Although this man is not a member of the church, he continues to make new
contacts with cable owners encouraging them to add 3ABN to their lineup of
programming... with great results.
Entered
July 30, 1999
Review website soon
Carlos Medley 74617.15@compuserve.com
Adventist Review will launch its web site
this fall. The site will offer selected general articles and church news
in HTML. You will also be able to download the entire Review (in PDF). There will
also be some special web-only content too. And you can purchase a
subscription online.
If you would like to be notified as soon as the site is available then send
your name and e-mail address to reviewmag@adventist.org.
Entered
July 30, 1999
Work for public schools
The North American Division is urging churches to become involved in public
schools in their areas. In a recent case,
the Division contributed $100
this past spring to help Paint Branch High School sponsor a "Safe Prom Night." About 600 students
participated, and heard the message that the Seventh-day Adventist Church had helped sponsor
their evening. In addition, the parent newsletter mentioned the Church's support. A lot of good will
for just a few dollars.
Entered
Monday Fax
July 29, 1999
adventist.fm's Cool site award
The adventist.fm website has been officially selected as a "Cool Site" by the
internet gurus at Netscape. You will find the listing under
Seventh-day_Adventists at
dmoz.org
Entered
July 29, 1999
Adventist Jewish groups expanding
There are now five Adventist-sponsored groups in America specifically
designed for Jews -- and there are three more in the pipeline.
The Sabbath worship services are conducted along the lines ususual in
Jewish services. Some men wear a kippa (a skull cap) as a sign of reverence
and they call Jesus by his Jewish name Yeshua.
The existing Adventist Jewish groups are
in Austin, Texas; Miami, Florida; St. Petersburg, Florida;
Berrien Springs and Minton, Michigan. The next three are planned for
Los Angeles, California; Silver Spring, Maryland; and New York City.
The Messianic Synagogue in Austin, Texas, is hosted by the South
Austin Adventist church, but is non-Adventist Messianic Jewish Fellowship.
It plans to
contact Jewish people who want to have questions answered about Yeshua. For their first meeting,
a Hanukkah Party on December 20, about 20 Messianic Jews came. There were about 60 in
attendance at a Seder service during Passover Season, including about 20 Adventists. The new
group is named Tikvat-Olam and meets on Friday evenings for full services.
Entered
Monday Fax and The Record
July 29, 1999
Camp for tornado kids
Adventist Community Services is
offering a free week of camp for 125 kids affected by the tornado in May that devastated
Oklahoma City. It is for helping kids heal from the trauma and grief caused by the tornado. They
will be hosted by Camp Wewoka Woods, two hours east of Oklahoma City. In addition to
the usual camp activities, certified counselors will be on hand
to allow kids to talk about the disaster and its effect on their lives.
Entered
Monday Fax
July 29, 1999
Adventist recording competition
producer cherub3@ix.netcom.com
The Adventist-owned Third Angels Records is holding an artists' and
song-writers' competition to find
new Adventist artists to record on its label.
It welcomes demo submissions from traditional and contemporary gospel
artists who are members of the SDA church. The company
has just released a new CD by Michael Anthony, which is distributed
Pacific Press/Chapel Records. Details and real are on the Third Angels website
http://thirdangels.iuma.com.
Entered
July 29, 1999
Review celebrates 150 years
At a ceremony at the Adventist church's world headquarters today, the
Adventist Review magazine is celbrating its 150th anniversary. The Review,
first published in 1849, is one of the world's oldest religious magazines.
To mark the occasion, the Review will announce its first annual Stream of
Light Award to someone who exemplifies an emphasis on mission.
“The story of the Review is the story of the church, with the Review
very often the leading edge of the church,” says Adventist Review Editor
William Johnsson. “I am amazed and grateful to the Lord for His leading
during these 150 years."
The Review is the Adventist Church's oldest periodical.
The church now has 56 publishing houses producing literature in 245
languages. The 321 Seventh-day Adventist periodicals produce 3.5
million magazines and Bible study guides each month, reaching nearly
every nation.
Entered
Stephanie Swilley SwilleyS@gc.adventist.org
July 29, 1999
From seat of Catholic church
An Adventist satellite evangelistic program will be broadcast around the
world next February from Rome.
Jubilee Net 2000 will come from the home of the Catholic Church. This will be
at a time
when Rome and the Catholic Church has had considerable public attention because
of the celebrations for the year 2000. A website for the event is at
www.jubileenet2000.org.
Entered
July 29, 1999
Adventists given TV station
The Adventist Church has been given the full use of a television station in
Georgetown, Guyana. The wife of the station owner is a Seventh-day Adventist
and her husband has been impressed by the Net98 program being run on his
station.
He invited several Adventists to meet
him last month and offered them day-to-day operation of the station. He will
still own the station and will provide the expertise to make sure the station
does not run into legal or political snags. However, the entire programming is
to be in Adventist hands to advance the mission of the church.
Entered
David Gates gamas@solutions2000.net
July 3, 1999
SDAs pioneering home schooling on internet
The world's first online virtual school for home school students is to be
run by Seventh-day Adventists.
Central Connecticut Adventist Virtual School
in South Windsor, Connecticut will begin classes in early September. The
school will offer
an accredited virtual curriculum for grades 3-12.
Its curriculum is Christian-based,
but parents anywhere in the world are invited to enroll their children,
regardless of religious affiliation. Enrollment can
be completed over the Internet at
www.adventist-home-school.com.
The school is accredited by the
Southern New England Adventist School District and will therefore be
able to provide transcripts and grant diplomas. All faculty members are
fully certified teachers with advanced degrees. According to founder Hans
Groschel, the school will offer classes in a number of subjects, including
art, Bible, handwriting, health and science, language, math, reading, social
studies and spelling. Music will be integrated into the curriculum within a
few months.
Entered
July 3, 1999
Adventist killed in Kosovo
The Kosovo Liberation Army killed an Adventist woman last Sunday.
Mrs Mileva Vujosevic, 65, was knifed to death on the doorstep of her home
in Pec, Kosovo. Her husband was not there to protect her because he was
staying at the Adventist Church to protect the building. Mrs Vujosevic
has three children. One is an Adventist minister.
She was buried by the Orthodox bishop on Monday afternoon --
an unprecedented act by the Orthodox Church.
Mileva became an Adventist at the age of 15 and was a committed
member, working as a literature evangelist selling books and distributing
numerous Voice of Prophecy cards.
"I am shocked by this barbaric act on an innocent woman," says
Radisa Antic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia.
"We, as Adventists, condemn any atrocities committed by any individual in
Kosovo - either by Serbs or Albanians."
Entered
July 3, 1999
Adventists help cyclone victims
The Adventist Church is responding in a major way to help victims of a
cyclone which hit the southern areas of Pakistan.
"We have been given islands off the main land where the government
has not gone to help," reports Gail Schatzschneider from Karachi
Adventist Hospital. "The people there are humble,
illiterate fisher folk that live on large sandbars in straw huts. During
the terrible storm these little huts were washed away with many
people also," she says.
Hospital workers have delivered about two tons of food
to the area.
Two doctors and six nurses
spent two days seeing patients on eight to ten islands.
"Our medical team appreciated this opportunity to help the people
and they all want to return again," continues Schatzschneider. "The four
women nurses are young, but they loved the adventure, even though it
meant
they had to wade through water again and again to carry medicines to the
island. The children and adults all smoke and chew betel nuts."
Entered
July 3, 1999
Link to university
An Adventist Church university will provide distance education programs for
a major secular university in South Africa. The Adventist-owned
Griggs University has signed a formal agreement
with the University of South Africa in Pretoria, to offer
a variety of academic degree programs by distance
education.
In some subjects up to 50% of the
total curriculum may be presented by Griggs University utilizing Adventist
course materials and faculty. The degrees conferred on successful
candidates will be presented jointly. Subjects offered are in Arts,
Business and Theology.
The University of South Africa is the oldest university in South
Africa.
Entered
July 3, 1999
ADRA takes lead in Pristina
The United Nations this week
requested ADRA to
take the lead in providing community service activities to all of Pristina
and neighboring regions as thousands of Kosovar refugees return to their
homes.
As soon as the city was secured by NATO forces, ADRA’s team
opened its Pristina headquarters and began its relief work. It is operating
as a reception and referral center for meeting the immediate needs of
the Kosovars in Pristina and the surrounding region.
ADRA will arrange hot soup and bread for people
requiring an immediate meal, plus food packages with one week rations.
It will provide counselors for traumatized or distressed people, and medical personnel
for initial examinations and first-aid needs. It will set up
a day-care facility to
occupy children while parents try to rebuild their lives.
ADRA will also be
arranging temporary housing, rehabilitating poisoned water systems,
providing food-for-work programs, reestablishing educational
systems, and reconstructing destroyed homes as thousands of
Kosovars return to their war-ravaged homes.
Entered
July 3, 1999
Working for Serbian refugees
After months of working for Albanian refugees from Kosovo, ADRA is now trying
to meet the needs of 100,000 Serbian refugees. They are
being cared for in the Serbian cities of Kraljevo, Kragujevac, Cacak,
Aleksinac and Cuprija. On Wednesday (June 30) Miodrag Zivanovic, ADRA
director for Yugoslavia, was invited to take part in a live television
broadcast in Belgrade about providing help for Serbian refugees.
He told how ADRA is running
three Soup Kitchens and distributing
food parcels to the refugees on the road.
Entered
July 3, 1999
SDA website in national competition
An Adventist website has been nominated as a finalist in a competition to
find Australia's most popular website. The competition is is sponsored by
"The Australian Financial Review" (the Australian equivalent of the "Wall
Street Journal") and Testra (the equivalent of AT&T). The
Adventpress.com website has been nominated in the Special Interest
category. Votes for the site can be lodged at
the 1999 Australian Internet Awards page:
http://www.webawards.com.au.
Voting closes on Friday, August 6.
"We consider this nomination a blessing and a recognition for our promotion
of Christian values over the Internet," says Pastor Thomas (Tihomir)
Kukolja.
Entered
July 2, 1999
Court upholds not working on Sabbath
The United States Court of Appeals has held that an employer with a seniority
system must accommodate an employee's religious observance of the
Sabbath. The case (Balint v. Carson City, Nevada) involved a Seventh-day
Adventist woman who started work at a jail and requested a roster that gave
her Sabbath off duty. A lower court ruled that the jail did not need to
provide a Sabbath-free roster because it had a seniority system. However,
the Appeals court has overturned the lower court's decision.
Entered
June 28, 1999
Opportunity to help Afghanistan
Loma Linda University will help rebuild the Kabul University Medical School
program following a civil war in Afghanistan. The Taliban government
has invited Loma Linda to establish a Loma Linda University medical
resource center in Kabul.
"Adventists have never had the opportunity to respond to the needs in
Afghanistan," says Global Mission director Mike Ryan. "So it's an honor and
privilege for us to receive this invitation from the government to provide
humanitarian help."
Entered
June 28, 1999
Adventist email in Italian
The Italian Adventist Church has started its own email discussion area for
Adventist in the Italian language, reports
the Italian Union's
communication's director
Vincenzo Annunziata. Details are on the Italian Church's website at
www.avventisti.org/mailing.
Entered
June 28, 1999
Adventist university "illegal"
An article in "The Nation" in Nairobi suggests that a new Adventist
university-level college is illegal. The articles says that
"Confusion reigned at
Kamagambo University College following a
disclosure that it is not
recognised by the Higher Education Commission. At the
same time, parents with
students taking degree courses there accused the
Ministry of Education of taking
too long to clear the air over the status of the institution.
In a public notice carried in
the local dailies last Monday and signed by the
commission secretary Justin
Irina, the newly established college has no
authority to offer any degree course.
The notice read in part: `This
is to inform the public that Kamagambo Adventist
College does not have any
authority to offer university level education either on its
own or in conjunction with any
institution.'
The college admitted its first
batch of 92 students three years ago for a four-year degree course."
Entered
June 28, 1999
Church neutral in Solomons
The Adventist Church has declared itself neutral in the ethnic tensions
in the Solomon Islands -- where one in ten people is a Seventh-day Adventist.
"As a church,
we urge all members to be law abiding citizens and not get involved in taking
sides in racially or politically-motivated conflicts," says the church
president Neil Watts. He says he
understands how some people may feel when they are seen as potential
enemies. "I wish to remind people, however, that the true test of their
Christianity is in being able to follow the teaching of Jesus who told us to
love our enemies and even do good to them."
Entered
June 28, 1999
Genetic engineering warning
A senior administrator of the Adventist health system has expressed
concern about genetically-modified foods.
Dr DeWitt Williams, health director for the Seventh-day Adventist
Church in North America, noted that the church itself has not yet taken an
official stance on this subject. But he told a recent conference that the
church has a firm stand on safeguarding ecological balance as part of God's
creation. Already, genetically-modified food is having unexpected results,
he said. A recent case is a version of corn genetically-modified to resist
insect attack -- it accidentally killed monarch butterflies.
Sanitarium Health Food Company, the church's largest health food company and
one of Australia's largest user of soya beans does not use genetically-modified
soya beans.
Entered
June 28, 1999
Won National Geographic award
Young Seventh-day Adventist David Biehl is this
year's winner of the National Geographic competition. The contest, focusing
on geography knowledge, is run annually by America's National
Geographic journal and is organized through local competitions to state level.
David, state champion for South Carolina, won the national championship,
successfully answering the final question: "What is the Spanish name for the
condition characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in the
equatorial region of the eastern Pacific Ocean?" His answer, "La Nina,"
brought victory to this eighth-grade home school student.
Entered
June 28, 1999
$thousands raised for hospital
By organising a club with special activities,
Glendale Adventist Medical Center has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars,
reports the
.
People who donate $100 or more a year to the hospital can join the "Oak Society"
and receive invitations to medical forums, subscriptions to medical center
publications, and other benefits. So not only does the concept raise money, it
gives the hospital further opportunities to spread its health message.
Entered
June 20, 1999
Former bishop an active witness
A former bishop who joined the SDA Church two weeks ago is already
influencing people in high places about his new-found beliefs. Bishop
David Hill has sent books about the Sabbath to both the president and
prime minister of British Guyana, whom he knows personally.
Both the president and
the prime minister reacted favorably. They asked him to come to Guyana to
share the truth about the Sabbath to religious leaders in that country. All
members of the Council of Churches will be invited to the special meeting.
Last Sunday, Bishop Hill had five other
bishops of the Church of the Living God met to discuss Seventh-day
Adventist beliefs at the New Jersey Conference office. Similar
Bible study sessions will continue in coming months.
Entered
June 19, 1999
12 ministers accept Sabbath
Twelve ministers of other faiths have accepted the Sabbath from reading
Dr Samuelle Bacchiocci's new book "The Sabbath under Crossfire."
The book was released only four months ago.
Entered
June 19, 1999
Philadelphia may get SDA mayor
The city of Philadelpia may get a Seventh-day Adventist as mayor in the
November elections. Adventist John Street won the primary
election for mayor of Philadelphia. Street is a Democrat, but since no Republican
has won Philadelphia's general election in recent years, he is expected to win the
general election in November. Street has served as president of the City Council
for several years.
Entered
Monday Fax
June 19, 1999
AP runs witch story
More than a month after this news service ran the story of an Adventist army
chaplin supervising a witches coven, Associated Press has run the story. AP
says that
Lt. Col. Donald Troyer, the chaplain assigned as a liaison to the
witches and to ensure the group complies with regulations,
has championed the group's right to exist. Associated Press quotes him as
saying, "we're responding to the
First Amendment ... and we're glad to do it."
Entered
June 19, 1999
ADRA going inside Kosovo
An Adventist from Ghana has been appointed to head up ADRA's work inside
Kosovo following NATO's move into the war-torn province. Fred Kumah
has been the leader of ADRA in Kenya, but has been on loan in Albania for the
last month. Paul and Michelle Crawford from Australia will also move into
Kosovo. They have moved to the
Kosovo border to prepare the way for ADRA's physical presence inside Kosovo.
ADRA expects to be a key player in food distribution to refugees
returning to Kosovo. It plans to set up food and water distribution points
on roads refugees will travel when returning to their homes.
It also expects to be involved in health and rebuilding programs.
Entered
June 17, 1999
Chinese church's independence
A press release from ANN suggests the Chinese Seventh-day Adventist Church
will now operated independently of the world church. Adventist Church
leaders formalised the move at a meeting with world president Jan Paulsen
in Hong Kong on June 13. The meeting voted that the Chinese SDA Church
"will operate and govern their own church affairs in full
sovereignty, while always mindful of their spiritual and fraternal links to the
world-wide sisterhood of Seventh-day Adventist
Churches."
Until now, Seventh-day Adventists in China have operated with the
"Three Self Movement," the officially recognised Christian movement in
China. The new Adventist structure is designed to have the church in Hong
Kong and China operate together.
"Our Church in China will no doubt continue to reflect
its Chinese identity, and be sensitive to its own culture and the needs of
society," says an official statement from the Chinese leadership meeting.
Entered
June 17, 1999
Website defending sacked pastor
A website has been set up to champion the cause of an Adventist minister
sacked at Pacific Union College Church. The sacking, according to supporters,
was not because of the pastor's actions, but because of his wife's actions.
Northern California Conference suggests that the wife's actions reduced the
pastor's effeciveness at PUC Church. The Conference says it offered the pastor
two other pastoral positions. "He chose not to accept either even
though the second assignment did not necessitate a change of residence,"
a conference statement says. Legal action is pending.
Entered
June 17, 1999
Court rejects college's case
A ruling of the US Supreme Court will allow an investigation of the
religious practices of the Adventist owned Columbia Union College.
The College wants government financial aid, which is not available if it
is "pervasively sectarian." Three Catholic colleges receive this funding,
which must be used for non-religious purposes. However, the current
official policy is that religion pervades the entire program at Columbia
Union College (even subjects like mathematics and computer science). Therefore,
it is impossible for the College to use such funds for non-religious purposes
because there are no non-religious purposes on the campus. Columbia Union
College lost the argument in court that it was unnecessary to investigate the
spiritual life of the college to decide that it had activities
non-religious activities for which the funds could be used.
(The court case is Columbia Union College vs. Clark, 98-1509)
Entered
June 15, 1999
High-Tech Temple
Under the heading "High-Tech Temple," the Washington Post has reported the
internet ministry of Adventist minister Tony "The Tiger" Mavrakos. It tells
how this SDA evangelist has developed a world-wide evangelism ministry
on the internet.
"he Internet is God's way of picking the church up," it reports him as saying.
"We have to come to grips with the fact that we are in an
information age.
If you don't think that this is a medium for us, the devil does.
Let's look at Christ in cyberspace."
Pastor Mavrokos' website is
www.rtm.org. The article about his ministry is on line at
the Washington Post website.
Entered
June 13, 1999
Adventists on shortwave
Advent Christian Ministries has begun broadcasting an Adventist radio program
on short-wave. The program is called "Forever with God" and is broadcast on
frequency 13760 every Saturday at 1:16pm USA Eastern Standard Time. It
currently broadcasts into
North America and Europe with plans to expand globally (South America,
Africa, Asia and Australia). Advent Christian Ministries is a
support ministry which produces Christian television, radio, CDs and videos.
It is currently negotiating with Adventist World Radio to broadcast programs
worldwide on AM and FM radio. ACM can be contacted at acmmail@juno.com
Entered
Joel Laswell ToB1NJC@aol.com
June 13, 1999
30 bishops meeting about the Sabbath
About 30 bishops interested in joining the Seventh-day Adventist Church will
meet at the New Jersey Conference Office this Sunday. The meeting will be
presided over by Columbia Union president Pastor Lee. The bishops are members
of the Church of the Living God denomination. Their interest was aroused by
former Bishop David Hill, who joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church last
Sabbath. Bishop Hill supplied 40 of his fellow bishops with copies of a
book about the Sabbath by Adventist lecturer Dr
Samuele Bacchiocchi.
Dr Bacchiocchi has requested prayer for the meeting.
Another, larger meeting for leaders of that denomination will be
held in September.
Entered
from email by Sam Bacchiocchi
June 12, 1999
Hoax document about Adventists
A document claiming to outline how the Vatican will evangelise Seventh-day
Adventists is a hoax, says the Monday Fax news service.
"The document may be part of a campaign to
discredit the Adventist Church, especially in Inter-America where we have seen many Roman
Catholic members join the Seventh-day Adventist Church," says Monday Fax.
Entered
Monday Fax June 12, 1999
Surprising response to Apocalypse CD
The British Union Conference has prepared a 1000-slide powerpoint series on
the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. It is available on CD for $US55 (34
pounds Sterling).
"We were taken by surprise by the level of interest there was in the
package," says British Union PR guru John Surridge.
"The
programme is contained
on one CD-Rom and is designed to be presented by one speaker (minister
or lay evangelist), using a computer and a video projector. The
CD-Rom contains seven full programmes, giving
full scripts, quizzes, and instructions on how you can present the
programme in your church or community," he says. To run the programme you will
need a good computer with Microsoft Word 6.0 or better.
Payment must be made by check, made out to "British Union Conference"
and sent to Seven Churches CD, BUC Office, Stanborough Park,
WATFORD, Herts, WD2 6JP United Kingdom.
Entered
June 12, 1999
Bible studies for Jews
An Adventist Bible study series is now available to share with people
with a Jewish background.
Jewish Heritage Scripture Studies
contains 15 lessons that present the
gospel from the Hebrew Scriptures. Adventists have an advantage over other
Christians when trying to reach Jews -- because many Jews find it difficult to
accept Sunday worship.
Jewish Heritage ministers under the
auspices of the North American Division. For more information email
Jewishheritage@Juno.com.
Entered
Plusline June 12, 1999
Lesson promotion on line
Sabbath school lesson promotional ideas for next quarter are now on line at
Plusline's ideas bank.
There are separate promotions for each week of the quarter. They are designed
to run in church bulletins to increase daily study, although they could also
be the basis for a promotion from the rostrum.
Entered
Plusline June 12, 1999
Four new EG White CDs
Four new Ellen G White CDs are arriving now at Adventist Book Centers.
The first of the new CDs contains almost all Ellen White's currently available
books and costs only $US60. As well as 77 Ellen White books, the CD contains
a search program to find any word or phrase. You can print, export, or
cut and paste selected text. The CD runs on Windows 3.1 or greater. A second
new CD contains twice as much material, including out-of-print books,
periodical articles, pamphlets, and manuscript releases. It costs $US160.
The third CD contains the 77 currently-available books, plus interactive
multimedia material. It costs $US100. A research edition of this CD costs
$US200. More information is available from
www.WhiteEstate.org/order.html
Entered
June 11, 1999
Severe shortage of churches
The Solomon Islands are facing a severe shortage of Adventist Church buildings.
If the capital city, Honiara, had six new church buildings they would be
immediately filled. Because of the overcrowding people are starting to not
attend church rather than stand outside trying to listen to meetings.
Entered
Record June 11, 1999
Big growth in South Pacific
Latest figures show the South Pacific Division last year had the second greatest
growth in its history. The previous best was in 1989.
Entered
Record June 11, 1999
ADRA signs up singer
ADRA has signed up a singer as an American national spokesperson.
Steve Darmody will represent ADRA in performances in the US and elsewhere
in the world.
"ADRA is looking forward to this new relationship with Steve as he
has many devoted listeners throughout the world," says ADRA's
Tereza Byrne. "His representation of ADRA is
guaranteed to better spread ADRA’s mission to untouched venues worldwide."
Entered
June 11, 1999
Pastor's trek through Kosovo
Dijana Daka, a female pastor working for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kosovo, was forced to flee the violence
and find safety in Albania, as reported in the ANN Bulletin of May 25. Now
she can begin to tell her story.
"Personally, I didn't plan on leaving Kosovo," Daka said in a phone
interview. "I wanted to stay and help my people.
However, the bombings and shootings became really bad. Many dead
bodies lay in the streets and every so often they would be moved out and
buried. It was during this time that I was told by Serbian troops to leave."
Daka, along with other people, some of whom were her friends, left Kosovo
and headed towards Albania on a bus May 3. She chose not to use her own
car because of the trouble she might have encountered as a woman. Instead
she with her companions were escorted by a Serbian army troop.The travel
went well until they reached Macedonia. To their dismay the border was
closed. "I wondered how God would provide when our escape route was
blocked," says Daka.
"Macedonia's border was at one point open for refugees to enter," explains
Caleb Bru, president of the Adventist Church in Albania. "However,
The wave of refugees led to the Macedonians becoming concerned that the
numbers would destabilize their country, so they had closed their
border.
"I prayed, knowing that God would help us," reports Daka. "Moments later
we changed direction and made our way to Kukes and used it as an
alternate route. Our journey was once again halted when, ten kilometers
from Burrel, the troops asked each person for money."
In comparison to others Daka was treated with respect.
Most of the troops are Orthodox and respect Christians. They noticed she
was carrying her Bible and asked whether she was a Christian. She was still
forced to give them money so she gave them some of the money she had
stowed away with her things. This was not the end to the troop's demand for
money because further down the road more money was solicited.
"I gave them what I had," says Daka. "If I didn't we would have been
beaten."
Daka is continuing her ministry in Albania. She meets with members in
Elbasan for Bible studies. She is presently staying in the Global House, which
is owned by the Church and also used for worship seminars. Once the
current crisis is over, Daka says she plans on moving back to Kosovo and
continuing her pastoral work there.
Entered
ANN June 9, 1999
Bishop joins Adventist Church
Bishop David Hill, formerly a bishop of the Church of the Living God,
joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church last Sabbath.
Bishop Hill from New Jersey attended his first Seventh-day Adventist
service on May 21-22. It was a Sabbath enrichment service taken by Andrews
University's Dr Samuelle Bacchiocci.
"In January 1997, a member of his congregation asked Pastor Hill
if he could explain to her the Biblical reasons for
observing Sunday," reports Dr Bacchiocchi.
"He replied that he would preach a sermon on that very
subject the following Sunday.
During the rest of the week Pastor Hill spend considerable time
re-examining the first day New Testament texts commonly used to support
Sundaykeeping. To his surprise he discovered that they have no probative
value for Sundaykeeping. When he stood up to preach the following Sunday,
he told his congregation that he needed more time to study the Biblical
basis for Sundaykeeping before he could preach a sermon on that subject.
For the next three months Pastor Hill contacted various libraries
and bookstores, inquirying about books dealing with the change from
Saturday to Sunday in early Christianity. One of the bookstore that he
called was the Adventist Book Center in New York. Mr. Reid, a sales person
at the New York ABC, was most helpful. He reassured Pastor Hill that he had
just the book that he was looking for and he would mail it to him
immediately free of charge.
The book was my dissertation FROM SABBATH TO SUNDAY, where I
investigate the rise of Sunday observance in early Christianity," says
Dr Bacchiocci.
"That book set my soul on fire," says Bishop Hill.
"I carried it in my brief case every where I
went and used it to share my new found conviction about the validity of the
Sabbath with every person I met."
After three months of diligent Bible study, in March 1997 Pastor
Hill did finally preach the sermon on the Biblical basis for Sundaykeeping.
But to the surprise of his congregation he publicly admitted that after
diligent study of the Biblical and historical data, he had come to the
conclusion that Sundaykeeping has no Biblical origin or justification. He
urged his congregation to follow him in returning to the Biblical principle
and practice of Sabbathkeeping. Most of his members did accept the Sabbath
and consequently they moved their church services from Sunday to Saturday.
Entered
Samuelle Bacchiocci
June 9, 1999
Court rejects religious liberty plea
The European Court of Human Rights has rejected a case by Adventist children
in Luxemburg to not attend school on Sabbath. The court ruled that the demands
of State education are higher than religious liberty.
Entered
June 9, 1999
2000 join church in Congo
Despite civil war in the Congo, 2000 people have joined the Adventist Church
so far this year.
"Of course the war is severely disrupting what we do," says Jean Emmanuel
Nlo Nlo, communication director for Adventist Church in the region.
Seminars by satellite have continued, including ACTS 2000, though the use
of such high technology equipment attracts suspicion from the warring
factions.
Entered
ANN June 9, 1999
Chaplin's religious liberty role
As champions of religious liberty, Seventh-day Adventists support people's
rights to have incorrect religious beliefs, says
Richard Stenbakken, the director of the North American Adventist Chaplaincy
Ministries. This is why Adventist Army chaplin Don Troyer provides
support for a spiritism religious group.
"Don Troyer is a Seventh-day Adventist ordained minister and he is endorsed
by Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries as a chaplain in the United States Army,"
says Stenbakken.
"One
of his duties at Ft. Hood is to "sponsor" four distinctive faith
groups who do not have chaplains of their own to assist their worship
needs. These groups are Mormons, Lutheran, Samoan language
group and a Wicca group.
As their "sponsor" he is tasked by military regulations to work with the
lay leaders of these groups so that the lay leader may help the individuals
in the groups meet their stated worship needs. This does not mean that
Chaplain Troyer is conducting or condoning any of these services.
As an example, if the Samoan group needs to have a particular hymnal or
Samoan literature, they would contact Chaplain Troyer and he would
facilitate the government support of this religious need.
Thus a chaplain "sponsor" does not promote nor believe the theologies of
these groups, but protects their right to worship according to
their needs and their conscience.
While it is an awkward situation, it is one that is nonetheless mandated by
military and civil authority as well as Christian conscience and ethics,"
says Stenbakken.
Entered
June 9, 1999
GC gets 1000 visits a day
The General Conference website is currently getting 1000 individual visits
per day, show figures released by Adventist News Network. The website,
www.adventist.org
is
being upgraded to include search features so users can find specific stories,
features, or news items. The sunset calculator which allows you to calculate
sunset times at any specific place in the world is one of the website's
biggest attractions.
Entered
ANN June 9, 1999
Adventists in "model camp"
The United Nations is setting up a "model camp" near Fier in Albania for
20,000 Kosovo refugees -- and ADRA will play a key role. CARE will
administer the camp. MERLIN will look after health needs. And ADRA will
supply the meals.
"When one considers the many NGOs which are operating in the
country right now, it is an honour for our organisation to be a major
participant," says Sean Robinson, director for ADRA/Albania.
Entered
June 5, 1999
58 tonnes inside Yugoslavia
ADRA in Romania and the Czech Republic last week
sent 58 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including food, hygienic
supplies, candles, tea, potatoes, pasta and toys into Yugoslavia.
Says Miodrag Zivanovic, spokesperson for the Seventh-day Adventist
Church in Yugoslavia, "We are now doing our utmost to distribute these
items to those with the greatest needs."
Entered
ANR June 5, 1999
Problem for 1000 SDA students
Romania’s Ministry of National Education is
denying religious freedom to students who cannot take an exam scheduled
for June 5, Sabbath for Seventh-day Adventists and those of the Jewish
faith.
According to Viorel Dima, General Secretary of the country’s National
Association for Religious Liberty, the Education Ministry is opposed to any
suggestion which would allow students to take the “Capacity Examination”
on any other day. The exam is vitally important, as it is a prerequisite for
entrance in any high school or vocational school.
“We observe that the Ministry of National Education remains inflexible in its
position, in spite of official recommendations coming from the State
Secretariat for Religious Affairs, the Romanian Presidency, the Romanian
Senate Commission for Education, the President of the Romanian Senate and
the President of Romania,” comments Dima.
Some 1000 Adventists are affected, and the Church has been trying to
arrange for the exam to be re-scheduled in September. The Ministry of
National Education, in its latest letter, refuses any change in the date, saying
that “due to the fact that the Capacity Examination is a national examination,
to change now the examination days for a certain category of students would
disturb it and would create suspicions... To observe all the religious festivals
when scheduling the exams would create serious perturbations of the
system.”
Entered
ANN June 5, 1999
Russians block evangelism
Opposition from the Orthodox Church has prevented
Seventh-day Adventists from continuing an outreach program
in the ancient Russian city of Kolomna, near Moscow.
According to Adventist church officials, the administration of the city, under
pressure from Orthodox Church representatives, first changed the venues for
the meetings and then banned them altogether. Newspaper articles and flyers
warned against attending the meetings, and the venues were picketed. The
meetings, presented by Olga Murga under the title of “The family at the
beginning of a new century,” were designed to help citizens deal with the
challenges of modern life.
Entered
ANN June 5, 1999
What I heard is true
Radisa Antic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in
Yugoslavia, tells a story of a man, dressed in a smart suit, who recently
attended a Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia, as a direct
consequence of the war. Having been a visitor at an evangelistic meeting
some thirty years previously, this man decided to become a baptised member
of the Church.
"Even at that time I was convinced that this church has the truth,
but I didn't have enough courage to make a commitment and be baptised," he
said, "but now I'm ready."
Marija Trajkovska, spokesperson for ADRA/Macedonia, shares the
experiences of two Serbian refugee families from her latest visit to a camp
in Macedonia. Firstly, Irena, from Nis in southern Serbia, came to the
camp with her small child. Pregnant, but with her husband having to stay
in Serbia, Irena, through her tears, says, "I have no friends or relatives
here. I am close to my delivery time and am left with only 50 Deutsche
Marks in my pocket. I am thankful to ADRA for support me with food and
hygienic supplies. My mother-in-law attends the Seventh-day Adventist
Church in Nis. Now I know the things I heard about your church are true."
Entered
ANR June 5, 1999
Global Mission video wins award
An Adventist video has won the award for the best editing in the
International Television Association's Golden Reel Awards. The Video
“For the Heart of the Need”
features the mission work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
and encourages support for the ongoing program.
“What’s important,” says David Brillhart, director and editor of the video, “is
that the courageous work of the men and women committed to Global
Mission be recognized. There couldn’t be a fantastic video without a
fantastic vision for God's work.” Formerly with the Church’s communication
department, Brillhart is president of the Digital Learning Corporation, a media
production company specializing in programs that touch people’s lives.
Brillhart also produces and directs the weekly broadcast “ADRA’s World”
for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International.
The video was scripted by Gary Krause, communication director for Global
Mission, and is a fast-paced account of the great needs in many of the
populous countries of the world.
“Our goal,” said Krause, “is to show the need for creative approaches to
sharing the gospel in a very specific region between 10 degrees north and 40
degrees south of the equator.” This is the region of the world most densely
packed with non-Christian populations.
Entered
ANN June 5, 1999
17 Adventist buildings bombed
More Adventist homes have been destroyed by NATO bombs in Yugoslavia. This
now makes 15 homes of Adventists damaged or destroyed by bombs. Two Adventist
Church buildings have also been hit.
Entered
June 2, 1999
ADRA builds another refugee camp
Another refugee camp has just been completed in Albania built by ADRA staff from
the Czech Republic. The camp will house up to 2000 Kosovo refugees. It is
near Durrds, Albania.
Entered
June 2, 1999
ADRA helps Serb refugees
ADRA has become the first aid agency to help Serbian refugees in Macedonia.
Until now, virtually all the focus has been on ethnic Albanians fleeing from
Kosovo. Serbs also fleeing from there were not receiving any care. They
are not officially recognised
as refugees, they cannot receive work permits, and they do not receive any of the aid
freely given to Albanian refugees.
Entered
June 2, 1999
Help for Novi Sad
The Yugoslav Adventist Church started a soup kitchen at Novi Sad today,
one of the most frequently bombed cities in the Yugoslav war. The kitchen
will supply 150 hot meals to the city's most needy people. People in the
cities are the worst effected by the war because many now have no jobs and
unlike the farmers in the countryside, they cannot grow their own food.
The Novi Sad kitchen is at the Adventist Church and will supply the meals
seven days a week.
Entered
June 1, 1999
Sunday church starts keeping Sabbath
A Sunday-keeping church has started keeping the Sabbath following an evangelistic
campaign by It Is Written evangelist Leo Schreven.
Moses Smith, the pastor of the Living Church of God in Newark New Jersey,
attended the evangelistic campaign. He accepted the Sabbath and took a
series of Sunday sermons at his church outlining, among other things, the
seventh-day Sabbath.
The vast majority of his congregation accepted it and on
Sabbath May 12 his church became a Sabbath keeping church. "Pastor
Smith is now continuing to preach the Remnant message and it's distinct
truths," says Leo Schreven. "We
believe that in a few months it will be an SDA church. The
local conference is working closely with pastor Smith in this transition.
Please keep it in your prayers," he says.
A New Jersey bishop from the Living Church of God is also convicted
about the Sabbath. He took his stand and has lost nearly everything.
He and world leaders from the Living Church of God will meet Adventist
leaders in New Jersey this month to discuss the Sabbath issue.
Entered
June 1, 1999
Preparing for Congo refugees
ADRA
has established a new transit refugee camp in Chienge,
Zambia, to help prepare for up
to 100,000 refugees from the Congo
who are expected to cross the border into Zambia soon.
"Last week, sounds of explosions could be heard from across the
Congo border, so it appears the fighting is nearing the town of Pweto,"
says Ron Ringrose, ADRA Zambia director. "Zambia is expecting
and preparing for an influx of 50,000 to 100,000 refugees when the
town is attacked," he says.
Entered
June 1, 1999
Improving food for Kosovo refugees
ADRA continues to be the World
Food Programme’s largest implementing partner in food
distribution to Kosovo refugees in Albania.
ADRA is currently assisting 100,000 of the 400,000 refugees in the
country.
ADRA Albania is distributing food to all of the refugees
in the prefectures of Fier, Vlord, Berat, and
Gjirokastdr, equal to the entire southwest of Albania. It is also
providing assistance for one-third
of the refugees in three Kukds area camps.
Because reports indicate a recent increase in military activity around
the Albanian border, the refugees will most likely be
moved out of Kukds. As a result, by the end of June, ADRA suspects
that there could be as many as 100,000 refugees in its four southern
camps.
Entered
June 1, 1999
Better food for refugees
ADRA has improved the food for Kosovo refugees in Albania.
Daily food rations provided by ADRA at the Kukds camps include
one hot meal, fresh loaves of bread, fresh produce and items such as
oil, beans, sugar and salt. The hot meals, funded by CARE, consist of
a rotating menu of three main dishes. There are two types of thick stew
(goulash) and pasta. The hot meals are prepared by 30 volunteer
cooks, and are now being supervised by two professional Kosovar chefs.
"Before ADRA took over the camp recently and hired the Kosovar
chefs, it is estimated that only one in three refugees would eat the hot
meal, since it was not prepared to their liking," says Catherine
Robinson, ADRA Albania public relations officer. "Now, the amount
of those eating the hot meals has increased to almost 100 percent."
Entered
ADRA June 1, 1999
New Andrews website design
The long-awaited redesign of the Andrews
University Web site has been unveiled.
While the redesigned Web site offers some new features, the
change is primarily a design make over, says Jerry Burr, who was hired
as web coordinator last October. After nearly
four years without a significant Web design change, there was a
growing campus sentiment calling for a change.
He says the new format gives a more
user-friendly interface that will be of particular help for
prospective students.
Among the web site's new features are a news and events
system that allows for posting of information by any student,
staff or faculty member. The system, which was designed by
students Chris Wilson and Hans Habenicht, will operate as a
campus "clearing house," providing Web users with an exhaustive
and up-to-date list of campus activities.
Entered
June 1, 1999
Adventist news for Brazil
A new Adventist news service has gone on line in Brazil in the Portugese
language. The news is at
www.advir.com/news. Its news is prepared from other Adventist news services,
including adventist.fm news, says webmaster
Carlos Magalhpes. It has a strong emphasis on South American news.
Entered
June 1, 1999
Prayer meetings every night
With no fuel for automobiles, Seventh-day
Adventist pastors in the Novi Sad area of Yugoslavia are turning to bicycles
to get to their members.
Some pastors are cycling up to 60 miles a day, according to reports from
Adventist Church leaders.
"Our pastors, who have had to take a 30 percent pay cut due to the
economic problems, are continuing to carry on the gospel ministry by
bicycle," reports Radisa Antic, president of the Adventist Church in
Yugoslavia. "They are keeping in contact with church members and those
interested in the church, trying to help them in this time of desperate need."
In the evening, at 5 p.m., they all stop to pray for peace, reports Radivoj
Vladisavljevic, president of the Adventist Church in northern Yugoslavia.
"God is bringing eternal good out of the terrible disaster," he says.
"Many are hearing the gospel for the first time. Our churches
have meetings every day at 5 p.m. on the theme ‘Prayers for Peace.' Each
day churches are preparing different forms of services for different
audiences. At 7 p.m. they have to be back home or the air-raid shelters for
another night of bombing, another night of uncertainty."
Entered
ANR May 27, 1999
Caring for refugees in US
Stone Tower Seventh-day Adventist Church, along
with Metanoia Peace Community of Westminster are providing shelter for 11
Kosovan refugees expected to arrive in the US soon.
The Stone Tower Church has previously assisted refugees from Asia, Russia,
and Vietnam. Therefore, when Susan Bird, coordinator of Sponsors Organized to
Assist Refugees (SOAR), gave a presentation on helping refugees from
Kosovo, the church was eager to help.
From the first group of refugees, ages two to 73 years old, to arrive in
Portland, Stone Tower Church will be responsible for a young man and his 17
year-old wife. They have also volunteered to provide furnishings, food,
personal needs, and most importantly transportation to the other refugees
that are to come.
"All the refugees that are coming at most have had an eighth grade
education," says Phil Shultz; pastor of the Stone Tower Church, "and most
of them do not speak English. The American Muslim Family Services will be
assisting particularly to the Muslim refugees that cannot speak English."
Entered
ANN May 27, 1999
Smoking efforts recognised
The United Nations office concerned with
tobacco control has specifically identified Seventh-day Adventists
as "a potentially powerful moral influence to
convey the message of healthy living without tobacco smoking."
In an article published in the May issue of U.N. Special, a journal of U.N.
issues, Raul Uranga, U.N. Focal Point on Tobacco or Health, says that he
believes religious groups can be of great benefit in helping people quit
smoking.
"After having contacted religious leaders and studied the standpoint of
several religious denominations, we concluded that, due to their strong
moral force, religions have proven to be a highly positive influence to keep
believers away from the smoking habit or to help them quit," says Uranga.
In particular, Uranga singles out Adventists as at the forefront of smoking
cessation.
"Some Christian denominations have a long anti-smoking tradition,
including Seventh-day Adventists and Mormons, whose members neither
smoke nor get involved in any tobacco-related activities. Adventists have
also developed the well known ‘Five-day Smoking Cessation Program,'
helping many smokers quit since 1960."
Entered
ANN May 27, 1999
India's drug campaigns
Thousands of youth across India mobilized
to demonstrate for a drug-free lifestyle through the month of April.
In just one march in Churachandpur, children from many schools in the
district marched through town to support the anti-drug emphasis and to
attend a rally addressed by the local Chief of Police who spoke on drug
dangers, reports Thansiama Tlau, director of health ministries for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in India.
The Walk Around the World 2000 program, of which the marches in India are
a part, is a global initiative of the Adventist Church to highlight the positive
benefits of a drug-free lifestyle, and to educate on the dangers of illicit
drug-taking.
Entered
ANN May 27, 1999
Adventists Speak Out Against "Quack
Medicine"
"We are opposed to those who
would try to exploit our membership through ‘quack medicine,' using
products and concepts which are at best non-proven," said Dr. DeWitt
Williams, health ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in
North America.
Williams says that the Church needed to take
action "to prevent the exploitation of members by unscrupulous
practitioners of unproven techniques that claimed medical benefits."
He explained that church members had the right to expect that presentations
and programs held on church properties had been sanctioned by the relevant
church administration.
"Pastors and members need to be assured that those coming to present
programs relative to health benefits are rightly representing church
perspectives on health," said Williams. "Whatever ‘quack medicine' may be
popular at the moment should not be presented in our churches or endorsed
by them."
A number of Adventist Church organizations will be addressing the situation
and making recommendations, which may include credentialing of speakers,
Williams reported.
Entered
ANN May 27, 1999
New standard in health journals
A new standard has been set in Adventist health journals. The Australian
Church has just published the first edition of "Zest," a monthly health
newsletter which is receiving high praise. It's incredibly easy to read, with
the average length of articles being only 100 words. "This is the kind of
material we would like to
have available for our churches worldwide," says an American-based GC
Health director in
SQ Aussie News. Much of the material in Zest is
available on adventist.fm in its health section.
Entered
May 24, 1999
10,000 hits a week
Avondale College's reconstructed website is having great success. It now
receives about 10,000 hits a week, according to an article in The Record.
Avondale is the Adventist university level college serving Australia and New
Zealand. The site is at
www.avondale.edu.au.
Entered
May 24, 1999
Using Olympics for evangelism
Adventists in Sydney, Australia are gearing up to use next year's Olympic
Games in their city as an evangelism opportunity. Greater Sydney Conference
is training young people in how to use the Games for outreach.
Other ways Sydney Adventists are gearing up for
the Olympics are:
Entered
May 24, 1999
On Fox Family channel
Breath of Life announces its debut on the Fox Family
Channel, Sunday mornings, reports PlusLine news.
It's on at 6:00 a.m. ET and PT, and 5:00 a.m. CT
and MT. Fox Family Channel covers 95 percent of U.S. cable stations.
That's 73,909,000 households.
Entered
Plusline May 23, 1999
Video on funerals
An Adventist undertaker is offering valuable information via video
for people making funeral arrangements. It costs US$21.90 and can be ordered
in the US from (800) 584-4447, reports PlusLine News.
Total cost of this video is $16.95
plus $4.95 shipping & handling.
Further details are at
www.slayter.com
Entered
Plusline May 23, 1999
Conference for Adventist librarians
The Association of SDA Librarians will hold its 19th annual
conference in Montemorelos, Mexico, June 20-23. This is the association's first
bilingual conference, and the second outside North America. The
conference theme is Cooperation Among SDA
Libraries. For registration information, visit the association's web site at:
www.asdal.org.
Entered
Plusline May 23, 1999
No more clothes for Kosovo
Because of the massive response to the Kosovo crisis, ADRA no longer needs
clothes of any kind, says Doug Sinclair of ADRA-UK. In fact, there are now
restrictions on a wide range of normal humanitarian aid.
"Because of Mafia activity a
number of ordinary domestic products can no longer be classified as
Humanitarian Aid," Doug says in a report in BUC British News.
"Among these are soap powders, detergents, shampoo,
toothpaste and toys. This might seem rather strange to us in the
circumstances, but it is the official ruling to which we must comply.
The real needs at the moment are
for the feeding programme. Baby foods and baby milk but it must have at
least a six month shelf life, preferably one year," he says.
Entered
May 22, 1999
Giving up sweets for Kosovo
Children at a British Adventist school have given up sweets to help the
children of Kosovo.
Headmistress Pat Eastwood says the children were upset after
seeing TV images of refugee children. They wanted to do
something to help. "They collected ten carrier bags of sweets of every shape
and taste in just a week. They did very well and it will be a happy surprise
for the Kosovar children." The sweets will be transported with other goods
by ADRA-UK.
The story was carried in the local newspaper the Grantham Journal.
Entered
May 22, 1999
Youth run successful radio ads
A group of young people from Colorado Springs,
Colorado has had success with using radio for evangelism. They
ran a series of fast-paced radio ads featuring last-day events over a Christian rock
station, inviting listeners to phone in for free Amazing Facts Bible lessons. After running 10 ads a day
for one week they had received over 100 requests. Now, two months later,
20 people have passed the
"Sabbath" lesson and are expected to finish the course. One has already requested baptism. The
campaign cost only $1600.
Entered
May 22, 1999
New VOP TV series
The Voice of Prophecy has a new series of
telecasts featuring Lonnie
Melashenko. They will air on 3ABN starting in July.
Entered
May 22, 1999
Missing pastor happy to be alive
After six weeks with no official contact with the church, an Adventist woman
pastor from Kosovo today made contact with church officials in Albania. Church
officals knew she was alive because she had been seen two weeks ago in
television news
footage from Albania. However, they had heard nothing from Miss Dijana Daka
until now.
Finally today, she managed to leave the refugee group and join the Adventist
Church
members in Tirand, says a report in
ANR Europe News. She and two church members and now
staying
with Albanian Mission president, Pastor Caleb Bru and his wife. "I am
thankful to the Lord for the protection He provided during the past six
weeks of this terrifying ordeal," says Daka. "I have lost everything,
except my faith in my God. I am so happy to be alive!"
Entered
May 21, 1999
New hospital internet service
Adventist Health is expanding staff access to the Internet, says Terry
Burns, Vice President of Information Services for Adventist Health.
This week it agreed to install the "Get to it" internet service for
healthcare services at 20 hospitals. This will allow staff and physicians to
get to any significant health website with a maxium of four clicks of the mouse.
Entered
May 21, 1999
SDAs reject papal leadership
Seventh-day Adventist world leaders have spoken against this week's declaration
by an Anglican-Catholic commission that the pope be recognised as the world
head of the Christian church.
"We are keenly aware of the conclusions of this international commission
and its desire to achieve unity among the churches," says Jan Paulsen,
world president of the Adventist Church. "We reaffirm our historical position,
that spiritual authority is vested in the Bible only, and not in an
individual. We continue to maintain this conviction as a community of
Christian believers." Pastor Paulsen says the Adventist position is
in harmony with the Reformation position.
Ekkehardt Mueller, associate director of the Adventist Church's Biblical
Research Institute says that while the report is carefully drafted, its
appeal is to tradition over the Bible.
"The report strongly stresses the church and its tradition," says
Mueller. "Again and again reference is made to tradition rather than to
Scripture. So Scripture becomes almost secondary. Accepting the
principle of "the Bible and the Bible only," Adventists do not find biblical
evidence for a universal primacy associated with any human being. While
the decision of the Anglican Church may advance the ecumenical process,
Adventists cannot follow the Anglican decision without
giving up their understanding of Scripture. For
Adventists the authority of Scripture and the authority of the Bishop of
Rome are incompatible."
Click here to read comments on this issue, or
to give your opinion.
Entered
Jonathan Gallagher ANN
May 19, 1999
ADRA's work for Mitch victims
ADRA has so far coordinated the
distribution of more than US$4 million in food, water, medicine,
clothing and shelter to assist the victims of Hurricane Mitch in
Honduras. ADRA Honduras most recently delivered antibiotics
valued at nearly US$800,000 to seven hospitals throughout
Honduras.
ADRA is finishing its third month of building basic housing units for
122 families throughout Honduras who lost homes in the hurricane
last October. The total project is valued at US$272,000 and is due for
completion in February next year.
ADRA’s food and clothing distribution throughout the hard-hit areas
of the country will be finished next month. This
will free ADRA’s staff and allow them to
concentrate on the housing project.
Entered
May 18, 1999
Videos for the secular mind
Australia's Adventist Media Centre will produce a set of 13 videos designed
for the secular mind. The series will attempt to communicate Christianity
in a way that is relevant to secular people. Subjects covered in the series
include addictive behaviour, self-esteem, relationships, prejudice, violence,
global poverty, and worship of celebrities.
Entered
May 18, 1999
India's first Adventist member of parliament
India's first Adventist member of parliament says she owes a lot to her
Adventist schooling. "I have always been grateful for the Adventist education
I had early in life," says Ms Kim Gangte. "My view of politics is simple.
It is loving people, appreciating human values, honouring human rights and
serving people." The decision to enter parliament was not hers, she feels,
but God's. Before she entered, she asked God to help her make the decision.
During the election campaign she was kidnapped and detained for three hours.
When she was being released, she refused to leave. "I asked [the insurgents]
to give up their violent ways," she said. Ms Gangte, who stood for the
Communist Party of India and won her seat by a narrow margin, says Moses
is her favorite politician -- "because of his undying love for the people."
Entered
The Record and Southern Asia Tidings
May 18, 1999
NeXt Millenium on New Zealand TV
The Mainland TV Network in New Zealand will run the complete series of the
NeXt Millenium Seminars
Entered
The Record May 18, 1999
Keeper of flame with supertext
An Adventist historical video entitled "Keepers of the Flame" has now been
released with a captions for the hearing impared. The video was produced by
the Australian Adventist Media Centre and is its first video with supertext.
Entered
The Record May 18, 1999
Student leaders' conference
A conference for Adventist student leaders at public universities will be held
at the University of California, Berkeley in September next year.
"Our objectives are to create an identity for Adventist student leaders attending public
universities," says spokesperson Susan Marie Champlin. "We want to equip
leaders
with biblical leadership principles and skills, and call
upon God for a special anointing of His Holy Spirit to inspire us with holy zeal,"
she says.
For details contact Will Sutton
will@serendipite.com.
Entered
susan marie champlin sue@serendipite.com
May 18, 1999
Korean gets 50,000th hit
Adventist.fm has just crossed a milestone with its 50,000th hit. And reflecting
the international audience of the website, the 50,000th hit was from a
visitor from Korea. Kwon JohngHaeng runs a major Adventist website in Korea
which carries a Korean translation of adventist.fm news. He was checking
the news in English and found himself to be hit Number 50,000.
Entered
May 18, 1999
World's largest Christian bookshop
When the Potomac Adventist Book Center opens at its new site on October 31,
it will be the largest Christian book store in the world.
For each of the last
seven years the Potomac ABC has been listed Number One on the top 100 of
America's Christian bookshops. The ground breaking
ceremony for the new site at a major shopping area in Silver Spring
Maryland was today.
Entered
May 17, 1999
ADRA builds 59 schools
In the last ten years ADRA has build 59 primary schools in Uganda.
But it's not just schools. In May this year 300 ADRA-trained teachers
will finish their three-year course to go out into the community. ADRA has
also graduated 450 people in Uganda from school management courses. It even
runs an apprentice scheme teaching the building trade so it can build its
schools.
Each new ADRA school contains a
minimum of eight substantially built classrooms with office space and
teacher dwellings.
Entered
May 17, 1999
Tornado work impressive
The Adventist-operated warehouse serving various community service organisations
caring for Oklahoma's tornado victims is an impressive operation. In just its
first three days it processed
58 mass shipments of relief supplies donated by Oklahoma City Food Bank, Fleming
Foods, General Mills, Kenmore, McKee Foods, and other major corporations.
"It has been an unbelievably fantastic experience working with [Adventist Community Services],"
said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Oklahoma City Food Bank. "Our system would have
come to a complete standstill if it hadn't been for the Adventists coming in and running the
warehouse."
Nearly 500 Adventist members are assisting in disaster relief efforts throughout the state.
Entered
Monday Fax May 17, 1999
Andrews seminary expansion
The seminary at Andrews University plans a US$5.8 million
renovation and expansion program.
The planned increase of 25,000 square feet of office, auditorium and
classroom space will be added to the existing 35,000 square feet.
The expansion will ease crowded
classrooms, add central air-conditioning and sufficient work spaces,
and will enable seminary-related
departments such as the NAD Evangelism Institute and the Siegfried Horn
Archaeological Museum
to be together under one roof.
Entered
Monday Fax May 17, 1999
Display against shaking babies
A display to encourage adults not to shake babies will be held at
Shady Grove Adventist Hospital from May 17 to 28, reports the Washington Post.
The display is a quilt which tells the stories of how babies were
killed by shaking them.
"There is a square for Matthew Eappen, who died after being shaken by
an au pair in 1997," the paper says. "Another panel in the quilt
reads: `I trusted you with my
life. I cried because I needed you. Why did you shake me?'"
Shaken baby syndrome is a serious brain injury that occurs when a child's
head snaps back and forth when the child is shaken. It often happens
out of frustration
by a parent or caregiver who cannot stop the child from crying.
Delicate veins in the brain tear and bleed, causing pressure on the brain,
which destroys brain tissue. If swelling and pressure in the brain aren't
stopped, the child may die, or sustain cerebral palsy, paralysis, seizures,
blindness or other
disabilities. Damage can occur after only two or three seconds of shaking,
says Shaken Baby Alliance.
Entered
May 16, 1999
World Chinese youth congress
A world-wide Chinese youth congress will be held July 22-25 at Hong Kong
Adventist College. It is designed to help Adventist youth
gain a global vision for
evangelism. The program is designed for
Adventists aged 16-30, plus youth leaders, church pastors and elders.
For more information contact Jack Liang, the youth director of
South China Island Union Mission.
Entered
Plusline
May 16, 1999
Training in street evangelism
A youth outreach program will run in the streets of Toronto, Canada during the General
Conference session next year. Impact Toronto 2000 is seeking 350 Young Adults
ages 18-35 who will be deployed to do street evanglism during the
June 29-July 8 session. They will receive training for this work beforehand.
For information in North America, call Markiee at the Center for Youth
Evangelism 1-800-YOUTH-2U, or contact your local Conference Youth Director.
Entered
EeeZee
May 16, 1999
Adventists push religious liberty bill
Seventh-day Adventists are help push a religious liberty bill through the
US Congress. The bill is to overcome an interpretation of the US High Court
that allows the restriction of religious liberty if it is done in
"a neutral, generally applicable" way.
Seventh-day Adventist attorney and executive director of Council on Religious
Freedom, Nicholas Miller, was a member of the committee that drafted the
legislation, and believes that it will be one of the most vital issues to come
before Congress in this legislative session.
"If successful," says Miller, "This bill will go a long way in reviving First
Amendment free exercise protection for all Americans,"
says Nicholas Miller.
"Its importance to people of faith can't be overestimated," he says.
Entered
May 15, 1999
Adventist.fm milestone
The adventist.fm website counter will cross the 50,000 mark early next week.
This is a milestone, with the mark reached in less than six months. "We have
actually had closer to 60,000 hits," says webmaster Phil Ward. "Many major
website providers now put adventist.fm in their cache. This means that a
large number of people view the website from a cache without it increasing
our counter. Plus, the audited figures from TAGnet show that our counter is
about 10% less than the actual number of audit hits. That happened because
the counter was at the end of our long main page and people often clicked off
the main page before the counter registered." Adventist.fm is now supplying
100,000 pages of information each month.
Entered
May 15, 1999
Adventist in convoy under fire
An Adventist paramedic was in a Kosovo relief convoy stopped by three masked
three masked men armed with Kalashnikov automatic rifles. Two were kneeling,
one was standing, and all were in the firing position aiming at convoy leader.
Shots were fired, including a burst of automatic gunfire. However, no one in
the convoy was injured. The incident occured in northern Albania.
British Adventist David Swaine,
a professional paramedic, who was driving a seven-and-a-half ton mobile sugical
unit, was shaken by the incident.
Swain was shaken by the incident but
However, he says that the rain and the narrow
roads with countless washouts are in fact a greater problem.
Swaine was also shocked by his
conversations with Kosovar refugees. "When you see people face-to-face and
hear a man tell how his brother's wife and four children were shot, you can
see the hurt in their eyes and know it is real. It's much worse than when you
see it on television," he said.
Entered
BUC News May 15, 1999
SDA supervises witches coven
A Seventh-day Adventist army chaplin is in a difficult position following a
US Army move to recognise witchcraft as an official religion. Witchcraft
covens have been officially set up on five army bases.
At Ft Hood in Texas, the Army's
largest base with 42,000 soldiers, an Adventist is in charge of supervising
the coven. Lt Col Donald Troyer admits that he is not
overjoyed with his job because fellow Christian pastors disapprove and
have been "cool" towards him. He said: "It's such a volatile subject. It just
sparks a fury," he says in an article today in
the London Daily Telegraph.
Entered
from www.worldnetdaily.com
May 15, 1999
Andrews in National Geographic
Work by Andrews University researchers is featured in this month's "National
Geographic" magazine. The article tells how Oystein LaBianca from Andrews
has spent three decades finding once-inhabited caves all over Jordan.
Entered
May 14, 1999
Relief work inside Yugoslavia
The Adventist Church inside war-torn Yugoslavia is now operating soup kitchens
to help the civilian population. Because of the war, "countless thousands"
are now unemployed and do not have the necessary money to buy their daily food,
reports
ANR Europe News.
The Trans-European Division has provided $US30,000 to set up three soup
kitchens and is looking for more finance for the project. Meanwhile,
ADRA has sent two truckloads of relief from Germany to Belgrade with
relief supplies. And ADRA is now providing $US130,000 in aid to refugees
in Montenegro.
Entered
ANR May 14, 1999
Crisis committee monitors Bulkans
A crisis committee is monitoring the situation in the Bulkans crisis daily.
This allows the church to quickly respond to any changes in the situation.
The Trans-European Divisions has called a two-day Bulkans summit meeting in Thessaloniki,
Greece, for May 24-25. This will study the co-ordination and the future direction of the
work.
Entered
ANR May 14, 1999
12 trucks from UK
The Adventist Church in Britain has co-ordinated the transport of
12 large truckloads of aid to Albania in the last month. It is believed it is
the biggest aid project undertaken by ADRA/UK.
Entered
ANR May 14, 1999
Trucks for health program
ADRA/Denmark has purchased
four new land cruiser vehicles and rented five trucks for a health
program for Kosovo refugees in the south of Albania.
Entered
ANR May 14, 1999
Record grant to ADRA
ADRA this month received a grant of US$4.8 million from the Danish
Government for its on-going program to build schools in Unganda.
"This is the largest single grant we
have ever received," says the ecstatic ADRA/Denmark director, Helge Andersen.
Entered
ANR May 14, 1999
Pathfinders helping Kosovo
Pathfinders at a camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in August will pack donated
relief items for Kosovar refugees. Pathfinders from 12 countries will be
at the camporee. The boxes they pack will then be sent to Albania for ADRA
to distribute to refugees.
"We are encouraging Pathfinders to bring extra packed items
such as bars of soap, wash cloths and towels
that they can include in the boxes,"
says Norma Sahlin, the ADRA coordinator for the camporee.
Children attending the camporee are making hand-made quilts before they
arrive. These will temporarily be stitched into one big quilt 44 feet by
35 feet to representing the Pathfinder's desire to cover the world with
love. Once unstitched, the individual quilts will go to Albania for the
Kosovar refugees.
Entered
May 14, 1999
Lower bonds rating
Standard and Poors have adjusted downwards the rating on the
$60.69 million health-care revenue bonds
issued for Loma Linda University Adventist Health Science Center
and the $163.6 million revenue bonds issued for PorterCare Adventist
Health System.
Entered
May 14, 1999
New concepts on State of Dead
Next week's adventist.fm deeper Sabbath school lesson introduces two new
concepts about the Bible's teaching on the State of the Dead. The first is
about Jesus words on the Cross,
"I say unto you today you will be
with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). "As yet unpublished research says that this
is a deliberate double meaning," says the deeper lesson. "Jesus wanted to
speak the truth. However, he
said it so that people who believed in going straight
to Heaven would not argue about what he said. Their arguments around the Cross
may have
distracted the thief from his assurance of eternal life."
Entered
May 12, 1999
Have you been blessed by 3ABN?
3ABN Adventist TV is looking for people who have been blessed by watching
the network. They want to record short testimonial interviews with these
people at forthcoming campmeetings in the United States.
3ABN will have its camera crews at the camp meetings at Keene TX, Kansas City KS, College Place WA,
Auburn WA, Soquel CA and Gladstone, OR.
"If
you know of anyone attending one of
these camp meetings who has had a life-changing experience because of 3ABN,
please let us know," says 3ABN's Doug Garcia.
"Contact Dee Hilderbrand at 618-627-4651, or e-mail her
at
prod3abn@midwest.net."
Entered
Douglas Garcia video@midwest.net
May 12, 1999
200 years of Biblical archaeology
To commemorate the
200th anniversary of the birth of biblical archaeology, the
Midwest chapter of the Adventist Theological Society is
presenting a biblical archaeology conference. The title of the
conference is "Issues in Egypt and the Bible." The conference
is being held at Andrews University May 13-15. The full text of
proceedings will be published in JATS (the Journal of the Adventist
Theological Society). For details, contact the journal's editor
Ed Christian on
christia@kutztown.edu.
Entered
Jack Stenger jack@andrews.edu
May 12, 1999
Andrews gets out the canvas
Andrews University unpacks the canvas this week for a campus tent revival
meeting May 16-22. The program has been organised by students.
Entered
Jack Stenger jack@andrews.edu
May 12, 1999
ACS runs tornado warehouse
Adventists are running a warehouse to store aid for a large
number of relief organisations working
for victims of last week's tornados in Oklahoma and Kansas.
The Adventists were given the task by
the Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency. Adventist volunteers from the warehouse will supply aid to other
agencies. It is expected this arrangement will operate for several months
due to the extent of the devastation.
Adventist volunteers have been
offering comfort kits, cleaning supplies, food, prayer and encouragement to victims.
Several Adventist members lost their homes in the disaster, but none of the 75
churches and 9 schools operated by the Church in Oklahoma were damaged.
Entered
Monday Fax May 11, 1999
Extreme Adventists cost 18 lives
Seventh-day Adventists in Papua New Guinea are among 18 people who have died
of polio because of work of an extremist Adventist group. The extremists
warned people against vaccinating their children. They said that the sabin
polio vaccine contained a metal called "666" which meant that those who took
it would be under constant satellite surveillance. "I am devastated by this
tragic loss of life," says the South Pacific Division's health director
Dr Percy Harold in this week's Record. "Not only did Seventh-day
Adventists parents not have their children immunised, but so did others
on the advice of the group, which is financed from overseas,"
he said.
Entered
May 11, 1999
Police chief wins 1000
Peru's chief of police Rojas Chavez is a particularly
evangelistic officer. More than 1000 policie officers have joined the Adventist
Church in the past year after attending small religious groups he organised.
Now a 500-seat church is being built for Adventist police to attend.
Entered
May 11, 1999
Pastor buoys plane crash survivors
Two Australians in a plane crash in Vanuatu feel they partially owe their lives
to a Seventh-day Adventist minister in the crash with them. Pr Neil Watts
buoyed up their spirits and gave them the courage to keep going. The two
Australians fell short of saying their survival was a miracle but said
there was something extraordinary that got them through. The three were among
a group of five who swam for six hours after a passenger plane crashed
in the ocean near Port Villa this week (see earlier story).
Senior Adventist administrator Pastor Neil Watts said he
was badly affected by cramp during the six-hour swim. He said he prepared
himself to die, but then felt impressed to keep going because he would
survive. Pastor Watts' survival and his spirituality received prominent
coverage in the Australian media.
For further details see
SQ Aussie News.
Entered
Don McNicol May 11, 1999
Australian TV plan shelved
3ABN's plan to provide Adventist TV to Australia has been shelved. The
satellite that was to be used for the coverage was not launched successfully.
3ABN will now use another satellite to extend its coverage, but this
satellite will not cover Australia.
Entered
3ABN's Douglas Garcia video@midwest.net
May 11, 1999
Adopting Kosovar refugees
Seventh-day Adventists are expected to be among the 20,000 refugees from
Kosovo arriving in the United States. Church officers are urging local churches
or Adventist groups to "adopt" a Kosovar Adventist family to make their time
in American more comfortable.
The Killeen, Texas, church has already requested a
family.
Contact Jean Claude Brutus, Immigration and Refugee Program Coordinator for North
America, for more information and how to take the next steps. Phone: 407- 522-9280; Fax:
407-522-9384.
Entered
Monday Fax May 11, 1999
Best tithe in a decade
The North American Division last year collected its largest tithe in more
than a decade. Tithe last year grew 7 percent to almost US$570 million.
Entered
The Record May 11, 1999
New food relief method
Adventist Community Services in Portland, Oregon, has opened a new kind of food pantry.
In "Client Choice" clients shop with "points" based on family size. A preprinted list is given
them, telling how many points they can spend per food group based on family size. The food is
arranged by food groups and the shoppers are aided by volunteers trained in nutrition. Client Choice
served nearly 6,000 people during the first quarter of 1999.
It is believed this is the first assistance operation of its type, although two
other food banks in the area have
patterned a food program along the lines of Client Choice.
Entered
Monday Fax May 11, 1999
Sharing church bulletin announcements
An new arrangement at Glendale California hopes to see events by various local
churches promoted in the local church bulletins of other denominations.
The project is being organised by
the Association of Glendale Religious Leaders under its leader Pastor
Roy Gaton, chaplain at Glendale Adventist Hospital.
Entered
LA Times May 11, 1999
Pacific Press wins Angel Award
A literature evangelists' recruiting video
produced by Pacific
Press has won a prestigious Angel Award. The video was designed to
introduce a new
Christian home-based sales program. The Angel Awards are given annually to
honor all forms of
media whose works have outstanding moral, spiritual, or social impact.
Entered
Monday Fax May 11, 1999
Pastor survives plane crash
A Seventh-day Adventist pastor survived a plane crash in Vanuatu today which
claimed the lives of most of the passengers on board. Pastor Neil Watts,
president of Western Pacific Union Conference, was in a plane that went down
in the ocean off Villa, the capital of Vanuatu in the South Pacific.
Because there was no warning of the crash, only two of the five survivors had
enough time to get life-jackets. Pr Watts, an Australian,
had a rucksack which he kept filling
with air to keep afloat in a marathon six-hour swim to shore. Only six of the
thirteen people on board escaped the plane before it sank.
The group could see the lights of
Port Villa and swam towards those lights. However, there was a strong current against
them and one of the group of six did not survive the swim. In an interview on
Australian television, Pr Watts said that thousands of people were praying for
him after the plane crash and their prayers were answered.
Entered
May 10, 1999
New Bible time-line website
Canadian Deaf Ministries has launched a new website which outlines the
story of salvation from beginning to end. There is a basic Bible time-line
with paintings to illustrate major sections of the Great Controversy. It
is designed to be viewed in one or two sessions with Bible studies available
for those who want to take it further. The site is at TAGnet at
www.tagnet.org/theater.
Entered
from email by John Blake
canadiandm@attcanada.net
May 9, 1999
French It is Written crusade
The french It is written "IL est +crit" is starting it`s first crusade
in Montreal east, Quebec today (May 8, 99) with
speaker JosTe +lysT. If you have someone who might be
interested please have them contact
the Quebec fTderation of SDA.
Entered
Patrick Dupuis patrickdupuis@sprint.ca
May 9, 1999
Twice weekly devotionals on line
The aToday website is opening a new section,
called aToday Column. It features
twice-weekly columns by John McLarty, Adventist Today
editor. "John is a favorite among Adventist Today regular readers
for his insightful, inspiring writing," says aToday webmaster Greg Billock.
The site is at
www.atoday.com.
Entered
Greg Billock billgr@its.caltech.edu
May 9, 1999
Adventist pastor found alive
An Adventist woman pastor missing in Kosovo for
four weeks is alive. An email from an Adventist minister in Croatia says she
is now in Albania. Sister Dinana Daka plans to stay in Albania for the time
being, the Croatian minister says. Senior church officers in Yugoslavia had
feared that Sister Daka had perished. Her escape was confirmed by Adventists
in England who recognised her face in a TV news report about Kosovar
refugees. ANR news reports that it believes that three other Adventists who
were missing are with Sister Daka.
Entered
Nenad Bakaj bakaj@asgard.net.au and ANR
May 7, 1999
Adventists help Tornado victims
The Adventist Church in Oklahoma City is providing emergency aid to victims
of the Tornados which devastated the area. They are providing
water, food, new clothing and bedding, and toiletry items. Adventist
Community services have set up five emergency distribution centers.
Adventist teams have also driven through the worst-hit areas to distribute
goods to victims in need. Local Adventists are running an appeal for
donations of canned goods, new clothes, sweat suits, bedding, baby diapers,
and toiletry items.
Cash donations are also needed and can be made to Adventist Community
Services
24-hours-a-day on behalf of the "Tornado Victims of Oklahoma, Kansas,
and Texas" by calling 800-381-7171.
Entered
celesteryan@compuserve.com
May 7, 1999
President visits Macedonia
The Trans-European Division president visited
Stenkovec this week. It is the largest
refugee camp in Macedonia where up to 40,000 people live
under primitive conditions.
"Seeing the human tragedy in the camp, filled my heart with
grief and despair," says Wiklander, "but I also felt very grateful
and encouraged because ADRA is doing an outstanding job,
together with other humanitarian organisations."
ADRA is feeding 30,000 of the Kosovo refugees
in six different Macedonian cities. More projects are under way to
expand this work.
"ADRA is making an impact
on government officials and the Macedonian society through
media reports on their activities,"
says Wiklander.
"We hope this will benefit the
work of the Church. Let us continue to pray for all peoples
who suffer in the Balkans and that there will be peace,"
the president says.
Entered
May 7, 1999
Phone-a-thon raises $73,000
Andrews University raised $73,from its annual
Alumni phone-a-thon held this year from February 18
to March 18. During the annual event, alumni are asked to
contribute toward the Annual Fund which funds student
scholarships and facility projects.
While the $73,600 raised in pledges is an impressive figure,
Alumni Services directors say the actual amount will likely be
close to $100,000.
Entered
May 7, 1999
Amazing phone call offers TV licence
The Government of New Guinea has invited 3ABN Advenist television to build a
high-powered free-to-air TV station in that country. The offer came in a
surprise phone call to the 3ABN headquarters. A voice on the
other end identified himself as Bien Tejano, Ambassador from the Philippines
to Papua New Guinea. He said
that he was with the Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Silas
Atopare. He then officially extended an invitation for 3ABN to build a full
power television station in his country that would reach not only the 4.2
million population of his island, but the Solomon Islands, Fiji Islands, and
Irian Jaya (part of Indonesia) as well.
The 3ABN worker who took the phone call asked how soon they could obtain a
construction permit. The Prime Minister informed him that he should be able
to get one from his Parliament within a couple of weeks.
The 3ABN worker was astounded! What takes years
in the United States would take only a matter of weeks in Papua New Guinea!
"There is one channel
allotment left, and we have 18 months to get 3ABN programming on the air
before the channel is given to someone else."
says 3ABN's Doug Garcia.
"Amazingly, the principal
language spoken in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines is English. Truly
the Lord is pushing this ministry to this new area of the world.
The potential millions of viewers
that could then pick up 3ABNÝs television signal is astounding.
Indonesia is
the 4th most populated country in the world with 145 million people who need
to hear the Good News," he says.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is the largest denomination in Papua New
Guinea.
Entered
Douglas Garcia video@midwest.net
May 7, 1999
Satellite for Australia and China
3ABN is negotiating to provide Adventist satellite TV to Australia, reports
SQ Aussie News.
The satallite signal will cover China, Australia, the Western part
of Russia, India,
Japan, Korea, Indonesia, New Zealand, and other countries in
South-East Asia.
Further details are in
SQ Aussie News.
Entered
Douglas Garcia video@midwest.net
May 7, 1999
$1.5 million for Kosovo
ADRA's confirmed projects to assist Kosovar refugees so far total US$1.5
million with more than $3.5 million of projects in the pipeline.
ADRA Albania continues to be the World Food Programme’s largest
food distributor in Albania, reports
Sean Robinson, ADRA Albania director. "ADRA is responsible for
distributing food to all refugees in the prefects of Fier, Vlord, Berat,
and Gjirokastdr, equal to the entire southwest of Albania. In addition,
ADRA is sharing the prefect of Kukds with Catholic Relief Services.
"In all, approximately 30,000 refugees are being fed daily in Kukds,
and 8,000 a day are receiving weekly rations in the south," says
Robinson. He adds, "Currently it is estimated that more than 25,000
refugees are living in camps and collective centers in these four
prefects."
ADRA’s international network continues to support the efforts in
Albania. Five trucks loaded with blankets and other supplies, have
been sent from ADRA United Kingdom, and 5,000 foam mattresses
from ADRA Austria are to arrive this week.
ADRA United Kingdom also
donated a mobile surgical unit which is actively treating patients along
the Albanian border.
Entered
May 7, 1999
Trauma counseling for refugees
ADRA and Andrews
University are setting up a trauma counseling program for Kosovo refugees
in four southern Albanian
refugee camps. "Many of the refugees have witnessed members of their
families being killed, and have been forcibly separated from loved
ones and from their homes," says an ADRA spokesperson. "They have been
traumatized by their circumstances and need special attention."
Three specialists with trauma counseling skills arrived in Albania
today to help initiate the program.
"The trauma team will begin by assessing the mental health of the
refugees," explains Amy Willsey, ADRA Headquarters bureau chief
of Planning. She adds, "The program will use local Albanian mental
health professionals to provide counseling for the refugees."
Entered
May 7, 1999
Feeding 3000 Kosovar babies
ADRA Italy is running feeding program to provide for 3,000 babies in
Albanian refugee camps for six months or more. ADRA
Shipments of
baby food will be sent consecutively over the next six months or
longer if necessary, reports Franca Zucca, ADRA Italy director. Also
included in the first container of baby food were diapers (nappies), bottles,
blankets and clothing for both children and adults. The feeding
program is being sponsored by US$400,000 from the Italian Union of
the Seventh-day Adventist church.
Entered
May 7, 1999
Helping refugees in Italy
ADRA Italy is helping to provide relief materials for Kosovar refugees within
Italy. It is working mainly for the
500 children (ages 0-9) of the 3,000 Kosovarians
who recently arrived in a refugee camp in Bari, Italy.
"Local radio stations are broadcasting news about the Kosovo
emergency and many people are sending money and materials to
assist with our relief efforts," says ADRA Italy's Franca Zucca. "In Sicily, where ADRA is
very well-known, people collected humanitarian supplies and sent
them to the ADRA warehouse in Florence, more than 560 miles (900
kilometers) away."
Entered
May 7, 1999
World's largest lay congress
The world's Adventist lay conference had almost 75,000 people attending at
Mountain View College in the Philippines. The program was designed to help
individual church members develop skills to share their faith.
One speaker at the congress, who had been sentence to death in a court hearing,
told of being coverted in prison. He then shared his faith with fellow inmates
and 300 of them were baptised and joined the Adventist Church.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Philippines has 750,000 baptized members.
Entered
ANN May 6, 1999
Non-church owned Adventist book shop
The first South Pacific Division Adventist book shop not owned by the
denomination has opened at in the city of Christchurch New Zealand. "The
New Millenium Bookshop" is located in a suburban shopping center and
operated by an Adventist husband and wife team. It has the official blessing
of the church to the extent that Division president Laurie Evans conducted
the official dedication ceremony.
Entered
The Record May 6, 1999
Radios stations gain repreive
Four Adventist radio stations in Romania threatened with closure will be
allowed to remain on air for at least another two years. Last minute the
Government's Audio Visual Department changed the law that would have forced
the stations off air. The "Voice of Hope" stations are in
Bucharest, Brasov, Timisoara and Constanta.
Entered
Adventist World Radio through ANN May 6, 1999
Gunshots fired past pastor's head
A gun was deliberately fired beside an Adventist pastor's head in the
continuing unrest in the Solomon Islands (reported earlier). Some inhabitants
on Guadalcanal Island (scene of an important American battle in World War Two)
want the island returned to its primitive state -- but they are using modern
guns to do it. "This includes a form of spiritism and a return to the
traditional dress of wearing almost nothing," Union president Neil Watts says
in this week's South Pacific Division Record. "Some of our members have been
threatened for refusing to wear the traditional `dress.' When one of our
ministers asked what would happen if they refused, a rebel fired a shot
past his head." The rebel movement want people from other islands
removed from their island. As a precaution, the Church chartered a plane to
fly 10 Adventist nursing students from an Adventist hospital.
Entered
The Record May 6, 1999
Lawsuit cost insurance company $800,000
The settlement of the lawsuit against former GC president Robert Folkenberg
cost the GC's insurance company US$800,000, according to an article on line at
Adventist Today.
The article also claims that Robert Folkenberg's position with
Adventist Global Communication Network
is on hold until Northern Hemisphere autumn. The former president is on
"something similar to a leave of absence," the article says.
"Folkenberg has been given until September to work on personal concerns.
Folkenberg is receiving a General Conference salary in the meantime," the
article says.
Entered
May 6, 1999
ADRA prepares for Congo refugees
ADRA is preparing to manage a transit refugee camp for up to 100,000
refugees from the Congo in the next few days. Continuing political unrest in
the Congo has caused 27,000 Congolese to flee to Zambia in the last month.
However, as many as 200,000 are expected to cross in the next few days, with
ADRA prepared to cater for half of them. ADRA is preparing to distribute
35 tons of emergency relief to the refugees. An amazingly high number of
the refugees are children.
"Approximately 22 percent of the refugees who have entered through
the northern border near Kaputa are unaccompanied children and child
soldiers," reports Ron Ringrose, ADRA Zambia director.
"ADRA and the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) are currently looking for a person who can care for these
children, to provide the counseling, special care and education they will
need."
Entered
May 5, 1999
Adventist TV poll
This week 3ABN Adventist TV started an internet survey to improve its programing.
The survey asks viewers their favorite 3ABN
programs, their least favorite programs, and
what they would like to see more of on 3ABN. It is an anonymous poll which
3ABN hopes will give it better answers. The poll is on line at
www.3abn.org/takepoll.html.
Entered
May 4, 1999
Adventist radio jobs available
3ABN is building three radio studios and a master control room to
feed its radio programs to satellite. Its proposed radio service will mainly
be a talk format. It will go on air in about six months, firstly through
satellite then through the internet. 3ABN is currently advertising for
staff for the proposed radio system. Details are on line at
www.3abn.org/jobs.html.
Entered
May 4, 1999
Lawyer praises church leaders
An attorney who discovered the irregularities that led to the resignation of
the General Conference president has praised the leadership of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church. They "personally risked
all," Sacramento lawyer Phil Hiroshima told an Adventist Forum meeting at
Pleasant Hill California last weekend.
Hiroshima told how he had been contacted by the General Conference General
Counsel's office in October 1998 about a very sensitive matter involving
one of the officers. He
told of his personal dilemma as he learned
more about the case. After reviewing thousands of pages of documents,
he found
material that was not relevant to the case, but which caused deep concern.
He began sharing the information with leaders at the General Conference.
"As they reviewed the information, their initial reaction
was to support and protect the President of the church
from Moore," he said, "But these brave leaders at the General Conference prayed
for the Holy Spirit to guide and lead in their review of the matter. They
readily recognized their obligation to do what was best for the
church."
He praised the leaders for carrying out their ethical and
ecclesiastical concerns
without concern for their own welfare. He also praised them for not taking
his report as gospel, but for demanding evidence
to determine for themselves that the concerns had substance.
In his view, the events give the church leadership
credibility and the church will move into the 21st centrury with direction
and zeal. "My hope and prayer is that we, as members of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church, will assist our church in that direction with our
prayers, tithes and offering to further and hasten the Second Coming of
Christ."
Entered
from a report by Spectrum editor
Bonnie Dwyer with assistance by Brantley Johnson.
May 3, 1999
Kosovo pastor believed dead
Leaders of the Adventist Church in Yugoslavia believe a woman pastor missing
in Kosovo is probably dead. Radisha Antich, president of the South-East
European Union told a meeting in Yugoslavia that he personally was afraid that
the next time he sees
Pastor Diana Daka
will be in Heaven.
Attempts to locate the
missing pastor outside Kosovo show she is not among the refugees who left
the country.
The only male Adventist pastor in Kosovo,
Pastor Nikola
Aslimovski,
is still there with his family.
They are fine and for now they are planning to stay there.
Entered
May 3, 1999
LifeTalk radio expands
LifeTalk Radio is moving to just south of Knoxville, Tennessee, reports
PlusLine News. This Adventist radio ministry is expanding and needs more
staff. LifeTalk is now heard on 12 stations in eight American states. LifeTalk
is on the web at TAGnet on
www.lifetalk.net
Entered
May 2, 1999
Adventist radio broadcasts about Littleton
Voice of Prophecy radio will present a week-long series next week (May 3-7)
on the Littleton high school shooting tragedy.
Associate speaker Kenneth Richards will answer
questions about Littleton from a religious viewpoint. These include: Where
was God? How did a loving Father allow this to happen? Why were Christian
kids killed that day? The broadcasts will also be available over the internet
as audio on demand at
www.vop.com. If you are in North America, you can ring 800-SDA-PLUS to
find the times Voice of Prophecy is broadcast on a station near you.
Entered
Monday Fax May 1, 1999
1000 downlinks in New York
3ABN is working with the New York Conference to set up 1000 downlink points
for Net New York 99. New York Conference is offering subsidies for
churches and home sites to purchase the Sky Angel dish to receive these 3ABN
broadcasts.
Entered
Douglas Garcia video@midwest.net
May 1, 1999
Preach program's success
The Adventist satellite TV PREACH '99 training program for ministers was a
big success, reports organiser Nikolaus Satelmajer. There were more non-SDA
sites receiving the telecast than last year.
"We were getting calls up to the start of the program from people who wanted
to join. We had well over 500 sites registered. Responses have been extremely positive. We
received more calls than we could possibly handle. We also received more e-mail this year than last
year," he says. The PREACH program is designed to make ministers more
effective and the Adventist Church runs it for ministers of all denominations,
not just our own.
Entered
Monday Fax May 1, 1999
New book of outreach ideas
There's a new resource giving ideas for how your church can reach the community
in the next millenium. It's called the "Hope 2000 Notebook" and it's full
of program ideas. It costs US$14.95.
Contact AdventSource at by phone 800-328-0525, fax 402-486-2572, or website
www.adventsource.org.
Entered
Monday Fax May 1, 1999
British church almost overwhelmed
The British Adventist Church is almost overwhelmed by humanitarian aid being
given to it to help the Kosovo crisis.
"The warehouse is now full and extra items are causing logistical
problems," says ADRA's Doug Sinclair
dsinclair@adventist.org.uk.
"Humanitarian aid items continue to flood into the ADRA
warehouse on Stanborough Park. We are almost, though not quite,
overwhelmed with these materials," he says.
Entered
BUC News April 30, 1999
Email about small schools
A new email discussion area opened today for teachers, administrators, and
parents involved in one-room schools.
"There is a great need
especially among church-related small schools for a network of support,
insights, teaching and administrative resources,"
says Adventist academic Bill Sands Jr of
billsands@ameritech.net. Bill, who started the list, has plenty of
interest in small schools. "Two of our four
children are involved in SDA small schools. Our eldest daughter JanElla
will be teaching in a small school in Ohio next year. Our next daughter
Ruth has our three grandchildren in a small school," he says.
The list is called smallschools and is available at
www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/smallschools.
Entered
April 30, 1999
Kids, Guns, Violence on Adventist TV
As America mourns the tragedy in Littleton,
Colorado, the Adventist Communications Network will relay a special Methodist
broadcast on Kids, Guns, Violence.
"This event addresses all the questions asked by the media
regarding the Littleton tragedy," says program director Shirley Whipple Stuchen.
"It will give an overview of violence in
society, explain how to identify troubled kids, suggest ways to make a
difference, and provide examples of programs that work."
The program will be broadcast on May 18. To register, visit the ACN's Website
at www.acnsat.org.
Entered
April 30, 1999
20 Glendale exhumations
Glendale police have obtained a court order to exhume 20 former patients of
Glendale Adventist Medical Center. This follows last year's claim by a worker
at the hospital that he hastened the deaths of up to 50 terminally ill patients.
The employee, who has been dismissed, recanted claiming he was suicidal when he
made the claims. A prosecutor says there
is insufficient evidence to
charge him, but they hope the exhumations will provide that
evidence. The exhumations are being done without permission of the families
and police would not say if any families objected.
Entered
April 30, 1999
NATO bombs damage SDA buildings
Two church buildings and four homes of church members have been damaged by
NATO bombs in Yugoslavia, according to the Yugoslav
Adventist Church. The church still has
no information about Pastor Dijana Daka plus three members in Djakovica,
Kosovo. There had been no contact with them for three weeks.
"We are extremely worried about their welfare", says
Miodrag Zivanovic, spokesperson for the Church in Yugoslavia.
"We plead with our brothers and sisters around the world for their
prayers."
Two Adventist pastors have been drafted
into the Yugoslavian army, along with 40 church members.
That makes them potential targets of NATO's bombing campaign.
Entered
April 29, 1999
ADRA aid in Macedonia
ADRA is packing food and hygiene parcels for 4000 Kosovan refugee families
living in the homes of local families in Macedonia. Later, ADRA will provide
clothes and shoes for those families also.
Two 24-ton truck-loads of mattresses, blankets, clothes and baby food are
due to arrive in Macedonia today (Thursday) from ADRA/Czech Republic.
Entered
April 29, 1999
ADRA to manage Albanian transit camp
ADRA's Albania programme of rapid relief for the Kosovan refugees
in Albania is continuing to expand. The United Nations has asked ADRA to
manage a refugee transit camp at Kukes in Northern Albania. The camp houses
about 5000 refugees at any one time before they move to areas in Albania's south.
In the north, the ADRA team is currently distributing daily rations to
about 30,000 people.
"I am extremely grateful for the remarkable response received from
Adventists and other Christians around the world," says Bertil Wiklander,
president of the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church. "We have yet to accomplish much because the disaster is immense.
Let me, therefore, ask for your continued financial support of our Balkan
Crisis Appeal."
Entered
April 29, 1999
Cable TV to show Net98
Thanks to financial assistance from an American donor, the Adventist Church
in Poland has translated and dubbed the Net98 Next Millennium evangelism
series. Eight Polish cable TV companies will now broadcast the series
to the public.
The Polish Voice of Hope program is already on
18 local cable TV stations in Poland and Berlin, Germany.
Entered
April 29, 1999
Guns used in threats against Adventists
An increase in tribal animosity is causing tensions for church members
in the Solomon Islands, where about one person in 10 is a Seventh-day
Adventist. People are visiting Adventist villages, making threats and shooting
guns to get their message across, reports this week's edition of the South
Pacific Division's newspaper. "Our members are standing firm at this stage,"
says a mission president quoted in the paper.
Entered
The Record April 28, 1999
New vegetarian research
Research just published in "The
Journal of the American College of Nutrition" confirms the health benefits of a
vegetarian diet.
The study examined Seventh-day Adventists and Catholics in the Hispanic
community. It concluded that Adventists "who eat a plant-based diet,
exhibit a more favorable blood lipid profile, lower blood pressure and
lower risk for Type 2 diabetes compared to Hispanic American Catholics,
who do not eat a plant-based diet."
The survey examined 74 Adventists and 45 Catholics living in Denver,
Colorado, and was performed by researchers based at Colorado State
University in Ft. Collins. These findings are factors in explaining why
Adventists have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease compared to the
general population.
"This study reveals the link between a healthy lifestyle and the lower
incidence of disease—in this case the beneficial effects of a plant-based
diet," says Dr. DeWitt Williams, health director for the Adventist Church in
North America. "A parallel study in which I participated also indicated
health benefits among the African-American community of such dietary
principles. Research findings are continuing to demonstrate that a
non-meat diet carries significant health advantages."
The two surveys are found in "The Journal of the American College of
Nutrition" Volume 17, Number 5 and Volume 18, Number 2.
Entered
ANN April 28, 1999
Marijuana affects spirituality
The active ingredient in marijuana causes spiritual changes to a person's life,
says the South Pacific Division's health director in this week's edition of his
Division's newspaper. Dr Percy Harold says majijuana also causes serious mental and
and emotional problems, including depression, paranoia, hallucinations, anxiety
attacks, delusions and depersonalisation.
The dangers of marijuana now are much greater than a few
decades ago, he says, because selective breeding has increased the content of the active
ingredient in marijuana.
Entered
The Record April 27, 1999
Spanish religious liberty advance
Two top officials from Spain's
Ministry of Justice visited the Seventh-day Adventist Church World
Headquarters on April 26 to finalize plans for a special experts meeting on
religious freedom.
The meeting of the Adventist-sponsored International Religious Liberty Association will be held in
Madrid on May 13-16.
"That IRLA chose Spain as the venue for this important meeting is truly an
honor," one of the Spanish officials said.
"Spain is experiencing a development in religious liberty.
This meeting will raise the profile of religious
liberty in Spanish society which is made up of 90% Roman Catholics.
When I was 11 years old I was taught that those who did not share our
faith were our enemies. Now I know they are our brothers.
But this view is not shared by society at large," he said.
The meeting's topic will be
"Proselytism and Religious Freeedom."
Entered
ANN April 28, 1999
Early Adventist songs on forthcoming CD
Early Adventist hymns will be featured on a new CD to be released soon by the
White Estate. Many hymns written by our pioneers were sung to
secular tunes popular at the time. For example, Uriah Smith wrote a second
coming hymn to the tune of "Dixie." And a now unknown Adventist author
wrote "How sweet
are the tidings" to the love song "Bonnie Eloise" -- which started with the words, "How
sweet is the vale where the mohawk gently glides."
Entered
April 27, 1999
GC stops meeting publicity
A General Conference official last weekend prevented the planned tape
recording of a significant meeting about the Folkenberg crisis.
The Adventist Forum meeting in California was taken by Adventist lawyer Phil
Hiroshima with tapes of his meeting expected to be circulated world-wide.
The meeting still went ahead, but the censorship by the GC has limited the
spread of the information.
"Shortly before our meeting Phil [Hiroshima] recieved word from attorney
Robert Nixon, in-house council for the GC [in-house meaning
on the payroll] that it would be best if Phil's talk was not
recorded," says meeting organiser Brantley Johson. "We reluctantly agreed
with Phil not to record our Forum meeting," he says. However, an editor for
Spectum magazine was at the meeting and it is expected that some of the
information will be published in a forthcoming edition of that journal.
Entered
April 27, 1999
Christian Kosovo coverage
The AdventPress website is running a what it believes is the most comprehensive
coverage of Christian news about the Kosovo crisis. The material is on line at
http://www.adventpress.com/NF-yugoslavia.html. Its stories are fairly
lengthy and come from all relgious denominations. AdventPress is run by
St Albans Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Yugoslavian church
in Melbourne, Australia.
Entered
April 27, 1999
Adventist journalists wanted
The General Conference communications department wants to contact all Adventist
journalists, broadcasters, PR specialists, and marketing gurus. It's for a
new database of Adventists with communications expertise. The list will help
church administrators find the right person for Adventist media jobs. And it
will allow the GC to build comradery among Adventist media professionals.
More information is on line at
http://www.adventist.org/pages/comdata.html and tell them adventist.fm
sent you [grin].
Entered
April 27, 1999
ADRA's Japanese help
ADRA has received a $72,000 grant from the Japanese embassy to help a
housing development project in Honduras for Hurricane Mitch victims.
"This is the first time the Japanese Embassy has provided a matching
grant for an ADRA project in Latin America," says Walter Britton,
ADRA Honduras director. The total project, valued
at US$272,000, is also being matched with funds from ADRA’s
Headquarters in Maryland, USA, ADRA Canada, ADRA Holland,
ADRA Australia and ADRA Honduras. The complete housing
project is scheduled to be finished in February 2000.
ADRA is into its third month of building basic housing units for 122
families throughout Honduras who lost homes during Hurricane Mitch.
Entered
April 27, 1999
Weekly health news articles
For just $US25 your church can have weekly health news articles ready to
submit to your local newspaper. The articles, called Health-Wise and
about 500-600 words long and are
written by Raymond West MD, MPH. Thirteen articles are
provided quarterly on disk and as camera-ready art, ready to be
submitted to the publication of your choice. Send the articles to your
local newspaper to help raise health awareness. Or, print them in your
local church or Community Services newsletter. Topics covered
includes: cigarettes. lead poisoning, touch therapy, skin care, bulimia,
sick building syndrome and many more. A Special Introductory Rate of $25
for a one year subscription is available until May 1, 1999, reports
PlusLine News. To subscribe call
AdventSource at: (800) 328-0525.
Entered
April 26, 1999
US Adventist military newsletter
PlusLine News is promoting a bi-monthly newsletter for American Seventh-day
Adventists servicing in the military.
For God and Country is mailed free of charge. If
you know someone who should be added to their mailing list,
call the National Service Organization at (800) ACM-LIST, or -mail
74532.1614@compuserve.com.
Entered
April 26, 1999
Adventists at Columbine School
Adventist Community Services are helping out with the aftermath of the mass shooting
Columbine School in Littleton, Colorado.
ADRA's Chris Hauck has been on site with a disaster response team working
with the Salvation Army to feed the hundreds of investigators, officials and a
few families at the site. Food and volunteers were provided by Centura Health
Care, the hospital
chain that supports Denver Adventist Community Services. ACS volunteers also
assisted with trash
pick up and emotional support for those on site.
"Workers seem to be in a daze at times grappling with their own emotions," reports Hauck.
The American Red Cross has asked Denver Adventist Community Services
to receive food donations given to assist in the
feeding of command center officials who will be on site for at least a week.
ACS initiated the activation of prayer chains in Adventist churches and called for Denver area
churches to open, providing pastoral care for those affected by the shooting.
Entered
from Monday Fax April 24, 1999
Adventist school closes because of shooting
An Adventist school near a school in Colarado where a tragic shooting took
place earlier this week has been closed for a few days as a precaution.
Many students of Mile High Adventist Academy had friends at the nearly
Columbine School.
Entered
April 24, 1999
Another ten trucks for Albania
The Adventist Church in Great Britain is hoping to get government funding for
another 10 10-ton trucks for ADRA to use in Albania. These would be used to
take aid to refugees from Kosovo in the more remote regions of Albania.
Entered
April 24, 1999
Youth taking initiative
For years Youth leaders have dreamed of the day when young adults in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church would take the initiative and lead. That's
what happened at the
Church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, when 400 young adults got
together to share ideas on "how to finish the
work". ConneXions99 co-ordinator Shasta Burr, says, "Our generation
shouldn't fall into the trap of complaining about the church. Rather we want
to come together and give our talents and dreams to make this church even
stronger."
"The 400 participants will return to their local church
to carry out their ministry dreams," says
David Neal 74532.2301@compuserve.com writing in BUC News.
"Using Revelation 14:6-12 as their biblical
base, this old time message was articulated once again with freshness and
vibrancy by a generation who still believe and who want to move the
mission of the Church forward," he says.
Entered
April 24, 1999
Seminar on healthier churches
The Seeds 99 seminar at Andrews University will offer more than 100 seminars
on creating better Adventist Churches. The conference will be held at
Andrews June 8-12. For further details, see
www.nadei.org
(click on Seeds 99)
Entered
April 24, 1999
EG White in Romanian language
A new website has just gone on line with Ellen White's writings in the
Romanian language. For further details, click on Grass Roots News above.
Entered
April 24, 1999
ADRA's aid first for North Korea
In response to the continuing food crisis in North Korea, ADRA is working on a
pilot project to boost potato production in that country. In conjunction with
six other agencies, ADRA will purchase 1,100 tons (1,000 metric
tonnes) of potato seed and oversee its planting in May on farms in a
southeastern North Korea province. Additionally, a 110,000 ton (100,000
metric ton) food-for-work program
will be targeted to the neediest areas of the country.
The funding has come from USAID and USDA and marks the first time the American
government has provided humanitarian assistance directly to US aid
agencies for distribution in North Korea.
Entered
April 24, 1999
Adventist internet wedding
Two Adventists who met through an adventist.fm internet service will be
married next month. The woman from Australia was impressed by a message
the American man wrote in the
Adventist.fm daily email service. They later started corresponding
privately by email and the relationship blossomed.
He is now moving to Australia and they will marry on May 23.
Entered
April 23, 1999
Holy Spirit working in Cuba
Workers and laity are actively involved in evangelism in Cuba. In
1998, 4,727 were added to the church
through baptism and profession of faith, the highest
number of accessions in one year.
Last year, lay soul-winning crusades were conducted during the months of
November and December,
and these were followed with pastoral reaping crusades in January.
Since they do not have sufficient
pastors for every church, our sister North American Division came to the
rescue. In 1998 they sent 18
pastors, and this year 12 came from various local fields and unions to
hold reaping crusades.
One of the participating pastors was Dr. Ramon Canales, evangelist and Spanish work coordinator of
the Oregon Conference. He conducted a double crusade in the Veguita de Galo and Fomento
churches. He reports: "More than 250 persons were baptized in the two churches, which are located in
a district in Santiago de Cuba. The churches made excellent preparation for these crusades. The
brethren worked several months with their "lighthouse centers." The Fomento church used more than
500 Faith of Jesus lessons. Bible workers studied and taught Bible doctrines to dozens of interested
people. This was backed by the diligent work of
church pastors who labored tirelessly side by side with their members, and the results were wonderful.
Others joined the church through profession of faith. The power of the Holy Spirit was felt during our
meetings and our churches were encouraged and richly blessed."
Entered
from IAD News April 23, 1999
Sir Randol Joins Adventist Church
Sir Randol Fawkes, father of the Labour Movement in the Bahamas,
was baptized during a special
service last month at Centreville Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Bahamas.
Sir Randol was instrumental in founding the Citizen's Committee in 1949 and
the People's Penny
Savings Bank in 1951. He was among the first six Progressive Liberal Party
members elected to the
House of Assembly in 1956, and was largely responsible for passing the
legislation which resulted in
Labour Day being established as a Public Holiday in 1961.
As the founder and president of the Bahamas Federation of Labour, Sir. Randol led a 19-day strike
which resulted in major Labour and political reforms. In addition, he addressed the United Nations on
the preparation of the Bahamas for independence in 1966.
Entered
from IAD News April 23, 1999
Adventist hospital treats shooting victims
Littleton Adventist Hospital treated eight of the victims of the mass shooting
of school students in Denver Colorado this week. Those it treated were:
The Adventist hospital's involvement was carried on media across the United
States.
Entered
April 23, 1999
Glendale's national publicity
Glendale Adventist Hospital received nationwide publicity when Associated
Press produced a story about
"Daughters to Work Day." This is a day when parents are encouraged to take
their daughters to work. Of the thousands who missed school that day to go
with their parents, Associated Press highlighted
two girls who followed an emergency room doctor on rounds at
Glendale Adventist Hospital.
Entered
April 23, 1999
Contact lost with Kosovar Adventists
ADRA estimates that it needs about 25 expatriate workers and about 400
national workers to carry out the work assigned to it of feeding Kosovar
refugees. Meanwhile, in Kosovo itself concerns are now held for the safety of
four church members in Djakovica, including a woman pastor. There has been no
communication with them for some time.
"I am very worried about the lives of these four members and
others in the town of Djakovica which is under heavy fire," says Radisa
Antic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia.
"Please pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters there."
Entered
April 22, 1999
Airforce flies in ADRA supplies
A German airforce plant this week transported 25 tons of food, detergents,
instant drinks and Mnsli-bars (wheat cereal bars) to Maceconia on behalf of
ADRA. The shipment is for families living near the Kosovo border who are
hosting refugees. In some villages there are now more refugees than locals.
They need a lot of materials to help so many extra people," says ADRA's
Heinz-Hartmut Wilfert. The shipment will go to 82,000 refugees with
members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Macedonia being part of the
team distributing the aid to refugees located in six camps.
ADRA Germany is also funding various other projects, including the
shipment of food, blankets, mattresses, shoes and clothing to an
orphanage in Skopje where the children are suffering under the
present circumstances and to other refugees.
Entered
ANN/ANR April 22, 1999
Email published in Aussie newspaper
An email lobbying for justice for an Adventist imprisoned without trial has
suddenly found itself with a much larger audience that it would have
normally expected.
The Australian Church's weekly news paper has published the email which calls
for church members to lobby for the release of an Adventist imprisoned without
trial in Sri Lanka. The email was sent by Gary Krause, now the General
Conference Global Mission communications director, but previously an editor
of the Australian paper. It points out that the imprisoned Adventist pastor,
Anthony Alexander, had done work as a Global Mission volunteer who
established the Adventist work in the northern areas of Sri Lanka and started
five new churches. Pastor Alexander was working as a school principal and
imprisoned without trial on "suspicion of terrorism." The email calls for
Adventists to privately send a letter to the Sri Lanka embassy in their
country expressing concern over Pastor Alexander's imprisonment.
Entered
April 22, 1999
Coordinating other aid organisations
ADRA is now coordinating the work of food distribution in Albania with other
non-governmental organisations. This will give better and more complete
coverage of feeding Kosovo refugees all over Albania. ADRA will then
concentrate its own efforts in five Albanian districts—Kukds, Fier,
Vlord, Berat, and Gjirokastdr—and continue to focus on the nearly
100,000 refugees it is currently serving.
Entered
April 22, 1999
4,500 mattresses
You've got to think of everything...
ADRA Austria is paying for the manufacture and transport of 4,500 mattresses
for Kosovo refugees. The first shipment of the mattresses will leave
Austria next week.
Entered
April 22, 1999
Trans Europe's leaders on the scene
The president of the Trans-European Division will visit Kosovo victims in
Macedonia next week, following this week's visit to refugees in Albania by the
Division's treasurer and secretary.
The Division is sending a further $US25,000 into Yugoslavia itself to buy food
before stock runs out. This food will be supplied to Adventist
members and friends of the Church who are or will be in need.
For the most detailed summary of the latest Adventist work for Kosovar
refugees, see
ANR Europe News
exclusively on this website (click above).
Entered
April 22, 1999
Adventist hospital burns down
A major fire in India on Sunday afternoon destroyed an Adventist Lifestyle
Village, including its gymnasium and physiotherapy department. The fire
started outside a bamboo border fence and quick engulfed the fence and the
whole compound. All patients were evacuated in time and there was no loss of
life. Ten fire engines fought the blaze.
Entered
April 21, 1999
Colombian Adventist Taken Hostage
A Seventh-day Adventist is
among the 37 airline passengers being held as hostages in Columbia.
Abner Duarte is the president of the national gas corporation Ecogas.
He was on a flight on April 9
leaving Bucaramanga for the capital Bogota when hijackers forced
the plane to divert to a remote airstrip.
On April 18 a rebel group claimed responsibility for the action. Nine hostages
have been released to date.
confirmed that Duarte was among the hostages but had no additional
information regarding his safety or whereabouts.
"Abner Duarte is a member of our church in Sotomayor, Bucaramanga, and
is very active with the young people there,"
Bernardo Rodriguez, president of the Adventist Church in Colombia says.
"He is also a
good spiritual witness for the Church among government and business leaders. Our
thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this difficult time."
Entered
April 21, 1999
Adventist submission to United Nations
The Adventist Church in Switzerland has put a submission to the United Nations
Human Rights Commission against terms like
"sect" and "proselytism" used by governments and media.
"These words, poorly defined, provoke or justify intolerance," said
Pastor Malton Braff who made the submission.
He asked the Commission to make clear statements on such terminology.
He also told the UN that when governments in some democratic countries produce
"sect lists" it reveals the rise of intolerance.
"These lists serve as references for all kinds of exclusions," said Braff. "They
support intolerance and have a discriminatory effect. Members of groups
pejoratively classified as ‘sects' become second class citizens."
Entered
April 21, 1999
Festival of performing Arts
Last Sabbath (April 17) a Festival of Performing Arts was launched
in the island of St. Lucia. The idea was to encourage SDA youth islandwide
to develop original songs, poems, drama and music to God's honor and glory.
Youth representing islandwide churches were shown the kind of
standard to aspire to by a panel of professionals on Sabbath. A choral
speaking dramatic presentation which closed the session was very well
received. The island hopes to celebrate the festival in a grand concert, at
which the public will be invited on October 16.
Entered
jamesta jamesta@candw.lc
April 20, 1999
Fears for Adventists in Serbia
There are grave fears for Adventists in Yugoslavia after an evening newspaper
in Belgrade wrongly said that NATO's General Wesley Clark "was and perhaps still is" a
member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The Yugoslav Adventist Church faxed a response to the newspaper saying,
"General Clark is not nor has he ever been a member of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church. We are loyal citizens of our country
and believers in Jesus Christ, pursuing Biblical values -- to love everybody
and to live in peace. Therefore, no one can be an aggressor and an
Adventist at the same time. We are already victims of this
war. Why do we have to be victims of lies in our country from our own
people?"
As a result, the newspaper
last night published an article entitled Adventist Church Denies Clark
as Member.
"With such false information in the newspaper during this time of
war, Adventists are at great risk of being targets of hostility
in their neighbourhoods," says Radisa Antic, president of
the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia. "We are afraid that our
church buildings will be attacked by the local people as a result of this
article."
For further details, see
ANR Europe News.
Entered
April 20, 1999
Andrews homecoming
Former Andrews University students
will return to their alma mater this week for the 1999
Andrews University Alumni Homecoming.
Andrews has 4000 alumni in Michigan and 21,000 worldwide.
Entered
April 20, 1999
Spectrum covers GC crisis
A copy of the ad hoc committee's six page report and recommendations
which led to the resignation of Robert Folkenberg, is
in the current issue of Spectrum. It is
part of 30 pages of articles
on the GC Leadership Crisis. The
contains 90-pages in all.
Also included is a report of an investigation of the
James Moore-Folkenberg, Kanaka Valley land deal that is described as
"very revealing and a bit mindboggling as well."
Specrum is a scholarly journal published by
the Association of Adventist Forums.
The issue also includes excerpts from the late Dr
Siegfried Horn's diary
which have been compiled by Dr. Larry Geraty, president of La Sierra
University.
There is also an article by Dr. Richard Rice of Loma Linda
University on science and
religion. The article is called "required reading by every born again Christian,
or agnostic, or atheist."
A subscription to Spectrum costs $30 in North America [$50 foreign]
from Spctrum
P O Box 619047
Roseville, CA 95661-9927.
Entered
April 20, 1999
Attorney speaks on crisis
The Adventist attorney who discovered the business dealings that lead to
the resignation of GC president Robert Folkenberg will speak publically on
the issue this Saturday. Phil
Hiroshima
will speak at Pleasant Hill Church
in California at 4pm, giving insights into the events and business dealings
that caused the leadership crisis.
Entered
April 20, 1999
New evangelism aid
Adventist.fm today announced a new resource to help Adventists give Bible
studies to their neighbours and friends. A new set of
Bible Studies
went on line today which can be printed out and used as guides when giving
personal Bible studies. The studies are based on those used by one of the
most successful soul-winners in Australia, Pastor Fred Taylor. He was the
master of kitchen table evangelism and each year quietly baptised more people than
were won by evangelists with big budgets. Each online Bible study can be printed
out from this website when needed. They are designed for laity who have never
given Bible studies before -- as well as those experienced in the area.
Coolum Beach Church,
which developed this concept, asks that you let your pastor and church
evangelism leader know that this resource is now on line.
Entered
April 18, 1999
Pride and clothing for Mitch victims
ADRA today is finishing a two-week clothing
distribution to more than 160,000 Hurricane Mitch survivors in more
than 500 affected communities in northern Nicaragua. The distribution
is part of a four-month relief which began on February 24.
"The distribution of these clothes
is providing hurricane victims with much-needed supplies to
live comfortably until the first harvest in August," says Anthony Stahl,
ADRA Nicaragua director. "Many of the communities are still very
hard to reach due to the flood-damaged roads and destroyed
bridges."
ADRA health workers assigned to each community
ensure that every person is treated fairly and equally. The 2,700
bales of clothing for the project were donated from ADRA’s Headquarters office in
Maryland, USA.
"The good organization of the project is providing a very rapid and
effective distribution," says project director, Timo Wagner.
"Every ADRA worker has sacrificed their vacation time, working
16-hour days to see the project through."
ADRA is also establishing pride among the recipients. To be eligible
to receive the clothing, local community members signed a contract
with ADRA promising to plant 20 trees or bushes in their community.
Local ADRA health workers will monitor each community member’s
completion of their contract.
Entered
April 18, 1999
No Adventst deaths in Yugoslavia
Up until Wednesday, there have been no Adventists deaths and no Adventist
buildings destroyed in the war in Yugoslavia.
Nikola Aslimovski, our pastor in Prishtina (and the only pastor at Kosovo) is
still there with his family. They are fine and for now they are planning to stay there.
The last information is that sister Dijana Deka, our Bible worker in Djakovica was
staying there. The church office has had no contact with her for few days, but
believes she is still safe.
Entered
April 17, 1999
British Government gives £200,000
The British Government has given ADRA £200,000 for disaster relief in
Albania. The
money will be used in the food distribution programme, primary health care,
and to allow the ADRA team in Albania to be expanded with additional
skilled field workers.
"We have received a wonderful response to the appeals made throughout
the country in local newspapers and on radio," reports
John C Surridge, the British Union's Communication Director.
Entered
April 17, 1999
Adoption website
American Adventists wishing to adopt a child can find information on the
internet at
www.tagnet.org/adventistadoption.
Adventist Adoption and Family Services provides help to
families wishing to adopt and for birth parents who are looking at options
for unplanned pregnancies. The service serves
parents from all over the United States, reports Plusline News.
Entered
April 17, 1999
Mission report on Powerpoint
A Powerpoint report on evangelistic activities of the Southern Asia-Pacific
Division is available for download from the British Union website. It is
designed to show in Sabbath school (with a video projector) and highlights the
Division receiving this quarter's 13th Sabbath overflow.
The file is
1.1 Mb in size and can be downloaded from the "Resources" menu listing
of the British Union website
www.adventist.org.uk. You need a computer with Powerpoint to display the
presentation.
Entered
April 17, 1999
Surprise visit from president
The president of Botswana paid a surprise visit to a Seventh-day Adventist
church service last Sabbath. President Mogae and his wife attended to
hear Adventist world president Jan Paulsen preach.
Later Paulsen visited the presidential couple at their official residence, where
Mogae responded to the spiritual message that had been presented.
Mogae is no stranger to the Adventist Church. "His wife's mother
is a faithful Adventist," Paulsen says. "Although 86 years
of age she attends church regularly."
Botswana has a population of one and a half million, with 22,000
baptized Adventists, making one in 70 of the population an Adventist.
Twelve of the 49 members of Parliament are Adventists, along with one cabinet
minister.
Entered
ANN April 16, 1999
Adventist heads to North Pole
Michael Comberiate, a scientist with
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and a committed Seventh-day
Adventist, is leading a NASA expedition to the North Pole beginning April
19.
The "Cool Space" expedition will track floating icesheets using six
satellites, measure ice thickness and take ozone measurements at the pole.
Comberiate is the instigator of 53 "Cool Space" projects
over the past 15 years at NASA. He links his work closely to his belief in God.
"My chief concern is to develop my relationship with God in this process,"
says Comberiate. "As I travel to all the nooks and crannies of this planet, I
find that I want God to be right there with me. I take on these
extracurricular challenges because I want to. I want the thrill and the
opportunities to put something back into a system that has given me much. I
want to make a difference and to move people profoundly. I want to excite
and encourage others to reach for the stars and get there, too!"
Comberiate is currently working on a book-on-tape entitled "Why a Rocket
Scientist Trusts God" to develop his ideas that faith and science are not
incompatible.
Entered
April 16, 1999
Division treasurer in Albania
The treasurer of the Trans European Division is going to Albania to assess
the future planning of Adventist work for Kosovo refugees there. Graham
Barham is the most senior Adventist officer on the ground in Albania.
Entered
April 16, 1999
Afrikaans website
Lente Nagel of lenten@vaal.lia.net has an Adventist website for
Afrikaans speaking people. It is at
http://www.vaal.lia.net/Users/lenten/
Prayer requests are welcome.
Entered
April 16, 1999
Nepal Bombing
The Adventist hospital at Banepa Nepal was bombed on April 7, apparently the
work of Maoist activity.
National
elections are scheduled for May 3, and the Maoists are determined to disrupt them.
At about 1am on April 7 they planted a bomb at the
back of the
ADRA facility. It was a significant blast that broke windows up
to the
third floor. The Australian Cleft Lip & Palate Team had just
finished a very
successful 10-day surgical program at the clinic. Patients
were still in the
wards but sustained no injuries.
Entered
from SDAnet April 16, 1999
Congratulations to Paulsen
Norway's minister of Foreign Affairs has written to the new Adventist world
president Jan Paulsen congratulating him on his new position. Paulsen is
from Norway and the minister said his is proud that a
Norwegian holds such an
important position in a world-wide religious organisation.
Entered
April 16, 1999
Adventist radio program banned
A religious radio station in Estonia has banned an overnight program
broadcast once a week by Seventh-day Adventists.
"Our radio broadcasts have been forbidden by the Interconfessional
Council of Radio 7," says Ivo KSsk, communication
director of the Estonian Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
"Participants of this Council are not exactly known, but we understand that
Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists and Lutherans are associated with the
radio station."
Adventist broadcasts commenced on Radio 7 twelve months ago and
took place throughout the night from Saturday to Sunday every week.
"Although it was not the best time it soon became very popular with those
who could not sleep, had problems, and those searching for meaning in
life," states KSsk.
The programme's popularity continued to increase. Listeners were
invited to telephone and put their questions forward; to talk about their
problems and ask for prayer. There were some tough questions for the
broadcasters, but they had great opportunities to share much about the
Seventh-day Adventist message of hope. The last two broadcasts were
especially intense.
"Even the editors of Radio 7 were very unhappy with this
restriction as they do not have an adequate number of
broadcasters," says KSsk.
Entered
April 16, 1999
Argentine goalie to keep Sabbath
Carlos Roa, the Argentine goalkeeper
whose goal-saving ability kept England out of the World Cup, may give up
his football career for religious reasons. Roa, a
member of the Argentine national team, currently plays for the Spanish team
Mallorca.
Raised a Seventh-day Adventist, 29-year-old Roa feels he should observe the
seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) as a day of rest, which is incompatible with
his current profession since the majority of games in the Spanish league are
on this day.
"This is not the proper moment, so in June I will communicate my decision
which I have already taken," Roa told Spanish radio Cadena Ser.
Entered
ANN April 16, 1999
God's protection from NATO bombs
An elderly Adventist couple had a close encounter with NATO bombs in Novi
Sad in Yugoslavia.
"With no basement shelter, we remained in our home, trusting to
God," they say in a
ANR Europe News
report.
The windows were blown out, and the plaster knocked off the walls.
Nearby houses were destroyed and set on fire. At dawn, the husband
climbed to repair the damage to his roof, and fell from a ladder. He
sustained no serious injury, and commented that "God saved me from that
disaster too."
Entered
April 16, 1999
Trucks arrive in Albania
Five 10-ton trucks filled with nearly 7,000 blankets have arrived in Albania
from ADRA Denmark. Once ADRA distributes the
blankets, it will use the trucks to transport food to refugee sites.
ADRA
Albania will run a health program for the refugees and purchase four
utility vehicles to transport personnel and supplies.
Two 38-ton trucks have arrived in Albania today from ADRA United
Kingdom. The trucks contain items such as blankets, hygiene
materials, food, children’s clothing and shoes. On April 25,
ADRA/UK will send back the same two 38-ton trucks to Albania
with similar materials.
"We try to include such items as chocolate and packaged underwear
in the shipment, to put a smile on some of the refugees’ faces," says
Douglas Sinclair, ADRA/UK director. "Many people forget that these
people left all of their belongings behind, and things as basic as new
underwear are really appreciated."
Entered
April 16, 1999
Daily ADRA TV news coverage
ADRA's relief efforts to Kosovar refugees in Albania
will be aired through daily live
feedback to KTLA, a CNN affiliate station, and seven other major
TV markets in the United States. The 90-second daily segments will
be filmed and edited by Willa Sandmeyer, a KTLA reporter, and
Rob Pohle, independent videographer.
The two reporters will also shoot footage for a segment of ADRA’s
World, a weekly news magazine and television program on
international development. ADRA’s World was first aired in 1996 on
3ABN and continues every Tuesday at 8 p.m. (EDT) on Galaxy 3R,
channel 23. It also airs in Brazil, India, the Philippines, sections of
Europe, and on Safe TV.
"Though ADRA is present at just about every major disaster, the
agency's work is rarely documented by external media sources. This
kind of positive media will be a tremendous boost for the agency and
its supporters," says Tereza Byrne, bureau chief for marketing and
development at ADRA Headquarters. Byrne has worked with both
Sandmeyer and Pohle on other ADRA projects in the past.
Entered
April 16, 1999
Help in Macedonia
A grant of USD$160,000 from the German
government will enable ADRA to provide refugees in Macedonia with
blankets, food, plastic sheeting and medicines. Tihomir Lipohar, from
ADRA/Germany, is currently coordinating relief efforts in five areas in
Macedonia: Tetovo, Gostivar, Kicevo, Kumanovo and Skopje, with help from
Adventist church members in Macedonia.
"Although we are still providing some medical assistance to the
refugees in Macedonia, most of ADRA’s relief efforts are being
shifted to focus on its large responsibility in Albania," says Milton
McHenry, ADRA senior grants administrator.
Entered
ANN April 16, 1999
Division moves spring meetings
The Trans European Division has moved its May 10-11 meeting from Athens to
England because of the Balkans crisis. The meeting was to be followed by an
educational tour of archaelogy sites in Greece.
"In view of the immense tragedy in the Balkans, the division
administration has decided to cancel the educational tour and to have the
meeting instead at its headquarters office in St Albans," says Reinder
Bruinsma, TED executive secretary. "It would be inappropriate to go ahead
with these activities while hundreds of thousands are suffering in
neighbouring countries."
Entered
April 16, 1999
Lawsuit against Adventist hospital
The family of a man who died in Glendale Adventist Medical Center
hospital in California have sued the hospital and a respiratory therapist
on duty at the time of the death. The suit claims wrongful death and
emotional distress upon the family. This is the first lawsuit in the
"angel of death" case, where a worker at the hospital confessed to killing
dozens of near-death patients, but then recanted. The worker has since
been dismissed, but no criminal charges have been laid.
Entered
April 10, 1999
Answers to prayer
The Adventist-run Sermon Illustrations website has launched an email service
called "Answers to Prayer." It gives Adventists and people of other
denominations an opportunity to share how God has blessed them.
To subscribe, send an email to
Majordomo@TAGnet.org
and in the body of the message type: subscribe answers-to-prayer
Entered
April 10, 1999
Andrews wins intervarsity award
Students from the business school at Andrews University won a
prestigious award at the annual Students In Free Enterprise
competition in Ohio this week. Andrews had never entered the competition
before and in competition with business schools from 27 other universities
it won the "Rookie of the Year" Award.
Among the dozen projects that Andrews students developed are:
Entered
Jack Stenger press-release@andrews.edu
April 10, 1999
Film proposed on Adventist murder case
A secular film company is planning to make a film of an investigation
several Adventist journalists did into the death of Australia's "dingo
baby" Azaria Chamberlain. Already one film has been made on the subject --
"A cry in the Dark" (called "Evil Angels" in Australia) featuring
Merryl Streep.
The new film is to be based on the book "What the jury were not
told" by Adventist writer Phil Ward. Ward's book showed that a Seventh-day
Adventist minister and his wife, found guilty of murdering their baby, were
innocent. The book uncovered 54 pieces of evidence not presented
to the trial jury -- evidence which clearly shows that the baby was killed by
a ranger's pet dingo (the Australian equivalent of a coyote).
In Australia, the court case is commonly regarded as "the trial of
the century" (indeed that was the title of one of the six books published about
the case). It made the Adventist pastor's wife, Lindy Chamberlain, the
best known woman in Australia. The court case was reported in depth in
the daily newspapers of all English-speaking countries, except the United States.
Entered
April 9, 1999
Rwandan pastor in court today
An aging Rwandan pastor accused of sending ethnic killers to slaughter
people hiding in his church faced a US federal court hearing today
San Antonio Texas.
Elizaphan Ntakirutimana, 74, a retired Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor
from Rwanda,
is accused of leading Hutu soldiers to his church so they could slaughter
hundreds of Tutsis hiding
inside.
Through his lawyer, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, the retired
pastor denied the allegations.
"It's all political," Clark said. "All it does is feed the hatred that
caused the violence in the first place."
Entered
from Associated Press report
April 9, 1999
Hams on the net
The Adventist Amateur Radio Association can now be found on the Internet at
www.southern.edu/~tmturk/aara/aara.html.
Entered
EeeZee April 9, 1999
Get a chain saw for pews
According to Pastor Robert Steed, churches which still have pews should take
a chain saw to them. Steed is the director of the Trans Australia Union's
Sabbath school department. He is quoted this week in "The Record" (the
South Pacific Division's weekly newspaper) as saying Sabbath schools need to
get rid of pews to make them more friendly.
Entered
April 9, 1999
Teen prayer conferences
Two prayer conferences for Adventist teenagers will be held at Union College
Lincoln Ne in September. The Teen's Pray '99 conference will held a special
training conference September 8 -9 and the prayer conference itself on
September 9-11. Both sessions combined cost $55, the prayer conference only
is $40.
For more information contact
prayer@ucollege.edu.
Entered
Plusline April 9, 1999
adventist.fm news in Korean
A Korean website is translating adventist.fm news stories so they are
available to Korean-speaking people around the world. The website is at
www.egw.org (which doesn't stand for Ellen G White -- it's "Everlasting
Gospel Worldwide"). The website and news service is operated by
Kwon JohngHaeng, pastor of Nowon Mission Church of SDA in Seoul, Korea.
"I have been so much blessed by Adventist.fm. It has broadened my view of
the Adventist Church as a world church and family," he says. Now he wants to
share that blessing with Korean-speaking Adventists worldwide. As well as
carrying adventist.fm news stories, the Korean
news service also includes stories from the Adventist Church in Korea. It
can be accessed directly from adventist.fm by clicking on "Korean" in the
frame above.
Entered
April 9, 1999
Practical book about the Sabbath
Pacific Press has published a practical book designed to help Seventh-day
Adventists get more out of the Sabbath. It's called "Making Sabbath Special,"
by Celeste Perrino Walker. Plusline News says the book
helps Adventists discover simple
traditions to make Sabbath celebrations a delight.
It costs US$10.95 and is available at Adventist Book Centers.
Entered
Plusline April 8, 1999
Press release earns $1000 for Kosovo
A local church's press release about Adventists in Kosovo has so far earned
$1000 in public donations. The press release was faxed
last weekend to local media by Coolum Beach Church (the
sponsor of this website). The story was used by radio, TV and in the press.
Several letters
containing checks have arrived in each mail delivery since. So far $1000
has been donated with the amount received each day being greater than the
previous day -- so the total earned from one press release could yet be
much more. An updated version of the
press release
is now on line at on this website. Print it out. Subsitute your local names
for the names in the press release. Then fax it to your local media today or
tomorrow.
Adventist.fm will keep updating the press release so it is current at the time
you send it to your local media.
Click here for the current version. "Earning $1000
this way is a lot easier than ingathering," grins a Coolum Beach Church member.
The South Pacific Division has now emailed the sample press release to its
press officers urging them to submit it to their local media.
Entered
April 8, 1999
Serving two million meals a week
ADRA is now serving two million ready-to-eat meals a week to Kosovo refugees
in Albania. Experienced personnel are going to Albania to manage
the Adventist food distribution in that country. The project is being largely
run by Seventh-day Adventist volunteers. ADRA Denmark will spend US$500,000
helping to improve the quality of life for the refugees with blankets,
kitchen utensils, hygiene kits and trauma counselling.
Entered
ANR April 8, 1999
Relief work in Macedonia
In Macedonia, an anticipated grant of US$160,000 from the
German government will enable ADRA to provide refugees with
blankets, food, plastic sheeting and medicines. Tihomir Lipohar, from
ADRA/Germany, is currently co-ordinating relief efforts in five areas in
Macedonia: Tetovo, Gostivar, Kicevo, Kumanovo and Skopje. He is being
assisted by
members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in that country.
Entered
ANR April 8, 1999
Truckload going into Kosovo
A truckload of supplies will be taken inside Kosovo itself, thanks to a $US25,000
grant from the Trans-Eurpean Division of SDAs. In Kosovo, ADRA has
representatives of both Serbian and Albanian background. So it has workers
there who are able to help people of both ethnic backgrounds.
Entered
ANR April 8, 1999
The Hungarian's mite
From its limited resources, the Hungarian Union of the church has donated
$US2,000 to the Kosovo relief effort.
"Now
is the time to demonstrate our brotherly love and to unite in helping the
people in need regardless of nationality," says Joszef Szilvasi, the union
president.
Entered
ANR April 8, 1999
Adventist earth scientists wanted
The church's
Geoscience Research Institute wants to contact Adventists
with
a background in geology or paleontology. "We are especially interested in
finding potential guest lecturers on creationism and flood geology for
our
Field Conferences," says the Institute's director Jim Gibson.
Replies can be emailed to
jgibson@univ.llu.edu
Entered
April 8, 1999
Baptisms in Yugoslavia
An email from an Adventist in war-torn Yugoslavia reports that his local church had
four baptisms last Sabbath. One of the four was a man who married an Adventist
but persecuted her for several years because of her faith. His actions at times
put her in hospital for long periods.
"But Spirit of our Lord and prayers of his wife changed his life and four days ago he
has baptized," says the email.
Entered
SDAnet April 8, 1999
Balkan appeal launched
The Trans-European Division today launched a Balkan Crisis Appeal and gave the
first donatation --- US$150,000.
"We invite all Seventh-day Adventists to help us by sending funds to our
office," says Bertil Wiklander, president of the Trans-European Division of
the Seventh-day Adventist Church. "Being the home division for numerous
war victims in the Balkans, we must take responsibility for relieving them
of suffering and setting an example. I am very grateful for the support we
are receiving from other world divisions and unions within the
Trans-European Division. Like the good Samaritan in the parable of Jesus,
we want to provide food, shelter, and medical assistance, giving it
regardless of political, ethnical, or religious affiliation."
Those who wish to help in this way should contact: Trans-European
Division, ADRA Office, 119 St Peter's Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY,
England. Tel: +44 1727 860331; Fax: +44 1727 866312; E-mail:
72731.2215@compuserve.com.
Entered
ANR April 8, 1999
Church growth in Sudan
The civil war in Sudan has helped the church enter the largely Muslim north
of the country. There are now 4,600 members in the northern part of
Sudan, most of whom migrated from the south where civil war has raged for
20 years. In recent times there has been considerable church growth because
of the newly-arrived Adventists.
The work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the southern part
of Sudan, which is in the hands of a rival government, is growing even more
rapidly. Membership is now estimated at 2,600. It is co-ordinated from an
office in Arua, in northern Uganda. In keeping with the political reality,
church activities are organised in two separate units: the Sudan Field in
the North, and the South Sudan Field.
Entered
ANR April 8, 1999
Newbold evangelism in Egypt
A team of Newbold College students from England has held a revival
meeting and baptism in Egypt. The meetings resulted in a quarter of the
students at Cairo's Nile Union Academy being baptised.
"It has been an enormous blessing," says Academy principal Monroe
Morford. "The team from Newbold gave of themselves fully -- assisting in
the classrooms, working beside the students and supporting them in every
way. They have shown what Christianity is about."
Entered
ANR April 8, 1999
Church takes neutral position on Kosovo
The World leaders of the Adventist Church have issued a statement on Kosovo
affirming the church's neutralitiy in the conflict. The statement affirms the
church has a non-political stance, however, the statement included a political
statement condemning both ethnic cleansing and NATO bombing. The
leaders pledged the church to promote human rights in the Kosovo area and
promised to give relief aid to the needy in the area, irrespective of race
or religion.
Click here for the full text of the statement.
Entered
ANN April 7, 1999
Detailed plans for Bulkans
Senior officers of the Trans European Division of the Adventist Church are
meeting today to discuss more detailed plans to assist victims of the
Bulkans crisis. The meeting is especially paying attention to how to help the
10,000 members of the Adventist Church in Serbia and Kosovo.
Entered
ANN April 7, 1999
Satellite program for ministers
A live satellite broadcast on April 20 will be used to help Seventh-day
Adventists forge better links with ministers of other denominations. The
satellite program is sponsored "Ministry" magazine with world-class speakers
giving tips on preaching.
"We are expecting 500 downlink sites to be online on April 20," says
Nikolaus Satelmajer, seminar director. "This, our second satellite seminar,
will include Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands for the first
time, as well as Europe, the Caribbean and the whole of North America."
Entered
ANN April 7, 1999
New Ellen White CD coming
The White Estate is working on a new version of its CD which carries all the
published Ellen White writings (including the 21 volumes of Manuscript Releases.
It will probably be available in about two months. At the same time the
White Estate plans to release three other new products on CD.
Entered
April 7, 1999
End of millenium book
Seventh-day Adventist theologian
Jon Paulien examines the end-of-the-world-hype in a new book addressing
millennial fears, including the Y2K bug.
In his book "Millennium Bug: Is This The End of the World As We Know
It?", Paulien calls for a level-headed approach as society and Christians face
a new millennium. End-of-the-century cataclysms might understandably lead
people to look skyward, but date-setting for Christ's return is always a risky
endeavor, Paulien says.
"Not only does this practice go against clear Biblical teaching, it also can
make for a roller-coaster spiritual experience," he said. "As Christians we
are called to focus on our relationship with God and not be overly fixated
on the news or Biblical prophecies."
The 128-page "Millennium Bug" is published by Pacific Press and should be
available in US ABCs in about a week.
Entered
ANN April 7, 1999
Video on birth of Andrews Uni
A new video is available on the birth of Andrews University.
It gives the views of insiders about the merging of the three educational
bodies (Emmanuel Missionary College, Potomac University,
and the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary) which became Andrews
University. Further details are on line at
www.ameritech.net/users/ecklexa/ecklexa.html
Entered
April 6, 1999
Biggest ever ADRA project
The Adventist Church is now caring for up to 100,000 refugees in Albania.
This is believed to be the biggest humanitarian aid project undertaken by
the church. Ready-to-eat meals are being flown by helicopter into the Kukds
refugee camp in Albania's north -- because roads are
breaking up from the traffic flowing in and out of the refugee camp.
"Kukds is mainly serving as a transit location for people
immediately evacuating Yugoslavia," reports Sean Robinson, ADRA
Albania director. "Most of the people now arriving are transferred out
to less populated districts in the south to avoid overcrowding."
The remaining eight camps are in
Has, Vlord,
Bajrum Curri, Cibrd, Fier, Korcd, Berat, and Gjirokastdr.
The meals are being
donated by the World Food Programme (WFP) and distributed by
ADRA staff.
As part of this rapid effort, eight ADRA
employees are leaving the United States in the next three days to join
European counterparts to assist in this program.
Entered
April 5, 1999
Deaf Ministries website enlarged
Canadian Deaf Ministries has enlarged its website.
The web site, at
www.tagnet.org/deafministry,
is an evangelistic tool
to reach deaf and hard of hearing world-wide.
It also contains sections for parents of deaf children and material for
those becoming deaf.
For more details click on Grass Roots News (above).
Entered
by canadiandm@attcanada.net canadiandm@attcanada.net
April 4, 1999
ADRA lead food distribution agency
The United Nations today (Sunday) signed an agreement making ADRA the
lead agency for food distribution to the Kosovo refugees in Albania. ADRA
is taking charge of nine regions in the country.
It was originally going to take charge in four regions, but in the United
Nations' opinion the Adventists were best on the ground to run in the
additional five regions as well.
ADRA will be fully operational in the
country tomorrow.
ADRA/Denmark is sending five trucks to Albania that will
be used to transport food to the refugee camps. ADRA/Germany is
sending a cargo plane with relief goods to the region.
There are more details in
ANR Europe News.
Entered
April 4, 1999
ADRA's gears up inside Yugoslavia
ADRA/Trans-Europe will
spearhead activities to help the victims of the conflict within Yugoslavia,
including the Republic of Montenegro and the province of Kosovo.
The assistance will be for all, but will have a special focus to help the
10,000 members of the Adventist Church in Yugoslavia.
"We survived another night of severe bombing" reports Miodrag
Zivanovic, communication director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in
Yugoslavia. "It is a dreadful sight to see bridges, factories, schools,
public heating and electrical plants being destroyed. These are the key
infrastructure necessary for every-day life," he says.
"The bridge over the river Danube, which was blown up in the city
of Novi Sad, was the carrier for the main pipe-line for drinking water to
the population of that city. There is an evident shortage of food and
medical supplies among the general population, including our church
members. Those who have a chronic illness are in a desperate situation,"
continues Zivanovic.
"Food is running out and medical supplies are non-existent in
Kosovo. Therefore we are very worried for
our members in that province where we have two churches and one company,
led by a senior pastor, and a licensed woman minister. We are trying to
find a way of sending through a truckload of food and basic medical
supplies."
Entered
April 4, 1999
Evangelism in bomb shelters
NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia has created opportunities for evangelism, says
Radisa Antic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
in Yugoslavia.
"Against this hopeless destruction, God is powerfully at
work," he says. "Some church members
are taking Bibles and religious literature into air-raid
shelters sharing the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. Especially during
these days, many people have come to Christ, asking to be baptised.
We are praying that the Lord Jesus will bring a wonderful
victory for His kingdom out of this dreadful situation," he says.
Entered
April 4, 1999
Formal statement on Kosovo
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is preparing a formal statement
about the Kosovo crisis. It should be released mid-week
says
Reinder Bruinsma, executive secretary of the Trans-European Division
"It will state that the Church intends to remain neutral as far
as the political issue is concerned, but that it condemns the use of
violence as a means of conflict-resolution - whether it be ethnic cleansing
or bombing. The Church will do all it can to work for a return to peace
and of respect for human rights. At the same time, ADRA, the humanitarian
arm of the Church, will help the victims of the conflict regardless of
ethnic or religious background. It is expected that the declaration will
be voted by the leaders at the Church world
headquarters in Silver Spring, USA, during their Wednesday meeting," he says.
Entered
April 4, 1999
150th celebration on internet video
The General Conference website has a video on line of last weekend's 150th
anniversary celebration of the Adventist Review. The celebrations were held
at Battle Creek with editor William Johnsson taking the commemorative
church service. "Adventist Review" started its life as "The Advent Review and
Sabbath Herald," later becoming known as "Review and Herald." The weekly
magazine began when Ellen White encouraged her husband James to start a
paper which would be little at first but would grow. The paper became
virtually the only link between Adventists in the church's pioneer days.
Entered
April 4, 1999
3ABN plans radio network
3ABN Adventist TV is preparing to launch the 3ABN Global Radio
Network about October this year. "We presently have the
capability of sending a 24 hour a day audio channel
piggy back on our television signal for no additional
transponder expense. This applies to both our North
American satellite and European satellite," says 3ABN.
"The 3ABN Family and our local church family
specifically prayed the last few months for God's
leading to be made distinctly evident regarding the
radio ministry. God's answer was soon to follow
when 100% of the equipment finances were
committed. That's all we needed to hear! We have
now jumped headlong into preparations and we
praise God for the evidence of His leading," 3ABN says.
Part of the blessing in setting up the radio station was a
cancellation of a three-week block of work in the television
studio. At first the cancellation looked like a major problem.
However, it means construction can be done on the radio studio
which couldn't otherwise happen -- because the constuction noise
would interfer with television studio recording.
Further details are in
3ABN News.
Entered
April 3, 1999
ADRA "best on-site organisation"
ADRA is coordinating a shipment of 16
pallets of medicine and antibiotics to Albania. The shipment,
worth US$130,000,
was
donated by Heart to
Heart International, a non-profit organization based in
Kansas.
The medicine will target the areas of
Berat, Kortd, Kukds, and Vlord in Albania. Heart to Heart selected ADRA
to distribute it because of how good it found ADRA to be when
working on Hurricane Mitch.
"We have had such a good working relationship with ADRA in the
past, and we feel that they are the best organization at on-site
distribution of medicine," says Kirsten Harrison, international
programs project coordinator for Heart to Heart. "ADRA is efficient
and effective at getting medicine to those in most need. ADRA’s staff
have a good working knowledge of the countries they are in, making
it easy for distribution."
Entered
April 3, 1999
Today's ADRA action
Some of the main things ADRA is doing today for the Kosovo crisis include:
"There has been an overwhelming response from
people across the world through ADRA’s network
and we are confident the response will continue," says Milton
McHenry, ADRA senior grants administrator. If your are interested in
assisting with a financial contribution, please call ADRA’s toll-free
number at 1-800-424-ADRA (2372).
Entered
April 3, 1999
Coolum Beach gets local TV coverage
A sample
Kosovo press release
on this website earned Coolum Beach Church a
news item on the six o'clock television news, on breakfast radio,
and a story in a daily
newspaper. (See the newspaper's story in
SQ Aussie News.)
The press release gives a local angle to some
of the Kosovo stories in adventist.fm news. This local angle makes local
media interested in running the story.
"It's not often that the Adventist Church is featured in
the main television news bulletin. And to be featured with a story 100% favorable
to the church is very good," says a Coolum Beach church elder.
Adventist.fm recommends that other churches
modify the press release and fax it to their local radio, TV, and
newspaper outlets. "If you are not in charge of your local church's public
relations, print out a copy of
the press release
and show it to your pastor or the person in charge
of PR. Just replace our names with your local names. Then
for the cost a few faxes, you could earn your local church a lot of
media publicity," the Coolum elder said.
(Coolum Beach Church is the sponsor of this website.)
Entered
April 2, 1999
What ADRA's doing in Albania
ADRA has been promised 5,600 tents from the Italian government, and $20,000 for a
feeding programme for Kosovo refugees arriving in Albania.
Food is freely available
and fairly cheap in Albania so it is more cost effective to send funds to
our ADRA team there than to transport it from overseas, reports BUC Adventist News.
ADRA, in partnership with the World Food Program, has been given reponsibllity
for
distribution of basic food to the refugees in the Kukes area in north Albania
and Vlore, Berat and Korce in the south. It will also register the incoming
refugees.
This is a major programme, expected
to be funded by World Food Program or the United Nations refugee
organisation. The work, where possible, will be done by Adventists.
For more details on what the church is doing, see
ANR Europe News.
Entered
ANR and BUC News April 2, 1999
Cancelled convoy back on the road
A cancelled truck convoy of ADRA aid for Yugoslavia from Britain is now
being sent to Albania. The convoy had been many months in preparation, but
was cancelled last week when hostilities closed the Yugoslav border (see
earlier story). However, the truckloads of blankets, clothes and basic
medicine are just what's needed now in Albania, so the convoy of Adventist
laity is rumbling out with those items.
Entered
BUC News April 2, 1999
Yugoslav Church asks for help
Late yesterday afternoon a request for help from the Seventh-day
Adventist Church in Yugoslavia came to the Trans-European Division office.
"We are struggling to survive,"
says
Dr Radisa Antic, president of the Church in Yugoslavia.
"During the day, and
more often at night, the ground trembles, the flames of fire can be seen
all around, together with children and women screaming." He reports that
there are "many destroyed houses, schools and industrial buildings" and
says that "we are on the edge of a humanitarian catastrophe in the whole
territory of Yugoslavia".
There is a strong fear that a general famine will hit the country
in a short time. As reported by ANR yesterday, the whole church in
Yugoslavia is organised to serve people with food and other basic
necessities. In Antic's appeal for help, he stresses the need for the
Adventist Church world-wide to show solidarity with their fellow believers
in concrete ways such as food, clothes and medicines.
Entered
ANR April 2, 1999
Kosovo helps ADRA charity status
ADRA in Britain has just received official charity status -- thanks to the
Kosovo crisis. The UK process to become a charity can be lengthy. Because of
the Kosovo crisis, a church official rang to see how the application was
going. He found that the process was almost complete and a registered charity
number would be issued on April 15. The church officer said that in the light
of the Kosovo Crisis, it would be helpful to have the number earlier. The
public servant replied, "Ring back in two days." But they didn't even have to
wait two days -- they were allocated the number in two hours!
Entered
BUC News April 2, 1999
3ABN broadcasts Paulsen town hall meeting
Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) today broadcasts a live town hall
meeting with the new General Conference President, Pastor Jan Paulsen.
Pastor Mark Finley hosts this special live event with Danny and
Linda Shelton. 3ABN will take viewer questions for the President on
the air! The broadcast is 8pm central US time April 1. The program will be
shown on the internet at
www.3abn.org.
Entered
April 2, 1999
UK website busier than switchboard
This weekend the UK Adventist Church website should receive hit number 20,000,
a milestone for the comparitively small British church. The site
www.adventist.org.uk
gets
about 50 hits a day -- which is more hits
than incoming phone calls through the switchboard.
The British Union news service now emails mailing 700 copies
of its weekly Adventist news service.
Entered
April 2, 1999
Celebrating 125 years
In September, Newbold College in England will host a conference to celebrate
the 125th anniversary of the
dispatch of J N Andrews as the first Seventh-day
Adventist overseas missionary. That is also the 125th anniversary of the
denomination in Britain and Europe. The conference will have 43 papers
presented by Adventist and non-Adventist speakers from 15 countries. It will
look at the development of religious minorities in Europe.
This theme was selected as being suitable to
to commemorate J N Andrews for
several reasons, including Andrews' own interests. He was a notable
scholar, described by Ellen White as "the ablest man in our ranks." He wrote
an authoritative history of the seventh-day Sabbath - still respected for its
scholarship; finally, he appreciated other Protestants and was especially
friendly with Seventh-day Baptists.
The broad theme of this conference
will allow for analysis of Adventist work in Europe in a wide historical and
social context.
Entered
April 2, 1999
Andrews mourns two student deaths
Andrews University is mourning the death of two of its students.
Junior English major Jody Stout died on Wednesday (March 31)
in a bus accident in Taiwan. Stout, 21, had been serving
since January as a student missionary in Pingtung, Taiwan, where
she was teaching English and Bible at the San Yu English Bible
Center.
Her father, Kenneth Stout, is a homiletics
professor in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at
Andrews.
Senior management major Sala Poua died in the Lakeland
Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, Mich., on Monday (March
29) after a four-month battle with cancer. The Samoan-born Poua
was a mother of two children and a much-loved member of the
campus' close-knit Samoan community. She was 45.
Her husband Lauilo Poua is a master's of
divinity student in the seminary.
Entered
April 2, 1999
Every pastor on disaster relief
Every pastor in Yugoslavia will be acting as an ADRA co-ordinator
to provide food and shelter where needed, reports
ANR Europe News.
This will give the church a
well-oiled structure to assist the needy within Yugoslavia and make the
church an aid agency with one of the most rapid reponse times possible.
Entered
April 1, 1999
Rapid Cambodian growth
Today there are 3,000 church members in a country where, nine years ago,
there were no Seventh-day Adventists. Thanks to the work of Global Mission
pioneers, the south-east Asian country of Cambodia now has 65 Adventist
churches.
Cambodia has a history of incredible tragedy. During a period of
less than four years during the 1970s, a million people, or one Cambodian
in seven, died from starvation or illness. The Pol Pot regime executed
hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, more. During this period and into
the 1990s waves of refugees fled into Thailand.
In these Thai refugee camps, Seventh-day Adventist work in Cambodia
was reborn. In the early 1990s, several Seventh-day Adventist congregations
were started among the refugees, and thousands were baptised.
In 1992, 18 Bible workers were selected from the refugee camps to
go back into Cambodia and begin work among their own people. "These
dedicated pioneers lit the fire that is now rapidly spreading throughout
the country," says Gary Krause, Communication director for Global Mission.
"The work has been almost totally lay-driven, and the first Cambodian
pastor will be ordained only this year. The only thing holding them back is
resources. There's no shortage of commitment and enthusiasm, but the church
is incredibly poor.
"Global Mission has proved over and over again that lay people
working among their own cultural groups is the most effective method of
sharing the good news. When Global Mission pioneers go into a new area they
speak the language, they understand the culture, they live with the people,
eat with the people, and they're not conspicuous like western missionaries.
Their holistic ministry takes us back to New Testament times."
Some 95 per cent of Cambodians are Buddhist, with a small
percentage of Muslims and animists.
Entered
April 1, 1999
How to promote Kosovo appeal in local media
Local Adventist Churches should hold a local appeal for Kosovo victims and
let local media know about it, says adventist.fm news editor Phil Ward.
"Because we don't let people know what we are doing, many people, even
Adventists, make
donations to other aid organisations. But our church does more in crises like
this than almost any other aid organisation. We should let the media know
and let our church members know also," he says. Ward is taking his own advice.
He contacted the local daily newspaper covering Coolum Beach, where he is the
senior elder. Once they had the local angle about the local Adventist Church
holding an appeal, they were very keen to get details about what the Church
is doing for the Kosovo victims.
Click here for a copy of a press release Ward faxed to
local media. You can modify this by changing the names of people and the
localities and removing any comment which does not apply in your case.
Then fax it to your own local media. (Use your browser's "Save frame as"
facility to capture the press release. Then modify it in a text editor.
If you cannot do this, just retype the press release with changed wording.)
Entered
April 1, 1999
New website for Adventist women
General Conference has opened a Women's Ministries website. The new site
provides practical information for Seventh-day Adventists involved in
Women's Ministries. You can check it out at
www.jcg.com/wm. Also on new websites:
The Northern Asia-Pacific Division of the church has opened its new website.
It's at
www.sdansd.org
Entered
April 1, 1999
ADRA to feed 40,000 refugees
Today, Adventists from ADRA Germany are procuring food and hygienic
materials for 4,000 families (about 40,000 people)
in refugee settlement areas of Macedonia. Each family will receive 44
pounds (20 kilograms) of food, including wheat, rice, noodles, milk,
beans, fresh fruit and more. The family package will also include
hygiene items such as soap,
toothbrushes, towels, etc. All of the items will be purchased directly in
Macedonia. The number being helped by the Adventist Church is about
one-third of the total number of refugees from Kosovo, making the Adventist
Church one of the major players in providing assistance.
Entered
April 1, 1999
Truckload from Czech Republic
The Adventist Church is one of the quickest acting relief agencies in sending
aid to help the people of Kosovo.
If you can assist
with a financial contribution, please call
ADRA’s toll-free number in the US at 1-800-424-ADRA, or outside North
America, contact your local Conference office.
Entered
April 1, 1999
Major upgrade of website
Adventist.fm has just completed the biggest update it has done to its
website. There are hundreds of pieces of new information now on line in most
areas of the website. For example, the amount of material in the Adventist Humor section
has doubled. There are new articles in the online magazine, new health tips,
new comments on Bible subjects, new suggestions for how to do various
tasks at church, and new reviews of Adventist websites. So if the Melissa
virus has ruined your ability to read email this week, read the pages of
adventist.fm instead.
Entered
March 31, 1999
Yugoslavia: Paulsen calls for prayer
Pastor Jan Paulsen, the world president of the Adventist Church, has
called for prayer for Yugoslavia and the whole troubled Balkan region.
"It is nothing short of a catastrophe," he said. "As a Church we are
troubled and concerned at these developments which are affecting so many
people throughout the Balkans. This crisis causes us much distress as we
recognize the humanitarian impact of violence, and we pray for its speedy
resolution. Our hearts go out to all those who have lost loved ones, who
have suffered injury, or who have been forced to flee their homes."
More than 10,000 Adventists live in the two republics of Serbia and
Montenegro that make up Yugoslavia. Since the onset of hostilities,
Adventist members have been forced to conduct worship services in
basements or air-raid shelters.
Entered
ANN March 31, 1999
Pastor in Yugoslav army
A pastor is among the Adventists drafted into the Yugoslav Army, reports
Pastor Slavko Tasic, president of the South Conference in
Yugoslavia. This may make the minister a frontline target for NATO air
raids.
In Kosovo, where previously 30 Adventist
members met in two churches, no meetings are being held since most left
prior to the fighting.
Church aid activities in the troubled Kosovo province are not possible;
however the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is assisting
refugees entering nearby Albania.
Entered
ANN March 31, 1999
Laughter expert in the news
Laughter appears to increase antibodies, according to an Adventist researcher
quoted in USA Today.
Dr Lee S. Berk of Loma Linda University School of Medicine
calls laughter "internal jogging." he has found that it decreases significant
stress hormones such as cortisol, a substance that suppresses immune
system components.
Dr. Berk also reported in the article that mirthful laughter appears to increase
antibodies
called immunoglobulins that help fight infections.
A study in the USA Today article noted that children
laugh about 400 times a day, while adults average only 15. "Somewhere
between childhood and adulthood we lose the ability to laugh," Dr. Berk
says.
Dr. Berk receives several calls per week from medical institutions that want to
add more
whole-person components such as laughter/ humor and music (positive
mood states) to their healing curriculum.
Dr. Berk is also
in demand from the press and electronic media as an expert in this field.
Dr. Berk's research has been featured nationally and internationally on ABC,
NBC, CBS, Christian Lifestyle Magazine, The Discovery Channel, and The
Learning Channel.
Entered
ANN March 31, 1999
Media invade Southern Uni campus
About a dozen television crews, plus writers for Sports Illustrated,
radio stations, and newspapers invaded Southern Adventist University to hear
football star Jason Watt. He was talking on the campus for Drug and Alcohol
Awareness Week and was speaking for the first time publically about the
accident that killed two of his friends.
Authorities said that all three men were drunk at the time Watts' pickup truck
went off a two-lane road and flipped. Scott Brock, 21, and Artie Steinmetz, 19,
died at the scene. Watts is scheduled for trial July 19, 1999, on two counts of
manslaughter and one count of wanton endangerment. His lawyer, James
Lowry, introduced Watts at the assembly, and followed up with closing
remarks.
Watts, who suffered a 12-inch gash on his arm, said he sees the scar every
day when he brushes his teeth. It brings to his mind the bloody faces of the
men he says he killed while driving drunk after a night of post-game partying.
"Because of my poor judgment, I cost those boys their lives," Watts
admitted. He said that God had moved him to speak out about drinking and
driving so that the deaths of his friends would not be in vain.
Entered
ANN March 31, 1999
Gearing up for Kosovo refugees
ADRA in Albania is preparing to assist Kosovo refugees with food, temporary
shelter, and medical aid.
It has established a rapid coordination team
to assess the situation, coordinate activities with other relief
organisations and
respond immediately to problems.
The team includes an
Albanian doctor, a logistician, and the ADRA country director.
"It’s a human catastrophe with so many women and children being
victims," says Sean Robinson, ADRA
director in Albania. "The refugees will need
medical attention due to illness and trauma after prolonged exposure
to cold temperatures," he says. Refugees are living in the open without
shelter. At least 70,000 refugees have
already crossed the border into Albania.
The government of Albania has established an interministerial
commission to distribute refugees into Albania and prevent
overcrowding at various shelters.
For more information about ADRA’s relief efforts in Albania or to
assist with a financial contribution, please call ADRA’s US toll-free
number at 1-800-424-ADRA.
Entered
March 30, 1999
10,000 hits a month
The adventist.fm website is now attracting 10,000 hits a month, the target its
sponsors at Coolum Beach Church set for it before it went on line late last year.
"A few days before we went on line, we advised one of the major Adventist
websites of our 10,000 hits a month target," says a Coolum Beach Church
spokesman. "They wrote back and said we should learn to crawl before we
walk. I think we've learned walk pretty quickly," the spokesman joked.
Just under 100,000 pages of information are requested from the adventist.fm
website each month.
Entered
March 30, 1999
Sabbath in air raid shelters
Most Adventist Church services in Yugoslavia on Sabbath were held in air raid
shelters or church basements, reports
ANR Europe News.
Many
congregations held ordinance services because
members felt this may be their last Sabbath and they wanted to renew their
covenant with the Lord.
One member said, "Now I better understand the meaning of Psalm
121: 'I lift up my eyes to the hills where my help comes from.'" "Every
word of Scripture is now more meaningful to me," said another member.
"In Novi Sad bombs have damaged the houses of several of our
believers," reports Radivoj Vladisavljevic, president of Yugoslavia's
North Conference. "I have asked pastors and
elders to visit believers and friends more than ever, and by this
express their concern for their lives. I have asked them to pray and read
the Bible in small groups or in the basements and other shelters -- if it is
not possible for them to go to church. This tribulation is another sign
that the time is near when Jesus will come and
make an end to suffering and evil," the Conference president said.
Entered
March 30, 1999
Adventist message on Yugoslav TV
A pastoral letter written to Adventists in Yugoslavia was featured on
the evening television news in the war-torn country. The letter is from
the president of the Trans-European Division, Dr Bertil Wiklander, and was
read to Adventist congregations on Sabbath.
"The news of the air-strikes against Yugoslavia has shocked us and
left our souls in deep anguish," Dr Wiklander said.
"Our hearts go out to you and we want you
to know that, whatever happens, we stand by your side in thoughts, prayers,
and support. The suffering, the fear of what will happen next, and the
sense of being inflicted a terrible injustice, must be a tormenting
experience for you all. I want you to know, however, that the Seventh-day
Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division keeps you all in our
prayers. We pray for your safety and prosperity."
Entered
March 30, 1999
Paulsen's concern
On hearing the news that NATO started air strikes on Yugoslavia,
Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church,
expressed deep concern about the situation in
Yugoslavia. "I have many memories from 10 years of the most rewarding and
pleasant contacts with our people there," he said. "The warmth and
friendship is difficult to describe adequately. Therefore, I also feel the
suffering they must all be going through at this time. Please, assure them
that their brothers and sisters around the world have not forgotten them,"
Pastor Paulsen said.
Entered
March 30, 1999
Complaint about AussieSDA
An anti-discrimination tribunal in Australia tomorrow meets to consider a
complaint that the
AussieSDA
email area discriminated against a homosexual.
SQ Aussie News
reports that the individual claims he was dropped from the group because
he is a homosexual -- a claim denied by the email group moderator.
Entered
March 29, 1999
Baptism requests in Yugoslavia
Some good at least has already come to the Adventist Church from the NATO
bombing of Yugoslavia.
"In the last three days four people who
regularly visited our church in the past decided to be baptized as soon as possible,"
says an email from an Adventist in Yugoslavia. "Hopefully
it will happen on Sabbath April 3." On Friday night some Adventists ignored
the bombing danger in the country to attend vesper services at their
churches. The email report tells of twelve people walking for an hour
to get to church during
the time air raid sirens were blazing. They felt it was
important to fellowship and that the Lord would protect them. The Adventists
in Serbia are particularly concerned for their fellow Adventists who have
been drafted into the Army.
"Last night a military camp in Djakovica was attacked and we don't know
what happen to a brother from Belgrade's church who does his
military service there. His name is Sasha Dimich. Because he is SDA, he
serves as librarian in military library," the email report says.
Entered
March 29, 1999
Electronic prayer network launched
Carole Ferch-Johnson, the South Pacific Division's prayer coordinator,
has launched an electronic prayer network. "It's time to call on God's
strength and power with new focus," she says. "That's were we're establishing
a prayer network." To join, send an email to
eyeo@adventist.org.au asking to have your email address included
as part of the network.
Entered
March 28, 1999
On line Sabbath school class
An online Sabbath school class begins next Sabbath (April 3) for those unable to
attend a living Sabbath school class. The lesson will be taken by Steve
Terry of
apostle@cet.com. It will be held at 10am USA Pacific time. Details are
on Steve Terry's website
http://www.cet.com/~apostle.
Entered
March 27, 1999
Adventists frontline bombing targets
Some Adventist in Yugoslavia have been drafted into the Yugoslavian Army and
may therefore be frontline targets for NATO bombing of that country. Adventists
in Yugoslavia have requested prayer for these and all church members in that
country during the present war situation.
"I would like to ask you to pray for peace and security of the believers
since many church buildings do not have a basement in case of
NATO action during church services. Pray for wisdom for our leaders and pastors
that we really could be light to the world during this
hard time for our country," an email report from Yugoslavia says.
"I spent last night mainly in the basement with some other church members who
live near me. In between the bombardings we visited old church members
who are not able to move from their houses," the email says.
Entered
from SDAnet email March 27, 1999
Creating better public image
The North American Division has appointed a journalist to increase the public
image of the Adventist Church in North America.
Celeste
Ryan has accepted the new position of Media Relations Manager.
Ryan, who has worked in communications for 10 years, will work to fulfill a
recommendation by a 1997 Commission on the Public Image of the Church
to increase awareness of the Church, its mission, message, and membership,
in North America.
She has been Marketing and Communication Coordinator for ACN for
the past four years. She also edits a Generation X magazine she founded in
1992 called The View, and is a noted motivational speaker.
"If you have stories or clippings in your conference about Adventists and
events recognized in the public media, Ryan would love to have a copy,"
says Monday Fax. "If
you know of people or stories that you think would be of interest to national
public media, please let her know on
celesteryan@compuserve.com. (Note, there will not be another Monday Fax
until April 19).
Entered
March 27, 1999
Satanic attack on Adventist Church
An Adventist Church has been included in a spate of Satanic attacks on
Christian Churches in Adelaide, Australia. As part of vandalism of the
Stirling Adventist Church, a
a doll was stabbed in the
chest
and left in an oven.
The words 'Manson rules' were also spray-painted on the wall,
apparently a reference to American singer and self-confessed
satanist Marilyn Manson.
Further details are in
SQ Aussie News.
Entered
March 27, 1999
ADRA convoy halted by air raids
An ADRA project to take medical supplies from Britain to Yugoslavia has been
called off because of NATO air raids. The truck convoy was on its way to
Yugoslavia when the attacks began. More details in BUC News (Click on
British above.)
Entered
March 27, 1999
New approach to divorcees
The British Union is taking a new approach to help divorcees in the
Adventist Church. A seminar for divorcees in London avoided the "guilt"
labels so often applied to Adventist divorcees.
"At last the church is recognising that many of us are not lepers, but the
innocent victims of broken relationships," said one person attending the
seminar. "It is so good to meet with others
who share a similar experience," said another attendee. This is
the first of a series of seminars called "Dealing with
Divorce" at the Advent Centre in Central London.
Seven stages of the divorce process were presented and discussed.
The British will continue with this approach with further seminars
scheduled for April and May.
There's more details
in British news (click above).
Entered
March 27, 1999
No Adventist deaths in Yugoslavia
Early reports from ANR news suggest there have been no Adventist deaths
from air raids in Yugoslavia.
There are more than
10,000 Seventh-day Adventists in Yugoslavia who are
worshipping God in 180 churches. "Recent events in Yugoslavia make us
deeply concerned about the lives of our people and the prosperity of the
church" says Dr Bertil Wiklander, President of the Trans-European Division.
"I personally know the church members in Yugoslavia to be good and
warm-hearted people," he said A major evangelistic campaign being conducted by Australian
evangelist Peter Roennfeldt has been cancelled because of the air raids.
Until the air raids started about 300 non-SDAs were still gathering for Bible
studies and were close to being baptised.
Further exclusive details in
ANR news.
Entered
March 26, 1999
Gorbie's views on religion in Russia
Former USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev says he wants to see church and state
kept separate in Russia. His comments came in answer to questions asked by
an Adventist, Gina Wahlen, at a lecture this month at Cambridge, England.
Gorbachev introduced draft legislation for religious freedom in the 1980s.
"There
have been certain steps backwards since then, but that was in order to
combat certain dangerous sects," he said.
Gorbachev then named a certain group in Russia that has allegedly been
responsible for murders. "But all religions enjoy rights and support. Many
church buildings are being returned to the churches, and all are free.
Religion will gain momentum, as it always does during
difficult times." he said.
Entered
from ANN News March 26, 1999
New Adventist radio in Jamaica
A new radio station on the island of Jamaica in
the Western Caribbean went on air earlier this month to serve a large part of
the island. "WIC Radio" is located at 88.3 FM. Station Manager Dwayne
Cheddar says the 100 watt signal reaches out 50 miles in all directions, or half
of Jamaica, a country of 2.5 million.
Entered
March 26, 1999
New Ukrainian college get official approval
A new Adventist university-level college in the Ukraine has received official
accreditation approval from education authorities. The college intends to take
in its first students in September this year at its campus near Kiev. It will
have three departments in the college, Business, English, and Religion.
For further information, contact Pastor Anatoli Zhalovaga at
zhalovag@ukrsem.kiev.ua.
Entered
March 26, 1999
Andrews course on herbal medicine
Herbal medicine is one of the current big health fads and Andrews University
is running a new course on the subject.
The 10-week
class, titled Medical Botany, starts next week.
The class content will focus on the claims and counter claims of
medicinal plants. The class, which will be particularly well
suited for medical providers and health educators, can be taken
for credit and non-academic credit and is open to the general
public.
Dennis Woodland, Andrews professor of botany and coordinator
of the course, said medical botany contends with the influence
that plants have on the body, foods, medicine anthropology and
human behavior. Students will learn how to recognize medicinal
plants in the wild, and they will explore what scientific
literature says about the claims of herbal or complimentary
medicine.
Woodland, who holds a doctorate in botany from Iowa State
University, Ames, said the class would be particularly helpful
for primary-care providers to help them understand the medical
options that their patients might have.
Entered
March 26, 1999
Big Sabbath school study guide drop
Statistics published in the South Pacific Division's newspaper this week show
a dramatic long-term drop in the number of adult Sabbath school study guides
printed for Australia and New Zealand. In the last 25 years, the number of
lesson senior study guides printed per member has dropped 50%. The Division
newspaper suggests the
reason may be a drop in the quality of the lesson study guides, reports
SQ Aussie News.
Entered
March 26, 1999
Fiji Mission climbs out of the red
A big financial burden has been lifted from the shoulders of the Adventist
Church in Fiji with the Fiji Mission clearing $1 million worth of debt.
"The debt was blocking progress and and fuelling the lack of confidence
in this mission and its administration," says mission treasurer Joe
Talemaitoga. The South Pacific Division and the Central Pacific Union Mission
helped pay off some of the debt, but most of its was cleared by local church
members. This has allowed the Fiji Mission to restore all its ministers to
the payroll.
Entered
March 26, 1999
Folkenberg home for sale
Former GC president Robert Folkenberg has listed his home for
sale in Fulton, Md.
Entered
March 26, 1999
ADRA receives too much money
ADRA in Papua New Guinea has a most unusual problem. It received too much
money to assist victims of a massive tidal wave in the country last year.
ADRA feels it would be irresponsible to use all the money for the victims
because it may make them overly dependent on foreign aid. ADRA is writing to
everyone who donated to its appeal advising them that it plans to channel
some of the funds to future diseasers in PNG.
Entered
March 26, 1999
Pastor given 12 months leave
Pastor Oxentenko of the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist church in Takoma Park, Md. of the Potomac conference
has been placed on administrative leave with pay for one year and removed of his pastoral duties at the Sligo
church by the administrative leadership of the Potomac conference. According to the local newspaper that
published the article, his ministerial credentials as a pastor of the SDA church are not threatened.
Entered
March 26, 1999
New concept on 1844
An article published today in the adventist.fm magazine suggests a broadening
of our interpretation of the 1844 prophecy. The traditional Adventist
intepretation says that a cleansing process started in the Sanctuary in
Heaven on the Day of Atonement in 1844. The new article suggests a cleansing
of the Sanctuary also occured on earth at that time.
It says this happened
when Hiram Edson restored the truth about the Sanctuary being in
Heaven. The article says that this earthly
"cleansing of the sanctuary" occured on the very day
that the 2300 years ended -- when Edson received this insight
on October 23, 1844. This is a day later than
the date normally selected for the Day of Atonement. But, the article says,
that if there were clouds at the start of the new lunar month, that would have
delayed
the Day of Atonement one day. So
both October 22 and October 23, 1844 can be regarded as the
Day of Atonement.
Click here to read the article.
Entered
March 22, 1999
Amphitheatre tent site
The site of the large tent at an Australian campground has been shaped
like a giant amphitheatre. This will give people at the outside edges of the
tent a better view of the stage, reports
SQ Aussie News.
Entered
March 22, 1999
ABC held up
Unofficial reports say
staff at the Adventist Book Centre in Cooranbong, Australia were held up at
knife-point or gun-point last week. No further details are currently available. Cooranbong
is historically an important Adventist town in Australia. It is where
Avondale College (the Adventist University) and one of the Australian
Churches giant health food factories are located.
Entered
March 21, 1999
Video to improve worship
A video seminar on improving church worship is now available from
AdventSource.
The two-hour
video specifically targets pastors and elders who want to make
their worship relevant to today's busy members,
reports Plusline. "No matter what worship
style your church prefers you'll find helpful suggestions and tips you can
use. The kit includes an 18-page Participants Guides with planning forms,
profiles and resource listings," Plusline says. The kit costs
$US50
from AdventSource at (800) 328-0525. It is catalog item number 601988.
Entered
March 21, 1999
Woman of the Year nominations
Nominations for the Adventist Woman of the Year Awards are wanted by April 1.
The awards will be presented at the Association of Adventist
Women's conference meeting in Orlando, Florida, October 9.
Pat Foster, chair of the Women of the Year Committee in Loma
Linda, California, is most anxious to receive nominations. In North America
you can contact her
at 909-825-7430 to obtain a nomination form and/or the
requirements for nominees.
Entered
from Monday Fax March 19, 1999
Young adult conference
Fourth National Working Conference for SDA Young Adults will be held in Boston
March 26-28.
"Young adults are leaving the SDA church at a staggering rate. with estimates
that as many as 38% to 50% of young adults have already left the church," says
one of the conference organisers Mark Robinson.
"The conference premise is that we, as young adults, are the solution to
this problem. We are the ones who can create and maintain a vibrant,
living spiritual community in which young adults can grow and experience
the love of Christ," he says.
The Conference was the brainchild of a group of lay young adults from Boston
who were concerned about the number of their friends and family who have
left and are leaving the church. Conferences have been held in Washington
D.C.; South Bend, Indiana; Orlando, Florida and the enthusiasm continues
in Boston!
For more information, contact Mark Robinson
(617) 698-5236
mrobinson@courion.com or
Sherlyn Pang (617) 787-9113
spang@mos.org.
Entered
March 19, 1999
$2 million of free TV time
TV programs from "Faith for Today" are now telecast on 5000 media outlets
like cable stations and satellite systems. The telecasts reach about 160
million homes, Dan Matthews reported to NAD's Evangelism and Media Board
this month.
The programs are broadcast on more than 5,000 outlets like cable stations
and satellite systems that reach more than 158 million homes.
The value of
the programing time, if Faith for Today had to purchase the time, is more than $2
million. But Dan said that Faith pays only $94,000 per year to buy time.
"Cable stations and small independent stations come to us regularly,
asking to carry our program because of its quality and its value to their
audiences. One network pays Faith a licensing fee to carry this Adventist
programing," Dan said.
"Faith for Today" now produces two programs, "Lifestyle
Magazine" and "McDougall M.D."
The Evangelism and Media Board
coordinates the work of media outreach in North America.
Entered
from Monday Fax March 19, 1999
SDA millenium kit
Millennium fever is spreading, says Monday Fax. "What can Seventh-day
Adventists do to use this opportunity to communicate with society in an
appropriate and meaningful way? The Hope 2000 Kit has been prepared to
provide a broad range of ideas for programs in the church and the community
which can be adapted for each congregation," it says. In North America,
contact AdventSource at: 800-328-0525 for more information.
Entered
March 19, 1999
New stress management course
A new stress management course has been developed for local churches to use in
evangelism. The kit for the course includes
For details in North
America contact: The Health Connection at 800-548-8700; Fax: 888-294-8405.
Entered
from Monday Fax March 19, 1999
Radio reporter's surprise visit
Last Sabbath (March 13) saw an unexpected visitor at the Sheffield Carter
Knowle Church in the UK. The woman was a reporter from BBC Radio
who made an unannounced visit to the congregation to assess its
service and give a "church report" on the Sunday morning show. The
reporter who regularly makes unannounced visits to churches of all
denominations in the Sheffield area spoke highly of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church. The reporter spoke very positively about the sermon,
the congregational singing,
the band, and the choir,
She even praised the church bulletin.
Finally the reporter enthused about
the friendliness of the congregation who seemed genuinely interested in her --
a stranger.
Entered
from BUC news March 19, 1999
New millenium ideas on Bristish website
The British Union website has created a new section about the millenium.
Currently there
are three separate pages:
"The information on the web-site is not
complete and we will probably make changes to it as new ideas come
along," says webmaster John Surridge. Because the end of the millenium is on
Friday night, the website recommends churches run a program until midnight.
It recommends a communion service on Friday night to help fill the time
between opening Sabbath and midnight.
The British website is at
www.adventist.org.uk. Select "Year 2000" from the menu.
Entered
from BUC news March 19, 1999
Journalists give ADRA good report
Two news reporters from Germany were
investigating humanitarian activities in South Sudan when they discovered
that their own government was involved in a food project with ADRA/
"ADRA is very
well organised, and is doing a fantastic job, and we have appreciated
ADRA's help very very much", said Ursula Meissner following her front-line
inspection. In this part of Africa, ADRA has surmounted a multitude of
obstacles and the journalists were impressed.
When Ursula
Meissner returned to her home country she phoned the office of
ADRA-Germany and stated "ADRA is much more professional than most
of the other organisations we visited."
Entered
from BUC news March 19, 1999
New Ellen White material on internet
The Ellen G White Estate has added new material to its website about the life,
work and writings of Mrs Ellen White. The new material includes:
Basic Principles Regarding the Messages of Ellen G. White
The material can be accessed at
www.WhiteEstate.org and
www.egwestate.andrews.edu.
Entered
from email by Clarence L. Thomas IV
March 19, 1999
Full story not told to GC
The full list of problems with Robert Folkenberg's leadership was
deliberately not supplied
to the General Conference administrative committee. This was because
detailed evidence was too damaging to Elder Folkenberg, according to a
report to pastors and members of the South Pacific Division. Instead,
the ad hoc committee report which examined the leadership issues only produced
material on three different issues: Ethical concerns, not accepting advice,
and the impact of Elder Folkenberg's actions on the world church. Each of these
areas had matters serious enough that the ad hoc group felt they should be
presented to the GC administrative committee. Thus, they supplied enough material
for the administrative committee to reach a decision, but not so much they might
been seen to be assassinating the character of the then president.
Entered
March 19, 1999
Alumni Awards
The Adventists Alumni Achievement Awards will be given out in
Palm Springs, California, March 19-21.
Attendees gather each year in Palm Springs to honor the
recipients and to spend the weekend celebrating Adventist education.
Entered
from Plusline March 18, 1999
Non-SDAs at Cradle Roll
South Brisbane Church in Australia is using its Cradle Roll Sabbath School as a major
evangelistic program. They advertised their Cradle Roll program to the
community and now half the children and mothers who attend are non-SDAs.
They also try to make the church service more attractive for those non-SDAs
who stay for the second meeting. On an average Sabbath they have 40-50
non-members attending.
Entered
March 18, 1999
Folkenberg gave Moore quarter million dollars
The South Pacific Division is distributing detailed information on the
Folkenberg case to make laity fully-informed. "Much of the detailed evidence
is not complimentary of Elder Folkenberg," says the material. "These issues
did raise serious questions about the ethical, professional and personal
integrity of the office of the President of the General Conference." The
Division's material says that Elder Folkenberg "secured financial support
from generous supporters of the Church to help cover Mr Moore's personal
business expenses. A total of one-quarter of a million dollars of personal
and raised funds appear to have been forwarded to Mr Moore to help cover his
business expenses," the Division's report says. Further details are in
SQ Aussie News.
Entered
March 18, 1999
Big medical shipment for Vietnam
A 20-foot long sea container of medical equipment is
scheduled to arrive at the ADRA Vietnam office on March 26. The
items will be given to a small commune clinic in the Tan Hoa
Commune, about 35 kilometers west of the capital Hanoi.
The equipment was donated by the International Medical
Equipment Collaborative. It includes
an X-ray machine, hospital beds, delivery tables, medical carts and
medicine.
Two future shipments from ADRA
and IMEC are scheduled for the Ukraine later this month and
for Myanmar in April.
Entered
March 18, 1999
New address for adventist.fm
Adventist.fm webmaster Phil Ward has announced an easier way to visit the
adventist.fm website. "Just type adventist.fm into your web browser," he says.
"You don't need www, and you don't need com or net. Thanks to work done by the
people at TAGnet, you only need to type in our name. This seems to work in most
places, except for people in America On Line. They need to type in www --
making it www.adventist.fm. The change is already
operational in most parts of the world. Type in adventist.fm into your
browser now to see if it works for you," Ward says. The website is still
housed at TAGnet and the old address still works, but the new one is in
place for greater convenience.
Entered
March 18, 1999
SDAs to release religious liberty assessment
The Seventh-day Adventist Church
released its preliminary dossier on religious freedom around the world. The
report places the nations of the world in one of five
categories
ranging from
"religious freedom for all" through "restrictive legislation" to "no religious
freedom."
"In the main, persecution comes from religious extremists," says the report.
"Other sources are governments and governmental institutions. Persecution
has been particularly violent in India, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar (Burma),
Pakistan, and Sudan where the chief religions are Buddhism, Hinduism,
and Islam. But Christians are not the only people being persecuted because
intolerance does not stop at any religious boundary."
Among the countries listed as the worst offenders against religious freedom
are Mauritania, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria and Saudi Arabia. The report cites
a number of other countries for violations of religious liberty rights and
restrictive laws.
"The reason for this report is to highlight the different trends in the area of
religious freedom around the world," says John Graz, Public Affairs and
Religious Liberty (PARL) director for the Adventist Church. "A number of
countries give cause for great concern, and in producing this report we
want to call attention to the different problems faced by those whose
religion is not that of the majority. We are committed to religious freedom as
a basic human right, guaranteed by Article 18 of the U.N. Declaration."
Copies of the final report will be available at the end of March.
Entered
from ANN March 18, 1999
No immediate changes, says new president
New Adventist world president Pastor Jan Paulsen says there will be no
immediate and sudden changes to the operation of the church. He told GC
employees this week that this is a moment to hold together and keep the
church on an even keel.
"It would be presumptuous of me even to think that this is the time to make
major changes," said Paulsen. "In the current situation I believe it is
important to have a sense of balance and unity."
Entered
March 18, 1999
Press Release confirms information blackout
An official press release from the General Conference confirms that former
GC president Robert Folkenberg has placed an information blackout on the terms
that settled the Moore lawsuit. (See earlier story.) GC officers are known to
be extremely upset by this tactic. The press release says,
Church attorneys have asked about the settlement terms that led to
the suit being dismissed. They have been told that the Church will not
receive any information because of a confidentiality clause in the
settlement. The Church opposed payment of any money to the plaintiff and
opposed the inclusion of a confidentiality clause in any settlement.
Adventist Risk Management, Inc (which assists the Seventh-day
Adventist Church with its insurance needs) also had no role in the
settlement of the lawsuit. ARM officials said that they purchased a policy
from Chubb Insurance covering directors and officers liability on behalf of
the church. "Because this policy is with an independent company, we have
no claim settlement authority in this matter," said Paula Webber, the
Adventist Risk Management spokesperson.
Although the GC may face higher insurance premiums because of this, this
tactic means they cannot know the basis for any increase in premiums.
There is speculation that, because of this action, Robert Folkenberg will not
be employed on the church's satellite TV program. GC officers see it as
a continuation of his tactic of keeping his peers in the dark about
his actions.
Entered
March 18, 1999
Paulsen's big challenge
Giving the church a common identity in the many cultures of the world is the
highest priority for new Adventist world leader Jan Paulsen.
"Internationality and diversity is not only a great blessing to the Church,
but also a formidable challenge," said Paulsen. "We are located in almost
every culture, and the pressing question in my mind is, ‘How do we hold
together?' This means you have to allow a considerable dexterity without
losing your identity. In ten years —if we are still here— we will probably
have passed the 20 million mark, and if you add the children to that, you're
looking at an Adventist family of 30 million. How do you hold such a
diverse international family together?"
Suggesting some solutions to the question, Paulsen highlighted the
importance of the Adventist identity.
"There has to be specific recognition and guidelines which recognizes the
Church in every culture and every international setting as being the forum
which can best express its identity, its power, its loyalty to God—and that
in itself will bring various elements to the Church. For that to be possible
and at the same time to keep secure and strong that which keeps us
one—that's the challenge.
We all need to allow the Church to find the differences that are compatible
within the oneness of the family. The oneness of the Adventist family is
recognized by our one identity."
Entered
from ANN March 18, 1999
GC president's wife speaks
Kari Paulsen, wife of GC president Jan Paulsen, spoke to a meeting of GC
employees this week on the need for unity
and togetherness in the church.
"For the work to progress, we need to work together," she said. "We cannot
function in isolation." She also
affirmed her joint commitment to work together with her husband: "We
have been together for a long time, and I could not imagine life without
him."
Entered
March 18, 1999
Global Mission Breakthrough in Burma
Nearly 160 Burmese Buddhists are now regularly praying to God and
identifying with the reform spirituality offered by Seventh-day Adventists,
thanks to the work of the Myanmar Spiritual Foundation (MSF). According to
Clif Maberly, who co-ordinates Global Mission relations with Buddhist
people and set up the MSF, the movement is growing fast.
First public worship services began just a few months ago. "After
80 years of Adventist mission, we had 60 converts among the 40 million
Burmese," says Clif Maberly, co-ordinator of Global Mission relations with
Buddhist people. "Now, after two years, including lengthy preparation, we
already have 157 adherents. And they are enthusiastically recommending it
to their friends and relatives."
"One of the challenges of Global Mission is to make the good news
about Jesus relevant in many different cultures," says Gary Krause,
Communication director for Global Mission. "The various Global Mission
study centres around the world are helping us find ways to do this more
effectively. Part of our task as Adventists is to translate–to convert
eternal principles of the Adventist message into people's immediate
contexts. That means leading into our message through their culture,
through their interests. This is exactly the method used by the apostle
Paul and Jesus Himself."
Until now Seventh-day Adventist work in Burma has almost
exclusively been among the Karen minority. However, the MSF was set up
specifically to reach the majority Burmese Buddhist population. It is
exploring ways to make Adventism relevant within the Burmese culture.
The leader of MSF has been Daw Thaung Ngyunt, a former Buddhist
yogi, who is operating on a small stipend. Daw Thaung was baptised in
1996, and passionately wishes to share her new faith with other Buddhists.
She will now be receiving extra help from a Global Mission pioneer who
spent seven years as a Buddhist monk, and a Burmese Adventist who has been
a pastor for 10 years.
"It's so touching to see many with tears in their eyes because they
never knew about the wonderful possibility of praying to God," says
Maberly, "and because their loved ones have passed away not knowing the
Supreme God."
An Adventist meditation centre will soon be built to accommodate
new interests. Sabbath services are conducted in Burmese style, but without
images and focusing on God. Its liturgy includes a chanted commitment to
Sabbath-keeping.
"They work very hard on the sermon-- making it appropriate to lead
the
followers further into truth each Sabbath," says Maberly. "They meditate on
the meaning and implication of the message of the sermon for longer and
more disciplined periods. At present they meditate for up to 30 minutes in
silence."
The new believers come from a wide area, and have started sharing
their new faith with friends and relatives. Now that more staff is working
with MSF they plan to soon begin branch services in other areas.
"Our first step has been delighting hearers in the Supreme God--a
huge step for Therevada Buddhists," says Maberly. "Our challenge is to keep
moving their understanding toward a full Adventist commitment."
Entered
March 18, 1999
Carjacking at New York church
A visitor at Lebanon Seventh-day Adventist
Church in Laurelton, New York was carjacked when attending a mid-week
evening service. The visitor
had moments before locked and parked her late-model vehicle to attend the
evening service when the bandits struck. Taking her keys and purse
the thieves made good their escape only to be arrested in the vehicle a few days
later.
The shaken visitor thanked God that her life was spared. She says she
will continue to visit the church -- but no longer at night! Although the
crime is the first of its kind in recent memory, the incident has prompted the
church to step up its security patrols.
Entered
by
Michael B. Davis
Communication Secretary
Lebanon Seventh-day Adventist Church
March 18, 1999
Brazil literacy success
In 1995 more than six percent of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church members in South America were identified as illiterate. As
a result
the Adventist Education System in that area set a
goal to offer 200 adult literacy courses over a ten-year period.
The plan has resulted in a dramatic success, according to reports
from the South American Division. In less than four years, 740 literacy
courses were offered to church and local community members. The
Educational Census of 1998 showed that illiteracy rates among Adventists
has now dropped to 1.5 percent.
While the plan was initially targeted towards Adventist Church members, the
local community has benefitted from it as well. This has resulted in a growth
in membership in the local churches.
Entered
from ANN March 18, 1999
Rwanda church leader speaks
Seventh-day Adventist leader Pastor Amon
Rugelinyange knows about suffering. Now president of the Adventist
Church in Rwanda, he has a very personal story to share about his
experience in the 1994 genocide.
In an interview on March 3 at the Adventist Church World Headquarters he
spoke of his own intimate
knowledge of the killings, and the subsequent efforts to reconcile and
rebuild.
"Even before the genocide, the government harassed people they were
suspicious of," says Rugelinyange. "In 1990 I was arrested and imprisoned.
I was supposed to die in prison, but the Lord delivered me. Instead of
stopping my ministry, I was able to do even more. I was permitted to hold
church meetings, and preached twice a day [in prison] to a congregation of 800. When
I was released nearly six months later, the prison director asked me to stay,
saying that I was needed there! Even now I meet people who were with me
in prison."
But this hard experience was nothing to the horrors to come, reports
Rugelinyange. The day before the killings started, he left to visit a distant
church, where he was scheduled to preach.
"On April 20, 1994 they started killing, destroying homes, searching for
victims and setting up roadblocks. I was unable to return home, and had no
word of the fate of my family. The church elder, who was a Hutu, hid me and
saved my life. For 40 days I was in hiding, moved around between six
different houses—all Hutu church members. God has people in every tribe!"
Tragically, Rugelinyange lost his family. "On May 19 soldiers came to the
church mission where my family lived, and killed my wife, my three children,
and my nine grandchildren."
Once the genocide was over, Rugelinyange returned to his home at Gitwe.
Friends asked if that was what he wanted to do, thinking of the loss of his
family. But he was determined to continue his church work, and began the
process of encouraging reconciliation and healing in the community.
"I am a Christian, and can never support actions of revenge and
retribution," says Rugelinyange. "My role now as leader of the Adventist
Church in Rwanda is to work together with all peoples, remembering that
we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. The process of reconciliation and
forgiveness takes a long time, but already we see good results. The Church
is growing—at around 20,000 a year—and now numbers 250,000, with
new members coming from the different tribal groups. Out of darkness, God
is bringing His wonderful light."
Entered
March 18, 1999
2050 new members per day
The Adventist Church is now gaining
2050 new members each day. And it is opening two new churches each day.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has had the fastest geographic spread of
any religion in history. Other religious movements have gained adherents
more quickly. But never has any previous religious movement spread to
virtually every country of the globe in such a short time. At the present
growth rates, the world's entire population would be Seventh-day Adventists
in about 60 years.
Entered
March 16, 1999
Volunteers build hospital
More than 100 volunteers have been in Nepal for the last three and a half years
building a new heart hospital. The ADRA project is to convert a derelict
shoe factory into Nepal's first heart hospital, reports The Record. The
outpatients department is now working and the operating theatre will begin
operation in about 12 months' time.
Rheumatic heart disease is a major health problem in Nepal.
Entered
March 16, 1999
New Adventist news email service
Adventist Today is starting a new Adventist email news service. The service
will send out email copies of each news story added to the Adventist Today
news website. Details will be announced shortly at
Adventist Today.
Entered
March 16, 1999
Two "millenium" radio stations
The Adventist Church in Britain has been issued two of the 25 special radio
licences for radio stations to operate over the "millenium" weekend. These
stations will operate over the weekend that ends this year and starts next
year.
Entered
March 12, 1999
German-English translator wanted
The Adventist Discovery Centre in Britain is planning to operate successful
German Bible study guides in the UK. They are loking for someone fluent
in German and English to translate a series of 12
lessons. "These lessons form Part 2 of the START INTO
LIFE series, which we would like to publish and use in the British Union as
soon as is practicable. We also have two other sets of lessons in German
that we believe would translate well, one for youth and the other for adults,"
says project co-ordinator Mike Stickland. To volunteer, email
Mike Stickland.
Entered
March 12, 1999
1000 Adventist health links
Adventist.fm linksmaster John Moldoveanu has is compiling the first major set of
Adventist hospital and health links.
"I have added a new page as a hospital resource," he said.
"After searching the net for Adventist Hospitals I've found that no one has
a total listing." John estimates that when complete the new adventist.fm listing
should have about 1000 links. To check this new listing, click on "links"
on the adventist.fm left column index.
Entered
March 12, 1999
New Zealand to get a world first
New Zealand will host the first Adventist Campmeeting of the new millenium.
South NZ Conference will be holding a Campmeeting starting on Friday
December 31 this year. Because of the historic nature of the day, their
opening Sabbath program will continue until midnight.
Entered
March 12, 1999
Email for Adventist lawyers
Adventist lawyer Jacqueline Mills has started a new email service for
Adventist lawyers. It will allow Adventist legal-eagles to swap information
and encourage each other. Organisers have asked that Adventists who know
Adventist lawyers advise them of this new service. Subscription details are
in the SDAemail section of adventist.fm.
Entered
March 12, 1999
Rapid growth in North India
The past six years have seen the most rapid growth in the history of the
Adventist Church in India. Global Mission has specifically targeted India's
unentered north where there are scarcely any Christians. In the state of
Haryana alone live 17 million Hindus, and until recently just a handful of
Adventists. Global Mission pioneers are now working in more than 100 target
areas in Haryana, and have established hundreds of new congregations. These
pioneers are Indian nationals who know the people, understand the culture,
speak the language, and find ways to reach into the heartland of Hinduism.
More than a billion people will be living in India by next year.
More than 80 percent of the current population are Hindu, 11.5 percent are
Muslim, less than 2.5 percent are Christian, and .025 percent are
Seventh-day Adventist. "If Global Mission were a business, we would cut our
losses and give up trying to share the good news about Jesus in India,"
says Gary Krause, Communication director for Global Mission. "Global
Mission doesn't quit because there are no conditions attached to the Gospel
Commission. We keep searching for ways to share the good news not because
of outrageous success, but because Jesus asked us to go into all the world
and preach the gospel."
When the Global Mission initiative was voted at Annual Council in
1989, northern India was one of the four major Global focus areas chosen.
"Visiting Global Mission work in northern India today is like stepping back
into Apostolic times," says Krause. "The pioneers are preaching, teaching,
and healing the sick. Several hundred people have already been baptized,
and when you see the pioneers smile, you know that God has big plans for
India."
Entered
March 12, 1999
Folkenberg may not take up new job
Elder Robert Folkenberg may not take up his new job working for Adventist
satellite TV. His colleagues at the General Conference feel he needs time off
work after the pressures he has been under, reports
Adventist Today.
It also reports that General Conference officers are concerned that the
insurance company has called off the lawsuit which started the presidential
crisis -- and although the GC pays the insurance premium, they cannot find out
the basis on which the insurance company ended the litigation.
Entered
March 12, 1999
First Eskimo Leader Begins Work
Jeremy Koonooka, the first Eskimo Global Mission volunteer, has begun work
in Selawik, Alaska. Jeremy prepared for working as a Native Messenger by
attending evangelism training at the Black Hills Health and Education
Institute for three months. Jeremy's work in Selawik involves pastoring,
working with new believers, and organizing new church companies. "The
Alaska Adventist native work has never before achieved the goal of
indigenous native leadership in any of its areas," says Jim Kincaid of
Alaska Native Missionaries. "We are happy that finally we have an Alaska
Yupik Eskimo ministering to his own people in the arctic."
Entered
March 11, 1999
First Baptisms Among the Maratha Caste
The first baptisms from among the Maratha caste of Marathi-speaking
people took place recently in the village of Gardolli, in southern India.
"This people have been very resistant to Christianity and our message,"
reports Dorothy Watts, associate secretary of the Southern Asia Division
(SUD). "All 12 are from the same family."
These Hindus were baptized with 59 people from another distinctive
cultural group--ethnic Africans. "Nestled in the thick teak jungles of
Western Karnataka near the Goa border are many villages of ethnic
Africans," says Watts. "They came to India three or four hundred years back
and have not intermarried with the local Kannada people."
The baptism resulted from reaping meetings conducted by Edwin
Charles, SUD Youth director, and a team of African students studying in the
university at Dharwad. For several months these students had been working
in local villages with Global Mission pioneer James Marihal. Among those
baptized was the village headman's wife and three other members of his
family. "If you are serious," says the headman, "I will help you enter 35
villages with your message."
"This man is very favorable to our message," says Watts. "The
headman is an influential political worker and well known throughout the
area. Already he has given us three acres of land to build a church and a
school. If we will establish ourselves in these three villages, then we
will have entrance into dozens of other villages of ethnic Africans in the
area."
Entered
March 11, 1999
Paulen will avoid financial entanglements
New Adventist world president Jan Paulsen has pledged himself to avoid the
financial intrigues that caused the resignation of his predessor,
says an article in the
Washington Times. The article says:
"Since the early 1990s, former President Robert Folkenberg had been
entangled in a California land deal, but his vice presidents were unaware
of the imbroglio until an $8 million lawsuit was filed against the church
in December.
The church 'learns by things that may not have been done as
effectively as one would have wished,' Mr. Paulsen said. 'I will do my very
best to make sure that . . . the openness and integrity of the church and
its leadership remains strong."
For his part, he said, `I will not engage in any business -- any
business -- other than the Lord's business.' He said the main challenge for
top Adventist leadership is to unite a fast-growing church of 10 million
adults in 209 countries.
Entered
March 11, 1999
Adventist surgeons save children's lives
Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH) hosted a team of
heart surgeons from Loma Linda University who
performed a total of 22 open heart surgeries on patients (20 children, 2
adults) in the hospital.
Among the 20 children were two babies with multiple heart defects
who would not have survived without receiving corrective surgery.
A spokesman for the Penang hospital expressed appreciation for the visit
of the LLU Overseas Heart Surgery Team, world-renowned leaders in these
procedures.
Entered
from ANN March 11, 1999
Educator receives Adventist medal
Dr. Calvin Rock, distinguished
education professional of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, received the
Church's highest service award, the Medallion of Distinction, on March 8.
In one of his first official functions,
newly-elected president Pastor Jan Paulsen bestowed the award.
"Calvin Rock is a model of an educated Christian leader: organized,
kind, and clear-sighted," said Dr. Humberto Rasi from the church's education
department. "It is a pleasure to work with him,
and learn from his broad experience."
Rock's contribution to the Church's education program spans more
than 47 years, and includes a fourteen-year term as president of Oakwood
College. He has served as a general vice-president for the Adventist Church
since 1985. The recipient of two doctoral degrees,
Rock is the author of seven books and many articles.
Entered
from ANN March 11, 1999
Click here for earlier adventist.fm archive news stories
News Philosophy
of adventist.fm
Our philosophy of news comes from Philippians 4:8:
"Whatever is true, whatever is respectable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,
if there be any virtue or of be any praise, think on these things."