This dialogue resulted in an agreement to appoint Mr Fred Kumah as ADRA's co-ordinator in Kosovo where a large international involvement is envisaged. Kumah, a Ghanaian, has gained wide experience throughout the ADRA network. Presently he serves as director of ADRA-Kenya, though he has spent the past three weeks on loan to Albania.

Weekly telephone conferences between key players are envisaged as ADRA seeks to widen its food distribution and health portfolios, and to engaged in building reconstruction.

Paul and Michelle Crawford from Australia have already transferred from southern Albania to Skopje in Macedonia in order to prepare the way for ADRA's physical presence in Kosovo - hopefully within the next few days.

In an interview featured in the hourly news bulletins on Three Counties Radio in England throughout 15 June, John Arthur, director for ADRA/Trans-Europe, stated that "arrangements must be made for the refugees to return to Kosovo in an orderly manner, otherwise there will be a greater degree of chaos than what took place at the end of March."

In addition to its large feeding and health in Albania, ADRA is giving study to distributing food and water at waypoints along the main route to Kosovo. The agency has also suggested to the UN co-ordinating committee that some of its vehicles could be used to haul the personal effects of those migrating from the camps. [John Arthur/ANR 121]

============================

BALKAN UPDATE

============================

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] "Two new projects started in ADRA-Albania in the last week," reports Sean Robinson, country director for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. The first is a primary health care project which will focus on the immediate health needs of refugees living in the prefectures of Vlore, Fier, and Berat.

"The project is targeting vulnerable people in collective centres and living with host families," says Evelyn Williams, project director. "Often refugees living with host families fall through the cracks and are forgotten, simply because they are more scattered and harder to reach than those living in camps".

The trauma counselling programme, sponsored by ADRA-Denmark, also got underway, with a plan put together which will train local social workers in trauma counselling and also train peer helpers in basic techniques. "It is very important for us that the refugees themselves receive training that they can take back with them to Kosovo," says Holly van Buren, one of the team members. "In the past few days we have heard many stories of trauma and abuse. It is clear that very little has been done so far to address the tremendous social needs of this population."

ADRA-Albania also wishes to extend a special word of thanks to the volunteers from within Trans-Europe who have so willingly extended their time and energy to the programmes in Albania. "So far we have had volunteers from Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands, England, Lithuania, Norway, and America, all of whom have made a valuable contribution to the work in Albania," reports Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for ADRA-Albania.

During the last week ADRA-Macedonia commenced with the second phase of delivering humanitarian aid to 4,000 Kosovan refugee families in five different towns, according to Marija Trajkovska, spokesperson for ADRA-Macedonia. Besides food, the parcels contain hygiene supplies plus clothes and shoes. Two hundred food parcels were also distributed to Serbian refugees from Kosovo and a further 200 to Romany refugees also from Kosovo.

Two trucks with more than 32 tonnes of humanitarian aid destined for Zelenika in Montenegro, Federal State of Yugoslavia, departed from the Czech Republic last Friday, 11 June. The food parcels were purchased with money donated by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (over 250,000 DM) and ADRA-Germany (65,000 DM). Two-thirds of the parcels are for Kosovan refugees and the rest for the poorest families in Montenegro.

"For the summer we are planning a youth work-team in Montenegro and Albania to help the Kosovan refugees," says Cárka Zıková of ADRA-Czech Republic. "As there is a great interest among the young people of various professions for such activity, we believe that 40 or more volunteers will spend two months in the crisis region."

According to Miodrag Zivanovic, director for ADRA-Yugoslavia, soup kitchens in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis are feeding a total of 520 people registered by the Red Cross of Yugoslavia as some of the most needy in these cities. "In front of us are different kinds of people - all with different life stories, but all with the same great need - food," says Sandra Calosevic, spokesperson for ADRA-Yugoslavia.

An unemployed father of three young children, Milan, went to the Red Cross asking for food. They told him to "go to ADRA which is located in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and they will provide meals for your children." "I am happy that my children have something to eat every day, thanks to the Adventists," he said.

An elderly man is coming to receive some food for his neighbours - two very old and disabled ladies. A young 18-year-old girl, Mina, queues up every day to receive a hot meal. "It is not easy for me to line up and accept this new way of life. Hunger does not choose its victims," she tells Calosevic.

Two national newspapers (Dnevnik and Blic) today reported the activities of the soup kitchens provided by ADRA-Yugoslavia using the facilities of Seventh-day Adventist churches.

If you would like to participate financially in the Balkan Crisis Appeal, please 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. [ANR Staff with contributions from Catherine Robinson, Marija Trajkovska and Miodrag Zivanovic/ANR 122]

============================

LEADERS EVALUATE CHALLENGES OF THE TRANS-EUROPEAN DIVISION

============================

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The officers and departmental directors of the Trans-European Division met from 7 - 10 June in Broomhill, Devon, England, for a special annual evaluation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's work.

It was a time of discussion in regard to current topics in the Trans-European Division region and of focussing events as well as a true time of fellowship in a relaxed atmosphere. Discussions were fruitful and creative and the presence of the Lord's blessings were realised in numerous ways.

"I thank God that the Division's strategic plan is going so well," says Dr Bertil Wiklander, division president. "Our recent evaluation in Broomhill revealed progress being made in various ways. In the Division office, the plan has brought both focus and a clear emphasis on mission, nurture, leadership, and ways to build a healthy church. In the unions, the plan attempts to change the way we think about the life of the church. Lay ministry is coming into focus, and the re-orientation of the pastor's role as an equipper of members for ministry is catching on. Experimental outreach projects in secular societies and new worship styles are gaining momentum."

"With Newbold College we are ensuring that the best pastoral training is provided and that it offers attractive programmes to our young people. There are now regular leadership training seminars across the Division, and we have a report system with accountability for leaders. A new plan has been prepared for making churches and church organisations supportive and sustainable. Books, materials, and seminars are created to foster the overall focus of finding the lost. There is a good feeling of humble optimism and gratitude for what God is doing in TED right now," concludes Wiklander.

On discussing evangelism throughout the TED territory, Peter Roennfeldt, ministerial association secretary commented: "No one method of evangelism is sufficient for the many challenges of the Trans-European Division. We strongly encourage adapting traditional methods - such as public evangelism. At the same time we must relate to modern people who enjoy dialogue and interaction. Planting a new church will involve a range of evangelistic methods. However, no method is effective unless it involves personal Bible work. This is sometimes referred to as 'narrative evangelism' - sharing with others the story of the impact of the gospel on our lives as we read and share the Bible together." [Miroslav Pujic/ANR 123]

============================

NEWBOLD GRADUATION: "CERTAIN PEOPLE IN AN UNCERTAIN TIME"

============================

BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE - [ANR] On Sunday, 13 June 1999, 40 students were awarded Andrews University undergraduate degrees in English, Religion and Business (Accounting and Management) and postgraduate degrees in Education, Pastoral Ministry and Religion. As the graduates lined up to receive their well-earned diplomas, there was a sense of excitement and celebration. Essays had been completed, exams passed and goals achieved.

The weekend was also a time for reflection and consideration of the future. Class President Nathan Stickland (MA Pastoral Ministry) spoke about the way that God had constantly challenged him to trust Him during his years of study at Newbold. "My unconditional answer has been and still is, 'Yes, I do trust you Lord!'" said Nathan. The class motto "Certain People in an Uncertain Time", chosen by the graduates, highlighted the many challenges facing the graduates in a world on the verge of a new millennium.

Dr David Marshall, editor of the Stanborough Press, Grantham, Lincs, England, explored these challenges in a thought-provoking address. "The turn of the millennia finds the world in what Byron might have called 'a rage of change'", said Dr Marshall. "There is an urgent need of a new vision in the Church as it faces a changing world."

Dr Marshall urged the graduates to preach the gospel with certainty in a world where Postmodernism has created a sense of pessimism and ruthlessness that has resulted in instability and uncertainty. Dr Marshall concluded, "Our central certainty as Christians is in Jesus. We are a certain people insofar as we know in whom we have believed".

Dr Andrea Luxton, College principal, spoke in her address about the addition of two new undergraduate degree programmes in Business through Columbia Union College and the Behavioural Sciences through Andrews University, USA. She also mentioned the new Andrews University Year in England programme that is tailored to meet the needs of American students. "In addition the College is reintroducing the Andrews University majors and minors in English and History and minors in Communication and Religion. This will be attractive to our American market," Dr Luxton said.

At postgraduate level Dr Luxton mentioned that proposals are being submitted for new British degrees in Biblical Studies, Pastoral Studies and Theological Studies. "We anticipate that these new programmes will broaden the appeal and marketability of our courses at Newbold," she said.

New staff were introduced by Dr Luxton as follows: Theological Studies: Dr Daniel Duda (Slovakia), Dr Doug Robertson (Australia), Pastor Gifford Rhamie (UK). Humanities: David Trim (Australia). School of English: Megan Syme (UK). Behavioural Sciences: Dr Caleb Rosado (USA). Business: Marinko Markek (Croatia) and Jude Roberts (Trinidad). Other appointments include: Jonquil Hole (UK), Assistant Librarian; Angela Robertson (Australia), Senior Management Accountant; Kay Choudary (UK), Marketing Manager and Joan Kristensen (Denmark), Women's Dean.

Dr Luxton paid tribute to the hard work and commitment of all the Newbold staff during the 1998/99 academic year and gave special recognition to the following staff members who are leaving: Veselinka Becejac, Dr Jeffrey Brown, Yolanda Gascon and Gill Gorle. Dr Harry Leonard, who retired in December 1999, will still continue to teach part-time.

Dr Luxton closed her address with glimpses of a few of the highlights of the year: ACTS 98 when over 1,000 British youth came on to campus for a Day of Fellowship; Newbold's Week of Service which raised GBP1,300 (USD2,080) for the Balkan crisis; the Week of Spiritual Emphasis led by Newbold graduate, Stephen Eastwood; the planning of the opening of the Language Teaching Centre paid for by alumni and friends of the College; the opening of the new student centre; the award of GBP1,500 (USD 2,400) grant from the British Council for the conference in September celebrating the 125th anniversary of the missionary J N Andrews' departure for Europe, and successful mission trips that took place over Easter to Egypt, Croatia and Ireland.

"Newbold's future is bright as we take hold of that future together with God", she said. [Velda Cox, Advancement director, Newbold College/ANR 124]

============================

THOUSANDS ATTEND CAMP MEETINGS IN BRITAIN

============================

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The second week in June saw two camp meetings taking place in Britain, one in the South England Conference (SEC) and the other in the North England Conference (NEC). Below is a report of the two events.

Camp Meeting is a special event in the church calendar. Those who attended the SEC Camp Meeting in Brean Sands, Burnham-on-Sea, from 7 - 13 June, really did Experience the Fellowship of His Family.

During the week more than 2,500 people attended the services, Bible Studies, presentations and workshops. The attendance on Sabbath was in excess of 3,000. TED communication director, Miroslav Pujic, taking part in the Sabbath programme, said of the services that day: "It was a very special and memorable experience for me. The fellowship was incredible and the vibrant worship inspirational and spiritually uplifting. For our members in the South England Conference I can see that this event is a very important one, and I know hundreds will look back at this Camp Meeting with fond and happy memories."

One of the highlights of the week, was the morning Prayer and Praise session led most ably by Pastor Hamilton Williams. Despite the early start of 6.00 o'clock, the hall was filled with both youth and adults.

Dr Robertson, from Newbold College, England, was the speaker for the Bible Study Hour. He spoke about the journey of the Children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land comparing their journey to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the last days.

The special speakers for the Family Life presentations were Dr and Mrs Sedlacek of the United States. This experienced husband and wife team entitled their messages "Remember the Future". They encouraged their listeners to deal with the past, "but in the fresh perspective of love and healing offered by the ministry of Jesus".

The speaker for the adult evening commitment service was Dr Fred Russell. He implored us to be "Kingdom People" and observe the "Holiness of God".

The speakers for the Youth meetings, Pastors Ray Patrick and Mansfield Edwards, spoke in the morning and evening respectively. The young people responded heartily to the messages as well as to the singing and testimonies.

God worked in a mighty way in the lives of 22 individuals during the week. Two baptisms were conducted: one on Sabbath, the other on Sunday morning.

The week concluded with a service of appreciation held with the SEC President, Pastor Don McFarlane as he animatedly spoke of Heaven and the joy of living with Jesus.

The NEC Camp Meeting was held from 8 -13 June, at the Pontins Holiday Centre, Ainsdale, Southport - The Liverpool Reviera.

Conference president, Egerton Francis is delighting in the response to Camp Meeting. His delight was evident from the opening night as he welcomed everyone to camp. A move from the East to the West Coast of north England had seen attendance fall to a few hundred in 1997 and 1998. This year daily attendances of 800 and a Sabbath day of fellowship with a congregation of 1,500 put camp back on the map.

A palpable sense of unity developed among the campers as each speaker spoke on the theme "United in Christ". The unique personality of homegrown and overseas speakers gave a kaleidoscopic view of Christ. Evening Commitment speaker, Elder Henry Fordham III, wrestled with the congregation that God might add to their "Adventist everything", fire and love for God and lost souls. Morning Power Hour speaker Doug Martin with dry self-deprecating humour, wit, self-disclosure and an endless fund of stories taught how God's love in us helps us see the ignored. It reaches the desperate in the mainstream and side streams of humanity. Through practical help and timely words people are touched and lifted to God. Daniel Duda emphasised God's friendship and grace in choosing us first. Friends discuss what is in each other's minds. As friends of God we can be confident to ask Him questions. We may be as close to Him as we desire. Trying is not a Christian concept, being in Christ is. God chose us first, a position of grace, to serve others by their feasting on the spiritual fruits the indwelling Spirit brings forth.

God used all these speakers and those from the conference and the British Union Conference pastoral staff including the "1988 Times Preacher of the Year Pastor", Ian Sweeney, to move the minds of many. The evidence, the numbers coming forward at times of appeal, especially Friday evening and Sabbath morning.

TED ministerial association secretary, Peter Roennfeldt, emphasised the ministry of all believers in the ordination address. Clearly he spelt out the message of Ephesians 4 to ordinands Dr Patrick Herbert, Lorance Johnson and Steve Palmer that their work is to equip members for ministry enabling the church to minister. Members and pastors are to press together, pastors mentoring members and starting new innovative lines of work, not hovering over the members thus weakening the church.

The convocation was moved and energised as God spoke through the duet of Tina Brooks and Kay Bramble singing "10,000 Joys".

Having been moved and uplifted throughout camp the joy of communion at the Lord's table rounded out the Sabbath's blessings. Thanks were given, bon voyages wished and we were on our way back to ministry as God's leaven His salt to mend the broken-hearted knowing that His grace is sufficient in all things. [ANR Staff with contributions from Cathy Anthony and Malcolm Watson/ANR 125]

============================

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: GREECE

============================

ATHENS, GREECE - [ANR] Of all European states Greece probably has the longest history. In many ways it may be considered the cradle of European civilisation. The mountainous country, with its many fascinating islands has a population of about 10.5 million.

The official religion is Greek Orthodox. Only a small percentage of the people are non-Orthodox (Catholics, Protestants of various traditions and a few Muslims).

The first known Seventh-day Adventist convert, George Brakas, was baptised in 1909; his example a few years later to be followed by a few family members. In 1921 during serious political unrest in Turkey caused about ten Armenian Adventist families to flee to Greece. The first small church was organised in Thessaloniki in 1923. Another church, in Athens, was organised in 1927.

For most of its history the work in Greece fell under the supervision of the Central-European Division. In 1986 it was transferred to the Trans-European Division, as a mission directly attached to the division. Presently there are 210 Greek Seventh-day Adventists in 6 churches.

Evangelism has always been notoriously difficult in Greece. Orthodox Christians will not easily leave the religion of their family, even if they have become convinced that in many ways it does not follow Biblical principles. In addition, religious freedom, though it exists officially, leaves much to be desired. Non-Orthodox religious groups are seriously hampered in their outreach and public evangelism is well nigh impossible. In recent years the Greek Mission has put a lot of effort in indirect evangelism: many health seminars and stop-smoking clinics have been held. When the opportunity presented itself to broadcast TV programmes via an evangelical private station - which managed to operate in spite of constant harassment - this was gladly accepted. These various forms of outreach have produced much good will but very little tangible church growth and plans are currently being worked out to shift back to more direct methods of evangelism.

Please pray:

* for the new mission president who has returned from his adopted country, Australia, to lead the work in his native country.

* for more religious freedom in Greece.

* for renewed evangelistic success.

* for a spirit of greater unity among the members of the church in Greece. [Apostolos Maglis, president, Greek Mission & Martin Anthony, personal ministries director, TED/ANR 126]
Entered June 17, 1999

Twenty-two-year-old student Tammy of Hamburg, Pennsylvania, USA, died on Sunday, 6 June, as a result of a tragic accident on the college campus. Her parents, Mr Charles and Mrs Kaye Allen, and her sister Kelly, will be present at the memorial service.

Newbold College is a Seventh-day Adventist college operated by the Trans-European Division (TED). Pastor Orville Woolford, TED education director, will be representing the division at the memorial service. Dr Bertil Wiklander, TED president, has written a letter to Mr and Mrs Allen expressing the deep shock and sympathy of the division family on the news of this terrible tragedy.

Funeral services will take place at the Blue Mountain Academy Church, Hamburg, Pennsylvania, USA, and the Highland Academy Church in Portland, Tennessee, USA. The interment will take place at the local cemetery near Highland Academy. The dates of these services are yet to be confirmed. For more information please contact Pastor Sergio Manente at the Blue Mountain Academy Church: telephone: (610) 562-8969. [Velda Cox, PR officer, Newbold College/ANR Staff/ANR 116]

============================

MIDDLE EAST UPDATE

============================

BEIRUT, LEBANON - [ANR] The Middle East Union Mission (MEU) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church held its mid-year committee meetings at the Middle East College, Beirut, Lebanon from 28 May to 1 June 1999.

Attending were Dr Reinder Bruinsma, executive secretary of the Trans-European Division, the administrators of the union, union departmental directors, field presidents, section leaders, senior heads of institutions and delegates. Highlights of the meeting include the following:

The proposed move of the Union Headquarters from Cyprus to Lebanon is progressing slowly. Lawyers are still negotiating with the authorities regarding work permits.

Church membership in the MEU is growing. "We are happy to report that baptisms during the first quarter of this year amounted to 333 compared with 340 for the whole of the previous year," says Roland Fidelia, MEU communication director. "Membership at the end of 1998 was 9,320."

Evangelistic efforts are being planned for the whole Union. The NET '98 programme entitled "The NeXt Millennium" is being translated into Arabic and will be voiced over. This series of sermons by Dwight Nelson will be shown in different parts of the union during the second half of this year.

An audiocassette has been produced by "Melodies of Hope", a singing group in Khartoum. It is hoped that the cassette will be used as an outreach tool. It is in Arabic, with new compositions by Adventist musicians in Sudan. [Roland Fidelia/ANR 117]

============================

PLANS FOR RADIO MINISTRY IN THE BALTICS

============================

RIGA, LATVIA - [ANR] Financial contributions from the Finland Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Adventist World Radio to the Baltic Union Conference (BAUC) is making possible the preparation of weekly radio programmes in Latvia and Lithuania.

Members of the BAUC administrative committee, during its meeting held on 18 April, gave much time and attention to the planning of radio ministries in the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

"Half the material has already been translated into Latvian," reports Guntis Bukalders, communication director for the Baltic Union, "and the Latvian Christian Radio station is currently transmitting the first programmes prepared. 60% of the Latvian population is being covered by 7½ hours of broadcasts every week."

On top of the funds already granted, Miroslav Pujic, TED communication director attending the meeting, said that additional funding will be available for Lithuania in order to develop radio ministries in the Baltic States.

The prospect of making these programmes available on audiocassettes was also discussed together with the possibility of preparing the same set of programmes for Estonia and also Russia. Plans for radio and video evangelism ministries were laid for the next two years. [Guntis Bukalders/ANR 118]

============================

THE SEED THAT SPROUTED AFTER FIFTY YEARS

============================

HAIFA, ISRAEL - [ANR] It all began in 1936 in Budapest, Hungary, when my father Eno Vamoshi met Mihnai Laslo, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor who was living and working in Hungary's capital, just as we did. My father began to attend the church services. Soon he was convinced that he had found the truth and consequently became a Seventh-day Adventist Christian.

It was in Budapest that that I made my first acquaintance with Jesus. My father was 44 and I was 17. It was through Pastor Laslo that we met our Redeemer. My mother and my sister, although they came with my father and me to the Church, never accepted the belief that Jesus is the Messiah.

Pastor Laslo had six children, five girls and one boy. As the Germans and the Fascist Hungarian authorities were controlling the country, we found ourselves in a battle for survival. You see, we were Jews. It was late in the War in 1944 when the problem became very serious and we were among those who were to be exterminated. What were we to do?

The Adventist Church that my father belonged to began to hide several Jews in the church building. It didn't matter whether the Jews were of the Jewish or Christian faith. All those hidden in the Adventist Church were saved. However, the building could only take so many. Pastor Laslo and his family came to us and suggested we try another way to hide. Since in those days the documents had no pictures, it was easy to use someone else's papers. So the Laslo family made copies for themselves, and gave us their originals - for my father and mother, and for us girls, from two of their girls. If they were caught, their lives would be no more valuable than that of Jews.

The next thing the pastor did was to send us away from Budapest to a village called Vats, to another Adventist family whose house was on a hill at the periphery of the village. The whole house consisted of a room and a kitchen. Soon after we arrived there another Jewish family joined us. They were not Adventists. We all stayed together and hid in that small house until the end of the War.

Each evening we played Bible cards. I will never forget one particular evening when I pulled out a card which contained Psalm 124:7, 8. It read: "Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." When I read these verses I knew that were going to survive.

Soon after the war, in 1950, I immigrated to Israel, alone. At this time my name was changed from Iuliana to Yehudit, and by marriage from Vamoshi to Carmeli. My father died in 1953 in Hungary, and I ceased to practise what I once knew about Jesus. I never stopped believing in Him, but I did not observe any of the teachings, not even the Sabbath. Three years late my mother moved to Israel and lived with me in Haifa almost until the day she died in 1987.

In 1995 I went back to visit Budapest and I met some of those who once put their lives in danger in order to save mine. Through them I found out that there was a Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel too. In fact, there was one in Haifa, just where I living! When I came back I contacted the Church in Israel, and on 10 October 1996 pastor Otinel C Iancu officiated in my baptism. After 50 years, the seed that my Lord planted in my heart sprouted and brought fruit.

You see, although Jewish by birth, before my father met Jesus we never practised any form of religion. I had to meet Christ in order to keep the Sabbath. Today, more than ever, I feel and know that I was, I am, and I shall ever remain a Hebrew, the seed of Abraham, through Christ. And I wrote this short story of my life that those who may read it take courage and keep planting by words and deeds, for God will make that seed sprout and grow one day. [Yehudit Carmeli, Haifa SDA Congregation, Israel/ANR 119]

============================

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: THE NETHERLANDS

============================

HUIS TER HEIDE, THE NETHERLANDS - [ANR] Although the Netherlands is one of the smaller countries in Western Europe, it has a population of 15.5 million. It is no longer the predominantly agrarian society it once was, but now earns most of its national income in industry and commerce and in the service sector.

The religious scene is rather diverse. About one-third of the Dutch people belong to the Dutch Reformed Church, which used to be (but no longer is) the "established" church. Most of them are, however, just nominal members. That is also true for the about one-third that holds membership in the Roman Catholic Church. Among the many other churches and movements that are represented in Holland, the Reformed Church is the most important. As in much of the rest of Western Europe, however, society has become highly secular and organised religion has lost its attraction for the majority of the people.

In 1887 Adventism came to the Netherlands. A small beginning was made in the northeast of the country, but within a few years other churches were also established in the western part. In the earlier part of its history the Dutch Seventh-day Adventist Church was closely linked to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany, until, in 1938, the Netherlands Union was formed. Today the Church has 4,200 members.

The Netherlands Union operates two major institutions for its elderly members, and a modern 8-classroom elementary school. Until recently there has been small, but consistent growth. This was partly due to immigration from Surinam and the Dutch Antilles, partly due to biological growth, but also to successful evangelism. More recently the membership figure is static.

Please pray:

* that the Church in the Netherlands will be even more successful than it has been in the recent past to retain its children and youth.

* that the union Bible Correspondence School will continue to be creative in developing modern courses and that sufficient funds will come in to extend its activities.

* that ADRA/Netherlands will be able to continue in channelling millions of dollars each year from government and private donors to the less privileged areas of the world.

* that the church planting projects that are being planned and implemented will bear fruit. [Henk Koning, president, Netherlands Union Conference/ANR 120]
Entered June 11, 1999

Suffering from severe head injuries Tammy was taken by ambulance to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading and then to Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where she underwent surgery at 7.00 am the same day. After surgery she was put on a life support machine. However, at 12.40 pm on Sunday, 6 June 1999, Tammy died. Mr and Mrs Allen, her parents, from the USA, were at her bedside.

"The Newbold community is in shock at this unexpected death of one of its students," says Dr Andrea Luxton, principal of Newbold College. "Counselling services have been made available to Tammy's friends, roommates, and any other students and staff affected by this tragedy".

The College plans a memorial service. Funeral details are not yet available. [Velda Cox, PR officer, Newbold College/ANR 115]
Entered June 9, 1999

The group flew by helicopter from Tiranë, Albania's capital, to Kukes where ADRA continues with its impressive feeding programme for 37,000 persons each day. The UNHCR co-ordinator for the region was particularly thankful for ADRA's involvement.

In the south-west of Albania, ADRA is also feeding thounsands of displaced persons on a regular basis. UNHCR/WFP is establishing a new model camp - "Camp Hope" - near Fier which will eventually care for 20,000 Kosovan refugees. Three humanitarian agencies have been specially chosen by the UN to handle this operation: CARE will attend to all administrative matters; MERLIN will address the health needs, and ADRA has been given the responsibility of preparing and distributing 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.

Fifty-eight tonnes of humanitarian aid, including food, hygienic supplies, candles, tea, potatoes, pasta and toys, from ADRA in Romania and the Czech Republic arrived in Belgrade, Yugoslavia last week.

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."

According to Sarka Zykova of ADRA/Czech Republic, the agency has helped the Kosovan refugees and the people in Montenegro and in Serbia with ten deliveries of more than 190 tonnes of humanitarian aid since the beginning of the year, and especially since the beginning of the NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia. This represents donations from Czech citizens, firms and organisations. Destinations of previous deliveries were to Podgorica, capital of Montenegro, to Skopje, capital of Macedonia, and to Belgrade, capital of Yugoslavia.

Yesterday, ADRA/Yugoslavia commenced a feeding programme for 150 people at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Novi Sad for a five-month period. In the main SDA church building in Belgrade, 250 meals are being distributed every day to those who have been affected by the latest events.

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."

Seeds that have been sown many years ago are now bearing fruit during this time of crisis.

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."

Secondly, Ljubica Stojic and her 12-year-old son came from Rakovica near Belgrade after weeks spent in the cellar of their apartment block. Her husband and older daughter stayed home. "We had to escape because the bombs were falling so close to our flat. We could see them from the children's room," says Ljubica. "Everything has stopped. There are no schools, no games, no joy."

"Will there be any hope for us, the children of Yugoslavia? says the 12-year-old boy.

If you would like to participate financially in the Balkan Crisis Appeal, please 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. [ANR Staff/ANR 110]

============================

WORLD CHURCH PARL DIRECTOR VISITS RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS IN WARSAW

============================

WARSAW, POLAND - [ANR] Dr John Graz, Public Affairs & Religious Liberty director for the Seventh-day Adventist World Church, made his first visit to Poland from 28 May - 1 June 1999.

"As the Adventist Church in Poland has always given much attention to the importance of public contacts, mainly due to the hard work of Dr Zachariasz Lyko, PARL director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland, this visit was very important for the Church," says Roman Chalupka, communication director for the Adventist Church in Poland.

Poland is a country with immense Roman Catholic dominance, and there is much scope for activities such as the International Religious Liberty Association, an organisation that has a chapter in Poland and for which John Graz is also the general secretary.

"The presence of our Church in Poland, with an active attendance in public life, has been well known for many years in this country," says Chalupka, "as Dr Bert Beach, the former PARL director for the Adventist World Church, visited our country over fifty times."

"We believe the visit of Dr Graz is a good continuation of the solid foundation built by Dr Beach," said Pastor Wladyslaw Polok, president of the Polish Union Conference.

Among many visits, Dr Graz met Dr A Czochara, director of the Religious Department in the Ministry of Interior Matters and Administration. Dr Czochara shared with Dr Graz information about the religious map of Poland.

"Currently we have 14 historical churches registered in Poland as well as 140 different denominations," said Czochara. "This gives us here, in the Religious Department, much work, but we also serve to guard the liberty and security of all citizens. However, a special committee has been organised to deal mainly with the challenges of new religious groups as more and more appear in Poland, and which, very often, are quite dangerous. But even in such cases we try to avoid the word 'sect' as it gives a negative implication."

A very interesting visit was also paid to the Roman Catholic Bishop Libera, the secretary of the Polish Episcopate. This friendly bishop with a warm personality received the Adventist delegation with special honour and spoke to the guests for over an hour asking many questions about the Church.

"This meeting was especially important as the visit of John Graz was just prior to the imminent visit of Pope John Paul II to Poland," reports Chalupka.

The same day Dr Graz visited the president of the Helsinki Foundation of Human Rights, Mr M Nowicki, who is very interested in co-operating with the Polish Chapter of IRLA and organising a forum for the smaller denominations. The officers of the Polish Union Conference accompanied Dr Graz to all the meetings. [Roman Chalupka/ANR 111]

============================

NEW CHURCH ORGANISED IN THE NETHERLANDS

============================

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - [ANR] The first Ghanaian Seventh-day Adventist Church was organised in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, on Sabbath, 8 May 1999.

South-east Amsterdam already had a multicultural church. Members came from the Dutch Antilles, Suriname and Ghana. The services were held in English and translated into Dutch. Many people from Ghana live in South-east Amsterdam. In this particular area there are already forty different Ghanaian churches of different denominations.

The Ghanaian membership of the Adventist Church saw that many of their fellow countrymen did not attend the SDA Church because of language and cultural problems. In co-operation with the local congregation an initiative was started to begin meetings with a group of 13 people. Now this group has grown into 79 church members.

Sabbath, 8 May was a festive occasion on which the church was formally organised. Pastor Matthew A Bediako, general vice-president of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church, himself a Ghanaian, was the guest speaker for the day. G Henk Koning and Rob K de Raad, president and secretary respectively, were present on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Netherlands. Representatives from Ghanaian churches all over Europe were present and donated large amounts of money to give this congregation a new start.

Pastor W Altink, who already shepherded the multicultural congregation in South-east Amsterdam, will be the new pastor of the church. [Rob de Raad/ANR 112]

============================

AWR ARABIC SURVEY RESULTS

============================

STROVOLOS, CYPRUS - [ANR] Following is an evaluation of a questionnaire that was sent out in January 1999 by the Adventist Media Centre in Cyprus to around 2,200 Voice of Hope Club members and (some non-members) living in various countries around the world, but predominantly from North Africa and the Middle East.

"Although the amount of responses cannot be regarded as an adequate sampling of our listeners' opinions, we can still begin to gauge their habits and interests," says Alex Elmadjian, AMC manager for the Middle East. "We intend to continue sending the questionnaire for, hopefully, more responses and a greater degree of accuracy."

· Responses to date: 123 (Note: Some of the figures below will not add up to 123 as certain respondents chose more than one option or non at all).

· Gender: Male 120, Female 3

· Average age: 26

· How did you find the AWR programmes? By chance: 74; By a friend: 49

· Are you a member of the club? Yes: 113, No: 9

· Do you receive the transmission clearly where you live? Yes: 59, No: 60

· Do you listen mostly: At home: 106, work: 12, friend's house: 13

· What time do you prefer to listen to the radio? Morning: 41, Afternoon: 93

· How many hours a week do you spend in listening to our programs? 7½

· What are the programmes that are of interest to you? Cultural: 88, Religious: 87, Health: 77, Social: 76, Literature: 61, Humorous: 45

· Do you prefer to listen to: Religious music: 68, Classical music: 61, Western style music: 49, Other: 28

· How long does it take to receive our reply to your letters: Up to 1 month: 51, 2 months: 50, 3 months: 25, receive nothing: 0

· What are the subjects that you would like to receive some publications about? Youth: 84, Religion: 77, Health: 73, Family: 62

· What are the obstacles that prevent you from listening to our programmes: Bad transmission: 66, Other: 25, Bad broadcast times: 24, Type of programmes: 5

· What is your opinion about our programmes in general? Very good: 77, Okay: 45, Poor: 2 [Alex Elmadjian/ANR 113]

============================

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: WOMEN'S MINISTRIES

============================

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] There is no doubt that women are in the majority in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Nonetheless, the Church is mostly run by men! With some exceptions, the number of men far exceeds that of women on church boards, conference and union committees and institutional leadership teams. In recent years considerable progress has been made, but full gender equality is often still theory rather than practice.

The department of women's ministries, however, has not primarily been established to solve that problem. The creation of the department is a response to the many specific needs that the women in the church face and which have seldom been adequately met.

Women have different spiritual needs from men. They need opportunities to be together, fellowship together and pray together. They need a forum where they can discuss problems that women face in today's society.

Unfortunately, many women face personal problems which they should not have to face. They often suffer sexual harassment, at times even within the Church. Many suffer abuse - either emotional, verbal or even physical. Research has shown that abuse by Christian husbands, who are sometimes leaders in the church, is not as rare as we would like to think. These are some of the problems the women's ministries department seeks to address.

The issues for the women's ministries department vary from culture to culture. The needs in Pakistan are different from those in Sweden, and the special challenges women face in Latvia are not the same as those in Britain or the Sudan. But, whatever the culture, these issues must be identified and the needs must be ministered to.

Please pray:

* for the women leaders in the Church in general, and in the department for women's ministries in particular.

* for the leadership in the Church that they may keep full gender equality in the institutions of the Church and in the leadership structure of the Church high on their agenda.

* for the women in our Church who are victims of abuse by their partners.

* for the many women who struggle to remain faithful to their faith in spite of opposition from those nearest to them. [Birthe Kendel, TED Women's Ministries director/ANR 114]
Entered June 4, 1999

About twenty people from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) network in TED, EUD and ADRA-CO were present. Dr Bertil Wiklander, chairman, said, "This was a useful meeting for all of us. The tasks we have accepted among the refugees in Albania and Macedonia are being handled quite well on the whole, and we had reports concerning various efforts to reach into Yugoslavia. We now have to create a viable strategy for the future which is flexible enough for us to face whatever development the war takes. We are committed from the TED to do all we can for the many people on all sides of the conflict, but we need the help of the world-wide church."

The agenda covered reports on the current situation in the various countries, review of projects and forthcoming proposals, issues of responsibility and organisation, staffing issues, future strategy, and news and information.

"We need to work more on how to use the opportunities for witnessing that this crisis presents to us," reports Wiklander. "People have the right to hear the gospel, especially in a crisis. But we need to do that wisely, so that we are not seen as proselytisers who take advantage of people that suffer." [ANR Staff/ANR 104]

============================

UPDATE ON THE CRISIS IN THE BALKANS

============================

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The fate of Seventh-day Adventist Church members living in Kosovo is uncertain. Before the conflict some 30 members met in the churches at Pristina and Pec. Radisa Antic, president of the Church in Yugoslavia reports that three families continue to attend the church in Pec, while the pastor and four ethnic Albanian Adventists remain in Pristina. One member still remains in Djakovica.

With no fuel for cars pastors in Yugoslavia are turning to bicycles to get to their members. Some of them are cycling up to 60 miles (96 kilometres) per day according to Radivoj Vladisavljevic, president of the Adventist Church in northern Yugoslavia.

"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," reports Antic. "They are keeping in contact with church members and those interested in the church, trying to help them at this time of desperate need."

With electricity, gas and water shortages, there is no regular distribution of basic necessities such as bread. Cities are the worst affected. "We are starting a Soup Kitchen at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Novi Sad on 1 June, providing 150 hot meals to the most needy in the city every day, seven days a week," reports Miodrag Zivanovic, spokesperson for the Adventist Church in Yugoslavia.

"Another eleven homes of church members have been destroyed by the bombings which brings the total number of buildings ruined to seventeen including two churches," says Zivanovic.

The Czech Government, through ADRA/Czech Republic, is building a camp for 1,500 - 2,000 Kosovan refugees near Durrës, Albania. According to the latest information the construction of this camp continues successfully in spite of some technical problems. It is expected to be completed by 28 May, 1999.

During a visit to the Cegrave refugee camp in western Macedonia on Friday, 14 May, George and Marija Trajkovski, representatives for ADRA/Macedonia, together with Daniel Schüttler, from ADRA/Germany, visited several Kosovo refugee families in their tents. Seventeen members of one family live in tent number A5/18 which includes a 77-year-old paralysed woman. Her son, evet Draguti, along with other family members, takes it in turn to look after her. Life is made even more difficult because of a shortage of water at the camp, and the smell in the tent is almost unbearable - especially for the small children.

ADRA/Macedonia was the first aid agency to give humanitarian assistance to the Serbian refugees situated in Macedonia. On 12 May, 140 family parcels consisting of food and hygienic supplies were given to the families - mostly mothers and children.

"The biggest problem for us Serbs coming to Macedonia is that we are not recognised as refugees by the Macedonian authorities," said one young lady teacher from Serbia. "We are not given working visas since we are considered to be tourists or guests within the Macedonian families. Those who have friends or relatives here are lucky. The rest of us are forced to pay very high rents in order to have some place to stay in."

If you would like to participate financially in the Balkan Crisis Appeal, please 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. [ANR Staff/ANR 105]

============================

TWENTY YEARS OF RADIO WORK IN SWEDEN

============================

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - [ANR] Twenty years ago the state's radio monopoly came to an end in Sweden. The Seventh-day Adventist Churches started broadcasting a variety of programmes: first devotionals, later health programmes as well as special features for minority language groups.

"At its peak, the radio broadcasting involved twenty local Adventist churches all over Sweden," comments Siv Molin, manager of the radio station in Stockholm. "Today only five churches are involved. Competition today is much greater. In Stockholm alone, there are more than thirty other different stations."

The radio work in Sweden was started by voluntary laymen, and with very basic equipment. With the help of Olov and Willma Blomquist of California, USA, however, every radio station received upgraded equipment. Now that we have entered a very high-tech IT era, even these studios are out-dated.

"Thousands have been listening to our programmes over the past twenty years," says Molin. "Without doubt, God opened the door then. His mighty hand has opened many other doors since then, but the radio work is still big and, to this day, open all over the world and will continue until the return of Jesus." [Siv Molin/ANR 106]

============================

COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR FEATURED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION

============================

WARSAW, POLAND - [ANR] On Friday, 14 May 1999, Polish national television broadcast a programme from the series "The Night Talks" that discussed the prophecies on end-time events. Over 50 people were invited to be a part of the audience in the TV studio including representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"The 50-minute programme that is broadcast live and also gives some time for people to telephone the studio to ask questions, does not give too many chances to express our message and views, but still gives an opportunity to share the truth," says Pastor Roman Chalupka, communication director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland.

On this occasion Chalupka was invited and took part in the discussion. He pointed out that Bible prophecy was not given to create any kind of sensation or to threaten people, but that "it was given by God to help us in recognising the time in which we live and to change our lives for the time of the end. For the believing Christian the end of this world is not a disaster but a great hope of meeting the Lord Jesus Christ coming in glory to take us home."

The final programme was, in fact, the fourth opportunity for the Adventist Church to be represented on the series and to share the message we believe. [Roman Chalupka/ANR 107]

============================

OFFICERS OF LAPLAND MISSION RE-ELECTED

============================

TAMPERE, FINLAND - [ANR] The officers of the Lapland Mission were all re-elected by the executive committee of the Finland Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. At its meeting held on 23 May, the committee voted the following: president, Pastor Veikko Leppänen; secretary, Pastor Paavo Hautala; treasurer, Anna-Liisa Halonen. The officers will continue in office for the next two years. [Joel Niininen/ANR 108]

============================

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS

============================

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] It was the winter of 1959. Early in my ministry I had just moved down to join the team at our London evangelistic centre. On a grey December afternoon I took a train to a suburban area in the south-west of the city, where I was to meet my first ever Bible Correspondence School (BCS) contact. The name had been sent from the BCS office, and I wondered what to expect.

A ring at the doorbell of the bungalow brought a swift response: "Come in - the door is already open." Hesitantly I pushed open the door and wondered where the voice had come from. As I looked across the hallway I noticed an open bedroom door in which an elderly lady of some 70 years was lying, propped up with pillows and obviously confined to her bed. I discovered that for ten years she had not left her home, and in recent times had been totally dependent on her daughter who lived nearby. But she was a lady of radiant faith. She had found great inward peace in taking our BCS lessons, and was ready to bring her life into full harmony with the Word of God. As we prayed together - the first of many such occasions - I realised the importance of the work done by our correspondence schools in pointing men and women of all backgrounds to the One who breaks all human barriers with His majestic love.

In most countries of our division there are opportunities for people to be led to faith through BCS outreach. Thousands of prospective converts receive Bible lessons each week. The Holy Spirit works through the printed page in impressing hearts with the need for obedience and surrender. BCS converts often become some of our staunchest members.

Please pray:

* that those who study the BCS lessons will be impressed to accept the validity of the Holy Scriptures and follow in the path of truth.

* that God will bless those who work in the BCS offices, and guide them by His Spirit in meeting students needs.

* that God will lead many others to search for hope and meaning in life through the BCS courses. [Martin L Anthony, TED BCS co-ordinator/ANR 109]
Entered May 27, 1999

"The members of the Adventist Church, like all others, are facing an imminent and severe famine. People eat what in normal circumstances would not be food fit for human consumption. The whole system which supports everyday life is in collapse," added Zivanovic.

As a response to this situation ADRA/Sweden has successfully negotiated a grant from the Swedish Journal (SvJ) for USD47,350 for Soup Kitchens in Belgrade, Nis and Novi Sad in Yugoslavia.

But "God is bringing eternal good out of the terrible disaster", reports Radivoj Vladisavljevic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia's North Conference. "Many are hearing the gospel for the first time. Our churches have meetings every day at 5.00 o'clock under the theme 'Prayers for Peace'. Each day churches are preparing different forms of services for different audiences. At 7 o'clock they have to be back home or the air-raid shelters for another night of bombing, another night of uncertainty," concluded Vladisavljevic.

In spite of hazards, more than USD200,000 worth of potatoes, cabbages, clothes, shoes, blankets, sleeping bags and mattresses - all of them desperately needed - have been safely delivered to Podgorica in Montenegro, Federal State of Yugoslavia, and Skopje in Macedonia.

Representatives for ADRA/Macedonia, George and Marija Trajkovski, together with Daniel Schüttler, from ADRA/Germany, visited several Kosovo refugee families in their tents at the Cegrave refugee camp in western Macedonia last Friday, 14 May.

"We have to bathe our children in cold water or with water which we try to warm by exposing it to the sun", said one man who shares a tent with his wife and children, his brother, his brother's wife plus their children (10 altogether).

"I don't have to say much," says his brother. "You can see everything for yourselves. Today is very hot, above 39 degree Celsius. Inside the tent it is even hotter. It is very difficult to survive here with small children."

Twelve more 5-tonne trucks will be making their way from Denmark to Albania to be used as project vehicles. The funds have been made available through a second grant from DANIDA which also covers the cost of 25,500 blankets.

Stephano Tsukamoto, ADRA director, and Dr Darrell L Vaughan, head of the Okinawa Medical Centre, have just completed four days of consultations in Albania exploring ways whereby ADRA/Japan can become involved in humanitarian and health activities in Europe's poorest country.

Steps are being taken by the Albanian Mission to establish a Community Services unit so that more church members can become active in refugee care and the distribution of material goods.

David Swain, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at Stanborough Park, Watford, England, and a professional paramedic, arrived back from Kukes, Albania, after driving a seven-and-a-half tonne mobile surgical unit.

In his report, much of which was quoted in the local newspaper "Watford Observer", Swain spoke of the many dangers and difficulties which his convoy faced on the way. Driving through washed-out mountain roads was bad enough but worst of all was the danger of ambush from armed bandits.

"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," says Swain. "It's much worse than when you see it on television."

While preparing this report, we had a telephone call from Tiranë, Albania and on the line was Miss Dijana Daka, pastor from Djakovica, Kosovo. As we reported earlier, Pastor Daka appeared on the British ITN news report two weeks ago. Since then we have heard nothing but finally today, she managed to leave the refugee group and join the Adventist Church members in Tiranë where she is staying, together with two church members, 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!" [ANR Staff/ANR 099]

============================

HUNDREDS ATTEND LONDON CAMPAIGNS

============================

LONDON, ENGLAND - [ANR] Eight hundred people attended the opening night of the "Countdown to the Showdown" evangelistic campaign on Saturday, 1 May, held in a big tent at the Recreation Ground, Lordship Lane, Tottenham, London, England.

Pastor Don McFarlane, president of the South England Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, encouraged those attending to keep coming night after night until the close on 29 May. "Do this and you will see God working mightily in your lives", he said.

Two years ago the seeds for this campaign were sown by Pastors Richard DeLisser and Daniel Ferraz, when they ran a similar evangelistic programme. However this year they passed on the baton to this year's runners, evangelists, Michael Hamilton and Stephen McKenzie. Both preached a short but powerful introduction to the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. During the week attendance is about 350 but almost twice as many attend at the weekends. Many people have come forward for baptism, with 25 registering for a baptism this coming Sabbath, 22 May, and more expected for a baptism the following Sabbath. The big tent is holding up well against the elements. Two large gas turbine heaters help to keep people comfortable in the evenings. An interesting variation this year is that Discover Bible School videos are being shown before each programme using a video projector. These serve as a Bible class for those who come early.

Pastor Emmanuel Osei is the speaker for West London's evangelistic campaign in Shepherds Bush. Weekend attendance is close to that in Tottenham, occasionally reaching the 700 mark with around 300 attending during the week. Twelve persons were baptised last Sabbath, 15 May, and Pastor Osei is hoping that more will make decisions during the final stages of the campaign. Pastor Osei is supported by singing evangelist Kimberley Washington Palmer, music co-ordinator Yolanda Alexander, and campaign managers Elsie Staple and Pastor K C Henry. A full band, including keyboard, piano, tambourines and drums, encourages good congregational singing. [John Surridge/ANR 100]

============================

ADRA RECEIVES ITS BIGGEST GRANT FROM THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT

============================

HUIS TER HEIDE, THE NETHERLANDS - [ANR] The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in the Netherlands has just received a grant of USD280,000 from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to assist 10,000 refugees in Sierra Leone.

"This is the largest amount of funding given to ADRA by the Dutch Government, and it is the fruition of much hard work on the part of the agency's country director, Frank Teeuwen," reports John Arthur, director for ADRA's operations in the Trans-European region.

ADRA's direct mail programme throughout The Netherlands has yielded more than USD50,000 for work amongst the Kosovan refugees. Attempts are being made to secure additional monies from other Dutch sources so as to intensify ADRA's efforts to ease the pain being experienced by countless thousands in the Balkans. [John Arthur/ANR 101]

============================

"JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM: DIVINITY IN A POLITICAL WORLD"

============================

STROVOLOS, CYPRUS - [ANR] Representatives from both the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Middle East Union and the Adventist Media Centre attended a two-day conference at the Le Meridien hotel in Limassol, Cyprus, from 3 - 4 May 1999.

Intriguingly entitled, "Judaism, Christianity, Islam: Divinity in a Political World," the conference was jointly sponsored by the World Centre for Dialogue and the Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding and was open to anybody to attend without charge.

The opening lines of the programme read, "On the threshold of the third millennium, the world is still riven by terrible suffering in the form of violent conflict, brutal oppression and intense poverty. Never has the need been stronger for the universal message of the three monotheistic religions to be heard and acted upon. Despite their doctrinal differences, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are united in preaching the values of peace, justice, love and tolerance. Politics cannot and should not be allowed to minimise the importance of these teachings. They are above and beyond politics everywhere and at all times."

There were more than 30 papers presented during the conference by prominent academics, politicians, UN representatives and religious leaders. The inauguration address was given by former Chancellor of Germany, Helmut Schmidt. Noting that all three Abrahamic religions call for peace, he placed blame on the electronic media for swelling the incidence of violence in the world. He called for educators to teach virtues of tolerance rather than violence and never allow ourselves to believe that fundamentalism and hate is indicative of the other religion.

"Since we can only respect that which we know, we should know a minimum about other people's religions," said Schmidt. He quoted part of a UN Charter which states, "We should avoid expressions of prejudice and acts of discrimination toward other beliefs and should foster tolerance and mutual respect." He went on to say that, "'Do unto others as you would want them to do to you' is a golden rule in all the holy books of the three religions."

Professor Enzo Pace from the University of Padua made a slightly depressing observation of the younger generation and their disenchantment with religion. "The younger generation believe without belonging. They have no commitment towards religious institutions. They have gone from, 'Being sure we believe' to 'Believing that we should believe.'"

Mohammed Mojtahed-Shabestari of the Tehran University put forward a common denominator between the religious and secular communities. "Human rights can be interpreted in both secular and religious terms even though it is a 20th century concept. It can be the cornerstone of justice between all faiths. Believers are of the view that God asks them to live lives according to justice. Such a believer would ensure human rights and also adhere to scriptural admonitions. Since human beings are created by God, they have a right to human dignity which is enshrined in all scriptures."

All the papers presented during the conference are available in their entirety on the website of the World Centre for Dialogue . [Alex Elmadjian/ANR 102]

============================

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: MACEDONIA

============================

SKOPJE, MACEDONIA - [ANR] Macedonia is bordered by Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, Albania to the west and Yugoslavia to the north. It is a small country of only 25,000 square kilometres (just over half the size of The Netherlands), and a population of 2.2 million. Two-thirds of the population is Macedonian, while roughly 20 per cent is Albanian. The principal religions are Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Islam.

For more than 500 years Macedonia was part of the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire. After the empire dissolved, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia competed for the territory. In 1918 Macedonia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which subsequently became the former Yugoslavia in 1929. The dream of full independence was fulfilled in 1991.

When war broke out in the Balkans and the work of the church had to be re-organised in order to reflect present realities, the Macedonian Mission was temporarily directly attached to the Trans-European Division. In 1996 it was re-incorporated as a mission into the South-East European Union. The mission has ten churches and 537 members.

In recent years the church has gone through a traumatic experience. Nationalistic and other non-doctrinal reasons caused a small, but vicious group to separate from the church and to establish its own brand of Seventh-day Adventism. The schismatics succeeded in occupying the mission office and the central church in the capital city of Skopje, and have been unwilling to vacate the building, in spite of court pronouncements in favour of the official church. Everything possible has been done to bring about reconciliation but this process has been frustratingly slow.

In spite of these difficulties the church has regained its evangelistic spirit. A church-planting project is under way among the considerable Gypsy population. In addition, in just over one year seven new books have been published in the Macedonian language.

Please pray:

* for a definite solution to the problems that have plagued the small Macedonian church in recent years.

* for continued success in evangelism among the Gypsy population and other population segments.

* for the authorities in Macedonia, that they may view the difficulties in the right perspective and may offer protection to the name of our church, its facilities and the members. [ANR 103]
Entered May 21, 1999

In briefing the committee on the Balkan crisis, Dr Bertil Wiklander, chairman of the TED executive committee, stated, "The division has taken a firm hand on the crisis in the Balkans. USD150,000 has been set aside for immediate needs. A crisis committee is monitoring the situation daily. Through a special Balkan Crisis Appeal, the world church is assisting us in numerous ways. ADRA is making an enormous effort and the division officers have inspected the work by visits to Albania and Macedonia. We have called a summit meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, for 24 and 25 May, to study the co-ordination and the future direction of the work."

Graham Barham, division treasurer, was able to report that 1998 was another financially healthy year for the division. Barham also announced that an extra £100,000 (USD161,000) was being set aside for special evangelistic initiatives.

Dr Reinder Bruinsma, division secretary, reported 4,132 individuals were added to the Church through baptism during 1998, but at the same time it is clear that some unions are experiencing decline or maintenance, or limited growth. Considerable time was given to discussing this trend.

"There is a basic formula for ministry: evangelistic visits + Bible studies = baptism! With 15 - 20 Bible studies each week, a pastor has the most effective basis for equipping lay people for ministry," stated Peter Roennfeldt, division ministerial association secretary.

"We need to be better equipped for urban evangelism," comments Roger Robertsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Norway. "Our churches in some countries have been 'rural' churches, but people are now moving into the cities, and we are not yet prepared for that change."

The committee were updated on numerous items, varying from the state of many Global Mission projects, such as Adventist churches for the unchurched, and evangelistic impact of NET '98, to preparations for the GC Session in Toronto, Canada in the year 2000.

The plan of the ministerial association to organise a division-wide congress for all pastors in the Trans-European Division in September 2001 received strong support. Some 1,000 pastors and spouses will travel to Zwolle, Holland, for a week-long congress with plenary sessions and workshops.

Jim Huzzey, division field secretary, in his devotional spoke regarding the leaders of the Church, and stated that "clarity of purpose; unity of vision; acting together under God's guidance will begin the rebuilding of Hope."

Thanks and praise go to our Heavenly Father for His many blessings - for the stable financial position the division is in, and for every precious soul baptised last year. [Miroslav Pujic/ANR 093]

============================

SUMMARY OF ADRA ACTIVITIES IN THE BALKANS

============================

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to co-ordinate humanitarian activities in the Balkans.

ADRA/UK has co-ordinated the transportation of twelve large truckloads of aid into Albania during the past month.

ADRA/Denmark initially negotiated a grant of USD518,000 to meet the cost of 4 new land cruiser vehicles, the rental of 5 trucks, the purchase of 7,000 blanket, and the implementation of a large health programme in the south-west. Further funding is now anticipated from the Danish Government, DANIDA, in order to help ADRA to meet some additional challenges.

The Italian Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has provided USD400,000 for feeding 3,000 babies in Kosovan refugee camps in Albania over the next six months.

The Trans-European Division has advanced USD30,000 for the establishment of three Soup Kitchens in Yugoslavia where countless thousands are experiencing severe economic problems because of the non-availability of employment. Further funding is being urgently sought from the ADRA network.

ADRA/Germany has also sent USD30,000 to Belgrade, together with two truckloads of supplies. The German Government has granted USD131,000 for ADRA/Yugoslavia to assist refugees in Montenegro.

In Macedonia, ADRA continues to feed 4,000 families on a regular basis. A further USD160,000 has been allocated by the German Government in order for this operation to be extended. [John Arthur/ANR 094]

============================

ADRA/DENMARK RECEIVES RECORD GRANT

============================

NÆRUM, DENMARK - [ANR] The Danish Government, through DANIDA, has appropriated USD4.8 million to ADRA earlier this month for its on-going school-building programme in Uganda. "This is the largest single grant we have ever received," states the ecstatic country director, Helge Andersen. [John Arthur/ANR 095]

============================

"COME OVER TO MACEDONIA AND HELP US!"

============================

GEVGELIJA, MACEDONIA - [ANR] Two retired businessmen from Australia, Lloyd Ellis and Lyle Ball, reports exclusively for ANR on a miracle church in Macedonia. This is their story.

Situated just across the border from Northern Greece in the beautiful Vardar Valley is the little Macedonian town of Gevgelija.

The dominant religion in this small rural town of some 15,000 inhabitants is Eastern Orthodox with just a small number of Protestant believers. There are about 20 Seventh-day Adventist Church members in Gevgelija, and they meet from week to week in a small rented room situated on the edge of town.

Whilst the Church members are relatively poor and may lack an abundance of this world's goods, one thing they do not lack is a love for the Word of God and a burning desire to witness to the people of Gevgelija.

Earlier this year the Church leaders in Macedonia, together with Church members, decided to purchase a derelict old two-storey building on a busy thoroughfare in the centre of town and convert it into a church. This 110-year-old building, comprising of mud and brick was most definitely what would be described in the West as a "renovator's special".

However, with just no funds available, the dreams of the Church members were unlikely to be realised. At about that time, due to a cancellation of church building projects in South Sudan - because of the ongoing war - Lloyd and Lyle indicated their desire to make time available to work on another project. With some monies from the "Hands Across the World" fund, and financial assistance from the Macedonian Conference and sponsors in Australia, this project commenced in early April 1999.

From this derelict building, which had to be virtually pulled down, has emerged in just five weeks, and within budget, a beautiful two-storey church building capable of seating 120 people. As one of the many townsfolk who visited the site from day to day said, "It's a miracle!"

One of the representatives of the established church who visited the site indicated that the church should have remained on the edge of town in the small room, and why should the Adventists seek to locate right in the centre of town? Why, indeed? - Because the land to which the Apostle Paul came so many years ago needs, once again, to hear the Good News of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to experience the joy and peace that comes from a personal relationship with the Living God. The little church in Gevgelija may indeed be a miracle church, for it is the only Protestant church in town and one of few Adventist church buildings in all of Macedonia.

With many more churches needed in this small country, the call today is being made by the people of Macedonia - "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" [Lloyd Ellis & Lyle Ball/ANR 096]

============================

CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES MEETING OF CTBI

============================

WATFORD, ENGLAND - [ANR] From 4 to 6 May representatives of the member Churches of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) met together at the All Saints Pastoral Centre in London Colney, England. This was the first meeting to be held under the leadership of the new General Secretary, Dr David Goodbourne. Dr Goodbourne was commissioned at a service at the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church on Tuesday, 4 May.

High on the agenda of the Church Representatives Meeting was a discussion of the current situation in the Balkans. With the help of a small sub-committee Paul Renshaw, Co-ordinating Secretary for International Affairs, put together a statement on Kosovo which was approved by all those present.

Among other things the statement called for all Christian Churches to pray for: a speedy end to the hostilities and the restoration of peace and justice in the Balkans; those people on all sides whose lives have been devastated by the conflict; the renewal of the United Nations, governments and other institutions so as to promote the harmony of peoples and nations; our Churches and agencies, that their response may be commensurate with the scale of the crisis; our collaborative work as Christians together, and with people of other faiths in initiatives for peace, reconciliation and restoration.

Paul Renshaw was presented with the 6 April Seventh-day Adventist statement on the conflict in Kosovo and he took this into account when preparing the joint statement. Many members were surprised to hear of the size of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia. Thirty-two denominations are full members of CTBI. By their own choice the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland have associate status. [John Surridge/ANR 097]

============================

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: ESTONIA

============================

TARTU, ESTONIA - [ANR] Estonia, the most northern of the three Baltic countries, was joined to the Trans-European Division in 1994. It is geographically the smallest of the Baltic States. After having been a Russian province before World War I, it enjoyed a brief period of independence between the two wars, until it was re-conquered by Russia. The country declared full independence on 20 August 1991. The Lutheran Church is the largest religious community. Its language is related to Finnish.

Today, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Estonia is organised as a conference of the Baltic Union. The 18 churches have a total membership of 1925. Of late the membership has decreased slightly, for a variety of reasons.

Interests and purposes have changed in our society, secularism has taken place and many have fallen away after early evangelistic success. Estonia is economically the most advanced and most "western" of the three Baltic states, and it is, therefore, no surprise that evangelism is more difficult than in either Latvia or Lithuania.

One of the best working methods in present-day Estonia is work in small congregational groups. In active group work knowledge is retained better. In spite of the decrease of membership we have several congregational groups full of vitality in which regular Bible study is taking place. In Estonia we have at least twelve congregational groups besides the registered congregations.

Pastors can now study at the Newbold College extension course in Riga each summer. Union Conference and Division have organised several seminars for pastors and Conference leadership.

The Estonian Conference has a new area of work with the establishment of ADRA in Estonia. This was registered as a non-profit association on 3 October 1997. The main project is the Drug-Users and Alcoholics Rehabilitation Centre in Narva, opened on 4 May 1998. At present we are working in five areas: with alcoholics, with drug-users, with family members, with parents of children, and with teenagers. There are seven paid workers; 20 - 25 patients are in care, and two have been sent to hospital.

The Bible Correspondence School has been part and parcel of the mission work from 1990. All that time thousands of people have worked with these materials at home and have received knowledge about our wonderful God and His love. From 1995 to 1997 about 20,000 different lessons were sent out, which means at least 20 series a day. Nine hundred and forty-four people have finished different courses.

Please pray:

* that the work will go on in congregational groups

* that the Drug-Users and Alcoholics Rehabilitation Centre programme be fully implemented

* that the church may gain more access to the national media. [Tõnu Jugar, President, Estonian Conference/ANR 098]
Entered May 14, 1999

Bertil Wiklander and Miroslav Pujic, president and communication director respectively of the division, were special guests at the session. Radisa Antic, president of the South-East European Union to which the Mission is attached, could not attend the meetings due to the military conflict in Yugoslavia.

Pastor Djordje Trajkovski, president of the Macedonian Mission, informed the delegates about the remarkable blessings the church received during past triennium. Baptisms during this three-year period have been higher than in previous years. One hundred and thirty-eight people were baptised and new groups were organised in five towns which will soon be organised into new congregations. Eighty-thousand books, comprising of seven titles, were published during this period.

"By God's grace, the church in Macedonia is leaving the troubles behind and is vigorously moving forward," says Bertil Wiklander. "Some years ago, a rebellious group of the church occupied our only church in Skopje. But the Lord has opened new doors as an answer to prayer. We now have two growing churches in Skopje, and a third church building where a church planting project will start very soon. The energy and vision of the leadership is very encouraging, and everywhere I went I met enormously talented young people eager to serve the Church. It was a wonderful experience to worship God with my brothers and sisters in this very beautiful and hospitable country."

Pastors Djordje Trajkovski and Tome Trajkov were re-elected as president and secretary/treasurer respectively of the Macedonian Mission which has a current membership of 537. [Miroslav Pujic/ANR 089]

============================

UPDATE ON THE BALKAN CRISIS

============================

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] It has been more than three weeks since the Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, lost contact with Pastor Dijana Daka and three church members in Djakovica, Kosovo. Different methods were utilised to try and make contact to get any information about their welfare, but without success. Finally, on Tuesday, May 4, the writer of this article was able to identify Pastor Daka on a report broadcast by the British ITV Evening News seeing her amongst a group of refugees in Kukes, a town in northern Albania, close to the border with Kosovo.

"We are delighted that Dijana is safe and believe that the other three church members are with her," says Miroslav Pujic, communication director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church headquarters in St Albans, England. The ADRA office in Kukes has been notified and the staff will make an effort to bring them to Tiranë, capital of Albania.

"The crisis in Albania continues to worsen day by day," reports Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for ADRA/Albania. "Over the weekend there were more than 16,000 new arrivals in the crowded and dangerous town of Kukes."

In addition to feeding more than 30,000 people every day, ADRA/Albania is running a kitchen which provides hot meals to 8,000 people in one camp daily. Reinforcements in the form of volunteers from all over the Trans-European Division as well as other countries are arriving on a continuous basis to provide much needed support. Most of them are presently being sent south, where ADRA/Albania is responsible for every refugee in four prefectures, a total of nearly 55,000 and growing.

"Volunteers from Holland, Australia, Kenya, America, and Denmark have arrived within the past week," says Robinson. "On Tuesday a team from the Andrews University School of Social Work in Michigan, USA, arrived to begin work on a trauma counselling programme. Most of the refugees arriving in Albania are extremely traumatised, and no system for providing counselling services exists within the current infrastructure."

Arrangements have been worked out with the Red Cross and the Belgrade authorities for ADRA's aid trucks to enter Yugoslavia, reports John Arthur, director for ADRA/Trans-European Division.

"Following the bombing by NATO much hardship has been caused to the civilian population," says Arthur. "Life-saving medicines and food are in short supply in many areas."

Several regional branches of the agency have been established throughout Serbia and Montenegro, and eleven funding applications have been prepared in connection with soup kitchens, hospital equipment, and children's rehabilitation. ADRA hopes to negotiate grants for these humanitarian activities so as to supplement its existing programme in other parts of Yugoslavia.

Last Friday, 30 April, Radisa Antic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia, was invited to the Federal Government in order to meet with Reverend Jessie Jackson, several congressmen as well as a group of religious leaders from the USA, in connection with the freeing of the three American soldiers. Among those invited included the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, representatives of Islam, the Jewish community, Baptists, Pentecostals, Evangelicals and Seventh-day Adventists.

"I had an opportunity to address the whole group and to express the position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church," reports Antic. "I also spoke privately with Reverend Jessie Jackson. The meeting was designed to address the current situation in Yugoslavia, but it was also important for our Church to express its position in this time of crises."

On Sunday, 2 May 1999, Dr Bertil Wiklander and Miroslav Pujic, president and communication director of the Trans-European Division, visited Stenkovec, 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."

According to Marija Trajkovska, spokesperson for ADRA/Macedonia, there are now 200,000 Kosovan refugees in Macedonia. Under the leadership of Tihomir Lipohar, ADRA/Germany is feeding 4,000 families - 30,000 refugees, in six different cities. More projects are under way.

"In their assistance to ADRA, the local church leadership in Macedonia, especially Pastor Djordje Trajkovski, president of the Macedonian Mission, has responded generously with their time and efforts," says Wiklander. "ADRA is making an impact on government officials and the Macedonian society through media reports on their activities, which we hope 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."

To meet this critical moment of human need requires united sacrifice from all of us. If you would like to participate financially in the Balkan Crisis Appeal, please 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. [Miroslav Pujic/ANR 090]

============================

ADVENTIST "PREACHER OF THE YEAR" SHARES VIEWS ON TV

============================

WATFORD, ENGLAND - [ANR] Ian Sweeney, pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sheffield, England, and winner of last year's "Times Preacher of the Year" competition was a featured panelist on British TV on 25 April.

Sweeney was a guest on presenter Melvyn Bragg's new religious discussion series "Two Thousand Years" as part of a panel of three, sitting between the liberal Anglican bishop David Jenkins, and Jewish scholar Professor George Steiner.

Feedback on the show suggested that Sweeney's views were more popular with the audience than those of the other panelists.

Seventh-day Adventists will have been represented in the first three programmes of this major new television series, either on the panel or in the studio audience.

"This is a significant development and is an indication of the level of recognition and attention Adventists are now receiving in the Christian community in Britain," says John Surridge, communication director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the British Isles. [John Surridge/ANN/ANR 091]

============================

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: EGYPT

============================

HELIOPOLIS, EGYPT - [ANR] Egypt - land of the Nile and the pyramids! One million square kilometres of mostly desert but, fortunately, also with a long fertile valley that sustains some 60 million people. However, the cultivated land on both sides of the Nile is only 5% of the territory of the country.

Most Egyptians are Muslims. The largest non-Muslim minority is that of the 8 million-strong Monophysite Christian community, better known as the Coptic Church. Some 750,000 Protestants belong to a total of 17 different denominations.

The Egypt Field of the "Coptic Seventh-day Adventist Church" consists of 26 churches and companies, with a total of 924 members. Egypt was the first of all Middle Eastern countries to be entered by Seventh-day Adventists. In 1878 Romualdo Bartola, an Italian self-supporting missionary, visited Alexandria. His witness resulted in a baptism of seven persons. Others followed, and in spite of severe difficulties, a small group of believers was established. In 1901 L R Conradi came to Egypt to organise the first Adventist Church in Egypt. Of all pioneers who worked in Egypt, George Keough is probably the best known. Later, former General Conference president, Neal C Wilson, also spent a long period in Egypt. Erna Kruger, the matron of an orphanage (the Matariah Mercy Home) also deserves a special place in the annals of the Egyptian Adventist Church.

Today, the Egypt Field is supervised from its headquarters building in Heliopolis. It operates one of the largest Adventist primary schools in the world (1,300 students), a small secondary school with boarding facilities (Nile Union Academy), and a growing health food factory.

When one looks at all that has been invested in the work in Egypt - both in terms of finances and especially in terms of manpower - the results seem meagre. And, humanly speaking, no significant church growth can be foreseen in the near future. But the leadership and pastors of the Egypt Field believe that what seems impossible, is still possible with God - in His time!

Please pray:

* that the plans of the health food factory to establish a Better Living Centre in Cairo may become a reality.

* for the pastors of the Egypt Field - that they may not be discouraged and remain focused on evangelism.

* for ways and means to continue operating the Nile Union Academy.

* for the successful development of a form of contextualised evangelism for the Muslims of Egypt.

* that the pastors may be able to help the members to be more faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ. [Peter Zarka, President, Egypt Field/ANR 092]
Entered May 7, 1999

"Please pray for our country," requests Radisa Antic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia. "We are caught up in a military conflict which is taking the lives of many civilians and destroying many homes and churches. We are doing what we can to minister to people in their physical, emotional and spiritual needs."

According to Miodrag Zivanovic, spokesperson for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia, there is no communication or any information about Pastor Dijana Daka plus three members in Djakovica, Kosovo. "We are extremely worried about their welfare", says Zivanovic, "and we plead with our brothers and sisters around the world for their prayers."

As reported in a previous bulletin, two pastors have been drafted into the Yugoslavian army, and now we have information that forty church members have also been drafted. They are potentially the targets of NATO's bombing campaign.

Two church buildings have been damaged or destroyed by the bombing together with four homes of church members.

"We are planning to pack food and hygiene parcels to be distributed to 4,000 Kosovo refugee families who have been accommodated in the homes of local families," reports Marija Trajkovska, spokesperson for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Macedonia. "Later on we will provide clothes and shoes to these families, as well." This USD$140,000 project is funded by the German government via ADRA/Germany. Two truck-loads (24 tonnes) of mattresses, blankets, clothes and baby food are due to arrive in Macedonia tomorrow (Thursday) from ADRA/Czech Republic.

ADRA/Albania's programme of rapid relief for the Kosovan refugees in Albania is continuing to expand, reports Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for ADRA/Albania. The ADRA office in Kukes, northern city of Albania close to the border with Kosovo, has been requested by the UNHCR to manage a transit camp in Kukes for approximately 5,000 persons.

"The flow of refugees into Albania has been sporadic in the past week; on some days only a few cross the valley into Albania, and on others thousands pour across," says Robinson.

Refugees are being transited as rapidly as possible by government authorities and aid agencies into more settled accommodation in the 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 to the cries for help to relieve people's suffering in the Balkan crisis," 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."

Those who would like to participate in this appeal 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. [Miroslav Pujic/ANR 084]

============================

NET '98 REPORTS FROM POLAND AND HUNGARY

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The NET '98 NeXt Millennium video seminar commenced in over sixty venues throughout Poland on 19 February 1999.

As a result of financial assistance from an American donor, the Polish Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church were in a position to purchase the necessary equipment to dub the voices of the hosts and Pastor Dwight Nelson into the Polish language.

A total of over 4,000 visitors attended the meetings including many non-Seventh-day Adventists - many of whom decided to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour and be baptised.

"Many church members have purchased the whole set of tapes in order to run small group meetings in their own homes", reports Roman Chalupka, communication director for the Union. "In fact, this way is much more effective as many feel more comfortable watching the tapes, playing them over again, and making decisions in the homes of neighbours and friends."

In some places in Poland NET '96 video cassettes are still being used with great success. "In fact, in one village church where evangelism is extremely challenging, the members decided to buy four sets of NET '96", says Chalupka. "They then took the tapes and went from home to home encouraging the people to watch them. After six months, 98 decisions to follow Christ were made! This little church in Siedliszcze near Lublin doubled its membership. Right now they are busy working with the NET '98 tapes in the same way."

According to information from some churches eight cable TV stations are ready to air NET '98. The Polish Voice of Hope is already present in 18 local cable TV stations in Poland and Berlin, Germany.

The NET '98 seminar was conducted in over thirty venues in Hungary with over 1,500 attending, according to András Szilvási, ministerial association secretary for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hungary. The programmes were more successful where it was held in SDA churches and other venues, where evangelistic campaigns had commenced earlier and the NET series served as a follow-up. One pastor from the Tisza Conference, Geza Hegyes, organised a series in the city of Szeghalom where there is no church and only one member. A former emergency doctor, who was paralysed, came to the first meeting. Some church members assisted with transportation and brought him to every meeting. Unfortunately, a few weeks later he had broken his arm and could not come to the meetings. While he was prevented from attending, he watched the programmes at home. Three weeks later he called the brethren and asked to come back to the meetings. He is now one of a group of seven who are studying together and considering baptism in the near future. [Roman Chalupka/András Szilvási/ANR 085]

============================

TED FESTIVAL OF FAITH RELOCATION

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The continuation of the Balkans' conflict has raised serious doubts over the wisdom of continuing with plans to conduct the proposed Festival of Faith in Slovenia from 13 - 18 July 1999.

"We dare not run the risk of exposing our members to possible danger, or alternatively, the last-minute cancellation of the programme due to an escalation of the conflict," says Pastor Martin Anthony, personal ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division. "During the past four weeks we have pursued options on an alternative venue for the programme."

The TED administrative committee at its meeting today voted to relocate the programme at the De Bron Christian Conference Centre near Zwolle in The Netherlands. The Centre is some 90 miles and 2 hours' drive from Schiphol Airport, to the north-east of Amsterdam, in a quiet rural area. It occupies a six-hectare area of woodland bordered by the River Vecht, and with extensive camping facilities apart from the central accommodation units.

The accommodation at the De Bron Centre consists of double rooms and rooms for 3 - 4 people, most of it fairly basic but clean and comfortable. Most of our group will be in rooms for four people; we will be notified within a few days of the precise number of beds allocated to our group, which is one of three groups using the Centre during the period. The Shalom Hall, seating up to 1,000 people, will be our main meeting venue, with many ancillary halls for workshops. An excellent restaurant seating up to 400 will provide a vegetarian menu for delegates.

The change of venue enables us to offer a very considerable reduction in costs for participants, plus, in most cases, reduced travel costs. All prices quoted includes accommodation and food for the duration of the conference.

Prices begin at £92 per head for those bringing tents, camper-vans or caravans. Such ones will eat with the main group in the restaurant - this is a requirement of the De Bron management. For four-bedded rooms with wash basin, the price will be £114 per head. Similar rooms for two people are £136 per head; for four- and two-bedded rooms with shower and toilet, the prices are £142 and £170 respectively. These figures do not include the registration fee of £45, paid by all participants except those from non-European, non-EU countries. For those wishing for single occupancy, there will be a £42 surcharge for a double room with shower and toilet, and a £25 surcharge for a double room with a wash basin. Because of pressure on space, it is likely that few single rooms will be available.

For further details please contact your Conference/Union personal ministries director.

"We trust that this revised plan for the locating of our programme can be implemented with minimal disruption, and indeed heighten the interest of some who have hesitated to apply previously. We now hope that all details of delegates attending can be finalised by 31 May," concludes Anthony. [Martin L Anthony/ANR 086]

============================

TWO BILLION CHRISTIANS BY YEAR 2000

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] More than 2 billion people worldwide will be Christians in 2000. Researchers David Barrett and Todd Johnson estimate that there are 1.99 billion people who profess Christianity today, about one-third of the world's population, the German Evangelical Alliance said. Roman Catholics constitute the largest group of Christians with more than 1 billion members, followed by mainline Protestants with 321 million. The world's Orthodox churches have 222 million believers. Anglican groups, which Barrett classifies separately, report 74.5 million. Charismatics and Pentecostals, including independents and others who belong to denominations, number about 449 million, the report said.

Islam is the second largest religion with 1.19 billion adherents, followed by Hindu (774 million), non-religious (768 million), Buddhists (359 million), tribal religions (252 million), atheists (151 million), new religions (101 million), Sikhs (22.7 million), and Jews (14.2 million), Barrett said. [Religion Today/ANR 087]

============================

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: ADVENTIST DEVELOPMENT AND RELIEF AGENCY

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] Fresh in our minds are fairly recent pictures relating to human suffering in Albania, Bangladesh, Former Yugoslavia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan and Montserrat. We wish these large scale disasters - whether natural or man-made - did not occur.

In 1989 the UN General Assembly passed a resolution designating the last decade of the twentieth century as the "International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction" (IDNDR). The purpose of this action was to reduce the loss of life, property damage, and social and economic disruption caused by earthquakes, windstorms, floods, locust infestation, drought and desertification which happen all too frequently in many of the developing countries.

Obviously there are many steps which can be taken to minimise some of the foregoing problems, but from a Biblical standpoint these disasters are more likely to increase rather than decrease. Almost two thousand years ago when referring to the end of time, our Lord said, ". . . nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places" (Matt 24:7).

Whenever such calamities take place, the church organisation - mainly through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) - seeks to offer assistance to the victims. The annual Disaster and Famine Relief offering which is taken up in all our churches is used exclusively to alleviate the resultant human misery. Frequently ADRA offices in the major donor countries use monies from this offering as a match for grants from national and international entities. In this way the funds contributed by church members are multiplied, and ADRA's intervention is much larger than would be the case otherwise.

Please pray:

* for the current victims of disasters

* for the ministry of ADRA as it seeks to address needs

* for the soon-coming of the Saviour which is the only long-term solution to problems faced by the human race. [John Arthur, director, ADRA-Trans Europe/ANR 088]
Entered April 29, 1999

Barham and Bruinsma witnessed the significant ADRA involvement in the relief efforts and had occasion to discuss with the ADRA staff the challenges that lie ahead, in particular in the area of the recruitment of personnel.

ADRA/Albania has contracted with the UNHCR and the World Food Programme to daily distribute food in a number of regions to approximately 100,000 persons. In addition, ADRA has received funding from a number of governments and international organisations for additional projects. At present it is estimated that ADRA Albania needs about 25 expatriate personnel and almost 400 national workers in the implementation of the programmes it has assumed responsibility for.

On Monday, 19 April, ADRA/Germany transported 26 tonnes of humanitarian aid with food and hygiene supplies to Macedonia. This will be distributed to approximately 82,000 Kosovan refugees, and is the first contingent of DM255,000 (USD$140,000) worth of aid from the German Government, according to Maria Trajkovska, spokesperson for ADRA/Macedonia. Another truck with clothes and blankets was sent by ADRA/Switzerland and is due to arrive today. The value of this aid is SFr166,200 (USD$110,000) Members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Macedonia form part of the team distributing aid to the refugees located in six camps.

Bertil Wiklander and Miroslav Pujic, president and communication director of the Trans-European Division respectively, will be visiting Macedonia next week to witness the implementation of some ADRA's projects relating to refugees in the country.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church had over 30 members in Kosovo. Twenty-three of whom remain, with some having now left the area during this difficult time, but Miodrag Zivanovic, spokesperson for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia reports that there is no communication with four members in Djakovica including woman Pastor, Dijana Daka.

"I am very worried about the lives of these four members and many 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."

The Trans-European Division is sending a further USD$25,000 to Yugoslavia to ensure that food can be purchased before stock runs out. This food will be shared in various districts and will be available to the members and friends of the Church who are or will be in need.

After the launch of the TED Balkan Crisis Appeal two weeks ago, Middle East Union president, Pastor Sven Jensen, reported that an action was taken at their recent executive committee for an offering to be taken throughout the churches in the MEU on 1 May. "We may not be able to raise any considerable amount, but we would like you to know that we are part of the efforts to help alleviate the sufferings in the Balkans," says Jensen.

Those who would like to participate in this appeal 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. [ANR Staff/ANR 078]

============================

VETEKORN PROGRAMME CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY

ÖREBRO, SWEDEN - [ANR] Sweden's Vetekorn (wheat seeds) programme celebrated its first anniversary on Sunday, April 11. The brainchild of the evangelism director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sweden, Martin Vukmanic, it is based on John 12:24: "Unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds."

There are now a total of nine churches involved in the programme. All the teams from the churches meet together three to four times a year for training.

"Everyone was inspired by the reports from the churches," reports Audrey Andersson, member of the Örebro Adventist Church. "New contacts are being made and things are really starting to happen in Sweden."

Peter Roennfeldt, ministerial association secretary of the Trans-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists, fanned the flames when he shared ideas on how to talk the same language as your unchurched friends and how to bring them to a living vibrant relationship with our God.

The success of the weekend was quite clear when people were reluctant to leave and carried on asking questions and discussing ideas for two hours after the programme was scheduled to finish.

Participant of the programme, Elsie Stone, summed up the weekend when she said, "Peter has drawn together all we have learnt and given us a clear vision of where we need to go from here." [Audrey Andersson/ANR 079]

============================

BIBLE CONFERENCE HELD IN CAIRO

HELIOPOLIS, EGYPT - [ANR] A Bible Conference at the Nile Union Academy, Cairo,