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 Zýková 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 7˝ 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."

ˇ 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).

ˇ Gender: Male 120, Female 3

ˇ Average age: 26

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

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

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

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

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

ˇ How many hours a week do you spend in listening to our programs? 7˝

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

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

ˇ 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

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

ˇ 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

ˇ 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 Ł100,000 (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

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

NĆRUM, 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. [Tőnu 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 Ł92 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 Ł114 per head. Similar rooms for two people are Ł136 per head; for four- and two-bedded rooms with shower and toilet, the prices are Ł142 and Ł170 respectively. These figures do not include the registration fee of Ł45, paid by all participants except those from non-European, non-EU countries. For those wishing for single occupancy, there will be a Ł42 surcharge for a double room with shower and toilet, and a Ł25 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, Egypt, took place from 4 - 10 April.

"Together with the eleven pastors we had around fifty people who came to improve their understanding of the life and work of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of John," comments Peter Zarka, president of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Egypt.

Dr Jon Paulien of the New Testament department at Andrews University, Michigan, USA, taught the group six hours a day during the week.

"His lectures were based on the solid foundation of the Bible, with sound theological explanations focussing on spirituality," reports Zarka.

Participating pastor Tawfick from Alexandria comments, "We now better understand the life of Jesus and His love for us. What a blessing to study the Bible with teacher, Dr Paulien."

"This was the best Easter celebration in our life! The Lord blessed all who took part, and we were spiritually uplifted" says Zarka. [Peter Zarka/ANR 080]

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

VISIT TO ZEWAK, UPPER EGYPT

ZEWAK, UPPER EGYPT - [ANR] A series of meetings on family themes was presented to a packed church each evening, with additional morning meetings for women, by Valerie Fidelia, director of family ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Middle East Union Mission, during a recent four-day visit to Upper Egypt's village of Zewak.

Themes included topics on health and hygiene, child rearing and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

"This is an interesting village with some unique traditions, including segregation of the congregation in the church," says Fidelia. "Women and men stay strictly on their side of the wall which runs down the centre of the church. The women are further screened by a curtain above the wall."

Future plans for this church include literacy classes, women's prayer groups and an encouragement to enlarge the sewing/Dorcas ministry of the church. [Valerie Fidelia/ANR 081]

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

CHURCH SELLS REHABILITATION CENTRE

OSLO, NORWAY - [ANR] The Norwegian Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church decided on its board meeting on April 11 to sell their health institution in North Norway, "Nord-Norges Kurbad". The institution has room for 95 patients, and is housed in modern buildings just outside the town of Tromsř in idyllic surroundings. The local church of 175 members are saddened by the sale of the health centre which has been a part of their identity for almost half a century.

Three possible parties were interested in buying the institution. It was finally sold to Adventist doctors, Synnřve and Raymond Knutsen, who plan to continue running the institution guided by Adventist principles.

The Union board emphasised three points in determining to whom the health institution should be sold: The buyer's local connection, association and co-operation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the buyer's long-term ability to run the institution. Even though a solid majority voted for sale, it was a difficult decision to make but administratively necessary.

Commenting on the sale, Roger Robertsen, president of the Norwegian Union says, "All in all, the sale will help our church to take care of its sustentation obligations and to release resources for various evangelistic purposes. In addition, we believe that Nord-Norges Kurbad, under its new private leadership, will still be an important partner, and we wish the new owners God's blessing in the great responsibility they have taken on." [Yngvar Břrresen/ANR 082]

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

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: BRITISH UNION

WATFORD, ENGLAND - [ANR] The British Union Conference territory with its two local Conferences and three Missions and over 19,000 members face, as the rest of Western Europe, a high degree of secularisation. It is estimated that only 9% of the population attends church regularly on a weekly basis.

Of the 54 counties and 407 districts in England and Wales, Seventh-day Adventists make up 0.038% of the population of 49 million. This is quite a challenge especially as the composition of the church reflects less and less of the majority population.

Please pray:

* for God's wisdom to find successful ways to reach the unreached among the majority population.

* that our schools and institutions will become fertile soil for the winning and nurturing of souls within their grasp.

* for the many pastors and lay-members, including our young people, who are trying many outreach projects (some without any visible success), as they claim the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives and drive back the clouds of discouragement.

* for the South and North England Conferences who have laid plans to start at least 14 new church groups up to the year 2000.

* that the needed breakthrough may become a reality in London, a cosmopolitan city of over 7 million (not to mention the millions of tourists who pass through), where the indigenous population has barely been touched by the Gospel. [Cecil R Perry, President, British Union Conference/ANR 083]
Entered April 22, 1999

The writer of the article, M Bosnjak, quotes two sources to establish General Clark's affiliation to the Adventist Church. The first is from an interview with Dr Dwight Nelson, Adventist pastor and theologian from Andrews University, USA, in May 1996 during an evangelistic series in Belgrade. The second is an Italian newspaper, "Il Setimanale" which quoted some well-known theologians who mentioned Clark as belonging to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"General Clark is not nor has he ever been a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church," writes Miodrag Zivanovic, communication director and spokesperson for the Church in Yugoslavia in his faxed response to the newspaper's editor. "We are loyal citizens of our country and believers in Jesus Christ, pursuing Biblical values - to love everybody and to live in peace. Therefore, no one can be an aggressor and an Adventist at the same time," he writes. "We are already victims of this war. Why do we have to be victims of lies in our country from our own people?"

Dr Dwight Nelson, in his response to the editor of the paper, writes: "I wish to categorically deny ever having made such a statement. I regret that in the course of the May 1996 interview with your reporter something was apparently either mistranslated or misunderstood. As a pastor and theologian I am deeply saddened for the suffering of the people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and I am praying that peace may return without delay."

As a result of the Church's reaction to the article, "Vecernje Novosti" today published an article entitled "Adventist Church Denies Clark as Member" rejecting General Clark's affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"With such false information in the newspaper during this time of war, Adventists are at great risk of being targets of hostility and physical assaults in their neighbourhoods," says Radisa Antic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia. "We are afraid that our church buildings will be attacked by the local people as a result of this article." [Miroslav Pujic/ANR076]
Entered April 20, 1999

"The grant will also assist in providing the refugees with primary health care, and allow the ADRA team in Albania to expand its skilled field workers," says Douglas Sinclair, director for ADRA/UK.

Two truckloads of aid that departed from ADRA/UK's headquarters at Stanborough Park, Watford, England arrived at the ADRA warehouse Albania last Friday, 16 April.

Today, 19 April, in conjunction with SOS Bosnia and Lifeline charities, a 7.5 tonne truck loaded with medicines and a 7.5 tonne mobile surgical unit have left Stanborough Park bound for Albania, which will arrive on Thursday.

"The surgical unit is on loan from the SOS Bosnia and Lifeline charities to ease the situation of the Kosovan refugees," reports Sinclair. "Next Sunday, April 25, three further articulated vehicles of aid will leave for Albania."

"We have received a wonderful response to the appeals made throughout the country in local newspapers, radio, and the electronic newsletter of the Adventist Church in Britain," says Sinclair. "Networking with other Christian Charities increases the efficiency of the operation as we share resources and expertise." [Douglas Sinclair/ANR 077]
Entered April 20, 1999

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The military action has affected many peoples in the Balkan region, including one elderly Seventh-day Adventist couple living in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. Djordje Popov, 77, and his wife Amalka, 69, experienced the heavy bombing action of April 7.

"With no basement shelter, we remained in our home, trusting to God," they report.

The windows were blown out, and the plaster knocked off the walls. Outside a number of houses were destroyed and set on fire. At dawn, Popov climbed to repair the damage to his roof, and fell from a ladder. He sustained no serious injury, and commented that "God saved me from that disaster too."

"Reports of the impact of the bombing are coming in from many members," reports Radivoj Vladisavljevic, president of the Adventist Church in northern Yugoslavia. "People are in desperate need, especially the chronically ill."

Operations in the Balkans are being stepped up as offers of help flow in from around the world.

Even the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Pakistan, with its many local humanitarian challenges, has sent an immediate donation of USD$1,000. There has also been an offer by the Karachi Adventist Hospital (KAH) to co-ordinate the despatch of a team of doctors and paramedics, according to Don Schatzschneider, acting treasurer of the Pakistan Union and director of KAH. Additionally, a plan is in place for a national appeal throughout Pakistan which will be co-ordinated by KAH and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

Nine project managers and planners from USA continue to render assistance to ADRA/Albania with its massive feeding programme for 100,000 refugees.

Last night (13 April) seven new 7-tonne trucks (containing 7,000 blankets) from Denmark will have reached the docks Dürres, for use in Albania. ADRA/Denmark will also be sending four smaller Toyota vehicles as a result of a generous grant from the Danish Government.

ADRA/Poland is making available medical personnel together with material goods.

ADRA/New Zealand has pledged to raise up to NZ$60,000 (USD$32,000) to provide blankets and food for 10,000 refugees.

A large grant from the German Government for Yugoslavia including Kosovo has been deferred because of the present unstable situation in that region. "We hope that a peace agreement is soon negotiated in order that the aid effort can be intensified," says Volker Artmann, spokesman for ADRA/Germany.

Today, John Arthur, executive director for ADRA/Trans-Europe, will be representing the ADRA network at a UNHCR meeting in Geneva, Switzerland; and two Trans-European Division officers, Reinder Bruinsma, executive secretary, and Graham Barham, treasurer, will be travelling to Albania to assist with future planning. [ANR Staff with contributions from John Arthur and ANN/069]

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

TED SPRING MEETING EDUCATIONAL TOUR CANCELLED

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church had planned to have its Spring Meeting from 10 - 11 May, with representatives from parts of the division, in Athens, Greece. It was the intention to extend those meetings with a short educational tour to several archaeological sites in that country.

"In view of the immense tragedy in the Balkans, the division administration has decided to cancel the educational tour and to have the meeting instead at its headquarters office in St Albans," says Reinder Bruinsma, TED executive secretary. "It would be inappropriate to go ahead with these activities while hundreds of thousands are suffering in neighbouring countries." [Reinder Bruinsma/ANR 070]

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

GOVERNMENT MINISTER CONGRATULATES WORLD CHURCH PRESIDENT

OSLO, NORWAY - [ANR] "Let me convey my personal congratulations on the occasion of your election as president of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists earlier this month," writes the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Knut Vollebćk, in a letter to Dr Jan Paulsen.

Vollebćk continues by wishing Paulsen all the best in his endeavours as the spiritual leader of a family of more than 10 million members, and he takes pride in the fact that a Norwegian holds such an important position in a world-wide religious organisation.

Also Chargé d'Affaires at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Elisabeth Roderburg, sends her congratulations. [Yngvar Břrresen/ANR 071]

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

AMC MAIL COUNT: 105% JUMP!

STROVOLOS, CYPRUS - [ANR] Judging by the number of letters handled recently, staff members working in the mailroom of the Adventist Media Centre (AMC) in Cyprus were anticipating a major jump in incoming mail figures between January and March 1999.

"They eagerly awaited the news from the mail co-ordinator who was calculating the monthly totals from each country listed on our database," says Alex Elmadjian, AMC manager. "Naturally, we were all excited to learn that the AMC received 750 pieces of mail from 59 countries around the world where Adventist World Radio (AWR) Arabic broadcasts can be received on Short Wave and, in some regions, Medium Wave." This figure represents a 105% jump from last quarter and a 25% increase from the same quarter last year.

Out of the 59 responding countries 80% of the letters came from just 7 countries (listed in order): Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia. These are where AWR transmitters are most concentrated, often broadcasting up to 8 hours per day in one or two-hour blocks. The first transmissions begin at 0800 local time and the last programme can be heard from Midnight to 0200.

"Although there can be numerous factors affecting mail response from listeners, we can attribute part of the increase to new, more youth oriented programmes recently added to our schedule," reports Elmadjian. "Our experience shows that most of our responding listeners are young people of school and college age. For this reason too, this year we are planning to record more music from Adventist groups in the Middle East and also commission drama productions that should appeal more to this age group."

There has also been a restructuring of technical and recording procedures that enable AMC to increase programme production resulting in fewer aired repeats.

Elmadjian appeals: "Please continue to pray for the easing of censorship in our region so that we may continue to correspond with our faithful listeners and help strengthen their faith in God." [Alex Elmadjian/ANR 072]

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

NEWBOLD FOCUSES ON MISSION

BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE - [ANR] As well as the trip to Egypt, as reported in last week's ANR bulletin, three further groups of students and staff from Newbold College gave up their spring holiday in March to preach, teach and share expertise in Croatia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland

Five Business students and lecturers, Berit Lisle and Marinko Markek, went to Maruevec in Croatia. The group taught English language, information technology and management skills to students at the college and school in Maruevec. "The Theology students in the seminary were very interested to see the way in which management skills could be applied to ministry," says Lisle.

At the weekends the group visited local churches and conducted four worship services, which included mime and drama. Croatian members were particularly moved by the stories of God's intervention in the lives of Newbold students," says Markek. On the last day of the visit, Newbold student Sabrina Shcarli, was invited to sing at the opening ceremony of a painting exhibition held in the local castle. During the evening, Newbold students were interviewed by the local newspapers.

Nathan Stickland, vice-president of the Newbold ministerial association, led a team of four to Londonderry, Ireland. "Our time was spent going from door-to-door signing up people for the Discover Bible School correspondence course," says Stickland. "We distributed 1,200 cards and persuaded 12 people to sign up on the doorstep. One other person sent the card in on their own initiative." The group also spent four days conducting a door-to-door church awareness survey in the town of Banbury.

"The largest group to leave Newbold to share their faith was the choir," reports Velda Cox, public relations officer at Newbold College. "Thirty-eight students and staff sang their way through Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Choir members were thrilled to find that a significant number of those who came to listen to their sacred concert were non-Adventist."

"The audience in Brecelav in the Czech Republic was at least 50% non-Adventist. People came from the town to hear our sacred concert," says Sandra Rigby-Barrett, Newbold Choir director. "In Prague the chapel was completely full, with people standing in the back and side isles." The concert programme was varied and included music from Vivaldi through to the present day and mime.

The mission trips were supported financially by the Alumni Missionary and Evangelism Fund, the Trans-European Division (Global Mission Funds), the Irish Mission, Newbold College, the Newbold Student Association and Newbold students. [Velda Cox/ANR 073]

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

ADVENTIST RADIO BROADCASTS BANNED

TARTU, ESTONIA - [ANR] The last Seventh-day Adventist transmission on the Pentecostal-based religious station, Radio 7, was broadcast in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, on February 6, 1999.

"Our radio broadcasts have been forbidden by the Interconfessional Council of Radio 7, which met last month," says Ivo Käsk, communication director of the Estonian Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. "Participants of this Council are not exactly known, but we understand that Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists and Lutherans are associated with the radio station."

Adventist broadcasts commenced on Radio 7 on February 28, 1998 and took place throughout the night from Saturday to Sunday every week. "Although it was not the best time it soon became very popular with those who could not sleep, had problems, and those searching for meaning in life," states Käsk.

The programme's popularity continued to increase. Listeners were invited to telephone and put their questions forward; to talk about their problems and ask for prayer. There were some tough questions for the broadcasters, but they had great opportunities to share much about the Seventh-day Adventist message of hope. The last two broadcasts were especially very intensive.

"Even the editors of Radio 7 were very unhappy with this restriction as they already do not have an adequate number of broadcasters," says Käsk.

This year Adventists, among other churches, have four weeks of morning devotionals on state radio plus two sermons on national television broadcast on Sundays. National TV broadcasts worship services from different churches, with the service of the First Advent being aired from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tallinn.

"This was the first transmission from our church, and we hope to have more later this year," says Käsk. [Ivo Käsk/ANR 074]

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

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] Education continues to be a crucial factor in the lives of us all. It has been said that if you doubt this fact, try the alternative - ignorance! Education puts within our reach the tools and power necessary to augment happiness, to respect nature, and to dignify human life.

However, education in our Seventh-day Adventist schools goes even beyond this; it aims also to enhance the spiritual formation of students and to prepare them not just for this life, but also for an eternal destiny. As a result, our educational ideals uniquely embrace the whole person, and seek to produce not merely persons of great intellect, but men, women and youth of noble character, in whom great ability is controlled by steadfast principle.

Now, although such has been our aim, we have not always sought to achieve it by planning as carefully as we plan for the achievement of academic goals. So a key focus of our educational system in the coming year will be to continue to encourage and assist all schools in the development of their own "spiritual master plan"; ie, to pursue the development of the spiritual by specific design.

To add this spiritual value to education and appropriately integrate it with the necessary secular curriculum is such a daunting challenge that we solicit your earnest prayers. Such explicit plans to intentionally educate for spiritual formation can only be made and executed by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.

Please pray:

* for all school leadership that they may be willing to dedicate the necessary resources - especially time - to pursue this goal of spiritual development.

* that all staff and teachers may find the courage to commit themselves to living up to this task, with creative action plans to give students truly unique opportunities to develop a positive saving relationship with their Creator. [Orville Woolford, TED education director/ANR 075]
Entered April 16, 1999

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] Both the global Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) network have responded magnificently to recent cries for help from the Balkans, according to John Arthur, the agency's director for Trans-Europe.

The past few days have been particularly hectic for Sean Robinson, director for ADRA/Albania, who is superintending ADRA's extensive operations in Albania. Following the signing of a contract between ADRA and the World Food Programme (WFP), steps have been taken to transport experienced personnel into Albania to manage the distribution of food to thousands of refugees in nine centres scattered throughout the country: Kukës, Vlorë, Bajrum Curri, Cibrë, Fier, Korçë, Berat, Gjirokaster. Eventually ADRA will be responsible for feeding 100,000 refugees.

"Curtis Hesse, co-ordinator for the food distribution programme in Albania, has established an ADRA office in Kukës, where together with volunteers from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, are implementing the food programme," says Robinson. "Church facilities in Korçë are being used as a food distribution centre for refugees in the area."

Currently ADRA/Denmark is working with DANIDA on a grant for up to USD500,000. "This will be to improve the quality of life for the refugees in Kukës through providing appropriate food rations, blankets, kitchen utensils, hygiene kits and trauma counselling over a six-month period," reports Birgit Philipsen, finance director for ADRA/Denmark.

In Macedonia, it is anticipated that a grant of USD160,000 from the German government will enable ADRA to engage in providing refugees with blankets, food, plastic sheeting and medicines. Tihomir Lipohar, from ADRA/Germany, is currently co-ordinating relief efforts in five areas in Macedonia: Tetovo, Gostivar, Kicevo, Kumanovo and Skopje, together with members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in that country.

The Trans-European Division today sent USD25,000 to Belgrade in order for a truckload of supplies to be taken into Kosovo, where ADRA/Yugoslavia has representatives of both Serbian and Albanian background.

Numerous reports have been given to the media in Britain concerning ADRA's interventions. ADRA/UK director, Douglas Sinclair, reports that three 38-tonne trucks will leave England on Saturday night for the charity's reconstructed warehouse in Tiranë which is proving to be a boon during these days of crisis.

Several unions have sent donations to the victims of war including Sweden and Norway, as previously reported. Today, the Trans-European Division received HUF500,000 (USD2,100) from the Hungarian Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from their limited financial resources. "Now is the time to demonstrate our brotherly love and to unite in helping the people in need regardless of nationality," says Joszef Szilvasi, union president.

We invite our readership to unite in prayer and to use prayer as a mighty tool to turn this terrible time of war into a time of peace. Let us pray that God will bring hope and peace into the souls of all those suffering from this conflict.

This morning the Trans-European Division has taken action to allocate USD150,000 to the relief account for the victims of the Balkan war.

"By this action we are launching the Balkan Crisis Appeal, and we invite all Seventh-day Adventists to help us by sending funds to our office," says Bertil Wiklander, president of the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. "Being the home division for numerous war victims in the Balkans, we must take responsibility for relieving them of suffering and setting an example. I am very grateful for the support we are receiving from other world divisions and unions within the Trans-European Division. Like the good Samaritan in the parable of Jesus, we want to provide food, shelter, and medical assistance, giving it regardless of political, ethnical, or religious affiliation."

Those who wish to help in this way should contact: Trans-European Division, ADRA Office, 119 St Peter's Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England. Tel: +44 1727 860331; Fax: +44 1727 866312; E-mail: 72731.2215@compuserve.com. [ANR Staff/ANR 064]

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

BIBLE CONFERENCE HELD IN SUDAN

KHARTOUM, SUDAN - [ANR] Approximately 40 pastors and elders of most of the Seventh-day Adventist churches in Northern Sudan met from 19 - 27 March 1999 for a Bible Conference in the capital city Khartoum. Often with only limited formal theological education, and living in isolated places, the participants were overjoyed to be able to participate in this unique event. Some had been travelling for over a week to reach Khartoum. The lectures and discussions focussed on a number of important themes such as the inspiration and authority of the Bible, the Trinity, salvation in Christ, the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the Sabbath.

Pastor Sven H Jensen, president of the Middle-East Union (of which the church in Sudan forms a part) and Pastor Rein Muhlberg, the ministerial association secretary of the Middle-East Union, travelled from the union headquarters in Cyprus to present about half of the lectures. Pastor Peter Roennfeldt and Dr Reinder Bruinsma, who serve in the Trans-European Division office in St Albans, England, as ministerial association secretary and executive secretary respectively, gave other lectures.

Pastor John Moi, president of the Sudan Field, more than once expressed his appreciation to the Middle-East Union for organising this unique event and underlined the necessity of continued education for the pastors and other leaders in his churches. "Although the Republic of Sudan is an Islamic country, Christians have considerable freedom in confessing their faith," says Bruinsma. "Most of the approximately 4,600 members in the Northern part of Sudan have migrated from the South as a result of the civil war which has now ravaged the country for more than twenty years. In recent years there has been considerable church growth."

The work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the southern part of Sudan, which is in the hands of a rival government, is growing even more rapidly. Membership is now estimated at 2,600. It is co-ordinated from an office in Arua, in northern Uganda. In keeping with the political reality, church activities are organised in two separate units: the Sudan Field in the North, and the South Sudan Field. [Reinder Bruinsma/ANR 065]

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

NEWBOLD STUDENTS BRING REVIVAL TO THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] Following the ministry of a team of 17 students from Newbold College in England, 25% of the students at Nile Union Academy were baptised on Sabbath, 27 March, at the Heliopolis church in Cairo, Egypt. Students and staff from the Academy together with members of the Heliopolis church, joined with the team from Newbold College for just over two weeks of revival and evangelistic meetings from 12 - 31 March.

"It has been an enormous blessing," states Academy principal Monroe Morford. "The team from Newbold gave of themselves fully - assisting in the classrooms, working beside the students and supporting them in every way. They have shown what Christianity is about."

Director for Pastoral Studies at Newbold College, Dr Jeff Brown, worked with the team, preached several times and conducted the baptism of the 9 students plus 4 others, including Matthew Shafer, one of the team members from Newbold, who had also given their lives to the Lord.

"The students from Newbold wish to thank the Trans-European Division for the thrilling privilege of working with our church members in Egypt, and it is our fervent prayer that Nile Union Academy remain the heartbeat of the work in Egypt," says Brown.

The Newbold team, co-ordinated by Newbold Ministerial Association student leader, Clyde Moore, also visited interested people and conducted daily outreach programmes in the Heliopolis church.

Pastor Farouk, local church pastor, said, "The team brought a spirit of youthful enthusiasm and has been a great blessing. We have seen a revival with visitors attending each evening. We will continue with evangelistic meetings and Bible classes to follow-up the excellent work that has begun."

"The students together with Dr Brown brought revival to both the students at the Nile Union Academy and the members of the Heliopolis church," says Peter Roennfeldt, ministerial association secretary of the Trans-European Division, who encouraged the team to go to Cairo and who visited them in Egypt. "Their work was greatly appreciated - and is being followed up strongly." [Peter Roennfeldt/ANR 066]

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

TED COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR ADDRESSES PASTORS IN BRITAIN

WATFORD, ENGLAND - [ANR] On Tuesday, 23 March, Trans-European Division communication director, Miroslav Pujic, was the guest speaker at North England Conference's Workers' Meetings, held at the NEC office in Nottingham. Pastor Pujic was invited some time ago by NEC president, Pastor Egerton Francis, in recognition of the growing importance of communication in the life and work of the Church.

Pastor Pujic painted a broad picture of communication, ranging from the simple but hugely effective tool of e-mail, to the high tech, high cost commercial media which most of us can only dream of.

A considerable amount of time was spent listening to, and answering questions from the assembled workers, each of whom seemed to be skilled in some particular area of communication. In a concluding exercise a ten point wish list was created by the workers, which Pastor Francis will present to the Union Field Leaders at their next meeting. One of the greatest needs expressed was for more communication resources - particularly PR material to foster frontline images of the church and share hope that is found in Jesus Christ.

The main topic of the workshop was: "Building Awareness". "People cannot make a conscious decision to purchase a product if they are unaware of it," says Pujic. [John Surridge/ANR 067]

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

THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: ADVENTIST LITERATURE

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] Wherever Adventism was established, four things tended to follow: the rapid development of an organisational structure (missions or conferences), the establishment of schools and health institutions and the founding of publishing houses. This general pattern was also adhered to in much of Europe.

In recent years many of the institutions of the church in Europe (in particular in Western Europe) have experienced numerous challenges, the publishing work not excepted. Some publishing houses had to downsize their operation, or even close. Traumatic though that has been, it has certainly not brought the demise of the publishing work. Journals and books are still published in considerable quantities and there still is a sizeable group of literature evangelists in the TED.

But it has become increasingly clear that change is needed if the literature work is going to remain a vibrant part of the church's outreach. Literature evangelism is going reasonably strongly in a number of countries and more could be done, given more training and more vigorous recruiting. But in many countries in Western Europe the challenge is to find other distribution channels to market the denominational publications. This requires patience, some funding, but, in particular, expertise and creativity.

In addition Adventist publishers face yet an even greater challenge: How can the church through the printed page effectively communicate with people who live in an increasingly secular society? They often have religious interests, but tend to be instantly turned off by things that look doctrinal or "churchy". Also, the Adventist marketplace is changing and in many places new writing and designers' talent is needed to "package" the Adventist message in an attractive way for our own members.

Other media, such as television, video, and the Internet, are competing with the printed page, within and outside the church. But no one can seriously believe that the print-media will disappear any time soon. The church must make sure that it continues to publish non-compromising, but relevant literature that Adventists will want to buy for themselves and share with others!

Please pray:

* for Adventist writers and editors who struggle to convey the Adventist message and values in contemporary language.

* for the literature evangelists who meet large numbers of people and witness to them where they are.

* that the millions of books that have been distributed over the years may continue to be read and move people to accept Christ and His message. [ANR 068]
Entered April 8, 1999

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) network is working hard to be totally operational in Albania by tomorrow. Today UNHCR has signed an agreement with ADRA/Albania which will make the latter the lead agency for food distribution. Rather than just working in four regions, ADRA will carry the responsibility for nine regions. Several key ADRA specialists have arrived in Tiranë today and more are due to arrive within the next few days.

ADRA/Denmark is arranging to send to Albania five trucks that will be used to transport food to the refugee camps. ADRA/Germany is co-ordinating the work of the ADRA network in assisting the refugees in Macedonia. Among other things, it is planning to send a cargo plane with relief goods to the region.

"ADRA/Trans-Europe is heavily involved in the planning of the relief efforts for the refugees in Albania and Macedonia, but will also spearhead activities to help the victims of the conflict within Yugoslavia, including the Republic of Montenegro and the province of Kosovo," says Reinder Bruinsma, executive secretary of the Trans-European Division and chairman of the ADRA/TED Board. "A consultation at the TED headquarters is planned for Tuesday where more detailed plans will be discussed - in particular regarding humanitarian assistance to the 10,000 members of the Adventist Church in Yugoslavia," he added.

"We survived another night of severe bombing" reports Miodrag Zivanovic, communication director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia. "It is a dreadful sight to see bridges, factories, schools, public heating and electrical plants being destroyed which are the key infrastructure necessary for every-day life," he says.

"The bridge over the river Danube, which was blown up in the city of Novi Sad, was the carrier for the main pipe-line for drinking water to the population of that city. There is an evident shortage of food and medical supplies among the general population, including our church members. Those who have a chronic illness are in a desperate situation," continues Zivanovic.

"Food is running out and medical supplies are non-existent in Kosovo" says Zivanovic. He continues: "Therefore we are very worried for our members in that province where we have two churches and one company, led by a senior pastor, and a lady, licensed minister. We are trying to find a way of sending through a truckload of food and basic medical supplies."

"Yet, against this hopeless destruction, God is powerfully at work," comments Radisa Antic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia. "We are praying that the Lord Jesus will bring a wonderful victory for His kingdom out of this dreadful situation. Some members of the church are taking Bibles and religious literature into air-raid shelters sharing the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. Especially during these days, many people have come to Christ, asking to be baptised," he reports.

Whether they are facing the destruction of bombing attacks, or the waves of refugees leaving Kosovo for safety in neighbouring countries, Adventists living in the reality of the Balkan crisis are trying to serve the Kingdom of God, in which they are all citizens.

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church is preparing a formal statement regarding the Kosovo crisis that may be expected by mid-week," reports Bruinsma. "It will state that the Church intends to remain neutral as far as the political issue is concerned, but that it condemns the use of violence as a means of conflict-resolution - whether it be ethnic cleansing or bombing. The Church will do all it can to work for a return to peace and of respect for human rights. At the same time, ADRA, the humanitarian arm of the Church, will help the victims of the conflict regardless of ethnic or religious background. It is expected that the declaration will be voted by the leaders at the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters in Silver Spring, USA, during their Wednesday meeting."

Those who wish to give assistance and funds to help the victims of the Balkan war, 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 063]
Entered April 4, 1999

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] The Balkan conflict is growing worse and worse for human beings on all sides. The masses of destitute refugees from the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo continue to pour into Albania and Macedonia. They are also moving into the Yugoslavian federal states of Montenegro and Serbia. Although the vast majority are Kosovo Albanians, there are now reports that even Serbs are among the refugees from Kosovo, adding to the 700,000 refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia already staying in camps in Serbia.

As reported by the ANR Bulletin yesterday, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is taking immediate action to address the situation where possible. At present, this is especially in Albania and Macedonia, two of the neighbouring countries of Yugoslavia.

Sčan Robinson, director for ADRA/Albania, has now met with World Food Programme (WFP) and UNHCR representatives and it is expected that ADRA will serve as WFP's implementing partner in four districts in Albania: Kukes, Berat, Vlorë, and Korçe. An official letter from WFP states that this will be formally confirmed within the next 24 hours. ADRA's primary role will be to manage refugee registration and the distribution of food rations in these four areas. Where possible ADRA will utilise the Church's infrastructure and personnel.

Curtis Hesse from ADRA Central Office in Maryland, USA, is arriving at the Ohrid Airport in Macedonia today. Upon arrival, one of Hesse's tasks will be to provide WFP with a detailed plan and budget, so that ADRA and WFP can sign the Memorandum of Understanding as quickly as possible.

In addition, ADRA/Albania has sent out an assessment team to Berat and Vlorë in Albania. This team will be reporting on the needs in those areas, and will particularly focus on health issues. This information will be used to propose activities to various donor agencies. There is considerable need for Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) assistance in that area and ADRA/Albania anticipates playing a significant role.

Late yesterday afternoon a request for help from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia came to the Trans-European Division office. Dr Radisa Antic, president of the Church in Yugoslavia, has sent an appeal for help. "We are struggling to survive," he says. "During the day, and more often at night, the ground trembles, the flames of fire can be seen all around, together with children and women screaming." He reports that there are "many destroyed houses, schools and industrial buildings" and says that "we are on the edge of a humanitarian catastrophe in the whole territory of Yugoslavia".

There is a strong fear that a general famine will hit the country in a short time, and, as reported by ANR yesterday, the whole church in Yugoslavia is organised to serve people with food and other basic necessities. In Antic's appeal for help, he stresses the need for the Adventist Church world-wide to show solidarity with their fellow believers in concrete ways such as food, clothes and medicines.

The Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, from its office in St Albans, England, is committed to support all those suffering throughout its territories - in particular its members as they are now increasingly affected by the war. Those who wish to give assistance and funds to help the victims of the Balkan war, 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 061]
Entered April 2, 1999

ADRA Germany personnel are procuring food and hygienic materials for 4,000 families, approximately 40,000 people total, in refugee settlement areas of Macedonia. Each family will receive 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of food, including wheat, rice, noodles, milk, beans, fresh fruit and more, and hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes, towels, etc. All of the items will be purchased directly in Macedonia by project director Tihomir Lipohar. Funds for this distribution are being provided by the German Foreign Office through ADRA Germany, ADRA Trans-European Division, ADRA Headquarters in the US, and ADRA Canada.

"It is our job to help make the crisis a little bit more human," says Petracek Thomas, ADRA Germany office assistant. He adds, "Many people in Germany are unhappy with the situation in Europe and therefore support the refugee projects. The older population is especially interested in helping because they can remember the time following World War II and the refugee situation they suffered through."

ADRA Czech Republic is preparing a truckload of food, candles, matches, clothing, blankets, hygiene materials, and more, for bombing survivors and refugees within Yugoslavia. The truck is scheduled to leave the Czech Republic on 5 April. Once inside the bombarded country, the ADRA Yugoslavia office will take the items into Kosovo. ADRA personnel estimate there to be 250,000 refugees within Yugoslavia.

ADRA Albania volunteers helped set up a welcome centre in Vlorë, and are providing refugees there with mattresses and blankets. ADRA Albania director, Sean Robinson, reports that they are planning to help set up at least two more welcome centres in the lower regions of Albania where refugees are being redirected to keep from overcrowding northern camps.

ADRA Germany is contributing a truckload of relief items for hundreds of the Albanian refugees. The truck is scheduled to leave Germany early next week with beds, shelter materials and baby food.

News reports show no near end to the Kosovo crisis, and the continuing influx of refugees into Macedonia and Albania is creating an increasing demand on all humanitarian organisations to help. If you are interested in assisting with a financial contribution, please call ADRA's toll-free number at 1-800-424-ADRA. [Beth Schaefer/ADRA-CO/ANR 062]
Entered April 2, 1999

============================
HUMAN CATASTROPHE ESCALATES IN THE BALKANS

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] Tens of thousands of Kosovans are pouring into Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. Waves of refugees have challenged all resources to meet the most basic human needs.

"Words cannot express our sentiments of shock and disbelief at the atrocities reported from Kosovo and the refugee disasters in Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro," says Bertil Wiklander, president of the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. "It is a human suffering beyond comprehension."

"The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Albania is preparing to help up to 100,000 refugees that are gathering around the cities in Albania with food, shelter and medical assistance," says Sean Robinson, director for ADRA/Albania. ADRA/USAID office staff from Banja Luka, Bosnia, who have been expelled from there soon after the air-raids began, will transfer to Tiranë and assist Robinson and the church there in helping to alleviate this human catastrophe.

Commenting on the refugee crisis in Albania, Caleb Bru, president of the Albanian Mission says, "Many among them had not had any food for two days or more. Women, children, the elderly and some men were terribly distressed as they reached the small town of Kukes." The Albanian government authorities estimate that the present flow of refugees into Albania is at a rate of four thousand per hour.

Rigmor Nyberg, director of ADRA/Sweden reports that the disaster is particularly serious, since so many refugees are women and children. Women of all ages have reported physical abuse including rapes. The refugees need all the help they can get, both to address disease and the trauma experienced as they have been forced to leave their homes.

"ADRA/Sweden and the Swedish Union have decided that all monies collected by church members in Sweden for the Disaster and Famine Relief Fund will be used to assist the refugees from Kosovo in Albania," says Nyberg. An amount of SEK250,000 (USD31,000) has already been sent to ADRA/Albania for this purpose.

ADRA/Norway in co-operation with the Norwegian Union, have committed NOK500,000 (US$64,000) reports Kaare Lund, director of ADRA/Norway.

According to Douglas Sinclair, director of ADRA/UK, they are currently negotiating with the government's Department for International Development (DFID) in Britain to acquire some funds for the basics such as food, blankets, tents and hygienic supplies for the Kosovan refugees in Albania - particularly those who are located in the cities of Kukes, Korçe, Berat and Vlorë.

ADRA/Germany will take charge of ADRA operations for refugees in Macedonia, where the church has no ADRA infrastructure. Germany has already allocated USD200,000. ADRA/Canada has sent CAD5,000 and ADRA/Czech Republic are sending blankets to the region. The Trans-European Division and ADRA/Central Office have both committed USD10,000 each as matching funds for major grants from donor agencies.

"Every pastor in Yugoslavia will be acting as an ADRA co-ordinator to provide food and shelter for some of the 10,000 church members and Kosovan refugees who have fled into Serbia and Montenegro," reports Radisa Antic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia.

"Although we realise that all these activities are only to take care of the immediate needs to save people's lives, and that a long-term solution may take time, we are still grateful that God can use us to relieve the pain of our suffering fellow human beings," comments Wiklander. [Miroslav Pujic/ANR 057]

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

NEWBOLD COLLEGE is seeking to appoint a LECTURER IN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES to teach in the proposed Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioural Sciences, commencing in September 1999. We are seeking to appoint an appropriately-qualified person on a full-time basis, but are also keen to identify anyone who would be able to teach in this area on a part-time or contract basis.

Applicants should have an expertise in the disciplines of Sociology, Psychology, Family Studies, or Anthropology but would be able to teach in more than one of those areas. Modules likely to feature in the programme include: Contemporary Social Issues; Racial and Ethnic Relations; Family Cultural Perspectives and Stress Management. A fuller job description may be obtained from the address below. Salary will be according to the denominational scale.

A letter of application together with a current CV and the names and addresses of two referees should be sent to: The Vice Principal, Newbold College, Binfield, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 4AN, England; Tel: +44 (0)1344 454607; Fax: +44 (0)1344 861692; e-mail: mpearson@newbold.ac.uk. The deadline for receipt of applications is 19 April 1999. Newbold College is an equal opportunities employer. [Helen Savage/ANR 058]

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

NEWBOLD COLLEGE HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT is seeking to appoint a LECTURER IN ENGLISH. The successful applicant will: have a minimum of a Master's degree, preferably in some area of 20th century literature; be prepared to teach specialised classes in 20th century literature; be ready to teach some introductory classes in writing and literature, and be familiar with current issues in literary theory. Experience in teaching journalism would be an advantage.

The College is prepared to consider a permanent appointment or a two-year contract. A fuller job description may be obtained from the address below. Salary will be according to the denominational scale. A letter of application together with a current CV and the names and addresses of two referees should be sent to: The Vice Principal, Newbold College, Bracknell, Berks RG42 4AN; Tel: +44 ( 0)1344 454607; Fax:+44 (0)1344 861692; e-mail: mpearson@newbold.ac.uk. The deadline for receipt of applications is 11 May 1999. Newbold College is an Equal Opportunities employer. [Helen Savage/ANR 059]

============================
THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: CROATIA/SLOVENIA

ZAGREB, CROATIA - [ANR] Croatia, an independent state since 1991, has a population of 4.8 million, the majority of whom are Roman-Catholics. For more than 800 years Croatia was politically aligned with Hungary. It was also under Turkish, French and Austrian influence. In 1918 Croatia became part of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, which became Yugoslavia in 1929. With its long and majestic coast-line Croatia has great tourist potential.

Slovenia, a much smaller country, with only 1.9 million inhabitants is totally landlocked. Both its relative affluence and the landscape remind the visitor strongly of Austria.

The Croatian and Slovenian languages are closely related to Serbian, yet all three are distinct and separate publications in all three languages are needed.

The Croatian and Slovenian Conferences, with its 3,798 members had, before 1 January 1999, been directly attached to the division. However, from the beginning of this year, the two countries have been linked with Albania to form an Adriatic Union.

The separation between Zagreb (where the headquarters was for the Croatian-Slovenian Conference) and Belgrade (where the South-East European Union has its office) has created some severe problems. Operating Marusevec, the institution for tertiary education which used to serve the whole region, is now the sole responsibility of the Adriatic Union Conference. And since the publishing house for the whole region was situated in Belgrade, a new publishing house had to be established in Zagreb. This has been done very successfully. State-of-the-art computer equipment, creativity and prudent marketing have resulted in a small but successful operation. If one should be in doubt whether the leaders of the new union are computer-literate, a visit to its excellent Web-site will suffice. Modern radio studios in both Slovenia and Croatia make a significant contribution to the church's outreach. There is no doubt that the church in these two countries is ready to enter the 21st century!

Please pray:

* for continued success in evangelism in these countries.

* for wisdom for the leadership in developing sound strategies for the future of Marusevec.

* for the Croatian Chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association, which plays such an active and important role in the efforts to ensure full religious freedom for all. [ANR 060]
Entered April 1, 1999

"In Novi Sad bombs have damaged the houses of several of our believers," reports Radivoj Vladisavljevic, president of the Seventh-day Adventist's North Conference in Yugoslavia. "I have asked pastors and elders to visit believers and friends more than ever, and by this way express their concern for their lives. I have asked them to pray and read the Bible in small groups or in the basements and other shelters, if it is not possible for them to go to church. This tribulation is another sign that the time is near when Jesus will come, according to His promise, and make an end to suffering and evil."

A pastoral letter was written to the Adventists in Yugoslavia from the president of the Trans-European Division, Dr Bertil Wiklander, and was read in the churches, basements and air strikes shelters last Sabbath. Excerpts from this letter follows:

"The news of the air-strikes against Yugoslavia has shocked us and left our souls in deep anguish. Our hearts go out to you and we want you to know that, whatever happens, we stand by your side in thoughts, prayers, and support. The suffering, the fear of what will happen next, and the sense of being inflicted a terrible injustice, must be a tormenting experience for you all. I want you to know, however, that the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division keeps you all in our prayers. We pray for your safety and prosperity."

Part of the letter was read on national television during the evening news broadcasts.

On hearing the news that NATO started air strikes on Yugoslavia, Dr Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church, telephoned Dr Bertil Wiklander deeply concerned about the situation in Yugoslavia. "I have many memories from 10 years of the most rewarding and pleasant contacts with our people there," said Paulsen. "The warmth and friendship is difficult to describe adequately. Therefore, I also feel the suffering they must all be going through at this time. Please, assure them that their brothers and sisters around the world have not forgotten them. The sense of being one family is as strong as ever."

According to Pastor Slavko Tasic, president of the South Conference in Yugoslavia, one pastor and several members of the church have been drafted into the Yugoslavian Army and therefore are frontline targets for NATO air raids.

We invite all Adventists around the world to pray for our fellow believers in Yugoslavia, for the many Albanian refugees fleeing Kosovo into neighbouring countries, and for the world leaders to find a peaceful solution to this crisis. [Miroslav Pujic/ANR 056]
Entered March 30, 1999

============================
NEW CHURCH IN NOVI SAD

NOVI SAD, YUGOSLAVIA - [ANR] Fifty-two people joined a group of members from the three existing churches for the first worship service of a new church in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, on Sabbath, 6 February. Evangelistic outreach over a long period has resulted in many interests. A series of meetings conducted in January this year by Radisa Antic, president of the South-East European Union, have been followed up with seminars. A week-long series entitled "Amazing Discoveries in Bible Lands", conducted by Peter Roennfeldt, Trans-European Division Ministerial Association secretary, at the university hall, attracted 300-400 interested people, mostly non-Adventists, to two sessions each evening. These interests were invited to become part of a group that will meet each Saturday morning to study Bible questions. Miodrag Zivanovic, Communication director at the South-East European Union, reports that "This is the fourth church in the city of Novi Sad and the Adventist church is growing so we invite you to pray for the many programmes that are going to take place in the future". [Peter Roennfeldt/Miodrag Zivanovic/ANR 051]

============================
STRONG INTEREST IN BELGRADE

BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA - [ANR] Bible classes are being conducted in the Sava Conference Centre in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, with a group of over 300 people following the response to the evangelistic series entitled "Amazing Discoveries in Bible Lands", by Peter Roennfeldt, Trans-European Division Ministerial Association secretary. Radisa Antic, president of the South-East European Union, is continuing these meetings. "Hope and the meaning of life is almost diminished from the hearts of many people in our country. This programme confirmed once again that there is hope in Jesus Christ, which we shared with the thousands who were the seekers of the truth", says Antic. "There is a plan in place to start at least one new church in Belgrade and with such an interest we may need to start two new churches", Roennfeldt says. "Many are anxious to study the Word of God and the Holy Spirit has prepared people for this opportunity to learn of Him. Bozidar Lazic, my translator, and I visited a home where the people told of a dream that one of them had received and shared six months ago. When we read the verses about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ they realised that he had dreamt of this event, and yet they had not discussed spiritual things or the Bible in their home prior to the dream." [Peter Roennfeldt/Miroslav Pujic/ANR 052]

============================
CHURCH RADIO STATIONS GAIN MILLENNIUM LICENSES

LONDON, ENGLAND - [ANR] Two radio stations operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church have gained special Restricted Service Licenses (RSL) to broadcast over the Millennium weekend. These are the brand new "Adventist Radio North London", based in Hampstead, and the well-established "Adventist Radio Milton Keynes." The new London station is an special project co-ordinated by Pastor Michael Hamilton, who says that he had not really expected to receive the license from the Radio Authority. "I knew we had to apply well in advance, so we did a year ago but when the news came through we were very pleased. Hopefully the Millennium slot will enable us to highlight Seventh-day Adventist Christianity and perhaps do a section on the history of the Adventist Church. It's going to take a lot of work and we will rely heavily on support from local members." Hamilton is planning to work closely with Michael Johnson, Adventist Radio Milton Keynes co-ordinator. They will produce some program jointly and they will receive some re-recorded material from Adventist World Radio. [John Surridge/ANR 053]

============================
THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: MIDDLE EAST UNION - CYPRUS, IRAQ, SYRIA, AND GULF COUNTRIES

NICOSIA, CYPRUS - [ANR] The Middle East Union covers fourteen countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and ministers to a predominantly Muslim population of 180 million. About 7,000 of its more than 9,000 members live in Sudan. Some of the countries can still be considered "unentered", although there are Seventh-day Adventist expatriate members living in all these countries. The Union office and the Media Centre for the Middle East are placed in Cyprus. The small church in Lefkosia is very active and reaching out to the Greek Orthodox population and many expatriates living on the island. In Baghdad, Iraq, we find one of the most beautiful Adventist church buildings in the Middle East and, in spite of the international embargo which has caused the migration of a number of Adventist families, the Iraq Field experiences a steady growth in membership. Friday evening and Sabbath morning services are well attended by members as well as visitors. The youth group performs on national TV and at public religious gatherings. The young people, like Daniel's three friends of old, are known for their faithfulness to God. They do not attend school or sit for examinations on Sabbath, although it has cost several of them years of education and job opportunities. The official work in Syria was closed down in the mid 1970's because of false accusations. Several ministers and church members were imprisoned and the church was officially banned. Recent high level initiatives give hope that Syria can be "re-entered" soon by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. On the Arabian Peninsula we find some of the most fundamentalist Islamic states in the world. In Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman expatriate members, mostly from the Sub-Asian continent and the Philippines, gather regularly in churches and homes for worship. The mission zeal is strong, but the circumstances are often very difficult, even dangerous. Please pray:

* that peace will be restored to Cyprus, which is still divided by barbed wire into a Greek and Turkish section.

* for the reopening of the work in Syria.

* for the many listeners to the Arabic AWR programmes produced by the Media Centre in Cyprus.

* for the Adventist young people in Iraq. [Sven H Jensen, President, Middle East Union/ANR 054]
Entered March 26, 1999

LAHORE, PAKISTAN - [ANR] Adventist World Radio (AWR) is airing 30-minute Urdu programmes twice a day from its leased facility in Slovakia. "For the last two years AWR has been sponsoring the programmes produced in Lahore and the output of the new studio has consequently been very good." reports Bert Smit, regional director for AWR-Europe. "This has resulted in a tremendous increase in listener response. During 1997 the staff counted 1,200 letters, yet during 1998 this number had increased to more than 1,700." Encouraged by the interest shown for the Urdu programmes the Pakistan Union recently appointed a full-time person to listener mail handling and correspondence course handling. Special New Year/Ramadan greetings were sent to all listeners with a very nice new calendar and programme schedule. The increased activity in the studio has appealed to the listeners too - currently mail is coming into the Lahore office at a rate of 100 letters a week. Mail comes from places as far away as India, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the Fuji Islands. Recently a letter was received from a medical doctor in a Karachi prison. He was sentenced to death as he was found guilty of murder. He wrote to AWR to express how sorry he was for what he did explaining that it was a terrible accident. "I am on death-row," he wrote, "awaiting capital punishment. While in prison I was given a small radio and there, in the darkness of my prison, I discovered the light of the Voice of Hope." He told us that he never knew about Adventists or AWR but that we were messengers of good tidings. There, in prison, he accepted Jesus Christ. "Would you pray for me?" he asked. We know for sure that he is no longer alive but he had gained Jesus. There are many searching for light in the prison of life in Pakistan. Please pray for the Urdu programmes that many may be led to Jesus. [Bert Smit/ANR 047]

============================
MORE ON THE SLOVENIA "FESTIVAL OF FAITH"

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] Several inquiries have reached us relating to the programme at the forthcoming Festival of Faith in Slovenia. The Festival, the largest event of its kind to be held in the division territory for decades, and timed for 13 - 18 July 1999, aims to meet the following objectives:

1. OFFER TRAINING TO BELIEVERS IN THE SKILLS OF EVANGELISM AND WITNESS, AND THE USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. This will be done in the context of eight parallel workshops spanning nearly eight hours in all, each specialising in a different form of evangelistic outreach. Delegates will choose their preferred workshop, attending seven sessions in all.

2. EMPHASISE THE JOINT ROLE OF PASTORS AND MEMBERS IN THE MINISTRY OF A LOCAL CONGREGATION. We have strongly encouraged members and pastors to attend TOGETHER as a united team, highlighting the unity and function of each Seventh-day Adventist church.

3. INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE MEMBERS THROUGH SHARING OF EVANGELISTIC EXPERIENCES AND PERSONAL TESTIMONY. Each day there will be a specific time allotted for this sharing. It is through listening to what God has done in the lives of others that we are spurred on to new personal faith and commitment.

4. DEVELOP NEW APPROACHES TO WORSHIP, LIFESTYLE AND WITNESS. Our guest speakers have been primed to stretch your imagination, challenge your thinking and explore areas that we have rarely touched before. If you have been in a rut, Slovenia is the place to come!

5. DEVELOP A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. Much time will be spent in corporate Bible study and prayer. Peter Roennfeldt, Ministerial Association Secretary for the Trans-European Division, will lead in the study of evangelism in the book of Acts; and selected lay speakers will feature in the morning devotionals. A sacred concert on Sabbath afternoon will bring together gifted musicians in praise and worship to God.

6. BUILD NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH FELLOW ADVENTISTS FROM MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. Each evening there will be live presentations from different sections of the division. National delegations will also have chance to assess the programme on an on-going basis through the period of the Festival, and discuss how plans can be adopted at national level.

ONE FINAL POINT: We have to advise the hotel of our numbers just prior to the end of March. Members need to ensure that their applications are registered with the Personal Ministries department of the local union/field within the next few days. Let us seize the opportunity of being present at the biggest evangelistic training programme for pastors and laity ever conducted in our division. [Martin L Anthony, Personal Ministries director, TED/ANR 048]

============================
CONFERENCE ON FIRST ADVENTIST OVERSEAS MISSIONARY

BRACKNELL, ENGLAND - [ANR] A conference on the 125th anniversary of the dispatch of J N Andrews as the first Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) overseas missionary will be held at Newbold College from 8 - 10 September 1999. It will also be the 125th anniversary of the denomination in Britain and Europe. The title and theme of the conference is "From Persecution to Pluralism: Religious Minorities and the Enforcement of Conformity in Western Europe since the Reformation". In the last 500 years, Europe has changed from being a Christian continent, dominated by the Papacy, to a pluralist, secular society, with little interest in Christianity. The conference will help people understand how it came about, and its implications, for Adventists in the past and for today. The conference will also be able to consider SDA relations with other Christian groups and to learn from their experiences, both positive and negative. It will not only provide a genuinely wide perspective for the better understanding of Adventist successes and failures in Europe in the last 125 years, but also for a marriage of different Adventist historical and contemporary interests (including religious liberty). The conference will be of interest to a very wide community of scholars and should attract leading historians, churchmen and social scientists. This provides an excellent opportunity for promoting the church to a group which would not normally be reached. For further information please contact David Trim on . [David Trim/ANR 049]

============================
THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: YOUTH NEEDS

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - [ANR] "What is Power?" Under this bold heading one of the large British Sunday papers presented an issue they called "Power 300". The idea of coming up with a list of "the 300 people who had most impact on the daily lives of British people" originated with the head of one of the British television channels and covered 15 pages in this broad-sheet paper. It lists in order 1 - 300 a profile of the most powerful people following this introduction: "They are not necessarily rich or famous. They may not even be the best in their field. What they do share is something far more important. Power." I was interested in seeing what place religion or any religious figure-head might have in a country professing to be a Christian society. The head of the Anglican Church came in as number 186, lower down than the head of the Catholic Church in Britain (number 177). Ahead of these church leaders we find a football player, a young controversial radio presenter, politicians, financiers, and Pope John Paul II (number 90). But to me one of the most interesting comments in the article must be the one made by a member of the selection committee: "We came close to the conclusion that future power lies with scientists and businessmen. . . . We ended our discussion with more scientists in the list than when we started (because) . . . anyone who . . . changed our view of the universe, had more power over our lives than an artistic, sporting or pop icon." Whatever society or country we live in let us remember that "the Gospel is the Power of God" and in His Word we find the true view of the universe, its origin and destination.

Please pray:

* for a greater awareness of the need for people to get to know the Word of God and the plan of salvation.

* for God's leading influence in the lives of those who sit in government.

* for a greater outpouring of God's Spirit in our own lives and a willingness to make a difference in the lives of those around us.

* for the youth of today who have lost their sense of identity, who cannot find a meaning in life, and who find the future hopeless.

* for those young people who have been struck down by serious sickness and who fight an uphill batter against huge odds.

* for the many youth and children who have been displaced from home and family because of conflicts and strife. [Ole Kendel, Youth Director, TED/ANR 050]
Entered March 18, 1999

STROVOLOS, CYPRUS - [ANR] The Middle East Centre for Correspondence Studies (MECCS), the correspondence school operating from the Adventist Media Centre (AMC) in Cyprus, reports a staggering 43 new requests for English correspondence courses in just the first 6 weeks of 1999. "Out of these 43 precious applications," says Kerttuli Giantzaklidis, MECCS Study Counsellor, "the bulk of the applicants came from a Ugandan refugee camp." There are currently 350 students registered with MECCS studying one of the six Bible and Health courses offered in English. There are a further 180 taking the two Arabic courses presently available. "Although the AMC serves the Middle East, there are a great many expatriate workers living in this region, especially in the Gulf states," comments Alex Elmadjian, AMC manager. "However, there are numerous Arabic-speaking people who choose to study in English in order to improve their language skills. Upon completion of their course, each student is presented with a diploma and a book as a reward for their perseverance." As we prepare for the AWR offering on March 13, let us remember to pray for the wisdom and discernment needed by the Study Counsellors who are located in many of the AWR production studios around the world. These valuable individuals complement and provide vital follow-up to our radio ministry as they nurture their students towards an improved lifestyle and a greater spiritual experience. [Alex Elmadjian/ANR 043]

============================
SOUTH SUDAN FIELD ORGANISED

ARUA, UGANDA - [ANR] The new South Sudan Field of the Seventh-day Adventist Church was organised at a constituency session on 14 February 1999. Twenty-two delegates representing eight organised churches and many church groups in South Sudan came together in Arua, Uganda, to elect departmental directors and a new executive committee for the field. The Middle East Union officers, Pastors Sven H Jensen, president, and William M Olson, secretary-treasurer, led out in the organisation. An operating policy for the new field was also voted and recommended to the Middle East Union for approval. Bold plans for evangelism and Global Mission were presented and recommended to the new executive committee. "The South Sudan Field will cover the territory which is presently controlled by the rebel forces," comments Jensen. "Because of the volatile situation and with many church members still living in camps for the displaced in Northern Uganda the new field office will temporarily be set up in Arua, Uganda." The South Sudan Field will have a membership of more than three thousand, which is about half of the present membership in the country of Sudan. The newly appointed executive director for the field, Pastor Beat Odermatt, is expected to take office by June 1999. He replaces Tim Scott who has served as the leader of the South Sudan Section for the last four years. [Sven H Jensen/ANR 044]

============================
ADVENTISTS REPRESENTED AT COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ASSEMBLY

WATFORD, ENGLAND - [ANR] From Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 February Pastor John Surridge, communication director of the British Union Conference, represented the Seventh-day Adventist Church at the General Assembly of the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland (CCBI). The group of some 300 delegates met at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, near Derby. Highlights of the Assembly included an address by Lord Steel of Aikwood (former MP David Steel) on the implications of the new Scottish Parliament and the other regional assemblies; a worship service conducted by Spiritual Father Samuel Abidoye of the Chreubim and Seraphim Council of Churches; a series of studies on the Gospel of Luke by Father John Fitzsimmons of Erskine; and a lecture on genetic engineering by Dr Donald Bruce of the Church of Scotland's Society, Religion and Technology Project. "One of the most useful aspects of inter-denominational gatherings is the informal inter-church dialogue which takes place over meals and in-between meetings," says Surridge. "Ignorance of the beliefs and practices of Christians from other denominations is recognised as being extremely divisive and consequently delegates are eager to learn from each other first hand, rather than through the more common channels of gossip, rumour and blatant misrepresentation." Although Seventh-day Adventists only have associate status within the CCBI their views are well respected and they are encouraged to join in with discussions. There are major areas where Seventh-day Adventists differ from other denominations over aspects of theology and worship, but there are many areas where they can agree and co-operate. One of the main areas of discussion at the CCBI Assembly was the newly released report on the Stephen Lawrence enquiry (racist murder). At the end of the meetings the Assembly issued a joint report recognising the need to expose and deal with our own institutional racism and our duty to strive together with other institutions to build a society free from hatred and discrimination on the basis of race, colour or creed. All denominational representatives agreed that racism is a pernicious and insidious evil which cannot be tolerated in Christian life or institution. Most of the main churches within Britain are struggling to recruit members, ministers, and leaders from the ethnic minorities, particularly the Afro-Caribbean sector. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in England is recognised as being many years ahead of these other churches in this area and many church leaders are keen to learn from the Adventist experience. [John Surridge/ANR 045]

============================
THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: SWEDEN

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - [ANR] Take a hundred average Swedes and line them up in front of you. Then take away all those who do not believe there is a God in any form. How many will you have left? Less than half, actually. Only forty Swedes out of every hundred believe there is any kind of God; and even fewer believe that the Christian God really exists. How many of those average Swedes go to church? Well, ten of them turn up on a Sunday morning early in December in order to hear the traditional Christmas carols sung. Five will turn up for the Christmas morning service on Christmas Day. But only one will go to church regularly once a week. And the other ninety will probably only put their foot inside the church doors on three occasions (unless they are out sightseeing, of course): when they are hatched, matched and dispatched - christened, married and buried. Someone has worked out that in forty years' time the last Swedish Christian will close the door to the last church and give the key to someone else. In one sense it is not difficult to be a Christian in Sweden. Most people will accept your beliefs with tolerance and perhaps a slight wonder or amusement that you hold on to something as outdated as Christianity. Some of them may politely ask what is characteristic of your denomination. Most of them won't care about your answer. In such a situation it is not easy to evangelise. It can take up to six or seven years for a person to make a decision for Christ. Great efforts have been made by the local Adventist churches to win new members. Many methods have been tried. None has worked all that well. And now, a certain tiredness can be sensed among the members. And yet there is a growing spiritual interest in Sweden. But this interest is not directed towards the Christian churches. The Swedish Union has recently started a programme directed at revitalising the churches and equipping the members for evangelism. This programme has created a lot of enthusiasm in the churches which have adopted it. We hope that this programme will bring new life and dedication to our churches and that it will also equip the members so that they can give a courageous and contagious witness about their faith. Please pray:

* that our members will find strength to live as Christians in a society where Christianity is seen as irrelevant.

* that our members in Sweden will be filled with a longing to share their faith with their friends and neighbours.

* that the programme aimed at revitalising the churches will become a tool to bring new spiritual life to our members.

* that God will touch the hearts of everyone living in Sweden and give him or her a longing to get to know Jesus Christ. [Per Bolling, President, Swedish Union/ANR 046]

============================
EDITOR'S NOTE

Latest issues of the ANR bulletin are now available at www.tagnet.org/adventist.fm.
Entered March 11, 1999

============================
EUROPEAN ELECTED AS WORLD CHURCH PRESIDENT

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] The General Conference executive committee of the Seventh-day Adventist church elected Dr Jan Paulsen as the new president for the world church on Monday, 1 March 1999. For the first time in the history of the church, the church turned to a man who is not a citizen of the USA. This can be seen as an acknowledgement of the fact that the vast majority of the members now live outside of North America.

A native of Norway, Paulsen has been in the ministry for 40 years serving as pastor, teacher, principal of Newbold College, England, secretary and president of the Trans-European Division and, since 1995, general vice-president of the world church. He has academic degrees from Andrews University in USA and Tübingen University in Germany.

"Many will agree that, in him, and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the world church has received a very able leader," says Dr Bertil Wiklander, president of the Trans-European Division. "He is a man of the Spirit. Many of us remember his excellent book about the Holy Spirit, 'When the Spirit Descends', a well-researched and balanced work. He loves his church and has strong capacity for hard work. His thinking is clear and analytical, and he conducts committee meetings in an efficient and patient way, always keeping a clear focus on the matter before us. He will, I am sure, create a good working atmosphere in the General Conference office and a good spirit of co-operation between the world divisions. He will defend the unity of the church in every way possible. Let us now embrace him and his wife, Kari, with our prayers, and let us offer to God our best efforts to support them in their important and challenging task. I know Jan Paulsen would expect us to do that by a renewed commitment to the life, service and mission of our beloved church."

"Dr Paulsen is known as a systematic builder, who has a clear goal for his work and ensures that he has laid a firm foundation and then adds storey to storey in order to complete the edifice he wants to erect," comments Per Bolling, president of the Swedish Union Conference.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Paulsen made the following remarks: "So, the Lord has led and I have found it safe to let the brethren decide. That's the way we've done it, and in the knowledge and with the assurance that the Holy Spirit is leading His Church, that He is moving us all steadfastly forward and that the Lord will achieve His objectives. Accepting this position, we will try to be servants of the Lord in achieving His mission and His objectives." [Miroslav Pujic/ANR 038]

============================
LEADERSHIP SEMINAR CONDUCTED IN JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - [ANR] A Leadership Seminar at the Study Centre in Jerusalem, Israel, was conducted by Dr Bertil Wiklander, President of the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, ably assisted by Pastor Richard Elofer, president of the Israel Field from 18 - 20 February. This three-day seminar was attended by over 35 delegates consisting of elders and departmental leaders from the nine churches in Israel.

Some of the topics presented by Dr Wiklander and Pastor Elofer included, The Church and its Mission, What is Christian Leadership? Jesus as Leader, The Servant Leader, and Vision and Strategy. There was active participation by the delegates during these inspiring presentations.

During the Sabbath service Dr Wiklander preached an inspiring address on "The Christian Leader and God's Vision". In the evening this spiritual seminar concluded with all the delegates celebrating the Lord's Supper, conducted by Pastor Elofer and assisted by Pastor Otinel Iancu and elder Paul Lippi. "The delegates then dispersed, determined by God's grace and with the help of the Holy Spirit, to put into practice that which had been learned at the Leadership Seminar," reports Peter Hinks, treasurer of the Israel Field.

At the Israel Field executive committee held on Sunday, 21 February, progress reports and future plans for the work in Israel were presented by both the chairman, Pastor Elofer, and the treasurer, Peter Hinks.

The registered membership of the Israel Field, which consists of a number of ethnic groups from Romania, Ghana, Russia, South America and the Philippines in addition to Jewish and Arab members, increased from 304 to 420 (38%) during 1998. Tithe income for the year increased by 44% over the previous year whilst there was only a small increase in expenditure. The resultant operating gain was transferred to unallocated fund thereby strengthening the Field's financial position.

The Shalom Project - work amongst the Russian Jews - supported by Global Mission funds is progressing well and, as a result, Israel will soon have two new pastors trained to develop this work even more in Tel Aviv and Beer Sheba. Plans have been made for every Seventh-day Adventist church in Israel to take part in evangelism during 1999 - using the NET '98 videos. Many training seminars have also been arranged to encourage, inspire and motivate the membership.

Pastor Richard Elofer has been instrumental in establishing a Chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association in Israel and plans have been made to participate strongly in the Windows of Hope project.

"Whilst the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel is growing, the greatest need is for new church buildings, and we need your prayers more than ever for the success of God's work in Israel", says Hinks. [Peter Hinks/ANR 039]

============================
ADRIATIC UNION ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ALBANIAN MISSION

TIRANË, ALBANIA [ANR] A three-man delegation from the Adriatic Union paid a week-long visit to Albania from 22 - 28 February in order to get acquainted with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in that country and to prepare for a gradual integration of the Albanian Mission into the recently formed Adriatic Union.

Union president, Dr Dragutin Matak, accompanied by Miroslav Lorencin, union secretary and Miroslav Djidara, union youth director, visited a number of cities in which an Adventist presence has been established, and participated in a country-wide day of fellowship on the Sabbath in the capital city, Tiranë. A considerable number of hours were spent in consultations with the leaders of the Albanian Mission and the Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA) in Albania. Meetings were also arranged with the Minister of Defence - to discuss some problems Adventists are facing in their military service - and with the head office of the Prime Minister.

Dr Reinder Bruinsma, secretary of the Trans-European Division, together with Jim Huzzey, division field secretary, also participated in this week of travel, study and discussion. Hennie van der Ness was present in his double role as division associate treasurer and treasurer of the Albanian Mission.

"Since the Albanian Mission was officially organised in 1994, slow but steady progress has been made in establishing the Adventist Church on a firmer footing in this mountainous and economically challenged country of 3.3 million inhabitants", comments Bruinsma. "Membership currently stands at 220. In addition to a sizeable ADRA compound, buildings have been acquired in three cities. Land was bought some years ago at a choice location in Tiranë, but so far a building permit has remained elusive." One of the most promising aspects of the work in Albania is that a number of Albanian young people are being trained for the ministry. Two of them will return by mid-1999 from Newbold College to Albania to start their internship.

Most of the members in Albania are below the age of 25. This, naturally, poses some unique challenges, but, at the same time, bides well for the future.

The Trans-European Division will continue to support the Albanian Mission with a sizeable annual appropriation and with a number of expatriate workers, but from now on the mission will greatly benefit from all the resources the Adriatic Union has to offer. [Reinder Bruinsma/ANR 040]

============================
FAMILY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS IN FORMER WAR-TORN BOSNIA

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] The Seventh-day Adventist church in Sarajevo had arranged for three evenings of Family Seminars held from 19 - 21 February and advertised over their local FM radio station "Voice of Hope", to the predominantly Muslim population of Sarajevo. The topics for the evenings were on "God's Design for Marriage and Relationships".

Approximately 25 Muslims and a further 25 members of the church attended the seminars. "The Muslims who came to the programme seemed very appreciative of this initiative, and a mother and daughter - they looked more like twins than mother and daughter - highly educated, and comfortable with the use of English, warmly expressed their gratitude for the event and wanted to come back to the church for similar programmes," comments Ole Kendel, family ministries director for the Trans-European Division. Milan Bajic, youth and family ministries director of the South-East European Union, took an active part in the presentations.

Many ruins, bullet-ridden buildings and grenade holes which exposed the effects of the war were still very much evident in Sarajevo. A couple of dim lights that shone out from behind plastic sheets and cardboard covers in three burned-out high-rise blocks of flats bore witness to somebody's struggle to find shelter for the winter weather and served as a stark reminder of other peoples' needs.

"It was a joy to meet with the members of the Sarajevo congregation with its many spiritually young Adventists, who were taught to sing hymns and tunes very familiar to long-time members," says Kendel. The church is being ministered by senior pastor, Josip Tikvicki, and an intern.

A Youth Week of Prayer with the theme "Four Foundations for Prayer" followed in Banja Luka from 22 - 28 February. The drive between Sarajevo and Banja Luka in the Republic of Srpska was made rather adventurous by the heavy snowfall, and the sheer number of trucks and lorries trying to get through the blizzard without adequate road-grip. "The four hours' trip lasted ten hours and even though we arrived close to midnight, a warm three course meal awaited us," continues Kendel. "The hospitality of the members to this foreigner was second to none. The congregation with its large youth group of some 40-50 members was a very warm and concerned one."

The Youth Week of Prayer was joined by many "old youth", and the united prayers for the strengthening of the members' spiritual lives in addition to the desire for God's guidance and leading into the future were central in all the meetings.

Within Bosnia and Herzegovina there are great opportunities for evangelism and outreach in various forms, and the conference administration considered further suggestions in addition to plans already made. The youth of Banja Luka were involved in evangelism in a town about 200km from Banja Luka, and support for alternative and contact-creating ministries would go far in this field toward spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom. [Ole Kendel/ANR 041]

============================
THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO BROADCASTS FOR THE MUSLIM WORLD

BRACKNELL, ENGLAND [ANR] Please go with me in your imagination to a country in the Middle East. Just imagine that you can look at one individual living there in the dust of this huge part of the world. He is a Muslim living in relative poverty in a region dominated by a strong religion. His life is not going very well and he feels alone, rejected and insecure. His own religion instead of giving him hope tells him to be content with what he is. Now imagine that he would have the chance to hear of another religion, telling him of a God who loves him, cares for him and wants him to be happy!

The religious barriers of Islam are formidable and the number of Adventist believers in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa is minimal. The Church is only active in a very few countries but religious activities are restricted and contact with Muslims is limited and discouraged, mostly due to culture and customs. The risks are high: if you just talk to a Muslim about the Bible you could end up in prison, or worse, sentenced to death.

How can the Church reach out and touch the hearts of the millions living in Arabia under these circumstances? As Adventists we feel committed to the Gospel commission to "go out and preach". How can we do this?

There is a saying in Proverbs 25:25, "Good news from a far country is like fresh water to a thirsty soul". That is perhaps an illustration of what radio has become to many people. Adventist World Radio uses short-wave radio stations to jump geographical and cultural barriers to reach into the very heart of the Islamic world. From transmitters in Slovakia, Guam and Italy, AWR broadcasts more hours per week than any other religious broadcaster in the world, the message of saving grace in Arabic into the Middle East and North Africa. The Arabic programmes are prepared in Paris, France and Nicosia, Cyprus.

Last year more than 6,000 people wrote to AWR in Arabic requesting more information about our beliefs. We like to think that around 5 million people listen frequently to our Arabic service that brings "fresh water to thirsty souls". The Arabic programmes are very successful because they are based on making friends, not enemies.

We share with our friends what we believe as Seventh-day Adventists, focussing on the hope in Christ, health, the family and other devotional programmes. Our radio programmes are a guide bringing the listener into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

As a direct result of listening to the Arabic radio programmes of AWR, many Muslim listeners have accepted Jesus Christ. Many have told us of their new love for Jesus and how our programmes have changed their lives. These listeners in the Middle East and North Africa are requesting AWR to help them to come into a more meaningful relationship with Christ. What a challenge!

Just imagine: a Muslim in Arabia with no other opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus except by radio - who, by listening and becoming a friend of our station over a period of time, begins to be fascinated by the person of Christ and learns to love Him. Adventist World Radio may be the very first message of hope he or she hears. And that is the reason why AWR broadcasts programmes for Muslims.

Please pray:

* that many more people in the Middle East and North Africa will hear the Gospel message on Adventist World Radio

* that the Arabic Radio Listeners Club will continue to be a "connection" between listeners and the Adventist Church on radio

* that the listeners who accept the message of salvation will become lights in their communities for Christianity

* that the producers of programmes in Arabic and other languages spoken in the Muslim world will continue to find creative ways to present the message in the cultural, social and religious context appropriate for the listeners

* for the success of the programmes in Urdu, broadcast to millions of people in Pakistan

* that AWR broadcasts in nearly 50 languages will continue to reach people with the story of Jesus - many of these people will never hear His name in any other way. [Andrea Steele, PR director, AWR/ANR 042]
Entered March 4, 1999

============================
ELECTION OF NEW WORLD CHURCH PRESIDENT TOPS AGENDA OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND, USA - [ANR] The governing body of the Seventh-day Adventist Church will meet on Monday, 1 March to focus on the election of a new president for the Seventh-day Adventist World Church. The 268 members of the General Conference Executive Committee represent the entire world church with delegates from all the church's divisions and conferences. The Committee is chaired by G Ralph Thompson, acting president for the Seventh-day Adventist Church since 8 February, when former president Robert S Folkenberg resigned.

The Adventist Church leaders have asked congregations to set aside the day of worship on Saturday, 27 February, as a day of prayer for this important meeting.

Two broadcasts on Adventist Communication Network (ACN - for North American viewers) and Adventist Global Communication Network (AGCN - for world viewers) will introduce the new president to the denomination during the first week of March. A special live worship uplink on Friday evening, 5 March, at 19.00 hours/Eastern USA (24.00 hours GMT; 01.00 hours CET; 02.00 hours EET) will feature a devotional message by the new president. The Friday night satellite uplink will feature a special commissioning service for the new president and his sermon.

The Committee also will consider other matters during the first week of March, including the formation of a new union in the Africa-Indian Ocean Division; presentation of the Hope 2000 resource for the church in connection with the beginning of a new millennium; new initiatives for Global Mission; and other routine business. This special meeting will replace the Spring Meeting of the Executive Committee that had been scheduled for late March and early April of this year. [Ray Dabrowski/ANN]
Entered Feb 26, 1999

============================
OVER TWO THOUSAND ATTEND EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS IN BELGRADE

BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA - [ANR] Peter Roennfeldt, Ministerial Association Secretary of the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, commenced a major evangelistic campaign - "Amazing Discoveries in the Bible Lands" - in Yugoslavia's capital, Belgrade, on 20 February 1999.

"It is encouraging to see thousands of people coming to the Sava Centre, an excellent conference facility, to find out more about everlasting truth", says Roennfeldt. "People are extremely receptive and, I believe that, by the help of Holy Spirit, we are establishing the Kingdom of Heaven in their hearts."

The exclusive 1,000-seat conference centre is accommodating visitors to capacity twice each day - some having to return home due to lack of seats and some having to wait up to two hours in order to be in the front of the queue for the second session. One guest said, "These are very good lectures illustrated by visual aids"; another said, "The presentations are helping me to find new meaning in my life." [Miodrag Zivanovic/ANR 033]

============================
PIONEER MISSIONARY TRAINING

PÉCEL, HUNGARY - [ANR] A special commissioning service was held at the Hungarian Theological Seminary in Pécel on 13 February. After two weeks of full-time training, fourteen pioneer missionaries consecrated their lives for the advancement of mission in Hungary. "Some of them will serve under the direction and financial support of the Global Mission Board, while others will help the local pastors in unentered cities and villages", comments András Szilvási, Ministerial Association Secretary of the Hungarian Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

During the two-week programme, the participants studied different subjects such as personal witnessing in the secular society, church planting, presenting the health message, organising seminars and house groups, literature evangelism, communications, etc.

"Since the new dormitory with more than 60 beds was opened, this kind of programme, together with shorter weekend programmes, will be held there not only for pastors, but for members and for church officers also," says Szilvási. "We would also like to repeat the pioneer missionary programme in the early summer." The Union is also planning to hold a lay training seminar in order to equip some of the elders and members to hold evangelistic series in different locations. (András Szilvási/ANR 034])

============================
MULTIMEDIA SEMINAR IN HELSINKI

HELSINKI, FINLAND - [ANR] Approximately 30 church members and pastors interested in using computer programmes in evangelism came together for a Multimedia seminar held in the Helsinki Seventh-day Adventist Church on 21 February 1999.

Participants familiar with different kinds of programmes were given an opportunity to share their knowledge in small groups. The seminar was held in conjunction with the communication director of Trans-European Division, Pastor Miroslav Pujic's visit to Finland. He shared with the group information about "New Trends in International Electronic Communication" and took an active part in giving practical advice and demonstrations.

"I am impressed with how much our church in Finland understands the importance of using multimedia in evangelism", reports Pujic. "It was a time of discovering many knowledgeable and talented individuals who want to use their gifts in the church. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Finland is keeping up with modern technology in doing church."

"The seminar was the first of its kind to be held in the Finland Union Conference, and the atmosphere was inspiring and encouraging," says Joel Niininen, communication director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Finland. "What we have shared and learned will certainly continue well into the future." [Joel Niininen/ANR 035]

============================
CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHING CHURCHES TO BE TIGHTENED

PÉCEL, HUNGARY - [ANR] The president of the Hungarian Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor József Szilvási, took part in a podium discussion on Duna TV on 16 February 1999.

Mr József Lájer, the vice-president of the Committee for Minorities and Human Rights of the Hungarian Parliament said, "The conditions of establishing churches should be tightened in Hungary. Presently a new church can be established with as little as 100 members which can then benefit from the special tax exemptions the Hungarian laws grant for churches, after having been registered at the Court of the Capital.

Because of the extremely liberal law approximately 100 new organisations have registered as churches in Hungary, including a number of societies practising naturopath, which have only been organised for business reasons.

During the discussion Szilvási commented, "The present Constitution of the country does not make it possible for any bodies of the State to investigate the beliefs and teachings of the churches. Therefore, it would be extremely difficult to differentiate between genuine churches and counterfeit churches that do not represent sincere religion. To execute this suggestion would also be very difficult, for either judges should be sent to study theology or theologians should become legal experts."

The representative of Hare Krishna expressed his fears concerning the formal criteria of the planned law, according to which a religious organisation applying for registration should prove to have minimum of 10,000 members or 100 years of history in the country.

Szilvási commented that this limitation does not affect the Seventh-day Adventist Church, for the world church - at present having 10.3 million members - had first applied for permission to work in the country in 1898. "Although at that time permission was denied by the authorities, the documents in the National Archives officially prove that the history of our church in Hungary goes back to more than 100 years," says Szilvási. "So the church is not in direct danger in connection with the planned amendments of the law. Furthermore, already existing churches can not be outlawed, but thinking about the persecutions we have suffered in the past, we are very sensitive to all suggestions that tend to curb religious liberty."

Lájer informed the members of the church in Hungary that the amendment of the law will surely not endanger a community having such a long history as the Seventh-day Adventist Church. [József Szilvási/ANR 036]

============================
THIS WEEK'S TED PRAYER GUIDE: FINLAND

TAMPERE, FINLAND - [ANR] Finland, the land with 188,000 lakes, has a population of 5.2 million. Since there are about 300,000 inhabitants of Swedish extraction, Swedish and Finnish are both the official languages of the country. From the twelfth century onward, Finland was ruled by Sweden until, in 1809, it came under Russian control. It gained independence in 1917 but lived in uneasy co-existence with its powerful Communist neighbour until Communism collapsed. Ninety-two per cent of the people belong to the Lutheran tradition, many of them just nominally. Though secularism has not by-passed Finland, it is not as strong as in the other Scandinavian countries.

As elsewhere in Scandinavia Adventism came to Finland over one hundred years ago. The Finnish church was organised as a separate conference in 1909. In 1955 the Finland Union came into existence. Presently, it consists of a conference for the Finnish-speaking members, a small conference for the Swedish-speaking members and a Lapland Mission which cares for the work in the vast but sparsely inhabited northern part of Finland. The total membership now stands at 5,748. One of the interesting features of the work in Finland is the important role women evangelists have played for many decades.

The Finland Union operates a number of institutions: Hopeaniemi, a well-equipped, recently modernised 105-bed sanitarium, situated in Nummela, the Kirjatoimi Publishing House, a Bible Correspondence School and the Finnish Junior College, Toivonlinnan, situated in Piikkio, near Turku.

The Finnish population continues to be more religious than in the other Scandinavian countries, but evangelism is nonetheless quite difficult. The publishing work, for a long time the shining example for other European countries, has in recent years suffered some serious set-backs. The annual camps for students of the Bible Correspondence course, however, still possess great soul-winning potential. The Finnish Adventist youth proves to be remarkably creative in developing new witnessing methods.

Please pray for:

* the continued success of the camps for the students of the Bible Correspondence courses.

* the Adventist young people in Finland, that they may continue and expand their creative street witnessing.

* the success of the church planting projects that are being planned in Vantaa and Espoo.