Iraq: Car Bomber Targets Baghdad Adventist Church; Christians Protest Attacks Baghdad/Iraq | 31.01.2006 | International The Baghdad Seventh-day Adventist Church has been targeted by a car bomb for the second time in two years, injuring an armed guard, one of two permanently stationed to protect the church compound. The Vatican embassy in Baghdad and another Christian church in the city, as well as two churches in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk were also targeted in the attack, according to the IRIN news service, a United Nations news and humanitarian information service, which also reports that some Christ
Adventist Development Agency Builds Schools in Liberia Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 30.01.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is working to revitalize the educational system in Liberia, helping to rebuild schools, reconstruct kitchens for school feeding programs, and provide training for kitchen staff in schools that were damaged or destroyed during the 14 years of fighting in Liberia. "The educational system has suffered greatly as a result of the many years of war," said a report written by the ADRA office in Liberia. "Not only were the buildings and furniture des
Commissioner Clifton elected 18th General of The Salvation Army London/United Kingdom | 29.01.2006 | Ecumenism The 2006 High Council of the Salvation Army has chosen Commissioner Shaw Clifton – currently Territorial Commander, United Kingdom and Ireland - to be the 18th General of this international movement. This announcement was made on January 28, at The Salvation Army’s conference centre Sunbury Court just outside London. Commissioner Clifton will become the Salvation Army movement’s world leader on the retirement of General John Larsson at midnight on April 1, General Larsson’s 68th birthday.
Germany Mourns Outstanding Former President Johannes Rau Berlin/Germany | 27.01.2006 | International Germany is mourning the death of one of its outstanding Protestant Christians. Former President Johannes Rau died January 27, aged 75, after a long illness. Rau, who was President from 1999 2004, came from an evangelical family, was well versed in the Bible and often seasoned his speeches with quotes from the ³book of books². He was affectionately known as "Brother John". President Horst Koehler described his predecessor a "believing and happy Christian". Rau felt that he was sustained
Adventist Women Tell the World About Jesus Through Touching the World Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 20.01.2006 | International Does your church love Jesus? If they do, does anybody else know? Seventh-day Adventist women are becoming more purposeful about answering that question. While the church has long relied on public evangelism campaigns to get their messages across, they are now encouraging all areas of the church to find new and innovative ways to reach outside sanctuary walls and into their communities. In an interview with Adventist News Network (ANN), Heather-Dawn Small, Women's Ministries director for the
Teenage Mothers in Mexico Learn Valuable Life Skills from ADRA Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 19.01.2006 | ADRA In Mexico City, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is teaching young mothers skills that will enable them to become financially independent, as well as provide better care for their children. ADRA has equipped a training centre in Mexico City to teach young mothers sewing skills that they will be able to use to provide for their families. The young women, who are between the ages of 12 to 16, are residents of La Casa de Las Mercedes, a private institution that provides a home
Ivory Coast: Protests, Threat of More Violence Disrupt Adventist Church Activities Abidjan/Ivory Coast | 19.01.2006 | International Three days of protests by students in Ivory Coast's fractious political atmosphere have disrupted administrative and ministry activities of the Seventh-day Adventist Church there, including the West-Central Africa regional headquarters, according to Adventist Church Communication Director Jean Emmanuel Nlo Nlo. Right now, he said, all Adventist workers in the country are believed to be safe. The Ivory Coast, known as Cote d'Ivoire in French, is located in Western Africa, between Ghana and Li
Helping HIV/AIDS Victims; Church Programs Expand to Rwanda Kibuye/Rwanda, | 18.01.2006 | Health & Ethics HIV/AIDS is on the rise and there is a community of people that now, more than ever, need to be told about God's love. An estimated 40 million people worldwide are living with the disease, according to the United Nations. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has long opened its hospitals to serving those infected with the HIV/AIDS virus, but more recently the protestant mainstream world communion has also opened its church doors. The local church is committed to uniting words of hope with hope i
U.S. National Interfaith Cable Coalition Announces Election of Fred Kinsey and Eric C. Shafer to Board of Trustees New York; N.Y./USA | 18.01.2006 | Media The National Interfaith Cable Coalition, Inc. (NICC), doing business as Faith & Values Media, announced on January 17 the election of Fred Kinsey and the Rev. Eric C. Shafer to its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees makes policy and has fiduciary responsibility for Faith & Values Media, the nation’s largest coalition of Jewish and Christian faith groups dedicated to media production, distribution and promotion. “We are honoured to announce the addition to our Board of Trustees of Fred K
United Kingdom: Former Wolverhampton Pub to House Adventist Church Wolverhampton/United Kingdom | 18.01.2006 | International In a nation where some dormant churches have become public houses, or "pubs," as they are popularly called, a Seventh-day Adventist congregation is moving things in the opposite direction: they're taking a former pub and converting it into a church. The Wolverhampton Pendeford Adventist Church completed the purchase of the new building shortly before Christmas 2005. The new building is a former pub, close to where the congregation currently meets at the Dovecotes Community Hall on Ryefield R
Malawi: Kids Say 'No' to HIV/AIDS Through TV Show Blantyre, Malawi | 13.01.2006 | Health & Ethics The "monster" is big, grey, and boxy with huge, sharp, white teeth, and is intent on swallowing its victims whole. Parents may have heard this description before when their children talk about that "monster" in the closet or under the bed. This time, however, the monster does not only reside in the imaginations of children. The monster is very real and, while it is not huge and ominous-looking in real life, its effects are. The monster is in fact a miniscule virus that killed millions across Sub
WCC Assembly will question morality of economic globalization Geneva/Switzerland | 13.01.2006 | Ecumenism "A world without poverty is not only possible, but is in keeping with the grace of God for the world," is an affirmation that will play a central role at the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14 - 23 February 2006. The six-page document, titled "AGAPE - A Call to love and action," summarizes the results of work done by the WCC and ecumenical partners on economic globalization since the 8th Assembly in Harare in 1998. It calls churches "to act togethe
National Bible Week to renew the Philippine nation Manila/Philippines | 13.01.2006 | Bible The Philippines is gearing up to celebrate National Bible Week (NBW) on January 23-29. This year’s theme is "God’s Word-Power for National Renewal". Every year, the National Bible Week is celebrated nation-wide by virtue of the Philippines Presidential Proclamations 44 and 1067, which emphasize the importance of the Holy Scriptures in the life of a nation. The week-long National Bible Week is sponsored by Philippine Bible Society (PBS), the Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate of
Ecumenical Week of Prayer focuses on Christ as source of unity Geneva/Switzerland | 12.01.2006 | Ecumenism Christian Churches and communities around the world will gather January 18 to 25 for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity; the event, which some churches will mark on alternate dates, will focus on the theme and central biblical text, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them," (Matthew 18:20). An ecumenical group in Ireland prepared the first draft of the 2006 prayer materials. Members of the group were "conscious of the rich spiritual heritage of Ireland with roo
ADRA Aids Survivors from Deadly Fire in Tajikistan Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 11.01.2006 | ADRA In response to a deadly fire that consumed a boarding school for mentally challenged children in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has provided relief supplies for children who lost all their possessions in the fire. The fire occurred January 8, leaving 13 of the 100 children residing at the school dead, and many more suffering from burns and other fire-related injuries. The survivors have been placed in another school for mentally challenged children al
Spiritual Nurture, Mission Involvement Crucial, Adventist World President Says Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 11.01.2006 | International Spiritual nurture centered on the Bible and involvement in the church's mission to "Tell the World" the Gospel message are essential hallmarks of a Christian's life, Pastor Jan Paulsen, world president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said in an interview that will be broadcast beginning January 20. "We've got to start with that which is personal and that which is private, and that is for me to take time with the Word of God. ... We have to nurture ourselves," Pastor Paulsen, who this mo
ADRA Fights Cholera Outbreak in São Tome São Tome | 06.01.2006 | ADRA In response to a cholera outbreak that struck São Tome and Principe in October of 2005, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is helping to control the outbreak by distributing disinfectants among the community, as well as promoting improved health and sanitation practices through campaigns that teach villagers how to prevent the transmission of this contagious disease. ADRA has organized an awareness campaign among 50 rural community groups targeting 1000 women, focusing primari
India's U.S. Ambassadors Visit Adventist Headquarters, Meet World Church President Paulsen Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 05.01.2006 | International India's U.S. ambassador and deputy head of mission were welcomed to the Seventh-day Adventist Church's world headquarters on Jan. 4. Ambassadors Ronen Sen and Raminder Singh Jassal of India were guests of church leaders, including Pastor Jan Paulsen, world church president, who soon will visit India again. During a private meeting and, later, a protocol luncheon, both visitors and hosts spoke on common themes of societal development. "While we are a confessional community, we also are ve
ADRA Delivers Aid to more than 68,000 Earthquake Survivors in Kashmir Islamabad/Pakistan | 04.01.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has met the needs of 68,450 earthquake survivors in the Pakistani-administered region of Kashmir. ADRA has donated 60 heavy duty winter tents, 2,795 family tents, 4,183 shelters, 30,000 heavy duty blankets, 72,390 quilts, 120 wood-burning stoves for school tents, 1,000 wood-burning stoves for family tents, 6,000 hygiene kits, 300 food packages, and 300 water carriers for desperate families in the Kashmir region. The total weight of relief it
Roma in Bulgaria Receive Quality Health Care from ADRA Sofia/Bulgaria | 04.01.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is working to improve the health care of the Roma population in the Iztok District of Kyustendil in Bulgaria by providing improved access to quality health care, and promoting health education among the community. During the project, ADRA offered residents free examinations from 15 medical professionals specializing in a wide range of health care practices from neurology to pediatrics. More than 5,000 people benefited from the medical consult
Egypt: Sudanese Adventist Killed in Cairo Violence Cairo, Egypt | 04.01.2006 | International An active member of the Sudanese Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cairo, Betty Asenzo Bernard, was killed when thousands of Egyptian police officers broke up a squatter camp near the Cairo offices of the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR on December 30, 2005. Several members of the Adventist congregation are still missing after the event. Many families have been separated as police raided Sudanese homes and took people away for questioning. Media reports indicate that more than 3,500 Sudanese mig
