Adventist World Church Holiday Message Calls for 'Acts of Mercy and Compassion' as Church Moves Into New Year Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 28.12.2006 | International Are we compassionate toward those who are vulnerable? [Do] we reach out to them and offer our constant support? Are we the peacemakers in society? Do we offer words and actions of mercy and compassion to the people we meet?" asked Seventh-day Adventist world church president Pastor Jan Paulsen, during his holiday message recorded for some 30 million Adventist Christians worldwide, including 15 million adult baptized church members. As the New Year approaches, Pastor Paulsen urged church memb
Pomegranate juice may reduce Alzheimer’s risk, Says Researcher Loma Linda, California/USA | 22.12.2006 | Health & Ethics "Before you gulp down that eggnog or spicy apple cider this holiday season, take a moment to consider what your drink can do for your brain. If you opt for a glass of pomegranate juice, you may be staving off Alzheimer's disease", says Dr. Richard Harman, lead researcher and author of a study released last month by U.S. based Loma Linda University (LLU) in collaboration with Washington University researchers. "This study is the first to show beneficial effects (both behavioral and neuropatho
New Romanian Religion Law: 'Big Step' but Process Worrisome, Adventists and Other Religious Groups Agree Bucharest/Romania | 21.12.2006 | Religious Liberty Romanian Seventh-day Adventists joined other religious communities and human rights groups this week in raising concern over a controversial Religion Law whisked unpublished and largely undiscussed by legislators through both houses of Romania's parliament last week. Its passage violated national parliamentary procedure in the process, Forum 18 News Service from Norway reports. Lawmakers say Romania's imminent membership in the European Union explains the apparent rush and secrecy surroundin
Typhoon Seniang Batters the Philippines, Adventist Relief Agency Responds Manila/Phillipines, | 18.12.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is responding to the needs of survivors after Typhoon Seniang tore through the Philippines on December 9. Typhoon Seniang is the fifth typhoon to hit the Philippines this season. At least four people were killed when Seniang made landfall in the eastern and central Philippines on December 9. More than 90,000 people across the country have been affected by the disaster. In Mindoro province, more than 15,000 families have been affected, as wel
South Africa: Adventist Church Reaffirms Marriage as Biblically Defined Heterosexual Union Bloemfontein/South Africa | 12.12.2006 | Religion + State Following a decision by the South African parliament last week legalizing same-sex unions in South Africa, the Seventh-day Adventist church in that country issued a statement upholding marriage as an exclusively monogamous and heterosexual institution. The statement, which was passed unanimously during a year-end executive committee of the church's Southern Africa Union, recognizes South Africa's constitution, which now prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. "On the other
Tribute to an American Adventist Who Saved Lives During the Genocide in Rwanda Kigali/Rwanda | 10.12.2006 | International On the international human rights day on December 10th, African Rights pays a vibrant tribute to Carl Wilkens, an American who saved many lives during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Carl Wilkens was the director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Kigali. In 2003 already, African Rights, a human rights defence organization based in London which specializes in collecting testimonies about the genocide, had identified nineteen persons, Rwandans and foreigners alike, who
Fiji: Adventist Church calls for Peace and Dialogue Following Military Coup Suva/Fiji | 09.12.2006 | Religion + State Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fiji have joined other Christian denominations in condemning military commander Frank Bainimarama's military coup. In a swift takeover this week, Bainimarama ousted the democratically elected government under prime minister Laisenia Qarase. Church leaders in Fiji report that so far there has been no physical violence and that the citizenry have been able to maintain business as usual. They have appealed to the island nation's leaders to reject t
South Africa: Adventist World President Calls For an 'Accepting Church,' Lights Candle to Commemorate World AIDS Day Port Elizabeth/South Africa | 01.12.2006 | International On December 1, a day the world community recognized the challenge of HIV and AIDS, Pastor Jan Paulsen, world president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church reaffirmed the Adventist commitment "to an be active, and not a silent partner" in addressing what has become a curse for mankind. As he arrived in Port Elizabeth, Pastor Paulsen was met by hundreds of Adventist believers and recognized World AIDS Day by lighting a symbolic candle. Speaking at the airport, Pastor Paulsen said that HIV
ADRA Fights HIV and AIDS in Togo Lomé/Togo | 01.12.2006 | Health & Ethics The international non-governmental organization Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is combating the spread of HIV and AIDS in Togo through educational programs that raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. According to the Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN), Togo, a small country of five million people, has the third highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS in West Africa with some 200,000 HIV-positive people in Togo. ADRA Togo’s HIV and AIDS awareness project, implemented in
