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religious communities and human rights groups this week in raising concern over a controversial Religion Law whisked unpublished and largely undiscussed by legislators through both houses of Romania's parliament last week.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
USA: Adventists and Presbyterians Dialogue Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 30.11.2006 | Ecumenism A delegation from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) were welcomed on November 1 at the Adventist Church Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland (U.S.A.) by Halvard Thomsen, assistant to the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for North America., for official conversations between the Adventists and Presbyterians. Thomsen expressed "appreciation for the opportunity to sharpen our friendship" as the Adventist-Presbyterian dialogue continued. Responding, Dr Carlos Malave, leader of the Pre
Common Declaration by Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I | 30.11.2006 | Ecumenism Common Declaration by Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I signed on November 30, 2006 in the Phanar Full text version
Adventists Have Denmark Copenhagen/Denmark | 30.11.2006 | Media The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denmark has won the first prize for Denmark’s best church-related web site of 2006 in an internet competition hosted by "Kristeligt Dagblad", a leading Christian newspaper in the country. Among 270 nominated sites ten finalists were chosen: • www.adventist.dk- Syvendedagsadventisternes officielle hjemmeside • www.barnetro.dk - En spilside fra Danmarks Kirkelige Mediecenter • www.bluz.fdf.dk - En ungdomsside fra FDF • www.christianskirken.dk - Sognes
Dutch Adventist Elected in National Parliament The Hague/The Netherlands | 30.11.2006 | Religion + State The elections for the national parliament in the Netherlands, held on November 22, 2006, brought significant changes in the country’s political landscape. One of the new parties that made its entry into the 150-seat parliament was the Party for Animal Welfare (Partij voor de Dieren/PvdD), which was able to get enough votes for two seats. This makes the Netherlands the first country in the world in which a party for animal welfare is elected into a representative body of the people. In a numbe
Adventist Church Leaders Appeal for Peace in Tonga Nuku’alofa/Tonga | 29.11.2006 | International National Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tonga appealed to the public for peace on November 17, the day after riots broke out in the Kingdom of Tonga in the western South Pacific. "We heva been invited to address an appeal for peace to the puplic on the radio by the Prime Minister," says Pastor Sione Moala, General Secretary of the Adventist Church in Tonga. "After the recording at the radio station we went to the Premier's office for meetings with Premier Hon Dr. Feleti Sevele
Jamaica Adventist Church Celebrates 100 Years Mandeville, Manchester/Jamaica | 24.11.2006 | International Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist Christians from the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands, the Cayman Islands and other parts of the West Indies met in Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica on the weekend of November 10 to celebrate 100 years of the church in that area. Beginning with a praise and thanksgiving vesper service on November 10 evening and culminating in an extensive recognition ceremony on November 11, the activities centered on othemes of thanksgiving to God, and building on the legacy
Church Representative Calls for More Openness to Religious Groups at UN New York, NY/USA | 07.11.2006 | Religion + State Seventh-day Adventist Church representative to the United Nations Dr Jonathan Gallagher called for more openness to religious groups at UN-sponsored meetings, particularly large conferences. "We need to make such gatherings more faith-friendly," he said, "so that we can engage the membership of these large religious communities around the world." He added that frequently religious groups did not seem to be attracted to the current agenda. Gallagher was speaking on November 2 at a forum pla
International Study Tour Visits ADRA’s Straw-Bale Housing Project in China Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 02.11.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) recently hosted an international study tour in China, demonstrating the benefits of straw-bale housing. The study tour visited ADRA’s straw-bale project site in Tangyuan County, Heilongjiang province, in northeastern China. More than two dozen experts in sustainable development and construction attended the weeklong study tour held this past summer. Tour participants, who hailed from 20 countries, received training in managerial and technica
Chile: Adventist University Celebrates Centennial With Events, National Commemoration Chillán, Ñuble Province/Chile | 01.11.2006 | International Chilean Adventist University (Universidad Adventista de Chile, or UNACH), which began with nine students meeting on donated land, marked 100 years of service with celebrations and community events on October 20. Noting the milestone, Chile's postal corporation released three commemorative postage stamps featuring events from the university's history. The university was inaugurated on April 15, 1906, on lands donated by a Swiss immigrant, Carlos E. Krieghoff. The initial nine students were tr
United Kingdom: Discrimination, The Law and The Christian London/United Kingdom | 01.11.2006 | Religion + State Christians are not free from discrimination and they should be prepared to withstand it, said Richard O'Dair, an employment and discrimination law specialist, at a recent meeting of Christian business professionals. O'Dair contributed to a breakfast panel of five discussing, "Discrimination: How Should We Fight It? Is Litigation the Answer?" The meeting was held at The Law Society's Hall, Chancery Lane, in London. The discussion was organized by "Level Seven"-- a group of business profession
United Kingdom: Adventist Schools Lead in Multifaith Enrollments Watford, Hertfordshire/UK | 26.10.2006 | Religion + State The British government is proposing new religious-based schools that receive government funding will have to make at least 25 percent of their admissions available to "non-believing" students. Seventh-day Adventist educators say they have always welcomed pupils of all faiths. Education Secretary Alan Johnson announced October 17 that the government intends to introduce an amendment to the United Kingdom's Education Bill to make new faith schools more inclusive. This follows an announcement m
Adventists In United Kingdom Seek Greater Faith Guarantees After Meeting Tory Leader Watford, Hertfordshire/UK | 26.10.2006 | Religion + State The president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Britain and Ireland, Pastor Don McFarlane, has called on David Cameron, leader of the nation's Conservative Party, to help ensure greater freedom for Christians to express themselves publicly and speak in harmony with their values and convictions. The call came in a letter to Cameron following an October 19 meeting between Cameron and two parliamentary colleagues and leaders from several churches, including McFarlane. McFarlane stated
Growing number of Women Serving as Pastors in US Adventist Church Washington DC/U/SA | 25.10.2006 | International The number of women serving as pastors in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America is increasing. Using several sample surveys it was determined that between 2000 and 2005, the number doubled from 1 percent to 2 percent of the local churches in the United States. There are about 3,000 Adventist pastors serving across the U.S., so the total number of women serving as solo or senior pastors increased from about 30 in 2000 to about 60 in 2005. Another way to look at it: there are about 5,0
Adventist Lawyers Plan First-Ever Conference in South Africa Capetown/Washington, | 25.10.2006 | Religion + State Issues confronting Seventh-day Adventist lawyers world-wide will headline a first-ever conference for church members who practice law to be held in Cape Town, South Africa on February 26, 2007. The one-day session will precede the Sixth International Religious Liberty Association world conference, church officials said. It is expected that this event--the largest held for Adventist lawyers--will draw hundreds of lawyers from around the world, with a particular concentration on Africa, where
ADRA Provides Immediate Aid for Flash Flood Survivors in Thailand Bangkok/Thailand | 25.10.2006 | ADRA When sudden flash floods inundated the northern province of Chiangmai, Thailand in early October, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) responded immediately, providing survival kits for more than 150 households in two of the affected communities. Flash flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rain earlier this month killed nearly 40 people, and caused extensive damage to more than 42 villages, affecting 27,000 people. Nearly 30 homes were washed away, leaving approximately 700 peo
United Kingdom: Adventist Schools Lead in Multifaith Enrollments Watford, Hertfordshire/UK | 20.10.2006 | Religion + State The British government is proposing new religious-based schools that receive government funding will have to make at least 25 percent of their admissions available to "non-believing" students. Seventh-day Adventist educators say they have always welcomed pupils of all faiths. Education Secretary Alan Johnson announced October 17 that the government intends to introduce an amendment to the United Kingdom's Education Bill to make new faith schools more inclusive. This follows an announcement m
Typhoon Milenyo Pounds the Philippines, ADRA Responds Manila/Philippines | 19.10.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) responded immediately when Typhoon Milenyo (international codename Xangsane) tore through the Philippines in late September, killing nearly 200, affecting one million persons, and destroying hundreds of thousands of homes. Milenyo flooded at least seven regions of the Philippines, including Metro Manila, with heavy rain and strong winds. Relief and disaster officials identified the provinces of Sorsogon and Albay as the areas worst hit by Mil
Iraq: Christians Fleeing Country in War Bagdad/Iraq | 19.10.2006 | International Civil unrest in Iraq--home to the cities of Nineveh, ancient Babylon, Ur of the Chaldees, and even the Biblical Garden of Eden--is taking a toll on the already-small Christian community. Many Christians who can leave the country are continuing to do so in the face of daily terrorism. "Yes, some member from our church are still leaving [Iraq]," said Pastor Basim Fargo, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq. "Of course, those who are leaving are [educated], well-to-do; those wh
ADRA Responds to Heavy Flooding in Mexico Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 18.10.2006 | ADRA In response to heavy flooding in northern Mexico in September, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is providing aid to 2,400 persons who lost their homes during the heavy seasonal rains. Emergency kits containing mattresses and blankets will be distributed to 300 families who have lost their furniture, beds, and linens to the floods. ADRA is also providing food baskets to 300 families. “The food will cover the immediate needs of families that have already received mattresses
Adventist "Women" of the Year 2006: Medical Doctor and HIV/AIDS Worker in South Africa Awarded Seattle, Washington/USA | 18.10.2006 | Health & Ethics During a banquet on October 14 at the 24th Annual Conference of Association of Adventist Women (AAW) in Seattle, Washington (USA), Argentinian born Dr. Eugenia Lopez-Sustache Giordano, associate director of the Adventist AIDS International Ministry (AAIM), has received a "Woman of the Year" award from the Association of Adventist Women (AAW). AAW is an independent group that considers itself an advocate for women in the church. Dr. Eugenia Giordano’s work focuses on women and children. In the la
Tenured Faculty and Board Members at Adventist Institutions Must Be Adventist Church Members, Leaders Decide - A Move to Discriminatory Behavior in Church Employment? Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 11.10.2006 | International Tenured faculty and board members at all Seventh-day Adventist-owned educational institutions must now be Adventist church members in "good and regular standing," church leaders agreed today during an Annual Council meeting at world church headquarters. In support of the motion limiting tenure and continuous teaching positions to Adventist faculty, several delegates felt it was difficult to transfer the mission and vision of the church to the next generation if professors at church instituti
Annual Council Votes Adventist Church-wide Web site Guidelines Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 11.10.2006 | Media Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist world church voted official guidelines for the construction and content of church-related Internet Web sites during a meeting of the church's Annual Council on Oct. 10. Delegates voted unanimously to accept the guidelines. "This is a very important development as we hope that it will provide a blueprint for all church entities in what constitutes a Seventh-day Adventist presence on the Internet," said Rajmund Dabrowski, communication director for the worl
Adventist Church Leaders Pray in Wake of Apparent North Korea Nuclear Test Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 10.10.2006 | International Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist world church united in prayer on October 9 (Monday), in response to an apparent test of nuclear weapons by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, more widely known as North Korea. The United States Geological Survey, which tracks seismic activity worldwide, reported that it had detected a 4.2 magnitude quake in North Korea. The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claims the country had tested a nuclear device. At the beginning of th
U.S. Journalist New Editor for "Adventist Review" and "Adventist World" Magazines Silver Spring, Maryland/USA, | 10.10.2006 | International U.S. journalist Bill Knott (49), a nine-year veteran associate editor of Adventist Review and Adventist World has been elected Editor and Executive Publisher of both publications. The vote came during the October 8 session of the Seventh-day Adventist world church's 2006 Annual Council, a gathering of close to 300 leaders from around the world. Before the Adventist Review Publishing Board recommended the final selection. "I am honored and humbled by the company you have placed me in,"
Pakistan President Awards ADRA with Medal for Service During South Asia Earthquake Washington D.C./USA | 05.10.2006 | ADRA On September 21, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) received the prestigious Sitara-i-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice) award from the president of Pakistan for its work in providing emergency relief in response to the South Asia Earthquake of 2005. The Sitara-i-Eisaar award, Pakistan's highest award for humanitarian relief, created to recognize humanitarian aid organizations, community groups, and individuals that provided emergency relief and rehabilitation work in the wake of las
Adventists Reaffirm Commitment to Religious Liberty on 25th Anniversary of U.N. Declaration New York, N.Y./USA | 04.10.2006 | Religious Liberty This week, representatives of the United Nations' (U.N.) Non-Governmental Organizations, among them Seventh-day Adventist delegates, are expected to hold a conference marking the 25th anniversary of the 1981 "Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief," reaffirming the organization's commitment to religious liberty and human dignity around the world. Though the actual anniversary falls on November 25, due to the Thanksgiving h
Russia: Young Adventists Hold Music Festival in St. Petersburg St. Petersburg/Russia | 02.10.2006 | International Two hundred young people from the Seventh-day Adventist church in Western Russia attended the second youth music festival in St. Petersburg. The September 21 to 23 festival brought participants ranging in age from 16 years old to 35 years old from Russia, England, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Attendees participated in a competition where their composition skills were tested in five categories of music: worship, gospel music, youth camps, bard and retro. One attendee, Paul Khiminets, said, "The
Australia: Adventist-owned Weet-Bix is Australia Phillip, Australia's Capital Territory/Australia | 28.09.2006 | Health & Ethics An iconic cereal born from the Seventh-day Adventist church's health message is Australia's favorite trademark for the 100 years that nation has been registering brand names. [img id=813 align=right]Weet-Bix, produced by church-owned Sanitarium Health Food Company in Berkeley Vale, New South Wales, was voted the country's most cherished brand in a survey conducted by IP Australia, the federal agency that registers trademarks. The brand beat out nine others, including the Australian Broadcast
United Kingdom: Lord Carey Urges End to Religious Violence Bracknell, Berkshire/UK | 21.09.2006 | International "We must deplore violence wherever it is found and especially deplore its association with religion," declared Lord Carey of Clifton, a former head of the Church of England, to an audience of 450 people at Adventist-owned Newbold College in the Berkshire suburbs of London on September 19. Lord Carey, who as 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury led the worldwide Anglican fellowship from 1991 to 2002, gave the 2006 Beach Lecture entitled "The Crescent and the Cross - The Clash of Faiths in an Age of
Adventist Pastors of Euro-Asia Region Meet In First-Ever Theological Pastoral Congress Zaokski, Tula Region, Russia | 20.09.2006 | International An estimated 1,500 Seventh-day Adventist pastors from all over the church's Euro-Asia region gathered for a four-day congress in Zaokski - about two hours outside of Moscow - where they were educated and challenged, church leaders say. It is believed to be the first time that such an event has been held for field pastors, many of whom are serving in remote locations across a region that spans 11 time zones. "This wasn't only fellowship, but we all gained a lot of insight," said Pastor Ted N.
Adventist Communicator’s Meet in Slovenia Rogaska Slatina, Slovenia | 17.09.2006 | Media Nearly fifty Seventh-day Adventist communicators from all over Europe, along with representatives from Israel, Cyprus and North America, gathered for a Communication Conference in Rogaska Slatina, Slovenia, 8-12 September 2006. Experts from different fields of communication shared their ideas on how to use latest technology to promote the good news of Jesus Christ, in particular via the Internet. "One of the challenges our church is facing is to use arts and technology faithfully in comm
Adventist World Church Representative Adds Voice to Global Concerns New York, N.Y./USA | 16.09.2006 | International Continuing concern for the deplorable living standards and threats of violence facing people in many parts of the world was expressed by Jonathan Gallagher, a Seventh-day Adventist representative from the world church's department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL), who joined over 2,500 other delegates from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations (UN) building in New York for the 59th Annual NGO Conference. Their mission? To draw up a better and more effectiv
Adventist Choir in the Philippines Ranks Among Best in World Manila/Philippines | 06.09.2006 | International The Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) is home to one of the world's best choirs. The official choir of the Seventh-day Adventist-owned institution, the Adventist University of the Philippines Ambassadors, recently won the 4th World Choir Games (formerly known as the Choir Olympics). The highly competitive event was held from July 15 to 26 in Xiamen, People's Republic of China. The AUP Ambassadors earned two gold medals--in the Mixed Chamber Choir and Gospel and Spirituals categories-
Adventist Andrews University advances in ratings Berien Springs, Michigan/USA | 06.09.2006 | International Adventist Andrews University has been ranked a third tier National University in the recently released U.S. News and World Report’s 2007 America’s Best Colleges special report. Andrews University, which moved up from a fourth tier placement in 2006, is the only Seventh-day Adventist educational institution to be considered a National University. A National University is one of “the 248 American universities (162 public, 86 private) that offer a wide range of undergraduate majors as well as
U.S. Adventist College Ranks Among Nation's Best Union, Nebraska/USA | 06.09.2006 | International For the first time, Union College, a Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher education located in Union, Nebraska, ranks in the top tier of schools for its category in U.S. News America's Best Colleges 2007. The issue lists Union College as 46th in the "Midwest Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor's" category. "While no one ranking system can capture the spirit of this campus, we are honored to be recognized as a top pick among our peer institutions," said Union College president David Smith.
Adventist Internet Experts Share Strategies For Global Evangelism San Diego, California/USA | 06.09.2006 | Media A passion to reach the world for Christ via the so-called "information superhighway" brought together some 100 Seventh-day Adventist technologists, pastors and lay members for four days of meetings at the Fourth Global Internet Evangelism Forum in San Diego, California, August 31 to September 3. [img id=798 align=right]"The gathering considered a wealth of ideas and strategies for using the Internet's reach and power to help finish the task of global evangelism," said Rajmund Dabrowski, comm
Australia: ADRA Receives Government Grant for Disaster Volunteer Program Wahroonga, New South Wales/Australia | 21.08.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has been successful in two Federal Government grant applications totalling AUS$98,219 (€58,000), made through the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund (NEVSF). Funding from both grants will be used to further develop ADRA’s National Program support for its Disaster Recovery Volunteers. This includes improvement of volunteer recruitment, training, equipment, operational resources and database development. Gary Christian, ADRA Australi
ADRA Launches Literacy Project in Papua New Guinea Port Moresby/PNG | 16.08.2006 | ADRA Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has launched the "Partnerships for Civil Society Adult Education Initiatives" project in Papua New Guinea (PNG), which is jointly funded by the Government of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the ADRA office in the United Kingdom. Through this project, 25,600 people will learn to read and write and 2,800 people will be involved in income generation activities. Most of the participants will be women. This
ADRA Works to Alleviate Poverty in Madagascar Antananarivo/Madagascar | 16.08.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s (ADRA) office in Madagascar has launched the “Alleviating Poverty Through Improved Livelihood and Health in Fandriana” project, jointly financed by the European Commission and ADRA’s office in the United Kingdom. Benefiting 1,400 people directly, with an additional 4,125 benefiting indirectly, the project contributes to the alleviation of poverty among the poorest households in five communes in the Fandriana region where activities to improve livi
Prague: Adventists and Evangelicals Meet in Dialogue Prague/Czech Republic | 15.08.2006 | Ecumenism Representatives of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) met in dialogue August 8-11, 2006 on the campus of the International Baptist Theological Seminary, located in Prague, Czech Republic. Although informal contacts had occurred during the past 50 years, this was the first official meeting of the two groups. The purposes of the dialogue were: To gain a clearer understanding of the theological positions of each body; To clarify matters of misu
ADRA Launches Literacy Project in Papua New Guinea Watford, United Kingdom | 14.08.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has launched the “Partnerships for Civil Society Adult Education Initiatives” project in Papua New Guinea (PNG), which is jointly funded by the Government of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the ADRA office in the United Kingdom. Through this project, 25,600 people will learn to read and write and 2,800 people will be involved in income generation activities. Most of the participants will be women.
Christian Pathfinders from all over the world gathered in Denmark Stevninghus/Denmark | 02.08.2006 | International Nearly 3.000 Christian pathfinders came together for the Camporee 2006, organised by Trans-European region of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Stevninghus in the southern part of Denmark. The participants were from 26 countries, primarily from northern and eastern Europe, along with representatives from more distant nations such as Kuwait, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. The highlights of the Pathfinder Camporee included 18 young people giving their lives to the Lord in a very moving y
World Evangelical Alliance opened UN liaison office in Geneva Geneva/Switzerland | 02.08.2006 | Religious Liberty The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), acting as an evangelical roof organisation, opened a new office in Geneva, Switzerland, in partnership with the Swiss Evangelical Alliance (SEA). The opening of this liaison office in Geneva is part of long-term efforts to strengthen the voice of the Persecuted Church, as well as to influence world leaders in the neighbouring United Nations (UN) and World Council of Churches (WCC). The new WEA office will play an important part in the Evangelical work with t
Indian Minister Visits Adventist World Church Headquarters Silver Spring, MD/USA | 02.08.2006 | Religion + State Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs visited the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church July 5. The ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs which formed to connect with the 25 million Indian diaspora. During a protocol reception, Adventist church leaders warmly welcomed Ravi, who, despite a stringent schedule, reserved time to discuss issues of societal development with Adventist church representatives. Signalling a spirit of cooperation between Adventists and Indian
Armed Hostilities Create Humanitarian Crisis in the Middle East, ADRA Beirut/Lebanon | 28.07.2006 | ADRA The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East has forced 700,000 people from their homes in Lebanon to seek shelter in Beirut and other parts of the country, with a further 150,000 having fled into neighboring countries, according to estimates from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). These numbers are expected to rise. As armed hostilities between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon rage unabated, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) staff and vol
Adventist Relief Agency Helps Australian Evacuees from Lebanon Sydney, New South Wales/Australia, | 28.07.2006 | ADRA Australians arriving in Sydney this week from war-torn Lebanon are receiving immediate assistance from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in securing short-term accommodation. Those arriving at Sydney’s international airport are being met by ADRA Australia and other community service providers so that their needs can be assessed and met quickly. Since Sunday 23 July, when the first flights started arriving, ADRA has provided short-term accommodation for more than 100 people
Moldova: ADRA Organizes Summer Camp for Disadvantaged Children Chisinau/Moldova | 26.07.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) will host its third annual summer camp for 140 children from disadvantaged families and orphans in the country of Moldova. The weeklong camp will be held in the village of Sarata-Noua, 62 miles from Chisinau, the capital. Implemented ADRA’s office in Moldova, the camp will run August 1 to August 8. The children, ranging in age from 8 to 15, are selected from children’s centers, families with disabled or impoverished parents, orphanages, and c
Beirut: Adventist University Prepared Campus Bomb Shelter Beirut, Lebanon | 24.07.2006 | International On July 21 we started cleaning the bomb shelter of the apartment building on Middle East University campus, anticipating that we may need it in the coming days," reports Pastor Levon Maksoudian, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the East Mediterranean Region, whose family resides in one of the apartments. The Middle East University is an Adventist institution situated on the summit of the Sabtieh Hill, overlooking Beirut city. It is a relatively considerable distance away from
Northern Israel: Refugees Sheltered In Adventist Churches Haifa/Israel, | 24.07.2006 | International "The situation in Northern Israel continues to be difficult," reports Richard Elofer, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel. "Many Adventist Christians and Jews celebrated the Sabbath on July 22nd in bomb shelters with frequent interruptions by blaring sirens and explosions of fired rockets." On July 21 one of these rockets fell down on Herzl Street, downtown Haifa, which is very close to three Adventist Churches: the Hebrew, Romanian and English speaking congregations. "We
European Adventist Leader Call For Peace in the Middle East St. Albans, United Kingdom | 21.07.2006 | International Joining earlier calls from regional Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders in the Middle East region, Pastor Bertil Wiklander, president of the church's Trans-European region, said the current crisis must not endanger the hope for peace.[img id=780 align=right] "I share the alarm and sadness of our church members in Israel and Lebanon, many of whom have had to leave their homes and flee for their lives. We entrust them and all other people who mourn the loss of lives and struggle for their own
Adventist Relief Agency Responds to Crisis in the Middle East London/U.K | 20.07.2006 | ADRA As the ongoing conflict between Lebanon and Israel escalates, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is responding to the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lebanon. The United Nations reports that an estimated 500,000 Lebanese have been displaced, many of who are fleeing southern Lebanon to what they perceive as safer neighbourhoods in Beirut and the northern part of that country. A further 200,000 are estimated to have fled into neighbouring countries to escape the
Methodists to Affirm Roman Catholic Theology on Justification Seoul/Korea, | 20.07.2006 | Ecumenism The World Methodist Conference (WMC) will adopt the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) agreed in 1999 between the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), which, in practice, eliminated the main theological element of division between Catholics and Lutherans. The act to extend the Declaration will take place in Uiwang near Seoul, during a special church service in the presence of Cardinal Walter Kasper, head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Chr
Cardinal Kasper reiterates Roman Catholic Church's unique place in Ecumenism Uiwang-Seoul/Korea | 20.07.2006 | Ecumenism The head of the Vatican organization in charge of ecumenism has reminded bishops of Asia that the Second Vatican Council taught Christ's Church is to be found only in the Roman Catholic Church, reports the Hong Kong based news agency UCAN. Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, acknowledged that the Second Vatican Council left room for dialogue, but "it also wants to maintain that the Church of Christ has its concrete location in the Roman C
Adventist Relief Agency Fights Hunger in Haiti Port-au-Prince/Haiti, | 18.07.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) office in Haiti has launched a nutritional supplemental program for children between the ages of 6 and 12 in Diquini, Carrefour, Haiti. According to United Nations reports, Haiti has the worst daily caloric deficit per inhabitant in the world, with Haitians consuming an average of only 460 kilocalories each per day. At the nutrition program inauguration ceremony held on May 30, 2006, Fritz Bissereth, country director for the ADRA Haiti offic
Middle East: Adventist Church Postpones Headquarters' Relocation To Beirut Nicosia/Cyprus | 18.07.2006 | International Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist church in the Middle East (MEU) voted July 17 to postpone the much-anticipated September 2006 relocation of its headquarters offices to Beirut, Lebanon. An emergency meeting of the MEU executive committee was called at the present headquarters in Nicosia, Cyprus where the escalating consequences of the regional conflict were acknowledged. The situation will be reappraised at the church's year-end executive committee meetings in December to determine wheth
Adventist Theologians Affirm Role of Bible, Call for Theological Unity Ephesus, Izmir/Turkey | 18.07.2006 | International Theologians, scholars and administrators of the Seventh-day Adventist world church closed the organization's Second International Bible Conference in Ephesus, Izmir Province, Turkey, on July 15 with a call for theological unity. In a "consensus statement" passed by a show of hands among the nearly 250 in attendance, the group passed six affirmations and three "calls" addressed to various segments of the worldwide Adventist community. The affirmations centered on the importance of the Bible,
Israel: "Be Makers of Peace," Adventist Leader Urges Jerusalem/Israel | 16.07.2006 | International Seventh-day Adventists in Israel are encouraging peace in the midst of the recent escalation of violence in Israel, the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. "We condemn the killing of innocent people in any area of our region," said Pastor Richard Elofer, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel. "We also condemn provocations, and reaffirm the right of every nation to live as independent states with secured borders and in peace with their neighbors." "We urge all people -- Israelis, Pa
Lebanon: Rocket Attacks Near Beirut Adventist School Beirut/Lebanon | 16.07.2006 | International Subsequent to the recent upsurge in regional violence the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Middle East is calling for restraint on all sides of the conflict and between various factions in Lebanon and Israel. Early on Thursday morning, July 13, rockets fired from Israeli warplanes took out all three runways of Beirut International Airport, the only international airport in Lebanon, as well as specific targets in Beirut, some close to the Mouseitbeh Adventist School which
Turkey: International Adventist Bible Conference Begins With Call to Future Efes/Turkey | 11.07.2006 | Bible "Our future is what beckons us and challenges us. And we must walk into that future without distancing ourselves from the 'wall' at our backs. We must feel its support constantly," Seventh-day Adventist world church president Pastor Jan Paulsen said during a July 8 message at a gathering of 240 Adventist theologians and scholars in Izmir, Turkey. He spoke on the second day of the 10-day 2nd International Bible Conference on the role of theology in the modern church. The conference takes plac
ADRA Improves Access to Electricity in Nepal Kathmandu/Nepal | 10.07.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is providing access to electricity for thousands of residents in Nepal, by distributing compact pedal generators to homes in rural areas. Outside Nepal’s major cities, homes and villages are widely scattered, making the task of centralizing power very difficult. Local renewable energy sources are often unavailable or uneconomical, and to date, no affordable method has been found to redistribute power from more highly industrialized areas to
Adventist World Church Secretary Gets Ghana National Honour Accra/Ghana | 05.07.2006 | International Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Matthew Ango Bediako, born in rural Ghana, has received on June 30 the "Order of the Volta" award from Ghana's president, John Agyekum Kufuor, as a memorable distincton. Bediako is Secretary of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, with headquarters in Silver Spring/Maryland (USA). In the past Bediako received three honorary degrees and the leaders of Kenya, the Gambia and Malawi have given him awards for service. "When it comes from your own count
U.S. Federal Court Rules For Sabbath-keeping Worker Fayetteville, Arkansas/USA | 30.06.2006 | Religious Liberty A United States federal district court in Fayetteville, Arkansas, has ruled for a Seventh-day Adventist who sought accommodation for his Sabbath-keeping beliefs. The worker was awarded U.S. $311,166.75 in lost wages and punitive damages. It is believed to be one of the few such cases in which punitive damages - designed to "reform or deter the defendant," as one definition puts it - have been awarded to a Sabbath-keeper. Todd Sturgill, age 41 and a resident of Springdale, Arkansas, was a 19-
Adventist Missiologist Joins Edinburgh 2010 Planning Group College Place, Washington/USA | 28.06.2006 | International The upcoming centenary of the Edinburgh 1910 World Missionary Conference, the first worldwide missionary conference. representing most denominations, is proving to be a suggestive moment for many people who are seeking direction for Christian mission in the 21st century. Several different constituencies within world Christianity have begun to plan significant events in the centenary year. Since 2005 a number have been working collaboratively under the aegis of “Towards 2010”. This initiative see
ADRA Partners with UN to Fight Human Trafficking Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 28.06.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) leadership from its office in Thailand met recently with representatives from the United Nations to discuss ADRA’s Keep Girls Safe Project, an initiative that combats human trafficking in Thailand. With approximately 800,000 prostitutes under the age of 18, and 200,000 of these aged 12 or younger, Thailand is one of the sex trade’s worst offenders. The Keep Girls Safe Project works to reduce the threat of commercial sexual exploitation to vul
Kenya: 30,000 Adventists Join in Thanksgiving for Rain Nairobi, Kenya | 20.06.2006 | International Nairobi's Uhuru (Freedom) Park resounded June 17 with prayers of thanksgiving for rain that recently ended a three-month drought in Kenya. The drought resulted in the deaths of numerous people and animals, and caused heavy crop losses. Pastor Geoffrey Mbwana, leader of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the region led a spiritual convocation that brought together some 30,000 believers to "give thanks to our God for hearing His children as they petitioned Him to end the suffering of so many.
Nepal: Adventists Welcome Secular State Declaration Kathmandu, Nepal | 20.06.2006 | Religion + State Protestant Mainstream Seventh-day Adventists in the Himalayan nation of Nepal are among those welcoming a recent series of reforms, including the designation of the country as a "secular" state. Previously, Hinduism had been the religion of Nepal. The changes followed what one media report called a decade-long armed conflict between the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and previous governments, the 2002 suspension of the nation's democratically elected government and a 19-day protest in the
ADRA Helps Survivors Rebuild after Typhoon Caloy Hits the Philippines Manila/Philippines | 16.06.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is helping families in the Philippines rebuild homes destroyed in Typhoon Caloy. The powerful typhoon swept through the country in mid-May, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in agricultural and infrastructural damage. Typhoon Caloy, also called “Chanchu,” first made landfall on May 12, 2006, at Northern Samar in central eastern Philippines. More than 50,000 residents have been affected by the typhoon, whose destructive path cut through
ADRA Expands Aid To Thousands in Quake-Affected Indonesia Yogyakarta, Java/Indonesia | 16.06.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is expanding its medical and emergency aid response for survivors of Indonesia’s May 27th earthquake. Implementing projects totaling nearly US$500,000, ADRA is providing relief kits to 1,670 families in the heavily affected Bantul region of Java. To provide temporary shelter for survivors, ADRA is distributing shelter kits to 835 homeless families. The kits contain a large tarpaulin, ground cover, bamboo poles, and rope. Kits including mattre
ADRA Builds Food Storage to Combat “Hunger Months” in Zambia Lusaka, Zambia | 09.06.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has built a food storage shed in the Namwala District of Zambia, helping vulnerable communities survive through the lean “hunger months” that threaten Zambia between the months of August and December. The project will improve agriculture marketing in the Namwala district, through increasing farmers’ capacity to store food, their access to markets, and their ability to market their produce. It will also help community members collaborate to ad
ADRA Delivers Joy to Children in Tajikistan Dushanbe, Tajikistan | 09.06.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) presented gift packages filled with school supplies and toys to 500 children the Rasht area of Tajikistan. ADRA delivered packages to 13 area schools. The ADRA office in Tajikistan worked closely with the country’s Department of Education to identify recipients most in need. The majority of the children selected to participate in the project come from large families, poor families, or single parent homes. Many were orphaned in the country’s c
ADRA Brings Relief to Flood and Mudslide Survivors in the Philippines Manila, Philippines | 09.06.2006 | ADRA In response to heavy rain that swept through the southeastern region of the Philippines in mid-May, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) provided food aid to families driven from their homes by massive flooding and mudslides. Of the six southeastern regional provinces that flooded, Agusan del Norte in northern Mindanao was the most affected, with more than 20,000 families forced from their homes. A massive mudslide in the province of Southern Leyte also buried the village of
ADRA Completes Upgrades to Skills Training Program in Zambia Lusaka/Zambia | 06.06.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has completed an improvement project for its Life Skills Training Program, whose students are orphans and vulnerable children living in Kabwe, a large district in central Zambia. Improvements included finishing a carpentry workshop and establishing increased employment opportunities for the program’s graduates. Using funds received from ADRA International, the ADRA office in Zambia completed construction of the facility’s carpentry workshop,
U.S. National Council of Churches chosen for faith-based health care survey New York/USA | 30.05.2006 | Health & Ethics The first nationwide, in-depth, systematic study of health services provided by religious communities is being undertaken by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCCUSA). The project will survey more than 100,000 congregations to determine the level of health care education, delivery, and advocacy being offered. The study, made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Eileen W. Lindner [pictured], deputy general secretary
ADRA Medical Care Reaching Remote Villages in Indonesia Jakarta/Indonesia | 05.06.2006 | ADRA Continuing its initial response to aid victims of the deadly 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is enabling injured survivors to receive 24-hour medical care through mobile clinics and a clinic located at ADRA’s base camp in the hard-hit region of Bantul. Casualties continue to climb, with the death toll topping more than 5,800 at last report, with at least 36,300 left with severe or minor injuries. An estimated 500,000 island res
ADRA Responding to Indonesia Earthquake Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 29.05.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has emergency response teams already on the ground on the island of Java, Indonesia, where a powerful earthquake struck, killing more than 5,000 people and leaving thousands more injured and without shelter. The death toll and number of injured are expected to rise. The government declared a three-month emergency and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono moved his office to Yogyakarta. After a cabinet meeting late on May 28, Vice President Jusuf
Uzbekistan: Government Reportedly Closes Samarqand Adventist Church Samarqand/Uzbekistan | 19.05.2006 | Religious Liberty The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Samarqand (also known as Samarkand) has been closed by the Uzbekistan government, external media reports indicate. According to a May 17 bulletin from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, "Uzbek authorities ... said that they have closed down two Protestant churches on charges of violating the country's law on religious organizations." Also the Russian Press (The Moscow Times and Interfax) reported that the Uzbek government had closed down two Protestant churc
WCC Statement on new UN Human Rights Council Geneva/Switzerland | 19.05.2006 | Ecumenism WCC Advises New U.N. Human Rights Concil To Build On Strengths, Avoid Shortcomings Of Its Predecessor The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee on May 19y said that the new UN Human Rights Council needs to avoid "policies and practices of double standards, en-bloc voting and politicization of the human rights agenda that were so prevalent at the UN Commission on Human Rights" that they "virtually paralyzed" it before its "ignominious end". The statement affirms, however, the
ADRA Honored for Outstanding Web Site Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 19.05.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International’s Web site is an honoree of the Webby Awards, awarded for its excellence in Web design, creativity, usability, and functionality. The Webbys are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, an organization consisting of leading Web experts, business executives, celebrities, and visionaries and creative personalities, numbering 500 in total. The Webby Awards were first established in 1996, when the World W
Russia: Arson Attack Damages Taganrog Adventist Church Taganrog, Rostov/Russia, | 19.05.2006 | International A suspicious fire on April 28 caused heavy damage to the Number 1 Seventh-day Adventist Church in the city of Tanganrog, Rostov, Russia, church officials confirmed. According to Pastor Michael Oleinik, he discovered the fire on that Friday morning: "Approaching the building, I felt a smell of burning. I hastened to open a door, and there was a thick fog of caustic smoke." Oleinik entered through the building, and upon going upstairs discovered the slow-burning, but dangerous, fire. A
Sao Tome and Principe: Minister of Health Appointment for Former ADRA Worker Sao Tome/Sao Tome and Principe | 18.05.2006 | ADRA On April 21, 2006, a former staff member of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s (ADRA) office in Sao Tome and Principe, Dr. Arlindo Carvalho, was named Minister of Health for that country. Carvalho joined ADRA in July of 2005, serving as the Health and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Coordinator for its malaria-reduction program in the West African island republic. During his tenure at ADRA, Carvalho organized Roll Back Malaria workshops and coordinated several mal
Seventh-day Adventists Counsel Fairness in Approaching 'Conversion Code' Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 18.05.2006 | Religious Liberty Discussions by religious leaders over how conversion between faiths should be promoted must remember the rights of all individuals to select and follow the beliefs their conscience dictates, Seventh-day Adventist religious liberty leaders say. The Vatican based Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID) and the Programme of Inter-Religious Relations & Dialogue within the World Council of Churches (WCC), launched a three-year joint study project aimed at developing a shared code o
ADRA Provides Food Aid in Drought-affected Ethiopia Addis Abeba/Ethiopia | 17.05.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is providing emergency food aid for 13,000 people in the severely drought-affected area of Gode, in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The primary goal of the project is to ensure the survival of those living in the hardest hit area of Ethiopia, in the southern Somali region. ADRA is working in one of the worst affected areas, Adadle Woreda, a district in the Gode Zone that consists of 40 villages, where malnutrition and death rates are higher t
Adventists Ready Da Vinci Code Response, Affirm Bible Account Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 16.05.2006 | International Seventh-day Adventist scholars, pastors and church members are readying a variety of responses to The Da Vinci Code, the blockbuster motion picture that has captured an enormous share of media attention. The movie version of author Dan Brown's 40-million-copy bestseller, with Tom Hanks in a leading role, is due to open in theatres worldwide on May 19. While the central themes of the book--that Jesus married Mary of Magdala, had children and that His physical bloodline continued in France
ADRA Responds to Crisis-hit Darfur, Sudan Darfur/Sudan, | 09.05.2006 | ADRA As tensions escalate in the Darfur region, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to provide aid to desperate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Darfur, Sudan. More than two million people have fled their homes to escape violence between alleged government-backed militia — known as Janjaweed — and rebel armies, seeking refuge in camps set up for those who have been displaced within their own country. Widespread rape, murder and looting, as well as attacks on civilia
Northern Ireland: Vandals damage Adventist church Londonderry/Northern Ireland | 08.05.2006 | International Vandals have caused damage estimated at about £1,000 [€ 1.470] to a church in Londonderry, according to a BBC News report. Roof tiles and a church sign were damaged at the Seventh-day Adventist Church (58 Prehen Road) in the Waterside area of the city. The most recent attack, which occurred either late on May 5 or in the pre-dawn hours of May 6, resulted in damage to church roof tiles, graffiti being sprayed on the exterior brick walls, and chipping of several letters on the church sign.
United Kingdom: Adventist Christians and Muslims Share Perspectives London, United Kingdom | 05.05.2006 | International Adventist Christians and Muslims met on April 23 to share their perspectives on last day events. This was a joint venture between the Global Centre for Adventist-Muslim Relations (GCAMR), Newbold College – an Adventist institution of Higher Education, and the Shia Muslim community, whose main UK centre is in Maida Vale, London. [img id=752 align=left] Dr Jerald Whitehouse, director of the GCAMR, was the main speaker on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Sheikh Bahmanpour, head of
Commission Begins Deliberations on Adventist Church Structures Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 05.05.2006 | International Global unity of the church, its mission, and the best use of resources to achieve that mission, were identified as three "big issues" to be considered by the Commission on Ministries, Services and Structures, established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church's leadership in October 2005. Explaining the rationale for the commission's appointment, Pastor Jan Paulsen, Adventist world church president, said these three "big concerns will drive [the commission's] considerations." Paulsen, who i
Adventist Healthcare Is About 'Whole Person Care,' says Loma Linda University Chief Loma Linda, California/USA | 26.04.2006 | Health & Ethics Dr. Lyn Behrens relies on a host of people to do her job. As president of Loma Linda University's (LLU)Adventist Health Sciences Center, she has recognized her strengths as well as the ones she lacks. "I don't try [to] be someone that I'm not," she says, explaining that she relies on a team with "expertise in the areas I don't [have expertise]. "I don't ever hire or invite people to be part of our team that aren't the best we can possibly find to help fulfill the mission here. And it makes a
South America: Largest Adventist Church Dedicated in Brazil Campinas, Brazil | 26.04.2006 | International What is recognized as the largest Seventh-day Adventist house of worship in South America was dedicated and officially opened on the campus of the São Paulo Adventist University, (UNASP) near the city of Campinas, Brazil. "In this part of the world we do not build large churches," commented Williams Costa Jr., communication director for the church in the region. "We are more inclined to have smaller congregations, and have more congregations at the same time. But this one is different. This
Brazil: Adventist Television Dramatically Expands Under New License São Paulo/Brazil | 24.04.2006 | International Seventh-day Adventists in Brazil are dramatically increasing their public outreach possibilities after acquiring a license to rebroadcast television programming through the so-called High and Low Power rebroadcast stations. A broadcasting agreement, called Geradora, was signed with the Brazilian government on April 20, and grants the church authority to retransmit TV programs throughout the country. In practical terms, the Geradora license will give the Adventist broadcasting company, SISTEM
Diversity, Growth and Youth on Agenda During Adventist World Church's Spring Meeting Loma Linda, California/USA | 23.04.2006 | International Approval for a second world youth conference, how to deal with rapid church growth in the world's most challenging areas, and leadership elections were discussed during the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Spring Meeting April 12 to 13. The meeting concluded at noon local time on April 13. The committee approved a proposal to convene a second World Conference on Youth and Community Service to be held July 14 to 26, 2008, in an area of the 10/40 Window -- an imaginary rectangular area covering
Web Sites for Adventist Congregations Worldwide are Church Goal Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 18.04.2006 | Media Seventh-day Adventist local congregations around the world will soon be able to have their own Web page on the Internet, based on a consistent format including dynamic content, video feeds and podcasts. Already, the netAdventist.org service is available in the United States of America, and other world church regions have expressed interest in utilizing that service. At the same time, the church's North American region is offering AdventistChurchConnect.org , a hosted service that provides a
Fire Destroys Adventist Church Dormitory in Thailand Chiang Mai/Thailand, | 13.04.2006 | International On April 7 a fire destroyed half of a dormitory that houses up to 30 women in Chiang Mai, Thailand on April 7. The night of the fire there were six women in the dormitory as well as a three-year-old toddler. Thai schools are currently on summer holiday so the dormitory was not full. During the school year the dormitory can house up to 30 women. Wanpen Sanyang woke to discover that there was a fire burning in the building directly across from her second story window. Within minutes the fire j
Adventist Church Affirm Role of Ten Commandments Loma Linda, California/USA | 13.04.2006 | International Noting recent public interest in the Ten Commandments, the Seventh-day Adventist Church voted April 12 to affirm the Decalogue's importance in society. "The Seventh-day Adventist Church applauds interest in the role of the Ten Commandments in public life. The Decalogue, as given on Mount Sinai, is a reflection of God's character. It contains universal and unchanging principles of morality and describes our relationship to God and our fellow human beings," a statement voted by the Spring Meet
Adventist Church Spring Meeting Opens, Emphasis on Mission, Tithe, Offerings Increase Loma Linda, California/USA | 13.04.2006 | International The Seventh-day Adventist Church's first Spring Meeting session opened April 12 with an emphasis on the church's mission activities, focusing on the Tell the World vision. During the world church session in 2005, delegates voted seven specific areas of emphasis for the current quinquennium: spiritual growth, community involvement, personal witness, city outreach, church planting, evangelistic programming and media ministry. "The challenge for us is to keep this vision before our people," sai
Adventist World Church Spring Meeting Set to Begin at Loma Linda Loma Linda, California | 12.04.2006 | International Financial trends and reports on church growth are on the planned agenda for the Seventh-day Adventist world church's executive Spring Meeting, held this year at Loma Linda University in California. The meetings, which will include elections for world church leadership positions including that of the editor of the church's official paper, the Adventist Review, and the reorganization of the church in Peru, are being held at the conclusion of centennial celebrations for Loma Linda University.
Africa: Satellite Developer Hones Skills for Jesus, Not Riches Nairobi/Kenya, | 12.04.2006 | Media News Feature: Many of us have read stories about technological experts who start a business in their garage, and grow it to become billion-dollar successes. Hewlett-Packard Company and Apple Computer are two examples of small beginnings that have had huge results. You can add a young Kenyan Adventist, Enoch Mogusu, to the list of those who started their enterprises in a garage. Mogusu -- who is not a billionaire, by the way -- built his garage-based start-up into an enterprise. Only his
Adventist Scholars See 'Gospel of Judas' as Neither an Authentic Gospel Nor 'Good News' Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 12.04.2006 | International News Feature: The discovery of a 1,700-year-old copy of the "Gospel of Judas," an early Gnostic text purporting to contain a dialogue between Jesus of Nazareth and Judas Iscariot, is neither an authentic Gospel nor is it good news, scholars in the Seventh-day Adventist Church say. "It was heresy then and it's heresy now," was the blunt assessment of Dr. Gerhard Pfandl, an associate director of the church's Biblical Research Institute who counts Near Eastern Archaeology among his professio
ADRA provides Shelter for Displaced Flood Survivors in Indonesia Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 07.04.2006 | ADRA After flooding and landslides displaced more than 17,500 people in Indonesia during heavy rain in February, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) provided relief for families whose homes have been severely damaged or destroyed to repair their homes, and regain their lives. The flooding and the landslides culminated on Tuesday, February 21, in Manado City on Sulawesi Island, in North East Indonesia. By the end of the flooding on February 23rd, 33 people had been killed. Nearly 18
UN Expert on Religious Freedom Calls for Greater Support Geneva/Switzerland | 07.04.2006 | Religious Liberty In an April 6 meeting with non-governmental organizations, United Nations special rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief Asma Jahangir called for greater support of the fundamental liberties of conscience. Speaking in the context of the transition from the Commission on Human Rights to the new Human Rights Council, she argued for greater involvement from civil society to advance religious freedom. "Freedom of religion or belief for everyone is only possible in a world where there is
Adventist Leaders Meet U.S. President Bush at White House Washington, D.C.,/USA | 05.04.2006 | Religion + State Religious liberty and humanitarian concerns were the highlights of an April 4 meeting between leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and U.S. President George W. Bush. At the invitation of the president, the 45-minute Oval Office session included Pastors Jan Paulsen, Adventist Church world president; Matthew Bediako, secretary of the world church; Don Schneider, who is both president of the Adventist Church in North America and a vice president of the world church; and with James D. Stan
New Christian Council of Norway spans all major churches Oslo/Norway | 04.04.2006 | Ecumenism Two Christian church councils in Norway have agreed to form a new national church body spanning all the major churches including Lutheran, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Adventists and Pentecostal denominations The new national grouping will formally be inaugurated on September 1, 2006, and results from the merger of the "Christian Council of Norway" (NKR) and the "Norwegian Free Church Council" (NFR). This merger was agreed by both bodies in separate meetings on March 30. T
ADRA Responds to Food Crisis in Africa Nairobi/Kenya, | 02.04.2006 | ADRA In response to a food crisis sweeping through Africa, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is providing food for families in Niger, Mali, Zambia, and Kenya, who are fighting to survive in the face of hunger, suffering, and malnutrition. An ADRA assessment team arrived in the region on Sunday, March 26, to analyze the situation, and initiate an extensive relief effort. They are currently visiting Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Zambia as well as the ADRA office for Somalia, which is
Adventist Women's Ministries: Women Learn of Ways to Help Other Women Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 31.03.2006 | International It's a vicious circle. And many of the world's women are trapped in that cycle of illiteracy, overwork, abuse, ill health, lack of training and ultimately poverty. Some may view these huge, difficult problems as impossible to overcome and walk away, but Seventh-day Adventist women are finding significant ways for women to reach out to those in need. The Women's Ministries department at the church's world headquarters re-released six brochures on March 28 that spotlight and explain the six cr
33 percent of Fiji prostitutes are school students shows survey Suva/Fiji | 30.03.2006 | Health & Ethics A survey in Fiji has found that 33 percent of women engaged in the sex trade are school students. The survey was carried out by the Save the Children Fund (SCF) whose director of programmes, Margaret Logavatu said many of these students are those from outer islands sent to Suva for education. The non-governmental organisation was shocked by the survey. Save the Children is the world’s largest independent global movement for children. Save the Children Fiji has discovered that the more tour
Adventist Church in Iraq Has a New Leader Bagdad/Iraq | 30.03.2006 | International The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq, beset by war and the loss of members who have emigrated to other nations, has a new president: Basim Fargo, formerly secretary-treasurer of the church there. He was elected by leaders of the church's Middle East region, who met with Iraqi Adventist leaders. During the meeting, according to Pastor Kjell Aune, regional church president, it was disclosed that adult baptised membership, formerly at 250, has probably dropped to around 100 Adventists in Iraq,
Germany. European Adventist Media Center Foundation Stone Placed Darmstadt/Germany | 28.03.2006 | Media The placing of the foundation stone in a March 22 ceremony at Alsbach-Sandwiese, next to the city of Darmstadt (Germany), marked the formal start of construction of a new media center in Europe. Dedicated to producing and distributing messages of hope, the new facility will house the "Stimme der Hoffnung,"("Voice of Hope,") ministry operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Euro-Africa region. The new Media Center is not only "the [realization] of a vision," but also a "necessity which
UN Commission on Human Rights Ends Work Geneva/Switzerland | 28.03.2006 | Religious Liberty The U.N. Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) has ended more than 60 years of work. During a concluding session, U.N., governmental, and non-governmental representatives looked forward to the Commission's replacement body, the U.N. Council on Human Rights. The new Council is intended to have greater accountability and transparency, and will meet more frequently. The Peruvian chairman of the UNCHR called the 62nd and last session of the Commission to order. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human R
Adventist Church Communicators Affirm Ethics, Professional Development Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 28.03.2006 | Media Seventh-day Adventist world church communication directors, representing each of the church's 13 global regions (divisions), voted to approve a statement of ethics for church communicators, a key conclusion of a five-day advisory session held March 20 to 24. The group also learned about a new certificate program for communicators, which is being developed by faculty at U.S. based Andrews University and the General Conference as world headquarters. "To glorify God is the ultimate intent of al
ADRA Australia reponds to Cyclone Larry Wahroonga, New South Wales/Australia | 25.03.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia has allocated $50,000 to the response effort after Cyclone Larry devastated regions of northern Queensland on March 20. ADRA Australia will provide drinking water and emergency food parcels for affected families in the towns of Innisfail and those further inland on the Atherton Tablelands, and has purchased power generators for use in the relief effort. ADRA will also provide emergency funding to families who are uninsured or do not
Adventist U.S. Army Colonel Broome Selected as New Pentagon Chaplain Washington D.C./USA | 25.03.2006 | International Adventist chaplain Colonel William B. Broome, United States Army, currently the installation chaplain of Fort Sill in Oklahoma, has been selected to serve as Pentagon chaplain in Washington, D.C., beginning in June 2006. He will succeed Colonel Ralph G. Benson, who is retiring. Broome is not new to the Washington area. In 2001, he served as assignment officer for the Office of the Chief of Chaplains at DACH-PER (Department of the Army, Chaplains, Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations) at the
Adventist Church Joins Pleas on Behalf of Afghan Christian Geneva/Switzerland | 24.03.2006 | Religious Liberty A 41-year-old Afghan citizen who faces execution over his 1990 conversion from Islam to Christianity is getting support from the Seventh-day Adventist Church as well as leaders worldwide. Global attention was drawn these days to the case of Abdul Rahman, who once worked for a Christian relief agency and who lived for several years in Germany. Now living in his native Afghanistan, Rahman was reported to Islamic authorities in the course of a custody dispute involving his ex-wife and children.
Conscientious objector who received U.S. Medal of Honour dies Calhoun, Georgia/USA, | 24.03.2006 | International Desmond T. Doss Sr., the only conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honour for non-combatant achievements in World War II, died March 23. He was 87. His death was announced by Seventh-day Adventist Church officials in Calhoun, not far from the northwest Georgia town of Rising Fawn where Doss lived for many years. Doss, who refused to carry a weapon during his wartime service as a medic, was the subject of a 2004 documentary, "The Conscientious Objector" and a previously published
World Church: Ministerial, Publishing, PARL Advisories Among Headquarters Meetings Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 22.03.2006 | International Representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's global ministerial, public affairs and religious liberty and publishing ministries held separate advisory sessions at the world church headquarters the week of March 13, sharing strategies and plans for the next five years. These sessions bring together departmental leaders from the Adventist church's 13 world regions for a time of fellowship, instruction and sharing. Strategies are considered and discussed, visions shared and accomplishm
Russia: Adventist Church Leader Discusses Religious Wars, Freedom, Church Growth Moscow/Russia | 17.03.2006 | International "Concerning human society, everything is possible," Pastor Jan Paulsen, world president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, told an interviewer for Russia's daily newspaper "Kommersant" during a February visit to Moscow during the 120th anniversary celebrations of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Russia. Asked if the possibility of "religious war" exists, Paulsen said, "There are so many unpredictable things in this world. If the religious driving forces become destructive, then some prob
ADRA Provides Access to Clean Water in Darfur Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 17.03.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has recently completed a water project that provides improved access to clean water for 35,000 people living near the capital of West Darfur, Sudan. ADRA has drilled 19 successful boreholes for new wells and installed hand pumps for wells, providing better access to clean water for families in the region. ADRA also rehabilitated 50 existing hand pumps and trained more than 40 residents as hand pump mechanics. The newly constructed wells
Adventist Women Advocate Gender Equality at United Nations Adventist Women Advocate Gender Equality at United Nations | 12.03.2006 | International Seven Seventh-day Adventist women added their voices to thousands of other women in calling for drastic improvements in the lives of women worldwide at the United Nations' 50th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women. The Adventist delegation attended from February 27 to March 3 the meeting. The meeting ran until March 10. "The denial of women's rights touches every aspect of women's lives," explained Viola Hughes, the church's United Nations liaison specialist, who led the delegati
Baltic Region: Adventist Youth Director Brings Passion to Work, Church Life Riga/Latvia | 02.03.2006 | International The 21-year-old, blue-eyed, blonde from Latvia has a passion for working with youth: "I really breathe it. I just live with it and wake up with it and that's really what I love to do," Aira Arina quips. The young Arina has already served as the youth director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Baltic region, which includes Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, for nearly one year. She attends school full-time, studying economics and accounting. And, did we mention that she leads a youth/young a
Denmark: Adventists Aim for Bridge Building to Muslim Neighbours Naerum/Denmark | 01.03.2006 | International Responding to the global uproar over a series of controversial cartoons published in a Danish newspaper, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denmark is reaching out to build bridges of understanding with its Muslim neighbours. In their sermons pastors have taken up questions on freedom of speech and the relationship between Islam and Christianity. Members of the church have participated in the public debate on this issue by contributing letters and articles to the papers. The Danish Adventis
Nearly 7,000 Flood Survivors in Bolivia Receive Emergency Aid from ADRA La Paz/Bolivia | 01.03.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is providing humanitarian assistance for more than 1,000 families driven from their homes by severe flooding in the provinces of Madre de Dios, and Manuripi, Bolivia. Record rains in Bolivia during January and February have caused excessive flooding in both the highlands and the Amazon Basin, destroying crops and livestock, and forcing families from their homes. More than 33,000 families have been affected by this disaster, and thousands are
India: Largest Christian House of Worship to be Dedicated in Pune Pune/India | 28.02.2006 | International A new and spacious house of worship, considered as the largest Christian church in the city of Pune, is being completed on the campus of the Seventh-day Adventist college there. It seems that "we have talked about it for generations, but now we are about ready to open it," says Dr. Justus Devadas, president of Spicer Memorial College. "It will seat 2,000 worshippers and will be the largest such [church] structure in this city," he explained. Illusion, however, suggests the place feels smalle
Adventist Church Plans Live Satellite, Webcast Preaching Seminar for Christian Clergy Members Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 22.02.2006 | International Thousands of Christian clergy members from around the world -- from a variety of denominations -- are expected to unite in a global audience for "Here We Grow Again," a professional development seminar due March 21 from the Adventist Church's Ministerial Association. The broadcast will originate from the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Takoma Park, Maryland (U.S.A.) and will commence at 1 p.m. (1800 hrs GMT). Distinguished preachers will talk about the importance of spiritual growth ce
Adventist President Joins Russian Adventist Church in 120th Anniversary Celebrations Moscow/Russia | 21.02.2006 | International For many years we in the West were encouraged by the faith and courage of Russian Adventists," Pastor Jan Paulsen, world president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, told members and leaders during a Moscow visit to share in the celebrations of 120 years of Adventism in Russia. During the five-day trip, he also met with officials of the Russian Federation, including representatives of President Vladimir Putin. Heading the Russian Federation delegation was Michael Ostrovsky, the associate t
Russia: Adventist World Church President Greeted at Start of Anniversary Visit Moscow/Russia | 19.02.2006 | International Seventh-day Adventist world church president Pastor Jan Paulsen and his wife, Kari, received an enthusiastic welcome at Mocscow's Sheremetyevo airport on February 16. The Paulsen's are visiting in part to inaugurate celebrations of 120 years of the Adventist movement in Russia. Leaders of church's Euro-Asia region, including president Artur Stele, secretary Michael Kaminsky, and treasurer Bill Biaggi were among those who greeted the Paulsens. Among the anniversary celebrations will be a
Israel: Adventists and Jewish Scholars Meet in Friendship Conference Jerusalem, Israel | 10.02.2006 | International Seventh-day Adventists from 23 countries gathered February 6 for a six-day "Adventist Jewish Friendship Conference" aimed at building bridges between Adventists and Jews. In his opening address to the 140 delegates, Dr. Bertil Wiklander, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European region, noted several Adventist beliefs that suggest a close connection with Judaism and Jewish people. "We have the Sabbath in common and with it a high regard for God's law as an ethic
New Adventist Church Leader for Egypt Field Cairo/Egypt | 15.02.2006 | International Pastor Samir Berbawy has been elected as the new President of the Egypt Field of Seventh-Day Adventists. He succeeds Dr. Kjell Aune, who was called to be President of the Adventist Church Middle East Union in last November . Samir Berbawy is Egyptian by birth, and spent childhood years there and in Lebanon, before his family emigrated to the US. Samir was a teacher and school administrator for over 26 years in the Middle East and the U.S.A. He worked as local church elder and church educator, an
USA: Peace Conference Talks About Peacemaking in Adventism Riverside, California/USA | 14.02.2006 | International At the first formal conference of its kind to be held on a Seventh-day Adventist university campus, some 170 people gathered to talk about ways to increase peacemaking. The one-day conference, "Talking Peace, Making Peace: An Adventist Conversation," was held on the campus of La Sierra University, an Adventist institution, on January 28. "The purpose of the peace conference was to widen a local dialog on Adventism and peace/war, and identify individuals who were interested in pursuing the di
Cuba: New Adventist Church Dedication Planned in Pilon Havana/Cuba | 15.02.2006 | International Excitement is growing among Seventh-day Adventists in Pilon, Cuba, as their new house of worship is nearing completion for a March 25 dedication. Adventist pastor Israel Leito, president of the church's Inter-America region, is expected to preside at the ceremony. According to church sources in Havana, in addition to the dedication celebration, the weekend will also include a special event Friday March 24 at La Vibora Church in Havana, on the opposite side of the island from Pilon.
South Pacific Conference Explores Adventist Identity Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia | 10.02.2006 | International "We preach a message that is distinct, but if it is not relevant it will not be perceived as part of my personal identity, which means when I am faced with a crisis it won't help me," declared Dr. Paul Petersen, field secretary for the Seventh-day Adventist Church's South Pacific region and coordinator of a recent four-day Bible conference that examined the question of Adventist identity. Representatives from the South Pacific church region gathered at Avondale College in Cooranbong, New Sou
ADRA Opens Training Center for Children in Tajikistan Silver Spring, Maryland/(USA | 08.02.2006 | ADRA On February 1, 2006, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) opened the Children’s Educational Centre in the city of Dushanbe, in Tajikistan. The centre provides children between the ages of 10 and 16 the opportunity to study English and computer literacy. The centre was opened with the financial support of Dr. John Elloway. In 2006, 128 children will receive training at the centre. Each student will be charged a modest fee in exchange for training, allowing the centre to rema
Adventist Church Formed Internet Ministry Coordinating Committee Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 08.02.2006 | International Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church voted February 7 to establish a Coordinating Committee for Internet Ministries (CCIM), aimed at serving the Adventist world church and its regions. The committee, to be chaired by world church vice president Mark Finley, who heads the church's Centre for Global Evangelism, will focus on facilitating initiatives and services for global Internet evangelism and ministries, including allocation of funding as available, making recommendations to church
Israel: World Adventist Leaders Visit Knesset, Meet Parliamentarians Jerusalem/Israel, | 08.02.2006 | International Responding to an invitation from the Israeli Parliament's "Christian Allies Caucus," 12 leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist world church, including general vice presidents Armando Miranda and Michael L. Ryan and Trans-European regional church president Bertil Wiklander, visited the Israeli Parliament, known as the Knesset. Pastor Richard Elofer, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel, was also part of the group. "We are here to look for a better future and how we can work t
Adventist Development Agency Launches New Energy Policy Project in Somalia Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 06.02.2006 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has launched another energy project designed to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods through promoting accessible, cost-effective and environmentally sound energy services for the people of Somaliland, Somalia. The project, which is known as facilitating Somaliland’s Energy Policy Dialogue (SEPD) will have its main project office in Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland, with the specific objective of facilitating the development of an
Adventist World President Responds to Muslim Caricature Controversy Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 03.02.2006 | International Following an increase in global tension surrounding the publication - in newspapers in Denmark and other European countries - of cartoons that some Muslims worldwide have found insulting, Pastor Jan Paulsen, world president of the Seventh-day Adventist church issued a call for the responsible use of the right of free expression. The drawings were first published in a Danish newspaper in September 2005. The appearance of the cartoons provoked emotions in the Muslim world because the Islamic t
Seventh-day Adventists Voted Biblical Research Committee Guidelines Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 03.02.2006 | International Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist world church voted a set of guidelines for regions considering the establishment of a Biblical Research Committee. These bodies are not mandatory, leaders say, but can be established in a world church region, known as a division, if the leadership there approves. The Seventh-day Adventist Church sponsors a Biblical Research Institute (BRI) at the world headquarters in the greater Washington D.C. area at Silver Spring, Maryland. Among its primary purposes
Brazilian President Lula will attend World Council of Churches 9th Assembly Brasilia/Brazil | 02.02.2006 | Ecumenism Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will attend the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches on February 17 in the city of Porto Alegre, speaking before an expected audience of more than 4,000 delegates, observers and journalists from 347 Protestant and Orthodox Churches from 120 countries around the world, the secretary of the office of the presidency said February 1. The Brazilian president received the WCC invitation in May 2003. The confirmation of Lula's presence was commu
Australia: Adventist Honoured for Mission Work in Thailand Canberra/Australia | 01.02.2006 | International An Australian educator involved in establishing schools for Karen refugees in Thailand has received one of her nation's top honours for public service. Helen Hall, a Seventh-day Adventist working in northwestern Thailand, has been named a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia, the Australian government announced on January 26. She is believed to be the first Adventist to receive the medal. Hall, founder and volunteer principal of Eden Valley Academy, is being recognized "for servic
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
