Russia: Church Arsonist Convicted in Novgorod Novgorod/Russia | 28.02.2007 | Religious Liberty The Seventh-day Adventist Church has faced in the past years multiple persecutions in some areas of Russia, including a violent attack on an Adventist pastor’s son in Nizhnekamsk, a killing of a night guard at an Adventist Church in Cheboksary, and an arson attack which destroyed the only Seventh-day Adventist Church in Saransk. In 2003 on September 25 a destructive arson fire destroyed the Novgorod Adventist Church. Now, three and a half years later, Zazu Nikolaishvili, a 39 year old man was
Brazil: Adventists Plan Outreach During Pan American Games Niterói, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil | 28.02.2007 | International "While athletes will be breaking sports records, Seventh-day Adventist university students ... are going to transform Rio de Janeiro into the capital of service and witness," says Pastor Otimar Gonçalves, youth ministries leader for the Adventist church in South America. He spoke to a work group planning public outreach during the July 13 to 29 Pan American Games (CO-RIO) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With delegations from 42 countries and 5,500 athletes competing for titles in 28 sports, the P
Mozambique Faces Flooding, ADRA Provides Emergency Relief Maputo/Mozambique | 25.02.2007 | ADRA In response to heavy flooding in Mozambique, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is helping displaced families to recover with desperately needed emergency relief supplies. In central Mozambique, as many as 285,000 people have been affected by the heavy flooding, with more than 120,000 of those displaced. The majority of survivors have been evacuated from their homes and are currently living in resettlement centers and emergency accommodation centers located throughout affecte
Adventist Representative Commends UN Initiative to Curb Violence against Women New York, N.Y.,/USA | 20.02.2007 | International Far more action is needed to curb the world-wide problem of violence directed against women, according to Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s representative to the United Nations. Attending a Communications workshop on "Addressing gender issues with the United Nations: Present and future" held in New York on February 15, Gallagher commended the ongoing UN initiative designed to develop practical methods to end gender-related violence and discrimination. The meeting was org
A letter to the Christians of Europe Lutherstadt-Wittenberg /Germany | 19.02.2007 | Ecumenism A third stage meeting preparing the Third European Ecumenical Assembly met in Lutherstadt-Wittenberg /Germany from 15th to 18th of February 2007 to share in prayer and reflection, and to continue the process of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) to be held in Sibiu, Romania in September 2007. The meeting ended with the publication of "A letter to the Christians of Europe" urging co-operation between Christian churches in Europe. The Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) wi
Mexico: Adventist Health Food Company Branch Manager Killed Navojoa, Sonora/Mexico | 16.02.2007 | International Local Mexican police authorities are investigating the February 15 shooting death of Joel Amilcar Hernandez, who served as general manager of the Seventh-day Adventist-owned Inter-American Health Food branch in Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico. Hernandez died near his home. He was 43 years old. "We are shocked and saddened by his death," said Joel Zukovski, director of the Inter-American Health Food Company, headquartered in Miami, Florida. "Our prayers go out to his family and the staff at Colpac...
Rwanda President Attends Inaugural Session of ADRA Leadership Council Kigali/Rwanda | 14.02.2007 | ADRA His Excellency, Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, attended the inaugural session of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s Leadership Council (ALC) in Kigali, Rwanda, held February 12th through 15th. Opening the session with President Kagame in attendance, Pastor Lowell Cooper, ADRA International Board Chair, said, "We pray that the nation of Rwanda will know peace in every city, village, and home; that it will be a country under the rule of just laws; that every ci
Faith-based organizations play Key Role in African HIV/AIDS Fight Washington D.C./USA | 14.02.2007 | Health & Ethics Faith-based organizations (FBOs) are playing a key role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa, a new United Nations (UN) report has said. According to an important study released February 8 by the World Health Organization (WHO) at the National Cathedral in Washington DC, efforts are needed to encourage greater collaboration between public health agencies and faith-based organizations (FBOs), if progress is to be made towards the goal of universal access towards HIV prevention, treatment, c
Indonesia: Flooding Displaces Thousands in Jakarta; ADRA Responds Jakarta/Indonesia | 06.02.2007 | ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has dispatched emergency response teams to help meet the needs of families affected by the heavy flooding that swept through Jakarta, Indonesia, in the early morning hours of February 3, 2007. Reports state that more than 300,000 people have been displaced and 36 killed in the flood-stricken capital city. Many of the displaced residents are currently taking refuge in schools, churches, mosques, and other public buildings. Damaged sanitation
Adventist Relief Agency ADRA Dispatches Mobile Health Teams in Flood-Affected Kenya Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 06.02.2007 | ADRA To combat the spread of water- and mosquito-borne illness caused by recent flooding in north-eastern Kenya, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is dispatching mobile medical and health education teams in the El Wak and Takaba divisions of the Mandera district. After three years of drought in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya, heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding have caused widespread damage to the homes and livelihoods of an estimated 730,000 in the region. Appro
Australian Adventists Declare National Day of Prayer for Drought Ringwood, Victoria/Australia | 01.02.2007 | International In light of the continuing drought and water crisis in many parts of Australia, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia has called for church members to pray for this situation as part of worship services on February 17. "Australia is experiencing drought conditions unparalleled since records have been kept in many areas of the country," says Pastor Chester Stanley, president of the Adventist Church in Australia. The statistics, figures and broken records keep coming. "I have had a n
