TED News Bulletin
Trans-European Division of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church

5 September 2007


In this issue:
-------------------------
* Pakistan: Motorbikes for Pakistan’s Ministers
* Germany: Church Planters Exchange at Friedensau
* Lithuanua: Biggest Bible Camp in Lituania
* Sudan: Sudan Floods – Worst in Living Memory
* Norway: Hope Channel Norway Launches Its Website
* Albania: First Ever Family Camp in Albania
--------------------------

MOTORBIKES FOR PAKISTAN’S MINISTERS...[TED News Staff]

St Albans, England – Following a visit by Trans-European Division
(TED) directors to Pakistan last year, Pastor Don McFarlane, then a
Director and Field Secretary of the TED, initiated and promoted a
plan to raise funds to provide a motorbike to every minister in the
Pakistan Union. This project was taken up by his successor, Raafat
Kamal, who has formulated a strategy of bringing this about.

The result was seen this week as a formal decision was taken by the
TED to release the donated funds provided by generous contributions
from five of the TED unions and attached fields, after negotiations
with local suppliers and the formulating of careful protocols on
their use. It means that all 38 ministers employed by the Pakistan
Union will be supplied with brand new 70cc motorbikes and safety
helmets.

Pastor McFarlane commented, “When three of my colleagues and I went
to Pakistan last year and learned about the large areas that pastors
there had to cover on foot or on bicycles, I came away determined
that something needed to be done to make travelling less of a burden
for them. I shared this vision widely and in response individual
members, local churches, conferences and Unions [helped] to make the
dream a reality.”

With over 160 million people, Pakistan is the most populated country
in the TED. Most pastors are caring for several groups that are
widely scattered. Many travel by foot, or wait for overcrowded
busses; some have bicycles, and a few fortunate ones have mostly
unreliable motorbikes. Pastor McFarlane says, “The 38 new bikes
should raise the morale of pastors in Pakistan and result in the
expansion of our church there, as pastors find it easier to move from
one place to another.”


CHURCH PLANTERS EXCHANGE AT FRIEDENSAU...[A.Vontzalidis/TED News
Staff/TED News]

Friedensau, Germany - Under the leadership of Pastor Janos
Kovacs-Biro director of the Trans-European Evangelism-Church Planting
Department, over 400 church planters and their teams from all across
Europe gathered at the Adventist college in Friedensau in Germany
from 6-12 August.

The 38 individuals from England and Wales joined with all the other
participants to enjoy a time of warm fellowship, inspiring worship
and prayer, recreation, fun, delicious food and lots of learning from
presentations, case studies, workshops, exhibitions, and exchange of
ideas.

Individuals and church planting groups prayed for one another all
across the campus, as prayer is the key for accomplishing our
God-given mission. They got enthused and motivated to do greater
things for God hearing stories on how His people were venturing out
beyond the church walls to enter new communities and new areas. A
quiet revolution is happening as God is leading His people, leaders
as well as lay-members, in adventures of mission to further extend
His kingdom by planting more and different kind of churches to reach
a lost world.

Guest speakers Dr Daniel Duda, Dr Michael Hamilton, and Dr Miroslav
Pujic from the TED and Pastor Mario Brito from the EUD, together with
Pastor Kovacs-Biro, gave us food for thought during the plenary
sessions.

The exchange of ideas closed on Sabbath evening with the ordinance of
humility followed by a delicious Agape meal and the Lord's Supper. A
very meaningful anointing service came to seal an event which was
infused by the presence of God's Spirit.


BIGGEST BIBLE CAMP IN LITHUANIA...[Mantas Kucinskas/Daniel Duda/TED
News Staff/TED News]

Siauliai, Lithuania – On Wednesday 22 August about 300 Adventists
from all over Lithuania gathered for the annual “Bible week” camp.
The camp aims to give a chance for church members and their relatives
and friends to socialise, relax, listen to inspirational sermons and
become spiritually stronger. “It is a very good experience to meet
beloved brothers and sisters. It gives us a hint about the times we
will be able to share in the kingdom of God, which our heavenly
Father is preparing for us,” said ex-president of the Lithuanian
Mission Field, Danielius Ozelis.

The majority of people attend the camp to deepen their commitment
with God. This year seven people were baptised. “It is wonderful to
begin your spiritual journey in such a big family of God’s people!”
the new-born Christians expressed with enthusiasm.

Guest speaker of the week was Dr Daniel Duda, Director of Education
and the Ministerial Association of the Trans-European Division of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church. His visit and preaching was felt as a
blessing to those attending. After the event he remarked: “It is so
good to see people of all age groups spending their holiday to
experience the spirit of community and be exposed to Biblical
teachings. It is inspiring not only for the members and friends with
little connection to the church, but also for the speakers. I have
been impressed with the willingness of people to learn, and grow in
grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Adventist church in
Lithuania is certainly a church alive!”


SUDAN FLOODS - WORST IN LIVING MEMORY...[Daniel Ogwok/TED News Staff/
TED News]

Sudan - The catastrophic floods in Sudan have been referred to as
"the worst in living memory" by the BBC World Service. They report
that the Sudanese government and UN have launched a $20m appeal for
humanitarian aid.

"Our 330 members in the area have been seriously affected," says
Daniel Ogwok, Secretary for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the
Northern Sudan Region. "According to our Bible Worker there, Mut
Tuat, the rains have destroyed many buildings and killed many cows
and goats. Nyayaldiuo, Mayo, and Nemnem churches have been seriously
damaged." The churches are in the Bentiu district of Unity State,
Upper Nile Region.

While the human cost is still not clear, some reports say that 89
people have so far perished from the heavy rains and 73,000 homes
have been swept away.

According to Tuat, poor communication means that they have not heard
how severely Adventists have been affected in the flood-stricken
areas.

"The church administration is urgently trying to assess the situation
in the flood hit regions and see what kind of assistance and help is
needed most," says Dr Miroslav Didara, President of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church in the Northern Sudan Region.

Dr Kjell Aune, President of the Church in the Middle East, appeals to
all members worldwide to pray for the affected Adventists and other
victims in this region of Sudan. "These are people that live a
challenging life to start with, and now that they have to deal with
loss of homes, lives, and lack of food and means. They need all
material and prayer support they can get. The church in Sudan is
advancing and we hope that in a crisis like this, our members and
church organization may be able to have an even a greater impact on
the local community," Aune says.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency in the United Kingdom
(ADRA-UK) has already committed £7,500 to the network response to
bring relief in the form of treated mosquito nets, water purifying
solution, and food and blankets to people in the affected areas. ADRA
is working in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), the
Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) and the South Sudan Relief and
Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC).


HOPE CHANNEL NORWAY LAUNCHES ITS WEBSITE...[Adventist.no/TED News
Staff/TED News]

Vik, Norway - On 3 September, Hope Channel Norway, launched its first
website, where radio and television programmes produced by the
Seventh-day Adventist church in Norway will be broadcasted.

Hope Channel Norway’s web radio runs programmes around the clock
presenting topics such as health and lifestyle; literature,
archaeology; science; music; Bible studies and worship.

This initiative has been welcomed with words of appreciation in
numerous messages received at the Hope Channel Norway’s studio since
the launch. One listener wrote: “I have wished for this [website] for
along time. Praise the Lord. May He bless your efforts in the work
that lies ahead. I will spread the news to as many as possible.”
Another listener exclaimed: “Thanks for your efforts! For us who live
in a rural area, where there is no pastor, it is fantastic to have
access to many wonderful Adventist programs!”

Mai-Britt Kendel, editor of the website says: “We are in the process
of establishing a Norwegian web television, hoping to complete this
before the end of 2007. We are also striving to achieve a wider
variety and a more interactive format of programs.”

The Norwegian web radio and television programs from Hope Channel
Europe (which includes programs from Europe and USA) are available
at: http://www.hopechannel.no


FIRST EVER FAMILY CAMP IN ALBANIA...[Sylvain Romain/TED News
staff/TED News]

Voskopoje, Albania - The Albanian Mission of the Adventist Church,
organized the first ever family camp in the region, from 20-26
August. Invitees from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia
and Serbia joined locals for a week of fellowship.

The aim of the camp was to foster a sense of belonging and a stronger
notion of identity, in a region where many church members experience
loneliness as a reality. It was also hoped that this event would even
help some establishing relationships for life.

Besides spiritual food and recreation, the main camp theme was to
search for ways to help others understand their need for Christ.
Inspiration was found in the Bogomils, a Reformation movement that
covered the Balkans between the 10th and the 14th century. From
Northern Turkey to Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia,
these Christian believers tried to keep the flame of the Biblical
message of Jesus and his apostles. Later on, they went to France and
influenced the Albigensians, the Waldenses and Johann Hus.

Pastor Zelimir Stanic from Sarajevo - once the centre of the Bogomil
movement - has found traces that the latter were keeping the Sabbath.
Sylvain Romain, president of the Albanian Mission, a French
descendant of the Albigensians, tracks the Bogomils to the Christians
of the early church of the Acts of the Apostles.

The participants of the camp considered it a success. They are
enthusiastically looking forward to meeting again, and hope that many
more will be attending next year.

___________________________________________________________________
TED News Staff:
Paul Clee, News Director and Editor
Heidi Kamal Kendel, Editorial Assistant
119 St Peter's Street, St Albans, Herts.,
AL1 3EY, England
E-mail: tednews@ted-adventist.org
Website: http://www.ted-adventist.org

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