TED News Bulletin - June 11, 2008 - unOFFICIAL ADVENTIST FORUM

Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do.
And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with
– even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department.
Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. Romans 14.1: The Message

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#173556 - 06/16/08 04:01 AM TED News Bulletin - June 11, 2008
magilly46 Registered: 10/29/02 Posts: 178 Loc: BC	TED News Bulletin Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 11 June 2008 In this issue: ------------------------- * England: Adventist Youth March Against Street Crime * Pakistan: Evangelistic Meetings with an Impact * Croatia: Adriatic Union Conference Session and Ordination of Pastors * Cyprus: KID Participants Honour Fire-Fighters * Norway: Nordic Countries Together for KID * England: Church Leaders Welcome Newbold's New Degree in Diversity ------------------------- ADVENTIST YOUTH MARCH AGAINST STREET CRIME...[BUC News/TED News Staff/TED News] London, England - Mark Prince stepped up to the microphone during a rally in Kennington Park Saturday 7 June, to address some 5,000 youth who had just marched throughout London with a message of positive living to combat street violence. "We are the answer for this knife crime -- you, right here, the young people," he said referring to his 15-year-old son who was stabbed to death in 2006. Since then, Prince said he has needed to love and to forgive. "If it means I have to forgive the guy who killed my son, then that's exactly what I'm going to do because I need some mercy myself, I need some forgiveness myself," he said. Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders say Saturday's event was sparked by violence that has led to the murder of 16 teenagers in London, killed by guns and knives since 1 January. The rally and march were not planned just to combat violence but to offer a positive alternative. "Our message was clear: Live intentional lives," said Colin Stewart, Youth Ministries director for the church in South England. Thousands carried banners throughout the streets of London, which were closed off to traffic for the march, with the theme "Living Intentionally Versus Existing". Adventist youth and supporters were accompanied by drill brigades and drum corps along the route that passed the Houses of Parliament and the Prime Minister's residence. As demonstrators marched across the River Thames, people in Lambeth came out of their flats and shops applauding and waving. London Deputy Mayor Ray Lewis told the crowd at the rally that it was the type of initiative London needs. Other noted speakers included opposition leader David Cameron and cabinet minister Tessa Jowell. "We recognize that those involved in this kind of violence do not watch the news, but this event helps to raise the issue and get through the barriers," Stewart told the London Broadcasting Company. TED Youth Director Paul Tompkins, who marched with the rally commented, "It was tremendous to see our church involved in such an important issue that both affects and impacts the community at large. I was proud to march with our young people through the streets of central London and to see them taking the lead by both word and deed. The South England Conference youth team should be congratulated for so ably organizing this excellent initiative, which I believe will have a far reaching impact beyond the day itself." Since the event, church youth leaders have received calls from mothers looking for support and a way to move forward after losing loved ones. "This tells me there are lots of hurting people waiting for the church to take the lead," Colin said. The day finished with a Gala Fundraising Concert at the nearby Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, raising £6,000 (about US$12,000) toward establishing a LIVE Centre and community projects. EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS WITH AN IMPACT...[P. Bahadur/TED News Staff/TED News] Farooqabad, Pakistan - From 27 April to 24 May, a series of 28 Evangelistic Meetings was held at Pakistan Adventist Seminary and College (PASC) Church, for students and staff members, - many of them non-Adventists. Throughout the four weeks, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, integrated in the 28 Doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was presented by teachers and administrators of PASC; together with pastors, elders, and leaders of the Adventist Church in Pakistan. Many non-Adventist students took actively part in the question and answer sessions which were incorporated in the programme held on Sabbath afternoons (Saturday). And as the weeks progressed, the number of non-Adventist students and staff members deciding to get baptised, grew by the day. At the ending of the meetings, the group attending the Baptismal classes amounted to 40; of which 36 were students and 4 were teachers. The regular Baptismal classes were taught by the Church Pastor, Pervaiz Bahadur, and the Assistant Pastor, Aslam Rehmat. Sabbath 24 May saw the climax of the evangelistic meetings, when a baptismal ceremony was held in the PASC church. Dr Selmon Dio (Principal of PASC) and Pastor Younis Noor (Leader of the Adventist church in Pakistan) conducted the baptism of the 40 baptismal candidates. Later that day a special welcome programme was arranged for the newly baptised, in which the church board members, all the speakers, and translators of the evangelistic meetings welcomed these new members into the Adventist church family. Pastor Bahadur explains that PASC Seventh-day Adventist Church has made plans to start several forms of outreach ministry, such as jail ministry, hospital ministry, school ministry, market ministry, village and city ministry. Church members are planning to visit people; pray for them; give Bible study; and hold evangelistic meetings in villages and cities. "We have highly committed church members who are always willing to support church work...I am glad to have such an enthusiastic congregation who are always willing to participate in the spiritual activities and development of the church work here at PASC Seventh-day Adventist Church", said Pastor Bahadur, and he adds: "Please continue praying for the work of God here at PASC Seventh-Day Adventist Church and in all over Pakistan." ADRIATIC UNION CONFERENCE SESSION AND ORDINATION OF PASTORS...[Mladen Juricevic/TED News Staff/TED News] Marusevec, Croatia - On Friday 30 May the three officers of the Adriatic Union Conference (AUC) of Adventists were all re-elected by secret ballot during its regular Session, chaired by the President of the Trans-European Division, Dr Bertil Wiklander. Branko Bistrovic, President; Srecko Kuburic, Executive Secretary; and Nebijsa Milovanovic, Treasurer were re-elected for a new five-year period. Pastor Zlatko Musija was also re-elected as Departmental Director. The appointment of Sylvain Romain as President of the Albanian Mission made mid-term was confirmed. Throughout the session, delegates expressed their approval and confidence in the work of the administration during its past term. Many challenges have been dealt with successfully and most of the plans for the period 2003-2008 have been realized. The Adriatic Union Conference had many changes of personnel following the retirement of a significant number of pastors over the past five years, yet it is encouraging to note that during the same period twenty-five pastors have been ordained to the ministry. Ten of these pastors were ordained on Sabbath 31 May; eight from the Croatian Conference territory and two from the Albanian Mission. These ordained pastors may not have a lot of experience, but they have a lot of faith and enthusiasm. The re-elected leaders of the AUC are convinced that all challenges which lie ahead will be overcome by the grace and the power of God, Who does not know defeat. God can use what is small, turning it to something big when we are faithful to Him and to the Commission He has entrusted to us. KID PARTICIPANTS HONOUR FIRE-FIGHTERS...[Alex Elmadjian/TED News Staff/TED News] Nicosia, Cyprus - The Nicosia Fire Station got a surprise visit from the children of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who dropped by to thank them for their service to the local community. The children, aged 6-13, decorated a card and drew pictures depicting the fire service, delivering the items on Saturday afternoon, 24 May, with a fresh batch of cookies baked by one of the parents. The message inside the card read: "The children of the Seventh-day Adventist Church would like to honour you today for your brave service and protection of our community. Please accept this small gesture of gratitude." The visit took place within the framework of the Kids in Discipleship (KID) programme, a series of interactive seminars designed to encourage families to lead children to be faithful, fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ. "On the penultimate session of the 12-week 'Footprints for Parents and Mentors' course, we asked the parents to go home and challenge their children to think of ways in which they could be effective in the community in some way," says Joanne Elmadjian, Nicosia KID leader. The favoured suggestion came from the youngest child in our group, six-year-old Florence Phillips, who was eager for us to thank the fire-fighters for the way in which they keep us all safe." "When the parents and children arrived at the fire station, they were warmly received by the fire-fighters and given a tour of the facility", says Valerie Fidelia, KID coordinator for Cyprus. "The children got to try on helmets, explore inside the fire engines and see the special equipment used". After the tour the children were offered ice cream and juice as they chatted with the fire-fighters. "Before we left, we invited everybody at the station to gather round as Gabriella Phillips, leading elder of the Nicosia Adventist Church, offered a prayer of protection for the group and thanked God for the vital contribution they make to the community," said Valerie Fidelia. "I observed that many of the fire-fighters were moved to tears after the prayer," she added. The second phase of the KID training, where parents partner with their children in small group Bible studies called, 'Footprints for Kids', will commence this coming week and run for 32 weeks. Joanne Elmadjian says that it will give an opportunity for families to spend interactive time together journeying through seven exciting phases of discipleship; from building their relationship with Jesus, to personally making disciples for Jesus. NORDIC COUNTRIES TOGETHER FOR KID...[G.B.Marley/TED News Staff/TED News] Lillehammer, Norway - Seventh-day Adventist church teams from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden met 22-25 May for the first ever Nordic Kids In Discipleship (KID) training event, held in Lillehammer, Norway. Helping families making God central to family life was the aim of the Church in Norway as they sent two teams to England in 2006, to learn about the KID programme. During the past year and a half, these teams implemented successfully the programme in their home churches, and it caught the interest of other Adventist churches in the Nordic countries. The training was led by motivated volunteer coaches from Norway, together with Anne-May Wollan, Children's Ministries Director at the Trans-European Division, and Gry Beate Marley, Coordinator of the Children's Ministries Department in Norway. After completing the training, one of the trainees exclaimed: "KID is a gift to the churches! Parents in our time are busy and need a tool which can help us to put God first every day. Of course this will demand something of us, but we are ready to put in the effort!" Victor Marley, Director of the Children's, Family and Youth Ministries Departments in Norway, commented: "KID has the potential to revolutionize our churches. Families are central if we are to pass on the faith to our children and young people, and, without a meaningful children's ministry, our youth work is amputated...KID brings it all together, involving children in service and equipping parents for the responsibility they have." "KID has been a real blessing to the families that have been a part of it, and already we are seeing baptisms as a direct result of this ministry. We pray that more congregations will go through the training and spread the vision even further," said Gry Beate Marley. Already, seven churches in Norway have been trained. Two of these churches have completed the course and are now planning for their KID outreach programs to start in the autumn. After this first successful training event, the date for the next session has been set in March 2009. CHURCH LEADERS WELCOME NEWBOLD'S NEW DEGREE IN DIVERSITY...[Helen Pearson/TED News Staff/TED News] Bracknell, England - Church leaders are welcoming the new bachelor's degree in Diversity Studies to be offered at Newbold College from August 2008. Pastor Sam Davis, President of the South England Conference says, "As members of a diverse society, Seventh-day Adventists need additional skills to build bridges to each other and to people in communities different from their own. In the South England Conference, we want to recognise, promote and celebrate the unity we have in Christ despite the cultural differences. We need all the help we can get in this task and are encouraging our young people to think seriously about this new degree." Seventh-day Adventists, like their friends and neighbours in the wider society, are relating to people different from themselves more than they ever have before. Recognition of the importance of individual and cultural 'differences' is growing as migration increases throughout the world. Newbold's newest undergraduate degree focuses on how to understand, evaluate and relate to diverse individuals and groups. Research in the workplace finds that employers are seeking graduates with the skills to work with people from different cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds. This degree will offer students the chance to learn those skills and to work in a variety of professional contexts. Pastor Don McFarlane President of the British Union Conference and Vice-Chair of the Newbold College Board of Governors believes that "this degree will utilise the skills Newbold has developed in this area and will benefit three groups of people: the students, the secular organisations and the Adventist churches that they serve, and the wider world." These skills are also greatly needed between members in the church and between members and others outside the church. More and more people are asking, "How can I learn to interact better with people who are different from me? What tools do I need?" Pastor David Neal, President of the Irish Mission sums up the need for the new degree. "As witnesses to one of the longest running conflicts in Europe, the Irish have a personal experience of the need for mutual understanding between people from different backgrounds. Growing immigration also means that we have an increasingly diverse membership relating to an increasingly diverse society. Adventism needs a 'diversity of expression' so we welcome Newbold's decision to offer this training to Adventist young people." For more information visit <www.newbold.ac.uk>.. __________________________________________________________________ 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: www.ted-adventist.org TED News is an information bulletin issued by the Communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division. You are free to re-print any portion of the bulletin without the need for special permission. However, we kindly request that you identify TED News whenever you publish these materials.
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