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

3 September 2008


In this issue:
-------------------------
* Hungary: 'Relay' Launched in Hungary
* Hungary: Tea for Two and Many More
* Lebanon: Building Friendship and Faith
* Norway: Trip with an Impact
* Lebanon: Teen Bible Study and Baptisms
-------------------------

'RELAY' LAUNCHED IN HUNGARY...[Paul Tompkins/TED News]

Pecel, Hungary - Over forty participants took part in 'Relay', the
first Trans-European Division (TED) Institute of Youth Evangelism,
held in Hungary from 17-31 August 2008.

'Relay' seeks to encourage, enrich and equip Adventist youth for a
life of sharing the saving power of Jesus Christ. Two core modules;
'Foundations of Adventist Beliefs' and 'Foundations of Youth
Outreach' were taught this year with a further two subjects being
held in the second section of the programme, next year. "The emphasis
of the programme is practical evangelism", said Paul Tompkins, TED
Youth Director.

Daniel Duda, TED Education Director who taught 'Adventist Beliefs' in
the first week, together with Jan Barna from Newbold College,
commented; "I was encouraged by the enthusiasm and involvement of
young people in this programme. The quality of their group work in
the afternoon was excellent. It was great to see young people excited
about the Bible and eager to get a better understanding of it. In
spite of a heavy schedule they have been hard-working and
disciplined. These young people will be a great asset for our church
in Hungary."

The students were very enthusiastic, and one participant, Kriztina
Andre added, "Everybody should be a part of this course. I learned a
lot of useful, interesting and amazing things...This was excellent."

The local Union co-ordinator, Peter Horvath was present throughout
and played a key role in the whole programme. He stated at the
end,"When we heard about 'Relay' we were immediately excited, and
what we have experienced in the last two weeks is more than we
expected. It was a privilege to be the first Union to take part in
this important programme. We wish we could hear it again and let the
Bible form our vision and strengthen our Adventist identity."

The second section of the course focusing on Youth Outreach was
taught by Paul Tompkins and Michael Hamilton, TED Personal Ministries
Director. Each student left the programme with an action plan in
place outlining both personal and group projects in which they will
be involved until the course re-convenes next year for the final
session in 'Foundations of Discipleship and Leadership'.

The 'Relay' now moves on to Sweden where the second course will be
held at Ekebyholm from 21 September - 5 October 2008.


TEA FOR TWO AND MANY MORE...[P. Horvath/F. Tuske/TED News Staff/TED
News]

Budapest, Hungary - For the 13th time during the 16 years that the
renowned Sziget Festival has been running, Hungarian Adventist youth
were ready to reach out to a crowd of visitors. The Festival is one
of the largest annual music and cultural festivals in Europe and
attracts approximately 70,000 visitors per day.

As in previous years a team, including university and college
students and some young pastors, turned an old American army tent
into a tea house at the Festival. Each day the youth team, with about
about 20 volunteers, organised various activities beside the tent,
with the purpose of initiating a dialogue and encouraging people to
assess their values. This year the American Adventist band, 'Fade',
visited the Festival, assisting the work in the tea house, as well as
performing.

For the five days of the Festival the tea house was bursting with
visitors, especially at night. It is estimated that the tea house has
attracted about 700 visitors each year, many of whom return year
after year seeking to learn more about God. About 70% of the visitors
are not from Hungary, and many of the conversations in the tea house
are held in English.

Peter Horvath, Youth Director of the Adventist church in Hungary,
comments, "The festival is a huge event by Hungarian standards, and
our team considered it a privilege to be involved. They are dedicated
to their work which they continue throughout the year at a youth club
in Budapest called 'Tea-Church'. We are looking forward to the Sziget
Festival next year, and we invite representatives from other
countries to help us serve the youngsters from all over Europe, in
their native languages".


BUILDING FRIENDSHIP AND FAITH...[Aranka Bajic/TED News Staff/TED
News]

Beirut, Lebanon - A successful evangelistic outreach event for
children, lasting for five days, was held in Beirut this summer for
the period 30 June - 4 July. One hundred and twenty children attended
the 'Bug Safari' Vacation Bible School (VBS) programme. Among this
group of children, only 25 came from Adventist homes.

With the support of Jimmy Choufany, Principal of the Bouchrieh
Adventist School, the classrooms were turned into learning stations
where children could explore Bible teachings, play games, perform
music, do craft work, and much more.

The support team was made up of Sabbath school teachers, parents,
teenagers from the University and Bouchrieh Churches, and even some
visitors spending their holiday in Lebanon offered their assistance.
Some were teaching, some singing, and some were assisting with the
craft work. Others contributed by bringing food and treats for the
children and helping with transportation.

"Our main goal was to make friends [and] to build relationships with
those who attended the meetings," said Miriam Asmar, one of the VBS
teachers. "It was a great privilege for us to participate in this
programme. I strongly recommend the VBS programme to [other]
churches, so that they can experience the pleasure of extending
friendship to non-believers. You will need the commitment and support
of your church, but it is a great opportunity to experience the joy
of witnessing every year.

"A lot of hard work, time and money were spent, but we are happy for
this opportunity to spread the Good News about God's love..." said
Mouna Matta, who organised this successful event. "Seeing the kid's
enthusiasm we were empowered and encouraged to do our best. The
children and parents were sad when the week came to an end, and they
wanted to extend the programme."


TRIP WITH AN IMPACT...[Britt Celine Oldebraaten/TED News Staff/TED
News]

Vik, Norway - Thirty three young volunteers from Norway and Iceland
spent three weeks, 27 July-17 August, in Cambodia and Thailand this
summer, offering their assistance with various projects run by the
Norway Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), and in
cooperation with the Adventist Youth Department in Norway.

The youth visited ADRA's 'Keep Girls Safe' project in Northern
Thailand where it is a common problem for vulnerable young girls to
be sold into prostitution. The project provides scholarship,
education and shelter to the girls. The Nordic youth spent memorable
time with the girls; playing and singing together, and they even
learned how to plant rice.

In Cambodia the volunteers visited ADRA's project that provides local
young adults with health education (HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, puberty, the
danger of sexual exploitation of children and youth and children's
rights). This then enables the young adults to educate children and
youth aged 10-24, in their local communities. The project aims to
reach 171,000 young people in Cambodia.

In addition to visiting ADRA's projects in both countries, the Nordic
group helped out for one week in the SALT orphanage in Siem Reap,
Cambodia. The orphanage currently has around 140 children, some of
whom have contracted HIV. The group helped paint a new orphanage, and
offered activities like drawing, guitar classes, computer classes,
singing and piano lessons for the children, closing each day with
singing and a Bible drama.

"I know what trips like this means for the participants, and I have
always wanted to do something like this to help", says Helene
Berntsen, a veterinary student from Oslo. "It really impressed me to
see how the girls were looked after, took care of each other, and how
grateful they seemed to be living at the 'Keep Girls Safe' shelter",
she added.

One of the two group leaders, Britt Celine Oldebråten, working for
ADRA Norway, says, "I was 17 when I first participated on a youth
trip like this, to an orphanage in Ethiopia...it had a great impact
on me...and this is also why we continue to organise these trips for
young people". This year ADRA Norway's annual appeal focuses on
Thailand and Cambodia, and the goal is to prevent human trafficking
in these particular countries; and for this reason these countries
were chosen for their destination.

The next youth trip will be in 2010, and the planned destination is
Africa.


TEEN BIBLE STUDY AND BAPTISMS...(A. Bajic/A. M. Wollan/TED News
Staff/TED News)

Beirut, Lebanon - During the year five young people made the
wonderful decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour and were
baptised in their local church in Lebanon, and another five teens are
preparing for baptism in the near future.

Three years ago Aranka Bajic, Children's Ministries Director for the
Middle East Union (MEU), organised weekly Friday night Bible studies
for teens in her local church. About 10 teens attended the weekly
meetings, taught this year by Pastors Maywald Jesudass, Tibor
Szilvasi, Levon Maksoudian and Milan Bajic, assisted by students from
the Middle East University. This initiative is believed to have
influenced the young people's decision to commit their lives to
Christ.

Together with the Bible study the organisers of the meetings kept in
mind the social needs of the young people. Fun activities and small
treats were part of the Friday night experience, to help young people
bond and form friendships which will provide a social network and a
secure environment that will help them stay in the Church.

"Seeing these young people making this most important decision of
their life fills me, their families, their Sabbath School teacher and
the church as a whole, with a joy that cannot be described," says
Aranka, and she adds, "The pre-teens, 10-12 years old, are now
anxiously waiting for their turn to start with the same study. Next
Autumn we need will need to divide the group into two in order to
meet the needs of the different age groups."

__________________________________________________________________
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

Website: www.ted-adventist.org

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