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

9 February 2005

In this Issue:

* England: 'Mind the Gap' is well received
* Greece: 'Small Group Ministry' grows the church
* Latvia: Seventh-day Adventist Church Korinta
* TED Prayer Guide for week 13 ? 19 February


'MIND THE GAP' IS WELL RECEIVED

ST. ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] ? The first two programmes in the 'Mind the
Gap' satellite television series with Dwight Nelson, on the topics of
Faith and the Bible, have been broadcast on the Hope Channel across
Europe. The programme takes the form of a group discussion with
interviews and musical items. Reports received so far indicate that
the programmes have been well received and listeners have been
challenged in their thinking.

In St. Albans, the local Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted about 30
people including 4 non-members, one of whom responded to Dwight's
challenge that faith only works if you try it, by confirming "I'm
going to try that". Eager to watch more and yet knowing she would
miss some of the transmissions she voiced her concern and was
informed that a DVD of the series was in production and would be
available in the near future and that she was welcome to view it in
the home of a member.

The Stanborough Park Church, on both evenings, has hosted 50 people
including 10-15 non-members. Following the programme on 'the Bible',
one lady was heard to request a Bible from the local pastor who
willing gave her one as a gift.

In Sheffield, the young people of the church set up their church hall
in a café style for the series and they had a number of visitors who
have really enjoyed the discussion style programmes.

'Mind the Gap' is part of the LIFEdevelopment strategy and will
continue to be shown on the Hope Channel at 19:00 and 20:00 GMT,
Mondays to Fridays 7 ? 11 and 14 ? 18 February 2005. Future
programmes will include topics on Prayer, Jesus, Jesus Death and
Resurrection, Jesus Second Coming, the Holy Spirit, Human Nature,
Healing and Community.

[ANR Staff/ANR]


'SMALL GROUP MINISTRY' GROWS THE CHURCH

ATHENS, GREECE [ANR] ? For many years the Seventh-day Adventist
Church in Greece was struggling for growth. However, eight years ago
Pastor Apostolos Maglis, President of the Adventist Church in Greece,
and Pastor Peter Roennfeldt, Ministerial secretary for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European region, helped
Greece start a new project ? 'Small Group Ministry'.

After training local pastors, elders and members, they started
working with great enthusiasm and today, eight years later, we are
able to see the results. The membership has grown by 375%, and Tithes
by 650%. Ninety percent of the membership growth came from 'Small
Group Ministry'.

One of the small groups (nine young adults) has set a new goal; to
establish a new church in an unchurched area. "In this modern age,
friendship evangelism and small group ministries are the way forward"
says Paul Clee, Personal Ministries Director for the Seventh-day
Adventist Church in the Trans-European region. "It makes more friends
and contacts for the Lord than most other methods. As a small group
meets and fellowships together, then opens the Bible for study, a
deeper spirituality grows amongst the members of that group, and from
them to the "mother" church."

"I am thrilled" continues Clee, "at the obvious numerical growth of
the work in Greece. If we are really serious about the Good News of
Christ's soon return, then we must pray for these - and all the many
thousands of small groups that meet around the world."

[ANR Staff/ANR]


SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH KORINTA

RIGA, LATVIA [ANR] ? Korinta essentially is a dream of a place, where
young people?s lives can be touched and changed; where the lonely can
find fellowship; the thirsty, share a worship experience with other
Christians; and longing hearts, find Christ. Korinta, an organised
Seventh-day Adventist Church in the centre of Riga, capital of
Latvia, is lead by the young people all of whom are volunteers;
Korinta church has no paid staff.

The church was started at the beginning of 2003, after three people
returned from a church-planting seminar in Sweden. They gathered
together a team and started planning and organizing. In the beginning
they had a paid pastor, but after experiencing leadership
difficulties, they continued to run the church themselves. The
beginning of 2004 was like a fresh start with new people joining the
core team and new training being given. The existing strategic plan
was updated, paying significant attention to establishing and
developing small groups.

The vision of Korinta is to become a numerically and spiritually
growing church, where people realize, develop and use their spiritual
gifts to reach people for Christ. Their target audience is teens and
young adults. It has various ministries, including a core team, small
groups, leadership team, worship team, media team, arts team and
others.

Every Sabbath they offer a church service with relevant teaching,
inspiring music, drama and meaningful prayer time. But the real life
in Korinta happens during the week, when its rooms are busy with
small groups, and teams preparing for the upcoming worship services
and other events. To meet unchurched people Korinta organises events
'outside' the building, like retreats, friends? evenings and camps,
where members along with their friends come together, listen to
music, sing songs, eat snacks, play games and have various
discussions.

Korinta church also organizes various charity events. The last one,
organized at Christmas 2004, was when sweets were gathered and an
event was organized for the blind children in a boarding school.

During the last year Korinta church has grown in membership from 18
to 31 baptised people, with 50 people in average attending their
weekly worship services.

[Guntis Bukalders/ANR]


TED PRAYER GUIDE FOR WEEK 13 ? 19 FEBRUARY 2005

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] ? From a most secluded prison-cell in the
country came this letter to the Bible Correspondence School (The
Norwegian Bible Institute; NBI) ?I have been a criminal, and I have
been in prison before
That is also where I am right now
But I have
had an experience with Jesus
this Bible course from the Norwegian
Bible Institute is the only contact I am allowed to have with others

I have now received a new life unto salvation by faith in Jesus.?
Later on the prison inmate wrote that Jesus had become a true friend
who set her free while still in her bonds!

New Bible courses and a vigorous follow up program are continually
paying off in the form of baptisms. Last year 41% of all those
baptized in the Norwegian Union had been students at the NBI, and
only 2 or 3 of them had any Adventist background from before.

Prayer Requests:

1. The development of new courses which can catch the interest of a
nation suffering spiritual decline.
2. The staff and students, and that the visitation and follow up
program will continue to yield a rich harvest.

[Roger Robertson/ANR]


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ANR Staff: Miroslav Pujic, news director, Beverly Coysten, editor
ANR, 119 St Peter's Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England
E-mail: anr@ted-adventist.org
Website: www.ted-adventist.org

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