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

16 February 2005

In this Issue:

* Lebanon: Members injured in Beirut bombing
* Estonia: 'The Bible And The Ball Days'
* Israel: 'Leadership training' level 1 graduation
* TED Prayer Guide for week 20 ? 26 February


MEMBERS INJURED IN BEIRUT BOMBING

BEIRUT, LEBANON [ANR] ? On Monday 14 February Dr. Armond Manassian,
teacher at Middle East University, and his wife, Pamela celebrated
Valentines Day with lunch at a hotel in Beirut.

Soon after they started their meal they were suddenly blown from
their seats by an explosion. Glass, metal, and bricks were
splintering around them. Their ears pounded and they felt their
breath knocked out of them. Feeling rather dazed, they staggered to
their feet and walked to the pavement through the broken windows.
There they waited for an ambulance while blood filled their eyes and
drenched their clothing.

At the hospital they were passed through a quick triage process where
their injuries were determined as 'not life threatening'. After
waiting some time, doctors finally began stitching the wounds on
their faces. Some of the cuts are right next to their eyes, but
thankfully no damage to the eyes. Pamela also has wounds on her arm
and shoulder and is missing a tooth.

Later that evening the Manassians were discharged and returned to
their home and children. They are praising God that their lives were
spared in this blast that happened just 80 meters from where they
were sitting.

The Manassians have lived for many years at Middle East University
where Dr. Manassian was Dean of the School of Business. Although
recently he has been working in another part of Beirut, Dr. Manassian
continues to teach some classes and help out at Middle East
University. They have two children and are active members of the
Seventh-day Adventist church in Lebanon.

We thank God for their protection and plead with Him to prevent
Lebanon from degenerating into chaos again. Things have come so far
in the last 15 years of peace. We pray that our work will be able to
grow and not be set back by renewed insecurities.

[Homer Trecartin/ANR]


'THE BIBLE AND THE BALL DAYS'

TARTU, ESTONIA [ANR] ? More than 300 young people will gather in
Estonia on the weekend of 18-20 February to celebrate their annual
'The Bible and The Ball Days'. This popular sports and Bible study
event has been a tradition for Adventist youth in Estonia for a long
time. The theme for the event has been taken from James 1:21-25,
which says (v.22 NIV) "Do not merely listen to the word, and so
deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

The main speaker and guest for the event is Mariel Pilois, Youth
Director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Finland. "Before I
received your invitation" says Pilois, "I had a clear message from
God that I should prepare a talk on James 1:17-27, but I did not know
why. Now it all makes sense."

The activities for the three day event are Bible study, games of
volleyball and a 'trivia' competition (based on the books of the
Bible: James, 1st and 2nd Peter, and the letters from John and Jude).
Teams from all over Estonia are coming to participate in the 'trivia'
and to play volleyball. Also represented, will be two teams from
Finland (Helsinki and Toivonlinna). This new tradition is forming as
the result of a friendship that has developed between the Estonian
and Finnish people. Reciprocal youth events are hosted in Finland for
the Estonian youth.

By staging these events we hope to encourage the young people to read
their Bibles more as a source of life, guidance and hope. We also aim
to propagate an active lifestyle involving sports.

The next great event for both young and old in Estonia will be held
in April when more than 500 people are expected to participate in the
'Adventist Spring-festival 2005'.

[Andres Ploompuu/ANR]


'LEADERSHIP TRAINING' LEVEL 1 GRADUATION

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL [ANR] ? December 18, 2004 was a big day for the
participants of the Women?s Ministries Leadership Training programme
in Israel. Twenty three ladies and two men graduated from Level 1 and
were presented with their diplomas by Orville Woolford, Field
Secretary and Education Director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church
in the Trans-European region; Richard Elofer and Nina Usachev,
President and Women?s Ministries Director respectively for the
Adventist Church in Israel.

Up to 50 participants had taken part once a month in the seminars
conducted by Usachev and Elofer, local pastors and Departmental
Directors. Together with their diplomas, each graduate received a CD
with Level 1 material in English, Russian or Romanian, depending upon
the make-up of their own church, in order to conduct training in
their own language.

?It has been our desire to see women, who are called by God for
service, empowered to lead? said Usachev. ?We know that the women
have waited eagerly for this material and we have finally done our
part to meet this need.?

Commenting on the occasion, Pastor Woolford remarked that "such high
enthusiasm was shown by the participants for this ministry that it
was clear that a felt need was being met. Equipping these members in
this way should have a positive impact on the future outreach plans
of the Adventist Church in Israel."

Training for Level 2 started 29 January and the next graduation
service is planned for the end of this year.

[Anne-May Wollan/ANR]


TED PRAYER GUIDE FOR WEEK 20 ? 26 FEBRUARY 2005

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] ? Marriage matters! It matters for the well
being of society in general and specifically for the best good of our
children. Karen and Ron Flowers, GC Family Ministry directors state
that; ?Parents? modelling of marriage can profoundly influence
children?s beliefs and attitudes toward marriage as well as their
present and future well-being?.

The most important thing a father can do for his children, someone
has said, is to love their mother. The statement is equally true by
changing the order of the couple in the sentence. Another person has
said that the most radical thing you can do in life is to remain
married to one person for all of your life. As we know, this is not
common in today?s society.

Christian Home and Marriage Week is set aside in the church calendar
in order that our relationships can be an encouragement to one
another. Whether we are married or single we are all part of a family
that deserves to be nourished and cherished. This week gives us all
an opportunity to celebrate our family and to show those nearest and
dearest that they are remembered and important to us.

Prayer Requests:

1. Ring; send a card, letter or email to your immediate family
members this week.
2. Arrange a special ?treat? to celebrate God?s gift of your family..
3. Pray by name for those who may be away from home..
4. Remember any church member who may be lonely at this time..

[Paul Tompkins/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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