ANN May 10, 2005 - 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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#38690 - 05/11/05 03:49 AM ANN May 10, 2005
Stan Jensen Carpe Diem!!! Registered: 09/15/06 Posts: 3940 Loc: 49.05° Lat- 122.3° Long	ANN Bulletin Adventist News Network Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters May 10, 2005 In This Issue: --------------------- * Church Opens New Regional Headquarters Building in Kenya * Cameroon: Crash Claims Life of Local Church President * Zambia: Adventist Church Centenary Draws Country's President, Predecessor * North America: Adventist 'Reality' TV Show to Explore Life's Origins * Lesotho: Sewing Teaches Women with HIV/AIDS Self-Sufficiency * News Briefs --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Church Opens New Regional Headquarters Building in Kenya Mbagathi, Nairobi, Kenya .... [John T.J. Banks/ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- Some 28 months after it was organized as a new division, or trans-national region, of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the East-Central Africa Division's new headquarters complex in Mbagathi, a suburb of Nairobi, were officially opened on May 9 by Pastor Jan Paulsen, world church president, along with the Hon. Dr. A.A. Moody Awori, vice president and minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Kenya. In Kenya "we may look poor but are actually sitting on plenty! May you find our country and its people welcoming and ready to join hands in service for God and humanity," Dr. Awori said as he congratulated the Seventh-day Adventist Church on behalf of the Kenyan Government. He lauded the church for its support of the nation in education and health, as well as publishing facilities. These functions, he said, are usually the responsibilities of government, "but you assist government by providing [these] services" in Kenya. Noting the hillside location of the new headquarters, next to Maxwell Adventist Academy, Paulsen said "It is appropriate that these facilities are set on a hill to be a welcoming beam of light for all." "The Adventist church is also to be a good partner with government in education, health and in development and relief programs," he added, saying the church should help wean people from what he called "dependencies," a legacy of colonialism. "Africa should rapidly move towards self-reliance and move towards a better future for our children," he said. Those attending the ceremony included members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of other faith communities and presidents of three neighboring Adventist Church trans-national regions: Pastors Pardon Mwansa from Southern Africa-Indian Ocean region; Luka T. Daniel from West Africa; and Bertil Wiklander from Trans-European region, which includes parts of North Africa. The realignment of Adventist Church work in Africa was a result of a rapid growth in members. By the end of 1999, more than one-third of worldwide Adventist membership was in Africa. In order to meet local needs, church congregations in 10 nations, as well as four major institutions, were organized into the East-Central Africa Division on Jan. 1, 2003, with groundbreaking for the new headquarters taking place in September of that year. Constructed in rich African architectural themes the total project includes, 11 office blocks, 20 houses, 16 staff and three guest apartments. N.K. Brothers Ltd of Nairobi were the lead contractors on the project. Hosted by Pastor Geoffrey Mbwana, Adventist Church president in East-Central Africa, the ceremony included music from the Adventist-owned University of Eastern Africa choir, the Maxwell Academy Band and the Makongeni church choir from the Masai region in whose territory the new headquarters is located. The Adventist Church's East-Central Africa region includes Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. More than 2 million people worship weekly in 8,800 Adventist congregations in the region. ------------------------------------------------------- Cameroon: Crash Claims Life of Local Church President Douala, Cameroon .... [Jean Emmanuel Nlo Nlo/ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- Seventh-day Adventist Church Pastor Celestin Rakotoarisoa Herimanana, 44, was killed May 4 in a bus crash while returning to Douala from Yaounde, the nation's capital. He is survived by his wife and two young sons. Pastor Herimanana, a native of Madagascar and a missionary to Cameroon, was president of the church in West Cameroon. He was one of the first graduates of the Adventist University of Central Africa in Rwanda, and after pastoring churches in Madagascar and serving as local church president there, came to the West Cameroon region in 2001. During the past four years, his work led to the region qualifying for "conference" status within the Adventist Church, and, colleagues say, was a beloved minister in the area. Administrators in the church's West Africa region had planned to elect Herimanana as president of the church in Chad on May 6, meaning a new assignment for the veteran worker. Herimanana had gone to Yaounde, a three-hour, 155-mile (250 km) bus trip, on May 4 to pick up a long-awaited visa for travel to St. Louis, Missouri, United States, to attend the 58th world business session of the Adventist Church in June. According to reports, the bus crashed while trying to avoid an oncoming truck. In 2003, there were 33,173 Adventist church members worshipping weekly in nearly 1,000 congregations in Cameroon. The Adventist Church has been active in the nation since 1926. ------------------------------------------------------- Zambia: Adventist Church Centenary Draws Country's President, Predecessor Rusangu, Monze, Zambia .... [George Mwansa/ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- Returning to the mission station where Seventh-day Adventist Church work first began in Zambia a century ago, Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa joined church officials and members in noting the 100th anniversary on May 6. The following day, former President Kenneth Kaunda, who led the nation for 27 years, visited the celebrations. "I want ... to commend the Seventh-day Adventist Church and other churches for the tireless efforts to fight evil in our society through the preaching of the word of God, Mwanawasa told the audience at the Rusangu Mission in Monze, near the Zambian Adventist University, which grew out of the primary school started by early missionaries. The message of the Adventist Church first entered Zambia through American missionary, W. H. Anderson, in 1905. Anderson and a few helpers trekked from Southern Rhodesia (today known as Zimbabwe) to establish the work at Rusangu in the Monze region of Zambia. In Zambia, Adventist Church membership has since grown to almost 500,000 out of a national population of 10 million, or roughly five percent of the country. Mwanawasa, a Christian who has also attended satellite evangelistic meetings held by the Voice of Prophecy, an Adventist media ministry, in the nation's capital, Lusaka, said that while he had wanted to attend the Adventist centenary, a scheduling conflict almost prevented him, until it was "suddenly" resolved. Zambia's ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, or MMD, had planned a convention for the same day but the convention was cancelled. He credited it to the power of prayer. Mwanawasa commended the Adventist Church "for living up to the mission and vision of our Lord ... set for the church" and urged the church to continue on the same path. He also commended the church for the innumerable contributions it has made to "the spiritual and social development of our people and country." He cited the education, health development and relief sectors in which the church had made significant contributions in national development. The president then spoke about the Bible's transforming power: "Biblical teaching transforms and shapes the hearts, minds and characters of people and turns them not only into good disciples of Christ Jesus but also into good and responsible citizens. If a nation has the fortune to be led by God-fearing men and women of high moral integrity, it will certainly prosper as public affairs would be in safe and responsible hands." Earlier, Cornelius Matandiko, president of the Adventist Church in Zambia, thanked Mwanawasa "for providing an atmosphere in Zambia which enables freedom of working and [the] freedom to knock on any door for the purpose of witnessing for the Lord that we love. Without the freedom of worship our church would never have grown beyond Rusangu." And Pardon Mwansa, president of the Adventist Church in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean region, thanked Mwanawasa for traveling more 125 miles (200 km) by road from Lusaka in order to officiate at the occasion. The next day, Zambia's first president, Kenneth David Kaunda, commended the early missionaries as "true servants of the people who practiced to the letter one of the Lord's greatest commandments: 'to love our neighbor as we love ourselves." Kaunda said this when he officiated as guest of honor on Sabbath, or Saturday, May 7, in services at Rusangu Mission in Monze, during the church's centennial celebrations. Referring to the early missionaries, Kaunda, the son of a missionary himself, said: "They understood clearly that the neighbor the Lord was referring to did not need to be of their own race, nationality or even religion, but any human being created in the Lord's image." Kaunda, a leading luminary of anti-colonial freedom fighters, said that the church in his time "identified with the oppressed and stood side by side with us in our campaign for change." He added that while preaching the word of God was the primary task of the church, "we should remain mindful that its work is multi-faceted. This may include advocacy campaigns for human, social, economic and political rights of citizens." He also said the church may find itself at loggerheads with those in power, "but as servants of the people, you must not relent in raising the concerns of the voiceless.... As Christians, we have a responsibility to continue advocating for every human being to enjoy their God-given rights, especially the weak and vulnerable in society." ------------------------------------------------------- North America: Adventist 'Reality' TV Show to Explore Life's Origins Silver Spring, Maryland, United States .... [Taashi Rowe/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- Continuing debate surrounding a centuries-old scientific question may not have the "reality" TV appeal of, for example, a wardrobe and lifestyle makeover, but two Seventh-day Adventist college students are out to change that: finding answers to life's biggest questions along the way. Tiffany Larson and Matthew Sharrock, two students at the church's Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, began a six-week road trip May 3, hoping to explore the topic from both a biblical and scientific worldview. In what is being billed as the first-ever "Adventist reality show," the pair will travel to 13 different locations across the United States that stimulate the faith-science dialogue. Locations include Dayton, Tennessee, home of the historic Scopes "monkey trial," in which a public school teacher faced jail for teaching evolution; South Bend, Indiana, to interview an industrial designer; Arizona's Grand Canyon and South Dakota on a archeological dig for dinosaurs. The show will also include interviews with participants in the church's 2004 Faith and Science Conference in Denver, Colorado. Larson is a communications major, and Sharrock a biophysics major. "I felt this incredible draw to the project," Larson said. "I could feel God pushing me to try out for the part, even though I didn't think I would get it. But when I found out that I did, I could hear Him say, 'You should have trusted me!'" Stacia Dulan, project coordinator for Church Resource Center (CRC), a division of the North American region of the Adventist church, explained, the goal of CRC is to provide resources such as this series that will help pastors grow healthy congregations. Pastors have consistently said they had no resources for discussing origins. "It's a controversial topic. It's hard to discuss it 100 percent biblically and 100 percent scientifically," Dulan said. "The church teaches one side and schools the other. Young people end up making the decision on their own." Just last year, following a series of faith and science discussions held over a period of three years, the Adventist Church reaffirmed its belief in the Biblical account of creation. Dulan said this program will be more of a teaching tool to stimulate discussion not spoon-feed answers. While the program may be fashioned after the ever popular 'reality' shows, it will be more of a documentary-style travelogue. "We realized the importance of the subject of origins, as well as the need for making progressive TV and film that is relevant to young people. We're in need of programming that appeals to young people," said Paul Kim, producer and director of the TV series, explaining the significance of creating a show like this. The series will be previewed at the Adventist Church's business meeting in St. Louis this summer. The entire series will air on the church-owned satellite television network, the Hope Channel (www.hopetv.org) later this summer. ------------------------------------------------------- Lesotho: Sewing Teaches Women with HIV/AIDS Self-Sufficiency Maseru, Lesotho .... [AAIM/ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- In a region where poverty and HIV/AIDS are inextricably linked, a recent workshop in Lesotho taught women sewing skills as a means of income generation. The "Workshop on Sewing for HIV Positive Women" is a small but significant step towards self-sufficiency where a third of the tiny country's adult population is living with HIV/AIDS. Twenty-four women attended the six-day workshop organized by Dr. Eugenia Giordano, associate director of Adventist - AIDS International Ministry (AAIM) and Harilala Andriamahefa a trainer from Madagascar, in association with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lesotho. The participants were a mix of Adventist and non-Adventist women who not only learned sewing skills but learned more about HIV and AIDS Awareness. "Poverty is very much related with the HIV epidemic and the progression of AIDS. Many people infected with HIV die faster because of lack of food and basic care," Dr. Oscar Giordano, executive director of AAIM said. "If people are trained in skills that will help in income generation, they will then eat better and live better, hence their lives will be prolonged," added Pastor Mainoane, president of the Adventist church in Lesotho. "The trainees here have been trained in order to be able to generate income for themselves, and above all, to be empowered to train others." Income generation is difficult in Lesotho, where a large part of its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, according to the United Nations. This makes AIDS--which the government has declared a national disaster --an even more dangerous threat to the country's approximately 1.8 million residents. This workshop was made possible because of a joint initiative of AAIM and a group of students from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health in California, United States. The students raised funds to purchase the sewing machines. The funds will also go to starting another "Poverty Alleviation Program" in the Northwestern part of the country. Over several days the participants ... "shared with me their concerns and sufferings, their fear for the future, and the uncertainty on how they will feed their children and themselves. Most of the participants are HIV Positive women in a desperate situation, and have lost their husbands." said Dr. Eugenia Giordano. One 27-year-old participant wrote the following testimony: "My husband died recently of AIDS, and I am also HIV positive. I have two children of four and two years old. I was frustrated and desperate about my future. I believe that because of this workshop my dreams will come true. I will be like other women. I will have my own business, and will be able to feed my children and secure their future." The first lady of Lesotho, Mrs. Mathato S. Mosisili attended the closing ceremony of the workshop. "You have made a difference in [these women's] lives. Now, they are able to focus their attention on their daily lives. They are able to see very clearly and to sleep peacefully and say 'tomorrow I will be able to do this...' Now, these women have something new to think about, and when they wake-up in the morning something important to do," said Mrs. Mosisili. AAIM was started about a year ago as a joint project of the church's world headquarters, the church in Africa, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), and Loma Linda University and Medical Center to find resources for programs like this. "Our dream is to see each of the churches transformed in a support center for the community through church-based support groups. We can make a difference in the lives of each of the people we reach on a one to one basis using Jesus' method and practicing His love and compassion. Given the magnitude of this tragedy of HIV and AIDS, we would like to hear fewer words and see more action. We would like to see this kind of programs multiplied all over Africa" said Dr. Oscar Giordano. ------------------------------------------------------- News Briefs Silver Spring, Maryland, United States .... [Compiled by ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- 44 Youth Killed In Road Accident in Zambia Kawambwa, Zambia .... [Chanda Mwenya/ ANN] A fatal road accident killed 44 students of Kawambwa High School on April 8, near Kawambwa, Zambia. Among them were 18 Adventist youth. It was the last day of the school term when 110 students packed into a truck on the way to their respective homes when the accident happened. According to a witness who survived the accident, the driver of the truck lost control when descending the hill and failed to negotiate the corner. The truck overturned, killing 38 students on the spot, seriously injuring some, while others later died in hospitals. Zambia's Vice President Lupando Mwape and first lady Maureen Mwanawasa, led thousands of mourners and the bereaved family members at the April 14 burial. Conscientious Objector to be Shown on TV for Memorial Day Silver Spring, Maryland, United States ... [ANN Staff] The story of Desmond Doss, the conscientious objector who refused to carry weapons in World War II but whose bravery earned him a Congressional Medal of Honor, will be seen on TV for the first time this Memorial Day. The film, which has won several awards, has been shown to several hundreds at camp meetings, schools, pathfinders, and churches. It will be seen during primetime on PAX TV May 30, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time in the United States. Korea: Two Adventist Institutions Are Among Country's "Best Brands" Seoul, Republic of Korea [Song Sung Sub/ANN Staff] ... For the second year in a row the SDA [Seventh-day Adventist] Language Institute and Sahmyook Soybean Milk were named among 37 annual "Best Brand" award recipients from the Korean Management Association Consultants, on April 26. The 2005 awards are the 13th annual event of their kind in Korea. Management and business administration specialists, including university professors, made up the jury that evaluated candidates and selected the best for several areas including marketing, brand, design, and Internet usage. The brand names "SDA," and "Sahmyook," are well known to the public in Korea through the successful business performances of the language school and the food company. The language school began in 1969, and now has 37 branches with more than 50,000 students. Sahmyook Foods Company is a leading soybean milk producer which worldwide produces more than 2 million packs of the drink a day. ------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 2005 by Adventist News Network. 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA 20904-6600 phone: (301) 680-6306. e-mail address: adventistnews@gc.adventist.org. ANN World News Bulletin is a review of news and information issued by the Communication department from the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters and released as part of the service of Adventist News Network. It is made available primarily to religious news editors. Our news includes dispatches from the church's international offices and the world headquarters. Adventist News Network is a registered trademark of the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. Unauthorized use is strictlyprohibited. Reproduction Requirements: Reproduction of information in this article is encouraged. When reproducing this material, in full or in part, the words "Source: Adventist News Network" must appear under the headline or immediately following the article. The words "Source: Adventist News Network" must be given equal prominence to any other source that is also acknowledged. ANN Staff: Ray Dabrowski, director; Mark A. Kellner, assistant director for news; Wendi Rogers, editorial coordinator; Taashi Rowe, editorial assistant; Lynn Friday, administrative assistant. French translation by Claude Fivel, Portuguese translation by Azenilto Brito, Spanish translation by Marcos Paseggi, Italian translation by Vincenzo Annunziata and Lina Ferrara
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