ANR Bulletin
Adventist News Review
Trans-European Division of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
18 May 2005
In this Issue:
* England: Church leaders plan the way forward
* Serbia: Jasa Tomic flooded
* England: LIFEdevelopment launch at St. Albans
* Slovenia: 'Everlasting Joy' for Adventist young adults
* TED Prayer Guide for week 22 ? 28 May
CHURCH LEADERS PLAN THE WAY FORWARD
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] ? Thirty-one members of the executive
committee of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-Europe
region (TED), together with invitees, met 16-17 May at the
headquarters office in St. Albans, England for its annual Spring
Meetings to discuss a wide range of church-related business. ?Our
last executive committee meeting for this 5-year cycle was marked by
a sense of deep spiritual fellowship and commitment to our task" says
Dr Bertil Wiklander, TED president. "In our discussions and
decisions, it was remarkable how clearly we understood the way we
must move forward in order to fulfill our mission challenge in the
TED.? Donald E. Robinson, GC Associate Treasurer attended as
representative from the world-wide headquarters.
Johann E. Johannsson, TED Treasurer, presented an audited financial
statement which was voted. ?During the year 2004 the financial
operation of the Division has remained stable and in line with the
budget" says Johannsson. "We have continued to set aside 20% of the
Tithe Sharing Income for Global Mission and Evangelism within our
territory. Mainly due to exchange fluctuations, specifically related
to the weak US dollar, the final results only showed a small surplus.
However, during the last couple of weeks the US dollar has
strengthened and we hope this indicates that we are moving towards a
brighter future.?
The Treasurer also reported that the TED Treasury Department is
working with the Unions, Attached Fields, and Newbold College on
several major issues. These include: reorganisation of Organisations
and Institutions and maintenance and Risk Management; installation of
a new SunPlus accounting system around the division; New Remuneration
Policy for the TED; Retirement Plans and Funding; Treasurers' Meeting
and Training Sessions; and last, but not least, increased focus on
Stewardship and Trust Services in order to increase future income
around the division. Increased focus and support will also be on the
Operation of Newbold College, a very important institution in the
life of the division.
An important decision was the adoption of the president?s ?elements
of a plan? for the division in 2005-2010, an outline of how the
division may achieve continued growth in the future. The major focus
of the plan will be to emphasise discipleship; worship
revitalisation; professional growth, training and development; small
groups and church planting; effective use of media for nurture and
witnessing; and reaching secular postmodern people for Christ.
In addition, the Committee voted the five-yearly reports presented by
the division departments; a new investment policy; dates and venues
for division pastors' councils in 2006 and 2007; approval for a
Valuegenesis study where attitudes and values among young people in
TED will be measured; the results of which will be expected in 2008;
as well as a division education convention in 2008. Also voted, were
scholarships for the next academic year for students at Newbold
College; an updated scholarship policy and a new part-time MA
programme for Newbold College.
Prime time was given to preparing for the General Conference Session,
29 June ? 9 July, in St Louis, USA. Besides careful study of the
election process, emphasis was given to the division reports to the
session. In a programme for the public on Saturday evening, 2 July,
the TED will be featured in a video combined with live presentations.
The video was previewed and approved by the Executive Committee. The
following day, an edited version of the president?s written report
will be printed by the Adventist Review, while the full text of his
report will be available on the TED web site
www.ted-adventist.org. At the division?s booth in the exhibition hall, visitors will meet
some of our delegates and receive an attractive booklet with detailed
information about the work of the church in TED. The session
delegates will be offered a special gift of a genuine clay oil lamp
made in Israel.
The closing programme on Saturday evening, 9 July, will be a Parade
of Nations involving about 40 countries from the TED. This will
contribute a live understanding of how many countries have been
reached by the Advent message and how many remain to be reached.
It was reported to the committee that a new magazine, 'Adventist
World', will have 18,000 copies distributed throughout the TED.
The meeting was closed with joy and thanks to the Lord for the 12%
growth of the TED during this quinquennium.
[Miroslav Pujic/ANR]
JASA TOMIC FLOODED
JASA TOMIC, SERBIA [ANR] ? On 21-22 April, the Tamis River overflowed
its banks causing extensive flooding in eastern Vojvodina and western
Romania. The town of Jasa Tomic in Serbia was devastated with more
than 250 houses completely destroyed and more than 700 houses totally
flooded. Since most of these houses are constructed out of clay
bricks, there is a fear that many more houses will be heavily damaged
or completely destroyed when the water subsides. Since the flooding
the water has receded by 50 cm and could take up to 5 weeks more to
totally subside. Around 2000 people have been moved to the municipal
collective centres or are accommodated with relatives and friends.
ADRA responded immediately by sending 3 truckloads of supplies that
included 320 boxes of clothes, shoes for 110 people, 200 kilos of
corn flour for kachamak (a Serbian porridge), 500 candles, 6˝ tons of
bread flour, 200 boxes of food and 400 baby meals. These trucks
loaded with clothes and food were sent from the ADRA warehouse near
Belgrade and in cooperation with the South East Europe Union, who
funded the bread flour.
A proposal for further help was submitted, and ADRA-UK and
ADRA-Trans-Europe responded by giving a further ?15,573 to provide
more food for the families who have lost their homes or await water
subsidence in order to return home. On 10 May the first truck load of
this new project delivered 6,000 meals and 3,320 litres of drinking
water to the residents of Jasa Tomic. Over the next few weeks further
supplies will be provided.
Roy Richardson, regional director for ADRA Trans-Europe accompanied
Dragan Pejovski, country director for ADRA Serbia, on a visit to the
town and was able to see first-hand the devastation and damage to
people's homes and livelihoods. ?It wasn't an easy experience to be
paddled around the streets in a little boat and witness the hardship
facing many families? says Richardson, ?I could see the tremendous
loss by the many houses that have collapsed and was able to feel a
little of their grief. The hospital grounds also are still covered by
a metre of water. The doctor in charge told me they had been able to
evacuate all patients to a neighbouring town prior to the flooding.
His concern was for after the flood, "we need new buildings and
equipment" he said, "but I am impressed by the resilience of the
people and how they are making the best of this terrible situation.?
ADRA Serbia will continue to support these people as they are able..
[Roy Richardson & Dragan Pejovski/ANR]
LIFEDEVELOPMENT LAUNCH AT ST ALBANS
Following a series of training seminars and promotional events
LIFEdevelopment was officially recognised as the primary evangelistic
approach of the St Albans Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sabbath 7
May. To mark the launch a special two-hour programme replaced the
usual morning church services underlining the message that in today's
culture we sometimes need to do things differently.
One such difference is the use of music in worship, and the morning
started with more than half an hour of praise and worship lead by the
church's praise team and band. Student missionary Matt Vincent then
presented a slot entitled 'About Our Neighbours' which outlined the
demographic make up of the city of St Albans as well as that of the
immediate neighbourhood of the church.
Pastor Miroslav Pujic, Communication Director for the Adventist
Church in Trans-Europe gave the main presentation entitled 'Designed
to Serve'. "Most of our neighbours are unchurched and secular," he
said. "They are not interested in God or religion and the only way
they will find out about Christ is through us. We are unique in that
we are the broadcast screen of God. As previews or trailers sell
movies, so we are God's preview." However, Pastor Pujic went on to
highlight the difficulties that Christians face in even getting to
meet secular people in any meaningful way. "LIFEdevelopment is all
about making friends, which is the most difficult part of being a
witness. We need to get connected with secular people, to listen to
them and talk with them, eat with them and meet their needs. We need
to win their confidence before we can talk to them about God."
Following Pastor Pujic's presentation a number of St Albans church
members, led by LIFEdevelopment coordinator Carolyn Schulz, told of
the various LIFEdevelopment activities in which the church is already
involved. These included three different types of café programme -
men's, women's, and youth, as well as an over-50s club and a kids
club.
Visiting from the nearby church of Stanborough Park, Watford, was Ed
Hammond who told the congregation a little of the LIFEdevelopment
activities that have flourished there since the construction of the
Stanborough Centre. These included the very popular Café Blue,
various clubs and special meals, and a programme of visiting
lecturers.
Concluding the morning Jonathan Barrett, local pastor, confirmed his
support for LIFEdevelopment evangelism. "The old methods just don't
work any more with the secular population that we are targeting here
in St Albans. If we are going to reach anyone in this sector we have
to try new methods of making friends with people and getting them
connected with the church." In a final act of commitment Pastor
Barrett placed five glasses on a table at the front of the church and
invited everyone present, even the visitors, to write their names on
a piece of paper and place it in one of the glasses, depending on the
LIFEdevelopment activity in which they wished to be involved.
For further information on evangelistic approaches at St Albans see
their new LIFEdevelopment website at:
<http://stalbans.lifedevelopment.info>.
[John Surridge/ANR]
"EVERLASTING JOY" FOR ADVENTIST YOUNG ADULTS
ROGASKA SLATINA, SLOVENIA [ANR] ? More than 250 youth from the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Adriatic region comprising
Albania, Croatia and Slovenia met for their ninth annual congress
held in the town of Rogaska Slatina from 5 ? 8 May. Participants
enjoyed activities including worships, presentations, social and
sports activities, fun evenings and ecological action.
Branko Kidric, MA, Mayor of the city of Rogaska Slatina, welcomed all
the participants during the opening ceremony and thanked the youth in
advance for being willing to do some active work in the city. Zmago
Godina, president of the Adventist church in Slovenia organised and
coordinated the more than one hundred pairs of hands in cleaning and
refurbishing the walkways in Rogaska.
Guest speaker for the congress was Miroslav Kis, PhD, professor of
ethics and chair of the Department of Theology at Andrews University.
He talked to the participants in panel sessions as well as in private
conversations, about sexual ethics and the everlasting joy found in
proper relationships.
Special guest was Carlos Martinez from Spain with his mime
performances based on inspiration from the Bible and experiences from
every day life. "People here are very open and friendly" he said,
"they are very tactile like in Spain, so I feel very much at home."
All participants commented enthusiastically about the guests,
activities, songs, food, weather and our wonderful God, who created
all this and gave them the opportunity to associate with one another.
Bistrovic said, "I saw you representing your heavenly homeland and I
am proud of you."
Branko Bistrovic, president of the Adventist Church in the Adriatic
thanked all the staff who helped organise the event for its
tremendous success. Last year, the youth had been involved in the pan
European Youth Congress in Wroclaw, Poland and this year they met in
Slovenia for the first time in the history of this new country. Two
years previously a bad case of Salmonella poisoning affected about
150 participants and disrupted the programme.
Hotel staff commented: ?Why do you not stay here longer? You are
welcome here as one of our preferred guests.?
[Zvonko Virtic/ANR]
TED PRAYER GUIDE FOR WEEK 22 ? 28 MAY 2005
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] ? ?The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and
its gates have been burned with fire.? (Neh.1:3b). Jerusalem in ruins
is a picture of a life that has lost its defences against attack and
lies open to hurt and misery. Nehemiah (a lay leader) led the
rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.
In Finland some victims, many members and the church was hurt by the
news of abuse in our church. Some lost their courage and stopped
witnessing for Christ. We?ve had a period of crisis, which is now
thankfully behind us. There is hope in Christ and there is hope in
crisis. We are now rebuilding the walls and gates of our church. We
pray and seek God?s understanding in times of rebuilding the vision
and mission of our church.
God took away the pride and good feelings of being ?our? church. God
is everything. God showed us that we need to go back to the roots of
the gospel, become ?a Peter church? that makes mistakes, but loves
God more than anything. God is teaching us about friendships. We are
learning again what it is to be a disciple: to be a friend; to walk
with them and lead them to Jesus.
As we request a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit every day, God is
taking care of the growth and the future of His church. Adventism in
Finland is becoming a church planting movement. We praise God for the
good atmosphere which has taken over the new administration. People
are praying and many new churches are being planted.
Prayer Requests:
1. The rebuilding of the church in Finland
2. The 4 church plants in Helsinki
3. The new student church plant in Turku
4. The new family church plant in Tampere
[Atte Helminen/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:
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