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

1 June 2005

In this Issue:

* Hungary: Peter Andras, Hungary's oldest student
* Denmark: 125 years of organised work in Denmark celebrated at Camp
Meeting
* England: Intercessory prayer team at Session
* TED Prayer Guide for week 5 – 11 June


PETER ANDRAS, HUNGARY’S OLDEST STUDENT

PECEL, HUNGARY [ANR] – The oldest College student in Hungary, Peter
Andras, will graduate from Adventist Theological College (ATC) in
September with a BA in Theology at the age of 69 years 3 months. For
the last four years, Peter has been a resident in the dormitory with
students one-third his age. “The graduating class of five is the only
class in recent years that has not had any drop-outs since starting,”
says Dr Laszlo Hangyas, principal of the college. “This can be
attributed to Peter’s positive influence in the class. He is a
precise person, a diligent student and has been a fine example to the
others in the class, a bit like a grand-father figure to his class
mates.”

Coming from a poor family, life, while growing up was a struggle. At
an early age Peter remembers having to be the guide for his blind
grandfather. When he was ten years old his parents divorced and his
formal education suffered as a result. He wasn’t able to complete
high school but studied at a technical school becoming a carpenter
where he was able to excel at his work. Peter married at twenty and
has three children and eight grandchildren.

Being a highly skilled carpenter and with strong management skills he
soon rose to middle management in the furniture company where he was
employed. In order to become a company director he needed to complete
high school and this he did by attending night classes and graduating
at the age of thirty. He was then ‘encouraged’ to enter the Marx
University to improve his political position. He successfully worked
in the furniture business for twenty-five years.

Nearing fifty, Peter’s health began to suffer which resulted in
numerous hospital visits over a period of some years. He was
diagnosed as diabetic and with a heart and spinal problems. Being
unable to work, he became quite depressed for some time. Soon after
this Peter needed open heart surgery and a number of other
operations. He even wondered whether it was worth the struggle.
Fighting thoughts of helplessness, he sought help from a
psychologist. After four years of visits, even the psychologist gave
up on him making things even worse for him.

It was during this low time in his life that he saw a billboard
advertising a meeting on 'The Bible Lands' and decided to attend.
Peter was encouraged by the 'hope' he was hearing about and realising
his need decided to read the Bible he had been given. His interest
led to Bible Correspondence lessons and reading books by Ellen G.
White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. After
two years of further studies he was baptized in September 2000.

With his ongoing health and heart problems, a local pastor encouraged
him to attend a 3-week health evaluation programme at ¬¬¬Hencida
Lifestyle Centre. Being the only non-minister in the group, Peter
felt left out of the discussions regarding the Bible and theology.
This motivated him to want to learn more about the Bible and so he
applied to ATC to be a full time student. Peter’s wife would have
nothing to do with this new religion and gradually problems became
apparent in their relationship.

His time at college has not been easy; punctuated by a series of
accidents. The worst was when he broke his leg in two places
necessitating absence from classes for over 6 weeks while he
recovered. During this time his ‘younger’ classmates rallied together
to help him. They recorded his classes on cassette so that he could
listen to them in hospital and later at home. They shared their class
notes and typed up his hand written assignments. Doctors have told
him he needs surgery on his spine which will result in him being
bed-ridden for six months, but he has decided to delay this until
after his exams and graduation.

“Peter has been an example to us”, says classmate Palma
Csergedi-Nagy. “He is very dedicated and committed to his studies. We
have learnt much from his example and over the last four years we
have all become close and good friends.”

“I am grateful and very happy for the four years I have been able to
spend at ATC”, an emotional Peter states. “I really enjoyed studying
the Gospels and doctrines of Christianity. I want to serve God, share
my faith and help my family to know about Him. I see little signs
from time-to-time that indicates to me they are slowly changing their
attitude towards me, and I pray that God will help me share His love
with them. Where I live in Jaszbereny, there are only five church
members and I plan to be involved in church planting to help build up
a church in my town.”

Roy Richardson, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
Director for the Trans-European region reports, “It was an
inspiration to spend a few days at the college where I met Peter.
Although he walks slowly with the help of a cane, his smile and
cheery approach to his class mates is a testimony to the change God
can make in a life. Please remember Peter, his family and the
students and staff of ATC in your prayers.”

Founded in 1948 as Adventist Ministerial Seminary, and forced to
merge with other minor religious organizations as an
interdenominational seminary from 1967 -1989, it was renamed
Adventist Theological College in 1989, and moved to its present site
at Pecel in 1998. Currently with sixty-eight students, eleven who are
full time, ATC provides degrees in Theology and Religion Teaching in
the Hungarian language and caters for students from Hungary and
Romania (Transylvania).

[Roy Richardson/ANR]


125 YEARS OF ORGANISED WORK IN DENMARK CELEBRATED AT CAMP MEETING

HIMMERLANDSGARDEN, DENMARK [ANR] – The first local conference of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church that was organised outside of the United
States was in Denmark on 30 May 1880 with 7 churches and 91 members.
In commemoration of this historical event a camp meeting at
Himmerlandsgården was organised for the Danish Union from 4-8 May,
building its programme around the theme 'My Church – A Centre of
Power'.

Dr. Radisa Antic, director of the E.G. White Centre, Newbold College,
was the guest speaker and he conducted a workshop on 'Ellen G. White
and the Church' recalling for us Ellen White's two visits to Denmark
while she was in Europe. HASDA (Historical Archives of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denmark) presented a very informative
and interesting exhibition. Other features of the camp reminded the
church of its rich heritage of pioneer work; church planting and
growth; dedication and sacrifices; vision and commitment; unity with
the world church; and mission service.

However the main emphasis of the camp meeting dwelt not on the past,
but on the opportunities of today and the future; on the mandate of
the church to reach the lost people of Denmark with the good news of
salvation; building on the work of the pioneers; and reaching the
postmodern world for Christ. Workshops were conducted on Practical
Christianity; the Church and the Media; and Contagious Faith.

On Saturday afternoon a two hour mission programme was coordinated by
Pastor Ole Kendel, President of the Adventist Church in Denmark.
Included in this programme were interviews; personal experiences;
challenges; and promotion of the work of the church today.

The 'Sow One Billion' project for Denmark was launched with half a
million envelopes containing a mini folder about the church and two
different VOP enrolment cards to be distributed during the year. A
new and updated version of the Bible Correspondence School was
presented with on-line courses and courses targeting young people and
families. A new series of brochures explaining the main Adventist
teachings are to be written by young people.

All actively employed pastors in Denmark will participate in a
practical field school of personal evangelism on the island of
Bornholm, 6-9 June, visiting the 16,000 homes on the island and
conducting health seminars each evening. The church planting project
to reach teen-agers in Copenhagen was explained and the importance of
the welfare, relief and development work to assist in poor and
developing countries was emphasised.

The personal experience of how God reached out to an alcoholic in a
seaport town on the West Coast and turned his life around to become a
happy and dedicated Seventh-day Adventist Christian made the
congregation sit on the edge of their chairs and praise God for the
way he can still change people’s lives today.

The youth programme on Saturday night gave a vivid presentation of
John G. Matteson’s pioneer work in Denmark to an excited congregation
in a fully packed meeting tent. The evening closed with cakes and
drinks for everybody.

125 years of evangelistic work in Denmark may not seem to have
brought us far. But the camp meeting participants went home with much
inspiration and a clear conviction, that He who holds the future has
given his church a wonderful and rewarding task still to do in the
country of Denmark.

[Sven Jensen/ANR]


INTERCESSORY PRAYER TEAM AT SESSION

ST. ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] – C. Peter Wagner in his book ‘Your
Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow’ says "The gift of
intercession is the special ability that God gives to certain members
of the Body of Christ to pray for extended periods of time on a
regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to their
prayers..."

During the General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church, 29 June – 9 July, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, the
Trans-European Division (TED) together with other world-wide
divisions has been asked to staff a room set aside for prayer and
contemplation. For those attending the Session who may feel gifted in
this area and would like to volunteer to spend one or two hours
during Wednesday 6 July (8:00am-8:00pm) please contact
pclee@ted-adventist.org

[ANR Staff/ANR]


TED PRAYER GUIDE FOR WEEK 5 – 11 JUNE 2005

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] – Women’s Ministries is growing and having
an impact on the church. It is a place where spiritual, emotional,
physical and social needs of women are being addressed. Women in the
church are being affirmed and their faith in Jesus Christ is being
strengthened and through this they are gaining courage to go out and
tell their friends what Jesus has done for them. More and more we are
seeing the women of our church bringing their friends to weekend
retreats where they can fellowship together and build stronger bonds
of friendship but most important of all, through laughter, smiles,
walks in God’s nature, good food, both spiritual and physical, they
can share their faith with their friends. This very important
ministry needs your prayers.

Prayer Requests:

1. Those women in our church who struggle with feelings of not being
good enough and not knowing enough that these feelings could be
replaced with self worth and courage.
2. The women of our church as they live their daily lives that God
will give them courage and strength to be a witness, a mentor and a
helper to those people with whom they interact.

[Anna-May Wollan/ANR]