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

17 August 2005

In this Issue:

* England: Ghanaian Adventists break ground for £3 million church in
London
* England: Billinghay kids enjoy Holiday Bible Club
* TED Prayer Guide for week 21 ? 27 August


GHANAIAN ADVENTISTS BREAK GROUND FOR £3 MILLION CHURCH IN LONDON

LONDON, ENGLAND [ANR] ? What began as a small group of worshippers in
the 1970s has grown to include more than 1,000 Ghanaian Seventh-day
Adventists in Britain. There are now four congregations in London
alone and when families grow, new homes are often needed. The London
Ghana congregation has just broken ground on a £3 million (U.S. $5.4
million) church complex, reportedly the largest in the history of the
Adventist Church in the South of England.

At a gathering on 31 July celebrating the 30-year-milestone of the
London Ghana Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor Don McFarlane,
outgoing president of the Adventist Church in the South of England
said, ?This church you are building should be a house of prayer, not
only for the members of the church but for the whole community; it
must serve as a real place of refuge for the afflicted in society.?
McFarlane charged the members of the church with a responsibility to
maintain a good reputation in the community, so the church would
attract neighbours who want to learn more about Adventists and their
faith.

McFarlane praised the Ghanaian church members for their zeal and
enthusiasm for the initiation of the project, adding, ?As you honour
the Lord, He will also honour you and bless your land.? In response,
Dr. Emmanuel Osei, senior pastor of the London Ghana Seventh-day
Adventist Church, thanked regional officials for their support in
guaranteeing the loan and placing such confidence in the local
church. He also paid tribute to the pioneering members who began the
congregation 30 years ago.

The building site covers nearly two-thirds of an acre and when
completed the church will seat 650 worshippers, and include media,
music and youth halls to enhance church activities.

[Isaac Amo-Kyereme/ANN Staff/ANR]


BILLINGHAY KIDS ENJOY HOLIDAY BIBLE CLUB

BILLINGHAY, ENGLAND [ANR] ? In the rural and somewhat deprived
village of Billinghay, Lincolnshire, England, young Seventh-day
Adventist couple Chris Rogers and Susanna Matthan together with some
friends decided to run a children?s Holiday Bible Club from 9 ? 11
August with the theme ?Talking to God?.

Fifteen children between the ages of 5 and 9 attended and were
introduced to the idea that God wants to be their special friend.
They shared ideas for several ways of communicating with God: through
song, the written word, the spoken word, crafts, food, but most of
all through a joyful relationship.

"We were inspired with many ideas for the children by our week at
Family Camp? said Susanna. Musically they played a xylophone, cow
bells, a cabasah, lollipop drums and much more! Activities included
parachute games, a daily 'agape' feast of fresh juicy fruit (a new
idea for some of them), and they created a beautiful booklet to take
away with them.?

The children praised and worshipped God through some wonderful music
led by Chris a professional violinist and musician. At the close of
the programme the parents were invited to share in a mini praise and
worship session in order for them to experience what the children had
been doing.

Chris said, ?We had a great time running this programme and we were
inspired by the way the
Holy Spirit led in the lives of these unchurched children and we want
to serve them more. Please pray for these children and their
families.?

[BUC News/ANR Staff/ANR]


TED Prayer Guide for week 21 ? 27 August 2005

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] ? We live in a violent world. Violence is in
more places than we like to think. It?s on the street corner. It?s in
the police station. It?s in the hospital, and in the school, and it?s
even in our homes.

Most of us find violence unacceptable. We walk around it. Pretend it
doesn?t exist, keep quiet about it, and hope that it will go away, or
at least, not come too close.

It?s not pleasant to consider violence or to be with someone who has
suffered violence, but we need to know how we can support them best.
If we don?t know how to help, then the victims of violence all around
us will become the victims of our own ignorance and insensitivity.
Many times a victim has been misunderstood, made to feel guilty, or
hurt badly by their friends and families; or a victim who is looking
for a safe place, some comfort, some hope, and some understanding,
has been let down by a friend and that can be a greater hurt than the
initial offence.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because
fear has to do with punishment. 1 John 4:18.

Prayer Requests:

1. That we will have open minds and hearts to those who have been
victims of abuse or violence, to listen to their story and be there
for them when they feel frightened and vulnerable.
2. That as a community of believers we stand for what is right;
giving support to the victims and find help for those who are the
perpetrators.

[Karen Holford/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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