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

16 November 2005

In this Issue:

* England: Soap Opera offers help to youth
* England: ?Connect One Million? exceeds three thousand applications
* Pakistan: Update on ADRA?s relief response in Pakistan
* TED Prayer Guide for week 20 ? 26 November


SOAP OPERA OFFERS HELP TO YOUTH

LONDON, ENGLAND [ANR] ? At ?One Hope Street? in England, there is a
house of drama, a house filled with love, hate, anger, sadness,
betrayal, but most importantly, hope. The cast enacts a large,
multi-cultural family who have lost their foster parents and are left
to deal with life on their own.

?One Hope Street? is a "character-driven drama that looks at the
lives of everyday Christian youth as they struggle to find their
place in the family, society, the church and the world," says
producer and director of the film, Mark Grey of Carmel Greystone
production company in England. The drama aims to deliver messages to
young people in a language they understand; about premarital sex,
drugs, respect for women, and that Jesus makes a positive difference
in a person?s life.

?Young people are excited about drama as a vehicle for expression.?
says Grey. "Having worked extensively with Christian youth through
the medium of drama, I became aware of the many ?life? issues they
were experiencing, for which, they were given neither forum for
discussion or explanations? he explains.

Having searched Christian bookshops Grey found nothing in the
DVD/video section that would challenge teenagers and adults. "I
discovered that the youth, though not ashamed of their faith, were
not particularly proud of it; they wanted a means of expressing their
faith to their unchristian friends, about which they could get
excited. Now, they can claim ownership.? Grey adds.

"The strength of ?One Hope Street? is in its style? says Don
McFarlane, Global Mission and Stewardship director for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European region, and a
production supporter. ?Soap opera is so popular with various age
groups today. It is also generally true to life. I hope that the
church can back Mark Grey in funding a series.?

Eleven-year-old Angelina Williams, an actress in the film says, ??One
Hope Street? gave me the chance to witness to others and tell people
that even if you are being bullied [like my character is] you have
somewhere to turn: to God? she says. "I am glad that things like
compassion are mentioned in the film."

?One Hope Street? did not use professional actors, Grey explained.
Rather, it was an open invitation to the church to use whoever was
interested. The actors range from age 7 to 47.

The pilot show is available for purchase in the United Kingdom, and
Grey hopes to produce a series. "It was designed that way in order to
introduce the characters to the audience, and hopefully revisit them
in subsequent episodes when particular issues are being explored in
more detail."

[Wendi Rogers/ANN/ANR]


?CONNECT ONE MILLION? EXCEEDS THREE THOUSAND APPLICATIONS

WATFORD, ENGLAND [ANR] ? The Adventist Discovery Centre (ADC), more
commonly known as the Voice of Prophecy (VOP), is thrilled to
announce that 3,184 applications for Bible lessons have now been
received as a result of the ?Connect One Million? project that was
launched in September.

Thanks to the faithfulness of 15,000 (or more) members who have
distributed an estimated three quarters of a million Discover cards,
the number of Bible School enrolments has increased approximately
tenfold for this year.

Much credit must be given to ADC staff who have worked flat out to
attempt a one day turnaround of all the applications.

This vision, to distribute one million invitations for people to
study God?s powerful word has been an outstanding success. Working
together, God has and will yet do, ?
exceedingly abundantly more than
we can think or imagine? (Ephesians 3:20).

[Dalbert Elias/ANR Staff/ANR]


UPDATE ON ADRA?S RELIEF RESPONSE IN PAKISTAN

BAGH DISTRICT, PAKISTAN [ANR] ? The first phase of operations has now
been completed with medical supplies from ADRA International and ADRA
Germany together with 300 tents, 300 food kits, 2 weeks of medical
screening in Bagh Town and 2 field assessments in Bagh District.

The new ADRA Field Office in Bagh District has been established and
is fully operational under the leadership of Mahmud Gaznabi, project
director for ADRA Pakistan. This is backed up by the new Operations
Centre in Rawalpindi which was converted into office and living
quarters from a previously dilapidated structure.

Proposals have been costed and submitted with some having been
approved and funded by ADRA offices in various countries.

ADRA and Karachi Adventist Hospital have worked together to collate
and distribute the three shipments of medicines that have been
received to date.

Nearly 200 tents and 10,000 blankets donated by ADRA Sweden should
arrive in Bagh by Friday 18 November and orders have been placed for
a further 20,000 blankets and 6,000 hygiene kits. Sixty extra large
tents are on their way from ADRA Germany.

?ADRA continues to work with the United Nations coordinating agencies
and the Government of Pakistan to bring relief to the people of
Kashmir? says Raafat Kamal, Regional Director for ADRA Trans-Europe.
?Our donor offices have responded magnificently in procuring tents
and blankets which are currently being distributed to the villages in
the mountainous areas.?

Conrad Vine, who will return to his wife and family this week, is
being replaced by Dr John MCGhee, interim director for ADRA Pakistan.

[ANR Staff/ANR]


TED Prayer Guide for week 20 ? 26 November 2005

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND [ANR] ? As we approach the end of another year, it
is appropriate to think back on the blessings which we have received
during the past months. In many parts of the world, there are
commemorations of thanksgiving which are held for the bounties of the
harvest which has recently been gathered. But we have much more for
which to be thankful.

A recurring theme in the Psalms is: ?O give thanks unto the LORD; for
he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.? Have you remembered
to thank God for His goodness and His mercy?

How grateful we can be that the God we serve isn?t like the deities
which mankind has worshipped over the centuries ? angry, vengeful,
selfish, demanding to be appeased. Instead, He declared His character
to Moses on Mount Sinai: ?The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and
gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping
mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin
?
(Ex 34: 6, 7)

Let us thank Him daily for His love, His mercy, His salvation..

Prayer Requests:

1. Gratitude for the material blessings which God has granted
2. Thankfulness for God?s goodness and mercy

[Michael Thorman/ANR]


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

ANR (Adventist News Review) is a news and information bulletin issued
by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
in the Trans-European Division. You are free to re-print any portion
of the bulletin without need for special permission. However, we
kindly request that you identify ANR whenever you publish these
materials.