NEW BELIEVERS: A new group of Adventist believers in Irian Jaya, Indonesia, had to flee to a new island after their fellow villagers began persecuting them. Their first priority was to build a new church.

Michael Ryan, director of the GC Office of Global Mission, says "Global Mission pioneers" have been the major force in establishing new congregations. The pioneer program emphasizes local people working in local areas, within their own cultural group. Pioneers, usually young people, volunteer at least a year of their time to establish new congregations in new areas. Currently more than 25,000 Global Mission pioneers are working around the world.

"In many ways the pioneer program has revolutionized the face of Adventist mission," says Ryan. "While people working cross‑culturally are still needed, Global Mission pioneers have many strengths. They understand the language and culture, and can live and identify with the people with whom they're working."

SELF-MADE MISSIONARIES: Valia, Michael, Gradislava, and Zhenia Stapanov are Global Mission pioneers in Gatchina, Russia. Michael and Gradislava read themselves into the church after their children were born.

Some of the most spectacular growth between 1989 and 1999 occurred in the former Soviet Union, where the Adventist Church grew 527 percent, from 483 congregations to 2,548. Other significant growth  occurred in: West Africa, 207 percent (from 5,486 to 11,346 congregations); East Africa, 250 percent (from 7,683 to 19,215 congregations); and India, 203 percent (from 1,748 to 3,554 congregations).

Begun in 1990, the Global Mission initiative aims to establish congregations in areas of the world where there are currently no Adventist churches. It places special emphasis on the so‑called 10/40 Window, an imaginary rectangle on the world map that encompasses much of Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa.
-–Adventist News Network


Midnight Cry Series Ends
Preliminary reports from the Midnight Cry satellite evangelistic series in Chicago, Illinois, showed that opening night attendance reached 1,700, 1,400 on subsequent weekends, and 1,000 on continuing week nights.

In addition to on-site attendance, approximately 400 churches and 1,500 registered homes in North America participated as downlink sites for the meetings. Another 100 sites outside of North America also registered.

Illinois Conference president Wayne Coulter says the meetings generated 200 decisions to accept Christ and 103 baptisms thus far. In addition, two non-Adventist congregations are joining the Adventist Church. One  in Southern Illinois, with 60 members, and a second  in suburban Chicago with has 50 members, with half attending. Already the pastor and 17 members of the suburban Chicago church have been baptized.


Religious Land Use Law Signed
The North American Division reports that President Clinton signed the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 on September 22.

This bill may offer an opportunity for churches to renegotiate land-use conflicts, in instances where the church has been denied the right to locate in communities, carry out ministries, or use their land for religious purposes. Congregations should review their land-use restrictions with consideration for renegotiation, but proceed only with legal counsel, NAD officials say. For more information visit www.ChurchState.org, specifically the legislative links page.


Adventist Legislator Named
Outstanding Legislator of 2000
David Pendleton, a frequent contributor to the Adventist Review, and a member of the Hawaii legislature, recently received one of the most coveted awards in Hawaiian public service.

Pendleton was elected Outstanding Legislator of the Year 2000 by the Hawaii Medical Association (HMA). "Representative Pendleton is one of Hawaii's finest legislators–mature, experienced, well educated, and hardworking. He has earned this Outstanding Legislator Award," commented Dr. Phil Hellreich, president-elect of the HMA. "His decisions, deliberations, and votes in the Legislature have always been made with the goal of serving all Hawaii's residents.”

Pendleton is deeply committed to the well-being of Hawaii's families and in previous legislative sessions has supported legislation to promote health education, protect public health, strengthen the state hospital system, and earmark tobacco settlement for health and health education efforts.

Pendleton also serves as religious liberty director for the Hawaii Conference.


Colorado Hospital Undertakes
$38 Million Expansion
The board of trustees of the Littleton Adventist Hospital in Colorado recently approved a $38 million proposal to expand the hospital to serve the needs of one of the fastest growing communities in North America.

The new 100,000 square foot construction will include an expanded imaging department, clinical laboratory, surgery area, 36-bed patient unit, and a neonatal intensive care unit, reports hospital spokesperson Danielle Corriveau.


Union College Receives $1.1 Million Grant
Officials at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, have received a $1.1 million gift from the Alvin Ortner Trust to complete the funding of the Ornter Center.

Designed as the focal point of the campus, the structure will house the college food service, conference and guest rooms, the McClelland Art Gallery, campus security, information center, student lounge, and men’s residence, according to LuAnn Davis, vice president for advancement.


News Notes
The Africa Indian Ocean Division has launched a five-year initiative to double the division’s membership by 2005. To start the program, AID Women’s Ministries conducted evangelistic meetings in 10,000 churches in October, reports Ardis Stenbakken, General Conference Women’s Ministries director. The goal is to baptize 100,000 persons. 

Lewis Hendershot, vice president for administration/pastoral personnel of the Florida Conference, was recently elected conference president. Hendershot replaces Gordon L. Retzer who became Lake Union Conference president.

Adventists in Brazil recently received a new TV station in Valadares, Minas Gerais. The TV/ADSAT station was given to the church by the municipal government of Valadares. The 24-hour station will offer educational, health, and religious programming.