hree Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN), a satellite television ministry operated by Seventh-day Adventists in West Frankfort, Illinois, has been granted a license for a full-power television station in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Governor General Silas Atopare, several legislators, and PNG  Telecommunications Authority (PANGTEL), presented the license to 3ABN president Danny Shelton in a ceremony at the nation’s capitol in December. 

3ABN’s station will be the only other national television station besides the government-operated channel. The license was pursued vigorously by many other organizations. Plans are well underway for the $1 million television station and several repeater stations that will bring the signal to the entire country and surrounding islands. The plan initially calls for four stations in major cities, the first being in Port Moresby, with the possibility of expansion.

“We want to be the national channel that is known as the station that’s giving and not taking. We look forward to working  with government officials of Papua New Guinea,” Shelton stated, “And we also look forward to working with the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific to make this dream becomes a reality.”

“I believe we have the unique position of being  the only other television station on the dial,” said Moses Primo, 3ABN’s director of broadcasting operations. “The people of PNG will have the opportunity to receive a type of programming that they have never seen before.”

The PNG license caps a year of major growth for 3ABN. In June, the 3ABN network began broadcasting to every inhabited continent of the world, using 4 strategically placed satellites. In February, 2000, they launched a radio network with 26 affiliates.

Hundreds of 3ABN viewers and listeners have also applied for Low Power FM Radio licenses during recent FCC application windows. These stations will re-broadcast 3ABN Radio’s signal in a three- to six-mile radius and are relatively inexpensive to build and maintain.

3ABN is a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a member organization of Adventist-layman’s Services and Industries. The ministry regularly cooperates with the church to broadcast evangelistic series and special events like the General Conference Session free of charge world-wide. 3ABN also carries programming produced by the Adventist Media Center.

Bulgaria Moves Closer to
Restrictive Religious Law
Bulgaria moves ever closer to the adoption of a restrictive law on religion, according to a spokesman on religious freedom for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bulgaria.

"The proposed law supposedly grants religious liberty, but in reality does not give the actual ability to practice it," says Evelin Velinov, speaking in an interview on November 29. "It's like giving with one hand and taking away with the other. The law is not really democratic, and favors one religion over the rest."

The draft legislation had its first reading in February 2000. The second and final reading is currently underway.

"If this new law comes into force, we will not be able to conduct outreach activities," explains Velinov. "Many permits will be required. We will not be able to operate as a church as we wish, especially with the local community prejudice that this law will encourage. Already many minority faiths face hostility and intolerance. Since the Orthodox Church directs affairs in local areas, religious liberty is practically impossible."

Velinov finds the current accusations of disloyalty and subversion very troubling. "We are accused of being unpatriotic and agents of foreign states. The Adventist Church has been known for good works for many years, and such accusations are groundless. We wish to continue dialogue with the legislators on this matter of vital concern for religious freedom."

An appeal against the draft law’s was made earlier this year by a broad-based coalition that included Baptists, members of the Church of God, Adventists, Congregationalists, Methodists, Mormons, Pentecostals, Roman Catholics, and members of the United Churches.

Gift of Prophecy Art Contest Begins
The Ellen G. White Estate and Southwestern Adventist University are sponsoring a Gift of Prophecy Art Contest to heighten awareness of the value of the gift of prophecy among Adventist youth and young adults around the world. More than $8,000 in prize money will be distributed over three categories; young adult (ages 18-30), youth (ages 13-17), and children (ages 4-12).

All entries must be submitted by August 1, 2001. For contest instructions and judging criteria, write to: Gift of Prophecy Art Contest, Southwestern Adventist University, 300 N. College Drive, Keene, TX 76079, USA.