he president of Estonia has decided not to approve a law, passed by the national parliament June 13, that would have denied legal registration to religious organizations with foreign leadership. Among the groups that risked losing legal status were Jehovah's Witnesses, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and other Protestant churches.

President Lennart Meri refused to proclaim the law because it contained "disproportionate restrictions to the exercise of freedom of religion," according to a statement released June 29 by the president's press office. The press release cited the Estonian Union of Seventh-day Adventists as an example of a group that would be unfairly impacted by the law. The law was aimed at religious organizations, rather than single congregations. It would have denied registration to those groups whose administrative or economic management takes place abroad, or whose decisions need affirmation by leaders or administration abroad.

Tuno Jugar, president of the Adventist Church in Estonia, had written to President Meri asking him not to approve the law in it's current form. He pointed out that passages in the legislation were in conflict with Estonia's Constitution and with international conventions of religious liberty.

Leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church were also vocal about their concerns, telling Keston News Service that the law would mean "the complete de-legitimization of our church structure in that country." The law would not have affected the status of the Roman Catholic Church, which operates under a special agreement with the Estonian government brokered by the Vatican. --Adventist News Network

Mission to Seven Churches in Pakistan
On June 17, Patrick Boyle, former pastor of the Stanborough Park church, Watford, England and Bøerge Schantz, former head of theology at Newbold College and director of the Islamic studies department concluded a major evangelistic outreach in Pakistan. During the series of twelve evangelistic meetings ten baptismal classes were held and 63 people were baptized in two separate services. A third team member was Schantz's sister, Hanne Schantz, a qualified nurse.

The campaign, which began at the end of May, took place in seven Seventh-day Adventist churches in the semi-desert area of Hyderabad, near Karachi, in the south of Pakistan. The team also conducted eight church services (one of which was a communion service) a seminar for local church officers, a workers' meeting, a child dedication, a church dedication, and a wedding ceremony. They arranged sponsorship for three students to attend Pakistan Adventist Seminary, and for two blind children to attend a Christian school for the blind.

Schantz points out that Sabbath-keeping in an Islamic society can bring special problems. "Christian here are regarded as second-class citizens, and in an area of high unemployment and a low standard of living open Sabbath-keeping can have negative consequences.

"The Three Angels' Messages have so far reached less than 150 of the more than 800 Christian colonies in Pakistan where the Christians constitute only about 3 million people out of a population of 140 million," says Schantz. He is currently preparing material for lectures relating to Christian Minority Groups in Hostile Environments."

Blind Bikers Trek Across Middle Tennessee
A team of blind bikers successfully crossed 240 miles of middle Tennessee last week, Arriving at Indian Creek Camp on Wednesday.

A rainstorm and a bridge outage forced the ten visually impaired bikers to portage their bikes across a creek six miles short of the camp; but they continued on the trip, which was sponsored by Christian Record Services and coordinated by National Camps for Blind Children.

Despite minor delays the trip was an overwhelming success, said Sonny Wilmoth, camp coordinator. "Our goal with these events is to equip young blind people with a sense of purpose, team work, and to give them a hands-on educational experience in nature," he added. The team biked approximately 70 miles daily.

SAU Hosts Computing Conference
More than 60 individuals, including web designers, information systems personnel, and ministers interested in promoting outreach through technology, attended ComputingAndMissions.net 2001, a computing conference held recently at Southern Adventist University (SAU) in Collegedale, Tennessee.

"The conference encouraged the innovative use of computers and Internet technology in mission outreach to further the outreach of the Seventh-day Adventist church," said Jared Bruckner, chair of the conference's program committee and associate dean of the School of Computing at SAU.

For information about Computing And Missions.net 2002 to be held June 26-30, 2002, call the School of Computing at Southern Adventist University at 423-238-2936 or visit the conference website at www.computingandmissions.net.

New Journal Highlights South Pacific History
Under the auspices of the of the South Pacific Division, the first issue of the Journal of Pacific Adventist History has been published.

The journal, published twice yearly, will serve historians, church members and others interested in the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific Islands. Content focuses on people and events involved with the establishment and development of the church in the South Pacific. To receive a copy or free subscription, send your name and address to: Journal of Pacific Adventist History, 1 Ebony Drive, Hamlyn Terrace NSW, 2259 Australia.

Evelyn Nkhethoa, director of Adventist Women's Ministries for the Lesotho Conference, coordinated evangelistic campaigns in remote, unentered areas of the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, which is in the South African Union. One hundred forty-two baptisms resulted.

In one area where there were no roads, the evangelistic team carried a tent and portable public address system piece by piece to the top of a high hill to broadcast nightly meetings to over 20 villages.

Nkhethoa is currently planning to acquire land to erect a resource and care center for foster-care AIDS orphans.

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