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Romanian Evangelism Reaches
Beyond Traditional Audiences

BY ADRIAN BOCANEANU, Romanian Union Conference president

eventh-day Adventists in Romania concluded a three-week evangelism series March 16, an event that drew on satellite and Internet technology to reach thousands of people in Romania and around the world. Broadcasting from the chapel of the Romanian Theological Seminary, near Bucharest, "The Galilean" series focused on the life and teachings of Jesus. The 16-meeting program was hosted by evangelist Lucian Cristescu, and was the first satellite series held in Romania to feature a Romanian speaker.

Programs were seen via satellite in 650 churches in Romania. Organizers report an average nightly attendance throughout the country was 55,000 people, with 20,000-27,000 with visitors. The program was translated in six languages and viewers watched in countries across Europe, from Ireland to Greece, Spain to Germany.

Opening night brought many public figures and media crews to the uplink site. Razvan Theodorescu, minister for culture and religious denominations, told viewers, "I am very pleased to know that your church maintained a dignified stand and served Jesus. You did that for a long, long time here in Romania, even under very difficult conditions. In our modern world, religions and denominations play a very important role. They are an integral part of the interpersonal, inter-community, and international relationships. For this reason I urge you, wherever you are: be Romanians, be real humans, be real Christians, be exactly what the Galilean 2,000 years ago taught us to be." The uplink involved a multi-national effort, using equipment from U.S.-based Adventist Television Network and Adventist Media Productions, and Germany's Stimme der Hoffnung. Production crews came from Stimme der Hoffnung and the Romanian Media Center. The satellite uplink was supervised by technicians from AMP.

In a message to the Adventist Church in Romania, General Conference president Jan Paulsen said the reports of the satellite evangelism series has brought rejoicing around the world and praise to God. "I want to commend you for both the vision which led you to do this, and readiness to share your witness, via satellite, with many countries and languages outside of Romania," said Paulsen. "It is clear now that it has been a great blessing. The name of Christ and the truth of his salvation are being proclaimed across borders, languages, and cultures."

The Galilean series has also become the first religious series to be broadcast on national Romanian television. A television station began airing the series March 23, and the programs will run for five weeks on Saturdays and Sundays during early evening prime time. Several local television stations in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia have also begun broadcasting the program.

In a little more than a month, the series web site (www.galileanul.ro) became the second most popular religious site in Romania. Some 11,000 people accessed the site during this period. With the help of a lay Adventist ministry, the series has also been available on the Internet, with an estimated 18,000 downloads. Organizers report contact from viewers in places such as Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The Romanian Adventist churches in Loma Linda, California, and in Tel Aviv, Israel, also watched the series on the Internet.

Toward the end of the series, the Romanian Publishing House offered the book The Galilean. The first printing of 12,000 copies rapidly sold out, and a new printing is being done to keep up with demand.
                                                          --Adventist News Network

All Faiths Called to Participate in
National Day of Prayer on May 2
Shirley Dobson, Chairperson of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, is requesting people of all faiths to join in prayer for the United States and its leaders. "This year's National Day of Prayer theme is 'America United Under God,' says Dobson. "We want to emphasize the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to place their faith in the unfailing character of their Creator, who is sovereign over all governments, authorities, and men. To further highlight our theme, we've chosen Psalm 46:1 as our Scripture for this year: 'God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.'"

The National Day of Prayer is an annual event for all Americans of all faiths. The first day of prayer was called as early as 1775 with the First Continental Congress. Abraham Lincoln also called for such a day in 1863. It was established as an annual event by a joint resolution of Congress in 1952, and signed into law by President Truman. The law was amended in 1988 and signed by President Reagan to be the first Thursday of May each year.

Clarence Hodges, Vice President of the North American Division and Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, gives enthusiastic support to a day set aside for prayer for our country. "Adventists believe in prayer," says Hodges. "We believe in prayer for our nation, in prayer for the leaders of our country, in prayer for the continued support of separation of church and state, and in prayer for continued religious freedom for all people." Dobson and her committee will be providing a special prayer to be simultaneously read throughout the nation at noon (EDT). "At this crucial time for our nation, we can do nothing more important than pray. We have an unprecedented opportunity to see the Lord's healing and renewing power made manifest as we call on citizens to humbly come before His throne," says Dobson.

New Web Site Feature Brings World to Your Home
Both students doing classroom assignments and armchair travelers can explore the world through a new feature on the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) web site which began April 1.

Titled "Trek with ADRA,"this new resource focuses on a different country each month through journal entries of an ADRA worker; photos and images; basic country facts such as history, culture, and food; recipes; ADRA's past and current projects in that country; and the opportunity to respond to needs. "By introducing a new level of user interaction on ADRA=s web site, Trek With ADRA will create a fun, informative, and educational atmosphere," says Tereza Byrne, Bureau Chief for Marketing and Development.

Cambodia is the first country to be highlighted on Trek with ADRA. Updated periodically, this feature can be found on ADRA's main page at www.adra.org.

Weimar College To Open New Department
Continuing to further its mission of providing a variety of healthy alternatives, Weimar College opened a Vegetarian Culinary Arts Department in the Spring Quarter of 2002.

A one-year certificate curriculum leading to a two-year associate degree in vegan/vegetarian culinary arts will include extensive food preparation and presentation, recipe analysis and adaptation, hospitality service, techniques of enhancing flavor with fresh herbs and management of a commercial kitchen.

Seen as supplying staff for Adventist schools, healthcare, and other facilities, the new Culinary studies will also have an adjunct purpose of being a first step in development of vegetarian restaurants for those wishing to go into business for themselves or join an existing ministry.

The instructors have studied and are experienced in Adventist principles of diet and foods and have done continuing education at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California. Areas of expertise range from registered dieticians and a doctorate in public health to persons who have successfully run a vegetarian restaurant for more than ten years or have opened and operated a vegetarian catering business.

The Weimar Institute Cafeteria for both College and Academy students as well as the NEWSTART® Restaurant will provide hands-on training for the student chefs. The programs will include externships with other nearby senior, health, and restaurant facilities.

To secure the best personalized instruction, classes are being limited to eight students. Weimar College is a self-supporting Adventist institution accredited by the State of California which recently affiliated with Griggs University, the higher education division of Home Study International.

News Notes

Iowa Elementary, a small K-8 Adventist elementary program in Nevada, is one of only 100 public or private schools nationwide to receive a $5,000 grant from Target as part of the Target Honor Roll 100 Program. This grant recognizes the school's outstanding results in its fund-raising program. The Iowa school was one of the top schools in the nation in dollars received per student in the program sponsored by Target stores.

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