WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES

LSU President, Wife Struck
by Hit-and-Run Driver

a Sierra President Lawrence T. Geraty and his wife, Gillian, were struck by a hit-and-run driver while walking through their neighborhood April 23. Both were treated at a Riverside-area hospital and released that evening.

The incident happened so quickly that neither were able to get a good look at the car or its driver. A spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol says information about the accident is still being sought.

Dr. Geraty suffered a broken right leg and assorted minor injuries in the incident. Gillian Geraty received some bruises and suffers from residual soreness, but is otherwise okay. Both of them offer praise to the Lord for the protection He provided, and both are grateful that their injuries are not more severe.

Following several days of recovery at home, Dr. Geraty returned to the La Sierra campus April 27, to host a meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research, a national organization that promotes research into, and public understanding of, the peoples and cultures of the Near East from the earliest times. Geraty serves as ASOR's president.

Dr. Geraty continues to meet a limited appointment schedule on campus. But during his long-term recovery, Dr. Ella Simmons, La Sierra University provost, will fill in for the president as necessary. The entire university administrative team is working together to ensure the campus runs smoothly during the presidentıs convalescence.

Iraq Members Survive Bombings
The Adventist church and members' homes have survived the recent war activities in Iraq, according to church officials for the Middle East Union.

"We're especially happy to be able to report that all of the Adventists are safe," said Michael Porter, president of the church in the Middle East. "We just received word after a couple of weeks of no telephone contact at all. We're just really thankful to hear that everybody's safe and also that the church building itself was not damaged during the recent war efforts."

Porter, speaking with Adventist News Network, expressed relief after receiving word from the chairman of the legal association of the Iraqi Seventh-day Adventist Church, Ghanem Fargo.

Baghdad Seventh-day Adventist Church (ANN photo)

Fargo managed to gain access to a satellite phone and sent word through his daughter in California that all members and their property were safe.

"We are all doing well and urge you to keep praying that this situation will be over soon," said Fargo.

Although relieved that the church and its members are safe, Porter and Bertil Wiklander, president of the Trans-European Division, express concern about the uncertainty that Iraqi Adventists will face as a new leadership for the country is selected. "Under the regime of Saddam Hussein the church had quite a lot of freedom and liberty to operate," said Wiklander.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq was one of 13 religions and denominations registered with the government. This entitled them to receive free utilities and the right to own property, according to regional Adventist church officials.

"There is concern that a new government might not be as interested in religious freedom or as interested in allowing Christians to worship," Porter said.

"We hope that the degree of freedom we have had will continue and that Iraq will follow a democratic system of government," added Wiklander. "But there are of course possibilities that it could go the other way, and that would mean that the church would have to work under more difficult circumstances."

Members in Iraq are guardedly optimistic about the future, Porter said, while Wiklander added that they are "very committed and faithful members."

Both stressed that leadership from the Middle East Union and the Trans-European Division will continue to give the church in Iraq all the support possible. Church officials plan to visit the church in Iraq soon to encourage believers and worship with them, according to Porter.
                                                            --Adventist News Network

More Religious News
Adventist News Network
Religion News Service
Religion Today