WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Early Morning Call Averts Disaster
as Fire Destroys Siberian Church
BY MARK A. KELLNER, assistant director for news, General Conference Communication Department
disastrous loss of life was averted when an early morning phone call alerted residents to a fire at a building housing leaders of the East Russia region of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and their families. The fire, in Irkutsk, Siberia, thoroughly gutted the wood-frame building, but there were no injuries.
Sixteen adults and children lived in the residence, and all were able to evacuate safely, said Michael F. Kaminsky, Euro-Asia Division secretary, in a telephone interview from Moscow. The structure was heavily damaged in the fire.
The building was home to East Russian Union president Victor A. Kozakov, secretary Boris G. Protasevich, treasurer Alexander Novoselow; education and Sabbath school director Zhan P. Taraniuk, and youth ministries director Oleg I. Shteinberg, and their families. Although there was no loss of life, personal belongings and furnishings were destroyed in the conflagration. While insurance will cover the loss, some family items may have been permanently lost.
Police and fire officials are investigating the blaze and its cause, Kaminsky said. No cause has been officially determined for the fire; both mechanical and other reasons for the blaze are being investigated, and a decision on the cause of the blaze is expected shortly.
Ironically, the phone call came from several time zones away. In Moscow, Vladimir I. Tkachuk, assistant treasurer for the Euro-Asia Division, was scheduled to fly to Siberia for a meeting but missed his flight. On learning of an alternative flight, Tkachuk called the church president to alert him to the schedule change. On waking, Kozakov noticed the fire, awakened the residents, and all were evacuated.
The building is part of a small, church-owned campus that houses the local church building, an office block formerly used by the East Russia region, and the residence. No other properties were affected.
Irkutsk is one of the largest cities in Siberia and has long been an economic and social center; there are several universities there and many students, with the average age of the population in the early 30s. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has nearly 16,000 members worshiping in 363 congregations in the East Russia area.
--Adventist News Network
Church Communicator Laid to Rest
Victor Cooper, cited as one of Britain's most effective church communicators and former associate director of communication for the General Conference, died June 13 in England.
The son of an Adventist minister, Victor entered the ministry in North England, and not long after was appointed conference youth director. When George Vandeman came to London to conduct a hugely successful evangelistic campaign in the early 50s, Victor was called to be a team-member. Several hundred people joined the church as a result of the crusade, and the New Gallery theater was acquired to serve as a permanent evangelistic center and meeting place for the new Central London church with Victor serving as the director/pastor.
In 1954 Cooper became the speaker for the British Voice of Prophecy broadcasts. During his term as executive secretary and communication director of the British Union, he pioneered the "Dial-a-Prayer" service which greatly enhanced the image of the church throughout the United Kingdom. Victor also initiated a church exhibition unit which was transported to many show grounds around the country. At the same time, his liaison with Associated Television was instrumental in the production of Britain's first documentary on Adventists – a 30-minute program called " The Saturday People."
For two years he served as president of the Irish Mission, then came to the General Conference, where he spent 15 more years until his retirement in 1988.
"He excelled as a writer, as a speaker, and as a winner of souls. He was ever on the alert for new and more effective ways to spread the gospel. He and [his wife] Rhona endeared themselves to a notable number of people of many countries, languages, and races," said James Chase, a colleague.
"…Most important of all," says Robert Nixon, a former colleague and now director of the Office of General Counsel, "Victor was a master communicator for our Lord when he was off the job too--when he was dealing with family, friends, and neighbors. What a radiant and joyful Christian he was. He integrated the best of Christianity into his daily life. The mere mention of his name--Victor Cooper--gives me a good and happy feeling. What more can we say of a person, than that he made a positive contribution for his Lord in all that he did? I am tempted to be sad, but I cannot be, because I know that if Victor were here today, he would give me a grand smile and say, ‘Cheer up, Bob. The best is yet to be!'"
Adventist Student is Awarded $100,000 Scholarship
Norman Niles, a member of New Hope Adventist Church, in Atlanta, Georgia, was recently awarded the 2003 David and Lucile Packard five-year $100,000 mathematics scholarship to pursue graduate studies up to the doctoral degree at the college of his choice. Niles graduated magna cum laude from Atlanta's Morehouse College in May with a degree in mathematics.
The Packard scholarship is a part of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation created by David Packard, co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company. This particular award is given to graduate students who are pursuing doctoral degrees in the sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Norman qualified for the scholarship by maintaining a GPA greater than 3.5, successful scores on the Graduate Record Exam, and a winning essay. He was nominated by two of his Morehouse professors.
An active member in his church Sabbath School and youth departments, Norman also volunteers as a tutor for students in the New Hope congregation. Niles currently plans to attend the University of Michigan.
News Notes
Gordon Retzer, president of the Lake Union Conference, has accepted the position of president of the Southern Union Conference. He replaces Malcolm Gordon who has retired.
Pawel Lazar, president of the East Polish Conference, was elected president of the Polish Union Conference. He replaces Wladislaw Polok.
Roman Chalupka, director of the Polish "Voice of Hope" media center, was elected executive secretary for the Polish Union Conference. He replaces Andrzej Sicinski.
Celia Marie Abney Cleveland, wife of E. E. Cleveland, died May 29, 2003. The daughter of a pastor, evangelist, and missionary, Celia married E. Earl Cleveland in 1943. Together they conducted over 60 evangelistic meetings, he preaching, she at the piano. She is survived by her husband, Edward Earl; her son, Earl Clifford; daughters Veda and Frieda; and four grandsons.
The Brazilian University celebrated its twentieth year of operation on its Engenheiro Coelho, Sao Paulo campus on May 25, 2003. The event was attended by more than 10,000 people, including a visit by Geraldo Ackmin, governor of the state of Sao Paulo.
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) office in Uganda has recently received a total of $2.4 million through ADRA's office in Denmark to implement a rural education project in Karamoja, Uganda. Started in 2002, this project is the first of its kind in the region. The project will include the renovation of eight schools and construction of a dormitory, faculty housing, nine rain water systems, and 200 adult learning centers.
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