WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES

BY BETTINA KRAUSE, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE

flood of requests for Bible lessons in Africa has prompted a plan to print some 14 million individual Bible lessons in five languages to help meet the demand. The massive print project was driven by an overwhelming response in Africa to Sow 1 Billion-a world church effort to distribute 1 billion invitations to study the Bible.

Kurt Johnson, Voice of Prophecy Bible School director and Bible School coordinator for the world church, says that while the demand for Bible lessons is a "good problem" to have, it is one that had to be addressed. The church in Kenya, for instance, received almost 400,000 requests for Bible studies after distributing 2 million of the Sow 1 Billion invitations.

Each Bible lesson set provided for Africa has a potential "ripple effect," adds Johnson, as people share the lessons with others. "This ripple effect from just one Bible study often results in multiplied decisions for Christ from other family members and friends."

In total, six container loads of Bible lessons-in English, Portuguese, Luganda, French, and Kiswahili-will be shipped to Africa in the coming months. This printing effort is being undertaken by Light Bearers Ministry (LBM), a lay supporting organization based in Washington State that includes both a television and publishing ministry. Ty Gibson, co-president and co-founder of LBM, says his organization feels "privileged to be called upon by the world church to provide Bible studies for the people of Africa. Our hearts beat in unison with the mission of the world church."

Much of the funding for this Bible lesson project has been provided by Go One Million-a world church initiative to train and equip Adventist laypeople for personal witness. During the past 16 years, LBM has published gospel literature in 35 languages and circulated more than 350 million publications free of charge around the world.

For more information about Light Bearers Ministry, go to www.lbm.org.

PUC Student Dies of Head Injury
David Egwakhe, a senior nursing major at Pacific Union College (PUC) in Angwin, died February 14 after sustaining a head injury during an intramural basketball game in PUC's gymnasium. He was 21.

Egwakhe collided with another player during the game, but continued to play for several minutes. During halftime, Egwakhe collapsed, exhibited signs of a seizure, and lost consciousness. Bob Paulson, physical education professor, immediately performed CPR on Egwakhe while emergency medical services were called. Despite CPR and the efforts of emergency responders, Egwakhe never regained consciousness. He was transported by ambulance to nearby St. Helena Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

"He was a wonderful student with warmth and quiet dedication to his studies," says Joan Hughson, Egwakhe's faculty advisor.

Egwakhe's sister, Ruth, is also a nursing student at PUC. Two other sisters, Titi and Kumbi, live in Nigeria. His parents are living in the Philippines, where his father, George, is treasurer of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, and mother, Victoria, is the international student counselor at the Adventist University of the Philippines.

"David was a fun, loving, and caring person," says sister Ruth. "He enjoyed sports, especially basketball. He loved being a nurse and hanging out with his friends and family."

A memorial fund has been established to offset travel and burial expenses for the family. Contributions may be made to the David Egwakhe Memorial Fund, c/o Pacific Union College, One Angwin Avenue, Angwin CA 94508.

The viewing takes place 11 a.m. Friday February 18 in the PUC church, with a memorial service to follow at 1 p.m.
                  --Pacific Union College Public Relations Department/AR

Beirut Car Bombing Injures Adventist Couple
When terrorists assassinated former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14 in Beirut, an Adventist couple was among the 100 injured. Eleven others were also killed in the blast, according to news reports.

Armond Manassian, a faculty member of the church-owned Middle East University, and his wife, Pamela, escaped with only minor injuries when a car bomb struck Hariri's motorcade.

The Manassians had just sat down for a Valentine's Day lunch at the Phoenicia Intercontinental hotel on Beirut's seafront when a sudden explosion blew them from their seats. Glass and brick crumbled around them. Feeling rather dazed, they staggered to their feet and walked to the pavement through the broken windows. There they waited for an ambulance while blood drenched their clothing.

The Manassians were taken to American University Hospital where it was determined that their injuries were "not life threatening." After waiting some time, the doctors stitched the wounds on their faces. Mrs. Manassian suffered shoulder and arm wounds.

Later that evening the Manassians were discharged and returned to their home and children. They are praising God that their lives were spared in this blast that happened just 80 meters from where they were sitting.

The Manassians have lived for many years at Middle East University in Beirut where Armond was dean of the school of business. Although recently he has been working in another part of Beirut, he continues to teach some classes at the university. The Manassians are active members of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Lebanon.

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