BREAKING NEWS

Adventists Participate
in UN 9-11 Conference

BY JONATHAN GALLAGHER, United Nations liaison director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church

epresentatives of the Seventh-day Adventist church participated in the United Nations (UN) conference marking the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. More than 2,700 persons attended the conference to discuss ideas and proposals intended to reduce violent conflict and to help rebuild societies traumatized by war.

SHARING THE RESPONSIBILITY: Matt Mills, former UN liaison officer, Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, and Mindi Rahn, participating in conference proceedings.

At the conference, entitled "Rebuilding Societies Emerging from Conflict: A Shared Responsibility," speaker after speaker identified the need to work seriously to try to prevent and limit violent conflict. According to figures from the World Health Organization given by one presenter, 1.8 billion people live in conflict zones. It is now far more dangerous to be a civilian in such areas than to be a soldier, and many present-day conflicts involve militias and rebel groups who do not follow war conventions. Torture, mutilation, and rape are thus much more common, along with other abuses of fundamental human rights.

In his message to the conference, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said: "The broad range of participation in this conference highlights the need to pursue a more coherent approach to countries in crisis� Unless more intense efforts are made to address the deep-rooted structural causes of violent conflicts, no preventive measures will have long-lasting effects."

In conjunction with the conference, a small ceremony was held at the church's UN Liaison Office opposite the United Nations' building. Church leaders and members observed a time of silence and prayer, especially for the families of Adventists and all those lost in the 9/11 attacks.

Attending the UN conference as a representative from the administration of the church's world headquarters was General Conference Treasurer Robert E. Lemon. In a public statement made in New York on September 11, Lemon said: "Seventh-day Adventists stand with all others gathered here in New York to mark the first anniversary of 9/11. Like everyone else, we were appalled at the attacks that took so many lives and caused such terrible destruction. We also grieved the loss of friends and loved ones, and suffered together with the families that were torn apart by the events of that horrific day.

"On this first anniversary we can think of no better place to be than to stand here and commemorate the lives lost, and to reaffirm our commitment to peace and goodwill to all. Our message is that of Jesus Christ who came to save humanity, to end such acts of evil, and to establish His eternal kingdom when He will 'wipe every tear from our eyes,' where there will be 'no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away.'"

Also participating in the conference was volunteer Adventist UN representative Mindi Rahn. She calls her assignment "a sobering experience" starting on the anniversary of 9/11, yet she also believes "it's an incredible privilege to represent the Church in this way and to realize that young people like myself are given such important responsibilities."

Europe's Largest Evangelistic Meetings

BY REX D. EDWARDS, vice president, Griggs University

ore than 21,000 people crowded into the Palace of Sport auditorium in Kharkov, Ukraine, for the largest evangelistic meetings ever conducted by Adventists on the European continent. For safety reasons, a further 5,000 were turned away from the opening program conducted by the Carter Report evangelistic team. The crowds were so large the railway station closest to the auditorium was forced to close to avoid accidents.

At the close of the first meeting, Pastor John Carter invited the audience to stand for prayer. The audience-including many former Communists, unbelievers, and atheists-all stood. The program continued with two sessions per night, five nights per week for a month, with overwhelming response.

After one of the meetings early in the series, a well-dressed man approached workers at the front of the auditorium. He introduced himself as the brother of the Ukraine president. He was obviously moved by the presentation and in a voice of suppressed excitement said, "These meetings will save the republic of Ukraine from hopelessness; they will bring spiritual security to our people."

His words were underlined several nights later when 7,000 responded to a call to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. A university student reported, "I came to the meetings as an atheist. Now I am trusting in Christ for salvation." Thousands of Bibles were given away to those who attended at least 10 meetings.

At the end of the third week of the series, 1,121 people were baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist faith in a lake outside Kharkov. On the following Sabbath, a second baptism was held. Among those baptized was Vladimir Ivaneko, a former KGB colonel. His role had been to indoctrinate Soviet troops in atheistic Marxism, but after his baptism he presented to Pastor Carter a homemade silver crucifix.

"If God can do this for a tough old KGB officer, he can do it for anyone," reflected Pastor Carter. "No one is hopeless."

Loving Babylon in New York City
Loving Babylon--the first ever gathering of the re:church network-challenged both conference attendees and the church as whole to take on the adventure of mission to big cities. The three-day conference (August 28-31) involved 60 registered participants from across the United States, 15 volunteers from the local church, and 10 speakers.

A highlight for many participants was the "Christian's Journey into the City," where small groups of conference attendees were challenged to visit activities, events, and places they would not normally encounter. "Having it in New York City was part of the conference," reports Ryan Bell, one of the conference organizers. "We wanted people to not just sit in the classroom setting and learn about what it means to love people--analyzing from a distance. Instead, we said, "We could never explain to you life in New York City so just go and be there."

Another intentional component of the conference format was that of building networks. "I think we've mostly drawn people together who have realized there are other people who are thinking like this and are really interested in this type of ministry," says Bell.

In recognition of a like-minded pioneer, experienced church planter Ed Dickerson was presented with the re:church Issachar Award at the conclusion of the conference. "re:church is a network of supporting friendships among missional leaders committed to transformation and the shaping of the emerging church," says Bell. "God is doing a new thing in our midst--that there is an emerging church that we are only just beginning to see. We believe that He is calling leaders to listen, challenge and form His church for a new generation."

Turmoil Follows Typhoon in South Korea
Recovery efforts are still underway in South Korea following an August 31 typhoon. Typhoon Rusa swept away more than US$258 million worth of property and left some 200 people dead or missing. It has been called the worst disaster to hit South Korea in recent history. The typhoon damaged more than 400 homes owned by Seventh-day Adventists, and at least one Adventist is reported missing. The Adventist Church in Korea has suffered an estimated US$1 million in damages. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Korea, along with local Adventist churches, is responding to the disaster, collecting information and donations to support victims.BAdventist News Network

ADRA Bakery in Pyongyang Feeds 25,000 Children Daily
In August, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) office in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea reported that its bakery was completed and is now producing enough bread rolls to feed 25,000 children daily in the region of Pyongyang, the capital city.

Located in central Pyongyang, ADRA's bakery employs 35 women and produces 50,000 bread rolls each day. These bread rolls are supplied to 95 orphanages and kindergartens in 10 districts of Pyongyang and Sariwan, located approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Pyongyang. ADRA Switzerland coordinated the project, including a training program in Germany for the bakery's director and production manager. A private gift to ADRA International provided $400,000 of the $475,000 needed to construct the bakery. ADRA's office in Switzerland funded the balance. The World Food Program and other donors are supplying the raw materials for bread production.

Adventists Witness at Central Europe's Largest Music and Cultural Festival
TeaChurch, a recent Seventh-day Adventist church plant in Budapest, Hungary, had the opportunity to witness during the week-long Pepsi Island Festival-the largest music and cultural festival in central Europe, according to church planter Peter Horvath. "In the midst of 65,000 people each day, ours was only one of two Christian tents on the island in the middle of the Danube River in Budapest," said Horvath. AWe were able to reach the 'lonely-crowd' and tell them about Jesus. We are able to keep in touch, for we can provide TeaChurch as a future place of contact."

On Saturday night of the event, the TeaChurch team hosted a gospel concert by Michael Harris, an Adventist singer from California, USA, "which was very well received" according to Imre Tokics, communication director for the Adventist Church in Hungary. "There were 300 seats in the tent where he sang, and it was always full," said Tokics.

Developed during a church planting workshop conducted by Peter Roennfeldt, ministerial secretary of the Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division, the TeaChurch is built around fellowship, the Word of God and resembles a tea-club setting with tables, candles, fruit tea and biscuits, explains Roennfeldt.

This is the fifth year of the Pepsi Island Festival. Last year two people were baptized as a result of visiting the Adventist tent. This year those individuals were part of a team of 25 volunteers who took their vacation time to participate in this witnessing program. One hundred and fifty visitors signed up to request more information about the Adventist Church.

News Notes

The first ever Seventh-day Adventist school, Battle Creek Academy, Battle Creek, Michigan, recently celebrated its 130th anniversary. Current students re-enacted "Our First Classroom," portraying such notable alumni as John Harvey Kellogg, W.K. Kellogg, Homer Aldrich, and J. Byron Sperry. Started in 1872 by Goodloe Harper Bell with a dozen students, Battle Creek Academy now serves 189 students with a staff of 22.

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