TED News Bulletin Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 5 March 2008 In this issue: ------------------------- * Sweden: 1 2 3 Evangelisation * England: Ingathering Coordinators Meet * Israel: Dedication and Diligence * Norway: Hope Channel Norway Launches Web-TV * Lithuania: Equipping Lay Bible Workers * Kuwait: Like Water to the Thirsty * Norway: ADRA Musical Completed ------------------------- 1 2 3 EVANGELISATION...[Audrey Andersson/TED News Staff/TED News] Stockholm, Sweden – On 1 March the Adventist Church in Sweden launched a project entitled ‘1 2 3 Evangelisation’, a simple concept designed to get every member involved in evangelism between March 2008 and June 2009. One – stands for the individual member. Each member is encouraged to increase their awareness of God given opportunities to witness, invite others to church activities and write three or more names on a prayer card and specifically pray for those people every day. Two – is the number of hours per week members are encouraged to spend in an outreach programme in their local church. Three – stands for teams. Over the next 18 months leaders in the church are challenged to consciously train and develop new leaders; while every member is encouraged to be part of a team and help in some way. As individuals it is easy to give up or become discouraged. In working together much more can be achieved. ‘1 2 3 Evangelisation’ builds on their previous initiative ‘100/500’ where the aim was to baptise 100 people in 500 days between January 2006 and May 2007. This resulted in positive growth for the first time in 30 years. During the last month the Swedish Union President, Robert Sjolander, and the Personal Ministries director, Willy Aronsen, have met with local church boards to discuss innovative ideas for evangelism — everything from health expos, small group based activities, to more traditional meetings. President Robert Sjolander said: “God wants to use each of us to spread His truth and love. It is a real joy to serve the Lord. I am sure He will richly bless us as we step out in faith with ‘1 2 3 Evangelisation’.” INGATHERING COORDINATORS MEET...[TED News Staff/TED News] St Albans, England – Members of the Trans-European Division (TED) Ingathering Coordinating Committee and invitees assembled at the TED Head office on Monday 3 March, for their annual meeting. For more than 90 years, members of the Adventist church, and young people attending Adventists schools, from Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom have taken part in the annual Ingathering. Development and relief projects, such as building clinics and schools, and providing relief aid to those affected by disasters, have benefited from the funds raised. In 2007 the Ingathering total amounted to more than $3.2 million, thanks to more than 10,000 volunteers who donated their time and efforts knocking on doors, organising fund-raising events, and supporting the Ingathering programme in many other ways. Reporting from ADRA Norway, Gry A. Haugen said: “Education and community development was our focus in 2007. Our church schools and Tyrifjord Junior College achieved wonderful results last year. Our special challenge this year is to mobilise more members aged 40-70 for the Ingathering”. Tue Westing, Ingathering Coordinator in Denmark, said: “A church without a social engagement is a dying church. Last year the church schools and Vejlefjord Junior College were eagerly engaged in the Ingathering project...[It is] our goal to encourage a greater number of young people and those aged 50 and above, to participate in this project”. Associate Treasurer of the Adventist Church Headquarters, Daisy Jane F. Orion, said after the meeting: “I am impressed with the activities and the creativeness of the TED coordinators to raise funds for Ingathering. It inspires me to come and hear success stories. 2007 has for most of the unions been a very good year. With the plans for 2008, I am sure this year, amidst the challenges each coordinator is facing, will also be a great year.” “It is encouraging to see that the Ingathering fund-raising programme is still alive and well in the Northern part of our division. Many Ingatherers who have collected funds for decades are no longer able to actively participate, but we are very thankful for their faithful service. Despite the challenges we face it is encouraging to see that the children, youth and students in our church schools are taking over the baton, so we are optimistic about the future of the Ingathering programme. It is also important to note that Ingathering funds are “matched” by grants from governments and other agencies, thus increasing manifold the funding donor countries can provide for ADRA projects around the world”, concluded Jóhann E. Jóhannsson, TED Treasurer and Chairman of the TED Ingathering Coordinating Committee. DEDICATION AND DILIGENCE...[Julio Mendez/TED News Staff/TED News] Jerusalem, Israel - About 285 people benefited from seminars conducted in Israel, 14-23 February, by Dr Michael Hamilton, Trans-European Division Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director. The seminars, eleven in total, which were organised and coordinated by Pastor John Lascu, Personal Ministries Director of the Israel Field (IF) and Milagros Mendez, IF Sabbath School Director, were tailored to benefit Sabbath School teachers, small group leaders, lay preachers, pastors and church members. Some of the topics presented at the seminars were: ‘Behavioural Styles and Their Impact on Evangelism’, ‘Common Practices of Truly Great Sabbath School Teachers’ and ‘The Importance of Spiritual Gifts in Ministry’. A general sentiment expressed by many participants at the conclusion of the seminars, was a sincere appreciation of having been able to attend the programme, and a keen wish to attend similar events in the future. Dr Michael Hamilton said: “Pastors and members of the Israel Field were very encouraging in their dedication to the work in their field. Despite the obvious challenges which are there, everyone is working diligently to overcome them. There is need for support and prayer as the very diverse frontiers are confronted and crossed, by the grace of God”. HOPE CHANNEL NORWAY LAUNCHES WEB-TV...[Mai-Britt Kendel/TED News Staff/TED News] Vik, Norway - On Sunday 2 March, Hope Channel Norway, a family friendly television network run by the Adventist church, officially launched its first ever web-TV. As a Christian values network, Hope Channel Norway has set out to produce a rich variety of programmes aimed to improve its viewers’ relationships, health, careers, intellectual knowledge, and spiritual well-being. Mai-Britt Kendel, Editor of Hope Channel Norway, says “This launch is a historical landmark for the Church in Norway. We still have a long way to go, and we are aiming to progress as we act in response to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.” http://www.hopechannel.no EQUIPPING LAY BIBLE WORKERS...[Bertold Hibner/TED News Staff/TED News] Kaunas, Lithuania – The main evangelistic centre of the Adventist church in Kaunas was the venue for the Lay Bible Workers training meetings held from 24 February to 2 March. Lectures on various styles of preaching; witnessing; giving Bible lessons, understanding various types of personalities, and also recognising and utilising spiritual gifts, were among the topics presented by Dr Michael Hamilton, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director of the Trans-European Division. Participants who attended the seminar commented: “Dr Hamilton’s presentation helped me better understand myself, and also the people that I am working with”. “I am deeply convinced that by developing the Personal Ministry department [in our Church], we will be able to prepare our members better for personal evangelism and help our ministers to assist them.” “Visiting the Adventist church in Lithuania, and working with Bertold Hibner, President of the Church in Lithuania, and church members, was a very encouraging experience. A vision for growth and development within the mission was very evident, and all the elements for success are being put in place by a dedicated team of workers. As we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and follow his lead there will be sure success”, Dr Hamilton concluded. LIKE WATER TO THE THIRSTY...[Sherlin Awungashi/TED News Staff/TED News] Kuwait - Department Leaders for Family, Women and Children Ministries from the Middle East Union (MEU) organized some much longed for seminars in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kuwait, on 7-9 February. Aranka Bajic, MEU Director for Women and Children’s Ministries, opened the Children’s Ministries Training Seminar on the topic ‘Reaching Everyone You Teach’, and continued with ‘Discipline in Sabbath School’. Both topics were well received by the Kuwait Church, which counts 35-40 children ranging from ages 0-17 attending church every week. Subsequently the important issues of ‘Principles of Effective Leadership’ and ‘Balancing Home and Career’ were examined at the Women’s Ministries Training Seminar. The seminar on ‘The Ten Commandments of Marriage’ presented by Marianne Aune, MEU Director of Family Life Ministries, yielded interesting discussions, following a lively question and answer time. Like water to the thirsty, these well prepared and planned out seminars were a blessing to the Kuwait Adventist Church. ADRA MUSICAL COMPLETED...[Gry A. Haugen/TED News Staff/TED News] Vik, Norway - In the beginning of February, ADRA Norway announced the completion of a project primarily aimed at children and young people in Norway. In an effort to create an increased awareness of attitudes and values, linked to humanitarian development work, ADRA Norway has produced material for a musical designed to be used in schools, by pathfinder groups and by other children’s groups. It is also expected that it will be a resource for various projects, as well as helpful in preparing for the annual ingathering organised by ADRA Norway. The material for the musical consists of a book presenting seven stories about children living in various conditions in different countries; a CD with seven songs, and lyrics for a “sing-a-long”. In addition, it includes a resource booklet containing a drama linked to each song, plus sheet music. Each theme focuses on fellowship, freedom of choice, and other important issues, as well as questions which can initiate conversation. “In schools today we need to not solely work with the traditional school subjects. We need to include and emphasize life skills, teaching and communicating the importance of making wise choices, and also teach values like justice, mercy and empathy. In this process children will enjoy the music and they will enjoy learning about life in different cultures. This is the true ADRA spirit!” says Gry A. Haugen, ADRA Norway. _________________________________________________________________ TED News Staff: Paul Clee, News Director and Editor Heidi Kamal Kendel, Editorial Assistant 119 St Peter's Street, St Albans, Herts., AL1 3EY, England E-mail: tednews@ted-adventist.org Website: www.ted-adventist.org TED News is an information bulletin issued by the Communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division. You are free to re-print any portion of the bulletin without the need for special permission. However, we kindly request that you identify TED News whenever you publish these materials. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list by replying to this email and putting "unsubscribe" in the subject line.