TED News Bulletin Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 20 February 2008 In this issue: ------------------------- * Sudan: Evangelism on the Move * England: Administrative Change at Newbold College * England: Research Degree Programmes at Newbold Reviewed * Sweden: Sweden Explores Church Identity * Norway: KID on the Agenda * Sudan: Bicycles and Water Purifiers * USA: ADRA International Earns Outstanding Rating ------------------------- EVANGELISM ON THE MOVE...[Miroslav Didara/TED News Staff/TED News] Khartoum, Sudan - The training programme entitled "Evangelism on the Move" was held in Khartoum, Sudan, from 21 January to 2 February, 2008. A total of 45 Pastors, Bible workers and lay members from various parts of Sudan attended the programme. Lecturers from the Middle East Union (MEU), Dr Maywald Jesudass, Dr Bern Yuot, Amir Ghali; and, Janos Kovacs-Biro from the Trans-European Division (TED), presented high quality lectures and gave practical training on how to preach the Good News in a culturally relevant way. During the evenings an outreach programme called "Better Living Seminar - There is hope for Sudan", was conducted at which Janos Kovacs-Biro was the main speaker. Also included were a Health and Family Seminar conducted by Amir Ghali and a Prayer Time conducted by Dr Bern Yuot. Various singing groups took part and dramas were performed by young people all of whom contributed to the quality of the programme. All of the participants from the “Evangelism on the Move” training programme participated in various ways. As the programme progressed the audience grew from 166 to 450 people. The strong loudspeakers spread the message from the tent a few hundred metres into the surrounding houses and streets. People had the opportunity to borrow Bibles at the beginning of the programme in order to follow the speaker as he was quoting the Scriptures. At the end of the programme 47 people who had attended the meetings at least 7 times were given the Bibles to keep as a gift. More than 80 people made a decision to be baptized. Dr Miroslav Didara, Sudan Field President stated, “I would like to express once again on behalf of the Sudan Field our appreciation and thanks to all at the TED and the MEU who contributed in any way and made this event possible.” ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE AT NEWBOLD COLLEGE...[Newbold News/TED News] Bracknell, England - Dr David Penner has announced his resignation after completing a six-year contract as Principal of Newbold College. He submitted his resignation at this stage in the year in order to facilitate the College’s search for a successor and he will continue to serve until the summer. Dr Penner said: ‘There is never a perfect time for administrative change but this seems the most propitious moment. Good things are happening at Newbold. New programmes are being developed and the excellence in theology teaching for which the College has a long tradition is drawing ever-increasing numbers of students. We have resolved some of the funding issues and the finances are on a better footing. The search committee will have time to do its work before the next academic year. I am honoured to have been Principal of the College. I have enjoyed the years here with family, friends and colleagues. Working together with the staff and students at the College has been a rewarding experience.’ Dr Wiklander said: ‘Dr Penner has served the College faithfully and well during a challenging period in its history. Many changes in our world are affecting the College, especially in its student recruitment. With love and a particular eye for the human resource and aesthetic aspects of college operations, Dr Penner has provided vision and care for the College. His keen historical insights and his connections in North America, as well as his splendid abilities as a teacher and great expertise in leadership training have been particularly valuable. I have personally appreciated working with David in a close and warm relationship. I wish him and his wife rich blessings in the future.” A search committee chaired by Dr Wiklander will begin its work immediately and aims to appoint a new principal within three months. The committee will consist of one representative of the Newbold staff and four members of the College Board: Dr Wiklander, Dr Daniel Duda, Education Director for the Trans-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists (TED), Pastor Raafat Kamal, TED Field Secretary, Pastor Don McFarlane, President of the British Union of Seventh-day Adventists. The Newbold staff representative will be the Bursar, Mrs Berit Lisle. Dr Wiklander appealed to those who care about the future of Newbold to contact the committee with suggestions. He said: ‘As we seek a successor, our search committee will be glad to hear from those who would like their names to be considered and from others who would like to suggest names for our consideration. Newbold’s principal makes a significant contribution to the work and leadership of the Church in Europe, and we want to make a thorough survey of the possibilities. Please feel free to email me or Dr Daniel Duda with your suggestions.’ RESEARCH DEGREE PROGRAMMES AT NEWBOLD REVIEWED...[Newbold News/TED News] Bracknell, England - On 31 January five representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Accrediting Association arrived on campus to conduct a 2-day review of Newbold’s research degree programmes - MPhil/PhD offered in partnership with and accredited by the University of Wales Lampeter (UWL). In the course of their stay, they had discussions with the Research Institute for Theology and Religious Studies at UWL, and met with both Newbold's Senior Management Team and its Research Degrees Board. They complemented these discussions with interviews with students, and a thorough inspection of the college's library facilities. The team commended the College for preserving a distinctly Adventist philosophy and ethos, while delivering UK-recognised degrees. Both academic and library staff were specially commended - the former for the thorough, committed and high quality supervision of research students, and the latter for services to research students beyond the call of duty. ‘The team made a thorough examination of our campus operation and our relationship with the University of Wales,’ said Director of Research Degrees, Dr Laurence Turner. ‘As a team, we were very happy that we were able to share our commitment to quality research degrees. Our visitors seemed more than satisfied with what they found.’ SWEDEN EXPLORES CHURCH IDENTITY...[Audrey Anderson/TED News Staff/TED News] Orebro, Sweden: In June 1886 Ellen White held a series of meetings in Orebro, Sweden, where she spoke about the development of the Advent movement. Almost 102 years later, 15-17 February, 80 Adventists from around Sweden gathered in the Orebro church to study the question of Seventh-day Adventist identity with Dr Daniel Duda, Education Director of the Trans-European Division. Friday night set the scene with an overview of the development of Adventism and why church identity is a contemporary issue. “Adventism was born as a rethinking movement and it is and should continue to be a rethinking movement,” asserted Dr Duda. The following day Dr Duda explained some of the reasons why he is a follower of Jesus. Jesus always finds a path of mercy even in the law; He is always on the side of the helpless and defenceless; He opposes hypocrisy, and He is always ready to give us a fresh start. When looking at Jesus’ example we can learn the important lesson of reflecting rather than reacting to events. The topic of ‘God’s investigative judgment’ was followed by a lively discussion. It was concluded that God runs the universe on the basis of evidence, and He will give everyone the opportunity to investigate and understand why His judgments are righteous and just. The Church’s task is to create an environment where people who are searching for God can meet Him. One way we can do this is by spending time with others. When relationships are built, opportunities to tell others about Jesus will present themselves. There is a lot of truth in the saying: “He who would have friends must show himself to be friendly.” At the end of the weekend the local pastor Mariusz Wieczorek said, “You have challenged our thinking and given us some headaches, but we really appreciate your coming.” As one participant concluded, “When you understand where we have come from, it helps to focus on where we are going.” ‘KID’ON THE AGENDA...[Anne-May Wollan/TED News Staff/TED News] Lillehammer, Norway - Two teams from the Adventist churches in Lillehammer and Mysen, Norway, came together for a Kid’s in Discipleship (KID) training seminar in the beginning of February, led by Anne-May Wollan, Children’s Ministries Director of the Trans-European Division, and Gry Beate Marley, Norwegian Union Family Ministries Associate Director. For some of the participants, this was a refresher course, having attended a training course in England in 2007; for others, this was their introduction to becoming coaches and trainers in the KID project. “It was an inspiring weekend,” says Anne-May Wollan, “the teams are so on fire for KID and are so eager to share the KID ministry with their sister churches. They have found something that has made them personally more dedicated disciples of Jesus and at the same time it is having an impact on the families and children that they are working with.” The first KID’s training event organised and operated by a union in the Trans-European Division, will be held in Lillehammer, May 2008. This training event will accommodate a total of 8 teams, mostly from Norway, but also welcomes teams from Adventist churches in Denmark and Sweden who have announced their interest. “We know this is going to be hard work, but we are looking forward to it and we know that God will bless us,” says Tore Wollan, pastor in Lillehammer church. BICYCLES AND WATER PURIFIERS...[Alex Elmadjian/TED News Staff/TED News] Khartoum, Sudan - Sixteen bicycles have been presented to pastors and Bible workers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, living and working in some of the earth’s harshest conditions in the northern region of Sudan. “Those who received the bikes are serving the church in remote areas, often walking on foot for several days in order to visit their members and preach,” says Pastor Miroslav Didara, leader of the Adventist Church in the North of Sudan. “The bicycles will help them to be more effective in their work and will, in many ways, improve their lifestyle,” he added. In addition, five others will buy the bikes locally when they return to their territories. The bicycles, presented during a special ceremony on 3 February, were donated through an initiative led by Pastor Patrick Boyle, a retired minister from the UK, who recognised the need during a ten-day programme held in Khartoum. Another project entitled, ‘Water Purifiers for Sudanese Pastors’ was also organized by Pastor Boyle. Enough money was raised for five water purifiers which were handed over to some pastors who live and work in the areas where potable water is rare. “Many diseases are coming from dirty and polluted water,” says Pastor Didara. “One water filter can secure pure drinking water for a family for at least ten years. They are also designed to be portable, which enables the pastors to carry it around on their long journeys. To them it means better health for all the family.” “We are very thankful to those who decided to do something for others in need. Yet, we need fifteen more water purifiers in order to equip all our pastors and Bible workers with pure drinking water, so they may do accomplish their ecclesiastical tasks more effectively,” says Pastor Didara. ADRA INTERNATIONAL EARNS OUTSTANDING RATING...[ADRA International/TED News] Silver Spring, Maryland - For the third year in a row, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International has earned a coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities. “Only nine percent of the charities we’ve rated have received at least three consecutive four-star evaluations, indicating that ADRA outperforms most charities in America in its efforts to operate in the most fiscally responsible way possible,” says Michael Smith, interim president and chief operating officer for Charity Navigator. “This ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator differentiates ADRA from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” The full review of ADRA’s financial responsibility is accessible on the Charity Navigator Web site: www.charitynavigator.org. Charity Navigator is an independent non-profit organization designed to provide the public with the most accurate, reliable information regarding America’s largest charities. Each year, they evaluate more than five thousand charitable organizations to ensure that donations given are used judiciously. “ADRA is both honoured and humbled to receive Charity Navigator’s highest rating for a third straight year,” commented Charles Sandefur, president of ADRA International. “This continued external recognition affirms just how much we appreciate and value our donors. We treat them and their contributions—whether large or small—with the utmost respect, making sure that as much of their gifts as possible goes directly towards ADRA’s humanitarian services.” ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity. Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org __________________________________________________________________ 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.