“KIDS” engages in the Middle East

Beirut, Lebanon—June 18–21, 2009, was dedicated to the “Kids in Discipleship” (KIDS) training seminars in Lebanon.

The mission of KIDS is “Mentoring Kids as Empowered Disciples of Jesus NOW!” with a vision described as “Equipping parents and mentors to disciple kids to Jesus and to empower each child to use their gifts in worship and ministry.”

Five teams were organized, including pastors, elders, and members traveling from Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Qatar. Three main presenters and six coaches instructed and trained the teams throughout the four days of the gathering. In all, a group of more than 30 people met each day. There were many brainstorming activities, planning sessions, and other exercises designed to lead the participants step-by-step to learn how to reach their goal.

“This was a really inspiring and rewarding training event,” said Anne-May Wollan, Children’s Ministries Director of the Trans- European Division of Seventh-day Adventists. “We had some really wonderful and dedicated coaches that were wholeheartedly engaged in the training.” [Aranka Bajic/TED News Staff/TED News]

Handwritten Bible brings insight to participants

Crieff, Scotland—Inspired by the 66-language Bible traveling the world leading up to the General Conference session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, in the summer of 2010, Scottish Seventh-day Adventists decided to have their own personalized, handwritten Bible. Members from all the churches in Scotland submitted handwritten passages of Scripture that were compiled into the “Scottish Adventist Bible.”

The Scottish Adventist Bible attracted considerable attention at the Scottish Mission Day of Fellowship as members poured through the pages to see who had contributed and in which languages. More importantly, as part of “Follow the Bible,” Pastor Llew Edwards, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Scotland, hopes that this initiative has helped Adventists in Scotland appreciate their Bibles more, not just as a historical heritage, but as a life-changing book worth cherishing and sharing. For more about the Bible in 66 languages that is traveling the world, see the interview in the January 2009 issue of Ministry, titled “Follow the Bible: A Journey to Spiritual Renewal.” [BUC News/TED News]

Adventist Church moves to strengthen partnerships with health organizations

Geneva, Switzerland—On July 7, 2009, the Seventh-day Adventist world church president called on Adventists to partner with other health organizations in offering primary health care globally—a request that urges the denomination’s members and institutions to shed individualistic approaches in offering care to communities.

Jan Paulsen’s remarks came on the opening day of a global health conference, which explores ways to achieve public health goals through partnerships and the role faith-based organizations (FBOs) play in such an effort. Church health leaders also hope to demonstrate the role that spirituality and holistic living can play in primary care and find common ground when working with partners.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO), a United Nations agency, sought to bolster partnerships with FBOs, which deliver as much as 40 percent of primary care in some nations.

In his keynote address, Paulsen urged community involvement as a way for Adventists to express their own values in an age of globalization. Such involvement, he said, would define the public’s perception of the church’s approach to primary care.

“An individualistic, inward-looking conception of Christianity is utterly at odds with the Savior who reached out to restore blind men’s eyes, cured lepers, and healed an emotionally broken woman,” Paulsen said. “We cannot express our faith, our desire to imitate Christ, in seclusion.”

Paulsen said the church would continue to prioritize facilitating, funding, and supporting professional medical health care through its network of more than 600 hospitals, clinics, and dispensaries. The denomination’s 150-year health focus also emphasizes health education, advocacy of vegetarianism, and living alcohol- and drug-free.

Paulsen also addressed concerns that partnerships would be at odds with the church’s mission, saying, “Some have been critical, and rightly so, of an eschatological perspective that serves simply to reconcile us to current miseries. Awaiting [Christ’s return] is not a passive exercise, but something that demands action [in] the present.”

The church’s emphasis on health, Paulsen said, should not just be one of treating disease, defining what is healthy to eat or drink, or the training of medical professionals. “Our approach to health is a concept that encompasses all that contributes to the fullness and completeness of human existence.” [Ansel Oliver/ ANN]


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September 2009

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