Family life—the focus in Krakow
Krakow, Poland—Krakow, one of the largest and oldest cities in Poland, saw 38 participants attend this year’s Certified Family Life Educator’s (CFLE) seminar, September 6–11, 2009.
Hosted by Paul Tompkins, Family Ministries director in the Trans-European Division (TED), this year’s two modules, Theological Foundations and Interpersonal Relationships, were presented by guest lecturers Roberto Badenas, Education and Family Ministries director for the Euro-Africa Division, and Bryan Craig, retired South Pacific Division Family Ministries director.
Konstantinos Theofylaktidis, a CFLE graduate, commented, “These seminars, through lectures, materials, books, and practical trainings in groups, gave me an opportunity to better understand and see the potential of family ministries, [and] these seminars prepared me for practical ministry to people.”
Marek Rakowski, secretary for the Adventist Church in Poland and local facilitator of this event, expressed his appreciation to Badenas and Craig for their proficient contribution, and to Tompkins for his consistency in organizing these programs each year, addressing topics and current needs as felt in many Adventist homes. He said, “I feel privileged that we were able to host the CFLE seminar in Krakow this year. Our task as Christian counselors is to teach people to build proper relations and oppose evil. I am convinced that this training seminar will prove very helpful for all the participants.”
Tompkins concluded, “The CFLE Family Ministries training continues to be very important in the Trans-European Division. Family issues relate to all cultures and societies, and an informed and skilled ministry in this area has proved to be both effective and well received in the European setting.” [TED Staff/TED News]
Renaming a library
Bahia, Brazil—The Faculdades Adventistas da Bahia (Northeast Brazil College) celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of their institution by naming the library in honor of Pastor Jose Mascarenhas Viana, a native of northeast Brazil who served at the college as a professor of theology. Before his death, Viana also served as associate ministerial secretary of the South American Division and ministerial secretary of several unions in that division.
His spouse, Vasti Viana, donated his personal library of more than 2,000 books to the university. [Jonas Arrais]
Elder’s Digest celebrates 15 years
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States—The General Conference Ministerial Association, thanks to the visionary leadership of James Cress, ministerial secretary for the world church of Seventh-day Adventists, launched a quarterly journal in 1994 for local leaders of district churches designed to provide training and other valuable resources for those who assist pastors in their responsibilities.
Elder’s Digest began with a circulation of 3,000. During the 15 years since the magazine was launched, under the direction of former editors James H. Zachary and Joel Sarli, and now under the direction of Jonas Arrais, associate ministerial secretary for the world church of Seventh-day Adventists since 2005, worldwide circulation has reached 100,000.
This accomplishment was noted October 13, 2009, during the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Annual Council in Silver Spring, Maryland. According to Arrais, “more than 100,000 copies are printed each quarter and delivered to more than 100 countries, encompassing all world divisions.”
If you are not receiving Elder’s Digest but wish to do so, please contact your local conference office or go to www.eldersdigest.org. [Willie E. Hucks II]
