Mexican state governor pledges support for Adventist efforts in religious liberty and social programs
Toluca de Lerdo, Mexico—Human rights and religious freedom were the focus of a meeting between Ganoune Diop, the Seventh-day Adventist world church’s religious liberty leader, and Eruviel Ávila Villegas, governor of Mexico’s most populous state. The two, along with representatives of the Adventist Church in central Mexico, discussed ways in which Adventists work to improve the quality of life within communities.
“I want you to know that you have an ally in the government of Mexico,” said Governor Eruviel Ávila Villegas. He pledged continued support for the church’s work not only in promoting human rights but also efforts in health care, education, and other social welfare programs. The governor thanked Diop for his worldwide work in safeguarding religious freedom. In turn, Diop expressed gratitude to the governor for his continuing support for religious freedom as a fundamental and universal human right.
For Adventist Church members in many parts of Mexico, religious liberty is more than just a theoretical concern. Ruben Ponce, former religious liberty director for the Adventist Church’s Azteca Mexican Conference and current religious liberty director for the Mayan Conference, cites a long list of challenges that Sabbath keepers regularly encounter, including Saturday public university admission tests; employment discrimination; and, in the State of Mexico, a mandatory statewide Saturday evaluation for teachers. Diop says that the constitution of Mexico establishes the right to religious liberty and conscience for all Mexican citizens and confirms the equality of every person. He encouraged Adventists to continue to express their gratitude for these liberties, while working to make these freedoms even more clearly reflected within Mexican society. [adapted from Bettina Krause]
Syrian refugees receive Bible at Adventist church in Norway
Syrian refugees receive Bibles at Adventist church in Norway A group of Syrian refugees beamed as they received copies of the Bible in Arabic during morning worship at the Seventh-day Adventist church in Vadsø, Norway, on Saturday, December 19, 2015. For them it was Christmas a few days early.
They were among a large number of refugees who had arrived via a Norwegian-Russian border crossing located in northern Norway. One of those refugees, Elias Samer Nema, arrived at a refugee center in Vadsø. There he asked a woman whether she knew of a nearby church. “I sure do,” replied the woman.
The next Sabbath, Nema showed up at the local Adventist church in Vadsø, a remote town of about 5,000 people. He has attended regularly ever since. He expressed joy at the fellowship he found in the Adventist church.
One of the few items that he was able to bring from Syria was his Bible. He wanted to tell other refugees about Jesus and help them to get Bibles. Hilde Huru, a local leader in the Vadsø church, made contact with the Norwegian Bible Society. The society donated a number of Bibles in Arabic and Farsi for distribution. “We see a deep gratitude in the eyes of those who received Bibles,” Huru said. “This is really important to them.”
She said the refugees have a very limited knowledge of English, and only one of the Vadsø members speaks Arabic, so they find it difficult to communicate. But by utilizing Google Translate on their smart phones they are able to understand each other to some degree. “One of the refugees who began attending the church recently, a man from Iran, had never owned a Bible out of fear that his Christian beliefs would be revealed and put his life in jeopardy. He was so touched when he finally received a Bible he could call his own,” Huru said.
Sabbath School has been transformed into a multilingual class at the Vadsø church. Huru makes copies of the Sabbath School lesson in Arabic and Farsi for the refugees. “Even if locals and refugees have a hard time understanding one another, they understand the Word of God as they read it in Arabic, Farsi, and Norwegian,” she said.
“I have never met anyone in the Middle East with such a love for God as you have,” one of the refugees told the Vadsø congregation. [tedNEWS]
