Stan Posted September 25, 2007 Posted September 25, 2007 ANN Bulletin Adventist News Network Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters September 25, 2007 In This Issue: --------------------- * Mozambique: Church urged to organize, seize outreach opportunities * Britain endorses faith school funding as force to promote tolerance * Adventist college rescinds radio station sale negotiations * Mozambique: Prayer lays foundation for orphanage * Adventists Around the World --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Mozambique: Church urged to organize, seize outreach opportunities Maputo, Mozambique .... [Rajmund Dabrowski/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- Paul Ratsara couldn't hide his enthusiasm when speaking to Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders in Maputo last month. His face beamed and he gestured with excitement when talking about the church's coordinated outreach opportunities in the southeastern African nation of 20 million. Ratsara, president of the Adventist Church's Southern Africa-Indian Ocean region, said Mozambique was the church's focus for that region of the world. But some of the opportunities have yet to be planned and implemented. "We are doing evangelism, building new churches, fighting malaria and digging wells for the community," Ratsara told church leaders. "Isn't this a testimony that Mozambique is in focus for our church in this region?" He encouraged church officials in the country to work together with those coming to build churches, to prepare digging wells, and to continue commitments with local anti-malaria initiatives receiving international support. "This is a great time for us. We must show that we are united with others," Ratsara told church leaders. "This is our time in Mozambique." In order to act, and be seen acting, Adventists in the country must be well organized, he said. Church officials have said that a lack of infrastructure in Mozambique made outreach a challenge just one year ago. Now the church's efforts have cast the Adventist faith community as a vital contributor to the country. Last year, when Ratsara announced a challenge to provide new church buildings in Mozambique, he received an endorsement from participants at the annual convention of Maranatha Volunteers International, a lay organization that builds houses of worship and schools for the Adventist Church. "Most of our people in Mozambique worship under a tree," he told the convention. A recent visit to Machumbutane, one of the congregations on the outskirts of the capital city, Maputo, confirms the challenge and underscores the region's needs. The preferred vehicle to reach Machumbutane is one with four-wheel drive as the roads provide a natural obstacle course. Thatched-roof houses, barren trees and an odd goat roaming the dried-out terrain are typical sights along the road. Simple churches are common sights, too. Approaching the village, one's attention is drawn to children singing. Ratsara's description of church comes alive -- about a dozen children are meeting for their Sabbath School class under a tree with two cows watching the group from the nearby bushes. A few yards away, a shack made of bamboo reeds and sticks with half a roof is home to a congregation of 30 believers discussing their weekly Bible passages. A nearby construction site reveals their hope -- a new church building. "We are almost ready to bring in the steel trusses and these believers will have a modern house of worship they can be proud of," says David Woods, Maranatha's country manager. "And they will fill this church very fast." He adds that most churches undergoing construction might have small congregations now, but will overflow with believers within months. Among the dire needs of each congregation are Bibles. In Campuane, which was the first of the 1,001 churches built in Mozambique, Serge Casemero, 26, tells how he enjoys reading the Bible. But he doesn't own one. He shares a Bible with his father. "Look, someone has torn the Book of Ruth out of it. But the rest is still there," he says, showcasing well-worn pages of the Holy Book. "We are lucky to have a Bible in our church. Most members of our congregation rely on readings in the church or as we pass it around the families. Many of us can't afford them," Casemero says. As Woods predicted, membership has tripled since the official opening of the new church in February. Having new, well-built churches has changed the way some in the community view Adventists, says Miguel Simoque, communication director for the Adventist Church in Mozambique. "People see our new church buildings and how they stand out in the neighborhood. They consider these places important assets to their community," he said. On August 19, emotion ran high as the Mulamate Church, the latest in the building project, was opened on the outskirts of Maputo. There are 120 members in the congregation, but 150 people attended the service. Among the dedication participants basking in the excitement of day was Delphy Chissano, a teacher and children's ministry leader who said she had waited 33 years for such an occasion. "I was dreaming all these years. Before, I was ashamed to invite people to come to the church with me. Now, I don't know how to say thank you," she said with a beaming smile. The 1,001 church initiative is a four-year project with a $30 million budget. High building infrastructure costs in the country add to the challenges Woods faces every day. "Our staff is highly competent in making things happen with limited means. They have done it in other parts of the world and they are doing it in Mozambique, too," he says. Drinking water is among Mozambique's ever-present challenges. "Look at this land. It's dry and barren. The tree where these children are singing -- it has no leaves. No drinking water is available in this or the next village," explains Don Noble, Maranatha's president. The lack of wells became a part of Maranatha's concern. Noble's team decided new wells accompanying new churches should serve the entire community, not just church members. Noble explains the government requires a source of drinking water wherever schools are built. Apart from church buildings, the Mozambique Maranatha project includes constructing eight church schools. Maranatha officials said some church buildings will also be used as elementary schools, depending on teacher availability. The group is ordering special equipment for the project, according to Gary Berndt of Salem, Oregon, United States, and the drilling is scheduled to begin before the end of the year. Maranatha's objective is to place 1,001 water-wells throughout the country. The construction team is a multi-national group of professionals, proudly representing Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Canada, the U.S. and neighboring South Africa. About half a million Adventists worship in more than 1,000 congregations in Mozambique. Most church members now live in Zambezia -- an area along the Zambezi River made popular by legendary Scottish missionary Dr. David Livingstone. The scourge of malaria affects the entire population there. Nearly 6 million cases of malaria are reported each year in Mozambique, and the disease is a major cause of death in the country. Malaria also contributes to the country's high level of poverty by reducing productivity, especially in rural areas. According to some estimates, malaria causes more deaths than AIDS. Nearly 20 percent of children five years old and younger in the country's Zambezia province have malaria, according to health officials. "Malaria kills everyone, no community is spared," Ratsara said, expressing the urgency of involving local Adventist congregations in dealing with the situation alongside other religious groups. "There may be doctrinal differences between the people of different religions, but we are brought together to fight the enemy," Ratsara said. "It's our challenge and our opportunity." Referring to the overarching efforts of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Mozambique, Ratsara pointed out that the anti-malaria efforts by Adventists are part of the church's presence in the community. Currently, ADRA is launching an anti-malaria implementation plan in the Province of Zambezia. The project, Together Against Malaria, represents an integral partnership between ADRA, the Inter-Religious Campaign in Mozambique, the Washington National Cathedral's Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation, the Mozambique Ministry of Health and the United States government, according to Darcy de Leon, ADRA country director for Mozambique. "We must show ourselves involved on a national level, and on a local level. It's our duty to be there, everywhere the church is active," Ratsara said, challenging church leaders to support the inter-religious campaign. The project received a nearly $2 million grant funded by the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative announced during a visit by U.S. first lady Laura Bush to Mozambique. "Defeating this epidemic is an urgent calling -- especially because malaria is treatable and preventable," Bush said to a group of about 250 participants of the Inter-Religious Campaign against Malaria on June 27 in Maputo. "Faith communities exist in every village in the country; therefore, faith leaders can reach their members and impact their attitudes and behavior related to malaria," Bush said. Ratsara echoed the assertion that the diverse faith groups have well-defined and active networks of local congregations, institutions, as well as trusted relationships with millions of people. "Our church is well-placed and is rich in human resources for developing a course of action, including training and distribution of aid. We must be leaders in such an effort," Ratsara said. "Our strength is in the Lord and in knowing that the Adventist lifestyle has much to offer." ------------------------------------------------------- Britain endorses faith school funding as force to promote tolerance Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom .... [Elizabeth Lechleitner/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- Faith groups in England and the British Ministry of Education released a joint statement September 10 outlining the role of the country's faith schools in promoting understanding among students of all faiths. Under the so-called "tolerance pact," nearly 7,000 private religious schools are expected to receive additional state funding to open more schools in return for their renewed efforts to promote "shared values of tolerance and diversity," the statement said. The agreement is seen largely as a symbolic gesture following a squabble between faith and government ministers last year over admission policies at a Catholic school. The school, explains Keith Davidson, Education director for the Adventist Church in England, was accused of skewing admission policies toward students of one religious background at the exclusion of others. Davidson says the religious segregation claim led to an effort by some officials to require faith schools to reserve at least 25 percent of their desks for students of other faiths, if not dismantle such schools altogether. The legislation fell through, largely because faith schools in England are well regarded, even by those in the non-faith sector, Davidson says. He says private religious schools consistently perform better than the country's public schools and because the taxes parents pay cover education at both public and faith schools, many choose the latter. Davidson explains that faith schools in England began as places where underprivileged children received a solid education. Last week's statement affirms that legacy and endorses the role faith schools can now play in fighting religious divisions. Faith groups operate one-third of England's some 21,000 schools. The majority is run by the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. The state also supports 37 Jewish, seven Muslim, two Sikh, one Greek Orthodox and one Seventh-day Adventist school -- the John Loughborough Adventist School, a secondary school in London. Negotiations are underway to acquire similar funding for eight Adventist primary schools and another Adventist secondary school in the country, Davidson says. Once state funding is secured, the schools will receive the standard £3,000 (nearly $6,000) annually for each student, making enrollment key to the financial stability of faith schools, he says. While some Adventists in England fear the government might one day unduly influence the faith schools it funds, Davidson says there's little to worry about. He explains that if a faith school in England wishes to maintain state funding, it must offer a unique educational experience. "There wouldn't be a point otherwise," Davidson says, "There has to be some distinct reason for operating the school. Adventist educational philosophy is that reason." He says the state has fully funded John Loughborough since 1988 and that school administration there maintains "complete autonomy" over the school's curriculum, management, admission and hiring policies. Garland C. Dulan, director of the world church's Education department, says accepting state funding concerns him only if "a school steers away from its mission" as a result. Perhaps more worrisome, he says, is when Adventist schools appoint government officials to sit on their school boards, thinking they owe such individuals in exchange for funding. "We have to ask ourselves, 'How far down this road can we go before we begin to compromise what makes our schools Adventist?'" Dulan says. Davidson is adamant that Adventist schools in England "would never sacrifice their principles for any degree of funding." Instead, he believes state funding gives Adventist schools a valuable means of outreach to the community -- students who are not Adventist make up 40 percent of enrollment at Adventist schools in England. If the Adventist church school system in the country relied only on funding from the church and donations from members, he says it couldn't sustain current enrollment. ------------------------------------------------------- Adventist college rescinds radio station sale negotiations Takoma Park, Maryland, United States .... [ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- A Seventh-day Adventist college in the Washington, D.C. area has decided not to sell its radio station, an asset seen by many church leaders and members as a ministry in the region. "The motivation to rescind came from church leaders and members throughout the [region] who requested that we address the issues facing the college before liquidating any assets," said Dave Weigley, president of the church's Columbia Union, which spans seven states along the east coast and Midwest. Columbia Union College, located in Takoma Park, Maryland, and founded in 1904, entered into negotiations to sell its radio station earlier this year. School officials said a deal might have raised $20 million to pay off debt, construct new buildings and fund scholarships. The station, WGTS (91.9 FM) is the nation's second most popular non-commercial Christian radio station and reaches about 300,000 people each week, including online listeners. Critics of the proposed sale argued the deal would have lost a large broadcasting presence in the nation's capital region, which includes the Adventist Church's world headquarters. Weigly said the vote doesn't mean the college will never sell assets, but that board members, church leaders, constituents and church governing bodies across the Mid-Atlantic United States believed it was important examine the enrollment, financial and maintenance issues facing their college before taking further steps. ------------------------------------------------------- Mozambique: Prayer lays foundation for orphanage Vanduzi, Mozambique .... [Miguel Geraldo Simoque/Mozambique Union/ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- In the small village of Vanduzi, roughly 600 miles from Mozambique's capital of Maputo, 42-year-old Páscua Chale is building an orphanage on prayer. Chale, a Seventh-day Adventist and a widow, saw poverty, AIDS, malaria and other diseases leaving many children as orphans in her village. Though she wanted to help, she had very little to share and felt helpless until a little boy came to her asking for food. Touched by his need, Chale sold some of her clothes and took him in along with two other orphans. "We in Mozambique often wait for help from overseas, but my experience tells me that the help comes from above," Chale says. "I don't have anything to give my children, but everyday we have bread to eat." She soon spoke with friends and a pastor who encouraged her to open an orphanage. Chale has taken 11 children into a small house and the Vanduzi government is asking her to take more children. Because of her work, many people are asking about the Adventist faith and attending the small Adventist church in the area. Chale hopes to finish building an orphanage before the November rainy season. Although she doesn't have funds to equip the orphanage with clean water and food, it hasn't stopped her from building. Chale's new challenge is finding Bibles and study guides for those learning about the Adventist faith. "We can share the little we have with others and the work of God is to multiply it," Chale says. "The stories of the Bible are true stories. All we need to do is to believe." ------------------------------------------------------- Adventists Around the World Silver Spring, Maryland, United States .... [ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- Lesotho: Queen Visits HIV/AIDS Training Program … The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s support for AIDS victims has received royal recognition. The Queen of the Kingdom of Lesotho commended the church’s support network for grandmothers living with AIDS in the southern African nation during a September 9 visit to a training seminar. The queen, Masenate Mohato Seeiso, praised the elderly for their dedication, service and sacrifice, and urged children to honor their grandparents. Nearly 100 grandmothers were trained in home-based care, nutrition, care for orphans and vulnerable children and psychosocial support. The training prepares grandmothers to form support groups in their communities and is sponsored by the Adventist AIDS International Ministry based in Johannesburg, South Africa. For more information on AAIM visit the Web site www.aidsministry.com [AAIM/ANN Staff] United States: Target of Building 50,000 Churches Considered ... A Seventh-day Adventist lay organization that builds houses of worship and schools is considering a request to build 50,000 churches and schools in the church’s Southern Africa-Indian Ocean region. Maranatha Volunteers International President Don Noble said the organization is evaluating the proposal that was presented at the organization’s annual convention in Portland, Oregon, September 21 and 22. Church leaders say church growth in southern Africa has led to a dire need for church buildings. Noble announced the completion of 999 church buildings in India, Latin America, Mozambique and the United States, on day 934 of a 1,000 churches in 1,000 days program. About 1,500 participants of the two-day convention donated $1.2 million for projects, which include schools and community water wells, apart from church buildings. [ANN Staff] United States: Local church reaches out to government leaders … Heather-Dawn Small received a surprise when visiting the Gethsemane Adventist Church in Brockton, Massachusetts as the guest speaker September 22. The Seventh-day Adventist Women’s Ministries director was met with recognition from the mayor, state senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. “We feel a person that comes from the [church’s headquarters] represents the world church, said Sylvan Lashley, pastor of the 80-member church. “I think we can use that moment to reach out to the government and let leaders of the country know who Seventh-day Adventists are and what they’re doing around the world.” There are 15 million Adventists worldwide and 10.5 million are women. “I think that struck a chord with Christine Canavan,” Lashley said of the state senator who attended the service and read each signed proclamation. Each government leader received a leather-bound copy of the book Steps to Christ. [ANN Staff] United States: Adventist pastor recognized for community contribution … Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Carlton P. Byrd was one of 10 ministers in the Metropolitan Atlanta area to receive the "Chosen Pastor Award" September 17 during the 2007 Gospel Choice Awards. Byrd, senior pastor of the 2,700-member Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, was the first Adventist minister to receive the recognition in the award’s 13-year history. Founded in 1994, the Gospel Choice Awards annually recognizes gospel recording artists and outstanding pastors in the Atlanta area for leadership and contribution to the community. Byrd and the Berean congregation are project leaders for a “house build” partnership with Atlanta’s Habitat for Humanity, a home-building volunteer organization helping working families in need. [ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2007 by Adventist News Network. 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA 20904-6600 phone: (301) 680-6306. 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