News Briefs for February 12, 2016
Stories from Andrews University, Germany, Kenya, Bavaria, Uganda, Washington Adventist University, Serbia and Loma Linda University
The presidential search committee at Andrews University met this week to interview four candidates. “It used a set of carefully prepared questions [and] an evaluation and scoring system which allowed each committee member to indicate his or her reaction to the answers given by each candidate” through an online survey program, stated Dr. Benjamin Schoen, chairman of the committee in an Email to faculty. The committee will meet one more time prior to the next university board meeting in March at which it will gives its report. The board will appoint the next president based on the report from the committee.
Some 25 projects to assist refugees are being implemented by Adventists in Germany, according to a bulletin from APD, the Adventist news service in Europe. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) branch in Germany and Friedensau Adventist University organized a coalition of local volunteer groups to provide resources and maintain coordination with government and international agencies.
President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya praised the Adventist widenomination for its contribution to the nation during ceremonies opening the new facilities of the West Kenya Union Conference on Sunday (February 7). A crowd of 3,000 was present when the complex with a media center, two cafeterias, meeting rooms and offices was dedicated. “You have uplifted communities, empowered our citizens and built our nation,” the president stated. He commended the denomination for starting hospitals, schools and community development projects, according to the Adventist News Network (ANN).
Adventist leaders extended condolences to the families of the victims of the train crash on Tuesday in Bad Aibling, Germany. Ten people were killed and 80 injured. “We share the pain of the relatives and pray that God will give them comfort,” said Pastor Wolgang Dorn, president of the denomination in the State of Bavaria, according to APD. The conference includes 70 congregations and nearly 5,000 members,
Prayer for peace following the election next week in Uganda is being organized by Adventists in that nation. On Thursday (February 18) voters will select members of parliament, “My prayer is that Ugandans accept the results,” Pastor Samuel Kajoba, president of the Central Uganda Conference, was quoted in New Vision, the country’s leading daily newspaper. He condemned “violence, corruption, bribery and other vices” in the statement. Many thousands, including many non-members, turned out for a prayer meeting organized by the denomination in Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Dr. Alec Ryrie, an historian of Christianity at Durham University in England, will be the speaker for the Keough Lectures, February 19 and 20 at Washington Adventist University. He will address “How Protestants Use the Bible,” He is the author of Being Protestant in Reformation Britain and a new book soon to be published, entitled Protestants: A Revolution in Progress, The lectures are open to the public on Friday evening and Sabbath afternoon at 3:30 in the chapel of H. M. S. Richards Hall.
ADRA Serbia is working with local volunteers and a grant from OXFAM to provide refugees from the Middle East with medical and food relief. “They have also established a unique information center in Dimitrovgrad … where migrants … can also obtain information regarding shelter and possible accommodation in Serbia,” said a news release from the Adventist denomination’s Trans-European Division (TED). The Adventist Development and Relief Agency in the United Kingdom helped to arrange the grant and are also working closely with projects in Macedonia, Croatia and Lebanon.
Love in a Distant Land is a new book about missionary life in Thailand written by David Smith who grew up in the old Far Eastern Division as a missionary kid. It launches a series of love stories from Southeast Asia. Smith is the author of the successful Bucky Stone Adventures. It is being published by the new media ministry at Loma Linda University Church in California and will also be available as an eBook through Amazon. You can order a copy here.
