News Briefs for September 9, 2022
News reports from Fiji, Denmark, Andrews University, Pakistan, and Ukraine:
The Power of Story
Adventist Record reported that Jarrod Stackelroth, the publication’s (Australia-based) editor, taught story-writing to students at Fulton Adventist University College, in Sabeto, Fiji, on August 29–30.
“People are 22 times more likely to remember a story than facts,” said Stackelroth, as he taught theology, education, and business students and faculty.
“The goal of the two-day event was to encourage Pacific theology lecturers and future pastors to consider writing and contributing to Adventist publications, so there is more representation in a division where 80 percent of the membership comes from the Pacific,” reports Adventist Record.
Traffic Stats
According to tedNEWS, a Danish study of 5,000 Baptist participants and 7,000 Adventists who had been members of their respective denominations between 1920 and 2005, has delivered surprising findings.
The Danish Religious Societies Health Study found that the risk of Adventists dying in a traffic accident was 92% lower for women and 97% lower for men. “The finding is so unexpected that it has made headlines in the Danish press,” reported tedNEWS.
Andrews in Transition
An Andrews University Facebook update noted that Andrews-based Pioneer Memorial Church senior pastor Dwight Nelson (who himself is retiring) issued an “invitation during the Convocation (https://youtu.be/QuxTV3FrQlA?t=5570) on behalf of the Andrews University Presidential Search Committee, for the Andrews University family around the world to begin a one week Season of Prayer for that Search Committee as it begins its important and prayerful work of identifying a successor to President Luxton.
The Presidential Search Committee’s first formal meeting is on September 7; you can read more about the process, and make nominations and recommendations to the Search Committee at andrews.edu/presidentsearch.”
Pakistan Flood Response
From a Facebook update pinned to ADRA International’s wall:
“ADRA is responding to the #PakistanFloods by providing food packages and other vital supplies. We are committed to assisting the people of Pakistan during this time of hardship.
Please continue to keep the millions of people impacted by this devastation and the humanitarians responding in your prayers!
Learn more about ADRA’s emergency response at http://ADRA.org/ADRA-launches-emergency-operations-to…”
ADRA Switzerland
ADRA Switzerland volunteers drove two vans from Switzerland to Ukraine on August 20, handing them over to ADRA Ukraine officials. A news release from the APD German-language news service of the Adventist Church said that the transport vehicles were “urgently needed to transport hygiene kits and water bottles as well as recreational, children’s and youth kits” to the transit centers for displaced people in the country.
