World religious freedom congress opens with call to avoid secular society’s lead

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Nearly 900 delegates meet in Dominican Republic for seventh world event 2012, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Mark Kellner/Adventist Review Addressing nearly 900 delegates and guests at the Seventh World Congress of the International Religious Liberty Association, Denton Lotz, a noted Baptist minister and IRLA president, summarized the purpose of this three-day event: “We’re here today because we believe that freedom of religion is basic to all human rights.” That view, sadly, is not shared in many parts of the world, something Lotz said made holding the sessions even more important. “It’s incumbent upon us to work together that we live together in harmony and concord,” Lotz said to an audience of leaders from Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other communities

Adventist leaders to begin shift in tithe-source formula

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Plans start to reduce North American Division’s contribution in 2013 2012, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Mark Kellner/Adventist Review The formula for contributions by world divisions to the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will change in 2013, if suggestions recommended by global church leaders on the concluding day of the movement’s Spring Meeting are adopted later this year. Robert E. Lemon is treasurer of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Mission to Cities, Revived by His Word initiatives highlight Spring Meeting opening

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Executive Committee hears of plans for urban area outreach, Bible reading program 2012, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Ansel Oliver/ANN Top regional Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders today identified 24 cities that will receive targeted outreach efforts, the next step of a plan voted by church officials last year to focus on urban area ministry worldwide. Presidents of each of the 13 world divisions read Genesis chapter 1 to launch the Revived by His Word initiative, a program to motivate church members to read the entire Bible between now and General Conference Session in 2015.

In China, Adventist believers display spirit of service, sacrifice

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Humble beginnings for Beiguan Church; Member donations fund construction 2012, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Andre Brink/ANN The young man looked left to make sure that he was perfectly lined up with his coworkers. Then he straightened his tie

Church Chat: For Adventist blind ministry, cutbacks kindle new growth

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Pitcher on camps for the blind, new digital library and service-minded ministry 2012, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Elizabeth Lechleitner/ANN Christian Record Services for the Blind President Larry Pitcher is enthusiastic about a young Nebraska teen’s efforts to send 13 blind children to summer camp this year. After Christian Philson raised more than $4,500 toward his goal at a local pancake breakfast, the legendary Harlem Globetrotters named the 13-year-old an honorary Ambassador of Goodwill

Internet convention in Kenya meets to discuss Web use, strategies

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2008, Nairobi, Kenya ANN staff Kigundu Ndwiga, director of Stewardship for the Adventist Church in East-Central Africa, addresses church technology leaders at a regional meeting of the Global Internet Evangelism Network (GIEN) held last week in Nairobi. Seventh-day Adventist Church technology leaders in Africa this week addressed challenges such as local resistance to technology, reaching target groups effectively and maintaining church standards

Adventist West-Central Africa president announces retirement

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Daniel to leave office at end of year 2008, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire Megan Brauner/ANN Luka T.

ADRA responds to Georgia fighting

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Organization working with U.N., international agencies to provide assistance 2008, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Nadia McGill/ANN Courtesy CIA World Factbook Following the recent outbreak of fighting in Georgia, in the eastern European Caucasus region near the Black Sea, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is preparing to respond to the needs of thousands who fled from the violence. More than 2,000 people have died in the first week of fighting and nearly 100,000 have been displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The latest conflict, centered in the South Ossetia region and involving troops from the countries of Georgia and Russia, caused widespread destruction as a result of air strikes and shelling

Adventist laypeople quadruple giving at annual convention

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One-day Church largely responsible for $8 million in donations, ASI officials say 2008, Tampa, Florida, United States ANN Staff The One-Day Church presented at the ASI convention in Tampa, Florida last week. Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI) members donated $8 million during the organization’s August 6 to 9 weekend convention, quadrupling last year’s offering. The marked upswing in giving is spurred largely by interest surrounding the One-Day Church project, ASI officials said.

Church Chat: Why the church can’t slacken its abuse-prevention message

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Small speaks on community, government partnerships against abuse; ‘Why shouldn’t we join them?’ 2008, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Elizabeth Lechleitner/ANN The Adventist Church’s annual Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day, held August 23 this year, is part of a wider effort to curtail abuse within and outside of the church by changing attitudes, says Heather-Dawn Small, Woman’s Ministries director for the world Adventist Church. Excuses cannot be part of the church’s message against abuse.