Sharon Platt-McDonald, BUC Health Ministries Director reports on an exciting two days at Wembley Stadium and a substantial Adventist witness.
‘THE PERFECT SUMMER’ AT NEWBOLD COLLEGE
August 18, 2011 By
Summer Schools, Seminars across Europe, studies – and a hive of Brazilian presence on campus has made for an exciting and ‘perfect summer’ at Northern Europe’s premier training college for Adventist students. It has been a busy summer for Newbold and Newboldians! The School of English Summer Programme attracted nearly 100 students in July. This included 45 from the Adventist University of Sao Paolo. Students improved their English and a great deal more. Sandra Rigby-Barrett was responsible for the event, booking seats, hiring coaches and generally making sure that the programme ran smoothly. As Sandra sought feedback from the students she could not get much variation on a theme of ‘perfect’. In her view the best feature was that the group gelled quickly almost like a family
NEW CHURCH FOR MANCHESTER
August 18, 2011 By
The baptism of eleven individuals in Manchester has led to the establishment of yet another Adventist church in one of England’s old but prosperous cities. Manchester, the first city in the world to have a railway station, the first to host the first meeting of the Trades Union Congress and the city where scientists first split the atom and developed the first programmable computer is also notable for its sporting connections with two great premiership clubs and a renowned music scene. Now it is the first city outside London to host the two most powerful Ghanaian Adventist Choirs in recent times and the first to see a predominantly Ghanaian Seventh-day Adventists church in the north of England
VIDEO REACTION TO RIOTS IN LONDON & BEYOND
August 9, 2011 By
What should the Christian response be to the recent riots and looting in London and beyond. A special BUC News Video interview asks the question of three guests. Today was a very busy day in the BUC Media Centre. Our scheduled plan was to record two editions of our new discussion series, ‘ViewPoint’ – which we succeeded in doing around the extra issues created by recent events in London and beyond. One of our ViewPoint programmes was on Christians and Politics – so it seemed appropriate to take a couple of minutes after the programme to ask our guests for their views and advice on events since the Tottenham riots. You can watch their reaction on the BUC News page of the Hope TV-UK website .
LONDON & UK UNREST UPDATE
August 9, 2011 By
Following some concern for safety, the SEC Youth department have now severely downgraded this evening’s event and are only planning on a few experienced Youth leaders meeting at Tottenham, Seven Sisters Station between 5:00 and 6:00pm. They emphasize that any outreach or community service should only be within members own areas, they should not travel across town, and only venture out under direct instruction from local church leadership who directly understand the situation
ADVENTIST PRESIDENT & YOUTH REACT TO LONDON RIOTS
August 9, 2011 By
Pastor Sam Davis, President of the South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, responds to the recent violence in London. The shooting of Mark Duggan by police, and the peaceful protest that followed to find out answers to the question why, transmuted into violence on the streets of Tottenham and beyond. The volatility of this fluid situation has filled the airwaves and TV screens with reaction and reflection in this 24-hour news driven generation. The Church is not immune to all that has ensued as members live, work and worship in the areas that have been affected. Pastor Sam Davis, President of the South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists stated, “We are saddened by the events that have occurred in Tottenham.
ADRA – FOOD IS GETTING THROUGH
August 4, 2011 By
Hannah Ndung’u says the food is getting through! That has to be good news for those besieged by famine in Somalia. Also a BUC News Video Report Despite reports in the media, she told BUC News in an exclusive interview earlier this week that ADRA Somalia has worked with the village elders, community committees and women’s groups as partners for many years. As Programmes director for ADRA Somalia she says that working with these partners helps them to understand their strategy and to engage with ADRA in the best means of distribution and support.
WELLINGTON BOOTS AND SUITS AT ‘BEST EVER’ IRISH CAMP MEETING
August 4, 2011 By
When Lord Wellington designed his famous knee-high boot in the early 19th century it quickly became a popular and fashionable item of clothing amongst European aristocracy. This vintage fashion item was once again worn with proud relish at the larger than ever third Irish Mission Camp Meeting held at Kilnasoolagh, Newmarket-on-Fergus, 29 July – 3 August. Very few of these boots would have remained motionless as upwards of two hundred and fifty voices belted out the words of the theme song, ‘Revive me, Restore me, Give me a new heart,’ at the direction of our song leader, North England Conference Music coordinator, Dr Diana Sinclair.
DIVERSITY & VISION AT INTERNATIONAL DAY
August 4, 2011 By
Diversity, international dress and a top speaker made for a packed church at Tottenham on Sabbath, 30 July 2011.
ADVENTIST WITNESS AT JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY SERVICE
August 4, 2011 By
The London Adventist Male Voice Choir were among the invited guests for the 2011 Jamaican Independence Day Service at St Martin-in-the-Fields church, Trafalgar Square, London on Sabbath, 30 July. As part of the commemorative service they sang special arrangements of Psalm 100 and The Lord’s Prayer for the hundreds of Jamaicans in the congregation. Choir leader, Dr Keith Davidson said that they have been invited to a number of events such as this and that Jamaicans in the UK have a great respect for Adventist music. He also noted that the choir has a history of singing and sharing in the community, regularly performing in Old People’s Homes. As a result they have also been invited to sing at Garden Fetes – most recently for the North Middlesex University Hospital. Is this an appropriate activity for a Sabbath? Dr Davidson says the choir has taken an active decision to go witnessing. He states, “We believe like Jesus that we will not be hung up by tradition but we will meet people where they are.” That was certainly true last Sabbath. Catching a bus home after the service, one attendee told Dr Davidson that the choir ‘brought tears to his eyes’ with their moving performance.
