Massive Floods Bring Heavy Losses

Seventh-day Adventists in Europe are calling for prayers from their worldwide church family as they join the massive clean-up and rebuilding efforts in flood-ravaged parts of Central and Eastern Europe.

For more than 10 days, some of the worst flooding on record in Europe has destroyed houses, public buildings, roads, and bridges. More than 100,000 people have fled their homes, and an estimated 109 people are dead. Rivers, swollen by violent storms two weeks ago, have left paths of destruction in southern Russia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.

Adventist leaders in the region report that no church members are believed to be among those who died in the tragedy. But they say the flooding has inflicted "immense damage among Adventist families, and to church facilities." While cautioning that it is too early to assess the full impact of the floods, leaders say they have already received many reports of property damage.

In the Czech Republic, several Adventist churches were flooded. The Adventist publishing house in Prague, Advent-Orion, was also swept by flood waters, that destroyed more than half its stock of books, as well as a number of printing presses and computers.

Adventist church buildings in the German towns of Flöha, Olbernau, and Schneeberg are said to have sustained severe flood damage. Church members in Dresden, Pirna, Grimma, and Leising were among the many thousands of residents evacuated to safety as flood waters threatened their homes. Reports of church members who have lost houses or other property continue to flow in.

In Austria, a group of youth attending a Pathfinder camp were surprised by the floods. The 40 children were saved, but their tents, belongings, and four cars were washed away.

There is a prevailing attitude of "everybody helps everybody else," says one church official. He says personnel from the Adventist University at Friedensau, Germany, worked to evacuate some 90 residents of a nearby community senior citizens' home. Adventists in Europe are also contributing to a special relief fund the church has set up to provide assistance for flood victims.

Ulrich Frikart, president of the Euro-Africa Division, says that in spite of the tragedy, "we are trying to remain positive." He reported that as the water goes down, Adventists will continue to do whatever they can to provide relief for those impacted by the floods. Frikart has requested the prayers and solidarity of Adventists around the world as the long recovery process continues. --Adventist News Network

Stewardship and Sabbath School
Departments Team with Kellogg's
The North American Division Stewardship and Sabbath School departments have entered into a new and enhanced label reimbursement program with the Kellogg Company of Battle Creek, Michigan. Kellogg=s is now the producer of the well-known Worthington, Loma Linda, Morningstar Farms, and Natural Touch products.

Under the new program, Kellogg's is requesting that the UPC portion of the label be clipped and returned to them. It is suggested that local churches designate someone to collect, clip, and count the labels. After the church sends a summary report to the conference, along with the UPC labels, the conference will send a compiled report on to Kellogg's. Kellogg's will then reimburse the conference $.05 for each UPC label submitted. This is an increase of more than twice the old reimbursement of $.02 per label.

This money is sent on to the General Conference to support mission investment projects throughout the world divisions. Kellogg's has expressed a strong interest in partnering with the church in supporting these special mission projects.

This new agreement between the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Kellogg's will commence on October 1, 2002.

HOLY SPIRIT PRESENT AT 'CHURCH PLANTERS X-CHANGE'

RIMBO, SWEDEN - [ANR] The powerful presence of the Holy Spirit will
remain as a major feature in the minds of all who attended the
"Church Planters X-Change 02" at the Swedish Junior College -
Ekebyholmsskolan, Sweden during the week 11 - 18 August, reports
Pastor Peter Roennfeldt, Ministerial Association secretary for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division (or
region).

Following three days of dialogue and prayer with Union and Conference
leaders - and church planting coaches - from the Netherlands,
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, England and Hungary, 120 church
planters, core group members and future planters spent the week
sharing church planting ideas, planning and praying.

"Ten church planting fields schools and conferences are being
conducted in Europe this year - with some such as this X-Change in
Sweden focused upon planting churches in post-Christian,
postmodernist Europe," says Roennfeldt.

"It is very stimulating and uplifting to be in the presence of 120
church planters," says Rudy Dingjan, Church Planting co-ordinator in
the Netherlands. "With such vibrant young adults around, the gospel
certainly has a future! That's why I want to have at least 20 people
from Holland next year."

"At each church planting conference we spend at least one-and-a-half
hours in prayer each day," Roennfeldt says. "At this conference
people were hungry for the Word of God. We studied the major portions
of scripture relating to the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Many were out early each day reading their Bibles. Most read the book
of Acts through during the week. And people were gathering in groups
praying. On Friday evening many were anointed. As in the days of
early Adventism, we could say that the Holy Spirit was present in a
very powerful way."

The teaching was done through a range of case-studies of church
planting projects in Europe. Over twenty new Adventist church plants
established in postmodern, post-Christian Europe during the last
couple of years were studied. "It was one of the most encouraging
experiences in my ministry," says Roennfeldt. "This is happening
where many have suggested 'it could not be done'! Lost people are
coming to God. Adventist churches are being revitalised and new
churches are being planted. We sense a movement has started. And, God
is raising up young men and women as planters and teachers of church
planting principles."

A group of twelve leaders and pastors from Germany also participated
in the X-Change. Frank Waldschmidt, one of the church planting
leaders in the country, shared an outline of the national strategy
being developed and followed for church planting in Germany - and,
two pastors shared more detailed case-studies on their cell-church
plants. "I got new energy in Sweden," says Porsgrunn church planter
Arne-Kristian Andersen. [ANR Staff with Peter Roennfeldt/ANR 104]