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	11-09-01 ann bulletin - (c) adventist news network 13-09-01 ann bulletin - (c) adventist news network ANN Bulletin Adventist News Network Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters September 11, 2001 ANN Special Report: --------------------- * Adventists Respond to Terrorist Crisis --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Adventists Respond to Terrorist Crisis Silver Spring, Maryland, USA .... [ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- As emergency and rescue teams search for survivors of today's terrorist attacks, Seventh-day Adventists in the United States and around the world are responding to the unfolding tragedy. "Even in the face of this disaster, we cannot just throw our arms up in despair," said Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Adventist world church, at a special meeting today with staff at the church's world headquarters. Speaking with ANN this afternoon, Larry Colburn, assistant to the world church president, said Adventists can respond to today's events in a number of ways: 1. Appeal for prayer "We are a praying people," says Colburn. "Already, Adventists around the world, from Kenya to Australia, Ivory Coast to Poland, are reporting their solidarity in prayer for those affected by this tragedy." Local Adventist congregations are invited, wherever possible, to open their churches as places of prayer for their communities, reaching out to all those in need of pastoral care and to those who want to participate in a prayer vigil. "This is a time for coming together, for joining with all people of faith in prayer ministry," says Colburn. "Let's pray both for the world's leaders, who are in need of Divine guidance," says Colburn, "and for the many thousands impacted by this tragedy, that they will feel the compassionate touch of our Lord, Jesus Christ." 2. Financial Contributions The Adventist Development and Relief Agency International is receiving donations on behalf of a concerted Adventist response to this disaster. Those who want to donate can call, in the United States: 1-800-424-ADRA (2372). Outside the United States, call: (301) 680-6049 within business hours (U.S. eastern daylight saving time). 3. Blood Donations In the United States, Adventist Church members can respond to the national call for blood donors. News agencies are reporting the urgent need for blood supplies, and United States residents can participate by contacting their local blood collection facility. ------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (C) 2001 by Adventist News Network. 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA 20904-6600 phone: (301) 680-6306. e-mail address: adventistnews@compuserve.com. ANN World News Bulletin is a review of news and information issued by the Communication department from the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters and released as part of the service of Adventist News Network. It is made available primarily to religious news editors. Our news includes dispatches from the church's international offices and the world headquarters. Reproduction Requirements: Reproduction of information in this article is encouraged. When reproducing this material, in full or in part, the words "Source: Adventist News Network" must appear under the headline or immediately following the article. The words "Source: Adventist News Network" must be given equal prominence to any other source that is also acknowledged. ANN Staff: Ray Dabrowski, director; Bettina Krause, news director; Ansel Oliver, editorial assistant. ----- This list is operated by the Communication Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Current and back issues can be viewed online at www.adventist.org A subscription form for this list is also available on our website. To unsubscribe click the following link http://www.adventist.org/lists/unsubscribe-adventistnews.html or send e-mail to majordomo@lists.gc.adventist.org with the words "unsubscribe adventistnews" as the body of your message. If you need assistance subscribing or unsubscribing, send e-mail to owner-adventistnews@lists.gc.adventist.org. ANN Bulletin Adventist News Network Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters September 13, 2001 ANN Special Report: --------------------- * Assistance Provided for Grief-Stricken * Guard Against Stereotyping, Urges Adventist Leader * Adventists in Nigeria Fear for Colleagues * ANN Feature: Adventist Response to Tragedy Continues --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Assistance Provided for Grief-Stricken Silver Spring, Maryland, USA .... [Norma Sahlin/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- As authorities continue recovery efforts after Tuesday's terrorist attacks, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) is accepting donations on behalf of a concerted Adventist response to this tragedy. Aid being offered in New York City includes a special training seminar on dealing with critical incident stress and grief. Water and food is being supplied to rescue workers. Centers have been opened where water, food, and counseling is available. In the greater Washington area, volunteer counseling teams have been organized and are assisting in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activities for the victims of the Pentagon tragedy. Donations may be made by calling toll-free in the United States to 800-424-ADRA (2372). Outside of the United States, call +301-680-6049. Donations can also be given online at www.adra.org. ------------------------------------------------------- Guard Against Stereotyping, Urges Adventist Leader Silver Spring, Maryland, USA .... [Bettina Krause/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- In the aftermath of this week's terrorist tragedy, it is vital to guard against stereotyping of people based on religion or ethnicity, says John Graz, public affairs and religious liberty director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide. "There is a very natural reaction of wanting to assign blame," acknowledges Graz. "But in this time of international distress, we must be sure that the innocent do not pay for the acts of the guilty." "There are good people everywhere, but there are also fanatics everywhere, in all religions," says Graz. "This terrible suffering has been caused by fanatics who are blind to the value of human life." "These people are a minority," he adds. "Most people, no matter what their religion or beliefs, want to live with their families in a world of peace." In the days following Tuesday's attack, many Muslim and Arab groups across the United States and around the world have condemned the acts of terrorism. But in the United States, Muslim organizations have reported a marked rise in harassment of Muslim-Americans, especially of women who wear the traditional religious head covering, called a hijab. Graz, who has been interviewed on a number of European radio stations over the past few days, says, "We must find more ways to build bridges between all people of goodwill, in every religion, and present a united front against evil of this kind." The Adventist Church will continue working to promote tolerance and respect for all individuals, regardless of their race or religion, says Graz. "Hate, not religion, was at the root of these barbaric attacks," he says, "and we must resist the temptation to perpetuate this hate." ------------------------------------------------------- Adventists in Nigeria Fear for Colleagues Bukuru, Nigeria .... [Bettina Krause/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- Religious clashes in the northern Nigerian city of Jos have claimed at least 160 lives since tensions between Muslims and Christians flared into violence September 7. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bukuru, Jos, was "badly hit" by the conflict, according to Pastor Joseph Ola, president of the Adventist Church in Nigeria. "All our members are gone to various unknown places," says Ola. "One of them was shot in the head. Four others were arrested by military men and were taken to an unknown place. There is no way to get to officers of the field [or region]." Despite an army-enforced curfew, armed gangs moved through Jos this past week, burning cars, houses, mosques, and churches and accosting people on the street, according to news reports. The adoption of Sharia, or Islamic law, in 11 northern Nigerian states has inflamed tension between religious groups in the region. "It is time that our Lord should come to put an end to all this bloodshed," says Ola, referring to both the conflict in Jos and the recent terrorist attacks on the United States. "Innocent souls are being killed." "On behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Nigeria, we send our condolence to the families affected by this terrorist attack," adds Ola. "May the Lord send peace into the world so that we can finish the work assigned to us by our Master." ------------------------------------------------------- ANN Feature: Adventist Response to Tragedy Continues Silver Spring, Maryland, USA .... [ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- Seventh-day Adventists both in the United States and around the world have been united in their prayers for the many thousands of people directly affected by Tuesday's terrorist strikes. Personal stories of church members caught up in Tuesday's events have been coming into the Adventist Church world headquarters; stories of loss, of near-misses, and of shock. But common themes run through each account--of reliance on God, profound sympathy for those who are suffering, and a desire to participate, in some way, in the rescue and restoration efforts. There are reportedly at least four Adventist Church members who worked at the World Trade Center who have not yet been accounted for. Names have not been released. Adventist Church members who worked at the Pentagon were reportedly among those who were safely evacuated after the building was struck by a hijacked airliner. Local Response Adventist churches across the United States opened their doors Tuesday and Wednesday evenings for those in local communities who wanted to come together to pray. In areas close to the disaster sites, Adventist Church members have been quick to volunteer whatever assistance they can toward the relief effort. Janice Wright, pastoral care coordinator for Adventist Metro Ministries in Manhattan, calls the past few days "surreal." "There's a lot of post-trauma stress," says Wright. "You can see it in people's faces. Everything is still uncertain, with rumors flying around of evacuations and buildings that are apparently about to collapse." The 11th Street Manhattan Adventist Church, the closest Adventist church to the World Trade Center, has been open to provide water, food, counseling, and a place for prayer. The church is located on the same street as St. Vincent's Medical Center, the medical facility nearest the disaster scene. The Church of the Advent Hope, an Adventist church located on 87th Street on the Upper East Side, has held prayer vigils throughout this week and plans a special memorial service on Sabbath, or Saturday, September 15. Many Adventist churches in the New York City area have been holding simple worship services of remembrance and comfort for the community each evening, reports Wright. Also in New York City, Adventist Community Services and the New York Conference of Adventists are conducting a special training seminar for some 35 pastors, dealing with critical stress and grief counseling. Beginning September 14, volunteers from among students and faculty of several Adventist universities, including Loma Linda University, California, Andrews University, Michigan, and Columbia Union College, Maryland, will head to New York City. They will offer community seminars on dealing with grief and also plan to facilitate discussions about spiritual questions raised by events of the past week. "A great many people are serious about religion for the first time in their lives," says Monte Sahlin, vice president of the Adventist Church's Columbia Union, which is coordinating the work of Adventist Metro Ministries. In the Washington, D.C. area, Sligo Church's Adventist Community Services reports it is coordinating pastoral care and counseling volunteers to assist activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the Pentagon disaster site. Global Response The response of Adventist Church members and leaders around the world has been "overwhelming," says Ray Dabrowski, communication director for the Adventist world church. Minutes after the terrorist attack, 230 Adventist pastors at their annual ministers' convention in Bucharest, Romania, interrupted their training program to pray for the victims and their relatives and for stability and peace in the world. Staff at the church's Eastern Africa headquarters gathered for an hour on the day of the attacks to pray. "Since we cannot be there physically to give blood or physical support, we have sent US$5,000 to ADRA for relief purposes," said Pardon Mwansa, president of the church in the region. Messages of concern and support for those affected by the attacks have come in from church administrative offices and institutions around the world, including: the Northern Rhenish-Westfalian Conference, Germany; the Burundi Association; the Inter-American Division; the Swiss Union; the Italian Union; the Eastern Solomon Island Mission; Sydney Adventist Hospital, Australia; the Southern Asia-Pacific Division; the Euro-Asia Division; the Bulgarian Union; East African Union; and the Japan Union. Adventist World Headquarters Staff Safe As an international organization, the Adventist world headquarters has staff members who are sometimes away from the office on national or international itineraries. Within an hour of the first terrorist strike, a department-by-department review was underway to establish the whereabouts of traveling staff. All of the more than 60 staff members who were found to be away from the office have been accounted for. "We thank God for the safety of our world headquarters family, and pray for the safe return of those making their way home," says Matthew Bediako, secretary of the Adventist world church. "But we cannot forget the 266 people who died Tuesday on the four hijacked aircraft. We pray especially that the families of these victims will feel the comforting arms of our Lord, Jesus Christ." Meetings Still On Track The Adventist Church world headquarters is currently preparing for the church's Annual Council, to be held September 25 to 30 in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. It is an event that brings together leaders and delegates from every region of the world church. A number of associated pre-meetings have also been scheduled in the days leading up to Annual Council. Administrators at the church's world headquarters announced today that, while some delegates may be delayed or prevented from coming to the United States, both Annual Council and the pre-meetings will go ahead as scheduled. ------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (C) 2001 by Adventist News Network. 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA 20904-6600 phone: (301) 680-6306. e-mail address: adventistnews@compuserve.com. ANN World News Bulletin is a review of news and information issued by the Communication department from the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters and released as part of the service of Adventist News Network. It is made available primarily to religious news editors. Our news includes dispatches from the church's international offices and the world headquarters. Reproduction Requirements: Reproduction of information in this article is encouraged. When reproducing this material, in full or in part, the words "Source: Adventist News Network" must appear under the headline or immediately following the article. The words "Source: Adventist News Network" must be given equal prominence to any other source that is also acknowledged. ANN Staff: Ray Dabrowski, director; Bettina Krause, news director; Ansel Oliver, editorial assistant; Wendi Rogers, copy editor; Lynn Friday, administrative assistant. ----- This list is operated by the Communication Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Current and back issues can be viewed online at www.adventist.org A subscription form for this list is also available on our website. To unsubscribe click the following link http://www.adventist.org/lists/unsubscribe-adventistnews.html or send e-mail to majordomo@lists.gc.adventist.org with the words "unsubscribe adventistnews" as the body of your message. If you need assistance subscribing or unsubscribing, send e-mail to owner-adventistnews@lists.gc.adventist.org.