Following the dramatic people’s revolution in Yugoslavia earlier this month, a letter of congratulations and support was sent to the newly-elected president, Dr. Vojislav Kostunica, by the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South-East European region, Dr. Radisa Antic.
“We wish to congratulate you on your appointment as president of Yugoslavia and wish you God’s blessings in your new role, and blessings to all the citizens in our country,” wrote Antic in his letter dated Tuesday, October 10. “We want to assure you that the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, according to the Bible, will continue to pray for you and your government to be successful in bringing peace and prosperity in our country for all peoples.”
Commenting on the presidential change, Antic says: “As disciples of Jesus Christ we respect any authority, any government, and we accept Dr. Kostunica and his new government as well. We believe that it is going to be for the better. We are happy to see that our new president is a believer, with faith in God, and using the Bible as a base for the values of democracy, freedom of choice, and a right to choose one’s beliefs and philosophy of life.”
“We pray that peace will take place in our country,” says Antic. “The country’s economy is in a poor state-after almost ten years of sanctions and isolation from the rest of the world. Our church faced some real challenges in helping to provide necessities such as food and clothing for the members and our neighbors during these difficult years.”