Adventist Communicators Face Challenges in Former Soviet Countries

Seventh-day Adventist communicators representing 12 former Soviet republics met at the Adventist Church headquarters in Moscow last month to discuss challenges and make plans for building positive community relations for the Adventist Church throughout the region. 

Those attending the meeting represented the Euro-Asia territory of the Adventist world church, an area that stretches from Ukraine, in Eastern Europe, through to the Sea of Japan.  The region includes Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. Valery Ivanov, communication director for the Adventist Church in Euro-Asia and organizer of the event, says it was the first time in many years that all regional communication directors had been able to meet together.

Cultural, political, and religious environments vary widely across Euro-Asia—ranging from strict Islamic states, to countries under communist regimes, to states where minority religions are denied legal status.

A key point of agreement among the communication directors was the need to present Adventism in a culturally sensitive way, especially in the many countries where there continues to be a strong distrust of what are sometimes called “foreign religions.”

Ray Dabrowski, communication director for the Adventist world church, also participated in the meetings, challenging the regional communication directors to present a faithful and attractive image of the church to local leaders, the media, and the general community.

“The key questions are these,” says Dabrowski. “Does the presence of an Adventist Church in a community make a difference in the life of the people? Is our Christian faith expressed in a way of life that people find attractive and compelling?”

Participants at the meeting discussed issues such as helping the church play a larger role in society, setting strategic communication goals, and using all available media options.