Adventist Communications Pioneer Dies

St. Albans, England .... [ANN Staff] Victor Cooper, 81, former associate director of communication for the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters, died June 13. During his term as executive secretary and communication director of the church’s British Union, he pioneered the “Dial-a-Prayer” service, enhancing the image of the church throughout the United Kingdom. He initiated a church exhibition unit that was transported to many show grounds around the country. Cooper’s contacts with Associated Television were instrumental in the production of Britain’s first documentary on Adventists. For two years he served as president of the church’s Irish Mission, then went to the Adventist Church world headquarters, where he spent 15 years until his 1988 retirement.

Adventists Key In Philippines Anti-Smoking Law

Manila, Philippines .... [Jonathan Catolico] Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed into law June 23 a measure prohibiting smoking in public places and restricting the packaging, use, sale, distribution and advertisement of tobacco products. The Adventist Church’s health department was actively involved in the signature campaign spearheaded by the Department of Health urging lawmakers to pass the bill in Congress. “The Adventist Church in the Philippines mobilized church workers and health professionals to gather more than 2 million signatures in this campaign. We contributed the highest number,” says Abe Carpena, health director for the church in the Southern Asia-Pacific.