Australian Governor-General Meets Adventist Church Leader:

Maj. General Michael Jeffery, governor-general of Australia, had a 30-minute private meeting with Pastor Laurie Evans, regional president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, on Nov. 3. The meeting, which followed a national prayer breakfast, included discussion of Maj.-Gen. Jeffery’s goal of putting chaplains in all secondary schools, and Evans’ communicating the best wishes and prayers of Australian Adventists for Jeffery’s work. The governor-general, official representative of Queen Elizabeth II in Australia, holds a largely ceremonial role in the nation.

Zaokski Theological Academy Celebrates 15 Years:

With visitors from the United States, Europe and across the former Soviet Union, Zaokski Theological Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist institution located in Zaokski, recently celebrated its 15th anniversary. Pastors Juan Prestol and Ted N.C. Wilson represented the world church at the events, and congratulatory telegrams were received from the Russian Duma, or parliament, as well as the Justice Ministry.

Church Plants Grow in Russia:

At the annual business meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Euro-Asia region, a progress report on the area’s church growth effort was presented. So far, 308 church buildings have been purchased and seven will be acquired. More than 200 Bible study groups and 101 congregations have been organized, and 323 pastors have been trained under this program. Now the aim is to enhance personal evangelism and create more Bible study groups and churches, officials said. [Valery Ivanov]