This evening in the Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri, a presentation by Seventh-day Adventists from the Euro-Asia region held the audience of the world church's business session attendees spellbound.
This evening in the Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri, a presentation by Seventh-day Adventists from the Euro-Asia region held the audience of the world church’s business session attendees spellbound.
After a noisy welcome, generated by the Euro-Asian team rattling little wooden spoons together, Pastor Artur Stele, Euro-Asian church president, presented world Adventist church leader Pastor Jan Paulsen with a gigantic and ornately decorated wooden spoon. Smaller spoons, the delegates were informed, would be given to any of them who visit the Euro-Asia booth in the exhibition hall over the next few days.
The Euro-Asia region is the largest geographical region of the Adventist church, comprising the 12 countries that make up the Commonwealth of Independent States: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. To illustrate its size, Stele pointed out that the region covers 11 time zones and the distance across some 6,200 miles.
The main report took the form of a video packed with statistics and fast paced images. Adventists have 147,000 members in the region, with 62,300 of these baptized in the last five years. To accommodate the new members, 781 new churches have been built and another 277 are under construction.
Church leaders in the Euro-Asia region face some special challenges. In Belarus there are legal restrictions that mean that Adventists are not allowed to hire public buildings for worship services. The solution: buy existing buildings or construct new ones. In Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, there are 40 different nationalities to contend with, as well as legacy of the Chechen war. In Kazakhstan, where the population is predominantly Muslim, it is particularly difficult for Christianity to flourish.
Challenges in some parts are balanced by opportunities in others, however. The seeds of the gospel, like the farmers, are finding the soil fertile in Ukraine. Adventists first came to the Ukraine in 1886 and established a church of some 19 members. In the last five years Ukraine has seen 1,093 new Adventist members baptized. In Moldova 23 families have formed evangelistic teams to work in their local communities and many young people are getting involved
This kind of growth seen in the Euro-Asian region does not happen without careful planning. Leaders have developed a number of strategies to accelerate their program of evangelism. These include 30 million printed booklets and satellite television evangelism broadcasts. As in a number of other parts of the world small groups are also proving to be the key to Adventist growth. Following an initiative in 2001 more than 5,000 people attended small group training.
The effectiveness of small group work was brought home by the story of Luba. An invalid since childhood and suffering continuing physical disabilities, Luba prayed that she might find a way to witness for her faith. Her chance came through local radio where she spoke on the subject of loneliness. Immediately following her interview she received a phone call from one of the listeners, and the calls continued all night. She made so many new friends that she was able to begin a small group ministry and lead a number of people to become church members.
A round of applause followed Luba’s story at the end of the video presentation, but there was even louder applause when Luba appeared in person on stage. Holding crutches and standing no more than three-feet tall she was asked what she would like to say to the audience.
“Dear people,” she said through her interpreter. “If the Lord could use me, I believe He can use all of you.”
Reactions from the audience showed that the report and Luba’s contribution in particular, had impressed many people.
“The report was very exciting and strengthening,” said Herber Brugger, a pastor and president of the Adventist Church in Austria. “It’s amazing how many young people are involved in the spread of the gospel. I was especially impressed by the handicapped woman who used her gift to to bring the gospel to others. I think we in Austria can learn many things from our brothers and sisters in Euro-Asia.”
“Beautiful and amazing,” said Isolda Costa from Brazil. “I was impressed by the unity in that region. Christianity knows no boundaries. There are many cultures, but still there is unity in Christ and the church is growing.”
