Russia: Church Leaders Express Concern Over Religious Extremism

An knife attack on the son of a Seventh-day Adventist pastor Nov. 27 in Nizhnekamsk, republic of Tatarstan, Russia; a killing of a night guard at an Adventist Church in Cheboksary Dec. 13; and an attempt to burn an Adventist Church in Saransk Dec. 21 bring heavy concerns for Adventists in the region.

Murderers of 63-year-old Vitaly Petrov were caught, but so far it is not known who attempted arson on the church building. Police noticed the fire before it got out of control and were able to save the building.

Church leaders in the region suspect religious extremism. “In Russia such events are not normal or systematic, but sometimes [they] happen when provocation [is] forced into religious animosity,” says Valery Ivanov, communication director for the church in the Euro-Asia Division, or region, of the church.

Bangladesh: Adventists Place First in Health Fair

Living Springs Overseas Missions, a Seventh-day Adventist lay organization, was awarded first place out of 61 exhibit booths at the 2002 Health Fair in Joypurhat, Bangladesh, this month.

“We had an opportunity to tell people about the great Creator who made our bodies and gave us the health principles we were sharing,” says Ellen Mayr, director of children’s ministries for the church in Bangladesh and participant of the Health Fair, which focused on mothering and childcare.

The Living Springs Overseas Missions is involved with mission projects in India and Bangladesh. The operation is a member of Adventist-Laymen’s Services and Industries, an organization of lay people committed to sharing Christ in the marketplace.