26 May 2011, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates [Clement Arkangelo, tedNEWS] For the first time in history the Seventh-day Adventist Church owns a building in the Gulf region. Some called it historic, but George Mathew, the Elder of Ras Al Khaimah Adventist Church, called it a miracle seeing the reorganization of the Gulf Section into a Field and the inauguration of the new Seventh-day Adventist Church Centre in Ras Al-Khaumah, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The building has church facilities for about 1000 people, offices as well as apartments and guest rooms. It is no less than a miracle of God that the series of events happend in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, took place. 
This miracle was not only securing the permission and funding for the construction of the Church premises, it was also a historic moment for the Middle East Union when on 20 May 2011, under the leadership of Dr. Kjell Aune, the Gulf Section was reorganized into a Field and held its first session.
On Saturday, 21 May 2011, before the inauguration of the building, Dr. Bertil Wiklander, the President of the Trans-European Division, delivered a heart-warming message on “Revival and Reformation” based on Micah 6: 6-8 to the audience of delegates of the Gulf Session, the Middle East Union Session and a number of visitors. Close to one thousand people were in attendance. People came from all parts of the Gulf Field and the world. The inauguration, which took place in the afternoon, was blessed by the presence of a number of General Conference representatives, two Trans-European Division officers, the Middle East Union representatives, the Gulf Field Churches and the delegates to the Middle East Union Sessions who came from all over the fourteen counties of the Middle East Union.
The Gulf Field President, Michael Collins, called the gathering “a foretaste of heaven” as he welcomed the dignitaries, the delegates and the honourable guests. The afternoon inauguration was also attended by representatives of His Highness Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and Supreme Council Member. The Union President, Kjell Aune, extended a word of appreciation to His Highness for the piece of land graciously granted to the church.
On Sunday, 22 May, the Middle East Union Session began, ending on Monday evening. During the sessions, Sudan was reorganized into three Fields. The former South Sudan Field territory, as proposed, was renamed into the Greater Equatoria Field, while the Sudan Field remains as the Sudan Field. A new Field was created in the northern part of South Sudan with the proposed name of Greater Upper Nile Field, which covers five States and northern part of Jongolei State. The headquarters will be in Malakal. During the Union session there were elections of all Field officers, Union departmental leaders and the Union Executive Committee. An unprecedented number of locals were elected to Field and Union positions, making this session a milestone in the history of the Church in the Middle East.
On Tuesday and Wednesday the new Middle East Union Executive Committee met for its Mid-Year meetings, which also included the board of trustees meetings for Middle East University and Adventist Health Education Foundation.
This business was conducted in the Spirit of the Lord. God was active before and during this special week in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Middle East Region, making it a historic and memorable event for many. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
119 St Peter’s Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ted-adventist.org
tedNEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division.
You are free to re-print any portion of the bulletin without need for special permission. However, we kindly request that you identify tedNEWS whenever you publish these materials.
