10 May 2016 | St Albans, UK [Giles Barham] Adventist Risk Management (ARM) representatives based at the Trans-European Division office, St. Albans, United Kingdom recently travelled to Huambo, Angola to meet church leaders in the South-Western Angola Union Mission. The week of emphasis on safety and risk management for churches commenced on Sunday, 13 March 2016.
George Siamuzoka, Union Treasurer, noted that this was an “historic event” as ARM had never before provided training and guidance on risk management protocols and the importance of insurance in Angola.
Attendees said they enjoyed the practical experience at the end of the second day when they were able to “put into practise” what they had learnt during the seminar. Participants visited the newly built Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church where they were tasked with valuing the property and its contents, along with carrying out a risk assessment. The attendees were surprised by what they found. “If a newly constructed building can have so many health and safety considerations, we must be concerned for our older buildings,” one attendee commented.
Graham Barham was pleased that the attendees understood the importance of the information being shared. “I’m absolutely delighted. We came with a mission to educate and I feel this has been done to great effect,” he said. “The fact that the attendees are now wise to safety issues means they can take this knowledge back to their respective institutions and pass on the baton.”
He told the group the story of how he had promised God that one day he would build a church for Him. His career kept him busy and he let that promise fall from his sight. It was only after he had a change of heart that Figueiredo fulfilled the promise he had made.
Later in the week, the team travelled from Huambo to Luanda to carry out a more condensed version of their presentations to those in the North-Eastern Angola Union Mission, training a further forty attendees.
“I didn’t fully understand the value of insurance before this” said one attendee. “I now feel far better equipped to advise my colleagues and staff as to the policies that are available to us. I understand better the various risks that face the Lord’s assets which include us, His people.”
George Siamuzoka, the South-Western Union Mission Treasurer, concluded. “We appreciate so much your coming. Your presence and presentations will have long lasting memories. Now our people know what they are supposed to do to be good stewards of God’s assets.”
Adventist Risk Management is the insurance ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and aims to provide solutions to reduce the risks to Adventist institutions and membership. “Our ministry is to protect your ministry.” If you feel your Union would gain value from such presentations, please visit our website www.adventistrisk.org [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, director; Esti Pujic, editor
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