09 March 2013, Zwolle, the Netherlands [Jóhann E. Jóhannsson, tedNEWS] Despite the grey, foggy and rainy Sabbath morning in the Netherlands, the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church did not let the weather stop them from travelling from all corners of the country to the city of Zwolle for a day of fellowship. Pastor Ted Wilson, the President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and his wife Nancy, and Pastor Bertil Wiklander, the President of the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church were special guests for this event.
The theme for the day was “God Vernieuwt” or “God Renews” and the rented hall was packed with 3000 people of all ages, reflecting the multicultural membership of the Dutch Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The program was filled with praise and worship, as well as special musical items performed by talented people of all ages. Special programs for the youth and the children were planned for the day.
Pastor Wilson brought greetings from the world church to the members of the Dutch Union and said: “although you may feel isolated and surrounded by and living in a postmodern and secular society, you are a part of the Seventh-day Adventist world family.”
In his Sabbath sermon, Pastor Wilson brought an encouraging, but challenging message and referred to Romans 12:2: “To be renewed in our mind through the power of God” or as it states in another translation: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you in its mould”.
“Revival and reformation is the most important for our lives”, Pastor Wilson said, “but revival comes only through prayer. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is God’s remnant church with a unique message for unique times. God is changing individuals around the world and he is doing that in the Netherlands too.”
During the first part of the afternoon Pastor Wim Altink, the President of the Netherlands Union of Seventh-day Adventist Church, together with Pastors Wilson and Wiklander answered questions from the young people of the Church. The questions ranged from about the leaders’ personal conversion experiences to questions about various aspects of Christian and Church life. The three leaders answered the questions well, but also encouraged the young people to have a close relationship with Jesus, to stay firm in their faith, and be witnesses for Him wherever they go.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Netherlands, with its 5,200 members, is a very vibrant Church with many church plants, and strong work for children and youth. At the end of the day, all the children present marched to the platform with small lights while the whole congregations sang: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let is shine”. This was echoing the commitment that was made at the end of the Sabbath sermon in the morning.
This visit by Ted and Nancy Wilson together with representatives from the Trans-European Division was the first of a five-country tour of the Division. The next stop is Poland. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
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