22 November 2018 | Becici, Montenegro [Victor Hulbert]
Helgi Jónsson, a medical doctor and Psychiatrist was elected as the new Trans-European Health Ministries director on Thursday, 22 November. Originating from Iceland, where he currently works as a Consulting psychiatrist, he has also served in the Danish health system.
An active member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he is an elder of the Hafnarfjörður church, an active Sabbath School teacher, and has previously served as a member of the Executive committee.
Jónsson states, “I’m humbled by the calling to work for the TED. I don’t approach the task as a man that knows all the answers, but first and foremost want to get to know the people I will be serving and listen to their needs and thoughts on various matters. I hope that my experience as a psychiatrist may contribute to the work. I aspire to be a cogwheel in a community that can become stronger together in the love of Jesus, so His love may be shown through us all to our fellow Europeans.”
Jónsson replaces Torben Bergland who earlier this year was called to serve as Associate Health director at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [Read more here.] Raafat Kamal harked back to the TED Health think tank in 2015 that emphasized the need for an emphasis on mental health and also the health and well-being of our pastors. In voting this highly qualified and committed individual there is a decided focus that the good initiatives started by Bergland can continue.
Joining him as part of the TED family is Paul Lockham. Paul has served the Adventist Community across the British Union Conference for many years, first as a district pastor, then as Executive Secretary in first the North, then the South England Conference before being called to the same post at the British Union office. During this period he also served as BUC Stewardship director. More recently he has served as Associate Secretary with primary responsibility for the pension plan and the needs of the churches in the Irish, Scottish and Welsh Missions.
“We were looking for a senior figure, a person with experience and commitment, to fulfil this position,” Kamal noted. “With Pastor Lockham this is exactly what we have got.”
In accepting this position, Lockham notes that “Christian Stewardship is living in a trusting relationship with our gracious God, using our time, talents and treasures to touch the lives of others to build His kingdom.
Lockham replaces David Neal who was recently appointed as Editor of the Stanborough Press in Grantham, England. [Read more about his appointment here.]
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Sajitha Forde-Ralph, associate editor
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