13 March 2013 Zagreb, Croatia [Jóhann E. Jóhannsson, tedNEWS] Four hundred people gathered to worship together with Pastor Ted Wilson, the President of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, and his wife, Nancy, at The First Adventist Church in Zagreb, Croatia, on Wednesday evening, 13 March 2013. This was their last assignment on their short but sweet visit to the Adventist Church in Croatia. Streaming of the program through the Internet made it possible for other members of the Church, both in the country and abroad, to watch the program and join in worship.
“Give thanks with a grateful heart” performed by the AGAPE choir was a fitting introduction to Pastor Wilson’s message where he encouraged the audience to thank God every day for the religious freedom they enjoy. The church’s male choir also sang a beautiful hymn.
Pastor Wilson focused on 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”. A short prayer session followed where two and two prayed together in recommitment to the spreading of the “Three Angels’ Messages” to the people of Croatia, Slovenia and Albania and beyond.
Earlier in the day, a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr Ivo Josipovic and Dr Anrica Marinovic, Presidential Advisor for Religious Affairs, was paid by Pastor Wilson, Jóhann E. Jóhannsson, Trans-European Division Treasurer, Pastor Branko Bistrovic, President of the Adriatic Union Conference (AUC), and Pastor Sretko Kuburic, AUC Executive Secretary.
Dr. Josipovic welcomed the representatives from the Seventh-day Adventist Church and there was a relaxed and good atmosphere during the visit.
Pastor Wilson expressed his appreciation for the good relations between the President’s office and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Croatia and shared with Dr. Josipovic a glimpse of the worldwide activities of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with its 17 million baptized members and representation in about 210 countries of the world. Pastor Wilson used the opportunity to share leadership advice from the Bible and prayed for the President, the Government and the nation.
“The Seventh-Adventist Church in Croatia has regular meetings and a positive relationship with the President and his Office, as well as with Government and State Institutions. Pastor Wilson’s visit has deepened this relationship with the President, and has given him a broader picture of the worldwide work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church”, said Pastor Bistrovic.
The President, Dr Josipovic and his advisor, Dr Marinovic, have accepted an invitation from the Adriatic Union Conference to visit Marusevec, the Union school and Seminary, in April this year.
In the afternoon, a one-hour sightseeing walk in the beautiful historic city of Zagreb came as a nice surprise to the Wilson party.
Before the evening meeting, the Union administration had invited all union staff and conference and mission leaders to a fellowship banquet with the visitors. The Adriatic Union Conference is made up of Croatia (86% Roman Catholic), Slovenia (58% Roman Catholic) and Albania (70% Muslim).
The Union is participating in the Great Hope Project by distributing The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, and other special materials produced by the Trans-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists as a part of this project. The Union employees, as well as members around the whole Union are also reading a chapter of The Great Controversy weekly in small groups. A special illustrated version of the book will be released next month.
The Union has recently launched evangelism projects streamed through the Internet. This small beginning has been well received by the members and the wider public.
The next stop on Wilson’s tour of the TED is Serbia. To see more photos of Pastor Wilson’s tour of the TED, please click here. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
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