{"id":1282,"date":"2018-06-11T14:40:44","date_gmt":"2018-06-11T14:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/2018\/06\/11\/europe-takes-lead-for-world-refugee-sabbath-16-june\/"},"modified":"2021-12-10T20:38:53","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T20:38:53","slug":"europe-takes-lead-for-world-refugee-sabbath-16-june","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/europe-takes-lead-for-world-refugee-sabbath-16-june\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe takes lead for World Refugee Sabbath, 16 June"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated 15 June 2018 | Belgrade, Serbia [EUD & TED Communications]<\/p>\n

For the third year running, Europe will be taking a lead in highlighting the plight and needs of refugees both in Europe and around the world.  Using the ADRA Serbia Community Centre in Belgrade as a base, two live programmes will hear first-hand accounts from refugees, reports on ADRA and local church activities, and see how, as a church, we can bring hope.  Jonathan Duffy, the president of ADRA International, will be among the invited guests and will speak about his recent visit with the Rohingya refugees in Myanmar.<\/p>\n

Two years ago, refugees were pouring through Belgrade railway station in their tens of thousands. Pictures of the crowded park near the station filled TV screens around the world.  Now the TV cameras have gone, and the news agenda has moved elsewhere, but refugees are still trickling through, with roughly 5,000 in the country at the moment.  People traffickers are still busy.<\/p>\n

\"2017<\/a><\/p>\n

While fifteen charities were offering assistance at that time, today, ADRA Serbia is one of the few still in action.  During the live broadcast on Saturday, 16 June at 11:00 CET (Central European Time) we will visit the ADRA Community Centre, hear the refugee children\u2019s choir, talk to refugees, and hear how staff are making a significant difference in their lives.  Igor Mitrovi\u0107, ADRA Serbia director, will also share what motivates him in reaching out to this specific group of people.<\/p>\n

Hosted by Corrado Cozzi and Victor Hulbert, Communication directors for the Inter-European and Trans-European Divisions, at 15:00 CET a second live programme will take viewers across Europe and around the world.  The two directors became involved in highlighting the refugee crisis in Europe in 2016 and since then have reported from Greece, Italy and France.  \u201cWe could not stand by and just watch,\u201d Cozzi states.  \u201cIt surely must be our Christian duty to get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

To watch the live stream click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cozzi goes on to say \u201cWhen I think \u2018refugees<\/em>\u2019 I think \u2018all human beings\u2019. Since the first humans, Adam and Eve, were forced out of Eden, all of us are \u2018refugees\u2019<\/em> waiting to go back home, the home country God created for us. For me, that\u2019s why the Bible invites us to respect the refugees that it calls \u2018strangers\u2019 (Isaiah 56:3), including them also in the commandments.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2016, the pair shared a significant series of reports from Greece that helped focus church members\u2019 minds on the work of ADRA and Adventist Help.  Raising awareness not only assisted with fundraising and recruiting volunteers but encouraged other charities to partner together in projects that would make a bigger difference.<\/p>\n