{"id":3025,"date":"2016-09-08T10:59:11","date_gmt":"2016-09-08T10:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/2016\/09\/08\/new-staff-members-already-making-an-impact-at-ted-office\/"},"modified":"2016-09-08T10:59:11","modified_gmt":"2016-09-08T10:59:11","slug":"new-staff-members-already-making-an-impact-at-ted-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/new-staff-members-already-making-an-impact-at-ted-office\/","title":{"rendered":"New staff members already making an impact at TED office"},"content":{"rendered":"

8 September 2016 | St Albans, UK [Victor Hulbert]  David Neal and Zina Keshishyan are already making an impact within the Trans-European Division office in St Albans, England.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Pastor Neal, who formerly served as Irish Mission president, recently joined the team as Stewardship director and has already started on a monthly blog, challenging in his first edition, that \u201cFaithful stewardship is not a merely optional Christian grace.\u201d If you are already yawning then read his blog first!<\/a><\/p>\n

His enthusiasm could be seen at the start of a full day of strategic planning meetings on Tuesday, 6 September where he regaled staff members with tales of his family, train journeys (one of his minor obsessions), his journey to improved health, and even Northern Irish politics, all demonstrating the wisdom of some words from Adventist Church co-founder, Ellen White that \u201cWe have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn.\u201d<\/p>\n

His counsel was wise and timely in a day when North Wembley church member, Antonio Belgrave, a specialist consultant who helps manage change in business and industry, helped staff think about the strategic plan they have been working on for the past year. \u201cI just love using my expertise to help my church move forward,\u201d Belgrave stated as he helped distil the work that had already been done into a consensus document that Directors will be delighted to finalise with Union presidents and delegates at TED Year End Meetings in November.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The day was not all work. During a lunch break staff gathered on the steps of the St Albans church to take a \u2018happy birthday\u2019 photo to send to former TED president, Bertil Wiklander, and to enjoy a special lunch that welcomed Neal to the office, along with Zina Keshishyan, a Stanborough Park church member who chose to leave a successful career at West Herts College to serve the church she loves in the treasury department. Quite apart from her secretarial skills, her cheerful presence has added to the feeling that the TED is not just a team, it is a family.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Zina Keshishyan and Audrey Andersson<\/figcaption><\/figure>Audrey Andersson presented both \u2018newbies\u2019 with an orchid to brighten their office window sills, while Raafat Kamal took a few moments to encourage staff and thank them for the committed work they are doing.<\/p>\n

Shortly after, directors and officers were back in the board room, focused on the strategic plan, and with the promise that it will be more than a plan, but part of the real mission of the TED, making God known in Europe.<\/p>\n

The plan will be published on the TED website once it is approved at Year End Meetings. [tedNEWS]<\/p>\n

Meet David Neal in a short introductory video.<\/a><\/p>\n