\u201cWe knew that doing missionary work in this part of the world would be a bit challenging, but we also believed that with the help of our active and very dedicated project leaders and God\u2019s blessings, we would be successful,\u201d Delfred says. \u201cThe presence of the Adventist Centre and its projects was felt quickly in Oslo, and its reputation spread rapidly.\u201d<\/p>\n From One Project to Another<\/strong><\/p>\n Encouraged by the success of the Norwegian language program, Delfred and Hannah next initiated an international cooking class featuring cuisine from various world regions. Both church members and community residents attended, including some students from the language programme.<\/p>\n The team\u2019s creative thinking then envisioned a \u201cmocktail\u201d bar, where they would serve nonalcoholic, healthful drinks. Two local church young people, Bethany Martin and Daniel Riley, took the lead in this endeavor, which became a hit with the local youth and grew rapidly. The opening night happened at the same time as a nearby library event, which resulted in a large group of young people noticing the people inside the center enjoying healthful drinks. Some of them knocked on the window and jokingly asked for a drink. <\/p>\n \u201cWe thought, Why not share the drinks with them?<\/em> So we went outside with tiny cups and gave them samples to try,\u201d says Delfred. \u201cWe were able to promote the Adventist centre and our projects. <\/p>\n \u201cThe same thing happened with our language class,\u201d Delfred adds. \u201cPeople just walking past the centre during one of our Monday classes noticed us through the glass window. They came in and asked what was going on. We explained about the class and told them it was free, and they\u2019ve been attending ever since.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cSome of these projects were still in the development stage, but we were heading in the right direction,\u201d Delfred says. <\/p>\n Then Came COVID-19<\/strong><\/p>\n But then the Coronavirus changed everything. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was a big blow,\u201d Delfred says. \u201cWe had our momentum for a couple of months, and everything seem to be going great\u2014then came the lockdown. Everything was put on hold.\u201d<\/p>\n After a couple weeks, when the core team members began to adjust to the \u201cnew normal,\u201d they met online and brainstormed ideas. They longed to keep at least some of the projects going and suggested continuing the cooking classes via Facebook live-streaming. Most people are home because of the Coronavirus, anyway<\/em>, they thought. So they decided to try an experiment. <\/p>\n Hannah concedes that it\u2019s not easy to send individual text messages to 40 people, but says, \u201cIt\u2019s worth it. They\u2019re worth it.\u201d <\/p>\n The team was apprehensive about the online classes. Will this work?<\/em> they wondered. Will they watch?<\/em> The answer was “Yes!” <\/p>\n \u201cWe were blown away by the large number of viewers and their positive responses and comments, and we\u2019re just using our humble phones and Facebook for live-streaming,\u201d Delfred says. \u201cWe not only had a good number who watched it live, a lot of people also watched the video afterwards. The total number of viewers was 8 to 10 times higher than the number of regular attendees who came to the classes before the lockdown. And the views are still growing!\u201d<\/p>\n The group is now live-streaming Sabbath worship services and prayer meetings, along with regularly texting comforting and reassuring messages of God\u2019s love and care. Delfred and Hannah also hold weekly online Bible studies. <\/p>\n \u201cSome of the students of the Norwegian language classes we were holding before the lockdown are watching the online Sabbath services,\u201d Delfred says. \u201cWe\u2019re now considering having language classes online as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf There\u2019s a Will, There\u2019s a Way\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The Ondes continue to meet regularly with the centre\u2019s other core leaders, praying that the Lord will provide them with even more creative ideas for reaching out to the community during the current world crisis.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s sort of a blessing in disguise,\u201d Delfred says, \u201cbecause we were able to find and try new methods of ministry that we\u2019d never done before. If there\u2019s a will, there\u2019s a way,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t do it on our own,\u201d he adds, \u201cbut we can do all things through Christ, who gives us the strength.\u201d2<\/sup> The article was first published on the Adventist World News website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Delfred](\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/images_news-2020_Blackmer-Oslo-PicA-1024x768.jpg\" "\\"Delfred")
<\/a>Originally from the Philippines, Delfred, a pastor, and Hannah, a nurse, have served as missionaries in various world regions\u2014including South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and most recently, Estonia1<\/sup>\u2014for the past 15 years. Then in January 2019, together with their young daughter, Zion Amber, they moved to Oslo to serve as project coordinators at the Seventh-day Adventist centre of influence in Norway\u2019s capital city. Working closely with the other core team leaders\u2014David Havstein, Simon Martin, and Willy Aronsen\u2014the Ondes began introducing projects and techniques that had worked successfully for them in other regions. Together with ideas generated at the group\u2019s weekly brainstorming sessions, the facility, officially called the Adventist Centre (Adventist SENTER in Norwegian) is becoming a local household name.<\/p>\n<\/a>After determining the community\u2019s most pressing needs, the Adventist Centre began offering a free weekly Norwegian language course, led by the local Betel Adventist church pastor, David Havtein, and his wife, Nanna-Lise. Only four people showed up for the first class, but by the second week, 18 seats were filled. Soon, between 30 to 40 community residents from various cultures, denominations, and religious backgrounds were attending regularly.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u201cNew faces showed up at every class, because students were telling and bringing their friends and family members,\u201d Hannah says. \u201cWe\u2019d have about 25 people on a good day.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/a>The centre also offers other programmes, including Kirkemorro<\/em> (Children\u2019s Day), where children are involved with games, face painting, stories, and other activities; Leksehjelp<\/em> (homework help), where church members assist kids with their homework; and Samtalekafe<\/em> (a conversation caf\u00e9), where people relax, eat pancakes, and visit with one another.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u201cThis was the first time we\u2019d ever done cooking classes online,\u201d Hannah says. \u201cWe designed an online poster and other ads, and then we personally informed all our Adventist Centre contacts about the cooking classes by sending them personal text messages. We didn\u2019t send group messages. We sent everyone a personal text message so they would feel valued, because they are.\u201d <\/p>\n
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1<\/sup> To read about Delfred and Hannah\u2019s work in Estonia, go to https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/1316-international-church-plant-spurs-growth-in-estonia<\/a>.<\/span>
2<\/sup> See Philippians 4:13.<\/span><\/p>\n
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