PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Viewers Can Now Enjoy Locally Created Christian Content on Hope Channel
Hope Channel Papua New Guinea (PNG) started broadcasting a playlist of local content via Channel 7 on the National Broadcasting Corporation’s (NBC) 8-month-old digital TV platform facilities in Port Moresby on June 25. After some years of trying to acquire a license, Hope Channel International was previously rebroadcast to viewers in PNG from a satellite feed. With this soft launch the channel will now broadcast TV programs that are locally produced and streamed via two content servers and via their digital TV platform.
“This is a huge step forward for us,” said Brad Kemp, CEO of Adventist Media. “Our desire is to bring quality Christian television with PNG content to the people of PNG. Our current percentage of local content is around 28 percent. We are working on increasing this with plans to do major content development over the next 12 months.”
Sinclair Singuit, a senior TV engineer from NBC, said, “I am quite pleased to witness this development, and our monitoring of the local content quality on the channel in the past 48 hours was excellent.”
“Hope Channel PNG now joins the global Hope family to proclaim Jesus and His life-changing power through television ministry,” Kemp said.
PORTUGAL
Country Holds First National Meeting of Adventist Possibility Ministries
The first meeting of Adventist Possibility Ministries (APM) in Portugal took place in Costa de Lavos June 6-8. The event brought together people with disabilities, supporters, local leaders, pastors, and families for a moment of learning, welcome, and study. The event sought to promote inclusion and the appreciation of people with disabilities within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, organizers said.
Josef Slowík, a professor of special education at the faculty of education of the University of West Bohemia, in Pilsen, Czech Republic, was the main presenter. For years he has actively worked with people with various disabilities, especially focusing on the fields of education and social services.
Rainer Wanitschek, director of APM in the Inter-European Division of the Adventist Church, was also present. “True inclusion creates an environment where everyone has a voice, a place, and value. This mission reflects God’s love, which desires to save everyone, without distinction,” Wanitschek said.
“The first meeting of APM, in addition to being inspiring and exciting, was also educational and guiding,” explained Daniel Bastos, APM leader in Portugal. “Participants left here more prepared, with knowledge and tools to start the mission in their churches.”
UNITED STATES
Church Opens Its Doors and Parking Lot to Bikers
On a recent cloudy Sabbath afternoon in South Bend, Indiana, the rumble of engines outside Berean Transformation Center Seventh-day Adventist Church signaled something more than a casual meet-up of motorcycle enthusiasts. Riders gathered not for a rally or race, but for prayer.
It was the Berean Transformation Center Church’s first-ever “Blessing of the Bikes,” an event combining both fellowship and outreach. At the heart of the initiative was Cedrick Chintembo, a seminary student and biker. Biker safety is what drove the idea, Chintembo said. “Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable on the road.”
One of the bikers in attendance was Edgar Luna, a Master of Divinity student. In addition to praying for bikers and their safety, Luna said he hoped the event would help change perceptions of bikers. “Sometimes we have a negative bias about them, but [we need] to create a space for them to be cared for and loved by the community, to learn about God and the love that God has for them.”
Claval Hunter, Adventist pastor, and his wife, Christina, were among several church leaders supporting the event. “We’ve lost friends in accidents. It’s nerve-racking, but this event helps us show love and support to that community.”
ECUADOR
Missionary Book Promotes Evangelism in Community Without Adventist Presence
At Amaluza, a community with entrenched religious traditions located in the province of Loja, in southern Ecuador, this year’s missionary book is making a big difference. The Key to Change has allowed church volunteers to reach dozens of homes with a message of hope, transformation, and faith, leaders in the South Ecuador Mission (SEM) said.
The project began in May, with the support of the regional Education Department, which allowed Adventist volunteers to visit school and present on emotional and family well-being. Members of the local police also joined the initiative, actively listening to the presentations.
As a result of this activity, 27 families in the community have expressed their interest in receiving Bible studies in their homes. Rafael Bolívar, a pastor who coordinates Adventist mission in that area, emphasized how meaningful the initiative was. “It was an opportunity to strengthen family ties and promote formation in values, which we turned into an opportunity to sow the seed of the gospel,” he said.
Elid Moreira, SEM president, agreed. “What seemed like difficult terrain for the gospel is now bearing fruit, thanks to prayer, unity, and mission,” he said.
AUSTRALIA
Diabetes Cookbook Named Best in World
Food As Medicine: Cooking to Prevent and Treat Diabetes was named Best in the World at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards on June 19. The cookbook authored by Sydney-based dietitian Sue Radd and published by Signs Publishing was awarded best cookbook in the Health Professionals Books category, beating out shortlisted books from France, Mexico, Portugal, and Spain.
According to the award citation for Food As Medicine–Diabetes: “This empowering and science-backed guide offers a practical and inspiring approach to managing one of the world’s most pressing health challenges through the healing power of food.” It joins the original Food As Medicine cookbook, which received a similar Best in the World award in 2017.
“There is now much greater recognition in all contexts as to the importance of books on health and well-being, and this is a growing area of interest,” said Signs manager Andrew Irvine, who represented the publisher at the award ceremony. “There were many excellent books in this category, so this award is extra-special and a credit to both Sue’s significant efforts and the work of the Signs team who were involved in publishing this book.”