ALBANIA
Adventist Members Celebrate Faith Connections Across the Country
On Sunday, May 18, the Family Ministries Department of the Albanian Mission (AM) brought together believers from across the country for a special occasion—Family Day, an event designed to foster deeper connection among members and strengthen church unity.
Gentian Thomollari and his wife, Sanda, Family Ministries Department leaders, shared the vision for the event. “Family Day sought to bring Adventists churches together in fellowship, worship, and community bonding. It strengthens relationships across generations . . . through prayer, activities, and shared experiences.”
The day included a seminar on nonviolent communication, presented by Natiéli Schäffer, AM Women’s Ministries director. “After living in Albania for almost eight years, I have often witnessed how communication can become intense, loud, and reactive, leading to misunderstandings and fractured relationships,” Schäffer said. Her aim in leading the workshop was to “raise awareness and inspire families to pursue healthier relationships.”
The seminar deeply resonated with attendees. Mirela Peno, who traveled for hours to participate, shared, “The topics we covered were more than just lectures; they were real lessons on how to be better people within our families.” She added, “I treasure these gatherings where people reconnect, rejoice, and grow together.”
AUSTRALIA
Volunteers Pack Container for Solomon Islands School Hall Project
A team of dedicated volunteers in Australia recently packed a 40-foot shipping container with building materials destined for Betikama Adventist College, Solomon Islands, to be used in the construction of the school’s new multipurpose hall.
On June 3 about 25 volunteers loaded 10 tons of galvanized steel, piping, nuts, and bolts into the container in the car park of Wahroonga Adventist Church in Sydney, New South Wales. The container will be shipped to the Solomon Islands, where construction of Betikama’s new 600-square-meter (about 6,450-square-foot) hall is scheduled to begin in October.
Alongside the building materials, the container carried electrical supplies and premium paint for the Atoifi Hospital. Bristol Paints also contributed 600 liters (158 gallons) of paint for use in schools, clinics, and churches across the Solomon Islands.
The Betikama multipurpose hall is a collaborative initiative between Betikama Adventist College, its alumni, and the Solomon Islands Educational Support Team. Together, the college and its alumni have raised more than Solomon Island AU$160,000 (about US$19,150) toward the building’s foundations and flooring.
“The Solomon Islands Mission extends heartfelt thanks for this wonderful support toward Adventist education,” a spokesperson said. “Your contribution is a blessing to our students, teachers, and schools across the nation.”
TAIWAN
Adventist Church Revives Family Worship Through Back to the Altar Initiative
In response to the growing challenges faced by modern families, the Taiwan Conference (TC) recently launched a region-wide spiritual revival initiative titled “Back to the Altar: A Daily Place for God in Every Home and Every Heart.” Spearheaded by Joyce Chen, TC Family Ministries director, the program has gained momentum across local churches, strengthening homes through daily worship.
Since its launch the Family Ministries team has conducted seminars, small group meetings, and revival weekends throughout the conference. These gatherings offer practical guidance on leading worship at home and equip families to make God the center of their relationships, regional church leaders said.
“We are witnessing real transformation,” Chen said. “Families are reconnecting with one another and with God. Many parents have shared that—for the first time in years—they are praying and studying the Bible together as a family.”
“When we return to the altar, we return to God,” Chen added. “And when God is at the center of our homes, our families become a light to the world.”
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Boarding School Academy Students Lift Their Voices for Chapel Extension
The Mount Diamond Seventh-day Adventist Church—located on the campus of Mount Diamond Seventh-day Adventist Secondary School near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea—launched its chapel extension fundraising efforts with a “singspiration” concert on May 17.
The event marked a historic first for the school, as students participated in a professionally live-streamed music production. Twelve student-led singing groups took to the stage, their voices harmonizing in praise as an audience of more than 700 students, staff, parents, alumni, and local church leaders gathered in support.
The concert was streamed live via the Mount Diamond Seventh-day Adventist Church Facebook page, reaching a digital audience of more than 28,000 viewers with production support from the Port Moresby-based digital ministry, Missionary Buddies.
Newly appointed chaplain and pastor Jeffery Tangea shared that the singspiration was the first of three fundraising events planned to raise PNG Kina 50,000 (about US$19,000) for the much-needed chapel extension. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “The students are excited to be part of something bigger than themselves—a mission that will serve future generations.”
AUSTRIA
Church Territory Launches Digital Evangelism Initiative Targeting Young Adults
The Austrian Union of Churches Conference has unveiled a significant restructuring of its media departments to establish a cohesive digital evangelism strategy , regional church leaders recently reported.
This initiative merges two previously distinct teams—HopeKurse, the organization’s digital Bible correspondence program, and the Communications and Media Department—into an integrated approach that harnesses modern technology and social media to convey Christian messages to Austria’s younger generation.
“We recognize that reaching today’s young adults necessitates a different approach than traditional methods,” union leaders said. The new strategy emphasizes engaging young people where they are—online and on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram.
Through street interviews conducted in Vienna, the teams discovered that many young adults are already pondering profound questions about life’s meaning and purpose. This new digital evangelism approach specifically targets individuals who are open to exploring whether faith can provide answers to these fundamental inquiries.
“We’re not trying to reach everyone,” the teams behind the initiative emphasized. “Our focus is on those who are actively searching for something deeper in life.”
