AUGUST 2002
Vol.1 No.8

HEADLINES

Train Accident in Tanzania Affects Women's Ministries

Division Highlights: South American Division

KEEPERS PAGE — Resources

Editorial

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Train Accident in Tanzania Affects Women's Ministries

The following concerns a tragic train accident June 25, 2002, in Dodoma, Tanzania, which involved a number of our Women's Ministries ladies.

Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:2 to "bear ye one another's burdens…." We solicit an outpouring of prayers on behalf of the families in this tragedy for not only must we celebrate our joys and victories, but we must also unite in prayer during our trials and tribulations. Below are exerpts from a communication sent on June 28 by the president of the Tanzania Union Mission of SDA, Elder Geoffrey G. Mbwana and updates from Priscilla Ben, East Africa Division Women's Ministries director.

"The train which left Dar Es Salaam for Mwanza had about 360 (it could be more) of our Adventist women who were coming from the first major Women Ministries event ever to be conducted in Tanzania. As you know we still have a few members who have mixed feelings about the importance and necessity of the Women Ministries Department in the Church. The response we received in terms of attendance was a great success for the Tanzania Union. Over 1,400 ladies were in attendance—and it covered all levels of women in the church. The meeting was such a success and the women left the meetings with great zeal for ministry.

"It is reported that the brakes of the train failed as it was going uphill. As it rolled back down it gradually picked up speeds estimated to be 220 km/hour for over twenty minutes until it caught up with a goods [freight] train which was headed in the opposite direction. It then hit the rear of the other train and the cabins of the passenger train crushed and piled on each other. The sight is pathetic. ALTHOUGH PEOPLE DIED, MY DEEP IMPRESSIONS AT THE SITE WERE THAT GOD DID A MIRACLE IN SAVING THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO ESCAPED DEATH.

"The official death toll is 281. (Ben: 53 Adventists died; 3 men, including one pastor, and 3 children.) We have managed, by great assistance of the government, to transport all the bodies to their relatives and by the reports we have, all burials have been done.

"The official number of those hospitalized was 446. At the time we started taking inventory of our people there were 120. But as I write we have less than 20 still in the hospital. Of those hospitalized, 3 ladies are in very critical conditions and were flown to Dar for intensive medical care. One pastor was also flown to Dar.

"Our major involvement in helping all of the people in the hospital (not excluding non-Adventists) has been to cook food and supply it to the hospital. We have provided accommodation for those released from the hospital and have assisted them to travel home. Our church members have been very active in this and the government is appreciative. We are supplying clean water to the hospital, soap, tooth-brushes and tooth-paste, and sandals. We are providing some medicine but the government has done so well on this.

"Priscilla Ben has joined us and she is such a great comfort to the ladies. We are trying to wind up the work and leave comprehensive plans of attending all those in the hospital."

Elder Mbwana concluded that he and his team were flying to "Mwanza to worship with the believers there and visit with the families affected. Then we will go to Magu, Shinyanga, Maswa and Bariadi. These are the places and churches which are hard hit. Priscilla will visit a couple of these places before she leaves for Harare. We hope by the power of the Holy Spirit to give hope and healing to the church by these visits. Thereafter, I will go to Dar to visit with those admitted there.

"We still need your prayers as the church goes through this hard time. WE ESPECIALLY SOLICIT YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE WOMEN MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT. THE DEVIL STILL WANTS TO DISCOURAGE THE CHURCH HERE FOR A GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF WOMEN IN CHURCH AND MINISTRY."

(Ben: I met the Lutheran pastor in Dodoma (he had travelled to check for his wife) and this is what he said "the devil has attacked the church. Please feel free to invite my wife for any other meetings you'll conduct in future."

Testimony from one non-adventist survivor who was a passenger on the train (She was not part of the women who attended the congress). Her testimony was aired on the radio in Tanania. She said "When the people realized that the train was going to derail, they started shouting and crying, except for the Seventh-day Adventist Church women who were praying and singing.")

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DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS : South American Division

Administrative Structure

The South American Division consists of 6,739 churches, 8,843 companies with a membership of over 2 million. There are ten unions and 60 conferences. Our division territory includes 8 countries: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador.

Evelyn Nagel is the Women's Ministries Director for this division and works with a team of dedicated and God loving leaders. During the year 2001 many activities were developed by the local conferences. More than 608 retreats were held with 59,196 women attending. More than 6,000 were non-SDA women. Because of this involvement, 11,819 souls were baptized for Christ—fruit of Women's Ministry evangelism.

Spiritual Empowerment

Women in SAD are engaged in evangelism and their emphasis is small group ministries such as Bible studies, Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Conservation Ministry, Reception Ministry, Illiteracy Programs, and Prison Ministry.

There are a number of outreach programs where each woman can be involved and contribute with her talents and gifts. Intercessory Prayer Ministry is the heart of everything and each church has developed many different programs. It has been a way to get people interested in Bible studies. Literacy programs have been held in 7 unions with over 2,000 people benefited.

Breaking the Silence Program

The Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day is being coordinated by the SAD WM Department altogether with the administrative staff. All the material that we received from GC WM was very much appreciated and the committee for this program decided to prepare a magazine about abuse and violence with a variety of issues for the church leaders and church members.

Our publishing house did a wonderful job and this magazine is ready in two languages: Spanish and Portuguese. "All the material for this day is ready and we praise God for the support of our administrators and the hard work of our WM leaders," says Evelyn Nagel.

Intellectual Empowerment

This year, leadership Training is being emphasized. All the Unions are working on equipping, training and enabling each leader to become an evangelist for the Lord. For those who can not attend these meetings, SAD will offer on August 4, an open Training Program via satellite from our media center.

Plans for the Future

Plans for the future include more involvement of woman in leadership and evangelism. Our goal is enabling more and more women to work for the Lord.

Let us remember the women of this division in prayer as they continue to minister for God.

SAD web site is: www.adventista.org.br

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