Trans-European Division

This quarter features the Trans- European Division, which includes countries in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. The division is home to more than 616 million people,
but only 111,000 are Seventh-day Adventists. That’s a ratio of one Adventist for every 5,555 people.
The Challenges Because of its great geographical and cultural diversity, the challenges of
working in this division are complex.
Much of Europe is materialistic, postmodern, and secular. People aren’t seeking after God. Churches are all but empty. Even the residents of former Communist-ruled countries are seeking more for financial security than spiritual certainty.
Some of the counties within this division don’t welcome Christianity at all. In these areas nurturing believers is difficult and often dangerous. Denmark and Finland are two of
the most modern—and secular— countries in Europe. But two new church plants are vibrant and growing. In the international English church plant in Copenhagen, Denmark, as manyas 60 people worship and fellowship from week to week. Many are students or guest workers with limited-time visas to remain in the country, but others are permanent residents. Just
outside Helsinki, Finland, a growing congregation of believers finds innovative ways to share their faith and their message with neighbors and, using the Internet, a broader
audience. These two congregations will receive help from the Thirteenth
Sabbath Offering to continue to grow and minister in their respective mission fields.
Poland’s Camp Zatonie is a gift from God, and every year the outreach ofthis camp and the church members who use it bring hundreds, who might otherwise not consider Jesus in their
lives, into contact with the gospel of Christ. But the government, who gave the camp to the church, is demanding that its buildings be brought up to modern standards. It’s a financial
hardship on the more than 5,000 Adventist believers in Poland, but our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help complete the renovations and make the camp even more useful as an
evangelistic tool.

Yours for the kingdom,

Charlotte Ishkanian

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