Posts from 2022
Farewell Joe & Lidia Voncina
Today we are saying goodbye to two long-time members of our staff, who have officially retired. Assistant editor Lidia Voncina has been a pillar of our office staff since 1999, and it will be sad to see her go. Over the years Lidia has assisted the secretary, managed our PTCC Bible Course, fulfilled too many different tasks to mention, and been the happy voice on the other end of the phone line for anyone ringing in to the office. Joe…
Homiletics Seminar
Coleambally Church was blessed by a visit from Br Miguel Mendoza during the second week of November when he held a Homiletics Seminar in Griffith, NSW. The seminar was a blessing to all age groups, but was particularly geared towards preparing the young people to give presentations. Each evening began with a delicious meal provided by the women of Coleambally Church and an opportunity for the young people to visit among themselves and with Br Miguel before beginning the seminar.…
Canvassing Seminar
Our Victorian conference was blessed in the month of October with the visit of Brother Jacob de Souza and his dear family – Sister Sandra, Lucas and Isabella. They came and stayed with us on the weekend of the Sabbath 15th of October when Bro. Jacob shared a message based on Matthew 13:47-51 entitled, “The Net.”This was a powerful message on our need of being fishermen of souls for our Lord Jesus Christ. He also reported quite a significant amount…
East Timor Fundraising Tins
After learning of the needs of the East Timor Mission, Sr Martha Barat had the idea of getting some donation tins for people to take home as a modern equivalent of the “self-denial box.” The self-denial box was an initiative created by Seventh-day Adventists in the 1800s to raise money for missions. Members would have a self-denial box in their homes. Any time they were able to add spare change to it, they would. Sometimes this would mean doing without…
Prophecy Series
September 2022, Auckland, New Zealand The church at New Lynn, Auckland planned for a series of prophecy presentations in September, 2020. The theme was, “A New World Order.” First, we distributed more than 12,000 flyers in the nearby community. Then we put up a statue of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream from Daniel chapter 2, for passers-by to see, with banners advertising the seminar. The program went well and everyone who was present enjoyed our company. Besides the regular church attendance, there…
Katarina Risko: 90 Years Young
On the occasion of her 90th birthday, two of Sr. Katarina Risko’s daughters pay tribute to their mother. Our mother, Katarina Risko, was born Katarina Lada on the 17th November 1932. She was one of seven children in the town of Vukovar/Borovo, Croatia, Yugoslavia. She grew up during World War II and lived in Germany and Croatia. She took her stand for the Seventh Day Adventist truth in her mid-teens and was opposed, ridiculed and taunted for her beliefs in the…
Schofields Church Cooking Classes
With Covid restrictions finally gone and things opening up to normal again, it was time to put our cooking demonstration hats back on and get in and amongst our community again. We heard regularly from people who had participated in the past, asking us when we would be holding another series. Our last attempt in 2021 had not been possible due to going back into lockdown just before the scheduled dates, but this time with the help of God, we…
Stewardship Emphasis
Students in the Sabbath School have been studying the subject of Stewardship, which has been a real blessing, as we learn what it means to be stewards of God’s grace and the talents He has given to each person individually. Today, the “Discovering Stewardship” magazine, first published for the Month of Stewardship in 2020, has been updated and can be downloaded here. And in case you missed them during the Month of Stewardship, here are three short videos that you…
In Memory of Ilonka Janicek
6 October 1929 – 3 October 2022 Ilonka Janicek was the wife of the late Janos Janicek, who passed away in 2014. Aunty Ilonka was known to many by her smile and kind words. She was often seen together with some of our other dear ones at Kings Langley retirement village, and our workers would visit with her and chat about life and spiritual things. Once in recent times, when told by nursing staff that she could not leave the…
Camponotus Kids – September 2022
West Australia Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” It was time for another exciting Camponotus program. The children had especially been looking forward to this event, not only because of all the activities, but also because there was going to be a sleepover. On Sabbath afternoon we all made our way to Br Luke and Sr Jade’s home where the program was all going to happen.…
In Loving Memory of Latza Barat
A Tribute by Esther Boje Latza Barat, “Baka” as she was fondly known to many, was born in Trsje, Macedonia on the 14th of March, 1931. She was a twin. Sadly, her twin Lena died at the tender age of two years old. She attended school for six months before the school was shut down due to the war. With limited schooling she was still able to learn to read and write in many languages, not only in Macedonian. Latza…
Baptism of Marie Wily
“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17. Sabbath 6th of August 2022 was a blissful Sabbath, not only because it was the one day in the week that we got to meet in God’s presence and forget the worries and troubles of the past six days, but because of two other…
First Sabbath Offering August 6
First Sabbath Offering Information The offering collected in Sabbath School on Sabbath the 6th of August will go to the GC Education Department to assist with the ongoing development of a kindergarten to 12th grade curriculum. Below are a few points regarding the project. What is being developed? The General Conference Education Department is preparing an entire kindergarten to 12th grade curriculum, with the focus on educating children for the honour and glory of God. What format will it use?…
Progress in East Timor
If you would like to follow the news from the East Timor Mission, you can do so at the web site: fromtimor.com Our newly-formed East Timor Mission have obtained a parcel of land and are working to establish a headquarters and educational centre. We have acquired a small truck and a machine for making concrete blocks, which will ensure the livelihood of eight Timorese people. We will use the blocks in the construction of our future facilities and also to…
Clayfield Renovation – Veranda
The Queensland Conference have progressed to the final stage of their current renovation project. The veranda was badly in need of repair. It was felt that these repairs should be done before any new programs were planned for the public to attend. As well as getting new posts, floor framing and decking, the front of the house is being restored to heritage look, as it was when it was originally built. After a delay of several months, the project was…
Condolences to the Payet Family
We were sad to learn that the mother of Br. Jacques Payet passed away in June. Our sincere sympathies go to Br. Jacques and his family during their time of sorrow. We pray each family member feels God’s loving arms around them, as you mourn the loss of your mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. May the blessed hope of the resurrection morning help to bring comfort to your hearts during this time of grief. Br. Jacques, originally from the Seychelles, now…
Baptism in the Seychelles
“I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10. On the 13th of June, my wife and I made our way to the Seychelles. In times past, such a journey has always been associated with gladness especially at the thought of fresh island air and spending time with family. However, it was not so this time as the aim of this trip was to bid farewell to…
WA Youth Camp – Easter 2022
15-18 April 2022 On Friday afternoon of the 15th of April, on a gloomy overcast day with rain threatening, our group of young and not so young converged on the Northcliffe Bush Camp and set up our tents and caravans. We had stayed at this camp once before, and enjoyed it very much. It is peaceful and well set out, with whimsically-built and surprisingly comfortable amenities cobbled together from salvaged vehicle and building materials. It is surrounded by bush, with…
In Loving Memory – Maria Esman
Maria Esman 9 December 1933 – 19 June 2022 It was a full house on Sunday the 3rd of July as family and friends gathered at the church in Somerton Park to pay their respects and give tribute to the life of Maria Esman. The service started and finished with some of her favourite hymns, and stories and memories were shared to honour her life. The following is some of what was shared on the day. Maria was born on…
In Loving Memory – Milivoj Dimitrijevic
Milivoj Dimitrijevic 18th June, 1930 to 16th February, 2022 Milivoj Dimitrijevic served for many years in ministry and missions work. We acknowledge his service in the cause of God and offer our condolences to his family. The following tribute was prepared by his children. Dad was born on the 18th of June, 1930 to parents, Djurica and Olga Dimitrijevic, in Novi Knjezevac, in what was then known as Yugoslavia, now called Serbia. He was the eldest of four children, followed…