Adventist Headlines Around the World—January 15, 2025

NORWAY

Jan Paulsen Turns 90

In a January 5 message, Daniel Duda, president of the Trans-European Division (TED), congratulated Jan Paulsen on his ninetieth birthday on behalf of the church family. Paulsen has held numerous roles in the church, including principal of Newbold College of Higher Education in the UK, TED secretary (1980-1983), TED president (1983-1996), General Conference vice president (1996-1998), and president of the General Conference (1998-2010).

In September 2024 tedNEWS and Adventist Review shared the story of Jan Paulsen baptizing his grandchildren, including an inspiring conversation with Artur Stele, a vice president of the General Conference. A recording of that interview can be found here.

GHANA

Judge Sworn as First Female Adventist High Court Magistrate in Ghana

Justice Dorinda Smith-Arthur recently made history as she was sworn in by Ghana’s former president Nana Akufo-Addo as a high court judge. The ceremony, held at the Jubilee House in Accra, marked a significant milestone for both Smith-Arthur and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the country, regional Adventist leaders said.

Smith-Arthur is celebrated as the first female Seventh-day Adventist to achieve this prestigious position in Ghana. She is a member of the Cape Coast Central church and an executive committee member of the Mid-South Ghana Conference. The church community expressed immense pride and joy in her accomplishment. At a thanksgiving service held at the Cape Coast Central church, she was presented with citations from Adventist churches across the country and beyond.

Smith-Arthur attributed her success to God. “I thank the Lord for this achievement,” she said.

THAILAND

Avondale Students Serve in Thailand

Ten students and staff members from Avondale University in Australia have volunteered two weeks of their time to help at an international school in the Isan region of Thailand.

Half the team built a new fence to improve safety for students while the others served as aides to teachers at the Ubon Adventist International Mission School. The “invaluable hands-on teaching practice” particularly benefited team members studying education, said trip leader Jasmin Ringrose.

Beyond the physical work, the pregraduation trip fostered meaningful relationships. Each morning two team members took the UAIMS staff worship.

Avondale student life coordinator Sean Berkeley notes the bonds that developed. “Our students loved learning the language and culture” and “the opportunity to serve in a place that was so hospitable and grateful to have us.” The trip, said Berkeley, inspired many team members to consider future mission work, with some even considering dedicating a year to overseas service.

GERMANY

“Children Helping Children” Sends Thousands of Care Packages to Eastern Europe

Once again the 2024 Christmas campaign of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Germany reached impressive results, as children and their families in Germany collected and sent thousands of care packages to children in Eastern Europe, the agency announced. From small collection campaigns in kindergartens to large projects in schools and parishes, committed people everywhere pitched in to bring joy to thousands of children in need.

ADRA Germany reported that thanks to this support, 26,771 packages were collected, filled with toys, warm hats, scarves and gloves, school supplies, and hygiene items. They were sent to children in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo.

The 2024 campaign originated at the Marienhöhe school in Darmstadt and quickly spread throughout the country, ADRA regional leaders reported. In 2025 the initiative will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary.

BRAZIL

An Adventist Hospital in Brazil Performs First Cornea Transplant

Penfigo Adventist Hospital in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, has successfully performed its first cornea transplant. According to the institution leaders, the development was a significant milestone across the state, as it tries to reduce the waiting list for corneal transplants in that region.

According to data from the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology, the number of patients awaiting a corneal transplant has tripled during the past decade, largely because of complications from infections that can lead to irreversible vision damage, including blindness.

The first patient to undergo the transplant was Wladna Teixeira, a social worker. She contracted herpes zoster, which compromised her left eye and caused severe pain and a progressive loss of vision. She now describes the transplant experience as “life changing.” “This experience not only transformed my life but also made me aware of the importance of organ donation,” she said.