All Eyes on San Antonio
Sitting on a delayed flight from Houston to San Antonio I found myself in conversation with Ennedy Muchula, Women's and Children's Ministries director for the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division. She was nearing the end of almost two days of flying from Johannesburg to Frankfurt, London and Houston before reaching San Antonio. Visas had been complicating her life but, she told me, she was excited, particularly by the women's ordination debate, but also by the music, the worships, the women's meetings, and simply the power of seeing so many Adventists together in one place, worshipping the same God and looking for His soon return. Her expectation and joy inspired me and put my 16 hour journey with flight and customs delays into perspective.
Delegates and staff from the Trans-European Division have equally chosen different routes. Pastor David Neal, Irish Mission President, flew to New York with his wife and then spent a week driving south towards the heat of a Texan summer. He even found time to browse in a second-hand book shop in Staunton, Virginia, an old town with mock Tudor architecture. He told me that "it was pure joy to find a bookshop - one of those bookshops where a receipt for purchase is written by hand." |
Victor Hulbert with TED President, Raafat Kamal
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On the shelf, he found the autobiography of Michael Green, probably, he claims, the best UK evangelist to university students in the 1980s and '90s, and who devoted his life to helping congregations grow. It is growing churches and congregations that excites Pastor Neal. Discussions on mission will engage him for the next ten days.
That is also important for TED President, Raafat Kamal. Greeting people by the TED registration booth he told me that for him, GC Session is "a celebration of mission". He hopes this focus comes through in the meetings where God will be glorified – even in the midst of some of the more tricky issues.
He would agree with Julian Kastrati, Executive Secretary of the Albanian Mission.
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His first time at a Session, Julian is looking forward to lots of vigorous discussions but with "a good spirit overall". At the end he hopes we will come out "very much united".
Worship is a vital element of the meetings. TED Evangelism director, Janos Kovacs-Biro leads the very first devotional on Thursday morning. From then on business will be interspersed with times for prayer, glorious music, evening worship periods and special Sabbath services.
That does mean a lot of behind the scenes work. For instance, Tor Tjeransen, Media director for the Norwegian Union, flew in two days early to start building his photo collection. He is a volunteer photographer with Adventist Review. I caught him early Wednesday morning on the hotel rooftop gaining atmospheric shots of the sunrise. He is one of many volunteers from our Division who will help make the programme happen. |
Karl Da Silva volunteering with AWR
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Another is Karl Da Silva who has worked with Adventist World Radio in building their unique 3600 mission video. Meeting him during set-up time in the exhibition area he told me that it was just fantastic to see so many booths. "I feel overwhelmed to see what the Church is doing."
At least six music groups or soloists from across the TED will be performing. These include the world renowned Croydon SDA Gospel Choir, skilful musicians such as violinist Victoria Balan, young soloist Jeharna South, and singing groups, Advent Ambassadors, and the Levites.
That in itself is enough reason to come. There is one more reason. For Camp Hill members, Ken and Christine Burt, it is their fourth GC Session. Christine is a delegate but Ken comes too because, he says, "The reunions just keep happening." He has already met one of his "fellow youth" from back in the day in Birmingham. He expects to meet many more, and a stroll through the exhibition area or past the registration desks may take a long time as people call out your name, greetings are shared, and memories rekindled. Perhaps, for Ken and many more, a GC Session is just a little taste of what heaven will be like.
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The tedNEWS team take a break outside the Alamodome. Left to right: Dan Ordog (video reporter), Katie Allen (reporter), Deana & Dejan Stojkovic (web content, social media and photography), Mirjana Tesanovic (social media & TED booth), Esti and Miroslav Pujic (TED booth and tedNEWS editor). Not pictured: Victor Hulbert (reporter & photography).
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More coverage of the GC Session from a European perspective can be found by following daily updates on the Trans-European Division news page. For global perspectives visitAdventist Review. Brief news updates will also be posted on a regular basis on the BUC News Facebook page.
[tedNEWS / Victor Hulbert]
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