All news

News

Italian Union of Adventist Churches: More than a thousand come to celebrate 90 years

The World and European Summits were in Rome. to also remember 30 years of the Law 516.

Italian Union of Adventist Churches: More than a thousand come to celebrate 90 years

Rome, Italy.Lina Ferrara, Notizie Avventiste, EUD NEWS.

"Today we enjoy religious freedom and I want to thank the Italian government for this". said Ted N.C. Wilson, the world president of the Adventist Church. He was a guest in Rome on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Italian Union of Adventist Christian churches (UICCA).

"Thank God every day for the religious freedom you enjoy in this great country of Italy," he added "never take this achievement for granted, religious freedom requires constant vigilance".

On June 8 and 9, over 750 people filled the church in Piazza Vulture, in Rome, to participate in the historical event celebrating God and the faith of those who fought over the years to see the freedom of conscience recognized in our country. In his address, Pastor Stefano Paris, gave a warm welcome to the participants and to those listening and watching from all over Italy through the media.

"Added to those in the hall, there were 300 video links on Hope Channel Italia, Facebook, YouTube and the App, as well as the direct audio of the Adventist radios both in FM and in streaming. In addition, 30 churches followed the meeting, projecting live," explained Vincenzo Annunziata, national director of the Communications Department, who coordinated the entire Adventist media center (web tv, news, radio, social), to make the event accessible to as many users as possible.

"We are here to celebrate and remember", said Pastor Paris at the opening of the event, "remembering is important to understand who we are and where we must go".

President Wilson, accompanied by his wife Nancy, brought greetings from the world church. "Do not be discouraged" he exhorted "God has a plan for each of you". The Italian Adventist community answered with a biblical text: "Those of Italy salute you" (Hebrews 13:24).

During the preaching Friday evening, Pastor Mario Brito, president of the Adventist Church in Europe (EUD), translated by Andreas Mazza, EUD News Editor, also encouraged believers. "We have a precious message that offers hope, that must be lived and brought to others" he said, "a message capable of changing the lives of those who accept it, of those who may have taken the wrong path". "It is up to us to announce it, in a world that is in an increasingly alarming situation, in which scientists and men of culture are seen as prophets who often overshadow the same theologians that are called to reveal God's intentions for men in this foreshortening century.”

 The Church says thank you with a plaque ceremony

It was a rich program on June 9th. The Sabbath service included a moving ceremony. President Paris and Pastor Giuseppe Cupertino, General Secretary of the UCA, honored two people for their commitment to the service with a plaque of thanks: Ted N.C. Wilson, president of the world Church, and retired pastor Gianfranco Rossi, 94, formerly head of the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Freedom at the Italian Union and EUD.  It was presented "as a sign of gratitude and appreciation due to his highly qualified and tenacious commitment in promoting requests for religious freedom for Italian Adventists at the institutional and religious premises of the country."

"Rossi is an icon of the church," said Paris, "who dedicated so many years of his life on freedom of conscience in Italy. He helped students and workers to have Saturday free. Forty years ago it was more complicated, even if difficulties still remain today ".

Behind a great man there is always a great woman, says a famous saying. On behalf of the Church in Italy, Pastor Paris honored the often silent work of Carmela Giorgini, bride and lifetime companion of  Pastor Rossi. She was also given a plaque of appreciation "for the dedication and tenacity with which she served the Italian Adventist work alongside her husband, being aware of the many difficulties she would face and overcame in the care of the family and being an example of faith for the whole community."

The historical moment was when of a copy of the Torre Pellice church register was consigned to the world Church, in the person of President Wilson. It shows the name of the first Adventist in Italy and in Europe: Catherine Revel became an Adventist in 1864, she was the only Seventh-day Adventist in her community for about 20 years.  Catherine was the grandmother of Alfred Vaucher, one of the most prominent European theologians. 

Ordination to pastoral service

Mihail Gavrilita, pastor of the churches of Perugia and Arezzo, was ordained to the pastoral service, in the presence of the various presidents and the assembly, but above all "before the Lord" said S. Paris.

After studying law in Moldavia, M. Gavrilita took theology courses in Italy. He served the Ukrainian community in Ancona. He also worked with Ukrainian-speaking churches in other Italian regions. Now he has been in Perugia for some years.

Pastors and elders present were invited to go up to the pulpit to lay hands on Pastor Gavrilita, in the presence of his family. In the prayer of consecration, S. Paris highlighted the courage, the example and the dedication of the pastor. "We thank God for calling him and the churches that have molded him," he said. He therefore encouraged him to be "an effective servant, capable of welcoming children and adults for Christ". Thinking of how essential it is that the pastor care for his family in addition to the church, he concluded: "It is important to take our families to heaven with us." 

President Wilson's sermon

Night comes, in which no one can work. This is the concern/challenge that the president of the World Church expressed during his sermon, held Saturday, June 9 in Rome. With the classic Adventist understanding of the final moments in history, Ted N.C. Wilson recalled that difficult times will come, but that they should not intimidate us, as the Lord will be near in times of need. In this sense it will be useful to make a mental list of certainties: remembering the past with a future perspective; brighten the present with the beautiful experiences of men and women in the Bible who have received help and comfort from God.

Encouraged by looking at the life of Jesus, we are called to work with joy even in difficult cultural contexts: by freely offering the Water of Life, Jesus promised abundant fruits.