ECD Continues to Advance

The East-Central Africa Division (ECD) had a unique experience when the Publishing Administrative Seminar and Union Evaluation were conducted earlier this month. The meetings were held in the unions of Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Afterward, almost everyone agreed that the publishing work will never again be the same.

In Rwanda, all the union leaders led conference adminis­trators in pledging their renewed sup­port for the Pub­lishing Ministry. The Rwanda Union Mis­sion is integrating literature evange­lism into its overall outreach work. Most of its baptisms are direct results of the work done by literature evangelists.

One of the leaders promised to con­tinue taking the role of the publishing work seriously and promote it in all parts of his union. Rwanda, a country that was ravaged by genocide some years ago, is rebuilding its history and the message of hope through lit­erature evangelism. This ministry has played an important role in the heal­ing process.

In Ethiopia, a land mentioned nu­merous times in the Bible, the Pub­lishing Ministry that was once vibrant is now struggling. As a result of the Publishing Administrative Seminar, there is a great reawakening of the ministry. Leaders are impressed, and they have pledged overwhelming sup­port and commitment to the cause of God.

Ethiopia is highly challenged with bringing books from outside the country. But now is the promise of de­veloping books in the country in local languages.

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The Great Controversy in My Life

Turning back the clock of life more than 35 years to the mid 1970s, I can still see myself as a young lady who seemed to have everything she wanted. I had earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce, with an emphasis in accounting. I was an activist and had a good job with an accounting firm.

During my firm’s office Christmas party in 1975 a group of student literature evangelists (LEs) and their leader came in and gave a health lecture on the benefits of hydrotherapy treatments. They also distributed to everyone a pocketsized copy of the book The Great Controversy. I was attracted to it by its statement calling attention to a universal “war between good and evil.”

That very night I started reading the book and soon found myself in a state of confusion. I had grown up in a Roman Catholic home and had been raised on the teachings of that denomination. The Great Controversy, however, made me ask many questions. Consequently, I was led to research several topics at the National Library.

I started reading books on religion, history, and the nations of the world, especially Israel. I felt that the truth would set me free, and indeed God was showing me the way.

One Saturday morning I was required to be at work around 9:00 a.m. Shortly after arriving there, I suffered a severe headache, so I asked for permission to leave and go buy something that would relieve my pain. While walking along the street, I noticed a building called the Manila Center.

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