By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Bruno Quaresma)

Approximately 269 miles (450 kilometers) from Minas Gerais, Brazil, lies the city of Teófilo Otoni, the largest center for the production of precious stones in the world. The city is slowly beginning to return to its normal routine after government lockdown measures were enforced to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Shops, fairs and medical offices recently reopened their doors, with reduced service.
The municipality of more than 140,000 has 424 suspected cases and 18 confirmed cases of…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (St. Albans, United Kingdom; Bern Switzerland)

When “Uncertainty” was chosen as the theme for a GAiN network project in February 2019, leaders were somewhat nervous as to whether this was the right decision. Little did they know what the future held – and how relevant the theme will be as countries slowly work to come out of COVID-19 lockdown into an uncertain new world.
GAiN Europe was cancelled as a physical event due to the coronavirus, but those registered to attend will now have the opportunity to join a special ‘webinar’ get together…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (TED FAMILY Ministries)

Lockdown has brought with it all kinds of relational challenges including extreme loneliness, getting on each other’s nerves, and figuring out how to do work, home school and family life within four small walls. There is also a positive side, enjoying the time to grow closer to our loved ones. But, for some people, the biggest challenge is finding themselves trapped in their own home, 24 hours a day, with an abusive relative. After a couple of weeks of lockdown in the UK, worrying reports began…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Maryellen Fairfax)

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) partnered with local churches in Brisbane, Australia, over the weekend of May 2-4 to assemble 112 food parcels for locals in need, with a focus on assisting international students and others who have lost jobs and can’t afford basic necessities.
Irena Pule, ADRA director for South Queensland Conference, put out a call to churches across Brisbane for volunteers to help assemble the parcels. More than 40 people responded—mostly youth and young…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review)

Time and again, experts in sexual abuse remind us that one of the worst fears of victims is being ignored when seeking help. It is something, experts say, that can lead to extremely harmful and long-term health consequences.
In the context of church life and faith-based organizations, that breach of trust can be outright devastating.
Against this backdrop, leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church recently provided evidence that church regions (or divisions) are taking concrete steps to…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Victor Hulbert, Trans-European Division)

Are we suffering COVID overload? Dr Helgi Jónsson believes we might – and offers advice on how to protect ourselves. “There is a constant flow of information around us, and not all of it is positive,” he states in a helpful video just released by the TED Health Ministries department.
“We feel we have to be informed and we have to follow the discussion, or we might miss out on something,” he says but notes that this could potentially increase symptoms of anxiety. Among his helpful suggestions…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Felipe Rodriguez Oliva)

The new paradigm of sharing the same space 24/7 with the whole family can be transformed into a tremendous opportunity for growth, as well as a source of conflict. Whatever the setting, it is a challenge of putting things into perspective.
The multiplicity of simultaneous roles by parents carries a different emotional charge than usual. This is why we must consider new preventive mental health practices, especially in caring for our children.
Children need certainty to feel safe. Regardless…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Geena-Rose Burton)

At a time when people are looking to our frontline workers for care and reassurance, I want to acknowledge all hospital staff who are turning up during this time—from cleaners, hospitality staff to physicians and nurses. This is my story as a nurse on the front line.
“We have a suspected COVID-19 patient on the ward.”
It wasn’t the first time in the past month these words had been uttered by my manager, but this time seemed different, more serious. She looked over all our faces, having to…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Felipe Lemos)

Continuing concerns over Covid-19 raise curiosity about effective treatments and the potential for a vaccine as a preventative. The need to find quick, effective solutions is clear: As of May 11, there have been more than 4 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 worldwide, and, sadly, nearly 280,000 deaths around the globe.
But the reality is that locating definitive treatments and promising vaccines is moving slowly. Some medical sources report more than 460 clinical trials of treatments for…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Jessica Cebuhar Atwell)

My 6-year-old son, Asher, approached me in our home in Bangkok, Thailand.
“Mom, I want to hand out flyers to people,” he said.
I wasn’t sure what he meant. After some questioning, I figured out that he wanted to distribute a small Thai-language tract called “A Love Letter From Jesus.” My heart skipped a joyful beat as I realized that my little boy wanted to share his love for Jesus with the precious people of Bangkok.
But Friday didn’t seem like a good day to go out. The global Covid-19…

Source:: sda website