wfn.org | Adventist Church Building Becomes Symbol of Hope

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

July 8, 2001
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

Adventist Church Building in Croatia Becomes Symbol of 
Hope

Lipik, Croatia. (APD)   A new Seventh-day Adventist Church 
building was dedicated late May in the Croatian city of 
Lipik, which sustained extensive damage during the Balkan 
conflicts of the 1990s. The newly erected church building 
stands as an "example of how the destroyed city of Lipik 
should be rebuilt--working together in spite of 
differences," said Josip Horvat, mayor of the city, who 
spoke at the dedication service.

"I see this church building as a common good for the 
whole community," said Josip First, a representative of 
the Catholic Bishop.

The building was funded by local and international 
donations, as well as financial support from city 
authorities.  "A lot of volunteers, even other Protestant 
church members, worked on the building," says Stanisa 
Margaric, the church's pastor. This spirit of cooperation 
is an example of how the ruins of Lipik can be restored, 
adds Margaric. He says local Baptist members let 
Adventists use their church hall during the building 
period, demonstrating how "spirituality and Christianity 
can gather people even in areas destroyed by war and 
hate."

Bertil Wiklander, president of the Adventist Church in the 
Trans-European region, which includes Croatia, led out in 
the dedication service for the new church.