July 25, 2006 Haifa, Israel …. [Miroslav Pujic/TED News/ANN]
“The situation in Northern Israel continues to be difficult,” reports Richard Elofer, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel. Many Adventists and Jews celebrated this Sabbath in bomb shelters with frequent interruptions by blaring sirens and explosions of fired rockets.”
On Friday one of these rockets–presumably fired by Hezbollah forces in Southern Lebanon–fell on Herzl Street in downtown Haifa, close to three Adventist Churches: Hebrew, Romanian and English speaking congregations.
“We thank God that none of these churches were damaged and our Adventist families were not struck by human losses,” says Pastor Elofer.
The north of Israel continues to be evacuated. Many Adventists and non-Adventists found shelter in buildings owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and in church members' homes.
The administration of the church decided to open the Jerusalem Study Centre, which is owned by the Adventist Church, for 25 to 30 non-Adventist refugees. Pastor Elofer said, “even though the church facilities are not equipped to accommodate refugees, we will do our best to provide what these people need. In the same way we have opened our church buildings in Tel Aviv, Ashkelon and Beer Sheva.”
In closing his report to TED News, Pastor Elofer said: “We hope that this difficult situation will not last for a long time and that wisdom and responsibilities will prevail among the leaders of the different parties.” He concluded with thanks to those who remember them with prayers and support.
Copyright (c) 2006 by Adventist News Network
