Adventist president calls for December 1 Day of Prayer, Fasting to support falsely accused members

Adventist Church President Ted N. C. Wilson, right, calls for a December 1 International Day of Prayer and Fasting for two Adventists imprisoned in the West African country of Togo. Wilson spoke about the situation with church leaders worldwide through a video conference on November 20. At left is Williams Costa Jr., Communication director for the Adventist world church. Photo: Ansel Oliver

Nov. 20, 2012 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States…ANN staff

Seventh-day Adventist world church President Ted N. C. Wilson today called for an International Day of Prayer and Fasting on December 1 to rally support for the release of two Adventists currently imprisoned in the West African country of Togo.

Wilson and top church executives who voted the emphasis day at a November 20 morning business meeting said the event will raise awareness of the plight of Antonio dos Anjos Monteiro, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director for the church’s Sahel Union Mission, headquartered in Lome; and Bruno Amah, an Adventist lay member and businessman in Lome.

Adventist lawyers and human rights activists have called for both men’s release since they were detained in March for conspiracy to commit murder. A Togolese man implicated Monteiro and Amah as conspirators in an alleged blood trafficking network, but a police search of Monteiro’s home and local church headquarters did not produce evidence. Since then, local authorities have recognized both men’s innocence.

Diplomatic efforts to secure both men’s release are expected to continue. Today church leaders established a working group to oversee efforts led by John Graz, director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Adventist world church. Church leaders are enlisting the support of members worldwide to raise further awareness through a social media campaign to promote the December 1 Day of Prayer.

Antonio do Anjos Monteiro, shown here in a file photo, is one of two Adventists currently imprisoned in Togo on what Adventist legal and human rights experts say are unsupported charges. Photo courtesy West-Central Africa Division.

“We are asking the entire world Seventh-day Adventist Church to join in prayer and fasting on December 1,” Wilson said. The world church leader met with both men in prison earlier this month during a tour of West Africa.

“These are falsely accused, innocent church members and we are pleading with the Lord for his intervention so that they can be reunited with their families and continue their work,” he said.