BURLEIGH HEADS, Australia--The regional edition of the WN produced in the Australian Office serves brethren in more than 15 nations in Asia and the Pacific Islands.
"We have a tremendous diversity of cultures and people in our region, which provides some fascinating material for the WN," said regional editor Aub Warren.
"We've done stories on the educational institute in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, outreach work and youth camps in India, profiles of congregations in Fiji and Tonga, and members in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu."
Each issue contains reports on local church events and updates on church activities in the region as well as occasional people profiles. Reports on ministerial conferences and summaries of major activities such as national youth camps are also included.
SURREY, British Columbia--The Canadian Regional News, started by former regional director Frank Brown, first appeared in July 1994. Ron Grove, Worldwide News art director, did the layout in Pasadena until the Canadian Office purchased a Macintosh computer in the fall of 1996. Circulation is about 5,000.
Editor David Bacon does the layout and gets copyediting help by e-mail from Leonard Johnson, a member in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The June issue included articles on how the flood in Manitoba affected members; an interview of outgoing regional director Frank Brown; and reviews of a Christian concert by teen music critics who are sisters in the Abbotsford, British Columbia, congregation.
"Overall the paper is very readable," said Perc Burrows, a Toronto, Ontario, West local church elder who reads each issue from cover to cover. "The content helps to unify the Canadian church from coast to coast."
The RN formerly published French articles. Now church members in Quebec are served in their mother tongue by La Vie Chretienne and Nouvelles de l'Oeuvre, published by the church office in France.
You can e-mail David Bacon at david_bacon@wcg.org
LYON, France--In the absence of a regional office and staff, the French WN, Les Nouvelles de l'Oeuvre, is produced on a personal computer.
The editor is Olivier Carion, pastor of the Lyon, Marseille and Narbonne, France, churches.
Les Nouvelles de l'Oeuvre (NDO) incorporates translations done by volunteers in France, Switzerland and the French Caribbean.
"In the current context of financial scarcity in our region, NDO is a humble publication. It contains no pictures yet," Olivier said. "I check through every translation and take care of the layout, before sending a print-out to each pastor for local duplication and distribution. The main goal is to keep our members informed and in touch."
Olivier said that Les Nouvelles de l'Oeuvre is a monthly publication with 20 or so pages distributed in WCG congregations in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Haiti, Martinique, Guadeloupe and the South Pacific.
It is also sent to French Canada through the Surrey Office and African countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Rwanda, Togo and the Congo.
You may e-mail Olivier Carion at olivier_carion@wcg.org Because of a lack of finances and staff Les Nouvelles de l'Oeuvre is not available outside the region.
FREEPORT, Bahamas--The Caribbean Worldwide News began in August, with Patrick Fearon as editor. Patrick also pastors the churches in Freeport and in Belize in Central America.
The Caribbean WN contains articles from the U.S. edition that are worldwide and corporate in nature, such as Mr. Tkach's Personal and other articles pertinent to the Caribbean region.
The Caribbean WN connects members in WCG congregations throughout the Caribbean, and serves as a link between the local churches and headquarters. Articles reflect what brethren in this part of the world are allowing Jesus Christ to accomplish through them individually and collectively.
"Members of congregations separated by the Caribbean Sea become more connected as they share what's going on in their countries," Patrick said. "Individuals and congregations can learn from one another while spurring one another toward greater works."
Patrick said that the Caribbean WN also serves as a link to the community. Extra copies of the paper can be given to those in the community to help them become better acquainted with the Worldwide Church of God, and know what the church is doing in the region.
Most of the layout is done on a Macintosh computer in Freeport, Bahamas.
After printing, the printers bulk-mail the required number of WNs to each area. They are sent to the pastor or a designated person, who distributes copies to each member household.
"Please pray for the success of this venture," Patrick said. You can e-mail Patrick at patrick_fearon@wcg.org or write to him at The Worldwide News, P.O. Box F-43734, Freeport, Bahamas.
The first issue of the German Worldwide News was published in April 1978. It was four pages and contained the most important items from the U.S. Worldwide News, plus some regional information.
This publication kept German-speaking members in contact with headquarters and informed them of the latest developments at the regional office.
The German editorial staff is made up of Silvia Mair, Helga Pietrella and Wolfgang and Linda Thomsen.
The German editorial staff made various format changes from 1978 until June 1997. The circulation is 5,500, which includes members and others who donate financially to the church.
Readers are encouraged to contribute articles and news items of interest to the whole readership. The editorial staff wants to make the German WN more European and not only a translation from the U.S. original.
You may e-mail the German Worldwide News at alois_mair@wcg.org
BOREHAMWOOD, England--In the fall of 1996, the British Office took on two interns, Brenda Plonis and Angie Fuessel, to start a British regional Worldwide News.
Brenda and Angie worked on a volunteer basis throughout the year on the WN and the PT, partly sponsored by the British Office, and partly by two churches in California. Angie's internship ended in July.
The British regional WN was first published in October 1996, and has been produced monthly ever since. John Halford, European regional director, serves as editor.
The regional edition retains the name Worldwide News. It ranges in size from 24 to 28 pages, and is produced as a black and white magazine on recycled paper.
Members and contributors in the United Kingdom and Ireland receive this version, in addition to a few in Europe and the Mideast.
About 3,100 copies are printed, and most are distributed to members at services. A U.S. WN is posted at services on the notice board.
Most lead articles are retained in the U.K. version. Modifications include changing spellings to international English, editing for Anglican phrasing and editing for length. Regional articles are also incorporated.
About 60 percent of the issue is from the United States, and 40 percent is regional.
It still enables brethren to keep in touch with what is happening in the United States and elsewhere abroad within the church.
Additionally, however, it allows the inclusion of more regional news that helps connect the brethren across the British Isles.
The British WN is available outside the region for the cost of postage. You may e-mail Brenda Plonis at brenda_plonis@wcg.org or write the Worldwide Church of God, P.O. Box 111, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, WD6 1LU.
The Northeast Asian edition of The Worldwide News began in March 1995 as a supplement to the U.S. Worldwide News. It was called the Regional News.
According to Bill Sidney, Philippine regional director, the supplement was designed to address issues of interest in the region (Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Guam and Micronesia).
According to Johnny Logrono, the first managing editor, "Mr. Sidney saw the benefit of a WN supplement when he saw the Australian Regional News during a visit there."
Rod Matthews, regional director in Australia, and his media staff, Aub Warren and Naomi Finch, agreed to assist the Philippine Office with the layout of the Regional News using their Macintosh computer.
The Philippine Office started laying out and printing its own copies of the Regional News with the August 1995 issue.
Starting with the October-November 1996 issue, the Philippine Regional News was given the name The Worldwide News, Northeast Asian edition, incorporating materials from the Pasadena edition and articles from the Philippines. Circulation is about 3,000.
Member Suzette Gueco said that the Northeast Asian edition "is informative of what is happening in the church in the Philippines. I hope it can be expanded to include articles from Filipinos in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and other areas."
Luz Pangilinan said: "Not only do we get news from the Philippines, but also from Pasadena and other regions. I also appreciate the spiritual values and God's role in the lives of members being chronicled in the paper."
CAPE TOWN, South Africa--The South African Office began producing a four-page Regional News in July 1994. It began as a team effort that involved the South African, Australian and U.S. media departments.
In February the South African Office began local production of an all African edition of The Worldwide News, which serves as a communication vehicle for congregations throughout East, West and southern Africa.
It includes Mr. Tkach's Personal as well as study papers and feature articles from the U.S. edition. The WN Africa Edition communicates news about church developments in Africa to members and contributors.
The South African Office produces an issue every six to eight weeks with about 4,000 copies printed. The WN is bulk-mailed to congregations where copies are distributed at church services. WCG contributors receive their copies in the mail. A number of copies are sent to Pasadena for distribution to South Africans living aboard.
"Article contributions are always welcomed," said editor Janine Bell. "We ask that readers continue to pray for the success of this publication." You can contact Janine at janine_bell@wcg.org
The church in the Nordic region produces The Nordic Newsletter three or four times a year, with a circulation of 150 copies, mostly church members in the Nordic region and Estonia.
The Danish church publishes the newsletter as a service to the rest of the Nordic region.
Four volunteers put the publication together. They are Donald Boddie and David Ssezibwa of Copenhagen, Denmark, editors; and Alan and Eva Beal of Sweden, proofing and printing.
You can contact Donald Boddie at don_boddie@wcg.org or Alan Beal at alan_beal@wcg.org
HERWIJNEN, Netherlands--"After launching a new magazine called LifeLine in June 1996 to replace the PT, we began our own version of The Worldwide News in December," said editor Gerri Belo.
The Dutch edition is called GemeenteGids (Congregational Guide) to avoid confusion with the American or British WN.
GemeenteGids is a monthly publication of about 16 pages. It contains a few translated articles from the American and British WN, but most articles are written by employees of the Dutch Office or the members.
Katja Ludwig of the Doorn church said: "GemeenteGids feels like a personal letter to all of us. It helps us to grow closer to God and to each other."
Yvonne Berkemeijer said: "It helps me feel more connected with brethren and the church in general."
GemeenteGids is sent to Flemish members and members in Surinam and Indonesia.
You may e-mail GemeenteGids at hdbuist@pi.net
FORT WORTH, Texas--The Spanish WN is called El Noticiero. It features the Personal from Mr. Tkach, doctrinal articles and study papers, letters from regional director Charles Fleming, and articles by Spanish members.
When the Spanish Department closed in 1995, production of Spanish publications was affected. Members started translating articles from the WN and the PT to share with others. A volunteer list was put together.
Then Church Administration saw the need to have one person coordinate and edit the translations and assigned the job to Mayra Bremer of Fort Worth, who worked for the Spanish Department since 1985.
Those involved in the editorial process are scattered throughout South America and the United States. The following are volunteer translators: Pablo Dimakis (Mexico), Jose Luis Enriquez (Mexico), David Jorajuria (Uruguay), Raquel Corvera de Huaynalaya (El Salvador), Orlando Sanmiguel (Venezuela), Gerardo Ruben Zevallos (Bolivia), Guillermo Juy (Mexico), Antonio Gaetan (El Salvador), Graciela Rojas de Hermosillo (Mexico), Milagros Neves (Sunrise, Florida) and Miguel Solano (Costa Rica).
Special contributors are Ruth Gutierrez (Big Sandy, Texas), Carlos Garcia (Puerto Rico) and Salvador Barragan (Mexico).
After El Noticiero is edited and formatted, it is sent to Ruth Gutierrez for duplication and distribution. El Noticiero is available on the Internet at http://www.wcg.org/espanol You can contact Mayra Bremer at mayra_bremer@wcg.org
Aug. 19, 1997, WN, pages 8 and 9
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