IGNITION Summit 2011
Arlington, Texas, United States—“The speakers, workshops, and resources made available at IGNITION Summit 2011 have inspired me to do even more ministry for God, reaching new generations,” shared Trey Sharp, a pastor from Burleson, Texas. “I am refreshed, energized, and ready to go! IGNITION was a huge blessing for me.”
Sharp was among a great constellation of ministry professionals, lay leaders, educators, parents, and young adults who convened in Arlington, Texas, April 4–6, 2011, to receive training in young adult ministry at IGNITION Summit 2011.
General sessions by Drs. Tim Elmore and Hyveth Williams, best practice workshops, Habitudes leadership training, and a service excursion to the North Texas Food Bank were among the array of experiences afforded the 120 attendees from across North America and beyond.
IGNITION points to young adult ministry training across the United States, Canada, and Bermuda. The next division-wide IGNITION training is slated to coincide with Just Claim It, March 7–12, 2012, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Details to be released at www.adventistyouthministries. org. [A. Allan Martin]
ADRA awarded for women’s empowerment project in Bangladesh
Washington, DC, United States—The Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) on May 4, 2011, received a Best Practices & Innovations Award last week for its Bangladesh women’s empowerment initiative.
InterAction, the largest United States–based alliance of international nongovernmental organizations, honored ADRA with the award for its Improving Livelihoods through Women Empowerment, which, over the last three years, has taught literacy and income generation to some 5,400 women in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. ADRA officials estimated more than 100,000 women have benefited from the project since it began in the 1990s.
“This is a tremendous work ADRA has done in Bangladesh, which started many years ago and has developed and progressed in many stages,” said ADRA Bangladesh Country Director Elidon Bardhi. “This isn’t just a women’s issue but affects the entire community.”
The latest round of training was sponsored by ADRA Sweden. As a result, 80 percent of participants now have the ability to read, write, and actively partake in family making decisions. Seventy percent of participants have increased their household income by 20 percent through the income-generating activities.
This award was the third Best Practices recognition from InterAction. ADRA was awarded in May 2010 for a food security project in Bolivia and in December 2010 for a similar project in Ghana. [ANN News]