Posts Tagged ‘Adventist Development and Relief Agency’

Do Justice does just that

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Review: Do Justice: Our Call to Faithful Living

Mark Webster
Chief executive officer
Adventist Development and Relief Agency Australia

Do Justice coverBrowse through the 192 pages of Do Justice: Our Call to Faithful Living and the answer to the questions, “What is justice?” and “Why compile a book about it?” become clear:

  • Justice is a biblical concept central to God’s vision of a world not only created but also living in His image
  • Justice—as an experienced, living thing—is also as complex and diverse as the number of people on this planet

Do Justice effectively and compellingly addresses the statements. It pulls together the wisdom of 27 justice advocates, harnessing their thoughts, experiences and advice into a cohesive whole.

Authors such as Kendra Haloviak Valentine and Ty Gibson explore that foundational nature of justice to our faith and indeed our existence. Dwight Nelson and Lowell Cooper, among others, explore the nexus of faith and justice in the context of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its beliefs. Lisa Clark Diller and Zivayi Nengomasha join their voices with those of others seeking to make justice an intentional part of their lives. And another group, including Tim Gillespie, Ella Smith Simmons and Mindi Wiygul, share guidance from their own experiences of justice in practice.

In the end, the problem with justice is not doing it: it is the assumption it has been done.

Jesus calls His people to do justice by loving others as we love ourselves. Reading Do Justice will inspire, encourage and equip you to do just that.

Nathan Brown and Joanna Darby (editors), Do Justice: Our Call to Faithful Living, Signs Publishing, 2014

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Help yourself

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

What I learned from my development studies placement

Chelsea Mitchell
Bachelor of Arts student
Avondale College of Higher Education

Development is contagious. This is the lesson I learn during my visit to Mok Mai, a district in northern-central Laos. I also learn about the wet season. If you’re going to drive up a mountain, you’re going to get stuck, literally, in the mud.

A woman from the villages of Ban Tham Ioy in Laos.
Credit: Chelsea Mitchell.

I visit the remote villages of Ban Tham Ioy, home to 49 families living in 41 houses. With the help of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, toilets have been built and water systems installed. The villagers are now building a school.

A “cow bank” provides income—a cow is lent to a family who, when the cow gives birth, give the calf to another family. The bank has grown from five to seven cows.

The head of the village smiles. “Before ADRA, we didn’t have toilets, hospital, water system. Now because of the project, we have.”

After lunch (soup with a turkey’s foot), the primary purpose of the visit begins. The 2012-13 yearly report meeting brings ADRA staff, government officials and village leaders together. They discuss the activities of the past year, the 11 villages and what can be improved, and most importantly, how to improve according to the need, skill and interest of each village. They emphasise the importance of teaching people how to use the water system and toilets, rather than simply having them installed.

The 47 people in the four-hour meeting are an inspiration. They come from different places, employment situations and backgrounds, but they come with a shared purpose—to help people help themselves.

Chelsea travelled to Laos as part of her placement in international poverty and development studies.

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Concert for a cause

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

If you attended Madzi for Malawi (Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church, October 29), you not only helped provide clean water for six rural villages but also reduced disease prevalence and enabled women to receive an education—they will save more than three hours a day by not having to collect water. The concert, featuring artists such as Billy Otto and sister Sarah Potts (pictured), raised almost $4300 for the building or rehabilitation by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) of wells in the district of Salima. Counting the money “brought a smile to my face because I know it’s going to a good cause,” says Brock Goodhill, leader of the five students who organised the concert as part of the unit, Event Management. One of the champions of the cause is Avondale alumna and ADRA Malawi intern Krystle Praestiin. “I have so much,” she says. “Instead of falling into the trap of trying to accumulate more ‘stuff,’ it is my responsibility to use what I have to help others as much as I can.”—Brenton Stacey Credit: Ann Stafford.

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