Mongolia: New Shelter For Victims of Domestic Violence ... Since April 10, victims of domestic violence in Selenge, Mongolia now have a safe place to go.  The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has opened a shelter for victims of domestic violence in the Northern Mongolia province. The Family Information and Service Center (FISC), was established to protect victims from their assailants, and provide them with comprehensive legal and psychological aid. The shelter project developed after the ADRA office in Mongolia conducted an anti-alcohol program in the region and noticed the prevalence of alcohol-induced abuse. “It became obvious to the ADRA team that there was a dire need to offer mothers and children a safe shelter,” explains Llewellyn Juby, country director for ADRA Mongolia. One of only four established domestic violence shelters in Mongolia—and the largest with 20 beds—the center is operated and managed by the National Center Against Violence, a non-governmental organization in Mongolia that works to prevent violence against women and children.

Hungary: Four New Churches Established ... In the last five years, four Seventh-day Adventist churches have been established in Hungary along with more than 20 church plants. However, local church leaders note there are 66 cities with populations ranging between 10,000 and 50,000 that have not been reached. Despite the Hungarian church’s struggle to finance local mission work young, people are at the center of new church plants and an initiative called “Free Bible University.” This has proven to be one of the most effective approaches in unentered areas to share with others the message of Jesus. [Andras Szilvási/Hungarian Union Conference]

Cambodia: ADRA Leads “Smoke Free” Marches in Provinces ... No “butts” about it, cigarettes are hazardous to health. That was the message of a series of recent “Smoke Free” marches and rallies lead by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) from May 19 to 31 in the Cambodian provinces of Phnom Penh, Preah Vihear, Kompong Thom, and Pursat. Supportive government officers, police, non-governmental organization (NGO) partners, and other locals enthusiastically joined ADRA staff and Seventh-day Adventist Church members during the marches to encourage Cambodians to extinguish their cigarettes in exchange for a healthier lifestyle and to raise advocacy for a smoke-free society. [ADRA/AND/ANN Staff]

United States: Loma Linda University Health Care Earns Highest Accreditation ... Loma Linda University Health Care (LLUHC) received the highest accreditation term offered by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). An on-site review in October found that LLUHC was in full compliance with the Joint Commission’s rigorous national standards for health care networks. LLUHC surpassed those rigorous standards, earning the highest accreditation term of three years. LLUHC was required to meet standards addressing continuous, systematic, organization-wide improvement in network performance and outcomes of care. Other affiliated sites where care is delivered to LLUHC patients, such as hospitals, ancillary or diagnostic services, and outpatient facilities, must also demonstrate that they are in compliance with standards set by the Joint Commission.