New Russian IRLA Chapter

On Feb. 26 representatives of various religious groups met to form a Volga Chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association. Feodor Shelov-Kovediaev, IRLA president for the region, along with regional secretary-general Victor Vitko addressed the meeting. Dr. Galina Shirokalova, a professor at the Nizhny Novgorod Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was elected president of the new chapter. Pastor Alexey Britov, public affairs director for the Adventist Church in the Volga-Viatka area, was elected executive director. Congregations represented included Old Believers, Muslims, Jewish, Baptists, Pentecostals and Buddhists. [Valery Ivanov]

Broadcasters Target Spanish-speaking Audiences

Church leaders from the Adventist Church’s North American, South American and Inter-American regions met in Miami on Feb. 10 to discuss providing television programming for Spanish-speaking viewers. Leaders say there is a need to reach the Spanish populations in the area and there is opportunity since the church-owned Hope Channel is now broadcasting 24-hours a day. [Libna Stevens]

ANN Story Correction: A March 2 ANN story incorrectly stated participation by an ADRA representative in an incident in Azerbaijan. ADRA was not involved, and we regret the error.