Iraq: Adventist Couple Weds In Baghdad Church

The wedding of two Seventh-day Adventist Church members is a common, perhaps everyday, occurrence. However, the April 6 nuptials of Haitham Janan Ayoub and Muna Fargo are noteworthy: the two, Iraqi members of the Adventist Church, married at the Baghdad Adventist Church in a ceremony involving regional church president Michael Porter and Baghdad Church pastor, Oweda Wehba. The ceremony was held in mid-afternoon to allow guests to return home before dark. The bride is the daughter of Basim Fargo, secretary-treasurer of the church in Iraq. [Alex Elmadjian/MEU]

Haitian Adventist Church Struggles Amid Turmoil

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Haiti is strong, but very needy,” says Pastor Israel Leito, president for the church in Inter-America, who visited the country April 12 and was accompanied by other church administrators. The local congregations are now worshiping on a regular schedule. However, the Adventist University in Port-au-Prince has been unable to meet its payroll obligations to its workers. Some local field offices are in financial need, also. The regional leaders, and other area administrations, are offering monetary help at this time. Haiti has the largest number of Seventh-day Adventists of any region in the Inter-American territory with 273,000 members worshiping in 365 churches and congregations. [Libna Stevens/IAD]

Adventist Magazine Wins Awards

The Adventist Review came away with eight awards for writing, editing and design at the annual Associated Church Press (ACP) convention held April 18 to 21 in Toronto. Some 1,200 entries in more than 70 categories were judged. KidsView, a new addition to the Adventist Review, also won the award of excellence in the “Acorn Award” category. [Stephen Chavez]