ADRA Mongolia Celebrates 30 Years

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Mongolia held its 30th Founding Anniversary Celebration on July 26 and 27, with the theme “Celebrating HOPE @30!” 

The event was held at the Emerald Hall of the Blue Sky Hotel and the UB Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in the country’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. ADRA Mongolia, guided by its mission to serve humanity so that all may live as God intended, has been sustained by God’s faithfulness and leadership throughout its years of operation, the agency leaders said.

ADRA opened its doors in Mongolia in 1994 and has worked for 30 years in partnership with individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to improve the quality of life for Mongolians through various projects. Since 1994, the agency has focused on areas such as education, disaster and emergency management, economic development and livelihoods, health, and food security. To date, ADRA Mongolia has implemented 194 projects with a total funding value of approximately US$34 million.

In post-communist Mongolia, ADRA was the first international non-governmental organization (NGO) invited to register under the Office of the Prime Minister. Since its inception, it has been an active country office for development and humanitarian work, standing out among the other 17 ADRA country offices in Asia.

During the anniversary celebration, ADRA country director Windell M. Maranan was awarded the Golden Star of Peace by D. Zagdjav, president of the Peace and Friendship Organization Mongolia. This prestigious award, the highest given to an expatriate working in the international NGO sector in Mongolia, recognizes Maranan’s outstanding contributions to fostering traditional friendly relations and cooperation between the people of Mongolia and other nations.

Additionally, Enkhtur Jambajav, senior driver of ADRA Mongolia, was honored with the Order of the Polar Star, Mongolia’s highest state award, in recognition of his loyalty and dedicated service during his 26 uninterrupted years with ADRA Mongolia.

The event was graced by numerous distinguished guests, including representatives from diplomatic posts, ADRA officials, and government authorities.

The keynote speaker, Michael Kruger, president of ADRA International, delivered a heartfelt message to the ADRA Mongolia team and attendees, celebrating the organization’s accomplishments. On the second day, during the Sabbath Thanksgiving celebration at the UB Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, Kruger shared a message focused on living with hope in Jesus, followed by a Thanksgiving luncheon.

“God’s goodness and faithfulness have been evident not only in blessing the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mongolia and ADRA but also in continually extending the ministry of compassion through the agency’s efforts over the past 30 years,” agency leaders said. It has been a service “characterized by justice, compassion, and love.”

The original version of this story was posted on the Northern Asia-Pacific Division news site.