LATIN AMERICA

ISAAC’s links in Latin America continue to grow and develop. Ivan Alvarado (leader of La Roca) and Ruben Pavez (leader of Carpe Diem) from Chile have been instrumental in developing networks of Christians involved in drug and alcohol rehabilitation work.

In February of this year a group of ISAAC Leaders (Dr Ehab El Kharrat, Ivan Alvarado, Ruben Pavez and David Partington) attended the World Federation of Therapeutic Communities conference in Lima, Peru. The link between World Federation of Therapeutic Communities (who accredit some ISAAC related training) was further strengthened through the conference and other meetings. After the conference there was a meeting of Christian local and regional leaders covering training and networking. The desire is to see ISAAC continue to grow and develop in its calling to connect, encourage and equip those involved in addiction work in this part of the world. As part of this our aim is to provide a version of this website in Spanish.

Following on from this conference rehabilitation centre and church leaders from Peru and Costa Rica were able to visit Christian centres and government projects in Chile for an exposure visit. This allowed them to see at first hand the methods and programmes used successfully in Chile, and to see if they might be able to apply them in their centres and churches in their own countries. This was a great example of the practical networks and relationships that ISAAC is able to facilitate.

ASIA

Asia is also an area where ISAAC members have been busy developing links. ISAAC is planning to hold a regional conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in March 2010 organised by Malaysian Care. As part of the planning for this a group of ISAAC Leaders met in Kuala Lumpur in February. The meeting was hosted by Pax Tan and Warwick Murphy as the Asia Regional Coordinators. In addition there were key leaders from Malaysia, Singapore, China , Pakistan and the UK. The conference will focus very much on an Asian addiction context and we are encouraging people outside Asia working who are working with Asians to attend.

In Central Asia an ISAAC conference recently took place in Almaty, superbly hosted by Teen Challenge Kazakhstan. It was a tremendous time of inspiration and blessing for all who took part.

It was also a very powerful conference for various reasons:

• The quality of speakers - these included Jackie Pullinger and Teen Challenge speakers from Europe and the USA
• First class workshops - teaching was given by Teen Challenge leaders (local and international) and by other ISAAC members including Meshach Chujor, Alison Giblett, Sjaak Munster and David Partington
• The Spirit moved in the worship in very powerful ways
• In addition to the large Teen Challenge Kazakhstan contingent there were leaders from other projects in Kazakhstan and from the surrounding countries