Photo credit: Leong Jeam Wong, Singapore
(November 13, 2018 — Carol Stream, Illinois, USA) –– “LittWorld provides me a global family of Christian writers and publishers,” said journalist Lekan Otufodunrin of Nigeria. “I came back better equipped for ministry to Christian journalists and other publishers in my own country and beyond.”
Lekan, online editor of The Nation newspaper in Lagos, was one of 250 publishing staff and writers from 52 nations who participated in LittWorld 2018, MAI’s triennial global publishing conference, October 28 to November 2, in Singapore.
Plenary speakers addressed the conference theme, “the Word Made Fresh,” and included Jeff Crosby of InterVarsity Press, Ramez Atallah of the Bible Society of Egypt, Bishop Robert Solomon of Singapore and author Pusonnam Yiri of Nigeria, among others. The more than 40 small-group workshops taught practical skills in digital publishing, writing, editing, design/illustration, marketing, management, and more.
“I came home with so many new thoughts, insights and knowledge and a deepened experience of God. I’ve been trying to put it into words for people, but somehow I feel like I’m failing to explain just how special LittWorld is,” said author Joan Campbell of South Africa. “The sense of care, unity and servanthood is something that particularly struck me.”
MAI President John Maust noted, “At this LittWorld I was particularly struck by the high quality of participants and presenters, both in terms of professional skills and spiritual depth. Lasting outcomes are sure to follow.”
“An unexpected joy was 60 percent new attendees,” said local host chair Bernice Lee of Singapore. “Each one is a potential collaborator in MAI’s efforts to eradicate the global hunger for the written word!”
During LittWorld MAI announced creation of the Robert B. Reekie Global Publisher Award, an annual award named for MAI’s founding president recognizing ministry excellence by a Christian publisher serving in a challenging context. MAI Director of Publisher Development Ramon Rocha III pronounced MIK Publishing House of Pakistan as the first recipient of the award, with MIK General Manager Peter Calvin and several staff members coming forward to accept it.
MAI also presented its “Lifetime Training Award” to author Miriam Adeney of the US for her stellar equipping and encouragement of writers in multiple nations across more than four decades.
In keeping with the LittWorld 2018 theme, “The Word Made Fresh,” the conference highlighted creative ways to communicate Christian truth through the written word, and included a first-time screenwriting track led by Australian screenwriter and TV/film producer Simon Hunter.
“I was truly inspired to sit in a room with 52 nationalities all worshipping together,” he said afterwards. “In a current cultural climate that seeks to separate us into identity groups, the myriad of faces from across the globe made it very clear for me that there is only one answer to division—Christ.”
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