News
Providing Encouragement and Assessment
NAD Administrators Affirm Work and Assess Needs During Visit to the Guam-Micronesia Mission
Beginning January 4, 2024, a North American Division administrative team visited several islands within the Guam-Micronesia Mission for two weeks. “We wanted to provide encouragement and do an assessment of needs and see how we could better support the work there,” said NAD president G. Alexander Bryant.
Young Adult LIFE Tour Coming to Portland, Oregon
Many of our local churches love their young adults but are at a loss as to where to begin a thriving ministry with them. The North Pacific Union Young Adult LIFE Tour stop intends to bring insights and relevant, doable steps toward building a flourishing young adult ministry now. The tour’s next stop will be in Portland, Oregon, from April 19-20, 2024, at the Pleasant Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church.
What’s in Your Hand? eHuddle Inspires Attendees Toward Creative Evangelism
From February 26 to 28, nearly 200 pastors and other leaders gathered at Camp Kulaqua in High Springs, Florida, for the 2024 eHuddle, an annual evangelism and leadership think tank hosted by the North American Division’s (NAD) Ministerial Association. Thousands more tuned in via Facebook and YouTube.
Mardian J. Blair, Former CEO of AdventHealth, Passes to His Rest
Mardian J. Blair, who led AdventHealth (formerly Adventist Health System) from 1984 until 2000, passed away on March 26 at the age of 92 in Apopka, Florida. Blair leaves behind a profound impact on the organization and in faith-based health care, particularly during a time of significant change in the health care industry.
It Is Written Conducts Alaska Evangelism and Mission Trip
This spring, It Is Written will conduct a mission trip and evangelistic campaign in Alaska, culminating in the Revelation Today: Hope for Humanity series. At the end of March, a mission team of 70 volunteers are serving in Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, and Bethel, the largest rural community. The evangelistic series begins April 5.
La Sierra University Charts Path Toward Growth
Heading into 2024, La Sierra University is charting an upward trajectory based on enrollment targets, with near-term strategic investments in personnel, increased salaries, scholarships, software upgrades, and athletics initiatives. On Jan. 29, 2024, the university’s board of trustees voted on a budget and funding for the remainder of this fiscal year, ending June 30 and continuing two years through 2025-26. The university leadership also drafted a follow-on aspirational plan through 2028-29 for a five-year proposed strategic document focused on La Sierra’s growth. On Jan. 30, the plan was presented by La Sierra University Interim President Richard Osborn during a campus town hall at the Zapara School of Business.
Atlantic Union and Southern Union Joint Tent Evangelism Endeavor Leads to 253 Baptisms
Tent evangelism, often considered an outdated method of evangelism, recently demonstrated its continued effectiveness through a joint evangelism event. The Atlantic Union, with the support and assistance of the Southern Union, recently hosted a 20-day "System for Survival" evangelistic initiative. The endeavor reaped 253 baptisms. The meetings took place in a 270-person tent set up in a vacant lot in Buffalo, New York.
The Blessings of a Delay
James Edson White, the son of Adventist pioneers James and Ellen White, is credited with taking the gospel to African Americans in the southern United States — after having departed from the Adventist faith for approximately 30 years. What may have seemed like a delayed answer to Ellen White’s prayers over the years that Edson was absent from the faith turned out to be God’s perfect timing for the gospel to be shared with former slaves and their children.
In First Meeting of the New Year, University Student Leaders Advisory Provides Opportunity for Dialogue and Feedback
On January 24, 2024, the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD) conducted a university student leaders advisory. The virtual event was cohosted by G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president, Wendy Eberhardt, NAD vice president for ministries (which includes Children’s, Family, Disabilities, and many other ministries), and Tracy Wood, NAD Youth & Young Adult (YYA) Ministries director.