News
La Sierra University-rooted Ghanaian Seventh-day Adventist Church Celebrates New Redlands Home
It began as a small gathering under the trees on La Sierra University’s campus in June 2003. Nine Seventh-day Adventist Ghanaian students and community members formed a Sabbath worship service, bound together by a shared faith, culture, and desire to connect. The small group began holding Sabbath School classes at various locations — first on campus and eventually at a nearby strip mall. Their numbers gradually grew until they had approximately 80 members in 2024, at which point the congregation decided it was time to acquire their own church building.
Beyond the Pews: 2025 eHuddle Calls Church to Greater Impact
For years, White Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church in Los Angeles, California, was viewed as the church that did not care. In January 2025, everything changed. On Tuesday, January 7, during their week of prayer, Arteaga and his leaders experienced three blackouts from heavy winds. The next morning, they awoke to “images that the city we love, our mission field, our home, was on fire,” Arteaga shared at the 2025 eHuddle — an evangelism and leadership think tank hosted by the North American Division (NAD) Ministerial Association from Feb. 24 to 26 at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Southern Adventist University School of Business Students Excel, Rank as Top Performers
In a simulation of managing a startup company in the MGMT 364 International Business course, one of Southern’s teams placed first out of the five locally competing teams, and in the 99th percentile of more than 1,000,000 simulation teams worldwide in 2024. In another business strategy challenge, three of Southern’s teams ranked as Global Top 50 Performers out of 685 teams from 58 colleges and universities worldwide for the performance of their GLO-BUS business strategy simulations during the week of June 17-23, 2024.
2025 Safeguarding Peace Training Empowers Attendees to Build Safer Churches
From February 9 to 11, 2025, a small but dedicated group of local church, conference, and union leaders, and lay members, met at the North American Division headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, for the NAD’s enditnow® Safeguarding Peace training on abuse prevention and response. Through presentations, pair and group discussions, and hands-on exercises, attendees were empowered to help make our churches safer spaces.
PELC Hispanic Track: A Christ-Centered Focus for Ministry Leaders
The Pastoral Evangelism Leadership Council (PELC) offers spiritual renewal, inspiration, and fellowship and equips pastors, chaplains, and other ministry leaders for their roles. Established more than 40 years ago by regional conference leaders, PELC is the largest annual gathering of pastors and church leaders in the North American Division. This year, it took place from December 8 to 11, 2024. While the main English track was held in the newly renovated Oakwood University Church, PELC in Spanish was hosted at the Office for Regional Conference Ministries in Huntsville, Alabama. Planned by the Hispanic Caucus, this specialized program provided resources and training for pastors serving Hispanic communities.
Three Documentary Series About “Purpose,” Additional Media Projects, Unveiled at GAiN Europe
The Adventist Church communication community, Global Adventist Internet Network (GAiN) Europe, in coordination with Hope Media Europe, has unveiled its latest film and media productions, and written content, under the theme My Greatest Purpose. This new global network project focuses on the theme of life purposes, bringing together the collaboration, efforts, and teamwork of numerous media centers and entities of the Adventist Church worldwide. During the 2024 GAiN Europe conference, held on November 15-19 in Budva, Montenegro, Hope Media Europe presented the results of more than two years of work: three documentary series, a narrative film, an upcoming book on “Purpose,” and new free-to-view streaming website J+.
Ken Norton Named Voice of Prophecy Bible School Director
Ken Norton, president of the Montana Conference, has accepted the Voice of Prophecy’s invitation to serve as the Discover Bible School director. He will begin his service at the ministry on March 2, 2025.
An Appeal for Human Dignity and Decency
There are many in the United States who are afraid for their futures, and for the lives of family members. As a Christian denomination in the U.S., the Seventh-day Adventist Church supports the rights of all persons, no matter their country of origin — the equal rights provided in the U.S. Constitution and fair treatment as immigrants and refugees in this country. As members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we believe that “we are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation” (Fundamental Belief No. 14). The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America encourages its churches and schools to be warm and welcoming places for all people. All are created by God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.