Stories & Commentaries

A Call to Compassion Toward the Immigrant: A Voted Statement

The following is a voted statement by the Hispanic Advisory of the North American Division, calling for compassion toward immigrants.

August 2, 2017 | Silver Spring, MD | North American Division

The following is a voted statement by the Hispanic Advisory of the North American Division, calling for compassion toward immigrants.

Whereas,
the current climate in our country and the world has produced worries, divisions and fears in many individuals, leading to divided families, expressions of racism, and challenges to the fulfillment of the Christian mission;

Whereas,
the Bible teaches us that God has made all mankind of one blood (Acts 17:26), that we “are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26, 28), called to unity and love towards one another (John 17:21-23, John 13:34), instructed to treat the foreigner as the native-born (Lev. 19:33-34);

Whereas,
the Church has the moral responsibility to care for the disadvantaged (Lev. 23:22) and denounce oppression, abuse, or mistreatment in any form (Ps. 82:3, 4; Isa. 1:17), while respecting the rule of law.

We, the Hispanic leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North-America, declare our determination to:
reject practices that instill humiliation and fear in the hearts of fellow human beings,
affirm the value of keeping families intact,
inspire our members and those who visit our churches to live lives of faith and trust in Divine guidance,
and appeal to all the Seventh-day Adventist churches, schools and individual members in the North-American Division to extend God’s love to all persons by creating an environment of acceptance and safety in our houses of worship.
___________________________

Voted by the members of the Hispanic Advisory of the North-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists on May 4, 2017.

The Power of a Simple Tract: Transforming Lives with Messages of Hope and Wholeness

Have you ever hit rock bottom and found hope from an unexpected source? For a 16-year-old girl from California, that hope came in the form of a pocket-sized Signs of the Times given to her by a stranger on an Amtrak train. Hers is one of countless stories of a tract sparking transformation. Take advantage of the holidays, and a limited sale, to spread the love of God organically with these life-changing materials.

50 Ministerial Spouses Unite for Community Service, Fellowship, and Training During the 2024 NAD Year-End Meeting

Community service, fellowship, and training sessions made up the spouses’ meetings during this year’s NAD Year-End Meetings, with roughly 50 spouses of conference leaders in attendance.

Report on 2024 Consolidated Enrollment

The Association of Adventist Colleges and Universities (AACU), comprised of the presidents and other top leaders from 13 Adventist colleges and universities in North America, has determined that the latest consolidated fall enrollment numbers for all 13 institutions totals 20,828 students. This increase of 256 students from the previous year marks the second consecutive year of total growth.

Charting a New Path: 2024 Administrators’ Conference Unites Leaders to Shape the Future of the Church in North America

It’s been 10 years since conference and union presidents, executive secretaries, and treasurers gathered in one room to brainstorm how best to carry out the church’s mission in North America. A long-awaited follow-up, the 2024 administrators’ conference hosted more than 200 conference and union officers at the NAD’s headquarters on Oct. 30-31.

In the Middle of It: A Thanksgiving Reflection

It’s easy to express gratitude when the outcome is favorable, when the struggle has passed, and when we can see the fruit of our perseverance. But what if we could learn to give thanks not just at the end of the journey but “in the middle of it”? What if we could cultivate the kind of gratitude that doesn’t wait for the resolution, but chooses to acknowledge God’s faithfulness even while the outcome is still unknown?