On March 26, 2025, the North American Division (NAD) voted to receive the Center for Youth Evangelism LLC (CYE) as an official entity of the division as of May 1, 2025. This vote comes after the March 24, 2025, vote by the Andrews University board to transfer to the division the non-profit entity that has been part of the university since 1979 under the name of Youth Resource Center (it was renamed CYE in 1996). As part of the transfer, the corporate membership of Andrews University board of trustees will move to the North American Division, meaning that the NAD will need to establish a new board for CYE.
On March 5, Pastor Ron Whitehead, who currently serves as the executive director, was voted by the Lake Union committee to the full-time position of Youth, Young Adult, and Children’s ministries director with the Lake Union, after serving at the union as a volunteer youth director for 29 years while holding the Andrews/CYE position. Ron and his wife Betty decided to transition away from CYE, and Ron has accepted a call to be the full-time director for the Lake Union Conference. Their transition is effective May 1, 2025.
CYE has run several significant events through the years, including Cruise with a Mission, We Care (mission trips), the 180° Symposium, and the International Pathfinder Camporee. Under the leadership of Whitehead, CYE coordinated six international camporees, five of them within the Lake Union Conference, 1999 to 2019, and one in the Mid-America Union Conference, in 2024. Whitehead coordinated his first major camporee in Colorado (Mid-America Union Conference) in 1994, when he worked for the Rocky Mountain Conference.
“The Seventh-day Adventist Church in general, and the North American Division in particular, owe Ron and Betty a debt of gratitude for the tremendous leadership they have rendered through the years. Ron has shown us how to run big events successfully with maximum impact that have been transformative to our youth. He has graciously consented to assist as a consultant during the transition for the upcoming months,” shared G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president.
Bryant added, “As we recognize the impact CYE has had on countless lives over the years, we are grateful for the service Ron and Betty have provided since 1996 and we believe that we can continue CYE’s ministry and expand that impact in the North American Division.”
“We are delighted to welcome CYE to the NAD family,” said Wendy Eberhardt, NAD vice president for ministries. Eberhardt, who served for many years in Youth and Young Adult Ministries, including club ministries and camp ministries, agrees that this will strengthen youth ministry across the division. “With its rich history of providing outstanding research, relevant resources, innovative learning laboratories and transforming evangelistic events, such as the international camporees, I believe that God will continue to guide CYE as it takes this next step forward in serving youth ministry professionals and youth evangelism in the future.”