News Articles

NAD Continues its Commitment to NextGen Leaders at Gillette Camporee

August 29, 2024 | Columbia, Md. | Christelle Agboka

Gladys Guerrero, tutoring and mentorship coordinator for the NAD Office of Volunteer Mission, interacts with Pathfinders during the “Believe the Promise” International Pathfinder Camporee. Photo: Art Brondo | North American Division — Gladys Guerrero, tutoring and mentorship coordinator for the NAD Office of Volunteer Mission, interacts with Pathfinders during the “Believe the Promise” International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming. Photo: Art Brondo

For the past five years, the North American Division (NAD) has tackled a growing pastor and teacher shortage caused by retirements, resignations, and fewer graduates entering those fields. Solutions such as improved educator remuneration and pastoral recruitment have been discussed at the NAD Year-End Meeting and student leader advisories. NAD leaders have increasingly sought to introduce young people to ministry opportunities and empower those feeling called to church work at major division events.

The 2019 Chosen International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, saw the launch of the NAD Ministerial Association “NextGen” initiative, featuring a social event for young people interested in pastoral ministry. One thousand attended.

At the 2024 camporee, held August 5-10 in Gillette, Wyoming, several NAD departments hosted booths designed to engage children, youth, and young adults interested in serving the church in different capacities. These included the Office of Volunteer Ministries (OVM), NAD Leadership, NAD Ministerial Association, NAD Adventist Camps (under Youth and Young Adult Ministries), and NAD Adventist Education, which had its own exhibit hall.

Visitors to all five booths could collect a complete set of patches for NextGen missionaries, leaders, pastors, teachers, and camp staff, each with activities and challenges related to that ministry area. For instance, NextGen Missionaries received three stickers daily — one to keep and two to trade with someone new while sharing that Jesus loves them. Gladys Guerrero, OVM tutoring and mentoring coordinator, noted, “Most of the kids who came today said, ‘I did my assignment yesterday. Can I get [the sticker] today?’” Some even asked for more than three stickers.

The booths also provided ministry resources, including details on a free virtual mentorship certification training scheduled for September 15, 2024, and leadership books from NAD Leadership; links to volunteer opportunities; and information about ministry options in education, camps, churches, and other Adventist entities.

Jose Cortes, NAD Ministerial Association associate director, reported that between noon on Tuesday, August 6, and 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, the ministerial team distributed 5,000 NextGen Pastor t-shirts and 12,000 pins. Clubs also engaged in 360 photo and video booths.

“But most important were the conversations and prayers we were able to share with teens and children who feel that God is calling them to ministry, the divine appointments,” said Cortes.

He continued, “A young girl passed by, and as she received the shirt and the pin we gave her, she said, ‘I am actually here because I would like to be a NextGen Pastor.’” Per Cortes, she was one of many young people they spoke to who are either contemplating pastoral ministry or are already enrolled in a theology program at an Adventist university.

Cortes concluded, “We wanted Pathfinders to know that we are looking for NextGen pastors, a new generation of youth, who are willing to say, “Speak God … I am listening.”

The NextGen Pastor booth at the Believe the Promise International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette Wyoming. Pictured are Jose Cortes Jr., NAD Ministerial associate director, and Paola Oudri, associate director, Adventist Learning Community. Photo : Art Brondo | North American Division — The NextGen Pastor booth at the Believe the Promise International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette Wyoming; pictured are Jose Cortes Jr., NAD Ministerial associate director, and Paola Oudri, associate director, Adventist Learning Community. Photo: Art Brondo

Further Information

Scholarships: Since 2022, Walla Walla University has been offering free tuition for aspiring pastors and teachers through NextGen scholarships, with other schools considering similar initiatives.

NAD leadership training: https://adventistleadership.com/

Ministry opportunities:

Volunteer ministries — https://hesaidgo.org/en/
Education — https://jobs.adventisteducation.org/opportunities
Camps — https://www.adventistcamps.org/ (camp directory)

Updates: Visit https://nadministerial.com/nextgen-pastors for updates on NAD initiatives supporting NextGen Pastors.

On Day Three of the North American Division Year-End Meeting, Ministries Share Reports, World Church Leadership Present Initiatives

The North American Division Year-End Meeting resumed for the second day of general business sessions (and third day of YEM) on a clear and crisp Sunday morning after attendees and guests took a day for Sabbath rest and worship. The November 3 morning session primarily focused on the report of NAD executive secretary Kyoshin Ahn, who shared statistics about the current state of church growth and the make-up of its membership.

2024 NAD Year-End Meeting Video and News Coverage

Welcome to the video stream and news coverage from the 2024 North American Division Year-End Meeting! Once the NAD Year-End Meeting begins on Nov. 1, 2024, you can watch below — and check out links to written news coverage and YEM reports as they become available.

To the West, the North, the East, and the South: A Report on the Early Mission Work in the North American Division

Kyoshin Ahn, secretary for the North American Division, presented his report during the third day of the 2024 year-end meeting (YEM). The first part of his report was summarized in a separate article. The second part of Ahn’s report was focused on missions within the NAD, in honor of the 150th anniversary of Adventist missions.

Seeing the Mission Field as It Actually Is

Kyoshin Ahn, executive secretary for the North American Division, presented his report to kick off day three of the division’s 2024 year-end meeting. To begin, he read the list of everyone in the departments of the secretariat, thanking the team for their service and their contributions to the report.

Preparing for Pentecost: NAD President G. Alexander Bryant’s 2024 NAD Year-End Meeting Report is a Call to Higher Service

The 2024 North American Division Year-End Meeting began at 9 a.m. on November 1 at the NAD headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, following a two-day administrators’ conference — the first in 10 years — at the same location. One hundred and fifty executive committee members (of 302) gathered for day one of business meetings where, until Monday, November 3, they will receive reports, vote on business items, strategize, and fellowship with fellow Adventist church leaders and friends.