News Articles

NAD's Top 10 Stories of 2023

Check out the top news stories published by the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the year 2023.

December 28, 2023 | Columbia, Md. | North American Division

In 2023, the North American Division website garnered close to 1.2 million page views. More than 270,000 unique page views were directed to the NAD news page and news articles.

The top 10 most-visited news articles for 2023 are listed below. Click the titles to read the full articles, and enjoy this 2023 North American Division news year-in-review. And enjoy several popular stories from past years that still make the cut in our top 20 — these are listed at the end of our 2023 list.

1. Adventist Community Services Joins Relief Efforts in Hawaii After Maui Fire Destroys Most of Historic Lahaina

Published on Aug. 17, 2023

Adventist Community Services Disaster Response (ACS DR) has joined the relief and recovery efforts in Hawaii; and plans continue to take shape as organizations join hands to support those affected by the wildfires that burned through Lahaina and other parts of Maui this past week. Hawaii Conference ACS director Mark Tamalaa led local efforts by setting up a shelter in Maui, where the most damage has taken place.

Coast of Lahaina before the August 2023 fire; photo from istock/unclegene — *A view of the coastline of Lahaina before the August 2023 fire; stock photo from istock/unclegene*

2. Alvin M. Kibble, Former North American Division Vice President, Passes to His Rest

Published on Aug. 16, 2023

Alvin Maurice Kibble, former vice president for the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, passed to his rest on Friday evening, August 11, 2023, in Temecula, California. Kibble served in ministry for more than 50 years. A seasoned pastor and administrator, he pastored eight churches and contributed more than 35 years in church administration. He was 76.

3. Union College To Become Union Adventist University as of May 2024

Published on Oct. 4, 2023

The Board of Trustees voted Monday, October 2, 2023, to change Union College’s name for the first time in the school’s 132-year history after reviewing a year’s worth of research. “We believe this name will better communicate Union’s scope as we broaden our graduate offerings,” said Gary Thurber, board chair, and president of the Mid-America Union Conference.

4. La Sierra University President Resigns

Published on Sept. 18, 2023

Effective Sunday, September 17, 2023, Joy Fehr, La Sierra University president, resigned from her duties as president of the university following discussions last week with the board of trustees. April Summitt, provost for the university, will assume duties as acting president while the La Sierra University Board of Trustees initiates the process of appointing an interim president.

5. First New Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary Released in Nearly 70 Years

Published on Dec. 22, 2022

After nearly 70 years, a group of global scholars decided to revamp the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (originally published in 1953). The first full volume (volume 6) of the new commentary, called the Seventh-day Adventist International Bible Commentary (SDAIBC), was released this fall. Learn more in this interview with Martin Klingbeil, SDAIBC contributor and professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Southern Adventist University, and Jacques Doukhan, SDAIBC editor and professor emeritus of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis, Andrews University.

6. Maryland Governor Has "Homecoming" at Takoma Park Church

Published on July 26, 2023

“It was a long overdue homecoming,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore during his visit to the Takoma Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in Maryland this past weekend. During the visit on Sabbath, July 22, Moore shared the story of how members of the church stepped in to provide support for his family after his father passed away suddenly.

Governor Wes Moore gives a citation to Takoma Park church for their work in the community — With Potomac Conference president Charles Tapp (left) looking on, Governor Wes Moore presents a citation to Takoma Park church, handing the framed citation to Pastor Daniel Xisto, for their continued support and service in the community. Photo by Art Brondo/NAD

7. Judy R. Glass Named North American Division Treasurer

June 29, 2023

On June 29, 2023, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s General Conference Executive Committee met to receive the name of Judy R. Glass, the recommendation for division treasurer, from both the North American Division’s standing nominating committee and executive committee. Glass was confirmed in a 99 percent affirmative vote, and is the first woman to serve as treasurer for the North American Division.

Judy Glass becomes the first woman treasurer of the North American Division — *Judy R. Glass, new North American Division treasurer, was elected on June 29, 2023. She will be the first woman to serve in this role. Photo: North American Division*

8. Supreme Court Issues Historic Ruling Strengthening Religious Accommodation Protections for Workers

Published on June 29, 2023

In a unanimous decision issued on Thursday, June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court discarded decades-long precedent by strengthening legal protections for workers whose religious beliefs conflict with their job obligations. The ruling in Groff v DeJoy is expected to significantly impact job opportunities for Americans of various faiths who have frequently faced challenges due to their Sabbath-keeping practices. The Court's decision will reshape how businesses offer religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

9. Hidden Figures: Stories of Adventist Women

Published on Sept. 7, 2023

"This past year saw the creation of a new Pathfinder honor. My own daughter, along with two of her friends, were the initial catalyst to beta-test and help develop the requirements. As we did so, it became an opportunity to look at little-known or even unknown stories of early Adventist women."

10. Debra Brill, Former North American Division Vice President for Ministries, Passes to Her Rest

Published on Aug. 30, 2023

Debra Clements Brill, former vice president for ministries for the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, passed to her rest on August 27, 2023, in Jamaica, Virginia, after an extended illness. She was 71. Brill retired on October 1, 2019, after serving the division as a vice president for 21 years. “It’s been my great joy to work with gifted leaders who love God and His church!” said Brill upon her retirement.

Other Popular News Items in 2023

This item ranked number three overall, and was published as a news package during the 2023 North American Division Year-End Meeting.

2023 NAD Year-End Meeting Video and News Coverage

Still in the Top 20 in 2023 news clicks

Kenneth O. Cox, Adventist Evangelist, Passes to His Rest at 84

Published on July 8, 2019

Retired Breath of Life Speaker Walter L. Pearson Jr., 74, Whose Ministry Spoke Across Generations, Passes to His Rest

Published on June 9, 2020

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.

Promoting Healthy Minds at Southern Adventist University

Experts across America have gathered statistics that point to a mental health crisis for college students. Anxiety concerns have risen from 56 percent in 2013 to 65 percent in 2023, according to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health. The center also found that the number of students seeking help has steadily increased from 2009 until the pandemic. In response to the crisis, Southern Adventist University is working to ensure that students have access to various high-quality mental health resources.

Pacific Northwest Hosts Young Adult LIFE Tour

Who are your people? What is good news to them? Where do my people need me to show up for them? These are the questions that attendees were challenged to answer at the Spring 2024 Young Adult LIFE Tour stop at Pleasant Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church in Happy Valley, Oregon. Young adults, church leaders, mentors, and parents gathered to learn about the unique challenges emerging adults face and how churches can help meet their needs.