Press Releases

Oakwood University Church to Honor Tennessee Resident for Actions in Waffle House Incident

James Shaw, Jr. heroically disarmed restaurant shooter in Nashville

April 26, 2018 | Huntsville, Ala. | Oakwood University Church

The Oakwood University Church, in conjunction with Breath of Life Television Ministries, will honor James Shaw, Jr. at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Shaw, the Nashville, Tennessee, resident who disarmed a gunman, attended F.H. Jenkins Preparatory School (an elementary school that is part of the South Central Conference) in Nashville for several years.

Shaw has been hailed as a hero for disarming Travis Jeffrey Reinking, the gunman who attacked patrons at a Waffle House Restaurant in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville this past Sunday, April 22, 2018. Four individuals were killed and two were injured from gunshots.

Shaw will receive recognition for his bravery and briefly address the audience. He will also be available for a press conference immediately following the Worship Experience. The Oakwood University Church has a membership of over 2,500, and also ministers to the nearly 2,000 students who attend Oakwood University. Dr. Carlton P. Byrd has been the church’s senior pastor since 2012. The Breath of Life Television Ministry was founded in 1974. Byrd became its third speaker/director in 2010. While many of its broadcasts originate from the Oakwood University Church, Byrd is in high demand as a speaker and preaches to audiences around the world.

For more information regarding Shaw’s visit, please call Pastor Paul Goodridge, associate pastor of the Oakwood University Church, at 1(256)837-1255, ext. 102; or send an email to pgoodridge@oucsda.org.

Elizabeth Talbot Named Woman of the Year by Association of Adventist Women

The Association of Adventist Women has named Elizabeth Talbot, Ph.D., the 2024 Woman of the Year for spiritual leadership and media ministry. Talbot was presented this honorary award at the Association of Adventist Women banquet on October 12, 2024. Talbot was recognized for her commitment to sharing Jesus through her preaching, writing, and visual ministry.

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.