News Articles

Ontario Adventists Dedicate Cessna 185 for Mission to Northwestern Ontario

October 21, 2020 | Oshawa,, Ontario, Canada | Christelle Agboka

This past Thanksgiving, Seventh-day Adventists in Ontario, Canada,* had a lot to be thankful for, despite a challenging 2020. One of the biggest blessings is that a Cessna 185 aircraft was obtained in collaboration with Adventist World Aviation (AWA).

The plane arrived at Oshawa Executive Airport from the U.S. and represents a new chapter in Ontario Adventist history. The Cessna was acquired to support the health and humanitarian needs of remote/isolated Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario. In public health reports, they are disproportionately represented as being at highest risk for lifestyle diseases.

On Friday, October 9, 2020, a dedication ceremony for the Cessna and its mission was held at the Oshawa Executive Airport. Participants included Ontario Seventh-day Adventist Church president Mansfield Edwards, executive secretary Jakov Bibulovic, Seventh-day Adventist Church of Canada president Mark Johnson, Ray Young, AWA’s Canada project manager/global operations manager, and Brian Koldyk, the Cessna’s pilot/manager. A small gathering of Ontario Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church directors, support staff, some of their family members, and a few other supporters were present, adhering to health and safety protocols put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Edwards highlighted that Ontario Adventist leaders became aware of the dismal public health records for Indigenous communities in the North six or seven years ago. Their rates of suicide, cancer, and circulatory and other diseases far exceeded the average in Ontario; their life spans were also four to five years shorter than the average. Adventists leaders found this to be unacceptable and unfair to this community and, therefore, moved to this initiative. The anticipation is that this project will facilitate health training, agricultural projects, and other humanitarian services.

*Thanksgiving Day in Canada was October 12.

— Christelle Agboka is communications director for the Ontario Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Final Day of the North American Division Year-End Meeting Is a Tour De Force Through Ministry Reports and Resources

While the anchor report of the final day of the 2024 North American Division (NAD) Year-End Meeting was the treasurer’s report on the organization’s finances, the thematic focus was on NAD’s major evangelistic initiative for prayer and revival known as Pentecost 2025. On Nov. 4, 2024, NAD ministry departments and other church partners shared reports showing commitment to the initiative.

Preparing for Pentecost: Worships during the 2024 North American Division Year-End Meeting

Three morning worships with two new officers and one new university president at the final business meetings of North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"Let It Rain" — Pentecost 2025 Highlighted During 2024 Final Business Session of Year-End Meeting

While the anchor report of the final day of the 2024 North American Division Year-End Meeting was the treasurer’s report on the organization’s finances, the thematic focus was on NAD’s major evangelistic initiative for prayer and revival known as Pentecost 2025. And while NAD ministry departments and other church partners shared reports showing commitment to the initiative, a special presentation on Pentecost 2025 from division leaders also gave attendees a bird’s eye view of plans and recent developments.

“One Plus One to the Power of the Holy Spirit = Amazing Things”

A series of meaningful worship moments — from a message of surrender to the Holy Spirit and an altar call to an impromptu congregational singing of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” — set the stage for the treasurer’s report on the final day of the 2024 NAD Year-End Meeting. As she took the stage on Monday, November 4, NAD treasurer and chief financial officer Judy R. Glass continued the focus on God as our source of strength and provider. “It’s amazing to see what the Holy Spirit is already doing in this room,” she stated.

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.