News

Bill Payne Embraces New Challenges as North American Division’s Director of Sabbath School and Personal Ministries
The North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is thrilled to welcome Bill Payne as the new director of Sabbath School and Personal Ministries. Payne officially assumed this role last November after being elected by the NAD executive committee on September 6, 2024.

Scholarship Encourages Excellence in Senior Care for Southern Adventist University Student
Southern Adventist University commends Fred Hutagaol, sophomore business administration major with a focus on health services and senior living, as the recipient of the Morning Pointe Scholars Endowment for the 2025-2026 school year. He grew up assisting his grandparents with household chores and lived with and assisted a family member who was passing due to cancer, leading to his interest in the healthcare field. He has held leadership roles in his church, as well as serving as head of logistics for a student entrepreneurial project with Enactus.

A Dream Come to Life: Pacific Union College Flight Center Builds Custom Simulator
Pacific Union College Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker had the idea to build a type-specific aircraft simulator for his students. Since flight training devices in general aviation tend to be generic, limiting their usefulness, Tasker questioned how he and the program could obtain a simulator to teach basic skills, such as visual ground reference maneuvers and landing techniques. This would allow students to progress efficiently, as these skills cannot be effectively taught in traditional simulators.

“Religious Freedom Is a Reflection of Our Commitment to Dignity and Justice,” Says Key Speaker at the 2025 North American Division Annual Prayer Breakfast
On Jan. 22, 2025, about 80 people from diverse faith traditions gathered for the sixth Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast hosted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America and organized by its Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department. The event included prayer for religious freedom, elected officials, the community, the nation, peace, and for unity of spirit.

AdventHealth University Launches New Master’s Degree in Spiritual Care
AdventHealth University has added a new Master of Science in Spiritual Care degree to its online department in collaboration with AdventHealth, a national, faith-based health system. This is the first theological degree from the university. The mission-focused curriculum will prepare graduates to address spiritual needs in the delivery of whole-person care.

Adventist Community Services’ Expanded Partnership in New York City Means More Help For the Food Insecure
The Adventist Community Services’ relationship with City Harvest expired on Jan. 31, 2021, but the work is continuing at another level. “We are now connected with FEMA* through our City Harvest partnership,” said W. Derrick Lea, ACS Disaster Response director for the North American Division. City Harvest chose ACS because of its ability to disperse the goods they’ve received each Monday for the past nine months.

La Sierra University Plans for Spring Online Operations, Fall 2021 Campus Re-Opening
La Sierra University’s leadership recently announced to students and employees its plans to re-open the campus for fall quarter 2021-22 while keeping operations online through the end of the current school year.

When We Pray
She was strong, committed, and determined to live for and be like Jesus. She read and studied her Bible daily. She cared for others—fed, clothed, nursed, housed, visited, taught about Jesus, and sang/prayed for and with others. Her purpose in life and her greatest joy, she often said, was to tell everyone about Jesus Christ. She was my "G" — and we called her a prayer warrior.