News

2025 Safeguarding Peace Training Empowers Attendees to Build Safer Churches
From February 9 to 11, 2025, a small but dedicated group of local church, conference, and union leaders, and lay members, met at the North American Division headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, for the NAD’s enditnow® Safeguarding Peace training on abuse prevention and response. Through presentations, pair and group discussions, and hands-on exercises, attendees were empowered to help make our churches safer spaces.

Monte Sahlin — Longtime Church Researcher, Administrator, Author, and Editor — Passes to His Rest
Monte Sahlin, one of the foremost researchers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the North American Division (NAD) and a former pastor and church administrator, has passed away. He was 76 years old.

Oakwood University Announces the Selection of its 12th President
The Board of Trustees of Oakwood University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gina Spivey-Brown, Ph.D., RN, MSA, FAAN, FNAP, FADLN, as the 12th president of Oakwood University. The announcement concludes a comprehensive and prayerful search process.

Center for Youth Evangelism to Become North American Division Entity
On March 26, 2025, the North American Division (NAD) voted to receive the Center for Youth Evangelism LLC (CYE) as an official entity of the division as of May 1, 2025. This vote comes after the March 24, 2025, vote by the Andrews University board to transfer to the division the non-profit entity that has been part of the university since 1979 under the name of Youth Resource Center (it was renamed CYE in 1996).

Southern Adventist University’s Blacksmithing Club Forges Camporee Connections
At the largest ever hands-on blacksmithing event for young people in the United States, the “Southern Smiths” introduced the art of shaping metal with fire to more than 800 participants at a booth offering the blacksmithing honor, sponsored by Southern Adventist University, at the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, in early August.

Moses Reenactment Touches the Hearts of Camporee Attendees, Actors, and Personnel
One of the prominent features of the International Pathfinder Camporee is dynamic biblical reenactment. The 2024 dramatic presentation that fueled the theme “Believe the Promise” was highlighted by a host of skilled actors portraying the life experience of Moses. During the camporee, one-hour meet-and-greets were carved out of afternoon programming for the Moses cast to engage with attendees. Pathfinders, leaders, and parents were understandably eager to shake hands, take pictures, ask questions, and soak in the moment with the talented performers.

Wish of a Lifetime
“Camporee is the zenith of experiences for every Pathfinder,” says Vernon Norman of Huntsville, Alabama. That’s why it was his dream for almost 40 years to attend an International Pathfinder Camporee. This past August in Gillette, Wyoming, his dream came true.

Southern Tidings Hosts Live-stream Show at Camporee
To highlight stories from the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in an efficient way, the Southern Tidings hosted two live-stream shows on YouTube from Tuesday through Friday (Aug. 6-9) called the “Gillette Breakfast Club.”