News
Providing Encouragement and Assessment
NAD Administrators Affirm Work and Assess Needs During Visit to the Guam-Micronesia Mission
Beginning January 4, 2024, a North American Division administrative team visited several islands within the Guam-Micronesia Mission for two weeks. “We wanted to provide encouragement and do an assessment of needs and see how we could better support the work there,” said NAD president G. Alexander Bryant.
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).
“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.
Walla Walla University Short Film "Color of Threads" Wins International Award
“Color of Threads,” a film produced by Walla Walla University’s Center for Media Ministry (CMM), continues to make waves after its strong start in the independent film circuit. Written by WWU alumna Josie Henderson, the story follows five women who move to the Pendleton Valley in 1909 in an effort to rebuild their lives. London Director Awards, a film festival based in London, England, named Richard L. Ramsay, the director of “Color of Threads,” the best U.S.A. Director of 2025. The short film also won the title of Best Western 2025 at the Los Angeles Short Film Awards.
Adventist Educators Establish Worldview Studies Center at La Sierra University
On January 28, 2025, La Sierra University celebrated the opening of a new center at the Zapara School of Business where students, educators, business and community leaders can explore various worldviews and their effect on informed decision-making, leadership development, and academic and professional growth.
One Day Last Year
One day in February 2024 an unusual assortment of North American Division leaders walked into the president’s office. Those represented included the Ministerial Association, vice presidents, the president’s office, Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI), Professional Services, and communication. After prayer and an exchange of pleasantries, the leaders looked to president G. Alexander Bryant. “What do you all remember about Pentecost?” he asked. Typical answers surfaced referencing the Acts 2 account. “What if we were to do something like that at the NAD? What if we could get all our churches involved? What if we focused on prayer, outreach, and proclaiming the gospel message?”