News Articles

North Carolina Church Chosen For Blue Zones Community Project

Adventist participant gives first-hand account of the local project.

January 26, 2021 | Brevard, N.C. | Kathy Brannan

As soon as the news was announced that Brevard, North Carolina, was chosen to be the next community Blue Zones® project, Pastor Ralph and Joni Henderson and I met with the project leaders to let them know that the local Seventh-day Adventist Church would love to become involved as representatives for the Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California, one of the original zones — and only North American Blue Zone. We shared the Creation Health seminar materials and showed them how closely those eight lifestyle principles paralleled the Blue Zone® Power 9 principles. We were asked to run the Loma Linda booth for the kickoff event in August.

This event was held outdoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The weather was beautiful, and our booth was lined with Creation Health banners. At our busy booth, we gave away samples of a colorful, variety-filled salad in individual recyclable containers and drinks of watermelon-infused water, along with a packet of materials that included the Creation Health self-assessment, Amazing Facts Health magazine, “Your Friends, the Adventists,” and information regarding the Creation Health seminar we offered to present at any area location (churches, work places) free of charge.

Later, when the Blue Zones staff offered cooking demonstrations done by the owner of a local bakery via Zoom, we knew we could also be a help in that area. Eventually our offer was accepted and we were asked to do one Zoom cooking class per month from December until June, 2021. We are absolutely thrilled beyond words with this opportunity to witness to healthful eating as well as bring a positive impression of our church to this community!

On Thursday evening, Dec. 10, 2020, we held in our first cooking class in the church’s fellowship kitchen — using our recently purchased overhead demo mirror. We were not expecting the wonderful introduction the hostess from Blue Zones gave to the Zoom participants before we began. She read from Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones book why Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda live from 6-10 years longer than the average American.

With special Christmas meals in mind, Brevard Seventh-day Adventist Church cooks demonstrated a Christmas kale salad, vegetarian and vegan meatball and loaf options, and apple pie made with no added sugar. The presentation seemed to be well received by the Blue Zones staff. After it was over and their staff gone, we commented on how exciting it is to see so many becoming convinced of the benefits of a vegetarian/vegan diet — information our church has had the privilege of knowing for so many years. We thank God for this opening wedge to our county where only about eight Seventh-day Adventists actually live.

— Kathy Brannan is a member of the Brevard Seventh-day Adventist Church in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina; the original version of this article appeared on the Carolina Conference website on Jan. 11, 2021.

CREDIT: Photos by Tammy Hopkins and Kathy Brannan.

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.

Promoting Healthy Minds at Southern Adventist University

Experts across America have gathered statistics that point to a mental health crisis for college students. Anxiety concerns have risen from 56 percent in 2013 to 65 percent in 2023, according to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health. The center also found that the number of students seeking help has steadily increased from 2009 until the pandemic. In response to the crisis, Southern Adventist University is working to ensure that students have access to various high-quality mental health resources.