On February 7-8, 2025, more than 900 Sabbath School teachers, ministry leaders, and Bible students gathered to livestream the North American Division Do It Together Sabbath School Conference. The event aimed to discuss new and innovative ways to connect to the Sabbath School lesson while engaging students of every age.
Leading the event were Sherri Uhrig and Gerry Lopez from NAD Children’s Ministries, Armando Miranda Jr. and Vandeon D. Griffin from NAD Youth Ministries, Franklin Dorsey from NAD Sabbath School/Personal Ministries, Tracy Wood from NAD Young Adult Ministries, and Bill Payne, who was introduced as the new NAD Adult Ministries Director.
Friday kicked off with visitors from the United States and Canada — and a few from India and Dubai — exchanging greetings in the bustling community chat that remained lively during the livestream. The event leaders initiated the discussion by posing questions such as, “What challenges do you encounter while teaching Sabbath School, and how do you tackle them to foster a positive and effective learning environment?”
Responses in the chat ranged from advice to testimony, sharing personal experiences as teachers and students discussed persons and experiences that influenced them the most. The conversation sparked on the revival of the Thirteenth Sabbath, a tradition where Sabbath School was the church service, with memory verse challenges, special offerings for mission outreach, and discussion time.
Children and Families Pastor Brooke Wong from the Madison Campus Adventist Church opened the Sabbath with a sermon, reminding teachers that they are not responsible for the salvation of their students, young or old. “Your job is to create an environment where people can listen and learn,” Wong stated, “and to provide opportunity, and Jesus will save them if they choose to be saved.”
Saturday evening featured three breakout session times for each age group, allowing members to attend one of the 15 workshops on Zoom. Instructors provided handouts for teachers to keep for future lessons, exploring topics such as using trends for youth outreach, supporting children through difficult changes like death, illness, divorce, or cultural upheaval, and setting a clear vision for Sabbath School.
Church groups and bible studies could create watch parties, where viewers could comment, engage, and discuss. Throughout the workshops, the community chat was available to share ideas and foster support, encouraging other members to try new methods of connection and to ask questions.
The event organizers closed the conference with a final livestream, reminding viewers that there will be a second conference later in 2025, from September 11-13, and that recordings for the Zoom workshops will be available later in the month of February. Currently, recordings of the live streams from Friday and Saturday, as well as Brooke Wong’s sermon and the relevant handouts are available at the event link. At the event’s conclusion, closing words encouraged attendees to leave with inspiration and a new community.