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On Monday, October 29, day five of the 2023 North American Division’s Year-End Meeting (NAD YEM), delegates applauded as treasurer/CFO Judy R. Glass, the first woman elected to the role, took the stage for her inaugural report. Glass began with a heartfelt testimony. “When I started this position 91 days ago, there were times when I felt like I was thrown into the deep end of the pool. [What] helped me on this journey was the reminder that I have a Friend. And my Friend walks on water,” she said.

At the North American Division headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, the 2023 NAD Year-End Meeting started at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26. This annual business meeting, which has returned to an in-person event, with livestreaming on the NAD website, Facebook and YouTube, will provide the opportunity for close to 300 executive committee members to receive reports, amend policies, strategize, and fellowship with church leaders who have dedicated themselves to sharing with others Christ and the Adventist faith. “God had called us to lead and our assignment is to serve in a very interesting time in history,” said G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president, as he began his 2023 report.

After more than 40 years, the theology department at Pacific Union College moved this summer from the basement of Graf Hall to the campus church offices. The change intends to highlight the central role of PUC’s faith, be more present with the students, and collaborate better with the pastors and chaplain. 

Each morning of the 2023 Year-End Meeting for the North American Division, delegates started their day with worship. A different speaker presented every day, and the group participated in worship through song as well. Those watching the meetings online, as well as executive committee members and guests, were able to worship together as the four speakers addressed the general theme of how we share the gospel in the world.

On Nov. 1, a luncheon was held in honor of the 2023 recipients of the Adventist HealthCare Lucy Byard Scholarship for nursing. Adventist HealthCare (AHC) leadership, along with church leaders, friends, family and colleagues, came to celebrate the four deserving students who received a total of $60,000 to complete their studies.

An initiative that distributes diapers twice a month in San Bernardino recently celebrated a milestone of 1 million diapers distributed since the program launched 15 months ago. Leaders estimate the program has saved local residents $250,000 during a time that for many people has been financially difficult due to surging inflation. The initiative is coordinated by Loma Linda University Health in partnership with several community groups.

Breakout session one on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, allowed each union to report on their discussions during the past year on the points raised during the 2022 year-end meeting. Topics included online church, educator remuneration, and membership data collection. A new breakout on pastoral ministry commenced on Sunday, Oct. 29, with recommendations coming from the groups on Oct. 30, as well as robust discussion of the issues related to the topic.

Following worship on Tuesday, October 31, the sixth and final day of the 2023 North American Division Year-End Meeting business session, during which many ministry departments gave their reports, began with a passionate presentation by Dwain Esmond, associate director and editor of the Ellen G. White Estate. He shared with the group his latest evangelism initiative, Back to the Altar. A variety of other ministry department reports followed.

Academics, theologians, religious freedom experts, students, and church members gathered on the campus of Southern Adventist University on October 20-21, 2023, for a North American Division conference “Reconstructing Religious Liberty in a Time of Religious and Secular Extremes.” The two-day event, organized by the NAD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty ministry team, featured five keynote speakers: David French, Samuel Perry, Tobias Cremer, Leslie Pollard, and Ivor Myers.

On October 29, day four of the North American Division’s 2023 Year-End Meeting, NAD executive secretary Kyoshin Ahn and team delivered an eye-opening secretary’s report. Their presentations defined the state of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, emphasized secretariat ministries’ disciple-making efforts, and inspired hope for the church’s future.