News Articles

This fall, Adventist Community Services (ACS) and the Alaska Conference, part of the North Pacific Union Conference, announced that during the 2019 holiday season, ACS is providing a year-end match opportunity to help offset the costs of reaching native villages and enabling more children to experience camp, food programs, and Vacation Bible School (VBS). Every dollar AMA raises, ACS will match dollar for dollar, up to $100,000, by December 31. “Instead of resigning ourselves to these challenges, NAD’s ACS has prayerfully decided to engage in a transformational opportunity of collaboration with the AMA program,” said Tandi Perkins, Alaska Conference development director. “This partnership will focus on providing safe spaces and programs through outreach to Alaska Native communities.” 

NAD education leaders were recently part of an assessment team that traveled to Malawi to evaluate the educational needs at ADRA-sponsored schools. The schools are located in the poorest areas of one of the least-developed nations in Africa.

Debra C. Brill retired on Oct. 1, 2019, after serving the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America as a vice president for 21 years. Brill served as administrative liaison and chair of NAD committees and on the boards many NAD ministries. Brill, with 33 years of denominational employment, currently holds the record for longest-serving vice president of the NAD, and she is the second women to occupy a vice president position at the division.

During a special presentation at the 2019 Year-end Meeting of the North American Division, the division’s administrative team, which includes the executive secretary, treasurer, vice presidents, and assistants to the president, expressed words of appreciation for Daniel R. Jackson, NAD president, before unveiling a wall plaque bearing the new name of the building’s executive boardroom — “Daniel R. Jackson Executive Boardroom.”

It’s been said that it takes 21 days to form or break a habit. Throughout the course of this year, participants in AdventHealth's Feel Whole Challenge have put this concept to the test, answering the call to action to improve their physical, mental, and spiritual health. In nine media markets throughout the Midwestern, Southwestern, and Southeastern United States, 9.7 million consumers have heard this same message.

On Nov. 3, 2019, day four of the NAD Year-End Meeting, representatives from the GC presented the world church's strategic plan, "I Will Go," for the next quinquennium. Media Ministries and several NAD institutions and ministries also shared reports during the business sessions that concluded with a touching tribute to Kirsten Wolcott, a student missionary who lost her life 10 years ago.

Southern Adventist University is pleased to welcome Joseph Khabbaz as the new vice president for spiritual life. Along with serving as campus chaplain, Khabbaz will help prioritize Southern’s spiritual goals through this newly restructured position.

At an awards banquet in Langley, B.C., Church in the Valley was recognized for Acts of Kindness Extreme Home Repair Ministry. For 16 years the Acts of Kindness Extreme Home Repair Ministry has renovated worthy recipients' homes in the Township of Langley. Fortunate individuals who are unable to repair and maintain their homes get an act of kindness from the team and receive the renovation completely free of charge.

A significant portion of the 2019 Year-End Meeting Sunday afternoon business session on Nov. 3 was focused on the General Conference’s response to financial parity request from the executive committee of the North American Division. During 2019 Annual Council, leaders of the world church voted to reduce the tithe percentage of the NAD by 2 percent – 5.85 to 3.85 percent beginning in January 2020 over the next four years – and have the remaining 12 divisions increase their tithe percentages from 2 to 3 percent over a 10-year period.

Randy Robinson, North American Division treasurer, introduced the 2019 treasury report with thanks to G. Thomas Evans, previous treasurer. He then shared 2 Chronicles 7:14 as he opened his report on Nov. 4. Robinson shared highlights from the 2018 audited financial statement, including operating fund trends, working capital, and tithe.