During the morning business meeting on July 8, at the 2025 General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, North American Division (NAD) executive secretary Kyoshin Ahn and treasurer Judy R. Glass were elected to serve another term when session delegates voted to approve the nominating committee recommendations for all 13 division secretaries and treasurers. Ahn and Glass are set to serve the 2025-2030 term.
“I consider it a privilege and honor to serve my NAD family over the next five years,” said Ahn.
When asked what the next quinquennium might look like, Ahn shared that prayerfully the NAD “has been carrying out these 3M’s strategies — mentorship, media, and multiply — and we are going to continue our efforts in accomplishing what we have envisioned for this decade.”
Ahn then referenced the NAD’s quinquennial theme*, concluding, “Together in mission, we're going to get to the place where God wants us to be.”
Re-elected NAD executive secretary Kyoshin Ahn is introduced with the other division secretaries voted at the GC Session morning business meeting on July 8, 2025. Photo: Art Brondo | North American Division
Ahn has served as NAD secretary since his election in August 2020. He previously served as the NAD’s undersecretary from 2016 to 2020 and associate secretary from 2013 to 2016. Over the past two decades, Ahn has assisted in planting churches for Korean congregations division-wide, trained local church clerks, led seminars, and conducted evangelistic campaigns.
His pastoral ministry began in 1995 in the Potomac Conference, where he served until 2001. From June 2001 to October 2005, he served as president of the Korean Churches Association in North America. Before joining the NAD, from 2005 to 2013, Ahn held the role of executive secretary for the Illinois Conference.
Ahn earned a bachelor’s degree from Sahmyook University in Korea, followed by a Master of Divinity from Andrews University Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Early Christianity from Vanderbilt University.
Ahn is the first Korean American elected to serve as NAD secretary. He is married to You Mi Kim, with whom he has two adult children.
“It's an honor to be elected and to serve the North American Division. It's a big responsibility, but I know that God will be with me on every step,” said Glass after being elected.
NAD treasurer Judy R. Glass is introduced with the other division treasurers voted at the GC Session morning business meeting on July 8, 2025. Photo: Art Brondo
Glass, the NAD treasurer since June 2023, added, “My main priority going forward is to keep the division in good financial condition and continue to be a good steward of the money that we've been entrusted with — and to look at the ways that we can build the division and make it stronger. We [want to continue to] support our entities and organizations throughout [the NAD].”
Glass grew up in northwest Minnesota on her family’s farm and graduated from Maplewood Academy in Hutchinson, Minnesota. She attended Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business with emphases in accounting and management.
She started her church career early, completing an internship with GCAS in the Southwestern Union while in college. Her first job after graduation was a brief stint at the Minnesota Adventist Book Center. Glass subsequently spent 15 years in education working at Great Lakes Adventist Academy, College View Academy, and Spring Valley Academy.
Glass began working at the chief financial officer (CFO) for the NAD Retirement Plans in 2006, the first to hold this position. While working for retirement, she completed her MBA. She subsequently worked as the CFO for AdventSource, where she served for 11 years before rejoining the NAD in 2019.
Glass, who was elected in June 2023 and became division treasurer on August 1, 2023, is the first female treasurer of the NAD. Outside of work, she loves spending time with family and friends.
Ahn and Glass join G. Alexander Bryant, president, in leading the North American Division. The NAD is the church’s largest division in territory, spanning nine countries and territories and 14 time zones. The NAD has more than 1.3 million members in almost 7,000 congregations, worshiping in more than 50 languages, across Bermuda, Canada, Guam, Micronesia, and the United States.
Click here to read more about the North American Division’s ministry activities from 2022-2024 in this summary of a video report presented at the 2025 GC session and here to watch the video.
*The North American Division’s strategic focus “Together in Mission” incorporates the General Conference theme “I Will Go,” with special divisional emphasis on media, multiplying, and mentorship. Click here to learn more.