Timothy Bailey, Mountain View Conference president, opened the first business session of the 2025 North American Division Year-End Meeting on October 30 with a special prayer, asking not only for general success of the meeting, but also for those impacted by hurricanes in the Caribbean, floods in Alaska, and people with loved ones in those places. 

With quorum met, the general agenda and daily schedule for the meetings were moved and accepted.

“This meeting is also a space for NAD leaders to look for more effective ways of doing God’s work, so there will be a lot of discussion,” commented G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president and chair of the proceedings. 

Following the opening remarks, union leaders were asked to introduce any new officers and those retiring within their territories. Amidst a collegial spirit in the meeting, Paul Llewellyn, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada, while at the mic opened and closed with, “Go Blue Jays!” in reference to the Canadian team currently battling the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2025 championship title in the Major League Baseball World Series.

Before the first report, two prayer conveners were appointed to make note of and request when prayer was needed throughout the meeting. Those selected were Amalia Goulbourne, pastor for Florida Conference, and Bailey, who had opened the session with prayer. The testing of voting devices and the selection of Todd McFarland parliamentarian followed. McFarland is the newly appointed General Counsel for the Office of General Counsel of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, replacing Karnik Doukmetzian, who is retiring after 35 years of service.

The president’s report was the first of the 2025 NAD Year-End Meeting. Bryant began with a brief overview of the history of the NAD in honor of the division’s 40th anniversary. “We stand on the shoulders of those who come before us,” he said. He then transitioned into talking about the division’s emphasis of “Together in Mission: I Will Go,” and strategic focuses of “Media,” “Multiply,” and “Mentorship.”

[Link to president’s report here; written story to come.]

After the president’s report was accepted by the executive committee, Michael Campbell, director for NAD Archives, Statistics & Research, provided a brief “history nugget,” which included photos and a description of how the NAD was first established in 1913. “Their first evangelistic initiatives were to do work for Native American and indigenous peoples of North America,” Campbell shared. In 1918, for the sake of mission, the NAD was subsumed into the General Conference and a VP position was established for the church in North America. 

Between reports, Bryant welcomed Gina Spivey-Brown, first female president of Oakwood University.

The NAD Ministerial Association video report featured the ministerial team of director Ivan Williams, and associates Jose Cortes Jr., Gerardo Oudri, Esther Knott, and Desiree Bryant. The report included the number of students in the M.A. of Pastoral Ministry program (269), which indicates, the video stated, continued interest and accessibility. Also included was ehuddle, and bootcamp training for pastors and leaders in evangelism and church planting, administration, and establishing lay pastors. “This means stronger churches, more disciples, and greater momentum for the mission of the church,” stated Cortes, Ministerial Association associate director for evangelism.

Other initiatives included were ministerial ministry to spouses and educational resources for church leaders, including an innovative online assessment instrument to help pastors identify their strength areas.

Kimberly Luste Maran and the NAD Communication team — associate director Julio Muñoz, news writer/news producer Christelle Agboka, and media producer Art Brondo — reported next, sharing about the meetings they cover; events they run, such as the annual Sonscreen Film Festival and Society of Adventist Communicators events; plus creating documentaries, narrative films, and video news packages; managing the NAD corporate website; and much more.

“We want to inspire by telling stories and equipping others to do the same,” Maran commented in the video.

Before closing the session with prayer, Bryant shared that several NAD institutions of higher education had students pass away already this school year, and asked for special prayer for their families and friends.

“There is sorrow on our campuses, Lord,” prayed Goulbourne. “The devil is mad and going after our young people more than ever. Be with those who are hopeless; touch them and let them know you are near.”

Bailey offered a second prayer, saying, “There are a lot of people experiencing voids only Jesus can fill. Help us to prioritize filling our own voids so we have something to share.”

Following announcements about what to expect the following day, Judy Glass, NAD treasurer, closed the meeting with a final prayer, and the committee was dismissed.