News

Union Adventist University Receives Grant for Culinary Medicine Teaching Kitchen
The Ardmore Institute of Health has awarded Union Adventist University’s Master of Public Health Program a grant to establish a culinary medicine teaching kitchen (CMTK). The $35,000 will purchase six commercial-grade mobile workstations, each including the culinary tools and appliances to support two students at a time, enabling the university to host classes of up to 12 students in the teaching kitchen. Any remaining funds will support a student garden that was established by the university’s first public health cohort last year.

Mid-America Union Conference Executive Committee Appoints New Communication Director
During its regular spring meeting, the Mid-America Union Executive Committee voted to approve a recommendation by MAUC’s administrative team outlining a leadership transition for the union’s communication department. Following the vote, then-director Brenda Dickerson became the associate director, and then-associate director/digital media manager Hugh Davis became the new director, effective May 1, 2025. This transition of titles, initially proposed by Dickerson, serves as a model for succession planning and smooth leadership transitions in appointed positions.

James P. Willis II Elected as New Vice President for Education for the Pacific Union Conference
The Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has elected James P. Willis II as its new vice president for education, effective July 1, 2025. He will succeed Dr. Berit von Pohle, who is retiring after a distinguished career spanning 46 years in Adventist education

Business Students and Entrepreneurs Participate in Hyve Conference at Andrews University
Andrews University hosted the third annual North American Hyve International Conference from March 27–29, a gathering where students, entrepreneurs, ministry leaders and businesspeople networked with fellow innovators and pitched their ideas. Through various workshops and programs on campus, practicing entrepreneurs shared their experiences and advice on how to cultivate a strong business in a way that glorifies God.

NAD Honors Historic Promotion of an Adventist Chaplain Serving in the U.S. Air Force
Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries of the North American Division recognized Chaplain John Elliott of the United States Air Force on July 3, 2019, for his recent promotion to colonel. He is the third Seventh-day Adventist Air Force chaplain to achieve the rank — the first was Chaplain David Buttrick, who was promoted in 2017.

Faith For Today to Begin Search for New Speaker/Director
April 2019 was Mike Tucker's fifteenth anniversary with Faith For Today. The current speaker/director of this media ministry writes, "July 2019 marks 45 years of ministry for me. What a blessing it has been for me to do work I love for a God I adore. Not long ago I asked the Faith For Today Executive Committee to start the process of transitioning the ministry for new leadership."

Jefferson City Mayor Thanks Iowa-Missouri Conference for Disaster Relief Efforts
On Sabbath, June 8, Jefferson City mayor Carrie Tergin stopped by the 2019 Iowa-Missouri Camp Meeting in Centralia, Missouri, to express her thanks for recent disaster relief efforts Adventists have undertaken in and around the city. Tornadoes tore through the Jefferson City community on May 22, 2019.

The North American Division Releases a Comprehensive Guide to Search Engine Optimization for Ministries
The North American Division recently released its first comprehensive guide to search engine optimization for ministries. The Search Engine Optimization Guidebook is designed to help Seventh-day Adventist entities evangelize online through effective content creation, website ranking best practices, and reputation management.