News
Providing Encouragement and Assessment
NAD Administrators Affirm Work and Assess Needs During Visit to the Guam-Micronesia Mission
Beginning January 4, 2024, a North American Division administrative team visited several islands within the Guam-Micronesia Mission for two weeks. “We wanted to provide encouragement and do an assessment of needs and see how we could better support the work there,” said NAD president G. Alexander Bryant.
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.
ACS Mobilizes Support Efforts in Wake of Typhoon Yutu; Continues Supply Distribution for Hurricane Michael Relief
Devastation brought on by the year’s strongest storm to date, Typhoon Yutu, which slammed into the Northern Mariana Islands on October 24, activated response efforts by Adventist Community Services (ACS) in the North American Division’s Guam-Micronesia Mission. In addition, ACS Disaster Response is operating six distribution sites in Donalsonville, Georgia, to aid the Hurricane Michael relief efforts.
NET '98 Anniversary Celebrated at Pioneer Church
The 20th anniversary of the historic global satellite evangelistic event dubbed “NET '98” was celebrated at Pioneer Memorial Church (PMC) during their Oct. 6 worship services. During the service, PMC Pastor Dwight K. Nelson recalled the moment when the uplink went live from the church located on the campus of Andrews University for the five-week preaching series: “Twenty years ago, Oct. 9, 7:15 in the evening, somebody in that mezzanine level hit a switch and at the speed of light a beam from two satellite trucks shot up to a bevy of satellites belting the planet. One signal from here, six continents, more than 100 nations, 40 languages, and 7,600 downlink sites, all watching simultaneously.”
27th Christmas In My Heart Volume Is Author's 100th Book
The recent release of Christmas In My Heart, Volume 27, is a milestone moment for beloved author, Joe Wheeler. This is his 100th book! Wheeler, who has a Ph.D. in English from Vanderbilt University, is considered to be one of America’s leading short story anthologists. His Christmas stories, with 27 volumes now in the Christmas in My Heart® series, are the ones readers have found most endearing throughout the years.
Organization Honors Memory of Lucille Byard
On the 75th anniversary of the death of a woman whose mistreatment sparked the formation of regional conferences, an organization is hoping to raise aware and remedy discrimination within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Conscience and Justice Council comprised of public affairs and religious liberty leaders in regional conferences and universities across North America issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 30 as Lucille Byard day.