News

Adventist Community Services Prepares to Help After Tornadoes Strike Missouri, Kentucky, and Wisconsin
Yesterday afternoon, a devastating tornado struck Kentucky and St. Louis, Missouri. In Kentucky, 14 are reported dead. In St. Louis, five deaths have been reported, along with widespread damage. At least 20 blocks of the city sustained damage. More than 5,000 properties are without power, and local emergency services are actively responding. As ACS begins to respond, they urge members to pray for those impacted and those providing assistance.

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

Inside the NAD Teachers’ Convention Exhibit Hall: Exchanging Invaluable Resources for Innovation and Mission
Engaging, friendly, wonderful, and fun were words used by exhibitors at the NAD Teachers’ Convention to describe their interactions with attendees. Throughout the four-day convention in Chicago Illinois, more than 6,000 participants engaged with 300 exhibits.

Adventist Health System Announces Plans to Become AdventHealth
Altamonte Springs-based Adventist Health System, one of the largest faith-based health care systems in the United States, with nearly 50 hospital campuses and more than 80,000 employees, today announced that it will soon become AdventHealth. With the name change, the health system will move to being one consumer-centric, connected and identifiable national system of care for every stage of life and health.

U.S. News & World Report Names Loma Linda University Medical Center Among Best Hospitals
Loma Linda University Medical Center has been recognized as a Best Hospital for 2018-19 by U.S. News & World Report. In the Aug. 13, 2018, rankings, LLUMC ranked as the No. 1 hospital in the Riverside and San Bernardino (California) metro area, LLUMC was also nationally ranked in gynecology and recognized as “high performing” in seven other areas.

Higher Ed Leaders Vote to Explore Collaboration
On Aug. 12, 2018, against a backdrop of tighter finances and dwindling enrollments at Adventist colleges and universities in North America, school administrators and church leaders voted overwhelmingly in favor of forming a “strategic alliance” to strengthen the overall educational system.