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.
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
La Sierra University Students Land Edison STEM Scholarships
On May 24, 2018, seven La Sierra University students got a helping hand toward reaching their goals in computer science and mathematics with scholarships from energy conglomerate Edison International.
Convention to Encourage 6,000 Teachers to “Encounter Jesus, Experience Excellence”
In just a few days, Larry Blackmer, vice president of Education for the NAD, and his team of more than 125 staff and volunteers, will greet 6,000 education professionals—from classroom teachers and principals to deans, marketing and development directors, administrators, and food service employees—as they converge on Chicago on Aug. 6-9 for the 2018 Teachers’ Convention.
Exceptional Children with Special Needs: Knowing the Warning Signs
Charline Etienne’s daughter was a kindergartner at a Miami learning center when she began having problems in school. Etienne turned to a pediatrician who tested the girl and diagnosed her with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). From there, Etienne embarked on a long, tiresome journey to find the resources her daughter needed to thrive academically.
Volunteer Lay Pastor Recognized for "Saving" Church With One Member
With just one member still in regular attendance a year ago, the Osceola Seventh-day Adventist Church was about to close. That all changed when Bill Ruble entered the picture. He and his wife, Carol, immediately got to work inviting old members back to church and visiting with prospective members, many of whom had previously attended evangelistic meetings but had not joined the church. They also recruited help from others who had been active with them in a home-based church plant for several years prior. After a year of these joint efforts, there are now 25-30 people in regular attendance at the Osceola church.