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

Religious Liberty Advocates Gather to Champion Freedom of Conscience at Annual Dinner
On May 22, 2018, in Washington, D.C., more than 80 diplomats, religious liberty advocates, government officials, and guests gathered at the Organization of American States building for the 16th annual Religious Liberty Dinner. The event, themed this year “Championing Freedom of Conscience for All,” is held to celebrate and bring attention to a central human right: the freedom of religion or belief.

ACS Disaster Response Advisory Inspires Collaboration Among Unions and Addresses Need for Certified Leaders
The Adventist Community Services (ACS) Disaster Response (DR) Advisory drew 50 coordinators and directors to Rhode Island on May 6-7 to deliver reports on projects taking place around the division and beyond. The event took place at the Providence Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church just before the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) conference.

Connect, Share, Encourage
Last fall, during the North American Division 2017 Year-End Meeting, a group of church leaders gathered in a conference room for a lunchtime meet and greet. A conference president, three college presidents, several ministry leaders, and a few church officers — all women — gathered to reflect, share, pray, and praise God. They also shared advice they'd give to their younger selves.

God’s Character and the Last Generation: An Interview with Jiří Moskala
About four years ago Jiří Moskala, Ph.D., dean of the Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, talked with Dale Galusha, president of Pacific Press Publishing Association about last generation theology and concluded that there had never been a definitive work on this topic. Moskala began assembling a group of scholars in various areas of theological disciplines. Recently, Moskala, co-editor of God’s Character and the Last Generation, talked about this important new book in an interview with Galusha.