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

Student, Flight Instructor Safe After Airplane Accident
Shortly before noon (PST) on Feb. 28, 2018, John McVay, president of Walla Walla University, sent an email to inform students, staff and faculty, and friends and family of the university that an aviation student and WWU flight instructor were safe after the plane they were in crash landed.

Adventist Journey Launches as New North American Division Magazine
In January 2018, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America (NAD) launched the magazine Adventist Journey, the first division-wide magazine the NAD has published.

La Sierra Conductor Unveils New Work at Kennedy Center, Preps for Carnegie Hall
As La Sierra University’s director of wind and percussion studies, Giovanni Santos leads the Wind Ensemble of more than 40 musicians, a group that spent the first portion of last summer in a whirlwind tour of the Czech Republic, Austria, the Republic of San Marino, and Italy. Now the Wind Ensemble is rehearsing for its debut performance at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall on March 15, 2018.

25th Annual Concert at Meyerson Highlights World Premiere of New Composition
On Feb. 11, 2018, Southwestern Adventist University celebrated the 25th annual tradition of A Night at the Meyerson with the world premiere of Kim André Arnesen’s newest composition, Sing the Earth.