Stories & Commentaries

The Great Commission contains this mandate: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:19, 20, NIV). This robust mandate and mission statement given by the Master Himself is our guiding principle for evangelism, and the impetus behind everything we do to share our Adventist message of hope and wholeness.

It is estimated that 750 million people worldwide are illiterate. For nearly two decades the North American Division has sponsored adult literacy initiatives through its Partners in Mission program with sister divisions and mission fields. The partnerships have given more than 180,000 adults the gift of literacy.

What if our Adventist churches across North America began a conspiracy? What if we decided in harmony with all the other churches across Bermuda, Canada, the United States, and the islands of Guam and Micronesia that we are going to love our cities as Jesus did? What would happen if we ventured outside the walls of our churches, asked people about their needs, and did something transformational for individuals and communities?

Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is causing thousands of people to flee to safety across the border into the country of Uganda. ADRA has been engaged in helping the refugees as they make new lives for themselves. One 15-year-old girl shares the story of how she came to Uganda and now attends the "ADRA school."

Several colleagues and I dutifully prepped, planned, and organized the produce giveaway event for the community, then everything fell apart. That’s exactly when God showed up, stepped in, and revealed how His plans are always so much better than our plans.

Our doctrines about how we are called to be Christ-like and share His love with others so are so amazingly poignant for our modern world it strikes me as only Divinely-inspired. Whether you’re rich or poor, black or white, educated or illiterate, Adventism has something remarkably special to offer.

Seventh-day Adventist church member Darrell Patterson’s religious discrimination case against Walgreens continues to gain interest and support. Patterson asked the United States Supreme Court to hear his religious discrimination case. He was fired by Walgreens in 2011 because he refused to work at a call center on the Sabbath.

For 18 years the festival has provided young adult filmmakers the opportunity to share their work, learn from professionals, network, and receive recognition for their work.

During a drive home from the Montana Conference Camp Meeting in 2005, life for Becky Curtis and her family changed dramatically. A car accident left her with a spinal cord injury and the loss of almost all movement on the left side of her body. In the 13 years following the accident, her life has been a journey — from suffering chronic pain to managing her pain and helping others to do the same. Despite the immense challenges, Curtis knows that God had a plan all along.

Following the news of the March 15, 2019, massacre of Muslim worshipers in Christchurch, New Zealand, Gabriela Phillips and Gerald Babenezhad, two leaders part of Adventist-Muslim Relations in the NAD, reached out to Muslim neighbors and a local mosque. The following two stories share what happened during those visits.