Stories & Commentaries

Even before his state issued a stay-at-home order to curb the spread of COVID-19, Desta Gelgelu, an economics professor, church planter, and pastor of the Oromo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, called his conference executive secretary for advice. Decisive action by local church leaders had an unexpected result — and blessing.

When Stephanie Seay and “Christine” met more than 20 years ago on the job at an Atlanta nursing home, they were young, single, and relatively carefree. They became fast friends. Seay, the facility’s bookkeeper, was a practicing Christian, and Christine, the social activities assistant, was not. Marriage, children, and age rolled in and Christine began wondering about Christ, shared Seay. That’s when Seay sent her Message magazine.

According to the World Health Organization, the United States has 140,640 confirmed cases of COVID-19 disease as of March 31, 2020. Canada has 6,317, Bermuda has 22, and Guam has 58. I can only imagine the turmoil in the lives of those who have been affected directly because they or a family member are or have been sick. And it is concerning to know that all of us are at risk. This hit home when I was under voluntary quarantine after returning from a conference.

Faith for Today’s Mike Tucker shares his conversation with Roy Ice, incoming speaker/director for the broadcast media ministry. At the conclusion of this interview, Tucker's shares a few words about Faith for Today.

Self-preservation is a human instinct. We are wired to take whatever steps seem necessary to ensure our own survival. This is why store shelves have very little toilet paper, non-perishable food, and medicine in stock. Disaster preparation is a good thing, however, we must not confuse responsible preparation with fear-based selfishness.

Luis Allen, psychiatrist and medical director of AdventHealth’s Center for Behavioral Health,* participated in the World Marathon Challenge on Feb. 6-13, 2020 . Allen ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days under the banner of one important cause: mental health awareness.

After accruing debt during more than one year, the board at an Adventist school in Augusta, Georgia, decided to give tithes on all the school's fundraisers for the 2016-2017 year. The school finished the year with $68,000 in the bank.

On Monday, February 24, 2020, a nearly nine-year journey came to an end when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Patterson v. Walgreens. This case came out of Walgreens’ decision to terminate Darrell Patterson because he failed to work on a single Sabbath in 2011. ... While it is disappointing that the court did not take Patterson, the fact is his case moved the cause of religious liberty in the workplace forward immeasurably.

Seventh-day Adventists are indeed a people of destiny. And like the church of Christ’s day, we have a stake in the outcome of the world's situation. We’ve been teaching and preaching this stuff for years. What is Christ waiting for? He is waiting and longing for the manifestation of Himself in His church.

I sometimes wonder how my dad would have turned out if he had not been recruited by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Would he have succumbed to a life of crime? If not for those life experiences and lessons, would he have raised a family that now includes ministers, teachers, medical professionals, decorated war veterans and yes, the director of the Office of Volunteer Ministries?