31 October, 2017

In Inter-America, Business Meetings Focus on Discipleship, Evangelism and Mission Initiatives

The Executive Committee of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America concluded its year-end annual business meetings on Oct. 22 with a renewed commitment to motivating church leaders and members to continue pursuing a spiritual transformation in Jesus for total involvement in the church’s mission activities. The more than 100 committee members met in Mérida, Mexico, to review core strategies of the “Lord Transform Me” initiative, established in 2015: (1) transform and live through spiritual growth; (2) explore and learn through training; (3) connect and share through social ministries; (4) proclaim and reap through soul winning; and (5) conserve and disciple others in their communities.

30 October, 2017

Adventist Communicators “Build Bridges” at Annual Convention

Although a cool fall rain streamed outside for most of the event, spirits were bright, minds were eager, and conversations were lively at the 2017 Society of Adventist Communicators (SAC) convention held in Portland, Oregon, United States, on Oct. 19-21. A blend of more than 250 professionals and students, mostly from North America, attended communication workshops, expert panel discussions, area media tours, special worship services, and an Adventist film screening — all geared toward “Building Bridges” of communication with other Adventists and within the community.

29 October, 2017

Inter-American Division Connects with the Community During Breast Cancer Awareness

Seventh-day Adventist employees at the Inter-American Division (IAD) Headquarters in Miami, Florida, took time away from their desks to wave in drivers and onlookers nearby in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The two dozen women wore special t-shirts and passed out gift bags with treats, brochures on breast cancer information and offered prayers on Oct. 18, 2017. The activity was part of showing solidarity for one of the staff members at the office who has been undergoing treatment with the disease, said Jainie Pita, human resources director at the IAD and one of the organizers of the initiative.

27 October, 2017

Florida Hospital Team Serves St. Thomas Community after Hurricanes

A ten-member medical team from Florida Hospital, located in Orlando, Florida, provided free medical services on the island of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, which began on Oct. 8, 2017. Reports indicate that 178 individuals were served in the first day and a half. Hundreds more were seen in the days that followed. Hurricane Irma, which struck the island last month, caused extensive damage to the healthcare infrastructure on St. Thomas and disrupted treatments for those who are most vulnerable.

27 October, 2017

ADRA Assists on the Island of Anguilla After Hurricane Devastation

The North Caribbean Conference (NCC), through it humanitarian agency, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), arranged and distributed supplies to the people of Anguilla on Oct. 11, 2017. President of the NCC Pastor Desmond James, and ADRA Coordinator Wilmoth James, were on hand to assist in the coordination and distribution of the over 500 food hampers to the community on the island.

27 October, 2017

Adventist Church in North America Inaugurates New Headquarters

Early morning clouds gave way to bright sunshine on Oct. 26, 2017, as the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America (NAD) welcomed guests to the grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony at its new headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, United States. “This is our home…we are delighted you are here,” welcomed Daniel R. Jackson, current NAD president. Jackson described the purpose of the headquarters, saying, “This building does not stand for human progress, for human ingenuity. It stands to serve the purposes of the almighty God.”

26 October, 2017

New Film on Notable Christian Scientist Released

Creation Sabbath is an annual day the Seventh-day Adventist Church has set apart to reflect on the biblical doctrine of creation. This year the commemorative day falls on Oct. 28 and in preparation the church’s Geoscience Research Institute (GRI) has released a new documentary. The 25-minute feature, which its producers have defined as “captivating,” delves into the life, research, and faith of scientist Isabel de Moraes.

24 October, 2017

Study Finds Consuming Nuts Strengthens Brainwave Frequencies

A new study by researchers at Loma Linda University (LLU) Health has found that eating nuts on a regular basis strengthens brainwave frequencies associated with cognition, healing, learning, memory and other key brain functions. An abstract of the study of the Adventist-managed institution in Loma Linda, California, United States was presented in the nutrition section of the Experimental Biology 2017 meetings in San Diego, California. Published in The FASEB Journal, the study can be accessed online.

24 October, 2017

German Young People Urged to Be Missionaries at Home

President of the Seventh-day Adventist world church Ted N.C. Wilson urged hundreds of young Germans to make their homeland their first mission field. Wilson, speaking at an Adventist Theological Society (ATS) youth convocation near Hanover, Germany, thanked German Adventists for years of dedicated mission service around the world. But he noted that the church’s 35,000 German members face a major challenge reaching their highly secularized country of nearly 83 million people today.

20 October, 2017

Government of Jamaica Grants National Honor to Adventist Pastor

Prolific preacher and president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in West Jamaica was the recipient of a National Award. Pastor Glen Samuels was recognized by the Government of Jamaica for his outstanding contribution to religion with the Order of Distinction, Officer Class earlier this week. Samuels accepted his National Honor from Governor General of Jamaica, His Excellency, The Most Honorable, Sir Patrick Allen during the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honors and Awards held at King’s House on Oct. 16, 2017. Samuels was among 171 persons who were conferred with national honors this year.

19 October, 2017

In El Salvador, Students March to Highlight Spiritual Values and Play Their Instruments

Hundreds of students from across the Seventh-day Adventist Schools in El Salvador took part in a massive march in the capital city of San Salvador last month. The march, held every year by the church, spotlighted spiritual values. Church members and students held signs and banners and encouraged onlookers to end any kind of violence, whether verbal or physical, and combat evil with the love that Jesus teaches in the Bible.

18 October, 2017

In Turks & Caicos, Adventist Church Continues Providing Assistance to Community After Storms

While Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Turks and Caicos are pending insurance damage assessments from hurricanes Irma and Maria, church leaders and members have kept busy helping their own and reaching out to those in need across the islands of Providenciales, Grand Turk and South Caicos. “In Providenciales where I live and where the bulk of the church membership resides, some 90 percent of the homes were damaged by Irma,” said Pastor Michael Smith, president of the Turks and Caicos Mission.