Adventist News
GC Session Tuesday, July 8, Delegate Overview Tuesday is done, and lots of ground was covered Guest Contributor – July 8, 2025
Some delegates are clearly growing weary of the process. No, it’s not Disneyland here—but any representative form of government, including the church, means decisions and changes happen very slowly. Every delegate has the right to share their perspective and opinion, even when others don’t agree. The alternative would be an authoritarian, papal, hierarchical church. We DO NOT want that! Hopefully, our current system gives us a better chance of staying on mission, even when it feels like we’re zigging and zagging. The business sessions today focused heavily on Church Manual and Constitution & Bylaws items. Much of it involved editorial and maintenance updates, including territory adjustments and clarifications about Annual Council expectations and limitations. We also heard encouraging reports from several regions where growth has necessitated the formation of new Unions to support the work: South Sudan North & South Philippines Northern Ghana Cameroon Nicaragua Costa Rica It was inspiring to hear what is taking place and how intentional they are about grounding and stabilizing new members. In Cameroon, they’re experiencing 90% retention of new members! Many are realizing that we’ve erred by assuming baptism alone was enough—only to see over 40% of new members leave, based on a 20-year average. There was also plenty of discussion around tithes and offerings. Delegates supported the need for accountability—especially among church leaders—but emphasized the importance of avoiding a “stewardship police” mentality. Several Church Manual proposals related to this topic were referred back to the writing committee for further review and possible revision. Most of them had to do with tithes, offerings, and access to members’ giving records. For example, here is one proposed addition to the duties of an elder: To Foster Tithing — By faithfully returning tithe, elders do much to encourage other members to return a faithful tithe (see pp. 142–143, 175). Elders can foster tithing by publicly presenting the scriptural privilege and responsibility of stewardship, and by personally working with members in a tactful and helpful manner. Elders should regard all personal giving information as strictly confidential. Some additional clarifications are also coming regarding membership transfers. There were also proposals related to the work of the church board, mostly emphasizing that its primary function is to have a comprehensive plan for fulfilling its mission of making disciples—including evangelism, community outreach, and the spiritual nurture and training of the church. One proposal regarding child safety was sent back with the intention of strengthening it. The revised version will likely require that any known incidents of child abuse must be reported to the next pastor if a member with a known history moves. It was encouraging to see the strong, unified support for the uncompromising protection of children. We’ll see what comes back. The Youth/Young Adult section of the Church Manual also sparked discussion—mostly editorial and influenced by regional input. That section will return for further review after considering several relevant suggestions. This evening, we received reports from: East-Central Africa Division Ukraine Union Mission South Pacific Division Each report was incredibly inspiring. Having just come from Kenya, the first report held special meaning for Sue and me. That division is approaching 4 million members! The report from Ukraine was humbling and deeply moving. Despite the ongoing war, the church continues to minister to hurting people and soldiers—and incredibly, the church there is growing! It’s a powerful example of how selfless service can drive kingdom growth. The report from the South Pacific was equally moving: 300,000 baptisms in Papua New Guinea in 2024. Because of our connection to Australia (our daughter lives there), we personally know a few pastors involved in that massive outreach. They’ve testified to the miracles of grace that happened throughout the region. Thank you for all you’re doing to grow God’s kingdom in our territory. The testimonies and stories from across the global church are consistent: yes, there are problems. Yes, resources are tight. Some issues may seem unsolvable. But the message of Jesus is still changing lives—and that gives us hope. Written by Elder Ron Carlson, president of the Kansas-Nebraska Conference. Click on the picture below to view pictures from the North American Division Flickr website.
Read more...Breath of Life Rally Concludes, Leaving Hope in St. Louis Community Brenda Dickerson – July 8, 2025
The spiritual energy sweeping across the St. Louis metro area in Missouri, United States, continues in the wake of Breath of Life’s Hope Rally 2025, a two-week citywide revival that brought together churches, pastors, and community members under the theme of Almost Home. The rally, led by Pastor Debleaire Snell, speaker/director of Breath of Life, began at Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Louis, and ran from June 22 through July 5. Trevor Barnes, who pastors the Northside Church, called this rally “one of the most energetic and united evangelistic efforts” he has seen in St. Louis. The 44 baptisms that took place on Sabbath, July 5, at the conclusion of the rally were evidence that something special is happening in this city, despite the lingering ravages of tornadoes that seriously damaged a large swath of the city last May. A celebration of praise Elder G. Alexander Bryant, president of the North American Division, attended the finale service on Sabbath at Friendly Temple Church. During his remarks Bryant said, “It’s good to be home,” referring to his time living in St Louis as a youth. Bryant also assured attendees that during the GC Session business meeting on Monday, July 7, a “major contribution” check would be presented by church leaders to St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer for the continuing tornado relief efforts. Pastor Roger Bernard, president of the Central States Conference headquartered in Kansas City, was also in attendance at the Breath of Life closing event. He brought greetings from CSC’s officers and sincerely thanked the Breath of Life team for their dedicated efforts. Appreciation was expressed to musicians, including gospel recording artists Myron Butler and Levi, and the mass choir called Spring into Praise. Words of declaration During his initial prayer Elder Snell asked God to “give us as much of your Spirit today as we can stand to receive.” Snell’s sermon titled “God Stays Up Past Midnight,” focused on Acts 16: 16. “Spiritual warfare is real,” said Snell. “When you want to give up you have to push through!” Later in the sermon Snell invited the congregation to read together these words that have been an integral part of the series: Today, I begin a journey toward the eternal. I make the wellness of my soul my chief priority. I will not put off until tomorrow the decision that should be made today. I realize that tomorrow is not promised to anyone. So I refuse to waste my energy on haters; my time on the simple; my wisdom on fools; and I will not make another investment in people who mean my soul no good. This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I have no more time to waste, because we are Almost Home. Snell reminded attendees that all persons must choose for themselves how they will live their lives on this earth and how they wish to spend their eternities. New members invited to transition to local churches For Northside’s church family, this has been more than an event—it’s a movement of hope. Pastor Barnes emphasized that the revival will have a lasting impact in the area. All newly baptized members (including 13 from an earlier baptism) and community friends are invited to attend Hope University at the Northside Church every Wednesday in July and August. Following a shared meal, Pastor Barnes will present a Bible study series to continue the learning and discipling processes that offers hope for a better life.
Read more...GC Session First Weekend Delegate Overview 62nd General Conference (GC) Session Guest Contributor – July 7, 2025
Elder Ron Carlson, president of the Kansas-Nebraska Conference, is one of 16 delegates representing the Mid-America Union at the 62nd General Conference (GC) Session in St. Louis, Missouri. The delegates from the Mid-America Union who are serving are comprised of the following: 3 Union Officers 6 Conference Presidents 4 Lay Members 1 Pastor 1 Educator 1 Departmental Director Elder Carlson, amongst his many duties as a delegate, has taken the time to share a brief overview what has taken place over the first weekend of GC Session. You can view the Sessions live broadcast on YouTube. Thursday, July 3 Opening day everyone is figuring out where everything is. The first business session started with tension as a small group tried to get an item added to the agenda urging the church to reverse its supportive stance on vaccines and that we do not support peer-reviewed science. They were not able to get the item on the agenda. It’s a reminder that we don’t all agree about everything. Elder Wilson gave the president’s report Thursday evening. It was a nice review of the many good things taking place around the world focusing on “I Will Go” “Total Member Involvement” (TMI) and mission commitment. Friday, July 4 This was the first full day of business meetings. Getting through an agenda with over 2,000 delegates is not quick and easy. It’s fascinating seeing what causes great discussion and debate and what moves rather smoothly. Most of the items on Friday were preliminary items. The surprise came at the end of the afternoon session when the Nominating Committee brought in their first report and recommended that Erton Kohler be our new GC President. The response of the delegates to the announcement surprised me a bit as there was an obvious sense of joy at the announcement. The recommendation passed overwhelming by the delegates. Although I am not personally acquainted with Elder Kohler, I hear good reports from some very trusted people. Friday evening the program was “Total Member Involvement” and featured some amazing stories of sacrifice and commitment. Sabbath, July 5 Sabbath was a full day of vibrant worship and large crowds. Although not full, the dome floor and first level were packed. The speaker on the first Sabbath is typically the GC Secretary. Being that “was” Erton Kohler, he kidded how we would need to listen to him both Sabbaths since the second Sabbath is reserved for the new GC President. His 40-minute message focused on the boldness of Bible heroes and urged us to have bold faith. The music was amazing. Sabbath evening began the reports from the 13 World Divisions. NAD led the way. There were several good examples and stories, emphasizing “Pentecost 2025.” It was well done and factual but could have used a better team of creative producers. It was followed by a stirring report from the Middle East and North Africa Mission—one of the most challenging places in the world, where in many countries it is illegal to share one’s faith. The Lord continues to open small doors and provides evidence of His love for the people of that region and those trying to share Jesus with them. It was inspiring. Sunday, July 6 With lots to get through, there are no days off here. The day was filled with business and agendas. Mission statements and standing committees were voted. Two new Unions were added to the Philippines. Ghana received a new mission and Union Conference. Cameroon was reorganized as a mission and Union Mission. Costa Rica was also reorganized as a mission and Union Mission. Several housekeeping actions had to be voted about future sessions and delegates. Nothing too earthshaking. The Nominating Committee brought the name of Richard McEdward, former president of Middle East North Africa Union Mission as GC Secretary (the position vacated by Elder Kohler being elected as GC President). Again, I am not familiar with him, but his reputation among those who have worked with him is encouraging. Church Manual proposed changes always bring plenty of people to the microphones. A long addition more completely defining the work of the pastor was debated for some time and finally voted to be sent back to committee for some review and to be brought back to the delegates. A Divinely Appointed Ministry Seventh-day Adventist ministers bear the God-given responsibility of proclaiming the everlasting gospel, making disciples, and equipping the saints according to their spiritual gifts in order to equip them for service (Eph. 4:11, 12; 2 Tim. 4:2). As Ellen G. White stated: “It was at the very beginning of His ministry that Christ began to gather in His helpers. This is a lesson to all ministers. They should constantly be looking for and training those who they think could help them in their work. They should not stand alone, trying to do by themselves all that needs to be done” (Letter 53, 1905). In addition, pastors are commanded to do the work of an evangelist, reading God’s word publicly and teaching obedience to it (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; 4:2, 5). They are to encourage and exhort the believers (1 Tim. 5:1, 2; 6:2), and rebuke sinners (1 Tim. 5:20); ordain elders (1 Tim. 5:22; Titus 1:5); uphold the truth and take a firm stance against false doctrines (1 Tim. 1:3, 4; 4:7; 6:20, 21; Titus 1:9). They should be examples to the believers in all matters of faith and practice (1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Peter 5:3). Another important part of the pastoral work is the visitation ministry. Ellen G. White stated: “Remember that a minister’s work does not consist merely in preaching. He is to visit families in their homes, to pray with them, and to open to them the Scriptures. He who does faithful work outside the pulpit will accomplish tenfold more than He who confines his labors to the desk” (9T 124). “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not <a class="cat-post-excerpt-more" href="https://www.outlookmag.org/gc-session-first-weekend-delegate-overview/" title="Continue reading GC Session First Weekend Delegate Overview 62nd General Conference (GC) Session“>Read more…
Read more...North American Division Reports Growth, Outreach, and Unity at GC Session Guest Contributor – July 6, 2025
As part of the North American Division, the Mid-America Union is already familiar with the scope of the division’s mission—but during the 2025 General Conference Session, a full report reminded us just how wide and impactful that mission has become. The North American Division (NAD) oversees church work across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and Micronesia—covering nine countries and territories. With over 1.3 million members worshiping in nearly 7,000 congregations and more than 30 languages, the division serves a population of 378 million. That means there is one Seventh-day Adventist for every 293 people in the region. The division includes about 1,000 schools, 13 universities and colleges, more than six hospitals and clinics, and several media ministries. It stretches across 14 time zones, from Florida to Alaska, and from Bermuda to Hawaii and Micronesia. Together in Mission NAD President Dr. G. Alexander Bryant opened the report with a reminder that the division’s theme—Together in Mission—is more than a slogan. It’s a commitment to collaboration. When churches, schools, local conferences, unions, and the division work together, he said, “we are an unbeatable force by the grace of God.” Three focus areas guide that mission: Multiply, Media, and Mentorship. Multiply: Growth Through Discipleship The Multiply strategy focuses on expanding Christ’s ministry—teaching, healing, proclaiming, and showing compassion. A highlight of this work is Pentecost 2025, a major outreach effort that began with a goal of 3,000 proclamation events. So far, more than 5,200 churches and schools have joined the effort. In 2023 alone, over 400 new congregations were added, growing the NAD to 5,810 churches and 894 companies. More than 205,000 people have joined the church since 2022. That includes 1,215 young people baptized at the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in Wyoming. In Baltimore, two churches launched the Urban Life Center, a wellness-focused ministry offering community events and spiritual outreach. It’s just one example of how local churches are transforming lives. Media: Sharing the Gospel Digitally Media has become a major mission field for the NAD. More than 13,000 digital disciples have been trained to share their faith online. Live chat features on Adventist.org allow people to ask questions, request prayer, and connect with local churches. Church media ministries like It Is Written, Breath of Life, Faith For Today, and Voice of Prophecy are helping reach millions through TV, radio, and streaming. Hope Channel Canada has also expanded its reach. The 10,000 Digital Disciples Initiative, launched in 2021, encourages Adventists to use platforms like TikTok and YouTube to reach others with the gospel. Many churches are still streaming their services, connecting with people both online and in person. The NAD also sponsors the Sunscreen Film Festival, where young people share their faith through film. Storytelling is being used more than ever to connect with today’s generation. Mentorship: Leading Into the Future Mentorship is the third strategic focus. From early childhood education through college and young adult leadership programs, the NAD is investing in the next generation. Programs like Pathfinders, Public Campus Ministries, and NextGen Leadership help develop young leaders and grow their faith. The NAD believes every member should be both mentored and mentoring. This builds stronger churches and prepares the church for the future. Faith in Action: Serving the Community During the pandemic, more than 1,500 churches became food distribution centers. Adventist Community Services (ACS) continues to respond to natural disasters, mass shootings, and other emergencies. NAD healthcare institutions offer quality care and community outreach with compassion and prayer. In March 2025, Dene Adventist Radio’s KDHH 89.5 FM began broadcasting across parts of the Navajo Nation in Arizona. In Canada, the Mamawi Atosketan Native School (MANS) is expanding to better serve Indigenous families in Alberta. The NAD also leads the global church in sending missionaries and remains committed to outreach at home and abroad. Giving and Generosity Despite tough economic times, members across the division gave faithfully. Between 2022 and 2024, more than $3.85 billion in tithes and offerings were received. After the announcement of Pentecost 2025, nearly $550,000 was given in just a few months to support the initiative. *Together in Mission is the NAD’s quinquennial theme. Read more here: https://www.nadadventist.org/NAD-strategic-focus-together-in-mission. Curated and edited by Hugh Davis, with assistance from ChatGPT.
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Blogs
Lower Your Risk Part 5 Of The 10 Week Journey Healthy Christian Living Jeanine Qualls – July 6, 2025
Thriving In Health includes lowering your risk for chronic disease. Pleas join us on this journey in taking simple but achievable steps to lower your risk. https://youtube.com/shorts/fZG1hf-DBk8?si=gFpiIaj__mp1ixbi
Read more...Lower Your Risk Part 6 Healthy Christian Living Jeanine Qualls – July 6, 2025
Lowering Your Risk for Chronic Disease is crucial to living a healthy life to fulfill God’s purpose in your life. Together we can lower our risk. https://youtube.com/shorts/8pLvmUlg1BE?si=N5EgkGlfeLA35I-d
Read more...The Teacher’s Notes–The Burning Bush, Lesson 2 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2025 3Q, "Exodus" The Teacher's Notes – July 5, 2025
Sabbath School Lesson for July 5-11, 2025 Memory Text: “And the Lord said: ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of the taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey…’ ” Exodus 3:7, 8 NKJV What a comfort to know that our cries of despair do not fall on deaf ears. The mighty God we serve hears and does all He can to relieve our suffering. He longs to deliver us from our oppressors and bring us to a place more beautiful than we can imagine. This land of promise filled with milk and honey may have been the one Isaiah called Beulah land in Isaiah 62:4. It was thought to be a place filled with joy, peace, and prosperity for God’s people. Bordering New Jerusalem, this “good and large” land must have sounded heavenly to the beleaguered Hebrew slaves in Egypt. The miracle of a burning bush was Moses’ introduction to a divine calling that seemed way beyond his skill set. Moses could not fathom how he could accomplish such a massive undertaking; but God showed him otherwise. It often isn’t easy to accept God’s call. Serving Him can change the direction of our life turning it upside down–not a comfortable position to be in. But in time, when we allow His will to become our own, we find it all worth the initial uncertainty and discomfort. Sunday: The Burning Bush Monday: The Angel of the Lord Tuesday: The Name of the Lord Wednesday: Four Excuses Thursday: The Circumcision Sunday: The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-6) Just as Jesus spent forty days in a wilderness setting before beginning His public ministry, Moses grew closer to God during the quiet, forty years he spent as a shepherd. That time was not wasted. It strengthened him for the incredibly demanding task of leading the Hebrews out of slavery. God spoke to Moses often during those forty years, inspiring him to write two of the oldest books of the Bible, Genesis and Job. We are blessed with his insights into many themes of salvation, learning much about the God who created and loves us more than we’ll ever deserve. It took eighty years for Moses to get ready for his public ministry. Remembering this might help us be patient with our own preparation for service. Sometimes, the best spiritual growth is the slow, steady kind. Our humble willingness to do even mundane tasks can prepare us for seemingly impossible works of faith later in life. Speaking of humility, people of ancient cultures often took their sandals off when entering someone’s home or a sacred space. Knowing that servants and those of lowly status went barefoot helps us understand the reason for removing one’s shoes, as Moses was told to do at the burning bush. For them, it was a sign of humility and respect, putting them on the level of a humble servant in someone’s presence. Verses and questions: Exodus 3:1-6 How might Moses have felt to see such a miracle as this burning bush? Why did God tell Moses to remove his sandals? Monday: The Angel of the Lord (Exodus 3:7-12) Exodus 3:2 identifies the voice that Moses heard speaking from the burning bush as the “Angel of the Lord”. This voice was more than an ordinary angel and was most likely the Messiah. After all, He said He was the “God of your father” and called the Hebrews “My people” in verses 6 and 7. How comforting to know that this Angel of the Lord loves us enough to veil His glowing divinity and humbly appear either as a human or an angel, when necessary. Moses had become more humble after working forty years as a lowly shepherd. But he appeared to have used that humility as an excuse for refusing the task God was giving him. His first response to God’s call was to ask “who am I” to carry out such a challenging mission. That and the rest of their conversation indicated that Moses was hoping God would pick someone else for the dangerous assignment. Verses and questions: Exodus 3:7-12 Why does God need and how does He use our sense of unworthiness to equip us for carrying out His will? In what ways and how often do we, like Moses, avoid difficult assignments by pointing out our inadequacies? What deficiencies do you use as an excuse not to do God’s will, and how can God help you overcome those feelings of inadequacy? Tuesday: The Name of the Lord (Exodus 3:13-22) After Moses questioned his own identity, asking “who am I?”, the reluctant shepherd asked God “who are You?” He reasoned that the Hebrew elders would question him about the God he claimed to represent, and Moses felt unsure of his ability to give them the in-depth reply he would need to gain their confidence. God told Moses to tell them He was the Lord called I AM, the name commonly used by their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Hebrews would then understand that Moses represented the God of their fathers, the God of the covenant. God went further to say that when he told them about the plans God had for their escape from the Egyptians, they would surely support his effort to secure their release from their cruel taskmasters. While it’s good to want to know the deeper meaning of God’s name, we must remember that there is nothing mythical or magical about His name. We shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help from the great I AM, or Yahweh. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”, according to Joel 2:32 NIV. It is a great privilege, therefore, to use His name and call <a class="cat-post-excerpt-more" href="https://www.outlookmag.org/the-teachers-notes-the-burning-bush-lesson-2/" title="Continue reading The Teacher’s Notes–The Burning Bush, Lesson 2 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2025 3Q, “Exodus”“>Read more…
Read more...We Don’t Do Bible Studies Tapestries and Quilts Think About It – July 2, 2025
We don’t do Bible studies. I know, it sounds shocking, and frankly it’s taken me some time to get up the courage to write this. You’re probably wondering how I could say such a thing, and I understand this, because for many years I thought exactly the same thing. After all we have all of these different ministries offering what they call “Bible studies:” Voice of Prophecy, It Is Written, Amazing Facts, and others, offering “Bible studies.” Of course, these studies do reference Bible texts, but they don’t really study the Bible itself as a whole, or any of the 66 individual books. When you look at these various “Bible study courses,” they often have different titles, but the same topics appear in each set of studies. For example: The Sabbath, the State of the Dead, The Mark of the Beast, The US in Bible Prophecy, The Three Angels’ Messages—you can see the trend. These are no doubt important topics, and important doctrines, but they are studies of biblical topics, not of the Bible. Who decided that these in fact are biblical topics? As just one example, the phrase “The US in Bible Prophecy” never occurs in the Bible itself. It represents a conclusion, an interpretation of several symbols in a single chapter of Revelation. I’m not denying the validity of that interpretation, merely pointing out that some interpreters use the phrase because they agree with reasoning. They then assembled various texts and lines of reasoning to bolster that understanding. That’s what topical/doctrinal studies do: they begin with a topic and collect evidence to explain its significance. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but the process entails many pitfalls, confirmation bias being the most serious. The simple human tendency to believe things that fit into what we already believe, or what we desire to be true, we call “confirmation bias.” So we tend to interpret Bible texts, for example, in ways which match what we already know or would like to be true. We tend to seize on those interpretations, and then seek evidence to back them up, and ignore or simply fail to recognize contrary evidence and alternative meanings. Being blinded by confirmation bias is not inevitable, but it always lurks in the background, threatening to lead us down the comfortable path, whether true or not. Of course, these doctrinal studies do cite Bible texts, so why do I say it isn’t a Bible study? Imagine, for a moment, that instead of a text, the Bible is a giant tapestry. Woven into its fabric are scenes from the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, the Patriarchs—and visual representations of all the people and events in all of the sixty-six books. A beautiful, majestic, monumental work of art. To appreciate and understand each individual scene and how it intertwines with all the others surely would take many, many hours—perhaps a lifetime. Indeed, we have every reason to believe understanding all of it may well occupy eternity. Now, imagine that someone comes along and begins to cut a snippet here, and another there, until he has an entire chain of these, which he then proceeds to weave together in a continuous band, intending to highlight a single important theme. That new composition might be beautiful, might appear to be consistent and well matched, something like a beautiful quilt. But that quilt would be a product of the mind of the quilt-maker, not the Master weaver who composed the whole tapestry. Each part of the quilt came from the original tapestry, but it does not, cannot, and is not intended to represent the entire tapestry. A topical/doctrinal study is a textual quilt. It may be beautiful, it may accurately represent an important theme—or it may not—but it differs from a study of the entire tapestry, or even one of the scenes depicted. For now, understanding the difference between the tapestry and the quilt, and thus the difference between a Bible study and a study that cites biblical texts is enough. Next we examine what a Bible study consists of.
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Featured Stories
The Beginning of Eternity Guest Contributor – July 8, 2025
At 14 years old, I found myself standing in the back of my first-period reading class, trying to explain why I had fallen asleep. I hadn’t meant to drift off, but I was exhausted. I didn’t even realize the teacher had stopped reading until she called me out. I stood, embarrassed, and apologized immediately. Her response, though, shook me: “You cannot come to class like this,” she said, looking me up and down. “What are you—high? Hungover?” “What?!” My heart dropped. Suddenly, I was wide awake. She didn’t know my story. She didn’t know that my mother was often away overnight and that I was the one responsible for getting my younger siblings fed, ready, and out the door for school—if there was even food to give them. That morning had been especially rough. We hadn’t eaten the night before, and I had barely slept. “Lower your voice,” she said sharply. “I told you: You cannot come to class like this.” I stepped back, deeply offended. “You don’t even know me,” I said. “I just fell asleep!” “You need to leave,” she said, pointing at the door. “Go to the principal’s office. We’re done talking about this.” And just like that, I walked out. I left behind not only my backpack and books, but also something much bigger—my trust in teachers. That year, I failed nearly all my classes. I stopped trying. I stopped believing school could be a safe place for me. A new beginning The next year, for high school, I made a bold choice. Against my mother’s advice, I applied to and enrolled at Holbrook Indian School, a private Seventh-day Adventist boarding school. She was skeptical: “That’s a Christian school,” she warned. “They’ll lie to you. They’ll tell you anything to make you believe what they believe.” But something in me was desperate for a fresh start—something different, something better. Even as I walked onto campus that first day, I had already built up walls. I promised myself I wouldn’t be fooled by Christian kindness or religious talk. I would do the work and keep my distance. But the people at Holbrook were nothing like I expected. These weren’t the Christians my mother had warned me about. They didn’t shove beliefs down my throat. Instead, they listened. They asked questions. They saw me. And not just the “student” version of me, but the tired, hurting, searching teenager behind the grades and attitude. They cared—not just about what I did in class, but about what was going on in my heart. Slowly, the walls I had built began to crack. I found safety, support, and belonging. I was baptized during my time at Holbrook, but more than that, I found a calling. I committed my life to Adventist education. Growing faith-filled changemakers Now, I see the same beauty every day in our classrooms. Our multi-grade learning environments give students the space to grow at their own pace, while allowing teachers to meet them where they are—academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Morning worships and Bible classes don’t just highlight our priorities—they model for students how to make God a priority in their own lives. Our academies pursue academic excellence, but they also teach life skills—resilience, responsibility, and community—that prepare students for whatever path they choose after graduation. The church calls “eternity” our mission—and I believe our schools are where eternity begins. They are growing tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers, and faith-filled changemakers. Please, join me in praying for our schools this year—for our teachers, our staff, and most importantly, for the incredible young people who walk through our doors each day. They deserve our support, our prayers, and our belief in who they can become. Jovannah Poor Bear-Adams is educational superintendent for the Iowa-Missouri Conference.
Read more...Is the GC Session we Hold Every Five Years Worth the Time and Money? Gary Thurber – July 8, 2025
I get asked that question quite often, especially in the weeks before the session is scheduled to begin. People start to calculate in their heads the cost of so many making their way from around the world to St. Louis for the 10-day event. Then they begin to add up all the costs of the exhibitors, the facility costs, production costs… and the number gets big. Some begin to think, “There has got to be a better way to use those funds!” First, let me tell you the church spends an average of about a dime per member per year on General Conference Session costs. That’s 50 cents per member every five years for us to come together. Of course, when you have over 20 million members, that too is a big number. So, what happens at the GC Session that makes all the costs and work that goes into it worth it? There are many reasons one could list, but I will only share my top five. The GC Session is the only venue in which the church can make decisions as to who will serve as our president, along with all the other elected positions. Delegates from around the world have the final decision on who they feel the Lord would want to lead our movement. This is so important because the delegate group is made up of 50 percent lay people, and the others are front line workers and administrators from around the globe. These important decisions are not left up to a handful of administrators, but rather for the over 2,000 delegates to decide. The GC Session is where we can make decisions together about our policies and our Church Manual. Both are crucial to the mission and ministry of our church. These policies and guidelines define how we work together to fulfill our mission. If good care is not given to this process, we can hinder our ability to spread the everlasting gospel. The renewal of friendships—and the ability to make new friends—from around the world is priceless. I will never forget the pastors I have met from the other side of the world and hearing their stories of how God is working in their fields. It is absolutely awe inspiring. The GC gives us the opportunity to stretch our minds with how expansive our church has become around the globe. These are people I would never meet if we didn’t come together as a world church. Through the exhibit hall, we are all exposed to the latest ways in which we can reach out to our dying world with our great message of hope—whether it is a new way to use technology, the printed page, the radio wave, the internet, or our health message to touch people’s lives. You truly come home inspired to be more engaged with this end-time movement. Finally, the GC offers a unique opportunity to worship together our Savior and King, Jesus Christ. In a world that is more divided and torn apart than ever, to see people from nearly every country on the planet come together in peace and worship is nothing short of a miracle and proof positive that, in Christ, we are one. Not only are the messages inspiring, but the music is simply amazing. Instrumentalists, vocalists and choirs from around the world thrill us beyond words with the incredible talents the Lord has given them. Simply worshiping together as a world church would be enough reason for me to hold the GC session. What are your plans for attending the GC Session? This is the last time it will be held in Mid-America for quite a while. I urge you to come and experience it. If you are not able to come and listen in on the business sessions during the week, come at least for Sabbath to worship with approximately 70,000 other Adventist from around the world. There is nothing else like it! I hope to see you there!
Read more...- Every Oar Counts Kids Column – July 7, 2025
“Two people are better than one. They can help each other in everything they do.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 The Vikings were strong warriors and skilled sailors who lived long ago in places like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. People across northern Europe feared the Vikings because they sailed from town to town, stealing treasure and sometimes burning buildings. In fact, churches would even pray, “God, please protect us from the Vikings!” One reason the Vikings were so powerful was their special ships. These ships were light and fast, and the Vikings could pull them right up onto the shore That meant they could surprise people, attack quickly, and sail away before anyone could stop them. But these ships didn’t have motors, so they had to be rowed by hand using oars. The Vikings rowed their own ships, unlike most sailors who would hire rowers or use slaves. That required a lot of strength, practice, and teamwork. Each person had to row at the same time, in the same rhythm, or the boat would go in circles! So even though the Vikings were strong, they also had to excel at working together. They had to trust each other, follow their leader’s commands, and stay in perfect sync. Without good coordination, they couldn’t have crossed the sea or surprised their enemies. When they jumped off their boats, they fought as a group. Their success came from working as one strong team. The Vikings’ teamwork reminds me of the story of Gideon. You can read the entire story in Judges 6-7. God told Gideon to lead a battle against a huge army called the Midianites. But over and over God tells Gideon that he has too many men. In the end, Gideon was left with only 300 men! Three hundred against thousands? That’s sounds impossible, but not when you’re on God’s team. God told Gideon that if the army was too big, the people would think they won by their own strength and wouldn’t give God the credit. So Gideon and his men followed God’s unusual battle plan. At night, they surrounded the enemy camp. Then all at once, they blew trumpets, smashed jars, held up torches, and shouted, “For the Lord and for Gideon!” God confused the Midianites so badly that they ran away and even started to fight each other. Just like the Vikings rowed together to reach their goal, Gideon’s small team trusted God and followed His plan. We’re stronger when we help each other and work as a team. God didn’t pick Gideon’s army for their muscles, He chose them to show that victory comes from trusting Him and working together. Remember: just like every Viking had a job on the ship, and every soldier in Gideon’s army had a part to play, you have a special role in God’s plan. And He has chosen you to be on His team.
Read more... The General Conference Session Why? How? When? Where? Guest Contributor – June 25, 2025
When Rachel Preston remonstrated with Frederick Wheeler over his apparent rejection of the 10 Commandments in March of 1844, neither of them knew what would result from their exchange. Preston, a Sabbath- keeping Baptist, and Pastor Wheeler, a faithful proponent of traditional Sunday observance as well as a new believer in the imminent return of Jesus, were the instruments God used as the first Sabbath-keeping Adventists in the United States. Not long after the disappointment of Oct. 22, 1844, the conversation Preston and Wheeler began gained the attention of Joseph Bates, and then James White, Ellen Harmon, and some others. And from those conversations the roots of what we know today as the Seventh-day Adventist church took on new life. Global key factors for endurance Currently, church records globally show our movement with over 23 million members. Those members are scattered throughout nearly all the inhabited world. Even as recently as late last year, the church re-established its presence in Greenland. How does a church that social scientists describe as the one of the most diverse Christian denominations manage to stay together, stay healthy, and keep growing—over 180 years later? Without a doubt, the blessing of God has been at work in powerful ways. Yet built on that foundation, there are several other factors: 1) a unique but biblically powerful prophetic message; 2) an organizational structure of interdependent entities enabling fast and effective communication streams available to all members; 3) a K-graduate school system that continually educates the next generation in the message and lifestyle of the church and lifts the cultural conditions of the regions in which they operate; 4) a system of health entities that inform the lifestyle and gain the attention of the general public globally. And more. How does the structure work? The structure of the church works like this: a person joins a local church and becomes a member; groups of local churches band together in local conferences; local conferences join themselves in groups into what we call union conferences, or sometimes union missions. The unions are the building blocks of the General Conference itself. Each unit or level of the church is tied to the other levels through shared beliefs, shared policies, and a shared mission. Except for the individual member and the local church, the other entities (conferences and unions) are constituency based, with delegates and leaders selected to represent the membership when those groups meet periodically in harmony with their organizing documents. The General Conference constituents are members and local leaders selected by the union conferences around the world. Care is taken to make sure the delegates are representative of those areas of the world from which they are chosen. Those delegates will number nearly 3,000 when they gather this year in St Louis, Missouri, July 3-12. The General Conference has divided itself into 13 divisions around the world. Joining those divisions are four attached fields, not included in the unions and divisions because of geo-political conditions. Unions are the foundations of the General Conference, but the GC itself is the foundation of the divisions and the attached fields. When it comes to the GC Session, which meets every five years in a quinquennial session, the structure of the church is on full display. (Covid- 19 delayed the 2020 session until 2022.) Each union’s delegation is built on a proportion of the whole, by a formula. Larger unions membership-wise have more delegates. What happens during sessions? At the session, several things will happen. A large committee made up of select delegates from all the unions (approximately 250) will serve as the group that nominates leaders to fill various positions. No elected GC leaders are on that committee. A president is recommended first for the delegates to approve, or not. Only one presidential name at a time is brought to the delegates for a Yes or No vote. Once that is done, the president then meets with the committee to serve as an advisor. However, he doesn’t have a vote, and the committee is not required to take his suggestions. In addition to the election of leaders of the GC, divisions, and attached fields, delegates will be asked to vote on suggested changes to the Church Manual, the Constitution and By-laws, and changes to the Fundamental Beliefs statement that codifies the doctrinal understandings of the church. This year there are no recommendations being made to adjust the 28 Fundamental Beliefs. Changes to the Constitution and Fundamental Beliefs require a two-thirds majority vote. The GC Session days will begin with devotional preaching and the evenings will be filled with mission reports from the divisions. Interspersed throughout the business sessions will be a plethora of Adventist music from around the world. Several hundred church entities and other ministries will portray their missional endeavors and share their resources in a nearby giant hall of activities. The exhibit hall is a favorite feature of the GC Session for many attendees. Every GC Session is planned to be an event of highly spiritual engagement. For those who are familiar with what we call camp meeting, the meeting in St. Louis will be, in a real sense, a global camp meeting. On Sabbaths the crowd is expected to number upward of 30,000, largely filling the convention center arena in downtown St. Louis. The General Conference in Session is something special to behold. Plans are being finalized now, and you may expect this to be a spiritual feast. The fellowship with like-minded believers is designed to encourage every attendee.
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