Adventist News
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Minnesota Conference Session Bathed in Prayer and Open Conversations
– June 29, 2026Minnesota Conference delegates met on May 17, 2026 during the conference’s 110th regular session for the purpose of electing leadership, receiving reports and conducting other church business. Three-hundred-fifty-seven delegates gathered at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center in the Twin Cities area, focused on the theme A Season of Transition. Following prayers, heartfelt music by the Maplewood choraliers, and a devotional by Mid-America Union president Gary Thurber, delegates voted the day’s agenda and welcomed eight new companies into the full sisterhood of churches in Minnesota. Reports on church membership, finances and Maplewood Academy were also received and voted. After due consideration, including a time of prayer, delegates voted by a very strong majority to re-elect Elders Jeff Scoggins, Eric Mokua and Gayln Bowers to serve as president, executive secretary and treasurer, respectively, for the coming term. During his remarks, Scoggins paid tribute to Dr. Daniel Honoré who served as Minnesota Conference president during 2022-2023 before his untimely passing. This 110th session was dedicated to the memory of his leadership. Scoggins also highlighted the growing diversity in Minnesota. “Minnesota is now a mission field right here at home,” he stated. “We have opportunities to reach people in our own communities who may be unreachable in their home countries, and we must take advantage of those opportunities.” During the financial report, treasurer Gayln Bowers stated that tithe—the only source of income—was increasing at a faster rate than CPI. However, expenses increased at almost double the percentage of tithe during the same period. “We’ve had to tighten our belts,” he said. “We’ve had to look for different ways…and we’re having to make some hard decisions in our conference in regard to continuing the ministries that we want to offer to each of you.” Elder Eric Mokua shared that the Minnesota Conference began with only 69 members. By 2005 there were about 6,500 members, and due to increased efforts during Pentecost 2025, last year there were 422 baptisms. “The church has grown tremendously here in Minnesota because of God’s faithfulness,” Mokua said. “If the Lord has led us this far, we can trust that He will continue to guide His church in the days to come.” Transitions toward better processes In the afternoon, session delegates voted on proposed changes to the Minnesota Conference’s constitution and bylaws. Most changes were small, but a significant change was voted to hold constituency sessions every five years instead of four years. Other changes included improvements to the process of selecting the nominating committee for constituency sessions. Delegates also voted new members to the Board of Trustees, Board of Education, and Articles and Bylaws Committee for the coming five years. Another special prayer of dedication was offered over these new leaders. One delegate from the Southview Church observed that the session was very well organized. “I appreciate the thought that went into putting it together and the process has gone really smoothly,” she said. “There’s a lot of unity of thought and ideas today. The administration has been listening to the delegates and acting on their thoughts and comments. I especially appreciate how they’ve been intentional about providing context for the motions.” Yet there is more than business reports and votes at constituency sessions. The session also celebrates mission, evangelism and the blessings of the Lord in the past few years. In January, the Minnesota Conference held a special constituency session to discuss the financial challenges facing Maplewood Academy. Referencing that, Scoggins pointed out that “Maplewood Academy belongs to all of Minnesota, and your faithfulness in prayer and generosity has helped keep it operating as the oldest continuously operating Adventist boarding academy in the world.” This session was also a time to pass the torch of leadership at Maplewood Academy from outgoing principal Jeremy Everhart to incoming principal Pastor Jeff “PJ” Deming. A special prayer of blessing was offered over both leaders. The Minnesota Conference is currently comprised of 114 churches and companies totaling 12,208 members. Nearly 50 percent of those churches are located in the Twin Cities metro. In addition, the conference supports 12 Adventist schools serving more than 400 students.
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Debra Eszler Retires After Nearly Four Decades of Teaching
– June 29, 2026After nearly four decades in the classroom, Debra Eszler is closing a chapter that has defined much of her life—39 years of teaching, including the past 10 in the Dakotas at Brentwood Adventist Christian School. Eszler, who became a Seventh-day Adventist at age 15, said her path into education was clear from the start. “I used to play school at home,” she recalled. “I’d keep my papers from school and pass them out to my ‘pupils.’” From that early beginning, she committed her career to Adventist education. Over the years, Eszler has taught in a wide range of settings, from one-room schoolhouses to multi-teacher schools, though much of her career has been spent in multi-grade classrooms. She said she especially values the “family feeling” of smaller schools, where older students help younger ones and learning happens across grade levels. Her greatest joy in teaching has remained consistent: “Watching a child grasp a concept—that ‘aha’ moment,” she said. “It’s really rewarding.” She also found joy in the everyday moments—playing games like soccer and Foursquare, reading stories aloud, and seeing students fully engaged in learning. Eszler has witnessed significant changes in education over her career, particularly with the rise of technology. From mimeograph machines to online gradebooks and classroom programs, she has adapted while maintaining a balance between digital tools and traditional learning. “I don’t like to do away with traditional learning,” she said. “They still need to know how to read a book.” Beyond academics, Eszler emphasized the importance of character and faith in her classroom. She described herself as a firm but caring teacher, striving to prepare students for life while showing them love. “Life is hard,” she said. “We have to help our kids learn to live in this world as well as heaven.” Her goal, she added, has always been that students leave knowing they are loved and knowing Christ more personally. Her own faith has shaped that approach. “I want them to know Christ,” she said. “I hope it’s made me more kind and loving.” She also values the opportunities Adventist education provides for spiritual growth, such as student-led worships and the ability to integrate faith throughout the day. Reflecting on her career, Eszler said teaching has been more than a profession. “It’s kind of been my life,” she said. “It’s just a part of me.” In retirement, Eszler plans to spend more time with her three grandchildren, travel and focus on her health after a busy final year. She is also looking forward to rediscovering hobbies and spending more time with her husband, who has supported her throughout her career. To those considering Adventist education, Eszler offered encouragement. She believes strongly in its value—not only academically, but spiritually. “You get to talk about Jesus,” she said. “You get to sing worship songs… I believe strongly in our Adventist education system.” As she steps away from the classroom, Eszler leaves behind a legacy shaped by consistency, care and commitment to helping students grow both academically and spiritually—one lesson, one conversation, and one “aha” moment at a time.
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Northside SDA Church Connects Community With Resources, Food and Service
– June 25, 2026The Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Louis, Missouri, combined practical assistance, community partnerships and children’s programming during its “Serve Sabbath” on May 30, serving nearly 200 community members while connecting families with local resources. The event featured food and clothing distribution, a community resource fair, children’s activities and outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness. According to Pastor Trevor Barnes, people from the community were already lined up when volunteers arrived at the church around 8:15 a.m. “We served probably about 180-200 people that day,” Barnes said. Along with distributing food and clothing, church members directed guests to a resource fair held in the church gymnasium. Community organizations and nonprofit agencies provided information about services ranging from financial assistance and domestic violence support to banking and health resources. Organizations represented at the fair included the American Red Cross, Pink Angels, Commerce Bank, Mid-America Transplant, YWCA, Smart Kids, Southeast Behavioral Hospital and Minority Health STL. The event was open to all ages and free to attend. The need for community-based resource events remains significant in the St. Louis area. A City of St. Louis Community Health Assessment highlights ongoing health and social challenges throughout the region. In addition, city data show that 31.7% of Black residents live in areas of concentrated poverty, underscoring the importance of connecting residents with local services and support programs. Mary Persaud, head deaconess at Northside SDA Church, said the congregation views Serve Sabbath as an opportunity to meet both immediate and long-term needs in the community. “One of the things we did this Sabbath was distribute food, clothes, shoes, and toiletries,” Persaud said. “It was truly a blessing to meet the needs of so many in a tangible way.” Persaud noted that many families are facing increased financial pressure. “In light of the rising cost of living and the growing challenges that so many are facing, it is our hope and prayer that our church will become that ‘pillar’ so needed in times like these,” she said. She also expressed appreciation for the strong volunteer turnout from church members. “We had an excellent response to the event, and the strong involvement from our members was impressive,” Persaud said. “It showed the commitment to being a place of hope and light to our community.” According to Persaud, several community members who attended expressed interest in future events and fellowship opportunities with the congregation. While many volunteers served at the church campus, another group traveled to the Pallet Yard, where services are provided to individuals experiencing homelessness. Barnes said the church’s outreach philosophy is rooted in the example of Jesus. “The real reason we do this is because Jesus didn’t just take care of the soul; He took care of the body,” Barnes said. “As Christians, we’re called to do the same.” He explained that Northside intentionally plans service projects during fifth-Sabbath weekends to address practical needs within the community. The church also offered a special children’s program led by member Terri Fleming. During the program, Dr. Beeks, a dentist and church member, taught children the importance of dental health. Using a dental chair, Dr. Beeks demonstrated proper brushing techniques and helped children learn how to care for their teeth. The children also participated in activities focused on healthy food choices and decorated paper tooth crafts. “At the end of the day, each child received a goodie bag filled with a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, and a timer,” Fleming said. For Northside members, the event reflected a simple goal: Just do good! This is the calling Christians have to meet practical needs while building relationships and pointing people toward hope.
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Piedmont Park Members and Friends Build a Church in Peru
– June 22, 2026It all started with a dream about two years ago. Pastor Smerdis Fuentes, youth and young adult pastor at Piedmont Park Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, felt impressed to create an opportunity for young people to experience serving God in a new and meaningful way—one that would inspire them to look beyond themselves. He connected with Valeree Krueger, who serves on the board of Maranatha Volunteers International. Together, they dreamed big: a mission trip to Peru. They began working on logistics—fundraising, vision casting, finding sponsors and coordinating travel—and before they knew it, the trip became a reality. In March 2026, members of Piedmont Park, along with several families from other churches in Lincoln, traveled to Pucallpa, to build a church and share the gospel in the heart of the Peruvian jungle. Pucallpa, also known as the “Red Land” became their mission field for a little over a week. During their time there, the group led a Vacation Bible School program that reached over 400 children at a local public school, distributed food baskets to the community, visited Colegio Adventista Maranatha, built a church for the Villa Selva Adventist congregation, and immersed themselves in Peruvian culture. The Villa Selva congregation had been praying for 17 years for a church building. One of the church leaders, Eli Dávila López, shared what a blessing this building would be. In their community, having a physical place of worship gives people a reason to gather. Many members had invited friends and family before, but without a building, some did not see the purpose of attending. Throughout the week, the construction team worked diligently as the structure began to come to life. At the same time, the rest of the group poured into the lives of students and teachers, sharing the love and knowledge of God. By the end of the week, the group had the opportunity to worship in the church they helped build. One highlight of the trip was visiting the Peru Projects Air Base, a ministry that Piedmont Park Church has supported for many years. In 1964, a deeply loved and remembered brother, Clyde Peters, became the first missionary pilot to arrive in Peru, launching what is now known as Peru Projects. Today, that mission continues through the leadership of pastor and pilot Eben Espinoza, and vice president Bradley Church. Together with a dedicated team, they carry the gospel to remote communities—often under challenging conditions. It is inspiring to witness the Great Commission being lived out so faithfully. Matt. 28:19–20 reminds us that this mission is an invitation for all of us. You don’t have to go abroad to share the gospel. You can do it right where you are—whether with neighbors, family members, coworkers or classmates. Every moment is an opportunity to share hope with someone who needs it. Ilka J. Fuentes works at Union Adventist University and is an active member of Piedmont Park Church.
Blogs
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Anti Inflammatory Salad Lower Inflammation With Food
– July 2, 2026https://youtube.com/shorts/R_R76_qdmtI?si=WfUWQPAGVdQ7oZtd
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Treat The Cause For Disease Cause Or Symptons
– July 1, 2026https://youtube.com/shorts/XeOTCdsJJQY?si=8yGF9BTQCs4dkdTP
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Fasting During Difficult Times Revival And Renewal
– July 1, 2026https://youtube.com/shorts/JweExqeHQVE?si=Ca30HywzRurn9OwS
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Creation Re-Booted VI A Tale of Two Birds: Re-Creation Begins
– June 30, 2026God had preserved humankind and all life in the Ark. He had washed away the people, like Lamech, who trusted only in themselves, and preserved those who trusted Him, and called upon His name. But preserving humankind involved more than their physical presence. It also involved their free will. When Noah released the Raven the story implies it somehow survived even while the land remained submerged. The Raven “flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth.” Ravens are scavengers, living on carrion, the flesh of dead animals. With so many animals drowned, no doubt he found sufficient floating carcasses to feed on. In many ways, this signals the cleanup of the festering remnants of the pre-flood culture—making a “cleaned slate” of the natural world. Quickly after releasing the Raven, Noah released a Dove, which found “no resting place for the sole of its foot, so it returned to him in the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth.” The ancient reader saw in the dove flying over the floodwaters and finding no resting place an echo of the spirit hovering over the chaotic waters of Genesis 1. Re-Creation has begun. The first one took seven days. How long will this one take? Seven days later, Noah sends out a dove again. This time it returns with an olive leaf. The text tells us that Noah knew the water was low on the earth. Of course, plant life can function quite well on muddy and swampy land. Animal life needs something more substantial. So did the dove, since it returned. God created plant life on day 3 of creation week, the same day that dry land appeared. So Re-Creation has advanced that far. The dove returning with any leaf would have signaled the return of dry land and new growth of vegetation. But the author identifies it specifically as an olive leaf. Olive trees played a vital role in the ancient world. They provided oil, which humans used for anointing, food, and light. The trees grow slowly and —we now know—can endure for thousands of years. So the ancients regarded the olive tree as a symbol of peace, fertility, prosperity, and even divine favor. The return of the dove with the olive leaf brings more than evidence of the retreating waters and the renewal of plant life. The olive leaf announces more than just God’s activity in renewing and restoring order to the sin and flood ravaged planet. It brings a message of hope and assurance of divine favor. Yes, God remembered Noah, and saved him from the chaos of the former violent world, and the raging waters of the Flood. And God continued to remember Noah, assuring him that a restored world is possible. The flood visited upon men the chaos and disorder they had chosen. In that sense, the Flood served as judgment. But the return of plant life, specifically of the olive tree, demonstrated that the act of divine judgment was also deliverance for those who had chosen to call upon the name of the Lord. Deliverance from the terrifying world where men’s thoughts were only evil continually; deliverance through the cleansing flood of judgment. And now the hope that humanity might again live in peace. That’s where the next passage will take us.
Featured Stories
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Jesse Hawkins and Mary (Palmer) Cook: Missionaries to Kansas A Quaker from Ohio and a Quakeress from Ontario married in Iowa, joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and become missionaries to Kansas.
– June 29, 2026In 2026 I will be exploring early Sabbatarian Adventists in the states that now comprise the Mid-America Union. There is no way to know who the first Millerite or Adventist was in each state. Instead, I will feature the first people to write to the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald (forerunner of the Adventist Review) from the territories or states in what is now the Mid-America Union. On March 6, 1866, the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, published a letter from Mary M. Cook,* who had, with her family, recently arrived in Mound City, Linn County, Kansas. Mary’s letter began: Our journey to this State being ended, with thankful hearts we meet a few kind relatives with whom we have not mingled much since our childhood days. But they, like their neighbors, know but little of the third angel’s message. Our religious sentiments are a Wonder to them. Mary found Linn County a beautiful place and praised God not only for His creation, but for the protection of His angels on their journey. She also found it lonely, having left behind likeminded Adventist friends in Iowa. She concluded: We pray the Lord to turn the hearts of some of the friends this way that here we may raise a standard of the gospel. We beg the brethren and sisters to remember us in their devotions, that we may be humble, pure in heart, living for Christ alone. Among the possible relatives Mary joined in Mound City were her brother Isaac Brock Palmer (1827-1908), his wife Hannah, and their children. Mary and Isaac’s grandparents had moved to Canada West (Ontario) from New York when their father, Abraham Sr. (1795-1862), was young. Abraham Sr. married Catharine Bradshaw (d. 1852) in the Quaker Leeds Monthly Meeting in 1821, and all of their children were born in Canada, including Mary who was born about 1826. The family moved to Iowa around 1848-1850. The date is obscured by conflicting information. Mary and Isaac’s brother, Abraham Jr., claimed in 1910 that he had arrived in Chicago, Illinois, aboard the Empire State (a Great Lakes steamer that operated between Buffalo, New York, and Chicago, Illinois, in May 1848; however, the Empire State did not begin passenger service until October 1848). The Leeds Monthly Meeting did not remove Abraham Sr. and Catharine from its roll until February 14, 1850. Regardless, upon arrival in Iowa, the Palmer family briefly settled in the Quaker town of Salem, Iowa. They would relocate several times before Abraham Sr. and his second wife, Sarah, settled in Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa. A week after Mary’s letter was published, a letter from her husband, Jesse H. Cook,** to the Review was also published. There are in these parts six of us who are trying to live in obedience to the requirements of the third angel’s message. Here is a wide field of labor for those who have the cause at heart. . .At present we feel somewhat lonesome being so far separated from the people of God, and the endearing associations connected there with. Yet we are not without hope, for we realize even here, that God is the portion of all those who put their trust in him. . . Jesse had also come from a Quaker family. He was the seventh child of Eli Cook (1777-1874) and Elizabeth Denny (1801-1874) who had married on November 12, 1817, in the Elk Monthly Meeting in Preble, Ohio. Jesse was born in Preble, Ohio, on July 13, 1828. His ancestors had followed the Quaker migration from Pennsylvania to the Carolinas and then to Ohio. While the search for land motivated Quakers to move from Pennsylvania to points south in the 1760s, anti-slavery sentiment drove them to seek free soil in Ohio and Indiana in the early 1800s. In 1837 they were most likely again seeking land when the Cooks joined a group of Quakers who founded Salem, Iowa. Thus, they were among the first Quakers to settle west of the Mississippi River. Anti-slavery sentiment was strong in Salem, and its proximity to Missouri made it an important part of the western Underground Railroad. Quakers in Salem sharply disagreed on how to help freedom seekers, and the monthly meeting split between those who actively assisted freedom seekers and those who merely protested enslavement but refrained from breaking the law. In 1846 the Salem Monthly Meeting took disciplinary action against an Elizabeth Cook for “Neglecting the attendance of our religious meetings and uniting with the separatist[s].” The separatists were active participants in the Underground Railroad, and given the date this woman was likely Jesse’s mother. (Cedar Creek and Its People) From Quaker to Adventist While it is easy to conjecture how Jesse and Mary met in Henry County, where they married on February 8, 1851, there is no information tracing their spiritual journey from Quakerism to Adventism. They remained in Salem Township, Henry County, Iowa, through 1852 and perhaps longer. By 1860 they were living in Lynn Grove, Jasper County, Iowa, with their four children—Almira E. (1851-1871), Horatio Nelson (1855-1931), Cordelia Ellen (1857-1936), and Melissa M. (1859-1947). In 1863, Jesse registered for the Civil War draft in Pleasant Grove Township, Marion County, Iowa. Comparing the locations of Adventist preachers and churches in Iowa, it appears that Jesse and Mary Cook encountered Seventh-day Adventists in Marion County where one of the first churches was organized at Knoxville. Moses Hull preached in Pleasantville, Iowa, (a town in Pleasant Grove Township) in 1860 where 12-15 unnamed people joined the Adventists (Review). Jesse and Mary may have been in this group. Kansas Conference Founder While Jesse H. Cook was not a minister and held no official position in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in 1866, he exhibited leadership in Kansas from the start. In March 1868 he announced the first quarterly meeting of Seventh-day Adventists in southern Kansas (Review). While it is not clear if the six Adventists Jesse referred to in his letter were only his family or whether he meant <a class="cat-post-excerpt-more" href="https://www.outlookmag.org/jesse-hawkins-and-mary-palmer-cook-missionaries-to-kansas/" title="Continue reading Jesse Hawkins and Mary (Palmer) Cook: Missionaries to Kansas A Quaker from Ohio and a Quakeress from Ontario married in Iowa, joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and become missionaries to Kansas.“>Read more…
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Three Graduates From the Class of 2026 Share Their Union Experiences
– June 22, 2026Gideon Logan As a graduating International Rescue and Relief and Biomedical Science double major, Gideon Logan’s time at Union offered him countless adventures. When first starting college, Logan planned on becoming an ecologist. Around the time he realized a career in habitat restoration would actually keep him in an office, he started taking IRR’s EMT class. While in the class, Logan recalls being left with a lot of questions. He was learning how to treat a variety of issues, but he wasn’t learning the root causes. His curiosity drew him to rethinking his path and deciding to become a doctor. During the IRR expedition in Malawi last year, he gained valuable first-hand experiences that confirmed his calling as a physician. “I did more than 100 hours of shadowing in clinical rotations,” Logan said. “I got to scrub in to assist with surgery. I had my first experience doing CPR on someone. I got to suture. I even delivered a couple babies … there’s a little boy in Mozambique named ‘Gideon’ after me. It was a really good experience.” Logan’s desire to be a compassionate person is very apparent. Whether it’s to be a listening ear or someone who offers wisdom-filled advice, Gideon’s primary goal is to be authentic and build real connections with people. Savannah Fortney, Logan’s fiancé, said, “When he worked as an EMT, he was known for not just getting the patient from point A to point B, but taking the time to hear their story and to get to know them even in a short ambulance ride. One thing that is pushing him to pursue this career path is the continued opportunity to get to know people who are hurting. He wants to be able to form relationships and trust with those that he interacts with.” Yann Birasa From his confident walk across campus, there is no indication in Yann Birasa’s relaxed stride that he hasn’t lived in the Midwest his whole life. Having grown up in Belgium and Rwanda, Nebraska wasn’t a place Birasa had ever intended to go. This changed, however, when his cousin told him about Maxwell Adventist Academy in Kenya. By attending an Adventist high school, Birasa’s life was turned around. Through God moments, he was baptized, and with a little help from Union’s own Pastor Rich Carlson, he made the decision to seek education across the ocean at Union. Before ever making it on campus, Birasa had been messaging his soon-to-be teammates on the men’s basketball team. Pastor Rich had connected him with men’s basketball coach Drew Mekelburg and students on the men’s team. Birasa said, “It felt like I was already on campus without even being on US territory. It was insane.” So when he showed up as a wide-eyed international student, he was able to settle in with a ready-made circle of friends. Now, everybody knows Birasa. From being a freshman on the basketball bench, to being voted SA president and even receiving a campus celebrity award at this year’s spring banquet, Yann has become an important leader on campus. He’s everywhere. Whether it’s up front giving speeches or exploring Lincoln with his friends, Birasa is always offering a hello and a smile. Graduating with a degree in business finance with a minor in psychology, Birasa is ready to take the next step of his life to Florida where he’ll be working for AdventHealth. He’s bringing with him a newfound love of golf, a mindset of curiosity and discovery, and an eagerness to explore the restaurants of Orlando. Birasa’s memories — the days spent with friends, the long hours on the bus with the basketball team, and the time enjoying every homemade chocolate chip cookie he could get his hands on — will stick with him for the rest of his life. While reflecting on his years spent on Nebraska soil, Birasa said, “The best part of Union is the people. The people let you come as you are. You can come from far, you can come with a different culture, you can come different, and the Union community welcomes you and understands you. Even though we are different, at the end of the day, we are all God’s children.” Kylie Wehling In seventh grade, Nebraska native Kylie Wehling sat with her dad at Union’s Friday night vespers. The chords of the song “Oceans” drifted across the sanctuary as the pianist’s hands glided along the piano keys. Her dad turned to whisper to her, “One day, you’re going to play like that up there.” Wehling remembers thinking how unbelievable that seemed, but at the same time praying that what her dad said would turn out to be true. Not long before that night, Wehling had suffered a massive hand and wrist injury. Shattered glass had severed nerves, tendons and arteries in her left hand, taking away her ability to play the instruments she loved. Creating music with the piano, cello and French horn now seemed impossible, and Wehling wondered how this was a part of God’s plan. Now a graduate from Union Adventist University, Wehling’s life has been filled with challenges, and with each one, her perspective grows. “I always go back to Scripture and have a solid, honest prayer with God,” she said. “Like, ‘hey, this kind of stinks. I failed, I hit a wall. I don’t know what You want me to do next. Lead me.’ And it kind of reframes my mindset that this is not necessarily a closed door, but an opportunity to go somewhere else until we walk into a different area that God has called us into.” Union ties run deep in the Wehling family, as does a commitment to the ministry of health care. Both of her parents, Dr. Merlin Wehling and Chere (Ray) Wehling, graduated from Union in 1997, and her brother, Caleb Wehling, graduated in 2024. While her brother followed in their mother’s footsteps to a career in nursing, Kylie is finishing her degree in biomedical science to follow her Read more…
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“IM Called” School of Evangelism: One Year Later A fire that couldn't be put out
– June 22, 2026Nearly one year ago, a small group of church members walked through the doors of an Adventist Community Services building in Bridgeton, Missouri, with a shared conviction and more than a few nerves. They weren’t pastors or theologians. They were laypeople who felt the pull to do more—and had said yes to something that would change them. The Iowa-Missouri Conference’s IM Called School of Evangelism and Discipleship launched on June 23, 2025, and concluded last September. In the months since, the fruit of that first class has continued to grow: dozens of lives touched and a new congregation now meeting every Sabbath in Wentzville, Missouri. The idea began with a phone call. Conference president Lee Rochholz reached out to Pastor Jeremy Clark, who also serves as the conference’s Bible worker director, with a question that set everything in motion. “He basically asked me, ‘What if we could start a school of evangelism to help our laity go out in the field and win souls for God’s kingdom?'” Clark recalled. “The prayer is always for laborers. We thought, what can we do to encourage and grow that base?” Clark and co-instructor Rob Alfalla, the conference evangelist, designed the school around two pillars: theological depth and practical field experience. Classroom sessions ran on Mondays and Wednesdays, while Tuesdays and Thursdays sent students door to door across St. Louis neighborhoods in partnership with a local church. “Personal spirituality feeds everything else,” Alfalla said. “You could have every 28 fundamental belief memorized, but if you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, it doesn’t do anything.” Lives shaped—from both sides of the door Among the students whose stories stood out was Megan Cooper, whose path to Bible work was anything but conventional. After a decade of trafficking and exploitation, she was reached by a Christian agency called New Name, and later received a year of faithful weekly Bible studies from Elder Fred Schiller and his wife, Lynn, during Covid. “It’s just a beautiful thing to see how God can bring things full circle,” Cooper said. “It really prompted me to want to be a Bible worker myself.” By graduation, Cooper and her classmates had studied with people from different denominations, prayed for strangers at gas stations, and knocked on doors in neighborhoods that tested their courage. “Walking up to the door sometimes is hard,” one student said. “But I feel like I’ve gained more courage to do things.” Another recalled a return visit to a family who met them at the door with a smile, already waiting. “They were so happy to see us. That was just amazing.” A campaign in Wentzville—and a church taking root The school’s first year concluded with a Prophecies of Hope evangelistic campaign led by Alfalla in Wentzville, a growing community in the northwestern St. Louis metro area. The campaign reached people both through public meetings and through personal Bible studies conducted by the school’s students—resulting in 12 baptismal requests in total. By the final night, 24 guests had accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, and five were baptized, joined by 19 who committed to a new small group that would become the seed of a worshiping congregation. As of May 2026, that group meets every Sabbath at a rented location in Wentzville, averaging 15 to 30 attendees. Each week includes a song, a prayer, and a small-group Bible study, while leadership searches for a more permanent home for the growing fellowship. “We want to plant churches. We want to take God’s Word out,” Clark said. “We want to start a fire that cannot be put out. If not now, when?” As IM Called approaches its one year anniversary, leadership is developing an “IM Called On The Road” model to bring training modules directly to congregations across the conference. “The harvest is great,” Alfalla said, “but the laborers are few.” Learn more, including information about future cohorts, at imsda.org/imcalled.
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Stewardship: It’s a Matter of Trust
– June 22, 2026Some years ago, I was watching a father teach his daughter to swim. She was holding onto the ladder that descended into the water at the shallow end where she was clearly able to stand with her head above the water. He was in the pool behind her, his hands reassuringly on her shoulders. “Okay,” he said to her calmly, “let go of the ladder now. You can stand up.” “No!” she shouted. “I’ll go under the water!” “No, it’s very shallow, and you can stand. Besides, I am right here, and I have hold of you. Nothing can happen to you.” She was not convinced. “I won’t let go!” In his soft, soothing voice, Daddy patiently reasoned with her. “Remember when I taught you to ride a bike? I didn’t let you get hurt. Now you love to ride your bike. You will love to swim, too. But you can’t learn until you let go of the ladder.” She remained resolute, but silent. So, Daddy gave it one more try. “Don’t you trust me?” “I trust you, but I’m not letting go.” That ended the lesson. He told her they would try again another time and took her to the wading pool where she was much happier. That little girl was obviously scared of the deep water. However, I suspect her confidence grew as time went by, and by now she may have taught her own children to swim. It’s unlikely that she stayed stuck in her fears about the shallow end of the pool. If she really did trust her father, she learned to let go. Of course, you are way ahead of me now, but I hope you keep reading while I make the obvious point. If we truly do trust our Father, won’t we learn to let go when He says He will hold us up? Do you trust God enough to let go of tithes and offerings? You knew I was going to get to that, and you knew I was going to use this verse to support it. Mal. 3:10 tells us, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (NIV). I’m going to say something now that might sound really mean about that scared little girl holding the ladder in the pool. No matter what she said, she really didn’t trust her father. He may have proven himself with bicycles, his firm grip may have been familiar to her from when he ran beside her holding her onto the bike, and he may have told the truth about the depth of the water just like he told the truth about how to ride down the sidewalk, but she would not let go. Her fear was bigger than her trust, no matter what she claimed. I’m not trying to be unkind. In fact, listening to her fear, I could not help but feel a great deal of empathy for her. But there is a logical conclusion based on the evidence. In fact, it is an inevitable conclusion. In this case at least, almost up to her neck in water and her toes not quite touching the bottom of the pool, she did not truly trust her father. If we say that we trust God, but we don’t let go of what He claims as His, what is the logical conclusion based on this evidence? Has He not proven Himself trustworthy in our previous experiences with Him? Are His reassurances of blessings pouring out on us not believable? I hope you believe in the mission of your church; but if you do, that’s not the reason to return tithe. I hope you believe that all you own belongs to Him anyway and you are just a steward; but that’s not the reason to tithe. I hope you have peace knowing that God will not accuse you of robbery; but that’s not the reason to tithe. I hope that you are so grateful for all He has provided that you want to show how you feel through your gifts; but that is not the reason to tithe. Well, okay, those are some good reasons. Pretty good anyway. But let’s get down to the heart of it: God doesn’t need your money any more than that daddy needed his little girl to let go of the ladder. But he was there beside her, encouraging and reassuring her, because he wanted her life to expand into a whole new experience that would provide her with a lifetime of enjoyment. But that was impossible if she didn’t trust him enough to let go. The real reason to tithe is a matter of trust. Letting go is not about supporting the work, or understanding ownership, or peace, or even gratitude. Letting go is about trusting. Doug Inglish is RMC vice president for administration and stewardship director.