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September 4, 2026 Two Thousand Years, One Mission Why Seventh-day Adventists are looking toward 2027 as a renewed call to continue the mission of Jesus
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September 2, 2026 MAUC Church Ministries Report: Building Relationships, Equipping Ministry Leaders Church Ministries
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September 2, 2026 MAUC Constituency Session Report 2026: Multilingual Ministries Multilingual Ministries
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Adventist News
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Dakota Men Gather in Medora for Retreat and Renewal
– August 31, 2026For the past few years, the Dakota Conference Men’s Retreat has been hosted at the Rough Riders Hotel in the beautiful western town of Medora, North Dakota, located near the south entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The setting provides a welcoming place for old friends to reconnect and for new friendships to begin. Christopher Hudson of the series ForeRunner Chronicles joined the retreat as the featured speaker, presenting with clarity and conviction. He shared how his journey from a past life in show business and fame led him to an encounter with Jesus, redirecting his life toward sharing Christ with others. His messages combined encouragement, memorized Scripture, and the gospel in a way that connected with a wide range of listeners. He was thoughtful in his teaching and humble in his walk with God. Attendees were also blessed by a message from conference president, Elder Vernon Herholdt, who reminded the men of their responsibilities as spiritual leaders and encouraged them to seek opportunities to make a difference in their homes, churches and communities—especially in these last days. Longtime participant Ed Dickerson continued to be a valued presence at the retreat. His deep understanding of Adventist history and years of leadership and teaching brought perspective and insight to the group. He described the retreat as a gathering of “true brothers” that he looks forward to each year. His message on “The Ship” spoke to those willing to listen and seek God’s wisdom. His modern-day approach and teaching style made his presentations both engaging and meaningful. The retreat also included moments of lighthearted fellowship, often led by pilot and mechanic Brooks Payne. Known for his good humor, Brooks willingly took part in the camaraderie that defined the weekend. At the same time, he demonstrated a deep commitment to his Christian walk, offering encouragement and support to those who may be struggling. His sincerity and compassion left a lasting impression. All in all, Men’s Retreat continues to be a place of spiritual growth, strength and renewal. Whether attending with friends or meeting others for the first time, participants found it to be a meaningful time of connection and encouragement among Adventist men from across the Dakotas. Randy Rubbert is men’s ministries coordinator for the Dakota Conference.
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Bethesda Temple Elevates the Community With Five Days of Faith, Giving and Fellowship
– August 25, 2026Bethesda Temple in Omaha, Nebraska, recently welcomed more than 500 visitors during its Elevate Community Event, held July 15–19, 2026. Advertised through Facebook, the five-day outreach initiative brought local residents together for spiritual encouragement, practical assistance, and family-friendly activities. Each evening, attendees registered to receive a free featured giveaway designed to meet an everyday need. Items distributed throughout the week included diapers, sneakers, food gift cards, and gas cards. Before receiving the evening’s featured giveaway, participants attended a service featuring uplifting music, a brief spiritual message, and an icebreaker giveaway. Pastor Brandon Williams delivered an energetic message each night, encouraging attendees to strengthen their faith, make positive changes, and pursue a closer relationship with God. At the conclusion of each message, Williams invited anyone moved by the Spirit to respond. Several people raised their hands each evening and joined Williams at the front of the church for prayer, publicly expressing their desire to make positive spiritual changes and become part of the body of Christ. Some visitors returned throughout the week, receiving not only practical assistance but also what church members described as nightly blessings. The event demonstrated how faith-based outreach can address both spiritual and practical needs. By combining worship with meaningful assistance, Bethesda Temple created a welcoming environment where community members could receive encouragement, fellowship, and support. The celebration concluded on a sunny Sunday afternoon with a community Fun Day. Families enjoyed a bounce house, face painting, games, music, and free massages in massage chairs. A mobile diabetes unit offered free diabetes screenings and blood pressure checks, giving residents an opportunity to learn more about their health. Representatives from the local fire station also attended to share fire safety information and give children an up-close look inside a fire truck. Children received free backpacks filled with school supplies, helping families prepare for the upcoming school year. Free food was served throughout the afternoon, with the church’s kitchen team feeding more than 200 people. The variety of activities gave children, parents, and older adults opportunities to participate in an atmosphere filled with joy and fellowship. Volunteers played an important role in the event’s success. From welcoming and registering guests to organizing giveaways, preparing meals, and assisting with activities, church members worked together to serve their neighbors. Their efforts helped ensure that visitors felt welcomed, supported, and valued. The Elevate Community Event was more than a series of giveaways. It was an opportunity for Bethesda Temple to demonstrate its commitment to faith, service, and community connection. Over five days, residents received essential items, health resources, spiritual encouragement, and memorable family experiences. Through Williams’ nightly messages and the congregation’s generosity and service, Bethesda Temple created an event that encouraged hope, connection, and positive change. The week concluded with strengthened relationships and a reminder of what can happen when a church opens its doors and intentionally serves its community. By Georgette Terrill, Bethesda Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church Communication Leader
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Central States Strengthens Pathfinder Ministry Through Leadership Training
– August 25, 2026The Pathfinder club is one of the most effective entities to teach our children principles that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. To make this a success, committed volunteers are necessary. After conducting a brief survey among Pathfinder leaders in Central States Conference, the results showed that many folks lack the necessary training needed to effectively run a Pathfinder club. It also showed some folks are interested in volunteering in the Pathfinder club, but they lack the knowledge in working with the Pathfinder curriculum and with the Pathfinders. To address those issues and concerns, an all-inclusive Pathfinder training workshop training was offered last April at the conference center in Kansas City, Kansas. Around 100 people attended the presentations on mental health wellness and identifying concerning mental health cues in Pathfinder-aged children. Presenting on that topic was Dr. Dustin Young, a licensed social worker and professor at Andrews University. From the Southern New England conference, Glorimar Teixeira presented on the Master Guide Track. Cesar and Nelly Cruz presented the training track in Spanish. The main presenter from Northeastern Conference, Judith Hill, presented the Basic Pathfinder Training Track. The 10-hour Basic Pathfinder Training course was geared toward volunteers and anyone who works or is planning to work with a Pathfinder club in any capacity. Employees from Adventsource were also present selling Pathfinder club related items. Please keep the CSC Pathfinder clubs in your prayers. There are plans in place that require seven prayer warriors and additional support for success. By the end of 2029, God willing, the plan is to have a total of 100 Master Guides throughout the conference. This will include those who have previously been invested plus those who will be invested leading up to that time. Also, during the summer of 2027 plans will be put in place to hold the first ever Central States Conference Pathfinder Fair. Ian Francis is Pathfinder director for the Central States Conference.
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RMC Announces Nathaniel Gamble as New VP for Administration
– August 25, 2026The Rocky Mountain Conference is pleased to announce that Nathaniel Gamble has accepted the call to be the new vice president for administration. Gamble presently serves as RMC’s Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director, a member of the RMC Executive Committee, and lead pastor of the Grand Junction district of churches on the Western Slope of Colorado. He will maintain his role as PARL director and begin his new administrative role for the conference on August 1. “I am excited to have Nathaniel join our administrative team here in the Rocky Mountain Conference. His love for Jesus and pastoral experience, coupled with strong administrative skills, will be a great blessing for our conference family,” said Dave VandeVere, RMC president. Gamble was born and raised in the Rocky Mountain Conference region and received his Bachelor of Arts in religion from Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, and his Master of Arts in theology from the Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colorado. He is currently finishing his Doctor of Philosophy in systematic theology from the Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “We are very excited that the Lord has been preparing Nathaniel for this type of work and that he is willing to accept this position. He has the administrative skills that are essential to the role, plus a deep theological understanding. RMC is blessed to have him join the leadership of the conference,” remarked Doug Inglish, current RMC vice president for administration who is retiring. Serving RMC since 2019, Gamble has held several lead and district pastor positions, chaired the Mile High Academy Board from 2021-2025, and served as the conference’s PARL director since 2022. In his pastoral roles, he facilitated training, mediation and safety at his local churches, and created the MHA Bylaws and Constitution committee that drafted a new constitution for the academy. Gamble has also contributed to the Adventist position against Christian Nationalism and is a published author with the North American Division Ministerial Association. “It is a great honor, privilege and weighty responsibility to serve the members and workers of the Rocky Mountain Conference in the capacity of vice president of administration,” remarked Gamble. “While I did not actively seek this position, God and RMC have called me to this role, and I am heartily willing to serve according to the Lord’s grace.” He added: “I see [this] role as uniquely situated to encourage and promote compassion and listening to each other throughout the conference, so I’m looking forward to using my administrative abilities to continue building up unity and mission between the schools, churches, pastors, teachers and church members in RMC. I ask the members of RMC to keep me in their prayers so that I continually pursue humility, obedience and attentiveness to Jesus as I execute the responsibilities of this role on behalf of my brothers and sisters. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me.” Gamble is joined by his ministry partner and wife, Alex, and toy poodle puppy, Johnny. He enjoys learning Colorado and Wyoming history and exploring ghost towns. You will also find Gamble spending time reading Greek poetry, learning about Christian communities in Jerusalem, and losing at chess.
Blogs
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#SabbathSlowdown: All Things New Seventh-day Adventists around the globe are celebrating Jesus this Sabbath, and you can join in the fun.
– September 5, 2026Almost 2,000 years ago, something miraculous happened on this planet. After a war waged in Heaven, God’s family of angels was broken by ugliness and separation. Sadness fell on the faces of the divine for perhaps the first time in the history of the universe, and God Himself learned the reality of heartbreak as His Holy family was severed… Then that ugliness made its way onto the new planet, Earth. Life was replaced by decay, ease with difficulty, and peace with pain. God’s created beings were drawn into the darkness of this heartbreak, and time after time, they lost their way, moving further from His grasp, His embrace…. Then, Jesus came. In one act of love, Jesus made new all the painful realities God’s people have known for centuries. His ministry began in a river, not far from his miraculous birthplace. At just 30 years old, Jesus stepped into the Jordan River with his cousin, John, and was baptized. The same heavens that saw God’s family torn in two and a third of His angels cast out, opened as Jesus rose from the water. When once the universe echoed with false accusations of the Almighty God, it now echoed a promise, God’s promise of a coming Messiah foretold centuries before: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, NIV). That declaration led to a three-year ministry and a brand new reality for God’s people. “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'” —Revelation 21:5, NIV So today, a new declaration launches. September 5, 2026, is the day the global church declares with one voice, the true and trustworthy news that Jesus makes all things new. It’s OneVoice27, a united effort for Adventists everywhere to share the hope we have in Jesus, beginning now, and building toward a public campaign in 2027 to declare Jesus as Messiah to the world in one beautiful, loving, unified voice.
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The Teacher’s Notes–Stewardship and Mission, Lesson 11 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2026 3Q, "First and Second Corinthians"
– September 5, 2026Sabbath School Lesson for September 5-11, 2026 Introduction of Lesson 11, Stewardship and Mission Memory Text: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV For humans, having wealth is associated with privileges we otherwise wouldn’t experience. But let’s remember that giving up part of our wealth in ways that fulfill God’s mission is the most precious of all privileges we’ve been given. This giving consists of storing up treasures in heaven: the safest place for them (Matthew 6:21). Purposeful giving to advance God’s kingdom becomes a duty when we recognize it as part of following the example of Jesus. Our Savior gave up the vast riches of heaven and was born into poverty when He became flesh (Philippians 2:7, 8). This motivates us to follow His example and be as giving as possible. 2 Corinthians 8:9 is a deeply profound summary of the story of redemption and why our stewardship matters. We can’t separate being faithful stewards and being faithful servants, fulfilling the gospel commission. Both stewardship and mission go hand in hand, as Paul outlined in 2 Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9. We should be as excited as Paul was about the opportunity to give to those in need. Our attitude about giving makes all the difference to our mission. This week, we’ll explore: Sunday: The Example of Jesus Monday: Motivation Tuesday: Planning Wednesday: Attitude Thursday: Unity Sunday: The Example of Jesus No one has given up more than Jesus. He was not only a citizen of heaven, but the highest Being there. No one had more wealth and glory than was His. And if that wasn’t enough of a sacrifice, He allowed Himself to be born into poverty with questionable parentage, resulting in ridicule and rejection throughout His short life on earth. Paul didn’t hesitate to use the example of Jesus when he wrote to the Corinthians concerning an important fundraiser. He was hoping to arouse their interest and increase their generosity for the benefit of the believers back in Jerusalem, who were in such dire need because of their faith in Jesus. He reminded them of the Macedonians in northern Greece, who despite their own poverty, had given generously to the cause of Christ. Jesus’ sacrifice and our offerings should have one purpose: the salvation of others. Verses for reflection and discussion: 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 How would you describe the kind of giving of the Macedonians? Why did Paul use the Macedonians as an example of being generous to the Jerusalem believers? How did the love and emotions felt in previous chapters tie in with Paul’s new topic of giving? Monday: Motivation The topic of giving is paramount in chapters 8 and 9 of Paul’s epistle. Here are some points he brings out in this second letter: Our gifts show our gratitude for God’s blessings of grace. Being generous provides us an opportunity to follow the example and sacrifice of Jesus. God has enriched us to the point we can afford to be generous, and will continue to do so if we trust Him. We are able to show our love to God by giving all we can. Verses for reflection and discussion: 2 Corinthians 8:1, 5 and 2 Corinthians 9:7, 9, 13, 15 What idea is Paul trying to impress upon the Corinthians? How generous have you been in your offerings to church? How might you give more? What are some alternative ways we can and should be giving to God? Tuesday: Planning Reflecting on how God operates in giving to His creatures, we can’t help but notice the systematic planning involved in His actions. Even the giving of His Son to rescue mankind from the clutches of Satan was determined before sin occurred–“from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). In like manner, Paul told the Corinthians that each of them should give what they had decided in their own hearts to give (2 Corinthians 9:7). Just as there is what we call impulse buying, there is also impulse giving. For the most part, it’s better to give after careful planning and reflection on the amount we are able to give. In 2 Corinthians 8:12, we are to give “according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have”. The amount of our offerings will vary from person to person, depending on several factors. Tithes are based on proportionality, however, with everyone paying the same 10% of their income to support those who bring us the gospel. Malachi recognized that not paying tithes AND offerings is the same as robbing God (Malachi 3:6). We must plan carefully to do both. Verses for reflection and discussion: 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Revelation 13:8 In what ways have we seen the carefully laid plans of God when it comes to giving? How much planning should there be in our giving to God? 2 Corinthians 8:3, 11, 12 What determines how much we give to God? Wednesday: Attitude Paul was deliberate in mentioning the generosity of the Macedonians. His experience with them allowed him to share with the Corinthians what our attitude should be in giving. Here are the reasons worth paying attention to in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5: Giving was the result of their abundant joy for what God had done for them (v. 2). Their giving was generous, because they knew it would help spread the gospel (v. 2). They gave willingly. No one forced them to do it (v. 3) They felt it was a privilege and an honor to give back to God (v. 4). Giving was an act of consecrating themselves to the cause of Christ. Therefore, they gave of themselves totally, with more than monetary funds (v. 5). Verses for reflection and discussion: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 How do these verses make us all want to rethink and adjust our attitude and motives for giving? What <a class="cat-post-excerpt-more" href="https://www.outlookmag.org/the-teachers-notes-stewardship-and-mission-lesson-11/" title="Continue reading The Teacher’s Notes–Stewardship and Mission, Lesson 11 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2026 3Q, “First and Second Corinthians”“>Read more…
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I Was Awake Glass Children — Part 2
– September 3, 2026I had been checking his breathing for as long as I could remember. Nobody asked me to. We shared a room, with a door through to my parents’ room so they would hear if anything went wrong in the night. I would wake, lie still, and watch for his chest to rise. If it didn’t rise fast enough to suit me, I would put my hand through the crib bars and feel for it myself. I never found him not breathing. I checked anyway. Every time. The night it happened, I couldn’t fall asleep, which was unusual for me. So I was awake to hear him making a sound he didn’t usually make. I waited what seemed to me like long enough. Then I got up, went through the open door, climbed into bed with my father, Erwin, and told him Rick was making noises and it was keeping me awake. He was at the crib immediately. Then he was at the basement door, calling down to our mother, Marjorie — four words. Rick is breathing different. I heard her come running up the stairs. They carried him to the kitchen table, where the light was better. My father’s whole body had gone tense. My mother stood with her elbows braced on the table and her head in her hands. I stood back, in the doorway, farthest away. I did not understand what I was seeing. I knew that it was bad. I did not cry. I was not brave and I was not clever. I reported it the way a five-year-old reports anything — as a complaint. He was making noises. It was keeping me awake. But I had been on duty for two years by then. That is what hypervigilance looks like when it works, and here is the hard part: it did work. He was seizing. I had heard it. And here is what I did not understand until I was grown. My parents did not know what they were looking at either. Rick had seized once before, on the first day of his life, and he had been on medication ever since. There had been no more. Neither of my parents had ever seen a seizure — he had been in the hospital nursery when it happened. My mother on the telephone in the corner of that kitchen was not managing an emergency. She was asking a doctor to tell her what was happening to her son, and what to do. I could not have put that into words at five, but I understood it in my body anyway. That is where children understand things first. The adults did not know. That is its own particular terror, and it is not the same as being frightened of the thing itself. A child can survive a frightening night. What stays is the discovery that the adults were guessing too. I never did cry. Not that night, not afterward. I have gone looking for the feeling and there is nothing there — no fear I can put my hand on, no memory of wanting my mother. What I have instead is the map of that room. Who was nearest to him. Where the telephone was. How far away I was standing. I was not calm. I was five years old with nowhere to put what I had just seen. But from across a kitchen there is no telling the difference between a child at peace and a child who is silently frightened, paralyzed even. I looked like a good little girl who was no trouble at all on a very hard night. And a child who does not cry does not get asked. Next time: what my family did with that night afterward, and the difference between being praised and being asked. Lord, You know what we could not say and did not cry. Nothing we carried in silence was ever hidden from You. Give us words now, and someone safe to say them to. Amen. Click here to see the first in this series.
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What Genealogies Tell Us VII A Flood of Violence
– September 2, 2026Ten generations, each link connecting to another, and then one link reaches outside the family chain and fastens to an event, the great Flood. But why? That’s answered by another chain we often overlook. It contains no ages, does not even offer a timeline, to creation or anything else. Instead of ten links, it has only six—kind of. No ages, fewer internal links. It’s a very odd genealogy, not what we are accustomed to, and so we often overlook it. That’s where I stopped paying attention. Instead of moving on, I should have asked, “Why is this genealogy so different?” Once we recognize that genealogies are a form of story, the answer becomes easier: “Because it’s telling us a different story, even a different kind of story.” And reading to the end of this genealogy, we come to a shocking discovery: both ends of this chain link to murder. Growing up, the only thing I paid much attention to in Genesis 4 was the murder at the start. We might even call it the start of murder, because the initial verses tell of Cain murdering his brother—the very first murder—his subsequent exile, and the surprising declaration by God that He will protect Cain from reprisal. No one wants to risk becoming the target of that sevenfold vengeance by killing Cain themselves. The first sixteen verses deal with Cain, his crime, and his punishment. The next two verses name 5 generations, landing on Lamech. The next six verses are all about Lamech, and his “accomplishments.” He took two wives for himself, boasted about killing a young man, and declares that “If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.” And there it is. This chain ends as it began, in murder. Twenty-two out of 26 verses focus on two murderers. Everybody else has to settle for four verses, total. The evidence indicates the author intends to emphasize that both ends of this genealogy link to murder And in chapter six, the author makes plain the results of letting murderers go unpunished. Before the flood comes, the text tells us plainly what the earth had become: “filled with violence.” Not idolatry, not sexual sin— violence. A world where those most inclined to violence killed as they pleased, and ruled over those they let live. The coming flood of water washes away the culture of violence. Judgment matching crime in kind, not just in severity — those who had drowned the world in blood would drown in a flood of water. The flood could wash away a violent culture, but without significant change in its operation, human society would degenerate into violence and chaos again. God institutes the first change immediately after the water recedes. For the first time in human history, God commands capital punishment. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” Humanity had tried the serpent’s way unrestrained: they had tried to be god, to be the arbiter of life and death. Protecting the first murderer, Cain, planted a deadly seed that bore poisonous fruit in the violent society Lamech celebrated. No society can long survive when power is the supreme goal, and murder is its fulfillment. That had been demonstrated. Thus, instituting capital punishment was in fact a blessing. God imposed a limit on the previously unrestrained self, so that others could survive it. The flood dealt with the most dramatic symptom of following the serpent, but the disease remained. And it will soon be demonstrated by a most surprising person.
Featured Stories
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Younger Sisters and Older Women Part I: Susan Bysong Shaw Susan J. Bysong was a teenager and the only Seventh-day Adventist in her family when she moved to Colorado in the 1860s
– September 4, 2026In 2026 I am 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 am usually featuring 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. In the case of Susan J. Bysong Shaw, although she was not the first to write to the Review from Colorado, there is good evidence she was the first to arrive. According to family lore passed down to Sophia Ann (née Bysong) Snair’s grandchildren, Great-Aunt Susan caused a stir in the Bysong family when she ran away at the age of sixteen and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. To understand why Susan might have run away, one needs to know more about her family. Immigrant Background Sophia Ann* and Susan were sisters in a large family of what were probably German-speaking French and Swiss immigrants. According to their brother, John, their father, Joseph (1802-1870), was a French Catholic who immigrated from Alsace-Lorraine to Montreal, Quebec, in 1824. There he met and married Swiss-born Anna Speicher (1809-1849). Their oldest child, Samuel (1830-1915), was also born in Canada. The Bysong family’s background is a conundrum of confusing details, not the least of which are their ethnic heritage and the numerous ways the surname is spelled: Beisang or Beysang were probably the original spellings, with Bysong an American corruption (these are among numerous other spelling variations in the records including Bysung and Bison). Alsace-Lorraine is a region with deep German roots that has been passed between France and Germany numerous times over the centuries. Beisang/Beysang, while Germanic in spelling, also has possible French roots. According to John, his parents moved to Knox County, Ohio, in 1830. In 1831, Joseph and Anna went through a second marriage ceremony in Erie County, New York, probably in Buffalo. This seems to indicate that 1831 rather than 1830 is the correct date for their migration from Canada to the United States. It was not uncommon for immigrants to go through a second marriage ceremony in a new country to ensure the legal benefits afforded married couples in their new homeland. Records indicate that Joseph purchased government land in 1840 in Knox County, Ohio, and established a farm. All of Joseph and Anna’s subsequent children were born in Ohio beginning with Sophia Ann in 1835 (although, Sophia Ann appears to have believed she was born in Canada, this does not make sense unless her mother returned to Canada to give birth). Given the gap between Samuel’s and Sophia Ann’s births, there may have been another child who died. John’s obituary says there were eight children; I have record of seven. Susan was the youngest, born in Knox County on September 10, 1846. Motherless Child Susan was about four years old when her mother died. Although her father remarried in 1851— at this time, he married Ann Marie Hauck; evidence suggests he subsequently married two more times, all women with German heritage—Sophia Ann became the mother figure to her youngest siblings. In 1856 Joseph Bysong decided to move his entire family to Fayette County, Iowa. Initially, the family lived in Windsor Township, though later correspondence was sent from West Union, Iowa. What happened next requires some speculation. In 1860, Susan had a new step-mother, Lydia, who was close to her sister, Sophia Ann’s age (there were also two baby half-siblings). Joseph was approaching sixty years of age. Meanwhile Sophia Ann married Richard Snair in the early 1860s and moved to Gilpin County, Colorado. It is easy to imagine sixteen-year-old Susan feeling abandoned with an aging father, older siblings leaving home, and a new, young step-mother absorbed with the care of her own babies. When Seventh-day Adventists from Waukon, Iowa, arrived in Fayette County, Iowa, keen to make converts, Susan readily soaked up the attention they gave her. In about 1860, recent converts Dan T. Shireman and his wife, Amelia, attempted to spread the Adventist message in Amelia’s hometown of West Union, Iowa. They met with limited success, and Shireman, along with George I. Butler (then a local church elder, but soon to become Iowa Conference president), and John Cole (a recent convert in Waukon) all called for a minister to come to Fayette County in October 1862 (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald). Merritt E. Cornell answered the call, conducting meetings there in November and December 1862 (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald). Shireman and a “Brother Gillet” continued working in the area, while other Adventists from Waukon travelled the forty miles to Fayette to support him in his preaching (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald). It is easy to imagine that Susan’s family was not enamored by her interest in Cornell’s preaching. It is evident that she made new friends among the Waukon members, so leaving to go live with them while her family adjusted would have been appealing. We do not know which of these people drew Susan into their sphere of influence, but we do know that she listened to Cornell’s preaching and started keeping the Sabbath in early 1863. Susan wrote to the Review from West Union in March 1863: For eight weeks I have been striving to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and am not weary in well-doing, but delight in the law of God. My heart glows with gratitude to him who first arrested my attention, opened my blinded eyes, and turned my feet into the way of truth. I praise God that I ever heard the last call of mercy. I was awakened to the truth during the labors of Bro. Cornell in this place; and I feel to give glory and honor unto God, who has delivered me from error, and made me rejoice in the truth. He is still leading me. I can truly say that I love both parts of the message, the commandments of <a class="cat-post-excerpt-more" href="https://www.outlookmag.org/younger-sisters-and-older-women-part-i-susan-bysong-shaw/" title="Continue reading Younger Sisters and Older Women Part I: Susan Bysong Shaw Susan J. Bysong was a teenager and the only Seventh-day Adventist in her family when she moved to Colorado in the 1860s“>Read more…
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Two Thousand Years, One Mission Why Seventh-day Adventists are looking toward 2027 as a renewed call to continue the mission of Jesus
– September 4, 2026In the waters of the Jordan River, something extraordinary happened. Jesus was baptized. As He prayed, heaven opened, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and the Father declared, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21–22, NKJV). It was more than a baptism. It marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and the fulfillment of a prophecy God’s people had been waiting centuries to see. Nearly 2,000 years later, Seventh-day Adventists around the world are looking toward 2027 as an opportunity to remember that moment, lift up Jesus and recommit ourselves to the mission He began. Why 2027? For Adventists, A.D. 27 is a familiar and significant date. Daniel 9:24–27 points forward to the coming of the Messiah. Beginning with the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem in 457 B.C., the 69 prophetic weeks—or 483 prophetic years—bring us to A.D. 27. Luke places the ministry of John the Baptist during the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1–3) and later records Jesus coming to John to be baptized and the Holy Spirit descending upon Him. For Seventh-day Adventists, Daniel’s prophecy gives this moment added significance. Messiah means “Anointed One.” At His baptism, Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit and began His public ministry. Soon afterward, Jesus announced what that ministry would look like: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.… to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18, NKJV). A.D. 27 to 2027 represents approximately 2,000 years. But 2027 isn’t simply an anniversary to commemorate. His mission remains our mission. One Mission, One Focus You may already be hearing another name connected with 2027: OneVoice27. OneVoice27 is the worldwide church’s rallying call for Seventh-day Adventists to unite in sharing Jesus as we approach this 2,000-year milestone. It envisions members, congregations, institutions and media ministries using every available platform to lift up Christ and connect people with local churches. All Things New is the outward-facing expression of that larger movement—the invitation we can share with our friends, neighbors and communities. In North America, it provides a simple pathway: Pray Like Jesus. Serve Like Jesus. Share Jesus. Follow Jesus. Whatever name you encounter, the most important part isn’t the campaign name. It’s Jesus. Spend Time With Jesus Ellen White wrote, “It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ” (The Desire of Ages, p. 83). Imagine what could happen if Adventists across Mid-America intentionally did exactly that. All Things New encourages members to spend time in Scripture and prayer and to read or listen to the four Gospels and The Desire of Ages. The goal is more than completing a reading plan. As we spend time with Jesus, we allow His life to shape ours. Then prayer moves us toward people. To Serve Like Jesus means noticing needs around us and responding with Christ’s compassion—helping a neighbor, volunteering or simply being available when God places someone in our path. Then we Share Jesus through Bible studies, personal testimonies, evangelistic meetings, conversations and the digital tools already in our hands. OneVoice27 recognizes the opportunity media provides to bring the hope of Jesus to the world. Ultimately, we invite people to Follow Jesus through baptism and a lifelong journey of discipleship, service and spiritual growth. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus came out of the waters of baptism filled with the Holy Spirit and began a ministry that changed the world. The world has changed. The ways we communicate have changed. But Jesus hasn’t changed. And neither has His mission. As we move toward 2027, the invitation is simple: Spend time with Jesus. Pray like Jesus. Serve like Jesus. Share Jesus. And invite someone else to follow Him. Learn more about All Things New and discover ways you and your church can participate at allthingsnew2027.com. The initiative begins in united in prayer September 5th, 2026.
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The Shape of Grief by Kayla Stanley
– September 3, 2026It’s difficult to put into words, but 27 years ago, my dad had a life-changing experience. A tractor ran him over from head to foot, and it almost killed him. That was the day that life for my mom and me changed as well. After being in the hospital and rehab from Labor Day until almost Christmas, my dad came home…to live with us permanently. Life wasn’t easy. Assisting and adjusting to my dad was rough. He’d always been around, but he was a ramblin’ man. A gypsy. A guy who made his own rules and lived a thousand lives, doing a thousand different jobs…and then he came to live with us permanently. He couldn’t drive or work anymore. He was on a bunch of meds. His free, independent lifestyle was gone. So, his anger grew. I’m sure it was grief. He suddenly depended on others telling him what he could and could not do. And it all rocked my teenage world. However, with all the ups and downs, there was good. He was later a wonderful grandpa to my girls, and he became a softer, gentler husband…most of the time. I believe he grew closer to Jesus than he would have without the accident. Even though it was rough, I’m glad he survived. But the memories are bittersweet. Here are 27 things I learned after this life-changing event: 1. 27 years later, the pain still swells up from time to time. 2. Life is short. Make the most of today, because tomorrow your world might be different. 3. What you had will never be the same as before… 4. …but it might be better. 5. Time does heal wounds… 6. …but the wounds are still there. 7. Grief changes the way you look at your life; it changes shape over time… 8. …but love is what stays. 9. It’s OK to mourn what you had. Grief is weird… 10. …crying is normal. So is not crying. We process differently. 11. Some days you can forget… 12. …and other days you can’t get out of bed. 13. You learn to carry the weight, rather than waiting for it to disappear. 14. You grow stronger, even if you don’t feel like you are. 15. The world can’t understand your specific pain, even if you had family and friends who suffered too. Everyone grieves differently. 16. It’s OK to celebrate by remembering birthdays and anniversaries. 17. Honoring what was lost and embracing what is still here can happen at the same time. 18. Joy and sadness can co-exist in the same moment. 19. Remember the good times that you had. 20. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, but of courage. 21. You can laugh and feel joy without feeling guilty. 22. Your capacity to feel deep pain reflects your capacity to feel deeply. 23. Be gentle and compassionate with yourself as you would with a friend, while you process what has happened. 24. You might forget an anniversary, a birthday, or a special day, and you aren’t a bad person for doing that. 25. You can reduce your expectations. Nothing is forever. 26. You are allowed to look forward to tomorrow, to plan, to dream, to have a future. 27. God is there, even when you can’t see Him, and it feels like you’ve been deserted. My dad has been resting in Jesus for eight years now, but my mom and I continue to learn from our life-changing experience that Labor Day weekend. We look forward to the time when there will be no more tears, pain, suffering, or death, according to Revelation 21:4. Kayla Stanley is a member of the New Creation Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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MAUC Church Ministries Report: Building Relationships, Equipping Ministry Leaders Church Ministries
– September 2, 2026As church ministries director my primary focus has been to build intentional and meaningful relationships with departmental leaders across our local conferences and churches. It continues to be my belief that strong relationships are essential for effective ministry. By developing these connections, I have been able to better understand the unique needs of each conference and local church, allowing me to provide more relevant support, training, and resources. Prior to serving at MAUC, I worked at a local conference organizing and running youth and young adult programs. Transitioning to the union level required a shift in focus from direct program leadership to equipping leaders, providing training and offering resources. This adjustment has broadened my perspective and allowed me to serve more strategically across the union. Additionally, I have grown in my ability to identify and connect churches with financial resources, including grants and other funding opportunities to help sustain and expand ministry efforts in a broad range of areas. SERVING CHILDREN, ADVENTURERS AND PATHFINDERS Since beginning my tenure in 2021, we have seen strong engagement in children’s ministries and club ministries across the union. Participation in the Pathfinder Bible Experience continues to be a highlight. At our most recent union-level PBE event held at Mile High Academy in Denver, Colorado, we had 39 teams participating, with 19 teams advancing to the North American Division level in Hawthorne, Florida. Several conferences within the union have also begun participating in Adventurer Bible Games, a similar initiative designed for younger children in the Adventurer program. We anticipate continued growth in this area, with more conferences adopting ABG over the next five years. The Mid-America Union had the distinct privilege of hosting the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming. This historic event brought together over 60,000 Pathfinders from around the world. Our union welcomed close to 3,000 participants from all six conferences, many of whom experienced spiritual growth, formed lasting friendships, and made life-changing decisions for Christ, including baptism. Looking ahead, we are preparing for our upcoming Mid-America Union Camporee, Limitless, scheduled for July 28–31, 2027, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This will be our first Union Camporee since Kindred Spirit in 2017, and we anticipate a powerful time of spiritual renewal and connection for our young people. We have also provided ongoing annual training for the “Alive in Jesus” children’s Sabbath school curriculum. Our goal is to equip leaders to effectively implement this Christ-centered approach. If we can help children develop a strong connection to both the person of Christ and the community of faith at an early age, we will cultivate lifelong disciples. EXPANDING YOUTH MINISTRIES This year, we launched a new initiative aimed at addressing a critical ministry gap: the Adventist Public High School Network (APHN). This ministry is designed to support high school students attending public schools, which represents approximately 80 percent of the Adventist high school population within the Mid-America Union. Too often, these young people are unintentionally overlooked when ministry efforts focus primarily on students attending Adventist academies. APHN seeks to provide intentional support, connection and spiritual engagement for these students. As part of this initiative, we are working in collaboration with Union Adventist University to host Friday night programs in local churches. These gatherings will create a supportive environment for students who choose to honor God by not participating in activities such as sports and extracurricular events during Sabbath hours. Our prayer is that this initiative will strengthen their faith, deepen their connection to the church, and inspire many to pursue Adventist higher education following graduation. SUPPORTING SUMMER CAMP MINISTRIES The Mid-America Union is blessed with nine camp properties, owned and operated by our six conferences. During the last quinquennium, eight of these nine camps conducted summer camp programs. Each year more than 2,500 young people attend camp across the union. Summer camp continues to be one of our most effective evangelistic and discipleship tools. It provides a setting where young people can encounter Christ in a meaningful and life-changing way, often leading to decisions for baptism either during camp or upon returning to their home churches. Additionally, summer camp ministries provide employment, scholarships and internship opportunities for college students. Many young adults who serve at camp develop a lasting commitment to Christ and often choose to continue serving within the church. COLLABORATION WITH ACS Over the past five years, the Mid-America Union has experienced several natural disasters, including wildfires in Colorado, tornadoes in Missouri and Iowa, and flooding in Minnesota. In each instance, our Adventist Community Services teams have responded with compassion and efficiency. Local conference disaster relief workers and volunteers have provided essential support, including housing assistance, food distribution, cleaning supplies, financial aid, and warehouse management in collaboration with local municipalities. Their efforts not only meet immediate physical needs but also serve as a powerful witness of Christ’s love in times of crisis. APPRECIATION FOR VOLUNTEERS AND LEADERSHIP I am deeply grateful for the many volunteers who faithfully serve across the Mid-America Union in a wide variety of ministries. Their dedication, often demonstrated with limited resources and support, continues to be the backbone of our ministry efforts. I am equally thankful for the leadership team of the Mid-America Union who have fostered a collaborative, supportive and mission-driven environment that encourages growth and innovation. CONTINUING FORWARD As we move forward, our ministry focus must remain firmly centered on our mission—to share the gospel throughout the Mid-America Union territory. It is my prayer that we will continue to see vibrant, Spirit-led ministry emerging from our churches—ministries that impact lives, strengthen communities, and prepare for the soon return of Christ. Tyrone Douglas is church ministries director for the Mid-America Union.