Adventist News

  • Prayer and Power Ignite St. Louis Launches Season of Prayer and Evangelism

    On April 12, 2025, the Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Louis was filled with energy, unity, and purpose during the Ignite St. Louis: One Spirit, One Mission prayer symposium. Hosted by the Mid-America and Lake Union Conferences, the evening event drew church members and leaders together to pray for God’s power and guidance leading up to major evangelistic efforts. Prayers were offered specifically for the Pathway to Health clinic, evangelistic meetings in multiple locations, church-led efforts with Pentecost 2025, and a special community focused prayer initiative during the General Conference Session. Keynote speakers Elder G. Alexander Bryant, president of the North American Division, and Pastor Mark Finley, evangelist and assistant to the president of the General Conference, inspired attendees to pray boldly, serve faithfully, and trust God to do something special in St. Louis. The event was part of a larger movement of prayer-focused efforts happening across North America. With over 5,000 planned evangelistic campaigns taking place in 2025, church leaders are calling members to unite in prayer like never before. The goal is to seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and prepare hearts for a large harvest of souls. “We want the world to see a miracle in St. Louis,” said Elder Gary Thurber, president of the Mid-America Union, during his welcome. “When delegates from around the globe come for the General Conference Session, may they see what happens when Jesus is in the middle—there is peace.” Pastor Mark Tagaloa, the newest pastor serving at the St. Louis Central church and associate ministerial director for the Iowa-Missouri conference, opened the meeting with prayer and humor, introducing himself as “a big, loving Samoan” ready to do God’s work in the city. He thanked the church family for their warm welcome and reminded everyone that God is calling people right now to serve in St. Louis. Elder Bryant, who once served as president of the Central States Conference and was baptized at Northside Church, shared a message from Matthew 28 that encouraged believers not to be discouraged by doubt. “Jesus begins the Gospel Commission not with ‘go,’ but with ‘all authority has been given unto Me,’” he said. He explained that believers don’t just go with ordinary power—they go with exousia power, derived from the Greek for divine authority. His message reminded the audience that even when some believers doubt, Jesus still sends his people with authority to preach the gospel. “The church is not on the defense,” Bryant declared. “We’re not just trying to keep the devil out. We are storming the gates of hell with Holy Ghost power.” After several seasons of prayer and scripture, Pastor Finley concluded the evening with a message on the power of intercessory prayer. Using stories and Bible verses, he explained that when people pray for others, God moves in special ways to open hearts and change lives. “You may not understand how prayer works, but you don’t have to understand electricity to flip on the light,” he said. “Something happens when we pray that does not happen when we do not pray.” He shared how churches and families can experience miracles when they commit to daily, specific, and Spirit-led prayer for others. He encouraged everyone to make a list of people they are praying for and believe that God hears and responds. Throughout the evening, attendees were invited multiple times to form small prayer groups. Whether praying for the General Conference Session, the evangelistic series scheduled for St. Louis, or the upcoming Pathway to Health event, the sanctuary was filled with quiet, earnest voices lifted in prayer. A major focus of the evening was also to rally support for Pathway to Health, a large-scale free medical clinic scheduled for May 2025 in downtown St. Louis. Organizers are expecting thousands of people to come through the clinic to receive not only medical care but also spiritual encouragement and follow-up from local churches. Speakers shared stories from past clinics, including people who joined the church after being touched by the kindness of volunteers. “We’re not just treating bodies,” said Kathy Prophitt, one of the program leaders. “We’re connecting people to Jesus through love and service.” Kyle Allen, a vice president with Adventist World Radio and Carmelo Mercado, general vice president of the Lake Union Conference also emphasized how every member is needed—not just pastors or doctors, but anyone with a willing heart and a smile. Elder Elden Ramirez, executive secretary of the Lake Union, shared a personal testimony about planting churches in St. Louis over 25 years ago. At the time, he and his wife were struggling with infertility, but as they focused on mission work—knocking on doors and preaching the gospel—God performed a miracle. “My daughter was born right here in St. Louis,” he said. “Miracles still happen when we focus on sharing the love of Christ.” Ramirez reminded the crowd that evangelism is not just about events but about changed lives. “If you want to see miracles in your own life, go work for someone else’s salvation,” he said. Pastor Trevor Barnes, pastor of Northside Church, was recognized and thanked for graciously opening the church’s doors and helping host the event. Before the night ended, those in attendance were asked to pray in small groups for the upcoming General Conference Session, the evangelistic series in St. Louis, and the thousands of people who will be served by Pathway to Health. Voices were lifted in prayer all around the church. At the end of the program, guests were invited to stay for a fellowship meal. Leaders encouraged people from different churches to meet someone new, build community, and prepare to work together in the months ahead. As one speaker said during the event, “St. Louis will never be the same after this year.”   YouTube Service Photo Album Revelation of Hope, June 20-28 – A transformative series by Elder Ted Wilson, general conference president, designed to inspire faith. Breath of Life, June 21 – July 5 – A city-wide evangelistic initiative Prayer and Power Ignite St. Louis Launches Season of Prayer and Evangelism“>Read more…

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  • Photo of the Music Festival choir singing in the College View Church Original Recording of “Revelation Song” Students from Mid-America academies join their voices

    During the annual Mid-America Music Festival held on the campus of Union Adventist University, students in Union’s Introduction to Music Production and Technology (MAUP 110) class tackled a marathon project. Over the course of three hours, the class recorded 120 tracks. The end result? A cover of “Revelation Song” starring approximately 200 vocalists from seven Adventist academies in the Mid-America Union. “When we got together with the Enrollment team to brainstorm ways to make this weekend a little bit more impactful, a little more exciting and a little more memorable, we thought, Why not incorporate something we’re already doing?” said Steven Hutchison, assistant professor of music. “We thought, Let’s bring them all into our music studio. But our music studio isn’t that big.” The choirs were recorded separately then combined digitally to include all of the high school students. With vocal coaching from Mayah Evans, a senior nursing major, vocalists from each school recorded the solo tracks, though only six were featured in the final song. The selection process was completely blind — based solely on the quality of the recording and the voice. Because of the anonymous selection process, Hutchison does not know which students made the final cut. Written by Jennie Lee Riddle, “Revelation Song” references passages throughout the Book of Revelation. It has been covered by Christian recording artists including Philips, Craig and Dean, Kari Jobe and The Newsboys. This Music Festival recording features an original arrangement by Hutchison. “One of the things we love doing at Union is amplifying voices,” Hutchison said. “By that, I mean we have so many unique perspectives and so many students from different areas of the country and different walks of life coming together here on our campus. They all have a story, and we help them find their voice. We have students now taking classes in our recording studio on how to produce podcasts and record music and write their own music.” The track is available to listen and download through Union’s website at uau.edu/musicfestival2025

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  • AdventHealth Lays Groundwork for New Denver Metro Hospital

    AdventHealth has unveiled plans to become the first health care provider to build a medical campus in The Aurora Highlands, a 4,000-acre master planned community south of Denver International Airport.  The new medical campus will be a dual-phased initiative that starts with the construction of the AdventHealth Aurora Highlands Emergency Room (ER) and medical office building, followed by future plans to expand into an acute care hospital.  The first phase of the project will involve an investment of $81 million to develop an 88,000 square-foot facility located just south of The Aurora Highlands Parkway exit on E-470. The three-story building will include:  A freestanding emergency room with eight exam rooms, two trauma exam rooms, and a helipad.  An outpatient imaging center with CT, ultrasound and X-ray on day one, with plans to add MRI in the future.  Clinic space on the second floor with 27 exam rooms. The third floor will be shelled space for future clinic growth.  The AdventHealth Aurora Highlands ER will use geothermal energy to heat and cool the building, helping reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption. This effort will make strides on AdventHealth’s aspirations around making a positive impact on climate change. In 2022, AdventHealth signed the U.S. Health and Human Services Health Sector Climate Pledge, committing to reduce emissions from onsite operations and purchased electricity by 50 percent in 2030.  The AdventHealth Aurora Highlands ER expects to start operations in September 2026. When the campus opens, it will be considered a department of AdventHealth Parker.  “The Aurora Highlands is one of the fastest-growing areas in the Colorado market,” said Michael Goebel, CEO of AdventHealth Parker and AdventHealth Aurora Highlands ER. “Right now, the closest emergency room is at least nine miles away. This facility will not only provide whole-person care closer to home but will keep families from having to fight traffic to get the care they need.”  Phase 2 of the project will include expanding into a Level III trauma hospital. The American Trauma Society defines a Level III trauma hospital as a space that has demonstrated an ability to provide advanced trauma life support, providing evaluation, stabilization and diagnostic capabilities for injured patients. The Aurora Highlands neighborhood is expected to grow by nearly 40 percent in the next 10 years, and AdventHealth looks forward to growing with the community.  “AdventHealth’s arrival at The Aurora Highlands marks an exciting milestone for our growing community,” said Carla Ferreira, CEO and principal developer of The Aurora Highlands, a new 4,000-acre master planned community near the Denver airport. “This state-of-the-art facility will provide convenient access to world-class health care while creating valuable jobs that support the growth and vitality of the region. We are thrilled to welcome AdventHealth to The Aurora Highlands as we continue building a connected, thriving place where people can live, work and flourish.”  This expansion is part of AdventHealth’s commitment to caring for the communities where they belong, and the organization looks forward to Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ to the northeast Denver metro area.  

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  • Adventist Volunteers Urgently Needed in St. Louis: May 4 – 9

    Have you dreamed of going on a mission trip? You can make a direct impact on lives here in North America. Join Pathway to Health as we reach the city of St. Louis, Missouri, ahead of GC Session. Pathway to Health, a humanitarian service of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, provides free mega-clinics to major cities in North America, delivering free medical, dental, and other services to local communities. You will be joined by hundreds of other volunteers that share the same passion. We need both medical and non-medical volunteers. There are many ways to volunteer. If you have a heart that beats and love Jesus, you can serve! We are in urgent need of 3,000 volunteers for our upcoming clinic in St. Louis, Missouri, May 4–9. Please visit www.pathwaytohealth.org/register to sign up. The only cost to attend is your transportation and lodging, and we have negotiated discounted rates at area hotels. Childcare is provided. No special licensure is needed if you are a medical professional in the United States, and insurance is covered. Join us as we show God’s love by bringing physical, mental, and spiritual healing to thousands in St. Louis. To Register: www.pathwaytohealth.org/register

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Blogs

  • Satan’s First Lie "Ye shalt not surely die"

    Satan was so successful with his first lie to the human pair in the Garden of Eden that he has been elaborating on it ever since. No one wants to believe that they or someone they love will be gone forever. The devil has many tricks up his sleeve to cause us to misunderstand the state of the dead. Even though the Bible repeatedly refers to death as a “sleep”, the enemy of God has been able to get most of the world to believe that all of us do indeed go on living forever. For ancient pagans and believers in several world religions today, Satan’s lie has caused them to go to great lengths to bow down to other gods, or ancestors, who they feel will give them a chance for the best afterlife possible. In addition, most of the Christian world has been given the impression that we go straight to heaven or hell immediately upon death. This prospect is wonderful for those we know to be righteous followers of God. But it also means that when sinners die, they immediately suffer ongoing, excruciating torment in the fires of hell. This erroneous belief does not reflect well on a loving, merciful, just God, nor is it supported well by Scripture. The belief in this kind of hell has caused many to reject God altogether, which is just fine with Satan. He wants to keep the numbers of God’s faithful as low as he can. There’s another reason Satan has promoted this questionable belief about death though. When people believe their loved ones may already be in heaven, they are more inclined to have a desire to speak to them in the so-called spirit world. Numerous movie and entertainment venues help spread such false ideas about death. Thus, spiritualism, spiritism, the belief in psychic powers, witchcraft, Ouija boards, horoscopes, and tarot cards entice many people to the devil’s playground. Thinking we are dealing with friendly forces, we are instead setting ourselves up for deceptions of the devil. The Bible warns us that these supernatural beings, who are in reality fallen angels, can perform wonders and miracles (Revelation 16:14). We can easily be deceived by the disguises of these “spiritual hosts of wickedness” (Ephesians 6:12). The good news is we don’t have to fall into any of these traps of Satan when we have a correct understanding of what death is. The Old Testament describes the death of both good and bad kings as “sleeping”, or “resting”, with their fathers See 1 Kings 2:10, 1 Kings 15:24, 2 Kings 20:21, 2 Chronicles 28:27, and 1 Kings 16:28. Will there be an afterlife? Of course, but the Resurrection is an event in the future, when Jesus comes again. Lazarus’ sister Martha understood and affirmed her belief that her brother would rise at the last day (John 11:24). The apostle Paul also had faith in a future Resurrection, writing to the Thessalonians that at the Second Coming, those who are alive would join those who have just been resurrected, and together they would be taken to heaven. One would not precede the other (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). It’s a comfort knowing that my loved ones are having a wonderful, dreamless sleep, and none of them are burning forever and ever, or even are in heaven, looking down sadly on the things happening in the world. Will there be a punishment for sin? Of course, but that, too, is in the future. Revelation 20:13-14 describes how fire will come down from heaven after the millennium and devour the wicked, even calling the event “the second death”. I can more easily believe in such a loving, wise God as this outcome portrays. Although we hate to see anyone lost (and so does God, by the way—2 Peter 3:9), we know that the total eradication of the wicked (Malachi 4:1) is the only way the universe can be in perfect peace and harmony again, and we can exist forever in the earth made new. For more evidence to share this topic from a non-denominational source, see this video about the book “The Fire That Consumes”, by Edward Fudge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8Zlh__Xx2E   …or watch the family-approved movie about the life of Edward Fudge, called “Hell and Mr. Fudge”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W66HP-3HO_A&t=2001s

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  • Biblical Lifestyle Changes God has a way for us to be in good health

    Health is your greatest wealth.  The bible has principles that can help you have good health and live up to the potential that God has placed in you.  Knowing and following these principles will make a difference in your life. https://youtu.be/uROp52rPW9E?si=ceD5ef-unBALgnDr

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  • Having Faith Transitioning and keeping faith

    Faith is important during transitioning times in our lives. Transition is going to be part of life. Keeping the faith is the challenging part. https://youtu.be/S85qOZXP0kI

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  • What’s In Your Food We eat everyday , but what are we really eating ?

    There are many things that we eat during a day. It is important to check out the food labels and research the things that are in our foods. In order to be healthy the foods we eat should be nourishing to our bodies. https://youtu.be/bsVH7sfW8co?si=_OHk603Z7S75XM8L

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