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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The Teacher’s Notes–Authentic Christian Ministry, Lesson 10 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2026 3Q, "First and Second Corinthians"
– August 29, 2026Sabbath School Lesson for August 29-September 4, 2026 Introduction of Lesson 10, Authentic Christian Ministry Memory Text: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, ESV Especially when difficulties and seemingly insurmountable trouble assails us on every front, like they did for Paul, we tend to reach out to God for some indication that our service is Spirit-led and that God is truly behind our efforts. Everyone deserves to know whether their calling to serve God has been a true calling–an authentic one. Paul outlines what a valid life of Christian service consists of in 2 Corinthians, chapters 3-7. Are we uplifting the death and life of Jesus in a way that resembles the experience He had when He lived on earth? “The conversion of sinners and their sanctification through the truth is the strongest proof a minister can have that God has called him to the ministry.” ~Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 328. This week, we’ll explore: Sunday: Fruits of an Authentic Ministry Monday: Suffering and Glory Tuesday: Christ-focused Ministry of Reconciliation Wednesday: Call to Holiness Thursday: Comfort and Joy Sunday: Fruits of an Authentic Ministry In the Greco-Roman world of Paul, evidence of someone’s value largely depended on letters of recommendation you carried with you to prove your good character. Even today, we provide references along with our resume when seeking employment. Paul, however, pointed to the faithful Corinthian church as his letter of recommendation. They were his epistle, “written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3). Paul explained that he and his associates were, therefore, ministers of the new covenant, rather than the old. God’s glory that shone on the face of Moses when he delivered the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone was even more glorious as it shone forth in the hearts of the Corinthian believers. Verses for reflection and discussion: 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 How can we today show the authenticity of a pastor’s calling? 2 Corinthians 3:4-9 and Jeremiah 31:33 What is the difference, if any, between the old and new covenants that Paul referred to here? When does the old covenant become the new for the believers before Christ, and those living in Paul’s day? Monday: Suffering and Glory Jesus suffered here on earth and if we are to be like Him, we can expect a life of trials and suffering. Jesus confirmed this in John 16:33: “…in this world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Therefore, Paul did not hesitate to mention the many times he and his fellow workers had suffered. See 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9. But, this suffering had prepared them for any hard times they might still endure. Their suffering made them stronger and able to comfort others. It had indeed brought life to the believers in Corinth. Just as the suffering and death of Jesus brought about His resurrection to life, we find life in our present, brief encounter with suffering. It will ultimately mean a glorious future of heavenly bliss that will last forever. Verses for reflection and discussion: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 What were some of Paul’s trials and how did he endure them? What helps you most when life gets hard to bear? 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 How does our earthly house/tent (our bodies) in v. 1 sound like the earthen vessels in 2 Corinthians 4:7? What is the treasure that we store in those earthen vessels, and how and when will our earthly habitation become immortal? Tuesday: Christ-focused Ministry of Reconciliation No one has perfected a ministry of reconciliation that matches that of Jesus. He, being God in the flesh, died on a cruel cross so we can be reconciled with our Creator. No one, before or since, can bring sinners that close to God in such a dramatic and comprehensive way. Only when we focus on Christ’s mighty work of reconciliation can we have such a ministry ourselves. Nothing is more important than bringing people to the feet of Jesus–something we all can do with the Spirit’s guidance. Paul rightly called God’s children His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), working on His behalf, spreading the gospel message of salvation to others. How important it is, then, to represent Him fully, with a heart overflowing with love for God and for the people He died for. Verses for reflection and discussion: 2 Corinthians 5:10-15 How did Paul demonstrate a ministry that was centered in Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Colossians 1:19-23, and Ephesians 2:13-16 What does it mean to have a ministry of reconciliation? Wednesday: Call to Holiness The need for God’s people to be holy couldn’t be emphasized enough by Paul. He declared the importance of our love and affection for each other, in other words, our horizontal reconciliations, as proof that we are reconciled with God. This reconciliation is needed if we are to be holy enough to be in God’s presence. Paul’s words encourage us to be holy by separating ourselves from unclean, unholy people and things, especially anything associated with idolatry. He used words like this: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers”, “Come out from among them”, “Be separate”, “Do not touch what is unclean”, “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement”, and “Make holiness perfect in the fear of God”. See 2 Corinthians 6:6:14-17 and 7:1. This call is not one-sided though. It comes with many promises that speak of God’s desire to help us in our quest for holiness. He promises to: dwell in us, walk among us, be our God, allow us to be His people, receive us, be a Father to us, and make us <a class="cat-post-excerpt-more" href="https://www.outlookmag.org/the-teachers-notes-authentic-christian-ministry-lesson-10/" title="Continue reading The Teacher’s Notes–Authentic Christian Ministry, Lesson 10 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2026 3Q, “First and Second Corinthians”“>Read more…
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Kiss Him so as Not to Wake Him Glass Children — Part 1
– August 27, 2026I was thirty-seven months old when my brother came home. That year was counted in minutes, hours, days, weeks, then months. The first thing I was taught was how to kiss him. Lightly. Barely. I would lean over him at bedtime while Mommy rocked him and put my mouth against his forehead without any weight behind it. I was to kiss but not wake him. Mommy felt it important for me to kiss him every night because he might not be there in the morning. After he was born, while they were still hospitalized Mommy and Daddy told me he might die. I was standing on a step outside Mommy’s hospital room window. The hospital was very progressive making a way for children to visit their mothers I stood there and told my parents we needed to pray to Jesus—and then I did. He came home. No one was sitting a three-year-old down to explain what was wrong with the baby. I heard conversations. I made sense of it the way small children do with incomplete information. They did not have a diagnosis until he was 9 months old. Cerebral Palsy. I worked at learning to say these new words. So I kissed him carefully, to not wake him, in case it was the last time–every night. There is a clinical name for what was happening to me in those months, and it is not the one most people expect. It wasn’t fear. A frightened child cries, clings, asks. I did none of that. What I developed instead was hypervigilance — a nervous system that never fully stands down, listens for breathing while it sleeps, that reads a room before it enters it. In a small child, hypervigilance doesn’t look like anxiety. It looks like being good at things. It looks like carefulness, and gentleness, and a little girl who always seems to know what the adults need before they ask. Families rarely worry about that child. They are grateful for her. I am a Glass Child There is a name for her now, too. Glass Child — a term popularized by Alicia Meneses Maples, who grew up between two brothers with profound needs. Glass not because we are fragile, which is the common misreading, but because we are looked through. It is meant to describe a child/adult who grew up in a home where one or more other children required a large amount of the parents’ resources and time. The family’s eyes go past us to the one who might not survive the night. Not every sibling cares for the term, and some parents find it unjust. I use it because the first time I heard it, I recognized myself, and I had been waiting a very long time to be recognized. An easy term that sums up the situation I have spent my career sitting across from the grown version of that child. She comes in at forty, at fifty, wanting to know why she can’t sleep, why her chest tightens when the phone rings at an odd hour. She describes a childhood she insists was fine — and it was fine, in the sense that no one ever hurt her. No one did. That is exactly what makes it so hard to see. But you cannot spend your first years rehearsing a death every night and expect your body to forget the rehearsal. None of this is an accusation. My parents were not careless or unkind. They were doing the only arithmetic available to them: one child needed watching in order to stay alive, and one child did not. They were right. I have raised four children of my own. I know what finite looks like. Short of a medical team living in our house, the arithmetic was going to come out the way it came out. A child, though, cannot hold both halves of that arithmetic. She only ever learns the half about herself. It surprised every adult in the family when he turned one and was still alive. And there is a great deal more of this story to tell. What I want you to see first is the small girl at the side of the rocking chair — so gentle, so quiet, so easy to raise. Loving carefully. Asking for nothing. Listening in the dark for a sound that would tell her the world was still all right. Next time: the night I could not sleep. Father, for every child who learned early to take up no room — You have never once looked past her. Help the rest of us to see what You see. Amen.
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What Genealogies Tell Us VI The Chain Connects
– August 26, 2026We’ve already watched Noah break this genealogy’s pattern several times — five hundred years before a son is named, three sons instead of one, the wrong son listed first. But there’s another break, and it’s the one that changes what the whole chapter has been doing. Every age in Genesis 5 does the same job. It measures one generation against the next. Adam is 130 when Seth is born. Seth is 105 when Enosh is born. On and on, ten times over — each number tying one man to the man before him and the man after him. Internal bookkeeping, generation to generation, and nothing else. Then look at what happens to Noah’s age a second time. Genesis 5 tells us he’s 500 when his sons are named. But Genesis 7 tells us something Genesis 5 never told us about anyone else: “Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth.” That number doesn’t link Noah—or the genealogy—to any person. It links them both to an event. A world-altering event. That’s a clear signal, telling us what the author wants us to understand. Count back through nine generations and ten ages and hundreds of years of “he lived, and he fathered, and he died,” and you won’t find another instance. No one else’s age is pinned to anything outside the family line. Adam’s isn’t linked to the fall. Enoch’s isn’t linked to any historical moment related to his walk with God. To this point, only Noah’s reaches past the genealogy’s pattern to grasp something happening in the world. Again, this signals that the chain itself was never just a family record. Ten generations, ten sets of ages, all of it internal, all of it self-referential — until the last name suddenly points outward and says: this is what it was all for. The genealogy wasn’t counting years. It was counting down. Counting down to the greatest catastrophe humankind had yet known. And the greatest deliverance.
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It’s Not Too Big For God No Problem Too Big
– August 25, 2026https://youtube.com/shorts/Vtk8aBy9tag?si=KiFI_rOTgmEx2ydi
Featured Stories
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Understanding the Structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church **Information and graphics adapted from research conducted by the Columbia Union Visitor
– August 31, 202623,684,237 Members in the World Church* *as of Dec. 31, 2024 67, 512 Church Members in the Mid-America Union* *as of Q3 2025 MEMBERS play a vital role in the life and mission of the church. Functions include participating in worship services, encouraging fellow members, leading outreach and evangelistic efforts, volunteering in ministries, and supporting the church financially. Members make up local churches. 525 Churches and Companies in the Mid-America Union LOCAL CHURCHES serve as a community, providing space for congregational gatherings, worship services, prayer meetings and spiritual fellowship. Local churches play a key role in serving the needs of the surrounding community and in evangelism. Additionally, they offer religious educational programs, social activities and support services to nurture the spiritual growth and well-being of their members. Local churches make up conferences. 6 Conferences in the Mid-America Union CONFERENCES oversee the operations of local churches, schools, summer camps and other ministries within a specific area. Functions include providing pastoral leadership and support to local churches, facilitating evangelistic and outreach activities, and organizing camp meetings and other spiritual events. Conferences play a vital role in nurturing the spiritual life of members and overseeing the local churches’ day-to-day operations. Conferences make up unions. 9 Unions in the North American Division UNIONS, including the Mid-America Union, provide administrative leadership to conferences, schools of higher learning and health care systems. Unions provide support services to strengthen areas such as communication, community service, evangelism, IT, leadership development, legal, ministerial, youth and multilingual ministries. Unions are the intermediate administrative units between conferences and divisions, facilitating communication and collaboration. Unions make up divisions. 13 Divisions of the General Conference DIVISIONS, such as the North American Division, serve as administrative units that oversee the Adventist work within a specific geographical territory. Their functions include coordinating and providing support to the unions within their region, promoting evangelism, resourcing spiritual growth, and representing the church’s interests within their territory. Divisions do not have constituency sessions—they have executive committee meetings. Divisions are the regional offices of the the General Conference. THE GENERAL CONFERENCE serves as the world headquarters for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It provides leadership, resources and guidance to the worldwide divisions. The GC oversees the mission of the church, facilitates policies and guidelines, promotes unity and collaboration, conducts initiatives and programs, and represents the Adventist Church on an international level. Voting delegates to GC Sessions are selected by conferences and confirmed/sponsored at the union level.
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Team Creation Kids Camp: Bringing the Gospel to Where Families Live
– August 31, 2026Team Creation Kids Camp, a mobile Vacation Bible School ministry, spent another summer taking the gospel directly to families’ doorsteps in apartment complexes, neighborhoods and parks across Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and beyond — reaching hundreds of children through games, Bible-based lessons, and door-to-door prayer. The ministry launched in 2020 as a partnership between the Iowa-Missouri Conference and NC4Y (New Change For Youth Church), born out of necessity when COVID-19 closed doors to traditional outreach. “The idea of a mobile vacation Bible school, really a mini evangelistic series for children and for their families right in the area where they’re at outdoors, was born,” said Elisabeth Cowan, Kids Camp coordinator. What began as an experiment now welcomes between 400 and 500 children each year, with volunteers knocking on roughly 900 doors each summer to invite families to attend. Unlike a traditional VBS held inside a church building, Team Creation meets people where they already are. Program materials describe it as “not just a one-week event — it is a relational ministry model,” meant to help churches and schools build lasting community connections rather than a single week of activity. Volunteers, most of them high school and college age, said the approach opens doors that a church building often can’t. Team members described watching families move from curious bystanders to committed church members, as kids’ enthusiasm draws in parents who begin attending church themselves. Churches, schools or ministries interested in partnering with Team Creation Kids Camp can contact Elisabeth Cowan at teamcreation.kc@gmail.com Watch IMSDA Socials for more Team Creation Kids Camp promotional content later this year.
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Q&A About Constituency Sessions
– August 27, 2026WHAT IS A CONSTITUENCY SESSION? All members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are part of a constituency, which is defined as a group of voters in a specified region who elect representatives to a legislatorial body. In this case, church members of the Mid-America Union Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska, have designated 389 regular delegates who will represent them during the tenth quinquennial constituency session on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. Typically, unions hold their constituency sessions the year after a General Conferences Session. Once a date is set, planning begins well in advance–about 15 months before the session is held. In addition to logistical planning, important policy deadlines must be met for a session to take place. Required notifications and proposed changes to the union’s constitution and bylaws must be prepared and properly distributed within specific timeframes. WHAT HAPPENS AT SESSION? As required by our Bylaws, every five years delegates elect union leadership, receive reports from union leaders and entities, and vote on general decisions and church business. Reports on finances, church membership, audits and other statistics are also received and voted. Additionally, the delegates will vote on proposed changes to the union’s Constitution and Bylaws. Beyond a gathering to conduct church business, this meeting invites delegates and members alike to listen carefully to reports and other information and to earnestly seek God’s leading for the next chapter in our journey. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? It’s about accountability. The union president, vice presidents and department directors will present reports and be available for questions. The president of Union Adventist University will also give a report, since UAU’s Constituency Session is joined with the Mid-America Union’s. But there’s more than business reports and votes! It’s also a celebration highlighting mission, evangelism and the blessings of the Lord in the past five years. It’s an opportunity to analyze the state of the Mid-America Union Conference—organizationally, financially and statistically—and to cast a vision for how best to advance God’s work in the heartland of America. WHO IS REPRESENTING ME? Please contact your local conference for a list of the delegates they selected from your area. HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT GETS VOTED? Visit OUTLOOKmag.org or follow OUTLOOK’s Facebook: facebook.com/OutlookMag/ WHY DO UNIONS EXIST? All levels of Adventist organization ultimately exist to support local churches and schools—from the General Conference with its world divisions, to the union conferences and the local conferences, to which the churches belong. The main role of the union is to strengthen its local conferences and institutions. Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Mid-America Union Conference facilitates the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church throughout a nine-state region in the Mid-western United States. Organized into six local conferences, our territory spans Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and San Juan County in New Mexico. The Mid-America territory currently includes over 67,000 church members in more than 500 churches or companies, as well as 65 elementary and secondary schools, one university, nine summer camps and a number of youth and young adult programs. The union conference serves by providing assessment tools, facilitating collaboration, offering mentoring and training, and providing a layer of communication and accountability between local conferences and the global church structure. Union conferences are also shared service centers for teacher training and certification and school accreditation, regional Pathfinder camporees, ministerial conventions, religious liberty services, low-cost loans to build or renovate churches and schools, and coordination of humanitarian aid through Adventist Community Services. Each year, MAUC organizations sponsor dozens of programs and projects that address human needs, improve quality of life and introduce people to Jesus. In addition, union leaders provide counsel and support for the Board of Trustees of higher educational institutions, maintain lines of accountability with Adventist healthcare institutions, and publish the union paper that helps members be aware of and celebrate what God is doing in each territory. The Mid-America Union Conference would like to thank each member of the Executive Committee and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for their term of service (during Sept. 2021-2026): EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Central States Conference Gary Collins Joseph Ikner Cryston Josiah Natalie Swift Dwayne Williams Dakota Conference Darla Anderson Vernon Herholdt Darren Purdy Lynnette Struntz Iowa-Missouri Conference Steve Bascom Matt Cook Kent Dunwoody Lee Rochholz Tim Saxton Kansas-Nebraska Conference Jeff Bovee Ron Carlson Larinda Fandrich Simon Liversidge Minnesota Conference Marilyn Carlson Sharon Erickson Eric Mokua Jeff Scoggins Rocky Mountain Conference Darin Gottfried Sam Miller Wayne Morrison Carol Turk David VendeVere Mid-America Union Conference Donna Brown Darrel Huenergardt Hubert Morel, Jr. Gary Thurber Roy Simpson Union Adventist University Yami Bazan AdventHealth Sam Huenergardt Brett Spenst Other Institutions in our Territory Brad Forbes (AdventSource) Dexter Thomas (Christian Record Services for the Blind) CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE Hubert Morel, Jr. (chair) Darrel Hunergardt (secretary) Joseph Ikner Don Krassin Robert Decker Kent Dunwoody Eric Mokua Mary Lynn Green Tyson Shaw Kyoshin Ahn (NAD invitee)
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Investing in People MAUC Presidential 5-Year Report 2026
– August 26, 2026The first constituency session I ever attended was when I entered ministry in 1984 as a pastoral intern in the Washington Conference. I remember sitting in awe as I watched church leaders prayerfully conduct the business of God’s work. Now, more than 40 years later, I still believe these meetings matter because they remind us that we are accountable to one another, and united in mission. That is why the theme for this constituency session, United in Service—Living the Gospel, resonates so deeply with me. Being united in service is essential if we want to accomplish the work God has called us to do in Mid-America. We will not always agree on every issue, but that should never keep us from loving one another or working together for His mission. The apostle Paul reminds us, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit…regard one another as more important than yourselves…do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3–4, NASB). In the Mid-America Union, we have sought to live out that biblical principle through our core values of collaboration, responsibility and diversity. Together, these values help guide our desire to spread hope and wholeness to every person who lives within our territory. One exciting opportunity to do that is through the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s OneVoice2027 initiative. As churches around the world unite in evangelistic outreach over the coming year, I look forward to seeing how God will work through His people. A FOCUS ON FAITHFULNESS As you read the reports in this publication, you will see evidence of God’s blessings on the tremendous ministries taking place across Mid-America during the past five years. Our territory had the privilege of hosting two General Conference Sessions and the International Pathfinder Camporee, but the ongoing story is found in the faithful ministry happening every day throughout our churches, schools, healthcare ministries, camps and local conferences. Our deeply committed educators shape young lives both academically and spiritually. Equally committed Community Services and Disaster Response volunteers bring hope during times of crisis. Camps create places where lifelong friendships are formed and young people encounter their Savior. AdventHealth continues Christ’s healing ministry, while Union Adventist University prepares students for lives of faithful service. Perhaps what encourages me most is what happens every Sabbath in our local churches led by our devoted pastors. Members gather to worship, study God’s Word, encourage one another, and share Christ with their communities. Those quiet acts of faithfulness are the foundation of everything we do. STRONGER TOGETHER Looking back on my years as president, one lesson stands above the rest: ministry is always stronger when we work together. No single office or individual can accomplish God’s mission alone. Some of the accomplishments I am most grateful for are not buildings completed or events hosted, but partnerships strengthened, leaders encouraged, and ministries supported across our nine-state territory. Having served as a teacher, pastor and youth ministries leader, I have always believed that investing in people is one of the church’s greatest responsibilities. It has been a joy to watch God raise up faithful leaders across Mid-America who serve with humility, compassion and a heart for mission. BLESSING UPON BLESSING Looking back, I am most thankful not for milestones reached but for lives changed. Every baptism, every student who chose to follow Christ, every family that found hope reminds us why we do this work. Changed lives are the true measure of success. Time and again, I have watched the Lord provide exactly what His church needed. He has opened doors, raised up leaders, and blessed ministries beyond what we could have imagined. One of my greatest blessings has been serving alongside an exceptional group of conference presidents. I would not trade our leadership team for any other in the North American Division. I am equally grateful for Dr. Yami Bazan, the dedicated faculty and staff at Union Adventist University, and the remarkable employees of the Mid-America Union office. Their servant hearts, professionalism and commitment to God’s mission have blessed me beyond measure. I would also be remiss if I did not thank my wife, Diane. Her faithful partnership, encouragement, and unwavering support have strengthened me throughout our years in ministry. Whatever good has been accomplished during my service has been possible because we have served together. OUR ETERNAL HOPE This session is especially meaningful because it will be my last as president. At its close, a new leader will be chosen for the Mid-America Union. While I will miss serving in this role, I believe God blesses His church through new leadership and fresh perspectives. My heartfelt request is simple: pray for and support the person He calls to serve. I cannot express how thankful I am for the privilege of serving the wonderful people of Mid-America. Your faithfulness, generosity, and commitment to God’s mission have been a constant encouragement to me and gives me great hope for Mid-America’s future. If we truly embrace the call to be United in Service—Living the Gospel, while remaining grounded in our values of collaboration, responsibility, and diversity, I believe the years ahead will be among the most fruitful in the history of the Mid-America Union. May God continue to use us to provide something good and eternal in a very broken world as we spread hope and wholeness throughout our territory until the day we are all united in His eternal kingdom. Gary Thurber is president of the Mid-America Union.