Versacare Foundation recently announced the recipients of the first round of funding from its Journalism for Adventist Solutions (JAS) grant initiative. This newly launched program supports journalism within the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, promoting ethical reporting, diverse storytelling, and solutions-oriented communication.
The inaugural round of grants reflects a broad range of innovative projects across the Adventist community. Funding has been awarded to:
- Adventist Today/Spectrum collaboration: Investigate the hugely successful Papua New Guinea 2023/24 baptism
- Central States Education Department: Develop a youth media studio and digital magazine
- Mid-America Union Conference: Initiate a Journalism Fellowship emphasizing ethical, investigative storytelling
- Northern California Conference: Initiate a journalistic education program for 200+ churches and schools
- Southern Adventist University: Pilot a potentially transferable, public service training program in journalism
- Thunderbird Adventist Academy: Enhance student journalism and multimedia learning through coursework and practical application
These recipients represent a diverse cross-section of educational institutions, media organizations, and church entities committed to advancing thoughtful and principled journalism.
The Versacare Foundation JAS fund operates under the guidance of a designated committee chaired by Jim Walters and vice-chaired by Charles Sandefur. Other committee members include Ezrica Bennett, Garrett Caldwell, Alva James-Johnson, and Ray Tetz.
JAS Committee Chair Jim Walters emphasized the initiative’s vision: “Our maturing denomination deserves communication/journalism that possesses a voice beyond administrative PR, and our first group of awardees are an exciting first step.”
Through this first round of funding, Versacare Foundation affirms its commitment to supporting high-quality journalism that informs, engages, and uplifts the Adventist community.
“We are grateful that the committee approved our grant proposal,” said MAUC communication director Hugh Davis. “Brenda Dickerson and I deeply appreciate this opportunity to bring the Mid-America Adventist Journalism Fellowship to life, with God’s guidance. We are eager to take the next steps in launching the fellowship and pray that God will bless this effort, allowing us to see meaningful fruit—fruit that strengthens communication, supports young professionals, and uplifts the mission of the church.”For more information about the Journalism for Adventist Solutions grant, please contact Versacare Foundation.
About Versacare Foundation: Versacare Foundation is an independent private foundation which funds grants for programs and projects that are consistent with its mission and with the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A self-funded lay organization, it is comprised of both lay Adventists and present and former Adventist Church employees. Since 1990 it has awarded 2,471 grants totaling over $39,000,000.
For more information, contact:
Program Director: Kelly Jackson Daugherty, 951-343-5800, kelly@versacare.org
President/CEO: Thomas K. Macomber, 602-421-6589, tkmacomber@versacare.org Journalism for Adventist Solutions Committee Chair: Jim Walters, 909-518-8879, jwalters@llu.edu
