The Oshkosh International Pathfinder Camporee 2019 is reflective of a great movement, a movement of young people from around the world coming to one place to experience the love of God in a collective manner. You may have heard or read about it. It was an amazing experience for the youth of the Seventh-day Adventist … Read more
The fall is one of my favorite seasons of the year. Every year, I take time to go to the mountains of New Hampshire to contemplate the breathtaking and diverse colors of the foliage. I enjoy the spring and summer when every leaf on the trees is green; but the diversity of the fall colors … Read more
Living a healthy lifestyle not only benefits individuals, but also those who may be within their sphere of influence. As we get older, our bodies are subject to more and more diseases that can cause devastating impacts on our lives and the lives of our families. It is, therefore, very important that we pay more … Read more
It’s a small city. Two of Joshua’s men report to the leader of the nation that God has blessed, that they can easily take the city of Ai with only “two or three thousand men” (Joshua 7:3, KJV). The children of Israel had just conquered Jericho and witnessed the greatest manifestation of divine intervention yet … Read more
When was the last time you conducted a “spiritual audit” on your life? Spiritual audits provide a great opportunity to determine our growth in various areas of our walk with Christ. It is likely that, for many of us, we just fell in line with the routine of the church after our baptism and it … Read more
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”—Proverbs 6:16-19 … Read more
The youth are not only our future, but they are impacting the work of the church today. As we reflect on biblical history, many of the outstanding leaders in Israel were young adults. People such as Joseph, who distinguished himself in Egypt by standing firmly for his moral convictions and not accepting Potiphar’s wife’s invitation … Read more
The 21st century church is struggling to find a perfect or fitting method to share Jesus with the world. Social and technological changes are moving at a speed with which religions have not been able to keep up. The advancement in communication, although it has benefited the church in many ways, is still by far … Read more
God’s Faithfulness and Love Faith in the Bible is associated very closely with love. Much has been written about faith, hope, and love. Faith and love appear together more than twice the number of times as faith and hope. In the Old Testament, the association of faith and love relate mainly to God’s love and … Read more
God has been faithful to His promise of being with us and guiding us as we carry out the mission of hope and wholeness. As we look back at 2018, we can identify the progress made by Atlantic Union Conference in spite of its challenges. At the onset of 2018, we were faced with the … Read more
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”—Ecclesiastes 9:10, NKJV Just when I thought that residents of California were finally getting a break from all the wildfires, I learned of new ones leaving death … Read more
At this time of the year, we need to take stock of what we have done to relieve the pain and suffering that millions of Americans and other people in the world face every day. Even though the United States is one of the leading food-producing nations in the world, millions of our citizens go … Read more
Often, we hear the words “in Jesus’ name” at church, on the street, at home, after each prayer, and in many other instances in our daily interactions. However, to me, the phrase is a mind-boggling one. Is it only used when we ask God to do something for us? Is it just the cliché we … Read more
On a daily basis we face many storms. Whether it is based on politics, finances, health, or relationships, how we deal with these storms will help to determine whether or not we will survive while in the midst of them. The narrative that is found in Mark 4:35-41 describes an incident that took place when … Read more
It is well known that Seventh-day Adventists, in general, are healthy people. Recent articles in the National Geographic magazine have focused on the fact that Seventh-day Adventist Church members practice a healthy lifestyle and, on average, live healthier lives than the rest of the population. The health message is a core part of Adventist teachings. … Read more
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16, NKJV Years ago, a young Christian girl entered the doors of a Seventh-day Adventist Church after two young Adventists whom she knew extended an invitation to her. She was away from her family, her … Read more
“Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”—Psalm 34:11, NIV If you were asked to name eight of the 10 sons of Haman, would you be able to do it? (Esther 9:7-10) This was just one of many areas Pathfinders were expected to answer questions about for this … Read more
The Church Planting initiative that the North American Division has launched in this quinquennial (2015 -2020) has motivated many churches, members, and leaders to re-examine their true mission in the world. We are commissioned to “ ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of … Read more
Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, one family, under the same roof, sharing common areas. There is not much biographical information about the trio, but one thing is for sure, they were Jesus’ faithful followers and friends (see John 12:1-3). The little we know about them is sufficient to draw an illustration of devout service and unwavering … Read more
When God created us, one of His objectives was to have a relationship with us as He had with the angels. The enemy of our soul, Satan, has calculated that if he can keep us from communicating with God, then he can destroy that relationship. The primary way of communicating with God is through prayer. … Read more
Throughout Adventist history, the church has greatly benefited from the involvement and ministry of youth and young adults at all levels of the organization. The younger they are when they get involved, the more years of service they tend to give and the more the church stands to gain. One example was the ministry of … Read more
As we have crossed over the threshold of time into 2018, we must give God thanks for taking us through 2017. For some of us, it was a challenging year, but we must thank God for taking us through. Our officers and departmental directors moved the work along and we were able to accomplish much … Read more
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”—Matthew 25:40, NIV This year, we have witnessed tragic events around the world at a magnitude that we have not seen before—hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods, domestic violence, sex scandals, … Read more
Thanksgiving is a time for our families to get together and celebrate what God has done for us. Asthe year ends, we have the privilege to reflect on how God has led and blessed us. One of the greatest blessings anyone could ever have is family and supportive people around them. Thanksgiving provides an opportunity … Read more
Out of the many stories one of my college professors told us, I remember one in particular. Attempting to provide an illustration for the very important biblical topic of forgiveness, he told us the story of two brothers. Each time there was a fight between the two, they would go down to the river … Read more
When one considers the enormity of the mission God gave to the church, one must wonder how will the church be able to fulfill it. As we look at the efforts of the church to advance the mission throughout the world, we need to stop and ask ourselves: Can we continue to use our present … Read more
The church must intentionally develop strategies to seek and serve the blind, the widows, publicans, the feeble, and those who are institutionalized in various facilities. Church members in these categories are often in the background, out of the power circles, and out of sight, but must not be forgotten. In fact, we should make sure … Read more
Atlantic Union College (AUC), founded in 1882, is one of the oldest Seventh-day Adventist institutions of higher learning. For more than 100 years, AUC has produced graduates who have made a significant impact on the work of the church at every level. We can only pray that it is within God’s plan that this institution … Read more
“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left”—2 Chronicles 34:1-2 When … Read more
In an attempt to forge a united path going forward, the administration of the Atlantic Union Conference organized a retreat and strategic planning session for its boards, committees, and directors, under the leadership of Paul Brantley, North American Division vice president for strategic planning, and Calvin Rock, former General Conference vice president. They were assisted … Read more
Debt in America continues to be a growing phenomenon. Mortgages, cars, student loans, credit cards, and discretionary purchases have surged, similar to the times just before the greatest financial crisis. It seems as if a large percentage of the U.S. population lives in debt, but that is nothing new. The concept of owing and repaying … Read more
When one observes the assortment of news that comes at us each day from all sides, especially in recent weeks, one may wonder, What in the world is going on? Is the world about to spin out of control? Are we approaching the end of time? Are the events we are witnessing a precursor to … Read more
The omnipresence of God throughout the history of humanity and in the life of the church is the overarching theological theme that has led the church over the years. All human leaders come and go, whether it was Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Peter, Paul, James, or John in the Bible, or any leader of our time, … Read more
The 73rd Psalm begins with the statement, “Truly, God is good to Israel, to such that are pure in heart” (NKJV). As we reflect on the year 2016 and how God has led us through turmoil, distress, and fears, through hills and valleys, hopes and hopelessness, we can truly say that God has been good … Read more
In just a few weeks 2016 will be history. It will be a year to remember for many people because of a number of reasons. However, it is important to remember that with each new moment, each new day, and each new year comes the unknown with its challenges, opportunities, joys, sorrows, and a host … Read more
We are living in a world where self and selfishness has taken center stage. Mankind would rather look to themselves for answers rather than look to God, not realizing that all good things come from God. As the Source of everything good and wonderful, it is incumbent upon all of us to ascribe thanksgiving and … Read more
News broadcasting was never as busy as it is today. Media cannot keep up with the number of catastrophic events happening in the world on a daily basis; and, as you know, not everything is newsworthy. Political violence, social commotions, natural disasters, economic unrest, religious intolerance, global and public health issues, climate changes, and a … Read more
One of the teachers who had a major impact on my daughter’s life was her high school English teacher, Ms. Wright*. She was young, involved, and very interested in making sure her students did well. Ms. Wright was impressed with Aiyana’s writing and her commitment to her studies. She shared with me on several occasions … Read more
God never changes — “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” Hebrews 13:8. In our world we experience changes. This is also true in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. On June 19, 2016, at the Atlantic Union Conference Quinquennial Session in South Lancaster, Massachusetts, we experienced major changes in the elected leadership of our … Read more
The Atlantic Union Conference union-wide “Finish Faithful” Pathfinder Camporee is now history (see cover story). I, for one, was the recipient of a massive amount of inspiration from more than 3,700 youth, young adults, and adult chaperones congregated at Burlingame State Park in Rhode Island. The experience was a moving expression of thanks to God … Read more
“I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”—Philippians 3:13, 14 (NKJV). I recently watched a video of a … Read more
In a few weeks, chosen delegates from around the northeast United States will be converging on South Lancaster, Massachusetts, to participate in the 30th Quinquennial Session of the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Missional reports will be shared. Officers and departmental leaders, along with an executive committee, will be elected. Statistical growth and financial … Read more
The average person does not have a good idea about how to manage money. The consumer debt in America has tripled; the average person in America has more debt than they can handle. Most American families spend more than they earn in a year or just break even. Personal bankruptcies have increased in the last … Read more
In ancient biblical times the cornerstone was the stone at the corner of two walls that united them. It was the visible corner and most important stone of the foundation of the building. It set the level, angle, and outer dimensions of the building. It had to be level and squared true (vertical) so that … Read more
After two dreams and witnessing God’s actual presence in the fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar was still resistant to fully acknowledging God’s divine sovereignty. It wasn’t until after God stripped him of his kingdom and caused him to live as a wild beast for seven years, that the Bible records the once proud king, now humbly saying, … Read more
Recently, my wife and I had the delightful opportunity to attend an evangelistic rally at The Waymark Seventh-day Adventist Church in Boston. Hundreds of members, along with many leaders and pastors from the more than 44 churches in metro Boston, came together to prepare the way for Compassion Boston—a major evangelistic initiative to be held … Read more
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ ”—Isaiah 52:7, NIV My daughter, Aiyana, tells me that I talk to everybody I meet. That’s not true, of course, but that’s her perception. … Read more
Second-class status has often been accorded to women in both Judaism and Christianity. To a large extent this has been mainly due to the influence of other religious and social cultures, which have given women a position of social inferiority. Unfortunately, it was the customs and traditional teachings of the rabbis and other leaders in … Read more
Jesus is confronted with three major temptations (Luke 4:1-13). These are the most basic temptations in life and they form the foundation for all other temptations (1 John 2:15-17). The first temptation was “Stone into Bread.” Satan addressed Jesus by saying, “If you are the son of God.” Satan was trying to get Jesus to … Read more
The delegates and visitors have returned home from the 60th General Conference Session in San Antonio, Texas. What a wondrous and inspiring experience to share in a world-wide convocation of Adventists from all parts of the globe. The music, the spirit-filled preaching, the seasons of prayer all draped around doing the business of the church … Read more
Solomon says, “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate”—Psalm 127:3-5, … Read more
“Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”—Luke 5:26, River Bible The world is weary and longs for something novel. The greatest stranger in the world is Jesus, but He is the least seen and the least spoken of by most people … Read more
“There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this. . . . Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much … Read more
“When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.”—Luke 4:28-30, NLT Jesus, upon … Read more
It is considered by some to be the oldest argument on earth since the world was created, “That’s not fair.” Adam and Eve’s two boys, Cain and Abel, brought their offerings to God. God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s offering. Cain said, “That is not fair,” and it resulted in the first murder in … Read more
Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm; to cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, in which there is no man; to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to spring forth?”—Job 38:25-27, River Bible God … Read more
Matthew 9:36, NIV, says that on Jesus’ third Galilean tour, “When He ( Jesus) saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” The previous verse of Matthew 9:35 lets us know what Jesus did on His second Galilean tour. The Bible says Jesus was … Read more
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known”—Jeremiah 33:3, ESV. The Lord came to Jeremiah while in prison and encouraged him to call to Him in prayer. Jeremiah’s dungeon is symbolic of the dungeon of life. God does not leave His people, … Read more
I am sitting in the stillness of the early morning. The sun is not up yet. There is definitely a chill in the air. All the lights in the house are still off, except in the room where I am sitting. No electronic devices have been turned on yet. There is peace and quiet all … Read more
During this Thanksgiving season, it is appropriate to highlight an anonymous quote that goes like this: “If you can’t find anything for which to be thankful, then make up your mind that there is something wrong with you.” Ingratitude is considered one of the biggest sins, not because it’s bigger, really, but because it’s so … Read more
Someone once said, “There is dignity in suffering; nobility in pain; but failure is a salted wound, that burns and burns again.” The truth is, no one is exempt from failure. Failure and success, most of the time, go hand in hand. It is believed that most successes have been built on failures, not one … Read more
Most of us rarely stop to think about the many places our feet take us on a daily basis. It’s even more rare for us to think about the footprints we leave behind. Depending on the terrain, there may or may not be evidence that we even walked a particular path. On our spiritual journey, … Read more
In Scripture, we are called away from merely viewing life as a consumer. Life is more than achieving, attaining, and acquiring. It’s not about my gaining and getting. Instead, it’s about my giving and getting involved. We are called toward this beautiful reality that when we belong to Christ, we’ve been rewired to not merely … Read more
Have you recently or in the past ever carefully considered the blessings and joy of God’s presence, or for that matter, what it really means to be in His presence? Journey with me through Psalms 84 written by the sons of Korah. The first two verses express a deep yearning for God’s presence and a … Read more
If you ever felt like quitting, remember that the Apostle Paul felt that way also. In a very personal letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1:1-11), he bares his soul about certain things. Things like hardships, deprivation, imprisonment, the unremitting opposition he faced—so much so, that he concluded what he was going through wasn’t just … Read more
While Jesus was on earth, He “mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’—The Ministry of Healing, p. 143. During His ministry, Jesus chose 12 men to be His disciples; He trained them, and … Read more
As we wind our way down the corridors of time, we are always made cognizant that the future is never guaranteed to anyone. The tragedy of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 starkly reminds us of that fact. Nevertheless, for those who trust in the Lord with all their hearts (Psalm 9:10), there is another kind of … Read more
Jesus made this point to His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a [bushel]. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to … Read more
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him.”—Matthew 9:9 (NKJV). Matthew is here writing about himself. But note the modesty of his expression: “a man, named Matthew.” He even omitted the fact that … Read more
In Matthew 5:13, 14, Jesus uses two metaphors to describe the function and activity of Christians. In verse 13, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.” In verse 14, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” Both metaphors are action words that denote some function and activity. Salt is essential for … Read more
Someone has said: “Faith is not faith until it’s everything that you’re holding on to.” When Jesus Christ is the entire focus of your life, He will be everything that you’re holding on to. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be … Read more
“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in … Read more
As president of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America, marking November 26, 1789, “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God.” More than 200 years later, we still have much for … Read more
We had a wonderful and profitable time the weekend of August 23 and beyond. The General Conference, North American Division, Atlantic Union, and five local conference Stewardship directors held meetings on stewardship on Friday night and Sabbath morning and stewardship training seminars at Mount Vernon church on Sabbath afternoon. The churches were packed and the … Read more
During 2013 and beyond there will be an unusual increase of new members into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This is as result of the NY13 evangelistic initiative in the New York Metropolitan area. We rejoice for the approximately 2,000 souls already baptized since the beginning of the year and the many more who will join … Read more
In Psalm 103, ‘A Creation Hymn of Praise,’ David expresses his “all-pervasive attitude of gratitude to God for the marvelous things He has done in his life, in nature, in his personal salvation experience, and for the redemption of God’s covenant people.” It is said that “praising God for His goodness is the highest form … Read more
Maintaining a balance of mind, body, and soul is necessary to live a happy and fulfilled life. All three are interconnected and, should a weakness or imbalance in one of these dimensions of life exist, it could be crippling to the others. For example, if you are suffering from severe emotional stress of the mind, it can cause … Read more
Plans are firmly in place for the Greater New York and Northeastern conferences to hold a joint camp meeting on June 29 in support of NY13. It is occurring on the first weekend of English camp meeting for both conferences. The venue is the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. In addition to … Read more
Someone wrote, “Evangelism is more caught than taught.” In other words, new disciples will catch on to soul-winning when they go out to do personal evangelism with more experienced witnesses. Classroom evangelism, where one learns the basics, is important, but most evangelistic skill is learned and “caught” through practice. Indeed, it’s not just something you … Read more
Can you recall what they used to call places where you fill your car with gas? They weren’t called “gas stations” or “fueling centers,” but “service stations.” When you pulled in, someone would run out to greet you and serve you with gas, wash your windows, check your oil, check your tire pressure, and wish … Read more
In 2011, New York 2013 (NY13), probably the boldest soul-winning initiative in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was born. Its purpose? To reach the people of Metro New York City in 2013 and beyond with the gospel of Jesus Christ. (NY13 is part of a larger world-wide initiative to reach the major cities of the world … Read more
The prophet Isaiah says, in chapter 60:1-3, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His Glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings … Read more
In John chapter 3, Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus, said that the Holy Spirit is like the wind—He is not One who can be controlled. We see the effect of the wind on the trees when the wind blows, but where it comes from or where it goes, we do not know. Jesus was making an … Read more
When disaster strikes anywhere in the United States, the first responders we usually hear about are FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the American Red Cross. Depending on the severity of the damage, actors and artists from the entertainment industry are sometimes next in line to dominate the spotlight, holding benefits and supporting causes to … Read more
When things are done with a sense of duty, with dependence on God, faith in His Word, and with love and goodwill to all, ordinary acts become holy unto the Lord. Yet, Scripture warns us that we can become weary in well-doing. The Apostle Paul entreats us in 2 Thessalonians 3 to beware of unreasonable … Read more
NY13 is upon us. What are we doing? Are we only planning, streaming, and video recording? There’s an old song that goes this way: “A little talk with Jesus makes it right, all right.” This is what prayer is, just talking to Jesus. We live in a complex society and confused world. We face decisions … Read more
The faithful steward is someone who is doing the best he can with the things that God has given him. The Lord calls us to be faithful stewards in everything we do. This is why it is so important, among many things, to honor God with our time, gifts, money, health, and relationships. We must … Read more
During the week of June 22-30, my wife, Marilyn, and I had the opportunity to visit three different camp meetings. What a blessing and inspiration we received! The first visit was to the New York Conference campgrounds at Union Springs Academy. This camp meeting was unique in that they were celebrating the 150th anniversary of … Read more
“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else”—Isaiah 45:22 (ASV). The nations of the world have been looking to their idols for centuries, but all in vain. Many have looked to their boastful philosophies of humanism and secularism, also in vain. … Read more
I recall several years ago trying to convince my late mother to use Skype so that we could see each other when we talk instead of just hearing our voices on the phone. Well, that conversation didn’t go very far. My mother made it clear that computers and other technology were not for her generation … Read more
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”—Galatians 6:7. Recently, a Festival of the Laity SEEDS Conference was held in the Atlantic Union, sponsored by the Atlantic Union Conference Personal Ministries Department. The purpose of the conference was to train, inspire, and encourage the faithful in … Read more
I am amazed at some of the risks people take with their lives, investment, retirement, health, and even family. Jesus told a parable of a man who was going on a long journey (Matthew 25:14-30). The man called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one servant he gave five talents, to another … Read more
For the first time in the history of our church, an evangelistic initiative has been launched that will encompass all levels of the church, from the local church to the General Conference. Never has there been such collaboration between all levels for a soul-winning experience (not just an event) that will impact a major city … Read more
On January 1 this year, two major initiatives were launched. Firstly, the North American Division Prayer Initiative, designed to encourage daily prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit and a spirit of unity in the nine unions and 58 conferences this year. The goal is to “Reach North America”—a plan that embraces and promotes … Read more
Ten years ago, in 2002, the Atlantic Union Gleaner commemorated 100 years of service as a faithful chronicle of work and progress of the Adventist Church in the Atlantic Union territory. This month, we celebrate 110 years. The following is an excerpt taken from the very first issue of the Gleaner, dated January 1, 1902, … Read more
