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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
“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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
“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
“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
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
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
