Over spring break in March, a group of students and adults from Kansas churches traveled with the Kansas-Nebraska Youth Department on a mission trip to El Salvador, partnering with a team from the Washington Conference to serve alongside local leaders and churches in the Eastern El Salvador Conference. The trip started in the dark. The group left in the early morning hours, driving through snow and freezing temperatures, and landed a few hours later in the warmth and humidity of Central America. The contrast was hard to miss, and it only grew from there. One of the stories that stayed with me came from a simple tin shed where a congregation meets faithfully. That church exists because of a man named Alfredo. When he heard that a group of Adventists had lost their meeting space, he offered them a shed on his small farm. Week after week they gathered there, and Alfredo started showing up too. He became part of the church family. By the time our group arrived, he was not just worshiping in that shed. He was at the worksite with us, helping build a permanent church for that same community. His story alone was worth the trip. The week was physical work. The team dug trenches through rocky ground in the heat, carried cinder blocks, and learned from local leaders how to build well. But the other work happened in between—playing with kids at Vacation Bible School, singing together, sharing meals that neighbors brought to the worksite. We saw Jesus in a hundred small moments: a child checking on someone who felt sick, a community giving generously from what little they had. Those moments carry weight. We may have more resources at home, but we were reminded that spiritually, there is still much to learn from people who depend on God every day. James 2:5 says God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith. We saw that. The clearest lesson was also the simplest. Mission is not a destination. The same willingness to go is needed right here, in our churches and schools and neighborhoods, where people feel unseen every week. This was never just a project. It was partnership…God bringing His people together to carry His mission forward. That mission continues today, through all of us. We invite you to pray for the young people who went, for the communities in El Salvador, and that God would help all of us live as missionaries where He has placed us. If you feel called to support this work, your generosity makes opportunities like this possible. Nick Snell is youth & young adult director for the Kansas-Nebraska Conference.

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Sometimes you can walk into a church and just sense that good things are happening. The air vibrates with joy. Members are working instead of watching. Hmong Minnesota Seventh-day Adventist Church is one of those action-packed places where every person seems to know they belong and that they have a task to do. Founded around two decades ago in St. Paul, the Hmong group recently moved into a new building (the former Oromo Church on Central Avenue in Minneapolis) and celebrated their promotion to full church status. The festive ceremony featured traditional music, colorful costumes, Hmong foods, a candlelight dedication, and a visit from former pastoral couple Ko and Terri Saelee, who are now planting a new Hmong congregation in North Carolina. Hmong Americans started arriving from refugee camps in Southeast Asia in the late 1970s and 1980s, and about 100,000 now make their home in Minnesota. Traditionally their religion includes elements of animism, shamanism and Buddhism, though many in Minnesota are open to Christianity. In a 2025 interview with Adventist Review, the Saelees explained that two factors helped guide their early Adventist outreach to the Hmong in Minnesota: first, the importance of building a support system for new members who may feel like outcasts after becoming Christians, and second, the need to gain the respect and friendship of Hmong leaders before introducing Christianity to other group members. This cultural understanding helped to establish the Hmong congregation as a sustainable model for making disciples. In January 2024, Pastor Rachan Ritti-traiphop and his wife, Pranee Sereepat, arrived in Minnesota to serve the Hmong believers. A crucial part of Pastor Rachan’s ministry is purposely getting out to meet more people. The larger Hmong community is tightly interwoven, so he attends weddings, funerals, parties, family gatherings, sports events—any place where people come together. He also asks church members to introduce him to their relatives and friends. Later he invites these new acquaintances to his home for a meal, where he introduces them to other Hmong church members so everyone can get to know each other and form a circle of support and care. Before believing, many people need to experience belonging. Lonely people who are adjusting to a new culture are often reluctant to leave the house, so Pastor Rachan regularly visits Hmong families in their homes. He asks questions about their lives and listens more than speaking. The first visit ends with prayer, and future visits include Bible study for those who are interested and preparation for baptism when they are ready. “In developed countries and urban societies, one thing people need most is relationships,” he says. “Loneliness is like a disease that eats away at human happiness.” Like the Saelee family and others who served before him, Pastor Rachan understands that respect for community leaders is essential when approaching the group-oriented Hmong. He advises “handling the snake by its head,” or engaging with leaders first, showing honor, and seeking their advice before launching community service projects. Hmong Adventists are now known for singing and offering encouragement at funerals, attending family clan meetings in the Twin Cities, opening their church building for community events, and providing teams of church members to carry out volunteer work. Pastor Rachan says one of his ministry heroes is Moses, who loved the Israelite people and was even willing to give his own life because of their sins (Exodus 32). Just as Moses did, Pastor Rachan depends completely on God’s power as he mentors new leaders and models biblical steps for growing a healthy church family. Becky Scoggins is a freelance writer for Minnesota Conference.

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What began as a typical race day quickly turned into a life-saving moment for three AdventHealth Parker team members at the Platte River Half Marathon on April 12.  As runners made their way through the course, Erin Ward, chief operating officer at AdventHealth Parker, noticed a fellow runner just ahead veer off the trail and collapse face-first. “I was about to tap him on the back to encourage him,” he said. “Then, in an instant, everything changed. The moment I saw his face, I knew something was very wrong.”  Without hesitation, Ward called 911, working to describe their location along the river trail as clearly as possible. At the same time, he called his colleagues Antje Oudakker, director of nursing surgical services and Scott Stanley, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at AdventHealth Parker, who were just behind him on the course. Within seconds, the three were joined by others nearby and immediately sprang into action. “There was no hesitation,” Oudakker said. “Our training kicked in and everyone remained calm, focused and acted quickly.”  Oudakker and Dr. Stanley began performing CPR while Ward coordinated emergency response. For the next several minutes, a group of strangers, many with healthcare backgrounds, worked together, rotating through CPR efforts until emergency responders arrived.  “It was incredible to see,” Ward said. “I felt an overwhelming sense of pride watching Antje and Dr. Stanley. Their focus, skill and determination were incredible to witness. It’s a moment I’ll carry with me—it deepened my appreciation for what they do every day and inspired me to sign up for [a Basic Life Support course] myself. It really opened my eyes to how quickly something like this can happen and how being prepared can make all the difference.”  Though the race continued around them, the moment carried a profound weight. “It was surreal,” Oudakker said. “He likely had the same anticipation for race day that I did. But in that moment, it became clear there was a reason we were there.”  Thanks to their swift action and the collective effort of those nearby, the runner’s life was saved. “He didn’t have any damage to his heart muscle and is already on the road to recovery,” Dr. Stanley said. “It’s incredible to know he may be feeling better than he has in years.”  For the team, the experience reinforced something deeper than training alone. “This was a powerful reminder that our mission doesn’t stop at the hospital doors,” Ward said. “In that moment, it meant showing up, taking action and helping save a life right there on the trail. It showed me that being present and willing to step in can have a profound impact. AdventHealth is so much more than a place. It’s a community. Whether we’re inside the hospital or out in the world, that mission lives in us. It’s not just something we do at work—it’s part of who we are.”  Oudakker echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of preparedness. “Cardiac events can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time,” she said. “Because people stepped in and responded without delay, a life was saved.”  Dr. Stanley added, “This is exactly why it’s so important for people to learn basic lifesaving skills like CPR. You truly never know when you might be in a position to help someone in need and being prepared can make all the difference.”  Explore CPR training opportunities by visiting AdventHealth.com/Events. 

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The early morning air in Boston carried a different weight on April 20, 2026. The common bond of marathon running had brought together a gathering of unique people from every U.S. state and 130 countries. And for Craig Carr, the starting line of the Boston Marathon was more than another run—it was the testing ground of a discipline built one mile at a time over many years. Carr is no stranger to running. Known for his daily running streak, for more than seven years his routine has become part of his life—and his faith. But Boston required something more. It called him to take years of steady discipline and apply it on one of the world’s biggest stages. A different kind of preparation “Daily running and endurance training are conflicting objectives,” Carr explains. His daily run, which is connected to his devotional life, builds a strong foundation. But the demands of marathon training typically include rest days following long training runs—something his routine does not allow. “My typical rest day is an easy five miles at about a 116/min heart rate,” he says. Still, it’s not just about physical training. It’s about consistency over time. The daily discipline is what normalizes both the good days and the not-as-good days, to be able to take things as they come, building resiliency, Carr says. That mindset shaped how he approached race day. But there was an additional element of preparation required to qualify for Boston: Carr had to get faster.  The daily routine needed to include some occasional speed work that pushed the cardio threshold and fitness level higher while growing in endurance. Over a period of three years, this included running a marathon of 4:21:59 (9:58/mile pace) in 2022, to eventually qualifying in 2025 for Boston with a 3:23:51 (7:46/mile pace). This improvement of almost an hour required another shift in mindset to build up speed as well as endurance.  Faith in every step For Carr, running is deeply connected to his spiritual life. That association became even more evident on race day in Boston. “Throughout the race, various praise songs and scriptures would come to mind,” he says. That morning, one passage stood out in a powerful way: Isa. 40:31. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” “This set my mind on the Lord’s strength, on eagle’s wings, of running without weariness; how appropriate for a marathon!” Carr exclaimed. As the race moved into the second half, he began to feel the benefit of his daily routine. “During the race, particularly the second half, there were moments when I could sense the investment in the daily routine was offering its return.” That consistency showed up in his ingrained rhythm of movement and steady pacing. The battle at mile 21 Every marathoner reaches a point where the challenge becomes more than physical. For Carr, that moment came at Heartbreak Hill, around mile 21. The uphill climb comes at a time that often coincides with a similar mile mark known as The Wall, in which the body begins to shut down from fatigue. The result is both physical strain and mental challenge. “It is certainly physical exhaustion, but even more so a mental battle to keep going, keep moving, keep racing,” Carr says. “Hearing the crowd that lined the streets and cheering others along in their struggle uplifted my own spirits.” Carr sees a clear connection here to everyday life. “The mental stamina needed toward the end of a marathon is like trying to make complex decisions or have a tough conversation with someone when you are very tired, stressed—and want to just be done.” In those moments, mindset matters most. “Fighting the negative self-talk and the ‘inner quitter’ becomes extremely important in the final miles.” The finish line The difference between Carr’s daily runs and the marathon became most clear in the final miles. “The daily is most often a smooth, cruising speed—with lower heart rate—of distances of five to six miles,” he explains. But race day demanded far more. “When running more than four times that far, it’s those final miles before the finish line that are difficult to simulate adequately. But the daily discipline, in all types of weather and challenges of schedule, and various levels of fatigue, builds a foundation of consistency that provides the edge for pushing the limit a little farther and a little faster.” Crossing the finish line brought a powerful mix of emotions—a unique combination of exhaustion and elation, of relief and joy, of agony and accomplishment. And all around him, other runners shared the moment. The expressions of fellow runners offered glimpses of their story through smiles, high fives, tears and shouts. More than a race Carr states that Boston brought lessons that went beyond training. Unlike his quiet morning runs, the marathon environment was filled with travel, crowds and the energy of a global event—energy that can also bring added pressure. The excitement and nerves of race day can easily become overwhelming, adding unnecessary strain if not managed carefully. For Carr, the solution was simple: to rely on the familiar rhythms of his daily routine, allowing him to arrive at the starting line energized rather than depleted. The experience also revealed something deeper. “Boston reminded me that there are runners from all over the world, many who lead such vastly different lives, yet once on the course we are united in purpose to cross the finish line.” That shared purpose created a lasting impression. “It is an experience I will always treasure.” Running the greater race For Carr, the Boston Marathon ultimately points to something greater described in Heb. 12:1–2: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.” From Read more…

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