Adventist News
-
Montrose Maranatha Hispanic Church Dedicates New Chapel
– October 6, 2026The Maranatha Hispanic Church in Montrose, Colorado, celebrated the official dedication of its new chapel in July with a special worship service centered on gratitude, worship and renewed commitment to God’s mission. Hugo Guillén, pastor and Rocky Mountain Conference ministerial associate director and lead for multicultural ministries, preached the dedication sermon and led a meaningful service of consecration alongside Daniele Fantoni, Maranatha Church’s lead pastor, and the church elders. The celebration marked the culmination of a journey that began in January 2013, when a small Hispanic group first met in a borrowed classroom at the Montrose Adventist Church under the leadership of church member Abimael Chávez and with the support of RMC pastor Michael Shannon. The congregation was officially organized as a church in June 2021. “In October 2022, God opened an unexpected door when the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church voted unanimously to donate its former school property to the Hispanic congregation,” remarked Fantoni. “After years of renovation, volunteer labor, generous support, and God’s faithful provision, the church joyfully dedicated its new chapel.” He continued, “Throughout its history, God has blessed the congregation with more than 30 baptisms, evangelistic meetings, youth ministries, and steady spiritual growth. One of the church’s defining passions has been its commitment to young people, expressed in its motto: None of our young people will be lost to the world; all for Christ.” The dedication service celebrated not only God’s faithfulness in the past but also the church’s commitment for the future. Those gathered dedicated themselves anew to worship God, grow as disciples, and proclaim the gospel until Christ returns—the very words now engraved on the church’s dedication plaque as a lasting reminder of its mission. Daniele Fantoni is associate pastor for the Grand Junction District in Colorado.
-
Called Together Arnetts Begin Ministry in Fargo and Wahpeton
– October 6, 2026Pastor Payton and Albany Arnett found a love for theology—and for each other—while attending Union Adventist University. Today, Pastor Payton serves the Fargo/Wahpeton church district, while Albany serves as the Fargo area Bible worker. Together, they are beginning their first ministry assignment in North Dakota. Payton grew up in Bonney Lake, Washington, and attended Auburn Adventist Academy, where the chaplains provided opportunities for him to serve in ministry. “This experience first made me realize the gifts God had given me,” he said. “I’m in love with apologetics and the truth of the gospel. Reflecting on God’s leading, Payton shared, “God clearly led us to the Dakotas. I see more and more how good the fit is here. I’m continually surprised by God’s grace and leading in my life. North Dakota was not initially on my radar, but I’m glad God had other plans.” Albany was born in Venezuela and grew up in various parts of the United States while her father served as a pastor. “I first felt the calling to ministry as I grew in my personal relationship with God and discovered a love for studying the Bible,” she said. As she became more involved in church ministries, Albany was given the opportunity to preach while in high school. “I discovered my love for preaching. All of this drew me to fall in love not only with the Lord but with ministry. In Union Adventist University’s theology program, where Payton and I met, this passion solidified into a confidence that God has called me to ministry. Payton and I are in the Dakotas because of God’s leading, serving in a place where we can minister together for His kingdom.” The Dakota Conference is grateful God has led Payton and Albany to serve in the Dakotas. We look forward to seeing how He will continue to bless their ministry and the churches they serve. Information compiled by Elder Darrel Lindensmith, Dakota Conference ministerial director and Adventist Campus Ministries director.
-
Edwin Bravatti Ordained in Garden City
– October 6, 2026Edwin Bravatti, pastor of the Garden City District, was ordained to the gospel ministry Aug. 8 at the Garden City Church in Garden City, Kansas. The service recognized a call to ministry that Bravatti first sensed at an early age and has followed through media evangelism, pastoral work and service in the local church. Conference president Ron Carlson welcomed those gathered and joined Kansas-Nebraska Conference ministerial director Virgil Covel in presenting Bravatti for ordination. James Ayers gave a message titled “Clay Pots,” followed by the ordination prayer and charge. Covel called Bravatti to serve as a servant, shepherd, spiritual watchman and teacher, while keeping his own relationship with Christ at the center of his ministry. “It was a beautiful ordination service filled with music,” Covel said. He noted the participation of Bravatti, his daughters and son-in-law, and said he is thankful for Bravatti’s journey and looks forward to his continued work in ministry. Bravatti’s call has taken him through several forms of ministry. At 16, while working with The Voice of Prophecy, he was ordained as an elder by H.M.S. Richards. He later studied business administration at California Lutheran University and cinematography at Pierce College in Los Angeles. His training and work in the film industry became tools for media evangelism through The Voice of Prophecy, It Is Written and La Voz de la Esperanza. Bravatti entered pastoral ministry in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in 2019. During the next six years, he also volunteered as a chaplain at Regional West Medical Center, offering spiritual care to patients, families and staff. He completed a Master of Pastoral Ministry degree from Andrews University in December 2025 and now pastors the Garden City District. Music has also been an important part of Bravatti’s ministry. As a member of the vocal ensemble Opus 7, he has performed around the world, including at the Vatican and the 1995 General Conference Session in Utrecht, Netherlands. That part of his story was present at the ordination service as Edwin, Chantelle and Lauren Bravatti sang “The Prayer.” Bravatti and Ayers later performed “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” After Bravatti responded to the ordination charge, Carlson welcomed him to the ministry and Sue Carlson welcomed his spouse. The congregation closed the service by singing “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go,” the same commitment that has shaped Bravatti’s path from media evangelism to pastoral ministry.
-
Already Called: The Journey to Pastor Jared Kigori’s Ordination
– October 6, 2026As pastors gathered around Jared Kigori and his wife, Zipporah (“Zippy”), to pray during the Central States Conference camp meeting, the message throughout the ordination service was simple: the church was recognizing what God had already done. “The Holy Spirit has already moved,” conference leaders reminded the congregation. “It’s our privilege to simply acknowledge what God has already done.” For Kigori, that truth captures the meaning of ordination. “I view ordination as both a sacred privilege and a solemn responsibility,” he said. “It is not a promotion or a personal achievement I have attained, but the church’s recognition of God’s calling and faithfulness to me over the years.” Kigori serves as senior pastor of United Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Mountain Experience Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Kushite Oromo Mission in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He also serves as assistant to the president for Great Lakes Adventist Ministries and represents the region on the Central States Conference executive committee. “Because of Pastor Kigori’s deep spirituality and deep commitment to ministry, he was asked to serve as the assistant to the president for the Great Lakes Adventist Ministries in our Central States Conference,” said Central States Conference president Elder Cryston Josiah. “He fulfills his responsibilities with a spirit of excellence.” Kigori’s journey began thousands of miles away in western Kenya, where he first sensed God’s call while becoming increasingly involved in church ministry. He studied at Bugema University in Uganda and later at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. His ministry has included serving as a high school chaplain and pastor in Uganda and as a Bible worker and volunteer pastor in North Carolina before coming to Minnesota. Looking back, Kigori sees God’s leading not as one defining moment but as a lifetime of faithful direction. “For me, God’s call to ministry has not been a straight line—it has been a long, winding road with detours, sharp corners and even what seemed like dead ends,” Kigori reflected. “Today, I view my calling not as a single moment, but as a lifelong journey of faithfully saying ‘yes’ to God as He continues to lead.” During the ordination message, Mid-America Union executive secretary Hubert Morel Jr. reminded Kigori that a pastor’s calling begins with God. “Don’t ever forget, God chose you,” Morel said. “God handpicked you.” While ministry has taken Kigori across continents and cultures, he acknowledges that he has never served alone. He credits his parents, mentors, professors, conference leaders and fellow pastors for helping shape his ministry. Above all, he points to Zippy as his closest ministry partner. “There are moments it has felt lonely, low and sometimes empty,” he said. “I have always turned to my wife.” Together with their four children—Ivan, Baraka, Bahati and Neema—the Kigori family has embraced ministry as a shared calling. Although his ordination marks an important milestone, Kigori sees it less as an arrival and more as a renewed commitment to serve Christ with humility, integrity and compassion. That perspective shapes his advice to others sensing God’s call. “If you sense God calling you, don’t ignore His voice because of fear or feelings of inadequacy,” Kigori said. “God does not call those who are already qualified; He equips those He calls.” It is a lesson he has lived from western Kenya to Minnesota—a reminder that God’s call is not measured by geography, titles or accomplishments, but by a willingness to faithfully say “yes” wherever He leads.
Blogs
-
Circulation Problems Do This Better Circulation
– October 6, 2026https://youtube.com/shorts/rrwvbH-9HeY?si=uBlBMbDUCTsRIOfw
-
The Teacher’s Notes–The Call of a Prophet, Lesson 2 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2026 4Q, "The Gift of Prophecy"
– October 3, 2026Sabbath School Lesson for October 3-9, 2026 Introduction of Lesson 2, The Call of a Prophet Memory Text: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ ” Isaiah 6:8 NKJV Scriptures reveal time and again the difficult life of a prophet. They often endured rejection, misunderstanding, and persecution. They were subject to being ignored, ridiculed, and even beaten and thrown in jail. Many were martyred for accepting the call to go where God sent them to be His spokesperson. This, however, didn’t stop God from sending the message of hope to our fallen world on many occasions. Isaiah, and other prophets, were willing and eager to take up the challenge. In these last days, we are also called to listen to these same prophets and share their messages of hope. Will you heed the call and go where God sends you? This week, we’ll explore: Sunday: Abraham, Defender of the Covenant Monday: The Elijah Message Tuesday: Isaiah, the Gospel Prophet Wednesday: Daniel, the Faith Seer Thursday: John the Baptist, Preparing a People Friday: Called to Prophetic Ministry Sunday: Abraham, Defender of the Covenant After Noah and the Flood, sin had once again taken firm root in most of the people of Abraham’s day. In order to stem the mounting dangers of apostasy and idolatry, God chose His faithful follower Abraham to be the first one in the Bible called a “prophet” (Genesis 20:7). In order to test his faith and to illustrate the supreme sacrifice of God in providing His Son to die for our sins, Abraham was asked by God to offer his own son Isaac. This act of faith helped to equip the prophet to become the defender of our covenant with God. We are also swarmed with apostate ideologies today that attempt to silence God’s call to salvation. Abraham “believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). This simple gospel message of righteousness by faith is found in the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 which we are to give to the world in the last days. Verses for reflection and discussion: Genesis 15:6, Galatians 3:6-9, and Hebrews 11:8 Even though Abram made several mistakes, what qualified him to be God’s prophet? Revelation 14:6 Why is the gospel message of righteousness by faith so important in these last days? Monday: The Elijah Message What a dangerous mission was given to Elijah. He was told to deliver the message to King Ahab that a drought would begin in the land and last for many years. Later, in order to begin a revival of godliness, Elijah asked for a showdown with the false prophets of Baal and Asherah. The success on Mount Carmel, when God provided fire for Elijah’s offering, led to many returning to the God of Israel. Malachi prophesied that Elijah’s message of repentance would be repeated before the coming of the Lord. Before Jesus comes again, God would send someone to prepare the way for that “great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5, 6). Ellen G. White confirmed that “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs.” Selected Messages, book 1, p. 121 Revival, after all, is what motivates God’s people for the mission of spreading the gospel to the world. Verses for reflection and discussion: 1 Kings 18:19-21, 37-39 Why was Elijah so confident that God would answer his prayer in such a miraculous way? What kind of revival might be needed in your local church, and how might you be able to make it happen? Tuesday: Isaiah, the Gospel Prophet Isaiah, a major prophet in the Old Testament, boldly depicted the plan of salvation, including Christ’s humility, as well as His majesty. Chapter 53, written four hundred years before the Cross, passionately revealed the rejection and suffering of the Son of God. This message about the tormented life and struggles of our Savior was not the one that most Israelites wanted to hear, however. Their refusal to accept it resulted in many, if not most, not recognizing the Messiah when He finally did arrive in a lowly stable as a tiny Babe in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Isaiah shows us the desire of God to save us, humanity’s great need to be saved, and the attempts of Satan to keep us from being saved. No one can help us understand the gospel of salvation better than this humble, willing servant of God–the gospel prophet Isaiah. Verses for reflection and discussion: Isaiah 53:3-5 Why would this be a prophecy that would not be popular with the majority of Jews who heard it? What are some of the things that Christ’s death accomplished for us? How have you personally grown closer to God from reading the message in Isaiah 53? Wednesday: Daniel, the Faithful Seer The Scriptures reveal no flaws or moral failures in the characters of both Joseph and Daniel. They both were carried away as youth to a foreign land and were under intense pressure to compromise their chosen faith. We know the story of how Daniel stood firm about diet, praying earnestly about the troubling situation of eating at the king’s table. And, later, praying fervently again, as his custom was, and being thrown into a lion’s den for his steadfast faith. Today, we have the added incentive to believe in the prophetic visions given to Daniel, because so many of them have come to pass. The rise and fall of nations occurred just as God revealed, leaving us with the glorious hope that His Kingdom, not an earthly one, will be coming soon. The prophetic visions Daniel was given, and even the ones he interpreted for the king, showed him to be the faithful seer that he was. We know more about the judgment of God through Daniel’s writings; just as John the revelator wrote about the judgment in <a class="cat-post-excerpt-more" href="https://www.outlookmag.org/the-teachers-notes-the-call-of-a-prophet-lesson-2/" title="Continue reading The Teacher’s Notes–The Call of a Prophet, Lesson 2 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2026 4Q, “The Gift of Prophecy”“>Read more…
-
I Thought I Would Have to Marry Him Glass Children — Part 6
– October 1, 2026Mom almost never had time to sit on the yard swing, but one afternoon when I was five she was sitting on it with me. I had been thinking about something for a while. Heavy thinking for a five-year-old. I had worked something out and had been carrying it around. That day I told her. I said I thought I was going to have to marry Rick, because nobody else would, and he was going to need help. She answered as though I had asked her something entirely ordinary. She said no, I would not have to marry Rick, but I would need to take care of him. What a five-year-old knows about love A five-year-old’s mind has no category for a person who stays with you and looks after you your whole life except a husband or a wife. That was the only shape I knew. Caregiving had already moved into the place where other children keep their ideas about love. My mother was not going to lie to me, and I would not want a mother who did. He was going to need help as long as he lived, and the people who would be there longest were going to be the two of us. She did not know of any other way. It was my job Nobody asked me for a promise and I did not offer one. What happened was smaller and much more permanent: I was told how it was going to be, and I accepted it, the way a child accepts most anything. It was simply my job, from the time I was five. The future was decided It was often discussed as a far in the future time. I would share my children with him. He would get to have a normal life through mine: my family, my holidays, my house. It was said kindly and it was said often. It seemed idyllic. No other options were ever considered. No way out We care for the weak, we look after our own, we put others ahead of ourselves. Those are not distortions of Christianity. They are Christianity, and I still believe them. Which is exactly why this is hard to write. As a good Christian girl, and as the sibling of someone with a disability, I had no way out of what had been decided. The duty and the virtue had been fused. Reconsidering was not a question about my life. It was a question about what kind of Christian woman I was. When it came due Three decades later, the time came for Rick to move into my home. I knew before he arrived that it would be very difficult. Some of the reasons were obvious. The only way into our house was up a flight of stairs — not wheelchair accessible at all. I was raising four children, my oldest twelve and my youngest five. And I was in nursing school. I saw no way out, so I said nothing. Not to my parents, not to my husband, not to friends or family. I needed everyone around me to stay positive, because I knew it was going to be far harder than any of them understood. At that same time our mother was ill, and my sister Sheryl and her family took both our parents into their home. Our other two siblings were not in a position to help. Which meant there was nobody to tell. I held it by myself for years, and the five-year-old on the swing would have recognized the reasoning exactly. Almost none of us were asked This is not rare. It is nearly universal among glass children. We carry the questions with us, often from a young age. What happens to him when our parents are gone? How much of my life is already spoken for? Am I allowed to want anything that does not have him in it? Almost none of us were asked whether we wanted to. Most of us do not talk about, for the same reason I did not. Surrounded by people I could not tell, there was One who knew. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely.(Psalm 139:4) He did not need me to find the words. He had already heard them. If you are carrying something that was decided for you before you were old enough to weigh it, you are allowed to look at it now, as an adult, in daylight. Deciding to carry it differently is not the same as failing to love. Lord, You have heard everything we never managed to say. Where the load was handed to us before we could weigh it, give us the courage to look at it honestly now — and to know that You have never once mistaken our silence for consent. Amen. Next time: what our playing was actually for. (Click here to see the 1st in this series.)
-
What Genealogies Tell Us XI A matching chain on the other side
– September 30, 2026Just 9 verses into Genesis Chapter 11 and we have a new problem. The flood had washed away the sinful culture and resulted in a renewed creation. But this hopeful renewed creation is followed by a renewed fall when Noah becomes drunk and a renewed rebellion when Nimrod founds a city instead of dispersing to fill the earth with life. The reader asks the question, “What now?” God had used godly Noah to help deliver humanity—and all animal life—through the destruction of the flood. But now that deliverer and many of his offspring have fallen and, except for the intervention of capital punishment, are headed on to another sinful broken culture. Noah served his purpose, but it was rescue and not restoration. The earth begins falling back into its old ways of rebellion. And we are immediately confronted not with an obvious solution, but with another genealogy, and one that begins in a very odd way. “These are the records of the generations of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old when he fathered Arpachshad, two years after the flood.” The pattern for this genealogy looks very much like the pattern for the genealogy in chapter 5, that is to say, a man lives a certain number of years and has a son, and then he lives more years and dies. But in Genesis 5 we don’t know where the 130 years of Adam’s life begin. Genesis 11:10 leaves no doubt when Shem’s life began. Two years after the flood Shem fathers Arpachshad. And he was 100 years old at that point. That would have made Shem 98 years old when the flood began. Since Noah is said to have fathered all three when he was 500, Shem cannot have been the oldest, yet he was listed first. This new genealogy explains why: Shem is not the firstborn, but since this genealogy begins with him, he matters most — through him the godly line continues. We also see more mirroring taking place here. The last name in the first genealogy in Genesis 5, Noah, breaks the chain pattern by linking not to the next generation but to the flood. Shem does the same thing here. He is not linked to his father, Noah, but to the flood. This genealogy moves undisturbed from the first generation mentioned, Shem, to the 9th generation, Terah, and there the pattern in this genealogy breaks — but it mirrors the first one in an odd way. Terah lives 70 years and has three sons all at once apparently, mirroring what happened in Noah’s case, the 10th generation of the first genealogy. And once again, from other sources we know that the first one listed, Abram, is not the first one born—but it is through him the godly line continues. This genealogy has much more to tell us, but we already have arrived at the answer to our question that began this post. What is God going to do? The answer this gives us is simple: Abram. How do we know that this is true? That’s the topic for next time.
Featured Stories
-
Hawkeye Church Hosts Popular Fair Outreach
– October 6, 2026As fairgoers filled the grounds at the Fayette County Fair in Iowa last July, one stop continued a cherished tradition of community connection and practical ministry. The Hawkeye Church welcomed families to their annual photo booth, offering a warm space to create lasting memories and experience Christian fellowship. What began as a simple creative outreach has blossomed into an eagerly anticipated highlight of the fair. Designed to reflect the area’s rich agricultural roots, the booth features a rustic wooden barn adorned with stuffed farm animals. Children and parents alike enjoy climbing atop hay bales, ride-on toy tractors and horses for picture-perfect moments. The photo booth has become such a staple that many local families now make a point to visit annually, capturing milestone photos to track their children’s growth year after year. “Our photo booth is more than just taking pictures—it’s a simple, joyful way to show our community that we care,” said church members involved in organizing the event. While the photo booth provides families with a fun and tangible fair keepsake, the heart of the outreach is personal connection. Church volunteers use the opportunity to build friendships, offer free Christian literature, and share the love of Jesus with neighbors in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Adding to the excitement each year, the church partners with local radio station KRJE – “Radio for Jesus” on one day during the fair by blowing up and handing out punch balloons to children. The bright, cheerful balloons proved to be a massive draw, bringing smiles to young fairgoers as well as advertising the radio station throughout the fairgrounds. Through warm conversations, shared laughter, and simple acts of service, members of the Hawkeye Church continue to demonstrate their commitment to stepping outside church walls and serving as a positive, loving presence in Fayette County. Eileen Birth is communication leader for the Hawkeye Church in Iowa.
-
Creative Ministries Lead to Joyful Connections in Minnesota
– October 6, 2026Minnesota Adventists are committed to making disciples who make more disciples. Since discipleship begins with relationships, church members around the state are working to form long-lasting connections with neighbors, visitors and young people. Teaching the youth to teach others Nobody is just an onlooker in Jose Luis Bello’s youth class and Pathfinder group. Along with other leaders at Northeast Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church (NESDA), he identifies talents and encourages teens to lead the younger children. His goal is to build a Christian community where all ages can experience camporees, outdoor challenges, and meaningful Bible study together. “So many youth now are lonely. They just stay home in their rooms without seeing each other,” Jose explains. “I refuse to accept that.” One way to build lasting faith is by equipping youth to witness. Recently Jose and a group of young men wore Bible costumes and acted out stories about Jesus during a children’s evangelistic weekend. And one youth member, Rachel, has accepted the task of teaching younger girls as they complete Pathfinder requirements. “Leaders need to do more than just talk, talk, talk,” she says. “If we just make rules, the girls will think no one cares about them. I need to be their friend.” Hosting the best party of the year It wouldn’t be Christmas in Hinckley, Minnesota, without the Community Christmas Program at the local Adventist church. More than 20 years ago the whole town was curious about the new church being built by member Terry Haavisto along I-35. “Can we see the inside?” people asked. Terry’s wife, Lori, and sister, Jodie, started by inviting community guests to a Christmas music program so everyone could view the new sanctuary. The first event was so successful that it’s become an anticipated annual tradition. The program is a true community effort. Neighbors and church groups are invited to perform, and no one is turned away, no matter how musically skilled. Members serve a free meal of spaghetti and Christmas cookies, and a free-will offering is collected for a worthy cause. As for advertising, they rely on word of mouth, plus posters in local businesses and ads on the church radio station. None of this could happen without the hard work of every church member, including the communication crew, parking crew, kitchen crew, set-up crew, and cleanup crew. Hinckley member Pamela Rodacker-Waye adds, “Most importantly, Jesus, as He’s the reason for everything we do here.” Last year a guest turned to a church member and commented, “I could see myself being part of a church like this.” That’s exactly why the program is still going 21 years later. Turning visitors into friends Two years ago Deborah Timasi first visited Kenyan Community Church, wondering what she was getting herself into. “Right away someone met me and showed me around and made me feel welcome,” she remembers. “It was the first five minutes that got me. If it wasn’t for that person, I wouldn’t have come back.” Now Deborah is a baptized church member and head of the Hospitality Committee that first welcomed her. Her team visits people in homes and hospitals, takes gifts to new mothers, and helps guests feel at home during potluck. She compares her ministry to that of the Good Samaritan. She says that people who find friends in church are more likely to stay and become followers of Jesus for a lifetime. Lighting up the dark with music More than 15 years ago, Mankato church member Jeff Buege faced a personal heartache and prayed for God to remove his sadness. Sensing a need to look outward, Jeff asked the Lord how he could serve others. Looking back, Jeff recalls, “Within three days, God provided the time, the resources, and the locations [for a new ministry]. What began in a moment of utter brokenness immediately became an inward healing for me.” As God opened unexpected doors, Jeff began singing and sharing the gospel at nursing homes throughout the Midwest. He encountered a deep thirst for the gospel and found that thousands in the closing chapters of their lives needed to be reminded how much Jesus loves them. “I truly didn’t know even mildly the direction God would lead me,” Jeff says. “Yet very quickly I understood His will and surrendered to His path.” Within two years he was doing 200 programs annually; by the tenth year it was over 800 programs. Jeff says the feedback has been “beyond words.” It’s not about fame but witnessing the love of Jesus reflected in the lives of grateful listeners. Always he relies on the strength of Jesus, who says, “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5). Passing on real-world skills Southview Pathfinder leader Lynnette Nyabuto noticed a pattern—some older teens were drifting away from the church when they outgrew Pathfinders. She wanted to keep them connected to their church family, while also creating space for teens who had never joined Pathfinders. Her plan: earlier this year she surveyed church members about what practical skills they could pass on to the next generation. Now all ages look forward to baking, painting, and fixing cars together. Lynnette says, “Once connections are established, the teens may be more open to other activities, including Bible studies—which is the ultimate goal.”
-
Fargo Church Member Organizes Cajas de Amor (Boxes of Love) for Cuba Team project exemplifies God's enduring love and grace
– October 5, 2026In January 2026, a fuel blockade was imposed on Cuba by U.S. Executive Order. What resulted from this were fuel shortages that have threatened food supply, hospitals and water systems (Wikipedia Contributors, 2026). Isamar Cordero-Vazquez, a Puerto Rican national and member of the Fargo Adventist Church in Fargo, North Dakota, was invited on a mission trip to Cuba scheduled for October 2026. However, she decided to pass on the opportunity, having just returned from a mission trip in Northern Uganda, Africa, with the Adventist Mercy Initiative. By early March, Isamar grasped the severity of the fuel blockade as Cuba faced intertwined economic, health, humanitarian and environmental crises. During a lunch break at work, Isamar recalled a conversation with a friend who knew an acquaintance sending boxes to friends and family in Cuba. From this, a new mission came to life: Cajas de Amor (Boxes of Love). With an open heart, she requested support for Boxes of Love. Donations and supplies poured in from her coworkers in the Sanford Children’s Subspecialty Department and from family, friends and members of the Fargo Church. On March 29, a group from the Fargo Church (including church members from Cuba) came together to pack essential household and food items such as diapers, sanitary napkins, toiletries, rice, milk, beans, first aid items, medicine, wash cloths, drawstring bags and powdered detergent into each box. Finally, the boxes were ready to be sent, but they were notified that the selected shipping company had closed and gone out of business. With prayer and the help of the Cuban recipients, a new shipping company was found. Five boxes were sent the first week of June and received at the Cienfuegos Adventist Church in Cuba on July 15. The Cienfuegos Adventist’s youth sorted the items into the drawstring bags, assembling 67 bags for distribution in the community—a blessing to multiple families. We may be separated by land, sea, or even language, but in Christ we are close, connected, and consecrated for His purpose. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2 NIV) Isamar and the Fargo Church hope to continue this ministry as they help Cuba’s residents remember that God is not absent in this chaotic and uncertain time. This ministry demonstrates how much we can reach others in need when we heed and respond to the nudges of the Holy Spirit. Pearlene Woolcock is a member of the Fargo Seventh-day Adventist Church and holds a degree in communications from the University of Phoenix. She enjoys writing about faith and life and shares her work on Substack at https://pearlygatesx.substack.com/
-
Faith Mode “ON” inspira a jóvenes hispanos de toda la Unión de Mid-America
– October 1, 2026Faith Mode “ON” inspira a jóvenes hispanos de toda la Unión de Mid-America Para Christian González, hubo un momento durante el Congreso de Jóvenes Hispanos de Mid-America 2026 que confirmó que el fin de semana había logrado exactamente aquello por lo que los organizadores habían estado orando. “Teníamos cuatro días para impactar la vida de los jóvenes”, dijo González, presidente de la Federación Hispana de Iowa-Missouri. “Para algunos de ellos, era la primera vez que escuchaban hablar de Jesús, leían la Biblia o incluso oraban”. Mientras el pastor Gustavo Squarzon invitaba a los jóvenes a entregar sus vidas a Cristo, González observó cómo muchos respondían al llamado del Espíritu Santo, entre ellos un amigo que asistía al congreso por primera vez. “Fue entonces cuando supe que habíamos alcanzado nuestro objetivo”, dijo González. Esa misma experiencia se repitió a lo largo del fin de semana, cuando más de 400 jóvenes hispanos de toda la Unión de Mid-America se reunieron para el Congreso de Jóvenes Hispanos 2026 bajo el lema “Faith Mode ON”. A través de la adoración, mensajes inspiradores de fe, música, recreación y compañerismo, los asistentes fueron animados a fortalecer su relación con Jesús y a mantener activa su fe mucho después de regresar a casa. Roberto Correa, director de Ministerios Multilingües de la Unión de Mid-America, desafió a los jóvenes a mantener su fe “encendida” todos los días, no solo durante un evento de fin de semana. “Cuando nuestra fe es fuerte, cuando está conectada, nos prepara para cualquier desafío que enfrentemos en nuestras vidas”, dijo Correa. Al concluir el congreso, animó a los asistentes a regresar a sus hogares con la seguridad de que son especiales, que Dios tiene un plan para sus vidas y que los necesita para cumplir su misión. Durante todo el fin de semana, el pastor Squarzon desafió a los jóvenes a reconocer las presiones que compiten por su atención y su fe. Uno de los desafíos que más le preocupan, señaló, es que “el mundo los distrae y les ofrece demasiadas alternativas. Esas cosas son atractivas porque les hablan de dinero, éxito y fama”. También desafió a las iglesias a responder mejor a las necesidades de la generación actual para que puedan apoyar a los jóvenes mientras crecen en su relación con Cristo. Conexiones Un mensaje en particular tuvo un profundo impacto en González. Durante uno de los sermones, Squarzon preguntó: “¿Puedes imaginar lo que podría suceder con una generación conectada?”. “Mi mente comenzó a pensar en todas las cosas que somos capaces de hacer como jóvenes”, dijo González. “Fue entonces cuando supe que tenía que esforzarme más y entregar más mi corazón a Jesús para que Él pudiera usarme”. Los mensajes no terminaron cuando concluyeron los sermones. Durante todo el fin de semana, los jóvenes continuaron respondiendo a través de la música y la adoración. Un equipo juvenil de alabanza dirigió a la congregación en adoración, mientras que Conexión Cielo compartió música cada noche. Fue durante una de esas noches cuando ocurrió algo inesperado. Inspirada por la promesa de Dios a Pablo, “Bástate mi gracia”, una joven llamada Roisbel reunió el valor para preguntar si podía cantar con Conexión Cielo. Aunque nunca había conocido al grupo, sus integrantes la recibieron, ensayaron con ella y la invitaron a acompañarlos en la adoración. Para Roisbel, la experiencia nunca se trató de una presentación. “Me encanta cantar, pero siempre me recuerdo a mí misma de que no canto para que la gente me vea”, dijo. “Oro para que cualquier cosa que cante pueda conectar a alguien con Dios. No me importa si la gente recuerda mi nombre. Si recuerdan cómo la canción tocó sus vidas, eso es todo lo que necesito”. Su testimonio reflejó uno de los mensajes centrales del fin de semana: Dios puede usar a personas comunes que están dispuestas a dar un paso adelante con fe. Algo más grande El fin de semana también brindó a los jóvenes oportunidades para establecer relaciones fuera del salón de reuniones. Los torneos de voleibol y fútbol reunieron a participantes de diferentes asociaciones, colocándolos intencionalmente en equipos mixtos en lugar de agruparlos únicamente con personas que ya conocían. Los juegos concluyeron el sábado por la noche con los partidos de campeonato, pero el objetivo principal era ayudar a los jóvenes a conocerse, trabajar juntos y experimentar la unidad de la Unión de Mid-America más allá de sus iglesias locales. “Este fin de semana fue importante porque les recordó a nuestros jóvenes que forman parte de algo mucho más grande que su iglesia local”, dijo Citlany Garrido, presidenta de la Federación Hispana de Minnesota. “Ver a cientos de jóvenes hispanos de toda la Unión de Mid-America adorar, servir, aprender y formar amistades juntos fue un poderoso recordatorio de que somos una sola familia en Cristo”. Garrido dijo que vio a jóvenes salir de su zona de confort, crecer espiritualmente y regresar a casa con un compromiso renovado de servir a Dios y compartir su amor con los demás. “Si alguien me preguntara por qué este fin de semana fue importante, simplemente diría: porque hubo vidas impactadas”, dijo. “Se plantaron semillas de fe, se formaron amistades y los jóvenes se fueron sabiendo que Dios los ama y que tienen un lugar importante en su misión”. Israel Lara, representante de la Federación de Central States, describió el fin de semana como un tiempo de paz y renovación de la fe. “A medida que avanzaba cada parte del programa, podía sentir una paz especial que poco a poco llenaba mi corazón y me acercaba más a Dios”, dijo. “Me recordó que todo lo que tenemos en este mundo es pasajero, pero nuestra relación con Dios es lo que verdaderamente permanece”. Añadió que eventos como el congreso juvenil motivan a los jóvenes a formar amistades, fortalecer su fe y animarse unos a otros mientras continúan siguiendo a Cristo.