By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Southern Asia-Pacific Division)

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Southern Asia-Pacific expresses its deepest sympathies to the families and friends troubled by the horrifying incident in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019. 290 were reported killed and more than 450 individuals injured as random blasts destroyed four hotels and three churches around Sri Lanka’s city’s capital. While the number of casualties continue to rise, our hearts and prayers go out to the families who lost their love ones, and to…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Ted N.C. Wilson, President, Seventh-day Adventist World Church)

Our hearts go out to the grieving families of those killed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in a terrible, senseless tragedy of killing this morning. Churches and other areas were targeted. Let us pray for the families and for the Prince of Peace to reign in the hearts of all including those who perpetrate such horrific acts. They need the grace and love of God in their hearts to bring them to Christ and His forgiveness. Soon Jesus will come to take us to heaven where there will be no more pain,…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Kimi-Roux James, ADRA International)

In the month of March, numerous disasters occurred, including the worst tropical storm on record to affect the southern African regions of Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. During that same month, Nepal and Indonesia were also hardest hit by heavy rain and floods.
With these countries combined, thousands of lives were lost and hundreds of thousands more were displaced and forced to seek refuge in shelters. Ongoing needs assessments are being put in place by ADRA to help all people affected,…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Victoria Turrentine, Adventist News Network)

The Steward Department of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church is launching a video series targeted at millennials. The series is part of a broader initiative entitled “GodFirst” which aims to help members understand the principles of tithe and offering. “The act of tithing develops allegiance, commitment, love, and relationship with God”, says Marcos Bomfim, Stewardship Department director, “If you put your treasure with God, your heart will also be there.”
A desire to reach out to members…

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By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Record Staff)

A mini-road trip of its own marked the launch of a story of a trip through the Holy Land.
Of Falafels and Following Jesus tells the story of a tour through Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories that the authors—Nathan Brown with Michelle Villis and Brenton Stacey—took in October last year.
“I had the idea for this book while visiting Israel in 2015,” said Mr Brown. “I was trying to work out why we take trips like that, and then had a growing interest in how I might be able share some…

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By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Sheann Brandon)

Doctors at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital recently conducted the institution’s first stem cell transplant in a sickle cell disease patient, effectively curing her of the inherited blood disease. The successful procedure offers hope and accessible treatment to those suffering from the disease in the Inland Empire and surrounding regions.
Children’s Hospital doctors had worked for nearly a year to build a program focused on helping hematology patients, specifically hemophilia and…

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By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Damian Chambers/JAMU/IAD News Staff)

Twenty students received grants as part of the overall free medical and physical work undertaken by approximately 5,000 young people during the annual Operation Save-a-Youth (OSAY) held on March 17, 2019, in Manchester, Jamaica. OSAY is a youth empowerment ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Central Jamaica region.
The main feature of this year’s OSAY was the community outreach projects where the youth assisted in the construction and beautification of homes in communities such…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Deena Bartel-Wagner, Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, Seventh-day Adventist World Church)

The official position that advocates non-combatancy was the focus of the two-day Seventh-day Adventists and Military-related Service Conference at the General Conference Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. “Traditionally, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has advocated a non-combatant status,” says Mario E. Ceballos, Director/Endorser, General Conference World Service Organization and Director, General Conference Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries. “Union and Division World Service Organization…

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By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Douglas Pessoa)

Members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Jardim Lindoia, in Porto Alegre, Brail, recently started the “Support Center for Families of Autistics Kids,” a space created to bring together those who live and take care of people with autism.
In two different rooms, one for meetings and the other filled with toys, crayons and paper for drawings, family members and children are cared for by volunteers who are dedicated to provide an open environment of fellowship. The project, created by Gissele…

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By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Tracey Bridcutt)

An initiative to bring church members onto school campuses in Papua New Guinea is having a positive impact on the schools.
Jim Yawane, national director for Adventist Education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Papua New Guinea, said they were encouraging church programs and activities to be held on school campuses. By bringing church members into the school, they can learn about it and see the needs that it may have.
“They know that the school is an Adventist school but they don’t often…

Source:: sda website