By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Briana Pastorino)

COVID-19 brought much of the world to a screeching halt, isolating people in their homes, taking kids out of school and closing the doors to many businesses. Despite this, hospitals across the country have remained open and operational, dedicated to providing lifesaving care to patients. Because of this, the need for blood donation still exists, according to Tait Stevens, MD, a pathologist and president of medical staff at Loma Linda University Health.
“Modern medicine depends on blood…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Byron Buckley, NCU/IAD News Staff)

The Northern Caribbean University’s Alumni Federation recently organized its most ambitious fundraiser event to help hundreds of students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The media-thon raised US$350,000 in pledges and donations on May 24, 2020.
The event, held on the Mandeville, Jamaica, campus, marked the official launch of a fundraising drive to raise US$1 million by July 31, 2020. This is the first time that the university has been able to raise so much money in a single fundraising…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Mauren FernandesJune)

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was officially announced, thousands of people have been affected financially. During this difficult time, small acts of compassion bring relief and help to minimize the effects of the virus on society. It was for this purpose that the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s South American Division promoted the Easter Mutirão, (coordinated work project) as conducted by Adventist Solidarity Action (ASA). The project brought several departments together in initiatives spread…

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By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Maquisha Ford Mullins, Oakwood University and Adventist Review)

Oakwood University answered the challenge issued by Scott Hagen, president of North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the U.S. to establish a George Floyd Memorial Scholarship to support students. During the funeral service for Floyd held on June 4, 2020, Hagen was quoted by Forbes.com as saying, “I am now challenging every university president in the United States to establish your own George Floyd Memorial Scholarship Fund.”
Leslie Pollard, Oakwood University president, said,…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Bangwato Sikwa, Health Ministries Director, Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division)

Nowadays, everywhere one turns, many signs are encouraging various strategies to prevent Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). But we all need to appreciate that like everything else in life, these initiatives have good and not so good effects. Let us analyze the most common strategies, namely: washing of hands regularly with soap or sanitizer; using a mask to cover the nose and mouth whenever in public; and social distancing.
Regular hand-washing with clean water and soap or sanitizer
The…

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

A COVID-19 assistance plan will support mission offices struggling financially as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan was approved by the South Pacific Division (SPD) boards during their quarterly meetings last week.
Rodney Brady, chief financial officer for the SPD, said a number of missions have been adversely affected by a reduction in tithe and offerings due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, leaving some struggling to pay pastors’ wages.
“Other missions have not been…

Source:: sda website

By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Willie Edward Hucks II)

As the world’s attention was captured by the asphyxiation death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, another notable event transpired earlier that same day in New York City. Christian Cooper — a writer, editor, and avid birder — encountered Amy Cooper walking her unleashed dog in a section of Central Park where regulations specified that dogs must be leashed at all times.
Unprovoked by nothing more than Mr. Cooper’s request that she leash her dog, she called the…

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By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Victor Hulbert)

When historians look back and study 2020 what lessons will they learn? Will the communal experience of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the horror of the George Floyd killing be seen as drawing us closer together – or pushing us apart? Will the world, or will we as individuals be more caring as a result?
In this special edition of TED Words of Hope we talk with two experienced communicators, looking for lessons on the way ahead. Ken Burton Ken Burton is perhaps best known as conductor of…

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By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Samuel Nunes)

Eighteen-year-old Ellen Chrystie Ferreira dos Santos lives in the city of Pirapora, population 56,229, in the central Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. But neither the relatively small size of her city, nor its location, nor even the current COVID-19 pandemic, keep her from sharing the good news of Jesus with people.
Although she calls herself “shy,” dos Santos is today a leading online evangelist, conducting Bible studies with 100 people thanks to digital communications. Sitting at a table in…

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By AdventistNews@gc.adventist.org (Renata Paes)

In contexts of social, digital, and technological changes, relating across generations can sometimes be a challenge. However, when the theme is solidarity, thoughts and attitudes seem to converge to the biblical commandment that advises us to love God and neighbors as yourself.
It was with their minds on this principle that the youth of the Adventist Church of Lagoinha, in Belo Horizonte, joined with volunteers from the Adventist Solidarity Action (ASA) to provide for the hungry people on the…

Source:: sda website