Reach, Retain, and Reclaim the people of North America 
with Jesus' Mission and Message of Compassion, Hope, and Wholeness.
Volunteer Lay Pastors
Are Vital to Our Mission!
 by Jose Cortes Jr.
On the eve of the 2015 North American Division Year End Meetings I felt a bit hesitant and nervous. Pastor Dan Jackson, our Division President, had asked that we developed a bold missional vision for North America. Our team, in consultation with some of our Union and Conference leadership and several pastors, had a plan. During the days before the event we had spent a few hours making presentations to the Union presidents, and Union administrators, without a major pushback, but the next day was the day. Dan had asked to cast the missional vision and launch the initiatives during the Presidential Report and a vote would be taken. This was in no way an attempt to interfere with the great things happening in churches, conferences, and unions across North America
Starting Your Congregation Strong
by Edwin Vargas
When planting a church, it is important to start with a strong foundation. Edwin Vargas explores what it takes to do this. When we ground our church in a prayerful connection with God, strong leadership, and a direct vision, we can lead the church in the path that God has planned for it. When our churches are built on a passion for reaching the lost, God can use these traits to grow this passion. Does your church have a strong foundation? Watch video here
Volunteer Lay Pastors BootCamp - November 6 - 7, 2020

The first-ever North American Division Volunteer Lay Pastors BootCamp will take place virtually on the weekend of November 6-7, 2020, with the participation of hundreds of Volunteer Lay Pastors from across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the islands of Guam and Micronesia. Registration is now open.

This two-day experience is designed exclusively for Volunteer Lay Pastors, Senior Pastors, and Conference Leaders in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

The benefits of attending include practical teachings on leading an effective ministry, networking opportunities, and experiential learning with other Volunteer Lay Pastors; they are navigating the same journey and inspiration from some of our leading Volunteer Lay Pastors and church leaders in North America.

Schedule

Friday, November 6 (8:00 PM - 10:00 PM)

Opening Session

Sabbath, November 7 (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM)

3:00 Equipping Session #1
4:00 Equipping Session #2
5:00 Equipping Session #3

Tracks

The BootCamp will be facilitated in three different tracks: English, Spanish, and French. Make sure to register your participation is crucial. Content will be similar in all three.

REGISTRATION FOR THE NAD VOLUNTEER LAY PASTORS BOOTCAMP HAS NOW CLOSED!

Church Planters BootCamp West - November 12-15, 2020 
Save the date for the North American Division Church Planters BootCamp West to take place from Thursday, November 12 to Saturday, November 15, 2020. It will be virtual and on Pacific Time hours. Registration Is now open CLICK HERE to register.
Compassion Weekend is every second weekend of the month in North America and a time for us to join and be intentional about tackling the needs of our community such as hunger, thirst, abuse, slavery, human trafficking, refugee crisis, violence, depression, and disease in our world, by showing compassion to the people around us. Also, join us in our Compassion 10 Million initiative, which is an opportunity for each Adventist in North America to serve within their churches, their homes, and their communities as the eyes, heart, hands, and feet of Jesus. Learn more about Compassion 10 Million here.
Yola, we are proud of your decision to accept Jesus as your Savior and be baptized. #baptism #westbury #newyork #nadmultiply
Praise God for a great (and safe) “back to church” day! And what a better way to come back than with a baptism? God is good! #ellicotcitychurch #chesapeakeconference
The message of Salvation, the Gospel of Jesus continues to reach lives in the Intervale church. One more soul for the kingdom.
God is good, today we had the baptism of brother Moya. All the glory to God! #baptism 
Today 3 Pathfinders gave their heart to Jesus and we rejoiced with them! To God be the Glory!
My Toko/Pastor Jackie N. Ofa Langi baptizing my cousin Chuka Faletogo today! I am sheding tears of joy and rejoicing with heaven, our family and friends! We give God all the glory and praise! #baptism #auburncitychurch

-Volunteer Lay Pastors BootCamp - November 6 - 7, 2020

-Church Planters BootCamp West - November 12-15, 2020 

-Compassion Weekend - November 14-15, 2020
November 26 - Thanksgiving 


Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on our many blessings and give thanks for everything we have in life. Serving others is one of the best ways to help remind us to have a thankful heart. It keeps things in perspective and truly helps us understand what’s important. When we can look beyond our own world and see outside ourselves, it actually helps us be grateful for what we have, and it can be a form of worship in and of itself.

1. Virtual Pie Party: Invite Pathfinders or Adventurers to attend a Zoom Meeting and help them make pies with their families. Afterward they can deliver their homemade pies to church members who are homebound due to Covid or nursing homes. Encourage them to include a thanksgiving card and a prayer for their homebound friends.

2. Virtual Wall of Thanksgiving: Create a virtual wall of Thanksgiving on your social media where people can express their gratitude. At the beginning of November, start promoting it at any social media platform your church uses and invite church members to participate, posting their appreciation, and expressing their thanksgiving to God all month long. 

3. Thanksgiving Drive-in: Plan a Thanksgiving Drive-in with your church members and visitors. Serve some Thanksgiving treats and apple cider, sing praise songs, and have inspiring testimonies on how God has done marvelous things among His people.

4. Virtual Thanksgiving Dinner & Games: Although we can’t connect with people as we wish during a pandemic, planning a virtual Thanksgiving Dinner & Games might be an excellent opportunity to reveal your church’s mission while sharing the spirit of Thanksgiving. Invite single members of your congregation, displaced college students, older adults or neighbors, to share your table through a Zoom Meeting. Eating together and playing some games together is all it takes for people to feel connected and fortunate.   
North America Wants Your Articles, Photos, & Videos
In the months to come we would like to publish, celebrate, pray for, and spread what God is doing through you. North America would love to see your evangelism and outreach stories, photos, and videos.
 
Send us articles, photos, and videos of your Best Practices in Evangelism & Outreach (traditional & innovative): Small Groups, Compassion initiatives, Church Planting, Public Evangelism, outreach in public university campuses, life-changing stories of churches who love people and grow organically, youth and young adult outreach, health fairs, community outreach initiatives, and anything that has to do with Reaching, Retaining, and Reclaiming North America with a lifestyle and a message of Compassion, Hope, and Wholeness.
 
When writing, keep in mind that we are looking for practice more than theory. The Why, the What, the Who, and the How to, are vital for Pastors and Churches who will want to adapt and duplicate your initiatives and plans in their setting (keep articles between 300-700 words) and submit to [email protected]