SUMMER 2022 https://adventistregionalministries.org • • • OFFICE FOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE MINISTRY IN NORTH AMERICA • • • OurTellingStory UVALDE, BUFFALO AND JOYOFFERSNEWBRINGADVENTISTSSEVENTH-DAYUKRAINE—HELPRESEARCHMOREINRETIREMENT GENERAL CONFERENCE 2022 DEBATES, VOTES OUTCOMESAND OPENING SOON: THE ADVENTISTAFRICANAMERICANMUSEUM
Walter Eugene Arties III was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 12, 1941, to Walter Eugene Arties Jr. and Catherine Arties. He was a pastor’s kid (PK). His father was a Seventh-day Adventist pastor in Greenville, Mississippi, but thought it best to go north for better medical facilities in the “Steel City.” They stayed with a family in Pittsburg until their son was Artiesborn.hadtwo older sisters, Elvira and Otyvee (both deceased). As was customary for ministers’ families they were always on the move — Mississippi to Tennessee to Alabama to Connecticut, and finally to New York City. At 19, Walter left the Big Apple to go west to the city of dreams, Los Angeles, and he became a member of the University Seventh-day Adventist Church in LA in 1962. He formed a contemporary a cappella chorale that concertized regularly and performed for worship services and special public events. He met a young woman, Beverly R. DeShay of Columbus, Ohio, and they were married May 31, 1964.
The dreamer, the man with the velvet vocals, Walter Eugene Arties III, passed away in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 26, 2022, at age 80.
Christians of every denomination wanted to hear more of Arties, and he recorded more than a dozen inspirational albums, including “Peace,” “I’m Gonna Sing,” “Softly and Tenderly,” “Almost Over,” “Gentle Exhortations,” “Sincerely Yours,” “Spirituals Collection,” and “Hymns Collection,” which won a Religion in Media Award. Add to that the albums he co-produced with Shelton Kilby for the Breath of Life Quartet (“Plenty Good Room,” “Spirituals,” and “Ghetto Child”) and his celebrated Walter Arties Chorale (“His Name Is Wonderful,” “Jewels of Faith,” “Morning Train,” and “Christmas Medley”).
Elder Walter Arties was a gift from God to the Adventist Church. In addition to his God-given musical gifts and exemplary Christian deportment, Elder Arties was a true visionary who saw beyond the present and recognized the need to impact the future. Forty-eight years ago what began as a fledgling idea has now grown into an international television broadcast (Breath of Life) that has led countless individuals to Jesus Christ! Dr. Carlton P. Byrd
A DREAM BORN OUT OF TRAGEDY
G. Alexander Bryant, North American Division president
Dr. DeWitt S. Williams, retired since 2010, worked five years in the General Conference Communication department and five in the GC Temperance department before spending the last 20 years of his career as director of the NAD Health Ministries department. Special thanks to Clarence Brown, Benjamin Baker, and Amalia Dugal for their source materials and pictures.
“Globally enjoyed, his stratospheric tenor voice and incredible range was revolutionary, … but his best attribute was not what he did for his church, but how he reflected the humble character of Christ to the world,” added Valentine. “Forty-five years ago, I noticed that he was willing to pull up a chair and sing in the camp meeting choir. Despite being an Adventist musical artist extraordinaire as his name implies, nothing was too lowly for Elder Arties to do for his Master and Savior. Our hearts go out to his wife Beverly and the extended Arties family and, yes, the world church, as we grieve the loss of this giant of faith in Jesus.” Arties is survived by wife Beverly, and two nieces, Ethelda and Arlene Dyer.
A memorial service is scheduled for August 7, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Oakwood University Church. In lieu of flowers, please send donations and condolences to: Breath of Life Ministries c/o Amalia Dugal P.O. Box Huntsville,5960AL 35814
Extraordinary Singer, Humble Servant Arties had a unique and captivating singing style. He combined rare musical artistry with a spiritual sensitivity seldom encountered. You knew he loved Jesus when he sang. He had a smooth and effortless Johnny Mathis style — as described by some. To the delight and amazement of his audiences, Arties could hold a note for several measures — seemingly forever.
The six-day Watts uprising of August 1965 sparked the dream that had been tossing around in Arties’ head. Watts was a low-income Black community that reacted to the unjust arrest of a young African American motorist. Rioting, looting, and violence followed and 34 people were killed, more than a thousand injured, almost 4,000 arrested and property damage was upward of $40 Artiesmillion.feltthat something had to be done to bring hope and new life to Watts and African Americans in general. The vision to develop a ministry to reach the Black community was born at that time. The idea of a program of religious music and preaching, he felt, could rejuvenate this troubled city. Walter dreamed of this kind of program and began laying plans to implement this dream.
A pilot program for the proposed TV program was developed and approved by the leadership of the Southern California Conference. After the pilot was aired on KHOF, Arties was invited to a communications advisory at Hinsdale Sanitarium where he showed his concept. The world leaders approved it and recommended Charles D. Brooks to serve as the speaker. Brooks accepted the position and the first BOL programs were aired in 1974.Arties was ordained to the gospel ministry on Sabbath, April 24, 1982, during the annual Black Convocation of the Southern California Conference at Lynwood Academy. Pastor C. D. Brooks, then a general field secretary of the General Conference as well as speaker for Breath of Life, preached the ordination sermon. The Breath of Life Quartet offered appropriate musical selections. Also present at the service were Catherine Arties, Elvira Arties, and Otyvee Dyer— Arties’ mother and sisters.
“He died Sunday at 11:02 a.m. from an acute neurological condition,” according to his attending physicians Dr. James Kyle and Dr. Jon McIver. “He was in the hospital several weeks before he succumbed.”
A Sweet Singer in Israel, Walter Arties III, Passes to His Rest
Walter Arties was a visionary. He was bold, courageous and yet a gentle giant who walked among us. He led in the blockbuster idea that the Seventh-day Adventist Church needed to have in its gospel arsenal a TV program targeted to a Black audience. As a result of his untiring efforts, Breath of Life was born and tens of thousands will be in the kingdom.
Excerpts taken from the original article written by Dr. DeWitt S. Williams
LAKE REGION CONFERENCE GARTH GABRIEL, PRESIDENT JeNean Lendor, Communications Director 8517 South State Street Chicago, IL 60619 (773) 846-2661. www.lakeregionsda.org
This is really rather simple: The bigger the project, the more people likely to be in volved. The more people involved in the project, the more likely there will be people who disagree—the project is too expensive; it is not really necessary; it is too big; it is not big enough. Whatever the detail, someone is going to disagree with it. At that point, you have to decide how you are going to handle opposition. To me, the two choices with opposers are to try to bring them into agreement or try to take them out. Unfortunately, it seems that more and more the choice in our church is to take them out. The problem with that approach is that opposers do not stop their opposition just be cause someone tries to take them out. And telling the people who oppose the project what terrible people they are because they stand in opposition seems to be a particularly frequent approach. We tend not to tell the actual person or people that we think they are terrible—we tend to tell other people. Or we use social media and tell it.
SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE BENJAMIN JONES, PRESIDENT Roger Wade, Communications Director 715 Youngs Lane Nashville, TN 37207 (615) 226-6500. www.scc-adventist.org
NORTHEASTERN CONFERENCE ABRAHAM JULES, PRESIDENT Duddley Francois, Communications Director 115-50 Merrick Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11434 (718) 291-8006. www.northeastern.org
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WILLIAM L. WINSTON, PRESIDENT James Lamb, Communications Director 3978 Memorial Drive Decatur, GA 30032 (404) 792-0535. www.southatlantic.org
Royal Harrison, Director G.L.A.R. Southern California Conference (503) 819-1498 hroyal2@yahoo.com
2021 REGIONAL DIRECTORS/COORDINATORS
The new office building involved the 27 administrative officers of the Regional Con ferences, the administrative leadership of Oakwood University, the Oakwood University Board of Trustees, the office staffs of the Office for Regional Conference Ministries and the Regional Conference Retirement Plan, the boards of both entities and the leadership of Breath of Life. Here is what I learned from both projects (which took up nearly 10 years of my life) and how it’s related to the recently completed General Conference session: 1. To Get Almost Anything Major Accomplished, You Have to Work With People Who May Disagree With You
REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 5 The Hard Work of Working Together PUBLISHER'S COMMENTARY Published by the Office for Regional Conference Ministry in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists 7000 Adventist Boulevard Huntsville, Alabama 35896 (256) 830-5002 Website: https://adventistregionalministries.org PUBLISHER Dana C. Edmond EDITOR Kyna Hinson ASSOCIATE EDITOR Bryant Taylor ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Howard I. Bullard COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Darriel Hoy COPY EDITOR Clarise J. Nixon PAGE PROOFING Patrice T. Conwell CONSULTANTS Elaine Allston, Yvonne Collins, Melonie Gurley, Wanda Lott, Margaret Neckles EDITORIAL For all correspondence and letters to the editors, write: OFFICE FOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE MINISTRY 7000 Adventist Boulevard Huntsville, Alabama 35896 or fax to (256) 830-5078 We reserve the right to publish and edit your submissions and letters. REGIONAL CONFERENCE OFFICES ALLEGHENY EAST CONFERENCE PETER PALMER, PRESIDENT LaTasha Hewitt, Communications Director P.O. Box 266 Pine Forge, PA 19548 (610) 326-4610. www.myalleghenyeast.org
ALLEGHENY WEST CONFERENCE MARVIN BROWN, PRESIDENT Benia Jennings, Communications Director 1080 Kingsmill Pkwy. Columbus, OH 43229 (614) 252-5271. www.awconf.org
Byron Dulan, Vice President North Pacific Union Conference 5709 N. 20th Street Ridgefield, WA 98642 (360) 857-7000. www.npuc.org Robert Edwards, Vice President, Black Ministries Southeastern California Conference (909) 202-0147 kinggm@seccsda.org
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One of the things that I learned early in my ministry (even though I some times forget that I learned it) is there is a big difference between someone hav ing a bad idea and that person being a bad person. Disrespecting people who disagree with you is not going to help them to work with you. And remember, the bigger the project, the more people you will need as coworkers. This leads me to the second thing I learned:
ROSTER Virgil Childs, Vice President Regional Ministries Pacific Union Conference 2686 Townsgate Road Westlake Village, CA 91361 (805) 413-7100. www.puconline.org Cell: 909-225-6438 Kingsley Palmer, Vice President African American Dept. Arizona Conference Cell: 775-338-0858 genx58@gmail.com James Scarborough, Coordinator African American Ministries Central California Conference (831) 262-3838 famar@sbcglobal.net Oneil Madden, Coordinator African American Dept. Nevada-Utah Conference Cell 702-875-5979 pastoromadden@aol.com
The Oakwood Academy project involved nine churches, 20 pastors, a church school constituency, multiple church boards, a school board, a conference executive committee and a conference association board. I cannot begin to tell you how many church board meetings, church business meetings, school board meetings, academy constituency meet ings, pastors meetings, phone calls and personal meetings were involved. (The Biblical phrase “numerous as the sands of the sea” comes to mind.)
CENTRAL STATES CONFERENCE ROGER BERNARD, PRESIDENT Cryston Josiah, Communications Director 3301 Parallel Parkway Kansas City, KS 66104 (913) 371-1071. www.central-states.org
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE DR. MICHAEL OWUSU, PRESIDENT Arnaldo Cruz, Communications Director 1701 Robie Avenue Mt. Dora, FL 32757 (352) 735-3142. www.secsda.org
he close of the 61st session of the General Conference nearly coincides with another major event in Regional Conferences—the completion of the office building that will house the major ministries of our Regional Conferences, as well as the Adventist African-American History Muse um.In some ways, the two events have something in common. Let me tell you how: I’ve had the privilege of being involved in two major building projects in my 44 years of ministry. The first one was the building/renovating of the Oakwood Academy Building. It was done in two phases. The second phase (which is actually referred to as Phase III) was completed after I left the South Central Conference, so I can only speak about Phase II. The second project I’ve been involved in is the Charles E. Dudley Center for Regional Conference Ministries, which is scheduled to be completed ( finally) by the time most of you will read this. One of the hard lessons I have learned about building projects is that none of them finish on their projected dates. I tell people the last building project I know of that finished on schedule was Creation. It had something to do with the Architect.
Obviously, the time comes when you realize continuing to talk to people who disagree with you and trying to persuade the “unpersuadables” is not working. But talking about them and disrespecting them and their opinions doesn’t work, either.
Sometimes, people who oppose your projects honestly don’t see what you see. First of all, the project may be your vision, not theirs. And if they can’t see what you see, deriding them is not going to help them see it.
3. When It Comes to Things in the Church, the Secret Weapon is the Head of the Church If what we want to do in the church is a good thing, it is important for us to remember that God wants it to happen even more than we do. If what we want to happen is His will, then He has the power to make it happen—especially if we get out of the way. And if God doesn’t want it to happen, then it shouldn’t happen. Well, what does all of this have to do with what just happened during the 61st session of the General Conference? The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been tasked with the most important building project of all—the building of the kingdom of God. And doing that will require us to work with people with whom we don’t agree. There is no getting around that at all.
In fact, Jesus basically said that working with people we don’t agree with is a sign that we are working with Him—that we are His disciples. He said, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disci ples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV). I rather suspect that not everyone is enthusiastic about everything that happened at the recently concluded General Conference session. But Jesus says that the sign that we really are His remnant church is for those who are not enthusiastic about what happened at General Conference to become enthusiastic about working with those who are enthusiastic about what happened there, and vice versa.
t Dana C. Edmond, Director of the Office for Regional Conference Ministry, (ORCM), is also publisher of Regional Voice Magazine.
2. Talk to—Not About—the People Who Disagree With You
I did not attend this particular General Conference, but I did attend the last two sessions. One of the most thrilling moments in my life came at the end of those meetings when the delegates sang “We Have This Hope” and other songs about the Second Coming. Both of my parents are gone now. They both died believing in that hope and it allowed them to face what they knew were their final days without fear—because they had that hope. And that hope gives me the hope of seeing them again—never to be separated again. And our task, our project, is to share that hope with a world that desperately needsThatit.is the biggest project any group of people will ever have. And we are going to have to do it together. To complete that project, all of us are going to have to work with people with whom we don’t agree. It is what God requires. Moreover, God knows exactly what it is like to work with people with whom you do not agree. I rather suspect that each of us does a lot of things that God finds disagreeable. But the wonderful news is that despite that, He continues to work with each of us. And if God can do that for each of us, then we owe each other the very same thing.
SOUTHWEST REGION CONFERENCE DR. CARLTON P. BYRD, PRESIDENT Norman Jones, Communications Director 2215 Lanark Avenue Dallas, TX 75203 (214) 943-4491. adventistchurchconnect.orgwww.southwestregion
The projects mentioned above brought two of the most challenging (and rewarding) periods of time in my life. Both of them took nearly five years from conception to comple tion. Both of them required asking the Lord to help us find large sums of money—about $21 million combined. And most of all, they required large numbers of people to “get on the same page” to work together.
51 CORONA Stats The U.S. death count has sadly crossed the 1 Million mark. The variants continue. In some areas, COVID cases and hospitalizations are on the rise. Do we really want to go back? Use proven preventives—good hygiene; stay masked and shel tered when necessary—and take vaccines and boosters if your health allows.
Elder G. Emmanuel Pelote, Special Assistant to the Presi dent for the East Central Africa Division (ECD), accepted an in vitation to this historic session, strengthening more ties between Regional Conferences and the African Homeland. By Courtney Campbell
52 HISTORICAL FEATURE
By Dr. Carlton Byrd
The Terrible Twelve - West Indies Preachers Stabilized Black Work in America These seasoned, pioneering leaders helped to lay a firm foundation for the black work in America and the beginnings of Regional Conferences. By Byron Dulan Coverage coordinated by Dr. Bryant Taylor
48 RV SOCIAL ACTIVATE:COMMENTARYJUSTICEACallto Speak Like Jesus
The close of the 61st session of the General Conference and the completion of the office building that will house the major ministries of our Regional Conferences have something in common. This article explains how. By Dana C. Edmond
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This session convened in St. Louis, two years beyond the original schedule due to the global pandemic. The teeming global congregations were miss ing. The session was populated primarily by church administra tors and delegates—in person and via Zoom. This report offers a good overview of events.
56 REGIONAL NEWS Central States Conference Holds 75th Camp Meeting
Elder Valentine has carried mul tiple responsibilities as a pastor, union departmental director, conference president, union sec retary, union president, division vice president, and now, an of ficer for the world Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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20 REGIONAL NEWS Delegates Elect Allegheny West Conference Leaders
The victims’ families hear many voices. Yet, they need to hear the prayerful, supportive voices from the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church community. In this spirit, a delegation of lead ers went to this grieving city.
By Leslie N. Pollard and Debbe Millet
The world is in need of an activism that speaks like Jesus. Understanding the spoken and actualized language of salvation is the first, and most important principle of Christ-like activism. It is a language both spoken and lived. By Claudia M. Allen Coverage coordinated by Dr. Bryant Taylor
Elder Marvin C. Brown, III, President; Elder Joel Johnson, Executive Vice President; and Mrs. Keisha Bone, Chief Finan cial Officer, were all returned to office during the Allegheny West 18th Regular Constituency Session, along with their confer ence departmental leaders.
22 REGIONAL LeadershipDelegatesSoutheasternNEWSConferenceElectNew
12 MILLENNIAL REPORT General PerspectivesConference
ADVENTISTSSEVENTH-DAYMUSEUMCONFERENCEREGIONALOF
Membership: 17,3171883
58 HOPE AdventistSERIESAfrican American History Museum to Open Soon The new Charles E. Dudley Center for Regional Conference Ministries will also house a beautiful museum “telling our story” in facts, photography, displays and even wonderful features for children, contribut ed by Mrs. Jill Edmond. Provi dentially, Mr. Howard Bullard, Regional Voice magazine Art Director, is also the Designer of this museum. It will open to the public very soon. By Dana C. Edmond
TheCOMMENTARYPUBLISHER’SHardWork
Dr. Simmons served as the first female General Conference Vice President and the first black female General Conference Vice President in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This session brought her de cades of dedication to a momentous close. Reports by Dana C. Edmond 16, 18 IN ElderJoinerMrs.MEMORIAMNannieB.HammondsWilliamC.Byrd Tributes and life sketches by the Joiner and Byrd families.
42 NATIONAL NEWS Uvalde, Texas – Hearing the Right Voice
44 NATIONAL NEWS Buffalo in the Aftermath Fear. Anxiety. Anger. Dismay. Disillusionment. Dishearten ment. These are just a few of the emotions running through the community of Buffalo, New York, after the senseless massa cre of 10 individuals.
Though the delegates to this session attended in person and virtually, they all used new technology to vote their choices, the ElectionBuddy platform. See the accounts of some discus sions and debates that lead to those votes. By Courtney Campbell
By Dr. Delbert W. Baker 32 ORCM REPORT Elder Darriel Hoy Accepts Call to Southwest Region Conference
CONTENTS 8 14 15 38 56
50 NATIONAL NEWS Police Officer Charged in Shooting Death of Black Motorist Patrick Lyoya, born in the Republic of Congo, had his trou bles in the United States. But a routine traffic stop and failure to produce his license proved fatal. The officer faces criminal charges.
First Black Church War, Seventh-day 1883
38 NEWS CelebratesOakwoodFEATUREUniversity125Years of God’s Providence The Oakwood Industrial School opened its doors to 16 students on November 16, 1896. On No vember 16, 2021, Oakwood Uni versity, the institution that has launched thousands of graduates into orbits of service, celebrated its 125th birthday.
After getting to know this region when it won liberation and independence from Russia 20 years ago, Dr. Baker looks at the impact on citizens and some changes the Seventh-day Adventist Church has made be cause of the current war. He also draws lessons from the stalwart leadership style of this nation’s young president.
By Rodney O. Grissom Coverage coordinated by Duddley Francois
All Safe After Shooting When a lone gunman entered a day camp filled with children, he met a well-trained, protective staff, an almost instant response from local police, and ultimate ly—his own sad end.
Telling Our Story Bible admonishes avoid thinking lightly smallbeginnings(Zechariah4:10). building examples this principle. had their genesis small begin nings. The origin Regional Conferences bears the principle small beginnings. The small beginnings the Regional Conferences 1940s have resulted their global impact and legacy North America and around creation Regional Conferences has resulted gospel entering over looked areas ministry people color marginalized groups. Regional Conference story illustrates how God wisdom can take take commitment unnumbered Regional pioneers affirm role creativity, adaptation and actualization glory God. Decidedly, this Regional Conference Museum Seventh-day Adventists gives glimpses into proud resilient story the rise and progress Like Psalmist says, new generations must see, hear, story. They must inspired share the story… “One generation commends your works another; they your mighty Catalysts arise(Pre-1943)vacuum. Instead, they were product the nation which they were formed, church which they were integral part, and major developments that tored making gional Conferences.
The former Communications Director at the Office for Re gional Conference Ministries (ORCM) and the Regional Con ference Retirement Plan (RCRP) is moving to pastoral ministry and leadership. By Dana C. Edmond 33 New PathwaysThinking:toa Successful Retirement Discover new research and fresh ideas for a dynamic journey.
46 NATIONAL NEWS Dallas Area Day Camp Children
By Dr. Delbert W. Baker
14 IN VotedElderTRANSITIONMauriceValentineGCVicePresident
By Benia Jennings
The delegates elected Michael K. Agyei Owusu to serve as President, Pierre Francois as Executive Secretary, and Eman uel Charles as Chief Financial Officer, along with conference departmental leaders. By Hakeem Brown 24 RV GLOBAL NEWS Ukraine War Zone Report Travel with this Adventist pas tor, administrator, teacher and relief volunteer to feed, clothe and transport suffering refugees from this brutal war. They are all our contemporaries. By John T. Boston, II 26 RV GLOBAL NEWS Ukraine Travels, Current Crisis and Thoughts on Leadership
15 IN ImpactfulDr.TRANSITIONEllaSimmons—AnLeaderMakes a Graceful Exit
By Dr. Bryant Taylor
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COVER GeneralSTORYConference Session
Offers Surprising Turns
of Working Together
PHOTOGRAPHY
he 61st General Conference (GC) Session of Seventh-day Adventists convened in St. Louis, Missouri, June 5-11, 2022. The world church meets in business session every five years. The previous session was June 2015 in San Antonio, Texas; therefore, the 61st session was originally scheduled for June 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. However, with the Novel Coronavirus rapidly spreading around the world and creating a pandemic, the GC session was postponed until 2021. By then, conditions had not yet improved to a point where it was safe enough to have a global session. By God’s grace, the 2022 date did become reality, making this a different, surprising event. The Adventist denomination uses a representative form of governance. In May 1863, the first GC ses sion was held with 20 delegates who met in a house and represented a few thousand members. The church has grown exponentially. In June 2022, there were approximately 2,700 delegates who met in a football stadium, representing 21 million members. The most notable difference at this session was the crowd size. Traditionally there have been more than 60,000 in attendance, but this session was primarily populated by the delegates and their families. With some delegates not in attendance, many joined via the Zoom platform to participate in the discussion and voting. ElectionBuddy, a web-based voting system, was used to include delegates who were not present in St. Louis.
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Dr. and Mrs G. Alexander Bryant Elder Maurice Valentine
BY DR. BRYANT TAYLO R
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The former Southeast Asia Union Mission divid ed into two union missions known as the Malaysia Union Mission and the Southeastern Asia Union Mission.Theformer Ethiopian Union Mission divided into two union missions known as the Eastern Ethiopia Union Mission and the Western Ethiopia Union Mis sion.The end of each vote was to accept the named union and the division it is in into the world sister hood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This all appears to be standard business but closer examination reveals that the process included more than one large Union dividing into several smaller unions. The process also included a group of church es known as “union of churches” and giving them UnionThisstatus.votecaught the attention of Timothy Nixon, Senior pastor of Ephesus Church in New York City. He wrote the article “European Union of Churches Raises Equity Questions” in Spectrum magazine on June 8, “What2022:caught my attention is the new Netherlands Union of Churches Conference, which is part of the Trans-European Division. A union of churches is an organized body of local churches within a geograph ic area. It has similar status to a union conference with a direct connection to a division. This creates a more powerful constituent entity that bypasses the process of first becoming a conference. It reduces a layer of denomination structure, redistributes re sources, and streamlines decision-making.” He summarizes with this thought: “Why is this tool for mission and local control not available to people of color in the North American Division? Revisiting this discrepancy is an issue of equity. It’s time for church leaders to recognize that we can do more than sing, preach, and baptize people. We have minds and ideas—let us unite to lead strategically as well.” Has the General Conference opened the door for regional conferences to become a union of con ferences?Another surprising vote was the removal of confer ence presidents from the General Conference Execu tive Committee. Conference presidents are no longer members of this GC body. Elder William Winston, President of South Atlantic conference, shares, “The money in this church doesn’t come from the world church; it doesn’t come from the division; it doesn’t come from the union. The money to operate this church comes from the churches through the con ference. . . . To disinvite the conference presidents
The opening day of business included a vote to rec ognize and record the union status of new unions: The former Zimbabwe Union Conference was divided into three union conferences known as the Zimbabwe Central Union Conference, the Zimbabwe East Union Conference, and the Zimbabwe West Union Conference. The Belize Union of Churches Mission gained union mission status. The Northern Ghana Union Mission gained union conference status. Union of churches - the Netherlands Union Con ference gained union conference status.
VOTESURPRISINGANOTHERWASTHEREMOVALOFCONFERENCEPRESIDENTSFROMTHEGENERALCONFERENCEEXECUTIVECOMMITTEE.
THE WASDIFFERENCENOTABLEMOSTATTHISSESSIONTHECROWDSIZE.TRADITIONALLYTHEREHAVEBEENMORETHAN60,000INATTENDANCE,BUTTHISSESSIONWASPRIMARILYPOPULATEDBYTHEDELEGATESANDTHEIRFAMILIES. BY BRYANT TAYLOR and GERHARD WEINER/ADVENTIST MEDIA EXCHANGE
Dr. Ella Simmons
GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION SURPRISINGOFFERSTURNS
Following this affirmation and show of appreciation, there was a rousing, roof-rais ing, thunderous applause in agreement. One of the fascinating things about any General Conference Session is the visual manifestation of Revelation 7:9…of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues. Elder Benjamin Jones, President of South Central Conference, described his experience like this: “Every time I come to GC, I get a feel of a global church… . I see people from all over the world, from Afri ca, Asia, and South America.”
I think is wrong…and to say to those who generate tithe and offerings and those who return tithe and offering, . . to say to those entities that you can’t sit [with this General Conference committee] is wrong and a mis take.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GERHARD WEINER and TOR TJERANSEN /ADVENTIST MEDIA EXCHANGE Parade of Nations
Delegates from ZambiaSpeaker Dr. William Lee at podium makes a point Delegate with infant on the floor
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The next General Conference session is scheduled for 2025, once more in St. Lou is, Missouri. This will return the session to the five-year cycle. We look to see you there.
Several times throughout the busi ness sessions, the tension between the chairperson/GC officials was evident. There was a back and forth between questions and the ruling of the chair. Elder Benjamin Jones, President of South Central Conference, sums it up well: “There is a gap between what the church says at the top and where I live… . Ministry does not happen at the top of this church. Ministry happens on the ground. Ministry happens in the conferences.” He continued, “Many people were making comments along those lines to the adminis trators and those who were making recom mendations. ‘What you are saying sounds good, but where I live it’s different.’” G. Alexander Bryant was voted as NAD President. We look forward to his con tinued leadership in the North American Division.Inasurprising yet satisfying vote, Mau rice Valentine was elected as a General Vice President of the General Conference. This vote was significant for many, and viewed as a course correction. During the 2015 session, many found the absence of an African American returning to this position disturbing. When the General Vice presidents were voted, it was clear that Ella Simmons, who was chairing the session, was not in the number. This prompted Tracie Mafileo of the North New Zealand Conference in the South Pacific Division, to go to the microphone and speak to the chairperson: “Dr. Ella Simmons, Madam Chair, thank you for allowing us to have this chat, but just from the floor I want to acknowledge the historical moment that we are in and to affirm your leadership as the first woman Vice President of our church over this last period.”
t Bryant Taylor, D.Min., Asso ciate Editor of Regional Voice magazine, completed live cov erage of the 61st General Con ference Session as a Special Assignment.
Drs. Leslie and Prudence Pollard GC via electronicsMr. Simmons and Dr. Simmons
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Douglas, GC Treasurer
BY COURTNEY CAMPBELL
General PerspectivesConference
fter a global pandemic de layed the 61st session of the General Conference of Sev enth-day Adventists for two years, the meetings finally took place June 6-11, 2022, in St. Louis, Missouri. Despite the upheaval in the world today, one could argue that the takeaway theme for this year’s General Con ference session is “The more things change, the more things stay the same.” After a week of rousing debates and fiery discussions in chats, many of the elected faces and contro versial decisions remained the same. That is not to say there were no changes whatsoever. One of the biggest changes was intro duced prior to the session—the implemen tation of a new voting platform called Elec tionBuddy. In a statement to Adventist News Network (ANN), Josue Pierre of the Office of General Council stated that ElectionBuddy was chosen because it was “…secure, stable, and easy to use, and it maintained our elec tion integrity and the votes remained anony mous.”This was especially important because of the hybrid nature of the convention. Be cause some delegates would be attending and—more importantly, voting—virtually, it was important to find a platform that would safely allow the same voting experience for both those attending the sessions in person and those attending virtually. Delegates were trained on ElectionBuddy before the session began. However, as with almost all things technological, the platform was not without its challenges. On the first day, there were some complaints about wi-fi not being sufficient for ElectionBuddy for those who were attending live. However, eventually the kinks were worked out, and voting seemed to commence for the duration without much difficulty. The business sessions and worship services were open to the general public via streaming on YouTube.
ONE OF IMPLEMENTATIONCHANGESBIGGESTTHEWASINTRODUCEDPRIORTOTHESESSION—THEOFANEWVOTINGPLATFORMCALLEDELECTIONBUDDY.
permitted to go to the microphones to speak, though there was some concern that not enough time was given in certain situations. Delegates who were attending virtually were able to speak via virtual platforms. Despite strong feelings on many topics, (even includ ing the placement of commas), most of the measures passed with very little major change. On Tuesday night, the nominating committee brought forward the names for executive secre tary and treasurer, voting once again to present the names of the incumbents, Erton Kohler and Paul Douglas, respectively. Still, as mentioned previously, despite many things remaining the same, there were some major changes. More than 240,000 people have been bap tized into the church since the last session in 2015. Due to this rapid growth, particularly in Africa, some unions had to be reorganized. This resulted in 10 new unions being wel comed into the Sisterhood of Unions. Anoth er change was the introduction of two new general vice presidents: Audrey Anderson, formerly executive secretary in the Trans-Eu ropean Division, and Maurice Valentine. Elder Valentine is no stranger to the regional conferences, having served as president of Lake Union and the Central States Confer ences. Elder Valentine has been serving as a vice-president in the North American Division. One of the biggest changes was introduced prior to the session—the implementation of a new voting platform called ElectionBuddy. In a statement to Adventist News Network (ANN), Josue Pierre of the Office of General Council stated that ElectionBuddy was chosen because it was “…secure, stable, and easy to use, and it maintained our election integrity and the votes remained anonymous.”
With the majority of business completed by Thursday evening, the remainder of this Gen eral Conference focused on mission. On Fri day, each division gave a mission report for the last seven years. Despite a global pandemic, the church continued to grow in every division. And though the business of the church is ex tremely important, while the church continues to face many challenges and while difficult decisions must be made, it is surely a blessing to see the Great Commission being carried out. As Shawn Boostra of the Adventist Review put it, “It was a festival of sight and sound as dele gates witnessed what John only saw in vision: God’s final message of mercy going to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.”
12 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 13 RV MILLENNIAL REPORT
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In every General Conference session, even one during a pandemic, a nominating com mittee is selected. This year, the nominating committee had to encompass both delegates attending live and delegates attending virtu ally. On Monday night, Lowell Cooper, the chair of the nominating committee, began to present the first report of the session. He started by explaining the length of time it took to bring the first report forward stating, “…it took us a while to get organized…to make sure ElectionBuddy was working… to make sure that our Zoom participants were able to Afterinterrelate.”explaining the process and introduc ing key members of the nominating commit tee, Mr. Cooper brought forward the name of the incumbent president, Elder Ted Wilson, for re-election to the position. Elder Wilson was ultimately re-elected to a third term with approximately 75 percent of the vote. Each day, while the nominating commit tee met, business sessions were held for the remaining delegates. During these business sessions, delegates discussed major topics including the ordination of women to the ministry and the church’s stance on vaccines forDelegatesCOVID-19.who were attending live were
t Mrs. Courtney Campbell is a graduate of Oakwood University, with a Master’s degree in Communications from Middle Tennessee State University. Currently, she serves as a church school teacher at F.H. Jenkins Preparatory School in Nashville, Tennessee.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GERHARD WEINER /ADVENTIST MEDIA EXCHANGE
The schedule for the General Conferences followed the same format for the majority of the week. Each morning, the session be gan with a digital music concert. A worship service followed the concert; then came the first business session of the morning. These sessions were chaired by various leaders in cluding Dr. Ella Simmons, the first woman to serve as a General Conference VP. She received many compliments regarding her leadership throughout the sometimes-conten tious business sessions. After seventeen years of service as a vice president, this marked Dr. Simmons’ final General Conference session since she is retiring. A variety of reports, including the Presi dent’s report, were interspersed throughout the sessions. After a lunch break, the after noon followed a similar pattern, with a digital music concert and an afternoon session. The pattern was repeated once more at the end of each day.
14 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 15 IN TRANSITION Elder Maurice Valentine
Elected General Conference Vice President
When asked what she considered to be a highlight of her 17 years, the three-time elected General Conference Vice President said it was seeing women being generally accepted across the world field in leadership positions.Whilethe humility of Dr. Simmons will not allow her to say so, the acceptance of other women as leaders is due in part to the Lord’s blessing upon her leadership. An affirmation of that leadership was seen in St. Louis when the General Conference dele gates elected former Trans-European Divi sion Executive Secretary, Audrey Anderson. She is the second woman to be elected as a General Conference Vice President. Going forward, it is difficult to imagine that the General Conference leadership team will ever be all male ever again. That is due in large part to the Lord’s blessing of Dr. Simmons’Someoneleadership.oncesaid that the definition of leadership is “ making others better as a result of your presence and ensuring that impact lasts in your absence.”
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t Dana C. Edmond, Director of the Office for Regional Confer ence Ministry (ORCM), is also publisher of Regional Voice magazine. He completed the IN TRANSITION reports on Elder Valentine and Dr. Simmons.
Dr. Ella Simmons— An Impactful Leader Makes a Graceful Exit
he recent General Conference session in St. Louis marked the close of stellar and singular service rendered by Dr. Ella Simmons, newly retired General Conference Vice President. Dr. Simmons served as the first female General Conference Vice President and the first black female General Conference Vice President in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Dr. Simmons believes that the Lord prepared her for her trailblazing role long before the role came—since she was a child. Growing up in a large family in Louisville, Kentucky, she was the only girl in a family of five brothers. And as the mother of two sons, she was the only woman in her family again. As male baby after male baby made their appearance in her home when she was a child, Dr. Simmons, who wanted a sister, kept wondering why a baby sister never came home from the hospital to join the family. But she came to realize that perhaps God was preparing her for her future role as the only “sister” among five General Conference vice presidential “brothers” in the administrative family of God. After graduating from Indiana University, Dr. Simmons began her career as a church school teacher and principal in the Indiana Conference. She later served as an educator in the South Central Conference at the E.L. Minnis SDA School in Louisville, Kentucky. She furthered her education by receiving a master’s degree from Andrews University and an Ed.D. from the University of Louis ville.After a number of years in other educa tional institutions, Dr. Simmons returned to denominational service in 1997 when she accepted a call to Oakwood College (now Oakwood University) to serve as the Vice President for Academic Affairs. From there, she went to serve at La Sierra University as Vice President for Academic Administration and as University Provost. In 2005, she left La Sierra after her groundbreaking election as the General Vice President of the General Conference. To accept that exceptional call required having an exceptional spouse, for it would ultimately require significant sacrifices and the deferment of some personal goals for the sake of Dr. Simmons’ career. She found that exceptional spouse in her husband of 55 years—Nord Simmons. An educator for near ly 30 years in the Louisville Public School system, as well as a business owner, Nord Simmons became Dr. Simmons’ traveling companion in her assignments across the world field. He became one of the very first “administrative spouses” in the Seventh-day Adventist Church—a role formerly reserved for “administrative wives.”They decided that Brother Nord would accompany Dr. Simmons in her travels around the world as an administrator in a church found in ap proximately 220 countries. Current General Conference policy does not allow for a large spousal travel allowance. The couple decided that they would bear the bulk of the expenses for Brother Nord’s travels—a cost that ran into six figures over the 17 years she served the world church. However, Dr. Simmons said, “The Lord made a way.”
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IN TRANSITION
lder Maurice Valentine’s journey to become General Vice President of the General Conference began in Kansas City, Kansas, where he was born to parents that he grate fully acknowledges “poured into him a love for Jesus Christ.” They demon strated what Elder Valentine described as “an addiction to ministry.” His family was introduced to Seventh-day Adventism by Elder Valentine’s grandpar ents. So powerful was the impact of those grandparents that the bulk of the Valentine family are committed Seventh-day Adven tists to this day. He entered the gospel ministry in 1985 in the Central States Conference after graduat ing from Oakwood College (now Oakwood University). For the next 21 years, he served as a pastor in that conference. Then he accepted a call to become the Ministerial Director of the Mid-America Union. In 2011, he was elected to become the Ex ecutive Secretary of that Union. He served there for one year. Then, Central States called him back home to serve as Confer enceHisPresident.rapidrise up the denominational hierarchical ladder continued in 2016 when he was called to the Lake Union Conference to serve as its Executive Secretary and Min isterial Director. When the Union President, Elder Don Livesay, retired in 2018, Elder Valentine was elected to serve as the Lake Union President. He served in that capacity for three years before he was asked to serve as a Vice Presi dent in the North American Division. One of his responsibilities there was to serve as President of Adventist Media Ministries. There he led 150 employees in the seven Adventist Media organizations, whom he called “outstanding leaders in their own right.”Heis married to his “college sweetheart,” the former Sharon Livingston of Birming ham, England; they met at Oakwood. She is an information systems professional, and Elder Valentine credits her as being a vital part of his nearly four decades of ministry. They have three adult children and one grandchild.ElderValentine describes himself as being “humbled by the privilege” of being called to serve the world church and looks forward to being used by God to be a part of the General Conference’s “strong strategic plan for mission.”
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a better, more inclusive place because of Dr. Simmons’ leadership. The impact of that leadership will always be felt. God be praised.When asked what was next for her and Brother Simmons, Dr. Simmons indicated that they would return home to Louisville, Kentucky. In fact, they were already there. Though they had planned to sell their home in Louisville after accepting the call to the General Conference, providentially, they kept it. Other than that, she said, “I have no idea.” She said that she had worked up until the very end of her tenure at the General Confer ence and only now was beginning to reflect upon what the Lord has for her and Brother Simmons in their retirement years. Whatever that is, the manner in which the Lord has used both of them in the past suggests that their leadership will make wherever they serve better as a result of their presence, with an impact that will continue when they are absent.
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IN MEMORIAM
1937
FAITHBECAUSEJOINERNANNIEWASAFORCETOBERECKONEDWITHOFHERGREATINGOD,HERPOWER-FULPRAYERMINISTRYANDHERINDOMITABLESPIRIT.
Nannie Joiner was a force to be reckoned with because of her great faith in God, her powerful prayer ministry and her indom itable spirit. She loved with all her heart, mind and soul and freely gave of her time and finances. She was never rich in money, but she said, “Believe you are called by God and He will take care of you.” God did take care of her even throughout her fierce battle with cancer. That indomitable spirit and unfailing faith kept her serving others despite her personal pain and suffering. She was a miracle of faith and lived far longer than the predictions of her doctors. Her unfailing faith con tinued to touch the hearts of her loving caregivers and medical staff. She did not fear death because she knew she would only be sleeping until Jesus comes. She would often say with a smile, “I will open my eyes and I will see Jesus first, and then I will see Murray!” She promised her beloved that she would bring “the babies” with her. But to Nannie Joiner, every one of her chil dren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, every student she ever taught, and all of the people she came into contact with were her “babies,” and she will be looking for you on that great day. Mrs. Nannie Joiner closed her eyes for the last time on June 1, 2022. She was pre-de ceased by her beloved husband Murray, her parents, her precious sister Lula Hammonds Merritt, and her youngest granddaughter Lauren Alexandra Joiner. She leaves to cherish her memory her beautiful children: Nanetta Joiner Pressley, M.Ed.; Murray E. Joiner, M.D., and Victoria L. Joiner, Ed.D. Nana is loved and adored by her grandchil dren, Joyce L. Bellamy, DDS (Michael); Robert L. Pressley, Jr.; Jennifer Christine Miller; Murray E. Joiner, III, and David Lee Miller. Her four great-grandchildren are Mia Lynn Bellamy; Michael Leon Bellamy, Jr.; Nori Laine Pressley and Lennox Kash Pressley. Her memory will be cherished by her additional siblings, the precious mothers of her children, her numerous nieces, neph ews, cousins, godchildren, extended family, students and friends. t Special Thanks to the Joiner family from Regional Voice magazine for sharing this inspiring tribute to the beautiful, dedicat ed life of Mrs. Nannie Joiner. Coverage coordinated by her daughter, Dr. Victoria L. Joiner.
NANNIE B. HAMMONDS JOINER – 2022
Pastoral Duties with Elder Joiner (Partial Listings) Greenwood, Mississippi District Columbus, Mississippi District Montgomery, Alabama District Principal Bethany Jr. Academy, Montgomery, Alabama Ephesus Jr. Academy, Birmingham, Alabama F. H. Jenkins Elementary, Nashville, Tennessee Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy, Atlanta, Georgia G. E, Peters Elementary School, Hyattsville, Maryland Peterson-Warren Academy, Detroit, Michigan Curriculum Coordinator, South Atlantic Conference Curriculum and Textbook Development, The Seventh-day Adventist Church Bible Worker Multiple Evangelistic Campaigns
Our Heavenly Father began to weave a beautiful life tapestry in 1937. A darling little girl was born to Sadie Christine Batts Jordan and Luther Jordan on October 10 and they named her for her grandmothers before her: Nannie Bell. Nannie was born in the midst of family turmoil, but was surrounded by love at the farm of her grand parents, Sully and Jennie Batts, in Madison County, Alabama. Her earliest memories were playing with her big sister Lula and all of her beloved cousins. The family turmoil became peace and safety when her beloved step-father, Samuel Elijah Hammonds, entered their lives. More than a step-father, he embraced Sadie and her babies and made a beautiful home and life for them in Birmingham, Alabama. Because Nannie and Lula were so close in age, they became known as “The Hammonds Twins.” Despite growing up in Birmingham in the midst of the tumultuous Civil Rights Movement, the Hammonds family thrived. The girls grew up safe and secure in a deeply spiritual Baptist home and learned the power of prayer. Nannie’s entire life would be shaped completely by her amazing spiritual gift of intercession. Nannie had a thirst for learning and education and graduated from Ullman High School in 1955. Upon graduation from high school, she received a college scholarship, but she had to beg to go back to Huntsville to study at Alabama A&M College. Her parents agreed only if her sister Lula agreed to go with her, and they could not stay on campus. She would have to commute from her Uncle Claude’s house to classes. A noted scholar and beauty, she was voted Miss Day Student that first year. She also caught the eye of a young man named Murray who, un beknownst to her, was her best friend Annie Joyce Joiner’s brother. Murray was instantly struck by her and declared when he saw her across the campus, “I’m going to marry that girl!” A whirlwind romance blossomed with the help of family members on both sides. By the end of her sophomore year, Nannie and Murray, Murray’s sister, Verdell, and her fiancé Allen “Pete” Pope decided to run across the state line to Iuka, Mississippi, to elope. The young lovers commenced a 60-year love affair of a lifetime that would eventually take them around the world. At A&M, the students often gathered in the snack shop where one day, a sweet lady named Sister Thelma Mouzon offered the couple tracts inviting them to a tent effort where Elder Jesse Wagner would soon baptize the newlyweds into the Seventh-day Adventist faith. Already devoted Christians, Murray and Nannie embraced their new beliefs with a fervor that would change the trajectory of their lives. Happily, other ma jor changes occurred with the birth of their first daughter, Nanetta Joyce, and two years later, their son, Murray, Jr. Although her husband had started a new career with the Chrysler Corporation as a detail draftsman, Murray felt the call to the ministry. The young couple began to pray, and because of their great faith, doors flew open for them to uproot their family and move to Berrien Springs, Michigan, for Murray to study at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Nannie helped support her fami ly by obtaining her first teaching position at Bard Elementary School in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and trained as a Bible Worker when Murray worked for Elder E. E. Cleve land’s evangelistic crusade in St. Louis the next summer. The techniques they learned from the Clevelands created an unstoppable evangelistic duo in the Joiners for decades to Duringcome. that crusade, Nannie also carried a secret—a new baby girl they would soon name Victoria Lynne. Sister Celia Cleveland guessed about the pregnancy but held on to the secret until after the crusade so Nannie could continue to work. Because of their exemplary record in evangelism, the Joiners were snapped up even before he completed the Master of Divinity degree. Elder Charles Dudley called the Joiners to serve in the South Central Conference as a new pasto ral couple in the Greenwood, Mississippi, district. Each Sabbath, the family traveled to four different churches in the region to preach the Gospel. Nannie made their road trips an adventure by packing terrific sandwiches, snacks and ice-cold drinks. She took the role of first lady of the churches as if she were born to do so. Not only did she create a sweet, happy home, but she also went on to become the sole Bible worker for her husband’s first “Big Bible Tent” crusade. Their efforts were not in vain, as 67 people were baptized in the Yazoo City area despite Nannie working a full-time job at Thread gill High School, holding various church offices, caring for three children under the age of 7, and dealing with a lingering illness and exhaustion.
ROLES OF SERVICE
Missionary Volunteer/Adventist Youth Society (MV/AYS) Leader Dorcas Society Leader Substitute Teacher (In Retirement)
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Pastor Byrd’s community activism was also noteworthy. During his tenure in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area, Pastor Byrd actively participated in multiple or ganizations that focused on the justice and equitable treatment for the disenfranchised. He served as an influential member of the Broward County “Justice for All” Organiza tion that was designed to promote unity and accountability of policing in targeted at risk communities. Secondly, while serving as pastor of the Bethany Seventh-day Adven tist Church in Miami, Florida, Pastor Byrd also served as the Board Chairperson for the Greater Miami Chapter of the National Urban League. Given his National Urban League association, Pastor Byrd was at the forefront of economic and social justice ad vocacy for African Americans and a cham pion against racial discrimination. After serving nearly 47 years in active Pastoral Ministry, Pastor and Mrs. W.C. Byrd retired and relocated to Huntsville, Al abama. They became active members of the Oakwood University Church. He served as a Sabbath School Teacher and Church Elder. He also faithfully served as Vice-President of the J.L. Moran Alumni Chapter and vol unteered at the Competitive Edge Learning Center.OnMonday night, March 28, 2022, Pastor Byrd texted his wife, Carol Ann, while he watched her sleeping, the words, “I Love You,” and “Goodnight.” Early the next morning, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, Pastor Byrd texted his three adult-children individ ual messages of love and support prior to his unforeseen passing later that morning. Awaiting Jesus’ Second Coming and the cherished promise to see Pastor W.C. Byrd again are his loving wife of 56 years, Carol Ann; his children, Dr. Carla Byrd, Carl (Cheinel) Byrd, and Dr. Carlton (Danielle) Byrd; his grandchildren, Kennedie Byrd, Christyn Byrd, Kiren Byrd, Caileigh Byrd, and Carissa Byrd; his siblings, Carol Sut ton, Deborah Shurney, and Robert Byrd; his brother-in-law, Henry “H.P.” (Patricia) Sterling; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Pastor Byrd was pre-deceased by his parents, William Carl Byrd, Sr. and Marguerite Howard Byrd; his granddaughter, Caitlyn Byrd; his brother, Timothy Byrd, Sr.; his niece, Dr. Kimberly Sutton Brown; and his brother-in-law, Glenn Shurney.
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t Special Thanks from Regional Voice magazine to the family of Elder W. C. Byrd for this re cord of exemplary, devoted serviage codinated by Dr. Carlton P. Byrd.
IN MEMORIAM
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On June 8, 1944, in Chica go, Illinois, William Carl Byrd, Jr. was the first son born to his excited parents, William Carl Byrd, Sr. and Marguerite Howard Byrd. “Bill,” as he was affection ately called, grew up in the fear and ad monition of God by attending Shiloh Sev enth-day Adventist Academy in Chicago. Bill continued his education by attending Francis Parker High School in Chicago. While at Parker High School, it was evi dent to his sports’ coaches and scouts that Bill was especially gifted in the game of basketball. His athleticism and basket ball skills were so apparent that prior to completing high school, Bill was actively recruited and pursed by various colleges and universities for full scholarships if he would commit to playing basketball for theseWilliamschools.“Bill”
In Retirement Sabbath School Teacher, Oakwood University Church Church Elder, Oakwood University Church Vice-President, J. L. Moran Alumni Chapter
On June 26, 1965, William Carl Byrd and Carol Ann Sterling were united in holy matrimony at the Shiloh Seventh-day Ad ventist Church in Chicago, Illinois, by Pastor Samuel D. Meyers. The love story for these two becoming one began. Shortly after their wedding, Bill successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology with a minor in Sociology from Oakwood College. After his college graduation, the Lake Re gion Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, under the leadership of President C.E. Brad ford, extended an invitation for Bill to serve in the gospel ministry as a pastor.
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tinction as being the only pastor in the his tory of the Southeastern Conference to have pastored in every geographical district (five in total) in the conference. He was the recipient of numerous awards and citations, and was named “Pastor of the Year” several times in his ministry. In each of the churches and districts, Pastor Byrd engaged in earnest evangelistic activity conducting tent efforts, church re vivals, Revelation Seminars and prophecy meetings, resulting in thousands being won to Jesus Christ and joining the Adventist Church through baptism! Not only did Pas tor Byrd practice evangelism, but he trained in evangelism. While he was assigned to the St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Ft. Myers (and later Bradenton), District, he conducted an evan gelistic tent effort. His wife, Carol Ann, and Gladys Ball (Carol Ann’s aunt) served as the Bible Workers. Because Gladys Ball needed a navigation guide as there was no global positioning system (GPS), then, a 10-yearold, Carlton “Buddy” Byrd, volunteered and became a member of the Bible Worker Team. This was the genesis of Dr. Carlton P. Byrd’s formal training and service to the Lord. Be cause of Pastor Byrd’s love and commitment to his call for the ministry, his wife, Carol Ann, and their children, Carla, Carl, and Carlton all remained ready, willing, and able to offer their support when needed. Pastor Byrd also met and/or exceeded all of his monetary goals, including church, school and day care remittances, conference subsidies, along with successful Ingath ering and Message Magazine campaigns. Additionally, he was an ardent supporter of Adventist Christian education. He led building and renovation projects, and also fostered and grew church day care center and school enrollments. He made countless trips to Oakwood University transporting prospective students to his beloved alma mater for College Days, Alumni Weekend, and graduation with the hopes that they would subsequently matriculate at Oakwood University.Inevery district where Pastor Byrd served, he physically renovated and upgrad ed his assigned churches. From restroom renovations with modern amenities, to per sonally laying carpet and tile, to installing new church pews, painting, musical and me dia equipment purchases, and everything in between, Pastor Byrd believed in excellence with no excuse and that God required us to do things decently and in order. He operated on the belief that God’s properties should epitomize the splendor of our Creator.
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• Volunteer, Competitive Edge Learning Center, Huntsville, Alabama
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ROLES OF SERVICE
Byrd’s natural abili ties, coupled with his basketball talents, were undeniable to anyone who watched him play to win on the basketball court. “Lefty,” as Bill was called, was a pure shooter playing the shooting guard po sition. If you passed the ball to “Lefty,” points from his shot were guaranteed. Bill was true poetry in motion! Although basketball scouts noticed early Bill’s gifts and talents, God had a calling on his life. While en route to attend the Ohio State Uni versity on an “all expenses paid” basketball scholarship, there was a bad weather storm, causing Bill to lose control of his vehicle. This incident changed the trajectory of Bill’s future. He acknowledged God’s calling on his life to enroll at Oakwood College (now Oakwood University) and to pursue the gos pelDuringministry.his time at Oakwood College, Bill met a “Southern Belle” from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Carol Ann Sterling. The two became campus “brother and sister.” They prayed together, shared thoughts, laughter, ideas, dreams, goals, and secrets, which be came instrumental in fostering the birth of a relationship deeper than a campus sibling relationship. Bill and Carol Ann became best friends and later fell in love.
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Pastor W.C. Byrd’s first assignment was at the City Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church in Detroit, Michigan, as Assistant Pastor under the tutelage of Senior Pastor Samuel Flagg. While serving at the City Temple Church, Pastor Byrd also had re sponsibility for the Jackson, Michigan Church. Also, while serving at the City Temple Church, God enlarged Pastor and Mrs. Byrd’s union with the birth of their firstborn child, Carla Renee’ Byrd, on Au gust 22, 1969. After this term of service, Pastor Byrd furthered his education at the Sev enth-day Adventist Theological Semi nary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. While matriculating at the seminary, Pastor Byrd also served as pastor of the Dowagiac, Michigan, church. Additionally during this seminary experience, God blessed Pastor and Mrs. Byrd with the birth of twins, Carl Eugene Byrd and Carlton Percy Byrd, on April 11,Pastor1972. Byrd later graduated from the seminary with his Master of Divinity de gree. He was assigned to the Pontiac and Lansing, Michigan, District. While in this district, Pastor Byrd was ordained to the Gospel Ministry at the Lake Region Con ference Campground (Camp Wagner) in Cassopolis,FollowingMichigan.histenure in this district, Pastor Byrd was reassigned to serve the Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota District.In1976, he received a ministerial call from the Southwest Region Conference under the leadership of President W.C. Jones, (who was the uncle of his wife, Carol Ann), to serve as the pastor of the San Anto nio and Kerrville, Texas, district. During his ministry in San Antonio, major renovations took place at the church, and Pastor Byrd worked in concert with San Antonio Mayor Lila Cockrell, to implement and expand multiple programs for Senior Adults and the most vulnerable members of the San Anto nioInpopulation.1979,President Robert L. Woodfork, extended an invitation to Pastor Byrd to serve in the South Atlantic Conference. In 1981, the Southeastern Conference was organized, created from the South Atlantic Conference. Pastor Byrd was one of the “charter” pastors in the new Southeastern Conference, and served in this field since its inception. The impact of Pastor Byrd’s ministry was enormously felt for the next 39 years as he worked solely in the state of Florida. In fact, Pastor Byrd holds the dis
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Pastor W.C. Byrd’s pastoral and departmental ministry tenure in the Lake Region, Southwest Region and Southeastern Conferences included the following:
Churches and Districts City Temple, Detroit, Michigan • Jackson, Michigan • Dowagiac, Michigan Pontiac and Lansing, Michigan District Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota District San Antonio and Kerrville, Texas District St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, and Bradenton, Florida District Ft. Lauderdale (Mt. Olivet), Pompano Beach, Dania, and Ft. Lauderdale (Lighthouse), Florida District Jacksonville (Ephesus), Jacksonville (Breath of Life), and St. Augustine, Florida District Palm Bay and Cocoa, Florida District Miami (Bethany), Florida West Palm Beach (Ephesus), Florida Clewiston and Belle Glade, Florida District Church School Builder/Renovator/Supporter St. Petersburg, Florida Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Jacksonville, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida School Board Chairperson, Miami, Florida Southeastern Conference Departmental Director – Family Ministries, Health and Temperance Ministries, and Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Coordinator, Southeastern Conference N.E.T. Evangelism Program Pastor of the Year, Multiple Awards
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PASTOR WILLIAM CARL BYRD 1944 – 2022
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lder Marvin C. Brown, III, President; Elder Joel Johnson, Exec utive Vice President; and Mrs. Keisha Bone, Chief Financial Officer, were all returned to office during the Allegheny West 18th Regular Constituency Session held on Sunday, April 10, 2022. During the meeting, Brown expressed his gratitude to the con stituents in his President’s Report and reminded them of the work ahead saying, “Indeed the hand of the Lord was and continues to be upon us. He has preserved and sustained us during uncertain times and brought us safely to the other side....All around us, there are hurting people, living without Jesus, and bound for an eternity without God. We must tell them the good news of God’s grace and everlasting love in send ing his son Jesus Christ. We must move forward together in mission and ministry.” Joel Johnson was elected to serve as the Executive Vice President and Stew ardship Director. In her report, Chief Financial Officer Bone shared Allegheny West’s successes through the COVID-19 pandemic and its bright future: «God has abundantly blessed our conference and churches,” she said. “Allegheny West Conference has con tinued moving [its] mission forward even in these unprecedented times. We could never have an ticipated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; it has been a challenging expe rience for us all. However, in the face of uncertainty, we remained focused [and] exercised our mustard seed faith, confident that we can move mountains. God blessedWhileus!”the meeting focused on the happenings of the last four years, the administration now focuses on God’s calling to press forward in its“Wemission.have chosen ‘Moving Mission For ward’ as the theme for our 2022 Constitu ency Session,” said President Brown.
WE MUST TELL THEM THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S GRACE LOVEEVERLASTINGANDINSENDINGHISSONJESUSCHRIST.
“As we meditate on this theme, [we remember] the words of the apostle Paul, ‘straining toward what is ahead, I press on…’ Philippians 3:13, 14 NIV. Let us choose to be like Paul as we press on in mission. As we look to Jesus, following His example of service and humility, He will help us, bless our efforts, and energize us to finish the work. May God bless the Allegheny West Conference. The best is yet to come.”
Elder and Mrs. Marvin C. Brown, III, President, and Elder and Mrs. Joel Johnson, Executive Vice President.
Children’s Ministries
Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Jerome Hurst Prayer Ministries Dr. Violet Cox Prison Ministries
Communication Benia Jennings Community Services Jerome Hurst Education Dr. Violet Cox Family Life Ministries Dr. Lloydston Burton Media Ministries Gerson Pancorbo Ministerial Secretary Dr. William E. Joseph Jr. Multi-Cultural Ministries Dr. Sergio E. Romero
Delegates voted the following Departmental directors into office during the constituency session: PHOTO CREDIT: PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROGER R. WADE
Melvin Mitchell Sabbath School Dr. Lloydston Burton
Stewardship Joel E. Johnson Women’s Ministries
Eric K. Peters
E
Five-year Term BY BENIA JENNINGS
Bobbe Reynolds Youth Ministries
(L,R) Marvin C Brown, III, AWC president, Celeste Ryan Blyden, Executive VP, Columbia Union, Dr. Dave Weigley, Columbia Union president, Calvin Watkins, Vice President, Regional Liaison/Evangelism, North American Division, and Emmanuel Asiedu, Columbia Union Treasurer Dr. Leslie Pollard, devotional speaker.
REGIONAL NEWS
Laura Ottati-Romero Church Planting Dr. Sergio E. Romero
20 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 21 Delegates Elect Allegheny West Conference Leaders to a New
t Benia Jennings is Com munication Director and Multimedia Ministry Coordi nator for the Allegheny West Conference of the Sev enth-day Adventist Church.
President Marvin C Brown, III; Executive Vice President Joel Johnson and Mrs. Keisha Bone, Chief Financial Officer. Columbia Union and North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists representatives in attendance at the constituency session.
22 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 23 REGIONAL NEWS
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A pause during session to honor the late President Gregory O. Mack with a moment of silence.
• Lucious Hall - Publishing Director
Hakeem Brown and Kathleen Williams, Associate Director of the Southeastern Con ference Communications Department, collab orated to produce this report.
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Arnaldo Cruz - Communications, Technology and Digital Media Evangelism Director
Mark Brown - Family Life, Men’s Ministries, PARL and Singles Director
BY HAKEEM BROWN
The delegates also elected the following Ministry Directors:
Southeastern Conference Delegates Elect New Leadership
Nicolas Louis - Haitian Ministry Director
Juan Gonzalez - Stewardship and Trust Services Director
Michael K. Agyei Owusu Pierre Francois Emmanuel Charles
• Brent Waldon - Ministerial Director
• Sandra Fletcher - Education Superintendent
Southeastern Conference delegates gather for session at Hawthorne Camp Grounds in the pavilion.
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he new Southeastern Conference administration and leadership for the 2022-2027 term was chosen at the 12th Regular Con stituency Session on April 24, 2022. After a two-year delay due to COVID-19, 1,223 constituency delegates gathered at the Southeastern Conference Campground in Hawthorne, Florida, to elect its Theleadership.delegates elected Michael K. Agyei Owusu to serve as President, Pierre Francois as Executive Secretary, and Emanuel Charles as Chief Financial Officer.
t
• Shae Crockett - Youth Ministries, Pathfinder and Adventurer Club Director
Dr. Michael Kwaku Agyei Owusu has been with the Southeastern Conference for 27 years, pastoring churches in South Florida, Southwest Florida, Northwest Florida, and South Georgia. After serving the conference as a pastor for 21 years, Dr. Owusu was elect ed to serve as Executive Secretary on May 29, 2016. After the sudden and untimely passing of President Gregory Mack, Owusu served as Interim President from November 2020 to April 2022. As President of the Southeastern Confer ence, Owusu believes that mission should be the focus of the Conference. He says, “mission is the heartbeat of the church, the very essence of what it means to be the church of God, and the purpose for which the church exists.”
It is his desire to lead the members of the Conference into a deeper committed relation ship with Christ and to unite the Conference in fulfilling its mission to “reach communities within Southeastern Conference with the Christ-centered message of hope and whole ness.”President Owusu’s long-term vision for Southeastern Conference is to be an organi zation where all members work in harmony to collaboratively accomplish God’s mission for the church. He envisions and prays for the day when members of the conference “act in concert...for the accomplishment of one pur pose”—the mission, as outlined in Matthew 28:18-20 and Revelation 14:6-12.
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• Esmeralda Guzman-HarrisWomen’s Ministries and Prayer Ministries Director (GuzmanHarris also serving as Assistant Hispanic Ministries Director)
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• Hector Garcia - Hispanic Ministries Director
Dr. Owusu has devoted his life to leading people to Christ and serving his community. Born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, he attended and completed his secondary school education at the SDA Secondary School in Bekwai, Ghana. He later completed his un dergraduate education in Theology, Biblical Languages, and History at Adventist Mission ary College, now Valley View University in Ghana, and West Indies College, now North ern Caribbean University in Jamaica. Owusu also holds two graduate degrees—a Master of Divinity (1991) and a Doctor of Ministry with specialization in Youth and Young Adult Min istry (1999) from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. In total, Owusu has spent 33 years in pas toral ministry and has had the privilege of working and preaching the Gospel in several countries including Ghana, Liberia, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and of course the United States. He has also been privileged to plant three churches in Florida, Naples, Immokalee and Port Charlotte. In addition to ministerial ex perience, Owusu has also worked in both the private and public sectors, including four years in the library system and seven years in higher education.Dr.Owusu has been happily married for 30 years to his best friend, the former Brenda Minnis of Freeport, Bahamas. Dr. Brenda Owusu is a university Assistant Professor and a dual family and adult board-certified nurse practitioner. God has blessed their union with one adult son, Michael Kwaku Adom Owusu. President Owusu loves travelling with his family, meeting people from different coun tries and learning about other cultures. Owusu encourages Christians, during these difficult times of a prolonged pandemic, rag ing war, and economic crisis to find comfort and assurance in the promises of the Word of God and His many acts of deliverance, care, and protection in difficult times. He says, “Though these have been unprecedented times, we have also seen God move in unprec edented ways to take care of His church. God is still in control of the affairs of this world, and as He has always done in the past, He will see us through these challenging times.” He believes that the church, more than ever before, is uniquely positioned to lead people to Jesus Christ, the Hope of the World! This is the time, says Owusu, for us to use our gifts, efforts, and every Spirit-ordained means to reach others for Jesus as we await His glorious return.
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• Tony Taylor - Community Services, Disaster Relief and MinistriesDisability Director
Olinto Groce - Sabbath School, Personal Ministries and Children’s Ministries Director
Lindsay Syeh - Young Adult, Campus ChristianMinistry/AdventistFellowship,National Servi Organization (NSO)
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Ukraine War Zone Report
WHILE THERE WAS A
O
ne evening as I watched terror unfold in Mariupol from the safety of my home in Michigan, I could audibly hear God say, “You are going to Ukraine.” When the phone call came the next day to travel to Ukraine, I knew I had to say, “Yes, count me in.” On a Monday morning in late March 2022 as Kiev came under siege, I stood over my daughter’s bed and prayed for God to keep her safe and prepare a place for her in a world where war would be no more. While there was a very present reality that every effort would be made to keep me safe while there, the possibility was most certainly on my mind that this could be the last time I laid eyes on my pre cious baby girl. A few hours later, I boarded a flight in Chicago on my way to Munich, Germa ny, to begin the effort to safely move women and children from Ukraine into homes and makeshift refugee centers across Europe. This trip was very different from others. In 2017, I traveled with a delegation to Syria at the border of Lebanon. A 2020 trip brought me to fires in Oregon. Travel in 2021 took me to Southern Haiti after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and later on the ground in Mayfield, Kentucky, after a tornado completely destroyed the town center.This trip to Ukraine was different because my experiences meant almost nothing in the effort. Everything was developing as we moved forward. There were constant adjustments to the plans, the security protocols, and the travel routes. The actual goals were in a state of flux. Once we briefed with the team in Germany, we began to see clearly that it was important to focus on a single goal. While medical and food supplies were critical, we became keenly aware that the most vulnerable persons in this conflict were the women and children who had to flee their homes, their cultural norms and their lan guage context to find safety for the foreseeable future. In order to safely move supplies from Germany to Ukraine, we had to drive the ve hicles that we would use to transport refugees through three countries. Once the vehicles were loaded in Munich, we got on the road and began the arduous trek. The drive took us through Austria, then Hungary and on through Romania, including the frozen Transylvania region moun tain pass. When we arrived in Suceava, Romania, at the Ukraine border, there were droves of medical response tents and transport efforts underway. We unloaded the supplies with our local partners and met to assess what needed to be done that was not currently being done. While we talked, there were women and children crossing the border on foot. Many of them had been traveling for days and their eyes no longer produced tears even while the pain was very present. Some of these women had to barter with their bodies to get from the East of Ukraine to this border. In the harsh cold, their coats and the coats of their children became even more valuable than their dignity in order to save their families. We were not going to simply move vulnerable refugees from the border and drop them at the nearest empty train station. We would drive these precious souls for 32 hours all the way back to Germany and use the available housing resources there until suitable and safe housing was identified in other parts of Europe. The most critical partners working on this were Child Im pact International based in the USA. They re sponded rapidly and aggressively with financial and human resources to this crisis. While I was invited as an objective observer by a secular entity, Child Impact Internation al allowed me to volunteer and organize their efforts on the ground within two weeks of the tragedy unfolding. Their continued work there has directly provided safe passage for hundreds of women and children as they hope to discover the pieces they will need to rebuild their lives and hopefully, their homes. When I finally made it home less than two weeks later, I returned with gratitude for the safety of my family. My hope is that the ancient prophets’ declaration of peace will come soon, but until it does, my desire is to see my daughter grow up in world where she knows we can make a difference for our people and for our neighbors around the “…Nationworld.shall not lift up sword against na tion, Neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa iah 2:4) KJV.
THIS TRIP TO UKRAINE WAS DIFFERENT BECAUSE MY EXPERIENCES MEANT ALMOST NOTHING IN THE EFFORT
BY JOHN T. BOSTON, II
REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 25 RV GLOBAL NEWS
ONPOSSIBILITYTHATPRESENTVERYREALITYEVERYEFFORTWOULDBEMADETOKEEPMESAFEWHILETHERE,THEWASMOSTCERTAINLYMYMINDTHATTHISCOULDBETHELASTTIMEILAIDEYESONMYPRECIOUSBABYGIRL
t John T. Boston, II, is Associate Director, NAD Evangelism Insti tute and Associate Professor at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.
24 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022
WITH
THE
WAR,INHAPPENINGONGOINGTHANMORE40WARSOFVARYINGSIZESTHEWORLDTODAY,ITISKNOWNTHATALLWAR,ISDEADLY,COSTLYANDHORRIFIC.
INTERNATIONALLYSTRUGGLEANRUSSIABETWEENCONFLICTANDUKRAINEISONGOINGTHATINTENSIFIEDOVERTHESTATUSOFCRIMEAANDTHEDONBAS,REGIONSRECOGNIZEDASPARTOFUKRAINETERRITORY.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is an ongoing struggle that intensified over the status of Crimea and the Donbas, re gions internationally recognized as part of Ukraine territory. In February 2014, Rus sian forces seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and occupy it to this day. Ter ritory and the extent of Ukraine’s indepen dence have been a matter of contention be tween the two countries since the USSR was officially dissolved in 1992, when Ukraine and 14 other states obtained independence. In the little-more-than 20 years after in
In counter distinction to the nightmare of the conflict, Ukraine is modeling a spirit of strength in the onslaught of their power ful neighbor. No one knows how the conflict will end or the ultimate impact on human life. But the drama speaks volumes to lead ers and the onlooking global audience as it relates to managing and relating to crises. When the war commenced, the world was aghast at the aggression. Simultaneous ly, it noted, first with interest, then amaze ment, the emergence of the young, Jewish, 44-year-old Ukrainian President, Volody myr Zelensky, who rose on the global stage after winning the Ukrainian presidential election against the incumbent. In July 2019, the world again took note of Zelensky, when it came to view that the former U.S. Presi dent, Donald Trump, was accused of break ing the law by pressuring him to dig up damaging information on a political rival. Approximately two years later, the glob al community refocused on Zelensky after Russia attacked Ukraine again. The world took note that this law school graduate, TV comedian, husband and father of two chil
BY DR. DELBERT W. BAKER
The words of Charles Dick ens come to mind from A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” It appears when travel ing there, I had seen Ukraine at the best of times. Now it seems the country is experi encing the worst of times. Seldom has a major mod ern-day European nation (ex empting during WWI and WWII) been so systematical ly destroyed before the eyes of the world. Yet, out of the rubble of strife-torn Ukraine, there is light. The world has seen emerge an unexpected leader-in-crisis and a resil ient people. The response has been an unprecedented level of global support. Going back a decade, when itinerating for various admin istrative assignments in 2012 and 2014, along with profes sional responsibilities, I had the opportunity to sense the national vibe and see sites of interest in the capital cities of both Ukraine and Russia. Kiev, capital city of Ukraine, had ap proximately 3 million people, making it the 8th largest city in Europe. Located on the Dnieper River in north-central Ukraine, Kiev is a port city and has a large railroad junction. It is an important center for indus try, education and culture not only in mod ern-day Ukraine but in all Eastern Europe. When I visited Kiev, it contained numer ous ancient architectural monuments. The incredible historical sites were impressive. There were the famous St. Archangel Mi chael’s Golden-Domed Monastery and the Golden Gates, the main triumphal entrance of ancient Kiev, and many more. Neighboring Moscow, capital city of Rus sia, had approximately 12 million inhabi tants, making it the largest city in Europe. I visited the famed Red Square with its 16th century brightly colored domes of St. Ba sil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s embalmed body in the Mausoleum, situated at the foot of the Kremlin wall. Also included was learning the tragic history of the main Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the New Maiden’s Convent, with its historic cemetery where notable Russians are buried. Adventism in the Midst Visits to that territo ry included time at the Eu ro-Asia Division (ESD) of Seventh-day Adventists of fice. The ESD is a sub-en tity of the General Confer ence, which administers the Church’s work in the nations of Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Geor gia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.TheESD membership as of June 30, 2021, was 102,829. Included in the territory are also two institutions of high er education. In Russia, there is Zaoksky Adventist Univer sity, which houses the SDA seminary, located in Tula Oblast, about 60 miles from Moscow. In Ukraine, there is the Ukrainian Adventist Cen ter of Higher Education, lo cated in the vicinity of Kiev.1 Prior to this April, Ukraine was an integral part of ESD. However, at the annual Spring Meeting on April 12, 2022, the Ex ecutive Committee of the General Confer ence (GC), due to the geopolitical sensitive situation, voted unanimously to attach the Ukrainian Union Conference (UUC), the church’s administrative region covering the country of Ukraine, directly to the GC. This action will remain in effect until other com prehensive arrangements may be made2. It is significant because the UUC compris es almost 800 churches and approximate ly 45,000 members, to make up more than 40% of the membership of ESD.
Leadership in Crisis
Travels in Two Cities
Ukraine Travels, Current Crisis and Thoughts on Leadership
26 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 27 RV GLOBAL NEWS
It is unsettling what time, conflict and devastation can do. When asked to write on my past travels to Ukraine and the current crisis, I accepted the assignment but did so with a sense of dissonance. Why dissonance? Because of the profound disconnect between Ukraine of a decade ago compared to the ghastly cir cumstances of Ukraine today. The follow ing are personal reflections on my time in the region, observations on leadership and thoughts on approaching crises. Impact of Conflict
dependence, relations between the two countries progressively deteriorated. The smoldering conflict burst open in Russia’s “military operation” in 2014 and then wide spread fury, when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The world watched the systematic attack on Ukraine’s sovereign territory in stunned amazement. The con flict continues to the time of this writing. With more than 40 ongo ing wars of varying sizes hap pening in the world today, it is known that war, all war, is deadly, costly and horrif ic. However, after traveling to that part of the world in the last decade, it now causes pain to see the vast destruc tion of buildings, cities, his torical sites, to say nothing of the documented atrocities and brutalities committed against the elderly, women, children and all civilians. It is surre al to see cities which took de cades and centuries to build, destroyed in a matter of days. I recall visiting numerous lo cations that are now sacked and destroyed.
INANDDESTRUCTIONTHESUFFERINGUKRAINEHAVEBEENTERRIBLETOWITNESS.PERHAPSEQUALLYRIVETINGISTHEBRAVERYANDRESILIENCEOFTHEUKRAINIANPEOPLEANDITSLEADERSHIPINTHEFACEOFTHISCRISIS. LIFE DESTRUCTIONMAYLEADERSHIPANDINVOLVEPAIN,ANDDEATH.
RV NEWS dren successfully rallied his nation, and the world, in a wall of resistance against the Russian Tadvance. he following state ments provide a few insights in to the leadership thinking of President Zelen sky during this time of cri sis“Let’s3: build a country of opportunities, where every body is equal before the law and where the rules of the game are honest and trans parent, and the same for ev eryone.”“WeUkrainians are a peaceful nation. But if we remain silent today, we will be gone tomorrow!”
Leadership Crisis Lessons The Ukraine conflict illustrates at least three practical lessons for crisis leadership today. First, Crisis Challenge: It is incumbent on every leader to cou rageously stand and act in times of crisis. A leader cannot die on every hill, but they must be willing to do the right thing when events call for it. The sacrifice may be se vere, requiring the leader to look beyond comfort and convenience, perhaps even life itself. There are no shortcuts. Paul en courages leaders (Ephesians 6) to be strong (verse 10) and he repeatedly emphasizes the need to resolutely stand (verses 13-14). In a well-known quotation, Ellen White says the “greatest want of the world” is for men and women who are known for five crucial char acteristics: they 1) can’t be bought or sold, 2) are au thentically true and honest, 3) are reliable to know and call sin wrong, 4) have ha bitually trained their con science to instinctively turn to duty and truth, and 5) would make any sacrifice, face death at any point rath er than do wrong or miss opportunity to do right (Ed ucation, page 57). Every leader today should diligently strive to pos sess these noble characteris tics and consistently model them in every possible set ting.
Third, Crisis Confidence: Even with every support gone and op position insurmountable, with death on all sides, it is the prerogative of the leader, con nected to God, to have confidence and fear not. They may trust and tap into a tran scendent peace. Paul knew of this confident state of mind when he said, “We are trou bled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecut ed, but not forsaken; cast down, but not de stroyed… that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Corinthians 2:8-10, ENIV).llen
Delbert W. Baker, PhD, ed ucator, administrator and minister, is Director of Re search and Development at the Regional Conference Re tirement Plan.
REFERERENCES
“We are defending our country, our land. We are not attacking anyone, because that is immoral.”Thedestruction and suffering in Ukraine have been terrible to witness. Perhaps equally riveting is the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people and its leadership in the face of this crisis.
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“It is claimed that I have left Kyiv. I re main in the capital. I am staying with my people. My family is not a traitor, but a cit izen of Ukraine. According to our informa tion, the enemy marked me as the number one target. My family is the number two goal. They want to destroy Ukraine politi cally by destroying the Head of State.” “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.” [Made to the U.S. upon its offer of evacuation to Zelensky.]
GLOBAL
White modeled this confi dence when she looked upon situ ations like those in Ukraine in her time and said: “In the annals of hu man history the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as dependent on the will and prowess of man. The shap ing of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or ca price. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, behind, above, and through all the play and counterplay of human interests and power and passions, the agencies of the all-merciful One, silent ly, patiently working out the counsels of His own will....” (Education, page 173).
Second, Crisis Mindset: The invasion of Ukraine reminds us that relations among nations are unstable and volatile. Nations are ruled by persons often controlled by prejudices, self-serving mo tives and sin. As a result, peace is not sure, and conditions can change instantaneously and dramatically. We are reminded that we should not arrogantly assume that things to morrow will be as they are today. Instead, we should live unpretentiously and lead wisely, humbly seeking peace but being pre pared for unexpected calamity (Proverbs 27:1).Further, while we do our best to cooper ate with God as we seek the Micah 6:8 tri angular combination of justice, mercy and love, we must remember that there will be no earthly panacea or utopia. As a realis tic end goal, the Christian is challenged to “consider most earnestly the blessed here after. Let our faith pierce through every cloud of darkness and behold Him who died for the sins of the world. He has opened the gates of paradise to all who receive and be lieve on Him…. There will be no sadness in the city of God. No wail of sorrow, no dirge of crushed hopes and buried affections, will ever more be heard….” (Heaven, page 8). Every leader today should be prepared for crisis, adversity or calamity and not be caught unaware. Prepare, while working for fairness, equity and leading in hope for the time when wrongs will be made right, in this life or the life to come.
Every leader today, though fear may threaten on every side, must implement what they know to be consistent with godly principles while looking for indi cations of providential guidance for time and eternity. In summary, prayers continue to be of fered for the resolution of conflict in Ukraine. Life and leadership may involve pain, destruction and death. All may seem to be lost. But as we do our part, Providence assures us God has it all under control. He will triumph gloriously in the end. He will make all that is wrong right. You can trust Him for that. t
1. executive-committee-of-the-adventist-places-of-refuge-amid-attacks/ventist-schools-in-ukraine-are-doubling-as-https://adventistreview.org/news/ad2.https://adventistreview.org/release/ myr-zelensky/general-conference/ukrainian-administrative-office-to-the-church-votes-to-temporarily-attach-3.https://graciousquotes.com/volody
New ThinkingRetirement
Using Paul’s optimism, at whatever age, be thankful. Whether you are in the 17% of the population that is 65 or older or the 0.5% of people who live past 90 years of age 1 or anywhere in between, you can have confidence in God’s providential plan for yourThelife.new research on retirement demon strates that having constructive thinking and intentional planning can open new op portunities and possibilities.
lder Darriel Hoy, the first Com munications Director for the Office for Regional Conference Ministries (ORCM) and the Regional Conference Retirement Plan (RCRP), has accepted a call to the Southwest Region Conference to serve as pastor of the Faith Seventh-day Ad ventist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the Morning Star Seventh-day Adven tist Church in Lafayette, Louisiana. Elder Hoy came to ORCM/RCRP from the Nevada-Utah Conference, where she served as the Youth Ministries Director, Children’s Ministries Director, and Mentor Pastor. Prior to that, Elder Hoy served as a pastor, Community Ministries Director, and Youth Ministries Director for the Central States Conference. She also launched an urban ministry in Baltimore, Maryland, in partnership with the Allegheny East Conference, Columbia Union, and North American Division at the onset of her minis terial career.
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The Third Chapter Author and life coach, Richard Leider reasons “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you figure out why.” But there is a third important day—it’s the day you get to retire and redirect your energies to successfully navigate the third chapter in your life.
Elder Darriel Hoy Called to Southwest Region Conference BY DANA C. EDMOND,
New PathwaysThinking:toSuccessfula Retirement Discover new research and fresh ideas for a dynamic journey.
David encourages us as he speaks of the blessings God brings in our later years, “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age” (Psalm valuealizesEllen92:12-14).Whitepersonthecontinuingandproduc tiveness of this third chapter. When refer ring to the retirement years she says that the “afternoon sun of his (her) life may be more mellow and produc tive of fruit than the morning sun.” Then she adds that their service “may continue to increase in size and brightness until it drops behind the western hills.” 2
32 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 RCRP PLAN
oday you can begin to assert ively realize a fulfilling and purposeful retirement journey! Having new retirement think ing, is the ability to intention ally achieve the freedom and foundation to pursue your life retirement goals with intention, preparation and pur pose.Recently, I heard a colleague declare, “Anyone who successfully reaches retire ment, in their 60s and in reasonable health, can thank God!” I thought about this posi tive assertion and readily agreed. My selftalk quickly added that this thought applies to all age groups as well. Any person can be thankful for reaching whatever age they are. Paul said it best, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” (Philippians 4:12, NIV).
The researchers found that the New Re tirement definition requires a different way
Elder Hoy is credited for being used of God in several initiatives at ORCM / RCRP: the upgrading of the technology for the “First Sabbath” series; the enhancement of our annual Ministry Connections Career Fair for Oakwood University students; coordinating Regional Blood Drives nation ally in partnership with the American Red Cross, and leading out in the technology for the first hybrid ORCM / RCRP Winter Officers Meeting in Destin, Florida. Elder Hoy departed ORCM and RCRP at the end of May. We thank her for her outstanding service and wish her well as she returns to her first love – pastoring. t Dana C. Edmond, Director of the Office for Regional Confer ence Ministry (ORCM), is also publisher of Regional Voice magazine.
REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 33 ORCM REPORT E
Current retirement research gives encouraging insights to an swer that “now what?” question. In a new national research study, researchers refer to “The New Retirement.” A study of more than 9,000 adults in the US and Canada ex amined what it means to think and act well in retirement. The research was conducted by Edward Jones and Age Wave in partner ship with The Harris Poll during 2019, 2020 and 2021. The complete study is called, The Four Pillars of the New Retirement: What a Difference a Year Makes, and Longevity and the New Journey of Retirement 3
BY DELBERT W. BAKER
As you contemplate retirement or the third chapter, an important question emerges: “now what?”
MORE THAN HALF OF FORBUDGETEDWISHRETIREESTHEYHADMOREUNEXPECTEDEXPENSESANDTHATTHEYHADDONEABETTERJOBPLANNINGFORTHEFINANCIAL(61%)ANDNON-FINANCIAL(54%)ASPECTSOFRETIREMENT.
3.
The Regional Conference Retirement Plan, with ADEL programs and services, is fully embracing the New Retirement approach to retirementDecidedly,thinking.howyou view and prepare for retirement is an important personal choice, but the research affirms that your attitude, actions and preparations still make the de ciding difference. Here are some highlights of the research that speak to the “what now?” question.
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2. Aging Boom. Two generations, the Ba by Boomers (1946-1964) and the succeeding Gen X (1965-1980) are rapidly swelling the ranks of retirees with the age 65+ category almost being tripled in the last 50 years.
5. Partner with trusted people who can hold you accountable and celebrate progress. One more P that will help is Patience. Your retirement plan will require some time and maturation. Nevertheless, with new retirement thinking, personal commit ment and the providence of God, success is yours.
RCRP PLAN of viewing how to successfully plan for and live well in retirement. The New Retirement concept offers new choices, new freedoms and new challenges to produce an exciting and fulfilling third chapter of life. New Retirement perspectives offer new options, possibilities and opportunities to pursue dreams, passions, learning prospects, mis sional goals and avenues to new interests.
Retirement Thinking Remix More than 90% of retirees’ identify pur pose as the key to a successful retirement, believing that having a sense of purpose and direction in life is the foundation to achiev ing wellbeing and fulfillment. Purpose can be achieved in a variety of ways but central to purpose is meaningful relationships, inter actions with family, friends and loved ones. Nearly all the surveyed retirees (93%) felt that being useful and of value to others and to religious and humanitarian causes increased health and even made them feel younger and more vitalized. Ken Dycht wald, Ph.D., psychologist/gerontologist, not ed: "Research has shown that having a sense of purpose can actually reduce the risk of cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease and depression, so finding meaning in one's life is essential to a long, healthy and poten tially fulfilling retirement."
In this watershed study, which surveyed North Americans across the five current co-existing generations, retirement is being transformed by powerful influences: the steady rise of life expectancy, the aging of the Boomer generation, growing health and wealth inequities across racial groups and by gender, an alarming absence of financial preparation by Americans, and the historic COVID-19 pandemic effect.
Central to new retirement thinking is the need for careful thought and action re garding the Five Forces and Four Pillars of retirement. Understanding and acting wisely within these realities will cause one to not only survive but thrive in this third chapter.
1. market-news-insights/retirement/new-retiregov/total-us-population/;457822/share-of-old-age-population-in-the-https://www.statista.com/statistics/https://www.census.2.https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/ ment market-news-insights/retirement/new-re6.NewJourneyExecSummary.pdfdefault/files/acquiadam/2022-07/AW_EJ_5.Summary.pda%20Year%20Makes_FA%20Executive%20lars%20What%20a%20Difference%20default/files/acquiadam/2022-07/4Pilage-wave-research-finds-301311221.htmlsuccessful-retirement-edward-jones-and-whelmingly-report-purpose-as-key-to-a-news-releases/post-pandemic-retirees-overhttps://www.prnewswire.com/4.https://www.edwardjones.com/sites/https://www.edwardjones.com/sites/https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/ tirement
Pillar 4: Finances —More than half of retirees wish they had budgeted more for unexpected expenses and that they had done a better job planning for the financial (61%) and non-financial (54%) aspects of retire ment. Two-thirds of Americans who plan to retire in the next 10 years say they are concerned about what their health and longterm care costs will be.
Pillar 3: Purpose —The pandemic has caused many to spend their time in more purposeful and meaningful ways. Nearly all retirees (92%) say having purpose is key to a successful retirement. Their greatest source of purpose comes from spending time with loved ones. They also value learn ing and growing and 89% feel there should be more ways for retirees to use their talents and knowledge for the benefit of others. Nevertheless, one in three new retirees struggle to find purpose in retirement.
Delbert W. Baker, PhD, Di rector of Research and Devel opment Regional Conference Retirement Plan, Huntsville, Alabama REFERENCES
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4. Financial Funding of Retirement. In most contexts, saving for retirement has be come a self-responsibility, either via defined contribution, where the risks of a volatile market rest on the retiree.
Four Pillars of a Successful Retirement7 Pillar 1: Health —Nine in ten retirees say that “it’s never too late to improve your health.” Yet there is an intention/action gap with too few taking regular healthy wellness actions like exercising, eating, sleeping, getting health screenings and avoiding risky behaviors. Cognitive or “brain” health is of supreme importance and a worry for retirees. Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are the conditions that retirees fear the most.
Alternately, in the case of a defined benefit plan, the fixed amounts paid to the retiree arem distributed according to a set amount. The amount may or may not be adequate to cover the retiree’s living expenses. In such cases, the retiree may need additional income streams such as Social Security benefits or other income sources. Those surveyed in the study started to save in their late 30s when they wished they had started to save a decade earlier in their late 20s.
Your Next Step This is powerful research. Whether you’re thinking about retirement, just be ginning or well into it, there are definite steps you can take to better position yourself for success. The important thing is to begin to do something now. Here are five Ps that can help put you on a pathway to productive retire ment.1.Pray for God to bless you with wisdom to make good decisions.2.Prepare by doing home work: research, assess portfo lio, secure advisor and finalize plan.3.Prioritize action steps in written form concerning what you will do and when to do it.
4. Persist in pursuing 3-5 goals with specific time lines.
1. Greater Longevity. With the exception of a setback from COVID, life expectancy is on the rise and retirees are exhibiting a renewed interest in living a long life. Most retirees revealed a desire to live to be 100 with the average length of retirement being 30 years.
Five Forces Shaping the New Retire ment 6
5. COVID-19 Pandemic. COVID-19 has significantly altered the lives of all Ameri cans. It has also upset retirement timelines, slowed down retirement investments and made retirement transition tougher than before. An unexpected positive consequence of the pandemic is that it has facilitated many retirees to rethink their values and priorities.
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Pillar 2: Family—Family and friends are central during retirement: they have proven to be the greatest source of comfort and purpose. Unfortunately, one in four adults age 65+ is socially isolated and that number grew during the pandemic. Important past career accomplishments or wealth is less important than family. Generational gener osity is significant, with 85 million Ameri cans (34%) having loaned or given money to a family member or friend impacted by the pandemic.
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3. Lifespan-Healthspan Gap. This gap results in the average American spending the last 10 plus years of their life with their activities at least partially curtailed by ill ness, injury, or cognitive decline. Closing this health, economic, and sociological gap is one of the greatest challenges society faces.
The New Regional Conference Retirement Plan Program (RCRP) Association for Enrichment Development and Lifelong Learning (ADEL) Announces as of June 1, 2022 New RCRP Website is operational—Check it out New ADEL Resources are available—Check them out regionalretirement.org (or www.ADEL.Today) Free Downloadable Retirement Gift Sign up by email for the monthly AMP (ADEL Monthly Program) eblast and received the free downloadable: 101 Retirement Challenges: Spiritual Insights (a publication of ADEL/RCRP) Go to the website, enter your email, and immediately download your interactive Retirement Resource Handbook regionalretirement.org (or www.ADEL.Today) 101 Retirement101 ChallengesRetirementChallengesSpiritualInsightsSpiritualInsights A Resource of the Regional Conference Retirement Plan The HandBook Series An ADEL Publication
the Bible. There are many sincere ministers of the gospel of other faiths who are hungering for more.
t Benia Jennings is CoordinatortimediaDirectorCommunicationandMulMinistryforthe Allegheny West Conference of The Seventh-day Adventist Church. Bryant Taylor, D.Min., Associate Ed itor of Regional Voice magazine, coordinated this coverage.
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Pastor Matthews now knows that his mother and father are in the grave, sleeping and not looking down at him when he has problems. It over whelmed him and brought tears of joy to his eyes from something as simple as explaining that they’re not in heaven,” said Lewis. Earlier in his career, Matthews trained in Catholicism and later be came a Lutheran minister. “To learn that there was no purgatory was such a relief for him. He found joy in understanding that no one was suffering and waiting to pay their dues because Jesus had already paid it all for us. The beauty of the gospel overwhelmed him. We praise God for the transformation in the life of Pastor Matthews and the lives of our church members,” Elder Lewis concluded.
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BY BENIA JENNINGS
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WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS NOT A MEMBER, I
pon becoming the pastor of the Blessed Hope SDA church in Cincinnati, Ohio, Elder Stephen Lewis soon learned that he was not the only minister in his congre gation. James Matthews was the former pastor of Roselawn Lutheran church, whose building Blessed Hope purchased and now occupies. Pastor Matthews had become a regular attendee of the services now held on Sabbath instead of Sunday. “When I got to Blessed Hope church, I met Pastor Matthews. One of the Elders of the Maranatha church had met him, and they clicked so well that Matthews put together a good offer for the sale of the church, which was to house our two merg ing churches, Maranatha SDA and Emman uel SDA churches. Matthews lived a short distance from the church, so he continued to attend worship services, now held on Sab bath,” said “MatthewsLewis.had been attending the church for some time when I became the pastor and [he] expressed an interest in becoming a Seventh-day Adventist [through] baptism. When I found out that he was not a member, I intention ally shared messages that emphasized our fundamental beliefs during our Wednesday evening and Sabbath sermons. After presenting twelve weeks of these messages, our entire church went on a 21day fast. The fast was threefold: those who were meat-eaters went 21 days without meat. Those who were vege tarian went 21 days as vegan, and those who were vegan committed to 21 days of eating raw foods. Matthews was a meat eater but chose to go vegan for the fast,” continued Lewis. Matthews had a scheduled doctor’s ap pointment that coincided with the end of the fast. He later shared the results of the visit with Lewis. “His blood tests left his doctors amazed at his blood sugar, cholesterol lev els, and overall health. They asked what he had done to cause the change. As a result, he fell in love with our health message. He and his wife have contin ued to embrace their newfound plant-based lifestyle and diet and reported losing over thirty pounds as a re sult,” says Lewis. “Not long after, I began talking to him about being baptized, and his response was, ‘I was waiting for you to ask; my wife and I want to be a part of the next baptism.’ Matthews was baptized along with his wife after a series of doctrinal studies. He is now an active member and powerful influence in the church,” says Lewis. “He is one of our local elders at the church; organizes prayer meetings and Bible studies. I’ve often noticed the way he looks at our Bible studies; it’s as if he’s handling bars of gold. His appreciation for the truths he discovered rekindled my and the other members’ desire to study the distinct beliefs of our Lewischurch.”believes that there is much that churches can glean from Matthews’ ex perience in becoming a new believer. “I believe people, even clergy are interested in learning what the Bible teaches, which fortunately lines up with what we believe as our doctrinal teachings come directly from
“The completion of Oakwood’s 10,000 square foot Community Health Action Center will not only deliver health care on one side of our facility, but the other side of our facility will also house real-life service learning ac tivities for our students and faculty as they de liver health education, nutrition education, job skills training, and the services of our Mobile Food Market. Faculty are already planning life-skills classes and after-school learning supports to children,” said Dr. Pollard. t Leslie N. Pollard serves as the 11th President of Oakwood University. Debbe Millet is the communi cation services coordinator in the Office of Integrated Mar keting and Public Relations at Oakwood University. This arti cle appeared as the Cover Story for Southern Tidings magazine, May 2021, and is used by per mission.
The University has tremendous local impact on the community, hosting, since 1946, the annual Camp Meeting for the South Central Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a 10-day spiri tual/educational/recreational retreat, in pre-pandemic years, accommodating 8-10,000 attendees. From its inception through the late 1960s, Oakwood operated a variety of businesses, in cluding a laundry that supported both Hunts ville and the Redstone Arsenal. “As part of the school’s industry recovery initiative, Oakwood operates two Edible Arrangements franchise stores, the Oakwood Farms Market, and the Oakwood University Memorial Gardens Cemetery. This initiative helps the university to keeps its tuition low by turning funds back into campus, employing students and teaching them the value of entrepreneurship,” observed Dr. Pollard. “One of the university’s goals is to reduce reliance on student tuition as the sole source of revenue. Profits from these indus tries support student scholarships and overall educationalReturningneeds.toits agricultural roots in 2017, Oakwood opened an organic urban farm, set to become the largest of its kind in northern Alabama. Oakwood’s intention is to contribute to the natural food options in the surrounding community, which has been labeled a ‘food desert.’ The University also opened the Oak wood Farms Market 2020, which offers fresh produce and a variety of plant-based products. The Oakwood Farms and Market is a practical way of promoting a healthy lifestyle based on biblicalOakwoodprinciples.University’s initiative is part of a larger contemporary trend that highlights the importance of organic vegetable farm ing for human health and general wellbeing. Following advice by church co-founder Ellen G. White, Seventh-day Adventists have long advocated for a plant-based diet, and for useful outdoor work as ways of keeping body and mindHealthyhealthy.Campus 2020 (HC2020), Oak wood University’s initiative, organized over recent years, has empowered students to make healthy choices. This program was established as a response to the problem of preventable diseases, which affect our students. Healthy Campus 2020 has helped to educate the cam pus regarding healthy lifestyle decisions uti lizing the eight laws of health in order to foster a holistic approach to a healthy mind, body, and soul. The goal of Healthy Campus 2020 remains—to make Oakwood University the healthiest campus in America.
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The Oakwood Industrial School opened its doors on November 16, 1896, with a principal, three teachers and an enrollment of 16 students. As academic offerings expanded over the years, and as the number of students and staff increased, so did Oakwood undergo changes in its names. The school was first named the Oakwood Industrial School, from 1896 to 1904. From 1904 to 1917, it became known as the Oakwood Manual Training School. Then the school was called the Oak wood Junior College from 1917 to 1945. The school became Oakwood College from 1945 to 2008. In 1943, Oakwood received its first accreditation as a junior college, having al ready begun the process of achieving senior college status. Fifteen years later, in 1958, it was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
On the former slave plantation, the Alabama landscape was sloping and un even. The red clay was hard as granite; the soil was barren from having been overworked. Dense brush encircled the property; tree limbs sagged. It took vision and faith to see a future in this unprom ising plot in the heart of the South, thirty years after the Civil War. The 65 towering oak trees on the origi nal property inspired the name of this new institution.
Oakwood University has been in the Hunts ville community for 125 years and so has Huntsville Hospital. Together, we plan to bring health and healing to the morbidities affecting the citizens of Northwest Huntsville. The part nership today between Huntsville Hospital and Oakwood University is designed to improve the health status of underserved citizens of the city of Huntsville,” said Oakwood University President Leslie Pollard.
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On January 1, 2008, the institution was named Oakwood University, when the school achieved university status after adding its first graduate program, the Master of Arts in Pas toralAsStudies.theUnited Negro College Fund (UNCF) member institution in Northern Alabama, Oakwood participates in and benefits from UNCF’s fund-raising campaigns, including scholarships, as well as access to international educational opportunities. Today, Oakwood is considered a historical landmark of Huntsville, Alabama. The uni versity is very much a part of the Huntsville community, with students carrying out their mission of service by participating in local tutoring, disaster relief, community improve ment, and child development programs.
In its earliest days, Oakwood Industrial School lived up to its name with a flour ishing set of industries.
The administrators and accreditation committee members celebrated the news of Oakwood’s initial accreditation in 1958 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Oakwood’s President and First Lady standing near the Oakwood Univer sity Mobile Market, which is helping address food insecurities in Huntsvill e.
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Principal administrators of Oakwood’s early pre-college years were: Solon Ja cobs (1896); H.S. Shaw (1897-1899); B.E. Nicola (from 1899 to 1904); F.R. Rogers (1904-1905); G.H. Baber (1905-1906); W.J. Blake (1906-1911); and Clarence J. Boyd (1911-1917).Presidential administrators of Oakwood’s college and university years are: J.I. Beardsley (1917-1923); James L. Moran (1932-1945); Frank L. Peterson (1945-1954); Garland J. Millet (1954-1963); Addison V. Pinkney (1963-1966); Frank W. Hale (19661971); Calvin B. Rock (1971-1985); Emerson A. Cooper (Fall 1985); Benjamin F. Reaves (1985- 1996); Delbert W. Baker (1996-2010); Mervyn A. Warren (Fall 2010); and Leslie N. Pollard (2011 to present).
U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked Oakwood University among top-tier, private liberal arts colleges and universities in the South, both in terms of “Historically Black Colleges and Universities” (HBCUs) and “Re gional Colleges/South” categories. The univer sity offers approximately 60 degrees in more than 16 academic disciplines, and Oakwood has an outstanding record of preparing suc cessful applicants to graduate and professional schools. Close to 60% of the culturally diverse faculty hold doctorate degrees from a wide range of national and international colleges andOakwooduniversities.University continues to view education as indispensable in preparation for wider service to God and to the human family. President Leslie Pollard said, “For 125 years, Oakwood has advanced the mission of Seventh-day Adventist education, creating competent Christian professionals for servant leadership. Since 1896 we have been in the blessed business of transforming lives.”
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The University has expanded the initiative to Healthy Campus, Healthy Community, by partnering with the Huntsville Hospital System to build and operate the Oakwood University Community Health Action Center adjacent to the campus at the corner of Spark man Drive and Bronco Circle. The Center encompasses an ambulatory care clinic operated by the Huntsville Hospital with in the Health Action Center. Oakwood students, employees, as well as community residents, will have access to quality care at the walk-in clinic. Establishing this facility will also allow for continuity of care from the walk-in clinic to in-patient care at Huntsville Hospital.
David Spillers, Huntsville Hospital CEO, and Leslie Pollard, Oakwood University President, sign lease agreements, and bump fists in agreement. The Oakwood University/Huntsville Hospital Community Health Action Cent er is scheduled to open in June, 2021.
The date November 16, 1896, is one that will forever live in the sacred history of Seventh-day Adventist mission. On this date, the Oakwood Industrial School opened its doors to 16 students. On November 16, 2021, Oakwood Univer sity celebrated its 125th birthday. For over a century, Oakwood University has launched thousands of graduates into orbits of service, around the corner and around the world. Today, Oakwood University, a historically Black Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher learning, offers quality Christian Edu cation that emphasizes academic excellence, promotes harmonious development of mind, body, and spirit, and prepares leaders in ser vice for God and humanity. The school’s mot to, shared by faculty and students, is: Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve. In everything it does, it believes and practices God First, its current slogan. Consistent with its mission statement, Oakwood University is in the business of transforming lives – both for now and more importantly, for eternity. While the many accomplishments of Oak wood University are legendary, at its very beginning, prospects were less than prom ising. In 1895, G.A. Irwin, O.A. Olsen and N. Lindsey traveled to Huntsville, Alabama, looking for land for an industrial school authorized by the General Conference. From the start, Ellen G. White championed Oak wood’s cause, and is unquestionably worthy of the title “cofounder of Oakwood.” In her letter 313, written in 1904, Mrs. White said: “It was in the providence of God that the Huntsville School Farm was purchased.” As it grew from its meager be ginnings, she continuously spoke out for the school, doing all in her power to make sure it prospered. She wrote, visited, prodded, sac rificed, prayed, donated, advocated and cried for the fledgling institution to ever fulfill its God-given destiny.
The more than 350 acres purchased in 1896 was property that had been owned by plan tation farmer Peter Blow. Among the slaves owned by Mr. Blow was one named Dred who would become famous for his role in the Dred Scott case. (Peter Blow’s son, Taylor gave Dred Scott his freedom in 1857.)
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uesday, May 24, 2022, will for ever be etched into the annals of history. On this fateful day, 19 young students and two adult teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, were shot and killed by an 18-year-old gunman.
Grief, disgust, and fatigue from senseless mass shootings once again plague a communi ty, and the larger society as well. From the cries of family members, to the debates of lawmakers over gun rights versus gun control, victims’ families hear many voic es during this period. Yet, they need to hear the prayerful, supportive voices from the Sev enth-day Adventist (SDA) Church community. To hear these voices, the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists which comprises the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, joined spiritual forces with the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Uvalde to provide food, care, counseling, and the opportuni ty for families and community residents to hear positive voices. It was Jesus who said in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” KJV
Dr. Carlton Byrd, President of the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, with Conference Executive Secretary Jason North and fellow President, Dr. Elton DeMoraes of the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and others in this group sought to bring comfort and hope to the Uvalde community residents in the wake of this tragedy. Their sorrow will not be for gotten.
On June 1, 2022, Dr. Carlton P. Byrd, Southwest Region Conference President, Elder Jason North, Southwest Region Con ference Executive Secretary, Dr. Elton De Moraes, Texas Conference President, along with several individuals in the Seventh-day Adventist community, shared their voices with the bereaved and heartbroken in the Uvalde community. They visited the multiple me morials that had been erected, offered prayer with residents, and shared the hope of a soon coming Savior! Most importantly, may the Uvalde commu nity hear the voice of Jesus when He says, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (He brews 13:5) KJV.
THEY VISITED THE MULTIPLE MEMORIALS THAT HAD BEEN ERECTED, OFFERED PRAYER SAVIOR!OFSHAREDRESIDENTS,WITHANDTHEHOPEASOONCOMING
Dr. Carlton P. Byrd at Robb Elementary School.
FROM THE CRIES PERIOD.DURINGMANYFAMILIESVICTIMS’CONTROL,VERSUSRIGHTSOVERLAWMAKERSDEBATESTOMEMBERS,FAMILYOFTHEOFGUNGUNHEARVOICESTHIS
THE UVALDE VICTIMS Children Nevaeh Bravo, 10 Jacklyn “Jackie” Cazares, 9 Makenna Lee Elrod, 10 Jose Manuel Flores Jr., 10 Eliahna “Ellie” Amyah Garcia, 9 Uziyah Garcia, 10 Amerie Jo Garza, 10 Xavier Lopez, 10 Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10 Tess Marie Mata, 10 Maranda Mathis, 11 Alithia Ramirez, 10 Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10 Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, 10 Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah Rubio, 10 Layla Salazar, 11 Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10 Eliahna A. Torres, 10 Rojelio Torres, 10 Teachers Irma Garcia, 48 Eva Mireles, 44 List - ABC News.com and The Associated Press, May 28, 2022.
Dr. Carlton P. Byrd and Pastor Nathan Krause.
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From left to right: Pastor Nathan Krause, Texas Conference Vice President for Ministry and Evangelism; Dr. Carlton P. Byrd; Dr. Elton DeMoraes, Texas Conference President; and Pastor Vincente Osorio, Uvalde SDA Church Pastor.
Dr. Carlton P. Byrd and visitor from California who came to show support.
Uvalde, Texas –BY DR. CARLTON BYRD
The Southwest Region Conference is assisting the Uvalde Seventh-day Adventist Church with financial aid for survivors of the mass shooting, along with funding a major Vacation Bible School for children in the Uvalde, Texas, area. The VBS will be held in August 2022. These gifts are being given to show love, support, and compassion to the entire Uvalde community.
42 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 43 NATIONAL NEWS
Hearing the Right Voice
Pastors Jason North and Nathan Krause praying with Uvalde city residents
44 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 45
Buffalo in the Aftermath
THE GeraldineAaronHeywardMargusKatherineAndreRobertaCelestineMARKETTOPSBUFFALOFRIENDLYVICTIMSChaney,65Drury,32Mackneil,53“Kat”Massey,72D.Morrison,52Patterson,67Salter,55Talley,62
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Ruth Whitfield, 86 Pearly Young, 77 List – National Public Radio report, James Doubek, Bill Chappell and Nicole Hernandez, contributing, May 15, 2022. BY RODNEY O. GRISSOM
Fear. Anxiety. Anger. Dismay. Disillusionment. Dishearten ment. These are just a few of the emotions running through the community of Buffalo, New York after the senseless massacre of 10 individuals in the Tops Community Su permarket. This absurd event not only took those 10 innocent lives and injured three others, but it has wounded a community that has suffered under the plight of racial separation for decades. The killer deliber ately chose one of the only grocery food stores in the eastern side of Buffalo. His murderous, racist ideology hit at the heart of an already wounded African American section of the Buffalo Community. In the aftermath, tons of services flooded into the community after the shooting. The Red Cross was deployed; social services were actuated, and mental professionals went into action. As pastor and members of the Emmanuel Temple Seventh-day Ad ventist Church, we thought about how we could be of assistance in this multifaceted situation.Weunderstood that people needed hope during this seemingly hopeless time. In partnership with the Northeastern Con ference Community Service director, Dr. Mario Augustave, along with the New York Conference Community Service director Judi Eells, we invited the North American Division Disaster Relief director Derrick Lea to help train a team of individuals from both conferences to be Emotional Spiritual Care Providers to help our city in this trag edy. After three days of training, this team of eight individuals were deployed into the community to meet individuals affected by the massacre; to help the healing process in the aftermath of this tragedy. Today these trained individuals have helped numerous people start this process. The Emmanuel Temple Church is also in the midst of an evangelistic tent meeting, held less than half a mile from the Tops lo cation. The theme is “Hope 4 Buffalo,” with Evangelist Carlos Blake, Jr., as the speaker. We pray that we can continue to bring peace that is found in Jesus to this community. We pray that as we contin ue to be the hands, feet and heart of Jesus; that individ uals will meet Jesus - the only Person who can give them real peace. Please pray for us as we continue to do God’s work, that we will be led by God to help this community heal. t Rodney GrissomO. is Pastor of the Emmanuel Temple Seventh-day Ad ventist Church in Buffalo, and the Pioneer Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church in Niagara Falls, New York. Duddley Francois, Com munications Director for the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, coor dinated this coverage.
Clockwise L to R: Roberta Drury, Heyward Patterson, Ruth Whitfield, Aaron Salter, Celestine Chaney, Pearl Young, Andre Mackneil, Geraldine Talley, Margus Morrison, Katherine Massey
DALLAS AREA DAY CAMP
FOR REASONS
THE TRIEDMOVEDSHOOTERAWAYQUICKLYANDTOENTER A CLASSROOM FULL OF CHILDREN, BUT THE DOOR HAD BEEN IMMEDIATELYLOCKEDBY A YOUNG COUNSELOR WHEN SHE HEARD THE GUNFIRE. ONLY HE DALLASFILLEDKEITHNEVERPROVIDECOULDANDTHATTHEPUBLICWILLKNOW,BRANDONNED,42,WALKEDINTOADAYCAMPCOMPLEXWITH250CHILDRENINDUNCANVILLE,TEXAS,NEARONJUNE14,2022.
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Brandon Keith Ned
46 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 47 NATIONAL NEWS
For reasons only he could provide and that the public will never know, Brandon Keith Ned, 42, walked into a day camp com plex filled with 250 children in Duncanville, Texas, near Dallas on June 14, 2022. He spoke with a staff member, then fired a shot. The staff member returned fire. The shooter moved away quickly and tried to enter a classroom full of children, but the door had been locked immediately by a young counselor when she heard the gunfire. All counselors and the entire staff were trained to lock doors and move chil dren to safety during an active shooting, and this training saved lives. When he couldn’t enter the classroom, Brandon Keith Ned fired another shot through a glass panel in the door. Merciful ly, no one inside was hit. The shooter then moved to a gymnasi um where he found other counselors and children. The counselors immediately began moving the children to safety, away from Ned.By this time, only two minutes after receiving 911 calls, Duncanville police ar rived, tracked the shooter to the gymnasium and exchanged gunfire with him. Ned later died in a hospital. The police were unhurt. Camp staff members and children were understandably shaken, but not injured, Relatives later reported that Ned was bipolar and was suffering from a mental break. He had taken a friend and her children to the camp, and those who knew him speculated that he went inside to find his friend and then confronted the first armed staff member. Camp director of the massive Dun canville facility, Coach William Pearson, cited the training and quick responses of staff members and police for saving all of thoseThelives.Duncanville Police force, welltrained and acting “by the book,” stand in marked contrast to their Uvalde, Texas counterparts who hesitated outside and in the halls of the Robb Elementary School. Tragically, the shooter there was inside the building for more than 70 minutes, moving between two classrooms; shooting at will; killing 19 children and two teachers. He remained unchallenged by local police and other law enforcement officers until a team of U. S. Border Patrol agents got clearance from their superiors, breached the class room, confronted the shooter then killed him when he refused commands to drop his weapon. t Facts for this report were gathered from the ABC and CBS television news, CNN.com, from coverage by Bill Chappell for National Public Radio, June14, 202, and from a Fox 4 news report by Shaun Rabb on June 15, 2022.
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The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus’ Teach ings and How They Have Been Corrupted, Obery Hendricks provides an in-depth anal ysis of the corruption of Temple sacrifices, explaining:“TheTemple was the center of Israel’s economy, its central bank and treasury, the depository of immense wealth. Indeed, so much of the activity of the Jerusalem Temple hinged upon buying and selling and various modes of exchange that it is no exaggeration to say that in a real sense the Temple was fundamentally an economic institution” (Hendricks 114). This shift in focus deterred the religious leaders from en suring that people had what they needed to participate in Passover. Now, people were often restricted from partici pating because they could not afford the sacrifices. No longer was sacrificial worship a transformational experience. Now Passover was a cultural experience reserved for those who could afford it. The irony is that the Jewish leaders were economically exploiting peo ple during a time that was meant to encourage them to celebrate their freedom from economic exploitation. When they were supposed to be reflecting upon how God provided manna in the wilderness, some were starv ing because they purchased a sacrifice. When they were supposed to be reflecting on how the Lord passed over their first born, some were troubled that their poverty caused Passover to pass them. No longer a joyful celebration of freedom, Passover had become a stage for the wealthy and a bur densome ritual for the poor. Jesus disrupts this scene in John 2:15, 16 (NKJV): “when He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen and poured out the changer’s money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’”
Bryant Taylor, D.Min., As sociate Editor of Regional Voice magazine, coordinated this coverage.
elcome back to another installment of “Acti vate,” a column explor ing contemporary social justice issues through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The world is in need of an ac tivism that speaks like Jesus. Understanding the spoken and actualized language of sal vation is the first and most important princi ple of Christ-like activism. It is a language both spoken and lived. Jesus taught us the language of salvation by speaking and actively working against every force and structure created by the language of sin that sought to steal, kill, and destroy the life that God originally in tended for creation. When John begins his gospel with “and the Word became flesh” (John 1:14 NKJV), he introduces us to Jesus Christ, our salvation language, the One who reacquainted our ears to God’s voice and opened our blinded eyes to God’s nature. This is essential to our understanding of activating social justice because it un dergirds the principle that speech is inex tricably linked to effective social justice. However, Jesus’s example of speech that activates social justice is not what we’re accustomed to. Our understanding of human speech in relation to social justice is often a display of ineffective sound—utterances that at best arouse emotion and at worst stimulate the mind with flowery platitudes. The inaction that often accompanies our social justice speech has caused many to devalue its potency and begin to prioritize a “do something” approach, as though action can occur apart from speech. This is a work of the Enemy. Understanding the power that language has to create, the Devil wants us to believe that we must focus on behavior to the neglect of speech. This is because he un derstands that true transformation is found in Christ’s example of a marriage between the two: speech and action. John’s Gospel wastes no time introducing the reader to the Jesus who emancipates with language. After selecting His disciples and attending a wedding, John writes that Jesus went to Jerusalem because it was almost time for Passover. When He came to the temple, “He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money chang ers doing business” (John 2:14 NKJV). During this time, Jews offered sacrifices in the temple to be cleansed of their sins. These sacrifices were to serve as a symbol of the sacrifice Jesus would ultimately offer on the cross, as the blood of bulls and rams could not remove sin. This meant that Passover was a very special time where many sought to use these sac rifices as a means of coming into right standing with God. Passover was an essential part of Jewish religious and cultural identity. There was no such thing as being a Jew and not partaking in Pass over. The Jewish leaders realized this and ultimately turned the temple into “a place of religious profiteering and perfunctory ritual” (Kostenberger 1727). In his book
t
CLAUDIA M. ALLEN
JESUS
THESPEAKINGLANGUAGEUSTAUGHTTHEOFSALVATIONBYANDACTIVELYWORKINGAGAINSTEVERYFORCEANDSTRUCTURECREATEDBYLANGUAGEOFSINTHATSOUGHTTOSTEAL,KILL,ANDDESTROYTHELIFETHATGODORIGINALLYINTENDEDFORCREATION.
48 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 49 SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMENTARY
The frustration evidenced in Jesus’s speech and action reveals that the economic
injustices perpetuated by the religious leaders activated justice within Christ’s heart. In fact, I’d suggest that Christ’s act of driving out the money changers and the dealers while exclaiming “Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” is an example of activism that speaks. Ellen White records in The Desire of Ages that Jesus “sees how priests and rulers will turn the needy from their right, and forbid that the gospel shall be preached to the poor. He sees how the love of God will be concealed from sinners, and men will make merchan dise of His grace” (157). Put simply, Christ rebukes the exploitation and exclusion of the poor and restores His Father’s image as a God who desires that all people have access to His presence. If you want to activate a social justice that mirrors the efforts of the Savior, then you must be willing to speak truth to power and enact a speech that rebukes oppression, restores oppressed people, and replaces oppressive systems. This is your call to ac tivate.
Claudia M. Allen is the Community Outreach Su pervisor for the Howard County Office of Human Rights and Equity in Co lumbia, Maryland. Claudia is a lay preach er at Emmanuel Brinklow SDA Church, with a Master of Arts degree from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Andrews University. She also holds certificates from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Howard University School of Divinity.
OPPRESSION,REBUKESRESTORESOPPRESSEDPEOPLE,ANDREPLACESOPPRESSIVESYSTEMS
AACTIVATE:Call
To Speak Like Jesus
IF YOU WANT TO ACTIVATE A SOCIAL JUSTICE THAT MIRRORS THE EFFORTS OF THE SAVIOR, THEN YOU MUST BE WILLING TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER AND ENACT A SPEECH THAT
50 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 Jurisdiction Total Cases Over Seven Days ________________________________ CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC THE LATEST STATISTICS GLOBAL AND USA VIEWS 546,357,444 GLOBAL CONFIRMED CASES 6,336,415 GLOBAL CONFIRMED DEATHS COUNTRIES,216 AREAS OR TERRITORIES WITH CASES Last update: 4 July 2022 DATA PROVIDED FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION USA 86,433,723 TOTALCASES DEATHS (At 1,007,644) WHO | Updated: July 4, 2022, 9 PM EST USA 585,796,438 - TOTAL VACCINE ADMINISTERED 219,527,809 – FULLY VACCINATED 120M - BOOSTER DOSES ADMINISTERED Our World in Data | Updated: July 4, 2022, 5 PM EST GLOBAL 12,025,155,209 TOTAL VACCINE ADMINISTERED DATA PROVIDED FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) Updated: July 3, 2022, 5 PM EST State/Territory Death Rate TOP 20 STATES - CASES California 92,637 Texas 89,171 Florida 75,891 New York 70,193 Pennsylvania 45,766 Ohio 38,852 Illinois 38,601 Georgia 38,579 Michigan 36,918 New Jersey 34,065 Arizona 30,515 Tennessee 26,714 North Carolina 25,209 Indiana 23,882 Massachusetts 20,953 Virginia 20,654 Missouri 20,647 Alabama 19,766 South Carolina 18,007 Louisiana 17,418 DATA SOURCE – WORLDOMETER July 4, 2022. TOP 20 STATES - DEATHS California 10,169,661 Texas 7,182,092 Florida 6,537,621 New York 5,802,499 Illinois 3,435,405 Pennsylvania 3,006,257 North Carolina 2,867,218 Ohio 2,848,453 Georgia 2,647,568 Michigan 2,606,431 New Jersey 2,500,418 Arizona 2,125,567 Tennessee 2,124,120 Massachusetts 1,926,543 Virginia 1,879,306 Indiana 1,775,886 Wisconsin 1,728,344 Washington 1,666,301 Minnesota 1,552,840 Colorado 1,538,051 REGIONAL VOICE • SPRING 2022 51 RV CORONA STATS
Police Officer Charged in Shooting Death of Black Motorist
t happened on April 4, 2022—an additional tragedy on the day marking the 54th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination. This time the shooting was far north of Mem phis, Tennessee, taking place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What began as a traffic stop ended with the death of Patrick Lyoya, an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa. And once again, crucial video footage from multiple sources, no less, captured the scene: Officer Schurr’s body camera (which stops abruptly mid-struggle); footage from the police car; video from the doorbell secu rity system of a nearby home and cell phone video from a private citizen. Police Officer Christopher Schurr pulled over Lyoya and asked for his license. Lyoya got out of his car. The officer asked the driver to get back into the car. He appeared confused, but never got back into his vehicle. The officer asked if he spoke English and Lyoya responded that he did, asking “What did I do wrong?” He did not produce his license. The officer grabbed for Lyoya. The motorist broke away and ran into a nearby yard. The officer followed him and video shows the struggle. Lyoya reaches for the officer’s Taser. He is told to stop, but the struggle continues. Lyoya is turned on his stomach. Officer Schurr then takes out his gun and shoots Patrick Lyoya in the back of hisPreviously,head. Lyoya had his own problems: more than a dozen arrests, mostly involving cars, but also several for domestic violence. His license had also been revoked. After weeks of protests, demonstrations and demands from the public in Grand Rap ids, the prosecuting attorney for Kent Coun ty, Christopher Becker, recently charged Officer Schurr with second-degree murder. “Obviously, I wouldn’t charge it if I didn’t think I could prove it,” said Becker when making the announcement. Officer Schurr turned himself in to au thorities the following day.
Attorney Ven Johnson spoke for the Lyoya family: “What this family hopes for is that more sooner than later — like now, today — that police officers understand that what they got away with in the past they can’t get away with anymore.” We will continue to follow this story. t Facts for this report were gathered from the ABC and CBS television networks and from coverage by Luke Vander Ploeg and Mitch Smith for the New York Times, June 9 and 10, 2022.
NATIONAL NEWS
I
1 God provided what became known as the “Terrible Twelve West Indies Preachers” 2 who helped to lay a firm foundation for the black work in America and the begin nings of Regional Conferences. Here is a brief synopsis of six of these West Indies pioneers to America.
JAMES GERSHOM DASENT (1879 – 1954) An tigua, St. John, British West Indies – He began U. S. service as a pastor/evangelist in the Southwestern Union in 1910. He was the first president of the first organized Regional Conference, the Lake Region Conference. His term of service extended for 49 years. He pastored in New Orleans, Washington, D. C., Cleveland, Indianap olis, Birmingham, Montgomery and Minneapolis.6 He baptized hundreds, organized numerous churches and pa stored some of the largest black congregations in the ur ban centers of the South, Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic 7 THE TERRIBLE TWELVE –WEST INDIES PREACHERS HELPED STABILIZE BLACK WORK IN AMERICA
ADAM NICHOLAS DURRANT (1869 – 1967) Manchester, Jamaica – Entering the ministry in 1904, he served as a Caribbean Union Evangelist and was ordained by L. H. Evans in 1908. He began work in Pittsburgh in 1912 in the West Pennsylvania Conference. He went on to establish New Jersey churches in Newark, Jersey City, Englewood, Montclair, Patterson and Camden. In Ohio, he worked with churches in Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton andAccordingSpringfield.to C. E. Dudley, Maitland G. Nunez, A. Wellington Clarke, Charles Fredrick Phipps, John Manns, Emile J. Jarreau and J. C. Crichlow round out the other members of the Twelve. Other West Indies preachers who played a significant role in spreading the gospel among blacks in America include R. Osterman, I. O. Irons, Jaf feth Williams, D. B. Reid, R. Hope Robinson and James Bennett.10
6. Baker, Benjamin, blacksdahistory.org
2. Dudley, Charles Edward, Thou Who Has Brought Us Thus Far on Our Way: The Development of the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination among African Americans, Dudley Publications, Nashville, 2000, p. 263.
1. Reynolds, Louis B., We Have Tomorrow: The Story of American Seventh-day Adventists with an African American Heritage, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Wash ington, D.C., 1984, p. 213.
A t the beginning of the 20th century, the Seventh-day Adventist denomination was struggling not only to provide mis sion workers to the world field, but to al so serve and grow the work among black people in America. “In the early years of the century there were not enough seasoned black ministers in America to meet the demand, so the call went out for evangelists from the West Indies capable of carrying on aggressive soul-winning campaigns in the large U.S. cities.”
9. SDA Encyclopedia, North American Informant, MarchApril 1965. 10. Dudley, p. 265.
Laurence erected 27 church buildings4 and retired after 58 years of service. W. D. FORDE (Dates not given) Bridgetown, Bar bados – He completed his theological training at Em manuel Missionary College. He worked in the Northern Illinois Conference and became pastor of the Chicago Shiloh church in 1910. The membership grew from 20 in 1910 and to 250 by 1918. Elder Forde started the first SDA school for black children in the Lake Union in 1911. As a worker in the Indiana Conference, in 1925, he pastored the Indianapolis church. In the Michigan Conference, he pastored the Battle Creek, Flint, Sagi naw, Inkster and Detroit churches.5
SDA PIONEERS
REMEMBERING
These stalwarts and many others from the world field remind us that God uses whom He chooses and that ev eryone, no matter where they come from, can be a mighty instrument in the cause of God. While the importance of where one comes from cannot be denied, one’s destina tion—where he is going and what he will do when he ar rives—is much more important. Let us always remember and celebrate the contributions of all whose shoulders we stand upon today.
ENDNOTES
t Byron Dulan is Vice President for Regional Af fairs in the North Pacific Union Conference and writes for the Black Adventist Historical Society on the West Coast. Bryant Taylor, D.Min., Associate Editor of Regional Voice magazine, coordinated this cov erage.
JOSEPH HERMANUS LAURENCE (1885-1987) Basseterre, St. Kitts – Evangelist extraordinaire, he was baptized May 1900 by A. J. Haysmer. He attended Oakwood College and began teaching and preaching in Yazoo City, Mississippi, in 1904. He was ordained in 1910. Elder Laurence baptized F.L. Peterson, Otis B. Edwards, C.E. Dudley and parents of C.E. Moseley, Dunbar Henri, Byron R. Spears and Joseph Winston.3
BY BYRON DULAN
3. J. H. Lawrence obituary, September 11, 1987. 4. Reynolds, p. 216. 5. Ibid. pp. 213-216.
STALWARTSTHESEANDMANYOTHERSFROMTHEWORLDFIELDREMINDUSTHATGODUSESWHOMHECHOOSESANDTHATEVERYONE,NOMATTERWHERETHEYCOMEFROM,CANBEAMIGHTYINSTRU-MENTINTHECAUSEOFGOD.
JAMES KEMUEL HUMPHREY (1877 – 1952) St. Elizabeth, Jamaica – He worked as an Evangelist and Church Planter after studies at Colbert College. He be gan his ministry in the Greater New York Conference in 1904 and was ordained in 1907. He grew the First Harlem Church in New York from 20 in 1904 to 600 by 1920. He advocated for organizational structural changes to empow er blacks to have more control over ministry to African Americans. He established the Utopia Park Urban Minis try Project. After being expelled from the SDA Church, he organized the United Sabbath Day Adventist Church.8 GEORGE E. PETERS (1885- 1965) Antigua – He served as a union Evangelist, denominational leader and served at Oakwood College. He entered the ministry in 1908 and baptized 250 in a single crusade in Tampa, Flor ida. He pastored the Chicago Shiloh church from 1922 – 1929. In 1929, he was elected Director of the General Conference Colored Department. In 1930, he established New York’s Ephesus Church after the expulsion of J.K. Humphrey and the First Harlem Church. From 1939–1941, he pastored the Ebenezer Church in Philadelphia. In 1941, he was again elected to the NAD Colored Department until his retirement in 1953. He was also the first editor of the In formant, precursor to this publication, the Regional Voice.9
FOUNDATIONWHOPREACHERS”WESTKNOWNPROVIDEDGODWHATBECAMEASTHE“TERRIBLETWELVEINDIES2HELPEDTOLAYAFIRMFORTHEBLACKWORKINAMERICAANDTHEBEGINNINGSOFREGIONALCONFERENCES. 52 REGIONAL VOIC E • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 53
Joseph Hermanus Laurence W. D. Forde James Kemuel HumphreyJames Gershom Dasent George E. Peters
7. Phillips, Glenn O., James Gershom Dasent, Adventist Archives, 2021. 8. Baker, Benjamin, blacksdahistory.org
The miracle God worked for this man, God has worked for others. He can work a miracle for you. Call Us www.drugalternativeprogram.orgVisitdapcalif@aol.comEmail256.232.4400Anytime:Usat:OurWebsite: Cliff Harris DAP Co-Director D r U g Alt E rn Ati VE P r O gr A m Christ leads Us to Help You, We’ll lead You to Christ for Help.
Elder Dana Edmond, director of the Office of Regional Con ference Ministries (ORCM), saw this as an opportunity to invite some of the visiting ministers to speak at some Regional Confer ence camp meetings, also scheduled in June.
It is his hope that all believers would be united in an effort to reach souls and finish the work here on earth. He doesn’t claim that either group has all the answers. However, he does insist that each group has something unique to offer the work.
Elder G. Emmanuel Pelote
Elder G. Emmanuel Pelote, Special Assistant to the President for the East Central Africa Division (ECD), was able to accept this invitation and subsequently participated in the Central States Camp Meeting. A native of the Northeastern Conference, Elder Pelote has a special passion for strengthening the ties between the Regional Conferences and members of the ECD. The East Central African Division has seen astounding growth over the last five years—with more than 1.5 million people baptized. Elder Pelote credits this to an intentional collaboration across unions and countries in Africa, stating, “It was more than just one union working to reach their people. It was the entire division coming together to reach every country.”
Central States Conference Holds 75th Camp Meeting BY COURTNEY CAMPBELL SIMILARLY, ELDER PELOTE BELIEVES ACROSSCOLLABORATIONATHEAFRICANDIASPORAOFADVENTISTSWOULDREVEALTHEPOWEROFTHEHOLYSPIRITTOANEVENGREATERDEGREE.
he Central States Seventh-day Adventist Conference held its 75th annual Camp Meeting, live at the Central States Campground, from June 3-5, 2022. While the milestone of 75 years was celebrated, the theme of this year’s camp meeting was “Forward.” One of the ways this theme was emphasized was through the continued development of ties between Regional Conferences and the Adventist community in Africa. Starting with the Transatlantic Family Reunion in April 2019, there has been an intentional effort to establish connections where previously little or no connections existed. Then, the global pandemic postponed or cancelled some of these planned meetings. When the live Gen eral Conference Session was scheduled in June, a unique opportu nity opened up for some of the ministerial leadership in Africa to come to America.
T
t
Mrs. Courtney Campbell is a graduate of Oakwood University, with a Master’s degree in Communications from Middle Tennessee State Uni versity. Currently, she serves as a church school teacher at F.H. Jenkins Preparatory School in Nashville, Tennessee.
Similarly, Elder Pelote believes a collaboration across the African Diaspora of Adventists would reveal the power of the Holy Spirit to an even greater degree. He imagines a scenario where misconceptions about each group are cast aside. African Americans would become excited about the mission in Africa and Africans would get excited about the mission in North America.Elder Pelote cites the prayer of Jesus in John 17:20-22 (KJV): “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.”
56 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 57 REGIONAL NEWS
To be clear, black Adventists did not To be clear, black Adventists did not want to separate from whites. But whites refused to come alignment with the Gospel and treat blacks equally and integrate their facilities. Black Adven tists could not continue be treated second-class citizens in every sector Adventism. This seriously undermined black Adventists and the work among them was suffering. What would happen blacks had autonomy win souls and operate institutions without worrying about racism from their own? The world would soon find out. In April 1944, church leaders met the Hotel Stevens Chicago for the General Conference Spring Meeting. After vigorous discussions about the propriety of black-run conferences, the body took vote and approved Regional Conferences. In the next two and half years seven Regional
General Conference Spring Meeting
“A scene was presented before me. I saw two souls struggling in the waters. The waves were beating high about them, and they were ready to perish. One of these persons was white, the other black. Then I saw One come to their rescue. With one hand He laid hold of the white man, and with the other had He grasped the blackand together drew them to a place of safety.
James DepartureHumphrey’s James Humphrey was born 1902. Shortly after his arrival, he early twentieth century, baptizing hundreds and raising churches New York City. Humphrey constant calls, like people, were being ignored. made plans start retreat rural New York where black laws health and learn the Adven officials felt that was acting inde pendently and did not support plans.Ultimately, Humphrey and con shipped. They formed separate Adventists. Humphrey and First Harlem’s departure from the church fight for black determination.
Ellen White “Our Duty to the Colored People” llen White was given vision from God when she saw how white Adventists treated their black brothers and sion talk on March 1891. She proclaimed that was the church’s duty go the South and tell the gospel to the blacks whom God ery. “If they believe ing blood applied them, she stated. name written the one Christ. Birth, station, nationality, color cannot elevate degrade men. The character makes moved individuals and reluctant church evangelize blacks and the foundation for black Adventism. Morning Star The Morning Star served mobile school and church blacks Mississippi from many Adventists organizations South, including Oakwood, Message Magazine Southern Publishing Association, South Cen 1891
Washington Adventist Hospital Howard University Hospital
Eva B. Dykes earns PhD December 1920 Eva Dykes became the first black woman to complete the Just impressive, she accomplished the college women that was equivalent Harvard. Dykes went on have produc tive career teaching Howard University, and then decades as beloved profes rale that would become internationally re nowned. Dykes was most prominent black intellectual vanguard that birthed Regional Conferences.
Morgan vs. Virginia Black Adventists were not only advocating for justice inside the Ad ventist Church. They were democra tizing the nation. 1944, decade before Rosa Parks set off the civil rights thewenttookThurgoodlawyerandtorefusedandarrested,ganbusvacateMorganAdventistMontgomery,movementblackIrenerefusedtoherseatonVirginia.Morwasviolentlyjailed,foundguiltytobucklethesystem,whenyoungnamedMarshallthecase,allthewayUSSupremeCourt.
The Great Migration of the early twentieth century not only took Southern blacks up Northern cities, many also left the West. Wherever blacks were found, Adventism was soon to follow, and 1908, the first black church west Ohio was established Los Angeles. The Furlong Tract church first met the home dedicated black family called the Troys, and today has grown to the mighty University Church. More churches followed, and the fire spread over to Arizona and up through California and Neva da, Oregon, and Washington. 1942, leadership was needed to direct the burgeoning black work in the West, and the Pacific Union established the Negro Department.
Membership: 17,317 1900 Membership: 75,767 1908 Membership: 97,579 1920 Membership: 185,450 1909 1918 1920 1883
Negro establishedDepartment among African Americans thanks the dedica tion black ministers and laypeople. However, black work was still underfunded and neglected majority white church leadership. sure, there were many capable black Adventist ministers, they were denied leadership and resources. Conference organized the Negro Department maintain and grow black Adventism. time, church had organized several offices direct work among other ethnic groups—Jews, Ger unusual. However, even with this advance, preju The Negro Department was predecessor Regional Conferences that was an administra tive office designed specifically black work.
Oakwood University “It was the education Christian workers, that, providence God,” wrote Ellen G. White, “the General Conference purchased beautiful farm three hundred acres near start Adventist Church’s only HBCU was modest, though: 360-acre property Yet God’s blessing was on beginning became the premier would bless the world minis try, music, medicine, education, technology, business, and poli tional institution, Oakwood has William H. Green leads the black work The first black person lead the Ne gro Department was William Hawkins gued cases before Supreme Court and President Theodore Roos evelt. Green had joined the Adventist ministry 1905 and was appointed director the Negro Department known1918. “Cross-Country Green” because his tireless energy grow ing the black work. his decade as director black membership more the last day October 1928, large strongly modeled the spirit that black leaders would later bring Regional“The Third Angel’s message has the power in it to eliminate and remove this race prejudice upon the part of those who get hold of the truth.”
— Charles M. Kinney Lewis C. Sheafe minister who refused believe that God’s race. Shortly after Adventist Church moved headquarters the nation’s capital, Sheafe was commissioned General Conference president Sheafe’s powerful preaching created sen tion large mixed-race group called the People’s SDA Church 1903. Sheafe’s congregation be black-only congregation. Sheafe and congregation refused, and, along with other grievances, ultimately left the Adventist Church over the matter. The whole situation made clear that something needed to done improve race relations the church, and ered catalyst creation of the Negro Department the General Conference 1909 and the eventual implementation Regional Conferences. Anna Knight Anna Knight was renaissance figure the Adventist Church and the wider world. She ventism through cor respondence courses, worked her way nursing degree from ium, and then braved native delegateMississippi.one the appointed be med ical missionary to India, nearly seven years. Knight work.missions,heradministrativedecadessultations.DeepAdventistrevolutionizededucationSouthandhadblackeducationForseveralKnightheldpositionsportfoliocoveringandyouth
Message Magazine Message has roots Deep South, beginning the Gospel Herald aboard Morning Star sissippi 1898. Over the years the periodi work, Nashville and Oakwood. 1934 the publication was recreated as Message with Adventist message. rich content distin black print journalism. formed, Louis Reynolds became first black editor Message From that point Message was official magazine Regional Conferences, and today has gious journals America.
Both knelt at the feet of their Rescuer, and both glorified His name.”
The Allisons Pictured Allison family, all eight charter members the first black church outside Nashville. Jennie and her husband John Story
The Bible admonishes avoid thinking lightly small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). The reason clear. Small beginnings can lead sweeping historic changes that redirect the course history and spawn new ways of thinking, doing and being. Fortuitous partnerships, strategic battles, grassroot movements and nation building are examples this principle. All had their genesis in small begin nings. The origin Regional Conferences bears out the principle of small beginnings. The small beginnings the Regional Conferences the 1940s have resulted their global impact and legacy North America and around the world. Upon establishment, Regional Conferences immediately empow ered areas of evangelism, education, efficacy and the health and well-being people of color and all who joined the ranks. They raised the bar of lay-en ablement, leadership development and fiduciary support of the Three Angels Messages the United States and around the world. More specifically, the creation of Regional Conferences has resulted the gospel entering over looked areas ministry for people color and marginalized groups. The Regional Conference story illustrates how God His wisdom can take injustice and turn into an exemplary display Providence. How God can take the determination of everyday men and women all ethnicities and make global demonstration success and progress. How God can bless strategy, sacrifice and strength the building people, and that God could take the commitment unnumbered Regional pioneers to affirm the role creativity, adaptation and actualization to the glory of God. Decidedly, this Regional Conference Museum of Seventh-day Adventists gives glimpses into the proud resilient story of the rise and progress Re gional Conferences. But success and progress are not enough. The story not finished, continues. And must be told and retold. Successive gener ations are challenged to honor the legacy, recite the story and, under God, Like the Psalmist says, new generations must see, hear, feel the story. They must be inspired live and share the story… “One generation commends your works another; they tell your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4
Lucy Byard is turned away at Adventist hospital Born parents who had been enslaved, Lucy Byard accepted Adventism 1902 and helped establish the church New York City. In 1943, Byard, then her late sixties, developed liver cancer and arranged have treated the Wash ington Adventist Sanitarium less than mile from Adventism’s world headquarters. When she arrived the sanitarium, though, the white employees made clear that she was not wanted there because she was black, and arranged for her to go to the black hospital across town. Byard died 38 days later from cancer complications.
Catalysts Regional(Pre-1943)Conferences didn’t arise vacuum. Instead, they were the product of the nation which they were formed, the church of which they were an integral part, and godly individuals of strength and vision. Above all, Regional Conferences exist today be people of color receive the truth. Here are some of the major developments that fac tored into the making Re gional Conferences.
1942 1942 1943 1943 1944 1942 SDA Membership: 535,134
First Black Church After Civil War, Seventh-day Ad South people about the gospel. After church had just organized 1863, its resources were meager, and the culture South was differ southNorth.piecemeal fashion. 1871 white minister Elbert Lane preached train depot Edgefield Junction, near Nashville, Tennessee. small 1883. few years later, the chagrin leaders segregated company accord with the racial customs the region. Nevertheless, the first black Adven black leaders, Harry Lowe and Jennie Nashville, one the early centers 1883
Pacific Union establishes Department”“Negro
She won, and Morgan vs. Virginia outlawed interstate motor travel.
Committee for the Advancement of the World-Wide Work Among Colored Seventh-day Adventists Lucy Byard’s rejection at an Adventist hospital caused extreme distress and frustration among black Adventists around the nation. How could this senior saint who had given her life to the church be treated like this by fellow Adventists? But this was not an isolated incident—black Adventists were grossly discriminated every area the church. And so black Adventists organized. What followed was the largest and most effective grassroots protest the history of the church. Less than mile away from the hospital that Byard was taken to, about dozen influential laypeople, including Eva B. Dykes and Valarie Omega Justiss Vance, got together and formed the Committee for the Ad vancement of the World-Wide Work Among Colored Seventh-day Adventists. The Committee drafted an eight-page manifesto demanding that blacks be treated equals the Adventist Church, and then lobbied white church leaders for change.
The greatest want of the world is the want are true and honest; men who do not fear needle to the pole;
One of the features of the new Charles E. Dudley Center for Regional Confer ence Ministries is an Ad ventist African American History Museum. The inspiration for this facility came from a visit to the Adventist University of Africa (AUA) in Nairobi, Kenya. When Office for Regional Conference Ministries Director Dana C. Edmond and his wife, Jill, visited AUA in 2018, they were given a tour of the impressive campus by then AUA Vice Chancellor, Dr. Delbert Baker and his wife, Dr. Susan Baker. The most memora ble part of the tour was the museum on the campus.Filled with facts, pictures and displays, the museum told the story of the Sev enth-day Adventist Church on the continent of Africa, as well as secular African history. Awed by this museum and knowing that the Regional Conferences were at the beginning stages of designing the new office building that would house the major ministries of the Regional work, Elder Edmond envisioned a similar museum in the new building. That way, Adventist African Americans could “tell our own story on our ownThecampus.”primary designer of the AUA muse um was an African American by the name of Howard Bullard. Providentially, he is also the art director and designer for the Region al Voice, the quarterly newsmagazine for Regional Conferences. Elder Edmond asked Mr. Bullard if he would consent to design ing a similar museum to be housed in the new Dudley Center. He agreed. For several months, Howard Bullard and the Museum Committee spent sessions planning, praying and working. The committee members included Elder Dana C. Edmond, Chairman; Dr. Benjamin Baker; Dr. Delbert Baker; Elder Byron Dulan; Ms. Gayle Robinson and Dr. Queen Robinson. Other consultants such as Elder Steven Norman and Mr. Ben Hampton have provided historical information and techni calThesupport.final piece of the puzzle came from Mrs. Edmond. A retired church school kin dergarten teacher, she thought there should be something in the museum that would appeal to children while their parents and grandparents toured the museum. She suggested that a replica of The Morn ing Star—the boat that Edson White used to take the gospel to people of color in the late 19th century—be built from Lego blocks.
She commissioned Kerry Woo of Kerry WooAfterPhotography.receivinga picture Elder Norman sent to him, Mr. Woo built a 4-foot replica of the boat that will be encased in glass with its own special place in the museum. Coloring books featuring famous African Americans will complement The Morning Star display. Designer of the books, Ms. Janiah Hinds, is an incoming freshman to Oakwood University this fall. The Adventist African American Mu seum will be open to the public beginning in September. It is scheduled to be fully completed by October of this year. t Dana C. Edmond, Director of the Office for Regional Confer ence Ministry (ORCM), is also publisher of Regional Voice magazine. The new Charles E. Dudley Center and the Adven tist African American Museum have been labors of love and hold a special place in his heart.
PeriodOganization (1944-1947) For the first eighty years the Sev enth-day Adventist Church there were no Regional Confer ences. Then, in just three years, much of our present Regional Conference system was established. The path was extremely rocky, but the end, blessingproveorganizedconferencesblack-operatedwereandwouldtremendousthe
58 REGIONAL VOICE • Summer 2022 REGIONAL VOICE • S ummer 2022 59 HOPE SERIES
— Ellen G. White (1907)
1901 1906 1929 1934
1896
Mary McBee, one of wood students Oakwood students 1889 Charles M. Kinney earliest black Seventh-day Adventist min leader the black work. Alone Kinney crisscrossed the Midwest and Upper South method reaching blacks with the gospel: and public lectures. Ever the pragmatist, when white Adventists treated new black converts badly that some the blacks left the church never return, Kinney sug gested that there may need sep arate conference the black work could foundation for Regional Ministries.
ADVENTISTSSEVENTH-DAYMUSEUMCONFERENCEREGIONALOF Telling Our
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