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Adventist Headlines Around the World—February 3, 2025

This edition features stories from Indonesia, the U.S., Brazil, Australia, and Jamaica.

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Adventist Headlines Around the World—February 3, 2025

INDONESIA

Care Groups and Multilingual Outreach Expands Ministry in Indonesia

In its ongoing mission to share the message of hope, Adventist World Radio (AWR) in East Java, Indonesia, has made significant strides in ministry by combining innovative broadcasting efforts with impactful community outreach. From engaging listeners through shortwave, streaming platforms, and podcasts to creating care groups that touch lives in local communities, AWR continues to expand its reach in East Java and beyond.

During the past two years AWR has used multiple channels, including Spotify and YouTube, to broadcast in Balinese, Javanese, and Indonesian. Recognizing the diversity of its audience, the station recently began producing programs in the Madurese language, a milestone aimed at connecting with one of Indonesia’s culturally rich communities.

While broadcasting remains at the core of its work, AWR has ventured into hands-on ministry to bring Christ’s message directly to the people. In late 2023, care groups were established in several locations in Singaraja, Bali, where local members could gather for fellowship, spiritual support, and outreach activities. These efforts bore fruit early in 2024 when a care group at the Singaraja Correctional Facility celebrated the baptism of a new believer.

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Adventist World Radio volunteers engage in community engagement as they seek to develop relationships and build bridges. [Photo: East Java Conference Communication Department]


UNITED STATES

New Site Director Brings Energy and Expertise to Historic Adventist Village

Werlei Gomide has taken on the role of site director of the Historic Adventist Village (HAV) in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States.

Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, the Brazilian native has quickly made his mark, welcoming a diverse range of visitors and overseeing maintenance projects since his arrival in the summer of 2024. 

In just a few months HAV has hosted a remarkable variety of guests. In August visitors included four pastors from Brazil, three Jewish guests, 25 members of the worldwide Kellogg Foundation, and six individuals from Spain. Last fall 22 Brazilian publishing and canvassing department members from four different conferences toured the site. Also, 50 residents from a local retirement home visited, plus a busload of Latter-day Saints came to learn about the Adventist health message and shared similarities between their faiths. 

The numbers are impressive: 675 visitors came to HAV surrounding the Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming. Additionally, a German television crew recently filmed a health program on-site, and more workers from the Brazilian Publishing House are set to visit soon, he reported.

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Werlei Gomide with his wife, Angelica. He is the new director of the Historic Adventist Village in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States. [Photo: Adventist Heritage Ministries]


BRAZIL

Thirty-first Meeting of Musicians Celebrates Talent, Art, and Worship

About 600 musicians, teachers, singers, and former choir participants gathered at Brazil Adventist University in Engenheiro Coelho, São Paulo, Brazil, to share musical and spiritual experiences. The thirty-first edition of the Meeting of Musicians took place January 7-11 in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with the goal of improving the music ministry across local congregations.

The workshops, band, choir, and orchestra rehearsals, shows, and concerts helped participants to increase their musical acumen, organizers said. “The Meeting of Musicians gets better and better every day,” said Juliana Paulino, who has attended the yearly event for 10 years. “There are incredible presentations, and everything we learn here strengthens our expertise.”

Williams Costa, Jr., Communication director of the General Conference, has participated in the Meeting of Musicians since its first edition. “Without motivation, we can do nothing,” Costa said. “This event motivates musicians to serve and use their talent to transform lives.”

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The Academia da Voz choir sings at the opening of the Meeting of Musicians at Brazil Adventist University in Engenheiro Coelho, São Paulo, Brazil, January 7. [Photo: AICOM]


AUSTRALIA

Late Adventist Volunteer Recognized With Order of Australia Medal

An Adventist church member from Northern Territory, Australia, has been posthumously awarded in the Australia Day honors list, after serving her remote community for more than 45 years.

Roslyn (Ros) Jones OAM (Order of Australia Medal) ran the St. John Ambulance service out of Batchelor for almost two decades with her husband, Bruce, who was also a paramedic. They would respond to any medical emergency within 100 kilometers (60 miles) of their family home.

Before her ambulance service, Jones was the Batchelor school administrator for three decades and was instrumental in the creation of the Coomalie Community Government Council in the 1990s.

Jones died in 2024 but was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the 2025 Australia Day celebrations.

According to ABC News, Jones’s faith motivated her to serve her community for those years with what her daughter Tracey described as an enduring love.

“She was a loyal and faithful member who for years kept Batchelor Adventist Church open with her Sabbath School for mainly Indigenous kids,” said Don Fehlberg, former remote area pastor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries. “She had a tremendous burden for the Aboriginal people of Batchelor and particularly the children. We miss Ros’s faithful work and witness for Jesus.”

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Roslyn Jones (right) with her half-sister Kathy Devereaux and her niece and nephew. [Photo: Adventist Record]


JAMAICA

Adventist University Alumna Named 2024 Teacher of the Year in Jamaica

Casmina Bryan, an alumna of Northern Caribbean University (NCU)—a Seventh-day Adventist institution in Jamaica—was recently named Teacher of the Year 2024 in the country by the Lascelles Chin Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information and the Jamaica Teaching Council.

Bryan, who graduated from NCU in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education and teaching, attributes her success over the past 13 years to the strong foundation she received at the university. She was recognized with the special award on December 6.

Reflecting on her time at NCU, Bryan recalls how the institution provided both financial support through the work and study program and a network of mentors that helped her excel.

“NCU was a game changer for me. It was the best decision I ever made,” Bryan shared. “I couldn’t see myself excelling had I not attended this institution. The work-study program connected me with some of my ‘destiny helpers,’ and I learned invaluable lessons in humility, kindness, and acceptance. The encouragement I received was more than I could have hoped for.”

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Casmina Bryan, Northern Caribbean University alumna, displays her 2024 LASCO Teacher of the Year trophy received on December 6. [Photo: courtesy of Casmina Bryan/NCU]

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