BOLIVIA
More Than 2,500 Voices Join in Praise During “Voices of Hope” Choir Festival
With a full house the South Western Bolivia Mission (SWBM) held its “Voices of Hope” First Choir Festival in La Paz, Bolivia, on May 31. It was a day that brought together more than 2,500 Seventh-day Adventist choir singers for a day of music and faith.
From across region, choirs traveled to La Paz to praise God with one voice, organizers reported. “It showed that music is still a powerful bridge between heaven and earth. The majesty of each performance not only exalted the name of the Lord but also deeply touched every attendee,” they said.
This event, organized by the SWBM music ministry, aimed to highlight choral ministry as a tool for evangelism and spiritual strengthening, organizers explained. In addition, they added, it was a space for fellowship, where the commitment and talent of each participating choir became evident.
“Heaven came closer today. Each note, each one of the song lyrics, was an offering of gratitude to our Creator,” said one of the attendees, tears in his eyes.
The event closed with a joint performance by all the choirs, which according to organizers, “resounded in every corner with a note of hope.”
SLOVENIA
Women’s Retreat Offers Healing, Worship, and Connection
From May 23 to 25 more than 50 women from across Slovenia met in Crikvenica, Croatia, for a women’s retreat focused on spiritual renewal, healing, and connection. Under the theme “Heal Me, O Jesus,” the event combined worship, reflection, creative workshops, and fellowship by the sea.
The retreat, organized by the Slovenian Conference, featured Karen Holford, director of Family Ministries for the Trans-European Division, as the main speaker. Through her presentations and workshops Holford encouraged participants to embrace God’s love, recognize His healing presence, and rediscover the power of wonder, mercy, and joy. “Women often forget, in the hustle and bustle of life, that they are beloved children of God,” Holford reminded attendees.
An afternoon tea party featured two interactive workshops. Patricija Virtič led a session on caring for the voice and singing songs of praise, while Holford guided participants in developing emotional resilience through spiritual practices. Each attendee received a small bag of symbolic items—a reminder to live with gratitude, kindness, and joy.
The day closed with a sunset gathering on the beach, where women shared personal testimonies of how God’s grace had carried them through difficult times. Prayers for peace and healing marked the end of the Sabbath.
AUSTRALIA
Sanitarium Tops Trust Rankings Again With Weet-Bix and So Good
Australians have once again declared Sanitarium Weet-Bix their most trusted breakfast food, marking the thirteenth consecutive time it has secured the title in the annual Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands survey. And for the first time, Sanitarium So Good has been crowned Australia’s Most Trusted Plant-Based Milk, taking out top honors in the survey’s newly introduced plant-based milk category.
“We are thrilled with this endorsement from our consumers. So Good is not only Australia’s leading plant-based milk brand enjoyed by millions every day but also Australia’s most trusted plant-based milk,” said Nicole Toby, senior brand manager, Sanitarium So Good.
Sanitarium introduced Australia’s first soy milk nearly 40 years ago and continues to lead the plant-based category with its dairy-free milk alternatives.
Meanwhile, Weet-Bix—a beloved household staple for nearly 100 years—continues its reign as the breakfast food Australians trust most.
“We’re honored to receive this award for the thirteenth year in a row,” said Jessica Manihera, Sanitarium’s head of marketing and communications for Australia and New Zealand. “These accolades are a testament to the strong connection Australians have with our brands. . . . We are proud to be part of our consumers’ daily routines.”
CABO VERDE
Cabo Verde Conference Holds First Forum on Religious Liberty
On May 24 and 25 the Main Hall of the National Assembly in Praia, Cape Verde, was the stage for the first Cape Verdean Forum on Religious Freedom. This national event was an initiative of the Department of Religious Freedom of the Cabo Verde Conference.
The event was opened by José Maria Neves, president of Cabo Verde. He was welcomed by Daniel Njock, president of Western Sahel Union Mission, and Natalino Martins, president of Cabo Verde Conference, and by a unit of Pathfinders Clubs.
The event took place within the scope of the celebrations of the nation’s fiftieth anniversary of its independence, and the ninetieth anniversary of the Adventist presence in the country, regional church leaders reported. The event turnout included more than 600 in-person participants and 1,100 views on YouTube, organizers reported.
Njock called participants to “have a look of grace beyond our religious differences.” He thanked Cabo Verdean government officers for the religious liberty in the country. He also expressed his appreciation for the active presence of the Muslim community. “I congratulate you on your presence and ask God to bless you,” he said.
SOUTH KOREA
Korean Union Equips Leaders Through Workshop on Biblical Sexual Values
The Family Ministries Department of the Korean Union Conference (KUC) organized a Sexual Values Education Leader Training Workshop at the church’s region auditorium in Seoul, South Korea, April 26-27. The event gathered 70 participants—pastors and their spouses, children’s ministry teachers, and Pathfinder leaders—who received training to guide children and youth in developing a biblically grounded understanding of sexual identity, organizers reported.
During the workshop, organizers introduced a new curriculum titled “Restoring God’s Created Order.” The two-volume resource targets younger students, on one hand, and older ones as well. “The curriculum helps young people recognize their God-given worth, adopt a biblical view of sexuality, identify cultural distortions, and form healthy, God-honoring relationships,” organizers reported.
Seol EunKyung, from the BonBu church, led the training sessions. A highlight of the program featured a testimony from a local church that had successfully implemented a four-week sexual values education course for children. The church team shared how they prepared the program and explained the lasting spiritual and emotional impact it made on their students.
Participants expressed strong appreciation for the workshop. “The training boosted our confidence to address the topic of sexuality at home and in church,” they said.