BELGIUM
Inter-European Division Women Meet in Pursuit of a “Bold Goal”
From April 18 to 20, Seventh-day Adventist women from across the Inter-European Division met in Brussels, Belgium. Under the theme “Living for a Bold Goal,” attendees sought to bring Adventist women together from a wide variety of languages, cultures, origins, and age groups, organizers said. “Women’s ministries aimed to make this weekend a rich and fulfilling experience, so that every participant would leave feeling inspired, encouraged, and spiritually renewed,” they shared.
Organizers reported that the event included a variety of plenary sessions, group and individual activities, thematic workshops, and moments of listening and reflection. “There were also many opportunities to learn, share, uplift one another, and engage in sports and recreation. Every element of the program was designed to foster new bonds of friendship among sisters in faith,” they said.
Many young women expressed their joy and gratitude about the initiative. “It was an impactful weekend, filled with renewal, friendship, and meaningful encounters. . . . It was brilliant!” an attendee said. Another one agreed. “I was reminded of how precious I am in God’s eyes, and that He has a plan for me. He calls me to use my gifts and talents in His service,” she said.
VANUATU
Walk4Life Initiative Encourages Wellness in the Pacific
The Vanuatu Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted the Walk4Life Fitness Challenge in Port Vila on May 7. This event, part of the Trans Pacific Union Mission’s (TPUM) broader health initiative, aimed to promote physical wellness and raise awareness about noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) prevalent in Pacific communities.
The challenge featured various fitness activities, including walking, running, push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. Maveni Kaufononga, TPUM president, and Linray Tutuo, Ministerial secretary, also participated in the fitness activities. Their involvement aligned with the event’s emphasis on promoting active lifestyles and addressing health challenges in the region, organizers said.
The Walk4Life movement began when Kaufononga invited office staff to join him and his wife each morning from Monday to Friday on a 30-minute walk starting at 5:00 a.m. Since then, the Walk4Life Fitness Challenge has been held in Fiji for the TPUM office staff, and a Facebook group has grown to more than 3,500 members from across the region.
Established in 2022, Walk4Life promotes regular physical activity as a way to address NCDs and support healthier lifestyles in Pacific communities.
UNITED STATES
Digital Evangelism Prayer Ads Transform Local Church Members, Community
When prayer meets technology, miracles follow. That conviction drives Lynda Miguel, leader of the digital evangelism prayer ads ministry at San José Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in San José, California. What began as a handful of online prayer ads has blossomed into a global network, transforming lives on-screen and within the church’s own walls, she said.
Local church leaders created a plan for people looking for a meaningful relationship with God, Miguel explained. “Digital evangelism breathes new life into our mission.” By placing targeted ads that invite viewers to request prayer, the church speaks the “digital language” of a world scrolling for hope, she explained.
Since launch, requests have poured in for healing, guidance, exams, and home sales. And answers are pouring in, Miguel said. “Each miracle reminds us of [God’s] boundless love and power,” she said. “We are truly blessed to witness divine interventions.”
The ads have also sparked lively dialogue and deeper unity inside the church. Members share the posts, celebrate testimonies, and grapple openly with how best to present Adventist hope online. “The collaborative effort has . . . created a more vibrant community spirit,” Miguel said. “And so far, it has brought 15 new people to church.”
SPAIN
ADRA Reaches Six Months Assisting Those Affected by Deadly Floods in Valencia
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Spain reached six months of supporting communities deeply affected by deadly flash floods in the region of Valencia in 2024. During this time the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been helping to meet the most basic needs and supporting in the renovation and rehabilitation of homes affected by the disaster, agency leaders said.
Currently ADRA continues to assist with food, hygiene, and cleaning products to many affected families. At the same time, it is working on rebuilding homes and also providing appliances and household goods to families in need.
ADRA has focused on making low-income homes most affected by the flood more habitable. The reconstruction process will be lengthy, as humidity levels and damage are high, leaders reported, but volunteers have kept coming to assist. “Volunteers’ . . . knowledge of masonry, plumbing, electricity, and other trades has been essential,” agency leaders said.
Recently Aldaya community mayor Guillermo Luján publicly thanked ADRA volunteers and their leaders. “Counting on such a team of people has been wonderful,” he said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Adventist Pastors Train as Civil Marriage Celebrants
Twelve Seventh-day Adventist pastors from across New Britain New Ireland Mission (NBNIM) in Papua New Guinea completed a marriage celebrant training program in Kokopo, East New Britain, April 21-24.
Under the theme “Be a Civil Celebrant for Tomorrow,” Simon Vetali, an Adventist pastor and a certified celebrant trainer, led the initiative. Participants included departmental directors, district directors, local pastors, and provincial area supervisors. The course covered a range of topics, including types of marriage, legal procedures for registration, religious and civil ceremonies, divorce and remarriage, premarital counseling, and the distinction between church and garden weddings.
Gabriel Kamara expressed appreciation for the training, noting that it had broadened his understanding of the celebrant’s role. “I thought being a celebrant was just about conducting weddings,” he said. “But I’ve learned that it’s more than that—it’s a ministry and a responsibility for me as a pastor.”
At the certificate presentation, Andrew Opis, president of NBNIM, thanked the facilitator and reminded participants of the “sacred role” they now hold. “Marriage and the Sabbath are the two institutions established in Eden,” he said. “Strong homes and strong marriages are the foundation of a healthy society.”