News Briefs for November 11, 2016
Stories from Michigan, Cayman Islands, Oregon, Adventist Learning Community online ….
More than a million copies of a paperback book entitled Hero of Hacksaw Ridge from an independent Adventist publisher have gone out in the week after the release of the Hollywood movie with the same title. Both the book and the movie feature the story of Desmond Doss, an Adventist who was a medic in World War II and the only conscientious objector to receive the highest award for valor in the United States, the Congressional Medal of Honor. The biography was originally published in 1967 and written by popular author Booton Herndon who was not an Adventist. A chapter was added by evangelist Doug Batchelor explaining “the faith of Desmond Doss.” Remnant Publications is located in Coldwater, Michigan.
Senior citizens in the Cayman Islands were honored by a number of events open to the public and organized by the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in the Caribbean nation during the month of October. The activities culminated in an evening of food, music and inspiration on Saturday night, October 29, at the George Town Church Hall, reported the Cayman Compass newspaper. Pastor Shian O’Connor, conference president, paid tribute to the hundreds of seniors in attendance as well as the generation across the country. Pearline Donalds provided entertainment and a motivational talk.
The Adventist hospital in Portland received $22.3 million last year, the largest amount among the 28 hospitals in the State of Oregon in a program that rewards improvements in the quality of care, reduction in costs and strengthening patient safety. According to The Lund Report, the improvements were measured by using Medicaid data from October 2014 through September 2015. The Adventist health care institution did better than any other hospital in the state.
An online course in young adult ministry is available through the Adventist Learning Community web site operated by Andrews University. Designed to help you understand today’s young adults, “the course does not assume any prior knowledge in young adult ministry,” according to the course announcement. It uses the Adventist Millennial Study, a recent survey of Adventists from the Millennial generation in North America. It is taught by Dr. A. Allan Martin, teaching pastor for the young adult ministry of the Arlington, Texas, Adventist Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan region. “After watching the videos, completing course learning materials and activities, and taking short multi-choice quizzes, you’ll earn 0.4 continuing education units (CEU) and a training certificate.” The course is available via the Web and can be studied on your own schedule: https://www.adventistlearningcommiunity.com/courses/88
