News Briefs for November 7, 2019
News reports from the West-Central Africa Division; Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital; ADRA Philippines; Porter Adventist Hospital and Andrews University:
Adventist News Network reported the deaths of two former leaders of the West-Central Africa Division, Luka T. Daniel and Robert J. Kloosterhuis. Daniel, 76, was originally from Nigeria. He served as Union secretary, Union president, and finally president of the former Africa-Indian Ocean Division, now known as the West-Central Africa Division, from 2003-2008. Kloosterhuis, 87, was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and served the Church in a variety of roles: president of the Franco-Haitian Seminary; secretary/treasurer of the Franco-Haitian Union; pastor in the Illinois Conference; departmental director for the Illinois Conference; president of the Franco-Haitian Union, and finally president of the Africa-Indian Ocean Division from 1980-1985. He also served as a general vice president for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists from 1985 – 2000.
From a Loma Linda University Health news story: Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital patients and their families were treated to a Fall Festival on Wednesday, Oct. 16, courtesy of Spirit of Children. Spirit store employees dedicated their afternoon to give patients a fun break from their hospital rooms, complete with costumes, games and crafts. Spirit of Children has raised more than $394,000 for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital over the last nine years — not including funds raised this year — through donations made to Spirit stores in the Inland Empire.
According to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Philippines Facebook page, ADRA Philippines Program Manager Jerry Requillo distributed P1500 (USD 30 approx) cash assistance to 415 families in the past two days to Ilomavis, Kidapawan City, as part of the ADRA National Emergency Management Plan, following the recent earthquake in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. This came as part of the second response that ADRA Philippines has organized in Cotabato in the past two weeks.
Denver’s Porter Adventist Hospital has been in the local headlines after the facility announced it was laying off employees. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, the hospital has made operational and administrative reductions to its workforce. Less than 10 employees have been cut, and the hospital claims the reduction will have no effect on patient care. The hospital claims the cuts have nothing to do with a massive lawsuit against the hospital filed by 67 patients and 22 spouses claiming that Porter caused infections due to improperly sterilized equipment last year.
Andrews University (AU) alums are invited to check out the preparations for a “Your Best Pathway to Health” mega-clinic initiative taking place April 2020 in Indianapolis. The AU alumni Facebook page invites those interested to join Andrews University alum and Your Best Pathway to Health representative, Tami Condon, this Sabbath at 4 p.m. in the Andrews University Seminary Chapel to learn more about how to help support a humanitarian effort that will bring free healthcare to serve the under-insured residents of Indianapolis.