News reports from the Inter-America Division, North Zambia Union Conference, North American Division, South American Division,

Golden Oldie

The Inter-American Division (IAD) will kick off its annual year-end business meetings on Oct. 30,  2021, with a special online centennial celebration. The church in Inter-America was established officially in 1922.

“We have seen how God has led His church in Inter-America through the years and want to create awareness among the constituency leadership and church members on the role the IAD has played over the past 100 years,” said Pastor Balvin Braham, vice president for the church in Inter-America and main organizer of the online event. “It’s been historic to see how dedicated members have helped transform the lives of individuals so that they are able to live a better quality of life and also prepare them for the Second Coming of Christ.”

The online celebration is called “Celebrating His Providence,” and will reflect on what went into the whole process of organizing the Division, how it has progressed over the years and what lies ahead.

Keynote speakers will include Adventist World Church and current and former leaders of the IAD. The program will also feature prayer, worship music and more.

Baptisms Never Get Old

A couple with a combined age of 207 years were baptized this year in Zambia. Edward Tembo, 109, and Joyce Zulu Tembo, 98, accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior and were baptized at Ndola Adventist Church.

Edward said on the day of his baptism, “I am very happy that today I was born again. My secret in life comes from above. I always ask God for wisdom, just like Solomon.”

Joyce credited their neighbor, Mrs. Mudenda, with sharing the love of Christ with them.

Mudenda said she got to know the couple when she assisted them with transport. Mudenda said, “I was inspired about their energy, so I introduced them to Jesus. I have been nurturing them for three years and today they were baptized. It makes me very happy, because it is our duty as Christians to tell others about God’s love.”

The Tembos have been married since 1942, and Edward fought in World War II. Despite their advanced age they are still active, not just in ministry but also in farming activity. Edward is still able to cycle to the fields.

“A lot of people don’t believe we are so old, but we are very active and we eat healthy, too, and that is what keeps us strong,” said Joyce.

Pastor Kalima Chimba, the Kensenshi SDA district church pastor in Ndola that baptized the couple, said he was elated to baptize the oldest couple in his district — a sign that when it comes to the matters of salvation, there is no age group.

In with the New

Dupont Park Seventh-day Adventist School in Washington D.C., USA, recently revealed it will pioneer a new tech curriculum. The new program incorporates creative coding, design thinking and decision-making in health and nutrition courses.

Funded by the American Rescue Plan, the curriculum will offer underserved students in sixth through eighth grade a weekly course on health and wellness and the technology used in health care for administrative, clinical and facility needs. Central to the curriculum is the creation of original, interactive digital storygames using the open-source software program Twine.

There’s an App for That