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News Headlines: Adventist Church in Jamaica Distances Itself From Pastor’s Political Endorsement (And More!)

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Adventist Church in Jamaica Distances Itself from Pastor’s Political Endorsement. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica has distanced itself from the remarks of Pastor Michael Harvey, vice-president for spiritual affairs at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) and senior pastor of the NCU church. Harvey spoke out in favor of the People’s National Party (PNP) at a mass rally in St. Andrew. However, Pastor Everett Brown, president of the Adventist Church in Jamaica stated emphatically that the Adventist Church refrains from endorsing political candidates and parties. “I wish to restate for all our workers, including those at NCU and every Adventist-owned institution, members, and the public at large that the Seventh-day Adventist church in Jamaica does not support any political party,” Brown said. From Jamaica Observer, “Adventists Slap PNP Pastor.” 

Brazilian Soccer Star Becomes Adventist, Won’t Play on Sabbath. Carlos Vítor da Costa Ressurreição, a goalkeeper for Londrina Esporte Clube in Brazil’s third tier soccer league, who was recently baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has announced that he will no longer play matches scheduled from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.  His decision has evoked surprise, sympathy, and even anger from fans and sports commentators who struggled to understand his rationale. “If it means losing my job because I’ve turned to a better father, brother and friend, then I’d rather stay with God,” Ressurreição explained. Having been named player of the year, received an offer from Serie A team Chapecoense that would have doubled his salary.  Ressurreição turned down the job because it would not allow him to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. His team has announced that it will not renew his contract when it ends in May. From Cuatro Cuatro Dos, “The Brazilian goalkeeper who doesn’t save on Saturdays” (Spanish).

ADRA Volunteers Build Houses for Displaced in Dominica. The Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) is using funds from Ingathering and efforts of volunteers to build housing for displaced Dominica residents of Colihaut and Coulibistrie whose homes were damaged by Tropical Storm Erika. ADRA intends to present the first eight houses to the government within five months and plans to build at least 25 homes by the end of this project. From GIS Dominica, “ADRA Plans First Housing Handover Within Five Months.”

Adventist Health Partners Serve Tulare Homeless. Adventist Health in partnership with the Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance will host the eighth-annual Project Homeless Connect (PHC) to provide services and basic necessities to people who are homeless or about to become homeless. The American Legion Post 100 prepares breakfast for the homeless. Seventh-Day Adventist Church and Hanford Breakfast Lions prepares lunch along with other organizations that donate food. Adventist Health provides full medical service and Family Eye Care gives complete vision exams. From Hanford Sentinel, “Community Tries to Help the Homeless.”

New Model for Mental Health Care Aided by Adventist Health and Its Coalition. Adventist Health, Legacy Health, and Kaiser Permanente have joined the Unity Center for Behavioral Health in Oregon, creating a new model for mental health care.  The first collaborative medical initiative of its kind is founded on the values of hospitality, hope, and recovery.  The environment at Unity is designed to reduce agitation and maximize comfort, from the use of reclining chairs (instead of hospital beds) to the building's "calming" architectural layout. From Huffington Post, “Hospitality, Hope and Recovery: A Revolutionary Model of Mental Health Care.”

PUC Recognized as Second-most Diverse Liberal Arts College in US. According to U.S. News & World Report, Pacific Union College with less than 1,600 students, is the second-most diverse national liberal arts college in America. PUC’s student body last fall was 28 percent Latino, 25 percent Caucasian/non-Latino, 21 percent Asian, 9 percent black, nearly 2 percent Pacific Islander, with roughly 14 percent multi-racial or “unknown,” according to President Heather J. Knight.  PUC has received diversity honors four years in a row.  In the U.S., Adventists are the most diverse Christian denomination, according to the Pew Research Center, she said. From Napa Valley Register, “Pacific Union College a Hub of Student Diversity.”

 

Pam Dietrich taught English at Loma Linda Academy for 26 years and served there eight more years as the 7-12 librarian. She lives in Redlands, California.

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