News Headlines: Carolina Conference VP Blesses Veggie Meat Factory
Ice Bucket Challenge Pales in Comparison. Union College students, religion major in Douglas Barahona and math/religion education major Seth Moturi, survived the Polar Challenge on December 8 near the Aitkin Seventh-day Adventist Church in Alaska. Barahona and Moturi, who were part of a four-student team with Campus Ministries, had planned to help with the Aitkin church service, and in the evening, join some members playing volleyball. However, they were surprised to be challenged to a Polar Plunge. From MessageMedia.co, “Taking the Polar Plunge.”
Carolina Conference VP Blesses Veggie Meat. Rick Russell, vice president and treasurer of the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, blessed Atlantic Natural Foods’ (AFT) Nashville-based manufacturing facility on December 11. ANF, a flagship investment of AFT Holdings, Inc., acquired the Loma Linda brand of canned shelf stable plant-based, alternative meat analog, and Kaffree Roma products this fall. Holdings Inc. Chairman J. Douglas Hines, Mayor Donald B. Street, principal members of (ANF), stakeholders, and associates were present for the ceremony. From the Digital Journal, “AFT Chairman, Local Officials Attend Adventist ‘Blessing’ of Atlantic Natural Foods Facility.”
Ghanaian Monarch Pledges Support for Adventist Church. In Ghana, the absolute monarch of the Ashanti people, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has commissioned a three-story building for the Ashtown branch of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Noting the rekindled relationship between the Manhyia Palace and the Adventist church, he pledged support for the church. Augustine Adu Gyamfi from the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, charged the church to speak against sexual abuse such as rape and defilement and other moral decadence in the society. Nana Baafour Osei Hyeaman Brantuo VI said the church and other religious bodies were agents of socialization and were required to train children to become better assets to society. From GhanaWeb.com, “Otumfuo: Christians must contribute to national dev’t.”
La Sierra Professor Exhibits Original Art in Bulgaria. In November, La Sierra University Assistant Professor of Art Tim Musso exhibited his wood engraving print titled, “Rite of the Dendroctonus Jefferyi” in an international art show titled “Contemporary U.S. Printmaking,” sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria. Musso attended the opening and participated in a roundtable discussion. From LaSierra.edu, “Art prof’s work exhibited in elite U.S. Embassy show.”
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, CA.