News | Seventh-day Adventist Church

November 2017 Feature: On the Front Lines of the Opioid Crisis

Story by Tamaria L. Kulemeka

The opioid and heroin epidemic is crippling communities across the nation, leaving health officials and providers, coroners, law enforcement and churches scrambling to respond to and combat this widespread crisis.

Bonnie Franckowiak, professor and coordinator of the Master of Science Nursing Program at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md., says, “The use of opioids in this country is staggering. It’s huge, and it’s growing all the time; we don’t seem to have a handle on it at all,” she says. “In 2012, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids, which is enough to give every American adult their own pill box.”

Terry Burns named president of Kettering Medical Center

Story by Elizabeth Long

Terry Burns has been named president of Kettering Medical Center and Executive Vice president of Kettering Adventist HealthCare effective November 1, 2017. He replaces Jarrod McNaughton, who has stepped down for personal reasons.

Burns has held executive roles in the Network since 2001, most recently as the chief financial officer of Kettering Medical Center and executive vice president of Kettering Adventist HealthCare, since November, 2015.

Longtime Columbia Union Adventist Community Services Coordinator, Minnie McNeil, Retires

Minnie McNeil accepts a Notable Person of Honor award in 2016.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Minnie McNeil, longtime Allegheny East Conference (AEC) and Columbia Union Conference Adventist Community Services (ACS)/Disaster Response director, recently retired.

NAD Welcomes More Than 600 Guests to Grand Opening of New Headquarters

NAD officers and honored guests cut the ceremonial ribbon at the North American Division Headquarters Grand Opening Celebration. Photo by Pieter Damsteegt

Story by Kimberly Luste Maran, NAD Communication, Photos by Pieter Damsteegt, NAD Communication

Editorial: Cling to Jesus

Editorial by Patricia Monteiro

We live in a world that seems to spin much faster than we want it to, with each day accelerating a little more. We feel overwhelmed, tired and often discouraged because we want to produce and accomplish more goals than we did the day before. Months and years go by, leaving us feeling defeated.

Charnicharts Join Pennsylvania Team

Gary Gibbs and his wife, Sherilyn, welcome Carlos and Liz Charnichart to the Pennsylvania Conference team.

Story by Tamyra Horst

At the Pennsylvania Conference Executive Committee, delegates elected Carlos Charnichart to serve as the new conference treasurer. His wife, Liz, also accepted an administrative assistant position in the conference office. The Charnicharts are looking forward to joining their team later this year.

Adventist Communicators “Build Bridges” at Portland Convention

Kevin Krueger, WGTS; LaTasha Hewitt, Allegheny East Conference; V. Michelle Bernard, Columbia Union Conference; Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union; Jessica Beans, Kettering College; Andre Hastick, Chesapeake Conference; Heidi Shoemaker, Ohio Conference, Cheryl McKy, Adventist HealthCare; Debra Anderson, Potomac Conference; and Ricardo Bacchus, Columbia Union. Photo by Pieter Damsteegt

Mountain View Conference President Announces Retirement

Story by Valerie Morikone

After serving nearly 29 years in the Mountain View Conference, President Larry and Joan Boggess announced their retirement at the October 24 Mountain View Conference Executive Committee in Parkersburg, W.Va.

Larry and Joan expressed their gratitude to the Mountain View Executive Committee for giving them the privilege to serve the conference family. They also expressed their gratitude to the Executive Committee for their steadfast support as they worked together to enlarge the kingdom of God in Mountain View.

WGTS 91.9 Hosts ‘Night of Hope’ with ‘We Are Messengers’

The WGTS team prays for Darren Mulligan of WAM before the event.

Story by Jerry Woods

Tiny technology improves care for breast cancer surgery patients

Story by Elizabeth Long

Breast imaging technology has become more refined, allowing many breast abnormalities and cancers to be detected before they can be felt with a physical exam. While early detection allows for treatment to begin sooner and for patients to have better outcomes, it also presents a greater challenge in precisely locating and removing smaller or deeper masses.

A new approach

Previously, wire localization has been the only method to pinpoint certain breast lesions.