This week on ANN. On January 18, 2022, delegates to a Special General Conference Session voted to allow the inclusion of a new section to the GC Constitution that would enable delegates to participate digitally in a future GC Session. Due to current travel restrictions, the delegates for the special January 18 Session were chosen using primarily individuals who currently work at the GC headquarters in Silver Spring. Adventists across the South Pacific are anxiously awaiting news of family and friends following the eruption of a huge underwater volcano near Tonga on Saturday. Communication with Tonga remains limited due to damage caused to the main undersea communication cable. The Adventist Possibilities Ministries of Eastern Nigeria Union Conference (ENUC) presented sets of braille Bible to blind students as a mission to the visually challenged. According to Solomon Nwaejike, director of Possibility Ministries for ENUC, the braille Bible will give the visually impaired a sense of belonging in worship and mission. Adventist Church in Ghana has submitted a memorandum to the Parliament of Ghana calling for an amendment to the date of General elections. Elections are held on the constitutionally mandated date of December 7 every four years. In 1996, the date fell on a Saturday, which Seventh-day Adventists recognize as the Sabbath. This disenfranchised many Adventists who chose not to go to the polls. The 2024 elections will also fall on a Saturday, and church leaders are petitioning Parliament to consider an amendment based on grounds of religious liberty. Keep yourself updated with the latest news and current affairs within the Adventist community. Visit Adventist News Network. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qgAQBvZW0E

In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson answers the question, "Who is God?" God is a mystery, but He reveals Himself to those who are willing to see through the eyes of faith. He reveals Himself in two ways. One is through Creation. In Psalm 19:1-3, David says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." The Creator's hand is visible throughout nature. From the stars in the heavens to the creatures of the deepest sea, His amazing design can be seen. Now, the second way is through the Scriptures. Through the Word, God's supreme revelation is seen through the life and death of Jesus Christ. Through Him, we can know the Father. 1 John 5:20 says, "The Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him Who is true." Also, "This is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent" (John 17:3). When we seek to know God from the Bible, we can't place ourselves above Him and treat Him as an object to study, analyze, and quantify. We must submit to the authority of His self-revelation. One way the Bible reveals God is through His recorded names. For instance, the Old Testament names Him El Elohim, which means "God." It also identifies Him as El Elyon, meaning "God Most High," and Adonai, signifying "Lord" or "Master." He also has the name El Shaddai, translating to "God Almighty," and Yahweh, emphasizing His self-existent nature and faithfulness. Meanwhile, in the New Testament, Jesus uses the name Father to bring us into a closer, personal relationship with God. God's activities give us a glimpse into who He is. Hebrews 1:3 shows Him "upholding all things by the word of His power." Isaiah 46:11 and Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God makes plans. Isaiah 46:10 says He declares "the end from the beginning." Also, He is faithful to forgive our sins if we confess to Him, as promised in Deuteronomy 15:6 and 1 John 1:9. In addition, we read in Exodus 34:6-7, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sins, by no means clearing the guilty…" Indeed, God is a God of mercy and justice. God is self-existent, for He has "life in Himself" (John 5:26). He is omniscient, for He knows the end from the beginning being the "Alpha and Omega" (Revelation 1:8). Also, He is omnipresent, for He transcends space and time and is present everywhere all the time (Psalm 139:7 and Hebrews 4:13). Lastly, He is omnipotent, for He is all-powerful. Nothing is impossible with Him. He is unchangeable and perfect (Malachi 3:6). While there is one God, there is plurality within the Godhead. The second Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Belief states, "There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. God, Who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation" (adventist.org/beliefs). The three Persons of the Godhead were together during the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Here, the Father gave His Son (John 3:16), Christ gave Himself (Galatians 1:4), and the Spirit gave Jesus birth (Matthew 1:18, 20). Another instance where they were all present was the baptism of Jesus. The Father stated, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). Christ gave Himself to be baptized as our example (Matthew 3:13-15). And the Spirit empowered the Son as He descended upon Him in the form of a dove (Luke 3:21, 22). Before His death, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit as the Helper (John 14:6). Also, He commanded His church to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Today, the Father and the Son reach out to us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "When the Helper comes, Whom I shall send to you from the Father, He will testify of Me" (John 15:26). In 2 Corinthians 13:14, we have the beautiful blessing—"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen." Finally, Ellen White tells us, "There are three living Persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will cooperate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ" (Evangelism, p. 615). To learn more about who God is, find helpful resources at adventist.org/beliefs. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3wQKwOGFlo

The complete change in Paul following his experience on the road to Damascus proves God’s transforming power. His faith journey started when he volunteered to persecute and kill the followers of Jesus who had escaped from Jerusalem. The encounter with Jesus by the road to Damascus changed everything about him– his name, life, and faith. The Saul, who was willing to kill and persecute the Christians, became Paul, the champion preacher and minister for Christ. As we go through life, we will encounter an experience with God like Paul’s on the road to Damascus. He will make Himself known to us and call us to ministry. Our transformation comes after we fully recognize and understand who Christ is. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, He will change us into His likeness. Our past will not matter. With our new and transformed life, God will use us to minister others and share Jesus—our Savior and Redeemer– with them. Watch the video to learn more about Paul's Damascus road experience and the transformation in His life. His journey will help us understand how God can give us freedom, healing, and hope. Let us continue to pray for God's guidance today and always. To follow our official social media accounts, just follow the links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAdventistChurch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adventistchurch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventistchurch
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AdventistOrgChurch
Site: https://www.adventist.org #HopeAtHome
#AdventistChurch
#SamNeves Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaZgyUyNeSE

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Nepal has been collaborating with hospitals dedicated to combating COVID-19, as well as rolling out vaccine campaigns in four districts. ADRA staff and volunteers were able to assist many people in this way as they began conducting awareness activities. Nepal is one of the first countries in the southern region of Asia to start a mass COVID-19 vaccination drive. ADRA continues to help our brothers and sisters from Nepal to address their medical needs. ADRA France was selected among 260 candidates and received a special mention in the 2021 edition of the Human Rights Prize of the French Republic. According to the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights, ADRA France was awarded a special mention for the Chalantika Project, which aims to enable children living in the Chalantika slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to return to school. A Kiribati government minister was among more than 300 people gathered to commemorate Hope Radio’s third anniversary in December 2021. Over the past three years, Hope Radio has become not only an informer, educator, and entertainer; but a powerful evangelistic platform that has changed lives—seen through the baptism of a considerable number of new families into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. According to Kiribati Mission president Taabua Rokeatau, Hope Radio has made a significant contribution to the Kiribati government, especially in fighting COVID-19. Hope Radio has also assisted the Ministry of Health by airing radio spots promoting handwashing and cleaning. Hope Channel reached a new milestone because Heroes: The Bible Trivia Game exceeded 100,000 downloads globally. Officially released as “Heroes 2” on March 26, 2021, the new game has since changed its name to “Heroes." Heroes' initiative is to encourage users to engage with scripture in a deeper way through Bible studies. Heroes Game co-creator Sam Neves says that there are more versions coming and new updates continually being released. For more news and current affairs within the Adventist community, visit Adventist News Network. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5TS17el_s4

What would life be like without Jesus? Life without Jesus seems to be a nightmare. It may be like the Dead Sea, which collects water but provides nothing in return. No life can grow there, nothing can live in its salty waters. This is a life without Jesus – a life without meaning and direction. As Christians, we must aspire to live a Christlike life – a meaningful and rewarding existence. Jesus came so that we can have life and have it more abundantly. To live with Jesus is to live for others so they, too, might live a Christlike life. #shorts #LifeWithoutJesus #TheDeadSea #StagnantLifeWithoutChrist Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeeH2RF2eO8