A new year is a new chapter. What's new today? Here are the most recent news reports from the Adventist community: Adventist Church Rejoices Over Kidnap Victims' Release The Seventh-day Adventist Church rejoices over the release of Inter-American Division President Elie Henry and his daughter, Irma, from a kidnapping in Haiti. Praising God for His protection, the Church leaders also acknowledge all members who prayed and worked for this positive outcome. It can be recalled that Pastor Henry and Irma went missing last December 24 but were released unharmed on December 28, 2020. Seventh-day Adventist Church Addresses COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns Last December 18, the General Conference Department of Health Ministries, together with the Adventist Church's Biblical Research Institute and the Loma Linda University Schools of Pharmacy and Public Health, released a timely article about COVID-19 vaccine concerns. The paper highlights the Adventist health message about holistic, healthy lifestyle behaviors. It also addresses concerns and offers counsel about rumors, conspiracy theories, and questions regarding the vaccine's efficacy and safety. Read the full article here at ANN News (adventist.news). IAD Publishing Director Passes Away After succumbing to complications from COVID-19, Publishing Ministries Director for the Adventist Church in Inter-America, Ervin Gonzalez, died on December 31, 2020, at age 59. He has served the church for 34 years. His passion for publishing work and spreading the good news of the gospel in the printed word was the driving force that led González to push for more books and resources readily available to literature evangelists all across the territory. He is survived by his wife Lilia, their two sons, a daughter, and four grandchildren. Watch also how the Church has helped devastated places in Colombia, Brazil, and Fiji. Be blessed with the testimonies and mission stories only here at ANN News (adventist.news). Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYbineFllIA

In this video, you will learn about a young man named William Hunter. William was only 19 years old when he was chained to a wooden stake and burned alive. His crime? Reading the Bible. Two decades earlier, Tyndale’s Bible — the first Bible to be printed in the English language, had been smuggled into England from Germany, where Oxford scholar William Tyndale had fled to complete his important work of translating the Bible into the language of the people. By the time William was apprenticed to a silk weaver in London, he was aware that, contrary to the claims of the Roman Catholic Church, the wafer used during the Mass did not turn into the actual body of Christ. Consequently, when a royal edict went throughout the City of London requiring everyone to attend the weekly Mass, William refused. Because of this, he lost his job and returned to his parents’ home. William longed to read more from God’s Word, so he sometimes slipped into the old medieval chapel where he quietly read from the “Great Bible” that was chained there. One day the servant of the Bishop caught William reading the forbidden book. On Sabbath, March 26, 1555, William Hunter was burned at the stake because he loved God’s Word and refused to relinquish the truths he had found in the Bible. During the Reformation, the eyes of thousands were opened as the Bible was, for the first time ever, made available to the people in their mother tongues—many times at the cost of great suffering to those brave enough to translate the Bible from the Greek and Hebrew text into the common languages, making the Scriptures accessible to everyone. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, from its beginning, found its direction, its purpose, and its very foundation in the Word of God. Shining through the darkness of the Great Disappointment of October 22, 1844, the early believers turned to their Bibles in comfort and hope. As they continued to be led by God’s Word, they discovered more Bible truths and the small group of believers grew rapidly. By taking the Protestant principles of accepting the plain reading of the text and allowing the Bible to interpret itself, most of our foundational truths—the Sabbath, the state of the dead, the sanctuary and the investigative judgment—were established by the time the Seventh-day Adventist Church was officially organized in 1863. Of course, there was more to learn, and as time went on, Seventh-day Adventists continued to discover other important truths such as our health message, the importance of Christian education, and our mission to reach the world. Today, we continue to base our faith and beliefs on the timeless Word of God. The Bible, which has been faithfully preserved and sealed with the blood of martyrs, transcends time and culture. It is God’s living Word, and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can find the answers for which we are seeking. More than 450 years ago, young William Hunter, and many others, sealed their belief in God and His Word with their lives. Today, we know a storm is coming. Now is the time to build upon the firm foundation of God’s Word. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCRRQ4Dq-58

There are currently more than 2.4 billion gamers in the world – about one-third of the world's entire population! Gaming can be a great way to learn, reach out to your community, and build life skills. But along with the benefits, there are dangers with gaming. What are some of the dangers? How can we use gaming for good? Find out in this newest episode of ANN In-Depth! In this episode, you’ll also learn about the new game Heroes 2: The Bible Trivia Game, A Journey Through the Bible. This game is set to be released by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and its’ official TV channel, Hope Channel. You can pre-order the new game on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. There is a great opportunity to talk about the Greatest Hero of all time in the language gamers would engage with and understand! The Seventh-day Adventist Church aims to use Heroes 2 The Bible Trivia Game to help every player to further understand the Bible and find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Some players are being invited to become beta testers and start their adventure sooner. Anyone can apply at https://heroesbibletrivia.org and contact the team at info@heroes.adventist.org. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEROES 2
Website: https://www.heroesbibletrivia.org/
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/R62BpsKxsV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeroesBibleTrivia
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVgxbXPSPYU6KIj-JJcT6ew
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heroesbibletrivia/ SHOW NOTES:
07:42 – Heroes Website: https://www.heroesbibletrivia.org/
28:12 – Discord Website: https://discord.com/invite/R62BpsKxsV ___
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Abraham’s story isn’t a linear progression of faithfulness. But it is a relatable story that shows us today how we can truly put God first. When it comes to how we hear and respond to God’s promises, the life of Abraham teaches us that there are lessons all along the way. There are moments when we are disappointed, but God is faithful to take us where we are and lead us through. How can we faithfully give back to God in our lives? Learn more in this devotional thought on how Abraham learned to put God first #GodFirst
#StewardshipMinistries
#AdventistChurch Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgJJTtC4NhM

Putting God first can be difficult. In this video, we will explore what we can learn from Jesus that will help us put God first in our lives today. Also available in #Spanish and #Portuguese.
Put #GodFirst
#StewardshipMinistries Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4WKMSA25PU