This is the time of year where love is heavily emphasized, in commercials, social media posts, or sermons. It’s everywhere. Love is beautiful, but sometimes it is manipulated to bring harm. This is what we’re here to talk about today. We’re echoing the mantra of NAD’s enditnow by saying LOVE SHOULDN’T HURT. This episode continues the conversation we began in December about abuse within Adventism. The guest for this bonus episode is Rene Drumm, Professor of Social Work at The University of Southern Mississippi. She led a study on the effects of intimate partner violence among Seventh-Day Adventist church attendees. The study has made her one of the top experts on this topic within the denomination in North America. One of the main findings from the study was the prevalence of emotional abuse. Rene is here to define abuse and walk us through her study. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohn8kLNOF5k

*This episode is only available in audio* Our guest for this episode is Rockefeller Twyman, but everyone who knows him calls him “Rocky.” And anyone who knows Rocky knows he’s had a fascinating life. In fact, his life is so rich of experiences that we decided to feature him in two episodes. Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and molded by Adventist education, Rocky has led a life of service for decades. In addition, he is also a classically trained musician and prayer warrior. Rocky’s “can-do” attitude has sustained the 72-year-old’s drive to do all he can to help others. Rocky currently resides in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and has made quite a name for himself within the world of public service. He has amassed an extensive and impressive network that ranges from major media networks and government leaders, who have also acknowledged him for the numerous bone marrow donation drives he’s organized over the years. Here is a glimpse into the life of Rocky, someone who is truly one a kind. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kggQZgnhZcU

We’re taking some time to discuss the COVID-19 vaccines with Dr. Steven Smith, senior vice president and chief scientific officer of AdventHealth. Dr. Smith is also the principal investigator of the Janssen Pharmaceuticals COVID-19 vaccine clinic trial on Orlando, Florida. AdventHealth is one of five Adventist health care institutions within the NAD territory. It is also is one of the largest healthcare institutions in the U.S., with 80,000 employees operating on nearly 50 hospitals campuses in nine states. In this episode, Dr. Smith walks us through vaccine development 101 and the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. And plainly answers whether the COVID-19 vaccines should be trusted. Spoiler alert: Yes…they can definitely be trusted. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W8qq6gCJfs

Have you made your New Year’s resolution yet? Do you intend to make one? Or do you skip the practice all together? Regardless if you’ve made a list or have already given up on some items on that list, many are reflecting on 2020, crafting goals, and setting priorities for the new year. We’re taking some time to do that now for an important part of the church’s mission. Our guest, Vandeon Griffin, associate director of NAD Youth and Young Adult Ministries participated in the exercise by sharing a new year’s resolution on how make church a better place for young people in 2021. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orpO_DRzA0I

We’re right in the middle of the holiday season. It’s a time filled with the spirit of Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth. With gift-giving as a central theme this time of year, many look for ways to become more service oriented.
With this episode, we're highlighting a ministry in the heartland of the United States known as the Renewed Hope Food Pantry. The weekly operation is a service New Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Kansas-City greater area. It was literally designated as an essential service by its local government officials.
The church’s pastor, Mark Tamaleaa, is here to talk about how the pantry went from serving 300 people a week to more than 3,000 a week in response to the effects of the pandemic.
Visit New Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church online to learn more about the Renewed Hope Food Pantry: https://www.newhavensda.org/pantry Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ueh1dUhuJkY