The month of February is a time of meetings for the North American Division as well as Adventist Health systems. Earlier this month I attended the NAD Conference President's Council at Pine Springs Ranch in California. Pine Springs is the youth camp of the Southeastern California Conference. In fact, Dave and Dottie Schwab, from Nosoca Pines Ranch, their son and daughter in law are the directors of Pine Springs. It was good to see them again. While I would have thought it would be warm since the camp is located in Southern California a storm blew in and it was bitter cold with a foot of snow. It was good to get back to Carolina! During the days there Dr. Leslie Pollard, Vice-President of Loma Linda University, presented a devotional each morning that was extremely uplifting. On the final day Elder Don Schneider, NAD president led out bringing a number of matters of importance to our attention.

This week the Adventist Health system board met. It is always encouraging to see how God is leading in the medical work of the church. Even with the current economic challenges the system is growing and prospering. I believe the growth they are experiencing is because of the emphasis they put on mission. Following the board meeting their annual Conference on Mission is being held. Several hundred representatives from across the system have gathered in Orlando Fl., the corporate headquarters, for the sole purpose of discussing the mission of our hospitals. It is a blessing to hear the different ways the doctors, nurses, and staff are reaching out to their communities with the message of Christ. Literally hundreds of thousands of people are touched each year by going to an Adventist Health System facility. Last year alone over $800,000,000 (yes, that millions!) of services and benefit were provided without cost to the communities in which our hospitals and health care facilities reside. We are grateful in the Carolinas to have Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher as part of this system.

I have been reminded the past two weeks of the diverse and multi-faceted work of the Adventist Church. We are a movement of churches, schools, hospitals, clinics, and other ministries all designed to hasten the return of Jesus. As we look at what the Seventh-day Adventist church encompasses and does there can be no doubt that this is truly a movement of destiny of God. What a privilege it is for each of us to be part of such an exciting last day church.

As the Sabbath hours approach you are all again in our prayers that God will give you a wonderful Sabbath days blessing.

Your friend,
Jim