The North American Division President's Report at the 2025 General Conference Session Highlights Discipleship Media, Mentorship and Service

Story by Christelle Agboka / NAD

On Saturday evening, July 5, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America (NAD) presented the first division report at the 2025 General Conference Session. NAD president G. Alexander Bryant, executive secretary Kyoshin Ahn, and treasurer Judy R. Glass introduced the video, which focused on the division’s ministry activities and accomplishments during the past three years. While the time frame covered for this report was shortened due to the global pandemic, the division’s impact over these years was far-reaching and significant. 

Gerson P. Santos, General Conference associate secretary, introduced his "adopted division," sharing that the North American Division is the largest division in territory, spanning nine countries and territories and 14 time zones, with a membership of more than 1.3 million in almost 7,000 congregations, worshiping in more than 30 languages. Its territory also includes roughly 1,000 schools, 13 universities and colleges, a vast network of hospitals and clinics, and several media ministries.

In his opening words before the video aired, Bryant stated, "There's an African proverb that says, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. The North American Division theme for the past three years has been Together in Mission.* It is built on the belief that we are stronger together and can make a greater impact for Christ when we're working together; and when we are linked together, arm to arm and heart to heart — the local church, the local school, health and higher educational institutions, the local conference, the union, the division, the General Conference — using our resources and our assets in a harmonious way to advance the mission of God, we are an unbeatable force."

Bryant then referenced the NAD's three strategic areas of focus, or three Ms: multiply, media, and mentorship. "Multiply . . . deals with how we can most effectively multiply the ministry of Jesus. It doesn't mean that we have not been doing the ministries of Jesus. But how can we do them more effectively, with greater impact? The teaching ministry of Jesus, the healing ministry of Jesus, the proclamation ministry of Jesus, the compassionate ministry of Jesus, coming together with one impact. Pentecost 2025 is an example of this coming together in mission approach, where the local church, the local school, the conference, the local union, the division, and the General Conference come together to advance this initiative across the North American Division territory. This is multiply: multiplying Christ's ministries, multiplying Christ's impact, and multiplying the influence of the ministry of Jesus."

He then turned to Glass, who addressed media, the second M. "By utilizing the power of media, church members in North America are connecting with people who are seeking to learn more about God, and then helping them find a faith community," said Glass. She shared that "more than 13,000 digital disciples have been trained in an ongoing initiative to teach church members how to share their faith through live chat." Glass underscored that through the live chat features on Adventist.org, "questions about beliefs are being answered, requests for prayer are being accepted, and people are connected to local churches." She noted that outward-facing ministries such as Faith for Today also harness the power of broadcast media to share God's grace. She concluded, "These digital connections open doors to build friendships and share God's love."

Ahn concluded the NAD leaders' introduction with an inspiring vision: "We envision a church where seasoned leaders pour into the young, and where experienced pastors lift up emerging voices, so that every member, every believer in our territory, is both mentored and mentoring, all for the cause of Christ. Brothers and sisters, here is the North American Division report. Thank you."

Below are highlights from the North American Division’s report.

Since 2022, NAD members and leaders across Bermuda, Canada, Guam-Micronesia, and the U.S. have united in their individual and collective answer to Christ’s disciple-making call, embodying the strategic plan of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church: “I will go.” Under the quinquennial theme, “Together in Mission,” with three focal points of multiplying disciples, harnessing media for outreach, and mentoring current and next generation leaders, the division has made strides in spreading the distinctive, Christ-centered Seventh-day Adventist message of hope and wholeness in its territory. Since 2022, the NAD family has welcomed 204,357 new members into 6,810 churches and 894 companies.

The story of how the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America has continued to grow in a challenging post-COVID-19 context is multi-faceted and complex; thus, it was divided into five chapters for the GC session audience. 

Chapter 1: Multiplying Disciples

In North America, discipleship often begins with a seed — a kind word, a moment of connection, an act of service — planted in homes, schools, cafes, and online services. With the power of the Holy Spirit, these seeds grow into centers of influence, small groups, and new congregations. 

As one of the NAD’s growing centers of influence, the Chesapeake Conference’s Urban Life Center in Baltimore, Maryland, is reaching its community through wellness programs, community events, and needs-based service. The result of a strategic partnership between two local churches, it aims to be a bridge between community needs and the gospel message. In the video report, its director, Cristina Macena, expressed that the center “is a place where people find hope, purpose, and healing. It isn’t just growth — it’s transformation.” 

With a focus on Christ’s method of mingling with people, discerning and meeting their needs, then introducing them to Jesus, the NAD planted more than 400 churches in one year alone (2023). The division’s membership has now grown to 1,287,739. From 2022 to present, nearly 205,000 people publicly accepted Christ through baptism, including 1,215 young people at the 2024 Believe the Promise International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming. 

In 2024, division leadership reflected on the biblical promise that the Spirit of God would be manifested at the earth’s close, as it was on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2). Thus, they conceptualized Pentecost 2025 — the NAD’s invitation for church leaders and members to hold at least 3,000 proclamation initiatives division-wide. By God’s grace, 5,200 churches and schools registered to participate and are engaging in creative evangelism in their regions. 

Pentecost 2025 is a reminder that the work of multiplication is not just for church leaders; every member is called to use their gifts and spheres of influence to make disciples who make other disciples. The report challenged viewers to consider how they could use innovative outreach, digital platforms, and traditional methods to spread the good news throughout North America and beyond.

Read the full report on the North American Division Website.