North American Division Celebrates Major Growth and Mission Milestones in 2025
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Pentecost 2025 initiative exceeded expectations with 3,100+ churches participating, driving spiritual renewal and unprecedented community outreach partnerships across North America.
- NAD welcomed 204,357 new members since 2022 while maintaining strong finances with $250 million total assets and 401 days cash reserves.
- Youth engagement initiatives launched with 15 young adult preachers conducting evangelistic meetings, plus historic Diné Adventist Radio FM station debut in Navajo Nation.
Pentecost 2025 Initiative Transforms Adventist Outreach
The North American Division's ambitious Pentecost 2025 initiative emerged as the year's defining story, with NAD President G. Alexander Bryant emphasizing their desire for "God's Spirit to do something above and beyond what we can do." The initiative has exceeded expectations with more than 3,100 churches and schools registered to participate .
The division launched special prayer meetings throughout the year, including a livestreamed one-hour prayer meeting on May 2, 2025, following an initial event on January 8 that kicked off the world church's 10 Days of Prayer . Churches across North America embraced the initiative with remarkable stories, including a Ukrainian Adventist Church in Chicago partnering with three other denominations to support over 60,000 refugees from the war in Ukraine .
The division reported receiving "unexpected blessings" as churches and schools submitted their post-Pentecost 2025 reports, indicating widespread participation and positive outcomes from the evangelistic initiative .
Record Membership Growth and Financial Strength
Since 2022, the NAD family has welcomed 204,357 new members into 6,810 churches and 894 companies , representing significant growth in a challenging post-COVID environment. The division's financial health remained robust, with operating assets totaling $206 million and total assets reaching $250 million by year-end, including operating fund gains of $7.13 million .
Working capital reached 9.42 months by year-end, exceeding the recommended six months, while days cash on hand totaled 401 days, sufficient to cover expenses without additional income for more than a year . The division managed a budgeted $1.25 billion gross tithe, with 86.1 percent retained by unions and conferences while only 13.9 percent kept by NAD and General Conference .
Media Innovation and Youth Engagement
"Stories change hearts, and we're using film to listen, learn, and teach lessons through storytelling just as Jesus did," the division reported, highlighting their Sonscreen Film Festival as the NAD's premier platform for young creatives, where La Sierra University student Spencer Sherwin earned two awards for his comedic short about life in a wheelchair .
The division launched comprehensive youth training sessions, starting in Miami, with 15 young adult preachers ready to conduct evangelistic meetings. Division leaders are actively matching these speakers with churches willing to host evangelistic series, with plans to extend training to eight additional unions .
March 2025 marked a historic milestone with the launch of Diné Adventist Radio's first full-power FM station, KDHH 89.5 FM, reaching listeners across Tuba City, Kaibeto, and the Western Agency of the Navajo Nation after years of foundational work .
Leadership Changes and Strategic Developments
At the 2025 General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, NAD executive secretary Kyoshin Ahn and treasurer Judy R. Glass were elected to serve another term for 2025-2030 . The 2025 NAD Year-End Meeting ushered in new appointments in ministerial, chaplaincy, and the Guam-Micronesia Mission, while Ken Norton was elected as Voice of Prophecy Speaker/Director .
An emotional highlight came when President Bryant presented retiring Christian Record Services president Diane Thurber with the President's Award of Excellence, recognizing her 22 years of service and pivotal role in restoring the financial health of Christian Record, which "was in deep decline" when she took over in 2015 .
The Multilingual Ministries department reported remarkable growth, with refugee and immigrant ministries seeing an 800 percent increase in tithe contributions as communities expressed gratitude through their generosity . The Association of Adventist Colleges and Universities announced fall enrollment rises across the North American Division , signaling continued strength in Adventist education.
These developments demonstrate how the North American Division has maintained momentum in mission work while adapting to modern challenges. As the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America celebrates 40 years of ministry and mission in 2025, the division continues its focus on sharing the good news through the power of God and the Holy Spirit, with