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Teachers Equipped for the Ministry of Adventist Education
Michigan Conference educators gathered at Camp Au Sable August 5–7 for the 2026 Teachers Convention. Teachers experienced a time dedicated to equipping, encouraging, and spiritually renewing as they prepared for the start of another school year. While classrooms, curriculum, and professional development were important parts of the convention, the gathering reinforced a larger purpose behind…
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Elected: Gabrielle Umaña-Santacruz
The Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is pleased to announce the Executive Committee appointment of Gabrielle Umaña-Santacruz as associate director for the Public Campus Ministries Department and Director for the CAMPUS Missionary Training Program. Gabrielle brings firsthand experience in public campus ministry, student leadership, missionary training, and discipleship to this new role. As a student,…
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Family & Lifestyle Medicine Celebrates Grand Opening in Holt
What began five years ago as a small medical practice in the back room of a home has grown into a multidisciplinary clinic with a permanent home in Holt, Michigan. A journey made possible through faith, generosity, and connections formed along the way. On Friday, August 21, Family & Lifestyle Medicine (FALM) celebrated the grand…
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A Blessing Right Next Door
Grand Rapids Churches Unite for Free Health Clinic It was Sabbath afternoon in Wyoming, Michigan, when an AMEN volunteer began walking through the neighborhood surrounding the Rogers Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church. With flyers in hand, the volunteer knocked on doors, inviting neighbors to a free medical, dental, and vision clinic taking place the next day.…
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From Searching to Surrender
Sometimes a simple email can be the beginning of something much bigger. In May 2024, Pastor Ben Garcia received an email from Mary Morrison-Collins with a straightforward question: What did she need to do to become a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Pastor Ben tried to reach Mary by phone but got no answer.…
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Six Minutes on the Side of the Road
On a recent weekend, Amy Benedict and her daughter Kaylee were traveling north to attend a health ministry retreat at Camp Au Sable. The trip from their home in Zeeland normally takes about three hours. They were about an hour and a half into the drive, traveling between Big Rapids and Reed City, when something…
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Ambassadors for Christ
A remarkable convergence of events took place in the young American republic in January 1802. A Baptist minister named John Leland, known for his unwavering defense of liberty of conscience, traveled to meet President Thomas Jefferson. He brought with him a symbol of goodwill (though we might disagree today) from his congregation in the form…
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Sharing the Gospel Through Music
On March 29, more than 320 people filled the Ann Arbor church. Over half of them entered the space for the first time. They did not come for a traditional service, but for a concert that told the story of Christ through sacred music. What unfolded that evening revealed something powerful: music can open doors…
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What Religious Liberty Means to Me
Religious liberty is more than a civil right; it is a spiritual principle rooted in God’s character. It is the freedom to worship without coercion, to obey from love, and to stand faithfully according to conscience. At its heart, religious liberty means that my conscience belongs to God alone. Some important aspects I keep in…
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MiTribe: A Call for Michigan Youth to Do Life Together
Across Michigan, something meaningful is happening. Small groups of young people are gathering in homes, parks, coffee shops, and churches. They are sharing meals, praying together, studying the Bible, and finding ways to serve their communities. These groups are called MiTribes, and they are helping youth experience something many people are searching for—authentic Christian community. MiTribe…
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The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
In the past, Seventh-day Adventist religious liberty advocates regarded the Declaration of Independence as the definitive statement of America’s founding principles and therefore the primary source for correctly interpreting the US Constitution. During the antebellum period, J. N. Loughborough noted that the Constitution was “professedly based on the Declaration of Independence.”[1] In the decades following…
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Adventists Fought for the Principles of the Declaration of Independence
Writing in response to the Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857), Abraham Lincoln argued that the founding fathers had proclaimed the principles of the Declaration of Independence in order to establish a “standard maxim for free society.”[1] The inalienable rights of the Declaration had not been immediately conferred on all Americans, but by declaring these rights…
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A Journey of Faith, Patience, and God’s Perfect Timing
A Journey of Faith, Patience, and God’s Perfect Timing Sometimes God brings two people together at exactly the right moment. Not only to build a life together, but to draw them both closer to Him. That was certainly true for Caleb and Amanda, whose journey began in June 2019 in the Dominican Republic. Amanda had…
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Liberty, Justice and Wisdom: Rediscovering the Principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Foundations of Religious Liberty
This year marks the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding and of one of the most important documents ever written, the Declaration of Independence. This year marks the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding and of one of the most important documents ever written, the Declaration of Independence. In The Great Controversy Ellen G. White…
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Wellness Outreach Opens New Doors to Lansing Educators
Health professionals at the Family and Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, a nonprofit health ministry run by Dr. Kimberly Azelton, a member of the Lansing church, have been praying for opportunities to connect with the neighboring Lansing community. The Employee Wellness Day at Waverly High School has become one such opportunity, breaking down barriers and opening doors…
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Near-Miss or Divine Appointment?
Youth Rush canvasser discovers that God was writing a redemption story decades in advance. More than 35 years ago, in Pontiac, Michigan, two young boys were enjoying a beautiful summer day relaxing next to a swimming pool. As a joke, one of the boys pushed the other—Raymond—into the water and ran off laughing. But Raymond…
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Every Member a Medical Missionary (EM3)
Nearly 70 attendees from across the Michigan Conference gathered at Camp Au Sable on May 8–10 for the Mini-Medical Missionary Training Retreat., also known as EM3 training, which stands for “Every Member a Medical Missionary.” The weekend focused on equipping church members with foundational principles of health ministry and practical ways to serve others through…
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Sabbath School & Personal Ministries
Michigan Conference Appoints Mark Howard as Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director The Michigan Conference is pleased to announce the election of Elder Mark Howard as Director of the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department (SSPM), following a vote by the Michigan Conference Executive Committee. Pastor Howard succeeds Kameron DeVasher, who recently accepted a call…
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Church Leaders Gather for “United in Mission” Workshop
Church leaders from across Michigan gathered at Camp Au Sable from April 24–26 for the annual Church Leadership Workshop, a weekend designed to encourage, equip, and unite local church leaders for mission-focused ministry. Centered around the theme “United in Mission,” the retreat drew 75 attendees representing churches from across the state, including locations stretching from…
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Grace Meets Grit Marriage Retreat
Couples from across the Midwest gathered at Camp Au Sable for a weekend focused on strengthening marriages through biblical principles, encouragement, and intentional time together. Held under the theme “Grace Meets Grit,” the marriage retreat welcomed 75 couples traveling from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Illinois for a time of renewal, connection, and spiritual growth. Hosted…