-
Linda Gallimore Passes
Dear Michigan Conference Family, The Gallimore family is saddened to announce the tragic loss of Linda Gallimore, wife of Jay, and mother of Alicia and Matthew. As many may know, she lost her right lung to cancer 17 years ago. Due to recent complications, the medical team in the emergency room were unable to maintain…
-
Virtual Week of Prayer Touches Young Hearts
Virtual Week of Prayer Touches Young Hearts In January, Oakwood Adventist Academy (OAA) in Taylor, Mich., was scheduled to participate in Outdoor Education at Camp AuSable with resident naturalist Dr. Gordon Atkins and retired teacher Craig Morgan. Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions snarled any plans for what is normally an exciting opportunity for 5th graders to travel north and experience an encounter with God through His created works. Because Outdoor Education was cancelled, the Michigan…
-
New Associate Education Superintendent: Charlotte Green
New Associate Education Superintendent: Charlotte Green Charlotte Green has accepted the call to serve as the new Associate Superintendent of Education for the Michigan Conference. The position opened up with the retirement of Sally Smith that begins in October. Charlotte, a teacher with broad experience in various contexts, will join the team of superintendent Jeremy…
-
Darryl Bentley to Serve As New Associate Ministerial Director
Darryl Bentley to Serve As New Associate Ministerial Director The Michigan Conference Executive Committee appointed a new ministerial associate director on May 25 to a position left vacant after Pastor Wes Peppers accepted a call to the media ministry, It is Written. Pastor Darryl Bentley, the former pastor of the Metropolitan Seventh-day Adventist Church in Detroit,…
-
Cody Francis to Serve As New Ministerial Director
Cody Francis to Serve As New Ministerial Director On Tuesday May 25, the Michigan Conference Executive Committee voted to extend an invitation to Pastor Cody Francis to become the next Ministerial Director of the Michigan Conference. The position became vacant after Elder Royce Snyman announced his retirement beginning in July. Elder Francis has since accepted…
-
Eyes in the Dark
Eyes in the Dark “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” When my children were small, we lived in Colorado. My office was only about one mile from our house and one evening, my wife and children came to visit. I needed…
-
Religious Liberty: What Matters Most
Religious Liberty: What Matters Most What should be our focus at this time in earth’s history? Unity Among God’s Remnant People I think we can agree that the year 2020 was unlike any we’ve ever experienced. COVID-19 disrupted normal life and ultimately the course of history. I remember thinking last year in March and…
-
Coming Full Circle
Coming Full Circle How God restored a faltering marriage Nidia: For most people, 2020 has been full of heartache, loss and sadness. And, although it’s been a very hard year for us also, 2020 represents transformation, hope, strength and renewal. On September 19, 2020, we not only celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary but we also decided…
-
God’s Impeccable Timing
God’s Impeccable Timing Lauri Hughes attempted to take her life, but God had other plans for this precious soul. Two and a half years ago, the Petoskey Church chose to do a Bible Study Offer card mailing. As church members prepared the cards for mail, Lauri Hughes attempted to take her own life. Hughes was…
-
Drive-In Church Service
Drive-In Church Service In-person church services are not permitted, but there’s no stopping this young pastor from holding worship service outside and in vehicles. #SocialDistancing “Honk if you wanna say, ‘Amen!’” The exuberant proclamation echoed across the gravel parking lot and bounced into the adjacent woods and corn fields. The announcement, met with a reverberation of…
-
Adventist Book Centers Impacted by COVID-19
Adventist Book Centers ABCs within Michigan to discontinue business as usual. Conference administration exploring ways to supply literature needs throughout Michigan. # May 11, 2020 — On Tuesday, May 5, the Michigan Conference Executive Committee made the heavy decision to discontinue operating the Adventist Book Centers (ABC) as we know them. The decision impacts all three locations currently managed…
-
Summer Camp Update
Summer Camp Update Camp Au Sable provides an update regarding this year’s summer camp season. The hope is to move forward with an adjusted program and schedule. Many of you are aware that the state of Michigan has extended the stay-at-home order to May 15. The uncertainty of the economy and when things might return…
-
Closure Extension & Employee Reductions
Closure Extension & Employee Reductions Churches and the Conference office will remain shuttered until May 15, and thirty-five employees will be furloughed or laid off at the end of April. Update on Recent State Order Per Governor Whitmer’s recent executive order, the stay-at-home mandate has been extended through May 15. Previous measures pertaining to the Conference office, churches, and employees, scheduled…
-
Schools Transition to Four-day Work Week
Schools Transition to Four-day Work Week Distance learning will be the norm for the rest of the school year April 8, 2020, LANSING, MICH—In light of the executive order (2020-35) issued by the state governor on Thursday, April 2, all K-12 schools of the Michigan Conference have closed their physical doors for the remainder of the school year…
-
Church Audience Grows During COVID-19
Church Audience Grows During COVID-19 The use of technology has lead to more members tuning in. We never imagined that in March of this year, our churches would be shut down. The shelter-at-home orders due to Covid-19 have changed our lives in many ways, even our ability to attend church together. In the attempt to meet…
-
Schools Equipped for Distance Learning
Education Department Prepares Schools Schools had contingency plans in place in the event of school closures. LANSING, MICH. — We are blessed in the Michigan Conference to have a tremendously dedicated educational team. We praise God for each one! We are facing unprecedented times in our country and Adventist Education is no different. However, God has…
-
Regulations for On-Premise Employees & Social Media Protocol
Protocol for On-Premise Employees & Social Media Guidelines Conference office, church, and school operations that must continue in-person tasks to conduct minimum basic operations and other permissible duties are required to adopt social distancing practices and other mitigation measures, per the executive order 2020-21. These measures are stated in the mandate, and we’re asking all entities to strictly comply with…
-
Executive Order Implications: Conference Office & Churches
Executive Order Implications: Conference Office & Churches Monday, March 23. With the release of the new executive order (2020-21) by state authorities, the following is in effect from tomorrow, March 24 through April 13. Friends, we have a unique opportunity to continue ministry at this time through social media, phone calls, FaceTime, and other digital resources. Now is…
-
Churches to Close Through March
Churches to Close Through March Effective Immediately March 19, 2020# March 19, 2020 — Earlier this week on Tuesday, we stated that churches could physically meet as long as the shared space had 50 or fewer members in compliance with the corresponding state executive order. However, we are now asking that all churches close their doors through the month of March and…
-
Executive Order Prompts Adjustments
Executive Order Prompts Adjustments March 17, 2020. With the rapidly changing pace of new protocols and guidelines from state and federal authorities regarding the spread of COVID-19, the Michigan Conference urges all members to be vigilant and informed by checking often with state and federal authorities. Listed below are several links: The executive order (2020-11) issued by the…