In a precedent-setting event held Oct. 3–5 at the Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Ore., nearly 100 individuals gathered for the first Adventist Recovery Ministries training event to be jointly sponsored by North American Division (NAD), North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) and Adventist Health.
Katia Reinert, NAD health ministries director, says the NPUC is the second union in North America to hold such an event. Her emphasis is on equipping local churches to be welcoming but safe environments for hosting local addiction-recovery programs. “We love everyone,” she says, “but there has to be accountability regarding safety for all.”
Reinert hopes to organize additional events in the remaining union conferences around the NAD during the next couple of years. These programs are meant to sensitize members and churches to the need and to help them partner with confidential professional resources in helping individuals find an accepting spiritual foundation and church home.
John Loor Jr., NPUC executive secretary, who worked closely with Reinert to organize the Portland event, says Adventist members need to seriously consider what more they can do to provide a redemptive environment. “Our churches need to be safe churches to which people can come,” he says. “Adventist Recovery Ministries helps churches to become those kinds of safe places.”
Local conferences within the NPUC will continue to follow up with additional resources and events to apply this emphasis to individual congregations who are willing. For more information, contact your local conference.
Katie Reinert, North American Division health ministries director, led out in the jointly sponsored meeting.
Attendees from around the Northwest were equipped with numerous resources and helpful information.
Attendees from around the Northwest were equipped with numerous resources and helpful information.
David Sedlacek, Andrews University family ministry and discipleship professor, makes one of the Sabbath morning presentations.
David Sedlacek, Andrews University family ministry and discipleship professor, makes one of the Sabbath morning presentations.
More than 80 people registered for the weekend Recovery Ministries training event.
