Important first step for IRLA, religious leaders say
May 15, 2008 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Ansel Oliver/ANN

 Religious freedom proponents are hoping Mongolia's first symposium on religious liberty later this month will increase awareness and lead to a large-scale religious liberty conference next year.

Churches, schools can spread the message, Adventist church leaders say May 13, 2008 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Taashi Rowe/ANN

 Saving the next generation from tobacco addiction is the focus of the upcoming World No Tobacco Day, which takes place May 31.

Paulsen's live, unscripted broadcast closes with 19 segments; pastoral d ialogue continues with European  edition May 13, 2008 Silver Spring, Maryland, United StatesANN Staff

 Adventist Church President Jan Paulsen has hosted 18 previous live, unscripted dialogues with youth in the Let's Talk broadcasts. Later this month, Paulsen will host the final Let's Talk segment when he meets with young Adventists from Europe in Bucharest, Romania. [ANN file photo]

Agency's longstanding presence in country aids work; preparing response to China quake
May 13, 2008 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States ANN Staff

 ADRA's established position within Myanmar is aiding its response to widespread devastation following a cyclone last week, officials of the Adventist Church's humanitarian agency said. [photo: Steve Tasker/ADRA/ANN]

(Left to right) Montgomery County Delegates Heather Mizeur and Thomas Hucker of District 20; Adventist HealthCare president and CEO Bill Robertson; Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett; Washington Adventist Hospital president Jere Stocks; Mary's Center president and CEO Maria Gomez; Mary's Center board member Luis Carrera; and Montgomery County Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez, District 18.

By Beth Michaels. Columbia Union. The Visitor magazine
Photos by Green Photography
Twenty-two professional and highly talented musicians from around the Columbia Union were honored and awarded recently during the first Guild of Adventist Musicians Music Awards Ceremony. Run like a Hollywood-studded Grammy Awards ceremony, many friends, family, and other nominee supporters celebrated the winners and enjoyed the numerous musical performances from many of the union’s own A-list musicians.

By Trish Swann Columbia Union. The Visitor magazine
Priceless! That was the word used to describe the United Youth Service Corps to an audience at a recent statewide awards ceremony. The United Youth Service Corps, a ministry of Seventh-day Adventist youth from Baltimore area churches, was honored as a recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award. Four youth and four adults (pictured) members of the corps traveled to Annapolis, Md., and received the award from Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown.

Chef Tupolo cooked for U.S. Congress, king of Tonga
May 12, 2008 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States ANN Staff
Adventist chef Sualua Tupolo's vegetarian cooking program recently won a Telly Award, which producers said recognizes the program's production value and broad appeal. [photo: courtesy Hope Channel]

Photographer, musician wrote song for 2005 world session; coordinated visitor's center design at world headquarters
May 8, 2008 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
ANN Staff

Reger C. Smith Jr., a Seventh-day Adventist musician and designer who served as the world church's Associate Communication Director for Public Relations, died May 8 following a lengthy illness at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was 54.

Basic supplies, medicine part of emergency response
May 6, 2008 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Nadia McGill/ADRA/ANN Staff