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09 21
I N S P I R AT I ON & I N F OR M AT I ON
FOR NORTH AMERICA
INC LUD E D
Adventist Journey
Contents 04 Feature 13 Perspective
Annual Pathfinder Bible The Mentor
Experience Grows Virtually
10 NAD Update
Two Influential Adventists, Pioneers
in Their Fields, Pass to Their Rest
My Journey
If you’re not connected with what’s going on in the world, how
can you talk to people in the language they’re using? We are
often stuck with yesterday’s methods. We need to find the
best method to reach segments of society in a way that people
understand what we are saying. And also understand that they
could live a better life.
Visit nadadventist.org/ajrajmunddabrowski
Cover photo by Dan Weber
for more of Dabrowski’s story
RAJMUND DABROWSKI,
most recently Rocky Mountain Conference communication director,
previously serving as director in all levels of the church,
including the General Conference
Dear Reader: The publication in your hands represents the collaborative efforts of the ADVENTIST JOURNEY
North American Division and Adventist World magazine, which follows Adventist Journey
Editor Kimberly Luste Maran
(after page 16). Please enjoy both magazines!
Senior Editorial Assistant Georgia Damsteegt
Art Direction & Design Ellen Musselman / Types & Symbols
Adventist Journey (ISSN 1557-5519) is the journal of the North American Division of the General Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists. The Northern Asia-Pacific Division of the General Conference of Seventh-day Consultants G. Earl Knight, Mark Johnson, Dave Weigley,
Adventists is the publisher. It is printed monthly by the Pacific Press® Publishing Association. Copyright
Kenneth Denslow, Gary Thurber, John Freedman, Ricardo
© 2020. Send address changes to your local conference membership clerk. Contact information should be
available through your local church. Graham, Ron C. Smith, Carlos Craig
Executive Editor, Adventist World Bill Knott
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 4, No. 9. September 2021. Adventist Journey Publication Board G. Alexander
Bryant (chair), Kimberly Luste Maran (secretary), Kyoshin Ahn, Curtis Randolph Robinson, Wendy Eberhardt,
Minner Labrador, Arne Nielsen, Maurice Valentine, Calvin Watkins Sr., Julio Muñoz, Karnik Doukmetzian, legal
advisor Scripture References Unless otherwise noted, all Bible references are taken from the The Holy Bible,
New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights
reserved worldwide.
Email: AdventistJourney@nadadventist.org | Web site: nadadventist.org
09 / 21 ADVENTIST 03
F E AT U R E
Annual
Pathfinder
Bible
Experience
Grows
Virtually
Pathfinder Club teams from the
NAD and beyond come together
for the three-day event.
BY KIMBERLY LUSTE MARAN
W
hen the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancel- On April 16-18, 135 teams came together
lation of the in-person North American Division online for a weekend of worship, testing,
Pathfinder Bible Experience (NAD PBE) event and celebration, with some of the sessions
18 months ago, organizers quickly mobilized livestreamed from the NAD’s Pathfinder
to hold the event online. In anticipation of the web page, YouTube, and Facebook pages.
potential need to have another virtual event in Additionally 27 Pathfinder teams from the
2021, planning started after the April 18, 2020, experience. Ulti- British Union also attended the NAD test-
mately, the 2021 PBE event was indeed held virtually. ing event (as well as participating in their
The uncertainty of how long the pandemic would last slowed own division testing).
the planning for 2021 division-level testing. It wasn’t until the For years the Pathfinder Bible Experi-
fall of 2020 that the NAD PBE core leadership team (Gene Clapp, ence has helped lead youth to Scripture,
Marilyn Boismier, Ki Song, Sherilyn O’ffill, Miguel Torres, Nadine providing them a way to learn and un-
Lashier, and Jeff Cooley) officially moved toward holding a virtual derstand the Bible for themselves—and
event again. This time the efforts would be toward having as many equipping them to be able to help others.
teams as possible participate—and do so as if they were meeting in The annual four-step process starts with
a physical place. This brought many different challenges, including local clubs testing in their areas/districts,
how to test with many teams not actually being in the same place. conferences, and unions. It culminates
“We put together a new set of rules for online testing, and have with qualified teams that score within 90
incorporated new software to help with the questions,” said Armando percent of the highest score, at each level,
Miranda, Jr., associate director of NAD youth ministries and club minis- advancing through to the division-level
tries director. “The NAD PBE team also diligently supported our confer- testing in April. This year the teams stud-
ences and unions by providing 10-12 technical training sessions since ied Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter.
December [2020] to make sure everyone understood the online process. The 2021 PBE included more than
In the weeks preceding the event, we had trainings for online monitors, testing as those attending and those
judges, and Pathfinder scribes.” watching the livestream enjoyed Friday
04 ADVENTIST w w w. n a d a d v e n t i s t . o r g
F E AT U R E
An ensemble of Pathfinders from F E AT U R E
different clubs throughout Ontario, Canada,
perform the song “When You Believe”
during the April 17, 2021, PBE worship
service. Screenshot from PBE livestream.
For years the Pathfinder
Bible Experience has
evening vespers, Sabbath wor-
ship, and the awards ceremony
finale on April 18. But of course,
the testing was paramount in helped lead youth to
the minds of the Pathfinders
and staff. Scripture, providing
“The pandemic has changed
how we do so many things in
the world! Yet our Pathfinders,
them a way to learn and
though tested in very different
ways from the past, have deter-
understand the Bible
mined that they will study and
learn Scripture,” said Clapp,
for themselves—and
equipping them to be
PBE coordinator. “The dedica-
tion and learning capacity of
these Pathfinders is unbeliev-
able; and they have learned to able to help others
have a very intimate under-
standing of God’s Word.”
Clapp worked with the
NAD youth and young adult
International Collaboration
ministries team comprised of
In the spirit of collaboration across divisions, the
Miranda; Tracy Wood, direc-
British Union “sent” close to 30 teams to the NAD
tor; Vandeon Griffin, associate
testing event. “On behalf of my union, thank you for
director; Gael Murray, admin-
making space for us,” said Dejan Stojkovic, British
istrative assistant; Kevin Watson, webmaster; and
Union youth director.
a team of union and conference Pathfinder leaders,
And the Trans-European Division (TED) Youth de-
including David Salazar, who produced the Friday
partment has been working with NAD youth PBE team
night vespers program with Ernesto Hernandez from
to conduct their own division testing. They had the ar-
the Washington Conference.
duous work of translating the materials into 14 languag-
The Sabbath morning worship experience, pro-
es in order for the Pathfinder Bible Experience to work
duced by Eduardo Loo, a young adult from Texas, was
hosted by a team of Pathfinder leaders from across
the division—Manny Cruz, youth director of the Ar-
izona Conference; Damion Bascomb, lead area coor-
dinator for the Greater New York Conference; Nancy
Cabansang, an assistant Pathfinder director and PBE
coach for the Dallas-Fort Worth Fil-Am Seventh-day
Adventist Church in Arlington, Texas; and Denison
“El Guapo” Sager, youth director for the Iowa-Missou-
ri Conference.
Added Clapp, “It would not have been possible to
have put this testing program together without the ded-
ication, knowledge, and wisdom of each of these team
members and more, filled with the Holy Spirit!”
In fact, the active participants for the 2021 PBE
division-level testing totaled 1,102. This number in- Pathfinders from the Texas Conference participate in the
cludes the 135 teams (810 Pathfinders), judges, judge Southwestern Union-level PBE testing before going to the
technicians, monitors, monitor helpers, administrators, division finals. Photo provided by Ki Song.
scoring techs, and Zoom administrators.
09 / 21 ADVENTIST 05
F E AT U R E
for them. “They accomplished their
testing online and are in full collab-
oration with us,” said Miranda. “It’s
so exciting that they’re having their
own division-level event too—PBE
is expanding to another division
this year through our collaboration
with them!”
“I’d like to thank the NAD leaders
for designing and organizing this The Ann Arbor Anchors PBE team from Michigan find
wonderful program,” said Zlatko few creative ways to study together during a recent
Musija, TED youth director. “We practice test in preparation for the NAD PBE finals.
want this to grow the [Pathfinders’] Photo provided by Craig Harris.
love for the Bible and Jesus.”
“We hope the collaboration
with the NAD will continue in the “The Pathfinder Bible
future, and that the PBE will con-
tinue to spread in our division and Experience is a wonderful
worldwide!” Musija added.
Andreas Peralta, the Pathfinder
director the General Conference,
opportunity to study God’s Word.”
expressed his excitement and
awe of the Pathfinders at the NAD The Virtual Livestream you can grow closer and closer to
event. “Trust that God will help you Experience Him [as] you mature.”
each step of the way. In Him you On YouTube alone, the three-day Nearly 550 viewers from around
are victorious. You make us proud.” event had 5,894 total views live. the world, including the United
Friday evening more than 400 States, United Kingdom, Canada,
watched the livestream vespers. the Philippines, the Bahamas, and
Salazar, the evening’s host, intro- Guatemala, tuned in to the Sab-
duced the musical group Corner- bath morning program. The four
stone Ministries, from the Colum- hosts interacted with the virtual
bia Union, and other participants audience through live chats on
from several of the NAD’s union both platforms by conducting
conferences, including the vespers lighthearted trivia questions. It
speaker, Pedro Perez, Pathfinder was announced that some partici-
director for the Florida Conference pants will receive a $25 gift card for
in the Southern Union. AdventSource, the official carrier of
“I wish you all of God’s best Pathfinder supplies.
as you go through your testing The event also included a
tomorrow as you study these books Sabbath morning video greeting
and refresh them in your mind. But from G. Alexander Bryant, NAD
more important, Pathfinders, I wish president. “The Pathfinder Bible
you success in your spiritual jour- Experience is a wonderful op-
ney with God,” Perez said during portunity to study God’s Word,”
his talk. “I hope that as you look to Bryant said. “I know you have
Pathfinders from the Texas God in those moments of tempta- studied for this event. . . . All
Conference prep for the
tion, you will find that He can give those who have studied are win-
division level PBE testing.
Photo provided by Ki Song. you strength that’s beyond your ners, because you get to keep the
own. He can help you to say no, and lasting impact—your minds will
06 ADVENTIST w w w. n a d a d v e n t i s t . o r g
F E AT U R E
Collaboration Key From the Start With
“Do It Together” Sabbath School Convention
be sharper for all of your other
T he Do It Together Sabbath
School Leadership Convention
is described as leader training
schoolwork; your decision-mak-
for Sabbath School superinten-
ing will be clearer.”
dents, secretaries, creatives, youth
Bryant continued, “Your Spirit
pastors, pastors, teachers, and
will be more in tune with God’s
those interested in growing their
Spirit, and your ear will be more
Sabbath School attendance and
discerning to hear God’s voice.
engagement. The convention will
And that’s just for this life—the
be held virtually on September
eternal rewards are simply out of
9-11, 2021. (Learn more/register
this world.”
at https://oneteamplaybook.
The Saturday morning program
org/2021-nad-ssc/; register before
itself was filled with diverse musi-
August 9 to receive a “swag bag.”)
cal performances. The Pathfinder
NAD youth and young adult
song was performed by Tucson
ministries is partnering with adult
Central Spanish Seventh-day
ministries and children’s ministries
Adventist Church in Tucson,
to encourage leaders of all age
Arizona; an ensemble made up of
groups to come together. General
Pathfinders from different clubs
throughout Ontario, Canada, sessions and workshop training come together, intergenerational-
performed “When You Believe,” will be led by all three ministries, ly, and do this thing. All of us are
from The Prince of Egypt sound showcasing exciting ways to lead taught of the Lord.”
track by singing and playing string Sabbath School in the local church. “This has been a work in prog-
and wind instruments; and the The event will also include devo- ress for the past three or four
Baltodano family from the Geor- tionals and special music. Resourc- years,” said Armando Miranda, Jr.,
gia-Cumberland Conference sang a es, networking, and intergenera- youth and young adult ministries
song of worship. tional training will be offered for a associate director. “There was
At the conclusion of the $20 fee per registrant. This unique not even anything close to what
worship service the program training will emphasize teaching we’re doing right now with online
transitioned to the official divi- lessons in tandem. Beyond the Sabbath School programming
sion-level testing led by Clapp, training will be a plethora of re- and partnerships.”
who provided directions and read sources that can be used in small Miranda explained, “For this
questions in English, and Ada groups, offsite Sabbath Schools, [convention], we started with
Gomez, director of the Adventur- and virtual Sabbath School spaces. youth Sabbath School training re-
ers’ Resource and Development “We are anticipating a complete quested by union youth directors.
Committee, who carried out the relaunch of the vision and the Our administration caught on, and
same in Spanish. There were 90 mission of Sabbath School in North they funded www.YouthSabbath-
questions asked, with points per American Division. This is going to SchoolIdeas.org. Then children’s
question depending on levels of be it,” said Tracy Wood, NAD youth ministries and adult ministries
difficulty. Teams had 30 seconds and young adult ministries director. partnered with us—we are doing
to respond to each question. “The whole ‘Do It Together’ this together.”
After the testing was complete, theme is about saying that the “We’re excited about the possi-
the scores were tallied, and the better way to do Sabbath School, bilities,” added Griffin. “The entire
livestream returned Sunday after- and the strength and the power family gets a chance to go to
noon for the awards ceremony. Of that comes when we all decide Sabbath School! It’s not boring. It’s
the 135 participating, 114 scored that we’re going to do it, is togeth- exciting. We want to transfer our
within 90 percent of the highest er,” added Vandeon Griffin, youth excitement to others so they say, ‘I
score, earning them a first-place and young adult ministries asso- can’t wait to be a part of Sabbath
prize. Nineteen earned sec- ciate director. “That’s where the School!’ Let’s all go and see what
ond-place, and two earned third. power comes—when we just all God does for us.”
09 / 21 ADVENTIST 07
HEALTH CARE CONNECTIONS
“Being part of the
PBE was one of
the best opportunities
of a lifetime."
Cornerstone Ministries musical group, comprised of
“Being part of the PBE was one of
Pathfinders (and an Adventurer) from the Columbia
Union Conference, lead PBE vespers song service on
the best opportunities of a lifetime.
April 16, 2021. Screenshot from PBE livestream. I was able to grow with every one
spiritually and learn more about
the Lord,” said Nomhle Moyo, a
“The books for next year are 1 his daughter why she thinks the Pathfinder with the Airdrie Ignite
Kings and Ruth,” said Clapp. “Start PBE is important and what it has Pathfinder Club from Alberta,
studying tomorrow. Those books taught her. “I think it helps young Canada. “The opportunity I had
have great stories!” people gain confidence in knowing was amazing. I just want to thank
they are capable of memorizing everyone for the amazing time and
Why PBE? enormous amounts of Scripture,” for our awesome leaders.”
During one of the livestreamed she said. “The PBE has taught me a
sessions, Thomas Harris, director lot about teamwork and that any- Kimberly Luste Maran is editor of
of the Glendale Raptors Pathfinder one can do great things for the lord, Adventist Journey; Mylon Medley
Club from Glendale, Arizona, asked no matter how young they are.” contributed to this report.
1.5 page ad Adventist Journey Apr2021.indd 1 2/19/2021 1:02:57 PM
08 ADVENTIST w w w. n a d a d v e n t i s t . o r g
Mercy
bestowsl
more than
is asked
09 / 21Experience
the joy of giving • willplan.org ADVENTIST 09
N A D U P D AT E
NORM MIDDAG,
FORMER NAD
PATHFINDER,
ADVENTURER, AND
CAMP MINISTRIES
DIRECTOR, PASSES
TO HIS REST
N
orm Middag, former North American Divi-
sion Pathfinder, Adventurer, and Camp Minis-
tries director, died suddenly on June 23, 2021,
in Florida, where he and his wife, Barbara,
retired in 2001. He was 91.
Middag was an educator, pastor, and youth director
in a career spanning more than four decades of min- at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Takoma Park,
istry at all levels of the church, from the local church Maryland, he was quoted as saying, “If your church isn’t
to the General Conference, where he served as youth doing anything for youth, start with the 13-year-olds.”
ministries assistant director in 1980. He served in the “Norm was such a blessing to our church, not only in
Michigan, southern California, northern California, the North American Division but throughout the world.
Florida, and Potomac conferences before joining the His kind, Christ-centered spirit was an inspiration to
NAD in 1982. all,” said Elden Ramirez, NAD undersecretary. “When I
While at the NAD, Middag spearheaded the devel- became a youth director, he took me under his wings,
opment of the ministry manuals for Adventurers, sharing a wealth of knowledge with me. Mentoring was
Pathfinders, Teen Leadership Training, and many his passion. Many church leaders today who at one
other resources and curricula. He also developed the point served as youth directors as I did will forever be
Association of Adventist Camp Professionals (AACP), grateful for his mentorship and inspiration.”
which is now a network of 300-plus camp ministry staff “Norm Middag was a mentor. He was a passionate
throughout the 60 camps of the NAD. In addition, he youth ministries leader, a visionary. Many of us in
was instrumental in the creation of National Camps for youth ministry are standing on the structures and
Blind Children; and he also coordinated the 1991, 1992, programs he dreamt and implemented,” said Arman-
and 1993 Witness Through Rose Parade floats spon- do Miranda, Jr., NAD associate director for youth
sored and decorated by Pathfinders. and young adult ministries and NAD club ministries
As chairperson of the camporee coordinating director. “As a trailblazer, we can only be inspired by
committee, Norm spearheaded the North American his commitment to God and helping young people
Division camporee program, including its first nation- know Him better. Truly he was an inspiring man with
al gathering of Pathfinders in 1985 at Camp Hale near an inspiring life.”
Leadville, Colorado. This later grew into the Interna-
tional Pathfinder Camporee held in Oshkosh, Wiscon- From a Farm in Minnesota
sin, since 1999, until its scheduled move to Gillette, Middag was born into a family of seven siblings on
Wyoming, in 2024. March 15, 1930, living on an 85-acre vegetable farm
Middag firmly believed that every church needed to with seven greenhouses to support a family nursery
have some type of youth ministry. Integral to starting business in Duluth, Minnesota. At the age of 12 Mid-
the Pathfinder Teen Leadership Training program (TLT) dag was baptized.
10 ADVENTIST w w w. n a d a d v e n t i s t . o r gN A D U P D AT E
Norm Middag Photo provided by the NAD youth and young adult ministries.
During World War II the family
moved back to Michigan, home
of his parents. In 1954 he gradu-
“An irreplaceable
giant of our faith
ated from Emmanuel Missionary
College (now Andrews University)
in Berrien Springs, Michigan, with
now awaits our Lord’s
religion, education, and history ma-
jors. Middag also met Barbara Popp
while they were students at the
college in 1950. The two married in
the summer of 1952. soon return.”
He began his ministry as the grade
7-8 teacher at Battle Creek Academy.
Supportive in ministry, Barbara,
who would later take a break from In the fall of 1974 Middag was ministry, Pathfinder Leadership
classroom instruction to help raise invited to join the Potomac Confer- Award, and Pathfinder Instructor’s
their family, also worked at the acad- ence as youth director and director Award. He also developed the gov-
emy, teaching French, music, and of Camp Blue Ridge. All in all, with ernance concept of the conference
secretarial science subjects. Middag Barbara by his side, Norm had more Pathfinder coordinator, Senior Youth
taught for two years before being than 20 years of inspiring camp Leadership Council, NAD Camp
invited to serve as youth pastor of leadership, mentoring camp staff Committee, and the AACP.
the Battle Creek Tabernacle. and ministering to campers. For the past year and a half
Following his Battle Creek In 1980 Norm accepted the Middag worked with author Bruce
experience Middag accepted a call opportunity to become assistant Coston to write the book Far From
to Adelphian Academy to serve youth director for the General Con- the Norm: Norm Middag’s Life in
as boys’ dean. Two years later he ference Youth Department under Ministry, which will be released by
had the opportunity to pastor a the leadership of Leo Ranzolin. In AdventSource this fall.
170-member church and a grades 1981 the couple both worked at the Middag is preceded in death by
1-8 church school. General Conference of Seventh-day Barbara, who died on July 7, 2020, a
Adventists. In 1982 he assisted Les few days after her ninetieth birth-
In Ministry Pitton, NAD director of senior youth. day on July 4.
In 1960 the Southern Califor- During the same year, Norm was He is survived by three children: Da-
nia Conference invited Middag to assigned director of Pathfinder and vid (wife Tricia), Loren (wife Joy), and
serve as youth pastor at Eagle Rock camp ministries. In addition, he de- Renee Brownlow (husband John); six
church, where the Pathfinder Club veloped the Association of Adventist grandchildren; and four great-grand-
had 26 members. Within two years Camp Professionals of the North children. A memorial service was
a junior club and a teen club were American Division. held on August 28, 2021, at the Spring
organized, with a total membership While Norm was with the NAD Meadows Seventh-day Adventist
of 150. In 1964 Middag served as as- Pathfinder ministries, a committee Church in the Orlando, Florida, area.
sociate youth director for the North- was commissioned to develop the — Kimberly Luste Maran; Dixie Plata,
ern California Conference. This was Adventurer Club, a ministry for NAD youth ministry historian; and
also the Middags’ first camp assign- children in grades 1-4 and family Renee Brownlow contributed to this story;
ment at Pinecrest Camp. network for parents. Middag de- information also gathered from published
In 1965 Middag was called to be signed the NAD Pathfinder logo and materials from the Florida Conference and
the youth/camp director for Florida updated the Pathfinder uniform North Pacific Union Conference.
Conference. Two years later Camp patches, outlining them in black. In
Kulaqua sponsored its first Camp for addition, a committee of lay mem-
the Blind, with 27 campers. Four years bers and youth directors was formed
later blind camp attendance grew to to develop a curriculum for the Ea-
200. National Camps for the Blind is ger Beaver (kindergarten) ministry,
now sponsored by Christian Record Pathfinder ministry, Teen Leader-
Services, based in Lincoln, Nebraska. ship Training (TLT) Master Guide
09 / 21 ADVENTIST 11N A D U P D AT E
Lord. Returning to Argentina, they began their education
Retired La Voz in local church schools, then continued their studies at
Colegio Adventista del Plata, in Entre Ríos, Argentina.
de la Esperanza After receiving his theology degree, Peverini García
decided to follow the advice of church leaders to study
Speaker Milton law to better serve the church and its work. During
those years, he married Eunice Meier, the daughter of
Peverini Passes missionaries who had served several years in Brazil.
Eunice was united with Milton in the desire to hasten
to His Rest the coming of Christ.
While studying law, Peverini García taught at the local
M
academy and was then called to be director of youth
ilton Peverini García, for- and education for the Buenos Aires Conference. He
mer speaker/director for La received his law degree from the University of Buenos
Voz de la Esperanza, passed Aires in 1966 and was ordained as a Seventh-day Ad-
to his rest in Loma Linda, ventist pastor in 1967.
California, United States, in the early
Milton Peverini morning on June 27, 2021, after a long illness. He was 88. International Ministry
García Photo In January 1971 Peverini García joined the ministry of The couple and their children then moved to Cali-
provided by the
La Voz de la Esperanza as associate speaker/director, be- fornia, where he first served as pastor in two local area
Peverini family.
coming the speaker/director in 1974, after Braulio Pérez churches. In 1971 he was invited to join the Spanish
Marcio retired. Peverini Garcia was devoted to the cause language radio ministry La Voz de la Esperanza as
of Jesus Christ since his youth, and his theology studies, associate director. In 1974, when Braulio Pérez Marcio
his training as a lawyer, and his experience as an edu- retired, Peverini García became the speaker/director of
cator and youth counselor gave him a firm foundation La Voz, a responsibility he held until 1997.
as speaker/director. Throughout his ministry, Peverini Peverini García traveled extensively throughout the
García has made a significant contribution to the spir- United States, most of the Spanish-speaking countries of
itual life of thousands, not only as speaker/director on Central and South America, as well as Canada, Australia,
the La Voz de la Esperanza ministry where he led for 27 and several countries in Europe. He led multiple evan-
years, but also as a speaker in international evangelism gelistic crusades, preached in many Adventist churches,
series, and as the author of numerous books and articles. and continually encouraged church members to share
The current La Voz de la Esperanza speaker/director, their love of Christ with others through the La Voz
Omar Grieve, and associate speaker/director Nessy Pittau program and its Bible study courses. He translated many
Grieve, added, “Thousands of precious souls were moved hymns into Spanish, working closely with the quartet
by the messages imparted by Dr. Milton Peverini. He was Los Heraldos del Rey, authored multiple pamphlets and
a gifted speaker and evangelist who will have many stars Bible courses, wrote the book Del Abismo a la Gloria, and
in his crown. His words of faith remain engraved in our authored a biography on the life of Braulio Pérez Marcio.
memory: ‘We will find ourselves in a completely new During 1994-2004 he served as associate speaker
world that none of us can imagine. . . . We want Jesus to for Escrito Está (It is Written for the Spanish-speaking
come soon, and then the end will come, the end of pain, world), as well as speaker emeritus for La Voz during
the end of death; then the family of God will be reunited, 1998-2007. From 2009 to 2016 Peverini García coordi-
and they will live with the Lord forever and ever.’ ” nated the production of quarterly audio programs for
“His iconic voice was heard around the world and in- blind and visually impaired Spanish-speaking audienc-
spired millions to draw closer to Jesus. An irreplaceable es, a ministry of Christian Record Services.
giant of our faith now awaits our Lord’s soon return,” As the years went by and his health started to fail,
said Minner Labrador, recently voted vice president for his work for the church became limited to teaching the
multilingual ministries for the North American Divi- Sabbath School lesson in his local church.
sion, in a press release. Along with his wife, Eunice, he is survived by three
adult children: Ricardo, Graciela, and Susana; six grand-
Early Years children; and one great-grandson. A memorial service
Milton Peverini García and his identical twin brother, was held on July 10, 2021, through the Loma Linda
Tulio, were born to a young pastor named Hector Peverini University church in California.
and his wife, Sotera, on November 13, 1932, in Paysandú, — North American Division Office of Communication; the
Uruguay. From a young age they were taught to serve the Peverini family contributed to this report.
12 ADVENTIST w w w. n a d a d v e n t i s t . o r gPERSPECTIVE
BY DAN WEBER
I have worked for the General Confer-
ence and the North American Division
for 19 years, and my life has been bless-
ed beyond belief. I have seen the Sev-
enth-day Adventist Church all over the
The
world, and my heart has been touched
by the miracles I have observed. I’ve
also been challenged, but in the end my
Mentor faith in God has grown. My time with
the GC and NAD has been an incredible
part of my career. But now the time has
come for change. It is now time for me to
H
become a mentor.
ave you ever felt like you needed some advice? Maybe This fall I will join Dave and the other
someone to bounce an idea off, or just someone to talk faculty members at Andrews University
to—sort of like a life GPS that helps keep you on the right in Berrien Springs, Michigan, as a pro-
path? Sometimes a little guidance goes a long way. fessor with the intent of training young
I graduated from Andrews University 30 years ago and started minds and helping them find their path
a career as a professional photographer. I had my ups and downs, as empowered members of the Adventist
but there was always someone I could count on: Dave Sherwin, Church. It is now time for me to give back
my former professor. He was always a phone call away and would some of the blessings I have received and
listen as I shared stories about my professional adventures as a help mentor the next generations.
small business operator. One time he even lent me some equip- My prayer for all our members in
ment so I could be properly equipped to take on an assignment. I North America is that we take a mo-
knew I could count on Dave, even after I had finished school. He ment and reflect on the ways God has
was a mentor and friend well beyond his time as my professor. blessed our lives. Then search our
I wouldn’t be who I am today without his guidance and friend- hearts and see if God
ship. And I know that I wasn’t the only former student blessed by has an opportunity
Dave’s mentoring attitude. for us to serve others God sometimes
This year the North American Division launched a new strate- and share our wisdom, puts ideas in our
gic focus called Together in Mission, and one of the three main knowledge, and experi- heads and hearts so
emphases is mentorship. This calls for churches, schools, and ence in growing
other Adventist entities in the North American territory to de-
they sit there and
His church.
velop mentoring opportunities to promote new leaders and help We are all truly grow. Then at some
members find ways to grow and get involved in the mission life blessed, in big and small point this thought
of the church. When I first heard this being discussed by church ways, and there can be matures, and God
leaders, my thoughts went back to Dave and his role in my early nothing better than
uses it to push us
professional career. I wondered how many other Daves there were helping people find the
in the church who could play important roles in guiding others. I same blessings God has down the path.
then questioned what I had done to be a mentor for others. provided for us. It is
God sometimes puts ideas in our heads and hearts so they sit time to give back. It is
there and grow. Then at some point this thought matures, and God time to mentor.
uses it to push us down the path He has put before us.
Dan Weber has served at the North
Now Is the Time American Division since 2012, becom-
Recently I received a phone call from Dave. This time he was ing communication director in January
seeking my advice, or at least I thought he was. But it was really 2014. This fall he will begin to serve as
God pushing me out of my comfort zone. a professor at Andrews University.
09 / 21 ADVENTIST 1314 ADVENTIST w w w. n a d a d v e n t i s t . o r g
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