Southern Tidings

Southern Tidings The Southern Tidings is the official publication of the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

For months the North American Division International Camporee office staff and executive committee have been praying, me...
09/10/2026

For months the North American Division International Camporee office staff and executive committee have been praying, meeting, and exploring options for the NAD International Pathfinder Camporee in 2029. After much consideration, the 2029 Stand Strong North American Division International Pathfinder Camporee is going back home to Oshkosh, Wisconsin!

"While the 2024 Believe the Promise Camporee out west in Gillette, Wyoming, was a phenomenal, unforgettable experience, there is a distinct joy in returning to our roots," shared committee members. "Oshkosh is the place where the international camporee dream truly matured into a worldwide event, and we cannot wait for a brand-new generation of Pathfinders to experience this."

The exact location for the 2029 camporee is the Experimental Aircraft Association
(EAA), which has gone through an expansion since the last International Pathfinder Camporee in 2019. This allows the camporee the opportunity to come back to this awesome venue. "We are excited that the newly developed property will give us the space we need to hold the nighttime program," organizers added.

As the camporee team continues preparations for Pathfinders to experience this world renowned camporee, they invite the global church family to cover this event in prayer. Please lift up the newly appointed camporee executive director Pastor Pedro Perez and the entire camporee team. Pray for wisdom, safety, and vision as they provide an atmosphere where more than 50,000 Pathfinders from around the world can explore the story of Elijah, grow their faith, and find the courage to stand strong for Jesus.

Don’t forget to buy your tickets, and we’ll see you in Oshkosh on August 20-26, 2029!

Caymans, piranhas, tarantulas, sloths, and pink dolphins… Oh, my! These are a few types of wildlife the 53 youth and cha...
09/10/2026

Caymans, piranhas, tarantulas, sloths, and pink dolphins… Oh, my! These are a few types of wildlife the 53 youth and chaperones experienced on the YiELD Brazil Mission Trip, July 6–17, 2026.

YiELD is a youth discipleship ministry consisting of the Collegedale, McDonald Road, Collegedale Community, Ooltewah, Bowman Hill, and Crosswalk churches in Tennessee, and this was the sixth mission trip YiELD has offered.

Once arriving in Brazil, the group was bussed 1 1/2 hours to where they loaded two boats for the eight-hour trip up the Amazon to Rosa De Saron, a small village that was only accessible by boat.

Ten years ago, the village began construction on a school, but quickly ran out of money. Since then, it has sat with walls only waist-high and grass growing in the hallway and classrooms. In the next six days, the walls went up, grass was cleared, the ground leveled, and floors poured. Two boats were unloaded with more than 13,000 bricks, cement, gravel, playground equipment, and more. They also shoveled/loaded/unloaded boats with more than 9,000 pounds of sand. Vacation Bible School was offered to the local children, some of whom were brought in on the “school bus” boat to participate.
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This story is from the September 2026 Southern Tidings. Read the full article on our website.

The Florida Conference Office of Education celebrated a major milestone on Sunday, May 31, 2026, as Integrity Learning A...
09/09/2026

The Florida Conference Office of Education celebrated a major milestone on Sunday, May 31, 2026, as Integrity Learning Academy (ILA) held its inaugural high school graduation ceremony at Florida Conference headquarters. David Mejias, Julia Silva, Ian Villafane, and Luc Villafane made history as the first graduating class of the Conference’s homeschool umbrella program.

Integrity Learning Academy was established to serve the growing homeschooling community by providing legal enrollment, official record-keeping, accreditation services, and educational resources grounded in Adventist values.

“Our homeschool program began as an answer to prayer,” said Rebeca Cruz, homeschool program director. “Florida Conference recognized the need to reach homeschool students and families who longed for their children to be part of an Adventist umbrella school while continuing their education at home. God opened the doors at just the right time.”

For Cruz and the education team, the academy’s first year was a testament to divine guidance.

“What started as a response to that need has become a ministry,” noted Cruz. “We’ve had an incredible first year filled with many blessings, growth, and learning opportunities.”
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This story is from the September 2026 Southern Tidings. Read the full article on our website.

In a new community partnership, Seventh-day Adventist seniors from Fletcher Academy, a self-supporting K-12 school in Fl...
09/07/2026

In a new community partnership, Seventh-day Adventist seniors from Fletcher Academy, a self-supporting K-12 school in Fletcher, N.C., collaborated with local Henderson County organizations to strengthen their public speaking and presentation skills. As part of a semester-long course, Experimental Research and Communication, students learned research terminology, designed and conducted experimental studies, analyzed their findings, and presented results through professional slide presentations. Two seniors, Alex Arany and Mdiel Mercurio, recently presented their research at a meeting of the Hendersonville Toastmasters Club.

The inaugural Experimental Research and Communication course provided students with opportunities to design studies using control and experimental groups, collect and analyze data, and create graphs and tables to interpret statistical significance. Many students expressed a desire to have taken the course earlier so they could continue expanding their projects. Collaborating with community members and presenting findings to a public audience added real-world application to the research experience, and served as a meaningful capstone to their senior year.
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This story is from the September 2026 Southern Tidings. Read the full article on our website.

A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can be frightening and overwhelming, but patients and families touched by Parkinson’s...
09/05/2026

A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can be frightening and overwhelming, but patients and families touched by Parkinson’s disease have several more reasons to be hopeful this year.

When the movement disorder progresses, patients will gradually experience tremors, muscle stiffness and trouble with balance. Although there is no cure, and symptoms become more severe over time, medication and treatments can help alleviate certain symptoms.

“Patients who are newly diagnosed often come to us worried and unsure what their path forward is,” said Alessandra Swarowsky Martin, PT, Ph.D., doctor of physical therapy and associate professor at AdventHealth University.

Martin aims to provide peace of mind and physical relief to Parkinson’s patients through a new program funded with an impactful grant from the Parkinson’s Association of Central Florida.

“I am so grateful to now be able to offer an extended plan of care for Parkinson’s patients who may not be able to afford this type of therapy otherwise,” said Martin.

Since 2012, individuals who are underinsured or uninsured have been able to receive free physical and occupational therapy at AdventHealth University’s Hope Clinic while students receive hands-on clinical experience. Martin’s Central Florida Parkinson’s Access Initiative will take place at Hope Clinic in Apopka, Fla.
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This story is from the September 2026 Southern Tidings. Read the full article on our website.

There is a famous Christmas hymn that says, referring to the occasion of Jesus’s birth in the manger: “The world was wra...
09/05/2026

There is a famous Christmas hymn that says, referring to the occasion of Jesus’s birth in the manger: “The world was wrapped in its quarrels.” The reality is that the world has always been “wrapped in its quarrels.” Life finds us all facing daily challenges that often threaten to rob us of joy, hope, peace, and even health. It is no wonder that, given this reality, the Church is affected and neglects the mission that the Lord Jesus entrusted to us.

And when I say “Church,” I am not referring to the institution, but to the fellowship. We are all absorbed in our personal realities and challenges, busy resolving and facing new hurdles. That is a constant reality. But, when summer arrives, everything becomes more complex: to this reality are added the weather, which invites us to rest from the daily grind, and the end of the school year, which frees children from school loads and rigid schedules. Therefore, proposing a missionary project for the fellowship in the middle of vacation season can be absolute madness. Don’t you think? Nevertheless, God continues to save in the summer!

I love knowing that, for God, all time is favorable for saving. As long as there is a heart that needs His saving grace, it will be available, and the Lord will find a way to pour it out, because nothing is impossible for God. And, when the situation seems most difficult, His power shines even more.

The summer of 2026, aside from experiencing the daily realities mentioned above, was marked by one of the most significant events on the planet: the FIFA World Cup. Every four years, this great tournament gathers the best national teams of the moment and inspires a deep global connection. A clear example was seeing countries without direct participation, such as Bangladesh, turn out in support of Argentina, or other nations cheer for Spain, the team crowned world champion after defeating the defending champion, Argentina, in the final.

Imagine what this World Cup provokes in society, even in North America — a country and region where soccer is gaining more ground every day, driven by the presence of Lionel Messi, considered the best player of recent times, along with other great figures who compete alongside him in North American Major League Soccer. This event generates a massive stir across society. For us, it had the added factor that, on this occasion, it was held in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, where the final phase of the tournament took place.

More than 12 million foreigners were in the stadiums and related venues, such as the “Fan Fests” (this was in North America alone). Millions of people were “wrapped in their quarrels,” trapped in their own conflicts. How could we think that the Church would get involved in an evangelistic program when many of our members in Hispanic churches were immersed in so many things, including this mega sporting event?

But, when God wants to do something, no one can stop Him! In a very special way, certain things were brewing that led us to organize an evangelistic program that defied all logic. Hasn’t Jesus acted like this on many occasions? One day, He ordered jars to be filled with water to make wine at a feast; another day, He told a paralytic to stand up if he wanted to be healed; He led His disciples into a perfect storm and, on another occasion, sent them alone to cross a sea against the wind.

Jesus often did things that defied human logic, so why couldn’t this be one of those times? I am referring to a large-scale evangelistic program uniting all Hispanic churches across two conferences during this summer, to place ourselves in God’s hands and connect more people with the kingdom of grace.
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This story is from the September 2026 Southern Tidings. Read the full article on our website.

Families should never have to choose between putting food on the table and paying for other basic needs, like housing, t...
09/02/2026

Families should never have to choose between putting food on the table and paying for other basic needs, like housing, transportation, or healthcare. Yet as food costs continue to rise, many households across Highlands County face difficult decisions that can impact their health and well-being.

To help support neighbors experiencing food insecurity, AdventHealth is partnering with United Way Central Florida through the United Way End Hunger Initiative to provide access to nutritious food and essential supplies for people living in the Highlands County area.

Recently, AdventHealth team members, United Way representatives, and community leaders came together at South Oak Church in Lake Placid to distribute more than 10,400 pounds of food and household necessities, helping local families meet immediate needs while strengthening the health of the community.

According to United Way of Central Florida, recent data shows Highlands County’s food insecurity rate is more than 13%, including more than 3,000 children, which is higher than the state average. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 19% of people in Highlands County live in poverty, which is higher than the national average.

As part of the critical efforts to help community members, AdventHealth hospitals in Highlands County are fully funding the annual costs for all three United Way of Central Florida End Hunger Sites in the county, ensuring the sites will be able to continue to service the community.

“By coming together as community partners, we can help provide relief, hope, and stability for our neighbors during difficult times,” said Jason Dunkel, president and CEO of AdventHealth Sebring, Lake Placid, and Wauchula. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support families in our community, and connect them with resources that can make a meaningful difference.”
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This story is from the September 2026 Southern Tidings. Read the full article on our website.

Summer isn't over yet! And neither is God's work in the Southern Union territory. This month's cover feature focuses on ...
09/02/2026

Summer isn't over yet! And neither is God's work in the Southern Union territory. This month's cover feature focuses on the summer initiative lead by the Southern Union Hispanic ministries department in partnership with the Gulf States and South Atlantic conferences. Other features include volleyball players taking a stand for Sabbath, Southern Adventist University peer Bible studies gaining momentum, and the Southeastern Conference celebrating 45 years. Read this month's issue to see how God has been working in our Union the last few months.

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it m...
08/31/2026

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit,” John 15:2 KJV.

If there is one thing we must understand, it is that God is not finished with us because we have become successful.

Sometimes we think that once God has blessed us, once we have become useful, once we have begun to grow, that our struggles should cease and our difficulties should disappear.

But Jesus says something that surprises us. He says that the branch that is already bearing fruit will be pruned — not punished, not abandoned, not rejected, but pruned — because God sees not only who you are, but who you can become.

Jesus paints a picture familiar to every farmer and gardener. He says, “I am the vine, you are the branches, and my father is the gardener.”

The gardener walks through the vineyard, not looking for perfection, but looking for potential. He sees what is alive and what is preventing greater growth. Sometimes the very thing that is keeping us from becoming what God intends is something we refuse to let go of.

It is important to note that God prunes productive people. Notice he is not talking about dead branches. He says He prunes the fruitful ones. That means some of the difficulties in your life are not signs that God is angry with you. Some of the disappointments are not evidence that God has forgotten you.

Some closed doors are God’s way of redirecting you. Some separations are God’s way of protecting you. Some delays are God’s way of developing you.

The pruning knife is not in the hands of the enemy. It is in the hands of a loving Father. The same God who planted you is the God who is shaping you. There are seasons when God removes impatience. There are seasons when God removes unhealthy relationships. There are seasons when God removes our dependence upon ourselves so that we learn to depend upon Him. And, while pruning may hurt, it always has a purpose.

A gardener knows that if he leaves every branch untouched, the vine becomes overcrowded. Energy is wasted on unnecessary growth. But, when he carefully cuts away excess branches, the life of the vine becomes concentrated, and more fruit begins to appear. God sometimes cuts away what is unnecessary so He can strengthen what is essential. Sometimes we ask, “Lord, why did this happen?” And God answers, “Because I am preparing you for greater fruit.”

Please understand that fruit is evidence of connection. Fruit is not produced by striving. Fruit is produced by abiding. The branch does not struggle to manufacture grapes. The branch simply stays connected to the vine. Too many believers are exhausted because they are trying to do God’s Work without God’s presence. You cannot produce spiritual fruit disconnected from Christ. Stay connected to Christ.

Finally, God loves us enough not to leave us where we are. And when God gets finished with you, the world will see that every cut had a purpose and every tear produced a harvest. – RCS

More than 4,600 Adventurers, Pathfinders, leaders, and family members gathered at Camp Kulaqua for Red Zone, Florida Con...
08/30/2026

More than 4,600 Adventurers, Pathfinders, leaders, and family members gathered at Camp Kulaqua for Red Zone, Florida Conference’s annual year-end celebration of Adventurer and Pathfinder ministries. The event drew its largest attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic, with Camp Kulaqua’s lodging at full capacity and approximately 2,500 participants camping in tents throughout the weekend.

This year also marked an important season of transition. After 16 years of service in Florida Conference, Pedro Perez has accepted an invitation from the North American Division to serve as International Camporee director. During his leadership, Perez helped strengthen Adventurer and Pathfinder ministries across the Conference. Rolando Morgado recently joined the Florida Conference Pathfinders and Adventurers ministries team as associate director. Morgado comes from pastoral ministry, most recently serving the Lake Worth and Jupiter Spanish churches.

Red Zone provides fellowship, recognition, spiritual growth, and fun for clubs from across the Conference. One of the event’s primary purposes is recognizing clubs that achieve “Club of the Year” status, an honor awarded to clubs that complete required reports, fulfill ministry expectations, and demonstrate excellence throughout the year. Special recognition was also given to Adventure Bible Game and Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) teams for their accomplishments during the year. At division-level PBE, all 17 Florida Conference teams earned first-place honors, with one team achieving a perfect score.

Adventurers enjoyed programming specifically designed for them, including worship experiences, talent presentations, honors activities, and the popular Bug Races. In this longtime Red Zone tradition, children design, decorate, and race small two-wheeled wooden “bug” vehicles.

Pathfinders participated in Pathfinder Skill Events, which tested Bible knowledge and practical skills such as tent pitching, jump-rope techniques, archery, and fire building. One particularly popular event challenged teams to build a fire large enough to burn through a rope suspended 18 inches above the ground, with the fastest team earning top honors.

Additional activities included drill-and-drum competitions, talent presentations, recreational opportunities, go-karts, and Camp Kulaqua’s popular water park. Worship programs reminded Adventurers and Pathfinders that their ministries are about far more than activities and awards. As young people preached, led worship, and participated throughout the programming, they demonstrated the leadership and faith these ministries seek to cultivate.

Despite periods of rain throughout the weekend, participants maintained a positive spirit and continued to enjoy the scheduled activities. Clubs adapted to changing weather conditions and embraced the outdoors, making the most of every opportunity for fellowship and fun.

Red Zone 2026 reflected the strength and vitality of Adventurer and Pathfinder ministry across Florida Conference. Behind every activity, competition, and recognition stood hundreds of dedicated volunteer leaders, parents, and ministry coordinators who invest their time and energy in mentoring young people. Their commitment continues to shape the next generation of disciples and leaders.

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