News Briefs For July 2, 2021

News reports from Australia, Loma Linda University Health, La Voz de la Esperanza, Adventist HealthCare, NAD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty and Tanzania:

On June 23, Kempsey Adventist School in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia ran a Look Beyond Your Bin environmental workshop for students in Year 1 (ages 6-7)

“Students were… involved in waste sorting activities involving red, yellow and green bins to organise general waste, recyclables and organics waste while the educator explained how vital this is to environmental sustainability,” said a report from Mirage News.

Kempsey Shire Council Waste Resource Officer Louise Hoade, came to the event and was reportedly happy to see the enthusiasm of the students at the Adventist school.

“Sorting waste into the right bin is vital to sustaining the environment and for the students to understand the impacts on landfill and the environment if this is not done correctly was really great to see,” said Hoade, according to Mirage News.

From a LLUH news story: The Loma Linda University Health Education Consortium Public Health and General Preventive Medicine Program was awarded over $2.9 million dollars for a five-year training grant. The Primary Care Training and Enhancement-Community Prevention and Maternal Health grant will allow the program to create a one-year preventive medicine training option for residents who have completed internal or family medicine residencies. The focus of this program will be population maternal health.

“This grant will have a significant impact on the women of the Inland Empire through collaboration between multiple local organizations,” said Karen Studer, MD, the principal investigator and program director. “We will be working with Loma Linda University Health departments of obstetrics and gynecology, and infectious disease; local grassroots organizations; SAC Health System; VA Loma Linda Healthcare System; and the San Bernardino County Health Department to create an interdisciplinary and interprofessional Maternal Mortality Review Committee for the Inland Empire.”

Funding comes from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and will be distributed in annual installments of $595,049 per year over five years, allowing the program to create a one-year preventive medicine training option for residents who meet criteria.

From an NAD News story: Milton Peverini García, former speaker/director for La Voz de la Esperanza, passed to his rest in Loma Linda, California, United States, in the early morning on June 27, 2021, after a long illness. He was 88.

In January 1971, Peverini García joined the ministry of La Voz de la Esperanza as associate speaker/director, becoming the speaker/director in 1974, after Braulio Pérez Marcio retired. Devoted to the cause of Jesus Christ since his youth, his theology studies, his training as a lawyer, and experience as an educator and youth counselor gave him a firm foundation as speaker/director. Throughout his ministry, Peverini García has made a significant contribution to the spiritual life of thousands, not only as speaker/director on the La Voz de la Esperanza ministry where he led for 27 years, but also as a speaker in international evangelism series, and as the author of numerous books and articles.

From an Adventist HealthCare press release: Adventist HealthCare earned a spot on The Washington Post’s list of Top Workplaces 2021 in the Washington, D.C., area. Adventist HealthCare was the only provider of medical services on the list of 200 employers from public and private industries, nonprofits and government agencies. Adventist HealthCare was one of only 12 organizations that The Post honored in the largest company category.

Rankings are based on a survey of employees conducted by The Post through its research partner, Energage LLC. The anonymous survey asked employees to rate their companies in areas related to workplace culture, including connection, leadership, engagement, pay and benefits. The Post invited 3,511 employers in the region to participate.

From an NAD News announcement: Social media and free speech, COVID-19 vaccination requirements and exemptions, and LGBTQ rights at Christian colleges and universities will be focal topics at the July 3 virtual panel discussion hosted by NAD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty. Watch live from 5-6:30 p.m. EDT. To participate in the discussion, REGISTER in advance, or watch the live stream on the Liberty Magazine YouTube channel and Facebook page. REGISTER NOW

From Adventist Today East Africa Correspondent, Tyson Jacob:

Pastor Mishael Chigula Mutaki, a legendary figure in the faculty of theology at the University of Arusha (UoA) in Tanzania passed to his rest on June 7, 2021. He was 72 years old. Mutaki was a specialist in Practical Theology in theory and practice, serving as Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the institution from 2001 to 2005. Before that he served as a University Chaplain. Mutaki was a committee member in drafting the University of Arusha Charter which was in progress for four years and was signed by former President of Tanzania, Hon. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. The same charter was later approved by Adventist Accreditation Association (AAA).