BY JONATHAN GALLAGHER

resenting his report for the last time, outgoing North American Division (NAD) secretary Harold Baptiste told members of the NAD Executive committee that Adventist membership in North America has risen an average of two percent for the past five years. Church membership for the year ending December 31, 2001 went from 933,935 to 955,076, with the Southern Union seeing the largest percentage increase at 3.4 percent and the Lake Union the smallest at 1.7 percent.

The current NAD membership, as of June 30, 2002, is 963,042 and, at current growth rates, will pass the one million mark in 2004. Members in the division represent about eight percent of the world membership of the church.

"When we view the state of the world, we have much for which to be thankful," Baptiste concluded. "We can turn to the Lord for answers to this world's perplexing problems."

Jose Rojas, who directs the division's volunteer program (under the auspices of the NAD secretariat), presented an interim report that revealed a total of 32,325 volunteers for the year to date. "We see a dramatic increase over previous years," commented Rojas. "The volunteer program continues to grow, and I commend the conferences for their emphasis on volunteerism and the coordination of volunteers who go into the community to do service." He also pointed to the development of tutoring sites for underprivileged children, a program now operating in 32 cities with 101 sites and involving 1,071 volunteers.

Significant Challenges
Presenting his financial report entitled "Running the Course," NAD treasurer Juan Prestol spoke of "some significant challenges we are facing." He reviewed the situation from the previous year-end meeting in October 2001, when after 9/11 "we faced uncertainty and need to proceed with caution."

"We have seen some leveling of tithe income nationwide," Prestol continued. Tithe had been increasing significantly since 1995, and 2000 saw a 7.7 percent increase. However in 2001 the increase fell to 4.3 percent. For the year 2001, tithe was just over $685 million, while mission offerings fell by one percent to $22,677,121.

Prestoal explained that the "tithe dollar" in the division is apportioned as follows:

9 cents for the employer retirement contribution

For the future, Prestol pointed to the steep decline in investments, the rising costs of insurance and healthcare, the changes necessary in remuneration and cost of living payments, and the need to increase retirement contributions. His conclusion was to follow the words of inspiration--to do your best, to trust in God, and to be open to His direction.

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By Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations liaison director for the General Conference.