November 22, 1982 – December 5, 2025 Bangor, Maine – Joshua Manuel Alves, 43, of Bangor, Maine, passed away unexpectedly at home on December 5, 2025. He was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, to Manuel Luiz Alves IV and Elsie Marian Alves. Josh is survived by his beloved wife, Amy (Ouellette) Alves; and their children, Lilly, Haley, […]
October 29, 1952 – October 20, 2025 Arco Paul Sharp Jr., 72, of Big Chimney fell asleep in Christ Monday October 20, 2025. Born in Gassaway, WV to Arco Sr. and Hazel Sharp the family would later move to Big Chimney, where Arco met his wife Beverly Stanley Sharp. In their 54 years together Arco and Beverly […]
G.K. Chesterton wrote, “When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing, they then become capable of believing in anything.” His observation highlights a deeper truth: human beings are inherently spiritual. We possess an awareness of and a longing for the supernatural and the eternal. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, […]
Last week, on December 2 and 3, the International Missions Advisory Committee (IMAC) gathered at the ACGC offices in Charlotte, N.C. IMAC consists of volunteers who guide and strengthen our global ministry efforts. The international missions director selects and recommends each member. The current IMAC members are Travis Hutcheson, Sam Walsh, Jim Jensen and Frank […]
While in school preparing for ministry, I was often annoyed by the idea that I could not take communion by myself, or that I needed someone “approved” to administer it to me. That changed after a brief but pointed rebuke from a roommate who shifted my perspective entirely. He said, “Communion is not for individuals; […]
Have you ever wondered what actually happens to a Christmas in October gift after you give it? Each check and online donation begins a journey that carries joy far beyond your church. Many churches have already collected and sent in their financial gifts. But the fundraiser doesn’t end there. In fact, it’s only the beginning! […]
ILLINOIS – New Hope Advent Christian Church in Aurora, Illinois, joined with the B’Nai Temple congregation this week to assemble 65 food boxes, each packed with all the fixings needed for a full Thanksgiving feast for families of ten. Working together in a spirit of care for the Aurora community, volunteers prepared the boxes to support […]
Last weekend, we held our second annual Young Adult Retreat. We started it last year as a way to connect with this generation of maturing Christians in the region, hoping to identify potential future pastors. We’re thrilled with how God is developing it into a broader discipleship event. Last year, we taught the group what […]
For more than 125 years, Advent Christians in North America have partnered with Japanese pastors and ministry leaders to plant the gospel and grow churches across Japan. In recent decades, however, communication between us and our Japanese churches has diminished, and both sides long for a closer connection. So I was grateful when Rev. Julius […]
Lisa and Mark are an example of how entertainment strains the intimacy and trust in a marriage. Lisa spends hours scrolling through social media every evening, engaging with online content, but rarely talks to Mark. She often compares their relationship to the seemingly perfect marriages she sees online, leading to dissatisfaction. Mark, feeling ignored and […]
“We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”— 2 Corinthians 8:20–21 At ACGC, we are deeply thankful to the Lord for the […]
I’m not a big fan of business language, principles or practices being integrated into the church. That’s not to say that, by God’s common grace, the business world can’t offer helpful insights into how churches operate — especially as formal organizations — or that biblical and business principles never overlap. But overall, we are not […]
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Published quarterly, Witness Magazine is our flagship print publication. Content includes timely editorials, helpful stats, thought provoking features and news from our regions.