Ripples of God's Rain: Departmental Reports 2021–2025

Ministerial Association

Ministerial Association serves pastors and their families across North Pacific Union through local conferences, providing resources that support spiritual growth, strengthen their calling and encourage professional development for effective ministry.

The department provides resources and training to support pastors and conference ministerial teams, including coordination with Andrews University to serve twice yearly as a host site for the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry program, offered in English and Spanish. An annual ministerial retreat provides training, encouragement and renewal for ministerial leaders, along with ongoing mentoring and professional development for pastors across the territory.

By the Numbers

• 326 pastors serving 510 congregations
• More than $100,000 secured for Walla Walla University summer ministerial internships
• Ongoing mentoring and professional development for pastors across the territory

Mission Priorities

Ministerial Association's mission is to strengthen mentoring and discipleship for pastors, expanding professional development opportunities through new technologies and encouraging young people to consider pastoral ministry. We remain committed to prayerfully supporting both current and emerging generations of pastoral leaders.

Multicultural Ministries

Multicultural ministries seeks to reach every ethnic group in NPUC, sharing the gospel in each person’s language and cultural context while supporting diverse congregations as they grow in discipleship and mission.

NPUC includes congregations representing many ethnic and language communities, including Indonesian, Filipino, Kenyan, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan and Ukrainian communities, among others across the Northwest. Multilingual congregations continue to grow across the territory, creating new opportunities for outreach and discipleship.

Within this ministry, Nemaia Faletogo, Washington Conference evangelist, was appointed in 2025 to additionally serve as NPUC Asia-Pacific ministries coordinator to support the growing number of Asia-Pacific members in the territory. The department continues to provide resources and guidance for multicultural congregations and leaders, helping strengthen ministry among diverse language groups across NPUC.

Mission Priorities

We pray that the Lord of the harvest will send workers from every nation, people and language to share the everlasting gospel throughout our territory. In response to this calling, we are working to develop multilingual councils for ethnic ministries, support the growth of new multicultural congregations and strengthen outreach within diverse communities. 

Church Planting, Revitalization and Lay Training

The church planting, revitalization and lay training department is actively advancing the Adventist mission in the Pacific Northwest, responding to the Holy Spirit’s rain and seeing lives transformed. The department's role is to mobilize every converted man, woman, youth and child to take the Adventist message to the Northwest and the world in this generation (Rev. 14:6–12).

Working with the six conferences and WWU, the department trains, equips, activates and mobilizes teams for mission in their homes, schools, workplaces, churches and new communities.

Jesus said that when the everlasting gospel is preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, then the end will come (Matt. 24:14). We look forward to the day when pain, war, disease, famine and suffering will end and Jesus will return to take His people home (Rev. 22:11–12, 20). 

Ministry Highlights

Across NPUC, it’s beginning to rain, as God’s blessings and breakthroughs become increasingly evident.

• Each year, more individuals are embracing the Adventist message through baptism and profession of faith, with 2,268 joining in 2025. Over the past five years, 9,505 people have united with the Adventist movement in the Northwest.
• At the end of 2025, there were 546 congregations: 40 mission groups, 54 companies and 452 churches.
• As populations shift from rural to metro areas, the department is focusing on establishing missional small groups in every community, particularly in major metro areas. Some of these groups will develop into church plants.

By the Numbers

• Nearly 16 million people live within the NPUC territory, with about half living in our four largest metro areas — Seattle/Tacoma, Portland/Vancouver, Boise/Treasure Valley and Spokane/Coeur d’Alene. Every one of them needs an invitation to accept Jesus as Lord, to embrace the truths of scripture and to become part of a vibrant Adventist fellowship.
• There is approximately one Adventist for every 153 people, one congregation for every 30,000 people, one minister for every 47,000 people and one Adventist school for every 131,000 people in the Pacific Northwest.

Mission Priorities

We emphasize prayer for volunteer workers (Luke 10), for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11), for unity (John 17) and for boldness (Acts 4). We seek to make disciples who go, disciple, baptize and teach (Matt. 28:18–20), focusing on activating missional small groups and multiplying churches across the territory. In 2027 we plan to activate 2,700 missional small groups, each one leading someone to Jesus and into His final movement. We also plan to launch a new ACTS Church Planting cohort that will develop 27 new mission churches. This work is carried out in cooperation with key initiatives, such as Pentecost and Beyond, OneVoice27 and 50,000 Missional Small Groups.

Youth and Young Adult

Youth and young adult ministries provides ministry support and training for the full range of discipleship, leadership and outreach activities serving children, youth and young adults across NPUC.

The department's mission is to help young people develop a personal, saving relationship with Jesus and grow as His disciples, prepared to share the Christ-centered Adventist message of hope, wholeness and the soon return of Jesus.

This work includes children's ministries, Adventurer and Pathfinder Clubs, youth and young adult ministries, summer camps and conference centers, Sabbath School, Master Guide and teen leadership training, public campus ministries, Adventist Christian Fellowship, National Servicemen’s Organization, Growing Together cohorts and DiscipleTrek.

Ministry Highlights

• Two Alive in Jesus children’s ministries training events
• Children’s ministries leader certification training
• 2022 NPUC Pathfinder Camporee in Kalispell, Montana, with 1,656 attendees
• Growing Together cohorts supporting church revitalization
• Annual NPUC Leadership and Discipleship Summit
• Annual collegiate DiscipleTrek spiritual growth and leadership program
• Annual Young Adult Outreach Summit and Spark Tank
• Host site for NAD Adventist Christian Fellowship Institute in 2025 and NPUC ACFi in 2024

By the Numbers

• Youth campers: 16,375
• Family campers: 7,001
• Young adult and volunteer camp staff: 3,069
• Decisions for Christ at camp: 6,123
• Baptisms at camp: 314
• NPUC attendees at 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee: 3,925
• Churches participating in Growing Together cohorts: 18
• Young adult Spark Tank ministry teams: 29
• Young adults in DiscipleTrek leadership training: 76

Mission Priorities

Current mission priorities include supporting conference leaders in providing Alive in Jesus training and encouraging wider use of the curriculum in local churches; strengthening discipleship opportunities for senior youth and young adults; providing resources for strong youth and young adult Sabbath Schools; establishing additional Adventist Christian Fellowships on secular campuses; continuing to emphasize the Growing Together church revitalization; actively supporting camp accreditations; and equipping young adults for active involvement in church life, church planting and mission.

Communication

The Gleaner magazine and NPUC communication team serve four core purposes: to inform, instruct, inspire and invite. 

Through this framework, the Gleaner builds trust, offers pastoral care, fosters reader engagement and invites an expanding base of contributors and voices. Within seasons of change, the team has remained consistent in voice and service, strengthening connection and sustaining engagement across the Northwest.

Ministry Highlights

• Distributed the Gleaner to approximately 38,000 households six times each year
• Curated a weekly Northwest Adventists email newsletter for nearly 10,000 subscribers
• Made nwadventists.com available in 12 languages, with more available upon request
• Connected with readers at Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana camp meetings through exhibit booths and training sessions
• Received Society of Adventist Communicators awards recognizing excellence in writing and design
• Co-sponsored Creators Lab with Oregon and Washington Conference communication teams, equipping digital creators to share their faith through podcasts, video, writing and social media
• Sponsored WWU communication and media students to attend SAC for networking and professional development
• Launched the Adventist Community app in partnership with IT, supporting conferences, churches and schools

Mission Priorities

Priorities include strengthening connections with readers, expanding digital evangelism and creating more opportunities for creative contribution. This includes growing capacity for media ministries and digital storytelling in NPUC's revitalized studio, alongside continued partnership with conference communication teams, whose frontline storytelling plays a vital role in sharing how God is working. We continue to nurture the relational connections that stories naturally build.

Information Technology

Information technology plays a vital role in supporting the mission and daily operations of NPUC, local conferences and youth camps. By enabling communication and collaboration, providing secure access to systems and responding quickly to technical needs, the team serves as an essential partner in both ministry and administration.

In recent years, efforts have focused on strengthening core infrastructure, equipping pastors, teachers and staff with reliable tools and ensuring technology effectively supports ministry, education and administration.

Ministry Highlights

• Provided education and support for tools like Adobe, Microsoft Copilot and Office that help employees write, plan and collaborate more effectively
• Supported staff and leadership across multiple conferences, deployed new systems and updated network links, helping ensure technology issues did not unduly slow ministry
• Increased awareness around email safety and online threats, while responding quickly when issues arose to protect information, people and organizations

By the Numbers

• In 2025 alone, NPUC, Oregon Conference and Washington Conference held 2,463 Zoom meetings with 13,224 participants, totaling 649,954 minutes.
• Pastors and staff collectively receive more than 1 million email messages each year — about 90,000 per month, with the majority coming from external sources.

Mission Priorities 

Our mission priorities include helping staff use new tools confidently, creatively and ethically to support ministry and communication, while building a culture of attentiveness and shared responsibility around digital safety. We seek to reduce manual tasks and complexity so staff can devote more time to ministry and mission. We also seek to develop purposeful uses of AI that increase productivity and improve insights.

Native Ministries

Native ministries brings the gospel of hope, wholeness and pastoral care to Native American communities across NPUC in collaboration with local conferences and North American Division Native Ministries Council. This work spans 28 Native churches, groups and ministry sites in the Northwest.

Building trust in Native communities requires a long-term, relational presence. Native ministries collaborates with conferences to train pastors and lay leaders, provide cross-cultural training and support outreach through culturally informed resources.

Native ministries collaborates with conferences to train pastors and lay leaders, provide cross-cultural training and support outreach through culturally informed resources. Notably, the first Adventist Frontier Missions missionary couple assigned to North America is serving on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeast Montana, building relationships alongside local volunteers.

By the Numbers

• Present in 13 of 49 federally recognized Northwest reservations and 15 of 220 Native villages in Alaska
• Celebrated 23 Native baptisms in 2025
• Supported eight Native camp meetings across the Northwest
• Reaching more than 300 subscribers through a quarterly email newsletter
• Praying for 12 Adventist radio stations serving Native populations in Alaska

Ministry Highlights

• Developed Native New Trails, a 13-part video series in partnership with SafeTV to prepare individuals for baptism
• Held an annual Native summer camp in Alaska
• Opened a new Living Hope Center on Fort Peck Reservation in Montana
• Hosted an annual leadership training weekend in Alaska, equipping members in pastoral care, addiction recovery and church leadership

Mission Priorities

As this work continues, priorities include completing the Native New Trails video series, developing additional Bible study resources, expanding online outreach and sharing Native ministries through exhibits at conference camp meetings across the Northwest.

Women's Ministries

Women’s ministries invites every woman to move beyond the pew and into purposeful ministry. There is a place for every woman to serve, and this is the time to answer God’s call.

As the Holy Spirit’s rain falls across the Northwest, women’s ministries continues to help women discover their calling, grow in faith and step into service. Women are leading Bible studies, encouraging one another, serving their churches and communities, and helping others experience the love of Jesus.

Between 2021 and 2025, women’s ministries leaders provided leadership training, retreats, advisory meetings and regular Zoom gatherings that connected women across the territory. These opportunities strengthened local ministry, equipped new leaders and encouraged women of all ages to serve in their churches and communities.

Women’s ministries continues to reflect the grassroots spirit that has shaped the department since the 1980s. Today, five conferences are served by volunteer leaders and one conference by a part-time director. I value the opportunity to be a liaison and support these amazing, tireless servant-leaders, each as unique as the territory they serve and the way they serve.

Ministry Highlights

• A free dental clinic in Washington opened the door for one woman to study the Bible and attend a spiritual retreat. 
• Because of financial and spiritual support, Deaf women from the Northwest have their own retreat in Oregon. 
• A Montana retreat invitee heard the gospel presented for the very first time and accepted Jesus as her Savior. 
• What started as a 40-day prayer group on Zoom is still growing and going strong in Alaska. 
• Because of the witness of others, a woman was baptized at the 2025 Idaho retreat.

Mission Priorities

As we move forward in mission, women's ministries continues to seek creative new ways of outreach, mentoring young women and supporting those experiencing loss. We aim to increase the use of technology to connect women, especially across the rural areas of the Northwest. We strive to expand the emphasis on prayer before plans and programs, as well as provide training to emphasize the value of connections formed via church and neighborhood small groups.

Legal Counsel, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty

Northwest Religious Liberty Association works in the areas of legislative, civic, judicial, academic, interfaith and corporate arenas on behalf of the church and all people and institutions of faith.

Concurrently, the general counsel office advises and supports NPUC and its six conferences in complying with federal, state and local laws, as well as denominational policies. This work includes private education, contracts, disability accommodations, employment matters and premises liability.

Ministry Highlights

• Mediation cases: Sabbath accommodation in employment, academic and correctional settings, labor union exemption, U.S. citizenship and school athletics
• Government relations: federal, state, county and municipal levels, with legislative advocacy in our five state capitals
• Educational advocacy: preaching assignments and presentations to churches, camp meetings, civic groups, academic symposiums and radio/podcast appearances
• Liberty campaign: subscription processing, mailing, donor letters and fundraising on behalf of Liberty magazine
• Human resources support: support for conferences in complicated employment rules and workplace regulations
• Follow-up from the pandemic: post-pandemic guidance and support to local conferences and organizations on lifting COVID-19 restrictions and transitioning back to normal operations for churches and schools

By the Numbers

• In the last five years, NRLA has mediated and/or advocated on behalf of 196 individuals in the corporate workplace and other public venues.

Mission Priorities

Through public affairs and religious liberty initiatives, we will continue to advance the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom for people of all faiths, particularly through government relations and workplace mediation services. The general counsel office will also monitor emerging legal issues, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII religious exemptions and the increasing liability risks facing churches and schools.

Association and Trust

One responsibility of the Association is to serve as a depository for funds entrusted by members, churches and institutions across NPUC. These deposited funds are loaned to church-related entities to help purchase, build, expand, repair or remodel ministry facilities.

Trust services also provide coordination and support for trust departments across NPUC. In recent years, policies and procedures have been updated to create greater consistency throughout the territory and to align with practices used by other ministries in NAD. The team continues to assist in the development of charitable trusts and gift annuities, and we are thankful for the opportunity to support our conferences and members through these services.

By the Numbers

• 81% of loan payments are made via ACH direct deposit. 
• All but 17 depositors receive their quarterly interest check via direct deposit.  Many statements, for loan and depositor, are sent out electronically.
• 86 managed loans are valued at approximately $24 million.
• 349 managed depository accounts are valued at approximately $29 million.
• 62 Revolving Fund loans, valued at $25 million, have been provided to ministry entities in the past five years. 

Mission Priorities

As NPUC entities continue to seek loans to purchase, build, expand, repair or remodel their facilities, maintaining adequate funds in the Revolving Fund remains essential. The Revolving Fund is open and actively seeking new deposits to support this ongoing ministry. With many longtime depositors now in later stages of life, we are placing increased emphasis on sharing these investment opportunities with younger members, while also offering competitive interest rates that encourage continued participation in this ministry.

Adventist Community Services

While Adventist Community Services remains respected and positioned for growth, renewed focus on leadership development, storytelling and ministry support will be essential over the next five years. In this season, we are reminded of the promise of the latter rain — a spiritual outpouring that empowers mission and multiplies impact. There are signs that this outpouring is already at work within ACS, preparing hearts, opening doors and sustaining ministry in ways both visible and unseen.

Ministry Highlights

Current conditions across NPUC reflect a balanced but uneven landscape. Oregon Conference is operating from positions of relative strength, demonstrating consistent engagement and community presence. Alaska Conference, Idaho Conference, Upper Columbia Conference and Washington Conference maintain stable ministries but would benefit from intentional encouragement and resourcing to reach their full potential. Montana Conference presents a unique challenge and opportunity for renewed vision and direction as leadership transitions.

If ACS is to remain strong, its stories must be told. One compelling example comes from Spokane Valley. Patty Morse, former ACS leader, attended a community outreach meeting where she had once served. She was warmly welcomed. At the meeting’s close, a man approached her and shared that he had been searching for her for six months at the request of his director, who urged him to attend that very meeting to make the connection.

Their organization, spanning nine states, is now considering collaboration with the ACS Spokane Better Living Center dental clinic. This encounter not only affirms ACS’s enduring reputation, but also demonstrates how past faithfulness continues to open doors for future ministry. Such moments reflect the quiet but powerful work of the latter rain.

Mission Priorities

Looking ahead, ACS in NPUC is well-positioned for growth if key priorities are addressed. These include strengthening leadership pipelines, increasing visibility through storytelling, expanding partnerships and reinforcing support at the local ministry level.

ACS has much to offer a hurting world. The evidence of God’s leading — seen in providential connections, sustained influence and growing opportunities — suggests that the latter rain is not only a future promise, but also a present reality. As we move forward, it is my prayer that ACS across the Pacific Northwest will continue to be strengthened, encouraged and empowered to serve with compassion, excellence and unwavering purpose.

Prison Ministries

As the rain falls across NPUC, we are reminded that God’s Spirit is being poured out in quiet but unmistakable ways. Over the past five years, prison ministries has witnessed the early signs of this outpouring, bringing hope and transformation to those behind bars across our conferences.

Ministry Highlights

The ministry has become deeply centered on intentional, relational evangelism within correctional facilities. Local churches across all six conferences have embraced the call to engage these unique communities, meeting residents in practical ways while creating space for spiritual connection. Whether through facility Bible studies, correspondence courses or reentry support, members are actively sharing the gospel in deeply meaningful ways.

A particularly encouraging development has been the growth of dedicated groups of believers within institutions, reflecting a genuine hunger for truth and community. This internal growth is beautifully paired with hands-on outreach; initiatives such as distributing literature and offering consistent pastoral care are meeting immediate spiritual needs behind bars. 

Furthermore, programs like Hope House of Tacoma have opened doors for deeper relationships that extend beyond the walls. Together, these comprehensive efforts are not only supporting incarcerated individuals during their sentence, but also leading them toward lasting personal transformation as they reenter society.

While we face challenges — including institutional restrictions, limited resources and volunteer fatigue — we have learned that effective ministry depends on collaboration, prayer and equipping local leaders who carry a heart for the forgotten.

Mission Priorities

Our future focus is clear: to expand our reach within the institutions, uplift Christ and robustly develop reentry networks that support individuals transitioning back into society. Together, we look ahead with faith, anticipating a greater outpouring that will continue to transform lives for God’s kingdom.

Urban Ministries

Urban ministries has become increasingly centered on intentional, relational evangelism. Local churches across NPUC have embraced the call to engage their communities more deeply, meeting people in practical ways while creating space for spiritual connection. Through small group Bible studies, community service and personal outreach, members are actively sharing the gospel in relevant and meaningful ways.

Mission Highlights

An encouraging development has been the unexpected growth among immigrant communities, especially in Boise, Idaho. A simple, relationship-based outreach has developed into thriving groups of believers. This has inspired churches across multiple conferences to reimagine evangelism in their own urban contexts, recognizing the vital role of cultural understanding, hospitality and member involvement.

Churches across NPUC have reported increased engagement in community-centered ministries. Initiatives such as food distribution, health outreach and support services have opened doors for deeper relationships and ongoing Bible studies. These efforts are meeting immediate needs and leading individuals toward lasting spiritual transformation.

Challenges include limited resources, volunteer fatigue and the growing complexity of urban populations. Yet, through these experiences, we've learned that effective urban ministry depends on collaboration, prayerful dependence on God and equipping local leaders who understand their communities.

Mission Priorities

Looking forward, urban ministries remains committed to supporting each conference through training, resource development and strengthened partnerships. Our shared focus is to uplift Christ and expand His work in the cities through compassionate, Spirit-led evangelism. We look ahead with faith, anticipating a greater outpouring that will further unite and transform our communities for God’s kingdom.