The Adventist Learning Community

NAD bkgredThe Adventist Learning community (ALC) is a new web-based initiative of the North American Division (NAD) with the goal of utilizing online distance education technology for all kinds of ministerial and educational training and resourcing. Because of technology, time and space no longer mean what they used to. The world is smaller; ideas can travel around the world at the push of a button. In a world where most people have access to the Internet, our church is moving toward unleashing the ministerial potential of as many people as possible. With this goal in mind, the ALC aims to provide people the information, training, and resources they need to further their ministry wherever they are.

Our mission is to empower people with the passion and skills necessary to further the kingdom of Christ in the 21st century. Explore our course catalogue and see if there’s a faith-based course you’d like to take. There are courses for certification, professional development, and some just for fun. Our ministerial and educational library puts Adventist resources from around the world at your fingertips. Watch a video, read an article, and share what you find with others.

The ALC is a department of the NAD Office of Education and has been a live website since May 2015. Dr. Adam Fenner, Director, oversees operations and works closely with NAD administration organizing the creation of content and resources relevant to the needs of church leadership. Sharon Aka, Associate Director, works with NADMinisterial, church ministries, and lay leaders, coordinating the construction of continuing education courses for pastors, lay church ministry leaders, and identifying quality resources for members and faith seekers. Dr. Pegi Flynt, Associate Director of Education, works with the NAD Office of Education and Union Education directors developing continuing education courses for Seventh-day Adventist teachers and building innovative curriculum content for teachers to use in the classroom.

In addition to content creation and resource identification, the ALC is also a production company. In his role as media director, James Gigante, organizes the capture of events and oversees the production of videos and courses. Steven Huset, Senior Cinematographer/Video Editor, oversees camera operations on set, and edits videos for courses and documentaries.

Every year the Seventh-day Adventist Church hosts hundreds of conventions and events. The average church member, pastor, or teacher, is able to attend only a fraction of these. The ALC video crew attends many key conventions to video capture seminars and plenary speakers for the purposes of creating courses and
resources providing the entire church organization access                         –Adam Fenner, Director,
to relevant Christian information for free on the ALC.                                    Adventist Learning Community

The ALC is working hard to involve the youth of the church. We employ over two dozen Seventh-day Adventist university students at Andrews University and Southern Adventist University. These highly professional students are making a huge impact on their church and building their professional skills while still in school. They run cameras, edit video, write scripts, catalogue and label resources, and lay out courses. They represent a growing number of committed Seventh-day Adventist millennials shaping the organization in new and innovative ways. Their commitment to Christ and spreading His message is truly an example to all who come in contact with them.

The ALC revolutionizes the way our church delivers information and education. No longer are ministry conferences, conference trainings, Andrews University seminars, and continuing education classes only available to those fortunate to access them. It is now possible for anyone and everyone to access the best theological training and ideas available. This means our God-given command of developing our talents to serve Him in spreading the Great Commission will be enhanced in ways previously impossible. We now have the platform to develop the skills and talents of anyone with an Internet connection and a desire to learn.

By Adam Fenner, PhD, and Sharon Aka, MSN