From the President’s Pen

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ across our 190 churches and companies and 45 mission groups in North and South Carolina,

I wish each of you God’s richest blessings and a very Happy New Year. May His grace and peace enfold you and your families as we step into 2026, sustained by His faithfulness and by the promises of His Word. We thank the Lord for His guiding hand throughout the past year — in every blessing, every challenge, and every lesson that has drawn us closer to Him.

As we look ahead, we recognize that we are living in a time marked by uncertainty, turmoil, and growing unrest in our nation and world. Scripture reminds God’s people that such conditions should not surprise us. Jesus Himself counseled, “See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass” (Matthew 24:6). Rather than fear, these moments call us to deeper faithfulness and clearer spiritual discernment.

In times like these, it is especially important to remain watchful against anything that would compromise our allegiance to Christ. Our highest loyalty belongs to the kingdom of God. While we are called to be responsible citizens and a positive influence in society, we must never allow political ideologies of any kind to overshadow the gospel or redefine our mission. Christ declared, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), and we must guard that distinction with humility and conviction.

Prophecy continues to unfold before our eyes, reminding us that history is not spiraling out of control, but moving steadily toward God’s appointed climax. These are not days for spiritual complacency. They are days for revival, reformation, and renewed commitment to the work God has entrusted to us as His remnant church.

Therefore, I urge every Seventh-day Adventist congregation and every member across the Carolinas to:

• Remain faithful to Scripture and anchored in truth.

• Embrace with gratitude the precious gift of prophecy by faithfully reading God’s messages through His servant-messenger, Ellen G. White.

• Cultivate a vibrant prayer life and daily dependence on the Holy Spirit.

• Strengthen the bonds of Christian fellowship, encouraging one another each day.

• Keep the mission before you, sharing the everlasting gospel in the context of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 with a world searching for hope beyond today.

Above all, let us keep our eyes fixed on that glorious day when the eastern sky will part and we will see our Savior face to face. What wonderful news it would be if this were the year. The promise of His return is not merely a doctrine we proclaim; it is the hope that steadies our hearts and shapes how we live in these days of 2026.

As we move through this new year, may our churches be known not for anxiety, but for confidence in God; not for division, but for Christ-centered unity; not for fear of the future, but for joyful anticipation of His soon return.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

With Pentecost 2025 behind us, God is calling each of us to press forward into this new chapter by embracing our marching motto, Beyond Pentecost — believing, praying, and expecting. May the Lord bless you, your loved ones, your church families, and your ministries as we move forward together in faith, watchfulness, and hope — hope in the coming of the Lord.

Your servant leader,

Leslie Louis

Carolina Conference President