Reality show contestant refuses to compete on Sabbath

Remember those stories from way back in time about people who went through hard times but still chose to keep the Sabbath, and lived happily ever after? Does that even happen anymore?

Oh, yes it does.

A few days ago, a reality TV show contestant told the show’s host (and the world) that she couldn’t participate in the Saturday-scheduled challenges because she is a Seventh-day Adventist.

The host told the contestant that things would get complicated if she didn't participate in those challenges.

With tears in her eyes, and as cameras rolled, the young Adventist woman decided to drop out of the show.

And boom! She became an overnight celebrity ….but we're getting ahead of ourselves. Here's how it all began:

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Adventist teens share God during TV talent show

Above: Adventist teens competing on TV talent show

A group of Adventist teens in Chile recently competed on a TV talent show called "Talento Chileno." This is literally the Chilean version of "America's Got Talent."

But here's the cool part: They didn't just compete on the show. No, they straight up witnessed for God!

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Memphis Junior Academy principal killed in classroom

Suzette York, principal (left). Eduardo Marmolejo, student (right).

A school principal was stabbed to death Aug. 10 at a Seventh-day Adventist school in Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis police say Suzette York, 49, was found dead inside a classroom that morning at Memphis Junior Academy just three days into the new school year.

Eduardo Marmolejo, 16, has been arrested and is being charged with first-degree murder. He was the school’s first and only 11th grade student.

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NAD creates new annual Bible trivia tournament for Pathfinders

The North American Division recently created a new system for Pathfinder Bible trivia tournaments. It's called The Pathfinder Bible Experience.

Currently, there are different types of Bible trivia programs being used by Pathfinder Clubs across the North American Division. The Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) was created to unify these different models and give "ownership to local leaders," according to a recent NAD Youth Dept. email.

Pathfinders will be studying the books of 1 Samuel and Mark for this year's tournament.

Here's a quick overview of how the program will work:

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Watch the entire Joseph Play from the Oshkosh Camporee online

The Center for Youth Evangelism recently uploaded the entire Joseph play from the 2004 International Pathfinder Camporee. You can watch it right here on A Sabbath Blog.

The videos below are from the 5-night drama, "The Fire Within" performed live at the 2004 "Faith on Fire" International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wis.

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Student killed in kidnapping near Adventist university

[Photo courtesy Inter-America Division / Adventist News Network]Source: Adventist News Network

A Montemorelos University student was shot and killed minutes away from the Northern Mexican school's campus in the evening hours of May 29, officials have confirmed.

The shooting -- possibly a case of mistaken identity, a city official said -- happened just hours after the Seventh-day Adventist institution celebrated its 68th graduation ceremony.

Yoselin L. Perez Ramirez, 20, a second-year communications major, died of gunshot wounds after an attempted kidnapping.

According to authorities, Perez was walking into a store at approximately 8:30 p.m. yesterday when she was approached and threatened. She ran away and later tracked down and shot. She was about to return to her home in Oaxaca for the summer, according to a statement made by Ismael Castillo, president of Montemorelos University.

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What most Adventist young people think about traditional Adventist standards

According to the Center for Youth Evangelism, 783 young adults were asked if they agreed or disagreed with 10 standards "generally thought to be held by Seventh-day Adventists."

Here's what they found:

Standard	Agree	Disagree
1. Not use illegal drugs	93%	5%
2. Not use tobacco	92%	4%
3. Keep the Sabbath holy	88%	4%
4. Not drink alcoholic beverages	77%	15%
5. Dress modestly	75%	12%
6. Sex should occur only within marriage	74%	14%
7. Not wear cosmetic jewelery	33%	49%
8. Not listen to rock music	32%	49%
9. Not dance	22%	60%
10. Not attend movie theaters	16%	71%

Suggestions from the Center for Youth Evangelism:

"If these last four standards really do have a Biblical base, and if they continue to be relevant to Adventism, then the church, and especially youth ministries leaders, will need to find ways through study and dialogue to lead to a commitment on the part of young adults to these standards. Otherwise, they should be removed from the list, for standards that are proclaimed but not practiced only lead to charges of hypocrisy."

This is why Ultimate Workout is so awesome

Ultimate Workout 21 will take place July 12-25, 2011 in Chiapas, Mexico. It's a two-week mission trip for high schoolers only.

Learn more about Ultimate Workout

Another Adventist a cappella group wins 'The Sing-Off,' this time in The Netherlands

Adventists' got a cappella talent.

An Adventist a cappella group won The Netherlands version of "The Sing-Off" in April. This is third time that an Adventist group has won on any of The Sing-Off's international franchises.

Gentle Voices won a Sony Music recording contract and have been invited to perform with Dutch music group, De Toppers.

Gentle Voices is made up of six cousins from Rotterdam, South Holland. The group began in 1999 as a quartet, but eventually expanded to become a sextet. They are Mitchell Bouterse, Anthony Glen, Earl Vlijter, Everton Glen, Lionel Bouterse and Mitchell Thompson.

According to tedNews, "Not only do they want to reach a large group of people with their gift of singing, but their motivation is to reach people with creativity and harmony."

In the United States, Committed won season 2 of "The Sing-Off" in December 2010. Nota won season 1 in December 2009.

Below, you can watch Gentle Voices' performances on "The Sing-Off," including when they were announced the champions:

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Watch the 3rd IAD Pathfinder Camporee online

Thousands of Pathfinders gather at the IAD Camporee. Photo courtesy IAD / Adventist News Network.

Source: Adventist News Network

More than 20,000 people attended the 3rd Inter-American Division (IAD) Pathfinder Camporee April 19-23, 2011 in Mexico City, Mexico.

Pathfinders came from across Central America, the Caribbean and parts of South America to attend the five-day youth event.

This year's camporee theme, "Conquering Giants," was based on the Bible story of David defeating Goliath.

More than 260 people were baptized at camporee and more than 1,000 people were invested.

The next IAD Pathfinder Camporee is scheduled to be held in 2017 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

You can watch videos of the nightly camporee programs below:

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