Behind the Scenes of the Presidential Inauguration

January, 2025 Update from the President

Dear Friends,

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump, President-elect of the United States, was inaugurated as the 47th President in Washington, D.C. Hartland College, located just 1 hour and 45 minutes away, is strategically positioned to reach the nation’s capital with our mission, so we planned to be there.

Christian de Los Santos, Director of the Outreach Department at Hartland, prayerfully organized a special outreach activity to distribute the book The Great Controversy to people around Capitol Hill on inauguration day. In spite of arctic temperatures and severe windchill, a dedicated group of 31 students and staff traveled to D.C., aiming to spread God’s last message.

Ellen White reminds us of our calling:

“What can I do to proclaim the third angel’s message? Christ came to this world to give this message to His servant to give to the churches. It is to be proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. How are we to give it? The distribution of our literature is one means by which the message is to be proclaimed. Let every believer scatter broadcast tracts and leaflets and books containing the message for this time.” Christian Service, 148.

God’s promises never fail, and we witnessed His hand at work—both in the hearts of those who received the literature and in those who gave it away.

Our Mission

To equip missionaries to transform the world through Christ.

We are training missionaries to touch people’s lives with God’s love through a biblically based educational program that combines academics with practical service and outreach.

We Envision

Hartland alumni serving in every nation, supporting the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to prepare the world for Christ’s soon return.

Our Motto

Educating for Eternity, Serving Today!

To Give Hope
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Here are some of the participants’ experiences:

“People received the books differently. Some people were very open to just taking whatever was handed to them. Some were very vocal about not wanting it. And some stopped because they wanted to ask what it was about. The latter was my favorite because it opened the way for more interaction. But it was fewer people who were willing to do this. There was one person from our group who gave it to a young man who wanted to be a pastor, and he was very interested in finding out what it was about. Others in our group got to talk to a man who wanted to know what our views on our new president were and how the book might help with understanding that.” Bethany N.

“My trip to Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day was a truly blessed experience. Despite the freezing cold, I felt God’s presence with each and every one of us as we handed out copies of The Great Controversy to thousands of people from diverse backgrounds. It was incredible to witness the receptivity of some individuals, and I firmly believe that each book we distributed had the potential to positively impact someone’s life. The privilege of sharing truth and hope was an
experience I will never forget, and I am grateful for the strength and energy God provided me with to carry out this mission. I pray that the seeds we planted that day will flourish and bear fruit for His kingdom.” Bithia B.

“Being part of that historic event, seeing it unfold right in front of my eyes, sent chills to my spine and really got me thinking that indeed we are nearing the fulfillment of Revelation 13. But I was excited by the fact that in my hand I had a powerful book for the moment. Though I could not put it on everybody’s hand, I did my best to give out as many as possible. My experience was heightened by an old lady. I offered her one book, and she asked for two more copies for her friends! I praised the Lord, and that was my best highlight for the day.” Philani M.

“By the end of the day, my step count was over 20,000! Through the cold, the walking, and the rejection, we experienced a sense of purpose and unity as we worked together for God’s mission. This wasn’t just an act of handing out books; it was a testament to our faith and our belief that, even in the face of adversity, God’s word will not return void. As I look back on that day, I am reminded of the parable of the sower. Though some seeds may fall by the wayside, others will land on fertile soil, and I trust that God will lead those books into the hands of those who need them most.” Neeke R.

“By the end of the event, over 11,200 books were handed out. Hartland was not doing this alone; it was a team effort. In this great endeavor, there were people from a variety of places—from other ministries, local churches, and churches from other states—totaling over 100 volunteers. It was a powerful experience of joining together in the same mission, of spreading these books as the leaves of autumn, in a world looking for hope.” Christian de Los Santos.

We thank everyone who supported this initiative and invite you to continue praying for those who received the message. May God use this effort to touch hearts and transform lives for His glory.

In His service,

Norbert Restrepo,
President, Hartland College

An Urgent Need

Currently, the Hartland women’s dorm is completely full. We urgently need to set up additional space to house incoming female students.

Hartland’s main administrative building, known as the mansion, has available space to meet this need. We believe it’s good stewardship of the Lord’s resources to maximize the use of areas such as attics and basements, turning them into functional, safe, healthy, and dignified spaces.

The mansion attic has four big rooms and a bathroom area that can be remodeled into dorm rooms with an adjacent restroom area. This area can house 12 to 16 additional female students. The floors will need to be renovated, the walls painted, the fixtures replaced, and the bathroom redone. Electrical work and other code requirements will need to be updated as part of the renovation project. Then closets, beds, desks, and dressers will be needed to have the rooms ready for the start of the next school year in September 2025.

We estimate the total cost of this project to be around $150.000. Would you help us raise these funds?
We’re so grateful for your prayer and financial support in the past. We believe that the Lord will abundantly bless our partnership again in this project. Time is short, and we want to train as many young people as possible to finish His work. God bless you as you prayerfully consider how you can help.

Hartland Donor Relations | relations@hartland.edu
(540) 672-1995