“A sign of inclusion” was the first message presented at the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) Week of Spiritual Emphasis January 14-18, 2008.  In this sign of inclusion Dr. Rosa Banks reminded us that Christ had a purpose in going to the well at the town Sychar in Samaria in the narrative in John chapter 4.  Christ was trying to teach the lesson of gender and nationality inclusion.  Her message made us think about the work our church is supposed to accomplish for the outcast and marginalized people in our societies—whom we also need to reach out to with the good news and the healing power of Jesus Christ.  She concluded her presentation with an appeal, inviting the NSD staff to share the living water that Jesus gave us, that is, to share that water, our story with other people of what our Lord has done for us.  Looking to our territory she challenged us to continue with this sign of inclusion with participation of all our church membership. Dr. Banks will continue with her presentation this week and is planning to speak on signs of unity, signs of life style, signs of endurance and signs of love. 

In 1989 Dr. Banks was called to the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to serve as the first female General Field Secretary and Director of the Office of Human Relations. In 1990 when the North American Division (NAD) was organized, she was elected the Division’s first female director of a department as well as the first female associate secretary of the Division, making her the Division’s first female officer.

She is a writer/editor of two books (Business Programs and a Woman’s Place) eight chapters in books, and over fifty magazine articles.  Dr. Banks travels between 50 to 75,000 miles annually, serving in churches approximately 35 Sabbaths a year. Through her seminars, sermons and evangelistic campaigns, many souls have been baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In July 2005 Dr. Banks was elected as an associate secretary of the General Conference, becoming the first female in that position in the Church’s 142-year history. She serves as Secretariat liaison between the General Conference and two African Divisions: West-Central Africa and East-Central Africa, where nearly four million of our church members reside. She also serves as Treasurer of Council on Service and Leadership (COSAL), and the President of Operation ReachBack, Inc (ORB). She is a Commissioned Credentialed Minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and an ordained elder of the Mitchellville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Largo, Maryland. Married to Elder Halsey Banks for 36 years, they are the proud parents of three young adults: Kevin, Karmala (married to Erik Johnson), and Marcellus; and the grandparents of four young girls: Kai, Keanna, Shona, and Phoenix.

Day 1 Video Presentation        Special Music
Day 2 Video Presentation        Special Music
Day 3 Video Presentation        Special Music
Day 4 Video Presentation        Special Music
Day 5 Video Presentation        Special Music