About Us

The name: “Vervent” is synonymous with the NAD Church Resource Center. It reflects our service to local congregations. The name contains within it the combined elements of developing resources with “verve”––with energy and vitality––and which are appropriately “relevant,” in today’s environment.

In the future, “Vervent” will become increasingly a brand name associated with a group of deliberately innovative products and services developed by the North American Division. Vervent represents resources that are both intentionally “cutting edge” and of broad benefit to congregations seeking to minister within the North American context. To be more specific, Vervent represents resources emerging in direct response to “felt needs,” expressed in various surveys, focus groups and other forms of research conducted with leaders of local congregations.

The ministries search engine on this site (and also available on local church websites), termed: “Church Resource Center,” is the place where these innovative resources are identified, reviewed and made available. Some of them you can download directly. For others you will be linked to where they can be purchased––including both AdventSource, our resource partner––and other locations.

Finally, Vervent is an expression of the North American Division’s relationship with its local congregations, providing a place where church needs and innovative resources intersect, and a place where they can be vigorously discussed. It is a place where those experienced in using innovative resources can communicate through available forums with those new to them––offering ideas, exploring challenges and solutions, and suggesting adaptations for various settings. Forums also provide ready access for support from those who have developed and championed the resources, as well as a feedback loop to us at Vervent, to be sure we’re able to continue offering the most effective resources.

Vervent Products

Many different kinds of products and services qualify for the Vervent label.

• There are Vervent resources, like In the Beginning, a video series aimed at enabling Bible teachers and youth leaders to begin conversations about origins, with study guides and a format that appeals to young people. Our research, before we launched the series, identified this as the top requested resource.

• One of the most widely-known Vervent resources is The Pastor’s DVD series, which provides access to ministry ideas and support tools. One Pastor’s DVD, for example, offers a Bible Graphics Studio. Another offers a wide assortment of worship choruses, written and performed by Adventists to address a specific need for quality, Adventist worship materials. Most editions of the Pastor’s DVD contain brief vignettes, describing innovative ministry ideas, aimed at enabling pastors and other congregational leaders to enhance their ministries.

• We also hold Vervent conferences, including several worship conferences each year in various regional areas. These are held with sensitivity to various demographic segments that make up the church, as well as various styles of worship. We also offer pastoral and leadership training conferences where pastors can come together for inspiration and instruction in how to enhance their effectiveness.

• Another Vervent resource familiar to many pastors and church leaders is “Best Practices,” our e-mail newsletter that offers challenging and inspiring content from pastors to other pastors. Not only is great editorial content provided, but also links to videos, books and articles that offer exciting, innovative insights.

Above all, Vervent represents a deliberate and concerted effort to identify what resources the local church needs, and to deliver it in a highly accessible format. Your ideas and suggestions on how we can do this better are not only welcome but solicited.

Staff

Dan Day, Director

Dan has a long history of assisting congregations in the development of powerful resources and tools aimed at ministering to the various segments of the community.

After several years serving as a pastor, himself, both in single church and multi-church districts, Dan began a career of helping churches and other denominational entities develop outreach and marketing resources, working at various Adventist-owned and non-church-related companies––where he served at various times as Vice President for Marketing, Vice President for Advertising, Vice President for Human Resources, and in many other similar roles. He also served as President of his own company.

Author of the groundbreaking A Guide to Marketing Adventism, along with over 20 other books, Dan’s name is well-known to generations of readers, who have picked up titles in the Adventist Book Center, such as Being Saved When You’re Feeling Lost, Hanging On By My Fingernails, Hurting, Kids, Teens and Wives, Straight Thinking In An Age Of Exotic Beliefs, along with many others. He has also written many articles for various church publications, including such publications as Insight, Signs and Ministry.

Most recently, Dan brought his marketing experience in the corporate world back into a denominational setting, serving for eight years as Vice President for Marketing and Enrollment Services at Washington Adventist University, where he helped to engineer five years of enrollment growth.

He and his wife, Brenda, along with two children still living at home, live in Laurel, Maryland. Along with writing, Dan enjoys watercolor painting, photography and spending time with his family.

Dave Gemmell, Associate Director

Dave Gemmell is the Associate Director of the NAD Church Resource Center, a service of the North American Division. His role at CRC is to be a vervent resource catalyst for growing healthy congregations. He also serves as a volunteer Associate Pastor for New Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church in Burtonsville, Maryland.