Pedersen, International Adventist Pioneer, Dies ... Pastor Emanuel W. Pedersen, a veteran Seventh-day Adventist leader who helped pioneer the establishment of both Bugema Adventist University and the Cuban Adventist Seminary, died March 30 at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, just two months short of what would have been his 102nd birthday. Pedersen had been a field secretary of the world church, a Bible teacher, pastor, evangelist, department director, and president of geographical Adventist church areas known as fields, unions and regions. “As a church leader he did not visit a mission-station without seeking an opportunity to talk personally to each missionary. He [continued to write] dozens of postcards to friends and family,” said Børge Schantz, a fellow Danish Adventist pastor and missionary, in a centennial tribute two years ago. Pedersen’s wife, Esther, preceded him in death; two children survive him. [ANN Staff]

Hundreds Attend Doss Funeral ... More than 1,600 people attended the funeral service for Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond T. Doss, Sr. at the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church in Collegedale, Tennessee, on Saturday afternoon, April 1. Doss, 87, was a lifelong Adventist who in World War II refused to carry a weapon but was credited with saving the lives of 75 wounded soldiers during a battle on Okinawa. He was the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. Present at the funeral were Pastor Don Schneider, president of the Adventist Church in North America and United States Representative Zach Wamp, who said he represented the members of Congress and the President of the United States. Wamp said Doss was a great man and a great example of service. A showing of the documentary by Terry Benedict about Doss’ life, “The Conscientious Objector,” followed the service; about 200 people attended the screening.  [Rebecca Baerg/ANN Staff]