Day eight of the 62nd General Conference (GC) Session opened with a devotional by John Bradshaw, president of It Is Written, a Seventh-day Adventist media ministry under the North American Division (NAD).

In a message titled, “The Gift,” Bradshaw opened with a story about Pope Leo X receiving an elephant as a gift from a Portuguese ambassador. The elephant quickly became the pope’s favorite. However, the animal became ill and prematurely passed away three years later.

Bradshaw used this illustration to speak about the gift offered to us by Jesus, one that will never fail.

“God has given to His people a special gift, not with tusks,” Bradshaw said. “It’s the gift of John 3:16, and it would change everything.”

Morning devotionals at GC Session begin each day at 7:30 a.m. CST inside the arena and conclude with a 25-minute prayer session for delegates.

Today’s prayer session was led by Ramon Canals, Ministerial secretary of the GC.

Bradshaw will give his last morning devotional of the 2025 GC Session on Friday, July 11.

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