A new CEO has been appointed to Adventist Media (AM).
South Pacific Division (SPD) president Glenn Townend informed AM staff yesterday (Thursday) that Dr Brad Kemp had been appointed to the role after learning two weeks ago that current CEO Kalvin Dever had been called to the SPD to manage special projects.
Dr Kemp was serving as the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference president, a role he has held since 2013. “I have always been amazed at how and where God leads. When my wife Coree and I were asked to go to New Zealand five years ago it was a step in faith,” he said.
“And I can say that God has truly blessed our time here. While in the NZPUC I was able to bring a clear vision for the Church with steady but collaborative leadership. We have a great team and together we have tried to make a difference with a focus on discipleship, health, media and mission to communities and to build the ministries of education and ADRA.”
Aside from his recent role, Dr Kemp was also associate general secretary at the SPD and, before that, spent 12 years in Papua New Guinea (PNG) working in a number of leadership positions, including general secretary and communication director for the Papua New Guinea Union Mission (PNGUM) from 1996 to 2000. Dr Kemp has also served as a minister, area supervisor and family ministries director (in PNG).
Pastor Townend, who is chairman of the Adventist Media Committee, said Dr Kemp is well-suited to the role, with the experience and commitment to lead Adventist Media into the future.
“Under Brad’s leadership, Hope Channel NZ was launched onto free-to-air TV and within a year was the number one religious broadcaster in NZ, with average viewership of around 200,000 a month,” Pastor Townend said.
“This has raised the profile of the Adventist Church in the community like never before, with people walking into local churches as a direct result of watching Hope Channel. With this experience, I believe Dr Kemp will make a significant contribution to the already great work that the team at Adventist Media is doing.”
Dr Kemp, who has also been part of the AM Committee in his capacity as a Union president, hopes to use his Hope Channel New Zealand experience in this new role.
“I have a strong conviction that media is the way for the Church to reach the masses. With the right message, media platforms and opportunities we can do things together as a Church that can have a significant impact in the communities to which we minister. We have shown how this can work in a place like New Zealand where today we are seeing many new contacts walking into our churches.”
Former CEO Kalvin Dever has held the role since 2015. Before that, Mr Dever was business manager for Adventist Media and has worked at AM for 11 years.
“I want to thank Kalvin Dever for his leadership of Adventist Media. He leaves me with a great team who have a shared vision for media ministry,” said Dr Kemp.
“God has opened a new opportunity to serve, which at the moment seems quite daunting. I hope to bring the same leadership and administrative skills that God has given me and together with the Adventist Media team further develop the media ministry of the Church.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to lead the wonderful team at Adventist Media. Please pray for us all as we serve in this unique part of God’s work.”
Dr Kemp will begin in August.
