Story by Angela Peach
During last school year’s spring semester, the Spring Valley Academy (SVA) high school band had an opportunity few musicians ever get: performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Who We Are, How We Serve
The Columbia Union Conference, established in 1907 to coordinate the Seventh-day Adventist Church's work in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, is part of the worldwide Protestant denomination of 23 million members in more than 212 countries. At the union level, we connect and provide administrative leadership, governance and support services to our conferences, schools, health care networks and ministries. Each year, our organizations sponsor programs and projects that address human needs, improve quality of life and introduce people to Jesus. Read our Mission, Values and Priorities.
We Believe
God is love, power, and splendor—and God is a mystery. His ways are far beyond us, but He still reaches out to us. God is infinite yet intimate, three yet one,
all-knowing yet all-forgiving.
Story by Elisa Maragoto, Superintendent of Schools
“True education,” as defined by Ellen White, encompasses the whole being, guiding students through the harmonious growth of one’s physical, mental and spiritual powers. With this philosophy at the core of its mission, New Jersey Conference (NJC) educators recognize they often serve as first responders to students facing a wide range of challenges.
Story by Helen Herñandez
In recognition of the Allegheny West Conference Youth Mental Health year, more than 150 club directors, youth leaders and Master Guide candidates were recently certified as National Mental Health First Aiders during the Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) 2026 at Camp Chautauqua in Miamisburg, Ohio.
Story by Debra C. Anderson
A spirit of unity and purpose recently swept across the Potomac Conference as the Hispanic Caravan of Evangelism resulted in 195 baptisms. Each baptism marked more than a number but a personal decision to follow Jesus.
Throughout the week, churches across the conference in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., hosted simultaneous evangelistic meetings, as pastors from Honduras joined local congregations to share a message of hope centered on the theme, “Restored by Grace.”
Story by Liz Bailey
Recently, students, staff and parents from Mountain View Conference’s (MVC) Parkersburg Academy (W.Va.), Summersville Adventist School (W.Va.) and Highland Adventist School in Elkins, W.Va., participated in a mission trip to Puerto Rico.The dual purpose of the trip was to help a local church in reaching its community and provide the students with an educational experience.
The mission group spent most of their 10-day trip providing services in the city of Arecibo. The local church had identified three projects that needed help in the community to share God’s love.