News

Spring Valley Golden Gala

Story by Vicki Swetnam

Spring Valley Academy (SVA) hosted “The Golden Gala” last fall, as the school celebrated its 50th anniversary. “The past several years, we’ve held the auction at off-campus locations,” says Darren Wilkins, principal. “But with the 50th anniversary and our new Worship and Performing Arts Center completed, we really wanted to hold the event at the school.”

The last four galas have raised money for the just-completed first phase of the new center, and this event gave SVA the opportunity to show gala sponsors, donors and volunteers how their gifts were used. With the first phase of this new facility costing around $5.5 million, the gala was one of the major donors to this campaign, contributing more than $1 million.

Math teacher D’Anya Brezzell (right) shares her thoughts about Kelli Raí Collins’ new devotional book.

Story by Salena Featherstone

Kelli Raí Collins has been the data specialist at Potomac Conference's Takoma Academy (TA) for five years, and is a proud parent of three: current TA student Solomon (’20), TA alum Zoie (’18) and Oakwood University (Ala.) student Mykel. Collins, a third generation Seventh-day Adventist, has always been dedicated to giving her children the Christian education she received.

Mountain View Conference Pathfinder clubs lead the Parade of Children at the Mountain State Forest Festival, an honor they have held for the past several years.

Story by Valerie Morikone

Pathfinders are thriving within the Mountain View Conference (MVC). With eight clubs, and with children eager to participate and be a part of these clubs, our conference provides many opportunities to stretch and grow our young people,” shares Joel Stecker, MVC Pathfinder director. “One of our most recent events was the annual Pathfinder Camporee held at the Valley Vista Adventist Center.”

Enock Bouzy, lay pastor of the Collingwood Park church, baptizes a woman during the fall evangelism initiative.

Story by Mario Thorp

In just one week during the New Jersey Conference 2018 Fall Evangelism series, more than 134 individuals chose to be baptized. More than 40 churches participated in this special evangelistic program, themed “Sharing Hope: Jesus Is Coming,” that included guest speakers, local pastors, administrators and conference departmental staff.

Jerome Hurst, pastor of the Southeast church, and a team of canvassers display “pro-voting” signs prior to Election Day.

Story by Bryant Smith

Allegheny West Conference's Southeast church in Cleveland hosted a “Get Out To Vote” rally the Sabbath prior to Election Day. Guests included Charles Clark, National Outreach coordinator for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO); Tony Minor, state director for the African American Ministers Leadership Council; and Harriet Applegate, executive secretary of North Shore AFL-CIO.

Manassas students work together to catch and study bugs.

Story by Tiffany Doss

Catching butterflies, looking at worms under a microscope, constructing forest homes and digging in dirt happen to be part of the Virginia-based Manassas Adventist Preparatory School’s (MAPS) curriculum this year. As part of a pilot program, students in kindergarten and first grade are taking time to explore God’s second book of nature as part of a new forestry class.

WGTS staff and listeners gather on the National Mall to cleanup the WWI Memorial

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Images by Eugene Simonov

The federal government shutdown at the end of 2018/beginning of 2019 stopped the paychecks of 800,000 federal government employees. Seventh-day Adventists in the DMV are working to lessen the blow. 

Story by Buffy Halvorsen

The Ohio Conference recently hosted their Annual Prayer of Emphasis Day. Event organizer Buffy Halvorsen shared these tips for the day that you can use for a similar event at your church.

If prayer is the breath of the soul, we as Christians must breathe deep and often. Colossians 4:2 reads: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (ESV).

Below are suggestions to make this day memorable for all ages in your church.

1. Set up “Prayer Stations” around the church:

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photos by Andre Hastick

According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 78 percent of the world’s population is unable to worship their God in whatever way they see fit.  

Today, on Religious Freedom Day, local faith and civic leaders gathered at the North American Division (NAD) Headquarters in Columbia Md., for the NAD’s first Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast. They celebrated the freedoms enjoyed in the United States and prayed for guidance in further fostering and sharing it with others.