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New Jersey Conference Mourns Passing of Former President

Story by New Jersey Conference Staff

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Pastor LeRoy Finck, former president of the New Jersey Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Pastor Finck passed away on October 27, 2025, after a lifetime devoted to ministry, leadership, and service to the Lord. His unwavering faith and dedication to the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church left a lasting impact on all who knew him.

Pastor Finck is survived by his beloved wife, Marjorie, his son Kevin, and his daughter Christi. From 2000 to 2007, Pastor Finck served as President of the New Jersey Conference, and for a short time thereafter as Executive Secretary. "His administration was marked by spiritual integrity, thoughtful stewardship, and genuine care for pastors, members, and ministries across New Jersey," said Elder Jose Cortes (pictured with his wife, Celia, on the right; Jim and Joyce Greene, on the left; and the Fincks, center) who served alongside him as executive secretary and later as conference president.

November-December 2025 Feature: Coming Home

In a world that can often feel lonely or uncertain, many long for the assurance that we are never alone. Here, we share stories of those who found a welcoming spiritual home.

Story by Amanda Blake

Romita Mandal had known Mr. Matthie for more than a decade. He’d been her elementary and middle school strings director, and, when she reached high school, her private violin instructor.

“Sometimes, we wouldn’t unpack the violin,” she shares. “Sometimes, I would just have a breakdown on the couch, and he would help me and be a mentor.”

Finding Home
Mandal grew up with a Hindu mom and an atheist dad. She aligned more with her dad, whom she describes as scientifically minded with no space for spirituality—yet, unlike him, Mandal believed that God existed.

Mandal independently studied parts of the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, and found it puzzling that churches didn’t worship on the seventh day.

One day, after speaking with Mandal about God, Matthie offered to spend time with her to answer any “God questions” she might have. She accepted, and they eventually began studying the Bible together once a week.

For Kids: Make the Holidays Bright

Illustration by Brooklyne Nickell

Thanksgiving and Christmas are awesome times to celebrate with family and friends! Many churches like to decorate, distribute food baskets and remember Jesus’ birth.

You can also help families all over the world by sponsoring gifts from ADRA’s 2025 Gift Catalog at giftcatalog.adra.org!

Check out the scene below, and see if you can find these hidden items inspired by gifts in the catalog: Blanket, Baby Chick, Goat, Honeybee, Seed packets, Water Bucket

Potomac Pastor Receives Award

Image by kp yamu Jayanath from Pixabay

The Association of Adventist Women (AAW) recently awarded Griselda Jobe the 2025 Junia Award for pioneering work in rural pastoral ministry. She is the lead pastor of Potomac Conference’s Martinsville and Piney Forest churches in Virginia.

“Griselda Jobe received the Junia Award for pioneering work as one of a few ordained female lead pastors in a rural multi-church district in the North American Division,” states Nerida Bates, president of AAW.

Columbia Union Helps Distribute More than 150,000 Books

Columbia Union Conference’s Office of Multilingual Ministries recently helped facilitate the distribution of 152,849 books to conferences in the Columbia Union.

The 15,520 small Bibles, 86,400 Steps to Christ in Spanish, 50,600 Steps to Christ in English and 329 family Bibles books were distributed to pastors, who then shared them with church and community members.

Longtime Columbia Union Leader Retires

Story by Shannon Kelly 

After nearly two decades of service to the Columbia Union Conference as vice president for Ministries Development, and 43 years of full-time ministry, Frank Bondurant retired in November. 

Bondurant, a leader, pastor and mentor, was introduced to Adventism and God by his grandmother.  

Pray With Us on November 5

Story by Ricardo Bacchus

Join us November 5 at noon for Columbia Union’s monthly prayer meeting.

Leaders and members from the Allegheny East Conference will guide us in prayer and share how God is working through the Pentecost 2025 movement to bring blessings to their territory. Together, we will engage in a time of prayer and praise, focusing specifically on God's grateful and generous heart and how we can be more like Him. 

Don’t forget to bring your prayer requests and invite a friend!

Damascus Grace Fellowship ‘Touches a Truck’

Damascus Grace Fellowship ‘Touches a Truck’, Potomac Conference, Shawn Kelly, Adventist HealthCare, Steps to Christ, Vacation Bible School, Tran Trang

Story by Debra Anderson

The Damascus Grace Fellowship (DGF) church recently hosted its first-ever “Touch A Truck” event—a vibrant, family-focused outreach that brought ministry into motion and the community into fellowship. Designed to strengthen ties beyond the church walls, the event reflected the heart of Christ through joyful service, creative planning and open-armed hospitality.

Three Hellos and One Hope

Getty Images

Editorial by Marcellus T. Robinson

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a flyer in the mail from one of our own churches the other day. This church, located about eight miles from my home, invited all in the neighboring community to join its “Forecasting Hope” prophecy seminar, providing all the necessary information for me to attend. So, attend I did.

On my way to the church, I received a call from G. Alexander Bryant, president of the North American Division, in which I shared with him that I was headed to a local church that was engaging in Pentecost 2025 to carry out the mission of evangelism. We rejoiced in the moment!