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‘The Big Three’ Retire From Takoma Academy

Story by Salena Fitzgerald

Three beloved and accomplished Takoma Academy (TA) staff members retired at the end of the 2021–22 academic year.

C. Dunbar Henri received his Master of Divinity from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary (Mich.) in 1983. After 18 months of singing and traveling with the Heritage Singers out of Placerville, Calif., he pastored three churches in Maryland from 1983–1986 before joining TA’s staff full-time.

During the last 37 years, Henri has served as a Bible teacher and administrator, including two stints as TA principal from 1995–1997 and 2005–2009. During his first stint, he became the first black princi- pal to serve at TA. He also served as vice principal.

Shenandoah Valley Academy Music Is on the Road Again

Story by Janel Haas Ware

After a three-year hiatus, Shenandoah Valley Academy’s (SVA) choir and orchestra hit the road for a tour of the Midwest during the 2021–22 academic year. For many students, this was their first music tour ever. Under the direction of Daniel Biaggi, music director, and Kelly Wiedemann, associate music director, the group set out bright and early on a Tuesday morning.

Educating in the New Frontier

Story by Tamaria L. Kulemeka

Educators have embraced the new frontier of hybrid instruction and have adapted their classrooms in a way that would never have been conceived prior to the pandemic shutdown.

Unexplored Territory

Though Columbia Union Conference schools have returned to in-person learning, many of them continue to offer a virtual option for the unforeseen future.

GracePoints Is on Point!

Story by Debra Anderson

If the last two years have taught us anything, if we want to reach people—the churched and the unchurched—we must think outside the box to connect with individuals in hopes of fulfilling their spiritual needs. GracePoints does just that.

GracePoints is a weekly video cast hosted by Melvyn Warfield, senior pastor of Potomac Conference's Community Praise Center (CPC) in Alexandria, Va. A labor of love, GracePoints began as a way to connect with his church family during the pandemic, he says. Every Wednesday, he emails the church with a short message of encouragement and the GracePoints devotional.

The name GracePoints comes from Warfield’s love of talking about the grace of God, giving practical points every week to help people live out their faith and get to know Christ better.