Blog by Rob Vandeman

Early Church leader and scholar Jerome quoted the opinion of some that the first psalm is “the preface of the Holy Spirit” to the Psalter. It is certainly a very apt introduction. Two particular themes are found in it, which recur in many other psalms.

The first is the clear-cut distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The Bible as a whole, and specifically the Wisdom Literature, divides humankind into these two absolute categories, and does not recognize a third. Psalm 32, 36 and 112 also compare and contrast the righteous and the wicked.

Story by Pat Humphrey | Photo by Willow Street Pictures

Tip: Let God lead, and don’t get carried away by your own sense of importance.—Jake Randall

Editorial by V. Michelle Bernard

Mortified. That’s how my mom, Vicki (Curtiss) Bernard, recalls feeling as she sat in Chemistry class at Mount Vernon Academy where her dad, Leon Curtiss, was the teacher. “If we got what we deserve, we’d all be grease spots,” he’d say, trying to lighten the mood while navigating tough subjects like science and math. A fixture at Ohio Conference’s longtime school (now closed), my grandfather was known for his corny jokes and one-liners. 

Story by Pam Humphrey | Photo by Simon Yao

Tip: We have learned how important it is to have someone—a colleague or friend—close to you in ministry to share good and challenging moments.

While Roy Simpson was growing up, his dad, Peter, always cut his hair, except for a few years when “I wanted to do things my way,” says Roy, who used to think he was very different from his dad. That changed after working with him as a volunteer at the conference office where they shared many conversations. Those talks “made me realize that we have so much in common, especially our passion for ministry,” says Roy, assistant treasurer for Ohio Conference. 

Historia de Pat Humphrey / Photos de James Ferry

Desde su primer encuentro en la iglesia de Langley Park en la Conferencia de Potomac, y durante los días de cortejo que siguieron, Josant Barrientos y su esposa, Claudya, han participado activamente en actividades de la iglesia, tales como Conquistadores y Sociedad de Jóvenes.