Story by Ricardo Bacchus

Two teachers recently received the Columbia Union Conference Office of Education Outstanding Educator Award: Carla Thrower, the principal of Potomac Conference’s Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, Md.; and Vail Bigelow Mason, 1st and 2nd grade teacher at Chesapeake Conference’s Mt. Aetna Adventist School in Hagerstown, Md.

By presenting this award, the union’s education officials “seek to promote the recognition and appreciation of outstanding educators who have demonstrated consistent excellence,” they say.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Story by Valerie Morikone

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

Instead of attending afternoon seminars at the 2016 Allegheny East Conference (AEC) Camp Meeting, campers participated in service opportunities in nearby Pottstown, Pa.

Service activities included: sponsoring a community kids’ health fair, volunteering at a local community garden, distributing flowers in a nursing home, writing encouraging letters to prisoners and distributing balloons with words of encouragement. AEC even sponsored a “senior prom,” complete with boutonnieres and corsages at another nursing home.

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

The Allegheny East Conference's Macedonia church in Chester, Pa., recently held a day of celebration to welcome new pastor Ronald Williams and his wife, Janene. Williams comes to the Allegheny East Conference from the Central States Conference where he served as the director of Men's Ministries and a local church pastor.  Williams has a strong commitment to community ministry and engagement, and earned a doctorate in Urban Ministry from the Theological Seminary at Andrews University (Mich.).