Story by Samantha Young / Photo by Elisa Cardona
Who We Are, How We Serve
The Columbia Union Conference coordinates the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work in the Mid-Atlantic United States, where 150,000 members worship in 860 congregations. We provide administrative support to eight conferences; two healthcare networks; 81 early childhood, elementary and secondary schools; a liberal arts university; a health sciences college; a 49 community services centers; 8 camps; 5 book and health food stores and a radio station.
We Believe
God is love, power, and splendor—and God is a mystery. His ways are far beyond us, but He still reaches out to us. God is infinite yet intimate, three yet one,
all-knowing yet all-forgiving.
As the Master Guide graduation candidates from the New Jersey Conference prepared for their final review, Reina Zapata, Master Guide state coordinator, realized that one was not a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Virgilio Osorio, his wife and their children accepted the Lord after volunteering in the Pathfinder program at the Lake Nelson church in Piscataway.
Story by LaTasha Hewitt
Church leaders recently recognized Ashley Judge, 18, as “Pathfinder of the Year” at Shiloh church in Petersburg, Va. Judge serves as a Pathfinder junior counselor, an usher and junior deaconess at the church. She also volunteers at Chippenham Hospital in Richmond, Va., and a local food bank.
“Being Pathfinder of the Year is the greatest accomplishment that I have ever received. … Hearing your name being called as Pathfinder of the Year symbolizes your love for the lord and your love of being a Pathfinder,” says Judge.
In addition to her volunteer week, Judge (pictured above with her parents, Sharon and Hilton Judge) also maintains a 3.5 GPA, is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and an honor band participant at Virginia Tech University. She will attend Norfolk State University (Va.) this fall, and plans to become an elementary school teacher.
Story by LaTasha Hewitt
During the fourth annual “Handy Hall and Friends Weekend” at Pine Forge Academy (PFA), the boys dormitory staff and dean debuted their new Ambassador Awards program.
The program at the Pine Forge, Pa., based high school is designed to promote leadership, creativity and character development in African-American young men.
“We want our young men to understand that it’s not just about having exposure to godly principles, but that they should learn to embody and showcase them to guarantee success,” says Jaymie Pottinger, head dean of the boys dorm.
Read the 2016 May Visitor feature articles and the entire PDF here.
