The Columbia Union Conference is putting forward significant funding to help prove that mission trips don’t require church members to cross oceans or enter foreign lands. Over the past five years, the union has donated $1 million toward its Homeland Mission Initiative. These monies go back to local Seventh-day Adventist churches to fund creative ministries programs, outreach projects and mission schools—all designed to share the gospel message right outside their front doors.

The 2016 Columbia Union Calendar features pictures that illustrate some of the ways members in the Columbia Union share messages of love, ministries of grace and seeds of hope.

“In each Visitor, we feature stories of how God is working in and through people in the Columbia Union to make life better for others, as Jesus did,” says Celeste Ryan Blyden, vice president for communication and public relations. “This calendar captures some of those memorable moments from our conferences, schools and ministries.”

For additional free copies, email bweigley@columbiaunion.net.

Maryland Health Care Commission Approves New Washington Adventist Hospital

Story by Lydia Parris

The Maryland Health Care Commission has granted formal approval for Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital to develop a replacement hospital in the White Oak section of Montgomery County. The project is part of the hospital’s longstanding plan to expand access to care in the region and includes keeping healthcare services on its current Takoma Park campus.

After 16 stops across the Columbia Union Conference and countless hours of prayer and preparation, 626 new members joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the Caravana de la Esperanza 2015: “Jesus, La Gran Esperanza” (Caravan of Hope: Jesus the Great Hope) event.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard