Editorial by Jenevieve “Jenna” Lettsome
In what can be seen by many as a faith-destroying time, stories of answered prayer and God’s love continue to shield me, protect my faith and remind me that God still exists and is bigger than life itself.
Like many grateful believers before me—in the Bible and beyond Scripture—I am impressed to tangibly give back and praise God, not just for my life, but the lives and world around me.
Story by Jenevieve Lettsome & V. Michelle Bernard / Cover photos by Brad Barnwell
Going on Sabbath walks and appreciating nature—God’s second book—are longstanding elements of Seventh-day Adventist culture. Should this appreciation impact the way members care for the environment? And can it bring them closer to God?
Adventism, [in its early years], was more outdoorsy because the culture back then was more connected with the [nature] around them,” says John Henri Rorabeck, a naturalist and educator. “[But] Ellen White and her contemporaries were [also] really pushing the boundaries and really leading.”
Celebrate Earth Day, April 22, by making small changes that can help make a long-term impact on the health of our planet. Take our April challenge by making one of the changes (or inserting your own ideas) each week and Inspire your friends to do the same by posting your progress with #2021greenerchallenge on social media, and challenge them to post their ideas and progress too. Let’s learn from each other!
“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36, NASB).
I was pastoring in Denver and my wife had to work almost 2,000 miles away in New York. Lonely, I sometimes looked for new activities to enhance my ministry. Uber driving seemed fascinating. I wanted to know more about inner city culture, so I experimented. In general, we isolate from people in our community, mostly because their lives are so different than ours.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take” (Prov. 3:5–6, NLT).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart...”
Do I know how to trust? I’ve asked myself this question more times in the last several years than ever before. Having gone through a devastating divorce and slowly seeing how God has picked up the pieces of my heart, for the first time in my life I am learning the true meaning of trust.
Story by Associationa of Adventist Women Staff
The Association of Adventist Women awarded Columbia Union Conference President Dave Weigley a Champion of Justice award at its annual Woman of the Year Banquet last fall. The festive live zoom celebration was attended virtually by more than 100 people from four continents.
Los retrasos nacionales en la entrega del correo resultaron en una entrega tardía de muchos de los Calendarios de la Unión de Columbia 2021 y de los libros devocionales del Año de la Biblia Palabras de vida. Aún se encuentran disponibles copias adicionales de ambos. Llame a Pacific Press al (800) 447-7377. El libro devocional cuesta $5, más el envío. El calendario es gratuito, pero los miembros deben pagar los gastos de envío.
También estamos facilitando la participación digital en el énfasis del Año de la Biblia de la unión. Descargue la aplicación Columbia Union Conference para seguir el plan de lectura de la Biblia, leer devocionales diarios, ver devocionales inspiradores en video y leer las últimas noticias de la unión.
El Presidente de la Unión, Dave Weigley, recibió recientemente el Premio Campeón de Justicia 2020 de la Asociación de Mujeres Adventistas por las muchas formas en que él y la unión han apoyado y alentado a las mujeres en el ministerio y el liderazgo pastoral.
La Unión de Columbia envió recientemente cheques de ayuda por el COVID-19 a cada una de sus ocho conferencias, así como a la Universidad Adventista de Washington, dando un total de $360,000.
La unión recibió los fondos de la División Norteamericana y, en una reunión reciente el Consejo del Presidente, decidió asignar los fondos a las enti- dades. Esta fue la segunda distribución de fondos de ayuda desde que comenzó la pandemia.