News
Editorial by Terry Forde
Every morning, as part of my “start the day” routine, I spend a few minutes in contemplation and prayer. One of the scriptures that I often think about during this time is found in Psalm 118:34: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” The verse contains three concepts that I have found to be so valuable.
Story by LaTasha Hewitt
The Pine Forge Academy (PFA) choir’s motion picture This is My Black was recently nominated for a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award in the Outstanding Breakthrough Creative category.
The musical, featuring the PFA choir, depicts the struggle and triumph of black teenagers in today’s time. It has been featured at several film festivals throughout the United States.
Mrs. Laura Short, the teacher of the Freshman Life Skills class, invited me to meet with the young men’s section. The semester, themed “Do Hard Things,” includes discussion of challenging subjects and practical handyman skills. I admit, we drifted from the suggested topic, as I shared my personal rehabilitation journey from COVID-19 pneumonia. I had been home for 15 months, after being discharged from a 3 1/2-month hospital stay.
In Philippians 3:14, the apostle Paul writes, “Forgetting those things which are behind” (NKJV), a concept that can be applied to us spiritually and also by looking at the occurrences of the past year.
Story by Evan Knott
The Rocky Knoll School, located in Martinsburg, W.Va., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate plans to construct a new state-of-the-art facility. Attendees included Martinsburg Mayor Kevin Knowles and representatives from the Chesapeake Conference, Rocky Knoll and the Martinsburg church.
Story by Pennsylvania Conference Staff
The Pennsylvania Conference's CORE school of evangelism students recently traveled to Texas with Reach the World Next Door for their annual mission trip. They worked among the Chinese, Cambodian, Laotian, Afghan, and Hispanic refugee communities.
"Most of these people were refugees with huge needs and incredible stories. Some had just arrived a couple weeks prior to our arrival and had little food, clothing, or household things, like blankets or pillows. Some had no clue how to find English classes or be able to sign up for schooling. It was such a privilege to go to their homes and provide for their needs as much as we could," the CORE team writes in their newsletter.
The group provided children's programming, met families, repaired greenhouses where many refugees work. They worked with local churches and a new church plant in the center of the community. Students and staff taught health and mental health practices. Many shared their testimonies of how they met Jesus and distributed clothes and household items.
Story by Iris Argueta
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has launched its 2023 hunger relief emergency plan to reach the Horn of Africa's most vulnerable children, families, and individuals.
The region is experiencing its worst drought in decades, with four consecutive dry seasons threatening the lives of millions of people in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. According to the United Nations, more than 36 million people require food and humanitarian assistance, and acute hunger is expected to worsen before spring.
Story by Courtney Dove
Kettering College is receiving funds from the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) for the Choose Ohio First (COF) program for eligible nursing students. In December 2022, the ODHE announced this same funding will now be extended to respiratory care and sonography students.
Kettering College will receive $680,400 over the next five years for students participating in the COF scholarship. To be eligible, students must:
Story by Evan Knott
The Chesapeake Conference Executive Committee recently voted to appoint Tom Boggess as association secretary and Planned Giving and Trust Services director.
Boggess has worked in the department for the last six years as the Trust Services field representative and assistant director. Boggess fills the position previously held by Sean Robinson, who recently accepted a position at Hope Channel.
In addition to his experience in trust services, Boggess brings an extensive background in pastoral ministry to his new position. Boggess served as the pastor of the Martinsburg (W.Va.) church for 18 years, and, until recently, pastored the Prince Frederick church in Port Republic, Md., part-time. Boggess previously worked for more than 10 years as a pastor in the Potomac Conference.
“Tom will provide solid, spiritual leadership and careful management of the business affairs of the association,” says Jerry Lutz, conference president.
The conference has been growing, and so there’s been a lot more activity in buying and selling,” Boggess says. “I think that’s going to continue and [more churches] are going to be in the process of wanting to buy, and we want to be ready to help them do that.”