News | Seventh-day Adventist Church

Wishing for What We Already Have

Editorial by Andre Hastick

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two most festive holidays on the calendar. In these last two months of the year, extended family members reunite, decadent holiday meals are prepared and enjoyed, and the battle wages on for the appropriate time to begin playing Christmas music!

But during this bustling holiday season, non-stop advertising tells us to believe that our life experience lacks something. Deep discounts are offered to consumers on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the 12 days of Christmas. Each promotional sale is designed to get us to believe one basic message: that our lives lack something right now, and to experience life more fully, we should buy now! While it’s always nice to save money, what is more important is that we are saved from an ongoing feeling that something is lacking in life.

Three New Teachers Join Takoma Academy

This school year, Potomac Conference's Takoma Academy welcomes three new teachers to its team.

‘Be the Light’ Is More Than a Theme

Fourth-grader Zaria Sway holds a candle to represent the light of God’s Word.

Story by Ashley Boggess

This year, with nearly 300 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade across five campuses—in partnership with all New Jersey Conference schools—Lake Nelson Adventist Academy (LNAA) has been richly blessed, say school leaders. Themed, “Be the Light,” this year’s focus is to strive to lead students, families and communities into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus.

Adventist HealthCare and Montgomery College Partner To Provide Scholarships, Mentoring and Career Opportunities to Nursing Students

Montgomery College and Adventist HealthCare are partnering to grow a local workforce of qualified nurses through enhanced educational pathways that allow students to gain practical experience and connect with expert healthcare providers.

Story by Adventist HealthCare Staff

Health Fair Held at Tranquility Camp

Speaker Ron Lynch from LIGHT talks about the benefits of health training, interpreted into Spanish by Rossana Benavides, a Hackettstown church member.

Story by Stephen Lee

The New Jersey Conference (NJC) Health Ministries Department promotes balance and temperance for well-being, harnessing the benefits of pure water, fresh air and sunlight.

To that end, Jean-Michel Etienne, NJC Health Ministries director, organized a health fair in September at the Tranquility Camp in Andover.

A Small Child Leads Her Family to Christ

Jaime Rodriguez (right), pastor of the Summersville church, introduces baptismal candidates Amy Perdue (left), Brayleigh Lafferty and Jackie Perdue to the congregation. Photo by Jenny Rodriguez

Story by Kim Hamilton

Potomac Conference Welcomes New Youth Director

Story by Debra Anderson

The Potomac Conference is pleased to introduce Williams Ovalle—a dedicated and passionate leader with a heart for young people—as its new youth director. With a decade of experience within the Potomac Conference, his journey to this role has been nothing short of inspiring.

Born in Guatemala, Ovalle’s story is about determination and faith. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 16, seeking a better future. In June 2013, Ovalle answered the call to become a part of the Potomac Conference family as pastor of the Manassas (Va.) Battlefield Spanish church. Since then, he has tirelessly dedicated himself to nurturing the spiritual growth of young individuals.

The Unknown Giver

Editorial by Carlos Portanova

The Bible tells us the story of a woman whose name is not known. She is famous for giving everything she had, even though she was a widow, and widows were among the poorest of the land during that time. Her testimony tells us the meaning of true giving.

This widow had in her possession only two mites. If we translate that into today’s currency, two mites equals about a penny.

Ellen White expounds on the story:

Emotional Abuse: What Is the Church's Role?

By Michelle Perez and Jennifer Jill Schwirzer

Emotional abuse, also known as the "hidden abuse" since it leaves no physical mark and is so difficult to identify, is more common than you think—even within Seventh-day Adventist homes and churches. As a pastor, leader or church member, it is important to distinguish what the church's role is and isn't when faced with this situation.

The church's role isn’t

• A substitute for law enforcement involvement

• A substitute for mental health services

• A substitute for legal support or advice

• A judge

The church's role is

Treasury Staff Focuses on Well-Being at Fall Meeting

The Pennsylvania Conference Treasury Team at the Columbia Union 2023 Fall Treasury Meetings

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

This week, some 80 finance and treasury professionals gathered in Columbia, Md., for the Columbia Union Conference’s Fall Treasury Meeting, themed, “Leading in Wellbeing.”