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Faith and Determination

Image by Anja from Pixabay

“Blessed”: That’s the word that exudes from Adalberto Agosto-Burgos as he describes the past three years of his life.

Adalberto was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where he served as a police officer for 13 years. In 2014, he found himself with a new co-worker: Ken Pitney from Lebanon, Ohio, who had been assigned to work on the island.

The two served together for three years before Ken had to return to his hometown for a family emergency in 2017. Having built a strong friendship, they vowed to stay in touch.

Time—The Ageless Riddle

Agê Barros/Unsplash

Editorial by Stephen S. Lee

“Daddy, I have a riddle for you,” my younger son gleefully declared. “What goes up but never comes down?”

Before I could muster a response, he quipped with playful mischief, “Your age.”

If, like me, you resist the inevitability of aging, it might be a subtle sign that you’re already on that journey, as the young eagerly anticipate the swift passage of time.

The 96-year-old elder at my church, a figure I deeply admire, often cautions me with a friendly admonition, “Pastor Lee, don’t you dare grow old.” Despite my sincere attempts to heed his advice, I find the relentless march of time undefeated.

Family Continues Mother’s Dream

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

For years, Joyce Steele’s family made it a point to worship with her at Allegheny East Conference's Mizpah church in Philadelphia on the Sabbath closest to her birthday. Even after she passed away in 2023, her children wanted to keep the tradition going and, as usual, attended this year on the Sabbath following their mother’s birthday.

The family, who travels from New York, New Jersey, Florida and Pennsylvania, are committed to keeping the tradition alive as long as they are able to. “We want to honor her memory, as well as thank the Lord for giving her to us,” says Janet Steele, her daughter. “It also provides us with our own sense of comfort.”

Kettering College Now Offering Master of Science in Nursing

Story by Rebecca Ingle

Kettering College has added a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) track to their offerings, with the first cohort starting in January 2024. The MSN degree will have an emphasis on Nursing Leadership and is intended to prepare current nurses for roles in leadership, such as a director of nursing, nurse manager, educator or researcher.

Content in the core curriculum includes leadership, health promotion, organizational behavior, human resources, financial management, evidence-based practice, quality improvement and mentoring.

The goals of the MSN program are aimed at guiding students

- To lead teams in a collaborative, dynamic health care environment.

'Back to the Altar'

Editorial by Gary Gibbs

I knew I was listening to an exciting answer to prayer as I heard the speaker describe an inspiring initiative called “Back to the Altar.” I had been earnestly seeking God for strategic initiatives for our conference’s new quinquennium, which began after the constituency session in October 2023.

Our team identified several key ideas we felt God was leading us to as conference staff, and pastors met for prayer and planning. We determined that a renewed focus on a personal relationship with Jesus would be one of the more important initiatives. We long for each member to experience a deepening of love for Him and to grow in the qualities of being Jesus’ fully committed disciple.

ShareGreatControversy.com Chronicles Powerful Stories of Impact

Story by Alicia Adams

In the world of literature, certain books transcend their pages, seeping into the very fabric of people’s lives, reshaping destinies, and fostering movements that echo through time. One such work, The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, has become a catalyst for profound transformations, and a newly launched website, ShareGreatControversy.com, features the testimonies of people whose lives have been forever changed following an encounter with this classic book.

The website captures scenes of the book’s impact by showcasing true stories of well-known figures and everyday people alike who, after reading The Great Controversy, embarked on transformative journeys that rippled through their families, churches, and the world.

Week of Prayer at Lake Nelson Adventist Academy Ignites Students for Christ

Webster Sterling, academy chaplain, reviews the baptismal vows with candidates Miriana Lefleur, Chloe Gerard, Isaiah Beauburn, Daniel Ramos and Lucas Gerard.

Story by Ashley Boggess

Spiritual growth and development are the most important tenets of a Christian education at New Jersey Conference's Lake Nelson Adventist Academy. The goal is to help students learn to “Be the Light,” the theme for this school year and the focus of a recent Week of Prayer. How can students be a light when they are surrounded by the world’s darkness?

Standing Tall For Jesus

When Ellen White was a teenager, her family had to stand up for their beliefs. This resulted in them being forced to leave their church—a situation that was incredibly hard for the family. In 2024, grow closer to Jesus so that you’ll be strengthened when faced with tough situations.

 

Have you enjoyed the Adventist Heritage cartoons we’ve included in the Visitor magazine this past year? If so, the Ellen G. White Estate and Adventist Heritage Ministries has compiled The Story of Anna Rice, a book about the life of Anna Rice and 15 other pioneer adventurers from the beginning days of the Seventh-day Adventist movement.