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Turning the Corner

José Martínez, Roca Eterna Mission church

Story by Ricardo Bacchus

Eight-year-old José Martínez didn’t know what to do or who to turn to. His mom abused him verbally and physically, frequently saying, “Why didn’t I get an abortion?” His brother bullied him. His sister ignored him. His stepdad, an alcoholic and drug addict, deserted him. Martínez longed to be wanted; he felt abandoned instead.

One day in his hometown of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, Martínez saw his brother and cousin smoking weed. Wanting an escape from the reality of life, he tried it and was instantly hooked. Finally, I found something that makes me feel whole, he thought.

Daughter Overjoyed by Surprise Baptism

Story by Natalie Lilly, Communication Intern

Rachel Ondimu and her family prayed for years that her stepfather, Courtney Cuffie, would accept Jesus and attend church with them.

“I’ve grown up with my stepfather since I was very little, and he’s always been a kind and gentle man. He would drop my mom off at church every Sabbath, but we were always hopeful he would give his heart to the Lord,” says Ondimu.

She, her mother, and two of her children, Obed and Ruhamah, recently attended an evangelistic series at the Allentown church, where the children decided they wanted to study for baptism.

Blue Mountain Academy Student Receives Susan Berry Leadership Award

Blue Mountain Academy, Helmi Calles

Story by Esther Hernandez 

Senior Helmi Calles recently received the 2021 Susan Berry Leadership award at RingFest, held in Toledo, Ohio. The award recognizes one bell choir student each year in the North American Division who “demonstrates outstanding leadership in the art of handbells.” This is the second consecutive year that a Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) student has received this award.

God Provides Miraculous Protection

Highland View Academy Together We Make A Difference

Story by Andrew S. Lay

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Highland View Academy (HVA) has experienced miraculous protection from the virus on campus and among its faculty and students.

In fact, HVA has been fully open and in person since fall 2020, without any student or teaching staff contracting the disease during their time on campus. School leaders thank God for providing His protection and allowing HVA to fully function within the CDC guidelines.

A Plumber Takes the Plunge

Story by Valerie Morikone

Mountain View Conference's Cumberland (Md.) congregation has been steadily working on their new church building and started to get quotes on reconnecting their baptistry plumbing.

Kettering College joins Ohio Department of Education, Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program

Story by Courtney Dove

Kettering College is excited to announce its new partnership with the Ohio Department of Education. Beginning Fall 2022, more students will have the financial ability to obtain a nursing degree from Kettering College.

The Ohio Department of Higher Education announced on April 4, 2022 that they are awarding Kettering College funds for the use of the Choose Ohio First scholarship program (COF). Choose Ohio First is part of Ohio's strategic effort to bolster the state in the global marketplace of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM). COF awards scholarship funding to selected Ohio colleges and universities to support undergraduate and qualifying graduate students in innovative academic programs.

Statement by ADRA President Michael Kruger on ADRA's Continuing Response to the Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine and Surrounding Regions

Statement from ADRA:

"Europe is facing a long-term massive humanitarian crisis. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has been on the ground since the conflict began on February 24 and has been serving communities in Ukraine and the surrounding region for the past 30 years. The demands for humanitarian assistance have been ever-changing and growing. ADRA has deployed additional emergency response teams and dispatched numerous humanitarian convoys to assist and evacuate displaced families and people in conflict-ravaged regions. We have escalated resources to assist refugees who have crossed into neighboring regions and are developing long-term programs for families and children to thrive. We want everyone to have access to education, children's services, job placement, health care, and other essential services to help them succeed in their communities," says Michael Kruger, president of ADRA International.

"ADRA is grateful to our Adventist Church family, trusted partners, supporters, and thousands of volunteers for their tireless dedication and contributions. As the global humanitarian agency of the Adventist Church, ADRA reaffirms its commitment to serve, protect, and stand for the Ukraine people and all communities impacted by this unending crisis."

Does Public Evangelism Work?

Image by HugoAtaide on Pixabay

Story by Pennsylvania Conference Staff

Public evangelism doesn’t always work if it’s simply done as a stand-alone event. However, public evangelism done as part of the cycle of evangelism is still highly effective.

“Churches who purposefully practice the cycle of evangelism on a yearly basis have successful evangelistic series and are consistently growing,” says Yves Monnier, Ministerial and Evangelism director. “These churches do not do a lot of haphazard church events throughout the year—then remember to do an evangelistic series every so many years. No, these churches faithfully do activities that connect them with the community and build momentum leading to regular public evangelism, the harvest, year after year.”