By Merle Poirier
News
Editorial by Paul Glenn
I once heard a customer state, “Paul’s worked at the Adventist Book Center (ABC) since nearly the beginning of time.” The ABC, indeed, was established in the Columbia Union Conference 120 years ago, but to set the record straight, I was only employed for 45 years—mostly at the Potomac ABC in Takoma Park, Md., and in its current LivingWell store in Silver Spring, Md.
Story by Iris Argueta
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) mobilizes to respond to the devastation caused by a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea on Friday, May 24. The landslide, which occurred in the early morning hours, left behind a trail of destruction, and impacted the lives of thousands of people in the affected communities.
Story by Esther Hernandez
Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) has long been a place for young people to experience academic excellence, deepen their relationship with God and enjoy a strong Seventh-day Adventist community. This is beautifully exemplified in the stories of alumni Kyle and Nicole Nase.
Story by Stephen Lee
With the inspiring motto, “Dream big and let God do the rest,” the Adult Singles’ Ministries of the New Jersey Conference recently orchestrated a convention that delivered a profoundly impactful experience, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of its participants.
Story by Lulu Mwangi
This July, the Takoma Academy (TA) Chorale will be traveling to New Zealand and Australia to minister in song and service and to participate in the 13th World Choir Games (WCG). The group is excited to participate in this event for a second time and plan to both win medals and souls for Christ. The event in Auckland will welcome 25,000 people singing in 300 choirs and representing nearly 70 countries.
TA’s first appearance at the WCG was 2018 in South Africa where the choir won one gold medal and two silver. A fundraising campaign is currently underway to help alleviate some of the travel cost for the students. Please keep the participants and plans in prayer.
Story by Tamyra Horst
The Pennsylvania Conference is excited to welcome Alberto Balio and his wife, Milerqui De Paula, back to its state. Balio is the new Hispanic Ministries coordinator and pastor of the Reading Emmanuel Hispanic church.
“We are thankful to God for leading Pastor Balio to return to our conference,” shares Gary Gibbs, president. “He had a significant influence in advancing and building our work among the Spanish language population when serving in Pennsylvania before, and we believe God will use his heart for people, his passion for evangelism and his sense of mission to impact and grow the work in our Hispanic churches.”
The Columbia Union Conference—which covers the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States—is home to many locations where people of the Seventh-day Adventist faith made (and continue to make) history. But how did the greater Washington, D.C., area become a church hub in the first place? And where can one find impactful, lesser-known historic sites within the Columbia Union territory?
Story by Iris Argueta / Image courtesy ADRA
As the world prepares to observe World Refugee Day on June 20 and World Refugee Sabbath on June 15, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) reaffirms its commitment to bringing attention to the challenges faced by millions of families, women, and children forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, violence, and climate change.
ADRA has been working to aid refugees and internally displaced families for more than four decades. The global agency recognizes especially the plight of the more than 43 million children who are displaced from their homes, and represent over 41 percent of the world’s refugees, according to UN data.
Story by Angela Peach
Spring Valley Academy (SVA) is blessed with dedicated faculty and staff who treat their jobs as a calling. But with more than 530 students this year, there are myriad opportunities for volunteers to “plug in” and work alongside SVA faculty and staff to enrich and encourage the students and better the school.