News

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Editorial by Tim Bailey

This April, as the Mountain View Conference (MVC) moves into a newquinquennium, I cannot help but look back and see how far we have come. God has blessed our small conference with many new people who have committed their lives to Him and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Since our last constituency, we have experienced an almost 10 percent growth in membership, almost double the attendance, and a 12 to 20 percent increase in tithe, depending on the year.

Story by Michele Joseph

As a school psychologist and the lay pastor of Liberty Mission Seventh-day Adventist Church in Washington, D.C., Donald Ross always looks for ways to connect with people. 

Teaching Against Rage and Guns while Embracing Talents and Social Skills—called T.A.R.G.E.T.S.S.  —  was created to do just that for students whose environment leaves them a witness to gun violence. 

Through this program, he and his team—which includes his wife, home-based business owner Karen, and Maria Williams, the church Community Services director —give teens tools to build a better life.

In December, the church held its second graduation for the six-week course, which is funded by a city mini grant.

Zaida Galva with Pastor Tim Harley at Shenandoah Valley Academy

Story by Zaida Galva (’24)

I can definitely say coming to Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) was a God-worked plan. My name is Zaida Galva, and I am a senior from New York City, a place where you are confronted with lots of challenges on a daily basis. City life is extremely fast-paced, and you never really have a chance to establish deep relationships with those around you. That all changed when I arrived at SVA.

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Many churches meet obvious needs for people with disabilities by providing services such as wheelchair ramps or sign language interpretation.

But, hidden physical disabilities are often over-looked and can impact the attendees’ abilities to participate in service and community life. April 20 has been designated as Adventist Possibility Ministries Day.

Photos by E.B.Gray/Gerry Chudleigh Collection, subjects and camps

Feature by Nicole Dominguez

Preteens are taking over Sephora. The conversations and complaints about young adults invading spaces outside their maturity level and price brackets like the aforementioned cosmetics store go beyond the generic gripe of “kids today,” revealing a deeper need: third places.

Editorial, Potomac Conference, Sherilyn O'Ffill, ‘Look Up at the Sky’

Editorial by Sherilyn O'Ffill, Associate Youth Director, Potomac Conference

At the age of 16, I became a staff member at Georgia Cumberland Conference’s Cohutta Springs Camp, and later at Northern California Conference’s Leoni Meadows Camp. Because of the positive influence summer camp had on me as a child, I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others too. While enjoying my staff roles, which included a kitchen worker, a counselor, the girls’ director and the assistant director, what inspired me the most was being mentored by other staff members. In turn, I learned how to mentor my campers—especially Mary.

Pathfinders at the 2024 Columbia Union Conference Pathfinder Bible Experience | Photo by Shane Hochstetler

Images by Shane Hochstetler

Last weekend, 23 of the 37 teams participating in the Columbia Union Conference level 2024 Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) placed first.

During the event, held in Tranquility, N.J., Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union executive secretary, and Emmanuel Asideu, treasurer, announced that the union will give $2,000 to all the teams placing first to aid in travel expenses to the upcoming North American Division event to take place in Colorado.

Congrats to all the participants!