News

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Getting Closer to Christ

Each day our Columbia Union Conference teachers dedicate their lives to sharing Christ with their students in the classroom. During the North American Division Teachers’ Convention, we asked them to share creative ways they minister. Below, find tips and ideas for helping your children spend time with Jesus:

Prayer Journals

Darlene Peterson, the first- and second-grade teacher at Pennsylvania Conference’s Reading Junior Academy, has her students keep prayer journals.

Editorial by Mike Hewitt

“We exist to grow healthy churches that reflect Christ’s love and compassion in our communities.”

This is the new mission statement voted this year by our Mountain View Conference Executive Committee. And going forward, it will guide our work together.

Story by Visitor Staff

The North American Division’s Education, Ministerial and Youth Departments have teamed up with Restore a Child, Inc., to hold “do fast,” (defending orphans fast) on November 10, World Orphans Day.

The day, planned for churches, youth groups and schools at all levels, is a 24-hour fast to raise hunger awareness. Instead of eating, participants will be involved in activities and are encouraged to donate the money saved from fasting to feed hungry and starving children.

Click here for materials and curriculum to use in your local group.

Sidney Harris (white skirt), a member of the Ephesus church in Richmond, Va., waves hello with a group of students who decided to get baptized as a result of Harris’ ministry in Lesotho.

Story by Sergio Romero

A group of young adults from across the Allegheny West Conference recently traveled to Lesotho, South Africa. Their challenge was clear: to bring Jesus to the people of Lesotho.

At the North American Division Teachers' Convention in Chicago, Manny Scott shares how a teacher transformed his life.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Tears streamed down Manny Scott’s face as talked to some 5,000 Seventh-day Adventist educators at the North American Division 2018 Teachers’ Convention in Chicago.

Dear Columbia Union Members,

This year’s Annual Council—the annual fall gathering of the governing body for our worldwide church—is scheduled for October 11-17 in Battle Creek, Mich.

Our Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee is deeply concerned about proposals that will be considered this year that are designed to bypass long-established church structure and create an overreaching arm that would facilitate increased control of any division or union action the General Conference leadership doesn’t approve going forward. The Union Committee does not believe this tactic will help to advance mission nor achieve unity.

Joe Lowe (’86) joins the SVA team as the new recruiter and freshman Bible teacher, accompanied by his family, Mason (’24), Zachary (’21), Laura (’91) and Ethan (’19).

Story by Janel Ware

Alumnus Joe Lowe (’86), the Potomac Conference Shenandoah Valley Academy’s (SVA) new recruiter and freshman Bible teacher, recently sat down with Janel Ware, SVA’s development and alumni director, to discuss the school’s impact on his life, how imperative an Adventist boarding school is for his sons and the desire God has placed on his heart for all teenagers to have this same opportunity:

Story by Andre Hastick

Over the last year, Chesapeake Conference administrators have been on a journey, paved with an abundance of prayer and discussion. Members, pastors, educators, executive committee members, department directors and others engaged in a conversation about the mission of the conference. This prayerful dialogue refreshed the strategic ministry plan, officially voted in May 2018 by the conference executive committee.

“We are thankful for the input from throughout the conference and the careful  consideration by the executive committee in developing the strategic plan. It will help to provide priority and guidance of the ministries during this quinquennium,” says Rick Remmers, president.