News

A small group of members interested in reaching the more than 15,000 Liberians living in the Philadelphia area reached out to Pastor Matthew Kamara who was completing a doctorate of ministry at Andrews University (Mich.). Kamara previously served as the treasurer of the Liberian Conference in Africa and planted several churches there and in South Bend, Ind.

Story by Pennsylvania Conference Staff

Kamara agreed to help and started the journey to opening the Pilgrim church. In 2013 Kamara started commuting to Philadelphia on weekends. In 2014 he moved there and started working more intensely in the area. Now, after only two years, about 60 people attend each Sabbath.

When John and Janelle Rivera decided to work with the Laurelwood church youth again, they only planned to revive the Pathfinder club. However, they ended up leading a group of young people of varying ages, from juniors to young adults, many of whom did not grow up in Seventh-day Adventist homes or didn’t take their faith seriously.

Story by New Jersey Conference Staff

The Deptford church’s Laurelwood Lions Pathfinder Club sometimes functions more like a youth group, combining aspects of Pathfinders and Adventist Youth (AY) mixed with a dose of practical life lessons. Recently, the Riveras challenged members to create a $1,800 monthly budget for living on their own.

Highland View Academy’s STEM certificate program launched this year with approximately 30 students enrolled. These students benefit from an intensive but well-rounded education that especially prepares them to pursue STEM-related college majors. New STEM classes include integrated STEM, anatomy and physiology, project-based learning, robotics, iOS app development and a pilot of Maryland’s new advanced placement Computer Science Principles course.

Story by Lori Zerne

Do you believe in a literal, six-day creation? Why or why not? Read more about this topic in the September Underscore article, and read responses from some of our Facebook followers below—and add your own.

//

Do you believe in a literal seven-day creation week? Why?

Posted by Columbia Union Visitor on Saturday, August 1, 2015

Posted by Columbia Union Visitor on Saturday, August 1, 2015

Read and share these stories from the September 2015 Visitor:

Learn more about how mentors at Allegheny East Conference’s (AEC) Calvary church in Newport News, Va.,  do their part to inspire and uplift young men in their church and community in our September Visitor cover story. Watch an AEC video spotlight of the group below.

CROP from AEC Media Center on Vimeo.

Read and share these stories from the September 2015 Visitor:

Is it possible to forgive your child’s murderer? In A Time to Forgive, Darold Bigger explores the closure only God could bring after the slaying of his daughter, Shannon Marie Bigger, a young intern at Washington Adventist Hospital in Silver Spring, Md. Bigger resides in Walla Walla, Washington where he attends Walla Walla University Church.

Interview by Dawna-gene Milton

Visitor: What made you want to share such a personal experience?

Dr. H. Jean Wright II has written Find Strength In Your Struggle: Discover The Miracle In You to help readers learn you can overcome any situation with power from God. Wright is a member of Pennsylvania Conference's Chestnut Hill church in Philadelphia.

Interview by Dawna-gene Milton

Visitor: What was the motivation behind writing Find Strength In Your Struggle: Discover The Miracle In You?

I am humbled to be asked to lead our education family here in Ohio,” says Ken Knudsen, newly appointed superintendent of education. “The number-one goal of Adventist education is to share the love of Jesus with our children.”

Story by Heidi Shoemaker, Ohio Conference

This summer Charleston, S.C., has been in the news because of the racially motivated massacre of nine African-Americans attending a Bible study and prayer service at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. A young, white man entered the house of worship and, after an hour, pulled out a gun and began his murderous rampage.  

Editorial by Rick Remmers, Chesapeake Conference president   

Words seem to fail in describing and condemning the horror of such racist and violent actions. While news outlets have covered many aspects of this disturbing story, there is a perspective from the Bible that needs to be considered.

The first angel’s message reads, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Rev. 14:6).