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Editorial: The Best Medicine for Terror

Editorial by Jose H. Cortés, New Jersey Conference president

We are living in difficult times. It seems as if our civilization is falling apart because of terrorism, abuse and hatred. It is shocking to watch the news, as apparently harmless people—men, young women, sometimes children or elders—detonate themselves with explosives, killing and injuring dozens of people they do not even know! Can it get any crazier?

If we look at the other side, we see that our sophisticated society is plagued with abuses and violations: child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, racial hatred, prejudice and discrimination. Even politicians are lowered to dirty diatribes, verbal and physical attacks. Where are we going to stop?

Tara VinCross to Leave REACH Columbia Union Urban Evangelism School

Tara VinCross, director of the REACH Columbia Union Urban Evangelism School, has accepted a call to be senior pastor of the Azure Hill church in Grand Terrace, Calif.
 
“Tara has made a valuable contribution in engaging young adults to experience the mission,” says Dave Weigley, Columbia Union Conference president. “Being the founding director of REACH, she has provided excellent leadership in creating a place where young adults can experience experiential learning--a valuable method to engage young adults.”
 

Adventist Community Services Sets up Warehouse in Belle, W.Va.

Photo by Howard Lake on flickr

Mountain View Conference’s Adventist Community Services (ACS) staff is actively involved in coordinating relief efforts following floods in West Virginia that killed 23 people and left thousands homeless. The team is working to organize a warehouse south of Charleston, in Belle, W.Va., where victims will receive necessary items.

Belle is about 50 miles from the site of the upcoming Best Pathway to Health event where Seventh-day Adventists from around the country will converge to offer free medical care to community members.

Mountain View Conference ACS Releases Flooding Response Statement

Larry Murphy, Adventist Community Services director for the Mountain View Conference released this update on the West Virginia flooding:

I want to thank anyone who has contacted myself or the conference office making yourselves available to aid our fellow West Virginians in this terrible time of crisis. Many families have lost homes and loved ones, and we need to keep them in our prayers.

Adventist Community Services is actively involved in the coordination of relief efforts. The need that we fill here in WV is warehouse management. All donated goods have to be organized, so that emergency managers know what they have available to help the people they serve.

At this time, it is too early for donations to be sent, or volunteer help to arrive. Search and rescue efforts are still going on and local leadership is asking everyone to wait for now. Certain trained organizations are on location, and help is being given, but everything is being coordinated through the state EOC office.

We will post updates and needs here as the information becomes available. If you have ACS training, or just want to help, please wait for a call for volunteers to be posted here on this Facebook page.  Please keep not only the victims, but also the emergency workers in your prayers.

Thank you and God bless,
Larry Murphy, ACS Director
Mountain View Conference

ACS Report #1 on West Virginia Flooding

Bob Mitchell, Potomac Conference Adventist Community Services and Disaster Relief coordinator released this statement today:

As you have probably seen on the news and weather reports, there is MAJOR flooding in West Virginia.  Forty-four counties have been put under a disaster declaration.  Our Columbia Union ACS DR Coordinator has been contracted by the Mountain View Conference to possibly provide trained ACS DR volunteers to serve in the process of collecting, warehousing, and distribution of emergency supplies.

Several counties in Western and Southwestern Virginia have also been flooded.  Traffic on I-64 in western Virginia is being controlled by the state police.

Congregational Compilation: Finally a New, Improved Church Encyclopedia

Story by Dawna-gene Milton

Have you ever wanted to learn more about a particular topic related to the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its history? With the new and greatly improved Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists (ESDA) being developed now—the work’s first update since 1966—members across the globe will be able to access its pages in one, quick, easy step.

According to Benjamin Baker, ESDA managing editor, “The ESDA will be born and live online, with entirely free content available to all with the swipe of a fingertip on just about any device.” He says the compilation will be a great tool, not only for those seeking to learn more about the church, but will aide those looking to witness to others.

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Editorial: Where do We go From Here?

Photo by Hearly Mayr

Editorial by the 2016-2021 Executive Officers

Every new morning presents an opportunity to make a difference.  Every new year is a chance to start over—to make commitments  and resolutions.

This month starts a new five-year term for your Columbia Union Conference leadership team and executive committee. We are humbled by your confidence and support, and thank you for the opportunity to continue to serve. This new 2016-2021 quinquennium provides an opportunity to dream, evaluate, refocus and create shared vision about where we go from here and how we can touch our diverse union with Christ’s life-transforming message of hope and wholeness.

6 Questions to Pray About

Hilltop Community Worship Center Hosts Safety Forum

Yesterday Allegheny West Conference's Hilltop Community Worship Center and the Westside Community Health Advisory Committee convened a Safety Forum for the public at the church at 2622 Sullivant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43223.

The forum came as a response to the serial rapes and gang tagging that occurred in the neighborhood in late May. “With summer coming, we want to discuss ways the community can stay safe when more people are outside,” according to Jason Ridley, Hilltop’s pastor and Dru Bagley, chair of WCHAC.

Napoleon Bell, a former police officer and a former director for the City of Columbus Community Relations Commission, moderated the Forum.