News

Story by Helene Riggs

“It doesn’t matter if the goal is completely met, but it does matter that there is a goal,” said Delthony Gordon, pastor of the Beavercreek church, as he presented the conference wide “2023 Initiative” to the church board in May 2021.

Gordon shared the idea of 2,023 Ohio baptisms by the year 2023 and challenged the board to set a baptismal goal for their church. After discussion, they unanimously picked 21 baptisms and extended the challenge to each ministry of the church.

Aaron Burden/Unsplash

Editorial by Jerry Lutz

“For I know where I came from and where I am going” (John 8:14, NKJV).

Jesus made three things about Himself clear to those who questioned His identity or the veracity of His claims: He knew Who He was, to Whom He belonged, and where He was going. These three certainties, which Jesus often found the opportunity to articulate in His many encounters with doubters and critics, comprised the firm foundation of His earthly mission and ministry.

Story by Courtney Dove

This coming fall, Kettering College will welcome up to 50 students, mostly from Ukraine. The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists created an “Education Emergency Plan” in March 2022 as the Russian invasion began in Ukraine and asked Adventist colleges and universities in North America how they could help support students whose education was being disrupted.

Caleb Haakenson photo by Tor Tjeransen Adventist Media Exchange

Story by Maryellen Hacko, ANN / Feature image by Tor Tjeransen Adventist Media Exchange

Capping off the 61st General Conference (GC) Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, leaders, delegates, and visitors gathered in St. Louis and online to enjoy a Sabbath afternoon program, followed by a final “Mission on the Move” program, which together celebrated the multicultural nature of the Adventist Church and encouraged members to say, “I Will Go”. 

SABBATH AFTERNOON—“I WILL GO” HIGHLIGHTS

Story by Christina Keresoma

God gives us open communication with Him through prayer. It’s our lifeline to Him. He even gives us different ways to enter these conversations with Him: praying the scriptures, prayer walks, prayer journals, prayer through song and worship, personalizing scripture, and group prayer. As a faith-based organization, our physicians, nurses, and employees can openly pray with each other, patients, and visitors.

As Seventh-day Adventists, we know prayer works. Physicians pray with patients before surgery, seeking God’s hand through the procedure and the patient’s healing. Environmental staff pray with patients in recovery rooms.

Story by Debra Anderson

If the last two years have taught us anything, if we want to reach people—the churched and the unchurched—we must think outside the box to connect with individuals in hopes of fulfilling their spiritual needs. GracePoints does just that.

GracePoints is a weekly video cast hosted by Melvyn Warfield, senior pastor of Potomac Conference's Community Praise Center (CPC) in Alexandria, Va. A labor of love, GracePoints began as a way to connect with his church family during the pandemic, he says. Every Wednesday, he emails the church with a short message of encouragement and the GracePoints devotional.

The name GracePoints comes from Warfield’s love of talking about the grace of God, giving practical points every week to help people live out their faith and get to know Christ better.

Editorial by Donovan Ross

When I was in the classroom, one of my favorite verses for morning devotion was Proverbs 3:6–7: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths” (NJKV). These verses reminded us that when we trust in God, we will be blessed by His direction. I’m still comforted by that reminder, especially as our Columbia Union Conference schools contend with the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences.