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Choir Records New Album Beams of Heaven

Pine Forge Academy Choir

Story by Tracey Jackson

Early last spring, Pine Forge Academy (PFA) students, faculty and families celebrated a historic event years in the making. The choir, accompanied by Diallo Banks on piano; Russel Paul, using one of the oldest and largest organs in the Philadelphia area; and a full orchestra, recorded their most recent audio CD. The album features a myriad of musical selections, ranging from the classical period to gospel music.

It has been 12 years since the PFA choir produced Rock in a Weary Land, under the direction of Jason Ferdinand, the current director of the Oakwood University (Ala.) Aeolians and chair of Oakwood’s Music Department. Ferdinand served as the PFA choir director from 2001–2008.

I’ve Been Chosen by God

New Jersey Camporee

Story by Sarah Capeles Frodelly

Have you ever waited in excitement and anticipation for a special occasion to arrive? I waited 30 years to return to a Pathfinder camporee. In 1989, “The Friendship Camporee,” proudly sponsored by the Columbia Union Conference, embraced 14,000 attendees. To my surprise, 30 years later, I joined more than 57,000 Pathfinders, leaders and volunteers at the 2019 “Chosen” International Pathfinder Camporee.

The week, packed with many activities, honors and presentations, also included kids and kid-like adults who traded pins with such passion. On Sabbath, with every bit of emotion running through our veins, we watched when David, in the play, was crowned king.

98-Year-Old Woman Pioneers Feeding Ministry

Alice Mae Jones

Story by Benia Jennings

On an early morning in Cleveland, Alice Mae Jones (pictured)  begins her drive to the nearby Salvation Army in search of bread. After collecting several loaves, she returns home to wrap the slices and sets some aside to help church members in need. She saves the rest for the hungry in her community. In her neighborhood, she offers prayer, encouragement and Bible studies.

Jones, a second generation Seventh-day Adventist, has been active in ministry in Northern Ohio since moving to Cleveland in 1946. Armed with loaves of bread and her Bible, this one-woman feeding ministry has impacted the lives of many in her community.

Luso-Brazilian Church Hosts Health Fair

Story by Ana Palacios-Sampaio

The Luso-Brazilian church in Newark, N.J., recently organized and held a “Life for Lives” health fair as an outreach effort to meet the needs of the neighboring community, most of whom are of Portuguese descent. Additionally, the church’s health fair also coordinated a blood drive, massage therapy, donated food, and provided information about women’s health and more.

ADRA President Jonathan Duffy Steps Down

Story by Kimi-Roux James

Jonathan Duffy, president of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International, has stepped down from his role, effective immediately, due to personal reasons. 

“The ADRA Board has accepted Jonathan’s resignation and expresses appreciation for his service,” says Ella Simmons, board vice-chair and general vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. “Jonathan served as president of ADRA since his election in 2013. He has led the network of more than 130 offices to adopt a new strategic framework that allowed ADRA to align with changing trends in the development and humanitarian sector.”

Student Leaders Attend Spiritual Retreat

Student leaders from Ohio Conference’s Spring Valley Academy attend the Spiritual Academy Leadership Training (SALT) weekend.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard and Monica Zill / Photos by Zill

This fall student leaders (Pine Forge Academy students pictured) from all of the Columbia Union conference’s junior and senior academies gathered with union and academy leadership in Edgewater, Md., for the annual Spiritual Academy Leadership Training (SALT) weekend.

Churches Dig Into Biblical Truth, Evangelism

Pastor Franke Zollman displays an artifact.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Many churches around the Columbia Union are hosting community-focused fall evangelism meetings as part of the recently announced “Share the Light—Share the Hope” evangelism initiative. 

Chesapeake Conference's Atholton church in Columbia, Md., hosted one of these meetings. In addition to Senior Pastor Franke Zollman's presentations, titled "In Search of Meaning: Archaeology and the Bible," attendees were invited to see his collection of artifacts from Bible times.

Venue to Evangelism

Calling All Superheroes

Members of the Langley Park Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church (Some were volunteers, some ran) gather at the race.

Photographs by Nisha Varghese and Madhu Tummalapalli

Last weekend many Columbia Union Conference and community members grabbed their capes and participated in Christalis’ Superhero 5K run/walk to support the organization’s home for children in Uganda.

More than 200 supporters registered for the event, held at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.