Story by Michele Joseph, reprinted from the ASI Columbia Union Chapter’s April 2020 newsletter
Daniel Reed could do little as his business “came to a complete stop.”
As the number of positive COVID-19 tests grew and Virginia’s governor called for stricter social distancing measures, customers’ calls to Nova HomeWorks, in Sterling, went from new orders to postponements and cancellations.
Story by Tiffany Doss
When recently redesigning Potomac Conference's tithe envelopes, leaders took the opportunity to bring it life and answer common questions.
“The number one question I get asked when I visit churches throughout the conference is, ‘How is tithe distributed?’” says Tony Reyes, director for Stewardship and Planned Giving. “Since we often don’t get the opportunity to explain this to members face-to-face, we decided to use the tithe envelope as an information/education piece and provide a dynamic breakdown. We also wanted to promote different conference ministries, as well as the Adventist Giving app for those who only ‘speak mobile.’”
How is the coronavirus impacting life, mission and ministry? How are Seventh-day Adventist members, pastors and leaders in the Columbia Union Conference coping with the disruption and uncertainty? Watch episodes of Visitor News Live to see more.
5 Ways Columbia Union Members are Creating Community
The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have overtaken every facet of life. Five Columbia Union churches are attempting to ease the heavy load and stress we’ve been carrying by virtually meeting the needs of their community.
1. Chesapeake Conference’s Highland View church in Hagerstown, Md., is delivering communion items to members’ homes Friday to virtually take part in their livestreamed communion service on Sabbath.
“We’re in survival mode right now and it was really sudden. There wasn’t a whole lot of preparation [before the Covid-19 hit the United States], said Marissa Leslie, M.D., chair of Psychiatry at Adventist HealthCare in the Columbia Union Visitor’s “Coping in the Time of Covid-19 conversation series.
“We heard the news stories and it seemed like it was far away. It seemed like as soon as the schools closed, that is when panic set in,” shared Leslie. “And every few days a new restriction would come for public safety, but we just lost the sense of control and when you lose the sense of control psychologically you try to control something. It may be the kids online school or it may be your husband making dinner. Your body starts to feel tenser.”
Story by Andrew S. Lay
Under the auspices of the National Institute for STEM Education (NISE), affiliated with Rice University (Texas), Highland View Academy (HVA) was recently recognized for being a STEM-certified school. This is a first in the North American Division (NAD). Faculty also received the National Certificate for STEM Teaching, including Myrna Biswas-Nowrangi, Ophelia Barizo and Colleen Lay, and teachers Lisa Norton and Paty Serrano.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
This Sabbath 12 of the 23 eligible teams from around the Columbia Union Conference will participate in a virtual union-level Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE), testing participants on the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Hosea, Amos, Jonah and Micah. The event, originally scheduled for March 21 at New Jersey Conference’s Tranquility Valley Retreat Center in Tranquility, was temporarily postponed due to safety concerns relating to the coronavirus outbreak.
The online event will now take place on Zoom. The results will be broadcast Sunday, April 12, (time to be announced) on the Columbia Union Visitor Facebook page: facebook.com/columbiaunionvisitor.
The family of a New Jersy Conference member battling the coronavirus recently shared this encouraging answer to prayer.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
Story by Adventist HealthCare
Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center has been working closely with the State of Maryland to coordinate surge capacity to care for COVID-19 patients. This plan includes expanding capacity at both the hospital in White Oak and at the Takoma Park campus of the former Washington Adventist Hospital. The State of Maryland has approved the following interim plan for the Takoma Park facility:
