News

Photo courtesy Howardy County Hospital

Story by Melissa Reid/NAD / Photos courtesy Howard County General Hospital

The New Hope church in Fulton, Md., Columbia Union Conference, and several ministries at the North American Division (NAD) contributed funds to provide two separate meals to the approximately 1,000 healthcare workers on staff at Howard County General Hospital.

Howard County, Maryland, is home to 10 Seventh-day Adventist congregations, a Pre-K to 10 school, two regional headquarters (Chesapeake Conference and the Columbia Union Conference), and the North American Division office.

Story by WGTS Staff

It is completed! The final element of the new WGTS studios and offices has been completed--two beautiful engraved brick columns. These brick columns are a symbol of service. They show the sacrifice of hundreds of listeners who make this ministry center possible. Over 700 carefully engraved bricks make up two gateway columns in the entry of the media ministry.

Johnny and Stacey Stone from Afternoons on WGTS 91.9 headed to Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center recently to say "thank you" and "we are praying for you" to all of the health care workers there. They arrived at just as the evening shift was changing and kept their distance as they held up signs saying "Heroes" and "Air Hugs" to those coming into work.

"You could see the smiles on the faces of those coming in when they heard thank you or saw our signs," explained Johnny Stone. "Those coming out looked so overloaded but they laughed and waved at us when they heard us saying that they are amazing and that we are praying for them."

Gwynavere Culpepper

Ricardo Bacchus, Visitor newsletter and Visitor News Bulletin editor, interviewed Gwynavere Culpepper, a senior at Pennsylvania Conference’s Blue Mountain Academy in Hamburg, to see how her last semester of distance learning is going and what she’s doing to continue ministering to others.

Mercer Fox, a fifth-grader, holds a “fire snake” during a STEM Buddies session.

Story by Dillon Zimmerman

Ohio Conference's Spring Valley Academy (SVA) is making a concentrated effort to expand their science program this year. One route they have taken is an initiative dubbed “STEM Buddies.” The vision of STEM Buddies involves high school students sharing the knowledge they have acquired in their science courses with lower grades using a method that is both understandable and enjoyable.

Image from Free-Photos on Pixabay

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.

Tithe Envelope

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