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3.	WGTS Director of Music Rob Conway shows off his backswing.

Story by Jerry Woods

Over 40 golfers enjoyed a day on the links at P.B. Dye Golf Club in Ijamsville, Md., for the third annual “Difference Makers Golf Tournament.” Golfers enjoyed breakfast as WGTS President and CEO Kevin Krueger and WGTS staff members welcomed them to the club. Then everyone took to the course for the tournament, which included several prizes including the longest drive hole, and a grand-prize package for winning the entire tournament.

Members of the Capital Brazilian Temple church now worship on a 16-acre property in Highland, Md.

Story by Evan Knott

Several Chesapeake Conference congregations recently celebrated new church property acquisitions. The Capital Brazilian Temple, the Prince Emmanuel All Nations, and the Open Arms churches all finalized purchases of new properties in September.

Story by Benia Jennings

“My passion for Health Ministries comes from my own health struggles,” says Donna Peters, Allegheny West Conference’s (AWC) new Health Ministries coordinator. “In the past, I was prediabetic and overweight with high blood pressure. I wanted to learn how I could help heal myself through exercise and food,” she says.

Story by Benia Jennings

“We should all go to the doctor for routine checkups to ensure everything is operating as it should and to catch potential issues before they become a problem. In my opinion, the role of the conference auditor is similar. It’s good to have someone come in and ensure that the church’s finances are operating as they should and identify potential problems ahead of time,” says Elliott Meredith III, Allegheny West Conferencew's (AWC) newest auditor.

Meredith acknowledges that being audited often has a negative connotation. It’s something that he hopes to change. “I’d like to build a relationship as the liaison between the churches and the Treasury Department that will evoke a positive connotation.”

Image by Anil sharma from Pixabay

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

The Columbia Union Conference’s 97 early childhood education centers, elementary, junior academies, academies and colleges have a combined enrollment of 8,069 this school year, up from 8,027 last school year.

At recent Columbia Union meetings, Donovan Ross, vice president for Education, said the boarding academies are enjoying the highest enrollment rates since 2016 with 558 students at the union’s four boarding schools. Ross also reported that six schools across the territory are in various stages of building projects. 

Story by Washington Adventist University Staff

The Fall 2022 semester got off to a great start at Washington Adventist University (WAU). It began with the new students orientation during the week of August 21-27. WAU welcomed 204 new, transfer and graduate students. Among those new students, nine took advantage of the special annual flat tuition rate initiative of $12,000 currently being offered by WAU for undergraduate Columbia Union Conference students. The breakdown for the flat tuition rate is as follows: Four from the Potomac Conference, three from the Chesapeake Conference, one from the Allegheny East Conference, and one from the Allegheny West Conference.

Story by Cinthia Portonova

The New Jersey Conference welcomes Carl Rodriguez to serve as the new youth director. With many years of Youth Ministries experience under his belt, Rodriguez has worked as a teacher, pastor, camporee director and conference youth and young adult director. He most recently served as the Youth and Young Adult Ministries director for the Chesapeake Conference.

Rodriguez is currently a candidate for a Doctorate in Ministry in Urban Ministries from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary (Mich.), and already holds a Master of Divinity from the same institution. He also has a Master of Business Administration from Frostburg State University (Md.).