March 28, 2023
For Immediate Release
Statement From the Columbia Union Conference Regarding Allegations at Kettering Health
The Columbia Union Conference is aware and takes seriously allegations of inappropriate fiscal and operational management at Kettering Health, a nonprofit health care organization sponsored by the Columbia Union.
The allegations are currently being investigated by an external firm retained by the Kettering Health Board to conduct a thorough and independent examination.
Story by Liz Bailey
Fourteen-year-old Rachel Velez became friends with her public school teacher Lauri Nichols during their private tutoring sessions. As they met each week, Velez could not hide her love for Jesus, often talking to her teacher about God. One day, Velez invited Nichols and her husband, Joe, to church to hear her sing special music.
Editorial by Jerry Lutz
It is remarkable to see how God can use the least likely people to do amazing things. For example, take the apostles Peter and John. The New Testament reveals enough about their personal lives from before they knew Jesus to all but guarantee they’d be overlooked as candidates for discipleship, let alone commissioned for key leadership in His church. While these Galilean fishermen were indeed colorful individuals with as coarse and unrefined characters as they come, Jesus sdaw in them what others did not: Potential. And what potential there was!
Story by Spencerville Church Staff
Seventh-day Adventists have a “high” view of Scripture. We find the Bible an invaluable resource for knowing God's character as we as His plan for our lives. The Biblical Perspectives series seeks to bring our audience into a conversation on timely, relevant topics between a local church pastor, Pastor Chad Stuart, and a highly-educated theologian, Dr. Frank M. Hasel.
Story by Daniel Biaggi
Experiencing long-held Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) traditions with students is an uplifting experience. One tradition students look forward to—for more than 20 years now—is the handbell RingFest held in Toledo, Ohio.
Story by Heidi Wetmore
Chesapeake Conference's Spencerville Adventist Academy (SAA) recently held its second annual Career Day for the entire student body, grades pre-K to 12.
Story by Debra Anderson
Church revitalization is the process of leading a dying church back to a healthy state. Many churches are not only dealing with empty seats but also experiencing congregants losing interest in church life and growth. Recognizing this need for an infusion of new energy and vision, the Potomac Conference recently transitioned Paul Graham to serve as assistant to the vice president for Pastoral Ministries for Revitalization. Graham, who most recently served the conference as the associate Ministerial director of the North, will be assisting churches that are suffering from a lack of vision and growth to identify and rectify their deficits. It’s a process that sometimes may take months, and, in some situations, years, Graham says.
The Memorial Service for Dr. William G. Johnsson, scholar, professor, writer, advocate, and former editor of the Adventist Review, will be held on March 25, 2023, 6:00 PM PDT, at Crosswalk Church in Redlands, Calif., 10421 Corporate Dr, Redlands, CA 92374.
The service will be streamed live from https://crosswalkvillage.com/memorial.
A full obituary, and the means to share a note in memory of Johnsson, may be found at legcy.co/3TxNHLX The messages that are shared on this page will be read and cherished by Johnsson family.
Recently, three alumni of Pine Forge Academy (PFA): Donna Franklin (’66), Beverly Vaughn (’67) and Rocky Twyman (’66), were honored as part of La Sierra University’s (LSU) 100 outstanding graduates during its Gala Centennial Celebration.
Story by Ohio Conference Staff
The Ohio Conference office team bids farewell to Edward and Mariya Marton and Kasper Haughton Jr., and welcomes Joseph Ottinger.
Edward served 14 years in Ohio as a senior pastor and another seven years
as the conference’s youth director. His next assignment will be with the Kentucky- Tennessee Conference as youth director and as summer camp director for Indian Creek Camp (Tenn.).
Mariya will also serve the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference as the associate youth director. Over the decades, she ministered in Ohio as a chaplain for Kettering Health, a senior pastor, and as associate youth director for the conference.