Story by Edwin Manuel Garcia
Marco Estrada had no idea he would end up being a pastor. “As a matter of fact,” he said, “my dream was to be a soldier.” But God had other plans. Estrada, who was raised Catholic, immigrated to Atlantic City, N.J., from Mexico at the age of 15, and worked as a cook at a casino for 14 years. After enlisting in the Lord’s Army, he decided to return to Mexico to attain his bachelor’s degree in Theology from Montemorelos University.
Story by Valerie Morikone
With the support of its school board and church family, Mountain View Conference's Parkersburg Academy has made a bold move in their school program this year. They are offering a non-conventional kindergarten through second-grade education called “Forest Classroom”—a classroom in the woods with no walls or artificial lights.
Under the leadership of principal/teacher Monica Zill, who implemented this program, Julie Henson teaches this classroom out in nature.
The Forest Classroom offers students an opportunity to be children, to play, explore and take risks. Being outdoors in the richness of God’s nature offers support for health, emotional, physical, social and cognitive development that an indoor environment cannot reach, says Henson.
Story by Betty Klinck
Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center in Silver Spring, Md., has a new president. Anthony Stahl, the former president and CEO of Central Texas Medical Center in San Marco, Texas, today becomes the president of Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center. Stahl replaces Erik Wangsness who left the role to become the CEO of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel in September.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
“We believe in sharing God’s blessings with our entities,” said Columbia Union Conference Treasurer Emmanuel Asiedu. “[We] want to give $550,000 back to our entities to support the mission. [We’re] giving the money now so we can share the blessings now.”
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Leaders across the Columbia Union Conference are taking preemptive measures and creating necessary plans as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads through the United States. The North American Division (NAD) today announced they are canceling the upcoming NAD level Pathfinder Bible Experience that was scheduled April 18 in Salem, Ore.
Story by Tiffany Doss
On March 2, Potomac Conference’s Camp Blue Ridge in Montebello, Va., officially reopened after temporarily closing for regular business hours last season. Camp leadership will now host their first group—MissionFest—from March 12–21 and celebrate with a grand reopening March 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The grand reopening event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, camp tour, food and family fun activities.
Histoire par V. Michelle Bernard
Historia de V. Michelle Bernard
Histoire par Ricardo Bacchus
Les enfants, avez-vous trouvé Victor, la Souris de Visitor dans notre dernier numéro ? Sinon, ne vous inquiétez pas ; vous pouvez maintenant essayer une fois de plus ! Les 15 premiers enfants qui arrivent à la repérer, à publier une photo le montrant dans le magazine et à nous « taguer » sur Facebook ou Instagram recevront un signet de LivingWell à Silver Spring, Maryland.
Story by Edwin Manual Garcia
Second-career pastors are becoming more common across the North American Division and the Columbia Union Conference. In fact, about one-third of students enrolled at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Mich., are studying to be pastors after leaving another career, says Ivan L. Williams, Sr., director of the division’s Ministerial Association.
The number of these non-traditionally trained pastors is increasing as fewer undergraduate students study theology and newer converts abandon their careers to enter the ministry.