News | Seventh-day Adventist Church

Sligo’s Ministry Lifts Broken Hearts

Story by Tiffany Doss

A plethora of thoughts swarmed around in her head as she entered the church for the first time after her husband’s funeral. Charlotte Conway and her husband, Bob, had been members of Potomac Conference's Sligo church in Takoma Park, Md., for 37 years—but now things were different.

The familiar sense of belonging she embraced every time she walked into the massive edifice to worship was replaced with uncomfortable feelings of loneliness and uncertainty. Conway remembers sitting on “their pew” in “their spot” with tears flowing. Should she stay, or should she go home? The grief was overwhelming.

New Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Chapter Begins at Takoma Academy

Story by Salena Featherstone

For three years, Takoma Academy (TA) students have participated in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) organization under the Washington Adventist University HOSA chapter, located in Takoma Park, Md. This year, under the leadership of sponsor Yvette Weir (pictured), TA began its own chapter.

Waldwick Teacher Named Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year

Maxine Forbes-Goulding and her former and current students and Sadrail Saint-Ulysse celebrate Forbes-Goulding's recent honor.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

The New Jersey Council for American Private Education (CAPE) recently announced Maxine Forbes-Goulding, a teacher at New Jersey Conference’s Waldwick Seventh-day Adventist School, as the 26th Annual Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year.

Ohio Conference Sells Mount Vernon Property

Story by Heidi Shoemaker

Earlier this summer, the Ohio Conference closed on the sale of their former office and two adjoining houses.

“We are praising the Lord,” says Ron Halvorsen Jr., Ohio Conference president. “This has been an answer to prayer,” he says.

Constituents voted an action at the 42nd Regular Constituency Meeting on May 6, 2018, which authorized conference officers, working in concert with both the finance and executive committees, to discontinue use of the Mount Vernon office and to list and sell the property. In June 2019, both the conference finance and executive committees discussed, prayed over and voted in favor of the purchase agreement.

Generous Hearts

Editorial by Rick Remmers

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6, NKJV). While we often reference this passage in the context of financial giving, it speaks to a larger principle in our lives—we reap what we sow.

Editorial: Right Place, Right Time

Editorial by Darren Wilkins

Just when I thought we had completed the 2018–19 hiring process, an opportunity knocked that was too good to pass up. Our new full-time guidance counselor, Katrina Bennie (pictured with her girls Nora, left, and Violet), has worked 10 years at Redlands Adventist Academy (Calif.) as a teacher, guidance counselor and vice principal. She has a master’s degree in school counselling, a doctorate in school administration and leadership and is a certified school psychologist, making her very qualified for this position. Bennie has a warm demeanor and exudes a passion for young people.

New Capitol Hill Counseling and Resource Center Established in Washington, D.C.

Capitol Hill Counseling and Resource Center Board Members pray before the grand opening.

Story by Visitor and Capitol Hill Church Staff

Harrisburg First Church Celebrates 125 Years of Ministry

Story by Tracey S. Lewis

Pennsylvania Conference’s Harrisburg First church recently welcomed more than 300 members and guests to its special 125th year anniversary service, themed “Come Home to Jesus.”

The event featured a weekend of fellowship, testimonials and renewed commitment to reaching the lost through personal revival and recommitment to God’s love. Speakers included Pastor Chuck Holtry; Kenneth Stout, a professor at Andrews University (Mich.) and former pastor; and Gary Gibbs, Pennsylvania Conference president, who helped mark the church’s milestone and commended its legacy of service and steadfastness in Central Pennsylvania.

Ohio Pathfinder Uses Sign Language to Help in Pin Trade

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photo by Sonja Berg-Hults

Ever earn a Pathfinder honor that you thought you’d never use?

Debbie Hall, a Pathfinder leader who traveled with Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Worthington Seventh-Day Adventist Church group at the International Camporee, received these pins from a trade with Marye, a deaf and legally blind girl.

After writing notes for a bit, Hall revived her sign language skills she learned earning the honor years ago. “The honors are actually good to learn and good to study. And it's not just an honor. It's a lesson that you can take into the real world and actually use it,” she says.

Centerville Members Dash for 10,000 Miles

Story by Heidi Shoemaker

Joel Greve, the youth pastor at the Centerville church, recently challenged members (some pictured) to take part in a “40-Day Dash.” The goal? To walk or run at least one mile a day for 40 days.

The idea behind “the dash was to get people out and moving, ideally with family or friends,” explains Greve. The rules were simple: It had to be an intentional mile. They could not use accumulated steps from throughout the day.