News

  1. Home
  2. News

6 Ways to Make Time for God in the New Year

Bible by Pexels on Pixabay

Want to grow closer to God in 2022? Here are some tips that can help, from Ricardo Bacchus, features editor of the Columbia Union Visitor.

1. Schedule a regular check-in time with a prayer partner.

2. Listen to Christian music or a daily audio Bible at work, as you exercise or travel.

3. Plan a date with God, then keep it.

4. Find a distraction-free environment for worship time.

5. Prayer walk during your lunch or break times.

6. Participate in the Columbia Union 2022 Scripture Memorization plan, found on our Columbia Union Conference app, that invites members to learn Bible verses that are centered around praise.

December 21, 2021: The Mind of Christ

image from iStock

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5, KJV).

What is the mind of Christ? How does God think? If we continue with this passage in Philippians, we learn that even though Jesus was God, He humbled Himself to become a man. But He didn’t stop there. He didn’t come as a king or some wealthy person; He became a servant.

He didn’t stop there either. He humbled Himself to be subject to death on a cross—the worst and most humiliating form of punishment any human could endure. Accordingly, the mind of Christ is complete and utter selflessness and humility.

Because of His selfless sacrifice, we learn that Christ was exalted above every name. And “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Phil. 2:10, KJV).

Cuatro Miembros del Personal Ascendidos

Historia de Visitor Personal

El Comité Ejecutivo de la Unión votó a Greg Iverson para que se desempeñe como director de Servicios de Tecnología de la Información (IT) a partir de febrero del 2022, luego de la jubilación de Harold Greene, actual director de IT. Iverson ha trabajado en la unión desde el 2001, sirviendo como asistente y director asociado, con una cartera que incluye administrador de redes y sistemas.

Christopher Araujo fue ascendido de asistente a director asociado de IT. Durante los últimos 15 años ha dirigido la red que apoya las oficinas de la unión, de las conferencias y de las escuelas.

En la misma reunión, Ricardo Bacchus y V. Michelle Bernard, ambos subdirectores de Servicios de Comunicación, fueron promovidos a directores asociados.

Nombran Nueva Secretaria Ejecutiva

Historia de Visitor Personal

En su reunión final del 2021, el Comité Ejecutivo de la unión nombró a Celeste Ryan Blyden como secretaria ejecutiva. Es la primera mujer en ocupar el puesto en los 114 años de historia de la unión.

Blyden se ha desempeñado como vicepresidenta de Comunicación Estratégica y Relaciones Públicas desde el 2014, cuando hizo historia como la primera vicepresidenta mujer en la unión. Fue reelegida en las sesiones de constituyentes en el 2016 y en el 2021.

"Celeste ha demostrado una verdadera pasión por la misión y el liderazgo eficaz y ha sido pastora y animadora de quienes la rodean", dice el presidente Dave Weigley.

Lanzamiento del Nuevo Sitio Web de CURF

Historia de V. Michelle Bernard

En diciembre, se puso en marcha el nuevo sitio web del Fondo Rotatorio de la Unión de Columbia (CURF), columbiaunionrevolvingfund.org. También se lanzará un nuevo portal de cuentas en enero.

“Estos nuevos servicios beneficiarán a nuestros prestatarios y tenedores de notas actuales, al brindarles un acceso fácil a los documentos y procesos”, dice H. Candace Nurse, secretaria y tesorera de CURF.

Cultive un Año de Alabanza

istockphoto.com

Historia de V. Michelle Bernard

El Calendario de la Unión de Columbia 2022, con el tema “Cultive una vida de alabanza”, presenta versículos de la Biblia que honran a Dios y resaltan la belleza de Su creación.

Todos los meses se incluyen consejos y desafíos de salud del personal de Adventist HealthCare, que recuerdan a los lectores que deben cuidar su salud mental.

Se pueden solicitar calendarios adicionales, pagando solo el costo de envío, llamando al (800) 545-2449. Solicite el “Calendario de la Unión de Columbia 2022”.

Read more in English.

December 20, 2021: No Limits

image from iStock

“‘The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you’” (Deut. 7:7–8, NASB).

When I was 7, I had been in and out of hospitals multiple times trying to find answers on how to correct severe congenital birth defects that affected my hands and feet. Now I was on a stage at a major university medical center, complete with spotlights and about 30 adults around me wearing white jackets—presumably doctors, researchers and interns. A professor got up and listed the great qualities I possessed. Good grades in school. Socially well-adjusted. Loving home. Then the show really started, at least for me.

December 19, 2021: When Grace Happens

image from iStock

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24, NIV).

There are times when believing does not come easy for me, because too many people that I care about hurt too much to let believing come easy. People close to me get cancer and die. My friends’ marriages turn into battlefields. God does not seem to do many miracles for my crowd.

But people in my little orbit are just starters. All those starving children I pray for around the world keep on dying, and the oppressed people I pray for keep getting their heads banged and their freedoms choked. I know we make many of our own miseries. I am only admitting that when I believe that God really cares, there are a lot of hurts that suggest He does not seem to care enough.