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Adventist Brothers in New Jersey Use LEGO TV Show to Inspire

FOX

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Images Courtesy FOX

Corey Samuels, a member of Allegheny East Conference’s (AEC) Metropolitan church in Plainfield, N.J., received his first LEGO set when he was six years old. Once his brother Travis was born, he introduced the hobby to him.

Now Corey, a LEGO engineer instructor, teaches children engineering terms and STEM curriculums through LEGO.

The duo recently helped even more people across the country get excited about LEGO when they were contestants on FOX’s LEGO Masters.

High School Students Get ReCharged

ReCharge

Story by Heidi Shoemaker

What is ReCharge, and why did 85 high school students, along with their chaperones, commute to the Kettering (Ohio) church in January?

"ReCharge is a day set in the middle of school year, just for high school-aged students,” shares Edward Marton, Ohio Conference youth director. “Sometimes it’s in the middle that we need the presence of Christ, and sometimes it’s in the middle that we get discouraged,” he says.

Marco Estrada: Casino Cook Turns Pastor

Pastor Marco Estrada, a former casino cook, now enjoys cooking for his congregation.

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.

Play Is Child’s Work at Forest Classroom

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.

Anthony Stahl Joins White Oak Medical Center as New President

Anthony Stahl Joins White Oak Medical Center as New President

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.

Camp Blue Ridge Officially Reopens

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.