News

Marquis Johns, pastor of the North Philadelphia church, enthusiastically preaches the Word during the recent WaS UP event.

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

Several Allegheny East Conference churches in the Philadelphia area recently joined together for the Worship Share Urban Project (WaS UP), a creative evangelism initiative. Held in Upper Darby, Pa., the worship experience reached well over 1,000 people throughout the course of the day.

“This model is meant to introduce worship to the community, which can serve as a precursor to a more in-depth crusade, or just simply open the doors to Bible studies,” says Shawn Fordham, one of the event coordinators.

Jeffery Jones and Robin Shafer comprised the smallest Pathfinder club at the recent international camporee.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photo by Monica Zill

Busy schedules and long distances between church and home can make meeting in person hard in today’s busy culture. But one Pathfinder club bridged the hurdles to continue to meet together—even when one of the Pathfinders moved away—and made it to the 2019 International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wis., in August.

Mountain View Castro Sisters

Story by Walter Cardenas

With a smile on their faces and the joy of a new day, the Castro sisters regularly go to their friends and acquaintances houses to give Bible studies. At an early age, Kimberly (13), Mitzy (12) and Destiny Castro (10) developed a love for Christ and His mission. They learned about the great love Jesus has for them, and their deep desire to share Jesus and their conviction of His soon return led them to offer Bible studies to their close friends.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

“Disasters are happening all around us. We need to be prepared to do our best for Jesus,” says Mike Gill, Adventist Community Services (ACS) and Disaster Response director for the New Jersey Conference.

Members from New Jersey and beyond are invited to attend the conference’s ACS Disaster Response Training, October 19–20, at the Adventist Community Service Center in Lawrenceville.

Pine Forge Academy Choir

Story by Tracey Jackson

Early last spring, Pine Forge Academy (PFA) students, faculty and families celebrated a historic event years in the making. The choir, accompanied by Diallo Banks on piano; Russel Paul, using one of the oldest and largest organs in the Philadelphia area; and a full orchestra, recorded their most recent audio CD. The album features a myriad of musical selections, ranging from the classical period to gospel music.

It has been 12 years since the PFA choir produced Rock in a Weary Land, under the direction of Jason Ferdinand, the current director of the Oakwood University (Ala.) Aeolians and chair of Oakwood’s Music Department. Ferdinand served as the PFA choir director from 2001–2008.

New Jersey Camporee

Story by Sarah Capeles Frodelly

Have you ever waited in excitement and anticipation for a special occasion to arrive? I waited 30 years to return to a Pathfinder camporee. In 1989, “The Friendship Camporee,” proudly sponsored by the Columbia Union Conference, embraced 14,000 attendees. To my surprise, 30 years later, I joined more than 57,000 Pathfinders, leaders and volunteers at the 2019 “Chosen” International Pathfinder Camporee.

The week, packed with many activities, honors and presentations, also included kids and kid-like adults who traded pins with such passion. On Sabbath, with every bit of emotion running through our veins, we watched when David, in the play, was crowned king.

Alice Mae Jones

Story by Benia Jennings

On an early morning in Cleveland, Alice Mae Jones (pictured)  begins her drive to the nearby Salvation Army in search of bread. After collecting several loaves, she returns home to wrap the slices and sets some aside to help church members in need. She saves the rest for the hungry in her community. In her neighborhood, she offers prayer, encouragement and Bible studies.

Jones, a second generation Seventh-day Adventist, has been active in ministry in Northern Ohio since moving to Cleveland in 1946. Armed with loaves of bread and her Bible, this one-woman feeding ministry has impacted the lives of many in her community.

Story by Ana Palacios-Sampaio

The Luso-Brazilian church in Newark, N.J., recently organized and held a “Life for Lives” health fair as an outreach effort to meet the needs of the neighboring community, most of whom are of Portuguese descent. Additionally, the church’s health fair also coordinated a blood drive, massage therapy, donated food, and provided information about women’s health and more.

Story by Kimi-Roux James

Jonathan Duffy, president of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International, has stepped down from his role, effective immediately, due to personal reasons. 

“The ADRA Board has accepted Jonathan’s resignation and expresses appreciation for his service,” says Ella Simmons, board vice-chair and general vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. “Jonathan served as president of ADRA since his election in 2013. He has led the network of more than 130 offices to adopt a new strategic framework that allowed ADRA to align with changing trends in the development and humanitarian sector.”