News | Seventh-day Adventist Church

TA Camerata Promotes Music, Ministry, Mission

Story by Debra Anderson

Takoma Academy (TA) is known for its spectacular music program. Its select choir, Camerata, enjoys a significant music ministry. Under the directorship of Lulu Mupfumbu, Camerata has developed into a highly recognized choral program. While the group is made up of high school students, the sound that emanates from their mouths sounds more like a group of seasoned professional adults, say conference leaders.

Over the years, Camerata has enjoyed many opportunities to witness to others nationally and abroad. The choral group’s motto is: “Excellence shall be our highest form of praise.”

Remembering Our History

Story by David Orange

As the days get shorter, the air gets crisper, and the leaves turn brilliant colors, fall is once again here, and many Seventh-day Adventists remember impactful events that happened in past Octobers.

Five hundred and six years ago, on Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a local teacher and monk, posted his 95 Theses on the doors of castle church in Wittenberg, Germany, igniting the flame that became the Protestant Reformation.

Kettering College Supports Ukrainian Student Initiative

Story by Ivan Riapolov

In the wake of the devastating invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, countless young lives were thrown into turmoil, with uncertainty clouding their dreams of education. When the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists created an Education Emergency Response plan for Ukrainian students, Kettering College responded by developing a Ukrainian Student Initiative (USI) on our campus. As a result, 34 students from Ukraine are now studying at Kettering College to continue their education, safely away from the war in their country.

Family Matters

Editorial by Jerry Lutz

“‘See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction’” (Mal. 4:5–6, NIV).

Pennsylvania Conference Re-elects Conference Leadership

Shawn Shives, Gary Gibbs and Kevin Costello will serve the Pennsylvania Conference for the next quinquennium.

This past weekend, delegates at the Pennsylvania Conference 2023 Constituency Session experienced a great morning of praising God for the incredible ways He has blessed them over the last five years.

Conference membership has grown to more than 13,680 members, as the conference welcome an average of 500 new believers--many from the 100 or more evangelistic events--each year.

Delegates to the session re-elected their officers, President Gary Gibbs, Executive Secretary Shawn Shives, and Treasurer Kevin Costello.

Attendees Learn to ‘Make Disciples’ at Camp Meetings

2023 New Jersey Conference Hispanic Camp Meeting

Story by Stephen Lee

King Solomon’s Wisdom

Editorial by Marvin C. Brown, III

King Solomon was known for his wisdom and fair judgments. In one famous story, two women appeared before him, each claiming to be the mother of a baby. They had given birth around the same time, and one of the babies had died. The surviving baby was the subject of their dispute. King Solomon listened to both women and decided to test their love for the child. He suggested cutting the baby in half and giving each mother half of the child. One of the women agreed to the idea, while the other begged him not to harm the child and let the other woman have it.

Kettering College to Offer Master of Science in Nursing MSN Degree

Story by Courtney Dove

Kettering College has added a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) track to their offerings, with the first cohort starting in January 2024. The program prepares nurses for leadership roles in the rapidly changing healthcare environment.

Thank You, Pastor

October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and we have some ideas to help you encourage
and celebrate your local pastor.

• Send them a gift card to a local restaurant or cultural event.
• Pray for them every day.
• Write them an encouraging note, highlighting how they have helped your church.
• Take ownership of a ministry at your church. (Don’t wait for your pastor to do all the work!)
• Talk to your pastor directly (not to others) when you have a concern.
• Post a compliment on their social media account this month (and encourage others to do the same).

TAPS Performs for the National Park Service

Story by Debra Anderson

At the Takoma Academy Preparatory School (TAPS) in Takoma Park, Md., teachers and administrators focus on graduating thinkers, achievers, peacemakers and servant leaders.