News

Story by Miranda Alverez

The Columbia-Union Visitor is accepting children’s art to be featured in the 2019 calendar. This year’s theme, “Let the Children Come” will tell various Bible stories through the eyes of the union’s young ones, helping us all remember the beauty of childlike faith and keeping God’s Word fresh in our minds, says Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union Conference vice president for communication and editor of the Visitor.

All children or youth, ages 5 – 15, need do is create a two-dimensional piece of artwork that reflects their favorite Bible story. Then, with the help of an adult, submit their creation to the Visitor staff, with the accompanying submission form by September 30, 2018.

Senior Lori Prendergast from the Highland Adventist School in Elkins, W.Va., gives small gifts to children waiting in line at the health clinic.

Editorial by Cheryl Jacko

Wouldn’t it be better used by sending a check overseas and letting the local people spend it as they see fit?” Have you ever heard these questions? Have you ever thought them yourself? At the Mountain View Conference (MVC), we have a decisive answer.

Regional Prison Ministries chapter presidents pose with elected officers at the recent constituency meeting held at Miracle City church in Baltimore.

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

At a recent constituency meeting, members of Allegheny East Conference’s (AEC) Prison Ministries Federation elected officers to serve for the next quinquennium. Constituents re-elected Ronald Timpson, a member of the Miracle City church in Baltimore, as federation president; Fitz Wilson of the Trinity Temple church in Newark, N.J., as vice president; and Romel Holley from the North Philadelphia (Pa.) church as treasurer.

Elisa Maragoto, principal of the Lake Nelson Adventist Academy in Piscataway, N.J., speaks at the Hispanic Women’s Retreat.

Editorial by Elisa Maragoto

The idea of being “In His Presence,” the theme of this year’s Hispanic Women’s Retreat, unifies every aspect of who we are. At the event, we learned, through the story of Esther, that it is in His presence we find our true identity. Our past and present circumstances and mistakes do not and should not define us. As we find refuge in His presence, we come to understand that our identity is in Jesus.

Story by Tamyra Horst

Pastor, BMA Alumnus Retires
Dave Woodruff grew up in Pennsylvania, and in 1966, graduated from Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) in Hamburg. After beginning his pastoral ministry in the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference, he moved back to Pennsylvania in 1984, where he pastored the New Brighton, New Castle, Sharpsville (now Shenango Valley), West Chester, Chester (now Grace Hispanic), Chambersburg, Waynesboro, York, Hanover, Lansdale, Phoenixville Mission and Souderton churches. He retires from full-time pastoral ministry September 1, 2018.

Story by Shelley Nolan Freesland, Adventist World Radio

Outside the windows of the small high-rise apartment, the predawn surroundings are pitch black. Miss Zhang* leans into her microphone and welcomes her online listeners to the live internet worship called Good Morning, China.

One by one, the names of group participants pop up on the chat screen. Some people are listening alone, while others gather in small groups: families at home, youth groups or clusters of people in a church. They tune in through their computers or mobile phones every weekday morning.

Story by Tiffany Doss

Stephen Laing recently joined the Potomac Conference as vice president for education. Since 2013 Laing served as principal of the Newbury Park Adventist Academy (Calif.). “Steve has more than 20 years of experience as a teacher and administrator,” says Bill Miller, president. “He has a passion for strengthening academics, enhancing the learning experience, creating environments for healthy spiritual growth and moving Adventist education forward.”