News | Seventh-day Adventist Church

Members Stay Connected During Pandemic

by Heidi Shoemaker

Who doesn’t love receiving a card in the mail? A text from a friend? Maybe even a call from a dear family member? Though many church facilities have reopened, not everyone has returned to in-person worship. To that end, members have found unique ways to reach out to church family and stay connected to those worshipping from home.

Ohio Conference’s Communication Department asked church members to consider reaching out to members who, for one reason or another, haven’t physically returned to church since the pandemic. It is in times like these where at-home worshippers need to know they are being thought of and prayed for. Suggestions included mailing cards to senior members, texting and checking up on college students or calling friends just to say hello.

Poem: My Christmas and the Orphans

Maria’s parents were both killed during a civil war in a refugee camp in South Sudan. She was studying at an Adventist school with no walls or roof, no desk, hardly any books. Restore a Child helped build a new school at their refugee camp.

WGTS Encourages Thousands at Night of Hope

Mark Hall from Casting Crowns sings during “Night of Hope”

If there is one thing we’ve needed more than ever this year it is hope. Every year WGTS 91.9 presents the “Night of Hope” event targeted at people who are curious to learn more about Jesus. This year’s event was moved online because of coronavirus restrictions. Casting Crowns set the move for the evening with their performance. Then, Darren Mulligan of the band We Are Messengers shared his story about how Jesus pulled him out of a life of sin and destruction. At the end of his message, Darren asked listeners who wanted to receive Jesus to pray with him. Finally, Pastor Mike Speegle invited them to text “Jesus” to 800-700-1094 to get the WGTS Bible study called “Getting to Know Jesus.”

Emmanuel Hosts Drive-in Baptism, Communion

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

Recently, the Emmanuel Worship Center in Alexandria, Va., hosted a drive-in baptism and communion service. Pastor Robert Kennedy baptized three people in a temporarily installed baptistry in a garage on the property the church is renting.

Prior to their baptism, Kennedy studied with the baptismal candidates by Zoom and FaceTime. Once they expressed their desire to be baptized, Kennedy went to work to make this possible and to ensure safety protocols were in place and were conference-approved.

On the Sabbath of the baptism, the church held Sabbath School together virtually. At the end of the lesson study, Kennedy interviewed the candidates and called for their vote into membership.

Health Ministries Director Fosters Healthy Living

Story by Valerie Morikone

Ginelle Edmondson recently became the new Health Ministries director of the Mountain View Conference.

Born in Guyana, South America, and raised in Queens, N.Y., she always expressed an interest in health. Feeling led to study nursing for her undergraduate career, Edmondson was drawn to public health and mission work. She graduated with a Master in Public Health from New York University (NYU), then traveled to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa.

Is Your Church or School Hosting a Virtual Christmas Program?

Rising coronavirus infection rates are causing many families and churches to reexamine their holiday plans. However, the socially distanced show must go on and many Adventist schools and churches are already preparing their virtual holiday programs.

Let us know about your church or school’s virtual program so all Columbia Union Conference members will have the chance to enjoy the holiday cheer.

Email the program title, time, date and link to vmbernard@columbiaunion.net, and we’ll share on our social media accounts and website.

Drive-in Church Service Partners with Community

Image by PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay

by Lisa McDowell

After four months of online church services, the Dale Wright Memorial church members in Germantown, Ohio, organized their first drive-in worship service in the parking lot. Service participants, wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing protocols, stood under a small tent, while church members stayed in their cars, forming a semicircle around the tent. Worshippers tuned into the service on 88.3 FM, watched on their phones via Zoom or listened from their cars. Some members even brought lawn chairs and sat in front of their cars.

Senior Authors Diary-Like Book on Queen Esther

by Heidi Wetmore

Charis McRoy, a senior at Spencerville Adventist Academy, has enjoyed writing poetry to express her emotions and experiences ever since the third grade. Through the years, she decided to author a book on the Bible story of Esther. Remembering what she had learned about Esther in Sabbath School, she wanted to journey deeper into that Bible story.

The Path of Hope

Editorial by Terry Forde

Nearly 100 years ago, in 1921, Chinese essayist Lu Xun wrote, “Hope is like a path in the countryside. Originally, there is nothing –but as people walk this way again and again, a path appears.”

If you come across a path in a woods, or across a field, you may ask: “Where does this path lead?” or “Why is there a path here?”

Paths don’t just come out of nowhere. Sometimes they exist because people started walking there for a shortcut. Sometimes they exist because someone planned them out on a map and set about creating them. In either case, someone had to pave the way.

Takoma Academy Offers Expanded Learning Opportunities During Pandemic

Story by Salena Fitzgerald

Takoma Academy (TA) began the year in a virtual learning setting. Faculty and staff continue expanded opportunities for students to learn in a rigorous, yet accommodating structure. Teaching and learning in a remote environment, however, can pose challenges. TA recognizes these concerns and spent the summer bolstering their ability to offer effective virtual learning and additional supports for students academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally.