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2021 ‘Year of the Bible’ Devotional Book Call for Submissions & Guidelines

What is your favorite Bible verse, and how has it impacted your life?

In preparation for the Columbia Union Conference 2021 “Year of the Bible,” leaders, pastors, students and members are invited to write and submit short devotionals about one of their favorite Bible verses and what it means to their lives. Reflect on God’s work in your life and His message of hope. Reveal how He has blessed you, changed you and how you have grown spiritually in your walk with Him. Share thoughts and insights about God, express your gratefulness to Him and admit your need of Him.

Devotional Guidelines:

Victor Is Back!

Story by Ricardo Bacchus

Kids, did you find Victor the Visitor mouse in our last issue? If not, don’t worry; you can try again now! The first 15 children to post a picture of themselves pointing to him and tagging us on Facebook or Instagram will receive a bookmark from LivingWell in Silver Spring, Md.

Spencerville Adventist Academy's Second Graders Visit White Estate

The second-grade class at Chesapeake Conference’s Spencerville Adventist Academy visits the White Estate.

Story by Rachel Fuentes/Heidi Wetmore

The second-grade class at Chesapeake Conference’s Spencerville Adventist Academy (Md.), taught by Rachel Fuentes, recently completed a Bible Encounters curriculum unit on the life of Ellen G. White. Instead of the typical unit assessment in a classroom setting, she took her students on a field trip to the White Estate, located at the General Conference in Silver Spring, Md.

United Together Members are Fulfilling the Mission

Image of #86 A Pair of Hands - Holding Hands by RichardBH via Flickr

Story by Tamyra Horst

They came from across the Pennsylvania Conference. A van full of members left Pittsburgh before dawn and headed east. More than 40 members boarded a rented bus in the Scranton/Honesdale area and headed south. More than 2,200 people, representing 82 churches, united together in 28 communities in the southeastern region of the state for this year’s Faith for Family (F4F) D-day. Their goal? To unite together to fulfill the mission of reaching everyone, everywhere with the gospel.

Teacher 'Summer Schools' at Library of Congress

TA Teacher Shaun Robinson (pictured left) attended a Library of Congress Summer Teacher Institute

Story by Salena Featherstone

Most teachers can’t wait to be off for the summer. No more grading, lesson planning, noisy classrooms or ringing bells. Shortly after summer hits, however, many teachers begin to miss their students, classrooms and joy that being a Christian school teacher brings. Some of them, like Takoma Academy Life Sciences teacher Shaun Robinson (pictured), seek out professional development opportunities, seminars or workshops to help them add more resources to their educational toolbox.

Adjust and Adapt

Jyremy Reid displays his art.

“When I am able to see [art] and how it relates to a message, I grasp it a lot better. ... The majority of my generation and later are more visual and kinesthetic learners. Times are changing, and we should definitely adjust and adapt,” says Jyremy Reid (pictured), Potomac Conference’s communication specialist intern, who also hosts the new Potomac People podcast.

Reid recently painted “Mercy, Justice” while Reed Richardi, associate pastor of Potomac’s New Market (Va.) church, preached on Zephaniah 3:17.

Blue Mountain Academy Students Rise for Exercise

Senior Annelise Jacobs starts the day off stretching as part of this school year’s morning workout.

 Story by Tamyra Horst

As the sun begins to rise, so do the students at Blue Mountain Academy (BMA)—for a 6:30 a.m. exercise class. Principal Burney Culpepper runs them through a vigorous morning workout.

When the school year began, some groaned about having to get up so early. Midway through the year, the exercise time was cancelled during FOCUS week to give students early morning quiet time. Surprisingly, students weren’t happy; they had discovered the benefits of starting their day with exercise.

Book Release: Pursued

Image from freephotos on Pixabay

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

“Thankfulness and worship do marvelous things for the believer. They assess a proper value for the astonishing gift of grace Jesus provided for us. No matter what type of sin we have been involved in, it created a debt we cannot pay. Only because of God’s amazing grace can we still live and breathe— and that is deserving of our gratitude,” writes Lola Moore Johnston, senior pastor of Potomac Conference’s Woodbridge (Va.) church, in her new book, Pursued.