News

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Charity Stone (pictured with family), whose husband, Tom, is a pastor at the Pennsylvania Conference Kenhorst Boulevard church in Reading and the Pottstown church, and her young family attended iThrive this summer, hoping to get “healthier at setting boundaries in order to protect the overall health of our family,” she says. “As a pastoral family, we love to serve, but sometimes it is necessary to say no to tasks or people in our sphere of ministry so that we can stock up on fresh produce, take a walk when the kids need physical activity in nature or just plain connect as a couple and family.”

She says the retreat offered a way for the family to “to prioritize our spiritual, emotional and physical health. It was really fun to connect with others at the retreat, and we learned so much,” she adds.

Morning show hosts Jerry Woods and Blanca Vega, General Manager Kevin Krueger and morning show producer Spencer White pray during a break.

Story by Jerry Woods

WGTS 91.9 listeners helped the station end the year financially strong during its “Year-End Fundraiser." More than 1,400 listeners called in or shared their financial gifts online. For every $250 gift, the station provided 10 meals for hungry people in the Washington, D.C., area. At the conclusion of the event, the station raised enough money to feed more than 22,000 people. 

Story by Elizabeth Long

Kettering Adventist Health Network recently received the Healthy Business Council of Ohio’s 2019 Healthy Worksite Gold Award.

The award recognizes Ohio employers who demonstrate a commitment to employee wellness through comprehensive worksite health promotion and wellness programs. Applicants are scored on the extent their wellness programs facilitate and encourage employee health, enhance productivity and ensure a healthy work environment.

The WGTS team pauses for a picture with a listening family.

Story by Jerry Woods

This year in Washington D.C. there were 13,000 kids who probably wouldn’t have gotten anything for Chrismas.  Their parents signed up with the Salvation Army to get some assistance.  The Salvation Army’s goal was to provide toys and gifts for those children, and they enlisted WGTS 91.9 to help. 

WGTS 91.9 held a live remote with Johnny and Stacey from the afternoon show to invite people to Potomac Mills Mall to buy and bring toys for the Salvation Army Angel Tree kids.   Listeners brought hundreds of toys and many also selected gift tags off of the Angel Tree to shop for a specific child’s wish list.

Columbia Union Conference Chosen pins by Terrance Brown

News outlets in 2019 were filled with stories of political instability, tragedy, royal births and black hole discoveries.

Throughout the year, the Visitor staff covered the top Seventh-day Adventist stories in our print magazine and online. Here are the most-read news stories on columbiaunionvisitor.com:

 

Camp Blue Ridge prepares for its grand reopening this spring after implementing major renovations across campus.

Story by Tiffany Doss

Although Potomac Conference's Camp Blue Ridge in Montebello, Va., temporarily closed its doors for regular business hours last season, God didn’t stop using it as a ministry. “Through the renovations and updates at camp, we built great relationships with our contractors,” explains Ray Queen, director. “One [of them] continues to ask questions about Jesus and the Sabbath.”

cross-66700_1280 photo by geralt from pixabay

Editorial por Leonel Pottinger

Para muchos cristianos, mayordomía o la mayordomía es pensada en relación con cosas materiales, dinero o diezmos y ofrendas. Algunos van tan lejos como para pensar que, si devuelven fielmente el diezmo y dan ofrendas voluntarias a Dios a través de su iglesia, han cumplido con su responsabilidad cristiana.

Jesus Cross photo by Claudio Ungari from Flickr

Editorial by Leonel Pottinger

For many Christians, stewardship is primarily thought of in relation to material things, money or tithes and offerings. Some go as far as to think that if they return a faithful tithe and give freewill offerings to God through His church, they have fulfilled their Christian responsibility.

Feature by V. Michelle Bernard 

Turkey bacon, eggs, cold cereal, cheese, lots of bread and pizza were common ingredients in Jennifer Engelkemier’s daily menu. But since attending Mountain View Conference’s (MVC) Wellness Camp last summer, she’s traded in some of her old breakfast favorites, including turkey bacon, for beans.

Before the camp, Engelkemier (pictured in middle, walking with wellness campers Herb Perrine and Susie Shaver) was overweight, had diabetes and high blood pressure, and also suffered from fatty liver disease. “I just want to get healthy overall,” she said during the first week of camp, where she lost 10 pounds and started walking more regularly.