Looking for a new dish to make this Christmas? Try some of the Visitor staff’s favorite recipes from the December 2018 issue:
News
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Story by WGTS Staff
It’s not every day you hear the WGTS on-air teams singing their hearts out in public, but that’s exactly what happened recently. The WGTS afternoon show challenged the WGTS morning show to a quartet sing-off. Originally scheduled to be live at Tysons Corner Center mall in Virginia, the event moved online because of the pandemic. Fair Trade Services artists Austin French, Colton Dixon, and Phil Wickham joined in the festivities.
In addition to the stressors from the pandemic, in 2020, both Denise Barclay’s husband, David Thompson, and mother faced extremely challenging medical issues. But Barclay believes that “God orchestrated the events that would shape, inspire and facilitate the opportunity to release an album.
“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you. ...’ When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her” (Ruth 1:16, 18, NKJV).
I have experienced a bitter spirit like Naomi. As an African-American woman, I have experienced many losses through racism, sexism, classism and misogynoir. Of those losses, it has been the ones I have suffered within my faith community that have been the most devastating because they resulted in misperceptions of God. Like Naomi, my misperception of God evoked anger, disappointment and bitterness. But unlike Naomi, my misperception also led to loss of identity with God.
Story by Michele Joseph
ASI Columbia Union recently hosted a virtual workshop to help members become digital missionaries.
Rodney Bowes, ASI International’s vice president for evangelism, showcased the tools available through its 3AM Call website. The resource was created to help anyone who wants to tell others about the soon coming of Jesus.
Sending her son to Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) was a hard decision for one single mother, but one that was necessary. Although she didn’t know how she would pay for his tuition, she wanted more for him and his life, so, in faith, she enrolled him. And then prayed. And prayed.
Story by Andre Hastick
Recently, the Williamsport (Md.) church held Sabbath School Alive, a one-day training seminar to equip Sabbath School leaders to create more engaging experiences for class attendees by focusing on prayer, Bible study, fellowship and mission. Guest speaker Ramon J. Canals (pictured), director of Sabbath School and Personal Ministries for the General Conference, trained participants by helping them develop practical plans to make each Sabbath School class vibrant.
Story by Patricia M. Mosby
When we were teenagers, my grandmother used to urge my sister and I to get out of bed early and get to work. “Stop practicing death,” she would say. She wanted us to enjoy God’s delights for the day.
With three parents between my husband, Kevin, and I who have lived past the age of 80, we’ve found that it is possible to stay healthy longer. And, why shouldn’t we want to? God has given us an opportunity to share the gospel in a healthy way: by being as physically fit as possible.
For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7, NIV).
This short verse contains guidance on how to live our lives.
Will the current pandemic pass? When? How much longer will it last?
Will my life ever calm down again? In the midst of this storm, time is not standing still; it is not waiting for me to catch up. It will not go back to redeem days. I am not getting any younger. In fact, to the contrary, every joint in my body is starting to hurt.