Story by Gabriel Valez
If someone were to ask me what my definition of Spirit Week was, I would say “unity.”
For this year’s Spirit Week at New Jersey Conference's Lake Nelson Adventist Academy (LNAA), students and staff united to participate in spiritual, physical and brain games. The school was divided into two teams—team gold and team blue. Teachers selected students randomly to play games and earn points for their teams.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22–23, KJV).
I believe that a Christian must have the fruit of the spirit. If all Christians would read and take to heart these verses daily, along with Philippians 4:8, which tells us to think on whatsoever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, we would not have the problems in church we are faced with today. But the only way to attain, retain and maintain that fruit is by steadily focusing on Jesus; to “think on” Him continuously.
“The church needs to be willing to go wherever people are. And where are people? They’re in the cities,” declared Frank Bondurant, vice president for ministry development of the Columbia Union Conference, at the grand opening ceremony for the new Urban Life Center in Baltimore on August 13.
Bondurant, who also serves as the church planting coordinator for the region that includes seven Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia, was joined by administrators from the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the North American Division, and the Chesapeake Conference, which is home to the new Baltimore initiative.
“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I consider myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I am off and running, and I’m not turning back” (Phil. 3:13–14, MSG).
The New Jersey Conference recently celebrated 120 years of ministry. Originally part of the Atlantic Union Conference, it has grown into a family of 17,500 members, 116 churches, five schools and numerous ministries.
Camp Meeting Concert 2021 from ADVENTISTSNJ on Vimeo.
La Fédération de New Jersey a récemment célébré 120 ans de ministère. Faisant à l'origine partie de la Fédération de l’Atlantic Union, elle est devenue une famille de 17 500 membres, 116 églises, cinq écoles et de nombreux ministères.
Regardez un concert pour célébrer ici.
Camp Meeting Concert 2021 from ADVENTISTSNJ on Vimeo.
Pasteur Ralph Martin, président de l’Union de Columbia de 1994 à 1997, est décédé le 19 juin 2021 à l'âge de 88 ans. Il a été administrateur pendant 42 ans, dont 12 au sein de l’Union de Columbia.
« Ralph était un leader très novateur et l'un des architectes du mouvement « Caring Church », déclare Dave Weigley, actuel président de l’union. « Il était connu pour être informel et créatif dans le ministère, essayant différentes méthodes pour faire avancer la mission. »
Suivez le service commémoratif en direct sur la page Facebook de Visitor le 25 septembre à 7:00 du soir.
Du 1er au 2 octobre prochain, l'Université Adventiste de Washington et l’Union de Columbia diffuseront en direct « Surmonter la Désunion dans le Corps du Christ : des Mesures Concrètes », un sommet de deux jours de G. Arthur Keough.
Les conférenciers discuteront de la justice et du renouveau, de la réconciliation interculturelle et raciale, du daltonisme par rapport à la double identité, et plus encore.
S'inscrire sur https://www.wau.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/religion-department/keough-conference/.
WGBZ 88.3, la nouvelle station de radio chrétienne de WGTS, a émis en direct durant cet été grâce aux généreux dons des auditeurs qui voulaient aider à atteindre la côte est de Maryland avec le message d'espoir et de plénitude du Christ.
