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REACH Evangelism School Moves to WAU

Story by Celeste Ryan Blyden

At its March meeting, the Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee voted to move the REACH Columbia Union Evangelism School—currently based in Philadelphia—to Washington Adventist University (WAU) in Takoma Park, Md.

The REACH School opened in 2014 when the union and university teamed up to provide young adults an opportunity to enroll in a yearlong, immersion program that combined a 15-credit classroom curriculum with hands-on ministry experience.

Committee members believe the move to an academic setting is a natural fit that will provide access to the university’s infrastructure and make it more cost-effective.  

Orchestra Director Affirms the Power of Academy Music

Story by Janel Haas Ware

Shenandoah Valley Academy’s (SVA) music ministry combines the power of music and the sacredness in the lives of young people who graduate prepared to serve God with their musical talents. One such student is now orchestra director and strings teacher, Kelly Wiedemann (’03), who shares her testimony:

Attending SVA confirmed my life calling as a music teacher. Singing in Shenandoans, the school choir, and playing violin in the string ensemble was fun! The teachers exposed us to many styles of music, and I gained sincere appreciation for traditional church hymns, contemporary praise music, African-American spirituals, classical symphonies and country hoedowns. Teaching a wide variety of music promotes creativity, cultural awareness, tolerance and respect. 

Book Release: Grace Outlet

Interview by V. Michelle Bernard

In Grace Outlet, Kris Eckenroth, lead pastor of the Pennsylvania Conference’s Grace Outlet in Reading, shares lessons learned and the story of Grace Outlet, a church plant that strives to dispense the unmerited favor of God. Read our interview with Eckenroth below:

Visitor: What made you want to start Grace Outlet?

Maryland Adventist Becomes First Black Female Neurosurgery Resident at Johns Hopkins

Story by Margaret Attey

Nancy Abu-Bonsrah, member of the Potomac Conference's Washington-Ghanaian church in Spencerville, Md., made history March 17 when she became the first black female neurosurgery resident to be accepted at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. Abu-Bonsrah plans to complete her seven years of medical specialization in the same department Dr. Ben Carson, now the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, made medical history.

Corra el Riesgo

Jovenes predicadores y bautizados

HIstoria de Winston Simpson

Cuando planificamos una campaña Evangelística, pensamos en comisiones, un local y sobre todo en un buen predicador, o un evangelista con experiencia. En el distrito norte de Ohio, específicamente en la Iglesia de Willard el pastor pensó en que era hora de correr riesgos. En lugar de hacer lo tradicional y lo que dice la lógica, debíamos de probar hacer evangelismo con los jóvenes de nuestra Iglesia. Se eligieron siete jóvenes, los cuales nunca habían predicado, pero tenían el deseo de hacerlo en el nombre de nuestro Dios. Los nombres de los jóvenes son: Francisco, Jennifer, Fanny, Aranza, Eiby, Kevin y Emanuel.

Spencerville Adventist Academy Art Project Benefits Orphans

Berkeley Poulsen displays a card he designed for an art class fundraiser to support the Restore a Child organization.

Story by Heidi Wetmore

The idea started out as a fun linoleum block printing project. Middle school and high school art teacher, Nancy Rivera, challenged her students to design a Christmas card, then carve the design into a linoleum block, ink it with a roller and finally hand stamp the design onto fine paper. The students personally signed the back of each hand-made Christmas card and intended to give them to special people in their lives.

Richmond Academy Launches Leadership Program

Richmond Academy first- and second-graders hold The Leader in Me notebooks, alongside teacher Karen Van Ornam.

Story by Tiffany Doss

At the beginning of the school year, staff and faculty at Richmond Academy (RA) in Virginia, adopted The Leader in Me program, which draws key components from the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

This program teaches skills for academic success, such as critical thinking, goal setting, listening, speaking and self-directed learning.

Editorial: Just Ask

Invitation by Dan Hodgett on Flickr

Editorial by Rick Remmers

Wayne Gretzky, the famous and retired Canadian hockey player, is credited with the quote, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” A corollary to this would be, “People can’t accept an invitation that’s never given.”

All the paths to church membership include some form of Bible study. People need to meet the Jesus we find in the Scriptures and learn the things He taught. It doesn’t need to be complicated or difficult. In fact, Jesus Himself presented important and profound lessons in simple, easy-to-remember stories and illustrations.

Washington Adventist University To Host This Year’s Family Fun Festival April 9

Story by WAU Staff

The annual Family Fun Festival sponsored by Washington Adventist University (WAU) on its campus in Takoma Park, Md., will be held Sunday, April 9, from noon to 5 p.m. The festival is part of the University’s Alumni and Parents Weekend celebration, which will be held this year from April 6-9. The festival will be held rain or shine.