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Ohio Conference Launches 2019 With Prayer of Emphasis

Story by Buffy Halvorsen

The Ohio Conference recently hosted their Annual Prayer of Emphasis Day. Event organizer Buffy Halvorsen shared these tips for the day that you can use for a similar event at your church.

If prayer is the breath of the soul, we as Christians must breathe deep and often. Colossians 4:2 reads: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (ESV).

Below are suggestions to make this day memorable for all ages in your church.

1. Set up “Prayer Stations” around the church:

NAD Hosts Religious First Freedom Prayer Event

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photos by Andre Hastick

According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 78 percent of the world’s population is unable to worship their God in whatever way they see fit.  

Today, on Religious Freedom Day, local faith and civic leaders gathered at the North American Division (NAD) Headquarters in Columbia Md., for the NAD’s first Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast. They celebrated the freedoms enjoyed in the United States and prayed for guidance in further fostering and sharing it with others. 

Musicfest Coming Soon!

Gustavorezende on Pixabay

Story by Dave Morgan
Photo by Gustavorezende on Pixabay

March 1 and 2, the Elementary Musicfest is open to students grades 5–10. This includes homeschool, Adventist school and public school students. Musicfest is under the direction of Lawrence Galera, director of music at BMA. The two-day event includes vocal and instrumental workshops, as well as group performance and an afternoon showcase of individual performance. For more information about how your school, student or co-op can participate, contact info@bma.us.

Raúl Rodríguez Retires After 49 Years

Raúl Rodríguez

Story by Jose Esposito

After 49 years of uninterrupted service in ministry, Raúl Rodríguez (pictured) has announced his retirement. Rodríguez began his pastoral work in 1969 and became an integral part of Potomac Conference’s pastoral team in 1997.

Hispanic Churches See Growth During Outreach

Story by Andre Hastick

During the recent Reach Chesapeake coordinated evangelistic campaign, 23 Hispanic churches throughout the Chesapeake Conference participated in spreading the Adventist message of hope in their respective communities.

In preparation for the meetings, each Hispanic congregation engaged their community through small groups, says Pastor Orlando Rosales, director of Multilingual Ministries for Chesapeake. These Biblebased small groups met in members’ homes and focused on felt needs of friends and family members. After the small group gelled, members invited participants to an evangelistic series. This served as a natural bridge for recently connected newcomers.

Pastor Produces Bible Study Series

 

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

Emil Peeler, pastor of the Capitol Hill church in Washington, D.C., felt that although there were a lot of solid Bible study resources available, there was need for a fresh, concise and simple approach. Consequently, FaithFacts (pictured) was birthed. “I specifically designed them to be used for baptismal preparation and as introductory studies for those new in their Christian journey,” says Peeler.

Washington Adventist Hospital First in Maryland to Offer Innovative Approach to Heart Valve Procedure

Story by Betty Klinck

Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital is the first hospital in Maryland to offer an alternative approach to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a less invasive procedure to replace a damaged heart valve without open-heart surgery. The new method, called transcaval TAVR, will expand the minimally invasive benefits of TAVR to more people with valve disease.

Amish Fact or Fiction

Image by Michael F McElroy

Story by Hannah Luttrell and V. Michelle Bernard

Background

The Amish originated from the Anabaptists. The word “ana” is Greek for “again,” and the Anabaptists rejected the infant baptism that many of them had been subjected to, believing instead that the only valid baptism was one that was freely chosen after confessing belief in Jesus. Menno Simons was a former Catholic priest who embraced Anabaptism in the 1500s and became a prominent leader, with his followers becoming known as Mennonites rather than Anabaptists.

In 1693, there was a split after a prominent leader, Jakob Ammann, advocated greater separation from the world and stricter discipline with the shunning of disobedient members. His followers became known as the Amish. Later, schisms led to groups like the Old Order Amish and New Order Amish.