The Columbia Union Conference coordinates the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work in the Mid-Atlantic United States, where 150,000 members worship in 860 congregations. We provide administrative support to eight conferences; two healthcare networks; 81 early childhood, elementary and secondary schools; a liberal arts university; a health sciences college; a 49 community services centers; 8 camps; 5 book and health food stores and a radio station.
God is love, power, and splendor—and God is a mystery. His ways are far beyond us, but He still reaches out to us. God is infinite yet intimate, three yet one,
all-knowing yet all-forgiving.
Editorial by Seán Robinson
Some years ago, I picked up a travel book titled 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. This best-seller describes a myriad of amazing places to visit around the globe far beyond the Seven Wonders of the World. While I had already been to some places, others beckoned me with the lure of the exotic and the unknown. As my “bucket list” expanded, I found myself looking forward to new adventures.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Kristiana Hoffman, a 12-year-old from Charleston, W.Va., wants to be a missionary when she grows up. In January she started practicing.
After reading that 10 people die each day from drowning, Hoffman came up with a plan to help teach children to swim while introducing them to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Hoffman, a member of the Mountain View Conference’s Charleston (W.Va.) church, started taking swimming lessons at age three, and recently hosted swim classes for the community at a local pool.
Story by Sylvia Garcia Urrutia
The Columbia Union Conference’s Adventist-Laymen’s Services & Industries (CUASI) recently held their annual Missional Business Conference at the Doubletree Hotel in Columbia, Md.
About 150 attendees from across the union gathered to share their ministry passions and gain knowledge to help in their businesses and ministries. Emanuel Pelote, CUASI president, says they choose the theme for the meeting, “Minding the Father’s Business,” because “the Bible is clear that included in following Christ, is a call to full-time ministry.”
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
August 1–5, the Chesapeake Conference is hosting “Courageous,” an invitational camporee, at the Highland View Campgrounds in Hagerstown, Md.
Pathfinder clubs from all conferences are welcome. “The goal of the event is to create a spiritual, social and educational environment for all, as we grow together in Christ and learn from the Word of God what it means to be courageous Pathfinders for Jesus in the 21st century,” says Carl Rodriguez, Youth Ministries director for the Chesapeake Conference.
Planned activities include a 300-foot waterslide, archery, mountain biking, soccer and 36 activities in which you can earn honors.
For more information, and to register, visit https://www.cicamporee.org.
Story by Elizabeth Long
Great Place to Work® and Fortune have named Kettering Adventist HealthCare one of the Best Workplaces in Health Care in the United States.
Kettering Adventist HealthCare ranked 23 on the list, which is based on surveys from nearly 88,000 employees across the healthcare industry. Employees completed an anonymous Trust Index© survey, answering questions about how frequently they experience the building blocks of a great workplace. Employees rate leadership strength and integrity, pride in their work and organization, and the quality of relationships with co-workers, among other factors.