Allegheny East Conference | Seventh-day Adventist Church

January 29, 2021: No Need to Operate

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isa. 40:28–31, NKJV).

In my 35 years of ministry, these verses have carried me through many storms and blessings. This passage became even more relevant when I got into a terrible car accident.

January 24, 2021: Who Am I?

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4, KJV).

On Sunday, March 29, 2020, I received a call from my daughter Andrea, a nurse, telling me that she had a temperature of over 101 degrees, was being sent home from work and was going to be tested for COVID-19. I prayed with my daughter and claimed God’s promises over her.

G. E. Peters Student Receives Safety Patrol Award

by LaTasha Hewitt

Kiera John-Lewis, a sixth-grader at the G. E. Peters Adventist School in Hyattsville, Md., was recently chosen by the American Automobile Association (AAA) School Safety Patrol program as an outstanding safety patroller in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. As a patroller, John-Lewis had the opportunity to “play an important role in helping young pedestrians learn and fulfill responsibilities regarding traffic safety,” according to the program’s website.

When John-Lewis heard she would be receiving the award, she was pleas- antly surprised and grateful: “I was astounded to have received the award.
It means a lot to me knowing that my work is greatly appreciated, and I’m thankful for the support I received to accomplish this award.”

Emmanuel Hosts Drive-in Baptism, Communion

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

Recently, the Emmanuel Worship Center in Alexandria, Va., hosted a drive-in baptism and communion service. Pastor Robert Kennedy baptized three people in a temporarily installed baptistry in a garage on the property the church is renting.

Prior to their baptism, Kennedy studied with the baptismal candidates by Zoom and FaceTime. Once they expressed their desire to be baptized, Kennedy went to work to make this possible and to ensure safety protocols were in place and were conference-approved.

On the Sabbath of the baptism, the church held Sabbath School together virtually. At the end of the lesson study, Kennedy interviewed the candidates and called for their vote into membership.

Academy Family ‘Prays Until Something Happens’

by Tracey Jackson

For the 2020–21 school year, Pine Forge Academy’s (PFA) theme is “Pray Until Something Happens” (PUSH), for it is by prayer that God has led and continues to lead.

Prior to the campus closing in March due to the pandemic, God had already begun to answer prayers. Leadership was inspired to develop a plausible plan on how to safely reopen for the fall semester.