Chesapeake Conference

Rob Vandeman Passes Away

Our Columbia Union Conference family is heartbroken to share that our beloved colleague and friend Elder Rob Vandeman passed away this morning at his home in Clarksville, Md., after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his wife, Judy, and their family.

Vandeman, a dedicated pastor and administrator, served the Seventh-day Adventist Church for almost 50 years, the last 11 as Columbia Union executive secretary.  

We will share more information as it becomes available. 

Glenn Dale Spanish, Chesapeake Conference

Story by Andre Hastick

Recently, Chesapeake Conference's Glenn Dale Spanish group in Lanham, Md., officially transitioned to company status. During a special service, the group prayed and worshipped together to commemorate the occasion. Jerry Lutz, conference president, delivered a sermon to the congregation, emphasizing the importance of continued mission and outreach in the church community.

Perspectives by Miya Kim

Over the past few years, I have been going on an identity journey. This journey has been revelatory in many ways. Very little is known about my origins and beginning. I know I was born in Korea and was in an orphanage in Incheon by the time I was 21 months old. There isn’t a trace of who my birth parents are, but a couple who hailed from the giant state of Texas came into the picture who wanted children but found it impossible to build a family traditionally.