Story by Andre Hastick
Chesapeake Conference
Editorial by Rick Remmers
Chesapeake Conference’s new initiative, “35 by 25,” is to plant 35 churches by the year 2025. Currently we have 50 areas in our region without a Seventh-day Adventist presence. These areas are comprised of population clusters of about 50,000 people, as well as specific counties with no Adventist church.
So why plant new churches when some of our existing churches are not yet full? The answer is simple: There are unreached people who need salvation in Jesus Christ, and church planting is one of the most effective ways to impact more people with the gospel.
Story by Andre Hastick
During the annual Winter Relief program, the Living Word church partnered with the Arundel House of Hope, Inc., both located in Glen Burnie, Md., to provide shelter for 25 homeless men for a week. Kleyton Feitosa, pastor of Living Word, discovered this pro- gram after visiting Arundel House of Hope to inquire how his church could help the less fortunate in the community. To meet the needs of the homeless men, a group of 45 church volunteers provided them with bedding, food, clean laundry, showers, social activities and counseling.
Editorial by Jerry Lutz
There are many today who are too busy for spiritual things. Not just those who reject the gospel, but even Bible-believing, church-going people. Like those in the parable Jesus told of the wedding banquet (Matt. 22:1–14), today some have "fields," business matters or excuses that keep them from faith in the One who brings salvation.
Story by Andre Hastick
There are 50 areas within the Chesapeake Conference that need a Seventh-day Adventist Church presence, says David Klinedinst, Evangelism and Church Growth director for the conference. To address this gap in church-to-population ratio, the conference has officially adopted a plan to plant 35 new churches by the year 2025.
“It’s part of the gospel commission,” says Klinedinst. “The early Adventist church was always a churchplanting movement, so it’s time to rediscover our roots. And this will help us depend more on Christ because this is something we cannot do alone.”