Editorial by Dave Weigley
It’s hard to believe that we’ve been living through a global pandemic for more than a year. Our hearts ache for the many lives lost and families impacted. Sadly, our world continues to witness the scourge of wars, terrorism, racial strife, economic stress and extreme weather.
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.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Yesterday, pastors and Hispanic Ministries coordinators gathered at the Columbia Union Conference headquarters in Columbia, Md., to pray over and take home (in total) more than 13,600 Bibles and 100,000 Steps to Christ in English and Spanish.
“We pray a special blessing on all these Bibles,” said Dave Weigley, Columbia Union president at the event. “As [the Bibles] go forth, may they be a wonderful light so many people might know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and prepare for the great, soon coming of Christ.”
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
This year, 39 teams from across the Columbia Union Conference participated in the union-level Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE), held online for the second year in a row.
On Sabbath afternoon, the teams gathered virtually to test their knowledge of Hebrews, James, and 1 and 2 Peter, and the introductions from the correlating sections of the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary. Then on Sunday, team representatives again gathered virtually to celebrate their accomplishments and discover who placed first and would be moving on to the North American Division (NAD) level event. (Watch Columbia Union President Dave Weigley’s special message to them here.)
Union Facilitates Dialogue on Race Relations
Growing up on the west side of Las Vegas, Marvin Brown, president of the Allegheny West Conference, saw the impact economic disparities had on his life and many of his African-American classmates who were bussed to a school across the city. His working-class parents were so busy they couldn’t visit the school to help choose his curriculum and nurture his educational journey, resulting in less than acceptable academic results.