Story by Spring Valley Academy Staff
The 2020–21 school year is off to a very different, yet successful start.
Coronavirus Pandemic
Story by Dupont Park Church Staff
Members of Allegheny East Conference’s Dupont Park church in Washington, D.C., were disappointed when they had to suspend their Community Baby Shower (CBS) and Back to School Giveaway, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several months into the community’s new normal of social distancing, and after much prayer and discussion over the church’s spiritual obligation to the community, church members started planning the event.
Dupont Park’s Inner-City Ministries leader, Lamont Bailey, says, “Our goal [was] simple: to eliminate the choice parents have to make—deciding between what’s best for their kids and best for their budget.”
Editorial by Terry Forde
The New Testament account of how Jesus used a small boy’s lunch to miraculously feed a multitude of more than 5,000 is a remarkable story and one that speaks of God’s abundant care for every person, in even our mundane daily needs.
But look what happens next: “When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost’” (John 6:12, KJV). Having graciously provided for their hunger, Jesus now invites His followers and all of the crowd to be part of the next part of the story.
Story by Esther Hernandez
“[This year] has been a memorable year for the family of Blue Mountain Academy,” says Sanghae Kim, Bible teacher and pastor of the Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) church. “Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the school closed as it was finishing a Week of Prayer. God blessed even that moment with six students getting baptized. And our spiritual revival has not stopped. Henrique Da Silva, a senior at BMA, and other leaders, started a prayer initiative each day at 9 p.m., calling for prayer for God’s protection and guidance. ... Each Wednesday a group of students meet with me online to study The Great Controversy and to pray together.”
Story by LaTasha Hewitt
The First Church of Coatesville in Pennsylvania recently organized a “Sunshine Ministry,” to bring joy to their senior members. The ministry group visits seniors at their doorstep, providing socially distanced fellowship, singing, prayer and encouraging words.
About 20 Coatesville members recently delivered baskets to seniors filled with brightly-colored snacks, a sunflower and a yard sign, reminding them that they were missed and loved.
The team visited 12 seniors, including a member who has been in a rehab facility for weeks. Although they weren’t allowed inside, they offered encouragement outside of her window.