Pennsylvania Conference | Seventh-day Adventist Church

Harrisburg First Church Celebrates 125 Years of Ministry

Story by Tracey S. Lewis

Pennsylvania Conference’s Harrisburg First church recently welcomed more than 300 members and guests to its special 125th year anniversary service, themed “Come Home to Jesus.”

The event featured a weekend of fellowship, testimonials and renewed commitment to reaching the lost through personal revival and recommitment to God’s love. Speakers included Pastor Chuck Holtry; Kenneth Stout, a professor at Andrews University (Mich.) and former pastor; and Gary Gibbs, Pennsylvania Conference president, who helped mark the church’s milestone and commended its legacy of service and steadfastness in Central Pennsylvania.

A Son’s Prayers Answered

Barbara Spessard is now a member of the Waynesboro church, in large part due to her son Tony Hade’s relentless prayers for 15 years.

Story by Tamyra Horst

Barbara Spessard has been intermittently around Seventh-day Adventists for most of her life. Her in-laws, Roy and Mabel Hade, shared biblical truths from an Adventist’s perspective nearly 50 years ago. Velora Gunder, a member of the Pennsylvania Conference's Waynesboro church, shared Bible studies with Spessard a number of years ago. More recently, Chris Trent, a Bible instructor for the Waynesboro church, studied with her. She attended Sabbath vespers and Sabbath School.

Blue Mountain Academy Students Go Full STEAM Ahead

Story by Tamyra Horst

Building machines while working with the concept of hydraulics. Exploding pipettes with dry ice. Making key chains using 3-D pens and observing the 3-D printers in action. Understanding how salt depresses the melting point of ice while creating an ice cream treat. Field trips to Washington, D.C., New York City and Hershey, Pa. Blue Mountain Academy’s (BMA) STEAM Summer Camp got kids exploring, discovering, examining and creating through science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Pennsylvania Conference Honors, Bids Staff Members Farewell

Story by Tamyra Horst

Pennsylvania Conference team recently said, “Goodbye” and honored pastor Lynn Gatz (pictured with his wife, Donna) and Blue Mountain Academy staff member Glenn Sutton (pictured with his wife, Kathleen) during camp meeting, as both retired and now begin new adventures.

Gatz has served in pastoral ministry for 50 years. Over the last 20 years, he pastored the Coudersport, Derrick City, Mount Jewett and Warren churches in Northern Pennsylvania. He and his wife are looking forward to time with family upon retirement—though he will continue to work as a chaplain in his community.

When Done Correctly

Editorial by Jeremy Garlock

It is often said that the youth are the future of our church. I respectfully, yet passionately, disagree. I believe that the youth are the passion and energy of our church right now. A quick look at history will show us that God has always been passionate about youth.

The clear majority of Jesus’ 12 disciples would have fallen into our youth or young adult categories.

During the Dark Ages and the Reformation, youth and young adults did much to preserve the work.