Pennsylvania Conference

Statement from the Pennsylvania Conference

Thursday night at approximately 9:15 pm a fire was spotted in one of the barns that a local farmer uses to store his equipment and some bales of hay on the campus of Blue Mountain Academy (BMA), Hamburg, Pa. Due to the dry summer and a recent heat wave that made matters worse, it appears a spontaneous combustion occurred, causing the fire.

Very quickly local volunteer fire departments were dispatched and brought the fire under control. At no time were any of our students at risk, as the barn is a one quarter mile from campus. A special thank you goes out the men and women of the local fire departments that braved extreme heat to extinguish the fire.

By Tamaria L. Kulemeka

Tamyra Horst, founder of the Pennsylvania Conference’s Princess Tea events, grew up a shy, fearful girl into an insecure teen and young woman. “I didn’t believe in myself or have any confidence at all,” Horst says. “But God loved me. And His love and learning to believe that He loved me and had a plan, began changing me.”

Her experiences and support system—encouraging women who cheered her on—coupled with working with other women who had battled similar issues inspired Horst to help others.

Horst started organizing teen conferences, tackling relevant teen topics that pointed them to God. Since that time, Horst has written numerous resources for teen ministries and hosted many Princess Teas. Horst has witnessed girls grow into teens and then women, some of whom she has had the opportunity to share in their success. One of the greatest joys through this process has been working with her own niece, Kaleigh, who helped her produce the first princess devotional booklet; Kaleigh, who was 7 at the time, illustrated the booklet. Now 9, Kaleigh can’t wait until she and her aunt write more books together.

Read these articles from the September 2016 Visitor:

Story by Elena Cornwell / Photos by Daniel Shanken, Andrew Rush and Joshua Roberts/AP Photos

Three members share how they represent the Lord to the world around them—all while they shine in divinely appointed career paths.

Terry Hess: Spicing Up Life

Hess’ goal was to be the vice president of his bank, One Valley Bank (now BB&T), before he was 30. He succeeded. In 1997 his uncle called to inform Hess it was time to buy his Virginia Honey Company, which he did later that year. Hess committed to give five cents of whatever sold to charity. Under his leadership, the company donated $1.5 million and grew four times. That was just the beginning of God’s path for Hess.

Story by Daniel Granderson / Images by iStock

Jesus came not just to preach, but also to teach. Is it any wonder then that He was referred to by His followers as rabbi (teacher)? He held class on the mount and in fishing boats. Wherever there were ears to hear, He saw opportunities to educate.

Today there are more than 1.8 million pairs of ears still receiving the teachings of Christ through the schools, colleges and universities the Seventh-day Adventist Church operates worldwide. These modern teachers develop not only the intellect, but also the spirit, allowing the ministry to live on beyond the pulpit. In these schools, there is no ministry without education. The two are twin branches growing together on the same gospel tree.