The Columbia Union Conference coordinates the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work in the Mid-Atlantic United States, where 150,000 members worship in 860 congregations. We provide administrative support to eight conferences; two healthcare networks; 81 early childhood, elementary and secondary schools; a liberal arts university; a health sciences college; a 49 community services centers; 8 camps; 5 book and health food stores and a radio station.
God is love, power, and splendor—and God is a mystery. His ways are far beyond us, but He still reaches out to us. God is infinite yet intimate, three yet one,
all-knowing yet all-forgiving.
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.
Story by Heidi Shoemaker
More than 300 young people from Hispanic churches across Ohio came together for the 2019 Hispanic Youth Camp earlier this year. Themed “El Viene Por Mi” (He is Coming for Me), they met at the Indian Trail Campground in New London.
Story by LaTasha Hewitt
Several Allegheny East Conference churches in the Philadelphia area recently joined together for the Worship Share Urban Project (WaS UP), a creative evangelism initiative. Held in Upper Darby, Pa., the worship experience reached well over 1,000 people throughout the course of the day.
“This model is meant to introduce worship to the community, which can serve as a precursor to a more in-depth crusade, or just simply open the doors to Bible studies,” says Shawn Fordham, one of the event coordinators.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photo by Monica Zill
Busy schedules and long distances between church and home can make meeting in person hard in today’s busy culture. But one Pathfinder club bridged the hurdles to continue to meet together—even when one of the Pathfinders moved away—and made it to the 2019 International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wis., in August.
Story by Walter Cardenas
With a smile on their faces and the joy of a new day, the Castro sisters regularly go to their friends and acquaintances houses to give Bible studies. At an early age, Kimberly (13), Mitzy (12) and Destiny Castro (10) developed a love for Christ and His mission. They learned about the great love Jesus has for them, and their deep desire to share Jesus and their conviction of His soon return led them to offer Bible studies to their close friends.