Who We Are, How We Serve

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.

Mission Values Priorities

We Believe

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.

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A Dream Come True

Editorial by Dave Weigley

I am a witness that dreams do come true, visions do become reality and God does answer prayers! This past August, all three happened when we celebrated the grand opening of Adventist HealthCare (AHC) White Oak Medical Center on Healing Way in Silver Spring, Md. This is something that hadn’t happened in more than a hundred years, and during this journey, some might have wondered if it would happen in a million years. But God is good!

Around the turn of the 19th to 20th century, Ellen G. White, a pioneer leader of the Seventh-day Adventist movement, envisioned health care happening somewhere “on a grassy slope” in Takoma Park, Md., close to Washington, D.C. It would be a place where the healing and restoration ministry of Jesus Christ, as expressed by His church, could be offered and modeled in the local community. Washington Adventist Hospital became that place, fulfilling the dreams of our forefathers and leaders, extending the “right arm of the gospel” to the masses, and carrying forward the legacy of health and healing. And while it was a difficult decision to relocate, finding a new home became necessary so as to maintain a robust future for this valued ministry.

Thank you, Lord, for Students Who Love & Serve You

Editorial by Donald Short

Each registration day, Potomac Conference's Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) faculty and staff form a circle, join hands and pray for the students who will momentarily walk through the doors of Twomley Hall and become part of the SVA family. We pray for God’s blessings on the school year and recommit to serving students by educating them through “experiences that produce disciples of Jesus”—the mission of SVA.

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.