Chesapeake Conference

Story by Ricardo Bacchus

“I don’t really consider myself an artist, but I do enjoy dabbling in what I call ‘art therapy,’” says Kandace Zollman, the pastor for nurture and visitation at Chesapeake Conference’s Spencerville church in Silver Spring, Md.

She recently took this “art therapy” to a whole new level. Each Sabbath since social distancing started due to the coronavirus, she has put her talents to work by “chalking” God’s love on her driveway.  

“I really wanted to send some kind of message of hope to the people around me. I decided that the message that I left would be the words of God Himself to people who are struggling,” she says.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Swiffer, an approximately 5-year-old Great Pyrenees/Labrador/mix, and his owner, Sarah Porter, a member at Chesapeake Conference’s New Hope church in Fulton, Md., have provided pet therapy to medical staff with Pets on Wheels since 2018. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, their visits to local hospitals stopped.

Story by Jacklyn Ruth

Last week, five Highland View Academy (HVA) students led out in a virtual Week of Prayer experience. With school buildings closed across the region due to the coronavirus pandemic, students were unable to meet together in person for this special week of spiritual emphasis. 

Story by Dan Galusha/ Pacific Press

Like many these days, Alex and Janeth Partyka, Baltimore residents and members of Chesapeake Conference's Triadelpia church in Clarksville, Md., have been driving for Lyft and Uber part-time to earn some extra income. Alex and Janeth also wanted to witness to others about Jesus and the Adventist message. If they felt a passenger might be receptive, and especially when the conversation turned to religious topics, they would offer the person a small piece of literature. However, sometimes riders would refuse a tract when it was offered to them.

Story by Melissa Reid/NAD / Photos courtesy Howard County General Hospital

The New Hope church in Fulton, Md., Columbia Union Conference, and several ministries at the North American Division (NAD) contributed funds to provide two separate meals to the approximately 1,000 healthcare workers on staff at Howard County General Hospital.

Howard County, Maryland, is home to 10 Seventh-day Adventist congregations, a Pre-K to 10 school, two regional headquarters (Chesapeake Conference and the Columbia Union Conference), and the North American Division office.