Editorial by David Sedlacek
I was raised on a farm as the oldest boy of 15 children. My parents faithfully attended church, prayed together and instilled positive values of hard work, diligence and respect in us children. I love them for that and will be eternally grateful.
However, there was another painful reality that we lived with: emotional abuse and neglect. We were taught that we had
The holidays are a great time to share love with our family and friends. This Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has made it easy to share that love even further by helping struggling families all around
the world through its Kids Gift Catalog. (Adults are welcome to give too!) For gifts starting at $5, kids can purchase chickens, bees, goats, meals or a well that will help support families through one of ADRA’s programs around
the world. Visit adra.org/giftcatalog for details on how you can be a blessing this holiday.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and we have some ideas to help you encourage
and celebrate your local pastor.
• Send them a gift card to a local restaurant or cultural event.
• Pray for them every day.
• Write them an encouraging note, highlighting how they have helped your church.
• Take ownership of a ministry at your church. (Don’t wait for your pastor to do all the work!)
• Talk to your pastor directly (not to others) when you have a concern.
• Post a compliment on their social media account this month (and encourage others to do the same).
Columbia Union Educators Get ‘Schooled’ at the North American Division Educators’ Convention and other stories from the September/October 2023 Columbia Union Visitor.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Prior to the start of the 2023–24 academic school year, some 500 teachers and staff from the Columbia Union Conference joined 5,000 other educators at the North American Division (NAD) Educators’ Convention, themed “Something Better,” in Phoenix.