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Chesapeake Schools Maintain Excellence in Distance Learning

Rebecca Malin

Story by Andre Hastick

In mid-March, teachers and students across the conference were unable to meet in their respective school buildings due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. To adapt to this new reality, educators in all 11 Chesapeake Conference schools began offering comprehensive distance learning experiences for their students.

“We saw it coming and prepared ahead of time,” says Janesta Walker, superintendent of schools for Chesapeake. “We met with the teachers right before spring break to discuss what school would look like in a few weeks, and started providing online resources such as Zoom, Google Classroom and Schoology.”

Executive Committee Approves COVID-19 Economic Relief Funds to Conferences, WAU

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Columbia Union Conference leadership expected a 40 percent drop in tithe for the January–May 2020 quarter. “God has turned it around and has been gracious,” said Emmanuel Asiedu, Columbia Union treasurer, who reported only about a 4.5 percent drop in tithe (not all conferences experienced a drop) at a Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee meeting July 8 (via Zoom).

G. Alexander Bryant Named North American Division President

Story by Kimberly Luste Maran/North American Division Communication

On July 9, 2020, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s General Conference Executive Committee met virtually to receive the name of G. Alexander Bryant, the recommendation for division president, from both the North American Division’s nominating committee and executive committee. Bryant was confirmed in a vote of 153 to 3.

Solitude de Victor

Histoire par Ricardo Bacchus

Dernièrement, Victor, la souris de Visitor, vous cherchait. Il a besoin de 15 enfants pour le trouver afin qu’il ne soit pas seul. Ensuite, 1. Demandez à quelqu’un de vous prendre en photo avec lui. 2. Postez-le / « taguez » nous sur Facebook. 3. Attendez qu’un jeu de mémoire biblique arrive de LivingWell à Silver Spring, dans le Maryland.

Victor Está Solito

Historia de Ricardo Bacchus

Últimamente, Victor, el ratón de la revista Visitor te ha estado buscando. Necesita 15 niños que lo encuentren para que no esté solo. Luego, 1. Haz que alguien te tome una foto con él. 2. Publícalo/etiquétanos en Facebook. 3. Espera a que te llegue un memorama de la Biblia de LivingWell en Silver Spring, Maryland.

Victor Is Lonley

Story by Ricardo Bacchus

Lately, Victor, the Visitor mouse, has been searching for you. He needs 15 kids to find him so that he’s not alone. Then: 1) Have someone take your picture with him. 2) Tag us on Facebook. 3) Wait for a Bible memory game from LivingWell in Silver Spring, Md.

Click here to read in Spanish. Click here to read in French.

During Shutdown, Increased Online Evangelism Brings Many to Christ

Debbie Rivera, associate pastor at Chesapeake Conference’s Ellicott City church, welcomes viewers to the “Forecasting Hope” online Bible prophecy series.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Pastors of Pennsylvania Conference’s 26 Hispanic churches had an evangelism series planned for spring. But with coronavirus pandemic social distancing in place, they were forced to move the event to social media where they took turns preaching on the theme, “Love Written With Blood.”

The weeklong series received more than 19,000 views and was shared 678 times. Organizers believe that more people were impacted by the series than if it would’ve taken place “in person.”

It Starts Small: Things to Look Out for in a Predator

Story by Elizabeth Anderson

Most child predators don’t lurk in alleys looking for their victims.  A predator is more likely to be a known and trusted figure in the victim’s community.

Some things to look out for in a predator:

1.  Grooming may be prolonged, but not in all cases.  According to the authors of “Safe Churches: Responding to Abuse in the Faith Community,” grooming could be preceded by a series of small tests that inform the abuser how to proceed.

2. An abuser’s intentions usually seem harmless.

3.  Look out for flattering words and making potential victims feel appreciated.

4.  Seemingly innocuous violations are usually followed by larger ones.

5. Seeking alone time to isolate potential victims “from those who can intervene.”