Story by Michele Joseph
When Juliana Marson received a call from a woman so depressed she was unable to leave her home, Marson did what she knew would work best—she prayed. Then she invited the woman to her two-week-old church plant, the New Jersey Conference’s Grace Place, in Lakewood.
Jacqueline Lewis didn’t come to church, but she arrived during fellowship dinner.
“I stopped what I was doing, ran and hugged her,” Marson says. But Lewis replied, “You can’t hug me. I’m ugly.”
Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photos by Jorge Pillco
For years Tony Liriano had the dream of starting and leading a new church. Tony and his wife, Maria, were excited for the opportunity to plant a church and spread the gospel in Garfield, N.J. Since starting the project more than a year ago, Tony, who leads the New Jersey Conference church plant as a lay pastor, reports a membership growth from 10 to 60 people. Members faithfully invite friends to attend, gather for a weekly prayer session and help to reach those who don’t know Jesus. A family of six started attending the church after Tony greeted them on the street and invited them to attend. Maria says the key to their growth is the family environment and members who “act like Jesus and don’t judge.”
The United States House and Senate passed, and the President is expected to sign into law, H.R. 1 formerly known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” which makes certain changes to the United States Internal Revenue Code. Below is a summary of some of the changes that particularly impact the Adventist Church and its employees. It also addresses changes that were proposed but not ultimately passed.
Editorial by Andre Ascalon
On any given day, we are bombarded with information from a multitude of sources—email, text messages, television and social media sites. Sadly, too many times this barrage of information is more negative than positive. Between the increasingly common natural disasters, mass shootings, sexual misconduct of those in public office, the opioid epidemic, accidents and disturbing social and political issues, it seems like every day is a struggle to survive. Even for the most committed Christian, it can be a challenge to remain hopeful in a world that seems hopeless. But the good news is that we can.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photo by Pieter Damsteegt, NAD Communication
This week church leaders, local pastors and institutional leaders from across the Seventh-day Adventist church in North America gathered to discuss ways to collaborate to reach, retain and reclaim the people of North America with Jesus’ message and mission.
Topics covered included church revitalization, the trend of aging churches, ministering to large people groups (such as single mothers and their families) and how to reach missing Adventist members.
Story by Katie Solovey
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Md., for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients who come to the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab for care. Shady Grove earned Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI in January based on a rigorous onsite study of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients. Shady Grove is the only hospital in the Northeast and one of only two hospitals in the U.S. to hold this accreditation.
Story by Heidi Shoemaker
The idea to write this book was ignited when I spent some time on the plains of Moab (in the modern country of Jordan), just east of the Jordan River,” says Patrick Mazani, pastor of the Ohio Conference's Findlay district. Fully convinced that history holds the key to understanding the future of the world, Mazani closely examines the biblical account of ancient Israel in their last camp just before crossing into the Promised Land.
Story by Tiffany Doss
Story By Celeste Ryan Blyden / Photos by Brian Patrick Tagalog
Members of two Indonesian Seventh-day Adventist churches in northern New Jersey are experiencing the effects of ramped up U.S. immigration reform firsthand. Dozens have been deported, voluntarily returned to their homeland or are “hiding” in the U.S.