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Pine Forge Academy Celebrates 70 Years

Rocky Twyman ('66) interviews Lynda Johnson Robb.

Story and photos by LaTasha Hewitt

In the 1940s, Elder John H. Wagner, Sr., former Allegheny Conference president, envisioned a boarding school in the North where African-American high school students could attend without the racial issues of schools in the South. After purchasing the 575-acre Rutter Estate near Pottstown, Pa., the conference opened Pine Forge Institute on September 9, 1946, with 90 students.

Last weekend the school, now Pine Forge Academy (PFA), celebrated Alumni Weekend and 70 years of existence during the weekend themed “Legacy of Excellence.”

Beltsville Church Launches Second Site

Story by Kermit Netteburg

More than 300 people attended the inaugural service of the Beltsville church’s second campus on Tech Road in Silver Spring, Md., this past Sabbath morning. The church now refers to the original Potomac Conference church in Beltsville, Md., as the the Ammendale campus and the new site as the Tech Road campus.

Organizers stopped counting at 305 people. “We just couldn’t keep track after that,” says Will Johns, associate pastor, who serves as the campus pastor for the Tech Road site. He added that more than half the people were not from the Ammendale campus. (The Ammendale campus will celebrate its 60th anniversary in two weeks, September 17.)

Vine Haven Fourth-Grader Hosts Bible Study, Leads Eight Children to Baptism

Story by Cristina Macena

It’s not just the adults at the Bridgeton Spanish church in Bridgeton giving weekly Bible studies to their neighbors.

Every week Jaffet Vazquez, a fourth-grader at Vine Haven Adventist School in Vineland, teaches the children that live on Walnut Street more about the Bible and his best friend, Jesus. His mother, Susana Vazquez, prayerfully went to every mother on the street and asked permission for their children to attend Bible studies at her home. Many said yes and about 13 children ages 5-10 meet at the Vazquez home weekly for Bible studies. Jaffet uses what he has learned in class from his teacher, Violeta Molina, and Pastor Raul Rivero, Bible class teacher, to share with his friends about God’s love and gift of salvation.

Save the Date: Young Adult Summit

Young adults from across the Columbia Union Conference will gather next spring with the purpose of empowering young adult leaders to engage in life-changing ministry. Plan now to attend.

Date: March 31 – April 2, 2017
Location: Hilton in Arlington, Va.
Website: youngadultsummit.org

MIEMBROS OFRECEN SU AYUDA TRAS LAS INUNDACIONES EN WEST VIRGIN-IA

Historia de V. Michelle Bernard

Tras las recientes inundaciones en West Virginia, en donde 23 personas perdieron la vida y miles quedaron despojados de sus casas, el personal de los Servicios Comunitarios Adventistas de la Asociación Mountain View y de la Unión de Columbia coordinaron los esfuerzos de asistencia. El equipo organizó y financió una bodega en Belle, West Virginia, al sur de Charleston, donde las victimas recibieron los artículos necesarios. Los equipos de respuestas a desastres llegaron de otras partes del país para trabajar en la bodega. La Unión de Columbia también envió a seis capellanes quienes brindaron apoyo espiritual y emocional a los residentes en el área de White Sulfur Springs.

TARA VINCROSS DEJARÁ REACH

Historia de V. Michelle Bernard

Tara VinCross, directora de la Escuela Urbana de Evangelismo REACH de la Unión de Columbia ubicada en Philadelphia, ha aceptado el llamado a ser la pastora principal de la iglesia Azure Hills en Grand Terrace, California.

“Tara ha hecho una contribución valiosa al involucrar a los adultos jóvenes en experimentar la misión”, dice Dave Weigley, presidente de la Unión de Columbia. “Al ser la fundadora y directora de REACH, ella ha demostrado un excelente liderazgo porque creó un espacio donde los jóvenes adultos pueden experimentar un aprendizaje experiencial—un método valioso para involucrar a los jóvenes adultos”.

 

Read this story in English.

 

How to Build a Girl’s Self-Esteem From a Practical Perspective

Help your daughter's build their self-esteem with these tips.

  • Have confidence in yourself: Mothers are the first line of defense against unrealistic images and suggestive advertising.
  • Choose your words: Negative comments about a person’s appearance could invite young girls to create an unhealthy sense of beauty.
  • Be a fanatic: You are her biggest cheerleader; recognize her beauty and help her discover her gifts and talents.
  • Empower: Encourage her individual interests and recognize when she excels.
  • Interject realism: It’s important girls know the world is presenting a one-sided story. Talk to her about the images she sees and help her understand what is real.

 

From Insecure to Self-Assured in Christ

By Tamaria L. Kulemeka

Tamyra Horst, founder of the Pennsylvania Conference’s Princess Tea events, grew up a shy, fearful girl into an insecure teen and young woman. “I didn’t believe in myself or have any confidence at all,” Horst says. “But God loved me. And His love and learning to believe that He loved me and had a plan, began changing me.”

Her experiences and support system—encouraging women who cheered her on—coupled with working with other women who had battled similar issues inspired Horst to help others.

Horst started organizing teen conferences, tackling relevant teen topics that pointed them to God. Since that time, Horst has written numerous resources for teen ministries and hosted many Princess Teas. Horst has witnessed girls grow into teens and then women, some of whom she has had the opportunity to share in their success. One of the greatest joys through this process has been working with her own niece, Kaleigh, who helped her produce the first princess devotional booklet; Kaleigh, who was 7 at the time, illustrated the booklet. Now 9, Kaleigh can’t wait until she and her aunt write more books together.

Read these articles from the September 2016 Visitor: