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Washington Adventist University Partners with Steve Francis to Launch the Steven Francis Scholarship Fund

Washington Adventist University and three-time NBA All-Star and Takoma Park native Steve Francis have launched the Steven Francis Scholarship Fund, a new initiative opening doors to higher education for young people from the community that raised him and honoring the memory of the woman who raised him first. The fund was unveiled at the university's 13th Annual Visionaries Gala.

Long before "Stevie Franchise" became a household name, Francis was a kid growing up behind what was then Columbia Union College, lacing up his sneakers for church league games at Metro Seventh-day Adventist Church. It's the detail he returns to most when asked where his love of the game truly began, not an AAU circuit or a big-name gym, but a church league court, played for the joy of it.

It’s Never Too Early to Think About High School

Eighth graders who attended the finale of last year’s Academy Days receives prizes for participating in class activities and group games.

Story by Tracy Morgan

For many families, choosing a high school doesn’t become a priority until spring. But by then, applications are underway, classes are filling and the decision can feel rushed.

That’s why Highland View Academy (HVA) is making a change.

The Power of Our Story

Deyan Sight/Unsplash

Editorial by Carlos Portanova

How many times have we heard, “Share with others what Christ has done in your life?” Yet, many believers hesitate because they feel their testimony is not remarkable enough. We compare our experiences with the dramatic stories of Daniel, David, Esther or Ruth, and conclude that our own story is too ordinary to make a difference.

The power of a testimony, however, is not found in how extraordinary it seems—it is found in the God who is at work within it. The same God who transformed lives in Bible times is still changing hearts today through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Columbia Union Student Leaders Gather at 2026 SALT

“Think positive things about yourself.”

“List and name your emotions.”

These phrases are just a few of the takeaways students learned about caring for their emotional health—one of the topics covered by Shari Loveday, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, educator and therapist, at the Columbia Union Conference Office of Education’s 2026 Spiritual Academy Leadership Training (SALT) last weekend.

High school students from 12 participating schools in the Columbia Union gathered at Potomac Conference’s Camp Blue Ridge in Montebello, Va., for the event.

Some 175 student leaders and their chaperones listened to Loveday, who encouraged them to “Take Care of Your M.E.S.S. (Mental, Emotional, Social and Spiritual Health)” throughout the weekend.

God Continues to Bless Waldwick Adventist School

The Waldwick Adventist School family exists to promote academic excellence by teaching students to serve God and man, now and for eternity.

Story by Wayne Edwards, Principal

Waldwick Adventist School, located in northern New Jersey, continues to experience God’s abundant blessings. Spiritually, many students rededicated their lives to Christ through baptism during North American Division’s Pentecost 2025 initiative.

The school also witnessed God’s faithful provision through generous support, including a $30,000 gift from the Wayne church last year, and a $64,000 anonymous donation this year.

WGTS 91.9 Summer Concert Series Draws Record 4,500 to Frederick Church

Chesapeake Conference’s Frederick church partnered with WGTS 91.9 to present the station's Summer Concert Series on its campus in Frederick, Maryland, drawing an estimated 4,500 attendees, the event's largest crowd yet.

Singer-songwriter Blessing Offor headlined the free event, which took place Aug. 29, with gates opening at 5 p.m. and the show starting at 6 p.m. Carly Ann Taylor also performed. Organizers offered ice cream and raffles throughout the evening.

Student Farm Blesses Others at Shenandoah Valley Academy

The SVA Farm.

Story by Janel Ware

This summer, Immanuel’s Ground: The Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) Farm, supplied 450 pounds of broccoli, as well as beets, cab-bage, kohlrabi, radishes and basil for the Potomac Conference Camp Meeting meals. The vegetables were grown and harvested by students, led by Philip Wiygul, agriculture director. The SVA campus family thanks the agriculture team for their hard work and the delicious results. And a special thanks to the donor family whose vision and generosity make the SVA Farm program possible.

‘Too Many Holes’ To Be Baptized?

‘Too Many Holes’ To Be Baptized?, Mountain View Conference, Elkins church, Larry Carter

Story by Liz Bailey

Barbara Foster is a lady who knows what she wants and won’t let anything stop her. Knowing her son was a Seventh-day Adventist when he passed away, she decided she wanted what he had. So, one day she walked into the Elkins (W.Va.) church and stated, “I want to be a Seventh-day Adventist.” One of the members gladly started giving her weekly Bible studies.