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Youth and Children’s Ministries Directors Recharge

Story by Columbia Union Staff

Youth, Pathfinder and Children’s ministries directors and their spouses from all eight conferences within the Columbia Union recently gathered at Wisp Resort in McHenry, Md., for their annual fall advisory.

“Surrounded by the beautiful autumn colors of western Maryland, we had a rich time of inspiration, fellowship, skill-building and planning,” says Frank Bondurant, Columbia Union vice president for Ministries Development.

Tamyra Horst, Communication and Women’s Ministries director for the Pennsylvania Conference, spoke about the importance of self-care as ministry leaders and the challenge of balancing home and professional lives.

Celebrating Adventist Heritage Month at WAU: Exploring Seventh-day Adventism and the 180th Anniversary of The Great Disappointment

Story by Shannon Smith

October is the month of many observances and holidays, like Hispanic Heritage Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Halloween. At Washington Adventist University October is also Adventist Heritage Month, a remembrance of history and heritage deeply rooted in the events and beliefs that shaped the Seventh-day Adventist Church. WAU is currently the first and only Adventist university to designate a month to highlight Adventist Heritage.

Record Enrollment in MDiv Program at Andrews University

Darren Heslop

Story by Office of University Communication, Andrews University / Photo by Darren Heslop

Enrollment in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program at Andrews University’s Seventh-day Theological Seminary has expanded to include 460 students, the highest enrollment in the last six years and the second highest in the program’s history.

Rooted in Community: Bruce Kidney Creates the Unity Garden

Story by Konni Lorenz

The sun beats down on a humid July day. Bruce Kidney stands, his hands full of fresh vegetables, waiting for the door to open at a home in Dayton, Ohio’s Riverdale neighborhood. When it does, he’ll offer the produce.

The vegetables came from the Unity Garden directly behind Kettering Health Dayton.

Sitting on property owned by the medical center, the garden is in a community heavily populated by African refugees placed there as part of its refugee settlement program.

Caring for patients and plants

Dover First Church Hosts Retreat to Strengthen Marriages

David Asscherick, speaker/director for Light Bearers, speaks at a marriage retreat hosted by the Dover First church.

Story by Evan Knott

Dover (Del.) First church recently held a two-day retreat titled, “Try This at Home: Marriage,” aimed at strengthening marriages within the community. The event featured David Asscherick, speaker/director for Light Bearers, and Jennifer Jill Schwirzer, a licensed professional counselor. They led seminars, group discussions and activities designed to enhance marital relationships based on biblical principles.

Kettering College Professor Retires to Serve in Other Ways

Story by Rebecca Ingle

Professor Daniel Schoun has taught chemistry, physics, and math at Kettering College. He’s been a teacher his entire career, which is a surprise to him, considering he envisioned himself working in research. But he learned early on to trust God and to obediently go where he has felt he was being called.

A unique aspect of Dan’s 42-year career is that he has taken only jobs that have come to him. He says, “I’ve never gotten a job because I applied for it.” His driving force in life is listening for God’s voice. He admits he sometimes might argue with God, but, ultimately, Dan patiently listens to where he feels he is needed and acts on it.

The Lord’s Prayer

Ben White/Unsplash

Editorial by Yves Monnier

People still ask the same thing the disciples did 2,000 years ago: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1, NKJV). We all know, the disciples included, that prayer is an integral part of our journey with God. However, we all seem to struggle to make prayer a vibrant and meaningful part of our daily lives and, consequently, the request, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Jesus’ answer is one of the most memorized passages in the Bible: The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1–4). While memorizing this timeless prayer is good, we must grasp that Jesus’ answer goes beyond just repeating lofty words. Behind that prayer are potent principles that truly transform how one prays.

Washington Adventist University Hosts 2024 Visionaries Gala

Photo courtesy Washington Adventist University

Story by Weymouth Spence

This year’s Visionaries Gala, held Sept. 22, at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., was an overwhelming success, based on feedback from the honorees and attendees. The primary focus of the annual gala is to raise funds to support the many scholarships Washington Adventist University (WAU) offers to our students annually. We aim to reduce or eliminate student debt at WAU to help our students become competent moral leaders who can effectively serve their communities. 

United 'In One Accord'

Story by Lillian Torres

Jesus’ prayer for all of His disciples in John 17:21 is “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us” (NKJV). Unity brings strength, and if the church is to give the last warning message with power, we must seek to answer Jesus’ prayer for unity.

The Holy Spirit brings unity as we worship together, pray together and do mission together. The book of Acts records multiple incidences of the power of God manifested upon its people when they were united in one accord. The Pennsylvania Conference seeks to be intentional in uniting its leaders and members through its “In One Accord” five-year evangelism initiative. Each year of this quinquennium will intentionally focus on a specific part of evangelism in which to unite:

New Jersey Conference Announces New Vision, Mission

Adrianna Geo/Unsplash

Editorial by Stephen Lee

I am honored to introduce our new vision and mission for the New Jersey Conference (NJC), guiding us to fulfill God’s calling. Our new vision, “A World Without Strangers,” embodies a God-given dream to create a community where everyone feels welcome, valued and loved. In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples ask Him about the signs of His coming. Jesus describes signs in the natural, political and religious worlds, but adds, “The end is not yet.”