Story by Jerry Woods
For six years listeners have been enjoying the WGTS 91.9 Summer Concert Series with Tysons Corner Center. It’s the station’s premier summer event on Friday evenings on a large outdoor plaza. This year the pandemic changed everything, but the series continued, albeit in a new format.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard and Jenevieve Lettsome
Many churches across the Columbia Union Conference are still closed for in-person worship due to the coronavirus pandemic, including all churches in the Allegheny East and West conferences. Churches in the New Jersey Conference have experienced 38 deaths as a result of COVID-19. Eighty percent of these churches are now open at 25 percent capacity, reported President Dave Weigley at the September 17 Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee meeting.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Pick up an issue of the Visitor magazine, and you’ll find her imprint all over it. Open a program for any Columbia Union Conference event, and you’ll feel her style. Browse columbiaunion.org, and you’ll see her meticulous attention to detail.
Kelly Butler Coe, art director and graphic designer for the Visitor at the Columbia Union, has been an assistant director of Communication since 2000. Today she was promoted to associate director during the Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee meeting.
Story by Benia Jennings
Young adults are becoming more absent from churches. Finding creative ways to minister to this age-group is a well-known challenge, not only in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but within other denominations as well.
Editorial by Rick Remmers
These are five life-saving words. When each day seems to bring a heavy weight of chaos, conflict and uncertainty, these simple words of Jesus have a great impact: “I will give you rest.” He prefaces these words with an open invitation: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden” (Matt. 11:28, NKJV).
These words are given by the One who spoke and created the world. The One whose voice called out, “Peace, be still,” and the storm stopped and the waves were calmed. This same Jesus is the guarantor of our rest. He is willing and able to provide rest as a free gift, without reservation.
Story by LaTasha Hewitt
As antiracist protests continue throughout the nation and worldwide, the Liberty church in Windsor Mill, Md., organized a peaceful demonstration supporting black lives.
Led by Pastor Mark McCleary, Liberty church and community members spilled into the streets of Windsor Mill on July 4. Maurice Taylor, Baltimore area ministerial leader for the Allegheny East Conference (AEC), also joined the marchers.
Story by Tamyra Horst
“Believing in the Lord was one thing; getting to know Him though has been life-changing,” shares Amanda Stevens. “I am not the same person that I was even three months ago. I have yielded my life fully to Jesus. And I love Him. I love reading the Bible and doing Bible studies. I love being around other believers and seeing His light shining through them. And I love that the Lord has provided me with a church family.”
Story by Walter Cardenas
Perhaps some think of “the church” as simply the building where they worship. That term has taken on new meaning as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. A building is not necessary for ministry to take place. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has found new and innovative ways to worship and reach out to others through phone calls, Zoom meetings and social media.
The Spanish-speaking members in Mountain View Conference’s territory have had many different needs. Local pastors and members have purchased groceries and offered financial assistance for those who have lost jobs. Volunteers have also taken them grocery shopping and have served as translators at doctor’s appointments.
Story by Heidi Shoemaker
Story by Darren Wilkins
Spring Valley Academy (SVA) elementary students noticed a few new faces in their classrooms at the beginning of the 2020–21 school year.
Former fifth- and sixth-grade teacher, Emily Cowell, took the third- and fourth-grade position after the passing of former teacher Kimberly Orr, while Michele O’Geare moved from her first- and second-grade posi- tion to fill the ELL/reading specialist role vacated by Michelle Church.