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Andre Hastick Elected Chesapeake Conference President

The Chesapeake Conference Executive Committee prays for Andre Hastick following his election. Photo by Melvin Donadelle

Story by Evan Knott

Today, the Chesapeake Conference Executive Committee elected Andre Hastick as president of the Chesapeake Conference. Hastick accepted the call and will begin his duties January 1, 2026, following Jerry Lutz’s retirement at the end of the year. 

The committee reviewed the conference’s bylaws outlining the role and responsibilities of the president, identified qualities they were seeking in a new leader and engaged in multiple seasons of prayer throughout the deliberation process.

Pray With Us in 2026

Image by Himsan from Pixabay

Columbia Union Conference leadership will continue hosting monthly Online Prayer Meetings in 2026. Join us on Facebook and YouTube at noon every first Wednesday of the month.

We will share Zoom login information closer to each event throughout the year.

Save the dates to join us on:
January 7
February 4
March 4
April 1
May 6
June 3
July 1
August 5
September 2
October 7
November 4
December 2
 

 

'To the ends of the earth'

Highland Adventist Academy seniors volunteer at the Humane Society during Service Day.

Story by Tracy Morgan

For many of us, Acts 1:8 serves as a call to action, but to reach the entire world can seem like a daunting task. However, at Highland View Academy (HVA), this passage is being embraced in a new and inspiring way.

“To the Ends of the Earth” is the theme for the 2025–26 school year. HVA is embracing its identity, not only as an academic institution, but as a spiritual training ground for world-changers. Staff are being called to create and grow young people who are prepared, passionate and ready to carry the message of Jesus wherever God leads them. But how?

A Place to Belong

Story by Kiona Costello

Students travel from near and far to attend Blue Mountain Academy (BMA), whether it is just across the street or a 10-hour plane ride away. Despite the distance or the number of familiar faces, feelings of loneliness can persist. However, at BMA, those feelings can be transformed with the supportive community in place.

Milhery Jean-Misere (pictured center with his friends) is a three-year BMA student from Philadelphia. He previously attended Huntingdon Valley Christian Academy, a Pre-K to eighth grade school, like several current BMA students. Since Jean-Misere already knew some people on campus, it would be easy to assume that he wouldn’t feel lonely, but loneliness can hit even the ones you would least expect.

Dover First Brings Hope Downtown

Story by Evan Knott

The Dover First church recently brought public evangelism to the heart of Delaware, holding tent meetings just steps from the State Capitol on the Legislative Mall. The “Hope for Today” series featured guest speaker D. W. West, assistant to the president of Adventist World Radio. Meetings were held on the Legislative Mall during the first week, before concluding at the Dover First church.

Special Sabbath Services in Pennsylvania Draw Guests to 100 Churches

Blue Mountain Academy students participate in Pottsville church’s Friends, Family and Faith Sabbath.

Story by Tamyra Horst

This past September, nearly 100 churches across Pennsylvania opened their doors in a special way—inviting friends, family, neighbors and those who hadn’t attended church in a while to join them for a Grand Reunion Sabbath. The results were powerful: sanctuaries filled with guests, meaningful worship, warm fellowship and decisions for Christ.

God Moves in Romney Church

God Moves in Romney Church, Mountain View Conference, Romney church, Eddie Reyes, Michael Carder, Amazing Facts

Story by Liz Bailey

The Romney (W.Va.) church took a step of faith this summer. The church invited Pastor Michael Carder, a speaker for Amazing Facts, to lead a three-week evangelistic series. At first, some wondered if it was even possible for a small congregation to host such an event with so many other programs and commitments already taking place across the district. Yet, the members of Romney believed that if God was opening the door, no obstacle was too great.

161 Join Elyria Church, More than Doubling Membership

Marius Marton, pastor of the Elyria church, baptizes a new member.

The Elyria church concluded its Pentecost 2025 evangelistic series earlier this year, adding 161 new individuals to its membership—surpassing the congregation’s previous membership and worship attendance before the campaign.

Before the series began, Elyria had a membership of 100. Andrew Sutton, treasurer of the Ohio Conference, emphasized that in God’s eyes every soul is precious and that even a small number of baptisms makes an evangelistic effort worthwhile.

God’s Gift to Us

Dan Kiefer/Unsplash

Editorial by Carl Rodriguez

Many gift-giving traditions occur during Christmas in North America. Each family that celebrates the event has their own historical and cultural basis for the exchange of presents.

Even the Magi in the time of Christ’s birth gave gifts to show appreciation for the bountiful blessings God had bestowed on them. Matthew 2:11 records this event: “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (NIV).

Welcoming Home New Family Members

Editorial by Jerry Lutz

With all the evangelistic meetings and prophecy seminars that have been going on in our conference this year, such as our twin outreach initiatives, Pentecost 2025 and Reach Baltimore 2025, there are likely some unfamiliar faces and new members in your church. For this, we praise God and welcome them with open arms into the fellowship of believers. How wonderful it is to see how the Lord is blessing Chesapeake churches with hundreds of baptisms and many more who are preparing to join God’s great advent movement.

While we rejoice with the saved and celebrate every new soul who enters the kingdom, we who are more mature in our walk with Jesus and better grounded in the faith must be mindful of the special care and needs of our newborn brothers and sisters in Christ.