Feature by Nicole Dominguez
Preteens are taking over Sephora. The conversations and complaints about young adults invading spaces outside their maturity level and price brackets like the aforementioned cosmetics store go beyond the generic gripe of “kids today,” revealing a deeper need: third places.
Editorial by Sherilyn O'Ffill, Associate Youth Director, Potomac Conference
At the age of 16, I became a staff member at Georgia Cumberland Conference’s Cohutta Springs Camp, and later at Northern California Conference’s Leoni Meadows Camp. Because of the positive influence summer camp had on me as a child, I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others too. While enjoying my staff roles, which included a kitchen worker, a counselor, the girls’ director and the assistant director, what inspired me the most was being mentored by other staff members. In turn, I learned how to mentor my campers—especially Mary.
Images by Shane Hochstetler
Last weekend, 23 of the 37 teams participating in the Columbia Union Conference level 2024 Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) placed first.
During the event, held in Tranquility, N.J., Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union executive secretary, and Emmanuel Asideu, treasurer, announced that the union will give $2,000 to all the teams placing first to aid in travel expenses to the upcoming North American Division event to take place in Colorado.
Congrats to all the participants!
La General Conference ha designado el 13 de abril como el Día de los Amigos de Esperanza o Día del Visitante. ¿Qué tipo de eventos inspirarían a un miembro de la comunidad a visitar su iglesia?
Aquí hay un par de eventos a considerar que están relacionados con las temporadas, además de un servicio amigable para los visitantes:
-Invitar a la comunidad a un sorteo de árboles jóvenes o plantas nativas (el Día de la Tierra es el 22 de abril)
-Proporcionar un concierto que destaque los talentos musicales de su escuela adventista local.
-Planifique una comida compartida o una demostración de cocina vegetariana saludable y distribuya recetas gratuitas.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard | Photos by Kelly Butler Coe and Kylie Kajiura
This week, some 776 attendees, including pastors and their spouses, gathered in Hershey, Pa., for the “I Am With You” Columbia Union Evangelism Workshop.
“This is the third ministerium we’ve had in the Columbia Union since 2000; may this be the last. May this be the one you say, ‘I was there, and I went looking for the Holy Spirit to empower me, and the Spirit fell upon me,” said Dave Weigley, Columbia Union Conference president, during the first meeting of the event.
Story by Iris Argueta
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, two years after the armed conflict erupted. ADRA has been at the forefront in Ukraine and neighboring countries providing critical assistance to the most vulnerable populations affected by the hostilities, including food, shelter, psychological support, and medical care. Within hours of the conflict beginning on February 24, 2022, ADRA mobilized its global network of emergency response teams, thousands of Adventist Church volunteers, and massive resources to assist children, women, families, and individuals who fled their homes to avoid shelling and seek refuge across the border in other countries.
See photos and watch recordings from the February Columbia Union Evangelism Workshop plenary sessions on our Facebook page.
UPDATE, MARCH 11, 2024:
The Columbia Union Executive Committee met on March 6 and voted to form a presidential search committee to bring recommendations back to the executive committee.
UPDATE, MARCH 4, 2024:
What Happens Now?
We have received inquiries about what happens during a presidential transition:
Story by Rob Gettys
Highland View Academy (HVA) leaders and students are committed to serving their local com- munity. In years past, they have planned and implemented a “Week of Service” in the spring. This year, they chose to spread the service days throughout the school year to place a more consistent emphasis on serving their community.
Recently, HVA students entered the community to rake leaves, split and stack firewood, pick apples from a family orchard—located on a farm with a medical mission program that serves advanced cancer patients—and participate in many other service-related activities.
