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Image by Ulrike Leone from Pixabay

Words cannot express the loss and pain we feel in the passing of Henry and Sharon Fordham, president and first lady of the Allegheny East Conference. Few leader-couples have touched our lives as much as they did, and our hearts are with their family and conference family.

President Fordham was a quintessential Christian gentleman and friend who demonstrated genuine love for Jesus, for his dear wife, Sharon, for his family and for everyone he encountered.

He served with heart, led with humility and blessed countless lives.

Image by David F. Turner for Allegheny Eastt Conference

Los miembros y líderes de la Unión de Columbia están de luto por la pérdida de Henry J. Fordham III y su esposa por 53 años, Sharon Fordham, luego de su fallecimiento en un incendio el 18 de julio en su casa de Pensilvania. Los Fordham pasaron sus 47 años completos de ministerio pastoral, administrativo y educativo sirviendo en la Conferencia Este de Allegheny (AEC), la segunda conferencia más grande en el territorio de la unión. En el momento de su muerte, ambos tenían 77 años y Henry estaba en su segundo mandato de cinco años como presidente.

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Story by Moriah McDonald / Andrews University Student

From Thursday, Oct. 14, to Sunday, Oct. 16, the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University will host the Congress on Social Justice, an event designed to highlight global issues of imbalance as well as the biblical solutions that address them. 

 volunteers Callie Buruchara, Chandler Riley, and Brody Wiedemann. Credit Tony Williams

By Andrew McChesney

A man walked up to the church booth at the Howard County Fair and, without an introduction or even a smile, asked a pointed question.

“Do you have to go to church on Saturday to be saved?” he said.

Booth volunteer Tony Williams had heard other unexpected questions at the fair, including about Hollywood movies and whether Jesus has a tattoo, and he was not surprised.

Story by Benia Jennings

Keisha Stubbs-Bone is the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Allegheny West Conference (AWC). A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Stubbs-Bone matriculated through Oakwood University (Ala.), where she achieved her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Management.

Upon graduating, she accepted a role within the General Conference Auditing Service (GCAS) organization, where she audited numerous Seventh-day Adventist conferences, academies, universities and various entities.

On October 1–2, Washington Adventist University and the Columbia Union Conference will livestream “Overcoming Disunity in the Body of Christ: Concrete Steps,” a G. Arthur Keough Two-Day Summit.

Speakers will discuss justice and renewal, cross-cultural and racial reconciliation, colorblindness versus dual identity, and more. 

More information

Dates/times: 
Friday, October 1 - panel sessions (9:30 am – 5:00 pm & 7:00 pm – 8:45 pm)
Saturday, October 2, 2021- panel sessions (10:00 am – 10:50 am; 11:00 am – 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm)

Presenters and Panelists:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13, NKJV).

Philippians 4:13 helps me achieve so many things. When I take a test in school, I always think about this verse to remind me that God will help me do well. Or if I have a competition and I am scared, I think of this verse to remind me that God is on my team. God can help me through anything.

In my young 10-year-old life, I have been taught that God’s grace is His free gift to all, and that I have a chance to receive His blessings. The grace of God is sufficient for all my needs and covers all my errors, sins and mistakes. God’s grace is with everyone, so He will stand for us, no matter what.

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“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6, NKJV).

I have always believed that logical thinking, risk analysis and dealing with life in a sensible and realistic way would guarantee success. I used to consider myself pragmatic, focusing on the processes behind any task, initiative or goal.

When you are pragmatic, you are practical. You follow the rules and expect to be rewarded. You are usually successful, but are often still searching for “the answer.” You may attend church, but a true understanding of the Bible eludes you; it stays hidden.

Image from iStock

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11, NKJV).

This verse has impacted me greatly because it reminds me that I am not alone. Whatever it is that you are going through in life, God will always be by your side. If it’s school, friends, future decisions or anything else, God will help you prosper. He wants us to succeed and to get far in life.

Now that I am a senior in high school and I will be going to college soon, I am not 100 percent sure what I want to do with my life. I have been praying constantly for God to show me what His will is and to reveal His plans for me.