Story by Liz Bailey
“A New Believer’s retreat! That was a new and revolutionary idea to me,” says Walter Cardenas, assistant to the Mountain View Conference (MVC) president. “I had never heard of this before, but when newly elected President Tim Bailey shared this idea with me, the more I thought about it, the more excited I became. We began to dream about the potential this event would have and the blessing that it was going to be for new believers.”
Story by Janel Haas Ware
At the recent Shenandoah Valley Academy Senior Dedication, Principal Don Short placed the Class of 2023—made up of 56 seniors—into God’s loving care during his dedication prayer:
Dear Father,
What a tremendous collection of dreams, hopes and desires on the platform this evening. It is with those dreams and desires that we come to you as teachers, administrators, parents, grandparents to ask for Your help.
Story by Esther Hernandez
Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) began the new year with 161 students—an increase in enrollment over the past three years—and with several “power weekends” featuring speakers who shared their testimonies and challenged the young people and staff to take the steps needed to strengthen their relationships with God.
Justin Kim, assistant director of Sabbath School and Personal Ministries for the General Conference, challenged students not to settle for being mediocre.
Story by Jerry Woods
Over 40 golfers enjoyed a day on the links at P.B. Dye Golf Club in Ijamsville, Md., for the third annual “Difference Makers Golf Tournament.” Golfers enjoyed breakfast as WGTS President and CEO Kevin Krueger and WGTS staff members welcomed them to the club. Then everyone took to the course for the tournament, which included several prizes including the longest drive hole, and a grand-prize package for winning the entire tournament.
Story by Evan Knott
Several Chesapeake Conference congregations recently celebrated new church property acquisitions. The Capital Brazilian Temple, the Prince Emmanuel All Nations, and the Open Arms churches all finalized purchases of new properties in September.
Story by Benia Jennings
“My passion for Health Ministries comes from my own health struggles,” says Donna Peters, Allegheny West Conference’s (AWC) new Health Ministries coordinator. “In the past, I was prediabetic and overweight with high blood pressure. I wanted to learn how I could help heal myself through exercise and food,” she says.
Story by Benia Jennings
“We should all go to the doctor for routine checkups to ensure everything is operating as it should and to catch potential issues before they become a problem. In my opinion, the role of the conference auditor is similar. It’s good to have someone come in and ensure that the church’s finances are operating as they should and identify potential problems ahead of time,” says Elliott Meredith III, Allegheny West Conferencew's (AWC) newest auditor.
Meredith acknowledges that being audited often has a negative connotation. It’s something that he hopes to change. “I’d like to build a relationship as the liaison between the churches and the Treasury Department that will evoke a positive connotation.”
Harold L. Lee, president of the Columbia Union Conference from 1998-2006, passed away Wednesday, November 9. Watch a recording of the December 2 service at the Oakwood Seventh-day Adventist church in Huntsville, Ala.
The service was streamed via the Oakwood Church website.
Condolences may be sent to:
The Lee Family
2610 Summerwind Drive - SE
Decatur, AL 35603
Related Stories:
From the Archives
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
The Columbia Union Conference’s 97 early childhood education centers, elementary, junior academies, academies and colleges have a combined enrollment of 8,069 this school year, up from 8,027 last school year.
At recent Columbia Union meetings, Donovan Ross, vice president for Education, said the boarding academies are enjoying the highest enrollment rates since 2016 with 558 students at the union’s four boarding schools. Ross also reported that six schools across the territory are in various stages of building projects.
