This Month's Issue

Historias de V. Michelle Bernard

Los miembros del Comité Ejecutivo de Columbia Union se reunieron recientemente para escuchar los informes de los ministerios y entidades de toda la unión:

• Dave Weigley, presidente de Columbia Union, enfatizó el propósito de la iglesia: servir a nuestra comunidad y llevar el evangelio al mundo. Señaló los planes para dos próximas iniciativas de evangelización: una en Cincinnati, apoyada por las conferencias de Allegheny West y Ohio, y otra en Baltimore, apoyada por las conferencias de Allegheny East y Chesapeake.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Ileana Espinosa, who worked as the associate director of elementary education in the Office of Education at the Columbia Union Conference for more than 10 years, retired June 30. 

With experience in Seventh-day Adventist education, including time in the elementary classroom, as an education superintendent and associate superintendent, Espinosa brought more than 40 years of experience to her role.

By Elizabeth Anderson 

Who knew art classes could warm hearts? Megan Garcia, who attends Mountain View Conference’s Charleston Boulevard church in West Virginia, is learning that sharing her gift of creativity comes with a lot of prayer, personal investment and waiting.

During her art classes held at the church, Garcia leads several types of projects—including a geode class. It doesn’t hurt that a four-course meal is part of the package, she says.

“There’s tons of people who come for the first time who would never set foot in a church, but it’s like a safe place,” Garcia says, noting that she is intentional about creating a positive family-style environment that is informal, yet Christ-centered.

Feature by Elizabeth Anderson / Photos by Jay Alignay and Brad Barnwell

The words “evangelism” and “witnessing” might resurrect memories of knocking on strangers’ doors, clanking ingathering cans and distributing tent revival or Revelation Seminar invitations. Those traditional methods of sharing the Seventh-day Adventist message still have their place, however, some members from the Columbia Union Conference are learning that being the “salt and light” can show up in different flavors—like pickleball. These members are allowing Christ’s love to breathe through this hobby and passion to bring about organic, yet intentional friendships.

Pickleball Flavor