New Jersey Conference

Editorial by José H. Cortés

The New Jersey Conference Executive Committee and ministerial body has declared 2017 as a special year of compassion. We have adopted the theme, “Live Compassion.” We are inviting and encouraging every conference entity—every church, school, officer, department leader and church member—to embrace this great movement that Jesus Himself began. “When He saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:36, KJV). Being compassionate is very different than talking about it, and I assure to you that you’ll be the happiest person in church if you live compassion out.

Story by Debra McKinney Banks and Celeste Ryan Blyden

A longtime mainstay in many Seventh-day Adventist homes, meat analogs are steadily gaining popularity outside our community, thanks to the growing trend of plant-based eating; Meatless Monday campaigns to eliminate animal protein one day a week; the rise of flexitarians seeking to adopt a healthier lifestyle; and a segment of the population driven to alleviate chronic health issues.

Story by Cristina Macena

Meadow View Junior Academy (MVJA) in Chesterfield recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Pastor Art Randall, former pastor of the Robbinsville church, one of the churches that supported MVJA through the years, delivered a powerful sermon to an audience of nearly 300 people.

Editorial by Paulo Macena

When King David decided to build the house of God, he prepared and planned for it. The Bible says that he bought all types of resources needed to build the temple. “Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might,” David said (1 Chr. 29:2).

David was so passionate about his mission that he used his own fortune to build the temple, and joyfully expressed the reason why: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in Earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all” (1 Chr. 29:11).

Story by Cristina Macena

It’s not just the adults at the Bridgeton Spanish church in Bridgeton giving weekly Bible studies to their neighbors.

Every week Jaffet Vazquez, a fourth-grader at Vine Haven Adventist School in Vineland, teaches the children that live on Walnut Street more about the Bible and his best friend, Jesus. His mother, Susana Vazquez, prayerfully went to every mother on the street and asked permission for their children to attend Bible studies at her home. Many said yes and about 13 children ages 5-10 meet at the Vazquez home weekly for Bible studies. Jaffet uses what he has learned in class from his teacher, Violeta Molina, and Pastor Raul Rivero, Bible class teacher, to share with his friends about God’s love and gift of salvation.