Potomac Conference

Story by Visitor Staff

Members from 30 Hispanic churches across the Potomac Conference recently gathered at the Southern Asian church in Silver Spring, Md., to celebrate 215 baptisms during “Pentecostes Now.” Thirty evangelists, led by Pastor Abel Pacheco, president of the Salvadoran Union, joined Potomac pastors to preach during 30 series across the conference and visit attendees in their homes.

The pastors who conducted the meetings each shared testimonies and reports from the event. The 215 baptisms are part of the 2,498 that have taken place in Columbia Union Hispanic churches in 2017. Members from around the union will gather to celebrate these evangelism efforts at Vivangelismo 2017, December 8 -10 in Ocean City, Md.

Story by Oksana Wetmore

Over the past five years, the number of women in pastoral ministry within the Columbia Union Conference has grown to 40. Meet six women pastors who reflect on their call to ministry, as well as their challenges, successes and blessings.

Heather Crews
Mentored for Ministry

Growing up in a dual pastors’ family, Heather Crews was no stranger to a pastor’s lifestyle. As a 9-year-old heading from one church service to another, she recalls being a strong-willed pastor’s kid, grabbing at every chance to delve into challenging Bible discussions with her father. “It was a joy to travel with my dad on the open road between Bible studies,” she says. 

Story by Visitor Staff

"It was fascinating to learn their stories and see their determination to serve,” says David Brillhart, director and co-writer of a 2016 documentary about four women pastors and their journeys to find acceptance in the churches they were called to serve. Among them is Heather Crews (pictured), pastor of Potomac Conference's Courthouse Road church in North Chesterfield, Va.

The film was the brainchild of Time for Equality in Adventist Ministry (TEAM), chaired by Beverly Habada, a member of the Potomac Conference’s Sligo church in Takoma Park, Md., who wants to help “break down barriers for women in ministry.”

View the documentary here.

Story by Oksana Wetmore / Photos by Urbanized Geek

This summer marks the fifth anniversary of Park N’ Praise (PNP), an event run by Seventh-day Adventists from across the Washington, D.C. area, that aims to raise awareness of the need for affordable housing.

Volunteers worshiped with community members, many of whom are homeless, distributed 500 meals, 5,000 diapers and personal care items, conducted 20 health screenings and prayed with 30 attendees at this year’s Washington, D.C., event at Shepard’s Park.