Rivers Living Water of
In a world where we are constantly surrounded by noise, chaos and an overwhelming pace of life, prayer is one of the most intimate and powerful practices God has made available to us. At its core, prayer is a form of communication—an act of reaching out, of expressing our innermost thoughts, hopes, fears and gratitude to a loving God.
“Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
—John 7:38, ESV
One of the most profound roles of prayer is its ability to provide comfort in times of hardship. In moments of adversity or times of global crisis, prayer offers refuge. Amid personal struggles—be it illness, loss or uncertainty—prayer allows us to step outside ourselves, to place our burdens in the hands of the Almighty or to articulate our pain and fear. This act of surrender can provide a sense of peace that transcends external circumstances.
While prayer is often associated with requests for help or intervention, it is equally an opportunity for gratitude and praise. This practice of giving thanks reminds us to be mindful of the gifts we may otherwise take for granted. Gratitude in prayer serves as a powerful antidote to the pressures and distractions of modern life. It fosters a spirit of humility and contentment, helping to shift our focus from what we lack to what we already possess.
Whether it’s a quiet moment of reflection before starting the day, a moment of deep gratitude at the end of a challenging period or a sincere wish for someone’s well-being, prayer offers a way to engage with God and our world in a meaningful manner.
Empowered Through Prayer
On the day of Pentecost, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit showered Jesus’ followers with God’s love and power. As a result, Christ’s followers spread the good news of Jesus with such clarity and conviction that 3,000 new believers were baptized that very day.
Ellen White wrote that near the close of Earth’s history, the latter rain—a special bestowal of spiritual grace—is promised to prepare the church for Christ’s return. To receive it, we need a living connection with the Source of all spiritual growth.
This year in the Columbia Union Conference, we, too, want to be filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit. That’s why our watchword for 2025 is empower. Like those early believers, we recognize our great need for prayer as we seek to proclaim the gospel of Jesus to all the world.
We invite you to join us in making 2025 a special time of preparation through prayer. Let’s invite the Living Water to revive, empower and sanctify us. Let’s pray for a Pentecost experience in 2025!
Your Columbia Union Executive Officers,
Emmanuel Asiedu Treasurer
Marcellus T. Robinson President
Celeste Ryan Blyden Executive Secretary
Join The Movement
Pentecost 2025 is an initiative designed to empower individuals, congregations and schools across the North American Division to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ.
No experience is required. Whether you are a large church or a member wanting to grow spiritually, Pentecost 2025 needs your skills and talents.
It’s simple. Reach out to colleagues or neighbors with acts of compassion, start a food pantry at your local church, begin a health or Bible study at your school or sing at an evangelistic series. If you are a seasoned preacher, why not train a member to present the gospel in their community?
Learn more about Columbia Union Conference’s involvement in Pentecost 2025, and find resources that can help inspire and empower you to impact your community at columbiaunionvisitor.com/pentecost2025.
Let’s Pray Together!
In 2025, we invite you to embark on a prayer-filled year. It is our hope that, month by month, members across the Columbia Union will unite to pray for one another. Let the pages of this calendar act as a handbook—providing prompts and inspiration that will aid and guide you through this collective commission.
Please join us as we start the year with Columbia Union’s Day of Prayer, held online January 4 from 4–5 p.m.
Continuing in February and throughout the year, join us online at noon on the first Wednesday of every month as we bring our monthly prayer focus before the Lord and ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit over the Pentecost 2025 movement. Each month, we have included a Columbia Union and Pentecost 2025 “Prayer Focus” that we hope you will include in your prayer time. Please use the remaining space to create your own prayer list.
Scan the monthly QR code to access links to our prayer meetings, watch monthly videos introducing the next prayer focus, read the latest evangelism stories and find Pentecost 2025 resources.
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. … Prayer
does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.
—Steps to Christ, p. 93
Children, ask God to do for you those things that you cannot do for yourselves. Tell Jesus everything. Lay open before Him the secrets of your heart.
–The Adventist Home, p. 299
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. ... Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven’.—Matthew 19:13-14, ESV
The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.
—Messages to Young People, p. 250
MARCH 2025
Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him.
—Steps to Christ, p. 100
The strength acquired in prayer to God will prepare us for our daily duties.
—Messages to Young People, p. 248
We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun.
—Steps to Christ, p. 99
Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe.
—Steps to Christ, p. 100
We may be daily learning more of our heavenly Father, gaining a fresh experience of His grace; then we shall desire to speak of His love; and as we do this, our own hearts will be warmed and encouraged.
—Steps to Christ, p. 101
But trust His word, and leave the whole matter in the hands of the Lord, with full faith that your prayer will be honored, and the answer will come at the very time and in the very way your heavenly Father sees is for your good.
—Messages to Young People, p. 123
The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land. ... You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.—Isaiah 58:11, NIV
For any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received.
—Messages to Young People, p. 252
They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.—Isaiah 40:31, ESV
Thank God for the bright pictures which He has presented to us. Let us group together the blessed assurances of His love, that we may look upon them continually.
—Steps to Christ, p. 118
In giving up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift.
—Steps to Christ, p. 21
DECEMBER 2025
4
Columbia Union Conference AT-A-GLANCE
155,218 # of Members
17 # of Hospitals
of Adventist Community Services Centers & Food Pantries
Directory of Organizations
1.
COLUMBIA UNION CONFERENCE
5427 Twin Knolls Road
Columbia, MD 21045
Tel: (410) 997-3414
Fax: (410) 997-7420
Website: columbiaunionadventists.org
News Website: columbiaunionvisitor.com
X Platform: /visitornews
Facebook: /columbiaunionvisitor
Instagram: /columbiaunionvisitor
Email Newsletter: columbiaunionvisitor.com/vnb
President: Marcellus T. Robinson
Executive Secretary: Celeste Ryan Blyden
Treasurer: Emmanuel Asiedu
Undertreasurer: Tabita Martinez
VP/Communication: Kelly Butler Coe
VP/Education: Donovan Ross
VP/General Counsel: Lisa Saveikis Burrow
VP/Ministries Development: Frank Bondurant
VP/Multilingual Ministries: Rubén A. Ramos
Asst. to the President for Evangelism: José D. Espósito
Director/Information Technology: Greg Iverson
Director/Plant Services: Curtis Boore
Conferences
2. ALLEGHENY EAST CONFERENCE
767 Douglass Drive
Boyertown, PA 19512
Toll-free: (800) 830-0224
Tel: (610) 326-4610
Fax: (610) 326-3946
Website: visitaec.org
President: Trevor Kinlock
3. ALLEGHENY WEST CONFERENCE
1080 Kingsmill Parkway
Columbus, OH 43229
Tel: (614) 252-5271
Fax: (614) 252-3246
Website: awconf.org
President: Marvin C. Brown, III
4. CHESAPEAKE CONFERENCE
6600 Martin Road
Columbia, MD 21044
Tel: (410) 995-1910
Fax: (443) 917-2920
Website: ccosda.org
President: Jerry Lutz
5. MOUNTAIN VIEW CONFERENCE
1400 Liberty Street
Parkersburg, WV 26101
Tel: (304) 422-4581
Fax: (304) 422-4582
Website: mtviewconf.org
President: Tim Bailey
6. NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE
2303 Brunswick Avenue
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Tel: (609) 802-0840
Fax: (609) 396-9273
Website: newjerseyconference.org
President: Stephen Lee
7. OHIO CONFERENCE
1251 E Dorothy Lane
Dayton, OH 45419
Tel: (937) 741-0236
Fax: (937) 250-1566
Website: ohioadventist.org
President: Bob Cundiff
8. PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE
2359 Mountain Road
Hamburg, PA 19526
Tel: (610) 374-8331
Fax: (610) 374-9331
Website: paconference.org
President: Gary Gibbs
9. POTOMAC CONFERENCE
606 Greenville Avenue
Staunton, VA 24401
Toll-free: (800) 732-1844
Tel: (540) 886-0771
Fax: (540) 886-5734
Website: pcsda.org
President: Charles A. Tapp
Health Care Networks
10. ADVENTIST HEALTHCARE
820 West Diamond Avenue, Suite 600 Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Tel: (301) 315-3030
Website: adventisthealthcare.com
President and CEO: John Sackett
11. KETTERING HEALTH
1 Prestige Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
Tel: (937) 298-4331
Website: ketteringhealth.org
CEO: Michael V. Gentry
Higher Education
12. WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY
7600 Flower Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912
Toll-free: (800) 835-4212
Tel: (301) 891-4000
Website: wau.edu
President: Weymouth Spence
13. KETTERING COLLEGE
3737 Southern Boulevard
Kettering, OH 45429
Toll-free: (800) 433-5262
Tel: (937) 395-8601
Website: kc.edu
President: Nate Brandstater
Media Ministry
14. WGTS 91.9
2099 Gaither Road, Suite 105
Rockville, MD 20850
Toll-free: (800) 700-1094
Website: wgts919.com
President and CEO: Kevin Krueger
Additional Ministries
COLUMBIA UNION ASI
Website: cuasi.org
President: Daniel A. Reed
COLUMBIA UNION REVOLVING FUND
Toll-free: (866) 721-CURF (2873)
Tel: (410) 715-0328
Fax: (443) 259-9627
Email: CURF@columbiaunion.net
Website: columbiaunionrevolvingfund.org
Secretary/Treasurer: H. Candace Nurse
ADVENTIST BOOK CENTER
Toll-free: (800) 765-6955
Website: adventistbookcenter.com
ADVENTSOURCE
Toll-free: (800) 328-0525
Website: adventsource.org
Find a Church or School columbiaunion.org/findachurch columbiaunion.org/findaschool
2025 Columbia Union CALENDAR OF
EVENTS *
February 12–15
MusicFest at Washington Adventist University (WAU)
March 8
Columbia Union Pathfinder Bible Experience
April 4–6
Alumni Weekend for WAU
April 9
Kettering College Giving Day
April 18–19
Columbia Union ASI Spring Meeting
April 18–20
Academy Alumni Weekend for Highland View, Shenandoah Valley
April 24–27
Alumni Weekend for Takoma Academy
April 25
Spring Commencement for Kettering College
April 25–27
Alumni Weekend for Blue Mountain Academy
April 26–27
Alumni Weekend for Spring Valley Academy
May 2–4
Graduation Weekend for WAU
May 3
Homecoming Sabbath for Spencerville Academy
May 17–18
Alumni Weekend for Lake Nelson Academy
May 23–25
Academy Graduation Weekend for Blue Mountain, Pine Forge, Shenandoah Valley, Spring Valley
May 23–25
Allegheny West Hispanic Camp Meeting
May 30–June 1
Academy Graduation Weekend for Highland View, Spencerville, Richmond, Takoma
May 30–June 1
Ohio Hispanic Camp Meeting
June 4–8
Ohio English Camp Meeting
June 5–8
Potomac Hispanic Camp Meeting
June 6–8
Graduation Weekend for Lake Nelson Academy
June 6–8
Chesapeake Hispanic Camp Meeting
June 6–14
Pennsylvania English Camp Meeting
June 11–14
Allegheny West English Camp Meeting
June 11–14
Potomac English Camp Meeting in the Valley
June 12–14
New Jersey Hispanic Camp Meeting
June 13–21
Mountain View English Camp Meeting
June 17–21
Chesapeake English Camp Meeting
June 19–21
New Jersey English Camp Meeting
June 19–21
New Jersey Haitian Camp Meeting
June 20–22
Pennsylvania Hispanic Camp Meeting
June 27–29
Allegheny East English Camp Meeting
July 3–12
62nd General Conference Session
July 11
Summer Commencement for Kettering College
July 17–20
Adventist Young Professionals Convention
July 25–27
Mountain View Hispanic Camp Meeting
July 30–Aug 2
ASI International Convention
August 29–30
Alumni Weekend for Pine Forge Academy
September 18–21
Spiritual Academy Leadership Training (SALT)
September 21
Adventist HealthCare Triumph Trek Fun Run & Health Fair
September 28
Potomac Conference Constituency Meeting
October 11
WAU Offering Sabbath
December 5
WAU Christmas Concert
*Dates subject to change
About the
COLUMBIA UNION CONFERENCE
The Columbia Union Conference, established in 1907 to coordinate the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, is part of the worldwide Protestant denomination of 22 million members in more than 212 countries. At the union level, we connect and provide administrative leadership, governance and support services to our conferences, schools, health care networks and ministries. Each year, our organizations sponsor dozens of programs and projects that address human needs, improve quality of life and introduce people to Jesus.
Columbia Union Conference
O F SEV EN TH-DAY A DV EN TI ST S
5427 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045 (410) 997-3414 • columbiaunionadventists.org
Additional copies of the calendar are available for the cost of shipping, while supplies last. Call Pacific Press® Publishing Association at (800) 545-2449.
This calendar features sunset times for Baltimore, as well as national holidays.
Contributing Editors: Ricardo Bacchus, V. Michelle Bernard, Kelly Butler Coe, Brooklyne Nickell
Designer: Kylie Kajiura
Printer: Pacific Press® Publishing Association
Photography: gettyimages.com
© 2025 Columbia Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® All Rights Reserved.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.
White, Ellen G., Messages to Young People (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1930).
White, Steps to Christ (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1900).
White, The Adventist Home (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952).
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