CONTACT n (410) 997-3414 n columbiaunionvisitor.com visitor@columbiaunion.net n To subscribe, change address or discontinue Visitor mailings, call your local conference, as listed below. Ask for the membership clerk. Free to members. All others, $18 annually. Email sjones@columbiaunion.net.
Indeed, Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24:3–14 about the last days and the signs of His return are being fulfilled in our time. They domi nate news headlines, posts and tweets.
Executive Secretary Celeste Ryan Weigley;PresidentBlyden;DaveTreasurerEmmanuelAsiedu
PUBLISHING BOARD n Dave Weigley (chair), Celeste Ryan Blyden (secretary), Jorge Aguero, Emmanuel Asiedu, Tim Bailey, Marvin C. Brown, III, Bob Cundiff, Gary Gibbs, Jerry Lutz, Pete Palmer, Charles A. Tapp 5427 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045 (410) 997-3414 n columbiaunion.org
NEW JERSEY: Jorge Aguero, President; Cinthia Portanova, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (609) 392-7131 n njcsda.org
There’s still time and great need for the body of Christ to be salt, light and jars of clay that will make a tangible difference in our world and in our personal lives, because, when we experience the mission, it changes us too.
PENNSYLVANIA: Gary Gibbs, President; Tamyra Horst, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (610) 374-8331 n paconference.org
KETTERING COLLEGE: Nate Brandstater, President; Courtney Dove, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (937) 395-8601 n kc.edu
HEALTHCARE NETWORKS
Printed at Pacific Press® Publishing Association in Nampa, Idaho.
KETTERING HEALTH: Fred Manchur, CEO; Christina Keresoma, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (937) 395-8167 n ketteringhealth.org
EditorialWhatTime Is It?
Frank Bondurant n Vice President, Ministries Development
Dave Weigley n President Celeste Ryan Blyden n Executive Secretary Emmanuel Asiedu n Treasurer Tabita Martinez n Undertreasurer
Lisa Saveikis Burrow n Vice President/General Counsel
The Visitor is a publication of the Columbia Union Conference reaching nearly 65,000 Seventh-day Adventist homes in the Mid-Atlantic area and 75,000 online readers. The Visitor provides news and information, inspiration for effective ministry and insight on issues with a spiritual focus to help engage members in experiencing the mission.
Donovan Ross n Vice President, Education José D. Espósito n Asst. to the President for Evangelism H. Candace Nurse n Secretary/Treasurer, Revolving Fund Curtis Boore n Director, Plant Services Kelly Butler Coe n Director, Communication Services Greg Iverson n Director, Information Technology Services
Adventist® and Seventh-day Adventist® are the registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® Volume 127 n Issue 5
ALLEGHENY WEST: Marvin C. Brown, III, President; Benia Jennings, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (614) 252-5271 n awconf.org
Celeste Ryan Blyden n Editor and Publisher Ricardo Bacchus n Managing Editor for Print V. Michelle Bernard n Managing Editor for Digital Media Kelly Butler Coe n Art Director and Designer Sandra Jones n Advertising and Circulation Manager
THERE’S STILL TIME! Yes, Jesus is coming again very soon! But until then, there’s still time to go and tell others what He’s done for you and what He can do for them There’stoo!still time to walk with people through the struggles and realities of this broken world.
In other words, Jesus assures us that there will come an end to these terrible times of trouble. He promises that if we remain faithful, even if we face persecution or death, we will be saved. And He reaffirms His call for us to be witnesses to all the world.
Rubén A. Ramos n Vice President, Multilingual Ministries
ADVENTIST HEALTHCARE: Terry Forde, President & CEO; Costin Jordache, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (301) 315-3030 adventisthealthcare.com
Does this mean it’s time to run to the hills, hide out in bunkers, live in fear or put up a fight? Not at Tuckedall!into this dismal forecast about wars, weather and hearts waxing cold are Christ’s instructions, promises and hope for believers: Verse six says we should not be alarmed because such things must happen before the end of time. Verse 13 says those who endure to the end will be saved. And verse 14 says the gospel will be preached to the whole world, and then the end will come.
OHIO: Bob Cundiff, President; Kasper Haughton Jr., Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (740) 397-4665 n ohioadventist.org
ALLEGHENY EAST: Pete Palmer, President; LaTasha Hewitt, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (610) 326-4610 n visitaec.com
There’s still time to give the clarion call and be accountable to God in sharing the unique message He has entrusted to this movement— the three angels’ messages and the good news of our coming King.
CONFERENCES
If you say we are living in perilous and challenging times, times that try men’s souls, we agree. If you say we are living in the best and worst of times, we also agree. If you say we are living in the very last days of earth’s history, we most certainly agree.
There’s still time to preach, start small groups, plant churches and pray for the Holy Spirit.
MOUNTAIN VIEW: Tim Bailey, President; Liz Bailey, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (304) 422-4581 n mtviewconf.org
POTOMAC: Charles A. Tapp, President; Debra Anderson, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (540) 886-0771 n pcsda.org
CHESAPEAKE: Jerry Lutz, President; Evan Knott, Visitor Correspondent n Tel. (410) 995-1910 n ccosda.org
WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY: Weymouth Spence, President; Everett S. Wiles, Visitor Correspondent Tel. (301) 891-4000 n wau.edu
cover photo by tj kirkpatrick
From our ministry centers—churches, schools, hospitals, radio station, media outlets and offices—let’s go where people work, live, learn and play. Let’s go to the country, to the cities, around the corner and across the street. Let’s go the distance—online, in person and hybrid—to reach somebody for Jesus. What time is it? It’s go time! And thankfully, there’s still time to go tell somebody about Jesus!
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
“As the COVID vaccine was being rolled out for adults last year ... I found that even though they got the vaccine for themselves, some parents were hesitant about giving their children a new vaccine, and I can understand that. My co-author and I then had the idea of writing a children’s book which would be an entertaining way to speak directly to kids and their par ents about how vaccines work and share the exciting story of scientists from around the world who have made various vaccines,” she says.
The number of people worldwide who suffer from extreme food insecurity and rising malnutrition • “ADRA, the global humanitarian arm of the Adventist Church, is committed to advocating for and supporting pro grams to reduce hunger and restore the dignity of less fortunate families and communities,” says Michael Kruger, president of ADRA International. 68 We all need a place where we can go and just be totally vulnerable, feel whatever [we] feel, share everything about it, process it together with someone, so that [we] can go back into the world and face it.”—Torben Bergland, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, at the NAD CALLED Convention in Lexington, Ky. ‘‘ ARE DAIRY AND PROSTATE CANCER LINKED?
Seventh-day Adventist historian George R. Knight publicly shared a recently dis covered photo of Sarah Lindsey, the first woman licensed as an Adventist minister, at the summer’s CALLED Pastors’ Family Convention in Lexington, Ky. Lindsey spent more than 30 years establishing churches across New York and Pennsylvania.
columbiaunionvisitor.com VISITOR | 3 UpFront v. michelle bernard photo courtesy of the g butler album / dept of archives and special collections , loma linda university
A recent Loma Linda University Health study found that men who consumed about 430 grams of dairy per day faced a 25 percent increased risk of prostate cancer when compared to men who consumed only 20.2 grams of dairy per day. Also, men who consumed about 430 grams of dairy per day faced an even whenincreasegreaterinriskcompared to men with zero dairy intake in their diets.
—Michael W. Campbell MILLION
HISTORIC DISCOVEREDPHOTO
KIDS PREACH AT VIRTUAL CAMP MEETING
This summer’s Chesapeake Conference Hispanic Camp Meeting, held virtually this year, included a special feature. Chosen from a series of preaching contests, three child preachers spoke to the attendees. The winners were Alva Danny (pictured) from the New Castle church in Wilmington, Del.; Lucy Cabrera-Sarat from La Esperanza in Baltimore; and Estephany Leonela Hernández from the Glenn Dale Spanish Company in Lanham, Md.
Orlando Rosales, Chesapeake Conference’s Hispanic Ministries director, says the child preaching contests aim to provide ministry training that empowers kids to present the gospel to their peers.
“The plan is that when churches have evangelistic programs, these child preachers can preach to the children,” Rosales says. “When children are more active in the church, it’s a blessing.”
—Evan Knott WANT MORE? Read the full story at columbiaunionvisitor.com/upfront.
ANJALI THE BRAVE: ALL ABOUT VACCINES Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, M.D., a member of Allegheny East Conference’s Metropolitan church in Hyattsville, Md., recently co-authored Anjali the Brave: All About Vaccines
The Society of Adventist Communicators Convention will be held virtually (Friday) and in person October 13–15 in Columbia, Md. Register to learn practical tips on how to improve your church or ministry’s communication. Hurricane season is underway, and you can help if a disas ter hits. Adventist Community Services leaders share ways church members can help others in a potential time of need. Camp Mohaven staff had only minutes to react when torna does recently ripped through the property in Danville, Ohio. Thanks to God’s mercy and their professionalism, every camper, staff and person on site escaped safe and unharmed, say leaders from Ohio Conference’s camp and retreat center.
“I don’t know if we would be where we are today in advancing women in ministry if it weren’t for Dan Jackson,” says Dave Weigley, Columbia Union president. “He was very supportive of women in ministry and was a champion of justice.”
jackson photo by dan weber / nad n twitter.com/visitornews n instagram.com/columbiaunionvisitorn facebook.com/columbiaunionvisitor
CHARLOTTE MCCLURE ORDAINED Charlotte Pedersen McClure, former director of Communication for the Columbia Union Conference, and retired pastor from the Spencerville church, was ordained to the gospel ministry. McClure retired in 2010 after pastoring for eight years. “I’ve always felt welcomed by the broth erhood of pastors—always,” she says. “This is something that I wish would have happened earlier and I wish it would happen for more women, but I just encourage them, whether they are ordained or not, to continue working for God and for the mission of the church.” McClure’s emeritus ordination credentials were issued by the Columbia Union Conference. —Ricardo Bacchus
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Churches around the union worked to help local students gear up for the school year with school supply drives and other assistance. Email your back-to-school photos to visitor@columbiaunion.net columbiaunionvisitor.com/5Things
The November/December Visitor will share photos and memories from the recent “Relentless” Columbia Union Camporee. In the meantime, watch the nightly meetings and day-in-review videos at columbiaunionvisitor.com/relentless.
4 | VISITOR September/October 2022 UpFront
FORMER NAD PRESIDENT JACKSON PASSES AWAY Daniel R. Jackson, former pres ident of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the North American Division (NAD), passed to his rest July 23 after several months of battling cancer. He was 73. Jackson, who served the Adventist Church for 49 years, retired in July 2020 after serving as NAD president for a decade. Jackson made many contributions to the church during his 10 years of service at the division. He also made an impact in the Columbia Union Conference.
—Kimberly Luste Maran and Visitor Staff
FORMER MOUNTAIN VIEW CONFERENCE PRESIDENT PASSES Richard Fearing, president of the Mountain View Conference from 1969–1974, recently passed away. Fearing served the Adventist Church for 40 years, followed by 32 years of retirement. “It was during his term of service that the conference changed its name from West Virginia Conference to Mountain View Conference,” says Tim Bailey, current conference president. “Richard cared for our conference very much and was loved in return by our members.”
El historiador adventista George R. Knight compartió una foto recientemente descubierta de Sarah Lindsey, la primera mujer licenciada como ministra Adventista del Séptimo Día. Knight compartió públicamente la foto en la Convención Familiar de Pastores “CALLED” en Lexington, Ky. Ella pasó más de 30 años estableciendo iglesias en Nueva York y Pensilvania.
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El consejero del campamento, Charles Ames, comparte: “Sien to que nadie resultó herido… gracias al Espíritu Santo y a Dios.”
Un estudio reciente de salud de la Universidad de Loma Linda encontró que los hombres que consumían alrededor de 430 gramos de productos lácteos por día enfrentaban un riesgo 25 % mayor de cáncer de próstata en comparación con los hombres que consumían solo 20.2 gramos de productos lácteos por día. Además, los hombres que consumían alrededor de 430 gramos de lácteos al día se enfrentaban a un aumento aún mayor del riesgo en comparación con los hombres que no consumían lácteos en sus dietas.
Todos necesitamos un lugar al que podamos ir y ser totalmente vul nerables, sentir lo que sea que sintamos, compartir todo al respecto, procesarlo junto con alguien para que podamos volver al mundo y enfrentarlo”, dijo Torben Bergland, psiqui atra y psicoterapeuta, en la convención de la NAD “CALLED” en Lexington, Ky. traducción por rosette
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“Gracias a la misericordia de Dios y su profesionalismo, todos los campistas, el personal y las personas que estaban en el lugar escaparon sanos y salvos”, dicen los líderes del campamento y centro de retiros de la Conferencia de Ohio.
El personal del Campamento Mohaven solo tuvo unos minutos para reaccionar cuando los tornados arrasaron recientemente la propiedad en Danville, Ohio.
Las iglesias de toda la unión trabajaron para ayudar a los estudiantes locales a prepararse para el año escolar con campañas de recolección de útiles escolares y otra asistencia. Envíe sus fotos de regreso a clases por correo electrónico a visitor@columbiaunion.net. Cosas Que Debes Saber columbiaunionvisitor.com/noticias5cosas
El presidente de la Conferencia de Ohio, Bob Cundiff, agrega: “El personal de nuestro campamento de verano hizo un trabajo excelente durante esta crisis. Ejecutaron el plan de acción de emergencia del Campamento Mohaven sin problemas, apre surando a todos a un lugar seguro, a tiempo”.
Orlando Rosales, director de los Ministerios Hispanos de la Conferencia de Chesapeake, dice que las competencias de predicación infantil tienen como objetivo capacitar a los niños para presentar el evangelio a sus compañeros.
“Esta es una gran bendición para las iglesias”, dice Rubén Ramos, vicepresidente de los Ministerios Multilingües en la Unión de Columbia, quien señaló que muchos miembros están activos alcanzando a otros, abriendo sus hogares, usando sus automóviles y recursos personales en el ministerio.
MÁS DE 115,000 BIBLIAS Y EL CAMINO A CRISTO SE DISTRIBUIRÁN EN LA UNIÓN DE COLUMBIA Este verano, unas 15,600 Biblias y más de 100,000 libros El Camino a Cristo llegaron a la sede de la Unión de Columbia en Columbia, Maryland, listas para ser distribuidas a las iglesias y miembros de toda la unión. Es la segunda distribución a gran escala en los últimos dos años donde los líderes de la unión enviaron los libros a los repre sentantes de los territorios de las ochoLasconferencias.Bibliasseentregaron a las conferencias a un precio muy reducido y los libros El Camino a Cristo fueron financiados, todo gracias a un donante.
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columbiaunionvisitor.com VISITOR | 5 Noticias v. michelle bernard
El Campestre Hispano de la Conferencia de Chesapeake, de este verano, que se llevó a cabo virtualmente, incluyó una nueva parte especial. Tres niños predicadores, elegidos en una serie de competencias de predicación, hablaron a los asistentes.
Sophia Schroedel, miembro del personal en formación del campamento, contó la desgarradora historia de apresurar a los de su cabaña a un lugar seguro. “Acabamos de llevarlos hacia [el refugio para tormentas]. A cincuenta pies de la cabaña, uno de mis campistas [cayó]. Tan pronto como se levantó al campista, una rama cayó exactamente donde ella estaba”.
6 | VISITOR September/October 2022 Nouvelles v michelle bernard
DISTRIBUTION DE PLUS DE 115 000 BIBLES ET VERS JÉSUS DANS L’UNION DE COLUMBIA Cet été, quelque 15 600 bibles et plus de 100 000 « Vers Jésus » sont arrivés au siège de l’Union de Fédérations de Columbia à Columbia, dans le Maryland, prêts à être distribués aux églises et aux membres de l›union.
Le personnel du Camp Mohaven n’a eu que quelques minutes pour réagir lorsque des tornades ont récemment ravagé la propriété à Danville, Ohio. « Grâce à la miséricorde de Dieu et à leur professionnalisme, tous les campeurs, le personnel et les personnes présentes sur le site sont sortis sains et saufs », déclarent les responsables du camp et du centre de retraite de la Fédération d’Ohio.
Choses à Savoir columbiaunionvisitor.com/nouvelles5choses
Nous avons tous besoin d’un endroit où nous pouvons aller et être totalement vulnérables, ressentir tout ce que nous ressentons, le partager, le traiter avec quelqu’un afin de pouvoir retourner dans le monde et y faire face », a déclaré Torben Bergland, psychiatre et psychothérapeute, lors de la convention NAD CALLED à Lexington, Ky. « traduction par jacquelin belizaire
Il s’agit de la deuxième distribution à grande échelle au cours des deux dernières années où les dirigeants de l’union ont envoyé les livres aux représentants des huit fédérations de l’union.
Le président de la Fédération d’Ohio, Bob Cundiff, ajoute : « Le personnel de notre camp d’été a fait un excellent travail pendant cette crise. Ils ont parfaitement exécuté le plan d’action d’urgence du camp Mohaven. » Sophia Schroedel, membre du personnel du camp de formation, a raconté l’histoire poignante de la mise en sécurité de sa cabine. « Nous nous sommes dirigés vers [l’abri antitempête]. À 15 mètres de la cabine, l’un de mes campeurs est [tombé]. » Le conseiller du camp, Charles Ames, partage ceci : « J’ai l’impression que personne n’a été blessé... grâce au Saint-Esprit et à Dieu. Il y a eu tellement de cas où [les gens] étaient juste à côté d’un arbre, et il n’est pas tombé. » Le camp a recommencé à accueillir des campeurs la semaine suivantUnel’incident.étuderécente de l’université de Loma Linda a révélé que les hommes qui consomment environ 430 grammes de produits laitiers par jour courent un risque accru de 25 % de cancer de la prostate par rapport aux hommes qui ne consomment que 20,2 grammes de produits laitiers par jour. En outre, les hommes qui consomment environ 430 grammes de produits laitiers par jour sont confrontés à une augmentation encore plus importante du risque par rapport aux hommes qui ne consomment aucun produit laitier dans leur régime alimentaire. Cet été, le camp meeting (réunion de camp) hispanique du Département des Ministères Hispaniques de la Fédération de Chesapeake, qui s’est tenue virtuellement cette année, comportait une nouvelle caractéristique spéciale. Trois enfants prédicateurs, sélectionnés à l’issue d’une série de concours de prédication, se sont adressés aux participants. L’historien adventiste George R. Knight a partagé une photo récemment découverte de Sarah Lindsey, la première femme agréée en tant que pasteur de l’Église Adventiste du Septième-jour. Pasteur Knight a partagé publiquement la photo lors de la convention des familles de pasteurs CALLED à Lexington, Ky. Elle a passé plus de 30 ans à établir des églises à travers New York et Pennsylvanie. Les églises de l’union ont aidé les élèves locaux à se préparer pour l’année scolaire en organisant des collectes de fournitures scolaires et d’autres aides. Envoyez vos photos de la rentrée scolaire à visitor@columbiaunion.net.
Les bibles ont été données aux églises à un prix très réduit et les « Vers Jésus » ont été financéstout cela grâce à un donateur. « C’est une grande bénédiction pour les églises », a déclaré Rubén Ramos, vice-président des ministères multilingues de l’Union de Columbia, qui a fait remarquer que de nombreux membres sont actifs dans le domaine de la sensibilisation, a-t-il déclaré. *L’union a également distribué des brochures d’étude biblique.
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The Visitor team recently interviewed Columbia Union Conference President Dave Weigley to get his take on the union’s newly voted priorities and values for this quinquennium, the challenges our church is facing today, and our role when it comes to social issues.
VISITOR: What could be improved in our church and union?
More important to me is how we got to those priorities. A group of people didn’t just sit in their offices and decide these should be the things that we want to focus on. Rather, we did this very, very intentionally. We listened a lot to all the different governing bodies in our eight conferences (that rep resent the members). We also listened and engaged our health care entities and university leadership during the whole process.
WEIGLEY: I believe the church has done well with the “I Will Go” theme, which inspires members to get involved with soul winning, diving into the Word and getting on with the work of the church in fulfilling the Great Commission, because Jesus is coming. I believe our health care ministries have really taken off. In our union, we have a lot of good things happening in our two health systems—Adventist HealthCare and Kettering Health. I also believe the leadership at our university—Washington Adventist University—is trying to lead in a climate of great change. And across the ecclesiastical side of the church, I believe that the Columbia Union has always been a change agent, which is consistent with our historical values. I also feel good about the emphasis and the ini tiatives we’ve given to women in ministry. In some parts of the world we have become a focus of criti cism, and that’s fine. I think Jesus did a lot of things that received criticism, but He kept moving forward. He is our Lookingexample.back,in the 1970s, we were the first union to ordain a woman local church elder. Now it’s an accepted practice. And then in 2012, our constituents voted to ordain women pastors. When that happened 10 years ago, we had 20 women clergy employed across the Columbia Union. Now, in 2022, we have more than 40. That’s exciting to me.
VISITOR: The Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee recently voted on five priorities for the remainder of the 2021–2026 quinquennium: Spiritual Renewal; Mission Engagement; Leadership Development; Education; and Community Engagement. What do these say about us?
VISITOR : You’ve been the president of the Columbia Union for 16 years. What stands out the most for you during this time?
columbiaunionvisitor.com VISITOR | 9
WEIGLEY: I think we need to continue expand ing women in ministry—as pastors and in other leadership roles. For example, we now have a woman serving as executive secretary. We’ve seen other “firsts,” and I hope we’ll see more. In the area of race and other social issues, we need more dialogue. We’ve had some good conver sations, but we need to do more because all of us have our biases. We need to continue to look toward the biblical model. The word racism isn’t even in Scripture! So, we’ve created those divisions. We need to work on the revitalization of our churches and continue planting churches in unreached areas. We also need to find ways that our young people can get into our schools. I am often troubled that I visit schools that lack enrollment, and yet I visit the corresponding churches and they have kids bursting at the seams. What’s keeping those chil dren from being in our schools? We’ve got to find ways to make Adventist education accessible to all church Understandingfamilies.how much the world has changed and continues to change, we would do well to offer the young people and other members a church that addresses mission in a context they can understand, relate to and get excited about. We are losing our young adults because we aren’t figuring out how to engage them in ways that matter to them, ways they consider relevant to their lives and purpose.
WEIGLEY: We’ve identified what we're most passionate about. The priorities identify those things that we must be intentional about in moving the mission forward.
WEIGLEY: I think what really pushes me is to keep asking the questions: “Why?” “Why are we here?” “How can we be relevant?” and “Are we making a difference?”
VISITOR: In your opinion, what has the church and union done exceptionally well over the past 10 years?
Then there was a final step in what I call “shared vision.” The leader has to go to the mountain, as it were, to get a sense of what God is saying to you as a leader. Then, the leader casts the vision, which culminates the process.
One priority is not more important than another. But we kind of identified them in a hierarchy by saying spiritual renewal (and soul winning) is first because that’s what we are about; we’re trying to
WEIGLEY: My desire is to see people experience the mission. Experiencing the mission changes everything. That’s been the focus I’ve tried to bring to this office because I’ve experienced it in my own life. Another priority is soul-winning evangelism and growing the mission of the church. In addition, one of my greatest joys has been supporting, mentoring and growing leaders.
VISITOR: How do you challenge yourself so that your role doesn’t become stagnant?
VISITOR: A lot of our churches do a great job at assessing and meeting the physical needs of their communities. Why is that so important?
10 | VISITOR September/October 2022 fulfill the great Gospel Commission. So how do you do that? Well, before you share the good news, you have to have your own experience with Jesus Christ and know Him as your personal Savior. You have to experience the mission yourself. It is then that you can engage in the mission and go out and go forth with sharing the good news. Sharing our faith is what it’s all about. I’m excited that this is where the constituents and our leadership team landed. I’m passionate about each one of these priorities.
VISITOR: What is the ultimate goal you’d like to achieve this quinquennium?
VISITOR: In the past year, the union added the role of special assistant to the president for evangelism. What does this signify about the union’s focus on evangelism?
WEIGLEY: Our union has always been about evangelism and extremely focused on soul winning. So, bringing Elder José Espósito on board is to bring a high degree of emphasis and a high level of focus to the role of evangelism. He is an excellent evange list, and is a trainer, equipper and utilized by many of ourOurconferences.largestgrowth is happening among Hispanic members and people groups. So why not do all you can to try to grow that, get people at the ground level, find them there, grow the church there? Coming from another country himself, Espósito is uniquely quali fied to equip immigrant churches and leaders.
VISITOR: How can we motivate members or local churches to also engage in the union’s recently voted values: Excellence; Integrity; Respect; Equality; Unity; Diversity; and Service?
photos by tj kirkpatrick
WEIGLEY: There is a lot of tension in our world today. One of the most important things I’ve learned through the years is people feel valued if they’re heard and respected. I think those partic ular hot button issues begin with first seeking to understand, then to be understood. I believe the church needs much dialogue, much understanding and much compassion. We tend to get really settled into our orthodoxy and say, “We’re really safe here” because we “understand” everything. Yet Jesus was unorthodox. He challenged the status quo. He addressed the issues. He sat with the tax collectors and loved theOuroutcasts.issues today, in 2022, aren’t going to be the same issues in five years, if the Lord tarries. We will always need to try to come together. Like I say to my kids, “The issue is not the issue. It’s how you deal with the issue.”
WEIGLEY: We’ve got to model our values in our relationships with people. The union is here to support the conferences and our institutions. The conferences are there to support the churches. With values, it comes down to how you exercise them. We need to keep revisiting these—not just every five years—asking the questions: “Are we really liv ing our values?” and “Are we expressing them in a way that people understand that we’re holding our selvesReally,accountable?”whenitcomes down to it, you could sum it up in one word— Christlikeness. Jesus was extremely committed to His Father and the mission of God. We need to keep stepping back and saying, “OK, how would Christ do this?”
VISITOR: Community engagement is one of the priorities. As we engage, how should the church handle polarizing subjects such as LGBTQIA+ rights, school shootings, or social justice without politicizing or taking sides?
WEIGLEY: You’ve got to start where the people are. In The Ministry of Health and Healing, Ellen White writes, “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good. He showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He invited them, ‘Follow Me’” (p. Some73).studies have found that churches that grow their young adult membership often spend time where people are and helping them get what they need most, like conducting financial workshops, dis tributing food or teaching exercise and other healthy habits. These are what you call “felt needs.” First you meet them where they are, then you can natu rally introduce the gospel to them.
P resident Dave Weigley said he would never have “envisioned being part of a movement that would ordain women prior to the world church.” But six years into his time as president, people started approaching him about the topic. “I said, ‘No, that’s not how we do things. We work with the world church,’” he notes. After the world church refused to allow women to serve as presidents, a role that calls for pastoral ordination, he says it became apparent that the church’s policies were discriminatory.
“You could say to a young woman who’s leading a church, ‘You can pastor, you can even be a senior pastor, but you can’t become a conference president.’ That to me is wrong. And yet, that’s what we were saying,” he says. So, 10 years ago, Columbia Union Conference leadership studied the issue of women’s ordination— and (again) found that the Bible didn’t prohibit it. At a special constituency session July 29, 2012, members voted to allow the ordination of women in the Columbia Union.
MOVING FORWARD “We still need more understanding to take place,” says Weigley. “I think we need to be intentional in educating the members. I believe that we at the union need to do more. We need to continue producing materials that share the biblical perspective in understanding the call to ministry.”
“I think it has empowered women. I’ve spoken to women leaders, both in and out of our union, about how much they appreciate the Columbia Union and others who are stepping up and recognizing their call to min istry,” Weigley says. “And as the late Elder Charles Bradford, who served as the first president of the North American Division, told me years ago, ‘Let the women get in the game, they’re going to raise the bar.’”
WEIGLEY: I would like to see more engagement of our members in the mission of the church and to intentionally share the good news of Christ’s soon coming. I'd like to see this being carried out by young and old, male and female. I’d like people to express their gifts in the way God has called them. I think mission advancement is huge. I believe that’s very important. I’d also like to see us make the church more rele vant to young adults.
Wherever I go in the world, people know about the Columbia Union because, historically speaking, we are on the forefront . We need to keep being intentional in advancing and emphasizing the initia tives that have defined us as a union.
VISITOR: Any closing thoughts or inspiration?
WEIGLEY: When I look back at my life in ministry, work and leadership, I would say that the older you get nothing surprises you. Sometimes it’s in the depths of suffering and issues of illness that you develop a closer intimacy with your loved ones— like with my wife, Becky, who has been dealing with ongoing health challenges. There are two kinds of people sitting in the congregation every Sabbath: those who have been through a crisis and those who will go through a crisis. If life lasts long enough, we’re all going to go through a crisis or say goodbye to a loved one, a parent, a spouse. Sometimes it’s children. It’s how life is.
I think in the midst of all that, the longer I live, I realize that this world is temporary. God is on His throne. And I reflect on His great promise, found in Romans 8:18: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (KJV). Amen!
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He adds, “We would do well to remember that God calls men and women into His service. Our role and privilege are to acknowledge and affirm His call and the way He is working in their lives.”
LOOking Back and Forward
Weigley notes that the church established unions in the early 1900s. “If we had stayed committed and accountable to the blueprint given to us in the early 1900s by Ellen White with establishing unions, things would be different today. It has always been the authority of the union to decide who gets ordained. It should have been left there. All this controversy would not be present today if this autonomy was given around the world,” he states. WHAT HAS IT MEANT?
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Membersgymnasium.expressed their joy in returning after a two-year pause. “I really enjoyed the whole day. It was good to be back,” says Letha Walker, a member of the Mt. Olivet church in Camden, N.J. “I enjoyed the wonderful service! It was great to be in person again,” shares Retha Dixon, a member of the Dupont Park church in Washington, D.C. For the archived virtual and live camp meeting programs, visit YouTube.com/AECMediaMinistries.
In-Person Camp Meeting Returns After Two Years
During the Master Guide Investiture Service, Boniface Getugi, volunteer lay pastor of the Living Springs church in Glen Burnie, Md., ties a scarf on Lee Kimani, pastor of the Edmondson Heights church in Baltimore.
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Allegheny East Conference (AEC) ended its camp meeting session this year with a one-day, in-person Sabbath on the campgrounds of Pine Forge, Pa., marking the first face-to-face camp meeting since the pandemic began. The week began virtually for six days, culminating with the special in-person Sabbath, where more than 2,000 attendees gath ered for various worship services and fellowship. The day began under the Luther R. Palmer Pavilion that included a message from Marcellus Robinson, AEC’s vice president for administration. Afterward, Mark McCleary, retired AEC pastor, led a Sabbath School lesson discussion. A Master Guide Investiture Service followed, which included 20 pas tors and members. The worship service included a special tribute to two former presidents who passed away within the last year: Henry J. Fordham, III, and Meade Van Putten. Pete Palmer, current president, delivered the featured message. After the service, AEC pro vided a free boxed lunch to the attendees. An ordination service was held in the after noon, recognizing the ministry of five pastors: Felix Amparo, pastor of the Bethany church in Bridgeton, N.J.; Shawn Fordham, pastor of the East Lansdowne (Pa.) church and the Macedonia church in Chester, Pa; Corey Johnson, pastor of the Mount Sinai church in Trenton, N.J.; Tinashe Mkorombindo, pastor of the Fourth Street Friendship church in Washington, D.C.; and Ishmael Spencer Wade, pastor of the Campostella Heights church in Norfolk, Va. William Taliaferro, a retired pastor, gave the ordination address, followed by a concert featuring various
Volunteersartists.provided programs for children in the Pine Forge (Pa.) church, and the youth and young adults had services in the Pine Forge Academy
Camp meeting attendees lift their voices in praise under the Luther R. Palmer Pavilion.
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Organizers designed the activities to help camp ers develop their own spiritual journey. “This year we focused on helping our campers develop their personal relationship with God through a meaningful devotional life,” shares Patrick Graham, youth and children’s director and camp director. Campers also enjoyed activities such as morn ing exercise, swimming, movie night, sports, and a banquet, and they went on excursions including bowling and watching the production of David at the Sight & Sound Theatres (Pa.).
Anthony Medley, senior pastor of the EmmanuelBrinklow church, also led a segment highlighting how individuals are using their health interests to evangelize to others. He shared about how he uses martial arts to teach young people about discipline.
Camp Davis Resumes With Emphasis on Spirituality
Allegheny East Conference (AEC) pastors, leaders and their families were among the 5,000 people who gathered at the recent North American Division CALLED Pastors’ Family Convention held in Lexington, Ky. Close to 150 AEC members attended, including several presenters.
Camp Daniel L. Davis in Pine Forge, Pa., welcomed campers back this year after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. More than 140 campers, ages 7–16, gathered for two weeks of recreation, spiritual rejuve nation and fun. This year, a special feature of Camp Davis was the focus on spiritual activities, which included prayer walking and writing prayers on sticky notes and attaching them to trees in the prayer garden.
Campers also learned about prayer using the acronym CHAT: Confession, Honoring God, Asking, and Thanking. In addition, when campers heard a long whistle blow, that signaled them to stop what they were doing and pray with another camper.
Conference Represents at CALLED Convention
Colby Matlock, pastor of the Breath of Life church in Fort Washington, Md., baptizes camper Sabali Brown-Thomas.
Jackson Doggette, Jr., AEC’s Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director, presented one of the 60 seminars offered. The title of his seminar, “Retaining the Harvest,” is also the title of a book he authored. “I hoped the attendees took away the vital importance of establishing a system for continuous membership/disciple growth that encourages an evangelistic lifestyle among the members instead of relying upon the traditional annual event-driven approach,” shares Doggette.
published
Noah Washington (pictured), associate pastor of the Emmanuel-Brinklow church in Ashton, Md., was one of the featured evening speakers in the main arena. “To be asked to speak to pastors across the division was sobering, but at the same time, I felt the weight of many pastors and didn’t want to waste the moment to share,” reflects Washington. His mes sage centered around the story of Jonah. “I wanted to prayerfully let pastors know that they aren’t the first ones who have experienced certain dynamics of ministry, and encourage them about God’s grace and power to sustain them.”
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Columbus All Nations Creates Adventurer Club
—Eva Agata, Communication Leader
Members and counselors from the Columbus All Nations Cubs Adventurer Club celebrate the year.
The idea to start an Adventurer club began when several ladies from the church began reminiscing about their time in Pathfinders, attending campo rees and drills and participating in fun activities on Sabbath afternoons.
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The Columbus (Ohio) All Nations church recently conducted its first Adventurer Investiture Service in years. The church predominantly consists of young families with children old enough to join an Adventurer club, but for many years a club has not existed.
The subject came up again during a Vacation Bible School (VBS) at a sister church. This time, the ladies went as far as writing down what it would take to get a club up and running and brainstormed vol unteers who could help the project come together. Sitting untouched in one of the church classrooms was a box with unused Adventurer and Pathfinder club materials, including activity books and the offi cial manual. So, the ladies got to work. They registered the club with the Allegheny West Conference, made phone calls, wrote emails to stakeholders and recruited volunteers. They pur chased supplies, organized materials and met with other Adventurer club representatives to see if they could conduct training sessions. Adventurer leaders from the Central Texas Conference welcomed them to join virtually in one of their training sessions. With volunteers on board, the ladies met every week to pray and dedicate the club to the Lord, for they knew they could not accomplish this goal without His guidance. Late last year, the Columbus All Nations Cubs became official, as 21 children, ages 4–9, were inducted into the club. During the year, the club met faithfully twice a month, received all their awards and acquired new club members and a volunteer. The club recently closed the year with their first investiture ceremony. Plans are underway for the coming year when they hope to induct more children into the club.
Peggy Lambert, general coordinator of Adventurer clubs for the Allegheny West Conference, pins Jemima Opoku-Gyimah, club director of the Columbus All Nations Cubs.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS September 2–4 Multicultural Women’s Retreat, Columbus, Ohio September 17 Youth “Takeover” Federation, Virginia/West Virginia September 24 Elder’s Retreat, Columbus, Ohio October 15 Youth Federation, Northern Ohio November 6 Prayer Ministries Virtual Summit
—Cecily Bryant, Communication Leader
Shiloh Installs Associate Pastor
According to Donna Dixon, disabilities coordinator, “We are working on how to bring that [sign lan guage] to all of our platforms so that deaf people, no matter where they are, can enjoy our services.”
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Before the pandemic, the Southeast Deaf Ministries was a creative group featuring a well-known signing choir called Hands-in-Ministry (H.I.M.). At its peak, H.I.M. extended beyond church walls, reach ing many in the community who experienced God through music and sign language.
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“Shiloh members are excited about the innova tive ministry style he will bring to their congrega tion,” adds FordhamJoseph.sayshis ministerial goals are to add to Shiloh’s culture and help create and reach more of the community. Individuals can also connect with him through his online platform, pacefordham. com, where he shares weekly devotionals through his ministry “Thoughts by Pace.”—Tiffany Forde, Communication Leader
Furman F. Fordham III, flanked by his brother Irvin, his father, Furman, his mother, Jennifer, and his other brother Jennings, celebrate his installation as the new associate pastor of the Shiloh church.
The Southeast church in Cleveland recently opened more accessibility to in-person worship because the Deaf Ministries Department has resumed its weekly sign language interpretation.
Dixon states, “A successful Deaf Ministries is one that has made the church accessible and welcoming to the deaf community, has deaf members who are active in church and who see themselves as integral to the congregation. Only two percent of deaf indi viduals globally have been introduced to Christ. We still have such a work to do, and, whether we know sign language or not, each of us can share Christ on some level with them.”
Deaf Ministries Resumes at Southeast Church Southeast church Deaf Ministries leaders attend a sign language class with other Christian leaders.
Conducting sign language classes over Zoom has allowed the ministry to expand, with students attending from as far away as Louisiana and Brooklyn, N.Y. They do not have to be members of Southeast, says Dixon: “They can take what they learn back to their own churches. It’s all about God, not just about Southeast. Deaf Ministries is a collec tive effort. To me, that’s what makes it special.”
Fordham graduated from Oakwood University (Ala.) with a Bachelor of Arts in Ministerial Theology and is an alumnus of Allegheny East Conference’s Pine Forge Academy (Pa.). Allegheny West Conference President Marvin C. Brown, III, and Ministerial Secretary William Joseph both had words of encouragement and praise for Fordham.
Furman F. Fordham III, was recently installed as the new associate pastor of the Shiloh church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fordham, or “Pastor Pace,” as he prefers to be called, is the first associate pastor to be installed at Shiloh in more than 25 years.
“His zeal and passion for ministry is evident even at this early stage of his career,” says Brown.
The Bible says Jesus taught them to say, “Our Father, which art in heaven, …” Please take time to carefully read this perfect prayer in its entirety in Matthew 6:9–13 and determine to let the principles contained therein be woven into your prayers. He’s waiting to hear from you.
Ellen White gives important insight to the matter when she says, “Jesus taught His disciples that only that prayer which arises from unfeigned [sincere] lips, prompted by actual wants of the soul, is genuine, and will bring heaven’s blessing to the petitioner” (The Signs of the Times, December 3, 1896).
A Chesapeake Conference teacher recently received an Outstanding Educator Award from the Office of Education at the Columbia Union Conference.
Chelsea Calhoun, head teacher at Dover First Christian School (DFCS) in Delaware, received the 2022 Outstanding Educator Award for new teachers. Calhoun, who has five years of teaching experience, started as the second teacher at DFCS in 2019. In 2020, she accepted the head teacher position, and the school’s enrollment has more than doubled under her leadership.
Jerry Lutz President Teacher at Dover First Named Outstanding Educator Teach Us to Pray
There is something charmingly innocent and ironically intriguing about the disciples’ request of Jesus to teach them to pray. One would think they already knew how, but apparently, they sensed in themselves that something was missing or that they might be going about it all wrong. Was the problem the words they used or combination thereof? Perhaps their posture was incorrect? Were they not worthy to approach the Divine, and should they not even try until they felt they were? By the way, do any of these concerns sound familiar to you ? If so, read on to the good news.
Surely the disciples had all prayed in some fashion before meeting Jesus and had likely heard others pray, including the “professionals” in their synagogues and in temple services. But now, observing Jesus absorbed in prayer made them aware that something was lacking in their prayers which moved them to exclaim, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Apparently, they had never witnessed or experienced such deep communion with God as when they watched and listened to Jesus pray. They wanted the intimate connection He had with the Heavenly Father. It was clear that since prayer was such an essential part of His life, how could they be His disciples without it in theirs? A point to ponder … All they had to do was ask Jesus and the answer came quickly, gently and beautifully simplistic. He shared with them no secret phrases or mystical utterances. He did not scold them for what they appar ently did not know or understand. Instead, He gave them (and us) the perfect model to emulate.
“We are extremely proud and thankful to have Chelsea as a part of our educational team,” says Renee Humphreys, associ ate superintendent of schools for the Chesapeake Conference. “She loves her students and is passionate about her commit ment to Seventh-day Adventist education.”
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Calhoun says she is humbled to receive the award. “It was an honor to even be considered for this award,” she says. “Achieving our goals within a small school truly requires a team. I feel so blessed to work with such great educators and leaders who have a shared goal of bringing our students closer to Jesus.”
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“Everybody is very nice.”
Kids sack race at Washington-Spencerville Korean church’s FLAG Camp in Silver Spring, Md.
Chesapeake Conference’s ongoing day camp program, known as FLAG (Fun Learning About God) Camp, aims to bring the summer camp experience to the local church. This year, 13 churches hosted FLAG Camp weeks in their local communities. “We encourage churches to integrate commu nity kids into other church activities like VBS and Pathfinders so families get accustomed to going to the church,” says Carl Rodriguez, Chesapeake Conference youth director. “With FLAG Camp, we’re working deliberately to have an impact in the local community of eachScanchurch.”theQR code to watch the summer camp video!
Paty Serrano recently started as the new Chesapeake Conference STEM coordinator. Serrano fills the position for merly held by Ophelia Barizo, who retired this summer.
“What I like about summer camp is all the friends that you can make,” says camper Alyssa.
More than 300 campers, ages 7–15, attended Mt. Aetna Summer Camp during its five weeks of operation. Unlike previous years, when weeks were designated for specific age brackets, families had the option this year to send their children to camp for any week or weeks. Campers enjoyed activities such as aquatics, crafts, nature classes and team sports.
Serrano to Lead Conference STEM Program
“Paty is a Christ-centered and student-focused educational leader who possesses a strong commitment to equity, providing a nurturing and safe environment for students and staff,” Walker says. “She loves stu dents of all ages, and most of all, she loves Jesus and wants to help students learn of Him through STEM.”
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Phone: (410) 995-1910 n ccosda.org n President, Jerry Lutz n Editor, Evan Knott
Summer Camps Return for 2022
Chesapeake Conference summer camps returned to full strength in 2022. Overnight summer camp at the Mt. Aetna Retreat Center in Hagerstown, Md., was held for the first time since 2019, and day camps were held at church locations throughout the conference.
Serrano previously served as the full-time STEM coordinator for Spencerville Adventist Academy (SAA) in Maryland. Serrano will split her time in her new role between the conference and the“[Paty]academy.will continue the legacy that Mrs. Ophelia Barizo leaves behind,” says Janesta Walker, Chesapeake Conference superintendent of schools. “In her new position, Paty will sup port our Chesapeake schools by providing in-person, hands-on STEM activities to our students, professional development opportunities and STEM resources to our teachers, as well as grant writing assistance to the Chesapeake Conference.”
Serrano holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University (Texas) and an undergraduate degree from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md. In 2019, she received her Teacher STEM Certification from the National Institute of STEM Education. During her time at SAA, Serrano helped the academy become Chesapeake Conference’s second nationally certified STEM school.
Jamboree musicians included the groups Two Little Fish and Notes of Praise, both from the MVC, along with special feature group, The Lesters.
Two Little Fish—the co-writers of this year’s theme song, “Tell Somebody”—is a contemporary Christian band composed of Stacy Blanzy, a teacher at Highland Adventist School in Elkins, W.Va., and Audrey Hunt, a physician in Charleston, W.Va. Notes of Praise, a church choir from the Spencer (W.Va.) church, sang many of their songs a cappella and sometimes sang with Two Little Fish. Known and loved by many, The Lesters are a longtime southern gospel singing group who have been featured on 3ABN and Gaither Homecoming shows. The current group is comprised of Brian Lester, his son Jonathan, and Jonathan’s wife, Bailee. They are dedicated to leading people to Jesus by sharing the joy of Christ through music and personal testimony.
Musical group Two Little Fish perform the camp meeting’s theme song, “Tell Somebody.”
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church members stated that they hoped this camp meeting outreach would be the start of a new tradition. As guests arrived, they were greeted with a smile, a water bottle and a bag of popcorn. As they left, they were invited to come back the next day for more inspirational messages and an afternoon concert featuring The Lesters.
“Our goal in the Mountain View Conference is to tell everyone about Jesus,” states Tim Bailey, MVC’s president. “We need to use every means possible— sound media advertising, billboards, camp meeting, church, Bible studies and even concerts—for the glory of God to reach our communities.”
Camp Meeting Starts With Gospel Jamboree The Lesters sing during the camp meeting’s Gospel Jamboree.
The 2022 Mountain View Conference (MVC) Camp Meeting, held at the Valley Vista Adventist Center in Huttonsville, W.Va., kicked off with a Gospel Jamboree for the neighboring communities. Organizers rented a 10’ x 22’ billboard in Elkins, W.Va., to advertise the event, posted announce ments on social media and sent postcard invitations to local residents and churches. Guests could pre register to secure front row seating. Approximately 130 people from the community attended, getting their first glimpse of the camp grounds and possibly meeting Seventh-day Adventists for the first time.
Alan Ayala, who attended camp meeting for the first time and is taking baptismal classes to become a member of the Morgantown (W.Va.) church, shares, “I loved it! Best church camp I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to Longstandinglots!”
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On Christmas Day 2020, a local woman, Sharyce Persson (Nonnemacher), and her daughters, Tyler, Layne and Carsyn, felt they had lost all hope. “The glue that held our family together was taken away, not only on the day we celebrate Christ’s birth, but on my oldest daughter's birthday as well,” Sharyce states, as she recounted the loss of her husband.
“Every book, library of sermons, Bible study and Amazing Facts lesson was voraciously digested. We just could not get enough!”
Was it pure chance that only 10 days after their loss they desperately needed a plumber? No. Sharyce believes the meeting was a divine appointment.
On November 6, 2021, in the cold, flowing water of the New River Gorge, Sharyce and her three daughters gave their hearts to Jesus. In the pres ence of their new church family, along with their own family and friends, the family of four were baptized.
Rainelle Church Members Witness Divine Connections
“The fall day was splendid! We prayed for warm weather, and that is exactly what the Lord provided us with,” says Sharyce. “We feel so blessed to have had these families placed in our lives.”
As the one-year anniversary of their loved one’s death approached, the Nonnemacher family felt grateful that their Heavenly Father was there to soothe their aching hearts. They look forward to the day when, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, nei ther sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:4, KJV).
The family began Bible studies, along with another young, single mother who graciously vol unteered to help with the studies. “From there we immersed ourselves in His Word,” states Sharyce.
In the small town of Rainelle, W.Va., sits the foundation of a church-to-be. In 2016, a tragic flood destroyed the tiny Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“It was such a sad time in our lives. We did not know how we would be able to navigate life without him.”
Ariel Batista, a local plumber, also happens to be the head elder at the Rainelle church. He, his wife, Michelle, and his family embraced this widow and her daughters and introduced them to church member Pam Lello and her two daughters, Abigail and Alyssa. Pam, also a widow, lost her husband in the mission field in 2010.
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Ariel and Michelle’s son Orion and Pam’s daugh ter Abigail were preparing for baptism at the time. Sharyce and her daughters were interested in the baptismal process and were excited to observe their new young friends preparing for it. In July 2021, as they watched Orion and Abigail go under the water, they could hardly wait for their own baptisms.
Proudly displaying their baptismal certificates, the Nonnemacher family members Tyler, Layne, Carsyn and Sharyce flank Eddie Reyes, pastor of the Rainelle church.
Was it serendipitous that Pam’s husband also passed away on her oldest daughter's birthday? This connection seemed to be predetermined by none other than the Lord Himself, who brought these three families together. Healing these broken hearts became a mission for the small congregation. The joy and light that flowed from the Batista and Lello families gave hope and encouragement to the Nonnemachers.
For the past five years, members have been wor shipping in a rental building while working hard to rebuild a new church. Literally moving a mountain, the members cleared a spot on higher ground and poured a new foundation.
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The elders believed that making disciples involves a mentoring roadmap—a process to help believers grow spiritually through the phases of church planting. There are at least four steps in this disciple-making road map:
3. Surrender to the life of a passionate missionary. Serve the people, love the people, so that your influ ence will inspire others to be contagious Christians.
Aubrey N. Richards (left), pictured with his son Warner A. Richards, assistant to the president for the Northeastern Conference. Mario Thorp Executive Secretary
I was one of the young people he mentored. This experience was my strongest training as a missionary and where my love for evangelism was born. As I reflect on the work that Richards and his associates did, it is obvious that it was based on Matthew 28:19–20 to “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (NKJV).
2. Give Bible studies constantly. Those involved will inevitably grow, and the student will grow as well. The only requirement for success is for the instruc tor to be Spirit-filled, with a life submerged in the Word. You need to know the Bible message of love and its Author personally.
They understood that the commission to go, men tor and make disciples came from Jesus. This com mitment to service resulted in new church plants.
1. Meet the people in your community, mingle with them and be their friend.
4. Purposefully nurture disciple-makers based on 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (NKJV).
As a mentee of Richards, I was constantly reminded, “It is not enough to be a disciple; you must be a disciple-maker.”
From the Farm to Mentoring Disciple-Makers
Aubrey N. Richards was a farmer, butcher and a man of God who sold beef and chicken at the cen tral market of Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. He loved his church and was passionate about sharing Jesus. Richards and his wife, Ella, had seven children. They both shared a burning desire to see the young grow and thrive in their walk with Jesus. As one of the elders of a church plant in the community of Cieneguita, Richards started a church plant/disciple-making mentoring initiative with elders Delroy Hadden and Carl Simpson. The program consisted of mentoring a group of early teens and teenagers in their walk with Christ and missionary activities. For about four years, every Sabbath and Wednesday they took the youth to targeted communities. After preaching and conducting Bible studies in the community, Richards talked to the group about the logistics of reaching every home for Jesus and evaluated their performance in Bible study and preaching. The remarkable outcome of that initiative was that, at the end of the fourth year, there was a new congregation in the targeted community.
New
“The ordination service was a very spiritual encounter, the sacredness of the call was evident, and I felt privileged, as well as in awe of the awesome responsibility to be a minister of the gospel,” says Sterling. “The presence of my family, the church and LNAA made the occasion even more meaningful.”
Four Pastors Ordained to Gospel Ministry
New Jersey Conference (NJC) leaders recently ordained four pastors to the gospel ministry during the English and Hispanic camp meeting services held at Tranquility Camp in Andover.
Stephen Lee, pastor of the Robbinsville church and Princeton church, as well as the conference’s Adventist Community Services director; and Bruce Banner, pastor of the Burlington church, the Mt. Holly English church and the Willingboro company, cele brate the baptism of attendee Maryann Castillo. Jersey Visitor by the New Jersey Conference n 2303 Brunswick Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
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22 | VISITOR September/October 2022
—Eduardo Monteiro, Ministerial Secretary, Evangelism and Prison Ministries Director
More than 5,000 attendees from across New Jersey gathered for the English and Spanish camp meetings at Tranquility Camp in Andover this past summer. Minner Labrador, vice president for the North American Division Multilingual Ministries, spoke for both weekends, the biggest highlight being the celebration of seven baptisms.
Albert Perez (Margarita), pastor of the First Bilingual church, the Bound Brook Spanish com pany and the Flemington Spanish Company; and Carlos Portanova (Cinthia), conference treasurer, are ordained to the gospel ministry.
“I am beyond grateful to the Lord for the opportu nity that He is giving me to serve Him and His church in this capacity,” says Portanova. “The support from my wife and children and the conference pastors and administrators made the ordination very spe cial.”
At the Hispanic camp meeting, pastors Albert Perez and Carlos Portanova were ordained to the gospel ministry. Perez is the pastor of the First Bilingual church in Middlesex, the Bound Brook Spanish company and the Flemington Spanish Company. He and his wife, Margarita, have two children. Portanova is the treasurer of the NJC.
“Our camp meetings this year were exceptional, inspirational and very motivational,” says Jorge Aguero, New Jersey Conference president. “To see our brothers and sisters together, singing and shar ing after two years since the pandemic began, and recalling “in loving memory” those in our conference who died due to COVID-19 was very touching.”
He and his wife, Cinthia, have three children.
Conference Celebrates Seven Baptisms at Camp Meeting
At the English-speaking camp meeting, pastors Jay (Sungmin) Cheong and Webster Sterling joined conference officials onstage for the ordination ceremony. Cheong is the pastor of the Central New Jersey Korean church in Edison. He and his wife, Celeste, have one son. Sterling is the pastor of the All Nations Community church in Maplewood and also serves as the chaplain of Lake Nelson Adventist Academy (LNAA) in Piscataway. He and his wife, Michelle, have two daughters.
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The English service at the Columbus Ghanaian Adventist Church (CGAC) recently held its 2022 Summer Revival Summit, finishing a fruitful evan gelistic season. CGAC pastors Samson Twumasi (pictured, top) and Samuel Adjei (bottom) hosted the revival, featuring messages from Nic Coutet, lead pastor of the Adventist Fellowship church in Tulsa, Okla. At the end of the meetings, nine people gave their lives to Christ through baptism. The CGAC English service began in March of 2021, with a mission to reach second- and thirdgeneration Ghanaians born in the United States.
Baptismal candidates celebrate their new member ship at the Columbus Ghanaian church. This summer, Camp Mohaven was blessed to have some 350 campers, 30 baptisms—including Andon Gruia (pictured), baptized by Youth Director Edward Marton—and 50 decisions made for bap tismal studies.
30 Baptized at Camp Mohaven
“Our vision is twofold here: to rescue the youth and young adults we are losing in the Adventist Church and empower them for mis sion work,” says Adjei. Since its inception last year, the CGAC English service has become a church,nationalitymulti-communityreachingmore than just Ghanaians. The service began with some 30 members and has now grown to a membership of 80 young adults. In 2021, the CGAC English service cele brated 30 baptisms. With the nine baptisms following this summer’s evangelistic campaign, the year-to-date total has increased to 19. Adjei adds, “As we have begun to hold ser vices in English, young adults feel comfortable inviting people from their social networks to join them at church. We have become a welcoming home for neighbors and friends here in Columbus.”
English Service at Columbus Ghanaian Sees Growth
Fifty feet from the cabin, one of my campers fell. As soon as that camper got picked up, a branch fell exactly where she was.”
On June 13, a sudden storm system hit Camp Mohaven in Danville. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning, and across Knox County— where Camp Mohaven is located—tornadoes and/or derechos ripped through trees and property. Camp Mohaven staff had only minutes to react.
Mount Vernon Hill Church Runs Community Health Fair God’s Hand Protects Camp Mohaven From Storm
Hill church member Gloria Mitchell (left) interacts with the community at the health fair. Mission Ohio is published in the Visitor by the Ohio Conference n 1251 E. Dorothy Lane, Dayton, OH 45419 Phone: (740) 397-4665 n ohioadventist.org n President, Bob Cundiff n Editor, Kasper Haughton Jr.
Scan the QR code to watch more of the story of how God rescued Camp Mohaven from the storm and to support the Camp Mohaven Storm Recovery Fund.
Members ran booths with food demonstrations, grip strength analysis, body fat analysis, peak air flow testing, health age appraisals, chair massages, hydrotherapy and drunk buster goggles.
Members also gave informational talks on a vari ety of subjects: growing sprouts, plant-based milk and yogurt making, charcoal poultices, blood test ing, and blood pressure. They also demonstrated life-saving techniques and rebounding exercises withThemini-trampolines.MountVernonAviators—the local Pathfinder club—also got involved, directing parking and offering vegetarian hot dogs, popcorn and healthy desserts to guests. Visitors also enjoyed door prizes and free spiritual books and media.
Thanks to their professionalism and God’s mercy, every camper, staff and person on site escaped safe andSophiaunharmed. Schroedel, a camp staff-in-training, recounts the harrowing story of rushing her cabin to safety: “We just booked it toward [the storm shelter].
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Kandy Light, Personal Ministries director, says, “Our goal was to emulate Christ and to mingle with the people as one who desires their good. Mission accomplished!”
Charles Ames, a camp counselor, shares, “I feel like no one was hurt; honestly, I would say because of the Holy Spirit and God. There were so many instances where [people] were right by a tree, and it didn’t fall. And then as soon as they left, it fell.”
Earlier this year, the Hill church in Mount Vernon offered a free community health fair. Working along side the Knox Community Hospital, the church’s Personal Ministries team coordinated more than 60 Hill church members to offer the NEW START Lifestyle Program to the local community.
Bob Cundiff, Ohio Conference president, shares, “Our summer camp staff did an excellent job during this crisis. They executed the Camp Mohaven emergency action plan flawlessly, rushing all to safety in time.”
Twenty-seven churches are currently participat ing in Church Regeneration. The process equips them to examine where they’re at and how they’re doing. It enables them to discover things that will enable them to grow healthy and share the gospel more effectively. Many are expressing that they’re now ministering with a clearer focus on mission and a renewed sense of purpose as they walk through thisOneprocess.church felt convicted that they needed more time to pray together, so they began a daily prayer call with a small group of people praying every morning. They’ve also started a weekly prayer meet ing and created a team to focus on growing a culture of prayer. They’re already seeing answers to prayer as they have prayed intentionally for specific people to commit their lives to God. To learn more about Church Regeneration, visit church-regeneration.paconference.org/
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Growing Healthy Churches
CALENDAR OF EVENTS September 24 – Unshakeable Families One-day Conference September 25 – White Water Rafting Trip September 30–October 2 – Master Guide Camporee November 5 – Conference Youth Rally For more information or to register, visit paconference.org/events.
My wife and I returned from vacation to find that our garden had really grown. We had some catching up to do to bind the tomato plants and weed the grow boxes. She is, by far, the main gardener, and for that I am thankful. Our garden illustrates how quickly healthy plants grow. Healthy things grow. God calls us individually and our churches to be healthy and grow too. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NKJV). Our first step is to “abide” in Jesus and grow spiritually. Without Him we “can do nothing.” We also know that healthy plants reproduce, and spiritually, healthy Christians do as well. Our con ference’s focus is to “Reach One, Teach One, Win One.” How quickly the kingdom of God would grow if we all practiced this. At camp meeting this year, we heard thrilling stories of lives changed by the gospel and the Word of God. We also heard stories of churches experiencing real growth—even doubling in membership as a result of sharing the gospel. In the churches that Ron Hoffecker pastors, the members are experiencing healthy growth as they participate in the conference’s Church Regeneration process. “In 1 Corinthians 11:24, Paul quotes Jesus: ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me’ (NKJV). He reminds the church of what Jesus has done and why they do what they do,” Hoffecker shares. “That is what Church Regeneration has begun in the East Suburban, Greensburg, and Washington Heights churches. We have been reminded of what Jesus has done for us, here, today, and why we are doing what we are doing. We are reminded that we are not just ‘doing’ church because that is what we have always done, but it is because of our wonderful Savior. We are refocusing on our purpose to carry this message to the world.”
Stewart Lozensky Church RegenerationDirector
Hundreds of people recently gathered for the dedication of the new Pennsylvania Conference office—a Mission and Evangelism Center intentionally designed to advance God’s work across the state.
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Conference and Columbia Union leaders prayed, not only for the building, but for the leadership and staff, the churches and schools, and those who will be reached with the gospel, giving thanks to God for the ways that He has blessed and provided.
Resources will be produced to equip churches and schools to reach their communities with the message of Jesus’ soon return. The center is also home to the CORE school of evangelism where young adults spend a year learning in the classroom and sharing the gospel through hands-on experiences.
Hundreds of camp meeting attendees gathered to be a part of this historic moment, including all the children from the different Sabbath School divisions who sang “Jesus Loves Me.”
“Your local community may be the next place God is preparing to plant a new and impactful presence in reaching the unreached,” says Shawn Shives, executive secretary.
The Pennsylvania Conference has developed, “Pray, Plan, Plant,” a strategic initiative to take the everlasting gospel beyond the established churches and into places and cultures beyond their current areas of influence. This process creates opportu nities to make inroads among the unreached and underreached areas of Pennsylvania.
Both the Upper Darby and Kennett Square Hispanic churches began as mission groups started by other churches in neighboring communities. They grew to become church companies and were recently organized into healthy and fruitful churches.
One of the features of the new Mission and Evangelism Center is the auditorium, which is equipped to video and livestream trainings and events.
Pastor Pablo Perez (left) and elders of the Kennett Square church pray for members after their baptism.
Members are now repeating the process of reach ing others in nearby areas with the gospel. “These two new churches are now planning how they can expand God’s kingdom by sending church plant ing missionaries from among their growing con gregations to areas not yet reached in the greater Philadelphia area,” shares Pablo Perez, pastor of bothAnotherchurches.mission group is reaching the growing pop ulation in and around New Tripoli. In cooperation with their mother church—the Reading Hampden Heights church in Temple—this group has grown from a hand ful gathered each Sabbath to now about 65 attendees.
Pray, Plan, Plant—Grow Mission and Evangelism Center Dedicated
Pennsylvania Pen is published in the Visitor by the Pennsylvania Conference n 2359 Mountain Road, Hamburg, PA 19526 Phone: (610) 374-8331, ext. 210 n paconference.org n President, Gary Gibbs n Communication Director, Tamyra Horst
Left to right: Shawn Shives, conference executive secretary; Carlos Charnichart, former conference treasurer; Will Peterson, former conference vice president for administration; Gary Gibbs, conference president; Dave Weigley, Columbia Union president; Celeste Ryan Blyden, union executive secretary; and Emmanuel Asiedu, union treasurer, celebrate the dedication of the new Mission and Evangelism Center.
To learn more about church planting, visit paconference.org/church-planting.
To watch a virtual tour of the building in either English or Spanish, visit vimeo.com/paconference.
“I know that with God’s leading and guiding,” Julien says, “our team will be able to stand strong in the face of challenges so that the focus can remain on meeting our school’s mission.”photos by tiffany doss and richard castillo
Warfield brings a steady and calm leadership approach, while providing thoughtful conversation about the many complex issues facing our organizations. He holds a professional certification from the Society for Human Resources Management and a nonprofit leadership certification from the North American Division, along with a Master of Business and a Doctor of Ministry in leadership.
Warfield says, “I am thrilled to serve the dedicated employees of this field once again, and to use my gifts in support of Potomac’s administrative team and its new mission focus!”
Warfield served Potomac’s more than 720 employees in the same role from 2015–2020 and was also interim HR director for the Southern California Conference for a brief term.
Potomac’s administrative committee prays God’s blessings on Warfield as he leads a department focused on supporting churches, schools, a camp and the LivingWell store to move “Beyond the Walls” with a message of hope andWarfieldhealing.and his wife, Lindzie, have three children: Pheobe, Michaela and Harvey.
Takoma Academy Welcomes New Principal
Julien brings to TA a breadth of experience in academic leadership, as she has held the positions of dean of students and instructional coach in previous jobs. Her most recent job was as the assistant principal at the Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy in Washington, D.C.
Julien comes with solid academic credentials, holding a Master of Education degree in Mathematics from Cambridge College (Mass.), a Master of Arts with a concentration in Education, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Stony Brook University (N.Y.).
An ordained minister, Warfield began denominational service as a Bible teacher and campus chaplain. He served as a senior pastor, executive pastor and youth pastor at multi-staff congregations in Chicago, Central California and the Potomac Conference. Prior to reassuming his position, he was the pastor for discipleship/member care at the Takoma Park (Md.) church.
Julien approaches her new role with a clear and defined vision. She wants to ensure that TA students will be academically prepared and spiri tually grounded so they can use their learning, spiritual discernment, gifts and talents to impact society. She also envisions TA students fostering a desire for a steadfast relationship with Christ.
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The Potomac Conference is pleased to reintroduce Fred Warfield as director of Human Resources (HR).
Warfield to Serve as Director of Human Resources
A new principal was in place when Takoma Academy (TA), located in Takoma Park, Md., opened its doors for the 2022–23 academic school year. Yasmine Julien, an instructional leader, mathematics content spe cialist and experienced classroom teacher, accepted the assignment to lead the 118-year-old institution.
Organizers chose the event’s theme, “We Are Family,” because of the essence of who the group is to the larger Potomac Conference community. Rafael Soto, Hispanic Ministries director, says, “Being a fam ily in Jesus motivates us to learn to live connected and grow in Jesus despite our differences. It was a wonderful time to come together to worship, fellow ship and reconnect with our brothers and sisters.”
For the first time in three years, Potomac Conference constituents met for in-person celebrations of camp meetings. Renamed “Impact: Camp Meeting Reimagined,” the gatherings were a welcomed experience for those longing to come together in a decades-long tradition of spiritual renewal and fellowship.
The first assembly took place mid-June at Shenandoah Valley Academy in New Market, Va. More than 3,500 of Potomac’s Hispanic community members joined with family and friends to experi ence three days of worship, spirit-filled sermons, uplifting music, inspirational seminars, special programming for children and youth, good food and lots of fun-packed activities.
Potomac awarded the Beltsville church (Md.) Ammendale campus and the Olney Preparatory School (Md.) with the newly established Salt and Light Award. The awards recognize a local church and school for their leadership in reaching out to the local community and assisting in meeting the needs of those around them. At the event, Jennifer LaMountain, gospel recording artist, performed a musical concert. In his message, evangelist Jose Rojas encouraged generations to come together to hasten the coming of the Lord. Rojas said, “When the older members of the body of Christ couple their wisdom and experi ence with the youth’s energy, ingenuity and creativity, it develops into a spiritual weapon that will remove any wall and bring God’s people together.”
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Potomac People is published in the Visitor by the Potomac Conference n 606 Greenville Ave., Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 886-0771 n pcsda.org n President, Charles A. Tapp n Editor, Debra Anderson photos by elvio soto and ross patterson
More than 3,500 Hispanic members meet at Shenandoah Valley Academy for “Impact: Camp Meeting Reimagined.”
Other highlights included concerts with guest singers and international recording artists Lisbeth Melgar and Felipe Garibo. Arnaldo Cruz, Southeastern Conference’s (Fla.) communication director; Alexis Romero, El Salvador West Conference president; and Charles A. Tapp, Potomac Conference president, spoke during camp meeting, motivating attendees to be the salt and light of the world by living in His will and moving beyond the walls of the church to reach those in the neighboring communities. Moving “Beyond the Walls” is the focus for pastors and educators as the conference emerges from the ramifications of COVID-19. Later in June, pastors, teachers, principals and members from the northern part of the conference came together at the Sligo church in Takoma Park, Md., for “Impact 2022.” Attendees listened intently as Tapp spoke more about what it means to be salt Don’t remain in the shaker! Come in contact with the people in the world around you. Don’t be afraid to take your light into a dark place, because light does its best work in a dark place. It’s what we must do to expand the kingdom of God.”
Conference Celebrates
From Bullied to Leader
Phone: (484) 662-7000 n Fax: (484) 662-7001 n bma.us n Principal, Burney Culpepper n Editor, Esther Hernandez
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“I’m very grateful to the school because my son was able to grow holistically,” she says. “Today, I can say that I have a son who is responsible and very mature in many aspects.”
Antonio did indeed meet and make new friends at BMA. He joined the Ariel Aires, BMA’s touring acro batic team that seeks to glorify God through team work, fitness and spirituality. Academically, he grew and was inducted into the National Honor Society, an organization that chooses students based on academics, leadership, service, and character. “Antonio is an exceptional student,” says Burney Culpepper, BMA’s principal. “He excelled academ ically, spiritually, socially, and even participated as one of our main actors in The Ambassadors series.”
Culpepper expresses, “We love to hear stories like Antonio’s. Our goal is to partner with God and parents to offer young people a safe place to grow spiritually, academically and socially. We are inten tional about creating opportunities for students to live out their ever-growing faith—whether through a touring group like Ariel Aires, during our Bible labs as we serve the Hamburg community, or just in our daily life on campus. We are excited to begin a new school year and watch God transform the lives of students and prepare them, not only for the future, but for eternity.”
Nalda Hernandez was concerned for her son Antonio. He was being bullied in school, and the emotional stress resulted in him not caring about anything, including his grades. She knew he needed a change, but as a single mom, could she afford a Seventh-day Adventist education? On the other hand, could she afford not to?
Antonio graduated in May 2022 and is currently studying astronomy in college, with the dream of working for NASA one day. Nalda sees the differ ence the “BMA Experience” has had in her son’s life.
Antonio Hernandez (’22) celebrates his graduation with his mother, Nalda, who sacrificed a lot for her son to attend Blue Mountain Academy.
The BMA Experience is published in the Visitor by the Blue Mountain Academy n 2363 Mountain Road, Hamburg, PA 19526
She enrolled Antonio at Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) in 2019. “That was a lot of sacrifice at the time,” Nalda shares. “The atmosphere of an Adventist school was important to me, and here he had the opportunity to meet other students from all over the world who also shared the same beliefs.”
Academy Drive, Hagerstown,
Highland View Academy (HVA) welcomes Rob Gettys as the new principal for the 2022–23 school year. He brings many years of educational experience to the position. Prior to coming to HVA, Gettys served as the athletic director for Andrews University (Mich.). He has worked at several academies, including Blue Mountain Academy (Pa.), Fletcher Academy (N.C.), Ozark Adventist Academy (Ark.) and Upper Columbia Academy (Wash.).
In his spare time, Gettys enjoys being with his wife, Brandy, who is the middle-grade science teacher at Mt. Aetna Adventist School, and their two sons, Trey, a junior at SAU, and Caleb, who is serv ing in the Army National Guard. Together, the family enjoys hiking (especially on the Appalachian Trail), playing basketball, football, golf, disc golf and pretty much any sport. He is looking forward to partnering with the staff and students to continue making HVA an incredibly fun and Christ-centered school. HVA is anticipating a great school year with the Gettys and the rest of the faculty and staff. Come join HVA by clicking on the QR codes below.
New Principal Joins Academy
Phone: (301) 739-8480 n Fax: (301) 733-4770 n highlandviewacademy.com n Principal, Rob Gettys n Editor, Andrew S. Lay 30 | VISITOR September/October 2022 Learn more about HVA! Visit HVA's website!
Gettys holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration and Leadership from Andrews University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Southern Adventist University (SAU) in Tennessee. His plans for HVA include fostering an environ ment on campus that encourages each student to draw closer to Jesus through relying on Him.
Rob Gettys, alongside his wife, Brandy, is Highland View Academy’s new principal. 10100 MD 21740
Gettys states, “I believe the Chesapeake Conference constituents and leaders who had the vision and commitment to build a boarding academy did so in order to provide a distinctly Seventh-day Adventist high school experience to any student who desires to attend, no matter where they reside. I am also very excited about partnering with the staff in continuing to build upon the strong academic program that HVA offers.”
highlandviewacademy.com HVA Highlander is published in the Visitor by the Highland View Academy n
Back at the academy, volunteers busily prepared for the mini-expo. A variety of community vendors sponsored booths, and several individuals brought healthy foods, beverages and desserts to sell. The Student Association sold snow cones, and one community member sponsored a booth for recycled/ upcycled clothing. To top it off, the 11th grade class auctioned off the furniture they had made. In addition to booths, there were other activities for children and parents to enjoy. Event planners organized volleyball games on the main field and set up a scavenger hunt around the outside of the campus. A local farm brought goats, rabbits, a calf and a llama for a petting zoo experience. And guests participated in a relay race to sort recycled products into the correct bins.
The Legacy is published in the Visitor by the Lake Nelson Academy n 555 South Randolphville Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854 Phone: (732) 981-0626 n Fax: (732) 981-0770 n lakenelsonacademy.org n Principal, Elisa Maragoto n Editor, Ashley Boggess
hosts an open house for fam ilies to come and observe what the students have learned and created. This time around, the academy took a different route. They organized a community outreach and mini-expo, themed “LNAA Gets Down to Earth.”Theday kicked off with a 5K race at the Green Acres Athletic Field in Piscataway, N.J. Members from local churches and the Piscataway community joined in a 5K run or 1-mile walk. “The participants had a great time joining in and supporting the school!” says Elisa Maragoto, LNAA’s principal.
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“LNAA’s first community fair was fun for every one,” says Maragoto. “The school appreciates the support of constituent churches, community vendors, parents and students in helping the fair succeed. We look forward to more community fairs in the future.” Academy Gets ‘ Down to Earth’ LNAA students cheer on freshman Silas Tirado as he participates in the 5K race. Sixth-grader Sobrina Sterling sits on a piece of fur niture made by the 11th grade physics class.
Near the end of last school year, the focus of Lake Nelson Adventist Academy’s (LNAA) academic fair was environmental stewardship. Students from kindergarten through 11th grade researched and created dynamic projects focused on reducing, reusing and recycling in a variety of contexts. In kindergarten, the students made a recycled plant-pot from plastic bottles. The 11th grade class used their knowledge of physics to plan, build and test the durability of using recycled products to makeMostfurniture.years,LNAA
Above all, Cheatham-Hemphill considers the rais ing of her three adult children—son, Christopher R. Cheatham, pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue church in Capital Heights, Md., and two daughters, Ryane E. and Kelsey L. Cheatham—her greatest achievements in this life. However, being “Gigi” to Christopher L. Cheatham and Anaih E. Watson—is priceless! Until our Savior returns, she plans to continue working as a servant leader, live happily ever after New Director of Development Joins Academy n P.O. Box 338, Forge, PA 19548 n Principal, H. Clifford Reynolds, III n Editor,
the Lord has pro vided her with the necessary expertise to lead PFA successfully in its pursuit of its fundraising goals. He has blessed her with a career in higher education that stretches over 30 years, serving Delaware State University (DSU) in a variety of roles, spanning from directorships to assistant vice presidencies, includ ing serving as assistant vice president for the Office of Development. A champion for equity, access and self-advocacy in education, she specializes in stu dent success, enrollment, student affairs, advance ment and transformational leadership.
Phone: (610) 326-5800 n Fax: (610) 326-5152 n pineforgeacademy.org
Pine
Cheatham-Hemphill shares, “It’s a new day in fundraising at PFA! Our efforts will be strategic, student-centered, mission-focused and data-driven. I am excited about the opportunity to serve the only historically Black boarding high school of its kind in the nation and to apply best practices in devel opment to benefit the academy and its committed community of Cheatham-Hemphillstakeholders.”believes
Lawita G. CheathamHemphill has joined the Pine Forge Academy (PFA) administrative team as the director of development. A collaboration between PFA and the National PFA Alumni Association resulted in the funding of a grant to support hir ing her as a consultant in September 2021 and establishing the new Office of Development.
Cheatham-Hemphill earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1998 and a Master of Business Administration in 2002 from DSU. She later earned a doctorate in Educational Innovative Leadership from Wilmington University (Del.) in 2013. Best known as “Germaine,” Cheatham-Hemphill was raised in the Washington metropolitan area, attended the Dupont Park Adventist School in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, Md., in 1984. A member of “The Scott Family,” she is a charter member of the Breath of Life church in Fort Washington, Md. Currently residing in Camden, Del., for the last 32 years, she is an active member of the Bethuel church in Dover, Del., currently serving as the Women’s Ministries leader and a Sabbath School teacher.
PFA Post is published in the Visitor by the Pine Forge Academy
Tracey Jackson 32 | VISITOR September/October 2022
Robert Martinez is taking on a new role in the SAA community as secondary vice principal. Martinez has spent the past 16 years at SAA teaching music, Bible, com puter and broadcast journal ism. He and his wife, Tabita, have three children who attend SAA. He is passionate about partnering with parents and the church to lead students to Christ through discipleship.
Amber Mayer is also chang ing positions. After teaching for the past 13 years in the elementary program, she is looking forward to teaching some of her former students as a high school English litera tureLesleyteacher.Beckett fills the fourth grade vacancy left by Mayer. Beckett is an expe rienced educator who most recently taught at Vienna Adventist Academy (Va.). She loves helping students mature academically, socially and spiritually. She and her hus band, John, have three boys and love watching them play sports. The Beckett family is looking forward to being a part of the Spencerville community.New to SAA’s middle school team this year is Cornelia Scribner. Born in Romania, Scribner has made it a point to master the complexities of the English language and help others do the same. She and her husband, Ken, have two adult children. “I’m thrilled to be joining the Spencerville team and excited about witnessing God’s Holy Spirit move in mighty ways in the lives of every single student,” she says.
Spencerville Adventist Academy (SAA) is pleased to welcome new staff members and announce some changes in staff responsibilities this 2022–23 school year.Joining the administrative team as elementary vice prin cipal is Paul Bragaw. Having served as a teacher, principal and director of Outdoor Ministries, Bragaw brings a variety of experience in both elementary and outdoor education. He says, “I look forward to all that God has in store for us as we learn and grow together.”
Nayeli Moretta-Gonzalez is returning to her alma mater to teach second grade. She felt God calling her to the educa tion field her senior year of high school. She says, “God placed a desire in my heart to be for someone else what countless teachers had been for me—a light.” MorettaGonzalez comes to SAA from Texas where she began her teaching career. She is joined by her husband, John, who is the new high school Bible teacher and middle school chaplain. He served as a youth and young adult pastor for the last three years. John says, “Young people are dealing with a lot today, and I want to be a positive influence that will allow them to see God’s heart for them.” Nicholas Lawrence joins the high school faculty as the history teacher. A recent grad uate of Union College (Neb.), Lawrence is looking forward to teaching at SAA. “I love the ‘eureka’ moments when you make a historical connection or discover a hidden figure,” he says. He can't wait to make history come alive in the classroom, especially in Washington, D.C., an area in the country where history is always being made.
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Academy Welcomes New Staff Members Highlights fr om Spencer ville Ad ventist Academ y ALL FOR CHRIST LOVE TO LEARN LIVE TO SERVE Spotlight is published in the Visitor by Spencerville Adventist Academy n 2502 Spencerville Road, Spencerville, MD 20868 Phone: (301) 421-9101 n spencervilleacademy.org n Principal, Tissiana Bowerman n Editor, Heidi Wetmore
Phone: (937) n Principal, Darren Wilkins n Editor, Vicki Swetnam
September 22–25: Spiritual Academy Leadership Training Conference, Pine Forge, Pa.
September 25: Fall Festival
October 10: Holiday (No School, K–12)
October 3–7: Elementary Week of Prayer
Frank Perez, who recently retired as Spring Valley Academy's (SVA) board chair, was honored at last school year’s senior commencement and received a plaque of gratitude and appreciation for his leadership and dedication to the school. Perez became chair of the SVA Board of Trustees in 2008 and guided the school through an important debt elimination. He led SVA through two major capital projects, resulting in the new Fritzsche Center for Worship and Performing Arts, as well as the cur rent campaign for the Dean and Judy Johnson High School Wing expansion. He also oversaw the growth of the SVA Gala Auction, a volunteer-driven event that has raised over a million dollars and community awareness for the school. Personally, he and his wife, Carmen, have invested in the future of SVA through generous gifts while inspiring many others to follow their lead.
is published in the Visitor by
34 | VISITOR September/October 2022
433-0790 n springvalleyacademy.org
In addition to his accomplished career as hospital administrator, Perez has served on many nonprofit and community-service organization boards. He has used his considerable influence and expertise to raise money, interest and awareness for myriad projects, causes and campaigns.
October 13–16: HS Flagball Tournament, California October 23: SVA Gala
“Frank is an accessible leader, sharing his consid erable insight and wisdom with SVA’s administration, teachers and staff. His prayer-led approach and ami cable leadership style ensure respect from all who work with and for him,” says Darren Wilkins, princi pal. “We appreciate his dedication to SVA. God has blessed the school through him. We will miss him!” Board of Trustees Chair Retires, Honored
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Connections Spring Valley Academy n 1461 Spring Valley Pike, Centerville, OH 45458
September 12–16: MS and HS Week of Prayer
September 28–October 2: Senior Survival, Camp Mohaven
Spring Valley Academy Principal Darren Wilkins honors Frank Perez, chair of SVA’s Board of Trustees since 2008, for his leadership, insight and wisdom.
October 29: HS Band and Choir Fall Concert
Additionally, during Perez’s more than 40 years in health care, he served as CEO at numerous organi zations in the United States and overseas, culminat ing in his role as president and CEO of the Kettering Health Network (now Kettering Health).
Renee Ford and Katie Pacylowski display cards for their board game.
It began two years ago, when I was asked if a Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) student in the Partnering for Eternity (PFE) work program could visit me once a week. I hesitated because of my small apartment and multiple food allergies. Through this program, my friends have students who assist them with yardwork, cleaning and cooking. PFE Director Laura Short said she had just the student for me, so I decided to give it a try. When Katie Pacylowski (’24) arrived to my home for the first visit, it felt so right. We talked for hours about our interests and talents and about her classes, family and dreams for the future. She loves art, color and design and wants to be a graphic designer. For some time, I have dreamed of putting the book of Revelation into a layout that young and old can understand. Could a board game format be a learning tool to help understand Revelation? If so, Katie’s computer and design skills could be a real asset. Each week we played games to harvest ideas. Developing a board game would take time, so we decided to make Phase I cards to provide an outline of the seven churches, seals and trumpets. I col lected texts and made categories. Katie interpreted the texts through pictures and design. The color for each numbered church has a meaning: green for Ephesus—the beginning; red, persecution in Smyrna; gray, the indecision of Laodicea, etc.
The energy and creativity of young people astounds and invigorates me. PFE with Katie has been a great experience spiritually and mentally. We found time to do a little cleaning, hedge trimming at SVA, weeding at the church and cooking food we both enjoyed. One week we visited a 97-year-old Baptist friend. She was memorizing the order of the seven churches and found our cards to be helpful.
Katie is a gift from heaven that God brought to me at the right time, in the right way. Thank you SVA, Mrs. Short, PFE foundation and donors for making this wonderful program to connect students and senior citizens possible.—Renee Ford (’74)
Partnering for Eternity With Katie
Impact Shenandoah is published in the Visitor by Shenandoah Valley Academy n 234 West Lee Highway, New Market, VA 22844 Phone: (540) 740-3161 n shenandoahvalleyacademy.org n Principal, Donald Short n Editor, Janel Haas Ware
Katie Pacylowski and Renee Ford create cards for their board game on the book of Revelation.
columbiaunionvisitor.com VISITOR | 35
A favorite moment was creating the card of “Jesus’ Presence” in the church of Thyatira. The text says, “These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass” (Rev. 2:18, NKJV). Katie’s response was, “Oh, that’s up close and personal!”
When we completed the Phase I prototype, we played it with friends and family. They encouraged us to finish the project with the needed original art and move on to complete the board game. The cards are only the beginning. There is much work ahead!
TA Today is published in the Visitor by Takoma Academy n 8120 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912 Phone: (301) 434-4700 n ta.edu n Principal, Yasmine Julien n Editor, Shaun Robinson 36 | VISITOR September/October 2022
Upon first meeting him, you think about the young, extremely talented and charismatic doctors on TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy. Vincent Smith is a tall, lean man who looks like he could run a marathon in the morning and still have the energy to perform a root canal in the afternoon. When asked why he enjoys his job so much, Smith’s response is, “I enjoy helping people, taking people’s pain away and helping them get their confidence back. I wake up every day excited about what I do, and I’m always conscious about the energy that I give off.”
Smith serves the community in Takoma Park, Md., as a licensed dentist. He attended Dupont Park Adventist School in Washington, D.C., for primary and middle school where his mother served as a teacher. He spent all four of his high school years at Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, Md., graduat ing in “Vinny,”1994.as he is known by many of his friends and patients, matriculated to Oakwood College (now Oakwood University), located in Huntsville, Ala., graduating in 1998. He then began his dental career at Howard University (D.C.). Smith obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2002. After com pleting his residency at Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center (N.Y.), he returned to the Washington metropolitan area. According to Smith, a series of blessings from God allowed him and a business partner to estab lish their own practice, Elite Dental, in 2012. “The practice kind of fell into our laps!” says Smith. “We acquired the business from a well-established den tist that we worked for, and later opened our Takoma Park location in 2016.” This highly skilled team of dentists, orthodontists, periodontists and dental assistants offer preventative care through regular checkups, restorative options like white fillings, veneers, crowns and dental implants, as well as cosmetic enhancements like Invisalign. Reflecting on how TA impacted his future, Smith says, “Overall, my experience was great at TA! Just enough to push you, but the support and resources were there when you needed it. I remember that my geometry class with Mr. Hooker was a challenge, but another teacher, Mr. Vanderhorst, tutored me, and I went from an ‘F’ to a ‘C’ that semester. I didn’t get an ‘A,’ but that experience gave me the confidence to become a high achiever. By the time I reached Oakwood, I had all the tools that I needed to be suc cessful at the collegiate level.” He adds, “I might not have been the best student, but I know that, if you really want something, you can attain it! As for dental advice, ‘Don’t Wait Until it Hurts!’ At least, that’s the advice displayed on a poster hanging in the lobby of Elite Dental.” Helps Brighten Your Day and Smile!
Takoma Academy (TA) alumnus Vincent Smith (’94), a licensed dentist who opened his dental practice in 2012, says that due to God’s leading in his life and the support, resources and confidence he received at TA, he now has a successful career.
Alumnus
As I grew older, I thought how my mom might feel looking for something like car keys. In fact, more than once, the whole family shared in that sense of urgency as we were deputized to help clean and search carefully in pockets, under cushions and behind magazines.
Lighting the Lamp
One of the stories Jesus told that I have loved since I was a child is the parable of “The Lost Coin.” In the parable, Jesus asks His listeners to imagine the response when something important has been lost: “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin’“ (Luke 15:8-9, NIV).
Adventist HealthCare’s commitment to treat all people with respect and compassion. The scholarship is a need-based, merit opportunity for gifted nursing students that helps address racial disparities and economic inequities. In this inaugural year, Adventist HealthCare is honored to award three $20,000 scholarships.
Tianna Lawrence – Currently studying at Howard University, Tianna came from Montego Bay, Jamaica, when she was 12 years old. She draws inspiration from her mother who often reminded her that, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” In high school, as President of the Black Student Union, she initiated, coordinated and produced her school’s first Black History Month Celebration as well as tutored, provided financial literacy classes and represented her school district on the Superintendent’s Equity Design Team. Tianna credits her experiences as a home health aide in teaching her that “patients just want to be seen and treated with compassion. They want someone that they can trust ... and I am devoted to being present for these people and dedicating my time and life to service.”
For more information about us, visit AdventistHealthCare.com/About Care. Compassion. Community.
The Adventist HealthCare Lucy Byard Scholarship was created to honor the legacy of Lucy Byard and to reaffirm
Lucy Byard Scholarship Winners Announced
Terry Forde President & CEO Adventist HealthCare
Junior Philogene – In 2016, Junior came to the United States in search of a brighter future and has worked tirelessly to become fluent in English and excel in school, including currently at Washington Adventist University. He has taken on many jobs to help support his family, such as becoming a pharmacy technician and a firefighter. His decision to become a nurse is fueled by his passionate commitment to improve the medical infrastructure in Haiti that was not adequate to serve the suffering and tragedies he witnessed. He shared that, “As a medical professional, I can ensure that people are healthy so they can have the opportunity to work towards their dreams, just like I have had that opportunity.”
When I was a child, I imagined the coin as a silver dollar –in my mind the biggest and best of all coins. I could just see myself searching for something so precious if lost.
But now, as an adult, the most striking idea for me in this parable is not the coin or the cleaning or even the searching. It is what the woman does first: she lights a lamp. Before taking any further action, she seeks to shine more light on the problem. Why is that so important? Because light can help us find what darkness has obscured. So much of what we can accomplish is dependent on having the right amount and kind of light. And often that requires our active participation as a lamp has no value if it hasn’t been lit. We can think of our Mission statement here at Adventist HealthCare as a lamp – and our work each day as lighting that lamp. When we work together to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing, we are shining light bright and clear. The services we offer push back the darkness that obscures or hides what most needs to be discovered and understood and often brings cause for recovery and Thiscelebration.isourchosen mission – to light the lamp that is so essential to the healing of our patients and the health of our communities.
Erica Martell – A student at Stratford University, Erica also currently works as a Psychiatric Technician for Adventist HealthCare. She related that working with patients in the field of Behavioral Health inspired her to want to become a nurse. A doctor on her unit praised Erica as being both “sensitive to patient needs and empathic to their condition” and showing “excellent clinical judgment.” Erica is regularly praised by the patients she serves on the whiteboard posted in the unit for comments. She states, “I firmly believe that to ease the pain and suffering of another is the most honorable act I can achieve.”
Tune Into Your Health Now you can "listen on the go" to the new Adventist HealthCare & You podcast to hear from Adventist HealthCare experts about important healthcare topics, including nutrition, cancer and heart care. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit AdventistHealthCare.com/Podcast
• Nurse Residency Program: a program designed to help recent nursing graduates transition smoothly into their first RN role through support, training and mentorship. The program is tailored to each resident’s unique needs to ensure each nurse resident receives the appropriate training and support to provide safe care.
Fort Washington Medical Center has continued to improve access to highquality care including expansion of surgical offerings. With the addition of Tuesday Cook, MD, Director of Minimally Invasive, Foregut and Bariatric Surgery, the hospital has been able in the past year to offer weight loss surgery options to help address conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke that greatly affect individuals living in southern Prince George’s County. Dr. Cook has successfully completed Bariatric Lap Band Removal surgery, Laparoscopic Colon Resection surgery and Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery earlier this year. These procedures assist with weight-loss and reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening weight-related health problems. WEIGHT LOSS OPTIONS
SURGERY
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We extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing. For more information about us, visit AdventistHealthCare.com/About
• CNA Academy: an opportunity for anyone eager to start a career in healthcare – with no prior patient experience needed – and prepare for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam. CNA candidates are hired employees who earn money while they learn and do not pay any program fees. Classroom training is combined with clinical training in a hospital setting so candidates learn real-world skills to support the best outcomes and patient care.
Promoting Nursing
Living Our Mission to Extend Cod’s Care
NEW
• International Nurse Pathway: a program to successfully attract nurses from around the world that includes relocation assistance, certification support, clinical transition training and career development opportunities.
"It can also help improve patients’ quality of life," said Fayaz Shawl, MD, interventional cardiologist and director of Interventional Cardiology, White Oak Medical Center, "because they do not experience the limitations or restrictions that they do with other treatment options like blood thinners." The surgical team that performed the first Watchman procedure at White Oak Medical Center this spring.
Adventist HealthCare is advancing bold initiatives to attract and retain high-quality nurses:
White Oak Medical Center Performs Its First Watchman Heart Procedure
• The Preceptor Academy: an innovative evidence-based program designed to select, train, support and recognize nurses who support the successful on-boarding of new team members by ensuring new hires are in harmony with Adventist HealthCare's Mission and serving as the guardians of high-quality care.
AFib is a common irregular heartbeat condition that affects up to 6.1 million Americans and can cause a person’s heart to beat too fast. When left untreated, AFib can dislodge a blood clot and cause a stroke. WATCHMAN is an alternative treatment for patients with AFib who are commonly treated with long-term use of blood thinners.
Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center now offers the WATCHMAN™ heart implant – a one-time, minimally invasive procedure that lowers bleeding risk and risk of stroke in patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).
–Ruth Brandenburg
Ryan Clark, DO, Ruth’s cardiologist at Kettering Health, consulted with Josephine Randazzo, DO, a fellow cardiologist, and they decided Ruth would be the perfect candidate for the first CardioMEMS procedure at Kettering CardioMEMSHealth.isatelemedical heart-failure monitoring system that allows a patient’s doctors to measure the pulmonary artery (PA) pressure through an implant. And the patient doesn’t need to leave their home. The patient lies on a pillow-shaped device for a few minutes that then sends their PA pressure wirelessly to their care team, who can adjust medication and suggest lifestyle changes that will help lower the pressure. Since receiving the implant, Ruth hasn’t been back to the hospital for her condition. More importantly, she is no longer living in fear.
“I didn’t make it all the way to the water. But I did get halfway, and I was able to sit there with my feet in the sand and watch the kids play in the water with my husband,” Ruth shared. “It was really awesome.”
Because of her heart failure, Ruth Brandenburg was in the hospital almost every month. When she wasn’t in the hospital, she always worried her condition might worsen.
Taking Away the Fear in Life
“It was pretty hard,” Ruth said. “When you live with heart failure, you are in constant fear of not being able to breathe or that your heart is filling with fluid.”
YOUR HEALING MINISTRY Kettering Health Newsletter Kettering Health • 3535 Southern Blvd. • Kettering, OH 45429 • (937) 298-3399 • ketteringhealth.org
Thank you, Drs. Clark and Randazzo, for being your best for our patients, and congrats on your progress, Ruth!
“I have peace of mind and am able to live a life that’s not as bleak.”
“My life can function better than what it did before,” Ruth shared. “I know there’s not this grand thing that I can go run a marathon or anything like that, but I have peace of mind and am able to live a life that’s not as bleak.” Because the system is mobile, Ruth is experiencing a new level of freedom—so much freedom that she and her family got back from their first family vacation!
Jorge Arzola, MD, performed the first Aquablation in the Dayton region. This minimally invasive robotic treatment uses a water jet to remove the prostate tissue that causes symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The procedure uses a camera with ultrasound imaging to give surgeons a realtime view of the entire prostate. Aquablation therapy is precise, consistent, and predictable, providing long-term relief from BPH symptoms. Health has a new PET/CT digital extendedlength scanner–the first of its kind in the Dayton region. The Siemens Vision 600 PET/ST camera provides more images with shorter scan times and less radiation for patients. Shorter scan times will allow for more appointment times. This scanner is already being used to research Alzheimer’s disease and brain tumors. Kettering Health will soon begin using the scanner to research prostate and breast cancer. can receive advanced services right here in the Dayton area with this state-of-the-art equipment,” said Arif Sheikh, MD, nuclear medicine specialist at Kettering Health. “We are focused on bringing the future of medicine to Kettering Health through innovative technologies, software, and procedures, and we will continue to provide cutting-edge care.”
“Patients
exposure
accurate
Kettering
THE NEWS Kettering Health Newsletter New Scanner Offers Better Images with Less Radiation Aquablation Therapy Kettering Health • 3535 Southern Blvd. • Kettering, OH 45429 • (937) 298-3399 • ketteringhealth.org
During Spring 2022 we expanded the concept of relationship-rich education from the campus community to the entire Columbia Union Conference by way of building and or restoring our relationships with academies and camp meetings. Much praise and appreciation to the conference presidents, academy principals and teachers for welcoming and supporting our visits to graduations and camp meetings. WAU cannot be successful without these intentional relationships. Our campus leaders Everett Wiles, Betty Johnson, Ralph Johnson, Dirk Whatley, Stephen Williams—and the WAU Ambassadors did outstanding work in building these essential relationships. We are committed to education in the Columbia Union and beyond at all levels. Human interactions internal and external–are essential and significantly contribute to the positive WAU experience. A successful WAU must be built on strong relationships. It is well known that behind every successful business, are people, and people function in society via relationships. We will continue to make relationship-rich concepts a hard-wired initiative into the fabric of our daily operational routines. Getting to know our students and building relationships with members of the Columbia Union is now a key performance indicator for Washington Adventist University that will result in making WAU the best place for employees to work and for students to learn. Please continue to pray and support your university. This is Washington Adventist University! Education
wau.edu
Weymouth Spence, President At Washington University we have adopted the successful concept of “Relationship-Rich Education.” This involves intentionally integrating course content and deliberate critical attention to our student’s well-being. It is our desire to make every student feel that they b elong at Washington Adventist University and that we care about them graduat ing on time with little or no debt ready for the workplace and for eternity. Praise to our faculty and staff in the areas of advising, tutoring, residence halls, campus dining and convocation for their successful implementation in affirming students and peer-to-peer conversations. This intentional human connection has certainly enhanced the WAU student experience.
Relationship-Rich
WAU Student Ambassador Carlos Rosario (left) translates.
Patrick Farley, WAU Executive Vice President for Finance cutting and serving watermelon to the attendees at the Mountain View Conference camp meeting.
Camp Meeting Visit Highlights
Everett Wiles, WAU Vice President of Integrated Marketing and Communication (right) speaking to the audience in the main auditorium at the Greater New York Conference Hispanic camp meeting.
WAU Financial Aid Representative Briana Warner (seated) and WAU Student Ambassadors interacting with young people at the North Eastern Conference camp meeting. WAU Student Ambassadors engaging with other young people at the Ohio Conference camp meeting.
Dr Ralph Johnson, WAU Vice President for Student Life (back left) along with the WAU Student Ambassadors (standing back right) and Admissions Representatives (seated) at Potomac Conference camp meeting at Sligo Church. wau.edu
Attendees at the Mountain View Conference camp meet ing enjoying slices of watermelon. Persons interacting with WAU Student Ambassador at the Greater New York Conference Hispanic camp meeting.
WAU Admissions Recruiter Ross Patterson (right) interacting with young people at the Southern New England Conference camp meeting.
WAU Team at the Allegheny East Conference Camp Meeting
Find support and pray for others. Visit wgts919.com.
“We must be intentional about finding and training tomorrow’s leaders,” shared Kevin Krueger, WGTS President. It is out of this desire that the board of directors launched the WGTS Leadership Development Program. The program teaches college students about many aspects of media ministry.
This summer, three interns are receiving university credit as they learn about media programming, marketing, fundraising and leadership by meeting with department leaders and by participating in everyday activities of those departments. They invest time in areas of special interest to them. For example, one of the interns has focused on marketing, particularly through the avenues of video and social media. They have been instrumental during the many summer community events and concerts at WGTS, such as the Ice Cream Tour. Intern Lindsey Gispert, says, “One of the highlights has been going to different cities with the Ice Cream Tour. I feel inspired as I hear listeners' stories about how WGTS has brightened their days, and it feels great knowing I play a part in the ministry.”
These are challenging times for us all. Let’s take a moment to look back at other difficult moments—times when we dealt with financial, relational or health stress. It’s not hard to think of times when we experienced challenges with inflation, and the high cost of housing, food and gas.
WGTS summer interns Tom Ozio, Lindsey Gispert, and Josseline Q. Ayala
2099 Gaither Road, Suite 105 Rockville, MD 20850 wgts919.com202.902.6000
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WGTS Starts Intern Program
Finding Hope by Looking Back
Looking back brings us hope. God has taken care of you in the past, and he will certainly take care of you going forward. Focusing on gratitude changes how we look at current challenges. When we are grateful, we see how blessed we are, in spite of the hardships. Be assured that God will bring you through this difficult time just as He has done in the past. He will see you through. So with that knowledge in our hearts, let’s live each day generously. God is with us, He is for us and He will carry us through.
Listeners Help Refugees in Ukraine
“It is important to us to make this investment in young people, giving them the opportunity to explore a career in media and ministry. They bring fresh ideas and different perspectives, making it good for them and good for us, as we grow this ministry,” says Michael Agee, Director of Strategic Initiatives.
As you think back on those moments, recall how God remained faithful to you and your family. While looking back at how God saw you through doesn’t change the amount of money in your bank account, it does put our current challenges in context.
Refugees in Ukraine received emergency supplies earlier this year as WGTS listeners partnered with ADRA International (Adventist Development and Relief Agency). As part of a Hands and Heart project, WGTS listeners sponsored SOS kits for refugees. In two weeks, listeners gave $30,000, which filled kits with food, water purification tools, blankets, and medicine. These kits were distributed by ADRA, providing for 20,000 Ukrainian refugees.
DON’T JUST RETIRE, live with purpose at Fletcher Park Inn, an independent living retirement community, located on the campus of Fletcher Academy near Hendersonville, N.C. Join our family, take part in the many opportunities for staying active, volunteering, making new friends and living with a purpose. Call to find out more about our apartment and villa homes, (828) 209-6930, and ask for our marketing department, or visit fletcherparkinn.com.
UNION COLLEGE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM in Lincoln, Neb., is seeking can didates for a principal faculty. Qualified candidates must hold current NCCPA certification, a master’s degree and be eligible for licensure in the state of Nebraska. Full benefit package and tuition subsidy benefit for dependents attending local Adventist schools included. Please see the full job descrip tion and instructions for appli cation at ucollege.edu/employ ment. Contact Megan Heidtbrink at edumegan.heidtbrink@ucollege.formoreinformation.
MISCELLANEOUS SEEKING A PLACE TO share your hands and heart in service to the Lord? Join the volunteer team at Camp Kulaqua located in High Springs, Fla. Bring an RV and spend a season with us. For more information, Call (386) 454-1351, ext. 7570 or volunteer@campkulaqua.com.email: REAL ESTATE INTERESTED IN BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME? Call The
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ANDREWS UNIVERSITY seeks electrical foreman. Supervises and coordinates activities of electrical department: installa tion, maintenance, and repair of electric power, lighting and all electrical equipment/services on the university campus by performing the following duties: Maintains and tests campus fire and security equipment/ systems. Rotates weekend shifts for emergency service calls including repairs beyond normal work hours as required. May be called in at any time to assist with emergency repairs as needed. When on normal call rotation, the response time to an emergency should not exceed more than 30 minutes. Link here: jobs/show/staff_hourly#job_26andrews.edu/admres/
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SERVICES MOVE with an award-winning agency. Apex Moving & Storage partners with the General Conference to provide quality moves at a discounted rate. Call us for your relocation needs. Adventist beliefs uncom promised. Call Marcy Dante at (800) 766-1902 for a free esti mate. Visit us at apexmoving. com/Adventist ELTERNHAUS ASSISTED LIVING, Adventist family-owned and -operated, provides special ized care for seniors in a family homestyle setting. Delicious veg etarian food, activities, Friday night vespers and a shuttle to church Sabbath morning, just to name a few of the many options. Check out our newly updated website, Timcaregivers,workElternhauselternhausalf.com.alsooffersagreatenvironmentforAdventistLPNsandRNs.CallMayer,(240)286-3635.
The Seema Rodriguez Team –Where Service is Key!
DENTIST NEEDED: If you are a dentist living in the Chattanooga area or have been wanting to relocate to the area of beautiful Southeast Tennessee or North Georgia but waiting for the door to open for you and your career, please contact Dr. Joel Davis. The position is available immedi ately. Competitive compensation and profit-sharing opportunities included! Seeking a humble and hungry dental provider who is aligned with our core values: Growth (mindset), Integrity (do the right thing) and Compassion (connecting with others and caring for the whole person). Call (423) 580-2218, or visit our website at TrueDental.care.
Call Seema Rodriguez: (301) 922-1770 Email: s4rodr@yahoo.comor
Call Margie Eldridge: (301) 325-8503 Email: 23margieeldridge@gmail.com
MARYLAND ADVENTIST DENTIST, DAVID LEE, DDS, FAGD, AFAAID, FICOI, FAACP, has practices located in Silver Spring and Columbia, Md. He is extensively trained in implant, cosmetic, TMD/TMJ, sleep apnea treatment, sedation and laser dentistry. Dr. Lee is an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, as well as having many other certifications. For appointments, call (301) 649-5001 or (410) 461-6655. Mention this ad and receive a 10% discount on all services, excluding third-party payers. We welcome new patients!
VISITOR AND SERVICES n The Visitor does not guarantee the integrity of any product or service advertised and does not accept responsibility for typographical or cate gorical errors. For advertising guidelines and rates: columbi aunionvisitor.com/advertising
CONSTITUENCY MEETING OF THE NEW ADVENTISTS,CONFERENCEJERSEYOFSEVENTH-DAYINC.
ANDREWS UNIVERSITY SEEKS FACULTY—Leadership and Education Administration—to teach graduate level courses; teach online and courses blended with face-to-face delivery, serve on doctoral dissertation committees; develop a research agenda demonstrated through publications and/or presentations at professional conferences; advise master’s and doctoral students in their program and course plan; provide timely, constructive feedback to help them monitor their progress and support learning; participate in program, department and university committees and service; develop proficiency in multiple technology platforms for student learning and portfolios; remain current with trends, techniques and advances in distance learning; pursue universityrequired activities for eligibility for promotion and tenure; and perform other duties and tasks as needed. Link here: faculty#job_9.edu/admres/jobs/show/andrews.
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SHOP FOR SERVICESADVENTISTNEW/USEDBOOKS:TEACH offers used Adventist books at LNFBOOKS.com or new book releases at your local ABC or abution.marketingyourAUTHORSTEACHServices.comletushelppublishbookwithediting,design,andworldwidedistriCall(800)367-1844forfreeevaluation.
EMPLOYMENT INTERESTED IN HEALTH CARE? Consider our CNA Academy. Become a Certified Nursing Assistant to earn while you learn in the classroom and on the clinical unit. Salary and benefits • Free tuition • Free books and supplies • Expert guidance in a hospital setting • Prepare for the Maryland CNA exam • Job placement • Further career development Learn more about a full range of nursing careers and apply at: SEVENTH-DAYTHEAdventistHealthCare.com⁄CareersGENERALCONFERENCEOFADVENTISTS is looking for individuals who are interested in putting their talents and skills to work in a missionoriented setting. Must be a Seventh-day Adventist church member in good standing. For additional information on current openings, go to tinyurl.com/ gcjobpostings, or gchr@gc.adventist.orgcontact
ADVENTIST HERITAGE MINISTRIES is seeking to fill four positions. The site director for the William Miller Farm in Whitehall, N.Y., position is open immediately. The Historic Adventist Village in Battle Creek, Mich., will have three open positions: site director, office manager and Heritage Shoppe manager. Go to the website adventistheritage.org for details, job descriptions and application forms.
Notice is hereby given that the 41st regular constituency meeting of the New Jersey Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, Inc., is called to convene at 10 a.m., Sunday, September 25, 2022, at the Robbinsville mendationscommittees,shallNJ2314Seventh-dayCommunityAdventistChurch,Route33,Robbinsville,08691.Thepurposeofthismeetingbetoelectofficersandconsiderrecomforamendments
September 23–25, at the Holiday Inn Alexandria at Carlyle, Alexandria, VA 22314. Hotel Room: $149/night. Contact Holiday Inn for reservations, (703) 960-2000. Conference registration: $25/person. Register online: deadline,org/2022/05/10/conferencepcpmsda.;Sept.9,by10p.m.
WASHINGTON HARP ENSEMBLE CONCERT November 12, 2022 Frederick6347AdventistSeventh-dayChurchJeffersonPikeFrederick,MD4p.m.
Peteconstituencymayandamendmentsproposedtothebylawsanyotherbusinessthatproperlycomebeforetheatthattime.Palmer,
BOYEK, Joan, born on July 18, 1929, in Glen Lyon, Pa., to Walter and Antoinette Boyek. The family moved to Berwick, Pa., when she was 12, where she attended school until graduating from high school in 1948. Realizing that the pursuit of a nursing career was her calling, she worked as a nurse’s aide at the Bloomsburg Hospital and later moved to Wheaton, Md., with a family, and worked at Doctors Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 1950, she began her nursing educa tion at Washington Missionary College, now Washington Adventist University, in Takoma Park, Md., graduating in 1954 with a B.S. in Nursing. She returned to Pa., working at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa., for several years, but answered the invitation to work at a brand-new hospital in D.C., the Washington Hospital Center. She grew her career over 42 years, including teach ing, recruiting, training and leadership. For many years, she served as nurse manager in the cardiology department before retiring. She was instrumental in developing an early program with Mended Hearts for patients undergoing open heart surgery. She had many great loves, including nursing, travel, music, friends and cats, but most of all her family, especially her niece and nephews. It was impos sible to see Joan without her sister, Ann. Two sisters never shared a closer bond. Joan never met a stranger and was always happy to have a con versation. Children brought her great joy. She lived in a close knit, diverse neighborhood and always had treats for the children. Her travels took her all over the U.S., Bermuda, northern Africa and Europe in the 1970s. She was proud of her Polish heritage, visiting Poland on two occasions. Although a member of Sligo church for many years, in later years she attended Beltsville church. Joan passed away at Washington Adventist Hospital, now White Oak Medical Center, in Silver Spring, Md., April 3, 2019. Survivors: her sister, Ann Laurence of Laurel, Md.; foster sister, Ellen (Jerry) Morgan; niece, Susan (Marty) Cooksey; nephews, David (Diane) Laurence and Scott (Jennifer) Laurence; great-nieces and great-nephews, Charlotte, Finley and William Laurence, Mitchell Cooksey, and Crystal and Matthew Morgan.
Join us for renowned Washington Harp Ensemble, six harps playing religious/ classical selections under the direction of Dr. James Bingham. A free-will offering will be taken benefiting REACH International’s children of Sri Lanka and Tanzania. For more information, Call: (301) 662-5254
KOVALSKI, Ruthe (Hirsch), born November 8, 1929, in Jersey City, N.J.; died August 14, 2019, in Metuchen, N.J. She attended Washington Missionary College (now Washington Adventist University) in Takoma Park, Md., and graduated from the Washington Sanitarium and Hospital School of Nursing in Takoma Park, Md., in 1952. She worked as a registered nurse her entire career. Ruthe was a member of the New Brunswick (N.J.) church and most recently the Lake Nelson church in Piscataway, N.J. Her husband, Peter Kovalski, and brothers Arthur and Randolph Hirsch predeceased her. She is survived by two sons, Ken (Becky) Kovalski of Collegedale, Tenn., and Peter J. Kovalski of Metuchen, N.J.; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Jorge Aguero, President Mario Thorp, Secretary CORRECTED NOTICE: THE SECOND QUINQUENNIAL SESSION OF THE ALLEGHENY EAST SEVENTH-DAYCORPORATIONCONFERENCEOFADVENTISTS
Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Pine Forge Academy Constituency will be held in connection with the second quinquennial session of the Allegheny East Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists at the Metropolitan Activity Center (Metropolitan Seventh-day Adventist Church), 6303 Riggs Road, Hyattsville, MD 20783, Sunday, October 16, 2022, at a time that will be called by the chair. This meeting is called to transact any business that may come before the constituency at that time. The delegates of the Second Quinquennial Session of the Allegheny East Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists are delegates of this Petesession.Palmer
NEUFELD, Ernest, born July 13, 1926, in Visalia, Calif.; died May 2, 2019, in Centerville, Ohio. His wife, Barbara Christensen, passed away a few months later. Ernest was a member of the Kettering (Ohio) church. He graduated with a degree in X-ray Technology from Glendale Sanitarium and Hospital in 1956. In 1963, he was invited by George Nelson to design the X-ray department at the new Kettering Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. During his years at the hospital, he worked in X-ray, public rela tions, continuing education, community health and was an assistant professor at the Kettering College of Medical Arts, teaching nuclear medi cine. He was a charter member of the Kettering church in Dayton, Ohio, and throughout the years was active as an elder, deacon, choir member and Pathfinder counselor. After retiring from Kettering Medical Center in 1992, he enjoyed volunteering at the Good Neighbor House in Dayton, Ohio, as well as the medical center, fully retired at the age of 91. He is survived by his son, Edward (Dori) Neufeld of Ooltewah, Tenn.; daughters, Hazel Neufeld of Spencer, Wis., and Kathy Boyd of Centerville, Ohio; grandsons, Eric and Andy (Kelly) Neufeld of Ooltewah; granddaughters, Kristi Neufeld of Ooltewah and Sarah (Alex) Hill of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and great-grandson, River Neufeld of Ooltewah. Interested in placing an obituary? Visitobituarycolumbiaunionvisitor.com/ to download an obituary submission form.
ANNOUNCEMENTS POTOMAC CONFERENCE PRISON CONFERENCE,MINISTRY
EDITOR’S NOTE: Since the July/August issue press time, the Visitor staff has learned that the Pennsylvania Conference does not operate any homes chool programs. It should be fur ther noted that the Gettysburg Seventh-day Adventist Church has suspended operation of the Gettysburg Adventist Christian School for the 2022–23 school year. We regret any confusion.
columbiaunionvisitor.com VISITOR | 45 Bulletin Board and revisions of the constitution and bylaws, receive reports of the organization, and transact such other business that may properly come before the con stituency at that time.
President Marcellus T. Robinson, Vice President for Administration CORRECTED NOTICE: MEETING OF THE PINE FORGE ACADEMY CONSTITUENCY
Notice is hereby given that the second quinquennial session of the Allegheny East Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists will convene Sunday, October 16, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. at the Metropolitan Activity Center (Metropolitan Seventhday Adventist Church), 6303 Riggs Road, Hyattsville, MD 20783. This meeting is called for the election of officers, departmental directors, committees,
OBITUARIES
, President Marcellus T. Robinson, Vice President for Administration
BLACHOWSKI, Richard (Rich) A., born May 13, 1945, in Milwaukee, Wis.; died December 13, 2019. He was the son of the late Walter Carl and Mildred Drout Blachowski. He was a very active member of the Gettysburg (Pa.) church and school where he served on the school board and was trea surer. Following high school, Rich entered the U.S. Army serving for 20 years. He served in Germany, then two tours in Vietnam, a year in Turkey, three years back in Germany and finally at Fort Devens, Mass. Following retirement from the service, he worked for a time at Lowe’s in Frederick, Md. But for the last 20 years, he was employed at S & S RV Service until he fully retired. Rich is survived by his wife, Ardis Mae Jones Blachowski; his son, Karl E. Blachowski of Fairfield, Pa.; his two sisters, Nancy Blachowski and Karen Wowzynski. He was prede ceased by his brother Robert Blachowski.
Pittsburgh 7:52 7:40 7:29 7:17 7:05 6:54 6:43 6:32 6:23
Toledo 8:07 7:56 7:44 7:31 7:19 7:07 6:56 6:45 6:35
Cincinnati 8:09 7:58 7:46 7:35 7:24 7:13 7:02 6:52 6:43
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Parkersburg 7:57 7:46 7:34 7:23 7:12 7:01 6:50 6:40 6:31
Norfolk 7:33 7:23 7:12 7:02 6:51 6:41 6:31 6:22 6:13
Columbus 8:03 7:52 7:41 7:29 7:17 7:06 6:55 6:45 6:36
Cleveland 8:00 7:48 7:36 7:24 7:12 7:00 6:49 6:38 6:28
Sunset Calendar
Wash., D.C. 7:38 7:27 7:16 7:05 6:54 6:43 6:32 6:22 6:13
Jersey City 7:28 7:17 7:05 6:53 6:42 6:30 6:19 6:08 5:59
Trenton 8:09 7:58 7:46 7:35 7:23 7:12 7:02 6:51 6:42
Richmond 7:39 7:28 7:18 7:07 6:56 6:45 6:35 6:26 6:17
Roanoke 7:48 7:38 7:27 7:17 7:06 6:55 6:45 6:36 6:27
Philadelphia 7:32 7:21 7:09 6:58 6:46 6:35 6:24 6:14 6:04
Reading 7:35 7:24 7:12 7:01 6:49 6:38 6:27 6:16 6:07
B altimore 7:37 7:26 7:15 7:03 6:52 6:41 6:30 6:20 6:11
AT YOUWEBESTYOURSEE
Whether you’re volunteering at church or spending time with your family, it’s the little things in life that matter most. At Kettering Health, we combine Christ-centered care and exceptional medicine to elevate health, healing, and hope throughout our community. We’re committed to helping you achieve your best health— so you can always be there when it counts. Join our team to achieve your best at ketteringhealth.org/careers
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