Allegheny East Conference

Rocky Twyman ('66) interviews Lynda Johnson Robb.

Story and photos by LaTasha Hewitt

In the 1940s, Elder John H. Wagner, Sr., former Allegheny Conference president, envisioned a boarding school in the North where African-American high school students could attend without the racial issues of schools in the South. After purchasing the 575-acre Rutter Estate near Pottstown, Pa., the conference opened Pine Forge Institute on September 9, 1946, with 90 students.

Last weekend the school, now Pine Forge Academy (PFA), celebrated Alumni Weekend and 70 years of existence during the weekend themed “Legacy of Excellence.”

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

Instead of attending afternoon seminars at the 2016 Allegheny East Conference (AEC) Camp Meeting, campers participated in service opportunities in nearby Pottstown, Pa.

Service activities included: sponsoring a community kids’ health fair, volunteering at a local community garden, distributing flowers in a nursing home, writing encouraging letters to prisoners and distributing balloons with words of encouragement. AEC even sponsored a “senior prom,” complete with boutonnieres and corsages at another nursing home.

William Hall, Delaware Valley Area Ministerium leader, welcomes Janene and Ron Williams to the Macedonia church.

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

The Allegheny East Conference's Macedonia church in Chester, Pa., recently held a day of celebration to welcome new pastor Ronald Williams and his wife, Janene. Williams comes to the Allegheny East Conference from the Central States Conference where he served as the director of Men's Ministries and a local church pastor.  Williams has a strong commitment to community ministry and engagement, and earned a doctorate in Urban Ministry from the Theological Seminary at Andrews University (Mich.).