Story by LaTasha Hewitt

For years, Joyce Steele’s family made it a point to worship with her at Allegheny East Conference's Mizpah church in Philadelphia on the Sabbath closest to her birthday. Even after she passed away in 2023, her children wanted to keep the tradition going and, as usual, attended this year on the Sabbath following their mother’s birthday.

The family, who travels from New York, New Jersey, Florida and Pennsylvania, are committed to keeping the tradition alive as long as they are able to. “We want to honor her memory, as well as thank the Lord for giving her to us,” says Janet Steele, her daughter. “It also provides us with our own sense of comfort.”

Editorial by Gary Gibbs

I knew I was listening to an exciting answer to prayer as I heard the speaker describe an inspiring initiative called “Back to the Altar.” I had been earnestly seeking God for strategic initiatives for our conference’s new quinquennium, which began after the constituency session in October 2023.

Our team identified several key ideas we felt God was leading us to as conference staff, and pastors met for prayer and planning. We determined that a renewed focus on a personal relationship with Jesus would be one of the more important initiatives. We long for each member to experience a deepening of love for Him and to grow in the qualities of being Jesus’ fully committed disciple.

Story by Alicia Adams

In the world of literature, certain books transcend their pages, seeping into the very fabric of people’s lives, reshaping destinies, and fostering movements that echo through time. One such work, The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, has become a catalyst for profound transformations, and a newly launched website, ShareGreatControversy.com, features the testimonies of people whose lives have been forever changed following an encounter with this classic book.

The website captures scenes of the book’s impact by showcasing true stories of well-known figures and everyday people alike who, after reading The Great Controversy, embarked on transformative journeys that rippled through their families, churches, and the world.