News

Tyler Roberts, Pastor Fred Shoemaker and Jessica Halye celebrate Roberts' baptism and Halye’s profession of faith at the Wilmington church.

Story by Kasper Haughton Jr.

Ohio Conference churches have embraced the “2023 Initiative” to see 2,023 Ohio baptisms by the year 2023 and are witnessing God move in amazing ways, say leaders. The Wilmington church is one of those experiencing a renewed passion for evangelism.

For several months, Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) teams have studied 1 Kings and Ruth and the corresponding commentaries to prepare for PBE. After participating in area and conference PBE events, on March 19, 29 teams from around the Columbia Union Conference participated in the virtual event.

Teams that placed first will continue to the North American Division event on April 22-23.

The standings are:

Potomac Conference

Atholton Adventist Academy students help Afghan Refugee families.

Story by Chesapeake Conference Staff

When students from Chesapeake Conference's Atholton Adventist Academy (AAA) in Columbia, Md., saw the needs of Afghan refugees resettling in their local community, they decided they wanted to do something.

Over the past four months, AAA students have raised more than $5,000, collected and sorted donations, delivered food and essential items, and hosted an event in the school’s gymnasium where 18 Afghan families received winter clothing and enjoyed a catered meal. 

Story by Kettering Health

A team of employees from Pharmacy, Cancer Care, Nursing, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Safety trained for and treated their first Lutathera patient at Kettering Cancer Care.

Lutathera is a unique treatment for patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The team uses PET imaging to locate the cancer and then Lutathera to treat the tumors on a cellular level.

Adrienne Rowe Saulsbury creates art and grows closer to God by creatively journaling

Story by Cynthia Mendoza

Though she never considered herself an artist, Adrienne Rowe-Saulsbury has firmly established herself as one through her “Bible Page” art. Just as the description implies, Rowe-Saulsbury, a fourth-grade teacher at Allegheny West Conference’s Columbus Adventist Academy (Ohio), draws on Bible pages using colored pens and pencils to creatively worship and connect with God.

Filipino American Oxon Hill church

Story by LaTasha Hewitt 

Members of the Allegheny East Conference (AEC) recently celebrated the official organization of the Filipino American Oxon Hill (Md.) church. What began in 2011 as a church plant with just four members has now grown to more than 100 members. “The focus of our congregation is to reach the Filipino community in the areas of Oxon Hill, Fort Washington and Temple Hills, Maryland,” says Ariel Matira, pastor.

Story by Washington Adventist University Staff

President Joseph R. Biden recently awarded Washington Adventist University President Weymouth Spence with a Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his 5,127 hours for volunteer service to the nation.

In a letter, President Biden he congratulated Spence for his contribution to the public good and expressed appreciation for his volunteer leadership.

Rod Long/Unsplash

Story by Anthony Baffi

Albert Perez is the new pastor of the Bound Brook Spanish Company and First Bilingual and Flemington Spanish Companies. Perez received his bachelor’s degree in Theology from the UNADECA (Central America Adventist University) in Costa Rica. Perez and his wife, Margarita, have two children, Isabella and Fernando.

Adventist HealthCare

Continuing its journey toward the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Adventist HealthCare’s leadership system has earned a Malcolm Baldrige Category Best Practice Recognition, one of the nation’s highest honors for performance excellence. Adventist HealthCare is the first multi-hospital health system in the Washington, D.C., region to earn this honor for outstanding leadership practices that create organizational success. The recognition establishes Adventist HealthCare as a
world-class organization that can serve as a model for other businesses on how to
consistently improve safety, ensure a positive patient experience, and optimize health
outcomes–all while reducing costs.

Story by Benia Jennings

Last summer, the Women’s Ministries Department at Allegheny West Conference's Smyrna church in Lynchburg, Va., collaborated with neighboring churches to start the Alabaster Box Book and Bible Study Group.

The group met once a month to read and discuss multiple books. This year, they are focusing on one book: The Lies Women Believe, and the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. The volume covers topics such as marriage, sexuality and emotions.

The discussion subject matter might be more female-specific at times, but Patricia Jerome (pictured), one of the group facilitators, sees this ministry as an outreach tool to reach different groups of people. At the Alabaster Box, all are welcome, she notes.