Editorial by Bill Miller
In Jesus’ day, sheep comprised an everyday commodity used for reproduction, wool 
and food. Additionally, Jews used a portion of their flock for sacrifices and religious festivals. However, when Jesus talks about His sheep, He introduces an intimate aspect. Jesus’ relationship with His flock proves they are not a commodity to Him, but of utmost value—something even worth dying for.
Story by Lauren Brooks
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on Campus recently hosted an animal stress relief day for students at Kettering College.
Story by Katie Fellows
As the time neared closer to the start of their monthlong series, Tom Stone, pastor of Pennsylvania Conference’s Reading Kenhorst Boulevard church, welcomed 40 church and community members alike for opening night.
“The first night of the series was great,” says member Roque Rojas Jr. “I liked how the guests were a mixed group of community visitors, church members and even visiting members from other churches.”
Dennis Nowakowski, a recently baptized new church member, attended almost all of the meetings during the Final Events Prophecy Seminar. As a huge fan of his state football team, he even came on the nights his favorite team was playing.
Story by Richard Castillo
If you take a walk down to Farragut Square in Washington, D.C., one might hear the what sounds like the voice of angel. Coincidentally this "angel" happens to attend Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md., for Clinical Psychology and is using her voice to support her studies and spread a message of faith.
Story by Tamyra Horst
“One in three teens struggle with anxiety disorders,” states Burney Culpepper, princial of Pennsylvania Conference's Blue Mountain Academy (BMA). “Mental health is foundational to our overall well-being, but it feels like resources and a safe space to talk about the issues we face can be hard to find. Our recent mental health weekend laid a biblical foundation that will help our students cope with this growing health issue.”
At BMA’s recent “Peace of Mind” mental health conference, students and church members from around the area discovered practical help on topics like depression and anxiety from breakouts on “Disappointment, Depression and Deliverance,” “Healing From Hurtful Habits,” “Self-Identity” and “CALM: A Recipe for Peace in Times of Chaos.”
Story by Tiffany Doss
Jennifer McCahan, RDN, shared the following lentil patty recipe, adapted from allrecipes.com, at the iThrive Wellness Camp.
1 cup dry lentils
2.5 cups of water to make lentils
1/4 c rice milk
1 cup Gluten Free (GF) cornflakes cereal
1 TBSP onion seasoning mixture (1/4 cup dried onion flakes, 2 TBSP vegan beef bullion, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp parsley flakes, 1/8 tsp celery seed, 1/8th tsp paprika add ingredients together)
1 TBSP Mackays vegan chicken seasoning
2 egg substitutes
1/2 cup walnuts chopped
1/2 cup GF flour or breadcrumbs
Grapeseed oil or spray as needed
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Prov. 17:22). Laughter offers more than just a quick pick-me-up—It boosts your immune system, relieves pain, improves mood, soothes tension, relieves stress and increases blood flow and blood vessel function.
Put more laughter (and information) in your life this February with the following resources:
Story by Tina Sheesley
Thousands of new moms each year get support from Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, including guidance from internationally recognized lactation consultants. Now, those breastfeeding experts have opened Maryland’s first hospital-based milk depot to better connect area moms with extra breast milk to babies in need.