News | Seventh-day Adventist Church

Students Share Faith on a Secular Campus

Adventist students share their faith on a secular campus

Story by Tiffany Doss

A group of college students meet twice a month at the University of Maryland (UMD) in College Park to study the Bible, share their faith and connect with Adventist students who may not have a home church. Adventist Student Fellowship (ASF) is a university- recognized Bible study group that holds a steady membership of more than 20 students. Members shine their lights on the secular campus by staying true to their convictions and sharing them with friends, classmates and professors.

Kettering College Prepares for 49th Commencement Ceremony

Story by Jessica Beans

On Saturday, April 29, Kettering College will confer degrees and certificates on 200 students at the school’s 49th annual commencement ceremonies. The event will be held at the Dayton Convention Center. Dr. Jonathan Velasco, an alum of Kettering College and surgeon at Kettering Physician Network Surgery—Dayton Surgeons, will be the keynote speaker. This year will also commemorate Kettering College’s 50th anniversary.

WAU Mourns the Death of Former Head of Physical Education Jim Burns

Story by Donna Bigler

Washington Adventist University (WAU) is mourning the death of James William Burns III, an alumnus, former coach of the gymnastics team and head of Physical Education. He passed away last week on April 19 at the age of 84, surrounded by his family. He will long be remembered for his love of life and his positive attitude, as well as his penchant for doing handstands on the roof and his passion for running.

Eight Columbia Union Pathfinder Bible Experience Teams Place First at North American Division Level

The Triadelphia Sparks PBE team places first at the North American Division event. Photo courtesy North American Division

Eight teams from the Columbia Union Conference placed first at the recent North American Division Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) in Chicago. Six teams placed second. To achieve first place, a team must score 90 percent of the top scoring team's score. Second place teams must earn 80 percent of the top scoring team's score.

See the results below:

Allegheny East Conference

Genesis (NJ) Jaguars: Second Place
Liberty (Md.) Light Bearers Gold: First Place

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot to Speak at 2017 Washington Adventist University Commencement April 30

Story by Donna Bigler

Maryland Comptroller and Honorary Alumnus Peter Franchot will be the commencement speaker for Washington Adventist University’s 2017 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, April 30. Franchot is one of four state-wide elected officials in Maryland, and is the state’s 33rd comptroller, currently serving his third term in that office. Commencement will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Show Place Arena, located at 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Bethel French Church Sponsors Certified Nursing Assistant Class

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

The Bethel French church in Trenton, N.J., recently graduated 17 students in a church-sponsored Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. Recognizing the need to equip members with skills for acquiring employment, Luckson Innocent, church treasurer, birthed the idea.

The Bethel church partnered with Yves Annie Ervilus, dean of the Broadway Vocational Technical School, LLC, in Camden, N.J., to conduct a five-week program. At the completion of the program, participants were certified to seek employment as a CNA.

Looking Forward

Editorial by Seán Robinson

Some years ago, I picked up a travel book titled 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. This best-seller describes a myriad of amazing places to visit around the globe far beyond the Seven Wonders of the World. While I had already been to some places, others beckoned me with the lure of the exotic and the unknown. As my “bucket list” expanded, I found myself looking forward to new adventures.

Charleston Girl Starts Swim Class

Kristiana Hoffman instructs one of her students during a swim class. Photo by Laura Hoffman

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Kristiana Hoffman, a 12-year-old from Charleston, W.Va., wants to be a missionary when she grows up. In January she started practicing.

After reading that 10 people die each day from drowning, Hoffman came up with a plan to help teach children to swim while introducing them to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Hoffman, a member of the Mountain View Conference’s Charleston (W.Va.) church, started taking swimming lessons at age three, and recently hosted swim classes for the community at a local pool.

Columbia Union ASI Hold Annual Conference, Selects Leaders

Emanuel Pelote interviews Shaundelle and Christian Baker about Shaundelle’s business.

Story by Sylvia Garcia Urrutia

The Columbia Union Conference’s Adventist-Laymen’s Services & Industries (CUASI) recently held their annual Missional Business Conference at the Doubletree Hotel in Columbia, Md.

About 150 attendees from across the union gathered to share their ministry passions and gain knowledge to help in their businesses and ministries. Emanuel Pelote, CUASI president, says they choose the theme for the meeting, “Minding the Father’s Business,” because “the Bible is clear that included in following Christ, is a call to full-time ministry.”

Save the Date for the Courageous Camporee

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

August 1–5, the Chesapeake Conference is hosting “Courageous,” an invitational camporee, at the Highland View Campgrounds in Hagerstown, Md.

Pathfinder clubs from all conferences are welcome. “The goal of the event is to create a spiritual, social and educational environment for all, as we grow together in Christ and learn from the Word of God what it means to be courageous Pathfinders for Jesus in the 21st century,” says Carl Rodriguez, Youth Ministries director for the Chesapeake Conference.

Planned activities include a 300-foot waterslide, archery, mountain biking, soccer and 36 activities in which you can earn honors.

For more information, and to register, visit https://www.cicamporee.org.