News

Washington Adventist University (WAU) is ranked tenth among the top 19 "Safest Colleges in Maryland" by BackgroundChecks.org in its recently-released 2016 annual report on accredited public and private not-for-profit educational institutions that offer four-year degrees. BackgroundChecks.org is a public safety-focused organization that is committed to increasing safety, community involvement, transparent government and education.

The safest colleges rankings are based on campus crime rates per l,000 residents, as well as on recent Department of Education reports, social media analysis, natural language analysis and research.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is livestreaming their 2 p.m. Annual Council meeting. Annual Council is the church's executive committee, the governming body of the world church between General Conference Sessions.

Watch the live stream here.

Photo by John Benson on Flickr

Seventh-day Adventists across the Columbia Union Conference celebrated Let’s Move! Day September 18, but the emphasis on exercise and healthy living doesn’t have to stop, even as the temperatures get colder.

According to Adventist HealthCare's website, exercising in the winter boosts your immune system. It also notes studies that show that people who exercise regularly get 20 to 30 percent fewer colds than those who don't exercise.

WAU senior Heather Alas, a dual major in Business Administration Finance Emphasis and Business Administration Marketing Emphasis, is the new student president of Enactus (2016-2017). This past month she talked to the Visitor about Enactus, and what being a member means to her.

Visitor: How long have you been a member of Enactus?

Alas: I've been a part of Enactus WAU since my freshman year, 2013. This year I am the student president of our team. I am looking forward to enhancing my leadership skills with the team, and building new bridges with the community.

What are you looking forward to most?

Photograph by Brian Tagalog

Photos by Brian Tagalog

Pathfinders from around the Columbia Union Conference gathered in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., today for the union's "Fearless" Pathfinder Camporee. The camporee runs until Sunday.

Frank Bondurant, Columbia Union vice president for ministries development, reported that the 3,000 registrants made this the biggest camporee in the union's history.

Camporee News

Story by Danielle Tyler

The dictionary defines the term “bully” as someone who uses strength or power to intimidate those who are weaker. Quarrelsome, overbearing and oppressor are common synonyms of a word that describes a systemic epidemic in our communities. In 2015 one out of every four children reported being bullied during the school year.

Physical, verbal, social and cyber bullying isn’t just found in the public school systems. This disease knows no creed, race, age or gender and to stop it from spreading, we must admit there is a problem, educate ourselves and be proactive in enforcing change.

Ross Patterson photographed Enactus member Levi Soares and owner Nok Kim in the Rainbow Coin Laundry in Silver Spring, Md.,

Story by Mark Tyler

How do you help a struggling local business quickly become more competitive? Step 1: Change the name. Step 2: Upgrade the appearance.

Washington Adventist University (WAU) students are helping a Takoma Park, Md., laundry owner accomplish both steps through the school’s award-winning Enactus team.

Pastor Gabriel Montalvo, Hispanic coordinator for the Pennsylvania Conference unexpectedly passed away October 1. The Pennsylvania Conference issued the following statement.

Dear PA Conference Family:

It is with deep sorrow and personal sadness that I share with you the news that Pastor Gabriel Montalvo has unexpectedly passed away to his rest in Jesus early this Sabbath morning.

Brief conversations with his son this morning gave me these early details. He had been at home recovering from double knee replacement surgery these last few weeks. He suffered a heart attack at home and was transported to a local Philadelphia hospital. Once at the hospital, he suffered another heart attack in the Emergency room of the hospital, and the medical staff were not able to revive him.