News
Story by Kimi-Roux James
Jonathan Duffy, president of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International, has stepped down from his role, effective immediately, due to personal reasons.
“The ADRA Board has accepted Jonathan’s resignation and expresses appreciation for his service,” says Ella Simmons, board vice-chair and general vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. “Jonathan served as president of ADRA since his election in 2013. He has led the network of more than 130 offices to adopt a new strategic framework that allowed ADRA to align with changing trends in the development and humanitarian sector.”
Story by V. Michelle Bernard and Monica Zill / Photos by Zill
This fall student leaders (Pine Forge Academy students pictured) from all of the Columbia Union conference’s junior and senior academies gathered with union and academy leadership in Edgewater, Md., for the annual Spiritual Academy Leadership Training (SALT) weekend.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Many churches around the Columbia Union are hosting community-focused fall evangelism meetings as part of the recently announced “Share the Light—Share the Hope” evangelism initiative.
Chesapeake Conference's Atholton church in Columbia, Md., hosted one of these meetings. In addition to Senior Pastor Franke Zollman's presentations, titled "In Search of Meaning: Archaeology and the Bible," attendees were invited to see his collection of artifacts from Bible times.
Venue to Evangelism
Photographs by Nisha Varghese and Madhu Tummalapalli
Last weekend many Columbia Union Conference and community members grabbed their capes and participated in Christalis’ Superhero 5K run/walk to support the organization’s home for children in Uganda.
More than 200 supporters registered for the event, held at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Seven years after battling breast cancer, Jennifer Wakefield, who attends Chesapeake Conference’s New Hope church in Fulton, Md., is trying to spread the message that there is life after a difficult diagnosis. And she’s doing it while wearing a crown.
Wakefield was named Mrs. Maryland International 2019 in March. As part of her duties, she makes public appearances hoping to inspire others on their journeys and seeks to encourage those with breast cancer through care packages.
Story by Sarah Capeles Frodelly
Have you ever waited in excitement and anticipation for a special occasion to arrive? I waited 30 years to return to a Pathfinder camporee. In 1989 “The Friendship Camporee,” proudly sponsored by the Columbia Union Conference, embraced 14,000 attendees. To my surprise, 30 years later, I joined more than 57,000 Pathfinders, leaders and volunteers at the 2019 “Chosen” International Pathfinder Camporee.