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Long-Awaited 2020 Commencement Inspires Shenandoah Valley Academy Graduates

SVA Commencement 2020

Story by Janel Haas Ware

Often the scene of athletic contests, Zirkle Gymnasium transformed into a house of worship for a properly masked and social-distanced Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) Class of 2020 commencement service.

“In these few precious moments that we have together before we go our separate ways, may we turn attention from ourselves long enough to see our Savior and gain strength and courage to stand for the right in the contests of life,” Principal Don Short encouraged. He challenged graduates to, “rise above the world’s mediocrity and choose excellent lives, not of timid decency or minimal reality, but of holy boldness in Christian service and self-sacrifice.”

Takoma Academy Seniors Recognized at Home and Drive-in Ceremony

Takoma Academy Drive-in Ceremony

Story by Salena Fitzgerald

Last school year wasn’t ideal. The COVID-19 outbreak had parents, students, teachers and staff on edge. The combination of “senioritis” and distance learning enhanced the load of pressure on the Class of 2020. Math teacher D’Anya Brezzell attacked this concern straight on: “With so much pressure on our seniors, I wanted to encourage them by handwriting each of them a personalized note and mailing it to their home.”

Carla Thrower, TA principal, and other staff members brainstormed what special thing they could do to make up for not having a Junior/Senior Banquet, class trip to the Bahamas, mission trip to Thailand or threeday graduation weekend.

Addressing the Racism Virus

Dominos

Editorial by Renée Battle-Brooks

While the COVID-19 virus continues to cause concern, I’m thankful we are finally addressing the racism virus that has infected America for hundreds of years. For many, this topic causes profound sadness, weariness, frustration and anger. For others, thinking about, talking about or dealing with racism is more frightening than facing COVID-19. And some may still be processing the issue, trying to figure out their role and response to it. But the time for sitting on the fence is over.

SermonView and Chesapeake Conference to Present Online Fall Evangelistic Series

Story by Chesapeake Conference Staff

With the coronavirus pandemic impacting everyone’s lives, and economic instability breaking down the securities many rely on, the Bible has become the focus of curiosity to a new generation. According to Google Trends, searches for biblical topics such as “End Times” and “The Second Coming” have risen five times higher than in any previous year.

Where are We? Racism in the Church

« C’est une nécessité pour nous tous d’être inclusifs, d’évaluer la façon dont nous exerçons le ministère et essayer de se respecter et de s’honorer les uns les autres en tant qu'enfants de Dieu, travaillant ensemble pour faire avancer la mission et essayer de comprendre le point de vue de chacun », ajoute Dave Weigley, Président de l’Union de Columbia.

Educated by the Coronavirus

The previous school year taught many lessons as educators converted in-person lesson plans into material for online classes. Administrators are carrying many of them into the current school year—whether online or in person. Here are just a few of the lessons learned:

We Don't Want 'Normal'

Graphic by Kelly Coe

RuthAnn Thompson by Simon YaoStory by Michele Joseph

Driving on a Sabbath afternoon to escape the house she’d been in all week, Ruth-Ann Thompson had a moment of inspiration. The Columbus, Ohio, resident realized she wasn’t far from the home of fellow church members. She pulled over and sent them a text.

“I’m going to be pulling up in your driveway in about two minutes,” she texted. “I’m going to pray for you and your family, and be gone.”

When she pulled into the driveway, the family turned on their porch light, acknowledging her arrival.

¿Dónde estamos? Racismo en la Iglesia

Photo taken of the June event to protest recent killings of black people by the police. Photo by Dan Weber/NAD Communication

Si bien algunos incidentes raciales recientes pueden ser fáciles de ignorar o de explicar, su impacto, combinado con los recuerdos de casos históricos de racismo, aún resuenan en la iglesia.