News | Seventh-day Adventist Church

Union Kicks Off Second Year of Leadership Coaching Program

Story by Edwin Manuel Garcia

Participants from around the Columbia Union Conference gathered at the union headquarters in Columbia, Md., this week to kick off the second year of the Advancement of Christian Education (ACE) Academy Leadership Coaching initiative.

The year-old initiative is guided by seasoned outside experts connected to the union. Participants include 20 educational leaders with varying degrees of experience who are being offered the tools and training to be successful, and hopefully, will be motivated to stay at their jobs longer.

July/August 2019 Feature: A Need to Grieve

Photo of the Perlas courtesy Calhoun Photography

Story by Tompaul Wheeler/ Photos courtesy Calhoun Photography

In February 2018, Hector and Anissa Perla, who attend several churches in the Washington, D.C., area, were equal parts shocked and thrilled to learn that they were expecting their first child. They felt God had called them to begin a ministry and a family. Throughout the first trimester, they kept the news to themselves. Then, in the twelfth week, the pregnancy ended in miscarriage.

5,000 Attend WGTS' '91 Days of Summer Concert' Series

Story by WGTS Staff

More than 5,000 listeners and mall shoppers recently joined WGTS 91.9 on the “2019 Ice Cream Tour” as they took over the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center. Part of the WGTS' "91 Days of Summer," the celebration included a free concert with Provident Label Group’s Tauren Wells. The day included Johnny and Stacey Stone broadcasting their afternoon show live from the event, along with games scattered across the lawn and prizes galore.

Beltsville School Bids Farewell to Principal Pega

After 31 years, Beltsville's principal, Wendy Pega, is handing over the reigns to Jerson Malaguit.

Story by Tiffany Doss

For 31 years, Principal Wendy Pega was often the first one to arrive and the last one to leave Potomac Conference's Beltsville Adventist School (BAS) in Maryland. This summer Pega turned off her computer, handed her keys to the new principal, Jerson Malaguit, and closed the door for the last time. After more than three decades, Pega has retired.

How to be an Effective Digital Evangelist

Story by Tompaul Wheeler

“Social media has now blurred the lines of boundaries of what is intimate,” says Felecia Datus of the Center for Online Evangelism, an independent ministry supporting the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They provide members with resources to act as “digital evangelists” who effectively share their faith online.

Disciple Ohio Rekindles Church Enthusiasm

Story by Heidi Shoemaker

In the early months of 2018, the Ohio Conference launched an initiative designed to help congregations regain their focus on growing spiritually. The program, known as Disciple Ohio (DO), began as an idea and hope of conference President Ron Halvorsen Jr., to have a practical and tangible way to help churches become more effective in reaching their communities in Ohio.

Chesapeake Pastors Visit Senators on Capitol Hill

Story by Andre Hastick

Late spring 10 Chesapeake Conference pastors joined other clergy in attending a conversation session with U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (Md.) for interfaith religious leaders. Held in the Member’s Room of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., additional pastors from the Columbia Union Conference and leadership from the North American Division (NAD) Public Affairs and Religious Liberty and Presidential departments also attended.

Adventist HealthCare Hospitals Earn National Recognition for Commitment to Quality Stroke Care

Story by Katie Solovey

Pine Forge Academy Choir Records Live Concert

Story by Jaymie Pottinger

One of the major milestones of the 2018–19 school year came out of the Music Department with the long-awaited PFA live recording. The last time the PFA choir had a live recording was in 2008, under the leadership of Jason Ferdinand.

After the students completed the planning and fundraising, scores of alumni, parents and community members traveled to Girard College (Pa.) to witness a concert and live recording, under the leadership of Jarrett Roseborough.

Vivian Washington, a proud graduate of the Class of 1979, shares, “I could not afford to miss this live recording. The choir produces such a rich sound, and Pine Forge Academy means a lot to me.”

El nunca te abandonará!

Historia de Sarah Capeles Frodelly

Al crecer, siempre creí que mis padres me abandonaron, especialmente mi madre. La mayor de cuatro, a la edad de tres años y medio, mi padre me llevó a la casa de mis abuelos “solo por el día”. La tarde vino y se fue, y la noche llegó. Le pregunté a mi abuela cuando mi papá vendría por mí. Me acostó tranquilamente y me dijo que volvería a buscarme por la mañana.

Muchas mañanas también vinieron y se fueron, y mi padre nunca regreso por mí. Pero la persona a quien más yo extrañaba era mi madre. ¿Ella se olvidó de mí? ¡Oh, cómo lloré por las noches por ella! No sabía que mis padres se divorciaron. Como resultado, me llevaron a la casa de mis abuelos, no solo separándome de ambos, sino también de mis hermanos.