Story by LaTasha Hewitt
Zina Johnson, choir director at Allegheny East Conference's Capitol Hill church in Washington, D.C., recently participated in the gospel musical Netflix docuseries, Voices of Fire. The series, produced by recording artist Pharrell Williams, follows his uncle, Ezekiel Williams, and a team of gospel leaders as they travel to Hampton Roads, Va., in search of talented singers to build a world class gospel choir.
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb. 1:14, NIV).
In the days when I was young and bold, or as my mother would objectively say, “careless,” I ventured out from my hotel room at 2:00 a.m. I thought to myself, Niagara Falls is a completely safe place. Especially in July! So, why not? Needless to say, I went on a solo adventure, uninhibited of any possible danger.
Ninety minutes into my city voyage, I realized I may be lost. I reached for the hotel map I had in my pocket, and it was gone! Trying not to panic, I mentally retraced my steps and headed back cautiously. Maybe, in my rush to leave my room, I had left the map on the tabletop.
As I was orienting myself, my thoughts went back to my mother. I remembered her expressing, “We are going to Niagara Falls to have a mother and son time together.” She wanted us to have a closer relationship. Shame unexpectedly swept over me. While my mother was sleeping, I was selfishly doing “my own thing.” I stopped and asked God for forgiveness.
Story by Jenevieve Lettsome & V. Michelle Bernard
Schools around the Columbia Union Conference are also striving to teach students about caring for the earth, using various activities such as installing solar panels and planting gardens.
Mountain View Conference’s Highland Adventist School in Elkins, W.Va., recently received a rain barrel from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) Division of Water and Waste Management to help provide water for their greenhouse growing program.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, KJV).
Jesus’ invitation helps me to understand my own story of restlessness. The verse speaks life to me because of the steps I took to experience rest personally, and the rest I invite others in crises to experience in my clinical ministry practice.
When my mother gave birth to me, she abandoned me to my grandmother because she was ashamed to hold a child with a withered left hand in a culture of honor and shame. I grew up not knowing my biological parents until I was about 14 years old. I recall how I was moved around to live with uncles, brothers and church members in my village. When I was around 16 or 17 years old, I met an American Baptist missionary couple who taught me to speak and write English.
Editorial by Jenevieve “Jenna” Lettsome
In what can be seen by many as a faith-destroying time, stories of answered prayer and God’s love continue to shield me, protect my faith and remind me that God still exists and is bigger than life itself.
Like many grateful believers before me—in the Bible and beyond Scripture—I am impressed to tangibly give back and praise God, not just for my life, but the lives and world around me.
Story by Jenevieve Lettsome & V. Michelle Bernard / Cover photos by Brad Barnwell
Going on Sabbath walks and appreciating nature—God’s second book—are longstanding elements of Seventh-day Adventist culture. Should this appreciation impact the way members care for the environment? And can it bring them closer to God?
Adventism, [in its early years], was more outdoorsy because the culture back then was more connected with the [nature] around them,” says John Henri Rorabeck, a naturalist and educator. “[But] Ellen White and her contemporaries were [also] really pushing the boundaries and really leading.”
Celebrate Earth Day, April 22, by making small changes that can help make a long-term impact on the health of our planet. Take our April challenge by making one of the changes (or inserting your own ideas) each week and Inspire your friends to do the same by posting your progress with #2021greenerchallenge on social media, and challenge them to post their ideas and progress too. Let’s learn from each other!
“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36, NASB).
I was pastoring in Denver and my wife had to work almost 2,000 miles away in New York. Lonely, I sometimes looked for new activities to enhance my ministry. Uber driving seemed fascinating. I wanted to know more about inner city culture, so I experimented. In general, we isolate from people in our community, mostly because their lives are so different than ours.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take” (Prov. 3:5–6, NLT).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart...”
Do I know how to trust? I’ve asked myself this question more times in the last several years than ever before. Having gone through a devastating divorce and slowly seeing how God has picked up the pieces of my heart, for the first time in my life I am learning the true meaning of trust.