Columbia Union News | Seventh-day Adventist Church

Columbia Union Creates Volunteer Registry

Story by Columbia Union Visitor Staff

The Columbia Union Conference is creating a database of volunteers interested in traveling to Houston and other areas impacted by natural disasters to work as a crisis counselor or in the warehouse distribution centers. Experienced volunteers are preferred, however, anyone with a willing heart will be considered, says Minnie McNeil, Columbia Union ACS/ACSDR coordinator.

Food and lodging assistance is available. Click here to register (https://form.jotform.us/72483917510155).

Columbia Union Bids Farewell to Treasurer Seth Bardu

Story by Visitor Staff

The Columbia Union Conference is saying goodbye to Seth Bardu, who served as the union’s treasurer for nearly 12 years. “More than managing money and processing payroll, he promoted treasury as a resource center for ministry and mission,” said Dave Weigley, president, in a statement.

Bardu’s resignation is effective August 31. On September 14, Weigley will ask the union’s executive committee to select a search committee to begin the process of finding a new treasurer.

Bardu joined the union officer team in 2006 and previously worked in treasury positions at Northeastern Conference, South Union Conference, Adventist Health System and South Central Conference.

A Prayer of Commitment for the Adventist Joint Worship Service in Charlottesville

Jose Cortes Jr, an associate ministerial director of the North American Division, and Celeste Ryan Blyden, a vice president at the Columbia Union Conference, lead worshippers in a prayer of commitment during the August 19 joint worship service in Charlottesville, Va.

Adventists Comfort Mother of Slain Charlottesville Woman

William Miller (center) and William T. Cox (right) comfort Susan Bro, mother of Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old woman who died after being struck by a car that plowed into a crowd protesting a white nationalist rally in her city.

Story by Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union Visitor; Photos by Brian Patrick Tagalog

Adventist Pastor Attends Memorial Service for Heather Heyer

Story by Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union Visitor

Today Nathaniel Drew, pastor of Allegheny West Conference’s Bethany church in Charlottesville, Va., and the Calvary church in Gordonsville, Va., attended the memorial service for Heather Heyer, the woman killed last Saturday when a car plowed into a crowd of counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville. As an active member of the local Clergy Collective, he and other spiritual leaders joined more than 1,000 people who came to support and comfort Heyer's family, friends and the community.