The Columbia Union Conference coordinates the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work in the Mid-Atlantic United States, where 150,000 members worship in 860 congregations. We provide administrative support to eight conferences; two healthcare networks; 81 early childhood, elementary and secondary schools; a liberal arts university; a health sciences college; a 49 community services centers; 8 camps; 5 book and health food stores and a radio station.
God is love, power, and splendor—and God is a mystery. His ways are far beyond us, but He still reaches out to us. God is infinite yet intimate, three yet one,
all-knowing yet all-forgiving.
Story by Lydia Parris
Adventist HealthCare has announced that it will debut a new, all-private room hospital on Sunday, Aug. 25, as Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center opens to serve patients in Montgomery, Prince George’s and surrounding counties.
Construction of the $400 million White Oak Medical Center is fast approaching completion. Exterior work on the 180-bed hospital is nearly complete and interior work in patient care areas will continue over the next few months.
Story by Elizabeth Long
Roy Chew, Ph.D., president of Kettering Adventist HealthCare since 2015, is retiring effective February 15.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to have worked with Roy over the years,” says Fred Manchur, CEO of Kettering Adventist HealthCare. “Roy’s innovative approach and passion for the very best clinical technology, married with a faith-based approach to caring for our community, exemplifies Kettering Adventist HealthCare’s legacy of excellence in health care.”
Story by Heidi Wetmore
Spencerville Adventist Academy (SAA) high school students recently participated in the first of this year’s four Dress for Success days. Ellenor Paul-O’Neil, high school vice principal, explains, “Dress for Success Day is intended to teach students how to dress for a professional, business environment. Employers have indicated that many applicants for jobs do not understand how to dress for professional business events such as a job interview or other professional activities. Additionally, it is critical that youth know how to effectively represent themselves in a professional manner.”
Story by Tamyra Horst
The Pennsylvania Conference is excited to launch CORE, a nine-month mission training program designed to immerse young adults into the CORE of Christianity and to tackle the biggest questions they are asking: Why am I an Adventist? How do I take this message to my demographic? How can I find an experience with God worth sharing?
This new initiative will allow young adults to experience a deeper relationship with Christ by engaging in Bible studies; literature, digital media and health evangelism; and city and overseas missions. The program is designed to connect students with Christ and equip them to share the gospel message to the world.
Story by Vicki Swetnam
Spring Valley Academy (SVA) hosted “The Golden Gala” last fall, as the school celebrated its 50th anniversary. “The past several years, we’ve held the auction at off-campus locations,” says Darren Wilkins, principal. “But with the 50th anniversary and our new Worship and Performing Arts Center completed, we really wanted to hold the event at the school.”
The last four galas have raised money for the just-completed first phase of the new center, and this event gave SVA the opportunity to show gala sponsors, donors and volunteers how their gifts were used. With the first phase of this new facility costing around $5.5 million, the gala was one of the major donors to this campaign, contributing more than $1 million.