Who We Are, How We Serve

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.

Mission Values Priorities

We Believe

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.

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Giants of Joy

Image by use_at_your_ease from pixabay

Editorial by Terry Forde

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Sir Isaac Newton

Have you ever seen a giant? I remember once watching a doctor who squatted down so that she could be at eye level with a young patient – there was lots of nodding and hand motions and then suddenly a jubilant fist- bump! Whatever the discussion, they now understood each other and celebrated their trust. The conversation was transformed by a provider who was giant in creating connection to find joy.

Campus Ministries: The Heartbeat of Campus Life

Story by Angela Peach

This school year, there is a lot happening at Spring Valley Academy (SVA). From classes during the day to an active Music Department and after-school activities such as sports and LEGO® robotics, it’s easy to stay busy as an SVA student. But the most important thing that is going on at SVA is also the heartbeat of the school: the Campus Ministries Department, led by Chaplain Joel Greve and Assistant Chaplain Nicolas Chaij.

New employees this year, both Greve and Chaij are very familiar with SVA. Greve served as an associate pastor at the Centerville church (Ohio), interfacing frequently with SVA students and ministering to their families, and Chaij is a Class of 2015 alumnus.

God Wants Me at Shenandoah Valley Academy

Story by Samuel Girven ('25)

A growing crowd milled around me, exchanging greetings and hugs—signs of friend groups reuniting. I sat alone in the lobby of Twomley Hall at Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA). It was handshake day, and I was a new student.

Several days earlier, I moved from my native Michigan, met by the heat and humidity of Virginia, to attend SVA. It was an abrupt change from how I had envisioned my last two years of high school.

No Need to Fear

Marcel Eberle/Unsplash

Editorial by Charles A. Tapp

When someone reaches the age of 100, we refer to them as a centenarian, and we celebrate this tremendous milestone with much fanfare. This year, the Potomac Conference will turn 100. And as a conference, we, too, will take the opportunity to celebrate. But our celebration will take on a little different tone than merely observing that we reached this important landmark in our journey as a conference.