Story by Tiffany Doss
A historic groundbreaking ceremony will take place at Potomac Conference's Camp Blue Ridge in Montebello, Va., on October 10 at 4 p.m.—marking the beginning of Phase 1 of the Master Plan for the campus. The Master Plan, designed to improve the overall guest experience and create additional adult housing and meeting spaces—including an adult retreat center—will kick off with construction of a new cafeteria with increased dining space.
Story by Tiffany Doss
In 2010, Gavin Simpson, now a member of the Harrisonburg (Va.) church, embarked on a life-changing journey of faith as a missionary. Over the last decade, through Eleventh-Hour Laborers, a nonprofit ministering to the less reached regions of the world, he has worked in India, Nepal, Myanmar, and, most recently, Cuba. “We work in-person with the local churches,” he explains. “We train Bible workers and members to do effective community evangelism and outreach. Our Bible workers in Cuba baptized more than 300 individuals last year.”
Story by Janel Haas Ware
Often the scene of athletic contests, Zirkle Gymnasium transformed into a house of worship for a properly masked and social-distanced Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) Class of 2020 commencement service.
“In these few precious moments that we have together before we go our separate ways, may we turn attention from ourselves long enough to see our Savior and gain strength and courage to stand for the right in the contests of life,” Principal Don Short encouraged. He challenged graduates to, “rise above the world’s mediocrity and choose excellent lives, not of timid decency or minimal reality, but of holy boldness in Christian service and self-sacrifice.”
Story by Salena Fitzgerald
Last school year wasn’t ideal. The COVID-19 outbreak had parents, students, teachers and staff on edge. The combination of “senioritis” and distance learning enhanced the load of pressure on the Class of 2020. Math teacher D’Anya Brezzell attacked this concern straight on: “With so much pressure on our seniors, I wanted to encourage them by handwriting each of them a personalized note and mailing it to their home.”
Carla Thrower, TA principal, and other staff members brainstormed what special thing they could do to make up for not having a Junior/Senior Banquet, class trip to the Bahamas, mission trip to Thailand or threeday graduation weekend.
Story by Eric Sloan
With the COVID-19 virus increasing people’s desire to understand health in a new and unpredicted way, LivingWell, Potomac’s health and bookstore, continues to be a light to the community in Silver Spring, Md., by bringing messages of physical and spiritual health.