By Ricardo Bacchus
Whether God says yes, no, or wait, He always answers our prayers. Three Columbia Union Conference members share stories on how God responded to their requests:
When God Said ‘Yes’
On a Sunday afternoon in Hagerstown, Md., I drove my daughters to a local park to play basketball. When I returned to the car, I noticed the passenger side window had been broken into and my purse stolen. Out of everything I lost, my phone was the most important to me.
By Tompaul Wheeler and Ricardo Bacchus
The beauty and mystery of prayer has captivated believers for thousands of years. People find meaning, solace and the miraculous in prayer, yet many still struggle with the Divine-human connection.
Is God more likely to respond to certain kinds of prayers? Is there a secret to connecting with God? Are some prayers simply more “powerful” than others?
'People Struggle With Prayer'
Los líderes de la Columbia Union invitan a los miembros a unirse en oración en el 2025, comenzando con el Día de Oración de la Columbia Union en línea, el 4 de enero, de 4 a 5 p.m. Luego, a partir de febrero y durante todo el año, al mediodía del primer miércoles de cada mes, los miembros están invitados a una llamada de oración en línea.
El liderazgo de la Columbia Union ha enfatizado la oración en el calendario Columbia Union Conference 2025, utilizando versículos bíblicos inspiradores y citas de Ellen White.
Story by ADRA Staff
When Miranda Christina Jobe, a 9-year-old from Potomac Conference’s Piney Forest church in Danville, Va., found the ADRA International booth at Potomac’s camp meeting, she immediately wanted to know what ADRA did to help people and if she could volunteer at the booth.
Kim-Roux James, who was working at the ADRA booth, welcomed her eagerness to assist. “When she came to our table and asked to help, how could I say no to her enthusiasm and jubilant attitude?”
Jobe did whatever she could to help, including arranging the books on the table. Through James’ guidance, Jobe eventually built up enough courage to talk to booth visitors about ADRA and the work they do to help others around the world.
Editorial by Jerry Lutz
We are living in perilous times when deep spiritual darkness covers the earth. The end is near.
Story by Francis Tuffour
Do You Love Me? is Marius E. Marton’s latest book, published this year. Marton was an evangelist before settling down as a pastor. After holding more than 100 prophecy seminars in three languages in the United States, Hungary and his home country of Romania, Marton felt the call to write a book that would answer many questions about the seventh-day Sabbath. During his many years of ministry, he met many wonderful people who loved the Lord but did not know about the true Sabbath.
Story by Richard Castillo
The 2025 Columbia Union Conference calendar emphasizes prayer, using inspiring Bible verses and quotes from Ellen White.
“We hope the pages of the calendar will serve as a handbook—providing prompts and inspiration that will aid and guide through this collective commission to pray,” says Kelly Butler Coe, calendar and Visitor editor.
Each month, the calendar will include a Columbia Union and Pentecost 2025 “Prayer Focus” in which members are invited to include in their prayer time.
Order Extra 2025 Calendars
The 2024–25 school year is in full swing at Spring Valley Academy (SVA), and so is the busy Music Department concert and tour schedule. With another record enrollment year of 564 students, grades K–12, the music groups and classes are bigger than ever.
After being baptized, I wanted to share my faith. When a friend who was moving into the area asked me for advice on where to live, I gave him some practical tips and then told him about my newfound faith. He was very interested to learn more, and I was excited to share, but didn’t know where to start.