News

Respected. Revered. Remembered., Potomac Conference, Camp Blue Ridge, Charles A. Tapp, Ray Queen, Julie Minnick, Montebello

Story by Debra Anderson

In 1860, more than 550,000 enslaved Black people lived in Virginia, accounting for one-third of the state’s population. In the rural village of Montebello, historical records confirm that several families owned enslaved individuals. Life expectancy for those in servitude was about 36 years, and infant and child mortality rates were tragically high. Forced to labor six days a week, many also endured legal prohibitions. By the 1830s, it was illegal in Virginia for enslaved persons to read or write.

Bob Cundiff, Ohio Conference president, opens the two-day meeting with a devotional, affirming the sacred calling of pastoral ministry.

Story by Francis Tuffour

Pastors from across the Ohio Conference recently gathered at Integrity Hall in Dayton for a two-day meeting focused on spiritual renewal and evangelistic preparation.

Bob Cundiff, conference president, opened with a devotional, affirming the sacred calling of pastoral ministry. “You are loved, you are with friends and we celebrate you,” he said. 

Pennsylvania Master Guides at NAD's Master Guide Camporee. Photo by Allison Rettger

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Some 2,000 Master Guides, including 600 registrants from the Columbia Union Conference, recently attended North American Division’s First Master Guide Camporee at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, W.Va. 

Interested in planning your own short-term mission project with a group? Start by visiting hesaidgo.org.

This site can connect you with current needs, opportunities and additional, invaluable resources from Adventist Risk Management and the U.S. Department of State that are essential to protecting missionaries and avoiding unnecessary risks. The site provides checklists for mission trip planning and packing, while also connecting prospective leaders and volunteers with the most up-to-date information. The site also keeps a running list of short- and long-term volunteer opportunities for individuals.

At the next Columbia Union Prayer Meeting, Washington Adventist University administrators, professors and students from will share how they are working to spread the gospel on their campus and beyond.

 

How to Join
Participate in Zoom (Meeting ID 984 3524 7257, Passcode: 104134); Facebook or YouTube to be part of this prayer event.

Parkersburg Academy Cultivates Spiritual Atmosphere, Mountain View Conference, Pentacost 2025, Hispanic Ministries, Walter Cardenas

Story by Liz Bailey

Through intentional effort and strategic planning, the staff at Parkersburg Academy (PA) in West Virginia has been dedicated to cultivating a more vibrant spiritual environment by introducing God and nurturing the relationship of each student with Jesus. It is noteworthy that 70 percent of PA's student body comes from families who are not affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Leena Moses, a young adult delegate from the Potomac Conference, participates in the voting process during the General Conference Session. Photo by Nathaniel Reid/AME (CC BY 4.0)

Story by Royston Philbert

While veteran delegates at the 2025 General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church brought decades of institutional knowledge to the floor, it was the voices of youth delegates that offered a fresh cadence to the global dialogue on mission, policy, and generational transition.