Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photos by David Turner, Richard J. Gordon
Addressing the Silence
More than a 1,000 Seventh-day Adventists gathered in Washington, D.C.(watch the entire video here), last weekend to pray, mourn and acknowledge the killing of two black American men and five Dallas police officers.
Robert Smith, pastor of the Allegheny East Conference’s First Church in Teaneck N.J., has assisted in recovery efforts for the last five major hurricanes over the last 30 years. And, he’s again helping victims, this time in West Virginia, where floodwaters killed at least 25 and left thousands homeless.
On Monday Smith (pictured above with members of the National Guard) and Lee Kimani (pictured below), pastor of the Angaza Sharon church in Newark, Del., arrived in Lefthand, W.Va., an area northwest of Charleston. Smith reports that they’ve knocked on doors, visited 20 churches of all faiths and have counseled 50 families, provided prayer and connected victims to FEMA and Red Cross resources.
Mountain View Conference’s Adventist Community Services (ACS) staff is actively involved in coordinating relief efforts following floods in West Virginia that killed 23 people and left thousands homeless. The team is working to organize a warehouse south of Charleston, in Belle, W.Va., where victims will receive necessary items.
Belle is about 50 miles from the site of the upcoming Best Pathway to Health event where Seventh-day Adventists from around the country will converge to offer free medical care to community members.
Story by LaTasha Hewitt
Church leaders recently recognized Ashley Judge, 18, as “Pathfinder of the Year” at Shiloh church in Petersburg, Va. Judge serves as a Pathfinder junior counselor, an usher and junior deaconess at the church. She also volunteers at Chippenham Hospital in Richmond, Va., and a local food bank.
“Being Pathfinder of the Year is the greatest accomplishment that I have ever received. … Hearing your name being called as Pathfinder of the Year symbolizes your love for the lord and your love of being a Pathfinder,” says Judge.
In addition to her volunteer week, Judge (pictured above with her parents, Sharon and Hilton Judge) also maintains a 3.5 GPA, is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and an honor band participant at Virginia Tech University. She will attend Norfolk State University (Va.) this fall, and plans to become an elementary school teacher.
Story by LaTasha Hewitt
During the fourth annual “Handy Hall and Friends Weekend” at Pine Forge Academy (PFA), the boys dormitory staff and dean debuted their new Ambassador Awards program.
The program at the Pine Forge, Pa., based high school is designed to promote leadership, creativity and character development in African-American young men.
“We want our young men to understand that it’s not just about having exposure to godly principles, but that they should learn to embody and showcase them to guarantee success,” says Jaymie Pottinger, head dean of the boys dorm.