Allegheny East Conference

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“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9, NKJV).

Years ago, I started college in Alabama. The degree I chose forced me to transfer to a sister school in California for nine months. An East Coast native, I told God that I would never end up this far away from home again.

A few years later, I was working in Massachusetts, feeling quite at home. My then girlfriend was in graduate school in Maryland. The only way we could plan for our future together, without disrupting what she had started, was to transfer to a school in California. I couldn’t believe that I was willing to return to the place that had me homesick.

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“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11, NKJV).

“The term ‘armed to the teeth’ originated in Port Royal Jamaica in the 1600s when pirates were constantly looking for ships to loot and their guns were very primitive. As a result, pirates could shoot only once before a long reloading process. Consequently, they needed to carry a gun in each hand, and perhaps in each pocket. For extra power, they would also hold a knife between their teeth. To be ‘armed to the teeth’ means to carry the maximum number of weapons possible.”*

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“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105, KJV).

In the movie The Sound of Music, Maria sings “My Favorite Things” to the von Trapp children to comfort them during a thunderstorm. She tells them that whenever she’s scared or upset, she simply sings about things that bring her comfort and joy. I figure if she can sing about “raindrops on roses,” then I should be able to use Scripture to do the same thing.

Set to this song’s tune, this is “My Favorite Things: The Christian Version.”

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

No weapon that’s formed against me shall harm.

Be anxious for nothing, and in all things pray.

Trust in the Lord that He’ll make a way.

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

The Grace Pointe church in New Jersey, formerly known as the First Church of Montclair, recently hosted its first clothes drive to celebrate their community.

“We wanted to thank the community for mak- ing us feel welcome and give back to them,” says Domonique Bebohi, member and event organizer.

Approximately 40 people came through during the drive. Items—donated in perfect condition or new— included men and women’s clothes, ranging from shirts and dresses to shoes and other accessories.

Everard Williams (’57) proudly wears his vintage class sweater at the reunion.

Story by Tracey Jackson

To honor the Allegheny East Conference Pine Forge Academy’s (PFA) 75th anniversary, leaders of the 46th Annual National Pine Forge Academy Alumni Association (NPFAAA) reunion recently converted the traditional three-day weekend event into a weeklong celebration. This hybrid virtual experience ended with an in-person reunion at Capitol Hill church in Washington, D.C.