Pennsylvania Conference

Story by Kiona Costello

Students travel from near and far to attend Blue Mountain Academy (BMA), whether it is just across the street or a 10-hour plane ride away. Despite the distance or the number of familiar faces, feelings of loneliness can persist. However, at BMA, those feelings can be transformed with the supportive community in place.

Milhery Jean-Misere (pictured center with his friends) is a three-year BMA student from Philadelphia. He previously attended Huntingdon Valley Christian Academy, a Pre-K to eighth grade school, like several current BMA students. Since Jean-Misere already knew some people on campus, it would be easy to assume that he wouldn’t feel lonely, but loneliness can hit even the ones you would least expect.

Blue Mountain Academy students participate in Pottsville church’s Friends, Family and Faith Sabbath.

Story by Tamyra Horst

This past September, nearly 100 churches across Pennsylvania opened their doors in a special way—inviting friends, family, neighbors and those who hadn’t attended church in a while to join them for a Grand Reunion Sabbath. The results were powerful: sanctuaries filled with guests, meaningful worship, warm fellowship and decisions for Christ.

Not all mission work involves building some-various ages and locations, at home and abroad. But the missionary mindset remains consistent. What is this mindset, and how can it transform one’s life?

Story by Tompaul Wheeler

What Drove Me
Tim Soper recently finished his 25th year of teaching. As chaplain at Chesapeake Conference’s Spencerville Adventist Academy (Md.), Soper says his two years as a missionary in Guam and a year during college as a task force worker shaped his career—and life.

Though Soper had previously gone on short-term mission trips as an academy student, his first foray into extended mission service was unplanned. After his freshman year at Southern