Pennsylvania Conference

Story by Lillian Torres

Jesus’ prayer for all of His disciples in John 17:21 is “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us” (NKJV). Unity brings strength, and if the church is to give the last warning message with power, we must seek to answer Jesus’ prayer for unity.

The Holy Spirit brings unity as we worship together, pray together and do mission together. The book of Acts records multiple incidences of the power of God manifested upon its people when they were united in one accord. The Pennsylvania Conference seeks to be intentional in uniting its leaders and members through its “In One Accord” five-year evangelism initiative. Each year of this quinquennium will intentionally focus on a specific part of evangelism in which to unite:

Story by Tamyra Horst

When the Pennsylvania Conference purchased a 150-acre farm outside of Smithport, Pa., in the spring of 1954, it was a dream to create a camp facility for children and families. Leaders would buy additional properties and add to the new camp, and in December 1954, it was voted to call this new ministry Laurel Lake Camp.

Organizers held a four-day summer camp in 1955 for 30 boys from the community. The following year, the conference offered two weeks of “summer training camp,” inviting churches to send children to this new summer camp program.

Editorial by Gary Gibbs

God has called His last-day people to reach everyone, everywhere with the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. As members of the Pennsylvania Conference, He has assigned us this corner of the Earth as our mission field. The harvest of souls Jesus will reap at His return will be largely influenced by our faithful attention to the mission in which God has entrusted us.

Our mission strategy for 2024–2028 sets an intentional focus on discipleship, evangelism and rediscovering the Seventh-day Adventist advantage of the Sabbath and living healthy lives. Our six initiatives are:

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Story by Lillian Torres

God has promised that powerful things happen when His people come together to pray: “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:19–20, KJV).

Ellen White reminds us, “The promise is made on condition that the united prayers of the church are offered, and in answer to these prayers there may be expected a power greater than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and for one another” (Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, p. 303).