Pennsylvania Conference

Loriann Korley

Story by Esther Hernandez

Have you ever met someone whose kindness is like a beacon, illuminating the lives of those around them? Loriann Korley (pictured above), a Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) junior, is that rare soul who leaves everyone pondering the profound impact of a simple act of kindness.

Faculty and staff at BMA have witnessed Korley’s kindness firsthand. Matthew White, a math teacher, notes, “I have noticed how she is often singing or humming an uplifting spiritual song.”

During a history class trip and various in-campus activities, Gay Tanamal, the finance treasurer, observed Korley’s leadership talents. “She goes out of her way to help others,” he says.

Editorial by Gary Gibbs

I knew I was listening to an exciting answer to prayer as I heard the speaker describe an inspiring initiative called “Back to the Altar.” I had been earnestly seeking God for strategic initiatives for our conference’s new quinquennium, which began after the constituency session in October 2023.

Our team identified several key ideas we felt God was leading us to as conference staff, and pastors met for prayer and planning. We determined that a renewed focus on a personal relationship with Jesus would be one of the more important initiatives. We long for each member to experience a deepening of love for Him and to grow in the qualities of being Jesus’ fully committed disciple.

Shawn Shives, Gary Gibbs and Kevin Costello will serve the Pennsylvania Conference for the next quinquennium.

This past weekend, delegates at the Pennsylvania Conference 2023 Constituency Session experienced a great morning of praising God for the incredible ways He has blessed them over the last five years.

Conference membership has grown to more than 13,680 members, as the conference welcome an average of 500 new believers--many from the 100 or more evangelistic events--each year.

Delegates to the session re-elected their officers, President Gary Gibbs, Executive Secretary Shawn Shives, and Treasurer Kevin Costello.