The Columbia Union Conference coordinates the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work in the Mid-Atlantic United States, where 150,000 members worship in 860 congregations. We provide administrative support to eight conferences; two healthcare networks; 81 early childhood, elementary and secondary schools; a liberal arts university; a health sciences college; a 49 community services centers; 8 camps; 5 book and health food stores and a radio station.
God is love, power, and splendor—and God is a mystery. His ways are far beyond us, but He still reaches out to us. God is infinite yet intimate, three yet one,
all-knowing yet all-forgiving.
Story by Office of University Communication, Andrews University / Photo by Darren Heslop
Enrollment in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program at Andrews University’s Seventh-day Theological Seminary has expanded to include 460 students, the highest enrollment in the last six years and the second highest in the program’s history.
Story by Konni Lorenz
The sun beats down on a humid July day. Bruce Kidney stands, his hands full of fresh vegetables, waiting for the door to open at a home in Dayton, Ohio’s Riverdale neighborhood. When it does, he’ll offer the produce.
The vegetables came from the Unity Garden directly behind Kettering Health Dayton.
Sitting on property owned by the medical center, the garden is in a community heavily populated by African refugees placed there as part of its refugee settlement program.
Caring for patients and plants
Story by Evan Knott
Dover (Del.) First church recently held a two-day retreat titled, “Try This at Home: Marriage,” aimed at strengthening marriages within the community. The event featured David Asscherick, speaker/director for Light Bearers, and Jennifer Jill Schwirzer, a licensed professional counselor. They led seminars, group discussions and activities designed to enhance marital relationships based on biblical principles.
Story by Rebecca Ingle
Professor Daniel Schoun has taught chemistry, physics, and math at Kettering College. He’s been a teacher his entire career, which is a surprise to him, considering he envisioned himself working in research. But he learned early on to trust God and to obediently go where he has felt he was being called.
A unique aspect of Dan’s 42-year career is that he has taken only jobs that have come to him. He says, “I’ve never gotten a job because I applied for it.” His driving force in life is listening for God’s voice. He admits he sometimes might argue with God, but, ultimately, Dan patiently listens to where he feels he is needed and acts on it.
Editorial by Yves Monnier
People still ask the same thing the disciples did 2,000 years ago: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1, NKJV). We all know, the disciples included, that prayer is an integral part of our journey with God. However, we all seem to struggle to make prayer a vibrant and meaningful part of our daily lives and, consequently, the request, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Jesus’ answer is one of the most memorized passages in the Bible: The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1–4). While memorizing this timeless prayer is good, we must grasp that Jesus’ answer goes beyond just repeating lofty words. Behind that prayer are potent principles that truly transform how one prays.