Potomac Conference

The Association of Adventist Women (AAW) recently awarded Griselda Jobe the 2025 Junia Award for pioneering work in rural pastoral ministry. She is the lead pastor of Potomac Conference’s Martinsville and Piney Forest churches in Virginia.

“Griselda Jobe received the Junia Award for pioneering work as one of a few ordained female lead pastors in a rural multi-church district in the North American Division,” states Nerida Bates, president of AAW.

Story by Debra Anderson

The Damascus Grace Fellowship (DGF) church recently hosted its first-ever “Touch A Truck” event—a vibrant, family-focused outreach that brought ministry into motion and the community into fellowship. Designed to strengthen ties beyond the church walls, the event reflected the heart of Christ through joyful service, creative planning and open-armed hospitality.

Story by Janel Ware

At the 62nd General Conference (GC) Session in St. Louis, the Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) Music Department had the opportunity to shine. SVA Music performed in concerts on the convention center’s main and theater stages, held pop-up concerts throughout the week, entertained at the SVA booth in the exhibition hall and even showcased their talent on the Three Angels Broadcasting Network.

Director Daniel Biaggi and Associate Director Kelly Wiedemann Jaén led the inspiring tour, accompanied by incoming SVA Music Director Andrés Mendoza, along with a group of alumni musicians.

Story by Debra Anderson

In 1860, more than 550,000 enslaved Black people lived in Virginia, accounting for one-third of the state’s population. In the rural village of Montebello, historical records confirm that several families owned enslaved individuals. Life expectancy for those in servitude was about 36 years, and infant and child mortality rates were tragically high. Forced to labor six days a week, many also endured legal prohibitions. By the 1830s, it was illegal in Virginia for enslaved persons to read or write.