Connecting Columbia Union Seventh-day Adventists

Chesapeake Conference

The Chesapeake Conference has over 13,924 members in 74 congregations (64 churches, 10 companies) in Delaware, Maryland, and on the edges of Virginia and West Virginia. It has a pastoral workforce of 65, and its largest congregation, Spencerville (Silver Spring, Md.) has a membership in excess of 1,719. The Chesapeake Conference operates a strong Christian educational program that includes nearly 100 teachers and more than 1,050 students in 11 schools including one high school, a Pre-K - 12 grade academy, a Pre-K - 10 grade academy and eight elementary schools. It also operates an Adventist Book Center and four Adventist Community Services centers in Maryland and Delaware.

Mt. Aetna Camp and Retreat Center, outside Hagerstown, Md., is a fully-accredited camping and retreat center that hosts more than 700 youth during the conference's annual summer camp program. The site, which houses a nature center with a collection of stuffed animals, birds, insects, and reptiles from around the world, is used for field trips, outdoor learning programs, church retreats, spiritual seminars, and camping and hiking excursions.

Last week the Chesapeake Conference hosted a Spanish Federation banquet in Baltimore for youth and young adults, where about 120 elegantly dressed young people representing 14 churches accepted awards, a “sumptuous” meal and singing contest. Carl Rodriguez, Youth Ministries director, says the formal affair gave the young members an opportunity to enjoy a sophisticated social occasion in a Christian setting.
Back Row: Joyce Adebonojo, Arnon Cornette, Ethan Wu and Cliff Wright; and (front row) Jordan Carter, Sonali Prillman and Isabele Arteaga participate in The Buzz Weekly Radio Show.

When Cliff Wright, Jr. joined Spencerville Adventist Academy (SAA) last August as part of a principal fellowship, no one knew that he also hosted his own talk show called CliffNotes on Brite Radio, a Christian Internet radio station. Seeing the talent of SAA students and their drive to have an impact in the world, Wright pitched an idea to the Brite Radio general manager for a show produced and hosted by high school students. Four months later, The Buzz Weekly Radio Show was born.