Columbia Union Executive Committee Discusses Ways to Share the Message

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photos by Kelly Butler Coe

“We are about evangelism,” said Dave Weigley, in his President’s Report at today’s Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee meeting. Noting the growing amount of natural disasters in the United States and beyond, the Columbia Union president emphasized the need to empower members to prepare their communities for the times we live in. He noted an upcoming February union-wide ministerium/workshop for pastors that will focus on best practices of evangelism.  

“This evangelism workshop could be one of the most important the union has done in a long time,” he added. 

During the meeting various Columbia Union leaders shared updates including: 

--As part of the President’s Report, Jose Esposito, assistant to the president for evangelism, shared about the union’s initiative encouraging members to take a Bible and a garment of faith (baptismal robe), and to pray for those who haven’t accepted Jesus yet. He noted that 3,218 members around the union have already started participating. Ohio Conference’s Northwood church in Toledo is one example of how church staff and members are already engaging the community for Christ. They have doubled their membership from 15-20 attending members, welcoming 54 new members recently. 

--In her report, Celeste Ryan Blyden, spoke about the richness of the Protestant Reformation and what was accomplished in that, noting the church needs to continue to “figure out new ways of being relevant and sharing the message” in today’s world. 

In her printed report that was shared with members, she noted that membership is up point-70 percent—from 148,952 to 149,992 in the second quarter of the year. The union now has 746 churches and 108 companies. 

--Emmanuel Asiedu, Columbia Union treasurer, shared that the union has a per capita tithe of 7.47, the highest in the North American Division. The funds are used to “respond to God’s call to make disciples of all nations within our territory and outside the territory,” said Asiedu. The union is partnering with the Chesapeake Conference on an upcoming health and evangelism series in Ghana where participants are expected to baptize more than 3,000, he says.  

Asiedu also shared that there is a union-wide tithe increase of 7.3 percent—a continued trend since the pandemic. 

Asiedu closed his report saying union staff works to make sure there is no waste in how they spend God’s money. “Our membership is faithful. We want to show appreciation to our members. We’re ensuring that our leadership is accountable in how we use our funds.” 

--Committee members voted to send $20,000 in union funds to the Hawaii Conference to help with wildfire recovery efforts. Leaders also encouraged the conferences to send their own contributions. 

--Ruben Ramos, vice president for Multilingual Ministries, said the Lord has blessed the territory with many miracles. For example, the Ohio Conference recently celebrated 155 baptisms at a single camp meeting, noting that “the Lord is moving and changing the lives of people.” 

--Kelly Butler Coe, Communication director, highlighted how the Visitor recently covered the North American Division’s Educator’s Convention in print, online, on social media and videos. The articles, photos and videos were strategically designed to engage members of all generations and highlight the dedication of the union’s some 500 teachers.       

Coe also noted that by the next Executive Committee, the Visitor’s new website will be live. 

--Terry Forde, Adventist HealthCare’s president and CEO, gave a snapshot of the network, noting its five hospitals, 6,089 births a year, 577 staffed beds, 1,800+ staff members and 480,811 visits a year. 

--Kettering Health CEO Mike Gentry (pictured second from right, with Celeste Ryan Blyden, Allegheny West Conference Marvin Brown, and Emmanuel Asiedu) attended the meeting for the first time in his new role. He noted that any time there is a leadership change there can be a bit of an unsettled feeling, but the mission of Kettering hasn’t changed. Kettering is continuing to look for ways that healthcare can be conveyed in a wholistic way. 

 

--Washington Adventist University President Weymouth Spence shared a report, noting the start of the school year. 

“We are a Seventh-day Adventist Christian institution, he said.  “We will model biblical truth and protect biblical truth. We will be intentional about that. He also noted that in 2024, the university will celebrate its 120th year.  

--Committee members ended the meeting by voting in two new associate directors in the union’s Department of Education. Cynthia Poole, associate superintendent of Education and director of Women’s Ministries at the Allegheny East Conference (AEC), will serve as associate director for Early Childhood Education; and Ruth Nino, who most recently served as assistant director for Early Childhood Education at the Columbia Union, will become associate director for elementary education. READ MORE HERE.