Potomac Conference Celebrates 100 Years at Strathmore Event

Story by Richard Castillo

This past weekend, after a century of ministry, the Potomac Conference gathered at the Strathmore Music Center in Rockville, Md., to celebrate with its diverse community of believers from across Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. The Centennial Convocation was the culmination of more than a year of planning and coordination to put a cherry on top of a momentous year of celebration. 

Charles A. Tapp, conference president, charged his team to plan for a grand year, reminding conference members of the amazing journey it has been on in its past “and directing them to go beyond the walls as we look to the future,” he said. As part of the celebration, staff planned events during the summer, including Hispanic Camp Meeting and Camp Meeting in the Valley, both held on the campus of Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) in New Market, Va. 

Last Sabbath, the celebration continued with a Parade of Nations, gathering more than 62 flags and culturally dressed participants to post the diverse colors across the wide Strathmore stage. A massive praise team, including Washington Adventist University’s (WAU) New England Youth Ensemble and choirs from Takoma Academy (TA), SVA, and the Sligo and Takoma Park churches, led the attendees in worship. 

Former Potomac pastor and world-renowned singer Wintley Phipps sang prior to his Sabbath morning message. His sermon challenged the crowd to consider how we can be unified in ministry if we are willing to come together as friends and partners from all walks of life. 

Tapp surprised Phipps by awarding him the Salt and Light Award for excellence in reaching beyond the walls. Soon after, John Nixon, associate for Pastoral Ministries at the conference, and April Nixon, conference HR generalist, and supported by the entire administrative committee, moved an even more surprised Tapp to tears as they presented him with the Salt and Light Award.  

The evening program began with an in-depth look at the history of the Potomac Conference in a half-hour documentary produced by Richard Castillo, conference director of Media, and Debra Anderson, conference director of Communication. A grand concert, led by Anwar Ottley, pastor and WAU associate professor of Music, filled the center with amazing music, bringing glory to God.  SVA, TA, and a group called Clay presented songs, followed by a more than 15-song performance by Phipps, a former pastor in the Potomac Conference.

The theme for the event, “Moving Beyond the Walls Together,” was a reminder of the strength found in the conference's diversity, exemplified by the crowd filling the Strathmore. “This celebration is meant to spur engagement by our members that will fuel the next 100 years of ministry,” says. Tapp. “Hopefully, we won’t see those years as Christ returns and takes us home.”