Allegheny East Conference

Seventh-day Adventist volunteers from churches throughout the Allegheny East and Pennsylvania conferences worked at five sites throughout Pennsylvania on Sunday to offer aid to their neighbors still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Just two weeks ago, the Adventist church in Paterson, N.J., partnered with Lowe’s Home Improvement stores to distribute items to a community reeling from flood damage As the home improvement store looked to aid flood victims in eastern Pennsylvania, they again worked with Adventist church members who, with little notice, were quick to volunteer their time, hugs and prayers.

Lifelong Paterson, N.J., residents Kathy and Greg are expecting a baby in one month. However, due to flooding from Hurricane Irene they have not been able to get to her home on Haledon Street for the past week. Recalling that when she left she had water up to her knees in her living room, Kathy said, “Our apartment was condemned this week, and we have been in a shelter, and we need all the help we can get.”

“Sometimes as young adults, especially those who are single, we go our own way on Friday nights. But with this ministry, we can open the Sabbath together,” says Anthony Barnes, a member of Allegheny East Conference’s First church in Washington, D.C. It was at his church that young adults from around the region recently met for the “First Fridays” worship service.

Members of the Allegheny East Conference’s Emmanuel-Brinklow church in Ashton, Md., recently stood witness as a former member of the Klu Klux Klan embraced a man who he beat some 50 years ago. Back then that man was a Freedom Rider participating in the Civil Rights Movement. Today that man who was beaten is better known as U.S. Congressman John Lewis. Rep. Lewis was one of four people that the Emmanuel-Brinklow church recently honored during the church’s sixth annual Living Legends Awards for Service to Humanity. The honorees included Frazier and Virginia Mathis, Emmanuel-Brinklow members and founders of Global Vessels—a missionary organization; Ella Jenkins, a Grammy-award-winning children’s musician; and Congressman Lewis.

Dwain Esmond, editor of the youth magazine Insight, had an idea: What if everyone who came to the Super Bowl had an opportunity to meet Jesus? It was a big dream and he had no idea how it could happen, but he took the first step—he began planning an issue of his magazine that would tie in with the biggest sports event in North America.

Jeffrey and ShaVonne LaDonis, founders of Adventist Yell Out (AYO) and members of Miracle Temple, recently hosted a black-tie, networking mixer and debut at Allegheny East Conference’s Baltimore-based church. The debut included a red carpet pre-show, a live auction and performances by gospel recording artists Virtue and Eric Nettles. The auction raised funds for AYO-produced documentary, This Chair is Empty, which explores the loss of young people from the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The documentary is meant to inspire Adventist young people to fulfill their dreams and connect them to creative and business professionals in the Adventist Church.

The Adventist Humanitarian Resource Center (AHRC) recently sponsored its 3rd Annual Community Fair on the campus of Pennsylvania Conference’s Boulevard church in Philadelphia. The event drew a crowd of more than 1,500 visitors. 

More than 125 young adult members from the Allegheny East and Potomac conferences congregated at the Dupont Park church in Washington, D.C., recently for First Fridays. 

Two members of churches in the Columbia Union Conference, who are also Washington Adventist University alumni, were recently named directors at the North American Division. 

After 10 years of planning, sacrificing, facing challenges and faithful giving, Allegheny East Conference’s Metropolitan church in Hyattsville, Md., recently dedicated their new activity and ministry center.