Pennsylvania 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.

Grace Outlet began with prayer. Jeanne Hartwell, Pennsylvania Conference Family Ministries director, and Pastor Kris Eckenroth began praying in June 2008, for a way to reach the more than 300 young adults living in the Berks County area who had at one time been connected to a Seventh-day Adventist church or school and were no longer regularly attending 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. 

After 22 years in the Pennsylvania Conference, Barry Tryon, executive secretary, is leaving. 

More than 150 young people who attended the Hispanic Youth Festival were not only reminded that God has offered His grace and love to them, but texted that grace to their friends.

“Just think about it, we don’t even want to be us some days, but God chose to become one of us!” said Tara VinCross, pastor of Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill church.

Sierra Fox, a sophomore at Blue Mountain Academy in Hamburg, Pa., recently received the Maryland Governor’s Volunteer Service Award on behalf of the students and horses of Great and Small. 

Christian Record Services (CRS) honored Richard Klinedinst, an elder at Pennsylvania Conference’s York church, for 35 years of service as a CRS representative in eastern Pennsylvania.

“We love Pennsylvania, and we carry in our heart God’s work here,” said Pennsylvania Conference president Ray Hartwell warmly. “We’re committed to move God’s last day message forward.” 

Though their numbers may be small, those attending Pennsylvania Conference’s Fairview Village (Pa.) church have big hearts.