Columbia Union

I believe we were called from the womb. We were even almost born at Camp Victory Lake (N.Y.) in Northeastern Conference,” says Patrick Graham (right), referring to himself and his identical twin brother, Paul, who have dedicated their lives to ministry. 

Ministry is often a family affair. These dynamic, dedicated family duos have dedicated their lives to working for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

At age 15, Jose Cortes Jr., the North American Division’s associate ministerial director for evangelism, wanted to be a doctor—not a pastor. Being a wise father, José H. Cortés, Sr., who serves as president of the New Jersey Conference, encouraged his son to pursue his dream. But early one morning in Madrid, Spain, Cortes Jr. heard his heavenly Father’s call to become a pastor. “I believe that [my father’s] wonderful and exemplary ministry during his early years influenced and silently encouraged my call,” says Cortes Jr. 

Ministry is often a family affair. These dynamic, dedicated family duos—father-son, father-daughter, husband-wife and siblings—have dedicated their lives to working for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. What blessings and challenges have they experienced? And what have they learned along the way?

The idea for the Allegheny West Conference (AWC) Young Adult Retreat was birthed in the backseat of Jerome and Carolyn Hurst’s car. During a two-and-a-half-hour ride home from the conference constituency meeting, Charde (Hurst) Hollins, a recent college graduate, and her parents bounced ideas back and forth, as she wrote them down on a stray piece of paper and pen from the bottom of her mother’s purse.

Serving others is an inherent way of life for brothers Franklin and Lee Stahl (pictured). “Our parents created a Christian home that was active in service from the get-go,” says Franklin. As early as age 6, Lee and Franklin started Ingathering with the family and often spent Sabbath afternoons visiting nursing homes in Pennsylvania, where they were raised and still serve today.