To help engage the public in response to the refugee crisis, which involves more than 65 million people worldwide, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) collaborated with the Salt Ministries at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church to co-host an information fair and film screening on May 20 in Takoma Park. Ten humanitarian agencies participated in the community event providing attendees with information on how they can help serve refugees in Maryland and globally. The participating organizations were ADRA International, Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington, the Ethi ..read more

I had one big wish when I began high school. I wanted to be remembered. Not just a passing, “hey remember that guy.” I wanted to be legendary. Walking into my freshman year, I was desperate that I would somehow accomplish something, anything that would leave a mark on the school and would reverberate throughout the ages. I had dreams of alumni weekend’s decades later when people I never knew would sit around and discuss my accomplishments or my reputation. Of course, I wasn’t picky.  It could be a positive accomplishment or one that would make me an urban legend.   It’s not so bad to ..read more

In my former life, when I served as a conference president, the pastor of one of our churches that was predominantly Ghanaian, called me frequently at home. He would call at about 7:00 in the morning while I was preparing to leave for work. The conversation between the pastor and me usually went like this:   Pastor: “Hello Uncle.” I: “Hello Pastor.” “How are you, Uncle?” “I am well. Pastor.” “And how is Auntie?” “She is well.” By this time, I am saying to myself, “get to the point, Pastor. I have to go soon. But he just continued calmly and asked again, “How are you, Uncle?” He later lear ..read more

It is hard to believe that 12 years have passed since my life-altering journey began. Looking back at that critical juncture, l know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am here today because you saw my need and filled it with love.   I smile because I am amazed by your willingness to sacrifice your limited time and precious resources in order to make my day a little brighter and my step a little stronger. You have taught me some valuable lessons that have enabled me to make strides in my return to physical independence. Although I am much stronger now, I am no longer afraid to lean on you ..read more

I’m sure that many, if not most, of you are aware that I was not raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but rather my spiritual beginnings were deeply rooted in the Baptist tradition.  As I have shared from the pulpit many times, not only were my parents deeply entrenched in the leadership of the First Free-Will Baptist Church, the church our family attended, three of my uncles were also Baptist ministers.  Growing up in the Baptist Church was an extremely positive experience for me. It was in this environment that I was to learn that Christianity is all about Jesus. From the ti ..read more

Recent weather has certainly been unpredictable. The constant fluctuations make it difficult to plan your day, your wardrobe, family excursions, yard work, gardening... While unexpected weather fluctuations may require a bit more effort to manage your day, how would you plan to survive your day if you lived in the coldest part of the world? You huddle!   According to National Geographic, the lowest temperature ever recorded on earth was in 2013 on Antarctica at about -136 F. In its coldest regions, the average temperature ranges from -4 F to -76 F. It is not just the coldest place on eart ..read more

McEntyre (2009) in her book, Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies, tells us that good stories are gifts (111) and often provide a window of healing after we have been wounded (115). Matthew Paul Turner, in his book, the Coffeehouse Gospel, shares that personal life stories are an effective tool to share Christ in a relevant way. I would suggest that words, carefully and intentionally chosen, create the stories that inform, nourish, and entertain. Shared, our stories are the bread and water Jesus invites us to give to others.  Sharing stories started for me when I was young. I created dra ..read more

Most teenagers want to be known for being “cool.” However, when it comes to the church, does it need to be “cool” so that it can reach this generation?   In  Washington Post article titled, “To attract young people to your church, you've got to be warm. Not cool.” Nothing could be further from the truth.   The authors state, “So many churches pour money and energy into flashy worship services meant to make teenagers and young adults think that church is cool,” cites Dr. Kara Powell, of the Fuller Youth Institute. “But it turns out cool isn’t what young people want. Forget the ro ..read more

There term fake news has recently taken our cultural landscape by storm. Fake news is what is referred to as a neologism, which is a newly coined word or expression. For instance, the word staycation, a vacation where one remains at home instead of going away, is a neologism. Fake news is a type of “yellow” journalism or propaganda that consists of deliberate misinformation or hoaxes that is spread via traditional print and broadcast media with the intent to mislead for the sole purpose of causing harm. Although fake news is a fairly new term, the dissemination of spurious or false news isn’t ..read more

Our Sabbath School lessons on “The Promise of Community” have been thought provoking and easily provide us with many more months of study and discussion material.  The lessons prodded me to think back about the benefit of a small group in helping us reach some of our health goals. During October to December 2017 several of us met in a group to study “Full Plate Living,” a practical guide for weight loss and other health benefits written by two Loma Linda University medical school graduates and a registered dietitian.   This program is a simple, practical and effective presentati ..read more