NEWS Pine Forge Graduate Receives Caring Heart Award
Community Honors Pastor of Montclair First Church The Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation (MNDC) in Montclair, N.J., recently honored a Seventh-day Adventist pastor at its sixth annual Project Oasis Dinner. Paula Olivier, DMin, pastor of the First church of Montclair, was one of six honorees. Olivier received the Carlos Wormley Community Service Award “for her commitment to empower and support disadvantaged individuals, youth and families to achieve and improve quality of life through training, education and advocacy.” As her name was called, Olivier stood to a rousing applause. “I praise God for what He is doing in Montclair through His church,” Olivier said. “May His name be glorified.” Olivier was also honored with a Joint Legislative Resolution from the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly. The resolution recognized her for exemplary skills and spiritual leadership.
Pastor Paula Olivier is pictured, center, with her husband, Pastor Smith Olivier, on her left, and Albert Pelham, executive director of MNDC.
absence from the ministry, he entered a period of “grief and loneliness that was debilitating.” However, after a lot of praying and seeking help from an Adventist psychologist, he heard God say, “It’s time to return.” He plans to help Beacon Light members focus on “the restoration of lives that are broken and bruised.” Church members welcomed Pearson and his new wife, the former Patricia Patterson, with open arms.—Samantha Blake
Former Breath of Life Speaker Finds Home at Beacon Light Walter Pearson (right), former speaker/director of the Breath of Life Ministries, recently returned to the pulpit after a three-year absence. He took a leave of absence after losing Sandra Holland Pearson, his wife of 43 years to cancer. He recently returned to the pulpit at the Beacon Light church in Annapolis, Md. Pearson explains that during his 16 | VISITOR August 2012
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PHOTO BY CESALIE JENKINS
Johnathan Dixon, a member of Pine Forge Academy’s “Inimitable Class of 2012,” not only graduated with high honors, he also received the Columbia Union Conference Office of Education Caring Heart Award. The award is presented each spring to a senior or a junior who demonstrates caring and compassion both on and off campus. “Because of Johnathan’s love for his peers, acts of love and kindness, exemplifying what it means to be a Christian and for eternally impacting the lives of staff and students of Pine Forge Academy, he was overwhelmingly chosen to be the recipient of the 2012 Caring Heart Award,” said Delmas Campbell, principal of the Pine Forge, Pa.-based academy. As religious vice president, Dixon planned weekly prayer meetings and other spiritual programs for students and staff. In recognition of his positive impact on the campus at large and for being a model student, Dixon was also named male student of the year.