Hilltop Church Uplifts Cincinnati, Columbus Women llegheny West women from Ohio churches in Cincinnati and the surrounding greater Columbus area had an “awesome time in the Lord” during Hilltop Community Worship Center’s women’s day celebration. Sponsored by the church’s Ministries Department under the theme “Walking in God’s Favor,” the special day started with a sermon by Janice Walker, Esq., a member of the Cincinnati Shiloh church. Reading from Genesis 16: 1-9, she titled her message “Favor in the Valley.”
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Following a Sabbath afternoon meal, Hilltop’s “first lady,” Crystal Moffett, kicked off afternoon activities with an inspiring and active conversation focused on women’s health issues—the importance of having a healthy mind, body and soul and on being connected to Christ as women of God. “God truly showed His presence throughout the day,” commented Vanessa L. Mosley, Hilltop Women’s Ministries leader. The special day was one of many being sponsored by Hilltop
Women’s Ministries. Moffett presents a “Women of the Bible” program every fourth Sunday and every fifth Sabbath. Carolyn Foster, assistant department head, explains: “It’s very important for women at the Hilltop church to be fed spiritually, but it is equally important for us to outreach and evangelize to the women of our community, teaching them about who God is and about the love He has for them. Teaching them also that knowing the Lord can help make them better wives, mothers and friends.”—Gregory W. Foster
Debbie Williams, Carolyn Foster, Vanessa Mosley, Janice Walker and Crystal Moffett were all instrumental in making the Hilltop church women’s day celebration a blessing for ladies in Cincinnati and the greater Columbus area.
Melrose Avenue Adds Ice Cream, Bible Studies to VBS he Melrose Avenue church in Roanoke, Va., decided to do something different with their annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) program. This year, to increase VBS attendance and reach out to the community in preparation for an upcoming evangelistic series, the church decided to sponsor an ice cream give away. On Sabbath afternoon, two days prior to the start of VBS, church members geared up to distribute free scoops of ice cream at the nearby Melrose Park and in
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the Lincoln Terrace community. With generous donations from church members and the community, and with help from the church’s Community Services department and Adventist Youth Society outreach team, children of all ages were offered a free cup of ice cream and free Bible studies. “Most churches publicize their upcoming VBS by simply using bulletin inserts and hanging banners outside their church, but this year we thought that by offering this service, we’d not only add that personal touch— which makes our community feel extra special— but also build an interest in learning more about God by attending other events sponsored by our church,” explained Pastor Nathaniel Lyles, Jr. In the end, the church registered more than 20
Hermania Ferguson (right), the first elder at the Melrose Avenue church in Roanoke, Va., serves free ice cream to a happy youngster. people for Bible studies and had a church record of more than 65 kids attending VBS each night.
Spirit is published in the Visitor by the Allegheny West Conference 1339 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205 ■ Phone: (614) 252-5271 awconf.org ■ President, Fredrick Russell Editor, Bryant Taylor