HEADLINES: Adventist Congresswoman at Center of Ethics Committee Investigation
Sheila Jackson Lee Subject of Senate Ethics Investigation. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex) is one of ten members of Congress at the center of a House Ethics Committee investigation for participating in a secret, all-expenses paid trip to Baku on the Caspian Sea, funded by the state-owned oil company of Azerbaijan. The oil company known as SOCAR, purportedly funneled $750,000 through nonprofits based in the United States to conceal the source of the funding for the conference in the former Soviet nation. Jackson Lee is one of a small handful of congresspersons associated with the Adventist Church, though sources say hers is a strained relationship. From The Washington Post, “10 members of Congress took trip secretly funded by foreign government.”
Softball Player Recommits to Sabbath Observance. Seventh-day Adventist Lexi Mollohan has decided to forgo playing softball on her Comstock, Michigan team in a re-commitment to her faith. She and her family have returned to their Adventist roots and want to strengthen their belief through more traditional Sabbath-keeping activities. From MLive Media, “Comstock shortstop forbidden by religion to play in districts.”
Washington Adventist Recruits High School Star Demyra Selby. Just weeks after scoring her 2,000th point in high school competition, heavily-recruited point guard Demyra Selby of Mardela High School signed a letter of intent to play for Washington Adventist University’s Shock women’s basketball team next year. Selby received offers from many colleges and universities interested in her offensive prowess on the court. After scholarship offers from Washington Adventist came through, Selby made her choice to stay close to home. From Delma VA Now, “Mardela’s Selby signs with Washington Adventist.
Bethesda French Members Killed, Others Injured in New York Crash. Ariel Regis, 35, was one of seven passengers riding in a van, survived a crash that killed three other members of Bethesda French Seventh-day Adventist Church in Flatlands, New York. Regis thanked Jesus that his life was spared. Two other survivors were hospitalized; one other like Regis was treated at the scene. The men were traveling from the Honors Haven Resort where they had attended a three-day retreat for the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. From Christian Post, “Man who survived van carsh that killed fellow congregants says Jesus saved my life.”
Former Adventist Now Writes as Catholic Apologist. Michelle Arnold, raised as an Adventist, serves as a apologist for Catholic media on the Patheos Catholic channel and on Facebook. She became a Catholic in 1996. She views The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White as a “black fable, published in the guise of a history of the Christian faith.” From Patheos, “Michelle Arnold comes to Patheos.”
Pam Dietrich taught English at Loma Linda Academy for 26 years and served there eight more years as the 7-12 librarian. She lives in Redlands, CA.
