Chesapeake Conference Welcomes Four New Pastors at Orientation

Columbia, Md. — The Chesapeake Conference of Seventh-day Adventists hosted an orientation for four new pastors who have joined the conference in 2026 on Aug. 13, 2026, at the conference office, introducing them to the conference’s mission, ministry priorities, and department leaders. John Rengifo, director of the conference’s Ministerial Department, organized the event.

Andre Hastick, president of the Chesapeake Conference, opened the day with a welcome and prayer before presenting the conference’s mission, vision, and five ministry priorities. Hastick reinforced the conference theme, “Alive. Together. On Mission,” and outlined the conference’s mission to reach the people of the Chesapeake region with the Christ-centered message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its vision of fulfilling the Great Commission by equipping churches and schools for ministry.

Hastick presented five core ministry priorities that will shape the conference’s work in the year ahead: evangelism, church planting, and church revitalization; children’s, youth, and young adult ministries; Adventist education; community services and outreach ministries; and church leadership training and equipping.

Following the president’s welcome, department directors and staff briefed the new pastors throughout the day on the services and resources available to them. Sessions covered Treasury; Human Resources, Secretariat, and the Conference Clerk’s office; Ministerial; Association and Trust Services; Communication; Education; Children and Youth ministries; and Mt. Aetna Retreat Center and Camp Ministries. Conference staff joined the new pastors for lunch at the conference office between sessions.

The orientation concluded with a farewell session, sending the four new pastors into their districts equipped with an overview of conference resources and a shared vision for ministry across Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia.

For more information on the Chesapeake Conference Mission and Vision statements and Alive. Together. On Mission. visit www.ccosda.org.