Steve Pester – Cortez, Colorado … “The morning sun spilled over the mesas, painting Cortez in gold as members of the Cortez Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colorado gathered for worship on Sabbath, September 13. They didn’t yet realize they were stepping into a Sabbath that had been quietly orchestrated by the hand of God,” reflected Steve Pester, Dine Adventist Radio* (DAR) network manager.
The Cortez Church had scheduled a special visit from DAR and Adventist World Radio (AWR). No one knew then that the date would fall exactly on Radio Ministries Support Sabbath—a divine appointment that would share local mission and global outreach for the congregation.
From the first hymn, the congregation leaned into the moment—literally—doing their best to sing in Navajo. The unfamiliar words rolled off their tongues with joy and reverence, a small but heartfelt bridge to the culture DAR serves every day.
One by one, members of the DAR team stepped forward, each carrying a story that was more than just personal—it was a testimony of God’s pursuit.
Tamara Peshlakai, clinical social worker and therapist, told of a simple seminar handbill that changed her life, leading her into the Adventist faith. Her voice carried both gratitude and urgency as she spoke of the challenge—and the calling—of reaching her Navajo people with the gospel.
Nathan Manuelito shared a moment of decision when God answered his prayers and gave him the courage to choose Christ over deeply rooted tradition. Kietel and Anita Jones reflected on the quiet but powerful influence of their Navajo Code Talker relative, whose life of service and integrity still shapes their walk with God today.
Then the focus widened from the Four Corners to the farthest corners of the earth. Dr. Bob Peck, AWR Ambassadors program director, and Dr. Duane McKey, the retiring president of AWR, told stories of radio waves carrying hope into places where missionaries cannot go—villages tucked deep in jungles, cities closed to public evangelism, and hearts that had never before heard the name of Jesus.
“As testimonies flowed, it became clear: whether in Navajo or Arabic, whether through a handbill or a shortwave signal, God’s voice is reaching His children,” remarked Pester, “By the time the closing prayer was offered, the congregation knew they had witnessed something rare—a Sabbath where local and global mission met in one sanctuary, and the Spirit of God moved freely between them.”
It was, in every sense, a high Sabbath—one that will echo in hearts long after the last hymn faded into the high desert air.
* Dine Adventist Radio is supporting ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church but is not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
—Steve Pester is the Dine Adventist Radio network manager. Photos by Steve Pester.
