Becca Brown Page 4

Loveland, Colorado… One of Campion Academy goals in Journalism and Communication class was realized on November 8, when two students’ stories were published in the local newspaper, the Loveland Reporter-Herald.  Ashley Herber’s article about the diversity of Campion’s soccer team and Megan Michalenko’s article about HMS Richard’s students cleaning up trash in downtown Loveland were both in the Friday, November 8 issue.

“I was so excited that my article was published!” exclaimed Herber. “I actually want to be an author one day, so I felt like this was one step towards that goal.”

Each week our students’ stories are not only published in This Week at Campion, but also picked up by the Rocky Mountain Conference newsletter, News Nuggets.  From there, a Campion article is usually selected to be a part of the monthly Union magazine, Outlook.  Previously, we had not been sending regular press-releases to our local newspaper, but this year we are starting to change that.

In addition to the academy news, Michalenko has been dedicated to writing a story covering events at HMS Richards each month for our church newsletter.  “I work at HMS, so I get to see a lot of the events that I get to write about. I love that I get to help HMS be able to reach out more to the community with what I write,” she commented.

Having a small but dedicated Journalism and Communication class has really amped up our ability to share the positive stories that are happening at Campion Academy.  Those who have been dedicated readers of our weekly e-newsletter may have noticed that the student team has recreated our format, increased our feature articles, and added more graphic ads for our upcoming events.

The class has featured a variety of guest speakers who are professionals in the communication field.  We started locally with Ardis Stenbakken, communication director at the Campion Church, and Darcy Force, Campion’s Director of Development and Alumni.  We are reaching out more into the community and have had Erik Stenbakken, professional photographer, and will have Jean Boonstra, Executive Producer of Discovery Mountain, and Carina Julig, reporter at the Loveland Reporter-Herald, joining our class this semester.

The guest speakers and students in the class have certainly added some fresh ideas and creativity as we seek to improve our communication department, and it has been a pleasure to watch their skills continually develop.

–Jill Harlow, text and photo

Casper, Wyoming… What already is an annual event, the Casper Adventist Church again has pledged to help our community, our members in need, and a couple of other organizations, such as Joshua’s Storehouse and La Vida Mission, with non-perishable foods.

On November 2, the first Saturday afternoon in November, we dropped off large paper bags in the neighborhood adjacent to the church. The following Sabbath, we collected the bags, and then met at the Mountain Road Christian Academy gym to sort all the food and prepare it for delivery. “The fellowship was incredible, and the snacks, the apple cider and the hot chocolate were delicious,” said one of the organizers. “Another successful family-friendly community event in the books!”

The church leaders expressed their gratitude to all who planned this event, to all those who participated, young and old, and to all who have given to those in need! Coming together in the season of giving as individuals, communities, and organizations we express a commitment to open hearts and wallets to help those in need. It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year!

—Gabriela Vincent; photos by Tom McDonald

Pueblo, Colorado… Joining the community of Pueblo, Seventh-day Adventists issued a statement regarding the planned bombing of Temple Emanuel, the Jewish temple in Pueblo, and delivered it to the synagogue leadership on Friday, November 8.

At sunset, a dozen Adventist church members and leaders attended the Shabbat Eve Service in solidarity with the Jewish community. Rabbi “Birdie” Becker led out during this gathering of the largest congregation in Pueblo since Temple Emanuel’s opening in 1900. The synagogue that can accommodate 180 people, had standing room only with many of the supporters standing in the foyer and outside.

“We stand in solidarity with you and the city of Pueblo in condemning the attempt to take lives and cause a deep wound in the fabric of our city,” stated Anton Kapusi, pastor of the Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Federal authorities in Colorado have arrested a man who is being accused of plotting to blow up a synagogue in Pueblo, the second oldest synogogue in Colorado, and listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The suspected bomber used several Facebook accounts to promote violence and show support for the Holocaust, writing in a private message in July, for example, that he was “getting ready to cap people,” the federal documents said. He is in custody and charged with a hate crime.

The Adventist statement expressed rejection of hate and planned violence toward the Jewish community, and was addressed to the Rabbi of the Temple Emanuel and its members.

“We, at the Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church, a part of the Rocky Mountain Conference in Colorado, Wyoming, and northern New Mexico, are deeply disturbed by the hate and planned violence this week on our fellow brothers and sisters in Pueblo’s Jewish community here in Colorado.”

The statement continued, that “as Christians and followers of Jesus, we stand with Him in condemning white supremacist groups that spread racism, violence and fear.”

“We pray that divine protection and peace would abide in you all, your homes and your synagogue and we pray for the day when all of God’s children, of all races, would treat each other with love and respect, rejecting bias and hate,” Kapusi wrote.

“It was a blessing for our church to express our solidarity with many different Christian denominations and religions. It was a joint social statement against hatred to stand with many others from our Pueblo community. Temple Emanuel undoubtedly lived up to its name ‘God With Us!,’ Kapusi said after the Friday meeting.

–RMCNews with Anton Kapusi; photo by Tom Kai.

Denver, Colorado… The Mile High Academy Lower School (LS) has partnered with the Denver chapter of Project Linus. Project Linus is a non-profit that teams with organizations across the United States to provide new, handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, in hospitals or may have other needs.

As part of the CHERISH Core Values Program, LS students worked in groups of various grade levels and began making more than 17 no-sew fleece blankets. Students prayed over each blanket, asking that God’s blessings and love reaches the child who will receive it. Some students used their own money to purchase fabric and make more blankets at home.

“Each month, our Lower School students engage in an on-campus service project that serves local and global communities. Our students are recognizing the value of looking beyond self and to a world in need,” said Denae Yuros, MHA fourth grade teacher.

“Forming this partnership with Project Linus lines up with Mile High Academy’s CHERISH Core Values, and we are very excited about this ministry,” she added.

Plans are to continue making blankets through the school year.

—Denae Yuros, with Karrie Meyers; photo supplied

Denver, Colorado… During the last quarter of each year, pastors from the Rocky Mountain Conference participate in an evaluation process. Led by Ed Barnett, RMC president, and, Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director, the purpose of the evaluation process is to provide valuable feedback for the conference and the local pastor. Each evaluation includes such areas as, a Weekly Attendance Chart; baptisms/profession of faith chart, tithe and offerings chart, as well as plans for evangelism/and church growth.

Prior to the evaluation itself, a survey is mailed out to all of the pastors and local church board leaders in order to gather relevant information. The survey includes questions about the pastors themselves, their church, and about how they feel about the support of RMC.  The results of this survey are collated in a notebook and then shared with each pastor.

“A typical evaluation will last about an hour, and most of the meetings take place at the RMC office,” Mallory explains. “For pastors who live a longer distance from Denver, their evaluations take place at the Colorado Springs Central Church and the Grand Junction Church in Colorado and the Casper Church in Wyoming,” he adds.

Mallory says that, “probably the biggest benefit gained from the annual evaluation process is that each pastor is given the opportunity to celebrate what is working and receive counsel on areas that need growth.”

“Each pastor comes with questions and issues that are featured in a conversation. My overall impression is that RMC can truly be proud of our ministerial family. We learn how their families are faring and we look at challenges each of them is facing. WE need to uphold our ministers and their families in our prayers,” comments Ed Barnett.

“It is important for our Denver team to learn how we can best serve the needs of the field. We are richer by knowing how to boost our mission in our vast territory and the Adventist family of 18,000,” he added.

–RMCNews with Mickey Mallory; photos by Mickey Mallory