Elisabet Kirkland

Aome Jacob Angeles – Loveland, Colorado … The first week of the school year at Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, was wrapped up with a special dedication Sabbath service, as well as a big potluck lunch for the church and students.

The pews in Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church were filled with both new and returning students alike. The church formally welcomed and introduced CA’s new staff, and a special prayer of dedication was said for staff and students.

Koinonia also had their first performance of the year, singing “One” for special music.

Teagan P., a returning senior student and Koinonia member, shared her thoughts on their first performance: “I felt very excited to get back performing with Koinonia again. It felt really different not having last year’s seniors in the group, but we are so excited for the new members. We had a great performance, and I can’t wait for the year ahead.”

Church service concluded with a school-wide potluck on Campion’s Center Campus, giving church members and students the opportunity to connect. It was a sunny afternoon, and people gathered in groups, chattering over their meals as kids raced around the field.

Merlina R., a returning senior student, shared her appreciation for the potluck, saying, “It felt great being with all my friends and watching the mini soccer game the boys were playing. The food was also very good, especially the dessert.”

—Aome Jacob Angeles, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

Natalie Bryant – Loveland, Colorado … Decked out in their designated colors, students at Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, united as classmates to compete in the annual Class Scramble games. The senior students came out on top, igniting their class pride. All the other classes fell in order with junior class in second, sophomore class in third, and freshmen class in fourth.

Although the senior class usually wins, this particular class was surprised because, in previous years, they’ve lost to the class of ‘28. Elin Sorenson, senior student, said, “Our class has never won anything—ever—so, it felt good to win. Our class spirit was off the charts!”

Regardless of the final score, every class experienced a moment of connection and positivity. Courtney Cate, sophomore student, said, “It’s a good way to get to know your classmates, build morale, and get excited.”

In previous years, the CA Student Association Picnic followed Class Scramble, but this year it has been scheduled for September 7, giving the classes another chance to compete and build rapport.

—Natalie Bryant, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4, NKJV).

By Logan Earles

Earlier this summer, seven high school students set off on a discipleship experience called “The Deep.” Going into it, they had different expectations and desires, but little did they know this experience would change their relationship with Jesus forever. I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat to what God was doing.

Picture this: a teenager waking up early on purpose to sit with their Bible and reflect on what God was saying to them. Isn’t that beautiful? Don’t you want that for your kids, your friends, or yourself? If the answer is yes to any of those questions, I encourage you not to let the logistics of how, when, and where bog you down. That was a temptation at the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church, but when God leads, all those things become less of a challenge but more of an opportunity.

The first thing we did with our students was to load them into a van and head into the great unknown at Mills Spring Ranch on Casper Mountain in Wyoming. Not only was it a great place to host a weekend retreat, but it also provided a sense of being tucked away. The goal was to get these high schoolers out of their normal environment and away from distractions.

It didn’t stop there.

Throughout the weekend, they were given extended time alone to study, pray, and listen for the voice of God. I believe that’s what Jesus was seeking when He spent time alone in the mornings. The Bible makes it clear that He regularly withdrew to pray and spend one-on-one time with His Father. Godfrey Miranda, lead pastor at Littleton Church, likes to call it TAG Time—Time Alone with God. If it was important for Jesus, can you imagine how important it is for us?

We are creatures of habit. It’s amazing how one small thing can make or break our day. We challenged all participants in this experience to recognize their habits and intentionally create new ones.

Remember how I said I had a front-row seat to God at work? It was literally a seat. One morning I sat on a balcony overlooking a ravine. Off to my left, I noticed one of the students sitting quietly on a tree stump, praying. This became a regular spot for that student, and I know the others found places that became meaningful to them as well.

Once again, this principle can be found in the life of Jesus. Not only did He regularly spend time alone with God, but He also regularly experienced community. Luke 4 tells us that it was Jesus’ custom to attend the synagogue on the Sabbath. As we follow Christ, He invites us into a regular rhythm of devotion, prayer, worship, community, and so much more.

We started this Deep experience with so many plans and activities. We accomplished all of them, yet it wasn’t the carefully planned events, the trip itself, or anything particularly complicated that changed the students’ lives. It was one simple tool: one verse at a time.

One student shared, “What challenged me the most during ‘The Deep’ was trying to spend 20 minutes studying just one verse, but it eventually got easier.”

You read that right. Each student was challenged to spend up to 20 minutes reflecting, praying, and listening to God through a single verse of Scripture. The principle is simple: quality over quantity.

We often think spiritual growth is about quantity, when in reality it’s about quality. Jesus shows us this when He is asked about the Law and the Prophets. Those books take page after page to explain God’s instruction, yet Jesus summarizes them in two simple commands: love God and love others. It’s beautifully simple.

Sometimes we think our relationship with Jesus has plateaued and that we can’t seem to go any deeper. Yet Jesus continues to call us deeper. Our students who I affectionately call “Deepers” accepted Jesus’ invitation to launch out into deeper waters, just as He challenged Simon in Luke 5.

Today, I want to extend that same invitation to you, and your church. Find time to be alone with God. Make it a regular part of your day. Don’t overcomplicate it. If you need a place to start, try what we did. Beginning with John 1:1, read one verse each day and ask yourself these three simple questions:

What does this verse say?

How does this verse connect to my life?

What is God’s invitation to me through this verse?

God is calling you into a deeper relationship with Him. Will you launch out into the deep? The experience we had at Littleton Church was one I will be talking about for years to come. It is my desire to share with all who will listen about the group of seven high school students who inspired me to dive deeper into my relationship with Jesus.

—Logan Earles is the associate pastor at the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo by Cristian Palmer of Unsplash.

Natalie Negrete – Ward, Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Conference’s (RMC) Vine + Branches (V+B), a rotating vespers group for college students and young professionals, held its campout at Pathfinder Village at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, August 21–23. The weekend marked the group’s 23^rd gathering and brought together 24 young adults from across RMC.

For almost two years, V+B has provided opportunities for young adults in the Denver metro area to connect with God and one another. The campout extended that opportunity beyond the group’s single-evening monthly gatherings into a full weekend.

The event began on Friday evening with a vespers service and icebreakers. Saturday morning brought more time together before a Sabbath worship service, followed by an afternoon hike around GVR.

Saturday evening, after returning from the hike and beginning dinner preparations, the skies opened into a sudden downpour. Campers secured tents, kept gear dry, and continued preparing dinner beneath a kitchen tent loaned by Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church. The gas fire pits GVR loaned for the weekend saved the day by keeping everyone warm.

For Ashley Humphries, a campout attendee, the unexpected turn of events became one of her favorite parts of the weekend. “We were all running around and Reuben kept saying, ‘This is just the best, these are the parts you remember,’” Humphries recalled.

Beyond the weekend’s activities, campers had an opportunity to deepen friendships.

“Camping friends are friends on a whole new level,” attendee Caleb Cook shared. “I feel like I came away with deep friendships that I would have just counted as acquaintances before.”

V+B will gather again on September 26 for an outdoor gathering commemorating two years since the group began meeting. More information will be shared through the V+B Instagram account at @vbvespers. Churches can contact [email protected] for updates and announcements.

As attendee Asa Acevedo of Pecos Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church put it, “It was a cool weekend with cool people who love and praise God.”

—Natalie Negrete is the Vine + Branches assistant director of Marketing. Photos supplied.

Mona Fellers – Torrington, Wyoming … Torrington is a small town 85 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming, with a small Seventh-day Adventist Church.  And even though it is small, the Women’s Ministries team is working to build closer relationships with each other and with women in the community.

Once a month, they sponsor a social gathering nicknamed GALS, an acronym for “Guiding Aspirations, Lifting Spirits.” “We gather to learn different recipes, do a small craft, learn different helpful hacks, and deepen our relationships with each other,” remarked Mona Fellers, Torrington Church Women’s Ministries leadership team member.

On August 16, Alisha Knutsen, an Adventist women’s ministries volunteer presenter and a self-taught homeopathic practitioner, was invited to the church to conduct a “Home Remedies” class for the community.

“She presented a fantastic class that emphasized using the natural things God has provided to make deposits into our health bank,” commented Fellers. “We learned some practical ways to fight inflammation, treat bug bites, and boost our immune system. The women were very excited about what they were learning and requested we invite her back for a workshop.”

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:2-5, NKJV).

—Mona Fellers is the Sabbath School secretary for the Torrington Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo by John Levy of Unsplash.

Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … The Campion Academy campus in Loveland, Colorado, came to life again, welcoming 108 students to start the academic year. After a busy Sunday completing registration and moving into the dormitories, the students and staff came together for the annual welcome back party, the Student Association (SA) Handshake on August 16.

The SA creatively introduced the school year’s theme, united, by walking in dressed as a flight crew and encouraging everyone to have a great flight (school year) before leading the student body in worship.

“We introduced ourselves as a flight crew with the idea that we were the “Campion United” flight, flying through the school, united,” explained Natalie B., SA vice president. “This theme is valuable because Campion is made up of many diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds and we’ve also received a lot of new staff and students, so—with that in mind—the idea of being united is so important.”

Christopher D., SA Spiritual vice president, shared a message on what it means to be united in Christ, inspiring students to go outside their friend circles to make everyone feel welcome.

SA Communication director, Joshua P. shared, “Our theme of unity is so important to me because, when we as a school stand together united in Christ, we can accomplish so much more for God than we could alone.”

The students gathered in their class groups to play some Campion classic handshake games such as the hula hoop race and the human knot. “The icebreaker games were a unique blend of awkward and fun,” recalled Aome A., senior student.

The event culminated with the classic handshake line, where every student and staff shook hands and introduced themselves. After a prayer of dedication, students had time to relax and catch up with old friends and meet new ones on Center Campus.

Jayden M., sophomore student, shared, “My favorite part of handshake was meeting all the new people and getting to really know my class better. Talking to my classmates from last year and learning about their summer was fun too.”

The event helped even brand-new students feel part of the community to start the year. Annalise G., new senior student, reflected, “I felt quite nervous and shy with not knowing really anyone. Everything felt so overwhelming at first, and it felt like everyone had their own friends and groups, but some girls opened their circle just to talk to me and got to know me a bit. They made me feel welcomed and more comfortable, even though I was still nervous. All the teachers were so kind and understanding. I really felt so welcomed and supported.”

Campion Academy held their first full week of classes with a special schedule that incorporated a daily assembly for student orientation.

The student body is made up of 86 residence hall students and 22 community (aka “village”) students. Eighteen international students represent five different countries, and there are 30 staff including both full and part-time members.

—Jill Harlow is Campion Academy Communication director. Photo supplied.