Elisabet Kirkland

By Logan Earles

In music, when a musical phrase is incomplete, it’s called unresolved. This feeling of an unresolved phrase is awful. Most times we hear this it is done on purpose to leave you with a sense of anticipation, and, let me tell you, I really, really don’t like it. There is something about having a complete musical thought played out that is satisfying.

This dislike for the incomplete is not unique for music. Half-baked thoughts are infuriating. Half-baked pies are disgusting. When a cookie is half baked on purpose for it to be “gooey,” I might as well give up on it.

There are some things that are left undone that only seem like a waste. Paintings or sculptures that are begging for the artist to complete them are the perfect example. It’s not infuriating, it’s invigorating. Imagining the potential of a piece is a beautiful part of art.

The Bible paints a picture of us that is missing something. From the fall of humanity, we have been changed by sin. Our Creator and artist didn’t make us this way, and we as people are living a life that is incomplete, unresolved, half baked. Thankfully, we are not left on the shelf to cool in our gooey mess. Let’s discover the rest of the plans that God has for us.

Alright, I admit I may have leaned into the baking analogy a bit much there. But I do think it’s true that the average human experience is one that is lacking something—there is a hole in our lives.

The biblical authors described this missing piece as separation from God. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were separated from God and all of humanity began to feel the consequences of separation from the life-giving force. So, God sent Jesus down to bring us together. This was no easy task. Jesus faced the ultimate separation from God on the cross when He cried out why have you forsaken me (Matthew 27:46). He experienced a death we do not have to experience if we choose to believe in Him.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10 NIV).

Jesus told his followers that He is offering a life that is full. Like a masterpiece waiting to be restored, the Father is looking to fulfill your potential through His power. Notice the verse in John 10 doesn’t say “life in part,” or a “different but equal life” to the one before. Jesus is offering us a life that is full. This is an Eden-like experience, an existence that is with the source of all life: the Father.

In order to give us access to this life, Jesus tells us that He came down.

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV).

Jesus came down and died and rose again for us—this is the central idea of the Bible, this is the reality of our God. He did not want us to be separated from Him forever, so He paved the way forward. He did everything in his power to reconcile us to Him.

When God created this world, He worked for days and then He took a day off to enjoy what He made with his creation—humanity. This was the first Sabbath. God is looking for that experience again, but, this time, it will last forever. So how can we respond to God seeking us?

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life Romans 6:3-4 NIV.

God has given us a gift in the form of baptism. Paul describes this baptism as a baptism into death, burial, and resurrection that brings us new life. That life is one that Jesus has suffered in order for us to choose. He will not force you into it, He invites you into it.

Are you seeking to be fulfilled?

You don’t have to keep searching in vain. Jesus is offering you a life in Him that will complete you. It will require your old life to die. But the new life that comes when Jesus is the reason we live, will outshine anything from the old. Give Jesus a chance, you were made to be with the Creator and to experience completeness that even the sweetest melody cannot compare to.

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

Waleska Agramonte and Katie Paca – Fort Morgan, Colorado … The Fort Morgan Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fort Morgan, Colorado, hosted a women’s gathering centered on the theme “Faith and Purpose,” August 31. It was a powerful time of connection, growth, and encouragement for every woman who attended.

“We had a great turnout of ladies of all ages—including young women—from Fort Morgan, Akron, and Sterling coming together as one community to uplift and inspire one another in faith,” remarked an event coordinator.

They continued, “Special guests, Gabriel Camacho and Bella Cinco, shared timely and powerful messages that spoke directly to the hearts of the women in the room. Their words reminded us to trust God’s plan and boldly walk in our purpose.”

The event included interactive exercises and reflections that helped the attendees explore their personal journeys of faith and discover new strength in their purpose. It was a space of vulnerability, joy, and sisterhood.

The attendees shared a delicious meal together, and every woman received a thoughtful gift as a reminder of her worth and identity in Christ. The atmosphere was filled with warmth, laughter, and meaningful conversation.

The event coordinators send a heartfelt thank you to every woman who came, every volunteer who served, and the churches of Fort Morgan, Akron, and Sterling for their presence and support. This gathering was a success because of their hearts, their faith, and their willingness to show up for one another.

“We believe this is only the beginning—and greater things are still to come!”

—Waleska Agramonte is the wife of Gabriel Agramonte, lead pastor of the Fort Morgan District, and Katie Paca is the Fort Morgan Seventh-day Adventist Church Women’s Ministries director. Photos supplied.

Luca Lu – Loveland, Colorado … Navigating rain, cold temps, and even hail, the 37 senior students in the class of 2026 at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, spent four days learning survival skills and bonding as a class in the forest at Glacier View Ranch in Ward, Colorado, August 27-31.

While the weather was tolerable for the first three days, a hailstorm on Saturday afternoon made this year’s Senior Survival one of the most challenging ever to happen at Campion Academy.

Following tradition, students brought sleeping bags and hammocks, but they had to build their own shelter with a single tarp as an experience of survival.

“We found a nice foundation for our shelter and laid out our tarp. The process was cool as we saw our shelter come together,” said student Justin Ticonuwu. “Unfortunately, when the hail came, it was uninhabitable, and our stuff got wet. Overall, it was pretty cool, but I was sad to see it come down.”

For meals, students were given some basic ingredients and had to start a fire and cook for themselves. Student Theo Poleza reflected, “The food was really good. Our group had really good ideas of what to cook, and we would always help each other out.”

Besides the survival experiences, the students bonded together as class through different group activities. Student Charlie Reeves commented, “The activities taught us to not only communicate, but listen to each other. The trust fall was my favorite because it was the most memorable, and it taught us to trust each other.”

The hike on the final day came with an unforgettable challenge. “It started very calm, and it was sunny, so l left my rain jacket in the camp,” Marc Winokan, senior student, remembered. “And then when we all got to the top, it started raining and then hailing very badly, for a solid 10 minutes. Everyone was scared and hiding under something. But praise God, we got back safe.”

During the hailstorm, even though everyone was scared, the seniors encouraged each other. Some huddled in circles to face the challenge together, while others lifted up their rain jackets to make a shelter over their friends.

Due to the severity of the hailstorm and the damage it did to the shelters, the students came home on Saturday evening after their final campfire. However, through the challenges, the seniors mentioned how they grew stronger and closer as a class. Peter Hutauruk, senior class sponsor, commented, “Our class survived the hail together; nothing else can stop us anymore.”

—Luca Lu, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

Dorie Panganiban – Farmington, New Mexico … The outreach team at La Vida Mission (LVM) in Farmington, New Mexico, had a great opportunity to serve the young people of the White Rock Chapter of the Navajo Nation with a Total Wellness and Healthy Lifestyle program in July of this year. The team started the month-long series with building the youth’s confidence in their own worth, a key element to having positive mental health.

“It’s been our privilege to serve the Navajo youth who spent part of their summer vacation working and learning, not only various skills and trades, but also gaining as much knowledge as they can, especially in relation to their health and well-being,” commented Dorie Panganiban, LVM office manager.

“They’re happy to know that they each have worth that is based on their relationship to God, with their worth rooted in a covenant made before they were even born,” she continued. “Even with all their sins and weaknesses, they are not cast aside as worthless. They are precious and beloved children of God, loved with an everlasting love, created in His image, redeemed by His own blood, and are thus worth more than silver and gold. It’s so inspiring to see how this truth and knowledge has impacted the youth’s response and interaction during our meetings with them.”

While most staff at the Mission were on break for the summer, several staff members joined in to assist with the program including Kim Ellis, LVM mission director, and Cielo Domino, LVM school principal, in the first week. During the second week, Natavia Harrison, a former Navajo youth worker, assisted Panganiban.

The youth attendees asked for some exercise tips and activities, so during the third and fourth week, VJ Panganiban, LVM Health Ministry director, and his wife, Beth, led the enthusiastic youth with some High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) exercise programs.

Afterwards they did some healthy vegetarian cooking, which had been requested as well.  They enjoyed making two kinds of vegetarian burgers: one using carrots and cabbage and the other using carrots and zucchini. They also asked to learn how to make Asian fried rice, which was paired with baked squash rounds. Finally, they learned to prepare green smoothies for diabetics, fruit smoothies for energy building, and no-bake fruity graham cake.

“We would like to thank the leaders of the Chapter and all their staff for their wholehearted support for our program,” praised Dorie. “We are grateful for this ministry partnership on behalf of the younger members of our community. Please join us in praying for the youth of the Navajo Nation and how we can reach them and help them to live a more successful and fruitful life now and in the future.”

* La Vida Mission is a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church but are not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

—Dorie Panganiban is the La Vida Mission office manager. Photos supplied.

CRS News – Lincoln, Nebraska … Christian Record Services, Inc. (CRS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Pastor Cesar Perozo as its new president, following a nationwide executive search conducted by FaithSearch Partners.

With over 25 years of combined experience in pastoral ministry and administrative leadership, Perozo brings a wealth of expertise in strategic management, human resources, and cross-functional collaboration. His previous roles include vice president of administration and human resources director for the Southern New England Conference, where he oversaw the budget and led initiatives in church planting, child protection, and organizational development.

Most recently, Perozo served as pastor for Upward and Fairview churches in North Carolina, where he launched disaster relief distribution centers, raised money for church and school projects, and directed Sabbath School ministries for the Carolina Conference.

“We are delighted to welcome Pastor Cesar Perozo to the presidency of Christian Record Services,” said G. Alexander Bryant, CRS Board Chairman. “He is passionate about serving the Lord and committed to the ministry of spreading the gospel to those who are blind and have low vision. I’m excited about the leadership Cesar will bring to this ministry and look to see it move to the next level.”

“I am honored to accept the role of president of Christian Record Services,” says Perozo. “Together, with our dedicated staff and the resilient blind and low-vision community we serve, I look forward to advancing our mission with renewed passion and unity. I am especially eager to strengthen our partnership with the North American Division, as we work collaboratively to make a meaningful, lasting impact.”

—Christian Record Services News. Republished with permission from Christian Record News & Events post, September 3. Photo supplied.

By Lisa Cardinal

Making disciples is not something Jesus suggested or recommended. Making disciples is something Jesus commanded. It was a direct order.

For 2000 years, making disciples has been the mission, duty, and privilege of Jesus’ followers. Here at Newday Adventist Church in Parker, Colorado, we take Jesus’ words seriously. Making disciples is our mission, our highest honor, and our greatest win. Every single other thing we do is in support of making disciples.

When someone gives their life to Jesus, chooses to identify with Him through the act of baptism, and says yes to living life as a Jesus’ follower (disciple), we celebrate in a big way! In fact, based on what we know about the way Jesus did things when He was on earth, we like to imagine that if He were here today, He would celebrate very much the way we did on August 23.

After a powerful worship experience, we caravanned to a beautiful outdoor setting to first enjoy a picnic lunch together. While it was not barley loaves and fishes, the haystacks did seem to multiply, and a very large crowd had plenty to eat.

Six followers of Jesus were baptized: four elementary students, one high school student, and one college student. Another one was baptized a few weeks earlier at Glacier View Ranch in Ward, Colorado.

Because we live in a culture where it is no longer a given that kids raised in church choose Jesus, this is a big win for the Kingdom! Still dripping wet, these newly baptized Jesus’ followers were surrounded by their Newday family, friends, and guests and we prayed over them, “Father, fill them with your Holy Spirit. May they be disciple makers!”

—Lisa Cardinal is lead pastor at Newday Adventist Church. Photos by Jim Huenergardt.

AdventHealth – Louisville, Colorado … After years of thoughtful planning, AdventHealth Avista is proud to unveil its new History Wall—a stunning tribute to our hospital’s rich legacy and enduring commitment to whole-person care. Located in a prominent space for visitors, patients, and team members, the wall brings our story to life through powerful artifacts and inspiring milestones.

A gift of gratitude

Funded by generous donors, the History Wall reflects their unwavering dedication to enriching our hospital and honoring the past. We are deeply grateful for their support in making this vision a reality.

Artifacts that tell a story

The wall features a curated collection of historical items, including:

• The U.S. Flag flown during the Marshall Fire, symbolizing resilience and unity.
• Pharmaceutical vials once used as common remedies at the Boulder Sanitarium.
• A Hayes oxygen therapy gas analyzer, used in the early 1900s to monitor blood gas levels.
• An original registrar patient log from 1904, along with vintage patient menu cards.

The wall reads:

Our history

In 1893, under the direction of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, the Boulder Sanitarium was established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Located at the foot of Mount Sanitas, the Sanitarium promoted exercise and fresh mountain air for its patients. In 1962, to better serve the community, the Sanitarium was rebuilt and renamed Boulder Memorial Hospital. In response to growing health care demand, AdventHealth Avista opened in Louisville in 1990, continuing its mission of whole-person healing.

Whole-person care

The gold rush of 1858 and 1859 drew thousands of fortune-seekers to Colorado, but the real population boom occurred several decades later with the influx of tuberculosis (TB) patients known as “lungers.” By the 1920s, more than half of Denver’s population had been admitted to TB treatment facilities. The Boulder Sanitarium became a renowned hub for TB patients, offering holistic care that emphasized healing both body and mind through fresh air, rest, exercise, spirituality, community, and a healthy diet.

At a time when medical treatments were primitive, Seventh-day Adventists pioneered a health approach using nature’s remedies and lifestyle changes to combat disease and promote vitality.

Founder Dr. John Harvey Kellogg championed a healthy diet, serving patients vegetarian, plant-based meals and banning harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol from the campus. His signature foods, including corn flakes, granola, and peanut butter, were available at the Boulder Sanitarium Food Company on the hospital grounds.

Today, the benefits of a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and grains are well-known for reducing chronic disease risks. Seventh-day Adventists were early advocates of this diet, recognizing its advantages long before it became popular.

Faith & community

Our faith calls us to honor the dignity of every person, seeing each one as deserving of kindness and unconditional love. Since our earliest days at the Sanitarium, we’ve emphasized the vital connection between body, mind, and spirit in our approach to health care. This desire to relieve suffering and heal the whole person has always defined Adventist health care. Today, Seventh-day Adventists operate the largest Protestant health care system in the world.

We’ve supported our community in significant moments—delivering more than 60,000 babies, restoring health, and inspiring hope. During the Marshall Fire in December 2021, our team worked diligently to evacuate patients and quickly reopen our doors to continue caring for those in need. We have cared for patients throughout multiple global pandemics and have grown in capacity and service lines to meet the health care needs of our community.

Our present & future

At AdventHealth Avista, we are honored to serve you and your family with a comprehensive range of healthcare services, right in your community. Our team has been focused on providing comprehensive care to our patients through every stage of life. AdventHealth Avista’s spine program continues to offer state-of-the-art technology to patients, resulting in fast recovery times and better outcomes. The New Life Birth Center continues to be a premiere birthing destination for mothers-to-be in our community. We are proud to have a level III NICU to care for premature babies and newborns who need extra care. You and your loved ones can rely on our award-winning care.

Guided by our mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, AdventHealth Avista has been a pillar of support to the Louisville, Boulder, and surrounding communities for well over a century. As we look to the future, we are committed to growing alongside our community, filled with optimism for the exciting developments on the horizon.

—AdventHealth News. Republished with permission from the AdventHealth News & Stories website, August 21, 2025, article. Photos supplied.

Bruno Lopes – Loveland, Colorado … Thirty-four students from Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, split into two backpacking groups to experience over 15 miles of hiking in the State Forest State Park and Indian Peaks Wilderness, August 22-24.

Both groups hiked in about three or four miles on Friday evening and set up camp. Then on Saturday, they spent the day hiking up the mountain to reach alpine lakes. After spending Saturday night at the camp site, they hiked back on Sunday.

Despite the challenges of high altitude, cold nights, and heavy bags, many students mentioned how the group was united, making the trip more enjoyable.

Luca Lu, senior student in the State Forest group, reflected, “I’ve done backpacking with Campion [Academy] for the past three years and something different that I really enjoyed was the group we had this year that made the hike way more fun and relaxing.”

Even though bad weather threatened both areas, the groups were blessed with mostly sunny days and cool nights. Abigail Brown, a junior student in the Indian Peaks group, said, “The weather was good—a little chilly and foggy—making us able to hike for longer and see lakes that we wouldn’t be able to see if the weather was bad.”

For several students, this was their first time backpacking, making this experience more unforgettable. Gabriel Tostes, sophomore student, commented, “I had never done backpacking before, and, although it was tiring to walk with the weight of the backpack, it was very satisfying to arrive at Kelly Lake. I also really enjoyed the time I spent together with my friends in the tent.”

​—Bruno Lopes, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.