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Marsha Bartulec – Erie, Colorado … The Vista Ridge Academy (VRA), in Erie, Colorado, middle school EnginEagles Robotic Team traveled to Orlando, Florida, to compete in the First Lego League National Competition hosted by Adventist Robotics, May 5.

As the team arrived in Orlando, anticipation and excitement filled the air. This was Vista Ridge Academy’s first appearance at the national-level competition, a culmination of months of dedication and hard work. Amidst the bustling atmosphere of the competition venue at Forest Lake Academy in Apopka, Florida, the team remained focused, yet nervous, eager to put their skills and innovation to the test along with 29 other talented teams from across the nation.

The team began their competition day presenting their “Innovation Project”: “It was nerve-wracking going into the innovation project presentation with three judges watching us,” says an eighth-grade EnginEagles team member. “I think we did pretty good.”

The teams’ “Innovation Project” includes a virtual reality travel experience utilizing the Disney inspired halo tile. This experience would be available to anyone regardless of budget and mobility. Along with the “Innovation Project,” the competition also included “Gracious Professionalism,” “Robot Design,” and the “Robot Game.” In the “Robot Game,” the EnginEagles scored 340 in the first round, 350 in the second, and 380 in the final round.

While the overall results were eagerly awaited, the true victory lay in the bonds strengthened, the lessons learned, and the memories created. Reflecting on their journey, an eighth-grade EnginEagles team member expressed, “Walking into the competition today, we all knew we had a chance at it.”

The “Champions Award” went to Silver Botz Robotics Team from Silver Creek Adventist School in Morganton, North Carolina. The VRA team was excited to receive the “Engineering Excellence Award.” This award celebrates a team with an efficiently designed robot, an innovative product solution that effectively addresses the season challenge, and demonstrates great core values evident in all they do.

As part of their trip, students walked in the footsteps of space pioneers at the Kennedy Space Center. They also attended a local Seventh-day Adventist church, enriching their experience beyond the Robotics competition.

VRA leadership expresses their gratitude to the teachers, donors, and volunteers who have helped the Robotics program start this school year, and who have also helped the EnginEagles attend both the regional and national competitions.

In the end, as the team bid farewell to Orlando and travelled home, they carried with them more than their trophy and accolades. They carried the spirit of exploration, teamwork, and the memories of an adventure that transcended the boundaries of competition.

—Marsha Bartulec is principal at Vista Ridge Academy. Photos by Annmarie Duran and Dannelle Stratton.

Rick Mautz – Denver, Colorado … Rick Mautz, the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Health Ministry director and president of the Adventist Association of Health and Wellness Coaching, was a featured speaker at the North American Division (NAD) Health Summit Intensive in Columbia, Maryland, April 26-28.

Health ministry leaders from all over NAD came together to share and learn how to ignite their local churches to reach their communities through the methods that Christ chose to touch this world during His time on Earth. They explored ways to pass Christ-like reflective skills to their local communities.

Rick Mautz and Dr. Ernie Medina, Health Coaching instructor at Loma Linda School of Health, held a session introducing their new training program “Listen, Inspire, Facilitate and Transform” (LIFT). This program is inspired from Jesus’s way of coaching, designed to train church members how to better reflect the character of Christ through following His principles of personal connection in all areas of contact.

“These are Christ’s principles that will help every area of ministry and personal relationships fulfill the gospel commission of reflecting to our world the character of the God we serve,” explained Mautz.

The summit also included eight other three-day classes on subjects including “ENGAGE: Ministry to Youth and Young Adults,” “Health Everlasting,” “Faith Community Nursing,” and “Soul Shop: Workshop on Suicide Prevention.” Up to 15 participants attended these sessions.

Mautz was also part of a two-day strategic planning session of the NAD Health Ministry Department to clarify the work of this important ministry and provide the best leadership for our unions, conferences, and local churches.

Mautz concluded, “God is moving and inspiring the work in the North American Division, and we are thrilled to be a part of His right arm today.”

The “LIFT” program training is currently online on the RMC Health Ministry website. Click here for more information.

—Rick Mautz, PT MS, is RMC Health Ministry director and director of the Rocky Mountain Lifestyle Center. Photos supplied.

Samantha Nelson – Cody, Wyoming … Carin and Ron Lynch from the Lay Institute for Global Health Training (LIGHT) Ministries presented multiple health lectures and plant-based cooking programs throughout Wyoming’s Big Horn Basin at the Powell, Cody, and Worland Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Powell, Cody, and Worland, Wyoming, respectively, April 24-May 7.

Having conducted a Natural Remedies Certification course in Cody last year, one of the unique presentations given this year was on making homemade natural health products, including everything from toothpaste to carpet freshener to hand sanitizer. This class was informative and helpful for participants, and everyone got to take home a sample product along with instructions on how to make their own at home.

In the bread-making class at Powell, attendees got to get their hands on the dough as each one made their own loaf of nutritious and delicious bread—from mixing, kneading, and baking, to enjoying the scrumptious fruit of their labor.

Attendee Bobbi Douglas said this about the cooking programs: “Wonderful and very informative seminars. So excited to be able to share what I have learned.”

The cooking school at Worland left everyone with their mouths watering for more of the delicious food that was made, which included delicious cookies, soups, and spreads.

“We are so grateful Ron and Carin came to show us practical ways to live healthier in a non-judgmental, engaging environment. They came as presenters and left as friends, we are truly blessed!” remarked Kirby Treat, head elder at the Worland Church.

—Samantha Nelson reports from the Cody Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cody, Wyoming. Photos by Samantha Nelson.

Cinthya Miranda and Lacinda Hopkins – Loveland, Colorado … Do you hear that? It’s the sound of the drums starting the parade lead by Joel Dominguez, the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) drum master, followed by 200 little feet. Adventurers Fun Day had begun!

RMC held their annual Adventure Fun Day at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, May 5. Each May as the school year ends, the RMC Adventurer Fun Day brings the Adventurer clubs together from around the Conference for a day of fun, activities, learning, fellowship, and friendship.

As parade participants approached the parade entrance, their smiles and excitement could be felt by parade attendees. “Seeing all the Adventurers come together, you just can’t help but smile and have your heart be a kid again for just a day!” commented an event organizer.

The Montrose Hispanic Rockies Adventurer Club impressed the crowd with a train containing the “Adventurers’ Law,” the Colorado Indonesian Brave Sparrows Adventurer Club brought “Daniel and Lions,” and the Pecos Hispanic Telaim Adventurer Club walked a wagon with the RMC Club Ministry’s theme “Be the Difference.”

Korine Jensen, mother of Adventurer club member, Andy, said that he had told her, “Fun Day was AWESOME mom; I want to do this next year!” She continued, “that makes my heart happy!!”

During the opening program, Leandro Bizama, associate pastor of Worship and Evangelism at the Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loveland, Colorado, led the kids in song with his guitar in an original song he created for this year’s Adventurer theme. “We honestly felt the goosebumps as we sang that song altogether ‘Let us shine in this world full of darkness, sharing Jesus to those around us,’” commented one attendee.

Ruth Lagos, Adventurer club director of the Colorado Springs Central Pikes Peak Adventurer Club, shared a devotional with her puppet friend about the year’s theme also during the opening program.

Classes at the event were led by Christina Hernandez, Pathfinders teen coordinator, Lizeth Tapia, assistant director of Children’s Ministry at the Greeley Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Greeley, Colorado, Nataly Lerma, Northeastern Colorado Adventurer area coordinator, and Eli Gonzalez, RMC Club Ministries executive coordinator in-training.

During the classes, Cinthya Miranda, RMC Adventurer coordinator, witnessed a scene that captured her heart. Marcos R., member of the Longmont Thunder Adventurers Club, escorted fellow club member, Liam G., back to the bug race table. Marcos, one of the winners of the race, pleaded with the judges to let Liam race again. The judges explained that it wouldn’t be fair to other kids, so Marcos hugged Liam and said, “it’s OK, you are a winner too.” Kara F., member of the Loveland Cougars Adventurer Club, also approached Miranda to say, “Thank you.”

Caleb Q., member of the Pecos Hispanic Telaim Adventurer Club, shared his experienced: “I loved the obstacle course station. I really liked my prize whistle. I was crying because I wanted a toy, and an Adventurer asked me why I was crying? I told him [it was] because I wanted a toy and he told me ‘I’ll give you one, I have two.’” That Adventurer applied the “Be the Difference” theme even at Fun Day.

The bug beauty contest was a popular event at this year’s Fun Day. There were many beautifully made bugs entered, and there were bugs entered in the bug races.

The Loveland Cougars, Longmont Thunder, and Franktown Fireflies Pathfinders clubs and teen representatives came to help with security, overseeing the bouncy house, and the obstacle course. Hanna B., a youth from LifeSource Adventist Fellowship, stated, “I appreciated winning a trophy and selling popsicles.” Haddie B., also a youth from LifeSource, said, “I liked the obstacle course and the bouncy house!”

The Bible Memory Verse table, where kids have a chance to recite verses that they have memorized over the past year to reinforce the theme of the year, was another part of Fun Day. This year’s winners of the Bible memory verses impressed the judges by perfectly reciting all verses. “Everyone did an amazing job, and we are proud of each one of them! What impressed us the most was 4-year-old, Emma L., from the Greeley Nazareo Adventurer Club. Her ability to memorize all those Bible verses blew our mind,” commented an event organizer.

There was also a table for the Adventurers to make cards that will be distributed in one of the regional Adventist hospitals. Organizers of the event strive to always include a spiritual aspect in Fun Day, referencing the Bible verse Matthew 18:3: And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Golden Falcons Adventurer Club director, Beth Riley, commented, “Fun Day was absolutely amazing! The children had a fantastic time getting to enjoy the day with other clubs. They put in so much effort with their bugs and had a blast participating in races and contests.”

“Witnessing their excitement, from the parade to receiving their trophies was truly heartwarming,” she continued. “A huge thank you to all the hardworking leaders who made this day possible.”

The RMC Adventurer and event leadership extend their gratitude to everyone that participated and helped.

—Cinthya Miranda is the RMC Adventurers coordinator and Lacinda Hopkins is the RMC Adventurers coordinator in-training and Wyoming Area Adventurers coordinator. Photos supplied.

Timothy Jones – Baraton, Kenya … The Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) received a service request from the West Kenya Union Conference (WKUC) for the services of Timothy Jones, lead pastor of the Mountain View and Twin Peaks Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Longmont and Louisville, Colorado, respectively, in the first quarter of this year to assist in the opening of an Adventist church in the Mugumya village west of Kapkilel, Kenya.

Jones had served in this area over fifteen years ago, holding evangelistic meetings and assisting the Conference in planting and building a church in a local open field. He also supported the pastor for that new church for a year.

That church grew and another church was planted through it. WKUC now wanted to plant a third church in an area where the presence of an Adventist church was desperately needed. Having worked closely with Jones in the original evangelistic effort, where sixty people were baptized and a new church started, the Conference leadership turned to him again to help with this effort.

Since Jones is presently a pastor in the Rocky Mountain Conference, the support for this outreach endeavor had to come from the RMC. The Conference agreed to support this effort by allowing him to be released to facilitate this evangelism outreach. Jones and his wife, Carol, were soon off to conduct an evangelistic meeting in Kenya in eastern Africa.

After arriving in Kenya, Pastor Tim and Carol were warmly received by the WKUC president and other officials. They were housed at the University of Eastern Africa (UEAB), a Seventh-day Adventist university in Baraton, Kenya.

After the first Sabbath evangelistic meeting in the original church plant, the additional meetings were moved some distance away from the town and were held in an open field in a nearby village. The meeting attendance grew each night, and ministry to both adults and children was provided. Carol gave a message each night to the children and, each night, more children came.

After the meetings were concluded, a baptism service was held for 20 people who were prepared for baptism. There are many more who are preparing for future baptisms.

“A pastor has been appointed to lead this new church group in this area, and we continue to pray for the growth of the new church,” commented Jones. He continued, “By God’s grace we now have three churches that have been planted, and it was a wonderful experience seeing God work among these people who have so little, but love God so much and are so willing and desirous to share God’s love and the good news of Jesus’ soon coming.”

Much appreciation has been sent to the Rocky Mountain Conference for allowing Pastor Tim Jones and his wife Carol to go to Africa for this work of ministry.

—Timothy Jones is lead pastor at the Mountain View Seventh-day Adventist Church and Twin Peaks Seventh-day Adventist Church in Longmont and Louisville, Colorado, respectively. Photos supplied.

Annahi Hufman – Montrose, Colorado … The Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montrose, Colorado, loaded up their side-by-sides, four wheelers, bicycles, campers, tents, and hiking shoes for a weekend of fellowship starting April 11.

April 11-12 was spent setting up camp. For those who arrived on April 11, they hiked as the rest of the participating church family arrived April 12.

“With a great group of around 50 people, plus some fur buddies included, we came together to explore what beautiful Moab had to offer,” commented participant and Montrose Church member, Annahi Hufman. “We welcomed the Sabbath surrounding a cozy campfire as we sang beautiful hymns and shared a beautiful message that was led by the wonderful [Elder] Larry Dupper.”

She continued, “Sabbath is a happy day, so what a better way to enjoy our Sabbath day than to have our pastor give an encouraging devotion before everyone went on to their separate ways.” One of the powerful messages that Nathan Cranson, lead pastor at the Montrose Church, shared with participants is to unplug and enjoy the presence of God.

Many people often are on “go-mode” and become so busy that they often overlook what God is trying to tell them. With that powerful message, participants thought about slowing down and letting God lead. They found this camping trip a great opportunity to begin doing that.

The Sabbath worship was closed out with campfire led out by Dan Golden, a member of the Montrose Church.

“This church campout gave our church a chance to hangout outside of the regular church activities, to get to know one another on a different level,” commented one participant.

“As our amazing campout came to an end, and as we all cleaned up and went our separate ways Sunday morning, we left with a greater view of how close we became throughout this church campout. What a Blessing indeed,” commented Hufman.

—Annahi Hufman writes from the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

Kay Sparks and Linda McLean – Longmont, Colorado … The Three Angels Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship in Longmont, Colorado, a Fellowship sponsored by Pastor John Davidson through the Golden Seventh-day Adventist Church in Golden, Colorado, hosted a three-part film series entitled “TruthFlix” they created for the community, April 12, 19, and 26. The event showcased a different Amazing Facts documentary on each night. *

Two weeks prior to the first event, the small Fellowship distributed 1,400 fliers on neighborhood doors and 70 posters in nearby businesses in Longmont. Seven non-Seventh-day Adventist guests attended the event, and three more watched the series from home. The organizers of the event commented, “Our prayer is that others look the movies up on-line.”

Alison, one of the Three Angels Fellowship outreach committee members, shared, “[One of the attendees] was excited to see me at the meeting as I was the person that had given her the flyer.  She said the documentaries were very smooth and wanted to know when we had church services.”

Each night, attendees received the corresponding Amazing Facts Magazine as well as other literature as door prizes. Several attendees expressed an interest in attending Sabbath services. Alison continued, “When [one of the attendees] missed a night, she requested the magazine [provided that night] as she really wanted to read it because she has read the previous magazines.”

One attendee has already attended services twice, stayed for and enjoyed the vegetarian potlucks, and requested Bible studies. Another attendee has come to the mid-week service and has joined in Bible studies.

“The person mentioned above, who has attended church services and requested Bible studies, told me that he heard about the “TruthFlix” by a flyer being taped to his door.  He was familiar with Doug Batchelor as he had watched him a lot through the years and was excited to attend our event,” commented Ron, a member of the Three Angels Fellowship.

Ron continued, “I thought they were very timely given the current climate in our world.  They were biblically accurate, and I wish everyone could have seen them. They seemed to elicit the interest of the people in our community.”

One of the newest members of the Three Angels Fellowship commented that she really enjoyed the documentaries: “The origin of evil was very informative regarding the transformation of a perfect angel into Satan. The unveiling of Bible prophecy and the mysteriously controversial Book of Revelation was very helpful.  I am looking forward to the next one regarding more about prophecy and our Lord.”

All attendees were also invited to the upcoming Adventist-Laymen’s Services & Industries (ASI) Mid-America Union Convention in Thornton, Colorado, May 16-19, where Doug Batchelor is the lead speaker. Several have expressed an interest in attending this convention to see and hear the host of the “TruthFlix” documentaries in person.

* Please note that Doug Batchelor and Amazing Facts International and its media and publications are not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) nor the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.

—Kay Sparks and Linda McLean are writing from the Three Angels Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship. Photos by Unsplash and supplied.

RD Gallant and Cindy Roldan – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Mile High Academy (MHA) recently concluded its FOCUS Week, dedicated to celebrating diversity, fostering community engagement, and promoting personal growth among its student body, April 15-19. The school engaged in a series of enriching events, including several special chapel services by guest speaker Carl Wilkens.

Wilkens shared gripping tales from his experiences during the Rwandan Genocide. As the sole American who chose to remain in Rwanda during this dark period, Wilkens’s firsthand accounts shed light on the power of compassion and resilience in the face of adversity.

In addition to his narratives, Wilkens delved into the study of neurobiology, emphasizing the importance of understanding trauma and healing in students’ lives. Each day, he gave four presentations to different groups in the morning then joined students in the classroom during the afternoon.

Throughout the week, students participated in activities to encourage empathy, understanding, and collaboration. Adding to the cultural richness of the week, Indonesian students took center stage with several song services, highlighting the diverse tapestry within the school community. Dressed in vibrant Batik attire, some Indonesian students led the congregation in songs accompanied by piano and guitar during the Monday and Friday All School Chapels.

Parents representing diverse backgrounds joined classrooms to share insights into their respective countries. These interactive sessions offered students a firsthand glimpse into a variety of global cultures, fostering curiosity and understanding.

The week culminated in a Parade of Nations during All-School Chapel on April 19. With an outstanding turnout of parents, students and staff marched into the gym donned in colorful attire and waving flags representing countries from around the world. Classes showcased their research and creativity, with highlights including the fifth-grade class presenting a dragon dance inspired by their study of Taiwan.

Following the chapel service, and with a nod to personalized learning, the kindergarten through fifth-grade classes were issued individualized passports and embarked on a virtual journey to different countries, receiving stamps along the way. The students also had the opportunity to sample diverse cuisines and explore various cultures to enhance their global awareness.

“FOCUS Week instilled empathy, resilience, and global citizenship in our students,” said RD Gallant, MHA chaplain. “As we carry forward the lessons and memories from this week, may we continue to foster a culture of inclusivity and understanding.”

MHA closed its FOCUS Week with a special evening service at Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Littleton, Colorado. During the program, Wilkens continued sharing his testimony, which served as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of embracing diversity and unity.

Andrew Carpenter, MHA principal, expressed his pride in the school community’s dedication to embracing diversity and fostering a sense of belonging, stating, “FOCUS Week exemplified our commitment to providing a holistic educational experience, including nurturing the growth and awareness of our students. We were humbled to see so many in our community come together to celebrate unity and shared values.”

—RD Gallant is MHA’s Upper School Bible teacher and chaplain. Cindy Roldan is MHA’s registrar and administrative assistant. Photos supplied.

Dennis Magaña – Montrose, Colorado … El Sabado y Domingo 27 y 28 de abril, la Iglesia ASD Maranatha celebró el Día del Niño. Fue un momento para que la iglesia reconociera y celebrara a nuestros miembros más pequeños y los que pronto serán miembros de nuestra iglesia.

El servicio del sábado por la mañana estuvo a cargo de las clases de niños, incluido el servicio de canto. Toda la iglesia cantó con entusiasmo canción tras canción con los niños, lo que algunos miembros comentaron que les trajo recuerdos de su infancia mientras crecían en la iglesia y cantaban algunas de esas mismas canciones. El sermón de Adoración fue sobre Noé y cómo a través de su fidelidad y siempre haciendo lo que Dios le ordenó terminó salvándolo a él y a su familia. También se recordó a la iglesia que se tome el tiempo y cuide a nuestros niños, ya que ellos son el futuro de la iglesia.

En el programa de Sociedad de Jovenes de la tarde, todos disfrutaron del rompehielos que se hizo mostrando a muchos de los padres y líderes de la iglesia cuando eran niños y haciendo que todos adivinaran quién era cada persona. Después del servicio, se instaló una tienda especial donde los niños podían comprar un juguete, que obviamente era su parte favorita.

El domingo, todos compartieron juegos, comida, compras y piñatas, y fue un gran placer ver a todos los niños jugar juntos y ser celebrados.

Lo que fue especialmente sorprendente de este fin de semana fue la cantidad de visitantes que este evento trajo a la iglesia. El domingo, 4 familias nuevas que nunca habían puesto un pie en nuestra iglesia se enteraron de nuestro evento y vinieron a celebrar con nosotros. Una de las familias comentó después que esto era exactamente lo que estaban buscando en una familia de la iglesia y que estarían adorando con nosotros el próximo sábado.

Otra familia, que es de Belice, estaba hablando con el pastor Santo Valdez y comentó que él era la única persona de Belice en todo Montrose. Imagínese su asombro cuando descubrió que en realidad no era el único de Belice, ya que también hay otras 2 familias en la Iglesia Maranatha de Belice. También mencionó que solía ser adventista y que no ha regresado a la iglesia desde 2013, pero ahora él y su familia están haciendo planes para asistir también el sábado.

El pastor Santo comentó que este tipo de eventos son una prueba continua de que el método de Cristo de cómo evangelizar funciona. Cristo ministró a las necesidades del pueblo primero, y luego dijo: “sígueme”.

Por favor oren por la Iglesia Maranatha y por todos nuestros nuevos amigos que conocimos este fin de semana para que el Espíritu Santo, obrando a través de nosotros, continúe guiándonos y mostrándole a Montrose la necesidad que todos tenemos de un Salvador.

—Dennis Magaña es el primer aniano de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día Hispana de Montrose. Fotos suplidas.