Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

21 Dec

Passing on a Passion for Fitness

By Ryan Teller – Lincoln, Nebraska … One morning while shaving, Rich Reiner made a discovery that proved to be a wakeup call. “I found a bump on my neck,” he said. “That shouldn’t be there.”

At the age of 39 with three young children, he was shocked when a barrage of medical tests determined he had Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with a less than desirable long-term prognosis.

That was more than 30 years ago.

“It was a wake up call,” said Reiner. He and his wife, Lynnet, who live in Florida, began to place a greater emphasis on their health — both changing their diet and becoming much more intentional about exercise.

The couple continued to grow their commitment to fitness as their kids grew up and then into retirement. Lynnet runs the Walt Disney World Marathon every January as well as various half marathons, and the couple love to hike, bike, and ski.

“I have joked with many people about trying to keep up with my wife,” Reiner said. “I do my best.” In addition to the marathons, Lynnet enjoys adding Colorado 14ers to her list of mountains hiked. During the pandemic, they have increased their biking mileages and are enjoying doing rail trails in different states. And they continue to ski every winter in Colorado as well as Switzerland and Italy with a trip planned to Austria this winter.

“We both have a commitment to staying healthy so we can ski with our grandchildren,” he said.

The couple have also long been supporters of Union College, the place where they met. Rich has served on the Board of Trustees for 20 years, and the couple established an endowment fund for student scholarships. But Union’s plans to build an expanded wellness center felt personal.

After Rich retired from Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth), Union asked him to serve as interim CFO for several months in 2016. “I stayed in one of the guest rooms,” he remembered. “For years I had gone to the gym every morning, so I went to the Larson Lifestyle Center to exercise. I was not impressed with the facilities.”

Sweating on old workout equipment crowded into small spaces that were not adequately cooled, he thought to himself, “I think we can do better than this.”

So he and Lynnet championed what would ultimately become the Fit for the Future fundraising campaign to build an expanded wellness center at Union College.

Reiner now serves as the campaign chair, and the couple gave a leadership gift for the Reiner Wellness Center inside the new AdventHealth Complex which will nearly triple the size of the current Larson Lifestyle Center.

The couple both grew up on small farms in the midwest with limited resources, but throughout Rich’s career, first working in higher education and then healthcare, the couple invested wisely, including building and purchasing rental properties when they lived in Lincoln after college. “We’ve been blessed financially beyond our wildest dreams,” he said. “We both feel it is important to give back to society and those who come after us.”

Now they are giving some of those properties to Union to help make the project a reality. This becomes a win-win, because the tax consequences for the Reiners can be minimized with the financial benefits going to the Fit for the Future project.

The couple believes in the importance of wellness and hopes to pass that value on to college students as they form their own priorities and life goals. “This project really resonates with us and our values. That’s why I’ve gone all in on our fundraising,” said Rich. “It is really important for us to give back to the college where we both had four great years. We believe this is a project whose time has come.”

Learn more about the Fit for the Future campaign here.

— Ryan Teller is public relations and marketing director for Union College; photo supplied

This article was originally published on the North American Division website

20 Dec

GRAND JUNCTION CHURCH WOMEN GATHER FOR CHRISTMAS FELLOWSHIP

By Sandi Adcox – Grand Junction, Colorado … After a long absence of women’s ministry events, the Grand Junction Adventist Church held a Christmas evening for the women of the church and community on December 13.

The gathering, attended by 80 women, offered an opportunity to rekindle and make new connections while enjoying a catered Italian meal, delicious desserts, fellowship, and music.

Sandi Adcox and Sandy Carosella, Grand Junction women’s ministries leaders, felt that seeing ladies re-connect after a drought of group activities was the biggest blessing of the evening.

Reflecting on the event, Wendy Smith, an attendee, said, “The event created an atmosphere of laughter and a space to enjoy each other’s company.”

Members invited guests who had never before attended and several others came after an extended absence from church activities. The program showed Christmas from a child’s view and stressed the true biblical meaning of Christmas.

“The program stressed how to be positively contagious by living a life of joy, happiness, hope, and reflecting Jesus in our lives,” an attendee stated.

“This type of event is exactly what our church needs at this time,” Nate Skaife, Grand Junction pastor, said.

–Sandi Adcox is Grand Junction Church women’s ministries leader; photos by Sandi Adcox

16 Dec

IN MEMORIAM: JACK BOHANNON, AN EVANGELIST TILL THE END

RMCNews with Eric Nelson … Jack Bohannon, long-time evangelist, pastor, and Union president, went to sleep with Jesus on November 24, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Jack Bruce Bohannon was born on November 29, 1933, in Fitzgerald, Georgia to Bill and Belle Bohannon. He was one of seven children.

Times were tough for the Bohannons during war rations. Jack’s parents divorced, and the family struggled. At one point, there was talk of placing the children in a Methodist orphan home in Selma, Alabama. However, the family did remain together when Bohannon’s stepmother agreed to keep the seven children.

In 1946, Pastor William Hatch (future Colorado Conference President) conducted a series of evangelistic meetings in Titusville, Florida where the family had moved. Bohannon and his sister sat on the front row. He was soon baptized. The church encouraged him to attend Forrest Lake Academy and helped fund his education. He also attended Southern Missionary College in Collegedale, Tennessee graduating in 1957 with a theology major. It was there that he met and married Donna Weber on May 31, 1955.

Jack began his pastoral career in the Georgia Cumberland Conference as an intern and was sponsored to the seminary, completing his studies in 1958. He returned to Georgia to write and broadcast radio programs and conduct revival meetings.

In early 1962, the Bohannon’s accepted a call to Iran to serve as pastoral and evangelistic missionaries, learning the Fasi language. During a furlough, Jack completed a doctorate in speech communication and a minor in radio and television production from Michigan State University in 1968.

He became the chair of the Theology Department at Middle East College in Lebanon in 1962.

Returning stateside, he became the ministerial director and evangelist for Colorado developing a unique three-screen, nine-projector media program for his presentations. Soon, he was called to serve as an evangelist for the Central Union (now Mid-America Union Conference).

He served as pastor for the College View Church in Lincoln, Nebraska and taught homiletics at Union College. Before returning to Colorado, he moved to the Lake Union Conference to serve as their evangelist.

In 1987 Bohannon was called to be the Union President for the newly-organized Uganda Union Mission.

He retired in 2005 from official full-time ministry, having completed 46 years of service for the Lord.

In 2007, he and his wife Donna became leaders at Colorado Springs South Church with a passion for educating and training leaders in the church.

Reflecting on Bohannon’s life and ministry, Eric Nelson, former RMC vice president of administration, said, “His ministry included a breadth and versatility that few have ever experienced. His life was a testimony of how God can use His servant coming from very humble beginnings to serve the world church as pastor, evangelist, missionary, theology professor, trainer, conference administrator, and union president.”

Nelson added, “I’ve never known anyone with such breadth of experience. Though Jack was not one to mince words, there was never any question of his dedication and love for Lord.”

Bohannan was in the middle of a Revelation Countdown series of meetings at the Colorado Springs South Church when he went to sleep waiting for the trumpet to wake him.

Dr. Jack Bohannon is survived by his wife Donna, two brothers, one sister, and his children–Dale, Lorielle, and Scott.

–RMCNews with Eric Nelson, former RMC vice president of administration

16 Dec

PRELIMINARY RMC BUDGET VOTED

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … During the last meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference Executive Committee in 2021, which took place on December 7, the RMC Financial Report showed a strong year, with base tithe increasing 12.87% from 2020.

Presenting the report, Darin Gottfried, vice president for finance, said that “October was an amazing month for the Conference Advance offering as a large donation was received. This has given many ministries a wonderful blessing. We have four months of working capital, which puts us in a stable financial position heading into December.”

A preliminary budget was also presented, and a significant amount of time was spent talking about the opportunities of growth and the challenges that are presented by another year. Increased costs due to inflation much higher than normal “have increased expenses and make it a challenge to have a balanced budget,” Gottfried said.

The Rocky Mountain Conference has been blessed by the increased giving from many church members. “Because of this,” Gottfried continued, “we are able to continue forward without having to reduce ministry and are looking forward to the amazing things that can happen in this conference in the coming year. We are constantly praying that we are able to be good stewards of the Lord’s finances and use what we have in the most beneficial way. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.”

As part of the Personnel Report, Doug Inglish, vice president for administration, indicated pastoral openings in the Alamosa and Pinon Hills districts, as well as a half-time position open at Castle Rock, and an opening for senior pastor soon in Littleton. There will be some shifting of pastoral positions among the Hispanic churches, leaving an opening in the Montrose Hispanic district. A candidate is being interviewed for that district, Inglish reported.

Per a request from the Bloomfield, New Mexico Hispanic church, an enabling action was approved for the administration to facilitate a transfer of that church to the Texico Conference, which has indicated a willingness to accept the transfer. The church does not have a revolving fund loan outstanding, and reviews of membership and finances are underway in order to facilitate a transfer.

RMCNews; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

15 Dec

LITTLETON CHURCH SERVES DENVER HOMELESS

RMCNews with Russell Palmer – Littleton, Colorado … Littleton Adventist Church is hitting the streets to provide a little bit of happiness and joy along with much-needed nourishment for the homeless population of Denver.

The middle and high school groups earlier this year formed an outreach program called S.O.S (Service on Sabbath). The students take one Sabbath afternoon a month to serve the most vulnerable population in Denver by providing not only food, but warm clothes, and a chance to hear their story.

Littleton’s youth director, Russell Palmer, reflected on the most recent outreach on December 4, where the group passed out 200 burritos.

“I noticed that everyone we spoke with was very receptive, open, and thankful for prayer. After praying with one young man, he looked up at me with tears streaming down his cheeks and said, ‘This food and drink is my miracle today, something to show that God is still watching out for me.’ He went on to share that he and many others in the area had been struggling with drug addiction and, as a result, many people were dealing with kidney failure.”

Palmer added, “Sometimes something as simple as a burrito and a bottle of water is more important to the health of these individuals than we could ever know. Just as important as the physical food we provide is the spiritual food that we offer through prayer that brings hope and encouragement to a seemingly hopeless situation.”

The program is making the youth of Littleton reflect and is instilling a mission-minded focus in their lives.

“Helping the homeless in downtown Denver has been a great experience. Helping those in need feels really good, and I will never forget it. I even made a friend; his name is Patrick. My dad and I prayed over him and talked to him about Jesus. Praying over others has been the best part of the experience. Just comforting others by sharing Jesus has been very special and meaningful,” Eliud, a high school student, remarked.

Another high school student, Noah, commented, “S.O.S has taught me how simply giving burritos to the homeless can make people so happy, and make me just as happy too! It’s taught me to act more like Christ, even to the least of these.”

Palmer could relate to a story a homeless woman shared with him. He explains, “Another woman I prayed with told me that she actually died earlier this year and was brought back to life. I shared with her that just a few months ago, I should’ve died too, but God wasn’t finished with me yet, and I told her with confidence and assurance, ‘if you’re still alive today, then He’s not finished with you yet either!’ She replied, ‘You’re right; he’s not finished with me yet!’ I told her about a man named Jesus who also died and was brought back to life to save us from our sins and to one day take us home to heaven with him.”

What also made this service special was that Littleton handed out winter jackets to the homeless after collecting them in a church-wide donation drive in November. They handed these jackets out a day before temperatures plummeted to the teens.

“You could just feel the excitement and energy in the air as people perused through the coats with our young people right there to help them pick out the one that fit just right. It was almost like we had a winter clothing shop set up right outside the mission especially for them. They seemed even more excited about the coats than they were about the food! It was truly a blessing to witness,” Palmer said.

Connor, a middle schooler, summed up the outreach by stating, “It has been great seeing the happiness on the faces of those we have helped.”

–RMCNews with Russell Palmer youth director at Littleton Adventist Church; photos supplied

15 Dec

LIFESOURCE AND TRUE LIFE CHURCH FORMS ADVENTURER CLUB

RMCNews with Lydie Birai – Denver, Colorado … LifeSource Adventist Fellowship is investing in the future of the church and young people’s lives in Denver by restarting their Adventure Club.

The thought of restoring the Adventurer Club began several months ago when parents approached Lydie Birai, wife Daniel Birai, senior pastor at LifeSource, expressing an interest. As members began to make plans to restart the Adventurer Club, the venture grew into a joint effort between True Life Adventist Community Church, which also meets on the campus, and LifeSource Adventist Fellowship. An initial meeting to gauge interest ended with Lydie Birai as director for the club and Karene Thomas-Watts as assistant director.

Brandon Westgate, new RMC youth director, explained why it is vital for RMC churches to explore the formation of Adventurer and Pathfinder clubs. “If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we should never take real face-to-face interactions for granted. While growing levels of anxiety, depression, and stress in adults during this pandemic have garnered some attention, few people stop to consider that young people have been negatively impacted in all of these areas as well, and some studies suggest they have been more severely impacted.”

He adds, “This is why it is such an encouragement to see our churches re-engaging the youth of the RMC in Adventurer and Pathfinder clubs. Adventurers and Pathfinders play a vital role in communicating a sense of belonging as life skills are taught, and Jesus is exalted. As a church, we need to provide our young people with opportunities to connect or reconnect with Jesus and one another so that they can demonstrate their resilience.”

Feeling inadequate and recognizing the need for help, Lydie continued to lead during the initial organization meeting but prayed daily for the right person to take over. In October, the prayer was answered when Daisy Dalegowski stepped into the director role. Dalegowski brought years of Pathfinder leadership experience and, on December 4, held a successful sign-up meeting.

Westgate is very grateful to see the new club planning its first meeting in January. “I am especially thankful that LifeSource is restarting their Adventurer Club. We live in a real-world, where changes in leadership and missional focus can cause churches to reevaluate their vision and mission. I am thankful when I see a church that prioritizes youth because I know that this is a church with a bright future. Investing in our youngest members’ lives sets a church [up] for long-term success and gains. As youth director for RMC, I will always be supportive of any church who is trying their best to empower the next generation to live their greatest story for Jesus.”

The new Adventurer Club at LifeSource and True Life is open for any Denver area youth interested in joining the club. “No, you do not need to be part of the LifeSource or True Life Adventist churches to join us. But you do need to fill out some paperwork. Please get in touch with me via email at [email protected] for more information,” Lydie Birai said. The first meeting is scheduled for January 15th. Then the club will meet the first and third Sabbath monthly.

Westgate believes these clubs are vital to providing safe spaces for the youth, “Both Adventurers and Pathfinder clubs are proven methods for creating a space where our youth can engage with one another and with mentor/leaders in activities and relevant service projects that truly take the church outside the walls of the worship center and into the community. Our mission statement in the RMC youth department is ‘Making it easy for kids to know God’ and Adventurer and Pathfinder club ministries play a crucial role in this endeavor.”

He adds, “If your church is feeling a bit hum-drum, start up an Adventurer Club or a Pathfinder Club, or better yet start both. I can guarantee that when you begin some intentional interactions with this newest generation of believers, things won’t remain hum-drum for long!”

— RMCNews with Lydie Birai, photo supplied

14 Dec

CHURCH PLANT INAUGURATED IN DOWNTOWN DENVER

By Rajmund Dabrowski – Denver, Colorado … When you drive or walk through the Five Points, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Denver, you might wonder if a church could be established there. Laced with bars, warehouses, small business establishments, and with graffiti everywhere, it gives you the impression of a dangerous place to start a church.

Miloš Tomić, an associate pastor of the Arvada Adventist Church will take you back to 2019 when he threw out an idea during a pastoral evaluation meeting at the Rocky Mountain Conference. Ed Barnett, former RMC president, challenged him quite directly: “Like, hey, you know what? You guys from Arvada, you guys can do this. You guys should just get a place and start a church downtown.”

We took the challenge with a group of young Adventists from our local church, Miloš explained. But then COVID came and messed up the whole idea until pretty much the middle of this year. The idea did not go away. “Let’s do something that is not going to be [getting] in the way of people connecting with this ministry because this neighborhood is very dangerous. People who live in the neighborhood, “they’re a part of the space [we] rent. They’re a part of the neighborhood we are in, and a lot of them are very anti-church,” he reflected.

On Sabbath, December 11, Pastor Tomić and a group of Arvada young people met for what could be seen as a seeker worship. Thus started the Five Points Life Adventist Church.

You quickly discover that you are participating in a meeting of a group of young people who are trying to get themselves sorted out with the presence of God in their lives, a group of young people committed to “helping this neighborhood experience something better, something bigger and something that will improve the neighborhood and just get the people over here, [to help them] understand that the spiritual aspect of life is as important as boozing and bar hopping as they have it around here,” Miloš explained.

Five Points Life has two objectives – to create an environment, a community for everyone; and to promote the values of the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus, sticking to the things that really matter to people, allowing them to find their path with God and to find solutions in their lives with God.

This is a church, Miloš said, “but this is not like your typical, average, or usual church you’re going to have. This is a group of people who are here not to listen to me. People come here to share, to hear what others have to share. This will never be that typical [approach] with let’s line up, let’s stand up, let’s sit down, let’s do this, let’s do that. The New Testament church was kind of a complete freedom of expression.”

“We are going to the basics,” he added.

Joining the group was Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director. He commented, “it thrills my soul to know that we now have a safe place in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver where young adults can come and connect to God and with other young adults. Miloš’s biblical insights are very inspiring and relevant. You leave church feeling grateful for your blessings and excited about the ones to come.”

The group began with their involvement in the neighborhood by getting to know their neighbors and promoting their presence in the area.

Observing the small group at the opening worship and discussion meeting in the Posner Center, where they are renting space, one could develop an appreciation for their dedication to make the initiative work. The growth will depend on unwavering dependence on God’s guidance. As their invitation for other Seventh-day Adventists states: “In the spirit of acceptance and compassion, and with a goal for everyone to feel welcome, we will preach the Gospel message and maintain seeker worship.”

–Rajmund Dabrowski is editor of NewsNuggets. Photos by Rajmund Dabrowski.

13 Dec

SNOW, CLASHING CYMBALS, AND UKULELES HIGHLIGHT MHA CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

By Jon Roberts – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Laughter, applause, a starry night atmosphere, and a snow-filled Mile High Academy gymnasium was the venue on December 9 as MHA students presented the annual Christmas music performance. This was a special event for the community as last year’s concert was virtual due to the pandemic, and missing the fellowship that online events cannot provide.

The “Nine Lessons and Carols” program, also known traditionally as the “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols,” featured students from preschool to 12^th grade. The program told the story in nine short Bible readings of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus. Christmas musical favorites were interspersed between the readings.

The event was assembled under MHA’s temporary music teacher Nic Davies in six weeks. Davies is assisting MHA while the search for a full-time music teacher is underway. Along with Elevated Music Center, a music school located in Centennial and Superior, Colorado, he worked with MHA’s different grades to create an act that was unique to each level.

Davies has enjoyed teaching the students and getting to know them over the last six weeks. “I came in blind, not knowing what instruments I’d have, what skill levels, and they all continue to surprise me every day. They’re extremely talented, and we made lemonade out of the mismatch bunch of instrument lists that we had, and it came together beautifully,” Davies said.

Adding to the atmosphere, the gym’s ceiling was lined with Christmas lights, giving the impression of being under the stars. Everyone was cheering when snow finally arrived in Denver Metro by falling from above the stage during several acts.

Various instruments were used, from bells, violins, and boom whackers; however, Davies was especially proud of one group. “My favorite part of this whole thing–I’m particularly proud of my fifth-grade ukulele ensemble. They’re excellent.”

Parents watched in awe as their children masterfully performed the musical numbers, and by the applause and smiles on their faces, it was evident parents were proud of their children’s hard work and effort.

“I’m so glad we could have a Christmas program, and my daughter did great, and I loved seeing her upfront,” remarked Brodie Phillpott, parent.

“I loved the Twelve Days of Christmas because Caleb (son) kept clashing the cymbals in Ian’s ears (Caleb’s classmate and friend). I just enjoy[ed] the enthusiasm of the night. It was so great to be back in person and to have a music teacher at MHA. It was a beautiful night,” Daniel Warner, parent, said.

Students also enjoyed the evening and could see that their hard work paid off.

“I enjoyed singing the most. I practiced hard for five to six weeks,” commented fifth-grader Lily.

Rosey, a third-grader reflected on the event, “the hardest thing about practicing my song was getting the right beat. I memorized the notes but sometimes it was hard to know when to go faster or slower.”

According to Andrew Carpenter, principal, the program was a success for Mile High Academy. “I’m super excited that we were able to come together as a Mile High family and celebrate our kids and their talents. God is good, and we’re thankful that we were able to put a program together in a short amount of time. Being able to see everybody here and our Mile High family gathered, to listen to our kids was the most enjoyable part of the evening.”

–Jon Roberts is RMC communication/media assistant; photos courtesy of Mile High Academy Facebook page.

09 Dec

CAMPION ACADEMY IMPACTS COMMUNITY FAMILY TO BE BAPTIZED

By Muriel Indermuehle with Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … After attending public schools all her life and starting her freshman year online due to COVID, Lily Testardi knew it was time for a change. She longed for a closer community in high school, so she asked her parents if they would consider sending her to boarding school.

Her father, Richard Testardi, told her to look into it and replied, “It’s a possibility, provided it is a Christian boarding school we can trust.”

Lily searched for Christian boarding schools near where they were living in Boulder and found Campion Academy. They were familiar with the area because they had previously lived in Berthoud and were excited to learn that Campion was continuing to provide in-person learning.

Richard explained, “We scheduled a tour the next day, and could instantly tell that Campion was different, that it was a place where people truly loved God and others.” The Testardis were not Seventh-day Adventists but were open to learning more about the church.

“It also felt like a place out of time,” Richard continued. “Students were less distracted and shallow than anything we had experienced recently, especially anything from public schools. Kids were not constantly on their phones, were friendly to adults, and actually had jobs in addition to school. And there were even rules (mostly about sex and drugs) that you could break and get kicked out for. Contrast that to our public schools that nearly celebrate any form of dysfunction, experimentation, or rebellion.”

In January, Richard, his wife Isobel, and Lily moved back to Berthoud and enrolled Lily as a dorm student at Campion Academy to complete her freshman year. “For the first time, we actually felt like we could trust a school with Lily’s well-being, even for overnight trips, even for trips out of the country,” Richard reflected.

The positive experience Lily had at the academy caused her and her parents to want to study the beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists. Richard shared, “We started a crash course to understand the Seventh-day Adventist denomination and found one pleasant surprise after the next (along with no shortage of controversy in this world of social media hyperbole). We found that everything hinged on Jesus, the Bible, and love! We have been totally welcomed and never judged.”

Lily, along with her mother Isobel and her father Richard, were baptized at the Campion Church on November 6th. At her baptism, Lily shared, “I know that God’s way is much better than anything I could have come up with on my own, and I know I am ready to enter into this covenant with Jesus.”

–Muriel Indermuehle, a member of the Campion Adventist Church, with Jill Harlow, communication director for Campion Academy; photo by Anndrea Taylor

08 Dec

REFLECTION: CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

By Jaclyn King … “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.“ – Matthew 2:10-11

The tradition of giving and receiving Christmas presents brings excitement to families, friends, and loved ones all over the world. Children in millions of households cheerfully anticipate the moment they patiently waited for all year — when they can finally unwrap the festive, colorfully packaged boxes and bags that hold the promise of happy treasures. Spouses carefully select the perfect gift for the other, and friends show their gratitude to one another by choosing something that represents the other person and their bond. We present each other with Christmas gifts in hopes of making connections and spreading joy.

While we’re busy picking out the perfect Christmas presents for those we hold dear, it’s easy for our minds to become entangled with the wrapping paper, boxes, bags, and bows — overlooking the real treasure therein and what it means. The tradition of giving Christmas presents began on that very first Christmas when Jesus was born. Three wise men were “overjoyed beyond measure” upon beholding God’s presence, and they gave to Him what they could — “gold, frankincense and myrrh” — as an act of worship and great love. Those earliest Christmas presents represented an exchange of a spiritual kind. God gave us the greatest gift, His Son in human form, and feeling the love of His Christmas presence, the wise men gave back to Him as a natural outpouring of their overwhelming joy. The value of their gifts had more to do with how and why they were given rather than their material worth. Giving what they had and what they could to Him, they did what God desires from each of us.

It’s often said that “God is love” and “Christmas is love.” Love is the force that causes the natural outpouring and desire to give — to honor people, connections, and relationships — bringing our relationship to God Himself full circle. Whenever we give from a place of love, whatever it may be, the gift comes from and is given back to God through caring for another person whom He loves. 1 Chronicles 29:14 reflects this truth with, “For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You,” while James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens.” By remembering these verses, we become more aware of and reverent to His presence as every good and perfect gift that we give or receive is deemed holy.

Could it be that giving of ourselves is less about material presents and more about heavenly presence? A gift truly given with the intent to love, to heal, and to nurture is not only a way to make ourselves present for another, but to usher in God’s presence to that sacred space. Whether your Christmas present is a sweater to keep a loved one warm, a homecooked dinner to nourish a family in need, a toy for a child on your street, or an evening spent with someone who needs a friend, know that your presence — your act of being there, caring and giving what you can — is the real gift made possible by God’s love. When someone gives to you in this way, feel God loving you through that special person.

This Christmas season, as you check off your shopping list, try to think of your gift-giving not as an obligation but as an act of love and devotion. Turn your presents into prayers as you choose them, as you make them, as you wrap them and as you give them. Remember the first Christmas presents given by the three wise men as they stood in awe of the Son of God’s presence while Mary lovingly held Him. They traveled a long way to be there — to be present. It was their being there with Jesus that completed the gift that was already given — Him. Emmanuel, God is with us. That is Christmas presence.

–Jaclyn King contributes as an editor and writer for AdventHealth Mission Strategy, as well as AdventHealth Press. She also teaches writing and literature courses as an adjunct professor at AdventHealth University. She holds a Master’s degree in English, is mother to Julian and is passionate about living and encouraging a CREATION Life! Photo supplied.

This article was originally published on AdventHealth Creation Life website. https://blog.creationlife.com/christmas-presence/