Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

01 Oct

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN 175 WOMEN ARE HANDED LEMONS? LEMONADE, OF COURSE!

By DeeAnn Bragaw – Loveland, Colorado … In early August, the annual Rocky Mountain Conference women’s retreat plans for a weekend escape to Glacier View Ranch filled with laughter, hugs, and friendships renewed was on track to be another casualty of the ongoing COVID situation.

Facing this reality Deeann Bragaw, RMC Women’s Ministry director, remembered the proverbial phrase, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade” and began to think of alternatives to the weekend retreat.

“Our much-revised Fall Women’s retreat included being distanced, masked, and outside, but we came together in heart as we were reminded from God’s Word that He wants to take our suffering and turn it into service,” Bragaw, said.

Some 175 women, including Campion Academy girls and women of all ages from around the conference, assembled on the campus of Campion Academy to enjoy a day outdoors and in God’s Word at “Lemonade Women’s Retreat”

The gathering included a worship service led by Jennifer Woody, senior pastor of the Monroe, Washington church. After a picnic-style lunch, the group separated into three groups for workshops, including one designed for teens and led by Woody.

Later, the gathering reconvened to participate in a community service project which included painting “Hope Rocks” to be placed outside where individuals can discover them and gain courage and hope through their messages.

At the close of the retreat, participants were encouraged to surrender a lemon to Jesus, symbolizing “lemons” that have come into our lives, while the group prayed over these “lemons.”

As the assembly was leaving the field where they had enjoyed a day filled with laughter, unique socially-distanced fellowship, and spiritual lemonade, women could be overheard commenting on the events.

“This is the best thing that’s happened to me in six months! I feel so encouraged!” “My devotions were dry. Thank you so much for giving me new tools!” “I never thought of my suffering as something God could use. Thank you!” “I loved painting the rocks! I hope someone is encouraged when they find mine!”

–DeeAnn Bragaw is Rocky Mountain Conference Women’s Ministry director; photos by Stefanie Deapen

01 Oct

CAMPION STUDENTS GIVE BACK

By Sami Hodges – Loveland, Colorado … Campion students gave their Sunday, normally a free day to enjoy teenage activities, to improve their campus and the campus of Glacier View Ranch, along with various other outreach projects in the surrounding area, during their annual Community Service Day

Students at Campion Academy cleaned up their campus by cutting down dead trees, doing yard work and agriculture and tearing down a deck behind the girls’ dorm.

“This experience taught me how to be more thankful for the staff and what they do for us,” reflected Odalis Mata, Campion senior. “I know the staff are all busy as teachers and parents, so they don’t exactly have time to do things like gardening, yard work, and things like that. For me, Community Service Day was like a ‘thank-you’ from us to them so we could help get things done around campus. “

Other service projects included painting at Glacier View Ranch, passing out GLOW tracts with Literature Evangelism, picking up trash along the highway, and volunteering at a community member’s horse barn with general clean up.

Reflecting on the day, students realized the importance of taking pride in the work completed.

“I was able to come together with students I don’t necessarily talk to as much, and we just helped out together. I think we were able to work together to make the campus look better and know that we did it ourselves,” Brisa Maldonado, Campion junior said.

–Sami Hodges is a senior at Campion Academy; photos by Jill Harlow, Tiffany Dien, and Darcy Force

01 Oct

ALAMOSA PASTOR’S TWO CHILDREN BAPTIZED

By Bob McAlpine – Alamosa, Colorado… Every baptism is special, but the Alamosa church recently celebrated two baptisms that Bob McAlpine, Alamosa pastor, will never forget–the baptism of his two children, Meredith and Tristan.

McAlpine recalls the weeks leading up to the baptismal date, saying those weeks “stressed me out. I saw all the petty acts of selfishness that take place between siblings. Worse, I saw how my own bad habits and sins (let’s just be honest, here) were shaping my children.”

There are two types of parents in the world—those who think that their children are perfect, and those who are pained by every little fault or flaw they see in their children. I’m the second kind of parent.

The question McAlpine kept asking was, “How can I baptize these so obviously imperfect children?” The answer came as he was reminded multiple times that baptism is not for the perfect, but for those who want to follow Jesus.

McAlpine recalled the blessing his children gave him while they studied for baptism.

“While I was serving them as a dad and pastor, my children were also ministering to me. They reminded me that Jesus’s love, in the words of The Jesus Storybook Bible, is a “never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love,” McAlpine said.

“Baptizing them was one of the highlights of my ministry,” McAlpine concluded.

Two students who attend the Alamosa Adventist school with Meredith and Tristan are making plans to be baptized later this month. Outreach continues at the school as half of the students attending are from different faith communities.

–Bob McAlpine is the Pastor of the Alamosa Church; photo supplied

01 Oct

MILE HIGH ACADEMY HOSTS FIRST EVER VIRTUAL ALUMNI WEEKEND CELEBRATION

By Karrie Meyers — Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Due to a mandated closed campus for large events and COVID unknowns, Mile High Academy shifted its 2020 Alumni Weekend to a virtual celebration on Sabbath and an in-person golf tournament at Arrowhead Golf Course on Sunday.

The virtual Alumni Sabbath event began, September 26. A video was posted via MHA’s YouTube channel as a premiere event and linked to the Alumni website. A .pdf of the program was also offered on the website.

Throughout the video, alumni reflected on the question, “What does MHA mean to you?” Volunteers from many of the honor classes offered the welcome, prayers, Scripture reading, and sermonettes. Celebrating 55 years since his graduation, Alumnus Dave Ferguson (’65) shared humorous memories of his time as a student at Mile High Academy. Elder James Brauer (’70) challenged his alumni family to get to know Jesus, and a new promotional video highlighted the campus and cast light on the values that make Mile High Academy the special school it remains today.

A beautiful morning dawned Sunday, September 27, but turned blustery and cold for the 80 golfers who participated in the annual Alumni Golf Tournament at Arrowhead Golf Course. The teams, nevertheless, enjoyed the morning of fellowship and laughter. The event raised more than $5,000 for the school’s Annual Fund. Prizes were given for first, second and third place as well as a for closest to the hole, longest drive, and a putting-green challenge.

“I am thankful Mile High Academy was still able to host an Alumni celebration. We appreciate the continued support from all our alumni. It’s because of such support that the school is able to celebrate serving the Denver area community for 107 years,” said Jocelyn Aalborg, MHA VP of finance and development and Honor Class of 2005.

To view the alumni weekend video, please visit www.milehighacademy.org/alumni2020.

–Karrie Myers is Mile High Academy’s communication assistant; photo supplied

01 Oct

Fire destroys homes and communities near Pacific Union College

RMCNews –Angwin, California … Early Sunday morning, September 27, Saint Helena Hospital and the campus of Pacific Union College received the order to leave the premises immediately due to a nearby forest fire that had just been sparked.

The “Glass” fire grew rapidly and by evening was nearing Saint Helena Hospital as firefighters worked to keep the fire from crossing the road onto the hospital’s campus.

Due to the rapid growth and unpredictable direction of the fire many local residents had only minutes to escape.

While the firefighters did everything possible to contain the fire, the nearby community of Deer Park took a direct hit by the fire. Foothills Adventist Elementary School, the Dorcas Center, and the Adventist Community Building, located in Deer Park were consumed by the fast-moving fire.

The ever-changing winds made the fire next to impossible to fight and was random in its destruction of property with one side of a highway burned, the other side remained untouched.

The nearby Elmshaven home of Ellen G. White was spared from the fire while destruction surrounded the property.

“The fire got extremely close. I’m feeling like an angel must have been hovering over this place and kept it from burning. I don’t know what else to think. When everything around us burned and this property here survived,” Abner Castanon, Elmshaven caretaker, said.

Reacting to the tragedy of the Napa Valley fire, regional Adventist leaders said that “with so many facing the uncertainties of displacement and loss, we are continuing to pray for the safety of everyone impacted by this difficult situation and for the cessation of the fires. This is our hope and focus.”

A statement released by Pacific Union College on their Facebook page states, “Your donations are urgently needed to support the students, faculty, and staff in our PUC family who have been affected by the Glass Fire. Our school is safe at this time and we are truly blessed to be part of such a wonderful and caring community. Thank you for your prayers and emergency support.”

PUC is accepting donations to help with the displaced families. To donate please click here.

The Glass fire continues to burn with no containment as of the time of this article being published.

Photo courtesy of the Elmshaven Landmark Facebook page.

Fire closing in on St. Helena Hospital. Photo courtesy of St Helena Hospital Foundation Facebook page.

01 Oct

The Delight in Their Eyes

By Esther Ramharacksingh Knott — Columbia, Maryland … During an offering appeal, I once asked the church members, “What secular holiday is in our faces all through the month of October?” There were some children sitting near the front. Their immediate and energetic response was, “Halloween!” Their suppressed giggles and the delight in their eyes was, of course, much less about their understanding of the paganism behind this ritual, than it was about the candy and treats they might receive at a “Fall Festival” — a stash to last all year.

I wanted the children (and members) to engage in a different kind of day that occurs in October — Clergy Appreciation Day. While churches use the second weekend of October to celebrate this day, the entire month of October is now National Clergy Month in the U.S.

Some claim that in 1992, Hallmark Cards started “Clergy Appreciation Day.” After all, giving us a reason to buy a card is good for business. Others state, however, that the concept of clergy appreciation began way back in AD 65-66* when the Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy: “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Tim.5:17, NKJV). While Hallmark may have helped us focus our appreciation by buying cards and gifts from their stores during October, Paul reminds us that it is biblical to honor and care for our pastors.

Making a List

I recently asked Olivia, my 26-year-old daughter who grew up as an MD — Minister’s Daughter (a.k.a. Pastor’s Kid — PK), if she would take five minutes to make a list of what she understands to be the work of a pastor. She told me that the timer stopped her while she still had much more to write. Livvy’s list reminded me that it takes a lot of commitment and energy for pastors to serve from their hearts as they lead, guide, mentor, plan, equip, listen, study, and preach.

During this time of COVID-19 when many churches remain closed, the work of our pastors has shifted and increased as they have developed new skills and have become increasingly creative in the way they serve their members and their communities. Pastors have been kept busy as they check in on members through phone calls, Zoom sessions, and home visits (from the sidewalk). Pastors have delivered meals, Sabbath School Bible Study Guides, and hope. They have organized the members to be intentional about caring for one another and their neighbors. Our pastors have very keenly felt the isolation. So, this year, it is especially important to have a Sabbath — or even an entire month in October — set aside to shower our pastor(s) with tangible evidences of our appreciation, love, and care for them.

20 Ways to Show Your Pastor Appreciation

To help us celebrate Clergy Appreciation Month, I gathered a few ideas (see below) that I hope will be a springboard for your own personalized expressions of appreciation. You know your pastor best; and if you have more than one pastor on your church staff, be sure do something special for each of them. The “appreciation coordinator” for each pastor should be someone from the primary group whom the pastor serves. For example, a parent-child team could coordinate the appreciation for the children’s pastor.

Send a message of appreciation by card, text, email, and/or “snail mail.” Recall a specific way that you have been blessed by the ministry of your pastor.
A gift card from Amazon, Visa, Master Card, American Express. (This gives the pastor the freedom to shop at their favorite store and buy what they need, including a new suit.)
Group gift of an envelope stuffed with cash ($5 and $10 bills).
Dinner at their favorite restaurant (provide childcare if needed).
Show up at prayer meeting (in person or online).
Support your local church financially on a systematic basis, maybe with an extra gift to a ministry that is extra special to your pastor and is in great need.
Love your pastor’s children and find appropriate ways to demonstrate this. (Do not expect more of them than you do of your own children.)
Do not wait to be asked to fill a position in the church that needs your gifts — volunteer.
Share with the pastor one way your life has been benefitted by his/her ministry.
Post something nice about your pastor on social media — and tag them.
Mow their lawn.
Rake their leaves.
Deliver potted chrysanthemums to their house. (Can you imagine what it would be like for a pastor to come home to a yard spotted with the brilliant colors of these mums?)
Provide Sabbath lunch for the family. Let them enjoy the meal alone.
Live as a disciple of Jesus. (This will bless your pastor as you grow more like Jesus every day.)
Pray for your pastor and his/her family every day in October and let each family member know.
If you have a church school, arrange for the children to make a special presentation.
Have the children’s Sabbath School classes make cards to present to the pastor.
As a group, each take a different day in the month of October and do something special for the pastor on that day.
Have a surprise recognition for your pastor(s) during the church service.

Here is some guidance regarding number 20: A surprise is best because it is awkward for pastors to agree to have time set aside in the service so you can “honor” them. They may even ask you not to do anything, so don’t ask. If the pastor finds out that something is afoot, and expresses discomfort with the idea, with a smile, remind them that “Clergy Appreciation Month” is not just about the pastor. It is about giving the congregation the opportunity to fulfil the biblical imperative to honor those who serve. “Pastor, I don’t think you want to discourage the members from doing something that God has asked us to do.” Keep smiling and keep moving forward with your plan.

Indeed, Clergy Appreciation Month goes beyond showing appreciation for the pastor. It includes demonstrating to our children how to care for others. It is about seeing delight in the eyes of our children as they see the delight in someone else’s eyes because of what they (the children) have given, not received. The “treat” that you give your pastors this October will be their stash — the memory of which can sustain them all year. It will lead to the delight we will see in our Heavenly Father’s eyes when He opens the door and welcomes us into His kingdom, which, of course, will be the greatest “treat” of all — because the sweetness will last throughout eternity.

* Date taken from Andrews Study Bible, NKJV, p. 1579.

— Esther Ramharacksingh Knott is an associate director of the North American Division Ministerial Association and director of the MA in Pastoral Ministry program at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. She has served as a parish pastor for 26 years, and for the last seven years she has been a pastor to pastors across the NAD, seeking to affirm them all year long. She is also a volunteer pastor at her home church — Berrien Springs Village Church in Michigan. This article was updated on Sept. 30, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. ET.

This article was originally published on North American Division website

30 Sep

ONCE ON A FINE SUNDAY IN WESTERN COLORADO

By David Klemm … Fruita, Colorado -Ten men from the Fruita and Grand Junction Seventh-day Adventist churches gathered for fun and fellowship on a beautiful fall day at James Robb State Park in Fruita, Colorado. Five early arrivals rode bikes from the park to the end of Riverfront trail, which ends about four miles shy of Utah. A wonderful and relatively easy ride, the last several hundred yards is a leg-burning, steep climb to the top.

Back at the park after the ride, the entire group gathered, while some of the old fellows played a game of pick-up football and showed surprising arm strength and catching skills.

“At the foot of the Bookcliffs mountain range by the mighty Colorado River, it was pleasant to hang out with guys we haven’t seen in recent months and enjoy a relaxed schedule,” commented David Klemm from Grand Junction.

The group discussed what should be pursued as hands-on service projects. Several options were discussed, including benefiting food pantries and the local hospice. The group agreed to put our “shoulders to the gospel plow” as soon as possible.

“Even though social distancing was necessary, the fresh air and laughter lifted our spirits. We were truly blessed to have this time together,” David Klemm added.

–David Klemm is a member of the Grand Junction Church; photos supplied.

29 Sep

Pueblo moves evangelism online

By Anton Kapusi – Pueblo, Colorado … The Pueblo Church refocused their evangelism outreach, to social media and beyond.

COVID has brought a new normal of social distancing, masked faces, and has introduced a gap between not only people, but families, church members, and all kinds of relationships.

The question our faith community is facing is how to continue the gospel work when we can’t mingle physically, and when there is a limit to how many can attend meetings. The Pueblo Church developed a plan to hold evangelistic meetings by going online to increase their sphere of influence.

“(We) jumped on the opportunity that presented itself back in May 2020 to conduct online evangelistic outreach by MaxLife Events run by the Outreach Ministries of the Oregon Conference,” Anton Kapusi, Pueblo First pastor, said.

The first online series, “Leading from Your Pain” by John Boston began September 18, and has generated 451 interests in Pueblo, after just three presentations.

“In Pueblo, we have our work cut for us. There was never such a great interest expressed to any event that the church has organized in the past. It is amazing what a timely subject and targeted advertisements can do in our time and culture,” Kapusi said.

Pueblo church plans to hold more of these mini online evangelism meetings. In October, Unchained: Hope and Healing from Addiction, with Pastor Richie Halversen and “Revelation of Love: Bible Prophecy Seminar,” with David Machado are planned.

“What will be the final impact of these series on Pueblo, only heaven knows. But we at Pueblo First are determined by God’s grace to embrace as many as possible,” Kapusi concluded.

–Anton Kapusi is pastor of Pueblo First Church in Pueblo, Colorado

29 Sep

Campion students experience backpacking for the first time

By Bentlee Barry – Loveland, Colorado … Students experienced Colorado’s mountainous art, God created, on their annual back packing trip, several of the fifteen students for the first time.

“It was a lot of fun and I definitely would go again. I was going in blind and had no idea what to expect. Using the restroom in the forest was definitely a challenge I had to overcome since I’m from Kansas and there are no mountains,” Jared Marcenaro, Campion junior, said. “It was cool to see first-hand how huge the mountains really are. I now understand the significance of the phrase that God moves mountains because he really is so strong and powerful.”

The excursion taught the students to adapt to the ever-changing weather conditions in the mountains when their trip had to be quickly rescheduled because of snow, and then the location had to be changed due to a nearby forest fire.

The students hiked some fifteen miles in the vast outdoors, which included visiting Coney Lake in Colorado, camping by a river, and the highlight of the trip, witnessing a moose near camp.

“It was a lot more fun than I expected. The hike was hard, but the view and sense of satisfaction made it worth it. I was exhausted and my legs hurt a lot, but my friends were there and everyone helped each other out,” Airi Nomura, Campion junior, said. “I definitely want to go on another one, but maybe the hike could be a bit shorter and the days a bit longer.”

The experience was memorable for the students and the staff who sponsored the weekend away.

“I love doing outdoor activities and getting away from the rush and stress of life. I am able to grow and reconnect with God, and I love introducing students to that experience as well,” Jill Harlow, backpacking faculty sponsor, said.

–Bentlee Barry is a senior at Campion Academy; photo by Jill Harlow

29 Sep

Community distribution center formed at Pueblo First

By Delbit Hayden – Pueblo, Colorado … The Pueblo area had the opportunity to help families in need by providing free baby diapers from the State of Colorado, but there was still a need for a distribution center and a team to lead the efforts.

Members of Pueblo First church offered their building as a place to receive and store the truckload of diapers and the Pueblo First Adventist Community Service (ACS) team began developing the distribution process.

In August, the first shipment of eight pallets, stacked six feet high, was unloaded at Pueblo First. Within weeks, the ACS team had distributed the diapers to many local charities including: Corporate Care, Casa De Pueblo, Catholic Charities, Los Pobres, YWCA, Kids Crossing, Salvation Army, Kidsville, All About Kids, Head Start, and Cañon City ACS.

After the first eight pallets of goods were passed out, another truckload arrived and the process of distribution began again.

The members are waiting on the next shipment to hand out to the new friends they have made in the various organizations throughout the area helping those in need.

–Delbit Hayden is Pueblo First ACS director; photo supplied.