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Highlands Ranch, Denver, Colorado … There are many factors distinguishing Mile High Academy (MHA) from other local schools, but one key factor is the implementation of CHERISH Core Values. These values were carefully initiated to educate and encourage students to make a difference in the world around them. These Core Values start with teaching students about what it means to be Christ-centered.

MHA students have an opportunity to share some ways they choose to be Christ-centered by annual visits to local churches, including constituent churches. Students share Christ through music, upfront service and often lunch fellowship to connect and thank church members.

“MHA is grateful to the churches that provide an opportunity for our students to share the ways they choose to be Christ-centered,” said Jamie Frain, MHA VP of school culture. “Church support is essential to our mission of providing an excellent Christ-centered education that empowers young people to excel.”

The first church visit of the 2019/2020 academic year was to Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church. The congregation was blessed with music from the Middle School (MS) and Upper School (US) Worship Leading class, US choir, students leading out in the children’s story and a dramatic, in-costume recitation of the entire book of Ephesians by MS Bible and Math Teacher Chris Morris.

“The kids at Mile High Academy are full of life and talented in music, speaking and telling stories,” said Mikey Archibeque, Denver South youth pastor. “Having them at our church is a reminder to us all of how church should be: Our kids taking the lead and leading us to the feet of Jesus.”

Pastor Andy Nash, LifeSource Seventh-day Adventist Church lead pastor, also serves as MHA’s Junior Bible Instructor. The LifeSource congregation recently completed a series on Daniel, which happened to coincide with the Junior Bible class curriculum, so it was “natural to have the Bible class lead out,” said Pastor Nash.

The second church visit at LifeSource treated attendees to a student presentation of a “To and Fro” drama based on Daniel 12:4, depicting vivid scenes from the life and visions of Daniel. More than 40 MHA students, including the US choir, handbells and MS and US Worship Leading class had an on-stage presence. In addition, five Junior Bible students gave sermonettes about a chapter in Daniel, combining Bible study with personal reflections.

“Mile High Academy Sabbath is one of the best Sabbaths of the year,” said Pastor Nash. “It’s when all generations are together in church, the way we should be. I was so proud of the student speakers as it’s worth remembering these teenage students are the same age as our Adventist founders who began this church though study of the book of Daniel.”

The next MHA Sabbath will be at the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday, February 8.

—Karrie Meyers; photos supplied

Erie, Colorado… Adventist Christian Education is thriving at Vista Ridge Academy! After a century of educating thousands of children within Boulder County with our beginnings at Boulder Junior Academy, the school’s Board of Directors was challenged with the rapid growth of young families living in the north Denver Metro area. Motivated by a desire to better serve future generations, the Board adopted the bold plan to create Vista Ridge Academy.

Since we first opened our doors a little over 15 years ago, Vista Ridge Academy has provided Christian education to over 600 students throughout the north Denver metro area.  We strive to carry out our mission to provide holistic Christ-centered elementary education, encouraging children to think creatively and critically, problem-solve and explore, collaborate with others, and develop strong character in accordance with our core values.  As one parent notes: “My husband and I have never seen our student this driven and comfortable at school. Two years ago, they were hiding under a table refusing to go to school. Thanks so much for providing a supportive and structured environment. We are forever grateful to you.”

Vista Ridge Academy has been supported by our constituent churches, donors and volunteers. We have worked to create a supportive and welcoming community for our students by providing opportunities to Grow. Learn. Lead. This year, as we celebrate our 15th year providing Christ-centered education to students in the north Denver area, we invite you to show your continued support with a gift of $15 at https://www.mygiving.net/donate/116. Our $15 for 15 Years Campaign goal is $150,000. To learn more about our campaign and see 15 ways you can give to Vista Ridge Academy, visit our website at www.vistaridge.org.

—Sandy Hodgson; photos by Sandy Hodgson, Kelly Meyer, James Christianson

Farmington, New Mexico… It is known as Yeager’s Leap or Crash Canyon, but before Super Bowl Sunday, 2018, it was a beautiful but non-descript area just outside of Aztec, New Mexico. On a recent Sabbath, about 30 members of the Piñon Hills church in Farmington, New Mexico, ventured out to see this place that most agree should be called Miracle Canyon.

Led by the “miracle man” himself, Jeremy Yeager and his wife Danette, we went to the site where Jeremy fell approximately 50 vertical feet and then rolled another 100 or so. He had been biking with his friend and fellow church member, Dr. Doug Parks when his ride came to a sudden and violent end. As Jeremy rode along he saw a small ledge near the rim of the canyon, which he thought he could ride over. In this case, thinking and doing were two different things.

As far as Jeremy can remember, his pedal clipped the top of the ledge and sent him off the cliff. Doug saw Jeremy attempt to put his foot down to prevent going over, but he was unsuccessful. As Doug ran to the spot, he hastily dialed 911 as he watched Jeremy take his last couple of rolls before he stopped and laid there motionless. Doug braced himself to make the most difficult call of his life.

The 911 operator dispatched a helicopter, and while Doug awaited their arrival, he heard Jeremy moan. That in itself is somewhat miraculous because with a collapsed lung and from where he was, Doug should not have been able to hear him at all. The rescue team arrived and found Jeremy to be in surprisingly good condition-at least for someone who had just fallen and rolled the distance that he did. They set up a tripod system and lowered a basket with which they were able to get Jeremy out of the canyon and on his way to the hospital.

Jeremy’s injuries included: a broken clavicle, six broken ribs on his right side, and another eight on his left, a fully collapsed right lung, and partially collapsed left lung, cracked L1 vertebrae, a broken pelvis in four places, and a concussion. He sustained a puncture wound from a stick that embedded in his chest, along with numerous scratches and scrapes, to go along with a badly bruised ankle. He also broke several teeth. Fortunately for him, as well as being his bike riding companion, Dr. Parks is also his dentist.

After just under three months of recovery, Jeremy was cleared to go back to work delivering trash cans for Waste Management. Though he had only been employed by the company for a few months before the accident, they stood by him throughout his recovery.

Jeremy’s last recollection of the fall was him yelling, “no, no,no” and nothing after that until some weeks later. As of this writing, he still has little recollection of the event, but he has otherwise made a full recovery. On his first visit to the scene, Jeremy felt overwhelmed with the feeling that he should have been looking down at a memorial.  He, his wife Danette, and his friends and Piñon Hills church family are so grateful to God that that was not the case. If you were to ask him if God still works miracles his emphatic answer would be “yes, yes, yes!”

—Ron Price, text; photos by Ron Price and Danette Yeager

[Pictured: Dr. Doug Parks, DDS (left) with Jeremy Yeager, the “miracle man”]

Casper, Wyoming… One of our favorite church family events is the yearly Baked Goods Auction. This year, November 23, the auction raised more than $2,400 with all proceeds being donated to the Mountain Road Christian Academy (MRCA), reports Casper church’s correspondent, Gabriela Anica Vincent.

These annual events support a variety of ministries in the church such as pathfinders, and girls or boys groups. According to Traci Pike, MRCA teacher, the Bake Auction in Casper started about 25 years ago with the Casper Mountaineer Pathfinder Club. It has become a yearly tradition that takes place just before Thanksgiving as a fundraiser for the Pathfinder Club.

“The Casper Adventist Church has supported this event every year with generosity and their fine baking skills,” she said.

This year, due to the low numbers of young people, the congregation does not have a Pathfinder Club but several parishioners did not want this tradition to end. It was decided that the funds from the Bake Auction would be split between MRCAz and the Girls Group/Boys Club at the church. The profits from the concessions this year went to the 7th and 8th graders at MRCA to help sponsor a class trip in the spring.

Participants in the 2019 event started the evening with a concession stand. It was obvious that the auction participants enjoyed fried mushrooms, veggie and beef hotdogs, fried onion, jalapeño poppers, fried pickles, and nachos, served at the concession stand.

The students and teachers of the MRCA, the Gage family, and many other volunteers have come together to help prepare the food! Since the fundraiser would benefit the school, students and teachers baked several items at the school on Thursday afternoon to be auctioned off. Students also brought baked items from home to contribute to the auction.

The 2019 Baked Goods Auction began right after the supper. Among the crowd’s favorites were Marilyn’s caramel rolls, Danielle’s fruit pies, Stephanie’s Cranberry Bliss Bars, Suzanne’s Butter Rolls, Timmy’s Cheesecake, Gabriela’s Walnut Baklava with chocolate drizzle, Eric’s honey, and many other items that return year after year.

Eric Mechalke, MRCA Chairman said, “I bid on many items, but only purchased black berry pie, lemon fudge, and home-made bread. The fun part is watching two friends have a biding war. Supporting Christian education is having faith for the future.”

“I was one of the auctioneers. Among my favorite dessert is the cranberry bliss bars at Starbucks. Stephanie Forsell made a Starbucks copycat version for the baked action! I started the bid at $50 because I really wanted them!” said Gabriela.

“Then we went back and forth with a few bids, until I made the last offer and purchase them for $140. It’s all for a good cause, right?” she added.

As for her additional contribution, Gabriela contributed three half batches and a full batch of Wallnut Baklava. It was sold for over $100 and the half batches for about $60 each.

“It is such a blast to get together as a church family. I am always humbled by how generous the members of the Casper Adventist Church are with supporting our school, and the kids’ programs,” commented Shayne Mason Vincent, the church’s lead Pastor

The organizers, together with the school and church leaders wish to thank all those who helped with the action, food donation, kitchen, sound, as well as those who worked behind the scenes to make this year’s Baked Goods Auction a success.

—Gabriela Anca Vincent; text and photos

Montrose, Colorado… The Montrose Church has been preparing for their annual Thanksgiving food distribution in the community for those in need of a helping hand. Three weekends were designated before the Thanksgiving Day. The first weekend over one thousand empty bags were delivered throughout the city. Notes on the bags asked for donations of food and explained the reason for them being left on their doorsteps.

On the second weekend the bags were picked up and brought back to the church, filled up with food ready to be sorted out. The following weekend boxes of food were given out in the community to over fifty families.

Chere Fisher, one of the organizers, commented, “It strained my muscles and warmed my heart to see the outpouring of compassion from the Montrose community during the Thanksgiving Box Project. Many people gave several bags.”

“When we delivered the bags, boxes and turkeys we were greeted by barking dogs and excited children. The need in the eyes of the adults were restrained, yet discernible. We were given hugs and many expressions of gratefulness,” she added.

A few bellies were full and a few hearts lightened during 2019 Thanksgiving Season due to the communities’ love for their fellow man, reported Zane Berry, Mortrose Church correspondent.

—Zane Berry, text; photos by Linda Steinert