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If you were one of the visitors joining “A Journey to the Cross and Beyond,” an Easter commemoration at Campion Adventist Academy, you were likely stopped by Rodney Kelly, a horse centurion sporting an impressive Roman soldier’s garb and riding atop Smokey, his handsome horse. “Have you paid your taxes?” he asked. “Taxes are due on April 15,” I replied. “These are Roman taxes,” he sternly insisted. After responding that I already paid my tithe, he commanded me to “carry on” to Jerusalem.

Rodney was one of 65 re-enactors of a first-century interactive makeshift marketplace erected at Campion Academy, April 4-5, focused on “bringing Jerusalem to Loveland,” according to Dick Stenbakken, a member of the Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church whose concept attracted nearly 900 visitors. “I am elated,” he said. “We had no idea what to expect. We planned for the first group to go through our marketplace at 3 o’clock on Sabbath afternoon and were overwhelmed by a crowd of 160 people.”

As a community event, visitors were encouraged to participate in a practical expression of love, which for many is the significance of Easter. The organizers invited visitors to make a contribution to the food pantry of the local community. After passing by the empty tomb, and before moving to the final stop of the experience in the multipurpose room of the church with refreshments and a display of first-century Roman artifacts and armor, visitors were pointed to a screen depicting a painting of the Second Coming of Jesus by Nathan Green. Assisting in the moment was Ardis Stenbakken, who approached visitors and simply asked, “Do you see yourself in this picture?”

A notable aspect of the event was the obvious engagement and cooperation of the Seventh-day Adventist community in the area. Hosted by the Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church, it brought five other churches into the organizing group. They included the Loveland Church, the Eden Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loveland, the Greeley Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Adventure Seventh-day Adventist Church in Windsor, and the Fort Collins Seventh-day Adventist Church. They are already looking forward to next year!

—Editor

By George Crumley

Tithe is what sustains mission in the Adventist church. It is because of tithe that pastors are able to bless their communities, and teachers are able to reach the hearts of young people. This mission is being carried forward day in and day out across this conference because of our workers’ committed efforts.

In 2012 and 2013, base tithe within the Rocky Mountain Conference was basically flat, meaning there was virtually no increase from one year to the next (base tithe excludes windfall tithes which are non-recurring amounts of tithe in excess of $50,000). This flat tithe created a deficit budget in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 because costs went up from inflationary pressures while budgeted tithe income did not increase. The good news is that even though we had budgeted deficits for these two years, our actual results for each year resulted in financial gains. This kept our working capital strong.

Additionally, in 2014, we had a healthy base tithe increase of 4.39%. This gave us increased dollars to use when preparing our 2015 budget, which resulted in a balanced budget for the conference this year. This enables us to continue to advance our mission of “Knowing Christ and Making Him Fully Known.”

So I want to express my deep appreciation to each of you for your faithfulness in returning your tithes and offerings, and also I want to thank the Lord who is the giver of “every good gift.”

–George Crumley is RMC vice-president for finance.

Have you read an Adventist book lately? Just in case you are looking for quality reading, the Rocky Mountain Conference Adventist Book Center (ABC) has an extensive selection to choose from, as many people have already discovered over the past year.

Suzanne Hafar, the store manager, has been pleased with the ABC’s performance. “Thank you for helping us make our first year as an independent store a successful one. At a time when bookstores struggle to survive, with God’s grace, your dedication to support our store and a lot of hard work, we were able to pay our bills in 2014.”

This summer offers an even greater than usual incentive to visit the store. Its camp meeting sale takes place on Sunday, July 5 (10am-2pm). All canned Worthington, Loma Linda and Caroline’s foods are on sale, so be sure to stock up!

If you are unable to visit the store in Denver, it will be loading a truck and heading out to camp meetings later this summer. Visit the mobile store at Mills Spring Ranch for Wyoming camp meeting (July 14-18), or on the Campion Academy campus (July 24-26).

There are also other ways to shop: online (www.adventistbookcenter.com), by phone (1.800.254.9687, ext 628), or through email ([email protected]). The ABC ships everything but frozen food, so phone, order online or send an email, and Suzanne and her staff will do their best to meet your needs. In fact, they see this as their primary mission!

“Unlike other stores that believe it’s all about money, our mission is to spread the gospel of Jesus so that we can all finally go home,” Suzanne says.

For many Seventh-day Adventists who are planning to attend the 2015 General Conference session in San Antonio, Texas, a few things may be guaranteed. First, it is expected that the weather will be hot. Perhaps equally, the anticipated agenda may bring moments of heated debate. This world global convocation of believers is a long-anticipated opportunity to celebrate the church’s culture, values and recommitment to mission. It is a church business session, but also a spiritual feast.

Apart from the expected visitors from four corners of the globe, nearly 2,600 delegates officially representing the church membership will engage in a “voting marathon,” so-called by a colleague of mine. This year voting will be done electronically.

Several features of the upcoming 60th session, to be held July 2-11, include the election of top church leadership for the next quinquennium. The session agenda includes proposed changes to the Church Manual, as well as to the fundamental beliefs. Much anticipation comes with an agenda item on the ordination of women to the gospel ministry. The delegates will be asked to vote “Yes” or “No” regarding whether “it is acceptable for division executive committees, as it may deem it appropriate in their territories, to make provision for the ordination of women to the gospel ministry”. The proposal comes after several years of study by a Theology of Ordination Study Committee (TOSC).

Much time during the session will be devoted to “state of the church” reports by the General Conference church leadership, and by each of the church’s 13 world regions, representing a growing body of 18 million believers. For many attendees—perhaps as many as 65,000 on two weekends—the session will mean meeting old friends and making new ones. Much time and resources will also be spent at the Adventist exhibits—a market place of resources from the world of Adventism, its ministries and entities.

As the General Conference in session is the highest church legislative body, it goes without saying, all Seventh-day Adventists are being asked to commit the convocation and its deliberations to prayer. Keeping the session in our prayers is—many will agree—an Adventist way of expressing our belief in God’s leadership among His people until the return of Jesus.

—Editor

By Rajmund Dabrowski

Many of us have favorite Bible texts. Likely every Christian has them. My mind circles around several. For different occasions. The one I would like to share is for the “world of communication.” I suppose you would expect me to have one of these

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way to salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. (From The Message, 2 Cor 2:14-16)

Chanel No. 5. I can smell it always. And you can be sure —my head turns around and . . . there she is. Chanel No. 5.

Smells, fragrances, perfumes. You can smell them endlessly. They are ever present. They can become a lesson or two.

Without moralizing too much, let me just make a point or two. The Lord’s apostle, Paul, goes straight for the bull’s eye: Through us . . . people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. He goes right into the metaphor which they understood and we can, too. As a Christian—I smell. I am a “walking perfume.” That’s what Paul says. Some may not like it (don’t be bothered by them—they are on the way out), others do. Those who are for keeps smell the aroma. And the aroma they smell is good. It’s full of life, joy, hope and future.

Let me illustrate it by an engaging story I read, a story about Jacob. Just imagine: A Jewish town. A bakery. And long lines every morning of people awaiting their turn to get the best bread in town. In the bakery, Jacob. A great baker and a wise man. He is the last one to leave the bakery at night and the first one in the early hours of the morning. But he has something to tell each one of us.

Everyone wants to see and talk to Jacob, listen to him, be with him. Words of wisdom? “Will he have them for me?”

Listen to this: A man stiff with proudness looked down at Jacob. “Jacob, I want my life to make an impression on others.” “Every life is an impression,” said Jacob. “What do you mean?” asked the man. And Jacob answered, “We are God’s fingerprints.” [Noah benShea, Jacob’s Journey, p. 94]

Simple story, powerful message. If you are a Christian, it means that your religion is about communicating. And it’s all about Christ’s method of dealing with us. Remember His words: You have seen me— You have seen the Father. Then He said also, As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. (John 21,21 NIV)

Wherever you are, the quality of your testimony speaks a mega story about Jesus. It may be very formal, very insular, inward-looking. But it may be telling a story of joy and hope.

So often I catch myself acting schematically. But the cracks on my face cannot be covered up for long by a “fool- them-again” mascara of pretense. Because soon they will know. “Here comes a Christian. He thinks we don’t know.”

Fingerprints of God. Aroma redolent with life. Images of God’s communicators. Wherever they are.

–Rajmund Dabrowski is RMC communication director and editor of Mountain Views.