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Pam Lah – Lincoln, Nebraska … A selected group of nine student leaders from Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, went to Union Adventist University (UAU) in Lincoln, Nebraska, to strengthen their leadership skills at a three-day conference along with student officers from different Adventist academies, September 4-7.

Over the three days, the student leaders worked with other students in groups, and had sessions with UAU leaders, getting to hear about emotional intelligence, leading like Moses, and more.

“This was my first time sponsoring this trip and I was impressed by the practical and valuable lessons that the students learned about leadership. I’m excited to see how the Campion student leaders use what they experienced to better lead our community,” expressed Erin Johnson, CA’s English and Drama teacher and sponsor.

During their free time, students got to intermingle with UAU alumni and students from other schools, socializing together and enjoying each other’s company.

Marc Winokan, a senior student and resident advisor, shared, “Not only did we learn how to be better Christ-like leaders, but we also had lots of fun hanging out with the other academies and alumni. It was so fun, it felt like I was on a mission trip.”

—Pam Lah, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

Newday NewsFlash – Parker, Colorado … Traveling outside the U.S. to another country broadens horizons, increases cultural awareness, and provides opportunity for personal growth. When international travel is a mission trip with opportunity to live out your beliefs in tangible ways, the experience is transformative.

For these reasons and more, Newday Adventist Church in Parker, Colorado, provides scholarships for students to experience a mission trip. When they return, the students share their stories in hope of inspiring others to serve.

This summer, Noah, son of Aaron and Becca Dickerson, went on a mission trip with his grandparents and an organization called, Quiet Hour. Here’s Noah’s story:

Noah, where did you go and what was the purpose of this trip?

I was excited to go to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia! It’s a regular, big city with tall buildings and lots of traffic. The purpose of our trip was to tell people about Jesus and put on health clinics to provide basic medical support.

What was your role on the trip?

I learned to take blood pressure and tested people for reading glasses. I also helped my grandpa preach. We visited local church members in their homes to get acquainted and pray with them.

What are some of your favorite memories?

I helped preach a sermon where we showed part of the Jesus Movie on the topic of heaven. The church where we met was called, Light on a Hill. It was actually on top of a hill and the surroundings were beautiful. At the end of our week of preaching, there were 20 baptisms.

Did you do anything fun?

Yes! We saw the Chinggis Khaan statue, which was really cool. It’s an enormous statue on top of a building. We saw a famous landmark called Turtle Rock. I also rode a camel. It was creepy and hairy.

Noah, what advice would you give someone who hasn’t gone on a mission trip?

Definitely go. It’s fun and a really good experience. You can help change a lot of lives!

Newday will be going on a mission trip to Peru this next summer. Watch for details and consider going!

—Republished with permission from the September 10, 2025, edition of Newday’s NewsFlash. Photos supplied.

Jennifer Audette – Greenwood Village, Colorado – AdventHealth University Denver officially opened its doors September 16 at its new 16,000-square-foot site in Greenwood Village, Colorado, that will facilitate expanded student enrollment, helping to stem the shortfall of essential health care workers in the community and throughout the U.S.

The moment was marked with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, drawing education and health care leaders from around the U.S.

“This is a historic day for AdventHealth University, AdventHealth, and the Colorado community as we develop the next generation of nurses and imaging science professionals who will practice health care as a ministry,” C. Josef Ghosn, EdD, FACHE, president and CEO of AdventHealth University told guests. “AdventHealth University Denver boldly exemplifies our commitment to play a vital role in the health care workforce pipeline, and we are thrilled to welcome students to this wonderful space that sparks discovery, encourages excellence, and fuels purpose.”

AdventHealth University Denver, celebrating its 16^th anniversary, offers degrees in nursing, sonography and radiography. The new site includes state-of-the-art simulation equipment, high-fidelity mannikins, an energized lab and expanded student and classroom space. In addition, the new site is situated in the same building as the AdventHealth Rocky Mountain Region headquarters, 6061 S. Williow Drive in Greenwood Village, providing opportunities for synergy between the two organizations.

“This partnership is more than sharing a building. It’s about sharing a vision,” said Brett Spenst, CEO of AdventHealth Colorado. “Through scholarships, leadership, and clinical training, AdventHealth is committed to helping AHU students thrive.”

Guests toured AdventHealth University Denver’s new instructional spaces and talked with students, alumni, and faculty.

AdventHealth University Denver is an extension of AdventHealth University, a private Christian university headquartered in Orlando.

AdventHealth University Denver aims to double its enrollment to 200-250 students over the next five to seven years.

To learn more about AdventHealth University Denver or to apply, visit ahu.edu/Denver.

To view the full ceremony, visit youtube.com/live/LU6RLBQgbJY.

—Jennifer Audette is the External Communications senior manager for AdventHealth University. Republished with permission from AdventHealth University News September 15, 2025, article. Photos supplied.

Eeheon Ryu – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Are you ready to survive? Well, senior students at Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, were as they embarked on “Senior Survival,” August 27-29, a yearly tradition of roaming the outdoors. However, with new challenges and changes to this tradition, this year’s trip might have been the start of a new and transformed Senior Survival.

On the morning of August 27, nearly 30 MHA seniors loaded the bus with their belongings. The unprecedented class size was the reason this year’s Senior Survival was no longer the traditional backpacking trip, explained senior co-sponsor RD Gallant, MHA Upper School Bible teacher and chaplain. With so many seniors—last year’s class was around ten—finding enough of the right gear for everyone was unfeasible, and the trip morphed into a camping experience at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado.

However, these changes to Senior Survival might be here to stay. Rebecca Berg, another senior co-sponsor and MHA Upper School History teacher, noted the overall increase in high school class sizes is the main reason for the change. Her verdict? This year is a turning point in the tradition.

Despite this historic change, the spirit of the longstanding tradition was alive and well. The senior class bonded over fun activities like hiking, surprisingly competitive slacklining, which is competing over dish washing duties and phone charging privileges, and just sitting around the campfire at night together in conversation.

Moxie, Berg’s dog, also accompanied the class and made herself a much-loved camping addition with students petting her, playing catch with her, and enjoying her companionship.

Worship also remained a key component of the three-day trip, with worship happening daily. The night worship on August 28 especially stood out, as Gallant and Ellen, a class spiritual leader, jointly provided the message. The two delivered a captivating message about the legacy of being a senior, to shine their light at school and elsewhere. And, as long as students can come together and be reminded of messages like these, Senior Survival, in any form, will remain a valuable tradition.

—Eeheon Ryu is a senior student at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.

By Logan Earles

In music, when a musical phrase is incomplete, it’s called unresolved. This feeling of an unresolved phrase is awful. Most times we hear this it is done on purpose to leave you with a sense of anticipation, and, let me tell you, I really, really don’t like it. There is something about having a complete musical thought played out that is satisfying.

This dislike for the incomplete is not unique for music. Half-baked thoughts are infuriating. Half-baked pies are disgusting. When a cookie is half baked on purpose for it to be “gooey,” I might as well give up on it.

There are some things that are left undone that only seem like a waste. Paintings or sculptures that are begging for the artist to complete them are the perfect example. It’s not infuriating, it’s invigorating. Imagining the potential of a piece is a beautiful part of art.

The Bible paints a picture of us that is missing something. From the fall of humanity, we have been changed by sin. Our Creator and artist didn’t make us this way, and we as people are living a life that is incomplete, unresolved, half baked. Thankfully, we are not left on the shelf to cool in our gooey mess. Let’s discover the rest of the plans that God has for us.

Alright, I admit I may have leaned into the baking analogy a bit much there. But I do think it’s true that the average human experience is one that is lacking something—there is a hole in our lives.

The biblical authors described this missing piece as separation from God. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were separated from God and all of humanity began to feel the consequences of separation from the life-giving force. So, God sent Jesus down to bring us together. This was no easy task. Jesus faced the ultimate separation from God on the cross when He cried out why have you forsaken me (Matthew 27:46). He experienced a death we do not have to experience if we choose to believe in Him.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10 NIV).

Jesus told his followers that He is offering a life that is full. Like a masterpiece waiting to be restored, the Father is looking to fulfill your potential through His power. Notice the verse in John 10 doesn’t say “life in part,” or a “different but equal life” to the one before. Jesus is offering us a life that is full. This is an Eden-like experience, an existence that is with the source of all life: the Father.

In order to give us access to this life, Jesus tells us that He came down.

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV).

Jesus came down and died and rose again for us—this is the central idea of the Bible, this is the reality of our God. He did not want us to be separated from Him forever, so He paved the way forward. He did everything in his power to reconcile us to Him.

When God created this world, He worked for days and then He took a day off to enjoy what He made with his creation—humanity. This was the first Sabbath. God is looking for that experience again, but, this time, it will last forever. So how can we respond to God seeking us?

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life Romans 6:3-4 NIV.

God has given us a gift in the form of baptism. Paul describes this baptism as a baptism into death, burial, and resurrection that brings us new life. That life is one that Jesus has suffered in order for us to choose. He will not force you into it, He invites you into it.

Are you seeking to be fulfilled?

You don’t have to keep searching in vain. Jesus is offering you a life in Him that will complete you. It will require your old life to die. But the new life that comes when Jesus is the reason we live, will outshine anything from the old. Give Jesus a chance, you were made to be with the Creator and to experience completeness that even the sweetest melody cannot compare to.

—Logan Earles is the associate pastor at the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo by Elijah Crouch of Unsplash.

Waleska Agramonte and Katie Paca – Fort Morgan, Colorado … The Fort Morgan Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fort Morgan, Colorado, hosted a women’s gathering centered on the theme “Faith and Purpose,” August 31. It was a powerful time of connection, growth, and encouragement for every woman who attended.

“We had a great turnout of ladies of all ages—including young women—from Fort Morgan, Akron, and Sterling coming together as one community to uplift and inspire one another in faith,” remarked an event coordinator.

They continued, “Special guests, Gabriel Camacho and Bella Cinco, shared timely and powerful messages that spoke directly to the hearts of the women in the room. Their words reminded us to trust God’s plan and boldly walk in our purpose.”

The event included interactive exercises and reflections that helped the attendees explore their personal journeys of faith and discover new strength in their purpose. It was a space of vulnerability, joy, and sisterhood.

The attendees shared a delicious meal together, and every woman received a thoughtful gift as a reminder of her worth and identity in Christ. The atmosphere was filled with warmth, laughter, and meaningful conversation.

The event coordinators send a heartfelt thank you to every woman who came, every volunteer who served, and the churches of Fort Morgan, Akron, and Sterling for their presence and support. This gathering was a success because of their hearts, their faith, and their willingness to show up for one another.

“We believe this is only the beginning—and greater things are still to come!”

—Waleska Agramonte is the wife of Gabriel Agramonte, lead pastor of the Fort Morgan District, and Katie Paca is the Fort Morgan Seventh-day Adventist Church Women’s Ministries director. Photos supplied.

Luca Lu – Loveland, Colorado … Navigating rain, cold temps, and even hail, the 37 senior students in the class of 2026 at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, spent four days learning survival skills and bonding as a class in the forest at Glacier View Ranch in Ward, Colorado, August 27-31.

While the weather was tolerable for the first three days, a hailstorm on Saturday afternoon made this year’s Senior Survival one of the most challenging ever to happen at Campion Academy.

Following tradition, students brought sleeping bags and hammocks, but they had to build their own shelter with a single tarp as an experience of survival.

“We found a nice foundation for our shelter and laid out our tarp. The process was cool as we saw our shelter come together,” said student Justin Ticonuwu. “Unfortunately, when the hail came, it was uninhabitable, and our stuff got wet. Overall, it was pretty cool, but I was sad to see it come down.”

For meals, students were given some basic ingredients and had to start a fire and cook for themselves. Student Theo Poleza reflected, “The food was really good. Our group had really good ideas of what to cook, and we would always help each other out.”

Besides the survival experiences, the students bonded together as class through different group activities. Student Charlie Reeves commented, “The activities taught us to not only communicate, but listen to each other. The trust fall was my favorite because it was the most memorable, and it taught us to trust each other.”

The hike on the final day came with an unforgettable challenge. “It started very calm, and it was sunny, so l left my rain jacket in the camp,” Marc Winokan, senior student, remembered. “And then when we all got to the top, it started raining and then hailing very badly, for a solid 10 minutes. Everyone was scared and hiding under something. But praise God, we got back safe.”

During the hailstorm, even though everyone was scared, the seniors encouraged each other. Some huddled in circles to face the challenge together, while others lifted up their rain jackets to make a shelter over their friends.

Due to the severity of the hailstorm and the damage it did to the shelters, the students came home on Saturday evening after their final campfire. However, through the challenges, the seniors mentioned how they grew stronger and closer as a class. Peter Hutauruk, senior class sponsor, commented, “Our class survived the hail together; nothing else can stop us anymore.”

—Luca Lu, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

Dorie Panganiban – Farmington, New Mexico … The outreach team at La Vida Mission (LVM) in Farmington, New Mexico, had a great opportunity to serve the young people of the White Rock Chapter of the Navajo Nation with a Total Wellness and Healthy Lifestyle program in July of this year. The team started the month-long series with building the youth’s confidence in their own worth, a key element to having positive mental health.

“It’s been our privilege to serve the Navajo youth who spent part of their summer vacation working and learning, not only various skills and trades, but also gaining as much knowledge as they can, especially in relation to their health and well-being,” commented Dorie Panganiban, LVM office manager.

“They’re happy to know that they each have worth that is based on their relationship to God, with their worth rooted in a covenant made before they were even born,” she continued. “Even with all their sins and weaknesses, they are not cast aside as worthless. They are precious and beloved children of God, loved with an everlasting love, created in His image, redeemed by His own blood, and are thus worth more than silver and gold. It’s so inspiring to see how this truth and knowledge has impacted the youth’s response and interaction during our meetings with them.”

While most staff at the Mission were on break for the summer, several staff members joined in to assist with the program including Kim Ellis, LVM mission director, and Cielo Domino, LVM school principal, in the first week. During the second week, Natavia Harrison, a former Navajo youth worker, assisted Panganiban.

The youth attendees asked for some exercise tips and activities, so during the third and fourth week, VJ Panganiban, LVM Health Ministry director, and his wife, Beth, led the enthusiastic youth with some High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) exercise programs.

Afterwards they did some healthy vegetarian cooking, which had been requested as well.  They enjoyed making two kinds of vegetarian burgers: one using carrots and cabbage and the other using carrots and zucchini. They also asked to learn how to make Asian fried rice, which was paired with baked squash rounds. Finally, they learned to prepare green smoothies for diabetics, fruit smoothies for energy building, and no-bake fruity graham cake.

“We would like to thank the leaders of the Chapter and all their staff for their wholehearted support for our program,” praised Dorie. “We are grateful for this ministry partnership on behalf of the younger members of our community. Please join us in praying for the youth of the Navajo Nation and how we can reach them and help them to live a more successful and fruitful life now and in the future.”

* La Vida Mission is a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church but are not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

—Dorie Panganiban is the La Vida Mission office manager. Photos supplied.

CRS News – Lincoln, Nebraska … Christian Record Services, Inc. (CRS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Pastor Cesar Perozo as its new president, following a nationwide executive search conducted by FaithSearch Partners.

With over 25 years of combined experience in pastoral ministry and administrative leadership, Perozo brings a wealth of expertise in strategic management, human resources, and cross-functional collaboration. His previous roles include vice president of administration and human resources director for the Southern New England Conference, where he oversaw the budget and led initiatives in church planting, child protection, and organizational development.

Most recently, Perozo served as pastor for Upward and Fairview churches in North Carolina, where he launched disaster relief distribution centers, raised money for church and school projects, and directed Sabbath School ministries for the Carolina Conference.

“We are delighted to welcome Pastor Cesar Perozo to the presidency of Christian Record Services,” said G. Alexander Bryant, CRS Board Chairman. “He is passionate about serving the Lord and committed to the ministry of spreading the gospel to those who are blind and have low vision. I’m excited about the leadership Cesar will bring to this ministry and look to see it move to the next level.”

“I am honored to accept the role of president of Christian Record Services,” says Perozo. “Together, with our dedicated staff and the resilient blind and low-vision community we serve, I look forward to advancing our mission with renewed passion and unity. I am especially eager to strengthen our partnership with the North American Division, as we work collaboratively to make a meaningful, lasting impact.”

—Christian Record Services News. Republished with permission from Christian Record News & Events post, September 3. Photo supplied.

By Lisa Cardinal

Making disciples is not something Jesus suggested or recommended. Making disciples is something Jesus commanded. It was a direct order.

For 2000 years, making disciples has been the mission, duty, and privilege of Jesus’ followers. Here at Newday Adventist Church in Parker, Colorado, we take Jesus’ words seriously. Making disciples is our mission, our highest honor, and our greatest win. Every single other thing we do is in support of making disciples.

When someone gives their life to Jesus, chooses to identify with Him through the act of baptism, and says yes to living life as a Jesus’ follower (disciple), we celebrate in a big way! In fact, based on what we know about the way Jesus did things when He was on earth, we like to imagine that if He were here today, He would celebrate very much the way we did on August 23.

After a powerful worship experience, we caravanned to a beautiful outdoor setting to first enjoy a picnic lunch together. While it was not barley loaves and fishes, the haystacks did seem to multiply, and a very large crowd had plenty to eat.

Six followers of Jesus were baptized: four elementary students, one high school student, and one college student. Another one was baptized a few weeks earlier at Glacier View Ranch in Ward, Colorado.

Because we live in a culture where it is no longer a given that kids raised in church choose Jesus, this is a big win for the Kingdom! Still dripping wet, these newly baptized Jesus’ followers were surrounded by their Newday family, friends, and guests and we prayed over them, “Father, fill them with your Holy Spirit. May they be disciple makers!”

—Lisa Cardinal is lead pastor at Newday Adventist Church. Photos by Jim Huenergardt.