Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

12 Jan

WELCOMING A NEW TEAM MEMBER

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … We would like to welcome Elisabet (Liz) Kirkland to her role as communication assistant for the Rocky Mountain Conference. Liz has worked in the communication and visual design field for almost 20 years. Her last employment was with Mountain States Employers Council where she worked since 2007. Her roles at Mountain States included graphic designer, materials manager, and training and events specialist. She is also the founder and freelance designer for etachey Design, a branding, marketing, communication design, and training company.

“We welcome Liz to our team. Her skills in design and branding, as well as her expertise in marketing and communication training will help us to provide quality communication. With media at the heart of social communication, our church’s output needs to be attractive and engaging. Liz will assist us with her creativity. Exciting days are ahead of our communication in RMC,” comments Rajmund Dabrowski, RMC director of communication.

Liz, her husband Wandee, and their two sons Turi and Didrik are members of the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Last year, they celebrated their oldest son’s baptism and the acceptance of Jesus Christ into his life. She enjoys hiking, crafting, and spending time with loved ones.

Reflecting on her assignment, Liz says: “I am excited to join the wonderful team at the Rocky Mountain Conference office and help spread the message and glory of Jesus.”

— RMCNews

05 Jan

GEOVANNA AND RAFAEL’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

Lydie Birai – Denver, Colorado … Special Christmas programs are a part of worship events, expected and thoroughly enjoyed by congregants and other participants. One such example is a LifeSource Christmas program. Consider the following ravings about the LifeSource program held on December 17.

“Loved it! Enjoyed the production! Well-organized! Worshipful and classy experience! It was great and performances were outstanding, taking it to another level.”

”Detailed enough to hold my attention but not so long that it felt like it dragged on.”

“Everyone left wanting more!”

“Incredible what was put together with the time that we had.”

“Multi-generational involvement. Thoroughly enjoyed it, very glorifying to God, loved the singing and performances”

It’s amazing how God works and how things come back full circle. Several years ago, as Rafael Castro shared, he made his way to Northern Colorado from Brazil, uncertain of what his future held as a young, single man. He was greeted warmly by the Fort Collins Seventh-day Adventist Church and its young adults who took him under its wings.

Due to life situations, while he wanted to remain in Colorado, he took several detours. But, in the back of his mind, he always wanted to go back to Colorado. He still remembers how welcoming the community was.

As God would have it, in 2022, Rafael came back to Colorado, but this time, to the Denver area with a beautiful and talented wife and much more certainty about his future. Rafael and his wife Geovanna visited LifeSource Adventist Fellowship, where again he was greeted by a special group of young adults.

Within a month or so of attending our church, Geovanna felt supported and empowered by the leadership team to share her vision of a Christmas program. Within weeks, she was able to put her vision together and on December 17th, it all came to life. In attendance were 127 people from the LifeSource community and other churches. Within three days of the program, there were more than 100 views on YouTube.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the Christmas program was seeing how God planted a seed at the Fort Collins Church for Rafael. He had no idea what the future held at that time, but because of this seed, he came back to Colorado. In their short time at LifeSource, Rafael and Geovanna have already been such a blessing to the church family.

Their creation included a nativity built from scratch by Rafael Castro. The play, which included Pastor Daniel as the Angel Gabriel and Heremy and Nathan Cordova as Joseph and Mary, was narrated by Lonnie Hetterle, former RMC superintendent of education.

Pastor Daniel and Heremy Cordova provided live music and onlookers enjoyed varied music beautifully chosen. Other singers who presented as lambs and sheep included several children from the church. The congregation joined in at the conclusion of the program when every participant on stage sang a beautiful rendition of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.

At the conclusion of the production, watchers exited into the hallway where they could pet two live donkeys, making a perfect backdrop for photos. They were treated to refreshments provided by the Fellowship Committee and gift bags put together by Adventurers and Pathfinders.

It was a blessing to see how this Christmas program brought LifeSource and our community together. We love creating memories as a community, and with so many requests, Geovanna is looking forward to doing a program again next year, Lord willing!

We thank God for the Castros and our entire community for living up to our church motto … LifeSource. #StepIntoFamily.

–Lydie Birai is secretary/treasurer of Club Ministries at LifeSource Fellowship in Denver. Photos by Daniel Birai. Watch the program here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01rfC_2GJN0

05 Jan

SABBATH MEAL TOURISM: CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS ONE DISH AT A TIME

Elisabet Kirkland – Littleton, Colorado … The table spanned endlessly, draped in red and white candy stripes. Dewy potato and egg dishes gleamed amid the placid yellow glow of florescent illumination. Crock pots gathered like a small, armored division readied to thwart the delayed first-meal hunger pangs. And the sweet treats! Oh, the sweet treats. Countless pastries in pink, red, and gooey chocolate taunted both the young and the old.

It was a Sabbath breakfast potluck at Littleton Church.

The church families filed in and perused the spread. It was too early in the day for haystacks, but excitement still grew. “So-and-so brought curried potatoes! You have to try the curried potatoes,” one member hyped. Another grimaced, “I hope we have enough. I am hungry today …” There were momentary pauses in the squeaks and squeals of the children as they crept with poor stealth to the tower of doughnut boxes, giving a quick glance to make sure no adult was watching.

We lingered awkwardly beside the tables waiting for the pre-meal prayer, anxious to grab a plate and dig in. But the space-filling small talk led to a spiritual epiphany. Someone had mentioned the culinary splendor they had experienced the previous day at a baptism event held at an Indonesian Church. It sounded like a delight for the senses, albeit a spicy one. It brought to mind my own fond memories of attending the Sabbath potluck meals at my mother-in-law’s Korean church in Northern Virginia. As a designer and lover of food, I shamefully wished the time away, geeking out on the colors, textures, and tastes awaiting. Even within the Conference headquarter City of Denver, one could delight their palette at Hispanic, Ghanian, and Haitian church potlucks.

But, back to the epiphany–we decided that, in the spirit of fellowship (and a side of hunger), that we, as a community, should do some “Sabbath meal tourism.” Is there a better human connector than sharing a meal? Think of all the stories in the Gospels of tables shared and congregations with food. One of our most basic human needs is also one of our greatest bonds.

So, fellow brothers and sisters, let’s venture out and do as we have been shown. With creativity, we all can share outside of our church homes. There is so much joy and insight to be gained as we commune at the table across the Christ-centered human kaleidoscope.

Dust off that crock pot, break out that forgotten serving dish, and have your own spiritual journey “graced” by food.

–Elisabet Kirkland is a member of Littleton Adventist Church. She assists her husband, Wandee Kirkland, head deacon, at church events. Photo by Brodie Philpott.

05 Jan

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO GOD?

By Nathaniel Gamble

In the animated movie A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown asks in frustration, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!” Many Seventh-day Adventists find themselves in a similar situation when it comes to Religious Liberty Sabbath. Most of us do know about promoting the Liberty magazine on Religious Liberty Sabbath to state and federal judges, government officials, and lawyers. But, apart from this initiative, many of us, like Charlie Brown, wonder, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Religious Liberty Sabbath is all about?” Well, I can tell you the meaning of Religious Liberty Sabbath and why the Seventh-day Adventist Church focuses on it.

Religious Liberty Sabbath is ultimately about God and people. First, Religious Liberty Sabbath is about the kind of God who has created and redeemed us. The God of the Bible is interested in ensuring that human beings are okay, that they are safe, made whole, and truly free. There is not enough space to recount the hundreds of biblical passages that reference God’s omnipotence, but the Book of Revelation is a good example of how God uses his power. In that book, God is described as almighty, but he uses his might and power to take care of his creation, to bring sin and violence to an end and to usher in his kingdom of peace and righteousness, to save people, and to destroy religious and political oppression (Revelation 4:8-11; 11:15-19; 15:1-4; 19:1-8). Jesus imitates this divine pattern of using his power to defend God’s reputation, to save people, and to free us from sin and death in Philippians 2:5-11. Scripture is clear that God desires our freedom, which is why Religious Liberty Sabbath is a meaningful opportunity to talk about the God who makes us free.

Second, Religious Liberty Sabbath is a time to prioritize what is important to God: the ability for every person to freely choose to worship or not worship him. God desires for everyone to be free so that they can follow the dictates of their conscience by practicing their religion or no religion of choice. The Bible is quite shocking in the number of stories of God freeing people and then enabling them to use their freedom to worship things other than God. Apparently, God cares so much about our freedom that he would rather we use it poorly than that he control us like robots that have no freedom. This is why the Adventist vision of religious liberty has always emphasized that the threat to one’s religious freedom, even someone with whom we theologically disagree, is not only a threat to everyone’s religious freedom, but is also contrary to God’s will for people. Religious Liberty Sabbath is a powerful reminder that God cares about every person’s religious freedom, and so must we.

As you make plans to observe, celebrate, and support Religious Liberty Sabbath on January 14, 2023, I encourage you to remember the God who makes you free and cherish the gift of religious freedom that he gives you and everyone else.

–Nathaniel Gamble is RMC religious department director. Photo by Sunguk Kim on Unsplash.

21 Dec

COMMENTARY: EUPHORIC JOY

By Becky De Oliveira

From the moment my yellow slip-proof socks hit the sterile hospital hallway floor, I was in love! Strangely upbeat for a woman awaiting brain surgery just a couple of weeks before Christmas, I treated everything with unguarded enthusiasm, pointing to, say, a lone red tinsel garland clumsily affixed to the wall with genuine glee (“Love it!”). Before dawn, I was camped out at the nursing station, cutting out construction paper ornaments and eavesdropping on the nurses’ conversations and thanking the staff like I was a candidate for mayor.

I went from good to great as the days passed, marking my inaugural visit to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, where I would begin radiation and chemotherapy in a few days, with the observation that the facility was, “The warmest, most inviting Christmas wonderland ever.” And nothing against the Center, which is very nice and friendly, but come on! Who talks like that about anything? “Is she OK?” my husband asked the staff quietly while I busied myself forcing treats on passersby, proclaiming everyone who entered my room “awesome,” talking all night on the phone to friends in distant time zones, convincing a travel nurse to spring me out of the ICU to see photos of emotional support dogs.

Steroid-induced euphoria. It lasted as long as the drugs did. Then I was back to the “real” me, who sleeps more and talks less than the ’roid queen did. But I hope at least a little of that was me—and I often find myself longing for it. Oh, the joy in feeling not one bit critical, in seeing only the good, and, best of all, in the freedom to tell another person how wonderful they are. What stops me now? Take last Friday. At South Bend International Airport, there is a staff member who is so good at his job (boarding passengers) that I can only watch him with the same awe with which I gaze upon the ocean. I’ve observed him several times now as he manages the gate area, joking, fixing problems, arranging wheelchairs, dishing out compliments. This guy brings joy like golden sunshine does on a sub-zero day.

When he scanned my boarding pass and said, “Becky! Sweetheart!”, all I did was smile and say thank you, when I should have told him how much his presence matters, how he never fails to remind me that joy is contagious and spreads quickly wherever it finds a host. I should have grabbed the microphone and informed the whole airport that, just in case they’d somehow missed it, they were in the presence of greatness. Feel it, I should have said. Tell someone how amazing people are, how they shine. Better still, show them.

–Becky De Oliveira is a writer and educator, who recently completed her Ph.D. in Research Methods from University of Northern Colorado. Reprinted by permission from the One project Christmas Joy series on Facebook. Photo by Jonah De Oliveira.

21 Dec

RMC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VOTES PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR 2023

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … A final December 13 meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference Executive Committee in 2022 concentrated mainly on financial matters and adopting a preliminary budget for the Conference for the following year.

Presented by Darin Gottfried, vice president for finance, the financial report showed a small increase in total tithe of .43%, but with inflation being so high through this year, the Conference has lost a bit of spending power.

“Expenses are under budget through the month of October and will likely result in the year ending with a financial gain. The Conference currently has 4.55 months of working capital and is moving toward the goal of six months at a steady pace,” Gottfried said.

Following the financial report, Peter Chamberlain reported on the Audit Review Committee as required. The Conference was found to be in compliance and running soundly.

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

“The Rocky Mountain Conference has been greatly blessed,” Gottfried said “but tithe has not kept up with cost increases which is leading to a much tighter budget in 2023. We know that the Lord will bless, and we are excited to see the many amazing things that happen in the rest of this year and into next year.”

The RMC treasurer expressed appreciation for the tremendous giving and support of the Adventist Church in RMC. “We are praying that you and RMC are greatly blessed in the new year!” he concluded. The committee accepted the preliminary budget for 2023.

The final budget will be set in February after we have the final numbers for the year, but the acceptance of the proposed budget allows us to function until then. While the area cost of living will not see an increase, the proposed budget will include the full recommended raise for all employees beginning in July 2023. This allows us to remain competitive with other conferences for the services of pastors and teachers.

An update on the changes in how we relate to independent/supportive ministries after conversations with Conference attorneys and with Adventist Risk Management, was presented by Doug Inglish, vice president for administration.

“While it is possible to continue to have positive interactions with such ministries, it is necessary to guard against entanglements which courts can interpret as making us equally liable for the actions of other ministries. It is not all sorted out yet, but the picture is becoming clearer,” Inglish said.

Due to the necessity of disentangling from relationships with supportive ministries, it is no longer possible for RMC to continue dedicating a portion of the Advance Offering to La Vida Mission. The board of the mission understands the reasoning and expressed gratitude toward RMC for support given to the activities of La Vida.

In other agenda items, the Executive Committee voted to fill vacancies of additional members of the K-12 board. Names will be released pending the acceptance by those persons.

The Mid-America Union, which manages emeritus credentials, requires conferences to vote in support of requests for members of our respective territories. Therefore, the committee voted in favor of supporting the change of status for Jana Thurber from Commissioned Emeritus to Ordained Emeritus.

The committee had a short retrospective discussion on procedures and processes at our August Constituency meeting that might be passed on to the Bylaws Committee as suggestions for their consideration ahead of the next Constituency meeting. There was general consent to giving the issue further study.

In another action, the committee voted to close the Craig Adventist Church after the report that the congregation no longer meets, has no property, and has no functioning officers, and the church no longer has functioning members who can vote to close themselves. The RMC treasury department will collect what remains of the church books and any living members will be transferred to the Conference Church in a future executive session.

It was also reported that a teacher in the Pinon Hills Elementary School has resigned. The school has a plan for the remainder of the year and they will finish strong.

The committee also approved the transfer of the former Montrose School property to the Montrose Hispanic Church from the Montrose Church.

The next RMC Executive Committee is planned on February 21, 2023.

RMCNews. Photo by Rajmund Dabrowski.

21 Dec

CREATING COMMUNITY, SHARING GOD, AND HAVING FUN

JJ Martinez – Grand Junction, Colorado … When you are asked the question, “What is the church?”, what comes to mind? What is your response? One answer could be that the church is a community of same-faith believers uplifting each other while fulfilling the Great Commission. That would be a correct answer. But is that all the church is? While I agree with that answer, I believe the church is more than just that. The church is also a place where people can come and feel safe and loved. Where they feel like they are part of a family.

The Grand Junction Adventist Church has proven that. On December 4, several ministries teamed up to put on a church Christmas party. From the youngest member to the oldest all were invited. The night started with a delicious soup dinner and tasteful desserts. After the amazing dinner, the group moved into the gym where everyone participated in some fun games. There was even a snowball fight! Seeing both young and old come together is what makes the time spent together worth it.

The evening ended with some fun entertainment and the singing of Christmas carols. How does this show community?

Back in September, we held an evangelism series with Eric Flickinger. There was a substantial number of visitors who came to this series. The relationships they developed with the members of the church is why this Christmas party is important. Those visitors not only started to come to our church services, but also to the events that the church has planned–the Christmas party being one of them.

During that night, I talked to a few of our visitors, who are slowly becoming members. What they said put a smile on my face. They are amazed at how friendly everyone is and how willing the church is to make them feel part of the church family. The Christmas party was no different. They felt loved. They felt a sense of community.

That is what the church is about. That is what we are called to do. Yes, we are called to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to make disciples. We are also called to make those disciples feel welcome, to feel loved. Jesus calls us to love each other and our neighbor as we love ourselves. We are called to form a community. To form a family. That is the church.

–JJ Martinez is associate and youth pastor in Grand Junction Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

21 Dec

CAMPION ACADEMY FEATURES STAFF TALENT SHOW

Ana Segawa – Loveland, Colorado … Campion’s staff members displayed their talents to students in various presentations, with the intent of finishing the semester in a lighthearted way this past Saturday night.

Marc Winokan, freshman student, commented, “Staff talent show was really fun. I enjoyed all the acts, but my favorite was Ms. Johnson and Portia’s singing. Overall, it was a very fun night.”

Erin Johnson and Portia Kluchesky kicked off the program by singing classic Disney princess songs while dressed in costume and acting their parts.

Relatable to many of Campion’s students, a world history class was recreated with staff members as students and with Cindy Santana as the teacher. The typical behavior of students acted out by staff members provided many laughs.

Already a part of past staff talent shows, the well-known Helmdini, a.k.a. Dean Helm, made an appearance with his tricks that were highly anticipated by the audience. Some students were called to the front to participate in magic tricks.

In a bilingual activity, Jillian Harlow prepared a contest in which the competitors, mostly not fluent speakers, had to read sentences at random in Spanish. Staff members and students both participated and the audience voted for the best pronunciation.

Between presentations, April Riseley recreated TikTok trend videos featuring staff members. Rodolfo Segawa, sophomore student, mentioned, “I found the idea of doing the TikTok trends really creative. It was something unexpected, and it was really funny.”

The last activity was prepared by the Campion church pastors with a holiday theme. Pastor Taylor and Pastor Goetz were decorated as Christmas trees by two different groups of audience members while Pastor Bizama presented the activity.

Throughout the night, students had a chance to see staff members in a different light. Freshman student, Izuchi Nwankwo, remarked, “Seeing the teachers not in teacher-mode was really funny and seeing the staff as the ones participating in the program instead of outside guests was nice.”

Ana Segawa, Campion News Team. Photos by Campion eNewsletter.

15 Dec

A MESSAGE FOR THE SEASON

By Mic Thurber

I don’t know if you have the same reaction I do, but I cringe when I hear the first Christmas song being played in a store! Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas music, and I tend to listen to it all year long.

But if all I heard was department-store Christmas music, I think I’d lose all love for the season! It’s just plain hard for me to take the juxtaposition of sacred themes with mere commerce.

While once in a while, I hear a newer Christmas song that speaks to me, it’s the old ones, the Christmas hymns, that get to my heart. For they tell the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard!

When I listen to the songs I most love and let them speak to my spiritual core, then I’m once again reminded of the great gift of the condescension of Jesus. If you need a refresher, just read Philippians 2:5-11. When I meditate on it, realizing that He did all that to give me (and you, too!) a new start, a reason for hope and joy, and fresh strength to face whatever lies ahead in the coming new year, I am grateful all over again for this season. It nourishes me for today, and also prepares me for the season to come.

All that from a few Christmas hymns!

Don’t let the department store jingles keep you from allowing the sweet message of the Christmas music that really tells you the story of Jesus to seep into your heart. I promise you can find hope and renewal there.

On behalf of the entire Rocky Mountain Conference team, please accept our very best wishes for you and your family during this Christmas and New Years’ season. May your days be filled with thoughts of Him whose mind was filled with thoughts of you as He came to earth to be our salvation.

–Mic Thurber is RMC President

15 Dec

THE ENDURING WORD EXHIBIT VISITS CAMPION

Leandro Bizama – Loveland, Colorado … Listening intently to the story of how the Bible was made and how it was published, student clubs, church members and participants from the community got to experience up close what is arguably one of the most important world-changing inventions in history–the printing press.

“It was a blessing to have an exhibit from The Enduring Word Museum from Wetherford, Texas here on our campus on the anniversary of Reformation Day, October 31,”” said Leandro Bizama, pastor for evangelism and worship at Campion Adventist Church.

“About 800 people visited the exhibit and were blessed by the lectures, some 500, not part of our church family. Some of us even got to print a replica of one of the original pages from Gutenberg himself,” Pastor Bizama added.

The exhibit included artifacts of archaeology from Bible times. All of them were a reminder that the more historical artifacts being dug up, the more evidence there is that the Bible is legitimate and can be trusted. Exhibited were Torah scrolls from collections that reinforced the accuracy of modern texts as well.

The exhibit included exquisite examples of Scripture translations in English, such as the original page from the Wycliffe Bible. John Wycliffe gave up his life for such an effort at a time when it was illegal to translate the text into languages the people could understand. There are only 18 original pages of this kind in private collections in the world, and this one was one of them! Also exhibited were copies of original Bibles such as one of the first 50 King James Bibles printed and one of the original pages from Gutenberg’s press.

“All of this left us inspired to read the Bible and in awe of how much sacrifice and effort it took for us to have the versions of the Bible we now hold in our hands and phones. Over the centuries, many people lost their lives trying to guard the translation of the English Bible so that we could have the blessing of studying it,” Bizama commented.

And yet, “sometimes we become so busy that we don’t take time to read it. Let us always remember the awesome legacy of the Word of God and how blessed we are to have it and let us always discipline ourselves to consistently seek God first through reading The Book,” he added.

–Leandro Bizama is Campion Adventist Church pastor for evangelism and worship. Photos supplied.