22 Sep

NEW PRINCIPAL, ANDREW CARPENTER, AIMS AT JOINT COLLABORATION BETWEEN MHA AND RMC SCHOOLS

RMCNews – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … “We’re all working together; we all have a common goal,” Andrew Carpenter, the new principal at Mile High Academy, remarked on the collaboration he would like to accomplish among Mile High Academy, front-range churches, Campion Academy, and other schools in RMC.

Born and raised in Tennessee and graduated from Madison Academy outside of Nashville, Tennessee, he is aware of the benefits of Adventist education. Carpenter is married with a two-year-old daughter, which occupies his time when he is not at MHA. After graduating from Southern Adventist University, he began his career as chaplain at San Gabriel Academy in Southern California before being offered the position of vice-principal, where he served under the leadership of Paul Negrete the past few years before accepting the call to be the principal at MHA.

Carpenter, by joining MHA, opens the academy’s new chapter of leadership. He would like to continue to build on the innovative programs and introduce systems that would help support what the school has accomplished while continuing to move forward with best practices. “One of the big innovations is real-world learning, sometimes called project-based learning, which is a great tool for education, teaching kids relevant and authentic experiences,” Carpenter comments, adding “and getting [the students] involved in how the skills and content they’re learning in the classroom interact in the world they are living in.”

Collaboration between area churches and MHA is encouraging to Carpenter.  “We have great pastoral support, not from just our constituent churches, but also from pastors outside of our constituency who have been very supportive of the school and working to help us see how we can partner together because it’s a blessing for their ministry as well as ours to be able to minister to the families of kids.”

He adds, “I think the more we invite everybody to be a part of what’s happening in our ministries, as we partner together, the stronger our ministry becomes. I think we need to talk about how we can continue to partner together. How can we sync our calendars, our programming to benefit each other and not just for the sake of benefit, but so we can be more effective in what we’re trying to accomplish here in the Denver Metro area?”

Carpenter’s mission for MHA goes beyond preparing the students for academic success but includes equipping them to advance God’s Kingdom. “The mission is helping to prepare our young people to be active participants in Christianity and to be part of the great commission within the Adventist context, helping to train and prepare them by partnering with our churches. We are developing a program based on brain and science research, our biblical worldview combined with our historical understanding of where Adventist education came from and the counsels of Ellen White.”

The core mission, according to Carpenter, comes down to character development for the students. He takes this value directly from the book Education by Ellen White, who encourages teaching the students about the joy of service in this life and for eternity. “That’s going to be a huge component of what we do because that’s the mission of our church. The other component is, as our new [Conference] president, Mic Thurber, begins that we look at his mission and vision for Rocky Mountain Conference and see how Mile High can help collaborate with that vision.  We are all working together, and we all have a common goal. We’re looking at how we can help to support our churches and our conference with our young people completing that mission.”

Carpenter is anxious to build a strong relationship between Campion and Mile High Academy.  “I call Don Reeder frequently and ask him how Campion is doing.  I would love to collaborate with them on outdoor activities and mission projects.  I know we play sports together, which is great.  There’s a healthy relationship there, but I would love for our students to spend time together.  I would like to see prayer conferences with our academies.  I think bringing our academies together would help us realize that we are working toward the same goals and mission.”

He adds that the question he bases his leadership on is, “If Mile High can improve in one area, how do we help the school in Farmington improve, and how does the school in Farmington help Mile High improve? When we’re talking about the mission and vision for education, specifically in the Rocky Mountain Conference, how do we begin to affect more than just ourselves with what we’re doing?”

“We need to be collaborating not just with Campion, but also with Brighton, Vista Ridge, our school in Casper, and others.  I’m impressed with our teachers in Wyoming.  They’re amazing educators.  They have some tough challenges out there by themselves, but they’re working together.”  That’s a tremendous example of collaboration, according to Carpenter.  He adds that when we are focused just on ourselves, we will miss the mark, but if we continue to collaborate together, Rocky Mountain Conference education will be great.

According to Carpenter, the call to MHA was about doing more than doing a job only at Mile High but also changing the wider community. “We want to do something greater than [with] just ourselves at Mile High Academy and affect the whole conference, union, and division.” This mindset set forth by Diane Harris, RMC education director, made Carpenter want to join Rocky Mountain Conference as principal at Mile High Academy.

–RMCNews; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

13 Sep

MISSION FOCUS, HISPANIC GROWTH, AND EQUALITY IN CALLING TO MINISTRY AT CENTER OF MID-AMERICA UNION CONSTITUENCY MEETING

RMCNews – Lincoln, Nebraska … Under the theme Yes, Lord!, the 9th quinquennial session of the Mid-America Union Conference, September 12,  256 delegates voted 82% to 18% to allow conferences to submit female pastors to the union for ordination. Mid-America Union Conference joins the Pacific Union Conference and the Columbia Union Conference to become the third union in the North American Division to ordain women.

At the outset of the meeting, delegates re-elected Gary Thurber to serve as Mid-America Union Conference president. Dr. Herbet Morel Jr. was elected as vice president of administration; David VandeVere, treasurer of the Potomac Conference, was invited to join MAUC as vice-president of finance.

MAUC department directors elected for the next quinquennium, were Brenda Dickerson, communication director; Roberto Correa, disabilities director; LouAnn Howard, education director; Raylene Jones, human resources director; Robert Correa, multi-language and Hispanic director; and Nancy Buxton, women’s ministry director.

The session began with a devotional thought by G. Alexander Bryant, North American Division president. Bryant challenged the delegates, saying, “Don’t let your heart become overwhelmed and don’t let yourself get too stressed out with things happening in the world and the church … especially the church.” He added, “Jesus is interested in our mental health. Whatever is happening in this life, it is temporary. It’s not the final chapter. Let not your heart be troubled because Jesus is going to win!”

Changes to the by-laws, a regular maintenance item, became a topic of much discussion on whether or not to enlarge the MAUC Executive Committee from 35 to 38 members to ensure more voices are heard. Hispanic delegates spoke about the representation of this growing membership base within MAUC on the Executive Committee. One delegate expressed, “We would like to have a voice”. Gary Thurber explained that they recognize the importance of Hispanic ministries in MAUC and the conferences choose who will sit on the Union Executive Committee, and as part of recognizing the fastest growing membership base in the territory, the delegates voted the first Hispanic director of the Union.

Union College presented a report showing the healthy growth in enrollment and financial stability. The college representatives also showed that they have 25 million dollars in reserve for student aid.  A new feature of the college campus drew the attention of many in the audience when they presented plans to build the AdventHealth Fitness Complex in the next few years.

The final agenda item was the issue of pastoral credentialing. The topic, as expected, drew strong convictions from both sides of the issue.

“We are not here to debate women’s ordination. We are going to debate the policy,” Gary Thurber, MAUC president said at the onset of the lively hour discussion for women’s ordination in the MAUC territory. Thurber addressed the delegates stating they are called by God. “We are God’s Elijahs. We are the ones called for this territory.”

Mic Thurber, the new RMC president addressed the delegates on this issue by saying, “My personal support for this motion has been formed by 18 years of serving alongside educated, gifted, and called women to pastoral ministry. In the three churches I served as senior pastor, one or more female associate pastors each demonstrated the fruits of ministry over and over again.”

Dick Stenbakken, RMC delegate rose to the microphone to express his opinion. “I think as Adventists we talk a lot about mission, and we should. And I think we should not limit who can serve in it. We talk about present truth and I think the present truth is to ordain women along with men because it helps the mission of the church.”

Bryant spoke on the challenges he sees. “I personally stand in support of women’s ordination, but am challenged by this motion.” He said that this action doesn’t make women equal in the Seventh-day Adventist church. “Let’s ask the Lord for wisdom because this might help this particular situation but doesn’t help the entire issue. There has to be a way that we, as a church, figure out our way through this and keep pressing until we can get total equality.”

In conclusion, 256 delegates voted 82% to 18% to allow conferences to submit female pastors to the union for ordination making it one of the largest margins in favor of ordaining women to the Gospel Ministry.

Commenting on the historic vote, Doug Inglish, RMC vice president of administration, said. “The vote today means conferences can decide whether or not to submit female pastor names to the union for ordination.”

Those chosen to represent the Rocky Mountain Conference on the Mid-America Union Conference Executive Committee were Mic Thurber, RMC president; Darin Gottfried, RMC vice president of finance; Wayne Morrison, pastor of Brighton church; and two at-large members Carol Turk and Sam Miller.

Voted to serve on the Union College association board to represent RMC was Darin Gottfried, and serving on the Union by-laws committee is Mary Lynn Green, RMC trust and planned giving director.

Closing the session, Gary Thurber challenged the delegates to “keep our arms around each other and when we go from this place, we will send a message to our churches that the Mid-America Union Conference is Seventh-day Adventist to its very core and loves the world church and is thankful to be a part of it.”

He also stated that he is grateful for each female pastor in the Mid-America Union. “I hope more than anything today they know how important they are to our mission and that their pastoral leadership is vital to our territory.”

–RMCNews; photos by Rajmund Dabrowski and Outlook Magazine

09 Sep

“I work for you,” says the new RMC president during the first office meeting

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … “To you, this is another staff meeting, but to me, this is a big deal,” Mic Thurber said to the conference office staff at the beginning of their monthly meeting, September 7.

Meeting the staff officially for the first time, Thurber chaired the meeting.  After a worship thought by Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director, the new president began by sharing how he is eager to start his ministry in the RMC territory.

Thurber stated that when new leadership arrives, there is often anxiety among the staff concerned about how this change will affect them.  Thurber explained his leadership style comes down to “I work for you,” referring to the fact he is not a micro-manager.

He said he has a pastor’s heart and sees his role as president to be the office staff senior pastor. “I’m still a pastor,” commented Thurber.

The staff was able to meet for the first time Darin Gottfried, RMC vice-president for finance.  Gottfried shared how he is looking forward to getting settled in their new home in a few weeks and looking forward to getting to know the staff and church members.

Jana Thurber, the new RMC women’s and prayer ministries director attended the meeting and meet the staff.  Jana also explained she is looking forward to also filling a new position of ministerial spousal support.

Several staff expressed their joy in welcoming Thurber and Gottfried while appreciating Doug Inglish, vice-president for administration, for his maintaining the RMC ship these past few weeks.

The meeting closed with a renewed emphasis by Thurber explaining evangelism in RMC starts in our community by being loving and caring neighbors.

–RMCNews; photos by Rajmund Dabrowski and Jon Roberts

01 Sep

OLATHE COMMUNITY DISCOVER HEROS AT HISPANIC CONGREGATION

RMCNews – Olathe, Colorado … Children recently learned the important life lesson of making a big difference in small ways at a Vacation Bible School hosted by the Olathe Hispanic church.

Twenty children from different denominations in the community gathered nightly in August for the five-day event. The VBS included fun and adventurous activities including, crafts, games, and a chance to begin or continue a walk with Jesus.

Reflecting on the event, Julia Chavez, Olathe VBS coordinator, was thrilled with the community attendance. “Ten of the children were from different faith backgrounds,” she expressed joyously.

The event concluded with a special evening where families joined the children for a closing program which began with fellowship over a meal. Ruben Balaguer, pastor of the Olathe Hispanic church, presented the final Bible story to the group of kids who listened attentively to the story, which demonstrated that the small acts we do can make a big difference.

Reflecting on the week-long adventure, Balaguer commented, “We thank God for those children who were able to learn Bible stories, sing new songs, play with new acquaintances, and enjoy an unforgettable week. It was wonderful to share the gospel with the community children who may have never heard stories about the heroes of the Bible.”

The certificates handed to each youth at the closing ceremony will be a lasting memory for their time at Hero’s Vacation Bible School.

–RMCNews; photo supplied

19 Aug

RMC OFFICE STAFF BIDS FAREWELL TO ED AND SHIRLEY BARNETT

By RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … “The evening which was meant to be a sad event saying farewell to Ed turned into an evening of laughter and joy, one I will never forget,” reflected one RMC conference office employee on the retirement gathering recently held for Ed Barnett, president.

Colleagues and friends assembled to fellowship one last time before the Barnetts leave the mountains of RMC for the beaches of Florida. The informal gathering began with a meal featuring a classic homemade FriChik lasagna prepared by Pat Chapman, RMC educational assistant and appointed chef.

“Even though the temperature was in the high 90s that day, the evening, in true Colorado form, turned out to be beautiful. The evening was reflective of the beautiful life of service that Ed has given to the church and Shirley’s commitment to her life’s work in healthcare,” Lori Goebel, RMC human resources assistant director, expressed.

After everyone had their fill of watermelon and sweets, it was time to celebrate Barnett’s ministry, but first, because of the crazy times we live in, Lonnie Hetterle, who led out in the program, advised that everyone needed to mask up.  As Hetterle placed the thin fabric constraining device over his mouth, he pulled out a different type of covering for Barnett–a ventriloquist device.

“Evidently, I have always wanted to put words in the president’s mouth, and this was the only way I could make him say whatever I wanted him to say. No, I really thought the office staff would enjoy seeing this ‘different side’ of Barnett. He is such a good sport and enjoys life so [much] that I was confident we could have some fun together, and he could end his time with his RMC staff with smiles and laughter,” Hetterle exclaimed.

Throughout the act, those gathered in the crowd could be seen trying to catch their breath from laughing so hard.  Some fell out of their chairs when Barnett, who didn’t quite understand that he wasn’t supposed to talk, kept trying to speak, which led Hetterle to go off script and shout, “Will you just be quiet” to Barnett.

“Watching Ed laugh through the ventriloquist mask was a highlight and still makes me laugh,” Mary Lynn Green, RMC planned giving and trust director, commented.

After the masks were thrown away, tributes and gifts from various employees filled the Barnetts’ hearts with memories of seven-and-a-half-year run as president.

Always a huge supporter and encourager of Mountain Views, Barnett was presented with a hand-engraved chest featuring every issue of the quarterly magazine published during Barnett’s term.

“Ed was one of those leaders who believed in communication, supporting church conversations about issues. Ed’s friendship and leadership made us better leaders in areas where we always thought we knew everything. In my view, Mountain Views is good enough to wake him up from his retirement life of golfing,” Rajmund Dabrowski, RMC communication director, suggested.

Expressing gratitude for Barnett’s never-ending support for Campion Academy, Don Reeder, principal, presented him with a letter jacket from Campion. Reeder also invited Eric Nelson and Lonnie Hetterle to join Ed and him on stage, back deck, to model the Campion jackets received when they retired.

Green, reflecting on the evening, expressed, “We all will miss Ed. It was so nice to have a moment to enjoy being together and celebrate with Ed and Shirley before they head out on their new adventure!”

Goebel echoed the sentiment of Green. “Although I have only worked with Ed for a year and a half, it was evident by the affirmations given that during his time as president of the Rocky Mountain Conference, he created a culture of respect, support, and trust.”

The evening concluded with Barnett expressing his gratitude for the hard work and dedication each had shown. He commended the teamwork and collaborative engagement by the staff that made his work easier and more enjoyable. Fighting back tears, he said he would cherish the memories of RMC forever.

–RMCNews; photos by Rajmund Dabrowski

05 Aug

WALKING WITH JESUS IS LIFE MOTTO FOR NEWLY ORDAINED PASTOR, MARK BRIDGEMAN

By RMCNews – Greeley, Colorado … With family, friends, church members, and colleagues, Mark Bridgeman, The Adventure Adventist church associate pastor, was ordained to the gospel ministry on July 31.

Born and raised in California, Bridgeman attended Monterey Bay Academy in 1993 and pursued his bachelor’s degree at William Jessup University studying Bible and theology with a second major in youth ministry.

Bridgeman recalls growing up as an Adventist and remembers the moment he decided to walk with Jesus on the journey called life. “I was raised in an Adventist home and attended Adventist schools through high school. I graduated from Monterey Bay Academy in 1993, but it was at Camp Wawona at the age of 11 that I gave my life to Christ, and was baptized a few months later on my 12th birthday.”

During his college years, Bridgeman drifted away from the journey with Christ. “I fell away during college as I started to live for myself. Then came a day when I realized that I had robbed God of the last four years of my life. I wanted to get on track with God.” Bridgeman continued, “The Lord led me to become a student missionary in Brazil through ADRA. It was nine months of challenges. When I returned home, I was unsure of the next step, I asked a friend for advice. She suggested becoming a youth pastor. The Lord poured out the Holy Spirit like never before and it was made clear that I was being called to ministry. Two months later, I was a full-time student and a part-time youth pastor at a local church.”

Being ordained is humbling for Bridgeman. “It is definitely an honor to be ordained, but I must say that my journey has been a humbling experience. Because in the life of a believer, it [being ordained] has nothing to do with you attaining something but has everything to do with maintaining a close and personal walk with the Lord and listening to His leading. When our ears are attentive and we seek to do his bidding, then the only one that gets all the credit is Jesus.”

The path of ministry has been difficult for Bridgeman as he has had to overcome his fear of public speaking. “My call to ministry has always been extremely difficult for me due to major fears over public speaking. I had given it to God 1000 times. The frustration of receiving a call to ministry, and having panic attacks when getting upfront in any way [made the path a difficult one]. If He called me, then why did He not take the burden away from me? But we need to realize that a walk with God is more about trust than understanding. We are not given full understanding, but we are called to trust.”

Bridgeman met his partner in ministry, Alissa, in 2000 at Sunnyvale Adventist church in California, his home church. They are blessed with two children–their son Asher, 12, and their daughter Logan, 10.

Bridgeman’s motto in life is simple: “The believer walks the straightest when they are leaning on Jesus.”

–RMCNews; photos by Susan Inglish

05 Aug

PASTORS AND TEACHERS: TOGETHER IN MISSION

By RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … For the first time in two years, pastors and teachers flocked to Denver to spend three days enhancing their educational and ministerial skills while making connections and rekindling old bonds at the bi-yearly joint pastor and teacher convention.

The atmosphere on Sunday evening was electrified with laughter and hugs as colleagues escaped their square boxes on the screen for in-person fellowship. The common theme overheard, in the multiple circles of friendship was, “It is good to be back”.

“It was wonderful to be back in person with my teacher friends and the pastors! It is often very isolating to teach in a one-teacher school and so to be able to get together and collaborate and socialize always helps to boost my spirit. We spent a lot of our free time with each other and visited and laughed together,” Traci Pike, teacher at Mountain Road Christian Academy in Casper, Wyoming, enthusiastically expressed.

The gathering began with worship and praise music led by a trio of pastors. The excitement of worshipping as one community filled the air in the church sanctuary. The evening concluded after a short worship talk by Claudio Consuegra, NAD family ministries director, with a special service to recognize and appreciate the hard work Ed Barnett, RMC president, has accomplished in the last seven and half years. Barnett, who will be retiring at the end of August, was holding back tears as the pastors and teachers encircled him to sing “Friends” and lay hands on Barnett in a special dedication prayer service as he begins the next chapter in his life.

“It was moving to be prayed over by our pastors and teachers. What an honor to have worked for the last seven and half years in the Rocky Mountain Conference,” Ed Barnett, RMC president said.

Monday, 110 pastors and teachers arrived at the meeting location to find themselves sitting at assigned tables, combining educators and pastors, for a day-long workshop on working together for the mission of the church and school with Pam Consuegra, NAD family ministry director. The first instruction for the morning was received with blank stares and a look of puzzlement as to what to do, when everyone in the room was asked to put away their cell phones and laptops and not utilize them until lunch—a whole three hours disconnected from the world.

“I’m so proud of the Rocky Mountain Conference for making the connection and unity between the pastors and teachers a priority.  Seeing both groups come together for worship and enrichment was inspiring,” Chris Morris, associate pastor at Littleton, commented.

To conclude the three-day event, pastors and teachers separated to focus on specific workshops to enhance their skills.

For Pike, the leadership workshop was very helpful. “I think that meeting with the other principals/administrators was most helpful for me. The challenges that arise with the “principal hat” are different than the “teacher hat.” It was good to see that even the bigger schools in our conference have the same struggles that our little schools do and I think that Diane Harris [RMC director of education] and Paul Negrete [RMC associate director of education] are trying to bring us all together as one team with a common vision.”

Morris led a workshop to help educators discover their Enneagram personality traits and the challenges and success of each type. “It was a privilege to facilitate the Enneagram workshop for the RMC educators. Learning their giftedness and the giftedness of their colleagues can go a long way in strengthening synergy and trust within their respective schools,” Morris stated.

Pike was appreciative of the Enneagram workshop. “The part that stuck with me the most was learning about the Enneagram workshop. I have done temperament tests, spiritual gifts tests, etc., many times in the past, but to go into detail about what motivates the various types of people was eye-opening.”

Teachers were thankful for RMC’s leadership in planning this time together. “Diane Harris and Paul Negrete charged the teachers to keep their passion for teaching at the very center of their thoughts every school day. ‘Why is it a privilege to be a teacher? Because you are an Adventist teacher; you are extraordinary. You are called by God!  We are here to bring one more student to the Tree of Life.’ The room was filled with teachers who are on fire for God, and inspiring stories were shared to show us why we do what we do,” Jodie Aakko, Brighton Adventist Academy headteacher said.

Pike is leaving Denver with a renewed energy and peace of mind that the conference is in good hands. “I came to these meetings with a sense of trepidation because of all of the changes that are taking place in personnel/leadership at the conference office. I left with a feeling of peace and hope as we move forward. I am excited to go into this new year with new knowledge and with confidence in our leadership and in the Lord whom we all serve!”

–RMCNews; photos by Jon Roberts

Claudio Consuegra
03 Aug

ARTS ON FIRE NIGHT AT LITTLETON

By RMCNews with Alise Weber – Littleton, Colorado … Women and girls of all generations from Littleton Adventist Church gathered at Arts on Fire in Highlands Ranch for an evening of creative expression through pottery making.

The event, part of innovation at Littleton to grow a healthy church by building relationships among members, drew 50 female participants of all ages. It was a chance for mothers and daughters to grow closer and make memories that they will cherish for a long time to come.

For some, it was a multi-generational gathering. “My family is so grateful for the community Littleton church has provided for us.  We had four generations at Arts on Fire–great-grandma, Nana, myself, and my daughter. It was so much fun to spend time together and to be around friends as well.  Looking at our finished products will bring back memories that will last a lifetime,” Amanda Kolibu, Littleton church member commented.

Mothers and daughters gathered with friends around tables to begin their creative designs.  The easy part was choosing which pottery piece to work on.  Next, the decisions were endless and involved multitudes of paint colors and crafty items to decorate with their own personal flair.

Reflecting on the evening, Alise Weber, children’s and family pastor at Littleton commented, “I was so impressed with all the artists in our church, including our younger artists!”

The relationship-building continues later this month as the men and boys prepare for a father and son backpacking weekend excursion in the picturesque Colorado mountains.

–RMCNews with Alise Weber; photos supplied

30 Jul

MIC THURBER NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT OF RMC

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … Meeting in a special executive session on July 28, the Rocky Mountain Conference Executive Committee extended an invitation to Mic Thurber to serve as president of the Rocky Mountain Conference, replacing Ed Barnett who will be retiring at the end of August.

No stranger to RMC, Thurber has served as the ministerial director for the Mid-America Union Conference since 2013. Mic is the brother of former RMC president Gary Thurber. He and his wife are prayerfully considering this invitation and are expected to respond to the nomination within days.

Hubert Morel Jr., Mid-America Union Conference executive secretary, who chaired the nominating committee on July 28, asked the church to present the nominee in their prayers, and ask for God’s guidance in Thurber’s decision.

Morel thanked the Executive Committee members for their hard work. “I was very impressed by the way the Executive Committee functioned in selecting or recommending the person they want as their leader, Mic Thurber.”

Wayne Morrison, pastor of Brighton church and RMC Executive Member commented on the nomination process. “It always impresses me how as a committee we seek God’s heart, ask for His will, and He always is faithful. As we looked at the candidates, many were very qualified individuals, I again was amazed at how God narrowed the search until we felt God had raised one name, ‘for such a time as this.’”

Mic Thurber was born in Collegedale, Tennessee, when his parents were students at Southern Missionary College.   Mic met his partner in ministry, Jana, 45 years ago and has worked closely together ever since. They have three children and three grandchildren.  Prior to coming Mid-America Union Conference, he served as pastor of the Keene, Texas church. He was also the ministerial director for the Southeastern California Conference, pastor at Pacific Union College church and Calimesa Adventist church in California.  Thurber also taught Bible and music at Sunnydale Academy in Missouri and Mount Pisgah Academy in North Carolina, his alma matter.

–RMCNews; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

29 Jul

ALL FOR CHRIST: PASTORS AND TEACHERS CONVERGE IN DENVER TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … Working together to win kids for Christ is the theme for the upcoming Rocky Mountain Conference pastor and teacher convention.

The gathering is important at this time as RMC continues to push forward, regardless of the challenges that our churches and schools have dealt with over the past year.

For RMC leadership, building healthy churches and schools in RMC is what makes this an important meeting. President Ed Barnett commented, “We have always felt that pastors and teachers are the key to our conference. So, every few years, we try to have them meet together so we can build the team and the camaraderie among our workers. I believe that it is a blessing for our mission in the Rocky Mountain Conference.”

Commenting on the importance of this event, Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director, explained it is about reaching all, especially the youth, with the Good News and the hope Jesus provides. “Since we have traditionally called our schools “church schools”, it is important that both pastors and teachers have the opportunity to dialogue on how they can work together to reach kids for Christ.”

Mallory added that this gathering is especially important in RMC territory, “because Jesus, in Matthew 28:19, calls for us to “make disciples of ALL nations” including children.

Diane Harris, RMC director of education, is hoping that this annual gathering of teachers will be enhanced by holding the event jointly with the pastors.  For Paul Negrete, assistant director of education for RMC, this will be his first chance to interact with the teachers since joining RMC on July 1.

The meeting will be held August 1 through August 3 with NAD family ministries directors Pam and Claudio Consuegra as the keynote presenters. It is expected of all pastors to attend.  Mallory foresees that nearly all pastors will join in person, with 55 expected to attend. It is anticipated that teachers of the nearly 20 RMC schools will attend the event.

Barnett is asking for RMC church members to keep these meetings in prayer and ask for the Holy Spirit to lead the gathering.

–RMCNews; photo supplied

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