MV Summer 2015

By Ed Barnett

The great Gospel Commission has always helped drive my ministry. Jesus told his disciples, which today, I believe, is you and me, “to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19,20)

Several things grab my attention here:

1. “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Our job is to make disciples for Jesus. Our job is to make disciples in our territory—Wyoming, Colorado, and part of New Mexico —and to help spread the gospel around the world by being missionaries and giving faithfully of our tithes and offerings so others can help spread the gospel to the entire world. Disciples are people who follow Jesus and share Him with others.
2. The text says we should “baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” When we help in the process of making disciples, we need to baptize these individuals and we shouldn’t baptize them until they know fully what they are getting into.
3. “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” We want these new disciples trained and taught everything Jesus has commanded us to teach. We want them to know the full Seventh-day Adventist message.
4. “Surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” Folks, this is a critical part of the Gospel Commission. Jesus says He will be with us “always.” Do you like that? He says until He comes again, He will be with us. That has always been very encouraging to me.

With Jesus’ words as a background, I ask you to once again consider our Rocky Mountain Conference Mission Statement. We have three different versions and I want to share some of the thinking that has gone into it.

Long Version: Our mission is to lovingly support and empower every member in our conference to know Christ and to make Him fully known through education, outreach, and service, and by communicating hope and encouraging intimate connection with Christ and with each other.

Short Version: Lovingly supporting and empowering every member in our conference to know Christ and to make Him fully known.

Tagline or positioning statement: Knowing Christ and Making Him Fully Known.

There are certain things to keep in mind concerning our mission statement. The committee that helped craft it considered them important. It took several months to process the statement and get it voted through all of the different committees.

Elements to our Mission Statement:

We

Audience (members and employees of our conference)

Gospel Commission/Three Angels Message (make Him known) l Hope

Intimate connection with Christ (personal)

Scope (support/empowerment in our territory for workers and members who may make Him known in various ways and places throughout the world)

How (education, outreach, service, communication, connection)

Empowering l Support

Lovingly

Today, I believe we are at the end of time in this old world. We each need “to know Christ and make Him fully known.” We have to take the Gospel Commission seriously. We have to be faithful disciples for Jesus. And we can’t give new disciples a partial gospel. We have to give the full gospel so people can truly know Jesus.

With this in mind, our conference voted to put more money into our evangelism funds this year, and I was pleased when Eric Nelson, our evangelism coordinator, reported that we had more requests for evangelism dollars this year than in the past. I am excited that Mark Finley is going to come in 2016 and do a health/evangelism series, and that Shawn Boonstra and the Voice of Prophecy will be doing a major city outreach in 2018.

Brothers and Sisters, we have a job to do. Won’t you be a faithful disciple for Jesus and help take His gospel throughout our Rocky Mountain territory?

—Ed Barnett is RMC president.

Q&A with Japhet De Oliveira, senior pastor of the Boulder Seventh-day Adventist Church and co-founder of the One project, and Ed Barnett, president of the Rocky Mountain Conference.

The Boulder Seventh-day Adventist Church is one of the oldest churches of the Adventist faith community in the United States, with the first Seventh-day Adventist family arriving in this Wild West town in 1871. The congregation dates to 1879, has over 600 members, and is located in the heart of a city boasting a mélange of religions and world- views. A visitor to 345 Mapleton Avenue soon discovers that apart from regular worship and congregational activities, the church is headquarters for a recently popular, vibrant, and challenging revivalist ministry, the One project.

The One project is five years old. A small group of Seventh-day Adventist ministers met in 2010 in Denver, Colorado to seek renewal for their personal lives and ministries, pray with each other and share burdens and concerns about their church. Drawing on study of the gospels, reflection on the history of Adventism, and exploration of how the centrality of Jesus in Adventist beliefs connects with “present truth” for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they reaffirmed their faith in Jesus. All.— a phrase that became the project’s official tagline.

This initial conversation turned into a “sharing of what we re-discovered,” Japhet De Oliveira, senior pastor of the Boulder church, says. It developed into a series of gatherings, and mushroomed into homes, churches, and offices. “What does Jesus. All. mean for our lives, our church, our communities and the world?” the founders asked—and continue to ask.

The conversations went global primarily through “gatherings.” Seventeen of these gatherings have attracted thousands of Seventh-day Adventists in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. In a recently published compilation of sermons, For the One, Voices from the One Project, Japhet De Oliveira notes that the gatherings aim to “provide the much needed space for us to hear the voice of Jesus.” Each event includes several messages, opportunities to question the presenters, and “recalibration” in small groups where participants reflect on the meaning of the messages for their lives, as well as for their faith communities— locally and globally. Plans for 2015 include a gathering in Boulder, the ministry’s home, and three other locations. The One project also communicates through a website, social media, books and articles, as well as preaching and teaching. As developments in Adventism have a robust history of fervent theological debates, the One project has attracted a number of passionate critics in addition to its devoted followers. A variety of books and other publications take issue with the One project. Internet chatter is rich with speculation about the project, including attacks on the ministry. Much of what is circulated appears to be based on second-hand information and hearsay. The organizers do pay attention to criticism, and have fine-tuned the presentations over the years, reflecting on participant feedback, and concentrating on creating Christocentric messages.

Those who have participated in the gatherings frequently bear testimony to their changed lives. Many claim that the gatherings have rekindled their love of the Adventist message and have strengthened their beliefs. Lessons learned from the Sermon on the Mount, the theme of the recent San Diego gathering, were noted in the Adventist World (April, 2015) with a synopsis of some of the memorable presentations adding to numerous testimonies from participants. They appear to speak in unison about how their Christian experience was enriched and their commitment to the church strengthened.

Among more than a thousand in attendance at the gathering in San Diego, CA, in February 2015, was Shawn Nolan, an attorney and elder at the Boulder church. He says, “I went to San Diego with no particular expectations other than to experience the One project for myself. What I found was a weekend entirely focused on studying what Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the Mount—a chance to hear, discuss, and reflect with other Seventh-day Adventist Christians on Jesus’ words and His call to action. The weekend led me, in my own life, to hear God’s call that I surrender to Jesus the separate compartmentalizations of work, friends, family, church, and society that I sometimes allow as a defense mechanism. And to live a holistic life as a follower of Jesus. To those concerned, I have the same words Philip had for Nathanael in John 1:46: Come and see.”

Dr. Denis Fortin, formerly dean of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, has attended three gatherings. He didn’t like the first one, in Seattle, WA, three years ago, as he “found the presentations to be too critical of the church.” The two other gatherings, again in Seattle (2014), and in San Diego (2015), provided him with a different experience. Commenting about the San Diego gathering, he said, “It fed me spiritually. The presentations were biblical and faithfully Adventist. . . . I found nothing objectionable about the music, prayers, or type of spirituality presented from the One project team. So I was blessed and have already decided to attend next year.” He adds, “Thank you for your support for the One project. It is certainly meeting a need among our young adults and young pastors, and more seasoned ones like me.”

With the One project located within the Rocky Mountain Conference, Mountain Views asked Japhet De Oliveira to share his thoughts on issues surrounding the ministry. Ed Barnett also comments on the relationship between the ministry and church leadership.

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: How should we refer to the One project? Is it a movement for those who want an alternative to the Church? Is there a secret agenda?

JAPHET DE OLIVEIRA: Quite honestly, talking about Jesus captured our hearts when the five of us first met physically in Denver in 2010. Such “unquenchable desire” to know and follow Jesus has captured the hearts of thousands across the globe. It is revival and reformation in and through Jesus. So does that qualify as a movement? Probably. The One project has no secret agenda. Everything we do is in public. Our “Reflections” are online for free, and our books are published through the Church’s official printing houses in a couple of languages. We also try to address every direct question people ask. Email is the best way to communicate with us. All presentations and other information can be accessed on our web site—www.the1project.org.

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: Two gatherings included presenters who are not Seventh-day Adventist. Why was it necessary to include them?

JAPHET DE OLIVEIRA:  Great question. This is a popular one out there. When Jesus explained the Gospel, he used only the first testament. When we explain the Gospel today, we have the privilege of using both the first and second testaments. While the Bible is inspired, most of us are not versed in the original languages. We rely on translations, paraphrases, commentaries and an endless list of great voices trying to articulate and express the Gospel to all the world. I love to read. There is nothing wrong with reading great books, as long as the final test of authority is the Bible. We have held 17 gatherings around the world, of which two have featured authors sharing insights into their latest books. I am personally thankful for the great wealth of Christian writers that have shaped my love for Jesus. I know that Ellen White’s library, and the libraries of all our founders and missionaries were filled with great pieces of literature—secular and religious. Again, the Word of God is the final test. To that end, I can say that we are committed to seeking great authors who can help us articulate our faith better. It would be sad if we ended up like those living under totalitarian regimes, and burning all the books containing a single sentence with which we disagree.

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: Stories about your ministry abound. There are accusations that challenges to traditional Adventist beliefs drive the project and seek to undermine the church. Books and blogs have been written attacking the founders and the project itself. What is your reaction to these criticisms and publications?

JAPHET DE OLIVEIRA: Befuddled. Bemused. Baffled. These are three words that describe my personal reaction. On my father’s side of the family, we trace our heritage back to the foundation of Seventh-day Adventism in the south of Brazil. I come from a long line of men and women who loved Jesus and expressed that love clearly through Adventism. So now for random people, who have never talked to me, to start accusing me of not lifting up the beauty of Jesus within Adventism is—quite frankly—bizarre. Some friends informed me that an independent publisher was printing books that were slanderous to the character of the One project co-founders, who are all Seventh-day Adventist pastors. When I asked the publisher why they print such lies, they basically said, “This is what sells.” They told me that I could write my own book, and they would publish that as well. They don’t care about the content! They would not meet with us to discuss the issue either. Our response is like that of Jesus before Pilate. We too claim that everything we have done is public. We will continue to take the high road. We will continue celebrating the supremacy of Jesus in the Adventist Church. We will continue to encourage those on the fringes of the Church to return to the Word of God, as it is our only reliable source of guidance in a difficult world.

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: In what ways has the Rocky Mountain Conference helped sponsor the One project?

ED BARNETT: There has been no financial support for the One project. It does have a secretary, and her payroll is processed through the conference, but that person is paid for by the One project. We provide a “courtesy payroll” for that position just like we would for any locally hired church or school secretary. We don’t sponsor the One project, but offer to consult when either side wishes to do so. The One project is a ministry that is operated by one of the pastors in the conference. Many churches and pastors have different ministries that they help run, whether it be a prison ministry or community service projects or day care center, etc. This is nothing new for our conference.

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: Does it concern the conference that the One project is housed in the Boulder SDA Church and run by one of its pastors?

ED BARNETT: We have an interest in all ministries operating in our conference in the name of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and probably even more so when one of our pastors is a key leader in the project. With this in mind, our focus has been to keep close to what is going on and make sure that the project is truly a ministry that is bringing people closer to God. We believe that “by their fruits you shall know them,” so we are observing the results from the programs. Right now, there are a great deal of things being said about the One project—some things positive and true, but also some things far from the truth. I have had a number of church members from within our conference—as well as from other parts of the country—say how blessed they have been by attending a One project gathering. It is my plan to attend one of the gatherings personally. Meanwhile, we continue to monitor the project.

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: Have you, as the conference president, ever talked to the leaders of the One project about any concerns that you may have?

ED BARNETT: Yes, one of the issues has been that the One project has had some speakers from outside of our church. I shared this concern very openly with Pastor De Oliveira and asked him to explain the rationale behind such invitations. I let him know that to me it has been a distraction from the project’s focus on Jesus. He did assure me that the organizers get full manuscripts from all speakers ahead of time, so they know that they will not say anything contrary to the beliefs of our church. But because of views these guest speakers have expressed in books over the years, consider- able questions have been raised as to why they would have been invited to speak.

MOUNTAIN VIEWS: What are some of the positive outcomes the conference sees from the One project?

ED BARNETT: First, I get excited about any program that really focuses on Jesus. I believe that that is the project’s central focus. Those who have attended several of these gatherings have shared with me how valuable, biblically- anchored, and affirming they were for them as Seventh-day Adventists. I believe it angers Satan that Jesus is their focus. Second, I appreciate the transparency. All of the sermons presented at the gatherings are available on the Internet.

By Dany Hernandez

There’s a basic question that most of us would like answered: “What do I have to do to be ready for Jesus?” This isn’t a new question by any means. For centuries, Christians have been asking themselves this question and the answers have varied tremendously.

In order to answer this question, we have to go back to the beginning. We have to go back to Genesis and a conversation between God and Abram. In that encounter, God asks Abram to enter into a covenant that will be world changing. In a covenant, at least two parties are involved and each party has certain things it is responsible for. This covenant was pretty clear: God would bless Abram, and, in return, the world would be blessed through Abram. “Blessed to be a blessing.”

Somewhere along the way, religion got in the way of this simple covenant and we became more interested in being blessed than we were in being blessings. All of a sudden our sales pitch became, “Come to Jesus and He will bless you!” Unfortunately, this is only half of our calling.

Maybe Jesus is delaying His return because we have forgotten the second part of the covenant. Maybe we are so concerned about how many people are attending church, and what they are wearing, and what they are eating, that we’ve forgotten the part about blessing the world.

Let’s take a look at John the Baptist for a minute. The prophet Isaiah refers to him as the one who is coming to “prepare the way” for the Messiah. John the Baptist had one purpose in life, one mission to accomplish, one item on his job description, and that was to prepare the way for Jesus. That means he needed to make sure people were ready for the coming of the Messiah.

In Luke chapter 3, we find him doing what he was called to do. “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God’” (Luke 3:4-6)

Then John the Baptist reminds his listeners that religious heritage means nothing. A Christian pedigree is actually worthless in the kingdom to come. He tells them there’s no such thing as reform and reformation without visible fruit. And then the question comes, the one we all want an answer to: “What do I have to do to be ready for Jesus?”

“And the crowds asked him, ‘What shall we do?’” (Luke 3:10). In other words, they were asking John, “What do we have to do to be ready for Jesus?” Surely we need to spend more time in church, more time in Bible study and more time praying right? The answer might surprise all of us. John looked at them and asked, “Do you really want to know what you have to do to be ready for Jesus?”

“And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’ Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, ‘Teacher, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than you are authorized to do.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats of by false accusation, and be content with your wages.’” (Luke 3:10-14)

When asked what they needed to do to be ready for Jesus, the answer was not more church, or prayer, or Bible study. Being ready for Jesus meant taking care of people and being a blessing to the world. Being ready for Jesus, accord- ing to John the Baptist, was about taking care of those in need. Taking care of neighbors, being fair, and being just.

This was not a new concept; it’s been this way from the beginning. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

What are you doing to get ready for Jesus?

–Dany Hernandez is senior pastor of the Life Source Adventist Fellowship in Denver.

By Jamey Houghton

As Cassie Carr, a sophomore at Vista Ridge Academy, rode to the church where she was preaching in the Dominican Republic, she was going over her sermon notes. The local pastor who was driving said suddenly, “Cassie, you know that sermon that you have prepared for tonight? Well, can you preach on another topic and preach that one tomorrow?”

At first Cassie was terrified! How was she supposed to change topics on the way to church? She wasn’t ready for that! But this was Cassie’s third evangelistic series, so she started working on a brand-new sermon that she would preach in just 20 minutes. She preached about one of her favorite topics—the Second Coming of Jesus! When she returned to the hotel, and I asked her how it went, she shared the story, and said that it actually went really well, even though she wasn’t expecting to have to write a new sermon on the way to the church!

Cassie was one of the Rocky Mountain Conference youth who participated in the third annual Kaleo Project Mission Trip. As one of many youth called to serve, she, along with 53 others traveled to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic for a joint evangelism and building trip. Our building crew completed the foundation and framing for two churches and our painting crew painted the inside and outside of a church that had just been finished. We also held 14 youth-led evangelistic series throughout Santo Domingo.

Campion Academy junior Cameron Sellers was preaching at a church that met in an unexpected location. When I asked him how it was going after the first night, he said, “Pastor Jamey, I preached in a house! There wasn’t much room, and there were people leaning through the windows to hear the message.”

The next night Cameron had to preach near the front door of the house because overflow seating had been arranged in the street, and this way everyone could hear him as he shared the story of love and hope in Jesus. Throughout the week, 700-800 people attended the 14 meetings.

We had quite a few preachers who speak fluent Spanish and wanted to preach in Spanish. Translating all of the sermons from English to Spanish was a daunting task, but in the months before our trip, Mile High Academy students (and sisters) Katherin and Ashley Gonzalez translated the whole series so our Spanish speakers could preach in the local language!

At the end of a trip, it’s common to look back and ask, “Was it worth it to travel so far, to raise so much money, to practice all of those sermons, to sweat and work so hard on the building sites?” As our group reflects on the houses of worship built, and the freshly painted church holding services each Sabbath, they are convinced it was totally worth it. As our preachers and translators consider the 135 people who decided to follow Jesus in baptism, they unanimously agree that it was well worth the trip.

In this third year of the Kaleo Project, it is awesome to see how God has used the young people of the Rocky Mountain Conference. They have presented 44 evangelistic series, participated in 5 building projects, and baptized 550 people through evangelistic efforts. It is exciting to see God use our youth to help fulfill the Gospel Commission!

As Jesus said in Matthew 24, “When the Gospel has gone out to the whole world, then He’s coming back.” Our Rocky Mountain Conference youth are getting the Word out! Jesus is coming again!

–Jamey Houghton is RMC youth evangelism coordinator.

When you meet Remington Hill, you feel you are in the presence of someone who knows her own mind. She exudes joy and playfulness, but also understands discipline and focus. She is 15 years old and a freshman at Campion Adventist Academy in Loveland, Colorado.

It’s hard to sum up Remington’s interests. Raised on a ranch in Trinidad in Southern Colorado, nature and hard work were the elements that molded her early years. But she soon began to win poetry contests and her interest in music moved her to teach herself to play piano and guitar.

Remington has an aura of authenticity, a mixture of fun and seriousness. What stands out is her love for Jesus.

Remington agreed for us to take a peek into her life at Campion through a few of her journal notes. —Editor

TUESDAY: I’m stressing out this morning. It’s Tuesday and I have a test. I have to do good. I want my “A”. I feel like I left my brain in my bed.

WEDNESDAY: I’m tired. I have a lot of homework still. I woke up extra early to get it in on time. I just need the weekend.

THURSDAY: I love Bible class. It’s my favorite class. I love it because we actually get to discuss and share our thoughts about what we are feeling. It’s completely different than going to church where all you do is listen. It’s interesting to hear what other students’ opinions are because I can relate to them. It’s nice to know that I can relate to the other students and they have the same questions or concerns that I do. Teenagers might often feel as if they can’t be heard, but not in Bible class. We’re all very transparent. We are currently studying the book of Luke. We read the verse and try to make it more interesting by putting it in our perspective and making it into a story. We really elaborate on and question each sentence. For example, we were reading Luke 8 and discussing the demoniac, and asking why when He [Jesus] cast the legion of demons out, they chose to enter the pigs. And what’s the bottomless pit? We ask these question and many, many, more. It becomes interactive which makes it fun to discuss. It’s not just a class to me; it’s more a spiritual impact.

FRIDAY: I’m trying to focus in earth science. It’s not working. But at least no school tomorrow! Singing all day! Go Music Fest!

A friend from my old town came and visited the school this week. She liked it a lot! She said how cool it was that we have worship every day in every class before we start our assignments. She likes our schedules and all the events that we have throughout the week.

It’s really not easy for students, even as Christians, to keep our eyes on Christ all the time. We have the demands of any other school, the pressure to get good grades, the social aspects, and extracurricular activities like sports and music. We get so busy doing all these things that we can lose sight of Christ. I’m very thankful for the spiritual activities that Campion offers because it helps me to refocus on what is really important, and that is my relationship with Jesus. Chapel, for example. Chapel is every Wednesday from 11:30- 12:00. The whole school—students and staff—come together for worship. Even though this time is short, it makes you stop and think about where you are with Christ.

Other examples are vespers and Sparks. Vespers happens every Friday night. We welcome the Sabbath and put our minds in a state of peace as we realize the week is over and Sabbath has arrived. Sparks is every Wednesday night, and is a small worship service that reminds us of how much the world distracts us. Taking time out of the week and spending time with God slaps us back into reality.

One of the spiritual activities that I find most moving is Week of Prayer. Week of Prayer happens three times each year, when the school comes together every night for a whole week to have worship. Every Week of Prayer is different because either the staff, a guest speaker, or students host each one. My favorite is student-led because not only are the speakers teenagers that I can relate to, but they are also my friends. It makes me take a step back and realize how special it is that ordinary high-schoolers use Christ to make such an impact on their peers. That is a major reason I cherish going to school in a Christian environment.

MONDAY: I got an “A” on my test in earth science! Ahhh-hhh! I’m so excited!

(Later). I am exhausted. I can’t stop yawning. I have piles and piles of homework and I don’t want to do any of it. This last quarter is killing me.

TUESDAY: We’re going on a singing trip to California after class gets out and I cannot focus right now! I just wanna leave! But I’m freaking out about how much school I’ll miss! A whole week!

MONDAY: We’re back, and now it’s time to catch up! Cali was fun and I don’t want to be back, but I really need to focus this last quarter.

It’s ridiculous how many people don’t take school seriously. They just play games and mess around. And here I am studying so hard to get “A”s and others are just happy they passed! It’s really hard for me to understand.

People really need to stop gossiping and talk to the involved parties first before believing and spreading rumors. But I guess that’s what you get when you come to high school. Thought I was done with that when I was out of grade school. Nope, people still act childishly. Even seniors.

Mondays are really slow. At least the sun is shining and today is an A day (we have different schedules on different days). That means easy classes. On second thought, in all honesty, freshman classes are all easy. You just have to have enough motivation to do the work!

WEDNESDAY: I just heard someone say that they don’t know if they can come to Campion again next year because of money. Now that I think about it, I’ve heard that several times. I have heard that in my own household. I’m not going to lie: Campion is expensive. It’s not the average family that pays for their child to go to school, especially high school! Coming from public school that is free to paying thousands of dollars to go to a Christian school was a very large adjustment for my family. My family has sacrificed a lot for both my brother and me to have a Christian education. But let me tell you, it’s so worth it. Being in an environment that surrounds you with the love of Christ, welcomes you and treats you like family, and gives you the freedom to express your faith publicly, is unlike anything I’ve experienced. If my family would have just focused on how expensive it was,

we would have never gone. We, like many families, have to weigh the costs and benefits. The benefits completely outweigh the costs, and I am thankful for the opportunity to attend Campion. I wouldn’t be here without the help of my parents, my friends, my church, and Campion itself. They provide lots of financial support if you need it and, with God’s provision, He makes it possible.

THURSDAY: This morning I’m up early to study for another test! I feel good about it, but everyone says it will be hard. Six weeks left and I’m definitely feeling the summer pull. Oh! This weekend is Academy Days! So all the kids who are thinking of attending Campion next year come and visit! It’s super fun and I hope for more students to enroll into the freshman class because there are only 16 of us.

I’m really hungry! It’s almost lunch and I’m listening to some of my friends studying chemistry. I don’t want to take my test! I have been drinking a lot of water because I learned more about other drinks and how they’re really unhealthy and have a lot of calories! So, water weight-loss!

(Later). I’m so not focusing. Friday should come quicker. Academy Days start tomorrow! Super excited! Two of my friends and I are singing the national anthem for the soccer tournament Saturday night! That will be lots of fun! I’m grateful for the opportunity!

I have a job before I go to school every day. What is that about? When I first started, I thought it was kind of cool to say, “I have a job.” But then I realized it’s not that great. Especially when there are limited options and I’m doing something that I would not necessarily pursue as a career. Not only is the job difficult, but also having to study on top of work is challenging. Why do we have to work? Well, actually, I know why I have to work. The most obvious reason is that it helps pay my tuition bill. But I’ve come to realize that it also improves my work ethic and helps me learn how to manage my time. I guess you could say it prepares teenagers very well for the future. It’s not fair that some students don’t have to have jobs. What would I do with that extra time? Sleep and study, I guess.

Even though it’s not that fun to work, I do think it’s awesome that Campion provides a means to help students pay tuition, and even though it takes up time, it’s one of those things that we benefit from. The benefit is all the opportunities we get at this school that are not offered at public schools.

I don’t think any of my friends actually enjoy working, but we have a sense of pride in saying that, “Hey, I played a part in paying for my education.” Work gives us a sense of responsibility and adulthood, and we get to see what the future will be like.

Enough!
A few more words about me:

I sing, I sing, and I sing. I taught myself piano and guitar. I believe that music is the gift that God has given me. I love music and I sing in church almost every week. I am in choir and Koinonia—a select choir that travels and performs. It is so fun! Other activities that I enjoy are playing volleyball and hanging out with my friends. I am president of my class, have about a 3.9 GPA, and definitely take school seriously.

I am an extrovert. As extroverted as they get. I am very people-oriented. I am also very loud and laugh all the time. I love to have fun and hang out with my friends as often as I can.

I became a baptized Seventh-day Adventist in March of 2013. Pastor Mitch Williams baptized me at the Adventure church in Windsor, Colorado. I am a member of the Adventure church. I suppose you could say I am a Seventh-day Adventist, but I don’t really like to put a label on my faith because people tend to group all religions under one category. I am a student who loves Jesus, accepts Him as my Lord and Savior, believes that the Bible was written by the inspiration of God, and that the seventh day is the true Sabbath. I am involved in both Campion and Adventure churches weekly, mostly in music, but I love to help wherever I’m needed.

A few years before even hearing about Campion Academy, my mom and dad found a book in the middle of the road on a vacation trip to Wyoming. The name of the book was The Sunday Law. From that day forward my mom was on a mission to find the truth. We began church hopping—from Baptists, to Nazarenes, to faith-based, to finally finding Amazing Facts on television. After a series of Bible studies online, we began to search for a Seventh-day Adventist church. That summer (2012) we were introduced to Glacier View Ranch. This is where I was divinely guided into a cabin with Gabrielle Williams along with a group of Campion girls. A month later, our family packed up everything, and with no jobs and no place to live—quoting Scripture in the car—we arrived in Campion, Colorado. We were again divinely guided to live with a family that we had met the first day of school. Mitch, Lena, Gabrielle, Colette, Jenna, and Olivia Williams are now among those I consider to be part of my own family. I attended HMS Richards Elementary School for 7th and 8th grades before starting at Campion Academy. This story is evidence of God’s miraculous leading and guiding for those who seek Him and believe that He has plans for each and every person.

By Rick Mautz

Why a caveman? With all the great food options available today, why would anyone even think of going back to the difficulties of cavemen? Apparently, a lot of people want to. The Paleo (caveman) diet is currently one of the most popular diets. And it is promoted for health reasons, so I’m interested. You should be too—because don’t we all want to be healthy?

But wait—don’t rush down any health path without checking it out. What is true? What information can you trust? With so many conflicting ideas out there, we need to find out what is fact and what is myth.

I have learned, perhaps more from error than trial, that things are usually neither black nor white, but contain aspects of truth that we can learn from. When I first heard about the Paleo diet, I was totally against it. I tried to talk people out of their obsession with it. Then I listened to a cross-fit trainer who was quite convincing about the health benefits of this low-carb, non-vegetarian diet. Even though I was not thoroughly convinced, I did decide I needed to do what I could to discover the truth about this subject.

Before you start thinking that your health ministry director has totally given up on the health message, I need to tell you that I believe we are not, as a church, where we should be in our lifestyle practices, and that our best path to health will be found by going back—not to the caveman, but back to God’s original plan that is clearly described in His Word.

I realize that nearly 50 percent of our church member- ship is not vegetarian much less vegan, and I need to minister to those of you in that group as well. I am hoping that once you get on the path to health—wherever you start—you will continue to make small steps toward the place God wants you to be as you endeavor to reflect Him in your words, actions and even lifestyle.

But there are things we can learn from our Paleo friends. They teach us to eliminate refined and processed foods, to eat only grass-fed, no-hormone-rich meats. We often pride ourselves on being vegetarians, but eat pastries and cakes and processed artificial meat. Our Paleo friends will probably find better health even though they eat meat. As in our spiritual life, so in our lifestyle. It may be that what we do counts far more than what we don’t do. I used to call myself “vegan” until I realized that my dietary focus was on what I wasn’t eating. I realized that I was not getting good nutrition even though I was avoiding some bad things. Now when people ask me about my diet, I tell them that I eat “the most nutritious food I can.” They often want to know more, whereas when I used to tell people I was vegan, that was the end of the conversation.

I do have to confess that it was difficult for me to study the Paleo diet, because the whole idea of going back to the “hunter gatherers” is tied to evolutionary theory, which takes us back to our supposed ancestors, the apes. But if we stick with the research, it is possible to find some valuable help in our quest for health.

Let me address a few of the more important facts you may need to consider in making healthy decisions. High insulin levels are responsible for much of the increase in diabetes and heart disease. One argument for a low carbohydrate Paleo diet is to avoid the high insulin levels that come from eating lots of carbohydrates. It turns out that the meat eaters had twice the levels of insulin as vegetarians. In fact, insulin levels from eating meat were equal to eating pure sugar.

It was a shock to me to learn that even though vegetarians showed an advantage in lower cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, and colon cancer, they had no advantage in deaths from heart disease. Why would that be, since they do not eat much cholesterol? Even though vegetarians are careful to avoid meat, they are not necessarily as careful in other choices, such as avoiding refined and processed foods. These lead to an unhealthy ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids. This factor alone took away the expected reduction of death from heart disease. It was found that a ratio greater than 4 to 1 of Omega 6 to 3 of these essential fatty acids interfered with the production of DHA and EPA, important heart healthy elements. An easy solution to this heart disease dilemma is to avoid all oils but Omega 3-rich olive and canola oil. And to take 1-2 tablespoons of (high in Omega 3) ground flax seed per day. This has been shown to cut death from heart disease by 70 percent.

You may have heard that vegans need to take vitamin B-12 because it is not found in plant sources, but it seems to be helpful for everyone—even meat eaters. It lowers homo- cysteine, a major cause of destructive inflammation, which should be below 10, but averages 12 in meat eaters, 17 in vegetarians and 27 in vegans (not good news for us vegans). You can drop that number to a safe 8 by just chewing one B-12 tablet (2000 mcg) each week. The benefits of adding this health practice is to reduce inflammation, the major cause of heart disease and neurologic deterioration such as Alzheimer’s disease and it has the added benefit of elevating your mood.

If you are serious about being healthy, you will want to avoid the leading causes of death. Research continues to confirm that there is no better way than to enjoy a whole foods, plant-based diet. If you are on the path to health, but haven’t reached the plant-based mile marker in the road, some of the positive ideas of Paleo may be for you. The diet cuts out refined foods and encourages grass fed, “healthier” meat. Of course this is a compromise, but it is a move in the right direction.

So, should you adopt a caveman diet? It may not be the best diet, but it could be healthier than a vegetarian or even vegan diet that includes refined foods. If you do choose to include meat in your diet, you may want to consider what you can add to it in the area of good nutrition, as well as the other positive lessons we can learn from the cavemen.

–Rick Mautz, PT MS, is RMC health director.

By Craig Carr

Beginning in the fall of 2014, the Rocky Mountain Conference initiated a process with congregational leaders in cooperation with their pastors to gather feedback and communicate ministry plans for 2015. This yearly procedure has already produced many wonderful results, such as clarity of mission and objectives, as well as improving communication between pastors, church leaders, and conference leadership.

The objectives of the planning and evaluation process include prayer, healthy dialogue, and clarity of purpose. Not only is it important that the pastors and church leaders evaluate how things are going, but the intentionality of this dialogue has helped produce clarity regarding who is responsible for what.

The mission and purpose of a congregation resides in both the pastor’s role and the board’s role in accomplishing agreed-upon goals. Of supreme importance to this entire process is the time spent in prayer in which pastors, church leaders, and conference leaders are praying for the Spirit’s guidance. The evaluation process helps all involved to understand the question, “Where have we been?” while the planning process helps identify, “Where do we go from here?”

Evaluation: A Process of Review and Affirmation

Initiated by the Ministerial Department, church board members (either through the board chair or head elder) are sent a packet of evaluation forms to be completed by each board member. For simplicity and comparability, questions are answered on a 1 (disagree) – 5 (agree) scale and the forms are returned to the ministerial department to be tallied.

The following is a breakdown of the 31 evaluation questions:

The first ten are designed as a self-evaluation tool for individual board members and their perceptions of their congregations. Questions are related to the individual’s church involvement and the overall direction of their church.

The next nine questions regard the effectiveness of the involvement and support of the Rocky Mountain Conference. This feedback is helpful to conference leaders on specific ways in which the churches may be better served.

The final 11 questions serve as an evaluation of the pastor. Leaders rate their perceptions of their pastor’s ministry effectiveness, from prayer and preaching to leadership and training.

The evaluation form allows for general comments to be written that also proved insightful.

The evaluation process would be incomplete without the voice of the pastor. Each pastor completes a set of self- evaluation questions that include the same 11 questions their board members complete. The average of the board member’s responses and the pastor’s self-assessment are com- pared and discussed with the pastor. These comparisons have been helpful to identify areas in which the pastor’s self-perception may differ from that of the leaders.

“I really appreciate the evaluation process implemented by RMC,” comments Pastor Blake Jones of the Twin Peaks (Louisville) and Vista Fellowship (Longmont) churches. “While knowing how the pastor and congregation truly feel may be uncomfortable, it does help facilitate a healthier relationship between churches, pastors and the conference.”

Ed Barnett, RMC president, says that he is sold on the idea of evaluations. “Evaluations are great tools to get feed- back on how the local church, pastor or conference are doing. As we discussed evaluations with the pastors, nearly all came away encouraged. And if there were areas that showed that they needed growth, we were able to help them with additional assignments. I feel that it has raised the bar for our congregations, ministers, and the conference itself.”

Commenting further, Barnett says that having annual evaluations will further strengthen ministry and mission. “Turning in evaluations every year not only looks at what is happening in the immediate period, but even five years out. I believe that due to that process this year we have had more requests for evangelism budgets as churches have begun to take their mission perhaps more seriously.”

Planning: A Time to Unite in Mission and Purpose

The Ministerial Department sends planning documents to each pastor who then facilitates discussion and agreement with local church leaders on plans for the up-coming calendar year. Plans include the local church’s top ministry priorities, activities and events planned for spiritual nurture, leadership training, as well as outreach and evangelistic efforts.

While most churches already make plans each year, the added challenge of creating a five-year strategy helps pastors and church leaders see a longer view of the impact of the yearly activities, providing a lengthier trajectory and greater sense of purpose. With ministry plans comes the need for resources, so it is at this point that pastors make their church’s financial requests known for evangelism for the coming year.

The plans submitted by each pastor are reviewed by conference administration and direct the conversation at the pastor’s annual review with the ministerial director and member(s) of administration. This meeting with the pastor takes place toward the end of the year, reflecting on the current year using the feedback provided and discussing together the plans for the coming year which were created by the pastor and local church leaders.

On a personal note, I have found this process to be very affirming of the many things our pastors are doing well in pastoral leadership. It has also been helpful to review the honest feedback from leaders to help identify specific areas that need improvement.

With goals of providing healthy dialogue between pastors, church leaders and conference leadership, this yearly process has already proven to be a useful tool. It is our hope that clear and consistent communication, clearly defined goals and strategies, and healthy accountability at all levels can produce a united effort in ministry, “according to the effective working by which every part does its share, caus(ing) growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:16)

–Craig Carr is RMC ministerial director.

By Agape Hammond

Mile High Academy will hold a grand opening celebration welcoming students to its new location for the 2015-2016 school year on August 16, 2015. However, before that can happen, there is work to be done.

Currently the roof renovation, a four-phase project, is underway. Soon the interior of the school will receive a whole new makeover. All this is part of a carefully outlined remodel and expansion plan that will bring the property into the 21st century. This will be a school worthy of both our excellent academic standards and the students who walk the halls daily.

The new site, nine miles south of the current location, is in the Highlands Ranch community. After 65 years in its current Denver location, MHA is excited to explore the south Denver area.

The move is intended to provide an opportunity for growth while continuing to provide students excellence in Christ-centered education. There is already an atmosphere of anticipation.

Alexis, a sophomore who will be making the move with us in the fall spoke excitedly about what MHA has meant to her. “I’m not just a number here. I have students and teachers that want me to grow. They challenge me.”

She went on to say that she is excited for the move.

“There will be opportunity for growth. I can’t wait to go to a newer facility, a place where we can expand. And the view— it’s a prettier view.”

Have we mentioned the views from the new location? Looking out the large panoramic lobby windows reminds us again of how much we have been blessed.

The principal, Toakase Vunileva, says, “What an exciting time to watch God move! Every step of the way, I have watched God open doors for the future and the continued growth of excellence at MHA. We read stories about miracles that are both past and present and we may think to ourselves, ‘That’s amazing but it’s never happened to me.’ When we celebrate the opening of our new school, it will be because God saw fit to make it happen and we were tools in the process. What a testimony to the faithfulness of our great God!”

The future of Mile High Academy has been a vision in the making since 2008. From planning to prayer to the hard work and determination of leaders, board members and parents, this is an opportunity that has long been anticipated. We look forward to another hundred years of Christ-centered education through God’s leading.

–Agape Hammond is marketing director at Mile High Academy.

By Barbara Parrott

Rocky Mountain Conference staff members, along with other friends and family, continue to remember the legacy of Gerry Chapman, director of trust services. Born and raised in Loma Linda, CA, he spent more than 43 years in pastoral ministry in Iowa, Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio, and Illinois.

His pastoral ministry continued even as director of trust services for the Rocky Mountain Conference, beginning in 1997, when he served as interim pastor for Denver South Church and as a Sabbath School teacher and membership clerk. He considered it a privilege and an honor to serve.

A memorial service was held February 7, 2015 at Denver South Church where he held membership during his sojourn in Colorado. Gerry was honored for his many years of faithful service, which continued in spite of his own battle with illness.

His colleagues have commented on the strength he showed, never missing a day of work until his last two weeks. “It was apparent to all of his co-workers,” shares Bill Hay, associate to Gerry, “that Gerry was a man of strict integrity. He placed faithfulness to his convictions and responsibilities ahead of everything else on earth. It mattered not what others thought, he would always remain true.”

Gerry’s pastor, Ramon Ulangca says, “Gerry’s legacy of service in the Rocky Mountain Conference was one of total commitment and sacrifice for the cause of Christ and the welfare of His church. His quiet demeanor masked a steely resolve based on clear convictions that consistently guided every decision he made. As a pastoral colleague and friend, I will always cherish the memory of his unwavering support and wise encouragement of my ministry.”

Rick and Joan Rosvall give an example of Gerry’s dedication to his clients: “Gerry was a very caring and out-of-the-ordinary servant.” He delivered comforting words at Joan’s mother’s funeral, performed our marriage ceremony and administered all four of our parents’ trusts. We can’t say enough great things about what this man did for us. Gerry was a beacon of light and we will always miss him.”

Gerry’s passing was a great loss for the staff of the Rocky Mountain Conference and an even greater loss for his family. Our prayers continue for those who survive him; his mother, Margaret Chapman; wife, Pat Chapman; daughter and son- in-law Jennifer and Eric Bishop; son and daughter-in-law Patrick and Emily Chapman; and grandchildren Ava, Olivia and Allison.

–Barbara Parrott is RMC director of property and trusts.

By Michele Stotz

The Voice of Prophecy ministry officially opened the doors of its new home in Loveland, Colorado, on April 9, 2015, following 86 years in California. This new location felt like a bit of a homecoming, since H.M.S. Richards—the ministry’s founder—spent his early years in Loveland.

Voice of Prophecy speaker/director Shawn Boonstra said that his leadership team searched across America for the ministry’s brand-new home. After narrowing down the search to 11 cities, one candidate rose to the top: Loveland. And the Voice of Prophecy’s deep history in the area helped to cement this choice.

“I wish H.M.S. Richards were still alive to see that we’ve not only found a new home, but in a way, we’ve brought his ministry back home,” said Boonstra.

A Rich History

Richards and his family moved to Colorado when he was five, and the state made such an impression on him that he would become nostalgic later in life at the sight of the majestic Rocky Mountains.

For a time, his father, H.M.J. Richards, was pastor of the West Denver Church, and even received a speaking lesson from Ellen G. White after she heard one of his sermons and was concerned that he was straining his voice. His father later became vice president of the Colorado Conference— now the Rocky Mountain Conference—and the entire family was deeply involved in the church’s early days in this area.

Richards’ grandparents owned a farm on the outskirts of Loveland, so the family spent a lot of time there prior to building their own home in Loveland.

Education was also important to the family, and Richards’ father founded East Colorado Academy, which later became Campion Adventist Academy. Richards was one of the school’s first graduates, and today its elementary school bears his name.

These early years in Colorado stoked Richards’ passion for evangelism. While assisting and attending local evangelistic meetings, he made a decision to dedicate his life to Jesus, and in 1907 was baptized by his father in Lake Loveland. A few years later, he preached his first sermon  in Fort Lupton, just north of Denver. Of course, that was just the beginning, but it laid the groundwork for a ministry that now reaches around the world with the Good News of Christ’s soon coming.

Looking to the Future

It was with this history in mind that the Voice of Prophecy opened its doors in Loveland and looked to the future with anticipation.

The dedication ceremony hosted more than 300 visitors and included leadership from the Rocky Mountain Conference, members of the local Chamber of Commerce and the community, and many church members—some of whom drove hours to attend the event.

“For our church in this region, the Voice of Prophecy is more than a place on the map,” said Ed Barnett, president of the Rocky Mountain Conference. “We are excited to officially welcome them as partners in mission.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by tours of the facility, and attendees were excited to hear about ministry projects such as the weekly radio program, the ministry’s recent month-long series in Minneapolis, the DISCOVER Bible School, Bible distribution in the Arctic, and a humanitarian project that is rescuing young girls from human trafficking in India (watch a video about the project at vop.com/india).

“What better place than a city named ‘Loveland’ to tell the whole world about God’s love?” said Pastor Boonstra. “From behind these doors, people from around the planet will be listening!”

To learn more about the Voice of Prophecy’s ongoing projects, and to read Shawn and Jean Boonstra’s latest blog entries, visit vop.com.

–Michele Stotz is Voice of Prophecy director of public relations