NewsNuggets

Liz Kirkland with Jade Teal – Ward, Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) continues to see growth in its Young Adult Ministry through its retreat gatherings—now in their fourth event—that was held at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, March 20-22. What began with approximately seven participants has steadily expanded, reflecting a growing desire among young adults for connection, spiritual growth, and shared experiences in a retreat setting.

This latest retreat welcomed approximately 16 young adults coming from Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, and several other areas across the conference. The event provided an opportunity for several new participants to engage, fostering new relationships and strengthening the sense of community within RMC.

Central to the retreat was a three-part, discussion-based Bible study rooted in Micah 6:8—He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Participants explored each theme in depth, creating space for meaningful dialogue and personal reflection.

“The way that we did Bible studies, everyone was able to engage. They were all discussion based so everybody was involved and everybody had something to add to the conversation,” shared Jade Teal, RMC Young Adult Ministries coordinator. “You don’t often get groups where everybody feels like they can talk, and so it was a really cool dynamic.”

In addition to spiritual programming, participants enjoyed a variety of outdoor and fellowship activities made possible by this year’s unusually favorable weather. The group took part in hiking—instead of snowshoeing—and rock climbing, an activity that proved especially memorable. Several attendees experienced rock climbing for the first time, and notably, each participant successfully reached the top of the route. “It was very impressive,” Teal noted.

The retreat also emphasized community-building through shared meals and informal connection. Attendees gathered for fellowship, enjoyed gourmet meals prepared by GVR’s chef Stefan Teal, and spent time together creating new friendships in relaxed settings, including the facility’s aquatic center.

Overall, the retreat highlighted the continued impact of intentional young adult ministry within the Rocky Mountain Conference, combining spiritual depth with relational connection and outdoor adventure.

—Interview conducted with Jade Teal, RMC Young Adult Ministries coordinator, by Liz Kirkland, RMC Communication director. Initial article draft curated by ChatGPT based on the interview; revisions and editing by Liz Kirkland. Photos supplied.

Liz Kirkland – Highlands Ranch, Colorado …  Twenty-nine Pathfinder Club teams representing the six conferences in the Mid-America Union Conference (MAUC) converged at Mile High Academy in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, March 21, for this year’s union-level Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) after months of preparation. Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) was represented by the Aurora Las Aguilas, Ghanaian Golden Eagles, and Littleton Lights Pathfinder Clubs.

While getting to this next level of testing for the RMC clubs was minimal with it being held in the Denver area, the journey for some clubs came with extra challenges. Christine Armantrout, a director for Iowa-Missouri’s Sedalia Pioneers and coach for the Sedalia/Sunnydale Adventist Academy Pathfinder clubs, shared how a multi-club journey to the PBE became a powerful testimony of unity and faith as young people from different clubs bonded and encouraged one another.

“Our club has a coach bus, and we picked up the other teams along the way,” commented Armentrout. “The bus has screens and we practiced PBE questions on the way. It was remarkable how it didn’t matter what clubs they were in. They got together with small groups and were supporting and encouraging each other. They were like, ‘You’ve got this’!”

The ease of the trip was threatened by a bus breakdown while sight-seeing that, fortunately, turned from a crisis to a moment of prayers answered: “I called up one of our area coordinators and said that we need help. They had a bus that could fit all 27 of our kids. So, then we called a service guy who had a mobile hydraulic guy. He, my husband, and another parent got everything taken apart and back up, and we were back on the road before sundown.”

The Pathfinder Bible Experience, formerly known as the “Bible Bowl,” is the official North American Division (NAD) Pathfinder Bibe study program where teams with six members each study a book of the Bible. The first Pathfinder Bible Bowl began in RMC territory with the first event held in 1988 in Sheridan, Wyoming. Bible Bowl expanded throughout the Rocky Mountain Conference and beyond over the next couple of years before being adopted division-wide in 1993.

This year’s PBE focused on the Book of Isaiah for which each team answered a series of 90 questions. Each team present advanced to this event after receiving first-place marks, or a score of 90% or higher, at both local- and conference-level testing. The teams that scored a first-place ranking at the event will advance to the final division round being held in Hawthorne, Florida, April 17–18.

The United Central Pathfinder Club from the Central States Conference has participated in PBE for several years. When asked about how they prepare each year, club member Bradley commented, “We study hard. You don’t just read the verse, you memorize it. We love how we can learn about the Bible and know what God has done and what all of the Bible characters have done. It gives us a better point of view of what happens in the Bible.”

But PBE goes beyond just a Bible study program. Months of preparation with their local teams create opportunities to meet and connect with peers both locally and in the larger church community. “What I like a lot about PBE is meeting new people and spending time with friends,” remarked Damian from the Mount Rushmore Mountaineers Pathfinder Club of the Dakota Seventh-day Adventist Conference.

New to this year’s union-level event was opening with a full worship service complete with song service provided by a praise team from RMC’s Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church and drum core provided by the RMC Ghanaian Golden Eagles team. The message was provided by Tyrone Douglas, MUAC Church and Youth and Young Adult Ministries director.

He began his message with the Biblical story of Samuel reminding the youth that the hope for them is that one day they will say, “Speak, Lord, for I am listening.” Douglas urged them to be in the right place, to be available, and to be ready to serve God.

“I really focused on the experience this year,” remarked Douglas. “I want the kids to come and not just do the testing and leave with a trophy, but I really want them to have an encounter experience when they come. And, today, we also want to include a ministry activity with it being Global Youth Day. That’s why we had the worship service the way we did it this year.”

Helping facilitate the event was RMC Club Ministries co-executive coordinators Sue Nelson and Eli Gonzales, RMC Youth assistant director Brent Learned, volunteer English language quiz master Vicki Kahler, and volunteer Spanish language quiz master JuanCarlos Montano.

After the testing had completed and lunch was served, provided by RMC’s Las Aguilas Pathfinder Club, the teams gathered back together for a service project decorating food delivery bags for Project Angel Heart,* a local non-profit organization based in Denver, Colorado, that provides nutritious, medically tailored meals for those in the community experiencing severe illness.

Douglas opened the awards ceremony with the opportunity for Pathfinder club members and leaders to give praise to all of those that supported PBE efforts. Many lined up to thank club leaders, parents, and supporters that dedicate so much time and effort to their local teams.

Of the 29 participating teams, 19 scored first-place rankings, listed below including RMC’s Aurora Las Aguilas club, and will be continuing to division-level testing. Three conferences celebrated having all their participating teams continue: Iowa-Missouri, Kansas-Nebraska, and Minnesota Conferences.

Iowa-Missouri Conference

• Ankeny Wisdom Warriors
• Ankeny Son Seekers Knowledge Seekers
• College Park Roaring for Christ
• Springfield Thunderbolts Team 1
• Sunnydale/Sedalia Team 1
• Timberwolves Order of the Seraphim

Minnesota Conference

• Heavens Crew
• Heavens Crew Lions
• Light of the World Glorifiers
• Light of the World Warriors of Christs
• Ostego Northern Star
• Rangers Swords
• Southview Sabers Bible Panthers
• Southview Sabers Light of the Darkness
• Southview Sabers The 6 Seventh-day Adventists
• Rangers Valiants

Kansas-Nebraska Conference

• Lenexa Panthers
• Tribe of Isaiah

Rocky Mountain Conference

• Las Aguilas

Douglas hopes to keep expanding the event in the years to come, remarking, “I would love to make it a weekend experience where, when [the Pathfinders] come, they’re refreshed and revived by the Spirit of God. So, we really want to focus on the experience beyond just the testing aspect.”

* Project Angel Heart is not affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church nor the Rocky Mountain Conference.

—Liz Kirkland is the RMC Communication director. Photos by Liz Kirkland, Daniel Sem, Sean Lee, and Venus Douglas.

By Leandro Bizama

Recently in my Bible class, one of the students sincerely exclaimed that if he had been Thomas, he would have also not believed that Jesus had resurrected after He had appeared to the women who had seen him first and the other 10 disciples.

“How does God expect me to believe if I did not see or touch him?” he asked.

Good point, right?

I said that the answer is in Jesus’ response to Thomas: He did not shun him or excommunicated him from the community of disciples because Thomas refused to believe. No. But Jesus did have an important lesson for him. He understood that the story of redemption is so incredible that humanity would need some kind of evidence. And so, tenderly but clearly, Jesus gave Thomas evidence of the reality of His eternal life and resurrection (see John 20:25-29). Thomas was humbled and believed.

But Jesus went further and said that those who were not there and yet choose to believe the evidence given to them through the years were specially blessed. Did you catch that?

That blessing of Jesus is for you and me. God has given us ample evidence through the testimony of the Bible and His creation. He guides us every day and gives us all the things we need. He allows history to support the claims He had already given long ago. He brings about supernatural circumstances when and how He deems best.

But He never takes away the possibility not to believe. That is why it is important that our children and young people see the evidence for themselves and come to their own conclusion about who Jesus is and whether He can be trusted or not. We should not shy away from their questions and doubts or frown upon them thinking on their own. Instead, we should gently point them to the evidence of God’s existence, His creation, His love, and the incredible story of Redemption.

In the end, we too have a choice to make. Whether we are like Thomas or not, let us not take for granted whatever evidence God gives us that this incredible story of love we know as the Great Controversy is all true. And through that process of discovery, may all our children be able to say, “My Savior and My God!”

—Leandro Bizama is the associate pastor of Worship and Evangelism at the Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo by Rosie Steggles of Unsplash.

Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … This year marked a historic milestone for athletics at Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, as both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams competed in the Colorado 2A state playoffs for the first time in school history.

The boys’ team advanced to the regional championship after defeating Dayspring Christian Academy in Greeley, Colorado. in the first round before falling to Heritage Christian Academy of Fort Collins, Colorado. The girls’ team also qualified for the tournament but lost in the opening round to Heritage Christian.

While Campion Academy has been a member of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) since 1997 and has frequently qualified for postseason play, the school had historically declined to participate in state tournaments because tournament games were generally scheduled during Sabbath hours.

In the early 2000s, however, CHSAA began making accommodations for schools and students who observe the Sabbath, including Jewish and Seventh-day Adventist participants. These accommodations allow schedules to be adjusted when possible so that teams can compete without conflicting with their religious beliefs.

Even with those accommodations available, Campion had not yet taken part in state tournaments. In 2008, after the boys’ basketball team won four consecutive Northern Front Range League titles, then–athletic director Troy Beans requested permission for the team to advance to the state tournament. At the time, the school board voted against the proposal, choosing instead to prioritize academics and limit the extension of the athletic season.

The conversation resurfaced again in 2025 when the boys’ basketball team once more qualified for state play. That year, the school board approved participation in state tournaments as long as games could be scheduled outside Sabbath hours and did not conflict with major school religious activities. However, the opportunity was ultimately declined due to a scheduling conflict with Campion’s annual spring break mission trip.

The boys’ soccer team became the first Campion team to take advantage of the policy change in the fall season, competing in the state tournament and making school history, even though they only went to the first round.

This winter, the boys’ basketball team built on that milestone. After winning their opening-round game, the Cougars advanced to the regional championship and finished the season with a 14–5 record, ranking 14th out of 58 teams in Colorado’s 2A division.

Campion principal Kaleb Leeper expressed pride in the teams and the example they set.

“I am proud of our athletic teams not only for the level of competition they demonstrate, but especially for the Christian character they show on the court,” Leeper said. “Their example reflects the strong leadership and dedication of our coaches and athletic director.”

Campion Athletic Director Caleb Jahn emphasized how meaningful it was to see the school finally able to participate while still honoring its beliefs.

“I would like to acknowledge CHSAA and their willingness to accommodate our religious beliefs,” Jahn said. “They have been very receptive to our participation and have ensured that we will not encounter scheduling conflicts.”

Jahn also expressed appreciation for the teams Campion faced during the tournament. “Our playoff opponents have been gracious in accommodating our schedule to allow us to observe the Sabbath,” he said. “This achievement is a collective effort, and I am honored to be a part of Campion Academy during a time when our students have the opportunity to showcase their talents to the wider community.”

CA senior student Izuchi Nwankwo also had a standout season. Nwankwo set a new Campion Academy single-season scoring record with 417 points, surpassing the previous record of 360 set by Brit Sigh in 2001. He averaged 21.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game.

With these first state tournament experiences behind them, Campion Academy looks forward to future opportunities to compete at the state level while continuing to uphold its mission and values.

“Athletics are just one part of the broader Campion Academy experience,” Leeper said. “Programs in drama, music, and campus ministries also challenge students to grow in their abilities, develop responsibility and excellence, and build strong Christian character. With so many opportunities, balancing busy schedules can be a challenge, but our shared goal remains the same—to glorify God in all that we do.”

—Jill Harlow is Campion Academy Communication director. Photos supplied.

Aome Jacob Angeles – Loveland, Colorado … After much preparation and anticipation, the Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loveland, Colorado, hosted their annual International Sabbath worship service, March 7. The International Sabbath celebration serves to appreciate the cultural diversity within the Campion community and the global Seventh-day Adventist Church by featuring a multicultural and multilingual service.

Throughout the program, church members and Campion Academy (CA) students proudly represented their countries by marching in the flag parade, dressing in cultural attire, speaking their native languages, and finally sharing a taste of the world over potluck.

Kicking off the church program, around 50 people carried flags and marched into the church in a colorful and symbolic parade of nations. Flag bearers also greeted the congregation by saying “Happy Sabbath” in 14 different languages represented at the church.

Throughout the service, the praise team members incorporated different languages in their worship songs, presenting the same message in different languages. The theme continued in each aspect of the service with different languages represented in scripture reading, prayer and children’s story.

A highlight of the program was the baptism of CA sophomore student Moses W. As a member of an Indonesian Seventh-Day Adventist Church, a group from his church provided special music in the Indonesian language.

Rodlie Ortiz, Campion Church’s lead pastor, gave the sermon appropriately focused on the first Angel’s message in the Book of Revelation chapter 14, which starts by emphasizing the gospel message being preached to all the word in every language.

After church, members gathered for an international-themed potluck. Campion Academy students enjoyed Indonesian and South American food, generously provided and served by the Indonesian Church visitors and the Campion Church Spanish-speaking Sabbath School members.

—Aome Jacob Angeles, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

Yo escogí Mile High Academy, porque desde la primera vez que llegue acá a USA quería estudiar aquí. Me dijeron que debía primero ir a un colegio público a mejorar mi Ingles y después regresar. Pase un año en otro colegio y cuando por fin me pusieron en este colegio la verdad note una gran diferencia. Conocí muchas personas muy amables (Una de ellas que siempre me saludaba fue Emalee), he hecho muchos amigos (Como, Roger, Yana, Chelsea, Alondra, Grace, Tina, Quincy & Leslie).

Escogí MHA también porque allá en Perú yo estudiaba en un colegio adventista que se llamaba “Colegio Union”. Para ser sincera, se que este colegio es más pequeño del que tenía allá, pero me hizo acordar mucho a mi colegio de Peru.

MHA me a ayudado mucho con el Ingles ya que mi idioma materno es el español. He aprendido muchas nuevas palabras. Sigo teniendo el miedo de poder hablarlo, pero se que poco a poco puedo ir mejorando en el idioma. Me esta tomando tiempo, pero espero que para mí ‘Senior year’ pueda hablar un Inglés más fluido.

MHA me ha ayudado con mis estudios demasiado. Aprendí los países de casi todo el mundo en la clase de historia de Mrs. Berg, también como los estados de estados unidos y sus capitales. En matemática, Mrs. Fattic siempre me ayudaba en algunos problemas que eran difíciles para mí.

MHA también me ayuda a poder acercarme mas a Dios, ya que debo hacer ayudas comunitarias y así puedo ayudar a mi iglesia, dirigiendo cantos y ayudando a los chicos que aun no saben de Dios tan bien a conocerlo mejor.

En fin, MHA es un buen lugar para poder estudiar. Y, aunque cansa, me encanta estudiar aquí y mil veces escogiera este colegio.

—Hanna es estudiante de penúltimo año en Mile High Academy. Reproducido con permiso de “The MHA Mustang News”, boletín informativo por correo electrónico del 5 de marzo de 2026. Foto proporcionada.

I chose Mile High Academy (MHA) because, from the very first time I came to the USA, I wanted to study here. However, I was told that I first had to attend a public school to improve my English and then come back. I spent one year at another school, and, when I was finally enrolled here, I honestly noticed a big difference. I met many very kind people—one of them who always greeted me was Emalee—and I made many friends.

I also chose MHA because I studied at a Seventh-day Adventist school back in Peru called “Colegio Unión.” To be honest, I know this school is smaller than the one I had back home, but it reminded me so much of my school in Peru.

Mile High has helped me a lot with learning English, since my first language is Spanish. I have learned many new words. I still feel afraid to speak it sometimes, but I know that little by little I will improve. For me, it is taking time, but I hope that by my senior year I will be able to speak English more fluently.

MHA has also helped me greatly with my studies. In Mrs. Berg’s history class, I learned the countries of almost the entire world, as well as the states of the United States of America and their capitals. In math, Mrs. Fattic always helped me with concepts that were difficult for me.

MHA also helps me grow closer to God, since there is an emphasis on community service. I help my church by leading songs and helping younger kids who do not yet know much about God to learn more about Him.

MHA is a great place to study. Even though it can be tiring, I truly love studying here, and I would choose this school a thousand times again.

—Hanna is a junior student at Mile High Academy. Republished with permission from “The MHA Mustang News” March 5, 2026, email newsletter. Photo supplied.

Abigail Brown – Loveland, Colorado … Students and staff at Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, came together each morning for a student-led Week of Worship, February 23-27.

The theme for the week was “Stepping Out,” which was based on the story detailed in Matthew 14. In the story, the disciples were on a boat in a storm and Jesus began to walk toward them on the water. Upon seeing Jesus, Peter stepped out of the boat to walk to Him.

Each day was led by a different group. The staff began on Monday followed by the freshmen students on Tuesday, sophomore students on Wednesday, junior students on Thursday, and senior students on Friday. To conclude, the CA Student Association led out the Friday night vespers worship service.

Many students appreciated how each group shared the message. Student Pam expressed, “I liked seeing the different perspectives in each of the messages.”

Sophomore student Daphne stated, “I enjoyed seeing everyone coming together to worship God.”

A lot of people appreciated the music during the week. Alexa, student, shared, “I liked listening to the praise teams and special music from this week.” A particular moment that stood out to a lot of people this past week was when student Natalie sang special music.

Even though the week was busy with schoolwork, sports, and other responsibilities, students still showed up and supported each other. Aspen, student, reflected, “I liked the fact that, despite a busy week, we were all able to pull through in some way.”

The message from this week was inspiring for many, encouraging students to trust God in challenging personal situations just as Peter trusted Jesus enough to step out on the water.

—Abigail Brown, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … Doug Inglish, Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) vice president for Administration, announced at the RMC Executive Committee meeting on February 17 his plans to retire effective June 30.

Inglish joined RMC in 2016 as the director of the RMC Planned Giving and Trust Services department. He stepped into RMC’s administration team as vice president for Administration in April of 2021. In this role, he oversaw official recordkeeping, pastoral recruitment and assignment, policy application, legal matters, and additional duties.

“What I appreciate most about Doug is his practical wisdom, depth of knowledge, and clear understanding of the real-world challenges surrounding the church and its ministry,” remarked Dave VandeVere, RMC president. “These strengths are rooted in his extensive experience as a pastor, Trust Services director, and church administrator, as well as his dedicated work alongside pastors in a variety of ministerial settings. It has been a true joy to work with him over the past six months, and his ministry here at the Rocky Mountain Conference has been an immense blessing to me personally and to our entire organization.”

Born in Indiana, Inglish has a lifetime of service in the Seventh-day Adventist Church which began as a youth summer camp counselor and Boy’s director at Timber Ridge Adventist Camp in Indiana and Camp Au Sable in Michigan. After graduating from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, with a major in history and a minor in political science in 1982, he served as Boys’ dean at Ozark Adventist Academy in Gentry, Arkansas.

After taking time off to earn a Master of Arts in Political Science, Inglish returned to Adventist education in New Jersey. He was called to pastoral ministry in 1989, spending the next 25 years in full-time ministry with rural, multi-church districts, multi-pastor metropolitan churches, and churches associated with Adventist institutions, including Sunnydale Academy in Centralia, Missouri, and Minnetonka Academy in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Just prior to joining RMC, Inglish served the Minnesota Conference as the property manager and director of Trust Services, Stewardship, and Personal Ministries.

“It wasn’t the journey I expected or planned, but, ultimately, it was the journey I wanted,” reflected Inglish. “It has been an honor to serve the Lord by supporting the mission of the Church.”

Darin Gotfried, RMC vice president for Finance reflected, “Serving alongside Doug in administration gave me a front row seat to his dedication to the Church. Even when we found ourselves in the middle of tough conversations, I always appreciated that we could find common ground. I will truly miss our collaboration, but I’m so happy for Doug as he heads into this next chapter. I hope that he enjoys every bit of his retirement!”

Inglish’s retirement will open up a vacancy in RMC’s administration team, and we are now accepting candidates for the position. Please contact Dave VandeVere, RMC president, to apply or recommend an individual.

—RMCNews. Photos by Liz Kirkland and Rajmund Dabrowski.